The Thessalonica Legacy



A My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic/BattleTech crossover fanfic by Dashukta (complete; 18 chapters long plus notes). Can be found at the following links:
 * Equestria Daily (links to Google Docs)
 * Fanfiction.net
 * PDF format

In the 31st Century, humankind has spread to thousands of planets in the Inner Sphere. Once united under the glorious banner of the Star League, the Successor States and their noble houses now fight bitter wars over the scraps of empire. When a JumpShip carrying a special task force from the Federated Suns suffers a catastrophic misjump, the occupants find themselves stranded above a strange, beautiful world at once alien and eerily familiar.

Meanwhile, in the peaceful realm of Equestria, Ponyville’s resident bookworm, Twilight Sparkle, has stumbled upon hints of a secret buried for centuries. A secret that may lay bare long-forgotten aspects of Pony history and culture.

Our story begins on the planet Valexa, where the beleaguered Militia has launched a last-ditch effort to call for help against overwhelming odds.

Compare and contrast Falling Stars.

"Fluttershy: Oh! Oh dear. Um… I'd say that still works the same way."
 * Another Dimension:
 * Backseat Driver:
 * Chase Scene: The climax of the story.
 * Covers Always Lie: No Vulture/Mad Dog OmniMechs appear in the story, and even the Clans in general are only mentioned once in passing.
 * Cruel Mercy:
 * The Cutie: Fluttershy has the same effect on the human characters that she tends to have on bronies.
 * Damsel in Distress:
 * Dirty Business: How the human protagonists regard war; they only fight to protect those who can't defend themselves, not out of blood-thirst. This actually helps placate the peaceful ponies who were a little freaked out by the idea of such large-scale violence.
 * Drop Ship: Duh, it's BattleTech. Of course there is one.
 * ET Gave Us Wi-Fi:
 * Hot Scientist / Hospital Hottie: Dr. Langley, chief medical officer of the Silvertongue.
 * Humans Are Flawed: This is essentially Celestia's view of humanity as a whole, based on  However, she does acknowledge that individual humans can run the full spectrum of good and evil. The flipside of this trope is also mentioned: the ponies may be peaceful, but that very peace also led to technological stagnation.
 * I Call It Vera: Ramirez notes that this is a fairly common practice among MechWarriors, but he hasn't found a good name for his 'Mech yet. Pinkie Pie offers "Big Stompy", "Thunderfeet", and "Brown-eyed Susan". In the end, Ramirez ends up naming it
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Well, maybe not quite gold... Lt. Dieter Ling has a few dickish moments early on, but turns out to be decent by the end.
 * Magic From Technology: Postulated as a possible explanation by the humans when faced with magic.
 * Mama Bear: Celestia towards all ponies. She was not amused when, and makes it very clear to the human protagonists that violence and exploitation are not welcome in Equestria. She also makes it very clear that she wants them out of Equestria as soon as possible.
 * The Mole:
 * Normal Fish in a Tiny Pond: Ramirez's Valkyrie is a Light 'Mech, bottom of the totem pole, and not even the best of that bottom-dweller pack. Without any other 'Mechs to compete with, though, much less heavier ones, it appears a lot more capable.
 * Pimped Out 'Mech: Ramirez claims to have pimped out his Valkyrie with a mini-fridge. He's joking, of course.
 * Porn Stash: Pinkie Pie finds one under a mattress within minutes of being brought aboard the Drop Ship. Fluttershy notes, with much embarrassment, that the reproductive biology is similar.
 * Pimped Out 'Mech: Ramirez claims to have pimped out his Valkyrie with a mini-fridge. He's joking, of course.
 * Porn Stash: Pinkie Pie finds one under a mattress within minutes of being brought aboard the Drop Ship. Fluttershy notes, with much embarrassment, that the reproductive biology is similar.


 * Reasonable Authority Figure: Captain Edgar Tartaglia and Princess Celestia.
 * Sacrificial Lamb: Din Geremek. His Osiris takes an autocannon round to the cockpit at the end of the first chapter.
 * Shoot the Dog: Literally.
 * Shout-Out:
 * In Chapter 2, while discussing what aliens could possibly look like, Spike and Rainbow Dash describe a Xenomorph and a Wookie, respectively.
 * Snark-to-Snark Combat: Ramirez and Liz, frequently.
 * Straw Atheist:
 * Take Me to Your Leader / I Come in Peace: Said by Ramirez upon first contact. Liz Virat calls him out on using the oldest clichés ever.
 * Translator Microbes: Twilight quickly overcomes the linguistic barrier with a spell once she meets the humans (but not before an adorable scene of Fluttershy and Liz Virat trying to communicate without such assistance).
 * Unstoppable Rage:
 * You Monster!: Twilight to