Asteroth
The Kingdom of Anaheim, 1996
“Roast, mortals!”
The darkest parts of the city of Anaheim were set ablaze with fire. The being responsible was none other than Asteroth, an aged wizard, and tyrant who drove the Elf Prince Borg from his throne. For years, Borg was pursued by monster after monster, with efforts to gain entry to the castle thwarted by three of his cursed royal guards. But with the help of five anthropomorphic ducks, his journey took him deep into Asteroths stronghold, only to be met with deadly force when the Lord of the Red Dragon took on his true form. The beast continued to step forward, unaware that one of the ducks, Duke L’orange, was on top of a taller building.
“Now Wildwing!” he shouted, signaling his companion to fire explosive pucks at a fire hydrant and an aqueduct pipe. The lifeblood of all living things spouted in towers on each side of the dragon. Not the creature’s keenest element, he ascended into the air, trying to get away from the water - “I got you now!”
Duke jumped off the building, landing on Asteroth’s back. The dragon spun and twirled in the air, but the duck proved too difficult to shake off as he drew his sword and sliced off the pendant that wrapped around his neck. Realizing too late, the beast became limb, colliding with the ground and reverting back to his original form. He looked up, seeing Borg, Wildwing, Duke, Malory, Tanya, and Nosedive surround him.
“You’re powerless, sorcerer!” - The Elfin Prince pointed his sword, holding the removed pendant in the other - “Be gone!”
Despite the warning, Asteroth still had power in him but not enough to ward off his enemies all at once.
“You may have one this time, Prince.” - the warlock drew a pair of leathery wings - “But you haven’t heard the last of Asteroth!”
And with that the wizard took off, leaving the kingdom of Anaheim at peace. But with him on the loose, it was a matter of time before he could return with a vengeance.
Colorado, United States, 2016
This January was among the wettest in Colorado. Often, students wore relatively light clothing, keeping cool but not suffer at the mercy of the wind. One day, it was very sunny, and the town was as lively to match. The Crusaders, having mastered their abilities, ran about the town square. A few blocks away the Maximals dined in Sugarcube Corner. The Rainbooms played a few new songs Fluttershy wrote, echoing across Applejack's garage, much to Granny Smith's frustration.
Over at Longmont, it was a little more difficult. The Dazzlings were trying their hardest to restore their powers. One part of the mansion echoed music. From the other side of a recording booth, the Dazzlings stormed off. Another failure at singing like they have before they've lost the Battle of the Bands.
"Ugh! I'm sick of us not having a proper singing voice!" - Aria groaned - "We've been at it for over one thousand years."
Thud, having stayed at the Dazzling home for almost a year now, exited through the sound chamber adding, "More like one year."
Aria turned a glare at him, pulling out the earplugs. "Whatever," - Aria grabbed Thud by the ear, dragging him along the hall - "I'm going to bed."
Adagio looked at her watch, "Well, I need to get back to work."
Sonata moaned, "Aw c'mon, Dagi! You've never had much fun."
"Well, I would, if that thing that Aria keeps as a pet hasn't ruined a corporate meeting I've been planning for the past few weeks."
Sonata had her neck curled back, not keeping her eyes off her eldest sister as she walked around before skipping down the hall. The blue Siren walked out of the mansion when she noticed a tempest brewing over the mansion.
"Maybe I can beat the storm." Sonata gasped before giving a grin as she jumped into her Corvette, driving through the gates towards Estes Park as the rain began to drip.
In her office, Adagio closed her file before the wind blew hard enough to scatter her work to the wilds outside the mansion. Keeping her usual expression, she walked over to the window and shut it, In their bed chamber, Aria and Thud rose their drowsy heads. To the raptor, a home over his head was enough to until the storm clears. But to the Siren, such unpredictable storms mean one thing.
At the eye of the storm shined a bright light, with a flash of lightning, an aged man in red drapes descended into the world on leather wings. A few feet behind him fluttered a small being, a homunculus named Balthar. Once his feet touched the ground, the clouds dissipate, bringing sunshine back to the world. He looked around, taking in the spectacle of the Dazzlings’ mansion.
“Ah….” - Asteroth took in a deep breath - “Not as spectacular as my home in Anaheim…”
“Why have the council sent us to this world?” - Balthar shivered - “It’s a frigid waste compared to Anaheim.”
“Because, my small friend, a long time ago, the Red Dragon sent a magical artifact to this world. To this world, it is known as Goswhit. But in our world, it is known as the Helmet of Set.” - he looked at his surroundings again, swinging his staff forward as he began to walk - “Its presence is weak, but it is there.”
“And more the reason for why you intrude on our property.”
The Lord of the Red Dragon looked up the stairs, the Dazzlings and Thud looking down at him.
“Ah, may I speak with the master of the house?” - Adagio raised an eyebrow - “Or am I in her presence?”
Adagio took out her phone, “As former magical beings ourselves, I warn you that right now, thirty-two miles northwest from here are now fifteen beings capable of overwhelming you.”
