Princess Applejack

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51.desustorage.org/mlp/thread/20740272/
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58.desustorage.org/mlp/thread/21510114/

>>25460167
59. desustorage.org/mlp/thread/21619890/
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>>25460179
Here is full archive of ALL the stories in condensed, easy-to-read form with all chatter in-between removed.
Check out the pastebin here:
http://pastebin.com/u/PrincessApplejack


Curious what happened last time, or just wanna know what happens during an active thread?
Check out the previous thread here:https://desustorage.org/mlp/thread/25385359
You are completely new and have no idea what is going on? There is a wikia with an overview of all characters, a complete timeline, previous thread recaps and explanation of the various concepts used in these stories!
Check out the wiki here:http://princess-aj.wikia.com/wiki/Princess_Applejack_Wiki


Confused about when a character first showed up or who they are? Want to know when an arc started?
Check out the character notes and details here :
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PsMAwLcIdC3IYxezAV9Ko4neEguNvc3eQqQqiTCxdDs/edit#gid=2119378650

We have begun working on a big project to fix up old stories and make this crazy world more coherent and accessible to new readers who don't like the thread format.
Check out the 'Princess Applejack: Re-Cut Edition' here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15cv3kqExr_vOM0JkUh4dqnvVKxJ5Z-P1KHwE8Z7aG0k/edit?usp=sharing
And finally, while most of the thread is very much clop free, we have a pastebin in case you're feeling a little more naughty with your writing, find it here. http://pastebin.com/u/PrincessAJAfterDark please upload any like it to a pastebin so they can be added out of thread.
And above all else, enjoy your stay at /paj/!

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First for Pinkie

Second for mandatory Applejack inclusion in the Harem-collapse-event

>>25460217
Just like a ponk. Coming over here, stealing our firsts!

>>25460276
...The fuck is she gonna do there?

>>25460187
That G-doc looks like it is just got a thread or two and then abandoned. It ends with Shiny complaining about his rapist being in Canterlot.

>>25460331
>BLAH BLAH BLAH HONESTY HONESTY HONESTY

"But you never raised a hoof against any of this"

>...Mah God...

"I know, so much for all that honesty talk, huh?

>AH' HAVE A FLAW! OH THANK SWEET SUNBUTT AH' HAVE FLAWS! THAT MEANS MORE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! C'MERE SHINING! WE GOT WORK TO DO!

'Noooo'

>>25460331
>She is going to say Apple.
>Then get mad and shout when she doesn't get her way until they give in.
>Then pat herself on the back for being right.
But really though there is nothing she can really do there but scold someone and that isn't going to help anything.
>>25460362
I like yours better

>>25460368
>I like yours better

HAHA

I WAS THE SAME PERSON, FUCKER

>>25460342
Yeah, should probably think about cutting it. Don't think it's getting picked back up.

>>25460362
>C'MERE SHINING! WE GOT WORK TO DO!

And thats when Spike pulls out his gun.

At least until AJ points out that wasn't what she meant...

>>25460362
Except she doesn't care about her nepotism. (see Sunset/RD conversation).
>>25460374
Well that was unnecessarily mean. Chrysalis stop writing and either help caddy or help Spike get out of the caves

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Pinkie Preview Prophecies

>Applejack and I do our own stunts.
>Rarity says to bend over.
>Fluttershy runs into a kitten, but is over scheduled and has no time to help.
>Rainbow Dash and Twilight have to take care of a crazy Turkey.
>Chitania gets a persistant jury duty summons by a wall-eyed pony.
>Tree Hugger knows how to give good vibrations.
>The Crusaders meets Old Gregg!
>A feast of fanservice!

OOCO
>Spike
‘Chrysalis’

Chrysalis drifted along the sea of consciousness. Sometimes floating up for air…

>..c’mon, now. Stay with me!

Sometimes slipping below it’s waves.

>…think of AJ spike, think of AJ and Rarity and twilight and shiny and all the others…

Something was in her mouth. Addictively sweet, like the nectar of the gods.

>…don’t do this to me! Not now! Not after all…

Sweet….but not nourishing. Not enough. Like candy or a soda rather than milk and bread.

His voice sounded farther and farther away as she began to fall…

(Spike of Scales?)
(1/4?)

>>25460501
***
Cold. She felt uncomfortably cold, and oddly wet. Why did she feel-
<Splash>

‘AH!’

Her eyes snapped open as she jolted awake whipping her head around for the bastard with a bucket who had the audacity to hit-

<Drip>

Another drop of water hit her in the forehead.

In retrospect she had been more ‘lightly dripped on’ than ‘splashed in the face with water.

She groaned and began to take her surroundings in a bit more calmly.

>Oh good. You’re awake.

‘Spike?’

>No, the tooth fairy.

His tone was much less friendly all of a sudden.

She turned to look at him.

‘You look…grey…’

>Yeah well, I shoved all the love I could down your throat after you collapsed before the morlocks found us. We’re in their village by the way. Took a fair amount out of me. Only just came to a little bit ago myself.

‘Ugh…alright then’

With an effort she rose to her feet. Feeling better, but not truly replenished.

‘So…they have a way to the surface right? Sent the message yet?’

>Of course I sent the message! Why wouldn’t I have done that yet!?

‘Ok, ok geeze…what crawled up your ass?’

>Come. I’ll show you.

He led her out of the makeshift tent they had been in and into the main part of the morlock village. As she emerged dozens of morlocks turned their heads to watch her all curious as to her every move. Yet still, they kept their distance.

>They respect you as 32’s queen.

(Spike of Scales. Bitchqueen of Universe.)

‘HEY!’

>Rekulk. We’re heading to the memorial.

(Ah. Rekulk shall follow?)

>Do as you please.
He led them straight through the small village to the outskirts. There a semicircle of earthen mounds encircled a pole with a banner hanging from it. 77’s banner.

>Apparently, 32 was busy during his time down here and 77 couldn’t be arsed to ask before sending us into a deadly hell hole.

The queen lowered her head slightly her mane tumbling over her face.

‘So this is where they wound up.’

>yup.

>>25460510
‘…’

>…

‘….’
>Nothing to say?

‘…’

>I mean. I’m not sure what I was expecting but just…nothing? Really? They died for y-

‘What could I possibly say?’

>I don’t know. A eulogy? A word of thanks? Ask for forgiveness?

‘And would that bring them back?’

>No. But, it’d at least show signs of remorse. If you’re even capable of it.

‘YOU THINK I DON’T REGRET THIS!?’

In that moment, she jerked her head up and for the first time, Spike saw something he had thought her incapable of.

Anguish.

It stunned him to silence.

>…

‘…’

(…)

‘Dig them up.’

>…What?

‘Dig. Them. Up.’

>Why? Do you just have a desperate need to desecrate their remains on topping of getting them killed? The hell is wrong with you?

‘ME!? What’s wrong with you!? What’s wrong with 32!? This is NOT Changeling!’

>…what?

‘Changelings don’t leave a trace! We are burned to protect the secret of our existence! THAT is how you honor our dead! This…this is a mockery to all they were…’

>Times are changing. Changeling don’t have to hide anymore.

‘Times aren’t changing for them! Help me dig them up…p-ple….puh-lee…’

>Alright! Fine. Just…stop that. Watching you try to sound that out is horrifying. …Rekulk? Lend a hoof?

(As the bitchqueen wishes.)

Even with a creature who could move through rock like it was soft cheese it took a few minutes to uncover the remains and bring them to a pile in the center beneath the banner, but soon it was done.

>Now what.

‘Grab the banner. We came down here for it, we aren’t leaving without it. You can pack it in your flamey-whatever right?’

He nodded and in a puff of green the banner disappeared.

‘Now. Burn the bodies.’

(3/4)

>>25460520

The dragon nodded, and breathed.

The emerald flames settled on the corpses and did their work quickly, the desiccated flesh catching like any other dried fuel. Before long, nothing remained but a pile of ash.

(Excuse me. Rekulk has much trading to plan.)

The morlock left back toward the village leaving the pair alone again.

‘Thank you.’

>Whatever.

‘…back to this huh?’

>back to what?

‘…fine. Whatever. Screw you too.’

>No.

‘…’

>…

‘…that’s it? Just no? No pithy comeback of any kind?’

>Yeah. That’s it.

They stared at each other a moment.

‘So….when’s that message gonna reach them ya’ think? Been a bit since you sent it. And you said the response should be relatively instant once it comes.’

>It arrived before you woke up.

‘…what.’

>I didn’t want you to just strap on the vest and blast out of here without seeing this. I felt they deserved that much.

He gestured to the empty graves.

‘…Wow. Just…just wow. You’re a real piece of work y’know that? …Screw it, I just want to go home. Give me the damn vest or token or whatever else and let’s get the hell out of here.’

He spat flame once more and the vest appeared. The queen strapped it on and in moments was back to her old self.

‘Come on.’

The flames of her magic danced around them both, and they were gone.

(4/4)

¿What is it? :v

OOCO
>AJ
"SA"
'Celestia'
~~~

>...Is there a particular reason y'all are rubbin each other's rears like ya' are scratchin' off for the lottery?

"...Wait, do we have a lottery?"

'Shut up and rub!'

>What ya' do on yer' own time is yer' business, but not in mah' dang bathroom!

"We're researching!"

>Don't you give me that Twience crap, Ah've heard enough crazy from her ta' make mah' granny think Ah' need ta' start prayin; and Ah' don't even know what that means!

'It's true! How do Cutie Marks work!?'

>They... wait, you don't know?

'No? Why would you think that?'

>Don't you like... give them?

'What!? No! That's stupid!'

"Come on, Applejack."

>...Fair enough. But what do ya' mean?

"We mean, like... how deep does this go?"

>...Ah'... Ah'm not so sure Ah' wanna help ya' find out that, Ah' feel like granny would say Ah' need ta' clean out mah' ears just fer' thinkin' it.

'So then, you'll help?'

>...fine.

"Grab an ass and start rubbing!"

>...One way ta' spend the weekend, Ah' spose.

'EEP!'

>Ya' got enough for both of us, stop whinin'.

>>25460531
Nice bit of continuity with the leaving the body thing, you actually wrote Chrysalis remarkably well in that bit.

>>25460416
>>Rarity says to bend over.

Oh myyyyy~

>>25460531
>>I didn’t want you to just strap on the vest and blast out of here without seeing this. I felt they deserved that much.
Damn, Spike.

Ice cold.

>>25460730
Well he is a reptile.

>>25460276
>Harem-collapse-event

I thought for a second you meant "the harem is actually splitting up" or something, but it's the opposite happening! Chrysalis outright said if Cadence leaves she's going with her.

Can't Harm the Harem!

OOCO?
>Sunset
"29"
~~~

>Hrmph.

"Hrmph!"

>Stupid Chitania.

"Blasted wench upon mine soul! To think she brings such woe to those dear Mayor Mare seeks to protect so greatly!"

>...

"What?"

>Tis truth, the pain that she brings. To the head, to the heart, like a church bell it rings.

"Ah, but the sound is most foul! Thou can find no sanctuary within the land this sound rings our from. We can find no comfort, nor joy to the heart that the spirit may fill in the walls of prayer."

>More to the judge, is it not? A being beyond most high who can decide fates on a whim, and none may do any but look up to them and plead. Shall they be heard? Shall the words reach ears that will not hear? That is for fate to decide.

"Fate, the strings connecting the puppets to the sky. Moved by forced that seek us for entertainment, not our own joy. We are forever denied what we seek."

>For, if we were to grasp our goals, the story would end, and the puppeteer's hoof strayed in disinterest.

"Woe! Tis the lifeblood of comedy, woe!"

>Truth, in thine words. Truth, as low to the ground as the beasts of the earth. Natural... yet beneath most.

"..."

>...

"...Have we never talked?"

>I feel like we talked at some point.

"Huh. Thine literary words are rather impressive."

>You're pretty well spoken for a changeling.

"Needlessly racist, yet the comment I shall hold! Tis the worlds of Marelto's poetry that fill mine mind... thirteenth translation, of course."

>Of course. Anyone who goes for tenth or lower is plebeian to the core.

"Tis truth!"

>...

"..."

>Huh. You want to talk about sixteenth year art?"

"Do I!?"

>...so this is that friendship thing.

>>25460730
actually...I'm a little nervous about this plot point but I don't think it's too far gone to play off if I need to.

Spike isn't just pissed right now, the love drain thing is basically so far gone that it is altering his personality causing him to be an asshole.

This is currently being used to tie up a few loose ends but I'm not sure if it is totally necessary. Been going back and forth on cutting it out.

>>25461134
Why the question mark?

But aside from that, this is... oddly cute.

