//------------------------------// // Playdates // Story: Mare Do Well: The Series // by ShadeJak //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash flopped down on her bed, still in full costume as she counted another victory won in Baltimare. See-Saw wasn’t gonna be leaving the hospital or prison any time soon. Spitfire had worked her hard during the training session she spent the whole day on Smokey Mountain for, but needless to say, it really paid off in the end. The blade-obsessed unicorn criminal couldn’t even graze her and went down fast, along with all his thugs. She’d have to remember to send her a thank-you letter when she got the chance, and the Wonderbolt captain had offered another meet-up the upcoming weekend to learn more, something Rainbow looked forward to. “Well, Tank, you can rest easy knowing your awesome owner is about 40% more awesome as a superhero now.” The costumed pegasus said, rolling on her back. The tortoise flew off his bed and onto hers, walking over. “Those moves Spitfire taught me helped out, I’m looking forward to meeting up with her again so I can learn another one. Believe me, some of those can take a while to get the hang of.” She rolled off her bed and approached her mirror, realizing her mask was still on. “Every time I beat another villain, or now learning new tricks, I feel more and more like a better Mare Do Well.” She smirked under the mask at the tortoise. “Ponies need the best Mare Do Well they can get, after all, and nopony but me’s awesome enough for that, right?” She asked, though her expression fell a little. Somehow, despite the mask, Tank could tell there was still something going on in his owner’s mind. “I just… back there, I never expected… no… I didn’t want to believe… it would come at such a cost. Becoming a Wonderbolt was my dream, Tank. But because of this, I had to let that go. Spitfire realized that before I did.” She said in a softer tone, her usual brashness fading with it. Sliding off her mask and hat, she paced about. “She did it because she has confidence in me as Mare Do Well, and I can’t let her, or anyone else down.” Something else suddenly popped into her mind as well. “Scootaloo! Right! She’s going on that field trip to Fillydelphia tomorrow! I promised I’d see her off!” The pegasus said, facehoofing at the realization that had almost slipped her mind. She’d hate herself for letting her biggest fan down… and boy howdy did Scootaloo’s admiration for her escalate when the Mare Do Well stories started circulating again... ~ Alkatrot Prison had been rather quiet that evening. The guards went about their usual patrols, making sure its more bizarre inmates kept on their best behavior, or the best that could be expected from a bunch of weirdos who used freakish powers or dressed in strange costumes to commit crime. “So, the usual rounds, huh, Strikedown?” A unicorn guard asked his pegasus friend as they went about their patrol. “Yup, looks like a pretty uneventful one, Locksley.” The pegasus answered. “As uneventful as it can be in the Freak Wing.” Locksley replied as they took the elevator, leading them to a hallway where they kept the so-called supervillains. “That what they call this area now…” Strikedown said with a laugh as they passed and inspected each cell. See-Saw was still grumbling to himself, having been brought in earlier after Mare Do Well had apprehended him. King Slinger was whistling some Dodge City music to himself. Condiment Colt galloped up to the reinforced plexiglas wall and pleaded they remember the ketchup with his hayfries. Shutterbug just stared at a fly on the wall. That covered most of the ‘lowbies’. “You gotta wonder…” Locksley mused. “Wonder what?” Strikedown asked. “If Mare Do Well’s the reason these guys are locked up, or the reason they exist in the first place?” Locksley answered. “Come on, she does her best to fight these guys, and she’s never let anypony down.” Strikedown answered. “Yeah, no doubt about it, I mean, think these guys keep popping up because they want to make a name for themselves challenging her?” Locksley asked. “…Never thought of it that way, but really, you’d have to be a pretty messed-up pony to want some attention by causing trouble.” Strikedown said with a smirk. “So long as she keeps them off the streets I don’t really care.” “We’re getting to the major players now.” Locksley said, dropping the subject as they approached the ones who had gone to more extreme levels above theft and robbery. Shockwave, or Sonic Boom as his real name was, was pacing about humming tunes to himself, but otherwise seemed to ignore them. Ever since he got his hearing back he didn’t seem to complain much. Smokin Mirrors, aka Decepto, just sat on his cot watching the guards pass. They always found him a little on the creepy side. So long as they partook in active behavior they knew they passed inspection. A vault on the end was coated with ice that framed the door. They dared not open that one. Strikedown flew over and peered through, seeing a white pegasus mare in a shredded labcoat inside. Locksley stood nearby, ready to activate the heaters that had been installed on the hallway walls leading to the mare’s cell if she ever tried to break out. “She’s still there. She turned and looked at me when I tapped the window.” Strikedown said with a satisfied smile. He never liked being over there