~~~~~~Ponyville Town Hall, about an hour later~~~~~~
"The bad news is pretty damn bad. One hundred and seventy five walking wounded, mostly those affected by the Chaos Taint. Town doctor's inform me it'll be a week before they're all completely back to normal, but that's just the start. We've got seventy five more who were seriously hurt by the valiant defenders of those kids, and they'll all have recovery periods between two and six weeks depending on what ended up broken." Valiant Struggle, Captain of the Ponyville guard coughed softly and continued speaking. "Another three hundred were affected in various minor and unpredictable ways by the Chaos Taint. Doc's figure a three to four day recovery period for them. I'm not going to bother listing the property damages - all of that is covered by the Crown's insurance policy. That brings us to the big issue."
The guard Captain looked around the table, taking in a deep breath before continuing. "Said big issue being the four dead ponies." A swift intake of breath came from the town council punctuated the end of his sentence before he continued. "Yes, I said four. In addition to the pony most often referred to as 'Screwball' - we found three other corpses stashed away in her home. All of the bodies had been... treated to look as though they had been killed by Changelings." He licked dry lips and sighed. "At the risk of sounding heartless, I have to say it is fortunate none of them were locals. We're pretty sure they're some of the migrant workers passing through town. We're working on trying to track their families as we speak."
Silence met this statement, and after a few more moments of it the guard Captain trudged on towards his conclusion. "We've thoroughly interrogated Lily Valley. She's currently locked up in Ponyville General, under observation. Under the circumstances, we'd be completely within our rights to charge her with starting a Riot at the minimum, and probably endangering foals if we want to stretch a little... the question is, do we want to?" He raised a hoof, forestalling the inevitable outcries for justice. "Look, this town is already unstable. Lily isn't exactly a community bastion, but her feelings are echoed by a lot of other ponies in town. We arrest her for letting her emotions run out of control - which I'd like to remind everypony here, she's done at least once a year and usually over way less important things - we are going to have problems."
Captain Struggle took in a deep breath before finishing. "Personally, I'm advocating levying a serious fine on her for the hospital bills and some 'community service' time, which we can enforce without making a big public to-do about things." He swept his gaze around the table to the half-a-dozen ponies that sat there in mostly contemplative silence. He hated having to clean up his language for these meetings, but ponies expected guardsponies to be stiff, formal, and most of all professional during crisis times. "I further recommend that we immediately and unconditionally make it clear that any further harassment of our new citizenry will be taken with stone-cold seriousness."
There was a silence as the Captain re-took his seat, filled a moment later by Filthy Rich, who was here to represent the business interests of the town. "I'd have to agree with the captain - I took the liberty of doing a flash-poll this morning shortly after the decree went out. Our citizens are cautiously optimistic about our new townsfolk, but that'll change in a real hurry if we start a witch hunt." The normally haughty pony was showing his pure-business side today - His face had gone as serious as a morticians. "I concur with the Captain. We need to keep this as low-key as possible."
Mayor Mare (who was technically chairing the meeting) nodded decisively. "We've got a motion and a second - do we have any alternative suggestions?" For a moment, silence reigned over the table - until a slim green hoof raised up and the mayor sighed. "Yes, Granny Smith?" she asked her in most tired voice - the Captain himself grimaced a little. The last thing they needed on something this serious was dissent, and Granny was notorious for being contrary just for the sake of being contrary.
However, the older green earth pony snorted derisively. "Ain't disagreein' with ya, Strugs. Nor you, Mr. Rich." She admonished, shaking her hoof. "I jus' wanted t' get my word in 'afore we close the book on this t'do. Ah might not terribly like the idea of changelin's livin in mah Ponyville, but even ah think threatenin' li'l foals is a damn crime. Ah think we oughter celebrate the young'ins who saved em." She noted, slapping the flat of her hoof against the table. "Make a big ol' hooey outta it, hold em up as pillars of tha' community. Yeah, yeah, even that wierd feller in the cloak." She waved her hoof airily. "Give em somethin' t' celebrate. Be good for the community."
