With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Mr Zoat · May 28, 2021

crazygrox said:
Were these ... connectionless Constructs?
Using his recent link to the desires of others in order to reach through from his desires, to their desires, to produce a construct or filament from the point where another person is feeling avarice?

No, I just didn't specifically mention it.

Mr Zoat · May 28, 2021

22nd August 2012
16:44 GMT

I finish reading the missive, then raise my eyebrows as I look up at Onigar.

"Genuine?"

"The bodies of quite a few members of the government are hanging from the walls of the State Security headquarters." She nods. "My father is still on the planet, and his contacts have confirmed as much of this as they can."

"Surprisingly quick." I nod. "Which means this is more a palace coup than a sudden outbreak of revolutionary zeal. Someone in the old guard thinks they can survive while keeping the old system going if they dump enough of their old colleagues over the side."

"That was my conclusion. Fortunately, I have a tireless advocate of justice to call upon." There's a very brief flash of uncertainty. "I assume that I do have him to call on?"

"I wish you and Lantern Xor every happiness together?"

"That's-. Thank you, but that isn't what I meant. The Orange Lantern Corps is fighting a war. With the majority of the fighting here over, I assume that you will want Xalitan to travel to Maltus."

"How does he feel about it?"

"He feels intensely obliged to you. He would go, if you asked. And… I've read the files on his ring about the Reach. They are.. worse than the Alignment has ever been."

"That's objectively true. But it's long been my belief that the orange light is extremely subjective. If this is where he wants to be, it would be churlish of me to try and insist that he leave."

"He doesn't see it that way. He sees you as his superior officer."

"Well then… Consider that the war with the Reach won't last forever. Eventually, over the bodies of many comrades, we will pull the whole edifice down." I shrug. "Then what?"

"You will have to rebuild."

"Rebuild what? The Reach? With an army of Lanterns whose greatest desire is to destroy them?"

"The.. people they enslaved?"

"If there are any left, but I doubt that most Lanterns will have the visceral attachment to them. The Reach don't maintain slave populations. We won't have to go far into Reach space before we stop finding other species. I imagine that we'll have fixed all that we can well before the Reach finally collapses."

I shake my head.

"I imagine that most Orange Lanterns will want to quit. To go and return to their recaptured worlds and try to have a life. Some might keep their rings, but they're not going to want to live under military discipline. So how will that work? That's one of the things I want Lantern Xor to work out in advance."

"Xalitan would happily live under military discipline his entire life."

"He doesn't need to tell any of the others that."

"What's.. wrong with the Green Lanterns' Sector system?"

"Nothing, if you're a Green Lantern. Maybe nothing if you're Orange. We don't know yet. I'd like to have Lantern Xor doing this sort of work so that we've got a worked example to draw on. When we get to that stage I'm probably going to send a few Lanterns this way for retraining, but otherwise, unless the Reach get to the point where they're actually pushing onto Maltus itself I'd rather that Lantern Xor stay here."

She nods. "Thank you."

"Serving your interests serves my interests, which is how this should work. Though going back to your revised government structure…"

"Yes?"

"There's a country called 'Russia' on my world that went through a couple of traumatic government changes during the last century. And whether it had a monarch, a communist dictatorship or a representative democracy, the fundamental character of the place remained much the same. People are going to try going back to the old way of doing things."

She nods. "And Xalitan will stop them, until eventually they learn not to."

I nod. "Good show. The L.E.G.I.O.N. fleet is lurking nearby just in case you need them, but it's probably best if this remains an internal matter."

"I agree, but thank you for your foresight." She walks over to the view screen showing the work being done to bring the captured ships back into working order. Xor's doing the lion's share of the heavy lifting; the revolution hasn't captured any space docks yet and so their engineers are mostly limited to internal repairs. "Do you think… Returning in warships sends the right message?"

"'We took these guys with little effort, how lucky do you feel?' Yes, I think that's an excellent message. I mean, don't try and govern from one…"

"But people need to know that we are strong enough to maintain order until things are settled."

"Just so." I nod. "Have Lantern Xor send me a message if you need me for anything."

I raise my right hand to my forehead,

step out

22nd August 2012
11:47 GMT -5

and reappear-.

There's a crackle, a small explosion, and a billow of decidedly toxic smoke.

