In the long history of the Elements of Harmony and their chosen Bearers, never once had they come together under such circumstances.
Tales of old would speak of how six ponies who couldn’t have been more different were chosen by the Elements through their former Bearers, Celestia and Luna, and came together despite them to find some common ground. They would speak of the history of the Elements repeating this process through the ages, from parents to their heirs, the Bearers and their families would come together and grow in power, wealth, and bond.
Up until one fell out of favor and had their Element stolen in the dead of night, out from under their very noses. Now, the thief’s heir stood before them, holding one Bearer’s hoof as she gazed into the eyes of those whose family’s her mother tricked for so long.
And the one she’d deprived of her destiny and heritage.
Spectacular. No potential for awkwardness there, right?
Though Twilight’s face revealed nothing save for that smile and a glimpse of her teeth, her heart hammered in her chest and blood boiled. On one hoof, her mother had spoken highly of their families. Even through their faults, no matter how their irrational pony-ness served to drive her mother spare, Sireadh Firinn spoke fondly of each Bearer she’d ever had the privilege to stand beside when she was called.
On the other, no changeling took kindly to being called a thing. Right about now, Twilight Sparkle could honestly say that, save perhaps for Fluttershy, this generation of Bearers didn’t measure up to any of her mother’s tales.
And that only served to stoke the flames of anger in her breast.
Still, Twilight Sparkle was the Princess of the Seekers, changeling royalty. Being outwardly hostile in response to something so juvenile would be quite out of the question.
But in voicing her opinions, this heiress of House Belle had shown a hint of insecurity. Twilight knew gossip well enough. Years spent slipping in and out of pony society at will had given her quite the crash course in its intricasies.
Gossips rarely enjoyed being heard by the subject of their insidious words. It left too much of a chance for confrontation.
And cowards so hated any hint of such a chance.
This one, however, was putting on a show. She was a gossip who wanted to appeal to the rest of the crowd, a new player to the scene, if Twilight had to guess.
Oh, yes. There were many lessons to be taught. How delightful that fate gave her this chance.
Unless, of course, she could find some way to equal Sireadh Firinn’s tales of Cookie Crumble. That, Twilight felt, was a mercy, given she didn’t demand at least the character of Glittering Gown, may she rest in providence.
“Four hundred years,” she mused once more. “I shan’t pretend I didn’t dream of this prospect since I was but a nymph. My mother’s stories of her allies, your parents, even, were the lifeblood of my daydreams for years.”
Their expressions tightened, especially the mares from Houses Dash and Apple. Each stared back at her a moment, their eyes flitting between one another and she as if they were at a loss. The only one who didn’t …
Well. The only one whose gaze didn’t leave hers was exactly the mare Twilight expected.
Teal eyes bored into her own, as if the mare from House Shimmer intended to use the very flames from the red and yellow sun emblazoned upon her goldenrod flanks to incinerate Twilight on the spot. Her bangs were a long, flowing twist of vibrant reds and yellows which spilled to her shoulders.
A flick of Twilight’s forked tongue was hardly necessary. She could feel the searing heat of the mare’s animosity for her—for her mother—upon her very carapace.
Not nearly as fun as one might think. And this awkward silence just wouldn’t do. Not with so many eyes upon them.
Upon her. Waiting to see how she might respond.
Which meant it was the perfect opportunity to take the lead and demonstrate just what qualified her to bear Magic, the most mysterious of the Elements.
Twilight assumed a small, stately smile—the very sort Celestia or Luna might wear while mingling at such a function—and turned to Fluttershy. “Your friends seem to have me at a bit of a disadvantage, no?” she joked. “Would you mind introducing us?”
She felt a little tremor run through the mare’s hoof. Fluttershy ducked her head, her mane shifting forward to cover her face like the curtains being drawn to a close at the end of a play.
Perhaps it was a little mean to ask such a shy mare to take the role, but since no other wished, Twilight had to try something.
And though her nerves did grip her chest, Fluttershy did try. She licked her lips and gave a little flick of her tail, then replied in a small voice, “Tw—Princess, these are Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Sunset Shimmer.” She gestured to each as she spoke their names in turn, a friendly little gesture most met with a nod. Some stiff, like Applejack and Rainbow Dash, and others cordial—perhaps a bit too much in Pinkie’s case, and far too fake in Rarity’s.