The Mayor blinked in amazement at this show of... well, this lack of ornery disagreement, before nodding firmly. "That sounds eminently suitable. I think we can put this to a voice vote - all opposed?" She waited for only a moment before nodding. "There being no opposition, the measure passes. Captain Struggle, would you be so kind as to see to the matter of Lily." She paused. "How long until your investigation of the other one is complete?"
He sighed softly. "Well, that depends." Captain Struggle licked a pair of dry lips, wondering why he was so nervous. When the Mayor arched an eyebrow in question, he sighed. "That depends on how long till Guardspony Trixie recovers and can sign off on everything."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trixie folded her hooves carefully as she mulled over what her mother had just told her. Truth be told, she'd expected the intervening hoof of Celestia in this - but she hadn't realized just how pervasive that hoof had been. How much of her life - how much of both their lives - had been guided and manipulated by her? To what end? Of course, the revelation of the past few minutes put a whole lot of other things into sudden and sharp perspective. One thing was certain - a very long conversation was going to be held the next time they met.
Oddly enough though, Trixie could not find it in herself to be angry at her mother. Maybe it was simply that in the past year so much had happened to her to change her perspective on things. After what had happened in Hollow Shades and Appleloosa, she'd gotten an appreciation for the the value of personal sacrifice. Harmony, care for those who have been lost... She silently prayed for a moment before turning back to face her mother straight on. She smiled, and Phantasma smiled back at her. "Well, that's certainly something to know." Trixie remarked dryly. "Though I suppose I can understand why it was kept from me."
Phantasma nodded slowly. "I truly am sorry, little one. But both... my husband and I decided you deserved to know. As does she." She smiled wryly. "Of course, now I am slightly worried that she will... overreact to the knowledge, now that I don't need to worry about you doing the same." She chuckled drily and Trixie couldn't help but grin at the thought of her overreacting to something like this. "Fortunately, I am rather good at remaining hidden. I don't suppose you'd let your dear old mother bunk with you for a while?" Phantasma said with a wistful tone.
Trixie couldn't help it - she laughed, both at the look on her mothers face as well as the tone of voice. "Of course." She insisted - reaching out to squeeze her hooves. "Let it never be said that The Great and Powerful Trixie is not charitable to those in need." She proclaimed in her old, bombastic tones - which got an astonished look from her mother... and a burst of laughter too. Trixie giggled brightly. "Oh, don't laugh too much... Trixie - ahem.. I used to really act like that." She smiled wryly. "Until a certain someone kicked Trixie's flank, and taught her a lesson or two. Ugh, that was humiliating."
Phantasma grinned slyly. "That's how I met your father, you know." She commented - offhoofedly enough that Trixie turned to stare at her. Her mother laughed brightly. "Oh, yes. I was quite the arrogant little witch when I was young, and when I finally ran into somepony more talented than I was, I got awfully upset about it. It took a few fights - and more than a few bruised egos - to finally admit he was better than I was at combat magic. Of course, things were never quite formal between us until... well, as I just told you." She coughed softly. "He was a good pony, even back then."
Trixie shook her head bemusedly. "Can I ask you something?" She tilted her head, as Phantasma nodded. "Just how much of my life... of the lives of everypony involved in this mess... just how much did Celestia manipulate us?" She hesitated a little at the end, but rushed the words out - hoping that her mother wouldn't be overly offended by the insinuation. "I mean... Really, you've got to admit all of these coincidences and chance meetings are starting to look awful suspicious."
