Round 5
It took Twilight a moment to get her head back in the game. Thus far, Thorax had been openly contributing to the conversation each round, casting doubt on an innocent pony, and then subtly getting the four votes he needed to win the round. Twilight had a hunch that Thorax was going to try and lay low for the first few moments of this round, and then jump in after the conversation got started. She wondered what he would do if no discussion got started. There was one way to find out.
“Ready, set, Spot That Changeling!”
Twilight opened her eyes, and silently positioned herself in her chair, hoping her body language would convey to her friends that she was not the changeling. She looked each of her friends in the eyes, and waited patiently for somepony, anypony, to say something. Rainbow scowled, and narrowed her eyes at Twilight, like she was trying to see through her. Fluttershy would not meet her gaze. Instead, she looked forlornly at the table. Pinkie Pie’s head shifted from side to side, as she nervously tapped her right hoof on the table. Rarity squinted toward the center, and brought a hoof to her chin. Applejack adjusted her hat, so that her eyes were barely visible. And still, nopony said anything.
“Oh, jeez, everypony, one at a time, please!” Spike shouted, startling Twilight. “Nopony can understand you when you talk all at once like that!”
Twilight smirked, and rolled her eyes. Rainbow chuckled to herself. Pinkie did the same. Rarity cast a disapproving glance at Spike. Applejack hung her head and sighed. But Fluttershy did not react at all.
“Seriously, you guys,” Spike said, “this is a game of information based on information based on information. Somepony needs to say something, or this game isn’t going to get anywhere.”
“Okay, here’s something I’ve noticed,” Rainbow finally said. “We’ve been ahead of Thorax by half a point since the game started.”
“Half a point?” asked Applejack. “I thought we were counting one by one?”
“What I mean is, first we led by one point, then we were tied, then ahead by one, and then tied again. That averages out to a half a point lead for our side throughout the game. If this pattern continues, we’ll end up edging Thorax out in Round Nine by one point.”
“Okay, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“If I were Thorax (and I’m not saying I am, ‘cause I’m not), I’d want to break the pattern by making sure I won this round, so I could go on to win the game.”
Rarity moaned with irritation. “Of course Thorax wants to win this round,” she said, with a strain of exhaustion in her voice. “He’s trying to win as many rounds as he can! How does this help us find out which one of us he replaced?”
“Rarity,” Rainbow said, in a condescending tone, “what I’m trying to say is this round in particular is especially important for him. That means he’s not going to take any unnecessary risks in his strategy for fooling us.”
“Oh, I get it,” Twilight said. “That means we know the changeling is not Applejack or Rarity!”
“Wait, really?” Applejack said. “I mean, I know I’m not the changeling, but how can you be so sure about that yourself?”
“Well, Thorax has chosen a new victim each round so far, which means in this round, the two of you are bound to get more scrutiny. If Thorax chose either of you, that would be an unnecessary risk, which he wouldn’t take. Therefore, we can all be fairly confident neither of you is the changeling!”
“Wait a minute!” Pinkie Pie interrupted. “What if he anticipated that you would figure all of this out, and would immediately eliminate AJ and Rarity? Then, it would make even more sense to choose one of them for his victim, because you wouldn’t expect it!”
“That would be called a double bluff, Pinkie Pie,” Twilight explained. “And a double bluff doesn’t work if the pony you’re bluffing takes it straight. Pulling a double bluff would be another example of an unnecessary risk. Which is why I’m doubly certain it isn’t AJ or Rarity.”
“Oh,” Pinkie Pie said. “I guess that makes sense.” Pinkie frowned, and looked over at Applejack. “Buuuuuut, I’d better ask anyway, just to be on the safe side. Applejack, are you the changeling?”
“Uh-uh,” was all Applejack had to say.
“What about you, Rarity?”
“Sorry, darling, not this time,” said Rarity.
“Okey-dokey, I believe you,” Pinkie Pie said. “So who does that leave?”
