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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 13, 2016 19:03:45 GMT -5
"Alright, I'll teleport us as close to Chrysalis' home as I can." Ripple said. "There should be a map here somewhere." She wondered off to go looking for it. "Then we're on recon." Scootaloo said. "What's it going to be? Same as last time? I take one direction, Jinmay takes another and Sweetie stays in the middle?"
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 15, 2016 19:30:25 GMT -5
Sweetie nodded, "I can stay in the middle hiding and listen to both of you as you scout out. It'll be one way communication since I don't need you going deaf on me, but at least in general we'll have communication. I'll whistle if you guys need to get back quickly." Applebloom got up and helped look for a map.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 15, 2016 20:07:46 GMT -5
"Then we're all set." Scootaloo said. "Except for one thing. If Ripple teleports us to Canterlot and then going to be on the road for who knows how long, what are we going to do when we're done? Fly all the way back here?"
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 15, 2016 20:29:07 GMT -5
"We'll probably have to camp near the border of the city. I'm sure we can bunker down somewhere nearby." Sweetie said, already having made up her mind on that.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 15, 2016 20:48:43 GMT -5
"Sounds good to me." Scootaloo agreed. "We better take a few supplies with us then." Ripple found a map in one of the studies and was on her way back.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 17, 2016 13:07:46 GMT -5
"Jinmay, how many preserves and other good travel food is left for the slow team? They'll probably be traveling for a while. And Chrysalis, is your kingdom still well stocked with supplies?" Sweetie asked, trying to plan ahead. Applebloom was still following Ripple now in the way back to the others.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 17, 2016 16:06:57 GMT -5
"There's plenty of food to take along." Jinmay replied. "Ripple found even more stored away, all well preserved." "There is food in my 'kingdom'." Chrysalis told Sweetie. "Although I do not find the food here pleasing at all, so it may be that our food will be similarly unappealing to you." "That shouldn't be too much of a problem." Ripple said bringing in the map. "It only needs to be a one way trip, I can teleport us back when we're finished there."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 18, 2016 11:02:21 GMT -5
"So long as you're not wearing yourself out again." Applebloom said, squinting suspiciously at the Unicorn before grinning. "Then we seem to have a plan. Shall we head back to the castle while the others head off to the Crystal Empire?" Sweetie said, turning to Scootaloo.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 18, 2016 15:51:56 GMT -5
"Of course not." Ripple answered back with a grin of her own. "The hike to the Chrysalis' place will give me enough time to rest my magic. And I can drop you all off in Ponyville before we head out." She spread the map out. "Where are we going Chrysalis?" Chrysalis walked over to the map and after looking it over pointed to a spot in the middle of nowhere. "Over here." "Right, the closest place I know would be over here then." Ripple pointed close to the border of Equestria. "I can teleport us that far."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 18, 2016 17:56:55 GMT -5
"Are we ready to go?" Sweetie said after getting some of the food set aside, eating one small piece while she did so.
"About how far a hike from there?" Applebloom asked, looking at the map.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 18, 2016 18:22:54 GMT -5
"I think we can save almost a day." Ripple said. "About two days then. Alright everypony, gather all your things so we can go." Chrysalis went to get the changeling they rescued. Scootaloo put on her saddlebags, already packed. And Jinmay just stood closer, not really knowing what so could take along.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 18, 2016 19:13:38 GMT -5
Sweetie packed up the food and put it in her saddle bag. "Ready when you guys are." She told Scoots and Jinmay. Applebloom walked back to the main area and grabbed her most important tools, placing them in her gears utility belt and her saddle bag on top of that.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 18, 2016 19:25:21 GMT -5
"Here we go!" Ripple said when everyone was back and teleported them to Ponyville. Ponyville was still silent and eerie, the empty streets still felt wrong even after all these years.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 18, 2016 19:30:22 GMT -5
Sweetie shook her head, "Man I wish she'd give us more warning sometimes." She turned to face Scootaloo and Jinmay, "Shall we find a base of operation first and then head out to the wall?"
