Heroes of Broncotopia

It was mid-afternoon for the city of Broncotopia. The orange skies were slowly turning to black as the sun was half-way past the horizon. At the museum, the staff were busy guiding the visitors out of the building, while also closing up the place.

With the last door locked, the museum was officially closed for the night. The majority of the staff have gone home, except for the few security guards staying for the night.

Unknown to these ponies, there were still two ponies here. Except they weren't inside the building, they were on top of it.

On top of the Broncotopia City's Museum, two costume heroines were waiting patiently for another group of ponies to arrive. Zapp was pacing as she trotted back and forth. Mistress Mare-Velous on the other hoof was sitting down, inspecting her gadgets.

“Sandy, what time is it?” Zapp asked, getting an annoyed look from her friend.

“Zapp, constantly asking me what time it is? Will not make them comeany sooner.”

“What time is it?” She repeat her question, where her companion just sighs.

“It's 5:10.” She answered, checking her watch. “And stop saying my real name when we're on duty!”
“Sorry Mare-Velous, but I'm just getting really impatient now!”

“There ten minutes late, nothing to get all worked up about.” Mare-Velous snorted.

“Yeah well, if Matterhorn was here she would've scolded those guys for being late.” Zapp commented. “You know how uptight that mare is about tardiness.”

“Yes I do.” Mare-Velous responded. “Which is why when we get back, we should find her a special pony, so that he or she can finally pull that stick out of her ass.”

Before Zapp can reply to her friend, her eyes caught something in the distance. She spotted a group of six costumed ponies heading there way. They were apparently standing on top of a floating magical platform, cast by the two unicorns in their party.

Zapp pointed her hoof in their direction, alerting Mare-Velous to their arrival. The mare put her gadgets back into her utility belt and watch as the other group of heroes arrive.

When they reach the roof top, the two red armored unicorns drop the spell and they all fall harmlessly off their ride.

Zapp and Mare-Velous recognizes three of the ponies: Steedfast, Wonder Mare and Marvel Mare. The other three, they didn't know. One was a heavily armored unicorn stallion, the second is a lightly armored unicorn mare, and the last one is a costumed earth stallion.

The color of the unicorn stallion's armor was a dark shade of red. His armor covered his entire body, leaving no visible piece of himself. Despite the heavy-looking armor, the stallion move pretty well in them, no sluggish or awkward movements here.

The other unicorn was a total opposite of the other guy. Her armor was bright red and it was more similar to the modern royal guard's armor. A helmet, body armor, and metal hoof shoes. Unlike her heavily armored friend, she wore less armor, allowing a clear view of her. She has a white coat with long tied red hair and tail. Her eyes were bright red, the same as her mane and armor.

Then there was last pony. The stallion wore a blue hooded jacket with black bandana covering his mouth. His blue jacket has a pair of lightning bolts together, both displaying in the front and on the back. Other than those two piece of clothing, he wore nothing else. The stallion has a purple coat with brown eyes and black dreadlocks like mane.

“What took you guys so long?” Was the first thing Zapp questioned when they arrive.

“I apologize for our late arrival, ma'am.” The purple stallion spoke. “Our mission took longer then expected. But, anyways we're here.”

“Right, so I'm Zapp and my friend back there is Mistress Mare-Velous.”

“Well then I'm Horsepower, the guy covered in armor is Crimson Knight and the mare next to him is Scarlet Knight.” The stallion introduces himself and his two teammates. “You already know Steedfast and the twins.” He pointed to the other three. Marvel Mare waved her hoof at them.

“Now that we're all here, what business do you have with us?” Horsepower asked, looking at the pair suspiciously.

Instead of Zapp answering the question, Mare-Velous step up. “We're here to see if you guys want to join our group.”

“What? You mean like the Power Ponies?” Crimson Knight said, the sound of his voice, muffled by his armor faceplate. “Cause we are already a team.”

“No, not our team, but something bigger. You might have known by now that we are not the only heroes on this world. Everyday someponies are discovering their powers and taking up the mantel of being a superhero. However, for every hero, there is always a couple of villains that come with it. Now what are leader want is to form a large organization where every hero is a member. That way we'll be able to combat any threat that comes right at us, whether it is costumed villains, gangs, mobs, mercenaries, warlords or even invaders from space, we will be ready for them. So we came here to see if you guys want to join up."

