@Magic Man
Isn’t the problem that we’re never actually shown the backstory? Unless it’s something that happens in season 9. In which case, just say “Spoilers”. However, you can border on the edge of dark and mature while also making it an entertaining story with a good character.
The last bit I’ll give you. But only when it’s a “no context” situation.
@Magic Man
I can’t say anything about this, as I haven’t really read any story like that. The ones I’ve read either left out bits of the backstory and only given the current events, or they’ve written it well enough to cover all the bases.
@Background Pony #95E7
Ehhh. Negative emotions, plus wanting to get revenge, along with no other thoughts toward venting them in a healthier way makes an easy catalyst for her to only consider that the only option.
@Carbonnanotube
Except that Chrysalis has been depicted, four consistent times as being selfish, relishing in the pain she causes, etc. The show has done a damn fine job making her an iredeemable Disney villain. Like Magic Man I tend to roll my eyes whenever anyone starts to talk about reforming Chrysalis or making her a sympathetic villain, because just by working with what her character is, most methods for doing these things inevitably do feel shoehorned.
Best of luck to the artist, but I retain some cautious skepticism.
@MoonlitBrush
I think you’re definitely onto something when it comes to believability and the pitfalls of other stories that attempt this. While I have personally have an issue with the concept itself, the Way it’s often done is what gets to me more.
I’ve always hated how some stories are so okay with tearing ponykind being torn down for the sake of bringing Chrysalis and the changelings up, instead of exploring any of the latters’ merits. When sledgehammers like genocide and slavery are brought into it and changelings are made to look as miserable and weak as possible, it feels like the ponies and the audience are both having their forelegs/arms twisted. Like a cheap move to force everybody to feel bad for them and borderline exonerate them of all wrong doing, especially when there’s little in the show to back it up.
But who knows, maybe you’ll indeed do something different, as you said by introducing real world mythology and trying to make it more realistic.
The only thing I’d recommend is try not to throw ponykind under the bus like so stories do.
@Magic Man
In other stories where I’ve seen plot elements important to the story that a character knows but the author doesn’t want the reader to know yet, they make up a situation where it’s taboo to talk about as in Harry Potter, or they have it be something the character is embarrassed about. In such a scenario, Crysalis could really be blaming herself, which is why the ponies haven’t got through to her yet. Just a hypothetical. It’s always possible to think of a reason while remaining self consistent; storytelling is an act of creativity after all.
Eh, I think you may have misunderstood my point there. It was actually meant for a semi-sarcastic remark about the problem of trying to shoehorn in this kind of backstory. It’s hard to reconcile with what we’re shown in the show, part of the reason why it all feels so forced.
And mate, what exactly is Wrong with being a “kids show”. That is what MLP is and what it tries to be. Chrysalis is and always was meant to be a Saturday Morning Cartoon villain and the writers have kept to it for a good reason; it’s what makes her the entertaining, popular villain she is. If you wanna dark brooding show, there’s plenty to choose from. Yes, the writers could later on go for darker or maturer themes (which are Not the same thing) as the show developed further, but let’s just remember something: darker does not always equal better.
Fan writers always giving Chrysalis this sob story just doesn’t gel with the character we’re presented with in the show. It always comes across as disingenuous, like a cheap trick to force us to feel sorry for her, especially when things like genocide and slavery are brought into it.
@Magic Man
Yeah, you’re right enough. I’ve read those stories too, and while I did enjoy them, they lacked a little something to make it believable. In MLP we have stuff like the quest for the Idol of Boreas, where the griffons and Arimaspi were based on real world myths, it gave it a realism that fanfiction sometimes lacks. If people make stories and insert ponies into those roles, it feels shallow. But if people use real world myths, or have crossovers with other well-known works, it feels more rewarding, knowing the references being made.
While this is definitely gonna be a sad changeling story, I’ve done my best to make sure everything fits together right. It might be the same act, be patient, you’ll see.
Hell, you’d think this would’ve been the only thing Chrysalis talked about during her monologue in Canterlot Wedding, if it means that much to her!
Ahem, “Kids show”. As much as I hate to say it, that’s really what the biggest problem is (and thus, its limiter). The darker themes were only able to come much later, when the writers’ hands weren’t being as tied as they possibly were in the early years of the show.
Nice touch incorporating this story into the canon timeline by introducing Starlight, Thorax and reformed changelings.
That being said however… oh boy, we doing this again?
Before I really start, lemme venture a guess as to what we’re gonna get treated to in the upcoming pages: sad-looking changelings being massacred/enslaved by scary silhouettes of ponies? Complete with torches and pitchforks for cliche image measure? Am I within the ball park here?
Okay, let’s get serious here. I don’t think it’s gonna come as much surprise when I say I really don’t like this trope in Chrysalis fan fiction. The reason behind her actions in the show was heavily implied to be hunger for power, and remaining on top of the tottem poll by lying to her subjects that they could only steal love not share it, therefore keeping them weak and dependent on her.
Yet so many fanwork creators really seem to love this idea of Chrysalis’ secret motive being to avenge some fictitious ancient wrong against her and her people.
Here’s the problem for me: even if what we’re gonna get told really is the case, both Chrysalis’ character and actions in the show are just too inexcusably monstrous and sadistic for me to care. My kneejerk reaction isn’t going to be one of sympathy, but to slap her and tell her, “Don’t care! Stop doing what you’re doing!”
I understand the desire to introduce a level of sympathy or nuance to Chrysalis and the conflict here, but this sort of route often comes across like a trump card to stack the deck in her favour. And if the ‘ancient wrong’ is going to be something really heinous akin to mass genocide or slavery, then it leaves the ponies here with no leg to stand on and basically forcing them and the audience to take Chrysalis’ side. Especially as we’re gonna be shown this via Starlight Reading her mind instead of Chrysalis simply telling us (why else would the audience be expected to take the word of a pathological liar like her?)
Btw, on a bit of a side note, even if I can believe it’s not recorded down if it’s that ancient, shouldn’t Celestia already know what Chrysalis is talking about? Given she is at least just as old if not older than her, her not understanding Chrysalis’ motives only further makes it to look like it’s been pulled out of thin air.
Hell, you’d think this would’ve been the only thing Chrysalis talked about during her monologue in Canterlot Wedding, if it means that much to her!