"Thaddeus?"

"Heh." Thaddeus Sivana Junior kicks a smouldering box under his work bench. "However did that get there?"

"Are you really that bored?"

"No, I'm not… Bored. Merely… Undirected." He kicks whatever that was, and there's a loud crackle! "Agh!"

He hops backwards a pace, clutching his right leg, as Georgia pokes her head around the door.

"Paul! Are you looking for Father?"

"Not specifically."

"Good." She walks into the room. "Because he and Mother are… On a date."

"So they're..? Getting on?"

Staying on one leg, Thaddeus Junior takes a spray can of some sort out of a wall-mounted box and sprays his injured leg. He then cautiously puts his foot back on the ground before returning the can to the box.

"Yes."

"And how do you… Both.. feel about that?"

"I… Guess it's good."

Georgia ducks her head, glancing aside. Thaddeus turns to her with a frown.

"What?"

"If neither of you are busy?" They both look at me. "How would you like to visit Maltus?"

Darko · May 28, 2021

Zoat, you forgot to threadmark the chapter.

Darko · May 28, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
I have a tireless advocate of justice to call upon

Ahh, how cute.

They both have a thing for justice.

Mr Zoat said:
Xalitan would happy live under

'happily'

Mr Zoat said:
"There's a country called 'Russia' on my world that went through a couple of traumatic government changes during the last century. And whether it had a monarch, a communist dictatorship or a representative democracy, the fundamental character of the place remained much the same. People are going to try going back to the old way of doing things."

Though they didn't have a Lantern telling them no.

Mr Zoat said:
She nods. "And Xalitan will stop them, until eventually they learn not to."

Yep.

Mr Zoat said:
No, I'm not… Bored. Merely… Undirected."

A bored Sivana or an undirected one.

...

I can't decide which is worse.

Mr Zoat said:
"If neither of you are busy?" They both look at me. "How would you like to visit Maltus?"

Ahh, Paul, bringing two mad scientists on a trip to a high tech planet.

When will you learn.

Mastigos2 · May 28, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
"If neither of you are busy?" They both look at me. "How would you like to visit Maltus?"

Ohhhhh boy this is going to be an experience isn't it? We're finally going to see exactly how the highest echelon's of Earth's malign hypercognitives stack up against the technological pinnacle of the galaxy

Ngamer11 · May 28, 2021

Mastigos2 said:
Ohhhhh boy this is going to be an experience isn't it? We're finally going to see exactly how the highest echelon's of Earth's malign hypercognitives stack up against the technological pinnacle of the galaxy

I wouldn't call Maltus the very pinnacle of technological advancement in the galaxy, as there are some places that can compete.

NightmareWarden · May 28, 2021

Well well, let's see which lucky Qwardian is going to fall in love tonight.

Hey gang? Does anyone suspect that Brainiac will try to retrieve valuable materials, species, etc. once the Reach's defenses are sufficiently cracked? Maybe perform some exotic weapons tests along the way?

Chojin Patriarch · May 28, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
22nd August 2012
16:44 GMT

I finish reading the missive, then raise my eyebrows as I look up at Onigar.

Sounds like the Alignment's government has finally realised which way the winds of revolution are blowing, and are looking to at least get out of this with their heads still attached. Too bad there's a lot of angry people who have plans otherwise.

"Genuine?"

"The bodies of quite a few members of the government are hanging from the walls of the State Security headquarters." She nods. "My father is still on the planet, and his contacts have confirmed as much of this as they can."

Ah, I see someone in the government's going the easiest route: Kill off your buddies and hope that earns you enough goodwill to stay alive.

"Surprisingly quick." I nod. "Which means this is more a palace coup that a sudden outbreak of revolutionary zeal. Someone in the old guard thinks they can survive while keeping the old system going if they dump enough of their old colleagues over the side."

"That was my conclusion. Fortunately, I have a tireless advocate of justice to call upon." There's a very brief flash of uncertainty. "I assume that I do have him to call on?"

...That is a good point. Xor is impressively loyal to OL. What happens when that loyalty collides with an order he doesn't want to carry out?

"I wish you and Lantern Xor every happiness together?"

