//------------------------------// // The Set Up // Story: A Family Worth Having // by DeathBloodBass //------------------------------// During Shining and Ryoma... A zeppelin along with an escort of pegasus Royal Guards flies past the borders of Equestria to deliver trading good for Thorax's Hive. "Target spotted, remove the stealth spell.", a goggle wearing Changeling orders before a Changeling Drone uses his magic on a crystal shutting off the invisible barrier revealing a black zeppelin to the ponies. The goggle wearing Changeling and two others jump off the Zepplin and transform into their battle modes. Changeling Air Trooper (Standard Mode) They then transform again. Changeling Air Trooper (Flight Mode) The Royal Guards flies ahead to intercept, which was a bad call as the Changelings fires blasts from their eyes shooting down two guards before the dogfight starts. "They're too fast! I can't shake him!", a guard cries before the Changeling uses his sharp claws to cut off the guard's wing resulting in the guard to fall to his death. The squad leader screams as the lead Changeling fires a powerful blast which literally vaporize his body, right before the three Changelings fly towards the helpless zeppelin. "Please, stand down!", the zeppelin captain screams waving a white flag. "We are unarmed! You have no right to fire upon us!" "I beg to differ.", the lead Changeling said before he and his wingmen fire on the zeppelin, blowing it up and killing those on board. In the Crystal Empire... "I'm surprised you found a way to neutralize my self-destruct ability.", the Trooper, that Shining defeated, said with his arms cuffed behind his back. "Princess Amore had copies of everything she stored in Crystal Caverns into one of your hidden depots near the Empire knowing of that they have better preservation.", Cadance said. "Among them was a method to create a crystal to neutralize the natural abilities of a Changeling, including your self-destruct, Heavy Acceleration and transformation. Though it doesn't cancel out what has already been done, since you're still in your battle form." "You do know I can easily break out of your weak bindings and take you out easily.", the trooper said. "Maybe, but even you can't take out the entire Crystal Guard along with the Captain and an alicorn princess.", Cadance said. "True, it would take a Changeling General like Ryoma to do all that.", the trooper said. "You know this is the second time we've met, Princess Cadance." "It is?" "You were unconscious at that time, but I was one of the Changelings that took part of your capture during the wedding." Two troopers drag the unconscious Princess Cadance through the mines under Canterlot. To their leader. "Lord Kaiser, we have captured the princess and the Queen have successfully replaced her.", the trooper reports, but Kaiser wasn't happy. "Why is she unharmed?", Kaiser asks. "She may be an alicorn princess, but to use she is nothing more than dirt." "But sir, the Queen order us to...", the trooper said before he starts choking and a crack can be heard before hitting the ground dead. "I didn't ask for an answer.", Kaiser said. "Also as long as the Queen isn't here, I'm in charge. Now torture her, but don't kill her." "Yes, sir!" "Sir, the Canterlot Royal Guard are mobilizing and their security have increased. Somehow they've been tipped off, but fortunately they don't know of us.", the Trooper reports. "Who is responsible?" "I suspect Thorax, after all he was against the idea of stealing and even thought of an idea of being friends with ponies.", Kaiser said. "I'm embarrassed that he's even my brother." "Wait, brother?", Shining Armor asks in shock. "You didn't know?", the trooper said. "Tell me after his transformation, why did Thorax look different from the rest? Because like Princess Pupa, he is a Royal-Class Changeling, thus he is the son of Chrysalis herself." "Royal-Class Changeling?" "A life as a Queen or King can be a dangerous life, because of that Queen Chyrsalis laid five specials eggs should something happen to her. The heirs from oldest to youngest are Kaiser, Pharnyx, Stussy, Cicada, Thorax and Buzzer. Princess Pupa was later born and chosen after Pharnyx, Cicada, Stussy and Buzzer turned down becoming rulers, while Kaiser and Thorax proved unfit to rule. Former for being unstable and the latter being too much of a pacifist." "Well he's king now.", Shining Armor said. "Only by name.", the trooper said. "He never earned the title through the Changeling Laws. In order to claim the throne Thorax must challenge the Queen in a duel and win. Tell me had he done