The following My Little Pony story is set in an alternate timeline where the events of the first two seasons of the TV series, and the first four issues of the IDW Publishing comic book series, took place, but subsequent events did not. This is not because I didn't like those seasons and issues (I did), but because this story wouldn't work otherwise. It should also be noted that this story is based on the 1986 animated Transformers movie. In case you haven't seen it, I should warn you that the movie features the violent deaths of several characters, and a result, so does this story. If this bothers you, I advise you not to read the story. Additionally, the movie contains a number of background songs, whose lyrics have been incorporated into the text of this story because I felt they were an important part of it. Oh, and all of this is copyrighted by Hasbro, of course.
One
In a clearing in the center of the Everfree Forest stood a peculiar castle-crumbling and overgrown with weeds as if it had long been abandoned, but clearly inhabited, for there were guards posted outside and the castle was lit with the red flicker of torches. Princesses Celestia and Luna had returned to their childhood home, though not by choice-the city of Canterlot now belonged to the Changelings.
It had begun the previous month, when the city had been attacked by cockatrices mutated to gigantic size by the Secretariat Comet. Though the city's defenders, led by Celestia herself, had defeated the cockatrices, the city had been left vulnerable to invasion. Somehow the Changelings, whom Celestia had believed safely imprisoned in their own castle, had escaped, learned of Canterlot's present condition and launched a surprise assault while the ponies were in the process of reconstruction. In no condition to fight back, Celestia had taken the Elements of Harmony and evacuated, along with her family and a hooffull of royal guards. Now she was seated on her throne, watching her sister pacing back and forth in front of her.
"What's wrong, Luna?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"Sister, my patience wears thin. How much longer must we wait to drive Chrysalis and her cursed ilk from our home?"
Luna had been asking this question ever since they had arrived. Celestia decided it was time to get her sister out of the castle.
"I want you to make a special run to Ponyville."
"But, sister-"
"Listen, Luna, we don't have enough supplies and ammunition to power a full-scale assault. Gather your crew and ready the ship for launch!"
Luna's expression brightened. "Huzzah! Your days are now numbered, Changelings!"
As she galloped off, she passed Captain Shining Armor.
"Princess!" he called. "While you're in Ponyville, please tell my sister and wife I miss them, and I'll come back to them as soon as we've kicked Chrysalis's flank out of Equestria!"
"I shall tell them!"
Celestia watched her go. "Now all we need are a few supplies-and a lot of luck."
Canterlot had drastically changed under its occupation. The streets, once bustling with activity, were silent and empty, and the buildings dark and abandoned. The sole exception was the castle, which was illuminated with an eerie green glow that emanated from a multitude of cocoons suspended from the throne room's ceiling like slabs of meat. Each pod contained a pony, deep in an enchanted slumber courtesy of Chrysalis's hypnotic magic. This was the fate that had befallen the original populace of Canterlot. They had all been rounded up and sealed within the pods after the conquest of their city. Many of the captives had at first futilely attempted to break out of their prisons, but had soon passed out from exhaustion. Now they were all dreaming of whoever or whatever each of them loved most. The Changelings, who had taken up residence in the castle, fed on the ponies' love regularly, but they had been expressly forbidden by their queen from draining their victims dry. The ponies were all needed alive, Chrysalis had explained, to keep the Changelings in peak condition for the battle to come. When that battle had been won, the ponies would be the main course at a victory banquet.
Chrysalis sat on what had once been Celestia's throne, gazing intently into the glowing crystal ball in front of her. To her right stood the Armored Changeling, her most loyal minion. To her left stood Trixie Lulamoon.
The Changelings had first encountered Trixie after she had left Equestria to find somewhere else to live, an outcast from pony society. She had wandered into the Changeling Kingdom and released the imprisoned Changelings. Chrysalis had initially intended to dispose of her, but after speaking to her, she had found in Trixie a kindred spirit and decided to spare her life. Trixie had willingly submitted to conversion into a Changeling and become Chrysalis's apprentice. Trixie had quickly become popular with the other Changelings. Though she did not regret her decision, Chrysalis did not fully trust the ambitious Trixie, and had resolved to keep a close eye on her.
