//------------------------------// // Part 2, Chapter 11 // Story: Mare of Steel // by iowaforever //------------------------------// Chapter 25 One week later... For once the wind around the Fortress of Solitude had died down, allowing Rainbow to fly more or less in silence. Tucked under her left foreleg was Kandor, the city still unchanged since her fight with Brainiac, while a large crate hung suspended from one of her free legs. She turned right and landed outside the Fortress, using her heat vision to sever the rope carrying the crate. Resting Kandor on top of the crate, Rainbow began to push the two objects into the Fortress. Briefly she considered bringing the shrunken city in first, but decided that that was too much work. As she pushed the crate and Kandor into the Fortress, the standard automated systems turned on and she was once again greeted by an image of Jor-El. “Welcome back, my daughter.” he said, watching as Rainbow finished pushing the crate and city in. “I see that you have found Kandor.” “Yes.” Rainbow reached up and plucked the city off the crate. “I managed to recover it when I was onboard Brainiac’s ship. I want to find a way to restore it, along with the other cities he had in his possession once I find suitable planets for them to inhabit.” “A noble cause, Kara.” Jor-El looked to the crate. “And that?” “Brainiac.” she gave the crate a kick, causing it to fall open. Resting inside was a stone statue of Brainiac, the Coluan as emotionless as ever. “I couldn’t deal with the thought that he might break free and start his plan all over again, so I convinced Princess Celestia to use the Elements of Harmony to turn him to stone. He’ll be staying here, where I can keep an eye on him.” “Most likely a wise course of action. I will make sure that he remains secure.” “Thank you.” Rainbow looked around the Fortress in silence, her eyes tracing every single ridge and crack in the surrounding crystals. “Something is troubling you, my daughter.” Jor-El said after a period of silence. “Yes.” Rainbow looked towards the petrified Brainiac. “I was thinking... maybe there was some way I could have prevented this. Maybe if I had just cut loose when I first met him, none of this would have happened.” “That is not something I can answer for you, Kara. Personally, I would not wish to see blood on your hooves, but there may come a time where what I wish and what would keep your home safe will not align. I believe the more important question is are you that kind of pony, and if such, would you make the decision lightly.” Rainbow frowned and looked away. “... I don’t know.” “Think on it, my daughter.” Rainbow nodded and turned to leave before Jor-El spoke again. “I do not wish to pry, but how is your adoptive mother?” Rainbow paused, looking out at the snow beyond the Fortress before looking back at Jor-El. “She’ll live.” With that, she spread her wings and took flight, heading south towards Ponyville.   ..............   With Brainiac missing, Silversmith had to modify his plan, again. He still had enough technology to reasonably challenge Supermare, but he was still one pony against an alien with the powers of a god. Well, that can be remedied. He turned to the sound of the door opening. In stepped a brown Earth Pony mare in a chauffeur’s uniform, a box resting on her back. “Your trip to Cloudsdale was a success, Mercy?” he asked, stepping behind his desk. “More or less.” Mercy replied, reaching around and plucking the box off her back. “There were a few issues with the repair crews, but I was able to... convince them to let me through.” “Good work.” Silversmith reached over and opened the box. Inside were the remains of Deathstroke’s sword, somehow overlooked during the fight between Supermare and Brainiac. Carefully, Silversmith pulled the fragments from the box, examining each and every one closely. “If you don’t mind me asking, sir,” Mercy said. “What good is a broken sword? I mean, unless you’re going to reforge it or throw it at someone then it’s pretty much useless.” “You’re not looking close enough, Mercy.” Silversmith held up one of the fragments to the light. On one side was a small splash of blood. “What do you see?” “... Blood?” “Not just any blood; Supermare’s blood.” he set the fragment down on his desk. “More importantly, her DNA is within my grasp. Given enough time, I can clone myself an army of loyal superponies, more than even Supermare can handle. No more meddling around in the background, no more deals with wannabe dictators. I can finally take what I want, and she’ll be powerless to stop me.” “Sir,” Mercy raised a hoof. “You’re ego-tripping again.” “Oh, of course.” Silversmith composed himself. “Apologies, Mercy. Would you be so kind as to bring these fragments down to the lab? I want a closer look at them once I’m finished.” “Yes sir.” Mercy took the box of fragments back and exited Silversmith’s office. Once he was sure she was gone, Silversmith pulled out another pad and pencil and set to work on his newest project. I can carry on without Brainiac... This will be perfect.   ..................   