The Legends of Another World
He crawled into the bed even though it was nearly ten in the morning. The benefit of being in charge was he could sleep in if he stayed up to work on what was needed or there were no emergencies, his position not having actual hours. Besides, he had a few things to discuss with a certain queen. Pandinus was staring off at a wall, not even flinching at his arrival. He adjusted himself, and when she still didn't react he laid on his side and pulled her into his barrel with all four legs, nuzzling her. She still failed to react.
'Fine, be that way,' he thought, blowing on the top of her head. The shifting hair caused her to flinch and she gave him a stink eye. A kiss on the cheek and he was apparently forgiven, the queen finally responding by shifting further into his grip.
"Talk to me, Huggle-buzz."
"I don't know how to feel," she muttered, ignoring the jab "Mother would have a conniption if she knew I was allowing other queens into my hive like this, but with how few changelings we have even with such a beacon to my race? It scares me. Is this all that's left? Less than two hundred changelings left in the world that aren't under Her control. Even of those among the enslaved, how many more are actually sapient, and how many have died so far? Yes, as long as a single queen survives and can lay eggs, we can rebuild, but it's still scary. If something happens here, and the four of us are killed, the only queens left are under the Mad Queen's control, and she may kill them if she runs out of targets for their progeny. And that will be that, no more changelings. People may come across an abandoned hive or two, but some may not even recognize it as a place sapient creatures lived.
"What do we actually have? We've been focused on survival and keeping hidden for so long we don't really have anything to say we were here. Yes, that was kind of the point for some hives. Yes, the central spire of my mother's hive was beautiful, carved with intricate designs that flowed like water, but that was done over the years by changelings in their spare time. My mother never mentioned any other wonders, never mentioned places of beauty built by our race. The love fountain, it was built by changelings and must be cared for by changelings, supplied by changelings, but it was the dream of an alicorn. I just don't know, I'm scared of what might happen. It never mattered to me before, but all of a sudden I'm planning these things out and I can't help but want to be certain of our future."
The queen let out a weary sigh, "This is your fault, you know. I never worried about these kinds of things before. It was just survival I was worried about, not legacy, not the future beyond 'do we have enough food for tomorrow?'"
"I understand pretty well, actually. Yea I have some of Luna up here, but you saw what I was, didn't you? I was studying to be a guard, not a king. Some mornings I wake up and wonder if it's real, or if I went crazy," he smiled at her "Then a certain changeling comes along and bops me on the nose, reminding me that, no, it's not a dream. Jury's still out on the case of my sanity, though."
"What's your thoughts on the queens? I know they're probably different from when a drone joins, but you must have gotten something from the connection."
"I'm worried more about Zelus than Lestidae. The older queen is a traditionalist, but she's out of her element here. She's going to be off-balance for a while with how different things are here. From what I've seen she loves planning and management. She'd be a boon to Gleam and Shadow in their planning of the town. There's a few drones that recognize her, even three that call to her as their mother, but even those three are leaving her care to us, trusting my medically inclined changelings to see to her health. After all, she's one of mine now as well.
"Zelus will be difficult to place. She's older than me, but still young. She never actually managed to start a hive of her own, but she did finish her training for position of queen. She likes being out and about, though. Subterfuge, spying, that kind of thing; I think she'd like to be running those kinds of operations more than a hive. Mirage knows her, as does one other, but they recognize her as a sister, not a mother. Like Lestidae though, much of her training will work against her at times while she lives here."
"Speaking of killing, you and I are going to be working on your combat skills," the mare told him. "I may not have been an expert, but Zelus knows much about the topic, and once she's recovered she'll be helping as well. Your fighting skills are all over the place. Sometimes you're a prodigy, slaying all in your path, and sometimes you're a blundering fool, like you were when the queen lunged. You could have killed her several times, but you kept either missing or not reacting to her openings. I'd feel better if I didn't have to worry about my mate defeating a dragon only to be eaten by a simple bear."
The alicorn rolled his eyes, a bemused expression on his muzzle as he ran a hoof over her back. "Alright, I'll give you that. I don't have much in the way of actual combat training, just some self defense that was for a different body. I accept your request that I be a punching bag."
"Good," she said, resting her head on his neck. "Now I request you be a pillow, and pillows don't make me worry about the future. They lie there being soft, and this one keeps me warm."
