aye ur back, great chapter

11268317
I live!
c.tenor.com/p1QaWj_fyR4AAAAC/i-live-mushu.gif
Thanks, glad you like it

Nice

Nice

I awoke next to my Queen, the light of the rising sun pulling me from unconsciousness, I climbed out of the bowl we had dug the night before and stretched with a yarn.

did you mean yawn? or was there a sentient pile of sewing material doing morning calisthenics that scarab just joined without question.

Good work mate, keep it up!

11268357
yeah, he hasn't taken up knitting... yet lol. I must have spelt it wrong and my auto correct put yarn instead, thanks for the catch, you get a moustache as a reward

11268364
Thank you

nice resurrection chapter, good to see this back

The mention of lizard dogs and I keep thinking of these little adorable puppies from Borderlands, the skagg...
static.wikia.nocookie.net/borderlands/images/5/5e/Skap_Attack.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111106084308

Wow, it's been a long time!

Better late than never. It's a wonderful story!

11268382
welcome back, excellent chapter as well

過年了嗎?既然更新了

This is great! I love it!

Yay new chapter

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Thanks all and glad you're enjoying it

11268474
Not a bad idea, might add something like Skaggs in the world somewhere but for these I was imagining something more like the Jagras or Girros in monster hunter.
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/652654407661518866/985185577999679518/Webp.net-resizeimage.jpg
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/652654407661518866/985184760349487114/mhw-girros_render_001.png

one of the big things with the delay was trying to get the chapters to about 3.5 to 4k words (it was 3800 before editing yikes

Story of my life. Don't worry about it, as long as the pacing is fine, any length is acceptable. Well, except if they are under a thousand, then it's just way too short.

Anyway, aside from a few upper-/lowercase mistakes here and there, I don't really have much to complain about. I felt like the 'pony = food' conversation was a bit weird, what with our dear Queen immediately apologizing to him after hammering in some sense into him and pointing out his hypocrisy, but eh, I guess it works well enough. I'm a socially awkward person myself, I can understand not wanting to offend someone's feelings and potentially lose their friendship and so on.

Also... maybe try not to take half a year for the next update, pretty please? I wanna know where this story goes. :3

I was just thinking about this story a few days ago, glad to see an update

11268357
Well that's an image...

11268847
Hmm, I may have to reword that part because the food thing is not what she is meant to be apologising for lol, her apology is for asking how he would feel if he was abandoned by someone that is meant to love him only about a week after he was kicked out of his family and nearly murdered by them.

Yeah I will endeavour to be a bit faster on the next one lol, we are almost at a point where I have a better idea of what should be happening, basically, I knew what should happen at the pool and I know what should be happening a bit later but it's just getting there in a satisfying way of that makes sense.

11268876
It's kind of a funny feeling to think of people thinking of my bughorse words, like I'm usually the one thinking about someone else's story and waiting on them you know?

Anyway, I'm really happy to hear it left enough of an impact to be thought about months down the line and hope it continues to be a fun read

11268968

her apology is for asking how he would feel if he was abandoned by someone that is meant to love him only about a week after he was kicked out of his family and nearly murdered by them.

Yeah, that's what I meant. Why apologize for something that is clearly dumb on Scarab's part? Sure, it is insensitive after what happened to Scarab, but isn't it more important to make them realize how much of a hypocrite they are? I'm all for apologizing, don't get me wrong, but that scene was like a complete one-eighty. Dunno, maybe it was a bit too sudden? A paragraph or two might have helped the pacing there. Or something more along the lines of 'Hey, you know what it feels like to be abandoned, why are you so indifferent about leaving a person in the same situation?'. *shrug*

11268975

It's kind of a funny feeling to think of people thinking of my bughorse words, like I'm usually the one thinking about someone else's story and waiting on them you know?

There ain't enough bughorse words on this site, so... always in need of more. :P

11268994
I mean it's abrupt because it was a mistake, they didn't mean to throw it in his face and only made the connection after they had said it.
I will have another look at it to see if I can make that more obvious though.

