The First of the Secret Generation
Aura Mane and her best friend, Melody Show, were on the train to a city that had no records of Super powered activities, hero or villain, until a few months prior. Both were well dressed, with their cutie marks sufficiently hidden under their clothes. The city in question was a place known as Derby Heights, before the super activities it was known for its legalized gambling and racing that despite its competitiveness was not to a high stakes level that would be of concern for almost anypony beyond the betting pool or athletes. The two mares had known each other for years and despite their different choices of profession were usually found in some of the same clubs. The news article that had first drawn their attention to the city was once again in Aura's hooves the headline merely read, “Is this Trio here Rescue or Ravage,” with a large colored picture of a mare in all white next to a mare in all black and what looked like a mechanical filly standing between them on a street standing over the remains of what looked like robotic ponies.
“Darling you really should put that paper down, you've read it enough times to tell me what the entire article says backwards in nine different languages,” the refined, but pleasant, voice of the sun yellow unicorn with a sea blue mane and bright lavender eyes.
“Sorry,” said the sea green pegasus with a mane that was colored a vibrant orange, blue, and violet with sparkling indigo eyes in a voice that indicated I high intelligence that wasn't condescending as she put the paper back in her travel bag, “it just doesn't make sense, super powered ponies don't show up in place like that without a reason, and for some reason I feel it has to be me that meets with one of those three.”
“Yes of course dear,” said Melody, “but you're turning this into an unhealthy obsession, the last time this sort of thing happened was when you first found 'it' hidden in one of your purchases destined for your private collection.”
“I suppose you have a point, this is not where I expected either of us to be at this stage of our lives,” said Aura, “I imagined us both practically drifting apart by now because of our dedication to our jobs only to meet up in our twilight years and say how sorry we were for the whole ordeal and lament at the fact neither of us had foals.”
“You, my dear,” said Melody, “can be such a downer sometimes. Look at you, you have one of the most successful magi-tech companies in the world, you've found how to integrate magic into modern technologies as well as simulate spells with nothing more than appliances you literally find lying around.”
“Both my parents were unicorns, powerful ones,” said Aura, “there hasn't been a pegaus in the family for...”
“Over seventy generations,” said Melody cutting off her friend, “you've told me that at least a dozen times a month since we were fillies growing up together.”
“What about you and your 'accessory',” inquired Aura, “why did it's keeper decide to pass it over to you?”
“Probably the same reason you found your 'accessory' embedded inside a supposedly solid stone statue,” retorted Melody. The two gave a little giggle.
************************
After another forty minutes train reached their destination and the two mares stepped of with four bags each. After checking into their hotel, amusingly named Racing Mares, the two took to settling into their suite. Five hours later the sun had set and the sound of sirens told the mares it was time. They both nodded and headed to their bags.
Aura Mane went to an old fashioned travel case and flicked the rollers before placing her right hoof and left wing above the case. The extended appendages were bathed in a lavender light and the top of the case faded away, like it was an illusion spell, to reveal a masked purple jumpsuit with pink star bursts near the hooves, modified flight goggles and a silver like unicorn horn accessory. She took the outfit into the bathroom and emerged as her alter ego known to ponies far and wide as the “Masked Matter-Horn” and gave a nod to her associate when she stepped out and headed to the balcony. Her outfit making her appear to be a dark violet mare with
Melody Show reached into her smallest travel bag and slipped on purple bracelet. The moment she did she was in her purple suit, with stylish purple mask, and stepped over to the balcony as her alias known to the world as Radiance. Giving Matter-Horn a moment check everything she asked if the other masked mare was okay. To which Matter-Horn said she was fine and took flight, Radiance just shook her head and followed on a manifested (and stylish) flying carpet.
Three robberies, two muggings, and an amusing attempt to break into the jail later the two mares were no closer to finding the ones they were looking for. Matter-Horn was suddenly thrown to the ground by a what could only be described as a flying wall in the shape of a pony. Radiance turned to see the source of the attack and hissed when she saw her arch nemesis standing there and screamed, almost losing her flying carpet, at the mare on the wall, “Mare-teria, you disgrace of pony.”
Mare-teria cackled before stepping from the shadows reveal a mare in an outfit that seemed to be made in a mishmash of materials that somehow looked pleasing and accentuated her form before saying a sinister silky voice, “I knew you'd come Radiance, you and Masked Matter-Horn are practically stuck together.” Radiance just growled at her, “but I'm merely here as a messenger, my pet over there is just keep your associate from attacking me,” with that she threw a bulky disk like object to the ground next to the Matter-Horn and disappeared in a cloud of steam. The moment she did the moving pony shaped wall suddenly turned into a mass of steam and floated away from Matter-Horn.
