Thunder and lightning rumbled through the dark sky above Lower Manehattan. Wind and rain beat against the armored pony riding a customized silver four-wheeled motorcycle, his black cape fluttering out behind him. His eye glowed white as well as his chest symbol of a sword placed above a shield. Knight was one of the 14 seasoned heroes left in Equestria. The past 2 years The League of Evil was capturing heroes and villains for unknown reasons. Zero,Compound and Zoom were the latest powered ponies to be captured by them. They had finally crossed the line when they targeted his sister.
Storm is a member of the Mane 6 which included Druid,Random,Crystal,The Sorceress,and Terran who were the first heroes to come into the open 10 years ago.
Storm helped him understand what it meant to be a hero while training him the last 4 years. She taught him that everything wasn't in black and white and how to not let anger get the better of himself, the latter lesson completely being forgotten.
“I’m coming Storm!” he yelled as he filtered forward through the congested streets that slowly began to flood.
“Buddy, replay Storm-Rider’s message!” Knight asked his armors A.I.
“It’s the 2nd time, Knight no matter how many times you listen to it, nothing can be done until you arr-”
“Just replay the message!!” he demanded interrupting buddy."...I'm sorry for yelling at you"
"Save your anger and dish it towards the enemy." Buddy replied.
"Kay!" He said.
Buddy replayed the voice message” This is Storm Rider, I’m above the Bronx with information regarding the disappearance of all the Power Ponies, they're alive but-” The sound of constant lightning disrupting her “No matter their past choices to stand a chance you must gather any pony who can fight and ban together, First-”.
“End of message” Buddy said.
“Alright,so how’s the energy resistance spell holding up buddy?" Knight asked he drove unnerved by a lightning bolt that struck him.
“The spell that The Sorceress placed on your bike and armor is still in effect.”Buddy responded.
“Good.” Knight said.
“Just don’t push it.” Buddy replied in a worried tone.
Knight glanced upward and saw a volley of lightning bolts, attacking the most terrifying cloud he had ever seen. It looked like the black mouth from a demonic unicorn feasting on the entire sky. He turned onto another street as he noticed the rain turning black as it dripped of the signs illuminating the buildings around him.
"Your being followed" Buddy said.
"By?" Knight sighed as he questioned Buddy.
"Hounds." Buddy replied.
Knight looking into his mirror as 5 Hounds made up of the black water appeared and disappeared into the water they ran on.
"She's here then." he said as he pulled half into into an alleyway running over floating trash before coming to a complete halt.
He took one huge breathe before his lifting head up to the 2 story rooftops. Lined up along the edge of the alley's rooftops were Hounds that were made by Rain, one of Fear Kings 13 Terrors.
"Show yourself Sprinkle Melody!" he yelled sitting on his bike as 12 more Hounds stepped out of the water.
He looked ahead and behind as he started to panic. A few moments passed when suddenly the Hounds in front of him separated revealing a Pegasus with dark green mane and tail, yellow eyes and a grey cloud for a cutie mark
"Stop calling me that! That was my slave name before I was freed by my king. You shall call me Rain while you still can." Rain said glaring at Knight.
"You don't have to follow Fear, I can help you but you have to let me. "Knight said as he felt tears form in the corner of his eyes. "Please..."
He could feel the eyes of the Hounds intensifying. They slowly began to growled revealing dark teeth as water poured out from their mouths. His left slowly hoof hovered above the flash grenade icon on his bikes dashboard.
"Blue Bloods just a spoiled brat who didn't get his way and choose to get respect through fear and lost himself delving into forbidden magic."Knight said.
"That is not his name!" Rain yelled as the downpour increased to the point where he couldn't see 5 ft in front of him.
"Hit it!" Buddy yelled.
"Kay!" he yelled pressing the icon that shot from the bike in total from in front and behind 4 stun grenades.
They exploded producing a blinding flash of intense magical light. The water immediately lightened up, the alley revealing only himself and Rain who laid motionless on her stomach. He stepped off the bike and walked over to her being mindful of his surroundings. Standing above her he knelt down to check her pulse. "Please be alright". He thought to himself as he felt her neck for a pulse as her eyes opened. For the briefest of moment Sprinkle's baby blue eyes eyes shined through the darkness pleading for help and forgiveness. He dropped his guard just as she blinked, her eyes now glowing a bright yellow with no emotion. The sudden change sent a chill through his spine as she shot a blast of black water from her hoof towards him, covering him as he slammed into the front of his bike.
