Chapter 3
“I guess it’s still same old, same old back at the hive?” Suncloak asked, leading #5 through the castle.
#5 shrugged. “Nothing’s changed. The Queen likes having control over everything.”
“We put a lot of work into making Equestria a good place to live for changelings,” Suncloak said. “Though not all ponies are that fond of us yet. But I’m sure it’ll fade over time.”
#5 rolled his eyes. Judging from what he’d seen, ponies were already far too friendly with changelings. “You’re comfortable enough to address yourself with the royal ‘we’.”
Suncloak paused and raised an eyebrow. “No, when I say ‘we’, I mean every changeling and pony living in Equestria. The only reason I can get stuff done is because of them.” He continued walking. “It’s complicated politics stuff. Very different from getting anything done in the hive. Same amount of backstabbing jerks, though!”
“You have enemies? Really now?” #5 asked. “Who would’ve guessed.”
“It’s not as bad as I make it sound,” Suncloak said as he continued walking. “There are only a few ponies who aren’t happy with us. Most ponies are either happy to make new friends, or they simply don’t care as long as we behave. Which is why I’m here.”
“I was wondering about that,” #5 said. “What’s your role as ambassador?”
“It’s pretty broad,” Suncloak said. “I’m basically the highest changeling official in the government, which means I get to decide a lot of important things. Laws and such. I also help newcomers when I can, make sure they’re comfortable.”
“I’m sure they appreciate your…” #5 paused for a second, thinking of the right word, “capable hooves.”
Suncloak chuckled. “I do the best I can. Really, I’m just a volunteer, but I guess I’m pretty good at—” A slight misstep made it impossible for him to finish that sentence, as he apparently had not seen the flight of stairs leading down right in front of him. The cloaked changeling tumbled down the steps, creating a huge noise, slamming face-first into a wall a second later.
“Right. Good at what?” #5 said, walking down the stairs like any normal changeling would.
“Huh wuh,” Suncloak said. His fangs had pierced the wall, punching holes in the plaster and keeping his mouth wide open. With a fierce tug, he managed to get loose. “Never mind. By the way, that has never happened to me before. I swear.” He hastily continued, walking down another flight of stairs and into the next hall.
#5 inspected the wall Suncloak had slammed into. There were a lot of small, circle-shaped spots that were coloured a slightly lighter shade of white. In fact, they looked suspiciously like fang marks that had been covered up. #5 rolled his eyes and followed Suncloak again.
“You’d think an ambassador would have a slightly more appropriate name,” #5 said. “Or, you know, a number and an occupation, like a changeling is supposed to have.”
“Well, I used to be royal guard #37,” Suncloak said. “But then I was banished. I just kinda stumbled into this name. Long story. All other changelings take more pony-like names to make it easier for their friends.”
“I don’t suppose you have some kind of list with all names and former numbers?” #5 asked. Something like that would be incredibly helpful for his mission.
“Yep, I do!” Suncloak said. “For security reasons, mostly. Gotta make sure the Queen doesn’t plant any spies.”
Huh. At least that sort of explained why the hive knew so little about the situation in Canterlot. On top of that, the Queen was very tight-lipped about the information as well. “So I guess you’ll want to know my name and occupation as well?” #5 asked.
“Yep!” Suncloak said. “Nothing personal. Like I said, security reasons.”
“None of your business,” #5 sneered.
“Then I’ll keep calling you Traveler,” Suncloak said.
#5 groaned. Well then, it seemed like he was stuck with that name. Traveler. Bah.
A few minutes later, they reached the front door of the castle. Or rather, front doors, seeing as it was an absolutely massive set of double doors. Suncloak stopped in front of them and turned to #5. Or Traveler, whatever his name was at this point.
“Anyway,” Suncloak said, dramatically clearing his throat. “I’d like to formally welcome you to the capital city of Equestria, home to about a hundred changelings…” He pushed against one of the doors with his shoulder, but it wouldn’t budge. “I said, home to about a hundred changelings,” Suncloak repeated, throwing his full weight onto the door. “Geez, this is heavier than I thought.”
After a few seconds of throwing his weight against the door and grumbling about something, a small part of the large door suddenly swung outward, sending Suncloak tumbling to the ground. A pony guard standing outside stared at the collapsed ambassador in surprise. “You okay, sir?”
“...Canterlot,” Suncloak mumbled, then stood up. He gave a little flourish and gestured at the city. “Tadaah?”
“Very impressive,” Traveler deadpanned. “A hundred changelings, you say?”
Suncloak nodded. “Well, there’s a bunch more right now for construction purposes. I’ll show you later.” He headed for the city, motioning for Traveler to follow. “Come on. The first thing I want to show you isn’t far from here.”
