Dear Small Pony Book,
I am writing to you today in my third castle in less than a week. This time, we are staying in Ponyville—specifically, in Princess Twilight Sparkle’s splendorous crystal castle situated just on the outskirts of town. Friendship Castle, as they call it.
Quite fitting, I should think. Though I did have some question regarding the strange design.
It wasn’t my place to give voice to such a question, so I reserved it for you alone, Small Pony Book. I trust you’ll follow the course of silence.
What in the first Mother’s name would possess ponies to fashion a castle made entirely of crystal into the shape of a tree, of all things? It hardly seemed fitting for royalty, ascended or not. Furthermore, how would one even defend it? It hardly seemed strategic. While I wasn’t one with much of a talent for architecture, there was something to be said about the similarities between the hive and pony castles, like Canterlot Castle. Those buildings were meant to be great labyrinths to outsiders, while those within knew all the routes, and riddled with narrow passageways so the invaders were forced to approach important areas or ambush zone in single file line.
Morbid though it may sound, it was a cunning strategy. Get your enemies to come at you one at a time, then just pick them off at leisure. Defense strategy basics.
Actually, that brought me to another question: where in Equestria were her guards? Surely, Princesses Celestia and Luna wouldn’t allow her to go unprotected! She was the former’s, ah, former student, after all. And, really, I doubted Cadence and Shining would stand for that either.
Again, it wasn’t my place. I had more pressing matters to attend to anyway. Namely, I had time to be spent with my best friend, and I fully intended to savor every second of it. We began with a quick tour of Friendship Castle.
“This place is a lot bigger than it looks!” Spike assured me as he guided me out of the guest room they’d prepared for me. Mine was directly across from Sunburst’s, and two doors down from my hosts’. A bright smile spread across the little dragon’s chubby cheeks. “The girls and I still get lost sometimes. Starlight, especially, because a lot of the doors look so alike. And there’s just so many rooms, y’know?”
I bobbed my head in agreement. That, I could sympathize with him quite readily. Pony dwellings were notoriously confusion, quite unlike a changeling hive. So many doors, all of them the same size, shape, and color, none of them ever changing or altering, even the hallways were maddeningly static. Ever-changing or not, we changelings possessed a deep connection to our home. Getting lost was never an issue, even for our youngest hatchlings. Why would it be? As I told you before, Small Pony Book, the hive is very much alive.
Still, I kept it to myself. Confusing or not, my friends’ home was quite lovely. And homey, despite its size.
The ceilings were tall and came together in a pointed oval-like shape which glittered in the midday sun, which shone through twinkling windows. Purple carpets lined the floors, soft and warm beneath my chitinous hooves. Something I would have much appreciated during the recent winter. It might have spared me the Winter Spirits’ terrible breath upon my neck, and thus my sickness.
I maintain that they are terrible and that I hope the First Mother sank her fangs into them.
He showed me everything. The kitchen, Twilight’s cozy little room and seemingly gigantic study packed to the brim with bookshelves and texts thick enough to brain a pony. Starlight’s room was just down the hall and, rather oddly enough, was home to several kites of varying size, color, and shape. Then, of course, there was the library.
I had to chitter to myself for ever thinking the study could be considered such a vast forest of books. This library … Now, this was a place a changeling could truly lose themselves.
Whether in the maze of bookshelves, each of them tall and made of solid crystal and filled with more of those texts thick enough to be called a weapon, their spines a literal rainbow of colors, or in one of the many, many books themselves, I wasn’t entirely certain. Ponies could say what they wished about my hive and race, but one thing none could ever claim was that we didn’t love a good story.
Why shouldn’t we? The written word was the greatest form of love, after all! Why else would one share such lovely visions with those who didn’t possess similar imagination or devotion to the craft?
Things I’m willing to bet most take for granted—no doubt because they can’t taste the lingering love in every word.
