Before the ponies, there were robotic wolves from other dimensions. Now, a group of those wolves are going to risk everything to go home.
This is a prequel to "Power Ponies 2: the Eternal Bond".
Thousands of years ago, Princess Celeistia had a very close friend: Ricky. One day, before he could confess his feelings, Discordant Convergence occurred and pulled Ricky into the Netherealm as a wirewolf. These days, he heard through a grapevine that the resident warlord, Kul'as, is on the hunt for something that can grant him ultimate power. Ricky, now the Shadow Blot, must join with a team of other wirewolves to find this artifact first and use it to return to Equestria. But what are they going to have to go through to accomplish their goal?
Outside of Equestria is an entire world that's like a wasteland. There are no kingdoms, no rules, and no hope anywhere in sight. This Netherealm can only be accessible through a power beyond a hundred alicorns. That very thing was perfect for the thousands of hooded figures to make it across the dead terrain. In the middle of the march, four hooded men carried a large, black chest with a yellow glow escaping from it. One of them almost tripped, but didn't fall. That caught the attention of the hooded elder with his beard sticking out.
"CAREFUL!" the elder shouted. "Do you know what could happen if its power escaped?! We can't have a repeat over what that thing did to our home! We need to do this cautiously!"
The hooded men didn't argue for they knew firsthand that the elder was right. You'd think it was overkill for over a thousand people to deliver just one trunk, but if you knew what was in it, you'd be frightened too.
"Fear," the hooded men chanted,
"Darkness
Disaster
Bane
Evil
GO FASTER
The fear flowing through all our wills
Using up all our strength and our skills
But it's all worth the wait
To be rid of evil incarnate
Let it never
Come back eeeeeveeeeeeeer
The nightmares end
They have to go
The nightmares end
Let the light of hope show
Let this evil never rise again
The nightmares end
Have mercy make amends
The nightmares end
To the ends of eternity"
Suddenly, the elder raised his burned, black hand and the others stopped. He faced his people and declared to them all.
"Men, this is where we shall bury this great evil! Pull out your shovels and start digging! Save our future generations!
"Everyone, we must pray for the future
To have the Multiverse stay pure
We must bury this chest and the evil within
Just to make...
THE NIGHTMARES EEEEEEEEEND"
"The nightmares end," the hooded men sang while digging,
"They have to go
The nightmares end
Let the light of hope show
Let this evil never rise again
The nightmares end
Have mercy make amends
The nightmares end
To the ends of eternity
THE NIGHTMARES END
To the ends of eteeeerniiiiityyyyyy"
The elder approached the black, glowing trunk and gave it a nasty glare.
"I never should have been seduced by your power. It's because of you that my world has been destroyed and my family taken from me! Now... NO ONE SHALL MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE WE DID! HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?! HAHAHAHAHA!"
The elder's laughing then changed into sobbing. Tears rolled out of his eyes. He then felt a gust of wind brush up against his face. He opened his eyes as he heard the hallucination of a little girl laughing. He gazed up at the wide, open field and sighed. "My dearest Selmi, my little Dawna. My family, I am sorry.
"Forces of nature
Have mercy for us
Get rid of this pure evil
Let no one find it
We're under enough stress
I pray this evil stays still
BUT IF THIS MALEVOLENCE
SHOULD SURFACE ONCE MORE
I BEG THIS ONE, SMALL REQUEST
SEND US A DEFENSE
A HOPE, I ASK FOR
Someone who can put our fears to reeeeest"
The hooded men dug down deep for a whole week. The sun that shined while they were working only emitted a dim light. Finally, they felt they had done enough when they dug down the size of a great crater. They carefully placed the trunk at the very center and spent the next week placing the dirt on top. The men laid back down and felt exhausted. The elder approached his people and a smile escaped his hood.
"Rest up, my people
For we are all free
Our greatest fear is finally through
After centuries of torment
We can rest easy
And mercy has touched other worlds... tooooooooo"
After a few days of resting, the hooded colony has finally decided to move on. They walked into the darkness of the Netherealm and didn't look back at what they just buried.
"THE NIGHTMARES END
NOW, LIGHT AND HAPPINESS BEFRIEND
NOW, THE NIGHTMARES END
TO THE END OF ETERNITY
THE NIGHTMARES END
TO THE END OF ETEEEEERNIIIIIIITYYYYYYYYYYYYY"
"The niiiiiiiightmares eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeend," the elder finished.
Suddenly, the silver unicorn awoke from his bed. He breathed in and out before looking below his window. The morning sunshine lit up the entire room.
"Ricky, get up!" a mare's voice sounded downstairs.
"Coming, mom!" the silver unicorn shouted. He got up from his bed and walked over to the door. He climbed down the stairs and encountered his mom. She had a plate of bacon and eggs and a glass of milk that Ricky accepted.
"Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey." Ricky's mom said.
"Mom, I told you, no one says that anymore." Ricky said. "Well, tonight's the evaluation for the Platinum Advanced Magic School. Today's my final day to practice."
"Well, I've heard that Princess Celestia is getting into the school as well." Ricky's mom said. "If you get accepted, you can be classmates like you've been your whole lives."
"There's also the matter of Celestia getting accepted also." Ricky said. "No one's guaranteed a spot in the classes, including the princess of Equestria. The school's strict like that."
"Well, just eat your breakfast and you can go out."
Ricky finished his breakfast and gathered his supplies. He left through the front door and faced the outside in Canterlot. He then sighed with a slight grin. He then whispered a word so quietly, that not even he could hear himself.
Later that night, an entire crowd of ponies were gathered at the front of the Platinum Advanced Magic School. At the lobby, a hundred unicorns were waiting to be called up for the examination, including Ricky. While he was waiting, he looked out a window next to him and jolted with excitement when he saw the royal carriage pulling up around the front. The guards opened the door and a white alicorn with a rainbow mane walked out. She entered with two guards and Ricky galloped in her direction.
"Celestia!" he cried out getting her attention. "Celestia, it's me..."
Suddenly, he was stopped by the two guards.
"Hold on, kid." a guard said. "No one may approach the..."
"Guards, it's all right." Celestia said. "Ricky's a friend of mine. He can talk to me."
After a moment of thinking, the guards let Ricky pass. Celestia and Ricky chuckled for a second.
"Sorry about that, Ricky. My guards can be a little protective sometimes."
"Well, it's their job, right?" Ricky responded. "They get paid to protect. So... It's just you here."
"My parents had to stay home and take care of Luna. She's been a little moody lately."
"You sure you want to go through with this?" Ricky asked. "After all, you're a princess. The school board knows you have the necessary magic."
"I know, but I don't want to get into this school that way." Celestia responded. "No one likes a technicality, right?"
"I suppose not." Ricky replied. "Just do your best."
"Right."
At that moment, Celestia was called up to the examination room. Ricky and everyone else waited for ten minutes before the young alicorn princess returned. She had a frown on her face which made Ricky shocked. Celestia then changed her expression when she held up a form with the highlighted word: "ACCEPTED!" The whole crowd cheered and Ricky gave her a high hoof.
"Great job, Celestia!" Ricky said. "I'm sure your parents will be proud of you!"
"Thank you, Ricky." Celestia said. "Guess what, I convinced the board to let you go next."
Ricky took a deep breath and entered the room Celestia just exited. There, there were a group of adult unicorns behind a desk. Right next to where Ricky was supposed to be, there was a pedestal with a nest and a red egg.
"Okay." Ricky said nervously. "Hi, I'm Ricky. Of course, you... probably kinow that." It was an awkward moment. "Anyway, what would you like me to do?"
"You see that egg?" one of the unicorns asked. "Use your magic to hatch it."
"Is that it?" Ricky asked. "Okay, if you say so." He stared at the red egg and closed his eyes. His horn began to glow and a ray of light shot out of it.
The ray hit the egg and it began to glow. As it started to crack, the judges began to write on their papers. Suddenly, the egg cracked open and a red-and-orange bird appeared in its place. It was the size of a coffee mug and even cuter than a kitten.
"Well done, Ricky." a judge said. He held up a piece of paper and gave it to Ricky. "You've passed."
"Really?!" Ricky asked in shock. "Thank you! But judges, if you don't mind me asking, what kind of bird is that?"
"A PHOENIX?!" Celestia asked in complete shock when Ricky showed her. The baby bird looked beautiful in the moonlight outside of the school. "You hatched a phoenix?!"
"I know." Ricky said. "I'm just as surprised as you are! But you know what; I think I'll let you have her."
"R... Really?" Celestia asked. "But you hatched it."
"Yes, but I know you can take care of her better than I can." Ricky said. "Besides, I think she's already taking a liking to you."
Celestia turned her head and saw the baby phoenix pearched on her back. She giggled for a little while.
"All right. I think I'll call her... Philomena." She turned back at Ricky. "So... we're both starting class next week."
"Yeah." Ricky said. "I can hardly wait."
"Hey, Ricky," Celstia said, "Do you mind if I say something embarrassing?"
Ricky blushed at the question, but brushed it off. "Sure, yeah."
"I didn't think I'd be in a class this advanced," Celestia sang,
"No matter if I had a crown on my head"
"Are you kidding me?" Ricky asked. "Listen...
"I was worried that you wouldn't take the chance
If you hadn't passed it, I'd probably be dead"
"Our future..." Celestia sang.
"Our future..." Ricky sang.
"Is looking so great" both sang,
"Right down to the very last letter
Life can't get any beeeeeeetteeeeeeeeer
Life can't get any beeeeeeetteeeeeeeeer
Life can't get any better"
"Than this," Celestia sang.
"Than this," Ricky sang.
"Than this," Celestia sang.
"Than this," Ricky sang.
"Life can't get any better" both sang.
"I mean, it's funny," Ricky sang.
"What," Celestia sang.
"We've known each other," Ricky sang.
"Since we were kids," Celestia sang.
"Now, it seems we're going to share the future too" both sang,
"There's no debate about it
I'm not afraid to shout it
I wouldn't get this far without yooouuuuu"
"THERE ARE NO STRIIIIIIIINGS..." Celestia sang.
"THERE ARE NO STRIIIIIIIINGS..." Ricky sang.
"THAT ARE HOLDING US BACK" both sang,
"WE'LL GET THROUGH THIN AND THICK TOGETHER
LIFE CAN'T GET ANY BEEEEEETTEEEEEEEER
LIFE CAN'T GET ANY BEEEEEETTEEEEEEEER
I HOPE IT'S FOREVER"
"LIKE THIS," Celestia sang.
"LIKE THIS," Ricky sang.
"LIKE THIS," Celestia sang.
"LIKE THIS," Ricky sang.
"Life can't get any beeeeeeetteeeeeeeeer" both sang.
The two of them both giggled when they were done. Ricky looked at the alicorn and took a deep breath for a moment.
"Hey, Celestia," he said, "There's something I gotta tell you. It's... Well, it's not easy for me to say."
"Color me interested." the princess said. "What is it?"
"Well..." Ricky said nervously. "It's that... I... Well, I kinda..."
Ricky was so embarrassed by what he wanted to say, he didn't notice the winds blowing so suddenly, but Celestia did.
"Ricky, wait." Celestia said. "Do you feel that?"
Once Ricky took a moment to observe, he felt the wind drastically blowing past his legs. "What the... Something's not right."
"LOOK!" Celestia shouting looking up at the thick clouds spiraling above Canterlot.
Suddenly, a black hole started to form at the center of the clouds. Looking beside themselves, Ricky and Celestia saw small objects floating from the ground and into the hole in the sky. They were frightened, but they started to ease up when an adult, male alicorn flew in and landed beside them.
"King Solaris!" Ricky addressed.
"Dad!" Celestia followed. "What's going on?"
"Discordant Convergence." King Solaris replied. "I didn't think it's be this early! Kids, you've got to follow me back to the carriage! Everyone's got to stay inside until it blows over!"
Ricky and Celestia followed the king across the courtyard and to the carriage. They were almost there until suddenly, Celestia started to hover from the ground. Solaris and Ricky were shocked at the sight. Celestia tried to use her wings to fly away, but she couldn't control her direction.
"CELESTIA!" Ricky gasped. He saw a flagpole beside her, but he knew she couldn't reach it. He then saw an outdoor staircase that leads to where she was about to be. Then, Ricky knew what he had to do.
Ricky ran up the stars to the balcony right where Celestia was about to be. Much to her surprise, Ricky jumped from the edge and headed to her direction. His hooves pushed Celestia toward the pole. She grabbed onto it, but she was still concerned because Ricky was exactly in the position she just escaped from.
"RICKY!" the princess shouted.
"CELESTIA!" Ricky shouted as he floated closer to the hole.
"RICKYYYYYYYYY!" Celestia shouted as her eyes started to tear up.
"CELESTIAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Ricky shouted as he was completely consumed by the hole. Ricky and a boatload of objects was out of sight, and a couple of seconds later, the hole vanished as quickly as it appeared. After a few seconds of waiting, the ponies walked out of cover and King Solaris walked up to his daughter who was watching the sky all shocked and worried.
"He saved me." Celestia said. "He saved me." She then rested her head on her father's body with tears flowing from her eyes. Her father stroked her mane with his hoof and consoled her.
"It's okay, 'Tia. It's okay. We won't forget him. We'll never forget Ricky."
Nothing stayed the same in Ricky's eyes. He couldn't tell if he was moving up, down, or even diagonal. Everywhere he turned, he saw shaped and colors changing, and he felt he was moving at the speed of light. Suddenly, he felt a jolt of electricity flow through his body. He looked at his hooves and saw them change as well with the rest of his surroundings.
He grew what looked like giant hands, but they were silver and unbelievably sharp. His entire body started to change with similar features until he no longer resembled a pony. He looked like a metallic wolf with red glowing eyes. And his scream sounded like a uproarious howl. That was how Ricky became... a wirewolf.
The Neatherealm hadn't done itself any favors since the beginning. The only difference is an immeasurable rise of the population. Creatures of all shapes and sizes have made civilization across the nearly-desolate dimension. They build market stands, tiny houses, and even the tavern where the giant, hooded figure entered.
Once he went inside, he saw many monsters and mystical creatures conversing and drinking. Glowing red eyes escaped the hood as he saw who he was looking for: a walking, tall rat monster with an eyepatch and a missing finger. The hooded figure approached the table and caught the rat's attention.
"Hello, Skit." the hooded figure greeted.
"Oh, it's you." the rat sighed. "Take a seat."
The hooded figure sat across the table from his conversable partner.
"I heard you made quite a name for yourself, Ricky." Skit said. "They're calling you the Shadow Blot. Sounds like that last tip I gave you didn't work out."
"You told me there was a spell that could help me talk to others across dimensions," Ricky said, "But when I got there, all I found was an empty coal mine!"
"Now, hold on!" Skit said. "I said there was a chance there was a spell. I was just passing along a rumor."
"It was just a rumor?!" Ricky asked aggressively.
"Keep it down." Skit said. "Look, after that stunt you pulled on those Underlings, you can't afford to draw too much attention, especially on Kul'as territory."
"Who?" Ricky asked.
"Kul'as." Skit repeated. "Seriously, you've been in the Neatherealm for thousands of years, and you've never heard of the most feared demon ever?"
"I thought that was Arca..."
"Shut it!" Skit said. "You can't say things like that on Kul'as' property! They hate each other. Kul'as is more powerful than Arcanus, but Arcanus has a more powerful army to back him up. With that, those two are at a stalemate."
"All right, then." Ricky said rolling his red eyes. "Just tell me there's a way to come in contact with Equestria. And don't let me chase rumors this time."
"Well, I can assure you, I don't know whether or not there is a confirmed way. Don't forget, the Neatherealm is quite away from Equestria. If you want to know if something is real or not, you're going to have to talk to my boss, Calrisio."
"Calrisio, huh? All right, where can I meet him?"
"Well, I'm not allowed to give his whereabouts to just anyone, but for you, I'll make an exception. Last I heard, Calrisio was headed for the Market Pit east from here. It should only take half a day with your speed. But it's still in Kul'as territory, so you'll be on thin ice. He commands the Underlings, so he should be aware of your activities."
As easily as he snuck in, Ricky made it out of the tavern without getting the monster's attention. He walked ten minutes away from the restaurant before deciding to remove his cloak.
