“War makes for strange bedfellows”
-Old Saying
The reunion with her parents had been wonderful, but like all great things it had been forced to end much sooner than Twilight would have liked. The needs of the rebellion outweighed her desire to curl up in her mother and father’s embrace and Twilight had been forced to finally move away from them and join Shining and the other leaders of the resistance in plotting their next move.
The ‘management’ was an odd collection of ponies. They represented all different facets of Equestrian life, from the poorest to the richest, the famous to the infamous to the unknown, and everything inbetween. Many of them were not soldiers or warriors in a traditional sense but civilians that now found themselves engaging in a fight they had never sought.
There was her brother, of course, and a few remaining royal guards that had managed to escape the attack on the castle. Twilight was surprised that they weren’t bucking and snorting and demanding to be in charge. The guards she had met at the palace had always been a bit arrogant (which, she supposed, came with the territory) but these stallions were more than willing to listen to the ‘civies’. They weren’t shellshocked either… it was simply a matter of them being soldiers who found themselves in a war with a new type of army and accepting that it was either adapt or die.
It was of little surprise that the Doctor was part of the planning committee. Though he cracked a few jokes and put on the airs of amusement it was clear to Twilight that his anger over the mistreatment of Derpy was coloring his thoughts and leading him down dark paths he might not normally follow.
So too was Spitfire's inclusion of little surprise. The pegasus was more than willing to go on any mission they could come up with, no matter the danger, if it offered a chance to avenge the fall of the Wonderbolts. Twilight's mind mentally flipped through her research on mental illness (one of the many topics she had gone over during her studies with Celestia) and she came to the conclusion that Spitfire was suffering from survivor's guilt.
One of the most shocking members was Flim of the Flim Flam brothers. It was hard to tell it was him, at first; his clothing was gone and his face had suffered from some mild burns that had eaten away his coat, leaving him scarred. He said little of what had happened to his brother or how he had ended up in his condition; all he had told Twilight shortly before the meeting began was that he was on her side and that she had nothing to worry about when it came to his allegiances. Shining had vouched for him, which had gone a long way towards reassuring Twilight.
"We are all starting over," her brother had stated when she had pressed him on the issue. "Who we were before is gone."
The rest of the leaders were ponies Twilight had never met. There was a unicorn from Phillydelphia who had become separated from his wife during their escape. A grim looking earth pony who was dressed in clothing 50 years out of date who kept glancing at his wife and two daughters, as if wnating to reassure himself that they were still there. A pegasus mare with a tornado cutie mark kept gnawing on her lip till it bled.
And now joining them were an alicorn and a dragon.
Spike had grown just enough so he could look down at the table they were gathered around without having to sit on Twilight's head. He pointed a claw at the map Shining had laid out, gesturing towards a town with a bright red circle around it. "I've never heard of Winniepeg."
"It is up north, near the Crystal Mountains," Shining stated.
"And you really think this is where we should strike?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, I do," Shining said.
Flim nodded, his horn glowing. Around the map little red blocks began to dance around different areas, circling particular areas. "If you look here you can see that the queens have been setting up patrols and guards around all the major cities and points of interest." He began to gesture at cities. "Each of them is either of emotional importance to them, such as Ponyville, strategic, like Manehattan and Detrot, or where they are currently holding court." He pointed his right hoof first as a circle of guards that surrounded the Rocky Plains, then Sweet Apple Acres. Clyde, the grim earth pony, looked upon the Rocky Plains and his frown grew all the more deeper. "There is only one spot where we can't explain the amassing of their forces."
"Winniepeg," Spitfire said.
Cyclone, the mare with the bloody lips, clicked her teeth together. "We don't know if they have a secret prison set up or some kind of lab that is working on magical weapons. None of our spies have been able to get a good look."
"We have spies?" Twilight said in surprise.
The Phillydelphian, who Twilight later learned was named Whistle Wind, flashed her a smug smile. "Let's just say Queen Fluttershy isn't the only one to have a way with animals."