<-(0)->
Gleam shuffled through the documents she'd written up concerning several issues that had cropped up over the past week. More griffons arriving, a request for supplies to be delivered to the port, and the results of the most recent fishing attempts that had been delivered just an hour ago. The griffons were currently using the dive method for fishing, spreading out over the ocean and grabbing a few fish before returning either to the shore or a small dingy they were using to cut down travel times. One of the fools even managed to catch a shark, earning several lacerations that required stiches and a poultice to fix. Still, the catch had rallied the village, many looking to make a second such catch. The result had been several injuries, two lost limbs, and the loss of a griffon which in turn had led to a call from Lady Thrisha that they stop being immature fools.
The unicorn couldn't fathom what would drive a griffon to attempt to fight a shark, but then again they were predators. Maybe it was normal, maybe it was just foolishness of the young. After all, she'd heard of many ponies wandering into places that were known to be dangerous for no other reason than idle curiosity.
'Maybe it's not just a griffon thing. Maybe it's a stupid kids thing.'
Things were going surprisingly well for the Temple barring a few difficulties, but even those weren't life threatening. Most supplies were in a surplus. What wasn't covered by the farms could be harvested from the jungle, or worst case scenario bought from Zarris. Fishing was becoming a bigger source of food, with the repairs to the fishing boat being a milestone that would help even more. Somehow even love was plentiful despite the large number of changelings feeding off the reserves.
'And that's just the focused love of one being supplying most of that, imagine what would happen if changelings joined a herd or two around here.' She mused.
All that was left was letting things fall into place and making sure it went smoothly. She was still confused about that letter Father had her send to Herrick. It was meant for the thestrals leadership, or what was left of it. She was curious why he trusted such a message to the mercenary leader but not regular post. Sure Herrick was more than happy to help after the copy of the array Father had provided him, but wouldn't it have been faster to send it by post?
The unicorn mare took a glance at the window, noting how high in the sky the sun was. Father was likely back in bed, though she knew he'd been up and about earlier for some reason. The two, Cimmerian and Pandinus, both slept like dragons. She'd need to send a runner to make sure they were up.
A drone flitted up to the table, giving a quick salute by pressing a hoof to its chest.
"Two queens are to be added to the census. They were picked up earlier today by Father and Mother and are currently in the medical room undergoing cleansing to remove the over-processed emotions from their systems. They should be healthy in about a week by Mist's estimates. Mother returned to her room afterwards to rest from the joining as well as combat with an unnamed entity, and Father is currently with her. Last report had them in the queen's chamber, and that was around ten."
'Two hours ago,' she realized. Two more queens. Part of her worried about possible infighting between them, but she'd welcome a second set of eyes and hooves to help her sort through this mess. She was able to make this work, but the scale of the projects was quickly growing beyond her ability to handle.
Gleam turned back to the drone, "I want you to wake them. Mo-Pandinus and Father, I mean. They'll sleep until the end of time if we don't drag them out of bed. If they don't comply within ten minutes, execute plan B. Their aren't any eggs in the room, so the water won't damage anything."
<-(0)->
Pain was the first thing she was aware of. Lestidae's return to consciousness was unpleasant, though she did feel better than she did the day before.
'Not say much,' she thought bitterly, looking around the medical room. It was recognizable, but seemed almost cobbled together; a strange mix of medical beds and changeling pods in the room. The idea of ponies willingly entering changeling pods seemed completely ridiculous. Then again, the entire city or town that the two of them had stumbled upon when tracking down the large source of love seemed to be one big joke. Everything she saw from her scouting flew in the face of everything she'd been taught as a hatchling. The most insulting thing however, was that it worked. Not only did it work, it seemed to work well, the ponies relying on changelings for quick construction and scouting while the ponies provided food for the changelings. Other races were a part of the strange symbiosis as well, griffons and gnolls both relying on each other for protection and hunting, and both protecting the ponies who planned permanent defenses and provided large amounts of food.
'Prey species feeding three predator species willingly, get protection and shelter, predators either eat other things, or feed on prey without hurt them,' the queen realized, a grin spreading across her face at the idea. It was ridiculous, silly, insane, and she wished she'd thought of it years ago. Unfortunately, she was always told that even a single pony learning of them could end their hive, or even their race.
A quick flutter of insect wings brought her attention to a drone that began inspecting her, his horn glowing as he used a pencil to mark a small paper attached to a clip board. It wasn't a medical form but a series of notes, detailing actions taken so far and suggestions for further care. The medical changeling checked the seals placed on any breaks in her chitin, measured the holes in her body, then finally began tapping on her elytra, silently requesting access to her wings. Instinct told her not to grant such a request, but her situation didn't leave much choice. Carefully, Lestidae opened the cover and felt the medic inspecting the diaphanous wings with a studied familiarity. Normally only her own drones would be granted such access, but she didn't have any right now. Tartarus, she was part of another queens hive, not much higher than a drone herself.
