//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: The Changelings Violate the Treaty // Story: Equestria Wars Episode XVI: The Crystal Princess // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// It's been a few days since the prison riot at Alcatraz. Charming Thunder sat on his throne with his eyes closed as he meditated. Twilight entered the room as she was looking for something or someone. She then noticed Charming Thunder and puts an evil grin on her face. She then approached the unicorn as he sat on the throne. When she was just about to turn the chair around, Charming Thunder opened his quickly and shouted, "Guards!!!" The two red royal guards entered the room and aimed their pikes at Twilight. "What are you doing, sweetie?" Twilight said. "It's me. Your wife." Charming Thunder got up from his throne and walked up to Twilight. "That may be true, but you are not, changeling." The guards took a step closer, but was suddenly knocked out by six changelings who entered the room and surrounded Charming Thunder. Twilight then changed into a changeling and joined the circle. "Very clever, Charming," the first changeling said. "But it won't be enough to save yourself. Attack!!!" The other changelings leap in the air and attempted to take Charming Thunder, but he dodged them and his horn glowed as he readied a spell. "What have you done to my friends and family?" "Nothing yet," the second changeling said. "Our queen has plans for them and your precious princesses," the third changeling said. Charming Thunder's eyes widened and got angry. His horn glowed brighter and fired lightning at them, but the changelings avoided the strike. He then used the force to freeze them in place and used his lightsaber to chop them down leaving one standing. The changeling tries to break free from Charming Thunder's power as Charming Thunder approached him. He then began to sweat nervously at the unicorn's presence. "So uh who talks first?" the changeling asked; nervously. "You talk first? I talk first?" Lucina arrived at the scene where she sees Charming Thunder interrogating the changeling. "What's going on here?" Lucina asked. "Why is there a changeling here?" "He's going to tell us where Twilight and the others are. Or..." Charming Thunder drew his blaster and pointed it at the changeling's face. "He gets blasted in the face." The changeling panics and bursts out the answer. "They're at our castle!!!" Charming Thunder smiled and holstered his blaster. "You did the right thing." Charming Thunder then releases the changeling. "Now flee before I change my mind on killing you." The changeling then flew out of the room as Charming Thunder and Lucina walked to a window seeing the changeling fleeing for his life. "So what now?" Lucina asked. "At least I know where their kingdom is." Charming Thunder took out his holo communicator and contacted Captain Lunar. "Your highness?" Captain Lunar said. "Assemble your forces at the castle. There is something they must know right now." "Yes, your highness." The transmission ended as Charming Thunder walked past Lucina. She sensed anger inside Charming Thunder so she walked up to her father and placed a hoof on his shoulder to stop him. "Father, I can feel your anger," Lucina said; worried. "You need to stop this before you start another war." "If it's war their queen wants, she will have it." Charming Thunder left the room as Lucina just stood there shocked at what she heard her father said. --------------------- Charming Thunder assembled an army outside the castle at Ponyville with Captain Lunar standing behind him as he made a speech. “Fellow soldiers of the Equestrian Empire,” he started. “You have gathered at a very desperate hour. The princesses and the element bearers have been taken by the changelings.” Chatter was going on in the crowd of stormtroopers. “We were once allied with these creatures, but now they crossed the line. I say that we take back our allies, my comrades. At dawn, we attack their hive!!!” Cheering erupted as Charming Thunder took a step closer to the balcony. (Note: Sung to the tune of Pocahontas's Savages Part 1 & 2) Sung by: Charming Thunder, Stormtroopers, Changelings, Lucina, and Chrysalis What can you expect From filthy little love eaters? Here's what you get when races are diverse Their skins are dark as stone They’re only good when crushed They’re vermin, as I thought And worse They're savages! Savages! Barely even pony Savages! Savages! Drive them from our land They're not like you and me Which means they must be evil We must sound the drums of war! They're savages! Savages! Dirty love sucking hounds! Now we sound the drums of war! At the changeling kingdom, the Changeling traitor; Thorax and Starlight were restrained as Chrysalis sat on her throne looking up at the captured ponies hanging on the ceiling in cocoons. A Changeling drone entered