//------------------------------// // Chapter 03: Zan Alloy Comes In // Story: MLP: Metal Grip On Life // by JusSonic //------------------------------// Chapter 03: Zan Alloy Comes In Meanwhile, in Pinkamena’s secret dungeon, the group who stayed behind to hold the fort AKA a former villain, his lover and a couple of Light Elves are busy as Autumn Gem moves close to Sombra. "You know, I have this strange feeling that a Changeling is within Ponyville." Sombra spoke off in suddenly speaking from a strange sense that was in the air. That got many in the room to focus on him; it's as if the guy was trying to pull a Pinkie Sense act on them as a joke; which ain't funny. "Are you sure?" Autumn Gem asked in worry on the subject. Sombra looks at Autumn Gem and the others, knowing he has to be a bit more specific. "Even if they can take forms to hide their scent of dark evil, it is not hidden to the trained minds and focus in seeking the truth behind the lies." Sombra explained the case of what one can truly discover from the right kind of training. "Hmmm...well I read about it or heard it from the Mistress. She says that some that trained hard enough, gain a strong skill in which they can be able to sense the essence of good and evil. And have a skill to see what others cannot see like what the Hero of Time perform in the Lens Of Truth that ben could gain in due time." Havis spoke in deep thought over the subject that such skills can help one see the truth within the lie, but only through certain training or by having an object to help one out. The others lightly nod their heads in feeling that was an agreeable subject. "How did you ever learn that, my love?" Autumn Gem asked Sombra in not knowing how he came across such a skill. "When one is trap inside a dark cage, his body taken and soul locked into a dark cave alone, they have all the time in the world." Sombra explained his old brief moment of time from what he's done when he was the evil King Sombra, he had to pass by the time somehow. That made everyone cringe a bit in knowing what he is saying, they don't wanna think how a guy who was evil even stood for that. "Well even so, you’re freed from that dark cave and cage." Autumn Gem nuzzles Sombra to speak these gentle words. Autumn Gem hugs her love as Sombra smiles lightly and hugs her back. "Indeed I am." Sombra gently spoke back in reply. Then both Sombra & Autumn Gem give a light kiss. Course while that played out, Jack Zen decides to head out to aid his Prince and tells the others to man the fort as they nod and he heads off with Hikari. "We best make sure things are in check with our sleeping Light Elves." Havis says holding Hikari's hand in what they can do here. "Indeed." Hikari lightly nods in agreeing to that subject there. As the two Light Elves leave to check their brethren, the scene goes dark as this display is over. And we'll return to what's happening at this moment. -------------- As much of Ponyville was trying to clean off the mess from so much pastry gunk all over and party streamers and confetti, we look to those that are signing from exhaustion. The Mane Six, the CMC, the baby Dragons, Shining, Iron Brave, Goldie’s group and Ben have been working with both their muscle strength to magic abilities to clean up. Heck, most of the time the gang were surprised in seeing Pinkie Pie actually EAT the mess away. But they were resting while trying to still cleanup this whole thing before looking for Mayor Ronson. “You know, I don’t get why Ronson doesn’t just make more of those golems and help out.” Rainbow Dash complained off to say from seeing their situation wasn’t getting any cleaner. “I explained it before; golem casting spells are more different. You can create them, but you need the right amount to have them move from whatever amount of magic one gives.” Twilight spoke to tell her friends that the trick to magically creating golems needs both skills and lots of creativity from a spell caster; it ain’t the easiest thing to perform even for some unicorn class ponies. “Twilight’s right and Ronson did lose a lot of them so his troops are kinda down.” Ben stated how Ronson must be magically casting to make more of his Steel Golems to help out. “Well you think he could even spare any he’s still got going?” Phobos asked off in thinking that mayor dude should spare some helpful hands to aid them with the mess that they got. “I don’t think so, right now, Mayor Mare told us he’ll be keeping low until it’s safe.” Nyx stated the reason they were told about earlier about why the guy isn’t showing up. “Oh my, he must think if he comes out again, he’ll almost put more ponies in danger!” Fluttershy spoke with