//------------------------------// // Pony Genetics: Tribe Hybrids // Story: The Rites Encyclopedia // by CvBrony //------------------------------// “Okay, time for Tribe Hybrids!” Twilight said, tapping her pointing stick on a board behind her. On it were six circles arranged equidistant from each other, with one more in the center. Together, they showed the possible tribe combinations (or lack thereof). “First and foremost, there are three pony tribes. Earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns. Most ponies are just one of these. However, occasionally, a hybrid of two tribes will be born, and yes, a pony’s tribe or tribes is always determined in the womb. Unless they ascend to alicornhood.” The chalk floated up and drew lines connecting “earth pony” and “pegasus” to a circle in between them. “First off, we have the heavy pegasi, or earth pony and pegasus hybrids. These ponies are typically a bit slower and clumsier in the air than their pegasi counterparts, but between their magics they’re absurdly durable. A good example of a heavy pegasus is…” A blond-maned, gray-coated pegasus flew into the scene and landed, her wall-eyes looking gleefully at the audience. “Hello everypony!” “Hi Ditzy Doo!” Twilight smiled. “Still on the mail route?” “Yup! Good thing I got the job when I did, too. They’re cutting the pensions of the newer guys…” Twilight cringed. I wonder if I can do anything about something like that. “Ouch. Well, there’s that. How’s Dinky?” “She’s doing good! She’s got a scholarship to Manehatten University! Good thing, too. I kinda doubt I’d be able to afford it otherwise. Still, I knew she’d be okay. She’s a smart filly.” “That she is!” Twilight turned back to the camera. “Anyway, Ditzy Doo here, aka Derpy, is a ‘heavy pegasus,’ and they’re called that no matter what their real weight is, although they do tend to have more mass than ‘normal’ pegasi. Also, out of all pegasi, about one in twenty are this type. This ratio has gone up a bit in the last few hundred years but has since leveled out. They have all the plant growing abilities of earth ponies, and can fly like pegasi, although they aren’t considered the best flyers out there. Still, that’s a trend, not a rule. Practice can overcome a lot. Thanks for coming, Ditzy!” The heavy pegasus saluted. “Yes ma’am! And thank you for the muffins!” She then leapt into the air and flew out the door, narrowly avoiding crashing into the door along the way. Twilight smiled. “She’s gotten better! Okay, next up, we have the earth unicorns. And I’m proud to say that we have a second newly-featured character for Rites to demonstrate them! Everyone, please welcome the singing sensation Crystal Belle!” An adult, white unicorn mare with a long, curly, purple and pink mane stepped into view. Inside her meticulously styled mane was a bevy of blue crystals chiming amongst each other, turning her very movements into song. “Thank you for inviting me, Twilight,” she said with a bow and a smile. “I was worried I’d never get to be on anything in Rites. Although, you can call me Sweetie Belle. My friends from Ponyville are much too important to use that stage name.” Her new voice was as smooth as polished ice, and much lower and operatic than the one she had as a little filly. “Alright, fair enough. And thank you for coming!” Twilight turned back to her audience. “Okay everypony, Sweetie Belle here is an earth unicorn, a hybrid of earth pony and unicorn.” The chalk floated up and drew two more lines. Twilight continued, “They tend to be stronger and sturdier than regular unicorns, and like their earth pony cousins, are capable of using their magic to help plants grow! Hence, they can make excellent farmers, having both unicorn and earth only magic. In addition, earth unicorn doctors are also widely sought after! Their healing magic is beyond compare. Naturally, though, this doesn’t mean they have to go into those fields,” she winked at her guest. “I’m glad I didn’t! It took me long enough to find my cutie mark!” She looked over at her flank, where a blue, crystal bell with a pink ribbon and a music note was emblazoned. “Getting one in biology? Not exactly my strong suit. I’d’ve been miserable!” Twilight couldn’t help but grow a smile. “Didn’t I tell you it would come in time? Anyway, once again, thank you for appearing!” “It’s my pleasure, Twilight! Come see one of my shows sometime! A Grand Mage should rate some VIP tickets, I think!” She winked and started walking off stage. “I’ll take you up on that offer!” Twilight drew two more lines on the board, this time connecting “unicorn” and “pegasus” to a circle labeled “winged unicorn.” “Okay, last up, we have the winged unicorns, second only to alicorns in how rare they are.” Twilight looked up at the ceiling. “Cadence, you can come down now!” A pink winged unicorn circled in the air, eventually