Sunset Shimmer, on the other hoof, did not. Her glare only intensified.
Perhaps she sought to cook Twilight in her shell, like that shrimp dish the gryphons so loved.
Sunset Shimmer, the heir of House Shimmer. The fallen house. Well, sometimes Twilight truly did hate being right.
Her slime glands threatened to fill her mouth with their payload, ready for the fight. The Princess of the Seekers swallowed, smiling still. Don’t show nerves, she reminded herself. This role had been mine and mother’s since Celestia asked and Luna foresaw their fall.
And who better to make such a decision than than they who first wielded the Elements?
Twilight decided to forgo the usual proprieties and bow rather than incline her head. “A pleasure,” she said gravely. “And an honor I confess I long awaited, though did not expect so early in my years.”
“Your honor, indeed,” Sunset Shimmer growled.
And we’re off. Twilight let out a breath, counting backward from ten as that boiling temper her race was so famed for tried to rise to the surface. Well, so much for flattery easing the tension.
Applejack shot her friend a stern look. “Apologies, Princess,” she said, keeping her voice even as she tried to shoulder the unicorn aside and redirect focus. “‘Fraid there’s a bit of an old grudge ‘bout your Element an’ it ain’t never set well with Sunset’s family.”
“I can speak for myself just fine.”
“That’s what I’m worried ‘bout.”
Sunset Shimmer drew in a sharp breath, her nostrils flaring. She turned to level her indignant gaze at Applejack, the none-too-subtle flicking of her tail and tensing of shoulders told of prior argument and temper on the subject.
But the heiress to Equestria’s most renowned farming family simply towered over her, looking down upon the smaller unicorn and slowly raising a single brow as if to ask “do you really want to start this again here of all places?”
Twilight glanced between the pair, feeling quite a bit more out of place than her entrance, oddly enough. Like she was spectating a tennis match meant to be private.
And the discontented groan given voice in the back of Fluttershy’s throat only served to emphasize it. On the other hoof, she couldn’t very well just ignore them and occupy herself by getting lost in the beautiful little—well, beside her, anyway—pegasus’s eyes without seeming disinterested or rude, could she?
At last, the scorned mare surrendered and broke the staring contest with a sharp exhale and grumbling of obscenities.
Applejack nodded solemnly, then turned an uneasy smile upon Twilight. “Sorry. Like I said, bit o’ history there.” She raised her hoof and offered a little tip of her hat. How she pulled that off with the dress, Twilight couldn’t say. “Anyway, it’s nice to meet the new Bearer of Magic, I guess. This is kinda … er … well, it’s kinda—”
“Weird,” Rainbow Dash huffed, her eyes hard. “This is weird. And the fact that our parents, our grandparents, all of our families put their trust in a lie is weird.”
Twilight felt Fluttershy tense, she could see the alarm in the others’ eyes. Even Sunset’s.
Well, there it was. Frankly? Such candor was welcome at this point.
“Rainbow,” Rarity hissed. She glanced between the Princess of the Seekers and the pegasus, her smile faltering. “That is—you can’t—Princess I’m terribly sorry! This is—”
“Refreshing,” Twilight cut her off. Her amethyst eyes shone with amusement, she looked to Rainbow Dash and nodded her head in a fencer’s salute. “I’ve seen plenty of your kin who lack the fortitude to try to meet someone new and those who would whisper behind one’s back rather than voice their opinion face to face.” Here, she was pleased to note just a hint of a wince in those around who paused to eavesdrop on their conversation, and turned to offer a warm smile to Fluttershy. “That one so wracked with nerves would allow me the chance to show myself to her was nothing short of a delight, and Miss Dash—”
“Ranger,” the pegasus interrupted. This one definitely didn’t care for proprieties! “Everfree Ranger First Class.”
Oh! And there was quite a reason to be!
Twilight met her with a wide-eyed stare, a measure of newfound respect filling her chest. “An Everfree Ranger?” she repeated. At Rainbow’s nod, she beamed. “My apologies. Shiny speaks highly of your fellow Rangers. I had no idea one stood before me.”