When Mistress Mare-Velous finished her speech, the six ponies stared at her. Some had wide eyes expression while some doesn't seem convinced. Nevertheless they huddle together and talk among themselves.

Both Zapp and Mare-Velous waited patiently for the group's answer. A minute later and they all broke off. While everypony had a neutral expression on their faces, Marvel Mare was the only one with disappointment written all over her face.

“While the idea sounds great, we respectfully decline.” Horsepower answered.

“Any reason why?” Mare-Velous questioned.

“Lets just say we prefer to stay independent.”

Both Mare-Velous and Horsepower stare into each other for a bit before the mare sighs. “Very well then, we can't force you guys to join.” She then turned around. “We'll be on our way.”

The two mares left, with Zapp questioning whether or not her partner gave up to easily.

“Horsepower, are you sure it was a wise decision?” Wonder Mare asked.

“Yeah! We could have met the rest of the Power Ponies and become an awesome team!” Marvel Mare exclaim with much enthusiasm.

The older stallion sigh and look straight at the two sisters. “Yes girls I'm sure. While joining a large organization may sound great, trust me, it's not. All they'll do is ask you to keep on giving, but when the time comes and you need them the most, they will leave ya high and dry.”

Seeing how disappointed the twins are, Crimson Knight decided to bud in. “While I don't entirely agree with Horsepower pessimistic view, I do agree on staying independent. We are still very small, our resources are limited. Maybe when we're better, then we can join them.”

Scarlet Knight smile at her partner's response. Sure she was on the side with the twins, but Crimson Knight provided a good explanation to why they can't join now. She just wish that kind of thinking applies to that other stallion, Steedfast. The guy was nice enough, but she just wish the stallion would voice his opinions on things, instead of just siding with Horsepower.

With the meeting over, the six ponies left the museum rooftop and headed back to base.

Meanwhile, at the hotel the two mares are residing. Zapp was laying on the bed, while Mare-Velous was in the shower. The blue mare was still angry that her partner gave up too easily. They didn't took an eight-hour train ride here, just so they can be rejected. Once her partner is out of the shower, she was going to give her a piece of her mind.

The bathroom door opened and a palish brown mare came out. She was busy drying her blue mane with the towel to notice her friend's glare. When she remove the towel from her head and notice the glare she was receiving. Mare-Velous just sigh.

“What is it now, Zapp?”

“You know what it is!”

“Yeah and like before I told you to drop it.”

“I still say we should go back and convince them join.”

“Zapp, they already made up their minds. Besides its getting late, just look how dark it is.”

“What are you talking about? It's not that-” Zapp stopped herself when she saw just how dark it was outside through the glass sliding door to their balcony. “Whoa you're right, it's pitch black out there.”

Before Mare-Velous could go back to the bathroom, the mare just realize something. Sure it was night-time, but even then it was never this dark. Suddenly large blue glowing fangs appeared from the darkness and was tapping the glass door. This freak the two mare out, then all of a sudden the glass door shattered and the darkness barge right in. It let out a beastly roar and went for the nearest target, Zapp.

Thankfully, with some quick reflexes, she managed to dodge to beast who ended crashing into the bed. Zapp then pick up the lightning bolt shape necklace with her mouth and summon a powerful gust of wind, which blew the beast back outside and fell over the balcony.

Zapp immediately went after the beast, leaving her partner to get dress up and gear up. She flew out through the shattered glass door and down the broken balcony railings.

Zapp spots the black creature crashing onto the streets below. The beast was the strangest thing she ever saw. It looked like a black silhouette of a large muscular tiger, but instead of orange with black stripes, the creature was completely black. No features except for its glowing blue fangs.

The beast quickly recovers from his drop and looked straight at the approaching mare. Despite not having any visible eyes, Zapp knew that the beast was staring right at her. Using the power of her pendent, she cast a powerful lighting bolt to strike the black monstrosity.
The beast saw the flash of lightning and instantly dash towards the nearest lamp post. Using the big long metallic post as an antenna, Zapp's lightning never hit its mark.

