Sit up straight.
Hold head up high.
Eyes to the ground.
Don’t speak unless spoken to.
Wait for orders.
Deliver a message.
Wait again.
Try to sleep.
Such was Honeycomb’s first week since she started working. Everyday was just the same as the last. She would arrive early in the morning then sit down in Solaris’ room and wait for orders.
That was the worst part of it all, the waiting. Solaris rarely gave her work. Out of the entire week, all that she did was send a message a grand total of five times. Most days, she would just sit there, doing nothing but wait in fear. She did not dare move nor even look at Solaris. Honeycomb was afraid the moment she slipped, the moment she was not following the rules, she would be harshly punished or worse.
The constant fear ate away at her, invading her dreams and making it nigh impossible to sleep. Even though the nightmares were different, they all ended the same way: She would make a mistake, provoking Solaris' wrath.
To make matters worse, she had trouble eating. From sharp fangs to blunt molars, she was not used to eating with a completely different set of teeth. Eating hard foods caused both her teeth and jaw to be sore. Honeycomb tried to change her diet to softer foods, but her anxiety simply killed her appetite anyways. The lack of food was beginning to show, her coat was ragged and her ribs were starting to show.
She secluded herself away from others when she was not working. If she was not in Solaris’ room, she would purposely avoid all contact with anypony and rush straight to her room. Even the few times she delivered something for Solaris, she simply did not enter a conversation or excused herself when one started.
All the stress and obstacles she was burdened with were becoming more and more noticeable as Honeycomb once again found herself jerking her head up, almost dozing off while on duty. She quickly shook her head, trying to shake the persistent exhaustion away. Her eyes widened as she instantly sat up again, Solaris in front of her and writing at his desk.
Honeycomb gulped, trying to wet her parched throat and hoping Solaris had not noticed that she almost fell asleep. She was dehydrated, but she had to be. The first day she drank something before she started to work, she spent the rest of the day trying to hold it in. So she purposely dehydrated herself before work so she didn’t have to use the restroom and disturb Solaris.
The anxiety came back as she became more aware of her surroundings. It felt like a knife was constantly being pressed against her throat. One simple mistake and she would be dead. She tried to focus, but exhaustion was once again creeping in, causing her breath to become ragged and short and her eyelids to droop.
Just as Honeycomb was about to nod off, a knock on the door snapped her out of it.
Honeycomb yanked her head back up, sitting at attention.
“Honeycomb,” Solaris said as he continued to write, “see who it is.”
“Y-yes, Lord Solaris,” Honeycomb replied weakly as she made her way to the door.
Honeycomb gulped as she leaned her head near the door. “Who… who is it?”
“Kitchen staff,” a voice from behind the door announced. “Lord Solaris requested refreshments to be delivered to him later in the morning.”
“Retrieve it for me, Honeycomb,” Solaris commanded, again not bothering to look away from his paperwork as he continued to write.
Honeycomb quickly obeyed as she opened the door slightly. Standing outside was a copper-colored unicorn wearing a white chef’s outfit. He gave a quick bow before turning around and walking away. She looked to the space next to where he was standing, seeing a small trolley with a coffee pot on it.
She quickly grabbed the trolley and pushed it inside, making sure to close the door gently. Carefully, she pushed it to the middle of the room, her hooves shaking.
Honeycomb sat back down, her eyes darting back and forth from the trolley and Solaris. She sniffed, her eyes combing the trolley. On top was just a large glass pot of black coffee, and beside it was a small plate with two biscuits and a napkin.
“Here,” Solaris said as he placed a mug beside him on his desk, “pour me a cup.”
Honeycomb tried to calm her racing heart. “Y-yes, Lord Solaris.” Still unaccustomed to not being able to grip things without magic, she awkwardly twisted her head to place the handle in her mouth, wincing as she bit down. Ignoring the pain, she carried it to Solaris, giving a quiet sigh of relief when she successfully placed it down on the desk.
Rarely this close to Solaris, Honeycomb trembled as she anxiously looked up at him, but he continued to stare at the paper in front of him, his quill dancing around on the parchment.
Honeycomb blinked, remembering her job. She gulped, slowly picking up the pot in her trembling hooves.
The pot started to shake in her hooves as she lifted it above Solaris’ cup. Honeycomb tried to concentrate and calm her hooves, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Her eyes widened in horror when the pot started to slip out of her hooves. She tried to readjust her grip, but her frayed nerves only allowed her to clumsily fumble it. Getting desperate, she grabbed it with her forehooves as hard as she can. There was a loud noise as the glass pot shattered on her hooves.
