//------------------------------// // When you give a 'ling your heart // Story: House of the Rising Sunflower // by kudzuhaiku //------------------------------// Everything was right where he'd left it. The table was still dominated by neat piles of well-organised papers. Simulacra—still wearing Sundance's form—took interest in these papers, and began to examine them. Doctor Dew explored the room; Sundance could not tell if she were impressed or not by what she saw. While the room lacked furniture, and had very little comfort, this was an important room. History would be made in this room, and Sundance knew this. It might be a humble place, but a great many projects had humble origins.  "These papers," Simulacra said to Sundance, "we could help you finish them. Through the power of the hive, we could stretch your mind across our network. Each of us would know what you know, and think the way you think. We could consume this knowledge, cross reference it, make sense of it, and complete this task in a mere fraction of the time that it would take for you to do alone. We could even work as you sleep. Think of it as your mind having forty-nine bodies to work with."  Try as he might, Sundance could not think of a suitable response.  "Words fail you." Turning about, Simulacra faced Sundance and transformed into his actual self. The changeling was black, but there was a hint of greenness to his chitin, a suggestion, a shimmer. His eyes were multifaceted emeralds of intense and striking beauty. There were two antlers that grew from his head, and these were made of living wood, with smooth bark and vivid green leaves. "We wish to find our place in this world. You took a chance on us. We understand the risk, and for the sake of gratitude, we wish to offer much in return. You have but to ask."  "My beautiful boy," Doctor Dew said as she trotted around the room. "He and his sister, Simulation, were both hatched from the same egg. Twins. Never seen anything like it. They were the first of the new species… the proof of our success… the end of Chrysalis' genetic tyranny. Simulacra and Simulation are different from the others in a myriad of ways. Look at him... see how perfect he is."  With no words to say, Sundance nodded.  "Chrysalis made it so that none of her hive could breed without her. She existed as a sort of gatekeeper, and so when she was removed from power, the remnants of her brood became sterile. But no longer. These new changelings can breed with the old changelings. This species will survive. A terrible fate, a slow, grueling extinction, has been averted. Science and magic working together in harmony." Doctor Dew paused, drew herself up into a proud pose, and then just stood there, radiating smug superiourity.  "I would like to say that I am far more humble than my creator," Simulacra said to Sundance. "You're going to offer us a place to live. You'll do so with the best of intentions. I'll feel guilty about my response, and then have to explain to you how we crave our own space after living under observation in a laboratory for so long. We need space to develop ourselves and to sort out who and what we are. I'll reassure you that we're willing to help you, and to work alongside you, but we desperately desire a space to call our own. It will be awkward… so much so that it might affect our future relationship, our shared existence where we both work towards our shared good. So I propose that we skip past that, because I can see in your mind that you are the sort that would appreciate such a thing."  Sundance blinked and tried to process what had just been said.  "Did I make a mistake? Did I make a social faux pas? I can see into minds to gain insight into social rituals, but I lack context and understanding for them. Should I apologise, and if so, would you be so as kind to clarify your thoughts so that I might learn from this?"  "It's fine," Sundance managed to say to Simulacra. "Just overwhelming. All the small talk got skipped. It's like jumping into cold water rather than sticking a hoof in and trying to adjust a little at a time."  "Ah, a suitable analogy. So small talk does serve a purpose? A function? Doctor Dew calls it 'a meaningless triviality' and says that communication should evolve to be rid of it."  The good doctor grinned.  "I would prefer to be direct. You want a place to call your own? I think I know the place. It's a mess right now, and might not leave the best first impression, but I assure you, it has promise." Having recovered himself, Sundance began to take control of the situation. "It is vital for the barony's future that we reclaim this site from the wilderness. Work has begun, but more work is needed."  "We are creatures with simple needs," Simulacra replied. "We need sunlight, water, and love. Well, occasionally we need sweet sap, or syrup… and a multitude of raw organics so that our internal alchemy glands continue to function… but we are creatures with simple needs."  It slowly sank into his mind just what Sundance was dealing with. If these creatures could read his mind to understand bureaucratic workings, then they could also tap into Corduroy's mind to become an army of capable nurses. They were competent builders; whose mind did they draw that knowledge from? And Doctor Dew… what knowledge had they absorbed from her?  "You begin to realise our potential," Simulacra said to Sundance. "You awaken and gain awareness of what our shared glorious future might be. Could be. Few can see that. Princess Celestia can see it… but she keeps her mind closed off from us. For good reason. She is wise. You… you were generous enough to take us in. We will be loyal and share our gifts with you. Equestria is our home… our future. We must secure our future."  "I find it hard to believe that nopony else would give you a chance," Sundance remarked.  "Old wounds are slow to heal," Simulacra said in response. "Princess Twilight offered us a place in Ponyville, and we did check out the town. It was nice. But Ponyville has a lot of travellers, not all of which are friendly towards us. Regrettably, my sister made the decision to turn her down. As for myself, I was undecided. But, it is my belief that we need isolation, at least until such a time that we develop a culture of our own… an identity. This place seems ideal."  "Some of the younger 'lings lack a resistance to hatred," Doctor Dew said to Sundance. "It makes them physically ill. Simulacra and Simulation are resilient, but they are exceptional. The younger ones though… they have trouble with the idea that they are hated for crimes they had no part in. Exposure leaves them insecure. The new 'lings aren't as hardened to negativity as the old 'lings, which Chrysalis prepared for just such a thing. These 'lings experience the full emotional spectrum, from love to hate, and everything in between."  Disturbed by this revelation, Sundance began to pace the length of the room.  "I did not create them to be soldiers," Doctor Dew said after a brief silence. "While I made some hard choices during their creation, I did make every effort to give them free will and self-determination so that they might find their own future. Whatever it is that it might be. I was removing genetic shackles and I had no desire to add my own."  "You know," Sundance began as he continued to pace, "I understand hard decisions. Just today, I brought some kids home. Kids that have had a rough go, but good kids. And rather than be with them when they probably need me the most, I left them to the care of strangers. Well, strangers to them. This is a new place, probably a bit scary, and I left them. Just when they needed me most. I'll probably regret it at some point."  Her face now deadpan, Doctor Dew watched Sundance, but had nothing to say.  "And apparently, my isolation is an asset. I mean, things keep happening and the word 'isolation' is brought up repeatedly. Decisions are made because of this isolation. This place is isolated, and that's ideal for a lot of things. Yet… my job as baron is to connect this place to the outside world. To build bridges, so to speak. I am tasked with destroying the very isolation that seems to benefit me. What's a baron to do? Cultivate the beneficial isolation and hope for the best? Or build connections to the outside world so my lands will prosper? It's a hard choice, and one I'm not sure that I'm smart enough to make. But Princess Celestia didn't appoint me because of my smarts, no. I am where I am because of bureaucratic endurance. It's a reward for paperwork, you see."  Then, Sundance came to a complete halt, turned about, and faced Simulacra.  "I am sure that you mean well, but you need to stop looking like me or the others. It's funny, and I am sure it is all meant in good fun… but"—here, Sundance paused and drew in a deep breath—"it opens up the doors for chaos in the community. If we have somepony accuse somepony else of doing something, they have the means to say that they didn't do it, that it was somepony that looked like them. I don't want that. Feel free to look like whatever you wish… just try not to look like somepony else. I don't want our trust of one another damaged."  "You are wise to say that," Simulacra said to Sundance.  "Thank you," Sundance replied.  "I hadn't actually thought of that being a problem. I've already told the others. We will refrain."  "Good… because I made a hard choice and welcomed you here. I want you to succeed and find happiness here. We need to minimise the reasons for upset. I think you'll fit in here. I'd like to think that you'll do well." Again, he took a deep breath, and then added, "Would you like to go and see the place I had in mind for your settlement?"  "I'd like that," Simulacra replied.  "Then let's do this. Gather the others and let's get you settled in."  Yet another red line crosses Equestria, this one very short… The beavers were about to be evicted, but such was the way of the world. Sundance landed upon a rock outcropping, found his balance, and then just stood as forty-nine changelings each found their own place to touch down. He had himself an excellent view of the Crags down below, which were now flooded with a considerable amount of water. It was almost a lake. The ruined remains of the tank that he'd found were now completely submerged, as it had probably once been before the beavers built their pond.  While most of the changelings looked similar to one another, some had some differences. There were those with antler-branches, others with what appeared to be bark, and there were a couple that looked a bit like stick bugs, as if they were logs with tree limbs. Sundance didn't think it was a disguise, as each of them had taken their natural form. The introduction of plant genetics had saved them, but had also profoundly changed them. Yes, the changelings had changed.  "This is perfect," Simulacra said to Sundance.  "It's a little rough," Sundance replied.  "It's a blank slate," Simulation said as she balanced upon the end of a log that jutted out of the water. "We can make this place whatever we wish for it to be. There is good soil beneath the muck. Lots of sun with the southern exposure. Mountains to mine, and a plethora of available organics for us to ingest so that we might fill our alchemy glands."  "What I need is to ensure that the water never stops flowing into those two rivers. That's the lifeblood of my barony, and this place is the heart."  "You're asking us to guard and tend your heart," Simulation said with her head now bowed. "That seems solemn, somehow. A sacred duty."  "Perhaps it is." Sundance gave it some thought, but did not come up with an opinion of his own. "This land is yours though, now and forever. Do with it as you will, but be responsible stewards. Keep the water flowing. Try not to pollute too much. Restore the land so it'll hold topsoil… I'm told that's important as part of the effort to fix this place. You probably know more about it than I do, so it is my plan to trust you to get it done. That's how things work around here."  The changelings sprung into action, no doubt spurred on by some silent, unheard command shared amongst themselves. A group of 'lings began to destroy the beaver dams in a controlled, careful way, while another group took to the air and began to circle. Still another group began lifting large logs out of the water, and these were placed in a pile. Simulacra and Simulation both turned to face Sundance and something about their downright alien faces radiated a sheer, intense joy.  "You'll need a way to keep warm come winter," Sundance said. "It gets cold here. We're in a temperate-boreal area, with hot, short summers and brutally frigid winters. I've only heard stories, but they're all bad stories. The only thing we have going for us is that the ground doesn't freeze solid due to geothermal activity. Not sure what you'll do for heat. I'm worried though, because plants are susceptible to the cold."  Simulacra nodded. "We are vulnerable to the cold. But we are confident that we can overcome."  "We are actually at a higher elevation than Canterlot," Simulation said with her head tilted off to one side. "Your settlement is almost at the same altitude as Canterlot, and here, we are above it. The terrain is deceptive, but the plains are all downhill in every direction from your settlement. And these mountains"—she gestured at the two peaks just behind her—"are mighty." "Huh… I wouldn't have guessed," Sundance said. "I don't mean to be rude, but there's not enough of me to go around. I'm going to leave you to it. As for myself, I need to return, because there are others I need to meet with today."  "We'll be going with you," Simulation said to Sundance. "Doctor Dew… we would like to say goodbye before she departs."  "I understand." With a solemn nod, Sundance voiced his agreement.  "Plus, we'll need to unload our eggs and our seed pods before she can go." Simulacra then turned to Sundance and asked, "Let us return."  "Yeah," Sundance replied. "Daylight is precious."  "Indeed it is," the siblings both said together in one voice. "It is the very thing that keeps us alive."