Chapter 18: Stallion of Steel - Act 2
All at once, a group of computer monitors lit up, bringing light to the dark hole they were set up in. A familiar unicorn examined one screen, showing a pegasus in a red and blue suit. She noticed the 'S' symbol emblazoned on him. "Finally... you're mine." She got off her chair and walked to a large platform connected to her work station. "Computer! Ready the portal! Destination: Canterlot."
Mild Mannered hovered above the city of Canterlot, keeping his ears open for all the gossip being spread about his arrival.
"Did you see that?!"
"He lifted it like it was nothing!'
"Where did he come from? How did he get into Canterlot?"
"What does he want from us?"
"Mommy... I'm scared."
Mild sighed. "What did I do wrong?" His hearing picked up again as he heard a great whooshing sound coming towards him. He turned his head just in time for the collision, knocking him back several meters. After re-aligning himself (as best as he could, considering he was in the air), he saw what crashed into him; a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane, wearing a blue suit that covered her torso. The cutie mark was a 'W' made up of feathers. "Excuse me...? Miss?"
The rainbow pegasus gathered her wits, examining the stallion before her. "What the buck?! You made of steel or something?"
"Not exactly. Are you OK?" He tried to lay a hoof on her, only to be smacked away. She wasn't as strong as he was, but she had some serious muscle on her. "Who are you?"
Rainbow examined the suit Mild was wearing. When she noticed the 'S' on his suit, her eyes windned. Suddenly, she flew off to the distance, only to come back at ramming speed, plowing into Mild with both hooves. She flew up in to the sky and came back down, slamming Mild on the head. As he plummeted to the streets of Canterlot, the pegasus shook her hooves. She may as well have been punching the same steel as the doors that blocked off Canterlot. "None of your business... freak."
CRASH! Mild landed straight onto the air condition unit on the roof of the Canterlot palace. He was in a daze from that last hit. It's not like he had ever met somepony who could hit him back before. "Did anypony catch the number of that train? It had wings..."
BOOM! A bright light appeared before the pegasus, blinding him for a quick second. When the light faded away, he found a white unicorn, draped in a dark cloak. It didn't take X-ray vision to know she was wearing something leather underneath that cloak. He stood over Mild before offering a hoof. "Pon-E. At last we meet." Mild took her hoof as he got up.
"Thank you, ma'am... that's an interesting outfit you have there."
"It's more practical then you think." She took a step back and sized up the Cloudtopian, smiling the whole time. "You have no idea how long I've waited for you-"
"Twenty-three years?"
...
"How did you-"
"That's how long I've been in Equestria... and it's also how old I am. I assume you know where I'm from since you called me Pon-E." Mild, in return, sized up the unicorn. Maybe it was his good old-fashioned, wholesome upbringing, but her leather suit wasn't sitting well with him. "Are you from Cloudtopia too?"
"I wish," she responded with a chuckle. She started to circle the red and blue stallion, looking into his eyes with what looked like crazy lust. "You... look even stronger then I imagined. And you were that suit with such pride! I can see it!"
Mild started to back up. "Ma'am... I usually ask mares out before this part happens. Perhaps we could sit down and have a grass sandwich sometime?" he said with a nervous smile.
"But you don't have to eat, now do you?" she cooed. She approached him with a 'come hither' smile. "You're above that. You're above all of this. That's what makes you great!"
Mild finally backed up to the edge of the roof. "Actually, I'm not. Who doesn't enjoy a hardy meal? Especially breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day... at least that's what my mother always said."
The unicorn seemed confused. "They... really did a number on you, didn't they? I was afraid this would happen." Mild wasn't used to fighting, but he had a feeling that this wasn't going to end well. "You are going to be a great stallion. And I'm going to help you. We're going to make this world a better place."
"I think we should leave that up to the Princess... I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."
The unicorn's eyes wondered off as she searched for an answer. "I... haven't thought of one yet."
Mild now knew he was dealing with a nutcase. "I'm certain your mother came up with a nice one."
The leather clad unicorn burst into laughter. "That name is no longer important. I was looking for a replacement, but I suppose I was sidetracked in my search and forgot." She tried to touch Mild, but he gently moved her hoof away. "I'd like to take you home..."
And with that, Mild took to the air, hovering over her head. "Wow, look at the time! I'm very sorry ma'am, but I have other engagements today. Celestia guide you!" Mild flew into an alley on the other side of town. He was traveling so fast that nopony even noticed him.
"You won't escape again." A small squad of guards flew onto the roof that the unicorn was standing on, readying their weapons. The white mare did not look back.