You're right that Scarab was being a hypocrite but Queenie's personality at this point doesn't like conflict and wants to avoid hurting the only person she has as a friend, that's why she went with the "try to become friends with the Zeeb" route, that way she hopes he will start to see that the Zeebs are people rather than just food without kicking him in the feels.

11268997
Yeah, there have been some really good bughorse words but they are mostly either done or the authors have left the site, big sad.
I remember the days of the long ass adventure fics, some of them were really good, not to say we don't still get absolute bangers now, of course, they are just harder to find is all.
I will have to go looking for some at some point, changelings fics are some of the only ones I like that don't have a human in them somewhere, I think I can count the number of just pony fics I've really loved on my hands tbh, I just love that "something/someone not like the others" kind of fic.

11269036

I mean it's abrupt because it was a mistake, they didn't mean to throw it in his face and only made the connection after they had said it.
I will have another look at it to see if I can make that more obvious though.

Yeah, I guess the whole indifference thing was what rankled me the most about this. Our dear Queen should apologize, definitely keep that in, but I guess it's food for thought that just because you are apologizing doesn't mean you made a valid point, too. You're doing a good job of getting the whole 'get to know them' point across, not arguing that one, just... the intensity of the apology feels like, I don't know... like she was trying too hard. It's really difficult to properly put into words what I mean here. >.>

Yeah, there have been some really good bughorse words but they are mostly either done or the authors have left the site, big sad.

Yeah, I'm still holding out hope for Reykan to continue updating Twisted Fate. Or LordBrony with Convoluted Life (or I am Nightmare, that one's great, too... only with best nightmare queen waifu). There ain't enough human to changeling queen, either.

There are so few people that contribute to the goodness that is human -> changeling queen, it's a true shame. I'm trying to do my part, but... well... it feels like no one wants to read that kinda stuff anymore. At least not with OCs...

I think I can count the number of just pony fics I've really loved on my hands tbh, I just love that "something/someone not like the others" kind of fic.

Totally! I feel like that, too, sometimes. It's just... it adds so much more perspective into the story with someone that's an outsider to Equestria and all things pony. Or them adding more perspective to what the cuddly pony pile is used to.

weekend state

weakened

I also had my doughts

doubts

I hate to think what other Changelings most think

must

11269059
Nice, thank you for catching those, I will go fix them up.
You get a moustache as a reward

11269058
I suppose I could tone it down a bit, it was one of the parts I wasn't the happiest with, couldn't tell at the time what exactly was wrong but it could be that.

Basically, it's just trying to strike a balance between telling him he's wrong but also being sorry for the accidental kick in the nads, like she wants him to see he's wrong but doesn't want to use one of the worst things (as far as she knows) that's happened to him to show it, it's just not how she acts, at the moment she values kindness over efficiency, even if it's not the best route. Even though she has had a taste (literally ) of how nasty this world can be, she is still stuck in her old ways of trying to be nice to everyone... for now .

11269070

Even though she has had a taste (literally ) of how nasty this world can be, she is still stuck in her old ways of trying to be nice to everyone... for now .

Believe me, I'd probably act a lot like that, too, were I in a situation like that 'cause I feel like it is the right thing to do, but there are some things you have to stand your ground on, at least a little bit. It's one thing for Scarab not to realize that there exists a parallelism between being kicked out of the hive and being abandoned by your own family and leaving a pony, zebra, whatever behind after tricking them into loving you because you only think of them as food instead of living, breathing, thinking beings. Heck, were you in a situation like that, wouldn't your first response be like 'What the heck, Scarab?' and 'You're being a *fluffy bunny* hypocrite right now.'? I've been a hypocrite on way too many occasions as a child out of ignorance and I feel like that's kinda the same thing here. *shrug*

11268789

Ok, those are much more lizardy than what I was thinking. :)

11269089
That's fair and I would probably be the same but I'm kind of having Queenie be like one of those idealistic people that thinks if your chill enough everyone else will be chill back, she will grow out of I'm sure.

