In the Third and final installment of The Shadow Trilogy, Twilight Shadow seeks to bend the world to the will of her mistress - Umbra. Can Princess Celestia find a way to save her in time, or is it far too late to do anything but the unthinkable...
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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
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The board is set, the pieces are moving. We come to it at last...
The great battle of our time.
Considering that Starswirl is basically Gandalf : Pony Edition, that quote seemed appropriate. The setup to the upcoming battle is continually throwing new and interesting possibilities into the wind - I am going to be VERY surprised if Pinkie Pie and Cup Cake don't end up having a showdown of some kind...
As always, I'm super-excited for the next chapter. Keep up the amazing work, Lapis!
Well, I asked, and I received. Kinda.
Good to see that Twilight still retains feelings for Celestia at this stage of the game. And I suspect that this chapter was partially meant to make the audience toss most of their sympathy for Umbra right overboard. At least, that's what it did for me ("sex is always so much more invigorating after a nice bit of bloodletting"? Umbra, please stop taking pages out of the Joker's playbook!). Nevertheless, it was rather interesting to see that Umbra's acting this way because Twilight introduced her to the concept of love... in other words, this really is all Twilight's fault!
Twilight:
Uh... kinda!
Fluttershy:
Sorta...?
Applejack:
Okay, not really. Please don't hurt me.
Dash comforting Twilight was a nice touch, as well. I've been into mind-control/corruption fics for quite a while now, and I especially like it when the author focuses on the characters post-corruption. How much of their old personalities remain? Do their old friendships still shine through, only under different circumstances?
How I wished I could've seen the rest of the Six... but they'll probably be coming along in future installments.
Keep up the good work!
Edit: And yes, all in favor of a fic focused on the newly-kinky Mane Six. And I will create 500 dummy accounts voting in favor of it if necessary (okay, not really - please put the banhammers away, mods!).
(im yet to read the last chapter but since I cant do it on the very moment it came out because mainly I follow 50 different stories at the same time and I implemented a row system to not to get overwhelmed)
3517303
Chess, strangely thats the same way I see it..
Yet what do we have so far? On one side the crusaders and their scoota-champion are trying to defend themselves against the shadow, two of them seem to have a weapon that might have some kind of special effect on them yet has not been explained, outnumbered 5-1 and against an enemy that can take over them....We're not sure what can they do.
On other side we have the paralized national guard of equestria, i mean paralized because they are, both politically and because their acting leaders are set on defensive mode, they cant do a thing against the impending flood circling around them.
And lastly on the Ki-rin side their army is starting to gather, we are yet to see how big it is and what can they do.
Lastly we have our dear wild cards: Starswirl, Celestia, Cadance, Shining armor, Luna, Crescent Blade , etc. but...yeah but most of them are trying to save the unsalvageable(?), we all know Twilight willfully did everything, she was never taken but slowly corrupted to the state she is now and as most tyrants she is trying to excuse their brutality, deaths and submission of the other countries in aras of the greather good..
Cant wait to see how this story blooms as it reaches its crescendo....
The first hill? You devil... the climb up felt so tiring and amazing. It felt like at any point the skies would open and the rain would pour while events cascaded down like heavenly rain. But nay, the skies kept closed, the events kept building and now it might finally be starting to move towards the end.
A lovely chapter. I knew something was going on with Umbra. I did not know though that she had no idea what an Alicorn was. That was a clever twist. Though it makes me wonder. Did Umbra possess Luna at some point and turn her into Nightmare Moon or was that a separate force of evil and/or darkness? Because Luna is an Alicorn, as she was from birth.
Anyways, your idea of some oneshots or kinky goings on with the shadow infected mane 6 would be interesting. Just, would there be plot and would it be something of a continuous story or would it be PWP (porn without plot) oneshots? It sounds interesting but it could be a bit of a pointless addition.
3517638 Ah, that's the hilariously clever thing no one seemed to pick up on.
Yes, NMM was created out of Shadow power. The problem is, that power was directly doled out by Tantalus.... who wasn't exactly co-operating with Umbra at the time. Since Umbra was never really 'aware' of what Tantalus had done to give NMM that power, she never found out about Luna / Alicorns.
And yes, there would be some minor plot / story elements. Nothing really important to the broader narrative, but it would provide some insight into how the characters lived under the Shadow.