more then he had to be. “Then that just leaves… Gametime.” Locksley said, leading Strikedown to the last occupied cell that didn’t contain griffons. As they approached, they saw the turquoise earth pony sitting on his haunches, facing away from them. “Well, he’s still there.” Strikedown said. “Wait, that’s the same spot he’s been in the last week.” Locksley said, raising an eyebrow. “I’ve seen him get up and walk around in a circle once or twice.” Strikedown said. “To the bed, to the sink, then that spot?” Locksley asked, growing uneasy. “Yeah… why?” Strikedown asked. “Something’s not right here… till then he always invited me to play chess or somesuch with him.” Locksley said, tapping the window. “HEY! Joy Maker! Front and center!” Locksley ordered. The earth pony was unresponsive. Scowling, his horn glowed, the door unlocked, and slid open and he walked in with Strikedown. “You prefer Gametime? I told you to…” He began, noticing the inmate was just bobbing his head. “Wanna know what me and Alkatrot security both are?” Gametime asked. Strikedown approached, raising an eyebrow, and shoved the earthpony, who fell to the ground in a heap, sparks came from its left eye as it popped out and a sinister grin spread on its face. “DUMMIES!” the false Gametime said, letting out a crazed laugh. And earning an nervous exchanged glance between the two guards. ~ In a basement area in Fillydelphia around that same time, Gametime paced back and forth, supervising his gizmonk lackeys as they perfected his newest invention. “I trust you’ll make my funding and supplies well-invested, Gametime?” A low voice said behind him. The turquoise earth pony turned, slightly startled then grinned at the towering walnut-colored earth pony in the black suitcoat and metal mask. “Mr. Big Shot! Didn’t hear you come in!” Gametime said with a nervous chuckle. “Oh come now, Gametime, you know ponies only see me when I want them to. My plans draw closer to completion and I could use a means to handle Mare Do Well beforehand.” Big Shot explained, walking past the deranged inventor and looking at his creation. “Very… old-fashioned. I like it. Seems familiar somehow.” He critiqued. “Your contacts posing as guards got me out last week, threw away meals so nopony noticed I was gone. I didn’t want to let that go to waste, you’d be amazed what a pony who specializes in fun and games can come up with in so short a time!” Gametime said, laughing. “As for this, well I felt it appropriate, given the setting we’ve got planned! Borrowed it out of some Oubliettes & Ogres module some nerd who liked to torment his players came up with!” He grinned. “Something I’d say we have in common.” “…Indeed.” Big Shot answered, clearly uninterested in the full details of its origins. “This will be your last chance to prove yourself. Mare Do Well has shown remarkable improvement in her fighting prowess, she’s putting new costumed criminals away faster then I can help churn them out.” His eyes narrowed behind the metal face mask. “This is your last chance, fail and you’ll have to rely on yourself for any future breakouts.” He said, turning to leave. “Oh don’t worry! I got this all planned out, and believe me, news around here travels fast I arranged a contest to get the perfect list of players who’ll just be dying to be in this exciting new game for Mare Do Well!” Gametime said with a grin, throwing aside a post-it note detailing the class who’d be on a field trip at the place he would be taking over. ~ “Hope I’m not late.” Scootaloo said with a smirk as she dismantled her scooter and put it into the pack she’d brought. “Not at all!” Applebloom replied. “So close… you beat me.” Rainbow Dash said, emerging from a bush. Sweetie Belle laughed, knowing Rainbow had been there a good ten minutes and just wanted to humor their friend. “Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo hopped over and gave her surrogate big sister a hug. “So, ready for your trip, squirt?” The cyan pegasus asked. “Yup, they got a new giant maze they just opened and we’re all gonna go through. It’s like… Canterlot Hedge Maze-sized!” Scootaloo said excitedly. “It’s got puzzles, and prizes at the center!” “Sounds like a lotta fun. Of course I’d probably just fly over it and go straight to the middle.” She said with a laugh. “Good luck on that, it’s got a roof.” Scootaloo said flatly. “Huh, I gotta keep up on that sorta stuff.” Rainbow said, rubbing her chin with her hoof. At that moment Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon passed by. “Too bad none of the prizes are cutie marks, blank flanks!” Diamond said with a sneer at Scootaloo and the other self-titled Cutie Mark Crusaders as she and Silver Spoon continued onward, laughing amongst themselves. “That little…” Rainbow said lividly. “Is she ever gonna learn?” “Maybe Mare Do Well can teach her a lesson.” Scootaloo whispered. “Nah, she’s a filly. I do anything, she can make me look bad.” Rainbow said. unfortunately… she thought to herself pushing aside joyful images of dangling the spoiled brat from way up high till she apologized to Scootaloo and her friends. “She’s a bully, but you and your friends are a million times cooler then she’ll ever be, cutie mark or not. I mean, can she move as fast as you?” She asked with a playful smirk. “OR have the sort of dedication you got? Or, dare I say, a surrogate big sis as cool