As he followed Suncloak, Traveler mulled over his new name. As far as names went, it was dumb, but not too much so. It could’ve been worse, like Suncloak. And he supposed his white scarf could be the thing that made him stand out. After all, in a city where every changeling had something unique, it would be fairly strange to have a changeling without something unique. So everything worked out nicely. Nicely, not considering the fact he was wearing a stupid, white scarf.
“So which came first?” Traveler asked. “The cloak or the name?”
Suncloak looked at his cloak for a second. “Oh, this? Like I said, long story. I had a cloak, and then I didn’t have a cloak for a while, and then my friends gave me this one.”
Traveler raised an eyebrow. “Your friends have weird tastes.” Seriously, black on grey? How dull could it get?
“Weird taste? The tuxedo and top hat combination I have to wear for formal events is weird taste,” Suncloak said. “Pony etiquette can get really complicated sometimes.”
Huh. A changeling in a tuxedo. Now that Traveler would like to see, if only because it’d be embarrassing for said changeling. “So, where are you taking me?”
“Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns,” Suncloak said. “You’ll see why in a minute.”
A few minutes later, they reached an enormous building. In front of it was a large sign saying ‘Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns’, as expected, but there was a little post-it note attached to the side, small enough that Traveler had to read it up close. The note said ‘+ changelings’.
Traveler raised an eyebrow. “There are gifted changelings?”
“Right now, there’s only one,” Suncloak said. “But he’s really smart. Can you believe Queen Chrysalis had him working in hive maintenance?”
“You do what the Queen tells you to,” Traveler said, giving a shrug. That was just the way changelings lived. Or how they were supposed to live, at any rate. “So what’s he supposed to do here, follow classes?”
“Not at all,” Suncloak said, heading inside. “He does research on changeling magic. Really complicated stuff.”
That made Traveler raise an eyebrow. Research? There were a lot of things changelings didn’t understand about the limits of their own magic, but he never thought it was necessary. Neither did the Queen, because there weren’t all that many changeling researchers. And based on how fast their work was going, Traveler always thought they spent their hours making paper airplanes or something like that.
The inside of the school was filled with very intellectual-looking ponies. Most of them were wearing really boring, dorky outfits, like thick-rimmed glasses and argyle turtlenecks. Ew. Maybe if Traveler didn’t make eye contact with them, they wouldn’t see him.
Several moments later, the two of them entered a fairly small room. The place was a mess, papers scattered criss-cross over a desk, several bookcases, chairs, everything. In the middle of the chaos stood a changeling wearing an elaborate set of goggles, intently focusing his magic on an apple. The apple shook for a second, then violently exploded, splattering the changeling’s goggles with apple guts.
“Well then,” he said, sliding the goggles onto his forehead. “That was actually pretty predictable. Perhaps if I used a banana...”
Suncloak, who somehow managed to get most of the apple sprayed onto him, loudly cleared his throat. “Goggles, what in the hive are you doing?” he said as he wiped most of the apple from his face.
Goggles looked around for a moment, confused, until he saw Suncloak and Traveler. “Oh, hey boss!” he said, running over to them. “What’re you doing here? Showing someling around?”
“You could say that,” Suncloak said. “But what are you doing?” He gestured at the scattered remains of the apple. “And for the last time, stop calling me boss.”
“Oh, you know,” Goggles said. “Science-y stuff. I wanted to test a hypothesis.” He paused for a second before adding, “Also, I like blowing up fruit.”
“That’s okay,” Suncloak said. “So what’s this hypothesis thing you’re testing?”
Goggles suddenly gave a very awkward grin. “Well, uh, it’s the theory that, uh… I think… I should have it around here somewhere.”
“You lost your papers somewhere again, didn’t you?” Suncloak rolled his eyes.
“It’s not my fault they made this school like a labyrinth!” Goggles blurted. “I’ll ask my friends to help me find it! I just… kinda got distracted.”
Suncloak put a hoof on Goggles’ shoulder. “It’s okay. Just make sure you get your stuff together, alright?” He put his hoof back down again and gestured at Traveler. “Now, this here is Traveler. Maybe you can tell him about some of the things you’ve done here?”
Goggles turned to Traveler. “Some things I’ve done here, huh? Well, I usually just hang around with my friends. I also do research here, but I haven’t been doing it for very long. Long enough to find out that trying to replicate a unicorn’s telekinesis as a changeling just blows stuff up.” He paused for a second. “Which is actually both funny and interesting.”
Traveler stared at him, switching between a frown and raising his eyebrows every other second. “Your name is Goggles?”
“Yep!” Goggles said, puffing his chest up in pride. “I had a pretty hard time deciding on a name, so my friends gave me one. Because I like these so much!” He pointed at the goggles on his forehead.
“How creative,” Traveler said.
“So, do you see what I mean yet?” Suncloak asked, a hopeful smile on his face.
“I think I’m getting an idea.” Though Traveler didn’t know if it was the idea Suncloak intended.
