The Changelings' War

This story I’m about to tell you is an experience that me and my best friend, who feels almost like a half sister, will never forget. There’s

no need to feel sorry for me, as there’s nothing to be sorry about, but I will admit I learned a lesson those days while I was covered in filth and

grime. One that a survivor would never forget in any shape or form. This is the story I, Admiral Calo-Kalani, and my "half-sister", Octavia

Melody, will always have as a scar…

+++

Neighvy Base Kilo, Canterlot, Eastern Equestria

“ATTENTION!” yells Admiral Calo-Kalani.

The Neighvy troops of Operation Kilo stand at attention

“Good… Good…” he says, walking down the ranks. “We have an important job teh do for the Neighvy an’ the Mare-ine Corps: We lead a ‘stroyer fleet teh the Crys’al Straits teh clear a path for the Mare-ines an’ the rest of the Neighvy.”

A mare named Corporal Octavia Melody raises her hoof.

“Aye… Miss Melody…” he says softly.

“Sir. How exactly are we going to get from here to the Crystal Straits without running out of fuel?” asks the light grey mare with a British accent.

“That be a ‘mazin’ question… Aye… We’ve got plenny ah fuel teh las’ us from here teh the Crys’al Straits… We be fine fer a while. Don’ worry, m’dear…”

Some of the soldiers snicker and Octavia blushes.

“We be movin’ out t’morrah. S’we b’yall set fer our day we make our move…” he continues. “DISMISSED!”

All the ponies walk out except for Octavia.

Calo-Kalani walks down the hallway toward his office. Octavia trails behind him quietly. She sees him enter his office and counts to 10.

I have to ask him why he’s so affectionate towards me, but I’m scared he’s going to dismiss the topic… she thinks.

Octavia walks to the door and lifts a hoof.

“C’min,” he says.

Octavia doesn’t even get a chance to knock.

Calo-Kalani… How does he do it? Is he superpony? She wonders.

Octavia pushes the door open. She takes in the features of the room with awe: polished cherry wood floor, walls, and ceiling, a beautifully polished cherry wood desk, clear laser-etched vinyl blocks depicting tanks, dozens of Medals-of-Honor on his walls.

“Wattaya need…” he asks.

“Well, Admiral Calo-Kalani, I was wondering why you were so… affectionate towards me,” says Octavia blushing.

“Aye… Tavi. You might just be the mos’ beautiful mare I’ve ever seen in all the 4 years I’ve served in the Neighvy,” says Calo-Kalani.

“Thank you, sir,” she says, "but is that it?"

"Well, Tavi, I'm gonna tell yeh a li'l su'in I wouldn' tell a'ypony..." the Pegasus sighs. "... bu' It's been a while sin' I seen me wife ba' in Can'erlot, an' I miss 'er... So, Tavi, yeh remin' me of me wife, but not green and a Shamrock fer a cu'ie mark. Bu' we c'n jus' be frien's. Tha's all... If yeh want teh..."

+++

You see? Being in the Neighvy with a mare you think is beautiful is, no doubt, hard and the fact that she is beautiful is a hard thing to get over. Then the day that nopony wanted came: the day we move out. I lead the charge with my Windsor-class Destroyer, the C.S.S. Windsor II, who got her name from my flagship from the previous sea battle, the C.S.S. Windsor, an Excelsior-class dreadnought, the largest there ever was. She’s in the port under repairs, so I hope the Neighvy will have their glory back…

+++

A whole fleet of marksman destroyers made up of Hawkeyes, Eagles, and Falcons head toward the Crystal Straits with Calo-Kalani’s ship, C.S.S. Wobbegong, leading the charge.

A stallion by the name of Sniper Scopes walks up to Admiral Calo-Kalani.

“Admiral,” he says in his smooth and calm voice. “Our watchstallions have spotted some Switchblade-class cruisers and General Chrystryker’s flagship, Dead Hand.”

“Aye… The enemy’s comin’ at us a tad early, eh?” chuckles Calo-Kalani. “We’re prepared fer this… Arm the artillery… Let them come…”

“Aye-aye, captain!” says Sniper, saluting. He runs down the stairs and yell orders.