3517660 That does surprise me that no one touched on the NMM thing in reviews yet.
I see. I say go for it then. You write so damn well, you'll probably make something certainly worth reading.
The winds blow sprits are changing and old evils may become the greatest of salvation or the final card in the deck of destruction, so let us sit and pray for what? I do not know, but for I what I do know is this. Justice is in the grasp of the weak, but kept away from them by the strong, power and strength in mind and body is what will determine the future. Let us pray the strong have mercy much more then those of the past.
I hope you enjoyed that, I felt this is only the beginning of the true battles ahead even with the cards Light holds the Shadows holds its own, and can easily take cards from others its strength derives from conversion, so let us see how these two play out power to steal or the power that is there.
Gentle Breeze guide your path, a warm smile welcome your return.
3517660 do it
You go Mrs. Cake.
I have a feeling that every ending us readers have imagined are all about to come crashing down. Moon and Silents' unknown plan, Lunas' knowledge of such, Umbras' and Discords' unprecidented loves, combined with not fully Shadow Aj, the consequences are too unpredictable to guess. Keep up the good work, but, as a last flip of the coin I wonder what is it that Fluttershy is thinking...
(Looks behind self) (backs away from colorful powder filling the room...)
Again, keep up the good work, I gotta go! (Jumps out nearby window)
FREEDOM!
Free cookies for those who get the refrence.
I finally caught up with the current chapter!
Wow, I never realized that Umbra had no idea what an Alicorn was and actually believes that Celestia and Luna are just fancy unicorns. I want to see the look on her face when Celestia unleashes the power of the Sun itself on top of her ass.
I feel so sorry for Mrs. Cake. She's going to try and save Pinkie and at some point she'll learn that it was Pinkie's fault that her husband is dead. That whole exchange won't end well.
Speaking of not ending well, unless we have full memory wipes then Sweetie Belle and Appelbloom are going to be mentally destroyed if they ever get out of the Shadow's thrall. Rarity has Sweetie Belle learning to dominate mind controlled slaves and who knows what Applebloom is up to. Scootaloo is going to be very shocked at what her friends have become.
We need a Spike update!
The Scootaloo/Silver Spoon ship is super cute.
I'm kinda surprised that Discord has found no loophole in his deal with Umbra. Surely he would have made a loophole when he first made the deal. Was Umbra that good of a rules lawyer?
I'll toss in my vote for the side story.
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Great chapter as always. Good to know there is a little of old Twilight left somewhere in there.
And a side fic about the touched main..Uh, five, is a welcome thought. I really want to know what they have been up to during Twilight's absence.
Assuming that Umbra is defeated, another thing that would be nice to see is post-ending chapters detailing the lives of the characters influenced by Umbra after the war. They would probably all have severe psychological issues trying to cope with their own actions. Twilight in particular would be broken beyond all belief due to the fact that:
A. She has to deal with the full consequences of her actions immediately. She doesn't get a free pass like Luna who got to spend 1,000 years on the moon while everyone who truly loathed her got old and died. The people she wronged would all still be alive, and some of them might go so far as to attack her.
B. Her relationships with her friends would be warped even if they returned to the way they were before this all happened. It wouldn't be easy to get past the things she did to them.
C. She's spent the entire trilogy telling herself that she was doing the right thing, that it was for the greater good. When the end comes and she finally attains clarity, she'll be faced with the undeniable truth that she was the villain all along and the full knowledge of what she did.
D. Thanks in part to her decision to name the conflict "The Twilight War" her name is going down in history alongside the worst creatures who ever lived and no matter what she does from that point onward, her name will be forever stained.
It would be neat to see how she copes with that.
I can´t wait for the war to get started. Let´s see who will be victorious at the end :3
Unfortunately I can´t find this side-fic you mentioned.
And now I can't wait for the next chapter. Coddammit, why do you do this to me. Lucky thing I'll have holiday until next week for exam. I can't wait for the next chapter now.
And that side-fic seems interesting :3
3518169
Don´t forget the griffin side: Roam taken, their citizens, including children, converted (willingly or by force) and forced into debauchery and fighting their own kind, their Kings dead... and don´t forget the mutated hippogriffin.
They will likely demand Twilight´s head on a silver plate (or on the end of a pike).
3519204 It hasn't been made. I was trying to judge interest for it, and it seems there's a strong enough one that writing it will probably happen.