Now, here's where you should be reminded that Ricky was no longer a pony. The Discordant Convergence portal mutated him as he entered the Neatherealm. Now, he was a wirewolf, a ten-foot, mechanical wolf creature standing on its hind legs. As soon as Ricky removed his cloak, he tucked it and strapped it to his back. He then crouched to the barren ground about to pounce forward. And that's what he did; sprinted across the field heading to the Market Pit.
On top of a dead mountain, a skinny, weak centaur was chained to the rocks under his hooves. He dared not try to struggle out for he gave up centuries ago. Suddenly, he was attended by his three, half-human girls, the Siren Sisters; Serena, Carol, and Melody.
"Lord Arcanus," Serena, the leader, said, "It's Kul'as. He's here for your meeting. And he's here with his Underling army."
"Very well." Arcanus said. "Send him up, along with his most trusted minions."
The Siren Sisters nodded and changed into their siren forms. They flew below and stayed that way for a minute.
When the girls returned, they had four creatures behind them. One of them was a tall, broad-shouldered humanoid with a green-camouflaged outfit. Another was a wirewolf. Another was a small, red dragon the size of a breadbox. The final one was the most intimidating. His skin was pitch-black, except for the purple eyes. He looked like a black crocodile in heavy armor. The most noticeable feature was his four arms, two on each side. That last one was Kul'as, and he approached the bound Arcanus without any fear.
"Kul'as." Arcanus rasped.
"Arcanus." Kul'as retorted sternly.
"Carol." the blue-haired girl mentioned herself. Everyone looked at her in response. "Sorry, I thought we were doing a thing."
"Sister, remember your role in this meeting." Serena said.
"Um..." Carol tried to remember. "Oh! I should be seen, but not heard."
"Preferably, you shouldn't be seen either." Melody sighed.
"Hey!" the tiny dragon shouted as he fluttered in front of the sisters. "Don't interrupt Master Kul'as' meeting, unless you want to face the wrath of Creeper!"
"Creeper?" Serena scoffed and chuckled. "Am I supposed to take you seriously?"
"Ugh." Kul'as said pinching in between his eyes. "I swear, I'll always get a headache from my most loyal minion. Anyway, Arcanus, I wonder why you're calling this parley."
"Simple, my blood rival." Arcanus said. "I couldn't help but hear things, rumors. I've heard you've had your army searching for... it."
Kul'as raised his eyebrow in suspicion. "What if I am?"
"Don't." Arcanus rasped. "You have no idea what you're looking for. It was buried for a reason."
"Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I am looking for it." Kul'as said. "Why are you preventing me from reaching it? If it's as deadly as you say, then you should be waiting for it to destroy me."
"You fool!" Arcanus shouted. "If you do unleash its power, it won't just affect you! All of existence will tremble in its wake! Even my master fears it!"
"You dare call me a fool?!" Kul'as shouted. "I was born in the darkest depths of the Neatherealm while you are from a colorful world full of joy and friendship! What right have you to compare yourself to me?! Perhaps you've forgotten, but I have an entire army at the foot of the mountain and all you've got on you is three halflings whose only magic is carrying a tune!"
"Awe, you hurt my widdle feelings." Serena mocked.
"The point is, I have the numbers in this situation!" Kul'as continued. "How about I just take this opportunity to take you out now?! Frankly, I'm surprised you didn't see this coming!"
"Who said I didn't?" Arcanus asked.
Suddenly, the bug-dressed man was surrounded by a circle of green flames. When the fire died out, in his place, there was a horse-shaped insectoid with holes in her legs and a demonic horn on her head. Even her voice was devilish.
"Surprised?"
"What?!" Kul'as shouted. "What is that?!"
"This is Scynder, queen of the Changelings." Arcanus introduced.
"Changelings?" Kul'as asked. "Then where is the real general?!"
"Don't worry about him." Queen Scynder said. "I locked him in a broom closet before we went into your ranks."
"We?" Kul'as asked.
"Indeed." Arcanus said. "You see, I have Changelings planted in your army. You never know which ones are real and which ones work for me. With a simple command, there can be a riot between your Underlings. Care to threaten me again?"
"WHAT?!" Creeper shouted as he flew in closer to Arcanus. "YOU DISRESPECTFUL, UNDERHANDED, BEAST! YOU DARE HUMILIATE THE GREAT KUL'AS WITH THIS MATTER?!"
Creeper skipped backwards when Arcanus showed a slight chomp. The tiny dragon flew back to his master, who gave the bound centaur a dirty look before turning away.
"Creeper, Aaron, we're leaving." Kul'as rasped as he turned away. He headed back to his army without any idea who's on his side.
"Lord Kul'as, do you need to relieve some stress?" Creeper asked. "Do you need me to help you calm down again?"
Suddenly, Kul'as top-right claw grabbed the tiny dragon and the demon smashed him on the ground a dozen times. The wirewolf working for him just rolled his eyes. When Kul'as was done hurting his minion, Creeper was able to talk in pain.
"Are you feeling better now, master?"
"Actually, yes." Kul'as replied. "Yes, I do."
"Master, we're seriously not going to listen to this poser, are we?" Aaron, the wirewolf, asked.
"No." Kul'as said. "Don't you see? Even Arcanus is scared of what we're looking for. That's all the more reason to obtain it. Just keep it between us, and Creeper, go pick up the map."
It took some time, but Ricky had made it. Right in front of him was a cliffside, and at the very bottom were streets of stands and counters. In each stand, different creatures were selling merchandise. That was the Market Pit. Ricky looked around and found a staircase that leads down. Meanwhile, somewhere in the marketplace, there was a stand with two additional wirewolves working one stand full of knick-knacks. "Come one, come all, to Terry and Devastator's shop." the lead declared. "Here, we sell the most exotic curios to every monster species. We have no affiliation, so we reach all customers! I... DEVASTATOR!" He caught his gigantic partner rewriting the price signs. "I thought I told you, no lowering the prices!" "Devastate." the big wirewolf said. "I don't care if the prices are outrageous." Terry said putting the prices back to normal. "The war between Arcanus and Kul'as is putting a major strain on the economy, and I've got to pay rent. Not to mention, since you moved in with me last month, I've got a gigantic mouth to feed." "Devastate." "It may be a free country back in Equestria, but in the Neatherealm, it's survival of the smartest." "Am I interrupting something?" Terry and Devastator was caught off guard when Ricky came to their stand. They calmed down and Terry approached him. "Ah, another wirewolf. Let me guess: you're really a pony from Equestria and you were sent here by Discordant Convergence." "How'd you know?" Ricky asked. "That's pretty much the story of every other wirewolf," Terry said, "Especially me. Except Devastator. He used to be a dog there. That's why he has a speaking problem. So far, all he can say is 'devastate'. But enough about us. What can we do for you? See anything you like?" "Actually, I'm not here to shop." Ricky said. "Do you know where I can find Calrisio?" "Calrisio?" Terry said. "Yeah, I know him. You just missed him. He scammed a few Changelings and made his escape from the pit last night. Didn't say where, though." "Are you sure?" Ricky asked. "Dude, Calrisio wasn't very social. Never talked to anyone but his suckers." "Well, then I came all this way for nothing." Ricky groaned. "You shouldn't have to, pal." Terry said. "I happen to have the rarest of items from the four corners of the Neatherealm. Maybe one of these can help you out." "I doubt it." Ricky complained. "Unless you have some... medallion that can open portals... or a prediction tablet that tells where the next Discordant Convergence will open..." "Devastate." Devastator said. "What?" Terry asked. "Dude, you know that's not available right now!" "What did he just say?" Ricky asked. "Nothing!" Terry said nervously. "He said nothing important. I told you, he used to be a dog. He's got bones on the brain." "Devastate!" Devastator insisted. "Hey, I call no mothers!" Terry shouted. He took a deep breath and started whispering to Ricky. "Okay, look, I shouldn't be telling you this, but we have... a map." "A map?" Ricky asked. "What's so special about a map?" "It's not just any map." Terry said. He reached to the bottom of the counter and pulled out a very old scroll. "It's called the Edgeless Atlas. You ask it whatever you want and marks will magically appear with directions to it. The only condition is that it has to be in the same world." "Really?" Ricky asked. He was elevated at what he just heard. "And you're sure it works?" "Buddy, I've tested this thing like five times. Trust me, the legends don't do it justice." "So... if I ask it to show me a way to Equestria, it will lead me to it?" "Yes, it would," Terry answered before pulling the scroll away from Ricky, "If it was currently for sale. Unfortunately, I've already got a buyer." "Okay! Listen, whatever this guy's paying you, I'll double it!" "It's not that simple!" Terry protested. "It's not just money! It's Kul'as!" "Kul'as?" Ricky asked confusingly. "What's he got to do with this?" "He's the guy who bought the map!" Ricky said. "He pre-ordered this, and today, he's sending one of his minions to pick it up! If I go back on my word, Kul'as will tear me apart and reassemble me over and over again! Seriously, I can do that. It doesn't usually hurt, but it's always so annoying!" "Okay, calm down." Ricky said. He began to think, and then came up with an idea. "How's about this: as payment for this map, I take you home with me. I mean, you're from Equestria too." "That's crazy!" Terry said. "It's one thing to give the map to someone else even though Kul'as ordered it, but if he learns I'm running away with the map, heads will roll!" "Devastate." "I don't care if it might be our only way back! The only way I'd break a deal with Kul'as is if he died first!" "Terry, come on." Ricky said. "You can't forget about a way back to your home!
"Wait! I can't stay anymore This is not my home. This is evil galore In this other world, I'm in desperate need I can return to my realm if you take lead You gotta show me out" "No, I don't," Terry sang. "Why the heck not," Ricky sang. "You're gonna be caught," Terry sang. "Show me the way to Equestria," Ricky sang, "I gotta go back to my home Show me the way to Equestria I can't do any of it alone Show me the way to Equestria I gotta go back to my home Show me the way to Equestria Please! You've gotta have a heart If there's a chance for us returning, you should take part Come on! You must lead the way If you're like me, then you too don't want to stay You gotta show me out" "Devastate," Devastator sang. "What he said," Ricky sang. "I don't wanna be dead," Terry sang. "SHOW ME THE WAY TO EQUESTRIA," Ricky sang, "I GOTTA GO BACK TO MY HOME SHOW ME THE WAY TO EQUESTRIA I CAN'T DO ANY OF IT ALONE SHOW ME THE WAY TO EQUESTRIA I GOTTA GO BACK TO MY HOME SHOW ME THE WAY TO EQUESTRIA"
"STOP IT!" Terry shouted. "ENOUGH WITH THE GUILT TRIP! I GIVE IN! I'll help you get home!" "Perfect!" Ricky cheered. "BUT..." Terry pointed out, "On one condition: if Kul'as does catch us and he comes close to killing us, I'll kill you first." Ricky took a pause to think. Then, he made up his mind. "Fair enough." He then picked up the map and opened it up. "Hey, what gives?! This is blank!" "Just tell it what you're looking for." Terry said. "It'll then show you how to get there." Ricky looked back at the blank parchment. "All right, then. I need to find a way to go back to where I'm from." Suddenly, some sketches appeared on the paper and color was added. It looked like an actual map of the Neatherealm. Then, dotted lines formed a path from the Market Pit to a far off area of desolation. "It works!" Ricky cheered. "It really works!" "Oh, well." Terry said. "Come on, Devastator. It's time to go home." "Devastate!" As they were starting to leave, Creeper flew from the crowd down the street and saw the wirewolves leaving the other direction. "Perfect!" He started to fly, but he only just noticed that they were leaving. "Hey, wait! Stop!" He followed the wirewolves, but he kept bumping into creatures. "You, with the map..." He stopped talking when he lost sight completely. He started to get really worried and frightened. "This is not good. I hope this doesn't come back to haunt me." It did. "Oh, what will Lord Kul'as say when he hears this?"
"Seriously, Creeper?" Kul'as asked when his minion explained the situation. Kul'as sat on his throne pinching the middle of his eyes making Creeper nervous. "You had one job to do. You were supposed to bring me the Edgeless Atlas, and yet, you come back empty-clawed. Unless you have a good excuse, I think I'll be having dragon wings for dinner. Warning: they taste like chicken wings."
"Have mercy, Lord Kul'as!" Creeper begged loudly. "I didn't mean to fail! It's that wirewolf we bought it from! He took it and ran off with his big guy and another wirewolf!"
"Another wirewolf?" Kul'as asked. "What's the Neatherealm coming to?"
Suddenly, his own wirewolf came into the room.
"Speak of a devil." Kul'as said. "What do you want, Aaron?"
"It's Professor Slyme, sir." Aaron said. "He said he's got something to show you."
Kul'as groaned. "That ooze-for-brains could invent the wheel and not get it right. Oh, well. I need a good laugh."
Aaron turned to the door and opened it. Suddenly, a dripping, humanoid pile of slime walked through wearing a white lab coat, but nothing else.
"What do you have for me now, Slyme?"
"Well, Master Kul'as," Slyme said, "I've been hearing about our mining operations being interrupted by a meddling wirewolf that seems to get away."
"Hold on a second." Kul'as thought to himself. "I wonder if this Shadow Blot wirewolf is the same one who took off with my map."
"Well, master," Professor Slyme continued, "I happen to have invented a way to find wirewolves."
That caught Kul'as' attention. "Really? What a coincidence! That's exactly what I need right now! How does it work?"
"This handheld scanner acts as a metal detector, but with the wirewolves' specific metals and circuitry." Professor Slyme said holding up a circular scanner device. "Don't worry; I made this thing slime-proof. Anyway, this machine is like a divining rod. It is designed to jerk when it points at a wirewolf."
"It does... what?" Kul'as asked.
"I just told you." Professor Slyme said. "Jerk!" He suddenly realized what he just said and how it was a mistake. It brought silence to the whole room.
"He's dead." Aaron commented.
Kul'as took offense of what Slyme said, and his eyes started to glow panicking the melting scientist. "That didn't come out right at all."
"No, it didn't." Kul'as growled. Suddenly, beams of light escaped from his eyes and hit Slyme's chest. It was then that Slyme started to grow until...
BOOM! Within a second, the entire room was covered in goo. Everyone was grossed out by it, but Kul'as just groaned.
"Well, that was uncalled for." Aaron said.
"Bite your metal tongue!" Creeper shouted. "That melting moron just insulted our great master!"
"Whatever you say, shrimp." Aaron said. "Anyway, does that wirewolf scanner thing even work?"
Kul'as reached the floor and picked up the device. He wiped off the slime and aimed it at Aaron. There was no reaction from it.
"Well, either Aaron's been holding out on us," Kul'as said throwing the device aside, "Or Slyme's final invention is just like all his others, only good as paperweights! Now, we have no R&D team and no way to track down those rogue wirewolves."
"Hey, if it's wirewolves you want, I'm game." Aaron said. "I'm a predator, and we are meant to track down our prey and hunt them down. Just say the word."
"Sir?" Creeper asked his lord and master.
"Well, if it takes a wirewolf to catch a wirewolf, it's got to be better than nothing." Kul'as said. "All right, Aaron. Hunt down the wirewolves, tear out their motherboards, and bring me the Edgeless Atlas... BUT SO HELP ME, IF YOU SO HAPPEN TO MESS THIS UP, I'M RECYCLING YOU INTO A GAME-STATION FOR THE BABY UNDERLINGS!"
"All right, all right!" Aaron panicked. "Don't have a cow! I'm going!" And with that, the wirewolf scampered on out the door without a trace.
"Master," Creeper addressed, "I wish for redemption for failing to get the map. How can I make up for my tardiness?"
"Well..." Kul'as said thinking, "With Slyme on 'permanent retirement', we have a position open, and I happen to hear about a guy who can help." He then pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper. "Follow these instructions to his lab. Be careful; I hear the guy's a little nuts. Remember, come back with this guy or don't come back at all."
"Even a time bubble can't stop me from fulfilling your will, oh wise and magnificent Kul'as!" Creeper praised.
"Just... go." Kul'as gritted his teeth trying not to strangle the tiny dragon. He waited until his minion left before sighing in relief. "I think I need a nap."
"Are we there yet?" Ricky asked.
"You're starting to sound like a whining kid, Ricky." Terry said. "We've still got a lot of ground to cover before we get to our destination."
"Devastate."
"You're right, Big D." Terry said. "We should find a place to rest in this village."
It wouldn't be a lie to say they were at the best-looking village in the Neatherealm, but given the environment, the bar would be low. It's like describing the dirtiest bar of soap, something the village evidently didn't have.