"That's-. Thank you, but that isn't what I meant. The Orange Lantern Corps is fighting a war. With the majority of the fighting here over, I assume that you will want Xalitan to travel to Maltus."

Eh, what's one more soldier going to do, even one with a good grasp on the shamanistic aspects of Orange Light usage? Unless he's somehow learned to Greediport in the time away, at most he's a prospect for one of the first Honour Guard positions.

"How does he feel about it?"

"He feels intensely obliged to you. He would go, if you asked. And… I've read the files on his ring about the Reach. They are.. worse than the Alignment has ever been."

Well, to be fair, the Reach has had a lot longer to become as proficient at what evil they do. The Alignment is what, a couple of hundred years old? I doubt they could ever be as bad as the Reach after even a thousand.

"That's objectively true. But it's long been my belief that the orange light is extremely subjective. If this is where he wants to be, it would be churlish of me to try and insist that he leave."

"He doesn't see it that way. He sees you as his superior officer."

Yes, and? We've seen that Xor is willing to refuse orders when it's what he wants to believe is right. OL is at least savvy enough to know that Xor would be in a very rough position if that order was given.

"Well then… Consider that the war with the Reach won't last forever. Eventually, over the bodies of many comrades, we will pull the whole edifice down." I shrug. "Then what?"

"You will have to rebuild."

Remind me, how large is the Alignment's space? Ten systems? Twenty? And rebuilding that after this revolution will be a lifetime's work... The Reach's empire is a hundred times larger at least.

"Rebuild what? The Reach? With an army of Lanterns whose greatest desire is to destroy them?"

"The.. people they enslaved?"

You mean the peoples they habitually drive to extinction, whether by neglect, malice or simple stupidity?

"If there are any left, but I doubt that most Lanterns will have the visceral attachment to them. The Reach don't maintain slave populations. We won't have to go far into Reach space before we stop finding other species. I imagine that we'll have fixed all that we can well before the Reach finally collapses."

I shake my head.

And what's left... Well, Maltus is going to have quite the empire on its hands by then.

"I imagine that most Orange Lanterns will want to quit. To go and return to their recaptured worlds and try to have a life. Some might keep their rings, but they're not going to want to live under military discipline. So how will that work? That's one of the things I want Lantern Xor to work out in advance."

"Xalitan would happy live under military discipline his entire life."

Well, he's known it for most of his life, of course he would be. Perhaps he needs someone to show him other ways... Hint, hint.

"He doesn't need to tell any of the others that."

"What's.. wrong with the Green Lantern's Sector system?"

Ever tried to keep a curious Orange Lantern in one part of space when they're on a trek?

"Nothing, if you're a Green Lantern. Maybe nothing if you're Orange. We don't know yet. I'd like to have Lantern Xor doing this sort of work so that we've got a worked example to draw on. When we get to that stage I'm probably going to send a few Lanterns this way for retraining, but otherwise, unless the Reach get to the point where they're actually pushing onto Maltus itself I'd rather that Lantern Xor stay here."

She nods. "Thank you."

Ah, well played, OL. Make it sound like you have ulterior motives for having Xor do exactly what he want to. He'll probably work all the harder to make his people better as an example, and think he's following your orders to do so the whole time.

"Serving your interests serves my interests, which is how this should work. Though going back to your revised government structure…"

"Yes?"

No monarch, so the British system won't work... Pity, would have been amusing to see both Paragon and Renegade suggest that at around the same time.

"There's a country called 'Russia' on my world that went through a couple of traumatic government changes during the last century. And whether it had a monarch, a communist dictatorship or a representative democracy, the fundamental character of the place remained much the same. People are going to try going back to the old way of doing things."

She nods. "And Xalitan will stop them, until eventually they learn not to."

It could take years... Decades even. Sure you'll be happy with that? With him running off to put out brush fires on the borders?

I nod. "Good show. The L.E.G.I.O.N. fleet is lurking nearby just in case you need them, but it's probably best if this remains an internal matter."

"I agree, but thank you for your foresight." She walks over to the view screen showing the work being done to bring the captured ships back into working order. Xor's doing the lion's share of the heavy lifting; the revolution hasn't captured any space docks yet and so their engineers are mostly limited to internal repairs. "Do you think… Returning in warships sends the right message?"

