I'm back.

HOLY SHEET

Ah, the joy I was filled with when I saw the email that told me you'd updated.

A nice chapter, but I feel kind of annoyed that you've stopped Celestia immediately after freeing her, I really thought that might go somewhere.

Awwwww yeahhhh.jpg

Love your story man. The emotions. It gives me so many different feels bro.

Other than some typos and missing words this chapter read pretty fluid. The elements of harmony giving them a deeper connection is also a cool idea. I think I'll side with the other ponies who are wondering why twilight and dash can't just forget about it and be friends again but now that we've seen twilight's reasoning I'm interested in seeing dash's. The only other thing is I know longer like sir unimpressed as much as I did before. Any way keep up what you're doing, I'm excited for the future chapters.

An update? Thank GOD! I've been waiting like forever for this.

Aww poor rainbow dash

Terra makes a great villain. I see the elements working on the prince because the nature of his creation and empowerment, but will they actually want to use them on him since he's just a kid?
I can see Twilight cracking under the pressure real soon

So Twi's heart to heart with herself didn't take... Damnit!!! I want some overt OP Twilight fighting, not this entire dueling masterminds bit, though this is still cool. Celestia's recapture was quite sudden and the entire 'as expected' from Titan got old instantly.

This chapter left me wanting to know about the history of Astor Coruscare so much more; tried to kill Luna and Celestia, was Celly's biggest mistake, I just gotta know . What is said about Astor leaves me with a slight feeling of foreboding, I question whether it is foreshadowing or not.
The lack of errors also makes this chapter a nice read (nice ), though every chapter you have posted so far exudes professionalism and an attention to detail that most of your readers will appreciate.

Just noticed, does General Esteem's (titles are important) cute mark look like 3 Star Trek emblems?

Now to re-read this whole thing again and post more annoying comments.

Yeah so that "I have a problem" Rainbow said was a bigger cliff hanger than anything else so far.
MUST KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS!!!!

So are you back to weekly updates again?

Amazing story

I love you so much. So much.

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I read Pat Rothfuss and George RR Martin. I game Blizzard and Valve. I got excited when I first heard about the Hobbit movie... six years ago. Trust me, you didn't have to wait that long.
In all seriousness though, I'm glad to be back on the schedule. Thanks for waiting.
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Twilight and Dash are my two favorite of the mane six and my favorite ship. I don't know why I hate on them so much, honest.
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Foreshadowing? not at all. *Cough* My Name is Astor Coruscare *Cough*
Esteem's mark most certainly does look like three starfleet badges. Drawn in MS Paint.
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Please don't hurt me!
A would find you...

Nice hidden message in that announcement at the end. I usually don't read those... shocking.

Wonderfully done chap!

130042 RD needs to quit her bitching. I know it was bad for her, but seriously. Get over yourself. Same goes for Twi. They both need to get there shit together.

Now Celestia, that poor soul has the right to be pissed. Out of all of them, she seems to be the only one with a semi-legit problem worth giving up over, and she still has the strongest resolve. She wins this round for me.

And when she gets her powers back?

th09.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/346/4/4/six_barreled_and_pissed_by_cyb3rwaste-d4iwy52.png
Shit will get real.

I am actually on the edge of my seat. You've done very, very well with this fanfic. The only thing wrong is that I've caught up, and have to wait for updates.

Welcome back! Another excellent chapter

im going crazy here epic chapters

500motivators.com/plog-content/thumbs/motivate/me/large/63-you-sir-are-fucking-awesome.jpg

Lock and General in the smallest room possible and tell them there will be no interuption until they get their sh:t together.

War indeed!
img.ponibooru.org/_images/bc6afc1ad5e786a9fc5be558c62e81d4/79590%20-%20applejack%20flutterage%20fluttershy%20rainbow_dash%20spacemarines%20Trixie%20twilight_sparkle%20Warhammer%20warhammer_40k.jpg

Sister i have found you !

I have never hated a character in any story I have ever read with the same burning intensity that I hate Terra with. No matter how she dies it will be magnitudes more merciful than what she deserves. Anyway, time for some sleep before the next reading marathon which will hopefully catch me up.

Another excellent chapter! I actually like that Dash and Twi were uncertain about each other for a while. If they went back to being bffs immediately it wouldn't have been realistic. Heck, if I was brainwashed, tortured and turned into an anti-version of myself by one of my friends (even if it wasn't really them) I'd still feel hella weird and nervous around them after. That being said, I hope the two of them talk it out soon. And poor Celestia! So close! Terra and Titan need to be dropped into Mount Doom, resurrected, made to suffer the Dementor's kiss, then get their souls (if they ever had any to being with) back before being locked up powerless in a room with Celestia, Luna and the Mane 6 plus Jackie Chan. Anywho, onward to the next chapter!