“Er, three, actually.” Applejack raised a hoof.
Then, the other mare with cotton candy pink coat and fluff fuchsia mane let out a happy squeal and began prancing in place. “And me!” Pinkie Pie all but sang. “Best hide-and-seek player in all Equestria!”
“And best lost foal finder,” her fellow earth pony drawled. “More importantly.”
“That too!” Her eyes wide as dinner plates and shining with glee matched only by Paprika, Pinkie Pie dashed over until she was but a hair from touching Twilight’s fanged snout and bounced thrice in place. “I could find a changeling in a haystack!”
An interesting notion. And quite the boast to boot. Twilight chittered, Pinkie must have gotten along quite well with Luna and her bat ponies with such claims.
“Well!” Twilight replied. “I’ll be sure to tell my guards not to bother hiding themselves in haystacks while you’re around.” Turning her gaze upon Rainbow once more, she stood a little straighter, looking down upon the mares just slightly. “I would reply to that point you made on your families putting their trust in a lie for all these years. If you would be willing to hear it.”
The proud Everfree Ranger perked her ears, a hint of intrigue shone in her eyes. “You can’t justify four hundred years of lying,” Rainbow replied, wrinkling her snout. “I can’t imagine how my father feels, knowing he was fighting with a changeling queen at his side who could’ve taken him from us.”
Again, Rarity tried to interject. “Rainbow, honestly!” she hissed. “Let’s just … this is hardly the place for such conversation, I would think!”
“Bow Hothoof, yes.” The changeling ignored the Bearer of Generosity’s pleas. Rainbow Dash, she could respect. Her father always made her laugh in Sireadh’s stories. “My mother spoke quite highly of both he and your mother. She was there when they married.”
“Not exactly making me feel better,” the pegasus noted with a sniff.
Twilight released Fluttershy’s wrist so she could hold up a hoof. “Forgive me, I get very wrapped up in things like that. A habit a lot of my hive has.” Seeing no sign of amusement in her audience, she gave a little cough. “Right. Anyway, you say it’s ‘weird’ for me to be a Bearer because your family was led to believe a lie. I’m curious, which part do you see as my mother lying?”
“The hay do you mean ‘which part’?”
“Well, I feel like there’s a bit of a gap in understanding. You imply the bond of camaraderie my mother shared with your families was a lie after centuries of her fighting to protect Equestria at their side.”
For the first time since their meeting, Rainbow Dash seemed a bit uneasy. Perhaps she realized the unstable ground upon which she stood?
Her sky blue feathers twitched, a little tell Twilight recognized from years spent with Cadence. “Just … look, I don’t know, it’s just sketchy on both fronts.”
This time, Fluttershy stepped forward, a frown marring her lovely face. “Th-That’s not fair to say!” she protested. “Changeling or not, my mother told me about Tranquil Dusk! She even wrote to me about her again when the news got to Cloudsdale last night!”
“Is Tranquil Dusk even her real name?” Rainbow challenged.
Fluttershy started. Biting her lip, she turned a questioning look upon Twilight.
The Princess of the Seekers shook her head. “One of her favorite disguises,” she admitted. “My mother’s name is Sireadh Firinn, Queen of the Seekers. She chose Tranquil Dusk because it reminded her of Celestia and Luna, her oldest and dearest friends.”
To her surprise, they didn’t cry out denials or demand some explanation like some clichéd story a grumpy foal or nymph might write in the darkness in a fit of temper. Rather, it was one of surprise and that crippling, sinking sensation when one realized they’d just insulted someone to their face.
Chuckling to herself, she waved a hoof. “Don’t worry about it. Their friendship has been kept secret to most. But they’ve known one another for some time, given they each have walked this world since the last days of your tribes’ battles. It was she who lobbied my grandmother to allow Celestia and Luna into our Library when Star Swirl the Bearded gave his recommendation.” She paused, turning to look to a stunned Sunset Shimmer. “I presume by your expression you’ve spent enough time with them to know what I refer to, yes?”
“The Secret Library of They Who Seek,” Sunset confirmed, her voice soft and eyes wide. “The Seekers. You’re one of They Who Seek.”