some concerns if such a pony that is targeted is out, it may cause more a commotion. “Boy, it’s gotta be tough to be the center target of some crazy foe.” Spike shrug off to say in how someone they got is being targeted, it’s not easy when an enemy has it out for you. “Right, I mean. We’re basically living that right now from the Three Lords.” Pinkie Pie randomly spoke off in seemingly thinking that’s what is going on with them at this exact moment. “Not precisely a statement we all like ta agree on Pinkie.” Applejack raised an eyebrow in hearing that claim of how Pinkie Pie described it. “Omega, how soon are we gonna be done?” Golden Heart asked the robot in how long they got until they get things all fix up. “Approximately three or so hours, give or take.” Omega shrugs off to say the math of how long they still gotta go for. “Hugh, brother, at this rate, we’ll never figure out the case mystery between Mayor Ronson and Z-Strap! And I can’t help but think there is something so off about them that it’s driving me crazy!” Pinkamena was signing to say this much stuff and rub her head in feeling like she’s gonna go bonkers until she calm down. “But not crazy to like start being my freaky crazy self. Just to assure this to everyone else,” She stated this with a friendly smile across her face here. Most of the gang sorta laughs that off while trying to get ready to get to work until… “Hey there pony pals, how's things brewing?” Granny Smith spoke off to enter the scene with Big Mac & Tough Apple nearby with her. “Hey Granny; it’s kinda so-so here.” Apple Bloom waved off to tell her grandmother this noted fact. “Right, we’re only halfway done.” Scootaloo pointed off in seeing how much they still gotta work. “And I think our tummies are almost too full to eat anymore.” Sweetie Belle rub her belly like the other CMC, they helped to eat, but now are too full to help. “Well maybe some good news will perk ye up. De craziest thing happen, I bump into an old friend of mine from Manehattan.” Granny Smith smiled off saying that there is someone here they have to meet. “Who’s dat? Babs Seed or her folks,” AJ raised an eyebrow to ask who it was her granny’s talking about. “Nope; not an old family friend AJ, an old friend I once knew. Come on over a say hi!” Granny Smith stated to say this while waving for the pony to make an entrance here. Now entering the scene was some new pony the gang had not met before. It was an old chubby tan brown Earth mare with gray mane & tail that tied into a bud in the back, and light brown eyes. She wore some sorta dark green military short uniform with a pink apron tied around the front and wears on glasses. She looks like some ordinary old mare, but she looks like someone that has some military standard issues in her background. “Hello there, I see my old friend has already told you a little about me.” The new old mare spoke with a smile and greeting to the bunch. “Um, a little…um,” Nyx was about to say while also at the point did not get this pony’s name. “Call me Grams, practically every pony does.” The revealed pony issued in what the group here can call her. “Wait, what’s with those clothes?” Rainbow Dash asked off in noticing the strange outfit hidden under the apron. “Didn’t Granny Smith tell you, well how’s about I show you? Hoof wrestle me, child.” Grams spoke off to sit down and wanted to hoof-wrestle the strong Rainbow Dash. “Oh you’re so on!” Rainbow Dash eagerly accepted this and got herself set. “Remember Rainbow, go easy. She’s Granny Smith’s age.” AJ spoke with a serious honest face, Grams is an old senile pony, one wrong move might hurt her. “Relax; I’ll try to go…” Rainbow was saying as she got her hoof to Grams’s hoof. But then when the signal was made of when the two start, Grams took down Rainbow’s hoof in an instant, instantly stunning everyone at such strength. “Easssy,” Rainbow Dash finished with a stump look, she lost, and to an old mare who might have the strength of a bear. “Hmph, child, lesson one, always know everything about someone, so they don’t get the drop on yah.” Grams smiled off to say in telling the young mare here an important matter to keep in mind for future reasons. “Otherwise, you would have known I’m a sweet, but tough Ex-Marine Corps pony. In short, a Drill Sergeant,” She proudly spoke this off about who she is that not many could tell right away. “Drill Sergeant?” The others responded in being stun, Grams is like a commando-type pony, even if she looks to be retired. “Wow. And I thought hearing that Big Mac called himself Sergeant Steel Hooves was amazing." Spike off surprise in learning this second surprise right after learning about Big Macintosh’s