Cover Image

Shellstrings

by shortskirtsandexplosions
After freakish happenstance turns Lyra Heartstrings and Queen Chrysalis into a symbiotic being, they find themselves putting their superpowers to heroic use in an ever-changing Equestria.

Life in Equestria is changing, and nopony knows this more than Lyra Heartstrings. While on vacation in Appleloosa to forget her past trauma with changelings, the struggling musician ironically stumbles upon Queen Chrysalis. In her starving death throes, the Matriarch of the Hive latches onto Lyra. When the unicorn awakens, she is no longer her usual self, but rather a super-powered pony with all the gifts and talents of the changeling queen who has merged with her, forming a shared consciousness in Lyra's head.

Together, the two will be forced to work out a symbiotic relationship, performing acts of heroism against a shifting tide of questionable politics, dangerous personalities, unpredictable technologies, and the runaway denizens of Tartarus. Neither Chrysalis nor Lyra exclusively, they must both settle for an identity that sparks fear in the minds of evil... and instills hope in the hearts of the innocent.

This is not the story of Queen Chrysalis. Nor is this the story of Ponyville's silly Lyra Heartstrings. This is the day-to-day saga of the pony known only as the Shell, the heroes and villains attached to her, and the adventurous legacy that she will ultimately leave behind.

Cover Art by Rangelost

Teen
Cancelled
Random
Adventure
Drama
Gore
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
 
