It happened without anyone knowing how.
It was considered a great stroke of luck that when it happened, there was plenty of advance warning in the form of strange energy waves that were picked up by instruments all across the planet and by satellite, and so every ship, aircraft and submarine, save one that was lost when the energy first began to manifest itself was able to steer clear of the zone where the energy was coalescing. It was the panicked mayday of the sub that was lost that caught the attention of the instrumentation of the world as it was frantically sending out every piece of data they had gotten before they were left dead in the water in the hopes of rescue. Rescue that came far too late as the sub's core went critical and blew.
The landmass appeared some one thousand and fifty miles from the coast of the southernmost tip of Alaska, situated virtually in the very middle of the north pacific. It took nearly a month for anyone to even be willing to send a ship anywhere near the thing as it was still giving off insane levels of energy. Once it calmed down, a ship was sent out from California bearing scientists, explorers, anthropologists, and political ambassadors from the US, Russia, Japan, China, India, England, France, and Spain. The scientists and explorers and anthropologists were there to study the landmass, as many believed it might have somehow been one of the legendary lost continents somehow come home to roost. The ambassadors were there to welcome back the lost brothers of humanity.
When the ship got to the island, however, they met with an unexpected roadblock. As the ramp was extended to allow the people aboard to make landfall, they became aware of a strange energy field which, once touched by human hands, was shown to be almost a mile high and, if later information sent by satellite was to be believed, encompassed the entirety of the island and airspace above it for roughly a mile up.This lead to confusion. This odd barrier defied all natural laws of physics.
"So, is it really one of the lost continents?" asked John Ahmayer, a scientist who had come to study any technology that might be on the island. "That might explain this force field. I mean, it's beyond any technology we've got right now."
"If it is," responded Jennifer Thomson, a British anthropologist, "I don't understand how it's possible that this barrier can even exist when we haven't seen any signs of life or even a power source yet. The satellite feeds aren't as clear as they should be, and that worries me."
"Well, the images of the island may be blurry to some extent from that high up given we do have that field in the way, we do know there appear to be some kind of settlements on the island." The ship's captain said, having been listening in on the coversation for the past few minutes as they had been getting data from the ship's instruments and the laser link to the satellite. "If this is something like Atlantis or Mu or whatever, and they had the kind of advanced technology all the legends say, it's entirely possible we just can't see any sign of it because of it being so advanced that it isn't immediately apparent."
"I suppose we'll have to set sail back for California for now." John said.
"Captain! we've spotted movement on the island!" the announcement came over the PA and it caught all the people chatting about the situation off guard, sending nearly everyone aboard the ship scurrying outside to see what had been discovered.
It took a few minutes, as whatever they had spotted had vanished into the foliage. But soon enough, a mane of pink began to emerge from the bushes, followed by aquamarine eyes, and a head coated in short, finely glossy butter-yellow fur.
"A horse?" The captain said, looking in confusion to those around him. Most just shrugged helplessly. He looked back at the creature, and when it emerged more fully from the underbrush, many an eye went wide. Aside from the odd coloration...the thing was small. Barely four feet tall, if that, and had what were clearly wings.
"That's not physically possible..." John Ahmayer said, summing up the entirety of the thought of everyone aboard who were able to see the little winged pony.
"No shit, Sherlock." one of the ship's crew said with a snort of laughter. "Great, so we've made first contact with a baby mutant myth."
The horse...pony....pegasus?....whatever, let out an audible squeak and ducked back into the brush again.
"You may be closer than you know about the idea that it's a baby, sailor." the Captain replied.
"Fluttershy! Fluttershy, where are you?" another voice rang out. This one coming from the island itself, and left the humans confused. What kind of a name was Fluttershy? There was a rustling in the bush and the pegasus— for lack of a better term— stuck its head out from it, looking back towards the source of the voice.
"O-Over here, Twilight."
The humans stood in stunned disbelief for a moment.
"Did that thing just talk?!" the Captain asked of no one in particular. His shock was clear in his tone and 'Fluttershy' gave a frightened squeak at the sudden question due to its volume, and almost looked like she wanted to hide again, but didn't get the chance, as a purple mane and lavender head joined the yellow one. But this head bore a spiral grooved horn atop its head.