past history of being on the battlefield. “Yo Grams, you there,” Spoke another young voice, one that almost made the gang stand on edge ready. “Alert; Unknown entity approaching,” Omega responded to bring out his weapons and pointed them out at the direction. Soon what entered into our view of sights was another new pony after Grams. It was an Earth stallion who’s physically fit, with tan brown color fur, gray-black dreadlocks mane & medium flow tail, and light brown eyes. He wears a red bandanna on his head in the front, red stripe wristbands on his hooves, grey sneakers. On his flank is a metal sun-star mark that is his Cutie Mark (sorta looks familiar to another). He also likes to have a red skateboard with him whenever he can. And when he was looking, he saw that some crazy robot was pointing his blasters and cannons at him. “Wow! Ugh, what’s this?” The new young stallion asked off with a familiar slang & accent tone in seeing this action. “Hey metal-motor, put those things away before you hurt my grandchild!” Grams sternly was telling Omega to stand down and not someone of her family. “Grandchild,” The others responded in having a second stunning moment of now meeting with someone who was the grandchild to Grams who is an old friend to Granny Smith. “My apologizes.” Omega responded while putting away his weaponry. “Yeah, sorry, it’s just, his voice sounded familiar.” Golden Heart spoke in being a friend of Omega gave his apology to Grams for this unexpected behavior. Even Shining and Iron Brave glares at the newcomers in suspicion. “Yeah, very familiar indeed,” Pinkamena slowly spoke in having a strange suspicion about such actions. “Allow me to introduce my grandson, Zan Alloy.” Grams spoke to proudly have everyone’s eyes be on her grand baby here. “Hugh. I never knew ye had a grandchild, what about yer son? Oh, heheh; is he married, an dat young fellow is his son.” Granny Smith smiled off to say from being puzzled until she figured it out a bit. “Um, Granny Smith, best not to talk about them, okay.” Grams spoke from looking a bit worried about the subject, so was Zan apparently. “Why, how come,” Pinkie Pie asked off to bounce around happily to this family until… “Cause it’s too depressing, my folks….I barely know if they’re alive or not.” Zan spoke off to say this with a little sorrow look which even made Pinkie stop bouncing in hearing such a sad deal. “My goodness; How very sad to hear,” Rarity gasped in hearing such sad news, they never knew about that. “Please, don’t think badly of us….if we said too much.” Fluttershy pleaded to not want to be mean to this new pony. “Nah, its fine; Yah didn’t know.” Zan waved off to say it’s cool, he’s not mad, just…kinda sad. “Well anyway, it’s nice to meet you Zan? I’m…” Ben spoke to approach in offering a hoof shake of friendship towards the guy until… “Ben Mare, Celestia’s child, yeah, heard about you, and everyone else here. News travels fast in Manehattan.” Zan spoke off to simply state the issue of already knowing this group before they even knew it. “Oh, does it really?” Fluttershy asked off in being amazed to learn of such a thing that went on. “Wow, that’s some surpassingly fast newspaper work!” Pinkie Pie responded off to say from hearing such a thing. “So did you two come here with Mayor Ronson?” Twilight asked this question since these ponies came from where the mayor of Manhattan was also from. “No honey, we came to Ponyville almost three days trip by taking the natural walkway.” Grams spoke off with a straight up face about what travel plan they did. “You walked all the way from Manehattan?” Golden Heart asked off in almost finding that a bit hard to believe. “I never heard of ponies doing that. Did you even know Ronson was coming here?” He was very surprise, but wondered if these two knew about Mayor Ronson at all. “Not really, we weren’t much of knowing what our mayor does.” Zan Alloy shrug off to say about such matters without much care for them. “How so,” Big Mac raised an eyebrow in hearing this that earn some attention. “Cause we do.” Zan stated off to simply state the issue as it is. “Hey Grams, is it alright if I look around, you look like you got some catching up to do.” He requested for his grandma to let he look around to see what he can find. “Oh come on child, relax a little. Hey, tell you what. Ask the princess and her friends, to give you a tour.” Grams spoke off to say while also giving an idea to help Zan out. “What, Grams come on, they must have way bigger things to deal with then hang out with a guy like me!” Zan Alloy spoke off to make an excuse of why he can’t be having the Mane Six come with him. “Why, think ye ain’t good