Honeycomb sat there, her mane in her eyes. The immaculate white carpet was covered in broken glass and coffee—covered in the evidence of her failure. Slowly, Honeycomb drifted her gaze upwards, taking in a large black stain on Solaris' pristine white coat and his stone-faced expression. Cowering, she turned her head to the floor.
Solaris lifted his now wet foreleg.
Honeycomb closed her eyes, bracing herself.
Solaris shook his leg free of excess coffee.
“P-please, Lord Solaris,” Honeycomb weakly stuttered, struggling to pronounce every word. “I swear it won’t happen again. Just give me one more chance.”
“Honeycomb,” Solaris said softly.
“P-please don’t kill me.”
“Honeycomb, look at me.”
Honeycomb looked up, her eyes were wide with dark circles around them while her pupils were the size of pinpricks. Bags had formed under her eyes, and tears flowed down her cheeks.
Solaris reeled back slightly, his own eyes widening, as he stared at her. Regaining his composure, Solaris closed his eyes. After what seemed like an eternity, Solaris’ eyes opened, staring right into Honeycomb's, before drifting down.
“Honeycomb, your hoof,” he said, worry in his voice.
Honeycomb blinked, her eyes following Solaris’. She saw the stain on the floor, a hint of crimson-red mixing in. Honeycomb lifted her hoof, a large shard of glass protruding from it.
“You’re hurt,” Solaris said with concern.
Honeycomb stared at her hoof, trembling, as blood dripped out of the wound. Honeycomb sniffed loudly with a small hiccup, tears welling in her eyes. Don’t be scared. A tear hit the ground. Why am I scared? No, don’t cry, not in front of him, not again. At least act brave.
It started slowly but quickly escalated. Honeycomb cried loudly, her chest heaving, as the stress from the week’s events were simply too much for her to bear any longer.
“Honeycomb, there is no need to cry.”
Honeycomb jumped back slightly when she felt something on her face. Opening her eyes, she saw a soft cloth dabbing her cheeks.
“Shh, shh. It’s alright, Honeycomb, just breathe,” Solaris said as he levitated the cloth, drying her face.
Her trembling died down. Slowly, she raised her head. Solaris' expression was... unreadable, as always. But the eyes behind this inscrutable mask suggested something different, something she had thought impossible coming from him: kindness.
“Here,” Solaris said as he held out his hoof, “let me see.”
Honeycomb sniffed, slowly placing her injured, trembling hoof on top of Solaris’ hoof. It was warm to the touch.
“Just relax,” Solaris spoke.
Honeycomb sniffed again, her heart calming down. She looked back up at Solaris. His face was different again. A warm smile donned his face, his expression soft. It reminded her of Dr. Flask. It was comforting. “Okay…” she said quietly.
Solaris’ horn glowed a soft yellow while Honeycomb winced as the glass shard slowly slid out from her flesh.
Solaris tilted his head, inspecting the wound. “It is deep, but it is nothing serious,” Solaris stated as he floated over a white cover from the large bed and tore off a large strip, carefully wrapping it around Honeycomb’s injured hoof. “This will hold the bleeding for now.”
“But isn’t this from your bed?” Honeycomb asked, stunned as she felt the pressure around her leg from the makeshift bandage.
“It is,” Solaris replied as he tied the final knot, nodding at his work. “But it is nothing more than a sheet, Honeycomb. That can be replaced.”
Honeycomb flexed her hoof, a small red dot forming on her bandage. “Um, thank you?” she said, stealing a glance at Solaris.
A small frown and a look of worry formed on the ruler’s face.
“Is something wrong?” Honeycomb asked nervously.
“Don’t move.”
Honeycomb gasped slightly as she felt Solaris’ hoof under her chin, slowly lifting her head. She stared into the diarch’s crimson eyes, gulping.
Solaris moved his head closer. “Honeycomb… have you been getting enough sleep?”
“What?” Honeycomb asked in surprise.
“You don’t look well at all.”
Honeycomb trembled. “I-I have been having some issues sleeping lately.”
“But why?”
“I rather not say…”
“Honeycomb,” Solaris said as he removed his hoof, “please tell me.”
“I’m afraid…” Honeycomb answered as she lowered her head.
“Of?”
“Of you…” Honeycomb confessed, her ears flattening.
“Honeycomb,” Solaris replied, his eyes drifting down. “Wait…”
“What?” Honeycomb watched Solaris lean his head slightly past her, inspecting her body.
“When was the last time you ate?”
“Three days ago…”
Solaris blinked, his eyes wider than normal. He quickly turned his head, levitating a small plate to him. “Here,” he offered as he held out his hoof, a small biscuit on it, “eat this.”
“I’m not that hungry to be honest, Lord Solaris,” Honeycomb replied, staring at the offered treat.
“It doesn’t matter if you're hungry or not, you need to eat something. Here, take it.”
