“You see anyone?” Gallus asked, pulling a clothespin from under his wing.
“Nah, you’re all good.” Said Smolder peering around the left castle wall.
“Griffon all good!” Yona said, peering around the right.
The six students had snuck out of their dorm rooms and over to Twilight’s Crystal Castle for a bit of teenage tomfoolery.
“Guys, I REALLY don’t think we should be doing this!” Sandbar said, nervously. “I mean, what if we’re caught! It’s already dark out, there’s no way we’ll have a valid excuse!”
“Don’t be such a worrywart Sandy.” Said Gallus, placing the clothespin inside the door’s lock. “Now hush, I need to focus.”
“Surely I can’t be the only one against this! Ocellus? Silverstream?” Sandbar said frantically.
“Eh, while I’m not sure this is the best way to go about it, I’m just DYING to see the inside.” Ocellus said.
“Yeah! Plus, it’s fun to break the rules sometimes!” Silverstream said. grinning.
“But if we’re caught then-”
“Oh for- we’re not gonna get caught!” Smolder said, rolling her eyes. It was then a click was heard and the lock fell to the ground with a clatter.
“Got it.” Gallus exclaimed, tossing the bent makeshift lockpick into the bushes.
“Where Griffon learn to do that?” Yona said, amazed. Gallus shrugged.
“Eh, on the streets, you learn a few less-than-honest things from a few less-than-honest people. Now come on.” ”Yeah, we’ll unpack Gallus’s traumatic childhood later, we’ve got a palace to see!” Smolder said. ”Yeah- hey!” Gallus said, elbowing Smolder in the side.
“Thisiscrazythisiscrazythisis-ACK!” Sandbar was yanked inside by Yona, and Silverstream and Ocellus closed the door as quietly as possible.
“Woah, it’s… uh… big.” Silverstream said, whispering. It was true, it was big. The students had never seen so much crystal before. Not even Smolder, who was licking her scaled lips instinctually. The six began to walk down the crystal hallway, before they froze. Whistling.
“Oh, shit!” Gallus hissed, “what the hell do we do!?”
“Uh… uh… into the library!” Yona said, gesturing towards the crystal doorway with several bookshelves full of books. The six quickly dove into the library. Smolder poked her head ever so slightly out of the doorway to see Spike, dancing down the hallway, a bag of gems in hand and wrapped in a bath towel.
“That was a hell of a close call.” Smolder whispered, watching the young dragon boogie down the hall and around the corner. Smolder turned back to her friends and rolled her eyes. “Ugh, what a boring hiding spot.” She groaned, looking around at the shelves of books.
“I don’t know Smolder,” said Ocellus flipping through one of Twilight’s notebooks, “I think this place is pretty interesting.”
“Of course you’d find it interesting, Ocellus,” Silverstream said.
“Guys I really think we should leave! Spike’s here, and he’ll definitely report us and- Gallus, where are you going?” Sandbar said, frantically.
“C’mon, it has to be here… ah!” Gallus said, barely acknowledging his friend’s concerns. “Guys, come look at this.”
“Yona swear if it’s more books, Yona gonna smash- Whoa.” Yona stopped in her tracks, right in front of a large, crystal doorway leading into a large, circular room, filled with different artifacts sitting on pedestals. ”What room is this?” Asked Smolder, her eyes as wide as dinner plates.
“This, everycreature, is Twilight’s trophy room. I heard about it when Spike was bragging in the teachers lounge.” Gallus explained, pridefully. “Not bad, eh?” Sandbar shook his head frantically.
“Oh come on Sandy, dontcha wanna see what’s in this crazy room!?” Asked Silverstream, a little too loudly for Sandbar’s liking.
“I- well- I suppose I’d better go… just to make sure you guys don’t accidentally level Ponyville!” Sandbar clarified.
“Atta boy Sandbar!” Smolder said, punching him in the arm. The six quickly entered the room. And began checking out different items.
“Whoa! What’s this cool necklace!” Silverstream said, lifting a gold and red necklace off it’s pedestal with a talon. Sandbar turned to face the hippogriff.