“The way I see it,” Rainbow continued, “if Thorax wanted an easy win, he’d impersonate somepony he’s already won a round with. And since I know I’m not the changeling, that leaves only one other pony…” Rainbow looked back at Twilight.
“Not this again!” Twilight said, with a moan. “Do you really think Thorax would pick the same victim in back-to-back rounds?”
“Rainbow does have a point, darling,” said Rarity. “He hasn’t done that yet, and now would be the best time to break the pattern, since we aren’t expecting it.”
“I disagree,” Twilight said. “I think reduplication would be too much of a gamble. Also, and I cannot emphasize this point enough, I am not the changeling!”
“Twilight, I must confess,” Applejack said, “I’m not entirely convinced you’re not the changeling. But, I’m not entirely convinced that you are the changeling either.”
“In that case, you should forget about me, and investigate somepony else,” Twilight said.
“Fluttershy,” Applejack said. “We haven’t heard a word out of you yet. Would you care to weigh in on what we’re discussing?”
“Oh, um, ah, well,” Fluttershy stammered. “I’d really rather not say.”
“What do you mean, you’d rather not say?” Applejack pressed.
“Are you trying to hide something from us?” Rarity added.
“No, I’m not trying to hide anything!”
Applejack said nothing, but did raise an eyebrow at Fluttershy.
“It’s just, I don’t want to say who I think the changeling is, because if I’m wrong, but the rest of you believe me, we’ll lose another round because of me!”
“Fluttershy, we need as much input as we can get,” Twilight said. “Maybe you’re right, maybe you’re wrong. But we can’t know for certain unless you share your suspicions with us.”
“Besides,” Pinkie Pie said, “keeping quiet like that reeeeally makes it look like you’re the changeling. Wait, are you the changeling?”
“Goodness, no!” Fluttershy said.
“Well, then who is?” Pinkie pressed.
Fluttershy breathed deep, brushed her mane out of her eyes, and faced the rest of the group with a soft, but determined look.
“I think it’s Rainbow Dash,” she said. “She was the first one to break the silence, just like Thorax did in the last round.”
“I was trying to get the discussion going,” Rainbow said defensively. “Spike said we needed to start talking to find out who Thorax is. If I were Thorax, why would I do that?”
“To make it look like you’re not really Thorax, of course!” Fluttershy shot back.
“But that would be a double bluff!” Pinkie interrupted. “Uh, right, Twilight?”
Twilight nodded.
“And, we’ve already established that Thorax wouldn’t double bluff, so that means Rainbow Dash is not the changeling either!” Pinkie Pie gasped. “Oh yeah, it’s all coming together now!” She pointed an accusatory hoof at Fluttershy. “You are the changeling!”
“What happened to you, Pinkie?” Fluttershy said. “Just a minute ago, you were ready to quit. Now, all of a sudden, you’re playing with full gusto.” Fluttershy’s eyes widened, then narrowed as something seemed to dawn on her. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re not Pinkie Pie at all!” She pointed her hoof back at Pinkie. “You are the real changeling here!”
“Okay, it seems we have another battle on our hands,” Spike said. “Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are voting for each other. We need four to end the round.”
“I believe it was Thorax’s intention to lie low from the beginning of this round,” Twilight said. “So, it makes sense that he would choose the pony we’d expect to be the quietest. And that’s Fluttershy.” She pointed her hoof at Fluttershy.
“I am not convinced,” Rarity said. “Fluttershy hasn’t done anything out of the ordinary. At this point, I am convinced the changeling is Pinkie Pie!” She held up her hoof.
“But Pinkie’s been acting so random this round,” Rainbow Dash said. “And that’s the way she usually acts! I say it’s Fluttershy.” Rainbow pointed her hoof.
All eyes fell on Applejack. She was the deciding vote.
“It was weird that nopony said anything for a long time at the start of this round,” she said. “I think Twilight is right; if Thorax was planning on laying low, he would try to pose as the pony we expect to be quiet.” Applejack lifted her hoof in Fluttershy’s direction. “Fluttershy, if it really is you, I’m sorry.”
