Chapter 1
“Spike, what are you doing? Get away from that thing!”
Thorax shuddered as a flood of negative emotions washed over him. He could have never imagined finding himself standing in the Throne Room of the Crystal Empire, let alone twice in one day. What little joy he could find from this situation, however, was quickly squashed by the herd of ponies in the room staring at him with apprehension, fear and, most of all, hatred. Everyone in the room wanted him, at best, banished from the city and, at worst, dead where he stood.
Everyone that is, except for Spike.
“He’s not a thing!” The young dragon protested, looking up at the changeling with a smile on his face. “His name is Thorax, and he’s my friend!”
A collective gasp filled the room, causing the cloud of fear hanging overhead to waver and weaken. However, the recess left behind was quickly replaced by a new emotion: disgust.
“Have you lost it, Spike?!” Shining shouted, aghast that Spike would even suggest such a thing. “It’s a changeling, nothing but a parasitic, love-sucking monster!”
“You’re wrong!” Spike shouted back. “He’s nothing like the other changelings! He saved my life, twice! All he wants is to be friends, and is that so wrong?”
Despite his pleas, they did nothing to placate or deter Shining Armor, who glared at Thorax with such hatred that Thorax knew that if looks could kill, he’d already have been dead three times over. “I see how it is. Clearly this changeling has already manipulated your mind, filling it with its lies.”
“No! That’s not true! Thorax would never—“
“Like I’d believe the words of a helpless thrall.” Gesturing to the surrounding guards, he pointed a hoof at Spike and Thorax. “Men, seize them both! Once we dispose of the changeling, its hold over Spike should disappear.”
As the Crystal Guards began to close in around them, Thorax wanted nothing more than to run as far away as he could and never look back. Yet, no matter how much he wanted to run, he couldn’t just leave Spike— his best friend— behind. Leaning down, he whispered, “Spike, maybe we should get out of here before—“
“I’m not going anywhere, Thorax. I won’t let them hurt you, I promise.”
“But, Spike—!”
“No. I won’t make the same mistake twice.” Placing himself between Thorax and the advancing guards, Spike held out his arms and shouted, “STOP!”
Amazingly, the Crystal Guards halted in place, silence filling the air as they all gawked at Spike. Taking a chance, Spike pleaded, “Please, you have to believe me. Thorax might be a changeling, but that doesn’t mean he’s evil. Is it so hard to believe that a changeling could change?”
Dropping his arms back to his side, he balled up his claws into fists. “I know you all treat me like some kind of brave hero, but what kind of hero abandons their friend when they needed them the most, all because I was afraid that I might stop being so ‘Brave and Glorious’ to all of you? That’s not brave, that’s just selfish.
“I never asked to be treated like a hero, but right now I don’t care about any of that. Cause right now all I’m asking you to do is trust me. Thorax is my friend, and I swear to Celestia that I won’t abandon him again!”
Spike’s words appeared to resonate with the guards, who glanced at one other, conflicting emotions passing across their faces.
“What are you all waiting for!?” Shining Armor demanded when none of the guards made any attempts to apprehend the pair. “I gave you an order!”
“B-but… but what if Spike’s telling the truth?” One of the Guards asked. “What if the changeling really is—“
“There’s no such thing as a nice changeling!” Shining shouted, his voice echoing through the throne room as he reared up and slammed his front hooves into the tiled floor, shattering them beneath his hooves and causing everyone is the room to jump in fright. “Those things kidnapped Cadance, cast a spell on me and tried to invade Canterlot! Now do as I ordered, before I have you court-martialled!”
Sparing a glance at Spike, the dragon looking up at him with pleading eyes, the same Guard took a deep breath, his mind already made up. “No.”
Shining Armor looked liked he’d just been slapped across the face. “I… I beg your pardon, soldier!?”
“No,” The Crystal Guard repeated, clear conviction in his voice. “If Spike says this changeling is his friend, then I believe him. And any friend of Spike the Brave and Glorious is a friend of mine.”
Shining growled, grinding his teeth together as he glared at the Crystal Pony. “I’ll deal with your insubordination later. The rest of you, arrest the three of them! Now!”
The remaining guards shared a glance, looking back and forth between Spike, Thorax, their fellow guard and their furious Prince/Commanding Officer. It took a moment, but they all knew what they had to do.
As one, they all stepped away from Spike and Thorax, standing off to the side and standing still as statues like they were trained to.
“Traitors! Fine, I’ll deal with this myself!” Igniting his horn with magic, Shining stepped forward, his eyes trained on Spike. “Spike, I know this thing is controlling you, but if you can hear me, then I need you to step aside. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t let this spy get away.”
“I already told you, Thorax hasn’t done anything to me and he’s not a spy.” Holding out his arms once more, Spike tried to make himself as tall as possible, the look in his eyes making it clear he wasn’t budging. “I won’t let you hurt him. If you want him, you’re going to have to go through me first!”
Shining’s scowl only darkened. “Despicable bug, using a child as a hostage. If you think I’ll let you escape after coming after my family, you’re sadly mistaken!”
This is all my fault, Thorax thought as he watched the standoff between Spike and the enraged Shining Armor, the unicorn gathering more magic as he prepared to launch a spell.
For as long as he could remember, all Thorax had ever wanted was a friend, yet now that he had one all he’d done was cause them no end of trouble. Yet, if there was one thing Thorax had learned about being friends, it was that friends didn’t run away when they needed them the most. Spike has already made it clear that he wasn’t going to run away, so I promise to do the same. I’ll protect Spike, no matter what!
