The ponies were in various states of grief, I noticed.
Cadence was in denial. The idea that such heinous acts could take place right here in Canterlot, right under her own nose was inconceivable. She was grilling Lacewing for more details, trying to identify the ponies responsible for the crimes committed against the changelings. She probably thought that the actions were committed by a small group. The actions of a few radicals, rather than some systematic belief or organization."
Shining Armor was angry. He paced the ground next to Cadence while they listened to Lace, though I suspected with less kind motives. From his mutterings, I could tell he wanted to know the identity of these ponies because they were Royal Guards, and he was thus responsible for all their actions. He wanted their hides, metaphorically speaking.
‘At least I no longer have to convince him to deliver justice. He’s going to be hunting down every last Inquisitor now out of sheer anger, both at them and himself. Well Shining, good luck to you with that. I’ll lend any help I can at finding the rat-bastards.’
Thorax, who I am throwing in with the ponies because he’s not dealing with this so well, was looking about as down in the dumps as he possibly could. Coxa was torn between comforting Thorax and providing support for Lace. I found myself in a similar situation, torn between helping out Thorax and helping out Celestia.
Luna was… closed off. The emotions I sensed suggested that she had accepted what happened, and was ready to chop some heads off. Or rather, given that she’s a pony, lock up the Division-P Inquisitors and throw away the key. I wasn’t worried about her, no. It was her sister that was taking this a lot worse. Luna was still half in the past, so her mindset wasn’t quite as modern as her shrunken counterpart. Furthermore, Celestia actually was responsible for this.
At least, that’s what she believed. Celestia poured herself another drink. She had to hold it with her magic, her hoof was shaking so much.
Luna gave me a concerned glance, “See to your friends, I shall see to my sister.”
“Alright.”
I walked over and nodded to Coxa. He nodded back and left Thorax to attend to Lacewing, who was beginning to yell at Cadence. Thorax was rocking back and forth on the bench when I sat next to him. I wrapped a foreleg around his withers and pulled him into a tight hug. Thorax buried his face into my shoulder.
“I don’t like this, Phas. I don’t like any of this. Why can’t things just be simple? Why did they hurt so many changelings?”
“Because they gained from our suffering. A bit like how we gained from theirs.”
“I don't– that’s not– no, Phas! This is nothing like feeding on ponies! How are you even this calm?!”
I shrugged, “It’s bad, yes, but to be honest, I expected worse…”
“Worse? Lace was tortured! Lings died!”
“I’m not saying any of this is good, Thorax, just… it could have been worse. Much worse. And if you don’t believe me, then just be thankful that your imagination doesn’t reach the levels that the bad guys from my world did.”
“.... What do we do, Phas? What do we do about any of this?”
I sighed, “No death penalties. I’m sure Celestia won’t offer much resistance if I would suggest them, but… again, it’s not as bad as I thought. I’m sure life in prison will sit well enough with the ponies, and they do love their reformative sentencing, rather than punishments. We wouldn’t be here if they weren’t willing to forgive others.”
“And us? What if we don’t forgive them?”
“That’s… our problem. We’ll make sure nothing like this ever happens. Then, we’ll hold it over their heads and make sure we never have to pay income taxes ever again.”
“Fff–Phas!” Thorax tried to not laugh. “How can you joke about this stuff?!” He broke from the hug and looked up at me, trying to look cross.
“I dunno, Thorax. Once you deal with demons from hell trying to lobotomize you, anything else seems kinda… not as bad. I’m desensitized, I guess. Don’t get me wrong, I’m mad as hell about this, but hearing Lace’s story… it just makes me sad. All those lings suffered and died and I couldn’t save them. Well, I’m here now. I can help the survivors, and make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”
Thorax shook his head, “I don’t think I could ever be so calm about anything like this.”
“Then don’t be. The survivors need help, right? If you’re so fired up or upset, then go and help them. Make sure they’re all well fed, or listen to their stories, help them find positions within the Fifth Hive in Manehattan, or find whatever way you can to help. You’ve got a strong heart, Thorax. Stronger than anyone else I’ve ever met. If you want to go and help, go and help. I can handle these negotiations without you.”
