> Power Ponies 3: Perilous
>  by Epicdiscord214
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Next Step
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"My little pony
My little..."

"HOLD IT!" the Under King cried out. He and his Underdog crew interrupted the music. "We won't be using that as an opening!"
"Hey!" Filli-Second shouted. "You got a problem with the song, bub?"
"The song is nice and all," the Under King said, "But there's a fair number of times you hear that tune before you want something else."
"That's ridiculous." Mistress Marevelous exclaimed.
"Actually, they may have a point." the Blue Comet said. "Don't get me wrong, I like the song, but I was hoping we'd at least get a different music tone."
"Pretty boy is right." the Under King said. "Listen...

"I hate to break it to you
But that song has run its course
This earworm's getting old
And it's sounding a bit hoarse
The reprisals had their day
Now, it's time for something
That the readers of our stories
Could not have seen coming"

"You mean..." Hum Drum asked. "ALL RIGHT!

"It's... a... brand new story
That's going to be told"
"A brand new story" Zapp sang,
"And it's gonna be awesome"
"It's a true story" Radiance sang,
"That keeps up the old"
"And character development" Mistress Marevelous sang,
"In which, we will blossom"
"The setting's after the Chaos Saga" the Masked Matterhorn sang,
"In a peaceful streak we're on"
"We're getting over the troubles" Saddle Rager sang,
"We went through in Tambelon"
"It's a brand new story" Filli Second sang,
"And it's gonna be glorious"
"It's a brand new story" Devastator sang,
"For us Mighty Machines"
"A brand new story" Timberwolf sang,
"We're lucky to make it to"
"Not a blue story" Masque sang,
"We're gonna keep it clean"
"And surprise characters" Rodan sang,
"We set up just for you"
"I can't believe we're doing this" Dusk sang
"But I guess the best come in threes"
"Whoever's coming up with this" Masque sang
"Is certainly the bee's knees"
"It's a brand new story" the Mighty Machines sang,
"To make us more notorious"
"I've fought sirens and centaurs" the Shadow Blot sang,
"And a giant ram of evil
Yet, I'm having trouble with a big mess
I tried to tell her how I feel
But it seems impossible
Come on now, Ricky
Don't be so picky
You have to confeeeeeeeess"

While the heroes were reveling in their peace, the villains behind bars weren't happy. Most of the villains were locked away, including the Pish-Posh Brothers, the Mane-iac, Gryphon Galore, and Starlight Glimmer, who started the next verse.

"It's a brand new story
On this side of the bars"
"A brand new story" Gryphon Galore sang,
"For each and every villain"
"We don't do stories" Pish sang,
"'Cause, apparently, we're not the stars"
"Just one big win" Posh sang,
"But no one is willin'"
"Yet no one knows of a back-up plan" the Mane-iac sang,
"That I have just recalled
Just need to break out and find the key
And with it, I'll rule them all
It's a brand new story
And this time, I will be victorious"
"So we're off to make our mark" everyone sang,
"In the literary world
Making sure that we're noticed
By every boy and girl
Up there with the four-eyed wizard
And the demigod of the sea
HERE COMES A NEW PLOTLINE
THAT WE DIDN'T THINK COULD BEEEEEEE
IT'S... A... BRAND NEW STORY
AND WE WILL SHOW EVERYONE
A BRAND NEW STORY
THAT'S GONNA FILL THE PAGE
WE'LL GIVE YOU A STORY
AND IT'S GONNA BE FUN
SOMETHING TO GO DOWN
ONTO THE NEXT AGE"
"WITH THE MAGIC" the Masked Matterhorn sang.
"AND THE TRUST" Zapp sang.
"AND THE CHARITY" Radiance sang.
"AND THE HEART" Saddle Rager sang.
"THE FUN" Filli-Second sang.
"THE TRUTH" Mistress Marevelous sang.
"THE METAL" the Shadow Blot sang.
"AND THE FOLLOWERS OF DARK" the Mane-iac sang.
"AND THE WHOLE STORY" Hum Drum sang,
"WILL HAVE THE POWER PONIES AND THE MIGHTY MACHINES FIGHTING THE SISTERHOOD OVER SOMETHING THAT SENDS THEM TO ANOTHER WORLD WHERE..."

"HEY!" Dusk interrupted. "Zip it before you spoil too much!

"IT'S A BRAND NEW STORY" everyone sang,
"BIGGER THAN YOU THINK
A BRAND NEW STORY
AND IT'S TYPED UP IN INK
A BRAND NEW STORY
SO COME FORTH AND SEE US
AND REEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAD
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH"

"Now, that was an opening." Zapp said.





The story begins dark at night. The prison courtyard was full of criminals who were breaking rocks with their pickaxes, either with their hooves or their magic. A green stallion approached Starlight Glimmer.
"Hey. I'm Gladmane. So what are you in for?"
"Trying to revolt against superheroes." Starlight answered without looking at him.
"That was you?" Gladmane asked. "Wow. Hey, listen. What would you say if I told you..."
"Let me stop you right there!" Starlight interrupted. "I'm not interested in any deal when I'm close to my parole hearing. If you want to make a deal with anyone, go bother the gryphon. She's escaped from here almost as much times as the Mane-iac."
Gladmane looked and saw Gryphon Galore shattering rocks by punching them. Nervously, he approached her and greeted himself.
"What do you want, dork?" Gryphon Galore asked.
"Hey, how would you like a way to rule Maretropolis?" Gladmane asked.
Gryphon Galore stopped breaking rocks for a second.
"If you want to team up, forget it. I've tried it twice. Pretty much, the only successful team-up I've had was with the Power Ponies when we went against Arcanus."
"Well, it's not a team-up." Gladmane said. "Listen, years ago, before I was locked up, I made a fortune off of delivering illegal arms to criminal empires. One day, I kinda forgot about a deal I made with the Pish-Posh Brothers, and they kinda got me arrested. But before I was caught, I hid away one of my most valuable assets." He then leaned in to whisper. "A bomb." That caught Gryphon Galore's attention. "A big bomb, capable of taking out Maretropolis."
"And you want me to..." Gryphon Galore asked.
"Look, here's my deal." Gladmane said. "I can't stand another day locked up. I need muscle like yours to get me out. So you get me out of prison and out of town, and I'll let you know where I hid it. You can use it to threaten to destory Maretropolis if your terms aren't met."
"I like the sound of that." Gryphon Galore said. "But here's a question: why'd you wait until now to make that deal with someone?"
"Oh..." Gladmane said suddenly growing nervous. "Well... that's because... I... didn't get a good response from... someone else I told."
Gryphon Galore didn't like the sound of that. "You told someone else?"
"Well... Months ago, I went to make the deal with someone who escaped more times than you."
"Who?" Gryphon Galore asked.
"Look, it's nothing to worry about." Gladmane tried to defend himself. "I told her about the bomb, but she didn't follow up on the deal. So today, I reminded her of it earlier and accidently gave her a hint of where it is. She didn't even give me an understandable result. I think she's lost too many marbles to understand what I said. I mean, she is pretty crazy to start with."
Gryphon Galore widened her eyes because she figured out who he was talking about. She then gave him a threatening glare. "You... told... her?"
Suddenly, a loud alarm echoed through the prison. An exhausted guard ran out and turned to all the watchmen. "The Mane-iac! She's escaped!"
The guards then guided most of the prisoners back into the prison. Only Gryphon Galore didn't move.
"That psychopath can't get anywhere near that weapon!" she growled. She then got pocked by a guard behind her.
"Come on, missy. Let's go!"
Gryphon Galore looked around and saw she was alone with the guard. She then gasped.
"The Mane-iac! She's behind you!"
"Where?" the guard asked turning around. That gave Gryphon Galore the opportunity to shove him aside and grab his keys. She then unlocked the locks binding her wings. When the guard got up, he saw Gryphon Galore spreading her wings and flapping them leading her over the prison wall.
"Oh, I'm so fired." the guard said.
When she flew far enough, Gryphon stopped and just outside of the city of Maretropolis.
"Glad to be out of there. But I've got to find that long-haired freak and stop her from doing something stupid. But how am I going to stop her if I can't even..."
She stopped when she heard a metal shifting. In the middle of the lonely street, a sewer hatch opened up and the Mane-iac slipped out with her green tendrils on her head. She chuckled maniacally before slipping away, but Gryphon Galore knew what to do.
"Find her. So, if she leads me to the bomb, I get to pound her and make the city worship me at the same time. And this time, nothing will stop me."





The next morning, the First National Bank of Maretropolis had its front doors blown off in a fiery blast. Three teenage dragons charged out with sacks full of gold bricks.
"You were right, Garble." one dragon told their leader. "These pony banks have great gold."
"What'd I tell ya?" Garble asked. "Dragon instincts."
"Well, something we have in common." A little voice cried out. The dragons looked and saw a purple baby dragon in a colorful costume standing tall in the street. "Now, here's a little warning since we're all dragons here: drop the gold and fly away with your own hoard or you'll be put in our prison's new dragon reform program."
The teenage dragons laughed loudly at the little dragon still looking confident.
"Hear that, boys?" Garble asked. "What makes you think you can beat us all on your own, little pipsqueak?"
"Now, who said anything about me?" Hum Drum asked.
Suddenly, a pink flash zipped through and smacked the dragons to the ground. When they came two, a group of five ponies stood beside Hum Drum.
"Ponies?" Garble asked.
"Not just any ponies," Zapp said, "The Power Ponies!"
"All right." Mistress Marevelous said. "Let's power pony up!"
The Power Ponies went and struck the teenage dragons with their powers. Mistress Marevelous used her rope to toss the dragons toward Radiance, who constructed a racquetball racket. She wacked them toward Zapp, who struck a lightning bolt at them. When they hit the ground, Hum Drum changed his skin to diamond and used his tail as a jackhammer on Garble's head. When he had enough, Garble grabbed onto Hum Drum's waist and held him up.
"Don't you dare." Garble said. "Now, you're going to let us fly out of here with our new treasures or..." He noticed the Power Ponies were smiling, and they were looking behind the dragons. "What are you looking at?"
Garble and the dragons looked behind them and saw the shy, frightened pegasus suddenly change form. She was now half as big as a full-grown dragon with a monstrous growl. The sight of her turned the dragons' scales pale as flour. After Garble dropped Hum Drum, he turned back to the Power Ponies.
"I'd like to go to jail now, please."
Radiance constructed a large birdcage that the dragons willingly entered. Saddle Rager changed back into her normal size and giggled.
"Excuse me."
"Is it just me," Zapp said, "Or has the criminals been easier to beat the past six months?"
"Well, I wouldn't be surprised." Mistress Marevelous said. "After overcoming magic-stealing centaurs, human anarchists, and even a ram-like demon that wanted to destroy all friendship, common crooks like these varmints don't seem like much."
"Oh, man!" The Power Ponies turned to the sound of the voice and six mechanical werewolves jumped from the top of a building and landed in front of them. The ponies were thrilled to see their fellow hero team, the Mighty Machines.
"We missed a fight." Dusk complained. "I knew we shouldn't have taken the scenic route."
"Says you." Masque said. "I thought it was pretty."
"Mighty Machines!" Zapp greeted. "How are things going?"
"What are you all even doing here?" Radiance asked. "I thought you set up a base in Canterlot."
"Well, it's about the Masked Matterhorn." the Shadow Blot said. "Do any of you know where she is?"
"She left a week ago saying there's something she needs to work on." Zapp said. "Why?"
"Your leader made herself at home in Canterlot." Devastator said. "She started binge-reading in the royal library. She even built a little nest of books."
"It was funny at first," Terry said, "But then she barely left. She'd fly out for some fast food, then she'd zip back in."
"Why didn't you just ask her what she's up to?" Hum Drum asked.
"We tried." Rodan said. "We asked her, but she didn't answer. She seemed to caught up in her work to know we were even there, and it's worrying us."
"That's why we're here." the Shadow Blot said. "You girls know her better than us. We're hoping you can get something out of her better than we can."
"If it's for our friend, of course, we'll do whatever we can." Zapp said.
"Hang on!" Filli-Second said. "I need to go grab a lunch." She disappeared for a few seconds before returning with a lunchbox. "Okay, I'm back. Let's go."
"You go on ahead, darlings." Radiance said. "I just need to deliver these naughty dragons to prison.
"I should probably go with ya, Radiance." Mistress Marevelous said. "If these dragons get any ideas about escaping, you might need a little extra muscle."
"Oh, thank you, Marevelous." Radiance said.
"Uh, how exactly are we supposed to get to Canterlot on our own?" Zapp asked. "I mean, I can get there no problem, but I can't wait up for everyone."
"Don't worry." the Shadow Blot laughed. He pulled out a little vehicle clicker and pushed a button. Suddenly, the clouds above them started to split apart revealing a large, mechanical jet. The bottom hatch opened up as it hovered right above the ponies and the wirewolves.
"And ponies say I'm a show-off." Zapp mumbled to herself.
> Dreams of Reformation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And over here, the guards have a mess hall that, in my humble opinion, could use a bit sprucing up for the comfort of the prisoners."
"Radiance, we can't have the prisoners feeling comfortable." Mistress Marevelous said. "We're trying to punish them, not make them feel like it didn't matter if they got caught."
The two heroes carried the dragons toward the guards, who caught them when Radiance broke apart her construct.
"Don't worry about a thing, ma'm." one of the guards said. "These creatures won't escape under our watch. We've been upping our security since last night."
"Why?" Radiance asked. "What happened?"
"You didn't hear?" the guard asked. "Last night, the Mane-iac and Gryphon Galore escaped."
"Again?" Mistress Marevelous asked. "Those varmints escape more than a caged mouse covered in butter."
"Well, nothing to worry about." Radiance said. "As soon as they strike again, we'll be ready for them."
"Hey!"
The two heroes followed the voice to Gladmane, who looked frightened.
"Who, us?" Radiance asked.
"Yeah!" Gladmane said. "I know where they're going, and you need to stop them pronto or we're all going to be ash!"
Radiance and Marevelous looked at each other confusingly. They turned back to Gladmane.
"Could you repeat that last part, please?" Radiance asked.





The Mane-iac stealthily snuck down the warehouse docks and found herself in front of a storage space labeled 7.
"'Above the fishes and behind a lucky number' he said." she chuckled. "Sometimes, I'm surprised how easy it is. I didn't even need to think."
"Well, that seems to be your go-to method."
The Mane-iac knew the voice well, so when she turned to Gryphon Galore, she gave her a casual smile.
"If it isn't my favorite cross-species bully. What brings you out of prison, Gilda?"
"Same as you, crazy." Gryphon Galore replied. "And don't call me that. Only my friends call me Gilda."
"Sounds like no one calls you Gilda." the Mane-iac said. "Oh, come on. Why do you always got to be a party-pooper?"
"Don't play dumb." Gryphon Galore said. "You've done enough of that when you tricked Gladmane into revealing to you where he hid that bomb. And knowing you, you'll blow up the town without making a threat."
"What's the point of a bomb if I can't detonate it?" the Mane-iac said.
"I want to live, you lunatic!" Gryphon Galore said. "But since we're already here, I suppose this can be the Sisterhood of Evil's last act. So, and it pains me in my mouth to say it, let's work together on this."
"What if I refuse?"
"Let me put it to you this way." Gryphon Galore held up her fist and allowed it to glow. "We can either team up one last time and use the bomb as a threat together, or I can pound you to the ground and use the bomb as a threat by myself!"
The Mane-iac chuckled quietly. "I see your point. All right, but you're taking all the fun out of it."
Gryphon Galore approached the storage door and punched right through it. She pried it apart revealing a large dust cover taking up half of the room. The Mane-iac removed it and revealed a large, metal sphere with a number screen on the front. At the sight of it, the Mane-iac whistled one note.
"Now, that's a great, big bubble."
"All that's left is to find out where to place it." Gryphon Galore said. "We need somewhere discrete and hidden."
"Ooh, I know!" the Mane-iac said. "I know just the place!"





The Star-Swirl the Bearded wing's doors were kept shut. When the Ponies and the Machines arrived, the princesses and Blue Comet were standing outside waiting for them.
"Thank goodness you're here." Princess Luna said. "I've never seen your friend like this."
"Me either," Blue Comet said, "And she's my wife."
"What's she been doing in there?" Zapp asked.
"I'm afraid I don't know." Princess Celestia said. "I've asked her about it through the door, and she just responded with 'I'm helping the world'. Those were her exact words."
"Okay, that's weird." the Shadow Blot said. Suddenly, he felt a nudge in his back. He looked behind him and saw Masque gesturing him toward Celestia. "What?"
"Just tell her how you feel." Masque whispered. "Remember what you've been through to see her again."
"Joe, this is neither the time nor the place to confess anything." the Shadow Blot whispered.
"What are you talking about?" Celestia asked spooking the pack leader.
"We were... just thinking if it's a good idea to force our way in."
"Nice save." Dusk whispered.
"Actually, there might be another way." Princess Luna said. "One of my guards told me that there's a window on the top floor with a busted lock, but I didn't think much of it. It could give us a more subtle entrance."
"Yes!" Filli-Second exclaimed. "Broken lock powers... activate!" She then ran up the wall quickly toward the window.
"Or, at lease, subtle as we can with her around." Princess Luna continued.





The Masked Matterhorn scribbled on a blank piece of paper next to an open book she was looking at. When she was done, she breathed in and out.
"All right." she said. "I think I'm done. Although, I'm not sure how it'll work."
"How what'll work?"
The British stallion voice spooked Twilight until she saw who was behind her.
"The Doctor?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "What are you doing here? You're usually don't appear unless there's something big going on."
"Well, as a living personification of the forces of time whose job it is that the timestream stays on track, I happen to have not too much time on my hands... or in your case, hooves. So, what might you be working on?"
"Actually, since you're here, I might need your help." The Masked Matterhorn held up the page she was just writing. "Take a look at this spell I've been working on and tell me what you think."
The Doctor looked at the paper and what written on it word for word. He rubbed his chin and stared. "Hmm. Interesting."
"So what?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "You look at all points in time. I know it's a little spoiler-y, but will the spell work or is there something I missed."
"Actually, Matterhorn, I can't give you an answer."
"What?" the alicorn was confused. "Why not?"
The Doctor didn't respond. "Twilight Sparkle, the truth is, I came here to warn you. Be careful what you do, for you are entering waters even I haven't charted."
"Your highness," a new voice called out. The Masked Matterhorn looked at the orange unicorn in the blue coat and glasses. "Who are you talking to?"
"What do you mean?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "This is..." But when she turned back, the Doctor wasn't there anymore. All that's left is a blank pace where he stood. Normally, it would freak out any pony, but for the Masked Matterhorn, she just sighed. "I wish he wouldn't do that."
"Twilight!" the voices of several girls shouted.
The Masked Matterhorn saw her friends at the other end of the hallway who walked up and hugged her.
"Oh, hey, everyone." the Masked Matterhorn said. Suddenly, Zapp hit her over the head. "OW! What was that for?"
"For making us worry." Zapp said. "You said you were out on a business trip, but all you've been doing is sit in this library all week. I know you're an egghead, but this is a new low for you."
"I'm sorry." the Masked Matterhorn said. "I know I should have said something, but I didn't have much time."
"Time for what?" Blue Comet asked.
"For this." the Masked Matterhorn said holding up the piece of paper. She was allowing everyone to see it.
"What's that?" Devastator asked.
"Ooh, I know!" Filli-Second shouted. "It's a piece of paper! I win!"
"Hold on." Princess Celestia said. "Is this some kind of... reforming spell?"
"Right." the Masked Matterhorn said. "I know Star-Swirl the Bearded had some notes on reforming enchantments, even though none of them worked the way he wanted. Luckily, Sunburst, he's the librarian here, he knew where the spells I needed would be. I think I may have created a completely working reforming spell out of what worked in Star-Swirl's spells."
"And here, I thought you were doing something crazy." Hum Drum said sarcastically.
"Now, hold on, kid." the Shadow Blot said. "What's all this about? Where did you even get the idea?"
"Actually, this all came to me in a dream." the Masked Matterhorn said. "You see, last week, I had a nightmare. I saw an entirely destroyed city with ponies suffering. I then saw a bomb, big enough to take out Maretropolis. I was frightened until I saw a light singing above me. It looked like a black spot until it changes to light. I then heard a voice telling me to get to work immediately. When I woke up, I instantly knew what I had to do. That's why I had to leave early without telling you."
"Luna?" Princess Celestia asked.
"I did sense a drastic change to the dreamscape some time ago," Princess Luna said, "But it was so strange, I couldn't isolate where the dream came from. If something did change the Matterhorn's dreams into some sort of vision, it's out of my knowledge."
"Twilight, why would you want to try this?" Saddle Rager asked. "This seems like a bit much."
"Sorry, everyone." the Masked Matterhorn said. "But this might be our last chance to ending all crime. My uncle, Darkmatter, grew evil out of jealousy for my dad. The Siren Sisters became evil out of anger for what happened to their pony bodies. The Red Eye felt betrayed. Don't you think things could've been a lot better if any of that was different?"
"You mean Tambelon?" the Shadow Blot asked. "That stuff was supposed to happen, remember? All that was supposed to keep Grogar in the time loop."
"I know, but ponies and others still suffered because of it."
"What happened to Anar D was not your fault." Rodan said. "He exposed himself and the Red Eye to the Harmony Gems to stop him. That was his choice."
"Twilight, we all miss him." Princess Celestia said.
"Speak for yourself!" Timberwolf said. "The first day I met him, he left me beheaded for days."
"Granted, Anar D had his ups and downs," Princess Luna said, "But he still had an impact on all our lives. We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him."
"Honey, maybe we just need a change of scenery." Blue Comet said. "Maybe we should take a vacation or something."
The Masked Matterhorn only responded with a song.

"Hey, I'll get to that vacation
But first, I got something to do
I'm about to finish this spell
It's just about to pull through
The evil forces have done too much
To us and to our friends
But just wait until they get a full blast
All of our worries will end
Soon, evil will be gone
Evil will be gone
Criminals may think they're doing fine
But not for long
It's a superhero's duty
To right any wrong
So watch and behold my latest trick
Evil will be gone
You know how the old saying goes
"Nice guys always finish last"
But I'm here to prove that theory wrong
With this spell I'm about to cast
So we don't have to worry anymore
We'll do what he couldn't before
Make Equestria a peaceful place
LOOKS LIKE GOOD'S ABOUT TO WIN THE RACE
And evil will be gone
Evil will be gone
After many years, justice will have won
And evil will be gone
It's a superhero's duty
To right any wrong
NEW LEAVES WILL TURN OVER AND HEARTS WILL CHANGE
AND EVIL WILL BE GONE
EVIL WILL BE GONE
EVIL WIIIIIIIIIIL BEEEEEEEEE...
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE"

"I can tell your heart is in the right place, Twilight," Princess Celestia said, "So if you think this will work, then I won't raise a hoof against you."
"Thank you." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Now, I just need a villain to test this on. But it can't just be anyone. It has to be someone who has such a little grasp on reality, that if the spell does damage the brain, they wouldn't notice."
Suddenly, a handheld radio buzzed out from Zapp's waist. When it died down, Mistress Marevelous' voice called out from it.
"Hey, y'all, we need you back in Maretropolis pronto!"
"Marevelous, what's the matter?" the Masked Matterhorn replied into the radio. "Is something wrong?"
"Good to hear from you again, sugarcube, but we've got big trouble here!"
"It's the Mane-iac and Gryphon Galore!" Radiance's voice called out. "They got a bomb and they're going to blow up Maretropolis!"
Everyone looked at each other in shock. They couldn't believe what they had heard.
"Yeah, one of those days." Masque said. "Am I right?"
"Hey, Matterhorn," Dusk said nervously, "If you're still looking for a villain to test your spell on, I think I got just the psycho."
> Countdown to Peril
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The citizens of Maretropolis were enjoying their day. The sun was shining. The ponies were nice. It was like there wasn't any trouble in the world.
But that all changed when every television set turned on and started showing a frightening face. Gryphon Galore's confident grin took up most of the screen.
"Hey, pony dweebs!" she proclaimed. "We interrupt your regularly scheduled day to bring you this important announcement. We have a..." She stopped herself to shout angrily away from the camera. "Mane-iac! I told you, no activating it!"
"Oh, come on!" the Mane-iac whined off-screen.
Gryphon Galore sighed and looked back at the camera. She lost all enthusiasm and continued her announcement without any emotion. "We have a bomb." She then turned the camera to the large, mechanical device that the Mane-iac looked eager to get near. All the ponies that saw it were shocked and scared
"Can't I just touch it?" the Mane-iac asked.
"No!" Gryphon Galore shouted. "Keep your hooves, hair, or anything attacked to you away from the bomb!" She then turned her attention back to the camera. "Listen up, everyone! The Sisterhood of Evil has three demands! #1: we are to be given free access to all city banks. #2: the city must declare us its rulers. And #3: no heroes are allowed to set hoof in this city. No royal guards or princesses as well."
"Hey, that was four demands!" the Mane-iac exclaimed.
"The last one is a two-part." Gryphon Galore explained with cringing teeth. "Look, you losers, if you don't want all of Maretropolis to be a giant crater, all our terms must be met! You have 24 hours, or until the Mane-iac decides to detonate it early and I can't stop her. Whichever comes first." And with that, the feed ended leaving the citizens of Maretropolis in worry and fear.





