Cutie Mark Crusader Superheroes! Yay!
As Princess Celestia rode down to Ponyville in her royal chariot to meet the young fillies that she had chosen to explore space alongside her, she couldn't help but imagine the next few day's headlines; "Four Young Ponies Embark On Space Exploration Mission", "Ponyville Citizens First Ponies To Visit Outer Space Without Aid of the Elements of Harmony" and of course the Foal Free Press; "Princess Celestia Catapults Fillies into Space in the name of Science". That Diamond Tiara... Always good for a laugh.
They are just fillies though... Princess Celestia briefly mused on the ethics of the coming journey. The Foal Free Press is known for embellishing but that part is true, however I mustn't be seen to falter, after all I haven't walked among the stars in a thousand years... And who better to share in the experience than the precocious youth of my beloved Equestria?
"We're five minutes away from Ponyville, your Highness." Said one of the Pegasus guards towing the chariot.
"Very good." Said Princess Celestia. I wonder how my little ponies are preparing for their journey...
***
At Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom and Babs Seed, were preparing to leave for the Ponyville Town Hall, where they were to meet with Princess Celestia. Babs Seed however was having second thoughts.
"I just dunno, 'Bloom. Somethin' in my gut tells me it's a bad idea." Said Babs looking uneasy, Apple Bloom however was brimming with confidence.
"That's just Big Mac's cooking." Said Apple Bloom, having digestion issues herself.
"That's not what I mean!" Said Babs, not sure if Apple Bloom was joking or genuinely oblivious to Babs' stress. "I just... feel like we're gonna live to regret this."
"Don't be so dark! Just think about it as an adventure."
"I'm sorry 'Bloom... But I-" Babs started, but Apple Bloom cut her off.
"How can you even consider backing out? Think about it this way. It's outer space! It is literally everything that isn't Equestria. In comparison, Equestria is a tiny little bit of dust floatin' in the sun. But to most ponies, it's everythin'.They'll never see what we have the chance to see today." Said Apple Bloom gazing out at the sky.
Babs was still hesitant, but after dwelling on not only Apple Bloom's words but her excitement as well, Babs started grinning from ear to ear. "Aww heck, I'm in! Did anypony ever tell ya that ya'd make a great salespony, 'Bloom?" Said Babs holding out her hoof for a hoofbump which Apple Bloom returned wholeheartedly.
They began their walk to the town center as Apple Bloom thought to herself. Salespony? I gotta try that one again!
***
At Carousel Boutique things were hardly going as smoothly, as Rarity desperately clung to her baby sister. "Oh my dear sister, don't you see? It's a death sentence! Don't you know all the horrible things that could happen to you up there?" Rarity wailed as Sweetie Belle tried to squirm loose of her sister's death hug.
"No... Do you know?" Asked Sweetie Belle, which stopped Rarity in her tracks.
"Well, No..." Rarity trailed off as she released Sweetie Belle.
"Exactly! It's all about exploration. The whole reason we're going is so that we can learn more about space." Said Sweetie Belle excitedly.
Darn, she tricked me. Rarity thought to herself.
"Besides, I can take care of myself. I've started to learn magic you know." Sweetie Belle said as she triumphantly levitated a nearby broom.
"Yes... That's... very impressive, Sweetie Belle." Said Rarity dismissively "But it's just too dangerous. I simply shan't allow it."
"But Mom and Dad already said I could go. I just came by to ask if you could walk me to the Town Hall."
Rarity blinked but suddenly got a sad faraway look in her eye. "That's right... I have no right to tell you what to do... I'm just your dearest older sister, who's only concerned about your safety."
Sweetie Belle hesitated and for a moment Rarity had thought that she had won. "Out of all the ponies in Ponyville, Princess Celestia picked me and my friends to go on an adventure, just like you and your friends. I have the chance to do something really special! What if somepony had told you that you couldn't be an Element of Harmony?" Sweetie Belle said looking Rarity in the eyes, no sad puppy dog eyes, just steel determination.
"There would have been no stopping me... Very well, then! I support you completely." Said Rarity content as the two sisters exited Carousel Boutique. "But if something goes wrong expect a big "I told you so" waiting for you when you get home.
***
Meanwhile at Sugarcube Corner there wasn't a moment of doubt between Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. "Squirt, you are officially my hero!" Said Rainbow Dash as she paid for the celebratory desserts.
"Really? Do you mean it?" Scootaloo asked with stars in her eyes.
"Kid, by definition you are going to fly faster, higher and further than I ever will!" Rainbow Dash said without a jealous bone in her body. She felt nothing but admiration for the pony she was proud to call sister. Even if we aren't actually related...
"I hadn't thought of it that way... Flying faster than Rainbow Dash. Wow..."
"Yeah, I've done some pretty cool stuff, but I think you've got me beat."
"Yeah... But once it's over with I'm back to being grounded." Said Scootaloo, looking disdainfully at her wings.
"Don't ruin what could be the start of one the greatest days of your life with negative thinking." Said Rainbow Dash pulling Scootaloo into a tight hug. "You'll have plenty of time to worry about when you're going to start flying, for now just live life one awesome day at a time."
Scootaloo just smiled as Rainbow Dash picked her up and they flew off towards the centre of town. "Maybe I'll have my own fan club by the time I get back!" Said Scootaloo excitedly.
"Kid, that's gonna be at the top of my to-do list."
***
The entire town had gathered around around a large vehicle, designed to seat five ponies. The enormous contraption had been shifted from Canterlot the night before and was being frantically examined by an exasperated purple unicorn, who had been there all morning.
"I didn't notice any potential malfunctions in the inboard computer. What about you, Spike?" Twilight Sparkle asked Spike from within the ship.
"No problems with the engine, just like the other nineteen times you've asked me to check it." Said Spike, crossing his arms. "Princess Celestia designed it herself and I built it. Why would it malfunction?"
Why am I so concerned? It's my basic glider design, improved upon by Princess Celestia and assembled personally by myself and Spike. Twilight thought to herself.
"There is literally nothing to worry about. Princess Celestia is probably the smartest pony in Equestria, but I guess thousands of years of experience will do that for you. Besides isn't she immortal?" Said Spike, examining the vehicle from a distance.
Twilight teleported over to him and joined him in observing the ship. The crowd had started cheering energetically. They must be really excited to see the finished spacecraft. "You're right Spike, but it's not just the Princess I'm worried about. Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash are all trusting me with the lives of their sisters... and Babs Seed, whom I've never really met." Twilight had unfortunately failed to notice that the Cutie Mark Crusaders had assembled behind her, wearing blue and black jumpsuits.
"Yeah well, at least make sure they spell mah name right in the tabloids, or on my tombstone..." Said Babs Seed quietly while waving to the crowd.
"Quit bein' so moody. You'll be tellin' your grandkids about today." Said Apple Bloom before awkwardly looking up at Twilight who was supposed to be finished checking the craft two hours ago.
"Are those the Unstable Molecule Fabric jumpsuits Princess Celestia made for you?" Said Twilight eyeing the Crusaders spacesuits.
"Aren't they cool? The Princess said they'd help us survive in the vacuum of space." Said Scootaloo remembering Princess Celestia's words.
"They're kind of itchy... Dumb Unstable Molecule Fabric..." Said Sweetie Belle scratching herself.
"Is that the rocket?" Asked Apple Bloom.
"It's not really a rocket, to be exact. It's a shuttle capable of interstellar travel. It's powered by magical energy, in this case, Princess Celestia's." Said Twilight, none of the crusaders had really registered what Twilight had said and were simply staring at the shuttle. "Okay, I'll leave you girls to it then..." She said grabbing Spike and heading towards the control panel she had set up adjacent to shuttle.
Rarity and Applejack were standing at the front of the crowd while Rainbow Dash flew overhead. All three loudly shouting words of support.