Thorax smiled, “I suppose you can, but leaving right now would make me feel like I’m abandoning your friends. Besides, Diamond already paid for the train ticket to Canterlot. They don’t give refunds for those.”
“The survivors are still down in the Crystal Caves while we sort out the Fifth Hive’s status within Equestria, so you won’t have to leave Canterlot to help them out. Go take a break, and then check in with whoever's in charge down there. We’ll meet back up for dinner here at the Palace.”
Thorax snorted, “Is your marefriend okay with you inviting other people to her house?”
“If she does have a problem, then she’s going to have to take that up with me. Worst case scenario, she’s got spare bedrooms for you to spend the night in.”
“That sounds like fun. Thanks, Phas.”
“Yeah, I bet you always wanted to be a princess living in a castle.”
Thorax laughed and punched me in the shoulder. I briefly checked up on the two lover duos. Lace seemed to be taking things well enough, and Coxa was there for her in case she needed someone to yell at, or hug, depending on her mood. Cadence had calmed down a bit, and had thankfully moved the conversation topic from war crimes to hobbies that the two girls shared.
Shining wasn’t any calmer. I could feel the anger beneath his cool exterior, like a shark swimming as slow as it wanted.
‘Seems like the kind of slow-burn anger that you definitely don’t want to be a part of.’
He caught my stare and nodded to me with a steely look. I nodded back.
‘Seems like we’re going to have a conversation about Division-P and sentencing later.’
That just left the alicorn sisters. Celestia was by the edge of the balcony, slumped over the railing, while Luna sat next to her, in the middle of telling her some story from ages past. When I joined them and sat down on the other side of Luna, Celestia sat up straight and outwardly pulled herself together. She seemed to put her emotions in a tight clamp, something she did with disturbing levels of skill and effectiveness.
‘Centuries of putting your nation before your own well being really teaches you how to feel dead inside, I bet.’
“Hello Phasma,” Celestia said, cutting Luna off mid-story. “I’m sorry Luna, but I’m not really paying attention to your story…”
Luna huffed, “I can see that, Celestia. I was telling it anyway, because I know you appreciate my company regardless. I want you to feel comfortable, not paying attention.”
Celestia smiled sadly, “Ah. I’m sorry, I’m not used to being around somepony who can read me so well.”
“I know you are not. But get used to it, because I am not leaving anytime soon.”
“Thank Harmony for that. Now Phasma, I suppose we should address the elephant in the room: Division-P…”
“I don’t want death sentences,” I interrupted.
“What?” Celestia asked, genuinely shocked. “But all those things they did… torture, experimentation, denying treatment…”
I shrugged, “I think at the end of the day, your method of rehabilitation and reintegration are superior to my desires for punishment. I still want changelings on the juries, but maybe sticking with the Equestrian methods will make things better than otherwise. Don’t get me wrong, I will make sure every damned person in Equestria knows what happened here, but you ponies have proven that you’re quite adept at correcting your behavior, and the behavior of ‘villains,” I said, making air quote motions with my hooves.
“We have never dealt with crimes of this substantial nature, though. I admit that I am at a bit of a loss as to how we should treat the Inquisitors…”
Luna guffawed, “Of course you do! We will treat them as the criminals they are! They might have had a blank check from Daybreaker for their actions, but at the end of the day, their actions are their own. Arrest them all, and throw them in prison! Hunt them down, if you must. Tartarus, I would relish the chance to do so, and I know that I am not the only one.”
Celestia shook her head, “I did not mean capturing them. I fully intend on doing that. You, your thestrals, and Shining ought to work together to bring them to justice. I was talking about after we have them all. I… I don’t know how they did what they did. I mean, I know how they did it, but not why. In times past when I have sentenced individuals to life in prison, our harshest sentence, it was because they were monsters in their own right. It was simply impossible for them to feel sorry for their own actions, and their presence was a danger to others around them. Division-P is different. It is not a single villain or monster acting out, it is an organization I created, and one that drew from Canterlot’s citizenry. Their actions and crimes feel like failures on my part to instill the virtues I have tried to live to.”