"Hault! You are trespassing on Royal Canterlot soil! Identify yourself!"
...
"I really should have thought of a name by now..." mused the unicorn.
"Look at us when we talk to you peasant!" shouted the guard. "Who are you?!" The mare looked back with a bone chilling smile, causing the guards to shake in their boots.
"I am many things. I am the future... I am perfection..." She started to advance towards the soldiers. "I am what is needed to give this world a fresh start."
"W-what?"
"I am mayhem!" The unicorn reached under the cloak, pulled out a dark whip, and lashed it at the guards.
Now dressed in his civilian gear, Mild stumbled into the bull pin. "I'm sorry, everypony. I was had milkshake that disagreed with me and... hello?" There was nopony left. Computers and T.V's were left on, papers were scattered everywhere and the office parrot was left unfed.
"Here!" Mild turned to have a can bird food bounce off his head and hit the ground. "Do me a favor and feed the little guy. He gets loud when nopony feeds him." Call Waiting power-walked past Mild, carrying poorly organized documents in her hooves.
"Sure thing, miss Waiting."
"It's just Call."
Mild poured the food into the parrots bowl, patting him a little before turning away. "So... where is everypony?"
"That red and blue dude. They saw him on the T.V. and the next thing I know, everypony is running out screaming. Some of the pegasi were flying out the windows." She started going to random ponies computers and started typing away, bouncing back and forth around the room. "So now it's up to me to save the day. I've got to do everypony's work for them until they come back from where ever they're hiding."
"But you still stayed. You must be very brave," Mild said with a smile.
"Actually... I was kind of asleep when it happened. I just woke up when the reporters started flying through the glass," she said with a blush.
"Well... it's brave of you to take on their work, for them... or would that be 'considerate'?"
Call dropped everything she was doing and stared at Mild. "Are you for real?!"
"W-W-W-What do you mean, Miss Waiting?" he stuttered.
"You come from out of nowhere-"
"Honest Farms, outside of Ponyville, actually."
"And you just trot in here, talking like the straight man from an Abbot and Costello routine. And to top it all off: you smile."
"I'm... sorry?"
Call walked straight up Mild, looking deep into his eyes. "Nopony in Canterlot ever smiles. They're not friendly. They're not nice. You're just so... different."
Mild adjusted his glasses. "Well... different isn't so bad. Right?"
She eased up on him. "I didn't say bad. I said different."
"Well, that's awfully nice of you to say."
"Please, stop. You'll give me diabetes if you keep yapping like that." The two shared a small laugh.
"To be fair, you're fairly different too. You don't seem quite as... occupied or scared as the other ponies in Canterlot."
Call looked away with a blush. "Thanks... Oh, I just remembered! Angry Chief wants to see you."
"He didn't run off?"
"Are you kidding me?" she scoffed. "A Super-Stallion shows up out of nowhere and you expect the editor of the Daily Daylight to just run away?"
"Super-Stallion?"
"He got really angry when everypony left."
...
"He can be angrier then he was this morning?" Mild started shaking.
"Trust me, he was in a jolly mood this morning."
"If he's so angry, why can't we hear him from his office?"
"There was a nasty lawsuit last year. His screaming shattered a ponies glasses and temporarily blinded them." Mild winced. "So we had some unicorns come in and magically sound proof his office."
"That seems... wise." He took a deep breath and straightened his tie, advancing to the door of Chief's office. "Well then, this looks like a job for-"
CRASH! A full glass of coffee was mere inches from Mild's face, colliding with the wall behind him. "Somepony else."
"MANNERED! GET IN HERE!" With great reluctance, Mild closed the door behind him, taking a seat at the end of Chief's desk. "GOOD TO KNOW THERE'S AT LEAST ONE PONY IN THIS CITY WHO KNOWS A STORY WHEN THEY SEE IT!" Thank goodness Mild had learned to turn off his super-hearing. "FORGET THE MUSUEM! I WANT A WHOLE NEWSPAPER'S WORTH OF SUPER-STALLION GOODNESS!"
"Super-Stallion, sir?"
"DIDN'T YOU SEE THE NEWS FOOTAGE?! HE HAS A GIANT 'S' FOR A CUTIE MARK!"
It's my family crest, thought the pegasus. "I think 'Super-Stallion' might just be pushing it a bit, sir. He was just doing the right thing."
...
"ARE YOU BLIND, MANNERED?! HE FLEW IN FASTER THEN A SPEEDING BULLET AND CAUGHT A STONE PILLAR IN HIS HOOVES! IF THAT ISN'T THE DEFINITION OF SUPER, I'M GETTING A NEW DICTIONARY!"
