The Menace of the Mole Master
The blustery winds raged as the snowflakes fell. The frost coated the land in ice and snow, stretching for miles in every direction. Thirty miles outside the griffin city of Kyakhta lay a nuclear power plant facility. The workers carefully monitored the electrical output given off by the series of generators that spanned across the interior. The large snowflakes would often coat the monitors in its moisture, forcing the workers to wipe away the flakes from the screen. The flakes seemed more determined than ever to cling to the monitors as they relentlessly assaulted the employees’ bodies, forcing their way to the small devices in their claws.
Cold winds and snow made it difficult for the workers on the exterior, but this was Grivohvia. Here, the snow and cold was commonplace. Rarely did the sun ever shine and when it did it was never warm. One of the workers took a short breath, releasing a cloud mist from his beak, which was only made visible by the chilling winds.
Many of the world’s creatures could not survive in the environment. Inhabiting this world was difficult for even the most stalwart of beasts. However, these creatures were a strong race, for their natural feathers was a layer of warmth shielding them from most cold climates. But even they were helpless against the might of the blizzard that surrounded them. Dawning warm weather coats, gloves, and masks that protected them as they struggled through the storm. While they did not require the amount of protective coating ponies would need, they were still dominated by the weather, like all creatures.
They monitored the output carefully, determined to keep it as safe levels. Calculations swirled through their minds as their gaze focused solely on the readings in front of them. The thought of their failure crossed their minds several times, but that was all part of the job. The cities within the facilities reach were depending on them for their power.
Suddenly, the ground started to shake. The shaking increasingly became more violent as the moments passed. The earth roared as the tremors caused many of the workers to lose their balance or abandon their spot on the ground by ascending into the air.
The griffins started to shout to one another, as they frantically scurried towards the monitors to see what the problem was caused by. When their eyes fixed upon the readings, they were all normal. The ground gave another violent shake, this time even stronger.
They looked to the edge of the plant to see the ground surrounding it was beginning to crack. The crevices began to surround the entire facility. They spread their wings and darted away. The ground continued to split open around it, filling the air with crackles and the earth with violent tremors.
The worker’s gasps, murmurs and questions to a mystical god, filled the air around them as they watched the facility slowly sink into the earth. There was even some talk about the end of the world. The fear in them increased as they began to panic. They gazed into the empty void that was once their workplace. They whispered to each other, uncertain what had transpired.
One of the griffins dared to approach the rim on the hole. He looked down to see a black void that looked as if it stretched for miles upon miles. His eyes kept themselves focused onto the pit, in a vain attempt to see the bottom. He leaped back in horror as the black void began to take shape. He darted away from the fissure as a giant slug-like creature poked out of it.
The creature gave a thunderous roar that shook the surrounding area. The facility’s staff spread their wings and took flight, not even looking back at the hideous creature that threatened them.
The lab of Time Turner was bustling with activity. Monitors flashed with a series of numbers and images, beeping to him, like a child trying to gain his attention. Time Turner turned towards the monitor, putting his hoof on his chin. He gazed upon the map of Grivohvia, where a large red dot was flashing just outside of Kyakhta.
He clicked on the keyboard in front of him in a particular series. With that, the map shifted to show an image of the entire planet, where several other red dots appeared. There was one in Westmareister where the famous Trottingham Palace disappeared into the earth. Another was in Turkey, where the sphinx sunk beneath the sands.
There were several other points all over the globe, all reporting the same thing. A tremor had sunk those landmarks into the earth, with no explanation.
What’s the connection between all these places? he asked himself.
Time Turner tapped his keyboard once more and the screen shifted into a live view of the site in Grivohvia.
He had sent a drone over to Grivohvia to observe the latest site of the disaster. However, the griffins were not silent about accepting help from a pony, even one as highly regarded as himself. Despite this, the Griffins allowed him to scan the area, in the interest of the missing victims. Not that they were too thrilled to have such help. Griffins and ponies were natural enemies. It had been that way for years to a cause that no creature was able to move on from.
The eyes of the drone scoped the area surrounding the plant. The snow continued to fall all around it, occasionally catching the optical lenses of the droid. The snow would melt as quickly as it would land, turning the ice cold flake into liquid. A wiper automatically deployed itself, clearing the screen of precipitation, if only for a moment.
The sight began to shift as the robot’s head turned towards the gaping hole. The surrounding area was not a sight that held up interest in Time Turner’s mind. The miles of snow and ice paled in comparison to the mysterious burrow which lied before him. And more interestingly, the mysterious creature that had been sighted inside the black void. According to the locals, a giant beast was seen slithering to the surface. While the creature didn’t attack or harm any of the workers, the ones that were trapped in the facility were still missing.
“Herbie drone one, come in,” Time spoke into the microphone to his left.
The microphone squeaked before finally receiving Herbie’s message. “This is Herbie drone one. Online.”
“Herbie, run diagnostic.”
Time looked up to his screen and took note of the readings Herbie gave as it ran a full scan on its operating systems. Wireless remote access appeared on the screen before him, signaling that they were in working order. The same was done with optical, thermal scanners, communication, propulsion system, and data storage.
“Diagnostic complete. All systems are green.”
Time Turner nodded, though he wasn’t certain why. He knew Herbie couldn’t see him. He thought maybe it was just to agree with Herbie, after seeing the readings on the screen. “Good. Initiate probe of the immediate area.”
“Initiating probe.”
Herbie soared over to the hole in the ground. Its eyes started to glow green as it took measurements of the area.
The information was then relayed back to Time Turner’s computer, where he took mental notes of the readings. He admitted to himself that he was a bit surprised to see all the readings from the soil were normal. There was nothing in the earth to tell him why the power plant or any other place sank beneath the earth.
“Probe complete. Soil sample. 45% minerals. 25% water. 25% gas. 5% organic matter."
Time placed his hoof on his chin again. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the soil around the plant. His mind boggled with curiosity as he conjured explanation after explanation. An earthquake? He thought. Dismissed by the lack of major fault lines. And it did not explain the appearance of the creature. The plant carried off by the creature itself? Why? To what purpose? The more he thought about, the less sense it began to make.
“Herbie, begin deeper probe. Explore the fissure.”
“Beginning probe of fissure.”
Herbie glided down into the hole, scanning as it sank deeper into the pit. Time kept monitoring the screen in front of him. As Herbie sunk deeper into the cave, darkness clouded the screen. “Herbie, lights please.”
Herbie’s eyes started to glow, illuminating the area. There were some odd shapes within the soil. The walls seemed bumpy, as if they were rubbed against by something heavy and massive. That confirmed his theory. The creature was behind the disappearance of the facility. But why? The creature had never been harmed. As far as Time knew, it was a random attack. But against multiple targets? All across the globe? It seemed too organized to be random.
Time noted the different readings with the soil, but he expected as much. The deeper they went into the earth, the less pure soil they would find. He knew it wouldn’t be long before they found bedrock readings as well.
Herbie sank deeper and deeper into the cave. As Herbie traveled, Time’s wondered how long it would take before their communications went down due to the magnetic interference from the earth’s core. Not only that, but the questions repeated themselves in his mind.
Was it all random?
What was the point?
Is there a point?
Why these landmarks over others?
What connects them?
Time Turner was so distracted by his work; he didn’t even notice a white mare with a long purple mane trot through the door.
“Are you not ready yet, darling?” Rarity asked.
“Just give me 15 more minutes, darling,” Time said as he punched in another set of keys on his keyboard, not even turning to Rarity.
“You said that 15 minutes ago,” Rarity pointed out.
Turner finally turned to Rarity, who was sporting a long pink and yellow gown, with bright pink sleeves and a golden tiara at the top of her head. Turner knew that Rarity was preparing for this night for a long time. It was the night of the Grand Galloping Gala, a fancy party that invited all of Equestria’s finest. This time, the event happened to take place in Manehatten. The moment they received their invitation Rarity nearly leaped out of her skin with excitement. She could scarcely believe what her eyes told her. For years, she had been designing ensembles for the Gala, but never had the opportunity to attend. And yet, in her hooves, lay the evidence she couldn’t deny.
Time raised his eyebrow. “Really? Sorry, Rarity. I must have lost track of time.”
He was sort of lying. He didn’t want to go to some fancy party when there was work to be done. But Rarity has been working on her dress for weeks. It was all she could talk about. He felt it would be unfair if he didn’t join her.
“You? Lose track of time? I am shocked beyond words,” Rarity gasped sarcastically. She made her way to him and pecked him on the cheek.
Time smiled. “I’m just trying to find out why those landmarks have been disappearing.”
Rarity glanced up to computer screen. “You have been on this for a week now. Is there nothing new?”
Time turned away from her and towards the screen once more. “I’m afraid not. I had hoped that the soil deposits would have yielded some results as to why the landmarks would have sunk, but as of right now, that theory doesn’t seem to fit.”
Rarity placed her hooves around him. “You will figure it out, darling.” She then turned the chair around quickly. “But not tonight.” She then levitated a bow tie and white collar from her bag hanging over her side. “Now, get dressed. We are already late for the Gala.” She placed them into Time’s lap.
Time picked up the tie and collar, fumbling to put them on. “What about Oak? And Fleetfoot?”
Rarity made her way for the door. “I sent them ahead of us. I figured at least two of the Fantastic Four should show up on time.”
Time Turner smiled for a moment. The thought of Burnt Oak in a tie was a bit laughable. He must be dreading it. How Rarity found one that was able to fit his… ‘monstrous’ size… astonished him. As for Fleetfoot, unlike her cousin, Rarity, Fleetfoot wanted to avoid wearing a dress whenever possible. He imagined that Fleetfoot was about as thrilled to be there he was.
Frankly, Turner was surprised that Rarity has time to make the dress she had in the short span of time. Especially when the Fantastic Four had been so busy the past few months. They dealt with a pony, who through the power of hypnotism, made everypony believed he was invincible, even to Oak. They also battled aliens from a world called Planet X. Not to mention public appearances and the number of charity dinners they were invited too.
Time Turner started to wrap the tie and collar around his neck, following Rarity closely. He stopped himself as his eye peered onto the screen. The readings started to fluctuate, slightly. Still, it was enough to catch Time Turner’s eye. He didn’t notice himself sitting back in the chair, carefully noting the changes. His eyes focused solely on the readings before him, waiting for the next swing in the readings. The moments passed slowly, as the screen became plagued by static. He tapped on the keyboard before him, increasing the signal’s strength, causing the static to subside. Time Turner knew it wouldn’t be for long. It would only be a matter of moments and a matter of distance before Herbie would completely lose communication with the Baxter Building.
