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...
Page generated in 0.036 seconds
Total duration
768 users online
1,009,109 hits today, 1,892,089 yesterday
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Oh Dear... This is about to get bloody, fast. regards to the 'good ' and 'evil' sides, till springtime rolls around.
Utterly fantastic, as usual. The inner turmoil of Pinkie, the quiet shadowplay by Rainbow Dash, and Scootaloo being the adorable little badass she is
Hmmm your increasing the tempo of the story, so your about to hit a very big point (perhaps dear I say the climax is only a few short chapters away?) perhaps the middle or your leading us up then going to introduce a plot changer aren't you.
At first I thought that Silver Spoon was secretly a double agent or something for the Shadow... now though... now I'm wondering if the Doe doesn't have something to do with this? Eh, or I could be reading too much into it and Silver Spoon is genuinely feeling this way for Scootaloo and vice versa.
This was something that I had been waiting for. Even though it was more build-up I felt a certain sense of achievement with the way you wrote this chapter Lapis.
As diabloelmo said, Pinkie Pie and her internal suffering to rid herself of all of the effect that she had placed on her while under control of the Shadow. Next we move to the Shadow side, where Winterlight seems determined unto the point of risking her life to fulfill the mission that Nightmare Moon entrusted her with Faust only knows how many years ago. Rainbow Dash seems to be in on something that might go against Twilight, if I'm understanding correctly. At this point I fear for the lives of the ones under Twilight's control. Twilight hates being betrayed and Umbra will be equally pissed.
Moving back to the side of "good", we see that drastic plans are being worked and in a few months time a battle that will cost so many lives will take place. Lives that nopony wants to end. It will be a spectacle and there may not be a true winner. Of course even before the battle, new bounds of the heart are being woven. It's too early to tell if this is a drastic plot point or just something sweet to lift the spirits of both the characters and the readers.
I applaud this chapter. *claps a few times* I also wish you the best of luck with whatever is coming up next. Always feel free to take it easy if the work becomes too difficult or takes too much of your time. I personally would rather have you happy and working at a safe pace instead of your nose to the grindstone, even if it pleases those who cannot be patient. Your work is worth waiting for, so never forget that. You'll always have loyal readers Lapis. Good job.
Wait the heart can't be used out of the empire. Hell Sombra's mere presence in the empire should have activated it from the top of the castle but it didn't meaning the heart can only be used at its 'alter' below the castle.
the only character I want to see die here. is Winterlight.
interesting chapter, and I look forward to the next... I still get the feeling though that the chapters are more and more scootaloo and scootaloo related focused instead of Twilight and the war focused. Which is ok, but it would be nice to have a bit more of the plot advancement along with the fluff.
Seems like both Winterlight and Dash want out. I wonder if that is why Winterlight is trying to get Twilight to attack clousdale. She has to know that will never work.
And what Rainbow is planning really interests me, I didnt think she would be happy with Winterlight after her order to kill Scootaloo.
cant wait for the next one!!!!
Cannot say how awesome this is!
Something thats got me thinking though. Can the crystal heart really be weaponised? Cause that would be kinda cool.
GOD! This story is good. It almost feels wrong just to call it a 'story', because this, this whatever it is, far surpasses the title of 'story'.
Hasbro, just use this trilogy for season 5, please!
You are setting things up still but they do feel like some of them are coming to a head. However you vex me by only giving a taste of what Pinkie is going through and leaving that off for me in a cliff hanger like fashion.
It makes sense that Pinkie still is influenced by her former use of the shadow. While it was implied (at least I think) that Pinkie that Pinkie had been with other ponies in a sexual relationship it appears now that she is far more likely to see things that way even if she does not really wanto to. Very interesting. It also seems that I still can't tell whether her feelings about Twilight (assuming I am correct about that) were from the Shadow or not and it seems neither can she.
It seems she is being used much like she was before this was started as a moral boost though I wonder if anybody knows how capable she can be in a fight yet or is that a surprise for the future?
Dear Lord this was an awesome chapter!
You've set up a massive and bloody conflict here.
I see what you did there.
I loved seeing Pinkie's inner struggle. Are we about to get her confession to Mrs. Cake about Mr. Cake's death? That should provide some interesting drama.
I loved seeing the contrast between each side's main battle plan. Winterlight is targeting Cloudsdale while Balitmare gets turned into a fortress. Thing is, both strategist are correct. Capturing Cloudsdale gives Twilight control of the weather. It also gives her a huge launching platform to control the skies. Ask any modern day military strategist and they will tell you whoever controls the skies controls the war.
At the same time Baltimare being turned into a fortress allows Equestria to launch raids against the enemy and provides a safe haven to fall back to. The bit about defending the coast from converted Griffins is also paramount. What it also allows is a safe harbor for Celestia to bring the Kilin forces into.