Meanwhile, Gryphon Galore threw the camera to a nearby corner and turned to her partner.
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Gryphon Galore asked.
"I am what I am." the Mane-iac replied.
"Which is a crazy mare." Gryphon added.
Suddenly, they heard gears squeaking. Gryphon Galore flew behind the bomb suddenly and saw the Masked Matterhorn's husband trying to remove the back panel of the bomb. When Blue Comet saw the villain, he jolted back, but he landed straight into the Mane-iac's tendrils.
"Well, well, well." the Mane-iac said. "If it isn't the Masked Matterhorn's hubby. You may be cute, but you're utterly useless when it comes to villains like us."
"Hey!" a voice cried out that they didn't think would come from somewhere else. They saw Blue Comet looking down on them from the catwalk above. "Who's useless?"
"What the..." the Mane-iac asked before turning back to the masked Pegasus in her mane. "When who's..."
Suddenly, the Pegasus flashed a green light and emerged as Joe, the Mighty Machine wirewolf also known as Masque. The sight of him shocked the Mane-iac to accidently drop him. He hit the ground and feigned an upset look.
"It's because I'm metal, isn't it?!" he shouted.
Suddenly, the windows burst as the Power Ponies and the Mighty Machines broke through and landed before the Sisterhood.
"Nice entrance." the Mane-iac said. "Either you never heard of a door, or you just like picking glass out of your gears and outfits."
"How did you dweebs know we'd be here?" Gryphon Galore asked.
"Must have been our sense of smell." Zapp insulted.
"Ooh, burn!" Masque said joining the other heroes along with Blue Comet.
"Actually, it's repetitive." the Masked Matterhorn explained. "This is Starlight Glimmer's abandoned shampoo factory where the Mane-iac was created. She always comes here whenever she's committing a crime."
"What?" Gryphon Galore asked. She turned her angry face to her partner. "Your first choice to hide this bomb is the first place they'd look?!"
"Well, I use this place often enough." the Mane-iac said. "I thought they'd decide to break my streak."
All that did was irritate Gryphon Galore even more. "This is why I hated the Sisterhood of Evil! Don't you know that repeating things for a different result is the exact definition of insanity?!"
"You two, listen up!" the Masked Matterhorn called out getting the villains' attentions. "I am giving you one chance. Your old partner, the Sinister Sorceress, left the life of crime, and now, I am giving you that option. If the two of you use your gifts for good instead of evil, you could be given bigger rewards."
"Yeah, right!" Gryphon Galore mocked. "Nothing's bigger than ruling an entire city... except maybe ruling all of Equestria, but I'm taking things one city at a time!"
"And I can't quit now." the Mane-iac said. "I've just refreshed my evil business cards."
"Forget it, MM." Mistress Marevelous said. "The only thing these varmints can understand is their own evil."
"It won't be like that for long." the Masked Matterhorn whispered to them pulling out her spell paper. "Just keep them distracted long enough for me to cast my reformation spell on the Mane-iac."
"Your what?" Radiance asked.
"Don't ask." Hum Drum said.
"Just keep them busy." the Masked Matterhorn said.
"That's our jam!" Masque shouted. "Set me up, Dev!"
"Okay." Devastator replied.
"Set you up with what?" Timberwolf asked. Suddenly, Devastator grabbed ahold of Timberwolf's head and removed it from his neck. "WHAT THE HECK?! DON'T YOU DARE!"
It was too late. Devastator had already thrown his head up into the air. Masque jumped up and shot the head toward the Sisterhood like a volleyball. Deciding to cooperate, Timberwolf thrusted his head forward to headbutt Gryphon Galore. She staggered back after taking that unseen hit and bumped the Mane-iac off of the bomb. While the Mane-iac used her mane to soften the fall, Timberwolf's head was caught by Devastator.
"I can't believe you used my head as a volleyball!" Timberwolf complained.
"Ah, quit complaining." Devastator said. "We hit the bad guy, didn't we?"
"You're lucky I learned to use my body even when it's separated from my head." Timberwolf said. He looked at his body giving Masque some hard, nonverbal gestures.
"Just fight, everyone." the Shadow Blot said.
Gryphon Galore and the Mane-iac got back up and charged toward the ponies and the wirewolves. The heroes dodged and countered any mane tendrils or gryphon strikes the villains threw at them. The Mane-iac managed to grab ahold of Timberwolf's wrist and squeezed tight enough for his hand to pop off and landed in Blue Comet's hooves. He was not happy about that. Meanwhile, the Masked Matterhorn flew to a safe distance reading over the sheet of paper she held. She then closed her eyes and concentrated. Her horn began to glow a white light that she pointed to the villains.
Meanwhile, Gryphon Galore noticed something. She forced the Mane-iac to hold her position and confront the heroes that were surrounding them in front of the bomb.
"Hang on!" Gryphon Galore shouted. "What's going on? You dweebs aren't putting up more of a fight like usual."
"What do you mean?" Rodan asked nervously. "We've been giving it our all."
"No, we haven't silly." Filli-Second said innocently. "We were just buying time so that the Masked Matterhorn can hit them with her reformation spell."
"FILLI!" everyone shouted.
"Reformation spell?" the Mane-iac repeated. The Sisterhood looked at the far side of the factory and caught sight of the Masked Matterhorn brightening her horn. Suddenly, a white beam of light escaped the glowing horn and right toward the villains.
"GET DOWN!" Gryphon Galore shouted.
The two criminals ducked out of the way of the beam, which instead hit the bomb behind them. Suddenly, the lights began to brighten up while it sparkled white electricity out. Everyone gazed at the bomb beginning to act up.
"Uh, what the jumping june-bugs is happening?" Mistress Marevelous asked.
"I don't know." Gryphon Galore replied. "I didn't build this."
"Whatever's happening... RUUUUUUUUN!" Radiance shouted.
As soon as she screamed, white lightning began to shoot out of the bomb. Everyone scattered around the room while Hum Drum approached the Masked Matterhorn, who watched in shock and horror.
"I... I don't understand." she breathed heavily. "This wasn't supposed to happen."
"Twilight, we can think about this later!" Hum Drum panicked. "Right now, we need to..." He was interrupted by a blast of white lightning that struck him. Suddenly, his entire body vanished into thin air startling the Masked Matterhorn.
"SPIKE!" she screamed. She looked and seeing her friends vanishing below her. "RARITY! APPLEJACK! RAINBOW DASH! PINKIE PIE! FLUTTERSHY! RICKY! MARTY! JOE! TERRY! AARON! DEVASTATOR!" Even the villains disappeared when the white lightning hit them. The Matterhorn then knew what was going to happen. She looked at the bomb and saw the lightning heading towards her. "Me." As soon as the lightning struck, only Blue Comet was left there.
Blue Comet hid himself behind a crate and stuck tight. In a minute, the lightning stopped striking. He peeked his head out and saw the bomb completely shut down. No light was coming off of it. He slowly walked out and breathed heavily.
"Well, that was a close one." he said. "Is everyone all right?!" All he got was silence. He looked around and didn't see anyone. "Guys? Anyone here? Machines? Ponies? Matterhorn? ...Twilight?" When no sound was heard, he gasped and began to worry. "Oh, no. It... It can't be. They can't be..." His eyes began to fill with water when he heard gears shifting. He wiped his tears away and followed the sound to his hoof. The mechanical wolf paw he held on was moving its fingers slowly up and down.
"Timberwolf's paw!" Blue Comet gasped. "It's moving? Does that mean... they're alive? But... where are they?"
> Dark New World
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A splitting headache was found when the Masked Matterhorn woke up. When the aneurism was lost, the alicorn had finally a good view at the environment around her. The ground was rocky and lifeless, the sky was completely filled with black clouds with no sun or moon light, and the city in the horizon looked dark. In the middle of the city, there was a large tower erected towards the sky, and every few moments, a black-and-purple ball of light shot out and flew above the clouds.
"What is this place?" she asked thinking she was alone. She wasn't.
Around her, she found the Power Ponies and the Mighty Machines groaning and getting up the same way she did a minute earlier.
"Guys!" she called out. "You're alive!"
"Yeah, and confused too." Zapp said observing the area. "Where are we?"
"I don't know." the Masked Matterhorn said.
"I'm not sure how," Masque said, "But wherever this is, it reminds me of the Neatherealm."
"No kidding!" Timberwolf shouted. "And that's not even the worst part! Look!" He held up his arm, but there was one part missing. "My hand's gone!"
"That's not the hot issue right now." the Shadow Blot said.
"Speak for yourself!" Timberwolf returned.
"Ricky's right." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Listen up. Whatever that bomb it, it didn't destroy us. I don't know how it actually happened, but we won't have any answers just standing around here. The only place we can go is that city over there."
"You mean the scary one?" Saddle Rager asked. "I don't know. It looks kinda... scary."
"Don't worry, Fluttershy." Devastator said. "We can't possibly go at it alone."
"Right." the Masked Matterhorn said. "We go in teams of two; one pony and one wirewolf."
"What about me?" Hum Drum asked.
"Hum Drum, you, me, and Shadow Blot are in one team. The other teams are Zapp and Timberwolf, Saddle Rager and Devastator, Filli-Second and Masque, Radiance and Dusk, and Marevelous and Rodan. Everyone okay with that?"
"Uh, huh." Dusk said.
"You betcha." Mistress Marevelous replied.
"Thank you." Devastator said.
"Whatever keeps me from blowing up again." Timberwolf answered. Everyone else agreed.
"Good." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Once we get to the city, scatter. If anyone needs help, find a way to signal us."
"Right!" everyone agreed at once.
And with that, they started making their way to the city. Once they were gone, two more figures stood straight up.
"What was that?" Gryphon Galore asked.
"My life just flashed before my eyes." the Mane-iac stated. "I really should have asked out that guy I liked in high school."
"Can it, hairy!" Gryphon Galore commanded. "We need to know where we are."
"Well, maybe those guys know." the Mane-iac said pointing at a group of strangers behind them.
"What?" Gryphon Galore asked looking at who her partner was pointing at. She squinted at them. "Hang on. Isn't that..."





Traveling throughout the city, the Masked Matterhorn, Hum Drum, and the Shadow Blot carefully walked down the streets of the scary city observing the surroundings. There was garbage, broken buildings, and silence throughout the road. The sight of it gave the baby dragon a sinking feeling.
"Doesn't this place seem familiar?"
"What do you mean?" the Shadow Blot asked.
"I don't know." Hum Drum said touching his chin. "I... I think I know this place. It's on the tip of my tongue."
"Hum Drum's right." the Masked Matterhorn agreed. "I feel like I've been here before, but at the same time, I haven't."
Suddenly, a loud, fake bird noise echoed through the town startling the heroes.
"That sounds like Filli-Second!" Matterhorn said in worry. "Let's go!"
They ran throughout the street until they caught up with all their friends. They met up with Masque and Filli-Second, only to be confused when they found the latter rolling on the floor laughing out loud.
"What?" Radiance asked. "What's the emergency?"
"Sorry, guys!" Filli-Second laughed. "Masque just came up with the best joke ever! You just had to hear it!"
"That's your emergency?!" Mistress Marevelous shouted.
"Yeah!" Rodan shouted. "We were worried something bad happened!"
"Come on, guys!" Masque said. "I know this is a bad time, but this is a really great joke! You just have to hear it!"
Everyone either sighed or groaned. "All right." the Shadow Blot said. "Let us hear it. What is it?"
"Well..." Masque prepared. "Why did the chicken cross the road?"
"To get to the other side?" Dusk guessed. "We've all heard this joke before!"
"Nope." Masque said. "It's to..."
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning shot in between them and interrupted the joke. They looked up and saw a trio pf armored pegusi soaring above them. In their hooves, they carried storm clouds. They punched the cloud and more lightning bolts shot out and almost hit them.
"Who are these guys?!" Timberwolf asked loudly.
"I don't know!" Rodan shouted. He pulled out his claw and shot a fireball towards them. They dodged.
"Stop!" the Masked Matterhorn shouted. "We don't know who they are!"
"Well, we know what they're doing!" Dusk said. "If we don't do something about them, they'll vaporize us for real!"
"GET DOWN!" an unknown voice cried out. Suddenly, a green Pegasus with a dark-green gem Cutie Mark flew down and landed in front of the heroes. "TAKE COVER!" she shouted. Suddenly, she dropped a ball to the ground that exploded with blinding smoke. The Once it cleared, the pegusi lost sight of their targets.
"Call General Boom and tell her we lost some invaders." one Pegasus said as they flew off.
In the building beside where the smoke bomb went off, the unknown Pegasus peeked out and saw them leave. She then turned her head back to the heroes.
"You were lucky I came along. Otherwise, the Terrorbolts wouldn't have shown you any mercy. And if they brought you to their general... Well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty."
"Hold on." the Masked Matterhorn interrupted. "We have some questions for you, Ms..."
"Oh, right." the Pegasus said. "My name's Bell Weather. I'm a scout for the resistance."
"Resistance?" Dusk asked. "Resistance against what?"
"Seriously?" Bell Weather asked. "Where have you been?"
"Look, Ms. Weather," the Shadow Blot said, "All we know is that one minute, we're fighting our enemies in Maretropolis, and the minute after that, we find ourselves in some messy, run-down, frightening city where the first ponies we meet tried to shoot at us."
"What?" Bell Weather asked. "You... really don't know where you are?"
"Of course not." Mistress Marevelous said. "Where are we?"
"This messy, run-down, frightening city you're talking about," Bell Weather said gesturing to the outside, "...This is Maretropolis."
"WHAT?!" everyone cried out in shock.
"That doesn't make any sense!" Zapp exclaimed.
"I don't believe it!" Rodan gasped.
"Believe it or not, this place is Maretropolis." Bell Weather repeated. "It's been like this for three years. You see, we were just enjoying our every day lives, but suddenly, the skies began to darken. There was no trace of sunlight or moonlight. And out of nowhere, a group of supervillains called the Peril Ponies rose up and declared their rule. Their leader, the Negahorn, said that the dark skies was a sign of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna not having any more right to Equestria. Ever since, they've been ruling our homes with iron hooves."
"What about the other heroes?" Devastator asked. "Couldn't they do something?"
"They all tried." Bell Weather said. "But none of them were ever seen again. In the end, some of us managed to create a resistance force to stand up against them, but we only have a handful of super-beings. We don't know how much longer we can endure their rule."
"Well, that's just perfect." Timberwolf said sarcastically. "We get sent to a place that's somehow Maretropolis only to find out that the world's been conquered by a supervillain. I lost one hand, there's no princess, and there are barely any heroes left."
"How is this Maretropolis?" Hum Drum asked. "It didn't look like this two hours ago. Did we time-travel to the future or something?"
"I don't think so." the Masked Matterhorn said. "We've time-traveled before, and whatever happened with the bomb, it didn't feel anything like that. Something else is going on."
"Well, whatever it is, it isn't worth staying put." Bell Weather said. "I gotta bring you to home base."
"Ooh, baseball!" Filli-Second shouted.
"No, Filli." the Shadow Blot said. "She means she's taking us to meet the resistance."
"And no!" Zapp said.
"What?" Bell Weather asked.
"You heard me." Zapp answered. "We can't just run away when's there's a supervillain to beat!"
"I agree with Zapp." Radiance said. "We can't just abandon Maretropolis if it's in trouble."
"You can't fight the forces over at Peril Spire." Bell Weather said. "You try to stand up to the Negahorn and you'll regret it. We need to fall back and try to think of a way to defeat them."
"Sorry, Freedom Cry, but we have to try." the Masked Matterhorn said. "If you're going to return to your resistance, the least you can do is send some reinforcements if these Peril Ponies are as dangerous as you say."
"But..." Bell Weather said.
"Peril Spire, huh?" Mistress Marevelous said. "I bet my bits on that big tower in the middle of town.'
"So we're off." the Masked Matterhorn called out.
"See ya in the funny papers, FC!" Masque cried out as he ran out with the others.
Bell Weather was left sighing on her own. "They're gonna get eaten alive."





The black-armored pegasi stood outside of a door bickering with each other.
"Who's gonna tell the Peril Ponies the bad news?" one asked.
"Don't look at me." another replied. "I'm not getting punished. You tell them."
"Me?" the first one asked. "I told them last time, and you'd only want to do that once." He then turned to the other one. "Looks like it's your time.'
Without any other argument, the two pegusi pushed the last one through the door. When he got back up, he was petrified in fear at the sight of the six thrones filled with the villains that rule Equestria. The middle one had a black-armored alicorn with red lines across and a white faceplate. He jumped down from his throne and approached the guard.
"Only one guard delivering news?" he said in a sinister, masked voice. "That never means good news." He held up a yellow apple and made it glow. Suddenly, the other guards were thrown through the door and before the Negahorn by a yellow glow. They got back up and pointed to the first guy.
"He has something to tell you, Negahorn!" they said simultaneously.
"Well, I'm waiting." the Negahorn said.
"You see..." the lone guard said nervously. "Well... On patrol, we found some trouble-makers outside during curfew. There were ponies and wirewolves. But some scout from the resistance rescued them before we could apprehend them."
"Wirewolves?" the Negahorn asked looking at her yellow apple. "I swear, if Alfreda's involved again, I'm gonna..."
Suddenly, an image appeared on the apple's surface. The Negahorn looked closely and widened his eyes at the sight of the Power Ponies and the Mighty Machines making their way to their headquarters. Underneath the mask, the Negahorn wore an insidious grin. He then turned to the other ponies on the throne.
"Well, this is interesting." the Negahorn laughed. "Boom, Ms. Fortune, Glamour, Wrath, Vile-osity, let's roll up the red carpet and 'welcome' the Power Ponies!"





"You know," Devastator said observing the incredibly tall tower, "I knew this place would be big, but up close, this seems like a little much."
Mistress Marevelous looked on top of the tower and saw the ball of light blasting into the clouds. "Um... what is that?" she asked pointing at it.
"I don't know," the Masked Matterhorn said, "But I bet it'll stop when we defeat the Peril Ponies. Here's the plan. First, Masque will change into one of those pegusi that attacked us and sneak into the tower."
"Um, Twilight..." Saddle Rager whispered.
"Hold on, Saddle." the Masked Matterhorn returned. "Now, once you're in, Masque, you need to get to the engineer's office. They usually have a map of the place and it's structure in case of a malfunction."
"Guys..." Saddle Rager whispered.
"Wait a second." Matterhorn repeated. "When you got it, come back out with it so we can know exactly where to find this Negahorn. Now, Saddle Rager, what do you have to say?"
"Uh, Twilight!" Saddle Rager replied. "I think I know where we can find the Negahorn."
"Really?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "Where?"
"Behind you."
The others looked behind the Masked Matterhorn and jumped back when they saw the armored alicorn flapping his wings up and lowering himself before them.
"An alicorn?!" Timberwolf asked furiously. "Nobody told me we'd have to fight an alicorn!"
"Are you the Negahorn?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"Yes. And you must be the Masked Matterhorn, also known as Princess Twilight Sparkle. How nice to finally see another world's version of Twilight Sparkle."
"Another world?" the Shadow Blot asked. "Wait! We're in another universe?! You gotta be kidding me!"
"Sure would explain a whole lot." Dusk said.
"How do you know about the other worlds?" Zapp asked.
"Believe it or not, you're not the first world travelers I've had to deal with." the Negahorn replied.
"And what do you mean, another Twilight?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "Have you met my counterpart here?"
"Not exactly." the Negahorn replied. "Here's how things work. Before, there used to be good and evil clashing for control. Every time we battled, good would prevail in the end, but evil never gives up. A long time ago, I learned of a way to break the never-ending cycle: we take control of evil and rule it, as wel as the world. And who better to rule..." Suddenly, the Negahorn's faceplate slid up revealing the Negahorn's face to the others. "...Than an actual princess!"
Everyone was surprised and shocked at the sight of the Negahorn's face. "He" was actually a she! The Negahorn's purple face matched her purple eyes. The Negahorn was Twilight Sparkle, and while the other heroes stood still in shock, the Masked Matterhorn was frightened with awe trying to deny what she was seeing.
"No. It... It can't be!"
"It can, and it is, Twilight." the evil Twilight replied. She took a step closer to her counterpart, but the Masked Matterhorn tried to step back away from hers. "But don't worry. I'm not alone! NOW!"
Suddenly, Zapp got tackled. When she escaped the grab she saw her assailant, who looked exactly like her, but with a more sinister costume.
"Whoa, what?!" Zapp gasped. "There's another Zapp."
"Nope!" the evil Rainbow Dash replied. "Call me Boom."
Saddle Rager turned to run, but she stopped when she saw her evil counterpart as well.
"Um, hey. My name's Saddle Rager, and I don't want any trouble."
"Well, guess what, sassinfrass!" the other Fluttershy growled loudly. "I'm Wrath, and I'm sick of being NICE and QUIET all the time!"
All of a sudden, both Mistress Marevelous and Rodan got tied up with a floating rope that moved to fast for them to see coming. They were pulled by (you guessed it) an evil version of Applejack.
"YEE-HAW!" she exclaimed. "Looks like fortune favors Ms. Fortune!"
"Well, well, well." Radiance heard an all too familiar voice. When she turned her evil counterpart was approaching her. "Pleasure to meet you... not! I am Glamour!"
"Oh." Radiance exclaimed shocked by her passive-aggressiveness. "Well, hello there. I'm..."
"Yes, yes." Glamour interrupted. "I know who you are." Suddenly, her bracelet formed a hook that quickly snatched Radiance's away.
"Hey!" Radiance exclaimed. "That's mine!"
"And now, it's mine!"
Soon enough, Filli-Second was confronted by her evil counterpart, who came at light speed, but she didn't show any negative emotion; neither of them did.
"Hi! I'm Filli-Second!"
"Hi! I'm Vile-osity!" She extended her hoof for a handshake. "Wanna be friends?"
"Absotividutely!" Filli-Second said taking the hoof. Suddenly, Vile-osity gripped tight at Filli-Second's hoof and threw her overhead. She laughed when the good one hit the floor.
"GOTCHA, SILLY!" Vile-osity shouted in a mocking tone.
"Holy evil mirror, Shadow Blot!" Masque exclaimed.
"What?" Shadow Blot asked. "Nevermind. Everyone, stick with the Power Ponies! Remember, they can't beat all of us!"
"No." Timberwolf said. "Just some of us."
"Don't move a lugnut!" the Negahorn said pulling out her yellow apple. As soon as the wirewolves saw her pointing it at them, they looked completely frightened.
"Oh, no!" Shadow Blot shouted. "The Golden Apple?! Here?! How?!"
"The Golden what?" Marevelous asked.
"It's a long story." Dusk said keeping his paw on his chest.
"Yeah, and it goes like this," Masque said in a scared tone, "Once upon a time, a wirewolf went 'OH, COME ON'!"
Suddenly, Glamour's bracelet glowed brightly and a hard-light cage formed around the heroes. Quickly after that, the Negahorn blasted the cage with the Golden Apple. The Masked Matterhorn tried to blast her own way out, but her horn didn't even glow.
"Don't bother." the Negahorn said. "My Golden Apple has made this cage filter out all powers and magic."
"What, you can't use your own magic?" Hum Drum asked. He was only given a blast from the Golden Apple as a response.
"Why'd you do that?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "He's our friend!"
"Friend?" the Negahorn laughed. "My so-called 'friend' ran out on me. But there's nowhere to run to. This is my world, and you just stumbled into it.

"Equestria is an evil world
Call it cruel if you want, but it's your new home"
"Equestria is an evil world" Ms. Fortune sang,
"Where villains like us are free to roam"
"And all the peaceful, light heeeeaaaaarts..." Glamour sang,
"ARE GOING TO BREAK
Don't run! Don't hide
You'll never see friendship flowing through the realm"
"Don't run! Don't hide" the Negahorn sang
"You'll never feel the harmony oooooveeeerwheeeeeelm"

And with that, Radiance shook the cage the heroes were in. They rattled left and right until it stopped and the cage fell in front of Vile-osity, Wrath, and Boom.

"Equestria is an evil world" Vile-osity sang,
"All this torment is our idea of joy"
"Equestria is an evil world" Wrath sang,
"Now, I'm going to take this kid's toy"
"And all the calm, easy minds..." Boom sang,
"ARE GOING TO BREAK"
"Don't run! Don't hide" Vileosity sang,
"You'll never see friendship flowing through the realm"
"Don't run! Don't hide" Boom sang,
"You'll never feel the harmony oooooveeeerwheeeeeelm"

The rest of the Peril Ponies jumped beside the other three and they all sang at once.

"EQUESTRIA IS AN EVIL WORLD
AND OURS
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA
EQUESTRIA IS AN EVIL WORLD
AND OURS
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA
EQUESTRIA IS AN EVIL WORLD
AND OURS
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA
IT'S OOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURS"

"And now," the Negahorn said looking down at the frightened heroes, "You've earned yourselves a one-way ticket to the dungeon."
"Wait!" Radiance shouted. "I'm allergic to filthy cells!"
"Oh, trust me." the Negahorn said. "You'd want to be sent there. After all, I'm sure you miss..."
Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard. Everyone diverted their attention to the noise, but they didn't notice a green vine hitting Glamour over the side of her head. Once she fell on the floor, her cage surrounding the ponies and wirewolves fell apart, but that got the attention of the Peril Ponies.
"What?!" the Negahorn asked.
Suddenly, a large school bus hurled through the air and landed between the heroes and the villains. Boom tried to go above, but she was interrupted by a blue explosion of smoke hitting her face.
"What is going on?!" Rodan shouted.
"Just come on, already!" a woman shouted from the far end of the road. "We can't hold them off for long!"
Without any question, the heroes turned and followed the voice. From the side, Ms. Fortune galloped around the bus and chased after them with her rope. The Power Ponies saw a pair of blue hooves entering the sewers.
"We're going in!" the Masked Matterhorn shouted.
"In the sewer?!" Radiance asked. "I hardly think..."
"It's either the filthy underground or a filthy dungeon!" Devastator shouted.
Once they made it to the manhole, they jumped in one by one. However, Ms. Fortune tossed her rope and grabbed ahold of Radiance, Masque, and Timberwolf. With a hard tug, they were pulled away from the sewers.
"RADIANCE!" Hum Drum shouted.
"We'll save her later, kid." a gruff, female voice said. "We need to get out of here!" They all ran off and disappeared into the catacombs.
Meanwhile, back on the surface, Ms. Fortune presented her captives to her boss.
"I lost the others, but I did get these three, boss."
The Negahorn looked at the three and scowled.
"Look at the bright side, Radiance," Masque said, "At least you don't have to worry about the sewer."
"Yeah, but we're facing being sold for scrap!" Timberwolf shouted. "For the love of... Why is it that I'm always among the short end of all our adventures?!"
"My theory is..."
"That was rhetorical, Joe!"
"Negahorn," Boom said, "What do we do?"
"Take them to the dungeon, but far away from our 'special guest'. In the meantime... I've got to talk to the Benefactor."
> How a Hero Turns into a Villain
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And you're certain?" Princess Luna asked.
"Positive." Blue Comet said holding up a mechanical claw to the three princess before him. Right beside him, the royal guards rested the big bomb in the middle of the throne room. "Timberwolf told me he could still move his body parts even if he's separated from them, which means he's still alive. And if he's alive, then the others must be too."
"That's a good point." Princess Celestia said. "Thank you, Blue Comet."
"So what now, Celestia?" Princess Cadence asked.
"We know that this bomb didn't destroy the Power Ponies or the Mighty Machines, so it must have sent them somewhere. If we can somehow figure out what Twilight did to the bomb that made it do all that, then maybe we can follow them or bring them back."
"How do we do that?" Blue Comet asked. "I couldn't find her reformation spell."
"But there is another spell that we can use." Princess Celestia said. "It is called the Magic Memory."
"Are you sure we can do that?" Princess Luna asked. "It has certain rules."
"What do you mean?" Cadence asked. "What's the Magic Memory?"
"It was developed before you became a princess, Cadence." Celestia said. "With a magical circle drawn around what conducted a spell and the powerful merge of the magic of three unicorns, we can be able to take another look at the magic that banished our heroes and maybe follow them."
"And it can find the heroes?" Cadence asked.
"Hopefully." Luna said. "Drawing the circle will be easy."
"And as for the unicorns we need," Celestia continued, "Leave that to me. I know exactly who we need."





