Chapter 162: Cadence
Ranger
Chapter 162: Cadence
By Wanderer D
"Reports are still coming through from New Appaloosa, where it is suspected the renegade group of terrorists, XCOM, struck a staggering attack that cost the lives of thousands of civilians.
"Separated families are still trying to find if their loved ones were rescued early on by our brave ADVENT troops. Fortunately, most of the population was evacuated before the hacking attempt by XCOM followed by the destruction of most of the North Western part of the city.
"Unfortunately, it pains me to say that our very own Sweetie Belle, ADVENT TV's famous reporter based here in New Appaloosa was one of the many victims of XCOM's violence. The entirety of the studio was wiped out, and several bodies found dumped in the underground rooms of the factory have been identified as members of the media, when any identification was possible.
"A few witnesses have identified the so-called Blood Witch on the South Eastern part, where humanitarian efforts from ADVENT were interrupted.
A man appeared on screen, facing the camera, eyes wide, body shaking. "I saw her! The Blood Witch! She had wings of blood and ghosts that killed—" The man was escorted away, rambling and desperate, crying out about ghosts and blood-drinking monsters.
The reporter turned around to face the screen. "The atrocities committed by XCOM have clearly have a severe impact on—"
The screen turned off.
"I want you to reactivate me."
The Speaker chuckled, leaning comfortably on his sofa. "And why would I do that, my dear?"
Rarity clenched her fists. "They killed my sister."
"And what do you think you can do about it?" he asked.
Rarity's fist slammed on the wall, denting the metal into a small crater.
"Impressive," he said, chuckling, "but you forget, the Blood Mage fought and killed the Assassin."
"Aria was my friend!"
The Speaker's smile faded and he glared at her. "When she became the Assassin, she became an instrument of the Elders. She was beyond you and ephemeral concepts such as that." He relaxed his stare. "The Blood Witch also fought and killed—temporarily—the Hunter."
"Sonata—"
"The Hunter," the Speaker emphasized. "Another of our beloved masters' Chosen. Just like I, they bask in the direct glory and mercy and love of our leaders." He tilted his head slightly. "What are you, but the reject of failed human experimentation that I took pity on?"
Rarity closed her eyes, fighting the tears and anger. "Nothing."
"That is correct," The Speaker chuckled. "And as a good pet, a good reject… and my property… it is unbecoming to see you as you are."
He stood up, glaring down at her with a sneer on his lips. "I do not require you tonight. You may mourn tomorrow in front of the cameras, and condemn XCOM for the loss of our dear Sweetie Belle." He grabbed her chin, forcing her head back so she could stare into his reptilian eyes. "Don't ever argue with me again."
She looked away and he chuckled, turning around and going to his bedroom.
Rarity stood in place, looking meekly down, until the door closed behind him.
Sonata sat at the top of a tower. She had teleported to a random city. She could be in what used to be Japan, or China. Or L.A.
She didn't care. Her thoughts were on Sunset and XCOM.
Sunset Shimmer. That was a name she hadn't expected to hear again. Ever. Furthermore, this Sunset was from Equestria itself. She had real magic.
No wonder Aria had been so obsessed over her.
Sonata frowned at the thought of her sister, and her thoughts inevitably went over to Adagio before she shook her head and growled the memories away.
She relaxed. Another Blood Witch, and with so much potential. Sunset hadn't gone mad yet, and had amassed a good amount of power. Her magical finesse with the blood art was obvious too. It was a shame though that they had taken so long in crossing paths… she would have loved to help this Sunset realize her potential without the loss of sanity.
But who was she to step on what had already began? It would just spiral now, and Sunset Shimmer would drag everyone she had around her into despair… everyone she loved, from the treasonous Viper to the Blood-bonded to their precious commander… all of them.
The Elder's precious little commander would be gone forever in a bloodbath… and they would despair.
And by the time her blood orgy ended, Sunset would be far gone and malleable, and then Sonata would step in and make sure she turned into another of her sisters. She narrowed her eyes. No… her only sister.
And then she would gather her allies and the Elders would relinquish this world and perish… and a new era of the Sirens would begin, with her as the eldest sister.
She sensed, but didn't move when a portal materialized behind her and a female figure stepped out. "I heard you fought the Blood Witch and lost."
Sonata chuckled. There was one more that she would take with her, any time. "It was fun!" She leaned back, looking upside down at her guest. "I hadn't fought a Blood Witch in a long, long time."
The figure seemed to consider her words. "You mean that literally. Not just as her nickname."
"Ha!" Sonata shook her head, looking back at the city. "You humans crack me up. Always have."
