Episode 79: The Queen and I
Intro:
DWC’s Comment
BarakaObama’s Comment
"Holy sweet mother of the moon you got OLD!" you shout aloud in surprise as your instincts kick in before you even realize it. One minute you’re sitting down, the next your standing up with the Boomstick out and your Power-glove at the ready. Chrysalis raises an eyebrow at this as she says,
"I’m not old, I’m malnourished @%#!!, why the sudden hostility?"
You stare at the image of the weak looking Queen and declare,
"Why? The last time I saw you, you blasted me with magic! Not to mention the fact that I've denounced you as my queen, so you showing up is kinda worrying"
Chrysalis winces at that before saying,
"Ah yes...I was hoping you’d forgotten about that,” she says biting her lip. “As for denouncing me as your queen, well I guess that's understandable, all things considered I hear you’re following a new royalty…"
Your eyes widen at that, but your guard does not falter.
“I don’t “follow” her, I don’t follow anyling. She doesn’t make me do anything, unlike you…”
She winces at that before hardening her eyes.
“If you think so.”
“I know so,” you declare.
Well said, Selena punctuates and you can hear the smile in her voice.
Chrysalis hardens her eyes again before shaking her head,
“It matters not in the long run I suppose. I just want to know why you refuse the Shell Marshall’s offer in order to protect the ponies?”
So she heard all of that. Our entire conversation. Her link with Sin is strong, you think in worry.
Why does that trouble you so? Asks Selena.
That’s a lot of power for an ordinary changeling to have upon their mind, you think with a weary glance to Sin.
“Well? What is your answer? Why won’t you help us? Battle between our kinds is always inevitable,” Chrysalis continues.
“Because…because I don’t want to hurt them anymore. There doesn’t need to be anyone innocent hurt,” you reply.
“INNOCENT?!” she snarls, but you don’t waver.
Fireheart1945’s Comment
“My condition, all our kind’s condition is because of these so called Innocents!”
“It’s because you attacked them. Twice. I’m not going to hurt them for trying to protect-“
“Oh come off it @#$% You know as well as I do you don’t actually believe that. Can you not see the state we’re in?!”
The view changes and you see the inside of some sort of old castle, but there are Changelings everywhere hibernating within their pods, or looking skinny causing you to wince.
“We are given the barest minimum of love. There isn’t much positive emotions within this place, and your oh so Innocent guards are oppressive. We live, but we are weak. We have no strength to riot, to fight, or to escape, just like The Princesses Want!”
She then re-centers the image on herself.
“We cannot take this life. We MUST escape. That’s why I want you to help,” she declares.
That could have been my fate. If I had landed with the rest of the Hive, I could have ended up there.
But you didn’t. You didn’t do this to them Bugze.
No. But she did.
“I don’t care what they’ve done to you. I won’t stoop down to their, or your levels. I can’t help if anyone gets hurt.”
“But we ARE being hurt. This “life” is an unjust torture!”
SnapDrakeGame’s Comment
"Unjust? The invasion would've killed hundreds, maybe thousands if it succeeded. We would have caused so much suffering-"
"Suffering?” she interrupts. “We've been suffering since the dawn of recorded time! We've always skulked beneath the surface like worms, poking up to feed, fleeing when our stones are overturned! You and I sought to change that remember? To live in the open?” she asks to your confusion.
“What? What are you talking about?” you ask causing her to give you an incredulous look before shaking her head.
“I could've brought about a dawn of prosperity for our people, to get out of the shadow my mother and ancestors hid in. I could've won. I was this close!" She lets out a few angry breaths as her rant comes to an end.
"Is that what you'll do when you escape? Try again?" you ask as you see the passion for her plans still burns bright.
"Of course."
You look down at this before you declare,
“Then I can’t help you. If letting you go means others get hurt then-“
"Not right away, imbecile!” she declares desperately. “We'll go back into hiding, lick our wounds, muster our forces like we’ve done for centuries. The ponies will enjoy their brief reprieve and then we will strike and have our vengeance. We will succeed this time. It'll make a better world for me, you and our people. Why can't you understand that?"
"I understand it perfectly," you say staring into her eyes. “But I can’t support those terms.”
"Why?"
"How many thousands of ponies will suffer?"
"And which are you?" Chrysalis shoots back. "Changeling? Or pony?"
You pause. You consider. You don't conclude.
Chrysalis takes your silence in frustration.
“Our species' cannot coexist in peace $#@% there will always be suffering. But we can end ours!”
“That’s not true. There’s always another way. You don’t have to fight anymore. No one else on either side needs to suffer,” you say as you look at Sin’s scarred face…and think about Trixie.
Queen Chrysalis just looks at you in confusion, so you continue.
“If you want my help, we have to do this another way. It’s my price. Sin told me you wanted me specifically, and for whatever reason that is you’ll have to follow my demands.”
You think she’s about to argue some more until a strange look comes across her face.
“For whatever reason?” she asks as if you don’t know.
“Yes, she said you thought we were…” a blurred image flashes in your mind. “Friends?”
At this, an unmistakable look of hurt crosses your former Queen’s face.
BrownDog’s Comment
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
“D-does our past mean nothing to you?”
More fuzzy images flash within your mind confusing you.
Playing hide and seek, video games, and causing mischief with…someling…
You grit your teeth as you try to remember.
There is a block upon these memories, but her words are stirring them, Selena explains to you.
The hurt look in your Queen’s face deepens.
“I suppose I understand your reasoning. For what I did…” but then she takes a breath and frowns, “But if not for our past, then how about I’ve called upon you for the favor you owe me?”
That causes to focus on the present as you respond,
“Favor I owe you? What do I owe you?”
“Your very life %$#!” she answers immediately.
“That’s not my name anymore. It’s Bugze. And I don’t owe you my life. You’re the one who exiled my Grandbuggy.”
You’ll never forget that day. The public trial, the humiliation he suffered, and his form disappearing on the horizon.
She scowls at that.
“Your Grandfather was a fool and a nuisance. I took mercy on him with his banishment. More than my mother gave for your…” she trails off at this as she bites her tongue.
Past heartache hits you regardless though as a personal memory becomes more clear.
Your mom and dad hugging you goodbye, Grandbuggy with tears in his eyes holding your squirming young self, two gravestones in the rain...
You breathe rapidly at these memories as you remember the months of sadness…
Bugze, stay with me, Selena encourages. But it’s just like opening up a fresh wound, the old pain still hurts…but then you remember a glimmer of hope. A young changeling female with green hair smiling at you…
Wait… You think in confusion as you look back upon her. The smile is nowhere upon her present face.
Was that really her?
As you have these flashbacks, Chrysalis talks again.
“So yes, I did not kill the old fool for your sake.”
She may not have killed him, but she sealed his death anyway…
“It didn’t really matter. He went through with his plan to launch himself to the moon after you exiled him,” you mutter as you remember his last letter to you, and seeing the rocket launching in the distance.
She seems shocked and very confused by your statement, but she continues on.
“Regardless, it was not by my hoof.”
“I don’t owe you just because you didn’t personally kill him. Because of your actions, my life has been pretty hard” you declare.
She tries to speak up again, but you cut her off.
"You and the hive aren’t the only ones to suffer. I've suffered too. Ever since the invasion ponies only see me, see all of us as lying manipulative evil bugs! All because you decided to invade. It's because of you my life; all of our lives are such a pain!"
"It's because of me you even have your life," Chrysalis states flatly.
You pause at that.
“What do you mean by that?”
She gives you a wary look before she explains,
“Do you actually think you survived my blast after I discovered your treachery in feeding that miserable wretch?”
“What are you talking about? Of course I did…” you trail off as something at the back of your mind triggers.
She gives you a pointed look, but her eyes do look somewhat regretful.
“My blast stopped your heart. You died that day in front of Cadenza’s cell. I killed you “Bugze””
All goes silent within the bunker as her words echo upon the walls.
“…Huh?” you say in absolute confusion, “You killed me? But that can’t be right. I’m still right here!”
“Yes, because of me,” she says pointedly. “I did not mean for your death, and for our bond in the past, I decided to fix my mistake. I daresay that your possession by Nightmare Moon is because of me as well.”
“WHAT?” you and Selena vocalize.
“Haven’t you ever wondered why you no longer feast on love? Or why you can so casually shrug off the Hive Mind? It’s because your heart is no longer fully changeling anymore.”
You feel so utterly confused by what she says.
“What did you do to me?” you ask as you try to remember that day in front of Cadence's cell more clearly.
“Canterlot was full of ancient trinkets that one can obtain when one looks like a princess. I obtained one such powerful item and fused it to your damaged heart. That artifact is now half of what keeps you alive.”
“My heart condition…” you say as you think back to your diagnosis by Quacksalver. “My midnight colored blood,” you used to have normal green blood in the past, but in the last three it’s been dark blue.
“Wh-What artifact did you use on me?”
“The Nightmare Jewell.”
You hear Selena gasp in shock at this.
What? What is it?
It is a power source that I…that she and I created a thousand years ago. It was meant to be used as a weapon in our battle against Celestia, but we never got around to…*GASP* That’s how I was able to sense you that day within my armor. Why I was able to jump into you so easily as weak as I was. I knew something within you felt familiar! Selena deduces in clarity.
Your jaw drops at this declaration and Chrysalis notices.
“Aw, so dawning comes upon you,” she muses as you look back up at her.
TheRutherford’s Comment
“So…I was dead?”
“Yes,” she says with a glint of regret.
“And you…what, mixed this amulet thing with my heart?”
“Yes. Though you’d been dead for several minutes, the Jewell brought you back.
You touch your chest, near where your scar lies.
“And that midnight colored symbol on my chest?”
“Symbol? There was no symbol upon you when you were resurrected. Not even so much as a scar.”
That symbol must have come about when you and I joined. When my own power re-energized me in order to…do what I did, Selena ponders.
“So you see, you owe your life and power to me. Pay me back for the life I have given you,” Chrysalis demands.
You don’t answer her because you are in the midst of thought
BrownDog’s Comment
If what she says is true, I died…That must be the reason why my memories of the past are so foggy. My brain was off for Luna knows how long.
Depending on how long you were deceased, your brain could in fact have suffered some damage…She Killed You… Selena growls as the realization truly hits her.
You then shake your head at this.
“I don’t think that’s how it works Chryssy!” her lips curls at this nickname. “I wouldn’t have needed to come back to life if you hadn’t killed me in the first place!”
“I didn’t mean to!” she growls defending herself. “I didn’t know how truly powerful Armor’s love was. I was angry with you yes, but I didn’t want that. No matter how we left it at that dance, I didn’t want you to die!”
And with those words, many, many memories of the past are triggered.
The blurred playmate of your larvaehood sharpens. It was that smiling filly. It was her.
You did have a friend before Cadence all those years ago…
A friend that didn’t make fun of you, that didn’t judge you for your hair. She kept some of the bullies away from you in the beginning. The princess of the Hive was your friend…or so you thought.
Other fractured memories of when you were older come into play. Ones of her laughing at you, of cancelled hang out times, of her hanging with the bullies. And the dance…the mare…it was her...
*SNAP*
Tears leak out as all these buried memories of Changeling 9001 surface for air, just like you did apparently.
She? She was the whorse who did that to you?!!! Selena shouts within your mind as your eyes glow thanks to both of your anger.
“You betrayed and abandoned and humiliated me, all for your own gain!” you yell causing Chrysalis to wince.
“I remember pieces now. You were my friend. We…we did everything together! And you threw it all away!!!” you shout.
She closes her eyes and nods,
“Yes…Yes I did..."
"Wh-Why? Why did you do that to me?"
She opens her eyes and gives you a poignant answer.
"Because a Queen can’t associate with her lessers…What we had was a sign of weakness. You had to be left behind.”
Anger wells up in your heart, the heart she broke both figuratively and literally. Her betrayal brought you so much pain, you can’t believe you’ve forgotten this hate. Trixie wasn’t the first one to…Trixie…
Your rage hits a roadblock and comes to a halt.
It’s just like with Trixie…I was betrayed by a friend, and I held onto my hatred. She called out for help, but I didn’t. And then she…
The rage is replaced by the sadness and guilt you’ve felt for so long. You look upon Chrysalis. Your former queen, and your former best friend. She is weak, and desperate and calling for help.
Bugze, you can’t just compare these two events. This tramp is not like Tr-Not like her! For goodness sake, she KILLED you.
Yeah…but she also brought me back…
Bug-
Holding onto my hate is what always gets me in trouble. I do…I do hate her, but I can’t let that make my decisions for me.
Neither can you let guilt.
You think on Trixie’s bear. Half hope and half despair.
There might still be a shimmer of that smiling filly within her
Even if there is, it is buried under her actions Bugze.
I know…but I can’t just say no.
You take a breath and put a stern look upon your face.
“You’re right. A mixed breed has no business associating with the Queen," she squints at that but you continue, "But you weren’t the Queen then. You were still the Princess. You let your mom get to you after all that time.”
“What I did was to ensure my strength over the Hive…even if I do hold personal regrets” she responds as she looks to the side.
“And it worked at the cost of something great. Look where that’s gotten you,” you say coldly.