“Okay, thanks for your time, Goggles,” Suncloak said. “You just keep doing whatever it is you do.”
“Aye-aye, boss!” Goggles said, giving a salute and flipping his namesake onto his eyes again.
Suncloak turned and motioned for Traveler to follow back down the hallways, grumbling something under his breath.
Traveler followed yet again. “Why do these changelings keep calling—” A very loud bang back the way they came, followed by a shout of “Bananas are awesome!” interrupted him. “Why do they keep calling you boss?”
Suncloak sighed. “I have no idea. I think they just do it because it annoys me.”
“It annoys you?” Traveler raised an eyebrow. “But they’re calling you their leader. How can that possibly annoy you?”
“Because it’s not true,” Suncloak said. “I’m not their leader, or their boss, or whatever. I just make a couple of decisions to try and make their lives a bit better.”
“Doesn’t that basically make you their leader?” Traveler asked. “You’re the highest changeling official in Equestria, you said it yourself.”
Suncloak shrugged. “It just doesn’t feel that way.”
It wasn’t until they left the school that Suncloak spoke up again. “So, do you want to tell me why you’re here yet?”
“No,” Traveler said. “That was strange and all, but I’m not sure yet.” That, and he hadn’t thought of anything substantial yet. So far, he’d been too busy being surprised at these thoroughly weird changelings.
“Let’s try this again, then,” Suncloak said, heading out again. “I’ll show you another school.”
Traveler raised an eyebrow and followed. “A school? Again?”
“Yep!” Suncloak said, another big smile on his face. “Canterlot Elementary. It’s only a few blocks from here.”
Elementary school? Traveler frowned. That didn’t sound good, not at all. Elementary school would be full of pony foals. Considering the current situation in Canterlot, maybe even a few changeling nymphs. Eugh. He was generally okay with nymphs, as long as they stayed very far away from him.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Suncloak said. “It’s not nearly as bad as it sounds.”
“Fine,” Traveler said. After all, if the changelings at this next school acted as strangely as the ones he’d met before, then maybe this would be a pleasant surprise.
For some reason, he was really doubting that.
A couple of blocks further, the two reached their next destination. Like Suncloak said, it was another school, though this one was far smaller. It also had a sign, displaying the name of the school, Canterlot Elementary, in colourful, big letters. Through the windows, Traveler could see classes filled with foals and their teachers, though he couldn’t see any changelings. There was a large playground out in front of the building, but there currently weren’t any ponies or changelings playing.
The inside of the school was a perfect example of the average elementary school: happy colours, happy drawings, happy everything. Which made Traveler feel really, really uncomfortable. He’d assumed that such a large amount of happiness in one place was impossible.
“This’ll probably surprise you,” Suncloak said, leading Traveler all the way to the back of the school. Once there, he pointed at a door, leading to a room that hadn’t been visible from outside. There were a few tall, narrow windows right next to the door, which Suncloak took a peek through. “Here, look at this,” he said, beckoning Traveler over.
It took some maneuvering, but Traveler managed to see through the window and into the class. The inside was as colourful as the rest of the building, though the classroom was a bit more empty than Traveler had anticipated. The little school tables had been pushed to the sides of the room, neatly put away against the walls and the windows.
In the middle of the room was a semicircle of both pony foals and a couple of changeling nymphs. All of them were completely silent, enthralled by the adult changeling in front of them. A female with a short, red mane and tail, kept completely straight. She was reading from a book, though Traveler couldn’t make out what she was saying.
Suncloak squinted. “I really hope she isn’t telling them what I think she is.”
“Telling them what?” The only thing Traveler could see in the book was a picture of a pony dressed as a knight, accompanied by a pony and a foal clothed in rags.
“Uh, never mind.” Suncloak cleared his throat. “Anyway, as you can see, this is a class with both ponies and changelings, and the teacher is even a changeling! So far, this is only a test phase, but it’s going really well. Both the foals and the nymphs are having a great time.” He puffed up his chest in pride. “I know, because I made a survey.”
Traveler rolled his eyes. Asking a couple of questions to kids wasn’t something to boast about. “Is that it?”
“Yeah.” Suncloak took a step back. “Made up your mind yet?”
Traveler shook his head. He was starting to become less and less sure about the threat Suncloak posed, as he couldn’t possibly be sane. Right? Maybe. It was getting somewhat confusing.
Suddenly, the classroom’s door opened, and the red-maned changeling stuck her head out. “Can I help you with something?” she said, looking at Traveler. When she saw Suncloak, her face lit up. “Hey, boss! What’re you doing here today?”
“Just showing someling around,” Suncloak said. “His name’s Traveler.”
“Neat. My name’s Shining Nova,” the changeling said, turning to Traveler. “Keeping the ambassador off his work, are you?”
“I guess,” Traveler said. Not that he could think of any important work Suncloak would have to do.