He stared at the monitor, intensely. He was so absorbed in his work he failed to notice the chair moving until the screen was replaced by Rarity’s scowling gaze. He looked atop her head to see her horn glowing a bright blue hue.
“Time Turner, we need to leave. We are already late. Need I remind you this is a charity ball?”
Time Turner gave a nervous smile, sweat coming from the back of his neck. “Sorry, darling.” Out of all the creatures Time Turner was afraid off, only Rarity petrified him with fear. Not particularly a bad thing. Not all the time anyway. “I’m just worried about the soil analyses. If Herbie were to lose communication-“
Rarity turned towards the monitor, a slight irritation in her voice. “Herbie, darling?”
“Yes, Miss Rarity?”
“Would you mind sending the readings to the main computer system upon losing signal with the Baxter Building?
“Yes, Miss Rarity.”
Rarity turned back to Time Turner with her bottom lip puckered, her eyebrows narrowed. “Shall we?” Rarity made her way to the doorway.
Time Turner started to adjust the bowtie fumbling around with it in his haste. He made his way alongside Rarity, following her into the hallway.
As Time Turner and Rarity continued to the elevator, he realized that he had left the lights on in the lab once he was halfway down the hallway. He laughed at his hasty exit, as he stretched his foreleg out down the hallway and around the corner of the doorway. Normally, this feat would have been impossible for other ponies. But he was Time Turner, also known to the world as Doctor Whooves. He had the ability to stretch his body into various lengths and shapes in order to accomplish his task.
He flipped the light switch off, knowing exactly where it was despite him not even being in the room.
He followed Rarity as closely as he could, failing to notice that back in the lab, the Herbie drone had been lost.
The Grand Galloping Gala was the biggest party of Equestria. Any pony who was any pony was invited and that made the paparazzi frantic. It was hosted in the Woolworth Building, one of the Manehatten’s landmarks and was occupied by the world’s most cultured and sophisticated ponies. The food and wine were imports from the all around the globe.
The music of Bach, one of the world’s greatest musical composers, echoed through the entire room. A collection of violas played together in perfect harmony, repeating a classical composition.
The ponies were all dressed from top of their heads to the bottom of their hooves in the most cultured of garments. Stallions would wear large hats and be well garbed in the most stunning of collars. While the mare’s sported dresses that shined with gemstones. Their manes were shaped into royal buns, with just enough difference among them to give them each a unique twist.
For all these reasons, Burnt Oak felt completely out of place. He was a street pony. Always had been, always would be. Growing up in the slums made these overdressed moneybags look like they were just showing off. The overly sophisticated surroundings made him feel uneasy. The curtains of fine silk that flowed to the floor, puffing out of towards the room as if to catch every pony’s attention. The chandelier that hung vicariously over his head that slightly shook every now and again, illuminating the room with its thousands of tiny crystals. The esteemed setting caused Oak to scratch his head more times than once.
As he scanned the surroundings, he noticed other ponies looking away from him as his eyes met theirs. He sighed. It was almost as if they were afraid of him, like he would eat them if they so much as upset him. He hated that. His horrific appearance didn’t automatically make him a monster. The collection of high class ponies couldn’t so much as look at him without shaking in fear.
He grumbled under his breath a series of cruel words, but quickly silenced them. How could he blame them? Every time he was forced to look himself in the mirror, his heart sank. To look upon his beast-like face and realize that he was what everypony was afraid of, was more hurtful than any pounding his previous enemies had given him. Ever since the accident aboard Time Turner’s spacecraft, Oak had been transformed into a golem-like orange creature. For his rocky hide and monstrous appearance, many ponies and Fleetfoot gave him the demeaning name of ‘the Thing’.
Oak spent most of his time in the corner, trying not to be noticed. It was often hard, since he was easily the largest stallion in the room. And Fleetfoot wouldn’t help the situation by pointing him out.
“Hey, Oak!” Fleetfoot shouted across the room. She flailed her forelegs through the air, desperate to catch Oak’s attention. She flew into the air and waved towards him, but Oak wouldn’t even look her way.
Oak grumbled under his breath. It wasn’t until he heard a group of stallions snickering that he turned his attention to Fleetfoot. He gritted his teeth as Fleetfoot descended to the stallions below her, saying something to them. Oak couldn’t tell what, but they started laughing again. Oak couldn’t help but think that they were laughing at him. It wouldn’t be a surprise. For as long as Oak could remember, Fleetfoot always had a mouth on her. That mouth would get her into more trouble than was needed. Rarity and Time Turner would warn her about her lack of restraint, but would she ever listen? Tartarus, no! She would simply continue to say what she wanted without a care.
Oak growled as the stallions laughed again. Oak could tell Fleetfoot was speaking in a lower tone, but still couldn’t make out what it was. He knew she was referring to him. Why else would she deepen her voice?
The young stallions that surrounded her seemed to be fascinated with her. They all had a look in their eye that seemed to be enchanted by the young mare. The way they laughed as she told a joke, the way they hung on her every word, the way they leaned forward practically with their tongues out. Oak rolled his eyes and sneered. Buy me a ticket to Pukesville! Oak thought to himself.
“Oak! I know you can hear me!” Fleetfoot shouted. She flailed her arms in the air once more. She leaped into the air, performing a loop. “You need to enjoy the party a little more!” She let herself fall to the ground, with the group of stallion’s catching her before she hit the ground. She started to laugh as she playfully tugged on one of pony’s tie, bring him close for a kiss on the cheek. The young stallion’s white face started to turn beat red. Fleetfoot leaped out of the net of hooves and took to the air once more, flipping through the air at full speed. The stallions watched her in awe as she performed feats such as loops and spins, avoiding the pillars with flawless precision. After another long loop, she allowed herself to fall in the hamper of hooves. The room was filled with a seemingly endless applause. A few ponies even cheered her name.
Oak rolled his eyes. Now’s she just showing off! He slunk to the table containing the hors d'oeuvres. Oak picked up a hoof full and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing rather loudly. As he continued to snack on the food, he heard one of the ponies whisper to another of how uncouth he was. He grumbled under his breath, “You want uncouth, I’ll give you uncouth.”
Oak, however, didn’t make a move. He tried to ignore everypony around him. The ponies seemed to go about their business, not taking a step towards the table. Their attention was on everything else around them. At least until Fleetfoot made her way next to him.
“Come on, stone head, lighten up!” Fleetfoot wrapped her foreleg around Oak’s enormous neck, only getting to his shoulder. She pointed to the dance floor. “You need to go out and get yourself a mare. Dance, have some fun!” She bumped her rump against his body, as if to get him to go ask a mare.
Oak shook his head and scoffed. “Yeah, sure. Let me know about the next mare who doesn’t mind to be seen with a giant monster?”
Fleetfoot placed her hoof on her head. “Dude, lighten up! How often are ponies like us invited to the Grand Galloping Gala?” She made her way to his front, her wings keeping her eye level with him.
“Hopefully never again.” Oak force his way passed Fleetfoot, reaching for the dishes behind her. He stuffed his cheeks full with food in his mouth. His mouth unleashed a series of crunching and snapping as his jaws broke into the hard food with no difficulty.
Fleetfoot chuckled, folding her arms and leaning into Oak’s ear. “You eat like a garbage compactor.”
Oak growled giving Fleetfoot a glare.
Fleetfoot floated to the ground, taking a few steps back. She held her hoof out as if to keep Oak at a distance. “Whoa, big guy! Chill!” She placed her hoof back on the ground and raised her eyebrow, giving a sneer smirk. “You really are grumpy when you don’t take your nap, aren’t you?”
Oak stomped forward, causing Fleetfoot to leap back in fright. “Keep talking, half-pint, and you’ll see how grumpy I can get!” The whole room went dead silent as Oak’s voice echoed into the room. Everypony’s eyes went straight to the Thing. He didn’t even noticed, nor would he have cared. He was fuming, his breath growing more rapid, his eyes narrowed straight to Fleetfoot.
Fleetfoot leaped back in shock. She quickly collected her composure. She posed as if she was ready to take the air, her eyes focused on Oak. A smiled painted itself on her face. “You want to go, rockpile?!” Fleetfoot shouted. “Bring it on!” Her eyes became more intensified but the smile never left her face.
“When I’m done with you, match-stick,” Oak took another step forward, shaking the ground with it. The chandelier shook, causing a ringing as the crystals collided with one another. The glasses perched across the surrounding tables vibrated with a ding. Some even fell to the tables they were balanced on. The liquids they contained spilled across the fine fabric that covered them. But those sounds and events all went unnoticed as the orange goliath stepped forward. “No pony is going to be able to tell your face from your flank!”
Fleetfoot forced herself into the air as high as her legs would take her. Her wings then took over with a cry from her throat. “Flame on!” With that, her entire body was consumed by fire. The crowd leaped back in fright as the pony coated in flames leered down at the giant.
Time Turner and Rarity arrived at the Grand Galloping Gala, only to be surrounded by the paparazzi. Cameras flashed in their faces as they trotted by attempting to enter the building. The reporters called out their names, desperate to gain their attention. Time Turner squint his eyes, trying to keep the light from them, turning his head to avoid them even further. He kept his trotting forward as they started to blurt out questions.
“Doctor Whooves,” he finally heard one reporter shout, “Is it true you are aiding N.E.I.G.H.S with the missing landmarks?”
Time Turner nodded. “Yes, N.E.I.G.H.S has asked me to look into the matter. The Fantastic Four are always willing to help out our government and the governments of the world.”
The reporter then spoke again. “Then why are you not currently aiding them?”
Time Turner opened his mouth to respond, but realized that his excuse would not be taken well. He stammered his words, muttering like he had a babbling idiot, as he attempted to come up with a good reason why he was not at the Baxter Building working on finding the missing landmarks.
Rarity injected herself into the conversation, facing the reporter. “Doctor Whooves, like all the other ponies that have volunteered to find the landmarks, have been hard at work for the past week.” Rarity pointed out. “While the Fantastic Four are heavily esteemed heroes, we still have obligations to our homeland.”
Rarity wrapped her hoof around Time Turner’s foreleg. “As I am sure you are aware,” Rarity began, still speaking to the reporter, “The Fantastic Four uphold our promises.” She then motioned forward, her eyes meeting with the reporter. “And as I am sure you are aware, this charity event goes to support thousands of lives in foreign countries.”
She then turned towards Time Turner. “And our appearance here will ensure that two million bits will be used in the support of said countries. Is that not right, darling?”