It says "We came, we saw, we kicked their ass!" Certainly, it shows Xor's faction has the muscle to prove their point...

"'We took these guys with little effort, how lucky do you feel?' Yes, I think that's an excellent message. I mean, don't try and govern from one…"

"But people need to know that we are strong enough to maintain order until things are settled."

Exactly. "Don't make us come over there." Is a good way to rule, until people settle down enough.

"Just so." I nod. "Have Lantern Xor send me a message if you need me for anything."

I raise my right hand to my forehead,

And back to the day job...

step out

22nd August 2012
11:47 GMT -5

and reappear-.

...Though when the commute is this easy, coming in on a day is never a hassle.

There's a crackle, a small explosion, and a billow of decidedly toxic smoke.

"Thaddeus?"

"Heh." Thaddeus Sivana Junior kicks a smouldering box under his work bench. "However did that get there?"

...Did Tad try to make a greediport interdiction device? 'Try' begin the operative word, of course.

"Are you really that bored?"

"No, I'm not… Bored. Merely… Undirected." He kicks whatever that was, and there's a loud crackle" "Agh!"

...Oh, dear. That's never good. A Sivana without a clear goal is trouble waiting to happen. Of course, a Sivana with a clear goal is trouble in progress!

He hops backwards a pace, clutching his right leg, as Georgia pokes her head around the door.

"Paul! Are you looking for Father?"

Ah, good, both twins accounted for.

"Not specifically."

"Good." She walks into the room. "Because he and Mother are… On a date."

That pause does not sound encouraging. But at least Thaddeus is trying.

"So they're..? Getting on?"

Staying on one leg, Thaddeus Junior takes a spray can of some sort out of a wall-mounted box and sprays his injured leg. He then cautiously puts his foot back on the ground before returning the can to the box.

"Medigel. I always have a supply on hand for just these occasions."

"Yes."

"And how do you… Both.. feel about that?"

"I… Guess it's good."

Is someone feeling a little annoyed Daddy is spending less time performing cruel and unusual acts upon Science! with them?

Georgia ducks her head, glancing aside. Thaddeus turns to her with a frown.

"What?"

"If neither of you are busy?" They both look at me. "How would you like to visit Maltus?"

...And speaking of cruel and unusual acts upon Science! Hey, at least Georgia might get some face-to-face time with Dox.

Hopefully as 'big brother and little sister' than anything.. creepier.

Oh, I have the feeling that if the Sivana family learns of the Reach's misdeeds, they're going to get inspired... And Maltus is gonna have some excellent Earth Bullshit™ on their side. Seriously, if this visit does not end in shenanigans and maybe explosions, I will feel cheated.

Ngamer11 · May 28, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
Which means this is more a palace coup that a sudden outbreak of revolutionary zeal.

That should be 'than'.

Mr Zoat said:
"Xalitan would happy live under military discipline his entire life."

I think that should be 'be happy to live'.

Darko · May 28, 2021

Chojin Patriarch said:
Eh, what's one more soldier going to do, even one with a good grasp on the shamanistic aspects of Orange Light usage? Unless he's somehow learned to Greediport in the time away, at most he's a prospect for one of the first Honour Guard positions.

Who knows.

Maybe Xor would be a major player in the war.

Chojin Patriarch said:
You mean the peoples they habitually drive to extinction, whether by neglect, malice or simple stupidity?

The three of those things aren't so different once you think about it.

Chojin Patriarch said:
And what's left... Well, Maltus is going to have quite the empire on its hands by then.

Assuming the Controllers want it.

They may view it as just being unnecessary and let the races they protect have it for themselves.

Aside from maybe some planets they find interesting.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Oh, dear. That's never good. A Sivana without a clear goal is trouble waiting to happen. Of course, a Sivana with a clear goal is trouble in progress!

No matter which way it goes, it ends with someone on fire.

Chojin Patriarch said:
.And speaking of cruel and unusual acts upon Science! Hey, at least Georgia might get some face-to-face time with Dox. Hopefully as 'big brother and little sister' than anything.. creepier.

I think it may be more romantic.

At least that's what I think.

Both of them share a lot of similarities, so maybe that can lead to romance.

They're both brilliant scientists, both of them are awkward, both have evil fathers, though Georgia has a better relationship with her dad.