“It’s not like that,” Suncloak said, subtly nodding at Traveler’s scarf. “But I’ll get out of your holes. We have one last stop to visit.”
“Then I’ll see you later,” Shining Nova said. “You go do your important ambassador stuff.” She briefly looked back in her classroom. “I should go back to work. But before that…” She stepped out of the classroom, gave Suncloak a peck on the cheek, then quickly went back inside again and closed the door behind her.
“Right, moving on,” Suncloak said, hastily turning around and leaving.
Traveler stared at the door in surprise for a few seconds. “Did she just…?” He quickly caught up to Suncloak. “Did she just kiss you?!”
“Yes,” Suncloak said, blushing fiercely through his scowl. “She knows I hate that.”
“Is she crazy?!” Traveler hissed. “She gave you love! Why would she do that?”
Suncloak sighed. “It’s like I’ve been trying to show you. The two of us, we’re friends. And she has many, many more friends, each one of them giving her love every single day. I bet those kids in the classroom are giving her love as well.”
“So? That’s no reason to start giving it away!” Traveler couldn’t even believe he was having this conversation. This was common knowledge to changelings! You don’t give away love unless you’re crazy!
“It kind of is,” Suncloak said. “The average changeling living in Equestria gets so much love, they either have to give a lot of it away, or restrict their feeding. A couple of months ago, we had a bit of a problem where changelings got really sick. Turns out a changeling can only consume so much love in a day.”
Traveler blinked a few times in surprise. He had no idea the changelings living around here were doing so well for themselves. He himself would’ve been tempted to live here just to try it out, if the general behaviour and way of life of these changelings wasn’t so profoundly stupid.
After a little while, the two of them were outside again, with Suncloak leading Traveler back to the castle. “So, what was she giving you back there?” Traveler said after about a minute of walking. “Was that the standard love love, or friendship love?”
Suncloak smirked. “None of your business.”
Figures. “Anyway, you said there was one last stop to visit?” Traveler asked. With this last bit of information, he actually had a pretty good idea of what he was going to do, but he was still interested in this next location. Whatever it was, it’d probably surprise him in some way.
“Yep,” Suncloak said. “We can get there from multiple places in the city, but the easiest entrance is near the castle. I’d tell you what it is, but you wouldn’t believe me.”
Traveler raised an eyebrow. That couldn’t mean anything good. Suncloak had been very forthcoming with his earlier destinations, which were already incredibly strange. Whatever they were heading to now had to be the strangest thing possible. Traveler couldn’t even imagine what it might be, considering that Canterlot had already been unimaginably weird to him.
When they reached the castle, Suncloak didn’t go inside, but circled around, eventually reaching a rather small building that was built into the mountainside. On the inside, the building was very simple, looking more like an old, dusty mine entrance. In fact, looking at some of the rather dated maps on the walls, it actually was an old mine entrance. Though there were many new-looking boxes standing near the mine shaft, so maybe it wasn’t that old.
“The entrance doesn’t look like much yet, but we’re working on it,” Suncloak said, making his way towards the mineshaft. “It’s down here.”
What could there possibly be inside this mineshaft, aside from the obvious? As far as Traveler knew, this was where Queen Chrysalis had sent two ponies during the royal wedding, to make sure they didn’t interfere. Though it turned out that wasn’t a very effective way of dealing with them.
Oddly enough, the walls of the mine were lined with torches. Changeling torches, seeing as they burned with green flames. It reminded Traveler of changeling hives. In fact, the only difference this mine had with a changeling hive was that the floor was perfectly smooth, as opposed to the hive’s uneven surfaces. And it didn’t have any changelings living in it.
A little bit into the mine, there were working ponies. Miners? No, they didn’t look like it. Sure, they wore hard hats and fluorescent orange jackets, but it seemed more like they were construction workers, as they had a lot more tools with them than just pickaxes.
“So, you’re just showing me a mine?” Traveler asked. He took another look at the torches and the construction workers. “A weird mine?”
“Not a mine,” Suncloak said. “This is still only the entrance. Or the entry hall, I suppose. We’re still working on it. Walls and ceiling need to be a bit more smooth. We’ll reach the main hall any second now.”
A few moments and a couple of corners later, Traveler could see a large cave chamber ahead. Purple and green lights shone from within, likely from the gems and torches inside said room. As soon as the two of them reached it, Suncloak stepped aside and motioned for Traveler to step inside.
The chamber made Traveler’s jaw drop. It was absolutely massive, filled with green torches and purple gems and strangely, a lot of construction gear. Enormous scaffolds were set up against the walls, populated by ponies and changelings, all of them digging and building. Any places that were out of reach were handled by pegasi and more changelings. Altogether, there must’ve been more than fifty changelings in the cave, who were in turn vastly outnumbered by ponies.
“What in the hive is this?!” Traveler exclaimed.