Honeycomb picked it up in her hooves, inspecting it. After a few seconds, she finally said, “I can’t eat this…”
“What do you mean? You told us you can eat normal food.”
“It is not that I can’t eat food… it is because this is just too hard for me to eat.”
“Too hard to eat, what do you mean by that?”
“It is hard to explain.” Honeycomb looked back down at the ground. “Ever since I changed forms, I haven’t gotten used to using a different set of teeth. All my teeth are blunt compared to what I had before. I tried eating solids, but that would make my jaw and teeth sore.
“So I tried eating softer foods, but there were not that many options. Then I lost my appetite along the way and just kinda stopped eating a couple of days ago. I was just too stressed, and I felt nauseous most of the time and well…”
“Honeycomb, I…” Solaris replied softly, crestfallen. His head snapped back up. “Hold on,” he said as he grabbed a parchment and quill from his desk.
Honeycomb watched Solaris quickly write on the parchment, blinking in confusion. She squeaked slightly as he stood up, folding the parchment.
“Honeycomb, stay here, I will be right back,” Solaris said as he made his way to the door.
“Okay?” Honeycomb said in confusion as she watched Solaris leave the room.
Honeycomb sat there, alone in Lord Solaris’ personal chambers. What, she thought as she stared at the door, just happened?
Her eyes drifted down to the mess again, causing her to frown at how big the stain was. Black mixed with red on the once immaculate carpet. She scooted away from it, trying to distance herself.
Her attention drew towards Solaris’ desk, rather what was on it. Staring at the various letters, Honeycomb marveled at the exquisite cursive writing. It was nothing like her scratchy writing.
“Wow, that’s pretty,” she murmured. “I didn’t know he could write like that.”
She stopped herself. What did she think of Solaris? When she first met him, and for the past week, all she could think of was that he was strict and terrifying. But was that all he was? She caught a glimpse of a gentler side. It was still stern but also warm. Something that she never really saw before.
She didn't think she would trust any pony as much as Dr. Flask. A stray thought entered her mind. It was terrifying yet exciting, offering a possible glimpse of hope. What if she could warm up to Lord Solaris, just like Dr. Flask?
Her train of thought was interrupted when the door opened again as Solaris strode back in, a large suitcase with a red cross on it levitating by his side.
Honeycomb sat back up in attention. Her eyes widened as Solaris didn’t sit but lay in front of her. Even though he was still taller than her, it was strange to almost be at eye level with him.
“What is that?” Honeycomb asked as she looked at the strange box Solaris was carrying.
“First-aid kit, it is used to help treat injuries.” Solaris laid it down next to him. Gently, he pulled her foreleg towards him. “While your wound is not bad, it is still deep. Deep enough to require stitches.”
“Stitches?” Honeycomb blinked in confusion.
“Yes,” Solaris replied as he unwrapped the makeshift bandage.
Honeycomb shook her head. “You mean like sewing?”
Solaris raised an eyebrow before chuckling slightly. “Yes, it is like sewing.”
“But wouldn’t that hurt?” she asked nervously.
“If done properly, you shouldn’t feel more than a slight pinch. It is nothing to worry about, that I can assure you.”
Honeycomb watched as Solaris opened the kit. First, he rubbed a wet cloth over her cut. It stung at first, but Solaris told her it was to supposedly ‘clean’ the wound. Honeycomb’s ears flattened when she noticed Solaris had pulled out a small needle.
“Just close your eyes,” he said softly. “It will be over in a few seconds.”
Honeycomb shut her eyes tightly, her outstretched hoof trembling.
“Ready?”
She nodded, bracing herself.
One, two, three, four, and five slight pinches.
“Done.”
“What?” Honeycomb asked in disbelief. She looked down at her hoof, a neat cross-stitch replacing her gash. “That’s it?”
“Yes,” Solaris replied as he floated over a roll of gauze. “I told you it was not as bad as it sounds,” he continued as he began wrapping Honeycomb’s hoof.
Honeycomb gasped as a gentle yellow light surrounded her hoof. It was warm… and pleasant. “What?”
“And that is to help it heal much quicker,” Solaris answered as he cleaned up, closing the kit. “I may not be an expert healer, but I have been around long enough to know a thing or two.”
“Thanks,” Honeycomb replied softly as she moved her hoof.
A silence hung between the ruler and the changeling. Honeycomb looked around, every now and then lifting her head and catch a glimpse of Solaris’ face. It was different, stern but with a soft, gentle undertone. She never stared for too long, but her curiosity made her constantly check his face for any changes.
“I think I've been unfair to you, Honeycomb,” Solaris admitted softly, breaking the silence.
“What?” Honeycomb gasped in surprise.