The queen cast a glance to her right, the next bed occupied by a still-sleeping Zelus. The two had joined up after barely surviving an ambush and had been working together ever since. How long was it? She couldn't remember, but it was a decent stretch of time. The two had only each other to rely on, and Lestidae was not ashamed to say she'd trust the other queen with her life. That didn't mean she agreed with her in what amounted to surrendering to another queen.
She was jostled slightly as a drone landed on the bed, drawing her attention forward. Her eyes widened, recognizing the drone as one of her own brood.
"Kris," she whispered in her own tongue, leaning forward to nuzzle the drone even as he wrapped his forelegs around her snout. The drone was almost in tears, starting and stopping several times. He took a deep breath, and spoke at last.
"I betrayed you. I'm so sorry, I couldn't wait anymore. I joined her hive. I, I just didn't want to be alone anymore. I should have looked longer, you were so close but I-"
"Stop," she clicked, cutting off his rant. She brushed against him with the link. The connection Pandinus had given her was weak but she could touch him if she concentrated. "Feel."
His eyes widened in shock as she continued, "Not betrayed, made way for. Good guard, keep safe while heal, keep healers safe."
She pulled back from the contact, happy to know at least one of her hive had survived. "Others?"
"Yes mother, two others. Both-" he was nudged by the changeling nurse, this time carrying both a bucket and a small jar of white emotion-gel. Lestidae grimaced at the items, knowing exactly what unpleasantness she was about to experience. While normally regurgitating emotions was easy, replacing her current reserves was a chore. She'd likely have to go through this several more times before she was clean, but once she was and was given access to some of the love they had, her healing would accelerate tenfold.
The medical drone knocked back about half the jar, then touched his horn to her own, transferring the emotion directly to her system and allowing her to begin forcing more of the toxic mess she'd been living on to her spare stomach chamber. Her body was quicker to respond to even the diluted emotion this time, but even as she emptied herself into the provided bucket she gagged at the taste left in her mouth. She frowned at the bucket, knowing much of the emotion she'd just been granted was being used to carry the mess out of her system. After the third expulsion she sagged back onto the bed while her son made himself comfortable at her side. It would be a long week, but just seeing some of her children again would make it all worth it. Maybe she wouldn't beat Zelus into the ground for this after all.
<-(0)->
A pink alicorn watched from the far side of the room. She still held a smaller changeling like a stuffed doll but she was calmer now. She could hear the voices still, but they didn't yell at her. They were gentle, kind, concerned, they wanted her to be well. The big changeling wanted her to get better, too. From what she could see and hear, the big changeling and Not-L, no, his name was Cimmerian. The big changeling was Pandinus, and he was Cimmerian, and she was Cadance.
She'd started thinking again, letting her mind wander. Sometimes the thoughts were happy, and she shared the happiness with Amare. Sometimes the thoughts were bad, or scary, and Pandinus or Cimmerian were willing to let her cry by their side, the queen even searching her out if she became overwhelmed while she was alone. Safe wasn't a word she'd have used to describe the m-changelings a few years ago. Now she couldn't think of a safer place in the world. She was never abandoned even in the dark of night. She was never alone even if she went off and sat in one of the towers on the Temple's roof.
She stretched her wings, watching each feather being realigned as she ruffled them. The motions set the hatchling in her hooves giggling and reaching for them. Cadance knew better than to let a foal touch her wings though. She'd learned that it hurt long ago. Colts and fillies she'd watched over the years, even a purple filly that often sent her into fits every now and again. She was getting better though. Pandinus helped her with that, communicating that it wasn't Twilight, that something was wrong with her. Not-Twilight hurt her just as it hurt everyone else, even Twilight.
Happiness and love. She could see the love between the new mon-changelings even though it looked weird. She knew some of them loved the new arrivals, and she could see the new arrival loved the one at its side right now. She was seeing love again, and it made her feel light, made her feel better. Amare always led her to groups of ponies who were happy, letting the alicorn watch them laugh and play. It was good for her.
That was what Cimmerian said, and she believed him.
The pink alicorn levitated the nymph onto her back before trotting out the door. She wanted to try something. It scared her to death, but she needed to do this. She walked up the stairs, passing the war room where Gleam was dropping off papers for Cimmerian and Pandinus to go over, the three discussing things she didn't really understand at the moment. She probably could have joined in if she wanted to.
