One would think that even with our supposed improved relations, the sisters would leave me be when I go to do something, like parley with the queen of the changeling hive that attacked Equestria.
It never turns out that way. Of course not. That would be too easy, and we can't be having that.
Just as I reached the border of Equestria and the Badlands, I felt the twin signatures coming up behind me and sighed.
Ladies, please. There's only so much of you I can take!
I turned around to see Celestia and Luna landing on the grasslands behind me. They folded their wings up and leveled their gazes at where my head would be.
"Dullahan, why do you seek to go into the Badlands?"
I 'stared' at her for a moment. You mean...Cadenza didn't tell you?
The two of them blinked. "Our niece did inform us of a strange series of events involving you in the Empire, but it was too fantastical to be believed. Are thou telling us it is true?"
That brought a genuine laugh from me. A good, hearty chuckle. One that seemed to unnerve the two before me the longer it went on.
Oh I needed that! Anyways, yes, whatever she told you is likely true. I wouldn't know, I'd have to read whatever she wrote, but I have a job to do in the Badlands. One involving a certain mutual foe of ours.
As I turned to march into the desert, Celestia spoke up again. "Dullahan, if this plan of yours works, I have three questions. The first, do you know where this Golden Sun of yours will shine?"
I paused for a moment before nodding. I do.
"Do you intend to be bathed in its light?"
Indeed.
"Why should I let you?"
I turned to 'look' at her again. Because if me or mine are not the ones bathed in its light, then the effect of the Sun will be wasted. With every Light lit, the Wise One will attempt to hasten his entry. With such power as the Golden Sun will grant, I will be able to stand up to him, even if you should fail in sealing us off.
She shook her head. "And what is to stop you from abusing that strength?"
I let silence fill the air for a moment. My own morals, which you seem to doubt I have every time we enter situations like this. Keep it up, and I'll have to show the world how your own morals can be called into question. And if you think I can't, then all I have to do is let a certain pegasus residing in Newvale go public with the information he extracted from your nephew.
Leaving the stunned sisters behind, I made my way into the desert.
-----
It took me three days of aimless wandering before I came across my first changeling out there.
Of course, it only took them an hour before there were about a hundred more. I 'stared' at them all and sighed. Really? You're going to try and drag me in by force?
A chorus of battle cries were my response, ranging from 'get it' to 'tear it apart.' I drew my sword and pointed it at them, causing them to shut up for a moment.
We all remember how this song and dance goes, don't we? I'd rather it not end like that, I have business with your queen, and dealing with you in any fashion would undermine it. If I ask you nicely, will you show me the way?
A solitary voice spoke up from the mass in front of me. "You...want to go with us?"
I 'nodded' at them once. It'd be a lot faster than looking for your queen myself.
There was silence for a moment, before a very familiar voice spoke up. "And why would you be looking for me, O Headless defender of the sun?"
The mass parted to reveal Queen Chrysalis stalking towards me. I 'faced' her and sheathed my blade. Ah, my second-favorite royal. How wonderful to see you.
The Queen paused for a moment. "Second to the Sun Princess?"
I snorted then. Second to her niece, the one you impersonated. She at least has the good sense to learn from her aunt's mistakes. You rank higher than the Sun and Moon Princess by sheer dint of not having chained me up in your basement for fifteen hundred years.
At that, she blinked a few times, then laughed at the information I had given her. "So which of the two do you hate more?"
I shook my body in the negative. Hate's too strong a word. I reserve my hate and my wrath. I'm angry with them, yes. I cannot truly hate any innocents. I can be angry at them, no problem. And that's a toss up, but I'm more angry at Celestia, and irritated at Luna.
Chrysalis tilted her head at me. "So the one you defended is the one you like least? How does that work out?"
I shrugged. Hey, at the time, you WERE kinda invading and playing the part of a supervillian. There wasn't a choice. Even if you had promised me I'd never have to deal with either of them again, I'da stopped you. The only monster allowed to walk those lands is ME.
