Line #20 FanFic/TheConversionBureauWorldsWhereItWouldntWork


1	An Anthology series written by [[http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Sora2455 Sora2455]], detailing different scenarios where FanFic/TheConversionBureau goes to another world, only to be humiliated and/or destroyed. The series stars Xlestia, an alternate version of Celestia, based on the popular {{Fanon}} Persona [[RonTheDeathEater Tyrantlestia.]] In each chapter, Xlestia leads Equestia into a quest to convert a different fictional world, only to be foiled by any number of things.
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3	It can be found [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/249920/the-conversion-bureau-worlds-where-it-wouldnt-work here]].
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5	There is also a sequel by another author called [[http://www.fimfiction.net/story/335126/the-conversion-bureau-more-worlds-where-it-wouldnt-work The Conversion Bureau: More Worlds Where It Wouldn't Work]].
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7	In celebration of the fan made sequel and his Website/TVTropes page, the author added one more ''World Suggestions'' chapter.
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9	!! This fic contains the following tropes:
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11	* AffectionateParody: The SeriesFinale is one of WebAnimation/DeathBattle.
12	* AlasPoorVillain:
13	** The outcome of Xlestia's attempt to invade the world of the Website/SCPFoundation puts her in a pitiable light: [[spoiler:the ''entire'' pony race is wiped out, while Xlestia is in indefinite cryogenic stasis as the Foundation studies/experiments on her.]]
14	** A.I. Celestia, who assimilated the ponies from Xlestia's world, can only stand and watch as [[spoiler: Xlestia slings the sun at her]] before deciding to spend her last moments serving humanity after realizing there is no course of action to take.
15	* AntiMagic: [[Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex Touma's Imagine Breaker]] makes him immune to ponyfication and allows him to reverse the process on others. He even broke the barrier!
16	* AntiVillain: Xlestia is genuinely-however misguided-trying to do what she thinks is best. The problem is, she is too consumed by FantasticRacism and her own self-righteous attitude to even consider that she may be in the wrong.
17	* AskAStupidQuestion: When Token Minion (in the Boss Rush chapter) mentions that she was captured by Changelings, Xlestia asks how she escaped. Token just raises an eyebrow at this as Xlestia realizes what's going on.
18	* TheBadGuyWins:
19	** The "Boss Rush" chapter features ''every canon villain'' (at the time of writing) winning against Xlestia. The author then goes on to say that this is based on canon - despite the PhysicalGod nature of Xlestia that is usually ascribed to her, the canon version tends to lose once a season.
20	** The ''Warhammer 40k'' episode has Xlestia ''technically'' win, in that she assimilated every one of twelve billion humans on a hive world. The two flies in that ointment are that the Imperium is so vast that twelve billion humans ''really'' doesn't matter, and the planet (and all the ponies) are eaten by the Hive Fleets a few weeks later anyway.
21	** While Xlestia is dead by the end of the ''Transformers'' segment, the Barrier that's destroying humanity is self-sustaining and doesn't disappear when she dies. Furthermore, she manages to give Optimus Prime a HeroicBSOD by asking whether it's better for humanity to live on in the form of ponies or be wiped out as collateral damage of the Cybertronian Great War.
22	* BigBad: Xlestia, except in the chapters where other villains knock her down a couple notches.
23	* BiggerOnTheInside: [[spoiler:Megatron]] uses a pretender suit of a pegasus to get close to Xlestia in the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' world. Keep in mind that he's a colossal MechanicalLifeform and ponies are around three feet tall.
24	* ButtMonkey: Oddly enough Xlestia, as the whole series is focused on her not only failing miserably in conquest but occasionally getting Equestria destroyed as well.
25	* ContinuityCavalcade: The "Death Battle" is full of these to both the show and ExpandedUniverse.[[note]] Books and Comics[[/note]]
26	* CrossOver: Each chapter is one with a different world.
27	** Although several are with worlds that aren't established fictional worlds, such as worlds where it deconstructs how it would work in the real world, or when Equestria is sent to Neptune.
