“I hate this plan,” Starlight said.
“I know,” Spike said, rubbing his claws together, “but Twilight said we’re going with it, and that’s that.” He peered through the glass into the special ward, wincing as his eyes fell on one particular twitching, spasming figure.
Across the hall, the last of the chains fell away with a clatter. Chrysalis extended each foreleg in turn, then stretched herself catlike until something popped; around her, guards cautiously stepped back with polearms lowered and at the ready. Spike pondered for a moment how an exoskeleton could pop, then decided it probably wasn’t worth thinking about.
Starlight too tore her eyes from the special ward, and turned to Chrysalis as well. “Now, remember: We’re giving you your magic back for this, but if you so much as spark a single mote of any other magic-”
“You’ll plunge me back into stone, throw me on the moon, and lock me away for a thousand years. Yes, I get it,” Chrysalis sneered right back. “And don’t you forget, you need to tell any of the others still out there to stop this ‘sharing’. Now, while they can still live. Find somepony willing to donate. And it has to be you; I want them to hear it coming from the all knowing Starl-.”
Stepping between them, Spike pushed his wings out towards both mares. “Enough. Starlight, you don’t have to remind her every five minutes. Chrysalis… we’ll send your message, but I’ll choose who.”
The former lashed her tail and pinned her ears back; the latter simply smiled saccharinely, though it never reached the Queen’s slit eyes. Those remained as dismissive as ever.
“Alright,” Spike said, the silence between them at least good enough. “Chrysalis, do your thing.”
She nodded once, and flame cascaded over her form.
“Oh,” Starlight breathed. Spike had to agree; what had replaced Chrysalis’ typical gnarled and twisted form was, in its way, beautiful. She had not adopted the other changelings’ so vibrant colors, but instead taken on a pale blue tone - her chitin now glossy and a pale, robin’s-egg blue but for yellowed segments over her back and wings. A mane only slightly darker in tone but thick, lush, and full draped around her neck, while equally blue eyes peered out from soft, un-narrowed eyes.
“I never imagined…” Spike breathed, and those pale blue eyes narrowed.
“Don’t you start moping over me,” Chrysalis spat, the moment shattered by the sour expression twisting her face. “This is an illusion, nothing more. Remember that, drake.”
“Right,” he nodded, the moment having been broken the moment her mouth opened and those acidic tones stung his ear membranes. A curt nod signalled the guards; uncrossing their glaives, they pulled the doors open - neither taking their eyes off the transformed queen for even an instant as they did so.
Too many bad memories there, Spike thought.
“Okay. Go on in, Chrysalis.” And we’ll be watching you, he added - but not aloud. Not after I lectured Starlight for doing the same thing.
When the doors had closed behind her, Spike breathed a little sigh. Only a moment later, he realized Starlight had done the same.
“She’s beautiful,” she murmured as she moved to peer through the window into the isolated ward. “If only she’d let go of all her bitterness and allow herself be like that…”
“She can’t.” Spike shook his head as he joined her. “Same reason I can’t just ‘let myself’ be bigger. It’s not just something she dislikes, it’s… it’s a danger to all her changelings too. If she gives in, if the Kuru comes for her, it’d be the end of her hive.”
“So she thinks.”
“Yeah,” Spike murmured, “that is what she thinks. But I don’t know how wrong she is.”
Starlight’s head twisted around. She gave a low whinny and a sharp glare. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am. Or at least, I understand why she thinks that way, when I feel the same way. Isn’t this-” He gestured through the glass, to Chrysalis as she walked between the rows of beds. “-a compromise?”
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Chrysalis moved carefully, placing each hoofstep as if the tiled floor might be sown with arcanic mines. As if a single wrong step, a brush against one of the beds, could infect her with the same spasming, quivering madness that was all around.
This was, of course, ridiculous; but she still did not touch any of them.