But now the queen's attention was focused on the image in the crystal ball.
"I want you to make a special run to Ponyville."
"But, sister-"
"Listen, Luna, we don't have enough supplies and ammunition to power a full-scale assault. Ready the ship for launch! Now all we need is a little ammunition-and a lot of luck."
Chrysalis grinned from ear to ear. "More than you imagine, Celestia."
The crew of the supply ship did not see the squad of Changelings until they landed on the deck.
Big McIntosh was the first to react. "Changelings!" he called to his comrades. Several Changelings pounced on him at once, but he shook furiously, dislodging them and sending them tumbling towards Chrysalis.
"Die, ponies!" Chrysalis yelled, and fired a beam of magic from her horn at the stallion. McIntosh dropped, bleeding from his shoulder.
Iron birds of fortune
Adrift above the skies
Cloudy revelations
Unseen by naked eyes
Erupt the rock of ages
Bringing final fear
Prince Blueblood turned and opened his mouth to say something, but was prevented from doing so when a Changeling blasted him in the stomach. He vomited blood and fell dead. Doctor Stable telekinetically grabbed a shotgun and fired it at a Changeling, but his target simply caught the bullet with his telekinesis, turned it around in mid-air, and propelled it back at the doctor's chest, cutting him down.
Luna, meanwhile, had managed to repel the Changelings with magic lightning. Only by surrounding her and focusing all their blasts on her chest and between her shoulder blades were they finally able to bring her down.
Instruments of destruction
Tools of powerplays
It's a violent eruption
Existence drips away
Chrysalis strode casually past the corpses and took the wheel. "That was almost too easy, Trixie," she observed.
"Much easier, almighty Queen Chrysalis, than attacking the real threat: Celestia's palace!"
Chrysalis sighed in exasperation. "You're an idiot, Trixie. When we slip past the shield in the ponies' own ship and destroy Ponyville, the ponies will be vanquished forever!"
"NO!" thundered a mighty voice. All the changelings turned in shock to see Luna getting to her feet. "TO GET TO PONYVILLE, THOU MUST FIRST GO THROUGH US!"
Most of the changelings backed away, intimidated, but Chrysalis, who had known all along that Luna was faking and had been waiting for her to make her move, merely rolled her eyes. She could tell from Luna's labored breathing and the way she winced with every movement that she was weakened and in pain.
"Such heroic nonsense," she commented, and blasted Luna through the center of her forehead.
Ponyville had also drastically changed in the past month. The entire civilian population (consisting of foals, the very elderly and others who were unable or unwilling to fight) had been evacuated to Fillydelphia. The town had subsequently been converted into a production facility operated by the Ponyville Militia under the command of Princess Cadance. Here, food, ammunition and other supplies were produced and transported by boat to the Everfree Castle, for the use of the soldiers stationed there. Now, Twilight Sparkle and Spike the dragon were fishing in the lake outside the town, as they had no work to do at the present moment.
"I miss Fluttershy," commented Twilight, remembering that the yellow pegasus had fed her pet ferrets fish from this very lake.
"So do I," Spike replied, "but she'll be back from Fillydelphia as soon as this war is over. Hey, why don't we go watch the supply boat come in? It might be interesting."
"That doesn't sound very interesting to me."
"Better than fishing and not catching anything."
"Fair enough," the unicorn agreed, telekinetically withdrawing her fishing pole from the water and placing it on the ground. Spike dropped his own pole and climbed on Twilight's back.
Sometimes when your hopes have all been shattered
And there's nowhere to turn
You wonder how you keep going (going)
Think of all the things that really mattered
And the chances you've earned
The fire in your heart is growing (growing)
You can fly, if you try, leaving the past behind
Heaven only knows what you might find
"We should get a good view from the cliffside," Twilight told Spike as she broke into a gallop and almost knocked over a passing Granny Smith in the process.