coming to a light landing on one hoof. “Hello, Twilight! As the others did, I must thank you for inviting me! Not that there are many other winged unicorns…” “This is true.” Twilight cleared her throat. “In fact, in all of Equestria, there are only a few dozen in existence. The reason why, we’ll get to in a moment. For now, winged unicorn basics.” Cadence sat down and opened her wings. “Although we have both pegasus and unicorn magic, our wellspring sizes vary at about the same spread as that of a normal unicorn. I’m well above average, obviously, but this is not the case for all of us. We do, however, possess the capability to use much more magic at once than most unicorns, but this comes with a risk. If we overextend our wellsprings by pulling magic from them too quickly when they’re empty, we suffer something called ‘horn blow out.’ It’s the same as taking a large magical blast to the tip of our horn, and is a serious medical emergency. Though death from it is rare, it can lead to crippling complications if not treated.” Twilight picked up the thread. “As for pegasus magic, they’re more or less normal pegasi. However, with that out of the way, we now have to talk about the why of tribe hybrids. Specifically, why some are hybrids, but most aren’t. Although heavy pegasi and earth unicorns aren’t anywhere remotely as rare as winged unicorns, they still don’t make up as much of the population that simple genetics would suggest.” Cadence smiled. “You always did like lecturing, Twily. How’s it feel to be a professor of sorts?” Twilight ducked down and blushed. “... Cadence, come on. Not you too!” “Hehe. Sorry, Twilight. I couldn’t resist! Please, continue.” “Right, well…” She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Okay, the reason is, actually, just like alicorn gains attributes of the other races during ascension, so too does the magic from a hybrid’s wellspring matter. In fact, there are many ponies out there with the genetic markers for being a hybrid, yet they aren’t. The answer lies in something called ‘wellspring geometry.’ “A pony’s wellspring doesn’t begin to form until a couple months into gestation in its mother’s womb. The process for it to form fully takes a bit more time, and during that, the leylines in its body begin to connect to the wellspring. Only specific configurations will work for hybrids. If the geometry of the wellspring doesn’t form in just the right way, the leylines won’t connect, and that part of the wellspring will grow dark, and the other’s leylines will fade. They’ll only receive the magic and physical traits of the connections that do form. There are relatively few valid geometry configurations for hybrids. In fact, for winged unicorns, there are only three, compared to dozens for other hybrids and hundreds for non-hybrids of all types. This is why they are so rare.” Cadence flapped her wings a little. “‘Tis a shame. I would have liked to have grown up with somepony else like myself, but I do admit to enjoying being somewhat special.” “That’s not what makes you special, Cadence.” The two turned their heads to the side, finding Shining striding into the room. “Your kindness, love, and work for your ponies as Princess of the Lost is what makes you special. Others would adore you just the same even without the wings, or the horn.” “Awww!” Cadence began to tear up, and gave him a giant hug. “That’s so sweet! Thank you, Shining!” He smirked. “That, and you have an amazingly hot pair of flanks. I mean, wow.” “And don’t you forget it, mister!” she laughed into his ear. Twilight rolled her eyes. “Okay, that’s enough for this entry, we’re already over our time limit. Thanks everyone for reading, and don’t forget to comment and vote!” Nothing new unlocked this time. ==Pony Genetics== Stock Ponies and Draft Ponies Tribe Hybrids ????? ????? ????? ==Magic Items== Enchanted Objects Cored Artifacts ????? ????? ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ==Royal Guard Overview== Senechals [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 4] Royal Guard [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 4] ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 4] ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 4] ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 4] ==Equestrian Politics== The Inner Council ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 3] ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 3] ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 3] ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: SOMETIME IN BLOCK 3] ==Wings== Wing types overview Flight characteristics ????? ==Culture== Languages Technology Level ???? ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ???? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN] ==Higher Power== Pony spirituality Alicorn worship ????? [LOCKED UNTIL: UNKNOWN]