"On second thought, maybe we should find a nice tar pit." Terry said. "It would be a lot cleaner than this dump."
Suddenly, Devastator stopped and placed his claw on Terry's shoulder.
"What is it now, you big lug?"
"Devastate."
Suddenly, Terry started to gain a worried face. Ricky was confused.
"Ooh, that would be a problem."
"What?" Ricky asked. "What did he say?"
"We're distinguished." Terry said. "Think about it for a second. How many times have you seen a trio of wirewolves following a map? If an Underling sees us, he'll know who we are and Kul'as won't be far behind."
"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Ricky asked.
Before Terry could reply, a crowd started to form around a large wagon. Curious, the wirewolves approached the front of the crowd and got a good look. Suddenly, the wagon shifted its sides until it became a stage. At the center of the stage, something stood that surprised Ricky, Terry, and Devastator.
"Another wirewolf?" Terry gasped when he saw the performer.
"Hello, everyone!" the performing wirewolf said. "Ladies and gentle-monsters, I have arrived, the mysterious, amusing Masque! Behold!"
In a flash, the wirewolf was covered in green flames. When it cleared, everyone screamed when they saw a certain four-armed, black villain in his place. Kul'as roared, but everyone stopped when he then started to laugh.
"You should've seen the looks on your faces." A green fire surrounded the stage again and Kul'as then looked like Masque again. "It's okay, everyone! Kul'as isn't near here! I'm just a master of disguise." The fire appeared multiple times changing him into many different things. "And I'm not afraid to become them.
"Take a look and you'll see
That I'm you and you're me
We are exact
It's like a living reflection
Of anyone of my selection
Ain't that a fact
Sure, right now, I'm a robo-mutt
But that can change in a blink
Right before you'll eyes and in a strut
Abracadabra! BAM! What do you think
I'm quite a chief
A camo chief
A mirrored motif
A camo chief
A kangaroo
A caribou
An extra side of beef
At any time
You see that I'm
A camo chief
Now, tell me what you wanted
And I'll be happy to flaunt it
For your pleasure
And don't think I can trim it
So far, I have no limit
That's a high measure
Any animal or object, I can change shape
Let me show you all I got
From a tiny butterfly to a great ape
Can you believe it's all self-taught
I'm quite a chief
A camo chief
Quite a relief
A camo chief
I'm shifty
And swifty
Always with another face
I'm another guy
And zip bye-bye
Without a tiny trace
I'M QUITE A CHIEF
A CAMO CHIEF
I HAVE NO GRIEF
A CAMO CHIEF
SO WATCH ME GO
A REGULAR PRO
AN IDENTITY THIEF
I'VE KNOWN HUNGER AND THIRST
BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN YOU FIRST
TO MAKE THIS SONG MORE BRIEF
MY LIFE USED TO BE BORING SENSE
BUT THEN CAME DISCORDANT CONVERGENCE
AND BLAMMO
SUDDENLY, I'M A CAAAAAAAMOOOOOOOO
CHIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEF"
Impressed, the crowd cheered and threw their pocket change at the stage. The wirewolves in the crowd just had their jaws dropped.
"Can you do that?" Ricky asked.
"I was going to ask you the same question." Terry said.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Masque cheered. "And in case anyone wants to be part of the show, auditions are open!"
"Auditions?" Ricky whispered. He then placed his index claw under his chin and scratched it. "Hmm."
Meanwhile, Creeper flew across barren fields with his map.
"According to this," he said observing the map, "The place should be right around..."
Suddenly, Creeper hit something large and metal. He creeped away from it and saw a gigantic wall made of steel. He looked and saw a metal mansion the size of a city block.
"How'd I miss that?"
Creeper was about to approach the door when he heard bird screeches. He stood paralyzed and rolled his eyes looking up. He saw three vulture silhouettes circling above him. They landed around him. One vulture had a scar over his eye, another had a crack on his beak, and the last one had a large body. But the most noticeable part about these vultures was their green feathers. Their bodies were covered with a bright shade of green.
"Well, well, well." the green vulture with the scar said. "Hey, Leaf, what do you think this little morsel is?"
"I don't know, Emerald." the vulture with the cracked beak said. He turned to the big one. "What do you think, Verde?"
"What's think?" the big one asked.
"Now... hold on." Creeper said nervously. "Do you know who I am?'
"Why, did you forget?" Leaf asked.
"I know who you are." Emerald said licking his beak. "You're brunch!" The birds started to get closer to him. Creeper thought of flying away, but he knew they were too big for him to escape. "I sure am hungry for dragon wings. Did you know they taste like chicken wings?"
"I've... heard." Creeper said.
"Chow time!" Emerald shouted.
They were about to strike down, but three stones hit them on the sides of their heads. Creeper looked and a fourth green vulture flew down. There weren't any distinguishing features on this one, but it was clear it was a female.
"What are you idiots doing?!"
"Jade, we were about to have a snack." Leaf said.
"Well, cut it out!" Jade shouted. "Obviously, you bird-brains don't read up on the news. This is Creeper, and he has a very high position in Kul'as' empire. If you eat him, then Kul'as will make us pay! So keep your beaks to yourself!"
"Oh, come on." Emerald said. "We ain't had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinkin' days!"
"Well, it's your fault for messing up the master's experiment, Emerald!" Jade shouted. She then turned to the little dragon. "Do forgive them. They're just idiots."
"Uh... thanks." Creeper said. "Anyway, Kul'as sent me. I have a message for your master."
"Is that so?" Jade asked. "Well, follow us and we'll take you to him."
Creeper wasn't so sure how it would turn out, but he had no choice. The vultures opened the door and they all wend it witnessing what happens in there. There were conveyer belts covered with spare parts and little, metal men at the sides putting the parts together.
"Welcome to Nightmare Labs." Jade said. "Here, we provide the most dangerous and most liable for disaster."
"Well, how come Lord Kul'as only heard of this place now?" Creeper asked.
"Maybe we've got a bad agent." Leaf replied.
"As you may have guessed," Jade continued, "We're not ordinary vultures. We call ourselves Greengear, and our master created us out of his very personalities. While the boys have strength, speed, and ambition, I am gifted with the master's logic and reason."
Creeper looked ahead of the group and saw a human teenager slouching in the corner in front of them. His black hair was slightly greasy, but brushed fine. He also had a black hoodie with a gray skull printed on it.
"What about him?" Creeper asked.
Jade looked at the teenager. "Oh, him? That's just the master's son. He's a bit of rebel." They stopped when they reached the boy. "Hey, Scimitar, we have a visitor for your dad."
The teen sighed heavily and pointed. "He's in his lab working on his arms. You dunces will find him there."
"Thank you, boy." Jade said.
"Arms?" Creeper thought to himself. "Wait; dunces?"
Greengear and Creeper walked down the hall and found a big door. They opened it and saw an entire room full of floating platforms covered with lab equipment. At the bottom platform, there was a figure humming to himself. He had one long, metal arm attached to his side and another arm laying on the table in front of him. It was open with its wires and internal parts that he tinkered with. When he was done, he closed the hatch and reattached the arm on his side.
The man then turned revealing the rest of his body. He had an unbelievably thin figure with only his head revealed. It was about the normal size of a human head, but his left eye was clearly robotic. It had a red glow that clashed with his green, thin hair. He didn't notice Greengear at his door and he slashed the air around him while humming.
"...the most of freedom and of pleasure. Nothing ever lasts forever. Everybody wants to rule the..."
"Master." Jade interrupted making the guy jump. "Sorry for interrupting you when you're working, but you have a visitor and..."
"Jade." the skinny man said turning his robotic eye in her direction. "Do you remember the last time a vulture came into this office without permission?"
"Y-Yeah." Jade answered nervously. "Emerald almost lost his tail feathers."
"Exactly." the cyborg said scraping his metal claws on the table keeping them sharp. The other vultures ducked behind each other shaking in fear. "Now, I know you're the rational one, so I'm going to give you a chance to explain yourself. If I don't like your answer, you're going to wish that I had boiled your egg when I had the chance!"
"It's the dragon, Master Tartus!" Jade panicked pointing at Creeper. "Kul'as sent him! Something about a message!"
Tartus rotated his real and metal eyes toward his tiny visitor. "Kul'as, eh?" Suddenly, he zipped down and grabbed Creeper's hand. He shook it (and Creeper) really hard up and down with a big smile on his face. Even when he's moving really fast, he doesn't let his body seen. He just kept his cloak sealed. "It's so exciting to have someone in his inner circle in my humble abode! I'm such a fan of his methods! All the mayhem and carnage is really inspired!" He stopped shaking and Creeper felt dizzy. "Sorry about the mess in my lab. I wasn't really expecting visitors."
"It's all right." Creeper said shaking back to sense. "So... Tartus, is it?"
"Yes, that's me." Tartus said. "So what brings one of Kul'as' top followers to my labs?"
"Well," Creeper replied, "We've recently 'lost' our top scientist and we've heard you're a pretty decent nerd yourself, so we're looking to hire you. We can discuss the pay rate all day if we have..."
"I'm in!" Tartus declared leaving Creeper confused.
"But... we didn't discuss your salary." Creeper said.
"Give me nothing for all I care." Tartus said. "All I ask for is the chance to work for a big name like Kul'as."
"Well... okay." Creeper said. "I'll tell Lord Kul'as to expect you tomorrow."
"Thank you!" Tartus said. He opened a window and motioned for Creeper's exit. "I'll have my drones pack the equipment and tell my son we're moving to the big leagues. Don't worry, Creeper. With me by your side, no one will mess with you again. Not Arcanus, and definitely not those meddling wirewolves."
Creeper opened up his wings and flew out the window. He was already half a mile away from the creepy lab when he stopped thought to himself, "When did I mention the wirewolves?"
"Sorry, Mr. Killer," Masque said from his table watching the monster on the stage, "But I'm not looking for someone who can skin another creature alive."
The monster bowed its head in shame and walked off the stage. Masque called out for the next, but he was shocked to see three wirewolves approach him.
"You need to let us come with you." Ricky said.
"Hey, pal, the stage is behind you." Masque said.
"Devastate."
"The big guy's right." Terry said. "You're the only one who can get us to where we want safely." He pulled out the Edgeless Atlas and opened it up revealing the X. "Can you get us here?"
Masque looked at the map and scratched his chin. "Well, it's a little out of my way."
"Please." Ricky said. "We need to get there so we can return to Equestria."
"Equestria?!" Masque gasped. "Well, why didn't you say so? I'd be happy to help!"
"Really?" Ricky asked. "Just like that?"
"Oh, yes." Masque said folding the table in front of him. "You have no idea what I have been through in this doom-n-gloom world. The audience I perform to is practically dead. But Equestria is full of lively ponies who know a good show when they see it. I can't wait to go back. By the way, name's Joe."
"Joe?" Terry asked. "I thought your name was Masque."
"Oh, that's just a stage name. It really fits my powers."
"Powers?" Ricky asked. "You mean your shapeshifting? I thought Changelings were the only ones who could do that."
"Oh, my powers are given to me by Pixie Dust."
"Devastate?"
"Pixie Dust." Joe repeated. "The friendliest fairy in the Neatherealm. When I was in a miserable slump, she gave me these powers to help me cope. In fact, her hut is on the way to your X. I bet she can give you all powers to give you a helping hand."
"Thank you, but I don't think we'll need them for long." Ricky said.
"Well, we should at last pop on by for a visit." Joe said. "I kinda left some stuff at her place, and if I'm leaving, I'd like to say good-bye to the old bird."
Ricky pondered until he made his decision. "Well, if it is on the way, then I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Perfecto!" Joe said. "We'll be there faster than you can say 'updok'."
"What's updok?" Terry asked.
"Not much, just getting you to Pixie Dust!" Joe laughed.
That joke made Ricky pinch the middle of his eyes and groaned. "This is going to be a long day."
They had no idea of knowing, but not too far, another wirewolf was hot on their trail.
Within a couple of hours, the traveling cart stopped when it approached the large, old tree. Joe said it was Pixie Dust's home, and the wirewolves approached it, but right before they touched the door, Joe stopped them.
"Hold it! This is Pixie Dust's home. You gotta use the secret knock."
Joe raised his metal fist and knocked "Shave and a Haircut" followed by knocks of a random pattern. Finally, Joe changed with a rapid series of knocks until the door opened up with a very angry fairy.
"All right! All right!" she shouted. "I heard you the first time!"
"Secret knock." Joe said. "Works every time. Nice to see you again, Pixie Dust."
"Joe, you metalhead!" Pixie Dust shouted. "For the trillionth time, we don't need a secret knock for two reasons. #1: I can see you coming from my upstairs window. And #2: you're the only one who knows I live here!"
"You're Pixie Dust?" Ricky asked.
"No, I'm a supermodel actress!" Pixie Dust snapped.
"Whoa, what's with the sarcasm?" Terry said. "Chuckles here said you were the friendliest fairy in the Neatherealm."
"Yeah, the friendliest fairy in the Neatherealm!" Pixie Dust emphasized. "Nobody said I was friendly! Now, what do you want this time, Joe?"
"I need my stuff." Joe said. "I'm kissing the Neatherealm good-bye and heading back to Equestria!"
Pixie Dust sighed heavily and opened the door more open. "Make it quick."
The wirewolves made their way into the tree and took a look around. There were tables full of potions and books and other magical knickknacks. Joe looked around the area.
"Isn't this stuff a little big for a fairy?" Ricky asked.
"This house belonged to my father." Pixie Dust explained. "He was an ogre. One day, some Underlings hunted him down and this place suddenly belonged to me. I would have hired a moving company to help move this stuff, but I didn't want any visitors."
"Sorry to hear about your dad." Ricky said.
"Don't be." Pixie Dust said. "I never knew him. I only knew he existed when his will was mailed to me. But enough about me. Did Joe say you were heading back to Equestria?"
"Yeah." Ricky said. "We found a magic map that's gonna show us how to get home."
"Magic map?" Pixie Dust asked. "Are you talking about the Edgeless Atlas? I read that thing's sentient. You're really following it?"
"Yes, but we've got to keep it on the down-low." Terry said. "Kul'as is after this thing, and he'll pry it out of our cold, dead claws, even if we surrender."
"Which we won't." Ricky said. "Whatever's at the end could be our only way home."
"You're quite determined to get home, huh?" Pixie Dust said. "Something there you're looking to return to... or someone?"
Ricky couldn't believe it. The mean, little fairy could read him like a book. Realizing he's been caught, he gave in.
"It's... Celestia." Everyone jolted their heads when they heard his answer. "She and I have been friends since childhood, but I see her as something more."
"DUDE!" Terry shouted. "When you say Celestia, do you mean Princess Celestia?"
"Yeah." Ricky answered.
"Ricky, she's a princess!" Terry said. "Don't you think she's a little out of your league?"
"Devastate."
"I don't care if it's sweet, Devastator!" Terry replied. "Ricky, don't you think that your little crush might be impossible? I mean, a whole bunch of stallions could be attracted to her."
"This isn't just a crush, Terry!" Ricky explained. He sighed and calmed down. "The only thing that kept me going in this upside-down world is my determination to reunite with Celestia. Everything I remember about her helped me through thick and thin. Don't you all have things you remember from back home that help you cope?
"Remember everyone you had around you
Remember those times you shared
Remember how great it was to be there
Whether you're awake or asleep
Those stories are yours to keep
They are unforgotten memories
The memories you know mean the most to you
Even though it's too good to be true
You know they're real
The unforgotten memories
The memories you hold close to your heart
The light that shines your way in the dark
How do they feel
The once-great moments that you've had
The times returning in your dreams
The happiest event you've ever been through
Would be like yesterday, it seems
I WOULD KNOW
Oh, the stories I could tell
And not even the strongest magic spell
Can change that
YES, I KNOW
It just takes a little time
But I'm sure you know what I'm
Getting at
There are some forgotten memories
But only because we refuse to recall
But we can get through it if we know them all
Oh, the stories
The flashbacks
THE REFLECTIIIIIIOOOOOOONS
REMEMBER EVERYONE YOU HAD AROUND YOU
REMEMBER THOSE TIMES YOU SHARED
REMEMBER EVERYTHING YOU USED TO DO
Hope the unforgotten memories will always be with...
Yoooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuu"
Joe sniffled and leaked water from his eyes. "That was beautiful."
"Devastate."