Suddenly, a voice spoke up from the back of the room. “Shining, that’s enough. Stand down.”
Shining Armor spun around, a fierce tongue lashing already forming for the pony that had dared think they could order him around. Yet, all of that disappeared off his tongue when he came face to face with his younger sister, staring at him with disapproval. “Tw-Twiley? What you are doing? You can’t honestly believe this thing’s lies!”
Twilight’s eyes never left her brother, nor did her clear disapproval directed at him diminish. “Whether he’s lying or not will be mine to judge, Prince Shining Armor.”
Hearing Twilight refer to him by his full title chilled Shining Armor to the bone. Being self-conscious of ponies referring to her as “Princess” or “Your Highness”, Twilight sympathized with how he felt about it. To use his title like that could only mean that Shining Armor wasn’t speaking to his little sister anymore, but to a crown princess of Equestria.
Stepping forward, Princess Twilight Sparkle stopped in front of her brother, her own horn alight with the magenta glow of her magic. “I won’t ask again, Prince Armor. Stand. Down.”
Twilight’s voice shook with such authority that Shining could do nothing but comply, hanging his head as the glow of his magic blinked out. Stepping aside, he said nothing as Twilight walked passed him and towards Spike and Thorax.
Although Shining Armor had stepped down, Thorax didn’t feel any safer as Twilight cantered towards them, her emotions a complete mystery to him as she came closer. He had been there to witness Twilight’s power first hoof when she had blasted his fellow changelings during the invasion of Canterlot, and that had been back when she’d been a unicorn. As an alicorn, there was no telling how much power she could bring to bare, especially if she decided he needed to be dealt with.
Coming to a stop, she looked down at Spike, who for the first time truly felt small before Twilight. “Please, Twilight. You have to believe me. Thorax is—“
“I know, Spike,” Twilight said with a smile, pulling her Number One Assistant into a hug. “I believe you and I’m so proud of you.”
“You… you are?”
“Yes. While all of us were so quick to judge someone based on what they were, you were the only one brave enough to discover who they were. As the Princess of Friendship, I should know not to judge someone like that, but it seems even I still have things to learn about friendship.” Releasing Spike, Twilight turned her attention to the changeling in the room. “Spike said that your name was Thorax, right?”
Thorax’s jaw hung open as he stood before the princess, shocked that she was giving him a chance and not blasting him into ash. “Y-yes, your Highness!” He finally managed to sputter out once he’d found his voice.
“Please, just call me Twilight,” Twilight said, radiating a calming aura that helped put Thorax at ease. “Well then, Thorax, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Smiling, she held out her hoof to him.
Thorax flinched as he felt a familiar feeling wash over him. Kindness! Can’t… hiss! Biting his lip and breathing deeply through his nose, Thorax reached out and shook Twilight’s hoof. Once the feeling had passed, he was finally able to speak. “Th-the pleasure is all mine, Your Hig— Twilight. I’ve always dreamed of getting to meet you, ever since I first saw you and your friends.”
Tilting her head slightly, Twilight appeared confused. “And where was that?”
Thorax froze, pulling away as his eyes widened with terror as he realized his mistake. Idiot! She was willing to give me a chance and I had to go and ruin it! After what Chrysalis did, she’ll never trust me. What do I say, what do I—
Just before he could devolve into a panic attack, Thorax felt something tap against his side. Looking over, he saw Spike standing next to him, grinning up at him. “Don’t worry, Thorax. I got your back.”
“Spike…” Having Spike by his side filled him with sudden confidence, enough that he was able to reply, “In Canterlot… during the changeling invasion.”
“So you admit it!” Shining yelled from across the room, the fires of hatred in his eyes burning once more. “You were there when the changelings attacked! Do you have any idea how much damage you caused, how many lives your kind put in harm's way? I bet you don’t even care, do you?!”
“But I do!” Thorax screamed, startling everyone in the room. Following his outburst, Thorax took a moment to breathe before explaining, “Yes, I don’t deny I was there, but even then I refused to participate. All I could do was watch as changelings ransacked the city and just watching made me sick. Then…” Pausing, he turned to look at Twilight, with what was unmistakably a smile across his face. “Then I saw you and your friends.
“You were just six ponies, surrounded on all sides by changelings and outnumbered ten to one, and yet all of you refused to surrender. Even when they transformed into copies of you and your friends in order to confuse you, your trust in each other never wavered, you watched each other’s back and pushed through. And it wasn’t just you. All over Canterlot I saw ponies putting themselves in harm's way to protect those they cared for.” With a sigh, he hung his head in shame. “No changeling would ever even think of doing something like that.”
“But you did,” Twilight said, reaching out and putting her hoof on Thorax’s shoulder.
Nodding, Thorax turned his head to peer out the windows of the throne room. “After the Changelings were repelled from Canterlot, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Eventually, I knew I didn’t belong with the other Changelings, so I fled the hive. I wandered all over Equestria, searching for someone who I could be friends with, but no matter where I went, everyone always ran away from me. ” Thorax wilted, his ears drooping. “I guess I can’t blame them, given what Chrysalis did.”
Pushing Twilight’s hoof away, Thorax turned his back to her, not able to look her in the eye anymore. “I know what Chrysalis did to you, Princess, so I know you must hate her even now. I understand if you can’t trust a changeling like me because of her.”
