Chapter 9
The Sun was still high in the sky as a report from the E.A.F (Equestrian Armed Forces) was put in front of Princess Celestia. The changelings had been driven from Canterlot and Princess Cadence was rescued from her imprisonment. She was staring out from one of the many balconies overlooking the city from her Castle. All across the land, she could see the tell-tale markers of a battle haven taken place across the horizon. The changelings had attacked every major population center in Equestria.
But with their main attack repelled by Shining Armor and Cadence’s love with the help of the element bearers, the threat of war had for the time being been neutralized. Not that there would be a proper war with open conflict anyway as Chrysalis had hidden her territory well and such a counter-attack was impossible until her Hive was found. The best she could do is increase security across the nation and set up checkpoints to uncover disguised lings.
Reports were still coming in of small skirmishes taking place but one thing was abundantly clear. The changelings were retreating. With their plan to occupy all of Equestria in one fell swoop decimated with their leader Queen Chrysalis defeated in the battle for Canterlot, Celestia allowed herself to feel a small sense of satisfaction at having defeated another threat to her little ponies. The reconstruction of Canterlot was already underway bringing a small sense of normality. But that feeling dissipated when she looked down at the report put in front of her.
Celestia had been in many wars and battles over the centuries, but no matter how accustomed she was to war and conflict she always hated seeing this report be put in front of her. The report that said just how many ponies she had failed to protect.
A Casualties Report.
Oh, how she hated this report with all her heart but no matter how much she wanted to burn it she simply needed to know how many of her ponies had fallen. With a heavy heart, she took the folder into her golden aura and opened it. And for the first time in centuries, a smile graced Celestia’s features whilst reading such a report.
Not a single Death to her little ponies.
But then just as quickly as the smile appeared it quickly vanished once she saw the next column: Missing Ponies.
Over a thousand of her soldiers were unaccounted for, and since not every changeling military presence had been driven back those numbers could still rise. And that’s only soldiers. The Civilian numbers were still unknown and injuries were high across the board. It seems as if the enemy were trying to only knock her soldiers unconscious instead of outright killing them. A small note even said that soldiers witnessed unconscious soldiers being dragged out of the combat zone, never to be seen again.
Not if I have anything to say about… Thought Celestia determined to find those missing ponies and bring them home no matter what.
Turning the page containing Changeling casualties she was surprised to see a red marking across the changeling K.I.A column. Only around 100 changelings had died with a small number of changelings having been captured the rest having retreated and or blended into the population. Celestia could only stare at those numbers in shock. Over a thousand ponies were missing whilst the changelings lost almost nothing in comparison!
Celestia didn’t really know what to feel at that realization. She knew her ponies had never known war but this really showed just how underprepared they were in case they were ever attacked. Luna would have blown a vein if she saw this Report without any prior warning.
Hell even then, the military high command and herself wouldn’t be safe from her sister's anger at the state of her once-great military. Celestia made a huge note to massively reform the military ASAP. Shortly after doing that, her eyes were drawn to the red text underneath the Changeling K.I.A column.
The shock of her military failure now gone, the solar princess read through the message which was marked with S.M.I.L.E’s insignia.
Only for a completely new shock to overtake her at what it said.
This has to be wrong… there is no way one of my little ponies could do such a thing…
Thought Celestia in denial whilst reading through the message.
Apparently, over 90-95% of those around 100 changelings dead was caused by a lone pony in Las Pegasus. Furthermore, the message read that so far very little was known about this individual other than she called herself ‘Six’ and that she was wearing some type of armor never before seen in Equestria with her currently under discreet surveillance by S.M.I.L.E as her actions had caused the local guard to think of her as some type of hero among them.
So it was decided by Military Division Head Skyline, that since her presence was increasing morale among the troops in Las Pegasus, discreet surveillance and intel gathering would be put in place until further notice unless told otherwise by her majesty herself. And that a full report would be available in 24 hours.
Having finished reading the message, Celestia was torn. Should she order this apparently very dangerous pony to be arrested for questioning and possibly risk a massive drop in morale among a division of the E.A.F or wait until more was known about this individual before making a move?
Celestia thought about this for several minutes, her gaze having shifted towards the western horizon, the city of Las Pegasus barely visible. And as small the columns of smoke died out leaving the western sky clear, Celestia made a decision.
She would inform her sister Luna first and foremost regarding the situation in Las Pegasus and get her to send some of her elite agents to keep an eye on ‘Six’ for the time being, before summoning her to Canterlot after a day of surveillance. Although she didn’t like leaving her ponies with a potentially very dangerous individual, it would have to make due for now until she meets this ‘Six’ face to face.
It was a compromise Celestia had to make for now. Reading through the rest of the report, she had little time to breathe before another one was put in front of her. This one labeled ‘collateral damage’ report.
