The Changeling Project
Chapter One
“Here's the entrance to the tunnel your highness” Exclaimed an excited changeling.
“Good, good... Now go my swarm, and when you find the door, shoot a spell and whistle, I’ll be there in a flash.”
“Of course your highness.” Replied the nearest changeling before any of the others could show their love for their Queen.
“Now go!”
In a beat of wings and a whirlwind of dust, the changelings were gone looking for a key into a rumoured ancient technology.
The Queen paced back and forth awaiting the signal. Then she heard a high pitched whistle accompanied by the sound of a combat spell being discharged. They had found it! She flapped her wings as the dust cleared revealing a dozen changelings awaiting her with a set of rusted keys.
“Queen, the keys.” Said the closest changelings.
“Show me the way” Replied the Changeling Queen as she lifted the keys out of the changelings jaws.
“With pleasure Queen Chrysalis”
The escort arrived at the door where several dozen more changelings were awaiting the queen's commands.
“Step aside!” She shouted at the black beings in her way.
There was much scurrying and soon it was only a short distance between the ruler of the changelings and the door. She raised the keys with a simple spell and inserted them carefully into the lock. The sight that greeted her was a pleasant one for her eyes.
“Yes...YES!”
Rows upon rows of ancient technology gleamed in artificial light. The Queen fluttered down from her ledge into the vast room.
“What is this?” Wondered the alicorn.
The vehicle had big print on it's side, but the dust made it impossible to read. She waved her horn and the dust whooshed off into different direction. The printing was easily readable now.
“Electron Pony Mech”The Queen muttered under her breath
She remained curious while circling the machine.
A red button was all she found. Upon hitting the button a glass panel released white gas and swivelled upwards. The seat looked ergonomic and all controls were within reach for anypony as large as the Queen of the changelings. Stepping inside she hit a button that said engine. The mech kick started into life. After collecting dust for several thousand years the mech didn't have any smooth actions but it could still serve its purpose. To destroy. The mech lurched up to its full height and brought its arms down to its waist. Chrisalid, surprised, pressed the button labelled fire. Pure hell was unleashed from the cannons mounted on the hands of the mech. Black smoke rose lazily from the barrels.
“Mwahahahahahahaha” Yelled Queen Chrisalid in delight.
Looking to he right she saw her changelings fighting with the new technology. Someponies had Electron pony energy cannons, while some had EMP rounds (Electron Magical Pulse), guns with the ability to stun all magic being used. Many changelings were getting into smaller mechs like her's while some were getting into a type of metal metal pegasus called jets. Changelings used anti air guns to blast away the roof, letting the jets soar out with an explosion of sound.
The Queen pressed a button with a writing on it saying intercom. “Everypony, to Equestria!”
Twilight Sparkle sighed as she bathed in the sun.
“You better be careful twilight or you'll get a burn.”Warned Rarity
“Yeah,yeah,whatever...” Replied The purple unicorn, she didn't want Rarity to be so annoying on her special day.
“Just because we're visiting Celestia and you've become the first female in the royal guard, doesn't mean you can do anything you want!” Scolded Rarity. She's been really upset since Celestia stored the black spark in her room. The black spark can give ponies immense power but at the cost of becoming hated by the ones you love, often turning the user insane.
Suddenly there was a giant boom putting a stop to the pony's argument.
“Look your brother put another force field around Canterlot!”Exclaimed Rarity.
But twilight didn't hear her, she was too busy dashing off towards the castle to find out what happened and why the force field was being created.
The ride to ponyville was only fifteen minutes but it felt like eternity for the two unicorns. The chariot pulled to a rough stop about a kilometre a way from the two pony's home. They leaped right out of the chariot without showing the pegasus their appreciation.
“Oh no no no no.” Chanted the purple pony as the dashed through trees to find the source of the fire.
“Twilight, Rarity!” Shouted a familiar voice.
“Rainbow Dash!” Replied the two unicorns in unison.
“Get over here and help me!” they heard the pegasus say.
Racing around a tree they saw a horrific sight, Rainbow Dash surrounded by multiple changelings ,dressed in peculiar armour. Twilight let loss a warning shot at the nearest changeling. It didn't even bother dodging as the weak blast bounced off of it. The changeling swivelled it's body lightning fast and stared twilight in the eye.
“Take this!” It screamed as two rods of light shot from cannons mounted on its shoulders.
Twilight Sparkle dove out of the way as the trees behind her explode with aloud crack.
“What was that?!” Screamed Twilight, not expecting a response.
“Just some ancient technology from the tunnels.
“Tunnels, what tunnels?”
“You don't need to know!” Responded the changeling while charging another blast from his shoulder cannons.
But this time twilight was prepared, she conjured a shield to counter the laser but it wasn't strong enough. The beam blasted right through the shield and singeing the unicorn's shoulder.
“Hahahahah! Did you actually think you could block an Energy Cannon!?”Laughed the changeling.
Another round of beams hurtled in the direction of the unicorn. She rolled out of the way and used a penetrating spell to burrow a hole in the ground for her to dive into. The end of her tail was now blackened, being shot on the way into the tunnel.
“I'm gonna die down here.” she thought as she heard the sound of another blast. “This is the only way I'll escape this pony.” She teleported behind the changeling,with almost no sound.
The blast was almost fully charged and was letting loose a screeching sound.
“You won't escape THIS blast!” Screamed the gunner.
“Like hell I won't” Whispered Twilight Sparkle. She used a simple push spell to tip the black pony over the edge of the hole. The moment the changeling figured out what was happening he let go of the trigger super heating the tunnel, engulfing the changeling in an inferno.
A grin spread over twilight's face as the rapidly lowering flames left the tunnel with black walls.
“You killed him,Unicorn!”shouted an enraged changeling. “He was my friend!”