as me?” Scootaloo laughed. “I suppose not. Wish you could come, though.” “I would, but I gotta train with Spitfire.” Rainbow replied, leaning to the filly’s ear. “Superhero stuff.” She whispered, soon the train arrived. “All aboard, children!” Cheerilee said, and gave Rainbow Dash a wave, the cyan pegasus smiled and returned it. “Well, you better get going, squirt. Have fun!” Rainbow said, spreading her wings and flying off in the direction of Smokey Mountain at high speed as Scootaloo and her friends went to rejoin the others and board the train. ~ At the library, Twilight Sparkle had gone about her usual duties. Rainbow Dash was off training with Spitfire and would probably be back later in the afternoon, which gave her enough time for a nap before patrols. The librarian smiled, her friend had grown quite a bit over time, and had accepted the loss of a goal she’d long pursued in favor of a better one. Whenever she saw the occasional Mare Do Well merchandise she couldn’t help but smirk. While most of it was simply revived from things that had cropped up when she and the others were wearing the costume, Rainbow’s actions had brought a demand for it greater then ever, and the pegasus had been flattered by it for the most part, though it had taken nearly an hour for Twilight to calm her down when she felt the figurines made her look fat. Checking off another objective on her list, Twilight looked over the next. “Newspaper organizing, got it.” She said, heading over to the stack of newspapers that had arrived. Normally she’d have read them earlier but trouble in the kitchen when Spike had accidentally inhaled one of Owlowiscious’ feathers up his nostril while cooking breakfast had delayed that. The unicorn shivered at the memory of having to clean up that mess. “Ooookay… Baltimare Bugle… Fillydelphia Flyer… Ponyville Press… Twilight said aloud, sorting them out. “Manehattan Times…” Her eyes widened when she noticed the cover story on it. Gametime had somehow escaped Alkatrot. It was off the coast of Manehattan, and from the reports, he’d acted differently for about a week. “Oh no…” She muttered, who knew where he was now? There had to be some clues… She thought about it for a second. Rainbow mentioned her prime suspect of Big Shot’s identity being Grand Cargo, who ran a number of shipping routes on the east coastline. Alkatrot was on an island, the only way on or off if one wasn’t a pegasus was by boat. Ever since Rainbow had suspected him, Twilight had remained vigilant on monitoring when his trade shipments went and to where. The last one from him that was sent to Alkatrot was… …a week ago… …heading to… “Fillydelphia!” Twilight shouted, anxiety overtaking her. She looked at the Fillydelphia Flyer, the cover story was of a new maze attraction that had been under construction there had just reached its completion, and Ponyville Elementary teacher Cheerilee and her class had won the drawing for a free field trip as its first challengers. “Oh no oh no oh no…” Twilight muttered, this was all too convenient to be coincidence. If her intuition was right, Cheerilee and the children would be walking right into a deathtrap! It all made sense, Gametime would have wanted revenge on Mare Do Well for foiling his attempts on Max Diamonds and getting him arrested; what better… and more sickening if she may say so herself… way to lure her to him? “Spike! Take a letter, we gotta get ahold of Rainbow Dash. We have an emergency!” the unicorn ordered, prompting the dragon to rush down the stairs with a scroll and quill. ~ “Good to see you made it, Rainbow Dash.” Spitfire said with a smirk, putting her sunglasses in her saddlebag and setting it down. “Like I’d miss another chance to learn some cool moves to help me fight crime!” Rainbow said with a cocky smirk. “Careful, this next stunt’s gonna be real tricky, you’re gonna need a lot of focus and speed for it.” Spitfire warned. “Ah, I’m ready for anything.” Rainbow said with a hoofwave. It was still a little mindblowing that her idol was still willing to help her out. “Alright, well let me ask you this… how are you at tearing through solid surfaces?” The yellow pegasus asked. “I’ve torn down a whole barn that way, like an equine wrecking ball!” Rainbow explained. “Well wood’s one thing. Try solid rock, or producing enough impact to smash apart stuff made of metal.” Spitfire said with a grin. “Things that aren’t thin surfaces that normally, even at a good speed with hooves out, you could still just end up going splat against.” “Ehhhh…. Never really tried that.” Rainbow said. “How smart of you. You probably would just hurt yourself. I’m gonna show you how to do that without getting hurt. But you gotta trust me all the way, got it?” Spitfire asked, taking on her tough officer act again. “Yes, ma’am.” Rainbow said with a grin. “Now watch. It’s important if you wanna be able to pull this off you have to be at least as fast as I’m gonna go...” Spitfire said, taking to the air and flying away. Rainbow watched as the Wonderbolt captain flew about in the air, then got to a distance till she was practically a tiny yellow dot. Suddenly she started approaching at an incredible speed, and as she got closer, Rainbow noticed Spitfire was barrel-rolling, faster and faster as air pressure built around her, almost like a drill. Rainbow stared agape as Spitfire tore into one of the