The following journal is the unofficial report detailing the military operation MCS3E0102, opened to the public at the discretion of Her Royal Council of Protection and Her Royal Council of Information. Sensitive information has been omitted in order to protect the Crystal Empire and her citizens.
Issued by Senior Librarian Agatha, approved by Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, on fourth day of February in the year of 1204.
Property of the Crystal Empire Library and Crystal Empire Archives. Return immediately if found.
Chapters (10)
Agh! That's it?! Why was this chapter so short? Dammit, hurry up and update; the tension is overwhelming!
Seriously, good job. I really like this story, and I fear for the ending our characters are likely to have. Oh, man, I hope it all works out.
Oh dear. I sense a crush.
4238439
It's short because it's not actually a chapter. This entry was originally part of the last chapter, under the date 13-MR-1204. If you reread the previous chapter after reading this one, it makes a little more sense.
Glad you're enjoying the story.
Where did cadance come from!?
4238635
Don't know if you've already read it, but it's explained in the next chapter, which is significantly shorter for a reason.
4238571
Ahhh, I see! It's a deleted entry from last chapter!
Wait, is Flash Sentry the narrator here? Don't get me wrong, I like the character, just wondering why it would be untagged if it was.
4246005
To avoid the inevitable backlash that comes from including that tag
4246062
The backlash would really only be from the whiners. Who, unfortunately, tend to be the loudest group.
So I just got to ask what I'm sure many of us are thinking. Even tho it would be a huge spoiler if correct.
Is Shimmer the changeling Queen (or at least a changeling spy)? She is performing all the detections tests, requests alone time from the group, insists on following into a potential combat area, provides much of the intel, and she has green eyes. Not to mention that she is the one that said the Queen might be following the group. Which turned out to be Cadence. What better way for the Queen to get her revenge than for her to make Shining attack Cadence. She was even there to help heal Cadence to which her leg healed incorrectly.
4255747
It was something I thought about using, but in the end I decided there was no real way to reveal her identity without making the twist seem forced.
Her eyes are green because she's a composite of Twilight Sparkle (violet coat and mane) and Sunset Shimmer (gold and red hair, name, eye color)
4256004
Wait, so is this an AU where Twilight and Sunset don't exist, and in their places is Sparkle, or do they still exist and Sparkle is somehow everything in between them? Either one might be a little weird, the former might justify having an AU tag.
4261208
This is not an alternative universe. Keep in mind that in all likelihood, Sunset Shimmer never met him when she was still in Equestria.
Shimmer is her own character, with similar characteristics. Remember that "Shimmer" is just a code name.
Windigos??? Are they being chased by windigos??
interesting.....
would be good to note that a snow-cave as an emergency survival shelter is easily obtained, considering how MUCH snow there would be, unless it's hard rock and no drifts whatsosever.
4265540
Snow caves require tools to be built properly, namely ice picks and shovels. It's not recommended to try to dig one out with bare hands unless it's an absolute emergency. Additionally, to build a snow cave large enough to house an entire company would take a lot of much, and separating the group into smaller caves would kill communication.
Still, it's a good idea and not one I had considered beforehand.
4265767
Well, it IS an emergency, and it was only 4 individuals that would be without tents =)
4265776
...no drifts whatsoever.
4265928
welp.
was nice knowing those 4 then.
Wow, Flash is dense in this one if he doesn't see the problem with Shining and Cadence.
It's not that he's oblivious to love and romance. Its that he's oblivious to the harshness of what happened between the two. 
4269500
Brain freeze?
Awwwwwwwwww!!! IT'S SO CUTE!!!!
I just couldn't wipe the smile off my face for this whole chapter!
4463176
Oh, I almost feel bad for what I have planned.
4463294
Yeah, I've kinda seen it coming for a while. Bastard. It's gonna be great.
.......for the love of all that is good.....epilogue?
Huh.
So what happened to Flash? His body wasn't found; was he rescued? Or did the changelings com and finish him off? Did Shimmer make it? who was EXPUNGED? Where was EXPUNGED? Why did the changelings attack when they did? Who made it back to town?
Yeesh, lots of questions. Heh, I guess I really cared about that story. Excellent job.
4582811
Expunged was Corporal "Sparky"'s real name. Expunged is the western colony Fortitude mentioned in the curator's notes.
Some questions may be answered in the short epilogue that will be published tomorrow.
Oh, so that was Shimmer's-oh...
Wuuaaaah?
4634468
Y-yes.
Aww, poor changelings. :<
Cya
Raziel-chan
Looks like the ponies are doing just fine with dooming themselves without the changeling's help.
Cya
Raziel-chan
I think you mean 'casualty', not 'causality'. I also wonder why these entries are spaced every two days...
Nooo, they got the Private! D:
So this is Flash Sentry, isn't it?
Heh, I was right. :) I love the expungement in the middle of that entry, it makes for an exciting game of catch-up.
Oh wow. Still doesn't explain where she came from, but I had not expected that to be what transpired. And now everything makes sense.
ohai Sunset :V
God, Flash, you tremendous dope. At least he finally admits it.
whoa c.c
But it can't be her! D: Dangit, I thought I had this all figured out!
Well, the story and the way you presented it were pretty good, but this piece desperately needs an editor. :(
AUGH I DON'T KNOW WHAT
I don't know why, but I feel like we already found the changeling.
There's definitely some big hints in this chapter, but of what I'm not sure.
Ooh, either cadence was the one following them, or the reason it was expunged was because the queen had taken cadence's place for a long time. But there's gotta be a reason for that redaction
This is the only thing that doesn't add up.
Well. That was a thing that happened. A fascinating, gripping thing, to be sure, but I'm left with many more questions than answers. Still, all told, a magnificent tale of folly, desperation, paranoia, valor, and love. Thank you for it.
"diamonds in the trough, " intentional horseword?
Well... that ain't half ominous....
Corrections offered without malice.
changelings
carved
Corrections offered without malice.
22th? 22nd.
"and for missing a day" he didn't, at least not here, with the previous entry being 21 and this being 22. Unless he backdated it.
fatalities
(though I'm sure there were also casualties)
relief
pleas.
breathe
debated
tactical
(or strategic)
oversight
knowing that now