Looking down at the city below her and seeing the once great structures of Canterlot in such a state, Celestia sighed heavily before making a vow to herself.
A vow that she would find those taken by Chrysalis, and to never allow such conflict to harm her little ponies again. For if a single one of her ponies were hurt, Chrysalis would face the wrath of her Sun.
Tell me if I messed up pls as I don't want to have a severe case of Deja vu from the first draft of The Interlude in My little sunspot 
Leave Comments!
And if you want the full experience Listen to this while reading as this is what I listened to while writing this chapter
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LSTS Connor Very good work on this story, it's always a pleasure to see a new update
Can’t wait for more of this. It’s very well written and captivating. Thanks for another great update!
https://youtu.be/e4w6V-PbPKM
ah, so now we see Celestia, and she's taking a wary stance in terms of 'six'. I can respect her decision on this as it's best to know more about who you'll meet before meeting them if you're a ruler. Though I have to wonder if 'six' will make her way over to somewhere else from Las Pegasus... probably not? Not quite sure. I can't wait to read more.
I wish more of this information was given through dialogue and personal action rather then top down narration and that it was longer but hey, not bad.
10460261
meh still learning plus I did this chapter in like a day but thanks will keep that in mind for the future.
Show don't tell and all that :D
Is that a reference to S.T.A.R.S.?
10460331
Watch ep 100 of the show and I get what I mean
10460354
Okay.
I got a feeling we are gonna see The Lone Wolf hunt down the Changelings and save those ponies by order of Celestia and Luna.
I feel like you're greatly underestimating ponies in this chapter. Like, heavily. Just because military training is lacking, doesn't necessarily mean that people can't fight back, especially when cornered. Civilians can take on soldiers after all, and even win in a direct 1-1 battle. Just because said soldier has training, doesn't mean the Civilian can't win, it just means they have a disadvantage.
Plus, the Guards in MLP don't lack training, they just lack good training and are lax due to extended peace.
Just my thoughts on the matter.
10460779
Comparing ponies to humans of the US in this current time frame is a laugh. Here now they've had outright 1000 years of peace, and then suddenly invasion? Shit if the army isn't ready for it then how do you think the masses handled it?
If one has never thought about ever possibly needing to do something, like acting in defense of others and even if needed, killing to do so; then how can they form the mentality needed to accomplish such so? And to note on that, most ponies don't ever "have" to think of such; because those who's job it is to be mindful of such things, have a cutie mark/emblem in it.
Celastia made a pointed note on this fact in stating in her head how none of her little ponies could have done as Six has.
---------
Looking good LSTS, there be spots where I'd have put a comma here and a little tweak to the dialog there. But all an all for a top down narration, it t'was smooth.
Oooohoohoo! Can't wait for the next chapter!
Ha i love the sitrep moments. In her face celestia and E.A.F . Right can't wait for reaction of... Everyone to six as an luna but i'm armour with glorious wings of metal. See yer next chapter
10460909
For starters; you're assuming I'm comparing them to the US military? Because I'm not. I never stated a specific military and I do not live in the US.
Secondly, it doesn't matter how many centuries pass, the instincts you have at their core are the same. Fight or flight. When cornered, you have no option but to fight, and ponies are animals just as humans are animals, doesn't matter how smart we are. So when cornered, you have to fight, and a cornered animal is dangerous. It's not hard to figure out "Well shit, they're taking others away, I'll be taken away too and I can't run. I better fight!". Doesn't matter how peaceful you are, even pacifists use self defense.
As said, even someone with no skill can beat someone with skill. People - and ponies, and changelings, and literally everything in existence even nature itself - make mistakes. Luck is also a factor, and as above when cornered, animals become dangerous, because they fight like hell.
The fact that you're saying people without the mentality to kill can't kill is hilarious. Children have killed before. People have murdered before. In fact, the entire idea of murder requires that someone who hasn't killed before suddenly kills. You don't need to have the mentality to kill or fight or anything. You just need to be put into a situation where killing and/or fighting is the only option, with the former either being an accident or a "kill or be killed" situation. Mentality has nothing to do with it. If you yourself were put into such a situation, you would kill too. You may think "you'd try not to" or "I'm not a murderer" but you would, under the right circumstances, "kill or be killed". The mental scarring comes after the fact. In the moment you don't think "I'm killing a person" you think "I'm surviving", then after you realise and then you have a mental breakdown.
You just generalised cutie marks and defeated the whole point of them. Cutie marks aren't a "You are only able to do this" button. Pinkie Pie is a party pony and she bakes excellent cakes. You need to rewatch the series if that's what you think Cutie Marks are.
