‘The King is dead, long live the king’
-Traditional Proclamation
“War?” Twilight echoed, praying to any being that would listen that she had misheard her brother.
“Yes… war. The celestial sisters verses the elements of harmony.” He shook his head, as if trying to rid himself of the memories. He could still smell the scent of burning ozone as the magical blasts torn through the air. He could hear the sounds of the seven alicorns lashing out at one another. He could taste the marble dust on his tongue as the great strikes destroyed ancient columns. He was there again, watching as beings he could not even hope to rival in power decided the fate of the world.
“Shining?” Twilight whispered. She was struggling to understand all of this, to comprehend how things could have gone so wrong and how the stories her brother spoke of could possibly be true. They didn’t sound right at all and part of Twilight hoped that he was lying and this was some trick he had come up with to get her to come back to Ponyville. Heck, she would take it being some foolish ploy in order to lure her away so he could attempt to drain her powers and make her once more into a unicorn. She entertained that idea for a moment, thinking about how he would use the story as a warning about the dangers of power and why she should give up what she now held.
But one look at his face… one look at those pain-filled eyes and hollow stare and she knew… she knew it was all real. It had all happened and this wasn’t some lie he had come up with.
They both wished it was though.
“We use to wonder what would happen if we had to face you,” Shining spoke. It was hard to tell if he was talking to Twilight or himself. Perhaps he was doing both. “The guard, I mean. After Nightmare Moon there were a few that feared you and your friends. You had defeated an alicorn… one of the most powerful beings we've ever known. You had managed to strike her down and now you held the magical items that could rain destruction upon our heads. Don’t give me that look… you have to realize that some ponies feared you six. You had the legendary elements and there were some that wondered what would happen if you decided to use them for something other than attacking Nightmare Moon.
“Then Discord happened. Only a few of us were privy to the knowledge that your friends had been corrupted by him but it was enough to start the rumors spreading about the kingdom. There were whispers, Twilight… you were already seen as one of the most powerful unicorns to ever be born… and your friends are also some of the most talented. Rainbow Dash pulled of the Rainboom… the Wonderbolts can’t do that yet she did. Applejack is strong and determined and a capable fighter. Pinkie Pie… by the Creator, that mare scares me and I know I am on her good side. Fluttershy has that Stare thing… Celestia never talks about it, even after I asked her, but I get the sense that whatever Fluttershy does it isn’t good. Rarity is cunning and can manipulate well… she’d make a great spy, I think, if she weren't so flashy.
“Take all that and add in the fact that you six wield the elements. Do you understand why we might have been frightened? Why we might have feared you? What if one of you fell? What if you were corrupted?” Shining began to laugh and for a moment Twilight feared he had gone mad. “Didn’t you wonder about how the guards managed to line up so quick to take you on when you invaded the wedding? We had drills, Twiley… friggin’ drills about what we could do if one of you mares decided to go rogue!
“We all wondered… and we all debated and we all thought that we could manage if it happened. After all, we were trained and we were skilled and we were the best fighters in Equestria. How could you have any hope of defeating the Royal Guard?”
Shining laid his head on his pillow, staring at the ceiling as if it held all the answers. “In that throne room during the wedding I saw just how wrong we were. Even before you become an alicorn you wiped us out. You got a cheap shot on Celestia and had me kissing a window. You managed to take down the guard and you were drunk at the time. Still… maybe it was a fluke… maybe you just got lucky.
“But no… your friends’ ascension proved that theory wrong. They came in and they held their own against Celestia and Luna. More than that… they won.” Twilight and Spike gasped but Shining did not stop. “Yeah… they won. They ended up curbstomping the princesses. I think because Celestia and Luna were trying to hold back because they didn’t want to hurt your friends. Of course, maybe they would have lost even if they gave it there all. I… I honestly don’t know.
“I can still see the look in Celestia’s eyes when Rarity blindsided her and jammed her horn in her side. I’ve never seen the princess bleed, Twiley, but I saw it then. By the Creator it was horrible.”
“Shining… what…”
“Shhh…” Shining gave her a sad smile. “I am getting to the worst part.”
~MC~MC~MC~
Celestia struggled to stand up but found her body refused her mental commands. "But... but you are not ready!"