"Well sir, if you want a story about Super-Stallion, maybe we could hit the streets together. Keep an eye out together."
"ARE YOU COMING ONTO ME, MANNERED?!"
Mild just looked confused. "Sir... I just meant-"
"I HAVE TO STAY HERE! IF I'M NOT HERE, WHO'S GOING TO YELL AT ALL THE PONIES WHO WENT A-WALL TODAY?!"
"You raise an interesting point sir." Mild hopped off his seat and saluted his boss. "I won't let you down. Mild Mannered is on the case!"
"WHY ARE YOU SALUTING ME?! YOU WANT A MEDAL?! OUT! OUT!"
Mild dashed out of the office, almost resorting to his super-speed. Call chuckled as he saw the pegasus stumble out. "I suppose you're in charge of Super-Stallion?"
"He's not Super-Stallion," he replied bluntly. "He's just like everypony else."
"Really? Because..." Call jestured to a T.V. that had the footage of him saving the little filly on repeat. "That certainly looks super to me." She took a seat at her desk. "I suppose you're wondering where your girlfriend is."
...
"I beg your pardon?"
"Meekly. Don't you want to know where she is?"
Mild broke out into sweating. "She- I mean- W-W-W-Well - We're co-"
"Shut up. Seriously." Call started chuckling. "She volunteered to take your museum gig. You'll find her there."
Mild's face turned a bright red. "We're- we're not dating."
"You should," she gave him a little smile. "I saw you two earlier today... and it was like chocolate and peanut butter... if it made you want to cut your ears off and gouge your eyes out while you toss your lunch."
"Well, that's... creative."
"I can tell you're kind of shy... a lot shy. So just relax and be your usual... disgustingly charming self."
"I'll keep that in mind." Mild flew out one of the open windows. "Nice talking to you." Once again, Call was left alone in the bull pin.
"There goes the nicest weirdo I've ever met."
Mild touched down outside the museum. The steps leading up to the entrance was completely abandoned. He entered to find the museum was deserted as well. Using his super-hearing, he picked up the sound of a single pony totting deep in the 'unexplained mysteries' exhibit. Entering the exhibit, he found Meekly examining carvings of an alien ship. "H- Hello Meekly."
Meekly smiled and blushed a little at Mild. "Hello Mild. I didn't expect to see you here. In fact, I didn't expect to see anypony here."
"Well, with the arrival of this red and blue pegasus, I can imagine that the regular visitors would be home."
"Ha!" Mild was shocked by her scoff. "You really are new here. Nopony comes to museums unless it's for some charity ball or something."
"Actually... that reminds me of something. When I arrived, there were guards protecting the entrance. There were all of these poor ponies that weren't aloud in."
Meekly's cute smile disappeared. "You know how Princess Celstia rules over Equestria?"
"Yes."
"Apparently Canterlot isn't included in Equestria. This town belongs to all the rich and corrupt ponies in high society. They sealed off the city from ponies who weren't rich enough to pump money into making the city better. The only way to get through those gates is for you to have a job here. Thankfully you had one."
"Thankfully?" Mild and Meekly shared a cute giggle.
"Well, yeah. It's nice to know there's at least one nice stallion in this city."
"Oh, I'm sure there's-"
"Mild. You're too nice to this city. Everypony here has lost all incentive to be nice and helpful. They think that money makes a city great. It's not. It's the ponies."
Mannered gave her a warm smile. "That's very wise. I'm glad I have a friend here."
"Me too."
...
"So..." said Meekly. "How's your stay in Canterlot going? You haven't even been here a day and this city has already gone insane."
"I suppose that's one way to put it."
"So, how has it been?" she asked, looking directly at him.
"I- it's alright," he mumbled quickly. "What do you think of the new guy?"
"You mean... you?"
"No," he chuckled. "I mean this... this..."
"Super-Stallion?" she said, drawing out the 'super'.
"Yeah... him."
"I don't want to say," she returned.
"Why?"
"I don't like to judge ponies before I meet them. Don't you think it was really mean for everypony to just run and fly away when a hero comes into town?"
Mild nervously adjusted his tie. "I don't know about 'hero'-"
"Yes. Hero. He saved a little girl and everypony ran. I'd like to get to know him better first."
"Oh, yeah... sure."
...
"So, how's your time in Canterlot been?" she repeated. Mild tried not to let his suspicion show.
"Oh, well, everypony is very... busy. Very productive I imagine. They're quite energetic, considering how fast they run. Also they're-"
Meekly giggled and rolled her eyes. It's like every time she made a noise, Mild's heart raced. "You're too kind to them. I like that. I like you."