the room and whispered in the queen's ear of something he found out. Chrysalis then chuckled. This is what I hoped The king gathers his forces The only thing he feels is anger But beneath his pure heart There’s emptiness from the start I wonder if it even bleeds! They're savages! Savages! Barely even pony Savages! Savages! Heroic at the core And different from us Which makes him a good feast We must sound the drums of war They're savages! Savages! First we deal with the traitor Then we sound the drums of war! Savages! Savages! "Let's go get a few, men!" Captain Lunar said to the soldiers as Charming Thunder boarded a troop transport. Savages! Savages! Now it’s up to you, soldiers! Savages! Savages! Barely even pony! Now we sound the drums of war! --------------------- Lucina watched from her bedroom window as the troop transports took off to go to the Changeling kingdom. “I need to stop my dad before something happens,” she said; worried. “He could start another war with the changelings if it happens.” She then paced back and forth until she hatched an idea. Her horn glowed as she teleported out of the castle to the edge of the hill where she got a glimpse of the Changeling castle. She knows what she must do and she must follow that path. --------------------- The troop transport carrying Charming Thunder landed at the Changeling kingdom as the ramp lowered. Troops marched out after Charming Thunder walked out. He knows that he can’t use magic in the kingdom so he will have to resolve this with his weapons. Once the army was assembled, Charming Thunder activated his lightsaber. This will be the day “Move out!!” Charming Thunder shouted as he lead his army of stormtroopers to the Changeling castle. At the castle, Chrysalis sees the army with her magic and looks at Starlight and Thorax. This will be the morning “Bring me the traitor!” Chrysalis ordered. The changeling guard grabbed Thorax and dragged him on the floor. We will see them dying in the dust I don't know what I can do Still, I know I've got to try Now we make ‘em pay The Force gives me strength Now without a warning Nothing will get in my way Now we leave 'em blood and bone and rust Guardians of the light side… It's them or us Please let me make it on time… They're just a bunch of Filthy, stinking Savages! Savages! Demons! Hounds! Kill them! Savages! Savages! What are we waiting for? Destroy their evil race Until there's not a trace left How loud can the drums of war be? We will sound the drums of war (Savages! Savages!) Now, we sound the drums of war (Savages! Savages!) Charming Thunder and his army arrive to see Queen Chrysalis and a guard holding Thorax and Starlight restrained to the ground in the castle. His eyes widened to see the changeling he remembered meeting at the Crystal Empire and his friend then glared back at Chrysalis. He then looked up to see the princesses and the others hanging in their cocoons. He halted his army and ordered them to ready their weapons. Now we see what comes Of trying to be brave Now we sound the drums...of... Of course it means the drums...of... Is the death of friends and family Carried in the drumming of... WAR! “Stop!!!” Lucina shouted before she stood in front of both Charming Thunder and Chrysalis. Charming Thunder gripped his lightsaber and stood his ground against his own daughter. “Stand aside, Lucina,” Charming Thunder said. “I won’t!!! This isn’t you, father!” Charming Thunder’s eyes widened as he looked at his army and then back at Lucina. “Look around you. This is where the path of darkness has brought us. What would mom do if you were the one who was kidnapped by Chrysalis and her changelings?” Charming Thunder thought about it for a moment then looked at his army who was aiming their weapons at the changelings then at Chrysalis who had her magic ready. He then deactivated his lightsaber and placed it on his belt. Lucina approached Charming Thunder with a smile on her face and hugged her father tight. Charming Thunder then turned to his soldiers. “Stand down.” The soldiers did what Charming Thunder said and lowered their weapons. Chrysalis however didn’t stand down. “You should too, Chrysalis, and give me back my friends and family.” She only shook her head and growled. “I think not,” Chrysalis said. “The hunger of changelings can never be satisfied without them.” “Exactly!” Starlight said as she struggled to break free. “Thorax left the hive and made a friend. He shared love, and now he doesn't need to feed. You don't have to live your lives starving all the time!” “You know nothing of the changelings or what it takes to be their queen! I decide what is best for my subjects, not some mewling grub!” “I know what it's like to lead by fear and intimidation! And I know what it's like to want everypony to do what you say! But I was wrong. A real leader doesn't force her subjects to deny who they are! She