After the Invasion
When the Changelings were defeated at the Wedding of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Captain Shining Armor, tensions began to increase. When you learn of a species that can literally impersonate anypony, from a family member to a complete stranger, you don’t know who to trust. Despite the fact that the Queen lost that day, ultimately, she cracked the glass that made up Equestria.
Within the span of a few years, only months after the crowning of Princess Twilight Sparkle and the creation of the Friendship Kingdom, a civil war broke out. The Four princesses and the Elements of Harmony did what they could to prevent the war, but it was inevitable. Many hard earned friendships were broken and whatever trust there was was no longer.
The war eventually reignited the schism that they had in the many generations past. When the war wore down after a few centuries, what was once Equestria was now a splintered land, divided and separated by uneasy truces and peace.
To the North were the War Birds, fierce pegasi and griffin warriors bound by axe and glory. To the South were the Iron Hooves, earth ponies and horses devoted in knight-like duty of keeping their lands safe. In the East was the Platinum Empire, unicorns and zebras that had mastery of art and were graceful in battle. In the West was the Remnant Kingdom, the last fragments of Equestria and a place of refuge.
These four factions came from a failed invasion. An invasion that the Queen that orchestrated it regretted. Even if she had succeeded, all she did was sow seeds of disharmony and hatred in the land that was famed for harmony and love. Her actions reduced her kingdom to the size of a village. With no other choice, she had to do what she could to right the wrong she brought to the world.
(Ponyville, Remnant Kingdom; 401 S.E. or Splinter Era)
In the centuries of the Equestrian Civil war and the Splinter Cold war, Ponyville evolved from the small home town into a bustling capital. Many generations had passed on, many of which were direct descendants of the Bearers of Harmony. When the Bearers died, save Princess Twilight, their Elements passed on to the most worthy of their descendants.
The Element of Honesty went to the current Patriarch of the Apple family, Apple Press. He was a no nonsense stallion that treasured truth and honesty above everything except his family. When he spoke, he used short, blunt words and said what he meant, when he meant. The Honesty Gem became a war hammer head and was the primary part of his war hammer, “Blunt Honesty.”
The Element of Kindness went to the kind, yet mischievous Eris. As she had more pony than Draconequus in her blood, she was mortal, but had a small talent for Chaos magic from what blood she got from her many-greats grandfather, Discord. The Kindness Gem became round and smooth and was the head of her staff, “Strange Kindness.”
The Element of Laughter went to lovable and huggable Cherry Pie. If one was to compare her to her many greats grandmother, Pinkie Pie, they would almost swear that she is her reincarnation. The only difference between them were looks, as she had a light red coat and a dark green mane and was a unicorn. The Laughter Gem became a dagger, which she called “Serious Laughter.”
The Element of Generosity went to the suave and sophisticated Elusive. Being one of the direct descendants of Rarity herself, he practically inherited her looks and talent. However, unlike her, he was willing to get dirty if the need arose. The Generosity Gem became a pommel for his rapier, “Painless Generosity.”
The Element of Loyalty went to a devoted zebra/pegasus hybrid known as Speedy Stripes. Like his ancestor, he had a liking for speed and racing, but had more of an appreciation for books. He was also able to perform a Sonic Rainboom like his many ancestors. The Loyalty Gem became a bunch of arrow head like shards, which were then fashioned into a unique sword, “Sharp Loyalty.”
The Element of Magic was still bound to Princess Twilight Sparkle, but the Magic Gem was transferred to a necklace that Rarity made before she died. With the aid of her brother (before he died), her personal guards became the best guards in all of Equestria and were some of the primary combatants in the Equestrian Civil War and are now the main military force for the Remnant Kingdom in the Splinter Cold War.
In this setting, in the Remnant Castle, is where the story of the reestablishment and retaking of Equestria begins. The Royal Alicorns and the Council of Harmony were discussing what they have always discussed ever since the start of the Splinter Cold War, which was the constant attacks on all fronts, whether they were raids, invasion attempts, or unnecessary retaliations. Just as the discussions were under way, a circle of green fire ignited on the meeting table, prompting the Royals to ignite their horns and the Council to grab their weapons.
The fire surged up briefly before subsiding into nothingness. Inside where the circle was, stood the Changeling Queen Chrysalis, accompanied with a handful of changeling guards. Just as the Solar Royal, Princess Celestia, was about to demand why she was there, she and her guards collapsed. Princess Flurry Heart, the second youngest of the Royals, defied all common sense that most ponies developed and jumped onto the table and began to check their vitals.