Twilight swirled around to see more blasts blazing towards her. She reared up and summoned a force field with milliseconds to spare . The force of the shot sent the unicorn flying about 10 meters back. A blue blur swooped in at the last second picking up the scorched body.
“Twilight are you okay?”Asked Rainbow dash loudly, she had to speak over the wind. “That looked like it hurt.”
All Twilight could do was let out a small groan.”Uhhhh”
“Rarity!” Shouted the pegasus. “Hold on we gotta get to Canterlot!”Rainbow swooped down and grabbed Rarity before she could grab her dresses.
“My Babies!” She screamed as Rainbow Dash struggled under the great weight to get out of Ponyville.
“What do you mean they escaped!?” Spat the Queen.
“Well even our jets can't keep up with Rainbow Dash.” Replied a frightened Changeling.
“Next time you see any of those six ponies, SHOOT TO KILL! Got that!?”
“Y-ye-ye-yes my liege.”Stuttered the black pony.
Chrisalid lifted up the pony by the scruff of his neck “If you make one more mistake YOU ARE DONE!”
The pony gave a slight nod just before being thrown out of room by his Queen.
“Princess Celestia, Princess Celestia!”
“Yes my faithful student?”
“You have to help us find our friends, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are still missing!”
“Guards!” Shouted Celestia.
“Yes, your highness?”
“Send a group of 1000 soldiers to ponyville to find these poor missing ponies.”
Twilight broke in “Celestia we also need the papers to let Rainbow Dash into the city.”
Celestia levitated some papers over to the soldier. “Give this to the guards.”
“Yes your Highness.” The guard trotted to the door and let it close behind him.
“Celestia why can't we go?” Whined Twilight.
“Who said that?” replied Celestia. “You're part of the royal guard now, go catch up to that soldier before he leaves without you.”
But Twilight hadn't heard that last part, she was already out the door chasing after the colt.
“Really?! You want to come to Ponyville?” Scoffed the surprised Captain.
“Yeah, what's wrong with that?” Replied Twilight in as calm a voice she could summon.
“Well you're a filly!”
Twilight's anger was slowly growing. “I'm a mare!”
“Yeah more like my nightmare!, I've seen you, you can't listen to any simple instructions! Why would I want a filly like you on my team?”
“Well I'm the strongest unicorn you'll ever see!”
“Yeah I doubt that!”
The last thing the soldier saw was a purple blast of energy. Twilight trotted across to the group of soldiers gawking a the mare.
“Good news everypony!” Announced Twilight Sparkle, using magic to amplify her voice. “The Captain put me in charge! Now let's get a move on! There's no time to lose! ”
Ponyville was charred remains by the time the royal guard arrived.
“Pinkie pie, Applejack, Fluttershy!” Shouted Twilight.
“Help me...” said somepony stuck underneath some rubble.
“Carrot Top?”
“Help...”
Twilight just levitated all the boulders off of the green pony.
“Oh thank you, thank you.” Huffed Carrot Top.
“Let's find the others.” Ordered the purple unicorn.
Within a few minutes all of the ponies were rounded up and presented in front of the Twilight.
“Hey Twilight” Said Applejack
“Oh boy! So many ponies are here! Is it a party!?” Greeted Pinkie pie.
“Where are all my pets?!” worried Fluttershy looking around at the scorched forest.
“Oh don't play dumb with me!” Screamed Twilight.
Everypony looked at Twilight confused.
“Ummm captain what are you talking about?” A unicorn whispered into the purple pony's ear.
“I know they're all changelings!” Screamed Twilight.
Fluttershy burst into a cloud of smoke. “She's a smart one, she is.”
The smoke cleared revealing a changeling wearing metallic armour with a glass space showing its face. The loud sound of a jet broke the stunned silence. A black shadow covered the group of ponies giving the changeling a more secure feeling. A gun fell from the plane right into the changeling's hooves.
“Now it's time to get started.”
The changeling whipped the gun around, pulling the trigger. The blast caused the closest unicorn to explode leaving not a trace of the pony left. The response was immediate from he guards. Within milliseconds, the changeling was surrounded by a dozen spears and several horns.
“Oh NOW I'm scared” Said the changeling with a sarcastic look on his face. “Not!”
All the remaining rescued ponies suddenly dispersed jumping on top of the soldiers slam into them with reinforced steel gloves. The sound of bones cracking and the screaming of the guards was all twilight could hear as she launched spell after spell at the hover ship above the battlefield. Compartments on the bottom of the ship opened, revealing laser cannons charging up.
“Retreat!” Screamed Twilight with the add of magic.
All the guards exploded into a dash towards the trees in a mad attempt to escape the losing battle. Just as about 100 guards cleared the blast radius the cannons let loose. Hundreds of ponies died in the cannon fire, instantly disintegrating everypony besides the changelings.
“Get to Canterlot as fast as possible!” Shouted some pegasus who were already taking flight.
Laser fire exploded a pegasus over top of Twilight, leaving only a red mist and flaming bits of flesh, slowly descending towards the ground. Seeing this, The pegasus dove for the ground but not before several more perished from the blasts. The battle ship finally stopped its pursuit when only about 10 ponies were left in the fray.
The return of the soldiers was gloomy sight.
Celestia ran towards the group of injured soldiers.” What happened Twilight!?”
Twilight explained the events of the rescue mission to Celestia. She just stood there with her mouth open.
“Those sly shape shifters!” Cursed Celestia. “We must counter strike as soon as possible!”
The Changeling Project
Chapter 2
“Trixie's Arrival”
[center“ We are not fit to attack!” Yelled a commander as he slammed his hoof onto the battle plans.
“ We have no choice!” Countered Celestia. “We attack them or they attack us!”
Celestia hated the atmosphere of this room. The only light came from her horn as she paced back and forth pondering her options. The other alicorns, Cadence and Luna, were gathering as much information as they could, taking apart the battle armour they retrieved. They found it charred and beat up about a kilometre away from Canterlot, no changelings in sight.