LAST THREAD RECAP, RARITY PULLED OFF THE MASK TO REVEAL... OLD MAN CADENCE!? EDITION!
>The residents of Ponyville continue to be terrified of Chitania's presence, even if she is occasionally helpful with rabbits. Because she hates rabbits, not because she wants to be helpful.
>Also, Chitania can't play electric guitar.
>Mr and Mrs Cake's business is saved by a proud Celestia
>There's a mob outside Mayor Mare's office that want Chitania gone. Racist comments are made. They eventually are gotten rid of via bribery of wine, cheese snacks and guessing which lotus sister is which.
>MM and 29's attempts to be rid of Chitania to meet these requests are, sadly, met with failure.
>Celestia learns about Fluttershy's recent 'activities', and is not pleased.
>Everyone has their eyes on Chitania, which means the other changelings are free to wander about and get into raves.
>Yes, raves.
>88 is now hitting on Actarius. He still doesn't notice.
>10 is off to Stalliongrad!
>Pinkie throws Chitania a welcome musical.
>41, still reeling from her previous discovery of her parentage, is moping in the woods. In there, she is confronted by the mysteriously absent until this point 13.
>She laments to the unluckyling how lacking she is in comparison to someone who could face Chitania, and that Titania's legacy is the dead last soldier.
>They have a talk, wherein 13 lays down what she thinks of 41's focusing on her mom and moping about. It is not a good thing.
>She insists the need to remain strong for her hive, and to be happy that they lucked into a Queen who will accept her despite being a female. 41 shoots back that at least she still has her mom, and 13 gets irate when 41 calls her a princess, declaring she is NOT an heir anymore, she is a hivemember of Chrysalis's. She loves her mom, she will never leave her mom again, but she is an heir no longer.
>41 is confused that she doesn't want to be a Queen. 13 brushes this off.
1/5yesFIVEYOUFUCKERS

>>25461397
>13 points out that her mother was never really a winner, and 41 needs to be better. This, at last, convinces 41 she needs to be more.
>OOCO, Spike and Chrysalis stumble into a monster nest with a fanged, tentacled monstrosity. Because of course they do.
>A short battle leaves them trapped, with only one way out. Spike is the distraction, and Chrysalis runs for the exit.
>But when she gets there, Spike is trapped and about to be eaten since his mega-laser won't go off. Seeing only one chance, she uses the last of her love-stores and shoots it's base, allowing Spike to shoot the thing and kill it.
>Afterwards, she fall unconscious, completely drained.
>AJ and Zecora rhyme-off and brohoof. Just because
>Spitfire is now tormenting Dash.
>56 can smell plots... don't ask.
>Dadling will wreck a wall to kill a single spider, as he should.
>7 consoles a worried Buttercup, who is still afraid she will be forced to go back to 'normal'
>Applejack goes to visit the farm, spending some time in her old room and reminiscing on how she thought her life would be and the fact she had to leave it so suddenly, she couldn't even grab anything. She finds it covered in dust and old.
>After a bit of thinking, she decides that maybe a bit of work down there would help out somewhat.
>She's gonna need another desk.
>Two can't sleep, because she's starting to worry what might happen if another kid comes into the picture.
>Still, Sombra calms her down.
>Sunset wonders what a human Chitania would be like.
>77 visits Aj to tell her about his proposal, and Chitania keeps annoying him.
>Speaking of, Trixie annoys said megabug right back, so... that's a thing.
>The CMC are race traitors, according to a zebra.
>Don't ask.
>29 goes up to check on 56, who is still looking for the common room. He is at first angry, thinking that 56 gave up on his promise to train hard again, but when he finds out he might actually get into the Nightgaurd he gets a little... worried.
2/5HOLYSHITFIVE

>>25461406
>56 is in such a rush, he doesn't even have time to hear about the events with Luna, and rushes off without saying goodbye. Leaving behind a sad, yet proud, 29.
>But someone is watching all of this...
>No matter how much AJ and Chitania say nothing is going wrong, nothing is going wrong.
>BUT FOR THE MAIN EVENT, EVERYTHING IS GOING WRONG!
>18 and SA confront 'Cadence' in the wine shop, and make a stunning discovery! It's not Cadence at all!
>It's Rarity!
>...Yes, that Rarity. She and Twilight have been working on illusion spells that will let them pretend to be each other in case they need to be in two places at once, and she decided to test it out when Cadence left the Empire to get a feel for what the populace feels about Cadence. She wasn't worried about being seen with her, as if Cadence returned she would be able to detect it and find a safe place to drop the disguise, leaving none the wiser.
>Though 18 and SA are upset, they can't have her drop her disguise. So, they all decide to head back to the castle.
>..and that's when Chrysalis teleports in from the snow outside to get herself some alcohol, and guess who she has with her?
>Cadence! Who is now looking at not-Cadence!
>In front of the Crystal Empire!
>That's when everything goes wrong.
>Cadence's first idea is to tell Chrysalis to 'do something'. Chrysalis, and everyone else, thinks she means 'the thing'
>The brain thing.
>She didn't mean that, but too late! Rarity is now in righteous indination mode at the idea Cadence might have been considering brainwashing her subjects to hide her secret.
>Anger is had on both sides, which almost gets out of control when Cadence thinks it's 18 posing as her.
>Thankfully, 18 is there to clear it up... and she is accidentally now looking like Cadence.
>Damn changeling powers.
3/5WHY DO YOU HATE ME

>>25461421
>Three Caddy's confuse the Crystal Ponies something terrible.
>More aruging is had, with Cadence insisting she's the real Cadence. Nobody is sure, but a Crystal Pony has an idea!
>Because this morning, the REAL princess helped him file paperwork and figure out zoning regulations! Surely only the REAL princess would know what and where that was!
>Thus Cadence shuts up real fast.
>Things go from bad to worse when he realizes that EIGHTEEN is the real princess! How?
>She still has the gum he stuck in her hair, that has been hidden because it's the same color as said hair. Nobody else noticed.
>Eighteen immediately tries to spin this, and almost has the CE convinced, but Rarity is having none of that!
>She makes 18 drop the disguise, and then reveals herself! Now all of them know that it wasn't Cadence who did that!
>Cadence panics a bit and tells Chrysalis to bail, so she does, bringing everyone with her.
>Then comes a whole lot of yelling at an unrepentant Rarity.
>Rarity explains she chose Cadence for a reason. After the events with Buttercup she realized that the public has a terribly skewed perceptions of royals, and she needed to know how bad. Since she knows how much, or rather how little, Cadence does, she needed to see if there was any indication anyone thought she didn't do EVERYTHING herself. There was not.
>So, when Cadence tried to rehide the secret, Rarity was having none of that. She wanted to give credit to who deserved it, 18.
>Who is also threatening to murder her, and meaning it, if this ends up with the CP thinking she's infiltrating the CE and gets her kicked out, which Rarity had not considered.
>Before the strangling can begin, Chrysalis tosses her down into the pen that Sunset used to be held in so she can't fuck everything up anymore, then she says she has a plan to get things back to 'normal'.
>But, to everyone's surprise, Cadence says no, they're not going to do that.
4/5IWANNAGOBACKTO2POSTS!

>>25461431
>Chrysalis tries to insist, but Shining says they can manage if she just wants to come clean. After some debate, Chrysalis still thinks her plan is right, but will go along with everyone else. Cadence decides not to cover it up.
>After Twilight and 42 arrive an get brought up to speed, she says why. She doesn't have a plan, she just isn't bringing anyone else down with her. The others realize this might end with her gone, and Chrysalis agrees that if she goes, then her and the changelings sure as hell aren't staying.
>All alone, Cadence goes off to face the music, with the CE crew, and a very sleepy 2, left to wait.
>She goes off to face her destiny, and all of the others just have to.. believe.

WHEW! Haven't had to do one of these big ass recaps in a while!

As always, if I missed anything, tell me about it. This was a biggun, so if I did miss it, I'm sorry, I really am, but I am but a miserable pile of secrets!

>>25461457
Don't think you did, except not mentioning that JJ got BTFO

>>25460520
>>25460531
Just noticed I accidentally cut a bit out when pasting in. Doesn't really add much, but...for flavor i guess?

Would go between posts 3 & 4.
---

‘Now. Burn the bodies.’

(Queen…are you certain? This banner and these graves…they help remind morlocks of our past mistakes)

‘Then lave the holes open to remind you of the pitfalls of the old ways or something.’

>…

‘What’s the hold up?’

>It still feels wrong.

‘Get over it. This is how my species does things. Just…just light it already would you?’

The dragon nodded, and breathed.

well, it's official, Chrysalis porn has been ruined for me thanks to you guys, now all I can think when I look at it is "how would Shining cockblock himself out of this one?" or "ohgod what would AJ think if she heard that line from the other side of a door and what would REALLY be happening?"
so thanks for that

>>25461854
Princess Applejack!

Ruining sex for everybody!

>>25461854
HAH!

>>25461984
Now THAT has been ruined for me.

I swear I hear that when I see her laugh evilly in anything.

>>25461164
Can't Cadence just insta-reload him the moment they get back to civilization?

Unlike Spike, she knows how to directly control the stuff super easy.

>>25462338
He's not a changeling, he can't just be recharged by Shiny or Cadence. He'll recover over time since he didn't completely drain himself. He'll just be an asshole for a day or two to everyone.

>>25462363
Er, did you forget Cadence can instantly recharge love on anyone? She did it to Shining at the finale of the wedding. That was a plot point in everything. She can do it to him just as easily as she did it to her husband.

>>25462399
Shiny was full on zombie too, and then she turned him into a completely Army wrecking machine. He went from duuhhh to being able to toss aside somebody who beat Cell no problem.

Spike can get fixed in 2 seconds max

>>25462399
ACW was 3 and a half years ago, forgive me.
>>25462432
Alright, that is what Cadence would do if they interact. However, I believe the story is to make Chrysalis and Spike bond so I think Bug bitch has to do it And not say Cadence or for some reason AJ. otherwise we have Spike saving her and just pissing away the good will by being a love drained dick.

>>25462472
I agree with this, but logically shouldn't Chrysalis be able to fix him too?

Once she gets a recharge, it should be essy. She feeds the lings personally, should be same concept even if not the exact same thing. I mean if she knows how to take it out, she should prolly know how to put it back in.

Might even be a good bonding thing if she shares some love with him.

>>25462545
Already charged with the harness.

Logically 42 and 18 could so she definitely can. but unlike Cadence she always gets this treatment from him so she hasn't investigated why he is grayer and a douche. Love sensing (on a individual level and not an in the air thing) isn't a passive, Caddy has to concentrate to see levels as would Chrysalis if 18 is anything to go by. Now when she realizes the situation she will probably return the favor, how that goes i don't know.

>>25462399
>>25462432
She isn't as good as Chrysalis or for that matter Shiny. She can't revive a pone from near death love drain (not even Shiny) but she can improve upon what's there. She is outclassed by Changelings in that regard since they have it as a survival tactic and she has it as an ancillary effect of her shipping magic.

>>25462629
18 can definitely see levels, I remember that from Partyland. So Chrysalis should be able to see it as well. But was it something she had to focus on? I thought they could gleam it's just from being around them to detect high love targets. Doesn't matter I guess, works better in the story if its somethimg she has to focus on. Just wondering.

Well reading over your replies I think I can go forward with what I have without rocking the boat too much. I have some idea that in this case it is actually degenerative to spike but...that's mostly glanced over and I'm not feeling like digging into it deeply at present.

>>25462656
You just said it
>Gleam from being around them to detect high level love targets.
>gleam-a small sign
>To detect high level targets
They can tell there is high love output in an area but they have to focus to see how much is there. They can't see suicidal depression radiating off of someone but can pick out a pony overcharged by the Heart in a crowd.
>>25462704
Go for it Spike can't take a small loss for the bigger picture. It worked out fine for AJ when we finally had something bad she did stick.

>>25462653
Different powerset. Cadence can amplify love within a heart, which changelings obviously can't do, and add to what's there. The one instant she couldn't, post Cordy, her magic wasn't working due to feedback from the shield.

Though you did remind me that yes, Chrysalis can give love to others directly. And better than cadence can too, since she can see exactly where it needs to go. To the level that even 18 couldn't match. But obviously, a Ling and can't revive somebody unless they get love from another source themselves. So Cadence would normally be go-to gal for this, but this is all about the bonding.

>>25462724
I have a feeling if we ever tried to list everyone's powersets and tried to tier them accordingly it wouldn't go over well.

>>25462704
If this plot point is just to have Spike act like an asshole but not have it be 'really' his fault, I'd say just drop it. It's not coming off natural at all, it should be solved almost instantly when Chrysalis puts together that the guy who gave her love so she survived is now freaking grey and moody, and it seems like a transparent way to have Spike do and say some things that would be too much but still having room to backpeddle and say it wasn't 'that' bad and it was the love drain anyway.

Even with this current Cadence thing, we'really not having Rarity do all of this because of the illusion spell gone wrong or something. Either give a good reason Chrysalis and everyone else wouldn't put it together and have everything Spike says and does stick with no "it wasnt really me" or "I wouldn't have ever done this really" stuff, or just do something else.

>>25461134
D'awww. Sunny actually made a friend.

>>25461457
Thanks Recap buddy. We love you <3

>>25462807
Should it go this way, I'm thinking of this as a way to take off Spike's filter. He's going to be a dick, but he'll mean everything he says. He'll essentially be Chrysalis to an extent. He can't take back what he said and he gains an understanding of how her nature is and how others can put up with an endless stream of asshole day in and out.

Also for a reason, he isn't in critical condition, just moody. He can essentially just walk it off and since Cadence doesn't need piling on atm leave her out.

Good night, new thread

>>25462807
>>25462965
That's not really where I'm going with this. It is pretty quickly resolved before he does any real damage. The resolution provides an opening to set up a couple other scenes.