"So you want to attack the city, is that it?" Twilight said, her tone making it clear she didn't like the plan.
"No," Shining stated, agreeing with her unspoken denouncement. "But I do want to send a team in to take a look. It could be a trap but I don't want to miss out on an opportunity to deal a blow to the queens."
One of the other guards, an off-white stallion named Blade Buster, nodded his mighty head. "We need to make our move and soon. If we don't we are risking the queens finding us and putting on unneeded pressure."
"What did you have in mind?" Spike asked. "A 2-pony team? A squad?"
"Something inbetween. No more than five in." Shining turned to his sister. "I want you and Spike part of the infiltrators." Twilight opened her mouth but her brother cut her off. "I know it is sudden and you just got here but Buster is right; we need to move and we need to move now. If you don't think-"
"We're in," Twilight said firmly. "I don't like but we're in."
~MC~MC~MC~
"Let it not be said you aren't generous!" Faith exclaimed sarcastically, stumbling into his posh cell. "You deliver beatings quite well and hold nothing back!" The moment the guards had gotten him out of earshot of the queens the beating had come with viscous vigor. The magic dampener on his horn had prevented him from fighting back and his ability to dodge attacks had been reduced by the iron chains on his ankles. They had struck hard and fast, providing him with lumps and strikes as they saw fit.
Faith looked like an absolute wreck. His left eye had swollen up so much he could barely see out of it and his ribs ached every time he took a breath. Silver ichor dripped from the several gashes on his flank and his one wing was twitching as it attempted to repair itself. His mane was matted with silver blood and his horn felt like it had been cracked after a nasty stomp.
He'd never given them the satisfaction of hearing him cry out. He'd known the beating was coming the moment he left the table and had prepared himself for pain. Instead of howls of agony he had thrown out insults while wearing each bruise like a badge of honor.
"You do your sister proud, Sweetie Belle," Faith said, running his tongue along his teeth, checking to see if any had been knocked out. He knew it would be really painful to regrow a molar.
The age progressed mare glared at him as she slammed the barred door of his cell. "If Queen Fluttershy didn't want you alive I would have given you much more, abstract."
"Such a brave little girl fighting a chained stallion," Faith mocked, spitting out a wad of blood. Sweetie Belle made a move to attack and Faith let out a laugh as two of her guard held her back; they realized that any more damage would mean the abstract wouldn't be healed by the time he had his next audience with the queens and questions about just how harmonious the guards were would be asked. "Pain and scare tactics... useful on those that aren't expecting them. But you know that it will take more than that to truly hurt me, don't you? Pain is my friend... I was raised in it. Not physical pain, like the wreckage you have made out of my body. Mental pain... soul pain. Pain was my mother, my father... it was all I knew for so long that when I finally felt joy it was nothing more than torture. You have little hope of inflicting true pain on me."
"Is that a challenge?" Sweetie Belle said with all the sweetness in the world.
"Yes," Faith said simply, sitting down on the floor and watching his blood stain the carpet. "Your queens fear me... with all their skill and power they are slow to strike me. What hope do you have? You are nothing more than a child forced into a mare's body. You have a blank flank and no magic or skill. You are nothing more than an ant waving its leg at a hoof." Faith waved his own hoof dismissively. "Go get your maids... it would not do well for you to have to explain all this blood on the floor." Faith smirked as best he could with his aching jaw. "And learn how to fight... you lash out like a child having a tantrum. It is... pathetic."
Sweetie Belle screamed in outrage and it was only the strength of her guards that kept her from ripping open the cell and burying Faith once and for all. The silver alicorn merely listened as she cursed, waiting for her to leave before curling up into a ball and letting out a moan as his body attempted to reassemble itself.
~MC~MC~MC~
"I had been hoping Faith would be back by now," Shining said, adjusting his saddle bags. Each of the 5 members of the infiltration team were wearing black catsuits, much like the ones Twilight, Pinkie and Spike had donned when they had snuck into the royal library. "Be nice to have another alicorn on the team."
