Declassified #8 - In the Service of the Princess (Complete) · 2:39am Jul 1st, 2016
The original story had the contractors, who were initially just a band of mercenaries, successfully take over the train. Later as Ponente/Diamond Dust detailed her backstory to the imprisoned Luna, Cadance was to orally remove Star’s inhibitor ring (aka accidental hornjob) so she could free the others. A brief skirmish would follow, in the end someone firing a conus-venom dart at Diamond Dust*, thus killing her.
*Referred to hereon as DD.
Another event considered was for the skirmish to move to the roof again, this time with Flash, Star, and Windlancer tailing DD. At one point DD would fall off and cling to the roof for dear life. Flash would convince her that there was more to life than revenge and there were those who’d care for DD by giving her a second chance. She agrees, is pulled to safety, and surrenders.
The conus venom is an element taken from The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Even some bits of dialogue were drawn from the scene first introducing the sedative.
Whether Luna actually retrieved Chrysalis’s severed head from the trash or simply used it as a scare tactic is up to the reader.
“Some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the worst intentions.” - Dr Alan Grant, Jurassic Park III
Basil Plum is a nod to the late Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley, portrayed by Sam Elliot in We Were Soldiers.
In a cut scene from the bonus chapter, Lifeline was to give a lecture to Flash regarding the potency of conus venom following the return home.
Echo is one of Luna’s royal guards from the episode “Luna Eclipsed” and the book Princess Luna and the Festival of the Winter Moon. In this continuity, he is a pegasus and not a thestral/batpony unless otherwise stated.
Credit to Web of Hope for the characters Aria Frost and Lifeline.
Silver’s reaction to DD crying is reminiscent of Peter’s to Cleveland in The Cleveland Show’s pilot.
The machete pony is a nod to Danny Trejo’s character from the Machete and Spy Kids series.
Baseplate was written with Gaz and Ghost from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in mind.
Wayward Enterprises was founded by J Woodhorse and Sir Archie Yearling. The first private military company (Watchguard Int’l Ltd) was founded by former SAS operatives John Woodhouse and Sir David Stirling. This connection is further reflected with the majority of the Wayward crew possessing British or Scottish (Trottish) accents.
A familial relationship exists between Able and Archie Yearling.
The kiss game at the end of the bonus chapter was a common thing between Bob Stookey and Sasha Williams from The Walking Dead.
Word of Chops: Star makes due on her plan following the story. Flash ain't crushing after her anymore.
Members of Wayward Enterprises
Grigori (griffon male, company head)
Diamond Dust (unicorn female, operation leader)
Baseplate (earth pony male, Team B leader)
Able Yearling (pegasus male)
Silver Striker (pegasus female)
Wavecrest (unicorn female)
Bruiser (diamond dog male)
7 unnamed mercs
Dream Voice Cast
Vincent Tong as FLASH SENTRY
Katie Sackhoff as STAR KICKER
Nolan North as EMERALD RAY
Trevor Devall as AMETHYST STONE, ECHO
Tabitha St Germain as PRINCESS LUNA, ARIA FROST
Britt McKillip as PRINCESS CADANCE
Zelda Williams as DIAMOND DUST
Craig Fairbrass as BASEPLATE
Brian Vernel as ABLE YEARLING
Kari Wahlgren as SILVER STRIKER
Emma Watson as WAVECREST
Brenda Crichlow as SPARKLER DOO
Britt Irvin as LIGHTNING DUST
Steve Blum as DESCENT
Music
Ponente vs Flash - Part 2 | Ko-Wahi Bohrok Fight (Bionicle: The Game)
The Commander Captured | The Clones (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
Investigating Tactics | The foreboding theme from Liberty's Kids, currently unavailable.
The Second Wave/Bruiser Battle | Thok’s Mountain High (Bionicle Heroes)
Standoff | Rewired (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance)
Luna’s Speech/Diamond Dust’s Story | Sorrowful Stone (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
It’s Over | Theme from Call of Duty: Black Ops II
The Crystal Empire | Reviving Hollow Bastion (Kingdom Hearts 2.5 ReMIX)
Talk of Harmony | Theme from Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Sibling Ribbing | Innocent Times (Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep)
Wayward Initiates the Raid | Flying Squirrels (Call of Duty: Black Ops II)
The Lunar Guard Strikes Back | Diabolical Adrenaline Guitar (Half-Life)
Wavecrest and SIlver | Maz's Counsel (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)
Star and Sparkler | Gwen & Rhys (Torchwood)
You have fantastic taste in dream casting.