She stopped before the door, her hoof almost shaking as she reached out and knocked softly. It opened just as slowly, Amare's presence likely telling the other changeling who it was that had knocked. The chubby changeling smiled kindly at her, managing to keep its fangs in its mouth. Cadance slowly entered the room, focusing heavily on her breathing. She felt Pandinus pressing against her now. The queen whispered soft reassurances to her mind; she was safe, they wouldn't hurt her.
Across the way sat the children. Foals, nymphs, chicks, and pups, all staring at her with interest. She was visibly shaking now, despite the reassurances from the link and Amare pressing against her. One of the fillies approached nearly causing her to bolt, but Din told her to hold still. The filly reached her and sat down while reaching both hooves out for the alicorn's foreleg. Cadance closed her eyes and whimpered, bracing herself for a bite, a buck, any of the things the last filly she'd cared for had done. The injury never came. She opened her eyes to see the filly hugging her leg, a bright smile on the foal's face. Another foal approached, then a chick, then a pup, all pressing against her, all sensing her fear but not understanding it. None understood how an adult could fear them.
Soon her shaking lessened, and she turned to leave. She accomplished her goal and needed to rest now. Her path was blocked, however, by a large being. Two large beings, actually. Cimmerian and Pandinus both sat in the doorway, blocking any possible retreat. The two rose and walked into the room, the queen calling through the link for her to follow. Cadance did so, resting against the queen uneasily as the children made themselves comfortable, eyes eager as they looked upon the dark alicorn. He said he wanted to tell them a story, a story about heroes and monsters, a story about hope, and how even when things were bad, the hero would triumph.
The alicorn grinned with his eyes closed, the light fading from the room except for around him. Another spell, and a cheery tune began to resonate throughout the room, setting the stage for the story. Finally, an image formed in the air, a strange creature garbed in green, with a golden mane and piercing blue eyes. Every eye was on the image, even the queen and chubby changeling looking at it curiously. Then Cimmerian began speaking.
"In a far away world, where magic was faint but still known by all, there was a young human who lived in a forest. He lived among others, but he knew he was different. After all, every other human in the forest had a guardian fairy. Some were his friends, others teased him. Time passed, and he grew strong. One day, his dreams for a guardian fairy were answered."
The image faded, a strange creature of light and wings being displayed in its stead, "A fairy came to his home and told him the guardian of the forest requested his presence. So the young boy stepped out of his home, never knowing just where that first step would take him."
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Ocarina of Time?
Te- I mean Cimmerian, you genius.
Btw, that 4th queen is Amare I'm guessing?
Sleep? Pfff. I didn't need sleep anyway!
*proceeds to read*
Oooo... Lovely progress. Cadance is starting to slowly find herself again, the new queens (at least one of them) is wondering her new place in the world and society, and the griffon's are evens starting to be dumb kids again! This side of the world is really starting to look up.
And everything will change when the Pony Nation Attacks...
I like how your chapter is addressing some of the questions as to while no one ever tried to set up a society like this from Lestidae's perspective.
And now all the kids want to be Epona
Most glorious Legend of Zelda.
I hope it's a censored version for those poor kiddies, that particular game is actually dark as fuck...
I know it's not going to happen so soon, but I had a thought and now I want to see Cadance messing with the new queens.
Cadance and Queen X pass each other in the hallway.
"Good morning."
"Hello, pony." ... "Wait! Did you just speak across the hive link?!"
"The what now? I don't know what you're talking about."
Cadance continues on her way past a very confused Queen X.
Cadance does short bursts of this only when the queens aren't pay enough attention to catch her for certain.
Also, I'm still hoping that Pandinus was wrong about that feral queen simply because no changeling queen has ever had a good enough reason or the willingness to try prolonged therapy on one.
6416447 or play an ocarina, wear a green hat with a wooden shield strapped to the back
In case you can't tell, I love the Legend of Zelda. So, the second you alluded to Link, I got super hyped. That brings another question to mind. The ways in which humans conceive magic are very varied. What's to stop Tuna from introducing new systems of magic based off the fictitious ones of Earth? I want to see a Getsuga Tensho! Familiar summoning! Magic that even the Mad Queen would consider mind blowing because unicorns never conceived of it! But hey, that's just me. Regardless, I still like the way magic is presented in the story. I guess what I really want to see is how much change and innovation human concepts of magic can bring to the established magic system Tuna is learning...
Sho cute! :3 I'm so glad I found this story of yours and that you updated so quickly too! Thought I'd have to wait a week at least.
... Sounds like skyrim... Again...
