Things Are Not What They Seem: CYOA - FINAL PART

Last thread: http://archive.heinessen.com/mlp/thread/8301450

 

Pastebins are all at pastebin.com/u/smutanon

 

 

After successfully wooing Celestia, Anon and her sleep together. That scene was not posted in last thread but can be found here: http://pastebin.com/pFpfhLVf (Obviously, clop warning for those of you who don't enjoy it)

 

 

>The next morning...

 

Dawn seeps into Anon's eyes, waking him from a restful slumber. He needed it after what happened last night. With a yawn, he sits up in the massive royal bed, stretching his arms out and shaking the sleep off. He looks around the room, finding himself alone. Celestia must have left to raise the sun and attend to whatever royal duties required her. Next to him in the bed is a note.

 

'Good morning, Anon. I had to leave and prepare things for today. Feel free to use the bathroom and shower. Your clothes are on the dresser.

 

-Celestia'

 

Anon smirks, noticing she didn't sign it 'Princess'. She is finally dropping some of that royal burden, at least around him.

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

 

Giving one last yawn, Anon gets up and showers, thoughts of the immediate future nagging at him. Whatever happens with Celestia, he has to get through today, first. And that involves defeating Chrysalis. The very thought of her angers you.

 

While Anon is dressing, he notices one other thing on the dresser, something else Celestia gave him the night before: Duty. The javelin reflects sunlight back into his eyes off of the gold embrodery, contrasting with the dull blue mineral comprising the rest of the shaft.

 

Anon picks it up, taking in the feel of it, rolling it across his palms. During his inspection, he notices something he did not see yesterday; an inscription, short but simple:

 

'Know your enemy, inside and out.'

 

Maybe he doesn't know Chrysalis as well as Celestia, but he has enough first-hand experience to know exactly who she is—an insect. One that he'd be crushing today.

 

What do you do?

>(A) Wander around the castle

>(B) Look for somepony (specify)

>(C) Wait for Celestia

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(C)

 

If Anon starts wandering around, he figures he'll just get lost. Better to wait for Celestia. Besides, he's not exactly in a rush to explore the place. It's pretty comfortable in here.

 

Now dressed, Anon strolls over to the balcony, Duty in hand. He clenches his fist around the javelin, feeling the impressions dig into his hand. Stepping out into the fresh air, he takes a deep breath, letting the morning coolness wash over his body, still damp from the shower. It doesn't feel like the foreboding sort of morning it is.

 

Anon once again inspects Duty, reading the inscription several more times. 'Know your enemy, inside and out.' Celestia said Chrysalis is ambitious more than anything. Given that she is the Queen of her hive, she probably isn't inherently selfish. She wanted to use him as a tool when last they met, attempting to seduce him, likely to simply discard him once the princesses and the Elements were defeated. It would be foolish to assume Chrysalis an idiot only because she was heartless.

 

Leaning on the railing, Anon looks to the courtyard below. He takes in the scenery for a moment before turning to the sounds of hoofsteps behind him. Celestia meets his gaze with a smile.

 

"Good morning."

 

>(A) Ask more about Chrysalis

>(B) Talk about last night

>(C) Talk about today

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

 

>(C)

 

"Morning," you say, turning back to the courtyard as she takes up place beside you. "What's the plan for today? We just going to storm right in there or try something less direct?"

 

"A direct confrontation is less-than-ideal before we find the pods where she's keeping most of Ponyville. If she's found a way to move them into the hive, then our journey will be that much more difficult. More likely, however, is that she simply moved ponies into the pods while they slept and left them in their beds. Less likely they would be discovered that way." She keeps her chin up while she talks, never showing a hint of hesitance or fear. It is something she likely had a lot of practice with.

 

"And what do you think about Chrysalis? What's her game besides just taking over the town?"

 

"She seeks love for herself and her hive. With the strength the Nightmare is giving her, and us out of the way, it will probably be only weeks before the entire country is subjugated."

 

"Then what? Is she just going to rule?"

 

Celestia turns to Anon, raising an eyebrow. "Is that not enough?"

 

"I don't know. I guess I'll have to ask her."

 

"Chrysalis is ambitious, that much we know. How much, however, remains to be seen." She pauses, glancing down at Duty. "It is good that you ask that question."

 

"And when are we leaving?"

 

"Now, actually. I was making preparations and checking up on everyp0ny. They're ready."

 

Anon swallows. How does he react?

