After the whole incident with the Crystal Mirror, I was taken to the infirmary where I was scanned for any traces of magic being used on me. Besides my own teleportation spell and the levitation spell, there was no residual of any other spell being cast on me. Even the entire room the mirror was in was examined as well, only for nothing else to turn up. With no evidence that somepony was influencing me, this of course led to one conclusion; that I was starting to lose my grip on reality, or so Cadance thought.
Regardless of what I thought, the next day Cadance brought in several books on psychology that she used to test how sane I was. Even after I insisted for her to stop with all the tests, she pressed on anyway until I had enough and teleported out of the room. Which I immediately regretted when I appeared on the roof of one of the castle's towers. This left me stuck there until a guard found me, for I didn't want to risk casting the spell again and end up several hundred feet above the ground. Though I did learn never to teleport when I'm buckin angry.
During my next meeting with Shining, he wanted to directly observe the differences my training style would have from the standard one for the Royal Guards. He quickly changed his mind when I told him that I would be lobbing boulders at his troops till only one pony was standing. Instead, I observed Shining putting some of the guard through a training run on battle formations, which I took notes on due to never actually knowing how to lead a squad during battle. While Shining and I were getting along for the most part due to mutual exchange of information, Cadance on the other hoof was starting to reach her limit with me, which became really apparent the next day.
"Are you okay?" I mockingly asked as I observed Cadance struggling to keep a smile on her face.
"I'm fine, just peachy. Let's just focus on helping you."
"Alright then, so which are we going to handle today, my anger issues or your belief that I'm going crazy?" Grinning at Cadance, I saw that her smile quickly turned into an annoyed frown, until her eyes brighten.
"Aether, just how old are you?"
"Errr... in pony years, I'm closing on my twenty-eighth birthday," I answered, my eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"I see. Tell me Aether, have you felt anything odd with your body the past few weeks?"
"Considering that I've only been a pony for a few months, I wouldn't know if something is odd or not."
"Then have you been experiencing unusual feelings for any ponies recently?"
Keeping my suspicious look, I began to recall that I was feeling odd around some mares and a couple stallions I came across from both the Ponyville residents and my squad a week ago, though I had no idea why I was getting those feelings. "Well, I had some weird feelings about some ponies a week ago, but I don't see... how..." I started to say before Cadance's muzzle split into a wide grin.
"I think I know another reason why you've been so angry Aether," Cadance declared.
"Oh, and what is it this time?"
"You're going through puberty," Cadance answered, folding her hooves over her barrel, her smug smile growing wider.
"...What's 'puberty'?" I asked, causing her to almost stumble out of her chair.
"You don't know what puberty is?"
"I'm still learning more words Cadance, I'm not going to know every word in the Equestrian language in just a few months," I deadpanned.
"Okay... well, puberty is the time where ponies tend to develop more feelings for the other gender and this is when their bo—" Cadance started to explain before she stopped due to seeing the growing look of horror on my face.
"No... no just no, I can't be, I just can't..."
"I know you hate to hear it, but it makes the most logical sense. While it may be a bit early for your age, it's not unbelievable that you're an early bloomer. Further more puberty would also help to explain some of your anger issues."
"But I just... what... no..." I started to say before I shook my head clear of my confusion and pointed a hoof at her. "You! There must be a spell to fix this!"
"...You want a spell to fix puberty? Do you know how crazy that is?"
"I don't care! Just cast the spell or do something!" I shrieked, flailing my forelegs around in a panic.
"Aether, there's no spell that can fix this. There is nothing anypony can do about it. Besides, didn't you go through puberty? Judging by your... reaction, I think you kn—" Cadance said before I rushed over to her and clamped my hooves onto her shoulders.
"I am not going to deal with heats!" I screamed at the top of my lungs while shaking Cadance back and forth. "I don't want to have feelings for stallions, nor do I want my head being influenced every time I'm in heat! I especially don't want to ha—"
"Aether, calm down!" Cadance yelled, breaking my hold on her as she grabbed my own shoulders with her hooves, holding me still. "Why are you so bothered by this?"
"Hello! I was a male before I came here Princess, do you think I'll be comfortable with something like mating with another male‽"
"Aether, you need to calm down!"
"How can I be calm about something live-changing like puberty? Wait, I know the answer, I can't!"
Frowning, Cadance pulled away from me as she said, "Aether, do what I do. Trust me, this will help you." She then proceeded with a breathing exercise that I saw Twilight do a couple times before. Considering that my mind was going all over the place after hearing that I might have hit puberty, I actually followed her instructions to the letter, repeating the exercise until I realized that it was working as I started to calm down a bit. "Now Aether, can you please tell me why you were panicking about puberty? Of all reactions, I didn't think you would react so badly to hearing the news that you're starting to mature into marehood."