There was a long silence before Twilight spoke again, her voice clear and concise. “You’re right about one thing, Thorax. I do hate Chrysalis. She kidnapped Cadance, brainwashed my brother and manipulated him to turn everyone against me, attacked the city I grew up in and hurt my mentor. Chrysalis has done everything in her power to attack the ponies I cared about most: my family.”
Thorax braced himself, already knowing what she was going to say next. Which is why I can never trust a changeling after what she’s done.
“Which is why I’d like to ask you if you’d like to be my friend.”
“W…WHAT?!” Spinning around, Thorax stared at Twilight, sputtering as he tried to process what he’d just heard. “But… but… how…”
“Thorax, you are not Chrysalis,” Twilight said, her compassion towards him washing away any lingering feelings of doubt in the air. “You are your own po— er, changeling, capable of making your own decisions. And from what I’ve seen, you’ve done everything you could to not be her.”
“But… but I was there in Canterlot during the invasion!”
“And yet, by your own admission, you refused to participate, correct?”
“Yes, but…” Sputtering, Thorax couldn’t understand what was happening. “How… how can you forgive me so easily?”
“Because there’s nothing to forgive, Thorax. Despite what happened in the past, I can tell that Spike was telling the truth when he said all you wanted was a friend. And because sometimes…” Looking over her shoulder, Twilight met Starlight’s eye, smiling at her student. “Sometimes all we need is a friend to help us down the right path.”
“Twilight…” Whatever feelings of animosity Starlight might have felt towards Thorax were replaced with sympathy. As always, Twilight was right. It wasn’t that long ago that Starlight had been guilty of much worse, and yet Twilight had still looked past that and offered to be both her friend and mentor. If Twilight could look past that and give her a second chance, then Starlight knew she could do the same for a changeling.
During all this, Shining Armor was beyond livid, his anger threatening to explode as he stood there and watched Twilight make friends with a changeling. How… how can she buy this thing’s lies?! He even admitted he was in league with Chrysalis and she still wants to be friends with him? Twilight, you can be so naïve!
With everyone’s eyes on Thorax, no one noticed as Shining Armor’s horn began to glow, arcane energy sparking as he readied a combat spell. I’m not going to just stand by and let these things threaten my family again. Once it’s gone, the hold it has on Spike will vanish, and then everyone will see that I was right! And if Twilight and Spike think they can get in my way, then I’ll—
In an instant, his magic blinked out, ice filling Shining Armor’s veins as a look of absolute horror crossed his face. For a moment, driven by his anger and desire to make the changeling pay for what Chrysalis had done… he had been fully willing to harm Twilight and Spike to do it. What… what am I thinking? I could never hurt them!
Twilight was his sister, his beloved “Little Sister Best Friend Forever” and Spike might as well have been his nephew considering how much Twilight cared for him. And yet, the very idea that he could hurt either them if they got in his way had still passed through his head, and what was worse… he had actually considered it, if but for a moment.
It… it must be the changeling! He put that thought in my head to make me hurt them! Yet, even fuelled by anger, Shining knew in the depths of his soul that he was lying to himself. That thought had been his and his alone. What… what do I do? I can’t risk letting a changeling harm anypony again… but not if I have to hurt the ones I love to do it. Shining Armor wanted nothing more than to scream in frustration until he couldn’t anymore.
“I agree with Twilight,” After remaining silent throughout, Cadance finally stepped forward, standing tall as she approached. “Which is why, on behalf of the Crystal Empire, I would like to grant you asylum in the Crystal Empire, Thorax.”
“Cadance!” Shining Armor didn’t know if he could take much more of this madness. “What are you doing? You can’t—“
“However, this will come with some conditions.” Though her tone was still one of compassion, there was no mistaking the authority behind it. “While I am willing to grant you the benefit of the doubt, trust is something that you will have to earn with time. As such, a Crystal Guard will accompany you wherever you go, and we are to know where you are at all times. Many areas of the castle will be off-limits to you, and the Crystal Ponies will need to be notified of your presence before you will be allowed to leave the castle. As long as you follow these, you will be allowed to stay in the Crystal Empire. What do you say, Thorax?”
Thorax was at a loss for words, unable to stop himself from tearing up. “I… I… Thank you, Princess.”
“Bah?”
Everyone turned to look at the back of the room, specifically at Sunburst and the carrier that hovered beside him. During all this, Sunburst had been content to sit back and keep watch over Flurry Heart, who, despite all the commotion, had somehow not been disturbed. Now awake, the foal happily gurgled as she looked around the room, her eyes eventually falling on the unfamiliar figure in the room. Giggling, the alicorn foal lit up her horn, poofing out of her carrier before anyone could try and stop her and reappearing on the other side of the room…
… Right onto Thorax’s face.
‘WAAAHHH!” Unprepared for having a foal suddenly latch onto his face, Thorax stumbled back, falling flat onto his behind and only narrowly avoiding rolling onto his back. Shaking off the shock, he could only stare at the small bundle of fur and feathers currently stuck between his eyes. “Um… hi?”
Flurry Heart cooed and gurgled as she held onto Thorax’s face, flapping her wings as love poured out of her. So… much… love… was all Thorax could think as his body soaked up all the excess love. Had Thorax been capable of coherent thought at that moment, he might have compared it to the sensational of sunbathing on a hot rock, lying back as his carapace soaked up the sun’s rays.
“Alright, Flurry Heart,” Trying to hold in her laughter, Twilight walked up to the pair. “That’s enough, now come to Aunty Twilight.” Though Flurry Heart struggled against Twilight’s magic, she was inevitably pulled loose from Thorax, unhappily babbling before she was lowered into Twilight’s arms.
With her niece taken care of, Twilight smiled as she turned her attention back to Thorax. “Well, Thorax, I’m looking forward to getting a chance to speak with you more. I have so many questions about changelings that I’m eager to ask. Ooh!” Twilight’s eyes lit up as she began to hop in place from excitement. “I could even write a paper on it! I could be the first pony to ever write a paper on the study of changelings!”
“See, Thorax?” Spike said, patting the changeling on the back. “I told you everything would work out, and you get to stay in the Crystal Empire. Isn’t that great?” When he didn’t get an answer, Spike looked up. “Uh… Thorax? You okay?
Thorax just sat there, a blank look on his face as he mumbled to himself, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. Even when Spike poked and prodded him in the side, he didn’t react. “Uh… I think Flurry Heart broke him.”
As Spike and everyone else tried to snap Thorax out of his love induced state, Shining Armor stood back, unable to take his eyes off the scene before him, but unable to do anything about it. In a matter of minutes, his entire world had been shaken to the very core, and Shining Armor didn’t know what was right anymore. Am I right for wanting to keep my family safe from a potential danger, or is Twilight right for befriending a creature that has yet to do anything wrong? But it’s a changeling, and they’re incapable of any sort of empathy and remorse…right?
He jumped when he felt something against his back, looking over to find Cadance standing next to him, her wing draped across his back as she looked at him with concern in her eyes.
“Shining… You’re awfully quiet all of a sudden.”
Scowling, Shining Armor looked away. “This is a bad idea. We have no idea what its intentions are. He could be a precursor to another invasion for all we know!”
“I know that, Shining. However, I wasn’t lying when I said he’d have to earn my trust. Even though Spike and Twilight are both willing to trust him, I still have a duty to the Crystal Ponies to keep them safe. But, based on what I’ve seen, he appears to be harmless.”
“Harmless?” Shining Armor just scoffed, glaring at Thorax. “You can never tell with their kind.”
Now it was Cadance’s turn to scowl, though for an entirely different reason. Lighting her horn, Shining felt the prickle of magic against his fur, the sounds around him slowly diminishing into barely audible background noise. Shining knew this spell; it was a privacy spell, allowing those surrounded by it to have a conversation without fear of being overheard. Turning his head, Shining Armor found himself caught by his wife’s gaze.
“There, now that we won’t be disturbed, I think it’s time you told me what’s really wrong.”
“Wh-what?” Shining Armor sputtered, taken aback. “There’s nothing else—“
“Yes, there is,” Cadance firmly replied. “I saw you not once, but twice prepare to unleash a potentially lethal spell, even with Spike in the crossfire! If Twilight hadn’t stopped you when she did, then I would have.” When Shining Armor didn’t say anything further, her features noticeable relaxed as she asked, “This is about more than just the changelings, isn’t it?”
Looking away, Shining Armor said nothing, minutes passing without a word from him. Just as Cadance was about to trying asking him again, he finally spoke, his voice drenched in regret as he said, “… I couldn’t protect anyone.”
Cadance said nothing, too shocked by Shining’s words to think of anything to say in response. Taking advantage of her silence, Shining Armor went on, his eyes becoming unfocused as he spoke. “When Twilight was just a filly, I promised her I’d keep her safe. As she’s gotten older, she’s needed my protection less and less, but I wouldn’t have hesitated to step in the moment she was danger. Yet, when she needed me the most, I instead made her cry and turned my back on her.
“Then, when I joined the Royal Guard, and again when I became Captain, I swore an oath to defend Canterlot, the Princess and everypony in Canterlot and all across Equestria. But once Chrysalis dug her hooks into me, it was because of me that the city was attacked and everyone in it put in danger.
“And then, when I fell in love with you, I promised that I would keep you safe no matter what. Yet, I failed you before we could even get married, completely unaware as you were kidnapped, replaced by an absurdly obvious imposter and imprisoned in some dark caves, all alone.
“On that day, I failed in my duties as an older brother, as Captain of the Royal Guard… and as a husband.” Shining pulled away from Cadance, her wing sliding off his back. “I promised myself I wouldn’t ever let something like that happen again, even if…” He briefly looked to Twilight and Spike, before looking down at the floor in shame. “…Even if I had to go through anyone who stood in my way to do it.”
Shining Armor’s words hung in the air, his shame finally laid bare. Ever since he’d been a colt, all he’d wanted to do was protect ponies and keep them safe. It was his special talent, the very thing that embodied his cutie mark, his destiny. And yet, he had failed in protecting everyone he cared about at every turn. What good was he if he couldn’t accomplish the very thing he was destined to do?
He was snapped out his grief by a warm feeling against his cheek, the unmistakable feeling of Cadance’s kiss. Turning his head again to stare at his wife, he was even more surprised to find her smiling up at him, compassion reflected in her eyes.
“You should have told me you felt this way sooner, but I guess you’ve always been one to keep your feelings close to your heart, projecting the image of the big, strong Captain to all your men. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you, after all.” Smiling mischievously, she added, “Well, that and you can be just so awkwardly adorable!”
The downside to having white fur was it did nothing to hide the blush spreading across Shining Armor’s face. “C-Cadance!” Shining sputtered, his brain momentarily skipping from his wife’s teasing.
Having had her fun for now, Cadance switched back to her previous serious self. “Shining, I need you to listen to me; nobody blames you for what happened that day, especially me.”
