• Story: The Nightmare Wars

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    Author: EsperDerek
    Description: The year is 2239. The Earth and its colonies have found themselves pushed to the brink of extinction against an unknown, seemingly invincible enemy. But when a desperate mission is undertaken to capture an enemy vessel, what will be uncovered will change not just the course of the war, but the fate of two races...
    The Nightmare Wars Chapter 1: Contact

    Additional Tags: Space Opera, Battle, Revelations, Mecha

    Fan art after the break!



    64 comments:

    1. This actually works better as a regular Sci-Fi novel up until the point where the ponies show up.

      Seriously, wtf.

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    2. I wonder if this will get a sad or grimdark tag at any point...

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    3. Hawt Damn this is my kinda story! I look forward to seeing how this plays out.

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    4. >Obligatory PONIES IN SPAAACE

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    5. What can I say, I'm feeling pretty crazy at the moment, writing this.

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    6. I spy with my little eye a Gundam reference on the sly.

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    7. Rainbow Dash is looking frigging awesome in that pic, any ideas where can i find the source?

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    8. hmmm this seems normal
      >gets to pony part
      wut
      this has my attention more with ponies in it

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    9. Melee is always the best solution.

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    10. Hmmm... I don't know alot about Sci-Fi, but I think I see a couple.
      >Battlestar: Galactica
      >Start Trek?
      >Ender's Game?
      Uh, I give up

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    11. @ anon june 16 1:53 pm: hows about babylon 5? aside from the mecha tag... hmmm, maybe robotech?

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    12. As clarification for the references, they're all names for things. There are seven names in there that are references.

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    13. This may be the next Arddun Lleuad Story if you take it in the right direction! Shoot for that 6-Star story man!

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    14. For some reason I can only begin to believe my insanity is infectiously spreading to everyone in secret?

      Also, Trixie, Big Mac and Spitfire, nice starting line up.

      Plus Nightmare Moon doesn't know that love can't come from controlling someone it has to be given freely.

      It's a given that she's not getting any love considering the mecha are powered by the pony type trinity and continuous pain.

      My guess is that the elements of harmony own their own two mecha's and it's not quite as painful as the ones the nightmare armada are using.

      The flotilla of light probably compromises of at least three mecha and a space fairing battalion that isn't controlled by nightmare, but they don't have enough forces to battle her might or magically driven and enslaved weaponry.

      Mecha powered by tortured souls has been done way to many times to count and I can't even begin to describe the Evangelion feeling creeping up.

      Keep writing we needed a sci-fi story that didn't parody a pre-existing universe or was a crossover.

      If it quickly turns evangelion I'm leaving, I don't want to hear so much emotional baggage and whining unless I see Rarity's hooves stamping up and down. Please keep the exposition to what you think you need, just asking nicely here.

      This also better not turn Voltron or even Power Rangers.

      Really my space story preferences falls to Outlaw Star(which should have had a video game like Infinite Space for the DS), Vandread (There are some sick and twisted things about the story of what's actually going on that makes it all the more interesting) and Robotech. (The Macross saga is point blank a mecha fan favorite, just about everyone suffers losses and their's no super invincible people just really ridiculously huge armada's being hit with what amounts to a catapult, the medieval kind. Battlefield: Earth also comes to mind.)

      I've seen just about any story pathway you could possible want to write and I know it'll be a good one no matter your choice.

      Sorry but I'm a inane evil monster with a penchant for science fiction every now and then and long winded post when I feel like it. I have a half ton of good to badly written fanfictions backed up in my brain excuse me later for dislodging half of them into your own. I don't see any idea as bad really, just the exposition and the blathering on and emotions all the time really tends to drop the story like a Dragon Ball Z episode where all they do is talk and nothing really happens.

      I've also read Enders Game like some an anonymous mentioned and found it to be enjoyably creepy, video games can teach you to win wars apparently.

      Now back to your usually ignored supposedly evil monster hanging around a pony blog.

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    15. Is GI Joe one of them? They never hit anything they shoot at as well unless it's a large vehicle or it's something really important.

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    16. I absolutely promise you that this will not turn into Evangelion. Also, I have no idea why this got split into two comments.

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    17. Hard(ish) SciFi and ponies, a tantalizing combination.

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    18. My brain is full of fuck. This is possibly the wierdest thing I've read on this site (that's saying a lot) but I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

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    19. this is ... interesting. uhm, let's see how it works out, i guess. sorry.

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    20. I recognize Mara(Star Wars Expanded) and Mitchell(StarGate, I think)

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    21. I like this kind of sci-fi. Looking forward to some more.

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    22. Cody MacArthur FettJune 16, 2011 at 7:46 PM

      OK, two things: first, this needs a sci-fi tag; second, the artwork for it is some of the least fitting art I've ever seen for a story on this site, it needs to be changed fast.

      Now then, this is a pretty good story. I'm definitely going to be recommending this on Spacebattles later tonight. I'm not exactly sure where this is going, but as long as you include misanthropy or some weird anti-religion tract I'll keep on reading.

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    23. Having the honour of pre-reading this beforehand, I must say I'm very excited on how the story is shaping up.

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    24. Proof that ponies make everything 20% cooler, even military mecha sci-fi.

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    25. Man, this is good. Really good.

      Also? A reference nobody's spotted yet, or at least reported.

      AGX-001.

      That's the code for the 'bug' Aerogater Mechs in Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation. The later Aerogater Mechs' codes are incremental from that in order of contact.

