Ask Me and Alternia Anything: THE ANSWERS · 1:34am Aug 1st, 2015
vren55 walks up to the dais and sits down behind the table. He taps the microphone before coughing officiously and speaking into it.
“Ladies and Gentleman, Queen Alternia.”
Alternia trots onto the stage and to the applause of many, sits behind the table in a special seat.
“Hello everybody. I hope you are well.”
vren55 chuckles. “Alright, lets start with the show! Our first question from Corey:
A stallion called Corey waved his hoof.
“Alternia, how many Twinkies can you fit in your mouth at a single time?
Alternia grimaced briefly. “None. I hate the taste of Twinkies. I like deep fried food, but not stuff chock full of preservatives.”
Vren55 shrugged. “Fair enough. Next question.”
M1Garand8 coughs. He looks poised to run.
“Soooooo, Alternia... What is your weight?”
The stallion then fled, but Alternia reeled him back, her horn glowing.
“All you have to know, is that I’m lighter than sun-butt.”
With that, Alternia then dropped him into a portal. M1Garand8’s screams were cut off abruptly as he vanished.
vren55 swallowed. “Next question?”
A reporter pony called Silentwood raises a hoof and when acknowledged asks the following questions;
1. Will you stay in your Changeling form or will you concoct a pony form to help relate to your subjects?
Alternia smiled, and shook her head.
A pony form is an interesting idea, but I am finished with wearing a disguise. Besides…” Alternia glanced at her chest and sighed. “There are mitigating circumstances.
2. Any regrets during your tenure as 'Celestia'?
“Some. For example, I wish I had the courage to tell my subjects who I was earlier and spare myself all this trouble. Yet, I don’t have any lasting regrets during my tenure as “Celestia.””
3. Will there be a autobiography available of your life both before and then during your time as Equestria's ruler?
Alternia: “Sometime in the future, but not right now.”
ven55: Likely not written by me if that’s the case.
4. Will you be the start of a new kind of Changeling since you have lived among ponies for so long now?
Alternia: “In some sense, as I’ll be living among ponies instead in a hive, but I know there will be many changelings who will be content to live in their hives.”
5. How do you feel?
Alternia: “I feel a bit scared, but I’m eager for what comes next.”
Cross Lament raises his hoof.
Your Highness, Princess Alternia, We're all glad to see that you've recovered so well from your injuries. One wonders if you had any difficulties in adjusting to the presence your prosthesis, in regards to your abilities to disguise yourself?
Alternia sighed and tapped her prosthetic chest. “The prosthesis is rather useful, and fits well, but because I can’t influence it with my magic, my disguises are now severely limited. Not to mention, the prosthesis will always be visible on them. Still…” Alternia smiled. “I don’t plan on keeping a mask on while I rule, so that isn’t so much of an issue.”
Kichi asks:
If Celestia and Luna adopt Alternia as a sister... Does that mean that the other changeling queens are going to become royalty in Equestria? What about Chrysalis and the others? She is going to become Auntie Chrysalis for Cadence and Blue Blood? Not to say Chrysalis daughters are going to win a couple of cousin.
*Alternia shakes head: “No. Think of our sisterhood as more of a oath of eternal friendship and sisterhood, rather than a confirmation of family. Hence, my sisters don’t become Celestia or Luna’s sisters Chrysalis’s daughters and Cadance don’t become each other’s cousins.”
Are you going to begin to put eggs now that your secret is out?
*Alternia raises eyebrow. “I will need a mate to actually reproduce, and changelings do not lay eggs.”
If Celestia take the day, and Luna take the Night... are you going to be only a Tie-breaker? Or you take the dawn and dusk hours?
*vren55 coughs: “That particular question of what Princess Alternia will be and her role in Equestria, shall be answered in sequel.”
Your hive was divided in your sisters after what happened to your mother but... Do you know if exist other hives around that was not from your mother? If you found one, are you going to try to meet them?
*Alternia: “There are other hives around not from my mother, but I don’t know any of them. And yes, I would like to meet them.” *sighs “Problem is changelings are rather reclusive.”