With that out of the way, the beast jump at the wing pony, both his black claws stretch out and ready to slice some soft pony flesh.

Unfortunately, a yellow lasso was toss around the creature's long black tail and was swung downwards, to the hard ground below.

Mistress Mare-Velous hope that this would put the beast out of commission. This did not happen. The beast swing his tail up and launched the mare up in the air. Luckily, Zapp caught her before she fell. In retaliation, Mare-Velous threw a bunch of hoofarangs at him, each one packing a different effect.

One hoofarang exploded, another exploded with fire, another with ice. Out of these three none seem to affect the beast. However, one hoofarang got a reaction out of the monster. The electric hoofarang shot electricity through his body, causing him roar loudly.

Figuring that electricity was his weakness, she quickly turned to her friend. “Quick Zapp, summon some lighting at the beast!”

Zapp lifted the pendent in her mouth, causing a storm cloud to appear out of nowhere and shot out a stream of lighting.

The beast evade the attack and before he could counter attack, he struck by another lightning bolt.

The bolt didn't came from Zapp, rather it came from a across the street. Both Power Ponies turn saw three familiar faces. It was Steedfast, Crimson Knight, and Scarlet Knight. The two armored unicorns continue to shoot bolts of lightning at the beast, buying Steedfast enough time to get close up and personal.

Using his amazing strength, Steedfast began pummeling the black beast. He punch him a couple of times, even including a few bucks in as well. Each his punches and kicks felt a crashing trucks to the creature. When ever the monster tries to attack the stallion, he would jumped back and allow an opening for his teammates to attack.

Not wanting to be left, both Zapp and Mare-Velous attack the black beast with their electrical attacks.

Finally with one powerful punch, he smack the beast down. Steedfast took moment to relax. He watched Crimson Knight cast a cage like magic construct around the defeated monster. He then turn his head around and saw the two mares trotting up to him.

“Thanks for the assistance, you two.” He complimented.

“No, thank you for coming to our aid.” Mare-Velous reply.

“Yeah those were some nice moves out there!” Zapp stated. “You sure you guys don't want to join?”

Steedfast chuckles. “Yes, we're sure. Besides Horsepower is our leader, so anything he says we do.” Unbeknownst to the stallion, Scarlet Knight was rolling her eyes at his response.
“What is that thing by the way?” Mistress Mare-Velous questioned.

“That is the Black Beast, a creature from an alternate dimension. He was summon here to our dimension by some crazy cultist wishing to use him. Unfortunately, the Black Beast was too much for them and nearly slaughtered them before we arrived. Ever since then we been trying to hunt this creature down and send him back to his own dimension.” She then turn her attention to the cage dark beast. “Looks like now we can finally finish this.”

Using her magic, the red armored mare drew a ritual circle on the ground. “Crimson, bring the Black Beast over here.” Crimson did what she ask and lifted the bruised up creature onto the circle.

Zapp and Mare-Velous watch in fascination as the mare began chanting the ritual spell. The drawn circle with strange symbols starts to glow a bright blue. When Crimson Knight release the beast from his cage, the Black Beast immediatly dropped the being defeated act and hop away from the glowing circle.

“Quick Crimson Knight grab the beast before he escapes!” Steedfast shouted.

The red knight was about do that but stopped. His eyes went wide as he saw the beast pulsating. Blue veins like marks started emerging around his body, glowing brightly on his black skin. Then with great speed, the Beast leap at armored stallion. Breaking his armor in the process and held him in his jaws.

The rest of ponies watch in horror as that monster escape, with the stallion in tow.

“Crimson!” Scarlet shouted in horror of losing her partner. “We have to rescue him!”

“I know lets-”

“Hold it Steedfast!” Mare-Velous stopped him.

“What why?”

“You need to head back and inform the rest of team of this. Zapp and I will help Scarlet Knight in rescuing her master.”

Steedfast was about to argue, but when the logic sunk in, he realized that it was a logical decision. “Fine, I'll go. Scarlet, you be careful alright?” When she nodded in response, Steedfast immediately left, heading back to their headquarters.

With him gone, the three mares went after the Black Beast. With Scarlet Knight leading the group. Zapp and Mistress Mare-Velous follow behind the armored mare, both ready to face whatever was coming next.