Ranger
Chapter 28: Chosen
By Wanderer D
Dear Princess Celestia,
This week has been interesting. Although most people here have been nice and relatively welcoming, finding myself living in a completely different world has not been easy… and that's considering I have found myself a friend in Sunset and a mentor-of-sorts in Dr. Tygan. And I still don't know how Sunset managed… it must have been tough.
She told me a little about her first day, and then how she met Mox… he's… not exactly an alien, but a different species of human-hybrid that betrayed his old masters to join the fight for freedom. I know, not comprehensive, but I don't want to hog all of Sunset's diary. On that note, sorry for making the writing as tiny as possible.
As I was saying, people here have been welcoming for the most part, but it feels weird waking up without hooves… or even wings! Although I admit it's easier to lay in a bed without them. The Avenger is always on the move in one way or another. It's like an ant-hill, and in a way, I guess it is funny that the queen of bugs is the queen of soldiers here.
I'm sorry, I guess that wasn't nice. Chrysalis here has been… polite. Demanding. Efficient. She's handling a multitude of things at the same time, and I can always see that devious mind of hers, so similar to the one back home, where she's planning something else on top of that.
Sunset has gone out on several missions since I got here. It's tough seeing her and her team head out… I tried watching a live feed once (that's when we can watch what the soldiers are doing from all the way over here) and I couldn't really watch for long. The combat is scary, the encounters sudden and… let's say that Sunset's nickname, "Bloody Sunset" is well earned. I haven't seen her return from a fight without blood splattered all over her. I wonder if her blood magic has anything to do with that or if it is just a result of her approach?
My training with the new recruits is still ongoing. I'm not very good when it comes to endurance, but I've held up with a steady pace. Two of the ones I met during the first class have already left… one after a video that… anyway, the other one left after a day of training. Tactics are not too complicated, but listening to Chrysalis and Bradford, and reading some of the mission reports, it's slowly starting to really sink in. Unfortunately Galahad insists on making us watch old videos… remember when I arrived and we were attacked by some snake-like aliens? Well, at the time I didn't realize how dangerous they could be.
We watched a video this morning, where one of the other teams, not Sunset's… I think this happened before Bradford and her arrived… this team had a fight with several Vipers. It… didn't go well. Not only were their weapons not up-to par, but the Vipers were quick enough to read where the soldiers were aiming and dodge their shots!
The team was huddled together and one Viper spat venom at them… it wasn't like a cobra, however, the venom exploded into a cloud, choking and confusing them, then the other vipers came in. Some shot the soldiers, and a few others used their tongues like some sort of rope, capturing them and bringing them over to them.
They would then wrap themselves around the soldiers and crush them to death… Galahad called it a complete wipeout, then ran us through an hour or so of drills where we had to run behind cover, keep each other in sight, but not be too close just in case explosives or venom was sent our way.
I think we've been mostly lucky in Equestria. Our enemies are from our same world; they hold similar interests and even when bitter rivalries rise through the ages, and wars break out, and ponies and griffons and minotaurs and zebras die… we have always been able to find common ground in the end. Our enemies have never been truly merciless.
The only ray of hope is that there are some, very few, that break the mold… but those are desperately few. In any case, I should go back to the lab. I hope the girls are okay, tell them I miss them!
-Twilight
Chrysalis' table was stacked with pads containing everything from anticipated dates for attacks and retaliations, to recruit dossiers from allies, to lists of contacts to engage in different parts of the world, to lists of materials needed for projects.
She sat on the head seat, hands locked and placed in front of her mouth as she contemplated the information Volk had just forwarded to her. Around her, Bradford to her right and Tygan and Shen to her left, read copies of the report themselves.
"So we have a lead," Bradford said finally. "And Volk wants us to do this now, in order to reinforce our relationship with the factions."
"It won't be an easy mission," Tygan said slowly, lowering his pad. "While I might not be as versed in warfare as you and Central, Commander, I cannot imagine this going to one of our more fresh recruits."
"You would be correct, Doctor," Chrysalis said, frowning. "The issue is who to send…" she shook her head. "No, I've made up my mind but… rather who to send with her."
She leaned down to her pad and swiped the screen, bringing up Sunset's Bio.
Bradford raised an eyebrow.
"Her?" Shen looked from the pad up to the Commander. "But… if her prey even looked her way she'd be instantly recognized!"
Chrysalis shrugged. "She has a unique set of skills that would allow her to mingle. Her ability to not be perceived as a threat by most aliens and ADVENT troopers is useful, as she proved during my rescue mission." She hummed. "I would also consider giving her a promotion if she pulls this off."
"This will also pull Menace out of active duty for the duration of this mission," Bradford pointed out.
"We can spread them out with the other teams if necessary, or…" Chrysalis smiled. "We can have them train the rookies."
Bradford rubbed his chin, humming. "I think Galahad and I could plan some useful things if that were the case… but who will you send with her?"