There is silence between you two that seems to last forever.
But then she speaks once again.
“So, is this where we leave things? You will leave us all to be buried with my past mistakes?”
“No. You’ve done too much to me, but that doesn’t mean I can’t work with you.”
She looks excited momentarily but you squash that,
“But I’m not following your orders, and I don’t owe you a life you already took. The Changeling I was before, Private 9001 is dead, you killed him. You’re dealing with Bugze, and Bugze can’t trust you. Especially not with your “I did it for the good of the hive” bullspit.”
DWC’s Comment
You then point to Sin who has sweat on her brow and is panting.
"Take her for example. YOU LINKED WITH HER!!!” you chastise.
Chrysalis eyes widen at your outburst before she says,
"I don't see what that has to do with trus-"
"You don't know how dangerous a link is, that's why!"
Chrysalis gives you a confused look before she says,
"I was aware that you skipped most of your classes, so please enlighten me what is so dangerous of linking with another?"
You just glare at her as you say,
"For you, nothing. You can sit in your little jail cell and not feel a thing. But for Sin...it's a massive strain on her body and magic! If you put yourself into command for too long...or she uses too much of your power she'll-"
"She would expire and become yet another martyr for our cause," says authoritatively.
“And it would be an honor!” Sin responds.
TheRutherford’s Comment
"That is bullspit and you know it! Noling should die for something so benign as trying to recruit a monster like me! I already said that I would be willing to help so long as none of the guards end up killed or hurt. I am willing to still agree but I have a few conditions,” you declare with authority.
Chrysalis gives you an inquisitive look before looking back at Sin. Letting out a sigh she turns back and says,
"Very well. While I normally wouldn't compromise, you have shown how stubborn you can be…and for you I am willing to make an exception. Let's hear it."
"OK. Condition 1: None of the ponies guarding you can be hurt, killed, or taken to act as a food source. This one is non-negotiable,"
You see your former Queen/Friend look away as she thinks before she turns and sighs.
"I will agree, so long as my changelings are allowed to protect themselves. If you agree then we won’t hurt the guards at this prison…"
"Fine, but only at the lowest possible level of protection. If they can avoid a fight, then make sure they do so. Changelings, at least those better than me, are known for their stealth. Have them use it to sneak by.”
“A prison break isn’t really going to be a sneaky affair,” she grumbles.
“Now Condition 2: You will owe me one favor in the future. Now before you ask, I'll explain. Even as you put it, you saved my life, but I have had to endure things that no living being should ever have to endure. As of right now, there is no reason that I need to help you. I am choosing to. Which means you will owe ME.”
"It will depend on the favor, I will not willingly allow my subjects to be taken again nor will I willingly get captured again," she says with a raised eyebrow.
"I would not ask you to do either, so I take that as a yes?"
"Yes I can agree to give you a hoof in the future, so long as you keep your word."
“Agreed, and for the last condition. Condition Three: You and I are going to have a real talk after all this is done, face to face, peacefully and you are going to answer some questions. I have a lot of lost and vague memories thanks to you killing me. I remember a friendship, and I remember you betraying me, but I have no context.”
She looks down at that,
“I did not know you suffered from memory loss.”
Don’t you look down you whorse. You’re the one who did this to him, Selena growls from within your mind.
“Yeah, well we can talk about that peacefully when this is over, and I emphasize peacefully because my daughter will be with me and I am sure you have heard what I have done in the name of protecting her."
You see Chrysalis shudder at that before her eyes take on a sudden hard glint and she clenches her jaw.
Kersey’s Comment
ThePonySpartan’s Comment
“Aaahh, yes…You’re …”Daughter”” she says as if she’s trying to hold back a shout. “The Shell Marshall did mention something about that.”
You raise an eyebrow at that.
She seems mad all of a sudden.
“Your mother’s rules have always made it hard for mixed breeds and their families. That’s why she killed my mom and dad, and that’s why my life was such a hell,” you point out, causing her to scowl. “So if you harm her, this whole thing is done.”
She gives you another scowl.
“So you did lay with another…Pray tell, who is the mother?” she asks as her eye twitches.
“The mare who made the jewel that’s my new heart,” you say with a thump of your chest.
With another twitching eye Chrysalis answers,
“I See…Well…she is part changeling is she not? I wouldn't dare harm one of my own!"
You can tell that she’s putting on an air with that answer, but she is also restraining herself from saying something.
Filing that info you say,
TheRutherford’s Comment
"Good, now would you kindly lessen the strain of the link on Sin here please? I don't want her to die. I'm sure you have already thought of a plan or two on the attack and told her them. She can tell me and you can talk to her without sapping at her life force."
She gives you a glare before she declares,
“Shell Marshall!”
“Ma’am!”
“You may turn off the projection. I will still be able to see and hear through you. Tell…tell him the plan.”
“Yes Ma’am,” Sin says as she starts lessening her magic.
Chrysalis then looks at you and gives a small smile
“Even if you don't believe it, I am very glad to see you again @#$%&.”
You really don’t have a response to that, while Selena snarls. The projection is then cut off and Sin begins to pant.
I don't like this. They are already after me, once they see you there, we will likely have to deal with Celestia, Luna, and the Elements. It could start a new war if they think we've joined their hive.
You sigh at this, I don’t like it much either, but I can't leave them there to die, I would never be able to forgive myself anymore than I do now.
Even her? She asks with a bit of venom.
I…I don’t know yet. I don’t want to drive her to despair like I did to…
Selena sighs and says, Just be careful.
I always try, it never seems to work, you joke.
She chuckles at that then says,
Well look on the plus side, you’re standing on your own feet.
You look down and see that you are fully in control of your body.
When did that happen?
When you were standing up to that Succubus.
Huh…Just be on standbye in case I fall.
I always do.
You then look to Sin as she stops panting.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes,” she says while rubbing her head. “And I’m glad you’ve finally seen reason. Can’t believe the Queen went along with your demands.”
“Yeah, well she didn’t really have a choice. So, what’s the plan?”
Fireheart1945’s Comment
She walks up to a table and lays out a sketched map.
“The prison is situated here, to the North of the Badlands, near the border of the Everfree. It’s an old Castle that the Hive took refuge in after the Invasion, but thanks to The Elements of Harmony, it became their prison.”
“What kind of magical defenses are we talking?”
“Too many. The castle itself was already home to Non-Euclidian Geometry on the inside, and the outside has only been fortified tenfold by the Princesses and The Elements. An elite unit of the strongest unicorns in the Royal Guard are the wardens. Noling goes in or out, and all food is distributed through one door.”
“Hmmm,” you ponder as you look over the plans. “So I’m guessing just running up and punching the door won’t do it?”
She shakes her head.
“No, we already tried that actually. And even with Mongo’s increased strength, we weren’t able to put a dent in it.”
“Increased strength?” you ask curiously.
“Yes. We’ve all gained a little something since you last saw us thanks to our side projects…” she wavers off.
You raise an eyebrow at that, but she continues.
“So yes, we need more force in order to break that door down.”
You look at the plans again.
“I think that if I had enough time to wail on the door it would bust, but with the guards around, and the time needed to get the weak out, reinforcements could arrive,” you say warily.
“That’s right, but luckily you won’t be alone in your endeavor.”
You give her an incredulous look. “I don’t think me and five other changelings are going to be able to get that door down.”
“No, but 300 might,” she says with a smirk.
Your eyes widen at that.
“Th-three hundred? You found that many of us?”
She nods and explains, “Yes. After we found the Queen all those months ago, we learned of the safe houses and fall back points around Equestria, and so we utilized our Sabotage missions much more effectively.”
“Sabotage?”
“Oh yes. We’ve been quite the nuisances to the ponies, and they have no idea it was us.”
You scowl at that, but she acknowledges, “No we didn’t kill anypony. Killing your food is counterproductive, but we have thrown their government into turmoil.”
“What have you done?” you ask curiously.
“Well we’ve caused noble affair scandals, tainted the water supplies around several cities to cause more “love making” we even had some Species Riots.”
You feel appalled by how nonchalantly she says what they’ve done before a thought comes to you.
“Wait a minute, are you guys the reason why Flash Sentry got Methamphetamine’s instead of his normal drugs?”
She chuckles at that, “Oh yes. That was the Queen’s idea actually, a way to get back at Sparkle, but that doesn’t even compare to our greatest accomplishment, we crashed the stock market.”
You recall reading about that happening, but something doesn’t add up.
“How…How could you all have been doing these things across Equestria and not get caught?”
“Because the Ponies didn’t see Changelings doing these deeds, they saw another organization…” she insinuates.
“Huh? What organization? And wait a minute, you guys didn’t crash the market, that was The Crimson…Knights...” you trail off as understanding hits you like a ton of bricks.
ShadowDuskX’s Comment: I'm sick and tired of the unanswered questions. We need to know what we're dealing with,
You look to Sin.
“No…” you say incredulously.
She smirks and says,
“Yes actually. Did you really think that such an organization could even function under the guidance of drunken idiots, beasts with delusions of grandeur, traitorous changelings and other weirdos?”
Your jaw drops as the implications hit you.
“Oh they had a structure at first, but once we became involved, they all fell apart. Their trust in one another tainted, they spread themselves thin and we took over. The fools all thought they were in control of their own destinies, and we let them have their delusions, but it has been us pulling their strings.”
“You…You Hydra’d them? Like from Captain Equestria: The Northern Soldier?” you ask aloud.
She chuckles, “That’s one way to put it. Let’s just say that the Crimson Knights haven’t actually been a thing for months. Nearly all of their members have been our Hive Mates. Some of them even revealed their true forms to throw off Kichi and Erised. The fools have been unbound for so long they didn’t even realize what their followers were.”
I didn’t even realize what they were. I put away more than a few of their followers.
“Only the foolish “Generals” and a few of their closer subordinates are all that remains of “The Crimson Knights.”
“So, you were using them to commit your Sabotage?”
She nods like she’s proud and continues,
“Yes, and with their resources, we were able to strengthen ourselves. Those plasmids did a wonder on myself and the other four. Of course we couldn’t let the populace have the true power we gained. But we had more than enough to free our kind.”
Holy…So this whole time I wasn’t taking down the Knights, I was taking down the Hive?
As if reading your mind, Sin growls,
“Of course, our plan to use these idiots to break out the Hive hit a roadblock when the puppets got their strings cut by an overzealous Bounty Hunter.”
You chuckle nervously at that and rub the back of your neck, but she doesn’t notice.
“Seriously, months of planning broken by some guy in a mask...But we are adaptable. We had a few plants in Armor’s Super Max prison, and so we came up with a new plan. The ponies about had a heart attack when three hundred “Knights” turned themselves in.”
You remember reading about that too. You thought it was just because they were disheartened by what the Crimson Vengeance had done.
“Alright…You mind getting back to that plan because I’m confused. How is them turning themselves in beneficial to us? How did they not figure out they had only changelings?”
“Because of our plants the truth wasn’t revealed, and their prison capacity was overtaxed so they had need to build a new one. With our sway, we had it built into the badlands.”
If they are transferring those prisoners, then the ponies are quite literally moving their enemy for them, Selena figures out.
“Oh, so that way it’s easier to hide and move three hundred troops without anyone noticing.”
“Right under their noses,” Sin agrees.
“Alright, I get that, but how does them being transferred to another prison translate to me leading them to break this one?” you say as you point to the sketch.
“That’s the beauty of it Bugze. Biff, Tannen, Mongo and Vicky are in location to cause a successful breakout of the prison transfer train. There are only 50 guards, 30 of which are our plants, because the train is lined with anti magic,” she then raises her hoof and a bit of electricity sparkles in it. “But we have some tricks up our sleeve.
You take a step back at that.
“Oh calm down, I have control over it. I got Electricity, Biff and Tannen got Fire and Ice respectfully, Vicky got Telekenisis, and Mongo, well, Mongo took a cocktail of different ones that’s given him Brutish Strength.”
Oh great, other Plasmid users. And they don’t even have gloves, you think in dread.
But at least they only have one apiece Selena points out.
With this thought you ask,
“So, you’re going to break all of the changelings out of this train and then we lead them to the Prison?”
“Yes. You and I will command them and together we’ll free our kind. But first they’ll need to gather their strength for an assault.”
Something begins to bug you about that.
“What do you mean gather their strength?”
She raises an eyebrow at you.
“We’ll need as much love as we can gather, not only to break out our kind, but to give the weaker ones enough love to escape.”
“And where are you going to get that love? Those twenty guards and the Knights?” you ask.
“No, those idiots won’t nearly be enough, but they will be a part of it. No, we will get it from this town,” she says as she points to a point on the map. This town is right next to the rail road, and is the closest settlement to our Imprisoned Brethren. The train will be stopped here and our troops will be able to assimilate love, and a dome will be placed over it so no one can escape.”
Your eyes widen in shock as you declare,
“But you guys promised not to hurt anypony!”
“We’re not going to hurt them, but we need to feed. Besides, we only promised not to hurt the guards at the prison!” she points out.
“You can’t do that!” you shout as you advance towards her and she lifts her hoof off of the town on the map.
“But we have to! We’ll fail otherwise,” she replies in desperation as her eyes flash green.
