Harlequin could feel the eyes of dozens of ponies pressing in on her with an almost physical weight. But of the hundreds in the room—filled with hatred, anger, and suspicion—none were more important than the pony lording over her.
Her future was in the hooves of this princess, whose kingdom her own kind had invaded. Harlequin could’ve kept her mouth closed, and lived forever in the world that Hydrus created. They were safe, and so long as she didn’t upset him too much, he probably would’ve kept her forever as his useful tool. That path was burned now, and the invisible storyteller’s whims.
She couldn’t tell if that creature would’ve approved of this course, or if she was fighting it. But Harlequin no longer cared.
Harlequin passed several armed bailiffs, then down the steps onto the floor. There she was surrounded by nobles—many familiar faces, that she’d helped contain during the invasion. Would they remember her too? She could only hope not. Celestia’s eyes were harshest of all as she made her way to the podium, then cleared her throat.
“I, um… I’m not here to talk about railroads. I’m… I have more information about the way changelings have been treated since the invasion than anypony in this room.”
Just silence, with a little disordered muttering from some ponies. She could feel their hostility like a physical force in the air. They were eager for Celestia to judge her. Like they were anticipating the next act in a show.
“First, there’s one problem at the root of everything, that I’m not sure ponies understand. Changelings do not eat pony food, except when they’re grubs. For the rest of their lives, they depend on…” How could she even explain this? “Emotional energy. Love, friendship, kindness, loyalty… every positive feeling you experience is food to a changeling. That was what brought the invasion here in the first place. Equestria was so rich in love, that their queen thought she could feed all changelings with it.”
The hall wasn’t silent anymore. Ponies muttered and called indignantly to one another from the boxes and the floor behind her. She couldn’t make out any coherent words, but she could sense their disbelief.
All except Princess Celestia, whose overwhelming power meant her feelings were stronger than them all. She had gone from planning out an appropriate punishment for Harlequin to genuine curiosity. This was not what she expected. After a few more seconds of nobles arguing, Celestia tapped her hoof on the throne with a resounding click. “Allow the mare to finish her remarks,” she said, glowering out at the crowd. “There will be time for questions, and… an appropriate response. I’m sure your curiosity and mine overlap.”
Harlequin tensed slightly but she couldn’t let nerves overwhelm her now. “This meant that the prison you created after the invasion was… a torture chamber. The bugs you kept upstairs might’ve been able to harvest a little attention from their guards and visitors, but the ones you put underground were starving. If you go down your supply-ramp, you’ll find a mountain of spoiled food at the bottom, because no bug can eat it.”
Now there was silence. The weight of her accusation rested on them—even on Celestia. Was that a flash of guilt she sensed?
“Bugs can live for, uh… longer than ponies without food, I think. But as you starve, you lose your mind, become feral and dangerous. If you do go down that ramp to check my story, make sure you go in force. The creatures down there are not changelings anymore, they’re monsters.”
“What you’re saying…” Celestia said, her tone more neutral than any of the other creatures in the room. “I’m not sure I see how this relates to the prison accident. Unless you’re implying that some in this room might be complicit in the process, and… trying to erase the evidence of this mistake.”
Was Celestia actually believing her? Or just letting her finish so she could incriminate herself? Harlequin didn’t know, but it was far too late to try and escape this. She’d committed, now it was time to see it through to the end. She’d probably end up in chains, or dead a dozen different ways. But I died on my own terms. This is my story, no matter what she says.
“Some changelings are… little more than animals. The invasion force the queen brought was mostly drones, very young changelings that haven’t matured yet. Without love, they never will. But there were some in jail who weren’t. One of these was a leader in the swarm called Hydrus. He took precautions before the invasion was over, in case it failed. Set up a…” It felt wrong to even say the word in company like this. But she didn’t have much choice.
“He set up a brothel in your lower city. It’s inside an old church, near the end of Vapor Street. I have seen many in this room visiting it, so I’m sure knowledge of it is getting around.”
If her accusations before had been loud, this was like a bomb. She was completely overwhelmed with shouts—objections of many ponies to her outrageous lies, while others started accusing each other. Their emotions probably would’ve overwhelmed a younger Harlequin, washing away whatever she was feeling in the maelstrom of true emotions. But now she didn’t care what they felt about her. She had a higher loyalty.
Besides, there was only one pony in the room she really needed to convince, and that one went from open disbelief as she said it to some complex mixture of emotions Harlequin couldn’t describe the longer ponies debated. She knows they wouldn’t have reacted like that if I lied.
It was almost two minutes before she could finally speak again. A few ponies were dragged out by bailiffs, who had gone from getting ready to arrest her to mostly keeping ponies from her. Professionals, if nothing else.