Man, I was so hoping it'd be Queen Whiskey.img13.deviantart.net/ba55/i/2012/302/e/2/queen_whiskey_by_brisineo-d5jbzve.png
6416486
That's what I'm saying. We don't know that for certain. Pandinus - the "expert" in this case - was raised by a society where such an intensive recuperative effort would be horribly wasteful, and which was headed by leaders with a distinct lack of empathy. Are feral queens "too far gone" because the changelings actually found the task impossible, or because they couldn't be bothered to try? A feral queen would be a dangerous rival, after all.
Pandinus was just as likely to have been raised with a strong bias that was fed to her as pure truth.
The mind and body are surprisingly resilient, and a concerted regimen of care can do amazing things.
Perhaps it has been explained in a previous comment, or perhaps I am recalling some things wrong, but Cadance's mindset is extremely jarring here. This is mainly because the first time we saw her, that I recall (I could be wrong, mind you) she was fully cognizant of things, even if it was within the dream world when she was reunited with Luna and Celestia after all that time. So, she seems to be fully in control of her mental facilities, even if quite messed up in the head still.
Then, you brought in the chapter from her perspective, and you just shattered that into a million pieces, quite literally. Her thoughts became that of a young child, barely past the point of thinking and speaking in essence. I'd meant to say something then, but I forgot to. It's perhaps the one largest complaint, or the only complaint, I have for this story to date so far. Everything else is phenomenally done and extremely entertaining. But, whatever this is that you've done with Cadance, your initial introduction just completely contradicts it, and still does. Here we see her thought processes are a bit higher, but again, nothing here shows that she should have that mental level of acuity and clarity that was shown during the reunion with Celestia and Luna. It's the sole thing that keeps nagging at the back of my mind every time you bring it up.
So, has there been a reason for this? It really comes off as a knee-jerk reaction (an over extreme one) to readers claiming that Cadance should've been messed up in some way. I, personally, was honestly expecting an extreme form of PTSD mixed with some other fun mental traumas that would need to be healed with time, but this thought and speech of basically 'growing up' all over again, it makes no sense to me.
Any chance to get an explanation, or be pointed to one if it has already been given?
6416447
Actually... that's going to lead to some questions, isn't it?
Lovely chapter. Wish it was longer, but I shall wait for more to come. Also, who doesn't love stealing video games for bed-time stories?
I haven't played Ocarina of time since I was like, twelve. If I spent a few hours planning ahead I might be able to retell the story somewhat accurately. I doubt it though.
Yay...new update right at the momment I'm done with reading the previous chapter.
6416498
I really don't know, I guess that would be up for other commenters to decide.
The Debating: Negotiation Time
1) There is someone else editing that story? I thought I was the only one. Who is the other editor? Unless you are referring to me, cause if that is true I have not properly edited your story. You're not crying.
3) Innovation can be spurred by war but it also can be crushed once one side gets past a certain point. The changeling were never that cohesive to begin with so I doubt there would be a group that has innovated a large amount past ways to sneak around and harvest love.
The hate crystals were directly created by Sombra and we don't even know if they contained an emotion. Could have just been dark crystal he controlled till Shiny quarterbacked Cadance to a victory.
4) Encryption would work just fine if it was even possible. I doubt bats encrypt their chirps past knowing which one is theirs compared to a neighbor. The changeling nymphs would still be able to sniff out the large hive minds and be drawn to them despite the encryption. They evolved to find a hive mind and they would be good at doing it since it helps ensure survival. Nightmare Books is using one of their strengths against them.
5) I love how fast it updates.
Responseception in the Responding Responded Responder
So is "because why not?"
Jurassic World raptors being non-threatening.
derpicdn.net/img/2015/9/6/973873/large.png
1) I don't think the possibility is still that high. Changelings can fly and possibly stick to walls, so getting injured in a cave near enough to where a pony would be hiking is very remote.
2) We are just as good at avoiding pikes (source: my head is still firmly attached to my neck).
Yes, it is very much up to the author and how sedate ponies can be. A near feral Din stored a couple ponies away till Tuna found her and she knocked herself out with an emotion binge.
3) It wouldn't be so much as saving their lives as prolonging their death, least until they can purge themselves of the recycled emotions in an environment where they can feed on healthy emotions. Think back to the changeling that was puking hate before Tuna went into rage mode. A couple changeling arrived in groups, so it should be possible in some way.
5) I know about the small amount of empathy conveyed with making facial expressions but I do not see changeling society working in such a means. So it goes back to the author's decision on how changeling culture is.
More human than human?
A Tor system for the changelings could possibly require some linking which may or may not be possible depending on the world the author set up.