"We are ready enough," Rainbow Dash declared.
Luna shook her head, her muscles caught in spasms. "You have the power but like the training and knowledge! To do what you desire now... it will only lead to pain for our subjects."
Applejack shook her head, standing tall with her friends. "We'll have each other to lean on and our subjects."
"But, uh, don't worry," Fluttershy said with a slight smile, trying to make all of this sound better than it was, "we haven't forgotten about you, princesses."
Rarity beamed in delight. "Princess Celestia and Princess Luna... you have held the burden of power for too long... you were never meant to bear it and thus you are forgiven for your mistakes. For your service to this land and for protecting it till we could arrive, we give you a reward."
The five elements glowed and Celestia and Luna let out cries as they were engulfed in a sea of many colors. When the display faded the crowd found that in place of the princesses there stood two mares: a white one with a pink mane and a blue one with a navy mane. They had no horn nor wings and even the strength of an earth pony could not be found in them.
"We give you the gift of a simple life... you may live your lives in peace, knowing we will protect the realm," Rarity said. "Go live your lives and be happy, safe. Be... harmonious."
Before the princesses could protest Pinkie's horn glowed and they were transported away. The crowd stared in shock is the five bearers moved forward, using their magic to part the throng of ponies and march towards the throne. Fluttershy focused and 4 duplicate thrones appeared next to Celestia's and each of them took a seat.
"So comes the Days of Harmony."
~MC~MC~MC~
"The Days of Harmony... Harmony only if you submitted," Shining said darkly. "The five queens, that's what they are called now, acted swiftly and without mercy. They began to collect ponies and..." Shining shuddered, "they altered them, Twiley. You saw how those guards' coats were overly bright, right?" Twilight nodded dumbly. "That was their work. The Queens get their magical hooks into somepony and they pump them full of their element... it becomes their defining trait.
"They wrap it up in noble words and maybe they really believe it... but there is nothing wonderful about their rule. Harmony can't be forced. Forcing ponies to be happy or help one another isn't harmony... it totalitarianism." The stallion hung his head. "I'll never forget the screams right before they brainwashed them. Stallions and mares would be ranting and raving... and then it was like something was shut off and they just... become fanatics for the cause. And the fillies..." Shining Armor shut his eyes. "God, what they did to those three fillies... their own family! And the foals...."
Twilight felt the tears dripping from her eyes but she found she simply didn't have the strength to wipe them away. The thought of her friends acting in such a way... attacking the princesses and declaring themselves the new rulers of Equestria... it was horrify. And their actions after they had claimed power? It made Twilight feel ill. She wanted to turn tail and run and not stop until the world made sense again.
"They are making armies, Twilight," Shining said softly. "Each of them... I wonder if they are going to wage war against the world. Rarity's troop are in charge of redistribution. Everything goes to everypony and they are marching about towns, capturing the wealthy or the well off and forcing them to covert and give up all they own. Fluttershy's team... I haven't actually seen them but I know they are there. They are the spies and they have eyes everywhere. I've seen alot of ponies talking about how much they hate how things are... then they disappear for a few days before returning as meek little things that praise all. Pinkie Pie's group is just as bad; she's set up court on this farm outside of Ponyville and any pony that isn't 'happy enough' is sent there. I don't know what happens but... I've never heard such chilling laughter. Applejack's battalion is probably the easiest because all they care about is honesty. I learned that as long as I didn't lie and just told half truths I was fine.
"You met Rainbow Dash's boys... they keep ponies from leaving and hunt those of us that want no part in their new kingdom. I've been on the run since the Princesses were defeated, trying to rally up other ponies to form a rebellion. I've got a few but... we knew we needed you so I decided to go find you. But then the Rainbow Squad found me... well, here we are."
"How?" Twilight whispered, her entire body trembling in fear and outrage. "How could they do this?"
"I don't know, Twilight. Maybe it has something to do with Faith.. where is he, anyway?"
"Around," Twilight said vaguely. "Faith runs on little errands and disappears for days. He's always there if I really need him but... he's still a mystery." She shook her head. She could tell that the abstract had heard all that Shining had said through her connection with him and now the gray alicorn was racing back to Equestria.
