War is coming to what little remains of the Badlands hive. The vile changeling known as Queen Crudelis is ready to strike at her own family, and eliminate them once and for all.
Queen Twilight Sparkle must stand ready, and prepare to fight for the survival of her hive.
But can they win against such overwhelming force? What fate awaits Equestria, caught right in the middle?
And what, and who must be sacrificed in order for ultimate victory to be achieved?
Twilight Sparkle shall never be the same.
****
‘Well then, I’m pretty much fucked,’ a trembling drone thought to himself as a mana explosion sent dust and debris flying over his head. The drone hid behind a small jagged piece of rubble jutting out of the ground, right next to the battered town hall. EUP helicopters flew overhead, their door mounted heavy repeater crossbow turrets firing into a crowd of hostile changelings, the velocity of the arrows tearing many drones into bloody ribbons. One of the pony princesses also dove down from above and unleashed a devastating beam of scorching sun into the group, killing even more. And yet as each one fell it was as if two more took their place.
‘This town has experienced many events, both odd and dangerous over the years, but I bet it’s never seen anything like this.’
The clang of steel and the whoosh of arrows filled the air as an alliance of changelings and Equestrians fought against other, much more hostile changelings. Looking over the rubble, the drone fired a few crossbow bolts of his own at a few nearby hostiles, hitting a few; although before he confirmed those kills some spell fire forced him to once again duck for cover. A large explosion rocked the devastated town as Queen Crudelis was thrown violently through what was once somepony’s home, though aside from a few scratches her shield protected her from the majority of the impact and flying debris. Crudelis was shortly thereafter pursued by her opponent, Queen Twilight Sparkle, who fired a few lavender coloured fireballs at the other queen. Crudelis promptly dodged the fireballs before violently snatching Twilight in her red aura, holding her in place.
The drone loaded up his crossbow and took aim at Crudelis, wanting to help his struggling queen. However, before he could act Crudelis chucked Twilight away straight into the still firing EUP helicopter, Twilight brought a shield up to protect herself, unfortunately that protection didn’t extend to the helicopter itself. Twilight’s momentum crashed her straight into and through the helicopters tail, sheering it off. The machine began to spin wildly as the pilots tried to wrestle for control, ultimately to no avail as both the blades and the levitation spells within failed to keep the damaged vehicle aloft. The drone locked in place in sheer terror as the out-of-control helicopter veered directly towards him, a scream could barely leave his lips as the doomed vehicle slammed down right on top of him, going up in a fiery explosion that cast a shade of orange and red across the battlefield, killing both the drone and all those on board the helicopter itself.
And yet the battle continued, for they were hardly be the first to die in this conflict, nor would they be the last.
Three days earlier
"While we mourn the passing of Queen Chrysalis, today a new era begins. All hail Twilight Sparkle, Queen of the Changelings."
Silence is what followed the unexpected declaration from Captain Carduus, and Princess Celestia couldn’t tear her eyes away from her former student, who was sitting ramrod straight in her throne.
Queen Twilight’s eyes were narrowed dangerously, her steely expression sending shivers down Celestia’s spine. Eventually however, Celestia forced her composure back and was able to ask the single most prominent question on her mind at that moment.
“What happened?”
“Isn’t it clear to you?” Twilight asked in a monotone. “My mother… is dead.”
“How?” Luna asked in shock. “I thought she was recovering.”
“The doctors did their best,” Twilight responded. “But their best wasn’t good enough. She died in her sleep, in my company.”
Luna slowly nodded in understanding. “I’m sorry. But at least you were there to-“
Twilight suddenly held up a hoof to stop that line of conversation right there. “Don’t… just don’t. Besides, we have business to discuss.”
“Twilight…” Celestia called out gently.
Twilight seemingly ignored her. “Right now I must think of my subjects. Before any plans are made of how to deal with Queen Crudelis we will need a home. Somewhere to rebuild our lives.”
“What do you mean by ‘deal’ with Crudelis?” Luna asked. “Do you intend to hunt her?”
“When we are able,” Twilight stated as if a simple fact. “She didn’t stop at my grandmother, and neither will she stop now that my mother is dead. I will kill her before she kills any others I care for, or even myself.”
Celestia and Luna shared a worried glance, only just catching Twilight when she spoke again.
“So, if you have any suggestions now would be the time.”
“We… were discussing a potential location for a home with Queen Draco,” Celestia said. “We were going to run it by Chrysalis first… but that job now falls to you, Twilight.”
“Where is this location?”
“A system of caves; about halfway between here and Fort Hurricane there is a system of caves. It has room to grow, underground rivers that are safe to drink, you name it.”
