Even after being made up to look more like a changeling, Sandbar still acted nervous. The entire walk back to her room, the colt kept his head down, his ears folded back and his tail tucked between his hind legs.
“I’m back,” called out Pupa as she trotted through the chambers entrance, “and look who I got!”
Chrysalis peered up from an unrolled scroll and give her daughter a quizzical look. Odonate, who had replaced Phasmid at some point while she was out, turned half way around and quirked a questioning eyebrow as Sandbar sluggishly walked over the threshold. Tsetse followed right behind the colt.
“Tsetse, what’s going on?” her mother said in a neutral tone but with narrowed eyes as she looked Sandbar up and down. “Why is that pony out of his cocoon?”
“The princess released him you’re highness,” the scout said after bowing to the queen changeling. “She wanted a playmate.”
“Did she free any others?” asked Odonate, who turned fully to face the trio.
“No sir,” answered Tsetse, “only the colt, and the incident was discovered immediately.”
“Why does he look like that?” Chrysalis asked, slowly rising to her hooves.
“He’s a changeling now,” chirped Pupa who trotted in a circle around Sandbar. “But he still needs wings.”
“I’m not sure if I should find this humorous or insulting,” muttered Odonate, who lifted Sandbars head up by placing a hoof under the colts chin and looked over the ponies’ face. “Whose idea was this?”
“Mine,” the nymph beamed up at the guard, “so he doesn’t have to be scared about being around changelings.”
“By the hive,” hissed Chrysalis while placing a hoof between her closed eyes. “Pupa, you can’t go around releasing ponies from their cocoons and ponies should be scared of changelings, they are just food for us.”
“But we can play with them too right?” questioned Pupa. “Katydid and Lacewing would talk about playing with ponies all the time.”
Odonate choked on whatever he was about to say and had to take a few steps back from Sandbar to compose himself. Sandbar’s cheeks would have been bright red had his fur not been dyed black. Tsetse was now wearing a smirk from ear to ear and Chrysalis just sat on her rump and pressed her hoof harder between her tightly closed eyes.
“What?” innocently asked the nymph, looking from one changeling to the next.
“Okay, Odonate, Tsetse, take the colt back to the feeding chamber and return him to his cocoon,” her mother said, punctuating her command with a stomp of a hoof.
“No!” interjected Pupa, “We haven’t even played anything yet!”
“Pupa,” began Chrysalis but stopped when she looked into her daughters watery eyes.
“Please mom,” the nymph whimpered. “Just a few games?”
“I can’t believe I’m about too,” her mother’s voice trailed off into a grumble of unintelligible words and returned in a slight growl, “very well.”
“Woo!” cheered Pupa who, reminiscent of a baby goat, hopped up onto Sandbar’s back, then off and back down onto the floor.
“Uh, maybe you could let me go too?” the colt timidly asked. “You know, after a few games.”
The three older changelings in the room all gave Sandbar the same apathetic look.
“Or I could just stay and learn about changeling culture,” quickly said the pony, with a nervous smile.
“Oh! He needs fangs too!” the nymph said. “I’ll need to make him fangs later.”
“Would you like me to stay and guard the pony your highness?” Odonate asked.
“No, you both can go,” Chrysalis said, “I can handle him if he tries something stupid.”
“As you wish my queen,” both the guard and the scout said, bowing respectfully before leaving the room.
Pupa trotted over to the pile of left behind games and started to lay them out next to each other. One caught her eye right away, having a picture of a grinning changeling on the cover who was flying away from a group of ponies.
“This one has a changeling on it!” the nymph exclaimed and then unsuccessfully attempted to levitate the box, which was much heavier than a pebble, with her magic. “Let’s play this one first.”
Shuffling over to take a look at the assorted games, Sandbar frowned deeply at the one Pupa picked out. Seeing his reaction, Chrysalis gracefully walked over and scowled after viewing the boxes cover. A soft green glow enveloped the game, lifted it into the air and turned it around so her mother could read the back of the box.
“Maybe we should play a different one,” the pony suggested.
“No,” her mother said, placing the box back down at Sandbars hooves. “I think you should tell her the name and read her the packaging first.”
Looking visibly uncomfortable, the colt nudged the box as if it was toxic. Pupa looked from Chrysalis to the pony, her ears twitching and confusion etched on her face.
