//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: The ultimatum // Story: Project Nega Titan // by darkmage1997 //------------------------------// Canterlot Castle 7:45 AM The next morning, after leaving the Crystal empire, Celestia had brought all the families, and the remaining Mixels to the castle. They were all having breakfast in the dining hall, when a guard came in, "Princess, I'm simply to report that there were no others in the prison, and everyone has made it safely out," the guard said. "Thank you sergeant," Celestia said, which the guard nodded, and left. "Well, at least now we know our friends are alright," Zaptor said. "True, but if they're not at Winterkeep, and they're not here," Superstar began, before she gasped, "Then the Nega Titans must have them!" she exclaimed. "They might've taken them to James' secret base," Marcus said. "So, if we want to find our friends, we need to find that base," Silver said. "But it could be anywhere!" Deimo pointed out. "Just leave that to me, Dash, and Speedy," Zorch said, as he, and the Supersonics raced out of the castle. "I'd better start searching myself," Francisco said, as he began to warp space, "Hmm, knowing James, he probably set up shop in the last place we'd think to look," he muttered to himself. Equestrian Sand Dunes 5:56 PM A cloud of dust was rocketing through the dunes. When the cloud died down, it revealed a very angry Eris, "I'll get even with that sneaky mare who stole the Master Element!" she seethed. Just then, she felt the ground below her shaking, forcing her to duck and cover. When she looked up, she saw a stream of smoke flying into the air, "What was that?" she asked herself, taking to the other side of the dune, where a pyramid structure was sitting, "Could that be James' secret base?" she thought to herself, before teleporting away. Space Colony Ark: Observation Deck 7:53 PM Gazing out onto the planet that they had came from, as well as the planet Earth that the human children came from, the Mixel leaders, along with the children were amazed at the view, "So, we're in some kind of space station?" Toby asked. "We call this place Space colony: Ark," Lance explained. "I never heard of it," Josh said. "It was created fifty years ago by Professor Jerry Mason, the same person who created us four," Surfer said. "Huh, I wonder if you kids are the first children that's ever come into space?" Teslo asked. "They're not," Surfer replied. "Really, then who was the first?" Conner asked, which made the Nega Titans divert their eyes away from the group, before glaring harshly at the below, as another flashback began. Flashback: Fifty Years ago The Nega titans were looking at the Earth from the observation deck, when a young girl came up to them, "Are you boys going to stare out the window all the time?" she asked teasingly. "Well, yeah," Surfer replied. "Since all we've seen of the planet are from photographs on the surface, we wonder just what its like to see the sky above your head. You get what we're saying Henrietta?" Lance asked. "The professor said we had a purpose, but he never really told us what it is, but we have a feeling it has something to do with that planet," Tempo commented. "Yeah, but someday, I want to visit that planet," Henrietta said, as another, more scarring memory flashed in the minds of the Nega titans. They were running away from the human military, while Dusty was holding onto Henrietta's hand, with the professor in tow. After some running, the Nega titans made it into a seemingly empty room, where they stood in the center. Looking back towards Henrietta, she pulled a lever, slamming down a capsule, trapping the Nega titans. "Henrietta, what are you doing?!" Lance demanded. "I'm sorry big brothers. I always dreamed of going to the planet below with you four, but it looks like you're all going to have to go without me. The planet looked so beautiful from here. Big brothers, please," Henrietta tearfully said, but the Nega titans could not clearly remember what the little girl had said. Just then, the door opened, and a soldier pointed a gun at the youth. "Little missy, take your hand off that lever," the soldier demanded. "No, Henrietta, don't do it!" Tempo pleaded. "Sayonara, big brothers," Henrietta sadly said, as she pulled the lever, releasing the capsule. But just before the capsule was released, the most horrific scar for the Nega titans happened. The soldier shot the little girl, as Henrietta fell unconscious to the ground. Present time 'They'll pay for what they did to her. Every last one of them,' the Nega titans thought to themselves, glaring even harder at the planet, which made the children, and Scorpi cower in fear. Space Colony ARK: control room 8:00 PM "Alright James, the elements are in place," Mane-iac said, as she and Long Face placed the elements of Harmony, along with the crystal heart into a big machine. However, James was fiddling around with the control panels. "Alright, where is that blasted plug?!" he raged, as he messed around with some more panels. "So, this dump keeps the ultimate