“Oh that’s the-” ”Alicorn Amulet!” Ocellus interrupted, dashing over to it with a grin. “I remember that lecture! Headmare Twilight said Trixie used it to almost take over Equestria! In fact, I’m pretty sure all of this stuff almost killed our teachers.” Ocellus explained, before looking around the room. Gallus and Smolder however were preoccupied with something else.
“What in Tartarus is a comic book doing in here?” Smolder said, picking the comic book up and reading the cover. “’Power Ponies.’ What is that?” Gallus perked up.
“Oh! Power Ponies! It’s about six ponies that-” Gallus, stopped and a blush crept across his face. “I mean, I have no idea.” Smolder rolled her eyes.
“Let’s get the others over here. Hey guys! Check this out!” Smolder shouted over to the others. And presented the comic to her friends. “Y’all know anything about this? Cause, apparently, Gallus knows nothing about Power Ponies.” She said with a smirk. Gallus, grimaced.
“Oh yeah! I’m a big fan!” Sandbar said, taking the book from Smolder and examining it. “Been to conventions and everything. I think Gallus went with me one year-” He was interrupted by Gallus loudly clearing his throat. “I- I mean, I’ve read all the comics! I think I’ve seen this one! ‘Attack of Cyber-corn. Interesting!”
“Is that some kind of weird veggie? Yaks hate corn!” Yona said, cocking her head to the side in a questioning fashion. Sandbar laughed.
“Haha! No, Yona. He’s a Unicorn who turned himself into metal with futuristic technology! He’s a bad dude! Say, what if we read it?” Sandbar said with a smile.
“Alright! I mean- whatever, sure.” Gallus said.
“Could be fun!” Silverstream exclaimed.
“I’m intrigued!” Ocellus agreed.
“Yaks best at reading comics!” Yona happily bounded off after them.
“Less illegal, but might still be fun!” Smolder said, flying behind them. The six students sat in a circle on the library floor, eagerly awaiting what the comic book held. Even Gallus, who was bouncing slightly in his seat, though his face remained straight and bored.
“Alrighty! Page one! It starts with-” Sandbar barely began his sentence before a whirlwind of color came out of the book, picking up and spinning the green colt around, before sucking him directly inside the book!
“HOLY-” Smolder shouted, before she too was caught in the tornado coming out of the book.
“AHHH!” Silverstream shrieked, trying to fly frantically away, before the whirlwind caught her.
“YAKS NOT BEST AT DYING!” Yona bellowed, but was sucked into the pages alongside her other friends.
“SWEET THORAX!” Ocellus yelled, shapeshifting into a bugbear to resist the pull, but was practically yanked out of that form and into the book.
“Well, shit.” Gallus said, and was dragged into the book by his tail. With the six students gone, the castle fell silent.
Sandbar’s eyes fluttered open. He was… alive. That’s good. He quickly sprang to his feet with a vigor he certainly never had before. In fact, he felt better than ever! That could wait, however. Where were his friends?
“S-Sandbar?” The colt turned to see Ocellus getting to her feet, alongside her friends who were waking up and groaning. “Where are we!” She squeaked. “I- I can’t shapeshift!”
“Torch that hurts like a- god, where are we?” Smolder snapped. But Sandbar wasn’t listening. He was too busy staring at the dragon.
“Uh… Smolder… Your clothes.” He said.
“What? What’s wrong with my- Oh TORCH!” She shrieked, trying and failing to cover herself up. She was not naked. Far from it. She was wrapped in a dark blue spandex, with blue and pink gems around her wrists and in her head spikes, as well as a dark purple mask around her eyes. “This is- I never- WHAT?” She sputtered. “I mean- look at you!” She pointed at Sandbar who was in unique garb of his own. He was dressed in a red jacket, with a green undershirt. Four black clothes adorned his hooves, and a black mask sat around his head, save for his eyes and snout. Most importantly, a black utility belt hung around his waist, with several pouches full of different gadgets, and a long, golden lasso sat on a hook to his side.