11269224
lol that's fair, I didn't go deep into them simply because they weren't a focus at the time, if/when they turn up again I will go deeper into how they look in my head.

It's always nice to see a update to this story, and a good chapter too

11269239
Oh, I'm all for the idealistic MC, dear. Heck, I did nothing different with the main character in my story and people got mad at me 'cause she was 'too' forgiving and whatnot. Just giving you some of my thoughts here so that you may avoid that. Thing is, striking a balance between 'too idealistic' and 'talking some sense into someone' is harder than some people think without going into the whole 'changing your mind in a complete one-eighty' territory. Sudden changes in mood are all nice and good, but unless it's some kind of trauma being the cause for changing your own world view instantly, it's going to be jarring no matter what. All changes come with time, a person doesn't change that fast. So try to be careful with toning down that overly idealistic nature too fast, alright?

The temple the MC woke up in back in chapter 1 should be a good place to start a hive.

11269534
Oh don't worry about it being abrupt, I will be doing my best to make any big changes gradual.

11269617
Not a bad idea but it is very far from any Zeebs and as far as the MC knows could be close to Scarabs old Hive.

11269457
Thank you, glad you're enjoying it

Finding a place for an underground house-to-be-turned-mansion-to-be-turned-city can be difficult! Out in the unclaimed desert might be simple if you have people to dig and materials to boot, but otherwise you're at the mercy of nature...
Having an "attacked by bandits" cover story might be well and good, for now, but hope they don't like poke further in case they actually know of the other groups around the area...

11271756
Oh nice, thanks for catching those, you get a moustache as a reward

Edit: fixed

11272997
Glad you're enjoying it so far!
11273021
Yeah, most Hives are pretty rough sadly.

Had this sitting in my "read it later" pile.
I normally wait for a story to be much further along, or even completed, before I dig through and crack it open but ended up taking a look.

I like it, and am now tracking.
You promised free candy and I've climbed into the van. Let's see where this goes.

11273434
Glad you're enjoying it and the candy will continue to be provided

11273450
Yes and no, it's more like they had the info but it (as in Hive specific info) was pulled out as part of the Link severing, the Link is used as an upload/download for info so the Changeling did have the info in their head but it can be added/removed like files on a computer. So like in the same way you could have a program that deletes all files and resets a computer's hard drive, a Changeling Queen can allow a Changeling to be severed from the Link and auto delete sensitive info.
At least that's the best way I can
describe what I was imagining anyway

11273457
I've actually never played it so any reference to it is completely by accident

What?
I like that he is kinder than other queens but that is just a bit too much with the whole cheesy speech.
Sure don't go around making them to fall in love with you and then run away is a good thing.The same for not capturing,podding ponies and taking their place and instead create new characters.
But no matter what, ponies are their food source and they are in no situation to be vulnerable to everything else by being super nice

Maybe in the future they can be lenient on how they handle them when they have a big secured hive . Like creating enclosed towns inside/behind hive surface walls ,etc.With inhabitants voluntary paying in emotions for changeling protection,etc

This was supposed to be reincarnated human not reincarnated pony.
It's obvious that he will have to do things to rise to power.He literally ate raw organs without that much problem.
And no matter how nice human is their priority is survival, the ones who don't have a survival instinct in situations like that are already dead

11274237
Not hating, you are welcome to have your own opinion on the matter but I think apologising for throwing Scarab's banishment and torture by his own family in his face is pretty reasonable, I even toned down how apologetic the Queen was from the first version of the chapter.

"This was supposed to be reinrnayes human not reirnated pony"
I'm sorry but I'm just entirely sure what this part is meant to mean, I'm guessing "reincarnated" and if that's the case they have acted like a pretty reasonable human, most people tend to not want to hurt others and this specific human is meant to start off as a kind soul.

As I said, not hating and if you don't like it that's totally fair, no hard feelings from me, but I just don't think the way they've acted is unhuman like at all, it seems pretty reasonable in their situation tbh.