Both the super-heroines approached the disk and once they were right next to it it glowed and the form of a pony veiled in shadows appeared and said in a deep dark voice, “Matter-Horn, it's been a while. You're here sooner than planned, a pity really since I had such a lovely containment chamber almost set up for you. Fortuneatly I already have insurance against you, it's named MHC-001, I know it lacks the flair I strive for at times, but this time it is of little consequence.”
“Dark-Mare,” said Matter-Horn with anger, “what does that little project have to with me?”
“Everything,” said Dark-Mare, “do you remember those clips of your mane I took during one of our last encounters? Of course you do, I was surprised to find them change color, you're a clever mare in taking the extra step with your outfit. I took those clippings and made a little clone of you, I only recently got a stable copy and accelerated its age to filly age, I tried to do more but your genetic code counteracted all my attempts. I suppose I should have changed the name, but failures in projects are of little consequence and should be mostly disregarded. I've been trying find methods of controlling your little copy, but it seems the product is immune to every form of mind control I've tried thus far. And its also a massive goody-goody, just like you. It would seem that whatever makes you immune to mind controlling effects also drives you to be a hero, I find that as fascinating as I do revolting. You try anything to get in the way of my projects here and I'll put your cute little copy in danger, a subservient version of you as my personal maid would have been nice but I like to be a practical mare whenever possible.” With that the glowing image disappeared and the disk blew itself to pieces.
Both mares just stared at each other for a moment with the realization if one of them had been copied any of the other Power Ponies could have been duplicated as well. Matter-Horn then said, “she said I'm immune to mind manipulation, that explains why her hypnosis wave system didn't affect me in our first encounter. It also appears I'm immune to gene therapies,” she gave a smile before saying, “the only thing she's managed is giving me a daughter, and with my equipment finding her in the city should be easier than usual because I know just what to look for,” she pulled her goggles down over her eyes and said, “initiate scan, city wide, search for all genetic matches to 'Masked Matter-Horn', begin now.” Her goggles lit up and schematic of the city appeared before her eyes and showed her 2 blips, one confirming her position while the other showed that what she was intending to find was on the other side of the city. She smiled again and told her goggles to mark the location, then told Radiance she was aware it was possibly a trap but didn't care at the moment because in her mind she had a filly save. Her smile disappeared when the second blip vanished, if she hadn't marked the location it was at last she would have been very angry at everypony (especially herself).
“Matter-Horn,” said Radiance, “I know saving you're double, but we have to account for the fact that some or most of what was said was a like to spur you into action.”
“Alright,” said Matter-Horn, “after we find these other super powered ponies we can formulate a plan to take all the variables into account.”
“That's the friend I know,” said Radiance, “you do nopony any good if you let your emotions command you, Dark-Mare is your personal nemesis as such she knows more about your superheroine self than anypony else, including me. The same holds true for me and Mare-teria, she's my arch nemesis, just like Dark-Mare is your arch nemesis. However it works both ways, we both know the strengths and weaknesses of our nemeses. So, what does Dark-Mare have that you are always able to take advantage of.”
Matter-Horn took a deep breath and said, “Dark-Mare is a narcissist, she's got a superiority complex that causes her to over look simple details that are possible avenues to best her schemes. She's around as smart as me, and has used that brilliance to make some truly twisted projects. It's not too far fetched for her to have made a clone of me, in fact my goggles got a blip of a possible clone before blocked the signal. She might have built a new fortress like base and is keeping my copy there or some sort of jamming signal designed to counteract equipment like my goggles was activated,” she lifted her goggles to her forehead and looked over at Radiance before saying, “I tagged the location I got the blip before cut out, we'll search that area of the city tomorrow, but now let's beat down some criminals, I have some newly acquired frustration I need to work out.”
“That's my girl,” said Radiance as she and Matter-Horn started galloping through the streets.
After another half hour of sub-par acts of villainy the two heard the sound of battle around the corner. The two rounded the corner to see what looked like a mechanical filly fighting alongside a mare in white. The mare in white had mask over the lower half of her muzzle and was wielding floating blades made from light, but showing the cutting prowess of a refined laser. The mechanical filly was launching as series of small projectiles. The two just watched what looked more like an aggressive dance from the two towards a team of well armed crooks. Before the crooks could get off another shot they all found their weapons missing, this was impressive because neither of the experienced super-heroines had noticed the act either.
“Impressive, yes,” said friendly dark feminine voice, “not some of my best work,” the two turned around to see mare dressed in a black outfit that had the same scheme as the mare in white, “but just good enough for what was needed. Finish it up Filly,” the two looked back at the two to see the mechanical filly fire series of rockets that formed a circle around the crooks and generated an energy dome that seemed to freeze everything inside it.