“Nonsense!” Luna admonished. “Nopony is asking you to control their lives. Even here in Canterlot, where you live every day, how many ponies actually see you? Talk to you? How many receive personal lessons on how to be kind to others? You think you should micromanage each life within this city?”
“No–” Celestia began.
Luna continued, “Then you wash your hooves of their actions! They are all adults. They all understand that their lives are their own. The fact that it has taken so long for so many individuals to do this much damage is testament to your skills at managing the country without me. Alone, you have kept the worst at bay for as long as possible, and need I remind you that Daybreaker formed Division-P, not you?”
Celestia sighed, “I will accept that Daybreaker’s actions were not my own the moment you accept that Nightmare Moon’s actions were not your own.”
Luna crossed her forehooves, “.... Deal.”
Celestia blinked, “What?”
“I said deal.” Luna smiled, “Spending too much time on what was and what could be is what damned me all those years ago. Now that we both have actions that we regret, moments of weakness that were exploited, then it is only more important that we both move on. Let us work together to accept what has happened, and not let it guide our actions.”
“... It sounds like you are suggesting therapy,” Celestia frowned.
“Is that what I am doing?”
“Yes.”
“Will it help us?”
“I suppose it would…”
“Then it is what I am suggesting! We shall do this ‘therapy,’ and we shall become stronger for it!”
I chuckled, “You do realize that therapy is talking to someone about your past and your feelings, right?”
Luna sagged, “It is? No chance that therapy involves going out and slaying a monster, then drinking until we do not feel pain anymore?”
Celestia laughed, “Ha! Not anymore, it doesn’t.”
“Then… we shall do it anyway!” Luna wrapped a wing around me and pulled me close to her side. “And Phasma will do it, too!”
“I am?”
“He will?”
“Yes! If I am to suffer this, then so shall he! Besides, you need to accept your past, too, Phasma. I can not imagine how your death has affected you, but I know that your process of healing should be at least similar to ours, no?”
I grumbled, “... I guess.”
“Huzzah! It is decided! We shall all attend therapy!”
Celestia shook her head and tried not to smile, “I have never in my days ever heard somepony so excited for that nonsense.”
I cleared my throat, “Can we still do the monster slaying and drinking part?”
Luna nodded to me and we gave Celestia our best puppy eyes. When she noticed us, Celestia groaned and rolled her eyes.
“We’ll see what the shrinks have to say. Because, though I love you, Luna, there’s no way in Tartarus that I can do group therapy. Not at first, at least. They may suggest group sessions eventually, given our closeness, or soon-to-be-closeness in your case, Phasma. I am warning you, Luna, this isn’t going to be fun or pleasant.”
“I will do paperwork every day for a century, if that is what it takes to make things right again,” Luna said. “But only a century. Anything more than that and I am cutting my losses and eloping with Phasma.”
“Will your coltfriend help us out in fixing Equestria?” Celestia asked, motioning to me.
“I’ve got my own kingdom to worry about, but I’ll help where I can. Especially since I plan on relegating duties to my upper command, so I can spend my days golfing, or whatever rich people do when they are not exploiting the working class.”
“Excellent. I hope you don’t mind, but I may just make you a full Prince of Equestria, just so I have that much less paperwork I have to fill out everyday.”
I snorted, “You’d really do that, huh?”
“Yes. You will be a Prince eventually, if Luna has anything to say about it.”
“Big wedding,” Luna confirmed. “In a bit, however. No need to rush it.”
“There you go. You get stability and close ties with the strongest nation on the planet, Luna gets… well, you, and I get another set of hooves for paperwork. As much as I try, there is only so much that can be relegated to non-royalty. You are quite lucky that your Hive doesn’t have a noble class.”
I scratched my head, “Okay. I guess that works. But I do have to warn you, I’ve got plans for the future that will need my direct guidance for.”
“Ooh,” Luna wiggled her eyebrows, “and pray tell, what are those plans?”