"You show that space who's boss kids!"
"Did ya remember to pack yer helmet?!"
"Those space suits look adorable!"
"Pinkie Pie, Foal Free Press. Give me some smiles girls!" Said Pinkie Pie parting from the crowd and snapping pictures of the crusaders as they waited for the Princess in front of the ship.
"We know who you are Pinkie..." Said Sweetie Belle.
"I don't." Mumbled Babs Seed.
"This isn't about me, it's about you four." Said Pinkie before taking another photo. "You're about to become the first Ponies to see the stars up close... Not counting Princess Luna of course. How do you feel about that?"
"Inspired!"
"Nervous..."
"Honoured."
"Awesome!"
"I, for one agree with all four of you." Said an elegant voice from behind them. The Cutie Mark Crusaders all instantly responded to the voice with a rehearsed bow.
Princess Celestia had appeared and was making her way towards the spaceship. Pinkie Pie quickly snapped a picture, bowed down and backed away. "You may rise, my fellow astronauts." Said Princess Celestia before gracefully turning to face the gathered masses.
"Citizens of Ponyville, for the first time in over a thousand years we are able to gaze upon the night sky and not be reminded of the sins of our past." Celestia spoke as her voice was somehow amplified and heard all throughout Ponyville. "For the first time in over a thousand years a pony may look out into the cosmos and not be afraid of what may be looking back. For the first time in over a thousand years, not just one but five ponies will once again walk among the stars! I pray that this will be the first step of many towards branching out beyond our galaxy, not just towards the edge of the universe but towards the future!"
Upon finishing her speech Princess Celestia lit up her horn with magic and opened a door on the side of the ship. "When we return, it will be to an enlightened Equestria! A golden age!" Said Princess Celestia before entering the ship.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders were at a loss for words. Were we meant to have a speech prepared too? Apple Bloom thought to herself, judging from the look on her friends faces they seemed to share her anxiety. Apple Bloom said the first thing that popped into her head, the other crusaders picked up on the cue and joined in.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SPACE-EXPLORERS, YAY!" They all shouted in unison. The crowd went wild. The hollering and cheering could be heard all the way in Canterlot. The Crusaders then calmly but quickly followed the Princess onto the ship and shut the door behind them.
"All passengers make sure that you are safely secured, we will begin the countdown on your signal... Princess." Said Twilight speaking into a microphone on the control panel.
"Begin the countdown, Twilight." Celestia responded through the intercom.
Twilight tensed over the control panel.
"Launching in T-Minus ten seconds..."
Spike desperately went over every calculation making sure everything was correct.
"Nine..."
Applejack held onto her hat in concern.
"Eight..."
Rarity closed her eyes, unable to watch.
"Seven..."
Rainbow Dash landed beside her friends and stared intently.
"Six..."
Pinkie Pie snapped a picture and hoped for the best while preparing for the worst.
"Five..."
Apple Bloom did her best to maintain her adventurous smile despite her growing anxiety.
"Four..."
Babs Seed shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Three..."
Sweetie Belle almost began hyperventilating.
"Two..."
Scootaloo managed to not throw up.
"One..."
Celestia smiled.
"Zero!"
Celestia fired up her horn and magically charged the shuttle causing it to roar into life and begin its ascent to the heavens. "We have lift off!" Twilight and Spike both shouted ecstatically as the crowd released a mighty cheer.
"Is it over? Did it explode?! Is Sweetie Belle all right!?" Rarity asked frantically. Applejack just pointed upwards towards the shuttle, still visible in the sky but building speed and getting smaller and smaller against the horizon.
"Oh..." Said Rarity in awe.
"Yeah." Added Rainbow Dash, fighting off the urge to fly after the shuttle.
"Please keep them safe, Princess." Applejack prayed quietly.
Pinkie Pie snapped a picture.
***
Far away in the frozen north of Equestria, in the sovereign nation known as the Crystal Kingdom, an armour clad pony in a green cloak sat on their crystal throne and watched the entire spectacle unfold on a large magically conjured screen.
"Space travel, Celestia? How dull."
***
The rocket was visible for miles around, even from Canterlot where a homeless, magenta coloured Unicorn mare known as Sea Swirl watched with wide eyes as the ship began to rise. For some reason the sight of the ship flying into the horizon filled her with a strange sense of melancholy.
"Hey Sea Swirl. Some of the boys and I were gonna go and check out that new Sea Pony exhibit they opened up at the museum. Wanna come with? If we're lucky they might have some kind of food-stand." Said Starbust, one of her fellow vagabonds.
"Look at that, Starburst. How can they afford to build something like that..." Said Sea Swirl gesturing at the ship. "Or that!" This time pointing at Canterlot castle. "While ponies like us starve? Somepony should take charge."
"Eh, what are you gonna do?" Starburst said shrugging.
"I don't know... Moan until it fixes itself?" Sea Swirl said losing her determined tone from a moment ago. "Anyway, did you say something about free food?"
***
The shuttle exited the atmosphere of Equestria and before they knew it, the Cutie Mark Crusders were the first non-alicorns to explore outer space. "Girls! Look out the window! You can see all of Equestria." Shouted Apple Bloom pointing out the starboard window.
"I can't see anything on my side just... space." Said Babs looking out at the stars on her side of the spaceship.
It should be okay to just let it float for a while. Celestia thought to herself before releasing her magic. "It should be safe to remove your seatbelts now." She said turning to face her passengers.
"Great! I need to use the bathroom." Said Sweetie Belle undoing her belt and accidentally floating right out of her seat. "Ahhhh!" She screamed flailing her legs as she tried to return the ground.
"We can fly in space? Cool!" Said Scootaloo joining the still screaming Sweetie Belle in the air.
"It's not really flyin'... It's... Uh... What is it again Princess?" Apple Bloom asked joining her friends in floating around the cabin.
"It's unnatural! Ponies were not meant to fly!" Sweetie Belle shouted.
"Excuse you?" Interjected Scootaloo.
"Sorry, Unicorns and Earth Ponies were not meant to fly."
"Strictly speaking, you aren't flying. There is no gravity in outer space. There is no external force orienting you in a certain direction. Therefore you are able to float whichever way you please by exerting force yourself. Essentially you're just falling for a very long time." Said Celestia also joining the floating children.
"C'mon Babs, it's fun!" Said Apple Bloom orbiting Sweetie Belle while Scootaloo took advantage of flying.
"Fine. But I jus' don't see the fun in... Woah! Alright this is pretty great." Said Babs finally lightening up a little. "How do I steer?"
"I'll let ya know when I figure it out." Said Apple Bloom floating aimlessly.
"Wings help." Added Scootaloo zipping past.
"It's like swimming... but without water." Said Sweetie Belle doggy paddling through the air.
"Watch your head!" Said Scootaloo flying past a little faster than she had intended and nearly colliding with Princess Celestia. "Umm... Sorry, Princess..."
"It's alright, Scootaloo." Said Celestia, chucking to herself. "I remember my first time in zero gravity, Luna pushed me and I got caught in the gravitational pull of a nearby planet."
Sweetie Belle looked over at the window and saw a bright light outside the ship. "Princess Celestia, is that a meteor shower?"
"A what?" Asked Apple Bloom.
"A meteor shower!? Aww, sonuva..." Said Babs flailing futilely in the air in an attempt to return to her seat.
"You should calm down, Babs Seed. I mapped all celestial activity for the next several days. It couldn't possibly be a meteor." Said Princess Celestia confidently.
"So what is it then?" Said Scootaloo standing upside down on the roof of the shuttle.
Celestia moved over to the window to see what Sweetie Belle had seen. When Celestia caught a glimpse of the bright light headed towards them she knew she didn't have much time. "Children, return to your seats and fasten your harnesses." Celestia gripped all four Cutie Mark Crusaders with her magic and threw them into their seats, she didn't have time to be gentle.