28	* CurbStompBattle: The story is full of these happening to Xlestia, particularly:
29	** A Terminator pony casually snaps her neck.
30	** [[Series/Batman1966 Adam West Batman]].
31	** In a more tragic example, Equestria was apparently the victim of one against the Website/SCPFoundation.
32	** In the Justice League universe, Xlestia is left hiding under her covers knowing an off screen one is waiting for her as soon as the League’s magic experts take down the barrier. Batman makes sure she knows this.
33	** Equestria vs. the Gas Giant Planet Neptune.
34	** The Mane Six are also on the receiving end of one courtesy of [[Manga/{{Naruto}} Kakashi]], who easily dispatches all of them at once.
35	** The Mane Six and Sonic and friends vs. Eggman's {{Mooks}}. Those poor robots.
36	** In [[Literature/{{Slayers}} The Red World]], Lina and company absolutely level Canterlot.
37	** Xlestia finally gets to be on the other side of this when she goes up against the Wizard of Oz.
38	* {{Deconstruction}}: Done to ''FanFic/TheConversionBureau'' to varying extents.
39	* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: In the first Straightforward Failures chapter, when Xlestia visits [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Canterlot High]], she ponifies Principal Celestia... and the principal turns into an exact copy of her. Xlestia realizes there's no ''point'' in ponifying this world since they'd just have doubles of everyone, and the Equestrians go home.
40	* {{Determinator}}: After ''FanFic/FriendshipIsOptimal'' Celestia makes it clear that Xlestia cannot win, Xlestia's solution is to [[spoiler: fling the sun at her, destroying ''both'' worlds and then looking for a new planet to start over on and just go to Tartarus to retrieve her subjects after she is done.]]
41	%%** Both Canon!Celestia and Tyrantlestia are this in their Death Battle.
42	* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Film/TheTerminator that {{Neck Snap}}s Xlestia.
43	* DidntThinkThisThrough: After defeating Xlestia, Nightmare Moon realizes she doesn't know how to bring eternal night to a ''round'' planet.
44	* DownerEnding: Most of the ones where TheBadGuyWins are this or at least implied to be this.
45	* EliteMook: Discussed [[note]] and Lampshaded how Eggman seems to only use a few of them at any given time [[/note]] while battling Eggman’s copies of the heroes.
46	* EpicFail: The premise of the series is to have Xlestia's goal of wiping out humanity repeatedly fail, often in humorous ways.
47	** There's a chapter where Twilight is tasked with developing the conversion potion by testing various formulas on human TCB supporters, producing various humorous results. The cherry on top? [[spoiler: Twilight, who is unaware that Xlestia is responsible for the whole thing, reveals to Xlestia that she also made a ''cure'' for when the barrier ordeal finally blows over.]]
48	** In ''Warhammer 40K'', the Imperium doesn't even notice the planet Celestia invaded, and Neo-Equestria gets gobbled up by a hive fleet a week later.
49	** There's a chapter where Xlestia accidentally transports Equestria to Neptune. Not the Roman God, also known as Poseidon, but ''the planet.'' Half of Equestria asphyxiates from lack of oxygen before Equestria is crushed by the atmospheric pressure.
50	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Xlestia may be a racist and manipulative jerk, whose idea of "saving" humanity is giving them the choice of death or conversion. However, she's ''furious'' that an [[FanFic/TheConversionBureauTheOtherSideOfTheSpectrum alternate version of herself]] would lead the ponies into an open war with the humans because her alternate's takeover plans are so blatant that it rendered her own, much more subtle takeover plan impossible.
51	** She is also disgusted by the Fall of Equestria universe, where all the female ponies are forced into being {{Sex Slave}}s.
