Venecia, a week later…
Two black-painted REINS zeppelins descended toward the beach, where Alternia and Tethys’s delegations waited patiently. Larger than the non-rigid blimps, the zeppelins also had sleeker forms and more powerful engines.
As the ships approached Alternia wondered if Tethys, who had just arrived fifteen minutes after the sun had set, could spy the guns underslung in the zeppelins’ carriages. They were small guns though, only firing three inch diameter shells and more for use in surgical strikes and against other airships. They wouldn’t do a thing against Tethys.
Gently, the two airships were brought in by hooks, cables and magic, working in synchronization to anchor the airships to the ground. Only then could the passengers disembark.
The changeling princess was understandably nervous and she imagined Luna,, Simulacris, and Belladonna, who were in the first zeppelin, shared her fear. However, Alternia was more concerned about Twilight and her friends, who were in the second zeppelin.
This would be the first time they had ever seen anything like Tethys in person and she imagined their bladders were feeling loose. Granted, the darkness of night meant they probably could only see the bare outline of Tethys. However, some of the airships’ interior lights reflected off of Tethys’s carapace giving the alicorns and changelings some indication of her size.
The Equestrians and changelings had spent the week before the arrival of Luna and the others discussing with Tethys to figure out a plan of attack and for the details of when Queen Murmillar would be returned to Venecia. Every time they had a meeting, Tethys had shown up in her full battleship-dwarfing glory. Understandably, Alternia and the others hadn’t dared to interrupt Tethys as she had spoken, even if there were opportunities to interject.
So far, the Aquestrians and Equestrians had confirmed the roles of Tethys and the Equestrians and changelings in the operation, and had drawn up several joint contingency plans in case they had failed. They had agreed that Cadance would stay in Equestria, but that Luna, Belladonna, and Simulacris should come assist in the operation. However, the Equestrians’ need to worm information out of the Aquestrians had made joint contingency plans incredibly difficult to plan out.
At least this meeting shouldn’t be dogged with too many issues. They were just greeting and introducing the new arrivals before continuing with their strategy discussions. Before too long, the weapon should be forged and they would be ready to start the operation.
The problem was that Alternia could sense Tethys was feeling angry at something and she didn’t bother to hide it. Her tentacles were twisting together, huge coils of armored muscle that created an ear-screeching grating sound as they rubbed together.
“Is there anything wrong, Empress?” asked Alternia.
“Yes. I can smell the one known as Nightmare Moon.”
Nobody could miss the vehemence in Tethys’s tone and Celestia’s head snapped to stare at Tethys, her eyes wide with terror. Alternia froze, paralyzed with indecision.
“Empress, what did Nightmare Moon do to the kelpies?” Retariusil asked in a quavering voice.
“It’s a matter of what she didn’t do. She offered a chance to live on the surface during the time Samudra was trying to purge kelpies from existence and without “the tyranny of the sun.” I gave her a hundred of my best warriors to complete her task and only one returned to tell of her defeat.”
“The army in the river…” Celestia swallowed. “Then you know of my role in killing your soldiers, Empress.”
Alternia couldn’t help but glare at Celestia to try to silence her, but it was too late and Tethys’s massive eyes now focused on Celestia.
“That you burned them from on high where they could not fight back. Yes, but Nightmare Moon was the one I trusted my warriors to. Under her command, she threw them away.”
“Luna— Nightmare Moon is dead, Empress, she doesn’t exist,” spluttered Celestia, even as her eyes glanced at the now anchored airship and the ponies getting out.
“Yet I can smell her,” said Tethys, the edge of her lips curling upwards to reveal more of her teeth.
It was at that moment that Alternia, who had been inching closer and closer to the landed airship, saw Luna regally step forward onto the airships landing ramp leading to the beach. Immediately, the changeling abandoned all sense of subtlety and ran for her co-ruler.
Wait, why did the air feel so cold all of a sudden? Why couldn’t she move? Why were her muscles locking up?
Luna’s regal expression had slowly given way to terror as ice rose to lock her legs in place. Desperately, Luna managed to break one of her hooves out of the ice, which she used to smash her way out. However, more ice formed on her wings and her body, so much so that Luna, in spite of her using magic to blast some of the ice off, soon found herself encased. Celestia resisted a little longer, but the lack of magic control she had due to her shorn off horn meant she soon joined her sister’s situation.
That same ice formed on the wings and hooves of her thestral guards, pinning them to the ground where they were trapped. Icicles also formed on the airships themselves, spears of frozen water that suddenly hung themselves off of lines and off the airsac.
At the same time, Tethys’s tentacles stretched out to wrap around the airship locking it in place, making sure there was no escape. And just to be absolutely sure, several of her other tentacles seized the second airship, with Twilight in it.
Alternia couldn’t see her student, but she did see the blast of purple fire cut through the night to try to melt the ice that was quickly forming on the airship.
At that sight, the changeling princess’s heart dropped to her stomach. Twilight must have been panicking in the rocking airship and reacted instinctively. If she shot Tethys by accident…
“Twilight don’t attack! You’ll hit the Empress!” Alternia roared and thankfully, the purple fire stopped.
Whipping her head around, Alternia tried to find Typhon and Ebb. They were actually scrambling away from the water of the beach, which was beginning to freeze. A web of cold fractal patterns that spread to cover the water near the beach, freezing the waves in place. Typhon and Ebb had gotten the hell away from the water and instead of trying to blast the ice off of themselves, they resorted to hydromancing any moisture off of themselves. They didn’t seem to be too badly affected by the cold though, which in Alternia’s hindsight made sense. The water in the deep sea trenches were known to drop to freezing after all.
However, nopony, alicorn or changeling could move much. Most of them were covered in ice so heavy they were pinned in place. They couldn’t even break through the ice as it was too cold to do anything but try curl up in a ball for warmth. Their very muscles were twitching due to the sudden freezing drop in temperature. The gun crews on the airships couldn’t move their jammed weapons and neither could the airships escape. One or two had their hooves actually frozen to the steel. Alternia herself was pinned, all four hooves stuck to the ground or weighed down by chilling ice that had formed on her carapace.
And yet, despite having all of the Equestrians and their allies frozen, Tethys did nothing but stare at the shivering Luna.
“Why did you throw away the lives of my soldiers so lightly?” demanded the Empress coldly, her tone bleak as the arctic north.
“W—what do you mean?” asked Luna.
“A thousand years ago, you asked me for some of my best warriors.”
“What? But I…” Luna’s eyes widened and as far as she was, Alternia could feel the guilt well into the forefront of Luna’s moist eyes. “The Nightmare… I must not have been in my right mind! The Nightmare had taken over my body and I—I’m so s—s—sorry your soldiers paid for it,” stammered Luna.
“Had you accompanied them as you said you would and led them in the attack, I wouldn’t have minded the loss. But instead of letting them bring you to victory, you wasted them. As mere diversions.”
Luna averted her eyes. “I know… I know…” Swallowing she forced herself to look up at Tethys, even though she was quivering. “What do you want of me?”
“N—no! I—I killed them! I—I’m at f—fault!” exclaimed Celestia.
“Celestia, shut up!” snapped Alternia. They were all in danger. Celestia, Luna, her sisters, Retariusil, Sebastiana, Twilight and her friends. What was said right now could kill them or save them.
But what would satisfy the Empress? Princess Luna was already going to be the kelpies hostage for five years! Alternia dared not risk allowing Luna to be in the kelpies hooves for any longer.
The airship shook as Tethys’s grip momentarily tightened on it before relaxing, slightly.
“Normally, I’d have already enacted punishment, but circumstances will not allow it. Princess Luna, we will need your power, but do not think I will ever forget that.”
Alternia let out a chattering sigh as she looked up at the furious Tethys.
“We thank you for your mercy and discretion, Empress. I would also like to remind you that L—Luna is going to be your h—hostage for f—five years as agreed upon! D—during that t—time can you not assign her some k—kind of penance for her c—crime? S—she clearly is sorry for w—what she did to you!”
Tethys didn’t even spare Alternia a glance, but narrowed her eyes at Luna. “If we survive, you’ll be working in the most toxic of the polluted areas created by your vessels. The fact you don’t breath water will give you a distinct advantage over my sea ponies.”