“Then you’ll fail. I won’t let you take over A...” you voice trails off as you read the name of the town and your eyes widen in panic.
Oh Tartarus No! Selena shouts in shock.
“I’m sorry Bugze, but it’s the only way. Appleloosa needs to be assimilated.”
You round on her,
“NO! Not Appleloosa! Please! Call this off! Call this whole thing off!”
Sin gives you a bit of a conflicted look before her eyes harden and she declares.
“That’s impossible.”
“Why?!” you shout as your mind flashes back to the Otherworld Appleloosa and the guilt that comes with it.
“Because the plan went into action 20 Minutes Ago...”
Your voice trembles as her words impact you.
"Oh Luna...No..."
20 Minutes Ago
POV CHANGE: THE CRIMSON KNIGHTS
You were all shackled in your own Train Car near the front of the train. Thanks to all of your expert eavesdropping and annoyance of the guards, you knew you were all being transferred at some point, but none of you expected it to be today.
As you all sat with your magic cancelling bonds, you were all suddenly lurched forward as the train’s emergency brakes were hit.
No one was hurt, though Erised almost was crushed by the still comatose Kersey.
Confusion was prevalent, but it increased as you all heard the sounds of fighting and screaming, followed by the train rocking back and forth and the buzz of many many insect wings.
“Dome! There’s a dome around the town!” you hear the shouts of someone outside.
“Get the Sheriff, Get Anypo-AAAAHHHH!!!”
“What the hay is going on?” asks Solarkness.
“Is someone breaking us out?” asks Snap Drake.
“Who would break us out?” asks Grey Rebl.
“My mate for one thing, though I don’t think they’re capable of this,” says Rutherford.
“Maybe it’s our adoring fans,” jokes Brown Dog.
“No that can’t be it. Those wing beats…” Kichi trails off.
“They’re changeling wings,” Changer speaks up.
“Changelings?” asks Candy.
“Has the Hive come to break us out?” asks Silver Strange.
Erised just glowers his eyes,
“I doubt it.”
“Very astute of you unbound traitor,” Comes the voice of the three guards in the room with you.
When you all look to them, they all alight with green flame and appear before you in their true forms.
“We’re not freeing you pathetic puppets and traitors, we’re assimilating you like the rest,” they say in unison with creepy smiles.
“Puppets?” asks Solarkness.
The three changelings then gleefully tell you all how you and your organization were nothing more than tools, and how you were the leaders of nothing. And now you’re all going to be of use to the Hive one more time, as batteries.
“Well…Huh…,” you all say in unison.
You’ve Found Out You’ve Been Patsies, Three Hundred Changelings Are Loose Capturing Citizens In Whatever Town You’re In, And There’s A Dome Keeping You All In.
YOU HAVE ONLY 20 MINUTES.
WHAT DO YOU ALL DO?
Outro:
Let the Season 3 Finale Arc Begin.
Hey HiveMind,
That’s right, Our Great Terrorist Organization Was Actually Hydra’d by the Changelings. Didn’t see that coming did ya?
Anyway, for this Chapter we will ONLY be controlling the Knight Leaders. They’re at ground zero of the Invasion of Appleloosa, and everything they do is within the first 20 Minutes, no more, no less. They have no allies amongst the Hive, and all have targets on them.
Good Luck.
Anyway, follow the usual rules.
No Princesses, Discord, Elements, Doctor, ETC. Showing Up or Hearing About This. And as always, NO KILLING. Go nuts with the beatdowns, but no deaths.
Also,
No Bugze in this chapter, Focus on the Knights.
With the Dome, there’s no Escaping.
Also, No OP Knights.
The Knights are NOT in Bugze’s Nightmare Cloak range, they have their own abilities and skills, but nothing’s going to solve this immediately.
Make Your Decisions.
And Have Fun.
Since it's the Beginning of the Finale, let's have a Question.
Which OC (Aside from your own) Was Your Favorite This Season?
There's been a lot of them in focus this season, so which one stood out to you the most?
Next Chapter Should Be Out Friday at Earliest.
Hail Hydra Everyone 
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I liked Aqua the best because she was a true friend and had some character development. As for how the gang escapes, did the Guard do something to Ink Moth's blood-mindcontrol-voodoo powers? If not then a good way to get them out is for the changelings to start beating him up until they get blood on them.
The fighting begins as the few real Guards realize that the town is under attack. Naturally, considering the town being under attack as well as the train, they're conflicted as to whether or not to protect the townsponies or to try to prevent the prisoners from escaping or being taken captive by the changeling army. The Guard unit splits (against the orders of the commander) to defend both objectives, though given their few numbers they are ultimately no match for the enraged changeling army and are overrun.
*Cracks Knuckles*
Changer we're going for a ride!
I'm gonna say Aqua... if only because SO MANY REFERENCES!
One of the changelings kick Braeburn into a bottomless pit (Five feet) while yelling "WE ARE CHANGELINGS" While Braeburn slow-mo shouts "AAAAAAAPPPPPPLLLEEOOOOOOOSSSSAAAAAA" on the way down.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I'm not going to say Changer isn't as powerful... but of course, I don't have to show that at all in this story. He doesn't like exposing his powers all too much anyways, and it follows his character. No one needs to know.
I'm not sure if this is breaking the "Not your own OC" rule, but I would say my favorite OC in this story has actually been the Crimson Knights as a whole. Each of us has been able to bring something unique to the table and has been a blast writing for. I just hope we all survive this to continue writing for future stories.
Rutherford: "So let me get this straight. You Hydra'd our group, so that you could manipulate us to cause some trouble for the Equestrian government, organized a prison transfer so you could get all of us here and closer to your hive, and trapped every living thing in this train and adjacent town so you can assimilate us into your hive to bolster your forces."
Changeling Trio: "Correct."
Rutherford turns to Solarkness.
Rutherford: "Hey Sol, is Operation Skeleton Key ready?"
Solarkness: "Yep"
Rutherford: "Then do it."
At that time, all the locks and restraints on the Crimson Knights simultaneously open. The Knights (with the exception of Rutherford and Solarkness) and the changeling trio look shocked.
Spartan: "What just happened?"
Rutherford: "The escape plan Sol and I have been working on since the bounty hunter beat us."
As Rutherford says this, the Knights see little pieces of wood leave the key holes and are absorbed into Sol's body.
Rutherford: "Haven't any of you wondered why Solarkness was barely moving the entire ride? Sure we originally planned to act once we were all outside, but I think this is as good as any time to be free. Now I don't know about all of you, but I don't feel like going down without a fight. By the way Spartan, I think this belongs to you. *Rutherford tosses Spartan his spell book.* For what ever reason, the guards kept your stuff in the box beside me. If you would be so kind, could you set off the sprinklers? I'm feeling a little parched and could use a pick-me-up."
Spartan makes a quick fireball and tosses it at the changeling trio, making them scatter as it hits the firemain pipe for the sprinkler system on board the train. This causes water to begin pouring into the room, which the Wyvern starts to move with his claws, moving it into his mouth as he drinks a fair amount of it before covering the changelings with the rest. Rutherford then sends a beam of ice out of his mouth which hits the soaked changelings and freezing them in place, unable to move. He then turns to his fellow Knights and sends a purple flame around them. When the flame dies down, the Knights all look better and more energetic, if a little confused.
Kichi: "What the buck was that? How did you do that?"
Rutherford: "That female bounty hunter isn't the only one who can bend water. I just prefer to use it to acquire it for my natural talents. That said, I used most of the boon I got from it to heal us and give us a bit more energy. We are about to be in a fight for our lives, and given the odds, I would rather fight alongside my friends. If we stick together, we may be able to hold out until we can escape, and I would like to get back to see my mate. *Rutherford looks each member of the Crimson Knights in the eye.* So, who's with me?"
Please continue adding on to this, That said, I think we need to put what our abilities are in the comments. Let everyone else know what each General and underling can do. Here is mine:
General Rutherford
Species" Wyvern- A dragon like creature with two legs and two large wings where his arms are, ending with claws. He has a single "fin" with spines going down his back towards his tail. His tail's end looks like a shark's tail. As with most Wyverns, his tail is bladed, covering the end of the "fin".
Abilities: Flight, Increased strength (stronger than a normal Earth Pony), Breath Attacks, Minor Water Bending (Cannot/will not us Bloodbending)
Breath Attacks: Water based (can shoot water in any of its temperatures (Ice, Steam, Boiling, etc.) and Purple "Healing" fire (can cure minor/cosmetic wounds and give a small amount of energy)
After the three Changelings mock and claim how you all are going to be food for them,
Rutherford speaks up and says,
“So what you’re saying is that you’ve all been bucking with us since the beginning? Was none of it real?”
“Nope, we all let you play your little games, but at some point you have to wonder why any of you would be allowed such freedom. That’s why we had you all separated.”
“Separated, but we didn’t separate until after the Zeppelin Crash,” Snap Drake points out.
“Yeah, the one we thought Spartan died in,” Kichi adds.
Changer suddenly perks up at that,
“Did you all have something to do with that?”
They smugly smile and say,
“But of course half breed. You all were a little too chummy, we felt a little accident would make you all separate, and it did. It made you run off to your little sorcery with hatred in your heart.”
He growls at that, as do many of the other knights.
“So…you’re the reason we all thought our friend was dead?” Brown Dog asks in anger.
“Oh what does it matter, you’re all going to be assimilated either way, and there’s nothing you can do with those magic inhibiting shackles on.”
Brown Dog then looks to Grey and Rutherford and gives them a nod.
“Yeah, well here’s the thing,”
SNAP
The Brown Dog, Rutherford, and Grey all snap their wrist bonds and ensnare the three surprised changelings.
“Some of us rely on good old fashioned strength,” the Brown Dog growls with his teeth showing as he knocks the Changeling out with a hook to the jaw. Rutherford, since he can’t bite or slice yet with his mask and gloves, slams his changeling into the roof and ground multiple times, while growling,
“Noling Bucks with one of our own!”
Grey Rebl delights in breaking his Changeling’s wings,
“And I just hate your filthy face!” he yells before back kicking him in the jaw.
The three of them then turn to the rest of the Knights.
“How long could you have broken those shackles?” asks Solarkness.
“We’ve been working on them since we departed,” says Rutherford.
“Actually you and Grey were, I was just hanging out. Didn’t have a reason to add my strength till that bug mouthed off,” Brown Dog growls.
“Why did that make a difference?” asks Grey.
“Dude, you ever seen my freaking forearms? Just because I’m a lazy, alcoholic drug fiend doesn’t mean I can’t lift,” he declares as he bites Rutherford’s restraining mask off making the Wyvern happily rotate his jaw. Rutherford then proceeds to bite his soft gloves, freeing his claws.
“Stupid bucking Changelings…no offense guys,” Brown says looking to Kichi, Candy, Silver and Erised.
“Eh, some taken,” Candy responds.
“Hey Brown, you gonna be OK?” asks Snap Drake.
“I will be after I get a few dozen drinks in me, but that will have to wait. Right now, we gotta get through this bullspit!”
Brown Dog, Rutherford, and Solarkness then break the chains on the others, but the inhibitors still remain.
“OK, since we’re all still shackled, we need to keys, or some tools to get them off so our magic friends can let loose. Rutherford, Grey, Solarkness and I are brute strength, so we’ll cover you until we can get them off you. Finding tools and keys is priority, but also we need a steady supply of wood so that Solarkness can go all out. Kichi, Candy and Silver, put something on to distinguish yourselves from the other changelings. Erised is pale enough to distinguish, but he’s still weak, so someone cover him. I say we find a building or enclosure that we can defend after we can all fight. I’m personally heading to whatever taverns that might be in this town. If we stick together, we might survive this.”
They all look at Brown Dog in confusion.
“What?”
“Since when were you the guy that gives orders and gives a buck?” asks Kichi in surprise.
"Yeah, did Tartarus freeze over?" asks Solarkness.
“Hey, I'm at a very emotional crossroads here, some jaggoffs told me they nearly killed my friend and played us like fiddles all this time. I ain’t no one’s Bitch!”
“And what about tubby?” asks Grey pointing to Kersey on his bed.
“Well, he’s our main weapon,” Brown Dog says as he goes to his bed side and unshackles him.
“Main weapon?” asks Silver.
On the outside of the car, a few Changelings hear grunts of effort. Curious, they go to unlock the door, when all of a sudden they are all blasted back as the doors slam open into them as Kersey’s unconscious body is thrown through the door.
Inside, Brown Dog and Rutherford are panting after having thrown Kersey.
“You guys could have helped,” Rutherford complains.
“Tartarus no, I ain’t touching his dirty flesh,” Grey gags as the rest of them shudder.
“Alright, let’s find a guard with keys and then let’s take the hurt to these Buckers,” Changer declares.
“Heck Ya Spartan!” Brown and Snap Drake cheer.
“It’s no-You know what, buck it, I’ll be Spartan again. Let’s just kick some flank!”
They all then rush out…only to immediately take in the scenario of the giant dome around the town, how they’re in the middle of the desert, and a bunch of Ponies wearing cowboy hats are running around.
“This severely limits my wood intake,” Solarkness growls.
