A Human, a Pony Princess, and a Mistake
Chapter 15: Song of Courage
A few days ago, somehow, probably Luna, Chrysalis had heard of Coco Pommel’s situation. So there she was, in all her glory, to greet the whole crew as they disembarked from the train. As soon as she spotted the crème colored mare, Chrysalis pounced on her and wrapped her in a hug.
“There there, dear child, nothing shall harm you so long as I have anything to say about it,” And that was that. Chrysalis had practically adopted Coco on the spot.
Coco, for her part, had been surprised. That was only natural when a Changeling easily twice, if not thrice, the size of yourself jumped you and declared you her adoptive child. She had heard of the Changelings, of course. Who hadn’t? But if their Queen was any indication, then the hysterics back in Manehatten were full of it.
If Tom were to guess, it was news that Coco had been forcefully starved that invoked such a strong reaction in Chrysalis. He had to admit, there was something touching about watching Chrysalis showering Coco in affection. Tom looked forward to watching Coco bloom under the attentive care of the Changeling Queen.
As far as He, Twilight, and Moon Dancer were concerned, it was back to the books after a pleasant vacation. Even with Luna’s solution to the situation with his and Twilight’s Souls, which she had reported was done and it did indeed require the Winter Solstice, they still needed something to put his Soul into.
That was why the day found Tom, Twilight, Luna, Moon Dancer, Fluttershy, Chrysalis, and Coco in the library. Coco had been inducted into the secret yesterday. She didn’t claim to understand it all, but figured weirdness just followed the Elements around. An impression reinforced by the occasional appearance of Discord.
“How about the Mirror Pool? Is that thing still around?” Chrysalis wondered.
“Already discussed and discarded,” Tom replied.
“Actually, that reminds me. There was an article in last month’s Transfiguration Today. It mentioned an experiment with cloning. I haven’t read it thoroughly, but that sounds promising,” Moon Dancer spoke up.
“Tom and I read that article too. All the tests ended in failure. The cloned body couldn’t survive the magic needed to sustain it past the initial gestation period. They were torn apart by the magic used to create them,” Twilight reported.
“None of those test bodies were Alicorns,” Chrysalis pointed out. Heads turned to her, “What? I read.”
“I suppose not, but none of the trials were on sapient subjects. What if the cloned Alicorn has a Mind or Soul of its own?” Twilight asked.
“That’s even assuming an Alicorn body would accept my Soul. Alicorns are made, not born. We don’t know if whatever force creates Alicorns would be happy with me inhabiting an Alicorn body it didn’t approve of,” Tom added.
“It hasn’t done anything to you so far. Anyway, we won’t know what will work or not for certain except on the Winter Solstice. It isn’t like we can call on volunteers and mess around with their Souls before the Solstice. Tom inhabiting an Alicorn body is our best bet. He’s already grown accustomed to it and there’s no telling what effects inhabiting Twilight’s body for so long could be doing to him. It’s just a bonus he’s been learning statecraft alongside Twilight,” Moon Dancer argued.
“We would not force Tom to become a Princess, er, Prince. Being an Alicorn does not require one to be Royalty,” Luna pointed out. Twilight wanted to say something sarcastic, but refrained.
“I might end up being a mare anyway. If we do go the Alicorn clone body route, it’d be best to minimize unknown variables,” If he were being honest, Tom wanted to throw up just from bringing up that fact, but he contained himself.
“I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a twin,” Twilight snarked and Tom glared at her.
“At absolute worse, we can always move your Soul around from container to container after the ritual. The ritual is only needed to unbind the two of you, after all,” Luna reminded them, “I will not pretend it will be pleasant, but it should be doable.”
“Then we’ll write the people behind the experiment and see if we can’t get them to divulge their secrets,” Tom stated.
Before anything more could be said on the subject, the door to the library burst open.
“Fluttershy! Disaster! Twilight! Help!” Rarity shouted hysterically.
“Rarity, calm down and tell us what’s wrong, then we can help,” Twilight said soothingly. Rarity took a deep breath.
“The Ponytones were supposed to perform today for Fluttershy’s animal fundraiser, but Big Mac went and lost his voice in a turkey call contest! You have to do something!” Rarity cried.
So Tom, Twilight, Moon Dancer, and Fluttershy followed Rarity to Big Mac. A quick examination told them all they needed to know.
“I can certainly heal his vocal cords, but he’d still need to rest them or risk doing permanent damage,” Tom admitted.
“Isn’t there some other way?!” Rarity demanded.
