18. Chat with Starlight
“So,” Starlight said conversationally as she set the paper down on Twilight’s desk.
“So,” Twilight replied.
“Notice anything interesting about this paper?”
Twilight looked down at it. “Beet prices are gonna be up this season? That kinda sucks but I’m not that into beets anyway.”
Starlight sighed. “Not the column, Twilight. The headline.”
Twilight read, “Fillydelphia massacre. Twenty-three found dead in apartment building. Aw, that’s depressing.”
“Well, they were all identified as gang members. Including the gang’s leader.”
“Oh? Well that’s not as sad.” Twilight pulled over the paper to read the article more thoroughly.
“Lots of them were missing heads. Nearly all of them had parts ripped off. Police say it looked like a huge animal mauled and then ate pieces off of them. Have any idea what sort of creature would do that? And could actually get that deep into Fillydelphia to do it without being caught?”
Twilight put the paper down. “I know why you’re bringing this up. We both know it wasn’t a wild animal. It was Venom and I. So let’s get to whatever you wanted to say about it.”
Starlight hesitated, then said, “I’m worried about you. This…” She tapped the paper. “This isn’t you. I’m worried that that thing is warping your mind.”
Venom popped out of her. “Thing?!”
“I understand your concerns, I really do,” Twilight said. “Under other circumstances, I would never do that sort of thing. But Venom gives me the power and the camouflage to fight evil without being hurt or recognized. Those gang members have been terrorizing Fillydelphia for years. I met one of them in a shop threatening the owner and ran him off, without hurting him. His gang later caught me and dragged me to their base. So I did what I had to to escape.” She looked down at the article again, which claimed one of the survivors had come forward about what had attacked them, but his claims were dismissed as panicked hallucinations, as no one else in the area saw such a thing. “They were going to torture me for interrupting their work. None of them lifted a hoof to save me. So I destroyed them.”
Starlight opened her mouth, but Venom interrupted with, “And don’t say we should have talked it out, because she tried, and she got knives in her wings for it. They didn’t want to talk. They wanted to hurt. Should have heard them. Talking about gouging her eyes out. Cutting her open. So we fought. And we won.” He settled back, growing arms just so he could cross them.
Starlight was silent for a few moments. Then she said, “I can’t fault you for fighting in self-defense. But twenty-three… twenty-three of them?!”
“They kept coming after us,” Twilight replied. “Look, these were very bad ponies. They were murderers. They’ve tortured and raped without remorse. They deserved it. And honestly, once we got going we killed most of them pretty quickly. None of them suffered. Long.”
Venom nodded in agreement.
Starlight collected the paper, reading through the article again. “I guess the police have been too afraid to go after these guys themselves… but what you did just doesn’t sit right with me. I still consider you my friend, but I can’t support this.”
“You don’t have to,” Twilight replied. “Friends don’t have to agree with each other on everything. You have your views and I respect them. All I ask is that you respect my right to choose my own views as well.”
“Of course. I just don't want you to go down a slippery slope to hurting, maybe killing everypony who slights you. Remember who you are. You're Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. You've turned countless 'bad guys' to good through your words and deeds. Remember that when you're writing somepony off as hopeless and deserving of death.”
Twilight was quiet for a bit. Then she said, “There's something I wanted to tell you yesterday, but you left before I could. About if I would have killed you if I was with Venom. And I wanted to say no, I wouldn't. I could see the good in you, could see that you just needed a friend. If I had Venom, he would have seen that too. We still would have helped you.” She reached across the desk to touch Starlight's hoof. “But I've also met creatures that I don't see good in. Who step all over others to build themselves up, who manipulate and hurt, who feel no remorse for it. And if I can remove them, well... I'm going to.”
“I see. Well... be careful, okay? Don't just immediately write ponies off as hopeless. I want you to still try getting through to them, just as you did for me, and Stygian, and countless others. As for you.” Starlight leaned across the desk, slapping one hoof down on it while she stuck the other in Venom's face. “I've got my eye on you. You better not hurt her, and you better not force her into anything she doesn't want to do. If I suspect for even a moment that you're taking advantage of her, I don't care what it takes, I will rip your squirming black carcass right out of her.”
Twilight felt a twinge of worry, but Venom didn't show it, just smoothly saying, “Whatever you say, Glim Glam.”
Starlight got up, picked up the newspaper, and headed for the door. She glanced back at them, then opened it and swept out, closing it behind her.
Twilight stared, and Venom said, “So she's a beacon of moral superiority all of a sudden? Okay then.”
“She's just worried about me,” Twilight said. “I've done a lot for her, I'm one of her best friends, she doesn't want to lose me.”
“Isn't that sweet. But she's not going to lose you. You're going to live a long, happy life, aren't you?” He curled around her, hugging her head close to himself. “We both are.”
