//------------------------------//
// The Ballad of Power: To Dethrone a King 
// Story: Make the World a Stage 
// by Strawberry Sunrise 
//------------------------------//

Sweetie Belle was alone, ‘twas just her and no friend,

And her sister had gone away for the weekend.

“Watch my shop!” sis had said, and then turned in a hurry.

Sweetie’s reply? “Oh, there’s no need to worry!”

She felt sure she could do it; it was fine, piece of cake,

And at first things went well, dresses sold, no mistake.

But then came a surprise, a new pony in town,

And soon things went south and just kept going down.

“The name is Kerfuffle,” the new pony said.

“Is Rarity here or have I been misled?”

“Rarity?” Sweetie Belle said in reply.

“No, she and her friends are in Canterlot. Why?”

“Oh, no!” said Kerfuffle. “That’s not good to hear."

"If I don’t get help soon, my town might disappear!"

“Your town would be gone?” Sweetie Belle said, confused.

Kerfuffle – “King Sombra cannot be refused.”

“Sombra’s back?” Sweetie said, “But how can that be?”

“My friends beat him twice; now we’re going on three?”

“I’m sorry,” ‘Fuff said, “But I really don’t know.”

“He just came to Hope Hollow and threatened shadow.”

“It was at that time that I was with the mayor,

And we made a quick plan and then said a quick prayer.”

“The rest of the town would give up with no fight,

Distracting him so I could flee out of sight.”

“I took a balloon, came as fast as I could –

If anypony could help, I knew Rarity would!”

“But now that I’m here, it seems it was a waste.”

“Now shadow will fall; my town will be erased!”

“It will not!” Sweetie said. “Don’t give up just yet.”

“There’s a quick way to send word ‘bout the threat!”

“What’s that?” ‘Fuffle said. “First-class express mail?”

“Something like that,” Sweetie said. “But more…scaled.”

To the ponies who shopped, she said, “Time to close down,”

Then to ‘Fuffle – “I promise we will save your town!”

They headed as fast as they could, straight away,

To the Castle of Friendship, just past a café.

They rushed through the door and then Sweetie yelled out,

“We need you, Spike, now! Bring your breath and your snout!”

For a minute or two, they wandered inside,

And then from a hall came the sound of Spike’s stride.

“What do you need?” He said, looking quite sick.

“I was lying in bed. Could we wrap this up quick?”

Seeing his scale rash, Sweetie said, “Yes!

But first send this mail; send it to this address!”

She hoofed him Kerfuffle’s hoofwritten note,

But Spike coughed and said, “Something’s wrong with my throat.”

“My fire breath’s gone, I’m simply too ill.”

“I’ve tried.” And he puffed. “But it won’t come out still.”

“This is bad,” ‘Fuffle said. “Now what will we do?”

Sweetie Belle pondered and thought the mess through.

The Elements were out; they were too far away,

And going to find them might take them all day.

Normal mail wouldn’t work; it would take just as long,

She’d thought Spike could help, but she’d sadly been wrong.

Celestia? Luna? In Canterlot, too.

Apple Bloom was not here; neither was Scootaloo.

So who else was left then? Trixie and Glimmer?

On a trip to the beach. (Trixie’s quite a good swimmer.)

Discord could be anywhere in the nation;

Sunset, Starswirl, et cetera were all on vacation.

Everypony was gone, no one left with the power,

To save poor Hope Hollow in this dire hour.

She sighed sadly, then, feeling almost resigned,

Then a crazy idea formed in her mind.

“Power,” she’d mused, and it seemed worth a look,

“Spike,” she said next. “Where are your comic books?”

“What?” said Kerfuffle. “There’s no time for that.”

“Time to read?” Sweetie said. “Not what I’m getting at.”

“Spike, you once told me of a book that you bought,

Which brought you inside as if you had been caught."

"You became Power Ponies and fought a great evil –

Now I ask the reverse – is there one for retrieval?”

“What do you mean?” Spike asked with some doubt.

“I mean,” Sweetie said. “Can we let heroes out?”

“You have one magic book; that is quite clear."

“Might another make them real and bring them all here?”

Now Spike understood. “I do have one so writ."

“But Twilight took it away and says I can’t read it.”

“Why?” ‘Fuffle asked. Spike – “I don’t know.”

“But it’s in the library now – I know where to go.”

“Well, let’s go!” Sweetie said. “And now! We must!”

“Wait,” Spike said. “Why? Before I breach Twilight’s trust.”

