Things only got worse for the warrior-caste Changelings. Not a minute after, another one shot out, encased in a solid cube of ice. When it hit the ground, it shattered, removing two legs and a wing from the imprisoned shapeshifter. Then, another, this one choked to death with its own shadow.
Though things might have been going south in the bigger fight, the same couldn’t be said for the queen. With his guns rendered useless and his only options for hurting her reduced to punching, all she had to do was keep her distance and fling magic at him. Which she did.
Thomas dove to his left as another ball of green magic slammed into the ground. As the dust from the explosion settled, he yelled another taunt at the enraged queen. “That the best you got!?” His eyes went wide when he saw the glow on her horn was now enough to illuminate the whole room. “Uh oh.”
This time, instead of one great sphere, a stream of smaller ones came rocketing out. Chrysalis smirked as she saw the red-eyed demon throw his arms over his head in a futile gesture of self-preservation. Each impact kicked up an incredible amount of dust, completely obscuring him from sight in seconds.
It took nearly thirty seconds for the smoke to clear, and she was absolutely shocked to see him standing there, completely unscathed. He patted his body, as though checking for any holes. “How the fuck?” she heard him ask, just as shocked as she was.
Despite outward appearances, this magical barrage had actually done something to harm him. His geiger counter had leapt from just under four hundred rads to more than six hundred. The radiation poisoning was making standing a small challenge. To make matters worse, the area he now stood in was registering just over five rads a second. As quickly as he could, he moved, running for the other side of the room. Halfway across the room, he came to a stop when something crashed down in front of him, nearly taking his head off.
It was one of the Knights. A quick glance at the tail and flank, where there was a ball of flames, told him that it was Firebolt. His armour was coated in black soot, and parts of it seemed to have melted. Most disturbing, though, was the crack that ran down the length of his horn. Thomas didn’t know what that meant, but the fact that the body now seemed to be leaking radiation was enough to convince him to get away.
As he jumped over the unconscious unicorn, Chrysalis landed gracefully in front of him. “So, all you do is run,” she taunted. “Too scared to fight me?” she asked as she held a hoof to her barrel, feigning sadness.
“Fuck you,” he declared defiantly. There was a buzzing of wings behind him and he glanced to see that three of the Changelings had detached themselves from the melee. “Oh come on,” he muttered wearily. “Why don’t you just kill me?”
“Oh, don’t you worry, I will,” Chrysalis replied as she glared at him. “I think I’ll give you a few last words, though.” There was a brief silence as the three bugs moved, one of each side, the last one behind him. “Well?” she asked impatiently.
Thomas took a few deep breaths before standing up straight, fists balled up. What couldn’t be seen under his helmet was the proud smirk he wore. “Yea, though I may walk through the Valley of Death, I will fear no evil.” There was a pause, one that let the words sink in. Without any kind of warning his left hand shot out and grabbed the horn of the Changeling standing there. In that same instant his Displacer Glove slammed into its face, tearing the horn from its body and sending it rocketing across the room. “NAY!” he proclaimed loudly, ignoring the searing pain from the horn’s edges as they sliced through his glove. He brought his left hand up and let go of the broken horn, where he grabbed it with his right. In one smooth movement, he brought the point down, right into the eye of the Changeling to his right. He spun around as it screamed in agony and drew his Sequoia, pointing it at the third shapeshifter. At this range, there was no chance of missing. “Evil will fear me!” And then, for the Courier, time stopped.
“We lost Firebolt!” Shadow screamed. Normally, she would never do anything of the sort, but the sheer noise of the fight meant it was that or go unheard.
“I knew it!” Frost Lance responded as he blasted a Changeling with frost. “The armour’s too unstable, there’s no way my brother would lose control of a spell like that!”
“So you think the amplification is dangerous?” she asked, holding a Changeling at leg’s length to stop it from tearing through her armour.
“The last time Firebolt hurt himself slinging fire around, he got his cutie mark!” He slammed a metal hoof into a Changeling, shattering its disguise and sending it reeling. He shot it with a chunk of ice, but the bug managed to dodge at the last second, leaving the projectile to harmlessly shatter against the wall.
