It was quite the surprise for Twilight when Chrysalis dismissed the majority of the gathered changelings, leaving only herself, her daughter, a changeling mare and the scarred guard. The guard, who Chrysalis addressed as Odonate, took up a position at the chambers entrance, while the mare, Mosquito, remained off to the side of the changeling queen.
Two pillows were levitated from the matron’s collection and one dropped in front of Twilight while the other was offered to Rarity. The two pony mares took the provided seats, though Rarity took a moment longer than Twilight, perhaps unsure about its cleanliness.
“My ‘demand’ is complete and total absolution for my changelings and myself,” said the queen.
“I don’t have the authority to grant that,” Twilight said bluntly. “However, what would your intentions be if such an act was granted?”
“To continue doing what changelings have always done for thousands of years,” said Chrysalis.
“Attempting to conquer Equestria and feeding on the love of others?” deadpanned Twilight.
“My hive is no longer overpopulated and thus we have no need to conquer Equestria, not anymore,” admitted Chrysalis.
“But you’ll still disguise yourselves and drain other creatures of their love,” said Twilight.
“Of course,” answered the queen, seemingly amused. “You don’t expect a griffon to stop eating meat, why should we stop feeding on love?”
“That’s not the same,” debated Twilight, “they don’t prey on creatures cognizant of their own intelligence. They also don’t trick their ‘meals’ by posing as someone who cares about them.”
“We can’t help our dietary needs,” retorted Chrysalis.
“Your dietary needs rely on the manipulation of other creatures emotions,” responded Twilight.
“So your own personal sense of ethics renders our dietary needs as wrong,” scoffed Chrysalis. “As evil?”
“Sandbar lets me feed on him,” interrupted the little nymph who had been previously silent. “Is that bad?”
“If you do it too much it is,” answered Twilight after a long pause. “It could really hurt him.”
“But I know how much love I can take now, so it’s fine, right?” asked Pupa, looking up at her mother.
“Not to her,” Chrysalis said, nodding her head in Twilight’s direction.
Pupa gave Twilight a sour look, causing the alicorn to exhale through her nostrils and stare quietly at the devious queen. To her side Rarity coughed into her hoof.
“Perhaps we should move on,” suggested the unicorn. “Maybe there is something more plausible we can agree on?”
“I thought my request to be very plausible, Rarity” said Chrysalis with a frown, “but apparently they don’t fit within the ideological pony utopia. Very well then, how about this; you allow me and my hive to relocate without any harassment.”
“And if we did this you would let every creature go?” asked Rarity.
“No,” Pupa said flatly. “Not Sandbar, he’s mine.”
Both Rarity and Twilight looked at each other, with a mixture of confusion and apprehension at the nymph’s announcement. When they looked back to Chrysalis, the changeling queen showed them no signs of correcting her daughter and only watched them silently.
“Pupa,” Twilight began, “Sandbar doesn’t belong to you, and he doesn’t belong to anyone.”
“He’s marked with my pheromones,” stated the nymph, “so he does.”
“He’s what?” balked Twilight while Rarity looked like she was about to faint.
“Sandbar was defeated by Pupa while they roughhoused,” Chrysalis explained, “she showed her dominance over him and marked him in victory.”
“I’m hesitant to ask but how does one ‘mark’ somepony?” stammered Rarity.
“You rub your sides against them,” said the nymph, as if it should be obvious.
“That’s it?” blinked Rarity.
“What did you expect it to be?” frowned Chrysalis.
Not answering the question, Rarity blushed while avoiding every creature’s eye contact and began to wave her hoof in front of her muzzle as if to fan herself.
“Er, Pupa,” said Twilight, “marking Sandbar with your pheromones still doesn’t make him yours…”
“Then let him decide if he wants to stay,” said the nymph, crossing her front legs over her chest and giving the alicorn the stink eye.
“And if he chose to leave you would let him?” asked Rarity.
“He won’t because he’s a changeling now,” Pupa said confidently.