Balthar cringed and worried about his master being beaten in a world without anthropomorphic ducks or an elfin prince. But the sorcerer had other plans.
“My dear ladies, and gentleman, I do not wish any harm.” - he bobs his head - “I request an audience in your chambers.”
After holding the phone in her hand for a while, the lead Siren put the device into sleep, drawing two concerned looks and a scared one as Asteroth walked forward at them again. Thud snarled as the sorcerer entered their house.
“I hear ya…” Said Aria with crossed arms.
"This mansion was first constructed in 1885. We've acquired it in..." - Trying to keep her guest from knowing the truth, she could come up with a more logical reasoning - "1999. And as you can see, we have renovated it to incorporate Hellenistic architecture."
"Adagio..." The lead Dazzling turned to find Aria and Thud pointing their thumbs down a hall.
In said hall, Asteroth tracked a magical signature leading to a rusted helmet surrounded by a glass case. Balthar looked around before floating around the case.
"We have found it, master!"
"And have worn out your welcome!"
The Lord of the Red Dragon looked back, finding Adagio, Aria, and Thud glaring at their trespasser.
"Time to call in the help." Adagio lifted up the phone when Balthar shot out a stream of fire, burning the phone from her hand.
Asteroth tossed the glass case aside, putting on the Helmet of Set and taking summoning a cage, trapping the Dazzling's and raptor inside.
"You think that you've won!?" - Asteroth spread his leather wings, intimidating the powerless Dazzlings and tamed dinosaur - "Your help will never come!"
Adagio gritted her teeth when an idea popped beneath her massive headpiece, "Sonata will! She's visiting them right now!"
Asteroth only curled a grin in his monkey-like face. "We shall see, in the meantime" - He runs a finger across Adagio's chin - "we can give your friend a warm welcome."
Having driven back to Estes Park, Sonata stopped by the schoolyard, finding the Rainbooms and Maximals were working on a massive experiment. Ten feet tall by sixteen feet, this cylindrical object seemed to be made for an equally ambitious purpose.
Using her legs, Applejack scooted forward on the shopkeeper, holding a wrench in her hand. “Okay, try it now.”
Their world’s Twilight Sparkle pressed a button on a remote control, illuminating the tube from the inside out. Pinkie Pie turned on a toy helicopter, guiding it towards the light. The deeper it went, sparks snaked around it, becoming more intense before shattering the toy into pieces. Twilight pressed another button, turning off the machine once again.
“Watcha doin"?” - The two magic scientists jumped, looking back to see Sonata
“We’re testing out what we like to call the Ground Bridge” - Twilight turned back to the machine - “Out of the fifteen of us, only Sunset and I have the ability to teleport from one area to another.”
“So I wrote to… The other Twilight with the possibility of artificial portals. Kind of how we moved the portal to the Dinosaur World over to Sweet Apple Acres.” - Sunset opened up her journal, revealing a diagram of one such portal - “So far, it seems to be very efficient, very fuel efficient! However, given the circumstances you’ve seen, it is a bit unstable.”
Back at the Longmont mansion, Asteroth spread his arms.
“Arise my allies of stone, the Helmet of Set calls you to life! Seek out my enemies and destroy them!"
At a distance, a snapping turtle statue blinked a few times, positioning its paws and rose its plastron five feet off the ground. Over at Canterlot High, the new Wondercolt statue built over winter break came to life, galloping to our heroes before rising on its back hooves. The heroes dodged the attack when Cosgrove’s walkie buzzed, prompting him to pick it up, hearing quite a few panicked voices from the other side of the line.
“Someone reported of a snapping turtle statue crashing through the plaza.”
“We’ll do fine,” - Applejack joined up with her fellow Rainbooms, wrapping her lasso around the horse’ left arm - “go!”
Taking their cars, the Maximals headed off for the location of the snapping turtle statue.
Sonata was about to join up when Sunset stopped them, “You may want to stay here.”
“What, why?” Asked Sonata
“With your power not restored, we don’t want any liabilities.”
“But-” Sonata barely dodged the horse statue's charge, turning around to meet up with its adversary's.
All six of the Rainbooms Ponied Up, amplifying their speed and strength as they wrapped the lasso around the legs of the horse statue, the land lubbing members being flung as the statue lifted its limbs. With six great tugs, the horse statue was toppled over, shattering it ito several pieces.
“Hope it came under warranty.” Said Rainbow Dash when Twilight’s rebuilt magic tracker picked up a signal.
“I’m getting a faint signal, thirty-two miles southwest.”
“The mansion!” Shouted the Dazzlings
“Then let’s saddle up, everybody!” Applejack tipped her hat downward, ready for the drive back to the mansion.
“A car won’t be fast enough.” Sunset interrupted.
“Aw yeah!” - Rainbow ascended into the air - “Time for a Sonic Rainboom!”
“Over thirty-two miles of public space,” - Rarity chuckled - “A little too flashy for our secret.”