They quickly explained, told him of Hope Hollow,

Of Sombra, of shadows – how it would be swallowed.

Then he led them to where the book lay on a table,

And said, “Read this part written right here on the label.”

So Sweetie did. Though it was quite small,

Her young eyes were good enough to read it all:

“They say a good book can jump right off the page,

But why stick to sayings? Make the world a stage.”

And then she stepped back; the book started to glow.

The pages flipped on their own and out came a rainbow.

Before long, it faded, no pot of gold there –

Seven ponies in costumes instead posed with flair.

“Oh, my gosh!” Spike said, with incredible glee.

Then he started to cough, unfortunately.

Sighing, he said, “I need some more sleep,

And there’s no time to chat. I feel I might weep.”

But he still shook their hooves, greeted them with a grin,

And took a quick pic, though his rash caused chagrin.

After that, to his bed he had to return,

And Matter addressed Sweetie and ‘Fuff with concern:

“Where is the villain that we need to fight?"

"Where is the Mane-iac? This doesn’t seem right.”

“She’s not here,” ‘Fuffle said. “But we need an assist.”

She explained things again – well, you get the gist.

“Sombra, you say?” asked the Pony named Zapp.

“Sounds like a bad guy. Just show us a map.”

Soon they found a map on a shelf in the room,

And ‘Fuff marked the spot, spirits lifting from gloom.

Then Fili-Sec said, “We’ll be there In a jiff!"

"Just grab on my suit and I’ll give you a lift!”

So they all did and the world was blurred;

The speed that they traveled was simply absurd.

In nearly no time at all, they arrived at their stop.

“Here we are!” F-Sec said. They let go of her top.

Though still afternoon, the world was dark,

The town nearly consumed, the blackness quite stark.

Suddenly, there came a laugh from on high –

Sweetie Belle raised her head and looked up in the sky.

On the top of the rainbow, the town’s pride and joy,

Stood the evil one they had all come to destroy.

Shadows were swirling around his long horn,

As he cast a dark spell on the town with much scorn.

“Is that him?” Hum Drum asked, and ‘Fuff nodded. “It is.”

“Well, let’s get him, then!” Hum Drum said. “Oh…gee whiz.”

Sombra had looked down upon our fair group;

Now he spoke, a deep tone – “Just what is this troupe?”

“A filly, a cripple –“ “Take that back!” Sweetie said.

Sombra just laughed and then he shook his head.

“It’s okay,” ‘Fuffle said, and she tightened her glare.

Then Sombra – “Who are you supposed to be over there?”

“We’re the Power Ponies!” Matterhorn said with pride.

“And we’re here to defeat you!” Sombra snorted, quite snide.

“Is that so?” he said next. “In those ridiculous clothes?”

“You’re clearly rejects from some cheap circus show.”

“I like your costumes,” ‘Fuff said, sincere.

“Well, thank you!” said Radiance, a grin ear to ear.

“Enough with the chatting,” Miss Mare-velous said.

“Let’s get this guy beaten and stop shadow’s spread.”

And with that, it seemed then, there was no more stalling –

For suddenly evil King Sombra was falling.

Fili-Sec had run up the ‘bow, quick as a wink –

After knocking him off, her team moved into sync.

Sombra shot a blast and Radi deflected,

Using an energy shield she’d erected.

Zapp hit him with lightning; she’d summoned a storm,

And Mare-Velous threw a whole hoofarang swarm.

Sombra dodged the ‘rangs twice, then stopped his own fall,

“Oh,” he said then. “Was that really all?”

It wasn’t, for next came the Masked Matterhorn,

She shot her own blast and then ice was airborne.

Distracted by rain and the flying of Zapp,

Sombra was hit and caught in the freeze trap.

In an ice block, he fell down to the ground,

And Saddle R’s time was now finally found.

Full of rage, she’d turned herself into a hulk

And she jumped on that block and smashed it with her bulk.

“Is he gone?” Hum Drum asked. They looked where Sombra lay.

The king opened his eyes, said, “Bravo. What a day.”

As he rose up, the group’s faces all fell.

“I didn’t expect you to do quite so well.”

“But it’s still not enough. All your efforts will fail,

For I am the King. My decree shall prevail!”

And then from his horn, a dark energy burst –

It came toward them all and Sweetie feared the worst.

She questioned her plan, she thought it was all over,

Were Power Ponies enough to stop Sombra’s takeover?

Radi made a new shield, said, “It won’t hold for long!”

“Got another idea? What did we do wrong?”