She slowly nodded at that. "A twisted sense of logic and honor, but one that leaves me no loopholes. You're nearly as devious as I can be."
Not sure if compliment or not...
At this, she laughed again. "Quite. So why did you want to see me?"
I reached into my shield and pulled out the Mercury Star. I think we can help each other here.
-----
It had taken her time, but eventually Chrysalis led me to the bottom of her Hive, where she said there was once a great spring of water.
Though, a few rulers ago, there had been some sort of disturbance, and the spring was plugged now.
Drawing close to it was all I needed to do to confirm that this was where we needed to be.
The little voice going She is not ready... was a dead giveaway.
I sat near the old well and held the Mercury Star in one hand, playing with it while I looked at the queen. So, let's go over some things. You invaded Canterlot to obtain an emotional feast for your subjects, because it is your duty to take care of them.
She nodded once, briskly. "Yes, we were starving. Our methods, while effective, were too slow for the amount we needed."
I understand. You were only looking out for them, doing what was in their best interest.
She started to nod, but I interrupted. The same way Celestia was doing what was best for her subjects by chasing me down and imprisoning me. The same way she did what was best for her subjects when she and her sister dealt with Discord and sealed him in stone. The same way they dealt with Sombra, by turning him to smoke and sealing him in a glacier. The same she dealt with her sister turning into Nightmare Moon, by sending her to the moon. She merely put problems OFF, she never SOLVED any!
At this, Chryssy glared at me. "And what are you implying, headless?"
Tell me, what was your grand plan for when all the ponies were captured? What then? You're out of food. You'd have put the problem off until it was greater. You'd have solved NOTHING. Are you sure you're a changeling? I can almost see a hint of an ethereal mane if I look hard enough.
She had the grace to look shocked at the comparison I was drawing, then looked down as she realized my logic. "We...I...how did I not see..."
Then she looked back up and fixed me with a gaze. "And do you have a solution?"
I might. But tell me this, if the solution involved you giving up your way of life, in order to feed them, would you?
She paused for a moment, and nodded. "For them, I would do whatever it took."
I raised a hand and called up my memories, pouring them into my technique. Excellent. Now let me try something. Ply!
A stream of blue sparks shot from my hand, and directed by me, they merely hovered over my palm, cascading up and down in an endless loop. The queen seemed fascinated by the lightshow, probably because she could sense something off about it.
Go on, try to feed from it.
She looked at me curiously, before opening her mouth slightly and inhaling. The sparks shot into her mouth, and she nearly gasped. Barely, she managed to get all of them in and down before looking at me in wonder. "What...was that?"
A technique from Mercury meant to heal, but I poured my memories into it. You CAN infuse emotion into Psynergy, but it makes it so much more unstable. I just gave you a bit of my emotions, dear Queen. Willingly.
She seemed taken aback by my charity and sat on her rump for a bit. "Why would you..."
To get you to LISTEN to me. From what I understand, changelings can't feed on the emotional energy of another. It's a defense mechanism, one I can understand. But there's a way beyond invasion, starvation, and your current methods. Co-existence. You cannot live without the ponies. So try to make peace with them. Who knows? Public reaction may not be as terrible as you think, and there's always my place, a village of ponies who can ALL use these strange powers. Who could ALL put emotion behind it, and let you feed off of IT, rather than US, so that you don't harm us. Worst comes to worst, I'd be willing to shelter you if need be.
She blinked a few times, taking in the tirade I had given her. "Make peace with them?"
It's really your best choice. Otherwise, they'll probably go on some sort of crazy changeling-hunt to oust you, which would only accelerate the starving.
She nodded slowly at that. "And you'd be willing to shelter us?"
Only once you've at least tried, m'dear.
She nodded again. "Then...I think we can try. We must change and adapt to our surroundings, lest we perish. This is just one more change. A unique one, amongst them all, but one that I look forward to."
She put her hoof in my right hand as if to shake it.
The hand that still had the Mercury Star.
The Star which, even now, shattered.