larger spires on the side of the mountain; rubble and dust flying everywhere and she popped out the other side a second or two later. When Spitfire emerged, the winds died down around her, and she turned and faced Rainbow Dash with a smirk. “That. Was. Awesome!” Rainbow said, her shocked expression changing to one of glee. “That’s a tactic we call the Divine Drill. You build up enough force, you can use it to tear through tough surfaces like stone and such when you don’t have enough time or space to accomplish something like a sonic rainboom, but you have to build up the right momentum first.” Spitfire explained. “Now you’re gonna try it alongside me a few times. I’ll coach you through it but I suggest you get it right or all puns aside your day’s really gonna go downhill.” Grinning, Rainbow took to the air and followed the Wonderbolt captain to a distance, and flew at the same pace to insure she got the right minimal speed. “NOW!” Spitfire yelled, and they immediately began spinning in the air as they descended downward, their latest designated mountain spire drawing ever closer. Rainbow closed her eyes and picked up speed… and felt nothing as she reached the rock. Opening her eyes, she was now on the other side. “Hey, Rainbow Dash? You can slow down your breathing now. You made it.” Spitfire said to the hyperventilating pegasus. “Now that was the easy way. If you don’t have as much room, you’ll need to make do with what you have, fly wide circles to build up speed and move closer and closer. Do it that way and you won’t accidentally create a tornado and put yourself in danger, the wind pressure will do the rest.” “Got it.” Rainbow said, getting ready to learn the method Spitfire listed when suddenly a puff of green fire burst in front of her and a scroll appeared. Rainbow thrust her hooves out and caught it immediately. “Huh… Twi’s got a letter for me.” She said, pulling it open. “Oh no…” Rainbow muttered, her intrigue turning to horror. “What’s up?” Spitfire asked, flying over. “Gametime’s escaped! It can’t wait, I gotta go!” Rainbow said urgently, and sped off without another word, the scroll fluttering down till the yellow pegasus caught it and read it over as well. ~ “Alright, clearly Snips’ decision… wasn’t the right one.” Cheerilee said as she and the rest of the class were face to face with a dead end. “Anypony here have another direction in mind?” She asked. “Left! Left!” Applebloom cheered as she waved a hoof. “Very well, then, left it is!” The teacher said happily as the class went down that direction. A few more twists and turns, and they found themselves in a large, open room with a high roof and a treasure chest in the middle. The fillies and colts cheered and galloped to the large box. “Now hold on, no shoving, children.” Cheerilee said as she approached, ushering them out of the way and stepping to the side so they’d see what their prizes were and pushed the box open with her hoof. There was no gold, no gems, or toys or any such thing… only a note with a picture of a turquoise pony’s face with a wide, creepy grin that said “Gotcha!” on it. Suddenly, bars emerged and blocked way they’d come in and another way on the opposite end, trapping them in. Then a large gem on one of the walls attached to a mirror of some sort shimmered, and a projection of the turquoise pony appeared on the mirror itself. He wore some kind of metal gauntlets and a bizarre helmet with glowing green gems in them, as well as a gray vest with another glowing green gem on its belt. “Well hello, kiddies!” Gametime said with a wave. “I knew that contest was the perfect setup!” “Ooh, is this part of the game?” Snails asked excitedly. He didn’t recall anything about there being a challenge like this in the maze. “Uhhh Snails? I don’t think it is…” Scootaloo said nervously. “Oh no, no, no little filly, this is part of the game! The funnest part!” Gametime said with a laugh. “By the way, some of you may have heard of me, I’m called Gametime. I designed this maze and all it’s fun little challenges, as well as lured you all here as bait to draw Mare Do Well to me.” “Why not just let us go?” Cheerilee asked, glaring at the deranged pony. “I’d think just saying where you are would be reason enough for Mare Do Well to come after you.” “Oh, I’m well aware of that, miss. It’s just every game is so much funner when you have more players… especially ones that if she doesn’t save them in time, they all die!” Gametime said with a laugh. “Now I won’t spoil the means, that will come later. In the meantime, why don’t you all sit tight and hope I don’t get too bored…” Then a camera appeared, switching on. “Smile!” He said. ~ Mare Do Well appeared just outside the theme park where Mystery Maze Adventure had been built. So this was where Gametime had been hiding away… how appropriate, just like last time. As she approached, however, an announcement blared from the speakers. “Mare Do Well! So good of you to make it! I assume you’ve learned of my escape and had somehow found me. Well, to that, I give you credit…” Gametime’s voice stated, and suddenly an image of him appeared above the sign for the attraction. “Get the city guard. NOW!” Mare Do Well ordered a passer-by who nodded and galloped off. “How noble of you. However, if they attempt to break into this facility, the hostages die. Shall I make sure you’re aware of what they