@all: this is an extremely important announcement! Please take the time to read it!
Get this out! The magic anomalies that have been going on are caused by a windigo! He appeared out of nowhere as we were investigating a friendship problem at one of the sky portals near the Everfree forest.
He froze several trees as he attacked. Twilight and Rainbow Dash engaged him and he disappeared, but he’ll be back. I can feel it. Tell everypony to be careful around white thunder clouds. If you spot one please let others know and post here.
Brush
While I don't encourage speculation and fear mongering, this is a serious matter so everypony please be careful. At this stage I know as much as you, so the Nightling system might be a good way to help the girls, and all of Equestria. Just please keep it separate from the site, if possible.
LyraHands
I know you said keep it off the site, but I can't stop thinking about the portal thing. Maybe the corporations really exist and they are trying to take over Equestria? I know I have an overactive imagination at times, but think about it: magic in the Crystal Empire, dragons appearing from thin air, magic anomalies everywhere, now a Windigo popping up above the Everfree Forest…
Maybe I've been reading too many stories, but there are more than a few coincidence.
PrinceEric
@PrinceEric: :) It’s admirable you want to come up with an answer, but there is no connection. As Princess Celestia’s assistant and Prince Blueblood’s underpaid slave I promise you that there's no human involvement.
This is something completely new and the proper ponies are trying to get to the bottom of this and keep everyone safe. Once again, I thank you all for your help and the Nightling system that has already helped in establishing a lot of things about the anomalies (and personally I think is the reason the Windigo to make himself known).
That said, I'd like to follow LyraHands’s request and not talk about the particular topic. I could still discuss Felina corp infiltration theories, though :)
Luna
Now I’m worried about Brush and the girls. They have been through this before, but…
Anyway, mowing to happier things. A human invasion is a popular topic and while it makes for great fiction there's no real reason for it to ever occur. Ignoring all the fantasy slap stories out there, what do we have that humans could possibly want?
Their technology is (said to be) way ahead of anything we got. They have self driving carriages, advanced computers (the ones we are using are probably Stone Age tech to them), enormous mana plants, ways to shape metal, and anything, we could only dream of. And, as you are all aware, with tech comes everything else: more and better food, better mining possibilities, better construction, larger buildings, etc.
If anything I think we will be the ones to try and infiltrate them, since we can't possibly win in a direct conflict.
MixaMax
@MixaMax: and what's wrong with herds? I can totally see having a house full of changeling boys to myself. Oh, wait, you meant them having a herd of ponies… yeah, you're right, I don't see it as realistic :P
Going by economics, however, we might be worth invading because of natural resources. It’s all a matter if they have used their resources up. Granted invasion is a very expensive way to get said resources. They could just establish trade relations and sigh deals highly favorable to them. Since they have advanced technology and understanding it should be easy and trust me there will be ponies who will gladly accept.
RRBB
I knew it! Them rotten Flim Flam brothers have made a deal with the Felina corporation! That's why they tried to take our farm with their fancy device! I knew it all along!
WaterBottle
@WaterBottle: I just… never mind.
Also, if they try to invade I don't think we’ll just let them. Even with all their tech, they’ll have to go through the Wonderbolts, the Elements, and the Princesses. I don't see that happening.
YouKnowWho
@YouKnowWho: o-okay… I'll just cry in the corner. :(
Sgt Pepper
She didn't mean you, dear. YouKnowWho is talking about aerial combat. :)
Luna
Whoa! Are we seriously discussing invasion fics at a time like this?
@DarkSparkle: in case your scrollbox is busted again, call me! @TrueSparkle, you call me as well when you know something more. Having Windigos appear just like that isn't normal.
LightSparkle
@LightSparkle: concern is appreciated, but PM, please? I'll make sure the system is functional.