*vren55 appears rather tight-lipped about this.
How much you know about Changeling past? Like how changelings begin to exist or who was the first changeling.
Alternia: “The legend is that once upon a time, there was a single being that crafted the changelings. We call her the Masked One. She, created the first changeling queens, who are also known as The Great Hive Mothers. My mother, is the youngest daughter of the youngest Great Hive Mother, Zagara.”
vren55: “Think of Chamelia as Optimus Prime of the Primes if you don’t get it.”
Are you happy that now you can sleep and don't worry to raise the sun?
Alternia: “Very much so. It’s rather tiring and now I can finally sleep in once in a while!”
Cosmic Cowboy rides in on a cow with a leather cowboy hat on. Alticron close behind
Both ask: Alternia, when and how did you meet Philomena?
Cosmic adds: I assume she hasn't been around as long as you've been ruling.
Alternia: “I met Philomena during one my encounters with the dragons about five hundred years ago. By encounter, I mean counter-attack against a major dragon incursion, and by meet, I mean I got separated from my army group after a particularly vicious battle, and she was running away from a group of young dragons. I beat up the young dragons, and together, we fought our way through a flight of dragons to reach the Equestrian Army.” *Nuzzles Philomena who is sitting next to her. “We’ve been inseparable ever since.”
*Philomena caws happily.
*Alternia frowns. “Come to think of it, I think that’s how she found out I was a changeling. The heat from the battles must have messed with my disguise.”
2: We know you're the one with the "Trollestia" streak. Have you ever used changeling abilities to mess with people?
Alternia: “Heavens no!”
*vren55 raises eyebrow.
Alternia: “Alright, a bit, but mostly harmless. As I’ve said before, I’ve gone out disguised to walk among my ponies, but mostly to just have a bit of fun, not to purposely mess with ponies.”
3: Will you use your changeling abilities to mess with people now that they know you can?
Alternia: “I don’t think I can do it so easily now, considering the prosthetic I have and how it interferes with my disguise magic.”
4: Even if you don't start a full hive, will you "acquire" any changelings under your leadership? Some chevaliers, maybe?
*vren55 grabs mike.
“That question will be answered in seaquel.”
5: Now that you don't have to move the sun and moon every day, what will you do with all that extra love energy?
Alternia: “Hoard it.” *sighs “It will be a bit rough right after my reveal. I’m going to have to save love now, just in case there’s an emergency.”
Georg (hoof raised up front)
Princess Alternia, is it true that Canterlot Publishing has offered you a six-figure advance on your upcoming autobiography, Me, Myself, and I, Celestia, and if so... is there any way we could get an autographed copy in advance?
*Alternia’s eyes widened. “I’ve never written or had any such biography commissioned.” *snarls. “Do you mind directing me to whom you heard that from?”
(Hoof raised in the middle of the press scrum)
“Your Highness, were there any times in your reign where you lost yourself in your role as Princess Celestia?”
*Alternia’s eyes take on a faraway look. “Yes. Especially before Cadance, Blueblood, and Twilight came into my life. Everything before then was very monotonous, and when I had no companions, I tended to sink into my role, just to cope with it all.”
(small hoof raised in back)
So if you don't have a cutie mark, would you be willing to join our organization to help get one?
*Alternia smiles: “Applebloom. Changelings can’t have cutie marks, but thank you for asking.”
Deynarth
*Put on a silly reporter hat and take out a pen to take notes.*
*Hug Cyndra with the other arm*
*Alternia zaps Deynarth and yanks her niece to safety. Deynarth pouts, but shrugs and asks:*
- Your Majesty , do you prefer to be called Queen or Princess ? Given that while you are technically a Queen , you are also a "Princess" of Equestria now.
Alternia: “I prefer Princess as my title as I don’t want to appear to overshadow my to-be-co-rulers. Queen… does have a nice ring to it though.”
- Do you think ponies are going to continue calling you Celestia ? While the real Celestia is back , you are "their" Celestia after all , so they might feel like it.