enough?” Tough Apple raised an eyebrow in thinking that was an insult, but… “No, it ain’t that, it’s just hard for others to like my grandchild. Especially since he’s good at making metal artwork out of old junk and ponies never got his artist side.” Grams explained her grand child has a hard time getting along with others, some folks never even get Zan’s unique passion for art. “WOW! An Artist! How pinkie kin is that!” Pinkie Pie smiled off to say in liking the sounds of this little discussion right off the bat. “Sounds neat,” Apple Bloom cheered off to say from hearing this. “Sound awesome!” Scootaloo shouted in liking the idea very much. “Let’s see some!” Sweetie Belle declared in wanting to see the cool artwork stuff of junk. “Yeah, I like to see how he makes something of mine look cool.” Rainbow Dash brag off in thinking she has things Zan can use to make fine artwork. “Evidentially, Dashie has some stuff she never thrown out.” AJ rolled her eyes to say with a wise crack, much to her friend’s annoyance. “Well Zan, wanna show us your skills?” Ben smiled off to say in seeing they win;t gonna drop the subject unless the guy agrees. “Hugh, alright, but you might be bored.” Zan sighs in defeat, but he can only hope this group won’t be bored from what he does. “We’ll be the judged of that.” Twilight humbly spoke in telling this guy to not worry, they’ll decide what is bored and what is exciting. “Right, let’s go!” Nyx cheered off to say in liking to get this started now. “All-aboard the party train!” Pinkie Pie pops up to announce with her perky smile of wanting the fun to begin. Soon the Mane Six were taking the CMC, Spike & Phobos as Ben help lead Zan Alloy. They would show the new pony around before helping the guy make some interesting metal junk artwork, especially since not a lot of the ponies have seen such things. “Excuse me, Zan was it, can we ask you something? This will just take a minute.” Iron Brave interrupts the plan to show Zan around with a little question of thought. “Um, sure,” Zan responded off in not being bothered by this. Soon Iron Brave gets Zan & Shining Armor away from the others while they have a private conversation between three stallions. “I must say, you showing up when Z-Strap was in town seems almost a coincidence.” Iron Brave spoke off in sounding somewhat suspicious, like he is looking pass the boy’s outer form. “Hugh, yeah, well…just calls us lucky.” Zan huffs a bit before making some rhetorically excuse about this being on a coincidence. “I’ll say, had you seen what he did in attacking in broad daylight?” Shiny stated off in feeling a bit upset in how Z-Strap did out there during Ronson’s speech. “Well, you know how he does things….folks don’t get him.” Zan reacted a bit like hearing this guy him to look away, feeling like he had concerns on his mind about the subject to which the other two saw. “Best save it, hearing about it from you won’t get us anywhere. But we will find out the truth of such reasoning.” Iron Brave held up a hoof in stating that just talking about Z-Strap from a guy who only seen him and isn’t him, can’t know what’s going on even from another viewer’s view. “The guy may have not hurt my sister, but if he does, next time, I will show him a side of me he won’t like.” Shining Armor spoke off to sound like he get really serious if someone hurts his sister. “Right, got it; Good luck with that.” Zan spoke off to sound almost a bit, sorry, in hearing how Shining Armor said the next time Z-Strap hurts his sister. “Hey you guys, are you done talking?” Pinkie Pie asked out from watching the three almost finish, the others are waiting. “Yeah, you ponies can have him now. We just wanted to chat.” Iron Brave smiled off to say this while patted Zan on the back to get going. “Sure, if you call twenty questions chatting.” Zan shrug off to say in feeling the matter of what they went through was whack. While Zan went near Twilight’s group to prepare for the tour, Iron Brave & Shining Armor finished up their private conversation. “No questions asked, he and his grandma managed to lies their way through, despite it being the worse, but gullible thing to pull off.” Iron Brave shook his head off to silently speak this to Shiny in stating what he’s managed to see. “Wait, lying,” Shiny asked off quietly in hearing this right. “As a former member of elements, I could sense it, the Element Of Metal, Zan Alloy…is Z-Strap.” Iron Brave stated quietly in saying that Zan was the real pony under the masked costume rogue; Z-Strap, he was the wielder of the metal element. “What! Why didn’t you say so, we have to tell the others!” Shiny yelps in hearing this and feels they need to inform