Twilight hummed to herself in thought. “Sounds promising. When things calm down around the camp we will have to discuss it more in depth, Draco being with us when we do. Until then, perhaps you could find some maps, geological surveys and anything else about the area. I want to know everything there is to know about that cave system.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” Celestia said. “Is that all?”
Twilight turned towards Carduus, who was standing idly in the corner.
“Well Captain, anything I need to know?”
Carduus shook his head. “Nothing major. We’ve got the majority of the accommodations set up and the defensive perimeter is stable, the scouts Crudelis sent are dead and we getting some more supplies delivered by the EUP soon. Everything you already knew.”
“Thank you Captain,” Twilight nodded. “Then, Celestia, that is all for now.”
Twilight arose from her throne, and made to leave the tent. However, as she passed by Princess Celestia a white hoof pressed firmly onto her shoulder, stopping Queen Twilight in her tracks.
“Twilight…” Celestia said softly. “I know you’re hurting, and angry. But please don’t let that drive your actions from here on.”
“I know what I’m doing, Celestia,” Twilight growled. “Now if you would please let me leave, I should be the one to tell Draco about the death of her best friend.”
Celestia sighed. “You know I’m always available if you need to talk, right?”
Twilight looked away, unable to meet the Sun Princess’ lavender eyes.
“I know,” she said quietly, shaking off Celestia’s hoof and proceeding out the door.
Celestia stared at where Twilight had just exited, a slightly numb sensation overcoming her.
“With our current situation, now it is more dangerous than ever for Twilight Sparkle to have such dark emotions,” Luna reminded Celestia. “Believe me.”
“Luna, Chrysalis is dead,” Celestia stated. “She needs some time.”
“I know,” Luna sighed. “But if wounds aren’t treated properly, they can become infected.”
Celestia flinched, but nodded to acknowledge Luna’s point. She closed her eyes as she entered deep thought, many of which were troubling.
“I’ll leave you to your musings,” Luna said gently, moving past her sister and exiting the large tent.
Well.
The inevitable is coming.
Once again.
Damn... poor Twi...
Bit of a teaser, yes? Will the third arc continue here or must be watchful for a new story popping up? I'm not alone in watching far too many stories at once, my newsfeed looking more like an overloaded twitter account flooding me every day.
7460182 Why would I start a new story to finish it? We only have about 10 chapters left.
Danm. Finally, an awesome story that will have an actual Ending.
Much pleased.
Yep it's official I want that sorry excuse of a Chamgelinge and peice of *#%*%€* dead.
I wounder though when we do have her head on a plate. What do we do with the remainder of her hive? It's big enough to where it should never be depleted of all its changelings unless some thing big makes them go boom!!
7460186 So roughly 11 chapters left? Any sequels planed?
-BFBL
Something, something, winter... I think.
It's ramping up! ...Again!
7460227 Forget winter, Motherfucking Twilight Sparkle is coming...
While Crudelis is totally evil and deserves what she's going to get, the rest of her hive should be given a chance to be better, I think. Some people and other beings can be redeemed and some can't. After all, redemption has occurred a few times in the show, hasn't it?
...........
Why the fuck would there be a helicopter? Let alone one that can explode like that?
Hell why didn't the ponies on board just jump off?
And i would say ponyville has experienced far worse.
Also Celestia would jsut take down crudelis herself. Nothing that crudelis could do about it later tahn struggle.
7460252
Just wait and see...
7460217
Yes.
Hmmm, if there are roughly 10 chapters left, that makes me wonder what actually happens in those 3 days for a full on battle to occur...
I mean, I understand Crudelis wanting to strike while Twily and her hive is severely damaged but... Knowing that both Luna and Celestia are around... Crudelis truly is nuts...
But that being said, nothing motivates a leader more than total annihilation...
Still three days until the big battle... And 10 chapters left?
How much of this story takes place after the battle?
7460293 Well that's something to look forward to. And here I thought all I had left was 11 chapter and a prologue and then it was happily ever after. But then again that would really rush the story if that were to happen. You know what Twilight needs right about now?
This!!
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Death_Note,_Book.svg/2000px-Death_Note,_Book.svg.png .
Or these, they would defenently be useful right about now.
vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/dragonball/images/9/9a/Dragonballs_all.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20100401005943
But then again this is not a cross over and they would make things way to easy.
Plus they take away the personal pleasure of end ones most hatred foe.
Anyway I'm really enjoying this wonderful story. You are doing a great job. Even though you have killed off a few of our favorite characters. Then again(I'm using this word a lot in this comment) this story does have the Dark tag plastered on the front. The bad guys have to gain a good amount of ground before they are ended(if they even lose). Keep up the good work and I'll be waiting for the next chapter.