“T—thank you, E—empress,” said Alternia, trusting that the Empress’s punishment would not harm Luna physically, even if it would likely be very unpleasant.
Luna nodded shakily. “Thank you, Empress.”
The Empress didn’t respond, still staring at Luna and she continued to star even as Celestia summoned more of her magic and cast a spell that seemed to warm the air, before galloping to Luna, blasting the ice from her and seizing her in a hug.
Unsurprisingly though, even as her icy prison melted, the fear Alternia had for Tethys remained, even as she was released from her icy prison. Moreover, the changeling couldn’t help but narrow her eyes at the Empress and doubt. Would Tethys really keep her word if her hostility to Luna, and those on the surface, was so great?
“So, Archmage Meringue, what is the plan for forging this weapon?” asked Ebb Flow as the delegation approached the forging area.
An entire steel factory on Venecia had been vacated for the creation of the weapon. Now within it, the delegation from Aquestria and the Equestrian leaders were watching ponies scurry around, bringing materials and plans back and forth.
Well, trying to do so anyway. Tethys had not reduced her size and joined them on land. The trip to the factory had therefore been… interesting. The Empress had been so large, even now, her tail slunk all the way back into the ocean where she had left for the moment. Not that the factory was too far from the ocean, but it was still nearly five hundred meters inland.
It also meant that the entirety of Venecia had basically shook as she walked to the factory. Alternia doubted the kelpie was stomping on purpose as Tethys moved in a very methodical manner, only knocking a couple of street lamps over and she really couldn’t help it. Despite this though, Alternia and her friends couldn’t help but watch with terrified fascination as the Empress, most of her form shadowed by the night arrived at the factory, which she dwarfed. At least it was night, which meant the Empress’s terrifying form was basically invisible unless you were right next to her.
Tethys didn’t let the smaller size of the factory obstruct her from observing though. She basically stuck a tentacle through the door and to the onlookers disgust, the tentacle morphed into a grotesque single black eye flanked by two ears.
It was this group that a nervous Meringue led to the master design table where the blueprint for the weapon lay.
“After measuring Empress Tethys’s size and accounting for her preferences, we decided on a long-bladed spear one hundred meters long, with a blade fifteen meters in length. In order to forge the entire weapon though, we will have to create the shaft and the blade separately.”
“What will the shaft be made of?” asked Chrysalis.
Meringue directed them to a group of welders working on assembling a mold that stretched across the factory floor. “Steel, low carbon of course. We want the shaft to have some flex. Luckily, although the smiths of Venecia aren’t used to making a solid steel shaft, since they often have to shape sheet metal into ship masts, they do have the molds necessary to make a solid steel one. We just had to weld a bunch of them together.”
The archmage pointed to the mages writing formulas on paper.
“After the shaft is cast, we’ll inscribe the entire thing with reinforcing runes and set up a framework so that you can pour in the power to fuel the strength enchantments. We haven’t done this on such a large scale and in such a short time, but with so many minds working together, we should be fine.”
“The real problem is the actual blade,” said Meringue. The archmage gestured to the group of arguing blacksmiths in heavy aprons and mages in elaborate robes in the corner of the factory. “It’s too big for normal forging tools so we’re trying to figure out how to incorporate telekinesis with the forging. We might even have to use some of the steam power tools we employ to make ships.”
“Why don’t we help levitate the blade, Archmage?” asked Belladonna.
Meringue shrugged. “You could, your highnesses, but we don’t really need that kind of assistance. We are debating more about the actual forging steps. Nopony has forged a spearblade this big after all.”
“What material will the blade be made of?” asked Ebb.
“High carbon steel. We have plenty of iron from the ships destroyed into the tsunami. We’ll also be applying clay to help control the tempering of the blade as well. The blade itself will have a hexagonal cross-section. We believe we would need extra strength over penetrating power after all,” said Meringue.
The archmage pointed to another group of mages trying to write down formulas and runes. “The spearhead is going to be enchanted with reinforcing runes, but also with a powerful paralyzing enchantment. It should immobilize the Great One, allowing Empress Tethys to devour him.”
“Good. Could you think of anything to counter the Great One’s mind control ability, Meringue?” Alternia asked.
Meringue coughed nervously, her eyes averted. “Unfortunately, no. We still can’t seem to figure out how to break the mind control on the protestors and neither can we detect how they were even mind controlled in the first place.”
Despite being outside the factory, and clearly lowering her voice to a rasp, Tethys’s voice boomed through the factory.
“It’s likely because it’s a result of the old one’s presence as opposed to an actual spell of any kind, since they unconsciously dominate the weak minded through mere proximity. The greatest danger is the Old One mentally dominating one of us once the battle starts.
Belladonna frowned. “That’s going to be a problem. But we might have a limited countermeasure. I’ll have to do some theorizing and research though.” Alternia wondered what it would be, but didn’t question her sister now.
“Please keep us informed,” said Ebb. She and the Empress’s eye turned to Alternia. “Now, considering you’re keeping to your side of the bargain, we have decided to allow Queen Retariusil to talk to Queen Murmillar via a scrying spell we will perform.”
Retariusil made an attempt to prevent her joy from affecting her diplomatic stoicism, but she couldn’t help but glance at Ebb with wide, hopeful eyes.
“What time?” asked the young queen.
“Once the sun sets,” said Ebb.
As thanks for arranging for the construction of the weapon, Alternia had invited Meringue to her private chambers for dinner with Celestia, Luna, Shining Armor, her sisters, Retariusil, and Sebastiana. Although they were still rationing their food, the chefs had managed to make do and produce a fresh, albeit somewhat slimy, unfamiliar and very salty tasting seaweed salad for the Equestrian princesses and the changeling queens.
The seaweed had been sent from Aquestria to help feed the herbivore population of Venecia. It was edible, although rubbery, but it was nutritious and after days on rations, the ponies of Venecia appreciated a little more variety in their diet.
Only half the remaining population of Venecia were herbivores though. There were many gryphons and minotaurs who needed meat proteins in their diet.
Luckily, the Empress had that covered.
Alternia tried not to recall that moment as she chewed on her food. Tethys’s massive tentacles had hauled out onto the sand, two corpses.
Two whale corpses.
One of the oceanographers on their team had identified them as a blue whale. Alternia didn’t know how significant that classification was, but the whales were huge. They were both thirty meters in length, and were so heavy that Alternia could see their bodies compressing under their own weight as they lay on the beach. Of course, they looked rather small compared to Tethys… who was more than twelve times their size.
Rather thoughtfully of Tethys, she had brought several kelpies along to explain to the gryphon chefs on what parts of the two animals could be used for food, and what could be used commercially. It turned out that a whale was rather useful. The fat could be used for oil, the baleen used for combs, the bones for jewelry and the meat could basically feed all the meat eating citizens of Venecia. Of course, the kelpies had also warned the gryphons in particular, but also the Equestrians that by no means were they going to trade any more whale corpses unless in special circumstances. Apparently, the whales were rather important to keeping the number of plankton in check.
Alternia had sampled some of the cooked meat herself along with Chrysalis and Retariusil, much to the disgust of Celestia and Luna. It was very heavy, and almost beef-like compared to some of the other fish and meat she had sampled over the years.
Swallowing her food, Alternia turned her attention back to the dinner conversation, but to be honest, everybody was too exhausted by an entire day of preparation to talk too much and so dinner conversation was light, the topics inconsequential.
At least, until Meringue suddenly sat straight up in her seat, her eyes wide with sudden revelation.
“What’s wrong, Meringue?” asked Alternia,
The archmage frowned. “Your highness, I just realized. The weapon isn’t much practical use against Equestria, but we could actually use it against Tethys if she turns on us.”
Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed and he put down his fork. “Go on.”
“Assuming we defeat the Old One and the weapon works against him. That would mean the weapon would be equally as effective against Tethys.”
Alternia sighed and averted her gaze. “It’s an idea, but let’s not talk shop at dinner, Meringue.”
The archmage sighed. “I know… but we really do need some kind of assurance that Tethys won’t turn on us. Allowing the weapon to be kept in our possession would at least provide some kind of buffer against the possibility of Tethys turning on us.”