THOOOOM! THOOOOM! THOOOOM! THOOOOM!

“INCOMING FIRE!!!” yells Admiral Calo-Kalani. “BRACE YOURSELF!!!”

The artillery fire from the Switchblades hammer Wobbegong.

Then Calo-Kalani sees her: the dreaded Dead Hand.

DOOOOOM! DOOOOOM! DOOOOOM! DOOOOOM! DOOOOOM! DOOOOOM!

KA-BLAAAAAAM!!!

All 6 artillery shells from Dead Hand hammer 3 destroyers: 1 Falcon and 2 Eagles, sinking them all.

Calo-Kalani’s brow knits.

“FIRE!!!”

The destroyers unload their 384mm guns.

KARAM! KARAM! KARAM! KARAM! KARAM! KARAM! KARAAM KARAM

A direct hit! 23 Switchblades sunk.

Sniper Scopes runs up to the bridge again.

“Admiral!” says Sniper, out of breath. “The Queen’s ship has been spotted!”

“Aye… So the Queen has joined the fight,” says Calo-Kalani, smiling.

“It’s The Withered Queen!” continues Sniper.

The Admiral’s smile fades at the words The Withered Queen.

The Withered Queen is Queen Chrysalis’ dreaded Superdestroyer capable of destroying a whole island with a single salvo of its ten 100” guns.

“FALL BACK!!!” yells Admiral Calo-Kalani over the radio.

The fleet turns around without question.

+++

So you see, the fighting is hard, especially when the enemy has more advanced weapons than you. The problem is, though, the Withered Queen has ten 100” (2540mm) guns that can blow an island to pieces with just a single press of a button or pull of a rope. We reported back to the Mare-ine Corps telling them of our failure.

The High General of the Mare-ine Corps was not happy with our news, but she understood when we told her about Dead Hand and the Withered Queen. And we got mercy. We had no fighting chance against Superbattleship Dead Hand and Superdestroyer the Withered Queen, so the retreat was clearly understandable, as we were only armed with 15.1” (384mm) guns which were only effective against  anything ranging from destroyers to battleships; nothing as heavy or as powerful as the *Queen or the Hand.*

If we fail, I’ll be sacked!

+++

Calo-Kalani paces frantically in his office, memories of what happened earlier that day running in and out of his head.

How did we fall for it?! I mean, c’mon, Calo! You are such an idiot, risking your fleet’s crew member’s lives by almost going up against a ship nopony has been able to defeat! He thinks frantically. Wait! Is C.S.S. Windsor out of repair? She could be our only hope! I think I might ask Gears how her status is and if she’s ship-shape for our battle.

Somepony knocks at the door.

C’min,” says Calo-Kalani.

Octavia steps into the room.

“Admiral… I know you are sad that we were defeated and I found a way that I hope will make it up to you. I don’t know if it will, but it’s ready,” she says.

Calo-Kalani looks at Octavia, seeing her cuts and bruises.

“What is it that you did for me?” he asks the mare.

“Follow me,” she says as the Admiral steps forward. “And put this on.”

She hands him a blindfold. Calo-Kalani puts it on.

“Take my hoof and I’ll show you,” Octavia continues.

Admiral Calo-Kalani takes Octavia's hoof Octavia, after multiple times swiping the air. Octavia guides him to an enclosed dock big enough for a large Mare-force carrier.

“You can take your blindfold off now,” says Octavia.

Calo-Kalani takes of his blindfold and what he sees makes him burst into tears of joy: the C.S.S. Windsor in a condition 10x better than when Calo first adopted the Excelsior-class SuperBattleship.

“THANK YOU, TAVI!” says Calo, hugging Octavia.

Octavia hugs him back.

“Oi! Admiral Calo!” says Gears.

“Gears! Thank you for your work!” Calo-Kalani says as he high-hoofs Gears.

“Tavi. Tell the res’ ah the crew that we’re movin’ out t’morrah!” says Calo between sniffs.

