Masterminds

by GoodKnight

Rating: everyone
Tags: Princess Luna, Thriller, Other, Crossover, Princess Celestia, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe
Length: 4804

When Equestria finds itself unable to bounce back from a serious loss, Princess Celestia recruits a couple of guys who can...

Equestria has lost. Attacked on all sides, and severely reduced in Royal Guard number, Celestia stands upon the precipice of imminent annihilation. Canterlot, being the last stronghold of Equestria, the princess of the dawn is forced into a last ditch effort to save her kingdom...

...and she really hopes it works.

Published 2017-08-30 19:50:06 UTC
Last updated 2017-09-04 09:07:00 UTC

Prologue

The sun, in it's waning moments shown over the remnants of what used to be a proud and powerful nation. Like it's final light, so did the last stronghold of of the equine nation become like a beacon. It beckoned to those in need of relief. Canterlot was a city that sat on a precipice, but was still stable and well fortified with high walls of the thickest stone and protected by a magical shield to fend off enemies. In addition, there within lay the barracks and Canterlot Academy where the best and brightest would train to hone magical and physical prowess.

Like this mighty city, Celestia stood on the last precipice overlooking the final light of the dawn, stretching out the final hour as long as possible. The monarch's regal visage firmly sat betwixt the horizon between oblivion and end. Below here, the last ponies of Equestria filed into the protective city walls. These ponies were violently evicted from their homes and forced to flee further and further away from their lives before. Thousands of them all sought out this city as their last sanctuary. In truth, this was the last true city of Equestria. Overseeing this mass-migration was Twilight Sparkle, princess of friendship and former student of the sun princess, and her friends. They had been a great asset to the home-front, and now more than ever were they needed. They all helped the wounded find care, and the homeless a place to sleep with a warm meal. Celestia would not and could never ask anything more. She wouldn't even think of enlisting them. That would go against everything they learned...

The princess' eyes hardened as she scanned the horizon for anything. She had tried every possible tactic, yet no matter what, more and more of her precious ponies fell in the line of duty. Even her own niece had fallen to the tragic war. The worst of it was that the monarch never saw it coming. No one could. After the second changeling invasion, Celestia sought to strengthen her army. Perhaps that is what triggered it. Seeing a threat, the Griffons took action against them and took Phillydelphia, followed by Detrot, Manehatten, Baltimare, Vanhoover, Whinnyapolis and finally Cloudsdale. Celestia amassed a force to reclaim them, but was then suddenly attacked from the other side... Appleloosa fell to the terror of Tirek. Followed closely by Buffalo Buffalo, Trottingham, Las Pegasus, Stratusburg and many other western cities... The next hit was the most devastating. King Sombra overtook the crystal empire. Soon after, the changelings took Ponyville... and now... Canterlot stood alone as the war closed it's grip around Celestia, and Equestria as a whole.

"Sister," Luna called from the entrance to the room where Celestia's eyes flicked towards. "It's time..."

Celestia looked over that horizon one last time, seemingly unable to breath. Reluctantly, she let out a sigh and the sun drooped over the horizon.

"I am out of options Luna," she said wearily while turning from the balcony. "I have made my decision. Do not stop me."

"I must protest sister!" Luna replied with sudden fury. She marched over and took an accusatory tone. "We cannot let our nation fall to that! It's much too risky!"

"Risky? Risky?!" Celestia barked. Her hardened gaze became furious. "Risky was sending Discord to fight Tirek on his own! Risky was to let our strongest force go up against Sombra! This?! THIS?!"

Luna stared defiantly up to her taller sibling as they seethed. "It is too la-"

"NO IT IS NOT!" Bookshelves and the walls trembled for a second as the world seemingly grew very silent. Celestia's flared wings drooped as Luna's hard, puffy-eyed gaze softened Celestia's own. After a moment, Celestia turned away and left the room. "The night is yours..."

"And the dawn is to you..." Luna replied, before slowly making her way out to the balcony where her sister once stood.