are?” Gametime’s asked with a grin. Suddenly the image changed to Cheerilee and her frightened students, all hoarded together as their teacher attempted to comfort them. Spotting Scootaloo among them, Rainbow’s heart sank. It was as she’d feared, Gametime had brought them all into a trap, and he was more then psychotic enough to follow through on his threats. Gritting her teeth, Mare Do Well’s shock turned to rage as Gametime’s image reappeared. “What do you want, then?” “Oh, isn’t it obvious, Mare Do Well? I want to play a game. The Mystery Maze Adventure! You, against my new champion of the maze!” Gametime said, gesturing with his hoof and the image changed to a door that was immediately smashed open. “Debuting on the opposite end of the maze, meet the dreaded Scimitaur!” He announced proudly, and on the recording a large, golden minotaurlike robot with curved blades for horns appeared... Steam puffed from its metallic nostrils as it crouched down and began to move through the maze. “If you wish to save them, you’ll have to get to the center of the maze before the Scimitaur does. You’re on two separate pathways so don’t worry about running into him prematurely. Make it right to the center first, and you’re free to go with the hostages. If he makes it there first… well…” Gametime’s voice chuckled. “Let’s just say the Fillydelphia Flyer’s obituaries are going to be needing more space!” With another laugh, the image vanished, and the doors leading in slid open. “Gotta hurry…” Mare Do Well said, running in. As soon as she entered, the door shut behind her. Inside, everything was made of brick, and was reasonably well-lit with the occasional barred window for ventilation. She had two directions, left or right. The costumed pegasus thought for a moment, there had to be a clue, Gametime seemed to love doing that in his challenges. Make it right to the center first… Right. To the center. Right lead to the center! Grinning, Mare Do Well galloped down the right passage, and turned corner, faced with more options. Taking the center, she found herself quickly having to backtrack with a blade that had intended to take everything above the neckline with it emerged from the wall and nearly got her. “Wonderful. The place is trapped too…” She muttered. “Of course it is, did you expect me to make it easy for you?” Gametime’s voice announced, making it evident he was watching her. “I’m currently guiding the Scimitaur closer to its prey, better pick up the pace, Mare Do Well!” He said with a laugh. “But don’t worry, the class gets to participate in the fun too, I have some special toys for them to play with!” Oh no… Rainbow’s eyes went wide and moved as fast as she could, creeping corners when she could to watch out for traps and flying when she needed to. ~ In the center, the image in the mirror showed both Mare Do Well and the massive golden beast’s progress. “That monster’s gonna get us what do we do?!” Diamond Tiara cried out. “First of all, it’s not a monster, it’s a minotaur—“ Scootaloo stated. “He said Scimitaur—“ Sweetie Belle corrected. “Whatever. It’s not gonna, because Mare Do Well’s gonna save us first, I know she will!” Scootaloo said. “Dream about it all you want, blankflank, that thing’ll get to us faster.” Silver Spoon remarked. “Children! Enough!” Cheerilee said sternly. “I’m sure Mare Do Well will get here in time, we just have to be patient—“ Suddenly two panels in the walls opened and several crudely-stitched dolls resembling ponies fell in. Their heads then craned up and their eyes glowed red, and they started laughing madly and charged at them. “Get behind me!” Cheerilee ordered, ushering the students behind her and took a stance, preparing to engage them. As one drew close, she swung her hoof, knocking it aside. The doll tumbled over and cackled more, small blades emerging from its hooves. The other dolls followed suit and began their attack. Cheerilee managed to buck one into the wall, causing it to short-circuit out, and slammed her hoof into the head of another, crushing it. That left four more. Diamond Tiara screamed and hid behind Silver Spoon, who attempted the same with her friend until both were beset by one of the dolls. Before the doll could attack, however, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle landed atop it, causing its deranged laughter to become garbled and distorted before Scootaloo swept in, hooves out, and smashed its face in, her wings buzzing as she soon fell back to the ground again. She had been getting better at learning to fly, and finding out Rainbow Dash had become Mare Do Well had only heightened her desire to. “Cutie Mark Crusaders, crime-fighters!” The three fillies shouted proudly, though only getting an eyeroll from Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon as gratitude. Two more cornered Snips and Snails, and both closed their eyes and focused as hard as they could, their horns glowing and suddenly the cackling from the deadly toys was heard above them. Both looked up, seeing they’d levitated the dolls all the way up to the high ceilings. “Ready Snails?” Snips asked. “Ready Snips!” Snails answered with a grin, and they used their magic to send both dolls flying into the ground at high speed, shorting them out as Cheerilee finished off the last one, crushing it under her hoof. “That was close…” The teacher muttered, and turned