“Find the Changeling,” Sandbar read from the box,sounding unenthusiastic. “A game about hunting down a nefarious monster.”
“Go on,” said Chrysalis, returning to her pillow pile and waving a hoof at the colt for him to continue.
“A sneaky changeling has found its way into town and replaced one of the citizens,” Sandbar resumed reading aloud. “It’s up to you and your friends to track it down and expose it to the princess before it can complete its dastardly plan. Take turns finding clues and using your wits in figuring out which pony is really a foul changeling in disguise. Once you gather enough evidence to make an accusation, race your piece to Canterlot Castle and inform the Princess. Guess correctly and send that evil changeling off to rot in the Canterlot Dungeons; but guess wrong and your piece goes to the changeling hive… Two to eight players, for all ages, some assembly required.”
The excitement had slowly drained away from the little nymph as Sandbar had read and once he finished Pupa could only stare up at him silently. She turned away from the colt and walked over to her mother and pressed herself against her parent’s carapace. Chrysalis placed her front hooves around her child and held her protectively.
“Pony,” her mother said, “why don’t you just bring that checkerboard over here and set it up.”
A few one-sided rounds of checkers went by between her mother and Sandbar with the changeling queen winning each time. Eventuality Pupa had pushed aside her morose feelings and inserted herself into one of the games and took over playing from there. While she didn’t do anywhere near as well as Chrysalis, she didn’t let it upset her.
“Learn from your mistakes, plan ahead,” her mother coached but never attempted to suggest a play or stop a bad move.
Eventually checkers was set off to the side and exchanged with a different game. It was about guessing the location of your opponent's tokens across a sky based grid while they try to do the same to yours. Pupa had picked up on this one quickly and noticed that Sandbar liked to hide his tokens in the corners.
This continued on between Pupa and Sandbar through several different games and gradually both the nymph and the colt began to grow tired. Pupa had ended up falling asleep next to her mother right in the middle of a game about slides and stairways.
“What would you like me to do with the colt my queen?” asked Odonate as he looked over at Sandbar, who was off on the other side of the chamber and asleep, curled up on Chrysalis’s least comfortable pillow.
“Nothing, for now,” said Chrysalis while tenderly stroking her daughter's mane. “I have my own use for him.”
“For what?” the guard asked.
“Pupa needs to learn ponies and changelings can’t get along,” explained Chrysalis, “and I’m going to get him to do just that.”
9585204
In my defense what gave me the idea was her behavior after she lost everything. I mean she had a decent plan but she looked a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Now I'm not saying that it is right just that it is a possibility.
That clue like changeling game really says a lot.
That's not really a motherly thing to do.
I wonder who are the ponies who made that game and other kinds of games that piss off every race in Equestria because of their products.
9585204
"Ex-lings" If you're talking about Thorax and company wronging Chrysalis then you must be joking. Because rising up against a terrible and oppressive leader for a better life is the complete opposite of wronging her.
But you seem to be one of the people who try and trash on the Season 6 ending just because you're just that biased to the old overrated designs.
Bit of a double standard Chryssie. You want the ponies to fear changlings but you also want to use the game to show how ponies don't like Changelings.
That's the difference between the old and new I guess. Thorax's group embraces the idea that ponies and changelings can coexist. Resistance to change vs acceptance I suppose.
9585246
Honestly I have a problem with the design change for a similar yet different reasoning. It sends a horribly mixed message of acceptance but you need to change how you look. It's like telling someone you'll accept them if they change their race. Thorax was already being accepted as he was and had some minor changes so him changing wasn't so bad considering he was in the process for technically most of the season but it made no sense for the others. I like most season finales but the last 10-15 minutes that finale and the one before it is some of the s******t and laziest writing I've seen, especially when compared to rest of those finales.
Dang it Chryssi
9585270
Thing is it's also a bit symbolic. It's seen that the changelings as a whole were kinda kept repressed and on a leash by Chrys. The entire race looked damaged, and we know she had them pretty much only doing hive related stuff or combat training. They were stagnant, given no room in the hive to really grow and develop into a truly unique individual. Those little "silly" games in Change A Changeling I thought were to help give the now distinctive looking changelings some actual hobbies and traits now that constant war prep and needing to steal ponies to feed was over entirely. They can now be self sufficient.