"I'll 'ditto' you, you overgrown microwave..." Terry said. He sighed. "Okay, Ricky. You win. I'll help you get back to your crush."
"Interesting." Pixie Dust thought to herself. "I wonder..."
Everyone's celebration was interrupted by the sound of metal clanking. They looked at the open door and saw a wirewolf clapping. He gave a mean glare at them and smiled.
"How disgustingly cute. Too bad I've got to crash the party and end it."
"Who are you?" Ricky asked.
"And is this 'Bring a Wirewolf to Work' Day or something," Joe asked, "Because I didn't get the memo."
"Uh, oh!" Terry squeaked in fear. "Ricky, I warned you this would happen!"
"What would happen?" Ricky asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Aaron said extending his sharpened claws. "I'm the new pick-up, and I think you'll find that my extractions can be very... messy. Oh, and... Kul'as sends his regards."
"Would anyone mind telling me who this guy is?" Ricky asked. "And how does he know Kul'as?"
"Where have you been?!" Terry said. "That's Aaron, the wirewolf who's part of Kul'as' inner circle! No one's a better hunter than him!"
"He can be taught!" Aaron declared. "And guess what, everyone; you're the prey!"
"If you're going to start a dogfight, could you do it outside?" Pixie Dust asked angrily. "I just barely cleaned this place! I even moves some stuff around to remove stress, BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT ISN'T WORKING!"
"Listen, lady, do I look like I care about your feng shui?" Aaron asked. "So please, make like a fly and just buzz off."
"I don't know who you are, but you need to listen to us." Ricky said. "We're working on a way to return from Equestria. You're from there, aren't you? I'd think you'd want to go back as much as we do."
"Then you don't know me as much as you think." Aaron said readying to pounce. "Four against one. I like those odds."
Suddenly, a bright, hot light hit Aaron in the back. He gasped before passing out. Behind him stood another wirewolf cradling bags in his arms. His sudden appearance surprised Ricky and his friends.
"Seriously, PD?" the new wirewolf asked walking over Aaron. "I leave for one hour, and already, you've got Kul'as' watchdogs on your doorstep!"
"Well, maybe, if you had returned sooner, I wouldn't have this mess!" Pixie Dust shouted. "Where were you, Marty?!"
"Stuck in traffic."
"Is that..." Terry said, "...Another wirewolf?"
"Oh, more visitors." the new wirewolf said. "Hi, I'm Marty. Care for a fire?" Suddenly, a fireball formed in his claws and he threw it at the pile of wood in the corner.
"Six wirewolves are standing in a fairy's treehouse, and one of them can shoot fire." Terry said. "I should have stayed home where things made sense."
Ricky looked down at the unconscious Aaron. He watched until the smoke forming from his back disappeared.
"Well, that was a little anticlimactic."
An hour later, Aaron started to come back to his senses. He awoke with his limbs and body strapped down to a table. He tried to pull himself off, but he couldn't. He looked and saw five more wirewolves conversing with each other at the other side of the room.
"Another wirewolf?" He whispered to himself. "Oh, it's a stinkin' epidemic." He then called out getting their attention.
"Oh, you're awake." Ricky said.
"Yes, I'm awake," Aaron replied, "And I demand you liberate me."
"We can't do that!" Joe gasped. "This is a kid's story. Yeesh!"
"No, I mean, free me at once." Aaron said.
"What if we refuse?" Terry asked.
"You're only making things worse for you!" Aaron said. "When Kul'as hears about this, you're in for the most painful moment of your life. Who blindsided me, anyway?"
"I did." Marty called out. "I'm Marty."
"What are you doing here in the first place?" Aaron asked.
"Apparently, this guy accidently broke one of Pixie Dust's vases." Ricky explained. "So, to pay her back, he's her errand boy."
"I am not an errand boy!" Marty shouted. "I prefer the term, 'service worker'."
"I don't care what you like to be called!" Aaron shouted. "If you don't let me out of here, you'll definitely be in for it."
"Be grateful I went easy on you." Marty said. "If I used my full firepower, I'd have to be the one to scrape wirewolf chunks off the walls."
"Speaking of which, how can you do that?" Aaron asked. "Wirewolves can't shoot fire!"
"Well, wirewolves can't shapeshift either, but I fixed that." Pixie Dust said.
"What?" Aaron asked. "You gave them powers?"
"I know a few spells." Pixie Dust said.
"Then give me powers!" Aaron demanded
"I'm not letting you go free!" Pixie Dust shouted. "What makes you think I'll give you powers? I'm not going to let you use them for evil! Why don't you grow a brain in that tangled wire mess in your head and be a good guy for once!"
"Good guy?" Aaron scoffed. "Look around. This is the Neatherealm. In this world, there are no such things as heroes. It's survival of the fittest here, and here, the fittest is with Kul'as."
"That's why you're working for him?" Ricky asked. "Listen, there's a chance we can go home. The Edgeless Atlas is leading us to something that can get us back to Equestria. If you come with us, you can..."
"I can get myself obliterated!" Aaron interrupted. "Trust me; Kul'as doesn't play around. He's pure evil."
"That doesn't mean you have to be just like him." Pixie Dust said. "If all you care about is surviving, you're not living. Listen...
"Open your eyes
You don't even realize
You have every opportuinity to shake from your lies
Listen here
You can't get far with the path of fear
Stop being blind, and it will all be crystal clear
You're living in your own
Alone
Cold as bone
Never home
Fantasy
Here's the realityyyyyyyyyy
This is your chance
Your chance
Break out of the dark
Deep inside, you know you have a heart
Take a sec to look inside
And you'll see what feelings can provide
All right. All right
Break out of the dark
So you're a wirewolf. So you're a Kul'as knave
That doesn't mean you're too far for anyone to save
It's true, you're a little scary, but it's only skin-deep
You can deny all you want, but you're basically asleep
But you can wake
Wake up
And break out of the dark"
"Stop being such a crazy fart" Joe sang.
"Don't forget your inner-pony," Pixie Dust sang,
"Then, you'll never again feel so lonely
Oh, gee
Oh, gee
Break out of the dark
When the dust has settled, when they end the strife
How exactly do you plan to live out your life
You make your own destiny. You write your own story
Don't you hide the fact
Stay intact
Claim your own glory
This is your chaaaaaaaaance
Your chance
To break out of the dark
There's another path you should embark
No matter how hard you try
You're falling for your own lie
Good-bye. Good-bye
Break out of the dark
NOW'S YOU'RE CHANCE
YOUR CHANCE
TO BREAK OUT OF THE DARK
DEEP INSIDE, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A HEART
YOU'RE IN FOR A WILD RIDE
YOU CAN RUN, BUT NOT HIDE
TAKE A SEC TO LOOK INSIDE
AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT FEELINGS CAN PROVIIIIIIIIIDE
ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT
BREAK OUT OF THE...
BREAK OUT OF THE DARK"
"Cute. Catchy. Didn't work." Aaron criticized. "On the bright side, you did cure me."
"Of evil?" Marty asked.
"No, insomnia." Aaron shot out.
The wirewolves and Pixie Dust groaned. The fairy pinched the space between her eyes. They knew this would go on for a while. But they had no idea of what was going on in Kul'as' castle.
"Well, Creeper?" Kul'as asked following his minion down the hallways. "Is Tartus as good as I've heard?"
"He's a little hard to understand, sir." Creeper said. "At first, he seemed to be a frightening man. Then, his personality changes and he starts acting like a grown man who's visited a carnival for the first time. However, his inventions and minions do compensate for his unusual behavior. Of course, he can't hold a candle to your brilliance, Lord Kul'as. After all, it was your brilliant idea to bring in a brilliant scientist."
"Don't patronize me, Creeper." Kul'as growled.
They then made it to a door where they heard angry ranting on the other side.
"Well, this is where Tartus has set up his lab." Creeper said. "Do you think it's a bad time?"
"If it's a bad time, I should have started it." Kul'as said twisting the doorknob.
The door creaked open and the two looked inside. They expected to see someone in torture, but they were surprised by what they saw instead. Tartus and his son, Scimitar, were in the middle of an argument. Tartus held a game console in his metal hand and kept it from his son's reach.
"Dad, this is not fair!" Scimitar shouted.
"What's not fair is what you give to me!" Tartus said. "I patent these evil inventions to put food in your belly. And how do you repay me? You ignore me, give me the silent treatment, and play your silly game while I'm presenting you with the next big idea!"
"Maybe I'd pay more attention if you started acting like a father toward me!" Scimitar shouted. "You won't even let me go out and make friends."
"Okay, uno: this is the Neatherealm. There's no chance you'll make any buddies in this dump." Tartus said. "Dos: no one says the f-word in my presence. And tres: isn't Greengear enough? They're utterly convenient."
"As if these dunces are good enough to play games with." Scimitar said.
"All right, son." Tartus groaned. "How's about this? I give you a father-son day, and you'll show some appreciation for my work. Is that okay?"
"Counter-proposal." Scimitar said. "I give you two thumbs down, and you'll give me my game back. Besides, you wouldn't want to look bad in front of your new boss on your first day, would you, Dad?"
Scimitar pointed at the door and Tartus followed. He was shocked and embarrassed to see Kul'as and Creeper watching the argument.
"How long were you watching?" Tartus asked.
"Long enough to regret coming in." Kul'as said. "Suddenly, this is one bad time I don't want to be a part of."
"All right, son." Tartus said nervously. He dropped the game back into Scimitar's hands. "You win. Now, run along. Daddy's got work to do." He shoved Scimitar out of the room before turning back to Kul'as. "Teenagers, am I right?"
"Rrrrrright." Kul'as said. "Anyway, Tartus, I am..."
"Oh, I know who you are, Lord Kul'as." Tartus said. "Legends of your mayhem and carnage run high and low. Though, I see, they don't do you justice."
"HEY!" Creeper shouted. "Kissing up is my shtick! You start failing simple jobs, and I'll sue!"
"Calm down, Creeper." Kul'as said. "Anyway, I've come here to see what you've got in your inventory so far."
"All right!" Tartus said. He reached down and picked up a giant gun from the table. "This is my EMPC."
"What?" Kul'as asked.
"Electromagnetic pulse cannon." Tartus said. "Guaranteed to shut down any electronic in front of you. Just be sure not to fire from the side of a cliff; the force of the blast will knock you back a few feet."
"Why do we need that?" Creeper asked.
"For the wirewolves, of course." Tartus said. "I've heard about how they were giving Lord Kul'as a few setbacks, and I thought I could help."
"Thanks, but not necessary." Kul'as said. "I've already sent my wirewolf, Aaron, to hunt them down and bring me my map. He should be done by the end of the night."
"Nope." Tartus replied.
"I beg your pardon." Kul'as said.
"Nope." Tartus repeated. "I don't mean any disrespect, Lord Kul'as, but you overestimate your wirewolf. He'll fail. I know it."
"How could you know?" Creeper asked. "You never even met him."
"Trust me, it won't work." Tartus said. "Aaron is going to break out of the dark."
"Well then, what do you suggest?" Kul'as asked.
"I happen to have something that could mean the end of those machines for good." Tartus said. "Follow me."
"Uh, Lord Kul'as," Creeper whispered, "Are you sure you trust him?"
"Of course." Kul'as said. "After all, if what he said is true, we don't have much choice left."
Tartus stopped when he approached a large, glass box. Kul'as looked inside the box and widened his eyes.
"What... is... that?" Kul'as asked.
"It looks like... living, black mud." Creeper said. "Why is it moving like a wild animal."
"I call it Phantom." Tartus said. "I've built this organic monstrosity to hunt down any electronic I want it to hunt! I've just finished the thing's construction, so I have no idea what it does to them in the end. This may prove to be a better hunter than Dusk."
"Who?" Kul'as asked.
"Aaron!" Tartus said quickly. "I said Aaron!"
Kul'as threw a suspicious look at his new scientist. "Tartus, are you telling me everything?"
"Lord, Kul'as, why would I steer you wrong?"
Kul'as drew this attention back at the Phantom. He watched the slime thrash around savagely. "You really think this thing can get me my map."
"I guarantee it." Tartus said.
"That's all I needed to hear. Unleash it. Have it hunt down the Shadow Blot and tear him and his friends apart!"
Tartus grew a smile and approached the Phantom. "I thought you'd never ask."
After an hour of preparation, Tartus released the Phantom out into the Neatherealm. As it was leaving, the skinny enigma leaned his head to Jade. "Be my eyes and ears. Follow the Phantom." The leader of Greengear obeyed and followed the Phantom into the wild hunting its prey.
“Are you sure you want to come with us?” Ricky asked the new wirewolf, Marty.
“Of course, I am.” Marty replied. “If you’re going to Equestria, than there’s no point to me staying in this dump any longer.”
“But what about Pixie Dust?” Terry asked. “You can’t just leave her there with Aaron.”
“Don’t worry.” Marty said. “The old hag can take care of herself.”
Ricky looked and saw Joe and Devastator picking up a set of bags.
“Come on, guys.” Joe said. “We don’t want to hit traffic!”
“Devastate.”
“The big guy’s right.” Terry said. “If one of Kul’as’ minions was able to find us and Aaron doesn’t return, they might send something worse.”
“Not to worry, boys.” Pixie Dust said. “I’ll set up a barrier spell to keep out those who are evil.”
“You can do that?” Terry asked. “Why didn’t you use it before?”
“BECAUSE I DIDN’T THINK ANYONE WOULD BRING AN EVIL EMPEROR TO MY FRONT PORCH! HONESTLY, YOU WIREWOLVES WILL BE THE DEATH OF ME SOMEDAY! I KNOW IT!”
“Okay, okay.” Ricky said. “I get the picture. Come on, guys.”
And with that, the five wirewolves left the area. Looking out the window, still strapped to his table, Aaron watched as he was mentally cursing. When Pixie Dust flew back in, she grabbed a few herbs before Aaron spoke.
“Hey, you know, nothing can stop Kul’as, right?”
“Not with that attitude.” Pixie Dust said. “Look, kid, there’s a way out of any situation. Kul’as realizes that whatever he wants with the map can get him out of this deadlock with Arcanus. Maybe he’s right. Maybe he’s wrong. It doesn’t matter.”
“This is the Neatherealm.” Aaron pointed out. “There is no right or wrong. Here, it’s kill or be killed. Eat or be eaten. It’s the law of the jungle here. Those wirewolves try messing with the food chain, they’re going to get what’s coming to them.”
“Stop being a pessimist. I’ll have you know, those wirewolves may be idiots, but they have hearts. Not literally, though, ‘cause they’re machines. But you know what I mean. You know, if you at least try, you’d realize you have a heart too.”
Aaron was about to protest, but he stopped himself and began to think.
In a wide, open field, Ricky and the others trotted across and looked at their map.
“Well, I’d say we’re at Brimstone Valley, but I can’t tell without the brimstone.” Ricky said.
“I don’t know why they call this place that, but this is definitely the place.” Terry said. “At this pace, we’ll be at the X on the map before you know it.”
“Devastate.”
“Yeah, I know we’re almost home, big D. Don’t get emotional.”
Suddenly, Joe stopped when he overheard a strange sound. He looked back and didn’t see anything but dunes and shadows.
“I just heard gurgling.”
“Do we need a news flash every time your crazy meter hits red?” Marty asked.
“He’s doing that for attention.” Ricky said still staring at the map. “Just ignore him. Now, I think we should…”
Suddenly, a large, black blob leaped through the air. Ricky didn’t even see it coming until it tackled him. The others practically jumped when it appeared.
“GET THIS THING OFF ME!” Ricky shouted trying to wrestle his way out of the icky liquid trying to completely cover him.
The others grabbed a different part of it and tugged, but no matter how hard they tried, the blob tightened quicker than a boa constrictor.
“HELP!” Ricky shouted before his body was completely covered. The gunk engulfed his entire chassis.
“We need to get him out!” Marty said.
“I GOT IT!” Joe shouted. “All we need is a banjo, an inflatable turkey, and… Does anyone know where to find a monkey that knows Morse code?”
“Devastate.”
The big guy pointed at the blob which was dripping off of Ricky’s body. Ricky escaped from it and every last drop was off.
“RICKY!” everyone shouted. They went to check up on him.
“Nice one, dude.” Joe said. “How’d you escape?”
“I didn’t.” Ricky replied. “Whatever that thing was, it just let me go. Really. I thought I’d be trapped for good. Then, there was a bright light that covered my body, and it just let me go.”
