Round 6
Hearing that Thorax had changed his strategy at the last minute really rattled Twilight’s train of thought. Her changeling-finding strategy depended on predicting his choices. But clearly, that wasn’t going to work anymore. What’s worse, Thorax was only getting better at mimicking her friends. If she didn’t step up her game to match his, he’d bowl them over without breaking a sweat. But Twilight had no idea how to do that, so she ended up doing what she usually did in a crisis. She panicked.
“Ready, set, Spot That Changeling!”
Twilight opened her eyes. She felt like she had to say something, anything to start the conversation. But she couldn’t think of anything to say, other than “We have to win this round,” which would not have helped the situation at all. She started shifting her weight in her chair back and forth, and took short shallow breaths through her nose.
“You all right there, sugar cube?” Applejack asked.
“No. No, I’m not,” Twilight confessed. “I don’t have a strategy anymore. I thought I could predict Thorax’s plan, but if he can suddenly change it at the last minute, then I don’t know what to expect anymore!”
“I know,” Applejack said. “But it’s okay. If guesswork didn’t help, we can always fall back on asking everypony directly. It’s not completely hopeless. Thorax is getting better at fooling us, but he’s bound to slip up sooner or later. Don’t give up, we can still win this.”
Twilight slowed her breathing down. “You’re right. Whether you’re Applejack, or Thorax pretending to be Applejack, you’re right. Besides, even if we lose, it’s not that big a deal. It’s just a game, after all.”
“That’s right,” Applejack said. “Now, let me pose a question to y’all. We know that one of Thorax’s tactics is reaching out to somepony else with kindness and helpful advice. So, does anypony suspect that I’m the changeling because of what I just said to Twilight?”
“It sounded pretty convincing to me,” said Rainbow Dash. “I’m pretty sure you’re really Applejack, but I’m not ruling out the possibility that you might still be Thorax.”
“Well, I was going to answer,” Fluttershy said, “but Rainbow already said exactly what I was thinking.”
“Right now, I’m more suspicious of Twilight than I am of AJ,” said Pinkie Pie. “Thorax let me sit out and catch my breath when he saw me getting flustered. Now, Twilight’s the one who’s flustered, so I think he’d do the same for her.”
“You make a valid point, Pinkie,” said Twilight, “but I am not the changeling. And, to answer Applejack’s question, I do not suspect her. I haven’t ruled her out yet, but at this point, I’m more willing to believe it’s somepony else.”
“Well,” Rarity finally spoke, “I believe both Twilight and Applejack are genuine. Currently, my suspicion lies with Rainbow Dash.”
“Excuse me?” Rainbow said, putting her hooves on the table. Almost as soon as she had her outburst, she backpedaled. “I mean, that accusation came out of nowhere. I’d like to hear your reasoning.”
“Simple, darling,” Rarity said. “I believe Thorax is trying to score another easy point this round. If he does, he’ll have three whole rounds to experiment with the kind of risky tactics we ruled out in the previous round. And since he won a round by impersonating you, I think he chose you again.”
“I’ll admit, you make a good point,” Rainbow Dash said. “However, I have a hunch that Thorax really wants to get practice impersonating each of the six of us at least once. He only doubled back to Pinkie in the last round because he knew we’d expect him to pick someone new. Now, I think he has chosen a new victim. Specifically, I think he chose you, Rarity.”
“Oh, pf, chk, tth,” Rarity scoffed. “You’re just accusing me because I accused you, and you want to make an easy target out of me!”
“I don’t know if I agree,” Applejack said. “Thorax did say he wanted to get good at impersonating all of us. He’s up by a point on the scoreboard, so the best time to pick a new target would be now. And since I know I’m not the changeling, that leaves only you.”
Rarity gasped, as if she were scandalized. “Darling, you cannot be serious! Surely, you see what Rainbow is trying to do, right?”
“All I heard was Rainbow Dash explaining her reasons for suspecting you,” Applejack said. “And I happen to agree with her.”
“Rarity, are you at least willing to admit that Rainbow has a valid point?” Twilight asked.
“Pf, chk, tth,” Rarity scoffed again, “Rainbow’s just trying to confuse the issue, by bringing up irrelevant details.”
“I believe you, Rarity,” said Pinkie Pie. “Rainbow did say it was just a hunch, after all.”
“This is a game of instinct and intuition, Pinkie,” Rainbow defended. “Hunches are the only things we have to go on!”