And based on Dox' romantic relationship with Komand'r in the comics, we know that if a woman is of the boiling a rabbit alive level of crazy, then that's not an issue for him.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Seriously, if this visit does not end in shenanigans and maybe explosions, I will feel cheated.

I don't think you'll feel cheated.

Mr Zoat · May 28, 2021

Darko said:
Zoat, you forgot to threadmark the chapter.

It was there when I posted it.

Darko said:
They both have a thing for justice.

She has a thing for Lantern Xor.

'happily'

Thank you, corrected.

Ngamer11 said:
That should be 'than'.

Thank you, corrected.

Sockmonkey · May 28, 2021

So how do you think they'll react to not being the smartest ones in the room?

Darko · May 28, 2021

Sockmonkey said:
So how do you think they'll react to not being the smartest ones in the room?

If their father is smarter than them, then their reaction may be more sane since they're used to someone being smarter.

Granted, we're talking about two mad scientists here, so 'sane' is relevant.

SaltyWaffles · May 28, 2021

Sockmonkey said:
So how do you think they'll react to not being the smartest ones in the room?

Are you kidding? They'd probably be elated. It means that there are other people for them to learn from.

DrThoth · May 28, 2021

I was remembering Kalmin's comments about him and Paragon eventually having to face off since their ultimate aims conflict, which leads me to ask; what's the natural lifespan of Weaponers/Qwardians? I figure they're not simply the Anti-matter universe's equivalent of Maltusians, because they don't demonstrate the same levels of personal power, so I don't have a baseline.

Darko · May 28, 2021

DrThoth said:
I was remembering Kalmin's comments about him and Paragon eventually having to face off since their ultimate aims conflict, which leads me to ask; what's the natural lifespan of Weaponers/Qwardians? I figure they're not simply the Anti-matter universe's equivalent of Maltusians, because they don't demonstrate the same levels of personal power, so I don't have a baseline.

It could be possible for him to extend his lifespan.

Given the advance tech the Qwardians have that shouldn't be too difficult.

Ngamer11 · May 28, 2021

Mr Zoat, random question. What Sector is Maltus in? I don't think it's ever been said.

Mr Zoat · May 28, 2021

DrThoth said:
I was remembering Kalmin's comments about him and Paragon eventually having to face off since their ultimate aims conflict, which leads me to ask; what's the natural lifespan of Weaponers/Qwardians? I figure they're not simply the Anti-matter universe's equivalent of Maltusians, because they don't demonstrate the same levels of personal power, so I don't have a baseline.

Pass.

Ngamer11 said:
Mr Zoat, random question. What Sector is Maltus in? I don't think it's ever been said.

Pass. It won't matter, anyway.

AngelicKnight. · May 28, 2021

Chojin Patriarch said:
"Medigel. I always have a supply on hand for just these occasions."

Sounds more like the first aid spray from resident evil.

Handlewithcare · May 28, 2021

If Onigar keeps working with him she might become a Violet Lantern?

I'm also looking forward to ths trip!

Georgia and Dox, huh?

Rafin · May 28, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
The Alignment are a regional power with no super tech. Experienced Lanterns are supposed to be able to deal with them.

Oh I don't mean that. I mean specifically the dealing with them by making giant hands and going squish, no creativity, ingenuity or even targeting of weak points needed. I never doubted that Paul could win with ease. I just think it would be better to keep his power level in a way that he has to take it seriously for a couple of minutes and pay attention to what he's doing.

Coda · May 28, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
there's a loud crackle" "Agh!"

I'm not sure what punctuation you meant after "crackle", but that ain't it, boss.

Mr Zoat · May 28, 2021

Coda said:
I'm not sure what punctuation you meant after "crackle", but that ain't it, boss.

Thank you, corrected.

Someguy Somewhere · May 28, 2021

moralrelativity said:
compass -> encompass ???? maybe. I've never seen compass used like that before but I think I get what you're trying for.