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 18, 2016 20:01:28 GMT -5
"The clubhouse is probably not going to be the best." Scootaloo said. "Although I wouldn't have minded that. We should choose someplace we don't usually go to."
The rest of the gang appeared near a river. It was a picnic spot, now overgrown and deserted. "Can you find the way from here Chrysalis?" Ripple asked. Chrysalis looked around to get her bearings. "Yes." She finally said. "I can guide you from here."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 20, 2016 11:49:00 GMT -5
Sweetie nodded, "We'd need a place kind of obscure. Hidden away. How about Fluttershy's cottage? It's out the city a little and we'd notice of someone was coming. It's also close to the Everfree forest should we need to make a great escape.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 20, 2016 16:36:29 GMT -5
"But the Skeleton knows about our friends." Scootaloo said. "What if he knows where they live? It won't be much of a hideaway if he came searching for us. We should choose a place we wouldn't usually go to. Like Diamond Tiara's place."
"Guess we better get ready for a long walk." Ripple said. "Ready Apple Bloom?" Chrysalis started leading the way without another word. The changeling on her back still out cold, though breathing evenly.
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 20, 2016 17:31:42 GMT -5
"Why not Silver Spoons place instead. She was at least a little nicer then Diamond Tiara." Sweetie said, a hint of bitterness escaping her.
Applebloom fell in line and followed along.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 20, 2016 18:05:22 GMT -5
"I suppose that would do as well." Scootaloo said, but grinned. "But Diamond's dad is Filthy Rich, so her home must by pretty sweet. Soft beds, a swimming pool, large kitchen, who knows what else."
"So..." Ripple said trying to break the silence. "What's your kingdom like?" "It does not bring me much pleasure to keep bringing up our past." Chrysalis said. "But I tried to take over your kingdom to take it for ourselves. So to answer your question: A kingdom that wants enough power to make all the kingdoms ours."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 20, 2016 18:47:15 GMT -5
"We won't be spending much time there anyway. Jinmay, you decide. I'm fine either way really. each has their perks." Sweetie said, turning to their third. The indecision was getting to her more then the task at hoof.
"Seems like a really shortsighted goal." Applebloom said plainly as they walked.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 20, 2016 19:03:50 GMT -5
"Oh! I'm not sure." Jinmay said, caught off guard. "Silver I suppose." "Fine, we'll go to Silverspoon's house." Scootaloo gave in. "You lead the way Sweetie."
"You seek to learn and practice to increase your magic." Chrysalis said. "We were born with the ability to feed of others' love to grow stronger, so it is not such a strange thing that we seek to grow strong to advance ourselves. It is somewhat a tradition. You may see it as being shortsighted, but then it is the shortsightedness of the queen who is charged with keeping tradition. Other changelings may not share the same vision, but they all listen to the queen."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 20, 2016 19:17:04 GMT -5
Sweetie nodded and started off in that direction, "No need to worry Scoots, the two are practically neighbors, so you can play around in Diamonds place if you want while we're not working. I won't judge." she said only a little sarcastically.
"I mean that the goal doesn't really lead you anywhere. Think about if you actually succeeded. What would you have left? I'm just blabbering though, little ol' farm pony me talking up to the big queen." She said roughly and skipped forward to make it next to Ripple.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 20, 2016 20:58:32 GMT -5
"I know we're on a mission Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo told her as they followed. "I just thought that if we're going to spend somewhere where we can't feel at home we may as well make the best of it. If we get through the day without some kind of fight or being hunted down then it's going to be a long night sleeping in some stranger's house. You don't have to get snippy about it."