File: 940682__safe_solo_pinkie+pie_cute_sleeping_diapinkes_resting_artist-colon-oouichi_comfy.jpg (1MB, 1290x1600px) Image search: [Google]

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Non-Canon
>Pinkie
"Cadence"
'DT'
{Gummy}
~~~~
>Welcome to Late Night /pa/ with your host Pinkie Pie! It's during this time that content doesn't matter, and I could use a snack! Now for our main segment...Pinkie's Dreamhouse!

"I'm the pretty one <3"

'I'm the grumpy one.'

>and IIIII'm with Gummy!

{Hello.}

>As my spirit guide, what can of guidance are you going to give me tonight?

{I was mainly just trying to guide you home, but I can't help but notice your gingerbread house. Is it alright if I had a taste?}

>Oh go for it! Mi casa es su casa.
Looks to viewers.
>That means my house is your house.

"A Tapir!"

>...What?

"You kept calling him an alligator, but he looks like a Tapir with tusks. Why do you call him Gummy?"

>...because he has no teeth.

"I thought tusks were teeth."

'Tusks ARE teeth.'

"Then what's the point of calling him Gummy when he has teeth?"

>But he's clearly an alligator with no teeth.

"...are we looking at the same thing because he looks a lot like a Tapir with blue tusks."

{My tusks aren't blue.}

>"'...'"

{...Hmm I was hoping we could have kept this easy.}

A claw arm extends from DT's backpack and pins Gummy down.
'Who are you really?'
He bites and breaks off the arm. He then inhales sucking up DT's backpack and eats it.
'Hey!'

{Tasty.}
Cadence pulls out her swordwhip and extends it to stab him. The blade goes directly into his mouth and he slurps it up like it was a noodle.
{Delicious...keep them coming.}

"My pretty sword!"
Pinkie goes in for a left hook, but stops short when he turns to try and bite her hoof off. She delivers a side kick into Gummy and slides back.

>Answer the question! If you're not Gummy then who are you?

Gummy skin melts away and a large Tapir takes his place.
{Oh well, I suppose the jig is up...}
He licks his lips and smirks.
{I'm just your friendly neighborhood dream eater.}

>>25463812
This is a reference to something...

>>25464080
If not directly, then indirectly to the legend that a crap ton of these things are based off of. They even have a Pokemon based off of it.

>>25464080
What ISN'T it a reference to?

Fucking Naruto had one of those...

OOCO
>Luna
"Celestia"
'SA'
~~~~

>...

"Lulu! Well hello there!"

>...

"You're probably wondering what we're doing. Wellll, Applejack has started laying tripwires everywhere, and Shiny took too many to the knees."

'Pretty painful.'

"So, since my bathroom is still unavailable-"

'Natural causes.'

"And Shiny's is still unusable-"

'Unavoidable accident.'

"-we thought we'd use yours! You don't mind, do you?"

'Bring the sisterly love.'

>...

"Luna?"

'She looks off.'

"Little off, yes... Lulu? Come on, be a good sister."

>...

"Luna-"

>THE NIGHT SHALL LAST FOREVERRRRRRRR!

"You always do this!"

>RARRRGGGHHH!

"I'm telling mom!"

>>25464337
Luna is that petty o turn heel over bathroom invasion. Though I think NMM is well outclassed by this point.

>>25464337
Admit it, you'd pull this shit too if they were like this in your bathroom.

>AJ
"Chitania"
'Dash'
~~~~

>Ya' know, ponies are gonna start thinkin' we're a couple iffin' ya' keep hangin' around me.

"What, afraid I'll scare off your suitors when they realize they can't compete?"

>...Ya' actually might.

CRASH!

'APPLEJACK! I need you to set someone on fire!'

>...

"I am suddenly interested in a ponies problems. Maybe this relationship can work out after all."

'Wha-'

>What in tarnation are ya' talking about!?

'She's driving me crazy, Applejack! Crazy!'

"The pink one annoys me too, I understand. I'll do this for you, for the both of us."

>She don't mean Pinkie!... Do ya'?

'No!'

>See?

"That's alright, most of them annoy me. Who do you want me to set on fire?"

>Ya' ain't burning nobody!

'Maybe just a little?'

>DASH!

'I'm going to go insane, Applejack! If this keeps up, I'll set MYSELF on fire!'

"Well, there goes any motivation to actually put a stop to this."

>Ya' got problems, ya' know that?

"Sounds to me like she's the one with the issues."

'I DO!'

"Point proven."

'Fine, if you won't help me, I"LL DO IT MYSELF! IT'S OONNNNNN'

ZOOOM

"...So who the fuck was she talking about?"

>Ah' have no idea.

"Are you worried?"

>...Nope.

"See? We're making a real connection, you and me."

File: baku_that_looks_like_tapir_by_umber.jpg (124KB, 884x576px) Image search: [Google]

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>>25464080
It's a reference to a Baku spirit. The legend goes if you have a nightmare you can say "Baku-san come eat my dream" and a Baku will come to eat the nightmare, so you can go back to sleep. However there's a darker side to the story. If he's still hungry, he'll eat your dreams too and leaving you empty of desires, so you have to be cautious about it. Baku looks like a Tapir in the Japanese legend. I had to do some google researching to see what the Dream Eater and Drowzee were referencing originally.

>32
"Actarius"
'88'
~~

>It's not going to work.

"What is?"

'Shhh! He'll catch on eventually...'

>He really won't.

"Won't what?"

'Nobody is this thick!'

"But I work out..."

>He is pretty thick.

"See? He knows."

'I'm positive he's going to catch on any second now.'

"To what!?"

>He's never going to catch on.

'He will!'

"I will what!?"

'...'

>...

"Fine, be like that. Did you get a good look yet? Blind-pony-seeing is cool and all, but my fur's getting messed up from all the rubbing."

'...Sigh. Yes, thank you very much.'

"Anytime!"

>Told you so.

"Okay, are you calling me ugly? Because that's... kinda hurtful. Look, I know I'm not a super good looking stallion or anything, but you didn't have to 'see' all over my rear for so long like you got it mixed up for my face. I'm not that ugly!"

'No no, I appreciate it. And no, you're not ugly. You look fine'

"You sure? You saw pretty much all of me with the feely thing."

'Just had to be thorough.'

"Oh, okay... sooo-"

'So you are very, very thick.'

"Thanks!"

>...

'...'

"What? I said I work out."

'...How.'

>At this point, I can't be sure he's not just doing it to mess with us.

"What? No, I do it to stay healthy. Used to be a guard you know!"

>...

'...'

"What?"

'Sigh.'

>Tell me about it.

>>25465058
He HAS to know.

He used to be a guard, no way did he not pick up on that, he just HAS to know and is probably too uncomfortable to mention it.

>>25465185
And thus, 32 gets slapped with a sexual harassment suit.

If those exist for stallions...

>>25465439
Considering how Celly used to treat Shiny, it could go either way.

>>25464904
The myth so nice, they used it twice!

Though Muuna is a little more direct a reference, because Pokemon got kinda lazy later.

>>25465489
One of the originals was literally just a ball with angry eyes on it. "Got" is a little disingenuous

>>25465579
Hey, fuck you. Electrode was the shit back in the day.

OOCO
>Sunset
"29"
~~

>Pffft, Mareistocral? A great mind? You're talking out your ass.

"Tis true! His words may have been a touch overwrought on an occasion or two, but on the whole they were clearly thought out."

>If you think the long poetry of overblown windbags that want to fuck their mothers 'thought out', sure.

"That is rather harsh considering you like Neighto."

>Hey! Just because he wrote ONE book that was six hundred pages to describe a single sunny afternoon doesn't mean...

"..."

>...Fine. Notice you didn't say anything about the other part, though.

"Hm. I relate to that."

>...

"..."

>...

"...Because his mother was royalty."

>And?

"...Have thou really not heard of me?"

>What, is trying to have sex with any royal, regardless of age, relation to you or gender, your thing or something?

"...So that's a no."

>Meh, don't know why you would if that were the case, royalty is overrated.

"...Thine tongue, tis poison..."

>What? It's true.

"And I suppose your own favors are superior?"

>Well, obviously.

"Oh yeah? Speak of it, then."

>...

"..."

>...Do you know what a human is?

"No, but... I'm intrigued..."

>>25465876
If this doesn't end in sex, I'm going to be very disappointed.

OOCO
>Chrysalis
"SA"
'Celestia'
~???~
~~~

>So, just to double check, this is pretty much the dumbest thing we've ever done, right?

"Right."

'Top three, minimum.'

>And we absolutely cannot let anyone know we did it, right?

"I'd say no."

'In the interest of not starting a war, no. I'd say keep it hidden.'

>...But it was totally awesome, wasn't it?

"Yes."

'That it was.'

~~~

~EXTRA EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! PRINCESS APPLEJACK CATAPULTED INTO FOUNTAIN BY CHAIR MALFUNCTION! READ ALL ABOUT IT!~

>...We might have to leave the country.

>>25465058
[JJ]
~~~

[...Huh. I don't know why, but... I really don't like that blind changeling for some reason... is that offensive? Am I offending someone?... I sure hope not... still gonna keep doing it anyway.]

>>25466271
>AJ
~~~

>Ya'll do realize this means war...

CHU-CLICK!

>...What? Did ya' think Ah' meant a prank war or somethin'? THEY SHOT ME OUTTA THE ROOM!

>>25464799
>Not sicking Chitania on Spitfire

The fuck is wrong with these ponies?

>>25465876
Hah. This can only end shapeshifting sex. I can see it.

Oddly, These fit into the current timeline, no? 29 needs a bit of distraction. Sunset is ambling about. Why is it ooco then?

>>25466753
Because you only break out Chitania when you want an action scene, and she got hers already goddamn it!

>>25466817
29 was up in Canterlot looking at 56 last time we saw him last thread, I had no idea if he was still there or not.

>>25466918
But so did Dash.

Dash/Spitfire double team Chitty bonding when?

>>25464627
>Chrysalis
>Discord
>Fluttershy
>Three other alicorns

Yeah, think NMM probably wouldn't cut it this go round.

OOCO
>Spike
‘Chrysalis’
“Twilight”
(Shiny)
{77}
-Celly-
+AJ+
[Caddy]


In a wave of fire they reappeared in the bathroom they had left from finding it occupied by a number of concerned ponies.

(There you two are! Finally! We were getting worried.)

Spike grunted and burped up the banner balling it up and chucking it at 77.

>There’s your damn flag.

His tone was bitter and angry and the queen’s eyes narrowed at hearing it.

{…thanks?}

He began stomping toward the door only to be blocked by Shining Armor

(Whoa there buddy! How about telling us what happened down there?)

>We nearly got killed several times only to discover the flag was with the morlocks. We got the flag. We came back. Happy? Now out of the way.

(Huh. So that’s the result…)

>…OF COURSE THAT’S THE RESULT! WE WON! WHAT WERE YOU EXPECTING DUMBASS!? CHURNED BUTTER!?

The stallion’s mouth flapped mutely, not quite able to process the unwarranted out burst.

-SPIKE! What has gotten into you!?-

>I’m having a bad day and I just want to go home and rest alright!?

-That does not justify that kind of language mister!-

“…well this plan went south…”

If he hadn’t been standing so close, the dragon may have missed that comment, so quiet was the muttering. Unfortunately, he was right there.

>…What do you mean by plan?

“Uhhh……”

>THIS WAS A PLAN!? TO DO WHAT!?

“…Get you and Chrysalis to be nicer? To each other?”

-Oh dear his eye just went-

(So conversation is over right? We can run and not answer questions?)

>FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUC-HEY WHAT ARE YOU-

Before he could begin whatever rant he was about to explode forth with he was pulled up into the air by green magic and brought upside down to eye level with the queen.

‘Quiet! And hold still. There’s something wrong with you…’

>LIKE HE-

She grabbed his maw to hold it shut and narrowed her eyes as she looked more closely. The her eyes widened.

(1/4?)

>>25467453
‘Shiny. There will be questions later. You will answer. For now, get Cadence, and haul her to Applebutt’s office.’

(Why-)

‘NOW DAMMIT!’

Green flames wreathed them once more, and they disappeared.

***
In a ball of fire they appeared dead center of the office where the mare was working away.

+What in the-oof!+

AJ winced as the wind was knocked out of her via dragon projectile.

+L-loverboy?+

>ow…what the hell Chrysalis!?

‘YOU! Applepony! Hug the dragon!’

+…Whyyyyyy?+

‘Oh for love’s sake. LOOK! We almost got killed and there’s something wrong with him, I think I know what it is but you already nearly lost him forever today and if you don’t hug him really really tight nowishly, you still might so HUG. THAT. DRAGON.’

>Oh that’s just ridic-glk!

He was cut off by a bone crushing embrace from the suddenly quite worried farm mare.

>Can’t…breath…

‘You’re fine. Now hold on, while I get Caddy since Shiny’s taking his sweet time.’

At that moment, the door burst open and the pair in question entered.

[I’m here! I’m here!]

Speak of the love-horse, and she shall appear.

[What’s going on?]

‘Check his sparklejoules.’

The pink pony’s brows knit in question.

‘GAH! Look, he drained himself keeping me alive, he’s turned into a total ass, his love levels look low to me but this is your field so just SCAN HIM ALREADY!’

[Oh! Alright then.]

She turned to the dragon currently trying to squirm out of the Apple mare’s grip and blue magic played over him a moment.

Her eyes widened.

[AJ…Let him go and step away a moment…]

+Why?+

[Please just trust me.]

+…Alright..+

She released him and backed away a bit as he fell to his knees gasping for sweet sweet air.

[Shiny? Bubble her.]

+What!?+

<BWOOP>

+HEY!+

(Why’d I do that)

[Just hold here there until I say ok? Hey Spike?]

>…ugh..what?

<ZAP!>

>>25467462

A bolt of bright blue magic hit him straight in the chest knocking him on the ass.

>ARGHHHHHH! WHAT THE-OW! DAMN IT OW! WHAT WAS THAT!?

+SPIKE!+
Applejack began slamming against the containment bubble with all her might, trying to get to him. Untrained magic beginning to gather causing cracks to form.

[Hold her a little longer, please?]

The stallion’s horn was lit as he did his best to reinforce the bubble

(Gah! Trying…)

>ARGHHHH

[Spike? Spike can you hear me? I need you to settle down. You’ll be fine.]

>W-what did you do!?

[Emergency love transfusion. It…can sting sometimes.]

>Damn…just…ow…

<CRASH>

The bubble finally shattered as the mare rushed to the dragon’s side.

+Spike, stay behind me. Now what in the heck is going on!?+

‘We’re trying to prevent him from turning into a sociopath or worse. Look, he’s doing better already, color’s coming back’

Sure enough, the previously washed out looking dragon’s colors were returning to their previously vibrant hues of lavender and emerald.

[Applejack, I’ll be happy to explain in more detail but from what shiny told me on the way here and Chrysalis said just now, the short version is: Chrysalis and spike went down into the caves to get something, apparently he got critically drained of love; not by Chrysalis, she isn’t this sloppy; and I needed to intervene to prevent permanent damage. He’ll be fine now, so long as he spends a few weeks with friends and family to help his own stores regenerate.]

+o-Oh…Well…why didn’t ya’ll say so?’

>…but I’ve got…stuff to do.

‘He said. Flat on his back on the floor. Unable to stand.’

>S-screw you.

‘HAH! You’ couldn’t afford me!

>You sure? I’ve got 2 bits right here…t-that’s double the going rate isn’t it?

A ghost of a smile played at the queen’s lips.

‘Hmph. Shiny? I’ll be calling in that favor soon. You have some explaining to do.’

(Heheh…)

(3/4)

>>25467474

‘Caddy? I’m tired and I want to head back to the empire. You coming?’

[Applejack, do you want me to stay and explain a bit more?]

+…Is he gonna be ok?+

[He’ll be fine]

+You’re sure?+

[Positive. Just keep him nearby for a while. It’ll be easier for him to recover around ponies he loves.]

+…Well…alright then…+

[Alright. Let’s go.]

In a burst of flame they were gone leaving the mare alone with the drake.

She turned to face him.

+Well sugarcube? How ya’ feelin’?+

>Like I got hit by a bus. With both axels. And then it backed up and did it again. Twice.

She winced.

>…I could use a nap.

+Well then, let’s go take one.+

She dashed off a quick note to Celestia and returned to the prone drake.

+Gotta be honest sugarcube, this was not how I expected ya’ll to come off ‘yer sabbatical.+

>Off? I’m no-

+YES. Ya’ll are. Ya’ll don’t get to argue after nearly getting’ yerself killed when I wasn’t lookin’+

>AJ-

+NO. ARGUIN.+

>…yes ma’am.

+Good boy. Now come on.+

She nodded and picked him up with her magic and began trotting for her chamber.

(4/4)

>Fluttershy
"7"
'Buttercup'
~~~

>How is she doing?