After a few minutes of tense anticipation, she looked up at her cousin, Prince Dusk Watch, and her aunt and stated solemnly, “They are in a critical condition! They need hospitalization and love! Stat!”
“Hold up!” Speedy Stripes stood up abruptly and pointed Sharp Loyalty at the unconscious changelings. “Why are you wanting to help them!? They are the cause of our problems from the start those centuries ago!”
“Do we have to spell it out for ya, Stripes?” Apple Press rubbed his temples. “Can’t you see that they seem starved and are unconscious or did ya focus on the fact that they’re changelings, therefore forgetting the fact that they fell on the DAMN TABLE!?!” Stripes opened his mouth to answer, but he paused to think and realized that Press was right. He closed his mouth and sat down, glaring at him and the changelings.
“While I can agree with Stripes that we can’t trust the changelings yet”- Eris stood up, gesturing to the subjects “-I believe that with us helping them, we can keep an eye on them and figure out their motives for coming here.”
“I agree!” Cherry Pie bounced up from her seat. “I mean, sure they may seem like a bunch of meanie bugs, but they may be here to explain how what happened was an act of desperation and that they want to help us bring Equestria back to it’s original glory.” Everypony gave her a weird look. Princess Celestia then spoke.
“Then it is decided. Flurry Heart and Apple Press with a contingent of Remnant Guards will bring Queen Chrysalis and her guards to the hospital where they will be tended to by Cadence and Eris. The meeting is adjourned until they recover.” Celestia pick up a gavel and pounded it on the table.
Author's Note
From that moment on, the future of the Remnant Kingdom would start to get brighter.
(English){Common tongue}
Sono shunkan kara, Remnant ōkoku no mirai wa akaruku naru hazudesu.
(Japanese){Platinum Empire}
Von diesem Augenblick an würde die Zukunft des Remnant Königreichs beginnen, heller zu werden.
(German){Iron Hooves}
Från det ögonblicket på, skulle framtiden för Remnant kungariket börjar bli ljusare.
(Swedish){War Birds}
2/27/2107--Cream Pie was changed to Cherry Pie.
The Plan
(Harrowgate Sanctuary, Land of Ashfeld; 2 years into the Apollyon war)
Ever since Apollyon died in her desire for a land filled with war, the Iron Legion, the Warborn, and the Chosen were at each other’s throats. That case wasn’t true in regards to the former faction leaders and their lieutenants. Warden, Orochi, and Raider alongside Holden Cross, Jarl Stigandr, and Kensei Ayu had managed to create a unified force of Iron Legion Knights, Warborn Vikings, and Chosen Samurai.
Despite the success of creating a unified force, the majority of the factions’ people themselves didn’t honor the new alliance and the war stayed on strong, so the Unified Alliance (as they came to call themselves) started into the fighting to try to break up fighting and try to resolve things as peacefully as possible. However, this only resulted in the two or three fighting sides to turn on the Alliance before they would resume the slaughter on themselves, leaving the Alliance to lick it’s wounds. It was after one of those instances that Cross, Stigandr, and Ayu sat down to again discuss the futility of trying to work for peace.
“I don’t get it.” Cross carefully placed his poleaxe on the ground next to the crate he was sitting on. “Two years. Two, long years of our efforts after we first met for peace, and we still have nothing to show for it."
"I can list one thing.” Ayu began cleaning her nodachi of the blood from their recent peacekeeping attempt. “We managed to get away with our lives. And it was you that said we would die in the attempt to bring about peace."
“That may be true,” he confirmed. “But I was hoping that our efforts would have shown fruition sooner.”
“Don’t get too uptight, Shield-Brother.” Stigandr placed a hand on Cross’ shoulder. “Regardless if we obtain victory in our fight now or later, our efforts will be remembered through the ages.”
“Yes. There will be much honor in our cause, regardless if we fail or succeed,” Ayu agreed. “Now, I believe we should get some rest. We need all the strength we need for when our next mission comes.” Everyone then trudged off to their sleeping mats, undid their armor, and began their rest.
(Meanwhile, in the Remnant Kingdom, about a week after Chrysalis arrived)
“Your Majesties and Council of Harmony,” a Remnant guard announced as he bowed. “I present Queen Chrysalis of the Former Changeling Kingdom.” He stepped aside, allowing two other guards to open the doors to reveal the queen and her guards, still sickly looking, but better than how they appeared.