“Holy Celestia. Wait a minute…” Sandbar took a moment to fully take in his surroundings. The sky looked… not right.
“Whoa what the-” Gallus had noticed what he was wearing. Like Smolder, he was dressed in a spandex suit. Although his was indigo, and his claws had white gloves on them. A similarly colored headpiece sat upon his head and a gold lightning medallion hung around his neck. “Sandbar, you’d better explain what happened right now, or I swear-” He said, balling up his claw. Sandbar could’ve sworn he heard rumbling thunder.
“Guys… hear me out: I think we got stuck inside the comic book! Think about it! Look at the sky! It looks almost… drawn on.” Sandbar explained, gesturing above his head.
“I mean… He does have a point. It would explain why I can’t shapeshift.” Ocellus said. She was dressed in a light purple spandex with a sky blue chestplate. She also wore gold goggles, making her already big eyes appear even larger. Around her horn was a sky blue ‘horn guard’ that covered her horn. Her hooves sported four metal shoes, each one adorned with Headmare Twilight’s Cutie Mark for some reason.
“Yes. Pony has to be right. Yona would never be caught dead wearing this.” Yona said gesturing to herself with a hoof. She sported a turquoise spandex, with yellow butterfly shin guards, a purple scarf, as well as a matching mask. “Yellow not Yona’s color.”
“I dunno, Yona, I think you wear it pretty well!” Silverstream said. “Besides, I think it’s pretty cool!” Silverstream was dressed head to claw in a white spandex, save for her head and hair. Purple arrows pointing to her chest were all over the suit and several purple balloon-shaped symbols sat on her shins.
“OH MY CELESTIA! YOU ALL LOOK SO COOL!” Sandbar said, his inner fanboy rearing it’s head once again. He pointed at each of them. “Smolder! You must be Radiance! Gallus! You have to be Zapp! Ocellus! Gotta be Masked Matter-Horn! Yona! None other than Saddle Rager! Silverstream! Fili-Second, of course! And me?” He did a twirl. “I am Mistress Mare-velous! Wait… I’m a colt… Scratch that! I’m Mister Mare-velous!” He said, triumphantly.
“But mare means- mmf!” Ocellus started before Silverstream put a claw over her mouth.
“Sshh. Let him have his fun.”
“Wait, wait.” Gallus said. So we’re… what? The Power Ponies now? Sandbar shrugged.
“I suppose so. I mean, the book had to have been magic. Why else would it be in Twilight’s treasure room?” ”Fair enough.” Smolder sighed, before a look a terror crossed her face. “H-hey Sandy, who did you say the villain of this issue was?” Sandbar scratched his chin.
“I think the cover said Cyber-corn. He’s one of my faves!” Sandbar said with a grin. “Why does that matter, though?”
“L-look behind you…” Silverstream whimpered.
“Why what’s- Oh. Oh no.” Sandbar felt his blood run cold as he say Cyber-corn himself, standing atop a building. His red visor piercing the night sky, and an army of drones buzzing behind him, like a swarm of evil bugs.
Cyber-corn stood atop the building. His steel body gleamed in the moonlight. His large, red visor cut through the night sky like a beacon. His wings, once flesh, were replaced with several rows of inactive jet-boosters. And his horn was a long, chrome drill-like appendage.
“Oh- oh no.” Sandbar said, backing up, his legs trembling.
“Power Ponies!” Cyber-corn bellowed in a deep, robotic voice. “Your time of reckoning is nigh!”
“Hey, uh, you got the wrong creatures!” Gallus yelled, “we aren’t-”
”Silence!” Cyber-corn screeched. “Drones! Kill them!” Cyber-corn commanded, waving a metal hoof. The drones descended upon the six frightened students.
“Oh FUCK!” Gallus screamed. “Sandbar what do we do?!”
“Uh… uh…” Sandbar looked around frantically, before an idea popped into his head. It was a longshot but… He closed his eyes, concentrating. Just as he thought, his golden lasso glowed brightly and uncoiled itself. It zipped across the night sky wrapping itself around a nearby fire hydrant. With a crunch the fire hydrant was ripped from the ground, and flung into the swarm of robots, smashing through several of them like tin cans. “Ha! I knew it!” Sandbar cheered.