"Oww..." Said Sweetie Belle, rubbing her head.
"What? What's happening?!" Shouted Apple Bloom while fastening her harness.
"We are about to be bombarded with some kind of cosmic radiation, I am trying to make sure that if we crash, we'll at least be crashing towards Equestria." Said Celestia once again charging the shuttle with her magic and turning the spacecraft 180 degrees to face Equestria.
"Well, at least I'll get to die knowin' I was right." Said Babs right before the cosmic rays hit the shuttle. Each of them would later describe very different but equally dreadful sensations. Being bombarded, burning alive, fading away, being pulled apart and nothingness.
The ship's engines had failed but Celestia had managed to reenter Equestria's gravitational pull. The downside was that Celestia had barely enough magical energy left to shield the shuttle from burning up in the atmosphere. On the upside, the children had all lost consciousness and wouldn't be awake for their fiery deaths.
Princess Celestia was using up any remaining magic that she could muster to shield herself and the Crusaders from the fall. But even the little energy that she had left was beginning to wane. I wonder if I'll be able to walk away from this one. Was the last thought Celestia had before her shield failed, the shuttle disintegrated and everything went black.
***
"Oh no! No! No no no no!" Shouted Twilight Sparkle who had been monitoring the shuttle's journey from the Canterlot Observatory. "Spike! Spike!" Twilight shouted frantically.
"I'm right here. What?" Asked Spike
"Very bad! They crashed! Big explosion! Cosmic radiation!" Twilight shouted between hyper ventilating breaths. "Oh no! Luna will have take over ruling all of Equestria! I suppose we could try and find Cadance but..."
"Twilight! Snap out of it!" Spike shouted, jumping up and grabbing the unicorn's ears. "Did you see where they crashed?"
Twilight nodded her head and composed herself. "It wasn't too far from here." Twilight grabbed a nearby piece of paper and a quill. "You call the Royal Guard, send them to these coordinates. They're probably going to need medical attention, I'm going to go to hospital and make sure that they're prepared to treat... fatal wounds." Said Twilight dreading those last words.
"You got it!" Said Spike, grabbing the paper and running off.
"Please be okay, Princess..."
***
"Mmnn..." Sweetie Belle mumbled, stirring from her unconscious slumber. She looked around and saw flaming wreckage littering the surrounding area. She stood up, brushed herself off, her space suit was in tatters but she was relatively unharmed. Sweetie Belle got a good look at her surroundings, she noticed trees nearby. Ooh, a forest! And not a scary one like the Everfree. This one probably has cute little rabbits instead of horrible monsters. Wait... Wasn't I doing something? We were in space! Then I got really light headed and we... Crashed! The reality of her situation started to dawn on Sweetie Belle when she smelt the fire and concluded that she wasn't in fact dreaming.
"Ooh..." A nearby voice moaned in pain, Sweetie Belle quickly looked around for its source. When Sweetie Belle found it she fell to the ground in despair. Apple Bloom's mangled body, twisted in unnatural contortions. Her neck was almost a full foot longer than usual. If Apple Bloom was still alive, she must be in unimaginable agony.
What do I do? What do I do?! "Princess Celestia! Somepony help!" Sweetie Belle screamed but nopony was around to hear her, except one.
"What're y'all screamin' 'bout?" Apple Bloom said looking up at Sweetie Belle.
"I-I... What?" Blurted Sweetie Belle, unable to process what she was seeing.
"What?" Apple Bloom asked, standing up and realising that she suddenly stood taller than her friend. "What the..." Apple Bloom moved her head only to find that her body didn't follow, her neck simply stretched and followed her head. "Woah... It's like ah'm made of chewin' gum..."
Apple Bloom continued experimenting with her new body, expanding herself, stretching her legs. "Is there anything different about you, Sweetie... AGH!" Apple Bloom shouted, she had been so enraptured in her own changes that she hadn't noticed Sweetie Belle's new... colour. "Don't look now but... Yer invisible."
Sweetie Belle looked down at her hoof and saw nothing, she could see through the various holes in her suit that she was in fact invisible. "AAHH! What the heck happened to us?" Sweetie asked.
"Well..." Apple Bloom started but suddenly realised. Us. "Babs..."
"Scootaloo..."
"AAAGGGGGHH! AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!" A scream suddenly erupted from the flaming wreckage.
"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle yelled becoming visible again.
"Sweetie Belle! Apple Bloom! HELP!" Scootaloo shouted running towards them, completely engulfed in flame.
"Quick! Stop, drop and roll, Scoots!" Apple Bloom shouted running towards Scootaloo to help.
"Wait!" Shouted Sweetie Belle causing both fillies to stop in their tracks.
"Wait? But... I'm on fire..." Said Scootaloo confused.
"You're not in pain. Plus, I don't smell burning flesh. Just gasoline." Said Sweetie Belle concisely.
"Scoots, you aren't on fire... You are fire!" Said Apple Bloom stretching over and getting a good look at Scootaloo.
"Okay, so I'm fire... You're stretchy and we must have died because this isn't possible." Said Scootaloo looking at her new fiery form.
"It's not impossible. Back durin' the war there was super-pony team called The Invaders. They had the Equine Torch." Said Apple Bloom.
"Yeah, Sparkler. She was also a cyborg pony. And a comic book character! Next you're gonna say that Namor and the Sea Ponies or Captain Equestria were real."
"Sea Ponies are real. They got that museum in Canterlot."
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "Look, I was able turn visible again by thinking about it. Maybe you can turn off your fire. And then we'll go look for Babs and the Princess." Said Sweetie Belle taking control of the situation.
"I don't think we'll need to look very far..." Said Scootaloo staring off in the distance behind Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom at a figure emerging from the trees.
"Apple Bloom!" Shouted a creature made of orange stone but still unmistakably Equine, it carried an unconscious Princess Celestia on it's back. Once in the clearing it caught sight of the three Crusaders. It tossed Princess Celestia gently onto the ground and levelled it's stare at them. "Yer a dead pony!" Babs Seed shouted before charging at them.
"Oh my goodness..." Was all Sweetie Belle could manage.
"Babs, I'm so sorry." Apple Bloom choked out.
"Look out!" Scootaloo shouted tackling Apple Bloom out of Babs' path. Luckily Scootaloo doused her flames just before coming into contact with Apple Bloom. Babs rushed past but quickly corrected herself and threw a punch at Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom dodged by stretching her head out of the way while her body stayed put. "Babs, look at me! You weren't the only one to change! Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and I were able change back! Have you trie-" Apple Bloom started but lost her breath when Babs punched her in the stomach, not because it hurt but because her chest stretched around Babs hoof as she made contact.
"Wishin' I looked normal?! Don't ya think that was the first thing I tried!? I told you going to space was a bad idea! But no!" Babs shouted punching Apple Bloom again still to no avail. "'It was an adventure! Nopony else would ever see anything like this again! Well, good for them! I'm glad nopony else will have to experience what it's like to become a... a THING!" Babs lifted her hoof, ready to hit Apple Bloom again.
"STOP IT!" Sweetie Belle shouted, an invisible force suddenly separating the two earth ponies. "Huh?"
"Sweetie Belle, did you make this?" Apple Bloom asked pressing up against the force field.
"I... think so?" Sweetie Belle created a shield around herself to be sure. "Wow!"
"Babs, beating Apple Bloom to a pulp is not going to help this situation. So knock it off for a second so can I can figure out how to save us... Is the Princess okay?" Scootaloo asked.
Babs put her rage aside for a moment. "She was a little banged up when I found her, but nothin' serious, I mean as far as I can tell. I'm not a doctor, ya know."