the rest right away. “Not yet, let’s watch him and see how things play out.” Iron Brave held up his hooves in stating they wait to see how things play out. “Like we discuss before, his actions and Ronson’s are all mix up in whose good and evil.” The guy was feeling Ronson has something to hid in the dark, and Z-Strap is the key, if they keep watch on Zan Alloy, they are sure to undercover something. “I see, but….is that really the only thing?” Shiny nod in thinking that was a fair point, but was it the only reason. “In truth…I wanna believe he’s not just some reckless rogue that’s out to cause trouble. But I also need you to help judge him, will you aid me Shining Armor.” Iron Brave shrug off his shoulders in feeling that Zan Alloy is a good wielder to his element, but he can’t trust his judgment and needs Shiny to help him so he can finally come to a conclusion. “I will, he doesn’t seem like it, but if it’s just a front, then we’ll find out by watching him closely.” Shining Armor nods silently in seeing where this was going, they best watch to see if Zan Alloy is indeed hero material or not. With that, Iron Brave and Shining Armor nod their heads in agreement before also leaving the area to keep watch over Zan Alloy and learn whether his actions are true good or evil. Only way to find out is by getting to know the guy. “Tough, Big Mac, ye can help around here while we have some chitter chatter.” Granny Smith smiled off to those of her family to help around town in cleaning up some leftover messes still. As Tough & Big Mac was heading off to help with more of the cleanup crew, this gave the old mares some time to have some conversation. “So wha’s de deal here Grams, why did ye come ta Ponyville?” Granny Smith raised an eyebrow in starting to talk like her old friend was here more than just the fine feeling of wanting to visit. “Nothing gets by you as some folks think with your old age. But in any case…..It’s confidential reasons, can’t tell it to you.” Grams spoke off to respond in only giving a few statements about her own reason of being here. “Oh come now, my kids & grandson been through them military jumbo stuff, and I’ve learn a thing or three myself.” Granny Smith spoke off to tell off about her own family having learn some things about being military commando style stuff and whatnot. “Hugh, let’s just say, we’re here to discover the truth, but that’s all.” Grams signs to only tell this much to her old friend of why they are even here to begin with. “Oh fine, but I’ll get ye ta tell me sooner or later.” Granny Smith pouted in seeing it’ll take more time to crack the shell of Grams than it looks. “Hmph-hmph, nice to see you haven’t changed a bit.” Grams chuckled off a bit in seeing Granny Smith is the same as always. Now as the old mares were chatting, Goldie’s group was keeping a far distance, but could overhear things…thanks to Omega’s advance hearing and recording soundtrack system. “Hugh. So Grams & her grandson are not just here for some plain visit,” Golden Heart spoke off to say from finding this news feat a bit puzzling to him. “Yep Golden, maybe….it has something to do with them, Z-Strap and Ronson.” Pinkamena spoke off in having her own suspicions of these mysterious characters that have come, are connected “The clues are slowly coming around, but we better listen closely.” If they wanna learn more about what’s going on, they need to really hear off more of what the old mares are talking about. “But what about the Mane Six and their friends that went with that Zan Alloy character?” Omega spoke to remind them of the others with that grandchild of Grams. “Twilight’s group can handle it, if anything, we need to slowly wait to learn more about anything of the true enemy’s moves.” Pinkamena stated off to say this much to those with her. “True enemy,” Goldie & Omega responded off confused, is there some deeper meaning going on than just Grams & Zan Alloy visiting, Mayor Ronson being in town and why Z-Strap is here? “Hugh, sometimes, I almost wish I could be capable of predicting the stuff she can do.” Golden Heart sighs in wondering if he be better off knowing more of how his sister can know so much or feel like she’ll know what happens eventually. Soon Goldie’s group kept a distance while still helping with the cleanup work. Something was going on, and unless they can learn a bit more about it, they aren’t gonna do anything risky. -------------- At this particular moment that was going on, a train arrived by the train station. As it stops and the doors open to reveal who would be coming out, but Flare Tiger, and as she steps out, along with her Quadruplet children, with smiles. That is until she