Twilight doubted her student would choose to stay if offered his freedom.
“So then, in exchange for the peaceful release of your prisoners, we have to look the other way while you move to a new location,” asked Twilight.
“Correct,” Chrysalis confirmed.
“And Sandbar gets to choose if he comes with us,” added Pupa.
“And then what happens?” Twilight pried. “You go right back to stealing love from unsuspecting creatures?”
“Once again, correct,” said Chrysalis without pause.
“I need a little time to think this over,” said Twilight.
“What is there to think over Sparkle?” asked Chrysalis, sounding rather annoyed.
“The past two attempts at subjugating the citizens of Equestria, the assault on a school, and the foal-napping of an innocent student,” answered the alicorn.
“I did what I had to do to keep my hive going,” hissed Chrysalis, “and to save the last of my young.”
“But there had to be other ways to go about it,” protested Twilight. “Even just asking for help could have solved the problem.”
The alicorn’s suggestion was met with derisive laughter from the changeling queen and rolling eyes from the other two adult changelings present.
“Oh yes, because that would have worked,” Chrysalis mocked the alicorn and then focused on Rarity. “Excuse me but could I feed off your love?”
Despite already having a white coat of fur, the unicorn somehow managed to pale at the question. With her ears turned back and a look of alarm on her face, she unintentionally leaned away from the queen.
“I think I’ve made my point when even the ‘element of generosity’ shows reservations,” said Chrysalis, motioning to Rarity. “Just picture how the average pony would react.”
“There still had to be another way,” Twilight continued to challenge.
“We can sit here and debate hypothetical scenarios all day and night, Sparkle,” Chrysalis growled. “And you can do so with all your hindsight bias, but it won’t change anything. I did what I had to do to keep my hive from starving and the only thing I regret about it is failing.”
A blanket of silence stifled the emotionally filled chamber. Even the sound of dripping water from the stalactites stopped, almost as if the stone formations themselves had reservations about drawing any attention. Chrysalis exhaled slowly, her eyes narrow and unblinking as she glared at Twilight.
Despite feeling rather somber after the exchange, Twilight continued to rack her brain for some way to reach an accord while minimizing the dangers by simply allowing Chrysalis to go.
“If I agree to what you’re asking,” the alicorn began, “would you be willing to set up a means of communication between me and yourself?”
“Why would you want that?” asked Chrysalis.
“As a way to avoid future misunderstandings,” said Twilight, though she also hoped to use a continuing dialog with herself and the changeling queen to bring about the possibility of something better. “Maybe a changeling ambassador from your hive could just stop by every few weeks.”
“And they would be allowed to return unmolested?” Chrysalis asked, squinting her eyes as if trying to spot some intangible trap.
“Of course,” nodded Twilight.
“Very well then, it seems we’ve reached a deal…” said the changeling queen with a nod.
A compromise had been reached its a miracle
Hmmm, not ideal, and it seems Chrysalis has no intention of following up on the massacre. That's not good...
i like how this worked out.
Somewhat playing the victim.
More please
Surprised Twi isn’t trying to get Celestia or Luna involved. Not surprised about Cadence though, that would be a trainwreck on Fire.
9661735
while it was being struck by lightning and driving off a cliff into a valley filled with gasoline
Excellent chapter!
9661741
Also there are nuns and dynamite.
Are they gonna try to find out who stole & sent that letter to Chrysalis?
That part with the pheromones made me laugh out loud.
Thanks for the chapter...