"I don't appreciate the mocking tone."
"Aww, did I hurt your feelings, Queenie?" Sonata teased, standing up and walking up to the figure. "You and I used to have so much fun before!"
"Before you looked like someone drowned you and vacuumed your insides, you mean," the woman countered, although she didn't back away from Sonata as the latter leaned in and bit her neck. "Really, Sonata?"
"Oh you're no fun."
"On the contrary," the woman smiled, showing Sonata a piece of hardware roughly the size of a lunch box. "I found something interesting outside the destroyed factory."
Sonata leaned back and grinned. "Oh… are we getting more alien rulers?"
The woman laughed. "A few. But this… this is different. This is what started your last city-wide battle."
"Huh, it seems smaller than I remember."
"That was several of its bodies… but in here is the code that did all of that…" the woman smiled. "And I will use it to create a Sectopod Prime."
"Until that day...'til all are one…"
"What?"
Sonata snorted. "Never mind. I'm hungry. Did you bring food?"
"I don't have time for food. We have plans to make real, remember?" the woman asked, more amused than annoyed. "I will let you know once the rest of my beloved are created."
Sonata grinned. "Yes. And then this world will pay… for everything."
"Once I have developed all of my monarchs you'd better be ready to play your part, Sonata," the woman turned around, exuding sexuality as she moved towards her portal. "The Crystal Empire waits for no one."
Sonata kept grinning as the portal faded, then looked up at the moon. "Oh, Queenie. You have no idea what's coming."
o.0.o End Chapter 162 o.0.o
Stats
Page generated in 0.041 seconds
Total duration
1,054 users online
1,424,557 hits today, 2,004,447 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Well. that's, surprising. I really can't fathom how that happened.
celestria damn it, Julien!! Even in death you screw over all of us!
oh boy.. shit storm incoming!
Optimus Prima you are not Sonata. You're more like Starscream.
...Oh.
I wonder who is this "Queenie"? The chapter may say a hint that maybe Cadence. But the Crystal Empire? I'm betting either her, Rule 63 Umbra or princess Amore. Any replys?
Wel shit that’s bad probably cadence which is an interesting switch
Rarity wanting revenge was expected. Hope she disobey the Speaker and goes find X-COM and then discover Sweetie is with them.
So if I have to go by the title and the end dialogues, Cadance is the mad woman behind the Alien rulers.
Something tells me for her going this path means that Sci-Twi probably perish.
And damn it Julian survive.
Don't underestimate Sunset. Poor rarity, if She would know.
What? Still think it's SciTwi, but it could be Cadance just due to the chapter title, or it could be Radiant Hope, or possibly even Amore just to really screw with everything.
Well that or Cinch, not as much fun with her though.
Labeling Sweetie as dead was sloppy. Missing, presumed dead is not only better but allows for them to call any Xcom Sweetie broadcasts as her doing them under threat of death or torture.
Real sloppy Advent, I expected better of you.
Holy heck... Cadence?!? I expected Sci-Twi, though she could still be there.
God, a ruler Sectopod? That would be terrifying. All of the rulers were pains in the butt, though mostly because of their stupid multi-reaction mechanic.
I'd of rather they had gotten actions like normal and simply ran away when damaged significantly, but came back somewhat healed for the next fight, or simply have them upgrade themselves slowly as the game progresses much like a chosen... actually... yea, love to see a mod which gives the Chosen approach to the rulers, though they are directly killable.
Rarity... she seems to be very much a slave, but maybe not completely broken. No indication that she disbelieves the Speaker and Advent, but I'd love to see more, though a simple broadcast by Sweetie would help, unfortunately, it would also all but doom Rarity.
9129096
Agreed. NOW they have made a statement that is easily disproved, and said counter is almost impossible to deny. One broadcast is all it would take to irrevocably shatter ADVENT's credibility.
9129026
Her Megatron was destroyed BEFORE her Starscream tendencies though. That's an important difference.
9129247
Only if it comes at the right time. Sweetie delivering the broadcast from the game would be a hell of a lot more potent than just showing clips over the Speaker's speech.
I always felt that people got a lot more riled up over that stunt than they really would have, just Advent saying that it was faked up footage inserted by a hacker would probably have been enough to convince the half brainwashed masses.
But to have a trusted face like Sweetie Belle deliver the same information after being declared dead? That may be enough to get everyone involved.
9129262
Would this be a bad time to mention that I've never even seen XCOM gameplay? My only non-pony knowledge is that Mario + Rabbids is XCOM-lite in the same way that Pikmin is RTS-lite!