"We need to get to ponies that can help. Maybe you can send up a fireball, like an emergency flare?" Said Sweetie Belle.
"Ah think that a flare is going to be kind of tiny compared to the flaming wreckage of our spaceship." Said Apple Bloom. "The best we can do is sit and wait for help to find us."
"Can I get back to kickin' yer teeth in?" Asked Babs.
"Ah don't wanna fight you, Babs..." Said Apple Bloom.
Babs started advancing towards Apple Bloom but was stopped by an invisible wall. "If I have to put you in time out until help arrives, I will." Interjected Sweetie Belle.
"Dis ain't over by a damn sight, 'Bloom." Babs said pointing her hoof at Apple Bloom.
"Ah know..." Said Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Belle, checked to make sure the Princess was still breathing properly. She hated seeing her friends like this. Scootaloo was afraid to move around, fearing that she would spontaneously combust once again. Babs was angry and keeping her distance from the rest of them. Apple Bloom looked guilty, she clearly blamed herself for this situation. She was the one that had been so insistent that they all go on this expedition. Lastly, Sweetie Belle was determined, right now she was the only thing keeping the group from tearing itself part.
For the next several hours or so the Cutie Mark Crusaders sat around, trying to remain optimistic about their situation How do we know that help's coming... We don't even know if we've crashed in Equestria. Scootaloo thought. Suddenly, just as night had started to fall. "Hey, look up there!" Scootaloo shouted as a formation of pegasus guards appeared in the sky.
"We're down here!" Said Apple Bloom stretching her front legs and waving.
The four fillies embraced each other in a group hug and jumped for joy. "We're saved!" They all shouted together.
"Uhm, Apple Bloom... You're kind of... wrapped around us." Said Sweetie Belle, suddenly short of breath.
Apple Bloom looked down and realised that she had coiled her legs around her friends. "Oh! Sorry." She said releasing them.
"Let's just go home..." Said Babs regaining her composure.
***
"It's fascinating! I've never seen anything like it!" Twilight Sparkle shouted in excitement, she held in her magic grip a clipboard featuring several test results.
"I agree. Just to have survived the crash was amazing. We were lucky that the cosmic radiation didn't obliterate them." Said Celestia.
"It is strange however that they all mutated but you haven't shown any changes yourself." Twilight said going over Celestia's chart.
"Most likely due to my Alicorn physiology. But we will have time to worry about me later. For now we have tests to run. Could you have Apple Bloom meet me in "Weapons Testing Room A", please Twilight."
***
"Okay, Apple Bloom. You claim to have developed the power to.... stretch yourself?" Said Celestia through an intercom in an observation window.
"I ain't claimin' nothin'! Check this out." Apple Bloom said stretching her legs, torso and neck so that she stood seven feet tall.
"Amazing... How far can you stretch?"
"Ah don't really know." Apple Bloom said returning to her normal height.
"That's the reason we put you in that testing room, Apple Bloom. I want you stretch your right front leg as far as you can."
"Uhh, okay..." Apple Bloom pointed her hoof at the far wall and stretched as far as she could, soon enough she was touching the wall that was easily one hundred feet away from her.
"I expected a maximum of twenty feet..." Celestia muttered to herself. She activated the intercom to address Apple Bloom. "Keep stretching if you can, up to the roof or to the back wall if you prefer."
"Gotcha." Said Apple Bloom not even exerting effort. Celestia continued to watch as something akin to a real life game of Snake unfolded in front of her. Apple Bloom touched the roof, the floor, the back wall and basically covered the whole room. Apple Bloom seemed just as spellbound as Celestia. "Princess, can I stop now?"
"Why?" Asked Celestia enraptured by what she was seeing. "Are you getting tired?"
"Naw, I'm just runnin' out of room."
Celestia quickly calculated the distance and estimated it at just over one thousand feet. "Of course please go relax..." Celestia said jotting the results down.
***
"...When we attempted to get a blood sample Apple Bloom had to make a conscious effort to allow the needle to pierce her skin." Said Twilight finishing her report on Apple Bloom's debriefing.
"Send in Sweetie Belle next." Said Celestia deep in thought.
"Right away."
***
"Why isn't Sweetie Belle here yet? I sent for her five minutes ago!" Asked Celestia, unknowingly pressing down on the intercom.
"Hee hee! I am in here!" Said Sweetie Belle lifting her invisibility.
"There you are! You managed to even avoid our motion detecting cameras... But I'd rather take this time to test your ability to project invisible force fields. Please create a bubble around yourself now."
"Okay..." Said Sweete Belle complying.
"Now, hold it." Said Celestia pressing a button causing a hole to form in the roof through which a chariot fell and landed on Sweetie Belle.
"AAAIIIIIIEEE!" Sweetie Belle screamed as it splintered into pieces as if her shield had been made of solid steel.
"Very few unicorns would be able to make a shield as strong as that and certainly not one your age, Sweetie." Celestia said taking notes.
"Uh huh..." Sweetie Belle muttered, still a little startled by the sudden crash.
"Now, I want you to try and project one of your force fields like a bullet."
"Like a what?" Sweetie said unfamiliar with the term.
"Okay... Imagine a marble. Create a marble sized force field."
"Done."
"Now imagine flicking it at this target." Said Celestia as an archery target lowered into the training room.
"Okay!" Said Sweetie cheerfully as she aimed and fired her force pellet. Unfortunately she missed the target completely and it penetrated the wall behind it. "Oops, I missed."
"Sweetie Belle, you just pierced a five inch thick steel wall..."
"Is that good?"
"So long as nopony was standing behind it, it was great."
***
"... I theorise that her invisibility is a mutation that comes from the cells of Sweetie Belle's body while her force projections are a product of her mind." Celestia said out loud, recording herself for the sake of keeping a record.
"Scootaloo is ready to go. But we're having some trouble with Babs." Said Twilight.
"You take care of Babs Seed while I test Scootaloo." Celestia said quickly returning to the testing room.
***
"Scootaloo, could your turn your flame on for me so we can begin the tests?" Celestia asked from the intercom.
"But what if it hurts?" Said Scootaloo hesitantly.
"It didn't hurt last time did it?" Said Celestia reviewing her notes.
"Scootaloo we need to test your new abilities, like your ability to throw fireballs, wether or not the combustion would allow you to achieve lift-" Started Celestia before being interrupted.
"Did you say "lift" as in "fly"?" Said Scootaloo, suddenly perking up.
"Yes, theoretically you shou-" Said Celestia before being interrupted again.
"Flame on!" Scootaloo shouted bursting into flame and launching into the air, flying around in erratic patterns. "WOOHOO!"
"She has a catchphrase. How adorable." Said Celestia before pressing on the intercom. "Okay, try and hit th-"
"I can fly!" Scootaloo cheered, flying in a zigzag
"Scootaloo..."
"WOOOOO!" She cheered again as she performed a barrel roll.
"Scootaloo."
"This is awesome!"
"Scootaloo!"
"Sorry... Your highness." Said Scootaloo coming to a stop and hovering in place.
"Sweetie Belle was able to project her force fields. I'd like you to try the same thing with your fire, but for goodness sake, be careful. Try and hit the targets, please." Said Twilight.
"Okay..." Scootaloo quickly fired a barrage of fireballs erratically in every direction, a few of which actually managed to hit their targets. The ones that missed melted right through the walls and floor of the testing room. "Aww... Let me try again."
"No!" Celestia quickly shouted, staring at the hole in the observation window, just inches from her face. "I mean... That's enough, Scootaloo. You can go now."
***
"...I calculated Scootaloo's body heat at seven hundred and eighty degrees fahrenheit. The heat of her projectile fireballs were closer to three thousand degrees. No apparent maximum to her heat has been recorded." Said Celestia still recording herself as she put away her clipboard. I wonder if Twilight has finished dealing with Babs Seed?