3519030 Really? You think losing absolutely everything you've ever known and being thrust into a world utterly unlike the one you lived your entire life in would be a light thing?
Interesting take. Read and find out what happens!
3518169 Welcome back broskI! Glad you like so much of the stuff. Hope to see you more around the comments.
3518732 Nothing is certain till it's been written. Still, please refrain from passing judgement upon the ending before it happens. I promised a good story and I intend to deliver.
3519309
I've stated before that there is no good ending to any of this. Either the Shadow wins and free will is obliterated or those infected by the Shadow are cured and have to live with all the things they have done.
Of course this raises the prime question: How much of what they are doing is themselves or the Shadow? Just how big is the influence. With the Mane 6 we seem to see various levels of control. Applejack isn't really Applejack anymore as her mind was literally destroyed and rebuilt. At the same time Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie seem to have barely been changed at all, more like their own inner desires were simply set loose and they are just going with it. This would create a situation where you could say that things Applejack did weren't really her fault while Pinkie causing Mr. Cake's death WAS really her fault. This question will have to be addressed towards the end of all this.
3519365
Sorry I've been away. Just got tied up with other things and next thing I knew you had put up 5 chapters! Slow down man!
While I'm here I will once again demand a Spike update. We did have a scene involving a smoking scroll which makes me wonder if Spike is playing spy but that just raises loads of questions as to what has been happening with him. If he has escaped corruption while in the city how did he do it? The very water that you drink is corrupted.
I also found it odd that Twilight has secluded him away from all of this. She has no problem corrupting children nor her friends. Why would Spike get a save? Answer me man!
3519547
The answers for Spike are coming, but they're not coming soon I'm afraid. Spike has always been sort of ancillary to this story due to how events have played out. You will find out what happens to him - in great detail, actually - but you're going to need to be patient for it. There's a lot that has to happen before we get that far.
Trust me. It'll be worth the wait.
I also love how you're viewing this story so far. I still LOVE hearing you guys debate my meanings / intentions. :D
Otherwise, welcome back man.
3519559
I will eagerly await the Spike update. Spike is one of my most favorite of characters so I'm just super curious what's happened to him. Especially if Twilight has not corrupted him which would be very odd if so.
While I'm here I will continue to ramble!
I find it odd that Twilight taking Fluttershy didn't breach the agreement between Discord and Umbra. Fluttershy was Discord's first friend...ever. That's kinda a big deal. Here Discord was evolving a brand new relationship, one he never experienced before and was learning lots of new things from, and then the Shadow swoops in and wrecks it. How is that NOT interfering with his plans?
Also, Discord agreed to help Equestria when needed. That technically makes Equestria his home. Thus Umbra is in his home breaking things. Again, total breach of contract. Seriously Discord, it's time to lawyer up.
In regards to the author's note, Yes.
Hah! Knew it. Discord and Fluttershy watching each other all this time. Eat your heart out Umbra, there is no stopping those two.
Oh and 3519624 regarding Discord's inaction in the fic so far, i think it is for the best. Since he is all powerful and what not, and can fix everything with a single snap of his talon that would kind of kill the story. No one likes a Deus Ex machina stories.
The one day free of rules deal he got from Celestia is what i am looking forward to. Discord + freedom to do anything = Chaos.
And i can bet Fluttershy will be involved in there somehow...
3519927
That's not entirely true. Discord said that Umbra's power equaled his own. So he can't just snap his fingers and make the Shadow go away. Also, that one free day means nothing if he cannot act due to the established agreement he has with Umbra. The free day came from Celestia and just allows him freedom with no penalty from Harmony. I see nothing there that wold allow him to circumvent the much older agreement with Umbra in this case. Thus, he needs a loophole to get out of his 'non-interference' pact with Umbra.
3519939>>3519927
Yes... YES!
Keep going, guys! *Bounces excitedly.*
Not going to say who's right and wrong, but keep going!
3519958
I get the image of you stroking a cat while saying that.
Do it. Dooooo Iiiiiiiit. I will give you a sexy Twilight!
th06.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2013/111/1/e/sexy_twilight_by_deviant6789-d62ixdf.png
3519939
I didn't say that he can destroy the shadow though. Simply give an insane, over the edge, mindblowing advantage to the good guys
And speaking of the loophole, i think he already found it. I read in some previous chapter that the two of them said not to touch each other spheres of influence. Seeing as Fluttershy is Discord's #1 reason to be a good guy, and we can clearly see he cares for her (and the other way around ), i can say that Umbra actually overstepped her boundaries.