Sweetie whispered, “Well, he’s been stopped twice before.”

“How?” Matterhorn asked. “Please go on, tell us more!”

“My sis and her friends did it,” Sweetie said, quick.

“Once, the magic within them was what did the trick.”

“And the other?” Matter asked. “Any news to impart?”

Sweetie’s response? “They used the Crystal Heart.”

“What’s that?” F-Sec said. “Is it what we require?”

Sweetie – “It’s an artifact – Crystal Empire.”

“And it’s –“ she continued, then stopped cold in shock.

“Is this it?” ‘Sec held up a clear heart-shaped rock.

“I remembered the Empire from earlier’s map,

So I went and got this. And, uh…that’s my recap.”

“Yes, that’s it!” Sweetie said, “But we need to be fast.”

“It protects the Empire from a frozen forecast.”

“Without it, the place will be buried in snow,

So we stop Sombra now and then back it must go!”

Hum Drum looked at it, frowned, said, “Well, it looks pretty,

But how do we use it to save this poor city?”

“I think –“ Sweetie said, then they heard the shield crack.

“It won’t take much more,” – Ray – “I can’t hold it back!”

“I think,” Sweetie gasped, “It wants peace, like a dove.”

“Its power is drawn from a town’s light and love.”

“My town’s full of love!” – ‘Fuff – “We do have that spark!”

Saddle R took the Heart and plunged into the dark.

“Now we wait,” Hum Drum said, not trying to joke,

But at that very moment, Radi’s shield finally broke.

“Grab on!” F-Sec said. They all did just in time,

And just barely escaped Sombra’s failed murder crime.

F-Sec dropped them all off on the far side of town

“Now what?” Miss Mare-velous said with a frown.

“Now we wait,” Matter said, “But we aren’t yet home free."

"If Sombra sees that we’re here, we’ll again have to flee.”

“Why don’t we leave now?” Hum Drum asked. “We’ve won.”

“If the town does the rest, we’ll come back when it’s done.”

“Because,” Zapp said, “We don’t know for sure.”

“What if the Heart doesn’t work as a cure?”

“We’ll have to try some new ‘tac, keep fighting the fight,

And keep going at him with all of our might.”

It was then they saw Sombra; he neared with a cage,

And in it, he held their good friend Saddle Rage.

“Abandoned your friend?” – Sombra – “Not a good move.”

“I’m sorry, but I really must disapprove."

“I found her walking out here all alone,

And now that you’re watching, it’s time to atone.”

He turned toward S-R and prepared a new blast,

But then from the town came a light that was vast.

“It can’t be!” Sombra yelled. He tried to retreat,

But he’d gotten too close – Miss M lassoed his feet.

He pulled and he tugged, but he’d been quite well-trussed,

He screamed, the light touched him, and he turned to dust.

Saddle R fell down soon – her cage faded away,

But Matterhorn caught her, so she was okay.

“Is it over?” – Kerfuffle – “Is Hope Hollow free?”

“I think so,” Sweetie said. “No, absolutely!”

The last of the shadows gone with no trace,

The group entered the town to check out the place.

Before long, they found out that in the town’s center,

Everypony’d united, with not one dissenter.

They all stood ‘round the Heart that still shown like a sun –

“Thank you!” they said. “For all that you’ve done!”

“You’re welcome!” our group said; the crowd adjourned.

They then told the mayor the Heart must be returned.

He nodded, and Fili-Sec brought it right back

Then the mayor said, “I’m sorry I don’t have a plaque.”

“We’re not quite prepared for a ceremony,

But thank you – really – to all of you ponies.”

He thought for a moment. “Before we bid adieu,

Could I at the least buy some cider for you?”

So he did, and they toasted; their glasses went “clink” –

And Sweetie, ‘Fuff, Power Ponies, they all shared a drink.

Once the ciders were drained, and even the foam,

Matter stood up; said, “It’s time to go home.”

“We’ve beaten the villain, we came out on top.”

“Goodbye, everypony. This has been a nice stop.”

“Wait!” Sweetie said. But a rainbow appeared,

And the Ponies were gone by the time that it cleared.

Sweetie said her goodbyes; in the sky rose the Moon,

And a nice pony took her back home by balloon.

They landed near dawn; Sweetie thanked her chauffeur.

She’d slept on the flight, so the trip was a blur.

And sighing, then, Sweetie reopened the store –

After what happened, ‘twas kind of a bore.

But she perked up again as she took inventory –

When her friends got back home, she'd sure have a good story!