9129060
Consider the "developed all of my monarchs" line. There are many possibilities but it smells to me like Cadance is taking the bad guy spot that Chrysalis left vacant on this world.
9129249 Technically, Cadence is Megatron and Aria is Sideswipe. Adagio would be Soundwave for irony's sake.
Wait... 'This Sunset'? Did Sonata know the human Sunset? Or is that just a strange choice of words. Even then, it seems to be vaguely hinted at that she was a blood witch too... I feel I'm either letting my imagination get the better of me, or I'm seeing something way ahead of time.
I'm not sure anymore. Imma just say I'm making things up before I confuse myself.
9129293
I thought that line hinted at Moira. Wasn't she the one making the Snake king etcetera?
If it doesn't have gold, I quit.
9129060
Most likely Cadence since Sombra seems to be the Warlock, I'd say.
9129538
Can't be Moira, she has no sexy German accent!
9129548
Sectopod Primes aren't Gold plated, but they make up for it by being several times bigger than the normal Sectopod. I like to assume that the firepower they got is more impressive by an order of magnitude as well.
9129632
But it's PRIME! It HAS to be gold! At least a little bit of it. The Orokin wouldn't have it any other way!
9129634
That said, I would be surprised if it's more ornate than a regular Sectopod. Maybe platinum colored plating?
9129642
You are missing the point and probably haven't played Warframe. Tis just a joke about the power-items in Warframe, Prime items. They all have gold decorations all over them, so now Prime is always gold-decorated in my mind.
You know, that doesn't really sound entirely inaccurate?
It would be nice if Rarity was still recoverable, but that may be too much to hope for given her perspective this chapter. Maybe if XCOM doesn't try to do anything questionable like attempt to fatally break up the CMC now that they have the full set.
Cadance?
9129645
You know what? In my mind, the Sectopod Prime uses a three-color paint scheme. Black, Gold, and Red; should go together rather well.
Wait, Sonata is still alive? I thought Sunset killed her.
9129647
Oooooh, that's awesome. Red, Black and Gold work together real well.
9129649
Yeah, to make it more deadly. It doesn't have the normal Mag Cannon that regular Sectopods have but a Super-Heavy Plasma Cannon, not to mention Micro-Missile launchers, a Pulse Cannon with a secondary firing mode similar to the Wraith Cannon, and the ability to be Psi-Shielded. In other words, it's XCOM's worst nightmare.
9129655
Sounds fun. Can't wait for the Blood Witch to fight them.
9129657
Yeah, it would be a bit painful to fight. But hey, at least they aren't like the Mechtoid's in Aard's Stardust which don't get Psi-shielded but come with their own energy shield.
9129646
On the contrary, turning Rarity will be as easy as Sweetie Belle popping up and going, "Just kidding, here I am. Now join me, and we can rule the galaxy together as sisters."
9129648 The Chosen can only be killed-killed if their sarcophagus is destroyed.
9129688
...Oh right, forgot...
Building a super-Sectopod from Julian's digital corpse? Surely nothing bad can come of this plan!
Also, a most intriguing glimpse of the kingmaker. The chapter title might reveal her identity, or it could be a subtle misdirection depending on where D stands on the Cadænce issue.
Eagerly looking forward to Sweetie declaring that runors of her death were greatly exaggerated.
perfect
9129608
You are now imagining Cadence with a sexy German accent.
9129955
DAAAAAAAAAAAYUM SON!
9129955 9129987
I'm hoping your're going to have Rarity and Sci-twi join x-com. I am also hoping Pinkie Pie is around and kicking. Seeing I've observed Pinkie of EQG pulling off the same thing a pony Pinkie. The first EQG movie prime example,
By the way LOVE the Transformers ref.
9129096
Sweetie Belle was the face of ADVENT on television, declaring her dead can be used as emotional blackmail or something similar to the deluded populace.
I get the feeling, that despite all the theory crafting about all the other major players entering the stage, I have the feeling that Sonata and perhaps Sunsets "Corruption" is going to be the biggest threats. I wonder if even the Elders are aware of just how bad it could end.
9130309
It's better to say she's been kidnapped and likely being tortured than to give an obvious falsehood that can be used against them.
9130380 9129247 TBF to ADVENT, they didn't outright state she died.
So Cadance is an Elder. (I think) Huh.
9130384
True... still doesn't leave much wiggle room though... either they have to admit the existence of mind control (at which point people will realize such tech HAD to come from the aliens), or they have to accept Sweetie's claim that her ADVENT era reports were under duress (which is equivalent to saying they've lied about everything).
Given the only other Queen is Chrysalis and it's implied she is hiding something, there is a chance that she is this queen