“I did not know you were under this much stress, nor did I think you would physically run into any issues changing forms like that. For that, I apologize. Other than having problems eating, what caused you to be so stressed the past couple of days?” Solaris asked.
“I… I don’t know if I should say,” Honeycomb muttered.
“Honeycomb, there is no reason to be afraid right now. Nothing will happen if you are honest. You told me you were scared of me, why is that?”
“I… that day when Mrs. Feather Duster showed me around the palace. When I met you… you said that if I tried anything, you wouldn’t hesitate to act. So I thought if I messed up in any way, I would be punished.”
Solaris sat there, his face slightly scrunched in concentration. Honeycomb started to become nervous, wondering if she said something she shouldn’t have. She was about to open her mouth to apologize when Solaris spoke.
“Honeycomb, I want you to understand my view on this. Your role in the attack of Canterlot, although small, caused my subjects to get hurt. Yes, I know it was not your intention to do so, but that does not change the fact that you did it.
“In war, there is no honor, no pride, no glory, just suffering. I don’t say that because I feel that way, Honeycomb. I say that because I have witnessed too many of them in my lifetime. The ending is always the same.
“With that said, Honeycomb, your arrangement was not designed to torment you. Yes, you need to repay the debt you owe Equestria, but that does not mean you have to be miserable. It is simply a job. This is my fault for not making my message clear. What I meant was I would take action if you deliberately tried to hurt someone innocent.
“Honeycomb, if you make a simple mistake, that is fine. We all make mistakes, even me. Do you understand what I mean, Honeycomb?”
Honeycomb stopped trembling, lifting her head back up. “I-I do.”
“Do you feel better now?”
Honeycomb nodded.
“Good, there is no need to be afraid of me or anypony else hurting you.”
“Thanks—”
Honeycomb was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Perfect, it is here,” Solaris stated as he stood up and made his way to the door.
Turning to see who it was, Honeycomb saw Solaris talking to a pony wearing a white outfit, just like the one she saw earlier.
Her eyes widened as Solaris placed a tray, a large bowl of what appeared to be some sort of stew on it, before her.
“Eat,” Solaris said as he sat back down in front of Honeycomb.
“I…”
“It’s fine. There is nothing hard in it. You need to eat something, Honeycomb, or else you are going to get sick.”
Still unsure what was going on, Honeycomb slowly picked up the spoon that was next to the bowl. Opening her mouth awkwardly wide, she took her first spoonful.
Her eyes lit up in surprise. “Wow—it’s good.”
“Eat as much you can, alright?”
Honeycomb nodded. It took her a while, but she finally managed to finish it. She looked back up at Solaris.
“How do you feel?” he asked, his face having the softer look to it again.
“Better… but tired.”
“Then go rest.”
“What?”
“I want you to take the remainder of today and tomorrow off. Go rest and eat, alright? We will start again the day after tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Honeycomb slowly got up. She tested her right, injured foreleg, wincing slightly at the pain, but it was manageable. She opened the door, looking back at Solaris, a slight but gentle smile on his face.
Maybe… maybe I can make it through this.
“Tell me, oh great king, why is your city burning?” Solaris shouted as he threw the griffon across the blazing room. “Where is your great army? The army that can conquer both the Sun and the Moon?”
The griffon skidded across the room, his lavish clothes charred or burnt away, his crown long gone. The once proud king of the griffons was reduced to a quivering mess covered in blood and scorch marks, the charred remains of his fallen guards surrounding him. He let out a loud squawk as a yellow aura formed around his neck.
“Tell me, Alexander,” Solaris roared as he lifted the griffon king into the air, holding him right in front of his face. His own blood-red serpentine eyes reflecting in the griffon’s. “What did you think would happen? What did you think would happen when YOU ATTACKED MY KINGDOM!”
“I will call off my army. We will concede lan—” Alexander gasped, his talons failing to grasp the tightening aura his neck.
“Call them off?” Solaris growled, his voice low and guttural, “Why should you? Let them come. Let there be a pyre on our borders. Let them come, and they will be cast upon the pyre like so many of their brethren.”
Alexander struggled in Solaris’ grasp, his wings flapping uselessly behind him. His beak opened as he tried to choke out a response.
“A king should be there, shouldn’t he?” Solaris growled, exposing vicious fangs. “A king should offer them a warrior’s funeral. After all, you ordered them to their grave.”
“Please spare me!” Alexander cried, his cheek feathers damp with tears of desperation and eyes wide with fear. “I swear on my life that I will never attack Equestria again!”
“How can you swear on something when you don’t own it?” Solaris asked, his eyes squinting. “I grow tired of you, oh Great Alexander. I never did like you… I think it is time we bid our farewells.”
Alexander let out a gurgle, the aura tightening around his neck.