Alternia: “Considering the dramatic nature of my reveal. I don’t think they’ll continue calling me Celestia.” *chuckles* “That being said, my closest ministers have been having a more difficult time of it.”
- *Take a note from Pinkie* Erhem... Do you plan on organizing special birthday parties for all the birthday you missed as Alternia , now that you have revealed yourself to your family and the world ? One big ginormous party is fine too.
Alternia: “I don’t mind having an extra one or two, but you might want to ask Chrysalis and my sisters before you plan anything, Pinkie.” *glances over her shoulder* “My family apparently has been scheming behind my back.”
-*Take a note from a recognisable purple aura* Glup... Are the rumors about you having a crush on Twilight Sparkle true ?
*Alternia’s eyes widened and she found herself meeting Twilight’s gaze. Sighing, Alternia chuckled in slight exasperation*
“Twilight Sparkle, my student, is a brilliant mare, but I do not have a crush on her.” *looks Twilight in the eye with a smile* “If you have any further questions, my faithful student, you can always ask.”
- *Give an exasperated sigh when Rainbow drop another note* How fast can you fly with these strange wings of yours ?
Alternia: “Pretty fast. Nowhere near as fast as a Wonderbolt though. Changeling wings are better for hovering and we can use our wings to pull off maneuvers impossible for pegasi, but we can’t attain their speed.”
- Do you have any food that you personally hated yourself but had to eat to play the part as Celestia ? Do you plan on literally enacting the saying "Revenge is a dish best served cold" regarding that if it was the case ?
Alternia: “Not really. You see, as Celestia, I could decide what meals I wanted. There were just some meals that simply weren’t available to me as Celestia.”
-*Turn to Belladona* Queen Belladona , your sister Alternia mentioned that you were a bad actress when you were young but a fierce and fiery brawler (*citation needed*). How did you manage to keep your temper in check while playing the part as the calm and wise Zecora ? (And did you have the occasion to kick some butt while doing it ?)
*Belladonna, who is in the audience, raises her eyebrow and rubs her brow.
Belladonna: “Pundamilia, I mentioned was the zebra who beat into me the use of rhymes. She also schooled me in how to control my temper and taught me how to restrain myself. That didn’t stop me from “kicking butt” so to speak, as I have wrestled manticores as Zecora to get the right herbs.”
*Belladonna sighs, her head lowering. “Yes… Pundamilia taught me a lot. If only I had stayed a little longer...”
-*Deynarth coughs and turn to Chrysalis* Any plan on marrying Shining Armor again , if Cadence is okay with it ? As a matter of fact , do changeling practice this ceremony or something similar in their own culture ?
*Chrysalis smacks Deynarth so hard he flies into Cadance, who hits him into the floor*
Alternia: “I think that answers your question, Deynarth.”
-*Deynarth staggers up groggily. Alternia , what do you plan to use as your symbol ? Everything related to Celestia tend to follow a "sun" theme , while everything related to Luna tend to follow a "night" theme. Do you plan to have your own "theme" in Canterlot castle ?
vren55 grabs mike: “That will be answered in Seaquel.”
-Lord Vren , almighty author , creator of the world , are we going to see more interactions between Cyndra and Shining Armor ? These two are cute together in my humble opinion.
vren55: “If you mean Lamia and Shining Armor, then possibly.”
Well that all from me for now.
*Approach Belladona*
-Hey Belladona , up for some some beer ? I would like to get to know the awesomest changeling around better , if this fiery lady would indulge me.
Belladonna raises an eyebrow and grins hungrily as she yanks Deynarth to her side. She half-drags him off.
“Why not. Its on your tab though.”
Darkartsdoctor
Okay question for you and a question for Alternia. For you I gotta ask. Will we be seeing more of the OTHER characters stories? Like now that "Zecora" is out how have twilight and her friends handled it? Does she still live out in the everfree or what? What's going on with everyone else?
vren55: “Problem is that it’s my last year as an undergraduate in my honors program and there’s a lot of stuff to do, so probably not.”
For Alternia I gotta ask did your MOTHER have any sisters?
