private A Cultural Exchange 1x1 with DwhitetheGamer

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight nodded before continuing up the stairs.

 

There was a slight chill to the slowly spiraling staircase, though it seemed to be going down as they passed turn after turn. The walls were smooth like they had been carved out of the mountain with magic, while there was the occasional pock mark where they had placed a glowing gem which occurred frequently enough that the stairs never got too dark.

 

When they reached the top they were indeed in the middle of the back hallway of the castle. The stairs continued upward, no doubt to the towers.

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper followed Midnight up the stairway from the Colony to the castle, in which the way they were going led to the castle.  He pondered about questions he could ask for Interchange, and he wondered if there was a good time to do it at all.

 

They reached the middle of the back hallway of the castle.  Copper was actually glad to be back in the castle, it had a good vibe to him as did Twilight's castle.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"Well," Midnight seemed just a bit indecisive, "If you do want to talk to Interchange some more, I could go find him for you. He's probably in his room around now. He does love to talk about his hive, and changelings in general, you're actually one of the few non-delegates here that expressed interest in his race. He really appreciates that."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper nodded.  He actually liked Interchange, and was starting to appreciate Changelings in general.  "Sure thing.  I'm actually starting to like the Changelings myself.  I never did get to know about them before the attack in Canterlot.  I'll wait for you both there."

 

He pointed to a seat near a window in the hallway.  After he spoke, he walked to the seat and sat down, closing his eyes for a minute.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight soon returned with a less nervous Interchange to find that Copper appeared to be asleep. Perhaps the energy potion had a stronger effect on him because he was so much smaller than Midnight? Nevertheless, Midnight resolved to do his best to get the young colt's attention.

 

He gave Copper a gentle nudge, "Interchange is ready to speak with you now." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper felt the effects of the potion he had from earlier, and it was putting him to sleep.  He appeared to be dreaming when Midnight nudged him.

 

"Huh?  What?  Oh, hey, Midnight, Interchange."

 

After Midnight spoke, Copper remembered needing to ask questions to Interchange.  He shook his head, trying to be awake, and smiled wearily at the Changeling.

 

"Haha, sorry.  I guess the potion was stronger than I anticipated." he said rather weakly.  "Anyway, what was life like as a Changeling before you became a delegate?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Midnight gave a slight laugh. "Right to it I see, I'll leave you two alone as I have work to finish up if we are to leave tomorrow. You know where my room is if you need me."

 

And with that he left them behind.

 

"Well, I was predisposed to be a diplomat of sorts and so I was trained in this through my formative years to replace the old diplomat, and to emphasize my predisposition. I'm not all that old you know, but changelings can be fairly long lived provided they get enough emotional energy. I didn't have a sort of foalhood like you did, if that's what you're asking. Individualism isn't really a thing until we finish our training and receive our first assignment, which is this for me." 

Edited February 24, 2016 by Illiad Easle

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper smiled and nodded, putting a hoof on his chin.  "I see.  Well, I do wish you good luck on the rest of your assignment.  I think you and Nebula would make great friends."

 

He yawned, thinking of another question.  "So, how do you think life would be like for the Changelings now that Princess Celestia declared that said race would be no longer seen as threats?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

 Interchange nodded with a smile, "I'm sure we'll get along just fine, it's a challenge every year to see how long before a new delegate figures out who all the changelings are, I intend to be the last one to be discovered this time. As to changeling life, not much will really be different in how we operate, it will be some time before it would be realistic to go without a disguise. If anything, it will be slightly safer to be discovered and those in the field may be more likely to reveal themselves to long term partners."

He sighed, "It's unlikely you'll see any real change in your lifetime, most ponies do not forgive or forget such atrocities as readily as you and your princess seem to."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"Heh.  I didn't attend the wedding in Canterlot, so I don't have any hate towards Changelings in general, just those who would attack my town or Canterlot.  Which reminds me, at first, I was indifferent towards Changelings when I first heard of the attack.  Now that I've met you, I'm starting to like them.  Anyways, next question.  If you had witnessed your kind attack innocent ponies, what would you do?  I would stop them, because I want to be there for anypony in need.  Now that I think about it, I would like to be there for ANYONE, not just ponies."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"Well, I'm glad your worldview has been expanded by this encounter. As to your question, I suppose I would need more information. Changelings don't go on the offensive without a reason. For instance, we have reason to believe that Chrysalis' hive was starving for some time before they attacked Canterlot. I would find out why they were attacking and then make the decision as to how to help them. 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"It would make sense that Queen Chrysalis' hive would be starving, but to attack Canterlot?  I think there would have been a better way to be fueled than straight attacking.  I dunno, maybe attend the wedding to be fueled by the emotion would be better.  Anyways, the first time I met you, you had wings and a horn when you showed your true form.  Can you use magic in your original state?  Or do you know any kinds of magic?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"I suppose she thought that by taking the capital she'd have the resources to gather enough emotional energy to save her hive. Blending in to a crowd takes time and energy that they didn't have, and they only attacked after Chrysalis' disguise failed. But we can't exactly ask her now why she did it, if they were starving before the attack no doubt they've starved wherever they ended up. As to your question, yes I am capable of magic and flight. A disguise does not really alter my abilities. As I was predisposed to magic I am a bit more powerful than the average changeling in that regard, though weaker in flight and constitution, which is why I tend to disguise as a unicorn." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"Those poor Changelings..."

