The CB Series: Story 1) Defeat of the Robot Zony Factoryby Vanilla MochaChaptersChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter OneEquestria is full of many heroes. Some are old, some are young. Some are big, some are small. Whenever something in the city of Manehattan goes wrong, this new superhero is here to defeat the villain behind the chaos. Day or night this mare will protect her city from evil. This is a story of one hero you’ll never forget. This is a story of Captain Banana. In her brand new rainbow castle, Princess Twilight Sparkle was pacing the room. Mumbling to herself while walking in circles around the seven thrones, her small dragon friend Spike sat in his seat, watching his mother-like friend wait. And wait. And wait. And wait even more. And wait. “Come on Twi’, you’re going to have a fun time with princesses Celestia and Luna in Canterlot. Look on the bright side, it’s just for the week.” “Just a week? Is that how you comfort me, Spike?” The purple alicorn stopped her pacing, looking at the small dragon in his throne. “Well, yeah.” Her companion replied. “Ugh! This isn’t helping me!” She began to stress. “Twilight, last time I checked you said you were going for a vacation, you know, to relax.” Spike remembered. “But I can’t relax being the new leader of Ponyville! It’s like as if right when Celestia and Luna saved Equestria from discord, they left everyone to go to Horseshoe Bay or any other beach around here!” “Wouldn’t surprise me. Heh, I bet that’s what they did!” He joked. “SPIKE!” Twilight yelled. “Okay, alright, anger-issues!” Spike calmly said to himself. “Now when my friends get here to rule, I want you to remind them to always stay on track. I’ll remind them of the checklist over here, and you need to act like a prince. Be on best behavior and whatever you do, don’t loose track of anything! Got it?” Twilight asked, waiting for an answer. “Got it, Spike?” She repeated. The purple dragon sat in his throne daydreaming, looking around his new castle home. “SPIKE! DID YOU HEAR ME!?” Twilight yelled. “Oh! Uh, yeah. Just keep ‘em on track. That’s all.” Spike said. Soon the five closest friends of Twilight Sparkle came, and after greeting each other and wishing Twilight good-luck and giving her hugs, the princess left. “Applejack, darling? Didn’t you have something planned for this week?” Rarity asked her friend. “Yes, I’m supposed to go with Apple Bloom to the city to meet our cousin Babs. But that won’t take long. After all, you four, well, five including Spike, will be here. And I put family first after all.” The country pony replied. “Very well put, A.J.! I hope you and you’re little sister stay safe the way there and back. The journey can be ever so dangerous sometimes.” The unicorn continued the conversation. “I’m sure we’ll be safe. Now, time for fun before I leave tomorrow.” Applejack said, changing the subject. “Yes! Fun! Alright, fun. Uh, yes.” Rarity said, not knowing what to say. “Fun! I love fun!” The pink one said, bouncing up and down getting into the A-B conversation, making herself the C. “Pinkie Pie, darling, why don’t you and Applejack go do something fun?” Rarity suggested. “Okie-dokie!” She said, grabbing Applejack’s hoof and dragging her across the room. Meanwhile north of Ponyville, a black-furred unicorn with white and yellow straight hair, both mane and tail, named Starlit Moon sat at the edge of the steps in the front of her small but sweet apartment building in the downtown area of the busy city Manehattan. The sun was setting, and the crisp autumn air came past the mare in a slight breeze, cooling her as the warm but not hot sun beat down on her. The leaves of the trees were beginning to fall, and everything seemed perfect. Through her bright blue glasses she saw a small colt and filly playing, and seeing that this small part of her city was safe from disaster, she sat up and went inside to the second floor where the single mare lived in her one bedroom living arrangement. Getting ready for bed, the mare took out her matching blue ribbon in her hair. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she remembered just a week ago when she became the new secret superhero she is today. She had preformed a magic trick wrong in her bedroom the night before her test the next day in her college she attends. She had transformed herself into an amazing being with more power than any unicorn, not counting alicorns. Automatically when the spell is preformed she gets a long white cape with a huge yellow outfit that covers most of her body. Huge black mechanical wings are created, and her horn turns long and needle-sharp. The real spell was supposed to make her inspired for what her cutiemark means and they were supposed to write papers on it. The spell had never worked correctly for her, or at least she thought so. Her cutiemark was (supposedly) a white crescent moon. But then Starlit Moon realized that night that it wasn’t a moon at all. It was a banana. She would save the world with her new banana powers and be known as Captain Banana, Protector of Manehattan. She repeated the spell once again, like how she had been doing every night since the first time she tried. Starlit Moon read about the spell in a book in the Manehattan Library, and never did she know research could do this to her. Heck, she should’ve been nerdy back then and became super long ago. Turning herself back into Starlit Moon, she climbed into bed and went to sleep. Tomorrow would be another exam in class, this topic being working with mechanics, her professor’s personal favorite. The mare soon fell asleep listening to the usual downtown city noise of traffic, stray dogs barking, and late-night partiers. The next day Starlit was walking in the hallway going to class when a friend stopped her. “Hey, Starlit!" She yelled, rushing over. Catching her breath she quickly said, “Did you see the mechanics professor? At all today?” Her co-student and best friend asked her. Starlit just arrived to her a.m. classes at school. “No, I haven’t. Sorry Bubble.” She replied to her usually quiet friend. Bubble Rose, her best friend, was never this loud at school. After she thought about it, she couldn’t remember her being loud at all. Starlit walked over to the classroom she was going to take an exam in. The professor wasn’t in it, whereas he’d usually be sitting at his desk either grading tests and exams, which he gave a lot of, or he’d be reading a book. Mainly Sci-fi books about robots, aliens, and weird things like that is what he’d read. The fairly young mint green and pitch black furred pegasus zony with matching strict black business style hair with bright green eyes, and usually in a tight white lab coat was nowhere to be seen. The community college students anxiously trotted