“What?” Marty asked. “Why would…”
Suddenly, they heard electrical sparks. They looked and saw the blob getting bigger. Suddenly, it started to take a familiar form. The blob solidified into a metal structure. When it was done, it howled, which matched his new form now.
“Is it just me, or does that look familiar to you all?” Terry asked.
“I guess he’s got one of those faces.” Joe said.
“Yeah!” Ricky said. “Mine!”
He was right. The creature standing before them looked almost exactly like Ricky, except for a darker color scheme. It looked back at the wirewolves and chuckled.
“Well,” it spoke, “This is an interesting change.”
“Okay, that’s a new one.” Terry said.
“Uh, what is this?” Ricky asked. “Who are you?”
“I guess… Phantom Blot would be appropriate. Don’t you think so, Ricky?”
“What?” Ricky said nervously. “How’d you know my name?”
“That bright light was a scanner.” The Phantom Blot said. “I looked into your strengths, your emotions, even your memories. And might I just say, how touching it is with the feelings you harbor. I’d shed a tear if I could.”
“Where did you come from?” Ricky asked.
“It doesn’t matter.” the Phantom Blot said. “All I’m here for is to carry out my creator’s orders.”
“And those orders are…” Marty asked.
“To kill you and take the Edgeless Atlas.” the Phantom Blot said. “Nothing personal.”
Suddenly, the copycat leapt into the air and charged down at them. They jumped out of the way and took cover behind rocks. The Phantom Blot got back up and looked around.
“Come on out, Ricky. I know you want to continue, to return to your precious Celestia. A hopeless cause, if you ask me.”
“Well, I didn’t ask you!” Ricky shouted moving around trying to hide. “Who do you think you are?”
“Oh, Ricky. Isn’t it obvious?
“I’m just one of those guys
Who puts fear in your eyes
I know exactly what you’re afraid of
You’re afraid you will never
Get back home and be together
With the pony you so desperately love
After so far from Canterlot
You fear that she forgot
And that puts your sleep in strife
There’s no need to be stressed
I’ll put your nightmares at rest
And all it costs is the end of your life
I am you and you’re me
As different as can be
You are the love and I’m the hate
And right here, tonight
We will end this fight
We’re connected by the hands of fate
Connected…
Connected…
We’re connected by the hands of fate
We are two flowing forces
Taking different courses
Each with their own direction
I know what’s on your mind
And you know what’s on mine
Don’t tell me you don’t feel the connection
See, our fight will be soon
Under the Netherealm’s moon
And soon, you’re going to burn
Even with your little ring
I am the only thing
Standing in the way of your return
I am you and you’re me
As different as can be
You are the love and I’m the hate
And right here, tonight
We will end this fight
We’re connected by the hands of fate
Connected…
Connected…
We’re connected by the hands of fate
Don’t you think that I’m going to just let you
Go back to where you think you’re welcome
You must be used to having everyone forget you
Especially the Princess of the… Sun
I AM YOU AND YOU’RE ME
AS DIFFERENT AS CAN BE
YOU ARE THE LOVE AND I’M THE HATE
AND RIGHT HERE, TONIGHT
WE WILL END THIS FIGHT
WE’RE CONNECTED BY THE HANDS OF FATE
CONNECTED…
CONNECTED
We’re connected by the hands of fate”
“SOMEONE, SHUT HIM UP!” Ricky shouted.
Suddenly, the wirewolves pounced from their hiding places and attempted to tackle their enemy. Joe tried to get him first, but the Phantom Blot just picked him up and threw him overhead. Terry then grabbed him from behind trying to hold him down.
“It’s like wrestling a bear!”
The Phantom Blot noticed Devastator charging at him and turned around. Devastator stopped when he saw Terry dangling, but the Phantom Blot jumped back and knocked the big guy back with his friend. Terry immediately let go and the Phantom Blot stood back up.
“Round one, the Phantom Blot.” The enemy bowed in a mocking way.
“I really hate that guy.” Terry said.
Meanwhile, Marty approached Ricky and asked for a plan.
“I think I got one.” Ricky said. “How big of a fireball can you make?”
“How big do you want?” Marty replied.
After a brief discussion, Marty ran up the nearest hill and jumped from the top. He saw the Phantom Blot and put his claws together. A fireball began to glow between his hands and it grew bigger.
“KAMEHAME…” Marty began to shout.
“JUST THROW IT BEFORE WE GET SUED!” Joe shouted.
The Phantom Blot looked up and saw Marty and his big fireball. As soon as he threw it, the monster leapt out of the way letting the fireball hit the ground. Suddenly, the impact left a crack in the ground that just kept getting bigger. When the ground started to break, a red light escaped. When it broke open, there was a whole pool of lava underneath a hallow ground. The ground began to shake and crack, and everything was going to fall.
“Oh.” Joe said. “That’s why it’s called Brimstone Valley. Who would’ve guessed?”
"Way to go, hot head!" Terry shouted. "Now, we got a monster and lava to worry about!"
"Not my fault!" Marty shouted. "That jerk wouldn't stay still!"
"Worry about 'he-said-she-said' later!" Ricky shouted. "Let's get going!" He noticed his part of the ground was about to fall. As it began to drop, Ricky reached and grabbed a still-stable part of the ground. Ricky was about to lift himself up, but he then felt a sudden tug on his ankle.
"Not so fast, goody two-shoes!" the Phantom Blot shouted. He was holding onto Ricky's foot and held on.
"You idiot!" Ricky shouted. "If we both fall, you're a goner too!"
"Wrong!" the Phantom Blot replied. "My creator won't let me die! He'll save me! You, on the other hand..."
Suddenly, a wirewolf's claw grabbed onto Ricky's hanging wrist. Ricky looked and saw Aaron struggling to lift him.
"What are you doing here?" Ricky asked.
"Seriously, you're complaining that I'm saving your life?!" Aaron asked. "Who's the new guy?"
"Not with us!" Ricky shouted. "He's trying to kill us!"
"What are you doing?" the Phantom Blot asked. "Kul'as gave you a job to do!"
"Kul'as?" Aaron asked. "You're working for him? I don't remember you?"
"Let him go!" the Phantom Blot shouted. He thrusted Ricky down, but Aaron still didn't let go. A piece of the ground piked Aaron in the chest, but he powered through it.
"You first!" Ricky returned lifting his lower foot. He then thrusted it down and hit his evil counterpart on the face forcing him to let go.
The Phantom Blot fell down the chasm until he hit the lava. He screamed as he sank down the firey pit. Meanwhile, Aaron successfully picked up Ricky and the other wirewolves caught up to him.
"Holy smokes." Marty said. "You saved him?"
"You're welcome." Aaron said.
"Whatever happened to survival of the fittest?" Terry asked.
"Well, I thought it over," Aaron said, "And apparently, you guys managed to make it this far. I figured, 'eh, what the heck'."
"Devastate." Devastator picked up everyone up with his big arms and squeezed them all with a hug.
"Friends?" Terry asked. "I wouldn't go that far."
"I wouldn't say that." Joe said. "We all have quirks, but the way I see it, we make up for each other.
"When I make a joke
Most monsters just choke"
"Accidents become me" Marty sang,
"Because I'm clumsy"
"I'm far from my world" Ricky sang,
"And my favorite girl"
"And now, I'm past the point of no return" Aaron sang.
"But now, I know that if I'd fallen" Joe sang,
"There are those who can give me a lift
Even horrors call me a circus clown
Just because I shapeshift
So if I have you by my side
I don't have to pretend
Oh, I don't need to change my face
If I got friends"
"I'm still getting used to how big I am," Marty sang,
"Always looking over my shoulder
The only thing better 'bout my fire powers
Is I don't have to be any colder"
"But with us, you don't have to worry" they all sang,
"Your dignity, we will defend"
"Oh, I don't need to fan my flames," Marty sang,
"If I got friends"
"Sometimes, I wish, I didn't come along," Terry sang,
"I know I'm in over my head"
"Hey, I ran away from an evil demon" Aaron sang,
"And we're all practically deeeeeaaaaaad"
"But we're so close to going home," Ricky sang,
"And this whole nightmare will end"
"In that case, I don't need adventure," Terry sang,
"If I got friends"
"Oh, we're black sheep in a white world," they all sang,
Meanwhile, down in the fire pit, the Phantom Blot's claw emerged from the lava, but the metal on it began to melt. Suddenly, a flock of green birds flew in and caught the hand. The Greengear vultures each held onto a different part of the Phantom Blot's nearly-melted body.
"Well, easy come, easy go." Emerald said.
Later on, at Tartus' lab, the scientist and Kul'as were observing the Phantom Blot moving around as a nearly-solid blob behind the glass window.
"Why isn't that thing out there hunting wirewolves anymore?" Kul'as asked.
"Because they damaged the thing." Tartus said. "I can probably fix it within a certain time, but it won't be the same."
"Uh, boss." Jade said. "The Phantom..."
The villains looked and saw the blob gain a face and the rest of it grew. It had a ghostly face with dark-green eyes and mouth.
"Well, that's trippy." Tartus said. "Maybe it's supposed to take a little longer."
"We don't have that kind of time." Kul'as said. "Any day now, those wirewolves are going to find their way back to Equestria and I'll never use the Edgeless Atlas to get the artifact."
"Actually, sir," Tartus said, "I have reason to believe that what the mutts are following and what you want are the same thing."
"Excuse me?" Kul'as asked. "How do you know that?"
"Just a hunch."
"Okay, beanpole." Creeper said approaching Tartus. "I'm at my limit! What's going on? You somehow know about the wirewolves and Aaron's betrayal, and now, you're saying they're going after the same thing we are? How could you know all that?!"
"Creeper, cease yourself." Kul'as commanded. Creeper followed. "My lackey does bring up a good point. What is it? Are you clairvoyant or something?"
"If I was, I would've seen that the Phantom Blot would have been a failure." Tartus said. "All right, big guy. Come here. I'll tell you."
Kul'as leaned in closer letting Tartus whisper into his ear. Second after second, Kul'as' expressions changed. First, he was confused. Then, he was interested. Finally, he smiled. As soon as they were both done, they moved back their heads away from each other with signs of interest.
"Creeper," Kul'as said, "You are to never question Tartus again."
"What?" Creeper asked. "Why? What did he say? I want in on the secret."
"I'll tell you later." Kul'as said. "Right now, we need to think up a new plan to get the Edgeless Atlas."
"Maybe we don't need to." Tartus said.
"What?" Kul'as asked. "Why?"
"Well, if they're heading to the same location we are, then taking the map seems a little redundant. I recommend a little plan. Someone can go and follow the wirewolves. Greengear can be our eyes the sky. Once they find the objective, that someone can go and take it from them. What you need is someone who seems biased and with a silver tongue, someone who the wirewolves have no idea they're working for you, someone like..."
"You?" Kul'as asked.
"Thank you." Tartus said. "I humbly accept the nomination."
"Mighty Kul'as, I don't think..."
"Quiet, Creeper." Kul'as said. "Very well, Tartus. You can go and get me the prize. Just one question, though: assuming you are right and they will find the artifact, how do you expect to take it from them?"
"Trust me, dark lord," Tartus said, "I have the perfect method. All I need to do is wait until they find it... and see what it's capable of."
"Well, here are." Ricky said. "According to the map, whatever we're looking for, we're standing right on top of it."
"Uh, Ricky," Terry said, "I hate to break this to you, but..."
Ricky drew his eyes away from the map and looked around, but he was both disappointed and confused. It was nothing more than a flat, plain, dead valley. It was even worse than Brimstone Valley. It's just a big, gray field of sand.
"THIS PLACE IS DEADER THAN DEAD!" Terry shouted. "Seriously, how are we going to find something when there's nothing we can see."
"I don't get it." Ricky said. "The map says we're in the right place."
"Devastate?"
"What are you asking me for?" Terry asked. "I don't know what we're supposed to look for."
"You know, maybe it's not too late to go back working for Kul'as." Aaron said.
"No, I mean, what if it's hidden where we can't see it." Joe said.
"Joe, look around." Marty said. "There's nothing out here too see; no mountains, no trees, and no grass. Nothing but sand. There's nowhere we can't see."
Joe took a moment before speaking again. "We can't see under the sand."
"Dig?" Terry asked. "You're asking us to dig up this entire field until we find something?"
"Yes, I am." Ricky said. "Joe is right. This is the only place where it can be hidden. So unless you've got a better idea, then even though you can't, roll up your sleeves. Let's get to work."
Reluctantly, Terry followed Ricky's lead and started digging, as did the rest of the wirewolves. "I swear, if this turns into a complete waste of elbow grease..." Terry mumbled to himself.
"Diggah tunnah." Joe scatted. "Dig. Diggah tunnah."
Meanwhile, a mile behind them, Tartus and Greengear rested while the scientist was looking through his telescope seeing the wirewolves digging.
"It's really them." Tartus said putting his scope away. "I have waited so long..."
"Hey, boss, can we tear them apart now?" Emerald asked. "Please, please, please!"
"No, you idiot." Tartus said. "We wait until they understand what they're looking for. Also, we may need to move back a little."
"Move back?" Leaf asked. "Boss, we're already like a mile away from them."
"Doesn't matter." Tartus said. "Unless you want to be turned to roasted chicken, we need proper cover."
For an entire hour, the wirewolves dug relentlessly deeper down. After several minutes of grunt work, Marty called out to everyone.
"Hey, guys! I found something!"
Everyone got up from their holes and looked at the hole that Marty made. Everyone was surprised by how deep it went. They all worked together and formed a chain link to lift Marty out of it with what he was carrying at the time. He showed it to everyone.
"A chest?" Aaron asked. "What's inside?"
"I don't know." Marty said. "I can't pry it open. Devastator, I need you to open it."
"Devastate." Devastator took the box and opened it really easily. Marty looked embarrassed.
"Oh, sure, after I loosened it." Aaron said.
Devastator set the box down and everyone looked in it. Ricky reached in and picked up what they were looking for.
"It's..." Ricky said holding it for his friends to see. "It's... a yellow apple."
Everyone looked at how anticlimactic the whole thing is. Terry took the apple and looked closely at it.
"This... is... it?" Terry asked. "This is what we've been travelling the whole Neatherealm for? This silly, random object!"
"Hold on a sec." Aaron said taking the apple from Terry. "I think I know what this is. Lately, Kul'as has been searching for some kind of magical super-weapon. He called it the Golden Apple. I thought it was some kind of metaphor, but now, I see what they meant."
"Maybe it can be used as a juggling item." Joe said taking the apple. "Check it out." He passed around from his left hand to another and vice versa.
"Joe, quit being a silly sauce for a second." Marty said grabbing the apple and passing it to Devastator. "Look in the chest."
Inside the chest, there were many carved pictures.
"I can't read hieroglyphics." Ricky said.
"They're not hieroglyphics." Aaron said. "They're illustrations; stories with pictures."
"My favorite kind." Joe joked.
"Well, what does it say?" Marty asked.
"Well, according to this, the Golden Apple was created alongside the birth of chaos. It is the physical vessel of pure chaos. It was found by a revolutionary resistance in a dictated world. They thought the Apple could help them win their civil war, but instead it... Oh." Aaron looked worried.
"What oh?" Joe asked. "What happened?"
"Well... They lost control of the Apple, and it... destroyed their world."
That very sentence made the wirewolves very scared.
"Luckily, a whole bunch of residents survived and escaped into the Neatherealm with the Golden Apple locked in this chest. To make sure it wouldn't hurt anyone again, they decided to hide it and bury it deep enough so that no one could find it."
"Apparently," Terry said, "'no one' doesn't include a pack of desperate wirewolves."
"What else does it say?" Ricky asked.
"Just that the Golden Apple is... alive somehow." Aaron said. "It's also warning us not to make it react."
"React?" Ricky asked. "What do they mean by..."
Ricky was interrupted by a sudden yellow glow. Everyone looked and saw the glow coming from the Golden Apple that Devastator was holding. It glowed brighter and brighter while it levitated into the air. Suddenly, it shot yellow lightning everywhere, even far away. The wirewolves kept moving away from any strikes heading their way. It was a great big storm. Aaron watched a bolt hit a far-off mountain, and when the smoke cleared, it wasn't even there anymore.
"EVERYONE, TAKE COVER!" Ricky shouted.
"RICKY, THERE'S NO COVER TO TAKE!" Terry shouted.