Gilded shoes echoes down the depths of Canterlot Castle, bouncing off cold, dark stone and into nothingness. Celestia's horn dimly illuminated her path down. She stepped onto the dusty floor of the deepest chamber of the castle. There within lie her last effort to save this world she and her sister built. She regarded the many different things with quiet disregard. All of them were fantastical in their own right, yet none came close to what she sought after. Somewhere in the Crystal Empire, there was a mirror that only activated once in thirty moons. Once activated, the mirror would become a portal to a world entirely different to their own. This was not the first mirror she and her sister discovered. In truth, it was the fifth.

She stepped onto a large stone dais, and tread gently across it towards the first reflective surface she found. She stared at her own reflection. Tired, war-weary, and determined. She reared back and with a mighty swoosh blew back the cloth covering the mirror with her wings. The magical artifact shimmered like water on a pond, giving off a faint light before becoming still once more. She looked behind and saw the other four, shimmering like the first almost in anticipation. She turned to the first mirror and took a steadying breath. Her horn lit the room in a blinding light...

Celestia reflected ironically on her decision. Never before had she been so desperate as to sink to a low like this. She had always championed another way. A way of diplomacy and peace. She instilled her beliefs in her most trusted and faithful student. Now,, all she could do was help the wounded and sick. She had already fought more times than Celestia had wanted, and could not stand to allow her to take part in a war so that she could stain her hooves with blood.

On the other hoof, she could not figure out how to come back from this. Never once had this ruler been faced with a threat this dire; never had she felt this hopeless for the future. She had tried to be morally right and always championed justice. Even with her sister and former student at her side against this great doom pressing from all around, threatening to crush them flat, and erase them from the annuls of history, she knew that good could not prevail over this evil...

Conjuring from within a mass of dark magic, she blasted the mirror before her tainting the bright light all around. The magic pained her physically and spiritually. A groan escaped her lips as she reached far beyond the veil between worlds with this dark magic and hoped beyond hope that this last ditch effort would save her little ponies...

Author's Note

~~Spoilers~~

Chapter 1

"Twi! We need some more shelter over here!" Applejack called from across a seemingly shrunken park.

"Nevermind Twilight! I've got it!" Starlight replied while concisely assembling a shelter around a family. AJ thanked the unicorn, and ran off to check up on her family, who also was helping out as best they can.

The other mane six were similarly busy with such things. Pinkie Pie was actually with Applejack's Granny, baking small sized sugary comforts for all the hungry mouths. Rarity concerned herself with creating comforting blankets and beds With Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash flew all about, gathering whatever clouds she could to squeeze water out into a ramshackle water tower. The skies were clear as the evening twilight faded into the deeper night. Exhausted, the mane 7 retreated back to their families to rest.

Luna's gaze scanned over the horizon with her telescope. Pulling away with a sigh, she felt no more at ease than before despite seeing nothing. Her trained eye watched the last of the day-guard turn to the night watch. Some rumors were going around about vampires and were ponies, and while not untrue, Luna preferred to just call them Insomniacs.

The night princess settled onto her haunches as she briefly surveyed the dreams of all those below the castle. Most were frightened by nightmares of the day. Those scars would never heal completely. A shudder went through her visibly as a phantom pain laughed from the darker depths of her mind. While she was against changing someone's dream by magic, desperate times called for desperate measures... and everyone deserved a good dream after today. Conjuring her best spell, she cast what appeared to be a glamour of stars over Canterlot. They faded and winked out. The moon princess looked to the sky, and silently questioned their survival. Her mind drifted back to her sister's resolute behavior.

In her heart, she knew Celestia would make the right choice no matter what. In her mind, she knew better. Celestia was very, very lucky. Most of her decisions, while appearing very well-planned out, seemingly had answers to them after the more rough affairs were sorted. Luna knew much better of her sister's inner thoughts. The real method to her madness was instinct, and lady luck.

"What?! Sister... you can't be serious...!" she questioned decades ago. "All this time... just luck..."

Luna looked to her sister who politely stifled a calm chuckle and shook her head slightly. "Do not take my words the wrong way, dear sister... I don't believe in luck alone." She seemed so serene and in control despite the subject matter. "I believe in my little ponies... and my dear student... and even you."