Eventually the room fell quiet again, if only with Celestia’s prompting, and she could finish her story. “The Canterlot Caverns were connected to this facility, allowing the bugs who were smart enough somewhere to live and something to eat. Those who didn’t find it in time would’ve gone feral by now, or starved to death.”
“Is this all she has to say?” asked a pony from one of the upper boxes. A stuffy mare, wearing so many frills Harlequin could barely see her face. “No evidence, no connection to the prince’s troubling case. I’m not sure she hasn’t just wasted all our time with pointless scandal.”
Celestia turned on her. “Lady Cerise makes important points, if out of turn. Do you have evidence for anything you’ve just shared with us? And more importantly, you claimed that the disaster wasn’t Blueblood’s fault. I assumed you must be a plant of his, taking the responsibility for his failures. But I see no connection.”
“He agreed to help a murderer,” Harlequin said, without thinking. “He’s an accomplice to the crime. He orchestrated it. Maybe he’s more guilty. I’m not here to defend him. But… the one who wanted those bugs dead isn’t Blueblood. It’s the leader of the surviving swarm, centered in that brothel. His name is Hydrus, and the ones who died were his… rivals.” She blinked, wiping away tears. Pharynx might’ve helped the invasion, but he also cared about his bugs in a way Hydrus never did. None of those bugs deserved to die.
“You are so close, Harlequin. You understand what it means to have a place in your own story. When Hydrus is gone, I will accept you. Be the queen they deserve.”
“That’s why I’m here,” she finished. “Not to… defend Blueblood. But to beg for help for the swarm. Bugs were starving, they didn’t have a choice. But the ones who brought them to Equestria are all dead now. They just want enough to eat, they just want to live. But if Hydrus gets his way, maybe they never will. He doesn’t care about his bugs, all he cares about is ruling the swarm. I can’t… I can’t stop him, but maybe you can.”
Finally she fell silent on the stand, slumping with the effort of what she’d just said. Incredibly stupid things. Thinking about it did not fill her with confidence about the reception she would receive. Maybe she should’ve written some noble speech, planning it for weeks. But she hadn’t known Hydrus was evil, and she still didn’t know how to read.
“These are all… interesting claims,” Celestia said. “Disturbing claims, given how many of them would be my personal responsibility. But now that you’ve had your say, the court demands to know how you know so much. Our own magical experts have told us nothing useful about changelings since the invasion, yet you are the… daughter of a railroader. By reputation, you should have nothing useful to say in this court. Why should we believe any of these things are true?”
“Well…” She rose to her hooves again, though her energy was almost gone. She’d given up so much magic, and it had been ages since she tasted more. Maybe now she never would. “Some of this you can verify for yourself. The brothel is… well known, and I don’t think it could be evacuated before you verify it’s there.” And I might’ve damned every bug in there to a pony sword because I came here for help.
“You can check on the prison yourself. Though… prepare to fight, like I said, since the bugs in there are feral. You’ll find the food at the bottom.”
“That’s all?” Celestia said. “Those things can be verified, certainly. While you spoke, I have already begun to mobilize the guard. Yet… that doesn’t explain why we should treat you like an authority. I demand to know how you know all this about our invaders. Why should we believe what you’ve said? It reflects terribly on Equestria, despite the anger changelings rightfully deserve.”
“Because…” It might take a fair bit of magic to copy a pony, but it took almost none to dismiss her illusion. She changed back in an abrupt flash, feeling her hooves settle on the wooden dais, now much closer to head level. Even though she’d grown quite a bit as a bug, she was still shorter than a pony. “Because I’m one of them. Because I’ve been part of it since the beginning.”
It was probably the single stupidest thing she could’ve done. Ponies rose from their seats, screamed, backed away in terror. House guards stepped forward towards the balcony, and the bailiffs that had been protecting her before now actually drew their swords, all aimed at her.
All pointless. She stood only twenty paces away from the most powerful being in Equestria, maybe the world. Princess Celestia loomed over her, and the mixture of confusing emotions faded to something cold. She was actively suppressing her feelings now, and Harlequin didn’t have a prayer of guessing them. “Do not harm her,” Celestia called, her voice booming over the court. “She’s mine.”
The sun princess didn’t seem terribly bothered about the panic as ponies ran from her court. To their credit, not all of them fled. Some only slid their seats back, using their house guards as shields. Others watched with curiosity more than fear. Harlequin dared a single glance towards Silver, hoping he’d been part of the act. He would already be under intense suspicion after this, but if he played it off right, maybe he could…
No luck. He sat perfectly calm in his booth, watching her. If the event was a little different, he probably would’ve been cheering her on. Too bad she couldn’t feel his confidence through the crowd.
