“Dear god...” Admiral Gibson was stunned for a second at the sheer number of enemy vessels. It wasn't some small fleet meant to take out a low-tech world. This was a fleet meant to attack an Alliance world, which meant they expected them to be there. “All Ships, lock onto adept capable targets and prepare to fire mass drivers! Unicorns activate mass driver magic shells!” he watched through the view screen as the front of his ship and every other glowed in a multitude of colors. “Fire!”
The ship shuddered as the incredibly powerful cannon fired its payload. The rainbowed warhead streaked toward its still shielded target. Every breath was held as they prayed. Instead of the rippling impact of metal on shielding, the warhead burrowed into the hull and detonated, rending the ship in half. The breaths that were being held were released in a cheer.
“Damn right! Reload and fire at will! Release fighters, and keep those bombers back! Unicorns, keep those shield spells at the ready and raise them the second you're instructed!” Admiral continued barking orders and keeping in constant communication with his captains.
A flash of light erupted as the ponies aboard the ship beside them failed to cast their shield spell in time. A warhead from a Dratali adept ship passed through the shields and obliterated it. Luna looked on in tears as hundreds died, several of them her own subjects.
“God damn it! We can't afford to lose what ships we have!” Gibson shouted.
The invaders seized the gap in the defenders line and several small ships shot through before it could be close up.
“Shit, shit, shit!” the Admiral hit a few buttons on his chair, “This is Admiral Gibson, Dratali landers have broken through! Armor, activate the Crystal Heart's spell! Pegasus units, shoot down any you can! Ground unicorns, converge on the heave landers, they likely have shielded units! Hayes, report!”
All Luna saw the entire time was the debris of the destroyed ship. She could see the shapes of her ponies floating lifelessly in the void. Unlike her sister, she wasn't really a fighter. She's never seen this kind of violence. She may have been the more powerful of the two, but Luna lacked the skill Celestia had. It was one of the things Luna was always so jealous of her for. Even when her Nightmare made her already vast magical power even greater, Celestia still beat her. These thoughts flowed through her mind as she watched one of the figures floating toward the screen. Luna could just start to make out her terrified face, frozen in the cold of space.
“Princess Luna,” Admiral Gibson brought her out of her trance, “Maybe you should return to the planet.”
“No, I need to be here with my ponies in space,” Luna responded, “Celestia is down there for them.”
“Is she going to be alright without you?”
Luna laughed heartily, “Worry not for her, dear Admiral. If the Dratali feared Twilight, then they have no hope against my sister.”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“You heard the man!” Shining Armor shouted over the gathered crystal ponies, “Hit it!”
With that, the singing rose to a fast melody, feeding the Crystal Heart with their energy. The powerful artifact rose higher, glowing violently red with power.
“Cadence, now!”
“Right!” the crystal princess focused her own magic into the heart.
Shining Armor gasped as the shockwave that was released flowed through him. He felt his nervousness leave him as energy filled him, and the thought of killing a sentient being, while still didn't feel good, was bearable. He suddenly felt like he could take on an army.
If this is what the rest of the world is feeling, Then we just might have a chance.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Celestia watched as the first of the landing crafts began their descent to the fields at the foot of Canterlot Mountain. Her pegasi immediately began their assault. The princess smiled when she saw bolts of lightning lancing from one as she left a rainbow in her wake. She figured she would be one of the first ones in the fray. As much as Celestia wanted to fire at the ships, she knew she would need to conserve her magic. That and the risk of hurting her ponies was too great. They managed to shoot down two of the craft before the others landed and their murderous passengers poured out.
Celestia stepped forward and bellowed, “You are not welcome here! If you come here seeking death then you will find it at the edge of Excalibur!”
The blade sang against its scabbard as it was released by Celestia's magic. The mirror-like blade glistened in the light of the sun as she charged down the field, bullets bouncing harmlessly off her shield. The first of the Dratali she reached had a look of pure terror on his face that remained even as the head it was attached to tumbled to the ground. The legendary sword danced through the air, dispatching foes as it moved. A couple bolts of magic flew toward the diarch only to be dissolved by the weapon. Celestia grinned knowing that there was no magic that Excalibur couldn't cut. Her grin faded when she felt hundreds of magic pulses as more Dratali flashed onto the battlefield.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Applejack gritted her teeth. She watched as the ships landed in the plains at the bottom of the mountain. She watched as the first of the invaders charged. She watched as more of them were teleported onto the battlefield. She watched as the Princess fought them by herself at first before being joined by the rest of the army. She watched... and it infuriated her.