Phantasma sighed and nodded. "The Princess... she was never one to leave well enough alone. She worried so constantly, especially about her and her future. I don't think we'll ever know quite the extent of what she set up for the future, nor how many backup plans she had running." She shook her head slowly. "Now that she's vanished, it's possible nopony will ever know. But I'll say this for her, Trixie - Like her methods or not, she was always trying to keep the best interests of Equestria foremost in her mind." She nodded, firmly. "She was a manipulator, no doubt - but she loved her ponies. She loved this country, and every creature in it. Perhaps that's what drove her to such lengths. She loved us all so very much, that the fear of the ones she loved being hurt was simply too much to bear."
Phantasma looked past Trixie out the window, and Trixie followed her gaze to the shining sun hanging in the sky - just barely blocked by a stray cloud. "And that's what brought the whole thing crashing down." Phantasma whispered softly, and Trixie couldn't help but notice the pain in her mother's voice. And not for the last time, she wondered what Mother had not said about what had occurred between her... and Celestia.
~~~~~~~Canterlot Castle~~~~~~~
Rarity gently fluttered the fan almost as a reflex as she waited primly for the arrival of the chariot, watching Applejack and Pinkie Pie carefully out of the corner of her eye. Things were going so well here, it was easy to forget that the law of unexpected consequences was alive and well out there in the rest of the world. "She wouldn't say a word to either of you?" Rarity asked with a touch of concern coloring her voice. Both of the other ponies shook their heads and Rarity tsked firmly. "Our Queen is being stubborn, it seems." Rarity muttered with a much put-upon sigh. Twilight had grown immeasurably these past few weeks, but she still was a babe in the woods when it came to internal politics.
Fortunately, Rarity was not. "It's a family matter, Rarity." Applejack commented quietly, her voice soft and intense as it always was when this sort of subject came up, "Leave it be till she's ready t' talk about it." And that was that as far as Applejack was concerned. Of course, it would be impossible for Rarity to ignore it. Not with Night Light having taken up rooms in Cadence's wing of the palace, and Shining Armor attending to him personally. There would be questions from the Night Court that would need answering, and Rarity had no suitable answers for them.
Pinkie Pie took this moment to chime in, in her perky and unmistakable way. "Don't worry so much, Rarity." She proclaimed with a bright smile. "She'll be fine, and so will we. We'll have Ponyville wrapped up all neat and tidy before you know it." Pinkie did a little bounce in place - which sent her scandalously short skirts bouncing with her, showing off her well-toned flank almost directly into the Royal Guardspony's face. Anypony else trying that would have been utterly ignored... But Pinkie was developing a reputation, one that the Royal Guardspony was familiar enough with to break his stoic stare for just a moment to eyeball said flank. "Besides!" Pinkie continued, and Rarity smirked in amusement as the Guard snapped back to stoic attention. "We'll get to see everypony back home! I mean, it's only been a few weeks but still!" Pinkie's tail twitched violently for a moment, followed by her mane frizzing out for just a moment before returning to normal. "There's so many new ponies in town! I'm going to need to throw one epic Pinkie Pie Party!"'
Applejack rolled her eyes and Rarity couldn't keep the smile off her face - so she hid it behind the fan. "Yes, well - don't forget your assignments, dearies. And do make sure to check in on Spike for me." She frowned for a moment, thinking of the cute little purple dragon... and his desperate sincerity. "We can't have him doing something foolish, now with everything slowly moving into motion." She tapped her fan against her cheek for a moment, as she considered the possibilities of what else might be accomplished. "Applejack, I don't suppose you'd mind having a few words with Pokey for me? I'd like to know what the dear boy has been up to lately."
Applejack nodded once. They'd long ago established certain ponies to mean certain things. Ditzy was shorthand for discussing intercepted mail messages, Filthy Rich was for talking about moneyed interests in Equestria and so on. Pokey meant local information, specifically about those ponies who were prominent citizens. It was a good way to talk about gathering intelligence without tipping other ponies off to the actual meaning of the words. "Rainbow Dash will be making a stop back in town, too. Let her know what's been going on here." Rarity continued, gently stroking her fan along Pinkie Pie's cheek for a moment, and smiling softly. She would miss having these two here, but the needs of the Queen demanded.