>(A) Determination

>(B) Unsure

>(C) Anger

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

 

>(A)

 

Anon considers your suggestion a moment.

 

>You know, I was going to go for the silent badass, but I think I like this one more.

 

He turns from the balcony, walking back inside, gripping Duty to the point his knuckles turn white. "Then let's do this. My shoes are too clean, I need to dirty them with some bug juice."

 

Is Duty getting warmer?

 

Celestia walks beside you. "Do not underestimate her, Anon. Especially with the power of the Nightmare behind her. You would be ill-advised to—"

 

Anon cuts her off by lifting a hand. "Celestia, I think every now and then, you need to be a little cocky. Let loose some emotion. Yeah, I know Chrysalis is powerful. I saw that with my own two eyes. But I have faith in you. Faith in me."

 

Her face twists into a half-frown, considering her response. There was truth in Anon's words, both of them knew it.

 

"Then I suppose it would be best not to dither while that faith burns strong."

 

She leads you to the dock where the carriages had landed yesterday. Gathered and waiting for you are the rest of the ponies: Luna, Twilight and the other Elements. Each one has a different look on their face. Luna's is much like her sister's: severe, almost stoic. Anon can tell Twilight is doing her best to look strong, but her legs betray a slight shiver.

 

Most of this group wasn't really made for fighting, he realizes.

 

Who does he chat with?

>(A) Luna and Twilight

>(B) Rarity and Applejack

>(C) Rainbow and Fluttershy

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

>(D) Give a speech

 

Anon can hardly suppress his massive grin.

 

>A speech? Why the hell not?

 

He strides forward into the berth of the dock, chin up and eyes straight, giving only an acknowledging nod to Luna before gathering the party—HIS party, the one he helped get together yesterday. All of them look up to him, anticipating what he might say. Anon figures they all want something to get their mind off of the task ahead, and look for that escape through him.

 

But they're in for something else.

 

"I see a lot of you are unsure of what lies ahead. I'll admit I am as well. But when have your lives ever been different? When have you truly known what tomorrow holds, what twilight holds, or even what the next hour has in store? Let's not dwell on what we don't know, but what we do." Celestia and Luna have taken up spots behind the Elements, watching you more with curiosity than anything else. "You are all brave ponies of virtue, capable of strength beyond anything I've seen. When the changelings came at us yesterday, we held. Heck, we did far better than that, we defeated them with ease! Maybe your faces show uncertainty now, but yesterday they held determination! So will it be today.

 

We go into this fight not because we must, but because we can. Because we believe that our country, our friends, our families are worth fighting for. Because our cause is just!" You bring up Duty, now glowing, the dull blue ignited into a brighter hue.

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

Luna's gaze twitches on seeing the javelin and glances over to Celestia, but says nothing. Anon searches his memory for a line to end on and ends up borrowing something from you.

 

"From this day to the ending of the world,

But we in it shall be remember'd;

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers and sisters."

 

He strikes the ground with Duty's tip as if it were a staff, taking the ponies out of the daze set upon them by his speech. 'Not bad for a first time,' he thinks to himself.

 

The one to approach him is Rainbow, who says nothing, only offering a hoof. Grinning, he bumps it with a fist and she nods. The rest of the ponies disperse to their carriages, though not in silence. Anon can hear an eager murmuring building amoungst them, one not of anxiety but anticipation. Maybe they weren't made for fighting, but it seems you were made for speeches.

 

While you watch the ponies walk off, Luna approaches you. She glances over to Duty, then back to your face. "You do not know burden yet, I think. But it is the spirit that counts, not the device." She hugs you tightly a moment before taking off herself.

 

"Shall we depart, Anon?" asks Celestia.

 

"Yeah."

 

The journey to Ponyville passes in silence. Everyone arrives in the town square without incident, but the place is completely deserted.

 

First move?

>(A) Inspect houses

>(B) Patrol the streets

>(C) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(A)

 

"We should probably get a look in the houses, see if you were right about that, Celestia."

 

She nods then turns to the Elements. "Here." Celestia levitates a box from her carriage and opens it, revealing five necklaces and a tiara. The tiara levitates over to Twilight while the necklaces each go to a pony. "I do not think I need to state this, but be on your guard at all times. Out enemy can look like anyp0ny."

 

The Elements nod to Celestia then move to the nearest house. "Luna," says Celestia, "take to the skies, keep an eye out. Do not lose vision of us, however."

 

Luna nods to her sister, glancing one last time at Anon before taking off.

