As Earth and Equestria are drawn closer together, Gatekeepers connecting to their other-world counterpart start to appear. This is the story of Rex, bound to Chrysalis as a Gatekeeper, and his quest for survival as a changeling on Earth.
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You bet I'm joining that group, I've got something like 700 or so words for Sunbutt's already.
3983816
Now, I actually had something really specific planned for when and how Celestia's partner appears. Unless you agree to work with me on it, I don't think I would be willing to consider it canon. That said, I'm still encouraging you to write it.
3978659
I hope that fixes it...
im not ok with the catherine thing when did she get taken cause then she died and im left confused to if i missed a part
3983967
Chapter 46, Catherine was captured. In the space between 46 and 47, she's cocooned. Gilda mentions that and sets out to rescue Catherine, but it does more harm than good.
Pity that Catherine ended that way, but I'm not really surprised.
I am surprised, however, that Rex is reaching out to Equestria, especially considering all the things he's done in the past and now. Here's hoping that souls aren't addictive. When I wrote about the possibility of peace, I meant that as a hypothetical exercise in what Rex could do if he really tried, and the potential benefits of that hard work. Not complaining though, it'll be interesting to see how this goes, and what Chrysalis' reaction will be (besides calling him an idiot again). Especially if they discover any of the more questionable things he's done, and will likely do in the future.
Turn my brother into a reainimated butler, he is already useless so why not give him some purpose. Oh and try to make him like the butler from the Sherlock Holmes movie. And that is one twisted way to go, 'Oh my partner on the other side died then I die a slow and horrible death? Perfect!'
A good chapter. I like to know, did he eat a sol? Not the life for's but the mans sol?
Dragonfox
3984218
Keep wondering. It's important.
Now, I was initially surprised when you killed Catherine and Gilda, but then I remembered that you'd said Catherine wouldn't really play a part in the story any more. In order for that to work right you had to kill off Gilda too. A guess that I have is that a new Griffon gatekeeper bond will form, but you said there's a sinister reason for the dual death, so I could be wrong. In any event, I'm still enjoying the story so far. You're doing a good job of not letting things stagnate.
3983843 Why of course I'd be willing to work with you on it. It is your thing after all!
3984127
something feels wrong about that proclimation of neutrality. might just be me and my paranoia
Okay, Beneath the Shade, you called it. I admit it, you win.
Congrats!
...probably.
Haven't had a chrysalis chapter yet.
3985412 Well, it's apparent (to us at least) that Rex has ulterior motives for this. In the beginning, Chrysalis made it clear that she was only helping him because he was useful. Seeing as he's using her advice and example to run his own hive, deceit and manipulation can be expected. Then again, that's politics in general.
3985597 To be honest, I'm actually shocked that this is happening. I only said that to point out opportunities Rex had missed by not using his foresight. After the hostile way he negotiated Selene's tutoring, I didn't think it was possible for him to make peace with them. He might still not, all things considered. Gonna be a bumpy road ahead.
3985661
It's going far better than I thought would be possible. He might still just be trying to trick 'em or somedin but still.
While I wrote those two sentences I kept telling myself, "don't rant about how they shouldn't be trusting him like this already, don't rant about how they shouldn't be trusting him like this already."
Well that was an inglorious death for Catherine and Gilda. I'm kinda surprised Gilda didn't open up a bigger portal to observe the surroundings more before just cutting Catherine loose. When you don't take things into account, you pay for it as they both clearly did at this moment.
Another thought: Under normal circumstances, a Gatekeeper cannot cross the boundaries between the two worlds. Does this still apply if Chrysalis or Rex completely take over one of their drones? As in could that second body cross the boundaries while Rex or Chrysalis were controlling it?
You mentioned previously that there were four soul-eating things out there. I guess we now know for certain that Rex and Chrysalis are two of those. I'm guessing the thing that Rex saw between life and death was one of the others. That only leaves the fourth.
Now that we know what happens when one of the Gatekeepers dies, how does that effect Chrysalis and Rex? Given their connections to their hives, they can pull themselves back from the brink. We've seen Rex do it once already. Now here's my question to you. What if all of Rex's or Chrysalis's hives were destroyed, (one or the other, not both). That would mean the hiveless king or queen could die permanently in a normal situation. However given their connection and status as gatekeepers, would this result in their counterpart dying as well, or could the hiveless king/queen use their connection to their counterpart to revive themselves from the strength of their counterpart's hive? Hopefully that makes sense.
I think of strange things, don't I?