Let me guess, pupa as ambassador?!
im surprised chrysalis didn't reply with some problems with the ethics of ponies not working for her changelings long term like what Twilight wants it could bring about the dangers of being potentially enslaved or have to do a lot of servent work for others just to eat by being "nice" to the other species needs is a pretty sour deal I mean how many creatures would abuse the changeling race if they're not careful and scary enough to make others be wary not to try? it the edge for the changeling race to be independent and free
I hope sandbar can make a silly compromise of sending letters to pupa it helps her practice her letters or is that trama plan of chrysalis still in the making? I wouldn't be surprised if it involves the hot-blooded rainbow dash attacking to scare pupa or the guard playing "hero"
Twilight is pretty unreasonable Chrysalis basicly tells her that 'Love' is main part of there food like plans or water for Ponys. She is still like 'but we dont wannt you to eat what your body needs'. Chrysalis told her that without Love the Thorax Hive will perish in the not so distante future and she keeps telling her that she cant accept it because of her Moral Code... WTF?!?! Chrysalis could kidnap Ponys etc. but instead the send out her harvesters risking there lives so there prey can live uneffected wile they only take what there need to survive.
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Nope! Impossible. You dont simply send the ONLY heir to the Hive for mission out that know a faction outside murdering Changelings
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It makes sence. Many Insects/animals work with sent markers
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Probably only passiv. They have no clues to follow only 2 vage details on the subject at all
Brothels, foster homes, entertainment industry, helper/aid, therapy, models,.... seriously why are none of these even mention? Plot reasons?
9661735
She cant try it but the moment Twilight 'rented military forces' they become involved
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Twilight seem to actively sabotage a peaceful outcome if you ask me. Chrysalis tells Twilight again and again that they only go for a food that there body cant be denied and how they harvest Its source. Twilight denied em basic need without viable alternativs.
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Not so much unreasonable as a prey species reacting to a predator that preys on them, just after said predator told her that the perfect solution that she believed would allow for friendship and Harmony is actually a death sentence.
In the end it's about morals and ponies realizing that letting a changeling feed on you is no different from donating blood, but asking prey to let a predator feed raises instincts that are, with plenty of reason, extremely hard to suppress.
9661844
I meant directly in the negotiation process.
Ask yourself: If the First suggestion of Chrysalis would be accept what would Twilight lose? Answer: Some of her peaceful nights because she didnt get her way and maybe face infront of her former Teacher. Chrysalis would have a fair chance of basic food availability and a chance of trying move in the open ( disguise or not ) to pretend open relations attempts
9661897
I guess Twilight ego is in the way. She would admit that she is not as ready as she pretends to be...
I was expecting some sort of outburst from pupa along the lines of [SPOILER IF YOU AREN'T CAUGHT UP] "my brothers and sisters are dead and we're negotiating for food we need to survive and you 'need time to think about it'?!" to get twilight to see she is basically denying a starving pony of bread in a nation that can freely make bread.
ANYWAYS, great chapter! I always like stories that find flaws in ponies. plus changelings, changelings are always a plus!
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Yep. Its a kid show. Dark themes and indeepth background is more of a fan thing
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They give up some of there love reserves but that the same as giving up on of your daily meals and demand a mefal for your heroic sacrefice...
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Now we have 2 Hives in this story. We can literally wait and see who will prosper and who fails. If Thorax hive trives for more than 2-3 decades than Chrysalis is nothing but a selfish dictator. BUT if Thorax Hive falls... Than Thorax, his Hive and all there Ponys are nothing more than idealistic fools.
9660011
Very good points. I guess we have to ask the Author if your suggestions to alternative harvest methods would be a possibilety
Well whoever chrysalis sends is now gonna have a big target on them for the rebels. Ive a feeling pupa might somehow tag along with that representative as well. Although she might swear off other races when sandbar goes home.
9660164
I already made a example for him... This argument is strong equal to a wet paper towel...
9660295
Yes but nothing is sad about the consequences of the changes... To make a simpel exampel: change one of your most basic diatery needs of your bodys without compensating. The result is always degrading health or life expectancy . Its called 'basic' for a reason
9660682
Its also stated that its her personal belive and not a wide spreaded one
9661834
Where does Twilight say she doesn't want changelings to eat love? She doesn't like how they get it, which is understandable, but the fact that they eat it? She seems perfectly fine with that.
Small spelling and capitalization error correction.