"Watch where you're goin', ya consarned whippersnapper!" the old Earth pony grumbled. "When ah was yer age, we respected our elders!"
Dare, dare to believe you can survive
The power is all at your command
Dare, dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare
Twilight teleported to a high ledge that afforded an excellent view of the river. A small telescope had been installed, and as the boat passed them, Spike looked through it and noticed something wrong.
"Uh, Twilight? Do you see what I see?"
Twilight looked for herself. "Changelings!" she exclaimed. Focusing her telekinesis on the ship, she forced it onto the shore.
"What in tarnation is that young 'un doin'?" Granny wondered from a distance, and headed in for a closer look.
"So much for taking our enemies by surprise, my queen," Trixie commented.
"No matter!" responded Chrysalis. "I have a back-up plan. Changelings, attack!"
The Changelings flew out of the grounded boat. Chrysalis blasted the cliff where Twilight and her assistant were standing, causing it to crumble.
"You won't be escaping to warn your friends this time, little Twilight!" she declared, before heading towards Ponyville.
Spike yelled in terror. Twilight clutched her assistant protectively to her, and they landed safely on a lower ledge. Another Changeling landed on the ground below and took aim at the unicorn's head.
"Come on down, brats!" he beckoned, as Twilight pushed Spike behind her, shielding him with her own body.
Dare, dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare, dare to keep all of your dreams alive
The power is there at your command, oh
Dare, dare to keep all your love alive
Dare to be all you can be
Dare, there is a place where dreams survive
An instant before the Changeling fired Granny Smith galloped up to him and kicked him in the chin, tilting his head upwards. The shot missed Twilight and struck another Changeling that was flying above them. Granny then moved out of the way as the wounded Changeling fell, bounced off the cliff and crashed down on his comrade. Their limbs became tangled up and they went tumbling down the hillside in a helpless pile.
Twilight levitated Spike and herself to the ground and regarded the earth pony with a look of surprised admiration.
"I didn't think a pony your age was capable of-" she started to say, trailing off awkwardly at a glare from her elderly comrade.
"My age? That's somethin' you'll never be if we don't back to Ponyville!" she snapped. A lecture was about to follow, but by then Trixie had noticed their survival.
"We can discuss this later," said Twilight, deflecting Trixie's attack with a force field. The disgruntled former pony flew away, and Twilight, Granny and Spike made their escape.
Dr. Hooves stood on the edge of town, looking a pair of binoculars at the approaching Changelings. As Princess Cadance, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie joined him, the Changelings opened fire. The ponies dodged in the nick of time.
"Well, Doctor Hooves?" asked Cadance.
"I'm afraid we're vastly unnumbered, Princess," the Doctor reported.
Just then, the ponies had to duck to avoid another blast. Cadance regained her balance first, and the others gathered around her to take her orders.
"I'm going to raise a shield around Ponyville. It won't keep the Changelings out for long, but it should buy us some time. Applejack, you and Rarity go to Town Hall and set up the cannon. Doctor, Spike isn't available right now, so tell Vinyl to radio Princess Celestia for reinforcements."
Rainbow stepped forward. "What about me, Princess?"
"And me!" added Pinkie. "I wanna help! Let me help!"
"Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, you can help me alert the others."
The pegasus saluted. "You got it! Nopony can get the job done faster than me!"
She raced off, and Pinkie bounded after her calling "Wait for me, Dashie!"
Applejack started in the direction of town hall, motioning for Rarity to follow. "C'mon, Rarity! Let's go!"
The unicorn hesitated. "But Twilight, Spike and Granny Smith are still outside Ponyille!"
"Don't you worry none, sugarcube. They can take of themselves. C'mon!"
Rarity followed. Just then, Trixie noticed the pair, instantly recognizing them as friends of the pony who had humiliated her. She swooped down on them, exclaiming "Pathetic foals! There is no escape from the Greater and More Powerful Trixie!"
At that moment, Cadance's shield closed between them, directly over Trixie's hoof. Exerting all her strength, Trixie yanked her hoof from between the gap and limped away, whining in pain.