Not being able to find out anything new about the suit she turned to hear her sister having a controversial conversation with the commander.
“If we attack from the right we can cut off the changelings supplies...”
“No... That route is too heavily guarded.”
Luna decided to put a stop to this discussion. “We need more forces! We must call in all ponies who can combat against this menace!” Luna yelled.
Celestia's eyes widened and she stumbled backwards. “Phew you scared me! Let me give that some thought.”
Her thinking face suddenly became upbeat and happy. “Get Trixie on the phone!”
Trixie's eyes fluttered open as the wagon hit a crevice on the road. “Be more careful Alric” She sighed as Canterlot came into view.
She didn't know why Celestia had messaged her but it probably wasn't good considering the messenger said she needed “fighting skills.” An ear splitting boom broke the silence.
“Trixie there is a flying... THING above us!” Informed the driver.
Trixie stuck her head outside the nearest window. Her head was shadowed by an immense flying beast.
“Whaaaaaaaa?” Was all that escaped the unicorn's lips before the laser cannons shot down the bright balls of explosive light.
The wagon exploded into flaming sticks of wood as smoke erupted out of the impact zone. As the smoke cleared, Trixie was left tucked underneath her driver sustaining a force field above the couple. Trixie poked her driver's shoulder. His eyes didn't open . Trixie moved her eyesight downwards to see he was taking shallow breaths.
“How dare you mess with TRIXIE ” She screamed as she summoned another force field.
The shock of the blast destroyed the force field and sending the ponies flying. Rolling on the ground she opened her eyes to see another cannon moving into position to fire. Letting out a high pitched whistle from her lips she summoned the last of her energy to create her last forcefield. She tensed her body and shut her eyes in preparation for the blow, but it never came. Looking up she saw her pet ripping apart the flying beast.
“Yes..” She cheered under her breath. The Ursa major leapt onto the back of the metallic vessel and started to tear chunk and chunk of metal out of ship. Little jets burst out of the side of the bigger creature on their way to shoot at the giant bear. Several changelings leapt out of the ship on their way to finish Trixie. Little trails of fire burst out of barrels on their backs as they rocketed towards the blue pony. Trixie rolled out of the way as craters appeared beside her. She lowered her horn at the intruders as they rose from the smoking craters. Trixie charged a high powered blast at the height of the intruders. Letting the blast go she watched as her spell glanced harmlessly off of the nearest changelings. Behind the pane of glass Trixie saw the changeling's mouth smirk.
“Oh no you didn't” She screamed as her anger was at its peak.
Channelling her rage into the blast the magic attack shaded from teal into a dark red. Drops of over charged magic dripped to the ground leaving the ground charred. Blinding light exploded from Trixie's horn as changelings disintegrated along with their armour. Trixie swivelled around her horn and let loose another volley of blasts killing the remaining changelings.
“Get up!” Yelled Trixie. “NOW!”
Cannons shot shot after shot at the Ursa major as it grunted in effort, to provide cover for his master, Trixie. The blue unicorn whistled letting out an ear pinching sound. The Ursa looked up, hearing the sound, and retreated in the direction of Canterlot. Trixie unleashed small shots into the damaged area of the vessel forcing the ship back, away from Canterlot. Trixie started walking in the opposite direction lifting up her driver with magic and trotting towards Canterlot, her driver floating behind her.
Twilight awoke in the hospital wing to the sound of coughing.
“Who are you” She inquired at the pony causing the sound beside.
“Alric” He replied. “Trixie's driver”
“Wait did you just say Trixie?” Said the shocked unicorn.
“Yes have you heard of her?”Said the pleased earth pony. “There she is”
Trixie walked into the room in her wizard robes. She looked around the room and caught sight of Alric. A smile spread across her face as she saw her friend in good shape. As she galloped forward her gaze rose to catch Twilight's eyes. Her smile evaporated.
“And what do YOU want, Twilight?!.” She spat.
The purple unicorn wiped spit from her eyes. “Oh nothing, ya know, just healing from the fights YOU didn't fight!”
“Is that a challenge?!” Scorned the great and powerful Trixie.
Twilight's mouth was open as she was about to respond then Alric cut in. “STOP! You ponies are bickering about nothing.”
Then Rainbow Dash burst through the door. “Twilight! I've got the location to the changeling's base...”The plans fell from the pegasus' hooves as she saw the trio. “What's going on?”
“Nothing I was just leaving” Scoffed Trixie. She stormed out of the room leaving a small cloud of dust behind her.
“What was that about?” Puzzled Rainbow Dash.
“Oh nothing forget about it. Now give me those plans. We need to save Pinkie, Applejack and, Fluttershy.” Twilight grabbed the papers from the blue pony's hooves and spread them across the bed sheets.
Twilight strapped on her head armour. She glanced over at Rarity and Rainbow Dash both finished putting on their golden protection. Twilight started walking down the thousands of steppes leading away from Canterlot.
“Halt!” Said a voice from the marble stairs behind them.
Twilight swivelled her head towards the noise. Trixie and Alric were strapped in gleaming armour racing down the stairs toward them.
“We don't want you here. Go away!” Screamed Twilight Sparkle.
“I don't want to be here either but it's the princess' commands so I have to obey!” Trixie yelled back.
Twilight felt too tired to deal with Trixie at the moment so she decided to ask for the details later. She raced down the marble stairs towards her trapped friends, towards beating the changelings.
Twilight grunted in exasperation. A huge ball of steel was blocking the back entrance of the monstrous building. Looking up, all Twilight saw was a black mass rising through the clouds. To get to the building was a two day's journey one with virtually no talking. The chariot was moving much faster due to Alric driving, and the two fully grown dragons pulling. Now the group of five ponies couldn't get in because of the giant mass in the way.