“Well, sorry or not, you just ended the round, AJ,” said Spike. “Time to see if you did the right thing.” Spike walked back to the double doors, and opened them wide. Waiting in the hallway was a very real, and very cross, Pinkie Pie.
“Are you kidding me!?” she exclaimed.
Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow groaned with the agony of defeat.
“I told you so!” Rarity sing-songed.
Fluttershy snorted and groused angrily at the group.
Thorax dropped his glamour, and smirked at Pinkie. “How was that? Was I Pinkie enough for you, Pinkie?”
“Not by a long shot,” Pinkie said angrily. “You gave yourself away! After you questioned AJ and Rarity, you said ‘okey-dokey’. But I would have said ‘okey-dokey-lokey’! You forgot the ‘lokey’!”
Thorax’s jaw hung loose. He turned to Twilight, and pointed his leg at Pinkie Pie. The confused expression on his face seemed to ask “Is she for real?”
Twilight simply shrugged, as if to say “It’s Pinkie Pie, don’t question it.”
“Either way,” Pinkie went on, “thanks for letting me sit this round out. It’s nice to have the pressure taken off once in a while. Plus, hearing you guys talking really helped me figure out how this game works. I think I can make it through to the end now.” Pinkie and Thorax switched places.
“No problem, Pinkie,” Thorax said. “It’s a good thing too. I was actually planning to replace Fluttershy again, but I changed my mind at the last minute when I saw how agitated you were.”
“What?” shouted Applejack, Twilight, and Rainbow. Once again, they groaned in agony.
“Thorax wins this round,” Spike announced. “And he takes the lead, three-two, playing to five. All right, everypony, eyes closed, hooves tapping. Round six begins shortly.”
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Maybe Thorax realized Pinkie wasn't a very "lo-key" character, and decided to not add that part because of it.
I don't like how angry they're getting at this.
I'd like to see him replace spike once.
Can you do that?
7578468 ba-dum tish
Thorax's pick this round had a good clue to those who paid attention (at least the first and most noticeable clue for me): Pinkie was not enjoying the game, so when "Pinkie" started speaking with her missing excitement, I knew something was wrong with her.
I really love this fic; it didn't have to be complex like the other fanfics I'm currently reading
Oh how the tension increases by the round.
Spike should be the one Thorax replaces.
Do Spike next.
7578529
It'd be cool, but they can't. It would just be a insta-win for Thorax, and technically cheating. The rules of the game have the Mane 6 (the ponies around the table) as the suspects. From Chapter 1:
I think it would be neat as a bonus round. Maybe a tie-breaker situation.
7578580 but who would ever expect it? It's not cheating since a changeling can be anyBODY
7578585
A changeling can be anybody, but the rules of this game was limited to Thorax replacing only the Mane 6, as stated in the rules during the first chapter. Again, replacing Spike might work as a bonus rounds, but the rules would need to be modified so it wouldn't be cheating. Should Spike be replaced by Thorax, it would just be a insta-win for him because the rules limit the suspect as the ponies (Mane 6) sitting around the table, with Spike playing the game's referee.
I didn't even suspect her.
Wait...Thorax abandoned choosing strategy for the sake of Pinkie's emotional well being in the moment?
There should be a bit at the start of the next chapter about Thorax valuing his friends over victory, just so the others can enjoy the game without feeling so hostile to each other.
7578588 How about not replacing anyone at all...?
7573133
Apparently.
3-2
NTS: Update scoreboard on Story Summary.
I knew it! Finally. Anyway looking forward to the next chapter.
i wonder if they would discover something about themselves and learn something new from everyone? ooo maybe thorax will ask for special information to use to blend in better cause a changeling will use any mean at their disposal and i think other changelings will use dirty tricks but i bet he ask first before the next round
i like this story a lot. the only thing that seemed out of place to me was how angry they seem to be getting.