Cloudsdale will be an extra bloody battle as Twilight unleashes the Hippogrifs and the hidden Griffin Legionaries come out in Cloudsdale's defense. Big question is: will Twilight be involved in the attack? If so, holding Cloudsdale may not be possible unless Luna gets involved. They need Alicorn level power to counter Twilight at this point.
I had a feeling Rainbow would follow Fluttershy's way of thinking. Her loyalty is to Twilight...NOT the Shadow. The Shadow changed her but her ultimate goal is to protect Twilight, even from herself. More confirmation that Applejack is well and truly broken. Ug, even if they manage to get the Shadow out of AJ there's no telling how much permanent damage has been done. As for Rarity...she's having the time of her life. She gets to be the top of a brand new social elite. It's her dream come true. I think the only way to reach her is to free Sweetie Belle. I honestly can't think of anything else that would shake Rarity out of her new life.
Umbra stayed behind with the new changeling/pony/thing army. So...we still don't know what has happened to Fluttershy. I'm sure Discord felt it...and he may not be too happy about it. Still, since Flutters and Umbra are all alone now...will Fluttershy strike against her to protect Twilight? She does have this nice new army at her beck and call now...
I have saved the best for last. The ultimate question that must be answered about the most important character in this whole story:
*ahem*
Where, in the wide world of fuck, is Spike?
Seriously. He should either be a suped up, shadow empowered, raging beast at this point in time(since greed made him giant and crazy I can only imagine what the Shadow would do)...or he managed to escape. If he escaped...it would be very odd for Twilight to not have looked for him. He is kinda important to her life and she went through a lot of trouble trying to keep those important close to her.
It's Code of Harmony all over again!
3857457 Spike does have a very important part in this story, unlike Code's Apprentice.
Here, however, there's a very big REASON For his absence... which will become very, very important.
Don't worry, the answers are coming.
3857473
Dude, I posted that comment like...5 seconds ago? Do you have comment esp? ARE YOU IN MY MIND!? AHHHHHHHHHHH!!
*ahem*
Now that that's out of my system. I'm glad to hear that he has a part to play. Just please give us a good rundown on where he has been and what he's been doing. He has been absent almost all of the previous story and this one too.
3857484
Yes, I am in your mind. No, I'm not a fan of club sammiches, I prefer grilled cheese with pickles.
Once again, there's a big reason for Spike not showing up.... mostly because him showing up would kind of ruin the effect Im going for with him.
3857410
I get the feeling that Pinkie was always a bit loose. The difference between before the Shadow and after was that Pinkie used to set some form of morally defined limits. Little things like age and consent used to matter to her. Under the Shadow that all went away. Everything was open game. Now, it feels like there is a blend of the two lines of thought. I would wager that now when she looks at a child she thinks "I'd love to hit that! But wait...he/she is far too young..."
I'm sure we'll see some Pinkiefu again. She busted it out to defend Rainbow during her Shadowbolt training. Pinkie won't fight unless it's to defend her friends. Once the war gets going she'll more thank likely choose to fight to get her friends back. If not I would be very disappointed in her...
3853810
3855490
I had gotten the impression that one had to lay claim to the Heart in order to use it. Thus, Sombra was trying to capture the Heart again to lay claim and thus spread his Darkness once again. As for it not working outside of the Crystal Empire...
Celestia stated way back in the Season 3 premiere that the Heart could spread either Love or Darkness all over Equestria when used in the Crystal Empire. She never said the Heart would have no function outside the Empire. It could very well have some localized effect when used outside the Empire itself.
If Sombra's darkness was in any way connected to the Shadow then we have proof that the Heart will be a very powerful weapon against Umbra.
On a note about ancient, magical artifacts...we still don't know what role the Elements will play in all this.
3857600
We really have no proof that it can be localized. Sombra removed the heart from the pedistal rendering it virtually useless and rather then let it float around and possibly mess him up later by being restored he hid it. We have seen Sombra spread his evil by taking over and altering the TOWER. It's the tower that is the beacon. The heart is merely the battery/data chip. The heart merely represents the will of the ponies. Take away their will and they are broken. The heart is symbolic. The heart may very we'll be the trigger but the tower is the rest of the gun and the ponies the ammo. The crystal heart isn't black or sickly green because Sombra took it, no as said he took the tower and 'uploaded' his own info. And as for the heart destroying umbra? No. It can't. The elements as well as the heart where never meant to kill. Instead it wipes away evil. In the case if Sombra he was so evil most of his power was obliterated and his horn was left to get it back.
3857667
Never said it would kill Sombra. It DID destroy all his crystals meaning it can neutralize that type of magic. That's the big deal. If Sombra's power was connected in anyway to the Shadow then the Heart can aid in resisting it's effects.