"Breach their defenses!" Chrysalis ordered.
Three of Changelings gathered in front of the shield and hurled themselves against it, weakening it. They had just managed to create an opening wide enough for their comrades when Twilight, Spike and Granny Smith arrived.
"Them Changelings are in our way!" Granny observed.
"Wrong, Granny-they're our way in!" Twilight, with Spike riding on her back, jumped onto the Changelings, knocking them to the ground, and walked over them and into the opening. Before they could stand up again, Granny followed. The other Changelings poured in after them.
Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody were stationed in the attic of their cottage, which had been converted into Ponyville's communications center. The two mares were seated in swivel chairs, and in front of them was a radio set whose transmitter was connected to an antenna mounted on the roof.
Doctor Whooves galloped up the stairs and into the attic, and the two mares swiveled around to face him.
"Hey, doc!" Vinyl waved. "What's shakin', other than this house?"
"Miss Scratch, Miss Octavia, Princess Cadance sent orders to contact Princess Celestia!"
"All right!" grinned Vinyl. "It's about time I saw some action!"
Octavia switched on the transmitter and passed Vinyl the microphone.
"This is DJ Pon3 calling Princess Celestia! Do you read me? The Changelings are blitzing Ponyville! We're really taking a pounding! Don't know how much longer we can hold out!"
Chrysalis, her General and three lieutenants landed outside the cottage.
"General," Chrysalis ordered, pointing at the atenna, "jam that transmission!"
The General nodded to the four lieutenants, who flew to the cottage's roof and grabbed the antennae.
"Repeat: this is DJ Pon3 calling Princess Celestia! Do you read me? The Changelings are blitzing Ponyville! We're really taking a-"
The transmission was interrupted when the antenna snapped and was thrown off the roof. The lieutenants then flitted down to the attic window.
"First we crack the shell," said one, "then we crack the nuts inside!"
The Changelings began pounding their hooves against the window until it shattered.. The Doctor, Vinyl and Octavia dived for cover and just barely avoided being cut to ribborns by shards of glass.
As the Changelings poured into the attic, the Doctor stepped forward to face them.
"Run, you two!" he called over his shoulder. "Save yourselves!"
"No way, doc!" Vinyl shook her head. "Tavi, my Bass Cannon!"
Octavia trotted over to the other side of the attic and pulled a cover off a very strange machine. It was a metal box with a set of wheels beneath it and a big red button on top of it. Octavia pushed it over to Vinyl, who moved behind it and positioned her hoof over the button.
"What is that?" the Doctor asked curiously.
"Don't ask," replied Octavia, who had sat down where the machine had previously been and was putting on a pair of noise-canceling headphones. "I wish I had another pair of these, but I don't, so if you value your hearing get to the other side of the attic and cover your ears-quickly!"
When the Changelings came toward her, Vinyl thumped the button, and the panels slid apart.
Though the Doctor had backed away and covered his ears as Octavia had instructed, this failed to drown out the raging flood of dubstep music that came blasting out of the machine. The sonic storm shook the attic from floor to ceiling, and the Changelings were swept up in its wake and hurled through the window. Using their wings, they managed to regain their balance, and having no great desire to find out what had hit them, most of them withdrew. The sole exception found Octavia brandishing her cello. She hit him over the head and he fell out of the window, unconscious.
When the ringing in his ears had ceased, the Doctor stood up and looked at the machine, very much impressed.
"What an incredible machine! Where did you get it?"
"I built it myself," Vinyl informed him proudly, patting the machine.
"You should see how she does our dishes," Octavia added with an exasperated sigh.
"I'm thinking of patenting my inventions after this war," Vinyl continued.
The mention of the war reminded the ponies of how serious the situation was.
"Do you think you got through to the princess?" the Doctor asked.
"Let's hope so," Vinyl replied grimly, "'cause if I didn't we're already dead!"
Elsewhere, the battle was raging. Colgate Minuette found herself face to face with a Changeling that was poised to spring.