7578471
It's natural. When accused of something you didn't do, you feel maligned. Doesn't matter how close you are, just a matter of resistance at that point. Keep it up, especially if there's something at stake, and the anger builds. If all your friends said you did something and you know you didn't, you'd feel upset. Not to mention that this is based on 'how well do we know each other', which can make you feel like your friends don't know you as well as you or they thought, or don't pay you enough attention/care about you as much as others.
7579369
So far, this is very similar to other identity games I've played before. In particular, "Secret Hitler." Although, I think I like Secret Hitler because it actually forces you to reveal some information in the form of passing policies that go for one side or the other.
Im in a love/hate relationship with this story. On one hand i really like the idea, however on the other i really hate these kinds of games. Games where winning is based on chance and the difficulty only escalates.
In all honesty Thorax has the advantage, and would win. Thorax is like a learning computer, he never gets easier, and the longer the game lasts the less often those 'slip ups' will happen. Combine that with the groups compounding frustrations, blurring their judgement and removing personality tells, they're doomed. But they won't loose because that's a crappy ending.
Sorry, got a little frustrated. Did i mention I hate these games? But really though, I do enjoy the story and will continue to view them with ever stacking frustrations
7579592
Speaking of learning computers, I wonder if Changelings have a higher intelligence or just a better ability to adapt to a pony or ponies around them the longer they hide from other ponies. It would make sense if they can better learn to copy mannerisms, speech patterns and such just by watching to better help them find a better pony to disguise as.
In that case, the longer the game goes on that means Thorax has a greater chance of winning as you said.
lol pinkie was replaced again and he almost got it right . almost.
I think it would be hilarious if he just got somebody's eye color wrong in one round or something. Probably not gonna happen, though.
this would be so fun to do in rl, except, I'm not a shapeshifter
I kind of hope this somehow ends up in a tie.
I know it's unlikely, but it would be hilarious.
So I can clearly not choose the pony in front of me!
As soon as I read that I knew he was Pinkie. I was even yelling it at my computer screen while I read each pony point at Fluttershy like dopes. I think Rarity is slowly coming to terms with how smart she is in contrast to the friends around her lol. I love this so much. Screw the bad spacing this is going on the top shelf.
Also,
Well then, I guess that's game
7580424
I'm pretty sure there's board games with the same point to them. All I know is there's trouble in terrorist town for pc
They shrugged that one off, but that's a really good point! Everypony knows that mannerism, and he missed it!
7579369
There is another fact people might be over looking. For us irl, it's day to day. However, look closer at the story. This is a 9 round game played without stop or break except the few moments at the end of each round and the beginning of the next. Probably about 3-5 mins each. So all the anger, pain, frustration and what now builds up from game to game, with no time to release any of it and do something else before continuing.
I know how that feels, playing Town of Salem. Can't play back to back to back to back. Got to take breaks to let out steam, especially after some bad games gone wrong. But the Main6 don't get that.
7578468
Ooooohhhhh! :fingerguns:
I love playing this Battle of Wits. The suspensions, the bluffs, double bluffs, reverse counter psychology, its all so wonderful!
And I am ashamed I missed the "lokey" myself. I guess I just glanced past it, but I did suspect her regardless.
Such fun.
I actually thought that it was Rainbow at first. She was the first to speak this round, and her somewhat mathematical reasoning did not sound like something RD would do.
I really, really thought it was Rainbow... she would never be so mathematical. Shows that I really suck at these games WOW
Well, I thought it was Pinkie, she used too many "big words". X)
Exactly!
...But he's totally best pony again.
...That definitely ain't best pony...
...Darn it, should've caught that... Pinkie always says "okie-dokie-Loki"! On the flipside, though, you needn't get so angry, Pinkie. This is a fanfic, after all, OOC moments are par for the course.
...Pinkie, you cost me the round! I'm 1-4 now!
I'm reading this for the first time, and I haven't gone to the end, but I'm going to make a guess/prediction that in one round, possibly the last one, Thorax will impersonate Spike. I went back over the rules, and there's nothing quite forbidding it. If I'm wrong, I'll leave this up here so everyone can laugh at me.
no one sus