Also, there is a huge difference between Sombra and Cadence. Cadence has the Heart as her cutie mark. She was literally born to use it. Sombra was simply an usurper. What Cadence can get the Heart to do and what Sombra could get it to do are two separate things.
The tower is what was used to spread the Heart's power across the land. Yes, the gun so to speak. Cadence doesn't want the Heart for that. She doesn't want a wide spread effect. She wants a very focused, targeted affect. Cadence herself could very well be the "gun", though if there are consequences to tapping the power directly remains to be seen...
3857689
True but alas my hope lie with the power of the shadows and their ability to forever outlast the light. After all a sun and a super nova only lasts for so long before the darkness claims the now empty space *chuckles* forgive me I have a thug for dark metaphors
3857790
The Shadow has proven incredibly adaptable. Even with things like the Heart or Elements I doubt Umbra can be erased. She'll wait and strike again once she has been forgotten. The cycle could very well continue until the stars finally die.
3857829
3857790
Oh, you guys are gonna LOVE this ending, I think. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
3857967
Can't wait!
Celestia can still play her trump card;
"Umbra look up."
"Thats the sun, does it look bigger to you?"
"You have 24 hours till it hits this planet, 12 hours till this planet can no longer suport life."
"GIve me back my student and ill stop it, and no my death will not prevent it."
not saying this would be an opening move but a final play if all hope is lost....
immortality is boring
and least we forget 2 key things:
1. Discords "Domino" he laid down before fluttershy was taken. This should be fun.
2. Twilight locked a "copy" of herself away in her mind before agreeing to take the shadow into herself.
3857967
..... Oh I feel giddy vith excitement! My friends, it has often been said that I like var. my friends I like var. no friends, I LOVE var!
3858520
I don't see Celestia blowing up the planet as a something she would do. She cares about all life too much. Now, infusing her body with solar energy and exploding to take Umbra out...possibly. Though we're hitting DBZ territory with all of this.
I am curious when Discord's grand plan gets rolling. He seems to think that once it gets going it will be a game changer. I expect nothing less from the Master of Chaos.
As for Twilight. Yes, she locked a piece of herself away. Real question is what will it take to get that piece out again? It's buried deep and the further down this road she travels the deeper that piece gets buried.
3859636 I recognize its a far out there play but if all hope is lost going nuclear might be her best play
Sometimes the only victory is makeing sure your opponent dosent win
Though we still have the trump card scootaloo in play. Destiny itself has chosen her as it's hero. And with canterlot crusader armor she will be a force to be feared.
Wonder how long till they bring back the solar knights (just for her)
3859689
Oh, believe me, if *I* were going to wage war I would have a "everything dies, haha jokes on you!" plan ready to go. We'll see if Celestia does too.
So... crazy thought. Anyone think that all the common ponies/griffons in the anti-Shadow forces have started/are going to start adopting "Twilight" as slang for "traitor"?
"You're not gonna Twilight on us, are ya Joe?"
(Also, have the minotaurs been mentioned at all? I'd like to see them get involved.)
Sorry for the very long time I took to read this chapter! I was really sick for a few days.
Anyhow, this chapter... it shows quite the psychological conflict of some characters, didn't it? It finally hit home to some, and Pinkie seems to realise what the Shadow had done to them, to make them... more 'open' to say the least.
One side is going on defensive, but... from the way Winterlight is going, I wonder what will happen to Cloudsdale? It seems that Pegasi have always been a military state, even now, or maybe, it awoken with recent conflict, I'm not really sure.
3862804
You know, that would be hilarious. Celestia might not approve...assuming she lives through this.
3864592
Cloudsdale is ready for a fight plus they have Griffin legionaries hiding out there. Still, if Twilight herself joins the attack then they will have no defense against her "instant corruption beam" she pulled out in Roam(I still call hax on that one ). If Twilight doesn't join then it will be a very close and bloody battle for control of the skies.
3866248
I´m more scared of Fluttershy and her flutterponies. If the later retain their shapeshifting powers, plus the mind controlling abilities of her new queen, Twilight may have control of the pegasi capital even before their military have time to realize something is wrong.
3870115
I'm not sure if they retained their shape changing powers. They aren't full changelings anymore. They do still feed on emotion though...
Still, I have a feeling that Fluttershy might do something else with that army. She doesn't want a war, not like Twilight does. She took the Changelings to remove a threat, not make Twilight's army stronger. Or at least that's what I've read into her motivations. If ordered to kill and consume her fellow ponies...well, Fluttershy may choose that time to rebel.
If not, then yes. Twilight's army combined with the hippogrifs and flutterponies will be an overwhelming, areal force.
The only trump card in that situation will be Equestrian Intelligence Service. Getting wind of the plan to attack Cloudsdale will allow them to fortify and brace for the assault. If they are caught off guard...I'm not sure how they will win.
I can't help but feel like the Crusading Knights are coming back for good. And with them, they bring the end to the war.