“Well, you said it yourself,” Suncloak said. “It’s a hive. Well, it’s going to be one.”
Traveler whirled around, facing Suncloak. “Are you crazy?! You’re building a hive, here?”
“Oh, relax,” Suncloak said, dismissively waving a hoof. “All requests and plans went through the appropriate channels. It’s been approved by the princesses themselves!”
“They just let you do that?” Traveler couldn’t believe it: the princesses might be just as crazy as all other ponies combined.
“The princesses are surprisingly pro-changeling,” Suncloak said. “A couple of ponies complained, but when you call it a changeling district and change the plans to match the design of Canterlot a little, most of them don’t mind anymore.”
Traveler turned around again. A hive. In Canterlot. He shook his head to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, but alas, the hive was still there. Even though it was still under construction, it already had a higher level of craftsmanship than any other hive, with smooth walls and carefully constructed roads. Though normal hives weren’t this pretty mainly because changelings didn’t care about that sort of thing. But still, a hive in Canterlot. In a short time, these changelings had accomplished something others could only dream of!
“That was the last thing I wanted to show you,” Suncloak said. “Can you see just how different life here is, compared to the old changeling hives?”
Traveler slowly nodded, turning back to Suncloak again.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do yet? Suncloak asked.
Traveler nodded again. “The way I see it, there’s two options. Either you guys are far too well off here to be involved in why I’m here, or you’re simply too crazy to be involved. I don’t know which one yet. Bottom line is, I don’t think you have anything to do with it.”
He briefly looked back at the currently being built hive. No, these changelings didn’t have any reason to steal the Evershifting Stone. What could they possibly accomplish by doing that? There was no malice directed at the Queen here, no jealousy, just a bunch of changelings living in their own, ridiculous way. Or they just weren’t sane enough to steal the Stone. “I’ll cooperate with you. But this place isn’t private enough.”
Suncloak grin was absolutely ecstatic. “Sure! We’ll talk in my office.”
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Ha, Suncloak keeps falling into the wall!!
Just one small problem...
I wanted it to be Sweet Heart!!!
Well, Traveler decided, can't wait till the next chapter to see what Suncloak's reaction to the stone being stolen is.
My little changeling :OMG HAVE EVERYLING LOST ITS MIND
Suncloak is honestly one of my favourite characters.
Hah! Nice author's note.
Interesting how the changelings have adapted. Still, why build a hive at all if they're living like ponies?
Haha, I get it.
Traveler's Exile.
Because his name is Traveler...
And he's exiled...
haha....
Chapter 3 and it's already So good!!!
3214093, There's this thing called space. There is a limited amount of it and as such, there is a limited amount that you can add to the population before you run out of space.
3214250
That would be an issue if Equestria in general, and Canterlot in specific would be in the middle of a housing crunch. However since those are generally caused by a dearth of available labor and resources, neither of which seem to be lacking. Furthermore, Canterlot is a city, and pretty much any large or even medium city has a fair amount of empty habitation for immediate growth. In addition, the influx is only about a hundred changelings or so, which while that might strain a small village, larger communities have larger pools of resources including housing to draw upon. Furthermore, why a hive? Why not build more pony housing? If Canterlot is out of space, why not another city or town? It's much harder to construct an underground dwelling than it is to move and build at another location. (Do some research; the only people who build underground are typically those with no other options, and unless the princesses are deliberately holding Changelings in Canterlot, there are other options.)
I'm asking why a hive, instead of why not building more traditional housing. This is not a reason to talk down to me about "space". like a condescending jerk.
3213856
Who says it can't be both.
3214411 Because I like Sweet Heart more.
3214336
The changelings have most likely lived in hives since the birth of their species. Underground living is natural to them, and while they're obviously capable of living as ponies, they're probably more comfortable living in a hive-like area. Underground building is difficult, but they're building in a mine. All of the basic necessities (Structural support, ventilation etc) have all ready been done. Plus it has to be the only area within Canterlot that's pretty much abandoned, unwanted and of a significant size. Right now there aren't many changelings there, but this would provide enough space for however many end up coming to or being born in Canterlot. Expanding Canterlot itself, considering it's design and location, would be considerably more expensive. Now as for not just expanding another city, the princesses (and Suncloak) probably want to keep all the changelings in one place, both so they can ensure none of them are spies sent to cause trouble, and to protect them from Chrysalis, who has already stated her intent to take them back.
Of course, this is all just my own head-canon, and could be entirely off the mark.
that authors note made me chuckle :p
Great chapter to a great story, I really can't wait for more ^.^
well.. in all actuality i am physically capable of waiting for more.. Why is that even a common phrase?
He just annoyed because he doesn't get royalties for it. Silly pony copyright laws.