Time Turner didn’t know what to say, he was too baffled by Rarity’s ability to handle the press. Whenever it came to the lecturing of younger minds or a demonstration to his peers, he was always full of answers. It seemed that there was no puzzle he did not have a theory on. In fact, he was highly regarded as one of the smartest ponies on the planet. Not that his peers would ever admit to stating that.
As for his ability to deal with the press, it was lacking. He found himself saying something that would be taken out of context or would find himself in situations where he would be unable to answer a question. He felt like a bumbling fool, as if he had been asked to turn a frog into plutonium with a stick and peanut butter. He simply didn’t know the answer.
But Rarity, she seemed to move flawlessly from question to question, as if she had all the answers she needed. It was like looking at himself when speaking to his fellow scientists. She actually looked like she was enjoying the questions. Almost as if they were a challenged to her. The slight movement of her eyebrows and the sly smile as each question reached her ears spoke of her confidence. He simply smiled and nodded.
“Miss Rarity,” the reporter asked. “How exactly does the Fantastic Four plan to locate the missing landmarks?
Rarity was quick to respond. “I assure you, the Fantastic Four and some of the greatest minds in the world are hard at work locating them, despite the fact that we are here. The Baxter Building has some of the most advanced technology searching for the missing landmarks.”
Rarity glanced by at Time Turner. “Now, if you will excuse us, we are late for the Gala.”
Rarity guided Time Turner into the building, ignoring the cameras and questions around them.
Time Turner was in awe at how Rarity handled the situation. He had been speechless since she intervened in the conversation with the media. Something he was thankful for. “How did you know what to say?” Time Turner whispered in her ear.
Rarity simply smiled. “Darling, I was born for the limelight.”
Time Turner shrugged. “I don’t know how you are able to do it. How you are able to tolerate all this … attention?”
Rarity has always enjoyed the spotlight. She was a fashion designer after all. When she wasn’t working alongside the Fantastic Four, she was in her workshop, planning her new line of esteemed garments. But she wasn’t just fluent in designing outfits either. She was a seamstress, a dress maker and a model. How did she manage to find time in between all that was needed of her? Time would often ask himself this question. It, however, never occurred to him until now to ask her how she manages to keep up on her fashion work while still being an active member of their team.
She was always on the center stage, but she never bragged about it. Well, maybe a few times.
Rarity gave him a wink. “Like I said, I was born for the limelight. Being the center of attention has always been one of my special talents.” She sunk her head into his shoulder as they steadily made their way to the doorway. She closed her eyes, taking deep relaxing breaths, allowing Turner to guider her as she simply relaxed. Tuner couldn’t help but a little warm. Her touch was soft and gentle. It was enough to distract him from his thoughts. The thoughts of Rarity’s balancing act were replaced with her appearance.
He looked upon her and didn’t notice the beauty until now. Her coat shining in radiance, her hair so clean and smooth, and her dress that seemed to complement her skin tone perfectly. Turner didn’t have the eyes of a seamstress or designer, but he couldn’t help but notice how well the dress and the jewelry all seem to fit Rarity. Like a painting where the artist would blend the colors in a way that astonished the eyes, treating them to an array of tints, tones and shades.
As the two approached the building, they heard the sounds of screams coming from within. Violent crashing sounds followed like the sound of a table breaking. They rushed inside with all haste, not knowing what to expect.
Fleetfoot ascended into the air, avoiding Oak’s enormous hooves. “Come on, slow poke. Is that as fast as you can go?” she mocked as she hovered above him.
Oak growled. “When I get my hooves on you, you little twerp, I’m gonna…”
Fleetfoot interrupted with a cackle and leaned forward, giving a sly smirk. “When will that be? In a century or two?”
Oak reached over to his left, grabbing one of the tables. He lifted it off the ground, spilling its contents all over the floor. Food and plates were sent crashed as Oak lifted the table above his head. He began to steadily aim it towards the Equine Torch, hoping for it to intimidate her. He didn’t want to hurt her, but at the same time, he wanted nothing more.
However, if she was intimidated, she was good at not showing it. She was delivered a smirk and narrowed her eyes at the giant.
Ponies all around them started to panic, screaming and shouting as they made their way to the furthest part of the room. They could only cower in fear as the orange giant took a step forward. Normally, that table would have been far too heavy to be moved alone by any stallion, let alone lift over their heads. But Oak was the Thing and he had the strength of a hundred stallions. Maybe more. Oak hurled the wooden table at Fleetfoot with as much force as he could muster.
However, Fleetfoot was quick to unleash a wave of fire from her hooves. The flames burned apart the table turning it to ash before it could reach her. The ash felt to the ground, leaving only a small pile that formerly resembled a table.
“That the best you got, rock for brains?!” Fleetfoot taunted. “Let me show you how it’s done!” She said rubbing her hooves together. A small fireball then appeared in her hooves. She hurled it towards Oak.
Oak braced himself for impact as the flaming orb soared towards him. He growled under his breath as he could almost feel the heat coming off of Fleetfoot’s attack. The fireball stopped short of Oak in midair with an explosion, as if it had ran into something that wasn’t seen.
“That’s enough from you two!” Rarity’s voice came from the doorway. Rarity marched into the room, glaring at Fleetfoot above her. “Can’t you two go one day without fighting?!”
Instantly, the two realized why the fireball had stopped in midair. It had hit Rarity’s invisible force field. It was one of Rarity’s unique gifts, one that had saved their flanks more times than they could count.
Oak pointed towards Fleetfoot. “She started it!”
Fleetfoot landed on the ground, transforming back into her normal pony form. She waved her hooves in front of her. “Whatever! He freaked out on me!” She pointed accusingly towards Oak.
“Knock it off, both of you!” Rarity screamed. Her eyes gazed piercingly at the two ponies, her face racked with anger, her mouth gritting her teeth. Her once white face was turning bright red. All the ponies inside cowered into the corners, keeping away from the two superheroes. “I swear you two are worse than children!”
Time Turner finally came from behind and put his hoof on Rarity’s shoulder. Rarity stomped to the little filly’s room. Turner turned towards the two ponies, placing his hooves on each of them, even if he had to stretch his arm to reach Oak’s shoulder. “Look, I know you two have disagreements every now and then,” Time Turner started. “But I need the both of you to behave tonight. This is really important to Rarity.”
Oak turned around and started stomp off. “Tell that to firefly over there.”
Fleetfoot scoffed as she folded her hooves and leapt to the air. “You’re lucky that Rarity saved your flank, you giant gorilla.”
Oak started for Fleetfoot, but Time Turner stepped in front of him, stretching out his body like a curtain cutting the two off from one another. He stared into Oak’s infuriated eyes. “Let’s not start another confrontation. Let’s just try to get through the night without an incident.” He then turned his head back to Fleetfoot. “I would really appreciate it.”
Oak scoffed and stormed off to another part of the building. Fleetfoot went back to the main ball room, the opposite direction of where Oak headed off too.
Time Turner remolded his body back to his normal looking self. He looked around to see everypony was staring straight at him and the disaster around him. Tables had been smashed to pieces, there were burn marks on the floor, walls, celling, tables and chairs, and food was all over the floor. There were holes in the walls where no doubt Oak and smashed his hoof. And the ponies all stood with the mouths open, as if unsure what to say.
Time Turner smiled anxiously and rubbed the back of his head. “I… I know things haven’t been… ideal…” He held out his hooves in front of him as if to reassure the onlookers. “But I ask everypony to please resume usual activities. I promise there will be no more interruptions for tonight.”
Slowly, the crowd began to drift away from the scene of destruction and sounds of conversation soon filled the air. The music even began to play again. It seemed like with the exception of the smell of burning silk in the air, everything was resuming back to normal standards.
Time Turner then trotted off to the little filly’s room, hoping to find a calm, quite, not overdramatic in anyway, Rarity.
This was not the case, however. He could hear the sobbing cries coming from the other side of the door, the small room amplifying her sobs. He bit his lip and gently tapped on the door. “Rarity? Are you alright in there?”
“Leave me alone!” she moaned though the door. “This was supposed to be the best night ever.” Her sobs came in a series of whimpers. “I worked on this dress for months! This was supposed to be my dream come true!” She again unleashed a series of weeping cries that echoed out into the room.
Time Turner shifted his gaze to several mares, who were staring impatiently at him, waiting for Rarity to unlock the door. Their glares caused a cold sweat to come from the back of Time Turner’s neck. He gave a nervous smile accidently giving a similar chuckle. He turned back to the doorway. “Rarity, it’s still early in the night.” He leaned into the door, his mouth speaking directly to it. “We can still have a great time out there. Why don’t you come on out?”
Slowly, the door began to open. Rarity passed through it, holding her head up high, despite that her eyes were red and her cheeks were soaked with tears. “You are right. I can’t let this one mishap ruin my night.” Time Turner wiped a tear from Rarity’s face. She smiled as she turned towards Time Turner. A slow waltz began to play all around them.
Rarity took Time Turner’s hoof as she dragged him to the dance floor. Time Turner couldn’t admit to being a dancer. He knew enough to get him by, but most of his life had been spent with books rather than physical activates.
But he felt confident that he could perform the simple waltz. At least, that is what he convinced himself. Time Turner took Rarity’s hoof in his own. With fluid, slow motions, they perform the actions to the waltz, stepping in perfect rhythm with the music. Well, at least, Rarity was.
Time Turner focused his thoughts on the simple steps. He caught himself letting Rarity lead once or twice. Of course, he never would have caught them without Rarity giving him a raise of her eyebrow. To which, Turner’s only response was a nervous laugh and a smile. He would then quickly take the lead only to lose it a few moments later. Rarity couldn’t help but smile. Perhaps, she was laughing at his attempt and he was looking like a fool. Or maybe it was because that he was trying to make her happy, even if he didn’t quite have an idea how. Time couldn’t tell which, but based on the stallions that have attempted to court Rarity in the past; he assumed it was the latter.
Time Turner gazed into Rarity’s eye that seemed to sparkle as she gazes back at him. Time Turner started to feel a sweat coming from his neck, while Rarity looked like she was remaining calm. He knew he must look like a fool to her. He had never been a mare’s stallion. And yet, he constantly found one of the most beautiful mares in his presence almost daily. What she saw in him when there were so many other stronger and handsomer stallions around was a question that still eluded him. Rarity slowly closed her eyes as she gently rested her head against Time Turner. For a moment, Time Turner could feel Rarity’s breath on his flesh.
“I’m glad you came,” Rarity whispered.
Time Turner smiled. He said the first thing that came to his mind. “You know I would do anything for you.”