"There you are, Fluttershy. Why were you hiding over here?" The pony with the horn asked. 'Fluttershy' timidly pointed one butter yellow hoof at the ship. The other pony....who at this point the people on the ship could only think to call a unicorn....turned to look where its (her?) companion was pointing and recoiled slightly in surprise. But after a moment, the unicorn stepped further out of the bush, so that the crew and passengers on deck could see her. She was lavender from head to toe, with a mane of purple with a pink streak in both mane and tail, and had odd markings on her flanks that looked like giant violet stars orbited by smaller white stars. She swallowed, and then said, "Uhm, hi. My name is Twilight Sparkle."
Unsure how to react at first, the Captain began walking down the ramp again, to at least get close enough to see the thing at eye level. Well, relative eye level anyway. He was followed by Ahmayer and Thomson. They had expected the possibility that they were about to meet long lost members of the human race. Not make First Contact with a wholly alien species!
One hour later
"Correct, your highness. As you predicted, Twilight Sparkle was the first to approach the humans." The guard said into the glowing mirror that depicted Celestia's face on it. "The humans have invited her and Fluttershy aboard their ship and they seem to be having a relatively good time."
Celestia nodded, eyes half lidded in thought. She had expected this when she arranged for the timid pegasus and her pupil to be in the area on an errand for her. It was a small thing really, and not altogether necessary since she had the needed item in spades there in the palace. But she needed Twilight to be there. She needed her to see the humans who were just now at their shores. Let her have a good impression of them. When she showed her what she wanted Twilight to see as the 'truth' about humanity, it would easily break her of any attachment to them and make her a perfectly willing agent in the conquest of Earth. It wouldn't hurt too much that some of what she was going to show her student was at least partially true, just not the whole story.
"Very good, Sergeant. I will make contact with Twilight later. First, I need to being preparations for my first encounter with humans outside the barrier."
The guardpony nodded and the connection ended, leaving only a mirror reflecting his own face instead of allowing for communication with the solar princess. Making sure not to be spotted by the humans or the two ponies currently enjoying themselves on the ship, he spread his wings and flew back towards Canterlot.
Back in Canterlot proper, Celestia began considering how best to address the various governments of Earth. They were nearly all represented by the United Nations, and she doubted even nations not part of the UN proper would demand to be involved in any meeting she would agree to since she was the leader of a species that humans were only just now meeting for the first time. She knew she couldn't rush this, but she couldn't take too long either. No sense making the species antsy. If they got antsy, their better instincts would recognize her for what she intended to be. No. Best make the wait a relatively short one. Her little ponies could go to the barrier now simply by intending to go there rather than to other parts of their own world. Many would be curious to see the world they had now become partially a part of. But how to gain Earth and its bounty for herself? How could she claim dominion over this world without destroying the slaves she wanted? How could she take the sheer number of humans on the planet and convert that into a means of taking the planet?
....Convert, huh? she suddenly thought as an idea began to form in her head. That works. I'll have to ask Twilight for her help on this once I convince her humanity needs this in order to be more than they already are or could be.
And with this thought in mind and a smile on her face, the Solar Tyrant began to laugh at her own brilliance.
Author’s Note: Well, here’s the first chapter in The Warrior’s Way. I know many fans of the Conversion Bureau out there are going to immediately start decrying this. I don’t really care. I’ve already explained my feelings on Celestia to you. This chapter continues to exhibit the traits I feel TCB!Celestia has. She is a monster from the outset, and wouldn’t think twice about using her student to further her own ends. While she does this benevolently in the first two episodes of the first season, she can also use it for shits and giggles, as displayed in the episode The Best Night Ever, where she admits to inviting the girls to the Grand Galloping Gala with the sole intent that they turn the thing upside down for her own amusement. It may seem like a big stretch to suddenly paint her as an evil dictator from this...but then again, how the hell is it that other TCB writers have somehow come to the conclusion that she’s omnipotent? And for that matter, why do they fucking ignore Season Two altogether?