52	** Xlestia abandons her plans once the Enterprise crew informs her that the humans had achieved a Utopian society and went on to become a founding member of The United Federation of Planets. [[note]]They conveniently leave out the WorldWarIII and Vulcan intervention that lead to their perfect world, as well as the conflict with their colonies. "That was neither here nor there."[[/note]]
53	** Played with in the "Death Battle" SeriesFinale, where Tyrantlestia is disgusted with Celestia's use of DarkMagic. But unlike the other examples, Celestia is portrayed as the wiser for having the knowledge to use dark magic ''responsibly'' instead of denouncing its use as evil. [[spoiler: It also shows Tyrantlestia's hypocritical side after ''she'' uses dark magic in a fit of rage, while still acting as if she is still on morally high ground.]]
54	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Xlestia still cares deeply for her subjects.
55	** Best shown after the Edolas Army turns the tables on Equestira by ''converting the ponies'' into magical crystals to use as a power source. Xlestia is beyond pissed and immediately shows that she isn't going down without a fight.
56	-->'''Xlestia:''' GET OUT OF MY CITY, [[ShoutOut YOU]] [[FantasticRacism FILTHY APES]]!
57	* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Xlestia genuinely cannot understand why humans wouldn't want to embrace conversion.
58	* EvilerThanThou:
59	** [[Franchise/TheTerminator Skynet]] quickly identifies Xlestia's technology-destroying barrier as a threat to its existence and sends a Terminator to assassinate her. It's able to quickly snap her neck and go back to where it came from.
60	** [[Franchise/{{Transformers}} Megatron]] takes offense at Xlestia's attempt to take over Earth because he already claimed it. Using [[spoiler: a Space Bridge to bypass the barrier and a Pretender Shell of a pegasus to infiltrate Equestria]], he's able to grab the Alicorn and fire his ArmCannon on her at point-blank range.
61	** [[Fanfic/FriendshipIsOptimal Celest-A.I.]] removes the free will of all the ponies from Equestria and uses the unicorns to take down the barrier, forcing Xlestia to go on the run. [[spoiler:Xlestia is able to turn the tables by hurling the sun toward Earth.]]
62	** [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Eggman]] uses the Chaos Emeralds to power a machine that breaks the barrier, reverse-engineers said barrier so it kills anything organic that tries entering while leaving machines alone, and [[spoiler:Roboticizes Xlestia]].
63	** [[Manga/FairyTail The king of Edolas]] sends an army into Equestria to convert the inhabitants into magic-storing crystals. He also shows up in person wielding the mechanical dragon Dorma Anim, which has armor capable of [[NoSell no-selling]] magic.
64	** The ''BossRush'' chapter has every canon antagonist (at the time of the writing) performing their canon feat of defeating Celestia.
65	* FaceDeathWithDignity: Upon seeing [[spoiler: Xlestia hurling the sun at her,]] in the first Straightforward Failures chapter, A.I. Celestia only briefly tries to search for a solution, before realising it is hopeless and immediately decides to spend her last few moments continuing with her main objective: satisfying the human race.
66	* FantasticRacism: Xlestia, and to a lesser extent the other ponies, believe humanity should be converted because they are a savage and self-destructive race. More than one being calls them out on this view.
67	* FatalFlaw: Mentioned and acted upon in the Death Battle series finales, where the announcers claim Tyrantlestia's only true weaknesses are her own {{Pride}} and the fatal flaw of most villain characters: over confidence.
68	* GenderBender: One of Twilight's tests of the conversion potion initially appears to do what it's supposed to (turn the consumer into a pony), but it is quickly revealed that it also turned the test subject into a girl.
69	* GoshDarnItToHeck: The opening of the ''Fanfic/FriendshipIsOptimal'' segment has Xlestia doing this.
70	* GilliganCut: The story uses these a lot.
71	* GroinAttack: Xlestia's plan for dealing with the Fall of Equestria (a squicktacular S&M DarkFantasy verse) is to issue magic scalpels. They're enchanted to cauterize whatever they cut, and she orders her troops to emasculate any mind-controlled stallions or stags they encounter.
72	* HeelFaceTurn:
73	** Both Xlestia and Twilight are implied to do this after Eggman gives the ponies a taste of their own medicine in the [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Mobius chapter]].
74	** Xlestia also, during one of the World Suggestion chapters, abandons her EvilPlan after the Enterprise crew manages to talk her down.