“You infiltrated my court,” Celestia said, rising to stand at her throne. “I have no doubt you committed numberless crimes to reach the ground where you stand. You’re an invader, a trespasser.”
She nodded. There was no point trying to argue. A pony was dead because of her, and there were two ponies who weren’t ponies anymore. She’d probably broken lots of other complex pony laws too. “I deserve whatever punishment you have for me, Princess. But please—save the other bugs. They’re in terrible danger under Hydrus’s rule. Nopony can stop him but you.”
It was time to face judgement. That wouldn’t be so bad, if she could save some of her brothers and sisters in the swarm while she was at it.
... and the manure hits the whirling fan blades. I'm rooting so hard for Harlequin and hoping everything turns out okay.
Oh my. That went somehow better and worse than I was expecting it to. I'm honestly surprised Celestia didn't put the pieces together earlier, with the information Harlequin was sharing.
Calling it now, Silver is going to jump down and try and intervene. Because friendship.
Now you're catching on, Celestia.
Summed it up nicely, Harley, thank you.
And of course, you end it on another cliffhanger. Though I suspect I have hunches on what Celestia's response will be, or at least along similar lines...
And so the truth comes out in all its beauty and hideousness, right into the ear of the one who needed to hear it the most. And one of the most critical pieces of information isn't something Harlequin said, but what she did. Celestia now knows that changelings are capable of empathy, remorse, concern, and above all else, friendship.
Assuming she believes the bug that's infested her court, of course. But I have a good feeling about this. And I wonder how the Storyteller will react to this latest plot development.
And now it is out of your hands, Harley. For better or worse. If Celestia could show sympathy to the changelings, then this was the push needed to act. If she won't... perhaps this a push for Luna to act. Either way, we are getting closer to the end. I have no doubt the hive will endure through Pharynx. I'm am truly fearful for Harley.
The Storyteller again...
Whatever happens, it certainly doesn't appear to be good if she gets her way.
Rising hatred or pure neutral statement of fact. Could go either way.
Though if Storyteller is some all-powerful fate goddess or something similar, then Harley is an esteemed guest. Right mare. Right place. Right time. Even if Celestia doesn't know it.
I can see about a dozen ways this can go. Some good. Most bad. All of them make sense and I won't be dissatisfied with any of them - I said months ago in my first comment on this story that it could end with Harlequin triumphant, or Harlequin dead in a ditch having ultimately failed to accomplish anything, but either way it'd be okay because the story is well-written and the path we'd take to get there makes sense - but I'm really, really hoping for one certain way above the others. Won't say it out loud. Don't want to risk ruining it.
As it stands, though, I think, I hope, that Harlequin made her case well. That she'll get the help for the swarm that it needs - and the help that she herself needs.
C'mon...come on...
9862500
Celestia isn't perfect. It's quite likely that she didn't want to put the pieces together, because it implicates both herself, and her little ponies, in a lot of abuse and neglect, not at all dissimilar to what she was accusing Blueblood himself of. I can't really blame her for that, it's a natural enough reaction. We don't like being told we've done something wrong. But having been told that, having been confronted with her mistakes, she seems to be taking the steps she should towards rectifying them.
9862501
Yeah, like three weeks of cliffhangers now. Arglblarglgraahhhhh...this isn't good for my heart. But I'm holding out a degree of faith I haven't extended since...well, for awhile now.
9862520
I think the tears probably helped more than anything.
Ugh, can't help myself from making this comment:
And this is why it's important you double-check and see whether or not changelings can cry when you're writing your sad scenes.
9862549
They can--both Thorax and Ocellus have shed a tear or two in the show.
Damn. I'm with a bunch of you—I can see a number of ways this can go, and many of them would be plausible. I could understand a negative outcome, given everything she's been a part of, but I'm reeeeeeeally hoping that things turn out in her favor, if not at least for her current goal, to save the other changelings if it means her own demise.
9862609
Yeah, I know. That’s...a reference to a thing that went on a few months ago in a story I despise. Don’t worry about it.
Celestia seems deeply ignorant of the changelings' situation (Hydrus, the brothel etc...). That's kinda surprising considering Harlequin's previous encounter with Sweetie Drops.
Could it be that Luna has been keeping intel from her sister? Why? Is she in fact the mysterious (and seemingly amoral) Storyteller?
9862701
It's even more curious given that Sweetie Drops's organization is primarely under Celestia's command. Celestia being completely ignorant of anything S.M.I.L.E. knows would imply none of their reports reached Celestia, which would mean Luna directly intercepted them one way or another.
9862701
Does the President or Prime Minister of a country know every detail about the events unfolding in their nation or neighbouring nations? They generally don't, that's why you have staff that are heads of various departments of the government who answer to the leader.