Examining her opponent's fangs, Colgate observed, "You look like you haven't brushed your teeth for a long time. But don't worry. I can help you out with my toothpaste cannon!"
Before the Changeling realized what was happening, Colgate fired her cannon, squirting toothpaste into the Changeling's eyes. Blinded and in pain, the Changeling attempted to flee, only to find its path blocked by Berry Punch, who was armed with a fearsome weapon: a big bottle of wine. Berry Punch uncorked the bottle, downed the contents in a single gulp, then smashed the empty bottle over the Changeling's head, knocking it unconscious.
"Tshat'sh tshe good shtuff," she slurred. "Shorry I didn't *hic* bring any for you, Collie."
"That's all right, Berry. I'm just glad I was able to find another use for my toothpaste cannon. I was afraid I'd have to get rid of it after it didn't work out the way I'd hoped it would...Berry, look out behind you!"
Berry Punch did so and discovered that another Changeling had crept up on her. Completely unfazed, she breathed heavily in its face, and it passed out, overcome by the fumes. Berry Punch turned back to Colgate and burped. "'Scushe me, honey."
"You should brush your teeth right now," Colgate told her, "but I guess we can wait until this battle is over."
Suddenly Colgate heard a shout, and turned to see a Changeling hitting the ground, courtesy of a kick to the head from Carrot Top.
Glaring down at the Changeling, Carrot said through gritted teeth, "That was for my friend Ditzy! It's because of you heartless monsters that she and her daughter were separated, and Ditzy is miserable without her! She hasn't emptied my fridge in weeks, and she cries herself to sleep every night! Just touching you makes me sick!" She took a deep breath. Then, with a smile, she added, "Thank you for helping me work off my aggressions," and, satisfied, trotted away.
Yet, in spite of these small victories, the ponies were still outnumbered and had already suffered losses. On the ground floor of Town Hall, Rarity looked down sadly at the two unmoving bodies she had just carried in from the street. One was Snowflake, the muscular pegasus. The other was Zecora. Rarity was uncertain whether they were dead or merely unconscious, but both of them were badly burned, giving her little hope for their survival.
"C'mon, sugarcube!" Applejack called from the foot of the stairs. The earth pony was standing next to a cannon. "We gotta get this here cannon into place! Chrysalis is makin' her big push, and we gotta push back!"
"In a moment, Applejack!" Rarity answered. "I cannot allow our brave comrades to simply lie where they fell! You shall be avenged," she told the the pegasus and zebra before joining Applejack. She lifted one end, Applejack lifted up the other and they started up the stairs, the weight making it difficult. Then Twilight, Granny and Spike teleported in.
"Keep a-liftin', Applejack!" said Granny. "Help's to hoof!"
With the new arrivals supporting the sides of the cannon, the trip became much easier.
"I was afraid you and Spikey-Wikey would be trapped outside Ponyville," Rarity told Twilight.
"Hey, I wasn't worried for a second," Spike lied through his teeth, causing Twilight to roll her eyes.
The ponies carried the cannon through the second-story door and set it down on the balcony, with the barrel resting atop the railing. While the ponies went to get the ammunition, Spike climbed onto the cannon to serve as lookout. He saw Chrysalis land in the square, accompanied by a single other Changeling.
"Behemoth!" shouted Chrysalis. "Kill them!"
Spike's initial confusion turned to dawning horror as the Changeling began to change, growing larger and larger until it was almost level with the balcony.
"This can't be good," Spike thought. He shouted, "Guys, you might want to see this!"
When the ponies reappeared and saw Behemoth, their faces fell-with the exception of Applejack, whose teeth were clenched
"I got better things to do tonight than die!" she declared, picking up a cannonball. Spike hopped down from the cannon before Applejack loaded, aimed and fired it at Behemoth.