"PROTECT ME, BOX!" Joe squealed holding the chest in front of him. A lightning bolt hit it and it dissolved. Joe was pushed back, but he tripped and fell in a hole he dug. That gave Ricky an idea.
"YES, THERE IS!" Ricky shouted. "EVERYONE, IN THE HOLES!"
"PHRASE THAT DIFFERENTLY, YOU MOOK!" Terry shouted.
Suddenly, everyone jumped down and avoided the lightning shooting out. It lasted for five minutes before the glow died down. Ricky pointed his head out and saw the Apple resting on the sand looking lie normal.
"What the..."
Meanwhile, Tartus and Greengear climbed out of a ditch and checked their area. Every spot besides the ditch wlooked like it was struck by lightning. The birds were shaking a bit, but Tartus had cheerful mischief twinkling from his good and robot eye.
"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!" Terry shouted coming out of his hole while everyone else did the same. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"
"I don't know!" Ricky panicked. "I certainly didn't see that coming!"
"Joe, I can't believe you were juggling that thing!" Terry continued his rant! "Devastator, what happened?!"
"Devastate!"
"You just... scratched it? And all that happened!"
"I hope we don't find out what happens when you insult its mother." Joe said.
"JOE, SERIOUSLY?!" Marty shouted.
"WELL, EXCUSE ME FOR TRYING TO MAKE THIS PLEASANT!" Joe shouted. "IT'S HOW I COPE!"
"DEVASTATE!"
"What about Aaron?!" Terry shouted.
The other wirewolves were surprised when he crawled out of his hole making painful grunts. They gasped when they saw a giant-sized hole in his chest. Most people surrounded him, but Ricky stayed back looking devastated.
"What happened?!" Joe asked.
"He must have been struck by that Apple!" Marty panicked. "What can we do?!"
"Devastate!"
"Joe and Marty?" Terry asked. "How can they help?"
"Devastate."
"You think so?" Terry asked. "Well, you haven't steered me wrong yet."
"What'd he say?" Marty asked.
"Joe, you can change Aaron's broken parts into new ones." Terry said. "Marty, once he's done, you meld his metal back together."
"You got it." Marty said.
"All righty-tighty, lefty-loosey." Joe said.
But despite all that, Ricky didn't join them. He looked at the Golden Apple sitting on the ground. He took it and ran out of the area without anyone noticing. When he thought he was far enough, he rested and looked at the fruit he took.
"You're nothing but trouble." Ricky growled. "I can't believe that magic map led me to you. I told that thing I wanted a way home, but instead, I found you, and you hurt one of my friends." He lowered his head. "No. I hurt him. I dragged him along this wild goose chase, and now look at him. I was stupid to think a miracle would happen just like that. ...And now, it's hopeless."
"Maybe not."
Ricky raised his head and heard a strange voice in front of him. He saw Tartus and Greengear approaching him.
"Who... are you?" Ricky asked.
"Name's Tartus. And this is my crew, Greengear. And I've been waiting a long time to meet you, Shadow Blot."
"Look, pal, if you're here to join me in my quest to return to Equestria, I can tell you, you're wasting your time."
"My boy, I have no business in Equestria. At the moment, I am needed here. However, it looks like you're at the very edge of a way home."
"You mean this?" Ricky held up the Golden Apple. "I don't think so. I told a magic map I wanted a way home, but all this did was hurt my friend."
"Maybe the map lead you to the apple so you could give it to me in exchange for a way back to Equestria." "What?" Ricky asked. "If that's true, why didn't the map just lead me to you directly?"
"Because I don't just happen to help any wirewolf cross worlds out of the goodness of my heart." Tartus explained. "I'm not a charity. I need a deal struck. And, as it so happens, the Golden Apple is a perfect exchange."
"Wait." Ricky said. "How do you know of the Golden Apple?"
"It's my business to know. As a scientist, I explore endless possibilities. My specialty is the Golden Apple's folklore."
"Seems pretty convenient." Ricky said. "How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Did you know that approximately 33% of the Apple's power is capable of creating an artificial universe, or that the Apple is merely part of a set of 3 ancient artifacts called the Relics of Creation?" Ricky didn't answer. "Didn't think so. It might interest you to know that it can also open a portal to Equestria and restore your pony form at the same time... if you know how to use it."
"What?" Ricky asked. He was about to give him the apple, but he stopped himself. "I still don't know. It's pretty dangerous, and there are some monsters after it."
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Jade said. "If you're smart..."
"Now, now, Jade." Tartus said. "I can tell you're hesitant, Ricky. So what if I promise that I won't harm Equestria?"
"Really?" Ricky asked. "Do you mean it?"
"Kid, there are a few other ways to return you to your home and even fewer to turn you back into a pony. My deal promises both. I mean, unless you want to go back to Equestria looking like a sci-fi/horror flick.
"I know you've waited years for this moment
To finally have a chance to go back home
But you better think twice
'Cause everything has a price
You could risk ending up all alone"
"Oh, whoa, whoa" Greengear sang,
"Oh, whoa, whoa"
"Now, I know you've missed her all your life" Tartus sang,
"And you'd give anything to reunite
Well, I shouldn't have to say
But if you go your own way
All they'll see is something that isn't right"
"Oh, whoa, whoa" Greengear sang,
"Oh, whoa, whoa
Pony or monster
Pony or monster
Which one will return to Equestria
It won't be a horse
But a wolf, of course
In the eyes of dear Celestia
Oh, whoa, whoa
Oh, whoa, whoa"
"They'll call you a freak or a beast" Tartus sang,
"And that's just in the least
Look in the mirror, and that's all they will see
But I can fix whatever ails
My work never fails
All you have to do is give the Golden Apple to me"
"Oh, whoa, whoa" Greengear sang
"Oh, whoa, whoa
Pony or monster
Pony or monster
Only he can do the job
Don't hide the fact
That they'll just react
By breaking out into a mob
Oh, whoa, whoa
Oh, whoa, whoa"
"I merely wish to help a friend out" Tartus sang,
"To get you back to the girl you miss
What makes you think she'll just accept
A guy like you that looks like this
They say you should always be yourself
But if you do, you'll just be scorned
If you just give the apple to me
THEN, I GUARANTEE, YOU'LL BE REBOOOOOOOOOOORN"
"PONY OR MONSTER" Greengear sang,
"PONY OR MONSTER
YOU CAN DREAM, BUT IT'S NOT REAL
TO TRULY LIVE IT
YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT
TAKE HIS HAND AND SEAL THE DEAL
PONY OR MONSTER
WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE
PONY OR MONSTER
WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE"
"This could be my only chance to really return" Ricky sang.
"PONY OR MONSTER" Greengear sang,
"WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE"
"At last, I can be reunited with her" Ricky sang.
"PONY OR MONSTER" Greengear sang,
"WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE"
"The risk is too high to just ignore" Ricky sang.
"PONY OR MONSTER" Greengear sang,
"WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE"
"ALL I HAVE TO DO IS GET RID OF THIS CUUUUUURSE" Ricky sang.
"PONY OR MONSTER" Greengear sang,
"WHICH ONE WILL YOU...
PONY OR MONSTER
WHICH ONE WILL YOU...
PONY OR MONSTER
WHICH ONE WILL YOU...
CHOOSE"
Without hesitating, Ricky forwarded his hand quickly and passed the Golden Apple into Tartus' offering, metallic hands. Accepting it, Tartus took a closer look at his prize.
"It's more beautiful than I ever imagined." Tartus admired. "The physical vessel of pure chaos, and I can hold it with just one hand."
"All right, you've had your fun." Ricky said. "Now, send me back to Equestria."
"Oh." Tartus said. "Of course. As you wish." He reached out his open hand and made a strike at the air. Suddenly, his claws created what looked like a claw-mark in thin air, only the marks show Canterlot.
"What's this?" Ricky asked.
"A portal." Tartus said creeping behind the wirewolf.
"Hold on." Ricky said turning to Tartus. "I thought you said you needed the Apple to do that."
"No, I said I needed the Apple to open a portal and change you back at the same time... but I'm just going to do the former."
Before Ricky could respond, Tartus pushed him back. Ricky began to trip and fall through the portal, but he grabbed the ground before he could fall down. He looked up and saw Tartus towering above him with a smug smile and the Golden Apple in his metal claw.
"What's the hold up?" Tartus asked. "I thought you wanted to go back to Equestria. Having cold feet? Don't worry, you won't have to worry about ponies fearing you for long; just until Kul'as comes in Underlings a-blazing after I give him the Golden Apple."
"What?!" Ricky asked. "But... you promised you wouldn't hurt Equestria!"
"No." Tartus said. "What I said was, 'what if I promised I wouldn't hurt Equestria'. It's not like we had a contract. That's the crack in your armor, Ricky: you're far too trusting. There are many beings in the Multiverse like me who don't follow the same principles as you do. You tried to make a friends out of me, but the sad truth is this: I've never had friends, and I. Never. Will."
"But why?" Ricky asked. "We just met! I did nothing to you!"
"Correction: you did nothing... yet."
Suddenly, Tartus pointed the Golden Apple and a yellow burst of energy escaped from it and hit Ricky. He felt some of the light enter his body. He was so overtaken, he had to let go. He released the ledge and fell down until he hit an empty alleyway. When he was gone, Tartus grabbed the edges of the portal and closed them.
"I've been waiting a long time to do that," Tartus said, "And it was worth it."
"Hey, boss," Jade said, "What about those other wirewolves? Can we tear them apart now?"
"Easy, Jade." Tartus said calming down his lead vulture.. "For now, send word to Kul'as. Tell him, I've got the Golden Apple."
Aaron groaned as his eyes started to power up. He felt a little dizzy, but he slowly regained sense of reality.
"Aaron!" Joe cheered. "You're okay! Can you hear me?"
"Yes, I can hear you." Aaron groaned. "What happened?"
"That Golden Apple hit you." Terry said. "We almost lost you."
"Well, what happened?" Aaron asked. "How'd you guys save me?"
"Me and Joe." Marty said. "We fixed you up. ...But it seems we used a bit too much of Pixie Dust's magic."
"What's that mean?" Aaron asked.
"Go ahead." Joe said. "Pretend you're throwing a ball."
"I'm not in any condition for a pretend game." Aaron said.
"Just do it." Terry said. "Otherwise, he won't stop egging you on."
Aaron sighed heavily before lifting his claw up. He made a swinging motion, but from out of his hand, a shadowy ball escaped and hit the ground in front of him. He almost jumped when he saw that.
"I guess that leaves out 'who' and 'where'." Joe said. "Right, Ricky?" There was no response. "Ricky?"
Everyone looked around, but they couldn't see anything else.
"Where's Ricky?" Terry asked. "And for that matter, where's that stinkin' apple?"
Suddenly, they felt a rumble from the ground. They were about to question it when a bunch of Underlings popped out from the ground and jumped the wirewolves. They tried to shake them off, but more of them jumped onto them. They then saw a bunch of figures in the approaching them. At the front, Kul'as was chuckling at his captured prisoners.
"Aaron, I must say, I'm very disappointed in you." Kul'as said.
"How'd you find us?" Aaron asked.
"I smelt the scent of betrayal and followed it." Kul'as replied. "Besides, that light show you displayed earlier wasn't easy to miss. I bet everyone in the Neatherealm saw it. Speaking of which, where's the Golden Apple anyway?"
"Here, sir." Tartus appeared out of nowhere with the Golden Apple in his metal claws. "All yours. And don't you worry about the Shadow Blot. I made it so that he won't bother you again." He passed it to Kul'as.
"What?" Terry gasped. "Did you kill him?"
"More or less." Tartus said. "It doesn't matter now."
Kul'as approached the wirewolves with the Golden Apple in his claws.
"Look at you. You think you're some sort of mighty machines, but at the end of the day, you're just a bunch of mangy curs that need to be put down." He pointed the Apple at them and they braced for impact.
"Oh, man." Terry said. "Guys, if this is our last stop, I just want you all to know. Despite my constant complaining... I hate you guys the least."
The Golden Apple began to glow. But before anything can happen, Tartus spoke out.
"Wait! Why now?"
"Excuse me?" Kul'as asked.
"I mean, why do you have to grant them a swift demise?" Tartus asked. "Don't you think you should savor the satisfaction of destroying them?"
"Actually, I was planning on of making them rust themselves, twist their own joints, and hear nothing but polka music at the same time." Kul'as said.
"Hurting them physically is good," Tartus said, "But if there's anything I've learned, it's that you must also hurt them emotionally and mentally as well."
"Stop questioning our great Kul'as, you metal-armed beanpole with no depth perception!" Creeper shouted. "Only Kul'as can decide how to execute the criminals!"
"Hang on, Creeper." Kul'as said. "He makes a good point. Go ahead, Tartus. How can I do all that?"
"Well, these mutts are from Equestria, and Arcanus wants Equestria. How about you hurt two birds with one boulder and destroy Equestria?"
"WHAT?!" the wirewolves shouted.
"You know," Kul'as said scratching his chin. "That's actually a good plan. But before anything else, we've got an army to address."
When he awoke, Ricky felt a slight headache. He shook his head and looked around. He was in an empty alleyway with no one in sight. He looked outside and saw a familiar castle up the hill.
"Canterlot!" Ricky gasped nearly out of breath. "After all these years... I'm home. How can..." He then remembered. "Tartus! Kul'as! My friends! Everyone's in danger! I've got to warn everyone." He looked and saw a passing mare. He approached her out of the shadows. "Listen, I need to tell you..."
Ricky was interrupted when the mare saw him and screamed loudly. Windows began to light up and ponies looked out. Panicking, Ricky jumped back into the alleyway and ran away.
Ricky jumped left and right for ten minutes before he was sure no one followed him. He breathed heavily and placed his hand on the top of his head. That's when he noticed the clank noise. He looked at his metallic claw before looking at the rest of his body.
"No!" he gasped. "No! I'm still a wirewolf! What's Celestia going to say when..."
"What's going on?" That was a voice that Ricky didn't hear in a long time.
Ricky took a peek around the corner and saw a familiar white alicorn with a rainbow mane and a sun Cutie Mark on her flank. Ricky was petrified when he saw her talking to the same mare earlier.
"What's wrong?" Princess Celestia asked.
"There's a monster here!" the mare shouted. "It looked like some kind of metal Timberwolf."
"Are you sure?" Celestia asked.
"Yes! I think it came from the Everfree Forest."
"Calm down, young one." Celestia said. "I will get to the bottom of this. Now, please, don't scare anyone else. We've all just recovered from the Mane-iac's attack."
"Cel..." Ricky was about to call out until he saw his claw again. He then looked at a cracked mirror and was terrified at what he saw: his reflection, which was shown in every shard cracking in the window. He realized the flaw in his plan and took one last good look at the alicorn.
"I'm sorry." he whispered before leaving.
Then, Princess Celestia widened her eyes and looked back. She didn't see anyone there. Princess Luna then caught up to her.
"Is something wrong?" Luna asked.
"I thought I just heard..." Celestia said. "...Never mind. Let's go."
Back in the Neatherealm, an entire assembly of Underlings gathered up in dozens of rows and lines. They looked up and saw Kul'as standing in front of a few others, including Tartus and Creeper in the middle, and the wirewolves in the back tied up.
"My Underlings!" Kul'as announced. "Do you know why I stand before you?"
"Because they can't see you if you're behind them!" Joe shouted. Kul'as began to growl.
"Shut up, Joe." Aaron warned.
"I am here to give you an official address! Kul'as announced.
"If they want an address, they just have look at the mailbox out front!" Joe shouted.
"I mean it." Aaron said.
"Devastate.
"Yeah, I prefer to live too." Terry said.
"I swear," Kul'as said, "If you don't stop with your wretched jokes and shut your mouth, I will tear your throat out!"
"Ugly says what!" Joe said quickly.
"What?" Kul'as asked.
"Nothing." Joe chuckled rolling his eyes away. "Okay, I'm done."
Ignoring him, Kul'as returned to the microphone. "My minions, for far too long, we've been at a deadlock with that second-rate weakling, Arcanus, and his army or Changelings. Now, we have the power to obliterate and humiliate him. And tonight, we will destroy him after we destroy his chances at Equestria."
"WHAT ABOUT THE CHANGELINGS HE SLIPPED IN?!" a random Underling shouted.
"WHO SAID THAT?!" Creeper shouted. "REVEAL YOURSELF AND PAY FOR QUESTIONING..."