"I hope he shows up soon. I don't know if he is connected to this or maybe there is a new enemy that is using your friends as puppets... I honestly don't know. You two are the last alicorns we got, though... you and Faith."
"Shining... what about Cadence?" Her brother looked away. "Shining?"
"I don't know. She was in the castle when they took over and I haven't seen her. I don't know if they as altered her or if they made her like Celestia and Luna..."
"Uh, guys!" Spike called out, ducking away from the window. "This is all real interesting but we need to go!"
"What is it, Spike?" Twilight asked, hurrying over to the window and slowly leaning out far enough that she could take a peak. "Shoot."
"What is it?" Shining said from the bed.
"We've got company. More of those guards that attacked you." Twilight refused to call them the Rainbow Squad; doing so would be admitting that her friends truly had become the monsters Shining painted them as. "Wait... some new pony is flying in."
"Describe her," Shining hissed.
"Color of an overripe tangerine... large wings... wearing silver armor... huh, it kinda looks like the armor Rarity made Rainbow Dash for the Grand Galloping Gala."
"We need to run, now." Shining struggled to get out of the bed, only for Twilight's magic to hold him fast. "Twilight!"
"What has you spooked? I dealt with those guards, didn't I?"
"She isn't a normal guard... your dealing with the commander of the Squad... Celestia help us..." he refused to speak more but from the wild panic in his eyes it was clear Shining Armor had dealt with this new arrival before... and it hadn't ended well.
"Who is she?" Spike asked.
"Rainbow Dash's Number 1 Fan."
Twilight looked back down at the tall, noble mare that was landing before the pegasi... and thought back to a similar pony, this one a small filly with a shock of purple hair who was always staring at Rainbow Dash with admiration.
"No..." Twilight whispered.
Shining closed his eyes once more in despair. "I told you they experimented on the fillies and colts."
"Shining Armor!" the armored mare called out. "I am Commander Scootaloo! You are wanted for attempting to destroy harmony and the crime of abandoning your country. Exit the hotel with your horn down and I promise we will not harm you." Scootaloo smiled and Twilight felt her blood run cold. "It is time you accepted harmony."
Maybe it says something ill of me but I fear power. I view it much as I view the One Ring... when you have power you attempt to use it for good but it twists and corrupts your goals till you become just another monster. The same here for the 5 Queens: their ideas are noble but already they are going about it wrong. They have based their theories on faulty data and now find themselves on a path that will only lead to pain.
And we've only just begun.
Holy Mother of Celestia ... to experiment on foals is inexcusable ... eish,.. I wonder what Faith will have to say about this?
For some reason, everytime I read a Twilight Sparkle turns into an Alicorn fic (and this was great, btw), I can't help but think Sam's words from Fellowship: "I don't know why, but it makes me sad."
All of this makes me want to go ape shit on the rest of the mane 6....kinda a long the lines of this
newsimg.ngfiles.com/196000/196308_dfsfwefrsf.jpg
I hope you don't mind, but I noticed some mistakes.
------
This story just got more exiting!
A little bit of speed reading and I was done just before the season opening! But great chapter. Happy watching, happy reading!
if everyone feared power that way nothing would ever be achieved
1592629
Or maybe much would be achieved because power wouldn't be around to stamp down anything that threatened it.
My thought process:
Oh, a chapter update. I read it and then get started on writing a new story.
[reads chapter]
Mind rape? Experimentation? All the other shit?
I have so much pent up anger now that its impossible for me to do anything. I need to go do something violent that dosen't require the use of my brain. CoD works.
Shit man... Just .... Oh shit... Dark days ...
And i do so predict the return of discord as a Deadpool king of hero; not really on one's side but would fight for a cause.... For money , lol
Cel and luna maybe working as rock farmers right now XD
Whatever happened to zecora?
Aaaaaand
*versus,
"we USED to wonder"
And somewhere in the middle of it all there's a word that needs to be in it's past tense ( in paragraph 3 -5) me thinks
Awesome chapter as always
MOAR
Nobody is safe from the harmony gestapo!
1592607 ARRRRRGHGGH! You have to be careful with pics like that! They can induce dangerous and spontaneous ROFLing fits!
Well, this should be interesting.