3214513
That doesn't really make them any different from the other changelings then, does it? Truss it up all you want, but you're basically saying that they cannot change their nature and become different, even though that's basically the entire premise of this story series. The whole living apart from ponies also kind of becomes foreboding when you're considering that another word for an isolated, hidden part of a city is called a ghetto. This is what creates ethnic tension in cities and actively encouraging this sort of segregation, no matter how benign, is a terrible idea. It slows down assimilation and homogenization and makes it easier for an "us vs. them" mentality to form on both sides of the divide.
As for the princesses, if they really are insisting the Changelings stay in Canterlot, well... that's not freedom, is it?
3214093 There's simple answer to your concerns:
If you read previous stories, you know that Suncloak HATED boxy, inefficient; and white; design of pony housing, so chances are that rest of those changelings thought that as well. They live in them right now, but they probably prefer something more familiar, like a hive. They might not like the social structure and rules of the old home, but the hive itself, as home might be something they're fond of.
Take me for instance; I would be able to live in "paper and plywood" house of American design, but I would strongly prefer European sturdiness of bricks and concrete.
3214577>>3214513
It's different, but that isn't explained in the story yet (and probably won't be in extensive detail). Changelings are incredibly efficient, quick workers, so building a hive is fairly cheap. Like Suncloak said, it won't really be a hive, more of a new district of Canterlot in the form of one. It's built mostly in preparation for an eventual boom in changeling population, providing quick and cheap living space for not only changelings, but also ponies. It's also fitting for changelings who have trouble adjusting to living in houses, as opposed to a hive's communal rooms.
As for the ghetto part, it'll be less well-hidden when it's actually done and more entrances all over the city are built.
3214638
"Paper and plywood"? What the Hell do you think we do, live like primitives? I live in a concrete block house, thank you very much, and even new construction is made with heavy timbers and reinforced with steel at key load-bearing parts. Granted I'd prefer they use more steadfast materials like concrete, but there's the whole idea of not trying to make it more expensive than it has to be.
3214577 you have to remember that changeling used to be oppressed by Chrystalis, who forced the, into jobs, home, and just about everything else. The only way for a changeling to leave the hive was to be some sort of fighter or collector.
With the castle they could do any job they wanted to and could go almost everywhere in the city, which is probably a hell of a lot larger then the hive is. But yes, your right it isn't full freedom.
It also helps protect the changelings from racist ponies, because almost all of the ponies in Canterlot are accepting of the changelings, while out in the rough, there MIT be a lot more ponies who want nothing to do with or outright hate the changelings.
Changelings getting sick from over eating? I never saw that coming.
3214703
Doing something "for their own good" has never gone well.
3214738
Touché
Giggity!
In other news: Woo~ Nova's back! Her and Lofty need more screen time.
3214738 I agree about keeping them separate being a bad idea, if only because it makes the integration take longer. My take on it is that the hive is a way to attract changelings that can't deal with the culture shock of living like a pony. This way even if they don't like they idea of making friends to get love they can still get a job and buy what they need.
3214738
One of the key points to keep in mind is that it's not a forced separation. It was mentioned in the last story that not all changelings really liked living like ponies, so having a space that's more in line with traditional changeling accommodations would be perfect for them.
Another fact to keep in mind is that the district literally can't be isolated. Even if not many ponies ever venture into the hive itself, the changelings that live there have to be fully and happily integrated with the ponies of Canterlot in order to ensure their survival since they feed on love. Regardless of where they live, their survival depends on them being actively and positively social with the ponies around them.
3214678 I know you've got concrete and brick houses in there, but still, every time I see american construction site in TV or movie; unless it's a sky scraper; it's made out of wooden beams and plywood, like shed, and every other time, some drunk (or bored) moron runs his hand through drywall.
I wouldn't spend the night in such house, knowing that some dumbass could walk inside through the fucking wall.
And I don't know if it's as inexpensive as it seams, when one match, stronger wind or some high water can turn it into rubble. Oh, and termites, they don't eat concrete.
And ecology. You don't have to cut down half of the forest to build one house.
3214577
Of course it does. They're not hostile parasites who replace ponies to steal love while using mind altering magic. I'd consider that a much bigger deal than where they live.
Ghetto's are cheaply built, run down area's that are mostly populated by those too poor to move elsewhere. This is an area open to everyone, changeling or not, that is certainly being built to Canterlot's high standards.
The pegasuses have Cloudsdale. Should the princesses get rid of it, because the other races don't want to or can't live there? Regardless of the fact that a lot of pegasuses (pegasi?) prefer living there? Humans are all ultimately the same, no matter the race. The race of ponies (and changelings) are all significantly physically different. Expecting them to all live the same way is ridiculous, and a certain level of segregation is going to be a fact of life.
I'd prefer to think it's being suggested, and with valid reasons given. It's entirely possible there are changelings elsewhere in Equestria.
*chuckles* I think it's pretty clear who has the stone. And what the motives really are. The one responsible wants #5 there, for obvious reasons if you think about it a bit.