Chrysalis smirked. "There's one person that has been snooping around where she shouldn't." She brought up another screen, with archived logs and downloads. "And given what she's about to find out, I think some time together would do them wonders."
She passed the tablet over to Tygan, who had looked at her with some curiosity.
"These are very specific dates and videos… saved from the old XCOM hard drives, no less."
"That's right," Chrysalis said, her brow darkening. "And those videos don't bring back fond memories. Whatever she's looking for there is going to reveal a lot more about her team than she probably expects."
She glanced around. "Shen, make sure to have ready the equipment they'll need. Bradford, I'll leave debriefing to you. Tygan, you'll be receiving a good amount of encrypted data if everything goes according to plan, so take the necessary steps to ensure correct transmission, storage and decryption."
"Yes, Commander."
"Now," Chrysalis said, pulling up the next pad. "About the Viper King's autopsy…"
The city skyscrapers seemed to curve around above her, like some sort of tunnel. Broken windows, overgrown plants, and shadows running just outside her vision when she turned around.
The wind howled through the street, stirring the dense, greenish fog and carrying the groans and whimpers of the Lost. Abandoned vehicles littered the street in various states of disrepair, from the parked-but-rusty, to the overturned and burnt-off husks of those that had been blasted or partially destroyed.
The street stretched behind her and in front of her, far beyond what she could see, fading into palpable, threatening darkness. She could hear hisses and chittering, moaning and growls... as she moved slowly, her shotgun at the ready, she searched in vain for her enemies.
She forced herself not to look down, even as she stepped carefully. Because she knew what she would find. She felt tears and fear and darkness creeping around her. Rivers of blood ran down the street, red and orange, glittering with power and hidden horrors… but as the current grew stronger and the blood slowly flooded the street, that which she didn't want to look at floated on it.
Bodies.
Humans, pegasi, ADVENT, earth ponies… mouths open and eyes vacant as dark, smoky tentacles played on the edges behind the orbs or within their gaping maws. Twilight, in her human form, with magnificent purple wings floated slowly past her, and Sunset had to look away.
But then she felt it. Turning in shock, she saw the blood-soaked, shadow-tentacle-filled body of her friend grasping her leg just below her knee, as the river of blood dragged more bodies around her. A blue pegasus with crazy, rainbow mane and wearing an XCOM uniform wrapped both her forelegs around her midriff and bit down.
Sunset cried out in shock as she felt another body, the Viper King, pale and missing half its face wrap around her, dragging her down into the blood, as more and more hands and claws and pincers and hooves and teeth latched onto every inch of her body, trying to submerge her under the surface of the water. Jane, missing her lower jaw clawed at Sunset's armor and Mox's body tried to wrestle her shotgun out of her hand, while Elena, gray-skinned and covered in glowing greenish-red pustules groaned and tried to rip her other arm out of her socket.
"You'll never escape me…" a voice whispered from somewhere as Sunset struggled and fought. "I will always find you!"
The Assassin was suddenly standing in front of her.
"Now you join them, Sunset Shimmer."
Sunset looked down, to see the Chosen's wicked blade running her through. She tried to struggle as the assassin laughed and dragged her sword through her body, spilling blood and guts out.
Just as her undead attackers reached into her innards, a white light seemed to bathe the world around her. Slowly, the world around faded into darkness, followed by the undead grappling with her. Her wounds disappeared and she stepped back, staring in shock at the Assassin, who remained in place, her smile twisting a grimace of hate even as it was motionless. Soon, it was just the two of them, the darkness and the light from way above.
"Truly, when her kind was expelled, we never foresaw such a transformation, and never was she an ally, but alas, to lose her song to such monsters; to see her pride stripped and her skin flailed and her mind and body reshaped to such an extent… this we have never—in our wildest dreams, in our most secret moments of hate—wished upon any being."
The voice echoed in the darkness as the Assassin finally was blown away into nothingness, like smoke in a breeze. Sunset turned, trying to find the origin of the voice…
Sunset stirred, flailing around when she felt a hand on her shoulder, shaking her. "Sunset!"
She sat up suddenly, breathing hard, and looking around wildly, she immediately recognized the worried woman next to her. "L-Laetitia?"
"Bradford asked me to come get you… I'm sorry I woke you up, you were turning and moaning…"
"I—" Sunset brought a hand up to her head, rubbing her temples with her fingers. "I'm… I—I'm sorry, what? I just needed a nap and…"
"It's okay, we're all exhausted, it's been a long week," Laetitia said, smiling. "But as I said, Bradford wanted you to meet him in the conference room."
Sunset licked her lips and reached to the side, grabbing the bottle of water she kept next to her bed and taking a long drink, before nodding. "Yeah, yeah… I'll uh, I'll be right there."
Laetitia gave her a look. "Do you need some coffee?"
"Nah," Sunset shook her head, turning so that she her legs were off the bed. "I'll be okay, please… just let him know I'll be there in a minute."
"Alright," Laetitia said, turning to walk towards the door. "He said to bring a pad."
"Oh great… that can only mean a new mission."