"You won't stop us!" He heard from a new female voice as the water covering him formed into a second Rain who held him in place with a single hoof.
"What?" he said in utter confusion.
Rain popped her wrist as she moved her free hoof around in circles. "Three years, three years after bonding I finally start getting control over her body and you heroes continuously try to bring her back to the light. I doesn't suit her, she's fallen to much and even if you did free her the guilt would be too much for sweet Sprinkle Medley, don't you think." She said as her hoof pressed against his chest started cracking his symbol.
"She has friends that will never give up on her no matter what!" he yelled at Rain.
"She doesn't have much strength left you know"she said pointing behind her. "I read inside her heart, a simple trick for the 13 terrors really, and saw she's turned her eyes away from the truth."
Taking his eyes off Rain he saw Sprinkles swaying like a zombie her eyes losing almost all their color as they became black and grey.
"We'll always fight for you Sprinkles! Hang in there,keep fighting and follow my voice! We'll rescue all of you, believe in yourself and your friends!" he yelled as the color slowly returned to her eyes.
"...Knight...is that you? Your..rescuing me after everything I did?" She asked as she broke into tears.
Rain growled in response" She's not going anywhere!"
She quickly turned into water covering his body once more. She slammed him hard into the brick wall to his left cracking it "She's to serve my master!" she yelled her voice echoing through out the water in the area.
She shot up the side of the building dragging his armored by through the entire metal staircase before dropping him on the rooftop as he rolled to his hoofs.
"Buddy" he said as tried ignoring the pain coursing through his neck."Let's make show her what happens when you mess with our friends."
"Agreed" buddy said,
"Flash Light will be ready to use in 60 seconds" Buddy responded in a serious voice.
"Gotcha!" buddy said as he took a fighting stance.
Five balls of dark water came out of Rain and circled around Knight as growling medium sized Hounds slowly formed. He could hear a pattern from walking the Hounds had that he knew he could exploit.
"40 seconds" Buddy said.
Knight felt the hound from behind paw hit the ground breaking the pattern as he stood on his two front hoofs bucking its face as it broke into a puddle. The rest charged in as he danced around each Hounds snapping jaws, sending punches and bucking two more they fell. Two remained as they both stood on either side of him. They leaped and he simple went prone as they collided turning into water the poured down his body as he stood.
"20 seconds" Buddy said.
Floating 30 feet above him Rain shot down yelling in anger as she slammed him against the roof cracking it.
"I am one Fear Kings 13 terrors! Your just an earth pony,no powers, nothing special. What makes you think you could stand a chance when a single one his loyal 13 are enough to topple cities alone."
"I'm just an earth pony fighting for what he believes in with the best of his ability. I may give in but I'll never give up!" he shouted at her as she tried chocking him but failed.
"Fully charged." Buddy said.
"Now!" he yelled as an insanely wide and bright ray of light emitted from his chest and eyes.
Rain yelled in pain as she fell backwards off him. He quickly stood up and over her body began to smoke.
"Holy lights gotta suck for dwellers of Tartarus. You'll never hurt any pony ever again." He yelled as buddy increased the intensity.
Knight hit the rooftop sliding sideways as something hard hit him in the shoulder. A few minutes passed before he came to.
"Ahhh! What hit me!" Knight yelled as he to move his left shoulder.
"Its not broken but its going to sting" Buddy said.
The rain returned to being clear as Knight looked at his left shoulder and breathed out in relief when saw only a dent. He thanked Knight Stallion in his head for having titanium armor as he looked around and saw Scope, another of Fear Kings 13 terrors, standing beside a prone Rain. Scope is a dark elf who wore black shades with a black and grey cameo shirt and pants with his customized sniper rifle Warp Shot on his back. Knight looked along the rooftop and saw Scopes signature black and gold bullet feet away.
"Sorry I'm late, Awesome, Blitz and Pixie gave me more trouble then I thought" Scope said as he fixed his shades as smoke emitted from the barrel of his sniper rifle.
"Where are they?" Rain asked with a weakened voice.
"Licking their wounds most likely." Scope said as he looked up and down.
"Did you forgot that your target was Wave?" Scope asked raising an eyebrow at her.