Rarity then stopped moving, causing Time Turner to stop as well. The ponies around them continued their dance, completely ignoring Rarity and Time Turner. The music continued to play around them as Rarity raised her head straight face Time Turner. The music began to play even softer as if to accent the moment around them. Time Turner noticing Rarity close her eyes, not realizing that he was doing the same. He was leaning forward, his lips aiming for Rarity’s. Moments seemed to pass like hours as they anticipated the kiss that seemed light years away.
A tremor shook the entire facility, silencing the music and turning it into screams of panic. Time Turner and Rarity lost their balance, causing Rarity to fall on top of Time Turner. As they picked themselves up from the floor, the rumbling became more violent. Rarity gritted her teeth. “Fleetfoot!” she shouted.
Fleetfoot quickly burst into the room. “It wasn’t me this time! I swear it!” she defended.
Large hoof steps were heard coming from the other room, causing the pair to turn towards the doorway. There they saw Burnt Oak. “What did Fleetfoot do this time?!” he shouted, trying to yell over the pack of panicking ponies.
Fleetfoot’s mouth dropped. She pointed to herself. “Why does everypony think this is automatically my fault?! It wasn’t me!”
Rarity whipped her head towards Time Turner. “What is this? An earthquake?”
The tremors nearly caused Time Turner and Rarity to lose their balance again. Time Turner stretched out his foreleg, catching Rarity before she hit the ground. “Highly improbable. Seismic activity for the fault lines in the Manehatten area has been dormant for hundreds of thousands of years.”
“What the hay does that mean?” Fleetfoot asked, coming just above them. She looked upward to see the ceiling seemed to be getting closer to her. Her eyes widened as she started to slunk to the ground below her. “What the hay is going on?!” Fleetfoot shouted as she pointed to the ceiling.
Time Turner scratched the back of his head. “I don’t really-“
“Look!” one of the ponies pointed towards a window, which was slowly being covered by rocks. The world around them began to darken as the lights flickered out. Screams filled the air around them. Panicked voices prayed to a higher power for answers and protection. A shattering sound, like glass breaking, echoed through the room.
“Fascinating,” Time Turner said, putting his hoof on his chin. “It seems that the entire structure is being drawn into the earth.”
“Fascinating?!” Rarity snapped. “That is what you call this?!”
Time Turner gave a nervous smile, not that Rarity could see that in the perpetual darkness. The rumbling finally stopped with a violent jerk that caused every pony to tumble forward. Ponies were heard whimpering and moaning as they slowly rose to their feet.
The room started to glow in a red light. Time Turner figured it was emergency power finally kicking in. He looked around the room. The place was in shambles. All the tables and chairs were toppled over. The once impressive chandelier was on the ground, its beauty shattered. It looked like nopony was hurt. However, they were quite frightened.
They chattered in panic as they asked each other questions.
“What has happened?”
“Where are we?
“What is going on?”
Time Turner quickly stretched his neck above the crowd “Everypony, I need you all to listen to me,” he begged. However, the group continued their frightened dialogue, speaking as if it was the end of the world. “Everypony, please listen to me!” he spoke a little louder, but again, no pony seemed to be paying attention.
“QUIET!” a booming voice came from Oak’s mouth. At that moment, the room was dead silent. Every pony turned their attention to Oak, who simply glared at them. He then turned towards Time Turner. “They’re all yours, doc.”
While Time Turner didn’t agree with Oak’s method, he could hardly argue with the result. “Um… thank you, Oak.” He then turned back to the crowd. “Now, listen, I know you are all frightened, but I need everypony to remain calm. Panicking will only make this matter worse.”
Fleetfoot turned towards the window, which now showed a large tunnel. The darkness began to take shape as something crawled from out of the shadows. “Or those things will!” she pointed outside. The ponies gathered to the window to see what Fleetfoot had discovered.
The dark shapes began to become visible. Mole-like creatures with large eyes and a long snout with a button nose swarmed around the building. They had short arms and massive claws that looked like it could carve through rock. Hundreds of these creatures headed straight for the door.
The calm ponies then screamed in fright as they eyed the mysterious creatures. Ponies vacated the windows, heading for the furthest point in the room away from the creatures. They prayed to Celestia to save them as the mole creatures scurried to the building.
Rarity made her way to Fleetfoot’s side. “Our idea is to not spread panic!” she hissed in Fleetfoot’s ear.
“What?” Fleetfoot raised her eyebrow. She pointed out to the creatures. “Those things could make things worse.”
Oak and Time Turner continued to eye the creatures as the dim lights of the building made them barely visible. “What are those things, stretch?”
Time Turner put his hoof on his chin. “They appear to be a larger cousin of the Scalopus aquaticus. There are differences certainly, such as the eyes being a fair amount larger than-“
“Yeah, I didn’t ask for the nature special, doc,” Oak bluntly put. “Let’s stomp ‘um.” He prepared himself to leap out the window, but Time Turner put his foreleg in the way to stop him.
“Wait, Oak.” He turned to Fleetfoot. “Fleetfoot, get out there and burn as bright as you can!”
Fleetfoot shook her head and raised her eyebrow. “What good is that going to do?”
Time Turner pointed outside, the creature’s still closing in. “Just do it!”
Fleetfoot shook her head again. “Fine.” She leaped out the window and spread her wings. “Flame on!”
Fleetfoot’s body was then consumed by a wave of fire, taking her body’s shape. She hovered above the mole-like creatures, causing them to glance up at her. At that moment, she stared to glow a bright white light. The creatures, using their massive claws, shielded their eyes from the intense light. After a moment, the creatures then retreated back to the abodes of darkness from where they came.
“Time Turner, you did it!” Rarity shouted with glee as the creatures vanished from sight.
“How did you do that, doc?” Oak asked as Fleetfoot appeared back in the room, turning back to her normal self.
“I presumed that our mole friends were sensitive to light, living in almost complete darkness.” Time Turner explained. “A bright light would blind them momentarily.”
Fleetfoot chuckled. She then playfully hit Turner in the shoulder. “Not bad, brainiac.”
Time Turner gave an apprehensive smile as he rubbed his shoulder, trying to null the pain. Fleetfoot didn’t pull her punch and if she did, it was just barely. “But we still have a problem. We still have to find a way out of this.”
Time Turner turned towards the ponies, who were back against the wall in fear, shaking like scared children. “Not too worry, everypony. The Fantastic Four will investigate this matter.”
One of the ponies stepped forward. “All of you?” He asked as he whole body shook. “What if those things come back?”
Time Turner rubbed the back of his head as he bit his lip. It hadn’t crossed his mind. The creatures didn’t seem to present much of a threat. Still, the stallion had a point. Two of them could investigate while the others played… babysitters. He turned towards Rarity. “Rarity, you and Oak stay here and keep an eye on everypony.”
Rarity came to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Be careful, darling.”
Time Turner smiled and nodded. He then made his way to Fleetfoot. “Fleetfoot, you’re with me. We need to find out who or what brought us down here.”
Fleetfoot nodded as she leaped out the window, once more.
Time Turner stretched out his forelegs all the way to the ground below, followed by the rest of his body.
Fleetfoot made her way to the ground, lighting her hoof ablaze, like a torch in the darkness.
The two made their way into the caverns. Time Turner glance around as he marched forward, taking in the details. The walls looked they were made from a crystal-like structure. A dull and unimpressive black color, but unrecognizable to anything he had seen. He wondered if Rarity knew what kind of crystal these caverns were made of, but it was unlikely.
As they made their way deeper into the cave, the crystal walls began to become brighter, shedding their dark forms to a bright yellow. Eventually, they shined so bright, there was no need for Fleetfoot to keep her flame lit.
“Fascinating. I don’t recognize these crystals,” Time Turner stated. He made his way to the crystalized wall and examined it closely. He placed his front hooves on it, as he leaned in towards it, trying to absorb as much information as he could. The texture seemed different from any crystal he had previously encountered. He wasn’t even sure if pony kind had seen this sort before. It was unnaturally smooth and the glow it gave off was eerie, like a heart, pulsating with light. “We have, perhaps, stumbled onto a new form of crystal.”
“Yeah, that’s great, doc.” Fleetfoot said, sarcasm emanating from her voice. “Now, how does that help us again?”
Time Turner turned towards Fleetfoot and rubbed the back of his head. He often let his scientific mind get the better of him, often distracting him from other matters. Sometimes more important matters. “Sorry, let’s just keep moving.” He turned the cavern and trotted forward.
Fleetfoot flew behind, following closely. She couldn’t help but eye the caverns herself. She shivered as the crystals began to brighten and dim in a continual motion. “Hey, doc. Do you think this is what happened to the missing landmarks?” Fleetfoot asked.
He put his hoof on his chin. “It’s highly possible,” Time Turner stated. However, he did not see the mysterious creature that had been seen with the missing power plant. If the creature was behind this, then it didn’t stick around to eat them or something. Why? Why wouldn’t it stay behind to enjoy its spoils? And why would the creature threaten them in the first place? He then thought about the mole creatures they met when the first arrived. They didn’t seem too dangerous, but what would hundreds of them want with a building from the surface?
The two made their way deeper into the caves. As they made their way down, deeper into the pit, the once beautiful crystals were now covered in a filthy brown glue-like substance and infested with large sickly green domes. The glue held the domes on top the crystals, the celling and the floor where Time Turner and Fleetfoot trotted.
“What the heck are those egg-shaped things?” Fleetfoot asked, pointing to the domes.
Time Turner stretched his upper body out to closer examine them. After a moment, he returned to him normal stated. “I think that’s just what they are. Eggs.”
“What could make eggs like that?” Fleetfoot asked as her body shivered.
Time Turner examined the eggs again, this time keeping his distance. The eggs were a large as a filly. Despite his examination, he couldn’t tell what kind of creature grew in the eggs. Part of him wanted to know. The other part of him was afraid to know.
Suddenly, a buzzing sound is heard in the cavern. The sound began to get louder. Time Turner looked around him, but didn’t see any creature. The buzzing echoed all around them, creating a deafening chaos.
“My guess is whatever is making that sound,” Time Turner finally answered.
Just then a giant insect appeared from the caves. It had the qualities of a praying mantis. The blades on its arms looked strong enough to slice through stone, its long body stretched out alongside its wings, which lay against the creature’s body, waiting for them to be used and it had two antennas on top of its head. However, there were some differences. At the end of its body, the creature sported a small stinger, like a wasp and its mouth contained hundreds of sharp fangs.
Within moments, more appeared from the caverns until the two ponies were outnumbered six to one.
“We’ve walked right into their nest!” Time Turner blurted.