Sunset watched her friend walk out of the room before pushing herself off the bed and making her way to the faucet. She splashed cold water on her face and dried it clean, giving herself a look in the mirror.
"What the hell was that?"
o.0.o End Chapter 28 o.0.o
Hi, Starswirl!
Oh, so Lulu can reach dreams in the human world. Are those only Sunset and Twilight's or everyone's? If the second it would raise concerns... Unfortunately no espionage for you can't just monopolize the princess of dreams like that.
But if she can bridge the worlds maybe developing a magic syphon so she can recharge as if she was in equestria is possible. I don't think there's any creature in the elders arsenal that can fave a fully powered magic user.
Ah hell yeah! The good ethereal whats-his-name is here! Considering he talks to the comander during the final mission, does Chrysalis know he exists?
Given this is in a dream? This can only be one of 2 beings. Luna, or Starswirl/all of the Pillars. Luna because of dream, and that the "we" could be interpreted as a royal "we", but the context of the words lends itself to one who actually encountered and/or fought her, and actually knew her, which would fall under Starswirl and the Pillars.
Can the dreamscape be accessed through Limbo?
Contact from on high! Heart-to-heart inbound! Prepare yourselves!
Seems Twilight is staying strong.
Keep going! ;)
... Starswirl?
Well that was an ominous dream. Where are you taking us with this plot?
So this is probably either Luna (somehow), Starswirl, or the good Ethereal who's name I keep forgetting. I do hope it's the last one.
8781825
In before starswirl IS the good ethril somehow
Looks like Luna can visit Sunset's dreams. Interesting...
And looks like we're going to have a rough mission involving Sunny and Kelly. Wish the Commander would tell Sunset it's okay to spill the beans on her horsiness to her.
Curious indeed. Several possibilities present themselves, and the truth may not be among them.
Meanwhile, Jane's digging where she really shouldn't, and I doubt she'll like what she finds.
Was that Luna?
Wel, since Luna can enter the dreams of ponies, it’s a possibilty she can enter Sunset’s dreams. But the Pillars can’t be excluded. Really eager to see where this is going.
Sunset clearly needs a lunar alicorn dream intervention.
Hey hey, speaking of.
does seem like the benevolent elder intends for sunset to be his chosen.
8781699
8781825
Asaru?
8782374
Yeah! What a guy! basically solely responsible for saving the earth at least once. I hope we get to see him more!
8781710
Could be the good ethereal who talks to the commander in the final missions of Enemy Within, and that would be very interesting if true.
I hope there is a dedicated chapter when there is the Avenger is shot down and you have to defend it
Given the dialogue, uh yeah Luna. Look at the speech patterns, everything the voice says... if it's not Luna I will be quite surprised and disappointed. Dream magic, royal we, secret hate, regret... Luna. Regret is key (so's dream magic, but yeah), what little we have of Starswirl's character... he's kind of a jerkass. I doubt he'd regret what happened to the Sirens, other than that they're still a threat. As to Luna, good to know there's no hard feelings, not that I'd really expect anything less.
Of course she can reach dreams there, at least those of Equestrians (or maybe just those with their own magic reserves). I mean, the diary reaches across with or without the portal open, so why not other, similarly powerful magic?
I'm not even wasting a pm on that
8782756
Could be a different pillar other than starswirl.
8782756 Well that was a magnificently embarrassing typo.
Unrelated speculation to present shenanigans, but... if Chrysalis is The Commandy One, and Discord is most likely Geist (because of course), then maybe Cato... is Sombra?
8783582
My point was she could have used the students as a distraction then mind control as many ponies as possible.
Well ... it seems they're finally gonna learn who the chosen are ...
were
unless her hair can change color, I'd say that should be 'her brow furrowing' or 'her expression darkening'
'its' ... it's the arm's socket, not Sunset's
9858542 Or... killing characters right, left and center doesn't make for much of a story even if in the game soldiers are basically replaceable drones. Beating XCOM on Legendary is not much of a feat, and for purposes of telling a story, killing soldiers all the time just takes away impact.
But what do I know.
There are storys that build up characters only to kill them all... I hate them if they go to far. Yes, war has casulties but if the characters. All just die? Than the story just become 'no thanks area'. This story has casulties but i would say i have it easyer and acceptebel having played the game and know that is part of the game when save abuse isn't used...
To often.
Great chapter. I have Insomnia for over a decade, but lucky me my Bad dreams don't reach that kind of horror on a regular basis. Wonder how her mind can take it all. Resolute out of damn force of live in wartime. Magnificent chapter of story and character development. A beautyful not over the top dark and sad work of art.
Personally i recorded once a normal difficulty run and a more difficult run through the campaign of x-com 1.
Killing of to many character is dulling the investment in character at all.
X-Com is not without casulties, but some stories really overdo it.
I don't mind red shirt character with little build up, but killing of side or main character better is not hyst for the fun of it.
I dropped stories before because of it.
This story is running a good balance, we lose some good individuals, but we have a steady crew to follow along.