It was hard to keep the look off his face. Normally, for a changeling, such an act was trivial. But he dared to admit that this whole ordeal had been quite the drain on him, both physically, and quite emotionally.

"The same. She clearly feels love in some capacity, but..."

'It not enough.'

She sounded more disgusted at herself, or perhaps reality in general, than either of them, no matter how deeply she attempted to bury it beneath a gruff rumbling exterior.

>Maybe you should bring in some help for this?

A dismissive wave, just a bit more harsh than he intended, warded that off.

"There is nobody to help. This is a completely unheard of field, any we sought out would be as blank as I am in this."

>But maybe at least it would take the load off, before you...

Collapsed, she didn't need to say. His draining had taken it's toll yet again, and he found himself barely able to stand up at this rate, looking years older than he had just that morning.

"This is my experiment."

'Maybe she right...'

The manticore, as powerful and massive as she was, still flinched when his gaze landed on her.

"I can handle this."

'...okay.'

>But maybe-

'If him say he handle it, him handle it!'

A bit of a feral roar had crept into her shout, for as little good as it did in culling the inquisitive pony walking closer. None there were under any delusion that anything, anything at all, could threaten the chaos being, no matter how powerful they seemed.

'...Him handle it.'

She sat back down, ready to begin the experiment again. He wasted no time befoer placing his hooves on her head, and continuing.

'Him can do it, him smart.'

Belief, as empty as it was, meant a lot to some.

>Alright. If you insist.

To others, it meant everything.

"...I can do this..."

Experiment number three thousand, six hundred and seventy eight, began.

>>25467482
...I'm just gonna ignore literally all of that love-related stuff and try to focus on just the character bits, cause everytime I try to think of how literally any part of that section worked my eyes cross.

Character bits were nice.

>>25467523
think about it this way: humans did not feel love originally, did they? they were just like any other animals, trying to survive. Essentially he's accelerating the mental evolution of the animals without breeding them. He's got them up to about small child stage, and you don't really feel love then, do you? you feel devotion to your parents sure, but that's not love, have you ever met 1st graders that "loved" somebody? no, they don't have the mental capacity for that quite yet, not on the level a changeling would need anyways. So he needs to advance them a bit further.

>>25467474
>[Emergency love transfusion. It…can sting sometimes.]

And Shiny and Chrysalis didn't call bullshit on that one because?

Unless Chocolate and Happy stings spike something fierce, I mean.

Damn it, Cadence, if you wanted to just shoot the guy, there are easier ways!

>>25467571
I meant the love-related stuff in the Spike/Chrysalis story, as literally all of that had some kind of problem with it. Literally all of it.

Ironically? I get the Seven thing just fine. All the parts with Seven make perfect sense to me, especially because he's using his own mental powers to make this happen. I've actually even started forming theories about that, like maybe the reason they don't 'click' click is because it's not a natural love, he's mind controlling them to think they know how to love, and they haven't found that "Real" bit yet. It's just the Spike/Chrysalis thing that... just leaves me with SO many questions.

>>25467602
oh
thought you were replying to the 7 stuff, oh well.
Yeah, love transfusion via magic somehow HURTING the dragon makes no fucking sense.

>>25467578
That is, funnily enough, the very first thing that popped into my head.

>Oh no! Spike needs a... EMERGENCY LOVE TRANFUSION! This is going to sting!(Fuck you you little shit eat my goddamn crystal comb did you I'll teach you to eat my shit that thing was fucking expensive you know how expensive fucking all the expensive fuck you this'll teach your stupid purple ass)... LOVE!

>>25467602
I like this theory, but I think >>25467571 is closer to the truth. It's not that Buttercup CAN'T feel love, it's that she's too 'young' mentally in order to understand that love. She loves him like any would a guardian, but because she has a whole life where she doesn't really think that's a big thing, since she's an adult, there's nothing really big about it to her.

That said, it's possible that none of this is her at all, or her brain simply isn't capable of producing the chemicals needed to make the love. Lotta reasons this could be failing.

>>25467634
drinking water from a firehose?>>25467578

>>25467578
I did play around with this idea in my head a bit before writing it. I just didn't want it to wind up a really long technical document about how I thought all this was working...

I could try to write an explanation scene for all this, or I could scrap it and go with an alternate idea I came up with when considering how to back away from this point last night.

>>25467705
>drinking water from a firehose?

...Is what Shining and Chrysalis both did when they were dead, and it made them taste chocolate and happy and feel great. They said it literally felt like pure warm, happy pleasure, because in both cases they are specifically being filled with the greatest emotion in the world and instinctively knowing that it is happening because someone cares enough to make them better, which is imparted almost magically via the, uh... magic, I guess?

I'd say go with the alternate idea, there is no way to suddenly turn this into 'this makes Spike hurt' without it contradicting literally every single solitary instance of anyone, changeling or pony or otherwise, getting a love-boost. And also opens up the plothole of 'Shining is right there, why does Chrysalis need to go get Cadence? Shining is a goddamn neverending source of love and she can refill Spike's love-meter and she can do it with crazy good precision.' And the plothole of 'Spike needs a bit of time to get back to normal but Shining was DEAD via love-drain and he was fine that day'

>>25467746
>Spike is so Angsty that being given love by his psudo-sister in law is causing him physical harm when it made everyone from Chrysalis to Shining to even 32 feel fucking amazing

Now you know why Chrysalis didn't revive him, she was just like "I'm don't want to catch the emo, HAH!"

OOCO
>SA
"Celestia"
'??
~~~

>...

"What do you thiiiink?"

>I think when Applejack finds out you bought a giant swimming pool and put it next to your room, she's going to blow her hat off her head.

"Be the only head blowing off around her."

>WHOAAAAA!

"I don't regret it."

>So, though I might regret asking this, what's the point?

"So we can do Happy Bath Time without having to bother anyone in the bath, silly!"

>A part of me knew this. So... after you?

"Oh, such a gentlecolt... WHEE!"

SPLASH!

>WOOO!

SPLASH!

>"THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT!"

~~~~ten minutes later~~~~

>...

"..."

>...You bored of it?

"Yes."

>Wanna go back to breaking into Applejack's bathroom?"

"..."

~~~~

'FER FUCKS SAKE! IN MAH TUB AGAIN!?'

"NO REGRETS!"

>>25468131
Damn it, Celly...

>>25467746
Fair enough. Not really in a writing mmod just now but I can get to it tomorrow. it does however render this scene irrelevant. but I had fun writing it so have an

NC

OOCO
>Chrysalis
‘Spike’

Some days had passed since Spike and Chrysalis had emerged from the caves. At present Spike had slipped away from his current minder for a moment to take the air on a nearby balcony. It’s not that he disliked being around his loved ones, but 24/7 could be a little….suffocating. He simply needed some air.

>Well, well…look who the cat dragged in.

Apparently the queen had also desired a quiet moment alone on this particular bit of real estate.

‘Queen Chrysalis’

>Spike the Dragon

‘…So! How are you this fine day?’

>I am well. And you?

‘I am well also.’

>Good…good…

‘…’

>…

‘This feels weird.’

>RIGHT!? SOooooo much easier to just insult your manhood or something.

‘Do you want to go back to that? I feel we should go back to that. I’ll miss mocking your promiscuity.’

>Stop making up words! And do you think we can? After all that?

‘First of all, you can’t possibly expect me to believe you don’t know that one. Second, I don’t know! But we can’t possibly go on like this!’

>I hate to admit it but when you’re right you’re right. This ‘civil’ thing makes me want to gouge my eyes out. And I need those! To see!

‘Pretty sure everyone does.’

>My eyes? Why?

‘I won’t justify that with a response.’

>He said. Responding.

‘WAIT A SECOND! I’ve got it.’

>Oh, this should be good.

‘We can keep score.’

>Score? Of what?

‘Saving each other’s lives.’

>Well clearly I’m winning that.

‘…how d’you figure?’

>A-Doi! 1. Saved you from the cave in you caused. 2. Saved you from being eaten by the monster. 3. Saved you from the love drain.

(1/2)

>>25468604
‘That first one should only count as a partial because you had a hoof in causing it too! And that third one wouldn’t have KILLED me.’

>No…just drastically altered your personality most likely causing you to need to be executed after going on a murder spree.

‘Well that’s presumptuous. You can’t just decide stuff like that based on a future which may or may not happen.’

>Fine! What do you think the score is then?

‘I’m in the lead. Obviously.’

>BULLSHIT!

‘Oh? You get only get partial points for endangering my life in the first place; but I did run interference on the monster, which is one to me. You saved me from being eaten, one to you. Then I saved you from being love drained, two for me; and finally you prevented me from going insane,but that’s not life threatening so it doesn’t count. Total: 2 for me, 1.5 for you.’

>…You cannot be serious.

‘Fine…partial credit for the love thing too. We’ll call it a draw.’

>Like Hell! I’m winning!

‘No I am!’

>NO, me!

‘ME!’

>ME!

‘Y’know what? FINE! We’ll settle this next invasion! I’ve got your back!’

>HAH! I’ve got YOUR back you mean.

‘See you on the battlefield.’

>Where I can show off my full, unadulterated, not severely drained, Power.

‘…’

>Just sunk in?

‘No…no, just…heat of the moment and all…maybe we need a different new thing?’

>I dunno. The odds heavily favor me on this one.

‘But where’s the fun in that?’

>Hmm…you may have a point.

‘Look. We’ll think of something. Maybe do tea, I dunno. I probably need to sneak back before they notice I slipped out though so…later ok?’

>Sure, sure.

Just as he was about to leave he poked his head back around the door.

‘Hey. Just spitballing, but…how does revenge against the ponies who put this whole escapade together grab you?’

>Like a potentially terrible idea.

‘Soooooo…yes?’

>…I’ll sleep on it.

‘Alright, let me know…later!’

>>25468131
NC
~~~

"NO! REGRE... what are you doing with that toaster?"

'...'

"APPLEJACK WAIT!"

BTZBTZBTZ!

'That's what ya' get ya' gaddang-'

Blup

"..."

'...S-Shinin' was down there?'

"That he was."

'...whoops.'

"Oh, you think that's bad?"

'Pretty bad, yeah.'

"Wait till everyone else hears about this."

'...'

*SEVERAL VERY KNOWING, ANGRY ROARS*

'...Gimme the gun.'

"Oh, Applejack... that won't help you now."

*STAMPEDE NOISES!*

'...Celly, Ah' have regrets.'

"True, but me?... Still no regrets."

*BOOM!*

>>25468692
...So, there is a way to kill an Alicorn...

An idea I've had stuck in my head all day
CD
OOCO

>Pommel
"Daw"
~~
"YAR HAR FIDDLE DEE D-"

SLAM

"GAH!"

>Daw? what the hell was...why are you in a wooden box waving a flag?

"No reason"

>Uh huh

"No reason at all"

>...can I join you?

"Ye certainly can!"

FWUMP

>ALRIGHT FIRST MATE DAW, WHERE ARE WE GOIN' TO SAIL TODAY?

"TA THE END OF THE OCEANS!"

>THEN LET'S GO!

>"YAR HAR FIDDLE DEE DEE! BEING A PIRATE IS ALRIGHT WITH ME! DO WHAT YOU WANT BECAUSE A PIRATE LIVES FREE! YOU ARE A PIRATE!"

>>25468960
Das fucking adorable.

>>25468934
What, two other alicorns, a changeling more powerful than an alicorn, and presumably two other very capable and well charged changelings?

>>25466925
Meh, we jump up and down between those so often, it's hardly worth keeping up.

OOCO
>AJ
“Celly”
____

>Hey, Cells.

“Hey, bane."

>...

"You know, as in bane of my-”

>Yeah, yeah, yeah, got it, anyway… remember the creature that nearly came through the portal that one time?

“…Truthfully? You’re going to have to be a whole helluva lot more specific than that, dear. Lots of creatures come from lots of portals around this place. I need some characteristics here, a formal name, height, did it have tentacles? Spikes? Vomit lava? Help me out.”