Rather, she moved like a phantom through the rows of beds - nearly silent, soft blue eyes sweeping from one body to the next filled with nothing but the utmost sadness and care for those they fell on. Studying, examining, searching - but not finding, and moving on to the next patient. Inside the room, every sound that had been masked by the walls assaulted her ears: The rustle and pop of chitin flexing and twisting, the low susurrus of sheets shifting, and the sudden, unsteady gasps of lungs that no longer entirely obeyed.
Eyes fell on her as she passed, some open wide for lack of control to close but most with surprise. Heads twisted where they could, and here and there a hoof stretched out as if in plaintive supplication. To each of this, Chrysalis offered a smile: Not one that twisted her lips into a sneering rictus, or was swamped with barely concealed disgust, but a true and warm smile. The smile of a queen, a leader, a parent. A smile which radiated warmth, caring, and acceptance in its gentle curve of the lips.
But for none of them did she stop until reaching one particular cot, her gaze fixed on the shuddering victim ensconced on it.
Both studied each other for a long, long time.
His mouth opened, and noise came out. Not words, but a noise - a kind of sputtering, confused burbling. The speech of an infant, almost universal across nearly all species, inclusive of the amount of spittle flung from the chitinous lips.
His brow knitted, and the open mouth tried again: “Bu… burt… butun... buuuuul…”
Chrysalis tilted her head, her mask utterly perfect and unflawed. Not a hint of stray sentiment leaked past it, an absolute finite dam before the sea of emotion.
He drew a shaky, unsteady breath and tried again. Syllables emerged in a confused jumble, a muddied spray of consonants in a barely coherent pattern.
Another breath was drawn, brows were knit as much as uncooperative muscles allowed, and he tried again.
“Beautiful,” Thorax breathed. “Y-Yuh. You. B-Beautin - tiful. So. So hack - s-so happy. To see. You.”
“Shhh…” Chrysalis cood, leaning over to brush her muzzle against Thorax’s. Pale blue met lime green, and Thorax gave a little happy sigh.
Across the ward, every head that could still turn had turned. Dozens of eyes now rested on them.
Thorax tried to swallow again, half-choked, and shook his head. “A-Alw-w-w-ways knew. You. You could. D-Do it. Could let - let go.”
Chrysalis’ cheeks gleamed with dampness as she pulled back. “I’m going to help you, Thorax. I’m going to - to stop this. I won’t let your suffering go on. The Kuru will not have you.”
“N-Nnnnaa-”
“Shhh…” Chrysalis brushed his face with a hoof. “Let me do my duty, Thorax. As a queen.” His mouth closed, any further attempts at words forfeited, but eyes wide with unrestricted joy. He nodded once - a long and slow bob of his head, in spite of all control being taken from him.
She leaned in, again touching chitin to chitin. Her mouth opened, gleaming fangs exposed.
And the magic began to flow, until Thorax’s shuddering, unsteady breathing went silent.
I love the story so far, the concept of in the name of harmony and friendship all creatures are becoming more pony like is great, some sort of cultural colonization. And now changelings have lost their traditions and past just to be acepted and that is their doom. Will the ponies realize whatthey have done?
So judging from the comments, this story is putting their "reformation" in a negative light? Finally!
Yes, I've been thinking for a fic like this. Defintely faving and tracking! Keep it up mate.
Finally a story that questions their reformation. Their change was always too deus ex machina for me in the show. I can't wait to see where this goes.
Fae stuff.
While interesting, this story feels like it’s really forcing the changing reformation into a bad light especially with it being framed as all Starlight’s fault. Like it’s saying “yes, how dare she try to give the changeling a new opportunity for a better life and culture that doesn’t centre around having to enslave and harvest others.”
It also doesn’t help that they’ve created this plan without asking Thorax or any of the other changelings before going to do it. Could have been a really interesting topic if Thorax just straight up almost condemned them to death cos he’s rather that then go back to the way they were living before.