back toward the screen, but instead of horror or disappointment, Gametime just laughed. “Now wasn’t that fun? Those were, shall I say, my child-safe toys. Ones your fillies and colts could handle with a little effort as I just needed to see a little action to cope with the wait.. I don’t want any of you dead before the Scimitaur gets here after all!” He said with another laugh. “Let’s see how your hero is doing…” He said, looking to the side and grinning. “Ohh look at this, she’s made it to the three door puzzle! She solves each riddle, she’s in!” He said. Come on, Rainbow Dash… I know you can do it… Scootaloo thought to herself as she watched her hero’s progress on the screen anxiously. ~ “Now, now, don’t lose your temper...” Gametime taunted, having made the bridge crossing over a pit that now had spikes emerge from it disappear. Mare Do Well narrowed her eyes and promptly flew across. “Right… Pegasus. You get that one for free, Mare Do Well, but my Scimitar gets a free move as well…” Gametime said, and a loud crash was heard. “That’s him punching through a wall, drawing him ever-closer as well. He has just a few more turns left to get there.” Flying through the doorway, Mare Do Well was confronted by the next puzzle. “There’s a way through, provided you know the moves of course…” Gametime explained, and suddenly spinning blades emerged from the walls, like the temple in Daring Do and the Sapphire Stone. Studying it carefully, Mare Do Well examined where the blades moved, and when the openings came. She’d have to work fast or the Scimitaur would beat her to the end though. Spotting it, she made a quick jump through, followed by a roll across the ground, three running steps, a jump to the right, and finally a flip in the air through the last set of blades, nicking her cape. “That’s gonna cost ya, Gametime.” She grumbled, heading into the next door as it opened to a goofy fanfare sound effect. Last challenge… Before her was a door, with several tiles on it, with different numbers on it. “Press the right sequence, the door opens and you win. Wait too long, or get the wrong sequence, and you’ll have to listen to the Scimitaur make short work of my playdates!” Gametime taunted. “The numbers before you have a sequence you must step on, your clue is as old as when the Princess began her days. Clock’s ticking!” Rainbow studied the numbers, which ran from 1 to 9 in a three by three grid. What was the riddle… began her days… birth? Nopony knew when she was born and Celestia tended to keep that to herself as she didn’t particularly enjoy the overdose of attention. Luna was probably the only one alive who knew. There had to be another… began her days… when she began her days… her days…. her days… Rainbow’s eyes widened. Of course! The month and day Celestia was crowned Princess of the Sun and gained the power to raise it! Grinning, she pressed the 7 tile, then the 2 and 5 tiles. Immediately, the door began to slide open. “Well done, Mare Do Well, looks like you saved them after all…” Gametime said, his tone a little disappointed as Mare Do Well spread her wings and flew right over to Cheerilee and the young ponies, who just overcame their anxiety that the other competitor was behind that door and cheered as she entered. “You all okay?” Mare Do Well asked, her tone a low rasp to keep them from recognizing her. “Yes, we’re fine. Gametime sent in a few of his toys earlier, but we handled them.” Cheerilee said, gesturing to the destroyed killer dolls laying around the room. “That sick, demented…” Mare Do Well growled, but then suddenly Gametime’s image appeared on the screen again, clapping his hooves and grinning widely. “Congratulations! I suppose this means you’ve all won! Now, accept your prize… a match against the Scimitaur!” He said with a sinister laugh, pressing a switch and the other door opened, and there stood the golden beast. Its eyes flashed red and it reared back, letting out a synthesized roar. “Oh come on, think I’d fold when my trump card’s still in play, Mare Do Well? I don’t think so.” He taunted. “Let them go. I’ll fight your Scimitaur, one-on-one, just let them leave the maze.” Mare Do Well shouted at the screen as the Scimitaur drew ever closer. “No can do, Mare Do Well. The game doesn’t end for anypony till you actually win.” Gametime answered, raising his hooves as the Scimitaur did the same with its fists. “Now, Mare Do Well, as they always say… lets get ready tooooo RUMBLE!!!” He shouted, and the Scimitaur immediately charged at the costumed pegasus. “Get to the walls, don’t get his attention!” Mare Do Well ordered, but as soon as she said that, blades popped out of the walls, making her roll her eyes. “Figures…” She muttered, backing away as the towering robotic beast approached, steam puffing from its nostrils. With a roar, it raised its fist and swung it. With such an open area and a high roof, Mare Do Well had more room for flight and was able to keep off the ground. The beast roared and swiped its massive hand at her, but the pegasus dodged it narrowly. “More then one way to skin a pony…” Gametime said with a chuckle as the beast turned towards one of the walls, grabbing one of the blades and tearing it loose, then flinging it at her like a javelin. “WHOA!” Rainbow barely had time to avoid the projectile as it embedded itself into the corner of the roof behind her, grazing