Alternia: “I think she did. She was the youngest daughter of the Great Hive Mother Zagara after all, but she never mentioned who her sisters were. I am not sure why.”
Dark Thunder 144 raises his hoof.
Question for Alternia, Are there Chanpeling Kings and if so have you seen/meet one?
Alternia chuckles: “There are no such “Chanpeling Kings” or Changeling kings.”
SPart asks:
was or is the royal guard replaced by changelings ?
vren55: “If you’re referring to the seaquel, then I can’t answer that question now.”
MustacheMerlin teleports in with a flurry of whiskers.
Alternia, do you have plan in the event that Sunset Shimmer decides to return home without warning? Things could go screwy if she runs into the original Celestia before you... I can't imagine how she would react if she came to apologize and you apparently didn't remember her.
Alternia *confused: “Uh, what do you mean Sunset Shimmer is going to return and apologize to me or Celestia? She’s working in my Advanced Dimensional Travel department.”
vren55: “Suffice to say… Equestria Girls Canon does not apply to this story due to how Alternia handled Sunset Shimmer and her ambition issues.”
Alternia turns to vren55: “What? What would have happened if I did otherwise? Wait… you’re not actually saying canon Celestia actually chose her as her student? Was she crazy?”
vren55: “That’s for an upcoming short story to explain!” *zips mouth*
ThePrinceOfTheNorth
For one, what challenges will Alternia face following her royal coronation, and how well will she be received among the ponies of Equestria, as I assume she'll be well liked. I mean, she has been for the last thousand years, right? How well will Alternia be received (I have a hunch on this one) and: Will Alternia's role in the new Triarchy be more important that it has been sold as being?
vren55: “All those questions will be answered in the seaquel.”
3. Will Alternia still have cake cravings? Does the real Celestia have them? (this is more of a joke.)
Alternia: “I have always loved cake.” *Turns to Celestia questioningly.
Celestia: “What is this “cake” thou speakest of?”
Later…
“This cake is good. I like it! MORE!”
4. Will Alternia's wound heal?
vren55: “As answered earlier, nope.”
Admiral Q Ponyform sails in on a dreadnought
My Question is will Alternia start a hive now that she doesn't have to wear the mask anymore?
Alternia: “When I have time, and when I find a mate, then I will start a hive.”
Chrysalis giggles. “We’ll be working on that.”
Alternia glares at her sisters. “Girls!”
Two, Did Alternia have the cake fetish or was that something she got from Celestia?
Alternia *indignantly*: “It’s NOT a cake fetish! I just really really really really really like cake because I can taste the love the chefs put into
their work! And Celestia doesn’t even know what cake is!... *Alternia realizes Celetia has disappeared* does she?”
TundraStanza
Who would win in a fight: Queen Belladonna or Maleficent (from Sleeping Beauty)?
vren55 thinks: “I’d ask Deathbattle for an analysis, but if it was me… I’d say Belladonna. She’d trick Maleficent some way and outnumber her with her hive. It’s how she did in Warbeak. Granted… it’d be rather close.”
theseventhdoctor
One question I want to ask is "How much of this story is as you planned it? and How much changed due to one reason or another? (Like charters doing their own thing, Pre reader pointing something out, Eureka moment in the shower)
vren55 twitches and glances left and right: “Uhhhh… Well… a lot of it isn’t as I planned it. I didn’t start with a precise plan as to how it will end, but I had a very good idea. It was going to be a war between Alternia and Chrysalis, but that was terrible, so I scrapped that against pre-reader advice, and it played out rather well in fact. But uhhhhhh… Can someone tell me if Zervziel is here because I need to make sure he isn’t here…”
*Zervziel comes flying in behind vren55 scaring him into mid-air for a minute.
“NOONE EXPECTS THE PRE-READER INQUISITION!"
“ACK! ZERV!” vren55 groans. “Just don’t mention the “Cyndra” problem.”
Zervziel grins. “CYNDRA! The Plot Tumor! Choochoo! All aboard Plot Derailment Express!