Oooh another update so soon! *squee!*
6416534
You mention you'd be fine with an extreme form of PTSD. I think the 'mental regression' can also be read towards that interpretation. Personally, I saw it not as Cadence falling back into a child like state, per-se, but as her blocking the world around her out entirely. Complete and total denial of her memory and prior existence (as she mentions in prior chapters, she refuses to remember the things that hurt), in order live in ignorance without the pain of her experiences. The language shift isn't so much a reduction in her intelligence, as it is a refusal to acknowledge recent experiences, swapping proper nouns and names for generics or family members that had been near constants in her life.
I will have to agree, however, that the transition to her current state was a bit abrupt. The only event I believe occurred in-between her apparent cognizance and now was her being added to the hive's Link, but that was supposedly a reduction in mental pressure. While I suppose a chance to relax for once could allow for a breakdown, her sudden transition from communicating to inability is very sudden and strange.
6416534 I will fully admit to having no clue what i'm doing when it comes to anything here, so PTSD behaviors are best guess for me at the moment. Maybe later I'll actually study them, but for now, this is done on my spare time. The fact that I looked up beetle wing parts for this is odd enough, I really don't want to spend several days researching that topic so I can use it for one character in my story. Thus I guess and go with it. It's worked so far, though I'll try to watch such things in the future.
I was talking about this story with someone in a skype group I frequent. He refused to read the story based upon the quality of the description and was confused by the picture. I agree that the description of the story needs to be changed to reflect what the story has become and brought up to the technical specs of the story itself. At any rate this is one of the stories that I read when it updates even if I was otherwise headed to bed.
6416534
Well you could think of what is happening to her like this
In the dream world, depending on the situation, you can be and feel anything.
Anything goes in the dream realm,
shy people become extroverted and vice versa
So in the dream world Cadance was in a very Safe mindset with her Aunts and another Alicorn.
To back this up, i believe there was a line stating that she was just following Lunas advice on 'go in this direction and your safe.'
But she was, for years, tortured and submitted to a forced link.
Even if she did seem okay, that kind of trauma is not going away unless mind magics are used
and even that is not a remotely good possibility.
But i do understand the misconception that she was okay
Read on Brother
6416534
Personally, I think of it that she was barely holding herself together, and then the moment she could relax, it brought too much perspective, and she's just in a sort of state of shock, repressing everything.
What about the fellowship?!?! Tell tales of the orc with an axe in his nervous system! Tell of 'not' tossing dwarves!
6416603 Kinda hard to do that without spoiling the story itself.
6416576
Vote Lust! Other commenters, you know, deep in your hearts, bones, and other organs, that Lust is always right!
Now, let the debate... begin!
1. Huh. Maybe it was another story. Maybe my memory's going. Maybe there's a ghost editor. I don't know. I know I'm not crying. I wish I was though. Tears of pain are simply incorrect ideas and faulty beliefs being shoved out of my eyes.
3. True. I forgot to mention the tipping point. If I were a changeling though, I would be innovative. Though, if I were a changeling, I would probably pick a fight with the queen. I don't think I would've been smart enough to get followers in my earlier years though, but I still would've been a threat. A lot of my teachers in kindergarden thought I was the spawn of satan.
Anway, I guess dark 'hate' crystals are also headcanon. Darn, I thought I was better than that. :(
4. Well, they use language. It's possible language is a magical consruct in Equestria, but that's a somewhat disturbing thought. And Applejack having a different accent at least implies that there are differences in languages. So I think it's likely that there could be different languages. About the changeling nymphs being drawn to a large hive though: what if that large hive is spread out over a wide area? What if the large hive employs fractal structures in their organization or move in a line in case their link only goes a certain distance? What if the large hive is a highly linked graph so they can split around new members and retain communication? I think there are some viable methods a large hive could use to make them harder to detect or stay in. (Though, these are all things I'm thinking of and not things a being from their culture is thinking of.)
5. Yeah. I don't think you can update that fast and have happy editors.
RRRRRrrrrrrrrrlrlrlrlrllrlr...
As a great man once said, "Science isn't about why--it's about why not!"
1. I don't know, they could get tired of flying or something. Doesn't that happen to baby birds? Besides, technically I can stick to walls if I get pressed against them hard enough...
Okay, that was morbid. But on the birght side, I think enough changelings could die in the wilderness that their dust could stay in a place without airflow, or it could be snorted or something.
2. Still, no managerial issues? No lost pods? No wind blowing them away or dragons rubbing their backs against the hive and dislodging them? There had to be a few ponies to escape for Twilight to know about changelings, but how many?