around, not knowing why their professor was missing. “The dean! The dean!” One student said, and the hallway went from a loud roar to a still, dead silence. “Where is Professor Electoxium?” She asked, knowing no one had an answer. The older mare, with her droopy eyes looking through her small glasses looked around and saw a shadow of a pegasus. “Who’s that? Back there? Professor?” She mumbled. Starlit Moon turned her head, and then turned her whole body. Slowly walking over to the wall were the other hallway began, the turned into it and a black and green feather lay on the floor, and the doors going outside were closing. Only a black, white, and green blur could be seen quickly dashing away into the city, and Starlit knew that it was professor Electoxium. “He- he ran away,” Starlit said, students now following her, even though she hadn’t moved since she saw the feather and the doors, “I can’t believe- he, he ran, away... but how- why?” She asked herself. Everyone stood in the small, claustrophobic hallway full of other friends and students, and now other staff members. “Everypony,” The dean clapped her front hooves together, “go to your classes. I will get someone to watch the class.” The worried and now stressed dean hurried to the college library, seeing if one the librarians could “substitute”. Starlit Moon gazed through the doors, wondering why her teacher had run off. In Ponyville, Applejack and Apple Bloom were at the train station waiting for the Ponyville Express. “I can’t wait! I can’t wait!” Little energetic Apple Bloom shouted, bouncing up and down. “Whoa Nelly, sis! Now, I know you’re excited and all sugarcube, but ‘ya don’t have to act all sugar-high. Remember, we’re just spending the night. I’ll be visiting with Bab’s older sister, and we’ll have to be back here tomorrow by lunch. I’m not even supposed to be leaving, but I’m being nice.” Applejack instructed. “Lookie! There’s the train! There’s the train! There’s the train, Applejack! There’s the train!” Apple Bloom yelled, almost covering the noise the loud the train itself made pulling into the station, the loud brakes screeching to a stop, and the whistle blowing. Puffs of air came out, and steam arose from the top of the engine. The station became busy with ponies of all ages, sizes, species and colors getting on and off the train. “C’on, Apple Bloom. We’d better get on.” Her older sister said, wondering why Apple Bloom didn’t think that thought first. Getting a window seat, Apple Bloom asked her sister, “How long until Manehattan?” “Just a few hours, probably. Manehattan’s pretty far up there, lil’ sis. But we’ll get there before lunch.” Applejack replied. “Aww! But I wanna be there now!” young Apple Bloom whined. The conductor hollered “All Aboard!”, and soon everypony was on the train headed to Manehattan. “I hope Big Mac and Granny can do it, ya’ know, Apple Bloom. Tend the farm while we’re gone.” Applejack worryingly said. “You said it yourself, sis! Tomorrow we’ll be back at lunchtime.” Her younger sister comforted her. However, Applejack had a strange gut feeling she’d be held back, and not home by lunch. But she knew she had to go back, and tend the farm, and all of Ponyville with her friends while Twilight is gone. After two long, mentally painful hours of hearing Apple Bloom sing, or try to sing, listening to her point out every single tree the train passed and giving it a name, looking at cloud pictures, and not to mention more singing, they finally arrived in Manehattan. “We are the cutie mark crusaders! On a quest to find out who we are! “We’ll never stop the jou-” “Alright, sugar. Let’s see, Bab’s apartment is over this way.” Applejack cut in, hoping to end the out of key singing. Soon the three were united, and Applejack left the two young fillies and went to find her younger cousin’s sister, who was in fact, her age. In no time they were all caught up in each other’s lives and events that it was already dinner time, and the two city cousins decided to show their long distance family members the best restaurant in the whole city of Manehattan, the James Stable. The four girls went, and after waiting what seemed to be the longest line, they finally got a table. It was seven O’clock, and Starlit Moon was hungry. Being a new superhero in town, she had a fishy feeling about the professor, and had to keep an eye out. Always a mysterious stallion, the professor seemed busy and stressed a lot, but that seemed normal for the occasional hard-working professor with after school classes and busy weekends. Starlit was in downtown, and decided to go treat herself for being a superhero. She walked into a restaurant, and ordered a small, but expensive to-go item. As she walked over to sit on a small waiting bench, she noticed something. she could only see his back, but it looked like the professor. A black furred, black haired pegasus with a lab coat was sitting at a table alone. As Starlit focused more on the pony, or zony if it was the professor, he seemed more gray than black. Starlit stood up, and she slowly, quietly, and also quite nervously, walked over to who she thought the professor was. She gasped in surprise. “So, you all are still doing that cutie mark crusader thing?” Babs’ older sister asked as the four left the James Stable. “Believe me, Apple Bloom here sang the whole theme song countless times the whole way here.” Exhausted Applejack said. “That was so good!” Apple Bloom complimented about dinner. “I don’t get to go there often. Heh, you should come over more!” Babs said. “Yeah!” Apple Bloom agreed. The four walked through the city streets as the sun began to set. “Hey, tonight I wanna show you something.” Babs whispered to her cousin. “Okay!” Apple Bloom agreed, not knowing what would happen. Starlit Moon gasped. A shiny gray pegasus, that looked like it was made from metal, sat in the chair. What she saw wasn’t hair; just a shadow. It had one red laser eye, and a messy, greasy, lab coat. It had blood red stripes to represent a zony, and the cutie mark reminded Starlit of the professor’s- it was a bright red toxic symbol. Professor Electoxium’s cutiemark was similar, only it was green. The robot-like zony stood on it’s hind legs, and shot a single red laser from its eye aimed for Starlit. Dodging and falling face first to the ground, Starlit knew what she had to do. “Run!” She yelled, and everypony turned and looked at the zony. Ponies began running and yelling. “How’d he get in here?! What’s going on? Help!” Many Manehattan citizens asked in the James Stable, trying to escape. The unicorn stood to her feet, and dashed for the bathroom. There she transformed herself into Captain Banana, and unsure of her new superpowers, if she even had any at all, she raced towards the mad, raging robot, now shooting several