Behind them came a crunch and a scream. They turned to see their captain raise a gore-coated hoof and slam it through a Changeling’s head.
It wasn’t only Shining Armor’s hoof that was covered in bits of dead shapeshifter. Here and there chitin clung to him, stuck there by ichor. His tail was stained green and, if one were to look under the helmet, they would’ve seen a manic glint in his eyes and a twisted smile on his muzzle.
“Is it just me, or is he having too much fun?” Frost muttered, distracted by this worrying sight.
Before Shadow could answer, something leapt onto her back and pushed her to the ground. The same thing happened to Frost Lance, and before either of them could retaliate a flurry of blows slammed into the back of their heads.
Shining Armor was so embroiled in his own fight that he failed to notice that he was now the last pony standing. He looked up from the Changeling whose face he was currently rearranging when he heard Thomas yelling. “Evil will fear me!” he saw the man claim, one of his weapons pointed right a Changeling’s face. Two titanic bangs and the shapeshifter fell, a bullet through each eye. Then, Chrysalis pivoted and bucked the Courier in the back of the head, sending him flying.
“You call me a monster, when all I aimed to do was feed my children!” She stomped towards the prone human. “You label me a villain, when I took the only option open to me!” She placed a hoof on the Courier’s spine and pressed down hard, keeping him down. “My children are starving! How wrong is it for a mother to do whatever she must to protect them!?” she asked, tears flowing freely and her voice a little choked. “And you kill them, as though they are nothing but mindless animals!”
“M-mother?” Thomas croaked.
“Yes, their mother! Every Changeling you’ve killed, I felt their deaths! I am not the evil one! You! You and those who sent you!”
A lot of what she said was lost to the ringing in his ears, the symptom of his latest concussion. It didn’t help that he had what he suspected to be a major skull fracture, either. He still managed to get the general feel of what she meant, though that may have been the hoof pressing down into his spine.
On the other side of the room, Shining Armor and Shadow Dancer, who had somehow managed to stay conscious, were trying to fight off the remaining warrior-Changelings. With their numbers dwindled, the shapeshifters’ efficiency seemed to have increased ten-fold, and it was taking everything the ponies had to hold them at bay. Without warning, the captain’s Knight armour shimmered and his shield went from a small bubble to an explosive shockwave.
The four remaining Changelings were sent flying, as were Chrysalis and Thomas. Being on the ground, he didn’t go far, though he did end up with some fresh bruising when he collided with the wall. One of the Changelings was pushed into it so hard it looked as though it needed to be scraped off.
Thomas pulled himself up, using the wall to help him. He groaned as he put his head into his hands. “Oh god that hurts,” he groaned, referring to nothing in particular.
Chrysalis picked herself up, her ears ringing from her recent high-speed impact with the wall. Before she could get her bearings, another shield slammed into her, sending her across the room. Another one appeared and came down with the force of a vengeful god on her left foreleg. “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!”
Her scream threatened to rupture the eardrums of everyone still conscious, but Shining Armor didn’t care. All that mattered to him, the only thing that mattered at all, was that she suffer.
The metal-clad stallion trudged towards the queen, each step sending pain through his body as his Knight armour rubbed against his bruises. When he saw her try to stand, he grabbed her with his magic and, using a shield to add momentum, flung her against a wall.
Thomas had managed to walk across the room, his carbine in his hands. He stood between Shining and Chrysalis before speaking. “Shining.”
“Out of my way,” he growled.
“You’re gonna kill her.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.
“Of course I’m gonna kill her,” the captain snarled. “Now get out of my way!”
Thomas stood there silently for a moment before looking down his carbine’s scope. Calmly, he pulled the trigger.
Author’s Notes:
Evil cliffhanger is evil!
I’ve been waiting for a chance to use that “Evil will fear me!” bit since I thought up of it about the same time I decided to have Thomas mount Luna.
More, this was rediculously short you crule bastard
Since I've already read it, all I shall say is this:
gusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgusgus.
1229573
How else is this bastard gonna get you to come back?
Wut
Thomas mount Luna. RIDE MY PONY
1229582.....damn logic my one weakness
1229594
ALL THE CHILDREN WANT TO GO ON THE 2$ PONY RIDE
YEE-HAW.