her side. Grunting in pain, Mare Do Well rubbed the cut she’d sustained with her hoof. The beast pawed the ground with its hoof, then charged, its arms swiping wildly as it jumped for her. Mare Do Well swooped straight down, flying under it as it crashed into the wall, briefly embedding its sharp horns. Mare Do Well grinned under the mask, knowing now was her chance. Swooping down, she held her hooves out as she slammed into its back with a loud clang, and grimacing in pain from the impact, fell to the ground beneath it and causing Scootaloo and her friends to wince as they observed the fight. “O-kay… this guy’s tough.” Rainbow muttered to herself. Her eyes widened under the mask as the Scimitaur pulled itself free and immediately slammed its fist down, Mare Do Well barely rolling out of the way in time and galloping under its legs. “Where do you think you’re going, little pony!” Gametime shouted on the screen as he laughed, the Scimitaur curling itself up into a ball and rolling straight at the wall, bouncing off it and straight at Mare Do Well, who took to the air and flew out of its way. Uncurling itself, the Scimitaur jumped into the air, reaching for the pegasus but missing, causing an impact on the ground that shook the fillies and colts enough to make them tumble over. “Children, stay by me.” Cheerilee ordered, trying to make sure they stayed as far away from the beast as they could. There’s gotta be some kinda weakness… Mare Do Well thought to herself. Its body seemed well-armored, though the gem had to be in its chest. It wasn’t built like the thing she fought the first time she faced Gametime. Think… An idea came to her. Flying over to where the broken spike the Scimitaur had thrown had landed, she tore it loose and began to fly as high as she could with it. Spitfire’s words before the letter that had informed Rainbow of Gametime’s escape came to mind. If you don’t have as much room, you’ll need to make do with what you have, fly wide circles to build up speed and move closer and closer. Do it that way and you won’t accidentally create a tornado and put yourself in danger, the wind pressure will do the rest. Flying as fast as she could, Mare Do Well began to fly in a wide circle around the room, holding the broken spike firmly in her forehooves. Gametime raised an eyebrow on the screen as he watched her, wondering what she was up to as she became little more then a purple blur. Glaring down at the class, he chuckled. “Well, Mare Do Well if you need a time-out, just say so. In the meantime why don’t we give the class a little something to entertain them with?” He asked, the Scimitaur turning its attention toward the class and slowly approaching. Mare Do Well’s momentum built up, air speed force building up around her as she turned just slightly drawing closer and closer. The Scimitaur cornering the class as it raised its massive fist… Teacher, colt, and filly, as well as Gametime himself yelped as suddenly an iron spike jutted out of the chest of the golden beast, its broken gem sticking out the end of it and falling to the ground, magic sparking from it. “Everypony move!” Mare Do Well shouted, causing them to scatter as the Scimitaur slumped over, its head embedding into the wall as it sat limp and motionless. Slamming his hooves angrily on the screen, Gametime fumed and snorted as he glared at Mare Do Well. “You….!!!!” He shouted. “You may have slain my Scimitaur, but you’ll never catch me!” Suddenly explosives went off around the ceiling, causing debris to rain down upon them. As the dust cleared, the class came out from under the Scimitaur, finding Mare Do Well partially pinned under debris. Up above, Gametime laughed, piloting a magically-powered gyrocopter. “Later, Mare Do Well!” He shouted, letting out another laugh only to suddenly be knocked out of the air by a streak of yellow and orange. His gyrocopter spun out of control, no longer piloted, and Spitfire hovered in the air, wings beating as she held the sullen-looking Gametime in her forehooves. “Spitfire… good to see you!” Mare Do Well said, almost forgetting to disguise her voice. “I got here as fast as I could but the authorities warned me what Gametime would do if I tried to enter. Figured once the roof was gone, though, all was fair play. Right? She asked, letting her grip slip just slightly enough to give Gametime the scare of a lifetime and earning a slight whimper from him. As Cheerilee and the students moved the debris off Mare Do Well, the pegasus took flight and approached Spitfire and her captive, glaring through the mask at Gametime. Raising her hoof back she leaned in his face. “If you break out again, I’ll be waiting, but if you ever, ever involve children in your sick plots against me again, I’ll break every bone in your body till it’s all powder! Is that clear? She asked, her tone lethally cold and causing the villain to yelp. “Sure! Of course! Whatever you say!” Gametime answered, a nervous smile on his face and he was promptly subjected to a fierce spinning kick to the face, knocking him unconscious and likely giving him an injury that’d take a good while to heal. “Wow, not bad, Mare Do Well.” Spitfire said with an amused smirk. “Now why don’t we turn him over and we’ll get these ponies out of this maze?” “Sounds good to me.” Mare Do Well answered with a nod. ~ Later, after Spitfire had departed and