lasers in random directions. Starlit didn’t know what to do; she had never been super before! Not wanting to make a fool of herself, she acted slowly and very subtle, like as if she was in the background. Starlit knew that if she wanted to defeat this villain, she’d have to learn his weakness first. Chapter TwoIt was 8 pm, and Applejack was brushing her teeth, and Bab’s older sister was getting the two younger cousins in bed. “Goodnight!” She said, leaving the room. “Goodnight, sis!” Babs replied. “Nighty-night!” her cousin Apple Bloom added. After a few minutes of silence, they could hear their older sisters chatting in the distance. “I wish we could stay up like that.” Apple Bloom said. “‘Ya kidding? I said I’s gonna show 'ya something. Remember?” Babs said, getting up and out of bed. “Yeah, but-” “But what? They stay up, we stay up, too.” Her cousin cut in, now opening her apartment window. “I don’t think this is safe. We’re way up high.” Apple Bloom said. “Huh! You country ponies don’t even know! This is a little something called the second floor, A. Bloom!” “A. Bloom?” “Yeah, A. Bloom! You’re new nickname!” “Uh, okay...” Apple Bloom said, thinking about a nickname for Babs. Meanwhile in the fancy five star diner James Stable, ponies were frantic. Most of everypony was out, but some chefs, along with Captain Banana and the robot zony, were still inside. Some news reporters came running into the scene, but one carrying a camera got shot in the leg with a powerful red laser beam from the robot. “She’s still alive!” One of the other camera ponies said, trying to help her up. “Ooh, the paaaaain!” The shocked pony whined, climbing onto her hooves. “How dare you do that!” Captain Banana yelled. The robot turned his silver mechanical head and seemed to be looking at her. “That’s right! I said, HOW DARE YOU DO THAT!” She screamed, and her horn lit up with her yellow magic. At once, a huge magical banana appeared in thin air, and with Captain Banana’s horn still glowing, although she had no idea what was happening, it opened up and blazing yellow and orange fire came through as the banana peels expanded open. The fire at once caught and consumed the robot, blowing it up. Captain Banana, not knowing how she did that, stopped the spell. In fact, she had not even wanted to do a spell like that in the first place; it had just happened. Ponies everywhere began clapping and stomping their hooves on the ground. They began cheering. Captain Banana nodded, and then flew off into the night using her mechanical wings for the first time. I really am a superhero now! She thought to herself, Now, if only I knew who made him, and then I’ll take them down. Apple Bloom followed her cousin through the dark, cold, empty streets of the downtown part of the big city Manehattan. As their hooves clanged against the chilly hard concrete, Apple Bloom had a gut feeling this wasn’t good. “Babs, I don’t feel right about this.” Her cousin said. “Oh A. Bloom! You gotta learn! Come on, we’re almost there.” Babs said, now trotting faster. Apple Bloom gulped as she saw what they were coming upon on. “This old thing? But it’s just an old building.” Apple Bloom said. “It’s not just any old building. It’s the old factory building!” “What’s so scary about an old, run-down factory?” Apple Bloom tried to keep herself cool. “Well, it’s foretold that whoever goes in can’t come back out! They used to make pony rag dolls inside there, and they say that at night the dolls come to life! If they see you, they’ll take you to the factory and turn you into a rag doll!” Babs said in a horrific voice, balancing on her back legs while holding up her front legs behind her head, making herself seem scarier. Apple Bloom gulped. “I- I ain’t scared!” “Well then, if you’re not scared, and I’m not scared, then why don’t we go in?” Her cousin insisted. “But it’s getting late and we’re not even supposed to be out and when Applejack and-” “Oh please, A. Bloom!” Babs once more cut in, walking nervously herself towards the abandoned factory. Apple Bloom had no choice but to follow her cousin, how she saw it. But what they didn’t know was that the factory was still in use. And not for business, either. Back in the apartment, Applejack decided to go check on the girls. “I’ll be right back.” She said, walking into the room. She gasped. “Where are they!?” She yelled. At once the two older cousins ran out and began searching the streets of downtown Manehattan. ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ Above the city on a cloud, making sure nopony was looking, Captain Banana transformed herself into Starlit Moon, and began her long walk home. She couldn’t arrive at her apartment as a superhero, so that’s why she was doing it up there. But then she remembered- when she wasn’t Captain Banana she had no wings! Falling from the cloud only about ten feet up in the air, she landed back-up with her face against the ground. “Ow...” she mumbled to herself. Picking up her head and opening her eyes, she thought she saw some ponies wandering into the deserted part of town. Villains? Could they be villains? She thought to herself. Standing up, and being a bit wobbly from her fall, she began to walk behind them to see what they were up to. “Apple Bloom! Babs Seed!” The older sisters called out for their siblings. Applejack looked over, and saw what looked like two ponies in the far distance. “I think ah seem ‘em!” she exclaimed, and trotted over, her cousin following her from behind. It was about 8:30, and it was dark, but Applejack could make out the silhouettes of the two... pegasi? Was she seeing right? She stopped in her tracks. Her cousin walked up beside her and stopped too. One of the motionless, statue-like pegasi turned his head, and a bright red laser shot out from what seemed to be an eye. It hit Applejack’s cousin in the forehead and knocked her onto her side into the overgrown grass; she was in a coma. “What the hay?” Applejack mumbled, barely even understanding what she said herself. Starlit Moon continued to follow the ponies she saw. They were headed for what looked like an old... factory? Why would they be going there? Starlit was more curious than ever. She followed them through the overgrown dead grass and hard, rocky soil. “See, A.B.?” Babs said, trying to not let her cousin know she was scared. “A.B.?” Apple Bloom asked. “Ugh, you’re newer nickname! You’re old one was too long!” Babs cleared her throat, “Now, A.B., should we go in?” “You can... you know, if you’re so brave.” Apple Bloom insisted. “But, uh, since we both came to the point earlier that we’re both really brave, why don’t we just go in together? Y’know, to be fair.” Babs thought she sounded very nerdy, but luckily her cousin didn’t notice. “Fine.” Apple Bloom didn’t want to go