Throughout the travel through the sewers, the Power Ponies and the Mighty Machines didn't see the three figures in front of them because they had worn cloaks.
"Oh," Hum Drum sighed nervously. "I hope Radiance is okay."
"Don't worry, Hum Drum." the Masked Matterhorn said. "We'll get her back, along with Terry and Joe... somehow."
"Can you believe that's them?" one of the saviors whispered to the others.
"I know." another said. "I thought Bell Weather was joking."
"Maybe our prayers are answered." the last one whispered.
"Excuse me." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Who are you and where are you taking us?"
Suddenly, the tunnel reached its end and there was a large, subterranean camp across the large area. There were tents and courses spread out.
"Does this answer your second question?" one of the saviors said starting to remove her hood.
"Wait a minute." Zapp said getting nervous. "I know that voice!"
Just then, the three saviors revealed themselves. One had tentacle-like tendrils sprouting from her mane, another was a blue unicorn with a magician attire, and the last one was a gryphon.
"THE SISTERHOOD OF EVIL!" the heroes cried out.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." the Mane-iac said. "Slow your rolls, crazy trolls."
"They're not trolls." the blue unicorn stated.
"I know." the pony with the super-hair said. "I'm just trying to rhyme."
"The Sinister Sorceress?" the Masked Matterhorn gasped. "I thought you went straight."
"Up for another round in another world, Gryphon Galore?" Zapp asked. "Well, I'd be happy to..."
"No!" the gryphon said. "I'm not Gryphon Galore; I'm Gryphon Goodness. This is the Serene Sorceress and the Hair-oine."
"Uh... what?" the Shadow Blot asked. "I'm confused."
"Ooh, Serene!" the Hair-oine said excitedly. "Can we do the song? Come on, pleeeeeeeaaaaaaase?"
"Fine." the Serene Sorceress groaned. "But just to shut you up."
"Yay!" the Hair-oine cheered.
The three girls grouped up together and started singing a cheerful tune that made the heroes nervous.

"We are the Sisterhood of Justice
Where we're trying to restore the bliss
We can promise this much
We'll provide the justice touch
As we coooooouuuuuuuld"
"Drop a coin in the fountain and make a wish" Gryphon Goodness sang,
"And it will be granted by the Sisterhood of Justice
True, the world's a bit black"
"But we will bring back" the Serene Sorceress sang.
"The neighborhooooooooooood" both sang.
"Back in the day, we were sinister" the Hair-oine sang,
"Never missing a chance to commit crime"
"'Sinister'? That was my name" the Serene Sorceress sang.
"Serene, this really isn't the time" the Hair-oine sang.
"But now, we treat everyone like sisters" Gryphon Goodness sang.
"So we dedicate" all three sang
"Our very fate
To bringing back the sunshiiiiiiiiiiiine
We are the Sisterhood of Justice
And you'll never see heroes quite like this"
"No longer a super villain" Gryphon Galore sang.
"And soon, we'll all be chillin'" the Hair-oine sang,
"For goooooooooood"
"It's such a thrill" Gryphon Galore sang.
"To be fighting evil" the Hair-oine sang.
"We do what we will" the Serene Sorceress sang.
"'CAUSE WE'RE THE SISTERHOOD OOOOOOOOOF JUSTICE" they all sang,
"PROTEEEEEEECT AAAAAAAND SEEEEEEEEEEEEEERVE"

"Oh, my goodness." a familiar voice called out. The Sisterhood turned around and saw Bell Weather standing there. "I think I liked you guys better when you were evil."
"Bell Weather?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "What's going on here?"
"Well, I did what you said. I came back here and sent for help. Turned out, help came in the form of the Sisterhood of Justice."
"So this really is some kind of parallel dimension." the Shadow Blot said. "So what, the Sisterhood tried to fight against the Peril Ponies?"
"Yes and no." the Serene Sorceress said. "You see, we weren't always the Sisterhood of Justice. Like in your world, we used to be the Sisterhood of Evil and the Peril Ponies were the Power Ponies."
"What?" Hum Drum asked.
"I don't get the whole story either." Bell Weather said. "If the Negahorn used to be a hero like Matterhorn here, why didn't I recognize her as a look-alike?"
"That's something you need to take up with Blunder." Gryphon Goodness said. "When he heard you were here, he specifically requested for you to be brought to him for an explanation. Follow us."
As the Sisterhood started walking through the camp, the heroes and Bell Weather followed. Zapp leaned in to Bell Weather and whispered.
"Who's Blunder?"
"He's one of the founders of the resistance." Bell Weather replied. "He gives some advice from time to time, but he usually leaves leadership to me."
"I thought you were a scout." the Masked Matterhorn said.
"I didn't tell you everything." Bell Weather said. "I couldn't risk you being spies for the Negahorn, so I left some confidential stuff out. As far as we know, the Negahorn has no idea who's the face of the resistance. But since Blunder seems to trust you, I guess I do too."
"We're here." the Hair-oine said splitting open the tent opening with her green tendrils. "Open sesame."
The Power Ponies and the Mighty Machines stepped in and gazed at the pair of green, reptilian eyes from the shadows. The figure walked out revealing a small baby dragon with purple scales. He wore a costume similar to Hum Drum's but with a darker theme.
"WHOA!" Hum Drum gasped as he hardened his body with a diamond exterior. "Back off!"
"Easy!" the purple dragon in a dark costume said. "Easy! I'm not gonna hurt you. By the way, how do you have superpowers?"
"We'll ask the questions here, buster!" Filli-Second said. "Starting with, who are you?"
"I'm Blunder. You know, the good Spike?"
"That's not right." Hum Drum said. "I'm the good Spike, and everyone who looks like us here turned out to be evil, so how are you not trying to destroy us?!"
Blunder sighed. "Okay. I can see why you might think that. First off, tell me more about your world."
"We're not evil, for starters." Mistress Marevelous said.
"I can see that." Blunder said. "But what I mean is, your accomplishments. I need to know what you've all done in your lives. Not everything, per se, but all the major stuff. I want all cards on the table."
The Masked Matterhorn wasn't sure, but when she turned back and saw how calm Bell Weather and the Sisterhood of Justice were, she decided it was worth a try to trust the dragon before her. She walked up in front of her friends and revealed their past accomplishments to Blunder. She told him about how the Power Ponies were first joined together, their fight against Anar D, Queen Scynder, Discordant Convergence, and Arcanus, their adventures alongside the Mane 6 and Avatar Korra, and their journey to Tambelon. The Shadow Blot then walked up and talked about the Mighty Machines' adventures, even working alongside the Power Ponies. He didn't tell everyone about his crush for Celestia, though. When both parties were done, Blunder reached into a bowl behind him and pulled out a large gemstone he took a bite from.
"I see." Blunder said. "That explains a lot."
"Your turn." the Masked Matterhorn said. "What's with all the differences in this world, but why are some stuff the same?"
"I'll tell you." Blunder said. "It appears that there are some things we shared and some things we didn't. For example, we don't have Discordant Convergence, Anar D, or Arcanus, and we certainly never fought a giant ram that wanted to destroy friendship.
"Like you, Twilight, my partner and I started fighting crime as the Masked Matterhorn and Hum Drum. One day, the Mane-iac started to wreak havoc over Maretropolis, and Princess Celestia sent us to stop them. Along the way, we met our versions of Zapp, Filli-Second, Radiance, Mistress Marevelous, and Saddle Rager, and together we beat the Mane-iac and formed the Power Ponies. Over time, we stopped many crimes and stopped many villains, but soon enough, the Masked Matterhorn of my world became an alicorn. She thought that since she was a princess, crime would stop since they wouldn't want to go against royalty, but she was wrong.
"Over time, Twilight grew impatient and angry over not being able to end crime and went to Princess Celestia. She thought she could give her some more power to stop crime, but Celestia informed her that even if she could perform miracles, it wouldn't stop all evil in the world. Twilight told her she would live with that, but as it turned out, it was a lie. Over the next few weeks, she's been getting more ruthless and violent. We tried to host an intervention, but she wouldn't listen. But the worst was yet to come.
"Suddenly, the Masked Matterhorn got an anonymous letter. It was just signed 'the Benefactor'. According to the letter, he was impressed with the Masked Matterhorn's performance and offered her an end to her struggle against crime. She was interested, but I didn't trust the sound of that. I told her not to go and meet him, but she flew off anyway. The Power Ponies and I looked for her all over Equestria. A few weeks later, she came back, but she changed. She managed to convince the other ponies to join her in an evil alliance and take control of all things evil in Equestria."
"And you didn't stop her?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"I tried speaking my mind about it, but she wouldn't listen. None of them would. The Negahorn then gave us supervillain costumes and names, and we charged ahead to take over Equestria. The other princesses tried to stop them, but with the Negahorn's newfound power, they didn't stand a chance. The Peril Ponies captured them along with anyone who stood on their way, even their own families. As soon as I realized enough was enough, I took my chance and ran away. I started this resistance and gathered up as many heroes as I could, but it's not enough."
"What about the Golden Apple?" the Shadow Blot asked. "Where did she get that?"
"The Benefactor, if I had to guess." Blunder replied. "When she came back from her visit to him, she had the Golden Apple with her and used it to magnify her magic. In fact, when she took over Equestria, she used it for a memory spell. With it, no one even remembers who she used to be and the fact that the Peril Ponies used to be heroes... except for those who really knew them. Some of us know them so well, the memory spell didn't have any effect on us. The only problem is, there aren't many of those left these days."
Zapp turned her head to the supposed-to-be villains who claim they were heroes. "And what, you girls suddenly had a change of heart?"
"Sort of." Gryphon Goodness answered.
"See, a while ago, we saw how the whole evil thing goes when our Twilight took over Equestria." the Serene Sorceress said. "It as too much even for the three of us combined."
"Turns out evil can go too far." the Hair-oine added. "So we took a page from their book and switched sides. Now... We are the Sisterhood of Justice and..."
"Hey, no reprise!" the Serene Sorceress said. "Once was enough!"
"Power Ponies, Mighty Machines," Blunder said, "I am fully aware that nothing here makes a lot of sense. Frankly, there are some details that confuses me. I don't know what the Peril Ponies did with the princesses, I don't know who the Benefactor is, and I don't know how far the Negahorn will go. But perhaps fate has brought you to our world for a reason."
"I know where you're going with this, but I don't know if we can help." the Shadow Blot said.
"Yeah, we tried to fight them earlier," Devastator said, "And all that happened was three of our friends getting captured."
"I know you're scared." Blunder said. "I understand. Every day, the Peril Ponies get more powerful. Some of our best ponies are beginning to lose hope. But that never stopped you before. If you and we band together and stand up to the Negahorn, then we may have a chance to stop her and save our Equestria. And then, I promise, we will find a way to bring you back to yours. You in?"
The Ponies and Machines looked at each other and paused for a minute.
"I... I'm not sure." Mistress Marevelous said. "I've never had to fight myself before."
"I don't like it either." Dusk said. "But then again, we don't have a lot of options."
"Dusk's right." the Shadow Blot agreed. "I guess we're in."
"Us too." the Masked Matterhorn agreed. "But first things first, we need to save Radiance, Timberwolf, and Masque."
"All right." Blunder said. "Bell Weather, take them to the rest of the resistance. We're getting their friends out."
"Aaaaaaand BREAK!" Filli-Second proclaimed.





"Welcome." Princess Celestia said letting three unicorns into a big, crystal room. In the middle of the room, the big, broken bomb was resting catching their attention. Princess Luna was following the circle on a piece of paper and wrote it around the bomb. Princess Celestia continued talking to the unicorns. "I brought you here on a mission of great importance: the Power Ponies and Mighty Machines are missing and this offline bomb is our only clue. We're about to cast a spell, and we chose you three because you're the most loyal unicorns to our missing heroes."
Princess Celestia stopped pacing in front of the first unicorn, who was orange with red streaks in her mane. "Sunset Shimmer, before you retired from being the Mysterious Mare Do-Well, you ensured that the Power Ponies would form and save my sister from the Asteroth's corrupt influence."
Princess Celestia then turned to the unicorn in the middle. She was wearing worn-out clothes and her red-and-purple mane looked like she just got out of bed. Princess Celestia looked through the unicorn's glasses into her eyes and continued. "Moondancer, you've known Twilight Sparkle since you two were fillies, and you helped her learn what it means to be a friend."
Lastly, she turned to the final unicorn, who was a male pony with an orange coat like Sunset's and glasses like Moondancer's. He had on a blue robe. "Sunburst, you allowed Twilight to take refuge in your library for the past week and gave her what she needed."
"Yeah, I've idolized superheroes when I was a boy." Sunburst commented.
"Sister, it is complete." Luna called out.
"Excellent." Celestia said surrounding the circle with the unicorns. "Now, I want the three of you to concentrate your magic onto the ring surrounding the explosive. With your combined magic, you should be able to cast Magic Memory."
"Should?" Moondancer asked. "What happens if it fails?"
"We're not sure." Luna answered. "This spell has only been used once, and that was before either of us were given the title of princess. Speaking of which, sister, where is Cadence? Shouldn't she be here to help find her sister-in-law?"
"She's not feeling well, so she returned home." Celestia replied. "Not surprising, considering how uneasy this would make anyone." She turned back to the unicorns. "Now then, will you help us?"
"Yes." Sunset Shimmer answered.
"You can count on me." Moondancer replied.
"Absolutely." Sunburst said.
"All right." Celestia said. "Now, concentrate your magic on the ring."
Following those orders, the three unicorns closed their eyes and pointed their horns. A light escaped from each of their horns in the form of their colors and hit the circle surrounding the bomb. When the entire circle was lit, the two princesses were elated, but when it started to dim, their expressions changed to their opposite. The light escaped the circle and back into the unicorns' horns. Everyone was confused.
"What happened?" Moondancer asked. "That shouldn't happen, should it?"
"No." Celestia replied confusingly as she looked at the spell on the page. "I don't get it. This is not at all what Star-Swirl the Bearded told me what would happen."
"Perhaps I messed up a character or..." Luna thought.
"Excuse me." Sunburst said. "May I see that spell?" The princesses didn't say anything, but they presented it to Sunburst, who looked over it. Suddenly, his eyes widened. "Oh, I see."
"What?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "What is it?"
"Apologies, princesses, but it appears you misinterpreted the spell." Sunburst said. "You're short one unicorn."
"What?" Luna asked. "How? We have three unicorns like the spell suggested."
"According to this," Sunburst said looking at the page, "Magic Memory must be casted by three unicorns, who unite their powerful magic into the circle. But you don't just need three unicorns, you need three powerful unicorns. As a former student of your highness, Sunset Shimmer has a talent. As an avid reader, Moondancer should be a prodigy. The problem... is me. My magic is mediocre at best. No matter how hard I study, I can't do complicated spells, let alone this ancient one."
"So, we really are short one unicorn." Celestia said. "So we can't possibly find our friends."
"Not necessarily true there." Sunburst continued. "I may not have impressive magic, but I know a unicorn who does."
"Really?" Luna asked full of hope.
"Oh, yeah." Sunburst said. "She casts spells as well as I can read them, maybe even better. I've known her since I was a kid. We've been out of touch for a while, but I'm sure that if she hears that the superheroes are in trouble, she'll help save them."
"Excellent." Celestia cheered. "What's her name?"
At first, everyone was excited, but they turned back to near-hopelessness when they heard the name. To Sunburst, the name didn't mean anything, but to everyone else, they knew this rescue mission would get a lot more complicated once they heard it.
"Starlight Glimmer."
> The Benefactor
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I WANT A LAWYER!" Masque cried out from inside his dungeon cell. "YOU DIDN'T READ ME MY RIGHTS! AND I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT! NO ONE TOLD ME I HAD THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT!"
"Joe, you do have the right to remain silent." Timberwolf said. "The problem is, you're physically incapable of shutting up!"
"Those copycats took my bracelet." Radiance said. "I don't suppose your powers can help in this situation."
"Not in this instance." Timberwolf said. "I still can't believe those girls have the Golden Apple."
"I'm still a little lost here." Radiance said. "I don't think I've heard of this Golden Apple. Mind giving me a little backstory."
"Okay." Masque said. "I was born at the very young age of..."
"Masque!" Timberwolf interrupted. "And Radiance... Remember Kul'as and the Phantom Blot?"
"That big black crocodile demon that teamed up with the Mane-iac reviving that big black pile of evil goo to try and kill us?" Radiance asked. "Kind of hard to forget that."
"Well, the Golden Apple was the... center of the first time we fought them." Timberwolf continued.
"What?" Radiance asked.
"Yeah." Masque said. "You see, back at the Neatherealm, the first time the Machines met, we were finding a way home only to lead us to the Golden Apple, which Kul'as was planning to use against Equestria, but in the end, we buried it so deep, we thought no one could find it... until now."
"Yeah, the Golden Apple is like this powerful, ancient artifact that's somehow alive." Timberwolf added. "One little scratch, and it almost decimated an entire mountain range."
"And blew a hole in Dusk." Masque added.
"That doesn't need to be said." Timberwolf said.
"But if you hid the Golden Apple in the Neatherealm," Radiance said, "How did it manage to end up here in the hooves of the Peril Ponies?"
"Don't ask me." Timberwolf said. "I'm just the unlucky guy who somehow gets himself in the most embarrassing situations. I do know this though; if the Negahorn is as powerful ask the Matterhorn, and she's evil, and she holds the Golden Apple, then we're in for the worst day ever."
"Of all time." Masque added.





Move ahead up the stairs to many floors above. At the highest tower, the Negahorn looked below at the miserable ponies living their sad lives under her rule. But she didn't pay any attention to that. She levitated the Golden Apple before her eyes. She then looked up to the dark clouds completely covering the sky. The Negahorn chanted silently to herself.

"To the dark spot above
That no one speaks of
Evil
Hear me roar. Hear my cry
As I declare to the sky
EVIIIIIIIL
What do I need to do"

"Uh, Negahorn." a guard called out from the other side of the door. "The Benefactor is here."
"Good." the Negahorn said facing the door. "Send him in."
The door opened, but the figure passing through was not a pony. He looked human, but in unbelievably slim figure was covered by a black cloak, and his movements didn't match up to regular footstep movements. His arms and right eye were made up of electronics.
"Hello again, Negahorn." the man said.
"Hello again... Tartus." the Negahorn returned.
"Dear child," Tartus said, "Is something the matter?"
"You could say that." the Negahorn replied. "As you know, three years ago, you trained me how to use the Golden Apple for my own evil purposes. You then allowed me to use the Golden Apple however I wished... with a few conditions."
"Right." Tartus agreed. "Rule 1 was that you'd never damage the Apple. You could destroy your entire kingdom. Rule 2 was for you to allow me to use the Golden Apple during any of my off-world expeditions, such as that business I had at that human world. And rule 3 was that you notify me if there were any changes to the Golden Apple's power. Wait, has there been a change?"
"Not in the Apple, no." the Negahorn replied. "It appears that one of our counterparts has somehow found their way to this world."
"Really?" Tartus asked. "Which ones?"
"I'm not 100% certain, but my best guess is the Power Ponies and Mighty Machines from Equestria 515."
Tartus' only eye widened. In his thoughts, he growled. "Them? Here? How?" He then spoke out. "Really? How could you tell?"
"Well, they have the same costumes the Peril Ponies and I wore, and the wirewolves looked tame." the Negahorn said. "Also, I felt it... through the Apple."
"I see." Tartus thought to himself. "Seems that she's bonding extremely well with the Apple. Perfect." He then spoke up. "So the same world where... he's from also brought us the heroes. Well, what's the problem? With the Golden Apple, those peons have no chance against you."
"I need your help until they're destroyed." the Negahorn said. "Not in battle, but in keeping focus. I fear that as long as the Masked Matterhorn is still out there, I could get the subconscious desire to..."
"To return to the side of good." Tartus finished with a guess. "I see. Well, I'll start by telling you this...

"You remind me of when I was young
Confused on what to feel
My peers always resented me
Just for my ideals
So I ran when I had the chance
And I have no regrets
Now, here's a bit of advice
That you won't soon forget
You have to embrace the evil
Respect who you are
Who have got to thank
Your lucky, black star
You were chosen to possess this awesome power
So why not use it on your subjects every hour
To obtain freedom and pleasure and joy
You must follow your villainous instinct to destroy
Don't forget our first meeting
When I gave you your gift
The Golden Apple that then chose you
Gave your magic a lift
If you continue to live the past
You won't last the week
Remember your role as the Negahorn
You're neither frail nor meek
It's time you embrace the evil
Become a real scourge
You still have a bit of light
That you have to purge
And with your master plan, everyone will see
No one will ever stand against your villainy
It's your job to be heartless and wicked and cold
And it's all because of your power of glimmering gold
Heed these words of wisdom, child
Life is far too short
The Golden Apple is in your hooves
Take no one else's support
Use the power in your possession
Make sure evil will win
Go on. Love it. Take it
BECOME A LIVING SIIIIIIIIIN"
"NOW, WE WILL EMBRACE THE EVIL" both sang,
"NOTHING HOLDING US BACK"
"YEAH, MY HEART IS ROTTEN" the Negahorn sang.
"AND HEINOUS... AND BLACK" Tartus sang,
"YOU'VE SPENT YOUR LIFE BEING TOLD ON WHAT TO DO
AND NOW, YOU'RE FREE! THERE ARE NO STRINGS ON YOU
TO TRULY GET ALL WORLDS UNDER YOUR WILL
THEN YOU MUST CUT ALL YOUR LOOSE ENDS
AND DON'T WASTE TIME ON MAKING FRIENDS
EMBRACE THE ONLY THING THAT MATTEEEEEEEEERS
EEEEEEEEEVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL"

"Thank you, Tartus." the Negahorn said. "By the end of it all, my 'better' half will see it my way."





While most of the heroes were training with the resistance troopers, the Shadow Blot met up with Blunder watching it.
"It's good to be proud of my friends again," Blunder sighed with a smile, "Even if they're not from here."
"May I ask you something?" the Shadow Blot asked. "You say nothing that happened to us happened to you, but the Negahorn identified us as wirewolves. How did she know what we're called?"
"Believe it or not, you're not the first wirewolves she's met. Back before I left to form the resistance, we had a few intruders in Peril Tower. It was a different wirewolf and a couple of his friends."
"A different wirewolf?" Ricky asked. "What were they doing here?"
"An accident, by my guess, like you." Blunder replied. "They broke into the Negahorn's lab and used her equipment to repair their broken world-traveling device. They were almost caught, but they disappeared."
"Where did they go?"
"Don't know. They haven't been heard from again, but after learning of their traveling, the Negahorn discovered the multiple worlds and began preparing for anything, especially good counterparts of her. Still, those off-worlders, they must have been pretty brave or stupid to go off against the Peril Ponies, the Malicious Machines, and even the Negahorn."
"Wait, what?" the Shadow Blot asked. "Malicious Machines?"
"Oh, did I forget to tell you about that?" Blunder asked. "I feel silly. Well... they're sort of... your counterparts. On this world, you and the others were born hundreds of years later. When the Negahorn took over, she gathered up our Ricky and others to change them into wirewolves called Shifter, Blight, Bruticus, Torch, Direoak, and Phantom Blot. They've become cold, heartless monsters that are under Wrath's, quote/unquote, 'care'."
"Great, another creep calling himself Phantom Blot." the Shadow Blot groaned. Blunder looked confused. "Oh, back where I'm from, we fought a mad scientist's experiment called the Phantom Blot, but instead of a wirewolf, he turned out to turn into a big, monstrous blob. But I digress. Is there anything else we should know?"
"Yeah." Blunder said. "You see, each of the Peril Ponies have a responsibility in their new world order. Wrath tends to the Malicious Machines and savage wildlife, Glamour is in charge of castle security to match her decorative skills, Ms. Fortune is the team treasurer for taxes and stuff, Boom runs the military, Vile-Osity uses her Dark Pinkie Sense to predict upcoming troubles, and the Negahorn's the leader, brains, and head of the science-and-magic department. I think that bit of information should help."
"Hopefully." Ricky said. "Hopefully."