11274287
I was writing this on my phone but had to do something else and forgot about it, check it now

11274237

This was supposed to be reincarnated human not reincarnated pony

Because ponies have the exclusive right to be kind, empathic beings?

It's obvious that he will have to do things to rise to power.He literally ate raw organs without that much problem.

Dunno 'bout you, but humans have done a lot worse things in the name of survival. 'sides, that didn't really strike me as a grab for power and more like a necessary evil type of thing.

11274289
Sorry ahead of time for the wall of text but I'm addressing each part.

Also, don't take this personally, as I said before you are welcome to your opinion I'm just giving my point of view on this.

"I like that he is kinder than other queens but that is just a bit too much with the whole cheesy speech."

I'm sorry but I disagree, she was trying to make it clear that emotional manipulation of that kind if not something she is comfortable with, that's pretty reasonable.

"Sure don't go around making them to fall in love with you and then run away is a good thing.The same for not capturing,podding ponies and taking their place and instead create new characters.
But no matter what, ponies are their food source and they are in no situation to be vulnerable to everything else by being super nice"

Queenie is not saying don't eat love, she is saying don't be really cruel about it, tricking someone into loving you and then leaving them out of nowhere is one of the curlest emotional things you can do to someone, her telling him to just try and be genuine friends with her instead is a good long term strategy to get more Love without having to resort to less savoury means.

"Maybe in the future they can be lenient on how they handle them when they have a big secured hive . Like creating enclosed towns inside/behind hive surface walls ,etc.With inhabitants voluntary paying in emotions for changeling protection,etc"

Or they could be good to people right off the bat and make people more likely to want to give them the love they need and actually want to live near their Hive later on. Why would anyone want to live near them if the first interactions they had with them were bad?

"This was supposed to be reincarnated human not reincarnated pony."

I'm just confused by this take tbh, not only do ponies not have a monopoly on being kind, they are, in fact, really bad at it (other than the main cast), that is kind of the point the show makes, ponies are at almost all times mere moments away from hating each other over tiny problems or outright starting race wars for entirely imagined events, that's why they have to have immortal Alicorn leaders because if they don't they turn on each other almost instantly.

Not saying humans are a shining beacon of good of course but they aren't worse than ponies and this human is meant to be kind, if they were the type to not care about others just to get power, just like all the other Queens do, there wouldn't be a story, it would just be another domineering Changeling Queen in a sea of domineering Changeling Queens.

"It's obvious that he will have to do things to rise to power.He literally ate raw organs without that much problem."

In a life or death situation eating raw organs is pretty tame considering unless you are veggie/vegan raw meat is something humans eat somewhat regularly.
I would hardly call it not much of a problem, she almost threw up several times and only didn't because if she did it would waste the Love both she and Scarab needed to not die, sure on the 2nd one she was less disgusted but that was because she got a taste of the Love.

She may have to do stuff that she doesn't want to do down the line but that doesn't mean she has to take the easy road of dominating everyone around her, that's kind of the point, almost all Changeling Queens rule by dominating their Hive and the Zebras around them and it just leads to endless conflict.

"And no matter how nice human is their priority is survival, the ones who don't have a survival instinct in situations like that are already dead"

Her priority is survival, she's just thinking more long-term, it is far easier to get love from a friend than it is from an entire tribe of Zebras you have upset by emotionally manipulating some of their members, unless you want to pod them all of course.

Having survival instincts doesn't mean taking the short-term easy way to get what you want at the expense of others, I would argue that is the opposite of good survival instincts.

Look I'm not trying to have a go, if you disagree that's fine but the Queen is acting how her character is meant to act, is it the 100% best way to insure she survives? Maybe not but she hasn't got to a point where she is willing to give up her morals when she has other options. Maybe there will be situations where she has to give up those morals and in those situations I'm sure she will do what she has to to keep her Hive safe but at the moment she is just not that desperate.