***
"So what!? I can't leave?!" Babs shouted angrily.
"Babs, settle down. I just mean that it would be best if you remain here so we can gauge your new strength and durability and run the appropriate tests." Said Twilight doing her best not to Babs.
"I don't want this strength and I don't care about your stupid tests. I've got places to be." Babs said stepping past Twilight.
"Babs... It would be a bad idea to leave right now." Said Twilight catching up with Babs.
"Are you threatening me, Purple?" Babs asked, looking Twilight in the eye.
Twilight looked pensive for a moment before speaking. "Guards, I need you to apprehend and restrain the test subject."
"Right away, Doctor Sparkle." Said one guard as ten more entered the room.
"All right. If that's the way you wanna play it. Then I guess it's clobbering time!" Said Babs punching one guard in the face as he tried to grab her. He was knocked out cold.
As three more piled on, Babs bucked backwards laying out any guards foolish enough to be standing behind her. Woah! These guys are trained guards. I really am stronger. Okay, four down, six to go. But the less guys I hurt, the better. Babs thought to herself. She charged through knocking over two more guards as she made her way to the door.
"Wait!" Celestia shouted quickly entering the room to put a stop to the skirmish. "You're only going to get yourselves hurt." Princess Celestia focused her magic and lifted Babs clear off the ground. "I'm very sorry, Babs. But these are circumstances beyond even my control. I need you to remain calm and more importantly, remain here for now." Princess Celestia released Babs, allowing her to descend to the ground. "I'm asking you, not as your ruler, but as an equal."
"Grr, fine..." Babs said, defeated. "Not like I really want anypony seeing me right now, anyway..."
"I promise you, I'll find a cure for this." Said Celestia, Babs didn't respond and simply left the room in silence.
***
"Wait! If Babs doesn't want anypony to see her, why did she try to leave?" Said Sweetie Belle, subconsciously turning invisible.
"Babs Seed is a very troubled young mare. I sensed an anger in her the moment I met her, I had hoped to extinguish it. Give her a taste for adventure, something to live for." Said Celestia, sounding disappointed. "I fear I've simply given her one more reason to lash out."
"We can be heroes!" Apple Bloom suddenly shouted, looking up from the newspaper she had been reading with a picture of Spider-Pony on the front page. "We have super powers, after all!"
"Ooh! Can we have secret identities?" Sweetie Belle asked suddenly appearing next to Princess Celestia.
"And fight crime?!" Said Scootaloo lighting up again.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SUPER HEROES!! YAY!" They shouted in unison.
"We have enough vigilantes who think that all of their problems can be solved with violence running around already, Spider-Pony, Daredevil and now I even hear about a pony calling themselves Moon Knight stalking the streets of Canterlot at night." Said Celestia gazing out the window, looking down at Canterlot below. This world is going insane...
"Aww..." They groaned, also in unison.
"I do however have a plan for you. All four of you. That will make use of your unique talents. But for now, I'll simply request that you remain in Canterlot." Said Celestia.
"What about school? And our families? Do they even know that we're alive?" Asked Scootaloo.
"Because of the unique nature of our... accident, I've covered up the details of our crash. But Twilight Sparkle has privately informed your families of your condition." Celestia said. "In fact she should be finished with that task by now." Just as Celestia finished that sentence a letter materialised in front of her.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I have informed Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and even Babs Seed's families. To say they had a harsh reaction would be an understatement. Rarity said that she had a few "choice words" for you. Applejack said that you deserved a "good ol' fashioned flank whoopin'" and I'll omit Rainbow Dash's threats and warnings completely.
After stressing to them their sisters were fine and healthy they calmed down. Rarity and Applejack will be there to see them tomorrow. Rainbow Dash shall be with you presently. She'll still be upset, please be patient with her.
Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle
"Apple Bloom, please open the window." Said Celestia, looking through the window, into the horizon.
"Uh, sure." Apple Bloom stretched her hoof over and unlatched the window, letting in the night air.
Rainbow Dash suddenly flew in through the open window and crashed into the wall opposite. "Celestia! You better have a damn good explanation for what happened." She said tensing herself, willing herself to not attack.
"I had spent weeks mapping all nearby cosmic activity. I had seen the cloud of cosmic radiation, but it was as if it suddenly accelerated towards us."
"Rainbow Dash, look!"
"In a second, squirt. I got royal business to attend to."
"No, Rainbow Dash! Look at me! I'm flying!" Said Scootaloo, combusted and elevated slightly.
"I-I... Woah. Twi said you girls had mutated... But she didn't..."
"I'm not upset about this. I don't want you to be upset for me either."
"So... what do you want then?" Rainbow Dash said with a grin.
"I think you know what I want." Scootaloo said before diving out the window.
"Say no more." Said Rainbow Dash flying out after her.
***
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo flew together through the night sky, leaving twin contrails of rainbow and flame. Scootaloo was the happiest and most content she had ever been in her life and the feeling was contagious. The two Pegasi raced, played tag and even practiced a few simple patterns.
Almost every eye in Canterlot was watching them, but the two of them didn't have a care in the world. But one particular pony watched them not with wonder, amazement or even concern for the ignited filly, but with rage. And she didn't even know why. "Torch!?" Said Sea Swirl, seething with anger at the mere sight of Scootaloo for some reason. "Sparkler... The Equine Torch..." She said to herself, wondering how she even knew those names.
"Did you say something, Sea Swirl?" Asked one of her fellow derelicts. But Sea Swirl couldn't hear a word being said over the sound of the ocean rushing in her ears. She looked up and saw the waterfall flowing out of Canterlot mountain all the way down to the aqueducts below.
"My name isn't Sea Swirl, you pusillanimous land dweller." She said said standing up on the ledge that overlooked the rivers at the foot of the mountain.
"What did she say?"
"She's gone crazy!"
"Get down from there, Swirly!"
The Unicorn formally known as Sea Swirl stood on her hind legs and turned to face her former peers. She wore a look of determination and dignity the others had never seen before.
"I am Namor, the Sea Pony." She said, before falling backwards without another word.
"Oh, sweet Celestia!"
"She just jumped!"
"She'll never survive the fall..."
"Maybe she'll hit the water?"
"She'd still be squashed."
Namor hit the water with the grace and poise that could only come with a lifetime of experience and she swam through the aqueduct, into the conjoining river and from there to the ocean. On and on she swam, faster than anypony had ever travelled before. She dove down to oceanic depths that had only ever existed in theory. Past the point where the pressure would crush even the most adept and resilient sea creatures.
As she dived deeper her body underwent a transformation, her ears grew pointed, scales replaced fur, a fin grew on her back and white wings sprouted from each of her hooves. Namor wasn't just a Sea Pony, she was the mutant queen of the Sea Ponies, ruler of the kingdom of Atlantis. Gifted with incredible intellect, strength, durability and even flight.
Namor searched the ocean depths, trying to find her home. But when she reached her destination, she found only the wreckage and ruins of a once great kingdom, scavenged to the bone. "Atlantis... Sunken to the darkest depths. If this is all that remains... What of my subjects?" Namor said to herself as she darted around the sunken metropolis, but found no sign that anypony had been here in years.
"The ponies must have done this. Under the guise of peace and love, they have always possessed a lust for war; the Dragons, the Minotaur and even the Changelings. All crushed beneath the hooves of Princess Celestia!" Namor floated aimlessly through Atlantis, unsure of what to do next but with a rising feeling in her gut about what she knows must be done.
"The memories of both my life as a vagabond and as a queen are blurry to me now. And yet... I recall with such clarity, fighting in the Dragon and Minotaur wars alongside my fellow Invaders. Captain Equestria, Union Star, the Equine Torch! And myself. But there was distrust between the Torch and I. Fire and water, natural enemies." Namor was struggling to get a grip on her memories, she desperately tried to recall the events that led to her "imprisonment" on the land.