I know I'm late but WHAT HAPPENED TO SPIKE! "...back to Ponyville minus a dragon..." I thought spike lived through Esteem

Titan's comment about "only one of my foes remains" reminded me of something.

"You think killing your enemies makes you tougher, Ultraman. That's a mistake.
"It means you face each foe once, besting them at their most basic, minimal level.
"I've battled mine time and again, as they grow more inventive- forcing me to be more resourceful in return.
"I've got more experience, more skill, more knowledge. I don't just sit on a mound of skulls and call myself tough!"
-Superman to his antimatter opposite, Trinity #13

Also: anyone who thinks Twilight and Rainbow need to "get their shit together" has clearly been reading a different story than I have. Nihilus enchanted Rainbow to lose her mind piece by piece until she chose to commit atrocities, at which point it would all come rushing back- over and over again. And she made Twilight watch that happen to one of her closest friends, among other horrors including destroying another friend's house without caring whether her sister was inside. I hate reading about PTSD as much as the next person, but anything less doesn't make any damn sense.

General Twilight Sparkle is best badass superpowerful unicorn war genius.

unimpressve is a total dick, and starlight just seems to love assuming the worst of everyone

Alright! Let's get this briefing started!

(P.S. This song was playing in my head when Twilight was using the map)

Haha! Another great chapter! I love the inner-conflict between Twi and Rainbow in this. Makes the realisticness jump tenfold. Also, I see that you dropped some subtle foreshadowing comments in here, which I can snuff out because this is my second read-through of this, even if the first one was half a year ago.

Everything is coming together well and I like how Titan was proven to already know everything that his enemies are planning. This is crucial. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Your characterizations were great! Especially Pinkie's dialogue that sounded exactly like something a Pinkie Pie would say.

Celestia didn't make it? Well, it was worth a shot anyway. Not like she had much to lose. Oh and to Princess Celestia about Terra's song:

"Be careful what you wish for, or you just might get it,"

I believe that she brought up never hearing Terra sing earlier.

I will review again next chapter cause I think I...

Oh wait! Of course I forgot something!

The concept of the Elements able to detect and analyze each other using purely feelings with a possible Elements of Harmony boost was revolutionary, though simple, as are many of your concepts (that you frickin' created from scratch for this fanfic!) ,except for the barrier-breaking thing and the cuffles...those were complex.

Ok, later then!

Silver out!

Ah’m just worried your biting off more than you can chew, so to speak.”

You're. Also one of the most common mistakes in the English language.

1431875 AC5 Loved that game, hit me right in the memories.

But... Celestia was free...

*sobs* she was free damn it...

"But that would be cheating"

Somehow, I saw that coming...

God dammit, Celestia!

Wow... I am hooked on this conflict between Twi and Dash. What's wrong with Dash that made her be a weather pony? Twi, you really need to get a hold of yourself and do this General stuff the right way. And Dash, you need to face that fear and speak with Twilight about what's going on, it hurts to see you like this. Epic chapter again!

They went over minutiae and planned additional meetings, and she wondered why she had even been needed at this one at all.

Welcome to the military applejack.

I'd also like to add that this story is amazing.
But I hate stories where proper communication could solve almost everything.
So in that regard - DAMNIT DASH, TALK TO TWILIGHT! DAMNIT TWILIGHT TALK TO YOUR PARENTS! DAMNIT SOMEONE TALK TO RARITY!!!

Wait, Sir Unimpressive?

Could this be Sir Vimbert the Unimpressive?

Aw, dang it! Just when she had escaped!

I'm starting to like this "Sir Unimpressive" pony. I got quite a few chuckles out of his smart-alec remarks.

Hmmm, it looks like Celestia was right about Titan being incorrigibly egocentric and vain. He really does think himself to be invincible. However, he is still an alicorn with more years than all the other three combined and is not to be underestimated, as shown from his little chat with Esteem. However, I don't believe for a second that he knows anything about the Elements of Harmony, or about Twilight's rule-breaking ability (which Titan also seems to possess to a certain degree), no matter what he may claim. He also dodged that his entire plan had hinged on Esteem and his troops taking out or capturing the Mane 6 and him defeating Luna, while neither worked. In fact, all of the Mane 6 escaped virtually unharmed. And he still manages to delude himself into thinking he is invincible. However, there's still that world-reforming thingy he's talking about. If he manages to complete that the consequences for the world and the resistance in general may be dire. The only reason the Mane 6 have been so successful thus far is because Empyrean is a snivelling coward who won't do anything despite his power, Terra is basically unable to do anything because she expends all of her energy creating insane amounts of puppets and Titan himself is doing something in the Dark Heart of the Everfree, whatever that may be. I'm calling it right now - Titan will come back just when Empyrean has been RaibowLazered and everything will go completely to hell.