>Erm… the… the green one? The tall, lanky green one? Question mark on it’s face?

“…”

>…Ah’ bucked it back through ‘fore it had a chance to do anything?

“…”

>…Then y’all chucked a pineapple right after? Blew it up?

“…”

>…Same green as yer’ double mint chocolate cookies from-

“Ah, yes! Now I remember!”

>Sad.

“Okay, on the same page now. What about it?”

>Nothin’, jus’ wanted to see how odd yer’ memory functions in response to snacks. Y’all can’t remember ribbon cuttin’ events, public appearances, meetin’s with ambassadors- hell, ya’ barely remember to lift the sun half the time, but y’all can go back thaaaaaaat far when it’s connected to a snack.

“…”

>…

“Am I supposed to be seeing a problem with that? I’m not seeing a problem with that.”

>Didn’t think ya' would.

"Well alright then, next subject! Down for some cake?"

>Like eighty-eight flats, Cells, let's go.

>>25469866
I thought that was NC?

>>25469953
Yeah it was, and I could have sworn I put a NC tag on that, too. My bad.

>>25468960
Canon.
Too adorable not to be canon, in fact I think we need more of these two together.

>>25470007
I was confused until I saw the CD.

Never seen that paired up with an OOCO for a silly before.

>>25470122
I think it's mostly because Daw has always been a more serious character, and we don't normally see her doing Silly.
I like it though, she really is just a fun loving pirate on the inside, despite "le edgy white minotaur father figure" back story.

>>25467683
Clearly, 7 needs to up the ante, so to say.

Get him a taste of some buttercup. If you know what I'm saying.

I think you do.

Goodnight thread.

>>25471332
Morning anon.

Morning Thread

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LNPP-anon here. I'm going to have to announce that I will be on hiatus for the duration of thread 108 since I'm visiting a friend and will be completely engrossed playing Fallout 4 and Star Wars Battlefront. Feel free to write one yourself if you feel like it. I'm resuming on Monday night at the latest.

>>25472317
That's alright dude


Aside from your utter shit taste in games holy shit my boi kill yourself

>>25472317
Well, shit. No more fix for me.

Goddmn cliffhanger.

>>25472317
Have fun LNPP-Anon.

>>25472317
So, no preview or prediction?

>>25470791
God no!

.. I don't have a valid reason as she's an adult, but still.

>>25460416
>Old Gregg!

...ducking references, I never know who these characters are.

File: i believe in you- FUCK OFF.jpg (390KB, 1027x1024px) Image search: [Google]

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You know something?

I am real glad we never took any pointers from IDW

Hoooooly shit this is terrible

OOCO
>AJ
"Celly"
~~~~~

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?"

>You know what Ah did.

"Oh, I have eyes, I just want to hear it from your mouth before I blow your jaw clean off that mouth!"

>Look, we're having a bit of an obesity problem, and you aren't helping. In fact, you might be causing it directly.

"HOW!?"

>...

"I'm not that bad!"

>...

"Choke on an apple."

>Just go on a diet until Ah' can convince those kids that ya' don't eat six hundred pounds o' sugar but not turn into a whale. Ya do, know ya' do, but just lemme convince them otherwise.

"...it's all I have to stay sane..."

> Well, then find somethin' else Fer a week.

"....SHINYYYYYY! GET IN THE TUB AND CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE!"

>... Don't think too hard about it, AJ, just.... don't think about it... please don't think about it... brain no... dang it.

>>25473535
'So, Princess Celestia what do you to relax?'

"CAKE AND DEATH"

'...What was that second on-'

"CAKE. AND. DEATH"

'....P-Prince Shining Armour....d-do you have something mo-more suitable?'

[Death]

'Y-you sure there's not... something els-'

["DEATH! DEATH! DEATH! DEATH! DEATH!"]

>>25473593
[...Well, death and sex.]

'Not exactly suitable, but I'll take it!'

[I never do the latter.]

'...Isn't your wife the princess of love?'

[...]

'...I understand now.'

["DEATHDEATHDEATHDEATH]

>>25472733
I'll do it if he isn't back. I always wanted to try my hand at it.

OOCO
>SA
"Celestia"
~~~

>Don't you think this is going too far?

"Shiny, I have no cake. You understand me? NO. CAKE. I have no cake FOR A WEEK. I'm going into withdrawals, I'm seeing spots, I'm thinking about how nice it would be to own a one story cottage out in the edge of the Pegasi falls for Mother's sake!"

>...That actually sounds kind of nice...

"This is how I cope, you understand me!? This is what I use to have two damn minutes to myself when I'm not listening to crying, whining, creening little ponies with the brainspan of GOPHERS! I need this, this whole thing right now, and I need it more than I ever have before! Now, either you can help me, or you produce something else I can put in my mouth and get creme filling out of. I will take it, and I will be happy."

>Alright, alright! We'll do the bath thing.

"Good!"

>...Sounded like Chrysalis right there, want you to know.

"Chrysalis has NOTHING on what I would do in that situation!"

>...

"...What?"

>Nothing, nothing... just hope that water is cold.

>>25473987
>That's when Celestia gets bumped in the face by 'something' when he pushes her down.
>She doesn't mind.