“Impressive,” I praised with a small smile. I turned over my shoulder to glance at my young friend, who had taken up residence on my back. “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a library so big.”
Spike beamed, his slitted emerald eyes shone with pride. “Other than the Royal Archives and Royal Canterlot University, Twilight and I have put together the biggest library in all of Central Equestria. Not bad, considering the old library was lacking so much, even before it was burned down.”
He winced a bit as he finished, a result of bad memories, no doubt. On that, I could most certainly sympathize with him. Though nymphhood was not a particularly happy time in my life, I did have a few fond memories here and there. Most involved Libulella or Pharynx.
But this was hardly the time for dwelling.
My smile broadening, I waggled my earfins. “Well,” I said, “I think you’ve both done a wonderful job. The library and castle itself are quite lovely. It reminds me a lot of home.”
Spike perked right up. “Oh, yeah! I bet it does, since they’re both crystal and all.” He paused a moment in thought before his earfins twitched and eyes went wide. “I almost forgot!” My friend fixed me with a hopeful smile, like Flurry Heart begging for sweets. “Do you wanna see my room?”
I confess that it was no small effort on my part not to buzz my wings giddily. “Sure! I’d be happy to see it!”
With a bright grin, Spike hopped down from his perch with a clickety-clack of his claws against the crystalline floor. Carefully, I noticed, so he didn’t drop the comics I’d gifted him. “All right, then! Follow me!”
Again, we headed down the long crystal hallways, back toward Starlight and Twilight’s rooms.
There was some level of confusion, I’ll admit, as to why this didn’t take place when he’d shown off this wing of the castle. It would’ve been far more convenient. Unless, I thought as we drew near to a tall wooden door with a purple and green placard bearing Spike’s name, this was a part of some grand reveal. In which case, it was only good manners that I await it patiently.
We changelings do have a bit of a love for such theatrics, Small Pony Book, but don’t worry. I know you’re young and shy. I’ve done my best to tone it down around you.
I digress.
Spike twisted the knob and pushed the door open, then gestured for me to enter first. I did so with a grateful nod in his direction, my teal eyes wide and ready to take in every detail of my friend’s lodgings.
By comparison to Twilight’s room, there were many similarities I noticed. First and foremost, his room was … well, as I said with Twilight’s, it was quite cozy—not so small that one might get claustrophobic, yet also not so big that it ever felt like one was alone.
The walls were a deep purple crystal, a tall window with purple and green drapes drawn stood on the opposite side of the room. On the side to my left was his bed, fitted with matching covers and pillows. There was a small wooden desk with one of those little half-circle chairs with the cushions—the ones that look almost like a bird’s nest—to my right, and next to that, a pair of wooden bookshelves of medium height. One of those bookshelves was filled with normal books, novels of some sort, I imagined, if the titles displayed on the colorful spines were any indication. The other held what could only be his comic collection.
Spike padded over to his desk and laid his comics at the very center. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that everything had been placed in pristine order—from the cup of pens, to the trio of pencils resting on the right beside a notebook, and, now, the stack of comics.
“So,” he said, “what do you think?”
I spared another look around the room, a fond smile playing upon my lips. “I think it’s great.” Trotting over to take a closer look, I caught sight of a door off to the side which I hadn’t noticed before.
There, left wide open for all to see, was a rather sizable closet, big enough that I could have stepped inside and looked around if I wished. I could see three shelves of models extending beyond the bannister, the corner of a cardboard box labeled “comics,” and a cushion resting upon the floor. A little reading cushion for when he didn’t feel like sitting at his desk, I surmised.
He must have noticed my eyes lingering on the closet, for he spoke up. “Oh, that’s where I keep some of my extra books and models and stuff. Just so they’re not scattered everywhere.”
I nodded. Sensible reasoning, indeed. Curious, I made to take a look inside, though not without a quick glance toward Spike so I might get his consent. He gave it with a casual wave, following me over.