      I am LIKING this.

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    26. @Delta Pangaea

      And we have one out of the seven! AGX-001 is indeed the 'Bug' Aerogater mech from SRT: OG, or if you're like me, the Alpha series.

      Just six more to go.

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    27. I'll try to keep this PG, since this is a Ponyboard. That said...

      Darn you Derek! Darn you like a sock and the pony you rode in on too! How dare you get me into another genre like this? It got me sucked into the Mecha Space Opera even before the ponies showed up!

      And it threw me for a loop too, with how the mechas were human shaped instead of pony, but with how this story is developing, that makes sense.

      You have written an awesome story, and the MLP references, while they helped it a lot, were actually tertiary. While that isn't something I'd normally congratulate, you did it very tastefully, and in such a way that kept the reader on a look out.

      You also made a story that could make MLP fans out of somebody by surprise, since if you just handed the story over to somebody, they would have no idea that this was a fan story at it's core.

      I also love that you didn't cross this over with another setting, but instead made your own, that I desperately want to take part in now.

      All of that said, once again, Darn you like a sock, you got me sucked into Mecha Space Operas. Rar. I shall gnaw you.

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    28. But I shall gnaw you more if you don't continue it. Just as a heads up. Either way, you shall be gnawed.

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    29. .... WAIT I finally got IT!.
      The Nightmare has the Power of an earth pony, The flight ablities of a Pegasus and the magic of a Unicorn! Its not soul sucking Its ABLITY draining! Which STILL bites for the guys being used as parts! .... Also.... I have a really REALLY bad feeling about the "Nightmare Soldiers"

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    30. Yeah, basically a 'Nightmare' is an Alicorn in a Box piloted by the rough equivelent of a human drone/cultist. Nasty customers.

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    31. If you're talking Sci-Fi, I'm almost positive Starship Trooper and Firefly would be in there if I cared enough to read through it again now that I know what I'm looking for.

      But that will be for another time. Good job.

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    32. I just... I mean How many people were in those colonies trapped in the "Endless Night" how many people have been MADE to "love" The Nightmare? Just how dark is this Nightmare? I have just been sandbagged by Fridge Horror.

      Also now that I read it again... I am Totally hearing Char's Theme from the Original Gundam series as the Nightmare goes nuts on our heroes.

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    33. More! I demand more! Love the story, please please please finish it!

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    34. >Expecting the crew of AGX-001 to be ponies.

      >Only mildly disappointed.

      I will admit, this is probably the weirdest thing I've ever read.

      Doesn't mean I don't like it, though.

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    35. I'm a little unclear on the timeline, though. What amount of time elapsed between the vanishings of Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn?

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    36. That's quite an impressive performance for a 3-horsepower engine!

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    37. Just got in on this. Hell yeah, I can't wait to see a continuation.

      Loving the shoutouts tossed in, too, though I'm having trouble seeing how to justify using the AGX-001 codename given what the acronym stands for.

      Whatever, rule of cool.

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    38. To answer some questions:

      Approximately two weeks have passed from the initial invasion of Pluto. Yes, the invasion has happened that quickly.

      In this universe, AGX stands for 'Advanced Gladiator X-Type', representing its advanced technology, humanoid appearance, and its unknown variables.

      Also, I was wondering how long it would take for someone to make a horsepower joke!

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    39. Pretty interesting start.

      The ''Humanity in a losing war, BUT! where ponies will come to help'' concept is promising.

      Also... Hum, Sci Fi story, with no : [Sci Fi] tag ?

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    40. You have my interest, good brony. This looks to be awesome.

      So I'm guessing the mechas need one of each type of pony to work properly?

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    41. "Whilst normal firearms don't exactly work properly in the vacuum of space"

      Forgive me for being anal about this but guns can fire in vacuum since the cartridge is sealed and ready to fire. The main problem is adjusting to the temperature which surprisingly varies a lot in a vacuum.

      And don't even get me on "g-forces" on spacecrafts.

      Other than that i cant wait read some more

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    42. @Anonymous

      My only defense is, uhm, at least it's not the sonic bomb thingies from Attack of the Clones?

      (Okay, so it's space opera physics in places, what can I say.)

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    43. True true, but I can not sit idly when somebody disses boollet, weather unintentionally or not.

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    44. @Elah

      It's coming, there was just something else that I had to finish before I could start Part 2 properly.

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    45. Oh thank god. I read this, was like "Thi...this is really good." then realized there hadn't been an update in forever and was worried it was a deadfic. Hurray its not!

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    46. Damn you and not having part 2 uploaded yet XC

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    47. The wait, shall last, FOREVER!

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    48. "It's just been over two weeks, it's not been that long." he said in protest. :)

      But I'll be working on it this week, as I said, I had to write that other fic first.

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    49. Awwwh, this had such promise.

      Is it completely dead?

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    50. More please, I have been hooked. I was hooked before ponies even showed up.

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    51. Will this ever have a chapter 2? D: D: D: D:

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    52. HORY SHET.

      This is good! Moar, moar!

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    53. ):

      author, y u no update

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    54. This is one of he best premises for a "Nightmare Moon Won" scenario I have ever read. Also Your writing style is fantastically clear and easy to read. This makes me especially happy you are writing a genre other than romance. If you can't continue this please provide at least a story outline so we know where this epic tale would have led us.

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    55. Is this dead? It sounds interesting, but I can't bring myself to read a fic that will never be finished.

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