>Cadence
"Crystal Ponies"
'??'
~~~

They had been waiting.

Of course they had, to think there was any chance one of them would not need, demand, answers, was madness. So, there they were.

All of her Empire, all of her subjects. Standing before her again as she walked to the rise that let her look down to all of them in turn, look down to every face staring up at her, held back by her guards to prevent them from reaching the castle, and looked overhead by her airforce, with one in particular giving her a pained glance.

Beyond her guard, they looked to her, her subjects.

Staring as if they had never done so before.

>I'm sure... you're all looking for answers.

It would have been an insult, had she not spoken so sincerely. But from her, there was an honesty to it, just enough that none took it to mean in such a way.

>I have them. But I do not know how you will react when you hear them.

She winced internally as yet again her words came off to treat them as simpletons, children at best. Her greatest power, perhaps her only real power, to speak and be heard and be seen, was failing her. The single ability for which she had pride, and it slipped through her hooves as easily as if she were the changeling that had done so much for those below.

She was falling, failing again.

All she could do was hope not to drag anyone else down with her.

>But first off, there is one thing that must be said. I have to tell you this now, before the suspicion grows any further. It is not what some of you fear. This... situation, is not what you think the worst of it could be. You are not being invaded or anything like that, do not turn on the changelings we've let in, because, in truth... the only one you should think badly of, is me.

She sucked in air deeply through her nostrils, her eyes watering on their rims as she prepared what would be her final dive. This, and all that it would have with it, might be her end.

She could only hope the drop would be quick, nothing more.

1/11

>>25474423

>I have not been replaced by a changeling, we have not been taken over in secret, I just... am not a very good princess.

A stunned noise echoes off the crystal walls of their homes as they muttered and spoke to each other, squeaking like freighted animals to one and all.

>It's nothing as amazing as some secret plot, it's nothing as shocking as it was at my wedding, it was simply... I am not a good princess, at all.

"What does that even mean!?"

She did not blame the desperation in his voice. To hear this, to watch his reality and perceptions shatter, to know that she is the one who did this, took away any inclination to ask him to calm down in the slightest.

>...I've not been a very good princess, I've not been a very good friend, or... much of anything really. Because, simply put... I haven't been doing any of it.

Her hoof waved out gesturing to the new buildings, to the shining place their land had become since it's ressurection.

>It looks beautiful, doesn't it? It looks like something I would see in a dream... perhaps did, a time or two. It looks big and shining and wonderful... and I didn't do any of it.

More shocked noises, more gasps, more of the betrayal and the hurt.

>When I arrived here, I didn't know how any of this worked. Not the taxes, not the city planning, not anything. Princess Celestia had tried to teach me in my youth, but I never thought I was actually going to rule a country, I never thought I was actually going to be in charge of such things. So when I came here... I didn't know how to do any of it.

It hurt, to say it out loud, to take this from them. To watch them dim, and know it was all her fault.

>I still don't.

It hurt.

2/11

>>25474430

>I've been trying recently... but I haven't been doing a very good job of it. No, I haven't done any of it. When I came, I had all of this just dropped on my lap and told 'you need to do this', and I couldn't... I just couldn't.

Her eyes sparkled, much like their coats did on their best of days, as she looked to them.

>I couldn't, and I never did. At first, it was just... chaos. I focused on keeping the peace, making sure all of you were happy, and that was all. Things were getting worse. Then Shining stepped up, despite how... awful I had been to him, in the leadup, and he shouldered as much as he could. But it was too much, it was breaking him, it was tearing him down, and I couldn't help him. It was too much... so then...

This was it.

At last, it was time to let it all out.

>...One day, out of a single act of kindness by my dear Shining Armor, someone decided to help.

It was finally time to stop hiding.

No matter how deeply, how selfishly, she wished she could keep it hidden. And she did, she knew it to herself even as she looked for the things say to those hanging on her every word. She did wish she could keep it hidden, she did wish they would never look to her with the eyes they did now, she did wish things could just have gone on forever as they were.

Her, the princess who could do anything, the star that shined in the Empire, the beacon of love not just for them but all the land. She could be everything, and she wanted it to be. It was selfish. It was wrong.

She still wished it.

Even though, she knew, had known the moment Chrysalis had formed a plan to put it all away, a plan she knew without question would have succeeded, that it had to end.

>That someone... is the changeling you all saw today.

It ended, today.

3/11

>>25474212
>After that, something small and rectangular smacks into her head
Ow

>>25474440

>Her name is Eighteen, and... she has done more for you all then you can ever understand. When something needs done through city planning, construction, registration, salary, allocation of funds, pretty much anything and everything that keeps the Empire running, she has handled it. And she did this without ever believing she would be given credit, without ever seeking to take the praise. She could have, at any point she could have and none would stop her, but she didn't. Because, no matter how much blood sweat and tears she poured into this place, she believed that you all needed a princess to look up to. You all needed someone to believe in.... and for some strange reason, she chose me, no matter how much I didn't deserve it, or how badly I had treated her before.

The gasps could have been heard from the sky, had any been up above the shield. The magnitude of emotion that rolled through the shimmering bodies would have made a changeling drunk from being there.

>I can never apologize enough to the ones I've hurt, and I've hurt them more than I would ever want admit to myself or any others, even you. I can never make up for what I did, how much credit I took when I did not deserve a bit of it, how much of your praise and admiration I took on, I drank in, without ever deserving a word of it. You are not being invaded, my little ponies, you are not being taken over, you were merely... watched over, by those like my Shining, who toiled away until he could stand no longer and collapsed, by those who would work until they were mere shells of themselves, by those who deserved what you said to me, every day, as you thought I was capable of any of it. You were not invaded... you were loved, by those who never asked you love them back, and I'm sorry that in my selfishness, it took this long for me to come forwards, and admit it to you.

4/11

>>25474452

The anger, the betrayal, the hurt, she could see it all. She could feel it all. She could taste it all, even. It was as if they learned their parents had never really loved them, that they were adopted and that they weren't getting any presents this year all in one collision of traitorous words.

>I thought, no, convinced myself for the longest time that if you ever knew the truth, that you would let the feelings of depression come back, that it would be harder for you all to keep your spirits up and remain the love in your heart we all need to survive. I told myself that if you ever knew, you would lose that spark you all deserved to have in your life. That love, that happiness, that peace of mind and safety. It was not my choice that you see this today. It was not my choice that you learned the truth, no matter how much you deserved it. But now that you know, I can never take it away from you, never again. This is yours, to do with as you will, and all I can say is...

How a low, almost whisper of a voice could be heard by all had to be magic, it could not be anything else.

>...Don't lose your light because of me. Do not ever doubt in the power of love for my failure, do not think that you were not cared for, or protected, or loved. I'm sorry, I can never say just how sorry I am, that you had to have this happen to you, that I could never live up to the princess you thought I was. I'm sorry, but... but live!

The last word had been a whisper no longer. It had been a scream, as loud as she could speak it.

5/11

>>25474458

>Live, for all that is good in this world. Don't let this one truth shake you, you are stronger than that! You are more than that! You can be so much more than what you thought you were. I've seen it, in Shimmer's love to figure skate and never giving up no matter how many times she fell. I've seen it, in Misses Glitz's willingness to bring in a scared, shy little thing and give her a purpose in life no matter how many times she stumbled. In Shatterhoof overcoming his shakes to finally hold his weapon strong and proud, in so many other lives I've been blessed to watch grow. I thought... I thought that if you knew the truth, it would stop that, would make you become what you were on the first day of your arrival into this time, but I was wrong! Please, listen to me now, believe me now even if you never do another word again! I was wrong! You don't have to fall back into despair, you don't have to lose your trust, your life, your light... don't lose it all because of me...

There was no stopping it as she openly let the tears fall, no hiding it any more than she cold the desperation in her voice.

>...not because of me. I'm only a selfish, useless pony who thought everyone needed her, and didn't want to admit she was never needed at all. You don't need a princess like me to be happy... you just need to know someone cares, and they do. They do, so much... they do...

...it wasn't working.

They were still looking to her with betrayal, whit hurt, with suspicion.

They were still losing their light.

>If you wish me to leave, in light of all this. To step down, I will. Just... please, don't lose hat makes you special, what makes all of you... you.

"...We should, right?"

It was chilling, no matter how much she had been expecting it, to hear that.

In no time at all, the crowd was a flurry of conversation she struggled to latch onto any one of.

"We should just... make her abdicate the throne?"

"Well, why not?"

6/11

>>25474465

"She did save us all from a thousand years of imprisonment and misery. It's not like anyone forced her to save us."

"Well, yeah, but that's like... hero stuff, not ruler of a country stuff."

"Does that mean we should make her take the changelings with her?"

"That's not very fair, they didn't do anything, and apparently Eighteen has been doing a lot."

"I don't know... that still all seems pretty suspicious"

Her heart seized with every words, mouth going dry and leaving her speechless as she picked out a few lines from the horde. All the while, her guard looked to her with nervous glances, the very real idea they might have to fight back a mob becoming tellingly clear with every passing second. They did not want to fight their neighbors, their families, but... they had a duty.

With every line she could pick up, that duty became more real a possibility.

"I'm just saying, if she did all this but never asked for anything, like... why? What's she get out of it?"

"She might just actually like making us happy, they do feed off love."

"Point, and she does seem genuinely nice..."

"But the princess should go?"

"Wait, should the prince? He apparently did work, a lot of work, didn't he?"

"That's what she said, but can we trust her?"

"Well obviously not..."

"The changelings only came over because of her, right? Should we make them follow her? Don't want to put that burden on the next ruler.

With every line, it became worse, and worse, and worse.

"So, who should take over?"

"Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but... shouldn't one of us?"

"Who!? None of us know how any of this works! Our council was mostly enslaved and or... you know what in Sombra's reign."

"Mostly you know what..."

"Should we lock her up? For lying to us, I mean?"

"Well, she is holding a lot of state secrets..."

This was going so, so much worse than she had ever dreamed.

"I say we-"

'ENNNNNNNNNOOOOOOUUUUUUUGGHHHHHHH!'

7/12

>>25474475

The voice, so loud and screeching, was like nails on a chalkboard. It cut off every single conversation, and likely quite a bit of their eardrums as well. In the aftermath, a stunned, confused silence rained down upon them all. Only to be broken, by the clop clopping of hooves as a white figure made her way onto the podium, and next to the princess.

A white, horned, winged figure.

The only one of such on the planet who wasn't Princess Celestia.

'Are you all mad!?'

The voice of Princess Rarity was certainly enough to grab the attention, and the look on her face was certainly enough to hold it.

'I didn't reveal this to all of you so that you could cast her out into the snow like some kind of unwanted pet who had wandered in! Don't you all understand what I was trying to show you!?'

They did not, if their blank stares were any indication.

'All throughout today, I wandered about while posing as her, and you know what I saw? Worship! Worship of her as the princess who could do anything! File your taxes, command the army and even cheer up your children, all in one magic package! Well... she's not!'

"W-we know, that's why we-"

'Don't you understand!?'

Still no, it seemed.

'I did not reveal her to shame her, or to make you be rid of her! I did it to show you the truth... don't you understand? Look at us... we're just mares.'

Three little words.

That was all it took to stop them all.

'We're not gods, that's all I was trying to show you. You all thought that because we were some special species that this suddenly meant we could do anything, everything, and better than any of you could ever do! That we were special! Well... maybe we are special, but we're not special because of these blasted things!'

Pointedly, she flicked her wings, angry as if they were fake.

8/12

>>25474486


'She claims she did nothing, that she was worth nothing. And as much as it seems that, as much as she believes that, it's simply not true! It's not that did did nothing, she merely... didn't do everything. No one mare ever could, no matter how powerful, that's all I was trying to show you!... Look, as much as it hurts to learn she wasn't behind the curtain all this time, doing the minutia of your lives, doesn't that mean something that instead, she was always before you? She couldn't be in two places at once, it simply wasn't possible, but when she accepted that handing the paperwork was too much, she did not choose to simply live in decadence... like I did..."

The former unicorn felt her mouth go dry, a stray hoof poking flesh with only a little give where before had been... considerably more.

'She... she did what I should have, and she went out to you, her people, and made your lives better with the direct hoof and the kind ear only she could provide. She used that belief that she could be anything, and she used it to have you trust her to solve problems you might not even have spoken were it not for that! She isn't useless... she just... wasn't everything, that's all... and she did try. I personally have been watching her struggle to learn what takes most their entire lives in just a few short months, watching her cram and fail time and time again, just so she can help you better. I've been watching, and knowing that she only wishes to do this so she could live up to some sort of impossible standard! It can't be done! It can't be! We aren't gods, we aren't invincible, and we don't have powers beyond your comprehension! We are mares... we're just mares...'

She was seconds from weeping, barely holding it in, barely staying strong.

9/12

>>25474494

'... I went about this the wrong way, I see that now. I didn't think, only acted. I did it so you would all know, so you would understand. We're not so far beyond you, we're not beings without compare... we're just mares. And we're trying to make your lives better, she's trying to make your lives better, and she's been succeeding. Am I wrong?'

It was strange, to watch so many try to think all in tandem, all at once.

To watch none of them bring up a single denial of this truth.

'No, of course I'm not. Your lives have been in more comfort and safety now than they have ever been, period! And it's only getting better! They are doing right, all of them. That's all I wanted you to know, that it was not one single, untouchable being that made your life what it is now, that made your city what it is now. Any one of you can be like this... any of you. Don't toss her aside because of what I showed you. Embrace it. Your princess is not a god, she is only a mare... but she is a mare who loves you, and wants to help... I'm not asking you to forgive her, simply... give her a chance.'

A thousand questions asked, a million debates raging so loudly she could not hear a single word of it. Could not make out any of it, what they thought, what they wanted to happen. She couldn't follow it, lost in a sea of words.

Slowly, like a hurricane losing it's force, it lost it's momentum, and it stopped.

"I... guess she didn't actually do anything like... illegal?"

"Nothing impeachment worthy, I guess? She didn't directly say she did everything, we just assumed it."

"And everything is just... so much better. All the streetlights are lit on time, no potholes or cracks..."

"Plenty of available healthcare, transportation, food...'

"And she has helped me out..."

"Me too."

"And me..."

"Should we really, like... stop that? Do we want this to stop?"

10/12

>>25474498

"I don't, I like the fact the guard don't scream at a pile of smoke anymore."

"And my tax return gets filed on time."

"And I could get some advice on my... erm... problem."

"...Huh."

That seemed to be the consensus, 'huh'. With every examination, they found less and less reasons to be rid of her, especially if it meant that perhaps the real one behind the change would leave.

Eventually, it all just... came to a close.

"...Well, I'm not kicking her or her husband out."

"I guess not? Not until we have someone better, at least."

"I'm sure as tartarus not kicking out Eighteen, she's nice."

"It's not nice, but... I can't see any reason to upheave it, yet."

"Yeah, this... has been working? It's been working I guess."

"I'm going home, I don't even understand this crap anyway."

"Fuck politics, I just care if it works. It's working, so who cares."

One by one by one, they left, heralded off with the help of the guard if need be, but never forced.

They all just... left. The fight gone out of them, the battle taken from their sails, they just left. Accepting that the lie had hurt, but it was not worth anymore fighting. There were no cheers of acceptance that she was their Princess after all, there was no heroic swelling of music to accompany her victory, there was no feelings of love washing over her to make everything all better and let her know she was really needed after all, there was none of that.

There was no victory, only the absence of failure.

She felt them, the stares they gave her on their way out, the bit of a look that said they no longer trusted her, or thought her as they had. She was, as Rarity had declared...

Just a mare. To all of them, she was just a mare.

Nothing more.

11/12

>>25474452
>You are not being invaded, my little ponies, you are not being taken over

REMEMBER THE BATACLAN

>>25474511

'Cadence?'

She was lost as the palace streets before her became empty. Gorgeous in their structure, but with nothing of note atop them. Pretty, but empty.

Much like she herself felt right now.

'Darling? Are... are you alright?'

Crystal was beautiful, she knew. Shining, shimmering and quite a sight to hold, but useless unless someone with more skill took heed and controlled it.

'...I'm sorry...'

That, she realized, was her. A shining, beautiful face of support, but nothing to create unless the right hooves held it, and used it.

That was her.

...But it didn't have to be.

>This is wrong.

She had been given gifts that most could only dream of. She had been forgiven, long after she deserved it so.

It hit her, all at once. That her people did not ask more of her, only that she not make things worse... was inexcusable. She could not be just a pretty face. She cannot just be a kind ear.

She had the potential, she must have.

She could not be who she was, anymore.

>I can be more than that.

And by the power of love itself...

She was going to be.

A new day had begun on the land of the Crystal Empire. A new bright sun of love had risen.

She was going to show them, all of them...

The power of Love.

>I can be more.

>>25474517
HoooEEE. Sorry that this one took so long, know I promised it yesterday, and in truth it was done then, but in all honesty I was looking back on some of the leadup and I was like "Is this... kinda lacking? Is this just... not so good? It feels kinda empty."

And I was like "This is the goddamn culmination of a LONG ASS subplot, you gotta do better man, gotta bring the A-GAME, gotta do better than you ever have before." So I binged a whole shitload of the drama stories, ending on he Fluttershy debate, and I was like "be less like your shitty self, be more like that!"

In all honesty, I wish I could re-write some of the leadup, but at least I brought my all for the finisher. If that's still not so great, well, at least I gave it my best.

This was a hell of a ride.

>>25473467
It's referencing this. Old Gregg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxaP19pY1FI

>>25474527
Well, not to sound harsh but it shows, big fucking improvement over some of the leadup. Gotta lot of the "Shining Forgives Sunset" Speech from that. A lot of it was a little messy and blunt, but this was much more sincere.

That said, one thing I have to majorly give props on is that you didn't end it with the whole cheering and "Oh yeah everythings all better you real princess" thing that not just some other stories, but a lot of actual published stuff does. I like that this is more "Well, I mean, there's no reason to break it yet. But if we come across something better, okay", because this was a personal trust thing, not a cataclysmic event that got people hurt.

I like that them essentially brushing her off makes her reconsider, and hope this will lead to some major growth now.

Good job.

>>25474517
>Caddy ready to not be a shit

AT LAST

>>25474527
Always better to take the time to do it right than to deliver less-right quickly.

>>25474575
....What the fuck.

>>25474517
So, thankfully, Rarity didn't get sidelined. That's what I was most afraid of in the leadup to this. Rather roundabout way of having ONLY her show up, but I respect the intentions to have her be a surprise when she shows up and have the first half be all about Cadence eating crow for the shit she did. Respect that.

Ending isn't quite as happy as I was hoping for, but I get some real "it's fucking ON NOW" vibes, which is good.

All in all, good run.

>>25474575
Wow, was happier never having seen that.

>>25474927
The words 'I've got a mangina! I'm old greeeeeeeeeeeegggg!!!!' We're forever burned into my mind when I firs saw that lo these 7years ago now. It will never leave.

Never.

>Chrysalis
"SA"
~~~

"...So... Big mob out there."

>Very big.

"Very big and angry."

>They are that.

"...Chrysalis?"

>Hm?

"Did you mean what you said?"

>Be more specific.

"What you said about... not sticking around, if this goes bad, did you mean that?"

>...

"Because of course, I'm going. I don't think that was even up for questioning, certainly wasn't up for debate. I'm going, if she is. I'd follow her off the side of the earth and into space beyond... but you don't have to."

>...

"You have safety here, you've got a home now for your changelings, are you really ready to give it all up so soon? You don't have to go. You can still see us, whenever you want, and still keep your changelings safe."

>I know.

"So..."

>So... I don't want to go...where you all aren't.

"..."

>Does that surprise you?

"... Not anymore."

>...

"Sot that's it then?"

>That's it, then.

"...Okay."

>Okay?

"Yeah... it's okay."

>...

"...Chrysalis?"

>...

"Lets hope we don't have to go anywhere."

>We'll be fine if we do.

"Yeah... I guess we will."

>...Shining?

"Hm?"

>...We'll be fine...

>>25475138
Awwww...

>>25475138
I feel like Celestia is just going to wander in like
>SHINY! Let's do something silly!

"..."

>What?

>>25475453

NC

>OH! I See! You're in the middle of doing something silly already. My turn!

>Ahem. Everyone? may I have your attention? I alicornized twilight and Applejack so they could do my job because I'm tired of dealing with all of you gopher brained morons and I just want to eat cake and get laid! I alicorned Rarity out of Spite because Applejack was annoying me with everything I'd done 'wrong.' and now I can't alicorn shiny because the ability is on cooldown after being misused!

'...what the fuck?'

"WORST. PRINCESS."

-I'm not sure theirs a BEST Princess.-

+Stalliongrad has it right! Eviserate the proletariat!!+

=Er...no. That's us. You want to eviscerate the bourgeoisie...=

+...EVISCERATE WHAT HE SAID!+

>Oh my this is fun! When does Chrysalis mindwipe them all so someone else can have a go?

>Shiny? Why is your eye doing that twitching thing?

>>25475556
~MIIIIINNNNDDD ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTZZZZZZZ~

BOOM~

>...Erm-

~Yeah, think I messed up somewhere in there. Not supposed to explode.~

>CHRYSALIS!

~...~

>Now how's Shiny supposed to have a turn!?

>>25475453
>>25475556
>>25475767
I love NC sometimes, because it lets us delve back into an early thread mindset of what the fuck ever.