“We should be down there!” she hollered at no one in particular, “They need our help, and we’re stuck up here!”
“Now, now, Applejack,” Fluttershy said soothingly, “Somepony needs to be here to protect the city if any of them break through.”
“Ah know, Fluttershy,” the farm mare conceded, “Ah just don't like sittin’ 'round doin' nothin' while there's fightin' goin' on right there.”
“Don't worry Ms. Applejack, you'll get your chance.” Applejack turned to see the new voice. “I'm Jynx Charm, Research and Development at Canterlot University. I have some things that might help you out when they reach the city. First off is this,” she held out a small device, slightly larger than a hoof, “It's a personal shield projector. It's not very strong, but it should absorb a few shots.”
Applejack, Fluttershy, Parry, Vinyl, Pinkie and a couple nomad ponies from the southern desert all strapped one on and activated it. Just as they did, an earth shattering ka-boom filled the air. The group of defenders looked down to the battlefield just in time to see a rainbow cloud blowing away in the wind.
“Way to go Dashie!” Pinkie cheered.
“Impressive,” Jynx commented, “I have one more thing for you. These are storm grenades, an old pegasus weapon.”
“Invented by Professor Feather during the three tribes era,” Fluttershy continued for her, earning her amused glances from her friends, “Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want to say it?” she hid behind her hair.
“That's fine, Ms. Fluttershy,” Jynx chuckled, “I'm actually quite impressed. These days it seems only earth ponies are interested in their history. Unicorns only care about their prestige, and pegasi only think about athletic competition.”
“Oh, I love my people's history,” Fluttershy said a little more comfortably, “I'm very proud of my heritage.”
“I'm glad,” the researcher smiled before continuing, “Anyway, these are essentially storm clouds condensed into a spherical shell. They hold an intense electrical charge due to the extreme compression. Once the cloud is released so is the charge, zapping anything nearby.”
“That sounds pretty awful,” AJ winced.
“Yeah, it is,” Jynx agreed, “But it's that, or we all die.”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Priest Vlis stalked through the underbrush of what High Archon Xander said was the Everfree forest. His enforcers were standing ready aboard the transport vessel just outside the planet's gravity well. Finally he saw his target, the small rural town called Ponyville. The town didn't look as important as the High Archon said it was. He said the rulers of the heretic mages held the populous of the town in high regard. Capturing the residents and holding them would give them leverage in forcing their surrender. Vlis scoffed at the thought of capturing plague beings, but he saw the logic in it. They had to find out how these demons obtained the sacred gift.
With his target found, he turned and held out his hands. The magic rich planet quickly fed his spell, and in a burst of fire, a clearing was made. The Archon went to the center and spread his magic over the area. With a flash of light, thirty five fine warriors appeared.
“Remember,” he called out, “High Archon Xander has need of these beasts alive. We are to kill none, but injure any who do not submit.”
With that he made his way to the head of the group and lead them past tree line and out of the forest. The troops formed rank and began their march into town. As expected the residents cowered in their homes, afraid of the holy warriors. The priest made his way to the center of town and cast a spell that broadcast his voice to everyone in the area.
“Residents of Ponyville. Exit your homes and come before us and no harm will befall you. Refuse and you will be forced from your homes on broken legs.”
“Do you swear?” a voice came from behind him.
He turned to see a light brown pony with a gray mane and glasses. She exuded an air of leadership making Vlis assume she was the mayor. He smiled and answered, “You have my word. You are more valuable alive than dead, and keeping you whole will make things easier on both of us.”
The mayor thought for a few moments before calling, “Come out! We'll do as they say for now.”
Slowly, but surely doors opened and before long a couple hundred ponies stood shaking in fear around them. Vlis addressed the gathering, “You are going to be coming with us.”
“What if we refuse?” a voice called out.
Vlis laughed, “Don't. I already know of the peaceful nature of ponies. Do not think that a peaceful race like yours could defeat us.”
The mayor closed her eyes and sighed, “You're right. Ponies just aren't fighters,” She looked up at the Archon with a malicious grin, “Good thing we’re not ponies.”
The last thing he saw was a flash of green fire.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Rainbow Dash continued to fire bolt after bolt at the ships as they tried to land. She and the other pegasi managed to destroy four so far. Her bolt launcher was only one of four out there, and the rifles the Alliance gave them were useless. Luckily, however, one of those egghead ponies at the University revived an old pegasus weapon, storm grenades. Thankfully, the lightning from these weapons seemed to tear at shields rather quickly.