“Yes-sir, Admiral Calo-Kalani!” says Octavia, saluting.

“Ay… ‘fore ya go, I wan’ ya teh know that you can call me Calo,” says Calo resting a hoof on Octavia’s shoulder.

“Yes-sir, Calo!” salutes Octavia.

She runs off to tell the others.

+++

Not everything about a war is all shooting ponies and blowing things up. That moment when I was reunited with my beloved flagship was probably one of the happiest parts of the war, but all of this is just the beginning of the story. Aye… That may be a happy thing, but it ain’t a major part of this war, and trust me… There’s more to it!

+++

Meanwhile…

Crystal Straits, flagship Dead Hand, off the coast of the Crystal Empire

“No, your majesty. I haven’t seen them yet since their retreat, but I’m scared that they may be coming with their destroyers. They took out 23 of our Switchblades with a volley from their guns,” says Commander MacAllaster Alexej Chrystryker over the radio.

“Well, you better be prepared for them, Chrystryker. They’ll be here… I can sense it,” says the Changeling Queen.

“I am. I have a whole armada and then some of Switchblades in waiting… We are plenty ready for their coming, your majesty,” says Chrystryker.

“Lovely…" snarls the Queen, "They’ve probably got reinforcements from all over Equestria so be ready.”

“Understood, your majesty! Chrystryker out!” salutes Chrystryker.

+++

Crystal Sea, flagship Windsor, Crystal Sea

“Ahhhh… Tehday be a good day teh be on the sea… And it also be a good day for CRUSHING CHANGELINGS!!!” says Calo.

“I agree with you, Calo. A great day,” says Octavia, the wind blowing through her mane.

Calo can’t help but stare at her mane, waving in the wind.

I never knew how beautiful Octavia was up until now… thinks Calo.

“You like my mane, don’t you, Calo?” says Octavia eyeing Calo looking at her mane.

“Uh… Yeah… I do…” says Calo in a guilty tone.

“Keh heh heh!” laughs Octavia whipping her mane in his faces, making the Admiral recoil.

“Hey! What was that for!” growls Calo.

“You like my mane, and my mane likes you!” she says smiling.

The two ponies laugh as they approach an island.

“I think that island would be a great vacation spot,” says Calo.

“Yeah…” sighs Octavia, tiredly.

“Admiral!” yells Gears. “We’re all running low on fuel, so I think we should rest at this island!”

“Understood!” Calo yells back. “Tavi. Tehday’s over an’ ya look like ya need some rest,” says Calo.

Octavia yawns.

“Yeah… I might take a nap,”

“You go an’ rest. I’ll be on deck watchin’ fer any signs ah trouble, ya hear?” asks Calo.

“Understood!” says Octavia with a salute.

I have teh admit: Tavi’s the cute’un. Calo-Kalani laughs to himself.

+++

There! I got myself an ally! Octavia Melody’s heart truly is as loving as she is in general. I do love her. Truly I do. She’s worth more than both Windsor and Windsor II made out of solid 24k gold (They also wouldn’t stand a chance against the enemy, being made of gold. Keh heh heh!)

I’m thinking of promoting Tavi tomorrow, make her my lieutenant and all, so there. A basic schedule: Wake up, go on deck, meet Octavia, promote her, and beat the crap out of the Changelings.

And I also might just give her Wobbegong. *Simple as that!*

+++

Island near Crystal Straits, flagship *Windsor, Crystal Sea*

“Alright, everypony! *ATTENTION!” Calo yells.*

The ponies stand at attention.

“We have a promotion today! Corporal Octavia Melody, due teh her hard work an’ will of titanium, will today be promoted as my Lieutenant ,” continues Calo.

The ponies on the Neighvy cheer for Octavia.

“ATTENTION!” yells Calo.

The ponies quiet down.

“Today is also the day we move out fer the Crys’al Straits. With Windsor back in action, we will take down the Changelings an’ free the Crystal Empire from darkness!”

The ponies cheer again.