I cleared my throat, “The changeling race is more or less on the brink of extinction. It’s going to take a lot of work to fix that, and I don’t intend on just hoping it happens naturally. First, I’d like to get a team together to examine the ruins of the Third Hive, and see if there’s anything left of it. Then, I want to look into establishing another Hive.”
“Another Hive?” Celestia asked, looking confused. “I am certain your Hive will do well enough once you are integrated– even if only at the surface level– with Equestria.”
I nodded, “I think the Fifth Hive is more than capable of saving the changeling race, too. However, I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket. The more ways changelings have of surviving, the better.”
“So you wish to establish another Hive?” Luna asked.
“Yeah. It’ll be more or less subservient to me, but most importantly it will be another place where changelings can grow our numbers.”
Celestia ribbed her chin, “Have you any ideas for a location, then? I can’t imagine there are many possible candidates.”
I sighed, “Not yet. The best locations might be in other nations, like the Griffons’. Any news from them, in that regard? Last I heard, they were in a civil war.”
Celestia nodded, “Yes. A three way civil war, in fact. There is indeed some news, but…. Let’s just say I doubt its validity. Rumors like it have emerged in the past, and every time they have proven to be false. Long story short, we might see their civil war ending soon.”
“Then once the conflict with the Fourth Hive is resolved, I’ll think about sending some scouting teams to Griffonia to investigate,” I said.
“Good luck with that. If the teams are caught, they have nothing to do with Equestria.”
I smiled, “Of course. But I don’t think anyone is really capable of detecting changelings without the use of changelings.”
“A problem Daybreaker struggled with daily,” Celestia said. “Now, this was a productive conversation. But I am afraid that we must get ready for this afternoon. The announcement to our ponies will draw quite the crowd, and we must look presentable.”
“And unlike you, we are incapable of simply altering our appearance,” Luna winked.
I laughed, “Sucks to be you. I’ll leave you girls to your makeup and sacrificing of virgins to attain eternal youth, then.”
“He really does have your sense of humor,” Celestia mumbled. “We shall meet up in the Gold Room in say, two hours? I will have staff accompany you where you go, just in case you get lost. And don’t wear your wargear, please.”
“You’re no fun. I’ll check up on the Fifth Hive in the meantime. See you two soon.”
“Oh, Phasma, one last thing,” Celestia said, reaching out a hoof to stop me. “Have you given the order to free the ponies you have captured?”
“No. I’ll give the order right now.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll send you the bill for their living expenses in the mail.”
Celestia didn’t find that joke to be very funny.
Is that a teaser, KK? A teaser for the sequel? We're on to your games...
Would you like to know more
In Irish mythology, the goddess Airmed (also given as Airmid) was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. With her father Dian Cecht and brother Miach, she healed those injured in the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh.[1]
After her jealous father slew her brother, Miach, Airmed wept over her brother's grave. Watered by her tears, all the healing herbs of the world (365 in number - according to the number of Miach's joints and veins)[2] sprung from the earth over Miach's body, and Airmed collected and organized them all, spreading them on her cloak. Once again, their father lashed out, and scattered the herbs. For this reason, no living human knows all the secrets of herbalism. Only Airmed remembers.[1]
Along with Dian Cecht, Ochtriullach, and Miach, Airmed was one of the enchanters whose incantation sung over the well of Sláine was able to resurrect the dead.
11021088
Facts can be so misleading, where rumors, true or false, are often revealing
well they likely hade to use quite a bit of resorces to keep them alive and seeing as some of the resorces used include love proberbly then its proberbly gonna be decently pricey
Did I mention I love Luna? I love Luna! Best Princess, fight meh!
Who said that was a joke?...
A nice filler I think, I really enjoyed the interaction Phasma had with everyone, especially Celestia and Luna.
Right now I'm curious how the, "conversation", between Shinning and Phasma will go regarding Division-P.
I enjoyed this chapter. Celestia and the others reactions was very telling.
one step closer
"You get a Therapy! And You get a Therapy! Everybody gets a Therapy!" "Wait, I can _hear_ the capital T there, what do you mean?" "*eyes waggle* Have you heard of the Huggle Bug?" "Why do I get the feeling you're suggesting something that's dangerously close to addiction?" "The Huggle Bug Therapy system has demonstrably proven an effective treatment to all sorts of hardships, much like food treats all sorts of hunger!" "You know those are nowhere near comparable!"