“Brother!” Luna cried out as she jumped from the flames of the room.
“Luna,” Solaris replied as he turned his head.
Luna reeled back slightly as she gazed upon her brother.
“You're just in time,” Solaris continued, giving a cruel smirk filled with fangs. “I was about to bid farewell to the great griffon king.”
Luna looked at the struggling griffon, his terrified face quickly turning blue. “Enough, brother, you have won.”
“Almost,” Solaris said as he turned his head back to the griffon. “Just one more thing…”
Luna’s eyes widened in horror. Gently, she wrapped her forehooves around Solaris’ chest as she tried to pull him back. “Come, brother, don’t do something you will regret,” she said softly.
“No,” Solaris snarled as he stood firm. “He must pay.”
“Brother, enough,” Luna continued as she tried to pull Solaris away, “it is time to go home.”
Solaris took a step forward, clenching his teeth.
“Brother, enough!” Luna cried out as she tightened her grip. “They have learned their lesson, he has learned his lesson. Let him be, let him live in his shame knowing how easily you have beaten him. Let him be a message for his people, a message to never trifle with us again.”
“No, he must die!”
“Brother, please,” Luna begged. She raised her forehoof, gently turning Solaris’ head to face her own, soft teal eyes staring at him. “Do it for me, your sister. Please?”
Solaris blinked as his breathing slowed. “Fine,” he relented as the griffon king fell to the ground with a hard thump.
“Thank you, brother,” Luna said as she pulled Solaris away from the fallen king.
“Perhaps he should be let to live in shame…” Solaris said grimly as he walked away with Luna. He stopped as his hoof hit the hilt of a sword of a fallen guard. “But…”
His aura grabbed the hilt as he turned around, lifting it above the defeated king. Luna gasped in horror.
The sword swung down with vicious strength, blood splattering the floor.
Alexander cried out, clutching his side as he writhed in agony. “M-my wing, my wing!
“Let that be a constant reminder, King Alexander,” Solaris remarked grimly as he kicked the missing wing into a nearby fire, “to never trifle with me or my allies ever again.”
Solaris turned away from the fallen king. “Farewell…”
Solaris quickly sat upright with a gasp, his body shivering and covered in sweat. He sat there, panting loudly. He shook his head violently, the cries of the fallen and the smell of burning feathers still invading his senses.
What do you do when someone looks at you as if you were a monster?
Solaris leaned forward, burying his face in his hooves. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “I really don’t know…”
Woo got another update out. I am on a roll!
Anyway, seems like Solaris had a darker past... don't piss him off?
Apparently someone did, and my editors and I were making jokes about KFC...
One of my editors is changing me and the other editor. Slowly, without us knowing. On a lighter note, me using double spaces annoys him .
But in seriousness, sorry bout the "darker' elements. I really tried to tone down some scenes.
Edit: I saw this picture on EqD, I find it fitting for this chapter.
th08.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2014/010/4/a/bloodmoon_by_rublegun-d71nmhb.png
Yeah, it isn't smart to attack a nation defended by two gods. They should have had a plan for that.
3751502
That is the thing about ego and arrogance. It makes you blind to reality.
3751534
XD
3751534
PS. I also have another changeling/Chrysalis story...
3751357 You speak of dark elements and I have to go back and look at them... I fear I am becoming jaded to violence in my stories...
3751670
Umm, Ummm.....
Do you work for a cable company?
3751687
I tend to avoid it. I don't want stories where it is just shock value. There should be more than that.
And the first seed of romance, or at least a crush has been planted.
You know, you're one of the few writers I've seen who portrays the "Griffons had war(s) with Ponies back in the day" trope as a curb-stomp, rather than some big epic struggle. Props for that.
Nice to see Honeycomb overcoming her fear, even a little bit. And Solaris lightening up--character development!
3752390
The joke was from a South Park Episode XD.
3751882 Normally i do too I do not read stories that center around the gore like Cupcakes but I love the gore that brings atmosphere like in Silent Ponyville
I am a huge fan of horror games
3752512
Well I hope you like the story.
3752523
Lol
3752523
PPS,
I still see you havent checked my other changeling fic *COUGHCOUGHCOUGH*
(I just scrolled down your favorites, lots of changeling fics XD.)
3752580
Sweet!
imageshack.us/a/img33/5764/likethischapter.jpg
3752023
I dunno, that sounds a bit of a stretch to turn that quickly from stressing out over every little detail. Still, a little communication goes a long way to easing her fears of being smote for the slightest infraction. And who's to say what other complications will arise from Honeycomb being stuck as a pony for an entire year?