Chitinous mulberry ears twitched. “Ah, you know the more classical name for my hive.” Twilight inclined her head. “Yes, indeed. I suppose you would call me the Princess of They Who Seek, then.”
The more scholarly ponies ringing them drew in deep breaths and quickly hissed explanations to those not in the know. Twilight had to bite the insides of her cheeks to hide a smile. Tried and true veterans of gossip, each of them, even the scholars. That They Who Seek had just been revealed or confirmed—she just couldn’t keep track of which, sometimes—as changelings had probably made or broken someone’s thesis.
Siín isn’t going to let me hear the end of that once she finds out.
Oh well.
“To answer, I ask whether my mother’s actions to help defend ponies over the course of four centuries might ease your concerns,” Twilight continued, facing Rainbow once more. “As you know, possessing an Element of Harmony can be as much a blessing as a curse, especially when one wishes to remain hidden.”
The poor mare looked lost. She would make as though to reply, then stop and think. Then repeat, sputtering now and again. “Look, I … ugh!” Rainbow Dash stomped her hoof. “Okay, fine! It pisses me off! It pisses me off like you wouldn’t believe that mares my dad and grandma would tell me about were nothing a lie for some changeling to hide behind! It’s—ugh!—how can you call that loyal or trustworthy to your friends?”
And there it was.
Twilight thought to step close and lay a hoof upon her shoulder, but decided that wasn’t her best play.
Not to mention, a lot of this no doubt stemmed from recent events.
She bowed her head again. “I understand why you see it that way, but I would hope you might be willing to consider how it might be for us as well. That, however, I won’t push on you tonight.” Casting a glance at their audience, she closed her eyes and added, “Not when so many linger in hope for some morsel of gossip.”
Twilight could sense the sheepish smiles, hear the awkward shuffling of hooves upon the floor, and taste that hint of shame. For but a moment, she was satisfied. A lesson had been taught.
Then, before she could so much as take a deep breath and bid them—and more specifically, Fluttershy—a cordial good evening and take her leave to return to her aunts’ sides, she decided to speak up and deny her exit.
“I couldn’t agree more, Princess,” Rarity chimed in a voice so melodious and saccharine it made Twilight’s ears ache. Something in its tone just made her carapace crawl, a hint of some insidious game.
Only, Twilight wasn’t one of the players.
She opened her eyes and stole a look at the crowd. Some seemed cowed, others affronted. Humming, she took note, confirming her suspicion. “I’m thrilled,” Twilight intoned, her expression flat and cold as winter frost.
Rarity paid her little barb no mind. “I, for one, would be quite intrigued by this …” she trailed off, rolling a hoof through the air in a forward circle. “Discussion of past escapades. Given you have the lone living source for some, I imagine you might have greater detail of some of those stories.” As if she could sense the intrigue Twilight tasted from the crowd, she smiled and added, “Privately, of course. Who knows what might come of gossip and lacking context, no?”
Angling.
Normally, Twilight could appreciate the effort. She would applaud a pony for managing to angle like a nymph asking for seconds or the key to a level restricted section of the Library.
Tonight, she felt far less charitable. Her blood already sang sweet songs in her ears, demanding she return the terrible slights this mare had visited upon her—that of disdain for her kin and this.
Using her to posture.
With a hum, Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash again. “You mentioned your dissatisfaction with my mother’s use of false faces to hide herself. I wonder, does that extend to all who would? Or is it more for my kin and I?”
“Uh.” The pegasus took a step back, those rosy eyes flitting between Twilight and Rarity, confused. “I mean … yeah? I don’t really appreciate it when somepony comes at me with a smile and then pulls a fast one or something like that.”
Something like that indeed.
Her father would no doubt find Rainbow Dash an interesting mare. Rarity? He might let her off with a minor trick to teach her to mind her tongue.
Twilight gave a thin smile. “I see.” She turned her gaze upon Rarity once more and allowed her smile to show a glimpse of sharpened teeth, spurring a little shiver in more than a few ponies. “Tell me, Rainbow Dash of the Everfree Rangers,” she continued. “If you were faced with such a pony, one who comes to you wearing a winsome smile, looking like a sparkling gem with manners and voice as sweet as she looks, but when you’re thought to be out of earshot, expresses not mere disdain for your presence, but disgust—and loud enough that a crowd can hear …”
She allowed her thinly-veiled reference to hang in the air, watching, waiting for their reactions. They didn’t disappoint.