Alric trotted up beside Twilight, she was trying her hardest to move the stone with a simple lifting spell. “Enchanted wood.” he murmured.
“What” Asked Twilight. “How do you know?”
“I really don't know, but I do know you won't move this with magic”
“Ummmm well than feel free to move it.”
Alric grasped the closest scrap and tugged. As the piece fell the ball imploded leaving an unorganized heap of metal. He slide a large, sturdy sheet from the pile and raised it. The metal was lifted from its resting place. Alric used up the last of his energy and tossed the metal to the side opening the way for the remaining ponies to get through.
“Awesome” said Rainbow Dash as she raced in front of the door. She pressed a button on the side of the door that caused the door to rocket upwards into the top of the door frame.
Rainbow jumped backwards, surprised. “Wow” She said, shocked.
After tentatively reaching in a hoof she decided the doorway was safe and strutted through it. The rest of the ponies followed through the passage. It lead to a dark room only lit by dark purple lights.
“Where are we?” Said scared Rarity.
Trixie summoned her light from her horn, illuminating the room. “Looks like we're in a prison room...” She said as she looked around at the surrounding cells.
The room was huge, holding hundreds of cells. Suddenly a white gas flowed from holes in the ground and ceiling.
“Look out!” Screamed Twilight.
She bounded forward and summoned a protective bubble around her friends. (and Trixie) The room quickly filled with the gas leaving the ponies in the bubble blind to what was happening on the outside of the shield.
As the gas retracted Twilight released her bubble of protection on the ponies. Alric swivelled around his head looking at a terrible. “Dear lord...”
Pleas and squeals sounded from the newly filled cells. As he swivelled his head he only saw lines and lines of orange, yellow and pink. In each individual cell was Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, And Applejack..
Twilight sounded desperate. “How will we know which ones is the real ones?!” She turned her head in circles looking at each cell.
“Help us! We're the real ones!” Squealed a mangled pony/changeling from a cell.
Rainbow dash looked upwards at the sound of some hissing. The ceiling was opening to reveal changelings, hundreds of changelings, all dressed in power armour. “We've got company!' She yelled.
Trixie was first to react. She conjured an illusion of a wall in front of the changelings. The black beings open fired on the wall, Trixie making them imagine the shots were bouncing off.
“Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash, go ask some questions to the ponies that only the real one would know!” Yelled Trixie as she struggled to keep up the illusion. “And hurry! These things have anti magic precautions in effect!”
Twilight galloped around the room while Rainbow Dash and Rarity took off in other directions.
Celestia couldn't fall asleep. Booms and clangs of armour and weapons being created only added to her worried state. She had sent off only small group of mostly unskilled fighters to rescue a group of ponies and they could quite possibly die. She got up to retrieve a drink of water from the bathroom. She used the bathroom down the hall most often to show her subjects she was equal to them. As she walked down the vast halls she pondered about her battle strategies. Many too complex to initiate with her army. She needed Twilight and Trixie as commanders but the chance of them actually working together are so slim. Finally she reached the bathroom, the white tiles making echoes of sound underneath her hooves.
As she rounded the corner she saw Luna looking into the mirror. “What are you doing up at this hour dear sister?” Inquired the Princess.
Luna turned her body so she was looking at Celestia “Your sisterly love has fed me so much, sister” Returned her sister.
“Ummm... Sorry what?” asked Princess Celestia.
Luna disappeared into a cloud of smoke leaving Celestia coughing.”Luna are you there?”Asked Celestia clearing the smoke with some fan magic.
Queen Chrysalis stood in the spot of Luna an evil look on her face. “I have been acting Luna for 15 years and you never suspected it!” Now I am strong enough to defeat anypony!”
Celestia backed away shocked. The queen took some menacing steps forward, spittle foaming from her mouth, her eyes bloodshot. Her horn fizzled as prepared her blast of destruction. Celestia conjured her shield just in time to prevent the blast from ripping her to shreds.
“You think YOU are stronger than me!?” Screamed the now angered Celestia. “Well do I have a lesson for you!” She spat.
Celestia charged a blast. Chrysalis summoned a shield as Celestia's blast bounced of harmlessly.
“Yes I do think I'm stronger than you!” Scoffed the Queen.
Chrysalis summoned a charged a blast of magic. Chrysalis' horn fizzled as Celestia dove through the door out into the hallway. Flaming splinters from the bathroom were sent flying in all directions.
Thoughts raced through the Princess' head. If I can't beat her Canterlot will be destroyed before Twilight and Trixie even get back! There must be a way to beat her! I know. I'll have to use that!
Queen Chrysalis slowly emerged from the smoke a smirk across her face. “You're dead!”
She light her horn up in green light. She leaned in close to Celestia sparks from the magic falling onto Celestia.
SPARKS! She thought. I'll have to use the dark spark! But how will I get to it?
Suddenly a blast of white light knocked Chrysalis off her feet onto the ground beside Celestia “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!” She spat at the direction of the blast.
Cadence galloped from the darkness, her horn smoking. “Celestia, run!”
Celestia teleported out of sight with a big bang. She reappeared in twilight's room, the vault in plain sight. Using magic she ripped of the door, it hit the ground with a clang. She quickly grabbed the dark, swirling globe of magic. Knowing what she must do she, pressed the dark spark onto her horn. Then every thing went dark.
Trixie couldn't hold on any more. The wall faded and the changeling's burst into the room. She looked over to see Alric rip into a cage grabbing Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy.
“We need your help to fight these things” He said to the trio. The ponies dashed into the centre of the vast room. The changelings landed in a circle around the group of ponies. Weapons charged as the ponies readied themselves.
Celestia saw dark, shifting walls all around herself. Welcome to THE process, Princess.