"Celestia will know! I will return to Canterlot and once I have my answers... I will avenge my beloved kingdom!" Namor shouted before once again swimming at an unimaginable speed through the icy blackness of the deep.
***
Back at Canterlot castle, after having it out with Princess Celestia who personally heard all of their complaints and withstood all their abuse, Rarity and Applejack had arrived and had moved on to fawning over their sisters. "I'm sorry your parents aren't here Babs." Said Applejack, trying to coax Babs out of hiding. "It's a little further from Manehattan than Ponyville after all. Heh heh..." Applejack didn't know why she forced herself to chuckle, nopony had said anything funny.
"I've just received word that they've disembarked from their train. My personal chauffeur is escorting them here now." Assured Princess Celestia, who was here to make sure this visit went without incident.
"Mmhmm..." Mumbled Babs, barely audible through her bedroom door. "Just lemme know when they get here."
"The poor thing sounds like she's gargling with gravel..." Whispered Rarity.
"She kinda is, I told you what happened to her." Whispered Sweetie Belle.
Rarity perked up a bit. "Why don't you come out dear? I'd like to make you girls some new clothing to celebrate not dying." She said sincerely enthusiastic.
"You wanna make me some new duds? Be my guest." Babs said opening her door and showing them her new stone body. "What colour goes with cobblestones!?" She said angrily.
"Cobblestones aren't a colour, dear. But your orange coat, no matter the texture, would look very nice with something blue." Said Rarity, estimating Babs' new measurements.
"Maybe black shoes, to tie the outfit together, right?" Added Sweetie Belle.
"Wooee, Babs! You're built like a brick outhouse! Err, literally." Said Applejack playfully punching one of Babs' legs.
"That's what I've been saying!" Said Scootaloo flying in through the window alongside Rainbow Dash.
"This is what I've been trying to tell ya Babs. I didn't want ya to think I was takin' yer problem lightly, but no matter how you look, there'll always be somepony who loves you." Said Apple Bloom wrapping a leg around Babs.
"You guys..." Babs said, tears welling in her eyes. "Get in here, let me hug ya, all of ya. You too, Princess." Babs wrapped everypony in a tight hug.
"Babs... super... strength." Squeaked Sweetie Belle.
"Oh, sorry." Said Babs, releasing everypony just as a distinguished looking pony entered the room.
"Somepony at the door for you, Princess. They say they have business with you."
"That must be your parents now, Babs." Said Celestia. "Come, let us greet them personally and we will continue in the dining hall for lunch."
There were murmurs of agreement as the party made it's way through the spacious castle. They eventually found their way to the front door. Celestia's guard opened it with their magic. The group was greeted, not with the sight of the Orange family, but with a strange fish/pony hybrid. Everypony looked confused, surprised or startled. But Celestia looked on with sheer dread.
"Namor..." She said, her voice barely a whisper, but still heard by everypony in the room.
"Celestia." Namor responded, elated with the reaction she elicited from the Princess.
"What... How? How can you still be alive?" Celestia stuttered, but quickly gathered her composure.
Before anypony could so much as take a step Namor charged at the the group of ponies, barreling through and knocking all of them over. She then lit her horn and picked up Sweetie Belle in her magical field. "I'm only going to ask this once, Celestia. So pay very close attention. Where is Atlantis?"
Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity had been knocked unconscious when Namor attacked them. Celestia was also dazed. The only ponies that had their wits about them were the Cutie Mark Crusaders and they were quickly developing a plan.
Applebloom looked Sweetie Belle deep in the eyes and simply nodded. She then made sure she had Scootaloo and Babs attention before gesturing slightly. First at Scootaloo, then Babs. Scootaloo and Babs both shook their heads, Applebloom gave them both a stern look. They both rolled their eyes and nodded in response.
"Look at me, Celestia! What happened to Atlantis and the Sea Ponies?!" Namor shouted getting irate.
"Namor! I'm sorry about what happened to you! But I had nothing to do with Atlantis! Just let the filly go." Pleaded Celestia.
"What happened to Atlantis?!"
"Umm, I don't know anything about Atlantis. But they just opened up that Sea Pony exhibit at the museum." Said Sweetie Belle.
"What?! The Museum?" Namor asked turning the captured unicorn to face her.
"Yeah, but you better hurry if you want a ticket. They have a way of disappearing." Sweetie Belle said before turning invisible.
Namor's concentration broke for a split-second and Applebloom stretched her legs and quickly pulled Sweetie Belle away from the Sea Pony. Scootaloo took this as her cue.
"Flame on!" Scootaloo shouted before igniting and blasting Namor with a stream of fire, pushing her back out through the front door and into the courtyard.
"It will take more than that to vanquish me, Torch!"
"It's a good thing I'm here then!" Shouted Babs landing a punch square in the centre of Namor's chest, sending Namor flying out of the castle grounds.
"Woah! Nice hit, Babs!" Said Apple Bloom as Babs came back inside.
"What did she call me?" Asked Scootaloo.
"That was Namor, Queen of the Sea Ponies. She seems to have you confused with the Equine Torch, a synthetic pony named Sparkler. She was a part of the Invaders, a team of-"
"We know." Said the Crusaders in unison.
"Everypony is fine but I'm afraid that Namor won't be down for long." Said Celestia taking charge.
"Are ya sure? I hit her pretty hard."
"It seems Namor won't listen to reason. She has likely retreated towards the ocean, where she is at her strongest. If you four are intent on becoming heroes, this is the time to prove it."
"Forget that for a moment. Are our sisters okay?" Asked Apple Bloom as she stretched a hoof over to Applejack to see if she was breathing.
"They'll be fine. Maybe some concussions. Nothing major." Said the guards who had rushed into to see what the commotion was about.
"I'll have them taken care of. Namor should be your only concern right now. Only you four can subdue her, be wary. She is extremely strong and will not hesitate to... hurt you." Celestia used her magic to summon a quartet of blue jumpsuits.
"Our spacesuits?" Asked Sweetie Belle.
"These are modified versions of the Unstable Molecule Fabric outfits that you wore into space. It should help protect you. They are also personalised for each of you, it will not burn up, it turns intangible, it even grows and shrinks."
"I'm not wearing that monstrosity." Said Babs. "I'm already invulnerable anyway."
"It's like a uniform. We'll be a super hero team."
"Grr... Fine. But just the pants!"
"What about you, Princess?"
"I'm going to build a cell capable of containing Namor. It shouldn't take too long. We already have prisons for ponies with above average strength. But first we need to apprehend Namor." Said Celestia
After taking a moment to suit up, the four young fillies were prepared for battle.
"Okay... Cutie Mark Crusader Super Heroes, attack!" Applebloom shouted.
"We'll think of something better for the name..." Mumbled Scootaloo.
***
Namor woke up and realised that she was sprawled out in the middle of a street in Canterlot, ponies were stopping to gawk at her, she walked over to one of the civilians and grabbed him by the neck with her magic.
"Which way to the museum?"
"Umm, go to the end of this street, take a left, take the second right, then take the third exit at the roundabout and you'll see it on your right."
"Thank you." Namor said before releasing the panicked pony and flying off in the direction she had been given.
***
Scootaloo had flown ahead of the others, in the direction Namor had been going. But the trail had run cold, until she flew over the museum and noticed a large hole in the roof. She landed just outside, startling a few bystanders. "Did anypony see a big fish-pony?"
One of the museum guides ran over to Scootaloo. "I did. It grabbed one of the exhibits and flew off towards Horseshoe Bay."
"Horseshoe Bay? Which direction was that?"
"East. How old are you?"