Mild struggled to maintain eye contact. "So... you're covering the new exhibit, huh?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, that. That should be starting in a few minutes. I came earlier just so I could enjoy the exhibit. I've always been fascinated by the unexplained." She pointed towards a painting of strange symbols. "This was picked up by several computers about 23 years ago. They've never been able to translate it."
Mild examined the symbols... they were Cloudtopian. He noticed his symbol appear more than once. "That's definitely strange," he said as he looked away.
"Very strange." She grabbed his chiseled jaw and turned his head towards the symbols again. "Especially when you consider that particular symbol looks a lot like the one that Super-Stallion has on his suit."
Mild started to sweat. "Yep... that's definitely..." The two stared at each other for a moment, Meekly having the corners of her lips turned up.
...
"Look at the time! We're gonna be late for the unveiling!" She happily skipped down the hallway. Mild giving her the biggest 'WTF' look he had ever given anypony.
Before a large group of fold out chairs, a podium with a microphone was set up. Since there was no other pony in the museum, Mild and Meekly were the only ponies in there at the time. Hangingover the podium, was a banner that read 'Unexplained Mysteries: Grand Unvieling!' Out from the back, the mayor of Canterlot walked up to the stand. "Good evening mares and... da' hay is this?" A rhetorical question of course. He didn't expect the only two idiots in the audience to answer that.
"We're reporters from the Daily Daylight, Mr Mayor!"
But then again, they were idiots. "I knew I shouldn't have bothered coming outside! With that monster running... or flying the streets, I'm surprised Canterlot has anypony left."
Meekly glared and jumped off her seat. "Well, maybe if you would do your job and greet the new guy, ponies wouldn't be so frightened of him!"
"Ms Meekly... this isn't the first time you mouthed off to me."
Mild stumbled off his seat and crashed into Meekly, sending them tumbling to the ground. "Oh goodness, sorry Meekly!"
"What are you doing?" she whispered to him.
Mild got onto his feet, adjust his glasses. "M-Mr Mayor, I'm quite sure that this 'Super-Stallion' as ponies are calling him is quite approachable and is more then prepared to answer any questions the ponies may have." The mayor just stood there in confusion. "I'm M-Mild Mannered and I- w-w-would be more then ha-"
"Oh, just shut up."
"I'm... sorry, sir?"
"Let me guess; just like Meekly, you got a job. That's the only reason you're in this city. Am I right?"
"Absolutely!" said Mild with a huge smile. Meekly face-hooved.
"Well, Mannered, let me give you a welcoming piece of advice. Stay where you belong; at the bottom of society. You were lucky to get in here. If you or your girlfriend ever think about printing, speaking or even thinking something negative about my office or this city, I will personally tear down the Daily Daylight, brick by brick, then throw the two of you back into the gutter you crawled out of.
"Well, that's not very welcoming at all."
...
"Are you for real?!"
"I beg your pardon, sir?"
"Just get out of my face. And if you run into Super-Stallion, do me a favor and give him this message: Nopony wants him here.
Meekly and Mild reached the bottom of the museum steps. "Well, Meekly, I've had a great time, but I'm afraid I have to see my ear doctor. I've been having this-"
"Whatever you say, Super-Stallion!" Mild stopped dead in his track like somepony hit the pause button. He slowly turned to see her giving him a sly smirk.
"W-W-What do you mean, Meekly?"
"Well, where do I start? You just so happen to show up the day the Super-Stallion does. Just when the pillar started to fall, you ran away from. You and Super-Stallion have the same coat, mane and eye color. Shall I go on?"
"I-"
"Oh yeah, and you missed on of the buttons in the middle of your shirt." Mild looked down see loose button, revealing a piece of the red component of suit. He hastily closed it. "I'm shy sometimes, but I'm not stupid."
Mild looked around with a cold sweat. "I- I never said you were."
"Mild..." she laid a hoof on his face. "I can tell you're a good guy. I'd like to get to know you better. Your secret's safe with me. I promise."
Mild knew a lie when he saw one. That wasn't one of them. "I'd like to get to know you better too... but I have other commitments tonight."
"Cats stuck in trees?" she teased.
"Not exactly, but if you see one of those let me know." Mild dashed into the rotating door of a nearby dress store, coming back on in his super suit. He hovered over her, looking down on her with a smile. "Thank you for being a good friend."
"See you tomorrow." The two ponies waved as he flew up, passing the windows of the high rises around him.
Mild examined the apartment buildings around him, noticing several ponies slamming their windows and balcony doors shut. Eventually, Mild found a familiar figure watching him out an open window. It was the little girl he saved this morning. She looked upset just seeing him.