Celestia is a single individual, very clearly not omnipresent, she can only multitask so many things. Expecting her to know about everything her ponies do is absolutely ridiculous, yes she's culpable for her ignorance of the corruption, yes she's responsible for putting those corrupt people in positions of power they could abuse, but it's definitely not her fault that she doesn't know everything.
9862795
Yet we expect the President to be aware of important things happening in the country, including security threats or humanitary crisis.
Equestria has been a principality for a thousand years, only now recently changed into diarchy.
Celestia has been the inmortal beloved ruler of ponykind all that time, meaning every aspect of the Government answers to her.
Look at this from Sunbut's perspective:
- The same race which invaded you capital last month and has been imprisoned since then has settled a brothel under your nose.
- They did it because they have been starving because their jailers were unaware of their dietary needs,
- Your nephew has been colluding with the new changeling leader to carry out operations involving impersonation, kidnapping and murder. Also he was accomplice in the burning of the new prison and its immates.
- Your recently reformed Sister and co-ruler was at least partially aware of said facts yet chose not to disclose them with you...
...And you just only find out because a desperate changeling infiltrated your court risking her life in order to ask for help.
I think Tia has pretty good reasons to be pissed out, albeit not with Harlequin.
9862795
Any leader who is unaware of genocide happening to prisoners of war in her domain are ones who should not be in that position. And even if the said leader would be truly unaware he or she should be removed to show that this kind of 'accidents' are not allowed to all other leaders.
Let us say there is a Griffin kingdom out there, and they just happen to have unwanted population of Kirins for example, it would truly be a shame if the said king was unaware of his generals or nobles locking them all up in some cave to starve to death. What could Celestia and ponies say or do about the matter if they take no action towards their own leaders for such crimes against sentience.
Mistakes do happen after-all it seems.
I could buy the explanation of Luna's interference. She explicitly wanted to give the changelings a chance, and had said that her sister was furious about the incident. She might have decided to take matters into her own hooves and hide the information from Celestia for fear that Celestia would go nuclear on the survivors if she learned they were still operating in some capacity in her city.
If so, this did not exactly work out for the best. But Celestia's forgiveness (and objectivity) is a real question. This isn't canon. Lots and lots of ponies died in the invasion. She's clearly not pleased with Harley's existence now, and this is after she's had weeks to simmer down.
Maan, what was one good chapter. Also, ...
9862810
You HAVE a point, dude. You have good point about Celestia's thoughts. Expecting Luna in the next episode.
And I suddenly begane hearing this music clip while reading chapter.
Enjoy
AND OF COURSE IT ENDS RIGHT THERE ON THE MOST INTENSE CLIFFHANGER OF SEEN IN YEARS!!!
Lol
If Harlequin confirms that she hasn’t killed anybody knowingly then I don’t think Celestia would be as harsh. It seems Celestia may believe Harley killed to get where she is.
9862947
Maybe is because what she represents: the living proof of her precious Equestria or her little ponies being less virtuous than she believed.
9863020
Naaaaw...
Harlequin is going to be fine. Celestia isn't going to let anything happen to such a valuable asset. Think of all the friendship lessons she could cause Twilight to learn!
Oh yeah, go straight for the biggest detail right from the start.
The pile of food at the bottom of the ramp is a great bit of directly verifiable evidence. Good call mentioning it, Harlequin.
AKA child soldiers.
Oh shit!
Great reaction from the crowd to that, good job preserving that secret guys.
I really appreciate the admission from Celestia that, pending these details being verified, the buck for a lot of this does stop with her.
Oh nice, so the guard is already checking.
There's the reveal, and the crowd goes wild.
Harlequin has been in the custody of a lot of different people over the course of the story, but none have been quite as simultaneously terrifying and full of possibility as being in Celestia's.
Speaking of, I hope we will now be in a position where we can get some follow-up and closure on the connections Harlequin made during her time in the guard. That superior that trusted her and last we saw was getting in trouble because of it, and definitely the fancy sword that accepted her.
I'm curious as to what Luna and S.M.I.L.E.S are going to do with the changelings being in the open now. They were okay with the changelings not harming equestria, but will they be okay that Harlequin kinda just ignored them and went straight to Celestia?
Also, is Chrysalis dead, MIA, or that secret voice in Harlequin's head, because I think its foolish to underestimate Chrysalis. I.E. "the villian comes back for one more kill" kinda thing.
9864062
As I mentioned before, if Luna wanted to be contacted by Harlequin she should have granted the changeling some channel to do so, and all of this drama could have been avoided.
This cliff is sharper than Tia's horn
I'd really like to see what the ponies' religion looks like. One needs to take into account that Twilight is not only an obvious messianic archetype, but there have been hints given in canon that she is indeed Harmony itself incarnate.