LAPIS

New Manehattan, New Equestria, Planet Earth

The battle raged on as Lapis tried to figure out how to break the spell that bound Topaz to Celestia’s will. She kept parrying his attacks while running through things she could do to gain the upper claw. Then, she realized that he was not quite as sharp as he usually would be, given that he was under mind control by Celestia. Because of this fact (though she really should have seen it sooner), a plan started to form in her head. After a few more parries, she set her new plan in motion. She sidestepped deftly, and started taunting Topaz. “Whoops! You missed me!” She dodged again, and made a face. “Ooh, that was so close!” She kept dodging again and again, making snide comments every time. In haste and anger Topaz took the bait, and he started to let himself get sloppy subconsciously. A smile broke on Janice’s face. Bingo. She got in close after his guard had an opening, and lit up her horn to max brightness and shielded her eyes. Everyone else in the immediate area winced, and Janice touched her horn to Topaz’s forehead. “Now! Mind Healing!” This spell often took a lot out of her when she tried using it, but she had uncapped her mana, so she would be fine. Probably. She fought tooth and claw against the powerful spell that had hold on her half-brother, and she would not give up. The spell’s hold was tough, and it seemed unbreakable by all accounts. But she could not give in here, not when she was this close. With a final surge of energy from her locket touching his, she broke him out of the mind control.

Birthright’s eyes went wide with panic as she yelled out as the spell broke. “No!” This cost her, as she accidentally gave Saul an opening to shock her with a taser. She writhed helplessly on the ground as he placed the magic canceller on her horn.

Topaz shook himself out of his dizziness as the rest of the troops were cornered. “Ugh. Damn that Celestia. Thanks sis, for getting me out of this mess.” He turned to the terrified troops of Celestia, glaring with unbridled ire. “Run back to your detestable Queen, and tell her that we have Princess Birthright! Also that I didn’t appreciate being her little pawn, and that I have gained back my own mind! We have victory against her forces this day!”

The forces of Celestia fled in terror and panic, and Saul held up the paralyzed Birthright triumphantly. “Now, the tables will turn in our favor!” A cry of victory went out as they placed shackles on her hooves.

Birthright growled in viciousness and detestment of everyone there. “You disgusting creatures will not get away with this! Celestia will never negotiate! She will break me out! You will all be under Celestia’s hoof in the end! I promise it!”

Going right up to Birthright’s muzzle, Janice glared into Birthright’s eyes. “Not as long as I and those helping me have anything to say about it! We will stand against her, and defeat her and her armies that she tries to throw our way! Now, let us get going, shall we?” She grabbed Birthright in her claws, and they dragged her away kicking and screaming as Topaz followed willingly.

TRIXIE

Ponyville, Equestria, Planet Equus

Trixie sighed deeply to herself as she looked out the window of Twilight’s Castle. There were a lot of things she had to think on now. Not only her feelings for Sapphiron (and how deep those might go), but all this business with the humans and Proteans. From what she had overheard from Zachary’s call on that “cell phone” thing, there are some remnants of the former human governments left underground on Earth that the Proteans had gotten in contact with that they were having discussions with. With this information, they certainly had a lot going for their cause. But what would the end of this long war bring? Would they have to truly break off of Equestria and from their own country? Would they be able to get through to Celestia, and show her the error of her ways? Or was she truly too far gone, with no redemption in sight? There were many questions she was having buzz aimlessly through her head, so she decided to go out and clear her head. “I am going out for a bit. See all of you later.”

Twilight stopped her at the door, a concerned look on her muzzle. “Trixie, I know that all of this is a lot to take in. It was when we first learned of it too, you know.” she placed a wing on Trixe’s shoulder, smiling. “Just remember, we are all here for you if you need to talk about anything. Alright?”

Trixie blinked, and smiled lightly. “Yeah. I get you. I just… need to reorganize my thoughts a bit.” She opened the front door, and paused. She looked back at Twilight. How strange things were now. Things certainly had changed a lot since the first time they met, hadn’t they? She let out a small laugh as she thought back to that day. To think that she used to think her and Twilight were “rivals”... She sighed. Such a thing seemed a distant fantasy these days. She pushed those distant memories away, and exited into the bright day.

SAPPHIRON

Ponyville, Equestria, Planet Equus

Sapphiron was hard at work, heating the white platinum so it could be manipulated better. He had set up in his shack made of old paintings that he had never sold, and made a makeshift forge. It was certainly nothing that anyone would consider “spectacular”, but he might as well use the products from that long dead dream for something useful. He gently worked with the blue arcanite, delicately crafting the shards into the exact right shape with his precision tools. The outside world was far away as he worked in absolute silence, taking great care with getting everything just right. But he was suddenly jarred out of his concentration when somebody came to his shack. “Hey, Sapphiron. Are those Sacred Amulets done yet?”