Damn, dat was awesome
AWESOMENESS
SAUCINESS
Man, Shining is fucking losing it.
Evil for evil. The devil shall judge those who can't be judged by the law.
And RIP, Shining Armor.
1229621
Did you forget Chapter 26?
1229598 Here Have A Wizard Riding A Unicorn While Riding A Pegasus puu.sh/12m6i
Think shinning is losing it lol
1229627
Well, to be honest, that part kinda gave the impression that it's heading in that direction. Unless courier pulls one of his badass stunts and takes down Armor without gaining higher doses of rads...that would be pretty badass, actaullty.
1229630
I wanted a Unicorn Riding a Wizard Riding a Pegasus.
1229654 puu.sh/11Cdi
dem lolz
You know what would be really fun? When all of the changlings were grouped together, like at the beginning. Have YCS and have the meltdown perk for a very cool light show chain reaction!
1229712
"would of"
Just because Courier might have shot Shining does not mean he killed him.
1229725 /stealthedit
I have no idea what you're talking about, my good sir.
...
Evil? There is naught here that can be considered 'evil'. First, she kidnapped a Princess of their Royal Family, impersonated her, and proceeded to not only publically humilate their ruler, but attempted to subjugate their capital to boot. Following that, she has now been discovered spying on them, and has stolen what she believes to be a superweapon from the private chambers of their leadership.
If she could not foresee that they would attempt to retrieve the artifact, and that such an attempt might lead to military action, then she is a fool. That they have slaughtered hundreds of her children in the attempt is irrelevant - as all Changelings are her 'children', military action against the Hive requires her 'children' either step aside or be harmed.
That said, Shining Armour does need to be prevented from killing Chrysalis.He isn't thinking rationally right now, and the grudge he holds against Chrysalis is almost certainly further compromising his ability to think clearly. If he were, he would likely understand that killing Chrysalis is probably tantamount to genocide. Considering SA's usual temperament, he would likely be enveloped by crushing guilt at this realisation. This guilt can rapidly affect all the higher echelons of Pony leadership and defence, thereby damaging the nation considerably. As such, it would be better to not risk that.
So.... uhhh... i've only ever played New Vegas for 5 minutes. So.... is there any war in this story or deaths of Ponies? Tell me now, when those... uhm instances come into the picture, I just can't read anymore.
I have a feeling he shot the Changeling Queen at the end, or shot Shining but his armour protected him. I believe he shot Queen though, but now I said that I'll be wrong and now I said that, that would be wrong and etc
As i walk through the valley of death i shall fear no man, for i am the meanest motherfucker in the valley.
Its from an old war ad from the vietnam-war.
Where did you hear from?
1229788
I have the idea that Thomas wanted to be over quickly.
I have to say this. WAR NEVER CHANGES.
Thomas is gona have words for Celestia when he gets back.
1229630 Dash looks borded
1229758 denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw5744-fluttershywhatisthisidonteven.jpg
1229788
TL:DR
I really hope he ends up putting a bullet in shinings thick head. who knows it might knock some sense into him I mean hey it worked for the courier
What you should've said was 'And I shall fear no evil for I am the baddest beast in all the land.'
man, that was one brutal fight.
Another cliffhanger:
1229582
"EVERYBODY! I DON'T LIKE THIS MAN. HE IS A SOULLESS MONSTER!" "I do like you, it's just for show."
i.imgur.com/jkZbZ.jpg
Its the power armor....once you put it on, you cant help but kill everything in sight
" Fuck you,” he declared defiantly. " .... “Oh, don’t you worry, I will,” Chrysalis replied as she glared at him.
giggity....
1229788Whilst her methods were "evil" it was what she believed was the quickest and most efficient way to feed her people. And as for her stealing Thomas' equipment, we have yet to actually have her confess to this or even acknowledge it. Me thinks that a certain unicorn set the whole thing up as an elaborate way to get permission and back up to take revenge on a certain queen. At least that is my meager prediction.
1229972 The Bible
1231511
That makes a lot of sense, and I'm supporting this theory.