inside, but she had to prove her cousin wrong. Starlit Moon followed the two ponies, and soon enough she was inside the factory too. She would have kept doing her work, wondering why these two were here, if she hadn’t seen what she did. She saw two robots that looked identical to the one she saw earlier at the James Stable. Starlit mentally gasped, and looking around, she saw more. Now following the robots through a dark, rusty, and cold hallway that contained a few dustwebs, they turned, and entered a door. It said one thing on it: Manager. Whoever was controlling these monstrous robots would be in there. Starlit heard, and the voice inside (that was not as robotic as the others) sounded very familiar. But she couldn’t tell who. Starlit knew they’d be coming out in no time, and she’d have to get away without them seeing. She looked around, and saw that so far no one had noticed her. She transformed herself once more into Captain Banana, and nervously stood at the Manager door. After what seemed like eternity, she finally got bored and left her ‘post’ at the door. Walking back down the hallway, she heard a scream. Turning her head to see what was the matter, she could not believe her bright hazel eyes at what she saw. Chapter ThreeApple Bloom screamed. “The doll! The doll! It’s coming for me!” she yelled, beginning to run. The small yellow furred, red-haired pony began running. As she was dashing across Captain Banana, who she didn’t notice because she was going very fast, Apple Bloom saw a shadow of a robot. “The doll again!” She screamed, wanting to curl up and hide. “A.B.!” Babs called, running to her. “What do we do?” Apple Bloom was crying, “The rag doll is coming for us. She’s everywhere!” Babs tried to stay strong. “We must escape.” She said, playing it cool. Captain Banana watched, then realized that these were the two ponies she followed here. She walked over to them, and bending down she asked, “Who are you?” The girls screamed at once. “Shh! I’m good, I’m good. No reason to be afraid. In fact, I’m a superhero.” Captain Banana whispered, calming them down. “I’m Apple Bloom, and this is my cousin B.S.” she said. “B.S.?” Babs asked. “You’re nickname, Babs Seed.” Apple Bloom said, finally getting her back. “Look, girls, you aren’t safe here. You must go home at once.” Captain Banana instructed. Suddenly huge double-doors opened, and two pegasi robots carried Bab’s older sister inside, and they were pulling Applejack inside too in a red laser rope. The two fillies gasped. “Those are our sisters!” They both whispered. Captain Banana knew she’d have to save them, she’d have to save them all. But she didn’t know how. “Let... us... go.” Applejack exhaled, exhausted from fighting the strong lasers and indestructible metal robots. At once two other robots that went into the Manager room were walking out, and a black and bright green zony followed behind them. He had blazing bright green eyes, and matching black and green hair that looked like the style mad scientists had, and he had a messy tail. He wore a pale white vest, and he had huge black bat wings. Captain Banana recognized him, and his cutiemark approved. It was a green toxic symbol. Captain Banana knew this was Professor Electoxium. As his green hooves clapped against the cool, hard, metal floor in the “abandoned” factory, he made his way to a higher part of the building, and stood on what looked like a stage. “Thank you, thank you! And finally, you have done something right! My first prisoners have been captured!” His loud, robotic but yet familiar voice rang throughout the building. He slowly walked towards where Applejack and her cousin were being caged, which was in the corner of the building. A long, tight grin grew on his face when Applejack lifted her weak head to look at the one responsible for her and her cousin being caught. “Have any last words?” The professor asked her, his bright green eyes beating down on her. Bab’s older sister lay on the bottom of the cage, and Applejack said nothing, with a single tear falling from her left eye. “That’s right, filly.” the professor said, and turning around he exclaimed, “That’s right! Soon all of Manehattan will feel that, and I will have total control!” “I thought we’d have total control.” A new voice said from behind. There was something different about the voice - it wasn’t robotic. “Oh, yes, Thunder. We’ll have total control.” The professor snickered. Captain Banana, along with Babs and Apple Bloom, saw a silhouette come out from the shadows. A gray pegasus, a naturally colored gray pegasus, with a bright blue mane and tale, with matching blue eyes and hooves, walked out. The young stallion had a blue cloud cutiemark, with a bright yellow lightning bolt on top of it. Captain Banana didn’t know why or how, but she suddenly had a happy, butterfly, giggly feeling inside. “Uncle Ele-” “Professor Electoxium. I’m at work, and I request you call me by my other, high-quality name.” He cut in. “Professor Electoxium, like I was saying, I wanted to tell you the good news about my mom.” Thunder paused, waiting for a response. There wasn’t one, so he continued. “In about a month she’s going to Ponyville for Ms. Rarity’s fashion show. Mom’s a model for her pegasus attire. Oh, and also she’s almost done with her studies with Princess Luna, and soon she might be the queen of the zonies. All she would need is a horn.” Thunder continued, “I’d be a prince, and dad would be a king, and you’d probably be somewhere in there like that, being her younger brother and all.” “Eh, I won’t need to be royal. I’m going to take over the world, remember? You’ve spent this whole week with me, and I’ve modeled my robots after you, we reconstructed some of this factory, and you still don’t understand I’m going to be more powerful than you’re moms ever going to be?” The professor barked. “No, I remember. Trust me. I just wanted to tell you about it, I guess.” he sighed. Captain Banana couldn’t take it any longer. She whispered to the fillies to stay were they are, and with that she quietly stood up and crept up behind the professor, just a few feet away from him. “What are you doing, Professor Electoxium?” Deep down inside Starlit had a weird feeling, getting on to who was her teacher so long. But he was doing something wrong. And being a superhero, you have to set things straight and make things good again. Not turning his head to see who it was and remaining in his standing pose looking at the robot zony factory in front of him, he replied with one word and one word only: “What?” “That’s what I am asking you, professor. What are you doing?” Captain Banana asked. No reply. She was becoming very impatient. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” she yelled. The professor turned his head, with his eyes still looking straight ahead. Slowly he moved his forest green eyes and saw his opponent. Snickering, he said, “Let me introduce myself. I am Professor Electoxium, and I am the leader of the Robot Zony Factory. Pretty obvious, isn’t it?” “I’m not playing, professor. I, Captain Banana, will put an end to this misery!” Captain Banana firmly said. At once the professor and even his nephew Thunder began laughing. “Cap- capt- Captain Banana! Ha! Such a stupid name!” They began laughing the hardest they’ve ever laughed before. “I said I’m not playing. Now release them or you’ll be the ones imprisoned.” The superhero once again firmly stated. However the two stallions continued laughing, and Captain Banana used this time as an advantage. She lit up her horn, and as a tingle went up and back down her spine, she could feel her magic becoming stronger. A huge fire ball was now levitating in mid air above the unicorn, and she threw it at the cage with the two earth ponies inside it. Applejack found enough energy to let out a small squeal as she really meant to scream, and the fire melted the metal on the cage doors and quickly vanished into thin air. Applejack stumbled to her hooves, and Bab’s sister’s eyes began to open. Drool ran from her mouth, and she too tried to stand up. Apple Bloom and her cousin ran up to their sisters, trying to help them. Ending his laughter, Professor Electoxium trotted over to where the factory’s control room seemed to be. Looking out the dirty glass window at the factory below him, he pushed some buttons and pulled some levers. Some robots’ lasers turned on, and at the same time their heads turned facing Captain Banana. They began shooting lasers at the mare. She bravely leaped up and began ignorantly using her mechanical wings. It was harder than before because of the panicking from the Apple family, but Captain Banana got the hang of it pretty quickly. “Get her!” Professor Electoxium yelled, and at once about half the robots that weren’t already attacking her began to chase her. Captain Banana blew some up, but that trick was too slow to repeat over and over without risking a deadly laser touching her. I must know their weaknesses! I have to find out! I must find out! Captain Banana thought to herself dodging mechanical zonies. Looking up she saw a red laser coming towards her. Chapter Four"And now we shall take over the city of Manehattan, and we shall have total control!” Professor Electoxium yelled, ending his statement in an evil laugh. He looked down at Captain Banana. “How’s that for a superhero?” He laughed again. Captain Banana lay on the ground. The laser had hit her in her front left leg, and a hot tingle went up and down her body. All over it felt like fire. She could feel tears coming from her eyes. Every time she tried to move just a little bit of her body it felt like thousands of needles were being injected into her pony skin. She tried to light up her horn, but she barely had no magic. The pain was too much; she wanted to scream but she didn’t have the energy to. “And that’s how you do it.” The professor snickered. Turning to his nephew he whispered something, but nopony except the two stallions could understand it. His nephew Thunder nodded, and began walking over to were Captain Banana lay motionless on the ground. He picked her up, and as the superhero’s eyes closed, he dragged her into the Manager room. The Apple family had made it outside. The older sisters were waking up and moving around, but they still didn’t have enough strength to fight any robots. Captain Banana was laid down on a table in the Manager room. The metallic, rusted doors were shut. The messy, folded blinds were shut. Thunder stood at the door while his uncle looked over the superhero. “And you thought you could defeat me. Ha! How stupid.” He hissed. Thunder stood at the door, and his sad eyes looked down at the innocent mare. “When she awakes she’ll get it. More pain, more game!” The professor said, “And now for business. We need to find out how to not get ourselves hurt with our own weapons.” As they continued talking, or as I should say, as the professor continued talking, little did they know that Captain Banana was awake. She listened for extra information, and maybe something could help her. “We can’t use too much poison in the laser-like formulas. If we get toxic anywhere near me I’m done. I can’t withstand it.” Professor Electoxium slyly whispered to his nephew. Thunder shook his head, nodding. “We can’t raise the amount. It’s very deadly, so we can’t risk ourselves.” he said. “You mean risk me. Nopony cares whether or not you survive.” his uncle barked back. “Ha ha! You never told me how funny you were! Jokes like that!” Thunder fake laughed, knowing his uncle as well as he did now he knew he wasn’t kidding. I care if you survive, Captain Banana thought looking at Thunder. Now, if only you could help me. “Now, we will finish Manehattan once and for all! The robots will enter the room and attack her with the lasers again. That will be the last of a stupid superhero trying to get in my way.” He hissed. “But what about you? Won’t you die?” Thunder asked, acting concerned. “If I’m not around the toxic I will.” He replied. Toxic? Weakness? The professor? Could this be a trick? Or could his weakness really be toxic? Could he be using his weakness against me, against us, to protect himself? Toxic would be the last thing I think of for his weakness! It’s worth a shot. Captain Banana thought. The doors opened. Five robot zonies walked inside. The professor nodded to his nephew, and they walked out. Captain Banana lit up her horn. A laser like before was heading for the mare. But Captain Banana was faster. Using the rest of her small amount of magic, she vanished from the room. Appearing only about five feet away in the hall, she began to run. The pain attacked her more than the robots. The feeling of prickly needles in her legs. Fire-like heat rushing through her back bone. The feeling of her lungs being closed. Her heart beated faster and faster. Sweat ran from her hairline and down her neck. As her hooves hit the hard, metal factory floor she wanted to stop. She wanted to go home. But she couldn’t. Deep down inside Starlit Moon knew she’d have to save her city- her country, even, from the monstrous villains. In the control room, the professor and his nephew watched the factory. “Where is she going!?” The angered professor yelled. “THUNDER! DON’T JUST STAND THERE! DO SOMETHING!” He yelled, and Thunder ran down the stairs of the control room and into the bottom floor of the factory. Captain Banana was frantic. She had no magic left at all. She was very weak, and robots were running towards her. She was cornered. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be saved. But she is the hero. She would have to save herself. Or maybe not. Thunder ran into the commotion of the robots. He kicked, smacked, and pushed robots out of his way- and Captain Banana’s way. “What are you doing?” Captain Banana asked him. “Shh! That’s what I was going to ask you. Now leave before my uncle finds out.” Thunder whispered. “Your uncle is the professor?” Captain Banana said quietly. “Yes, I just said that, didn’t I? Oh, now, just run. Go!” He whispered back. “Thank you. Thank you!” Captain Banana said, beginning to trot. Thunder turned back around, and he acted like he was trying to catch the superhero so that he allowing her to escape wouldn’t look so obvious. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU IDIOT! GET HER! GET THE GIRL!” The professor yelled from the control room’s broken window. “Your robots are in they way! Tell them to stop!” Thunder yelled back. “I can’t! They’re to catch the mare!” he said. Thunder groaned, seeing plan A of his plan wasn’t passing. But like all good escape artists, he had a plan B. Running past a few pipes that contained the toxic to the laser formula to be injected in the robots in the factory, he did none other than kick it. The old pipes broke, and the gas was released. “Run! RUN!” He yelled to Captain Banana, who was near the big metal double doors of the factory. “YOU IDIOT!” Professor Electoxium yelled, running down the steps and trying to make his way out of the factory. The Apples sat outside, and Captain Banana came flying out with her mechanical wings, falling to the ground reaching for fresh air. “That poison is going to be spreading pretty far. We can’t stop here!” Thunder said to the five ponies outside. “You’re right- uh, what’s your name?" Captain Banana asked. “Thunder Storm. And your eyes are gorgeous.” He replied, not even knowing what he just said. “What?” Captain Banana asked. “Oh, uh, what? I don’t know. I’m Thunder. Just call me Thunder.” he said. “Alright Thunder, we need to get these ponies back to where they live. Where are you fillies from?” The superhero asked. “We are from Ponyville. I’m Apple Bloom, and this is my sister Applejack. Babs and her older sister are our cousins, and they live here.” “We could take a vacation to Ponyville, while the city is being refurnished back to normal.” Babs said, and all four Apples agreed. “We need to get you on the train. Thunder, you shou-” Captain Banana began, but was interrupted. “Help! HELP! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!” A familiar robotic voice panicked. “Uncle Electoxium?” Thunder mumbled to himself. “I’ll go help him.” Captain Banana said. “What? No, don’t. He can help himself.” Thunder said back. “I thought toxic was his weakness.” Captain Banana remembered, now trotting back towards the factory. “It is.” Thunder whispered to himself. ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ “Professor Electoxium!” Captain Banana yelled, making her way into the factory. Captain Banana looked down at the black and green zony. His beat red eyes were filling with tears. The professor was dragging himself out, and looking up at Captain Banana, he whispered with one breath only one word,“Why?” he said, closing his eyes. “What do you mean? You are a citizen of Manehattan. And even if you weren’t you still deserve to be rescued. I am giving you a second chance. Maybe you won’t be free, but you’ll still have life.” “But I tried to hurt you." The stallion whispered, “Why are you helping me?" “You really don’t understand, do you? I am forgiving you, Professor. I forgive you.” Captain Banana dragged the stallion out from the double doors holding her breath to avoid inhaling the poison. She heard sirens in the distance, and looking up she saw some police officers running into the scene. “Here he is, deputy.” Captain Banana said. The officers thanked her, and some news ponies with cameras and microphones came wanting to interview their new superhero. “What is your name? How long have you been a superhero? When will we see you again?” Some reporters asked her. “I can’t answer all those questions. But all I can say is that I am Captain Banana, and I am watching my fellow citizens in case of danger. And with tha-” “Thank you, Captain Banana!” Apple Bloom tugged on her left mechanical wing. “You saved my life.” “Mine too. And our sisters’.” Babs added. In the distance the two sisters nodded their heads. “You are very welcome. Heh, what’s a superhero for?” Captain Banana flew off into the morning sun after the dark night’s drama. The crazed professor was arrested, and the Apple Family, including the two from Manehattan, went back to Ponyville. “You’re going to see the other Cutie Mark Crusaders! Yay!” Apple Bloom cheered getting on the train, and with Babs joining in the hooting and hollering. “I can’t wait to see Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle again!” Babs said. “You’ll just have the best time!” Apple Bloom added. As the train chugged off and the reporters began to leave, Thunder Storm looked in the sky as Captain Banana flew away. I wish I see you again. Someday, Thunder, someday maybe you will. He thought. A few days passed. Everything seemed normal. Starlit Moon kept her identity as Captain Banana secret. Bubble Rose was her quiet, usual self. Almost too quiet. A new professor was hired.
Chapter OneEquestria is full of many heroes. Some are old, some are young. Some are big, some are small. Whenever something in the city of Manehattan goes wrong, this new superhero is here to defeat the villain behind the chaos. Day or night this mare will protect her city from evil. This is a story of one hero you’ll never forget. This is a story of Captain Banana. In her brand new rainbow castle, Princess Twilight Sparkle was pacing the room. Mumbling to herself while walking in circles around the seven thrones, her small dragon friend Spike sat in his seat, watching his mother-like friend wait. And wait. And wait. And wait even more. And wait. “Come on Twi’, you’re going to have a fun time with princesses Celestia and Luna in Canterlot. Look on the bright side, it’s just for the week.” “Just a week? Is that how you comfort me, Spike?” The purple alicorn stopped her pacing, looking at the small dragon in his throne. “Well, yeah.” Her companion replied. “Ugh! This isn’t helping me!” She began to stress. “Twilight, last time I checked you said you were going for a vacation, you know, to relax.” Spike remembered. “But I can’t relax being the new leader of Ponyville! It’s like as if right when Celestia and Luna saved Equestria from discord, they left everyone to go to Horseshoe Bay or any other beach around here!” “Wouldn’t surprise me. Heh, I bet that’s what they did!” He joked. “SPIKE!” Twilight yelled. “Okay, alright, anger-issues!” Spike calmly said