“There’s Apple Trees in the distance,” Kichi points out.
“Yes, but are there any guards with keys from the train around?”
They all then spot some guards running with some civilians in town.
“That way! Roll Tubby and keep behind him for safety!” Grey shouts as they all (except for Grey) start rolling Kersey while taking cover behind him.
Before the Changelings can say anything else, Changer blasts them away with cutting winds by using his yellow enchanted book.
"I was never truely apart of the Knights, and I am not just your pawn!" He yells at them.
The other Knights looked at him with their respective expressions, to find he broke into the area where all of their equipment have been kept.
"Way to go, Spartan." Kichi said.
"Yeah, very impressive." Erised added.
"Hmph!" Changer glared at them. "Listen up! You lot are not my friends... except Snap Drake and Brown Dog. Just because I stopped going after you doesn't mean I like you."
"Great to know." Solar said sarcastically.
"Whatever." Changer then put on his black vest jacket and took out his red book. "We are allies in this battle, but if I see one hint of betrayal during this fight, I will show no mercy..."
Outside, Changelings surrounded the train that had stopped, two were guarding the entrance. Those said two were blasted away by the pressure of fire from within the train.
And through the fire, nine(ten?) sets of eyes could be seen piercing through.
"Ready?" Brown Dog whispered to Snap, looking eager.
"I've waited so long for this!" Snap whispered back.
"Three... two... one..."
"WE ARE THE CRIMSON KNIGHTS! DON'T TAKE US LIGHTLY!"
Of course, the ones like Erised, Changer and Grey Rebl were too serious to follow the script.
Then the battle commenced.
*Intense battle music starts*
In the middle of the fight Kichi tripped and fall as he try to evade one changeling.
"Give up number ?????, unlike you, we are feed, you are malnourished" Say the changeling
"Come on, surely we can talk about it, I just didn't want to join the queen because her plans were not good and I was not sure what she could do, we were already forced to rely in us" Say Kichi
"It don't matter you will be assimilated" Say the changeling
"Well, If I can't do anything..." Groan Kichi as he seems to give up, just to give a uppercut to the changeling making him a little dizzy
"Sorry boy, but like you said, I need to feed" Smile Kichi as his horn is connected to the horn of the changeling and begin to glow.
"What are you doing? No! Stop!" Shout the changeling as Kichi begin to seem to be more energized and the other changeling seemed to lose his bright
"Did you do what I think you did?" Asked Candi
"Yeah... And I don't feel bad for it" Say Kichi
"Care for a explanation for those that we are not changeling?" Asked Brown Dog
"What I did could be considered canibalism... I mainly stole all his love and leave a empty husk" Comment Kichi
"Forget to say that is one of the most taboo things for changelings, stealing someone love is one of the most severe crimes" Say Candi
"And is important for me... why? Look, I will not defend myself, love is love... I used the foals because they are a fountain of easy love, it could be considered bad? Sure, but we need to feed and they were easy, some of them had better life conditions being used as food that living in the street" Argumented Kichi
"Now, after all that drama..." Comment Kichi as he evade one green beam going to him and use the changeling he just feed as a shield to stop the attack of another "Maybe we should get a plan, we are good but not sure if we can't fight a army, we can defend for now because the others are busy trying to capture this city... So we don't have many options... We can stay here and fight as they stall us, or we can flee and fight later, I'm not sure how much food you all have in your belly, but I doubt we can do too much, the ponies have three princesses, one god of chaos and the elements of harmony so it's not like they need us to fight their battle, and we don't know how much can we stay... We need to re-group but the thing is, when the army fall and they will fall... Who do you think are they going after? Us... We could try to make a good show to see if they could let us get free, something I doubt, or try to get the hell out of here" Say Kichi looking to the other knights as he did whatever he could to defend
------
Sorry for those that I mentioned in my post, if any of you want to change anything, just tell me
I really want to see the mass of Pinkie clones do something. Just imagine it, over a hundred party cannons going off at once on all the changelings. It will be glorious.
ATTENTION HIVE MIND!!! There are ALOT of Crimson Knight OCs so I'm also going to need brief rundowns of what your characters (what they are, personalities, and abilities) so I can comment accordingly.
8075211
"Wait, so was Flag Burner a changeling too?" asks Rutherford
"No, he was a real Earth Pony." the changeling guard responds.
"Although he did have the drive and rage to make a good officer." another comments.
"He was indeed the original founder of your little club by himself, but he had sharp and ruthless senses so what few changelings were in his ranks kept our heads low around him."
"But after his fall at the hooves of the Hooded Offender, we were free to take a more active hoof and incorporate more changelings."
"Especially when we got the order from the Queen herself through her... promoted super-officers."
=============
"Ask him where our stuff is!" Changer/Spartan declares.
"You heard him, where's our stuff!" Grey Rebl demands from the broken changelings.
"I'm not telling you stupid pawns anything!" the lead changeling defiantly says.
"Shove your fingers into the holes in his limbs and twist!" Erised suggests to Browndog in getting a horrified shiver out of Silver, Candy, and Kichi especially when BrownDog does so.
"GRRRAAAAAHHHH! OKAY OKAY!" the changeling cries out in pain, "YOUR EQUIPMENT IS IN THE CART NEAR THE END OF THE CONVOY!!!"
"Thanks." *wham* BrownDog says before knocking the changeling unconscious.
==================
Getting tired of pushing Kersey's fat flank and seeing there's still a chaotic crowd of changelings, guards, and civilians in the way, Snap Drake and Browndog get an idea...
"Rollin, rollin, rollin.
Snobby fatflank rolling!" BrownDog sings as he and Snap Darke run on Kersey's comatose body like a barrel running down changelings, guards, and civilians unlucky enough to be in the way as the other Crimson Knights stay close behind them.
"He's so big and fatty." Snap Drake adds.
"WE'LLLL DIIIIEEE." they both finish.
===============
Bursting into he tavern, you all quickly use Kersey's obese body to barricade the main door as the Crimson Knights start picking up chairs and tables to fight off changelings trying to get in through the windows.
"It's like Nazi Zomponies in here!" Kichi comments punching one changeling in the horn when he tries to get in.
"I could use some medical attention right now!" Erised calls from his stretcher after Candy runs off to barricade the kitchen back entrance.
"Hi everypony. Crazy dream we're having right now."
Grey Rebl and Erised both give an annoyed groan at that voice as it's owner stumbles in.
"Either that or it's a mass outbreak of Aggressivus-buggus. Now lets get a closer look at possible-dream-you." Quacksalver says approaching Erised with an empty bottle of whisky.
"Grey, get this Quack off me!" Erised calls.
"I ain't your puppet, you deal with him!" Grey responds as he whacks a pair of changelings attempting to come in through the window across their faces with a broom, "UNCLEAN!"
"Without our equipment, I don't know how long we can keep these bucking roaches off us! No offense." Browndog says turning to Kichi, Silver, and Erised
"Again, some taken!” Candy responds from the kitchen over the sound of shoving the stove in front of the kitchen door with Changer's help.
"There's the cart with our equipment!" Erised calls from his stretcher pointing with one hoof while trying to shove Quacksalver away with the other as the "doctor" tries to use the empty whiskey bottle like a telescope.
"Along with about 3 squads of changelings and guards!" Solark observes before grabbing a changeling in his wooden jaws and throwing him out a window knocking over a trio of changelings trying to get in.
"We're gonna need a distraction to get past them! Something big!" Snap Drake says.
"Something cinematic!" Rutherford says as he stands near the bar's sink and blasts water streams at unguarded windows.
"Something graceful!" BrownDog adds in.
"Something stupid." Changer snarks from the kitchen
*Multi-DING*
"Changer, can you spare a few seconds?!"
We then see a squad of guards in front of the cart bravely trying to fend off the changelings.
"Keep at it men!" the lead Guardspony encourages, "We can't let this roaches get anywhere near these weapons!"
"Them? Why can't we just bust out those weapons ourselves!?" another guard responds.
Before the lead can respond, a Mongo-sized (Not Mongo, but from the same batch) barrels into the lead guard breaking their formation allowing the other changelings to overpower and start cocooning them.
"PUT ME DOWN YOU IDIOT!"
The changelings turn and see... a diamond dog carrying a unicorn (Changer) over his head running straight at them. As the changelings prepare to engage the new interlopers, suddenly the diamond dog gracefully leaps in the air while holding the unicorn by his leg as pretty lighting (provided by Rutherford) shines on him.
Changeling and half-coccooned guard alike can only stare at this spectacle in confusion as the Diamond Dog gracefully lands on the big changeling's head and strikes a dramatic pose while still holding the unicorn by his leg... Then the changelings around them aim and charge up their magic.
While the changelings are distracted, Snap Drake is able to ride in to the back of the cart on Solark's back, kick open the cracked door, and grab a big bad labeled "EVIDENCE".
"I got it! Back to the tavern!" Snap Drake declares as he Solark rushes back into the tavern where the other Crimson Knights are holing up.
"Little busy!" BrownDog yells while being chased by changelings.
"WHY THE BUCK DO I KEEP HANGING OUT WITH YOU MORONS!?" Spartan/Changer yells.
================
8075221
Remember, Crimson Knights are prisoners in a convoy. They do NOT have any weapons on them at the beginning (although they do now thanks to my comment)
8075512
Erised is currently still bed-bound due to the battle with "Crimson Vengeance". Have Candy assigned to pushing his bed around the battlefield
8075881
Wish granted. As mere clones they do not have the original's powers (they don't have the focus or discipline for Party Cannons) but...
"Pinkies! Form of: PARTY CANNON!" the lead Pinkie (aka the one Crimson Vengeance accidentally tazed) declares causing the other Pinkie clones to cartwheel together into the shape of a cannon and start blasting Pinkies at the changelings, providing covering fir-er Pinkies for the civilians to try to get away.
8076283
Oh-ho GOD yes!!!! *Fist Pump*
8076283 I put my abilities in my comment, plus I like the idea I had of Solar using some of his body to make skeleton Keys, plus with my wyvern's healing fire, he can give the Knights some form of minor healing and energy boost.
Set ponies on fire! Wait... No, that wouldn't work...
8076283
Yeah, thanks for clearing that up for us. I guess my comment can start when we get our equipment back.
A changeling creeps up behind them and Changer notices. When the changeling tries to pounce on Candy he uses his right hoof and blocks the punch. "I may be brutal, but I don't harm innocent mares when I don't need to." He said forgeting about the Fluttershy incident, then punched the shocked changeling away.
"Wow, thanks." She says while blushing.
"For both of our sakes forget about it and keep barricading."
"Don't you dare fall for that traitor!" Kichi yells across the room, fending off some other changelings.
Silver Strange also seemed to be angry at Changer for some reason. He was giving him a piercing glare the blue unicorn gave no bucks about.
"What?!" Candy replies with a huge blush.
"Gosh he has to have autism. There's no other way." Changer mutters to himself.
8076283
"Except it's round one bucking hundred!" Changer yells, remembering his free time playing Call of Duty with Kichi when they were once friends.
8076472 8076660
Don't worry, I will be incorporating multiple comments and throwing them into a blender. I'll find a way to incorporate things and make them work. And the keys idea I definitely will use.
Also, Silver Strange definitely gets jealous at that since she and him had adjacent cells and have been growing close for months.
8076283
Changer:
Strengths: Fast & Swift, a lot of stamina with powerful attacks. He can dodge and block effectively. He's a glass cannon that most likely can't be directly hit. Can sense magic.
Weaknesses: Not durable, will be taken down if taken too many direct hits. Can't spam abilities.
Powers
Three enchanted books:
Red, Yellow, and Blue enchanted books for Fire, Wind/Air, and Ice respectively. They can do most things with the element on the book. For example, the Yellow book can procure a Windwall to block ranged attacks, but since this is one of the more powerful abilities it adds more time for the book to automatically charge-back up.
The most basic ability is the fire/ice ball, which when used five times the book has to cooldown for 3 minutes. The book's most powerful ability is summoning a Fire, Air, or Ice dragon (Or you can look at this picture), for 10 minutes. The book is then on cooldown until the ten minutes are up.
The Skeleton Arms (Susano):
First off, I will write a comment later of him activating this form.
Two shadowy skeleton arms that Changer can control at will. It's his most second most powerful form that he uses when he needs to get serious, but not his final form. (Not introducing it to this story for plot purposes) He can use it to grab large things, throw things (Or in this case changelings) around, block attacks, and doesn't crack easily.
Of course, Changer is almost always serious. He's sharp minded and smart in combat. He ignores insults unless it involves something close to him (which the changelings don't know about). And the only Knight leaders he truly cares about are Snap Drake and Brown Dog.
Can't remember if there is more stuff I had about him. I'll add it later if I remember anything.
8076711
Added a small paragraph to the comment. I'll probably put more into it later in a different comment if not you can add something if you'd like.
The Decision That’s Their Own:
“A swarm tactic, just like back in the Wedding Invasion,” Erised sneers, recalling the plan the Hive came up with previously, “but only at a smaller scale. Sabotaging the inside, and then overwhelm it in its weakness: That’s nothing new, but it works. I believe the dome is operated on the outside. No escape.”