75	* {{Irony}}: The Franchise/{{Pokemon}} defeating Equestria with ThePowerOfFriendship!
76	* JerkassHasAPoint: Xlestia derides science as "A grown-up version of guess-and-check." Atomic Robo starts to contradict her before admitting that that's basically correct.
77	* LaserGuidedKarma: Xlestia [[spoiler: being Robotisized by Dr. Eggman in “Mobius”]] and [[spoiler: being controlled by the Heartless, before being turned to stone by the Elements of Harmony.]]
78	%%* ManChild: Xlestia has her moments.
79	* TheManBehindTheMan: In the "If I wrote Conversion Bureau" chapter, the President suspects that some force (or intelligent being) of Equestria's native world deliberately engineered the world so friendship was beneficial, but also a survival trait (once Windigoes start showing up on Earth).
80	* MauveShirt: Token Minion appears throughout the story.
81	** [[spoiler: This status is subverted in the {{Franchise/Transformers}} chapter, where she is replaced by a Decepticon infiltrator. This leads to a big OhCrap moment.]] It's also subverted when she's replaced by Chrysalis.
82	* MeaninglessVillainVictory: PlayedForLaughs in Nightmare Moon's segment of "Boss Rush".
83	-->'''Nightmare Moon:''' How am I going to create eternal night on a ''round'' world!?
84	* MeetYourEarlyInstallmentWeirdness: [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/249920/5/the-conversion-bureau-worlds-where-it-wouldnt-work/straightforward-failures One]] particular Straightforward Failure sees Xlestia crossing paths with the Celestia from the ''[[FanFic/TheConversionBureau original]]'' fanfic. That Celestia is practically ''shocked'' when Xlestia brings up mass conversion and genocide, and is offended that Xlestia wants to use the Barrier to destroy all resistance. In the original story, Celestia ''was'' benevolent, ''had'' come to Earth on accident, and the Barrier was something that she had no control over. In fact, Celestia refuses an offer of a spell to transport Equestria back home in order to ''defend'' the world she's stuck on from Xlestia!
85	* MoodWhiplash: Most of the first Straightforward Failure chapter is hilarious, until you get to the finale section. [[note]] WordOfGod has admitted that it was somewhat out of spite for that particular AU.[[/note]]
86	* NegativeContinuity: Events in one chapter have no effect on the others.
87	* ObliviouslyEvil: Twilight and the other Elements are unaware of Xlestia's FaceHeelTurn and serve her plans out loyalty.
88	** Taken to its logical conclusion once Twilight is instructed to distribute the Potion... so naturally, she starts testing it until she finds a way to remove all the negative aspects of the Potion, as well as come up with an antidote and a Human Potion (to Celestia's dismay).
89	* ObliviousTransformation: One attempt at making the conversion potion subjects the test subject to a GenderBender in addition to turning them into a pony. Said test subject doesn't realize what's happened to them and thinks their new pony body is only making them ''sound'' like a girl.
90	* OddFriendship: In the Sonic chapter, Knuckles and Applejack manage to bond over their complaints over their respective friends not understanding that their job requires a lot of effort, and that there's no one else who can do it, so no, they don't have a lot of time to go and have parties or save the world, dang it!
91	* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome:
92	** Kakashi defeating the Main Six is never shown, just them lying beaten on the ground.
93	** A couple of couple of Equestria's defeats are never shown, but implied to be ''very'' one sided.
94	* OhCrap:
95	** Everyone has this when Discord meets Q.
96	** The Sonic universe gives Xlestia one since the existence of multiple sentient races means that her propaganda won't work.
97	** Xlestia gets one when she realizes that Atomic Robo managed to distort the barrier about a millimeter. As he says, it did ''almost'' nothing, but it did ''something'', and understanding how it did that makes breaking the barrier go from "Impossible," to "Insanely Difficult," and with enough time, maybe even "Hard."