"Eight. Thanks. Bye. Flame on!" Scootaloo said igniting and flying east, as fast as she could towards Horseshoe Bay. I still can't believe it... I'm finally flying! I feel bad for Babs, but part of me hopes the Princess never finds a cure for this. Scootaloo thought to herself as she noticed the news crews, reporters and camera-ponies all pointed towards the bay. She laid eyes on the center of attention, the Sea Pony Queen, with a large spiral horn in her grip. She hovered several stories above the water, Scootaloo joined her in the sky.
"Hey, Shoobedoo!" Shouted Scootaloo as she shot a fireball at Namor, missing her by inches.
"Torch! You came alone? I'm insulted." Said Namor turning to face her.
"Wow! This is the first time I've gotten a good look at you, are you like a sea Alicorn and somepony just messed up and put wings on your hooves instead of your back?"
Namor didn't respond and instead swung at Scootaloo, who barely dodged a punch that was carrying more than enough force to knock her head off. They weren't kidding about her strength. Scootaloo responded with a pair of flamethrowers from her front hooves. Namor didn't hesitate and did her best to resist the heat and fight her way through the flames, working her way closer, inch by burning inch and eventually grabbing Scootaloo by the neck and extinguishing her flames.
"You... You aren't Sparkler. You're just a child! Celestia sent a child to battle me?! Her depravity truly knows no bounds." Namor said before noticing the ponies watching them from the shore. "I hope you're watching, Princess." Namor threw Scootaloo towards the ocean below with all of her strength.
I can't recover. I'm falling too fast. Don't even have enough energy to turn my flame on. Scootaloo thought as she fell.
*SMACK*
Scootaloo managed to open her eyes and saw the ocean still many stories below her. But she had stopped falling. "Invisible forcefield!" Scootaloo shouted in excitement. "Oh! You are in trouble now, Sea Pony! It's the Fantastic Fillies!" She said, very pleased with herself for coming up with a new team name.
Namor looked over at the other three fillies who were making some kind of elaborate formation on the shoreline. "I take it none of them can fly?"
"Well... yeah..." Said Scootaloo weakly.
"Looks like I don't have too much to worry about, after all. Pay attention, Torch. This is the Horn of Proteus, it is a symbol of new life to the Sea Ponies and now it will become a symbol of death to all who call the land their home!" Namor raised the Horn of Proteus to her lips and prepared to play.
***
"This feels so weird." Said Apple Bloom, who had her front legs wrapped around one tree and her hind legs wrapped around another, pulling her taut. "I look like a darn hammock!"
"Hammock? I was going for slingshot... Anyway, we need to help Scootaloo, I can barely keep the floor she's standing on solid from this far away." Sweetie Belle said as she created a spherical shield around herself and placed herself against Apple Bloom like a stone in a sling.
"This is crazy." Said Babs pulling back the slingshot and aiming for Namor. "It looks like she's playin' her trumpet and that probably ain't good."
"Hurry up and-"
Babs let go of Apple Bloom and sent Sweetie flying towards the Sea Pony.
"FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE!!"
***
Namor dropped the trumpet into the ocean below and took a deep breath. "It is done!" Said Namor as Scootaloo stood up and reignited herself, flying towards her opponent.
"It wasn't bad. But I've heard better trumpet solos." Scootaloo said firing a volley of fireballs at Namor, who dodged them all effortlessly. Scootaloo threw a flaming punch at Namor, striking her right in the face. Namor didn't even flinch.
"-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRE!" Sweetie Belle said from inside her invisible sphere, before colliding with Namor and sending her flying like an oversized pinball. She quickly created a platform to stand on before she even started falling. "I'm getting good at this force field thing."
"It's a pity you won't live long enough to enjoy it." Namor said having regained her bearings and charged at Sweetie Belle, but she disappeared before the Sea Pony even got close. "The same trick twice? It won't work for long."
"It doesn't have to!" Scootaloo shouted, tackling Namor at high speed as well as an extremely high heat. Sweetie Belle joined in, creating an invisible wall that Scootaloo smashed Namor against.
Sweetie Belle began to feel strangely fatigued. Okay... Maybe I shouldn't make shields while I'm still invisible. I guess it's too much strain. She thought, rescinding her invisibility. "Did you get her?"
"I think so..." Scootaloo said before Namor turned around and punched Scootaloo in the face sending her flying back towards Sweetie Belle. "No, she's just mad."
"Why do you continue this pathetic struggle? This nation will drown and I will create a new beginning for Atlantis!" Said Namor, slowly working her way back towards the two fillies. The tide below them began to recede.
"We won't let you!"
"Yeah! You're not gonna get the chance!"
"Let me...? You foolish children... I've already done it. The Leviathan has answered the call of its Queen! And will not stop until I command it to!" Namor said as everypony within sight of the bay saw an enormous, amphibious creature rise from the depths of the ocean and begin it's march towards the land.
"Sweetie Belle! We have to stop that thing!" Scootaloo shouted frantically, flying towards it. Before she could even pick speed Namor intercepted her flight.
"I-it's impossible... We can't beat something like that." Sweetie Belle muttered.
"Sweetie Belle, listen to me! We need to keep the fight on Namor. Babs and Apple Bloom can take down that thing." Said Scootaloo, barely dodging Namor's attacks.
"We don't stand a chance..."
"I said listen to me! Nopony else can fight these things! It's up to us. We're the only things that stand between this crazy fish pony and our homes. I know it's hard Sweetie Belle, but we have to keep going. It's okay, we're the heroes. We're gonna win."
Sweetie Belle steeled herself, Scootaloo's words repairing her shattered confidence. "Right!"
***
"Are you tellin' me you have a plan to take down that big palooka!?" Said Babs gesturing towards the Leviathan, who was getting too close for comfort. "Cuz, I've got nothing."
"Umm... I could stretch across it's legs and trip it over! Bigger they are, the harder they fall, right?" Said Apple Bloom looking for a place to position herself.
"Wait! If you trip it over, won't that thing fall on the city?"
"Oh, right..." Apple Bloom said, as she struggled to come up with another plan.
***
Meanwhile, Scootaloo was trying to distract Namor, while Sweetie Belle figured out a way to contain him until Celestia arrived. Scootaloo continued to evade Namor's attacks. A single hit could mean death. Scootaloo leveled a fireball right in Namor's face. Namor retaliated putting Scootaloo in a headlock. With neither able to fly, they began to descend towards the ocean. "You're quite lucky, Torch. If your flames didn't grant you your unnatural speed you would be dead a dozen times over." Namor shifted position so that Scootaloo was below her. "So I'll be sure to douse your flames for good."
"Do you ever shut up?" Scootaloo said, struggling to escape Namor's grip.
Their fall was suddenly cut short by another invisible wall, which quickly changed shape into a sphere, ensnaring both of them. "Scootaloo, burn her up!"
"Gotcha." Scootaloo said igniting and expelling as much heat as possible. The inside of the sphere was no longer visible, only a torrent of flames could be seen.
Sweetie Belle was struggling to hold the sphere together. She brought her hoof to her face and realised blood was running down her nose. Got to keep it together...
The flames suddenly stopped, Scootaloo was lying limp at the bottom of bubble and Namor just looked very angry. "...can't breath." Scootaloo gasped.
"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle quickly made a path between herself and Scootaloo and ran to her aid, releasing the bubble when she got there. "What did you do to her?!"
"I didn't do anything. You trapped her in a sphere with very limited oxygen. She burned up all the oxygen in an attempt to injure me. All I did was hold my breath, as a sub-aquatic creature I'm rather good at it." Namor picked up the unconscious Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle with her magic and threw them towards the ocean. "Give my regards to the bottom of the sea!"
***
Back on the shore, the Leviathan had was getting close to the beach. "I have an idea. But you ain't gonna like it." Said Apple Bloom taking her slingshot form once again.