I looked to where it had been, then to her. Aw, not agai-
Chrysalis gained a massive blue aura, and streams of it shot into the depths of the well. I could feel something shift, something break, deep down. There was a flash, and a massive blue orb rose from the depths and passed through the ceiling, continuing on to the surface.
Then I heard the roar of rushing water coming up, and I grabbed Chryssy. We gotta get outta here, lest we drown!
She wormed her way free and flew up to a tunnel exit, barking orders to her drones. Meanwhile, I was bemoaning my lack of Retreat, and kept running through the tunnels, always heading up.
Eventually, I reached the surface, to find Chrysalis and her subjects staring at the Light of Mercury, watching in awe as water gushed from the ground, turning the dry desert into a slightly muddier one. Plants sprung up towards the edges, and as the greenery filled in, I could only gawk.
An oasis in the desert. I thought it might happen like this, but I'm still surprised at how quickly the plants are coming in.
One changeling reached down to sip at the water, then reared back, his eyes wide open in surprise. "My throat! It was sore, but now it's not!"
I groaned as something else seemed to have happened, and the queen turned to me. "Care to elaborate?"
I sighed and nodded. As long as the Light of Mercury is housed here, the oasis shall overflow with the water of Hermes, the water which cures all physical ills.
I then turned to look at the Light, then back to the Queen. Well, I have to head back to Equestria anyways, to pick up someone for the next Light. Want to tag along? I can drop you off in Canterlot.
She laughed a little while before she caught her breath and nodded. "Why not?"
That is the best water ever, hands (hooves) down.
A little quick this one, but not bad. I can't wait to see how the Princesses and the Queen are going to try and resolve this. Probably will spend a good long time just staring at each other making everyone feel awkward before anyone thinks of talking.
So would the Water of Hermes be enough to sustain the Changelings itself or do they still need love/emotion fueled psyenergy? Also, how are the Changelings who ran from the Hive going to deal with their fearsome leader appearing again?
Chapters...y u so short?! Sorry, used to reading 5-10k words per chapter. Still, a great one if my opinion counts for anything.
Chrysalis is gonna be interestiiiiiin...
you know now that the changelings have the water of Hermes they can use that in the peace talks
i mean water that can cure all physical ills it will make peace easier
4116851
It heals physical illnesses/injuries, but it cannot nourish a being. It'd be like putting a band-aid on the skin for internal injuries.
I have to bring Jack into this, because in his version of Equestria, the changelings see him as a deity.
I need to send him there, see Chrysalis and say, "Why am I plagued to see you everywhere I go?"
Ohh no, ponies and other beings will likely turn greedy as fuck and attempt to take the oasis.
4116906 Well yeah, I know that's how it works in the Golden Sun universe, just not sure if the same exact rules apply here.
4116905 Yeah, that was what I always figured. And consider that over time the Changelings will develop Mercury affinity which, if they play their cards right, will turn them into the world's best and most renowned healers, which in turn would likely make them beloved by all (hahaseewhatIdidthere).
Why am I jsut discovering this? I loved Golden Sun and this optional boss is one of the hardest I've ever done!
liking and favoriting!
I love it when chrysalis; is in stories
No head pun.
Edit; You're not writing like this anymore;
Hey my name is.
Dullahan.
I used to like.
Cake.
---
That's an improvement :)
4116906
4116851
To be fair, the starvation isn't so much the issue as your cells dying from lack of nourishment which eventually leads to organ failure, (as I understand it). The waters could certainly fix organ failure (and probably any other harmful side-effects of starvation) and let the changelings live without food, but I doubt they'd have much fun in a continual state of near-starvation.
Silver: Whot issues do AH have? Ah haven't done anytin' wrong!
4117838 Being able to live but always starving. Sheesh. Sounds like a torture worthy of the Tartarus of Greek mythology.
4118053 Silver, need I remind you of the time you drew your blade against me because you did not like what I has to say? I'm assuming you enjoy your continued supply of my potions.