“The stasis field will only last for 6 minutes,” said the mechanical filly in an equally mechanical voice, “official law enforcement is is 5 minutes out, let's get out of here.”
The mare in black nodded to the mare in white before saying, “see you at base,” and enveloping the mechanical filly and two power ponies in shadows along with her and making everything go black for a few seconds.
When the black receded the two power ponies blinked a few times before looking around, what they saw was some very sufficticated equipment that seemed to blend quite well into a rustic medieval setting. “Where are we?” said Matter-Horn, “I didn't see this on the city layout.”
“It's an old time themed amusement park, that hides many a mark, it never demolished,” said the white mare as she materialized from the ceiling lights with a bright voice, “so we this place until we learn that may be abolished.”
“Forgive my associate,” said the mare in black said, “she can only speak in rhyme while in this form and every other thing I say is ambiguous at best.”
“I'm Techna-Filly,” said the mechanical filly before tapping few points on her chest and neck to reveal a chestnut brown earth pony filly with green eyes and a red mane before continuing with, “these are my crime fighting associates, the Guardian of Insightful Truths,” she gestured to the mare in white, “and the Guardian of Veiled Secrets,” she then mare in black.
“That's all very nice,” said Radiance, “but why did you reveal your identity to us? You should never do that with ponies you don't know.”
“Insightful Truths and Veiled Secrets told me that it would be okay, after all I know their identy and their abilities let them know who you are.”
Radiance and Matter-Horn arched their brows before Matter-Horn said, “so they have some kind of mystical ability that lets them know their namesakes. And what do you mean their identity?”
“Your assessemtn is correct,” said the Guardian of Veiled Secrets, “it would be best if only Matter-Horn joined in the room for a moment.”
“Gosh-Darnit, yer powerdown sequence is so fun to watch, but I think I can understand why. Radiance I'll show you to where I hang my mask up, Matter-Horn needs some privacy with the Guardians.”
“Why?” Inquired Radiance, “she's my best friend.”
“Then you should really understand, because who they are behind those masks is mine, we'll explain everything later.” The two left with doors making an obvious hiss as they closed.
Matter-Horn looked at the two mares, whom were now standing next to each other, and said, “if you have something to show me, do it already!”
The two nodded and held up their right forelegs before saying in perfect unison, “Ancient Power That Was Bidden, Your Power Now Must Be Hidden, By the Power of Moon and Sun, The Two Return As One,” in a flash a filly that looked like a young Aura Mane was before the Masked Matter-Horn.
Matter-Horn's eyes went wide before she took off her mask, which disengaged her color cloak (the magic woven into the suit made only so somepony with a close genetic match to the suits wearer could remove the mask to disengage that feature). With a trembling voice she said, “are... are you the failing project Dark-Mare was talking about in the message left for me when I showed myself super-heroine self to the city?”
The filly nodded before saying, “I turned into them with this,” before raising her right hoof to reveal an ancient bronze bracer that was twice the size of a standard bracer, “I intercepted it when she tried to dispose of it, I was foolish in deciding to put it on because no matter what I try it won't come off. She grew me, but the only things I've had interaction with is automatons. I don't even have name, I'm just called MHC-001. I need name, I'm a pony not a science project.”
Aura Man smiled down at the filly before saying, “Dark-Mare believes the opposite, but I believe what you do. You're me, in a way. You were cloned from pieces of my mane that were cut free, apparently my disguise charm for my suit has a time limit when pieces of me are removed. To me you're not just a clone, you're effectively my daughter. My maternal instincts went into overdrive when I managed to confirm you were real, if Radiance hadn't nipped that in the bud we would both be in trouble now. You know who she really is?
“Not anymore,” said the filly, “I only know that stuff when I'm the Guardians, when I return to being me I get a massive head pain and I only retain the knowledge base of the Guardians for about twelve seconds after turning back.”
“I'm guessing it's within reason,” said Aura Mane. The filly just nodded. Aura Mane then said, “my horn is a bit like your bracer, only I can take it off, the darn thing follows me everywhere so I just keep it close, along with my outfit.”
“So, what should my name be?” asked the filly.
“Sorry to say, but names aren't my forte, the name I use created by my best friend.”
At this Radiance walked in to see what looked like a six year old Aura Mane in front of an unmasked Aura Mane. “So, that's why,” said Radiance causing her mask to fade out, “she's the clone Dark-Mare admitted having trouble with.”
“She's making more,” said the now unarmored Techna-Filly, “she thinks she's figured out how to make a more subservient clone, but she also wants to end the original cloning success.”