"I was gonna get him after I took Knight out!" Rain yelled as she slowly stood up.
"You know master said that he's commands come first then our wants come second as long as we don't embarrass our tittle. Which means you can take him out afterwards." Scope said as Rain glared at him.
"Okay,okay!" he said raising his hoofs high above his head" Its not my fault you have the worst concentration in the group and can't fully control your host after what 3 years?" Scope said turning his head locking eyes with Knights.
Great! I really can't afford to fight Scope with his ability to ricochet anything and hit on cue along with Rain by his side. That's just asking for trouble, but he's not paying me any attention so maybe I should try to take him down with one more Flash Light. Knight thought as he looked in the sky.
I hope Storms holding her own...of course she is! She is a member of the Mane 6! The strongest team of heroes in Equestria! If only Scope wasn't distracting--" Knight eyes opened as he felt rage overcome him.
"That's how come I didn't take them down, I'm gonna let them marinate in fear of what could have been-" Scope was interupted as blast of thin light shot at him.
Scope dodged by holding Rain up as she instantly evaporated. Knight blinked in confusion while the light faded.
"I see...so you found out that I was distraction you huh." Scope quickly said not seeming to care that he sacrifced a team member to save himself.
"Well then my job here is done!" He yelled as he bolted across the rooftop and leaped off the roof.
Knight walked to the edge of the roof and looked down at Sprinkles who laid against a trash can.
"Buddy get her to a hospital ASAP!" Knight asked.
Knight bike slowly transformed into a silver armored humanoid machine that stood at 6'2 know as Melee Mode.
"How much power does my body armor have buddy?" he asked as buddy approached Sprinkles.
"30%" Buddy answered standing above Sprinkles.
"Calculate Storms position and how much power It would take going at full speed in Flight Mode." Knight asked.
"She is currently 12000 feet above. It would take you 4 mintues and 3 seconds to reach her leaving you with 14% power before you reached her and thats if the whether doesn't worsen." Buddy responded.
"Thanks. Alright buddy I need you to Activate Flight." Knight said looking down at Buddy's Melee Mode.
Two internals compartments extended from buddy's shoulders revealing 6 silver short swords. The swords shot up 20 ft above Knight as his cape was detached from his shoulders, revealing a small jet pack with 3 slots on either side. The slots whirled fiercely with electricity as they magnetically pulled the swords into each slot handle first. Knight trotted a few steps before looking at the sky as a lightning bolt zipped across it.
"Lets go save our friend!" Knight said as buddy activated the packs thrust, the raging fire sending him up as headed towards the battlefield.
Massive volley of lightning strikes danced through the air as he looked around for signs of Storm. His helmets eyelids allowing him to see through the dark sky.
"Storm Rider is 3 miles to your left." Buddy said
“I’m coming ‘sis’!” he yelled rider as curved left his swords on his back acting as wings.
He suddenly felt his body shivering violently and uncontrollably as if the feeling of dread sinked through his armor and into his bones.
Slowly he turned his to the left spotting the source"F-Fear K-King!?" Fear King had a black crown with pitch black cold eyes, wearing a tattered grey cloak with black smoke emitting from his body.
Knight gripped his armored chest as it felt like a band was squeezing hard on his chest.
“Your heart rate is increasing at a dangerous rate.” Buddy said.
“I know…” Knight said as he forced himself to breath.
Fear King formally known as Blue Blood believes he deserves to stand above Luna and Celestia. He was shocked when every pony declined his offer to be King of Equestria and vowed to become King no matter what. He reappeared 5 years later after making a deal with an evil unicorn from Tartarus and almost succeeded in single hoofingly overtaking Canterlot. The battle was intense but before Fear King lost he retreated claiming he would return with an army to block out the life of the sun and bring eternal despair to all of equestrian. He's going to lose himself to the Unicorn he contracted with years ago if he isn't already.
“Whats your ultimate plan Blue Blood?!" he asked averting his eyes while trying to overcome the sudden anxiety attack."
"Blue Blood...never heard of him." Fear responded as the smoke continue to flow off his body.
“Allow me to explain my some of my dark plans.” Fear said changing the subject without a single pause.
“By Celestia, he’s gonna monologue.” Knight thought to himself as he winced at the pain coursing thought his shoulder.
"To make progress we still need more power. The is why the mare who manipulates the weather is a must. " Fear King said as he turned his head to the side.