Other changeling lore states that the magic output of maintaining a disguise leads to weakening and increasingly painful headaches, despite a healthy feeding of love, until returning to normal form to 'release the pressure'. Other lore seems to ignore the effects and as long as the love can be supplied, the form can be maintained indefinitely. Now she's not using her own magic to maintain the form but it certainly can't be healthy for her growth. No more than a human forced to wear a cast or brace for an entire year, effecting proper growth, possibly atrophying certain muscles and bones. I seriously doubt Honeycomb will forget how to be a changeling but immersed in pony culture, practically raised by ponies, it will most certainly color her outlook and personality.
Will the Magic Of Friendship make a convert out of her? Oh, I have no doubt. Resistance is futile. Question is, when the year is up, will Honeycomb ever want to go back home? She's tainted now, tainted by corrupting ideas of friendship by and with the ponies. She might infect other drones with her insane ideas bordering on heresy, questioning the very will of the Queen. You can can end a heretic traitor with a single deadly bolt of magic but the ideas they spawn are insidiously difficult to purge. It would seem there is no going home for Honeycomb, from the moment she was captured.
But this is all conjecture. Who knows? Maybe Chrysalis is just letting her ego and love-addiction getting the better of her judgement or it could be land itself driving her to want better for her people; they do happen to live in the middle of a sun-baked inhospitable desert after all. If the old ways of subterfuge are not enough to feed the hive, and war was a stupendously bad idea, perhaps more peaceful negotiations are the best way. And it doesn't have to be full disclosure and prancing about in your carapace down the main street in Canterlot. I bet it took awhile before things got better between the ponies and gryphons after that Invasion of 132NEE. Same for the Changelings. Start out with small exchange groups (of extremely brave ponies/changelings), work slowly towards larger exchanges, maybe even a test village somewhere-- most likely more on the Equestrian side because the Badlands are a barren desert while Equestria is lush and fertile. After all, the hive would benefit from a few pegasi weather teams creating rain while earth ponies revive the nearly dead earth.
But going from a parasitic existence to a synergistic cooperation between changelings and ponies will be the true test. What can they do for ponies in exchange? As fas as I can tell, the only unique thing changelings have that the ponies cannot already do, and do better, is changeling magic and whatever kind of culture they have back in the hive. Here lore varies wildly from nothing but "boring ants in a colony" to a chitinous parallel of the common pony world filled with all the day to day minutia that goes along with it, from going school to work to going to the park with your family.
I'd like to think changeling culture is more like the latter example, Charysalis' hive being a small one on the outskirts of a larger collection that has lost it's way. It would be depressing to think her's is the only hive left, or separated by such vast distances that it might as well be alone, their culture devolving as the population shrinks, leading to desperate measures like invading Canterlot.
TL;DR Yes, I find changeling/pony relations utterly fascinating.
3754460
Ohh brain teaser. (Sorry for sloppy post, it is late/early for me)
There are so many things I want to say, but that will lead to spoilers. But there are somethings I will to make things more clear, and they will be addressed in the future. I already have set when and where I am going to do it.
There will be more on Griffon/pony relationships, and how it changed after the the failed attack.
But now to the changelings! The lore for this story, how I set it up (which drastically differs from my other story) is that changelings can survive on food. I mean they have mouths, and they have teeth. They got to be used for something.
Now Honeycomb is different in that she is a worker changeling, which differs from other types. Such as the ruler and more offensive types like soldiers. She cannot collect or feed on emotion by herself, she has to be given it by another changeling who can. Again, this will be explained later on in more detail on how and why. I made a reason :D.
Second, how changelings are able to change their form, I made it different. It is not a simple disguise like putting on a coat. Major physiological changes occur when it happens. Their body changes to fit the new form. As Honeycomb said, she had troubles eating because her jaw changed overnight. I will say this though, even though they change their forms, they can't change their health. Example, if a healthy changeling changes to a pony. He would be healthy as a pony. But if he was sick, he look like a sick pony when changes. Same thing from pony to changeling in that manner. Can't change off an injury sadly. But if they healthy then no worries.
Well thats all I will say for now. Though yes, Chrysalis should asked for help instead of attacking. Just look at the Griffons. Man my editors were making jokes about KFC when i was writing that XD.
Hope that clears some things.
3752023 Don't be quick to judge it that.
There is no romance tag to be had.
If anything, it would appear to be more of a fatherly/daughter relationship that might be developing.
Might is the keyword here. Though I already have scenes of a vengeful Solaris striking down a foe that dared to bring mortal harm to Honeycomb in my head, I have many doubts to think that the author will probably direct this story in a different direction that the idealized version of things.
On another note, this version of Solaris is an asshole.
Well intentioned I suppose for the most part, but still an asshole when judging anyone other than his own species.