4117838
Alright, yes, perhaps it could extend their lives, then, but at the cost of continuous hunger pains. Additionally, I am pretty sure one of the effects of starvation is passing out, so the changelings would require at least half their number remain unstarving in order to ferry water to their unconscious brethren. It's just not feasible.
4118153
Feasible? No. Amusingly sadistic thought experiment? Yes.
4118087
The Tale of Tantalus.
im guessing you have it on multiple sites thus causing the higher-than-fimfic rating?
4118093
Silver: … *crossed arms and pouty face*
4117094
I love it when Chrysalis is simply misunderstood.
4119729 I know right
4119810
4119729
Or at the very least, a villain by necessity, not choice. Makes her a much more complex and interesting character.
4121284 exactly my friend ... but when she is portraid as a quote
unquote " bitch" it pisses me off ... " SHE DOSENT HAVE A DAMN CHOICE IF SHE WANT TO KEEP A LIVING HIVE "
4121304 The most tragic are when she and the changelings literally do not have a choice to be anything but evil. For example, I read one fic where it's discussed that absorbing love slowly kills the victim, so they have to move to new source every so often. In addition, it was also mentioned that two changelings loving each other was essentially suicide as they would essentially be continually draining each others's life force until they both died. In other words, coexistence was literally impossible for them.
4121332 ....... that's fucked up
4116917
You bring Jack and Dully together, Dully will recognize him and only ask one question.
Namely, what his killcount is.
And then he'll actually attempt to hit Jack with his sword.
Awesome. A little lacking in Chrysalis's character development, but it wasn't TOO bad.
4121613 Not necessarily. Jack of Blades(imprinted) is eons old. No being that has lived that long can claim to have never sinned, and Dully would be able to acknowledge that.
Besides, even if he did take a wing at Jack, Jack would probably jut block it and tell him to save his energy. It would also be a god excuse to bring another 'god' who watches over the Weapon of Madness.
Is it still just Alice, Jack, Dully and PH, do you know, or has someone else joined the WoM?
Healing changelings are awesome changelings
4122157
Yeah but see, here's the thing.
Dully played Fable when he was alive.
And while he may recognize that just because someone looks like Jack doesn't mean he acts like Jack, he'd still ask.
The fact that Jack might even consider answering would be enough for Dully to try and make him understand.
And I'm pretty sure there isn't anyone else who has WoM, though Dully's is...different.
4123102 willl my oc be added
4123102 If he's played Fable: the Lost Chapters, he'd also know that the mask turns the wearer into the real Jack of Blades.
4118162
You're evil.
referrals?
4125210
No, evil would be attempting it in real life. Thinking about it is just morbid. Being somewhat amused by it is human nature (and possibly an extra dash of schadenfreude).
4128984 Then Thadius0 has some editing to do.
This is getting interesting...
Wonder how the royal sister's will react?
4129095
I believe it was only shown that the jupiter Djinn talked mostly. It doesn't mean other Djinn can't talk. Plus, I didn't find any rule about others talking so it shouldn't be a problem.
i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6396349184/h169958FB/
"Are you sure you're a changeling? I can almost see a hint of an ethereal mane if I look hard enough."
Burn!
4175330 Dully used insult, Crysallis suffered a BURN.
Finally someone got her right!
Really? Some cliche lines, that's all it took? Really playing up the Gary Stu vibe, and Chrysalis changed heading so fast I feel whiplash.
A good ruler to her subjects. She's surely worthy as a champion.
Inspired to breathe the same air with ardor,
to learn to see this world as it is meant to be.
Soon might each heart feel warmth.
We shall read on.
Yay for the lings!
What I also like about this story that all the canon characters are quite reasonable, none of the Xenolestia crap I've seen in many other fics.
6253987
If all you want to do is complain about this story why did you keep reading, you must have realized it was not going any differently by now, so why are you still here annoying us by not paying any attention to what is actually going on in the story?
Putting this pointless comment down, so this chapter can gave a second page.