Celestia shook her head. “Unfortunately, I am going to have to disagree with you, Archmage Meringue. Tethys can change size. Our spear won’t be able to do anything against her if she shrinks. Besides, none of us have used a weapon of such size before, much less an enchanted one.”
Alternia grimaced, her food forgotten. “With all this talk of trying to kill Tethys, I’m beginning to see why she doesn’t trust us to uphold our end of the bargain.”
“She basically froze all of us in a moment of anger, Alternia. Are we unreasonable for not thinking of ways to stop her if she turns on us?” Belladonna asked.
Alternia was about to reply, but stopped and instead, sighed. “Yes and no. We’re all scared of what she can do and so I think it is reasonable to think of ways to protect ourselves. However, trying to tamper with the weapon itself or use it against her is a stupid idea that could simply reignite the war between our factions. After all, the weapon can’t be used against us and we can’t use the weapon against her. It’s too large and unwieldy. Moreover, trying or even coming up with schemes to neutralize her entirely will be seen by her as an aggressive act if she finds out and I am even more terrified of that prospect.”
“So we basically have to think of contingencies and just bolster our defences I guess,” said Luna dejectedly. “At least Tethys has briefed us on the Old One’s abilities.”
“Thank Equestria she did because I and our librarians couldn’t find anything about the Old Ones in our archives. She must have some pretty old works to refer to,” said Meringue.
Retariusil nodded and immediately afterward frowned. “Wait, that can’t be right. Kelpies don’t use writing. Seaponies do, as do deep ponies, but not kelpies.”
Celestia glanced at Retariusil. “What do you mean—” The alicorn paused, her eyes widening. “Hold on, you’re right, the kelpies have good nocturnal vision but they rely on their hearing and their smell more than their sight. This and the fact they’ve been confined to the deep sea trenches for years meant they developed an oral-based tradition of history and education, not a written-based one.”
“Tethys is old though, she must know how to read or else she wouldn’t have sent us that rock,” pointed out Alternia.
Chrysalis cut in. “Yes, but how would she know so much about the Old One then if the kelpies never had a need to keep archives? Sure there are seapony archives she could have familiarized herself with, but did you notice that Typhon, Ebb Flow and Brinewing deferred to Tethys, Alternia?” she asked.
Alternia’s brow furrowed even more. She had in fact, and hadn’t thought much of it, but now…
Chrysalis continued. “That indicates that they know very little, while the Empress knows a lot. Typhon and Brinewing I imagine would not have access to any seapony or kelpie archives, but why would Ebb, Tethys’s guard commander, not know as much as her own Empress if there were books or a book to read?”
“More importantly, how does Tethys know so much about this Old One, when we know that they can essentially enslave them permanently?” asked Sebastiana eyes wide with trepidation.
The dinner table was silent as they pondered the questions they had raised.
Alternia dropped her head into her hooves. “By the Great Hive Mothers. This is why I hate talking shop during dinner.”
“Sorry,” said Meringue, having the grace to avert her eyes.
“It’s alright, Meringue. At least we now know and can ponder these questions. For now though, I think finishing dinner is first,” said Alternia.
Try as she might though, the changeling couldn’t banish those questions from her mind.
Alternia had one final stop before she retired to her chambers that night. She hadn’t had much time to write to Twilight ever since the negotiations began, but now that she was here, the princess wasn’t going to miss this chance to talk to her student.
She went to Twilight’s room with Harlequin and temporary captain Hydrangea. Taking special care not to make any noise, she and her escort trotted through the hallway leading to the rooms where the rest of the Elements of Harmony were probably sleeping.
However, Alternia was fairly certain Twilight would not be doing so. This was Twilight Sparkle after all.
Knocking on the door, Alternia waited for a moment until it opened to reveal Spike, his bedcap already perched on his scaly head.
“Princess!” exclaimed the dragon.
“How are you, Spike,” said Alternia smiling.
Spike was about to reply, but the urge to yawn cut him off and Alternia chuckled as the dragon rubbed his eyes. “Sleepy.”
“Well it is rather late, Spike. Is Twilight still up?” asked Alternia, trotting in with her guards.
“Yes…” Spike yawned again. “Well, it was nice seeing you, Princess. Goodnight,” groaned Spike as he waddled off.
Laughing quietly to herself, Alternia made her way to the room’s study.
Twilight’s quill was swishing across a piece of parchment, a single candle, almost completely burned out, flickered next to her right hoof, providing her a bit of light. Because Alternia entered behind her though, the unicorn didn’t see her.
“What have I told you about staying up too late, Twilight?” asked Alternia in a cheeky tone.
Twilight jumped in her seat and turned eyes wide. Upon seeing her mentor, she lept out of her chair and almost tackled the taller changeling to the ground, stopping only due to her noticing Alternia’s carapace. After a moment’s recovery though, Twilight settled for wrapping her forehooves around Alternia’s legs.
“Alternia! I’ve missed you so much!”
“I’ve missed you too, my faithful student,” said Alternia, nuzzling Twilight’s ears.
It was a long moment before Twilight and Alternia finally released each other.
“So, what’s the reason for your visit, Prin—Alternia?” asked Twilight pulling a few cushions for her mentor to sit.
“Can’t I visit my student and dear friend, whom I haven’t seen in more than a month?” asked Alternia, sitting down on the cushion.
Twilight chuckled nervously, as Alternia continued to smile. “Right… it’s just been so long and you’ve been so busy…”
“That it’s been a while we’ve had a talk,” finished Alternia somewhat saddened. “Why don’t we start with an easy question. How has it been in Ponyville? I’ve heard you participated in a radio interview with General Hanna Belle.”
“Oh! You heard about that? Well I’ve been trying to contribute to Equestria’s wider efforts to negotiate with and defend against the kelpies. You know, just writing knowledge articles, giving insight on the Equestrian crown’s actions and explaining your policies. I’ve also been um… training myself in more combat-orientated magic,” said Twilight.
Alternia nodded, impressed. “That explains the purple fire you shot at the ice. Was that Elminster’s Flare?”
“Yes. I was thinking I might need it if… well, you know…” Twilight swallowed, silent for a second before she looked up at Alternia.
“Alternia, everything I’ve learned about friendship tells me that we should try to make peace with the kelpies. We have… or are trying to, but all my instincts are saying that we need to keep them at leg-length or else get killed. That the best we can achieve — even if this treaty is successful — is an uneasy peace.” Twilight took a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say is, if friendship is a magical force that can affect all creatures, then why do I feel… well know, that we’re not going to be friends with the kelpies anytime soon?”
Alternia pursed her lips eyebrows furrowed, she inclined her head slightly and her eyes gazed off into the distance.
“Even now I’m not sure how the Elements of Harmony and the magic of friendship work, Twilight, so I don’t have a definite answer. What I do know Twilight is that sometimes the magic of friendship plays a long term game. Take the Griffons. Fifty years ago, we couldn’t stand each other and we still are worried about their military might, but now, at least we have a detente in our relations. I suspect that we’ll have to apply the principles of friendship in the same manner in regards to the kelpies.”
“We actually have been applying these principles now. Since, the kelpies do not trust us, so we have tried to be honest with them and it has worked to some degree. As the kelpies want what was theirs, so we have been generous in facilitating and meeting their rightful demands. In time, with the familial exchange, I hope the seaponies will remember us treating them kindly.”
Twilight frowned. “But loyalty and laughter? After all that has happened between our alliances, how can that begin between our species? They’ve collapsed Queen Retariusil’s hive, kept her mother hostage, after they destroyed it with a tsunami. I can sortof see why they destroyed our fleet, but that’s still something ponies will remember for years to come. It won’t comfort the mother who has lost her child.”
“I agree. Even now, I very much suspect Tethys has not been completely upfront with some important issues. That’s why I will play the long game. I will do my best to ensure Equestria’s safety, but I do believe that if I continue in this endeavour, one day in the future, when memories of our faults have faded, when kelpies learn to trust us, and when we both have better memories of each other, perhaps ponies and kelpies can be friends.”
Alternia sighed. “I have no illusions of the distant nature of this goal though. Tethys will kill in cold blood when she sees it is fit to do so and all the kelpies we have met are aggressive, abrasive and highly dangerous. Typhon is friendlier, but then again, he grew up with sea ponies. Yet, I still don’t want to believe this is a world where we have to destroy each other to survive unless I absolutely have to.”