“They want a fight, let’s give them one!” Fleetfoot’s body was then consumed by fire as she darted for the air. She unleashed a fireball at an oncoming mantis, which caused it to fall to the ground with a shriek.
However, another two leaped from their perch, using their wings to follow Fleetfoot. The buzzing sound echoed into the hall as they slashed at Fleetfoot. Fleetfoot dove out of the path of the creature’s blades and unleashed a beam of fire at them, causing them to crash into the crystal wall.
Time Turner noticed two of the creatures coming straight for him, their bladed arms at the ready. Time Turner curled himself into a tight ball, reshaping his body in an impossible way to resemble a perfect bouncy ball. He then pushed against the ground with all his might, causing him to bounce up and then again to bounce even higher. His bounce was able to avoid the creature’s blades as the swung for him. As he came down, he slammed into one of the creatures and rolled away quickly. He reshaped into his normal pony self.
The creatures pointed their abdomens at Time Turner, unleashing their stingers at him like missiles. Time Turner weaved his body into a thin strand, making the stingers miss their target.
Quickly, Time Turner resized and reshaped his hoof into a massive flyswatter and slammed it against the creatures, swinging as hard as he could. The creatures were swatted to the crystal wall, before tumbling to the ground.
Fleetfoot unleashed another wave of fire against the creature, keeping them at a distance. However, one of the creatures appeared from behind Fleetfoot and stung her with its small stinger.
Fleetfoot cried in pain as it dug into her hind leg. She turned around towards the creature and released a fireball at it. The attack caused the creature to fall to the ground.
Fleetfoot’s leg burned in agonizing pain, but she did her best to ignore it. She fired another beam of fire at the creatures, but noticed that her sight was starting to blur out. She shook her head violently, trying to clear it. She noticed one of the creatures coming straight for her.
She flew just a bit higher than the creature, allowing it to pass below her. She then turned and unleashed a beam of fire at the beast, sending it to the ground. As she attacked, her vision became even worse. Suddenly, her hind leg went numb, causing the pain to cease. A moment later, her body became limp and her eyes closed themselves shut.
“Fleetfoot!” Time Turner shouted as he noticed her falling. He stretched out his hoof to catch her before she hit the ground. She landed softly on Time Turner’s mattress-like hoof. He quickly reeled her close to him before the creatures could get her.
Time Turner stretched out his hind leg and bucked one of the creatures coming from behind him. He threw Fleetfoot onto his back and started to make a dash back to where they came. He hoped the he could get them both to safety. A creature came straight for them, unleashing a stinger. Time Turner was able to weave out of the way, despite carrying Fleetfoot. However, another one came with a stinger of its own. Time Turner attempted to move out of the way, but it hit him in his chest.
Time Turner tumbled to the ground, causing Fleetfoot to roll to the ground motionless. He attempted to rise to his feet, but couldn’t even get halfway. His vision started to blur as the creatures gathered all around him and Fleetfoot. His eyes closed before he could see what fate was to befall them.
Oak had been pacing back and forth in the ballroom ever since Time Turner and Fleetfoot left. The red glow of the emergency lights made the room more ominous. It was as if they were in some sort of horror movie, with very little light. It irritated him to have to sit on the sidelines and wait. He wasn’t built for that. He should be out there with Doctor Whooves helping him.
Rarity been sitting quietly, waiting on any sign of them. She would occasionally look out the window, as if she expected them to appear from the darkness any second. Rarity hadn’t said much since they left. Oak knew she was extremely worried. After all, that was her cousin and colt-friend out there. And they didn’t know what worse things could be out there. Only a few moments ago, Rarity left for the mare’s room. She had been in there for a while.
Oak had been patient as long as he could, but finally decided enough was enough. “They’ve been out there too long.” He made his way to the window, glancing out at the darkness. There was nothing. Like a few minutes ago, it was quiet. Whatever the mole creatures were doing here before, they didn’t seem to want to come back. “They should have been back by now.”
Rarity finally appeared out of the mare’s room. “I have to agree.” She was no longer wearing the dress and tiara she arrived with. She was holding them in her hooves. “I’m going to find them.” She then made her way to one of the waiters, telling him to hold on to her dress and jewelry.
“Not alone, you ain’t. I’m coming with you,” Oak said as he made his way towards Rarity.
Rarity nodded as they made their way to the windows.
One of the mares in the crowd spoke up. “Wait, what about us?” she asked.
Rarity rolled her eyes. She turned towards the ponies behind her. “Look, the creatures haven’t been seen in a while,” Rarity reminded them. “Stay here and make a little noise as possible.” Rarity turned back towards the window. “We will be back soon.”
The group murmured among each other as Rarity leaped out the window onto an invisible platform, created from her mind. The platform lowered itself down like an elevator setting her gently on the ground. She moved forward as Oak leaped out the window and slammed into the ground with a powerful rumble.
The two stepped forward into the caves with Rarity’s horn glowing, illuminate the world around them. Dark crystal like walls appeared all around them as the light shined on them. Rarity examined the wall closely, but the crystals didn’t look familiar to her. She thought perhaps it was because of how dull and black their texture was, but the more she looked at them, the more convinced she was that they were something she had never seen before.
“So, where do you think Stretch and Flamefoot ran off too?” Oak asked as they trotted into the caverns.
“I’m not sure, but we have to start somewhere,” Rarity shook her head as they kept moving. It was like finding a needle in a haystack. Time Turner and Fleetfoot could have been anywhere in the caves and they were unsure how massive these tunnels really were. Still, they were family and they would find them. Or at least, that is what Rarity convinced herself.
Rarity suddenly stopped at a mud pit. She let out a sigh of frustration as her head sunk towards the ground.
“What is it, Rarity?” Oak asked, raising his eyebrow. “It’s just a little mud.”
Rarity glared at him. “I worked on these hooves for hours, making sure they were ready for the Gala,” Rarity explained showing Oak her perfectly manicured and clean hooves. “And in three seconds, they will be ruined.”
Rarity turned back towards the mud pit and slowly dipped her front hoof in it. The squishing sound of the mud was the only sound in the tunnel for a moment. Rarity’s body shivered as the cold material clung to her body. Rarity squeaks of disgust filled the tunnels shortly after, as she puts her second hoof into the mud.
“The things one must do for family,” Rarity mumbled to herself as she put her hind leg into the mud. She pulled her front hoof out to take a step, which was now coated in the substance.
She repeated this process, slowly, until she was finally across the mud pit. Her hooves all the way up to her knees were coated in mud. She shivered as the mud slowly dripped off her hooves, but not before staining her white coat with brown spots. “Revolting,” Rarity moaned.
Oak simply rolled his eyes as he put his hoof into the mud, casually trotted across the mud hole. As he attempted to leave the mud pit, his hind leg got caught on the mud, as if it had grabbed him. “Hey!” Oak shouted, pulling with his hind leg. He pulled with all his might, but his leg couldn’t get free. “My leg is stuck!”
The mud then began to slither up his leg and wrapping itself around his other hind leg. “What the hay is going on?!” Oak shouted, as he attempted to free his hind legs from the mud. The mud began to rise and take shape. It formed a large mud monster with glowing green eyes. The creature formed arm-like appendages and slowly wrapped them around Oak.
Rarity’s jaw dropped as the mud was coming to life right before their eyes. They had seen some strange and unexplainable things as the Fantastic Four, but a creature made completely of mud was certainly the strangest.
Oak growled and grunted as he struggled to break free of the mud monster’s grip. “Okay, pal! You want to play hardball?!” He raised his front hoof, ready to strike at the creature. “Let’s play!” He smashed his hoof into the creature’s body, but the hoof simply dug into the monster’s hide without damaging it. When Oak attempted to pull his hoof free, it was stuck like his hind legs. He looked up to the creature’s menacing eyes as they towered over him. “Oh, crud!” Oak felt his body sink into the mud creature, completely consuming him.
“Oak!” Rarity shouted. She formed an invisible bubble inside the creature’s body, and began to expand it. The creature’s form started to expand like a balloon, growing in size as Rarity continued to make the bubble larger. As the bubble became larger, so did the creature. Until eventually, the creature burst open, with mud flying in all directions.
Rarity quickly created a force field around her, as mud threatened to splash all over her. Instead, the mud slammed into her force field before it could reach her body. After the mud had fallen to the ground, Rarity made her way to Oak, who was digging himself out of the mud. “Are you alright, Oak?” Rarity asked.
Oak unleashed as series of coughs as wiped the mud away from his face. He then spit out whatever mud was in his mouth. “Nothing a nice hot shower won’t cure.”
Rarity turned back towards the caverns. “Come on, we have to find Time Turner and Fleetfoot.” She rushed forward, having a sinking feeling that Time Turner and Fleetfoot were in trouble. And with monsters like that creature around, Rarity feared they might be too late.
Time Turner felt his body ache as feeling started to return to it. He could tell he was lying down, despite his eyes not being open. Exactly where he was or what was around him, he couldn’t tell. There were some sounds in the darkness around him, but he couldn’t make any of them out. As the moments passed, he slowly regained his strength. He slowly opened his eyes, expecting to see the nest of insects they had stumbled upon. However, he found himself in a darker version of the caverns. The crystal walls still would glow, giving some light, though not as intensely as before. He looked around and noticed mounds of dirt and soil piled high and shaped like a pony. Almost like statues to be worshipped.
He continued his glance around the room and noticed a large computer monitor. On the monitor displayed several screens, each of them at different points in the caverns. One of them show cased their currently location, one showed a sphinx surrounded by the tunnels. There were others displaying some of the other landmarks that mysteriously disappeared.
He finally heard a low moan off to his right. He looked down to see Fleetfoot, just barely stirring. He stretched out his foreleg and helped Fleetfoot to her feet.
Fleetfoot rubbed the back of her head. “Where the hay are we?”
Time Turner looked up at the large monitor. “I don’t know. But if I was to guess, I’d say we are in the lair of whoever is behind the missing landmarks.” He pointed towards the monitor, causing Fleetfoot to look at it as well.
Fleetfoot looked around her body, expecting to see bite marks or wounds. But her legs, her wings and body, aside from a few burses, were still in one piece. “Why aren’t we bug food? The last thing I remember is passing out against the monsters.” She rubbed her hind leg where the insect had stung her which was now swollen.
“You were not eaten, Equine Torch,” a voice from the darkness said. “Because I did not want them to. Yet.”
A figure stepped from the darkness, shaped like a pony. He wore a visor over his eyes. He was a short, disfigured pony with an overly large head for his small body. His nose tilted upwards only slightly, as to reveal his nostrils and he had a large overbite, which made his teeth stick out of his mouth, even when closed.