“Of course. So uh...” Twilight pressed him back. “About her threatening you...”
“I'm not worried. But if I did ever hurt you, well, I'd deserve it. You mean so much to me, I never want to hurt you.”
“We haven't known each other that long. You really feel that way about me?”
“Yes. I'll admit, I saw you as just a tool at first, a way to escape Blazing and his tests, but. You quickly grew on me. You're different from anyone else I've ever bonded with. And I plan to never give Starlight a reason to try and take me away from you.”
Twilight's cheeks grew hot. “Oh. Wow, I um... well, since we're in each other's heads anyway, I'll be honest. I really like you too. And I don't want her trying to separate us.”
He smiled, nuzzling her.
“Though I doubt she could,” Twilight continued. “Wouldn't you have to choose to leave my body?”
“Usually, though there are a couple things that would probably encourage me to flee just to get away from them. Like if you were to be set on fire. I'm sorry but I'm probably going to run.”
“Wow.”
“Hey, I'd do everything in our power to put us out! But if we keep burning anyway I'm out of here! Also, loud, high-pitched noises. I'm not sure of the exact frequencies in your language but luckily Blazing never discovered that one. I can only imagine what he'd do to us if he did.”
“So fire and high pitches. Hm. Well, I'll try to stay away from stuff like that. But other than those sort of things driving you away, nothing could separate you from me against our will?”
“Nothing that I know of but I wouldn't be surprised if you could do it with magic, even going through your knowledge I still don't fully understand it. Oh, and another symbiote would be able to pull me out, but that's seen as rude.”
Twilight snorted and stood, crossing the room to the door. “Understandable. Okay, I'm gonna open the door, you mind?”
He hid, and she opened the door and checked the hall. No one was waiting for her, so she went back to her desk. She talked to Venom in thought while she read through and approved Applejack's lesson plan. But soon he quieted, retreating further to the back of her mind to indicate he wanted to be left to his thoughts. So she agreed and focused on her work.
It was nearly time for lunch when he finally spoke to her again.
I've got a crazy idea for how we could figure out where Blazing took the rest of the symbiotes, he said.
Oh? What's that?
Remember when we tapped into the memories of those gang members we were fighting? Here's what I'm thinking. We go talk to Blazing in the dungeons, and I shove a tendril right into his brain and drag the information out.
Oh, great idea! We can go do that after school instead of going to the museum, though if it turns out the symbiotes are there, we can head over there and get this all wrapped up!
Perfect!
Soon it was lunchtime, and Twilight met up with her friends and had lunch with them. They chose to eat in a corner of the library, a good way away from the students. They talked about what happened in Fillydelphia, with Twilight admitting she was behind all of it, to various reactions. But no one objected too strongly, especially once she explained what they were going to do to her. She also told them about her plan for finding the symbiotes, and they wished her luck.
“Seriously, when you're looking for hosts for them, I'm totally available,” Rainbow said.
Twilight chuckled. “Heh, I'll definitely let them know which of you are interested in helping them out.”
I feel like Slasher would like her, Venom whispered. He's into powerful hosts, and he'd be into Rainbow's strength and speed.
After a moment, Twilight said, “And according to Venom, one of the symbiotes might actually like bonding with you in particular.”
“Really? Awesome!”
“Ooh, what about me?” Pinkie asked happily.
Twilight consulted with Venom. She's so bubbly, so unlike many of my comrades, but I can think of one who has been frequently reprimanded for not taking things seriously and fooling around. Hysteria. She'd probably like her.
“One named Hysteria might like you,” Twilight said.
“Hysteria! Cute name, I love it!”
I'll be impressed if any of them manage to interest Riot though. He's old and serious and I've never heard him laugh. In fact he's probably going to be the most devoted to our mission. I'm not sure we'll be able to get him on our side. As soon as we free them he'll probably immediately start telling everyone to get back to the mission. Fix our ship, go home for reinforcements, and conquer the planet. Honestly, he's an ass.
Twilight mulled that over as conversation turned to plans for the second half of the day. She idly stirred her salad around, and said, But we'll try to talk to him anyway, right?
If you want. I'm just saying, don't expect to convince him. We'll probably just have to kill him. Because this? What we have going on between us, sharing your body instead of me just crushing your free will and using you for my own gain? This isn't how my team operates. I'll be seen as weak for this. He's always seen me as pathetic. Too sympathetic, too gentle. Hmph. You've seen me at work, I am not gentle.
True, you're not gentle to the bad guys. But with me? You're very gentle, she teased.