Twilight seemed to understand that and she nodded solemnly.
“I hope you’re right, Princess.”
Alternia sighed, her shoulders sagging. “So do I, Twilight. So do I.”
The Next Morning...
Retariusil held her breath as Ebb’s tentacles slowly waved through the air as she hydromanced the waters near the beach into a perfectly smooth pane of water, almost like a mirror, except colored in perfectly sea-green turquoise. Beside her stood Alternia, her sisters, Luna and Celestia and Sebastiana, all of whom wanted to meet the fabled queen.
The image of a changeling queen faded into view in this water-mirror’s very centre, and as Retariusil saw it, she couldn’t help the tears from springing into her eyes.
“Mom?”
Alternia winced at the forlorn sob in Retariusil’s voice. No daughter deserved to see their mother so guant, so clearly malnourished. Oh the kelpies had kept their promise. Murmillar did look clean and her still-bright amber eyes indicated she was well hydrated. Alternia knew though that the larger than normal holes in her legs and wings meant that the other queen’s body was pretty much in famine mode.
Somehow though, the relieved grin on Murmillar’s features made things just a bit better.
“Retariusil. I…” The changeling queen wiped away the rapidly forming tears with a hoof. “You’ve grown.”
“Really?” Retariusil asked.
“Yeah.” Murmillar smiled. “I’m so proud of you right now.” Retariusil nodded, unable to speak.
Celestia coughed loudly, drawing Murmillar’s gaze to her. “Sorry to interrupt, but may we see some proof that you are Queen Murmillar.”
Ebb’s eyes narrowed, her tentacles tensed as Retariusil gawked at Celestia in horror. “You think we would deceive you?” demanded the captain.
“Can’t you?” quipped Belladonna.
“Well it’s a good thing we prepared for this eventuality, right Queen Murmillar?” asked Typhon tapping Ebb with one of his tentacles in a not-so-subtle fashion.
Murmillar chuckled. “Indeed.” Eyes focusing on Belladonna and Simulacris, Murmillar wet her lips. “Queen Belladonna, I trust that my information on the disappearance of your mother and older sister proved useful?”
Belladonna’s eyes narrowed, as did Chrysalis’s. “Yes it did. Do you know what I paid you in?” she asked.
“You gave me the location of Queen Ratched’s hive,” replied Murmillar.
“That was you? You were responsible for leading Sarar to her?” gasped Chrysalis.
“I had some contacts in Griffonia, and you know as well as I do that Ratched deserved what Sarar gave her,” said Belladonna coldly. Glancing at Simulacris, Belladonna flicked her head. “Well, your turn Simulacris. You know Murmillar better than Chrysalis did after all.”
Simulacris nodded, her eyes narrowing. “Alright. Murmillar, who are your parents?”
Instead of responding though, Murmillar sent Simulacris a flat look. “Grandmother, you know who my parents are. Queen Veil and the chevalier Furcifer.”
Alternia, Chrysalis and Belladonna’s eyes widened and as they turned to their sister.
Retariusil’s jaw had dropped. “What? How is that… we… you…” The young queen shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense! We don’t have red eyes or a red mane! We can’t be related! I even tracked our lineage! We’re descended from the Fourth Great Hive Mother, Theraphosia, not the First, Zagara!”
“We are, though it’s a tenuous connection. I only was familiar with your great, grandmother Queen Shroud about six hundred years back. She acted as one of my vassals for quite some time. During her service to me, she had a thing with one of my sons and eventually we separated on good terms when she moved her hive to Venecia.” Simulacris sighed. “I never knew what happened to them until Murmillar showed up about a hundred years later.”
“We had a talk and discovered our relation, but frankly, we didn’t feel any sense of family with one another. We both agreed we would keep it secret though, to prevent the knowledge from attracting attention. After all, it was would give me more freedom to lead an independent hive rather than one affiliated with a line that attracted as much attention as Chamelia’s,” said Murmillar.
“A wise decision,” said Alternia frowning, despite her admiration of Murmillar’s discretion. Alternia’s mother Chamelia was after all, the daughter of the first changeling queen in the world, the Great Hive Mother Zagara. Alternia hadn’t quite relearned about her family history until recently, but the mere mention of their mother’s name often attracted quite a bit of unwanted scrutiny from other queens.
Murmillar turned to Alternia, and smiling affably, she dipped her head out of respect. Alternia was five-hundred years her senior after all. On the other hoof, the changeling princess could also see the younger queen’s eyes narrow out of interest.
“You must be Queen Alternia. I’ve heard quite a bit about you from my captors.”
“And I’ve heard a lot about you from your daughter, Queen Murmillar. Retariusil is a bit on the hotheaded side, but she does your lineage proud,” said Alternia. Retariusil was torn between pride and embarrassment as she smiled at her mother.
“Thank you, all of you, for taking care of her,” said Murmillar, still smiling, but her voice was serious and Alternia could tell just from the queen’s eyes of how grateful Murmillar felt toward them.
Chrysalis smiled and glanced at Ebb. “Unfortunately, we don’t have much time. We’ll be leaving you and Retariusil to catch up. But before we do that, we do have one question though.” She pursed her lips. “Can you fight?”
Murmillar winced. “Unfortunately, no. Even if you send me packets of love jelly. I wouldn’t be able to recover fast enough to help you face the Old One. I should be able to help bolster Retariusil mentally, but that’s all I can do.”
Alternia sighed. “Understood. See you soon, Queen Murmillar.” With that the changeling queens and Celestia, bowed and left.
“I take it you enjoyed that time with your daughter, Murmillar?” said Ebb.
Queen Murmillar nodded emphatically as she read over another one of the books the kelpies had taken from her library. Tethys may know much about the Old One, but any more information was useful information.
To complicate her research though, Tethys had said nothing as to where her knowledge of the Old One came from.
“I did. Unfortunately, my daughter and I did not appreciate your close watch,” said Murmillar flatly.
Ebb shook her head. “We are already making a rather big sacrifice letting you go. You can’t begrudge us for trying to keep secret the fact that the Empress has been spying on the Queen network.”
Murmillar rolled her eyes even as her shoulders sank. “And once I’m out, I could hardly tell anybody or else I’d be punished for revealing the secret of the Queen Crystals.” The changeling queen glanced at Ebb. “You know, for a species who prefers direct conflict, you are far too experienced with intrigue and blackmail.”
A dark look came over Ebb’s features. “When you deal with someone as backstabbing, lying and traitorous as Samudra, you get smart or die. The Empress and I, well we were among those who got smart.”
Nodding, Murmillar turned back to her book. In spite of her situation, for some reason, she felt somewhat glad that Samudra was dead.
A week later...
North of Manehattan, in one of the small coves that dotted the coasts, nearly a hundred ponies, about ten griffons, a minotaur and even a zebra had gathered near the beach.
Just like those on the Western Ocean, they were chanting, but the name on their lips was… different. And unlike those on the Western Ocean, they did not bow, and scrape their mouths on the sand. These ponies and griffons stood in the water.
The leader, a gauntly thin white earth pony, wet a white bone dagger, likely made from a whale’s skeleton in the seawater, before slashing it across his foreleg and dunking it into the seawater. Gritting his teeth against the sting of the salt, he then passed the dagger to the mare next to him. She slashed her foreleg and did the same.
They then dragged a rope-bound green earth pony mare to the beach. They had gagged her at first, but dragging the struggles of the mare had meant the cloth sealing her mouth had slipped. Now she lay on the beach, her neck over the sea, pleading with her captors.
“Please! Stop! Why are you doing this? What are you going to do to me?” whimpered the mare.
The gaunt priest grinned. “Do not struggle, little pony. We have awaited a thousand years for this. Given ours lives for this. Unlike those foolish Vanhoover and Las Pegasus ponies, we actually made our choices to be patient, to wait for our god, and now, the hour of our reward is at hoof.” The priest gripped the bone knife in his hoof and licked it. “But first things first, you must die.”
“What? NO! Please—”
The priest was swift, he slit her throat with practice and within seconds, the pony’s eyes had closed, her whimpers faded to silence. As her blood was taken out to sea by the waves, the group began to chant. They didn’t wave, made no ceremony, just chanted, and let the tide take their blood out to sea.