"We'll be ok," Twilight said. In the end her and Shining had decided they needed to balance the team, fearing that have too many fliers or magic users would blow their cover. Many of the members of the rebellion had not been happy being left out but had agreed that the fivesome was the best of the best.
"I will return, Derpy," The Doctor stated, placing a hoof on her shoulder. The pegasus merely continued to stare off into space and the TIme Lord let out a sigh before looking over at Blade Buster. "Do not let her come to harm. She means the world to me."
"Don't worry, Doctor. I will protect her with my life."
The Doctor smiled at that. "You are a good chap." Checking to make sure he had his sonic screwdriver, the stallion turned to Spitfire, the last of the team, and nodded. "Well... onwards and upwards."
"Good luck, all of you," Whistle Wind said. "Be safe and be on your guard."
"We will. And we'll return as soon as we can." Shining Armor, Spike, Spitfire and the Doctor pressing their flanks against Twilight's as she focused. "Alright, here we go."
Spitfire took a deep breath. "You're sure you can do this?"
"Absolutely," Twilight said. "Besides, as Faith says, 'Now is not the time for fear.'"
"'That comes later.'" Spike stated, finishing the quote just as Twilight's magic flared out and teleported the team away.
~MC~MC~MC~
Rarity had been right in her assessment that the cell was not at all designed for prisoners. Save for the bars (which were of course padded) the cell looked more like a small hotel room than a place of confinement. There was even several books sitting on the table, though a glance at them showed that they had been hastily put together by the queens to help convince their prisoners to convert.
"You have a death wish or something?"
Faith twisted his head, grunting as the bones in his neck snapped back into place, allowing him to walk without pain searing his soul. "I think my special talent is annoying ponies. That or delivering a nice monologue." He edged over to the side of his cell so he could speak to the prisoner in the cell next to his without shouting. "And I suppose I do… I have now nearly died so many times I’ve lost count.” Faith looked at his wing in annoyance. “My greatest weakness is the physical things, it seems.”
“Are you sure it isn’t running your mouth?”
“Ha bloody ha. I am sorry if my bones breaking awoke you."
"You are sarcastic... you should be good for a laugh."
"I sense this place could use more laughs."
"This whole world can use some giggles," the mare said. "So... you have just moved in."
"Indeed. Well, I suppose we should introduce ourselves. We are going to be escaping this place together."
"We are?"
"Indeed. I don't plan spending the entire war down here." Faith stuck one of his uninjured hooves through the bars. "I am Faith."
After a moment a blue leg reached out to touch his.
"Trixie."
And the greatest love story ever written begins!
It was important in this chapter to set up the rebellion. These are Twilight's new allies and I wanted them to have the feel of The Avengers, in a way. We now have a genius inventor/conman, a stern rock farmer (who has his Clyde-Sense), a pony that can communicate with birds, a Wonderbolt, a Time Lord, a captain of the royal guard, an alicorn and, when he escapes, an abstract.
"But defender2222, the queens have an army!"
The rebellion has a Spike.
Some people have wanted to see Faith get knocked down a peg. I am sure they won't be happy he isn't a whimpering mess, but he did get the snot beaten out of him. Of course, it being him... he couldn't shut his mouth and had to keep taunting them the entire time.
I am very good at immediatly catching these updates. Gonna read now.
Niiicee. Cliffhangy.
All I can think of is how crazy faiths excape will be.
Faith for best pony, it would seem.
I was wondering where Trixie was. It makes sense, though, knowing Trixie's personality and how she treated Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash that she would get jailed. I look forward to another update!
Normally, I'd squee at the prospect of Trixie being a good guy, but... Well... OHMYGODYESALLTHEWINILOVEYOUSOMUCH!
Well, the guards didn't seem very harmonious to me....
Wonder how fluttershy would react to that
Hello, Bane.
"The rebellion has a Spike."