Rarity looked up to the sky with a soft sigh. She wished she could go home and see Sweetie Belle, but that simply wasn't going to be in the cards for some time to come. Canterlot was more than a mere challenge - it was a test of every single skill she'd ever acquired moving amongst the high and mighty of Equestria. Fortunately, she'd had a little discreet help from a few ponies in laying down the law of her new Mistress' power. Unfortunately, that meant constantly reinforcing that power through subtle hints and political jabs delivered daily to the appropriate ponies. "And... I don't suppose you two could peek in on Sweetie for me?" She asked in a soft, plaintive voice.
Both of her friends nodded, and they gently came together. "It'll be okay, Rarity." Pinkie Pie proclaimed in a gentle voice, hugging her firmly around the neck. Applejack joined them, and for a moment they simply stood there in quiet intimacy until the sound of beating wings interrupted them. Pressing their hooves together, the three whispered in unison. "in the name of our queen, and the bright moon above - In Victory, Truth, Passion, Obedience, Power, So do we serve."
Rarity would serve as her Queen demanded. She only hoped Ponyville would survive those demands.
~~~~~~Somewhere in Ponyville~~~~~~
"So, we are agreed?" Said the first pony, his voice pitched low - quite low, in fact.
"Yes." said the Second pony, her voice high-strung and obviously worried. "This afternoon is proof positive that they cannot be trusted. We must make that clear to everypony."
"That wont be easy. They have royal backing to be here." Observed the third pony, in a neutral voice utterly lacking inflection of any kind. "You will not convince The Nightmare Queen to reverse her position, and The Crystal Sun will take her lead on this matter."
"Tsk." Said a fourth pony, in a rich and sneering voice. "It will not matter what they think. The common folk will rise up against this perversion of Harmony. We will bring about the Sun's Glory's plans, as we have agreed. Dissonance will be leashed and shackled."
The four ponies nodded in quiet agreement, and began to lay plans for the future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lyra slipped into the dimly lit room, and calmly crossed the much polished wooden floors. The place was quiet, for once - but that's what made it a good place to meet with... certain other ponies. At least during non-business hours. The Clop was still one of the hottest night-clubs in Ponyville, and had only grown more popular with every new show Vinyl and Octavia came up with and performed here. The place was attracting hot talent from all over Equestria these days - but most importantly to Lyra, it often had musicians and other individuals walking into and out of the place with regularity. Which meant she could slip in, well... mostly unnoticed.
"Good afternoon, Agent Heartstrings."
A smooth and much-cultured voice rolled across the room like a marble across the floor. Lyra had to smile slightly, as she gently and silently trod across the floor towards the source of that voice. She hopped up into the booth where she sat, and leaned back into the soft cushions with a sigh. "Afternoon, yourself." She returned with a sly chuckle. "Really. After working together as long as we have, you're still going to feed me that Agent horsepucky?" She asked with a cocked eyebrow.
The mare across the table smiled back at her sheepishly after a moment. "Sorry, Lyra." She admitted, scratching the back of her head with a hoof. "You know how the boss gets about these formalities." She continued, then laughed softly. "Fuck, are you hearing me? I even sound like her. I mean, geeze. Used to be that I actually hated all of this formal crap and now I'm spouting it like I'm my aunt." She shook her bright orange mane slowly and grinned. "Look, let's start over. Hey, Lyra - how's Bon Bon doing?"
Lyra grinned at her. "Not bad, Carrot Top." She jokingly teased, leaning back into the bench with a gusty sigh. "Bon's is good too. So." She folded her hooves over her belly and grinned. "Hell of a day, huh?" She observed with an amused tone. "I mean, my girlfriend and your roommate both end up attached to our mysterious VIP, there's a chaos mage, and a bunch of other fucked up magic going on. Now we've got six corpses, and no good explanation for five of them - and the explanation we have for the sixth ones is kinda sketchy at best." Lyra drawled out, lining out their problems.