All around her, the same ponies who uttered such poisonous things, the very prim and proper mares and stallions of Canterlot’s upper crust who would let insidious whispers pass their lips as she passed them by and offered plastic smiles and nervous glances in her presence looked down or away, their ears splaying.
Though none so spectacularly as the mare quailing beneath her gaze.
“I-I …” Rarity sputtered, her cheeks turning a shade normally reserved for ripe red galas. The mare swallowed a lump. She looked lost, adrift in “Princess, I don’t quite …”
“You speak of my kin and I as though we are beneath you when we are not in earshot, or so you think,” Twilight said cooly. “Yet, to my face, you’re all smiles and flattery and titles. But not just you, of course, I could hardly ignore the rest. All so worried that I might bring any who meet my eye under my thrall or sink my fangs into a pretty little mare’s neck and let them taste my venom.” She shook her head. “Honestly, yours? Well, you’ll have to excuse me, but I just find you, Rarity, to be silly by comparison.”
“Silly?” The mare goggled. “I-I’m sorry? Silly?”
“Why, yes. You most of all. Them?” The Princess of the Seekers let her eyes flicker to the crowd, her smile sharpening as they tugged their collars and failed to meet her gaze. “They so delight in the poison dribbling from their fangs. And theirs are far sharper than mine will ever grow. You, though? Your entire demeanor gives away how new you are to this show, you don’t even mean it. Not yet. So, yes. Silly.”
Satisfaction filling her chest, Twilight returned her attention to Rainbow and gestured to the stunned Bearer. “What do you think would be your best play in this situation? Stay and make a bigger scene arguing to make a point, or excuse yourself from their presence?”
Rainbow Dash looked as though she’d been hit in the face with something rotten. “Uh.” She looked around. “Um. You kinda made your point. A lot.”
“Ahhh.” Twilight inclined her head. “Thank you. I appreciate your input.”
Her piece said, she turned away from them, her eyes reserved for the one they’d been robbed of during this ordeal.
The unease and hurt in those soulful blue eyes gave her pause. Fluttershy looked smaller, like she had been when they’d first bumped into one another, and her expression spoke not of fear or scorn or even temper.
Rather, it spoke of worry.
Satisfaction died a swift death.
Twilight offered a small smile, one that hid all but the tips of her fangs. “Thank you for dancing with me,” she said softly. “I hope we might have the chance to meet again. Without the crowd, perhaps.”
She didn’t stick around to hear any rejection or half-hearted affirmation. Twilight knew enough to realize when it was time to walk away.
With a bow of her head, the Princess of the Seekers turned sharply and exited the dance floor. The cold weight in her chest still drowning any remnant of satisfaction she might have garnered teaching her lesson.
That her blood no longer sang for balance was of little solace.
Yay~
Goddamn that was the most politely brutal take down I've ever seen, and I am 100% in love with your Twilight. Absolutely stunning work, and well done. The mood, the dialog, and the emotions were all on point and an absolute joy.
Excellent chapter, and well worth waiting for.
Can't wait for the next one!
Honestly, though, there at the end?
I don't know just who I felt sorrier for.
Twilight, Flutters, or the rest of the Bearers,
I was not expecting Twilight to defuse that time bomb so masterfully. And it seems that the Seekers' library's reputation may have made Sunset more amenable to calm discussion.
Love this Twilight. Love this AU!
Ooof, that fairy nature coming out and demanding BALANCE when something more forgiving would probably be better in the end. Very good, very polite, very deserved even...but not very helpful.
Good thing Fluttershy is there, I think the others may be able to help reconcile things.
Especially because right now, until they can manage to find a bond between each other, the Elements are just pretty paperweights.
Thx for the update it was really good and I love the lesson rainbow got hahaha can't wait for more
Yes, yes; already, she is starting to succumb to the influence of the Flutters. Soon, the Princess of the Seekers will be forced to learn the lesson of Kindness.