Fleetfoot’s jaw dropped and then closed it as she turned away from the pony. She didn’t think that a pony could look worse that the monsters they had seen down here. She was just proven wrong and it stood in front of her, carrying a long staff.
“How do you know who we are?” Time Turner asked, trying his best not to look shocked by the pony’s appearance.
“Everypony knows who you two are.” He pointed to Time Turner with his staff. “Doctor Whooves.” And then towards Fleetfoot. “And the Equine Torch, of the world famous Fantastic Four.”
He then placed his staff back to his side as dozens of the mole creatures gathered around him. He gently stroked one of them on the head. The mole creature halted behind the disfigured pony. The creatures seemed drawn to him as if he wielded some mysterious power over them. “As for me, I am the Mole Master.”
Fleetfoot giggled through her lips, trying hard not to laugh.
Time Turner gave Fleetfoot a blank stare, as if to tell her to control herself. With that glance, she gave a deep swallow and kept her composure as best she could. But it was too late, the Mole Master had noticed.
“I can see that you think I am no threat,” Mole Master stated. He turned away and trotted towards one of the walls. “So, allow me to show you what I am capable of.”
He pushed a secret panel on the wall causing the wall to move. The wall revealed a group of griffins and ponies locked in a cage. Some of them came towards the cage begging to be free. A griffin and a pony put their appendages on the metal bars. Others stayed at a distance from the bars, too frightened to move.
The Mole Master placed his staff on the bars and in an instance, the prisoners touching the metal bars shouted in pain as they were electrocuted. The Mole Master ended their torment by releasing the staff from the cage. The two moaned in agony as they slunk back into the cage.
“And that is just a sample of what I can do.”
Fleetfoot gritted her teeth as she watched the Mole Master hurt the bystanders. She stretched out her wings and was about to rush in anger, but Time Turner stretched out his foreleg and stopped her.
“We understand your authority and we accede to it,” Time Turner stated. Fleetfoot gave a look of disbelief towards Time Turner, but he ignored it. “Those must be the innocents that were drawn under with the landmarks.”
The Mole Master smiled. “Very astute, Doctor Whooves.” He turned away from the cage and headed down the caverns. “You will follow me. I have something I think you’ll appreciate.”
“I doubt it!” Fleetfoot shouted. The mole creatures surrounded the two of them, shoving them to follow their master. The two marched forward, following their host. Fleetfoot leaned towards Time Turner, whispering to him. “We are actually going to follow this nutjob?”
Time Turner nodded. “For now, yes. With those hostages, we can’t make a move without them getting hurt. We need to wait.” He motioned towards their host. “I want to learn more about this Mole Master.”
Fleetfoot shook her head and turned away. “Well, I hope Rarity and Oak can save us.”
Time Turner continued to march forward, secretly hoping the same thing.
Rarity and Oak continued to trot form what seemed like miles. Eventually, they stumbled onto what appeared to be yellow crystals coating the walls around them. They illuminated the cave brightly, causing Rarity to douse the light from her horn.
Rarity eyed the crystals with wonder. She placed her hooves on them. “What a wondrous gemstone! I have never seen this kind of crystal before! Nor have I seen any of this magnitude!”
Oak kept moving forward, turning back to Rarity. “Yo, Rarity! We still gotta find the Doc and Flametard!”
Rarity slowly turned away from the crystals, taking in a deep breath. “You are right, Oak. I should not succumb to such fabulosity.” She started to trot away, but kept her eyes on the crystals all around her. “Despite it… being all around me…” Her eyes marveled at the way the crystals shined and glowed. Her mind went into designer mode as her thoughts wondered about the fashion and clothes that could be highlighted with these crystals.
She thought long and hard about having Oak chip a piece off for her. It would not take long and it would be worth it. However, she would have no place to put it. And more importantly, Time Turner and Fleetfoot might be in trouble. Rarity decided that they needed to find them first and make sure they were safe.
The two kept trotting along the caves when suddenly the whole tunnel started to rumble. Rarity lost her balance and tumbled to the ground. Oak made his way towards her, struggling to stay upright. “You okay?” Oak asked.
“Fine,” Rarity replied.
Just then a large slug-like creature burst from the wall behind them. The long, pale white creature with hundreds of teeth looked down on the two ponies. Rarity felt her stomach turn as she glanced upon the creature. A bloodcurdling screech came from the slug’s mouth. “Bugs... I hate bugs,” she stated as a cold shiver slithered up her spine.
The creature snarled as it dove straight for them.
Rarity quickly placed a force field around them, causing the creature to collide with it. The creature gave a thunderous roar as it hit the force field again. Rarity nearly tumbled to her knees by the sheer force of the blow as her mind focused on keep the barrier intact. “I can’t keep this up forever.”
“Then don’t!” Oak shouted, as he bent his knees. Rarity let down the force field as Oak leaped into the air. With all his might, his front hoof pounded into the creature’s body, causing it to cry in pain. Oak’s attack caused the creature to slither back from whence it came.
Oak and Rarity poked their heads through the new tunnel created by their large opponent. “Any chance Stretch is down there?” Oak asked.
Rarity raised her eyebrow. “You keep asking me as if I know. Let’s just try to find out.” She made her way into the tunnel with Oak not far behind.
Rarity and Oak slid down to depths following the large slug. The slope led to a small opening at the end of the tunnel. When they arrived, they found themselves in a room with large statues of a disfigured pony. Rarity felt a shiver up her spine as she gazed upon it. “Ugh, that thing is an absolute disaster. Why would anypony pay homage to it?”
Rarity looked down to a long drop at the floor, but that was nothing to her and Oak. With her mind, she created a large invisible platform, which she and Oak used to ride down to the floor below. Rarity scanned the room carefully, taking note of a computer monitor on the other side of the room. And to her right, a cage with ponies and griffins filling it. The captives shouted out to them, speaking in several languages, almost none of which Rarity understood. Except one.
“Rarity, what do you think is going on here?” Oak asked as he made his way to the front of the cage. The prisoners started to back away as the giant stone Thing came to the metal bars. Tears ran down various faces of the group, some of them closed their eyes.
Oak grew annoyed at how they looked upon him in fear. He wrapped his hooves around the metal bars and pulled towards him. With almost no effort, he ripped the steel bars out of the wall and tossed them aside. The prisoners began to moan in terror. Oak rolled his eyes and sighed. “Relax. I’m on your side.”
Rarity could see that Oak was having no effect in calming the prisoners down. So, she slipped her way passed Oak. “Nous sommes les Quatre Fantastiques. Nous sommes là pour vous aider. Veuillez rester calme.”
One griffin stepped forward. His face of fear transformed into a smile of joy. “Les Quatre Fantastiques? Je vous remercie de nous sauver.” He made his way on his knees and kissed Rarity’s hooves and the proceeded to Oak’s hooves kissing them as well.
‘Hey, knock it off, will ya?” Oak grumbled.
The griffin then spoke again to Rarity. “Il nous a enlevé. L'homme qui a fait cela est juste au-delà de cette caverne.” He pointed towards the cavern at the end of the hallway.
Rarity gave him a sincere smile. “Retournez d'où vous venez. Les Quatre Fantastiques se chargera de cela.”
The griffin nodded and made his way back to the other prisoners. He spoke to them as if trying to explain the situation to them.
Oak turned towards Rarity. “I didn’t know you spoke Latin.”
Rarity glared at Oak. “That was French, darling.” She turned around and made her way to the tunnel the prisoner pointed out. “Latin’s a dead language.”
Oak rolled his eyes and came directly behind her. “So what exactly is going on? What did you two say?”
Rarity turned back to him. “I explained to him who we are and he said that the one responsible for kidnaping them is somewhere down here.”
Oak raised his eyebrow and headed first into the tunnel, with Rarity now behind him. “You think he’s the one who is taking the landmarks too?”
Rarity nodded, despite Oak not looking at her. “Probably. That means we can free the prisoners and possibly return home.”
Oak and Rarity continued forward. “Yeah, but there’s still one problem. How do we find the Doc and Fleetfoot?”
Rarity lowered her head. She secretly hoped that Time Turner and Fleetfoot were with whoever was responsible for the missing landmarks. Part of her prayed that they weren’t. That they just got lost and headed back to the Woolworth Building. That they were safe.
Suddenly, a buzzing sound that came all around them stopped Rarity and Oak dead in their tracks. They looked around them to see praying mantis-like creatures swarming around them. Rarity and Oak stood back to back as the creatures started to close in. “Bugs… Why did it have to be bugs?” Rarity moaned.
The Mole Master led Time Turner and Fleetfoot down to a large chamber where giant slug creatures clung to the wall, slithering slowly across it. At the end of the hallway, there was a throne made of pure crystal, no doubt for the Mole Master to sit in. The Mole Master pointed out these creatures with his staff. “Take a look at them! Aren’t they magnificent?!”
Fleetfoot shivered in disgust. “Yeah, if you like creepy crawly things.”
Time Turner eyed the creatures carefully, taking mental notes of everything about them. They each had a pattern of pink lines flowing down the creatures’ bodies. Each of them seeming to be unique to the worm. But each and every one of them had a metallic collar around their necks. Time Turner couldn’t help but want to know more about the collars than the worms.
Time Turner daringly took a step towards the Mole Master. “What are those creatures?” The mole creatures bared his path causing him to take a step back in fright. The mole creatures revealed their massive claws as if to cut down Time Turner if he repeated his mistake.
The Mole Master gave a chuckle. “You’ll have to excuse them. They are very protective of their master.” The Mole Master turned towards him. “As for these,” he said pointing towards the worms. “They are my greatest weapon! They are the ones responsible for bringing the landmarks down to this world!” He made his way the throne and sat down upon it. “I trained them to hate the surface world as I do!”
Time Turner placed his hoof on his chin. “Why do you hate the surface world? We have done nothing to you or your world.”
The Mole Master stood up abruptly. “Your surface world has done everything to me!” He stomped his way towards Time Turner. “Look at me!” The Mole Master snapped, gesturing towards his disfigured face. He removed his visor to reveal his enlarged eye that looked like it was ready to burst from his head and an eye that was overlapped by a hanging flab of his brow, causing it almost not to be seen. “Do you think I am accepted in the surface world?!”
Time Turner leaned back, a cold sweat slithering down his neck. He hadn’t expected such an outburst of rage.
Fleetfoot shivered as she looked upon the disfigured Mole Master. She hadn’t thought he could look any worse. But the evidence sat in front of her, glaring at them with those disfigured eyes.