Meanwhile, at the other end of the camp, the Masked Matterhorn looked out into the dark abyss before her. Hum Drum stood by her side. Her sigh echoed through.
"What's on your mind, child?" a familiar voice asked. The Masked Matterhorn and Hum Drum turned, but wasn't surprised to see the Doctor there.
"Doctor." the Matterhorn said. "Didn't think you'd be here."
"Why are you here anyway?" Hum Drum asked
"At an interdimensional anomaly?" the Doctor asked. "I'm mysterious, not lazy. Now, what's the matter?"
"It's just..." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Well, I might as well say it since you know anyway. I'm worried. Three of my friends are locked up in the HQ of who turned out to be our evil counterparts. Every time I think about the Negahorn, I keep picturing her as the old her, which is the present me. It makes me wonder, if she went evil, could it be possible that..."
"Whoa, Twilight, don't think like that." Hum Drum said. "You're nothing like her, except for your looks. Look, this Twilight supposedly became evil a few years ago when she started doubting if her hero-stuff paid off. Well, a few years ago, you didn't think that at all."
"I know, buddy." the Matterhorn said. "But how can I know for sure." Then, she had an idea that suddenly changed her tone. "Doctor, maybe you can help!'
"Me?" the Doctor asked. "What can I do?"
"What can't you do?" the Matterhorn replied. "Look, I know there are rules that say you can't tell me much about the future, but I need to know. Will I be evil?"
"Twilight..." the Doctor said nervously.
"Just tell me." the Matterhorn said. "I can take it. I just need to be sure."
"Twilight, I can't tell you that."
"Why not?" the Matterhorn asked. "It's just one thing. After that, I'll never ask again. It's a simple yes-or-no question. Will I be the same?"
"I can't tell you." the Doctor repeated.
"Why?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "Why can't you tell me?"
"Because I don't know!" the Doctor admitted.
"W... What?" the Masked Matterhorn asked in shock. She shared her surprise with her sidekick. "What did you just say?"
"I don't know what'll happen." the Doctor repeated. "I haven't been sure of anything for a while."
"But... you're the Doctor." Hum Drum said. "You're the living embodiment of time. How can you not know something about the future?"
"Matterhorn, the other day," the Doctor said, "You asked me if your reforming spell would work, and I said I couldn't tell you. That was because I didn't know what would happen. In fact, you weren't supposed to make that spell."
"What do you mean?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"According to history, at this moment, you're supposed to be patrolling the skies of your Equestria with Zapp. During the time you were making your reformation spell, you were supposed to keep the Sisterhood of Evil from even finding their bomb. For the past few years, there were things that I couldn't grasp. It started out with just this world, so I put it on the back-burner until I got done with some more of my business, but it just got worse. A short while ago, at an Equestrian human world, there was a similar force that made me blind to the details of the situation from dimensions away. The result remained the same, but still..."
"What about your future selves?" the Matterhorn asked. "Sometimes, we run into them. Why don't you just ask them?"
"I tried." the Doctor said. "But for some reason, I can't summon them, nor can I send any to your period. You are talking to your present Doctor, who knows just as much as you do."
"Wait, you said it started with this world." Hum Drum said. "What happened on this world?"
"The Peril Ponies, that's what." the Doctor said. "A few years ago, they went rogue and claimed this world in the name of evil. That would be acceptable if this world was located on the exact other side of the Multiverse where all the worlds there are reversed from this side, but it's not. In fact, this world is adjacent to yours. It couldn't possibly have turned evil. I put it on my to-do list because I thought it wouldn't cause any interdimensional side effects, but it turned worse. So now, I'm trying to find the cause."
"What guesses do you have?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"Unless there's a Unique that's causing this, I haven't the faintest?"
"A what?" Hum Drum asked.
"A Unique." the Doctor said. "A one-of-a-kind form of matter. See, across the Multiverse, there are counterparts for anything, but there are some exceptions to that rule. It can be a person, a place, or an object, but it's the only one version of it in all of Creation. If there's more than one version, I can easily track it down by comparing it to its counterpart, but if it's a Unique without a counterpart for me to compare, well, I might as well be blind."
"What about Grogar?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "How come you could see him coming?"
"Because he has a counterpart as well." the Doctor said. "Don't panic. He's the result of another world that's... not really saving my dignity to talk about. Anyway, he's ten-times weaker than the one you fought on Tambelon and he's completely unaware of the multiple universes. The point is, there must be something one-of-a-kind to this world that's the cause of all this. But I just can't figure out what it is. And I can't find the Unique causing all these anomalies while tending to my other duties. I need you and your friends to find it and fix this whole mess."
"You can count on us." the Masked Matterhorn said. "If there is a Unique to this world, I'll find it."
"Thank you." the Doctor said. "And do hurry. I can't be much help to you when even I can't tell." And with that, he vanished without a trace.
"He doesn't help much at all." Hum Drum said.
"Come on, Hum Drum." the Masked Matterhorn said. "We've got planning to do."
> Malicious
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And you're sure this will work?" Timberwolf asked. "I'm not sure if I like my part."
"Trust me." Masque said. "It's science. I've done the calculations myself."
"That's what worries me." Radiance said.
Suddenly, Masque changed his form into a black-armored Pegasus and disguised his voice. He called out to the guard at the end of the hallway.
"Hey, buddy! Help!" The guard went to the prisoner's door to investigate. "That good-looking wirewolf tricked me into switching places with him. He's as smart as he is handsome. You gotta let me out so we can find him."
The guard looked suspiciously at Timberwolf and Radiance, who were standing at the back of the cell. The guard then looked back at who he knew was an imposter.
"He escaped, but left his friends behind? Do I look like I was born yesterday?"
Masque knew the jig was up and changed back to his wirewolf form. "Well, you certainly have the brains for the age."
The guard felt superior at first, but then he heard what Masque just said. "I beg your pardon?"
"Did I stutter?" Masque asked. "You're so dumb, you tried to put M&M's in alphabetical order!"
"What the..." the guard gasped. "Hey, I happen to be a member of the Negahorn's royal guard!"
"You, a guard?" Masque asked. "Man, the Negahorn must have low standards. What, was there a buy-2-get-1-free sale or something?"
"You can't talk to me like that!" the guard shouted angrily.
"Oh, yeah?" Masque taunted. "What, are you going to punish me with simple math. Sorry, but the only head that'll hurt is your own."
"WHY, I OUGHTA..." the guard shouted grasping the bars of the cell door.
"Now, Terry!" Masque shouted.
The guard looked and saw the other wirewolf pull out an electric wire from his open wrist. He used it to touch a wet chain that was connected to the cell bars. The guard then felt a great shock flowing through him. When it was done, he fainted and fell to the floor and Masque took his cell keys.
"It's absolutely ridiculous that worked." Timberwolf said.
"How did you get the chain wet again?" Radiance asked.
"Don't ask!" Timberwolf said turning his head away.
Masque opened the door and the three of them made it out.
"So where do we go?" Timberwolf asked.
"Well, this place is like the evil equivalent of Power Tower, right?" Masque asked. "Well, Radiance, you can show us the way out."
"Power Tower doesn't have a dungeon." Radiance said. "If this is different, who knows how much different the architecture of this place is?"
"Oh." Masque said looking at the only two ends of the hallway. "Well, in that case..." He then rapidly changed his finger's pointed direction. "Eenie, meenie, minie, moe, catch a Hum Drum by the..."





"ACHOO!" both Hum Drum and Blunder sneezed at once.
"Bless you." the Masked Matterhorn said offering a pair of tissues that the dragons accepted. "Both of you."
"Someone must be talking about one of us," Blunder said, "Which, in this case, is both of us. Now, shall we get to work?"
Surrounding the alicorn and the dragons, the Resistance and the other heroes awaited their talking. Bell Weather stepped up and took the stage.
"Attention, everyone." Bell Weather said. "I have an announcement. Earlier today, I got an anonymous call concerning a secret passageway into Peril Tower."
"A secret passageway?" the Serene Sorceress asked. "Why would anyone make that?"
"I seems to lead from Peril Tower to a pastry shop." Bell Weather said. Everyone turned their attention to Filli-Second.
"Oooooooh." Filli-Second said. "That makes sense."
"How could that make..." a Resistance soldier started to say before Filli-Second interrupted.
"Well, if I was evil, I'd want more sweets as a reward, and if Twilight was evil, she'd say no, so if I was evil--again--I'd build a secret tunnel that leads to a bakery that I was in charge of. It's that simple."
"I... see... I guess." Bell Weather said. "Anyway, if this is going to be another strike against the Peril Ponies, this needs to be done carefully. They still have the Power Ponies' friends. If we get them first, we'll have just as much power as the Peril Ponies."
"Not that much." the Masked Matterhorn said. "The Negahorn seemed to be more powerful than I was."
"How do you know that?" Hum Drum asked. "She didn't use her own magic when you first fought her. She just used that Golden Apple thing."
"Just a feeling, Hum Drum." the Masked Matterhorn answered. "I don't know, but I just... knew."
"Hold on." Blunder said. "Back up. You said the Negahorn didn't use her magic?"
"Nope." Hum Drum said.
"You know," Bell Weather said rubbing her chin, "Now that I think about it... I don't think we've ever seen the Negahorn use her own magic since she ruled Equestria."
"Really?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "Why?"
"I don't know." Blunder said. "But the only magic I think I've seen her use is the Apple's."
"That shouldn't be good for her." the Negahorn said. "Every magic-user must use their magic at one time or another. Keep it bottled up for too long, and it could have lasting effects on the pony body. She should know this."
"Well, whatever the reason is," Bell Weather said, "This gives us a strategy. If we can somehow take the Golden Apple and use it against her, we may take away her advantage."
"Hold on!" the Shadow Blot protested. "We can't use the Golden Apple. I've seen it first-hand, and trust me, no one should have that kind of power."
"Well, hiding it didn't work, did it?" Bell Weather asked. "Think about it this way: the Masked Matterhorn said that the Negahorn seemed to have stored up her magic for a while, and if we took the Apple and didn't use it, she'd have to use her own magic, and if it'll be as big as Matterhorn said, we wouldn't make it. If you've got a better idea, I'd love to hear it. Otherwise, I don't really see another way out."
The Shadow Blot thought hard and tried to look for another angle, but he knew the Pegasus was right. He fell silent and gestured his reluctant agreement.
"All right." Bell Weather said. "Here's the plan. We're going to have to use as much knowledge of the Peril Tower's structure as we can. The dungeons are below the ground floor and the throne room, where the Negahorn can most likely be found, is on the 19th floor. We'll have two teams. Team A will go up to the throne room. The Masked Matterhorn will be with us, and she will keep the Negahorn talking while we sneak up behind her and take her Golden Apple. When she realizes her secret weapon is stolen, we'll use her shock as the time we need to beat her with it."
"Me?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "What do I say?"
"I don't know. What do Twilight's like to talk about?" Bell Weather said. "I never said it was a perfect plan. Just say whatever you have to say to keep her distracted. Think you can handle that?"
The Masked Matterhorn thought hard about it and nodded.
"Meanwhile, Team B, made up of our less stealthy heroes, will head on down to the dungeon and free as many prisoners as you can, including the Power Ponies' friends. Any enemy of the Peril Ponies is a potential ally of ours. We'll meet up in the throne room and use the Apple to clear the skies as a sign of freedom."
"Hold on, ma'am." a soldier said. "You do realize the tower is crawling with guards and Peril Ponies, right? Not to mention the Malicious Machines?"
"Who?" Gryphon Goodness asked.
"Evil Mighty Machines." Shadow Blot said.
"Which is why we're taking the Sisterhood of Justice with us." Bell Weather replied. "Hair-oine, you're with me leading Team A. Gryphon Goodness, Serene Sorceress, you two are leading Team B."
"Awesome!" the Hair-oine shouted. "Can I get an 'oh, yeah'?"
"No, no." Gryphon Galore returned.
"Close enough." the Hair-oine said.
"Now, wait a minute, Bell Weather." the Serene Sorceress said. "What if something goes wrong with this plan? We'd be sitting ducks at the heart of enemy territory, and my natural magic would be less than useless."
"Which is what these parchments that the Masked Matterhorn gave are for." Bell Weather said passing folded pieces of paper to the Hair-oine and Gryphon Goodness. "These have magic runes that allow you and your team to return to his camp. If things get dicey, simply place your hoof on the circles, and you will be brought back here. All right. Everyone, prepare. We leave an hour before dawn."
When the meeting ended, the ponies left and went to their own tents to pack. The Masked Matterhorn met up with the Shadow Blot.
"Are you sure we shouldn't use the Apple?"
"More sure than anything." Ricky said. "Trust me, I've seen what it's capable of doing and noticed a pattern: every time that Apple's used, disaster follows."
"No way!" Zapp shouted as she pointed at the nearby cages. Inside the cages were a costumed mare with green super-hair and a gryphon wearing a dark costume. The two of them had metal clamps completely covering their mouths. "Is that who I think it is?"
"Oh, them?" the Serene Sorceress asked. "Yeah, the Sisterhood and I found them on the outskirts of town before we rescued you. As soon as we were told there was an identical world, it made sense. We keep them there to make sure they don't cause any trouble."
"They must have been blasted here with us." Zapp said. "But why did you cover their mouths?
"They tried to talk the Hair-oine and I here into doing evil and betraying the Resistance." Gryphon Goodness said. "Thankfully, we gagged them up before they could persuade us. As you know, they are dangerous."
"You know what they say," the Hair-oine said, "'Silent, but deadly'."
Zapp chuckled, but the gryphon wasn't amused. "Really? Let's just get ready."
Zapp was about to return to her tent when she heard a rhythmic tapping noise against metal. She turned and saw Gryphon Galore tapping the bars of her cell in an unusual pattern that caused Zapp to raise an eyebrow.





"I can't believe we're going down this path randomly!" Timberwolf growled.
"You want to lead us out of here?" Masque asked. "Be my guest!"
"Hold on." Radiance said stopping in front of a door. The wirewolves stopped with her and read the label on the door.
"'Zoo'?" Timberwolf asked. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know." Radiance said. "But I get the feeling we'll find something in there."
"Like our deaths!" Timberwolf shouted.
"Come on, Terry." Masque said. "Don't be a 'fraidy-cat and be a proud wolf!"
"I want to be a proud wolf... at home." Timberwolf argued.
Radiance ceased the arguing and opened the door. As the three went inside, they saw rows and rows of stables and pens.
"Okay, this is pretty spooky." Masque admitted. "Hey, Timberwolf, does this remind you of the time when Xai Bau took away our wirewolf forms and left us and the others to our old pony-and-dog forms and locked us in stables like these?"
"It didn't until you brought it up." Timberwolf said. "What, or who, are in these?"
Radiance looked in one and recognized the old, green Earth pony chomping on hay.
"Oh, my goodness!" Radiance gasped. "Boys, it's Granny Smith!"
"Really?" Masque asked. "Oh, she's awesome."
"Hey, Granny Smith." Radiance called out. The old pony didn't respond. "Granny? It's me, Rarity. Why aren't you answering?"
"Hang on." Timberwolf called from another stable. "Aren't those the Wonderbolts? What are they doing here?" He continued going down the aisles seeing many familiar faces. "Zephyr Breeze. Maud Pie. Big Mac. Shining Armor. And there's more. It's a whole collection of our friends and family... or at least, this world's version of our friends and family."
"But why aren't they answering us?" Radiance asked. She approached another pen and recognized the two inside. "Mother! Father! It's me!" She removed her mask. "It's Rarity! Don't you recognize me? Say something!"
The two ponies looked at her and opened their mouths. But the sounds they made weren't their voices, but a sound that scared their daughter's good counterpart.
"Neeeeeiiiiigh!"
"That's spooky." Masque commented.
"No." Rarity gasped as she dropped her mask. "What.. What happened?"
"Well, I'm no behavior scientist wolf," Timberwolf said, "But judging by how these ponies are acting, it's like their intelligence is gone. The Negahorn must have casted some kind of stupidity spell or something."
"Never heard of a spell that can do that." Masque said. "How powerful would it have to be?"
Timberwolf was about to answer, but he was interrupted by the sight of three alicorns in the pens before him. One had a rainbow mane, another had a dark coat, and the other was pretty and pink. He then continued with his answer. "I'd say pretty powerful."
"How..." Rarity asked as she picked up her mask and proceeded down the aisle. "How can any pony be so cruel? And Twilight, of all ponies!"
"I'm sorry, Rare." Timberwolf said. "But don't worry. Our Twilight would never do this."
"I hope you're right." Radiance said putting back on her mask. She took a moment of silence to look around until a familiar noise caught her attention.
"Zip-a-dee-doo-dah! Who's on first? She sells seashells by the sea shore! Who is 'she' anyway?"
"Did you hear that?" Masque asked.
"How could I ignore it?" Timberwolf asked. "Should we get out of here?"
"Hold on." Radiance said. "If something is still intelligent, maybe he can help us."
"Attention, Peril Ponies shoppers!" the voice echoed from the end of the hallway where the three followed. "We have a special on soft drinks in aisle I3. BINGO! You sunk my battleship!"
"Can you even call that intelligent?" Timberwolf asked. "Is it just me, or does that voice rub you off the wrong way too?"
"It does sound familiar." Radiance said. Suddenly, a big cage came to view with a tall figure inside. She squinted her eyes for a moment before widening them wide in shock. The wirewolves joined in.
"Is that..." Radiance gasped.
"No way." Timberwolf said in surprise.
"It can't be!" Masque exclaimed in shock.
"Anar D?" Radiance asked as she observed the draconequus in the cape within the cage. "How is that possible? I thought he was destroyed in Tambelon."
"Maybe that's this world's version of Anar D." Masque said.
"No, it's ours." Radiance said. "That's the cape Discord gave him in Republic City. I know that because it clashed with Asami's curtains. That's the same one we fought with against Scynder, Arcanus, the Red Lotus, and Grogar."
"No way!" Timberwolf said still amazed at the sight of Anar D sketching on a desk. "Hey, Anar D, remember us?"
"I know exactly who you are." the caped draconequus said. "You're President Millard Fillmore, the Snowman, and Speedy Gonzales. You've come because it's Arbor Day, and there aren't enough zippers to go around."
The three heroes just stood there petrified with confusion.
"Say what?" Timberwolf asked.
"Yeah, I don't think even Filli-Second could make sense of that." Masque said.
"D, don't you recognize us?" Radiance asked. "We're you're friends... for the most part. You sacrificed you life for us."
"No, no, no, Mr. Potato Face." Anar D exclaimed. "Don't you know mixing honey and oil will start World War 3.2?"
"I'm having a hard time following what he's saying." Timberwolf said.
"Let me try something." Masque said. "Anar D, President Fillmore is ordering you to tell us what you're doing here."
"Yes, Mr. President," Anar D said still sketching, "But I must be paid in bicycles."
"...That can be arranged." Masque said shrugging his shoulders when he was looked at by his friends.
Anar D finished his sketch and held up a piece of paper. He showed his drawing to the three with great pride. What the three saw was just a picture of a dark-purple dragon.
"Yeah, I'm not paying a bicycle for that." Timberwolf said. "We're not going to get anything from this guy."
"That's too bad." a monstrous voice echoed scaring the three. "We were hoping you would bring him back to his senses."
"Who said that?" Radiance asked.
"Santa?" Anar D asked.
Suddenly, six wirewolves fell from the dark ceiling and surrounded the three heroes. they looked just like the Mighty Machines, only with more spikes and other scary features.
"Well, well, well, would you look at this." the Ricky look-a-like said. "It seems we got a few escapees in the zoo."
"Who are you?" Timberwolf asked.
"Look in a mirror lately, dummy?" the Terry look-alike asked. "We're you, or some of us are. Anyway, we're the Malicious Machines. I'm Direoak. Our Joe is Shifter, our Devastator is Bruticus, our Marty is Torch, our Aaron is Blight, and our fearless, fear-striking leader is the Phantom Blot."
"Another one?" Timberwolf asked. "They're just popping out of the woodwork."
"We're also known as the Negahorn's best destroyers." the Phantom Blot said. "I see you've stumbled upon her special little guest. Yeah, the Golden Apple did her already-awesome magic wonders. However, it didn't seem to restore his mind. A minor setback for her master plan."
"Master plan?" Radiance asked. "What master plan, and what does Anar D have to do with it? And why are you going along with this?"
"Sorry, telling you the plan would be a big spoiler." the Phantom Blot said. "And as for the reason we're doing this... Hit it, boys."
Circling the heroes, the Malicious Machines set up for a song.

"You're a long way from home"
"Hey, listen up. We're praising our sins" the Phantom Blot sang,
"We love this world, because here, evil always wins"
"True, instead of cheers, we just get screams" Direoak sang.
"But that's just us living the dream" Torch sang.
"I'm large, scary, and proud" Bruticus sang.
"I'm happy to stand out and decimate a crowd" Blight sang.
"My jokes are a killer. I do have the knack" Shifter sang,
"AND IF YOU DON'T LAUGH, I'LL MAKE YOU CRACK"
"This is definitely" the Malicious Machines sang
"Most incredibly
The greatest fun that I've ever had
See, it's no use
Being a goody two-shoes
'Cause it feels so good to be so bad"
"I'm hungry and mean. I think it's funny" Bruticus sang,
"I'm so vicious, I give Cujo a run for his money"
"I get a thrill off of scams and tricks" Direoak sang.
"And making others feel hopeless gives me my kicks" Blight sang.
"This is definitely" the Malicious Machines sang,
"Most incredibly
The greatest fun that I've ever had
See, it's no use
Being a goody two-shoes
'Cause it feels so good to be so bad"
"When you got no trace left of pony-anity" Shifter sang,
"Your only choice is to go through insanity"
"When you only burn, you learn the hard way" Torch sang. 
"That the world did this, so it has to paaaaaaaaaaay" the Phantom Blot sang.
"This is definitely" the Malicious Machines sang,
"Most incredibly
The greatest fun that I've ever had
See,    it's no use
Being a goody two-shoes"
"It's just great" Torch sang.
"To have hate" Direoak sang.
"It's just cool" Blight sang.
"TO BE CRUEL" Shifter sang.
"IT'S PERFECT" Bruticus sang.
"TO BE A REJECT" the Phantom Blot sang.
"IT FEELS SO GOOD TO BE SO BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD" they all sang.

Suddenly, the floor shook a little, but it got everyone's attention.
"Hey, what was that?" Direoak asked.
"It's called, an opportunity, evil twins!" Masque shouted. Suddenly, he flipped backward and kicked Bruticus in his chin. He toppled backward and began to lose his balance over his evil team. Without warning, Bruticus fell onto the Malicious Machines while the heroes escaped to the next room.
"Get off of me, you metal hippo!" the Phantom Blot shouted. When Bruticus got off, the leader looked at where they went. "Find them! Find them! First one to catch them gets extra meat tonight!"
With that, the Malicious machines ran out the door and went down the hallway. What they didn't know was that as the door they just exited through creaked forward, Radiance, Masque, and Timberwolf sneaked out from behind it and proceeded down the hallway.
"Let's go." Radiance said. "We need to find out where that rumbling came from."
"Do we have to?" Timberwolf asked. "Tell you what, put me back in the cell. It was safer there. I miss my cell."
"No time to argue." Radiance said.
The three proceeded downstairs until they made it to a door.
"This room is directly underneath the zoo, all right." Masque said. "Let's make like Prince Albert and open up this can!"
"But what if it's worse than the Malicious Machines?" Timberwolf asked. "What if it's the Negahorn herself?"
Suddenly, the door just opened on its own. The heroes began to prepare for whatever they find. But instead of a foe, they found a few friendly faces.
"Princess Celestia?" Timberwolf asked. "How is that possible? We just saw you upstairs all stupid-like."
"Excuse me." Celestia said.
"It's quite a story." the orange unicorn in glasses said.
"Hey, you're that Canterlot librarian." Masque said. "Sunny-Side-Up, was it?"
"Sunburst, actually." said another voice. Everyone looked behind Sunburst and saw another unicorn with a starry-smoke Cutie Mark. The sight of her made Radiance jump.
"ARRGH! IT'S STARLIGHT!"
"Starlight?" Timberwolf asked. "Wait, that's the unicorn who tried to illegalize superheroes?"
"Calm down." Sunburst said. "Don't panic. She's on our side."
"Wait, what?" Radiance asked.
"He's right." Starlight said. "I don't want to hurt you all anymore." Hearing that brought a moment of silence in the room.
"Bum, bum, buuuuuuuum!" Masque exclaimed. "Cliffhanger!"
> Magic Memory
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Maretropolis Prison opened its doors for the five characters who entered it: Sunburst, Blue Comet, and C.R.U.S.A.D.E., which consist of Sweetie Belle (calling herself Nowhere Hare), Apple Bloom (Seedling), and Scootaloo (Turbo Girl). The guard guided them down the hallway of special cells.
"I'm surprised you want to talk to her." the guard said. "She hasn't had any visitors since she was arrested."
"I still can't believe that Starlight Glimmer, my old friend, would do something so vile as to trying to illegalize superheroes."
"Where have you been?" Turbo Girl asked. "Not only was that national news, but it happened at Canterlot too. How did you miss that?"
"I wasn't in Canterlot three years ago." Sunburst said. "I was studying abroad. And I don't have a TV."
"There's always newspapers." Blue Comet said.
"I don't read them, but they're good for covering easily-stained surfaces."
"What about other ponies?" Seedling asked. "Didn't you hear it from them?"
"I don't get out much." Sunburst said.
"I could've told you that." an eerie growl echoed from a cell. The five of them looked and saw a glass-door cell with a black creature inside. He looked like a mutant crocodile with purple eyes. Across his croc-like mouth was a clamp. He was hung in the middle of the room and above the floor by several chains that surrounded him from all angles except for the glass door.
"What the..." Sunburst said approaching the prisoner. "Who... What..."
"Will you be finishing any of these questions?" the black crocodile asked. "Good to meet you, Sunburst. My name's Kul'as."
"How do you know my name?" Sunburst asked.
"I could tell just by looking at you." Kul'as said. "I also see a lot of hero worship... superhero worship, to be exact. And what's this? Someone knows a lot about magic, but doesn't have much to spare. Is that why you're here?"
"Sunburst, don't listen to him." Blue Comet said trying to get the unicorn away. "Let's just get Starlight and we can..."
"Blue Comet!" Kul'as said. "Never thought I'd meet you face-to-face. And after all these years, still no powers. And... Whoa. Your wife is missing? And that's what you're afraid of, isn't it? That any second wasted could be her and all her friends being destroyed?"
Blue Comet kept silent. Suddenly, Turbo Girl jumped up in front of the cell.
"Ooh, do me next! Do me! What color am I thinking of?"
Kul'as gave her a disrespecting glare. "The last filly who stood this close to me... Well, I enjoyed having her for dinner, along with a nice glass of boiling-hot cidar."
"Um... I was thinking blue, creep." Turbo Girl said.
The sound of creaks were heard from the side of the demons clamps hinting a mischievous grin on his face. "I guessed aqua."
"Apologies." the guard said. "This guy has gotten ten-times as creepy since he was resurrected. The prisoner is this way." He turned his face back at Kul'as. "As for you, I'll deal with you later."
"Will you?" Kul'as asked raising an eyebrow. "Really?"
The guard tried to put on a brave face, but failed to hide his uneasiness. "No."
"Hey, don't worry about him." Blue Comet told the guard. He then pointed his hoof at another cell. "At least we won't have to hear from that monstrosity." Inside the other cell was a spherical orb with a black blob inside. It kept making monster noises trying to force its way out.
"What is that thing?" Sunburst asked.
"Let's just say it caused a lot of trouble for our friends." Blue Comet said. "Not having much luck escaping though... ARE YOU, YOU RORSCHACH REJECT?!" He jumped back when the blob hit the sphere towards him.
The blob then formed a monstrous face. "Just you wait." it growled. "When I get out of here, you will all feel the wrath of the Phantom Blot!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Turbo Girl said pushing everyone away. "I'll mark it on my calendar."
As they went further down the hallway, they stopped at the end when they came across a cell with a certain unicorn in it: the one they were looking for.
"Starlight?" Sunburst asked hoping it wasn't his old friend.
The unicorn turned to the voice and gasped when she recognized him. "Sunburst? What... What are you doing here?"
"I was about to ask you the same question." Sunburst replied. "What's this I hear about being an illegal radio pirate and leading a strike against superheroes and attempting to assault the Princess of the Night? What were you thinking?"
"Oh." Starlight said getting back to her upset face. "So you're still on their side."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sunburst asked.
"Nothing." Starlight said. "Why are you here? Surely, it isn't a courtesy."
"Well... you're right." Sunburst said. He leaned in to whisper. "Don't let this spread, but the Power Ponies and Mighty Machines have gone missing. They were fighting the Sisterhood when... something happened. We're working on a spell at Canterlot to find them and bring them back, but we're missing a unicorn of powerful magic. And you're the most powerful unicorn I know."
"So that's it?" Starlight asked. "You think you can just ask and I'll just help the very ponies who's fault it is that I'm stuck here behind bars."
"Hey!" Seedling shouted. "You brought the 'behind bars' part on yourself!"
"Everybody calm down." Sunburst said. "Look, Starlight, I'm paying your bail as a sign of good faith. But I'm not going to bargain for your help. You have to decide on it."
Starlight sighed and responded. "Okay, look. If we can't discuss the problem here, then after this, we talk more about this at... Where?"
"How about my library?" Sunburst asked. "It's closed for today and I've got the only key."
"Okay." Starlight sighed.
"You're really going to trust her with her freedom?" Turbo Girl asked. "She did a lot of damage."
"So I've heard." Sunburst said. "But she's my friend. I know I can reach her."
The door opened up and Sunburst handed the guard a file. He looked it over and nodded his head. And with that, Starlight was free to walk alongside Sunburst and C.R.U.S.A.D.E.
Kul'as' eyes widened seeing Starlight pass by with the group. "Why does she get to leave here? I can't even get food; yet, she gets to leave?"
"Yeah! Maybe I would be less eager to break out of here if you let me actually move around in my cell." Phantom Blot yelled before the guard walked to the cell and turned up its heat with a knob on the side. Just then, when the Phantom Blot's walls turned red, the monster began to liquefy.
"Just ignore them."