“SANDY FOR BAHAMUT'S SAKE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THAT WAS!” Smolder cried.
“It’s just as I thought! We have the costumes, so we have the powers! Smolder! Think of something! Anything! Hold out your claws, and concentrate!” Sandbar instructed.
“What the-? I don’t-”
“Just do it!” Sandbar yelled. Just as the pony suggested, Smolder held out her claws, and scrunched her eyes shut. Her bracelets began to glow, and with a flash of light, a massive, pink, glowing battle ax appeared. With a wave of her claw, it cleaved through a chunk of the swarm.
“Holy shit…” Smolder said, staring at her claws. “THIS IS AWESOME!”
“Ooh! Ooh! Do me!” Silverstream yelled, as the robots landed around her, blades springing forth from their heads. “Eep! Quickly please!”
“Silver.” Sandbar started with a grin, flinging hoof-shaped shuriken at robots.
“Y-yeah?”
”Run. Run like tartarus.”
“Ooh! I can do that!” Her pupils flashed pink, and Silverstream zipped around, a beam of pink light. Before the robots could process what was occurring, they were torn to scrap by the lighting-quick Hippogriff.
“Sandbar! Help please!” Ocellus cried as the robots closed in around her.
“Your horn! Think of your horn, then think of, like, ice or fire or energy blasts or something. Anything you can shoot from your horn!” Sandbar yelled out. Ocellus focused, and fired a blue beam from her horn into the ground turning it to ice. The robots legs were frozen to the ground. Then, she projected a massive red energy blasts, melting all the robots down to molten shards.
“Ahaha! This is neat! I wonder what else I can do!” Ocellus whooped, firing all manner of energy from her horn.
“Sandy! Tell me how to use this thing!” Gallus screeched, flying around rapidly with several robots after him.
“You read this comic! You should know this!” Sandbar exclaimed, tying up 4 unlucky robots and using them as a flail, crushing a large amount of other robots by swinging them around in a wide circle.
“I’m not a fucking super-fan Sandy! Just- tell me please!”
“Ok! Ok! Grip that amulet, and think of any weather you’ve seen, no matter how severe!” Sandbar commanded. Gallus wrapped his claws around the lightning amulet, as it glowed in his palm. Dark clouds began to accumulate above the city, flashing with bright lightning. Then, several massive lightning bolts struck down on the robots, spreading electricity among them, short circuiting some, and outright exploding others.
“Damn that was… something. Let me try…” He did the same movements as before, but this time, the wind started to pick up, and a massive tornado seemed to appear out of nowhere in the center of a massive cluster of robots, shredding them to pieces. “Woo! Yeah!”
“Yona could really use some teaching right about now!” Yona cried. The yak was using her already impressive strength to smash and bash robots, but the poor girl was quickly getting overwhelmed.
“Best I can tell you is: Get. Mad.” Sandbar instructed. However the pony’s footing was lost in the conversation, and a robot took advantage of that. Rocketing towards the pony and hitting Sandbar in the side with a flying buck. “Augh!” Sandbar cried, before he fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.
“SANDBAR!” Yona cried, before her brow furrowed. As it did, she began to grow in size. Her already large muscles become even more swollen. Her neck became like a tree trunk. Her hooves became like bricks. Her horn became large and twisted. And her short tail became large and covered in thick hair. She was monstrous. But damn, was she strong. With a roar, she stomped the ground, and a large shockwave traveled across the ground, collapsing the earth beneath the robots, causing them to fall into the earth. Stomping on top of robots on her way to her friend, she gingerly picked him up. “Sandy?” She said as quietly as possible.
“D-damn, Yona. You really know how to get mad!” He laughed, before clambering to his hooves within her massive hoof.
“Thanks Sandbar!” She bellowed, before placing him on her large back. “Hold on!” Before charging into the swarm alongside her other friends.