This story is a sequel to Iota Force Issue #3: The Treachery of Images
A strange wave of burglaries sweeps over the farmers of Ponyville and Iota Force comes to investigate. However, when they learn that the thieves are not, in fact, ponies, it sends them down into the deep, labyrinthine sewers beneath Ponyville on the hunt for one in command of them.
Of course, in those dark, winding tunnels, there could be anything or anyone waiting for them, with far more knowledge of the area and far, far more friends down there. The young heroes had best tread carefully, or else they might learn just how mean the below-the-streets can be.
This is the fourth story in the Iota Force series. Reading the previous stories would be helpful and 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).
I really hope Twilight put some thought into security after the time battle. Or getting abducted by changelings. Or...
Comic writers certainly agree. Especially during big crossovers. Why say introduce yourselves when you can spend an issue punching each other?
And, in the middle of a jungle that time forgot, Daring Do felt an inexplicable sense of outrage.
Well, it used to be inexplicable. These days she was popular enough to sense that kind of dramatic irony several times a day.
Most intriguing opening. Especially Icy's odd relationship with water. I get the feeling it's not quite as hostile as she fears... though I could definitely be wrong there. Looking forward to more. (Also, you kind of forgot to upload the cover image.)
"Any chance y'all could do somethin' about him?"
"Has he broken the law?"
"He ain't been caught at it."
"Get back to us when he has."
Brilliant thoughts on the logistics of pony sewers. Ladders really arn't a feasible option for them, and that makes the whole thing more complicated. I can only imagine how a place like Manehattan handles sanitation.
Best Pony lives in a world of cardboard. Unfortunately, some of the cardboard can shatter.
And we have our primary culprit... though that may be the wrong term. This colt isn't doing this out of malice. Fluttershy can't get involved soon enough, especially given how the swarm adapts.
Applejack x Carrot Top. Not a well known ship, but one you have made me a fan of.
Great start! Pinkie Pie as a skating teacher... wow... XD
Rats... ooh boy.
I'm real intrigued as to where this goes! And what our rat-pony's ultimate nature will prove to be...
Yeesh. That was crazy. Okay, now I'm real curious about this "Skrik" character and all - is he really the one controlling the rats or is there something else going on here?
And that bit with Icy and the water... wow. I knew it was gonna come back into play, but still, that was pretty wild.
Good work with this chapter! I'm interested to see how this story finishes up - and what will happen next time.
Poor Icy. But it makes sense. After an experience like that...
Excellent hook for the next installment... and don't worry about the time it takes, it's all good.
A good ending for Skrik... hopefully. Still, definitely a victim of circumstance rather than a willing villain. And there's nothing more Ponyvillian than making an ally of an enemy.
As for Icy's hydrophobia... Yeah, that'll take a while to resolve. Though I suspect that with time and training, she could turn those clinging waters to her advantage.
Now there's the matter of a papercraft ninja to consider. Looking forward to the next issue, whenever it may come.
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Ending? What makes you think this is his ending?
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Well, an ending to this chapter of his life. There's still a lot left for him, but at least now he'll have some degree of equine contact.
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Okay, I'll give you that.
Can't believe it's taken me this long to find out there was a fourth one in the series... Well, here goes nothin'!
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To be fair, this was probably supposed to be a reference to the fact that neither of those things has actually happened yet at this point in the timeline.
We know she's a real pony. We don't know how much of that reality makes it to print.
It should be noted that this is an expansion of an existing phobia rather than a new one in itself.
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You knew it was coming. The previous story set this up perfectly. Especially that bit about Twilight knowing a pony.
Couldn't she just stay a pegasus?
Except aren't you a shape shifter?
She's claustrophobic isn't she?
Skirk?
It's not. That's a Jinx if ever I heard one.
Dang. That sucks...
No pun intended.