3214336, I'm sorry if you believe that my comment was meant to be insulting. That wasn't my intention at all. I was just suggesting a possible reason for why they would build this hive in Canterlot. Although, it is true that some of the other comments on here have better explanations than what I came up with.
Huh. I was expecting this big chair for Suncloak to sit in or something to guard against possible Chrysalis attacks.
3214759
i.chzbgr.com/mediumSquare/6482663936/79D8E06F/1
ohai
A post-it note on the front sign of Celestia's school, that is hysterical. As is the research that consists of blowing up fruit. Well, science has to start somewhere, and explosions are always popular.
Nova!
Kissing Suncloak! 
The crystal undercity hive, fantastic.
I didn't choose to wear argyle turtlenecks. The turtlenecks chose me! It's a curse, I tell you!
I can never quite tell how much of Suncloak's stupidity is an act. Some, but not all, yes, but how much?
3214577
There are plenty of isolated, hidden and even walled-off-areas of a city that are also very expensive, and upper class.
BEHOLD
fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2013/160/e/c/the_dapper_changeling_by_rose_laxzi-d68chx7.png
Yes, Goggles, bananas are awesome.
3216615
Dude! that Changeling Is PIMPIN!
Awesome story so far!
3214860
Yes, cut down a forest, and replant the trees behind, like all logging companies in the First World do. It's actually beneficial as that wood is now removed from the Carbon cycle, thus keeping it from being returned back into the atmosphere via burning or decomposition.
Walk through the wall? Dude, those are interior walls, exterior walls a re load-bearing and are much, much stronger. Clearly you've never actually been in such a house, and you don't really know what you're talking about.
As for catching on fire, the fact is with stone and concrete the walls may not catch on fire, but everything else inside will. Doesn't sound any better to me, buster.
And termites do, in fact, eat concrete. Maybe not for food, but they can and will chew right through it to get to the stuff on the inside that is made out of wood and other organics.
3214837
It's underground, which means a limited number of entrances/exits, which are choke points that can be sealed off with guards or even permanently with controlled demolitions. That counts as isolated, or at least isolable.
3214986
When you start talking about "space" a if trying to explain to a 5-year-old, it's kind of insulting. You may have not meant it, but it still came off that way.
3214925
Point, but when they hide underground they are not going to give that impression, now are they?
That is the most disgusting...
Two things. First: Cloudesdale is not a forced establishment. The pegasi are not being made to live there. It's disturbing to isolate themselves so much, but that is an aspect of freedom, being able to choose where you want to live. Wanting to be around "others of your own kind" is why people leave the cities as soon as minorities start to move into their neighborhoods. Doesn't make it right.
Secondly... you realize that's the same arguments that racists made about African-descended people back in the 19th Century? That they were "different" and thus were expected to live differently because of that? As in, considered mentally incapable of living better? You can argue all you want about physical differences in Equestrian species being more definitive, but when you start to argue that means they cannot live the same way, you start sounding like a Southern Democrat circa 1860, and that's where I have to ask whether you're actually paying attention to what you're saying?
Good God, man, what the flip?
Off to an amusing start, and I am curious to see how well the next chapter will be. Keep up the good work! <3
So, has suncloak been commuting, or do his friends visit?
3217494
But why would they do that? Yeah, if Celestia really wanted to she could totally bomb it and seal off the entrances. But she has no reason to, so it's not really a valid concern. And since the changelings have to be on positive terms with the ponies of Canterlot in order to live there at all, if things ever do go wrong, somehow, they would have had to leave the city long before it got to the point of sealing them underground in order to avoid starvation.
Celestia is not some sort of evil tyrant that would lure a bunch of changelings to her capital city and then bury them alive, and the changelings themselves can't stay isolated due to the nature of their feeding habits. The changelings have literally every reason to want to make ponies like them, and it's working; aside from a very few hold outs, ponies are quite happy to have the changelings around. All the stuff you're pointing out could happen, but only in a worst case nightmare scenario. Unless something goes catastrophically, horribly wrong, there's no reason to see the Canterlot Hive as anything other than new housing space for a group of ponies with unique cultural habits.
The hive isn't a forced establishment either. Suncloak made the proposal on his own, since he had said earlier in the story that if certain conditions were met he would. Not to mention that nowhere in the story has it ever said that it's in any way mandatory for changelings to live there.
Are you paying attention to what you're saying? The arguments used by the south at that time were made to justify unfair treatment and racist laws designed to limit the freedom of black people. The situation with the Canterlot Hive, as well as with Cloudsdale, are not even remotely similar. In both cases they are freely established residential areas made to fit the cultural lifestyles of a unique group of ponies. No one is forcing them to live there. No one is saying that they cannot live the same as any other unicorn or earth pony in Canterlot. What they are saying is that some changelings and pegasi don't want to live that way and shouldn't have to.