As I entered, I noted that each of his models had a specific place on the shelves lining the walls—three on each, extending to the end, then almost wrapping around. Before each model, there was a small white card with a name written in neat script. Script a bit too neat to be Spike’s. I peered at the first card and let my eyes trace over the words Canterlot Castle. Down the line they went, throughout history and even fantasy. The Fortress of Pegasopolis, The Castle of the Pony Sisters, and Smokey Mountain Citadel, the fabled stronghold of the ancient dragons. Fitting that he would choose to build the last one.
His comics and books, however, didn’t have such an arrangement. A fact which made me tilt my head and furrow my brows. Naturally, I just had to ask, “Why aren’t those on shelves?” I waved a hoof at the at the boxes. “Or is there some sort of display rotation you’ve worked out?”
Spike laughed and shook his head. “No, nothing like that. Quills and Sofas just had two when Twilight took me looking for some back when we were setting up my room. I’ve got two more on backorder.”
I had to assume “backorder” was meant to imply some sort of delay in production. For a second or two, I considered the notion of biting whomever had so woefully failed to execute this task.
But then, I recalled my lesson with Cadence.
If she heard tell of me entertaining such thoughts, she’d be most disappointed. Perhaps even a tad displeased.
Displeasing my hosts was the last thing I wished to do. They had far more important things to worry about.
“Well,” I said slowly, “I hope your new one arrives soon so you can have your full collection on display. I imagine it’s quite nice.”
He aimed a grin in my direction. “Yeah. It will be.” Spike stole a glance over his shoulder, back toward his desk, thinking for a moment. “Y’know, I’m kinda curious about that series you got me …”
My earfins twitched again. “Oh?”
Spike raised his brows.”And Twilight and I can fit pretty comfortably on that cushion.”
I’ll never be confused for a genius, Small Pony Book, but I’m not so dense that I’d miss such an obvious hint.
I lit my horn and dragged the cushion out of my friend’s closet while he moved to collect his comics. We slid onto the cushion, Spike taking position in front of me so I could peer over his shoulder as we began to read the first issue together.
The length of time we spent reading together didn’t hit us until Twilight came to summon us for dinner.
This has annoyed me for a while, and it's gotten to the point where I have to say something. The buildings that the princesses live in are not castles; they are palaces. A castle has defensive walls with fortifications where guards can look down and shoot invaders. A palace is an ornate building that houses someone important.
I give Celestia/Luna's home a bit of leeway, as the city of Canterlot is indeed a castle. However, their home is still a palace; the fact that the palace is within a castle doesn't change that.
So are the models just a hobby, or is it like his ogres and oubliettes tabletop stuff?
Also I love how the pony books is now, "young and shy"
8673953
Look up the names of the buildings and get back to me when I care.
If Twily ever finds out Thorax wrote this she'll fall in love, guaranteed.
...yet Thorax still got lost trying to guide Starlight, Trixie, and Discord to a certain throne room in a certain season six finale...
8673821
You did! But I haven't yet, so I'll just say I love it too.
8673953 8673994
To be fair, these places of residence are all referred to as castles directly in the show, so if anything, it's Hasbro's error, and one I'd betcha they made deliberately for marketing reasons (y'know, for the toys), so I would go take it up with them instead. Otherwise, I'll just repeat what they give if only for the sake of canon.
8674292 Shhhhhh. It's gonna be addressed ;)
...The chapter title is misspelled; it's "Reunion" - no 'i' after the 'u'.
Confusing, not confusion.
Gaaaah Cara is gonna send me into a sugar coma with all this sweetness
Shipper senses tingling
*Insert obligatory Cadance pic*
8674292 8673994
Yes, it is Hasbro's error. They make this sort of mistake all the time. I just had to say it somewhere.
8675251 It's their verse. They can call it whatever they damn well please, tbh. If you want to rant on the subject, feel free to do it either in the worldbuilding group or on your blog. The comments section of another user's fic is hardly the place to be pedantic.