Also just a thought, now I don't know if you had some or all of this planned previously or not, but if you are taking ideas/getting inspiration from the comments you receive, you could at least leave a "thanks for the inspiration/ideas" to those that provided them in the Author's Notes at the end of the chapter.
Psi, I wonder what this name means for the future...
3985725 Well, they shouldn't be trusting him, and I don't think they intend to for a long time. But you don't have to trust someone to cooperate with them. Plus, one of the things I was trying to point out earlier is that having Rex as a potential ally and trade partner instead of an enemy also benefits them, as they are less likely to have to deal with hostile Changelings and he can offer them resources that could improve their society. So even without Twilight's or Celestia's altruism, they could be doing this for their own benefit as well as for peace.
3985786
I will not rant on about- fine.
I don't really think that Rex would want to be partners with them, given the consequences. I would think that Chrysalis would count Rex as an enemy if he decided to start helping them, mostly because that would mean that he might help them instead of her if she decides to do something with that whole infiltrated government thing. Also, if he tells them about changelings which would be very easy for her to think, well, bad things would happen. So unless he plans on just not telling her and somehow forgets about Shining Armor and the other converts or doesn't think that she would mind for whatever reason or thinks that the ponies could somehow possibly be more helpful to him than the other changelings, I would think that he would have something under his sleeve.
The ponies could probably figure this out considering they know about gatekeepers and would think that he's just trying to get something out of it other than the things that would help both sides. They're pretty smart, they got Twilight.
So if they think that much through, and I'm not missing anything, which I probably am at this point, then why would they even cooperate with him when, from their perspective, he could just throw a bunch of his changelings through the portal and infiltrate the place or do something that would include blowing stuff up for Chrysalis or that whole league of every sentient creature that isn't allied with Equestria? I'm kinda surprised that they don't really seam that worried about that, cause, you know, they killed a frag ton of peeps.
You could say that we ignore Chrysalis for the most part at this point in the story, but that wouldn't be fair.
3985729
Let me address your points.
First, yes, the 'ling can cross over. Rex was watching the entire time Klika and Nick were in Canterlot and could did at one point speak through Nick.
The third soul eater was Luna's Nightmare. When I mentioned the four soul-eaters, I was not referring to death itself. Yes, that mouth was one of the forms of the grim reaper, but that is not all it is. Let me tell you something: it's important later.
The connection is destroyed upon the consumption of the soul. I won't tell more...
Oh yeah, you were the one who commented about the disappointing ending to the Catherine arc. Thanks for reminding me to address those points. I'll go back and credit you in the author's note. Generally, no, I don't draw inspiration from the comments. However, they do tend to remind me of things when I get off track.
Wait a second! What happened to him being a pacifist?!
3985941 Except that Rex and Chrysalis have stronger ties, and she stands to gain something from a peace treaty as well. Working with Equestria doesn't mean he has to stop being Chrysalis' ally, and we know he doesn't have an issue with being underhanded. On top of that, if the princesses do take steps to make peace with another Changeling hive, then that means they may be willing to tolerate Chrysalis' hive, and Chrysalis herself has demonstrated that she is willing to do what it takes to ensure the health and happiness of her Changelings even if she doesn't like it personally. And it is unlikely that he will reveal any big Changeling secrets, since most of the things vital to Chrysalis' subjects are also important to Rex's hive.
The possibility of hostilities isn't much of a reason to avoid negotiations. The entire point of a peace treaty is to stop those things, and if the Equestrians cease or limit the things that lead to hostilities between them and Changelings as well as helping Rex through an agreement, then he has strong reasons not to harm them. This would also mean compromise on Rex's and possibly Chrysalis' parts, but they can afford to look into alternative methods of supporting their peoples. Also, the ponies believe that infiltration is harder than it is, and that a Changeling would have to capture and replace somepony and act like them, since it seems that other races haven't found out about conversion.
This isn't an all-or-nothing, 'you're either with us or against us' kind of deal. There can be moderation in the level of their relationships, and they don't have to be friends or even like each other to work together. Diplomacy isn't finding others who just so happen to agree with each other, get along right off, and provide support. They negotiate to resolve differences and find agreeable ways to deal with each other, solve common problems, and share in the benefits of teamwork. Anyone, even strangers and former enemies, can work with each other to reach shared goals and accomplishments that can only be achieved with the help of others, which is why parley exists. Even in real life, few of us have friends who never do something to make us angry, or policies/beliefs that upset us. It takes work to get along, no matter who you are or what you're dealing with.