"Are you going to hurt me?"
Mild started to get choked up. "Never." He hung his head as he flew off into the distance, Canterlot guards with their weapons ready to go if he turned around. He looked back on Canterlot. Based on all the magazines and internet pictures he had seen when he was a colt, Canterlot was known as a city that never turned its lights out. But now, every single light was dark, afraid that this red and blue monster would come back to conquer them. The stallion shed a single tear. "I'm sorry I scared you."
With the moonlight beaming down on him, Mild arrived at his cloud fortress, flying through an open window. As he touched down, his costume retracted to its more compact form. Unbeknownst to him, a rainbow colored pegasus stealthily followed him in.
Mild entered the central room, activating the computer console inside. The mysterious mare peeked her head in. "Pon-E log: 2243. I did what Kon-E wanted me to do. I put on the suit and I revealed myself, saving a little filly... it didn't go as planned. The ponies ran. They're afraid of me." He slumped into his chair. "I can understand their concern, but it hurts to see ponies you want to do good by, hate you. The citizens are selfish, greedy and just plain rude at times." The mare wasn't quite sure how to feel about what she was eavesdropping on. "I know my Dad wanted me to make this world a better place... but how can I when they won't give me a chance?"
The rainbow mare took off as quietly as she could, examining the halls of the cloud fortress. She couldn't help by be in awe as the size of the place. She traveled down one corridor, finding a pulsating 'S' on the wall at the far end. After examining it briefly, she pressed it, generating a hologram behind her. Instead of Kon-E, this hologram was one of a mare pegasus, with a white coat and pink mane. "Pon-E... sweet heart, I hope this finds you well."
Pon-E must be this Super-Stallion guy, thought the pegasus mare.
"Your father told me there was just enough time for me to record one last message for you. He's actually laying you down in the ship right now."
Ship? Is this guy an alien?
"I wanted to let you know that I'll always be with you. I'll always be proud of you... I know your father has told you why your in Equestria, but there's something I want to talk to you about."
Yep, definitely an alien.
"I want you to know to find a mare that will love you for who you are. Love every kind of pony you want to be. Every kind of pony you need to be. Call it me just being a protective mother, but you know what? I'm your mother, I get to protective of my baby." She started to cry. "I love you darling... I love so mu-"
The recording suddenly cut off. "Call me old fashioned..." The mare shot around to find Mild, in his full outfit, standing right behind her. "But guest should always knock before they come in."
She dashed a step back. "What are you gonna do? Fight me?"
"I don't hit mares. I will ask you a few question, however."
"And what makes you think I'll answer?"
...
"Good question. How about we just sit down and talk?"
"Why?"
"Well... it would be more preferable to our last encounter, wouldn't you say?"
The mare casually strutted past Mild and into what looked like a lounge with a fire place in the center of a circular couch. "Yeah, you getting your flank whooped twice too much for your ego." She laid down over the cushions. "But sometime tells me your ego is pretty untouchable. Am I right?"
Mild scowled to himself as he poured two mugs of cider. "I like to think my ego is fine the way it is, thank you." He gave her a mug and sat next to her. "Can I have your name?"
"I don't know. Can you?"
...
"It's Sweet Wings, doofus."
"Sweet Wings?... Doofus?"
"Yeah, the names Sweet Wings. What's yours?"
"Super-Stallion apparently," he said rolling his eyes. Why am I going with that stupid name?
She gave him a straight look, wiping the foam from her lip. "Your real name."
"Pon-E, that's my birth name."
"Really funny."
"But... it's true."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Look... I'm kinda sorry about handing your plot on a platter."
"How sweet," he said in a monotone voice.
"And I'm sorry about breaking into your palace thingy."
"Fortress, actually." Even when sipping his cider, he kept a watchful eye on his guest. "So, Sweet Wings, why did you attack me?"
"I already answered a question. It's your turn to answer." He shrugged in return. "That recording... was that your mother or something?"
He took a deep breath, staring into his reflection in the cider. "Yeah. I found that recording after I 'inherited' his place. She seemed like a lovely mare, doesn't she?"
Sweet Wings couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the guy. "What happened to your parents?"
"Planet exploded," he stated bluntly. "I'm the last son of a planet called 'Cloudtopia'. This suit I'm wearing is actually formal wear that changes color based on who wears it by reading their DNA." As Sweet Wings 'examined' the suit, she couldn't help but stare, no that he noticed as he was staring into the fire place. "It's your turn now. Why did you attack me?"
...
"Call it a reflex?"
"It's a reflex to slam pegasi into the ground from hundreds of miles in the air?"