“I’m only answering you only because it will benefit my plan.” Fear said.“So that you will in turn encourage your team of heroes and inspire false hope that will be inevitably be shattered by my powerful allies...The League of Evil.” Fear said smiling as lightning flashed behind him.”
"When that happens, when Equestria falls and all hope is lost, the rise in despair in every pony will empower me!” Fear yelled out the sky.
Fears horn glowed as a strand of darkness extended from it toward Knight who dodged with a barrel roll. Knight immediately dashed forward quickly closing the distance as he spun his body and slashing upward at Fear with the blades that made his wings who vanished on contact in a puff of black smoke. Knight spun around one last time and grunted in pain as his body was constantly struck from multiple angles by dark orbs that slowly dented his armor.
“Your out of your league, no magic and yet you mustered the courage to stand up against me.” Fear said as he tilted his head.
"I wonder whats in your head of yours" he asked.
The relentless attack subsided as a dark aura grasped Knight that slowly brought him feet away from Fears face.
“Now you shall-” Fear was cut off as he vanished in a puff of black smoke upon being struck by a lightning bolt .
The dark aura holding Knight dispersed as a heavily panting mare lowered in front of him with a rainbow streaked mane who was wearing goggles with a blue costume designed with lightning and clouds
“Knight you need to stay alert!” Storm said as she motioning to the dark stormy sky.”This is his battlefield.” She glared at Knight before letting out a long dragged out breath.
“I’m relieved to see you avoided captured ‘bro’.” Storm said as she glided over to him embracing him in a quick hug.
“Surprisingly I haven’t had any pony try to capture me in the last 8 months-” He said returning the hug.
“That’s because you have no superpowers.” A mysterious female voice came from Knights mic interrupting the mood.
“Opps…” said the mysterious voice ”Just forget I said anything.”
“Is that..Data Breach?” Knight asked breaking free of the hug. “Stop hacking my buddy!”
“Pfft...!” Data burst out laughing.”Then update your software, not that it’ll do any good! I can see data and pry open any defenses you can through up.”
“What do you want?” Storm asked getting directly to point.
There was dead silence.
“With her ego she always worked alone” Knight said warily ”So why is she even here?”
Storm placed a hoof under her chin before her eyes widened.
“No way! She’s teamed up with Fear King which means she part of the League of Evil” She said as the storm around them quickly subsided
“Hey storm we can fight together-” Storm interrupted him with a swipe of her hoof.
"He was skilled enough that The Sorceress barely won against him in a 2 day battle as he tried overthrowing Equestria 2 years ago." Storm paused as she looked around the sky before continuing.
"Fear told me during our fight that he planned to finish her off.” Storm closed her eyes briefly before opening them.
“I'll hold him off while you alert the others." Storm said as she turned away.
“Just call for backup.”Knight began.
“My cell is damaged, what about you?” Storm quickly asked.
“Communication is offline due to the damage from Fears earlier attack” Buddy said out loud.
“Great,So I’m on my own and you're not in any shape to help.” Storm said.
“What do you mean ‘on your own’? I’m right here” Knight asked
“I mean, you're always worrying over me instead of your own safety and that” She said she turned poke his slick armor” is why you always fail in mission when we team up. I know I’m your only family you have left but you have to believe in me and learn to concentrate on what you can and need to do in battle before I team up with you ever again.” She said as went back to scanning the area.
“The Mane 6 and The Protectors are the only ones capable outside the princesses who can fight on equal hoofing with Fear and right now their protecting the Equestria from random Timberwolf attacks throughout Equestria” Storm said.
Knight floating towards her before she shot a serious glare." Think on it, the others need to be warned and he has his sights on me." Said blatantly said.
"Hey Knight? Did he monologue yet?" Storm wondered out loud.
“Yeah” Knight and Buddy both said.
“Relay that info, plus I don’t think he’ll follow you since you don’t have a superpower?” Storm said without thinking” Opps, sorry!”
“Its alright, I learned I can still be a hero without the powers-” Knight eyes widened as Fear teleported in between him and Storm.
“I have no more time to play with you, time is of the essence.” Fear said as he shot a blast of black magic blowing away Knight.
“AHHHH!!!” Knight yelled spiraling backwards covered in black magic.
Knight had never felt so much of hit by so much force in his entire life. He felt his body jerk as Storm grabbed his arm while she rode on top a personal sized tornado.