Of course they can't do what Six has! Six single-hoofedly killed 95% of the changelings that died! If anyone but a Spartan tried that they'd be dead before they hit 20% let alone 95%! Spartans are genetically engineered and armoured killing machines designed to be one-man armies. The fact that you're trying to compare ANY pony (yes even Alicorns) to Six is just laughable!
Just because she said no pony could do what Six did, doesn't mean that no pony can kill. Both because of what Six is, and because Celestia looks at ponies with a rose-tinted lens. Her ponies can do no wrong.
This is probably what Celestia is expecting:
Or this:
But i think its more like:
Hmm, not bad. Too much tell, though, not enough show. It's fine to have a character do some introspection and learning but it needs to leaven the story, not make up an entire chapter. A suggestion I'd have is a pony giving Celestia the report verbally, and her reacting to the information about Six. It would give more emotional impact to "see" her be shocked and/or amazed, and then become concerned, rather than have her recall it.
But again, not bad. Ya live and ya learn.
This was a fantastic chapter! Many stories don't go into the aftermath and political realities of what happens after the big battles or the casualty reports so it is super awesome too see that in this story! Thank you so very much for another chapter. I hope you have a great day/night
~EMBERSPIRITSHIELD
To the Author.
Fantastic update, Im loving this story so far.
In other news, There is an old saying. "No good deed goes unpunished." And I have found that in life, it is very true. It wouldn't surprise me if Sun-Butt went after our fearless heroin for helping her 'little ponies', simply because she is dangerous. Celestia always seemed like a sociopath with a mother complex and an overprotective streak for her ponies.
The Monk
“Her hands were still bound with rope, she debated an escape before all the stupidity gave her an aneurysm.” -Scarheart
OOOOOOOH SHIT SIX GET OUTTA THERE!!! Also ahhh I have fond memories of me as a young lad after school with no homework playing Halo 3 O.D.S.T at 7 years old.
10461592
First: Sorry for assuming your a US citizen, but even then you assume I mean the E.A.F. compared to the US army, which I do not. I meant the pony populace compared to the human populace.
Second: The difference between an animal and a human is that an animal can not rationalize its thoughts, and the ponies are "far" from being mere equines. And being as such those instincts you speak, being they've gone without use for centuries, have been suppressed by logical thought.
Third: I was generalizing mantle readiness, but you do have your point here, as accidental killing and not knowing ones own strength are a thing.
Forth and this ties into second: Experience! experience! experience! Cutie marks are but a "tell"/"guide" of what a pony "wants" to do for others that is their best path to love and success, Pinkie wants to make everybody happy, so of coarse she'd learn to be able to bake a great cake!
Fifth: Take away the spartan influence and leave Six as a normy human that's part of the armed forces, what do you get when they become pony? of coarse they'd still out do them!! Humanity has not had one decade of "not war" since the end of ww 2(IRL), the ponies have not seen any "deadly" violence outside of killing a fly in the last 1000 or MORE!
The cultural difference of need is staggering! why learn some snippet of self defense when all is right in the world?
-
Now moving away from all that and taking in consideration the changelings.
They can run and fly to where ever their prey may be, can shape shift which is what allowed them to get in so close, they can use magic to mind control, and they spit out some kind of goop to restrain/catch there prey.
And besides those things that commander'ling from last chapter mentioned in their thoughts of how they'd fought and won against a rival hive, that means they have "current", "active" experience that the E.A.F. don't.
Rose windows or not, what's happened has happened and the facts do not lie. Now be quit and lets see what happens next chapter!
10462396
Well she is acting like a ungrateful bitch, and a idiot to think she can take on a Badass Spartan like Six.
10470544
Technically she can. Spartans only wear power armor, not plot armor. Mortal Vs. God never goes well for the mortal. That being said, Celestia, Even in most stories here, doesnt face someone who understands her and her weakness. To defeat Celestia, you cant attack Celestia. To defeat her, kill her ponies. For every attack on you, you kill an entire city. Cover her in bodies and she will surrender. She has a pathological need to protect ponies.
Thats literally the only way a Spartan can beat her. The power levels are far too unfair.
The Monk
“Because we killed all of the monsters we ever ran into, save for ourselves and Death. What better way to respect death than to give it the form of the only monster we could never kill?" - WhatMustIDo
10470585
That's morality wrong to say that. Sure Noble Six is a badass Super Soldier. BUT, she is no insane murder or a terrorist to kill innocent Pony Civilians. Plus, she should be reminded that if she do that. She be no better than the Insurrectionist Terrorists or worse, the Evil Genocidal Alien Covenant.
Plus, the UNSC doesn't approve this and call Six an Rogue Spartan that cause War Crimes. Six will NEVER want to betray the UNSC, and will never hurt innocent citizens, despite being that their Alien Ponies regardless. Just because Celestia is just being an paranoid dumbass.