“MOVE OUT!” yells Calo.

The ponies move out, still cheering.

+++

It’s not so bad being in the Neighvy. I got beautiful Octavia Melody on my side and I feel great because of all the hard work she’s done not just for me, but for the team.

I’ll never forget her if we never meet again…

+++

“Calo.”

“Yes, Tavi?” asks Calo.

“I think I see the Changeling Navy,” she says.

Calo-Kalani looks out into the distance, squinting.

“I see ‘em,” says Calo, softly, more to himself than to Octavia.

“Are we going on the offensive or defencive?” asks Octavia frantically.

Calo-Kalani closes his eyes. “Aye… We wait.”

“WHAT?* We just wait for them to beat us to pieces and we narrowly escape with our lives?!” she cries, “What are you thinking? Are you trying to get us killed?!”*

“Keh heh heh… Tavi. Calm down. I have a plan.”

The Admiral tells Lieutenant Melody about his plan. Octavia walks to the radio.

“Everypony! We need to fall back around the island! The Admiral has something to say!” she says over the radio.

+++

Meanwhile…

Crystal Straits, flagship* Dead Hand, *Southeast of the Crystal Port

“My Queen. They’re retreating around the island. Should we follow them?” asks Commander Chrystryker.

“No. Let them run. They’ll be back and we’ll be waiting…” says the Queen Chrysalis, laughing evilly.

“Yes, your majesty! Chrystryker out!” says Chrystryker.

Stryker turns around and looks at a female Changeling with an adorable British accent.

“You. Caela is it? Tell the others that we wait.”

“Yes sir, Commander Chrystryker!” she says flying away.

Stryker returns to the wheel, starts up the feared Superbattleship and turns around.

This is a really annoying job, having to work with practically useless Changelings. Well maybe with the exception of Caela. *Stryker laughs to himself. Caela… The most beautiful Changeling I’ve ever met…*

+++

Other side of the Island that Calo said to meet at, flagship *Windsor, Near Crystal Straits*

“Okay, everypony. When we head in, we’re in a ‘V’ fermation. Be ready for *Dead Hand teh show up. When Dead Hand does show up, the ‘V’ fermation slowly veers off teh t’ever broadside of Windsor you’re on at diff’rent speeds, so if you are at the very tip of the Flyin’-V, you slow yer speed down 12 knots, then each row s'btracts 2 knots from 12, so 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, then me leadin’ the charge teh ‘stract them,” Says Calo-Kalani. “This strategy is so 'f he tries to take one of us out, we have a higher chance of evadin’ ‘er shells. Who’s in?”*

All of the ponies cheer.

Soon, the fleet led by C.S.S. *Windsor, Calo’s (and now Octavia’s too) prized and feared flagship, were on their way to fight Commander Chrystryker and his Changeling Navy Switchblades waiting for him in the Straits.*

“Alright, everypony! Stay on guard! Operation *Wobbegong's ‘bout to be executed! This'll start the war! We will defeat them an’ NOT GIVE UP!” yells Calo into the radio. “Keep yer eyes peeled!”*

“But Admiral! What about your ship?” asks a radio operator.

“Don’ worry ‘bout me, son. I’ll be fine! Focus on the Switchblades. Torp ‘em if ya need teh. Keh heh heh… I’ll take on *Dead Hand,” says Calo-Kalani.*

“Yes-sir, Admiral. Tautog out,” says the radio operator.

“Calo! I’ve spotted *Dead Hand!” says Octavia. “North to Northwest.”*

“I see ‘er,” growls Calo. “Tell ‘em teh split up. We’ll take on the *Hand.”*

Octavia informs the destroyer fleet.

The destroyers disperse.

+++

Meanwhile…

Crystal Straits mouth, flagship* Dead Hand, *Crystal Straits

“Caela! Darling! Tell the crew to take aim at the incoming battleshi- wait! Is that* Windsor?!” *cries Commander Chrystryker.

“I’m afraid so, Commander,” says Caela, in a slightly disappointed manner.

