//------------------------------// // Uncanny Power Ponies #159 // Story: Daring Do and the Agents of F.O.A.L.E // by PONYMARTYR //------------------------------// When we last left our heroes, the flashing filly known as Fillysecond was spying on the mysterious Lokai! But is this dark figure friend or foe? Fillysecond stands vigil from her perch atop Maretropolis Gazette. In a blur of white, she lands in Maretropolis Park just in time to witness... There he is! Fillysecond thought. That’s the meany pants that stole forty cakes from the bakery last week!* That’s terrible! “It was bad enough my own daughter refused my offer to join my rule! Now you too speak of opposing me?!” Monsoon bellowed. Her purple and blue shimmering robes only amplified her sinister majesty as she cast her hoof out. The princess sized pegasus spreads her wings in a combative manner, creating a massive gust of wind! But to her shock, Lokai remains unfazed! “No, Mother!” Lokai snapped, adjusting his golden horned helmet that the gust of wind knocked astray. “You fail to understand! These ponies of Equestria have too much pride! They will never bow to you, or to anypony! The only recourse is to destroy them!” He flapped his wings with every sentence, climbing higher into the sky. Monsoon recoils in horror at the words from her own son! “I may have done unkind things in my rule, but never have I been a monster!” Her wings unfurled and created another gust of wind. “Lokai, son of Monsoon, heir to Elysium. I hereby cast you OUT of my kingdom for the rest of eternity!” Her wing reaches for something upon her golden sash, but to her horror... it is gone! Lokai threw aside his green cape and revealed a golden staff topped with a radiant sphere of pure magic.“Missing something, Mother?” “I... I... How did you get that?!” “I merely stole it from the armory while you were dealing with those insipid Power Ponies!** I bade my time, and now I know how to use it properly!” Lokai stopped petting the staff and pointed it at Monsoon. “And now, Mother... I cast YOU out!” “NOOOOOOooo!” Fillysecond looks up in time to see a monochrome blur rush forth like a bolt of lightning! A mighty crack of thunder resounds as something collides with Lokai’s face and sends him flying! Monsoon landed upon her golden hooves and let a smile play across her face. “Even after all I’ve done... all I’ve threatened you with... you still come to my rescue?” The black and white suited pegasus caught her breath. “You’re... still... my mother.” With a wicked smile, Monsoon embraced her daughter. “Does this mean you’ve reconsidered my offer to rule***, Zaphina?” The mighty Zap does not sway her eternal loyalty to Equestria and its ponies. “Never.” Monsoon’s wings spread and call forth the winds of her namesake! “Then with a heavy heart, I shall destroy you both!” The mighty pegasus released Zap from her grip. Accelerated by the force of her summoned gust, she lunged at her daughter with intent to kill in her eyes, which swirl like hurricanes. Fillysecond’s eyes widened as Zap summoned a large, golden lightning bolt. “Controlling the wind is nothing to a pony who can control the lightning! I summon the power of the storm!” Zap, mare of the elements, wields the mighty Gullfaxi to create a massive thunderhead. Below, Fillysecond uses her super speed to avoid the errant bolts of lightning from the epic battle above! “Hey! I want help too!” shouts the speed demon. In a split-second, she dashed into the park, getting front row seats to the action. She galloped up a tree and lept off the top branch, propelling herself towards Monsoon. “Take this, fiend!” In a flash of white, Fillysecond straddles the Mane-a-zon queen and hangs on for dear life! “What sorcery is this?! Release me at once!” Monsoon bellowed, her voice creating a thunderclap in its wake. Zap swung her lightning bolt to the sky, ready to call down more lightning, when she saw the struggling filly in her mother’s clutches. “I will survive your puny attack! But I fear this mortal will not!” Zap grit her teeth. “You’ve reached a new low, Mother. If this is how you treat your future subjects, you don’t deserve the throne.” “Your hesitation will cost you dearly, my daughter!” Monsoon readies the killing blow, when a blinding ball of magic strikes her in the side, sending her spiraling to the ground! Zap manages to catch the falling Fillysecond just in time! “My hero!” Fillysecond exclaimed, and wrapped her hooves tightly around Zap’s throat. Before Zap could say anything, she felt soft lips pressed to her own. The two landed awkwardly and Zap released her charge, then glared at Lokai. “What did you do that for?!” “Because you two don’t deserve a hero’s death!” Lokai sneered. “You deserve to die with the rest of the mortals!” He pointed the staff to the sky and tore open a portal back to Elysium. “Mark my words, I will return!” In a brilliant flash, Lokai and Monsoon are gone! Zap looks over the charred remains of Maretropolis park. “Um.. sorry about all the mess.” A blush ravaged her features as she pawed at the dirt. “Happens all the time!” Fillysecond exclaimed. “So, mynameisFillysecondwhatsyournamewhatwasthatallaboutdoyoukno—” “Slow down!” Zap held her head in her hooves to stop the world from spinning. Fillysecond giggled. “Sorry, force of habit.” She stopped her laughing and pointed to the distance. “Hey, who’s that?” Zap turned her head just in time to see a grey stallion with black hair and sunglasses turn to leave the scene. “I don’t...” A gush of wind cut her off, followed by another. “..know?” Zap turned again to see Fillysecond holding something in her hoof. “What’s that?” “Whatever it is, it’s shiny!” Fillysecond held up the card. A stylized alicorn on a holographic background, emblazoned with silver letters. F.O.A.L.E. Fillysecond jerked her stare up from the card and looked at Zap. “So, wanna join our team?” Zap continued to stare at the card. “Okay.” “Great! Meeting is at the Hall of Friendship tomorrow morning!” Fillysecond dropped into a runners stance. “Hey! What was up with you kissing—” Before Zap could finish, Fillysecond was miles away. She took one last look at the card, tossed it to the ground, and walked off. To Be Continued!