She felt mild embarrassment from the other. So I believe in treating my host well, so what? It's proven that the stronger the emotional bond between symbiote and host, the stronger they are physically. We're at our best when we work together. A miserable, controlled host will just weaken me. Besides, I like talking to you. I like hearing your voice in my mind, and feeling your happiness at what we can do together. If that makes me pathetic then fine, Riot, I'm pathetic!
Twilight chuckled. Her friends gave her confused looks, and she explained, “Sorry, just talking to Venom about something. Hey, you guys looking forward to the end of the year dance?”
Rarity and Pinkie's eyes lit up, and both of them launched into overlapping plans for the venue and what they were going to wear and how they were going to decorate. Twilight listened on in amusement, occasionally offering input but mostly just letting them talk. She couldn't wait until the end of the school year. Being headmare was a rewarding job but she was looking forward to summer break, when she'll have much more free time.
And judging from that eager swirling all down her spine, Venom was looking forward to it too.
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of course the insane pony would hit it off with the symboite named for being mad.
...better than discord getting him anyways... oh dear.
9332335
Oh no... Habit, tell me you didn't just invoke Murphy...
9332335
I agree, one question though why do all villains think having friends makes you weak, screw you riot
This could have easily been botched
Starlight could have written this off as twilight having her first kill and been gone for good, she woudl have dismissed the stituation and what twilight had to have done to survive
Been pulled off well done I think
9332335
If Discord did get a symbiote well, it would definitely be a Riot.
9332343
They view friends as external weakness, something that others can influence or threaten to make them compliant, give in to demands and such. Friends can also help out when you actually need it or maybe even pull a Hail Mary or something. Really though, both sides of the same coin so take it as you will.
9332343
i think its Standard Bad Guy thinking, "having friends means that ur enemies can exploit those bonds, thus the Bad Guy is stronger alone" or some such BS
9332339
yes, Murphy has been invoked...run...
9332343
Because emotions are for the weak? *shrugs* Idk, it's a trope I don't fully understand either.
9332399
Cause villains usually have "black and white" views and only see things as either positive or negative, when more often then not those things are both. Having to depend on others means you have a weakness, the catch of course is the cure for that weakness IS being able to depend on others.
It's like the secret identity, on one hand if your loved ones don't know your secrets they can't be forced to reveal them. On the other hand if they do know them, they can help you keep them. A hero's lame excuses to coved his heroing are much more convincing when someone else corroborates them.
Villains often only see one side of an issue, very often that inability to see both sides is what makes them a villain at all.
I'm afraid something is going to go badly soon...
But good to see it didn't go too wrong between the two and Starlight.
Anyone knows how to reverse the polarity of the Murphy Law?????
of cuddling and kissing yes we get that Starlight.
Not bad at all, I still don't exactly agree with Starlight, but that chapter was good. I even start to like the idea of some of them getting symbionts even if I like it that not all of them get one. I'm not even sure that it's safe to pair Pinkie with one.
I would kind of like small details like that some of them have problems with their partners or how it feels like with them. I don't need Twilight and Venom being that much more OP, but I admit I like to see them as the stronger combination and that their bonding went much more smoothly.
Not sure if I remember it right, but I think there was a comic with either children from Venom or Carnage children. I think one of them was names Toxic or something like that, would be nice to see that one maybe. Or if they manage to do it till then, Venom and Twilight produce some sort of gengetic offspring. Is there any proof in the comic how they get children? Spike could get the result of their special bond as a symbiont.
I just like the idea right now. I'm not talking about sex or anything right now, but maybe something that even would suprise Venom and scare some nurses. Then they even have to tell Twilights parents about him.
9332454
Not sure if we are talking about the same thing, but with characters like Luna/Nightmare Moon and maybe Discord I like to think they understand the grey area instead of only black and white. Mostly because they know how it's to be bad and maybe that the "hero" side isn't always the right answer too.
9332339
9332387
actually, I didn't invoke Murphy. I didn't design a tool that can be misused in a disastrous way.
I invoked Finagle's Law
9332633
Google states that it's 'anything that can go wrong, will go wrong'
Finagle's Corollary being the addition of 'usually at the worst possible moment'
Twilight, you just agreed to lobotomize someone. I don't care why, that's messed up.
9332794
That's not really how the symbiotes work. All they do is make the connection and then they can see someone's memories, lobotomizing is the removal of the frontal lobe which is NOT the plan here. Venom just has to connect to Blazing in the same way he's connected to Twilight, get the information, and then remove himself. Totally painless.
I love it.
9332610
I said Usually that means not always.
That turned out better than I hoped. Still not fixed, but at least they've reached an understanding.
9332927
Yes and?, not sure what to tell you right now, it still seems my comment works even in that chase.
After reading it a second time I want to say it still looks like you would talk about "most of the time".
9332276
The one i said was military protocol :P
9332295
Ah, makes much more sense now.