"Old habits die hard," she said before downing the rest of her cider. "My turn. What do you do outside of... this?"
Mild searched for something that wouldn't be a straight up lie. "I'm... a journalist. Reporter kind of deal."
"On T.V?"
...
"I'm on T.V. at the moment, yes."
"Cool. You're turn."
"OK, Sweet Wings... does anypony know where you are?"
The rainbow pegasus rolled her eyes. "Pfft. I'm a grown mare. I don't have to tell anypony where I am. And please don't ask me questions like that. You're not my mother." Mild gave her a very sympathetic smile. "Will you stop doing that? You're gonna give me diabetes."
"Do you have a place to sleep tonight?"
"It's not your turn to ask a question."
"One second." Mild dashed to the other side of his fortress, coming back with blankets and a sleeping gown with his family's logo.
"You can have the main bedroom. I don't use it anyway."
...
"Are you for real?!"
"Why do I keep getting that question?" He tossed over the garments and blankets to her.
"I attack you, sneak into your home and you offer me a place to sleep? What kind of stallion are you?"
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoyed the company." He looked at his feat, kicking the clouds like a nervous school colt. "This fortress has kind of been a solitary one for me. It's nice to have some other pony to chat to. Even if they are kind of rude."
She scoffed. "You're so desperate for a mares company, you'll take it from a complete stranger?"
"Not a complete stranger. I know your name at least," he retorted with smile. "There's plenty of cider over there and if you need me, just shout. Odds are, I'll here it." He started flying to the skylight above them. "You have a nice sleep."
"Wait!" He waited. "Thanks. I appreciated this... but, you do realize how stupid this is, right? You're letting a mare you don't know into your secret base."
"Fortress. Besides, it sounds like you don't have anypony to tell."
Did he just make a joke? thought Sweet Wings.
"That and I don't think you and I are that different. So... yeah, good night." He flew out the skylight and disappeared at super-speed.
"I don't know about that."
The next morning, Mild, wearing his super suit, entered the master bedroom of his fortress. "Morning Sweet Wings! I have to go to work, but- Sweet Wings?" The bed was empty and un-maid. Tossed on the ground were the sleeping garments that had obviously been used. There were several empty cider mugs on the bed side table and there was steam still coming from the bathroom. He found a note lying on the pillow.
Gone flying.
See ya, maybe.
He laid the letter down, put on his civilian gear and flew off to Canterlot. Watching from a distance, was Sweet Wings, hiding behind a cloud.
"I'm sorry about this."
Mild touched down onto the streets of Canterlot. Thankfully he was flying fast enough for the guards at the wall not to notice him sneak into the city. Most of the ponies had returned to their daily business, but everything his super-hearing picked up was about him and how scared they were of him. I need to fix this up as soon as I can, he thought as he entered the Daily Daylight.
The bull pin was no where near as empty as it was the day before. But nopony was running, shouting or throwing anything. They were very quiet and self-kept. How does one stallion show up do this to everypony?
"Mannered! Over here!" shouted Call Waiting.
"Good morning, Call. Things seem... very quiet today. Everything OK?"
She rolled he eyes in exasperation. "Nope. Everypony is scared as hell of this guy. They won't even so much as look up in the sky."
"I'm sure once my exclusive interview with him is read, they'll change their mind about him."
...
"You managed to land an exclusive with Super-Stallion?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Not... exactly. But since nopony seems brave enough to approach him, I'm sure I can get a few words out of him."
"I'd like to see that." Meekly had now joined the two, smiling at Mild. "That is, if you don't mind me tagging along."
Call made the vomit gesture before getting off her seat. "I'm going to eat some lunch so I can throw it up. You two have fun."
Mild escorted Meekly to the elevator. "So, you want to see my interview with Super-Stallion?"
Meekly blushed. "I'd like to get to know him better."
"In that case, you'll need a pair of goggles."
...
"Come again?"
WHOOSH! Mild Mannered, with Meekly clutching onto his back for dear life came out of super-speed into a field of clouds. "Bet you're glad we picked those up, aren't you?" asked Mild, slowing down to more of a leisurely cruise speed.
Meekly spat out several insects, some of them giving her rude gestures before flying away. "Maybe we should have picked up a mouth guards while we were out." Meekly gasped when she saw the gigantic cloud fortress, deep within the cloud field. "Is that were you live?"
"Nope." Mild started to decend. After parting through the last of the clouds, Meekly saw that below them was a farm. He gently laid her on the ground, right in front of the house.
"A farm?"
"Eeeyup. Honest Farms is still the number one corn supplier in all of Equestria. This is were my adoptive parents lived. This is where I grew up. I went to the high school down the road." He opened the front door for Meekly as she entered. The took a seat at the breakfast table.
"So... you still live here? Why don't you live up in your giant cloud palace? Isn't that what your parents left for you? And how has nopony ever found that thing?"
Mild put two glasses of water on the table. "I don't like to have my head in the clouds for very long. You can forget about the problems down below. As for how nopony has found it; it's equipped with advance Cloudtopian tech. It's impossible to detect unless you look out a window."
"That's very wise. Did you dad teach you that." Mild's mind trailed off, his eyes started to water. "Mild? Earth to Mild?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Yeah, that kind of stuff came from my dad. My mum was more of the cuddling type who made chocolate chip cookies just because she could. She was the best mother I could have asked for."
"Mild? Are you OK?"
The stallion rubbed his eyes. "Yeah. Sorry, it still hurts to think about them sometimes."
"This may sound insensitive; but why do you act the way you do?" Mild raised an eyebrow. "It's just, you seemed like a really shy goofball when we met. When you were Super-Stallion, you seem very comfortable around anypony. And now, you just seem... I don't know, different."
"I know I can come on a bit hard with the whole 'goofball' aspect of things, but this pretty much is me." He chugged the rest of his water. "When my mum died, my disposition took a turn for the worse. I acted like an arrogant, self-absorbed, jerk. In fact, acting like that got my father killed. Before she died, I was a really happy, nice kid. Even when I was getting bullied. When I started my training in the fortress, I began to realize what kind of pony I wanted to be. Whether I'm Super-Stallion or Mild Mannered, I want to be a good pony. One who does the right thing, one who never looks down on anypony else. I use the stammering act to keep my identity a secret, but I am Mild Mannered. I'm... well, me."
Meekly gave him a loving smile as she laid a hoof on his. "I knew you were one of the good ones."
"Everypony is a good one. We just get confused and angry at times."
Meekly laughed. "Wow, you really are a cheese ball, you know that?" The two laughed for a brief moment before staring into each other eyes. "If you're protecting your identity, who are the ponies you care about?"
"I don't have any yet, unfortunately." The two inched closer.
"That's so sad." And closer.
"Don't feel sad. It's just the way things turned out." And closer.
"We'll just have to fix that." The lips parted as they moved in for the-
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The ground shook, breaking the glasses that they were drinking out of. After the vibrating stopped, the two ran out of the house and looked up the cloud field. Hovering over the fortress, was a giant monstrosity. A floating, metalic airship. Around the ship, there were several mounted turrets, missile launchers and underneath the ship where spotlights, all of which were aimed at the fortress. Meekly started to shake.
"Mild, I don't suppose that's one of yours?"
The stallion removed his glasses and clothes. "Definitely not." He folded up his civilian cloths and gave them to Meekly. "Hold onto these for me."
"Oh... kay."
"Can you teleport back to Canterlot?"
"I- I guess if I tried. Why?"
"Something tells me you're going to be a lot safer there then you will be here." His suit formed over his body. "I'll see you later." Giving him a worried expression, she summoned all of her magical skills to vanish into thin air.
Mild rocketed off into the air, leaving a red and blue blur in his wake. He charged into the main chamber. "Who's here?! Show yourself!"
BOOM! A familiar whit light appeared before Mild, and when it cleared, a familiar mare stood on the cloud floor. "So, this is what Cloudtopia was like?" The cloaked unicorn soaked in the alien arcitecture. "I have to admit, I'm a little dissapointed."
"You? What are you doing here? And how are you standing on clouds?"
"Nothing a little bit of magic can't fix. As for why I'm here; I'm here to finish our conversation from yesterday."
"I told you, I'm not interested in whatever your selling. Now, I'll thank you to take your airship and leave this place immediately."
Ignoring his request, she started to walk around the room. "At least wait until I'm finished. I want you to join me in fixing this world. I need you to join me."
"I don't need to do anything."
"Actually, you do." She magically pulled out a scroll from her cloak. Unraveling it, she showed Mild the same symbols that he found at the library. When you arrived on Equestria, this message was broadcasted to anypony with the technology to receive it. It most likely came from your ship. It took me several years, but I was eventually able to decode the message."
"And what did it say?"
"This is Pon-E of Cloudtopia. The stallion destined to be the hero of your world. Please keep him safe and protect him for evil." She gazed at him with the same lustful look she had the other day. "After I decoded it, I couldn't help but wonder why an alien world would think that we needed a savior. And then it hit me; Equestria was doomed before you arrived." She advanced towards Mild, who was not backing down this time. "Everypony on this Celestia forsaken planet needs to be re-educated. Cleansed. Saved. And you're going to be the pony who does it! And I'm going to help-"
"Stop right there." Mild glared at the menacing unicorn. "I know where this is going and I'm betting you and I have different definitions of the word 'save'."