This fic isn’t bad, it just feels it doesn’t have much going for it outside of “the reformation was bad”.
11032329
Especially given that the only reason Starlight "overthrew" her in the first place was because Chrysalis kidnapped her friends, stuffed them into cocoons to be perpetually drained of their love, and replaced them with changeling imposters. "To Where and Back Again" was a rescue mission first and foremost; the "better life and culture" were just a discovery made along the way.
For that matter, why wouldn't have the changelings accepted that "better way"? They didn't think they were "better" than the Kuru, nor did they shrug off any notion of its existence; rather, they literally had no way of knowing that any downsides to their new, would-be utopian way of life existed. And why? Because Chrysalis, the one and only creature who knew about the ticking time bombs they'd accidentally implanted in their own minds, vehemently refused to warn the children she only later chose to mourn. By that logic, should we crucify the Radium Girls — who had no way of knowing the true nature of their radioactive paints — for poisoning themselves?
I'm undeniably biased (for better or worse, I am a product of Friendship is Magic's twilight years), but with all of the above factors in mind, I can't help but be distressed by just how hellbent the story is on seeing Starlight, Thorax, and the "reformed" changelings raked over the coals for things they had no reasonable way of knowing or controlling. I love this story from a characterization and composition standpoint (Chapter 2 in particular), but spoonlol's closing statement rings true for me as well.
Of course, the story isn't finished yet. Regardless of my irrational qualms, I'm very interested in seeing how all of this concludes.
11032357
Thanks, I was scared I was about to step on the toes of the author and the people who were enjoying this so it’s nice to hear I’m not the only one that felt this way.
11032404
That kinda the point, it’s another aspect of nature, the ponies haven’t tried to force vegetarian diets on meat eaters or the like. Heck even Fluttershy fed two fish to ferrets, even though we’ve seen that Flutter’s make friends when Fish (in the comics at least).
They are a bit friendlier because of the ponies but they haven’t completely rewritten their nature. They tried to do that in the Bats episode and like I said, it went horribly
11032329
personally, I'm not against the reformation, but the way it was implemented in the series is frankly stupid.
the show itself showed more logical ways to resolve the hunger crisis.
Changeling could integrate more actively into society and collect love voluntarily instead of stealing. Could be more active in art, career of actors, doctors and other specialties in which you can get love, adoration and gratitude. Could open orphanages. The series has a whole "Crystal Empire" that throws love into the air and there is also a "Princess of Love".
but instead, Changeling continues to sit in remote "former badlands" as a closed society and feed on love from each other.
Also, the very heroic act of transforming Thorax and self-sacrifice does not feel so if, with heroic self-sacrifice, the character does not feel any negative debuffs, but instead receives a body upgrade.
11032711
I kinda get what you're going for overall, but I don't understand how you came to the conclusion that Thorax "self-sacrificed" himself. I rewatched the climax of To Where and Back Again just to make sure, and it never tries to frame Thorax's sharing of love as a sacrifice; if anything, it's him going on the offensive and trying not to die. Of course it isn't a satisfyingly "heroic" sacrifice: it isn't trying to come off as one.
Feel free to correct me if you think I'm misinterpreting this.
11032711
Yeah I totally agree with you, al of those things could have been done. But it’s made very clear in the show that Chrysalis doesn’t want me to do that because with any of those situations could lead to loosing an ounce of control over her subjects. Her obsession with power and greed is what held the changelings back. It’s always been in the dar vain as an abusive parent.
Sure they could have had it where Starlight and co defeated Chrysalis by reasoning with the other changelings, could have even had Thorax’s wings as a sign that they don’t even need to feed anymore.
But I personally think it’s more symbolic then anything, they no long have to steal or trick others. They no longer have to be these creepy bug monsters.