8674822
Lots of readers want to meet the mysterious Libulella and find out how she enchanted our favorite lovebug so.
Hopefully in one of the King Thorax sequels. Lots of potential for fun drama there. So many pitfalls in a romance where one partner can give the other orders. Fortunately for Thorax Cadance and Shining can give him all sorts of advice from experience in avoiding the worst of them.
To be fair, Friendship Castle is defensible in the "labrynthine passages" sense. It just isn't much easier for the defenders to navigate!
In any case, wonderful friendship moments this chapter.
8675336 Touché. If both sides get lost, who wins tho?
After a cold, rainy and depressing day and after reading another far too sad chapter of a sad Thorax fic (*cough* "Grief" by Scyphi *cough*), this fic here is like a warm, smooth and fleecy blanket to cuddle up to. :)
8675436
Heck, even I can relate to that.
8675256
I posted it here because I figured a more militant society like the changelings would be a bit more uptight about the difference. I just now realized I forgot to actually state that part.
I'm getting tired of making a fool of myself like that. Seems like it happens every time I try to debate anything.
8676465 Dude, again, they're castles in universe. Why would the changelings not call them that?
And it really isn't based on how you frame the argument. You're nitpicking on the differences between castles and palaces in a story where that detail really isn't all that important, so, I really don't know what you're trying to get at here. Hell, the story is told from the point of view of a changeling who has self-admitted that he's not the sharpest tool in the shed anyway.
So, there, I guess. I'm officially handwaving this so you can imagine that others might call them "properly" despite their names in the universe. Everyone wins.
In the real world there are several buildings that are called "castle" but are not really castles in the strict english sense too. For example: Many french castles should not really count as castle. The reason: The french word for castle is "château" but the word does not translate 1:1 into castle. But these buildings are still usually translated into castle. There are other countries with the same "problem". For example: The german word "Schloss" could be translated into palace or castle, while the german word "Burg" could be translated into castle or fortress. This can easily lead to situation where a "Schloss" that is actually a palace is translated into castle.
So, the word castle may be used by Hasbro in a wrong way, but not more wrong than it is already used.
8675396
That is a very good question, indeed
Thorax is just the cutest changeling ever. He's so cuddly I could almost cuddle him to death!
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It's an obsessive-compulsive thing. I've gotten much better over the years, but it's still an ongoing process. ADHD sucks.
Well, considering Chrysalis was still able to grab Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Shining (and maybe even Flurry Heart) from within their castles despite the large number of guards, and sneak in doppelgängers, this wouldn't be of much help.
Though how she didn't cause the sun and moon to stop when their controllers were sealed behind a magicproof barrier (and thus instantly give away the fact the 'Celestia' and 'Luna' ponies saw were fakes) is anyone's guess, especially since the celestial bodies DID stop when the Sisters were grabbed by Discord's plundervines...INCONSISTENCY!
Oh, and I highly doubt any changeling could replicate Fluttershy well enough as to fool the animals; the "pegasus mare" present likely wouldn't have the same smell (something very important to a lot of animals), or the same knowledge of what they ate or did. Or the real Fluttershy's calm and gentle aura. Same goes for "Rarity" and Opal, "Applejack" and Winona, and "Rainbow Dash" and Tank.
I'm actually slightly surprised he didn't shapeshift into Twilight.
Well he's not wrong to be honest Twilight should have guards at least one specifically cough* flash sentury cough*
Yes seriously they could have at least put a sign or at least a difference color on the door or decoration so we can tell the difference all these rooms
Ouch and oh so thorax has another sibling other than pharynx or just a friend I'm not really sure but that's cool
It's really nice to see Spike and thorax hanging out after the event back in that episode and it's always great to see them hang out again spike even show him around the castle and also his collection of his comics in his room and they just basically just hang out and talk and even read some comics I think that was pretty nice