So instead of that mess, Six will just bitch slap Celestia for acting like a paranoid idiot. And tell her she have face far more powerful and evil beings ( The Covenant for example) that make you shit your pants and cry as your World and Species be annihilated by them. If Six somehow can't beat Celestia in a battle, I just call that BS and blame the author for making Celestia being unrealistically too powerful.
Plus, It sounds highly stupid to think that in the first place. And your just underestimating the power of the Spartans. Don't you remember Celestia is not really a highly skilled fighter like the Spartans or even a ODST. Plus, she ALWAYS lose and gets her butt kicked by the MLP Villains. ONLY for the Main Six, and others save the day and the world. So I HIGHLY DOUBT Celestia can face a Super Solider that is super strong, fast, powerful, and a very good Veteran for war. And has killed over Hundreds to Over Thousands of evil highly trained Alien Soldiers of various Species.
10470613
Could be hundreds, thousands tens of thousands.
Idk the spooks over at ONI wont tell me
10470629
Well I was thinking about Reach. And I know that we ( Noble Six/The Player= Me. 😎) Has killed over Hundreds to an Thousand of Covenant Soldiers. So, I probably I forgot that Noble Six has also help ONI with their "Secret" Missions and Ops.
I fix it earlier. 🙂
10470613
Nah, I never suggested that Six "Would" do that. I just think Celestia is unbeatable unless someone out thinks her and goes for her only weakness.
As for Celestias battles always going like a bad three stooges routine.............
I got nothing.
Oh and I happen to be a very morally bankrupt and villainous doggie.
The Monk
“On her doorstep was Twilight Sparkle. While Derpy deeply respected the mare, like most in Ponyville, they wished she'd either switch to decaf, or start hitting the harder stuff.” -Dan_s Comments
10470797
Well, I think Noble Six can convince Celestia not to do something stupid to her. Six is a smart girl for a Spartan. 😏
And it's funny your stumped. But it is true that Celestia is NOT a good fighter, and has a losing streak at that. At least Mentor People like Master Yoda from Star Wars, Dumbledore from Harry Potter, Master Roshi and Whis from Dragon Ball/Z/GT/Super, and Master Makarov AREN'T Weak Ass P*****. And can actually KNOW how to Fight and look Badass while doing it.
And your Morality Bankrupt? At least with my OC Overpowered Powers. I can make Money or gold and diamonds out of thin air. So I'm ALWAYS STUPIDITY RICH!!! 😄 💵💵💵💵💵💵
And if your a inventor or has magic powers, why can't you make the machines that make money in the government?
10470821
Inflation
10470824
You mean with the money joke that I did? You know, I never seen a story where the Human Displaced or a Human MC that has the power to make money or being the most richest person in the galaxy.
10470846
10470859
🤣
I was all for the story but as soon as it called 6 a her, I gotta stop. I'm all for woman being powerful it's just ive live im entire life as 6 being a guy. The story from the description seemed really good but I like a masculine main character so I can feel like I can relate to them. This has nothing on you, I'm sure that it is a great story and many others will like it, so I'm still going to drop a thumbs up.
10471576
Well uhhh... idk how to reply to this but thanks!
10471576
woow sexist much
10474482
Sure
And with that quick binge read I'm all caught up and extremely excited for the next chapter. This is fantastic so far.
10474505
That got a laugh out of me.
10471576
i feel disapointed that this has dislikes not for the fact that i agree with you but for the fact that you explained you werent being sexista and you just werent used to it.
its understandable you dont like it, i wont judge and i hope some day youll come to like how this story takes on six's gender
10731656
That's one of definition of sexism which in nature is a kind of ideosincrasia about gender role swap or application of gender-based stereotype. Other types would be outright discrimination in action or misogyny.
Literally, he admitted that he got sexist outlook but doesn't think he's sexist.
Why do I hear a kettle?
"make do"
Well at least nopony is rushing things. Anomalies must be treated with caution and restraint...
imaginary organization made by bronies that doesn't make any sense unless the cannon got heavily retcon from season 1.
kinda feel weird. maybe because of that chysalis clopfic yesterday.
11182471
SMILE is Canon. Watch ep 100 of the show.
11182474
The problem with referencing SMILE's existence in canon as a counterargument to it being a fan thing, is that in canon the organization was shut down after a flubbed containment of an extremely dangerous magical creature. The fan idea is that it's secretly still operational, with some even saying that Sweetie Drops was assigned to Ponyville under the cover name of Bon Bon to keep watch over the bearers of the Elements, even though in that episode Sweetie Drops not only says that SMILE was completely erased from history after the failure, but also says that she was forced into deep cover in Ponyville for her own protection.