“That’s right!” Fluttershy said. “Your case against Rainbow Dash is just as hunch-based as her case against you, Rarity! What makes you think your hunch is better than hers?”
“Darling, I do not believe Rainbow’s case, as you call it, is based on anything other than a desperate need to cast suspicion on an innocent pony.”
“I’m sorry, but I just don’t get that feeling from Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said. “Let me ask. Rarity, are you the changeling?”
“Oh, pf, chk, tth, I most certainly am not!” she said.
“Yeah, no, not convinced.” Twilight put her hoof up. “I’m voting Rarity.” Rainbow Dash quickly added her hoof to Twilight’s. Applejack’s wasn’t far behind. Fluttershy almost put her hoof up, but held back.
“Wait, are we sure it’s Rarity?” she asked. “I don’t want to make another mistake.”
“Doesn’t the way Rarity’s been talking seem a little bit…I don’t know…forced?” Twilight asked.
“I don’t think so,” Fluttershy said. “Everything she’s said so far has been what I expect from her.”
“Yes, but not that frequently,” Applejack said. “It’s like she can’t help but say everything in an over-the-top, admittedly Rarity-esque manner. And it comes across as an act.”
“Well, what do you expect of me?” Rarity said, half-screaming. “You’re saying you think I’m the changeling because I talk the way I always talk? What kind of sense does that make?”
“That’s not what I said at all,” Applejack countered. “The way you’ve been talking is not how you usually talk. It sounds more like a bad parody of how you talk.”
“Oh, pf, chk, tth, you’re exaggerating!” Rarity waved Applejack off.
“Like that!” Rainbow Dash quickly said. “That’s the fourth time you’ve scoffed since the round started. I’ve never heard you do that more than once in the span of a half-hour!”
Rarity’s eyes widened. She quickly looked at the three accusing hooves still pointed in her direction. She turned to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, darling, you can’t think that these ponies are serious, can you?”
“I…I…” Fluttershy stammered. “I don’t know what to think!”
“I do,” Pinkie Pie said, and she pointed her hoof at Rarity. “I’m voting Rarity, and that’s four.”
“Oh, horse apples,” Rarity blurted.
Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. Applejack and Twilight snickered to themselves. Pinkie started laughing too. Even Spike chuckled at that.
“Well,” Spike said, coughing a little to regain his composure, “I’d say it’s time to reveal the truth, but at this point, I think it’s just a formality.” Spike opened up the doors, and allowed Rarity to enter, and find her throne.
“There, there, Thorax,” Rarity cooed. “I’d say you did a splendid job, for a first time. If you could learn to be a little more subdued, I think you might actually pull it off. And I could certainly use a body double for when I need to travel to my other boutiques.”
“Hurmph,” groused Thorax, before he dropped his glamour. “I doubt it. A pony like you has a natural poise and elegance that is almost impossible for a changeling to do justice.”
Rarity chuckled demurely. “Oh, stop it, you. You’re embarrassing me! But, do go on.”
“A-HEM!” Spike loudly cleared his throat right in Rarity’s and Thorax’s ears. He narrowed his eyes at the two of them.
“Spikey-poo, there’s no need to be jealous,” Rarity said, as she resumed her place at the table. “It was just a polite conversation, and nothing more.”
“Yeah, I’m really sure,” Spike said, with a slight edge to his tone. “In any event, the ponies win this round, and we are tied once again, three-all. Time to make the hooftaps, ladies. The next round starts shortly.”
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GG EZ
Anyway, yeah. Taking Rarity was a massive bad call.
Fun story! It's a neat idea.
Saving Applejack for last, huh? Guess the concept of pretending to be the bearer of Honesty of all things when your whole being is about deception must be slightly intimidating, even if only on a subconcious scale.
7581086 So much potential with friendly changelings XD
7581086
That would actually make a very interesting final round. Especially if said final round were a tie breaker.
Without using any "only the real one could know" information, determine which of two identical ponies is the real one, and which the imposter.
In think a good twist would be for Thorax to impersonate Spike. A changeling could anticipate that the Mane 6 would suspect one of them was replaced, and not suspect Spike himself.
so im curious, do the rules of the game specifically state that thorax HAS to chose a pony? couldnt he, since technically he is a pony, sit in the room?
7581125
I don't quite understanding your question. He must choose from those sitting around the table, which would be the Mane 6, and impersonate them.