Carrot Top sighed softly. "Yeah, It's a real mess. I've been waiting for a letter from the boss about what we're supposed to do about this crap - but so far, nothin. Any word from our good friend the Mustache?" She asked with a quirk of her lips. Lyra shook her head and Carrot snorted. "Not surprised. They probably don't even know any of the details yet back in Canterlot." She shook her head. "Does the Mayor know about our two special dead guests yet?"
Lyra shook her head. "And she's not going to. That's EIS business, not hers." She said, very firmly. "So keep Captain Struggle out of it. Right now we need to focus on the more important problems - like what in Tartarus we're going to tell the boss about this fuckup." She growled, putting her head in her hooves. "We got blindsided. Worse, it's starting to look like Tia's got some things she isn't telling any of us and that worries the crap out of me. Bon Bon..." She paused. "Bon's really cares about her, Top. Like, serious face, no joking cares about her. Not just in the usual sense like she mothers everypony under the age of forty. She was worrying about her last night to the point of drinking."
Carrot nodded slowly. "Ditzy too. She was asking me if I had any ideas on how to help an intellectual shut in not be so lonely. I haven't seen Ditzy this worried about somepony that wasn't Dinky since... well, ever." She paused, and rubbed at her chin. "I think we need to keep a really close eye on this unicorn, Lyra. She's pulling this town into the same place it was when Twilight was here, and I'm worried that with things set up the way they are..." She said, her voice slow and thoughtful. "That it's gonna set this whole thing ablaze." She shook her head slowly.
Lyra nodded slowly in reply. "Yeah. Boss isn't going to like that, though - so we ought to keep it between us for now." She bit down at her lip, chewing it in thought. "So. You want to write the letters, or should I?" Carrot Top looked away at that, and Lyra sighed. "Yeah. It's never easy reporting deaths." She looked up at the ceiling of the club, wishing it would give her the answers to the mysteries that plagued her. Damnit, Bon Bon. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into...
Uwah, I have a bad feeling with those that said Dissonance need to be shackled and leashed. You don't do that to a power that arises normally (naturally if you will), it's the opposite of Harmony, because isn't Harmony means acceptance? Somehow, their Harmony feels more like those people that is really fanatic or obsessed towards their beliefs. This is going to get dangerous, and soon.
Some more hints on what Trixie and Phantasma said to each other, but we still don't know all the pieces... yet. Curious, curious.
Anyhow, this is another good chapter! I can't wait on the next chapters! (especially since we are back to normal schedule, yay! )
2858581
It might help, when they say 'Harmony', to read it as 'the way things were, when we were powerful and all this new scary stuff wasn't around'.
The forces of Reaction never care about whatever philosophical figleaf they've appropriated, only that it stands up to enough scrutiny to let them feel justified in doing what they wanted to do anyway.
Question: Is Dissonance more powerful than Harmony, considering the power-up Twilight and the Ex-Bearers got when they embraced it, or is more like the Dark Side stuff: Quicker, easier, more seductive... and with physical "werdiness" associated?
2858581 or maybe they are the dissonance and the regular dissonance worshipers are the harmony born for all their actions so far in the name of their so called belief.
2858711 I think you're looking at it wrong. Look at trixie. I think anyone who embraces either side gets a powerup. Both having pros and cons.
Also, If trixie's mom turns out to be Twilight's mom, as it's lookin, I'm going to flip my shit. And I swear to gawd, do not turn this into a twixie shit ship. I know I have no say in what you already have planned and all, but damnit, I hate that prick and would prefer the only interactions she has with Twilight to be when she is getting her flank handed to her.
2859185 Don't worry, Celestia is Twilight's mother as was stated in the previous story.
2859386 That's right. I get lost sometimes with how many stories I'm tryin to follow sometimes. Thanks. That's a load off my mind.