3986048
Ah yes. Sorry, I forgot about that. I read an obsessive amount and it's hard for me to keep everything straight sometimes.
Well given Rex's status as a gatekeeper, mention of the reason their bodies disappear being sinister, and Rex's own soul intertwined with every changeling in his hive, I couldn't be sure that it was "just" an aspect of death waiting for him when he nearly died.
I meant before their soul was consumed. Picture it this way. In the case of gatekeeper pairs like Catherine and Gilda, they are connected to each other, by a rope/chain/however you choose to see it. When one of them dies, they fall towards the mouth, the connection becomes taught, and drags their counterpart down with them. In the case of Rex and Chrysalis as we've seen, they're connected to their hives and can use that to climb back up. A web/safety net of sorts. If either Chrysalis or Rex were to lose their respective hives, they'd not have their own safety net to pull themselves back up. However they're still connected to each other. So using that connection could either Rex or Chrysalis pull themselves back up via their partner and his/her web? Rock climbers connected to each other. One slips off but the other still has a firm grip on the surface and is supporting both their weight for a time so their partner has a chance to pull themselves back up.
Welcome, Thank you, and alrighty then.
Rex better be careful if he runs in to any gingers because they are immune to soul magic and the changeling conversion, because you cannot influence what was never there and the roots of the hive mind has to take hold of the soul before it can make the change or it fails.
3986277
1) That's OK. I often have to reread my own story to keep things consistent, so you forgetting things is completely forgivable. It also doesn't help that I went through a period of slow updating...
2) Well, I've been intentionally vague up 'til now.
3) But what if the climber's weight is too heavy for a single rope? Because the connection is more of a string. Imagine if you had 340+ strings to hold onto when 1 is not quite enough.
3986255
Well, I was kind of assuming that Chrysalis and Celestia had a long history of being enemies, which could be another reason why Chrysalis invaded the country. But if we don't assume that, then I'm saying that Chrysalis could never have any better relationship with Equestria than neutral because if they got too close, then ponies would find out about the invasion. She would probably think the same for Rex. I would think that if you start having trade agreements and treaties left and right, then that's a lot closer to the "ally" label than "neutral with this guy". She would then assume that ponies would eventually find out, and then Rex would use her as a scapegoat, since they think of each other as tools/pawn/whatever they called it. From there it just falls apart for the 2 hives.
That or she could think of him as a traitor for siding with the nation she has to have bad relationships with because she eats their emotions. Ponies go with the prospect of such a thing and changelings need it for survival so BOOM you got 2 sides that hate each other.
Rex probably knows this because he picks stuff up from their little walks around the dreamscape. ***Refers to earlier comment***
At least that's what I was thinking.
3986330
1) I've read the equivalent of twenty full-length novels in three weeks. 2.4 million words, and I've not slowed down any. I have a problem I think.
2) Fair enough. Nothing wrong with that.
3) I was under the impression of cables given the link to that steel test cable you used. I also I figured the connection between two gatekeepers was stronger given how so much of them is tied to each other. I was just curious if in Rex and Chrysalis's case if such a scenario came about if they'd both still die or if one could pull the other back with the aid of their hive. Although I suppose you might be intentionally vague on that.
3986487
Well, the bonds are strong, but souls are heavier. I don't think any Gatekeeper could pull themselves up by their bond; they fall too fast and are unaccustomed to manipulating the bond to catch themselves. Chrysalis and Rex are just lucky about that... maybe...
3986469 This story has stated that their nations have been enemies for over a thousand years (I believe 1600 years was what it said), although I don't know if Celestia and Chrysalis have met face-to-face in this universe. I believe Chrysalis revealed that the attack was primarily so she could convert the Bearers and prevent the Elements of Harmony from being used against her.
That line of thought does seem in-character for Chrysalis. However, you are assuming that the hostility and attacks from both sides automatically means that they can never be change their relationship and become allies. If that were true, then Discord couldn't have been reformed in the show, as despite his acts while controlling Equestria and Celestia's apparent hatred of him for that, she gave him a chance anyway.
From what I'm seeing, not all of the ways Changelings feed is harmful to those around them. Passive feeding only causes trouble when there are very large numbers of Changelings around. Rip-feeding is inherently harmful, but they don't have to use that. A normal drain in responsible and controlled amounts doesn't seem to have any negative effects on the one being drained. In the Livewire club, Sarah didn't seem that affected by Rex's draining, and I assume that the regulars there who also get drained aren't that bothered by it either. Additionally, if he wasn't sure that it wouldn't hurt her, Rex wouldn't feed on Selene's love at all, and while he has been wrong about things before, this is too vital to a Changeling's life for him to not have learned it's intricacies by the time he adopted Selene.