9585270
That you acknowledge that Thorax was already accepted without changing his looks pokes a massive hole into "You have to change how you look to be accepted".
It wasn't the lazy writing in either finale. You don't like it fine but don't try and cover something that you don't like with an actual lazy excuse.
9585270
Well, thats the main reason to rightfully trash the episode for what it is - rushed job conveing forced messages lacking context. They had to add crutches later, to some success, but it doesnt change the initial fail. Ex-ling look in particular is the most disgusting thing in the show imao.
9585246
Ant factual proof of Chrysalis being terrible and opressive ruler that isn’t fanon or comes from ponies/thorax/pharinx please?
9585223
Well, I can easily agree that both there and in the school scene she was far from calm or reasonable. Taking Sandbar was a highly irrational decision after all (regardless of its necessity for the plot). I can also agree that her behavior and personality stem from her upbringing (and if she’s old enough to grow up during the pony tribes feud period and/ or affected by Sombra’s actions it would easily explain a lot). But I would strongly disagree with her having a strong disorder all this time being the main reason for her behavior and decisions.
*typing on a phone when laptop wifi dies is a damn chore...*
9585331
You're asking for factual proof, yet not allowing any proof from two of the most prominent changelings in the show who experienced her rule first-hand? Bit of a fallacy there.
Y'know, I'm going to bet that whatever Chryssie's plan is here's going to end up falling through, simply because Sandbar won't end up reacting however Chrysalis expects him to.
in chrysalis long long life she didn't just deal with ponies in her time she didn't get lucky like thorax, I bet she was scarred in fact, I bet there were a few other thorax like lings down the line who weren't so lucky as him like him being given magical wings by the crystal heart to mark him as "good" weird friendship love not too hard an idea for a ling to try in the past giving just sounds like the harmony lending a hand and well I bet chrysalis in the past had to watch horrible things happen and learn quickly that not pretty things get hurt not pretty thing die hungry if they let it happen if they don't learn a way that helps I bet as a new species entirely I bet she did try once but it didn't go well didn't end to well either...
9585334
Cause they are the most biased by circumstance that profited the most from replacing Chrysalis.
9585320
Big flashy change wasn’t necessary for Thorax. Exactly that. Nor was it trully necessary at all (unless we are talking about dumbing down the initial message making it easy to get by everyone, but losing a significant part of its meaning in the process...)
Also, thanks to author for the new chapter.
9585331
her upbringing is a big factor as well but it has problems of her own
9585345
Thorax never set out to profit from it in the first place. Leadership kinda got dumped on his lap. And was notably quite shaky until the confidence boost from Ember in Triple Threat.
9585331
9585345
You mean other than her entire race being hungry and yet she's militaristic and power hungry...like North Korea?
Ok? So it wasn't necessary? If anything you're proving the point that it wasn't sending the message that you need to change your look to be accepted.
9585356
Well, it us still the part of the whole package and it still happened. And going from largely irrelevant exile to an idol figure that almost everyone of his kin now looks up to surely doesnt help with being objective source of info.
Little too late for that one Cheeselegs, changelings and ponies are already getting along. Heck, one of Sandbar's best friends is a changeling! Here's hoping it backfires and Pupa and Sandbar become best buds.
9585362
As is the episode shows - some do have to abandon all that they are if they want to be good. And yeah, its mandatory/can be decided by someone who knows better. Now, if it would not happen for some changelings which would still get along, or would not happen to all of them at once that would play out a different story, but nope.
Again, any actual evidence of lings suffering under Chrysalis? (Ponies sure did under Sombra) . They seem more than content and even happy to follow her right up to a magical not_a_brainwash moment, and then in a few seconds *boom* they are completely different and 100% good now! (Yeah, totally great and not lazy writing)
9585375
There's a good reason I mentioned North Korea, because she's the same thing. Of course the changelings are "content" under her. She holds all the power. She has the ability to feed them whatever garbage she wants since the day they've been born allowing them to believe what she wants. Even though the entire race clearly has a hunger problem that could be solve by acting basically opposite of how they should they won't because Chrysalis is forcing them otherwise. But yeah, that's clearly not suffering under her in any way.