"I'm sorry." Chrysalis said sounding a little offended. "Are you upset with me because of our past or because I am a queen? I certainly have not asked you to treat me like one. I'm well aware that I'm little else than a prisoner to you. And I am not trying to make friends with you. But I am trying my best to help you. I do want to save my changelings. And I guess I'm just trying to explain to you who we changelings are, for better or worse. I admit that after my dealings with you ponies I have had doubts about our purpose, but those will not matter once the new queen has been chosen and she will do what she sees fit, and that will most certainly be based on our traditions, as it was with me. Yet your grudge against me seems to be personal, despite me doing everything and answering everything that you've demanded of me."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 21, 2016 11:05:12 GMT -5
Sweetie looked back, "I'm sorry if it came off that way. I was just saying since the two are nearby that you could go other there if you wanted, since we didn't go to her place in the first place. I wasn't trying to be snippy." she said genuinely. OOC: I really wasn't, by the way BIC: Applebloom just raised an eyebrow, "I'm not downing the changlings or anything, but I know what it feels like for the past to mean nothing. What good are our traditions to us now with Equestria a barren wasteland. I'm just saying that making the best future we can is my only real goal, and that sticking to your traditions doesn't seem to be boding well for your changlings."
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 21, 2016 13:50:09 GMT -5
ooc: Perhaps not, but I wasn't quite sure how to respond the Sweetie saying Scoots was childish or not serious about their situation. "It's fine." Scootaloo told Sweetie. "No harm done. We still have to get over to Canterlot, so let's get to the house and get started." "I won't disagree with that." Chrysalis told Apple Bloom. "Perhaps this path will lead to the end of the Changelings, perhaps this was not how we were meant to live in the first place. But my word does not hold sway anymore, I can't help them. All I can do is help to save them now. Perhaps someone can convince the next queen to follow a better path, before the changelings destroys themselves."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 21, 2016 17:18:13 GMT -5
Sweetie nodded and picked up the pace.
OOC: I'll let you have us arrive.
BIC: "Be that someone. Don't you queens have advisors? And how would you know what to do as queen if the last queen didn't tell you?" Applebloom said, her gusto shining through her words. She was fixated on how the kingdom worked now lost in her own words at this point, carried away as 'ter.
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 21, 2016 17:57:11 GMT -5
The Ponyville group arrives at Silverspoon's house, which did look fancy and large, but nothing to write home about and definitely nothing compared to some of the places they've seen before.
"Through tradition." Chrysalis chuckled softly at the irony of it. "If we were not meant to live in this manner then the Changeling Queen in itself is the heart of the problem. The changeling queen is chosen specifically to lead the changelings into power. She is given instruction of what is expected of her and at her coronation ceremony her ability to love is permanently removed from her so she can never loose her powers. She is then expected to find hosts and grow the kingdom until the end of her reign. A Queen like me who is deemed unfit to rule and perform her duties is ordered to be exiled at the new queen's ceremony, never to join with them again."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 21, 2016 21:26:15 GMT -5
Sweetie tried the door, but it was locked. She pulled out a pair of needles from her bag with her magic and got started picking the lock, "Scoots, can you check the perimeter while I get this? Shouldn't take me even a minute."
Applebloom laughed aloud, "Really? I don't believe that for a second. You can't be incapable of love and still care for your changlings so much. It's clear you love them from what you're willing to do to save them. You're pulling my leg now."
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Post by Bio Plus on Apr 21, 2016 22:12:10 GMT -5
"Shouldn't take me that long either." Scootaloo said and was away in a cloud of dust. "I can help too." Jinmay said and her eyes turned red as she scanned for anything nearby.
"Yes, you are right." Chrysalis replied. "I suppose I should have been clearer. When I said love I meant the capability of falling in love. A queen that couldn't love her subjects, even a changeling queen, would not be very good at performing her duties after all. As you said, we changelings can love and we can also fall in love, just like you. But if a changeling does fall in love they loose their powers. Their ability to absorb love. After all, we use deception to come in between two others that love each other to steal their love. And to do that while a changeling is already in love would be a betrayal to their own love, so they can't. And since our transformation is mainly used to do that they also loose that ability. But a queen isn't aloud to loose her power so that part of her is taken away. This allows her to more easily find 'food' as well as make sure that other changelings doesn't make a habit of falling in love and we loose our army."
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Post by Broly Ultimatrix on Apr 22, 2016 9:13:28 GMT -5
A spin, twist, and click later and the door swung open. It was dark and dusty, the curtains pulled closed and the only light what could come through the curtains and the door. "Here we are. Home base for the next couple days." Sweetie said, letting herself in.
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