-BFBL
7460186
Had that happen before; a new arc starts in a new story but a link to it from the last arc is never used so unaware readers get left behind... finding the continued story weeks/months later, several chapters in.
The beginning of the end is wonderful ain't it and soon there will be a new story starting from where the "Mare of the Moon" left off leaving us with more questions rather than answers. Keep up the good work and i love this story.
Equestria has three days...
[insert Majora's Moon Here]
7460365 I find a more pressing question would be "how much of those 10 chapters are before the battle and/or during the battle?"
7460379
And then there is my personal favorite: Finding a mostly completed story who's description tickles your fancy, noticing that it is a sequel, realizing that the sequel is a sequel, then following the chain back to a fic you had finished back in 2012. That has actually happened to me.
7460250 Indeed, not only that but in the comics as well. I mean Sombra's been reformed at the end of the Siege arc if the last words the princesses said to him are any indication what with a pardon for saving the Crystal Empire, especially since they all helped save him and restore his original body from before he became evil. It's actually considered canon to the show by the writers I hear.
Oyus.
*gets out his rail gun rifle* mmmmmm I wonder if Cruls shield spell could stop something moving a mach 10+?
Mehehehehehe wish I could test it out
So the great War (WWI) begins......(loads a round in the light machine gun) let's go fucking kill some changelings
7460751
Could be worse, could have been a sequel of a sequel of a story you yourself wrote?
There's a few astounding stories here that have been abandoned over the years and begging for more to be done if someone else would be brave enough to try.
This is what's going through her head.
We all do
Hm...It's time to gather my weapons and snipe Crudelis from a bush with a fifty cal.
calling it now mark my words Queen Chrysalis lives we did not see her die we did not see a body meaning shes gonna come back at the end
I reckon shes healing now so Crudelis would think shes dead.
The reason Twilight refused to look Celestia in the eyes means she could not look her mentor in the eye and lie like that.
all in all a bold move I hope it pays off for them
Not going to lie, wasn't the biggest fan of Chrissi dying; however, it is one helluva motivator.
Ok that first part I can just imagine what is going though Crudeis head. "I have really and royally fucked up." And pardon my French but it's true. As I like to say, to woe to those who mess with twilights family, friends, or home. Think about it, she is the most powerfulest being via magic ever born, from what I have seen from the shows and all that is. Pretty sure something is stronger then her but not fully sure, loved the story though and really looking forward on the next chapter.
Now this is just stupid. I don't believe that Chrysalis was so stupid as to not inform her daughter or anyone else about the gained intel of UTMOST importance. "Sure, let's talk about stuff, joke around and in the meantime I will withhold the information that can lead to enslavement of changelings as a species and fall of Equestria!" So-so stupid :/
You continue to entertain me! Keep it up!
7462929 She was in a lot of pain, half-unconscious on her death bed last we saw her. I don't think she was thinking straight.
7463116
Well, she seemed mostly conscious to me what's with all the jokes and clearly remembering their conversation from before the attack has begun... Plus that way at least her death would serve a purpose other than destabilizing Twilight's character and making her an angry mess... It is quite common for things as the events where one got hurt to resurface in the mind the moment one wakes up after trauma, so if we were realistic, right after asking about how she looks she should have asked about the hive and then give a warning about Crudelis's plans. As it stands of now, her death was absolutely pointless, and sadly it doesn't sit well with me. But hey, this is just my opinion so whatever.
It seems Twilight has been forgetting her friendship lessons.
We will pull Crudelis apart limb from limb, muscle from muscle, nerve from nerve, oh yes we will, won't we, Chryssie? *hugging his Chryssie plush and taking to it as if it was alive* oh yes we will~
Dear lord... With an angry Twilight at the helm... Shit is about to go down...
7464444 global3.memecdn.com/welcome-to-the-therapy_o_1470489.jpg
rlv.zcache.co.uk/occupational_therapist_mouse_pad-r5428125c71da429faa6b29fa4ddcec46_x74vk_8byvr_324.jpg
Welp, things gonna be big in just 3 days
7471972
He certainly does make an appearance... (In a scene I have already written) though that doesn't mean he gets involved, as you will see he is a little... distracted.
Imagine the changelings going thru this. Especially Queen Twilight. The video is self explanatory.
7460669
So, the final battleground will be Ponyville. Where many more WILL perish.
/Beta progress: 27%
/Combat Droid Design: 47%
/Active Strategy Data Required.
7741487 What are you waiting for?! I need the green light to commence ops!
I would actually see it this would work IRL. But then again Arrows aren't bullets.
"And so we enter the final LEG of the story"
Hey, I hope that wasn't Chrissy's leg.
8122113
reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/extreme_spit_take.gif
tough times ahead, for better or worse.
8122113
Stop, I hate you... that was funny.