He had asked to speak with her on the hill they had their first meet up on. He did not say why, but she was not the kind of pony to jump to conclusions... well, she thought she was not the kind of pony to jump to conclusions. She put those ideas out of her mind as she neared the hill, slowing down and pulling up once Thunderlane was in sight. “Hi.” she said, landing beneath the tree. “Sorry I’m late. I... I needed to check and see how my mom was doing.” “That’s okay.” Thunderlane gave her a quick smile. “How is she?” “... Better.” Rainbow sat down and looked out towards the west. “Still unconscious, but her vitals have gotten better. At this rate, the doctors say she’ll be out in a week or two, but she won’t be able to fly faster than twenty miles an hour, and even then only for a few minutes.” she sighed. “I... I don’t really want to talk about it, okay?” “Okay.” Thunderlane found a spot next to her and sat down, pushing her cape out of the way to make room. “How long have you known?” she asked, not looking over at him. “About who I am?” “Well...” Thunderlane brushed his mane, blushing. “I sort of ran into Scootaloo when... when you sent here to find your mom. Now, I’ve met your mom before, so I asked myself, ‘Why would Supermare put so much trust in her?’ After that it just came together.” “Oh.” there was silence. “So... are you mad at me?” “I’m sorry?” “Are you mad at me for not telling you sooner?” “Not really.” Thunderlane shrugged. “I mean, I understand why you would want to keep it quiet and all. I mean, you can’t spend the rest of your life being Supermare all the time, can you?” “I guess not.” Rainbow glanced over at Thunderlane. He gave her a small smile before she looked away. “But where does that leave us?” “What do you mean?” “You said you liked me, but now that you know who I am, you’re probably not going to carry on with this, are you?” Thunderlane frowned. “Rainbow Dash...” “There was the whole mystery thing, right? You’re probably upset that ‘Supermare’ turned out to be me instead of some other pony... not to say I’m not cool, but come on, we’ve had our arguments in the past.” “Rainbow Dash.” “I mean, I actually punched you in the face two years ago!... Okay, it was more like a smack, but it still counts! What kind of pony would do that? I wouldn’t be surprised if you just-” “Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow stopped and looked over at Thunderlane. “What?” “You’re killing the moment.” Rainbow was about to respond when she found two lips pressed up against hers. She blinked in surprise, unsure of how exactly to respond, before she closed her eyes and allowed some of the tension in her body to subside. I... I could get used to this.   ...............   The hunchback kept his head close to the monitor, not looking up at even the slightest stimuli. His work was too important, and no distraction could draw him away... less He arrive and find the hunchback delaying. It had taken many years of work, ever since He had commanded the hunchback to take up the task. Many had failed before him, and he had their screams to remind him what lay in store for him should he fail. He was not usually a cowardly sort, but he valued his existence and poured that value into his work. He will be here soon... he thought, entering a few more keystrokes. So close... He will not be disappointed. The hunchback heard the sound of the large doors behind him opening. What few servants he did have stopped their work, some of them quivering in fear as He entered. The hunchback could feel His gaze upon his back, but he dared not look up, even for a second. “Well, Desaad?” He asked, stopping next to the hunchback’s terminal. “Is it ready?” “Almost, my lord.” he replied, entering a few more pieces of data. “The device shall be up in just a moment.” “Good.” He looked past the hunchback to the testing platform before Him. “When it is finished, open it fully.” Now, the hunchback took a moment to look up. “My lord, we do not know if that will cause the device to fail. We all could die.” He looked down at the hunchback, eyes glowing red with power. “Are you questioning my judgment, Desaad?” He asked. The hunchback chose his next few words carefully, for they may have been his last. “N-no, my lord. Forgive me, for I have allowed myself to fall to cowardice.” He looked down for a moment before His eyes stopped glowing. “Very well.” He looked back up, fluffing His wings for a brief instant. “Open it fully when you are finished.” “Yes, my lord.” the hunchback returned to his work. A few more keystrokes, a few adjustments, and they were ready. “I am turning on the device now, my lord.” He gave the hunchback a satisfied grunt, and the hunchback pressed a button. At first nothing happened, but soon a wind began to flow through the room. The servants and the hunchback hurried for cover, but He remained as He was. He stood there as wind and lightning whipped around him, scowling at the testing platform before him. The wind grew in ferocity before there was a rush of air followed by a small booming sound. A small white circle appeared in the air before Him, and as it grew more circles began to form until they took the shape of a tunnel, leading off to places only He knew. As the boomtube to Equestria opened wider, a smile spread across the face of Darkseid, Dread Lord of Apokolips. End Part 2 Supermare will return in Justice League of Equestria