Weeeew. That was an adventure to read. Twilight is just so entertaining to read. Her thoughts and the bite to her words. Goodness it's good
You know the story’s good when the only complaint I have is that chapters are too short.
Seems Twilight has now learned that the most satisfying confrontations sometimes come with splash damage. Will be interesting to see how she handles things with Sunset, though.
Great job there, truly a masterful display of harmony. You can just feel the amicitia rolling through the halls.
imagine if sunset tries the element of magic and is rejected? the biggest slap in the face ever.
Man someone get rarity some burn heal
Wow, Twilight handled that situation expertly. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Nope, none a all
There's part of me that wants to see this scene from Fluttershy's point of view.
9480333
I can only echo your sentiments.
9480465
Applejack, as usual, is the level-headed one in the group.
And Rainbow, as usual, is the most unapologetically blunt one. But as Twilight notes, it was going to come up eventually...might as well get it out of the way now.
Sunset, also as usual, is the one best at holding grudges to the likely detriment of everybody else here, but we can get into that another time.
And then there's Twilight who, mostly as usual, got the last word.
I'm surprised the gals didn't already know their princesses were good buddies with the Queen of the Seekers, and all of the other Seekers by association. I mean, I can understand why that detail wouldn't get around before the...big reveal...but surely afterwards, when there wasn't so much need to keep it quiet, the princesses would've revealed this detail, if only to try and soften the blow.
This chapter was so good!
Yeah it seems Twilight doesn't understand ponies as good as she thought ( or friendship :P)
I mean, you DID lie though. For generations.
A very very pyrrhic victory.
Sometimes generosity may be with-holding ones to tongue to learn.
The light that shimmers has been brought out of the dark.
Loyalty with having to keep a secret inside, laid bare.
And honestly alone perhaps seeing the real price paid here.
Laughter, left alone for a brighter day in a solemn night.
And kindness, paying the price for words and lessons this eve.
But I enjoyed this chapter, lots of little things, and oof right at the end.
9480614
Well, it IS early Twilight...
9480591
I think the issue isn't so much not knowing they were friends as now knowing that the friendship was based on deception. I mean, Honesty is right there as an Element... and Dash is offended because she's Loyalty and it feels like a betrayal.
An elegant roast well suited for a noble.
I am seeing hints of Shy-Twi in this story. What with the dance in the last chapter and the way Twilight feels after her little roasting of RD and Rarity, or I am being mister hopeless romantic again and reading into it way to much.
Yikes. Went a bit overboard at the end there, needed or not. Loved the chapter!
So basically they're saying they hate her, she's bad, and all the other changeling EoH are bad, bad liars and none oftheir efforts were genuine or at all good be ause they are changelings. Sure, just come out and publicly say that 5 of the elements are turning against the element of magic because of species. Its not like the princess knew all along and was perfectly fine with i-OH WAIT.
Not sure how you could make a functional relationship out of this when one side says the other is inherently evil.
I'm liking this so far, but I can't help but notice some worrying signs.
First, there's Twilight. While she retains some superficial resemblance to her namesake, this character isn't terribly compelling. She seems to have an active and healthy social life, so there's no reason to be invested in any potential friendship with the other Elements, other than that the plot might require it. She's well-adjusted and doesn't seem to have any of the hangup of canon Twilight, so there's no potential there. She doesn't appear to have any problems at all, except the ones the plot creates for her to solve. She wants for nothing, and that's not very interesting.
Then there's the rest of the Bearers. I recognize that Rainbow Dash is the one who would likely be the first to bring up these kinds of issues, and that we shouldn't expect her to be very good at it, if canon is any indication. It doesn't make her less of a straw-man, though, and it was irritating seeing Twilight boil a complex issue down to simplistic platitudes and leave Rainbow completely flummoxed.
On that note, I still don't know what to make of Rarity being the designated punching bag this story. On the one hand, it's such an overused clichéd that I feel like the follow-up writes itself. On the other hand, this scenario seems especially contrived, given that this Rarity is apparently a proper noble in this continuity, one who should ostensibly know better.
I still plan to stick around, but I'm kind of disappointed that the story seems to be just going through the motions.