Speak to us, mouth of the Old Ones.
Hear our pleas, ears of our Great Gods.
Demon of the Abyss, come with your mighty host.
Shadow of his majesty,
Fiend of a thousand faces
Let us glimpse thy ever-shifting form!
We offer our service to thee.
We offer our lives to thee.
We bear gifts to satisfy your everlasting hunger.
So come and devour, oh Ist’ytal
And let us adore you.
Oh come, let us adore you,
Great devourer, oh hungry Ist’ytal
Come and devour.
Devour
DEVOUR!
As the cultists finished, a dark form burst out of the water, and continued to rise, until it towered over the congregation, its massive bulk filling the cove.
Tethys’s black eyes narrowed at the cultists who looked up at her in wide-eyed awe and joy.
“It’s has been millennia since I have answered that summons. What is the purpose of this?”
“Ist’ytal! First Priestess of the Great One Yoth-Atal! The hour is upon us! What we have waited for and prayed for a thousand years has happened! The return of our gods are at hoof and the lands and oceans are still ruled by false princesses, and weak kings. All three false princesses of Equestria still live and they are all upon Venecia, in the midst of your domain! We call upon you to devour Alternia the Deceiver, Celestia the Liar and Luna the Corrupted!”
“In return, we offer you our services, our lives, our eternal loyalty! Send us to do your bidding, to incite revolts across the land, to spread the gospel of our gods, the good news that will open the eyes of all!”
“Has the Great One whispered it’s true name to you?” asked Tethys.
“Oh yes, priestess of Yoth-Atal! We have heard its whispers, seen its portents and observed the signs. The first to return is Sh'Nihalar, The Conqueror! He Who Will Unify Land and Sea! He has awakened and already he calls our fellows on the western coast to bring about a new order, a new era where there will be no separation from the ocean!”
“I have not sensed the Great One’s presence in my ocean. From where has the reclamation of this world began?” said Tethys slowly, every word spoken clearly.
The priest bowed low. “The Great One Shi-Nihilar spreads his grip throughout the Western Ocean! He awaits your arrival and your armies on the western coast of Vanhoofer Island. It is the northernmost pony city on the coast, backed by mountains, and with two large islands just off its coast. Vanhoofer island is the southernmost island.”
“Excellent. Before you depart allow, me to grant you the one true blessing the Great Ones bless all who follow with.”
Eagerly, the cultists trotted deeper into the bay’s water their heads looking up toward Tethys’s face.
For some reason though, as they gazed up toward Tethys, the cultists found themselves needing to blink a lot more. It was as if their eyes were drying up, but they felt cold.
Too cold.
Screams filled the bay as the cultists shut their eyes, hooves and claws covering them as darkness enveloped their vision. Their eyes shutting down as ice crystals formed within and around them. Some were so maddened with pain they threw themselves into the blood-soaked water, and didn’t surface.
Death was slow, as the ice progressed into their brain, shutting down essential functions. One by one, the cultists dropped onto the beach, or into the water and never got up.
All that was left was the priest, the gaunt pony, screaming in pain, completely blinded.
“Why Ist’ytal? Why did you blind us? How did we spurn thee? Should we have sacrificed more for you?” he wailed.
Tethys’s tone was cold and her gaze hard. “You were already blinded before I arrived. The Old God’s “gifts” to the mortal races has always been insanity and death.”
And that was the last thing the priest heard before darkness took him.
Another week later...
Celestia smiled in satisfaction as a massive power hammer, normally used to hammer steel for ships, to give one last hammer blow on the rivets sealing the massive fifteen-meter spearblade to the shaft. Alternia was a bit less enthused as she increased the pressure on her earmuffs with her magic, but she felt a bit of exhilaration at the sight.
Just to give an idea of how large this steam hammer was, the whole thing was sixteen meters high. According to its builders, it could deliver up to 100 tons of force per hit and yet, thanks to a series of complicated valves and gauges, it was precise enough to cork a bottle. Yet, in spite of the aid of this equipment and the magic of the smiths and mages, it had taken three weeks for the team of ponies, and seaponies to finish it.
It didn’t help that they had needed to specially build a twenty-meter long forge-kiln that had been specially built to heat-treat and temper to the spear blade to the appropriate hardness.
“Do all your tools generate this amount of noise?” yelled Archmagus Mareel. The seapony archmagus and her compatriots, who had also been given earmuffs, were still clamping their hooves over their ears. The underwater seaponies and kelpies had far better hearing after all, and so the forging was a rather irritating process to them. It was one reason why Tethys would not remain near the factory for the forging and would send representatives instead of meeting the princesses in person.
“Unfortunately, the bigger they are, the more noise they tend to make. That being said, without these tools, I doubt we would have ever completed the weapon before the Old One arrived,” said Alternia. Pausing, the changeling princess looked Mareel in the eye. “We’re working on regulations for factories near the coast.”
“Ah. That is much appreciated Princess. Now can we please get on with the ritual? We appreciate you accommodating us here, but we’d rather get out to sea,” said Mareel curtly.
In order to strengthen the steel shaft of the spear and the blade with magic, both had been engraved with runes and sigils. These were intended to help channel the magic that would later be imbued into the weapon. However, in order to get the seapony mage team to the factory, the ponies had to dig a channel from one of the canals in Venecia to the factory. It worked and Mareel and her team currently had their forward halves out of the water, with their flukes in the canal, but the seaponies still found it uncomfortable to be so far inland and away from open water.
Now, forty mages in total including Sunset Shimmer and Twilight, as well as Celestia, Luna, Alternia, Chrysalis, Belladonna and Simulacris, surrounded the spear, their horns glowing.
“On my mark, simply channel your magic at the spear. My team will set the pace, you follow,” said Meringue.
“How many thaums?” asked Mareel.
Meringue and the other Equestrian mages briefly at Mareel who raised an arch eyebrow. “We may not use the thaumic measurement so often, but the concept is hardly unfamiliar to us.”
“Good point. Alright, let’s say ten thaums and keep it at that until the princesses completely take over,” said Meringue. Taking a deep breath Meringue focused her magic, green in color to her horn. “Begin.”
Multicolored rays of magic struck the spear. The almost garishly colored magic of the ponies contrasting with the blues and sea greens of the seaponies. This Rainbow of colors only intensified as Alternia and her sisters added their green colored magic, while Celestia and Luna added their blue and gold.
To Twilight, the myriad of colors that now surrounded the massive sphere held some resemblence to the Elements of Harmony’s rainbow. The Rainbow of the Elements seemed more pure though, more ordered. The light around the spear seemed menacing as it wrapped around the metal and sunk into it.
And the spear continued to take more and more. Several mages were forced to stop casting as they were unable to maintain the output. Retariusil looked as if she was going to topple at any moment, while Belladonna, Chrysalis’s and Simulacris’s teeth were gritted as love drained out of them. Alternia, Celestia and Luna were also feeling the strain, their legs trembling slightly. Yet, on and on the ponies, changelings and seaponies poured their magic into the spear so that it grew brighter and brighter until nopony could look directly at the spear without shielding their eyes.
“The spear’s about to overload!” roared Mareel.
Meringue nodded. “Understood! Everybody, end channel…. NOW!”
The alicorns, changelings, ponies and seaponies immediately stopped forcing magic into the spear and stepped back as the weapon continued to glow with colors, and yet at the same time, fade until all they could see was the steel.
“It worked. I can’t believe it,” gasped Meringue.
“It is pretty unbelievable,” said Mareel affirmatively.
Luna glanced at Meringue. “Wait, I thought you said you could pull it off.”
“Oh I did, but thing is, nopony has ever forged such a large magically enhanced weapon before in such a short time,” said Meringue.
“Indeed. However, sister, it just occurred to me that if we’re going to have to maintain a constant assault on Tethys as she devours the Great One, who will steward the celestial bodies?” Celestia asked in a worried tone.
Alternia turned to Celestia, eyes wide with alarm. “If the battle continues for too long and if even one of us is distracted with the duty of continuing the celestial cycle, we’ll be overwhelmed.”
