//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 Music Hater // Story: Super Stallion // by PioneerofImagination //------------------------------// While Super Stallion made short work of the Ursa Major, it still made quite the mess that Princess Celestia wished to get cleaned up as soon as possible.  But not alone. “Nice work everypony,” the princess said. “You in particular Squeaky.” “Oh thank you your highness,” Squeaky said with pride but also tried to be humble about it. “Perhaps you should head home early as a reward for doing such a good job,” Princess Celestia suggested. “That’s quite a generous offer princess,” Squeaky replied before reaching into his saddle bag. “But I had a different reward in mind.” Squeaky then got out a certain sphere and showed it to the princess. “Do you know what this is?” The Princess paused for a moment looking and rather studying the sphere. She then picked it up with her magic to get a closer look. “Somewhat? This is 1 of the nearly countless magical artifacts Star Swirl the Bearded came across in his adventures. But it’s just about the only 1 I could never figure out, I don’t have a clue what it is or what it does.” “Not 1?” Squeaky asked, surprised. “Not 1. But that does beg the question, how did you get your hooves on it?” “Well during the attack your majesty I took a wrong turn and came across it. I thought it might help with the Ursa Major and well, long story short I kind of forgot to put it back.” “Oh, I see.” “So…Can I have it?” Squeaky asked. Secretly praying she’d say yes. “You want to keep it? Do you want it as a good luck charm perhaps?” “Something like that,” Squeaky answered. The princess paused once again to think about Squeaky’s offer. Shortly though she lowered it back into Squeaky’s hoof, to his relief. “Very well, if you want it you can have it.”  “Thank you Princess Celestia,” Squeaky said as he bowed to her.  “You’re welcome. But promise me 1 thing.” “Promise?” Squeaky asked, raising his head again. “If you ever figure out what it does, promise me you’ll use it responsibly.” “Oh I promise.” *** With his shift over Squeaky had returned to his home and decided to get his new sphere out. “I’m so glad Princess Celestia said I could keep you,” Squeaky said to himself. “That was a rather big gamble asking her if I could keep you, but I couldn’t just steal you. Right is right after all. So even Princess Celestia doesn’t know much about you or where you came from, I doubt I’ll ever know.”    Squeaky then placed the sphere next to his bed and would train as Super Stallion before his next shift tomorrow. “Well I guess all that matters is that you fell into the hooves of somepony that’s a diehard fanatic of superheroes.”    *** "All done Princess Celestia," Squeaky Clean said after he finished mopping the floor in her chambers. Squeaky had been a janitor at the castle for a while now, but in no time at all showed his skills. "I dare you to find 1 piece of dirt or mud anywhere." "I think for now I'll just take your word for it," Princess Celestia replied, grateful for his job. "By the way, would you happen to be a fan of Sapphire Shores?" "Yes actually, I heard she was planning another concert," Squeaky replied. Sapphire Shores, known to many as the Pony of Pop, was getting ready to put on another show. When the Ursa Major attacked the concert she planned was ruined, she refused to disappoint her fans and got to work making another concert asap. "I wanted to get a ticket, but they were already sold out. I guess she's more popular than I thought." "I see, then, would you like to come with me?" Princess Celestia asked as she got out 2 tickets. Squeaky almost dropped his mop, as well as his jaw. "I was going to take Stone Wall, as my way of rewarding him for doing an excellent job as captain, but he said he was too busy. Then I asked Twilight, but she said she had some books to read. I really need to get her away from those dusty old books," Princess Celestia trailed off, shaking her head. "So you want to take me with you!?" Squeaky asked, surprised. This is like she's asking me out on a date. "Sure, you're not just good at your job, you're always willing to lend a hoof. Plus I have the extra ticket and I need some pony to take. So if you aren't busy, I would appreciate not having to waste this ticket." "I'd love to!" Squeaky said, nearly screaming, surprising the princess. "Good, you have the day off tomorrow. So how about I come pick up when I finish my work?" "Sounds like a plan," Squeaky Clean said and then got out a notepad and wrote down his address on a piece of paper and gave it to the princess. "I'll see you then!" Squeaky then ran off to get ready for his essential date with Princess Celestia. "Squeaky wait, you still have more cleaning to do today!" Princess Celestia called out, making him awkwardly come back into the room. "Oh right, sorry," Squeaky said before walking off with his supplies embarrassed, making the princess laugh again. *** When Squeaky got home he didn't waste any time trying to decide what to wear for his essential date with the princess. He thought of wearing a tuxedo, but that would be too formal. Then he thought to go casual, but figured he should put in more effort than that. Finally he figured to go down the middle, he combed his mane back a bit and along with a saddle bag he put on a nice red tie he really liked. "I'm sure the princess will think I look great in this." Just then there was a knock on the door and upon answering it saw it was the pony of the hour. "Wow I was just talking about you." "You were?" Princess Celestia asked. "Yes, I was saying how you'd like this tie of mine," Squeaky said using his right hoof to push it up a little for the princess to notice it more. "I see, it does look pretty good on you." "I knew you would like it. So I'm all set to go." With that said Squeaky got into the royal carriage with Princess Celestia. To her surprise Squeaky was sitting so close to her she was practically wearing him. "Um Squeaky, that's a little too close," The Princess mumbled with a sheepish smile. "Oh, sorry," Squeaky replied before moving. "Um, your mane and coat is really soft." "Really? Thank you! That's so kind of you to say." The carriage took off and along the way the 2 got a pretty good view of Canterlot and all the buildings and tourist attractions within it, but Squeaky was more interested in looking at the beautiful princess that sat beside him. He made sure not to stare at her or at least make it look like he was looking at Canterlot but was really looking at her. Celestia would look at Squeaky once or twice to see how he was doing but was mostly focused on Canterlot or rather the damage caused by the Ursa Major. As Squeaky continued to stare at her he realized that she was starting to look troubled. "Princess." She quickly snapped out of it and turned her head to him. "Are you okay? You look upset." "Oh, It's just that, I'm upset at myself," She answered and then lowered her head. "You are? Why?" He asked and she raised her head again to look at him and give an answer. "The Ursa Major got so close, I didn't even notice until it was basically breathing right down my neck. On top of that it caused so much damage. I'm a little worried that I can't handle the next crisis." "Well even if you can't, that's okay." Saying this the princess looked at Squeaky confused. "You aren't alone, you have so many ponies that are willing to help you. Myself included along with Stone Wall and the entire royal guard." "Thank you, that really helps. I'll have to remember that. No pony is an island and all that," Celestia said, cheered up and no longer confused. Before long, the carriage made it to the concert and Princess Celestia took Squeaky Clean to meet the Pony of Pop herself, Sapphire Shores. "Wow! Sapphire Shores! I love your music!" Squeaky said as he stuck out his hoof to shake hers. "Thanks, I get that alot it’s always nice to meet a fan or 2," Sapphire Shores said as she shook his hoof. She wasn't used to ponies being this friendly with her but quickly had to get used to it when her fame rose. She turned to Princess Celestia before she continued. "Especially when 1 of the said fans is royalty." "I'm sure we can look forward to your performance," The princess said with a smile. Celestia and Squeaky then made it to their seats, while Sapphire Shores went to her dressing room to make some last minute preparations. She examined her outfit and make up to make sure everything was perfect. She also wanted to take this time to mentally prepare herself despite doing many concerts she still got a little nervous. "All right!" She said finishing with a few touches with her make up and dress. "Time to show Canterlot why I'm the Pony of Pop." "I don't think so,” A mysterious pony that entered her dressing room said to Sapphire’s shock. "Those concert ponies are going to be in for a massive disappointment.” *** The concert was about to start any minute and Squeaky was already enjoying his sort of date since he got to sit so close to the princess. He even got a few drinks for him and his sort of date but he finished his drinks rather fast. "Princess, I need to use the bathroom. I'll be right back." "Okay just don't take too long, the concert is about to start I wouldn't want you to miss it." "I wouldn’t want to miss it either." Squeaky made his way to the bathroom but on his way out he noticed a backup dancer talking to a stage manager. "What do you mean you can't find her?" The stage manager asked, clearly stressed. "She's not on stage, she's not backstage, is she sitting in 1 of the seats waiting for her own concert to start or something?!" "How should I know you're the stage manager? I'm just 1 of the back up dancers?" "Unbelievable! First the Ursa Major, now this!" The stage manager pony said. "We have to find her and find her right now!" The stage manager then returned backstage to look for the Pony of Pop and Squeaky approached the backup dancer. "Is there a problem?" "We can't find Sapphire Shores, it's like she just disappeared, if we don't find her we'll have to cancel the concert," the backup dancer answered. "If you want to help, maybe you could try finding her." The backup dancer then returned backstage. "I think maybe I can lend a hoof." Squeaky then made his way outside and reached into his saddle bag for a certain good luck charm. After becoming Super Stallion he flew up into the air to locate the Pony of Pop. Before and after work he would often become Super Stallion to train and figure out his new abilities, such as super strength, enhanced magic, super durability, and super hearing. "All right, let’s see if I can hear Sapphire Shores's voice." Super Stallion then concentrated and started hearing various ponies. "Then the whole thing went down the toilet along with the lantern." "Finally, when the butter melted, I realized it was in the closet the whole time." "Stone Wall is such a jerk! Making me stay so long just for something like that." "Let me go! Why are you doing this?" "Found her!" Super Stallion then flew straight in the direction of her voice. *** "By the time somepony finds you the concert will be over,” the ponynapper said after putting the gag back on Sapphire who managed to get it off. “This is how our relationship will be from now on! Every time you try to have a concert, I'll show up and ruin it, you will never entertain ponies ever again!" "Well that would be a shame because lots of ponies, royalty included, paid good bits to hear her," Super Stallion said as the 2 ponies in the building noticed him. "Super Stallion!" The ponynapper said. "Yes and my oh my, you're something you don't see everyday, what's your deal?" Super Stallion asked. "I assume you're talking about my metallic limbs. These are my inventions. 1 day they'll be helping ponies who are disabled and will make all of Equestria know who I am. I am…Dr. Arachnid!" "I see, well in the meantime I'll be taking that Pony of Pop off your hoofs if you don't mind." "You aren't going to stop my plans again!" Dr. Arachnid said as he jumped at Super Stallion. "Again?" Super Stallion asked as he grabbed one of the robotic legs and threw Dr. Arachnid over his shoulders. Dr. Arachnid used his robot legs to stop him from hitting the ground. "Nice reflexes but let's see if you can dodge this!" Super Stallion then flew at the mad scientist ready to punch him. Using the robotic limbs again Dr. Arachnid avoided the attack and Super Stallion’s punch made a hole in the floor. "What the?" "Stay away from there!" The doctor said, but Super Stallion jumped in anyway and found a secret underground lab. The doctor quickly followed after him. "I said stay away! ARE YOU DEAF!?" "Keep up the yelling and I might be," Super Stallion replied. "I'm guessing this is your lab." "Yes, this is my life's work." "Lucky for you my hoof punched against the ceiling of your life's work. If that Ursa Major did it well, I think you know where I'm going with this." "That Ursa didn't come anywhere near this place, I made sure of that." "How could you-" Suddenly Super Stallion remembered what Dr. Arachnid said earlier and put 2 and 2 together. "Wait a minute, you lead the Ursa Major into Canterlot!" "Well I guess the cat is out of the sack." "Uh, I think you mean out of the bag." "IT'S THE SAME THING!" "How did you do it? Was it some kind of mind control device?" "I guess you can say that. There are many creatures in this land whose hearing is far greater than our own. I used a device of my own creation to make the creature do as I say by using sound waves." "You could have killed somepony!" "I made sure the Ursa got there after the evacuation," Dr. Arachnid said defensively. "Nopony got killed!" "But they could have! What was so important that you had to bring such a dangerous creature into Canterlot?" "You wouldn't understand! Nopony ever understood!" Dr. Arachnid charged at Super Stallion and the tip of 1 of his robotic limbs split open and a long knife came out. "Let's see if your blood matches your mane and coat!" SNAP The knife broke into pieces the second it was used to try to cut Super Stallion. "What! That's impossible!" Dr. Arachnid said. "Nothing's impossible," Super Stallion said. Another tip of Dr. Arachnid's robotic limbs opened to reveal a shotgun inside, but upon firing the bullets didn't even scratch him. "My turn!" Super Stallion said as he fired a spell and it pushed Dr. Arachnid to the other side of his lab. "You're outmatched." "You're right, but I always have a backup plan." Dr. Arachnid then grabbed a device that made a smoke screen fill the lab in seconds. During the distraction, Dr. Arachnid pressed a button that made the wall behind him open. "You haven't seen the last of Dr. Arachnid!" By the time Super Stallion cleared the smoke with a wind gust spell Dr. Arachnid was long gone and the wall moved back into place making him none the wiser. "He got away." Super Stallion then exited the lab through the entrance he made. "I should have caught him when I had the chance." Super Stallion then noticed Sapphire Shores who hadn't moved from the spot he last saw her. "Well at least you're okay." Super Stallion quickly floated to her before breaking the ropes and taking the gag off. "You are okay aren't you?" "Yes I'm fine, but I need to get to my concert asap," Sapphire Shores replied. "No problem." Super Stallion then picked up the Pony of Pop with his front legs and she wrapped her front legs around his neck to make sure she held on. "I'll get you there before you know it." *** Back at the concert the crowd was starting to get restless. "WE WANT SAPPHIRE SHORES! WE WANT SAPPHIRE SHORES!" The crowd was yelling, not able to stand waiting much longer. "What do we do?" The stage manager asked. "Why are you asking me?! I'm just a backup dancer!" "Well we have to do something." Suddenly the front doors opened catching the attention of everypony as Super Stallion flew in still carrying Sapphire Shores. "Are you ponies prepared for pop?" Super Stallion asked. And the crowd cheered like crazy. "Did you just make that up on the spot?" Sapphire Shores asked. "Yeah, what do you think? Too cheesy?" "No it was fine," Sapphire Shores answered. Super Stallion then placed Sapphire Shores on her stage and she rewarded her hero with a kiss right on the lips. "That was more than fine," Super Stallion said with sheer surprise and delight. "It was the least I could do for my hero. I hope I get to see you again real soon." "Hopefully it won't be when you're in danger." Super Stallion then flew out and the concert could finally start. Super Stallion then quickly became Squeaky Clean and returned to the princess. "Geez, you wouldn't believe how long the line for the bathroom was, what I miss?" *** As he said before Dr. Arachnid always came with a backup plan. The secret passage he had installed in his lab led him to the mines beneath Canterlot where he was sure not even Super Stallion would find him. "It's become painfully clear that for my plans to succeed Super Stallion will have to be out of the equation. Good thing I moved most of my things down here already. Now I can stay down here and plan a way to take down Super Stallion once and for all." "Hope you don't have any long term plans," a mysterious voice said. "What? Who said that?" Dr. Arachnid asked, waiting for an answer. Upon not getting one, he started to get a little scared. "Ugh, I've been working too hard. I'm hearing voices," he said, trying to rationalize what had happened. *** "Well that was a fun night," Princess Celestia said after they left the concert she had the carriage return to the castle without her and escorted Squeaky Clean to his home, which like Dr. Arachnid's lair, wasn't all that far from the concert building. The 2 didn't talk much as the princess preferred to simply admire her city, while Squeaky Clean preferred to simply admire the princess. "We should do this again sometime. Maybe we could do something during the Summer Sun Celebration tomorrow." "Sorry, but I've already made plans. But we should do this again." "Really?" "Of course, I always enjoy taking a break from the whole princess thing. I hope I can see you first thing in the morning in my throne room." "Count on it." Upon reaching his home the princess flew off into the night sky and Squeaky Clean looked at her until the very moment she was out of sight. "Wow what a great night... I just wished a different mare kissed me on the lips." Squeaky hadn't been working at the castle all that long, but his affections for the princess were very strong. "Maybe the next time it's just the 2 of us, I should tell her how I feel, just lay my cards on the table. Yeah, I'll tell her during the Summer Sun Celebration, what could possibly go wrong?... Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling?"