3. It depends on how good storage is, if filtering is possible, how often they can absorb love from a pony, etc. If it made them last two or three times as long and the purging didn't detract from it enough, that ability to survive more time between meals could mean the difference between life and death. Heck, if it was good enough, they could be more full than they were in their own hive. Though, they'd still be drinking their own waste.
5. Well, I mean the actual emotions created from making facial expressions. Just making the expressions can make you feel the respective emotions. I don't think it'd be too hard to force facial expressions and then feel the emotions. It might be a lot harder to feel the emotions and then make the facial expressions, but then the changelings would have to know about advanced lie detecting. I don't know how culture would affect ability or detection though.
I am now listening to that song.
I still think the poem cryptography thing could work even if they're not allowed to meet up in large groups, but that's actually really, really advanced. Maybe if they formed a conglomerate they could do those sorts of things, but they don't seem to like or know about conglomerates.
The fact my YouTube Mix started playing the Windmill Hut theme. Anyway, I want to see how the two new queens react to Cadence
And then the hero died....again and again and again.
This is when I would punch Tuna.
"It's CUDDLEBUG!
A guard? I really can't remember but I thought Ted was going into criminal justice or something like that.
It's a nightmare! Ted is missing Half-Life 3.
Dude, those bears are badass. Without a Skyrim balance mod... dragons are easy, it is the bears that are the problem.
Teenagers, teenagers are loaded with dumb ideas. Source: I was one.
A new job would form in the hive, "The Heavers". It would be these changelings job to continually throw up love into the love pool. We're going for Olympic sized swimming pool here. All the more reason for other queens to want to murder Din.
Uh-oh, I can see this being an issue with Nightmare Books' amnesty clause for the thestrals.
How old are these queens? Were they around before Nightmare Books? Cause they speaking skills seem in the dumps.
This feels directed at a certain Artichoke, a mutual acquaintance of us both.
Least she isn't nuts like Din and doing it to try and lay an alicorn. This will make her better and not sicker.
Hmmm, she is making filly Twi and Nightmare Books the same entity in her mind.
I feel this chapter was a little over the place with the PoV shifting. Cadance has seemed to have taken a little back slide from when Cimmer first met her.
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Space Cowboy, I love you!
With all due respect dude, you should have used this link for the Kokiri forest theme.
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Whatever Lust, I am like 4 times better anyway.
Debaticle: The Last Argument
1) I'll have to ask WarHawk when he is on Steam.
3) You say you would be innovative but that is coming from being raised in a different society. Would you butt heads so readily with your own mother? A mother your hundreds of siblings stood behind?
I was always the quiet kid in school, easily bored. Heck, I didn't really read till the 2nd or 3rd grade when my friend teased me for not reading stories out of some box that was a higher difficulty. Well, I would not stand for that since I knew I was smarter than him.
4) These are all things that are a little irrelavant since we don't even know how changelings really function in this story. It is headcanon stacked on headcanon stacked on Chrysalis pulling a Team Rocket. A possible structure that would work around faults could work, but from what we have seen so far, the queen is the center. All drones can directly connect through her and she is the main moderator and facilitator of the hive mind.
5) I don't think this story has editors. I have just flipped to ignoring errors I see since I don't feel they will be fixed since Reykan looks forward and not back.
TL; DR: Responderating a Response while the Respondee Contemplates Their Response
"Why is so much of our science dangerous? Why not marry safe science if you love it so much?"
1) I have learned that ArtichokeLust wants to snort changelings like cocaine. Further observation is required to see the effects of such a habit. I am prepared for the long haul.
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2) Twilight new about changelings cause Chrysalis invaded Canterlot. That is kinda big tell there. And then once she started getting influenced by the Nightmare she could have done more research and searching. But that is speculation since Reykan has not said anything on the subject.
3) Yes, it would really depend on the efficiency of the device and how recycled emotion works. Maybe it is like a decay chain in a nuclear reactor, each step netting less energy till they end up with lead. Unless a changeling can be made that is like a breeder reactor...
5) I feel changelings would be innately good at lie detecting, but that is my own headcanon. We really can't go further without much more input from Reykan. It's like we are drinking our own recycled arguments...
What song? I have been listening to 10 hour loops of TF2 fan music cause of some PMs with Reykan. I don't even know what sanity IS!
Oh, More Human Than Human. I must be tired too. WeeeHEEEEEEE!
How would a conglomerate even work in a hive mind? Hell, would it would with changelings bonding just by spending too much time together? That one nymph left Mirage and joined Din just by proximity.