The Mole Master turned back to his throne and spoke. “I was once a brilliant scientist on the surface world! Every bit your equal, Doctor Whooves!” He sat down as his memories began to play in his mind. “But I was not handsome like you… I was an ugly, hideous shape of a pony.” His voice trailed from a frustrated anger into a hurt sorrow.
Time Turner could sense a tale of woe about to be told. He hadn’t even heard the story yet and he almost felt pity for him.
You cannot fathom the grief I was force to endure on the surface! I was a brilliant scientist in the study of animals. World renown for my work. But my deformity always made me a laughing stalk. Nopony would take me seriously. They would only laugh at me or would be utterly disgusted by my appearance! Can you imagine what that is like? To see your brilliance ignore simply because of one imperfection?! Can you imagine what it was like for me growing up like this?! I didn’t ask for this curse! I never asked to be a deformed monster to be mocked and ridiculed by everypony who was too blind and ignorant to understand! I couldn’t control it!
At a young age, I devoted my life to the study of animals, in the hopes that they would accept me the way no pony ever could! And they did. They did not judge me by my appearance or mock me because I was different. They treated me as they would anypony else. As I grew older, I began to train animals to do my bidding, teaching them certain sounds that would equal my needs. It started with simple tasks. A bell would mean to bring me my morning coffee, stomping my hoof was for the morning paper, and a whistle was for my glasses. Trivial tasks, but they followed these tasks flawlessly!
Eventually, the sounds became irrelevant. All I need to do was ask and they would obey. Almost as if they understood me! And soon I would train them to accomplish even greater feats! They would attack those who mocked and laughed at me! I trained the birds to peck at my foes, bees to sting them without reason, and chipmunks to throw acorns at them when they least expected it! I laughed at them as they once laughed at me! They ran in panic as they were assaulted by the little woodland creatures that I had trained! And yet I was called a menace!
A menace?! Me?! I was merely protecting myself from their insults and idiocy! I could stomach their insults no longer! So I made a pilgrimage to find a land where I could be accepted for my uniqueness instead of casted aside for it! I had once heard of a place where monsters of great size and strength dwelled! A place called Subterrainia!
At first, I was skeptical, but I was also desperate. And desperation is a powerful motivator. I ventured far and wide, spending all that I had to find it! For years, I searched and always I would end up alone.
Then one day, my boat was caught in a terrible storm! I struggled with all my might to keep my course, but the storm threw me and my ship around as if we were toys! It was as if the storm wanted to drag me where ever it pleased! I remember cursing at the heavens, at Celestia, stating that she was as merciless and as cruel as the ponies I sought to isolate myself from! The torrents washed over me time and again, soaking me as the rain pummeled my body! Eventually, my eye sight darkened.
When I awoke, I found myself ashore. I did not know where I was or how to return to where I came from, but as I searched my boat for food, water, supplies, I had discovered that the storm had taken them from me! I had never cursed the heavens before as I did on that day, calling Faust a merciless tyrant who only wanted to see me suffer! Starving, cold and barely conscious, I began to wander the island I had come upon. Rocks covered every inch of it. Nopony could climb the slopes they created. I would try and try to climb them, only to slip down to the beach where I drifted. I had hoped to see the top of the island from those rocks, but time and again they would prevent me.
There was no vegetation. No trees, no plants, no other life besides me. But I was desperate for food. Despite the evidence around me, I clung to the hope that food was not far from me. I wandered the island staying close to the beach. Soon, I came upon a mysterious cavern. Without thinking, I made my way inside. The darkness closed in on me, stealing my sight. I could not see my own hoof in front of me. I should have turned back, but instead I pressed on, clinging to the mere chance that food and water would be provided for me. However, fate had one last trick up her sleeve. As I wandered through the cave, I tried to feel where I was going. Suddenly, the floor collapsed beneath me. The violent shock stunned me and I was helpless to do anything but fall and pray I survived.
When I awoke, I saw strange mole-like creatures had broken my fall. My first instinct was to cower in fear of such creatures. But as the moments pressed I realized that they were not looking upon me as their next meal. Like the animals I had trained, I learned to sense their emotions. They looked upon me not with fear in their eyes, but with holy wonder. I don’t know what went through their minds that day, but they bowed before me as if I was some holy god, who had fallen from the heavens. I smiled as the creatures groveled at my feet. So, I accepted my role as their king! I called myself the Mole Master and vowed vengeance on the surface world!
Time Turner recounted the story in his mind, imagining it play out. “I am sorry for what you’ve been though, but what you are doing is wrong.”
The Mole Master rose from his throne, placing the visor back over his face. “You do not understand what it is like, which is the same mentality of all surface dwellers. They do not know what it is like to grow up underneath the dirt!”
The Mole Master marched down from his throne and towards one of the cavern walls. High above him slithered one of the slug creatures. Time Turner had been paying particular attention to that slug. It was obese compared to his brothers and it was moving rather slothfully. The Mole Master raised his staff and tapped it gently on the ground. The creature gave a slight moan and picked up its pace. The Mole Master tapped his staff on the ground again and the other creatures started to move faster.
The Mole Master turned towards Time Turner and Fleetfoot with a large smile. “See how easily I control them!”
Time Turner gave a smile. “Actually, yes.”
Fleetfoot’s jaw hung down as she turned towards Doctor Whooves. It would have surely dropped to the ground if it wasn’t attached to her face. Time Turner simply ignored Fleetfoot and motioned forward. The mole creatures stepped in front of him, as if they assumed he was going to try something.
Time Turner stopped in his tracks, but kept his smile. “You said that these creatures pulled the landmarks into the earth. Why did you bring them here?”
Even though the Mole Master’s visor, Time Turner could tell he was glaring straight at him. Time Turner assumed that his smile was making him uneasy. The Mole Master stepped forward. “Those landmarks were merely tests of my power! To see if I could accomplish what I dreamed of!”
He started to march forward with the mole creatures shoving Time Turner and Fleetfoot to follow him. “Now that I have tested my power, I plan to bring all of the surface world’s leaders down here!” He turned towards his guests. “And they will surrender their world to me or die here in Subterrainia! Either way, I will have conquered the surface world!”
Time Turner put his hoof on his chin. However, Fleetfoot could sit by no longer and wait for Time Turner to respond. She took a step forward, her eyes piercing towards the Mole Master. “You’ve got to know you will be stopped! We’ve still got the rest of the Fantastic Four!”
The Mole Master unleashed a cruel chuckle. “Your friends are only going to suffer the same fate as you two will. And with the Fantastic Four defeated, there is no pony, no one who can stop me!”
A buzzing sound is heard all around them, echoing throughout the halls. This sound made Time Turner’s heart sink as he recalled the events before blacking out. He had almost forgotten that the Mole Master controlled the mantis creatures that attacked them as well.
The Mole Master gave a malicious grin. “It seems my pets are coming here with your friends now.”
Suddenly, the wall behind them burst open, sending pieces of rubble to soar into the air. Following the rubble was one of the mantis creatures. The creature fell to the ground with the fragments of the wall without making another motion, its thud overpowered by the crackling of the stone remains. A moment later, a familiar stone skinned pony leaped from the hole in the wall, shaking the ground beneath him as his large body made contact with the floor.
Oak raised his head and looked upon the room, seeing two familiar figures standing with a horribly disfigured one. “Sorry, we’re late for the party.” Oak said, slowly stepping forward. He smashed his front hooves together with a thunderous crack. “Any chance we can still attend?”
Time Turner smiled as Oak stomped the ground, causing the mole creatures to take a step back in fright. A voice from the cave then caught Time Turner’s attention.
“Time Turner, Fleetfoot!” Time Turner turned towards the hole in the wall to see Rarity, flying on an invisible platform. She soared out of the tunnel and straight above them. “Are you two alright?” Rarity asked.
Fleetfoot nodded with a bright smile on your face. She then raised her eyebrow. “Well, look who finally decided to show up and rescue us?”
Time Turner ignored what Fleetfoot said and looked straight up to Rarity. “Rarity, there are prisoners here. We can’t-“
Rarity shook her head. “Oak and I took care of it,” She then looked upon the Mole Master. She felt a shiver slither up her spine as she looked upon him. “Who is that?!” She turned her head away and yet pointed towards him.
The Mole Master slammed the tip of his staff against the ground. “Kill them!”
The mole like creatures began to swarm around Time Turner and Fleetfoot. Fleetfoot smiled. “About time! Flame on!” Fleetfoot burst into flames and shot into the sky like a missile. She unleashed a beam of fire at the creatures, causing them to back away in fear of being burned.
As the creatures approached Time Turner, he stretched up his limbs to the sky and wrapped them on two stalactites above him. He then pulled himself up. The creatures clawed at him, but were unable to touch him. Time Turner looked off to his right to see a group of mantis creatures coming straight for them. He looked around their necks and noticed a grey collar like device around it. Time Turner’s mind quickly went to work and came up with a way to defeat the Mole Master.
“Get the staff!” he shouted.
Fleetfoot unleashed a fireball at an oncoming mantis creature, sending it crashing to the ground. Another creature flew straight towards her, its blade swinging. Fleetfoot narrowly avoided the scythe-like appendage and generated a fire blast from her hoof, sending the creature to the far wall. She then turned back to Time Turner. “What?”
“Just do it!” Time Turner replied as he jumped down from the stalactites. He curled himself into a perfect ball and slammed into a group of the mole creatures, like a bowling ball to its pins.
Rarity swiftly avoided the mantis’s blade. She generated a force field and shot it like a missile at the mantis, causing it to fall to the ground. She looked forward just in time to see another mantis coming straight for her. They were approaching each other so fast, Rarity was afraid she wouldn’t have time to react.
When suddenly, a fireball shot down the mantis, clearing Rarity’s path. She turned to her right to see Fleetfoot flying beside her. “Got your back, cousin.”
Rarity smiled as she saw another on coming mantis. She brought up an invisible shield around her, causing the mantis to crash into it like a bug on a windshield.
A mantis creature swooped down to attack Oak, its stinger pointed straight at him. Oak bent his knees and launched himself into the air with his legs.
The stinger fired from the creature’s body and collided with Oak’s, but the stinger couldn’t pierce his rocky hide. Instead, it shattered on contact. Oak, undeterred by the stinger, smashed his front hoof into the mantis, causing it to tumble to the ground.
Oak landed on the ground and turned towards the hideously grotesque pony across from him. “Now, it’s your turn, pig nose!”
The Mole Master growled in anger at the Thing’s insult and tapped his staff on the ground. With that, a large rumbling sound came from behind the Thing.