Even in this game Applejack is best background pony
7581156
so the rules do specifically state he must choose one of the main 6. damn, that coulda made an interesting round where he didnt make a choice
7581116 I don't understand how your comment has received any dislikes... It's a valid point. I do not recall at any point it being discussed that that was against the rules. While more ethical people might consider it rude, I don't believe it explicitly forbidden.
Calling it, he's becoming Rarity next round again. He knows not to scoff as much, and he literally just said "A pony like you has a natural poise and elegance that is almost impossible for a changeling to do justice." Nopony would expect it, and nopony would expect him to try such a risky move when the score is tied.
Getting on the edge of my seat now. This round was easy but the next one I can see being much harder. Can't wait to see what's in store next time.
Saw that one but for the same reason. Scoffing is one thing but that was too much. But ive also been tricked so idk.
7581224
The rules do explicitly state that a pony at the table, aka, one of the Mane 6, are the participants within this game and the targets. Spike is a dragon. While it does not explicitly state dragons cannot be picked, it does explicitly rule that out by using the terminology of "pony". Spike is not a pony. Thorax using Spike would be in every sense of the word "cheating", because he is not playing by the rules set by himself at the beginning of the game. Unless the rules are modified to allow a bonus round, which in someway Thorax would need time to specifically understand Spike's mannerisms in order for it to be an effective bonus round, Spike is never going to be used as a target by Thorax.
Should Thorax use Spike, it would earn him an automatic point, due to the current standing of the rules of this game. The Mane 6 are only suspecting each other, and only doing so by looking at mannerisms, and guess work. Under the circumstance of Spike being replaced by Thorax, they would keep guessing until they convince themselves of one friend's tiny flaw or their own reasoning. They would choose wrongly since Spike is not involved in the game as a target, and Thorax would automatically gain a point. After that would be a series of rage quits.
It is not a "clever trick", it's cheating. It's sneaking extra cards into a card game in your sleeve, or arranging a deck to play in your favor. It's giving yourself a unfair advantage over others when you already have a massive advantage over others to begin. It's letting the referee play a side during a competitive sport, like actually swap positions with a football player mid game.
7581385 I will always be the first to admit I'm wrong. And in this case I was. I would like to reiterate the word recall in my original. It was a detail I had forgotten.
I'm just thinking that in one of these rounds Applejack will saying something she wouldn't usually say and she'd get four votes losing the round, but turns out she is NOT
the fatherthe changeling.Gods I love this story.
7581400
It's not a problem. Details can be forgotten when you are reading a good, and engaging story such as this one.
I believe Thorax replacing Spike would be a very funny situation, just due to the amount of rage it would put the Mane 6 through. And I honestly would like to see it, because I think it is funny when people rage quit. But such an occurrence would have to be put in as a "joke" round and the point cannot count, since the rules block it from happening.
Personally, I would like to see the Princesses all play this game. But I don't know if a changeling drone can mimic the size of an alicorn like Celestia.
Thorax makes every beginner Fimfic writer's rookie mistake: overdoing Rarity. I know I've had to go through and delete excess 'darling's in my stuff before.
7581501 There's "overdoing," and there's "literally repeating the same flounces syllable-for-syllable four times." Silly Thorax.
7581412 WELL... he did impersonate Spike, a creature who has hands, is smaller than ponies and has a different biology. I think an Alicorn would be fine.
The rounds I would love to see are, "Thorax leaves the room and doesn't choose anypony"(though it may be against the rules) and "Thorax chooses a pony, but the pony doesn't leave to room"
7581385
Must've forgotten that specific rule. My bad. Jus thought it would be an interesting twist.
Gonna be honest, this wasn't my favorite chapter, if only because Thorax floundered so hard. I mean, he's had five rounds to study how Rarity tends to emote, and as soon as he picks her he practically starts throwing down phat beats? That just doesn't seem believable in my opinion.
Still enjoying the story though.
Yep, Rarity was an easy guess... Complicated only by RD's being out-of-character by saying things like:
“I’ll admit, you make a good point,” Rainbow Dash said. “However, I have a hunch that Thorax really wants to get practice impersonating each of the six of us at least once. He only doubled back to Pinkie in the last round because he knew we’d expect him to pick someone new. Now, I think he has chosen a new victim. Specifically, I think he chose you, Rarity.”
(That was ...kinda egghead for me>
I like the Rarity beat box scoff.