"But... if anything, maybe lady luck believes in me like i believe in everyone."

Luna sighed at the nostalgic memory and looked to the heavens again. Despite knowing her sister for a great many years, she still confounded her. Maybe it's just a family thing. With a sigh, she settled in for a long night, blissfully unaware of what was happening beyond and even within their shrunken borders.

The morning came early... and Twilight slowly trotted along alone in Castle Canterlot once more. If the walls could speak, they'd probably wonder why the grown up book-filly had no books. She chuckled at the idle fantasy, before her ears perked up at a muffled shout. She hustled along and instantly recognized the wear it came from.

She stopped just shy of the door after hearing Luna shout, "I cannot believe this!!" The shrillness and anger made the purple mare shudder and slowly peak into the room. The moon princess paced back and forth in agitation as she tried to muster up the words to speak to her sister.

Princess Celestia sat back on her haunches in a very undignified position. Her back was leaned up against a pillar while her haunches lay spread apart. Her eyes were empty and distant, very much like a teenager when getting lectured.

"What were you even thinking?!" Luna barked while snapping her head to the sun princess.

"I was thinking of my ponies," Celestia said with a roll of her eyes.

"You were thinking of yourself!" she snarled. "Honestly! You can't even say for a single second that you've lost! You cna't just not win! This is so... so...! Grahhh!"

Twilight slowly edged to see more of what was happening. Her worry and curiosity were both peaked and she cared little for hiding any longer.

"You are getting angry at the past. What's done is done," Celestia said flatly while her eyes watched the horizon.

Luna fumed and tensed before finally slamming her hooves on a large desk. "Can he even be trusted!?"

"Who?" Luna visibly flinched while Celestia glanced at Twilight. "Princess? What does she mean?" Twilight slowly entered into the study like a foal walking into their parents bedroom.

Celestia lamely looked back to the horizon, seemingly expecting something neither of the other mares could see. Luna tunred to face Twilight with anger and deep disappointment in her eyes.

"My sister," she began sharply. "Your mentor, has possibly doomed us all."

"I did not-"

"DOOMED!" Luna interrupted with a sharp snap. Twilight looked between the mares with deep innocent confusion.

"Are we being attacked? D-did we surrender?!" Twilight asked all too quickly.

"No." Celestia slowly rocked onto her hooves and cracked her neck. "We did not surrender." A seemingly different countenance overtook her aura. It was deeply unsettling for the other two princesses.

The sun princess walked over to a glass cabinet and retrieved a crystalline bottle with a orange liquid glinting within along with a matching glass.

"Would you care for some Luna? Twilight?" she asked casually. "It's Aestus' Bottled Sundew. Over sixteen thousand years old."

Luna glared while Twilight grew increasingly more concerned. With a shrug, the princess poured a glass of the brew into a glass. "You know... The last time I drank this was after being struck down by Queen Chrysalis..." Celestia began while swirling the bubbly liquid around in a glass. "The time before that, Nightmare Moon's return... The time before that, Luna's banishment... Discord before that... my first love's death... mother and father's death..."

She took a sip of it and sighed. "It's just white wine. Cheap when I bought it long, long ago... " she said before taking a long drink. "Twenty-three proof. Low numbers for some... but... nonetheless, terrible. A terrible drink, a terrible price, a terrible history, a terrible decision... isn't it?"

"Princess... I don't understand..." Twilight said while shaking her head. Celestia sauntered over to a window. "What's going on?"

"My dear student..." she said softly. "I so very much wanted to give you a world without war. A world where anyone could be your friend..."

"My sister unleashed an evil from another world to try and save ours..." Luna said, finally fed up with the dramatics.

"Party-pooper..." Celestia said with a false pout. "But you are wrong dear sister..."

Suddenly, an armored pony skidded into the room. "Your highness'! We are under attack!"

"What?!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Where, soldier?" Luna asked with a serious tone.

"The south, towards the Everfree. It's the changelings!" the guard replied.

"Rally the troops! Lock the gates! Move everypony into the castle!" Luna commanded.