... Hm. Do I contain my rage or go vent it on someone's face...
Great chapter.
Power is a great and terrible thing. With it we can change the future or destroy it. Without it, where are we. Moving forward is difficult, moving back is easy, and even though harmony will thrive, how long will it last. (I hope this makes sense. I woke up 10 minutes ago.)
I've read another fic with the cmc as overly powerful superguards. Can't remember the name though. Let's see how they turn out
Also, I'd prefer death over what the Queens are doing. Killing a man is one thing, brainwashing them is another...
Intriguing.
1592634
attempting to achieve something would be seen as taking power, so it would be shunned or shouted down,
Before I start, not sure if should apologize for previous review(s) and say that maybe all-knowing or at least somewhat knowing of the situation should've been better. Cause power doesn't really matter when it comes to knowing things, even though the old adage goes: "Knowledge is power." Especially if he's been cruising Equestria, though maybe he's been exploring elsewhere on their planet, for all we know.
Well, didn't hate this chapter or fear it. Probably cause I'm still in a good mood from just seeing the Season 3 premiere. Don't know if when you've seen it, if will fit into the plot of the story? If doesn't clash too much with the overall plot. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Twilight_Sparkle.png
Anyway, it sucks that the Elements/Abstracts turned the Princesses into mares with nothing, it seems like. That just seems like the first step to a wrong path... and I guess this is considering, that they already viciously attacked them beforehand and even caused some mentioned bleeding. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/sillyfilly_Twilight_Sparkle.png And nice touch, explaining how/why the Royal Guard reacted with such quickness to when Twilight burst into the wedding, drunk and on pure rage. And Scootaloo as a grown mare with armor and the leader of the Rainbow Squad? I had a feeling when you mentioned "three fillies" it would be the CMC, no doubt, but didn't expect this to be the case. I shudder to think what the other two will be like later on... dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Twilight_crazy.png
Well, seems to be coming along and happy to see that Faith will be making his debut soon enough. Looking forward to the next chapter with little more eagerness, though am still leery of this story, as-is. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_unsuresweetie_flip.png
i hope twilight beats the shit out of the rest of the elements!
24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbpiszWWHw1r05905o1_400.jpg
really good chapter cant wait for the next
....
I cant wait for Twilight to kick Scootaloo's ass.
One quick thing that always bothers me when I see it in fics: elements of harmony
Elements of Harmony (as well as any variant thereof, ex: Element of Laughter, Element Bearer, etc.) is a title/name, it's a proper noun and should be capitalized.
1565451 in your quest to save the world, make sure you don't end up destroying it. - Anonymous
A war between friends never ends well, this is a perfect example of the smallest of things turning into a huge earth changing event. Six little ponies who were just great friends with simple odd and fun jobs, chosen to be the elements of harmony now have become war lords consumed by power. This can only end one way, and it doesn't sit well for anyone.
Zealots... By Celestia's beard I hate zealots.
1592559 Is it strange that I feel that I can make a connection from this to assassins creed? No matter what people say, the templars aren't evil but want they want for the world isn't right. The five elements of harmony have become no different from the templars. As for twilight, she might have to do things that she will not like but in order to free the ponies of Equestria she has no choice. Dang, this sounds like the American revolution but with magic and that. That stuff aside, this fic is getting more interesting by the min. Can't wait for more.
On the sudden plunge and on the sudden swell, ten fathoms deep on the road to hell. They're circling the drain, just how long till they go down the pipe?
Would twilight just go ahead and cook up some fried chicken and save us all the trouble?
1592657 Warcraft II has always been one of my favorites for that.
Ponies that have all been tricked into thinking that they are apart of a perfect society and all who oppose are as good as mindfucked or dead.
i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/004/077/Raisins_Face.jpg
THE MATRIX!
1592559 Power isnt always the defieing word of law and as much as I hate to say it but its often the shadow that whispers that holds the most sway...then again as its been said "A king gets his power from his people." and i suspect that is even true for those who rule within the shadows (or direct) and i dont think all power corrupts and even those who have the knowledge to use such power (or rather not to use) are able to hold that much power and keep their sanity.