Sounded a dark voice. Spikes grew out of the walls reaching towards the white alicorn. Celestia signalled with her brain to move but her legs wouldn't abide. Celestia fell to the ground in a white heap. The first spike slashed her cheek giving searing pain to the princess but no blood came out. Another spike reached out leaving a gash on her leg. Celestia looked down at the wound. It wasn't bloody but on the inside was another layer of skin, darker, and grey.
What have I done to myself!? She screamed in her mind as the dark skin slowly spread, enveloping her entire leg.
More spikes slashed at the alicorn. Spikes swirled around the pony causing a vortex of black spikes ripping her open. She collapsed onto the ground feeling changed. Looking down at her body she saw a dark grey instead of the traditional white. Her eyes suddenly felt heavy as she tried to examine more of her body. Fighting the urge she only got a glimpse of her now flowing black and grey mane, before she fell asleep.
Her eyes opened in front of the safe of the Dark spark, the door ajar, the dark spark missing. Celestia swivelled her head, disoriented. She stood up on her wobbly feet arising to stand in front of a mirror. She instantly jumped back, not knowing who that strange alicorn in front of herself was. Coming over her surprise she started examining her face. Her eyes had become a blood red, her mane still a rainbow, but not in the traditional colours. Dark grey, red and black trailed behind her head instead of her precious multicolored hair. Her entire body was dark grey and her cutie mark was a sword with a pool of blood surrounding it. One word repeated itself in her head Oscura, Oscura, Oscura.
“Cos Oscura” were the only words that escaped her lips when she noticed her new voice. It was a lot deeper and raspier.
Suddenly the wall exploded showering Dark Eclipse in flaming bits of wood. “I've finally found yo...” Chrysalis paused, inspecting her enemy's new form. “What happened to you Celestia?”
Rage burst inside Eclipse. “How dare you call me Celestia!? My name is Oscura!” The Alicorn loaded a blast from her horn, her magic now coloured red. She released the blast at the direction of Queen Chrysalis. Chrysalis put up a shield lazily thinking this to be a weak blast. It wasn't. The leader of the Changelings went flying falling out the window. Cos Oscura walked over to the shattered glass looking down to see a black dot racing upwards. Oscura leapt out of the window meeting her opponent mid-flight, summoning a sword from her horn. Chrysalis mimicked Cos Oscura's actions, creating her own sword to parry.
Sparks flew as the blades met. Oscura propelled herself backwards then shot the blade forwards at incredible speeds. Chrysalis just barely managed to smack the blade away before getting hit by another blast from Oscura. Her smoking mass fell through the clouds. Chrysalis swivelled her head to watch the rapidly approaching ground as she tried to flap her wings. A white patch underneath her caused her to stop. As she zoomed closer to it she realized it was a statue underneath her. Desperately flapping her wings she swerved to the right just avoiding Discord's statue. “That was close” She muttered under her breath.
Another blast hit Chrysalis' tail leaving the end on fire. Cos Oscura zoomed downwards towards the black pony, firing blast after blast at her. Chrysalis could do nothing but retreat from the rain of red and black blasts.
“Changelings, I require immediate assistance!” Chrysalis yelled into her radio.
“Affirmative!” came the response from the speaker.
The sound of a discharge caused the Queen to turn her head. A huge wall of black and red magic was ripping apart the garden destroying the statues and hedges. All that was left was charred remains of plants and rubble. Oscura couldn't see the fleeing body of her enemy behind the wave so she opted to see her path of destruction. Looking at a pile of rubble she felt a pang of importance but couldn't put a hoof on it. She dismissed it, looking to see if her enemy was destroyed yet.
“Die!” Chrysalis screamed, fully garbed in her power armour, charging a thermal blast from her cannons, with a legion of changelings behind her.
The alicorn only barley managed to bring up a shield as the blast released. Cos Oscura watched as a trickle of chocolate milk fell from the barrel. “Wha...” Said the puzzled Chrysalis, looking down at her gun. A grin spread across Oscura's face.
“It's my turn now, Chrysalis” She whipped her hoof around bringing it down upon Chrysalis' head, only to be blocked by a giant piece of popcorn. “Hey...” Suddenly Oscura realized something. “DISCORD! I broke his statue!” She screamed in realization. She turned her head to see the draconequus burst out laughing “Well long time no see Celestia!” He managed to say over his constant laughing.
“My name is Cos Oscura now!” Discord's eyes suddenly widened.
“You didn't...You took the Dark spark?” He said, his expression now serious.
“Yes I did and now I'm more powerful than ever! It was the only way to defeat Chrysalis!”
“Crap” The last time somepony used the Dark Spark it was used to spark a war that lasted for several years ending with me in a statue and Luna in the moon. I might actually have to ATTACK!
“Wait, what? Who are you? And what did you do to my thermal cannons?!: Screamed a confused and angry Queen. “Changelings dispose of him!” She said with scoff.
Changelings blasted thermal shots at discord the shots zooming past the two alicorns leaving red streaks behind them.
Thoughts raced through the draconequus' mind. What technology is that? And how did the changelings get it
?“I'm Discord! The mighty lord of Chaos! And your end…” Said Discord. Focusing hard, he transformed the heat blasts into droplets of chocolate milk. Spawning a huge cup Discord proceeded to catch the droplets until the glass was full. Chrysalis watched in awe as discord drank the glass and sent the milk back at the swarm. The resulting explosion sent Changelings flying, various body parts coating the ground.
“Wha. Wha...How?!” Asked Chrysalis. Blood had coated her visor and back.
Discord merely smiled as Chrysalis looked back and forth from the impact zone and Discord.
“And that ladies and gentlemen is CHAOS!”
Cos Oscura shot a blast in Discord's direction just before he disappeared.
“Well that's the end of Canterlot...” Cursed Oscura. “That is if you don't kill it first!” she spat at the Queen of the Changelings.
Chrysalis flew backwards towards her ship avoiding the blasts sent at her from Cos Oscura's horn. “I'm going to end Canterlot!”