“Unfortunately, I suppose a misalignment in the normal day cycle will be something that we’ll have to risk,” said Luna.
Cyndra trotted into the factory, several telegrams floating behind her. “Um, I’m afraid we have bigger problems than that.”
Alternia's really pissing me off at this point, and Luna's really out of character. IRL this constant insult by the kelpies would have led to some depth charging. I hope you get around to the equestrians having some sort of advantage, because the public is probably pissed about those thousands of dead ponies. After 9/11, America tended to start bombing everything that moved and looked arab for an entire decade. Instead this reminds me of us sending 400mil in a hostage exchange. Totally embarrassing and unprecedented.
TL;DR
Why are you making the equestrians into weak idiots?
7492958 Comparing Alternia's peace-keeping with America invading the Middle East...So you're saying that Alternia is doing a good thing? Considering America's invasion of the ME was one of the biggest fuck ups of the 21st Century?
7492958
Where exactly did that get America other than in debt and with a lot of pissed off Arabs and an even more messed up Middle East? I mean the American Government has pretty much admitted that it was a mistake that their were no WMDs in Iraq and the policy of every freaking president and presidential candidate afterward has been "NO BOOTS ON DA GROUND".
If the Equestrians could depth charge the kelpies and don't expect reprisals it would probably be on the table, but the problem is they don't have depth charges. Moreover, the Equestrians DO have some leverage now especially since Tethys cannot beat the old one without their aid.
Finally, if it is anybody to be insulted, its the kelpies that have been insulted by the Equestrians and multiple times. They've broken their agreements, they've ignored their missives, Nightmare Moon essentially threw away troops that were lent to her. We definitely can say the agreements broken and missives ignored were out of innocent ignorance, but the kelpies and seaponies still were insulted and suffered for it.
Also, how is Alternia pissing you off and how is Luna OOC? I mean Luna is staring up at a 500 meter long Kelpie empress, while Alternia is trying to make sure said Empress doens't kill them all.
Personally, I would be coming up with as many plans as possible when it comes to taking down Tethys. If Batman can do it with the Justice League, then Equestria can do it was well. That's not being unreasonable, that's being pragmatic.
7492989 True. Though when I said contingency plans, that also mean other plans to take down Tethys. Perhaps I should have made that clearer...
7492958 don't forget the changelings. All the landlubbers are wussies.
My point isn't that it's the wrong thing to do, but rather that I can't see the equestrian public (and Luna) letting all this death slide by so easily. I also can't see Alternia ignoring the death of her ponies so quickly. While they are doing the right thing in the long run, it's hard to believe none of the equestrian leaders are letting emotions govern their actions. More importantly, I can't see the equestrian public not baying for blood after the attacks on their cities, and the looming shutdown of the trade routes that they profited from. I just think that you need more explanation for why some idiot like Blueblood hasn't tried to fuck something up.
On the other hand, I never said how much I loved your first story in this series - It's one of the best I ever read. That's why I'm nitpicking - the first one was so good.
7493013 I think it should, because the way Luna put it, the contingency plans seem to indicate more of lessening the damage if Tethys attacked instead of any actual plan to confront her.
7493036
1. Addressing Blueblood specifically, he isn't as much of an idiot in this and is one of the staunchest supporters of Alternia and her policies.
2. Alternia, Celestia, and Retiarsul (may have misspelled that) have already each had their episodes about getting emotional over losing their respective personnel and how they had to move past it to do what's best for their remaining people.
3. Events are kind of moving at a leopard's pace in this story and we haven't had a chance to really get away from Alternia and the delegation to get the people's perspective on all of this. Also, there's a good chance that they don't know the full story themselves yet, so there's also that to consider. Twilight's thoughts on all of these matters are probably the closest we'll get to the common pony's perspective at this juncture. Plus, it's clear that not everyone is going to be dropping the "How to deal with Tethys" issue. Even Alternia might still be considering options int the back of her mind.
Great... Murphy's law just hit with the force of an atom bomb...
7492989 At the same time, coming up with such plans at this time when they need her aid in downing the Old God and afterwards to alter the kelpies and sea ponies runs a pretty big risk. Aside from potentially reigniting a war upon being discovered, with unaltered kelpies, it runs a separate risk. What happens if the Old God uses these plans as a way to force a rift between allies at the worst possible moment. This thing mentally dominates the weak by just existing, pulling plans to turn on one another and exposing it wouldn't be that hard.
Also, it'd play right into the Empress's personal belief that they can't be trusted. And the last thing you want during an attack with very high chances of you winding up dead is for a potential ally to think it'd be best if you don't come back.
Wait... I think I need to go and lie down. So, Tethys is also a Great One? Also, Murmillar and Retariusil are related to the four sisters? I did not expect that.
Stuff's going over my head more in this story with battle plans and etc... And I feel dumb bc of it.
I want to stress that this is very much my opinion, but I feel like Tethys is acting childish, at least given her position. Nothing about her actions really seem calculated or methodical, but rather she sees something she disagrees with, and immediately lashes out at it.
It comes across more like the behavior of a barbarian warlord than an inscrutable empress. That is to say, clearly effective and generally capable of coming up with a battle plan, but driven by intuition and generally with a very simple end goal. One could argue that it's an intimidation tactic, but why bother when she'd clearly proven herself earlier and the Equestrians are already clearly intimidated?
Reflecting on it now, this is why I did and still to a degree do doubt that the kelpies would actually be making use of the research. Tethys comes across like she would only really be concerned about feeding her people in an immediate sense, and she accomplishes that by using the broken treaty as an excuse to go to war with Equestria. With that accomplished, nothing in the story seems to indicate that she would risk using the research that is considered immoral and that involved the torture of her people to solve a long term problem. My impression of her is that she'd instead look for more food sources, or maybe search for a way to engineer sustainable food sources. I feel like she'd probably allow her subjects to look into the matter, and if they frame their arguments right even use Samudra's research as a basis for solving the kelpies' need for food, but given her attitude and approach throughout the story I find it hard to believe she'd endorse or prioritize those efforts.
By the black blood of Horus the Arch-Traitor, I really hate Tethys. At the moment, it's the good kind of hate, the kind reserved for a well-written villain, but to be honest, my patience is wearing a bit thin. I'm not going to make a big argument here (there seems to have been enough of that already), but it's getting hard to keep going when the Aquestrians are so OP. They've lost exactly one fight, and that was between what was essentially a SpecOps team and a school trip. I can't keep caring about the conflict if the villains don't have a clear defeat on their hands. Blow up one of their divisions or something, just to prove they can be beaten.
As an aside, the story is still very well-written on a technical level. The Equestrian characters are still interesting, and the plot is very well composed.
Just a thought I had, but is any of this story inspired or influenced by the old (1990s) XCOM series (XCOM; Terror from the deep, XCOM; Apocalypse)? Because in the former case the hostile (alien) force comes from the deep, and the second features a cult (Cult of Sirius) that is determined for people to submit to the hostile force.
Tethys... Priestess of Yoth-Atal? Of one of the Old Ones?
Well... that does explain a lot how she knows a lot about these ancient deities. And the way she was summoned by these cultist, she was worshiped & blood sacrifices made in her honor. I wonder if Tethys herself is one of the Old Ones. To make matter's much worse, this current one from the Western oceans is just the first.
This is going to be interesting....
Don't take too long to post the next chapter!!!
7493220 Yeah, Tethys is a very well written villain, the kind you love to hate because she's just so damn wicked, cold and ruthless. At this point the whole Kelpies are extremely OP is getting rather stale to me as well, because they're an enemy that cannot be beaten by anyone, ever. That gets very boring, very fast. Also the school trip thing was such bull in my opinion, it just makes how lethal these things are even more over the top when they're already practically invincible as a fighting force as it is. They have no reason to hold to any sort of treaty, whether you take their precious "honor" into account or not, so I'm really curious as to where this will be heading further down the line.
Also, Tethys being a Great Old One would make so much sense given how stupidly powerful she is even when compared to the already stupidly powerful kelpies she's the Empress of.
Tethys and the kelpies have ruined this continuity. A pity, I like your writing.
7492978 Actually that award goes to sending aid to africa right during the middleast conflict, and expecting the arabs to not capitalize on the potential Cash Cow.