One man army
Now I'm just guessing here, but Spike's powers not only allow him growth... but also something like copying himself a 1000 fold?
1706844 TREXIE! and Faith man this is gonna be the A team of pissing everyone off I do so enjoy watching the world giving Faith a glare of annoiance.
Lets all hope Trexie learned to be somewhat awesome while she was away, and let us hope for some awesome backstory!
Faith teaming up with Trixie?
blog.groupon.my/files/2011/10/Aww-Yeah-meme.png
1706945 Well, defender mentioned in the credits of the original story, that Faith was being voiced by Tom Hardy, so it makes sense that he'd have at least one actor's allusion to his most recent and best-known role.
Does The Doctor have to break out the Rainbow Coat and get all Colin Baker on an Alicorn?
Trixie, eh? I'm betting that has something to do with this week's episode. Question: Why wasn't she converted with the brainwashing? Or... was she? DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN.
Well, it seems you misunderstood when I said I wanted Faith to get knocked down a peg. I don't want him to get beaten or messed up for the sake of it, that's just sadistic and cruel.
I just personally want him to actually LOSE. Just once, I just want him to fail at something. Sure, he gets into unlucky circumstances, but he always comes out on top in the end. The thing that bugs me the most about him is that it's like there's no obstacle that he can't overcome. Once a problem manifests itself in front of him, he's already thought of a dozen ways he can sweet-talk his way out of it. The beating here? He had Sweetie wrapped around his little hoof. He's just too in control of everything.
He doesn't have to be COMPLETELY defeated, I just want to see him in a situation where he has to cut his losses and just ADMIT DEFEAT FOR ONCE. Nothing is more irritating to me than a character that always wins.
"You're never really a leader until you've lost."
Commander Iverson, The Core
But then again... This is the beginning of the story, so I would assume you have plans...
But for now, I still do not like Faith. His talents are interesting, and he gets a good joke in every now and again, but his OP-ness really gets on my nerves. "He's not a fighter?" Not too much of a handicap if you ask me... I'd have to say that works way too much in his favor.
And you have me very curious at to the fate of Flam, because Flim Flam Brothers are best secondary antagonists.
Oh HELL yeah! Trixie's in the game!! :D
1706971
Now that would be OP rude
25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdfnoogSCe1qg3i3mo1_250.gif
CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT UPDATE!
1706844
The queens have an army
The rebellion has a Spike, the Doctor, and Twilight gorram Sparkle.
.
trixie finally liking twilight?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH
G.P.T Lulamoon is popping up everywhere... Although Trixie under Faith's wing could be interesting.
With just a few days to the premier of Magic Duel this leves me wondering if Trixie will try to pull a Starscream on Faith?
1707100 yep the queen's army is at a disadvantage
1706844 It just now dawned on me that Clyde is the assumed name of Pinkie Pie's father, so it looks like we know where Pinkie Pie got her 'Pinkie Sense' from it runs in the family.
1707144 She'd better not, Faith is an abstract and he could easily kick her sorry flank.
1707304
I wouldn't put it past her if a) she were more established in the storyline and b) Twilight's side were the actual villains. I'd be expecting the Starscream to be one of the CMC.
1707347 I don't see what could persuade them to pull a Starscream.
1707354 Well, look at Faith's little talk with Sweetie Belle, or what they did with Scoots. We haven't even seen Applebloom yet.
I am really interested in seeing Flam, when harmonized. Not only because he is one of the best ponies, but because there are so many possibilities. You could have him in Applejack's "Honesty Brigade" for the sheer irony of serving the Apple Family, OR maybe affected by Pinkie's powers, trapped with a twisted smile on his face... creepy.
But also TRIXIE YAAAY
1707068 THIS POST
I LOVE IT SO MUCH
Nice to see who's in the rebellion and waiting to see how this will play out.
Beating up ponies is the way to harmony, my dear queens. Why didn't I think of that before?
no iron will?