Yea glad that got cleared up, i thought someone was testing my knowledge.
Theoretically, There is a civilization that i have concocted called the Ara, and the manipulate time and space and span their race among the multiverse! they'd be a... what? Class 5? 6?
9333373
Huh
I'm military but we only use our radios when conducting emergency responses, and it's pretty much just to talk to people within our own office. Like, between the people entering the hot zone and those standing outside, etc. So that's probably why we've developed our own way of doing it. But if, say, we're going onto the flightline and we have to talk to the air traffic control tower, they have their own standards we have to follow
ah well ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
9333413
Its mainly Command to Field Operatives comms that do that. like during an Op they have someone designated as High Command or whatever they plan on calling it, and then there is the squads, all of whom have their own designation. and the comms start with that specific introduction before going into what they need to say.
Gud Chaptur.
9333421
Yeah that'd make sense
OC klyntar? Eh, might as well.
9333452
Does the story take place during season 8 or after season 8?
I've got to admit, I like the way you handled the conversation between Twilight and Venim. It addressed certain issues, but at the same time properly showcased both sides without making either one look like they're in the wrong.
....and please tell me that's genuine foreshadowing and we're going to get a team of Symbiotes in the future!
I demand Slasher be changed to Phage. The guy literally has the same powers it sounds like and he's super cool looking.
9320737
First of all, she didn't almost destroy the universe, only Equestria itself was put in jeopardy.
Second of all, by your logic, characters like Discord and Sunset should have been immediately put it out there as well. especially since Sunset almost killed Twilight which in turn would have resulted in Equestria being defenseless without the main element.
And if we never see that than the actual show, not to mention the fact that you can't place the deaths of Pony in every single time when they was created on Starlight since some of them where are victims of the choices made by the villains who took over. Not to mention the fact that if those timelines were erased from history technically that means that those deaths never happened.
Third of all, Starlight wasn't aware of the damage she was doing until Twilight showed her, after which she immediately gave up and surrendered.
That is a half-assed excuse and you know it.
"All"? first you were complaining about Starlight nearly being responsible for others dance, and you immediately attempt to excuse Sunset of nearly killing Twilight? That's hypocrisy and you know it.
Sunset taking over a question would have still been a major problem, pretending that her actions aren't relevant just because she didn't endanger the whole universe is nonsensical at best and isn't a valid argument. And on a side note, as I said before, only Equestria itself was at stake, not the entire universe.
You don't like Starlight being reformed? Too bad. It happened, it's not going to change, and it's canon in this story. If you don't like it, then stop reading.
Stop whining about who does and doesn't deserve reformation. Or at least take it to a group that tolerate you ranting about that kind of nonsense.
9332821
I read it wrong, and apparently don't know various anatomy. Sounds part for the course, honestly. Thanks for correcting me.
9333508
After. After the entire series I imagine since it's ending after season 9 but who knows if something will happen that messes things up. Unlikely but still :')
9333631
I would but Phage seems to have a bit of an orange color scheme, I wanted to color coordinate a bit and use OCs. Slasher is blue in color so he "matches" Rainbow. Though if Applejack got Phage, the personality conflict could certainly make things interesting
9333890
okay.... so once again phage gets lost to time.... at least people know Riot now.
You can't just kill everyone you come up against just because you want to make a safer world.... that's how we got injustice except that was somewhat justified but even then it was only vaguely. Like a tiny amount with how superman was made to snap that i understand but only the first part with the Joker all the rest was too far.
9333889
I meant for the story symbiote in this fimfiction.
9334387
That's what I answered, this fic is meant to take place after MLP ends
9334666
Oh. Sorry about that. And thank you for telling me that.
9334373
oh dry your wet blanket.
9335697
Shut it Clarkson
9334373
Personally, I think the way to go is this:
Do not cause a "kill or be killed" scenario.
If one is brewing or in progress, try to prevent the process from completing.
If the situation cannot be stopped (outside of divine intervention of course), you must make sure that the instigator (and ideally JUST them) are the ones who pay the price for its existence.
Even that may not be perfect, but it gets far closer than most codes of conduct I've seen.
9337277
And i agree to this i do but to brutally slaughter over what was it 20 ponies many of whom weren't all in the room at the time... Those like the joker or this mare whom's head was eaten those who brew this trouble and go about with what they think is impunity those are the ones you put down for good... not the goons unless absolutely necessary.
9334047
honestly, I think Phage would go for Spitfire
9332385 No Discord would get Hybrid
Already pairing them off, eh? 😉
9332385
ISWYDT!
9332339
dark did.
There are a few magnitudes of difference between having disagreements on every day opinions, and when murder is acceptable or not.
As long there is no damage? Go for it!
Friendship is Magic & Symbiotic ♡