to himself. “Now when my friends get here to rule, I want you to remind them to always stay on track. I’ll remind them of the checklist over here, and you need to act like a prince. Be on best behavior and whatever you do, don’t loose track of anything! Got it?” Twilight asked, waiting for an answer. “Got it, Spike?” She repeated. The purple dragon sat in his throne daydreaming, looking around his new castle home. “SPIKE! DID YOU HEAR ME!?” Twilight yelled. “Oh! Uh, yeah. Just keep ‘em on track. That’s all.” Spike said. Soon the five closest friends of Twilight Sparkle came, and after greeting each other and wishing Twilight good-luck and giving her hugs, the princess left. “Applejack, darling? Didn’t you have something planned for this week?” Rarity asked her friend. “Yes, I’m supposed to go with Apple Bloom to the city to meet our cousin Babs. But that won’t take long. After all, you four, well, five including Spike, will be here. And I put family first after all.” The country pony replied. “Very well put, A.J.! I hope you and you’re little sister stay safe the way there and back. The journey can be ever so dangerous sometimes.” The unicorn continued the conversation. “I’m sure we’ll be safe. Now, time for fun before I leave tomorrow.” Applejack said, changing the subject. “Yes! Fun! Alright, fun. Uh, yes.” Rarity said, not knowing what to say. “Fun! I love fun!” The pink one said, bouncing up and down getting into the A-B conversation, making herself the C. “Pinkie Pie, darling, why don’t you and Applejack go do something fun?” Rarity suggested. “Okie-dokie!” She said, grabbing Applejack’s hoof and dragging her across the room. Meanwhile north of Ponyville, a black-furred unicorn with white and yellow straight hair, both mane and tail, named Starlit Moon sat at the edge of the steps in the front of her small but sweet apartment building in the downtown area of the busy city Manehattan. The sun was setting, and the crisp autumn air came past the mare in a slight breeze, cooling her as the warm but not hot sun beat down on her. The leaves of the trees were beginning to fall, and everything seemed perfect. Through her bright blue glasses she saw a small colt and filly playing, and seeing that this small part of her city was safe from disaster, she sat up and went inside to the second floor where the single mare lived in her one bedroom living arrangement. Getting ready for bed, the mare took out her matching blue ribbon in her hair. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she remembered just a week ago when she became the new secret superhero she is today. She had preformed a magic trick wrong in her bedroom the night before her test the next day in her college she attends. She had transformed herself into an amazing being with more power than any unicorn, not counting alicorns. Automatically when the spell is preformed she gets a long white cape with a huge yellow outfit that covers most of her body. Huge black mechanical wings are created, and her horn turns long and needle-sharp. The real spell was supposed to make her inspired for what her cutiemark means and they were supposed to write papers on it. The spell had never worked correctly for her, or at least she thought so. Her cutiemark was (supposedly) a white crescent moon. But then Starlit Moon realized that night that it wasn’t a moon at all. It was a banana. She would save the world with her new banana powers and be known as Captain Banana, Protector of Manehattan. She repeated the spell once again, like how she had been doing every night since the first time she tried. Starlit Moon read about the spell in a book in the Manehattan Library, and never did she know research could do this to her. Heck, she should’ve been nerdy back then and became super long ago. Turning herself back into Starlit Moon, she climbed into bed and went to sleep. Tomorrow would be another exam in class, this topic being working with mechanics, her professor’s personal favorite. The mare soon fell asleep listening to the usual downtown city noise of traffic, stray dogs barking, and late-night partiers. The next day Starlit was walking in the hallway going to class when a friend stopped her. “Hey, Starlit!" She yelled, rushing over. Catching her breath she quickly said, “Did you see the mechanics professor? At all today?” Her co-student and best friend asked her. Starlit just arrived to her a.m. classes at school. “No, I haven’t. Sorry Bubble.” She replied to her usually quiet friend. Bubble Rose, her best friend, was never this loud at school. After she thought about it, she couldn’t remember her being loud at all. Starlit walked over to the classroom she was going to take an exam in. The professor wasn’t in it, whereas he’d usually be sitting at his desk either grading tests and exams, which he gave a lot of, or he’d be reading a book. Mainly Sci-fi books about robots, aliens, and weird things like that is what he’d read. The fairly young mint green and pitch black furred pegasus zony with matching strict black business style hair with bright green eyes, and usually in a tight white lab coat was nowhere to be seen. The community college students anxiously trotted around, not knowing why their professor was missing. “The dean! The dean!” One student said, and the hallway went from a loud roar to a still, dead silence. “Where is Professor Electoxium?” She asked, knowing no one had an answer. The older mare, with her droopy eyes looking through her small glasses looked around and saw a shadow of a pegasus. “Who’s that? Back there? Professor?” She mumbled. Starlit Moon turned her head, and then turned her whole body. Slowly walking over to the wall were the other hallway began, the turned into it and a black and green feather lay on the floor, and the doors going outside were closing. Only a black, white, and green blur could be seen quickly dashing away into the city, and Starlit knew that it was professor Electoxium. “He- he ran away,” Starlit said, students now following her, even though she hadn’t moved since she saw the feather and the doors, “I can’t believe- he, he ran, away... but how- why?” She asked herself. Everyone stood in the small, claustrophobic hallway full of other friends and students, and now other staff members. “Everypony,” The dean clapped her front hooves together, “go to your classes. I will get someone to watch the class.” The worried and now stressed dean hurried to the college library, seeing if one the librarians could “substitute”. Starlit Moon gazed through the doors, wondering why her teacher had run off. In Ponyville, Applejack and Apple Bloom were at the train station waiting for the Ponyville Express. “I can’t wait! I can’t wait!” Little energetic Apple Bloom shouted, bouncing up and down. “Whoa Nelly, sis! Now, I