“But—” Shining’s protests were quickly silenced by Cadance putting her hoof over his mouth.
“No buts!” Cadance narrowed her eyes at him as she continued. “You couldn’t have known something like that would happen, and you were as much a victim as any of us. Twilight, Auntie Celestia and me all agreed that what happen wasn’t your fault. Besides…”
Removing her hoof from Shining’s lips, Cadance leaned in and nuzzled against his neck. “When Sombra attacked the Empire, who was it who stood watch over me, keeping me safe while I kept the barrier around the city up? And who also was it who went out to make sure Twilight and her friends made it here safely, even going so far as to face off against Sombra, alone, in order to buy them time to cross the barrier into the city?”
Instead of waiting for an answer, Cadance reached up and bopped Shining on the nose. “You did, the silly pony who I couldn’t possibly love any more than I already do. My very own knight in ‘Shining Armor’.”
Despite wanting to groan at the pun, for the first since word had reached him about a changeling in the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor felt genuinely happy, leaning over and kissing Cadance on the cheek. “What did I ever do to deserve someone as wonderful as you?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” Cadance replied, snuggling up closer.
Looking back at Thorax, Shining watched as the changeling came back to his senses, everyone sharing a laugh at Thorax’s bewildered state. “I still don’t like this,” he said, his good mood diminishing slightly.
“I know, Shining, but I’m asking you to try and give him a chance. Even if you can’t bring yourself to trust him, at least try and trust me on this. Please?”
With a sigh, Shining Armor knew that as much as he hated Chrysalis and the changelings, he loved his wife even more. “I’ll try, Cady. I’ll try.”
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Shining: There's no such thing as a good changeling.
Me: You say it to an honest to goodness dragon.
Maybe Thorax would have a bit more credence at the start if he had formally surrendered to the Equestrian Crowns, after all, the two nations are technically still at war.
Still, a good story here.
Definitely a contender for "How should it have ended", and an ending like this definitely would've been better than what we got.
Also, I think Shining Armor's gonna be sleeping on the couch for a while to think about how thickheaded he was.
Most irrational hatred seems to stem from the self. Shining is no different, it seems.
Well instead of singing, Spike could probably try explaining Thorax's intention like we human beings would normally do.
As much as I loved that episode, that song was just not needed. Never really liked Spike's singing either, so it was doubly cringy for me. But at least we got Thorax and now King Thorax, right? WORTH IT.
7720096 It's not really irrational when the things that controlled your mind and nearly took over the world suddenly show up again.
Would you be cheering if a Cyberman showed up? Or a Borg?
It's one thing to foster irrational hatred toward something that has never done you any harm, and another entirely to distrust and hold animosity toward a declared enemy who's never shown any trace of good will up to that point.
7719176 Shining has known Spike since he was a hatchling. And the dragons haven't tried to take over the world in spite of their size and power.
Apples and wrenches here. (it's that severe a contrast in situation)
7720219 Uhm, an open invasion IS WARFARE.
It's the most despicable kind. A surprise attack on a peaceful nation.
Not all wars are nice and neat and tied up with a bow.
Also, Shining was a victim of mind-rape, life-force sucking, etc... did anyone think he miiiiiiiight have a lil bit a PTSD after that? And maayyyyybe won't be so thrilled to see that enemy again out of the blue?
You see, you must away the fan favoritism and THINK ABOUT THE DETAILS a bit more.
7720218 Um...one of them has actually tried to do that; Garble.
He just hasn't done it yet because he's busy hugging every dragon he meets on his way home.
7720212
Unless that something is a clopfic. Then you are in the right to hate on it.
Over saturated bait trap crap.
7720219
He hissed nastily at their baby if I recall. It wasn't his fault, granted, but do you think they knew that at the time?
7719176 Shining: There's no such thing as a good changeling.
UniqueSKD: Well, if you take a look here at this script for the last couple of episodes for season 6, you might be surprised, Shining...
7720230 Shining wasn't there. So he wouldn't know. Invalid argument!
7720254 Twilight was there when Garble was talking crap about burning a few buildings because he wanted to be a dick. You're telling me she couldn't send her brother a letter about how her Wednesday evening went for her? "Dear Big Brother, today I nearly got my rump roasted by fire-breathing dragons. Also another brony wrote a clopfic about us again so I'm off to turn him into a pig. Love, Twilight Sparkle."
Thanks for writing this. Even though I liked how Thorax was accepted in the end, it still bothered me to no end how quickly it happened, especially with Shining Armor. And with a song that felt unnecessary. Although, I did like how Spike convinced Starlight to give Thorax a chance, but still.
This is much better. If it wasn't for the episode's time length, this definetily should have in it.
Nice and touching fanfic.
I just would have preferred if Cadance also had been hard to convince in giving Thorax a chance.
Twilight also had it hard at the weddings indeed, but she forgave Starlight ; and she sure trusts Spike, with sho she shares a very close bond.
Also, nice idea to have these guards choose to stick with Spike rather than blindly follow their maddened captain.
This was a refreshing glass of water. A much-needed drink of story-writing to wash the taste of bad-writing and dialogue substitution that was the song of the episode.
I tip my non-existent hat to you, good sir. 10/10
7719176 Spike: They say the same thing about dragons, don't they? No day goes by where I am not tempted to give in to my greed. Am I evil, Shining Armor? What is better- to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?