1706936 Notice during the planing that it was pointed out that each of the 5 queens rule from a different place? It's because they can not be together or they will fight each other. Tho fluttershy is the weak-link, a war and fighting ponies is not showing kindness after all. It's showing pain and torture, no matter how you twist it.
Actually, my first thought when there was another prisoner was that it was Chrysalis.....She lived and I would assume that she would be held prisoner somewhere, so I'm not counting her out yet, but I don't really think the author cares much for the changelings as a whole....
Of course, in this.....imposed atmosphere of love I'd imagine that the Changeling Queen would become a much more potent threat if she did appear.
1707519
I didn't want to overflow the story with 'Oh, look who came back!'. I already have Spitfire, Flim, Clyde and Trixie appearing; it would have been too much to have Iron will or Gilda or other characters appear.
Of course, there are always sequels, so who knows.
1707054
Oh god, not the horrendous technicolor nightmare coat. Maybe the blue one, but anything but that. ...Granted, just wearing it would probably be enough to make Rarity faint from horror.
THE great and powaful TWIXIE
Do we really need to wait another - what? Two days? - What I'm saying here is that this story is amazing (Even though it could use some spelling-checks).
This shall be smashing!
Awaiting further releases.
I'm still waiting for Faith to have a run in with Queen Applejack and see if he can place a few cracks in the foundations of the five's rule by making her question just how honest she and her fellow queens are really being with each other in everything. Almost seems like the best place to start in sowing dissension in the ranks.
Where are Princess Celestia and Luna? Are they in the rebelion? i kinda miss them
'cause it dotn seems like they if they don't check on twilight and are not at the head of the rebelion.
i just ask...
1706945
i50.tinypic.com/7263jq.jpg
Bane was the first thing that came to my mind as well.
"I think my special talent is annoying ponies. That or delivering a nice monologue."
Good to know Faith will keep his sense of humor all the way to the gallows.
1707366 Even if they hate being called Blank Flank I doubt that would be reason enough for them to pull a Starscream on the ones who gave them their powers, unlike Starscream they're not so easily persuaded.
Faith is probably my favoutite character now
Also wondering how this is going to go down
vaultoflol.com/sites/default/files/CLASSIC%20ART%20MEME.jpeg
I was wondering what will happen to Zecora
1706844
I believe the rules for Warhammer apply here. In a setting where facing off against demigods and monsterous creatures is expected, the army is merely a speed bump to buy the big guns time to show up. And in this case, the only big guns the Queens have (that we know about) are themselves. That said, if aforementioned army learns how to effectively lob death at over 5-10 km safe distance... best for the resistance to keep a low profile and avoid the mooks anyway.
I was on the edge of my seat with a stupid giant grin the whole time I read this new chapter.
Still rocking the haytham kenway head-canon
fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/324/f/5/f5063cb4e7463b46d2f2d67e08183841-d5llhv2.jpg
1709856
I 100% people hearing Haytham when they read Faith's parts. His voice will always be Tom Hardy for me, but Haytham is just as perfect.
Oh, the trouble Faith, Bane and Haytham could get into if they teamed up...
1710032
Well fuck after that we need to throw in Gavin and it will be the most British event yet
Hello Defender i am a fledgling writer and would appreciate some feed back on a pair of ideas so should you have the time please reply to this comment. if not or if you find this request to be unkind or insulting in any way i apologize. Also if you would like to write one of them after this amazing fic feel free, this is not to assume that they are good but i can say that they are 100% original and i would be honored for you to reply let alone take my ideas into consideration. So without further adieu...
1. romance with an oc with shapeshifting (not changling) abilities and 6-7 multiple personalities (7th being the original and comatose) unaware of each other each falling for one of mane 6 and are fallen for in return. Romance tragedy tag
2. pony unjustly sentenced to tatarus for the murder of his wife (he was framed also during trial the real culprit lied and took the stand saying that his wife had an affair with him thus he knows that she was sexually assulted) breaks out with the powers of hell and goes for revenge. Dark tag