This fic actually takes place just after the events of the season 2 finale. (Though I will try to incorporate season 3 if I can once it starts, but I can’t guarantee everything will fit perfectly) So Shining Armor and Cadance have just gotten married shortly before Equestria partially appears on Earth and are off on their honeymoon. Thus, they don’t and won’t know about First Contact with Earth for awhile yet. The Changeling invasion is only a few weeks old at the absolute most and as such, things are still very much on high alert since the ponies aren’t sure if Chrysalis survived and will be back. Given the shapeshifting powers they possess, this means they have many reasons to be very paranoid about possible incursions again. And Celestia will hardly be above using it for her own gain.
That’s about all I have for now. See you next chapter, whenever that will be.
YES YES YES more!!!!
795377
I take it you like.
ABsolutly!!!
795440
Sweet. Anything you're curious about, etc? Bear in mind, if it's spoiler-intensive, I might not be able to answer, but I will try to answer any questions.
Ok im guessing the next 2 or 3 chapters are going to be about celestia takingover the earth and then the warriors show up and start kicking flank. Am I right?
795470
It won't be quite that quick, but yes, the next few chapters will deal with how Celestia will be working to conquer Earth with the Bureaus. As for the Six, they will show up soon enough.
797984
Dude! All of my thumbs up for this!
Yes, it is a bit scrimping on the details. But do remember this is a prologue. It's supposed to be a kind of 'in medias res' sort of situation. The story isn't even over, this is just a kind of mid-story scene designed to hook the reader into finding out exactly how things get to that point. But you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Hell, I actually like it. It's honest, it's brutal...it's hilarious as fuck too, but that just makes it even better. Even if you weren't trying to be funny, it has a very tasty bit of humor that I appreciate. I was laughing through pretty much the whole thing.
You are of course, free to stop reading here. But I hope you will consider reading the rest of the story, as it details the way we get there.
As for the boys? Well, as I said, this story can be explained by reading The Shogun Six. In at least some respects. But again, I'm not going to badger you to. I find it hilarious that you think they're clones of the EoH though.
The Jukebox out of nowhere? Peanut is Pinkie's counterpart. He can do this kind of thing. He also happens to be completely fucking insane, but again, there is a reason for that which will come out in The Shogun Six when he appears in it.
In any case, thanks for the review. It actually will come in handy in trying to tighten up some of the story in later chapters.
Also, thank you for making me laugh my head off. As negative towards the fic as it was, it picked it apart in a way that had me gasping for breath from laughing so hard. Love the Star Trek screenshots too.
798068
>Dude! All of my thumbs up for this!
I'm gonna feel bad for this.
>Yes, it is a bit scrimping on the details.
A bit?
>But do remember this is a prologue. It's supposed to be a kind of 'in medias res' sort of situation.
Yet this is so unlike how every prologue works ever. Prologues usually set up a situation in a story without going right into the action, or introduce us to a character that plays an important part, or just frames our general conflict. Your prologue veers back and forth between all of those things while doing none of them at the same time. You introduce us to the characters without building them up at all. You set up a big fight scene that's entirely skipped over. You don't even show us Twilight's Heel Realization. You set up so much, without actually setting up anything. Stuff just... happens, for no reason.
>The story isn't even over, this is just a kind of mid-story scene designed to hook the reader into finding out exactly how things get to that point.
I'm not hooked at all. I don't know who these Shogun Six are. I don't give a shit about these Gary Stu characters who are just introduced, and who's only character trait we've seen is their "RADICALITY DUDE!" The same goes for the show characters, because they're both 1) Completely unlike their show versions (Intentional I know, but this doesn't help matters) and 2) Completely unlikeable assholes.
I care for none of these people. I have no reason to read further from what you've introduced (Or haven't) this chapter.
>But you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Hell, I actually like it. It's honest, it's brutal...it's hilarious as fuck too, but that just makes it even better. Even if you weren't trying to be funny, it has a very tasty bit of humor that I appreciate. I was laughing through pretty much the whole thing.
YES, FEED MY EGO FURTHER. FEEEEEEEEEEEED MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-
Em, sorry, I get like that when I receive good words. Continuing...
>You are of course, free to stop reading here. But I hope you will consider reading the rest of the story, as it details the way we get there.
Uh, if you don't mind the same style of reviewing seen here, I might.
>As for the boys? Well, as I said, this story can be explained by reading The Shogun Six.