"Hello, 'puberty' means I'll be getting feelings for colts and stallions, I don't want to have feelings for them since I was male in my past life!"
"How about fillies and mares?" Cadance asked, causing me to close my mouth for a minute as I stared at her.
"Huh? You too? Why... oh forget it," I replied, my exasperated tone showing just how frustrated I was getting.
Cocking an eyebrow, Cadance pressed on. "What's wrong with having feelings for the same gender? Was it inappropriate from where you came from?"
"Well... for lower class species like my original one... yeah. Though the reason for that was trying to preserve the species when possible. Regardless, I do not want to deal with romance!"
"Why do you have such an aversion to romance?" Cadance asked, her look not only taking on one of shock but of hurt for some reason.
"It's just a mess; there's the showing of one's love, the things that ponies do in private, and oddly enough the judging of other ponies. Oh, and the pain of losing your mate if they die. Which is high in the job I used to have, which may be my future job too when I get old enough," I explained, my tone becoming sour at the end with the thought of leading a team into another dimension in the future.
"Aether, did you actually have any romantic feelings for anypony before you came to our world?"
"...No, I didn't had any of those feelings."
Her face taking on a sad expression when she heard my answer, she started to say, "Nopony shoul—" before I decided to cut her off.
"I was a part of a dying species Cadance, to the point that I had no potential mates at the city I once called home. And before you bring that up, the need to survive, the distrust all the poor class aliens had for one another, and the differences every species had with one another served to really prevent anypony from having feelings for a member of a different species. You could say that I was raised in an environment that discouraged any romantic feelings from arising. Also, yeah I know, it sounds horrible, though I know much more worse than you think since I lived through it."
During my little explanation, I had my head in my hooves due to remembering what my life was fated to be before I came to Equus. The best I could ever hope for was to get enough money that I could live in a cheap home eating paste for the rest of my life without having to be sent to another dimension to make some more money to survive. At that point, I realized just how hopeless my life was, where no matter what, I would have died alone, either being killed on some unknown planet, or wasting away in a heartless society.
That was when Cadance placed a hoof on my right foreleg, drawing my attention to her calming face. "Aether, I think, barring the effects of puberty and a couple other things, that all your anger is from your past. I know you may not like what I say, but you need to let go of it. Talk to somepony about it, get it off your chest, but you shouldn't let it weigh on your mind all the time. You're in a better place now Aether, a place where you can be happy, enjoy your time with your friends, maybe even find that special somepony that you could live with together in peace."
For the first time, I didn't have some smart retort to toss at Cadance because I just couldn't stab my twisted view of everything into her attempts to make me feel better. That or I was still in shock from the realization that I was probably going through puberty. Letting out a sigh, I admitted, "Fine, you have a point... I'll... try to find somepony I feel that I can fully trust to be able to handle my past." As Cadance was about to say something, I held up a hoof to stop her in her tracks. "Not you cause you will probably faint, you did at my broken leg. I just need to find a pony that handle all the horrible things I have experienced in my past life."
Cadance pouted at being denied the opportunity to help me better myself further, though she did manage to compose herself. "Then we just have to figure out the right pony. Maybe Twil—"
"No, she will turn it into a research project."
"How about your foster pare—"
"I really don't want to risk giving her disturbing images that will haunt her for the rest of her life."
"Well, maybe one of the other Eleme—"
"I highly doubt it, they have some sort of... naivety to them, like most ponies do."
My refusals caused Cadance to release a grunt of frustration, as she tapped a hoof against her chin before her eyes brighten up. "How about Auntie Luna‽"
"...Isn't she... I don't know, busy with princess duties like Princess Celestia?" I asked with a tilt of my head, only for Cadance to let out a sheepish chuckle at first.
"I'm sure that she has time to lend an ear to your past. Also, she has seen enough nightmares and horrible things in her own lifetime to be able to withstand whatever horrors you have witnessed."
Scrunching my muzzle in thought for a moment, I finally replied, "Well... I guess she could do, especially if she does have time on hooves for me... but if you think she would be ideal to listen to my past, why didn't Princess Celestia send me to her first instead of you? No offense."
My inquiry caused Cadance to tap her hooves together nervously as she answered, "Well, it's because you two have some similarities..."
"Like what? And how would that prevent her being the pony Celestia would turn to first in this matter? And just say it, I really don't like ponies dodging around the issue if they have a tough time saying it. Even if you have to insult me."