“GODDAMNIT, ZERV! Fine you explain!” groaned vren55.
*Zerv puts on his serious face. “For one, the sub-arc surrounding Cyndra pulled the story focus onto her for quite sometime which was pretty much necessitated because as a character she was introduced fairly late into the story. To fix that, she needed both characterization and justification to exist as a fleshed out character and not just a simple name drop that disappears in a couple chapters. Most of this was because she was introduced as a relative of a canon character ie Chrysalis. Problem with this is it started to complicate things as we already had Lamia playing the main role as daughter so we needed a reason why Cyndra was gone and why her head wasn’t rolling off.”
vren55: “Yeah, that dragged the plans awry and turned focus to Cyndra for a bit too long. So yeah, tip learnt, PLAN STORIES OUT!”
Zervziel
Cloaked mystery pony raises their hoof "Could you tell us more about changeling...tastes?"
"Shkul an'zig qvsakf KSSH'GA, ag'THYZAK agthu!" blurts out another cloaked pony beside him.
"Shut up, Bill."
Alternia: “Uhhh, we have an omnivorous diet but we like good love the most.”
vren55 twitches and snaps fingers. The ponies disappear. “Get back to the bloody seaquel damnit.”
*Alternia frowns at vren55 who shrugs.
A separate mystery pony speaks up "Do we really need a oceanography branch of the government? What do we care about the ocean? We don't need it!
Alternia frowns. “That’s not related to the seaquel. And our reports from the Royal Equestrian Intelligence and Naval Service say otherwise.”
vren55 groans and snaps fingers again. “Zervziel, stop bringing them in!”
“Never!”
For Vren: Is Alternia an expy for a certain character and who is this character?
vren55 sighs: “Finally a good question from you, Zervziel. Alternia is a combination of various characters from various original stories combined with Celestia’s personality. Hence there is no real expy for her. Some characters made some influence on Alternia’s personality and character design, through the a Young Adult story: “Book of a Thousand Days” I read a long time ago, which is based off the old fairytale called Maid Maleen.”
Vampdash sonic rainbooms in and cackles her fangs glinting.
What made you want to write this?
vren55: “Good question. I’m not that sure. Basically when you stumble across an idea, like how I did when I ran into Angelea’s artwork, the now coverart for the story, you first well, have an idea, and then you find you have an urge to write it because its good and you feel it would be worth your time, and also because you’ve fallen in love with the characters. That’s all I can say.”
Maxout020
Well in that case, how long did it take for Alternia to grow close to the ponies?
Alternia: “It took about twenty years before I fully realized the depth of their love, and how I had fallen “in love so to speak” with Equestria.”
Loki63
Will Alternia get a special somepony/someling?
vren55: “That’s for the seaquel, so no comment. I am a romantic though.”
FoalsErrand
Princess Alternia? Have you ever been in love before?
*Alternia sighs. “Yes, with stallions and mares. Yet, I could never truly pursue those relationships due to the confines of my positions, and the mask I wore.”
Alicon Galactistar
Alternia will you, with the help of Luna, prank Celestia?
*Alternia glances left and right, anywhere but in Luna’s direction really: “What! I have no idea what you are talking about!”
*Celestia, who has returned with cae on he lips frowns: “Oh? Is that why we found ourselves covered in “whipped cream” last night?” Celestia growls. “Why thou devious….”
Alternia drops a portal underneath Celestia and she falls away.
Randomreader-001
Princess Alternia, I'm glad to see that you're well and up and about again.
So, to my question, how are you doing now that everypony in Equestria and more than likely now, the world, know the truth about the last 1000+ years of your reign? Has Equestria's allies excepted the news about Princess Celestia and you or have there been any problems so far about that?
Alternia: “Thank you, and I’m doing quite well actually. It’s been a bit difficult to adjust to the fact I can walk around without my disguise on, but so far, it’s been going well. As to how our allies have received the news, that will be touched upon later in the seaquel.”
Also, how is Princess Celestia fairing so far? Has she acclimated well to modern day Equestria or no?