He glared at the audacious pony that had interrupted him, regretting in not installing a proper door to this shack. It was Noteworthy, one of the leaders of the resistance. Sapphiron snorted in agitation and anger. “By the Crystalline Eye, just be a tad more patient! These Sacred Amulets will take time!” At the bit of fear on Noteworthy’s muzzle, he sighed deeply to calm himself down. “I’m sorry that I lashed out at you. I just can not afford to rush these. This recipe is very particular about how to make them. It’s not a process that can afford any sort of mistake.”

Noteworthy nodded in understanding. “Ah. Sorry about making you feel rushed. As long as we are ready to fight back with might, take all the time you need for your work.”

After Noteworthy had left, Sapphiron sighed as he got back to work. It seemed quite odd. These ponies seemed more accepting than others he had met before, yet they still had some tendencies of the others. They still were afraid of him, yet he saw that they tried to look past that. It truly puzzled him as to why, but he wasn’t exactly complaining. Trixie though, she didn’t fear him anymore. She seemed oddly comfortable around him these days, and there was the odd way she’d been acting towards him recently. He knew what it most likely meant, but he wasn’t sure himself if he felt the same about her. He’d been closed off from the world for years, so these emotions were strange and new. He chuckled lightly. Maybe he’d ask her out later. As for right now, he had work to do.

BIRTHRIGHT

Protean Encampment, New Equestria, Planet Earth

Birthright yelped as they cast her into a cell. “Hey! You won’t get away with this! Let me go, creature!”

The protean in strange armor (that she had heard Janice call Saul) glared at her through the bars of her cell. “When this is all over, the nations of Earth will be rebuilt, and all former humans will be restored. Pray that we are lenient with your sentencing for your war crimes.”

Birthright growled and glared at him. “I don’t want your pity! All of you will soon live under Celestia’s reign anyway! She’ll ponify all of you, and you’ll all be happy little Newfoals! You’re just prolonging the inevitable!”

Saul shook his head. “I’ve no time for your prattle, prisoner. I must get going back to my post. Just sit there, and try and look at it from a perspective not your own.” He then clamoured down the hallway.

Birthright was about to retort when a strange white mist was filtered into the room. She started having a coughing fit, and managed to get out a phrase. “What are you playing at? *cough* I won’t succumb to your tricks!” Her head started to feel strange as she looked into the mist. “I won’t… be… swayed…!” Her eyes started to glaze over, and she zoned out.

LUNA

Xenosabe Concourse, Clericorum, Planet Funestis

After Luna’s explanation was finished, the members of the concourse discussed things amongst each other. It had Luna on edge, but she resolved to not show weakness. She would remain firm, no matter what. Once the discussion was over, Tom spoke. “We have considered your plight seriously, and have come to a decision to back you fully. Welcome to the alliance, Equestrian Resistance.”

Luna bowed slightly. “Thank you for your decision. I know that this isn’t made lightly, and that some of you may still have your doubts about our intentions. But rest assured, we will show that the Equestrian Resistance is a true ally to you and your cause. We are at your disposal as soon as we are ready.”

Before any could reply to her, a call came from the vicinity of Earth. It was put through, and it showed Chimeron Joe dan Bohr of Clericorum, a smile on his face. “Good news. The project to rebuild the forces of the human remnants on Earth is going smoothly. I’ve also received confirmation that the numbers of humans we’ve cured is steadily growing by the hour. It won’t take much more time for the forces to be ready to advance on more ‘New Equestrian’ settlements.” His attention was then drawn to Luna. “Well now, if it isn’t the Moon Princess herself! I hope our concourse has treated you well, Princess Luna.”

She nodded firmly. “They have. Our capabilities to help you are well on their way as I understand. Sapphiron’s Sacred Amulets will certainly be quite the boon once they are mass produced for all of our unicorn soldiers.”

The Chimeron had a pensive look on his face. “Sapphiron? Does he have any relation to that pony that’s helping our forces on Earth? Lapis, I believe her name was...”

Luna gasped sharply. “Yes! He is. He told us much of his family. It seems that Lapis has helped you well if you speak of her aid so fondly.”

Tom chuckled slightly. “She is quite a boon for us. She may have been from the side of Celestia, but she has really come to understand our motives. She is now one of our devout supporters.” His advisor whispered in his ear, and his smile widened. “I just got word that she helped capture her rouge half-brother, as well as Princess Birthright. She really has come through for us in these recent days. Sapphiron should be proud of her.”

A smile lit upon Luna’s muzzle. “I’ll let him know. Now, I must get back to confer with Princess Twilight. Our plans to divide Equestria’s attention must be fine tuned. I bid you all farewell, for now.” She then teleported away, back to Equestria.

Author's Note

Sorry that this took so long. After this chapter, I'm putting this story on hiatus until further notice. I know some of you might be invested, but I can't go further at this venture. Outside factors put this on the back-burner, unfortunately. I hope that you can understand.