OBQML

165656 words: Estimated about 14 hours to read
Download:textHTMLePUB

116 Chapters:

  1. ~*~*~Prologue: Birth of a Queen~*~*~ 2016-06-22 06:26:47 UTC
    2511
  2. Into the Fractured Mountain 2016-06-23 03:41:56 UTC
    1358
  3. The Price of Harmony 2016-06-24 07:26:22 UTC
    2706
  4. The Reign of a Once-Chancellor 2016-06-25 08:05:41 UTC
    2056
  5. The League is Born 2016-06-25 08:06:44 UTC
    3428
  6. A Very Special Secret Agent 2016-06-26 04:58:21 UTC
    2793
  7. The Impenetrable Six 2016-06-26 05:10:05 UTC
    1888
  8. Serve and Protect 2016-06-26 05:29:09 UTC
    3490
  9. Burning Bridges That Were Never Crossed 2016-06-26 05:38:43 UTC
    2097
  10. The Promise 2016-06-26 05:48:59 UTC
    1907
  11. Happiness is a Best Friend 2016-06-26 06:15:17 UTC
    5042
  12. Didn't You Get the Memo? 2016-06-26 06:19:08 UTC
    561
  13. ~*~*~Act One: No Strings Attached~*~*~ 2016-06-27 01:42:59 UTC
    2043
  14. The Princess of Friendship 2016-06-28 04:27:59 UTC
    2816
  15. Filthy Imbalanced 2016-06-29 04:13:25 UTC
    1843
  16. Princess 102 2016-06-30 01:58:41 UTC
    2632
  17. Don't Get Sucked Into The... 2016-06-30 02:00:38 UTC
    2206
  18. Psych! 2016-06-30 02:04:44 UTC
    2217
  19. The... Hero of Our Story? 2016-07-01 06:18:11 UTC
    1789
  20. Buckstory 2016-07-02 03:56:38 UTC
    1641
  21. When You Wish Upon a Station 2016-07-03 02:55:50 UTC
    1862
  22. A Face In the Crowd 2016-07-04 03:28:54 UTC
    969
  23. Les Triplettes de Canterville 2016-07-06 01:42:29 UTC
    1052
  24. I Just Don't Know What Went South 2016-07-06 01:44:39 UTC
    1530
  25. Safety In Numbness 2016-07-07 04:37:10 UTC
    2379
  26. Sergeant and Sergeant 2016-07-08 05:26:16 UTC
    2141
  27. Yakky Ki-Yay 2016-07-08 05:28:01 UTC
    1490
  28. Improper Guile 2016-07-10 04:00:25 UTC
    1786
  29. Don't Talk Back 2016-07-10 23:07:06 UTC
    1678
  30. Sweet'n'Sour 2016-07-12 22:11:18 UTC
    2024
  31. Derpfall 2016-07-12 22:12:26 UTC
    1335
  32. Lyra Drama Strings 2016-07-14 04:31:11 UTC
    1168
  33. Bon and Circumstance 2016-07-15 04:21:02 UTC
    1639
  34. The Heartstrings 2016-07-16 18:42:55 UTC
    511
  35. Tick! The Magic Dragon 2016-07-18 00:37:40 UTC
    864
  36. You've Been Adorably Invited 2016-07-18 00:38:29 UTC
    1121
  37. Interview With a Dragon 2016-07-19 04:22:51 UTC
    1027
  38. Foyeurism 2016-07-21 03:53:39 UTC
    784
  39. The Glimmering Mile 2016-07-21 03:54:29 UTC
    980
  40. Awkwardness Is in the Eye of the Awkwarder 2016-07-23 03:45:54 UTC
    1475
  41. Then Again... 2016-07-23 03:46:28 UTC
    895
  42. The Things Twilight Says 2016-07-24 03:38:44 UTC
    1370
  43. Not the Things You're Used To 2016-07-27 01:27:03 UTC
    1249
  44. Incoming Table Flip... 2016-07-27 01:27:39 UTC
    1166
  45. Beyond the Flashy Thing 2016-07-28 02:20:53 UTC
    804
  46. Who Watches the Watchmares? 2016-07-28 02:21:20 UTC
    580
  47. Thrifty 2016-07-30 00:55:25 UTC
    1796
  48. You Shove Off 2016-07-30 00:55:58 UTC
    860
  49. Destinations 2016-07-31 02:21:32 UTC
    918
  50. ~*~*~Act Two: Bug Butt Begins~*~*~ 2016-08-02 03:23:53 UTC
    618
  51. A Hard Day's Neigh 2016-08-02 03:23:59 UTC
    844
  52. Smilecon 2016-08-04 01:27:39 UTC
    1016
  53. Stumped 2016-08-04 01:28:08 UTC
    1583
  54. Not So Much a "Swerve" As It Is a "Swat" 2016-08-05 03:05:34 UTC
    1197
  55. Eucorny 2016-08-07 03:33:23 UTC
    937
  56. Blue Crescent 2016-08-07 03:34:01 UTC
    1628
  57. The Collection 2016-08-08 02:49:59 UTC
    2226
  58. It's High Nonsense 2016-08-10 04:13:11 UTC
    970
  59. Mild Mild Mild Mild West 2016-08-10 04:13:49 UTC
    1632
  60. Braeburned 2016-08-11 03:06:40 UTC
    1325
  61. Opposable Thoughts 2016-08-13 02:56:29 UTC
    1293
  62. If We Can Conspire It, We Can Do It 2016-08-13 04:02:00 UTC
    2630
  63. Dawn is a Feeling 2016-08-14 03:32:44 UTC
    1627
  64. Never Strike Twice 2016-08-16 03:49:51 UTC
    1858
  65. Catching Upchuck 2016-08-16 03:50:28 UTC
    1384
  66. Flash, Flings, and Old Lightnings 2016-08-16 18:38:00 UTC
    1502
  67. Evidently Not Mad Enough 2016-08-17 04:40:34 UTC
    1214
  68. Blonde and Blonder 2016-08-18 03:48:33 UTC
    1606
  69. This Looks Like a Job For... Oh... 2016-08-21 03:51:09 UTC
    915
  70. Heroes and Bums 2016-08-21 03:51:45 UTC
    1205
  71. Aurahole 2016-08-22 04:27:51 UTC
    746
  72. Whinnying Rabbit 2016-08-24 04:00:00 UTC
    1076
  73. Crystal Clean 2016-08-24 04:00:42 UTC
    1255
  74. I Guarantee It 2016-08-25 03:18:50 UTC
    726
  75. Doors 2016-08-27 02:42:57 UTC
    1319
  76. Sting Search 2016-08-27 02:43:42 UTC
    1258
  77. All That's Green Is Gold 2016-08-29 03:45:36 UTC
    671
  78. Desert Gossip 2016-08-29 03:46:09 UTC
    945
  79. The Table 2016-08-29 04:16:38 UTC
    659
  80. The Purveyors of Change 2016-08-31 01:28:51 UTC
    1356
  81. Trouble at the Docks 2016-09-02 00:28:42 UTC
    1431
  82. Lightning and the Stud 2016-09-02 00:29:22 UTC
    1930
  83. Halfway Heroes 2016-09-03 00:26:18 UTC
    1579
  84. Meeting Adjourned 2016-09-04 04:09:28 UTC
    1119
  85. Rhinoceros National Convention 2016-09-05 01:06:24 UTC
    1312
  86. Duties 2016-09-07 01:51:06 UTC
    1215
  87. Not So Much a "Twist" as a "Knot" 2016-09-07 01:51:52 UTC
    889
  88. Health Hath No Fury 2016-09-08 03:43:00 UTC
    1592
  89. Comings and Goings 2016-09-10 03:33:35 UTC
    969
  90. Assignments 2016-09-10 03:34:05 UTC
    1460
  91. Pleased to Meet You, Red Shine 2016-09-10 05:51:13 UTC
    1034
  92. Bugger All 2016-09-12 02:06:21 UTC
    863
  93. A League Within a League 2016-09-12 04:09:31 UTC
    1552
  94. Leafy 2016-09-14 03:55:57 UTC
    1111
  95. The Curious Case of Lemon Hearts 2016-09-16 03:04:46 UTC
    811
  96. Heroes and Failures 2016-09-16 03:06:20 UTC
    858
  97. If You Let Go of the Controller, Lyra Steers to the Right 2016-09-17 02:46:08 UTC
    1193
  98. Does Bruno Is Screwed? 2016-09-21 23:19:06 UTC
    3184
  99. The Things You Cling To 2016-09-21 23:19:43 UTC
    910
  100. Not a Clever Pony 2016-09-21 23:20:14 UTC
    676
  101. Just. Too. Sweaty. 2016-09-21 23:20:51 UTC
    865
  102. The Plateau 2016-09-21 23:21:21 UTC
    535
  103. Nest 2016-09-21 23:22:11 UTC
    1416
  104. Shelled 2016-09-21 23:26:32 UTC
    1264
  105. ~*~*~Act Three: Shellshocked~*~*~ 2016-09-25 04:02:00 UTC
    702
  106. Top Heavy 2016-09-25 04:02:30 UTC
    984
  107. Drools With Many Ellipses 2016-09-25 04:03:25 UTC
    1345
  108. Little Big Headache 2016-09-27 00:45:45 UTC
    1691
  109. Making Friends With the Natives 2016-09-28 23:44:08 UTC
    1393
  110. Lyra's Last Stand 2016-09-28 23:45:46 UTC
    876
  111. Shellfall 2016-10-01 05:06:24 UTC
    685
  112. Bodies and Voices 2016-10-01 05:06:49 UTC
    690
  113. Lyrabsurd Theatre 2016-10-01 05:07:19 UTC
    839
  114. Drop the Mare 2016-10-03 02:14:38 UTC
    1044
  115. Sour 2016-10-05 04:26:21 UTC
    1241
  116. Bat Her Up 2016-10-05 04:27:05 UTC
    700