Sweet fuckin' chapter.
3986837
Well the hostilities and attacks would make it take a lot more time at the least to become allies. I know Discord was reformed in a day but he's supposed to be chaotic and unpredictable. Plus, Fluttershy was helping reform him. Fluttershy can do things like that when she has a face like this
Ahem.
Filter you don't get near enough emotion and rip ponies would run you out of town if you tried it, so those are out. I kind of got the impression that passive feeding doesn't really get that much emotion in total if you don't want to take too much from each person, and certainly not when you have a hive of probably close to the same population as the ponies. Any other way and you gotta get infiltrated and trick people and kidnap da ponies because I don't think that ponies would love a bug version of a pony for a long while.
I guess it would be alright if they just had a treaty saying "You stay in your world we stay in ours" or something but neither side really wants to go to the other's world. Sure the ponies do it out of ignorance and changelings got all the magic they really need from that world building memory thingy spell, I forget stuff okay, but those are still viable reasons. I just don't see trade agreements and the like going well in the long run. Or short run. Or medium run, I don't see it going well at all actually.
3990357 Previous fighting does make it hard, and Discord's nature probably did help. And while this would make it extremely difficult, it's still possible to overcome it. Plus, both Celestia and Chrysalis have reason to look past their own feelings on this. I believe that peace is naturally appealing to Celestia's character, and the promised safety and economic growth would be good for both her ponies and the 'civilians' of the Changeling hives. If Chrysalis eventually signs a treaty with Equestria, then being publicly recognized as 'Not Enemies' of Equestria will make life much safer for her subjects, which I think she would swallow her feelings for. It would also give Changelings like Bon Bon more options if discovered, and while public mingling is unthinkably far off, discovery wouldn't mean an automatic death sentence or their lover being accused of brainwashing.
Since Chrysalis in canon was able to survive off Shining Armor's love and couldn't afford to drain him very often as they were both busy. It also didn't seem to have any effect on him (I believe that his headaches were due to the strain of his shield spell and the mind control magic). Although the effectiveness of a passive drain is really something the author would have to determine.
The way I see it, passive feeding is like snacking between meals, except constantly. It's not much for sustaining one's self, but it supplements the other forms of feeding so that the Changeling can go longer between drains.
One town or city might not be able to deal with their number of Changelings, but there are still many more ponies than Changelings. To be honest, I don't see how it will work in the long run, but I know that things will have changed by the time we get there, and I can see possible steps to along that path. It might not work out in the end, but until then, why not try to progress?
3990523
I guess I could see that.
Except for the fact that the main thing Chrysalis wants is for her hive to be happy. If our experience with Zecora tells us anything, it's that these ponies are racist. This sound's really insulting but Zecora was in that forest for who knows how long being a recluse and never even talking to anybody, ever. She's a zebra. Changelings are changelings. If they act like that to a zebra then... yeaaah. You would be right, they wouldn't kill them or run them out of town or anything like that, but I wouldn't try going outside my house without a good ol' fashioned creepy guy cloak. Eventually they would come to accept them into society but it took Zecora however long, and for the changelings it will probably take generations before they stop getting looked at funny. Chrysalis seriously doesn't want this. It's better, daily life wise, for them to just do what they're doing, not trying their hardest to get on these guy's good side when they can just have love collectors out doin deir ding and living in a hive with other changelings. It might be better in the long run to try to integrate into society, but Chyrisalis probably just wants to wait for a less costly way of having her hive more happy, like tech! Which is what she's doing. Meaning, there are easier and less costly ways of making it just all around better for the changelings.
3990551 I don't know about racist. It seemed like Twilight was the only pony who knew what a zebra was, and other towns might have reacted better. Ignorance breeds intolerance.
There are other positives to be gained other than working alongside the ponies, but at this point we're just arguing about whether we personally think that it would be worth it. Not much point continuing down this line. I enjoyed talking to you though.
3990582
Well alighty den. Likewise.
Wow so I finally have caught up which partially sucks because I have to wait like everyone else. But so far this has been a FUCKING AWESOME read!
Can't wait for more!!
3999785
I've got the first 250 words of this next chapter done, so you wont have to wait too long.
4000549 YAY!
Huh, Rex just ate a soul... Well that happened.