"I doubt it. This world needs to shown that we are superior and know what is best for them. And there is no better way to do that, then to level Canterlot to a smoking heap."
"Aaaaand right there, you lost me." Mild advanced towards the unicorn. "Miss, you're obviously not well. We need to get you calmed down so we can get you the help you deserve-"
"I DON'T NEED HELP!" Her screech echoed throughout the fortress. "I'm above that. And so are you. I know for a fact that the two of us are perfect beings. I wasn't before, but I learned and dedicated all of my resources to preparing for our conquest of Equestria. Your parents would have wanted you to save the world."
Mild's rage started to boil. "You didn't know my parents. You don't know me."
A sinister grin appeared on the unicorns face. "Actually, I know your father more intimately then you or your mother ever did."
...
"What did you say?"
"Five years ago, I tracked you using your super-speed and I followed it to your farm." Mild's pupils started to shrink. "You see, when a pony is in their last moments of life, they reveal who they truly are. He died trying to protect you. You should have see him cry as he bled out. You should have seen him as-"
"I did..." Blasts of extreme heat shot out of Mild's nostrils. "He died telling me how much he loved me. How much effort he and my mother put into raising me. He died telling me the truth." The stallions eyes turned a bright red. "He died an hero."
The unicorn chuckled."Not likely. You don't know how to read ponies the way I do. The way you describe it, he was probably a coward."
"Shut up."
"He had a worthless life, but tried to delude himself by telling himself that raising you was-"
THWACK!
With a mighty punch, Mild sent the unicorn flying through several walls. When she stopped, she looked up with a massive smile. "Now that is the power I was hoping to feel."
In a fit of rage, Mild pinned her to the wall. "MURDERER!"
"I freed you. He was holding you back from your destiny. He tried to make you weak."
"You want to see weak?!" Mild pulled his hoof back, ready to land a killing blow... but stopped, throwing the unicorn to the ground. "You're going to be taken to the Canterlot high court. My father will be given justice!"
The unicorn broke out in a fit of laughter as she got up to her feet. "They have no authority over me. And neither do you. This will be my last offer; join me and help me burn Canterlot to the ground." Mild didn't respond. She sighed. "I'll admit, a part of me was hoping you would decline."
ZAPP!
A blast of magical energy sent Mild into the wall. She pulled on her cape and threw it off, revealing a skin tight leather outfit underneath, complete with ship. "Now I can prove to all of Equestria that I have the power to kill any resistance."
Mild lunged at her, only for her whip to wrap around his neck and throw him to the side. "This whip was constructed especially for slaying you if necessary. You can't stop me."
"Watch me!" He fired a bolt of flames at the unicorn, only for her to teleport behind him, zapping him with another energy blast. "I... I won't let you get away with this! I won't give up!"
"I don't expect you to give up. But unfortunately, I'm on a tight schedule, so we'll have to end this now." She raised a hoof. "Sweet Wings!"
...
"Wha-"
THWACK!
Out of nowhere, Sweet Wings flew into the room, socking Mild in the jaw, making him spit up blood. He skidded along the ground until he hit the foot of a statue of his father. "Did you really think I wouldn't come alone?"
Mild looked heartbroken at Sweet Wings. "Why?"
"To be fair, I did say it was a stupid idea to let me in."
THWIP!
The unicorn wrapped her whip around Mild, trapping his forelegs. "This fortress was impossible to detect. I needed somepony to be able to follow to this place." Using her whip, she began tossing him around the room, causing the various structures he hit to break and collapse. "Don't you see it? Everypony has hated you ever since you showed up! They despise you, and all you did was save one of their worthless offspring!" Sweet Wings couldn't bring herself to watch. "You knew that they were beneath you, and you still try to save them! You've been corrupted. You've been poisoned. Now it will be my job save you. But only after I save the rest of Equestria!"
Finally giving up on the tossing of Mild, she released him from the whip. He laid on the floor of the fortress, slowly drifting out of conciouness. "You asked me who I was before. I have an answer for you now. I am what is nessicary to save this world. I am a representation of what the this world has braught on itself. I am Equetrias new mistress!"
Mild extended a hoof to Sweet Wings... who didn't do anything. "Please... be better than..." Mild finally slipped away.
"I AM MISTRESS MAYHEM!"
Next: Act 3!