inhaled the fresh air and gasped in realized with familiar scents of two subjects she detected: metal and....a Changeling. "Hugh...Zan Alloy?" Flare Tiger gasped in realizing what she deduce by the scent of one of them. "What's going on, Mom?" Blaze Leo asked off in not knowing what was up. Flare Tiger sighs a bit before explaining. "Trouble, Ah think. Ah better sit this one out for a while. Ah like a little chat with Pinkamena and a little old friend of mine." She explained this case of which she felt this state was best left out for her while she needs to chat with someone. Flare Tiger's family nodded as they ran off to home. As Flare Tiger sighs again, she then leaps into the sky and soar around until she found Pinkamena, along with her group who were chatting about Ronson in their discussion. Flare Tiger land on the ground, as she trotted toward Pinkamena. "Oh, Hey Flarey," Pinkamena gasped in looking at Flare Tiger by surprise. "Howdy Pinkamena, Got a minute?" Flare Tiger smiled off to say while requesting this. "Sure." Pinkamena nodded her head at that. Flare Tiger and Pinkamena walked away from Golden Heart & Omega's group. "Hugh, I know what this might be about. Look, Rainbow Dash got me off really good." Pinkamena sighed a bit in getting on a random subject. "Really," Flare Tiger spoke off in being shocked to hear that. "Hehe....yep; When she read the words, 'Don't look back,' she knew it; And... BANG! She got me!" Pinkamena giggled in talking about the subject. Flare Tiger chuckled a bit in hearing that story. "Ah see... However, Ah' need talked ya about... a certain pony...someone new & is in town." She explained the case to her friend. "Oh! That's probably Mayor Ronson, he's Mayor of Manehattan. What's going on?" Pinkamena awed off in thinking that question is easy, or is it. "Ah don't think that pony is.... Normal," Flare Tiger looked at this case with a serious thought about Ronson, which caused her to growl a bit. "I see... However, there is another problem; it's about Z-Strap who we saw attacking him." Pinkamena nodded to hear this while discussing another matter. "Z-Strap; Oh... Ah see... Ya can trust him if ya wanna side with him." Flare Tiger spoke off in hearing that name to smile with relief. "Woah...Do you know him?" Pinkamena gasped in surprise, did this girl know about Z-Strap? Flare Tiger smiled from being asked such a question. "Eeyup, please, let him speak the truth on why he kept his target on Ronson. Like Ah said, Ronson isn't normal." She explained the case of what this pony should do for the future. Flare Tiger trotted away as Pinkamena thought carefully of what Flare Tiger said of her warning as she turned to her group and trotted toward them "Sis, was that Flare Tiger?" Goldie asked his sister of who that was they saw. "Yep, that's her!" Pinkamena responded in stating that was Flare Tiger. "What was she telling you?" Omega asked off the subject. "I'll tell you later. For now, let’s do what we gotta do for now." Pinkamena stated to say in telling the guys later. Goldie & Omega were puzzled, but decided not to ask since that was just Pinkamena being herself as the scene goes dark from this strange mystery to grow into another. ---------------- As the scene opens up to somewhere else, Flare Tiger is seen walking around until she found an old mare who sighed in worry on something as Flare Tiger realized who this might be. "Grams; is that's ya?" Flare Tiger chirped a bit in knowing this old pony from somewhere. Grams turn around to gasp to see Flare Tiger nearby. "My goodness, I didn't know that you’d be here, Kitty!" Grams responded in seeing this familiar pony was in the neck of the woods. "Ah live here too. Is this about Ronson?" Flare Tiger smiled at first before it became a bit blue on a new subject. "Yup, I just hope my grandchild, Zan Alloy, tells the truth to them younger folks about him." Grams nods off a bit causally in stating the subject in question. Flare Tiger nodded in hearing that thing, "Me too, me too. Mind if Ah sat next 'ta ya?" She asked off the next question that came to her. "Go ahead." Grams smiled in not minding that at all. Flare Tiger sat next to Grams, as Grams brags about life and Flare Tiger told her some of the tales of her travels as well. So while this is going on, things will play out for the others in question... ----------- At this time, much of the Mane Six, CMC, baby Dragons and Ben were showing Zan Alloy around. Zan managed to figure out much of the stuff that was shown around him, Fluttershy’s cottage, the CMC’s school house, the Apple’s Farm, Rarity’s place, even the Sparkle’s home. And as they were eating some cupcakes at Sugarcube Corner