 

"Should we help the Elements search?" you ask

 

"No. We need to stay in the street, keep any changelings from ambushing the Elements while they search. Stay with me and do not wander. We cannot afford to lose sight of each other, lest we be replaced by an impostor." Celestia's definitely in full princess mode now, eyes and ears open, concentration sharp as a laser. Anon shifts his grip on Duty and starts patrolling with Celestia.

 

The two of them survey the streets for a minute before hearing a cry coming from inside the house the Elements were searching. It sounds like Twilight.

 

Anon turns to rush inside, but Celestia halts him with a hoof. "No! The Elements are very capable on their own. We must stay out here, prevent this from turning into an ambush."

 

He gapes at her, eyes widening. "Are you serious? That could be Chrysalis in there!"

 

"I do not like this any more than you do, but we must stay."

 

>(A) Go

>(B) Stay

>(C) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(B)

 

Anon growls at your suggestion, still glaring into Celestia's eyes. Stomping his foot, he turns away from the building, crossing his arms and grumbling. "You're right, damnit, you're right."

 

Both Anon and Celestia continue to patrol the outside, though frequently stealing glances through windows, attempting to determine what happened inside. With each passing minute, the silence builds upon itself, driving a wedge into Anon's concentration. His patience at an end, Anon calls out, "Hey, everything all right?"

 

Celestia and him freeze and lift and ear, waiting for the response.

 

"Y-yeah. There were a couple changelings waiting in ambush, but they're unconscious now."

 

Anon breathes a sigh of relief. It's short-lived, however.

 

"I could have sworn I heard someone call my name. Was it you, little human?"

 

He knows that voice all too well. While he may have only heard it once, that one time would never leave his memory. He spins around, glaring with all the heat he could muster at Chrysalis. Celestia is doing likewise.

 

"Oooh, those eyes could melt a rock. I'm much sturdier, however. I wonder about you?" Her horn start glowing a wicked green, slowly brightening with energy.

 

Crap.

 

>(A) Dodge

>(B) Distract

>(C) Throw Duty

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(B) + (C)

 

Anon quickly looks to Celestia, then down the street, spying an open alleyway not far off. It should make good cover.

 

"Suck my nuts, bugbutt!" he yells, starting his sprint toward the alley. Chrysalis glares at him, then glances back to Celestia who has already darted toward the house.

 

"Girls, out here, now!" A thunderous clamor of hooves comes from inside the house. The Elements are coming.

 

Just before Anon make it to the alleyway, he looks over his shoulder, making sure Chrysalis is still focused on him. To his dismay, she's completely ignored you and is about to blast Celestia.

 

"Damnit!" This does give him an opportunity, however. He flips his grip on Duty, preparing to throw it, steeling his mind with all of the ferocity he can. Before he can throw it, however, his arm is wrenched back by a golden glow. Duty flies across the street, well out of reach.

 

"Last resort, Anon!"

 

'Fuck that,' he says to himself. He won't hold back because of Celestia's concern for his safety.

 

It's too late, though. Celestia was too busy holding you back, and now Chrysalis is on the cusp of blasting her.

 

She would have, too, if not for the midnight-blue blast that erupts on her head.

 

"Luna!"

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

 

Chrysalis cries in frustration and aims her beam instead at Luna, who dodges, using her aerial acrobatics to her advantage.

 

At the same moment, the Elements come thundering out of the house, ready to wreck Chrysalis' day. They form a line and the Elements start glowing.

 

"Wait for Luna and I!" Celestia cries, taking wing. She meets up with Luna, all the while dodging bolts from Chrysalis. One singes Celesta's wing, but she's able to hold steady.

 

Anon feels worthless, standing there, doing nothing. He sees a barrel of random items nearby in the alley.

 

>(A) Go for Duty

>(B) Throw stuff from the barrel at Chrysalis

>(C) Go to the Elements, make sure they don't get attacked while charging

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

 

>(B)

 

He rushes over to the barrel. This will make a much better distraction than some petty insult. Chrysalis is too clever to fall for something like that. The first item Anon grabs is an alarm clock. Nice and loud, too. He sets it off then hurls it at Chrysalis as hard as he can.

 

It definitely grabs her attention. Before it reaches her, however, she seizes it from the air with magic and throws it back at Anon. He ducks, following the clock's path as it breaks upon the wall behind him. Still not deterred, he seizes a plate and throws it at Chrysalis like a frisbee. She's focused on him, now, and grabs the plate earlier than she did the alarm clock, breaks it into several sharp pieces, and flings them toward Anon.