Cheerilee gave the report to the city guard as Gametime was locked away in a sky carriage for transport to Alkatrot; the students ranted back and forth about their experience. “That was so cool!” Snips said. “The Scimitaur’s got its fist raised, ready to squash us…” “And suddenly SHNICK! Big spike through the chest! Down it goes!” Snails concluded. “And those creepy doll things, I got scared at first but then pow! We brought ‘em down!” Sweetie Belle said. “Like it matters what you blankflanks did.” Diamond Tiara said, Silver Spoon smirking next to her. “We coulda handled it on our own. Did you get a cutie mark for it? I sure don’t see one.” She added, the two rich fillies shared a cruel laugh after. “Hey, Diamond Tiara?” Scootaloo said, approaching with a stern glare. “Shut up. Everypony here saw you two cowering behind eachother, and saw me and my friends despite how you treat us, save your flanks!” Diamond Tiara’s smug look faded as Scootaloo got in her face. “Maybe we didn’t get our cutie marks for fighting supervillain minions or anything, but we did it anyway even for a couple of mean bullies like you because Mare Do Well woulda done the same!” “Niiiice, Scoots…” Applebloom said. Diamond Tiara looked a little surprised, and possibly even slightly intimidated by the orange pegasus filly’s death glare. After a second passed, though, she took whatever the three crusaders figured remained of her dignity and stuck her head up. “Whatever, you’re still blankflanks by the end of the day.” Diamond said, glaring and storming off with Silver Spoon. As she watched them leave, Scootaloo noticed something out of the corner of her eye. Mare Do Well, standing around the corner. As their eyes met, the costumed pegasus gave her a nod of approval and flew off. “She’s cooler then when she first showed up in Ponyville!’ Applebloom said. “Wonder who she is?” “A really awesome pony, that’s for sure!” Scootaloo said with a laugh. ~ Gametime fumed in his cell. The letter from Big Shot chastising him for his failure was crumpled, torn, and partially eaten in rage. His only merit he got from the crime lord was his actions distracted Mare Do Well a little longer, but he can rest assured Big Shot was content with leaving him to rot in prison unless he ever for any reason changed his mind. “I guess it’s game over for me…” He said with a bitter laugh, only to be cut short from yelping in pain as he nursed the side of his face where he’d been hit. Humming to himself, the turquoise earth pony pulled his chessboard out from under his cot and set the pieces up, playing against himself as usual and leaving it up to chance which side he let win this time. ~ “And that, Twi, was how Mare Do Well awesomely saved Miss Cheerilee’s class!” Rainbow said, striding back and forth with her usual cocky smile, hat and mask nearby. “And what about that cut?” Twilight asked. “Eh, it’s nothing. Guess I gotta get Rarity to mend the costume up again… unless you think you can fix it with a mending spell?” The cyan pegasus asked, earning an eyeroll from the lavender unicorn. “Shouldn’t be too hard, I’ve fixed worse and I don’t think Rarity needs the drama after Opal got tangled in one of her new fabrics today.” Twilight said with a laugh. “So I take it the fillies and colts were happy?” She asked. “Oh yeah. They were ranting about it. Scootaloo even stood up to Diamond Tiara big-time, I’ve never seen her stand up to her in such an epic way!” Rainbow said with a grin. “Mare Do Well inspires it. You heard her say something about saving Diamond and Silver from one of Gametime’s robots.” Twilight said. “Yeah, I think she mentioned something like that.” Rainbow said sheepishly. “Colts and fillies need a good role model to help them do stuff they never were completely sure they could do.” Twilight replied with a smirk. “It’s one of the things that proves you make Mare Do Well a worthwhile choice, Rainbow. Even if you’re not directly fighting crazies like Gametime, or Decepto or whoever, you can still be a hero by giving kids a reason to do heroic things too.” Rainbow blushed. “Well, just count it as another reason I’m that awesome, Twi.” She said with a laugh. ~ Dear Princess Celestia, Today, I faced a terrible fear of risking those I cared for become endangered because of all I’ve done as Mare Do Well. A dangerous supervillain leveraged Cheerilee’s class against me… Scootaloo included. It’s a horrible low when somepony would do something like that, and I saw to it he realized how much I held back from putting him through for it. However, I also learned how much I have that I can fight for, and what kind of impact I’ve done has on those kids. I don’t know how to describe the feeling, it’s like what I felt when Scootaloo told me she wanted me to be like a big sister to her. I love being praised, make no mistake about that, but this felt more important to me, like being more then just a hero, but like, I dunno… Twilight says the word I’m looking for is ‘inspiration’. It gives me another reason to keep on this path I picked out for myself. My hunt for Big Shot has still run into dead ends, but I feel somehow I’m getting closer to something. Why else would he be sending so many villains after me unless he’s trying to keep me busy? I know he’s scared, and I’m gonna make it clear to him on why that reason is. Your faithful subject, Mare Do Well Rainbow Dash