"Oh no! No. No! No-no-no-no-no-no!"
"You know you wanna."
"Yeah, okay."
Babs positioned herself, pulling back on her cousin's rubbery form until she was pleased with the distance. "I'll betcha I hit him right between the eyes." Said Babs taking aim.
"No way!" Said Apple Bloom. "You'll nail 'em in the stomach, fer sure."
"Only one way to find out." Babs said releasing the tension and flying towards the Leviathan. "IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!"
"One of these days I'm gonna get us all killed..." Said Apple Bloom to herself as she noticed something bobbing in the water.
"Apple Bloom! Pull us out!" Scootaloo shouted from just off the shore, holding on to Sweetie Belle with one hoof and something else with her other.
Apple Bloom quickly stretched both of her front legs out to reach Scootaloo, they wrapped around her body and reeled her in. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle choked and sputtered once they were on dry land. *cough cough* "We got the *cough* horn!" Sweetie Belle said as Scootaloo held up the Horn of Proteus. *cough* "Where's *cough* Babs?" Sweetie Belle choked out.
Before Apple Bloom could answer a loud shock wave drew their attention back towards the ocean.
***
Babs couldn't make out anything that was going on around her, she was travelling at what would be terminal velocity for an ordinary pony. This rock body thing is kinda cool. I ain't fixin' ta get used to it, but fer moment's like this it's pretty friggin' awesome! Babs smiled to herself as realised she was lining up with the Leviathan's face. I knew I'd get 'em in the eyes.
Namor had spotted the rock monster flying towards her leviathan and knew that at the speed it was going, it may very well damage her pet. "NO!" Namor shouted flying as fast as she could to intercept the thing. "I. WILL. NOT..." Namor closed the distance between herself and Babs. "ALLOW. YOU. T-" The two collided in the air, creating an impact that shook the waters below and staggered the leviathan causing it fall backwards into the ocean.
***
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had finally caught their breath, unfortunately their rest was short lived. When Namor and Babs knocked over the Leviathan it had triggered a tidal wave that was now surging towards the city.
"OH, COME ON!!" Shouted a frustrated Sweetie Belle as she projected an invisible wall to hold back the wave. Sweetie Belle groaned in pain as the water piled up and then began to recede.
"Just a little longer, Sweetie Belle." Said Scootaloo.
"The Leviathan is gettin' back up!" Shouted Apple Bloom, pointing past Sweetie's shield at the giant monster that had regained it's footing and was on the move again.
*BANG* The Leviathan ran into the invisible wall. "AAAAAAGH!!" Sweetie Belle dropped to the ground clutching her head in pain. "It's too strong... I can't stop it."
"Apple Bloom, now would be a good time for a plan." Said Scootaloo, still holding the Horn of Proteus.
"The horn!" Shouted Apple Bloom. "Namor, summoned the monster with it. If we play it while leading it back out to the sea, maybe it'll follow."
"I'll do it." Said Scootaloo with fierce determination. "What if Namor tries to stop me? I can't fight her off and play the horn at the same time."
"Just go. We'll take care of it." Apple Bloom said, just before Scootaloo flew off. Apple Bloom helped Sweetie Belle back on to her hooves. "Where did Namor and Babs go, anyway?"
***
Namor and Babs fell, trading blows as they fell "Come on, Fishstick! That all ya got!?" Babs shouted slamming Namor again and again with her giant rocky hooves.
"I'll show you what I've "got", ogre!" Namor said returning deceptively strong punches, chipping away at Babs' rocky hide. Namor kicked off of Babs causing the rocky filly to hit the sandy beach below them first. Namor hit the beach shortly after, unable to break her fall.
"Ding ding. Time fer round two." Babs said, back on her hooves and grabbing the dazed Namor, throwing her halfway across the beach. Babs slowly trotted towards Namor who was beginning to stir. "You have no idea what I've been through these past few days. but I just wanna thank you for being such an a-hole about this whole sea pony thing. Makes it so much more satisfying to wail on ya."
"You think you know hardship, monster?" Namor spat at Babs. "My home, my entire race is destroyed! My people's treasures are on display in your museum! I have to get vengeance for them!" Namor shouted just before punching Babs again. Apple Bloom suddenly pounced, wrapping around Namor and restraining her limbs.
"Is that really how you feel?" Said Apple Bloom."Because as far as I can see, you've been just been actin' like a jerk and a bully. You haven't been doing this for the Sea Ponies, your just tryin' ta make yourself feel better." Namor didn't respond, but just struggled against Apple Bloom's hold.
"Apple Bloom, I had this under control." Said Babs indignantly.
"Ah think there's been enough violence today." Responded Apple Bloom.
"This is your last day, rubber-filly. The Leviathan will destroy your world!"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, fishstick." Said Babs as a trumpeting sound filled the air.
Pleasefollowmepleasefollowmepleasefollowmepleasefollowmepleasefollowmepleasefollowme. Scootaloo shouted internally, flying past the Leviathan as she blew on the Horn of Proteus. Slowly but surely the Leviathan turned and followed Scootaloo into the horizon.
"The Horn! But I dropped it into the ocean..." Said Namor.
"You also dropped me and Scootaloo into the ocean." Said Sweetie Belle, still weary. "It was just kind of floating there."
"It doesn't matter. I'll still destroy you!"
"There you go again! You talk about wanting to rebuild your home, but instead you just destroy stuff. When you first knocked on the door to the castle, did you think of just asking for help? We could've helped you find your people, we could've gotten your treasure back. Instead, you just attacked us." Apple Bloom said as the royal guard arrived with Celestia's containment cell for Namor. "For what it's worth, I promise you that while you're locked up, we'll do what we can to help you and your people."
***
"Welcome to Pony National News. I'm Quick Quote, here with the four young fillies who apprehended the Sea Pony known as Namor. Girls, tell us about yourselves, what are your names?" Said the news reporter holding a microphone up to Babs, who was looking extremely embarrassed about being on TV.
"I'm nopony. I'm just... just a thing." Said Babs sounding depressed.
"A... thing?"
Scootaloo quickly grabbed the mic from the reporters hand. "It's her name! Her superhero name! We're all superheroes! She's the Thing! And I'm the Equine Torch! The cute white one is the Invisible Mare! And our fearless leader here is... umm... Ms. Fantastic!"
Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Babs Seed all looked at Scootaloo with angry bewilderment. Scootaloo shrugged sheepishly.
The crowd broke into anxious murmuring.
***
Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia were all watching the news report from the castle. "Superheroes!?" They all shouted in unison, before breaking into quarreling.
Please, Apple Bloom. Take control of the situation. Celestia thought to herself as Rarity ranted about safety precautions.
***
"That's right. Superheroes. And explorers! And Scientists! We investigate the unknown!" Said Ms. Fantastic, taking control of the situation.
"Investigate it and then clobber it! If the situation arises." Said The Thing.
"But a peaceful result is always our goal." Said the Invisible Mare.
"If you're a team of superheroes, do you have a team name?" Asked Quick Quote regaining control of the microphone.
The crowd started chattering and cheering out suggestions but the Equine Torch calmed the crowd and grabbed the microphone back. "We are the Fantastic Fillies!"
Author's Note
This took way longer than I thought it would. But it's finally done. Now that I'm through with this it's Amazing Spider-Pony non-stop until that's finished. After that I'll be doing another one-shot and a shorter ongoing story. Also keep an eye on Invincible Iron Brony because he and I have got Guardians of the Galaxy coming later in the year.
I hope you enjoyed it. Don't be afraid to check out my other work if you liked this. Don't forget to comment and tell me what you liked or disliked.
Once this story hits twenty favourites, twenty five likes or a few days pass, I have something special planned as a show of appreciation.