In fact, his behavior resembles that of... Well, a certain individual whose party took hold over of a certain country in Western Europe with an extreme fervor that had not been seen before. By the time of its fall near the end of a five year long war, anywhere from fifty to seventy million lives had been taken in a cruel, bloody war.
Luna is the moderator of this.
Without her...
3755186
Huh, I could have swore there was romance tag at some point. I must have been mistaken.
3755186
3755192
Well to both of your comments about the tags, I am just going to say :D
In another note, Solaris is, well he can be an asshole. One of my goals ways to make a version of Celestia that was less perfect. Solaris can be quick to anger, self conscious on his own image, and as shown, cam be violent at times.
But let us also look the situation. The Griffons did attack first. Solaris subjects, those he views as his children, were attacked. He was the one not conquering lands, and afterwards he did not conqueror the Griffons. Comparing to said certain party is a stretch in my opinion. But I did what I set out to do, he is different than Celestia!
And yes, I wanted Luna to be a soothing voice for him, to help balance him. Both Solaris and Luna are meant to balance and complement each other.
You have one too many spaces between as and she.
There should be a quotation mark instead of an apostrophe in front of Fine.
3751357 I like your use of double spaces. I grew up using double spaces and it usually annoys me when I see authors use single spaces. But to each their own.
So was that Griffon wing original recipe, extra crispy, or Kentucky grilled?
3758139
Thanks for the catches. Going through the whole story to fix mistakes.
And extra crispy, with gravy and potatoes.
3758184 Mmmm... tasty.
Darn, it looks like I forgot to comment on the actual chapter. If it wasn't clear before, I did like this chapter.
It is nice to see a softer side to Solaris though I thought it would have been acceptable for him to torch the griffon king on his way out in a 'cool guys don't watch explosions' kind of way. I am also liking the relationship that Solaris and Luna have. They are very good at balancing each other out.
I am definitely looking forward to seeing more in the future!
3758270
Tasty indeed!
For Luna though, what she was afraid of IF Solaris did kill him, he simply wouldn't stop there. She was afraid that he was going to lose him if he spiraled out of control. Solaris sanity was slipping at that point. I mean he already looked the part, and Luna was afraid that he would digress even farther.
That, and will be mentioned later, Solaris just didn't burn their capitol. Equestria lost a good number of its citizens, even more so for the Griffons. At that point, it is just senseless.
And yes, I do like that I can contrast Luna and Solaris more.
Wow... I don't know what to say... but wow... First this really lovely part whit Solaris and Honeycomb and then that... I must say that this was awesome and a little bit scary, but now we have a really good new picture of Solaris. I thank the goods that you write this. Go one and make this story even more awesome. I really hope more people read this and say the same to you as I do.
Whit friendly greeting Mardon
Solaris: Fatherly edition!
...Followed by Solaris: Temper Issues edition Yikes.
Someone please tell me that I'm not the only one who read solaris's lines in the last bit with alexander in hellsing's alucard voice.
3760211
Thanks! I wanted to make him a complicated character. We can some pros of him, but we can see his flaws, flaws that he is not happy about.
3760773
A complicated stallion. (which makes him even more popular XD)
My editor is corrupting me...
3761890
I read his angry lines with Smaug's voice from the Hobbit.
Because who doesn't want to have awesome of a voice.
3762140
But seriously, the reconciliation between Honeycomb and Solaris is immensely satisfying.
Also, yes. Totally Smaug voice. (though probably not quite as subwoofer-in-your-skull)
3762140
Times like these make me wish I saw the hobbit, because I don't know who smaug is, or what he sounds like. All I know is that it's better if I don't try to pronounce his name.
3764745
Check youtube. Should be there, espically in the trailers.
Also, never read the Hobbit?
3764814
No. It's just never interested me enough. Also, I could do that, but then I'd look daft for not doing it in the first place. So.... Nah.
3764898
Should listen to it. Benedict Cumberbatch voice is dare I say....hot...?
XD
3769014
You convinced me to do so with Cumberbatch. That's a last name that promises nothing but gloriousness.
3811902
Glad you like the story! I do like changelings, fun to write.
As you noticed, I did use a male version of Celestia. If your wondering why I did, here is a blog post that I made explaining my rationale. In short, I wanted to avoid making Celestia act out of character, but I wanted a character in Celestia's position. Hopefully, as you read more down the line, you can see what I am talking about.
In addition, another thing I wanted to do was to make Solaris and Luna contrast that much more. Literally like the sun and the moon respectively. So that is another reason.
Ah yes, poor Honeycomb. Hopefully things will get better.
And lastly, Crimson. If you mean he looks similar to my avatar, then yes he does. Pretty much just copied it. Think of it is a cameo. I like to put that character in a lot of things. But Crimson is not supposed to be me(he is a biochemist, I am not. Go Biology!). He is just a character I like to use. I change his personality in different stories.