“Then what?”
Rainbow got her answer when they looked at their prototype Ground Bridge.
“Sunset, the bridge hasn’t been finalized.” - Twilight pointed to the Ground Bridge - “If we use it, there is a chance-”
“I know, but what choice do we have?” Sunset opened up a map to the Centennial State, typing in the latitude and longitude of the Dazzling residence. The portal glowed once more, though the intention is dangerous, if not completely suicidal. Fluttershy hid behind Pinkie Pie, watching Sunset take a small gulp before running into the portal, closing her eyes as she approached the light.
She opened her eyes once more, seeing a mansion draped under stormy clouds. A few shallow breaths from her when her phone buzzed.
“I made it through.” She answered, not turning away from the fact that she once again braved death when she heard whoops from the other end of the phone. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were the first to jump to the other side, joining shortly by the others.
Asteroth flown over to the roof of the mansion, donning the Helmet of Set.
“You are too late! With the helmet at my disposal” - His booming voice echoed the estate - “No one refuses the Lord of the Red Dragon!”
On cue, an elephant-sized beast burst out of the door, roaring at the intruders. Bursting from the windows are two demonic beings with
“Adagio! Aria! Thud!” Sonata placed her fists to her mouth, whimpering as her two mutate sisters attacked them, shooting out stones that quickly materialized into flaming spears.
The mutated Thud roared at them before charging forward, snapping his enormous jaws at them. Applejack lassoed his legs, toppling him with a massive boom. But Thud was as fast as his ferocity beholds him, and tore off the ropes with his teeth. Sunset, Twilight, and Rarity enveloped Thud with a variety of auras.
Rainbow Dash sprouted her wings and took to the air, distracting
“Fluttershy” - Rarity forced her head left to the caretaker, gritting her teeth as she held the beast in place - “Use your Stare… Like what you did with the Maximals…”
Sonata felt something in her throat, something that she had not felt since she and her sisters lost to the Battle of the Bands. In the midst of the chaos, Sonata gathered up the courage and stepped forward, much to Asteroth's amusement.
“Try as you might, child, your power is no mine!” Asteroth laughed.
After Sonata blinked, her eyes glowed again, this time a blue color. Sprouting a pair of dorsal fins and elongated ponytails, she ascended into the air, towering over Asteroth. With a deep breath, the Siren let out a high pitched scream. The Rainbooms covered their ears, gritting their teeth as they endured the torment. The Homunculi squeal in pain before flopping on the floor. Asteroth held his hand high, projecting a small force field, but even then it wasn’t much of a match when the centuries old helmet began to crack. With one more additional scream, the wizard was sent back down along the roof, looking up to see the Siren looking down at him.
“My quest isn’t involved with you, but when I return, I swear vengeance against this world!” The sorcerer raised his hand up, drawing forth a red alchemy circle and ascending upward.
“Wait for me!” - Balthar ascending into the air after his master - “Wait for me!”
As soon as Asteroth and his Homunculus left the world, the tempest cleared, restoring sunshine once again in the Centennial state. Back at Estes Park, the snapping turtle statue the Maximals were fighting returned to being stone, though it still remained in a standing position. The enchanted horse statue was also restored to its resting place in front of Canterlot High.
Back at Longmont, the Rainbooms watched the Dazzling land on the concrete. Adagio, Aria, and Thud returned to their human forms, looking up to see Sonata lending them her hand.
“That is awesome!” - Rainbow spun around in the air - “Now we have eighteen of us capable of Ponying up!”
"No." - Sonata stretched a hand forward - "There is much I have to teach my sisters. We will return, and hopefully in better conditions."
As if she was the mistress of the house, the other Dazzlings and raptor followed Sonata into the house, not giving a second thought about turning around to thank them.
“Still fifteen.” Said Applejack as the Dazzlings entered the chambers of their mansion.
Sunset picked up her cell phone, dialing Cosgrove’s number. “Cosgrove, we got the Ground Bridge finished. Send us back.”
Back at Estes Park, the Rainbooms and Maximals watched as a massive tow truck carried the massive snapping turtle statue back to its original location.
“So now, there are eighteen people in this state capable of magic, fifteen of whom live in this city.” - Sunset looked at the Ground Bridge - “And have constructed their own portal generator.”
Longmont, Colorado
In the recording booth, the Dazzlings tried to sing again, Sonata this time the lead vocal. As she repeated her song, her sisters followed, transforming their voices from a raspy screech to an elegant sound that Thud could find palpable as he threw away his ear plugs.
"And three in Longmont, training their power."
Tartarus Penitentiary, Denver, Colorado.
“Let’s hope that it stays that way.”
Walking through each prison of Colorado’s own rogue menagerie, Scorpan entered the Warden’s office, slapping a file onto his desk.
“Estes Park has been three crimes lower than usual in the past year. Looks like they’ve amped up their security.”
Warden Tirek scanned his beady eyes on the file before looking back up.
“Or maybe they haven’t reported such crimes."