Everyone seems to be taking things quite well! Question is, how much time do they have before the next great calamity?
Stop lying
Ponies just didn't have enough time to do stuff Third Reich did in 5-6 years,and you should know it.
So he sticks with boot licking and submits.
Sacrificing this opportunity to look good to Celestria isn't worth it.
Changelings won't want flowers and "we are sorry" cards, they will want revenge and justice
Oh how convenient that he becomes sad and depressed, just convenient enough that he will have Celestia have her way, oh how convenient for the plot to skip this...
I briefly checked up on the two lover duosLet's hope that it will turn into them teaming up to kill Division-P from the shadows, by "accidents"
Both changelings and royal guards loyal to Shining would do the killing
.....oh for the-
oke-
WHAT!
Then treat them the same, you just said it "It was simply impossible for them to feel sorry for their own actions, and their presence was a danger to others around them."
Division-P fits this!
Hey, ancient arcane armour is considered appropriate formal attire in changeling culture.
I am happy to see more but I wouldn’t mind seeing a dump of chapters like you did every now and then with the day breaker arc. Other then that Tis fun and can’t wait to see more!
Noice
11021104
Phasma did. I and personally found the joke hilarious.
11021116
Therapy for everyone!
Seriously though, therapy sessions are overdue for all three of them. Good to see them coming to terms with it.
It’s good that we are coming back to the more light hearted chapters now that the worst of the worst is over. I’m highly anticipating the many jokes and gags that this story will continue to give.
11021139
Oh you Sweet thing, you think the worst is over? Well, maybe for this arc we suppose... 😇
We do a little bit of war crimes
Changeling pod out of nessesary means...
This ponys torture probably with a lot of glee...
Changeling pod out of nessesary means...
This ponys torture probably with a lot of glee...
She wants their hides literally.
Gotta throw in my two cents. Life in prison is not substantial enough punishment. It's free room and board and medical care. They get to loaf about doing nothing while costing the tax payers tens of thousands every year. That's not justice. Justice is eliminating them permanently so they are neither a threat to society nor a burden to the law-abiding populace.
Luna is bestesss Princesss evaaaa ♡
Love the chapter. Magnificent humor and a most delight to see em more than willing to cooperate ♡
Im surprised Lacewing missing fang wasnt adressed but its less extream than cutting pieces of her wings up... What is without a doubt thats a punishment for not answering after food withholding didnt work...
11021200
The way I see it, the reason life sentences exist is for two reasons:
1. The possibility of rehabilitation: If Luna can become Nightmare Moon or Celestia can become Daybreaker and be forgiven, why shouldn't less important ponies get that chance.
2. In the real world, I would say it is because there is always the possibility that a jury was wrong. You can let someone free if it turns out they were wrongly convicted to a life sentence, but you can't do that if they were executed
This chapter made me fall in love with this story all over again.
Do you mean a carte blanche?
That sounds therapeutic to me!
11021120
Isn't it? He sacrifices cathartic vengeance that ultimately gains him little, and looks forgiving in the process, making sure any actually useful demands are more likely to be agreed on by Celestia. It's a bargain, really.
Y'know I would be mad over the fact Phasma disallowed death sentencing, but with how much Luna and Cadance got him wrapped around their hooves at this point... it ain't surprising.
I think the word you're looking for is "delegating".
11021240
and not only that, the pony population that see him as an monster, gonna change their opinion when they see him being merciful
That was a joke? Delux nutritional podding isnt cheap...
Good on Phasma and the others for taking the high road and standing accountable for their actions, but also trying to move on from it. Stewing in hatred and grief is nothing but emotionally exhausting and deeply unhealthy in the long run.
11021120
Man, what is it with your giant hateboner for Celestia?
11021104
I suspect it'll be rather dark, but no capital punishment. The hardest part will be finding out who was reluctant (borderline insubordination and ignoring orders) like BonBon and who was following orders despite the red flags going up in their mind.