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I'd honestly think it would be amusing reading the foals reactions to Cimmerian telling them about Link's confusing adventure in the Water Temple.
this story is growing brilliantly, there such a diversity of individuals and personalities that just work with each other (or sometimes conflict due to differences, but that just makes it more "real"). i wonder how long the gestation period is for a Alicorn/changeling hybrid is, i cant wait to see the rare and elusive huggle-tunas. i'm glad to see Cadence is coming along to the best of her abilities, and i hope she enjoys the story. the other queens better not make any moves on cimmy after their detox or Din is gonna be
pissedvery unhappy and probablyrip off their heads and shove it up theirgive them a sturn talking to.6416756 to be honest i never found the water temple to be that bad, the only real problem i had was dark link, but even he was easy if i kept spamming dins fire. heh, i wonder how Din will feel having the same name as one of that world's goddess.
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What genetics? You've already established that they can mate with virtually anything outside their own species and produce viable, yet still purely-changeling offspring. I mean come on, let's be honest: biologically, they are complete and utter nonsense. Artichoke's idea is hardly a stretch from that kind of proposition. If they even have genes, they're practically a walking, talking DNA sequencing lab.
Hah! Best story-teller ever.
6416576 Sonata is best Raptor
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As long as they don't start bothering the chickens...
6416453 Not as dark as Majora's Mask
6416903 Rule 1. Never ever disturb the chickens! Changeling invasion's got nothing on the chicken swarm. s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/60/4a/e5/604ae572b1c1b3c34cd8985498e16526.jpg
Griffon and Shark?
Griffin the Griffin gets heard about?
The point about having the queens all in one point. At this moment, with the medical treatment they are in an extremely delicate position. In the near future they can be spread to the distributed farm mine hives, before setting out, there will be all the top powered entities in one place.
So close, so close. going from exceptionally weakened to exceptionally strengthened over a perdiod of a few hours means any scout strike will have greatly varied outcomes.
Deep tunnels, Underground, for storage and travel, communication, drilled by Dogs, sealed by Drones, could reach the town and port and mine in what time, or are they on the way for a while so far?
What Im really puzzled at is theyre making big noise aboiut the latest EEG mind reader rig for $450, that has 256 channels at 250 Hz sampling, and yet I have a sub $100 DSL fibre modem that has 256 channels at 4 kHz plus sampling plus phase, quality analysis etc per channel? I wonder if they just do raw read samples, or if they use patent expired CD bias modulation technique combined with stochastic transcievers and the MIMO phase array circuit, also in the Modem, to target volumes of given cross modulation products within the braincase, thereby greatly reducing external noise effects even more?
Sorry, its been near 20 years since I looked up all the signal processing methods and requirements at college. That, and a capacitance linked EEG sensor with dedicated Instrument opamp out of discrete componants cost over $50 a channel to make.
Nice to see more of the other queens as well as Cadence getting better. Also, thank you for making OoT the story Cadence will hear. It's been so long since a referee to the game was made.
6416497 Based on style of incantation alone, we could literally redefine magic for them. From Kido to spells from Slayers, to ancient mythological incantations, to spells from Harry Potter, to hymnos from Ar Tonelico, and so on. Also, I think you missed the shadow blade comparison to Getsuga Tenshou. I think you meant something like the various Zanpaktou, like Zangetsu and its upgraded form of Tensa Zangetsu. Getsuga is an attack from a specific Zanpaktou, due to its unique nature rather than a Kido that can be learned. If you want familiar summoning, then what style do you want? A standard witch/wizard familiar or do you want FF10 style of summoning, or maybe FF14s style?
6416906 True but still. I mean shit, I hope he doesn't tell them about the other temple of shadows. My poor middle school body was not ready.
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I dont' know the scientific terminology, but Cadence's symptoms do ring true with accounts I've read of survivors of horrors on a par with what she experienced, both from fellow prisoners and from some who had recovered enough to write their views. You are on the right track so far so dont' sweat not researching it yet.
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Chain. Lightning.
Peaceful little ponies would never conceive of the sheer badass destruction.
6417243 two words.
Train. Rain.
Need a chapter in here somewhere where another big storm blows in, and Cimm just goes up to the temple roof for a while.
Then music starts sounding through the temple.
And The queens and Cadance go up to find him, and discover him air-conducting (Like air-guitar, but conducting), except his magic is producing music and somewhat controlling how the storm behaves, lightning and all.
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Its Zelda, not Dark Soul.
..but i woudnt mind a mix of both.
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This is the Drill that will PIERCE THE HEAVENS,