"So this is your job nowadays?" Starlight asked observing the dozens of shelves across the room. "I kinda took you as the type who would become like a... royal wizard or something."
"Yeah, that may be how it looked when we were young and I first got my Cutie Mark," Sunburst said, "But the truth is, as soon as I got into magic school, I realized my magic was only for knowledge and books. So... Are you in?"
"Sunburst, I know you love superheroes." Starlight said. "When we were kids, you hung posters and collected toys about the original Power Ponies and the Wonderbolts and Team Colors. But you need to understand, Sunburst. They're more super than heroes always stopping criminals their way just to be in the spotlight.. All they really care about are themselves."
"Hey!" Nowhere Mare exclaimed. "Me and my team resemble that remark! You can't just say that we're selfish."
"Yeah." Turbo Girl said. "What did we ever do to you? Besides, superheroes protect the community. We put others before our own."
"Oh, really?" Starlight asked with obvious disbelief. "Give me one example."
"You want an example?" Seedling asked. "Here's one.

"The Pish Posh Brothers faked some docs
From multiple banks
Making it seem like my family was in debt
Than Mistress Marevelous cleaned their clocks
Then we gave our thanks
Heroes the best kind of ponies yet"
"They're the best" CRUSADE sang,
"They're the best
Off to protect the rest
So awesome. So honest
They're the best"
"I was worried I'd always be grounded" Turbo Girl sang,
"With my wings, so very small
Then Gryphon Galore made a hostage out of me
Zapp confronted her and pounded
And saved me from a fall
And now, I can feel very free"
"They're the best" C.R.U.S.A.D.E. sang,
"They're the best
Getting rid of criminal pests
From the east to the west
They're the..."
"QUIET" Starlight sang,
"Maybe you don't realize that superheroes are snobs
Who got the blind support of the police
They have no idea that they're running out of jobs
So do stop kidding yourselves, please"
"NEVER" C.R.U.S.A.D.E. sang,
"THEY'RE THE BEST"
"NOT THE BEST" Starlight sang.
"THEY'RE..." C.R.U.S.A.D.E. sang.
"DEFINATELY NOT THE BEST" Starlight sang.
"THEY'RE A PRAYER" C.R.U.S.A.D.E. sang.
"NOT SO BLESSED" Starlight sang.
"THEY SAVE LIVES" C.R.U.S.A.D.E. sang.
"DO NOT JEST" Starlight sang angrily,
"THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING
BUT BOOST THEIR LARGE EGOS
HOW COME ONLY I CAN SEE IT
HOW COME NOBODY ELSE KNOWS
SO COCKY AND EGOTISTIC
SO WILD AND BALLISTIC
THEY'RE THE WORST
THEY TOOK SUNBURST"

"Wait, what?" Sunburst asked in confusion.
When Starlight realized the last thing she said, she froze and her face turned red. She immediately ran off to another room.
"What did she just say?" Turbo Girl asked.
"If I didn't know any better," Nowhere Mare said, "I'd say that sounded like she..."
"Give me a minute." Sunburst said.





After a minute, Sunburst entered the other room alone. Inside, he found Starlight staring at a book cover.
"The Values of a Hero by Star-Swirl the Bearded." Starlight read. She then gave a slight chuckle. "How could one unicorn be so powerful and so full of knowledge? Sunburst, whatever you're thinking..."
"I'm just trying to make sense of what I heard." Sunburst said. "When you said that heroes took me away from you... what does that mean?"
"For a smart pony, you sure are slow." Starlight said. "Look, you want the truth? Fine. I've always..." She breathed deeply. "...Considered you as more than a friend."
"Say... what now?" Sunburst asked.
"You heard me, and I'm too embarrassed to say it again." Starlight said. "Look, I've always admired how smart you were and how much you cared for me. You've always made time and you've stood up for me when I was nervous. But when superheroes started to fight crime, you became more and more distant from me with your hero worship. You even studied magic so you could find a way to help them. Soon enough, you couldn't even talk to me because you wanted to... 'help the heroes'. I lost contact with you after you enrolled in magic school. I've blamed the heroes ever since."
Sunburst was, at first, at a loss for words. He couldn't figure out what to say. Then, he did.
"You know... I kinda felt the same way."
"What?" Starlight asked. "I don't think so. Remember, you were so obsessed with heroes, you didn't have time for me."
"But do you know why I admired the heroes, Starlight?" Sunburst asked. "The truth is, I owe them my life... because they saved yours."
"Say... what now?" Starlight repeated Sunburst's earlier response.
"It's true." Sunburst said. "Do you remember how superheroes first emerged? We were both there that day. In Maretropolis. When we were fillies. Cerberus just broke from his post in Tartarus and attacked our town. We were right underneath a building that he jumped through and it could've collapsed on top of us. I got out, but you were too scared to move. Then, suddenly, a mysterious superhero called Supermare flew in and used her mental superpowers to move the rubble just long enough for you to work up the nerve to escape. When I realized I could've lost you... I guess that's when I realized how much I really care about you. That's why I like superheroes so much. But you're right. I guess I did love heroes too much for you. If I had known... Why didn't you tell me?"
"I... I suppose I didn't want a disagreement to drift us apart." Starlight said. "I... I'm sorry. Is any of that true?"
"Every word." Sunburst said. "Let me tell you something...

"I was wrapped up in a worship for heroes
'Cause they did what I could not
Never knowing how it would ever affect you
But I've neglected everyone so close
Until I almost forgot
I wish there was something I could do"

"But there's something that I do know, Starlight...

"You're the best
You're the best
Whatever you do, I'm impressed
Heroes are great to depend
But you are a true friend
No need to put you to the test
'Cause you're... the... beeeeeeeeest"

As the song ended, the two shared a sweet embrace. When they separated, Starlight smiled and spoke. "All right. I'll help. What do I have to do?"





About an hour later, Starlight joined Moondancer and Sunset Shimmer around the magic circle drawn around the broken-down bomb.
"So you're gonna help us?" Sunset asked.
"Yes." Starlight answered. "I'm going to help the Ponies and Machines."
"All right then." Moondancer said. "Princess Celestia, we're ready."
"Excellent." Princess Celestia said. "Now--once again--concentrate your magic on the ring."
Like earlier, the unicorns (with Starlight substituting for Sunburst) closed their eyes and pointed their horns at the outline of the circle. A light escaped from each of their horns in the form of their own colors and hit the circle surrounding the bomb. The circle glowed brightly, and even brighter than before, and before long, a colorful dome surrounded the bomb. A spark of lightning then shot from it and opened a white circle in the middle of the air. A spiral appeared in the circle and glowed. The three unicorns walked away from the circle and observed the portal along with everyone else.
"It worked." Celestia exclaimed in joy. "It really worked."
"What's it mean?" Princess Cadence asked.
"It means that whatever happened with the bomb has sent my pupil and her friends to another realm." Celestia explained. "We have to retrieve them. A three-pony team would be more ideal. Since the Masked Matterhorn was my pupil, I should go along."
"It might be dangerous wherever they are." Sunburst said. "You might need my quick thinking."
"And I've done a lot of harm to the Power Ponies years ago." Starlight added. "I owe them a lot."
"Very well." Celestia said. "Luna, Cadence, it's up to you to look after the kingdom while I'm gone. Sunset Shimmer, Moondancer, keep an eye on the portal. It might be our only way back, and we can't risk it closing."
"You can count on us." Moondancer said.
"All right." Celestia said staring at the portal with Sunburst and Starlight. "Let's save our heroes."
> Cloak and Dagger
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So wait." Timberwolf said. "You're telling me that all that trouble you caused a few years ago... was just because of crush issues?"
"Hey, I already apologized like a dozen times." Starlight said. "The point is, I'm going to help you get back home. Now, where are the others?"
"We don't know." Radiance answered. "We got separated after the evil uses captured the three of us."
"Hold on." Celestia said. "The evil what?"
"Oh, yeah." Masque said nervously. "Yeah, it turns out this world is ruled by evil Power Pony doubles, and we also ran into evil Mighty Machine doubles and dumb doubles of our friends and family. You know, typical March Madness."
"What the..." Sunburst said. "That makes no sense. You ran into what?"
"We'll send you a memo!" Timberwolf said. "If you just came out of a portal back home, we need to go now!"
"Hold on." Radiance said. "Not without the others."
"Yeah." Masque said.
"GAAAAH!" Timberwolf groaned. "I hate it when you use friendship against me. But where do we go? We have no idea how to get out of here or where our friends are."
"You forget." Masque said. "We've got a princess here. We should be A-OK."
"All right." Princess Celestia said. "Let's find the others."





In another part of the castle, two sets of bricks separated and a group of ponies and wirewolves walked from behind. The two teams looked at each other and went their separate ways.





"You saw the prisoners... and you let them get away?" the Negahorn asked the Phantom Blot, who stared up at the Peril Ponies up their thrones with fear in his mechanical eyes.
"You... you don't understand, m'lady." the Phantom Blot said nervously. "There was a tremor. We were caught off balance."
"Blah, blah, blah, excuses, excuses, etc." Vile-osity said.
"As the former Element of Honesty," Ms. Fortune said, "I must say that story is as bad as a worm crawling in an apple."
"But..."
"Butts are for saddles, mutt!" Boom exclaimed.
"You want to make it up to us, Blot?" the Negahorn asked. "Here's your redemption: find the prisoners and do one of two things. Either send them back to the prison... or send them six feet under. Otherwise, you and your pack will have the latter. Am I clear?"
Shaking in his metal, the Phantom Blot nodded his head. "Crystal."
"Good." the Negahorn said. "Now, everyone, get out of my sight."
"Us?" Glamour asked. "Why us?"
"Because I said." the Negahorn growled menacingly as she lifted the Golden Apple.
"Whoop." Ms. Fortune yelped. "For those of you who don't want to see what she has planned for us, let's get back to our jobs."
"I don't know." Vile-Osity said. "I kinda want to know what she's got."
"Let's just go." Wrath said chomping on the pink villain's tail and dragging her out with the others.
The Negahorn sighed and admired the Golden Apple. She then looked out the window and down onto her kingdom. She had no idea that right above her, Bell Weather's team hung from the ceiling. The team leader gestured her hoof down signaling the Masked Matterhorn to quietly float down behind the Negahorn's throne. But as soon as the good alicorn sets hoof on the floor, the evil one detected the other one's presence and sighed once more.
"You are either just as courageous and dumber than I was." the Negahorn said. She flew down from her throne and confronted her good counterpart. "What are you doing here?"
"Can't you guess?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"You and I may share an identity," the Negahorn said, "But that doesn't mean I know every thought you're currently having. I don't even know how different your world is to mine. Now, what's possessing you to do something this stupid?"
"I just want to talk." the Matterhorn said. "Twilight to Twilight."
The Negahorn thought for a moment before setting her apple firmly on her throne. "Let me guess. You want me to change back to good? That's what I'd do."
"Twilight, this is not you." the Matterhorn said. "Ricky told me about the Golden Apple. Obviously, that's what's urging you to do this. This power is corrupting you."
"Is that what you think this is about?" the Negahorn asked. "Sorry, but you're mistaken. I've been considering using force long before I got the Golden Apple." She approached the window and looked out. "This world may have been granted freedom, but that only gave my enemies the right to do whatever they wanted. And what could heroes do? Just stop whatever they were presently doing just so they can do it again in the future?"
"The system works."
"For today's criminals, yeah. But every day, many more ponies and other creatures are born, and not all of them turn out to be angels. If you want them to respect you, you have to show them exactly what you can do."
"I'm not looking for respect. I do this because it's the right thing to do."
"Well, I guess that's one difference between our worlds." the Negahorn scoffed. "You're even more naïve than I ever was. Wake up. The best way to bring peace to the world, you must have complete control over it."
"Even if it means being what you've been fighting all these years?"
"Of course! It takes a villain to be rid of villains. In this case, doing the wrong thing is the right thing."
"Twilight, I understand. I tried to force villains to change, but all it did what show me what happens when one has too much control." The hero looked and saw the deep thought the villain was having. Meanwhile, the Resistance team stealthily snuck near the throne where the Apple was. The Masked Matterhorn had to keep talking and keep the Negahorn's attention away from the Golden Apple. "I know that the ends may seem impossible and this battle with evil could go on forever, but there are better ways to fight it than just doing the easy way.

"I won't pretend I understand
All the pain that you've been through
The sad tale of the Negahorn
But I can try to be there for you
I can help you out of the dark
You can make up for your mistakes
You just need to trust again
Deep down, I know, you did not forsake
Place faaaaaiiiiiiith aaaaagaaaaaiiiiiiiin
Do not hate aaaaagaaaaaiiiiiiiin
It's a fact, as ponies say, that friiiiiiieeeeendshiiiiiiip iiiiiiiiiis..."

The Negahorn looked remorseful for a second, but then changed her expression with a dark color completely shrouding her eyes. The Masked Matterhorn was confused before being shrugged away by her evil counterpart. In a sudden, Team A paused and climbed back up.

"Do you really think that I can go back to the lies" the Negahorn sang,
"Do you really think I want to remain meek
Every pony else is an enemy in my eyes
The strong survive and stand over the weak"
"You and I are one and the same" the Matterhorn sang,
"You don't have to remain dark and hide"
"All you and I share is a face and a name" the Negahorn sang,
"I say you should embrace your dark side"
"I'm telling you, you can't remain evil" the Matterhorn sang,
"I'm telling you to let go of your rage
Your broiling hatred is your own caaaaaaaaaaaage"
"You see hatred as a bad thing. I see it as a shove" the Negahorn sang,
"Don't you know it feels good to be baaaaaaad
Equestria's rotten to the core! It's no place for love
This is the push that makes me feel glaaaaaaaaaaaad"
"Please, don't let the Apple take control" the Matterhorn sang,
"You have to make the choice yourself"
"No fruit is making me claim my role" the Negahorn sang,
"And I certainly don't need anyone else"
"You've got to realize this is going too far" the Matterhorn sang,
"You're taking the happiness from everyone
I'm begging you, you need to release the suuuuuuuuuuun"
"I wooooooon't lighten the darkness" the Negahorn sang.
"WAIT" the Matterhorn sang.
"I wooooooon't go back to how I was" the Negahorn sang.
"PLEASE" the Matterhorn sang.
"Equestria will forever know darkness" the Negahorn sang,
"Because this is exactly what a villain dooooooeeeeeeees"
"I'M BEGGING" the Matterhorn sang,
"END THE PAIN! FREE THE WORLD"
"I WILL NEVER! I WON'T STEP DOWN" the Negahorn sang.
"PRINCESSES PROTECT THEIR LAND" the Matterhorn sang.
"BUT EQUESTRIA IS MY PLAYGROUND" the Negahorn sang.
"PLEASE, TWILIGHT! BE GOOD AGAIN" the Matterhorn sang.
"I'M BETTER NOW THAT I WAS THEN" the Negahorn sang.
"DOOOOON'T BE A SCORN" the Matterhorn sang.
"I'M MORE THAN THAT! I'M THE NEGAHORN" the Negahorn sang.

"YOU'RE NOT EVIL!" the Masked Matterhorn shouted.
"YES, I AM!" the Negahorn returned.
"PLEASE, TWILIGHT!" the Masked Matterhorn begged, "YOU'LL DESTROY EQUESTRIA!
"YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE I WOULDN'T WANT IT!" the Negahorn replied with great pride.
Suddenly, the argument was interrupted by the sound of something hitting the ground. They looked and saw the resistance team staring angrily at the Hair-oine for dropping a hairclip.
"Hair-oine!" Bell Weather shouted.
"I didn't do it!" the Hair-oine denied.
"So... that's your big play?" the Negahorn asked. "Well then..." Her horn started to glow.
"NO!" Bell Weather shouted as she flew towards the Golden Apple. She was close too, but the Apple flew out of her reach and towards the Negahorn.
Suddenly, as the Negahorn was close on claiming back the Golden Apple, the Masked Matterhorn blasted her away and caught the Apple with her own magic. The Negahorn got back up and glared her her double with anger.
"Give that back!" the Negahorn said. "I can't destroy you all without it!"
"Wow, you're crazier than I am if you think you need a shiny fruit to beat us." the Hair-oine said. "Why don't you use your own magic?"
"You don't understand." the Negahorn said. "Just give it back!"
"Never!" the Masked Matterhorn said. "If this is what it takes to end your tyranny then..." She was interrupted when the Negahorn tackled her.
When the Matterhorn fell, she accidently threw the Golden Apple across the air. It then fell into the hairy tendrils of the Hair-oine's mane.
"NO!" the Negahorn shouted.
"Good job, Hair-oine!" Bell Weather said. "Now, finish her off." Everyone waited for a moment, but there was nothing. "Now!"
"Actually..." the Hair-oine replied with a sinister grin. Suddenly, her hair extensions then wrapped around the other resistance members and the Masked Matterhorn. She then constricted her hair and tightened around them. "I was thinking... this could get us a good partnership with these better superponies."
"What?" the Negahorn asked as she was approaching the Hair-oine.
"Hair-oine!" Bell Weather shouted. "What's the meaning of this?!"
"Oh, no." the Masked Matterhorn gasped. "That's not the Hair-oine. That's the Mane-iac! Our Mane-iac!"
"Bingo!" the traitor shouted. "Like the ol' switcheroo?"
"So, you're on my side now?" the Negahorn asked.
"Oh, yeah." the Mane-iac said giving the Golden Apple to the Negahorn. "We both are."
"Both?" Hum Drum asked. "Wait... That means..."
"Team B is walking into a trap!" Bell Weather shouted.





"All right." the Serene Sorceress said. "I think we're almost there." Team B was passing through many hallways until they came across a big door with gears and chains. "The dungeon should be right through this door. Gryphon, punch it down."
"Me?" Gryphon Goodness asked. "You think I can punch down something that big?"
"You've punched down bigger in the Resistance." the Serene Sorceress said. "Don't you remember?"
"Oh, I'm sure she's just nervous." Zapp said. "Almost as nervous as the Junior Speedsters flight camp rally on our first year. Remember that, old friend."
"Do I ever?" Gryphon Goodness replied.
"Well, maybe you can tell us about it?" Zapp asked.
"What?" the Serene Sorceress asked.
"Zapp, I don't think this is the appropriate time or place to tell stories." Devastator said.
"Just tell us, Gilda." Zapp said. "You know, for the fun of it."
The gryphon sighed. "All right. There were four sets of hoops on top of each other; each one representing one of the four elements or something. Anyway, air, water, fire, or earth, Rainbow Dash and I zigged and zagged until we both finished at the same time. That was the first time in the whole day the crowd actually stood up. Of course, I was nervous, but before we got out there, Rainbow Dash reminded me that there were worse things that compared to facing failure, the coarse was nothing. Isn't that right, Zapp?"
"Yeah." Zapp replied. "That's exactly what happened..." She then replaced her smile with a suspicious look. "...Except for one difference: that didn't happen here!" Gryphon Goodness widened her eyes in shock. "Apparently, in this world, I got sick the day of the rally. But you couldn't have known about that if you were really from my world."
"What?" Filli-Second asked.
"What's she talking about?" Mistress Marevelous asked.
"Well..." the gryphon said nervously. "Obviously she... I mean that I was talking about..." She sighed. "Oh, forget it!" Her yellow claws then glowed and broke open a hole in the ground. While most fell in, Gryphon Galore and Zapp flew above it.
"So I was right!" Zapp shouted. "You are Gryphon Galore!"
"How did you figure it out?" Gryphon Galore asked.
"I first got suspicious when the Gilda in the cage (which I'm guessing is the real Gryphon Goodness) was tapping a certain pattern on the metal bars. I recognized it as the old flight school chant."
"That made you suspicious?" Gryphon Galore asked.
"Well, I couldn't just get it out of my head." Zapp replied. "Then, I remembered something. Earlier at the mission briefing, you didn't know who the Malicious Machines were. Either you have a really bad memory, or you're just a fake."
"Well, I'm guessing those are the Malicious Machines right behind you." Gryphon Galore said with a smug grin.
"Yeah, right!" Zapp said. "Do you really think I'd fall for..." She was interrupted by a swarm of evil little critters made of metal that jumped on her. The Malicious Machines really were there and, with Gryphon Galore, successfully captured Team B.
"Told ya so." Gryphon Galore gloated.





A few moments later, the captured Resistance teams were tied up and held by the Negahorn, who stood over them with pride. Behind her, the Mane-iac and Gryphon Galore were also proud of what they had done. There was also the rest of the Peril Ponies and the Malicious Machines there as well.
"So... what now?" Filli-Second asked.
"First thing first." the Negahorn said turning to the double-crossers. "As a reward for your sudden example of deception, the two of you have earned a place on the table."
"Woot-woot!" the Mane-iac proclaimed.
What they didn't know was that in the ceiling, Radiance, Masque, Timberwolf, Celestia, Starlight, and Sunburst hung above looking at the crowd.
"Now what?" Timberwolf asked.
"We've got to save them." Celestia said. "Masque, can you change into one of those guards?"
Masque changed. "Do you need to ask?"
"Good." Celestia said. "Now, try to get behind the heroes and untie them. Radiance, see if you can't quietly knock the Peril Ponies unconscious. Starlight, Sunburst, the two of you prepare an escape."
"Does it have to be this complicated?" Timberwolf asked. "Why don't you go after them? Also, what part will I have to play?"
"The Negahorn is unstable and with that relic, I'm not sure how powerful she is." Celestia explained. "We can't afford to be cautious. As for your part, you and I must oversee the plan. Just hold your position."
"Best part of the plan, in my opinion." Timberwolf said.
"Now, then," the Negahorn said as she addressed the turncoats, "Why don't you tell me some information? Like, where is the rebel base, and how did they manage to sneak in here?"
"Well, an anonymous tip told them about a secret tunnel that leads here." Gryphon Galore said.
"You don't say." the Negahorn said.
"And as for the base, don't ask us." the Mane-iac said. She and her partner pulled out two folded-up pieces of paper. "Just use these."
"What are these?" the Negahorn asked.
"No, don't!" Bell Weather said.
"It's some kind of magic rune that brings ponies to their destination." Gryphon Galore said ignoring the protests. "Simply place your hoof on it, and you and your friends are brought to the base."
"Really?" the Negahorn said. "Well, I'll be darned."
"Twilight, don't..." the Masked Matterhorn attempted to say.
"You know, the only reason I kept you alive," the Negahorn interrupted with the Apple glowing, "Was to see the sort of pony I'd become if I stayed good. Now... I have no regrets. Goodbye." She pointed her apple and a ray shot out.
"NO!" Princess Celestia shouted as she jumped down and landed in front of the beam. The shot struck the princess and she slammed into the wall before falling unconscious.
"NOOOOOO!" the Shadow Blot gasped in fright.
"PRINCESS!" the Masked Negahorn gasped as well.
"What the..." the Negahorn said. She looked up to where Celestia dropped down from and saw Timberwolf just sitting there petrified with fear. The Peril Ponies suddenly heard a gasp and saw Radiance right behind them. Ms. Fortune subdued her quickly. Masque was so shocked, he dropped his disguise and was captured by the guards surrounding him. No one put up another fight for the fright that she just saw.
"More invaders from the other world?" the Negahorn asked. "Seize them! Lock them up!" The Malicious Machines then dragged them out of the room. "The rest of you, get ready. We're about to end the Resistance once and for all."
"Can we help?" the Mane-iac asked. "I've been told I have quite a knack for ending Resistances."
"Told by who?" Gryphon Galore asked mockingly.
"No." the Negahorn said. "I've got a special little job for you. And trust me, it's going to be magnificent."
Outside of the room, Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer were watching the heroes taken away with an injured Princess Celestia.
"That didn't quite go as planned." Sunburst said nervously. "What now?"
"Now..." Starlight said. "I guess it's our turn to be heroes. We're saving them ourselves."
> Jailhouse Serenade
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Negahorn looked down from her tower balcony looking down at a large, concrete platform under construction. As she grinned, she noticed Tartus entering the room.
"You called for me, Negahorn?" Tartus asked as he approached the Negahorn. "What might it be about?"
"Tartus, may I introduce our newest allies." The Negahorn gestured her hoof at the Mane-iac and Gryphon Galore in their natural costumes. "These two are from the other Equestria and they kindly gave away our doubles and the entire resistance."
"Really?" Tartus asked.
"Right now, Vile-Osity and Ms. Fortune are rounding up the camp for any rebels and bringing them here to face judgement. But in the meantime, we need to go over something."
"What's that?" Tartus asked.
"I just realized there's a mole in my castle. Just yesterday, someone anonymous called the Resistance and told them about a secret entrance into the castle. That's how they came this far."
"Yeah, and they would've succeeded too if me and Hairy Mary here hadn't decided to turn the tables on them." Gryphon Galore added.
"Hairy Mary?" the Mane-iac asked turning her head at all directions. "Where? She owes me 50 bits."
"Anyway," the Negahorn said rolling her eyes, "Someone betrayed me. And I'm going to find out who and why."
"Very well." Tartus said. "Where do we start?"
"Just this." the Negahorn said. Suddenly, she shot an energy beam from the Golden Apple that wrapped around Tartus. He tried to break out, or at least slip out, but the beam wouldn't allow him.
"What's the meaning of this?!" Tartus asked in his struggle.
"Don't think I'm an idiot, Tartus!" the Negahorn said. "I confronted Vile-Osity about her tunnel, and she told me she only told one person: you."
Tartus paused for a moment before chuckling for a bit. "Honestly, I didn't think anyone would take her seriously if she confessed."
"At first, I didn't." the Negahorn said. "But then, I remembered, the anonymous tip was given to the rebels shortly after you came back to this world. Either that's a pretty big coincidence or..."
"Or I am the snitch." Tartus said. "Bravo, my student. I tip my hat to you... figuratively speaking, of course."
"Why?" the Negahorn asked. "You taught me everything I know. You gave me the Golden Apple. You arranged for my empire to be born. And now that I'm at the peak of my master plan... you want to stop me. Why?"
"Well, you're a smart princess, your majesty." Tartus said. "Figure it out. But here's a clue: those you cannot do... teach."
"Fine." the Negahorn snarled. "Don't tell me. You can just see me as I unleash my wrath across multiple worlds. Guards!" Two guards marched in and grabbed Tartus. "Take him to the dungeon with the others!"
"Yes, ma'am." the guards said simultaneously as they dragged Tartus out.