9480708 Indeed!
changin’ ain’t easy
9481093 Two - Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Two of them questioned her.
Pinkie laughed and talked about making new friends, AJ was apprehensive, but fair, and Fluttershy danced with her and returned her affections.
For bonus, Sunset hates her because family grudge.
Your math is off.
9481095 Yes, the character who was born sickly, is constantly dealing with questions of her strength because of it, fretted over taking up the mantle of bearer of magic because she feared she couldn't match her mother, walked knowingly into Canterlot in natural form with the assumption that she wasn't going to be received well and bore the brunt of every hushed whisper that she was a monster until it was broadcasted by a mare who, despite being raised by those who should have taught her better decided to put on a show, had some clout, angsted over whether or not a lifelong friend and a brother in all but blood would hate her because of the actions of another friend and her not being present to help, and, ah yes, "why the hell did my friend do this?" wants for nothing.
Idk, man, it might be best if you move along if you missed all that and assumed this is just strawmanning and bashing characters without a development arc planned. I can't muster the spoons needed to care enough to pull the old "I have a plan" assurances out again.
I'm glad to see the things that have been set up starting to pay off. I can't wait to see what you've done with the next chapter, Cara. I think that's the one that I poked a bit at ideas on with you, right?
Anywho. Still loving the story, loving reimagining Twilight as a future queen, who's been raised as such, and has pushed herself to live up to her people's ideals and mores.
Well I was expecting this it seems, the changeling that can come in and outwit the ponies easily.
9481141
Wow. Umm, f*ck you too?
All I said was that I liked your story, but was disappointed that it featured a couple of very familiar (and in my opinion overused) tropes, and that I didn't find Twilight very compelling because she barely resembles her canon counterpart.
While I don't plan to stop reading because, again, I like this story, commenting on it is clearly a waste of time.
9481178 It's an AU fic. In a massively AU setting. She does not necessarily need to resemble her canon counterpart. She will not, in fact, resemble her canon counterpart entirely given how she was raised. It would make utterly no sense in the context of the story and how the verse was crafted for her to be the same mare with the same problems because things have changed quite a lot.
9481177
You say she's outwitted them...I say she's made a bunch of problems for herself and she knows it.
9480319 That Flutteryay is very applicable XD Glad you enjoyed it.
9480326 Heh, I definitely appreciate you saying that. Hopefully you enjoy what comes next. ^^
9480333 A fair question at the end there. Bit of a self-thrown wrench in the works and some perceptions that need some work.
9480352 She's had some practice! But sometimes what works most of the time isn't the best course of action! And glad you like the AU so far!
9480364 Mhmm. Fairy nature can be a massive bitch, especially when it sings such lovely songs in your ear whenever somepony offers a deal or a slight.
9480369 A bit of a lesson of an alternate perspective, there, I think. Something Twilight wanted to make ponies consider while they judged her hive! Thank you for reading!
9480373 I now have a visual of Flutters in a black hood like she's Darth Sidious. This is your fault.
9480388 Thank you! :>
9480390 Satisfying, yes, but whether or not it was worth it remains to be seen!
9480409 The friendliest of princesses. 11/10.
9480412 I'm trying to think of what that would look like, but right now the only visual I have is a Looney Toons esque "touched a bug zapper" thing.
9480414 In which Twilight channels Blaine? I dig it!
9480424 Hehe, I hope you enjoy it when it hits ^^
9480428
9480591 Lot of things that are going to come to a head, I think. Some misconceptions everyone kept under wraps, stewing on the notion of a changeling being welcomed into their midst so soon ... and a bit of their equivalent of post terror attack suspicion in a couple of them and a very old family grudge in Sunset.
Poor Flutters was just thinking of being a bit more open, too :/
9480592 \o/ thank you!
9480614 Mmm, we'll see~ There's also a bit of impulsiveness there.
9480686 A changeling answer for that would be "if we're talking about my face and name, yes. If we're talking about my intent, though ..."
9480703 And some, still, must learn that what feels satisfying now may not be worth the trouble it brings.
9480951 We shall see~
9481045 Juuuuuuuuuuust a bit! Thank you!
9481107 I choose to read that in the same tone one might say "Pimpin' ain't easy". You can't stop me.
She really put those three in their place.