Compass

verb - archaic
verb: compass; 3rd person present: compasses; past tense: compassed; past participle: compassed; gerund or present participle: compassing

1.
go around (something) in a circular course.
"the ship wherein Magellan compassed the world"
- surround or enclose on all sides.
  "they were compassed with numerous fierce and cruel tribes"
2.
contrive to accomplish (something).
"he compassed his end only by the exercise of violence"

Mr Zoat · May 29, 2021

23rd August 2012
20:02 GMT -7

I look into the audience as I trot out onto the stage. Full to overflowing, which is a little surprising given the topic under discussion. And the fact that… Well, ponies know that I'm involved with the innovations in their military, the recent resurgence of Earth Pony magic and… With their princess, but without modern media it's a little hard to work out exactly how much of an awareness there is of me in pony society. Or… Anything, really. News travels slow, and unlike Britain at an equivalent level of technology their print media is… Basic.

But at least there's a microphone. I step up to it and make eye contact with a cross section of the audience.

"Heresy. When I first chose that as the title of this lecture, I wasn't sure how familiar everyone would be with the pony word for the concept. In fact, in your language it doesn't have the same connotations as it does in mine at all. Where I'm from, it is most commonly applied to heterodox religious beliefs, rather than to divergent beliefs in general. And of course, ponies are… Herd animals. It didn't seem entirely impossible to me that there flat out wasn't a single word for it."

I make eye contact with Sunset who's here under an illusion as her pre-ascension self, alongside Twilight Sparkle. Luna's doing something similar, though she's picked a less recognisable face.

"But there is, and here we are. And before I reveal my particular heresy to you, let's establish a few points of commonality."

"Every pony is born with a special talent. The newborn foal will likely not be aware of it, or.. really, even be aware of anything very much. But it's there, and by the time they reach adolescence they will most likely both know what it is and have a-"

I half-turn and toss my head back towards my own haunch stamp.

"-colourful mark related to it on their bottom. In older pony societies that marked the point at which a pony would be considered a young adult rather than a child; when they might enter an apprenticeship or trade school rather than continue participating in general education. That's not the case now, as it's generally accepted that ponies need a wider range of education just to function in an increasing complex society, but getting a cutie mark is still considered a major life event. At the last census a full ninety two percent of ponies in employment reported that they worked professionally in areas relating to their special talents, with most of the rest being in temporary work or in associated fields."

"I don't think I've said anything particularly contentious so far. Have I?"

A few head-shakes.

"But let's look at it again. All ponies have special talents."

I pause for effect.

"All ponies. Not just ponies who have gained their cutie marks. All ponies. That newborn foal has a special talent just as much as each of you does. You're more aware of yours, you've achieved more in your field… But the talent is still there. Indeed, most reports on the subject state that in many cases the ponies closest to a pre-mark pony have a pretty good idea what sort of mark they'll develop well before they finally manifest it. It's true in some cases a mark appears the first time a young pony is exposed to a particular idea and something clicks in their head at once… But more frequently the manifestation involves a moment of profound realisation of something that's been there all along. Getting over.. something that's stopped them fully engaging with their talent."

"All ponies have special talents. Not all ponies have cutie marks. A special talent is a prerequisite for having a cutie mark. A cutie mark is not a prerequisite for having a special talent."

And now the pony-in-the-headlights stares.

But not from Sunset, who rolls her eyes.

"So. Where does the cutie mark come from? I'm an outsider to Equestrian society, but I assumed that when I had the opportunity to review the literature there would be some sort of answer. Perhaps not a precise explanation of why exact images form at the moment of revelation, but at least a broad understanding of the underlying mechanism. But there isn't. Talents themselves are reasonably well understood; the increase in the rate at which ponies gain skills in mark-related areas compared to 'off-mark' areas has been studied numerous times. More cutting-edge studies have even tried using modern brainwave reading equipment to see if the pony brain registers activities relating to the pony's special talent differently to other activities, though so far the bulky nature of the headsets has stymied those efforts."

"Cutie marks don't grant special talents. So what does? The moment of revelation? No. Quite aside from the fact that people suddenly realise or remember things all of the time without developing body art to go along with it, not all ponies recognise their special talent in that way, and… They still get marks. So that leaves us with… What? Realisation relating to a special talent?" I shake my head. "I doubt it. Who hasn't at some point picked up something written by a pony with a talent similar to our own, that we might learn something of ourselves? And read something and found ourselves saying something along the lines of 'Of course! It's so obvious!'."

Other than me, of course.

"That doesn't grant additional body art, either."