"You alright?" Storm asked.
"I'm fine" Knight answered quickly.
"Is that true Buddy?" Storm asked.
"His armor is at 6% power and his armor is barely holding up" Buddy said as Knight body armor completely revealed his green coat on his left side.
"Thanks buddy." Knight said bitterly
"Focus you two!"Storm yelled as she tossed him over her as his thrusters kicked in.
Knight looked backwards to see a giant jaw of a black shark chomping on the clouds as it closed in. Storm flung her arms back shooting lightning bolts at the Shark which vanished. Knight looked around and saw black portals being created all around them. Before he knew it there were dark tendrils reaching out at them, grazing him and her every now and then.
Knight heard Storm Rider yell as he came to halt as a tendril caught him around the neck. It turned him around to see Fear who now held Storm in place by tendrils that poked out of portal.
“B-Buddy! How should we go about this!” Knight desperately asked as his vision started to blur.
“You're not equipped with the proper weapons or defenses to handle Fear and you may or may not have vital information that the other heroes know of. Retreating is the best course of action.” Buddy replied.
Knight growled as he reluctantly agreed. The tendrils froze in place as an unknown female voice speaking through his external mic.
“Yo Fear King, can you hear me? What’s the hold up? The meetings been frozen for like 20 minutes and you know how temperamental Mad Dog gets.” Data said in a loud voice.
Knight and Storm both looked at Fear who had the looked extremely irritated.
“Ughh, its me Data Breach..or maybe Data Stream! I'm still working on a final name so sue me! Anyways you should at least remember the voice of The Master of Electronics...nah not flashy enough! Speaking of which you need to get a phone, so we all can keep in touch!” Data shouted loud and clearly.
Fear closed his eyes pressing a hoof to his temple momentarily as he breathed out very slowly.
“I just reclaimed Storm Rider so we can move forward with the proj-” Fear began.
“You haven’t been blabbering about Project Eclipse have you!?! E's gonna be so pissed!” Data said rudely interrupting him.
“What’s Project Eclipse?” Storm asked
“Crap! Just get back here so we can start already!” Data Stream said before a quick high pitched crackling started.
Fear went back to rubbing his left temple as he sighed ”What passes as threats this day in age”. Fear whispered under his breathe. ”Until we meet again hero.” Fear said as he and Storm both teleported away with a flash a black magic.
As soon as they left the tendrils and portals vanished along with the storm revealing a cloud free dark sky. Knight shivered as tears slowly fell down his face. He was helpless and just watched as his ‘sister’ was taken from him. He took a deep breath in before exhaling his worries away. He knew that the heroes were still alive and that it was his job as a hero to save her. To use his training and and equipment to the max to help save equestria, but to do that he would need to do what he hated most. Working with a team.
“How's the energy level looking Buddy?” Knight asked.
"Flight mode at 1%" Buddy responded.
"CRAAAAAPPPPPP!!" Knight yelled as he plummeted towards the Bronx below.
"If I'm going to die then I'm going to stare down my death head on" he thought to himself as he felt something hug him from behind.
"I've got you Knight" Said buddy.
"You got Sprinkles to safety?" Knight asked ignoring his own safety.
"Yes as well as rescue some ponies from flooded subways." Buddy said as he let Knight down onto a highway.
Knight stretched his arms wide ignoring the pain.“Buddy, we gotta up our game if were gonna save Storm and the rest of equestria. New weapons and more training.” Knight said.
"You grab my swords?" Knight asked noticing the lack of blade wings on his back.
"Of course"Buddy replied.
“So Buddy, what do you got on The League of Evil? ” Knight asked buddy.
”The opposition consists of Gene Splicer, Equestria’s leading expert in genetic engineering who was arrested for illegal practices on equestrians. Data Stream who has a major superiority complex and has the ability to talk to any machine and read information ranging from text messages to transmissions from satellites . A diamond dog known as Mad Dog with no patience whose strength matches his anger and Fear King a powerful unicorn with mastery over dark magic.” Buddy responded.
"Alright, Timberwolves are attacking though out Equestria and I need to get some information to the Mane 6 who reside in Canterlot. We'll deal with any problems on our way to Canterlot. Gonna need you to go into bike mode buddy." Knight Said.
Buddy transformed once again as Knight revved up his bike taking off for Canterlot.