celebrates what makes them unique and listens when one of them finds a better way!” The changelings were taken by Starlight’s explanation. “The only thing Thorax has found is what happens to those who turn their back on the hive!” Chrysalis then uses her magic to levitate Thorax. “No! Stop!” “This doesn’t have to end like this,” Charming Thunder said. “Just as soon as I drain every last ounce of love from him and show my subjects what a real leader is!” Chrysalis then used powerful magic to drain the love from Thorax. “I can feel the love inside me slipping away!” Thorax said; straining. “I can't hold onto it much longer!” “Then don't!” Starlight said. “Sharing love is what made you different to begin with! You should share yours with Chrysalis! Give her all of it!” Thorax was then surrounded by a powerful magic and a blast of magic hits Chrysalis and she impacts on her throne causing it to crack. Thorax was then transformed into a cocoon and when Starlight approached it to touch it, a bright light shone and revealed Thorax in his new look. Starlight and the changelings were amazed by this discovery. “This is what happens when you give love freely instead of taking it!” The other changelings did the same transformation as Thorax which caused Chrysalis’s throne room to explode with magic. Starlight and Charming Thunder protected themselves with magic as rubble fell to the ground. Once it was done, they lowered the magic barrier to see the other changelings in their new form. Charming Thunder noticed that the cocoons holding his friends and family have broken open and rushed to Applejack to help her up. Discord hugged Fluttershy who was relieved to see her safe. He then noticed the changelings carrying his niece and handed her over to him. Charming Thunder smiled and nudged Flurry who giggled to see his uncle. He then walked up to Cadence and Shining Armor and handed over Flurry. He then turned to see Twilight being helped up by Starlight. “Starlight?” Twilight asked. “What happened?” “We defeated the changelings with no magic at all, they found a new leader, and... they're all kinda... good now.” Twilight then noticed Charming Thunder and Lucina approach and rushed over to them to give them a tight hug. “Well done, Starlight Glimmer,” Luna said. “It seems as though you've learned a great deal since we last spoke.” The sound of rubble was heard as everyone looked to see Chrysalis getting out of there. She hissed as Charming Thunder and the others stood tall against her. Starlight stepped up to her. “When Twilight and her friends defeated me, I chose to run away and seek revenge! You don't have to! You can be the leader your subjects deserve.” Starlight offered her hoof to her before Meta and the other changelings who haven’t turned came and blasted her with magic. The stormtroopers aimed their blasters and opened fire, but Meta puts up a magic barrier to avoid getting hit. The shooting stopped when Charming Thunder stepped up in front of the soldiers and activated his lightsaber. The changelings then surrounded Charming Thunder with their horns glowing before Meta ordered, “OPEN FIRE!!!” The enemy changelings opened fire with their magic. Charming Thunder was quick enough to deflect those blasts around him with his blade while Meta rushed to Chrysalis helping her out of the rubble. Charming Thunder then used the force to grip one of the changelings and throw him across the room. He then threw his saber at his chest and used the force to pull it back to his hooves. He deflected more shots as he used the force to shock them with powerful lightning which caused the enemy to disintegrate. He then turned to see Chrysalis out of the rubble as Meta flew away. “There is no revenge you could ever conceive of that will come close to what I will exact upon you one day, Starlight Glimmer!” Chrysalis said before she flew away to follow her husband. Charming Thunder and the others walked towards the edge and deactivated his lightsaber. He then drew his pistol and aimed at Chrysalis who was still fleeing. Celestia placed a hoof on Charming Thunder’s blaster and lowered it. “Let her go, Charming,” Celestia said. She then turned to Thorax. “Thorax, as the new leader of the changelings, I look forward to discussing how we can improve our relationship in the future. However, for the moment, perhaps it is best that we leave the Changeling Kingdom to the changelings.” Discord magically appeared between Rarity and Applejack and clapped. “Splendid idea!” Discord said. “Now who's ready for some celebratory tea at Fluttershy's?!” “Oh!” Fluttershy said. “Uh, everypony?” “Actually, now that you can snap your claws and send us absolutely anywhere again, I think I have a better option,” Starlight suggested. “What do you have in mind, Starlight?” Charming Thunder asked. “The town where we first met.” Charming Thunder smiled and nodded.