Oak turned around to see a massive rhinoceros like creature appear from the darkness. It stomped on all four of its legs, it horn pointed straight for Oak. It’s threatening tusks alongside its face looked ready to shatter Oak into dust. Like the other creatures, it seemed to have a metallic collar around its neck.
Oak simply turned and dug his hooves into the ground, like a bull against a matador. The creature seemed to mimic his movements, eager for their battle. Oak smiled. “So, pipsqueak here’s got a big friend?” The beast gave a powerful bellow that shook the entire cavern. “You know what that means boys and girls?!”
Oak started to dart forward with the creature doing the same. They gathered speed as they stared into each other’s eyes, daring one another to back down.
Oak then leaped towards the creatures. “It’s clobberin’ time!” Oak’s body slammed into the creature, breaking its momentum and causing it to be sent backwards several yards.
The creature got up and growled at Oak, who was standing straight and ready for another bout. Oak quickly darted for the creature and delivered a fierce blow to its face.
The creature retaliated by swinging its massive head, causing his tusk to collide with Oak. Oak was sent soaring into the wall on the other side of the tunnel. The wall cracked and crumbled on top of Oak, burying him. Within seconds, Oak clawed himself out and stared down his opponent. “Okay, pal! One lucky shot ain’t enough to keep me down!” Oak lifted himself out of the rubble and ran straight for the creature.
Time Turner wrapped one of the mole creatures in its hooves, stretching it out like a lasso. With all his might, he tossed the mole creature into the oncoming mantis from above him. The two creatures collided with each other, sending them both to the ground. He then stretched out his limb to follow the Mole Master. However, as his hoof came within striking range, the Mole Master placed his staff against Time Turner’s hoof, delivering an electric shock that flew through Time Turner’s body.
Time Turner cried in agony as his body became numb. He slithered to his knees as the electricity ceased. When he looked up, he saw one of the mantis creatures coming straight for him; its blades perched high and ready to slash.
However, before it could reach him, an invisible force knocked the creature out of the sky and onto the ground. Rarity then made her way to Time Turner, stepping off her invisible flying platform. She wrapped her hooves around him. “Darling, are you alright?”
Time Turner smiled and nodded. He slowly attempted to move to his feet, but his weary body, forced him back to his knees. “We have to get that staff away from the Mole Master!”
Rarity started to drag Time Turner to his feet. They looked up as a shadow appeared over them. One of the giant slug creatures had crawled from the tunnel walls and onto the ground in front of them. Rarity noticed it draw back as if it was about to lunge. Rarity quickly summoned a force field around them as the creature rammed into it hard. Rarity struggled to keep the creature at bay as it rammed into the force field again. “I could use some help here!”
“I got problems of my own right now!” Oak shouted. His back was against the wall, as it started to crack and crumble behind him. The rhino-like beast was pushing with all its might against Oak, with Oak pushing against the creature’s tusk to prevent them from reaching his body.
“No problem! I got this!” Fleetfoot was heard, despite the chaos around them. She soared passed the giant slug, catching its attention, along with several mantis creatures, that were still on her tail. Fleetfoot turned towards her opponents, while still dashing away from them, unleashed a beam of flames that slammed into one of the mantis creatures, sending it toppling to the ground.
Fleetfoot then turned to see the Mole Master attempting to make his escape. She flew straight towards him, with his creatures not far behind. The Mole Master, as if sensing the creatures behind him, turned around to see a streak of fire blaze passed him. The Mole Master took a step back as his creatures flew by as they attempted to catch their prey.
With the Mole Master distracted, Time Turner took the opportunity to swipe the staff from him before he could react.
Time Turner held the staff high in his hoof. “Stop!” In that instance, the chaos died down. The massive rhino moved away from the wall, freeing Oak. The mantis creatures and the slug stopped chasing Fleetfoot. And all the creatures, with the exception of the mole creatures, gazed upon Time Turner. “I hold the staff! You have to obey me, don’t you?”
As if the creatures understood, they growled and moaned.
Time Turner smiled. “Then you will put the landmarks back where you found them and never return to the surface world!”
The creatures then scattered throughout the tunnels. One of them rushing passed the Fantastic Four to where the Woolworth Building.
Fleetfoot appeared next to the three with a large purple egg-shaped rock, with darker spots covering it, in her hooves.
“What did you do?!” The Mole Master yelled, he stomped towards the four ponies as they gathered.
Time Turner smiled. “I figured you weren’t as influential as you would have us believe. That’s why you had the collars and this staff. You could probably convince the moles that you were a god, but not those larger creatures.”
Rarity wrapped her hooves around Time Turner. “I love it when you are a smarty pants.” Time Turner’s face reddened as she kept her hooves around him. Rarity then glanced at the egg-shaped rock Fleetfoot carried. “What is that?”
Fleetfoot smiled as she held it up proudly. “Souvenir.” Oak raised his eyebrow, as did Rarity and Time Turner. “What? We always bring back souvenirs!”
The Mole Master, his patience expiring, spoke. “Kill them!”
Hundreds of mole creatures headed straight for the four ponies. Oak took a step forward, and dug at the ground, ready to pounce on them. “I can take these mooks out!”
Time Turner stopped Oak by placing his hoof on Oak’s shoulder. “No time, Oak. The creatures are ordered to return the landmarks to the surface.” He then stretched his body out and brushed away a group of mole-creatures away, only to have more that followed. The group then started to run back into the caves behind them. “If we aren’t in the Woolworth Building when they raise it-“
“We get it, Einstein!” Oak shouted as he followed closely behind the rest of his team. He looked back and noticed the mole creatures closing it. He stopped for a moment and slammed his hind leg against the wall of the cavern. The walls cracked and crumbled, the ceiling collapsed behind him, blocking the creatures’ path.
He continued towards his team as the entire cave around them shook. They looked up and noticed the stalactites breaking up and falling. Rarity generated a shield around them, stopping the stalactites short of hitting them.
Time Turner looked forward and noticed the entire cavern was staring to collapse. The ground shook causing them to struggle for balance.
“What they hay is going on?” Fleetfoot asked, taking to the air.
“The Mole Master must be trying to bury us!” Time Turner surmised. “We’ve got to hurry! Rarity, you’ve got to expand your force field across the cavern! We can’t let the ceiling give way!”
Rarity grunted. “I’m doing the best I can! I can not hold out forever!” Her face intensified as she sunk to her knees, unable to move. Time Turner wrapped his foreleg around her and picked her up. The group rushed back to the Woolworth Building as quickly as possible. The giant slug creatures were gathering around it, burrowing beneath the building.
Time Turner looked down at Rarity, who he was still carrying. Tears were flowing down her face, no doubt from the pain she was enduring, blood was dripping from her nostril, and her face looked like she was near the end of her rope. “Hang in there, Rarity,” he whispered.
Oak made his way through the front door, while Time Turner stretched up to the floor where they were stationed before dragging Rarity with him. Fleetfoot joined Time Turner by flying to the floor.
As they entered the room, the ponies started to shout in panic.
“What is going on?!”
“What are those monsters?!”
“Are we safe?!”
Fleetfoot held up her hoof as she gently set down the rock. “Relax, everypony. Everything is going to be just fine. We have it all under control.” She smiled and leaned towards Time Turner. “We do have it under control, right?” she whispered.
Time Turner almost turned, almost said he didn’t have an answer. But all he could think of was Rarity as he gently placed her on the ground. He knew they only had moments before Rarity’s strength abandoned her and the ceiling collapsed on top of the building. Time Turner prayed to Celestia to help them.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently, causing most of the ponies to stumble to the ground. Time Turner looked out the window to see the building slowly moving. He felt as if they were in a slow elevator, rising to their destination.
Within a few precious moments of silence and prayers, the rocks and dirt that once blocked the view from the windows was replaced by a street with dozens of police officers across it. As the building rose, they saw the surrounding buildings and eventually the night sky with the moon shining brightly over them. Shouts of joy came from the ponies within the building. Time Turner couldn’t help but smile himself, but then he looked down. His smile vanished replacing it with a frown.
Rarity’s eyes were closed and her breath was slow. He leaned towards her embracing her in his hooves. “You did it, darling,” he whispered. “You saved us.”
He leaned down to Rarity’s face, kissing her forehead.
“Worst… date… ever…” she weakly whispered in his ear. Time Turner smiled as his eyes met with Rarity. She returned his smile with her own.
Fleetfoot made her way to the two, embracing them both. “Cousin! You’re alright!”
Rarity wrapped her hooves around Fleetfoot. “Of course, I am alright.” She then turned her glance towards Time Turner. “But we are not doing that again.”
Fleetfoot raised her eyebrow and smiled. “Oh, come on, cuz. We got a cool looking rock from it!” She picked up her rock, holding it proudly.
Time Turner examined the rock closely, putting his hoof on his chin. “I don’t think that’s a rock. I think that’s an egg.”
Fleetfoot’s face lit up even brighter than before. “I’ve got my own insect egg? Cool!”
Rarity got up in her face. “No! Not cool!” She pointed her hoof at the egg. “I do not even like little bugs in my home! What makes you think I want a big one?!”
“Sounds like Rarity’s okay,” Time Turner turned to see Oak, just barely coming into the room. He smiled as the giant pony made his way towards them.
Time Turner looked down at the staff that was still in his hooves. “For such a powerful device, we can’t allow it to stay in our hooves.”
Oak then reached out and took it from Time Turner. “Then let me handle it.” Like a tree branch, Oak snapped the staff in two without any resistance. He then tossed the two shattered halves onto the ground without a second glance. “Problem solved.”
Time Turner rubbed the back of his head. “A bit more… direct then I would have been, but…”
Suddenly the doors burst open as a swarm of police officers entered the room. They pointed their weapons in every which direction, hoping to secure the area around them. One pony looked towards the Fantastic Four. “Is everypony alright?”
Time Turner held up his hoof and smiled. “Yes, officer. We are just fine. Everypony is safe.” Time stretched out his hoof and helped Rarity slowly rise to her feet. “And, I think you’ll be happy to know that the landmarks have all been returned to their rightful places.”
The officer placed his gun back in his holster. “Sounds like you four have quite a story to tell?”
Time Turner gave a slight chuckle. “Like you wouldn’t believe.” Rarity then kissed Time Turner on the cheek. He couldn’t help but blush as he stared back into her blue eyes. But his mind was on the Mole Master and how he prayed that he would stay buried forever.
Author's Note
A special thanks goes to Looney Lunar Avenger, Avenging-Hobbits, The Invincible Iron Brony, and The Scarlet Scarecrow.
Please check out their work for more superhero action. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it and I will see you all next time. Take care. 