Also i doubt Scootaloo has anythgi nto defend herself from Twilight's wrath or find a way to counter their 'corruption' or essence of their respected Element. I also think one iother story has it right the elements of harmony (excluding Twilights) must be so easy to corrupt. haha
I wonder who holds dear Sweetie Belle aswell i doubt rarity does becuse dispite beign sisters ...dont realy share the same traits as Scootaloo does Rainbow Dash or Apple Bloom Applejack EH anyway have fun.
May a gentle breeze guide you home ,as a warm smile keeps you from sorrow's cold.
It's like Adolf Hitler, someone thinks that they could do a better job ruling and when they finally come to power they abuse it so no one can thouch them and then they start disposing of those who oppose them or those they hate, I agree that this is not Harmony but sadly those twisted alicorns wouldn't believe me if I told them that to their faces!
This is why there need to be some safeguards in place in any rulership, limits as to what rulers can say and do, because otherwise the balance of power is overwritten and the ruler or rulers dictate everything.
Did you lose an editor or something? This chapter is rife with basic mistakes.
SPOILER ALERT:
Reading about the Abstracts brings several characters to mind; where they try to do the right thing, but go about it in totally the wrong way.
1. The Director (Red vs Blue)
He wanted to bring back the woman he loved. But he was more than willing to lie to and torture his agents, the Alpha A.I; and even let Carolina, HIS OWN DAUGHTER, suffer.
2. R'as al Ghul (Batman series)
Wants to rid the world of criminals. But is willing to destroy Gotham City to do it.
3. The Illusive Man (Mass Effect)
Wants to make Humanity a bigger race in the galaxy. But supports gruesome and horrifying experiments on living people to do so.
And as for reading about the corrupted Twilight's friends seizing power...
25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc3g3kxIYy1rihxwyo1_500.gif
"And lo; the enemies of ponykind seek again to disrupt the peace and love that has existed for over a millennium, created by the Demi-Goddess of the Sun, Celestia. They have overthrown Her Grace, removed Her Sister, brainwashed countless ponies, and tortured countless more. In fealty to the First Alicorn, our Creator, and by the grace of the Wolf Emperor, in the name of the Warhorse Pact and the member states thereof, I call the Corrupted Elements of Harmony 'Diabolis,' and in the testimony of their crimes, I submit this Carta: We March to War. May Queen Faust protect us."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yALY76Fg8Cw
Wait wait wait, I have some issue here what I find just now.
Guards fearing the elements of charmony.
Lets be honest in it, it is true that mane 6 are very talented, but they are still normal ponies, not Alicorns, and they do not have special battle training, practicaly without elements they are not stronger and more durable than soldiers, but if 1 element is out, no one will defeat Discord or any other super villan with unimaginable power.
And Equestria army is trained, huge on numbers and very expendable, so why the guards feared tham instead of well meaby HELP THAM !!!!
Cone on, Celestia send Twilight alown to get friends and elements so they can heal Luna, but with no hiden escort or without assisting tham, if it was not for the fact that Nightmare Moon not wanted to kill tham, just scare tham off, they would be anihilated before the even left library.
Now we have Discord, Discord practicaly took elements away and hide tham, and what Celestia do, send mane 6 to find tham, uhhh, she could send like 500 guards to search for elements, it is like 90 times better chance to find hiden artifacts than sendning just 6 ponies, whats more Discord can not distract so many soldiers like he can easy corupt 6 ponies 1 by 1, army should search for elements, and mane 6 should be behind Luna and Celestia so that Discord would not attack or corupt tham until the elements are found, but no, mane 6 without any power buff ( normal ponies ) had to search for elements under constat attack from Discord, and not Celestia, not Luna and not a single soldier decided to help tham, ( and now it comes out that they were to busy thinking how to kill or capture mane 6 instead of assisting tham ).
And Celestia send mane 6 to tame Dragon without offering tham escort ( mane 6 almost died under rock avalange or end up eaten alive, and if it was not for flutthershy stare they would all just die, what was Celestia thinking, it is one think to send mane 6 to adventure so they can become stronger, but other think risking they lives when you can help it ).
And with the changelings mane 6 in the show had to fight 100 changelings because entire equestria army screwed up to even assist tham as escort, not to mention holding up city defense.