You said in the story and description that's unnecessary and only if you don't want 'spoilers' for that story. And considering this is in the TCB-verse and that isn't from the looks of it, this implies this is a totally different situation the Shogun Six are in. There's no relation besides the fact that some of the characters are the same. And if you don't tell us "READ THIS STORY FIRST" or just actually give your characters characterization beyond 'Adolescent male power fantasy in writing form' then this makes the reader both not give a shit about the characters, and hate the story.
>In at least some respects. But again, I'm not going to badger you to. I find it hilarious that you think they're clones of the EoH though.
Um... they're not? That raises more questions, and all of them are awful.
>The Jukebox out of nowhere? Peanut is Pinkie's counterpart. He can do this kind of thing. He also happens to be completely fucking insane, but again, there is a reason for that which will come out in The Shogun Six when he appears in it.
Oh yay. Another character who's wacky, and edgy. We don't need strong characters here, or a consistent story tone, considering this goes from trying to be happy to trying to be funny to trying to be solemn faster than my mother's orgasms. Nope, just a guy who is literally Pinkie Pie but an anthro shithead!
>In any case, thanks for the review. It actually will come in handy in trying to tighten up some of the story in later chapters.
Uh, if that only factors in later, I'm not sure what to say honestly. I'm trying really hard not to sound like an asshole, but it's getting harder...
>Also, thank you for making me laugh my head off. As negative towards the fic as it was, it picked it apart in a way that had me gasping for breath from laughing so hard. Love the Star Trek screenshots too.
It was the first thing that came up when I searched for 'facepalm'. It fit well. Just be glad I didn't have to bring out the Toht-palm... yet...
I'm going to agree with Sanity here. This story isn't really what I expected.
*shrugs*
805169
Give me some time. I'm rewriting the prologue as we speak.
... Eh... yeah...
The 'in medias ras' caught my attention, but of course considering a 'how we got here' scenario has to be done... My attention came and went pretty quick, I'm sad to say.
When I read the summary, I was expecting a Tyrant!Celestia vs Canon!Celestia clash, not a Lunaverse-esque universe of samurai and ninja-based spear counterparts...
862333
*shrugs* All I can say is give it some time. You might like what you see. But of course, it's up to you whether or not you wanna keep reading.
862356
I MAY want to keep reading, but Celestia has always been one of my faves in the series, and I've developed in my headcanon that she's a powerful, but not necessarily godly, being with noble, non-manipulative intentions.
In other words, like this, without the tyranny, closer to Lunaris.
That said... well, it's kinda jarring for me, no offense.
862395
None taken. But remember, In the TCB universe, Celestia's pretty much a dick.
862434
Eh, one fic I read in this odd universe portrayed her well, in that they didn't create the wall of magic that engulfed the planet, and that, for reasons not quite explained, instead of humans being subjugated into happy, mindless servants/slaves, they were offered, and some more radical HLF members still didn't buy into it... just as there were more radical members of the Conversion Bureau that Celestia disproved of because they didn't take no for an answer. The fic ends with a man whom raised a pegasus and stayed human throughout it dying, though, by his choice, and that makes me sad.
862471
I don't think I've read that one.
862478
Can't remember the exact title... "The Last Human", or something.
862502
Might have to look it up sometime. But in this story, Celestia is still going to be pretty much a dick because that's largely how she comes off in many TCB fics, especially ones where she's the reason the barrier not only exists, but is expanding.
862539
I see... still, again, I would have liked to see Canon vs Tyrant. Can you just imagine it?
862556
I don't have to imagine it. Any guesses why? Reread the prologue again.
862583
I did. It was an anthro, spear-counterpart stand-in for Luna, not Canon!Celestia.
Honestly, though, even just a oneshot of canon!Celestia herself coming in, exposing, and unraveling the horrid plot of THIS Celestia before their eyes, verbally and with no thrown first punch, would be better. I mean... I've seen her troll GlaDOS!!
862626
*snickers* Like I said, reread the prologue. Yes, Lunaris is there but so is someone else. Two someones, actually.
862631
You may need to help me on this one...