"Now, now, Creeper." Kul'as said. 'That's a good question. And the answer..." He held up the Golden Apple. "Is this. Observe."
The Golden Apple began to glow and a yellow light escaped from it. The light covered all the Underlings. Suddenly, most of them began to make pain noises. They grew an incredible size and their appearances changed into monstrous forms. They looked more savage than before. The only Underlings who didn't change were changed back to Changelings.
"What's going on?" one Changeling asked.
"I don't know." another replied. "And I can't change into... whatever they are!"
Kul'as leaped from his balcony and landed in front of the frightened Changelings.
"Don't worry." he said. "I won't kill you, and it's obvious you can't turn into my new Underlings. So here's what I want you to do: go to Arcanus and tell him that I'm going to be leaving for a little while, just to destroy Equestria. Will you do that, please?"
The Changelings nodded before they flew away. Kul'as chuckled evilly and used the Apple to levitate himself above them.
"And now, we prepare for our invasion! First, Equestria will feel our wrath, then, we go after Arcanus! He will suffer for all the times he got the jump on me! It's payback time! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
"When you're born in the shadows
You get an affinity for vice
Remember how the old saying goes
You finish last when you're nice"
"All hail Kul'as" the Underlings sang being mutated,"
"All hail Kul'as"
"We conquer 'til the job's done" Kul'as sang,
"From now until forever
Arcanus thinks he can pull a fast one"
"But it's clear you're more clever" Creeper sang.
"YEAH" the Underlings sang,
"It's payback time
It's payback time
Now that we have surpassed our prime
It'll be quite a song with the death toll chime
It's payback time
It's payback time
All hail Kul'as
All hail Kul'as"
"So now, with the Apple in claw" Kul'as sang,
"The worlds are mine for the taking
And this just opens the door
It's our future in the making"
"YEAH" the Underlings sang,
"It's payback time
It's payback time
Now that we have surpassed our prime
It'll be quite a song with the death toll chime
It's payback time
It's payback time"
As the song continued, the wirewolves observed as the entire Underling race was mutated into horrific monsters.
"All right, minions!" Kul'as announced. "Gather 'round! Here's the plan...
"Before Arcanus can hear of my rise
We'll be opening the gate
And when we get back, he'll finally realize
HE'S ALREADY TOO LATE"
"IT'S PAYBACK TIME" the Underlings sang,
"IT'S PAYBACK TIME
NOW THAT WE HAVE SURPASSED OUR PRIME
IT'LL BE QUITE A SONG WITH THE DEATH TOLL CHIME
IT'S PAYBACK TIME
IT'S PAYBACK TIME"
"IT'S PAYBACK TIME" Kul'as sang,
"THE BEGINNING OF THE END"
"IT'LL BE QUITE A SONG WITH THE DEATH TOLL CHIME" the Underlings sang,
"IT'S PAYBACK TIME
IT'S PAYBACK TIME"
"IT'LL BE QUITE A SONG WITH THE DEATH TOLL CHIME" Kul'as sang,
As soon as Ricky escaped Canterlot, he hid himself deep in the woods, but he was still able to see the city he just escaped from. He managed to find a log to sit on. He also found a puddle where he kept seeing his reflection. He struck the water out of anger and began to sulk. He was so grief-stricken, he didn't notice anyone else until they spoke.
"The Edgeless Atlas." an male, elderly voice said. Ricky looked and saw a hooded pony hold into his map with white hooves.
"What the..." Ricky asked. "Hey, that's mine!"
"Hang on, sonny." the hooded pony said. "I just want to see if the legends are true. Atlas, please, reveal the fastest path to Maretropolis."
Ricky looked at the map and saw red, dotted lines pointing toward a large city that suddenly appeared on the map. Ricky saw the route, but noticed that the lines didn't curve or bend at all.
"See, the thing's broken." Ricky said. "It's not showing you the proper route."
"True, but that doesn't mean it's broken." the hooded pony said. "It's like an old joke. The quickest path between two points is a straight line, which is what the map is trying to show me."
"So what, it has a sense of humor?"
"No, not at all. It's not what you're telling it what you want, it's how you say it. This map follows your every command, word for word."
"Well..." Ricky said before realizing something. "Hold on a second. Why aren't you running away?"
"What's so scary about a map?" the hooded pony asked.
"Not that! I mean me! Why aren't you running from me? I'm a big, mechanical monster with teeth and claws! Are you blind?"
"No, but you are."
Ricky calmed down and looked at the hooded pony closely. "Who are you?"
The hooded pony backed away from Ricky before he could get close.
"Me, I'm just an old oracle who's trying to help a fellow pony."
"You are blind." Ricky said. "I am definitely not a pony."
"Obviously. You seem to have lost your pony touch. Where's the up-beat attitude and the colorful personality?"
Ricky looked back at his reflection. "I lost it. Where I came from, being up-beat and colorful couldn't get me back home? Now that I'm here, I realized I can't show myself to anyone again."
"Do you really think your friends will judge you with just how you changed?" the hooded pony asked. "If they do judge you, then they're not really your friends. I think you should, at least, explain to them who you are rather than worry. Another flaw to your statement: you said there was nothing Equestrian about where you came from. Obviously, on the outside, you are true, but Equestria is more than just ponies and color. Friendship exists in all places, even if it's too small to see. Tell me, did you honestly not make any friends where you were?"
Ricky didn't answer because he was still deep in thought about the other wirewolves he had met. He looked back at the puddle, but instead of seeing his usual self, be started seeing his pony face. He looked at his body, but it was still mechanical.
"Well..." the old pony said, "It looks like there's still some pony in you after all."
Ricky began to smile a bit. Then, he remembered something. "My friends! They're in danger! I... I need to help them! You're right! I need to warn Celestia and..."
"There's no time for that." the old man said. "Kul'as is about to open the portal to here from a mile east. You won't even make it to Celestia's castle without the bad guys getting to Canterlot first. Ricky, you're the only one who knows the situation. Only you can stop it right now."
"Y... You're right." Ricky said. He began to run east to where the oracle said it would be.
Meanwhile, the hooded pony removed his hood revealing his face. The Oracle took a good look at the map he still had in his hooves.
"You seemed to have caused a lot of trouble... but I suppose I should thank you. Maybe now, Ricky will be the same guy in the eyes of his oldest friends. But for now, you're staying with me."
In the Neatherealm, entire armies of mutated Underlings awaited with their claws and teeth prepared. Kul'as stepped out in front with the Golden Apple in his top-right claws and pointed it. The Apple blasted a light that shot at the air. Suddenly, a portal began to open and grow big enough for the whole army.
"I can't look." Marty said closing his eyes.
"Finally, it is an evil dream come true." Kul'as proclaimed. "Equestria, a world full of innocence and harmony, about to be destroyed by its polar opposite. In just a matter of moments, no one will ever again..."
Kul'as was interrupted by a metal punch flying through the portal that struck him in his reptilian face. Ricky flew through the portal connected to the punch and Kul'as fell backward. The Golden Apple flew into the air, but Ricky grabbed it before it could hit the ground. He slid on over to his captured friends and cut their ropes.
"RICKY!" Joe cheered. "YOU'RE BACK!"
"Of course, I did!" Ricky said. "We're friends! Now then..."
Suddenly, the portal closed and the light faded into nothing.
"What happened?" Tartus asked. "I blinked and missed it."
Kul'as grunted as he got up, but he was frustrated at what he didn't see. "MY PORTAL!" He turned to Ricky. "YOU! You dare?"
"More than dare!" Ricky shouted. "I hope somebody got footage of that, because that was awesome!"
"Return that apple to me, Shadow Blot," Kul'as shouted, "And I won't recycle you into a paperweight!"
"You want this?" Ricky asked not noticing the Apple starting to glow. "Come and get it!"
Suddenly, the Underlings began to roar and charge towards them. Suddenly, a bright light escaped from the Golden Apple and it trapped the wirewolves in a bright-yellow dome. When it faded, the wirewolves and the Apple weren't there anymore.
"WHAT?!" Kul'as shouted. "TARTUS, WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"Well, it seems that they were teleported." Tartus said. "He must have triggered the Apple's transport power."
"Well... we don't need it anymore." Kul'as said. "You can open portals."
"Not for an entire army." Tartus said. "Lord Kul'as, we still need the Golden Apple. Luckily, I know where they might have gotten... and I think it's time for an early release."
Tartus pressed something on one of his mechanical arms and grinned.
Back at Tartus' lab, the glass prison that held the Phantom Blot opened and the monster emerged from it. It flew through the doorways and escaped the lab. In the corner, Scimitar rolled his eyes and continued his video game.
"All right." Pixie Dust said almost completing drawing a circle around her cottage. "I'm almost there. One last character, and my darkness protection barrier is complete. Just need complete focus." She placed her chalk on the ground and carefully, slowly drew.
Suddenly, a large, booming noise came out of nowhere from the inside of her cottage. It spooked her and her chalk broke the circle. As soon as she noticed it, she grew furiously and went into her house, finding the wirewolves shaking their heads.
"Oh, you boys!" she growled furiously. "Why am I not surprised?"
"What happened?" Terry asked. "How did we get here?"
"I don't know." Ricky said. "I was just mentally wishing we were here, and then... Well, we're here. I think the Apple must have sensed my thoughts."
"Apple?" Pixie Dust asked. She drew her eyes at the fruit and gasped. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE GOLDEN APPLE?! THAT THING'S DANGEROUS!"
"Yeah, we noticed." Aaron said covering the spot where the Apple shot at.
"We got bigger problems." Ricky said. "Kul'as is going to need this thing to invade Equestria, and we're the only ones who can do something about it."
"So let's find a deep ditch and throw it away!" Terry shouted.
"We can't!" Aaron said. "Now that Kul'as has felt the Apple's power, he can find it anywhere. Pixie Dust, do you think your barrier can be used to keep him out?"
"Probably would," Pixie Dust said, "But you just made me mess up on my barrier. It'll take me three days to fix."
"Three days?!" Joe shouted. "We'll be dead in three days!"
"Don't worry." Ricky said. "I have a plan."
"Really?" Terry asked. "I don't think you even have a plan."
"I have... part of a plan!"
"What percentage of a plan do you have?" Marty asked.
"About... 12%."
"12%?" Terry asked. "That's not even a plan! It's not even a big concept!"
"Devastate."
"So what if it is better than 11%?" Terry asked. "What difference does that make?"
"Look, we can't keep bickering like foals!" Ricky said.
"Well, we're not ponies, either!" Aaron shouted. "We lost our claim as ponies a long time ago!"
Those words brought silence to the whole room. No one protested against it.
"Guys, I know we're not ponies anymore," Ricky said, "And we may not find a way to return to our original forms, but if there's anything I've learned, it's that even if you've changed on the outside, you still have your home in your heart. We may be wirewolves, but deep down, we're also Equines. And now, our home is being threatened, and we're the only ones capable of saving it."
"But... Ricky, this is Kul'as we're talking about." Aaron said. "I worked for the guy. He may be crazy, but he is also very dangerous and powerful."
"Also, Kul'as has that mad scientist with him along with an entire army of mutated Underlings." Marty said. "How are we going to combat all that?"
Ricky looked around at his friends, specifically Joe and Marty. An idea then popped inside of his head. He turned his head back to Pixie Dust.
"Like I said," Ricky said, "I have a plan."
Within the hour, Kul'as had Pixie Dust's house in his sights. His army was right behind him, and Creeper and Tartus stood at his sides.
"This is their idea of a stronghold?" Kul'as asked. "I've kicked sandcastles that were more secure than this."
"Hey, bosses!" Emerald said landing beside Tartus. "It's the wirewolves. They're at the front of the house."
Tartus closed his normal eye and zoomed in with his electronic one. He observed the wirewolves. "I don't see the Golden Apple, but their leader is holding a burlap sack."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Creeper asked. "It's just six wirewolves. I'm sure we can tear them apart, especially with the powerful Kul'as fighting with us."
"ATTENTION, WIREWOLVES!" Kul'as shouted. "YOU HAVE SOMETHING OF OURS! RETURN IT TO US, AND YOUR ENDS WILL BE QUICK AND PAINLESS... AS POSSIBLE!"
"YOU WANT IT!" Ricky shouted. He lifted his arm back. "IT'S ALL YOURS!" He thrusted it up, and it flew towards the bad guys. The bag landed a few meters from the front of them.
Kul'as raised an eyebrow observing the bag. "That was too easy."
All the Underlings were urging each other into taking it.
"Creeper, go get it." Kul'as said to end the bickering.
Creeper gulped, but he didn't object to his master's orders. He approached the bag and slowly opened it. Suddenly, a tiny, mechanical beast jumped out and tackled Creeper. As they rolled around in the dirt, Kul'as, Tartus, Greengear, and all the Underlings just watched.
"Uh, that's not an apple." Verde said. "It looks more like a bully... or politician. What's it mean?"
"It means peace talks have broken down." Kul'as said. "Now, we do this the hard way. ATTACK!"
The Underlings began to charge directly at the heroes, who were preparing to strike back.
"Well, boys," Ricky said shooting little, nasty, metal critters out of his paws, "You know what they say, the bigger they are..."
"The more wirewolves they flatten." Terry said. He pierced his shoulder and scratched it. He then saw the scratch heal itself. "But I'm sure they're going to have a hard time finishing me."
"Yeah!" Joe shouted. He shifted his claws into boxing gloves. "Let's get 'em!"
"If I die," Aaron said showing off his shadow powers, "Make sure I get a bigger grave than you losers."
"Hey, Devastator, I got something for you." Marty said throwing a metal stick his way with his fire powers.
Suddenly, the stick opened up revealing a spikey ball-and-chain attached to it. Grinning, Devastator absorbed the mechanical stick and got it attached to his hand. His grin grew bigger as he swung it in circles. "Devastate!"
The wirewolves then charged at the Underlings guns ablazing. But before they could strike, they heard a roar. They looked and, coming from the east, there was a mighty cloud of inky blackness with gargantuan wings. It stopped when it hovered over them. The cloud then grew a green, ghostly face and large claws that look like they could strike ten feet into the ground.
"Wirewolves." the Phantom Blot moaned in a ghostly echo.
"That voice." Ricky said to himself before recognizing it. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me!"
"HE FELL INTO A LAKE OF LAVA!" Aaron shouted. "IT WAS ASSUMED!"
"SCATTER!" Ricky shouted as he saw the Phantom Blot lift his claw up in the air. When he struck down, the wirewolves were already running in different directions towards the Underlings.
As the Phantom Blot's eyes were following Ricky, who was trying to lose his attention, he kept floated after him. Meanwhile, the other wirewolves were facing their own problems with the Underlings.
Terry scampered across the enemies until he found a whole curve of Underlings in front of him. He then came up with an idea. He bent his left arm into a 90 degree angle and used his other arm to remove it from his shoulder. He then threw it to the Underling on the far side and it smacked it. The arm then spun toward the other Underlings like a boomerang. When the last one went down, the arm flew right back to its shoulder.
"Nice." Terry said working his arm. "Now, I got to..." He was interrupted when he turned and two Underlings were just inches from his face. They were going to attack when...
"Hold it!" Kul'as shouted as he approached the two. "This one went back on my deal. I'll handle him."
The two Underlings chuckled while Terry began to shake. But as Kul'as got closer, he grabbed the Underlings' heads and bashed them both together. He then changed form to Joe and chuckled. "They actually bought it."
"Why didn't you just shift into another one of these uglies?" Terry asked.
"I would if I could, Tim." Joe said. "But there's something about these guys that makes it certain I can't copy them. I think the Golden Apple did more than we thought."
"Tim?" Terry asked. "My name's Terry."
"Tim's short for Timberwolf." Joe said. "That's your new nickname."
"Why would you worry about nicknames at a time like... never mind." Terry said pinching the middle of his eyes. "Who else do you got?"
"Well, obviously," Joe said, "I'm Masque, 'cause that was my stage name. Also, Ricky's Shadow Blot name actually fits. Aaron is Dusk and Marty is Rodan, but Devastator doesn't need a nickname. I mean, just look at him."
The two of them observed how the Underlings tried to tackle Devastator, but he knocked them back with his ball-and-chain. A few Underlings jumped him at once and he was slowed down. Before long, he was completely covered by Underlings. Underneath the pile, Devastator picked up a handful of dust from his satchel and stuffed it in his mouth. The dust began to glow brightly and he began to feel a tremendous surge of energy coming from his throat.