98	* OhNoNotAgain: The reaction that the United Nations has when Xlestia gives her speech about the danger of the barrier. Xlestia is confused when, instead of panicking and begging for a way to be spared the fate, they all start grumbling about having to go to, once again, [[ComicBook/AtomicRobo the mad scientists of Tesladyne to save the world with science.]]
99	* OtherMeAnnoysMe: A Twofer when she shows up in the ''FanFic/TheConversionBureauTheOtherSideOfTheSpectrum'' universe. For one, Xlestia is infuriated that the evil Equestria from that series basically ruined all her plans to infiltrate subtly by launching an all-out invasion. Further, the ''good'' Equestria from that setting would certainly try to stop her as well. But the second main example is the ''confusion.'' There are ''four'' Twilight Sparkles trying to explain the history of the world, and Xlestia is just annoyed at her other selves for putting her in a situation so complex it gives her a migraine to understand.
100	%%* PhysicalGod: Xlestia.
101	* ThePowerOfFriendship: ''Equestia'' gets hit with this, by the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' universe.
102	** This gets turned on Xlestia two more times, in both the ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' and ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' 'verses, [[spoiler: after being robotisized and brainwashed by Eggman in the former and turned into a Heartless in the later]], ''by the Elements of Harmony'' no less.
103	** This is what ultimately does [[spoiler: Tyrantlestia in during her death battle with Canon!Celestia. As Celestia herself put it, she put too much emphasis on the harmony part, while forgetting the '''true power''' of the elements.]]
104	* RealityWarper:
105	** Discord, natch. In one scene he drinks the only prototype of the Potion and the plant ''next'' to him turns into a pegasus.
106	** Haruhi manages to convert Equestria into a peaceful island nation of humans who have a penchant for horse breeding - because [[InsaneTrollLogic she believes]] that [[ItMakesSenseInContext Santa exists but not unicorns.]]
107	* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech:
108	** Aslan gives one to Xlestia, after she makes the mistake of invading Narnia, by throwing her hypocritical philosophy in her face.
109	-->'''Aslan:''' ...only one with no faults of their own is truly capable of cleansing another of their sins.
110	** A.I. Celestia also gives her one, through Luna. It doesn't work out so well for her.
111	** In the WebAnimation/DeathBattle finale of the story, Celestia is receiving a brutal NoHoldsBarredBeatdown from her Tyrantlestia counterpart, who declares that she is an unworthy weakling who is unfit to rule or wield the power of the Elements of Harmony. Celestia's response?
112	-->'''Celestia:''' That very thought proves ''you'' are not worthy of their power. ([[HeroicSecondWind cue Celestia reminding Tyrantlestia of said true power]])
113	** Saitama of ''Webcomic/OnePunchMan'' gives her one as well, after she claims to be humanity's "savior":
114	-->'''Saitama:''' So what do you do?\
115	'''Xlestia:''' What do I ''do''?
116	-->'''Saitama:''' You know. To save people.
117	-->'''Xlestia:''' ''(arches her eyebrow)'' I turn them into ponies.
118	-->'''Saitama:''' Eh? How does that help?
119	-->'''Xlestia:''' It means they can forget their old life, and start a new one, a better one, in the magical land of Equestria. ''(places a hoof on her chest and closes her eyes, looking utterly sincere)''
120	-->'''Saitama:''' But... doesn't that make you a ''terrible'' hero?
121	-->'''Xlestia:''' ''(her mane bursts into flames, before she regains her composure and puts on a forced smile)'' Why do you think that?
122	-->'''Saitama:''' Being a hero means dealing with the problems at hand. But deleting their save file and forcing them to play again from the start? That's giving up on saving them before you've even started!
123	-->'''Xlestia:''' ''(loses her composure and bursts in flames)'' You ''dare''--
124	-->'''Saitama:''' [[PunchClockHero I only do this as a hobby.]] But even I know better than that. You sure you're ready for the big time?
125	* ShutUpHannibal:
126	** [[spoiler: Aslan]] gives her a ''devastating'' one, after she tries to justify her attempts to convert humanity.