862657 Look at the parts before and after the flashbacks.
862678
That's just brief mention, unnamed, of Tyrant!Celestia's counterpart, only described as a "White Alicorn"... Doesn't really catch my attention, Warwolf.
797984 "The slate grey eyes of the pony were crinkled in a grin, and he pulled a quarter from his vest and threw it through the air, where it landed in a jukebox that seemed to come out of nowhere"
Clearly the real issue here is that the juke box should've been playing a different song.
862697
That white Alicorn is Not Solaris, Snowman. So no, it's not her Shogunate counterpart. Also, look at who else is with the alicorn.
862770
... I don't see it... Interest... fading fast...
I mean, while waiting for your response, I just saw the story TCB: Jaguars... and that left a worst taste in my mouth, because in that, Celestia's portrayed as even more of a genocidal asshole, along with four of the Mane Six... and Luna...
862784
How much more can I spell it out without giving away spoilers for the fic?
Not much. Best continue this conversation over conversions over a PM.
862710
Where do you think I got the flying quarter scene from?
*tries to read this thing again*
JESUS CHRIST WALLS OF TEXT DUDE
Look, I appreciate that you added a lot of stuff. But let me just say this about the re-write: THE ENTER BUTTON IS YOUR FRIEND. USE IT MORE.
That is all.
863014
Good grief. I thought I'd done better in chopping up the text blocks. I guess I'll have to see where I can make some more space. What do you think so far of the rewrite though?
863027
Beyond being barely able to read the gigantic walls of text, I'd definitely say it's an improvement. The ponies don't sound like walking cardboard cutouts, the detail's better, and I don't want to brain myself every few sentences. I mean it's not fic of the year or anything, but it's at least readable now. So good shoot on that.
thenaughtyseat.co.uk/ekmps/shops/rescapeltd/images/28mm-gold-star-stickers-260-p.jpg
863042
Gimme a few minutes, I might be able to do something about the giant text walls.
863042
Try it now.
863092
Much better. I'd still cut down a bit on some of the second half's paragraphs, but otherwise it's readable now.
863095
Sweet. Give it a read and lemme know what you think.
I must say, I rather enjoy this. TCB never really came off as a story I would enjoy, but I have found myself throughly enjoying these fics where Humanity doesn't just roll over and die. Who would do that in the real world anyways?!
On another note, I did read The Shogun Six. I enjoyed that as well. Keep up the good work on both of these~!
On a COMPLETELY different note than the last two, (there seems to be a pattern to this huh?) the Fate/Stay Night / The Nasuverse + TCB could be... interesting. Servants and Masters fighting ponies. . . Ohhhhhh they would have no idea how badly invading Earth would be. . .
On that other note, im rambling! I must be off, Au Revoir~♫
949226
Humans do in fact still exist in the world where The Six are from, which is a world where Earth and the world Equestria is from merged, and their various world governments still exist, including the United Nations, though things have changed in the millennia since that occurred, such as technological advancement and the like, for humans and other species. As well, magic isn't limited to just Unicorns in their world.
cant wait for the next chapter
949646
I'm workin' on it. It's slow going cause I'm also working on The Shogun Six as well as a number of original novels intended for publication. So my writing time is usually eaten up by my original works, but that doesn't mean I'm ignoring my fanfics.
988562
There is actually a reason for that. It will come out over the course of the story. Suffice to say, there's a hint in the prologue if you look.
The quick and short of it, however, is that Rainbow Dash may represent loyalty, but she still has the right to chose who and what she gives her loyalty to, and Celestia made a major fuck-up during the course of the Battle for Canterlot. You'll see what as we go.
949685 Original novels? Now I'm curious
994622
I'm writing my own novels with my own storylines and stuff. Nothing pony related, though. Actually, I finished my first book in 2003 and self-published it in 2006. I finished another in October of '11 and working on getting it put out sometime this year or next.
994659 What was the book about?
994864
The first one? Heroic werewolf in ancient Rome.
1053509
Deadpan humor. Gotta love it.
Yes? And THEN what happened?
(Honestly I find this first contact stuff more interesting than the adventures of the furry Power Rangers )
1063575
There is a distinct irony in that statement. Which you will see in time. The next chapter of Warrior's Way is in the works, and deals with how the world will begin to react to First Contact.