Shining: *speechless*
If I'm honest, I think that this was the ending the writers WANTED to make... but 20 minute run time is a major limiter.
Still, I did enjoy it and I'm glad you made it, excellent work dude.
so much this, or just pre/post thorax changelings.
Oh goodness gracious. This makes me wish you were a writer on the show staff.
7720218 And yet the dragons raid the ponies.
A good story you've got here. I would have much preferred it if there was more of a verbal confrontation in the episode instead of a song, and it's surprising that so few stories have tried this scenario since the episode aired, so props to you.
That being said... *sigh* I don't know, I personally much prefer the episode's version of the Shining than your story's.
In the episode, what I liked was that neither Shining, nor the Royal Guards, nor the other pony characters were the antagonists. Shining's primary motivation throughout was to protect his home and loved ones (especially his newborn daughter) from a perceived tangible threat. It's just that his prejudice, however justified from past experience, prevents his and the guards' ability to see Thorax as anything other than a threat. He wasn't being harsh for the sake of the plot, it feels entirely justified. He was still wrong, sure, but his distrust was understandable and even sympathetic to a knowing audience. When he came around at the end of the episode, it felt a bit rush for sure, but I could see buy it.
You could say he and the other guards definitely filled the trope of 'Noble Bigot With A Badge' well in that episode.
That's not to say your depiction of him doesn't hold any water, because from a realistic standpoint, it does. I don't know, I just think he comes off as far too venomous and spiteful and, I have to say, even tyrannical at points for me. Even when we're presented with the obligatory explanation at the end about his own self-loathing about his inability to protect the ones he cares about, I find it incredibly difficult to feel any real sympathy towards him even though I know I'm supposed to (I don't say PTSD here, because it's something I think gets thrown around a bit too loosely in these stories).
Maybe it's because our bird's-eye view of the situation means we understand full-well Spike is right and that Thorax isn't a threat, so it's really difficult for us to understand things from his perspective. Or that because the issue of Shining's failures is never really hinted at in the episode or at any other point in the show, so its inclusion in this story comes off as kinda jarring (and perhaps partially why Shining's acceptance at the end of the episode felt believable). And there the issue that at the end of this story, sans his conversation with Cadence, he does not reconcile with Thorax, Spike, his fellow guards (whom he works side-by-side with and has labelled as 'traitors' of all things) or Twilight for his deplorable behavior here (at least in the episode, he at least does actually apologize to Thorax). So in the end, it leaves a really bitter taste in my mouth.
There's one last issue and it relates more to personal taste: I'm just so weary how Shining Armor, a character who I really do want to like, is repeatedly played the 'murderously racist bigot' card in four years' worth of changeling stories. It's why I was so nervous when I read the synopsis of 'The Times Are A Changeling', and when did air, like I said, I was relieved in its relatively even-handed portrayal of him as being prejudiced but not beyond reasoning.
The Shining Armor in your story sadly feels far too much like the fandom stereotype than the actual character from the show.
Please understand this isn't me saying your story is bad, because it really isn't. Maybe a lot of it has to do with me. I think most people agree with me that a lot of it is subjective: as much as I don't want to, I unfortunately can't walk away from this story without seeing Shining as a thoroughly unsympathetic/unlikable and weak person.
However I feel though, hats off to you for writing this engaging story, which I'm sure will encourage others to write fanfics tackling this scene where Spike must convince his friends through his words instead of a song (and hey, credit where credit is due, the part where Spike convinced the guards was especially well-written).
Well done!
I liked how you managed to keep everyone in character, and specific reasons for why when they were not too.
This works excellently as a prequel to your other story A Chat Between a King and a Prince. Now if only their was an inter quality showing Thorax acclimating to life in the Crystal Empire,(as well pony culture in general), Shining's lingering doubts, and the populace reactions. Clinch it with Thorax reaching a personal epiphany of some kind, that results in him earning his "Crystalized" wings that were shown in the finale.
Great job!
Welp... That happened- Not in the real episode. Why couldn't it happen in the real episode?
This was an interesting look on what could have happened.
7722179
I'm with you, Magic Man. Moreover, Shining Armor has been shown to be calm but focussed in any battle situation he's been in, so why is he screaming and throwing a tantrum here like a little child? He faced down Tirek, for Heaven's sake.
I'm rather happy the episode did not take this route. It's not one of my favourite, not by any stretch, but it was refreshing that they didn't put poor Shining Armor in the position of violent racist who needs to be berated.
7722179 Yeah, that's the one thing I wasn't thrilled with in this fanfic. Shining Armor was willing to hurt a child for crying out loud, and without scanning Spike's mind to see if he was under a spell. That sort of hair trigger reaction was not justified, Thorax at worst deserved to maybe be arrested and thrown in a dungeon, but not killed. Shining wouldn't even give him a chance to plead his case in a trial, something that I'm pretty sure The Captain of The Royal Guard is not supposed to do.
7722450
It could have if they didn't put that dumb song in instead.
I'm not saying it was a bad song, far from it. But it just had so. Much. Cheese. And was so. Badly. Timed. To the episode's timing and pacing. You don't put in a song right at the climax of the conflict, it's just a horrible way to kill the mood.
Hm, Shining Armor's attitude here reminds me a bit of how I portrayed him in A Daughter Not His Own---specifically the part where he felt like he failed to protect the ones he loved the most and it ate at him constantly.