“I thought I sunk it! I saw it sink with my own… eyes, er, eye,” he rants. “Tell the Changelings to open and fire all gun-ports! Don’t stop until they’re sunk!”

“Yes-sir,” says Caela, saluting.

She bolts out the door like a speeding bullet.

I gotta sink that ship once and for all! *Stryker screams in his head.*

His thoughts get disrupted by a moaning salvo of 508mm HE shells

He curses.

+++

“Calo!” says Octavia, out of breath. “They’ve opened their gun-ports! They’re ready to fire any time now!”

“Alright! Understood!” says Calo. “Open all gun-ports and open fire on *Dead Hand.”]*

“Sir. That’s what they want. They want us to fire first and then while we’re reloading, they fire their 50” cannons. We want them to fire first, then fire,” continues Octavia. “Though, we do fire much faster than them, so when they fire, we can probably throw in a few shots from our bow and forward artillery batteries. But what I’ve noticed about the Changeling’s naval fighting style is that they are never organized, but I know why.”

“Why’d that be, Tavi?” asks Calo.

“They’re either lazy or they want it to be harder for us to target multiple at on-”

KA-DA-DOOOOOOM!

KA-BLAM!!!

“Sniper! Damage rehport!” Calo-Kalani yells into the radio.

No answer.

“Sniper! You there?”

Still no answer.

“Okay. I’ll try Gears,” says Calo. “Gears! You there?”

“Yep! I’m here!” he says.

“Damage rehport!”

“Well, we got hit pretty hard. Front gun’s incapacitated, 3 crew dead, 2 injured, and we got a fire,” continues Gears. “Admiral. I’m not sure what exactly our next step is.”

“Where’s Sergeant Scopes?” asks Calo. “He dead?”

“No, sir. Out cold.”

“Thanks, Gears!”

“10-4!”

KA-BLAM-BLAM-BA-BLAM!

“What’s the damage now, Gears?” Calo yells.

“Port double's blown off and 7 more dead. No wounded.”

Dead Hand *is screwing us up! Octavia thinks, sweating. Where are the destroyers!*

KA-THOOOOOM!

“Yahoo! 5 Switchblades down! How’d our ‘stroyers do it?!” says Calo.

Suddenly, a Changeling (a beautiful one at that) hits the viewport of the bridge. She peels herself off the viewport and flies into the bridge.

“I’m Caela,” says the Changeling. “And you are about to be dead!”

Her eyes lock on to Octavia. In the blink of an eye, she slices Octavia from chest up to below her head with her horn.

Octavia coughs blood once then falls, blood pooling around her.

“You’re next, Calo, my darling,” says Caela, bloodlust in her voice.

She charges at Calo, but Calo blasts her with a Minigun magic attack.

Caela’s gets battered down by the blasts, but she doesn’t back down yet.

“You… Will regret… That!” she screams, pained.

“Will I now, darlin’?” snarls Calo landing to face Caela. “We’ll see!”

Caela charges again and Calo tuck-and-rolls, making Caela trip over Octavia’s leg.

Calo corners Caela.

“You’re fast for a sailor… Thought you’d be easier… I guess not. You’ve beat me. I give up,” sighs the Changeling.

“Yeh got that right, yeh bloody beetle,” says Calo, loss thick in his voice, “Yer ours now, Caela... And as punishment...”

Calo casts a spell on Caela freezing her in a block of crystal.

“I’m gonna need ‘sistance up on the bridge. Got a wil’ Changelin’,” says the Admiral over the radio

+++

I just caught myself a wild Changeling that JUST ATTACKED MY LITTLE TAVI!!! Heh heh heh!

And so...

I’ll heal the poor mare and nurse her back to health. I’ll let Gears take over until poor Tavi’s better. I’ll make sure we freaking nail Chrystryker’s flagship and soon it’ll just be me and him, a battle to the death! I will make sure that we win!

+++

Meanwhile…

Crystal Sea, flagship Dead Hand, Crystal Sea

“Commander Chrystryker! We got Challengers incoming!” a Changeling yells into a radio.