2859386
And Auntie Luna is part of Twilight´s harem. And stepbro SA didn´t get an invitation only because Twi didn´t want to piss off Cadence.
2858711 It's a little of both columns. Individually, Dissonance wielders are "More Powerful" because they can apply that power in much more direct ways.
However, Harmony wielders, in groups, are always more powerful because they work like amplifiers for one another.
The Elements... of both powers... well, you'll see.
This story just gets better and better. Looks like we have a group of ponies that are going to try and shackle Dissonance....again. Yeah, that worked out sooo well last time.
Unfortunately, their actions will probably play into Discord's hands since he wants more Chaos out and about.
It feels like half of Ponyville is either an EIS agent, or a closest fanatic of one side or the other. No wonder crazy things happen there.
I like these peaks into what the Mane 6 are doing during all of this, I just hope that Fluttershy has evolved beyond being a decoration....
2858581 Shackling and leashing dissonance was Celestia's plan from the previous story -- she was in the middle of doing it during the final battle.
Everypony was opposing her because they thought she was going to *destroy* dissonance which would obviously destroy the world, but once it was revealed that her plan wasn't completely insane it was too late to stop the fight (and also they didn't really want to lose access to dissonance power -- I think that would have been the practical effect, making dissonance impossible to use).
2859433>>2859386 Shining Armor's mom, I'm thinking, is trixie's mom. Which will just do all sort of effed up shit to my head, if I turn out to be right.
. . .
GAH!!! Another chapter without any major plot points. You jerk!
Rage aside, this is an interesting, but kind of off chapter. You've introduced Lyra and Carrot Top as secret service agents, made them reveal what we the audience already knew *I hope*. You've introduced a small four pony cult of die hard, though hopefully that isn't put into real meaning, Harmony believers. You've introduced that everything is starting to go pear shaped again, from my POV. It's all your usual well done set up from previous stories, put in such a way where anypony can predict what will happen next, but then when the next chapter comes out only the luckiest of guessers will be correct. Everypony else will be flabbergasted and either rage or swoon.
Good work. Very good work. Best of luck getting back into a regular schedule.
To be honest, I still believe that Twilight and co come off as a bunch of emo fantasy types. The kind that are dreamt up by young girls who hate their parents and have read far too much Anne Rice than is good for a sane person. They, to me, very quickly turned themselves into excellent examples of ponies who deserve to be called out on for their hypocrisy and the general need-to-be-punched-in-the-faceness that they've all developed.
Edit: Note that I don't agree that Celestia was better and i'll agree that she deserved much of what she got, but she didn't have quite the same utter stench of hypocrisy that this Twilight does. Twilight seems very much to be doing stuff because she thinks it's better, rather than for the actual good of anyone.
Because frankly, putting dissonance and harmony entirely aside, every time we see them I get the sense that they've all turned into a bunch of emo teens on power trips (I spent a significant amount of the prior fic thinking this about the entire setup, it's only the fact that it was technically well written that kept me following it and moving on to this. Well, that and Trixie's side story.) and at least half of them can be confirmed for being bullies to boot.
Ideally I would hope that they get called out for being such (bullies i mean) by some foal (bonus points if it's a changeling) that has been taught that following dissonance or harmony is utterly irrelevant in comparison to acting like a good or bad being.
... well, that and my ideal involves most of the emo six being punched in the face, but I accept that I can't wish for everything.
PS: Bonus points if Mayor Mare gets verbally ripped to shreds by... well... damn near anyone really. She really irritates me with almost every scene and thought she has.
2860782
Tsk Tsk! You obviously have failed to study, my most annoying student!
Anyone who is of the absurd belief that niceness or compromise has anything to do with politics in a non-democratic setting (And seeing as how Equestria is, at best, a Diarchy with vaguely republic leanings) is at best naive. Every individual, ever, who has held political power of that level has desired to use that power to further their personal ends and beliefs. What separates an individual we call a 'Hero' and one we call a 'Tyrant' is entirely based on our personal beliefs coinciding with theirs.