7722485 Yeah, I think you describe Shining Armor's actions here in a way I didn't really articulate well.
I understand what the author was going for here, I really do, but the execution felt like Shining throwing a temper tantrum. As I said, it didn't feel like I was reading Shining Armor the character from the episode/tv show, but the Shining Armor stereotype created by this fandom. The vast majority of his lines were just screaming and ravings copied from every racist authority-type villain in media and the lack of any reconciliation between him and all those he just declared his enemies leaves a really bitter taste in my mouth. The story feels somewhat incomplete because of this, you know?
7722504 Exactly, plus one song does not magically change everyone's minds, especially since Thorax himself wasn't singing it and there was indeed the possibility that Spike was being forced to sing it (we know he wasn't, but imagine we were one of the characters hearing it without knowing the context).
Yep, they all were ready to trust way too easily. Lazines or time constraints? I'd say the latter, episodes are quite short to fully explore some themes. Also they can't truly delve into these areas either, because if the rating.
Still, this was a great read
7720182
That's too bad. I think Jolly Ol' St. Nick is the best song on the Christmas album.
7723841 I find something cringey about his singing. But if you like his singing that is fine. It's just a matter of taste and preference with me, that's all. I suppose his voice on the Christmas album is kind of okay. Every other time he sings is just annoying. But again, that's just because I prefer the other characters when they sing.
Are you okay this cold day?
Surprised Spike didn't try pulling a "Well if all changelings are the same then I guess that shows what you must really think of me then. Since if all Changelings are the same then so must dragons. I guess you see me as nothing but a greedy, self serving overgrown lizard who breaks Phoenix Eggs for fun-" ect. Maybe even throwing in a small rant about all griffons being the same by Shining Armors STands just by what is shown by the majority..
7722485
Now that I've had time to go away and think about it a bit more, I think I can articulate my criticisms more pointedly. I agree, Shining is being wedged here into the position of the 'violent racist who needs to be berated' and it's really disappointing because it drags so much of this story down.
In a story that is otherwise really well-written and characterized, he is really the only character who just feels so jarringly out of place. When some of the folks on this comment section are asking why this couldn't have been the actual ending to the episode (and I assure 7722450 7722504 7722320 I mean no disrespect here), but I think it's because this kind of angle pretty much throws so much of Shining's character under the bus.
Again, I understand the direction the author was trying to go with, and in a lot of respects it does work, and believe me when I say it's not the fact that Shining doesn't immediately trust Thorax at Spike's word alone. It's that his behavior is taken just so ridiculously extreme, borderline deranged is this murderous racism it feels like he's been downright villainized when there's no real need to other than for the sake of creating conflict. Throughout the episode, there really was no bad guy. Shining’s prejudice was played straight, but he still came across as justified and sympathetic to a knowing audience. The show writers understood where the line was and so we came away from the episode not feeling too much animosity towards Shining. I wanted to see that Shining overcome his prejudice, this one I want to his teeth smashed down his throat, even when we get his excuse.
In fact, let’s talk about that. The whole explanation that he's 'torn up about his past failures' isn't satisfying because, not only has it been trotted out so many times in various ways in fanfiction that it's lost a lot of its bite, it was it never even hinted at any point in the respective episode or the rest of the show, which makes its inclusion here feel really out of place. It just feels disingenuous, like it's a hand wave excuse for his behavior, when it should in all honestly make sense. I just don't feel any sympathy for him, even though I know I should. It doesn’t feel earned.
In fact, even in the end, his appalling behavior is never really challenged beyond a stern talking to by Twilight and Cadence. He's made the 'violent racist who needs to berated', except the berating part never comes, because all the characters who he has alienated from himself (and in real life would have likely permanently alienated) seem to just forget about him so they can focus on Thorax and have their 'everbody laughs' ending. There's no reconciliation, no consequences, no satisfying conclusion between the serious conflict and rift he's created between himself and everypony else in the room. Heck, they barely even react to his repulsive behavior and actions (Twilight should have a MUCH stronger reaction to him threatening to hurt Spike!) beyond bare-bones defiance. This ending just feels so... incomplete. Maybe if it had Spike and Thorax actually addressing Shining Armor directly, I dunno.
I think then the core of this story's problem draws from how its drawn directly from a canon episode of the show. The Shining Armor from the episode and this story simply don't come across as being the same character. It's all the more odd because pretty much every other character does.
7723961
Agreed.
I think what would have worked better is to have Shining Armor emotionally and physically withdraw. While everypony cheers and embraces Thorax after the (cringeworthy) song, Shining is left on the sidelines, watching, feeling increasingly isolated but unwilling to make a scene. With the princesses already throwing their support behind Thorax, his word carries no weight anymore anyhow.
There could still be the emotional baggage, in fact I'd say it would be even more powerful this way. Like, choosing the Changeling feels like a rejection to Shining Armor, who nonetheless bears stoically because that's what a protector does—until one of the other characters take note and asks him why he's not cheering and happy. Then he could've said all those things about how he feels worthless and a failure. How he doesn't trust the Changeling but nopony cares about his opinion. How he refuses to throw caution to the wind but knows if he spoke up now, he would've had everypony against him.
Kinda like Spike's own scene. Could've been a nice parallel.
It's just frustrating to see Shining Armor thrown under the bus like this.
Also, call me crazy, but... the story description asks what it would take to prove a Changeling can change to the doubting. So... what does it take? Because the whole setup is pretty much like in the episode, except for pouring all antagonist potential into one character who then makes an ass of himself so the rest has a reason to rally behind Thorax.