But it totally must be brainwashing when Thorax and friends come in with a complete solution to one of the foundation of needs on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and allowing them freedoms. Man, why would a lot of them ever want that. Let's ask some of the people who risk their lives to escape NK.
9585375
I would call "permanent starvation" to be suffering, yeah. Not to mention she encourages a society of might-makes-right by actively dismissing Thorax as weak. If a leader does that, she encourages cruelty in her people, which leads to a society of abuse.
9585375
Along with what the others said, Thorax provided living proof that constant raids and fighting to steal ponies didn't have to be a way to survive. Little history lesson, loyalty to a nation back then was mainly based on if they could provide basic things like food. Wei in the Three Kingdoms era notably ensured a lot of loyal people in part due to Xaihou Dun's agricultural policies that enabled quite a good amount of food to go around and ensure loyal citizens for armies and such. Chrysalis clearly could not adequately provide, so when someone like Thorax comes in and shows them a way to live free *and* be able to be entirely self-sufficient without risky raids while already starving, you can bet Chrysalis would be tossed out very quickly.
9585422
Thats the thing. Can we directly linkthe starvation to her? I mean lots of stories really just go off on ponies and other races hating/fearing them for their biology not Chrysalis her self
This is going to backfire spectacularly... and for once, that's a GOOD thing for everyone involved!
That plan is so going to backfire.
Am i the only who wants pupa to be just like chrysalis?
I could stop laughing at the situation the adults found themselves in, when they couldn’t explain why two adult changeling could play with ponies but she couldn’t. I could only see three outcomes from this situation, look like a hypocrite, let her have her way, or explain sex to a minor/baby/child genius.
9585439
The starvation itself being part of their biology can't be blamed on her, no. It's continued existence under her rule, that we can. If we're going "canon only, no fanon allowed" then by all accounts ponies didn't even know changelings existed until the wedding, so we know there wasn't any hatred ponies had for changelings before that reveal.
The starvation, as we are told by Thorax and Chrysalis, is something purely changeling. They're always hungry. The moment Starlight so much as suggested an alternative was even possible, changelings began to express doubt as to their current actions. And what did Chrysalis do with Starlight's offer? She rejected the offer without even hearing it and growl "I am the one to decide what is best for my subjects!" That is not the sign of a benevolent ruler.
Heck, even if you were to argue that the starvation is not biology but the result of hatred for changelings after the wedding reveal, said starvation would be even more on the head of Chrysalis.
Chrystalist you have to have understand that your daughter have right to choose and have choice to make such as society and more but the reason why reason chrystalist need to change is because time is change and you need to reformed yourself close to darkness and for some reason is that chrystalist has a good on her is just she jealous and she need to stop her self and her people because isolation is bad and so bad as well is not about good or bad or light and darkness sometimes you gray side to make a balenced of everyone and the reason why i tell you this chrystalist need her plan to seperate sandbar and pupa is big mistake if chrystalist chose this path is only lead to misarable and darkness consume her heart and no empaty on her nor love and emotion and please more cause i like your story
9585375
I was kind of worried about that? But then it turned out that they could still shapeshift and everything, so they hadn't really lost anything. Their personalities did shift a bit (they used to be super-mean to each other, let alone ponies) but that could just be them not being cranky from hunger anymore.
But Chrysalis had to be a butt and abandon them all. There is something seriously wrong with that girl (in the show, not necessarily in this story).
hmm, I wonder in chrysalis plan is with a guard that help out? like one ling changed guard and one injured guard ponies getting sandbar out violently to impact the lesson?
9585634
*laughs hysterically*
They Did Abandon Her. All at once, with no regrets or hesitation, presumingly willingly. And then basically sided with her enemies.
If something similiar would happen to me, I would rather adress their quivalent with words like "Your death, should it come before mine, would be celebrated." And mean it.
Chrysalis, being a child cartoon character (and much less vengenful than me) just left them be. They chose it themselves after all.
9585418
9585438
So, zero evidence provided of Chrysalis being the terrible and/or oppressive ruler so far. Proof of her giving changelings less food than she could and/or actually enforcing certain worldview on them would be great to see... assuming it exists.
Btw, anti-pony sentiment, militaristic focus, etc related to pony-ling relationship is not accepted as such evidence as well.