Several flashes of light from below drew Rainbow's attention. Dratali were appearing out of thin air. Twilight said they used runes to teleport, so there has to be one... she thought to herself. There! She spotted a group of glowing symbols and deduced that they must be the runes bringing the reinforcements. She flew a bit higher and turned into a dive bomb. She accelerated until she felt that familiar barrier start to crack but didn't break it just yet. She watched the ground fast approach. She had to time this just right. It was hard with the wing blades, but she knew she could manage. Just when she was mere feet from a painful collision, she flared her wings and stopped. The cone of concentrated pegasus magic that was the beginnings of a rainboom continued the last foot without its maker, impacting the ground and mixing with the earth magic that permeated the soil of Avol. The resulting multi-hued explosion was as beautiful as it was deadly. Dratali soldiers were sent flying in every direction as the very ground was torn up, destroying the runes inscribed.
“Oh, man,” Rainbow Dash groaned as she recovered from the blast.
Though being above it was the safest place to be, she wasn't spared completely. Her ears rang and her head pounded in anger at her reckless actions. A shimmer of light in front of her caught her attention. Her eyes widened as the Dratali adept dropped his shield and raised a burning hand toward the downed pegasus. The lizard man gave a cruel smirk before disappearing under a massive purple fist. Rainbow Dash blinked several times, comprehension far away. Her gaze trailed up the massive scaled arm, until she came the the smiling face of the dragon it belonged to.
“Sorry I’m late, babe,” he said, “The spell took longer than I thought.”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
The tower room echoed with a unicorn's screams. She didn't know how long it had been, only that it hurt... a lot.
Is this right? She somehow managed to think through the pain. Starswirl must have done something wrong.
She could feel it. It was moving inside her, trying to claw its way out...
And it was succeeding.
1:20 AM
I should really go to sleep.
*new chapter of Into The Black*
I shouldn't really go to sleep.
1:24 AM
Post-chapter reaction
The Dratali are having a bad day if they're being easily defeated by a non-space faring, (semi) peaceful collection of mythical species whose technology is equal to the industrial-era.
Then again, the Ewoks were able to decimate a Stormtrooper batallion with just slingshots. rocks, and ropes, so what do I know about technological superiority?
MOAR!!!!!!!!. please
2495596 Do you live in Australia? Cause it's 1:20 pm here
Second! AWESOME CHAPTER! can't wait for more!
2495625 Actually, fourth
I'm listening to the music from the hobbit while reading this. It fits perfectly.
Oh... Never expected starswril to mess it up...
WHAT A TWIST!
Oh man, this is reminding me a lot of Mass Effect; it's giving me lots of internal squees of whats to come.
Wow, i am trembling with excitement, Chrysalis thing was awesome
I'm wondering why Luna didn't just alter the obit of the moon a little. What would she prefer, temporary tidal displacement, or a worldwide raze? "Throwing the moon" is a legitimate battle tactic here.
2495621
Actually, I live in the Phillipines (Fillypines), so you're not that far off the mark.
2495661 you have a point. throwing the sun would work too.
2495596 I wasn't aware we had lightning firing rifles in the industrial era ;) or magic.
2495753 We also didn't have weather controlling ponies
2495758 I'd slap that under "magic."
Saw that this updated. My thoughts: Awesome! My thoughts while reading the update and listening to Tengen Toppa Gurren Langann Soundtrack: AAAAWWWWW YEAAAAAAA!!!!!!
A very odd yet interesting depiction of Luna seeing as practically any other story makes Luna the more aggressive of the sisters. If anything I see Luna as overly compensating for what she did as Nightmare Moon while also being still somewhat immature. (She has a bad temper) Additionally, this would be the first time Luna was both alone and not in NMM form while at battle making her similar to Twilight Sparkle in the beginning of this story. Discord doesn't kill thus death making Luna cringe. Unlike Luna's raw magical abilities, Celestia has actual training and experience at war thus allowing her to do far better with a bit less brute magical power. Though I will say, Luna likely is not very fond of frontal assaults and much rather use covert tactics seeing as she is the Princess of the Night after all.
Changelings doing what they do best.