The vessel teleported away from the magical pony capital with a loud bang!
“Now to find Discord” She muttered under her breath. “Where to start...”
“Surrender and tell us where you put Celestia!” Came a loud voice.
Oscura looked up seeing the entire royal guard hovering above her. “Crap”
Unicorns and earth ponies stood on chariots while pegasi pumped their wings to stay afloat. Bolts of magic showered her as pegasi bolted down to hammer her with hooves. Several dozen ponies circled around behind her to smash her back. Unicorns loaded up blasts to fill Cos Oscura's body with deadly magic. “You did not surrender; you shall be forced into custody.” The planned attack was unleashed upon Oscura. One simple shield was enough to stop every attack. Pegasus flew backwards getting blown away by the Alicorn's counter magic. Unicorns caught glimpses of their own spells flying back towards them before they got sent flying. Earth ponies swirled around Cos Oscura trying to spot an opening in the alicorn’s shield. They found none. Annoyed, Cos Oscura let out a blast of energy knocking several ponies of their chariots, screaming, to fall to their death in the garden.
“Leave my presence SCUM” Snarled Oscura. “You shall die if you don’t!”
The remaining ponies stopped their actions. Shocked expressions crossed their faces as they realized what she said was true. They surveyed the ground underneath them, littered with dead ponies in pools of blood.
“For Celestia!” Screamed one of the last remaining pegasi, starting a dive at Oscura.
“Swiftstar?” Said the confused Alicorn, recognizing the Pegasus.
The fact that the pony he was charging at knew his name didn’t faze the Pegasus as he dove.
The impact was enormous. He felt the alicorn’s ribs break as he rammed her. Oscura felt all the wind rush from her lungs and she struggled to breath. Oscura grasped the Pegasus with a constricting spell, but just before she launched her attack images flashed through her head.
“Celestia are you okay?!” Swiftstar rammed a hostile pony, dashing towards Celestia. “Get a medic” sputtered from her blood covered mouth.
“But you have to fight Nightmaremoon!” He pleaded. “No one else can!”
Bolts of magic whizzed past Swiftstar’s muzzle, flashing him back to reality.
“Get away from her now!” Came a raspy voice. Both the Pegasus and the Alicorn slowly turned their heads to see Nightmaremoon with her horn glowing.
“You did this to her!” Shouted an enraged Swiftstar. He was in tears now, as he spread out his body to protect the alicorn. “If you want to kill her, you’ll have to go through me!”
Oscura snapped back to reality. It doesn’t matter what he’s done before, that’s the past. She told herself. What matters is the fact that he just tried to beat you to a pulp! Cos Oscura let loose a volley of powerful shots from her horn. Explosions erupted where the Pegasus was restrained and the dust cleared, leaving a bubble of black energy. Swiftstar hovered up from behind the shield of energy “Why am I alive?” He asked, bewildered. “All I saw was blots of magic coming for me, and then…”
“Swiftstar, my name is Cos Oscura, I used to be Celestia until I activated the dark spark on myself. I did it to defeat Chrysalis and now I am an entirely different pony.” Said the somehow now, calm Alicorn.
“Wha…Wha?” Said the confused Swiftstar. “You…LIAR!” He screamed as he charged at Cos Oscura, burning rage in his eyes. This was not the reaction Oscura expected. She twisted her body out of the way, launching a blast at Swiftstar’s side. The Pegasus gasped as pain shot through his body, but managed to stay flying. No skin was left on the pegasus’ flank, his cutie mark of a comet, blasted off. The wound had melted together from the heat of the blast, leaving a giant bloody mark in his side.
“Retreat..” Said the pegasus, so quietly the only pony to hear it was the one three meters away. “Retreat!” He yelled, louder than Swiftstar. The last of the royal guard there heard him and fell back, two pegasus helping Swiftstar.
“Now I REALLY need to find Discord…”
“I can’t believe you just left it!” Screamed Queen Chrysalis.
‘I’m sorry my Queen but we didn’t want it to hurt us or us to hurt it!” Replied the terrified changeling.
“No buts! We get that frozen Electro pony if it’s the last thing I do”
“Ye-s-s, My master.”
“Man the changelings!”
Suddenly a changeling burst through the door. “Chrysalis, we have intruders on the ground level!” He gasped. “We require your assistance my Queen.”
“Sigh, must I do everything myself?”
The queen incinerated the messenger and teleported to ground level. The sight that greeted her was terrible. 8 unharmed ponies had taken down about 250 changelings, and they were unscathed!
“You ponies…. I’m going to kill you!” She screamed.
Trixie looked across to her friends seeing expressions of fear spread across their faces. Except for one pony. Pinkie Pie. She took a step forward until she was face to face with Chrysalis. “Miss, you’re funny! You think you can take us all on when it’s just you? And one other thing” Said the surprisingly upbeat and happy pony. “I never leave home without my PARTY CANNON!” Pinkie pie’s party cannon materialized beside the piny pony, locked and loaded. A giant Boom echoed through the room as Chrysalis was sent flying through the room, streamers caught on her armour, smoking.
“GO, GO, GO!” Yelled pinkie pie.
All the ponies dashed out of the room as fast as possible, followed by an angry Queen.
“The only way to get out of this is to sonic rain boom!” Said Rainbow Dash. Hold on tight!” The seven ponies grasped Rainbow in as many spots the could find on the pony and felt the wind pass through their manes. As the picked up speed Twilight saw a giant Battleship firing giant charges at the posy of ponies. “Faster!” She screamed.
Just then she saw a giant rainbow shockwave and the battleship was soon out of sight.
She swiveled her head to see Canterlot shrouded by shadow and pink clouds coming in from the west, followed by bunnies with 2 meter long legs.
“Wha….”
Celestia saw dark, shifting walls all around herself. Welcome to THE process, Princess.