>>25475556
>32
~~~

SLAM

>OH COME ON! When I do it, it's all "Oh 32 you need to get your shit kicked in! When they do it, uh... wait, are all their heads exploded?

~Sorry!~

>...Huh. Guess I did get off easy.

CANNON FUCKING DEBATEABLE
OOCO
>Applejack
"Pommel"
~~
Knock Knock

Applejack froze, pen paused on the paper, as she felt true fear. Very few people knocked on her door

>Come in

It opened quietly, somehow giving off an air of respect to the rooms owner, which meant she could relax, it wasn't 29, the door would have somehow sounded prissy had it been.

"Princess Applejack? Got a question"

>AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH LUNA STOP THIS AIN'T FUNNY LET ME OUTTA THIS NIGHTMARE!

"It's just a simple question..."

>Simple? okay phew simple is alright, nothing life changing alright?

"Do we have a Navy?"

>A what

"You know? A Navy? ships carrying troops and munitions across oceans and through rivers?"

>uhh...

"So we don't, why?"

>Equestria is... landlocked?

"No it's not, and even if it was there are several rivers throughout it"

>Ah... ah don't know sugarcube, I suppose we should form one, but... uh... who would lead it?

"...You asked to the Captain of your Guard who is dating an Ex-pirate who wants to prove herself"

>Ya sure about that?

"If there is one thing I am sure of it is that mare and her willingness to be on a boat"

>...huh, let me think about that one and ah'll get back ta ya, ah gotta talk with the other princesses about this

"Of course, thank you"

He left, and Applejack was left wondering how she had missed that while signing form #100021 of the day.

>>25476218
...But, wait, it's not the EQUESTRIA is Landlocked, it's that all the locations we know of are landlocked, such as Canterlot or what have you. Canterlot, ponyville and the Empire all have zero need for an active naval force to be stationed close enough for direct communications for obvious reasons. You don't put naval ships in rivers unless you're transporting stuff, they're really shitty places to be, because they're super easy to take down from either side and there's really nothing you can do to effectively defend them. Beaches give you lots of places to land that are going to take you to the same place eventually, not so much with Rivers.

Aside from that, wouldn't Daw taking hold of any naval capacity mean she would have to be far, FAR away from Pompom? Canterlot is dead center of the landmass, which means she would be on one of the ships along the coast.

>>25476287
>implying this wasn't an excuse to send her through paperwork hell like pommel and Rainbow Dash
when Pommel's not doing guard work he's going paperwork, right? troop movements and all that shit from home base?
same thing for her

>>25476287
thus the caveat where she would discuss forming a Navy with the other princesses
I'm sure there's another pony that wants to become captain of the Equestrian Navy that we haven't really looked at yet, or we could make another OC if we have to.

>>25476311
But still, even if Daw handled some paperwork for it, she wouldn't be doing anything but looking at shipping logs and that's it. She wouldn't be budgeting armaments or repairs or anything, the actual navy commanders would handle that, and if she was a naval commander she would be required to be on a naval base for really obvious reasons.

It's a nice idea, but it would pretty much just have her looking over captains logs or what have you that they send to their central government, she wouldn't even sign anything.

>>25476218
Yeah a Navy isn't wise considering where we are stationed. If you wanted to put Daw on a bus to giver something to do she'll fade into obscurity even more with nothing but new OC's/whatever is left of Pommel anon's named characters. She has crashed and burned on absolutely every thing we had her do without Pom from guard training to comedy bits to gun club. If you want to write Daw and have it work, have her bug/assist Pommel for a few threads until something happens to where she can bounce well off of someone else.

>>25476384
fair enough, as the person who wrote it I declare it NC, most people seem to agree this isn't the proper way to develop Daw or Pommel

>SA
"Cadence"
'18'
[Chrysalis]
{42]
~Twilight~
(???)
~~~~

>Well, at least our whole kingdom didn't collapse into riots?

It was his best joke. Hence why he had not chosen a life as a comedian.

'So, again, I need to doublecheck-'

"They're not going to ask you to leave your position, Eighteen. Or the Empire, or just in general."

'...So just to triple check-'

[My plan would've worked.]

{I knew they would accept you. Never held a doubt for a moment.}

~Which is why you ordered the guards to stand at the gates?~

{...I didn't want them to scuff the floors. And the terminology is 'requested', not ordered, as I am not in a position of authority in the Crystal Empire military. I am a leader of the changeling army, and thus would have a conflict of interest in such an event.}

~Riiiiight... So, um... about Rarity...~

>Well, she did come help out at the end, and her reasoning makes sense...

'But she also nearly caused a revolution and screwed us all out of a home because she got a crazy thread crossed in her brain.'

~I'm sensing some remaining hostility.~

'Dunno what you mean!'

{Her actions are rather politically unfavorable, this could be seen as an act of aggression against the ruling class or against any allies of the changelings, who she gets into public arguments with.}

'If by changelings you mean Chrysalis and nobody else, sure.'

[We can deal with her later-]

~Or not at all! Not at all is an option! She was just trying to help and we can accept that!~

[-First we need to deal with the windfall this is going to leave. Mostly politically and with the immediate subjects.]

>That's going to be... a nightmare.

'So much paperwork.'

"I'm sorry..."

1/2

>>25476952

[Apologize later. For now, we need to just... actually? What do we need to do?]

{Well, the information getting out isn't something we can do anything about. Are they asking for investigations? Reparations? Is there something we need to answer for?}

>They seem to just be accepting it, actually. Trust in us is obviously... gnmgm... but on the whole, they seem to think we have their best intentions, or at least some of us do.

~Which is good!~

{Hrm...It actually is good. Until someone raises a formal complaint or asks for action, there is nothing to do. Any preemptive move would imply we were preparing to retaliate, and waiting for them makes it look like we have nothing that needs preparing for. It's possible this scandal will be the talk of the town for a while, but eventually die down.}

"So we just... go back to our lives? Everyone knows I'm a fraud."

>You're not a fraud, Cadence. It's just everyone knows you don't do... everything.

{And what you do contribute is reason enough to accept you. Do not be so hard on yourself.}

~Your subjects love you, they're just... a little lied too, that's all I'm sure.~

"..."

[So... what now?]

>...
"..."
'...'
{...}
~...Huh-~

SLAM!

(Shining! You're not going to believe it, I got a lava cake big enough to RIDE! Chrysalis! Cadence! Twilight! Oh, even you two can come you beautiful bugs, this is going to be amazing!)

>"'[{~..~}]'"

(What?)

"Um, Auntie Celestia... something happened..."

(...I knew being happy was a bad idea...)

>>25476952
>>25476964
Jeeze, Chrysalis and 18 need to chill for once.

And holy fuck 42 "this could be seen as an act of aggression against the ruling class or against any allies of the changelings" It's always shadows in every corner with you ain't it?

>>25477066
>Jeeze, Chrysalis and 18 need to chill for once.

Chrysalis, maybe.

18? Uh, no. She's totally justified on that one. She almost got her ass chucked out for the crime of loving the place so much she was willing to work herself to death for it and not take the credit, and Rarity did this 'so she got the credit'. No, seriously, fuck that. 18 is allowed to be as pissed as she wants for this one.

>It's always shadows in every corner with you ain't it?

...Well that is her job.

Like, literally, that's her job. That's what she's there to do.

That's her thing, examining threats to the ruling class and seeing if anything can be construed as an act of aggression, intentional or otherwise.

That's her thing.

>>25477115
>Chrysalis, maybe.

Ehhhh, Chrysalis is pretty understandable too.

Lets face it, she's pretty damn protective of Cadence now. Rarity going out after her like that is going to raise her heckles a bit.

>>25476964
>(...I knew being happy was a bad idea...)

Okay, Applejack? You've gone too far.

Celly thinks her BEING HAPPY is a cause of pain.

>Fuzzy
"Buzz"
'???'
~~~~

>Annnnd, COMING AT YOU LIVE, IT'S FUZZY AND THE BUZZ!

~Fuzzy and Buzz in the morning, 97.1!~
~Hot stuff baby tonight!~

"Our top story toDAY that has me all abuzz, SCANDAL IN THE EMPIRE!"

~ *Repeated airhorns* ~
~WHERE YOU AT!? WHERE YOU AT!?~

>And, to the surprise of all, it's not a sex scandal!

"Not until Fuzzy gets there with some schnaps in him."

~Anehown evah tell ya' yer' a shoild shix?~

"The Empire is reeling as a shocking discovery was made! Princess Cadence... HASN'T BEEN DOING HER JOB!"

~Yeeeeah, if you could just actually do what we pay you for, that'd be greeeeeaaaattt.~

>That's right, Princess Cadence has been offloading royal duties onto, get this, A CHANGELING!

"The me kind!"

>That kind!

~WITH THE BUGS!~

"That's right, she-"

'WAIT WHAT!?'

>...

"...Uh-"

'THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY!?'

'Is... is this serious!?'

'The princess has been giving royal duties to a CHANGELING!?'

>Er-

'WHAT THE FUUUUUCK!?'

~Hoofstan, we have a problem.~

"Y-yes! And that's why we're bringing you the Buzz-"

'OH MY FUCKING FAUST!'

'I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS SHIT!'

'AHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhHHHhhhhhHHHhhhHHH!'

~Right round like a record baby!~

>...Say, Buzz, you know what I'm feeling?

"Hope it's not that poor waitress again."

>OHHHHH!

~The COFFEE is hot! The coffee I said!~

"What we need right now is some musical styling by Coltby Keith! He just released a new single, "One hoof at a time", and we know you're going to love it!"

'EVERYTHING I KNEW WAS WRONG!'

'Hey! No copyright infringement! Parody only!'

"In the name of Love someone hit it already!"

>And not like that one mare did to you!

"Ohhhhh!"

~EVERYONE GET THE FUCK BACK I GOT THIS!~

>>25477950
Oh, so they aren't just talking to themselves.

Huh!

>>25477950
True professionals, trying to get them back on track with everything they have.

>Dash
"Sptifire"
~~~~

>...

"Would you believe I didn't do this?"

>No.

"Well, I didn't."

>Oh, so someone else dropped acid in my ice cream?

"Yes."

>...

"..."

>...

"...Aren't you going to investigate who it was?"

>No.

"Ah. Smart choice, probably wouldn't find it."

>...I hate you.

"Aw, sorry Dash... I got tired of making your meals."

>...

"MEEP MEEP!"

ZOOM

>..I hate that pegasus...

>>25478347
Pinkie would be so proud!

>>25477115
>Like, literally, that's her job. That's what she's there to do.

I thought her job was punches?

>>25479454
Punches are not a job, they're a lifestyle.

>>25479562
>punches aren't my day job... They're my problem solver.

>>25477115
>She almost got her ass chucked out
Ahahahah. No. Nooo. Kicking out 18? They never even CONSIDERED it. Someone in the crowd literally said that she was nice, no need. She seriously needs to calm the fuck down. Her anxiety and anger issues are taking overhand.

>...Well that is her job.
Making every threat seem more dangerous than it is and possibly escalating things by suggesting immediate military action? Sounds like she's doing a terrible job that day. Because usually, she's there to tell Chrysalis to chill the fuck out and stop over thinking things.

>>25480463
> never even CONSIDERED it.

... reread what comes after "it wasn't working" up there.

First thing that came out of their mouth was whether or not they should get rid of the changelings. And then of course came the suspicion. There were more suggesting that they should go, then there were suggesting she could stay. They only agreed to it after the second half.

They were totally ready to kick her out and all the other changeling too. They only said no need after they were sure they weren't even kicking out cadence, up till that point was very much debate?

>>25479935
>It's like if a receptionist got eaten by a mini Chitty.

>>25480908
s'good

>>25481512
Meh, I've been with worse.

>>25481882
I doubt that.

This is /mlp after all

>>25479037
She'd give points for effort, but deduct points for failing. They can do better. Someone needs to be set on fire...

>>25478669
Just set her hair on fire it's not like anybody would notice

OOCO
>Dash
"???"
~~~~

>...Is that a lava-cake so large you could ride it?

...

>...Nobody to the left... nobody to the right....

...

>...Mayyyyybe a little dip would be just fine for all my hard work-

ZAP

>GAH!

"Our sister has tasked us with protecting this with our lives!"

>DAMN IT LUNA! I was just going to- Wait, with your life?

"Which do you think she needs more, us or the cake?"

>...

"...'

>...Backing away now.

"Good choice."

OOCO
>Pinkie
"Dash"
'Twilight'
[FS]
{AJ}
(Rarity)
~~~

>WELCOME TO PINKIES... Party LOVERS! That's right, for this show, we're going to focus only on parties we love and joining in, not crashing! Nope! No crashing here! Crash free zone!

"..."

>I'm trying, I'm really trying.

'You're succeeding, I guess? No reason to go into the explosion part of this.'

>Right!

[And it would be nice just to have a little fun...]

>Exactly!

{Shoot, why didn't you do this in the first place?}

>Who knows!?

(...This is pretty boring.)

>No.

(Where is the drama, the romance, the action?)

>Noooooo.

(I just-)

>DON'T.

(I just-)

>DOOOON'T.

(...I just don't think your viewers will have fun.)

>I KNOOOOWHOHOHOOOO! BUT DASHIE KEEPS GETTING EXPLODED!

"I do."

>I don't wanna explode Dashie anymoooore!

"...Pinkie?"

>*Sniffle*... y-yeah?

"...go ahead."

>No! Dashie no!

"Go ahead, and.. do the thing."

>But...

"...go ahead."

>...You're the bestest buddy a pony could ever ask for.

"The term... is awesomest."

>It is, Dashie, it is...

'....Soooo-'

>SO SET OFF THE BOMBS!

[Did someone bring bombs?]

>"'[{(...)]}'"

(Huh.)

>Well, shoot! I guess we have no show today.

'This was a great use of all of our time.'

{So much paperwork Ah' didn't do...}

>Sorry!

"....HA!"

Guess we can't have Spitty and everyone else causing her pain.

>>25483265
Or do we? Just saying, worked out great for Shiny, Celly and Chrysalis.