Not to nitpick, but the way that the intersecting points of views were presented at the beginning of the chapter left me wondering from whom we were supposed to follow from until I went back and reread prior to the ad break. I can also see where you were going with this one, but the usual warmth has been largely replaced by a coldly calculated placement of plot so it ended up coming across as somewhat stilted outside of a few moments throughout. To be brutally honest, it's coming across as a connective chapter between two strongly set up arcs that needed something in place to carry the plot across and it's left me wondering on how to even approach this issue without falling into the trap of patronization...
Regardless, I can't wait to see what comes about after the next bend!
That's kind of unfair of pupa to do that to sandbar.
But glad they reached an agreement.xd
If Sandbar chooses to stay, he can officially be the first foreign exchange student to the Olde Hive.
Guess what.
It's half-bullshit.
Also, the one that betrayed them going to heap all her wrongdoings on them.
I'm not sure why Twilight is that averse to the bare concept of them feeding at all. Pupa is feeding on a host who isn't being deceived and straight up said she's making allowances for his health, and she got completely blown off without a second thought. Like, that's the compromise right there, right under Twi's nose, and it's exactly what Thorax was already doing before the revolt.
Since those are names, the first letter should be uppercase.
Was Odonate really scared of Twilight, or was he just scarred? Or was it both?
Also, the chamber's entrance needs a possessive apostrophe, since it's not the entrance to multiple chambers.
"pillows where levitated" is a typo for "pillows were levitated".
Haha talk about a high horse, get bucked Twi
Yes. You get your prisoners, and NOTHING ELSE CHANGES. This is literally a net win, Twilight. Grow up.
Eh, I guess it's a compromise. Even if it benefits Twilight more than Chrysalis.
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She doesn't want them to go around tricking ponies and stealing love, but Chrysalis knows that ponies aren't going to agree to it willingly (as demonstrated with Rarity).
Although I bet there are enough ponies in the general population that would, because there's always somepony...
9662386
Yeah but there's a slight difference between being willing to feed some random drone who asks politely, and being willing to feed the archvillainess who's bragging about said villainy, has shown essentially no concern for the host's health in the past, and is asking with obvious sarcasm while grinning like a shark that's scented blood after an entire conversation of overt hostility.
9662177
I KNOW RIGHT
That pissed me off so much. She's completely blowing off Changelings as sapient beings who deserve life and demanding HER ponies be returned in exchange for NOTHING. God damn, Twi. I'm surprised Chrysalis didn't just tell her to fuck off.
Chrysalis outright says that "the hunger of Changelings can never be satisfied" which causes me to compare the condition of non-transformed Changelings to the curse that Barbosa and his crew had in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
Barbosa: Too long I've been starving to death and haven't died.
So one thing that bothers me about this fic is that, if this "illness" is real, then the Changelings are either cursed with constant hunger, constant greed, or cursed with short lives. In other words the Changelings' existence is inherently and unfairly cursed. This makes me hope that either Chrysalis is lying or that there is a way to end both curses without ending their existence. I wonder if Pupa is the key to finding the cure.
Agree to whatever amnesty they want, as long as it's not going-forward. In exchange for the hostages let them leave, this time it should be easier to track them. Let them set up the hive as agreed, because that is what you promised. Then the second they kidnap or drain a pony, shut the whole thing down.
9662616
*Caugh*Everythingisalwayshungryevenyouthat'showweknowwhenweneedtoeattheonlytimewewillevermesatisfiediswhenwealldie*Caugh* Sorry, had something in my throat.
In all seriousness, everything alive is always hungry. Sure you're 'satisfied', but for how long? An hour? two? twenty minutes? You say hunger is a curse, and maybe it is. But everything alive suffers hunger. A baby as soon as it comes out of the womb wants food, and will want food until the day it dies.
9662856
Okay imagine a hunger that could never be significantly diminished.
9662891
Except it is, Pupa has satiated hers several times in the fic alone.