As extra homework, please refer to the lives and biographies of the following individuals - Many of whom were called tyrants, bullies, and worse by their foes during their reigns - Catherine De Medici, Catherine The Great of Russia, Queen Elizabeth The 1st of England, Prime Minister Margret Thatcher, Queen Victoria, and Isabella the 1st of Spain.
Element of Chaos? PLEASE!!!
2860976
... I am mildly impressed that i earned the title of 'most annoying student' with one post. Go me. Guess I better earn it now.
Anyway, ruthlessness on some level is to be expected yes - but we've already seen, for example, Dash actively threatening the Mayor on Twilight's orders. That's the sort of thing thats gone beyond ruthless politics and straight into dictatorship tactics.
Then we have Rarity's little commentary on threats here makes her actions come across less as political threats in terms of loss of control or power and more along the lines of mafia-style 'we wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you and yours' (especially with mentions of 'discrete help', which so comes across as meaning enforcers of somekind or the like) - though i'll admit this could just be the way it's worded rather than the intended sense.
And then we have Twilight herself - who only has any real grasp of the country on account of the fact that so many at the top levels are either a) terrified or b) under her thrall. She's hardly likely to see anyone really resisting there and, hell, we even saw with Shining (putting aside any thall-ish-ness for now) how he so easily gives in to her on what appears to be the basis of 'she'd do it anyway and I can't stop her if she did'. This seemingly also holds true for most of everything she's wanted to do (the integration, especially in light of Tia's musing on Cadence's likelihood of folding like a wet towel in the face of what Twilight wanted), and she only really starts showing any indication of second thoughts when things have already started blowing up in her face due to how poorly she rushed things to begin with.
Celestia meanwhile, for all the nasty stuff she did, at least seemed more willing to move things slowly into place... as opposed to Twilights 'everyone will do as i've said or else' method of integration that was always going to backfire horribly even without outside meddling.
In short: Celestia acted more like a royal (always looking good to her people, using force as a later resort but being eager to use it where the public thinks it appropriate, convincing the people that they want what she wants... so that they'll think, among other things, that said force is appropriate against the people you don't like) while Twilight is acting more like a dictator (Seems to revel in acting like some kind of evil overlord, force is an early resort, what she wants is what the people will get regardless of what they want, etc).
So yeah. They may have a right to be ruthless as it's a diarchy and Twilight is nominally the more powerful of the two monarchs, but there seems to be a definite line between monarch and dictator that Twilight and co repeatedly come off as being on the wrong side of. And even if they were entirely justified due to their position, it doesn't mean they don't deserve to be called out on how they're acting - especially after calling out Celestia on her actions and decrying stuff which seems less extreme, day-to-day, than what they themselves are doing. Manipulation may be bad, but is outright intimidation and enthralling really any better?
Edit: jeez. I shouldn't be allowed opinions on things anymore, they take too long to type up.
2859185 Isn't Twilight Celestia's daughter? Or did I make that up?
2861268 That was a test - you passed! You've got real, substantial reasons for your dislike of the characters and you're not afraid to back them up.
I respect your opinion, and I'm glad to have you amongst my readers. I hope you can come to enjoy the story, even if you don't like some of the individuals involved. I do assure you that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes here, but a lot of it is going to have to wait for the sequel. I hope you'll give me that chance.
Thanks for spending the time to give me an intelligent and well thought critique - You are a shining gem amongst commentors.
Edit ; Side note - I prodded you like that because I wanted to see if you just hated the characters "Because Dark Side" or because you had serious, intelligent problems with their methods. I've had too many commenters in the past in the former category, who didn't even bother to consider that maybe things weren't entirely as they seemed.
I apologize if I got a bit rude though. It's been a long day.
2861401 Yes, yes she is.
Of course.... well, that would be spoiling things.