such a thing." Shining and Cadance grow nervous upon hearing that. They helped Thorax dethrone Chrysalis by outnumbering her and Miasma's intervention. "What would happen should Thorax claim the throne erm... illegally?" "It leave a vacuum of power to the hive. Others wanting the throne will fight each other to the death and the last one standing will be declared ruler. All you've done it put Thorax in a death sentence, because the only Changeling with royal blood interested in the throne is Kaiser." "Big deal, Twilight and her friends took on foes like Tirek and Discord.", Shining Armor said only for the Trooper to laugh. "You fools don't understand what you've unleashed on the day Thorax overthrown Chrysalis.", the trooper said looking at one of the Crystal Guards nodding at him. "As of now the line between friend and foes has been blurred." Suddenly before anypony could react the Crystal Guard, who nodded throws his spear straight at the Trooper's chest killing him. Green flame engulf the killer revealing another Changeling Trooper albeit much more heavily armed. "The mission was a success. Our infiltrator has silenced the trooper and of course did some damage to the palace before blowing up.", Pine said to Kaiser sitting on the throne. "Casualties?" "Ten Crystal Guards dead and twenty wounded. One servant dead and five wounded. Shining Armor suffered moderate injuries by shielding Princess Cadance.", Pine reports. "Good, now for the next phase. My mother still lives and is still a political threat to my claim to the throne.", Kaiser said. "She must be dealt with but without us being involved. The other clans of the hive will not respect that." "What if a pony was responsible to the Queen's death?", Pine suggests. "After all not all ponies are satisfied with the Princesses welcoming dangerous beings with open arms. Some fear that their way may lead to Equestria's destruction." "Then let's not disappoint them.", Kaiser said with a smile. "Another supply convoy have been attacked by Chagelings and left no survivors this time.", Prime Minister Makage said to Princess Celestia. "That makes it the tenth attack already. At this rate those in need of supplies will eventually starve." "Something must be done!", Celestia said. "There is a solution, but you may not like it.", Makage said. "What would that be?", Celestia asks. "The nobles are thinking that we should hold Queen Chrysalis prisoner and warn the attackers of her safety should they try something." "I will not tolerate such action!", Celestia snaps. "I know, but the nobles are beginning to question your decision. After the Tirek incident they are beginning to think that your decisions and the idea of reforming evil beings will bring an end to Equestria.", Makage said. "The reformation of the Changelings have already brought retaliation from these renegades to a violent level and already 53 ponies died and soon hundreds more. You have a choice, one Changeling Queen or hundreds of starving creatures." "Well?", one of the noble asks his aide. "I'm afraid that Celestia refuse to hold the Ex-Queen prisoner and intend to find an alternate route for trading.", the aide reports. "Damn that alicorn. It's bad enough that she refused to militarize the Royal Guard, but now she refuse to hold the Changeling Queen as a bargaining chip!", the noble grumbles in frustration. "We might as well put a welcome sign for terrorists!" "What will you do?" "She left me with no choice. I'll take matters into my own hand." "But we don't know where Chrysalis is." "I have a good idea where she is. Ponyville." "Just as you expected. Those ponies are heading for Ponyville to capture Chrysalis and use her for bargain.", Pine reports. "Good. You know what to do.", Kaiser said. "That's everyone, Lord Buzzer.", an Air Trooper said to the goggle wearing Changeling watching the last Changeling entering the airship. "It's a relief that not everyone in the Agriculture Clan is with Thorax.", Buzzer said. "I never thought my own brother would do something like this." "What will happen to the Hive?" "As you are well aware Princess Pupa is still to young to rule, thus one of us remaining Royal-Class must take the throne.", Buzzer explains entering the ship. "General Ryoma is calling all the Clan Leaders for a meeting to decide on who will be the new ruler. I must take part of the meeting as well." Prince Buzzer Leader of the Striker Clan Fourth Son of Chrysalis At the front of the camp on a rainy day a cloaked Changeling walks toward the camp gate entrance with several Changelings behind him. He stops in front of the closed gate