Bug Horse Reproduction from S8E15 Reflection · 5:23am Aug 5th, 2018
You can find a near copy of this post, here.
It looks like Gallus joined Scoots on 'Team Probable Orphan'. The show sure likes to hint around that topic without directly saying it. Gallus' reveal was a little less vague and less quick than Scoot's was though, to their credit.
I'd like to take a moment to talk about something else, though.
Adorable *squee*ing bug horses, of course.
Ocellus's backstory about Hearthswarming was with these changelings. Though it wasn't directly said, I think we can all agree this is probably her parents and her two younger siblings. Not only does Ocellus's color scheme look like a combination of the two adults', but the pink nymph’s color scheme matches the left changeling’s eyes and wings, and the green nymph’s color scheme matches the right changeling’s carapace. Even the nymph's horns or lack thereof match the adult changeling they're most like.
Welp, there goes the 'Pharynx or Thorax are her farther' headcanons that had just begun to pick up a little steam.
Guys, this is fascinating and I'll tell you why. If these adult changelings are the parents of Ocellus and these two nymphs, then it means we finally have the answer to the long-asked question of, 'how is the hive going to reproduce, now?' that we've had since S6's finale. Quite simply, the modern hive has begun to act more like pack animals than insects, because there's not one female (queen) laying (or simply raising) all the hive's young, anymore. Females throughout the hive are possibly having their own babies and raising them, themselves.
Food for Thought:
- The changelings have never been just insects, they’re insect ponies, meaning adopting pack animal behaviors over insect ones would kinda fit the whole ’evolving and moving past the days of Chrysalis’ thing. In the context of the show’s lore, Chrysalis’s absolute rule and control of the entire changeling population as the solo queen was painted in an evil light, so it’d make sense for them to treat a pack animal approach as the new, ’good’ alternative for the modern hive.
- Everyone, Thorax included referred to the hive as a ’pack’ in Triple Threat.
- If these things were to be true, not every changeling will be directly related to every other changeling in current and future generations, anymore. Instead, changeling biology and mating habits will resemble ponies and other animals a little more. That said, because Thorax and Pharynx seem to act like patriarchs/guardians of the hive, not just leaders (see below), it gives the modern hive a more intimate, again, pack animal hierarchy.
I hope that's where the show is going, because that is a perfect way to demonstrate a species that now thrives off of sharing love. It also perfectly matches my fan fics I've been writing since 16' so, you know, there's that.
Speaking of fanfics I've been writing since 16', I apologize for TKoLB being so late, again. I'm literally figuring out my entrance exam for school while working 40 hours a week so I've been hard pressed to find the energy to write much. Good news is the next chapter is near half-way done and I have a friend helping me with scene transition ideas whenever I get stuck. Should be around the corner. 
Thanks to everybody who's taken such an interest in my meaningless fluff!
I honestly think that Gallus is less a 'probable' orphan and more a 'definite' orphan at this point. Kinda heartbreaking, really.
And since when was it set in stone that Chrysalis was the mother to every changeling prior to their reformation? Thorax's specific words in his introductory episode were that he was "raised" by Chrysalis, which leaves a measure of wiggle room. I considered their reproductive cycle to be less like social insects like bees and ants and more like those of other sorts of insects like beetles - a male and female get together, mate, and die in the process after leaving behind scores of eggs from which changeling larvae hatch (and end up being raised by Chrysalis), with those who are immediately related to one another able to recognize that via scent (in order to prevent inbreeding between direct siblings). With their reformation and metamorphosis, the mating cycle just isn't nearly as productive or deadly to the parents.
The little baby changelings are still adorable, though.
I'll accept this until a writer or director confirms something that contradicts it.
4914582
I never thought Chrysalis was the mother of the entire hive actually, but certainly that she personally raised them all according to her rules - to fight and hunt for her exclusively. Essentially the same thing. At least now the hive's young are free to enjoy exploring life, interests, etc with friends and family.
Dying during childbirth on that scale sounds a bit dark as a headcanon for MLP though, I have to say. More likely that Chrysalis simply seized all laid eggs. Not a whole lot you can do but let her, under a tyranny.
MY LIFE IS A LIE!
So not all changelings have horns? Seems pretty intentional here.
4914591
I admit, it is dark, but sadly, my mind tends to go to that sort of a place. Plus it ties in with at least some real-world details regarding insects and their breeding habits.
I am not at all current with the show, but is this the first time we see hornless changelings? Or did that get snuck by me? It feels significant.
I am not at all current with the show, but is this the first time we see hornless changelings? Or did that get snuck by me? It feels significant.
4914667
There have been changelings with and without horns ever since they got reformed in thier new designs, but I can't recall if that existed back in the old days.
4914804
Don't think so. I think it was part of their theme, that for all their transformative power they were all the same. God level irony.
4915303
The added diversity is probably just for the sake of adding individuality, seeing as the horns don't seem necessary for thier shapeshifting powers. My guess is it's pure aesthetic.