from where Pinkie Pie resides, the dude was stating to make some chats. During this time, Shining and Iron Brave were nearby, watching and keeping an eye on them, especially Zan Alloy. “Say, before I try to make any sorta….you know; artwork with some metal objects.” Zan was speaking out to those he could consider…new friends, about something he’ll do but first needs to say something. “You mean with junk? Ow?” Phobos asked off before getting whacked by Spike for being rude there. “Yeah, I like to ask, does Mayor Ronson, you know, own anything around here? Since he came?” Zan asked off this straight forward answer in having some suspicion. “Why would a mayor from another city own anything here?” Spike shrug off to say in not figuring out that tricky riddle. “Cause I’m sure, he’ll have this logo on it.” Zan showed a strange logo symbol of ‘R’ that’s blue & yellow line coloring. “Ever saw this before?” He asked off in liking to know if the gang has seen this around in their home, they surely wouldn’t have missed a simple marker. “Hugh, now that I think about, there is a building compound that’s supposed to be condemn by those wearing uniforms from Mayor Ronson, Mayor Mare requested them since they were very good to help construct a new sight.” Rarity spoke in having some thought about the manner herself, as she knows of what Zan was asking here. “I see; where’s that place,” Zan raised an eyebrow in having gotten something he likes more info on without raising suspicion. “Oh, it’s just over there, silly. Real easy,” Pinkie Pie pointed over across their area where some old compound looked like it would be demolition soon. “Thanks.” Zan nods to say after he had gotten this intel that could be helpful. But before Zan would move off after finishing his cupcake and he put down his skateboard to almost move out when….Ben got in his way suddenly; cutting him off. “Wait, why do you seem so interested in something that belongs to your mayor,” Ben asked off in thinking there was more to the question than they first believed. “Well, you know. You happen to find cool stuff that his Steel Golems forget. They aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed, you know?” Zan rubbed the back of his head to simply state a fact about him going to such a place to get things Ronson’s enforcers never seem capable of noticing much. “Hugh, I hear that!” Rainbow Dash smirked off to exclaim how the Steel Golems are about as smart as rocks or steel. “Plus, I don’t mind doing that, lets me feel a bit more at ease. And anything I find, I could make into an art form.” Zan addressed off the manner of never having a problem, it helps him settle out some issues and helps him find stuff to help him relax and do stuff of his hobby. “But that would be trespassing; we can get into trouble if we did that.” Fluttershy spoke in concern about what they do that be likely them breaking the law it seems. “Yo, aren’t you all councilors to your own princess that runs this town? You should be the ones to make sure things are clear so no pony else fiddles around?” Zan asked off to remind the group, that the Mane Six are the Council of Friendship, so they have as much right to go into places in their town that’s too dangerous for citizens to get mix in. “Well, that does make sense, but still.” Twilight slightly responded in hearing this with some other thought to it. “Come on, let’s check it out before it gets to be seen as rubble.” Zan spoke in inviting the bunch to follow him to check that compound before it gets demolition. “Now hold up there partner. Is there something’ ye ain’t wanna be saying?” AJ asked off in raising an eyebrow with some suspicion in her tone. “Yo, what are you talking about?” Zan raised an eyebrow in not getting what this pony was getting on about. “How’s about ye think there might be something hidden there, just cause Mayor Ronson is involved?” Applejack asked off this question that seems to almost push Zan on an edge here when hearing the name. “But Auntie Applejack, why do you think that?” Nyx asked off lost, why was AJ even bringing up such a suggestion. “Cause ever since he came, we got trouble from dat suspicious Z-Strap character, and now two folks from Manehattan are here. Wha’s de deal here?” AJ asked off in feeling this was almost too much a coincidence, there must be something going on, it ain’t by chance. “AJ’s right. It IS a little too convenient.” Rainbow Dash spoke in now starting to have suspicion over this case and with Zan too. “Seriously, you think like that?” Zan raised off an eyebrow in hearing what this bunch was telling him now. “Well, Omega did react when you came in.” Sweetie Belle spoke off to say this