Something that would be kind of cool to see would be a sniper (human, pony, or otherwise) just calmly laying against a wall with their back on the ground, rifle pointed upwards to space, and taking shots at the Dratali ships. A hitscan enchantment would also be a good idea. If the shots can somehow be traced back to their origin, it would also be a good idea to apply a spell that makes the shot come from a multitude of other places on the planet so long as Alliance forces are not in the way.
Be polite. Be efficient. Have a plan to kill every Dratali you meet.
At first I was like the hell Ponyville?
Then I was like
fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/243/0/6/changelings__changelings_everywhere_cover_by_alexstrazse-d5d4frb.png
I want to see Twilight kick their asses! When she gets her powers under control.
2495929 I've always seen Celestia as the over-protective sister.
2495596 Don't forget my personal favorite: Logs...
2495966 You mean IF
2495596 All the ponies are doing is casting a shield spell and charging the mass drivers. The Alliance military are the ones operating the ships. On the ground, only a few Dratali have gotten through and a (near) sun goddess is fighting them.
I hate you so much for that cliffhanger
2495973 I don't doubt that as well; especially after the NMM incident was resolved.
Can changelings impersonate non-ponies? Because if the Ponyville squad now shifts and starts impersonating the Dratali team that got sent to take them out, this is quickly gonna turn into a bad day for the invaders. >_>
We've seen the Changelings and Pony's, but where are all the other races on the planet? Griffons, Minotaur, Dragons, Zebra's and so much more. Cause I almost feel bad for the Dratali if the Dragons would come help the Pony's.
2496152
images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090822094337/wowwiki/images/c/c7/Deathwing_Cataclysm.jpg
2496152 Defending their own nations
Dam I should of put the space battle videos on this chapter!
Welp, Changelings just took several levels in badflank. In your face, Dratali!
2496226 Literally
2496152Well, Spike is already there. I'm assuming the other dragons will begin soon, as well. Then, the Dratali will begin to realise just how badly they fucked up.
2496267 Spike's defending his home. As are the other dragons in Wyr.
more. must have MORE!!!!!!
Guess what Vinyl Scratch is doing?
fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/056/5/d/vinyl_scratch_as_diamond_sword_by_sunnybunnyi-d4qzjsp.jpg
If your wondering what she's carrying, it's a Spinfusor from Tribes: Ascend
images.wikia.com/tribes/images/d/d9/Light_Spinfusor.jpg
So... where's Discord? Chronologically, this is well after season 3, though obviously doesn't follow canon (No Twicorn). Was Discord never redeemed? I'd love to see him start turning waves of dratali into dancing ballerinas, or maybe the good old classic, newts.
I don't know why but I still think Twilight is going to end up Alicorn by the end of this, even if it's just through an aberrant Nightmare path. Maybe not with the immortality, but definitely the power boost. Are we going to see her flying around in a 'Nightmared' up AXE fighter? That could be fun, and it looks like the Nightmare was at least directed towards the appropriate targets, even if it lacked concern about collateral damage.
So, it begins....
hey can the changlings also change into dratalli?
dragons, ponies natural killing machines, spell proof, bullet proof, fire proof, shock resistent, frost proof, water proof, grow until they die, live for mellnias. if there are even 3 spikes on the battle field, the tides gonna turn.
2496091 MY LITTLE CHANGELING: FALSE FLAG OPERATIONS ARE MAGIC!
2496507 was wondering too, if one person could permanently kill zander it would be him. simply put zander is kept alive by the rules of the spells that brought him back to life. he is alive because of rules, any chaos lord could kill him because they exist to be in abscence of the rules. discord could simply tell zander "your dead" and he dies.
2495596 your point, sir, is valid. >=3
This song I think should be the battle theme for the cilmax:
Anyways, great chapter so far! Let's keep this epic battle going!
It's the Attack of the Ewoks...Ponified...be right back I'm dying of laughter at that image XD
2497046 Bring out the logs and slingshots; we've got work to do.
2493689 Pointless cameos make a story, and thank you for telling me which doctor.
2497062 They got the OP Wookie (Celestia), the ambush of epic (Changlings), the Vader stand-in (Xander) Luke (Twilight), Han (Dash), Lando (AJ), Leia (Luna), and Rouge Squadron (all of Twilight's comrades from the Alliance).
All that's missing is the Death Star and the Emperor, and I have a hunch those come in soon XD
And when someone asks me to clarify why I said each for who, I will. XD
2497062 Logs and slingshots? HA! We've got a Pinkie