Sounded a dark voice. Spikes grew out of the walls reaching towards the white alicorn. Celestia signalled with her brain to move but her legs wouldn't abide. Celestia fell to the ground in a white heap. The first spike slashed her cheek giving searing pain to the princess but no blood came out. Another spike reached out leaving a gash on her leg. Celestia looked down at the wound. It wasn't bloody but on the inside was another layer of skin, darker, and grey.
What have I done to myself!? She screamed in her mind as the dark skin slowly spread, enveloping her entire leg.
More spikes slashed at the alicorn. Spikes swirled around the pony causing a vortex of black spikes ripping her open. She collapsed onto the ground feeling changed. Looking down at her body she saw a dark grey instead of the traditional white. Her eyes suddenly felt heavy as she tried to examine more of her body. Fighting the urge she only got a glimpse of her now flowing black and grey mane, before she fell asleep.
Her eyes opened in front of the safe of the Dark spark, the door ajar, the dark spark missing. Celestia swivelled her head, disoriented. She stood up on her wobbly feet arising to stand in front of a mirror. She instantly jumped back, not knowing who that strange alicorn in front of herself was. Coming over her surprise she started examining her face. Her eyes had become a blood red, her mane still a rainbow, but not in the traditional colours. Dark grey, red and black trailed behind her head instead of her precious multicolored hair. Her entire body was dark grey and her cutie mark was a sword with a pool of blood surrounding it. One word repeated itself in her head Oscura, Oscura, Oscura.
“Cos Oscura” were the only words that escaped her lips when she noticed her new voice. It was a lot deeper and raspier.
Suddenly the wall exploded showering Dark Eclipse in flaming bits of wood. “I've finally found yo...” Chrysalis paused, inspecting her enemy's new form. “What happened to you Celestia?”
Rage burst inside Eclipse. “How dare you call me Celestia!? My name is Oscura!” The Alicorn loaded a blast from her horn, her magic now coloured red. She released the blast at the direction of Queen Chrysalis. Chrysalis put up a shield lazily thinking this to be a weak blast. It wasn't. The leader of the Changelings went flying falling out the window. Cos Oscura walked over to the shattered glass looking down to see a black dot racing upwards. Oscura leapt out of the window meeting her opponent mid-flight, summoning a sword from her horn. Chrysalis mimicked Cos Oscura's actions, creating her own sword to parry.
Sparks flew as the blades met. Oscura propelled herself backwards then shot the blade forwards at incredible speeds. Chrysalis just barely managed to smack the blade away before getting hit by another blast from Oscura. Her smoking mass fell through the clouds. Chrysalis swivelled her head to watch the rapidly approaching ground as she tried to flap her wings. A white patch underneath her caused her to stop. As she zoomed closer to it she realized it was a statue underneath her. Desperately flapping her wings she swerved to the right just avoiding Discord's statue. “That was close” She muttered under her breath.
Another blast hit Chrysalis' tail leaving the end on fire. Cos Oscura zoomed downwards towards the black pony, firing blast after blast at her. Chrysalis could do nothing but retreat from the rain of red and black blasts.
“Changelings, I require immediate assistance!” Chrysalis yelled into her radio.
“Affirmative!” came the response from the speaker.
The sound of a discharge caused the Queen to turn her head. A huge wall of black and red magic was ripping apart the garden destroying the statues and hedges. All that was left was charred remains of plants and rubble. Oscura couldn't see the fleeing body of her enemy behind the wave so she opted to see her path of destruction. Looking at a pile of rubble she felt a pang of importance but couldn't put a hoof on it. She dismissed it, looking to see if her enemy was destroyed yet.
“Die!” Chrysalis screamed, fully garbed in her power armour, charging a thermal blast from her cannons, with a legion of changelings behind her.
The alicorn only barley managed to bring up a shield as the blast released. Cos Oscura watched as a trickle of chocolate milk fell from the barrel. “Wha...” Said the puzzled Chrysalis, looking down at her gun. A grin spread across Oscura's face.
“It's my turn now, Chrysalis” She whipped her hoof around bringing it down upon Chrysalis' head, only to be blocked by a giant piece of popcorn. “Hey...” Suddenly Oscura realized something. “DISCORD! I broke his statue!” She screamed in realization. She turned her head to see the draconequus burst out laughing “Well long time no see Celestia!” He managed to say over his constant laughing.
“My name is Cos Oscura now!” Discord's eyes suddenly widened.
“You didn't...You took the Dark spark?” He said, his expression now serious.
“Yes I did and now I'm more powerful than ever! It was the only way to defeat Chrysalis!”
“Crap” The last time somepony used the Dark Spark it was used to spark a war that lasted for several years ending with me in a statue and Luna in the moon. I might actually have to ATTACK!
“Wait, what? Who are you? And what did you do to my thermal cannons?!: Screamed a confused and angry Queen. “Changelings dispose of him!” She said with scoff.
Changelings blasted thermal shots at discord the shots zooming past the two alicorns leaving red streaks behind them.
Thoughts raced through the draconequus' mind. What technology is that? And how did the changelings get it
?“I'm Discord! The mighty lord of Chaos! And your end…” Said Discord. Focusing hard, he transformed the heat blasts into droplets of chocolate milk. Spawning a huge cup Discord proceeded to catch the droplets until the glass was full. Chrysalis watched in awe as discord drank the glass and sent the milk back at the swarm. The resulting explosion sent Changelings flying, various body parts coating the ground.
“Wha. Wha...How?!” Asked Chrysalis. Blood had coated her visor and back.
Discord merely smiled as Chrysalis looked back and forth from the impact zone and Discord.
“And that ladies and gentlemen is CHAOS!”
Cos Oscura shot a blast in Discord's direction just before he disappeared.
“Well that's the end of Canterlot...” Cursed Oscura. “That is if you don't kill it first!” she spat at the Queen of the Changelings.