to the guy about what happened earlier. “Right, your voice and speeches sound alike.” Scootaloo stated from hearing Zan Alloy & Z-Strap, they sound perfectly alike. “But why was he even going after Ronson?” Apple Bloom asked off in why Z-Strap wants to pursue Ronson so much. “Worse, he’s an Evil Element User, like Shadow Dragon!” Phobos spoke off in thinking this Z-Strap is some evil user to an element, just like another foe they have to be dealing with. Zan looked like he was having a hard time hearing such claims of Z-Strap being evil with an element he’s got, but then someone spoke of for the guy…. “Now calm down, maybe we don’t know for sure if that’s true.” Ben spoke to calm the others here to hear him out now. “Shadow Dragon of the Dark Mystics does have the Element of Darkness, but Z-Strap, I can’t explain it, but he fought us and when I replay that fight….he looked like he was trying to hold back.” Ben spoke off in what he was recalling from their first fight against Z-Strap, the guy fought hard to take out the Steel Golems to get Ronson, but against the heroes, he seem like he was only on a fighting level to keep the gang off him. “Hold back. But he sure didn’t look like that?” Spike asked off in feeling like that claim seem almost weird for them to think. “Hmmm, you know, me and Pinkamena almost felt like we were more likely fighting a good guy than an actual villain, it’s so weird.” Pinkie said with a weird look on her face. Ben turn to Zan who almost felt like the other Earth stallion was trying to peak into his soul. “Zan, you must know something about Z-Strap, right?” Ben asked off in thinking that maybe Zan, a citizen from Manehattan, knows about Z-Strap from the same place. “Well, say I do, I can tell you; he doesn’t trust Ronson.” Zan spoke off to remotely issue that Z-Strap, he doesn’t like Ronson, not one bit. “But why?” Fluttershy asked off a bit shy to ponder what was wrong that someone didn’t like Mayor Ronson. “Cause a few folks think he’s hiding something. Something he wants to be covered up. And that he has tries to hid the truth, even keep it off from the Royal Sisters.” Zan spoke off in stating this much that Ronson may have been seen as a good spokes model for the public, but there lies something darker in the shadows. This made the others feel strange, could Ronson really be doing things in the dark nobody knows about. But the guy seem so perfect and seem like he was a promising caretaker to his own kind. But then when an old memory of the Changeling Queen during the Canterlot Wedding came up, that’s when things began to make some have some new thoughts of doubt. “Zan, can I ask that you tell us everything if we let you do this?” Twilight spoke humbly in asking for their new friend to tell them everything that’s going on. “Wait, what? Where’d this come from?” Zan yelped off in being almost caught off guard by this sudden development. “I wanna trust you, Ben feels like it, so I should to. Friends can help you out if you open up to them.” Twilight spoke to say this with a smile about if Zan can let them in, they can help him. “You might think we won’t understand, but…we’re willing to try if you let us.” She spoke kindly that if the guy tries to, they can learn more about Zan than they think. Zan felt hesitant, this group that was at first all so much being Ronson’s supporters now wanna learn if there is something going on in the shadows. In the past, many that thought Ronson had some dark secret were proven wrong and that many of the others around just laugh it off. Zan recalled such memories from hardships, but…he calm down a bit before looking at this group. “Hugh, alright, just hoped that you can stomach the truth of whatever it is.” Zan respond to sign in this debatable argument, and just look serious to let the others know…what they find, might be hard for them to accept. With that, the gang begins to head to the compound. But as Zan was ahead, he seemingly spoke to himself. “They actually trust me like true friends. Hugh, but how long can that be kept…before they know who Z-Strap REALLY is?” Zan spoke under his breath from when a strange fad image of Z-Strap was seen near him that only he could see by his imagination before it faded. The gang continues while some new and interesting mysterious are being played out. Could Zan Alloy & Z-Strap truly have a connection, are they closer than one expects? And what secrets is Mayor Ronson hiding? All of these things are what will be later confirmed by those investigating the case….later on… "They're going. Come on." Iron Brave said quietly as he and Shining continues following. The truth of Ronson and Z-Strap will soon be revealed!