weapon? Let me guess, it makes our enemies laugh so hard, they surrender?" Shadow Mane asked. "I'll have you know that the eclipse cannon draws its power from powerful magic elements, such as the Elements of Harmony, and if it has enough power, it has the power to destroy an entire planet," James explained. "Is that true, it can really destroy a planet?" Long Face asked Mane-iac. "You know he tends to exaggerate," Mane-iac replied. "I HEARD THAT!" James yelled, which made the two villains jump. Time Square: Human Earth 8:45 PM The citizens of the human earth were going about their normal routines, when the Jumbo-tron went to static, and James' face appeared, cackling evilly. Equestria 8:45 PM "Attention, this is James Mason, coming to you live from Space Colony ARK, with a proposition that no one can resist! Now then, if you'll all turn your attention to the sky," James instructed. When the citizens of both planets looked up, they were shocked to see a planet right next to their own, "Now then, I am requesting that all citizens of both planets follow my rule! For those who resist, this is the penalty," he explained, as he pointed the Space Colony's cannon at the human earths moon, and fired, blasting a good chunk off of it. This horrified not only the citizens of both planets, but Luna as well, "This is the penalty for disloyalty to my rule, and make no attempts to resist, the Colony and the Eclipse cannon are indestructible from the outside. The leaders of both planets have twenty four hours to comply," he explained, before signing off. Space Colony ARK: Control room 8:47 PM "With that kind of power, James came blow up any planet he wants!" Viynal commented fearfully. "He wasn't kidding, it really is the ultimate weapon," 'Shadow Mane' commented. Equestria Dunes: 7:45 AM "Alright, so we now know that James is in Space Colony ARK, but how is the human Earth directly next to ours?" Rainbow Dash asked. "The power of the elements must've broken the spacial barrier between our worlds, thus positioning our solar system right next to theirs," Twilight theorized. "How right you are, Twilight," Discord commented, "But the children, along with the Mixels leaders must still be James' base, so we should pray that they're still there," he said. "We're approaching the base now," Eris said, as she presented the pyramid to the group. "It could be dangerous, so lets keep on our toes," Silver said, as they all entered the base. Canterlot Castle: Pegasus guard Hanger 7:45 AM While Discords group left to storm James' base, Eric, Sarah, Raiden, and Echo-Echo were modifying the jets with Trinity hooked up with some wires, "I hope these mods will be enough to get us into space," Eric commented. "But Trinity alone won't be able to generate the power we need to do so," Raiden pointed out. "But Trinity is all we have Raiden," Eric explained. "Yeah, I'm the only element of harmony we have," Trinity said. "Not quite Trinity, we have two elements," Raiden said, as he pulled out an element of magic that wasn't as lustrous as Trinity's jewel form. "You made a copy of Trinity?!" Sarah asked. "Yeah, but it isn't as powerful as Trinity is, but its power is almost identical," Raiden explained, as they all went back to work. Inside James' base 7:52 AM After exploring the base in the search for the children and the Mixels, the group eventually ended up at a door, "Alright, so how do we get through?" Brian asked. "There's a keyhole here, so there has to be a key somewhere," Twilight said, as she and the others looked at Eris, Heiru, and the remaining Cragsters. "Uh, why're you all looking at us?" Heiru asked. "Well, you have ghost powers, so you should try to open it from the inside Heiru, and since the Cragsters and Eris are treasure hunters, they should look around for the key," Silver explained. "*Sigh* Alright," Heiru said, as he phased through the door. "But why send us? A key isn't exactly a treasure," Eris asked. "A real treasure hunter wouldn't have any trouble finding something as simple as a key," Marcus said. "Maybe they are treasure hunters, but they're not very good ones," Heaven suggested. "Alright fine, we'll look!" Eris growled as she and the Cragsters left to find the key, "So, where should we start looking?" Eris asked. "Hmm, James might hide key in last place to look, so we look there," Shuff suggested, as he and Seismo went digging. "Alright, I guess I'll look up on the surface," Eris said to herself as she began to look around, before she ran into a familiar mechanical Breezy. "I hope you know you're all trespassing," Shadow Tech said. "Look, I have no time to play games with you Shadow Tech. SCRAM!" Eris yelled. "Look, if you all don't clear out of here, you're all going to be sorry!" Shadow Tech warned. Just as Eris raised her bear claw, she stopped herself, 'No, I have to keep looking' she thought to herself, walking by the robot Breezy. "Well, I warned her, didn't I?" Shadow Tech asked the audience, as he pulled out a remote control, "Go clobber them, J-Golem," he said, as he pressed a button. Back with the group, As