"DEVASTATOR..." Suddenly, he pulled off a roar with a destructive energy blast escaping his jaws. It propelled the Underlings off of him. "SMAAAAAAAAASH!" When the blast ended, all the Underlings surrounding him turned around and ran. He turned back to Terry and Joe giving them a smile.
"I never knew his new powers came with that." Joe said.
"I never knew he could speak words other than 'Devastate'." Terry said.
From afar, Tartus zoomed in with his robotic eye and observed Dusk and Rodan back to back shooting their fire and shadow balls.
"Tartus, what is happening?" Kul'as asked.
"They got powers. They're holding off your forces."
"How is it possible?"
"Must be fairy magic." Jade said. "The cottage back there is home to a reclusive fairy."
Kul'as began to growl. "That's just great. Just what we need; a fairy."
Tartus turned his eye away from the fight and right to the cottage. "A fairy, huh?"
Around the back, Pixie Dust opened the door and carried the Golden Apple by its stem. As she lifted it out of the door.
"'Get the Apple out while we distract them', they said." she muttered to herself. "'It'll be easy', they said. Don't those boys realize how old I am?"
"Would you like my help?"
"It took you long enough, you..." She stopped herself when she saw Tartus standing beside her.
"WHAT?!" Pixie Dust asked in panic. "How'd you find me?"
"Well, I was wondering why the wirewolves weren't using the Apple in the fight," Tartus said, "So when I remembered there was a fairy living here, I thought you might be trying to make off with it. Now, I see I was right."
"Come an get it, then!" Pixie Dust said before dashing up. She held onto the Apple tight and didn't look back. That is, until she felt a cold, metal hand wrap around her body. She turned and saw Tartus hovering 10 feet off the ground. "You can fly?"
"I can do a whole lot more than that." Tartus said. "But more on that later. In the meantime... give me the apple!"
"You want it?" Pixie Dust asked. "Go fetch!" She swung her arm forward and let go of the Apple, which plummeted toward the ground.
In the middle of the battlefield, Ricky and Kul'as both saw the Golden Apple at the same time. They ran toward it and caught it. They didn't notice each other until they were both clutching opposite ends of the Apple. They then struggled for control of it.
"Let go!" Ricky shouted.
"You let go!" Kul'as shouted.
"I told you first!" Ricky shouted.
Ricky struggled as Kul'as tried to pry the Golden Apple from his claws, as both of them pulled back and forth trying to get an advantage over the other.
"This thing has the potential to end all life, Kul'as!" Ricky shouted.
"That's the idea!" Kul'as yelled using his remaining two arms to try to pry Ricky away. Meanwhile, the Apple glowed again. "Phantom, kill him!" Kul'as commanded the Blot to do, which was already making his way to Ricky not noticing the Apple shining brighter than before.
A beam of light stronger than what hit the Underlings struck Phantom Blot right on his chest, making him roar as he began to transform, he grew larger in size bulking up in mass as tentacles appeared where his legs should've been. Wings grew then unfurled from his back, revealing their massive wingspan as his sludge like skin turn almost as black as night. Massive black claws protruded from his fingers as his ghastly green eyes turned red, his face elongated into a snout, filling with gleaming canines, the single horn on his head splitting in two.
The Phantom Blot laughed as he flexed his claws looking down at at the wirewolves as they stood in awe and terror, as he had grown over six times an alicorn's height, but twice the size of the newly transformed Underlings, and gained the appearance of a hulking demon dragon hybrid.
Kul'as looked surprised, but then began to smile. "Thank you, Shadow Blot. You just sealed your fate." At the side, Tartus was enjoying the sight as well. Kul'as then laughed as Phantom Blot roared slamming his fist down knocking the wirewolves back.
"WHY?! WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US?!" Aaron yelled at Ricky.
"DON'T BLAME ME!" Ricky argued. "BLAME THE STUPID APPLE!" He looked and saw that he still had the Apple in his claws.
"But you just couldn't stop yourself!" The wirewolves looked and saw Tartus hovering over them with Pixie Dust in his metal hand. "Nice job making everything worse!"
"Jinkies, it's Tartus!" Joe shouted.
"Look, I don't know why you're mad at us, but..." Ricky started to say before the scientist interrupted him.
"Don't try to understand why I'm mad. Let's just say I'm a living consequence. But you know all about consequences, don't you? The six of you were so desperate to return home, that you decided to take the easy way out, only to find out you were finding a powerful dangerous relic for the bad guys. So much for mighty machines right?"
"Mighty machines." Joe said. "I like the sound of it."
"Why do I bother with you people?" Tartus asked. He clenched his fist and Pixie Dust began to squirm. "Now surrender the Apple or I'll pop her like a grape!"
"Catch!" Ricky said tossing the Apple into the air.
Tartus let go of Pixie Dust and extended both his hands. As Pixie Dust fell, Marty reached out his hands and caught her before she hit the ground. He then placed her gently on the ground.
"Oh, I knew you wirewolves would be the death of me." Pixie Dust said softly.
"It's all right, PD." Marty said. He tapped her little head with his claws. "It's going to be okay."
"Did you just 'there-there' me?" Pixie Dust growled.
"YES!" Tartus said about to catch the Golden Apple. Suddenly, Ricky pulled a string he had attached to it and slipped it away before Tartus could catch it. "NO!"
Ricky caught the Golden Apple and tossed it to Devastator. "WE GOTTA KEEP THIS AWAY FROM TARTUS!"
Devastator turned around to run, but he couldn't move a step. He looked down and saw a puddle of black goo attached to his feet. He then saw it connected to a black tentacle that belonged to the Phantom Blot.
"It's not him you need to worry about!" Kul'as gloated.
Everyone was horrified when something started to appear from the goop. It looked like an Underling, but it was dripping in black fluid.
"An Underling, made of the Blot?!" Terry shouted.
"BLOTLING!" Joe shouted.
Suddenly, more Blotlings were created from the goop and jumped onto Devastator. He tried to fight them off, but it was like punching a waterfall, it wouldn't stop them.
"DEVASTATE!" Devastator launched the Apple away from him and into Terry's hands.
"ME?!" Terry asked in a panic. Suddenly, a black tentacle snapped at him and trapped him to the ground. The inky stuff began to cover him, but not before the threw it to Joe.
One by one, the wirewolves were catching the Golden Apple before getting caught in the Phantom Blot's traps. The last one to catch it was Ricky, who was then blasted back by a red beam of light coming from Kul'as claws. Ricky didn't get back up, but he scooted back. He had Kul'as creeping toward him with the Phantom Blot right behind him. Ricky couldn't move back anymore when he hit the base of a rocky pillar.
"Soon your friends will be dead and Equestria destroyed." Kul'as declared. "There's nothing you can do about it. And I will destroy every unicorn, Pegasus, Earth pony, and alicorn that walks on that colorful world."
That threat gave Ricky flashbacks of his pony friends, especially Princess Celestia. He then looked at the Golden Apple and flashed an idea. Kul'as stopped walking when Ricky began to chuckle. Soon, his chuckle was raised to comical laughter. It confused both Kul'as and the Phantom Blot.
"What?" Kul'as asked. "What's so funny?"
"The fact that you think you can destroy Equestria." Ricky said. "You couldn't destroy a paper bag."
"What?" Kul'as growled.
"I'm just saying," Ricky shrugged, "You crawled out of the deepest, darkest pit in the Neatherealm, assembled an army of abnormal monsters, employed a mad scientist, took control of a dark, deformed copy of myself, claimed an age-old relic of untold power, and mutated your abnormal monsters, but you can't even get the simplest job done? No wonder Arcanus as a hoof up on you."
"Go ahead, wise guy." Kul'as growled angrily with his claw sparking red lightning. "Keep giving me an excuse."
"I'm just stating the facts." Ricky said. "You claim to be the most powerful being in the Neatherealm, but I've managed to evade your capture over a dozen times. How can you hope you destroy a world if you can't even destroy me with all you have?"
"If that's what you prefer," Kul'as said raising his electric claw, "THEN I SHALL STRIKE YOU WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE!"
Kul'as made a throwing gesture, and he stopped when he pointed at the wirewolf. A red lightning bolt escaped from his claws. It was heading to Ricky's direction. Suddenly, Ricky blocked the lightning bolt... with the Golden Apple. Kul'as widened his eyes in shock as the Apple began to glow again.
"If a scratch made this Apple so crazy," Ricky said standing up in front of Kul'as, "What do you think a cosmic blast would make it do?"
"No!" Kul'as shouted. "You doomed us both!"
"No." Ricky said. "Just you!"
Ricky extended his leg hard kicking Kul'as right toward the Phantom Blot's body. As soon as he impacted, the ink weighed him down, so no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't get free. Meanwhile, Ricky took the glowing Apple and climbed up the stone pillar. The Phantom Blot shot tentacles toward him, but Ricky kept dodging. Losing his patience, the Phantom Blot raised his claw and struck the pillar. From the falling top of the pillar, Ricky jumped up and flew above the Phantom Blot's head.
"HEY, PHANTOM!" Ricky shouted showing off the Apple. "EAT THIS!"
Ricky threw the Apple out of his grasp and into the Phantom Blot's open mouth. He tried to close it, but it was already down his throat. The Blot felt a surge of power from inside its stomach at the same time a yellow light was visible from it. Kul'as felt the power reach his back as he tried to escape.
"NO!" Kul'as felt the light grow bigger while Ricky dropped down to the ground and took cover. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The bright, yellow light shined too bright for anyone to see clearly. After a few minutes, it finally dimmed down. And then, the Phantom Blot was completely solidified, and Kul'as was merged with it. They were both defeated by the very thing they were desperate to achieve.
Meanwhile, the ooze that covered the Mighty Machines began to evaporate releasing the wirewolves within. They all converged to Ricky and cheered. They then looked at the frightened Underlings that stared at the monument of their deceased master.
"Now, go!" Ricky shouted. "And if I hear about any one of you threatening Equestria again, you're going to be really sorry!"
The Underlings nodded their heads and turned to run.
"YEAH, THAT"S RIGHT!" Joe shouted. "'CAUSE WE'RE THE MIGHTY MACHINES, AND WE DON'T TAKE ANYTHING BAD FROM ANYTHING BAD!"
The Siren Sisters flew toward their chained master. They changed to their human forms and bowed their heads.
"Lord Arcanus, we have news for you." Serena asked.
"Report." Arcanus said.
"It seems that Kul'as has failed." Serena said. "It seems he was defeated by a band of wirewolves."
"That's a pack." Carol said.
"What?" Serena asked.
"Wolves come in packs, not bands." Carol said.
"The first smart thing you say, and you say it now?" Melody asked. "I was right. You are the worst."
"And... the Golden Apple?" Arcanus asked.
"It seems to be sealed inside a giant, frozen monster." Serena said. "We can't get in and we can't break it. Retrieving it might be impossible."
"Good." Arcanus said. "The last thing we need is the Golden Apple in our plans. All we need is our informant in Equestria to reawaken for our return. Is it certain?"
"Yes, master." Serena said. "The one who calls herself the Sinister Sorceress has enough magic power to reach us and be influenced by us. She'll get Pandora's Box and your conquest will be certain."
"Just one problem." Melody said. "What if the wirewolves follow us? I don't think they'll like it when we attempt to conquer Equestria."
"You let me worry about them." Arcanus said. "Remember, with Lord Grogar backing us up, no one will ever bring us down."
"So... now what?" Joe asked.
The Mighty Machines were looking at the horizon with their frozen enemies behind them.
"First things first." Ricky said. "Aaron, are you sure the Apple is safe in there."
"I searched the Blot top to bottom. There's no way anyone can get it out of there."
"But just in case," Pixie Dust said, "I'll keep it here so that no one gets too close."
"Now, we try to go back home." Ricky said.
"Again?" Terry asked. "Isn't that what caused this whole mess in the first place?"
"This is going to be different." Ricky said. "We messed up because we were looking for an easy way back. But sometimes, the easy way isn't necessarily the right way. But with Kul'as out of the picture, I'm sure we can make something out of the stuff in his castle."
"I suppose." Marty said. "We could use some of the equipment there to build our own portal back to Equestria, but it's going to take some time."
"I say we take the time to save the Neatherealm!" Joe said.
"What?" Terry asked.
"You heard me." Joe said. "Remember, Kul'as may be out of the picture, but Arcanus is still large and in charge. If this place is down in the dumps, then we should probably pick it up. We could spread Equestrian hospitality around the Neatherealm until we get home."
"This isn't Equestria, you bolt-brain!" Aaron shouted.
"No, he's right." Ricky said. "This place hasn't seen any light for hundreds of years. Everyone is dark and miserable. If we could help everyone out, then we didn't come here to the Neatherealm for nothing."
"Devastate!"
"Ha!" Joe said. "That's three for three!"
"What?" Terry asked. "You understood him?"
"Oh, of course." Joe said. "We're wirewolves. We always understand each other. We just need to learn how to listen."
The Mighty Machines leaned forward to Devastator's direction. He opened his metal jaw and said the first word everyone else heard ever.
"Friends."
Aaron sighed. "All right. We'll help everyone until the portal is done."
"I'm down with that." Marty agreed.
Terry sighed. "This has to be the most ridiculous plan ever... of all time... but I'm in."
"Don't worry, guys." Joe said. "We'll return home.
"And eeeeeeven if there's trouble
Nothing can keep us down"
"We'll keep the Neatherealm in peace" Marty sang,
"As long as we're around"
"Everybody can, for now, feel" Aaron sang,
"Safe and soooooouuuuuuund"
"Oh, I can't wait for tomorrooooooow" they all sang.
"Who knows where the future is meant to go" Terry sang.
"Devastate"
"And if the river is bound to flow" Marty sang.
"A path in which you can't say no" Aaron sang.
"OH, I CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW" everyone sang.
"I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR..." Ricky sang,
"TOMORROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW"
Watching them leave, a herd of clear figures watched them walk away. They were the same people as in the prologue. The only difference is how alive they are. For the first time in eons, they smiled.
"THE NIGHTMARES EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEND"
"And we did it." the Shadow Blot explained. "We found so much technology in Kul'as' lab and slowly built a portal. Of course, when we finished, we learned the Siren Sisters had already made it. We arrived, we helped defeat Arcanus, we went through all that Tambelon stuff, and now, we're here."
Princess Celestia didn't blink for one second. "Wow, Ricky. That was quite an adventure."
"You have no idea." the Shadow Blot said. "But it was all worth it to finally come back. Honestly, I'm glad all that stuff happened. Otherwise, when I return, I'm not sure if I'd be the same Ricky I was when I left."
"Well, I'm proud of you." Princess Celestia said. She then placed a quick peck on Ricky's metal cheek. He was surprised when it happened. "I look forward to our next tea time." She turned around and left the room. Ricky watched her leave and a smile grew in his metal mouth. For the first time ever, he felt happy again.
Somewhere outside of an urban town, Tartus looked out his window with a grin on his face. In his metal hand, the Golden Apple glowed it's yellow shine.
"HEY!" Creeper shouted from his cage in the other side of the room. Tartus turned his head and looked at the cage standing beside Scimitar. "I got you the Apple a long time ago! Now, resurrect Kul'as!"
"I told you a hundred times, I'm not going to do that." Tartus said. "He already played his part. Now, it's Twilight Sparkle's turn."
"Grrrrrrr!" Creeper began to exclaim.
"Scimitar, I told you not to overfeed him, and now look at him." Tartus said.
"Whatever." Scimitar said. "Like I ever wanted a dunce for a pet."
"Look, one-eye!" Creeper said, "Twilight's good and you're evil. What makes you think she's just going to listen to whatever you have to say?"
"Why wouldn't she?" Tartus asked taking an admiring glance at the Golden Apple. "After all, I'm the headmaster of Everton. And I intend to make the upcoming Friendship Games one she'll never forget. Now, where was I? ...Oh, yes." He cleared his throat with all his attention to the Golden Apple. "Everybody wants to rule... the world."
"Pinkie!"
The pink human girl with the poofy hair and the party-like dress jumped up when she heard that. She looked and her friend, Rarity, was calling out to her.
"Come on, darling. Rainbow Dash wants to see us at the front of the school and..." She noticed the weird look on Pinkie's face. "Something wrong?"
"Um... you ever get the feeling that something really, really bad is going to happen?" Pinkie Pie asked.