I think he simply won't act yet because Fluttershy is still under Umbra's spell, and can't do anything without hurting her.
That's my opinion and i'm sticking to it until the author proves me dead wrong!
Okay, so, I'll go at this systematically, I guess, commenting on this chapter and the whole lead-up in a more general sense. First of all: great chapter, glad to see we're cresting the hill.
Things that sparked thoughtful 'hrrmmm's:
- Hints that Scootaloo's destined significance is even greater that previously implied.
- Hippogriffs! While I suppose I off-handedly made the connection in my head back in the Roam chapters, it didn't really click until you put the name to those beasts. Not exactly the way I've envisioned those creatures' potential place in the FiMverse, but an intriguing take on them nonetheless.
- Spike getting a mention again, at last! Was wondering what happened to him. The 'hrm's in this case were tied to his current state and the need to be isolated/prepped for something. Disquieting.
- Winterlight finally being loosed. Interested to see how she lives up to her reputation, even if I'm ostensibly rooting against her.
- Umbra being oblivious to Celestia and Luna's existence in any meaningful sense until the present conflict. That caught me off guard, to be sure. However, I had a moment that left me very impressed with your writing/'literary machinations,' Lapis. After some initial confusion, I was able to figure out that she wasn't consciously present in the time of NMM based on the internal logic and background your established in this take on the FiMverse, way back with Tantalus in the first arc. That I was able to figure this out of my own without you needing to beat me over the head with an explanation struck me as very deft on your part, and I heartily applaud you for it, sah!
Things that fueled gleeful "OhohohoHOHOHOHO!'s:
- Combat scenes are nigh! REJOICE!
- Partial reiteration of the above: Vengeful Multicultural Crusade-Force GO! Seriously though, keenly interested in seeing what combat mechanics and styles you've come up with for the various species, races, and cultures. Also, Scipio in action. Scipio in action is always good... (Okay admittedly I want to see what his spear and helm do re: shadow creatures but shhh)
- Umbra thinks Celestia and Luna are phonies. I cackled at this. Cackled. Really, REALLY hoping this potential set-up is paid off later.
- Starswirl apparently on the verge of participating in a legit action scene! So close...
Things that elicited frustrated/anxious/excited 'ARRGGHGODDAMNITMYLITERARYBLUEBALLS's:
- The next chapter is the next chapter and therefore currently unreleased. Pretty self-explanatory.
-
DAMNIT SWIRL, PUMP THOSE AGED LEGS AND HUSSLE UP! Hey, so Lapis, if he keeps up with the Gandalfian theme, does he have a huge white dragon that he can use to expedite his travels and/or perform acts of badassery upon? E.g. "Fire, Shadowflame. Show us the meaning of baste." (P.S. I regret nothing. )
- Discord. Always Discord. Curse thee, Spirit of Chaos, and thy tantalizing implications. Oh, and speaking of which...
- How's the view inside the audience's heads, Starswirl? Is it cool? Perhaps somewhat saucy, in some cases? That's nice. Glad to know you're saying everything we're thinking and thus teasing at possible validation of our desperate theories and ramblings, even when we know we're going to be struck by multiple blindsides and have rugs pulled from under us in the weeks to come, flailing to Lapis' eternal amusement.
Curse you, Starswirl.
Last but not least...
- Starswirl. Congrats, Beardo, you're officially now on par with Discord upon my mercurial character anticipation/GODWHATARETHEYGONNADO scale for this story. I hope you're happy, because I don't say that lightly. You smugly mysterious and fascinating bugger.
...Damn you, Starswirl. Damn you.
I think spike is a spy for the good guys(mostly because of the scroll spitfire had that was still smoking) plus I just like that idea she would never think he could(or would) betray her(a to Brutus!?) but what do I know? I only read the story's and fill in the blanks as I see fit till the writer slaps the back of my head and says no its like this stupid
Shadow Shadow Shadow Shadow Shadow!!!!!
I would love to see a side store or the main 6 under the control or the shadow and there time with each other.
I am just going to set back and watch it play out I see a lot that could happen and even more that is just a hug ? but I am very well looking forward to the ride u have set forth.
By the way have 5 hearts on me this store has rock from the get go and its only getting better
Your side story sounds like fun