"No, no, no!" the Shadow Blot said in fear as he paced around his cell. The other Mighty Machines were looking over Celestia's wounded, unconscious body. "Is she going to be all right?"
"Dang it, Rick! I'm a wirewolf, not a doctor!" Timberwolf responded. "None of us minored in anything medical."
"Can't you heal her?" the Shadow Blot asked. "You heal yourself all the time."
"First of all, I'm self-conscious about that." Timberwolf said. "Secondly, even if I am capable of healing others, I couldn't. These bars are enchanted to soak up magic and superpowers when they're in use. Which means if I'm decapitated, I'm definitely a dead dog. I can't heal myself, let alone an alicorn princess."
In another cell, the Power Ponies were sulking on the ground.
"Really?" Saddle Rager asked. "You found Anar D... alive?"
"Indeed." Radiance said. "He was living and breathing... but he seemed to have lost all his marbles. He's even stranger than he was before."
"And the Negahorn... what? Brought him back to life? Just like that?" Zapp asked.
"Apparently." Radiance answered. "The Negahorn brought him back for... some reason. I don't know why, and Anar D was no help at all."
"Blunder said this Equestria doesn't have any version of Anar D." Hum Drum said. "Maybe that has something to do with it. What do you think, Double-M? Matterhorn?" His partner didn't answer. He noticed she was staring at the ground sadly. "Twilight, you gotta pick yourself up."
"I can't believe how stupid I was." the Masked Matterhorn said miserably. "I thought I could make her good again. I thought I could reason with her. But it's too late. She's rotten to the core. And because of me, the whole plan failed and Princess Celestia got hurt."
"Come on, Matterhorn." Mistress Marevelous said. "Don't beat yourself over it."
"Yeah." Filli-Second said. "That's what the Peril Ponies are for."
"The point is, we need you up so that we can escape." Marevelous continued. "We need a..."
Suddenly, the door opened revealing two guards dragging in Tartus with a black bag over his head. They opened the Mighty Machines' cell and threw him in. Tartus removed his bag and revealed himself much to the surprise of the wirewolves. He grinned nervously and chuckled softly.
"Long time, no see."
"You." the Shadow Blot growled as he approached Tartus. "Now, it makes sense."
"Now, Ricky," Tartus said nervously, "Let's just calm down and take a breath before one of us does something they're gonna regret." He was interrupted when the leader of the Mighty Machines grabbed his collar with one hand and pushed him against the bars. The Power Ponies noticed it and reacted.
"Hey, what's going on?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "Why are you attacking him?"
"Girls, I'd like you introduce you to... Tartus." the Shadow Blot said. "We met him at the Neatherealm! This scumbag was working with our enemies in finding the Golden Apple! Pretty big coincidence that both this guy and the Golden Apple happen to be in the same world, right?"
"Okay, okay!" Tartus said. "Look, I am responsible for the Negahorn gaining possession of the Apple, but I am an enemy of hers just like you."
"Yeah, right!" Dusk said. "Why should we believe you?"
"Open your eyes and think with your head for a minute." Tartus said. "If I wasn't on your side, then why did she send me down here with the rest of you all? And if I wasn't on your side, why did I tell your Resistance friends about the secret tunnel?"
"What?" the Shadow Blot asked. "You... You tried to help us? Why? And no word play!"
"Just let me go, and I'll tell you everything." Tartus said.
Against his better judgement, Ricky decided to let the man go. He released his claws and let Tartus straighten out his collar.
"Now, as for my being here," Tartus said, "I gave the Negahorn the Golden Apple years ago, but on occasion, I had to borrow it for my own deeds. But now, the Negahorn has become to drunk with its power."
"Why'd you give it to her in the first place?" Rodan asked.
"Well... that's... a little hard to explain." Tartus said. "See, I need her to do something to the Apple, something only she can do."
"That's vague, borderline cryptic." Devastator said.
"Hey, look at the pet." Tartus mocked. "He can speak... and understand intermediate vocabulary."
"You're getting off-topic, Tartus." the Shadow Blot said. "When we first met, you told me you had something against me. What did I ever do to you?"
"You still haven't figured it out?" Tartus asked. "Well, I can't tell you just yet. It would just confuse you."
"I don't know." the Masked Matterhorn said from the other cell. "I'm a pretty smart alicorn. Does any of this have anything to do with Anar D coming back to life?"
"Trust me, I have no involvement in that." Tartus said. "That's the Negahorn's own plan."
"Really?" Hum Drum asked. "And I don't suppose you happen to know what it is?"
"Unfortunately, no." Tartus said. "They don't tell me anything. All I know is, the Negahorn's going to use him to spread her wrath across the Multiverse." He stopped when he saw the wounded princess on the ground. "That doesn't look good."
The Shadow Blot stopped for a minute to look down at Celestia. "I'm sorry." he said.
In the other cell, the Masked Matterhorn sighed and walked toward the corner. "Me too." she whispered.
The Shadow Blot sighed. He knelt down and brushed his claw against her rainbow hair.

"Never shown it
But I've known it
And I've come this far
In my heart
I love you in my heart
See, I've always
Spent all my days
Being torn apart
But in my heart
I've had you in my heart
I've been frightened
'Cause we're good friends
But I've wanted more
I wanted an understanding
'Cause I love you in my heart
In my heart, it's not easy
In my heart, I'm getting queasy
In my heart
There's a beating that won't cease
In my heart
In my heart
I'll go on in my heart
I love you in my heart
In my heart, it's not easy
In my heart, I'm getting queasy
In my heart
There's a beating that won't cease
In my heart
In my heart"

He stopped singing when he felt a hoof press against his metal claw. He opened his eyes seeing Celestia looking at him with joy in her own. Though it pained her side, she sat back up. The others (except for Tartus) was elated to see her okay.
"Celestia!" he gasped nervously. "I'm not sure how much of that you heard, but..."
Celestia stopped him by placing her hoof on his metal mouth. She then continued the song.

"If I'd known sooner
I'd have shown you
That even in the dark
In my heart
I love you in my heart"
"Now that I know" both sang,
"We can finally go
And make a brand new start
You're always in my life
And you're always in my heart
In my heart
Iiiiiiiiiiin myyyyyyyyyyyyy heeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaart"

They leaned in about to kiss each other... before Tartus interrupted.
"Yeah, boo-hoo. You finally have that moment where you both realize how you feel about each other like everyone else knew. But there's still the matter of us being prisoners, and as much as I respect the power of music, adorable serenades won't get us out of here."
"You interrupted a romantic moment after we've waited so long?" Masque asked. "Oh, you really are evil!"
"Are we late to the party?" a voice called from outside the cells. Suddenly, Starlight and Sunburst walked from the shadows.
"Starlight! Sunburst!" Timberwolf shouted. "Thank goodness you're here! These cells are filled with jerks, regrets, and mushy stuff."
"Can you get us out of here?" Celestia asked.
"No problem." Starlight said. "You can't use any magic in those cells, but out here, it's just a simple lockpicking spell." Two blue beams were zapped out of her horn and hit the locks.
"Hey." Zapp whispered to Radiance. "Are you sure we should trust her?"
"If the princess trusts her, that's enough for me." Radiance said.
"Well, whatever the purpose, we need to find Anar D and..." the Masked Matterhorn stopped talking when she started to feel dizzy. In the other cell, the Phantom Blot had the same feeling.
Suddenly, the cells opened up and everyone cheered.
"Come on." Filli-second said. "Let's go save our friends and... Twilight?" Everyone noticed Twilight wobbling left and right like she was instantly getting tired. "What's wrong?"
"Guys, something's up with Ricky too." Rodan said pointing at Ricky's wiggling.
Suddenly, both the alicorn and the wirewolf fell to their sides and fell unconscious.
"TWILIGHT!" everyone gasped. "RICKY!"
"What happened?" Starlight asked.
"I don't know!" Sunburst said.
"What's going on, Tartus?" Dusk asked.
"Hey, I'm just as confused as the rest of you."
Just then, everyone overheard footsteps from outside the door. In panic, everyone but Starlight and Sunburst got back in their cells while the two unicorns ran back into the shadows. The guards opened the door and saw the heroes lying on the ground.
"Huh." one guard said. "I thought for sure I heard someone talking here."
"It's full of prisoners." the other guard said. "They're always talking. We're just ignoring." And with that, the two closed the door behind them leaving the heroes to look over their fallen leaders.
"Twilight!" Celestia said with a heavy breath. "Ricky! What's going on?"





Twilight and Ricky opened their eyes, but they weren't in their cells or the Peril Tower. Their entire surrounding is a black void.
"What's going on?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "Where are we?"
"I don't know." Ricky said. "We're certainly not in that dark Equestria anymore."
"Oh, but you are." a booming voice called out. The two couldn't find the source of it. Suddenly, a bright flash of yellow smoke appeared and a figure emerged. He looked human, but he wore a yellow robe and had yellow hair and beard. When he spoke, his voice wasn't as intimidating. "Or rather, your physical bodies are still in your cells. You know, after you failed to escape. Man, this just isn't your day, is it?"
"What?" the Shadow Blot asked. "Who are you?"
"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Midan. And I guess, in the most simplistic way of saying it... I'm the Golden Apple."
> Secrets of the Golden Apple
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Welcome to the Zoo." the Negahorn said as she opened the doors to the Mane-iac and Gryphon Galore. They were both surprised and scared at the aisles of dumb ponies who just stand, "neigh", and eat hay.
"You did this?" Gryphon Galore asked. "To all these ponies?"
"Yep." the Negahorn said. "You see, long before the time of princesses, ponies would merely dumb animals. But over time, our kind evolved and learned to use our magic for others. My de-evolution wouldn't be possible without my Golden Apple. But I'm not here to show you what happens to those who oppose me. Mane-iac, I need your insight on something."
"Okay." the Mane-iac said. "What is it about my silly, little noggin would you like to know about?"
As they went further down the aisle, the large cage became more clear. When the caped draconequus was completely revealed, the gryphon and the crazy mare couldn't believe their eyes.
"Oh, goody, Ms. Fairy Godmother!" Anar D cheered. "You brought more pandas for the luau!" He then materialized a grass skirt around him and danced while scatting.
"Is that who I think it is?" Gryphon Galore asked. "I thought he was..."
"He was." the Negahorn said. "Let me tell you a story. Thousands of years ago, in the dark kingdom of Tambelon, Anar D, along with the Power Ponies and some other heroes from other worlds, fought against a dark king. Now, one of the king's subjects was about to kill everyone... until Anar D blew himself up along with the enemy. He sacrificed himself to make sure his friends would bring down the evil king, destroy Tambelon, and bring peace and hope throughout the Multiverse.
"I know, it's a cheesy story, but there was more to the story. Tambelon may have been destroyed, but the physical land still existed with the ruins of the once-proud realm standing. When I learned of its existence, I told Tartus to take me and the Peril Ponies to the remains. There, I learned that even though Anar D blew up, there were still traces of his essence all around the environment. With the Golden Apple, I managed to gather up the traces and reassemble Anar D. But, even though I brought him back to life, his mind was scrambled. I had him sent here to try and restore his mind, but he just keeps getting more and more random every day."
"So in other words, he's lost even more marbles than the Mane-iac." Gryphon Galore said. "I didn't think that was physically possible."
"I need Anar D's magic for the next part of my master plan, but I can't make him do anything if he can't think straight. Which brings me to you, Mane-iac."
"Moi?" the crazy villainess asked.
"I'm hoping that someone as crazy as you could give me an insider's opinion on how to cure Anar D." the Negahorn explained. "It's a long shot, I know, but right now, I'm next to out of options."
The Mane-iac took a good look at Anar D, who just materialized a piano with whoopee-cushions for keys. While he was playing Chopsticks on them, the Mane-iac scratched her chin with one of her hair tendrils. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she grinned in a sinister tone.
"Lightbulb!" the Mane-iac declared as she returned to the Negahorn. "I have the answer you're looking for."
"Well?" the Negahorn asked. The Mane-iac leaned in to the Negahorn's ear and whispered so softly, that Gryphon Galore couldn't hear it. When the whispering stopped, the Negahorn widened her eyes before giving her a threatening glare. She raised up the Golden Apple at her and made it glow. "Are you sure?"
The Mane-iac chuckled nervously. "I'd bet my life on it."
"What?" Gryphon Galore asked. "Hey, I'm a little out of the loop. What's up?"
"If what the Mane-iac said is true," the Negahorn said, "Then there's only one way I can confirm it. And I think the two of you are going to like it."





In the black void, the Masked Matterhorn and the Shadow Blot stood in silence at the stranger named Midan.
"I can tell this raises some confusion for the two of you." Midan said. "Perhaps a change in scenery could help." He waved his hand, and suddenly, the black void of nothing had turned into a Canterlot plaza, and the three of them sat in an outdoor table. "There, a nice, familiar terrain. Maybe now, we can talk. I'm sure you have many questions."
"You have no idea." the Masked Matterhorn said.
"You said you're the Golden Apple." the Shadow Blot said. "What did you mean by that?"
"Well, basically, I am," Midan said, "But technically, I'm the power of the Golden Apple. The fruit itself is nothing more than a vessel and a conduit for my powers. That's what a Relic of Creation is for."
"A what?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"Relic of Creation." Midan repeated. "Ricky, you've heard the term before, when you first met the man called Tartus."
"I did?" Ricky asked.
He then remembered. When he first met Tartus, the stranger told him he was an expert on the Golden Apple. Ricky asked how he knew he was telling the truth and Tartus responded with, "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 stopped remembering.
"Of course." the Blot gasped. "Tartus did say something about that, but I never gave it much thought."
"The purpose of the Relics is to be carriers for the essences of myself and my two companions, Lucid and Atrum." Midan said. "We're what you might call... Primordial Forces. We've been around since Creation was even made."
"You said 'Creation'." Twilight said. "I'm guessing you're not talking about the general term?"
"You're correct." Midan reassured conjuring a cup of tea out of nowhere. "Creation is the term we used to describe the existence of anything and everything. In any world, in any time period, it doesn't matter; if it exists, it's a part of Creation, even me and you."
"And these Relics..." the Masked Matterhorn said, "What strong connection do they have with Creation?"
"Well, before the first universe was made, there were three forces of nature," Midan said, "Light, darkness, and nature. When these three existed, a part of each force was given life and mind. I myself am Midan the Nature. There is also Lucid the Light and Atrum the Darkness. We are necessarily not good or evil, only existing to make sure the elements we represent live on. Lucid the Light represents hope and light and, despite being naïve, he's willing to help those with pure reasons. Atrum the Darkness represents strength and realism. Atrum is a bit of pessimist, but he's can share his strength with those... but he tends to be a bit controlling."
The sound of that made Twilight gasp and shot straight up. "Hold on! These Relics are alive, and this Atrum makes people stronger but with a dark influence?"
"Well, he doesn't mean to be used to hurt ponies," Midan said, "But he can't help it if someone goes overboard with his power."
"Why do you ask, Twilight?" Ricky asked.
"If that's true," Twilight said, "Then I think I've seen another Relic of Creation."
"You have?" Ricky asked. "Where?"
"Three years ago, if I'm right." Midan answered for the alicorn. "You had a brief conversation with him, after you separated his relic from the Princess of the Night and the long-haired villainess."
"OF COURSE!" the Masked Matterhorn gasped. "It's... the Asteroth! The Asteroth is Atrum's Relic of Creation, is it?!"
"What?" the Shadow Blot asked in shock.
"Nice deduction, princess." Midan said. He then made illustrations out of the cream in his tea. "Allow me to explain what happened to me, Atrum, and Lucid: when Creation expanded immensely making the first universe, it became too big for our physical forms to stabilize. In order to exist, solid vessels had to be made in order to host our essences. Lucid and I managed to create our vessels, but Atrum was too late. He couldn't make a solid vessel in time, so he substituted with a liquid vessel which can be transferred to a living organism."
"So that's why he had to keep jumping from being to being." the Masked Matterhorn said. "It's all he could do to survive."
"When we each gained our vessels, we lost all control of where we ended up." Midan explained further. "Somehow, our Relics bounced from one world to another over the past eternity. I myself was found and picked up by a world-traveling tribe who's misuse of my Relic lead to their world's destruction."
"You destroyed an entire world?" the Shadow Blot asked.
"I couldn't help it!" Midan said defensively. "When the Apple is hit, the impact is drawn to the center, which is where I am! I got a full hit of a magic blast, and I have reflexes like everyone else! I didn't mean to hurt anyone!
"Anyway, like myself, Atrum and his Asteroth kept moving from one world to another finding someone desperate to bond with him. The only one who ever settled was Lucid. His Relic is called the Uniscope, an orb that can reveal anything if given a just reason for revealing. That's currently in another Equestria."
"Why are you telling us this?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"In case you haven't noticed," the Shadow Blot said, "We're in pretty deep trouble in the waking world."
"Oh, I know." Midan said. "How do you think you came to Equestria Perilous in the first place? That's what I'm calling that world, by the way."
"What do you mean?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "I had a dream that inspired me to create a reforming spell. That, mixed with the bomb the Sisterhood of Evil armed, created a chain reaction that blew us to this world."
"And that didn't seem to be too big of a coincidence?" Midan asked. "You just happened to have an inspiring dream at the same time as a bomb was uncovered and the combo could bring you to a world that not only needed heroes, but also had my Golden Apple?"
"Now that you mention it," the Masked Matterhorn said, "It was strange. I guess was so shocked by the situation, I didn't think too much about the circumstances. So you manipulated my dream? How could you do that if you were in another world?
"The same way I'm talking to you now." Midan said. "This is the Mindscape, a realm which connects one dream to another, regardless how far they are. The only exception is if one party is in the Limbo Zone, the infinite realm that streams between all worlds."
"This is all really informative and all, and I am a sucker for information," the Masked Matterhorn said, "But why go through all this trouble to bring us here?"
"Well, the answer to that is kinda embarrassing." Midan said. "You see, I kinda... need you to... defeat the Negahorn."
"What?" the Shadow Blot asked.
"You heard me." Midan said. "I'm asking you to defeat the Negahorn. It's really straining me out."
"Dude, we were already doing that." the Shadow Blot said. "Or, at least, we were trying to."
"Yeah." the Masked Matterhorn agreed. "Everything we were trying against her just blew up in our faces."
"I know." Midan said. "I saw all your failures and realized you needed a tip. The Negahorn isn't going to just fall to sneak attacks and reason. And I definitely can't approve you using my vessel against her. Two Relics of Creation clashing could create a cataclysmic effect on the Multiverse."
"Wait, hold on." the Shadow Blot said. "What do you mean 'Two Relics'?"
"You don't know?" Midan asked. "Well, I do see the confusion. You see, the Negahorn grew dark three years ago. Can you think of anything else that happened three years ago?"
The wirewolf and the alicorn took a moment to think. Suddenly, the Masked Matterhorn gasped. "That was when I reassembled the Power Ponies and..." She gasped once more. "The Asteroth! It just... disappeared! Then... that means..."
"Bingo!" Midan declared. "The Negahorn is a vessel for another Relic of Creation, the Asteroth. Believe me, this whole situation isn't comfortable at all for me or Atrum. But neither of us can help it."
"Of course." the Masked Matterhorn said with a heavy breath. "That explains the sudden flash of black in her eyes when I confronted her, and the fact that she's a lot more powerful than me."
"So the Asteroth is making her go evil?" Shadow Blot asked. "And if we remove it, she'll go back to being good?"
"Eh, more or less." Midan said. "Now listen. There is a secret way to separate Primordials from their current vessels. We don't usually give these secrets away, but these are desperate times."
"If it separates Primordials from their vessels," the Masked Matterhorn said, "Doesn't that mean that Atrum will be pulled out of the liquid as well and fade away?"
"If you just had the liquid, yes." Midan said. "But you'll only be separating the Asteroth from the Negahorn; nothing more. After that, the Negahorn will go through a withdrawal and you'll have won the day." He leaned in closer to the two of them. "Now, here's what you must do..."





A few moments later, the Masked Matterhorn and Shadow Blot's eyes opened seeing their friends around you.
"Hey! Welcome back to the land of the living!" Masque said.
"Not for long, if the Peril Ponies decide to execute us." Tartus said. "I hope you guys dreamed of an escape plan."
"No." the alicorn said stretching herself. "We got something better."
Suddenly, the door creaked open getting everyone's attention. The evil version of Rainbow Dash appeared in her black-lightning costume.
"What do you want, creepy-looking?" Filli-Second asked. She then noticed the offended look on Zapp's face. "Oh, no offense, Zapp."
"Attention, goody-two-hooves!" Boom shouted. "You're all coming with me!"





The Negahorn stood at the front of Anar D's cell, and inside, the draconequus was sitting in a spinning chair with a glow-in-the-dark cat in his arms.
"Good evening, Esme." Anar D said. "Are you here for my sippy cup exam. Just to warn you, I tend to fill my pillows with marshmallow bricks. Don't ask me what happened to the pigs. 'Dead or alive, you're coming with me'."
"Stop talking, you creep!" the Negahorn shouted. "You're going to give me what I want, one way or another. Bring her in!"
Suddenly, the door opened and the Mane-iac walked in with a certain frightened Pegasus tied up in her tendrils. Saddle Rager tried to struggle out, but she wasn't strong enough. The Mane-iac placed her on the ground shaking in her costume. Saddle Rager had a metal collar around her neck.
"Don't bother changing." the Negahorn said. "I placed a collar around your neck. It neutralizes your powers."
"What's going on?" Saddle Rager asked trembling. "Why did you ponies bring me here?"
"I want D to do something," the Negahorn said, "And as far as I'm concerned, you're the only one who can help me reach him." She turned to her prisoner. "Are you ready to start thinking straight or am I going to be dangerous?"
"DANGER! DANGER!" Anar D shouted. "WARNING, WILL ROBINSON! SHE SELLS SEA SHELLS BY THE SEA SHORE! WHO IS SHE, ANYWAY?!"
"All right." the Negahorn said. "If that's the way you want it." The lifted the Golden Apple and pointed it at Saddle Rager. Yellow lighting shot out and struck at the pegasus' hooves. She screamed in pain until the lightning stopped. The Negahorn looked back at Anar D. "Next time, I won't stop until it goes straight through her chest. Unless you can work up a miracle." Anar D still fell silent, which earned another sigh. "Fair enough." She was about to raise the Apple again until Anar D stopped her.
"NO, STOP!" The Negahorn was pleased to hear something that made sense from the caped draconequus.
"I'm sorry, Anar D." the Negahorn said. "What was that?"
"Don't hurt her anymore!" Anar D said. "You made your point! I'll do what you want!"
"Anar D, you're back!" Saddle Rager cheered.
"Yeah... here's the thing, Flutters," Anar D said nervously, "I was never really gone. I faked the whole thing."
"I thought so." the Negahorn said. "Thank you, Mane-iac, for deducing the ruse. And thank you, Wrath, for uncovering it."
"What?" Anar D asked. "Wrath?"
"Oh, yeah." the yellow Pegasus said standing back up making an evil look in her eyes. "And you didn't have to really blast my hooves, Negahorn."
"It felt good." the Negahorn said. She saw the dumbfounded look on the draconequus' face. "Oh, you didn't see this coming did you? Well, Wrath here picked up her old good-guy costume and batted her identical eyelashes with her good-girl routine. And now that I'm sure you've been hiding your marbles other than losing them, I know you can definitely do what I want."
"If you think I'm going to unleash your monster, you're out of your mind!" Anar D said.
"What about your friends?" the Negahorn asked. "That may have been fake, but it can and will happen. I sent Boom down to the dungeon to bring up your real friends. I can hurt them. I can damage them. I can make them suffer for eternity... unless..."
"Unless I do what you want." Anar D said with fear in his voice.
"Careful, it's learning." the Negahorn mocked. "It's a simple choice. Your assistance or your friends' suffering. Actually, I'm fine with either."
Anar D stared at his captor with fear in his eyes. He took a breath and said three words that he didn't want to escape his lips: "I'll do it."
> The Forgotten Element
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Power Ponies, Mighty Machines, and Tartus were looking at the evil, blue Pegasus who was opening the cage door.
"You all are coming with me." Boom said. "Now, come quietly or I'll make you wish you were never born."
"Go ahead and try it." Zapp dared her counterpart. "Nothing you do could possibly be worse than what Anar D did."
That comment shocked Boom. "You too? You know, not five minutes after we brought the dingus back to life, I lost all my back teeth." She opened her mouth revealing the openings in the back of her gums.
"Ew!" everyone exclaimed.
"Hey, you got off easy." Zapp said. "I lost parts of me I never even got to use."
"Well, get a load of this." Boom said. She showed everyone her mane with a gap in the middle. "Thanks to that psychopath, I lost one of my stripes."
"How about this?" Zapp asked extending her hoof. "This burn mark came from the time the guy almost had me blown up in a factory. Try to top that!"
"Oh, yeah?" Boom asked with a confident tone in her voice. "Well, I bet he didn't do this to your wing!"
Boom removed the cover from her wing and revealed its condition. It shouldn't be said, but it made everyone gasp in fear, especially Zapp, who tried to look away. "Okay! Okay! You win!"
"Good." Boom said covering up her wing again. "Now, it's time to go."
What she didn't know was that in the shadows, Starlight and Sunburst hid themselves in the shadows. They looked at each other and nodded their heads.