Okey, this is turning into a lovecraft novel xD not my cup of tea. So i suppose that is why the kelpies and the empress are so unbalanced. I suppose that here the empress made clear why she is so disrupting for the story ( as several other commented). She act a bit childish and abuse of her power. You can have a villian with virtual unlimited powere (UNLIMITED POOOOOWAAAAA) like Discord that dont bully the rest of the story. But I suppose that heres comes the influence of Lovecraft and the philosophy of a maddening undefeatable evil. Maybe people are not so happy with this turn of philosophy in this second part of Alternia story because it crash a lot with the first one?
Is that A Chekhov's Gun I see there with the weapon? Especially after that reveal?
As for it use. Just use it as a ram.
7493251 You need to read some Lovecraft stories boyo
7493220
7493523 Don't worry too much. We've kept track of wins and losses and before the end, the scales will be balanced. Remember, Shi-Nihalar has some kelpies under it's control now. And there are other factors in play as well that I won't spoil.
7493845 I"m finding a bit odd that Tethys is seen as childish when well... Equestria has basically snubbed her so many times in the past, she's basically got a massive beef with them that can one way or the other be seen as justified. I do have to say that the lovecraft influence does show, though the philosoophy of the story, "negotiate a way with problematic/unstoppable enemies" hasn't really changed IMO. I think it's the villain that people are pissed off at. Which I can say... fair enough, but the scales at this point... are not exactly as unequal as before as well... think about it, Tethys didn't actually kill Luna. She just froze her and asked for redress of a legitimate past greivance. She COULDN'T kill her as she admitted. THe Old One has basically fucked up the entire scale they had before... which weas slowly turning back to equilibrium anyway as the Equestrian losses were reducing.
7493837 Ruined is a bit much *shrug*. Ah well. My reasons were listed to nocara above so if you want to figure out my thought process, have a look.
7493523 The kelpies are pragmatic combatants and therefore they realize knowledge = power, but also that they don't know evertyhing. Hence, the school trip. They were letting their young figure out how changelings live therefore think. Sure the kelpies have the abilities but that's useless if they don't know how to use them. If it helps, think of it as a schooltrip from a military academy. THey got the guns to kill things, but they still need to learn about their enemy.
7493207 Orrr she's just pissed off by the fact that 1000 years ago (not particularly long for immortal beings) NMN pretty much threw away 200 kelpie warriors in a mad bid when she promised otherwise. Factor the fact kelpies are well... not exactly a highly populace species, and you sortof see why, basically NMN threw away an entire human regiment.
Does she act like a child and a barbarian warlord? Perhaps, but the kelpies understanding of diplomacy is rather direct especially since they haven't had any experience with diplomacy except with Samudra, a traitorous, backstabbing, wanna kill all kelpies sea pony empress.
Also regardint the research, she did use it. I couldn't show it w/o literally breaking the story and perspective, but she did use it and well... it told her the problem, but not the solution. Cannibalism is inbuilt with kelpies and could be changed with magic, but the very simple problem was, not enough magic. With the Old One though.... that's changed... they now do, but the Equestrians are now an pretty significant part of attaining that solution.
7494447 Well, she has performed an aggression against every living thing present. Not just Luna and this has been without provocation. That is not the way a leader should act. Also, that happens 1000 years ago. Imagine that Obama (or other world leader with substantial power) in a diplomatic meeting, punches in the face to another country leader without any warning? Maybe childish was not the proper word, I was thinking more like a bully, all the time abusing of their power and only assuming that their point of view is the only one.
I am not an expert in lovecraft but i mentioned it because is not an stronger enemy, but one that is more powerful than you by definition until the point that it is maddening. This in a horror story makes sense, but in this kind of story it takes a lot of the beef. I applauded your headcannon of making the alicorns not all mighty because this makes the world more interesting. This produces more conflict and let the character struggle more, but dethroning the alicorns to the put the kelpies in their place is not fixed by summoning chutulu later… I think summoning Chutulu is never a good idea XD
Well, sorry if I am not expressing myself properly in English Anyhow, I still thinking that you are doing an excellent work writing this story : )
stare
__________________
delete end " marks.
________________
by
________________
our
___________
Which one is it? Sh'Nihalar or Shi-Nihilar?
____________________
Vanhoover
_______________
Broken tag / link.
_________________
Interesting that Tethy's has a way to be summoned by blood sacrifice. Although the cultists did get what they deserve.
quickmeme.com/img/0e/0e229c70de0efbc9c07b473b3d8c75c7e299cabb53705c59335c07df88633069.jpg
7494669 these, and
but the struggles of the mare?
but during the struggles of the mare the cloth?
but dragging the struggling mare?
It has been
its
begun
depart, allow me
gift
or
have
(plural agreement)
7494447 I don't have an issue with Tethys' motivations themselves, I think those make sense. What I was pointing to was the way she acted on them. Also, the argument that Tethys is an immortal is a double-edged sword: if a millennium is a short time for an immortal to hold a grudge, surely she'd be capable of waiting at least a few more years before exacting revenge. Doubly so if the one she wants revenge against is also immortal.
Further, at this point I'm pretty sure Tethys knows she could trample Equestria if she really wanted to, and I'm pretty sure she knows that they know it too. So why bother attacking the airship, the rest of the delegation, and even her own delegation a bit as well? I don't see how she gets any more from that than she would just by shouting at Luna or explaining just how much the alicorn is going to suffer or pay for her role in things.
But in the end this isn't really a problem. It doesn't hurt the story, I just felt it was worth mentioning in case the goal was to portray her as, say, more regal than as the primal being she ends up like.
Also, I agree that a whole scene dedicated to Tethys looking into the research would have broken the flow, but we've already had a few scenes taking place in the kelpie capital in which kelpies are talking to other kelpies. Could there not have been a scene which opens with Tethys reading something which another character recognizes as Samudra's research, or someone giving or finishing a report to Tethys on what their status in studying the research is?
To me this actually seems to be an issue in a few places, where there are things that end up explained in the comments because the didn't make it into the story itself. In fact, that is what I currently believe to be ultimately the explanation for why the kelpies are seen as so overpowered: most of their weaknesses and all of their failings are All There In The Manual instead of making it into the story itself. Though that's an issue relating to the story as a whole rather than this particular chapter, so maybe I should back off for now and save that for after the story is done.
7493168
A servant of one that has gone rogue, not one herself. Slight difference there. Personally, I suspected that the Kelpies were the result of the Old Ones as soon as the Old Ones were first brought up.
7495119
Honestly that section would make more sense if we knew more of Tethys as a character and not just as an adversary. And it took quite awhile to get it to it's current form so there's that.
And this. This does happen a lot. Vren and I will probably go back over the story once it's done and flesh things out more.
Yeah for two days of strait reading!
Seriously though, this series have been one of my favorates for a while and seeing it appear on the feachered page yesterday made even me happy. You have written a alternate universe so well I almost prefer it over some of my fic ideas floating in the abis. Keep up the good work, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
also, as much as I am typo king, I do spot some errors now and then such as in one of the latter chapters you doubled a letter, so if you ever need another editor, I'll try to get some free time to help.
7496371 At first I thought "strait reading" was some kind of underwater joke.
7493207 Too be honest, it makes more sense that Tethys acts like more of a warlord than an empress. She's been a warlord of a roaming civilization of kelpies for millennia whereas she's been an empress for less than a year. That's a lot of ingrained behavior to get rid of in a short amount of time and a lot of habits to discard.
7496486 lol it was intended for both litteral and puniful intentions
Tethys is probably the most sane of all the old ones. That isn't saying much though. Oh, the wonders of immortality!
Keep going! ;)
7496574 I would agree with that actually. Given her history, the circumstances and her roll in the story I think it would be one of if not the best way she could be characterized. I just wasn't sure if it was deliberate, in large part due to the following point.
While not outright contradictory that does seem to conflict a bit with another plot point. Warlord-type characters generally aren't known for their tendency for reading undertaking taboo study, that would add yet another reason why she might not have utilized Samudra's research. Her characterization, while very appropriate, makes me think that she'd at most tolerate said research being studied if she allowed it at all.