“I see them, Lieutenant!” says Chrystryker. “I’ll tell the Changelings to fire all anti-air cannons.”

“10-4! Rampage out!” says the Changeling.

Stryker walks out onto the deck and yells to the Changelings to fire their AA guns.

Soon the air is filled with charged rainbolts.

THICKTHICKTHICKTHICKTHICKTHICKTHICK! TH-THICKTHICKTHICKTHICKTHICKTHICKTHICK! THICKTHCIKTHICK!

“Keh heh heh! We will destroy Calo-Kalani’s Neighvy!” laughs the General.

+++

Crystal Sea, Carrier *Tracer, Crystal Sea*

“Admiral!” says Captain Tracer to the radio.

“What’s up, Captain?” says the Admiral.

“Flash Squadron is down. Probably from *Dead Hand.”*

“Aye… Tracer. I’m moving in. Don’t worry!” the Admiral says cheerfully.

*I’ve never understood why Admiral Calo-Kalani is always happiest surrounded by flying shells… Tracer thinks.*

Spitfire runs up to Tracer.

“Tracer! *Flash Squadron is down. Should we send in Tog Squadron and my squadron, Spitfire Squadron?” asks the orange Pegasus.*

“Send in 2 bomber squadrons, 1 torpedo bomber squadron, and 3 fighter squadrons,” Tracer says, looking out the viewport.

“Yes sir, Captain!” says Spitfire, saluting.

The orange Pegasus walks out of the bridge.

Tracer watches her order the plane squadrons in a weird torpedo-shaped formation

*Interesting tactic, my darling Spitfire thinks Tracer.*

*Thank you, Tracer Spitfire responds.*

What was* that? *thinks the ship captain, scared out of his wits.

+++

Crystal Straits, both Chrystryker and Calo’s fleets, Crystal Straits

It was ultimate chaos.

Shells of dozens of calibers fly like hornets throughout the air.

Chrystryker’s fleet has lost 32 of his 100 *Switchblade-class cruisers and Calo’s fleet has lost 20 of his destroyers: 10 Windsor-classes, 6 Luna-classes, and 4 Calo-classes.*

C.S.S. *Windsor takes on Dead Hand.*

Suddenly *Windsor II (with Princess Luna at the helm), tailed by 18 Nighthawk-class carriers, comes around the island.*

*Windsor hammers Dead Hand to a melted boat-shaped hunk of metal peppered with hundreds of holes, but Dead Hand’s captain, General MacAllaster Alexej Chrystryker, is apparently refusing to give up. Chrystryker’s ship just keeps up the firing, yet being harassed by the planes from Tracer and the other 10 carriers.*

A torpedo crashes into a Switchblade, but doesn’t blow up! It pierces 5 other Switchblades and a propeller on Dead Hand, narrowing it down to Chrystryker losing 64 of 100 *Switchblades and an incapacitated Dead Hand, and Calo-Kalani’s fleet with 41 out of 75 destroyers lost, 18 Windsors, 12 Lunas, and 11 Calos.*

At this point, it’s Dead Hand’s last stand. Windsor II unleashes a devastating salvo of HESH shells. *Dead Hand still doesn’t fall. Windsor fires a ton of salvos from all of its gun-ports.*

They crash down on *Dead Hand. Dead Hand starts to sink into the depths.*

+++

Well, I got Tavi back to health, we have Caela in custody, and Chrystryker(or Stryker as he prefers) is on our side now. It was real hard to heal Tavi and wore out all of my energy for the day and I just hope I don’t die because of it. If I do, then I hope that Tavi knows I died for a good reason.

This part of the war is over, but I know that there is much more to come. The Allied Horses have taken just a small part of Equestria, yet it’s a huge step for the Allies.

Tavi and I had our victory for the Crystal Ocean. Though, we do have our defense up, so there’s no need to worry.

+++

That’s just me and Octavia’s first bit our story and that’s just the beginning of this war. I will tell more in the future if you’re interested!

Your Ally forever,

Admiral Calomanaki Seamus Kalani