11021120
Yep, this isn't a joke.
One year of atrocities which took 5 years of psychological conditioning to even be attempted by humans.
The ponies have hatred in their bones, this just allowed them to show it on a national scale, shed the guise of innocence.
It took excess of five years of dehumanizing a group till the population were ready to remove them, these ponies took a one word excuse and ran with it.
Never have I ever seen such a piss poor miscarriage of justice under a masque of generosity, mixed with falsified emotion no character should feel.
Not in a story such as this.
At least those doormat human fictions were honest about what they were.
11021264
Division-P is still going to get punished, it's just that death sentences are off the table.
There's going to be life-in-prison sentences (and lesser sentences), rehabilitation, thorough investigations of how something like this could ever come to be, and a complete accounting for everyone involved's actions. Justice isn't dead, it just isn't dispensing death.
This is a moral dilemma, and it's alright to have opposing views. Switching from side to side isn't a collapse of one's character, it just proves the fact that people can be persuaded/change their minds.
11021240
A bargain from a mentally distraught mare who doesn't understand the value of benevolence, oy vey, you hearing yourself?
She will treat his generosity as a given, with no value for the simple fact that equestrians pride themselves on their seven virtues, such that 'personal space' is a foreign concept.
Think from her perspective, not ours, from their and what does he gain from this act on?
He gains nothing.
However, what does he lose?
A standard! That's what he loses. Execution set the standard for the end of human morality! The point at which the is no return nor recourse.
That standard would set a basis for respect among the races. Changeling don't exist thus far, and this action would imply power, sway, that they are not to be trifled with and deserve as much decency as a pony or minotaur.
Instead, now they will be seen as second hand citizens of a failed state, mooching off the state in a borderline penal colony, one mere step away from open discrimination, as it should be, yes?
11021264
How did you get the idea that ponies in general were fine with Division-P? There's a reason why the depths of the changeling treatment was being kept secret from the wider populace, and even other Division-P members: they damn well knew there would be riots if this came out.
And that's with an enemy that actually attacked them. Division-P had the advantage that they could cut some corners and make collared changelings look acceptable (but note even here that the bomb part was both a bluff and a secret) because the changelings had terrified the populace by actually trying to capture every last pony in Equestria to feed on. But even with the changelings calling Dibs on the whole 'exterminate an entire species', Division-P knew that ponies would riot if their dealings got out. That tells me that ponies in general weren't going full Third Reich and that the ones who actually were approaching that level were an extreme minority.
11021120
You've contradicted yourself, you both recognized they didn't have the time to do things as horrible as the Third Reich, and insulted Phasma for deciding not to push for the death penalty.
Pony society is one that believes in redemption, a life sentence is enough to keep them a non threat permanently, without making it so the Changelings first act as allies of Equestria being the first official execution in the history of Equestria.
How is not vouching for the death penalty when everything points towards it being counterproductive and unnecessary sacrificing an "Opportunity"???
11021268
How did you even reach this conclusion? This chapter makes it pretty clear that everyone involved is tired of the atrocities due to war exhaustion and just want a lasting, mutually beneficial peace at this point. Hell, the Equestrians openly sympathise with the changelings' plight and are willing to extend an olive branch - including reparations for Division P's actions - despite being invaded. There is nothing here that suggests the changelings will be treated like second class citizens, quite the contrary actually.
Executing Division P members for the sake of petty revenge does not instill "respect."
11021116
There right in the middle of 4 and you want more?
11021121
That a great point!
11021127
Agreed, not every second chapter needs death or maiming drama...
I know a story were its 90% slice of life and its still very entertaining Changeling story.
11021139
Worst isnt over until the Nightstalking race is extinct...
11021198
Makes for good tapestry...
11021200
I know someone who was in prison.
You - have - no - idea!
Prison is a fucking madhouse.
We have seen the stone be cast and now we see the ripples form
11021268
You're right that it sets a standard: it sets a standard that it's A-OK for changelings to try and exterminate all of pony civilization and everyone should just forgive them for that, but any crime that seriously harms changelings is going to be met with a banana court of changelings that will see any pony who tries it hanged.