Alternia looks worried: “Well as for Celestia…”
vren55 grabs mike: “That will also be answered in the sequel.”
Xaldon Ajide
So Alternia, I know you've gotten around in the past 1K years, what are your thoughts on the story of Fallout Equestria?
Alternia: “Fallout what?”
vren55: “That’s a bit too meta for this AMA. Suffice to say, Fallout Equestria does not exist for this world.”
“And that wraps up this AMA. If your questions weren’t answered, it’s mainly due to the fact that either some of the questions were inappropriate, or that the questions weren’t clear. See you for the seaquel!”
Alternia: “Bye!”
So what is your weight,Alternia?
inb4 I get slaughtered
That was a pretty good AMA. Good questions, good answers.
Aw, poop. She ignored my question.
I was Number One. My stupidity is supreme.
Also
There's no a in sequel now is there vren55?
3285749 I believe I couldn't answer it b/c either 1, it was obvious and in story, 2, it was inappropriate ;p
Shucks dude.
Is there ever going to be an explanation why the supposed powerhouses of your universe are so weak? Are they for plot reasons going to actually do things in the sequel?
*edit*
It is a legit question and is probably the biggest weakness of the story when all of them are seemingly helpless to direct confrontation.
Not bad, although I feel like you could have avoided a lot of those annoying "wait for the sequel" answers quite easily if you had just had the characters express uncertainty because it has not happened yet.
So Celestia is basically Pony!Thor. I like it.
3285775
I didn't really think it was inappropriate, more that it was just too stupid.
I'd probably been pre-emptively dropped in that portal ahead of M1Garand8.
It definitely wasn't answered in-story.
Aww shot! I missed it!!
.....I was gonna ask for a hug too.... Nuts...
Is there any reason you keep consistently spelling it seaquel? I'm unsure if its just a typo you keep making or if there is significance in it, and that the sequel will involve the sea?
How could I typo Cyndra in place of Lamia (even if both are just too cute) in my last question ... It shame me as a reader ! This is just the worst possible thing !
*look at his battered body*
Ehh ,still worth it.
Bet Shining Armor wouldn't even object to it in the first place , both are awesome mares , even if Chryssi is a feisty one...
*look at Belladona at his side drinking a beer*
Yeah , definitelly worth it... Wonder if she can keep her speaking patern while drunk...
*look at Rainbow Dash nearby in the bar , totally drunk*
Hey girls ! Lets toast ! TO THE SEAQUEL AND TO VREN !
That made my day! You really had fun with this didn't you?
So you're telling me that Sunset Shimmer is just another background pony in this universe?
3285775 Guess I asked too soon along Alternia's time line I know for a fact that she eventually unlocks the process behind the multiverse theory, and learning spells to phase between dimensions.
I can't wait for the sequel
Bummed that she can't ever heal.
And it's a STARSHIP not a dreadnought. the puny thing could never stand against my Firefox.
Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...
...
...
Oh hey, a bit!
Yes. Yes, she did. She's one crazy [cat] lady.
And why did you dump her here with me?!
Something on your mind when you typed my name, grand adventures in space in 8-bit with lots of color?
You sir must have been cackling when you wrote this.
Liked the whipped cream, try food coloring next.
Okay, but who does that make her daughters?
So now this is over, btw thanks for answering my question, I must know... will there be another?
3286104 Yes, it involves the sea if my blog post, and the teaser on my last chapter weren't any indication enough XD
Funny thing is , you could probably write an interview scene in the seaquel and use this AMA for it XD
We weren't worse than most reporters after all.
Or were we ?
Hive mother Zagara?
Now I completely approve, but is that a shout out to brood mother Zagara?
I just gotta know. Even though the AMA is 100% done, if you ever read this anyway.
*Winter is sitting in a chair in front of the stage "Well, that answers that, then. CRYSTALIA!
*Crystalia Appears "She likes cake, too?"
"She likes cake, too. And yes, you three can have a cake party, with vren's permission, of course. It might get weird otherwise."
"Shouldn't you write that?"
"Hmm, not a bad idea, Crystalia. I'd need vren's permission first, though...."