"Well... alright, you both have a temper issue, yours though is worse than hers. She also may be too... sympathetic to you due to both of you having to adapt to Equestrian society, you from an alien one while Luna from an archaic one. Also... you're both more prone to more blunt methods."
Sighing, I simply rubbed a hoof against my forehead, before saying, "Fine, there may be a point to having Luna being my... 'therapist'. But since you admit that it's less likely my age and... puberty and more of my past bearing down on me, I guess there is no other choice but for her to be the next solution to this matter. So are we finally done with this therapy stuff?"
After shuffling for a while, Cadance said, "Well, I would like to discuss with you about your desire to avoid romance. I really think you shouldn't avoid it completely. Just give it a chance, you may end up liking it in the end."
"Oh sweet Celestia, why is it that every time anything that is love-related is brought up in regards to me, that everypony needs to lecture me on it? And why are you more determined about it than other ponies? Are you the Princess of Love or something like that?
After a moment of silence, Cadance just blushed as a disconcerting smile spread over her face. "Actually... I am the Princess of Love."
"Oh, you got to be buckin kidding me."
Puberty - the ultimate trigger word.
I'd give Cadance a medal for recognizing Luna as the ideal person to talk to. Unfortunately it took her 4 tries to get there.
face, meet hoof, you are going to be good friends now.
How come Aether with all the time she spend in the castle didn't know what Cadance was princess of?
WOOHOO!!
That moment I saw that chapter title, I knew.
It. Is. Time.
*insert evil laugh here*
No offense, as I do really love this story, but I didn't even think you had editors with all the grammar issues. Granted, the story's quality greatly outweighs it, but you might want to find someone else to help out who you already have.
Anyway, great chapter. I'm kinda hoping Aether and Spike hook up. I'm not sure why, I just think they'd be good together.
Reads Title
Ohoho! This ought to be good!
6381578
I unfortunately was not able to get to this chapter before it was posted, but do you have any examples from previous chapters? I try and fix the more grievous errors and reword some sentences but I do not want to change the author's voice.
6381550 she honestly didn't care.
6381545 mine are BFF already...
6381578 I think Aether is sensing more affection toward mares, given she was a male before.
The chapter's been up for 75 minutes. There have been 336 views.
so is cloning a thing for the low class species?
6381640 An editor should advice on wording, not just fix grammar. For example, the repeated use of 'for' as a conjunction can be quite distracting. I've also noticed the use of 'live' in place of 'life'. Now, I'm not questioning your skills as an editor, but having only one is a bad idea. No one is perfect and even the best will miss something.
6381660 But she said she didn't have feeling one way or the other before. Besides, it would be funny having her come to grips with her attraction. Plus she mentioned she felt funny towards stallions.
6381740 You have to bare in mind that Aether is speaking a language that isn't her native tongue, and that since she is freaking out over puberty, she's not going to be perfect in her own word use. So... I suggest you don't point at her dialogue since it's going to have flaws on purpose, and that you're using material from an unedited chapter.
I guess the giant ass heart that Cadence had wasn't enough of a clue.
Aether isn't even thinking about considering trying to be tactful.
6381578 As an editor myself, while I don't scrutinize stories that I'm reading for leisure as intensely (partly because I read on my iPhone and edit on my laptop), I haven't noticed any issues (outside the first chapter being rough on release).
rofl, Aether just found out about that. I forget, is she aware Twilight is the Princess of Friendship?
Aether though you have never felt love I have. My suggestion, Aether... kill it. Kill it now.
6381740
When it comes to Aether's speech, I usually will just make a note of it and not correct it, leaving the final decision to Silvak. All other dialog is treated like the rest of the story.
Isn't she supposed to be like the equivalent of eight years old or something? There's "early bloomer" and there's "just fucking creepy," you know.
Kekekekekekeke, ohohohoho, it is time... time for... uh... stuff >.>'
Awesome chappie well done dude, hehehe eue
This is going swimmingly~
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6381750 I understand that dialogue can be forgiven, though in narration, even first person, it's best to use slightly more advanced speech. Considering the narration is past tense, it means Aether is recounting the story at some point in the future. Also, I've noticed a few cases of similar mistakes in others speech, as well, though those were several chapters back or in the first story. It's not enough to really detract from the story, and it isn't really so much as grammar issues as much as odd word usage.
Sholdnt aether and Luna have a get together somewhere safer for starters? Like out in the middle of the Badlands, once Shining, Cadence, Twilight and Celestia have put a dome over the area? I know I know, 5 mile radius is on the small side, but it should be useable to start with.
6382180
Then I will be a little stricter. Time to get out my riding crop.
that ending
stayclassy
6381767
That assumes she recognizes the significance of the symbol. It doesn't look like what a biological heart looks like, after all, and even if it did Aether might not know the significance. All signs point to her upbringing being incredibly stunted and practicality focused.