 

Copper looked upset, shaking his head as he pondered the words of Interchange.  It may have been another effect of the potion, causing him to be upset, but he didn't know.

 

"A moment please.  I feel so bad for those Changelings.  It may be an effect of the potion I had after the races earlier."

 

He looked deep in thought afterwards, looking to the side.

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer, 

 

The situation was clearly a bit awkward for Interchange. "Chrysalis was not all that well liked by the other queens, it seems she was too stubborn for her own good, never asking for help even when things were dire. And in the end it set the rest of us back in regards to our ability to function normally. Nearly everypony was suspicious of those around them after the attack, suspecting them of being changelings. It really hurt a bunch of relationships and their emotional output. I do occasionally feel bad for the changelings that got tangled up in Chrysalis' plan, but its the past now and nothing more can be done about it."

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper looked at Interchange, his eyes widened.  "That stubborn, huh?  I guess that's what Karma does to her."

 

He shook his head, thinking up reasons why Chrysalis would be that stubborn.  Because of her, nearly everypony feared the Changelings, and he didn't know if she would accept that or not.

 

"She didn't have a good foal-hood, either that or she was spoiled.  Her parents may have thought she could do no wrong, but I don't know."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Interchange looked slightly aghast at Copper's comments before quickly composing himself. "I'll forgive you for your ignorance in this matter, I had forgotten that you didn't know changelings as I do. Our upbringing is nothing like a typical pony's or most other races for that matter. Her parent would be the queen of whichever hive she hailed from, she would have been formed either to replace her parent as queen or to found a new hive. Queens have an immense resource cost to produce and thus they have a strong pressure to be strong and preform well. Chrysalis was formed with the express purpose of founding a hive devoted to Love, as opposed to say my hive which is devoted more towards admiration and awe than love. I know ponies will do crazy things for love, how much more would one who's entire being is devoted to love do? Again, we will never know her true motives without finding her."

 

(Most if not all of my information on changelings comes from http://www.fimfiction.net/story/87718/a-novel-tale, which is a good read.)

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper looked surprised the moment he saw the aghast look on Interchange's face.  His cheeks flamed scarlet with so much embarrassment from his words it looked as if he could explode.  He did a face-hoof, silently cursing at the potion.

 

"Oh, my goodness, I'm so so sorry.  I was so stupid in saying that.  Blame the potion I was given after the first race, not me.  I'm just not myself at the moment, as you can tell."

 

He sighed so deeply that it felt like a minute came and went before he was finished.  He shook his head.

 

"I'm one of the nicest ponies you'll meet.  I have to apologize even though you said you'd forgive my apparent ignorance.  I just feel so off ever since I've slept here a couple minutes ago.  I'll choose my words carefully next time."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Interchange gave a slight smile, "It's okay, we have a very different social and familial dynamic than most other races so it is understandable that you would assume us to be the same to the others that you have experienced. You didn't know any better." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper shook his head, then yawned.  "Yeah.  I couldn't have known better."

 

He looked out the window, he could tell that there still was a few hours left of daylight.  He sighed again, this time thinking of another question.

 

"So, have you ever been back to your hive while you're a delegate?  If so, should we meet again, you could take me to your hive for a tour.  I can't do it now because tomorrow I'm going to show Midnight around Ponyville and he's going to stay for a few days."

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"I go back to the hive on a regular basis to meet with my queen on current affairs, short trips usually as it is pretty far away from here. My queen is not too keen on tours of the hive, utilitarianism and all that, there is a hive in Whitetail woods however that may be more inclined to show you around" 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

"That's understandable.  Saddening, perhaps.  I'd think your Queen would like me."

 

He then thought for a second.  They had the talk about queens, but what about kings?  What do they do on a regular basis besides overlook their hives?

 

"What about the kings of the hives?  What do they do besides overlook their hives with the queens?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

"Kings?" Interchange had a short burst of laughter at that. "There aren't kings among changelings, just queens and the rest of us. Queen is more of a race of changelings rather than a title, one is born either a normal changeling with all the predispositions that entails, or born a queen. My queen would probably like you if you made a good impression to one of her scouts, they have better disguises than I." 

[DwhitetheGamer 867]

@@Illiad Easle, 

 

Copper looked astonished.  No kings?  How is that possible?

 

"No kings?  Then how the hay does..."  He stopped almost immediately, realizing what he was going to say.  "Forgive me, I was about to say something I would regret.  I really thought that there would be kings that ruled alongside the queens.  Anyway, it's surprising that queen is a race other than a title.  I would pay my respects towards her regardless.  Why is it just a race, as you described?"

[Illiad Easle 3,135]

@@DwhitetheGamer,

 

Interchange looked confused at Copper's latest query. "Just a race? Your princesses are a race all their own, why is it odd that we are no different? I suppose I must not really understand your question, it sounds similar to a question of why is earth pony a race in the which case the answer would be that they serve a unique purpose that the other cannot."