For the next hour, the Peril Ponies and their armies gathered up all the ponies to a large coliseum where the Negahorn and Anar D stood at the center. The ponies sat in their seats with fear in their eyes.
"Are you going to make me do this or not?" Anar D asked.
"In a minute." the Negahorn said. "Where's Boom? I swear, even Wrath isn't this slow."
"Negahorn." a Pegasus guard said as he approached her. "He's here."
"Good." the Negahorn said. "Bring the traitor to me."
The guards carried the Perilous baby dragon and dropped him in front of his former partner.
"Well, well, well." the Negahorn said. "If it isn't my old sidekick."
"Sidekick?" Blunder asked. "Twilight, I'm the only guy who never gave up on you. You need to be talked into reason. This isn't you."
"Oh, you're not the first person to tell me I can change in less than 24 hours." the Negahorn said. "Why don't you give it a rest, Blunder? I'm going to give you one chance to return by my side."
"Twilight, you're a hero." Blunder said as he removed his mask. "You always were. I don't know what changed, but I know there's still good in you."
"You're just as naïve as ever, Spike." the Negahorn said. "You see the good in everything even if it's not there. But the world is not good. The only way to survive a harsh, cruel world is to be a harsh, cruel ruler. And now, I will be the harsh, cruel ruler of two Equestrias, and that's just the start."
"Hear, hear, boss!" Boom shouted as she arrived dragging the prisoners. Zapp was the only one who was gagged. The rest of the Peril Ponies followed.
"What's with her?" Ms. Fortune asked.
"She's been a bit talky back at the dungeon." Boom said. "I just thought we could use some quiet."
Tartus looked at the walls and saw a tapestry hanging. There was an image of a white, bearded unicorn in blue wizard clothes and a human lady with white, glowing eyes. They was battling a large, bipedal wolf monster with red, glowing eyes. Behind the wolf monster was a destroyed village. The bearded unicorn stood in front of a whole village.
"At least she didn't throw away my gifts." Tartus whispered to himself.
"Fluttershy!" Anar D called out in glee. The rest of the prisoners couldn't believe their eyes. "I mean, it is you, right?"
"D!" Saddle Rager gasped. "You are alive!"
"But... I thought you were delusional." Timberwolf said. "You kept spouting nonsense."
"I was faking it the whole time." Anar D said.
"What?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "I don't understand. Why would you fake it?"
"To stall the Negahorn's plans." Anar D said. "When I blew myself up back in Tambelon, I was lost in a quiet, boring, white void. I thought I'd be there forever. But I was pulled back to life when the Negahorn used her magic fruit to bring me back. She thought I was unconscious when I came back, but I was able to overhear her plan to use me and my power. I thought that if she believed I wasn't playing with a full deck, she wouldn't risk using my powers. But now, my cover's blown and she's using you to make me complete her plan."
"And what?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "What's the plan?"
"What?" Anar D asked. "Rady, Joe, Terry, you didn't show her the drawing?"
"What drawing?" the Shadow Blot asked.
"Some stupid crayon image of a purple cartoon dragon he showed us." Timberwolf said. "We asked him about the Peril Ponies' plan, but instead, he showed us that."
"Hold on." the Masked Matterhorn said. "If D really was thinking straight, he must have given it to you as some kind of subtle clue. Let me think for a minute." She began thinking for a minute. Suddenly, she had a random series of thoughts that connected. "Guys, do you remember when I first met Anar D and what he did to me?"
"Not us." Devastator said. "We came after."
"He did a lot of stuff to us." Radiance said. "You'll have to be more specific, Matterhorn."
"He put a curse on me. He put me in a coma for three days and contained my magic."
The Mighty Machines turned a displeased glare at the caped draconequus.
"It was a different time." Anar D defended himself. "But that's not what's important. Did you remember what came after?"
"Well, yeah." Hum Drum said. "When the magic was released, it..." He gasped in fear. "Oh, no."
"Yeah." the Negahorn said. "It's the reason she hasn't used her own magic in quite a while; she was holding it in. It's also why she needed Anar D alive; because he's the only person who can unleash her magic." She took a fearful look at the evil alicorn who smiled with pride. "She's going to create a beast made of her own magic... but what's she going to use it for?"
"It's simple, really." the Negahorn answered catching everyone's attention. "You see, I have this entire world, this whole universe, ruled with an iron hoof. But why stop there, when there's a whole Multiverse ripe for the conquest, starting with yours. Our two worlds are filled to the brim with magic and superpowers. I will be an alicorn queen of two Equestrias. And then, with a powerful army from both worlds, the Multiverse will be mine for the taking."
"Negahorn, that is crazy!" the Masked Matterhorn shouted. "The thing about an infinite number of universes, is that there will be no end to the number of worlds you conquer."
The Negahorn grinned. "Well, at least I won't be bored again."
"You're one crazy girl." Masque said. "No offense, Matterhorn."
"Enough!" the Negahorn said. "I've been working up to this for months. I won't let anything stop me, especially the elements of loyalty, laughter, kindness, generosity, honesty, and most assuredly magic. Anar D, release the beast within."
"All right." Anar D sighed. "Just don't hurt them." He pointed his lion paw finger and aimed at the Negahorn.
"Wait." Boom interrupted much to the Negahorn's chagrin. "Sorry to interrupt, but there's one element you forgot, Negahorn."
"I hardly think this is important," the Negahorn sighed. "What am I forgetting?"
"The element of..." Boom said, "SURPRISE!"
Suddenly, the Power Ponies (except for Zapp), Mighty Machines, Princess Celestia, and Tartus escaped from their bonds. They pushed Negahorn back as she dropped her Golden Apple. She was caught by the Peril Ponies who looked confused.
"She let them go?" Glamour asked. "Why?"
"Of course!" the Negahorn growled as she saw the blue Pegasus tied up. "They switched Rainbow Dash's! Get the Apple!"
"What about Boom?" Ms. Fortune asked.
"All-powerful Relic of Creation or some Pegasus with a tricked-out necklace!" the Negahorn growled. "Which do you think takes priority? And while you're at it, hurt the other-Equestrians for this resistance!" Suddenly, everyone felt the ground shake. "WHAT NOW?!"
Everyone looked at the stadium entrances seeing many familiar faces charge in. At the front, Bell Weather lead the charge alongside Starlight and Sunburst. Even the Hair-oine and Gryphon Goodness joined in on the fight.
"The resistance!" Blunder gasped in joy. "The unicorns freed them!"
"Don't just stand there, everyone!" the Masked Matterhorn said. "We need to get Anar D out of here before the Negahorn comes up with another way to get him to cast his spell on her. Saddle Rager, Devastator, you two get him out of here!"
"We won't let him out of our sight." Devastator said.
"We still need to get the Golden Apple before the Peril Ponies get it back!" the Shadow Blot said. "It's the only way the Negahorn plans to use any magic!"
"Then let's go!" Mistress Marevelous said.
The heroes charged towards the Apple while the Peril Ponies did the same. Filli-Second first caught the Golden Apple, but then began a high super-speed chase with Vile-Osity.
"Run, run, run, as fast as you can!" Vile-Osity shouted. "You can't escape me! I'm..."
"Me!" Filli-Second interrupted. "Also... RADIANCE!"
Filli-Second tossed the Golden Apple to Radiance who caught it with a hard-light baseball glove. She then found herself in front of her evil counterpart. The two of them created big trains and had them clash. The two of them struggled with pushing their trains to overpower the other. Then, Radiance came up with an idea.
"LOOK!" Radiance shouted pointing. "NEW FABRICS!"
"WHERE?!" Glamour asked looking back. As she lost her focus, her train disappeared and she was knocked back by Radiance's train and knocked out.
"Well, that ought to take care of her." Glamour said as she tossed the Apple to Zapp, who flew beside the Masked Matterhorn.
"Is it just me, or is it a bit easier fighting our doubles?" Zapp asked.
"I guess they were hard to beat last time because they caught us off-guard by revealing themselves to be us." the Matterhorn said. "But now that we have a better understanding of the Peril Ponies, we can use what we know against them."
Meanwhile, the Sisterhood of Evil and Sisterhood of Justice were fighting.
"I find it hard to believe that another version of me decided to take up heroics!" Gryphon Galore said attacking her counterpart. "What's next, you bake?"
"I gave up villainy because, as it turned out, it stinks." Gryphon Goodness returned returning the blows. "I saw what evil did to my home, and I certainly didn't feel good about it."
"Who's on first?" the Mane-iac shouted as she exchanged hair attacks with her counterpart.
"Speak softly and carry a big stick!" the Hair-oine said.
"Uh oh, spaghetti-o's."
"We are family! I got all my sisters with me!"
"SHUT UP!" the two gryphons shouted at their partners.
Several guards flew towards Tartus, but the skinny guy slashed the air in front of them opening a rip in space. The guards tried to stop, but all but one went through before it closed. Once it did, Tartus grabbed the remaining guard and zapped his forehead with a laser coming out of his robotic eye. The guard screamed in pain catching the Shadow Blot's attention. The wirewolf reacted by running towards the two and separated them. The guard fell on the ground still and silent.
"What... What did you do?" the Shadow Blot asked with a slight growl.
"He's not dead, if that's what you're worried about." Tartus said. "A precise zap will cause his brain to temporarily shut down."
"Do you always do things so brutal?" the Shadow Blot asked.
"I do things the smart way, wirewolf." Tartus said. "I haven't acted purely on emotion for hundreds of years. But right now, I suggest you do not start a conversation in the middle of a battle."
"HEY, SOFTIE!" the Shadow Blot and Tartus turned when they heard the voice of an evil wirewolf. Standing before them was the six wirewolves that work for the Negahorn. "Better not ignore the Malicious Machines."
"Oh, this is going to be fun." Shifter chuckled. "I wanna hurt them! Can I hurt them?"
"As much as you want." the Phantom Blot replied. "And once..."
He was interrupted by a sudden white blast. Ricky looked and saw the blast coming from Princess Celestia. When she was done, the Phantom Blot, Direoak, Shifter, Bruticus, Torch, and Blight were all trapped in a ice-like cocoon.
"I'd have felt terrible if it was my Ricky." Celestia said.
"It's all right." the Shadow Blot said. "Let's get back to battle."
Finally seeing a way out of the stadium, Saddle Rager, Anar D, and Devastator were happy. But before they could run toward it, they were cut off by Wrath. She stood angrily toward the three.
"Now, you made me angry." Wrath said as she began to grow. "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." In less than ten seconds, Wrath was the size of a house.
"Saddle, I think now's a time for you to grow and throw down." Devastator said.
"I... I can't." Saddle Rager said nervously. "It's scary."
"Scary?" Devastator asked. "You turn into that all the time!"
"Oh, let me take care of it." Anar D said. "I've been meaning to stretch my magic!"
Wrath roared, but Anar D didn't flinch. Instead, he pointed his lion paw and made his index finger glow. A beam escaped from it hitting Wrath. Suddenly, she shrunk back to her normal form and fell unconscious.
"What did you do?" Saddle Rager asked.
"Much like I removed your common sense from your monster form when we first met," Anar D explained, "I removed her monstrosity from her monster form. The difference is, the strain from it knocked her pony half out."
"You are quite a mystery, D." Devastator said.
"Just glad to be back in the chaos." Anar D said.
"ENOUGH!" a menacing voice bellowed catching everyone's attention. The Negahorn looked like she lost her patience and charged towards Mistress Marevelous, who currently had the Golden Apple in her possession.
"CAREFUL!" the Shadow Blot shouted. "IF THE GOLDEN APPLE IS HARMED IN ANY WAY, YOU'LL BLOW THIS ENTIRE STADIUM TO KINGDOM COME!"
"WHAT?!" Marevelous gasped loudly as she lost her balance. When she tripped, the Golden Apple went flying through the air scaring everyone.
The good news is, it was caught before it could be harmed. The bad news is, it was caught by the Negahorn.
"Oh, you all really know how to push my buttons!" the Negahorn said. "But now, this foolishness ends now! D, give me my power, or I will use the Apple to..." She widened her eyes and stared at the Apple. She grinned for a minute before chuckling loudly. Her chuckles then turned into full-out hysteria.
"What's up with her?" Radiance asked.
"I wish I knew." Masque said. "I'm the adorable jester of the Mighty Machines, and even I don't get what's funny."
"What was I thinking all these months!" the Negahorn laughed. "I don't need Anar D! I have the Golden Apple! I'll just zap myself and unleash the power myself!"
"No!" the Masked Matterhorn gasped. "She can't! Midan said two Relics shouldn't be used on each other!"
"I have literally no idea what you just said." Filli-Second said.
"I do." the Shadow Blot said. "We gotta stop her!"
"I'll see you all later, heroes!" the Negahorn shouted. She aimed her Apple at the Power Ponies, Mighty Machines, Anar D, Tartus, Princess Celestia, Starlight Glimmer, and Sunburst. A yellow beam hit the heroes from the Apple, and they disappeared in a pop.
"GET HER!" Bell Weather shouted.
Every flier soared up towards the Negahorn who pointed the Golden Apple at herself. Suddenly, a bright, yellow light brightened the dark sky coming from the Negahorn and blinding the Resistance. When they were able to see again, they found themselves in the growing shadow of a dragon-like figure that frightened everyone.
> Long Live the Negahorn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Princess Luna was pacing in her throne room hoping things will turn out all right. She couldn't stop thinking about her sister and friends. Meanwhile, Blue Comet was doing the same in a corner of the throne room.
Suddenly, she sensed a shock of yellow electricity growing in the middle of the room. A yellow orb of light flashed, and when it dimmed, the Power Ponies, Mighty Machines, Celestia, and others were standing there confused.
"Where are we?" Zapp asked.
"Sister!" Luna called. "You're back! And you got our friends back..." Her eyes caught Tartus. "...And then some."
"Twilight!" Blue Comet called out excitedly as he hugged his sweetheart.
"We're home?" the Shadow Blot asked. "Did the Negahorn really zap us back home?"
"The Nega-what?" Blue Comet asked. "Oh, and Timberwolf..." He held up Terry's metal claw. "I think this is yours."
"Finally!" Timberwolf said as he took and reattached his claw. "Glad to be right-handed again."
"Glad Comet managed to give you a... 'hand'!" Anar D chuckled
"Anar D?" Luna interrupted. "I... I thought you died! How are you alive?"
"Well, that's a bit of a long story." Anar D said.
"He'll send you a memo!" Tartus said. "Have you forgotten what the Negahorn is going to do?!"
"Hold on!" Luna called out. "Did I miss anything?"
Suddenly, a large quake shook everything. Everyone looked outside and saw a large, dark-purple tear forming in the sky. The tear then widened until a large, dark-purple dragon claw made of glowing light reached through. The rest of the body flew through until Canterlot was in the shadow of a purple dragon made of magic. In the center of the dragon's torso, the Negahorn matched its movements with her glowing eyes and Golden Apple.
"ALL HAIL THE NEGAHORN!" the alicorn cried out with a demonic, echoing bellow.
"What's that?!" Blue Comet asked.
"You want the long version or the short one?" Masque asked. "Basically, it's an evil Masked Matterhorn from a darker Equestria who wants to conquer this Equestria with a dragon made from all the magic she's stored up over the years."
"That doesn't make any sense." Blue Comet said. "What's the long version?"
"That was the long version." Dusk replied. "The short version is, we're doomed."
"The Wonderbolts!" Zapp cried out pointing at the flying heroes circling the dragon.
"Come on, ponies!" Heatwave called out to her teammates. "Let's bring this thing down!"
The Wonderbolts flew around the dragon blasting it with their powers, but the beast wasn't even fazed. They stopped when they saw that the dragon only grew slightly.
"My turn!" the Negahorn called. The dragon opened its mouth and a purple beam escaped from it. The Wonderbolts dodged by a hair, but when it hit the mountain behind them, the whole structure blew into billions of pebbles. Most of them were scattered across the area, and those that hit the dragon were disintegrated in a second.
"Oh, that's just perfect!" Rodan shouted. "Any form of magic or superpower we use will just get absorbed, and if we try to hit it, we're goners! How do we stop that thing?!"
"Okay." the Masked Matterhorn sighed. "Let me think. The Negahorn got her power from the Golden Apple and the Asteroth combining their power, which shouldn't happen."
"So we just have to separate the Negahorn from the Apple and the Asteroth." Tartus said. "But I don't see how that's going to be possible."
"Actually, there is a way to separate the power from the vessels." the Masked Matterhorn corrected. "However, I need to get close to her."
"That might be a problem." the Shadow Blot said. "That dragon destroys anything it touches."
"Not everything." Filli-Second said looking out the window seeing the heroes' failed attempts to stop the magic monster. "The Negahorn's right in the center of that thing and she's not being disintegrated."
Devastator looked alongside Filli-Second. "She's right. How is that possible?"
"It could be the fact that it's her own magic." the Shadow Blot hypothesized. "This evil Twilight can't be harmed because the magic recognizes her as its caster."
"Which means..." Princess Celestia said. "Only a Twilight can get through there."
Everyone looked at the Masked Matterhorn turning to her to save the day.
"It all falls to you now, Matterhorn." Tartus said as he placed his mechanical hand on the purple pony's back.
"Understood." the Masked Matterhorn replied. "I just need a distraction."
Everyone stopped looking at the Matterhorn and instead turned their attention toward Anar D.
"Who, me?" Anar D asked.





The dragon started its trek towards Canterlot. Inside, the Negahorn laughed maniacally.
"Yes! Today, Canterlot! TOMORROW, THE MULTIVERSE! I've always wanted to say that."
"Yoo-hoo!" a cheery voice called from below. The Negahorn looked and saw the Lord of Chaos holding a microphone. "Tell me, what do you call a dog that isn't housetrained? ...Spot!"
"What is this?" the Negahorn asked.
"Wow, you really are like my Twilight." Anar D said. "Anyway, do you know how it feels to be resurrected? ...It makes me feel alive!" His laughter was not shared with the Negahorn.
"I don't know which is worse," the Negahorn said, "The impending carnage or your jokes."
"Hey!" Anar D shouted. "There's no need to make this personal! Now, you're just being mean!"
"Of course, I..." the Negahorn said. She stopped when she sensed a disturbance in her dragon. She looked and saw her doppelganger swimming through the magic. "WHAT?! NO!"
The Negahorn turned trying to use the dragon to shake the Masked Matterhorn off. Suddenly, Dusk and Rodan were blasting their shadow and fire beams that stopped the dragon from spinning. Devastator swallowed a large amount of rocks until he blew a large beam of energy that stunned the dragon. Just then, the Negahorn had another crazy idea. She pointed the Golden Apple at the Masked Matterhorn toward her causing her to stop in panic.
"TWILIGHT, DON'T!"
It was too late. A bright light came from the Apple, but instead of an ordinary beam like before, the light glowed brighter and brighter much to even the Negahorn's surprise. Soon, the light was bright enough to cover the entire magic dragon and blinded most of Canterlot. When it cleared up, everyone looked back and saw the crater. There was no dragon and no Twilight. All that was left was the Golden Apple steaming with smoke coming from its side.
"Well, this feels familiar." Blue Comet said.
"Except we're not with her!" the Shadow Blot said.
"Where did they go now?!" Zapp asked.





Both Twilight's got their senses back to normal. When they got a clearer view of their surrounding, they found broken-down buildings and a vast nothingness of space in the horizon and sky. Streched across the sky, the stars were stringed with dozens of white streams. Some of those streams were even very close to the ground. The Masked Matterhorn then noticed the large wolf-print on the ground and the claw marks on the damaged buildings.
"What's going on?" the Negahorn asked. "Which world are we in now?"
The Masked Matterhorn looked at the streams connecting the billions of stars and came up with a hypothesis. "I... I don't think this is any world. I think this is the Limbo Zone."
"The what?" the Negahorn asked.
"It's sort-of the border-realm for every other world. If those streams are the bridges, then you can condiser this zone to be the water."
"How do you know that?" the Negahorn asked.
"Midan told me. He's the spirit that lives in the Golden Apple, much like how Atrum is the spirit within the Asteroth."
The sound of that sentence gave the Negahorn a hurting throb on the side of her head. "What's this?"
"That's Atrum, responding to me mentioning his name. He never told it to me, but Midan told me everything about the Relics of Creation. He also told me that neither he nor Atrum like how you're abusing both Relics."
"Last I checked, I only had one Relic!"
"No. You have always had another Relic; you just didn't know it."
"What? Where?"
The Masked Matterhorn sighed. "Inside you. You are the living vessel of the Relic of Darkness, the Asteroth."
The Negahorn fell silent for a second. "How can someone with my face be such an idiot?"
"Not quite the reaction I expected." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Nevertheless, it's true."
"The Asteroth, a shadowy force from your world, which can magnify a pony's powers and make them darker, is in me?"
"First of all, it's not even from my world. Secondly, you've never known it, but it's made you more powerful and evil."
"I never needed any magic ooze to decide my alignment!" the Negahorn argued. "I saw how evil was never going to rest! I left to seek tutelage from Tartus! I decided to conquer Equestria!"
The Masked Matterhorn then removed her mask. "Twilight, listen to yourself. This isn't what you always thought. This isn't who you are?"
"STOP ACTING LIKE YOU KNOW ME!" the Negahorn raged in an outburst. "YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME! NOT EVERYONE IS AS HAPPY AND INNOCENT AS YOU! WHY ARE YOU SO DETERMINED TO PROVE ME WRONG?!"
"BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF MYSELF BEING AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE FOR EVIL!" the Masked Matterhorn admitted loudly.
A moment of silence hushed between the two.
"So... that's it." the Negahorn said. "You're doing this because you think you might go through the same thing. Not just some act of righteousness."
"I admit it." the Masked Matterhorn said. "I'm not exactly a living angel. I occasionally have selfish reasons about some things, but I never let it cloud my judgment. I'm doing this for myself, yes, but doesn't make it the best reason. ...But that's no excuse."
"Matterhorn," the Negahorn said pulling off her mask, "You have nothing to worry about. Like I told you, we're two different Twilights. You don't have anything to worry about."
"Says you." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Look... I'll tell you what. You remember the Scientific Method?"
"Of course." the Negahorn said. "Observe, research, hypothesize, experiment, analyze, and conclude. Basic knowledge. What's that got to do with anything?"
"Well, you're evil. That's my observation. I've done extensive research on you and Equestria Perilous. And I've hypothesized that the Asteroth is the cause of your terrible deeds. The next thing to do is experiment. Midan gave me an incantation that'll separate any Primordial from their host. I just need you to let me say so."
"How do I know this isn't some kind of trick to capture me? Or eviscerate me?"
"Because you know me." the Masked Matterhorn said. "And if you're right, and you're naturally evil... I'll surrender. You have my word."
"Really?" the Negahorn asked. She thought hard for a moment. "All right. Let's get this over with."
The two Twilight's approached each other and the good one placed her hoof on the other's shoulder. She then called out a set of rhymes.

"To wake. To sleep. To live. To fall
There's one force that runs it all
I call upon that force to split and divide
And remove the gifts and burdens that provide
For this vessel isn't worthy to hold
The power of an eternity old
Let this Primordial fly and soar
And be free from this body for evermore"

Suddenly, a black light emitted from the Negahorn's body. Her mouth breathed out black liquid-like smoke that clouded the air above their heads. When it was done, both Twilight's were amazed at the sight of the smoke taking the form of a male figure. His face was brighter than the rest of his body.
"Thank you, Matterhorn." it spoke. "It seems that fate just loves me being abused in these different Equestrias."
"So it's true." the Negahorn said. "Everything I've done, it's because of you?"
"Mostly. The Asteroth is merely another name of mine. My original is Atrum, the Primordial of Darkness. I couldn't form my own physical form in time, so I needed to get into one that already existed. Unfortunately, non-living objects wouldn't hold, so I had to find a living vessel, one that fully embraced the power I provide without losing who they truly are. But I can't anticipate whatever negative thoughts you already have."
"So... when I started to get impatient for the end of crime..." the Negahorn gasped.
"It kept me within you as you use my augmented gifts to conquer your own world." Atrum continued. "When Tartus gave you the Golden Apple hosting my brother, Midan, I wanted more than anything to escape, but that only made your actions worse."
"I'm..." the Negahorn whispered beginning to tear up. "I'm sorry. I'm... beginning to see clearly now."
"So... what now?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"Now, I must go to your Equestria and apologize to Midan." Atrum said. "Neither of us enjoyed all these months of abuse. I pay my respects, then I continue my search."
"But if you go into someone worse, this whole thing will start all over again somewhere else." the Masked Matterhorn said.
"I know." Atrum said. "All my applicants either lost or destroyed themselves. Hopefully, this cycle of misfortune will end soon. Besides, I think the two of you have bigger problems." The Asteroth then disappeared.
"What's that mean?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
Suddenly, a quake shook the ground. The alicorns looked and saw the same purple energy dragon terrorizing Canterlot earlier. They stood in fear as they witnessed the wings grow on it. It began to fly towards one of the streams.
"That thing's still going?!" the Masked Matterhorn's asked. "Come on, Twilight! Call it off!"
"I can't!" the Negahorn cried. "That thing was made from my magic boosted with the Asteroth! Now that I'm no longer bound to it, it no longer answers to me! Now, it's going to go to one of those bridges and terrorize every world it comes across."
"We've got to stop it!" the Masked Matterhorn yelled. "Look, you've got this from the time I produced a magic dragon! You saw how I defeated it last time, right?"
"That won't work this time!" the Negahorn responded. "Like I said, that thing was made by both my magic and the Asteroth! I can't just stand up and take it back!"
"Well, I can't stop it!" the Masked Matterhorn added. "The magic that made that thing is stronger than mine!"
"What do we do now?!" the Negahorn asked. "Neither one of us is strong enough to stop that monster!"
That's when the Masked Matterhorn came up with a revelation. "You're right. Neither of us is strong enough. But... if we work together..."
"What?"
"Hear me out. You are me. You know how we both concentrate on our magic. If we both focus on my magic at the same time, the magic should be done twice as strong."
"That's crazy!" the Negahorn protested.
"Well, it's the only idea we've got. So, you wanna try it out? Be a hero for old times sake?"
The Negahorn smiled. "Let's do this."
The two Twilight's interlocked their horns and focused. Within a few seconds, a bright, purple light emitted from their connection.