seeing no guards in sight. "No one's here?!", one of the Changeling exclaims. "I'll go tell them to open the gate." "No need.", the lead Changeling said. "It'll open soon." As he finish what he said the gate opens surprising the Changelings with him. The lead Changeling then open his eyes revealing them to be purple. Prince Pharnyx AKA Grim Reaper Leader of the Exploration Clan Second Son of Chrysalis Somewhere in Canterlot... "Here you go. Everything that you need.", Greed disguised as a unicorn said handing weapons over to the noble's private guards. "May I ask what you need these for?" "We are doing something Celestia refuse to do for she lacks conviction. I plan to rectify that.", the noble pony said. Later in Ponyville... "Alright, Spike.", Applebloom said to the amnestic Spike. "If this doesn't restore your memories then we'll go for something more extreme." Chrysalis changes into Rarity. "Hello there, Spike darling.", Chrysalis in Rarity's voice said. *CHOMP* 'Rarity' widen her eyes, while the four fillies gawk at seeing Spike biting the flank. The ponies in Ponyville stopped what they were doing when they hear what sounds like and explosion. They then see something being launched out of Princess Twilight's castle and a twinkle in the sky. "Guess the only way to restore his memory is by using whatever Sven used on him.", Assassin said. "Considering that this is our tenth attempt." Assassin then looks around noticing several unicorns glaring at them. Suddenly something falls to the ground. Assassin looks down and widen his eyes upon seeing what it was. "Look out!", Assassin cries tackling Chrysalis and the fillies away right before the object explodes. This cause the Ponyville ponies to scream and panic while the unicorns glaring at the group starts firing their horns on Chrysalis and the others hiding behind a market stand. Assassin place what appears to be armor with a pipe attached onto his hoof. "I had a feeling these ponies would eventually have had enough with Celestia's methods." Assassin pokes out and fires a shot straight at the neck of one of the attackers. "You killed him!", Sweetie cries in shock. "Oh I'm sorry! You want me to go out, ask let's be friends and risk being shot at?!", Assassin exclaims before ducking down from an another explosion. "That wasn't a grenade!" Assassin looks out and sees five Earth Ponies pulling a 30-pounder-long gun. "That will complicate things.", Assassin said. "Fire!" Chrysalis creates a barriers blocking the shot. The cannonball left a crack on the barrier, but Chrysalis easily patches it up. Assassin fires another shot killing the loader. "You no what?! Kick their flank!", Sweetie Belle shouts. "What's that sound?", Buzzer asks hearing explosions and screaming below him. "It seems that Ponyville is under attack by other ponies.", a Trooper reports looking down from the edge. "There's something you don't see everyday.", Buzzer said looking down himself. He sees several armored ponies herding the civilians out of the town with some having to knocked out. "Regardless, it's no issue for us. Continue on the the camp." "My lord! You should see this!", a Trooper calls out from the other side. Buzzer hurries there and see ponies firing a cannon at a group of fillies, a pegasus and Chrysalis. "Mother?!" "Didn't Rose said Thorax killed her?" "He probably lied and handed her over to the ponies as a prisoner." "We'll figure that out later! Prepare to mobilize!", Buzzer orders. "And deploy the Iron Morden!" "Yes, sir!" Buzzer and several troopers jump off the ship and land in Ponyville. The Troopers raise their spears and fire on the attacking ponies. Surprisingly these ponies are actually giving the troopers some trouble. "Looks like the Noble's private guard are more well trained than the Royal Guards.", Buzzer said blocking a magic bolt with his hand and then throwing a knife at the attacker's neck. Just then a large walking machine approach the ponies and fire on them. Iron Morden "Blast it!", Assassin curse leading the four fillies to safety. "The fight got us separated from Chrysalis!" "Why would they want her so bad? Isn't she dethroned?", Scootaloo asks. "Thorax is only in charge of the one clan of the Hive.", Assassin said firing another shot on a private guard that just pops out from the corner. "Every Changeling Hive have multiple clans in charge of different specialties the basic clans being; Agriculture, Medical, Intelligence, Exploration and Military, though there are some additional clans." "These ponies think that holding Chrysalis hostage will force the Changelings still loyal to her to