7581752
7581756
I'd like to point out that the M6 aren't the only ones under pressure here. Thorax has to short-form impersonate someone that has 5 other individuals scrutinize, whom all know the individual being imitated. He also has to enter the forum of discussion as that disguise while trying to not give as many tells as possible, while somehow convincing 4 other people that his target is him. I'd say Thorax here has the hardest job in the game, despite his race's ability and his (possible) natural/trained social deception communication skills, so yeah, I can see him getting stressed enough to make such a mistake. This game is as much for Thorax's sake/practice as it is for the M6 to help defend themselves against such tactics. Having a friendly Changeling know how to properly impersonate people on your team to help deflect potential targeted attacks (direct or otherwise) is an incredibly advantage. It can also help any smoke-and-mirrors play be more believable if the rest of your team doesn't have to try to act the part if they themselves aren't entirely sure their teammate isn't themselves. Less energy spent on maintaining an act does go a long way.
In the end, I believe this kind of exercise really does help strengthen everyone's bonds, as well as help protect everyone in the long run.
I propose the theory that Thorax intentionally self sabotaged that round. My prediction is that he will immediately reselect Rarity and masterfully mimic her. As was said this round, his mistake was obvious. Too obvious.
Whatever else can be said about this chapter, I have a new 3 way ship
??? 
7580978
My point is that doesn't work after round one. You need new questions to provoke new responses to try and spot inconsistencies.
7581905
The main fuckover for Thorax here is that he has to enter on short notice while everyone ALREADY KNOWS one of them is a changeling. This game doesn't make them better at spotting changelings, because a real changeling would be working alongside them while they're not expecting a changeling.
7581905
Well, of course!
This is a test of one changeling, and six ponies, in a contest that the changelings have been practicing for countless millennia, and that ponies have recognized for a few short months. This is a story about a life form that can survive only by deceiving sapient beings, after all. One would expect them to be good at it.
Would be funny if Thorax was replacing Spike the next round...
But for the chapter....WHY AM I ALWAYS SUSPECTING RAINBOW DASH?
7581905
Sure Thorax has a much harder job, but he also has the instincts and experience. He was born and raised to play this game, essentially.
In a more realistic game with a larger group of ponies who didn't know each other (and don't know how many changelings are even present, or how long they've been infiltrating), the changelings would own it without breaking a sweat.
Well, if it is Thorax, he certainly has his beatbox skills down.
... oh come on, Rarity doesn't say it that often, Thorax.
Oh damn, Thorax. Look out, Spike!
After this experiment/training session is over, you know what Twilight should do immediately?
Teach all of the alicorns and magic-talented unicorns she knows how to use the changeling disguise-reverting spell she knows. It won't help them figure out if a changeling might be around, but it's a much easier, faster, and more reliable way to check anyone they think might have been replaced, if their suspicious are already raised.
What in the world is this noise you keep having Rarity make? I mean, onomatopoeia like "pfft" or "bah" or "tch" or something when she scoffs might be reasonable in moderation, but this very specific sequence of noises is really weird and makes it seem like she were choking or something. I'd almost think, for this chapter, that it was some sort of click-based changeling language accidentally slipping through on Thorax's part, but I remember this same sequence of onomatopoeia showing up in an earlier chapter. Back then I thought it was a really screwed up typo, though. Now I see that isn't the case.
7581224
Not that I was one of them, but I believe that the dislikes on the comment you were replying to comes from its repetitiveness. You might not know this unless you've read through the entire comments section, but it was maybe the tenth or twelfth comment to independantly come up with the idea of Thorax replacing Spike for a round. The dislikes may just come from people getting sick of the suggestion, especially since it is against the rules, as others have pointed out.
7582614
In one episode (I forget which) Tabitha did this beatbox scoff for one of Rarity's lines, and this onomatopoeia is a pretty faithful recreation of it. Like I said, I don't remember the episode, or even the context in which Rarity sputtered it out, but I recognised it immediately.
Okay, this game is getting fun. It's making me wanna play!
7582278 I dunno. Why?
7582786
Because she's too nerdy.Defintly not
like her
This round was really obvious, even a noob like me found it out~
It's Rarity.
...Unless it's AJ, and I lost this round, too...
I know, it's like this is a fanfic or something! Wait...
Yeah, just a smidge more subdued. Rarity's pretty over-the-top as she is, but you still don't want to oversell it. "Oh, pf, chk, tth."
SAME AND I HATE IT
Changelings could easily infiltrate the group as spike, though...