"Belay those orders," Celestia said lackadaisically. "As of this moment, The Sisters Sol and Moon are no longer in control of military affairs... Not directly, at least..."

Luna stared in wide shock at Celestia. "Celestia... what did you do?" she asked with now mounting terror. Twilight looked between them all and spoke up.

"Nevertheless, the smart and rational thing to do would be at least mount a defensive perimeter," Twilight said with a little more confidence. While still confused, she was used to these kinds of stressful situations.

"As you say," the guard replied before scrambling out.

"Sister..." Luna said while slowly approaching Celestia. "What did you do?"

"I called for aid," Princess Celestia replied with a soft smile. "Nothing more. Nothing less."

Far beyond the walls of Canterlot, a dark cloud quickly appeared over the horizon. Low thunder echoed in the distance. As the cloud shifted and moved closer, it soon began to become more clear. A swarm of Changelings, in perfect formation was quickly approaching Canterlot. As they approached, the remaining guard would man the walls to defend the last of Equestria. Each and every one of them was prepared to die in service of their country, and would do it again if they could. Some would look back and see the crowd hunkered down in the streets of Canterlot cowering before the writhing mass of changelings above before looking back with renewed resolve.

Today would not be the day for them to die...

Over the castle, a small whir would be heard and if any one would look up, they would see a small white speck in the sky, moving. Soon, most ponies would look up as a dark shadow was cast upon the ground. Upon further inspection, a small face could bee seen on the speck. A clown face with a big friendly smile.

Within the smiley clown copter thing, a rather unfriendly grin leered at the approaching storm. A throaty scoff exited that unfriendly grin.

"HAMMER BRIGADE!" A large booming voice commanded. "Mount the battlements!"

Much to the guards confusion, and everyone else as well, a bunch of weird creatures hopped onto the walls armed with hammers in their hands.

"KOOPA TROOP-AS! GOOMBA SQUAD!" The voice bellowed with excitement. "Form up annnnd...!" The clown car lurched as the bellower hopped out and nabbed the side of the contraption with a mighty claw. The Seat, now a pitch black hole aimed right at the hoard of changelings. The car shuddered and shook in mid air as the happy face quickly contorted into a menacing frown.

"FIRE!!! BWA HA HA HA!!!"

With that, a giant bullet with a painted on snarl popped out of the clown car comically, and shot off towards the swarm. A loud explosion dispersed the swarm in a puff of smoke. The swarm separated and snaked its way towards canterlot with greater speed.

With no time to spare, a doze more smaller bullets with similarly unfriendly faces shot off towards the mini-swarms, further breaking them apart. Despite this, the changelings continued on in minor groups. Yet, those strange creatures were ready. They began throwing hammer after hammer in an endless barrage, seemingly plucked from nowhere. With each hit, another changeling fell from the sky. Soon the guards on the walls snapped from their daze and began their own assault on the horde.

The one organizing this defense, hopped back into his clown-faced vehicle and laughed raucously. His callous form was hunched over with a large, spiked turtle shell on his back and his face, a sinister dragon head with sharp teeth arched into a maniacal grin.

Meanwhile, below, the ponies of Equestria looked up and murmured among themselves. Soon one cheer rang out, followed by another and another! By the time the changelings regrouped and retreated, the streets were alive with excitement and joy.

From the castle, the Princesses flew down with elegance just as the strange dragon turtle did so. The cheers died down as soon as the reptilian ally could be seen. He hopped out of his vehicle, and leered out among the crowd. He stood far above them, appearing almost too large for life.

"King koopa," Princess Celestia called from above. The turtley king looked up to the mare with a sinister-looking grin. "I'm so glad you answered my call! And just arrived at the perfect time."

"Princesses..." he regarded as they all approached. Luna Held a stern look while Twilight seemed even more bewildered by the appearance. "How could I refuse?"

"Nevertheless, we welcome you to our nation with open hooves..." she continued. The ponies watched their ruler extend a hoof in friendship. "Although, I do wish it were under better circumstances, King Koopa."

"Please..." the king replied while taking the hoof and planting a respectful kiss on the regalia. "Call me Bowser."