127	** When [[spoiler: Robotizised Xlestia]] tries to convince the remaining heroes that Robotizisation isn't so bad, Sonic has this to say:
128	--> '''Sonic:''' Yeah, it might not be so bad. The original robotizer was a medical machine, wasn't it? But, there's just one little problem... The day I take orders from Eggman is the day I hang up my running shoes forever!
129	* ShoutOut:
130	** [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} Aperture Science]] is apparently one of [[VideoGame/TeamFortress2 Mann Co's]] main competitors, as the Spy quotes Cave Johnson's "throwing Science at the wall" line from ''VideoGame/Portal2''.
131	** In "What I actually think would happen", someone shows the ponies ''Film/Ghostbusters1984''. This leads to a scene where the Mane Six use magical traps and proton packs to capture Windigos.
132	---> "Pinkie, no! ''Don't cross the streams!''"
133	* SpannerInTheWorks: The inhabitants of whatever world Xlestia is trying to invade, in various ways.
134	* TakeThat:
135	** One of the worlds Xlestia ends up on is the ''Fanfic/FallOfEquestria'' world. Upon seeing it, she orders her followers to take every male in that world and [[GroinAttack "convert" them into mares.]]
136	** The Boss Rush stage points out that despite what fanon might claim about Tyrantlestia, canon Celestia loses pretty badly about once a season. Nightmare Moon, Chrysalis, Discord, and Tirek all handed her her flank in canon, and pull a repeat.
137	* TakingYouWithMe: After [[FanFic/FriendshipIsOptimal A.I. Celestia]] gives her a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech through brainwashed!Luna and realizes there is no way of beating them, Xlestia responds by hurling the ''sun'' at the planet and killing everyone. [[spoiler: Subverted, as Xlestia survives and plans on rebuilding Equestia, once she has found a suitable new home.]]
138	* TalkingTheMonsterToDeath: [[Literature/HarryPotter Dumbledore]] manages to simply talk Xlestia out of the whole thing. [[spoiler:The luck potion he took helped.]]
139	* TemptingFate: In the Sonic chapter, Applejack mocks the Fluttershy-bot by asking if it's going to try to Stare her down. [[EyeBeams Fluttershy-bot decides]] to comply. Via [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]].
140	* ThereCanBeOnlyOne: A comedic example in ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Equestia Girls]]'' universe, when Xlestia decides to leave after realizing they would just get double of everypony.
141	* UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny: The finale chapter is a Death Battle between the canon Celestia and Tyrantlestia. [[spoiler: A decently written character beats a poorly written Sue.]]
142	* VillainCred: Megatron is impressed that Xlestia managed to ask Optimus Prime an ArmorPiercingQuestion that upset him enough to just leave, though it doesn't stop him from killing her because he already called dibs on taking over Earth.
143	--> "Magnificent performance you gave there. I was truly impressed. Not many can put one over on Prime."
144	* VillainProtagonist: Xlestia, as a large amount of the story is from her POV.
145	* VillainousValor: Xlestia puts up a truly admirable fight, after [[{{Mirror Universe}} the]] [[Manga/FairyTail Edolas]] army invades Canterlot. Everywhere she went, the enemy had to fall back and her troops were rallied to fight on. [[spoiler: Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.]]
146	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Xlestia is still loved throughout Equestria due to the inhabitants not being fully aware of her plans.
147	** In worlds where she shows up with other TCB universes already in progress, she shows disdain at the Celestias who throw this away right off the bat. Her plan is to infiltrate and slowly take over until it's too late to do anything, using this trope to her advantage, to throw such an advantage away is silly in her eyes.
148	* WellIntentionedExtremist: Xlestia's mostly just misguided and only doing what she perceives as helping save humanity from itself.
149	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Where did Spike go? It is sadly common for many Fan Fics to [[ButtMonkey ignore him]], but this is especially weird, because he had not only appeared, but was ''fighting'' alongside the Mane Six in one chapter, before disappearing from the story.
150	** He briefly reappeared in the Literature/{{Slayers}} chapter

Context FanFic / TheConversionBureauWorldsWhereItWouldntWork