They even make a point of mentioning that some changelings went back to the hives after living in Equestria for a time because they missed the hive lifestyle. You're vastly overreacting to and demonizing what was intended as, and what will be, a kind gesture to a new and unique group of immigrants.
Tell me Sun Cloak and Nova are together. God I hope it's so.
3217494
Uh, neither is this hive...
The pegasi don't isolate themselves. They don't drive off 'outsiders' or build big walls around Cloudsdale. They live somewhere they work in or enjoy being. It just happens to be somewhere other races have difficulty getting to. When the mane 6 went there no one was giving them shifty looks or telling them to get back on the ground where they belong. Nor did the pegasi move to Cloudsdale because some earth ponies moved in next door. The pegasi that live in Cloudsdale are, most likely, ponies who were born there. Like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, who both then moved away to live in communities with a much more mixed population.
Firstly, no it's not. I'm genuinely sorry if I wasn't clear, but you seem to have misunderstood me. Secondly, even there are similarities in the argument this is a different situation, on a different planet involving a different setting with different species. If you lose the cap off a bottle of coke, I could argue the best solution would be to just drink it. But if you lost the cap off a bottle of bleach? Yeah, obviously using that same argument is ridiculous, even if the situations have similarities. An arguments merit is based upon the situation it is applied to.
The races of ponies and changelings are clearly different, not "different", and there is no expectation for the different races to live differently. There is merely the option to do so. Option, as in choice, as in freedom: The opposite of racist laws and restrictions.
I specifically made a point of not mentioning mental ability in any way, so this is irrelevant.
I shouldn't need to, they clearly are more definitive.
Not sure you were paying enough attention:
I never argued they cannot live the same way. They just have the right to live where they wish. And some of them will use that right. Not all, just some. If that place is somewhere only their kind can/has an interest in living, should they be stopped from living there? Do you want to enforce living together in designated areas to avoid the possible results of having ones home in a different environment? That, in my mind, is flat out tyrannical.
3217816
3219099
I love how there is plenty of copy-paste here. Shows that it's just one person with two accounts.
Constantly taking my words out of context. I am saying it is a bad idea and the arguments you have used against me are the same kind used to justify the establishment of ethnic enclaves the world over. I am trying to get you to realize that you are justifying segregation based on cultural mores using the same language of oppressors.
In the end we actually both agree on certain things: That the changelings should be and are free to live where and how they want. I am saying their choice is a bad one, and you come up with this segregationist bullspit. I will not stand for it, nor the mentality of separation it coddles.
They don't really have to, now do they?
The problem is you did not say that. You were saying that they should live that way because it's better for them. And then you used incredibly vile language to justify it.
Yes, you did. You were implying that their construction of a hive was because they cannot stand anything else. This is attributing a mental issue on them.
I refer once again I never said anything about forcing them to live any specific way. You are arguing a null idea here. I am saying that the idea of creating a separate district, no matter how benign the intention, is a terrible idea. How have you not grasped this idea? How have you continued to assume I am talking about forcing them? What is wrong with you?
I am sick of this argument. I still say it's a bad idea, and your language used to defend it is at best mishandled, and at worst borderline racist. I'm done with this, and with you.
3219532
The irony is palpable...
...and the feeling is entirely mutual.
3219567
Hey Kicks, how does it feel to be me? I never even knew I had a clone out there running my second account, so it's nice to meet me!
Wait....or am I your clone?
3219532
I......honestly don't know what to say to you anymore. At every turn I've presented you with logical arguments as to why your fears are unfounded, from the very nature of a changeling's existence all the way up to the fact that there is no animosity or sense of superiority in any way present in pony attitudes towards the immigrant changelings. You've presented these outlandish claims of racism and discrimination with no evidence from any source beyond your own opinion, and you absolutely refuse to actually look at any evidence being presented to you showing that your fears are unfounded. Instead you choose to try to demonize both the target of your rant, as well as its supporters to avoid facing the fact that you have no real evidence to support your claims.
I could point to more than a few historical figures who did exactly what you're doing, and every single one of them was exactly the racist bigot you claim me to be. Ever heard of a man named Hitler? He did to the Jews exactly what you're trying to myself and Kicks. Well you know what? I won't stand for it! I will not let your fear and your racist propaganda run rampant and unchecked! I oppose thee, good sir, and at every opportunity I will stand firm against your words of hatred and oppression!
3219941
Hello me! Uh, I mean you.
Joking aside, it'd probably be best to just leave Rokas alone. I think this is a matter of incompatible viewpoints. Nothing good's going to come out of prodding him.
3220095
Oh I know. I've already put him on the same level as a religious fanatic. Me and some friends of mine in Skype hold to the belief that it's not a true 'Murican argument until someone gets compared to Hitler, and he left me a perfect opportunity for it, so......
You and all these other authors on this website better start sucking, or I'm never going t get any sleep.