"Well, that was certainly unexpected."
*Winter amusedly watches the rest of the AMA.
"I have one final question, one I should have asked long ago. Could I get a hug, and perhaps give a few as well?"
3285768
GET THE HINT, ALREADY! IT'S WHERE THE SE-
*A portal opens and my clone falls in*
Clones, always running their mouths and never able to hold it in.
3286004 3288628 Alternia: hugs are kind of reserved for pre readers and vren. There are too many for me to glimpse. Thanks from the bottom of my heart are for all readers though.
Vren55: I don't mind you writing and publishing North, but I wont be able to canonize it though and unless it blows me away I will not promote it in my blog. That alright with yA?
3286185 well yes. :P this came out before rainbow rocks did after all.
3286444 im afraid I had no reaction, though I do like how you think.
3286708 you guess *trollface
3285813 Okay, you at least deserve an explanation. When you say it was a legit question, the way you phrased it initially and even now In this follow up have led my pre reader and I to read it as an obvious insult, considering you call the characters pansies and ignore chapter 22 when supposedly weak characters kick butt. Granted I'll have to edit 25 but I'm personally astounded a question like that would come out considering the number of direct confrontations in the story to the point I saw your question (especially in its initial wording) as well, insulting. As I have appeared to have misread its intentions, I apologize now for that.
3286780 after sequel possibly.
3288502 yes. I played Starcraft after all XD
3289112
Chapter 22 is actually part of the reason why I have this question. I just re-read it to double check and there was a single use of magic by Shining Armor to block some spell. That implies that Equestrian First were the ones who caused him to have to block, when added to another spell used against Alternia later which destroys her weapon that puts EQF as the more prolific magic users. Later in chapter 25 you mention concussive spells which we can presume to be non-lethal even though Alternia clearly isn't that worried about that issue as she does her share of pony slaying with her halberd. All chapter 22 does is show that the Queens and Alternia have some kind of bloodlust for individual combat instead of winning quickly and decisively.
While you have built up the Queens/Princesses as being good at the martial (melee) arts in a world where a good third of the population apparently has the potential to be the equivalent of gun users I just wonder how in this world, which certainly has conflict, these rulers have lasted for 1000+ years with such an aversion to using magic.
Typically when (in theory) some character is vastly stronger than another and are in conflict you get around it by having them not fight directly. As your story is primarily a political thriller the Queens and Princesses could easily have never taken to the field or even gone strictly as observers. If there is a need for direct conflict than instead of a face to face smack down have the weaker party execute some plot, arcane rituals, ancient artifacts, poison, an ambush, firing an entire city to require intervention.
I love world building more than I probably should, and when a worlds internal consistency seems loose it riles me up something fierce, especially when everything else is quite good.
*edit*
I might know why you are emphasizing the use of melee weapons on the heroes as it is a bit of a trope that often the hero and villain do go at it in that manner during the climax. The issue is that usually the idea is that the reason the heroes/villains powers normal powers aren't used is that they are evenly matched with those and must battle it out old school. This isn't really the case with your story as they are only up against red shirts.
3289296 So basically why Alternia and the Queens like using weapons and are "holding back" instead of Magic and hence come across as weak :P.
If you said that at the beginning we wouldn't have this conversation lol!
It was a personal and worldbuilding choice. One, I'm a martial artist, I like seeing them get down and dirty and oldschool. Two, Alternia and Chrysalis are deciding not to use overkill large amounts of mana against red-shirts, because they could simply use their halberds, spears and swords, which conserve energy as they only use the levitation spell, to force a severe beatdown.
Basically, realize that Alternia and queens have scapels (their weapons) and are rather skilled at using them (they're martial artists) so they'll use them, instead of pulling out the big gun (super large amounts of magic).
Also, I did establish concussive spells, but while I may not have explained them super well, they don't quite work in battle. They concuss, but that doesn't mean they will instantly knock out. Think a big fat hammer hits you on the head. Not necessarily knockout, and while perfect for interrupting and knocking down a to-be assassin, they aren't a so called permanent solution. The sleep spell Alternia has can be used on larger groups but it takes time, and power.