All the former Crimson Knights frowns.
“So we have no choice but to last against all 300 changelings, huh?” Kichi grumbles, “Judging by their plan, they’re desperate for love. They won’t go down without risking their lives.”
“Yeah…” Candy winces at the thought, “To fight while starved…”
Even Silver is bothered. “I knew I left the Hive for the better, but to fight my own like this?” Quickly, he says, “I’m trained to fight, not figure out who the enemy is. Even then, I can’t shake this feeling.”
Erised snorts from his bed. “It’s simple: we are enemies now. The Hive gives no mercy to deserters even if you feel too ill to fight back. It doesn’t matter if we are of the same species. That’s how the Hive is.”
“Erised is right, guys,” Rutherford pipes in, “It doesn’t matter what race we are now. Pony, changeling, dragon or timberwolf---we are all in the same page.”
“And so here we are, a band of misfits of mixed races, “ Grey Rebl dryly says, “but it’s not like there’s any choice.”
“But it’s because we ARE a band of misfits of mixed races that we DO have a choice.”
Everyone looks at the speaker, Browndog.
“...Browndog?” Changer asks quizzically.
Cheerfully, the diamond dog goes on. “Ever since that incident with Spartan, we went our separate ways and things changed. But now that we know all of that was orchestrated by a wannabe Hydra, then that means everything that we’ve been doing for Crimson Knights was all a lie, fun for someone else’s. And not ours. But look at us now! We’re all together, exactly what they didn’t want! So you guys know what this means?”
They all look at each other, eyeing for understanding.
“We have a battle royal?” Grey Rebl guesses. Judging by the amused look he receives, he is ways off.
“No, but that’s an idea,” Browndog laughs, “What it means is that, at this moment, the choice is really ours. No strings attached. So I say buck their plans for us to Tartarus! We are sticking together whether they like it or not, and we will have OUR fun.” He puts a paw in front him. “So, who want’s in?”
Nobody fails to see the social que. It is something cheesy, something that teams do in hoof ball to inspire moral. Once they put a hoof or claw in, though, it means they will recognize that they are...more than just acquaintances who just so happens to be in the same club. They’ll be a party in a bizarre adventure.
“Heck yeah, man! I’m in!” Snap Drake, of course, enthusiastically put his vote in, looking at everyone else excitedly, expecting an answer as well.
Spartan does so as well, but with less excitement compared to Snap. “Don’t misunderstand. I still have issues with you guys, but someone has to watch out for Snap and Brown.”
“Aww, we love ya too, man,” Snap says tearfully.
“Shut up.” Spartan looks away.
Smirking, Solar and Rutherford look at each other.
“Can you believe these guys?” Solar says.
Rutherford just shrugs, smiling as well. Obviously, it is a mocking gesture, yet they both put their respective paw and claw in. "I guess everyone has to have a hobby."
"Yeah? And look at what making a movie for fun did!"
A reluctant chitin hoof joins in as well. “Crazy,” Kichi shakes his head, muttering, “This is crazy. The odds are against us and I can’t believe I’m placing my life on you guys. Gosh, I really am desperate.”
Silver and Candy at once put their hooves in unision. Throughout the months with their jails adjacent to each other, they’ve been relatively close.
“I might not have known you guys in the past, but you guys aren’t all that bad. Crazy, but not bad,” Silver simply says, “Sure, I’ll take my chances. Just no funny business, alright?”
“Mhmm.” Candy just smiles bashfully and nods affirmatively. “If it means I have a place to belong.”
Grey just stood for a moment, glaring a hole into the floor as if in deep thought before softening his expression. He begins to trot toward the circle but Erised called him.
“Grey.”
“What?” he tersely says, temper flaring.
“...get me closer so that I can reach in.” Erised then utters a near incomprehensible, “please.”
Grey blinks, and then he shrugs uncaringly. “Fine. Just this once, alright?” He pulls the bed near the circle.
Now Erised and Grey’s hooves are in, the former’s weakly hanging over the edge.
“Hmmph. So this is what it feels to be driven into a corner,” Erised grumbles broodingly.
Grey instantly retorts, “Suck it up and deal with it you pansy.”
“Well, I guess that just leaves Kersey,” Solar says, eyeing said fatty in his bed.
“Eh, he’s in with us by default anyways,” Browndog says, “Besides, there’s no way in Tartarus he’s going to escape us.”
At that, Kersey subconsciously shudders from where he lays comatose.
------------
Grey Rebl:
A brown, short-tempered unicorn with a tendency towards cleanliness. And violence. Overall, he has OCD, is foul-mouthed, and is snarky. In terms of appearance, he’s dull and boring. Despite being obviously a unicorn, he acts more like an Earth pony. That, and his horn is pretty short and thus invisible within his shaggy silver mane unless he wears a janitor’s cap, exposing the horn with the mane underneath the cap. With little to no magical talent, let alone a cutie mark, the best being able to repair his broken mops during fights, he is thus called an Earth pony. He doesn’t mind. As long as one doesn’t imply that he’s a “dirty” pony by calling him such. In fact, the only times he seems to remember if he is a unicorn is when he fights, making clever use of what little magical ability he has.
Brutal and cunning, he’s known to be able take down opponents without mercy due to his unnatural dexterity and his deadly use of cleaning utilities. However, this makes him ultimately a glass cannon, putting him only above Kersey in combat prowess without outside help. Still, he learns to make up his lack of base stats with a bit pain tolerance and a touch of crazy. As fights go on, he becomes drowned in his own adrenaline and gets insaner and deadlier, turning him into a frightening individual...if it weren’t for his darn silly braces.
In terms of relationships, he's neutral with most of the Crimson Knights. However, he hates Erised the most. Being mind-controlled by him does that to you.
Some of the less nourished changelings (cause lets face it, they've been undercover for awhile now and there's not a lot of love to go around) seemed to have reverted to a more robotic nature. Their just stomping around and cornering ponies while saying "You will be assimilated or be deleted" in a robotic tone.
Of course BrownDog just laughs his ass off at this, and wonders when some tin-can robots will show up to have a trash talk showdown
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You'd expect the townsfolk of Appleoosa to be unprepared for a hostile invasion...well you'd be wrong.
You see before Bugze left, he may or may not have give his best pal some specific instructions if they were ever in trouble. That instruction
"EXACUTE ORDER 66!"
Let's just say having a town full of cowponies and bull's suddenly be armed to the teeth with pie-based weaponry and dressed in all manners of old military style clothing was the last thing the changelings were expecting. Who knew a mini-gun using apples as ammo and pie bombs could hurt so much.
As for the knights...well let's just say Grey and to be restrained from going on a "cleansing" of the town.
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Also, at some point BrownDog and Snap manage to get drunk (of course) and soon become masters of Drunk Fu!
....Well more like just punching wildly and somehow managing to knock out a good chunk of the changelings, but still.
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For the question, I'd have to agree with Rutherford and say the Crimson Knights. I mean what other story is there that has a bunch of it's commenters become wacky terrorist and cause Celestia a untold amount of headaches? Besides, I feel like the story wouldn't be the same without them, and I defiantly appreciate that they have been the longest commenters of the story, some of them have even been here from the start!
So yeah, Crimson Knights for the win!
Also we need some combat music, ideas?
8076851
Combat music, eh?
Choose wisely.
I think I have more if I look more.
Just had the most amazing idea.
When four changelings are knocked down, a loud voice stops everyone in their tracks.
"You fucking donkeys!" A male changeling with a blond mane yells.
"Uh-oh..." One of the changelings says under her breath.
The blond changeling walked up to the four who were knocked down and yells, "Listen! Listen! Listen! Listen! Buck off! Buck off! Buck off! Buck off! Get outta here!" The four times he yelled 'Listen!' and 'Buck off' were the fours times he aggressively pointed at each of the changelings.
The four changelings left without a word to the shock of most of the knights.
"I was five years old when I was forced to run away from the hive..." Changer thought. "Who is that?" He asked Kichi.
Kichi frowned at the blond changeling and said, "That's Drone # 50, his code name is Gordan Ramsay."
A two-digit drone is rare... Changer thought again.
"Although strict as buck, he's the best chef in the hive. He really knows how to make love taste the best I'll tell you that. He's one of the Queen's most trusted drones."
"And why is this chef in the middle of the battlefield?" Snap Drake asks, loud enough for Gordan to hear and glare at him.
"Don't underestimate him. He's made his own style of martial arts, Chef-Fu."
"Seriously?!" Half of the knights shout.
"Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you, yeah?" Gordan angrily tells the knights, which make them turn to him. "For now I'm in control alright? So come at me if you bucking dare you pieces of crap."
"I'll take him." Changer says.
"Are you sure man?" Brown Dog asks with concern.
"Yeah," Changer cracks his neck with a forehoof around his neck. "He'll be a warm up for me."
"You're shit."
The battle begins once again.
While Changer and Gordan are exchanging blows, a changeling fighting Grey Rebl is hit and he yells, "Buck me!"
Gordan glares at him while trying to push against Changer in a hoof lock. "Buck me? How about buck you!"
8076283
Keys or No Keys:
As they assimilated into the tavern, Grey Rebl forcibly drags one of the royal guards and into the building. He promptly slams him into the floor as barricades begins to form.
“Start talking: Where’s the keys to the anti-magic restraints?!” Grey yells at the guard, pinning him down, a foreleg to his throat.
“Like I’ll tell you criminal scu---hrmf!” The grey-brown pony just chokes him hard.
Growling threateningly, he says, “You’re surrounded, you’re entire force is in shambles, and you’re in no position to have the luxury to waste our time. Now where’s the bucking keys?!”
When he loosen the hold, the guard breathes out heavily, “W-why should we help you?”
“Because you will need our help if you want to live through this mess,” Erised says coldly from the side. “Either you stand against us AND the changelings, or we stay out of your way. Take your pick.”
“How do we know you’re not one of them?!” the guard blurts.
Suddenly, the snapping of wood and a snarl sounds from the entrance. Immediately after that, Kichi cries, “DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE ARE ONE OF THEM?!” before cracking a block wood into the intruding changeling’s face.
Slowly, Grey tightens his hold around the guard’s throat. “We don’t have all day…”
“Grrff!” The guards grunts, quickly scanning the spacious tavern and then those who are amazingly defending against the invasion like practiced veterans of war. He makes his decision. “Only if you help the citizens get to safety in this tavern. The one with the key will follow.” Even when threatened, this particular guard still has the wits to think about the citizens first.
Grey narrows his eyes at him before looking towards his fellow inmates. The reactions are mixed, but it is made very clear what they’ll have to do next.
“Might as well,” Browndog shrugs, “We need all the help we can get anyways. We’re all stuck together in this dome anyways until this is over.”
The silver-brown unicorn turns back to the guard, pausing for a moment before letting him go, who greedily gasps for breath. He then trots away, grabbing a nearby broom before saying, “Start barricading and consider it done.” With a sigh, he idly mutters, “Great. More babysitting.”
Silver Strange’s Megalo Strike Back:
Suddenly, the buzzing of changeling wings seems become louder. And more numerous.
“Gorrammit!” Erised curses, eyes scrunching at the implications. “They are noticing that ponies are gathering here. They will combine forces and come in droves at this rate!”
“Ugh!” Grey groans, mercilessly stabbing a worn broom into the throat of an invader, before slamming a chair in front him, kicking it to launch it towards an incoming group. The satisfying sound of snapping wood couldn’t ease his indignation. “Has the one with keys came in yet?!”
Even with the few surviving guards helping to defend, they are slowly being overrun.
“No, but I think the others are coming back with our stuff soon!” Candy says, eyeing through an open window when, suddenly, a changeling pop through it and snarls. She yelps helplessly, causing Silver to rage in and punt the bugger out.
“Well I hope they’re stupid plan works!” Kichi cries out from the other end of the tavern, defending against the open windows along with a few other brave townspeople. “I still can’t believe we are working with these ponies!”
“Coming through! Coming through!” a voice from outside suddenly yells. “I’ve got wounded!”
Frowning, Grey lightens his assault to let the approaching through. “Erised,” he calls.
“On it,” Erised nods tersely.
Another royal guard, but one who has a more empowering appearance than the rest and brimming with charisma, stumbles in hurriedly with an unconcious pony in a cowboy hat and wild west vest beholding a shining, starry badge. They both collapse within safety, exhausted from what is likely a dead sprint.
The charismatic guard gives out a relieved sigh. “Thanks. It’s good to find a safe haven in this mess---” He stops dead cold when he looks up, Erised’s hoof to his forehead as they both stared at one another. Then, the coldness washes away and the guard lets out a gasp.
“Good. Not a changeling in disguise. Would’ve been problematic,” the pale changeling muses.
The charismatic guard grits his jaw, wearily looking at him. “And what if I was?”
“Oh, I would’ve forced you to stop breathing with what little mind magic I have. But since I can’t at the moment,” he gestures towards his anti-magic restraints, “I would’ve left your fate to him over there.”
Following what Erised is looking at, the charismatic guard is gifted the sight of a Grey breaking the leg of changeling with a cringing snap. He then proceeds to gag the poor thing with the cleaning end of his broom, pauses, and then wipes away the resulting spittle with changeling's wings. The guard gulps.