6382454 Sounds kinda kinky
6382627
I can't let him be getting comfortable now can I?
Ok, I know this is a comedy so we aren't supposed to read into it a lot but it sounds like Aether actually has a incoming gender identity crisis that needs addressing. Earlier in the story he was 'unbothered' by his transformation into a female simply because he was busy freaking the fuck out about everything else but now that an actual conversation has been had on the subject it seems clear that he still self identifies as a male. As such the idea of heat and hormones forcing him to have sexual attractions against his personal desires is going to cause a lot of psychological damage, and honestly why should he be forced through that?
Cadance basically brushed off his gender issues to obsess about love and romance but I feel that he really needs that problem addressed. What is he supposed to do, just suck it up and accept his body's hormones contorting and changing his self perceptions or just let go of part of his sense of self? Heat may be fine and normal for ponies who grew up with it and have a self identity already in line with what it is about but for someone with a whole lifetime of experience and gender identity directly opposed to what it compels it is borderline psychologically torturous.
With how he reacted it very much sounds like they need to actually 'fix' his problem instead of just therapy, IE help him become a male which he clearly self identifies as. Equestria has interdimensional magic, and time magic, and controls the sun and moon so it wouldn't be crazy to think they couldn't do something as simple as change his gender. On top of the fact that Discord is a literal chaos god who could do it with the snap of his talon. I can't see any of the characters in the story legitimately looking at his situation and saying "yeah, just fucking deal with it", other than Cadance who has been a condescending prick that treats him like he is a petulant idiotic foal.
6382640 Not if you're doing your job right. Twilight is proud
6382709 That's similar to what I was saying in a previous post, though I was addressing a hopeful outcome of said gender crisis. Seriously, am I the only one that thinks Aether and Spike would be adorable together.
6382561
will do
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I just need to be careful about falling into the neurotic hell Twilight constantly resides in. If I find myself suddenly making lists and compulsively studying subjects I don't care about, I am getting a therapist.
Dear pony.... you have My attention, please, do continue.
6382709
I don't necessarily think it's the object of desires, after all Cadance jumped to 'oh so you like fillies instead then?' line of thought. Aether would be unhappy with same sex attraction (due to upbringing) as well as opposite sex attraction (because she hasn't yet had her gender identity crisis, putting it off as irrelevant). She didn't care previously because as she said, she never did anything with her gender before, but now she's in an opportunity to do so, and will be effectively compelled to do it. Though 'against her wishes' is a bit of a misnomer; she'd probably be for it at that point. Afterwards, well, we'll see.
Changing her gender might be a solution, or maybe not. She's a character who is incredibly emotionally stunted, and changing her gender would not fix that.
6382878 Or I could just hit you repeatedly
6382913 Gender change is impossible, canonically. Remember the Alicorn Amulet episode? Aether's original gender change could be chalked up to cosmic forces inherent in their universe. I doubt any pony is as powerful as the universe.
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You fail to understand, that actually might be rewarding the behavior.
Though I guess that means you would just have to hit me harder.
6382987 Then I'll send you to live in a catholic monastery
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Oh, I have already prepared.
6383917 You, sir and/or madam have excellent taste in movie clips.
6383922
Why thank you. You must have excellent taste as well if you recognized it. Though we will see who hits who when the next chapter is released.
6383934 I didn't even have to hit play to know the work of the greatest parody artist in history.
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And that is what makes you an upstanding being in this universe.
6384095 How did this get so wildly off topic?
Oh, a butterfly!
6384153
I really don't know what you are talking about. We have stayed kinda on topic... OH! Changing Views is on the sidebar. I also edit for that guy in my free time. I need to go back through all his chapters though.
I love butterflies!
But praying mantises are better. They can turn their heads separately from their thorax.
Ironically Aether should be glad that Celestia covered up the incident with Blueblood. When you think about how petty the games of nobles are depicted, this would have polarized their opinions. While disdain would be the expected reaction, some would see her as a challenge that "Not even Prince Blueblood could handle". With a challenge of this prestige and potential reward, add a few hormone ravaged adolescents and then Aether would have problems that even a few well placed crystal chairs would only make worse.
Sadly for Aether, she's used to listening to two out of the three basic instincts so what will happen when the third hits?
Please continue.
"Oh, you got to be buckin kidding me."
I hear yah Aether... I hear yah...
6387310
Welp, I'm fired.
You can't send Aether to Luna!
Aether has chairs, but Luna has the Royal Canterlot Voice!
If Aether learns that (and she IS a dame now), there will be havoc!