 

Grunting in shock, he ducks into the alleyway just as the plate fragments reach him. Two graze his legs, drawing blood, but he's okay for the most part.

 

His distraction has worked. While Chrysalis was busy assaulting him, Luna and Celestia were charging a spell far above. As he dove into the alleyway, they had released the spell, a roaring pillar of mixed blue and gold energy.

 

The speed at which Chrysalis moves is absurd, the Queen practically turning into a blur as she leaps away. It's only enough to keep her from critical injury, as the spell tears through one of her hind legs. She limps a few steps before launching herself into the air, straight at the princesses.

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

 

They show a mastery of both flight and combat, ducking and weaving in patterns that make Anon drop his jaw. Brilliant blasts—blue, gold and green—fly through the air. Occasionally a blast connects with Chrysalis, but she seems unfazed by it. That must be the power of The Nightmare.

 

The Elements are still charging, waiting for their chance. They soon get it.

 

Celestia and Luna split, forcing Chrysalis to choose one to chase. She takes a moment to decide, which in a battle of goddesses, is far too long. Shackles, gold and brilliant, lock onto her legs, dragging her to the ground. Luna sets down right next to her and closes her eyes in concentration. A blue spell cuts down toward Chrysalis' head like a cleaver, but she's able to dodge it, retaliating with a spell of her own.

 

The younger princess is clearly shocked by Chrysalis' fast recovery, and is unable to dodge. The spell knocks her back and she flops over on the ground, apparently unconscious.

 

Seeing her opening, Twilight gives a battlecry. The rest of the Elements follow suit, their eyes glowing a pure white. Withing seconds, a brilliant rainbow beam roars from them crashing into Chrysalis. The beam persists for several seconds, though Chrysalis... actually seems to be recovering.

 

A guttal cry, unearthly and terrible, rips through the area. The Elements and knocked off their feet.

 

>(A)Go for Duty

>(B)Distract Chrysalis again

>(C)Grab something sharp from the barrel

>(D)Open response

 

 

 

 

 

>(A)

 

Anon grins at the suggestion. That's more like it.

 

He breaks into a sprint, heading straight for Duty. Chrysalis takes notice, locating Duty and smirks, recognizing the weapon. Before you can get near it, she grabs it with her magic.

 

"Looking for this?"

 

He sneers and continues running at full speed toward it, cursing his own inability to do anything about it.

 

"Aren't you precious."

 

Instead of yanking it away or tossing it to places unknown, Chrysalis hurls the javelin towards him. Very, very quickly. Unable to halt his momentum, the best he can do is dodge. Duty is so close, though, he only has a fraction of a second to react. Gasping, Anon twists his body, hoping Chrysalis' aim was off just enough to avoid a fatal hit.

 

Time seems to slow down as Duty speeds at Anon. His eyes follow its journey, closer and closer until it makes contact. The javelin cuts through his side, just below his left armpit. He cries in pain as Duty tears away skin and blood, pain shooting through his body like lightning. It passes, though, and Anon falls. Duty drops to the ground not far behind him.

 

"Hmph," says Chrysalis, "it looks like you made the wrong choice, little human. You should have helped me, but you clung to that pointless weapon. It never would have worked on me, anyways." With that, she walks toward the Elements, likely to finish one of them off, making the Elements as a whole unusable.

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

 

The Elements are getting up slowly, but Luna is still unmoving. Celestia comes down to protect them, but Anon knows she won't be able to fight Chrysalis alone for long. His wound is deep, blood dripping down his side. He stumbles to his feet, turning to Duty. Clutching his side, Anon shuffles over to the weapon, picking it up and holding it tight. A soft glow emanates from Duty at his touch.

 

Chrysalis is focused on Celestia, and Celestia can see him, worry plain in her eyes. He has a job to do, though.

 

Taking in a deep breath, he steadies himself before drawing the javelin back. This has to be done, and now. Anon recalls all the reasons why he came here, his cause, his friends, his lover. Ponies depending on him. Conviction, right? He's got plenty of that.

 

"Hey, bugass, I'm still alive."

 

Chrysalis turns to you, seeing you with a lightly-glowing Duty. Anon expected her to gasp, or recoil, or run.

 

She laughs.

 

"I just told you that wouldn't work! Do you not realize I know exactly how that works? That I have the conviction of two minds? Your pathetic will is NOTHING to me!" Her face twists in fury, and in that instant, Duty turns on you.