“Well? Do you have the keys to unlock these straights?” Erised pointedly asks. “We are being overrun. We need all the firepower we can get.”
The charismatic guards opens his mouth to retort, but he notices his fellow guards gesturing him to answer honestly.
“They’re here to help us. They can be trusted. For now,” one of them says.
Before the guard can ponder anymore, a yells sounds out from one the volunteers at the far side of the tavern. “A lot more comin’ in! The bigguns!”
Running out of patience, Grey blares, “Keys: do you have it or not?!”
Clicking his tongue, the guard nods. With a slight of telekinesis, he tosses over to the other unicorn.
“Quick!” Kichi suddenly shouts, “Get Silver first! Trust me!”
Grimacing, Grey rushes towards Silver and swiftly unlocks his restraints, just in time for a Mongo-sized changelings to burst through the side, the defenders flinching at the brute force.
Happily, Silver steps forward towards the danger. “Yo! You all came in just in time...” A blue flame suddenly bursts from his flashing killer eye. “...for a bad time.” With deft wave of a hoof, forces unknown quaked. Like water, the furniture moved. Like static, the hairs of every person present moved. And like falling, the big changelings are flung back towards where they came from, crushing the smaller ones behind them.
At this, sudden display of raw power, Erised chuckles darkly. “The Hive never had been one about high quality and nurturing talents. Serves them right for trying to toss us away.” Then, he frowns, eyeing the sweat running through Silver’s brow, obviously exhausted from the magical exertion and being low on love. “But we still need to be conservative about this.”
you do realize that the pinkie pie clones are still in Appleloosa there is still plenty of room for chaos with hundreds of Pinkie's that don't know how to restrain themselves. And then there is also the buffaloes to consider not all of them would be in the dome but that dome could be impeding there stampeding grounds or some of them might be stuck behind the barrier not so sure how powerful a changeling's dome shield is but probably cant be maintained if the Buffaloes started to stamped.
That's not even considering what each of the Crimson Knights will do.
Personally I liked Auqa the most out of the OC's that I read this season looking forward to see how she will react to the Nightmare reveal about Bugze and how she will work with Flash and Shining Armor with their secret armor project
8076851 Just like Spartan, I also offer a couple...
[On the train, after the Knights find out they'd been Hydra-d]
As the Knights get busy freeing themselves from their shackles through their various means, BrownDog notices Erised trembling on his gurney.
"Yo Ink-Moth, you alright over there, edgy?"
"How dare they." Erised says through clenched fangs, "No one puppeteers the puppet master! I swear I'm going to end them slowly, that arrogant Queen and her whole wretched hive. I'm going to make their brains dribble out their eye-holes like snot!"
"Not that that doesn't sound really... you. But you're still still weak as a wet noodle and strapped to a gurney." BrownDog points out as he casually rips the manacles off his hind paws.
Erised lets out a strained sigh. "You're right... Hey you," he calls over to Candy, "you're my legs now, Sugarlips."
"Excuse me?!" Candy says, looking indignant, "What did you just call- AH!"
The female changeling is cut off as Erised spits a big gob of ink-blood in her eye and begins imposing his limited will. "You heard me, now get pushing. There's vermin to be crushed."
---
[Once their magic restraints have been lifted]
Erised takes in a deep, satisfied breath as he feels his magic literally surging through his veins. Not enough blood to make even one clone, but he's notorious for being able to work with what's on hoof. "Solar, let one or two of them in, if you would." he says with a chilling calmness.
the Timberwolf looks unsure, but decides not to question it and allows a gap in the barricade. Sure enough, a single drone slips through and lands before Erised in a combat stance. They both lunge, but Erised slaps the drone's head aside and sinks his fangs squarely into its neck.
The changeling drone stumbles backward, clutching at the gushing wound, but slowly, the blood coming from its neck turns a sickly, viscous black. Thick tendrils of Erised's blood start surging through the drone, converting its own changeling blood to Erised's ink, giving him full control over the now bloodsoaked drone.
"Resist and the pain shall grow worse. Go. Spread the blight. All shall drown in my darkness!"
With spastic movements flinging black splotches everywhere, the drone bounds back outside, where confused and panicked shrieks from the other changelings are heard almost instantly.
"That's new." Grey comments, nearly stepping in the black substance left behind. "And messy."
"Actually it's an older method: slow suffering and betrayal, specially cooked up for members of my own kind." Erised says almost wistfully as he makes his way behind the shelter of the bar counter. "Now do your jobs and cover me, I need to concentrate."
All friendly changelings present share a shiver among themselves before turning back to the fight.
8076851
Oh, and I almost forgot to offer a piece of battle music!
8077916
"We could, but I don't think it could do much, it could be better if we block the window with something, think about it more like glue or jelly more that as something solid" Comment Kichi
"Usually we use it for pods and for capture to maintain ponies sleep and feed, not really sure how effective could be to maintain other changelings sleeping. If we could find something to block the windows, like a table or a chair, or something big, it could be better that just using that" Add Kichi as he do what he can.
"What I don't exactly know is what exactly do they think that are doing? Soon or later the ponies are going to know that something happen here, they have three alicorn Princesses and a god of chaos, not to say that bounty hunter that defeated us, do the stupid queen really think that she is going to win?" Ask Kichi looking at the others
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Anything and I edit
8075211
"While I'm happy that you care, you remind me that I was weak back then. Instead, let's remind ourselves to obliterate the hive!" Changer yells in anger and determination.
Just found another piece.
https://youtu.be/jTnRDvpU4hQ
The following scenes can be mixed in with others whenever applicable. This IS kinda long.
__________________________________________
The Equipment:
As the keys to unlock the anti-magic constraints are passed around, another wave approaches. They all can practically hear the layers of buzzing, but this time they are more than ready. However, they suddenly hear a wave of screams, snapping wood, and punches, and then the buzzing stops. Silence.
Then, a voice shouts, ”Hey guys! Open up!”
Silver, with his superior telekinesis, moves aside Kersey’s big bod to reveal the members of the expedition and the victory in their faces. Except Spartan, who has a dazed yet twitchy look. Silver grins, eyeing the stuff that they brought.
“That’s right! We’re back---woah,” Browndog takes a look around, at the growing layers of fortification and at the gathered ponies who sought haven among the battle-hardened crew. The numbers are growing. “Looks like a rave in here.”
“You’re late to the party! We got keys just time to NOT get overwhelm---OW! Buck off!” Kichi flinches away from the splintered wood when another changeling is lucky enough to break through. The invader in turn receives the full might of several applebuck farmers. As he watches the ponies pummel his own kind, he mutters, “I know they’re high up in my Pyramid of Respect, but I’m starting to think I should put them down a level lower.”
“You think that NOW after they readily admitted to tossing us away?” Spartan snarks, strutting in with some of their equipment on his back.
“...good point.”
“Can I get the keys?” Spartan inquires, holding up his spellbook on hoof. “I’m tired of carrying things by hoof.”
“Here,” Grey dodges a reckless pincer charge from a pair of changelings, letting them tackle each other instead, and tosses the item of interest over to Spartan. “Now gimme my mop. I know it’s there.”
“Yeah, sure,” Spartan inclines, tossing the mop off his back while catching the keys simultaneously, “but what makes a mop of all things be called ‘evidence?’”
“I clean up a lot of blood with it. Erised’s sometime.”
“...figures.”
Everyone is now equipped, all their magical abilities are available and the entire gang is together. The only difference from the usual are the missing Crimson Knight cloaks. They don’t matter anymore though.
“Alright everyone, let’s get buck wild!” Browndog declares triumphantly, straightening his shade. “Hit the music.”
__________________________________________
Grey’s Most Faithful Companion:
With the others now returning from the excursion, Grey can finally have enough of a breather to mentally catalogue his resources. Specifically, stuff that consists of cleaning supplies. Airspray, a bottle of hoof soap, dishwashing soap, some towels, several brooms and mops, and finally his own personal mop gathered as “evidence” by the guard. But not just any mop.
Grey stares at the polished wood of his sturdy mop, admiring its shine as he sees his own reflection on it. Caressing a hoof over the cleaning utility, he mutters, “My most faithful companion. You’ve returned,” and then knocks three snarling changelings with a single swing, a psychotic grin on his face.
“Now that I have my mop, I can clean this entire town ALL BUCKING DAY!” Everyone can hear his mad laughter and the rhythmic thwacks of his mop with great clarity. They all shy away from his damage zone. Never before has janitor work look so sinister.
“Ugh.” Erised face hoofs with a look that says ‘this shit again?’” “He has relapsed.”
__________________________________
Wombo Comboing:
“Hey, Snap!” Grey trots over to Snap while still facing the front, levitating can of air spray. “Can I borrow a light?”
With a knowing grin, Snap nods and levitates over the flame of a molotov cocktail. In the direction of now exposed side, Grey sprays and the contents bursts in into flame. The duo waves it side to side to spread the cleansing fire. Now that that side is burning, the changelings are discouraged from taking that route.
“Y’know, I thought you’d be an aquamaniac or something,” Snap comments.
“If it cleans the mess away, I’ll use whatever method it takes.”
“Ah. Gotcha.”
Suddenly, a crash occurs on the other side of the establishment, the ponies screaming to get away from a dead charge of three changelings of hulking size. Dust and dirt flows in, acting as smokescreen for anymore coming inside.
“Mess in the East aisle!” Solar roars, rushing to meet them head on.
Grey returns the call. “On it!”
Using his abnormal speed, he is able sprint parallel along with the timberwolf. In fact, taking advantage of it, he rushes ahead with splintered brooms and mops in his telekinetic grip and flings them at the attackers. They didn’t even flinch and ignores them as though they are twigs. Solar follows the trail of broken cleaning utilities, assimilating them into his body. However, they are only distractions for Grey’s real mop as he swiftly goes to the side and slams the lead changeling on a leg with unexpected strength. Giving no time, he smoothly does the same to the second, and then the third!
With them unbalanced and with his strengthened maw, Solar lifts the first over himself as he passes it along and slams it into the second and swings it again into the third. He ends the motion by mightily flinging it back into the smoky opening.
The other two downed, Grey quickly closes in so that the almighty mop shall be their end. Thwack! Solar grabs the second and throws yet again. Thwack! The same things happens once more! The timberwolf and pony stares at their handy work. The three unconscious changelings now blocks the opening due to their size.
“Wooo! Go team!” Snap appears right between and gestures for a brohoof from each of his front hooves. The two looks across him and towards each other, roll their eyes, and then returns the gesture with a smile.
_________________________________________________________
Erised and Doctoring part 1:
“Is there a doctor? This stallion needs medical attention,” the charismatic guard says, looking worryingly at the unconscious Sheriff by his side.
Quacksalver hops upon hearing the word ‘doctor,’ “Somepony called a---,” but he is shut down with Erised’s hoof engraved into his face.
“I suppose I can do something,” Erised quickly says. Whenever the accursed Quacks gets ‘busy’ back in the Asylum, the commotion tends to be immense, especially in the stallion’s drunken state. Erised knows. His plans were broken apart by him. If the Quack does anything ‘productive’, it will mean distractions. And distractions aren’t things he needs while trying to focus. “Let’s make this quick. What’s the issue---Is that apple pie I smell?”
Taking a whiff towards the Sheriff, there is indeed apple pie.
“Uh, yeah.”
“Explain.”
“While throwing pie at the enemy changelings, one of our own accidently shot a piece at the good Sheriff. He tripped and bumped his head.”
A brow twitches. “I see.” With a touch on the Sheriff’s forehead, he uses his mind-control with as little ink as possible to forcibly awake the mustached stallion, whose eyes suddenly shoots wide open like an energy drink junkie. He then bounces to all fours instantly, spazzing like a cartoon.
“Wooooweeee!” the Sheriff hollers, “Ah feelin’ so alive Ah feel like can tussle with ‘em buffalo a thousands times over!”
“Actually, that is all fake,” Erised interrupts, “I only stimulated the emotion to make you inclined to go out and fight.”
Suddenly, the Sheriff is right up in his face, “So you the boy who healed me?”
Growling, Erised says, “Don’t call me a ‘boy,’ you---urk!” before he is suddenly pulled into a hearty hug!
“Thank you, sonny! Ah appreciate the pick-me-up!” Letting go, the Sheriff then turns and goes straight into the fray, meshing with the chaos as he shouts, “Howdy-ho!”
Rather than putting up a response, Erised wheezes for breath, nursing his chest due to his injuries. “Thanks? When is the last time that is said to me?”
_______________________________________
The Pinkies
“Say, do changelings tend to disguise as the same pony in en masse?” Browndog suddenly asks.
“To confuse the enemy during swarms, yes,” Erised answers. “Why?”
“Might explain all the pink all the way over there.”
“...what?” The pale changeling closes eyes to reconnect to his personal hivemind, using the senses of his puppets to see what’s up. Indeed, there are dozens of pink mares of the same exact face, facing the invasion head on. “That is just…”
“Oh, what is this ah hear?!” The Sheriff suddenly enters conversation, snapping out him of his battle of pie and chitin. In fact, his face is filled with genuine concern. And hope. “Could it be the Pink Sisters? Ah thought the changeling has about had them all!”