9585664
Do note they went to Thorax because he was living proof there was a better life that didn't rely on constant trickery or invasions to thrive. You can even see the other changelings look unsure about all this when Starlight's talking. Chrysalis meanwhile isn't even considering the fact that this would essentially solve the food problem for her entire race. She's more concerned about being a conquering warlord than actually providing for her people. She was a dead end.
9585699
Not really? Why would one want to negotiate with enemy that you supposedly have every reason to hate/dislike/whatever when you have basically already won and have a simple working solution to the problem that they want to solve with you IF you basically forego your victory, give up, and put an effort to work and cooperate with them?
I never said that Chrysalis is perfect benevolent ruler for her changelings, or that she is good (or even unbiased) towards ponies, but she isn't a tyrant for her people unlike Sombra. People who do not want to cooperate with other nations when they can conquer them while being a ruler aren't automatically terrible and oppressive or dead-ends of any kinds (suprise!)
Now, we have a child cartoon universe, obviously, and a particularly rushed episode, so quite a few corners have to be cut, etc. And "just share love" only works because the story needs a very quick and easy solution, otherwise it falls apart or has to be prolonged quite a bit. Or an in-universe equvalent because
magicharmony wills so.9585682
So in other words: Actual evidence won't be accepted because it goes against the reality you've decided.
It's not like Season 6 finale laid it out bare. Or Thorax laying it out when he said he was raised by an evil queen.
....
... yeah that's not gonna backfire or anything
9585724
Note that when actually confronted with Thorax and his gone hunger, her first thing without any hesitation wasn't to ask him how to replicate it so nobody would have to go starving again, but to rip it all out straight from him. The fact she'd do this to even her own people without any pause goes quite a ways in showing just how power hungry she really is, and how little in reality she cares for the others.
9585724
What "every reasons?" What reasons would Chrysalis have to hate/dislike/whatever ponies? For rebuffing her unprovoked invasion? That only confirms Chrysalis's selfish and cruel nature.
If Chrysalis was a benevolent -hell, even just a reasonable- ruler, why did Thorax run away? Why did he run away to ponies of all creatures, who would have every reason to see him as an enemy? If running to the people who see you as an enemy is preferable to staying under the rule of your Queen, what does that say about your Queen?
9585725
Thorax is a single deviant individual, who is highly atypical compared to any other changeling. He might honestly believe his words too. Doesn't make them a fact still.
9585739
First, he isn't really one of her people at that point. He joined her enemies and supposedly tries to stop her from finally accomplishing what she always wanted and put a lot of effort to (if not being effective at that particular point, before deus-ex-machina saves the day)
Second, she cannot be neither sure that it is genuine and not some ploy from the ponies (and with just in-universe knowledge she cannot be sure, unlike us, and might not be willing to take the risk, thinking that now is her best chance of victory and if she backs down she might never get the opportunity again)
Third doesn't need to. She has a solution for her subjects (that she knows 100% will work, if not necessary ideally) and will have all the time to figure through trial and error later.
She might also see him as direct threat, suspecting more tricks than are actually present, and considering that all other efforts failed so far and that she has to act quick before its to late.
9585745
Why Chrysalis dislikes ponies doesn't matter at all when we discuss if she is an actual terrible or oppresive ruler of Changelings. She might have some legit reasons or not (or they could be obsolete, dated to Discord antics/Pony tribes feud/Sombra's doings, whatever) She might be selfish, or even have some cruelty to her, or at least lack of kindness. Neither of these makes her an actual terrible ruler for changelings by itself and therefor is irrelevant.
Thorax is a deviant. I mean, even if he wasn't - it's a single drone who ran away because he wanted to. Not a lot of them, not a bunch. A SINGLE guy. It literally doesn't say anything at all by itself
9585782
So Chrysalis has no reason to hate ponies (don't forget, no headcanons) beyond 'they rebuffed my invasion', which brings us back to the original point: What reason did she have to reject Starlight's offer for a more permanent and peaceful fix out of hand?