7503036 We haven't had a chance to explore Tethys as a character as much, but she's very much kelpie-centric and concerned for her kelpies so there's a chance she'd use it so the kelpie lives lost during Samudra's experiments wouldn't be for nothing. Plus more than anyone she'd know that the War cycle would only lead to the kelpies downfall. It'd be only a matter of time until they encountered something that they can't defeat.
We'll have to find ways to bring that across in more areas in the rewrites.
7503695 If i have time for a rewrite... Masters... masters... maaaassterrrsssss.....
7504146 *waves hand* You will have time....after all you were still planning on doing that.
7504253 True...
So, let me see if I have this straight here.
Tethys is essentially pony-Cthulhu, being a huge and powerful priest of an Old God, except SLIGHTLY less powerful.
The one they're going to fight would be something more akin to Y'golonac.
7534058 *nods*
blame Zervziel for him influencing me with lovecraftian concepts.
7565613 Why blame? Stephen King also drew much inspiration from the works of Lovecraft, and he's one of my favorite authors.
7565667 cause MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
people are going to crap themselves at the finale.
7565670 Unlikely in my case. I've been reading King since I learned to read.
7494447
Two things about this comment chain defending the portrayal of Tethis and "balance of power."
She just froze her and asked for redress of a legitimate past greivance. She COULDN'T kill her as she admitted. THe Old One has basically fucked up the entire scale they had before... which weas slowly turning back to equilibrium anyway as the Equestrian losses were reducing.
This is crap, 100%. Just froze her? shes freaked her shit like a child and froze everything in a 300 meter radius. As for legitimate Luna was being controled by nightmare much like the old ones are controling lesser beings. She didn't blame ebb for losing an entire scouting squad and almost her mind. As far as "returning to equilibrium" which is also bull, because shes just stopped killing as she can get something that will take her longer by herself and then just go back to killing, which she fully intends to do. Equestrians have gotten NOTHING except not dying for 2 months. that isn't back to normal that's waiting to get rekt again.
second point-
Sure the kelpies have the abilities but that's useless if they don't know how to use them. If it helps, think of it as a schooltrip from a military academy. THey got the guns to kill things, but they still need to learn about their enemy.
This is also complete garbage, they have had NO problem just using their incredibly rediculous, indestructable, unstoppable, grab anything close and be faster that normal movement, also against any number of opponents, and block everything from any direction, tentacles. Whats to know about your enemy. Just close the gap faster then they can move, out of water for some reason, and grab. Free kills forever. You've said they don't want to fight out of water, that didn't stop them from invading any number of ships and killing everyone on board regardless of who it was with no issue and seemingly no losses which none were EVER stated.
I've read a lot of comments and your responses. People are not upset about the writing in general, the story, the characters, or any such thing for the most part. People are irate about it because it seems like a NORMAL kelpie can fight a changeling queen or alicorn and take it to a standstill, kill anything else around in the meantime on top of that, and then leave without so much as a scratch. It makes everything that happens irrelevant. Any outcome is by the mercy of the kelpies and only because they allowed it. Why do we care what they give the kelpies or what they want or how unreasonable they might be, they could get anything they want or just say no and go back to killing whenever, who's to stop them. Why care about honor or code now, Tethis is an old one, or at least an envoy. Nothing she says matters anymore. at any time it could be "I'm going back on my word and kelpies don't do that? Oh well I was an old one all along so I don't abide by that cause I can."
I'm not saying this is what will happen, but at this point it could because kelpies are written to be unstoppable. Even if you say they aren't, nothing is shown or said otherwise. The one time a kelpie was hurt, another showed up immediately, and they can teleport instantly to any water, doesn't even matter if they are in water, they bleed water, just get hurt and leave, then repeat. It is also irrelevant that only the "strongest" kelpies can do this, the ones that can't can just play ranged, they throw water and ice hard enough to break bones and destroy shields.
On a final point, why the hell does Celestia just now not care about messing up a celestial cycle. It is stated that if the fight goes on it might get messed up and they are ok with that. What about when you fought Tethis and couldn't see. Man some sun would have sure been nice oh but if I die that's OK as long as the cycle isn't messed up. But now that its FOR the kelpies in some way, yea lets do it.
TL.DR
Every kelpie is a mary/gary stu and anything they want or do is right because who is to stop them. No one that's who.
8200647
I think you've hit the nail right on the head on all points.
though i feel the burning need to add: that Tethys' troops participated in a failed coup attempt against the rightful government of Equestria, after the Equestria/Aquestria treaty was signed and in effect, and long before Equestria ever violated that treaty; the very same treaty that Tethys has been wielding like a truncheon to justify unrestricted naval warfare, because it stipulates death as punishment for violating national borders.
I'd say 100 elite Kelpie Warriors engaging in open warfare with the royal guard right outside of Equestria's capital, is just as serious a border violation as when the Eastern fleet sailed over Aquamaris; Luna's punishment for her actions as Nightmare Moon are in internal affair for Equestria, but those Kelpie Warriors fought on Nightmare Moon's behalf, on Tethys' orders.
Ergo, Tethys has no legal right to punish Luna for the deaths of those warriors; if she does, then the much vaunted honour of the Kelpie race is worth less than dirt, and Tethys becomes a hypocrite.
8252592
In the past, Tethys wasn't Aquestria and didn't need to enforce the treaty. She was the rebel. Now that she IS Aquestria's Empress, she has every right to enforce the treaty.
Regarding your opinion of Everestt's points... Simply because I can't bother to respond to him (because I don't think I can convince him I'm right) and so I don't see how I can convince you. Do I think I should have put more context explaining the kelpies powers ? yes.
On the other hand, I do think that readers have tended to relegate the kelpies to a certain power level they think is appropriate, when I've already "handicapped them" through the population issues and hell their feeding thing is pretty much a curse. To call them Gary Stu is... well I disagree completely considering I haven't reached out of the sky and given them abilities I haven't already established. Neither have we made them invincible. Zervziel simply made them terminator hard to kill.
Anyway, if you like the story or dislike the story, that's cool. I still think people thinking along the line of Everestt are wrong, but hey, I'm just a bloke who wrote the story because I enjoy it.
8252614
How very convenient for her; however while contemplating your response, it occurred to me that Tethys has still fucked up severely.
That massive freezing spell she unleashed on Venecian soil, is an openly hostile act against a large number of soldiers, VIPs, and multiple heads of state, during a ceasefire Tethys herself initiated, which is therefore guaranteed on her honour as Empress; at best, her actions are a diplomatic blunder of biblical proportions, any government would have been well within their rights to view this little clusterfuck of a situation as a surprise attack carried out under cover of a cease fire.
Tethys has given all of the surface nations, a legitimate reason to doubt the reliability of "Kelpie honour."
there is a critical difference, between planned power level, and observed power level; time, and again, the Kelpies utterly devastate Equestrian forces in battle, suffering so few casualties to their own ranks, that said losses barely even qualify as a rounding error.
The low population factor therefore, does not present itself to the reader as a weakness, but as one of the few factors preventing the Kelpies from outright conquering the entire planet, overnight.
As for the feeding curse... at no point does it ever get presented as anything more than a long term Strategic consideration, not once has it ever come up as a Tactical weakness.
"simply made them terminator hard to kill..."
This is where our frustration comes from:
Past a given level of power and endurance, the precise degree of power the antagonist wields, becomes pointless semantics; the only time the Kelpies did not categorically wreck the Equestrians shit, the Equstrians outnumbered them 3 to 1, where actively on guard and as prepared to face Kelpies as possible, and it still ended in a draw, with only 1 Kelpie casualty (and it was a post-battle bleed out), while the Equestrian force suffered 30% dead, plus a number of injured and maimed.
It literally took the awakening of an Elder God, to make Tethys finally cut the Equestrians some desperately needed slack (previous chapters have made it painfully, and repeatedly clear, that she was merely humouring Prince Typhon prior to this point).
Princess Alternia is still one of my favourite characters in the many fan fictions ive read on this site, so i will continue to enjoy any story containing her; but between chapters 9 and 20 of this story, it is incredibly difficult to not get very frustrated and stressed out.
And even by the end of this story, with all the justifications provided for her actions, Tethys still comes off as an arrogant, self righteous, bully, who gets everything she wanted, while the Equestrians get to keep their lives... for now.