Queen Chrysalis was walking in with the support of a cane, while her guards hobbled in using an ingenious, yet strange mix of pole axes and crutches (designed by Cherry Pie herself). The Queen carefully sat down on the seat provided for her, her guards shakily taking positions next to her and the door as well. Once she was seated, the meeting started up.
“To start,” Princess Celestia began, but was quickly interrupted by Queen Chrysalis.
“There is no need to beat around the bush,” she said, annoyance clearly showing on her face. “You all want to know why I'm here, so I will tell you.” She took a deep breath and continued. “As of a year ago, I am the last female of my kind and my guards are the last males.” Everypony’s eyes widened at this, but Chrysalis wasn’t done. “Aside from refuge, I also came to try to right the wrong I did all those centuries ago."
“That's a bunch of bull!” Speedy called out, giving the Queen a glare. “Isn't that what you wanted? To reveal to Ponykind of a shapeshifting species, therefore, sowing seeds of mistrust and causing us to fight each other!?” Chrysalis simply stared at him, completely unfazed by the yelling.
“Let me ask you something, young hybrid” -She leaned forward in her seat, her stare morphing into a glare- “What benefits would a species that feeds on love get by causing mistrust in a nation when we can't feed off of it?”
“I...you...Bwaah?” Was all that Speedy could mutter in his bewilderment. The Queen, in one question, practically diffused his anger, but he still wondered, “Why did you invade then, if mistrust wasn’t what you wanted?” The Queen sighed and answered.
“We were starving and dying,” she said, bluntly. “And don't suggest that we could have gotten the love we needed by diplomatic means. I can list three reasons why it wouldn't work. Number one, things already happened. We can't change the past. Number two, we were delirious and confused. Anything we did or said was our unsated appetites. Lastly, number three, what chance would any of you be willing to help creatures as hideous as us?” None of them responded.
“When you put that all together, it makes sense.” Press said. “You, logically, didn't have much of a choice. Now, having had to hide for Celestia-knows-how-long, you've just now been able to muster the courage to try to reason with us and right the wrong that you wrought and hope that we forgive you. I, for one, don’t need more convincing than what you have already presented. As Bearer of the Element of Honesty, I forgive you of your past deeds.”
“As do I,” Eris said as she stood. The rest of the Bearers and the Alicorn Royals followed suit, standing and forgiving the Queen for her misdeeds. Upon hearing their forgiveness, Chrysalis could do nothing but cry as a proverbial weight was lifted off of her shoulders.
“You can’t imagine how much happiness and joy those words give me,” she said through her tears. “I’ve spent the last few centuries holding that failed invasion and subsequent war over my head. As the Bearer of Honesty has said, I just now mustered the courage to come here and present you with this.” Queen Chrysalis pulled out a scroll and presented to the Council and the Royals. Prince Dusk Watch took the scroll and examined it. His eyes widened at what was on it and he handed it over to his mother. She read it, and her eyes widened like her son’s did.
“This is an amplification scroll!” She exclaimed. “How did you find this?! I thought all of those scrolls were destroyed!”
“I actually made that one, based off of the spell matrix of a ruined one I found a few years back,” Chrysalis informed. “I then finished it’s destruction before we came here. I don’t think it would have been good if anypony from the Platinum Empire found it.”
“Uh, I hate to interrupt, but what is an amplification scroll?” Elusive asked.
Twilight got into lecture mode. “An amplification scroll is a spell circle matrix that enlarges a normal spell’s energy output by…”
“In simple terms!” Speedy called out, half-bored.
“Basically, it can make any spell sealed in it or cast with it stronger,” Twilight huffed. “So if I used a basic levitation spell with it, and given my raw power alone with that, I could easily uproot Roost Mountain and move it into position to become another moon.” She examined the scroll again. “However, there is already a spell sealed into this one, but I can’t identify it.”
“That’s because, Twilight,” Celestia spoke up. “The spell was a direct revelation from Faust herself.”
“So that’s where the idea came from,” Chrysalis mused. “All that this spell needs is an energy source. The power of the Elements of Harmony should do the trick, since Faust was involved."
“Then, we are in agreement?” Luna asked the gathered ponies and changeling. They all nodded in the affirmative. “Then, on the morrow, we shall activate the spell with the usage of the Elements of Harmony. This meeting is adjourned.” A gavel sounded off, signaling with Luna’s words.
Author's Note
And the spell would bring them more than what they expected.
Soshite, sono jumon wa karera ga kitai shite ita yori mo ōku o motarasudarou.
Und der Zauber würde sie mehr bringen als das, was sie erwartet.
Och passet skulle ge dem mer än vad de förväntade.