If you are wondering what he looks like, he is here.
Again glad you like the story!
Yeah, I can see why you wanted
3812686 to make Celestia male. His behavior wouldn't suit the Celestia the show has given us.
Different personalities? I guess I'll start reading your other stories more.
Only yesterday I was able to read the three latest chapters, and I gotta say, I'm really enjoying it greatly so far!
But also... the whole exchange with Corona still kinda rubs me the wrong way, or to better say it, I haven't been able to complete accept it, I mean sure, it does manage to get the narrative going, and to give better and darker undertones without damaging Celestia's character, but still... it would have a far more interesting read, plus adding character deconstruction, if we kept her cannon self but with a more cold attitude instead of anger filled, like the cold shoulder she gave to Twilight during ACW part 1, turning it into a unique character fic were we see her leader side WITHOUT Twilight or the rest of the mane6.
Anyway, i guess by this point saying this is pointless, and again, I'm enjoying this story as it is and will be looking forward to more, but still, the though it could have been more still itches me to no end...
3820285
Why thanks for reading it. Also what are these work reasons you speak of, I am curious.
So I made a blog post about why I made Solaris together. But ill explain on it more.
As the story progressed, one of the things I liked is that I can make Luna and Solaris contrast so much more. (I think that is a missed opportunity on the show imo, make them much more different. Literally the sun and the moon difference.) That is one thing I wanted to work on, have those two be different, yet balance each other. One wants to rule as a sternly, and the other more gently.
If I used Celestia, I think I would eventually make her out of character. There are things that I cannot simply see her do. If she was in the same situation, she would let Honeycomb go. I can't see either Luna or Celestia making that call. But Solaris can and will.
Not only that, Solaris is supposed to anger filled. I am hoping that I can set it up right and go more in depth as the story progresses. But I made him like that on purpose. I needed this kind of character.
I already tried showing Celestia her leader side without Twilight and her friends in March to the Scaffold. That and I think there are plenty of good fics that show that. But I wanted to make a new character, one where I can mold and not worry about OoC.
In truth a lot of this story is following a path to one of my favorite movies of all time. I can't give the title because it would spoil it. But hopefully that can explain some of my reasoning.
My god I know I am rambling at this point, even I feel tired at this point. But really, I wanted to make a unique story, and I needed a new character.
If you want to know more feel free to ask, I will gladly tell!
Also, how I came to terms with having a dude Celestia. I just see it is a different world. Like this is not Equestria, so I don't worry about it too much. Maybe because I always wanted to make a side story of Celestia and Solaris talking to one another. Man I need to stop rambling XD.
3820467 Very fair reasons, hopefully they will make me come into terms with Solaris, and I guess more questions could potentially spoil the story, so I will just sit back and enjoy the ride.
As for the work: I got a job in a soft-drinks distribution business (in Venezuela), were I work all day moving boxes of six-pack two litter bottles and 12-pack of one and a half little ones, among other things, so it leaves me pretty tired by the end of the day, were I just chose to watch tv instead of surfing the net, this is while I restart flight school because our plane lost it's engine after an emergency landing a month ago...
3825243
Oh wow, I hope things get better.
And I hope I can live up to your expectations!
3825269 No no Christ no, don't try to fill my expectations, or anyone else's for that regard, write what you fell confortable with, but above all, write what you like, because at the end of the day it's not my work, it's yours
How long till next chapte
4003170
Few things I am waiting on.
My main editor is not available at the moment, and I am still waiting on EqD's response for my last attempt.
BUT, I will have something soon. May not be this story, but something.
Hope that helps.
I do know what I am writing next, it is just getting down.
4003199 thanks for the info
Love this story, please update soon
4044385
I have not forgot about it!
4055827
Oh yeah Flowers super dark. But that is why should avoid all dark/sad stories.
Well I regret to inform you that I must continue reading this. It's been an interesting ride so far and I'm highly interested in seeing where it goes from here.
4093904
Regret to inform me?
Why is that? XD
4094086 Well it's just kind of my thing. I will give people good news but say it in a way that makes it sound like it should be bad news. I.E. I regret to inform you that you are cancer free, or, I'm sorry but your story was fantastic and I truly enjoyed reading it, or, It saddens me to inform you that you have made a delicious cake.
I am a rather odd duck.
4094156
Hmmm,
Did you come from EqD? I guess I asked that because one of the comments I read was "male celestia, i'm out".
I thought it was that you found Solaris odd/creepy/weird/all of them but still read it never the less. I mean I still am slightly unconformable about it myself XD.
I guess I am hoping that my reason on using him makes sense (and not just to me) XD