they waited for the return of Eris and the Cragsters, the group heard a rumbling. Turning towards the corridor, they could see Eris and the Cragsters all running towards them, "Did they find the key already?!" Vulk asked, before his and everyone's attention turned behind the fleeing Draconequss and Cragsters, as a very large statue was chasing them. "Nope, more like trouble. Fifteen tons of it," Silver commented, as Eris led the statue to the door, and with a mighty kick, the golem smashed the door open, revealing a very surprised Heiru. "There, we got the door open, happy?!" Eris snapped. "Yeah, but we can't go anywhere, until we deal with that," Silver replied, looking at the colossal statue. "Ha! I'm not going to let you foil master James' plans this time!" Shadow Tech said, as the titans went on the attack. Brian tried a head on attack in a superheated ball of flames, "Ha, that won't work, here's the spin cycle!" the mechanical Breezy said, as he pushed a button, which had the statue spinning its arms around at a high velocity, knocking away Brain. Icezer then tried to use the spinning arms to his advantage, as he ran on the arms, "Now here's the clap trap!" Shadow Tech said, having the statue stop its arms, clapping its hands on Icezer, and then head-butting him, knocking him to the ground, "Ha, none of you can beat me, and none of you will be able to get up into space, so just give up!" the robot breezy said, just as the statues foot was brought under the ground, "Alright, what's going on?!" he demanded, as he fluttered to the ground. "Sorry we're late," a familiar man, preferably Will, along with Cindy, came out of the tunnel, which was dug by Will's Steelix. "Will? Cindy? What are you guys doing here?" Twilight asked. "After that transmission, we knew Toby's father was up to his tricks. So we came here to help any way we can," Will replied. "But how did you know where to find us?" Rarity asked. "Never underestimate Lucario's ability to track aura," Will said, as the Pokemon in question leaped out of the hole. "Alright, so you've got size to match the J-Golem, but it won't help you either way, cause look what I've got!" Shadow Tech sang, as the colossus raised its arms, to reveal Trixie and the Ponyville fillies. "APPLEBLOOM!" Applejack cried in distress. "How did you get my sister?!" Rarity demanded. "Heh, never underestimate the capabilities of the tiny, but useful trapping robots, created by the glorious James himself!" Shadow Tech said, just as Lucario came from behind the robot breezy, and glared him down, forcing Shadow Tech to keep the remote control out of its reach, but not anticipating Cindy to sneak behind him, and snatch away the remote, "Hey, give that back!" the mechanical breezy demanded, which prompted Cindy to push button, releasing Trixie and the fillies, who then fell from the giants grip. "Lucario, use psychic!" Will called out, which the aura Pokemon complied, as its eyes turned a light blue color, which encased the fillies and Trixie in the same light, and carefully set all of them down gently. "What's this button do?" Cindy pondered, as she pushed it, which soon had the giant statue chasing Shadow Tech out of the temple, yelling stuff like "No, don't!", "Your enemies are back there!", or even "Don't chase me boulder brain!", leaving a very confused bunch of friends. "Thanks for the help Will," Sweetie Belle squeaked. "No problem, just doing what I though was necessary," Will replied. "But how did you girls get captured, along with you Trixie?" Twilight asked. "Well, we were just minding our own business, when out of nowhere, a net captured us, and dragged us back here," Scootaloo replied. "The same goes for Trixie," Trixie, commented. "Perhaps camouflaged trapping robots, obviously left here by James so he can use the captured ponies as hostages if somehow his plan fails," Twilight theorized. "Yeah, but its not just us who were captured, all sorts of ponies were captured and placed in the jail here in the base," Diamond Tiara said. "Take me to where the prison is, we can free all the hostages," Will said, before turning towards his friends, "This is where we must part, but best of luck to you guys in your mission," he said, as the fillies, and Trixie led him and Cindy to the prison. "Meanwhile, we should get into the larger top of the base, and let Raiden and them in," Twilight said, as she and the others rushed into the other room, and opened the top of the base, which was good timing, because Raiden, and the rest of them were coming in with the jets. "We did guys! We modified the jets to go into space!" Raiden said, before he noticed a problem, "We may have a slight problem. The jets only seat four each," Raiden said, as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, that puts a dent in our plans," Slumbo commented. "Well, we could always take that," Silver said, pointing at a huge rocket ship, "Its big enough for all of us," he added on. "Looks like we did all that work for nothing," Eric deadpanned, as everyone boarded the rocket, and took off for the Space Colony.