To Applejack's dismay, the giant Changeling merely swatted the ball aside. As Behemoth came closer, Applejack grabbed another cannonball and fired once more, again with no success. Before she could make a third attempt, the furious Behemoth positioned his forehooves on opposite sides of the cannon's barrel, then clapped them together, crushing it. Spike and the ponies hurried down the stairs as Behemoth picked up the cannon and, wielding it as a club, began pounding away at the side of the building. Stopping only to pick up Snowflake and Zecora, they fled Town Hall just before the wall collapsed, raising a cloud of dust. Behemoth roared and stomped his hooves in triumph.
"Their defences are broken!" Chrysalis crowed. "Let the slaughter begin!"
But before this order could be carried out, a shadow passed over the town. Changelings and ponies alike looked up to behold the royal chariot descending-and it was drawn by a team of Wonderbolts. As her vehicle landed in the square, Celestia ordered, "Wonderbolts! Stop that Changeling!"
"You know I love a challenge," Spitfire grinned, unharnessing herself. "Wonderbolts, go!"
Soarin' and Echo Fleetfoot followed their leader into battle. The Changeling expected them to attack, and was confused when they instead began to fly around him in a circle. It was too late when he realized that the pegasi were generating a whirlwind that lifted him off the ground. The Wonderbolts rolled over, flipping the Changeling onto his back, then dropped him. Before the Changeling could turn over, Spitfire flew straight up into the air, then dived and collided with the Changeling's soft underbelly. Behemoth passed out from the pain and reverted to his original size.
Celestia stepped out of her chariot and surveyed at the ruins of Town Hall. A look of grim determination came into her eyes. She could no longer stand idly by and let her subjects suffer. This destruction had to end now.
She turned to the Wonderbolts.
"Chrysalis must be stopped," she stated, "no matter the cost." With those words, she spread her wings and soared off over Ponyville in search of Chrysalis, who had slipped away in the confusion.
You got the touch
You got the power
YEAH!
Two Changelings standing on the ground below attempted to shoot her down, only for her to blast them into unconsciousness. She then turned and, as she had expected, found three more Changelings hovering there, having attempted to sneak up on her. Now they wore the expressions of someone who knows he or she is in serious trouble. She blasted their wings off and they fell to the ground, incapacitated.
After all is said and done
You've never walked, you've never run,
You're a winner
You got the moves, you know the streets
Break the rules, take the heat
You're nopony's fool
You're at your best when when the goin' gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough
She resumed her search and soon found Chrysalis standing atop the town's hydroelectric dam. The ponies and Changelings gathered on opposite sides of the dam to watch the battle.
"Did you murder my sister?" Celestia asked.
"Isn't that what you wanted?" Chrysalis taunted. "If not, you shouldn't have sent her alone. In any case you'll be with her soon."
Celestia swallowed her grief and declared "One shall stand, one shall fall."
Chrysalis smirked. "Why throw away your life so recklessly?"
"That's a question you should be asking yourself, Chrysalis," replied Celestia. "In our previous encounter you caught me off guard. This time the outcome will be different."
"Yes, it will," Chrysalis agreed, "because this time I'll crush you with my bare hooves!" Chrysalis charged at Celestia, knocking her onto her back, and Chrysalis's horn pierced Celestia's belly.
You got the touch
You got the power
When Tartarus breaks loose
You'll be riding the eye of the storm
You got the heart
You got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch
Twilight moved forward to assist her mentor, but Granny quickly stepped into her path.
"I've got to help Princess Celestia!" Twilight told her.
Granny shook her head. "Stay away, young 'un. That's the princess's fight."
As Twilight looked on, Chrysalis began to charge up her horn, but before she could fire Celestia stood up on her hind legs and shoved the changeling away from her with her forehooves.
Chrysalis slid to the other end of the dam but quickly regained her balance and fired several blasts at Celestia. These missed, so Chrysalis leaped into the air and propelled herself towards Celestia. As she descended, she drew a sword, but Celestia blasted the sword from Chrysalis's grip and it slid off the edge of the dam and into the river. However, Chrysalis landed on top of Celestia, planted her hind legs firmly on either side of the princess, and placed her forehooves on Celestia's chest, forcing her to the ground and pinning her in place.