Eyes still scrunched, Erised mutters, “No it seems they’re holding them back all well and good. In fact, they forming a...cannon?” His eyes snaps open. “Everyone away from the front! Pink mare incoming!”
Suddenly, a pink cannon ball breaks through one of the barricades with so much force those near the place of impact flew! A collection of beaten changelings, wood, and dust alike bursts into the tavern. The destruction might’ve gone further if Grey hadn’t valiantly caught the pink ball of calamity with his face.
Violently tumbling across the tavern and crashing into and breaking the bar section into splinters, the pink mass finally stops with a grey-brown mass under it.
“WHY THE BUCK IS THERE SO MUCH PINK?!” Grey shouts, muffled by a poofy mane.
_______________________________________
Erised and Doctoring Part 2:
“Tell me mister, will I die?”
A sigh, one of frustration and painful resignation. “No. It is literally just a scrape,” Erised deadpans, “I’m surprised the crash didn’t do much worse. Honestly, if only Rutherford is capable of actual healing rather than energy rejuvenation, I wouldn’t be doing this.”
The pale killer changeling stares bemused at the pink mare before him. She is a total flower, eyes filled with sky-like innocence and a cheerfully poofy mane, acting as blissfully ignorant as child. And, with baby-faced worry, she thinks she’s dying over a small scrape on her foreleg. Unbelievable.
“But why does it hurt? Things don’t hurt unless it is really, really bad!”
“Oh for the love of---are you born yesterday?!”
“Over two weeks ago, actually,” she says with a straight face.
With an even straighter face, Erised simply says, “Nevermind.” He has no patience to deal with stupid. He taps her head and then her expression lightens.
“Oooh! The hurt is gone!” she says giddily, like a kid witnessing magic.
“Just made your mind ignore the injury. Now---no hugs!” Erised hastily says when the mare gets too close with a familiar sense of happiness in her eyes.
“Awww,” the pink mare whines sadly, “But how else I’m going to thank you?”
Erised’s eyes widen, his jaw dropping slightly. That...that is the second time he’s…! He shakes his head, getting the thought out. “Just scram already! I’m busy, and I’d rather not waste ink shutting you up permanently,” he grumbles, irritated. “In fact? Grey! Get this mare away from me!”
Still bitter about being a cushion for her fall, Grey growls, “Buck off! Unless she has grade-A cleaning supplies as a peace offering, I won’t do jack shit for her!” To emphasize his point, he slams a soapy towel onto a head peeking through a window, it’s owner screaming bloody murder as the detergent seeps into its buggy eyes before he ends his misery with the bitter end of his mop.
“Oh, is that all?” The pink mare says simply. With a swipe of her hoof, cleaning supplies of notoriously popular brands magically appears by his hooves. Well, actually, she just pulls a plank out of the floor and pulls the stuff out from underneath.
This gives Grey pause and his jaw drops. What he is seeing are miracles. Clorox wipes, All-Purpose cleaners, and Tide detergent---especially Tide detergent. Legends say that their cleaning ability can even turn the Tide of battle!
“I do cleaning work around the tavern. I keep emergency supplies hidden all around. Pretty cool, huh? Oh, and you can have these, too.” She then slips a stack of coupons along the pile. Tide Laundry detergent, 80% off. “Appaloosan policy,” she boasts cheerfully.
Grey just gapes at the coupons and the wonders of the household cleaning world. It’s the sweetest bucking deal in the world to him! With a finality of the fates, he looks up and stare deep into the abyss of the mare’s eyes.
“I love you.”
“Dude! That’s cheating on Erised!” a voice sounds.
“Shut the buck up, Snap!”
As Browndog watches all of this whilst smashing a few skulls, he hums in thought. He looks at Kichi, Silver, Spartan, and Candy. They are looking tired, exhausted even judging by the wilting of the eyes. He then looks back at Erised and Grey with the pink mare. And then back at his allied changelings.
“Say, think you can get some of your sisters to cheer on for our loved-starved friends?” he finally says.
________________________________________
Roof Breach
Erised suddenly curses with a sneer. “Kuh! They’re wisening up and breaking through the roof!” he warns, right on time for the ceiling to suddenly snap and creak until---
Crash! Crash! Crash!
---changelings came crashing in hissing and snarling. The gang is quick to knock out a most of them but the rest quickly turns into a disguise, disappearing into the chaos. Big mistake.
“This one smells too buggy!” Thwack!
“This one doesn’t smell like apples!” Thwack!
“This one’s armor is too dull!” Thwack!
“This one has slime on his face!”
His latest victim suddenly shouts pleadingly, “I escaped a changeling pod with my life! Of course I have slime on me!”
“I’LL CLEAN YOU ALL THE SAME!” And down goes the cleaning end of his mop.
Meanwhile, Browndog and Solar, using their keen sense of smell, does their best to clear out the changelings from within.
8079008 After the Roof Breach
Rutherford Looks up and sees a large hole in the ceiling. He turns to the others.
Rutherford: "Well gents, I think it is time to gain some air superiority. If you need me, send a flare through the hole."
This music starts to play for the air fight (Aces High - Iron Maiden) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xg9aQvjMS60
With that, Rutherford shoots through the hole and charges through a small group of flying changelings, grabbing the lead one in his jaws while his bladed tail slices the wings off of another.
Rutherford: Let's see if we can't cause a bit of strife for these cockroaches.
Rutherford begins swinging his tail blade at the other flying changelings and causing them to crash into the ground with a painful crunch. He shoots beams of ice and boiling water on groups of changelings trying to break into the tavern.
LATER ON IN THE FIGHT
Rutherford's beams are becoming smaller and he seems to be flying a bit slower.
Rutherford: I'm running low on energy. If we weren't in a damned desert, I could keep going a bit longer. Wait, is that what I think it is?
Rutherford flies over to a large water tower that a large group of changelings are massing by. He lands as quietly as he can on top of it (which is actually not quiet at all, but due to the fighting all over the town, no one seems to hear it)
Rutherford: This tower is full of water. I can regain most of my power and still have enough for quite a few recharges...or....I can recharge now and use the rest for a massive attack. Let me recharge first.
Rutherford rips open a hole in the top of the water tower (next to some graffiti saying "Bugze Was Here" and uses his water bending to bring the water to him like a large straw and drinks a few gallons. He turns to face the changelings below him.
Rutherford: Much better. Now let's see what I can do about you.
He tears the hole he made earlier open wider, flies into the air, and begins to use the water to force the water tower to start tilting towards the changelings. Once it tilts some more, the changeling stop whatever they were planning and look around at the sound of metal and wood creaking. They turn around too late as the tower falls upon most of them. Water begins to wash some changeling away as it spreads out.
Rutherford: "Alright everyone. Chill!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2WzkgkufyE
Rutherford fires a beam of ice into the soaking changelings, causing all of them in the water to freeze as well as cover the water tower and several changelings tried to get away. From the distance he hears Brown Dog say: "Your pun was bad and you should feel bad!" He looks in the direction of the tavern and sees a flare shoot up from the building
Rutherford: I better head back to the tavern. I'm sure the guys could use a pick-me-up and some heals.
As he heads back, he slices the wings off a few more changelings in his way.
As I have no idea how many chapters this is going to take, I have something I would like to put for after the fight, assuming we are able to get away from the guards.
Rutherford: "Well, now that we have gotten away from that death trap, what do you guys want to do. I think it is safe to say that Equestria is not going to be very accommodating to us either given what we were accused of. I want to see my mate again. You are all welcome to join me. My clan is not as xenophobic as most ponies are here. It is located between the sea and a large forest full of wild game and has fertile farmland so we don't have to worry about food. Plus there, you won't have to hide as we do not have an alliance with Equestria, so even if they tracked us there, they would not be able to do anything."
The other Knights give some feedback. One says that it sounds like settling down and that sounds too boring for them.
Rutherford: "Well, while my clan is better known in the international world as merchants and fishermen, my clan also makes some of the fastest ships to sail. It would not be hard to acquire one and start sailing with a Letter of Marque...*looking at the blank expression of a few faces* You know...Privateers? *Still some blank faces, he sighs* Being paid by another country to attack other countries as pirates."
After the other Knights decide if they like this idea.
Rutherford: "Well either way, we still need to get out of the country. Fortunately, we don't have far to go to get to the Dragon Lands. Some of you are going to need to fly beside me if the rest of you are on my back or being carried in my talons."
Spartan: "And why would the dragons not turn us over?"
Rutherford: "Simple, my dad and the Dragon Lord are business partners and poker buddies. They know who I am and would not turn me, or my associates, over to a bunch of ponies. Especially when I tell them we were wrongfully imprisoned due to others lying and manipulating the ponies and we escaped captivity after being imprisoned without the Equestrian Legal System being followed correctly. If there is one thing Dragons are, it is Honorable and they won't allow us to be taken back to a country that can't follow their own rules for punishment. Plus my clan has a port set up there that has ships pulling in and out frequently, so we would not be there long."
When one Knight asks about paying for goods there, Rutherford answers: "Actually, I have bank accounts all across the planet. And even if they managed to freeze the account I used to pay for the movie, they did not get my other accounts, including a few still in Equestria. I figure I will let them build interest for a few decades before I try going back out there again. I found that most ponies are easy to forget negative things. Plus with new disasters and monster attacks happening so often, our little adventures here will be forgotten soon enough. So shall we leave?"
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After thinking about it for some seconds, Kichi opened the mouth
"I will join..." Say seriously and dry
As he said that he looked to the others
"We need to be somewhere where Celestia can't catch us, not sure how much do other countries know about changellings, but sure it could be more easy, also we need to dissapear as I'm sure that the princesses and their lackey god of chaos is going to search for us, what better that be in another country? Even if somehow they find us, they can't send us to prison if we are not in Equestria. And who knows, maybe in a future after they forgot about us we can return, find what happened with Chrysalis and kick her for using us" Commented Kichi as he say his reason.
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Spartan looks down, closes his eyes and says, "I still have some important things to do in Equestria..."
"Like what?" Erised asked
"It's my business. It's... personal."
"Cmon, Spartan! We've been through so much together, tell us! Or at least tell me and Snap secretly." Brown Dog says.
"As much as I hate that you tried to kill me," Kichi said. "I'm curious and concerned as to why you're deciding to stay in Equestria when you're wanted."
Spartan looks around at the concerned expressions of his fellow knights. Eventually he gives in and sighs. He then stares at Kichi. And in a flash of blue he turns himself into his changeling form.
https://youtu.be/e5_KeJvlCyg
They all have their mouths agape in shock.
Candy has wide eyes. "T-this whole time..."
"You were a changeling?!" Kichi and Silver yell.
"You're half right." Changer says before shifting back. "I am half changeling, half pony. My mother was a unicorn mare and my father was full changeling."
"So then... why weren't you forced to shift back when you had the magical lock on you?" Erised asks.
"The blue unicorn form I currently have on is my base pony form. It requires no magic to chnage into this form, vice versa."
"And is that why you hold incredible magic?"
Changer smirks. "You've hit the target Erised. You could say I have a unicorns power mulitplied by my changeling magic. At first I thought they just added up, but after training for my revenge against you all, I realized that changeling magic interacted differently with a unicorns. What also supports that theory is that the Hooded Offender is a changeling and his power was greatly increased by Nightmare Moon, even more so than when she was combined with Luna."
"Alright, so you're a hybrid." Grey says. "That still doesn't explain why you need to stay in Equestria."
Changer said one impactful name. "Chrysalis."
They all tensed up at the name.
"What about her?" Snap Drake asked.
"When I was born, my mother and father decided that it would be safest to leave pony lands since I was a changeling. So, my mother decided to learn how to transform into a changeling using her unicorn magic and stay in the hive for a while until I matured. We stayed for a five years until Chrysalis found out I was a hybrid after DNA testing."
"So what did she do?" Rutherford asked.
"She wanted to kill me, as the laws of hybrids were much stricter back then. But before she could, my parents told me to run, and somehow I escaped. I heard magic being fired that day..."
"So your parents are... dead. By the hooves of Chrysalis?" Candy said in sympathy.
"Most likely."
"Wow, dude... I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault Brown Dog. So in short, I'm staying in Equestria to find Chrysalis and confront her. Even if I don't get the chance to kill her myself, I want to know the fate of my parents." He smiled. "Funny, if I never had joined the knights and if you all never let me be a leader for the bucks of it, I wouldn't have been there to survive the crash of the zeppelin, and start a thirst for revenge. I wouldn't have trained, and I wouldn't be as strong as I was now. Right now, I'm more than capable of getting through the hive and defeating her."
8079774
Kichi look at Spartan for a second, and then sigh.
"That is all good but what after that? Let's say somehow you find where is Chrysalis hidden, you take all the changelings, without thinking if there are some innocent there, and you kill her or just give her a big pain, let's even think for a moment you find your parents alive... What after that? You are still wanted, the princesses are after you and I doubt that just by taking care of Chrysalis, are going to give you a medal, tell you did good work and walk free." Comment Kichi as if he was telling a tale with a happy ending.