The dragon was about to reach one of the streams before it was pushed back. The dragon regained stillness and caught sight at its attacker. It was a large, alicorn-shaped figure that looked similar to the dragon. At the center, the two alicorns interlocked hooves.
"READY?!" the Masked Matterhorn called.
"READY!" the Negahorn replied.
The magic-made alicorn had then clashed with the dragon. The alicorn pushed the dragon far from the streams and engaged it in battle. The two magic-made beasts exchanged blows until the dragon grabbed ahold of the alicorn's wings.
"WING-PULLING?" the Masked Matterhorn asked loudly. "REALLY? THAT'S JUST DIRTY!" The alicorn broke out of it and grabbed ahold of the dragon's wings. "HOW DO YOU LIKE IT?"
The dragon got free and fired its energy breath at the alicorn while the other magic-made beast fired a magic beam from its horn. The two beams clashed unleashing a huge explosion.
"LET'S GO!" the Negahorn shouted pulling the Masked Matterhorn out of their construct just in time. The explosion was a bit slower than normal, but a few seconds after the two Twilight's escaped the magic alicorn, the explosion managed to swallow both the alicorn and the dragon.
Suddenly, a rock blown away from the shockwave flew towards the purple alicorns and struck the Negahorn's wing hard. She managed to fall, but the Masked Matterhorn caught her.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I don't know." the Negahorn said. "I can't fly."
Suddenly, a lightning bolt shot from the incoming explosion and hit the stream above the two. A tear-shaped image appeared revealing Canterlot still recovering from the dragon's attack.
"There it is!" the Masked Matterhorn cheered. "It's home! Let's go!"
The alicorn carried the other one up toward the portal, but a roar caught the Negahorn's attention. She looked and saw a purple claw escape the explosion and towards the two Twilight's. She panicked and grabbed squeezed the Matterhorn's hoof getting her attention to stop.
"What's going on?" the Masked Matterhorn asked before she saw the magic dragon still flying. "Oh, no. What now?"
The Negahorn looked down at the explosion still forming and sighed. "Let me go."
"What?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"You've got to let me go." the Negahorn said looking at the explosion. "I may not be able to control it anymore, but it's still connected to me. I can only think of one way to stop it, but you have to let me go."
"I can't just do that." the Masked Matterhorn argued.
"Listen, Twilight." The Negahorn pulled out her voice-changing visor and yanked it off her face. "I've done too much damage in the past three years. I never truly wanted this. I'm sorry for everything that I've done. But you... You don't have to worry about turning out like me. There may be more than one Twilight, but you are one of a kind."
"No." the Masked Matterhorn flew up getting really close to the portal. "I won't let you go."
The Negahorn smiled softly. "I know you won't. ...So I won't let you choose."
Suddenly, the Negahorn used her visor to push Twilight upwards releasing her counterpart. The Masked Matterhorn crosses the portal, and was staggered. She was found and cheered by her friends who were waiting for her.
"YOU'RE BACK!" Zapp shouted.
"Where have you been?" Saddle Rager asked.
"What happened with the Negahorn?" the Shadow Blot asked.
The Masked Matterhorn turned her head to the portal with her friends. She started to tear up when it closed.





On the other side, the Negahorn was plummeting towards the growing explosion. She cried for a minute, but she wiped her tears off her face. As the explosion looked brighter to her, she sang softly one last time.

"I have turned my home into a wasteland
I lost my way
All this mayhem and chaos isn't my path
No one deserves this much wrath
I forgot who I am
I am... a heroooooooo"

When she was done, she landed right into the explosion. The Negahorn slowly dematerialized, but she embraced it because she knew that up above, the dragon was losing its body as well. After a few seconds, they were both gone and the explosion ended leaving the broken down building untouched.
> Two Down
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Masked Matterhorn stood still looking up at Luna's moon thinking about her fallen double. Hum Drum walked on over to her and patted her on the soldier.
"Are you okay, Twilight?" Hum Drum asked.
"I'm fine." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Just... Thinking. She may have been evil, but she knew what was right in the end. I can't hate her."
"I think that's a good thing." Hum Drum said. "At least she proved herself to be a true hero in the end."
"GUYS!" Devastator's voice bellowed. "COME HERE!"
The Masked Matterhorn and Hum Drum met up with the Power Ponies and Mighty Machines in front of the castle door. Devastator kept rubbing the inside of his ear.
"What's up, pup?" Masque asked.
"I don't know what's going on," Devastator said, "But I keep hearing some kind of static-like thing in my ear."
"Let me see." Masque said. He looked into Devastator's ear. "Uh, huh. Just like I thought."
"What?" Devastator asked.
"I can only see outside the other ear." Masque said before laughing a bit.
"Be serious!" Devastator urged.
"I don't see anything wrong." Masque explained. "Everything seems to be working fine.
"Hello, hello." a voice said inside Devastator's head. "Are you there?"
"Who is that?" Devastator asked.
"Who is what?" Dusk asked.
"I'm hearing a voice in my head." Devastator explained.
Suddenly, in a flash of light, Anar D appeared wearing a doctor's outfit. "Well, that's the first sign of hyperdelerisis. You start to hear voices."
"D, there's no such thing as hyper... whatever." the Shadow Blot said.
"I know, but I just wanted to wear this outfit." Anar D giggled. "It's good to be back in the game."
"Listen," Devastator said, "I think... I'm hearing Spike's voice."
"Me?" Hum Drum asked.
"Not you, you." Devastator said. "I think it's..."
"That's right." a certain alternate Hum Drum called out. "Brought to you live from Equestria Perilous, iiiiiiiiiit's Blunder."
"Blunder?" Devastator asked. "How are you talking to us?"





"Not all of you." Blunder said. He witnessed the rest of the Resistance walking many ponies out of Peril tower, including the princesses. "Just you. Just yesterday, the Malicious Machines shed their wirewolf bodies and somehow turned back into normal ponies and a dog. We then used Bruticus' gear to make a radio and talk to you, but since you're an alternate version of Bruticus, only you could pick up our signal."





"Guys," Devastator told his friends, "The Resistance is calling me from Perilous."
"Really?" Saddle Rager asked. "How are they?"
"How are you guys?" Devastator asked.





"Great, actually." Blunder said. "I don't know what you guys did, but somehow, all the ponies turned stupid by the Negahorn gained their intelligence back. In just a minute, the princesses are going to clear the skies and we'll finally feel the moonlight on our faces again."





"Apparently, defeating the Negahorn brought her Zoo ponies back to normal." Devastator said.
"Wonderful!" Radiance said.
"Hey, what about the Mane-iac and Gryphon Galore?" Devastator asked. "They're kinda our responsibility."





"Yeah." Blunder said looking at the Sisterhood of Evil tied up. "Once we find a portal to your world, we'll send them back home ASAP. Maybe then, you can trade us with Bell Weather."





"Hold on, what?" Devastator asked in confusion. "What about Bell Weather?"





"Isn't she with you?" Blunder asked. "No one's seen her since the Negahorn left."





"She... She didn't come with us." Devastator said. "She's missing?" The others looked worried and confused.





"That doesn't make any sense." Blunder said. "You'd think she'd be the first to celebrate our victory."
The baby dragon got blinded by a red light hitting his face from above. He looked and gasped alongside the rest of the ponies.





"What?" Devastator asked in worry. "What's going on?"





"It's... It's the moon." Blunder breathed heavily as he gazed up. "It's... red!"
Blunder was right. Shining crimson rays from the night sky, the moon was covered red as blood. The sight of it frightened all the Equestrians who lived there.





"It's... what?" Devastator asked.
"What, what?" Filli-Second asked.
"He said..." Devastator said. "He said their moon is red?"
"Seriously?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "Why..."
That's when they heard the sound of metallic clanking. They looked up across the courtyard seeing the thin, metal-eyed man clapping his mechanical hands.
"Finally!" Tartus exclaimed. "I can stop this ruse! I've been waiting all afternoon for someone in Perilous to notice my gift."
"Your gift?" Saddle Rager asked. "I don't understand."
That's when the Shadow Blot understood. "You made the moon like that? Why?"
"It's just to make a statement." Tartus said. "The Blood Moon is a symbol of the apocalypse. It's basically my symbol. I must say, I have to thank you."
"Thank us?" the Masked Matterhorn repeated. "For what?"
"For getting me one step closer to my endgame." Tartus answered. "My revenge is close to completion."
Behind the Shadow Blot's back, the wirewolf had created a gremlin-like creature made of metal and covered its mouth so Tartus wouldn't hear.
"What revenge?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "We didn't do anything to you!"
"You still haven't figured it out?" Tartus asked in a chuckle. "Let's just say... for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction... and I am that reaction."
The Shadow Blot was about to throw his creature until... a familiar Pegasus landed between the heroes and the villain.
"Bell Weather?" Zapp asked. "What are you doing here?"
"No time to explain!" Bell Weather replied in a hurry. She reached out her hoof. "Shadow, pass me your little thing!"
"Uh... sure!" the Shadow Blot agreed throwing his creature toward her.
When she caught the creature, anyone would expect her to throw it at Tartus' head, but instead, she held on to it and chuckled.
"That.. was... close." Bell Weather laughed. "Nice throw, Ricky!"
"What..." the Shadow Blot asked. "I don't..."
"You know, the best part about undercover work in an apocalyptic world," Bell Weather boasted, "You get to make up whatever backstory you want and no one would prove otherwise. I actually told Blunder I worked at a coffee shop to get out of boredom... and he actually believed me. Hehehe." Suddenly, she slammed her hoof on the ground breaking the creature to pieces.
"You're..." Hum Drum said. "You're working for him? Why?"
"Because he created me." Bell Weather said. "And don't call me Bell Weather. Call me..." The Pegasus extended her wings and started to glow green. Her front legs were absorbed by her body and her hind legs turned into big bird talons. Her wings grew and her snout changed into a big beak. "Jade!"
"You!" the Shadow Blot gasped. "I remember you! You're one of those green birds that work for Tartus!"
"We call ourselves Greengear." the vulture said. "Right, boys!"
Then, three other green vultures appeared from behind the surroundings.
"Hehehe!" a scared one laughed. "They didn't know what hit 'em."
"What hit 'em?" the big one asked.
"Don't speak, Verde." the one with the cracked beak said. "You'll just hurt your brain. That goes double for you, Emerald."
"No need to get personal, Leaf." Emerald said. 
"Shut up, all three of you." Jade said. "This is the boss' time."
"Thank you, Jade."
"You... You've been posing as the leader of the Resistance this whole time?!" the Masked Matterhorn asked in shock. "Why?"
"To keep the boss notified." Jade said.
"It's a very simple plan, actually." Tartus continued. "Once I had finally acquired the Golden Apple, I had to pass over it to someone else, like the Negahorn, until further notice. I knew she had the Asteroth and she couldn't resist the power of the Golden Apple. But I couldn't leave it unsupervised, so I left Jade here to keep an eye on the Negahorn's actions."
"And that's when I came up with a great idea." Jade said. "If I infiltrate the Resistance, then Tartus could monitor both sides. That is, until the Primordials are released."
"Primordials?" the Shadow Blot asked. "You knew who they are?"
"I told you, I'm an expert on the Relics." Tartus said. "And now, I have exactly what I need!" He held up the Golden Apple and let it shine like a beacon in the night.
"You've already had that!" Timberwolf said. "What more do you want?"
"It's not the Apple that I need. It's what's inside of it. I need the power of Midan for my ultimate plan. And thanks to the Masked Matterhorn and the listening device I slipped in her costume, I can have just that."
"Listening device?" the Masked Matterhorn rubbed her hoof on her back until she felt an anomaly on her costume. She pulled out what looked like a small microphone. "What..."
"Stop me if you heard this one before." Tartus said as he stared at the Golden Apple. He then recited a familiar poem that the Masked Matterhorn gasped at the sound of.

"To wake. To sleep. To live. To fall
There's one force that runs it all
I call upon that force to split and divide
And remove the gifts and burdens that provide
For this vessel isn't worthy to hold
The power of an eternity old
Let this Primordial fly and soar
And be free from this body for evermore"

Suddenly, the yellow glow escaped the Golden Apple and hovered over his head. Tartus then pulled out a purple, circular device worn like a necklace. The purple glow emitted as the device opened up. There was already a shadow-colored smoke circling the inside of it. The yellow light was then absorbed into the device before everyone's eyes. When the last of it was inside, Tartus closed it tightly.
"What just happened?!" Dusk asked. "Where did you get that?"
"I just separated Midan from his vessel, the Golden Apple." Tartus said before dropping the powerless apple. "And now, I have him and Atrum in this little absorption device I acquired from a human world. I researched so long to find a way, but I had no luck... until you found it for me. If I had a hat, I'd tip it to you. Now, I just need one more Relic of Creation... the one hosting Lucid the Light."
"Do you even know where it is?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"Oh, I know exactly where it is." Tartus said. "I just can't go there. But I know how to get it." He then scratched the air revealing a new location in the air. "I better get going!"
"NO!" the Shadow Blot shouted as he charged toward him.
Suddenly, Tartus reached out his metal arm and shot black lightning out of it that pushed Ricky into the others.
"Now, I don't have time for any more foolishness." Tartus said. "I really want to get my sweet payback on you, but unfortunately, I have a more pressing engagement with the Avatar." He was about to cross before he took another look back at them. "Well, maybe just one for the road. I tend to slip sometimes." He shot another bolt of black lightning towards them, but suddenly, an orange unicorn jumped in between and created a magic shield.
"What?" Tartus asked. "How..." The thought for a moment. "Oh, I see. Never mind. Greengear, let's go!"
Tartus and his vultures flew through the portal and it closed. The Masked Matterhorn saw the unicorn who saved them and noticed the red-and-yellow hair.
"Sunset Shimmer? How did you know we were here?"
"What?" Sunset asked. "There's another... Look, the short version is, I'm not your Sunset Shimmer."
"What?" Radiance repeated.
"She's with me." another woman with a human body said as she emerged. "My name is Dawna."
"Don't count me out just yet, ladies." a teenage human said appearing out of nowhere alongside the unicorn and the woman. He then raised his arms like he expected a group hug. "Miss me, dunces?"
"...Who are you?" Masque asked.
"Oh, right, we never met." the boy said. "My name is Scimitar... and I'm kinda Tartus' son."
"HIIIIIKE!" Masque shouted. Suddenly, he jumped and tackled Scimitar to the ground.
"I'm confused." the Masked Matterhorn said. "What's going on?"
"Yeah, we've got a long story to tell." Sunset Shimmer said rubbing the back of her head.
> One to Go
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the wide, open field outside of Canterlot, Dawna, Sunset Shimmer, and Scimitar (still recovering from Masque's tackle) were finishing their story to the Power Ponies and Mighty Machines.
"...And after that, we made it our mission to follow Tartus, figure out his plan and motive, and stop him before it's too late." Dawna explained.
"So... if I'm getting this right..." Dusk said looking at Sunset Shimmer, "That emo guy's your boyfriend?"
"What?" Scimitar asked.
"That's all you took from that story?" Sunset Shimmer asked. "Not that Dawna's the daughter of a world-traveling chief or that Tartus tricked my friend into building the same device that stole the energy from your age-old artifacts?"
"Sorry." the Masked Matterhorn said. "This is all so... Hard to take in. If I'm adding this up right, Tartus has been going through several worlds looking for anything that can get him access to the Relics of Creation. Now, I think I heard him say he was going after Korra."
"Who's Korra?" Sunset Shimmer asked.
"A very powerful human in another world." Dawna explained. "It takes a while to explain the full story, but long story short, she once had a team-up with the Power Ponies, Mighty Machines, and the Twilight Sparkle you know."
"Now, my so-called father is going after her." Scimitar said.
"If you've been investigating him," the Shadow Blot said, "What do you know about him?"
"Other than what I already know, very little." Scimitar said. "We don't know where he came from or what his motivation is. Long before I was born, Tartus has been travelling in secret from one world to another gathering various things and forging alliances. But every time he left, he either stole something, betrayed his allies, or both. He's no friend for any hero or villain."
"Well, he's not travelling in secret anymore." Anar D said. "That guy stuck around to gloat."
"If he's getting confidant," Dawna said, "Then he might be nearing his endgame."
"He said he needed the last Relic of Creation," the Masked Matterhorn said, "Which, as Midan explained, is called the Uniscope. He also said that he was going after Korra."
"Well, the answer is simple." Rodan said. "We go back to Republic City and warn Korra about Tartus."
"Korra's not in Republic City right now, remember?" Dusk asked. "She went exploring the Multiverse with the rest of her friends."
"Then we get Twilight." Sunset said. "Not you, the Twilight that I know. I mean... the one that..."
"I think you mean the one that helped us in Republic City?" Devastator asked. "Why?"
"She found Korra first last time." Dawna said. "She found her and met up with her, which lead to their adventure in Korra's world. It could be our only chance... but there's one problem. As powerful as my world-traveling powers are, I can't help so many people through. If we go to the other Equestria and pick up the other ponies there, it'll be a strain for the rest of us. Which means..."
"Some of us have to stay behind." Radiance inferred.
"Well, I think it's pretty obvious." Anar D said. "Matterhorn and Shadow should go without the rest of us."
"What?" everyone asked.
"D, you're nuts." Rodan said. "You actually think they should go alone?"
"First of all, I'm not going." Anar D explained. "The last time I went to Republic City, I ended up blowing up! Secondly, I only think it's appropriate for them to go. I mean, Midan did trust them. That makes him their responsibility."
"D, there's no way..." Mistress Marevelous said.
"No." the Masked Matterhorn interrupted. "He's right. It's got to be just me and Ricky."
"That's this world's Ricky?" Sunset Shimmer asked quietly. "That's not what I expected."
"I agree." the Shadow Blot said. "It's not often that I think about agreeing with Anar D, but I agree."
"Really?" Hum Drum asked. "But... what if something happens?"
"Don't worry." the Masked Matterhorn reassured. "We'll be back. Until then... Hum Drum, you're in charge."
"Me?" Hum Drum asked.
"The same goes for you, Devastator." the Shadow Blot told his friend.
"Which Devastator?" the big wirewolf asked looking around. "Is there another Devastator? I know you're not talking to me."
"Hum Drum, you've come so far these past three years." the Masked Matterhorn explained. "Back then, you were just a baby dragon with nothing to lose. But you brought the six of us together when we were separated. you overpowered Arcanus' will. An alternate you even fought in an army of freedom fighters. I know you have the makings of a great hero and a good leader."
"And Devastator," the Shadow Blot said, "You're the most deserving wirewolf I know. You're loyal, you know what's right, and you never give up. You're the guy I trust to lead the Machines."
Hum Drum and Devastator looked and exchanged looked with each other. They both sighed.
"All right." Hum Drum accepted. "I'll keep Maretropolis safe until you return."
"As will I." Devastator promised.
"Great." the Masked Matterhorn said. "I'm glad to count on you all."
"Do me a favor, will you, guys?" the Shadow Blot asked. "Tell Celestia... Tell her I'll be back before she knows it."
"Will do, buddy." Timberwolf said.
The ponies, the wirewolves, and the draconequus gathered around for one last group hug.
"While you're there, could you bring me back a souvenir?" Anar D asked. "Like a snowglobe or a bobblehead or..."
"This isn't a vacation, D." the Shadow Blot said rolling his eyes.
"Great, now you ruined this farewell moment." Masque said.
"Hope everything turns out all right." Hum Drum said.
"Well, if it's not entirely right," the Masked Matterhorn said, "Just remember...

"When you're lost in the dark"
"When you can't see the light" Radiance sang.
"And you believe" Mistress Marevelous sang,
"You must grieve
And forfeit the fight"
"You still have the strength to stand up" Saddle Rager sang.
"Because you're cool and tough enough" Zapp sang.
"And it takes a lot more to faze" Filli-Second sang.
"'Cause there is still hope" the Power Ponies sang,
"Aaaaalwaaaaaaayyyyys"
"When you're trapped in your life" the Shadow Blot sang.
"Because you cannot speak," Dusk sang.
"Remember this fact" Rodan sang,
"Don't react
By acting weak"
"Don't ever let your fears hold you" Devastator sang.
"If so, everyone will scold you" Timberwolf sang.
"So stand up and sing your praise" Masque sang.
"'Cause there is still hope" the Mighty Machines sang,
"Aaaaalwaaaaaaayyyyys"
"I really thought I was through" Anar D sang,
"Six feet under is quite a fall"
"Well, from our point of view" the Masked Matterhorn sang.
"YOU'RE BACK STANDING TEN FEET TAAAAAAAAAALL" everyone sang,
"WHEN YOU ARE BEING HELD BACK
JUST BECAUSE YOU LOST YOUR NERVE
JUST BE A HERO
AND GO
'TO PROTECT AND SERVE'
SOMETIMES, EVEN HEROES ARE AFRAID
BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE OUR CHOICES UNMADE
IT JUST HELPS US EMBRACE THE DAYS
'CAUSE THERE IS STILL HOPE
THERE IS STILL HOPE
THERE IS STILL HOPE
AAAAAAAAAALWAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYS"
> EPILOGUE
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two comets of orange and purple soared through the dark skies of Republic City. They landed in an abandoned warehouse and dimmed. Standing there was a large, horse-like creature with fangs, fins, and fish tails. One was orange and the other was purple. The two creatures then changed appearances. From fish-horse monsters, they became two human, teenage girls. One had yellow skin and big, orange hair. The other had purple skin and hair (which was twin tails). They were both wearing punk clothes, and looked around their surrounding.
"Are you sure this is the place, Serena?" the purple girl asked.
"Of course, it is, Melody." Serena said. "Just listen."
"Listening to you is precisely why we spent the last couple of years in hiding." Melody said.
"Not this again." Serena sighed.
"I'm just saying, if we did more when we were working for Lord Arcanus," Melody said, "We would've been running the streets."
"Melody, what's done is done." Serena said. "Besides, there was nothing we could've done."
"Oh, you are so dumb!" Melody argued.
"Me?" Serena shouted. "I've been carrying the two of us since Arcanus was defeated! What have you been doing?"
"I know you are, but what am I?" Melody asked.
"That doesn't make any sense, you idiot!"
"YOU DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE, YOU LOSER!"
"Ladies, ladies." a voice called from above. Suddenly, a figure flew in from above. When he emerged, Tartus shined his metal eye.
"Are you the guy who called us here?" Serena asked.
"Indeed, I am." Tartus said.
The girls looked up and saw four green vultures perched at the rafters. They also saw someone in a hood and a mask standing next to a metal pole. The mask looked angry, and there was a red circle on its forehead.
"Well, you better not be wasting our time." Melody said.
"Is that any way to speak to Tartus?" Tartus asked.
"Tartus?" Serena asked. "Where have I heard that name..." She suddenly widened her eyes and gazed at him once more. She was shaking. "It can't be."
"Can't be what?" Melody asked. Serena leaned in and whispered in her ear. Melody widened her eyes in shock. "Seriously! Him?"
"I know I don't look like much," Tartus said, "But believe me when I say, I'm here to help."
"Help?" Serena asked. "Help with what?" She started to take a few steps back looking for an opportunity to escape, but she was cut short when the masked figure punched the air behind her and a fireball came out of their fist. The fireball shot behind Serena causing her to stop moving.
"You want revenge." Tartus said ignoring the fireball. "So do I. I believe that if we work together, we can take our revenge on everyone who ever wronged us."
"Why should we trust you?" Serena asked.
"Because I need your trust." Tartus said. "I can't move on to my master plan without you. I need your particular set of skills that neither Greengear nor Kira over there have."
"I like to think I have a good singing voice." Leaf whispered to himself.
"I don't know." Serena said. "Arcanus warned us about you..."
"Well, Arcanus isn't here anymore, is he?" Tartus asked. "And who's fault is that?" He raised one of his metal fingers and scratched a picture on the wall quickly. "Don't worry, Siren Sisters; when I'm done, I promise that everyone will get exactly what they deserve, especially these." He was finished with his picture, which included Team Avatar, the Mane 6, the Power Ponies, the Mighty Machines, and Discord. "I will make them blame themselves. Turn them against each other. Corrupt those they love. And when the dust settles and they accept that they cannot stop me... I will gladly grant them the mercy of death." He then slashed at the picture leaving long scratches on everyone he sketched. "HAHAHAHAHAAAA!

"They think they're safe in their havens
With their friendship to flaunt
But if we play our cards right
We'll all get what we want
I can't believe I'm finally here
So close to my goal
Taking back what was taken
And finally fulfilling my role
The time is nigh"
"To complete our plan" Jade sang.
"The time is nigh" Tartus sang.
"To take command" Emerald sang.
"Soon, they will pay" Tartus sang,
"For getting in the way
The time is nigh
They faced many enemies in their pasts
NightMare Moon, Arcanus, the Red Lotus
But soon, they'll be overrun
Like never before
WITH WHAT I HAVE IN STORE
ALL OF CREATION AND REALITY
WILL FINALLY BELONG TO MEEEEEEEE
The time is nigh"
"We waited so long" Jade sang.
"The time is nigh" Tartus sang.
"We're standing strong" Leaf sang.
"Soon, they will pay" Tartus sang,
For getting in the way
The time is nigh
YES, THE TIME IS NIGH"
"YOU ARE THE BOSS" Jade sang.
"THE TIME IS NIGH" Tartus sang.
"SOMETHING THAT RHYMES WITH BOSS" Verde sang.
"SOON, THEY WILL PAY" Tartus sang,
"FOR GETTING IN THE WAAAAAAAAAAAY
YES....
THE TIME IS NIIIIIIIIIIIIGH"