This story is a sequel to Iota Force Issue #2: A Hair Out of Place
When a massive line drawing is left painted in the middle of Ponyville, it's obviously meant to mean something to somepony, but what and to whom is not immediately apparent to most.
To Iota Force, however, it signals that an old foe is back, looking to make Ponyville the present playground for his plunderous pursuits. Their newest member, Icy Flight, is unaware of this history, but willing to do whatever it takes to thwart and capture this enemy.
So imagine her surprise when she discovers that the picture is not only a signal of this young mastermind's presence, but also a set of clues that, combined with a series of cryptic messages, explicitly hint as to his targets. Icy's never encountered that kind of threat before, but it seems simple enough.
Neither she nor the rest of the team should rest easy, though. Precocious and perfidious don't even begin to describe the colt known as Magic Eye, so they're going to have to put their all into solving his puzzles and pre-empting his heists.
They'll have to bring their best if they hope to riddle him this!
This is the third story in the Iota Force series. Reading the first two will help give some things context, but hopefully the story will stand on its own. However, just to be safe, a summary of the series' premise, characters and previous stories can be found here.
Edited by Raven618
Cover Art and Interior Art by Mix-Up (Link to his Deviantart page).
Huh. I admit, this first one has me stumped. I have a rough idea, but nothing concrete enough to give a definitive hypothesis.
In any case, this should make for a fantastic battle of wits. I look forward to it. (Also interesting to get a sense of the overall chronology. Starlight's just been deposed, and delending on why Night Flight got called in, Icy might be related to Night Glider.)
The Carousel Toy-shop. I do enjoy that mix-up.
I still don't know what that top image is supposed to be of.
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It's meant to be a dress. Or, at least, the back half of a pony in a dress. Its upside down in the picture, but that's what it's supposed to be.
I'll add a line in the earlier chapter to make that clear.
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Sorry for not mentioning it earlier.
The written clue is obviously referring to a carousel, but I cannot make heads nor tails of the pictorial clue.
My first thought was that he would be targeting each of the Element Bearers, starting with Rarity and culminating with Twilight, but I cannot quite see how the image fits that theory, other than the bottom left arm possibly referring to Sweet Apple Acres.
Hmm. No matter how I spin it around or cross my eyes at it, I cannot see a dress or diamonds in the top arm of the star.
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Well, the large curved section on the left is meant to be the dress, the smaller curved section to the right is meant the wearer's tail and the two diamonds are supposed to their legs.
I think what I've learned from this is that I really need to stick to writing and leave artistic matters to the artist.
Still, hopefully the rest shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Icy shrugged. “I dunno, I think it's like an acting thing. I tried asking Mom about it, but she just said it was a load of.”
There was a pause after Icy stopped mid-sentence. “A load of what?” Scootaloo asked.
“Dunno, that's all she said.” Icy admitted. “She just stopped after that and mumbled something about me being in the room. She seemed kind of angry about it.”
“Huh.” Scootaloo said as she took the information in. “Grown-ups are weird.”
I love these jokes.
I see you you added an extra scene. I like it.
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You're not upset about getting the last one wrong?
Hey, Frozone!
Heh. I thought that hair dye discount seemed familiar.
Sorry for letting this one sleep, but I'm loving it thus far. I'm with Scootaloo; that smug little so-and-so could do witha few punches in his smarmy face.
Again, glad I finally read this one. Some truly sinister riddles at work, along with Icy developing her powers in very clever ways. Also, is letting Magic Eye monologue one of the rules? Because it seems like the best way to take down this sort of villain is to hit him while he's distracted by his own genius.
Also also, I kind of ship Scootaloo and Magic Eye. Call me crazy, but this feels like an extreme version a boy tugging a girl's pigtails because he likes her. Only, you know, with grand larceny.
In any case, thank you for this. Here's looking forward to the next issue!
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Scoots and Magic Eye... now there's a thought. I confess, I hadn't really considered it and I very much doubt it's a conscious factor in his motivations - if nothing else, he's not an exclusive foe of Iota Force. On the other hand, one of the ways I tried to make him distinct from his inspiration is that, as assured and secure as he is in his own genius, he nevertheless can respect his opponents rather than looking down on them. And he obviously sees something in her as an opponent, so who knows? As I'm sure you can gather, this won't be the last time we see him.
As for the monologuing, well, you're not wrong, but at the same time, it wouldn't necessarily invalidate whatever escape plans he has and monologues can sometimes convey useful information, intentionally or not. Plus, while he may be a difficult opponent, he's not an especially dangerous one, so a confrontation with him doesn't have the sense of "need to take him down quickly and catch him off guard to stop him defending" that many villains would have.
Again, you're quite right that interrupting him would be a valid tactic (and I suspect that Scoots might have just done when she first confronts him that had he not been semi-intentionally holding Dash's trophy at the time), but I think letting him talk can also be advantageous.
This is my favorite one of these stories by far. You did an amazing job.
Cluemaster: Am I a joke to you?
Riddler: Your greatest plan relied on you and your accomplices being seen as too minor to matter. You're a joke to everyone.
Baffler: Hey guys! *Is immediately beaten into a pulp*
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And the fact that it's a callback; this is an assumption she made in the first issue that was never corrected.
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True to his namesake then. >_>
This sort of thing is great.
And you're right, it is funny. It's also inaccurate because Scootaloo heard it and they don't take her with them on expeditions, but it wouldn't be the first time logic ruined a joke and it probably won't be the last.
Oh, you sweet summer child, thinking that the chronology of this show makes any kind of sense. Here is the last guy who tried that explaining why it's a fool's errand.
Forgot to bring this up on the first pass; a world with magic may find the Sorcerer Supreme no more impressive than The World's Greatest Detective, but also no less. Put another way, the pony version of Stephen Strange, M.D. would be more like Batman/mare: unrealistically good at things the reader could at least attempt. (I will never tire of reminding people that "Doctor Strange" isn't actually a codename)
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True enough, hence why it's only a "bit" of that problem - Doctor Curio is still impressive, but it doesn't have the same kind of mystique it might have to us. As Icy says, the image is as much a draw to the character as his abilities, just as it is with Batman. It's just a different kind of draw.
Also, yes indeed, Doctor Strange is literally the guy's name and title. I love comics!
He certainly pulls it off better than his colleague Blackagar Boltagon. >_>
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Just because Scootaloo heard them argue about it once at home doesn't mean they don't also argue about it while away.
What!? You're a fan of a Batman expy without a Riddler?
No idea. I could see the clues applying to the picket fence, or the curved lines.
I'm tempted to say it's hidden in a tree branch on Sweet Apple Acers or in the Everfree Forest, but the particulars escape me.
Oh wait I've got it. These are all abstract depections of where and how the Main Six got their Cutie Marks isn't it? Sees the picture again.
Never mind.
Sweet Apple Acers. Has to be. Incidentally I finally figured out that the riddles are more important.
I assume the final target is a land mark in the middle (probably the town square).
Ghastly Gorge?
I figured this might be the answer. The lines started to look like a Rainbow after the parchment puzzle. But the use of a barnyard to symbolize the store threw me off track. Oh well, win some, lose some.
Technically you would have been stuck in a pipe, if Ice had decided to take advantage. So it's half and half.
It's got to be along the intersection between the five locations.
You'll be spending a lot more time with Pinkie Pie from no on. Hope you survive the crazy!
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I see Icy Flight as being a better match for him. She did better with these rounds and it was obvious that he was getting really impressed with her by the end.