"Instead, there is a big chance that they capture you again with Chrysalis, you will not have anyone else with you, and if you think to fight them, you are going to fight against three alicorns, the god of chaos, the offender and that bounty hunter that captured us before... Do you think you could win a fight like that?" Ask Kichi looking to him.
"Not only that, but I can even imagine them saying that you are a dangerous criminal, or that you did nothing to take Chrysalis, or something like that
8080068
"It doesn't matter what happens to me after I find her." Changer says simply. "If I get to her, either kill her or hurt her, and my parents are not dead, I would take the three us to our desired home in the Everfree forest."
"The Everfree? The dangerous forest?"
"There's a valley filled with fruit and love in the air that magically moves positions within the forest. In the valley there's a pure river to heal all wounds. Some changelings said it was a myth, but my parents found it when I was a just a newborn. It would be the perfect place to live."
"If my parents are indeed dead, I would still go to the valley and live there to remember them everyday. Start a new family if I could. I doubt that though. If the ponies do try to capture me again, it would be an easy escape. The only reason I even got captured last time was because I voluntarily went with the bounty hunters."
8080559
Rutherford: "If that is what you truly wish, then I will not stop you. I only ask that you use caution and not let your emotions blind you. *After scribbling on a piece of paper* Take this. This is my address back home in my clan. Please write to let us and let us know how you are doing and if you ever need a place to crash or to get away for a while, my home is always open to you. Also if you ever need anything, let me know and I will see what I can do. You may be hesitant to call me your friend, but I never stopped counting you as mine. As far as I am concerned, though we are not related by blood, we are brothers in bond and I will always protect my family. May the All-Father watch over you in all your endeavors."
8081059
Changer takes the note quietly. He reads it over and thinks to himself once again. After a couple of seconds, he says, "That's very thoughtful of you Rutherford. You... have my graditude." He says with a small smile.
8079368
8081067
"I'm with you, Spartan." Erised speaks up suddenly, drawing looks from the others. "The Crimson Knights, the attack on this town... Chrysalis was behind it all. These are her changelings, and because of all this, I too know where she is now. I've been waiting for this chance a very very long time." he explains, recalling the grudge he's held against the Chrysalis hive for generations, ever since his exile before Chrysalis was even Queen. "I know you only want to find out what happened to your parents, but make no mistake... when I leave that prison, it'll be with that tyrant Queen's head on a plate, or not at all. Without Chrysalis, that wretched hive will finally wither away and die for good."
"But not before I get my answers." Spartan insists.
"No promises." Erised tells him with a non-committal shrug.
8081243
Rutherford: "Very well Erised. Just know that I extend the same invitation I gave to Spartan to you. Here is my address. Please don't be a stranger, and don't hesitate to call me if you need anything. May the All-Father watch over you as well."
Rutherford will give any others who don't want to come along with the same invitation.
one of them (one of the less serious ones) must freak the fuck out, begin running in circles and then run into a wall, muttering a small "ow"
"Yeah!", [Insert name of Crimson Knight who would be stupid enough to say what's coming next] "We got our equipment back, those bugs are underfed, and we've secured all the entrances. Nothing can possibly go wrong no-"
*Something bad happens*
"YOU JUST HAD TO BUCKING SAY IT!!!" everyone in the tavern yells at the [CK name] at the same time.
"Oh... my ba- *smack*" [CK name] apologizes before even Kersey's comatose hoof reflexively slaps him on the back of the head.
8081262
8081243
8081067
8080068
NOTE: Pepper/Interject these lines throughout the conversation (for pacing and action-comedy purposes);
"Uh guys?" Grey Rebl says holding back a snapping changelings with his mop.
=============
"Pretty sure now's not a good time for heart to hearts!" Grey Rebl says before whacking a changeling on the horn with his mop then jabbing it off the window frame.
============
"Are you guys STILL having this conversation?! Right now?!" Grey Rebl exclaims as he grapples a changelings horn using a towel and slams it's head into a wall.
============
"Talking is NOT a free option!" Grey Rebl says while spraying a changeling in the eyes with window cleaner.
"You're beginning to sound like Kersey." BrownDog comments, back-hoofing a changeling.
"DON'T COMPARE ME TO THAT SLOB!!!"
============
"Yeah yeah, safe haven sounds nice and all but how bout we save all the kumbaya for AFTER WE HAVE CLEANSED THESE FILTHY BUGS!?" Grey Rebl says as he lights up a jug of bleach and throws it out the window causing it to explode in flames between a squad of changelings.
8081625
Always thought the conversation would be in the aftermath tbh. A calm atmosphere would be much better than a intense one.
8081625
Kichi look at Gray
"Sorry, did you say anything?" Ask Kichi as he look at Gray and the changelings and how one changeling manage to evade one hit and go to the group only to be hit by the talking group
"Sigh, Gray, you need to do a better job cleaning, we can't just leave you for a moment without you being lazy" Comment Kichi
8081625
The talking was supposed to happen after the battle and once we were free from the guards.
Strategizing
All Changer can do without his books if he doesn't want to get serious is dodge, block, and punch with his hooves. He can also teleport but is not the best at making magic blasts with his horn.
"Listen up! We need to stop the changelings because there's no escaping, if not defend this place from the changelings as long as possible."
"Kinda obvious! First Brown Dog? And now you are trying to take leadership?"
"I don't want any smart remarks, hear me? I'm sure that the Princesses are soon to come. And they will take down the shield to help these ponies. That's where we make our escape."
"So we're only going to fend for ourselves? Is that it?" Solarkness asks.
This clicked something in Changer's mind, it halted his next sentence.
He was reminded of something important that he kept deep within his memories all these years.
His dream. His dream ever since he was a colt forced to run away from home.
He always thought his dream was possible. That it could be achieved eventually. Even now he believed the same.
No one would believe him though. That he desired this. Taken from his brutal nature these past months when trying to act revenge.
He wanted peace. Peace in Equestria.
A day where a changeling, dragon, pony or any living creature could live together in peace. Changer desired this.
The Crimson Knights would laugh at this though.
He realized this dream when he was forced out of the hive because of Chrysalis's actions on his parents. Even while he traveled around Equestria because he had nowhere to go he kept this dream in his mind. He was an innocent colt, born to live an impossible life, but somehow the dream was kept. He was immature and weak-minded for all the years roaming Equestria, just like a little colt.
It wasn't until he was blinded with rage from almost dying and thinking his friends betrayed him did he stop thinking about this desire. He was such a fool back then. Too idiotic to realize that he was jokingly promoted to one of the Crimson Knight leaders. He was made fun of every day for his stupidity. And worse of all, he was oblivious to all of it. So when he thought he was betrayed, abandoned, and forgotten, his little mind broke, and he his strong, smart mind seen in the present was born.
Now, after all this time. Changer remembers his dream.
"No." Changer finally replies to Solar. "Protect the innocents, and do your best to make sure they're safe. The changelings are the ones corrupting the... peace... in this town. And we will hurt them for it."
Phase 1 of every anime battle: "We were just warming up."
Before the Changelings can say anything else, Changer blasts them away with cutting winds by using his yellow enchanted book.
"I was never truly apart of the Knights, and I am not your pawn!" He yells at them.
The other Knights looked at him with their respective expressions.
"Way to go, Spartan." Kichi said.
"Yeah, very impressive." Erised added.
"Hmph!" Changer glared at them. "Listen up! You lot are not my friends... except Snap Drake and Brown Dog. Just because I stopped going after you doesn't mean I like you."
"Great to know." Solar said sarcastically.
"Whatever."
Changer put on his saddle bag with his equipment and his black vest jacket, then took out his red enchanted book from the saddle bag. "We are allies in this battle, but if I see one hint of betrayal during this fight, I will show no mercy..."
Outside, Changelings surrounded the train that had stopped, two were guarding the entrance. Those said two were blasted away by the pressure of fire from within the train.
And through the fire, multiple sets of eyes could be seen piercing through.
"Ready?" Brown Dog whispered to Snap, looking eager.
"I've waited so long for this!" Snap whispered back.
"Three... two... one..."
"WE ARE THE CRIMSON KNIGHTS! DON'T TAKE US LIGHTLY!"
Of course, the ones like Erised, Changer and Grey Rebl were too serious to follow the script.
Then the battle commenced.
*Intense battle music starts*
***
Changer punched changelings left and right, dodging and blocking when needed. He looked to his right and saw a changeling sneaking up on Brown Dog. He teleported next to the surprised bug and bucked him away with one hind leg. Another changeling then tried to jump on him with a kitchen knife and stab him, but using his reflexes Changer moved so the changeling missed his jump on him and landed on the dirt. The bug tried to get up and stab him again but the unicorn leaned back, dodging his attack but also the changeling from before trying to punch him from behind. Changer then quickly punched the weapon-holding changeling on his leg carrying the knife to make him drop it. He caught from the handle using his teeth, twirling it once in his mouth. Then Changer used his two forelegs to push the two changelings to a wall in a swift motion, and he locked their hooves together by stabbing them both with the knife.
Changer used his red enchanted book of fire to blast away changelings. Blasting away changelings that were trying to pounce on obvious alleys and civilians, or aiding other ranged attacks, the spellbooks were useful.
A large squad of changelings were diving from the sky with shields around them, aiming for the crimson knights.
"We can't block or escape that..." Erised said.
"We could try putting up a shield!" Candy says before pushing back a changeling with the help of Kichi.
"We can't put a shield powerful enough. And we can't just use Kersey, as much as we hate him we can't let him die."
"I can shield us," Changer started. "But I'll have to time it perfectly as the shield will be only for mere seconds. And afterward, my spellbooks won't be able to cast any more spells for the next three minutes and I'll be vulnerable."
"Your spells are useful, but it's better for the cooldown than us getting evaporating, And we will protect you, you're a valued ally." Erised said.
The crimson knights, (including Kersey who was still unconscious), guards, and exposed Appleloosans all gathered around quickly. Changer took out the wind book with his magic and opened it, facing the pages towards the descending changelings. Out from the pages came wind, and it formed a wall above everyone around Changer.
As soon as the attack stopped, the guards took their positions, civilians took cover, and the knights prepared themselves to continue the fight.
Phase 2 of every anime battle: "Let's finally get serious."
Changer hummed to himself in irritation. "They keep coming. Let's speed this up a notch." He pulled out his red enchanted book and checked the spine to see if it was fully charged.
"Only at 90%. Oh well, it'll have to do." He tossed the book in the air as fire surrounded it. When it reached meters in the air, flames sprouted abruptly, and in those flames, a dragon with red scales surrounded by hot fire emerged.
Many changelings look terrified and were hesitant to engage, the knights were also taken aback too.
"This one might last up to seven minutes if we're lucky. But that's plenty of time to hold off these changelings." He said loud enough for the other knights around him to hear.
"Will that beast attack us?" Candy asked with her voice wavering.
"I control it. It won't."
"Thank goodness."
The dragon roared and started to fly above Appleloosa. It traveled around the town, spitting fireballs at changelings left and right from above. At times it would descend to protect innocents being attack by changelings, grab changelings with it's burning claws, or block attacks. Changer's eyes were its eyes. And any time the dragon couldn't be of any help Changer would get there as soon as he could to solve the problem occurring.
Phase 3: "This isn't even my final form/full power."
If we do fight with Bugze, he could activate this then. If the knights are only fighting for one chapter, then this is used at the near end.
Changer (and any knights/guards/innocents that are with him) was cornered. His spellbooks were charging up and dozens of changelings were in front of them slowly stalking towards them. At first, they thought about teleporting out, but they would still have to deal with this crowd of bugs anyways.
Changer sighed and said. "I guess I will have to use this..."
The changelings who were the closest were suddenly knocked back by a blue wave as Changer was now surrounded by his blue magical powerful aura. Everyone around stared as two blue shadow skeleton arms made of hardened magic were conjured on his shoulders, complete with two large hands at the end of the arms and a skeletal rib cage as armor for his chest. Changer smirked as he suddenly teleported forward with his magic, turned his left shadow hand into a fist, and punched three of the changelings, knocking them through the crowd of dozens of changelings.
The changelings glared at him and charged him, to which he teleported behind the massive swarm.
"I don't think I need to pull out the final version of this. This should be enough. Don't want to frighten the gods now..."
The angry changelings turned to glare at him and charged. (Giving whoever was with him a chance to run away.)
Changer smirked once again. "This should be fun. Let's see if you're the first to force me to my full extent!" He yelled before engaging himself into the crowd of changelings.
The next time we see Changer (Unless he's in the background fighting), is when his allies find him in his normal form with dozens of changelings beaten to the ground around him. Some beaten worse than others. Meanwhile, Changer wasn't fazed or looked tired much, only a couple of bruises and some cuts. His speed assisted him greatly. And his books charged back up mid fight so there were some changelings trapped in ice and some burned. The others were blown away by the wind.
[OFF] We keep taking changelings but... How many are left? I mean, there was around 300 changelings, some malnourished, but we are not the only objective, they need to take all Appleloosa, so logically they are going to separate, the 300 changelings are not going all after us and is logical that there are others that could put a fight, like the Pinkie Clones
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Already got that covered in my second and third comment...altough, goodluck fishing through to find it.