 

The javelin glows an angry red and shocks his arm, dropping him to the ground in pain. His arm is on fire with agony.

 

 

 

 

 

Celestia attempts to nail Chrysalis with a spell while the Queen is looking at Anon, but it bounces off of her hide, doing nothing. Chrysalis yawn.

 

"Oh, really, Celestia, you remember the last time I—well, part of me—fought you. I was winning until you used the Elements and Duty, but neither of those are available to you now. Game over, Princess." The title is spoken with seething hatred.

 

Anon looks on in fear as Chrysalis connects with her first offensive spell, knocking Celestia clear off of her hooves. He struggles to get up, but the pain from his wound overwhelms him and he drops to his knees.

 

Another spell fires off, and again Celestia falls.

 

Anon is so angry at everything: at himself, for being weak, at Chrysalis, for ruining what little enjoyment he had here, and at this world, for stealing him away. He just wants it to end, now. There's nothing more to do.

 

It would be so easy to just lie back and sleep.

 

 

 

 

'Know your enemy, inside and out.'

 

His eyes fly open. He understood it now.

 

The phrase meant something more, something so important: the one thing that would save him. He takes in one deep breath, than another, and another. Energy flows back into his body as his breathing returns to normal. He lays a hand on his chest, feeling his heart thumping like a drum.

 

In the background, he hears another spell cast, though he can't tell if it hit Celestia or not.

 

Slowly, painfully, Anon gets to his feet. Determination once again fills his eyes, but this time backed by understanding. Duty lies not far off. His step odd and uneven, Anon makes it to Duty and picks it up. The glow on it is much brighter now.

 

Turning, he sees Celestia, injured, maybe unconscious, on the ground beneath Chrysalis. Anger fights its way back into Anon's head, but he suppresses it for now.

 

Duty glows brighter.

 

"Hey, dumbass."

 

Chrysalis looks at him, showing an amused sort of surprise. "Well, well, I guess it takes humans longer to bleed out than I thought. You still think you can take me on all alone?"

 

Her tone drives his fury ever higher.

 

"No, you stupid fucking bugshit. Not alone. I have backup, and they've been here the entire time."

 

She narrows her eyes, trying to discern his meaning. It doesn't matter if she gets it, though. He does.

 

 

>Give Chrysalis a faceful of Duty?

 

 

 

 

 

>Yes

 

The light from Duty is blinding now, a pure white, whiter than even Celestia's coat.

 

Chrysalis takes a step back. She wobbles on her injured leg. "Where did you get this?"

 

YOU yell at her, still limping closer. "You told me about them, remember? You tried to make them my enemy! 'Know your enemy, inside and out'. THAT was the warning, the advice. I thought it meant I just had to know you, but I had it wrong. I had to know not only the enemy outside of me, but the one inside as well. And I know that enemy. Pride."

 

Chrysalis gnashes her teeth at YOU and sends a green bolt of magic at your chest. It's sucked up by the light of Duty.

 

"Pride that I never asked for help. They tried so hard to help me win, and all I did was rebuke it when I didn't like it. But now I get it. And now I have all the conviction I need to send you back to where-ever the fuck it is you came from!" YOU're yelling now, and Duty is so hot in YOUR hand you fear it might burn YOU. Planting YOUR feet, you draw YOUR arm back.

 

YOU register the Elements are all back on their feet as well. Perfect timing.

 

"FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC, BITCH!" With every ounce of strength and will YOU can muster, YOU throw Duty, yelling in effort as YOU release it.

 

(cont)

 

 

 

 

Halfway in between you and Chrysalis, it breaks the sound barrier.

 

The concussive blast knocks you back and dulls your hearing, but you can still watch as it enters Chrysalis' neck, touching not skin but spirit. As the javelin exits her body, it takes with it a cruel-looking purple cloud.

 

The Nightmare.

 

Duty drags The Nightmare along with it until it buries itself a solid foot into a wall. The Nightmare screams in agony, helpless to stop the oncoming storm.

 

"You got it, girls."

 

For the second time, a rainbow beam erupts from the Elements, this time rushing over both Chrysalis and The Nightmare. They both struggle, but it's already far too late. The Elements tear through their bodies, evaporating The Nightmare into nothing and carrying Chrysalis along a wave of rainbow energy, far off into the horizon.

 

You shield your eyes from the sun, watching as the rainbow trail fades from vision, and smile.

 

Then faint.