And Thorax being a deviant doesn't change the core point: Why would he run away to those who view his kind as an enemy if Chrysalis was a nice, or even just a reasonable ruler? Because we know his reasons. By his own words, he ran away because Chrysalis as -and I quote- an evil queen and he wants a life with actual friends who care for him. Because we've seen the changelings under Chrysalis's rule: they were spiteful and selfish, much like their Queen.
Heck, for that matter the fact that every single changeling present for Thorax's transformation immediately joined his side shows that Chrysalis didn't have much in the way of loyalty.
9585827
I already gave a prolonged answer to those points below. I see no reason to repeat myself.
9585890
Dismissing Thorax as an exception without answering the question of why he would leave if Chrysalis was a benevolent ruler is not exactly an answer.
Though I will admit I did not answer one particular part myself either. Which is the "Why Chrysalis dislikes ponies doesn't matter at all when we discuss if she is an actual terrible or oppresive ruler of Changelings" part. This does matter, since dismissing Starlight's offer out of hand shows she isn't interested in a better solution, only her solution. And her solution means a permanent starvation level hunger for her people.
That is not a good, benevolent ruler. That is the kind of ruler that explains why almost every changeling present leapt at the chance to be free of her when it presented itself, even if it came at the cost of permanently changing.
If Chrysalis was a benevolent, kind ruler, or even just a reasonable one, she would not have been abandoned by the majority of her subjects the moment such a chance presented itself. That kind of near-complete, immediate and utter rebellion can only be explained if she were a tyrant to her own people.
9585906
A singular biased opinion on the subject can never be taken at vace value as the fact. One unhappy drone doesn't prove anything at all. If anything that he was one of a kind proves the opposite.
Guess, I'll repeat some of my points one last time with slightly extended reasoning. (I wil not do it again, as I won't be walking in circles)
1) It doesn't matter, because Chrysalis doesn't have to search for a solution that would be best for everyone. She doesn't have any obligations before ponies in that way.
2) She has no reason at all to believe Starlight at all. She can reasonably expect any kind of shenanigans.
3) She might not want to take the risk. It might not have worked. Lings could have all died etc, especially considering that there was testing, etc but hello harmony! (aka convenient plot device)
4) We have zero factual evidence of starvation level hunger so far to begin with.
5) We do not know if and how would she handle the issue in case of her victory. She might be easily successful in this regard in one way or another
Or even be forced to work with ponies later on her own for any reason. (Pity no fics had explored this one direction)
6) Betrayal of all present changeling can be explained in a few ways (just going in-universe, cause the actual reason is obviously lazy writing and rushed story flow, that they partially patched with later episodes). It can easily go very grim-dark very fast btw (and not being an actual betrayal) this way), after all if Thorax needed quite a bit of time to "fully reform" for a group to change their personality near instantaneously without anyone chosing to stay as he was? Kinda looks waaaay to fishy to me.
And again I did never say that she is a best possible ruler or a truly benevolent one, nope. But a terrible or oppressive she isn't either.
At least I wonder where this story will take her and if the potential of development would be wasted on clichés or not.
GLHF.
9585320
Honestly the minor changes (glowing wings, not much else) amounted to just looking the same but healthier. A lot of fanfic goes on to describe the holes, baldness, and/or hairless tails as signs of long-term malnutrition from being under an isolationist dictator.
I was really hopng Pharynx's episode was going to be a deeper exploration of their race's duality, but unfortunately not. Pastel=good, no questions asked.
9585745
I would point out that Thorax profited immensely by betraying the Chrysalis – He was “given” kingship over the changelings, and while he didn’t leave the hive to gain kingship specifically, he did leave for a life that had every likelihood of being “easier”.
It should not be forgotten that Thorax seems to be remembering Chrysalis - and his own actions - in a manner that conveniently makes all his actions justified – “I’m not craven, I just saw that Chrysalis was a monster!” / “I’m not betraying Chrysalis, she’s betraying us by not seeing this obvious solution!”.
I’m not even saying that he is wrong (this is a children’s show afterall), but his criticism of Chrysalis should be taken with a grain of salt – he is an unreliable narrator at best.
Or if you want another example: One woman, Hoda Muthana (an ISIS militant wife), has declared the United States to be full of heretics. By your logic, my nation should end all economic ties with, and attempt to collapse the government of the US. Just because one person says something is bad, does not mean it is necessary, or moral, or reasonable, to be galvanized to action.