A post apocalyptic warrior/savior quoting the bible before doing something epic...
imgbase.info/images/safe-wallpapers/tv_movies/the_book_of_eli/5607_the_book_of_eli_hd_wallpapers.jpg
I like
As I walk through the valley of the shadows of death,
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin left.
Swear to god, I thought he was gonna quote Gangsta's Paradise.
If the Courier did indeed just put a brand new hole in Shining Armor's head, I must say that I would not blame him- especially not if he saw the way Shining Armor was losing it during the battle. It seems as though he quickly went from being steadfast ally to what seems to be a dangerously unstable, grief-stricken beast. However, even without that, one must still consider the way the Courier reacted to Chrysalis telling him he was the "bad guy" of the situation.
1231511
This is where disagree, I'm afraid. No thing can be evil if it is necessary for the continued survival and well-being of your people.
'Evil' can only be found in those who derive enjoyment from the suffering of others.
That isn't, perhaps the best definition, but it is the closest I can come to adequately describing the concept.
Generally, 'evil' is some ill-defined idea that we apply to things we find suitably unpleasant - hence the haste to describe our enemies as such. By invoking 'evil', we appeal to others' definitions, which may not match our own, but, due to the usage of the phrase, has caused those others to believe our foe as guilty of crimes or flaws of character repulsive to many. Take any war propaganda - it does not tell you the enemy are fighting for their own ideals, which merely conflict your interests, it tells you they are 'evil', and distorts the facts or outright lies to convince you of such.
So, no - I do not call Chrysalis 'evil', at least not merely for her actions. Were I to hear of her taking pleasure from the suffering she inflicted on ponies, then I might deem her so. Until that time, she is merely an enemy, and should be opposed with all the force that can be brought to bear.
You will notice that I don't object to the genocide on grounds of 'wrongness', but simply because I believe that the results of such an act will be detrimental to the overall well-being of all groups that SA considers himself a part of. It should also be noted that the extinction of the Changelings would be a strategic decision, and so should be made by those in command. Were he independant of the military structure, and if I believed him capable of bearing the burden of guilt attached to genocide (at least to a degree where it would not overly affect others), then it would be a perfectly valid move.
As for her stealing the equipment - did we not have confirmation of that from the Changeling the Courier interrogated? Or are you assuming that information is invalid due to the prisoner being scared enough to tell the Courier whatever it thought he wanted to know so he would leave it alone?
If this all is, in fact, a set-up by SA, then I would posit the idea that _he_ is, in fact, the evil one in this scenario. After all, Chrysalis, as we have established, is not evil, and the other guards (assuming they're ignorant of his machinations), and the Courier are performing what they believe to be necessary based off of imperfect information.
1229788
Absolutely not. Evil is doing something for your own selfish gain at the expense of others. Did Chrysalis try to feed on the love of Equestria because SHE wants it? No! She wants to feed herself, sure, but also her children. Whether in the show the Changelings really are her children or simply her subjects doesn't matter. Their biology requires them to consume the love of others. It's not their fault.
Did she enjoy the suffering of the ponies? Probably. But her only objective was to feed her subjects. Her love for torment is just a side bet for her. Of course, that may make her slightly more evil but she's not that evil compared to Nightmare Moon for example, who would kill all life in Equestria except for the few that are adapted to -300 Celsius because of eternal night.
1232759
I would suggest reading my response to a different objection: 1232330
Also, note that I am the one claiming she is not evil in the slightest.
As for your idea considering NMM 'evil'... no.
Her objective was not to kill ponies, as far as we know, she never intended to harm her subjects. She was foolish, in that she apparently did not plan out the effects an eternal night would have on her nation, but she is not evil.
Now, your definition of evil is inconsistent here. You claim Chrysalis is evil because she derives enjoyment from suffering (an assumption on your part, I might add), yet claim NMM is more evil because she would kill millions through ignorance?
By that logic, the plant operators at Chernobyl were evil - by their actions, millions died and were subjected to horrible suffering. But because they _knew not_ and _intended not_ for that to happen, we do not blame _them_.
If we could assume NMM recognised that her actions would slay millions via starvation and exposure, and continued regardless, then yes, that would be evil, due to the intent to inflict unnecessary suffering.
NOOOO!!!! FUCK!!! WHY ARE YOU SO CRUEL!!??!!