stand down, but if by any chance huge harm comes to her a war will escalate.", Sterling said. "And trust me it's not going to be a short one and this time the Changelings will win." Elsewhere... Pine watches the skirmish going on in Ponyville from a safe distance. He then transform into his battle mode. Pine's Battle Form Pine then readies his shoulder missile pods. "We've got you now Changeling! We also know you dislike killing!", a pony shouts pointing his horn at Chrysalis along with several others, but Chrysalis responds by firing a scatter shot from her horn killing her surrounding foes. "Just because I don't like killing doesn't mean that I don't know how to and haven't done so before.", Chrysalis said before a pony toss a grenade which Chrysalis easily catches and cut off the lit fuse. "I may have been defeated twice, but that doesn't mean I'm an easy target." "Then perhaps I'll have to handle you myself.", a heavily armored pony donning a cape said leading a group of similar armored ponies with him. Chrysalis widen her eyes upon seeing the armor recognizing it. "I see you know of this armor from reading those history books.", the lead pony said removing his helmet. "Governor Court.", Chrysalis said. "I should've known." "For generations, my ancestors fought proudly as members of the Grand Army of Equestria along side the great Lauren Faust against threats like the Changelings.", Court said. "Now those alicorn princesses have tarnished everything we've worked so hard to gain and made friends with murderers and conquerors." Chrysalis charges her horn preparing for battle while Court draws out a sword hilt and a beam of green magical energy erupts out of it. "This weapon was stolen from the tomb of Clover the Clever by my ancestors during the End of Faust's Era.", Court said. "During the final days of the Changeling War it has been known for killing many Changelings Officers. NNow rpepare yourself to join them." "I thought you wanted me alive?" "That was the original plan, but then I realize that in order to restore Equestria back to it's former glory we must make an example." "You plan on starting another Changeling War." "And like the last one, we'll win and show everypony who weak and incompetent the alicorn princesses are.", Court said charging at Chrysalis. Chrysalis creates two magic swords to block the slashes. The fight against both sides have intensified to the point that both sides even use their fists/hooves. Buzzer kicks a pony to the ground and impales him with his lance before hearing an large explosion from a distance. He realize that the explosion is where Chrysalis is suppose to be. "Cover me!" "Yes, sir!", the Iron Morden driver responds firing a fireball at a group of pegasi. The pegasi scattered resulting in the fireball destroying Sugarcube Corner. "Damn these ponies are slippery! Switch to the gatling gun!" "These things really pack a punch.", Court said patting a grenade in bag, before approaching the injured Chrysalis. "Now to make an example to all Changelings!" Court raise his sword and stabs Chrysalis to the side barely missing the heart. Chrysalis gasps before closing her eyes. "MOTHER!", Buzzer screams witnessing the stab. He screams in rage and fires blasts from his lance on Court. Court blocked several shots with his shield, but on manage to land on his shoulder forcing him to the ground. His bodyguards move in and drag him and the retrieved Clover's Sword to safety. As much as Buzzer wants to give chase, he quickly tends to his mother. To his relief she is alive, but is now in a coma. "I have mother, but she in a coma. I need an extraction!" "Copy that!", the airship pilot responds as he directs the ship over Ponyville and drops a ladder. Buzzer place his mother over his shoulder and grabs onto the ladder, before being lifted up. The rest of the Changelings forces follow suit they all make their escape. "Should we go after them?", one of Court's guards ask. "No, we've dealt a crippling blow to the Changelings.", Court said. "Besides it won't be long until the princesses arrive. Time to disappear into the shadows." "The plan went better than we anticipated.", Pine said with his shoulder missile pods empty. "Governor Court mistakenly believed that the explosions from my missiles are from the grenades that he and guards threw. Although Chrysalis is still alive albeit in a coma, Buzzer have witnessed a pony nearly executing the Queen." "A strong message has been sent.", Kaiser said through the orb. "When they see the body and hear what Buzzer have seen... all of Chrysalis Hive will cry for war with me as king."