Hence, weapons, are a more precise way of going about it at things.
3290062
Thanks for the explanation, while I may not like it, it is nice to finally know why things are the way they are.
Somehow... I don't believe you. It probably has something to do with the fact that a story following another story and advancing a related storyline is called a 'sequel'... and you consistently spelled it as a water pun.
Why yes, yes I do speak pun.
3290982 The question was actually not related to the seaquel. Whether this is taking place over water....
3292886 The amphibious foes of the changelings aren't in the sequel? Because that isn't what has been implied. The 'mystery' figures in the cloaks that previously questioned the 'taste' of changelings certainly sounded like the kelpie-ish foes described in the story. And after the mystery figure objected to the interest in aquatic exploration you said for Zervziel to stop teleporting 'them' in, implying that he was the same as the 'kelpie' sounding ones.
So, kelpie sounding mystery pony objecting to the exploration of kelpie like habitats isn't relevant to the sequel? When it has been foreshadowed that the antagonist of the sequel will be the mystery group behind the army that Celestia's army fought by a river while she fought NMM? We know that that wasn't a foreign Hive because those questions didn't get spoilered... so it would likely be the changeling-hating-flesh-eating-water-dwellers... possible having been massing in the Everfree in preparation for attacking the Everfree Hive and getting stumbled across through cosmic coincidence? Which would all fit with the kind of cosmic coincidence that put Celestia and NMM's battle at the exact same time as Alternia and Chrysalis's.
Something tells me that the misspelling of sequel is intentional.
3289112
"I'm just saying, there were SEVERAL times that I really wanted to give characters a hug during real....what's the term again, tear-jerker moments? I think that's the one. Regardless, there were times I wanted to give half the main characters a big hug and tell them it'll all work out in the end. Heck, there are others around here who probably feel the same way! I'm the only one bold enough to say anything, probably."
"Cake Party?"
"I was getting to that. So, do you like the general idea of it or not? I mean, it kinda would be funny to have Crystalia and her Celestia meet Alternia and her Celestia. Sure, it'd be rather confusing, but the dialogue would be there to differentiate the two Celestias. I could go on and on about how this would allow for comparisons of the characters, but I think you'd already know that."
"Prince Winter, you talk to much."
"It's what I do when I'm tired and have an idea, but want input. And vren, please, call me Winter."
3293169 ....
YOU KNOW TOO MUCH, well okay a few things not quite right, but god you're good
Author is not available for any further comments.
3293805 Lol Winter, just do what you want with my characters. As long as you're okay with the fact that I won't make it canon to my universe, it's all good. Be aware though that if you do start writing... welll people can get picky about how Alternia is written, especially with someone which to them, is an unknown OC.
3294119
Which is why, as she's your creation, I'll run whatever I come up with by you first.
You see, I have a fairly standard practice for when I work with others. They write with my characters, but before anything gets published, I look over it to ensure proper portrayal and minor spell-check. In this case, it would be the opposite.
Is this okay with you? I don't really know when I'll get around to writing it, but I do think it'll be a interesting read.
3296091 Fine by me. I won't really have time to read what you bring up though so just kick it out. I'm sure it'll be fine.
3296293
I'll post it when I get around to it, and I suppose I'll leave it to you to critique when it's up. Regardless, I'll probably still send a PM with it, then post it anyway as I'll likely become impatient.
Hm? I'm sure I have a book on that around here... Aha! Obscure and Mind-Shattering Languages of Born of Abominations and Crimes Against Reality always helps with this sort of thing. Lemme see...
"From its PRETTY FIELDS, we REINVIGORATE this world!"
Oh, well that's not nearly as ominous as I--oh, what's that? Right, right, that's right. How could I forget that the apostrophe completely changes a word's meaning? Let's look at that again.
"From its BLEAKEST DEPTHS, we RECLAIM this world"
Um. I, uh, I see.
I'll just go roll for SAN loss now and record the result for when the seaquel comes out. Time saving measures, you know...