2861490 Oh, you brilliant author, you. You've already got me drooling in anticipation for the delicious plot twists.
2861490 You evil author you
I like plot twisters
2860782
>every time we see them I get the sense that they've all turned into a bunch of emo teens on power trips ... and at least half of them can be confirmed for being bullies to boot.
Well, to be fair, they likely ARE a bunch of bullying emo teens on power trips.
The Mane Six are young adults who have the strength, powers, and magic that far exceeds the normal ponies. They used their abilities to overthrow their previous rulers and impose their will onto the world. Yet beneath all their confidence, sex appeal, and brute power, they are still the frightened little fillies who lost all faith in their government and goddess just a few weeks ago. Does that excuse their bullying and hypocrisy? Probably not.
Luckily for the world, their tyranny won't last forever: if they somehow manage to keep themselves in power for 100+ years, they should learn to be a more benign and sneaky dynast like Celestia
...until they take their plots too far and get themselves overthrown by the next set of champions, that is
Btw, I really like this story!
2861401 Yes, but she was still raised by Shining Armor's parents(sort of). I may be off my rocker, but I'm getting the feeling Trixie is Shining Armor's sister.
2861268 I would agree with you, except for one thing. As shown with Mayor Mare, the dissonance followers are followers of those who are powerful. Their entire organization is based on who is the strongest. The way I see it is, Twilight is not playing games she showing everyone that she is putting her foot down. No beating around the bush, as they say. That in mind, I don't think it would feel right to have the Nightmare Queen, and her cohorts, of the Dissonance followers acting any other way.
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My issue with that view is that there was something of a spiel in the first fic about how leaders of dissonance were supposedly those who proved themselves most fit to lead.
Sadly this does not seem to bear out in any real way beyond 'the one with the biggest stick leads' - and just being the strongest does not mean, as Twilight has already proven, that one is actually any good at leading.
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actually this is best represented by scrolls
she was an earth pony but she built her poser with brains she. cathéter followers and knowledge until she was on par with twilight's natural ability
twilight would have lost the duel If Luna wasent her acolite
it is the capability to skillfully weild thier recorces that makes a dissonence leader but what you have to take into account is that to her friends and the small comunity of ponyville she was a good leader. but the skills don't scale up well so she is going to make mistakes until she learns subtlety
2861268
I see your point but ifeel I need to point out a couple of things first the mayor has already been shown to be a bit of a loose cannon so the threat was there to remind her not to overstep her bounds.
second it felt like rarity didnt actually like having to make threats but other than that I agree
as to twilight the one thing I feel many are forgeting/do t realise (both readers and the characters in the story) is that she is still twilight as show. by her Desire to play board games so she is not suddenly going to know how to run an entire contry.
applejacks weeding out of corruption in a heavy hoofed way is justified as embezzlement and bribery are lieing and stealing both things that applejack abores and were not talking applebloom getting into the cookie jar this is thousends of bits going into the pockets of pints who already have pleanty
I agree with you on the fear part but not the thrall part cadence and Shining aren't just folding they are trying to let twilight figure out alternitive methods they know how stubborn twilight can be so they know that if they flat out say no she will stop listening
ps I shining is too old to be phantasmas child. In my head night light has shining with unknown mare. unknown mare dies. nightlight starts relationship with phantasma resulting in trixie. while simultaneously approched by celestia resulting in twilight.
so twilight, trixie and shining are all half siblings
You know, I kind of like the darker Mane 6, and that both Harmony and Dissonance have sets of Elements. (You know, that makes them sound like magical tools to be used at the wills of their respective sides... but then again, that's pretty much what they are, aren't they? )
I also think that the Coven's individual talents would be extremely useful in politics and the government, like the author has shown. I definitely couldn't have thought all of that out myself! (Although I'm honestly not sure about Pinkie... Maybe she drives misbehaving nobles insane with non stop partying and overall chaos? Well, on second thought, probably not. )
It was about time carrot top got involved!
This will have some very interesting consequences