Also Thorax’s change wasn’t a heroic sacrifice, like you said he doesn’t actually sacrifice anything nor does he intend to. It’s more along the lines that because Thorax had experience life outside of the hive, he was able to show the changelings a better way to live. It’s more of a beacon of hope moment rather then a heroic sacrifice
11032845
as I see this culmination: Chrysalis demonstratively takes from Thorax all the love that he has collected. Thorax with the words "Take everything" he himself throws energy into it in a large stream, thereby throwing it away and stunning it. - this action itself can already show the others that he is not afraid of Chrysalis and how much he was able to collect with the help of friends in the Crystal Empire. if this is not a heroic sacrifice, then I do not know what then it is. (It is not necessary for the hero to die as a result of the heroic sacrifice.)
but for some reason, having given everything accumulated instead of weakness, hunger or other debuffs of any kind, on the contrary, loses the feeling of hunger, becomes higher and stronger.
From my point of view, it looks like a "piano in the bushes"
I have only one explanation for the situation in which this Reformation would work. According to her, the entire family of Changelings was originally cursed with a curse that can only be removed by fulfilling certain conditions [being hungry, voluntarily give the last piece of bread to others], [being a freak, find someone who will love you] and so on. But since this option was not exactly implied by the creators, I will consider the chosen option of the reformation foolish.
11033317
no one said that Chrysalis should have done it, Thorax should have done it. He showed that a new path can be taken and that changes await them.
But as a result, "what has changed?" They continue to sit remotely in the old place and organize "forums of feelings" without even thinking about how to either replenish their reserves of love or integrate into equestria.
my complaints about this approach would quickly disappear if they simply built a new hive in the Crystal Empire, but for some reason they did not.
11033398
Well the hive was still their home, pitching everything up and creating a new hive would have taken a lot of time and effect which they didn’t really need to since the old one was still there.
They don’t need to replenish their love anymore, they share their own love with each other now and generate it themselves. They’re feeling forums are their to make sure a changeling can love themselves as well as others.
As for integrating into Equestria, we see that in the finale. Something like that takes time and would be a long term goal. Especially since the changelings had to create their own culture and traditions. They needed to discover their own identity for they could integrate with others
11033412
I've said before why I think Changelings can't provide love for themselves.
11030989
and my main argument is based on logic and the laws of physics. that "energy does not arise out of nowhere and disappear into nowhere." from which it follows that "the consumer will never be able to generate more energy than it consumes" otherwise we would have long ago invented a perpetual motion machine capable of generating energy for ourselves.
Foreseeing your argument that "magic" works in this world, I will answer that even it is not infinite, not omnipotent and obeys certain rules. that we were repeatedly shown in the series.
11033441
While that is what this fic is going for, this logic doesn’t work in universe cos changelings feed off love. Raw emotion that doesn’t have a limit and can be replenished within moments.
It’s a cool idea for this fic sure but in canon changelings have ultimately solved their hunger/love crisis.
But also you say that magic has its limits, we’ve never actually seen that, simple the limitations of the user of said magic. Just look at discord, he can literally do anything because he has no limited control over it.
11033487
precisely because the Reformation took place in the canon, I say that everything looks like a "piano in the bushes" and "script laziness invented at the last moment."
the script shown would work in the case that I have advanced before.
11033394
I'm too lazy to repeat all over again.
And yes, even Discord, despite its godlike capabilities, cannot do absolutely everything. Remember the same moment with "back and forth" where he was completely helpless or the few times when Tirek took magic from him. It is also worth noting that he seems to lose his strength and weakens when there is absolute order around, which was shown to us when he invited Fluttershy to his home.
11033508
While it could have been handled better, like a lot of stuff in the show, I personally thought their reformation was fine and it was mainly served to future both Thorax’s character arc and to push Chrysalis away from the hive.
If you didn’t like it much, that’s all good dude.
Well, if its be a guessing man, she might be trying to revert the transformation by draining him off love?
Can't really for more.
11034329
I can't believe neither I nor my editor spotted that. Well, that's fixed now. Thank you!