“We could use Loud Mouth’s thought to voice spell…” Moon Dancer trailed off.
“I’m sensing a ‘but’, darling,” Rarity sighed.
“It wasn’t designed with singing in mind. Replicating speech is easy enough, but a singing voice is so much more complicated,” Moon Dancer answered.
“It would be possible to create a bass voice similar to Big Mac’s to cover someone else’s voice, but all the spells I can think of for that either have a delay or worse, an echo,” Twilight frowned.
“Could you change someone’s vocal chords to do it?” Rarity asked.
“Transfiguration on that level is extremely dangerous. One wrong move could cause the subject to lose their voice entirely. However, speaking of transfiguration, why not get a Changeling to shape shift into Big Mac?” Tom suggested.
“That might just be the best idea. I’ll have to track down a Changeling willing and teach them our songs, but-”
“Wait!” Fluttershy exclaimed, “I’ll take over for Big Mac!” Everyone looked at Fluttershy in confusion.
“Fluttershy, dear, while I don’t doubt you have a wonderful singing voice, this isn’t a Heartsong and you aren’t a bass,” Rarity said reasonably.
“I- uh- well…I can use poison joke,” Fluttershy confessed.
“I thought you hated what the poison joke did to your voice?” Twilight asked in confusion.
“That was when I thought it was permanent. After I found out there was a cure, well, I’ve been using it every so often with Zecora’s help,” Fluttershy stared at the ground, “It’s just, it’s nice sometimes, hearing that big, booming, powerful voice coming from my mouth. It makes me feel just as powerful. Some days I’ll just go deep into the Everfree and talk or yell or shout or whatever in that voice.”
“That’s um, is that safe?” Tom questioned.
“Zecora’s assured me it’s perfectly safe and I trust her. I also need to get more used to performing in front of others if I’m going to compete in the Games. So, the Ponytones get the singer they need, the animals get a performance for the fundraiser, and I get some confidence practice. Everyone wins,” Fluttershy said with a small smile.
“If you’re sure about this, Fluttershy, then I see no reason to say no,” Rarity finally decided, “I’ll go call an emergency practice session with Toe Tapper and Torch Song.”
That night, almost all of Ponyville was in attendance. The Ponytones were local celebrities, after all. Maybe not on the level of Princesses and Elements, but still quite popular. Chrysalis and Luna were also there. They had caught wind of the change of plans and wanted to support the timid Pegasus. If Tom teasingly called it a date, well, a few bolts of magic were enough to send him scampering.
“That’s a lot of people,” Fluttershy said with a nervous gulp.
“And there will be more at the Games,” Rarity reminded. Fluttershy took a steadying breath.
“You’re right,” She agreed and downed the poison joke. Zecora’s brew worked almost immediately and Fluttershy spoke again in a commanding bass, “I’m ready.”
The Ponytones took the stage. Fluttershy felt some panic welling up in her from all the eyes on her, but Rarity blew a note and it subsided as Fluttershy opened her mouth. The singing and music easily carried her away. All her worries seemed a distant memory as song after song wrapped around her heart and was vocalized in all its glory.
Fluttershy had always enjoyed singing in private, with no one around but her animals. Now she was awakened to a whole new sort of joy as the singing of herself and the Ponytones brought happiness to all of Ponyville. Her song was her armor and her gift; it protected her from her fears and gave smiles to those around her.
After it was all over and almost everyone had left, Fluttershy couldn’t help but cry.
“Fluttershy, darling, what’s wrong?” Rarity asked concerned.
“These are tears of happiness, Rarity. I never thought I’d be able to do something like this, but here I am,” Fluttershy replied.
“Bravo, bravo! You were outstanding, Fluttershy!” Those that were still around turned to see the Lord of Chaos suddenly appear in their midst.
“Oh, Discord, when did you get here?” Fluttershy wondered.
“I’ve been around~” He said airily, “I couldn’t very well miss the first performance of my very first friend, now could I? I never thought my poison joke could be used to such wonderful effect!”
“I had suspected, but it’s nice to know you were the one responsible for poison joke,” Twilight commented.
“Yes, one of my earlier experiments, it was certainly able to do its job, but it was also terribly, horribly predictable. You could pick just about anyone off the street and know in ten minutes what poison joke would do to them,” Discord shrugged, “I’d considered it a failure, but hearing it was able to get Fluttershy to sing like this, maybe it wasn’t such a failure after all.”
“Ah, Discord, while we have you here, we’ve found a way to split my Soul from Twilight’s. Would you be able to make me a vessel when the time comes?” Tom requested.
“I can try, but I make no promises. My magic is Chaos and follows no rule except sometimes the Rule of Funny and even I don’t always know what it would consider funny. One of the problems of being an Avatar of Chaos and not just Chaos itself, I’m told,” Discord remarked while donning a blue arrow tattoo and robes.
“Well, your efforts are greatly appreciated,” Tom said sincerely.
“And your gratitude is most welcome. Tea at the usual time, Fluttershy?” Discord asked.
“You know it,” Fluttershy replied with a smile.
Over the next week, Fluttershy would sing often with the Ponytones, in between practicing with Dash and the others. Most of it was with her poison joke voice, but once Big Mac was recovered, she sometimes used her natural voice. Every time she sang, she fell more in love with it. She didn’t know how that was possible, but it was true nonetheless.
Damn you make it hard to keep up with your story with all the updates. Don't burn yourself out make a publishing schedule to give yourself and your readers some time breath.
holy frig i just got done with the last chapter and this came from the future
10297838
My insomnia has been a force to be reckoned with this past week. My usual habits, work around, and medications have proven useless. It isn't even a lethargic insomnia as is the usual for me, but a hyperactive one. With lockdown still in effect, the only thing I can channel that energy into is writing.
My psychologist has told me I'm at risk for Bipolar, so it might just be I'm in a manic state. First order of business after current world events blow over was a face to face visit with her anyway, so it's not like this changes much.
I'll try not to burn myself out, but I don't know how possible that is either way.
10297844
I know that. You know that. Tom and Twilight probably know that. Did Moon Dancer, that state, know that? I felt having Tom take a strong stance, even if it was oversimplifying things, was important.
Tom was more concerned about Moon Dancer's well being than technical accuracy at that moment. He would've said just about anything to either confirm or assuage his fears. It never went that far, but he was prepared to do so.
I have always been of the opinion poison joke can be used for good, it is just hard to do so.
Also the possibilities of using poison joke as a potion ingredient are mind boggling with transformation effects assuming you can safely use and store it. While also figuring out a method to somewhat curb the random effects chaos magic almost always has.
10297867
It is certainly a venue for research. Unfortunately, most of the brains of the show are otherwise occupied at the minute. I don't foresee poison joke playing any major role though. However, ideas can come and go and nothing is set in stone until I hit that publish button. Poison joke might pop up again in the sequel.
im glad tom's lessons on magic and flying wont be usless in the future and who knows with how you got the changlings indeptid to tom and twilight i dont think it would be a streach for tom to spend some time with them after to not only help with his mental health but also learn how to shapeshift. with how discord's magic seems to work its unforunate he cant just help his frend tom like he proberbly wish he could but he does seem to want to earnestly so if something does go wrong it does seem he would be the one to try help it not be fatal to anyone.
make sure to eat and sleep properly you are writing a great story but rememebre to look out for yourself while you do so
10297853
To be fair to Twilight, Luna's writing was sloppy and scatterbrained. Twilight thought she was preforming the complete spell and only knew it was incomplete when Luna told her so. Twilight wasn't pulling a Genma Saotome here.
10297857
XD
10297845
Sorry to hear that dude, I just wanted to advise you that you keep a padding of chapter for when your might come short on idea so that you can keep on publishing chapters even if you are still running a blank in your writing and you would be in too much stress yourself to come up with content. Peace man.
10297876
Those are certainly things that could happen. Shape shifting and Chaos magic are lofty goals. I haven't even discussed how Changeling shape shifting works yet. Chaos magic could also easily be more trouble than its worth.
If, and this is a big if, Tom were to learn shape shifting after he gets his own body, it would probably be because his body were akin to a Replica from the Kingdom Hearts franchise: A malleable puppet with no set appearance.
However, once this story draws to a close, you will see why it is unlikely Tom will ever learn shape shifting or Chaos magic. Aside from it being hard to balance from a narrative standpoint. If Frodo has a lightsaber Sauron has to have a death star, as the saying goes and I'm not sure I want to escalate things in Equestria like that.
Thank you for your concern over my health.
10297890
Thank you, I will bear it in mind.
As we close in on a batty situation, I must say... Chrysalis, you're the best mother a grown mare could have.
And now for something completely different: the elusive Flutterus Battacus, or Flutterbat.
10297872
I was just ranting about my personal thoughts about poison joke. You don't need to do anything with in your story. Just go with the flow of your story as usual.
10297958
I hope to never be so arrogant as to refuse a possible good idea out of hand. Just because I haven't thought about something initially doesn't mean someone else bringing it to my attention can't enrich the story. I won't try and shoehorn anything in, of course, but if I hear a good idea and can fit it naturally into the story, then I might do so.
10297904
I am quite certain you will enjoy what becomes of Flutterbat when I release the chapter tomorrow.
So Flurry Heart's an abomination of nature?
10298155
I'm sure I will.
Dang it, Celly! What have you done to poor Chrissy‽ She's a mess.
10298228
Well, that's good question isn't it? Maybe she's a Pseudo-Alicorn or just a unicorn with wings, a Pegacorn. I can't really say for certain.
10334843
Ah, if only they'd shown Flurry Heart slightly grown up at least once in the show, everything would be so much easier. Right now I think the simplest explanation is Love took pity on Cadence and made her foal immortal. Of course, there's a lot of time between now and when Flurry appears in one of the sequels. I might come up with something more clever in the meantime.
Just wait until they meet Flurry Heart!
10347927
Ah, Flurry Heart, everyone's favorite lore destroyer.
10334859
One idea I had about Alicorn Ascension was that it was tied to an exceptional expression of a pony's Cutie Mark... By that logic, if Flurry's is based on survival, and she somehow survived her Mom having a miscarriage while pregnant with her, it would check out.
I should mention that I didn't come up with this "survive miscarriage, become Alicorn" idea (that would be RHJunior on AO3)... but I DID come to the "exceptional expression" idea on my own (at least I'm pretty sure... might've been inspired by MLP Loops a little). The above stated just kept my idea working after Flurry seemingly broke the rules by existing.
10359932
I'm not a fan of this explanation. At least not for my story.
Having Flurry Heart surviving a miscarriage due to something related to her Cutie Mark would have implications I'm not sure I want. It would suggest Cutie Marks are decided for a pony upon conception, instead of something that comes to a pony after a moment of self discovery. I like to think that if AB, Sweetie, and Scoots had swapped jobs during that disastrous talent show, their Cutie Marks would have appeared then and been different to what they are now. I like to think Cutie Marks can come after any moment of self-discover, not just at a preordained moment of realizing one very specific thing they're good at. It might also imply that Flurry has her Cutie Mark right out of the womb, which doesn't sit right with me either.
Thinking about Flurry Heart too long makes me just want to flip the table and say she's a herald of doom, "Princess Skyla has come to reap the sinners".
10359932
I would say a feat of great magic intentional or instinctive. Independent of whatever the mark may be or become.
Flurry surviving a supposed miscarriage would make a depressing (because of how many then would have died where Flurry beat the odds and managed to survive) amount of sense.
Considering how weakened ponies were after having their magic drained magic is something they need to live/survive.
In the timeline Cadence might have been in the early stages of her pregnancy when Tirek drained her magic (Cadence may have given her magic to Twilight but he attempted to drain her on top of that).
And having the magic ripped away at such a critical stage in development could have fatal consequences further along in the pregnancy.
Flurry might have managed to heal herself after the magic was returned.
10397658
That is actually a very interesting take. I could very easily see a take where Flurry almost died as an embryo and the sudden rush of the return of her mother's Alicorn Magic triggered some kind of echo effect in Flurry's own Magic, making her an Alicorn too.
Now the questions are: Is Flurry a "full" Alicorn or is she simply an imitation? Also, if she is just an imitation, would her status make her much more likely than other ponies to ascend?
10334843
Flurry is a fully alicorn. You can't explain the power of her magic pre crystling otherwise.
10397658
Tirek got jack shit from cadence. His magic couldn't pull on something that isn't there. I think the best your theory gets for added tramma is their brief stint in tartarus.
10397733
Flurry Is a pure alicorn imo due to her powerful magic that she displayed before her crystling regulated it. She literally blew several holes through the castle and walls let alone her fing wails alone BROKE the crystal Heart.
Any way you look at it points to flurry at least having the might of a pure alicorn.
To be perfectly honest as far as flurry goes, I think it has to do with her mother and the fact the father is Shinning Armor who is a powerful unicorn in his own right. Those two facts plus some luck in the genetic lotto probably is the reason flurry is an alicorn. The fact Celestia and Luna ascended to Alicornhood and never took a lover (that we know of) same as Twilight means we may never knkw how likely it is for alicorns to have alicorn foals
Coco: But I'm an adult...
Chryssie: Hush, child, your mother knows best.
10421781
It's debated.
10531648
i always had the thought, what if flurry is same tier as twilight and cady? what if when she performs a feat like them, she becomes the same tier as tia an dluna?