Well, that's not totally accurate. The parts with Starlight and the ones with Cadance asking Thorax to be watched are a concession. And they work, they work well.
If Shining had been written more like he's in the show and his (legit!) concerns addressed without his temper trantrum, maybe he wouldn't feel so much like a Strawman, you know? It overshadows the parts that are actually really good, and it makes it seem like they're not really dealing with the problem. It didn't prove a Changeling can change so much as violent racists are bad.
I'm still giving it an upvote because the rest is so well-done.
7720327
Yes and no. "Hesitation" on Shining's part is a deeply emotional reaction based on extreme trauma. It's perfectly normal to be gun-shy at the possibility of repeating that trauma, and it's extremely insensitive to expect the victim to just give up their fears at the drop of a hat. I'm honestly surprised that Cadance - the other person to suffer as much as Shining - so readily took Thorax' side. It should be hard to win back such broken trust.
Honestly, the episode was disappointing because the ones who realistically would need convincing asked for proof of Thorax' good intentions, and got a song and dance from Spike. Their concerns were never addressed. (See also, my point about expecting victims to give up their fears.)
For similar examples, look at the United States' reactions to German- and Japanese Americans during World War Two. Or, how about current fears concerning Syrian/Iraqi refugees. The reactions might not be strictly "right," but they're grounded in legitimate concerns, and dismissing those concerns in favor of those they are directed against is simply not helpful to anyone.
7724385
And you know what? I think you're absolutely right. By all rights, it should take much more than a song to convince ponies like Shining and Cadence, who have suffered great injustice at Chrysalis' hooves, that this changeling who's trespassed on their Empire is no threat. It would have been far more satisfying seeing Spike give an impassioned (if not one-sided) speech to the ponies and have both sides give arguments and counter-points before they reached their conclusion about Thorax, but you know what? I could get passed the song, if they'd retooled Shining's closing lines to Thorax more, I dunno... compelling. Try this on for size:
Shining Armor: [to Thorax] "We owe both you and Spike an apology, Thorax. We were wrong to judge you before trying to get to know you..." [He and the guards remove their helmets for the first time in the episode] "I was wrong."
It's not a major change, but it would've felt far more compelling and genuine than what we originally got, at least substantially more so.
But this story botches Shining Armor by going the opposite extreme from the episode. I won't be into too much a rant, as I've gone through the issues thoroughly in my previous comments, it doesn't sufficiently do the job of addressing his legitimate concerns and fears like the episode should have. While the rest of the characters are written perfectly in character, this story sadly makes the mistake of needlessly demonizing him so to serve as its antagonist. And it really hurts the story because it not only robs him of any of the sympathy the readers should be able to feel towards him (which it successfully did in the episode), but also makes the original intent of the story faulty. The Great Derpsby explains it better:
7722504
You and me both.
7720280 Ah, but how often in the show is it quite clear that the ponies seem to avoid discussing relevant topics... apparently because they know if they solve the problems beforehand the writers can't use it in later episodes?
Yes, you can chalk it up to weak/absent continuity in those cases, but it still exists.
Even then, Twilight's the sort of pony who might just leave out that little part so as not to worry BBBFF that she was attacked by a dragon who might have sort of crunched her into bloody bits had he won, thus resulting in her impulsive sibling rushing off to start a war by himself which he'd most certainly lose in almost a comically grotesque fashion.
7720327 Uhm, neither one of them was brain-washed and had their emotions sucked out.
That sort of thing probably messes you up in the head the same way as torture-plus-drugs.
Also, you really need to brush up on history if you think people conveniently forget about invasions in a year or two.
7721638 Eh? Where in the show were dragons raiding ponies?
1. Dragonshy: Red dragon minding its own business, save for smoke. Didn't even eat the ponies who kept pestering him.
2. Green Isn't Your Color: Green dragon went after Spike for eating from his hoard. Didn't go to Ponyville for revenge.
3. Dragon Quest: The whole friggin population flew over Ponyville without incident, some seemingly showing off for the ponies watching. The only thing that got raided was a nest of phoenix eggs.
4. Gauntlet of Fire: Garble's plan was to attack if he won. He lost. So, no raids.
The ONLY time a dragon went hoarding in a pony town was from Spike himself losing control of his greed. But that was hardly something pre-planned!
7724808 Ah, but how often in life do you have to be so literal-minded? XD
I personally loved this like a lot. I loved the episode but i was disappointed with how it ended and i really liked this ending i wish the show did something a little similar with how shining wasn't so trusting and that Spike defended him instead of sang
7724822 In Gauntlet Of Fire it really and truly sounded like raiding the ponies was what they do. And even if they don't, ponies still fear dragons as much as changelings and thus the way Shining talked to Spike in this episode I still can raise an eyebrow at him.
Shining armor is all "Changelings are all evil" to a dragon which theoretically somepony could believe the same thing about.
7724943 Nope. That's not what they do at all. I don't even know where you're getting that from, either than from something you are either mis-remembering or severely distorting in interpretation. There's no indication the dragons have directly attacked ponies for ages, at the least since Torch had been Dragon Lord.
7725399 And yet a dragon almost killed them all by snoring. Shining Armor saying 'there's no such thing as a good changeling' is the equivalent to saying 'there's no such thing as a good dragon.'
7725530 Uhm, they weren't going to die from the smoke. Where did you get the notion in the episode that the smoke was some deadly poison that would kill the ponies? This isn't Dungeons and Dragons. The smoke was just unpleasant. Like I said, really misinterpreting things.