Okay, I've officially decided that I don't like Sir Unimpressive. My comment last chapter was echoed by Sir Unimpressive himself this chapter - he's abrasive. I'm sure he'll turn around though, only to die shortly afterwards. All according to your master plan, isn't it, Aesthetic?

Luna is even worse than before. She's blatantly indoctrinating Twilight and stressing her already unstable psyche even further and is unable to see this. She had the consideration to tell AJ to do something she'd do anyway, I'll at least give her that, no matter how small it may be. She also warned Twilight not to push her unwanted feelings and emotions away in another part of her mind but fails to see that that's what's already happening. Luna is still trying to be a commander and is using Twilight as a figurehead to get her plans in motion but fails to see that Twilight, just Twilight is a far better leader than she is. Right now, she only acknowledges her charisma as superior to hers but she still thinks she should lead while instead she should take temporary command and help Twilight recover so she can take control herself. Like this Twilight's condition will rapidly deteriorate.

Twilight's conversation with Fluttershy made something in my chest hurt. Facing dillemma's like that is really terrible, as is seeing a friend willingly destroy herself for your sake. Flutters and Twi both had it very hard here. And then there's Rainbow Dash who has her own brand of problems, but everyone else is just too busy with their own to help her. All of this is going to come crashing down sooner or later and nor Luna nor all of them combined will be able to contain the resulting wreckage. And with you being you I'm sure you'll find a way to make it even worse.

Well, that was quick. What was the point of even allowing Celestia to escape? Breaking her spirit? Surely she would know better than to try that with an ex-alicorn that out-ages her and outsmarts her by an order of magnitude? In fact, if it weren't for Titan I think Celestia would have escaped. This is a bit like the situation between Mai and Azula, but in reverse - Terra fears Titan more than she loves herself. She's deluding herself by calling it a bond while she's just a piece on the board of the Immortal Game, the board that Titan mistakenly believes to own. If he owned it, Terra wouldn't have risen against it. If he owned it, Celestia and Luna would never have struck him down. If he owned it, he would have killed the Mane 6 and Luna. If he owned it, he'd have known about the Elements of Harmony and used them to destroy his archnemesis Discord. That all of these things didn't pan out for him despite his age, power and intelligence truly shows how enormous his ego is. He refuses to see himself as a piece on the board where all the common ponies and the three other alicorns are, because he considers them to be far inferior to him. It's his pride and his pride alone that prevents him from seeing that he is a piece on the board like any other.

That, or what he has planned for his world-change is an order of magnitude worse than I thought.

Also, did you derive the name of the fic from the eponymous chess match? That match is well-known for one side sacrificing a ridiculous amount of pieces to defeat his opponent. It totally is, isn't it? You totally based it off of that. And I know what that means. Sacrifices. Sweet Celestia, I know what that means. You magnificent bastard.

3974409
So I'm not the only one that saw the Sacrifice idea woven into the story!

130501 The problem is... SHE DOESN'T BREATH! HER HEART DOEN'T BEAT! SHE! IS! DEAD!

157130 Wait... She's my sister too! Are... Are we related?

134985 Have YOU ever suffered PTSD?

5329298

I have to agree. Rainbow Dash should not be fighting. The original postee should try having a spell telling her to kill her best friends, then tell her to get over herself.

I'm seriously wondering how long the author is going to torture the protagonists before finally giving them some progress. I have a serious beef with the storytelling techniques going on here. And now, Celestia has been captured and brutally maimed again?!! This isn't suspense. It's just tedium. The chapter's title seems fitting, as the story really has become "entirely predictable".

I hate to be negative like this, but wow, there are some problems here. The story's premise and framework has such potential to be an epic. But it simply feels like a cheap anime. I really want to like this story. I really, really do! But the prose. The typos. The terrible characterization. The inconsistencies. The mishandling of wounds and damage. The repetitive combat. The draining hopelessness. The too on-the-nose explanations for things. All of it: I just... I just had much higher hopes for this story. It was supposed to be "the bar" for epic alicorn-themed "let's depict the entire history of Equestria and give you a sense of awe" stories. I've heard such great things about this story. But so far, it has failed to deliver. Still holding out hope that it will get better.

134985
Let's see you go through what Dash went through. I bet you'd cry and shit yourself non-stop for months afterwards.

You're in no position to be judging her you self-rightous prick.

“No? That’s what the royals call you. Scared half to death of you, they are, from what we can tell. You too, Princess.” Buttercup nodded to Princess Luna, who sat motionless in a corner. Applejack had thought that the princess incapable of becoming even more anti-social, but Luna had risen to the challenge by sitting motionless in the corner and not speaking for two hours, staring down any loyalist who so much as looked at her.

Edgelord

She's at the everfree forest right? So can't she go to Zecora. (It probably isn't in the everfree, I might of missed it. Sorry bad habit of mine)