"So what does? What other phenomena cause pictures to appear of pony bodies? Well, tattoos, obviously, though those tend not to show up well under pony fur, and… Aren't exactly popular. The only other example that I'm aware of is the Cutie Pox. Thought to be an extinct disease, it was recently discovered to be the result of consuming a particular plant with powerful alchemical properties. The afflicted pony manifested sixteen cutie marks simultaneously, along with the associated special talents. And according to their family, none of the cutie marks related to things they had any skill in before the condition took hold, and none of them remained after the condition was cured."

"Let that sink in for a moment. A pony had cutie marks related to a talent they weren't born with. Cutie marks which took those talents with them when they vanished."

Mouths are hanging open, and a pony in the third row has his forehooves wrapped around his head, shaking in existential dread.

"So. What purpose do cutie marks serve? It isn't to give ponies talents. Could it be social signalling, showing other ponies where your skills lie? Possibly, except for the fact that a good many cutie marks are fairly abstract. At a glance, would you associate a flower with teaching, or a sparkling jewel with dress-making? Probably not. Do they signal age? No. Cutie marks manifest between the ages of four and fourteen, too wide a difference for that to make sense."

"So if they don't have any function in the process of having a talent, that one talent everypony is born with, and they don't have a signalling function, what are they for? And what would happen if they weren't there?"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah."

Head-grabber loses his nerve completely and dashes from the lecture theatre.

"A pony has their moment of realisation, and nothing appears on their haunches. By definition, they're aware of their talent, but there's nothing signalling that to others… Other than their skill at whatever it is that their talent lies in. Since other ponies are tuned to notice things like that, it would be detected reasonably quickly… But since marks can be so abstract and often only have meaning to the pony whose mark it is, recognising exactly what the skill lies in isn't all that easy anyway. So… No useful purpose."

"So this is my heresy: cutie marks are useless. Worthless. Worse than worthless, because if the unnatural marks created by Cutie Pox are in fact representative, then that means that losing a mark results in the loss of a talent. If true, that means that getting a mark adds a point of vulnerability which did not exist before."

"But then… Why do they exist? Certainly, there are no adult ponies without cutie marks. Medical literature seems to indicate that not only is this true now, but has been true throughout pony history. How could such a mechanism arise if it does not serve a useful purpose?"

"Well. Perhaps it is useful. Just not for the pony. If it turns out that the internal magics of a pony who has realised their talent operate differently to the internal magics of ponies without marks…"

"Maybe that makes them all the more tasty."

There's a moment of silence as my audience considers this, coming to terms with the implication.

And then the room erupts in total pandemonium.

Idkusername · May 29, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
"Maybe that makes them all the more tasty."

"I concur, Lantern. All that delicious fear..."

Darko · May 29, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
I didn't seem entirely impossible to me that there flat out wasn't a single word for it."

'It didn't

Mr Zoat said:
though so far the bulk nature of the headsets

'the bulky'

Mr Zoat said:
but there's nothing signally

'signalling'

Mr Zoat said:
"Maybe that makes them all the more tasty."

I'm kinda interested in seeing him be proven wrong and finding out that the Marks are just there because of some kind of fluke in Pony biology and magic, rather than something malicious.

Not sure if there was an explanation in canon for the Marks, but I would be interested in seeing this.

Pez · May 29, 2021

So... Real!Grayven is coming to attack Renegade, and he's giving a lecture in Ponyland? Is Renegade planning on bringing Real!Grayven to Ponyland and... eat/destroy/something his Cutie Mark? I mean, Ponies are all gods, with talents (domains), it's just that alicorns are the powerful ones.

This is the only way my brain can understand why there's a Ponyland lecture going on, and I suspect Luna will give Renegade a stern talking to about causing panic.

I'm curious, who would win in a fights? Celeste (and/or Luna) or Darkseid?

RichardWhereat · May 29, 2021

Mr Zoat said:
"Maybe that makes them all the more tasty."

So, Grayven's just gone back to his habit of terrifying people, for fun.

FeepingCreature · May 29, 2021

Wait. Cutie marks are a parasite? A skill parasite?

That's what the pox seems to imply at least.

Maybe they're meant to be like mantles, building skill over generations, but something or someone is blocking it.

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