As for invasions. I sort of can see us trying to invade as well. Humans, even the corporate ones, seem too nice. If you look throughout MC, even the villains (most of them) want to take complete control of the world, only to make it better and more efficient, not like the petty squabbles we tend to have (I admit we've gotten much better since ancient times, though). If anything I see them invading as a comedy.
Human: excuse me, we’re here to help your lives better, so please don't go all crazy on us and…
Pony: charge! Buck them to the moon!
Human: no, please. We have tech that would make your life better… and you aren't really hurting me with those hooves…
LyraHands
I think that if humans invaded they'd just have to extend their hands and we'd start licking them and get drunk… actually that might happen if they don't invade as well.
“Hello, ponies, we extend a hand in friendship, and…”
“Mine!” Pony delegation rushes forward and starts licking hand.
SaltyHuman
@SaltyHuman: thank you! I forgot about salt. We're doomed. But I see us even more infiltrating them so we could steal salt. Now I'm imagining undercover agents stuffing their pockets with salt there, then getting back here… hold that thought!
Changeling boys: salt spy infiltrators
Somepony please write this!
MixaMax
@MixaMax: spies really don't work that way. It's a complex and laborious activity that… who am I kidding, I'm totally writing that :D
Bob
Suddenly thread licking got a whole new meaning…
Just a quick note to keep story stuff out of the Nightling system. The girls do need our help.
There - serious topics
Here - funny fluffy stuff:)
MightyDragon
I hope that by the end of the fic the fact that real humans exist will be known it would be so funny to see their reaction
I know typos are a fact of life with this story, but please go back and fix this sentence. I cannot parse it for the life of me.
Also, "ways to shape metal" makes it onto the awe-inspiring human tech list? You do know that metalsmithing is a thing, right? Even the Apples have a hammer and anvil.
As for the threat... one windigo really doesn't seem that threatening in this day and age. Especially not when up against friends whose bonds have thwarted gods.
Don't get me wrong, there's some fun discussion, but a lot of this chapter left me cold. No pun intended given the current threat.
8381430
And that's how human Lyra became a celebrity in an alternate dimension.
MixaMax’s previous post didn’t mention herds at all. I think something got lost in editing.
The invasion theories are funny and the Windigo is reason for concern. Changeling boys: salt spy infiltrators seems very funny.
8381767 Still kind of surprised WaterBottle didn't drag back a human man in love with her southern accent.
Man, wish I had read this chapter before responding to that comment.
Sounds like the Nightlings need a Conversion Bureau fic.
Wow, WaterBottle knows humans and earth are real, it sounds like she thinks the entire Midnight Castle series is non-fictional.
Also, given the current fetish for changling boys, you know a bunch of lurkers on the MC site have Thorax body pillows.
8381430 Agree 110%. If this story ever ends, it needs to end with the Nightlings finding out all about the portals and EqG land.
8381549
Not the only thing, I think.
What is he crying about?
Also, isn't RRBB a lesbian? Wouldn't it make more sense to have a herd of Changeling girls?
8381917
Bleh! How could even sleep having those bright colours in your eyes?
8381470
You don't get things like titanium alloy with a hammer. Just sayin'.
8381549
8383292
In this rare instance the statements are correct. :)
Sgt is a royal guard (that's why he's crying), and with changelings it doesn't matter if they are girls or boys (RRBB still remains a Danny fan) :P
8383304
I would have said it matters if you listen to them in their natural form, but seeing as how all the Changelings other than Chrysalis and Thorax sound like squeaky toys with a head cold, maybe that's not an issue either.
Incidentally, for Changelings standards, our favourite soggy milksop-ling Thorax must sound ultra-manly.
8383292
Alloying isn't shaping, and there are far softer metals than titanium steel that ponies have been shown to work with proficiency.
I don't want to split hairs; it's just that the blanket term and iffy phrasing bother me.
8383329
No no, you are right about that. That was a bad example.
I should have gone with something like laser engineered net shaping.
The classic "who would win a war" fandom arguments.
From If I Am Ever Head of an Alien-Monitoring Agency: