//------------------------------// // Welcome to Tomorrow // Story: Riddle for Power Ponies // by EnergeticRider //------------------------------// They knew their guess was correct even before entering the park itself. Screams and pleas for help came in abundance over the shiny metal wall that surrounded the park. The whole structure looked like some futuristic citadel of glass, metal and rainbow holograms. And without hesitation the Power Ponies burst through the giant gate, tearing it apart. Just as superheroines took their first steps in, several ponies dashed out of the park through the opening, screaming in terror. A few seconds later the Power Ponies saw why--the plaza at the entrance was in complete disarray with the park’s various automatons unleashing their wrath upon the visitors. "Welcome, Power Ponies!" this time Question Mare didn’t even bother with creating a projection. Her smug voice was coming from the park’s loudspeakers. "I trust each one of you will choose an attraction according to your abilities.” This time even Zapp hasn’t stopped to reply. All Power Ponies attention was drawn to the park’s visitors in need of a rescue. “Look there!” Matter-Horn pointed at a group of ponies who were cornered by phantoms from ‘Scream cave’. “Radiance, Saddle, let’s go!” “Uhm, darling,” Radiance turned to Saddle Rager, while Horn galloped ahead. “Could you rush your transformation a bit?” “I’m s-sorry, but right now I’m more nervous than angry,” answered the mare, trying to suppress her shivers. “And… Oh, you monsters!” Radiance looked in the direction Saddle Rager was looking and saw an aviary compound where park visitors could look at exotic birds in a relaxing environment. Except climate control system made half of the area frozen like it was a huge ice cave. And heated the other half to the point where trees withered and could ignite at any second. Birds and ponies, unlucky enough to be caught inside that were trying to escape were brutally beaten by gusts of wind. “Listen...” Radiance turned back to Saddle just to see her running towards the aviary, already transformed into her hulky form. There was no point to follow. Radiance knew that all aviary cages and barriers wouldn’t stand five minutes. She looked around and saw Zapp, who joined Matter-Horn in blasting phantoms. “A little help here!” unicorn heard Mistress Mare-velous’ voice from the opposite direction. Radiance turned, already forming a club construct above her head, and saw her friend in the middle of bumper carts ride. Marv was able to catch three carts using her lasso, but it took all her concentration to hold them steady long enough for ponies to crawl out. Even as three freed ponies were leaving the ride, carts twitched, nearly breaking through. And another cart was speeding right at Marf from behind. “Hold on!” cried Radiance and threw her club construct to intercept. It hit a split second before the cart could run Marv over. The cart, luckily empty, bounced somewhere back. Radiance was already running towards the ride, but it took her several seconds Even before Marv even nodded, unicorn grabbed another two carts with ponies inside. Even without command, they jumped out the moment carts became still. Power Ponies glanced around - there were only half-a-dozen ponies in carts to go. Meanwhile, Saddle Rager smashed her way through the aviary. She already destroyed wind magic charms on the hot side, so most exotic birds already escaped through that breach, as well as half the pony captives. But as Rager entered the frozen half, her progress slowed. Everything around was covered in ice and she had to punch with every step – otherwise, the blizzard inside would simply blow her away. Luckily, Matter-Horn and Zapp, who at last dealt with their animatronic enemies, joined her. Horn ran right into the breach, while Zapp hovered above the caged roof. Pegasus raised her elemental medallion and the blizzard inside the aviary started to twist. Snow in the air formed a whirlwind and rose right to where Zapp was. She lowered her hoof holding medallion and the amulet literally sucked the blizzard into itself. There was no more wind nor snow in the air, as to that moment Horn blasted all remaining climate control charms with heat beams from her horn. Then alicorn used less intensive beams to warm the ponies that were nearly frozen to death inside the aviary. By that time Radiance and Marv dealt with cart ride and even destroyed a few too aggressive automatic food dispensers. With aviary also clear, the only attraction left unchecked was “observation wheel”. It was rotating way too fast for the ponies trapped inside its cabins to get out. None of the Power Ponies dared to approach it. Only Saddle Rager wanted to grab it, but Matter-Horn stopped her. She was afraid it would break and send all ponies on it in the air. The wheel was simply too big to deal with it using brute force and considering previous Question Mare traps, magic was out of the question. "Too bad your speedster is not here," declaimed the snarky voice from the loudspeakers. "She could’ve easily carried out everyone when each cabin reached the lowest point. Was it a mistake on your part, Matter-Horn? Well, I guess even the only Power Pony with brains is prone to make mistakes.” "Listen, you twisted teaser! We are a team and any of my friends have all they need to be a hero. I trust Fili-Second to do everything right and when she returns, your travesty will be over!” "I hope, she will not be too late." The villainess giggled. And just as she said that a white-and-pink blur whooshed from the park entrance to the spot where Matter-Horn was standing. Fili-Second threw a thick file to her alicorn friend and in the next moment ran to help the screaming hostages off observation wheel. Just like Question predicted, it took Fili less than a minute to fill the stand beside the wheel with the flabbergasted ponies. Matter-Horn skimmed the file contents. "So? Do you want to congratulate us with successfully finishing your test, Question Mare?" she cried. "Or maybe we should call you Riddle? Fitting name by the way.” "It took you long enough," the voice from loudspeakers was less arrogant now, but just a bit. "And your name is not the only thing I know now," continued Matter-Horn. "As I’ve suspected all the tech you messed in the tunnel, at the power plant and here--it was all produced by the same company. The company you were working for. Until they fired you for trading corporate secrets, that is. You can hide behind your projections, tests, and riddles all you want, but in reality, you are nothing but a spoiled pony, who just wants to have her petty revenge. Instead of taking responsibility.” "Responsibility? Responsibility?!” cried Riddle and then grumbled. “And I thought you were smarter and more insightful than everypony!" Apparently, Riddle was expecting some answer. But everypony considered better to remain silent, so after the pause became too awkward, she had no choice but continue her monologue. Her voice was now soaked with a disdainful tone, "You are no better than others. Just like others you simply take what’s written in the news at face value without even trying to dig deeper. Do you know that it was I, who invented the fusion of magic and technology in the first place? I personally created the spells used in all the projects you’ve seen today. And when I did all that work, I haven’t even thought about self-promotion. ‘Why should I bother and spend my valuable time?’ I thought, expecting to get the credit simply because I did it. Ha! Silly me. “Yes, I wanted a raise and promotion, that was long overdue. However, the last straw was when they took down my new project, my personal new development, and didn’t even listen to me like my professional opinion or contributions didn’t count! And when I tried to, well… negotiate with another company and use some of the funds that were due to my canceled project, they kicked me out! Smearing my name, like was I some kind of traitor. It was them who betrayed me! To have exclusive rights for using my tech and magic. It was them, who should’ve their name tarnished!” "Why should we believe you?" lashed Zapp. "And you are still in the wrong," added Matter-Horn after collecting her thoughts. "Yes, I believe you.” “Wait. You do?” asked Mistress Mare-velous. “Yes. All the magically enhanced tech should have fail-safe charms on it. Without being the one laying the groundwork, Riddle wouldn’t be able to get control over it so easily.” Matter-Horn raised her head. “Is that what you wanted, ‘Question Mare’? For us to prove your innocence? All you had to do was just ask. But instead, you decided to invent some sick tests that put lives of innocent ponies in danger. All you had to-” "I don’t have to do anything!” yelled Riddle. “I’m not going to beg for what is rightfully mine! Especially morons who couldn’t even find me!” "Be sure, we will. After all, there are only four large projects that were made using your inventions. The power plant, this park, tunnel drilling equipment, and passenger servicing tech on a new zeppelin called Titan. Such vain and insecure pony like you would definitely use it as a base of operations or a final weapon. In any case, I’m sure we will find you when we find your toy. It’s not so easy to hide…” "Ahem…" Zapp touched Matter-Horn’s shoulder and pointed to a large banner, hanging at the side of the park’s plaza. “Be among the passengers of Titan on its maiden voyage!” proclaimed giant letters. A smaller poster located at the side spoke about tickets prices and on the other side was a huge arrow pointing in the direction of a tower where the zeppelin was docked. Right at this very moment the vessel just started its engines and cast off moorings. "Oh, she is escaping!" Matter-Horn came to her senses after the initial surprise. "Come on, team. Let’s show her that no one messes with the Power Ponies!” Saying this, she spread her wings and went straight for the zeppelin. "Need a lift?" asked Zapp with a bit of a smirk. "If you don’t mind," answered Mistress Mare-velous. And a small tornado, immediately created by the pegasus, sucked the mare in and threw in the direction of the zeppelin. Saddle Rager in her hulky form just jumped up. And that was enough to bring her as high as the airship was. When she reached the highest point, the blimp’s upper deck was right in front of her. Saddle started to descend. She winced, realizing the blimp was still too far. Her mind, not used to complex calculations in this form, rushed through possibilities. Had she not accounted for zeppelin movement? Can she still somehow reach the deck? Rager stretched for the deck with her hoof, but it was useless. She started to flutter her wings desperately. It seemed to propel her forward a bit, but that wasn’t enough. "Got you!" cried Radiance, catching Saddle with her construct. ”Aaaa-ho-old o-on-” Radiance yelled, as her flying carpet construct struggled with the weight of expanded Rager. It heeled and started to dive to the right, both Radiance and Fili holding on for dear life. They stretched over the left side to counterbalance Rager. The unicorn pulled every ounce of her mental strength to keep construct on course. They reached Titan’s the upper deck, barely scratching the railing. The construct dissolved a few moments later, three ponies tumbling on the deck. They jumped on their hooves immediately and saw that Marv had already landed right beside them. "I think I had enough “amusement” for all my life," muttered Radiance while collecting herself. "After we finish this, I won’t step my hoof in that park again.” "Why?" answered Fili, who was already on her feet and ready to fight. "That was so much fun!” Matter-Horn landed right beside them. She surveyed the deck. "Look! Here is our villainess.” She pointed her hoof towards the center of the deck. There, separated from Power Ponies by a luxurious restaurant area, a row of golden pegasus statues and other decorations, under the central mast bearing a giant rotor for fast altitude shifts, was a deckhouse. And there, right on the bridge a green pony with a lettuce green mane was standing. "So, let’s kick her cutie mark!" exclaimed Fili-Second and ran towards Question Mare.