The pegasus filly just drooped with sadness before saying mournfully, “at least you have a name, I'm just number to a psycho's experiments.” Turning to Radiance the pegasus filly said, “she says you're good with generating names,” she gestured to Aura Mane, “could please give me one, I'd like to know what it's like to have real name before I'm found and disposed of.”
“A name is good Idea,” said Melody, “but we are not letting anypony kill you, you have right to a life, and Aura deserves to at least know what it's like to be a mother now that you've found each other, “ tapping her chin in thought about the request Melody said, “Aurora Pane, it lines up with her's while still sounding different enough to distinguish you both.”
“How are you go explain me, and my accessory?”
“Easy, Aurora,” the filly gave warm hug to mare at the sound of her new name, “we'll say we discovered you in an unmarked R&D facility that I had ordered demolished, and after finding you wandering the facility I took you out on the town to an antique store to get anything you wanted, that bracer being it.”
“Works for me,” said Melody, “you always were better at providing plausible excuses.”
“Works for me too, mom,” said Aurora Mane. Aura smiled with a warmth her best friend had never seen before embracing the filly in a maternal hug.
“I guess I should introduce myself now,” said the unarmored Techna-Filly.
“That would be nice,” said Melody, “alway where your parents are.”
The earth filly slumped a bit before saying, “my name is Rose Adamant, I haven't seen my parents in months. I thought their disappearing for a few weeks every few months was a job thing, but when a represenative of their employers showed up at the door to ask about their whereabouts and their disappering act every few months I realized something was up. I threw together my suit in my lab, they insisted I have it and stocked with some of the latest high tech toys, and went to lay a smack down on the criminal element and question the more well-armed thugs about their whereabouts. I met up with Aurora, I really like that name by the way, a few weeks later.”
“Who are your parents?” inquired Melody.
“Gold Hoof and Racing Stride,” said Rose.
“The technologies experts that dropped of the grid twenty years ago,” said Melody, “how did you not hear the news two weeks ago?”
“What news?” asked Rose, then looked at Aurora before, “you know what she's going to say, so you tell me.”
Aurora hung her head with guilt and said, “your father and mother were found washed up at Neighyork City, your father was confirmed dead by a medical professional in the employ of the police and your mother is in critical condition in Neighyork General Hospital under heavy guard.”
“Daddy's gone,” said Rose through tears, “why didn't anypony contact me about that?”
“You're not officially listed as next of kin,” said Aurora, “in fact according to the knowledge held by the Guardians you are genetically related to them, and 30 other ponies. You are product of a military super soldier project, they modified it as a personal project and focused on intelligence and technological abilities instead of combatively effective qualities, that's the reason they dropped off the grid twenty years ago. They were believed to have gone rogue 5 months before you were 'born' and when they were finally tracked down somepony had made it so this city was off-limits to all official military personnel.”
Rose stared at the pony she had called her best friend for three months with tears in her eyes before crying, “you loo, land yool din't tull mwee, loo amd mwy lar zimlar, land loo din't twell mwee.”
Still looking sullen Aurora asked, “would you have believed it, even if it came from the muzzles of the guardians? Let me answer for you, no you wouldn't. You would keep denying it, even with all the evidence telling you the Guardians were right. You were never listed as next of kin because your parents didn't want anypony in the government taking you away from them, to them you were their real daughter and they wanted to make sure you were safe from all the threats they saw coming.”
The earth filly trotted up to the pegasus filly and smacked her with a left hook before giving her a big hug before saying, “that's for waiting so long to tell, and this is for knowing well enough to explain why you waited until now to tell me. All this time I had everything you wanted more than anything, but you never complained.”
“Sounds a bit like a certain pegasus I know,” said Melody with a teasing voice.
Aura smiled and said, “if I remember correctly a certain unicorn had a lot to spend, but didn't rub her personal expense accounts in my face.”
“My parents wanted me to go into music, that why they named me melody,” said the unicorn.
“Adamant is a mythological unbreakable stone,” said Rose, “that must mean they wanted me to be unbreakable. I want to talk to the mare I called 'mom' when she comes to, but I think it's in everypony's best interest that my ambiguous custody is taken care of by reputable pony.”
“I know just who talk to about that,” said Melody, “lead me to your communications room.”
Rose nodded and lead the unicorn mare out of the room.
*************************************
Three hours later all four were in the suite with Aurora asking the very legitimate question, “so, who's going to look after this place once we leave for good? We need to clear out our base and then that's it.
“The Power Ponies have been finding a lot super powered individuals, some of them want a new start as heroes in a new place, we'll tell them about this city and they can use your old base as an HQ. That way all you have to do is clear out all the personal equipment, just leave the communications equipment and instructions on how to contact you so they can learn to operate it, that stuff looks a little more sophisticated than most ponies are used to.