"I'll gouge out your eyes with my horn!" Chrysalis hissed, but before she could attempt to carry out her threat Celestia kicked out with her hind legs, flinging the Changeling into the air. Chrysalis did an involuntary somersault and collided with the cliffside. She slumped to her knees, bruised, battered and dazed.
You got the touch
You got the power
YEAH!
"Finish her off, princess!" Granny yelled. "Do it now!"
Celestia stood up, turned, and approached Chrysalis, her horn pointed between the changeling queen's eyes.
Chrysalis threw up her hooves in surrender.
"No more, Princess Celestia!" she begged. "Grant me mercy, I beg of you!"
Celestia hesitated, unconvinced of Chrysalis's sincerity but nevertheless surprised at this reaction. "You, who are without mercy, now plead for it yourself? I thought you were made of sterner stuff!"
As Celestia pondered what Chrysalis might be planning and what she should do, she did not notice Chrysalis drawing a concealed pistol-but Twilight did. Acting impulsively, she teleported past Granny, materializing in front of the changeling.
"No, you don't, Chrysalis!" she yelled.
"Out of the way, Twilight!" Celestia ordered, but it was too late. Chrysalis grabbed Twilight and, holding the unicorn in front of her as a living shield, raised the pistol and emptied its clip into the wound in Celestia's belly.
With each hit Celestia felt her strength ebbing away. Finally her legs gave way beneath her and she fell to her knees in a pool of her own blood.
Chrysalis let go of Twilight, knocked her aside and told her mockingly, "Thank you very much, little Twilight! I could never have done it without your help!"
As Twilight watched frozen with horror, Chrysalis dropped the now-empty pistol and trotted up to Celestia, raising her hoof over the alicorn's head to deliver the killing blow.
"I would have waited an eternity for this," she stated, giving Celestia a grin that would have rendered any normal pony catatonic. "It's over, Celestia!"
But Chrysalis was wrong. Celestia gathered her remaining strength into one hoof and, with a defiant yell of "NEVER!" she struck Chrysalis in the horn, snapping it in two. The Changeling lost her balance and fell over the rail, crashing down with a sickening thud on the roof of the power station below. Trixie, Behemoth and the Armored Changeling gathered around her.
The battle won, Celestia finally allowed exhaustion to overcome her and collapsed. Twilight rushed to her mentor and knelt beside her, tears in her eyes.
"Princess Celestia! Please forgive me!"
Chrysalis found herself unable to move without pain. Several bones had been fractured on impact, and the damage to her horn had rendered her unable to perform magic. For the first time in her life she knew what it was like to feel completely vulnerable, and to make matters worse, Trixie was standing over her.
"How do you feel, mighty Chrysalis?" Trixie sneered, kicking Chrysalis contemptuously. She used her wounded hoof, implying that Chrysalis was not worth using her good hoof on. Chrysalis closed her eyes and waited for Trixie to finish her, but that moment never came. Instead Trixie turned to the Changelings, saying "Let's get out of here. We'll take the train," and walked away.
Chrysalis felt a surge of panic. Like Trixie, she knew what would happen if the ponies found her. They would not grant her the quick, clean death that was her royal privilege; instead, they would heal her wounds and put her in prison, and the proud queen would spend the rest of her life rotting away as a lowly prisoner. The thought of this humiliating fate was more than Chrysalis could bear. She clutched at the Armored Changeling's leg.
"Don't leave me, General!" she told him.
"As you command, my queen," the Armored Changeling replied and gently levitated her onto his back before following the others.
Noticing that their comrades were on their way to the train station, the other changelings hurried off to join them, retrieving the wounded on the way and carrying them with them.
"The ruffians are retreating!" Rarity observed.
"The princess did it," Granny smiled. "She turned the tide."
The first Changeling to reach the station found a locomotive coupled to a single coach. He lit the engine's furnace and, after the other Changelings had piled into the coach, he pulled the lever and the train puffed away.