Chapter 2

"Explain yourself," Twilight demanded while settling into Princess Celestia's study once more. The word, "Settling," in this case meaning plopping directly in front of Celestia's desk with a look of bemusement. This surprised the solar princess greatly, yet she certainly didn't let it show as she settled onto her cushion behind the desk. "I'm through with being confused, and I demand to know what's going on!" The purple mares hoof stomped the floor beneath her to accentuate her annoyance.

Luna snickered as a walking fanged mushroom being slowly waddled over to her with a tea set and silver platter balanced on it's head. It was very quiet, and seemingly unfazed by the angry talk. Then again, it probably was used to such things in it's home world. Luna examined her sister's facade closely with quiet regard while also helping herself to the tea.

"... Very well..." Celestia said in a clear tone. She levitated the Sundew brew over to her desk with a glass and poured herself another glass. "I'll tell you everything."

Celestia, regained her footing and breathed heavily. The mirror before her no longer shone with bright light nor reflected her own countenance. Instead it appeared as a dark hole into nothingness... but then, from far away, a fading sound began to reverberate from it. The sound grew louder, and Celestia recognized it a a loud, guttural roar. In the mirror, a growing speck quickly approached. The princess sidestepped out of the way as the king koopa himself, Bowser, spilled out of it and onto the stone dais.

With a groan he stood up and looked around before spotting the princess. A long, awakward moment occurred as the two regarded each other.

"Who the hell are you?" he demanded with an accusatory tone.

"I am Princess Celestia, King Koopa," she said while standing to her full height. "Yes, I know who you are... and as much as I hate to say it... I need your help."

"Well... That's nice. You needing help and all, but you can just stick it somewhere else. I need to get back to stomping pesky plumbers and nabbing a princess," he turned away with a grunt and looked around. "You brought me here, now send me back."

"I can offer something for your services," Celestia replied coolly.

"I don't want your money! All I want is-"

"A kingdom to rule and a mother for your children," she interrupted. Bowser turned slowly to face her. "I said I know who you are, King Koopa. Do not patronize me with a tough exterior."

Bowser glared at Celestia. "What's your offer?" He crossed his scaly arms and stood up a little taller.

"I offer you glory, power, land and respect," she replied. "In my world, we give anyone the benefit of the doubt no matter what they look like. I offer as much open land to you as you need. If you help my nation."

"Heh... Is that all?" he said in a patronizing tone. "What do I have to do in exchange?"

"... My nation is dying. We stand on our last leg without anywhere else to go..." she reluctantly explained.

"And you need me and my kingdom to help, eh?" he said with a thoughtful expression. "Well... I'm not opposed to this. I mean, anywhere away from that blasted Mario and that princess would be a great change..." He smiled a devilish grin that made Celestia's skin crawl. "I do have demands of my own..."

"What?!" Celestia said in mock surprise. She expected as much from the likes of him. "What more do you need?"

"Like you said," Bowser replied. "A kingdom to rule and mother for my children..."

Celestia looked away. She figured it would come to that. "We may yet find a mother for them in time-"

"No, no, no... You will do it." The turtle-dragon grinned devilishly as Celestia visibly paled. "If you refuse, your nation will fall and I will take over. Either way, I'm still getting the land and a mother eventually."

"Why me?" she scoffed. "Do you really want a complete stranger to rear your spawn?"

"If you know so much about me," Bowser began. "You should know my 'hobbies.' I know next to nothing about that blonde plumber-lover, but even I can see that she has a good heart..." He paused for dramatic effect, seemingly. "That's all I need in a ma' for the kids. Anything less... Well, it's not even worth trying to make it work... Wouldn't even try it with you if I didn't see nothin' ..."

"You assume I have a good heart?" she asked with another scoff.

"... Yeah..." he said with a resoluteness that made Celestia's heart flutter a little. "And if you don't agree, then I guess you really don't-"

"Fine." She said with a grimace. "I do hate the notion, but for my ponies..." She trailed off and satback on her haunches in exhaustion.