>Pennydrop
"???"
~~~

The airship ride was quiet. Relaxing, almost. A cool sky wafting past them as the clouds rolled by. It was peaceful, exactly what she needed after the event that had unfolded.

This, in all it's peaceful nature, was exactly what she needed.

"Ma'am? Where to next?"

... For about ten minutes, at least.

>... Canterlot.

A businessmare never rests, after all.

She had such... Wonderful news to share with some friends of hers, it would be a pity to keep them waiting.

>To Canterlot... Where the Future is.

>>25483323
>PAIN IS THE ONLY WAY

Makes a terrifying amount of sense.

>Cadence
"2"
~~

She had insisted that Cadence take her back to bed. Insisted, forced the matter even, no matter how many times someone else had offered.

She had been put back more times then she could count, shambling out every so often when she was put away by Chrysalis or Twilight or occasionally even Shining. It had been sheer luck that Cadence had missed her when she arrived to tell the news, and she had not been present when they discussed what needed to be done.

It was a little cold, they knew. She deserved to know what was going on as much as anyone. But it was instinctive, a knee jerk reaction, not to let her know that someone might not love Cadence as much as she did. That the ponies outside might be a little more suspicious of her.

That she, herself, might get some glances when she went to school the next day.

She deserved to know, but Cadence just didn't have the heart to tell her as she tucked her into bed.

"They gonna be mad at you for a while?"

Nor did she need to.

>Sweetie...

"I heard what they were sayin'..."

>Two, baby, it's just... they're just mad, because-

"Cause they thought you were doin' what Teeny does."

It was certainly not fun, hearing that from such a innocent mouth. Somehow, it made the words all the more foul.

>Yes, Two... because they thought I did what she does.

"But... ya' do a whole lot too!"

>I know, and we told them that. But... they just thought I did everything, and it's not fun to hear that it wasn't me.

"But ya' do a whole lot..."

Even hearing it from her, the elder princess found it quite hard to believe.

>But I didn't do enough, Two. I didn't do what I was supposed to.

"...Can I do it?"

Her heart stopped, and she couldn't quite put her hoof on why.

>Do what, honey?

"Can I do what they thought ya' did? When I'm bigger, I mean."

>Oh, oh honey... that's a long way away.

"It ain't gonna be a long way away forever."

1/2

>>25483888

>...true, I suppose. But it's far too early for you to worry about that.

"...Why? If I don't worry about it now, they might... get mad at me too."

If there was one guaranteed way to make her heart break, the little changeling had found it.

>Nobody is going to get mad at you, Two. It's... I don't think anybody can do it all alone, anyone.

"...But I wanna."

>I know... I know... I wanted to, too. But... well, maybe I didn't. Maybe I always wanted it like this... I wasn't a very good princess.

"...You were a good mommy, though."

If there was one guaranteed way to put it back together... apparently it was that.

>I'm not sure about that. I don't think I set a very good example.

"I am sure! And I'd know!"

>Well... I guess you would.

"...Mommy?"

She couldn't quite remember when she had shifted like this. But every time.. she loved hearing that word, instead of "Caddy", like it had been.

>Yes?

"If Ah' go say sorry and tell them ya' did a good job, maybe they won't be so mad anymore?"

>Sweetie, that...

"..."

>...Couldn't hurt, I guess. But first, you have to go to sleep.

"Okay!"

>I meant now.

"Oh... okay!"

Content with her plans for the next day, she snuggled into bed. Content she would stay, the princess prepared to leave.

"...Mom?"

>Yes, honey?

"I'll tell 'em, and then they'll know."

>...I'm sure you will, sweetie. I love you.

"Love you too."

The light went out, and it wasn't long before the changeling found the peace of dreams, already forming all the ways she would tell everyone how much of a good job Cadence really did.

She knew this, of course. Even without her adoptive aunts powers, she could tell the dreams on her mind. They were not, however, ones she shared.

She had other plans on her mind.

>...You won't have to tell them, Two... I'll show them.

Thus, mother and daughter resumed waiting for the new day, and all it would bring.

>I'll prove you right.

>AJ
"Chitania"
'Pinkie'
~~~

'Have you ever considered a future in show business?'

"Wow, I have heard that one way too many times."

>Bullshit. Ah' call BULLSHIT.

"What?"

FWOOSH!

"Producers look at this and think I would be a pretty good entertainer."

>...Bullshit retracted.

'HAHAHHA! You would! I was talking about breaking stuff, but you would make an amazing clown!'

"..."

>Are ya' trying to set her off?

"Only reason I'm not is because that's what all of them said too."

'You would though!'

"Frighteningly high amount of them wanted me to sleep with them too."

>...well we don't want that.

'Nope! Not expanding into that business... yet.'

>...

'Hey, Party Pony Productions isn't going to limit itself from an expanding market... heehee, expanding.'

>Wow, Ah' never wanted to hear that.

'Hey! Don't look at me like that, I'M not going to be doing it. I'm not a professional, and you always leave that to the professionals, like doing your own stunts!'

"What stunts?"

'Watch! Party cannon summon, and... C'MERE AJ!'

>PINKIE NO-

SHOOP
BOOM!

>PINKKIIIIIIIIIEeeeeeee...

"...So she was a professional?"

'Yep! Does all her own stunts, just like me!'

"She looks like she's falling."

'Nah, she has wings, she'll be-'

CRACK!

"..."

'...I might have been thinking of Rainbow Dash.'

>THE MOMENT AH' CAN SEE STRAIGHT, YER REAR IS MINE!

'I told you, I'm not going to- oh, she meant hitting it... EMERGENCY EJECT!

SHOOP!
BOOM!

'I'M PROFESSIONALLLLLLllllll....'

"Wait, but she doesn't have wings, won't she-"

CRACK!

"...what the fuck is wrong with these ponies?"

>>25484123
>Chitania is succumbing

Yesssss.

>>25483893
Do her proud, Caddy... do her proud.

>29
"???"
~~~

Changeling 29 was only a little sad.

Nothing much, nothing grand, just a touch sad. A bit of a frown, a bit of a slump in his step, that was all. He was only a little sad after his conversation with 56, that was all. Just a little...

"Oh dear. Did you finally ask Celestia out on a date? Well, plenty more fish in the sea, dear brother!"

A foreleg flopped over his shoulders, and he found himself pulled to the side and drawn into a tight grip before he could so much as blink, pressed against another chitinous skin in the span of a second.

>...really, 32?

The scarred, somewhat haggard changeling only grinned at him.

"What, was it one of the others? Rarity, perhaps? I told you, those white mares are not for you. They're too high maintenance, that's what they are."

>This has nothing to do with mine attempts to bed a royal!

"Oh? Please don't tell me the Zebra turned you down, my soul couldn't take it."

>ZECORA has done no such thing, and I said to thee never to call her again as simply 'the zebra'! She is far more than such a moniker could ever grasp!

"Oh ho? Then I still have hope yet. But enough dancing about the issues, and I'll even be kind and spare you the embarrassment of my usual offers and the pain it must bring you to turn them down."

Pointedly, he rubbed his side up and down the other just a bit.

>HRMPH!

"Instead I shall merely ask... what is the matter, brother?"

>There is nothing the matter.

"Twenty Nine..."

It was such a rarity when his voice became serious. So rare, he did not have the heart to chide him once more for hugging him a bit tighter.

"You listened to me when I was in... likely the worst part of my life, and that's including my time down below. I understand wishing to keep things inside, but perhaps you could give me a chance to pay back what you gave to me, if only a bit? I don't think I could ever really repay you for simply being there when I needed someone, but... this would be a start, no?"

1/4

>>25485027

Even after so many years, he still had a bit of a silver tongue, it seemed.

>...Tis mine cousin.

"Oh, lord. Who has he angered in his quest this time?"

>Nothing, it's just... he is off to possibly join the lunar guard.

"A purpose in life besides plots? Him? Are you sure he hasn't secretly been replaced? That's a concern with us, you know."

>No, and it's a wonderful thing, but...

"...buuut?"

>...

A knowing, bright twinkle shined in Thirty Two's eyes.

"I see."

>You do not.

"No, I do... you miss it when you were his whole world."

>Naught but lies, I am happy he is more self-sufficient and he has a life outside of mine.

"You miss it when he would ask you for every little thing."

>Hrmph! He barely spoke when I carried him around.

"You miss it when he always used to run to you and tell you about his day."

>Never would be silent, not even for a moment!

"...You miss it when he needed you."

Like an arrow, straight into the heart, it hit the bullseye, even if he didn't admit it.

>...I do not.

"You do. You miss it when he needed you, his 'cousin', to look after him and make sure he stayed on a proper path."

>Lies.

"Now that you've achieved the impossible, now that you've managed to take one of the most scatterbrained, unfocused, wild and selfish changelings and actually mold him into someone who wishes to protect, to serve and have a purpose, you have a bit of regret."

>I'm happy for him.

"You did your job too well, didn't you?"

Silence, empty silence.

"You know, I wondered why he called you cousin. It's a bit odd, isn't it? You are far more his kin than any other in the hive, yet never did he cal you 'brother'. Cousin is a word more removed from that intimacy, it's farther off. So why, I wondered, were you never anything else but his cousin?"

>...

"...Because it was different, and it was you, alone. None other is his cousin, are they? You're the only one, in the whole wide world... and he's your only cousin, isn't he?"

2/4

>>25485044

The priss of a changeling winced, any denials swiftly dead upon his tongue.

"Twenty Nine... have you ever wondered why I haven't gone back to the Morlocks yet?"

The wince bled away, returned in its place a single look of interest.

>The thought had crossed my mind, yes.

"...It's because I need to believe in them. When I saw Vekir, little Vekir, with purpose and meaning in life, a goal, a direction, a need... I needed to believe in them. If I went down there now, I wouldn't be able to help myself. I'd cling to that land below, and never let it go. I'd forsake the world up here, all of this, and simply resign myself to a life down there."

>You say that like it is a bad thing.

"It wouldn't be, not at all... for me. But if I were to go down there, they would cease this evolution they are undergoing, they would lose this flame that came from but a tiny spark. They have drive now, they have need, but if I were to go down there, they would merely look to me, to believe in me and only me, and not themselves. They would stagnate in my grip, the fire dying down as I hugged them close. I never want to let them go, even now... but I have to, or I'll put that fire out."

The others throat constricted, growing tighter, almost impossible to breath from anymore.

"Your 'cousin' cares for you, Twenty Nine... but that does not mean he needs you to guide him always. You've done well to get him this far, it is time to help him grow, not guide him."

>...I miss it.

Three simple words, quietly said, spoke everything.

"Of course you do, but it's not gone away! It's merely... evolved, much like he himself has. Do you understand?"

>...I suppose I do...

A hoof clapped him on the back, rough and hard as a joyous tone replaced the serious one in Thirty Two's voice.

"Good! Then you can get to work on the next child to raise right away!"

>GAHHH!

Roughly, he shoved the other aside, coming off just a bit more playful and a touch less angry than he meant to.

3/4

>>25485050

>Must you ruin every moment by implying I should bed one of my friends!?

"Well, if they're not on the table, then I'll gladly offer myself to this service. The labor pains would be worth it."

>...Thou art a damned MALE! You cannot bare children!

"Not with that attitude I can't."

>That is not how anything works!

"Never know until you try."

>Yes I do!

"But how can you be sure?"

>THIRTY TWO!

"Oh, fine... then we'll just have to accept that I cannot ever have your children. Alas. Will it feel better if I at least pretend to be the mare? We changelings are masters of holding the illusion after all."

>Well of course that would be better than- BESIDE THE POINT!

"Oh, you're right. Thine friends wanted to watch too. Do you want to call them up here or bring me down there?"

>Neither!

"Well that's just inconsiderate. Don't you care about your friends?"

>That's not what I meant!

"Sure is what it sounded like."

>THIRTY! TWO!

"Oh, fine, if you aren't a fan of that physical contact..."

Without warning, the changeling threw his forelegs around his brother, bringing him in for a tight, strong hug.

"This will have to do."

>...

"Twenty Nine?... You've done the impossible, be proud of him, and yourself, and stop dwelling on him growing up without you. There will be a time when he does not need you to hold him up... but he will always need his family."

It was slow, it was quiet, but eventually, the hug was returned.

>...thank you.

"Anytime."

For once, just that once, he let the moment play out, let it linger, before he separated.

"Best be heading back to Ponyville, no? You have quite a home there now."

>...I do, I suppose. I should head back...

"Yes you should... unless you want to go into the closet for a bit of stress relief before you go. Will only take a second, and I guarantee my mouth will be too full to say anything else!"

>...

"..."

>...

"...Is that a yes?"

>...

"..."

>...Sigh. Can always count on you, can't I, brother?

"Always."

>>25485076
Damn it, 32, you need to get laid BAD.

>>25485076
Glad we finally addressed that morlock thing.

>>25485076
Sorry to break up the moment but it keeps coming up in his stories. Who are we having 29 get together with?
>Mayor Mare?
>Zecora?
>Trixie?
>32?
>some combination of them to make the Ponyville harem?

>>25485404
Not 32 for sure, he's just always hitting on him. 32 doesn't want a romance, he wants to get laid, and 29 is just someone he wants because said bug was so good to him when he was locked up. 32 wants Pommel just as much.

As for the others, Trixie for sure doesn't seem interested in a romantic relationship, she just seems like she wants to be friends and gets too caught up in her own ego to really be a friend-friend. They're her best friends, she doesn't want to leave them, but she doesn't seem to have an attraction to them sexually.

That leaves, I guess, Zecroa and MM. Both of them have shown they have a physical attraction to him, and him to them. Both of them connect with him on a personal level, and he seems to genuinely care about them and their happiness, and he has already been with MM and would have gone for Zecora if he thought she would go for it. His only barrier was that he still wouldn't let go of his pipedream of being a royal sex-servant, but with the new development, ehhh.

So, one of those two, **~IF~** and I cannot emphasize that enough, IF he ends up with anyone. Who knows, they might just stay friends.

>>25485472
he HAS been with Zecora, remember how they met?
>she took his money with the neigherian princess scam for sex
she's probably paid him back in drugs by this point though

>>25485404
Dunno if we're actually going to have him get into a relationship, but MM or Zecora's the only real options in that case unless Trixie gets developed more.

>>25485505
Actually, we got to see later that the scam had her convincing him that worthless trinkets she owned were secretly owned by royals and charging him exorbitant prices for them, and he kept falling for it because she convinced him it would make him seem more desirable to royals if he was 'in the know' like them.