Chrysalis flew backwards towards her ship avoiding the blasts sent at her from Cos Oscura's horn. “I'm going to end Canterlot!”
The vessel teleported away from the magical pony capital with a loud bang!
“Now to find Discord” She muttered under her breath. “Where to start...”
“Surrender and tell us where you put Celestia!” Came a loud voice.
Oscura looked up seeing the entire royal guard hovering above her. “Crap”
Unicorns and earth ponies stood on chariots while pegasi pumped their wings to stay afloat. Bolts of magic showered her as pegasi bolted down to hammer her with hooves. Several dozen ponies circled around behind her to smash her back. Unicorns loaded up blasts to fill Cos Oscura's body with deadly magic. “You did not surrender; you shall be forced into custody.” The planned attack was unleashed upon Oscura. One simple shield was enough to stop every attack. Pegasus flew backwards getting blown away by the Alicorn's counter magic. Unicorns caught glimpses of their own spells flying back towards them before they got sent flying. Earth ponies swirled around Cos Oscura trying to spot an opening in the alicorn’s shield. They found none. Annoyed, Cos Oscura let out a blast of energy knocking several ponies of their chariots, screaming, to fall to their death in the garden.
“Leave my presence SCUM” Snarled Oscura. “You shall die if you don’t!”
The remaining ponies stopped their actions. Shocked expressions crossed their faces as they realized what she said was true. They surveyed the ground underneath them, littered with dead ponies in pools of blood.
“For Celestia!” Screamed one of the last remaining pegasi, starting a dive at Oscura.
“Swiftstar?” Said the confused Alicorn, recognizing the Pegasus.
The fact that the pony he was charging at knew his name didn’t faze the Pegasus as he dove.
The impact was enormous. He felt the alicorn’s ribs break as he rammed her. Oscura felt all the wind rush from her lungs and she struggled to breath. Oscura grasped the Pegasus with a constricting spell, but just before she launched her attack images flashed through her head.
“Celestia are you okay?!” Swiftstar rammed a hostile pony, dashing towards Celestia. “Get a medic” sputtered from her blood covered mouth.
“But you have to fight Nightmaremoon!” He pleaded. “No one else can!”
Bolts of magic whizzed past Swiftstar’s muzzle, flashing him back to reality.
“Get away from her now!” Came a raspy voice. Both the Pegasus and the Alicorn slowly turned their heads to see Nightmaremoon with her horn glowing.
“You did this to her!” Shouted an enraged Swiftstar. He was in tears now, as he spread out his body to protect the alicorn. “If you want to kill her, you’ll have to go through me!”
Oscura snapped back to reality. It doesn’t matter what he’s done before, that’s the past. She told herself. What matters is the fact that he just tried to beat you to a pulp! Cos Oscura let loose a volley of powerful shots from her horn. Explosions erupted where the Pegasus was restrained and the dust cleared, leaving a bubble of black energy. Swiftstar hovered up from behind the shield of energy “Why am I alive?” He asked, bewildered. “All I saw was blots of magic coming for me, and then…”
“Swiftstar, my name is Cos Oscura, I used to be Celestia until I activated the dark spark on myself. I did it to defeat Chrysalis and now I am an entirely different pony.” Said the somehow now, calm Alicorn.
“Wha…Wha?” Said the confused Swiftstar. “You…LIAR!” He screamed as he charged at Cos Oscura, burning rage in his eyes. This was not the reaction Oscura expected. She twisted her body out of the way, launching a blast at Swiftstar’s side. The Pegasus gasped as pain shot through his body, but managed to stay flying. No skin was left on the pegasus’ flank, his cutie mark of a comet, blasted off. The wound had melted together from the heat of the blast, leaving a giant bloody mark in his side.
“Retreat..” Said the pegasus, so quietly the only pony to hear it was the one three meters away. “Retreat!” He yelled, louder than Swiftstar. The last of the royal guard there heard him and fell back, two pegasus helping Swiftstar.
“Now I REALLY need to find Discord…”
“I can’t believe you just left it!” Screamed Queen Chrysalis.
‘I’m sorry my Queen but we didn’t want it to hurt us or us to hurt it!” Replied the terrified changeling.
“No buts! We get that frozen Electro pony if it’s the last thing I do”
“Ye-s-s, My master.”
“Man the changelings!”
Suddenly a changeling burst through the door. “Chrysalis, we have intruders on the ground level!” He gasped. “We require your assistance my Queen.”
“Sigh, must I do everything myself?”
The queen incinerated the messenger and teleported to ground level. The sight that greeted her was terrible. 8 unharmed ponies had taken down about 250 changelings, and they were unscathed!
“You ponies…. I’m going to kill you!” She screamed.
Trixie looked across to her friends seeing expressions of fear spread across their faces. Except for one pony. Pinkie Pie. She took a step forward until she was face to face with Chrysalis. “Miss, you’re funny! You think you can take us all on when it’s just you? And one other thing” Said the surprisingly upbeat and happy pony. “I never leave home without my PARTY CANNON!” Pinkie pie’s party cannon materialized beside the piny pony, locked and loaded. A giant Boom echoed through the room as Chrysalis was sent flying through the room, streamers caught on her armour, smoking.
“GO, GO, GO!” Yelled pinkie pie.
All the ponies dashed out of the room as fast as possible, followed by an angry Queen.
“The only way to get out of this is to sonic rain boom!” Said Rainbow Dash. Hold on tight!” The seven ponies grasped Rainbow in as many spots the could find on the pony and felt the wind pass through their manes. As the picked up speed Twilight saw a giant Battleship firing giant charges at the posy of ponies. “Faster!” She screamed.
Just then she saw a giant rainbow shockwave and the battleship was soon out of sight.
She swiveled her head to see Canterlot shrouded by shadow and pink clouds coming in from the west, followed by bunnies with 2 meter long legs.
“Wha….”