That's... a bad standard to set when the survival of your new Hive is dependant on ponies loving changelings. At best it's going to make ponies terrified of changelings, at worst they're going to assume you've somehow mind-controlled the Princesses and you'll have another war on your hands. Either way, the Fifth Hive loses badly.
And that's putting aside this absurd double standard that apparently pony crimes need to be met with death sentences, but every changeling involved in this war to exterminate all ponykind should be forgiven. You can't have it both ways and still pretend to be holding standards, you know. Celestia is showing mountains of benevolence by just flat out sweeping under the carpet that changelings invaded Equestria with the intent on podding every last pony for food. Which, y'know, would have led to the extermination of ponykind. You can't just go "genocide is bad, m'kay" and then just flat out ignore that the changelings were doing the exact same thing, and on a far, far larger scale (I mean, seriously, if we're going to make holocaust comparisons it's the changelings who were industrializing the whole 'pod ponies and feed on them.' Division-P was, at worst, Iraq jail torture levels in scope).
If ponykind is to forgive changelings for trying to kill all of them, it seems only a natural reciprocation that changelings do the same in return? Like, that doesn't seem like an absurd standard to hold?
I always love when you can get away with a crack like that around said rich people.
I wonder what the general populace will think about Phas and Luna being a thing since the start. One of shock and confusion methinks. Although it will do good things for integration of the two races. The nobles will probably think it's a political play, and most likely not have good things to say about it.
I am really curious about the hive location now, it's not often one gets to just go plan and build a whole new city.
It'll need to have population local, water for transit and trading, flatlands for growing food, would be ideal to have it near an already established train track with good traffic to drive visitors and tourism, it needs to have a distinct architecture style if we're trying to draw visitors, but also integrated with the more standard pony style so as to not alienate them.
I could go on. Little things like that makes me excited, not really relevant to the stories bigger picture, but I may be the kind of person to spend hundreds of hours in cities: skylines :P
On break of my first day of work to see this story has updated and all I could thing was good thing I didn't know sooner or I would have been distracted trying to guess what happend not a good impression on your first day.
11021091
Now I'm half expecting to hear something like "Ordenstaat Hellquill" or something that suddenly throws us into a very odd offshoot of Equestria at War...
11021278
This was even talked about in the poker game before the big reveal at the Gala.
And while Fancy Pants is pretty much the posterchild for "Reasonable non-stuck-up Noblity" his demeanor would indicate that the average pony wouldn't exactly accept what Division P was doing even with the Daybreaker controlled press putting out puff pieces on atrocities done by the 'Dread Prince' and his Legions.
The worst I could see would be ponies going full denial and/or dumping everything on the Canterlot Nobility, (which parts of which were heavily involved, if only to grab more power) as the cause if Warm Dew's opinion of the Canterlot elite is widespread.
11021120
I mean most countries in our world already abolished capital punisments. It does make sense for Phas to not push for it. With tensions still running high, the executions of ponies (even if they deserve it) will spark outrage. Any smart inquisitors and nobles can use this as propaganda to rally ponies to their cause and prevent changeling intergration to Equestria. If this happens then it's gonna be harder to secure supplies of love for the dying race.
The Fifth Hive does not need another war. Their resources and lings are already stretched to their limits. They'll need allies to defeat Chrysalis and her Fourth Hive and fight the war against the nightmares.
However, I do agree that for crimes that are truly insane like Chrysalis' "Ascension" and that guard mutilating a part of Lace's wings deserve the death penalty.
For now, we only know some of the crimes ponies committed against the changelings. More details are needed to decide the proper course of action.
They're totally bros now. That nod seals it.
Prince in one nation, King in another, and Saint in a third. Phasma needs to get his titles in order. I'm not sure how he's supposed to be addressed anymore.
11021338
What?
Yeah they did that after how many years after WW2 ended?
So it's doesn't have anything to do with why Phasma didn't choose it
Good chapter, they seemed to take it fairly well
Lol nice