"Heheh... Good! Now... What am I up against?" Celestia briefly explained the dire situation. Minutes ticked by in some magical clock there beneath Canterlot Castle. Boswer hummed in thought for quite some time after. With a shake of his head, he said, "It's no good. I'm gonna need my guys over here..."

"Ugh..." Celestia said while rubbing her temple. "It took a lot out of me to get you here... A lot of magic... I don't know if i can do that for an entire kingdom-"

"If that's all, then just get me one guy!" Bowser laughed. "I know he can keep this thing open..." Celestia wanted to doubt this abomination, but for some reason, she felt herself believe in him...

"I can open the portal, but getting who you need is on your end," she warned.

"Cut the jabber, and open it!" he said impatiently while standing in front of the mirror. With a sigh, Celstia drew on whatever reserves she had left and activated the mirror like before. It illuminated the room briefly, and befoe lon, Bowser found himself looking into her domain. Without so much as another warning, he dipped himself halfway into the portal, causing the mirror to ripple.

Eventually, He pulled himself out and tossed a cretinous little thing in a blue robe onto the ground. Taking this as her cue, she closed the portal and fell to the ground in a sweaty heap. She focused hazily on the thing picking itself off of the ground.

"Celestia, say hello to Kamek. My royal advisor and egghead-magician," Bowser chuckled deeply.

"Pleasure..." she grunted while heaving herself to her hooves. She was an absolute wreck. Her coat was a mess and her shimmering main was disheveled and look more like a child's runny watercolor painting.

"Now Kamek, you are going to open the portal and keep it open for as long as I need, right?" Bowser asked sarcastically to the wizard.

"Uhm, well... let's see what we got here..." he said with a nasally tone. The small thing shuffled over to the now normal looking mirror and examined it with an occasional hum. "Hmmm... Yes... definitely..."

Somewhere in Canterlot's graveyard, Starswirl the bearded turned over in his grave. Similarly, Twilight twitched and shivered as a cold reality wiggled down her spine. Celestia blinked. She was too used to the magical scaling around here to even care about it anymore.

"I shall leave you to gather your strength," she stated. "Please gather it before morning. I expect the changelings to attack tomorrow. It'd be just like Chrysalis." She turned off and shuffled back up the stairs, mumbling minor curses as the growling and grumbling of Bowser dully rang in her ears.

"That's the short end of it," Celestia said while knocking back the full glass. She was buzzed by this point, mostly because she drank at least three cups of the stuff while saying she was going to be an adoptive mother. Celestia looked to her student who seemed more concerned now. "Just like her to be..." she thought to herself before her gaze drifted to Luna. The lunar princess sipped loudly on her tea in disapproval of the entire thing. "Still doesn't trust him... or me... oh well..."

"Regardless of objections," she said quickly just as Luna opened her mouth to speak. "We have a new army, a new general, and peace of mind for the time being... Now if you'll excuse me... I'm going to rest. Sister, the day shift is yours. I'll pay you back a day off this next weekend..."

She then sauntered out of the study, tossing her tiara onto a hat rack with a toss of her head, and stepping out of her shoes. Somewhere halfway down the hall she tossed off her regalia as well. Luna shook her head slightly and sighed. She winced when the sound of glass shattering broke the silence of the room. She whipped around to see Twilight stand above the shattered remain of the Sunbrew with her head hung low...

"Control your anger, Sparkle..." Luna warned calmly. "It's not a very suiting expression for a princess."

"I just... I just can't believe it..." she murmured. "I thought I... I knew her..."

Luna nodded sagely. "I know the feeling. Tis a troublesome time we live in," she lamented briefly. "But we must carry on for the good of our ponies. The day is won for now, and all we can do is-"

"I never knew she was an alcoholic!" Twilight exclaimed. "Did you see how she was drinking?! I'm going to go to the kitchens and clear out the rest of the wine and such..." With that, the purple pony left the study with a look of determination. Luna sat there with a flabbergasted look. She set the teacup back on the tea platter and groaned. A clock chimed, and she glanced at it.

It was only 8 o'clock in the morning...

Author's Note

Shoopadoopbop!