What I try to say is that elements are like super powerful artifacts for 1 super strike, it is a KO weapon to be used agian super powerful enemy, and if one element bearer is out, all elements are useless, sush powerful weapon users should be kept behind frontline under heavy guard and send only again enemy leaders for finishing blow, not send to fight again armies and hopefully not die until they get to enemy leader.
It was never mentioned that mane 6 got any buff in duribility or strenght or agility buff.
Now I know that in this story Doubt was protecting Twilight and advice her, buffing her with power of Darkness in last story, but it took time before Twilight and others turned into Alicorns, so what was the point of guards training to fight corupted elements, when they should protect tham, the issue is that they had no idea that mane 6 would be turn into Alicorns, and lossing one element bearers would mean no defense again Discord and probably doom of Equestria.
So do not get me wrong, but I do not like that you focus in this story about guards fearing elements when they are still mortal ponies, the bigest fear should be that they would be targeted, ( Celestia and Luna are very powerful and durable, but mane 6 are like very powerful weapons for 1 shot, but in very tiny armor ), they would be targeted by villans, assasins, and it would be very easy to kill tham one by one, and none of the guards even thought to assist tham ?
I alwais hated how mane 6 had to do all the dirty work even thought they were normal ponies whos death can lead to Equestria doom ( it would make more sense if guards would fear Luna or Celestia getting corupted ), and so it truly dissapoint me that guards feared elements instead of fearing that elements may die, so please reconsider what I just said, it is very imprtand aspect to me.
As much as I loved Faith and Doubt....I'm gonna hold off on reading this for awhile so I don't go crazy waiting for each chapter.
you had me at the edge of my chair when i was reading about celestia and luna, i thought you had killed them off for a second there, since they weren't in the character tags, are they gonna be present btw?
I'm fairly certain that that is supposed to be "horrifying"
Anyway, one thing I feel the need to point out about this, you gave Shining (and possibly Twilight, we'll find out next chapter) the idiot ball. I have no way of knowing exactly how powerful this new Scootaloo is, but if she is anything but laughable as compared to Twilight, there is a serious problem here. Twilight has always been the most powerful of the group, and she was powered up by the most powerful alicorn (except for maybe that thing that talked to the rest of the abstracts) so it stands to reason that Twilight would win in a fight against any other alicorn, let alone one of their minions. Both Twilight and Shining armor should know that, and should not be worried at all about fighting them. And if it is the case that Scootaloo is more powerful... well that would just be really silly. This is really the kind of thing that I think will determine for me whether or not I really like this sequel, I am seriously worried that you will make Twilight much weaker than she should be for the sake of plot points.
Run Twilly Run.... Or should I say Teleport Twilly Teleport....
1595210
Shining knows this in his head, yes. But as I will explain in the next chapter, in his heart... well, there is a reason Shock and Awe works in warfare. You prove your power to the point that even a smaller, weaker force has you trembling... that is what happened here. Shining has seen horrible, horrible things the last month and a half that have left him a bit skittish. So even though he knows rationally that Twilight should be able to match Scootaloo... fighting the urge to run will be hard.
Oh man, shit is hitting the fan and it's hitting it hard.
i48.tinypic.com/331osg9.jpg
Great chapter. Its great how you managed to describe the rule of the new queens, and how they didn't even need to do anything typically defined as "evil", yet it feels so much much more dark and sinister. It's like the difference between a horror game/movie that relies on blood and gore, or one the uses ambiance and background music to put its audience on edge.
I do however, share the same concern with Iroh about how you present Scootaloo.
Great chapter, definitely drives home the effect of any element out of balance.
Not completely on-topic comment:
*Season 3 Spoiler alert*
*Possible Spoiler, don't read if you haven't seen the Season 3 Pilot!*
.
.
How does it feel to have Twilight using Dark Magic be canon now?
.
.
*End Spoiler Alert*
Oh, how I hate cliffhangers. Oh how I hate them.
Great, now I can't concentrate on coding any more.
1597308
Spoilers
Other than the silly green energy coming out of her eyes, very good.
1592559 Power IS scary.
Oh wow, now this was good. Now I really wonder what when on during those two months and how will Twilight deal with all of this.