Celestia will have to tell Sunset Shimmer eventually about why the Element of Magic was stolen from her family.
Quite the aristocratic, verbal beat down. Perhaps this Rarity will abandon the nobility scene before the end of season one, and focus on the fashion world instead.
9481195
I don’t see what the problem is with AU settings making characters act OOC to thier canon counterparts. These beginning chapters set up their personalities, so any sort of actions/reactions they make should be considered in-character for the fic or series. (If it goes that far.) That being said, OOC only comes about if a character reacts contrary to how they were established inthe beginning, barring any relevant character development.
Additionally, at least as far as Twilight is concerned, using her character in place of an OC ling (given the number of differences between canon and ling twilight) is useful in instantly associating her to the reader that she’ll be the bearer of magic right off the bat. That, and it brings in the Twi fans.
9481240 Thank you, so I noticed and I can't wait for more with the next chapter!
9481195
Okay, seriously, do we have prior beef I completely forgot about? Why are you so pissed off?
I legitimately don't understand why you're being so hostile to me over my indifference to your version of Twilight. I never said I hated her, or even disliked her, just that I didn't think she was very interesting.
9481273 Valid points, though there are some that I disagree a tad on. I do think that there needs to be a bit of a "matching" point with canon when it comes to AU settings, but with some way of explaining why that is so in this verse. I think (I hope, really) I've done a good job of having Twilight show that she can be very kind and nervous, but also have moments of swelling confidence and more fey leanings given that she so delighted in a bit of a challenge early on and has been notedly trying to calm herself with each "slight" she's felt since her arrival.
That said, differing schemes of how AU works for characters is always interesting to hear! Glad you've enjoyed reading so far!
Edit: and to be fair, I would argue that an OC ling wouldn't fit here because ... well, it rather changes the entire story I wanted to tell.
9481290
Aye, personality matching AU characters enough to thier canon counterparts can be tricky. The more you alter thier upbringing (or species) the more you run the risk of either making them an OC in canon clothing or a disconnected personality from thier AU childhood/past. (It would be odd for a Twilight who grew up among Klingons to almost match her canon’s personality.
The balance I try to strike in my AU stories is keeping the individual true to any genetic character traits they have. That is to say, what traits do they have that upbringing would have limited influence over?
In this fic’s case: being 400 years old and a royal from the start would give this twilight a stronger footing in aristocratic gossip circles compared to canon Twi. Not to mention more self-confidence. But, both Twi’s love learning and finding lost knowledge. A trait that any AU twilight should possess. At least at first, until that fic does some character development that believably removes that trait. (But honestly why would you want to take the book out of twilight?)
9481321 Well, I should correct there that Twilight isn't 400 years old. She's around the girls' age, so, young for a changeling royal. Old enough to know that sometimes it's not a good idea to go full fey, but young enough to give into that impulse when she feels she's been slighted too greatly to ignore.
And the only reason I could see to take the book out of Twilight is because someone horrible has stuck it somewhere unpleasant and why ever would they do that? :p
9481211
I suppose the issue might be that of the verbal spar and runaround. She ran circles around them even to her own detriment, and the only time she realized she might've done something is when she realized she might've hurt fluttershy in the ensuing conflict of words. She cared not otherwise for any other problem that might've come about.
9481267
I'm worried Sunset may try to take back the element and who may help her, and we all know what will happen.
It be a more worst outcome then destroying a school wall and turning students to zombies.
Her house will be utterly ruined and anypony who helped her at the time.....I look forward to seeing it.
I'm loving this story
And the interactions between the elements
Don’t fret Twi. Verbal backhands are always worth the slight fallout that accompanies them.
9480686
I don't think Twilight would agree. While it was necessary not to show up as a changeling, Queen Sireadh changed nothing but her name and her face, not who she is at her core. Ponies may see that as deception, but for changelings changing their superficial appearance is part of who they are. To a changeling Queen Sireadh never lied about who she is, just what she looks like.
To some extent, it's as if I'd accuse you of pretending to be a narwhal. It'd be technically correct, but it kinda misses the point.