know you’re excited and all sugarcube, but ‘ya don’t have to act all sugar-high. Remember, we’re just spending the night. I’ll be visiting with Bab’s older sister, and we’ll have to be back here tomorrow by lunch. I’m not even supposed to be leaving, but I’m being nice.” Applejack instructed. “Lookie! There’s the train! There’s the train! There’s the train, Applejack! There’s the train!” Apple Bloom yelled, almost covering the noise the loud the train itself made pulling into the station, the loud brakes screeching to a stop, and the whistle blowing. Puffs of air came out, and steam arose from the top of the engine. The station became busy with ponies of all ages, sizes, species and colors getting on and off the train. “C’on, Apple Bloom. We’d better get on.” Her older sister said, wondering why Apple Bloom didn’t think that thought first. Getting a window seat, Apple Bloom asked her sister, “How long until Manehattan?” “Just a few hours, probably. Manehattan’s pretty far up there, lil’ sis. But we’ll get there before lunch.” Applejack replied. “Aww! But I wanna be there now!” young Apple Bloom whined. The conductor hollered “All Aboard!”, and soon everypony was on the train headed to Manehattan. “I hope Big Mac and Granny can do it, ya’ know, Apple Bloom. Tend the farm while we’re gone.” Applejack worryingly said. “You said it yourself, sis! Tomorrow we’ll be back at lunchtime.” Her younger sister comforted her. However, Applejack had a strange gut feeling she’d be held back, and not home by lunch. But she knew she had to go back, and tend the farm, and all of Ponyville with her friends while Twilight is gone. After two long, mentally painful hours of hearing Apple Bloom sing, or try to sing, listening to her point out every single tree the train passed and giving it a name, looking at cloud pictures, and not to mention more singing, they finally arrived in Manehattan. “We are the cutie mark crusaders! On a quest to find out who we are! “We’ll never stop the jou-” “Alright, sugar. Let’s see, Bab’s apartment is over this way.” Applejack cut in, hoping to end the out of key singing. Soon the three were united, and Applejack left the two young fillies and went to find her younger cousin’s sister, who was in fact, her age. In no time they were all caught up in each other’s lives and events that it was already dinner time, and the two city cousins decided to show their long distance family members the best restaurant in the whole city of Manehattan, the James Stable. The four girls went, and after waiting what seemed to be the longest line, they finally got a table. It was seven O’clock, and Starlit Moon was hungry. Being a new superhero in town, she had a fishy feeling about the professor, and had to keep an eye out. Always a mysterious stallion, the professor seemed busy and stressed a lot, but that seemed normal for the occasional hard-working professor with after school classes and busy weekends. Starlit was in downtown, and decided to go treat herself for being a superhero. She walked into a restaurant, and ordered a small, but expensive to-go item. As she walked over to sit on a small waiting bench, she noticed something. she could only see his back, but it looked like the professor. A black furred, black haired pegasus with a lab coat was sitting at a table alone. As Starlit focused more on the pony, or zony if it was the professor, he seemed more gray than black. Starlit stood up, and she slowly, quietly, and also quite nervously, walked over to who she thought the professor was. She gasped in surprise. “So, you all are still doing that cutie mark crusader thing?” Babs’ older sister asked as the four left the James Stable. “Believe me, Apple Bloom here sang the whole theme song countless times the whole way here.” Exhausted Applejack said. “That was so good!” Apple Bloom complimented about dinner. “I don’t get to go there often. Heh, you should come over more!” Babs said. “Yeah!” Apple Bloom agreed. The four walked through the city streets as the sun began to set. “Hey, tonight I wanna show you something.” Babs whispered to her cousin. “Okay!” Apple Bloom agreed, not knowing what would happen. Starlit Moon gasped. A shiny gray pegasus, that looked like it was made from metal, sat in the chair. What she saw wasn’t hair; just a shadow. It had one red laser eye, and a messy, greasy, lab coat. It had blood red stripes to represent a zony, and the cutie mark reminded Starlit of the professor’s- it was a bright red toxic symbol. Professor Electoxium’s cutiemark was similar, only it was green. The robot-like zony stood on it’s hind legs, and shot a single red laser from its eye aimed for Starlit. Dodging and falling face first to the ground, Starlit knew what she had to do. “Run!” She yelled, and everypony turned and looked at the zony. Ponies began running and yelling. “How’d he get in here?! What’s going on? Help!” Many Manehattan citizens asked in the James Stable, trying to escape. The unicorn stood to her feet, and dashed for the bathroom. There she transformed herself into Captain Banana, and unsure of her new superpowers, if she even had any at all, she raced towards the mad, raging robot, now shooting several lasers in random directions. Starlit didn’t know what to do; she had never been super before! Not wanting to make a fool of herself, she acted slowly and very subtle, like as if she was in the background. Starlit knew that if she wanted to defeat this villain, she’d have to learn his weakness first.
Chapter TwoIt was 8 pm, and Applejack was brushing her teeth, and Bab’s older sister was getting the two younger cousins in bed. “Goodnight!” She said, leaving the room. “Goodnight, sis!” Babs replied. “Nighty-night!” her cousin Apple Bloom added. After a few minutes of silence, they could hear their older sisters chatting in the distance. “I wish we could stay up like that.” Apple Bloom said. “‘Ya kidding? I said I’s gonna show 'ya something. Remember?” Babs said, getting up and out of bed. “Yeah, but-” “But what? They stay up, we stay up, too.” Her cousin cut in, now opening her apartment window. “I don’t think this is safe. We’re way up high.” Apple Bloom said. “Huh! You country ponies don’t even know! This is a little something called the second floor, A. Bloom!” “A. Bloom?” “Yeah, A. Bloom! You’re new nickname!” “Uh, okay...” Apple Bloom said, thinking about a nickname for Babs. Meanwhile in the fancy five star diner James Stable, ponies were frantic. Most of everypony was out, but some chefs, along with Captain Banana and the robot zony, were still inside. Some news reporters came running into the scene, but one carrying a camera got shot in the leg with a powerful red laser beam from the robot. “She’s still alive!” One of the other camera ponies said, trying to help her up. “Ooh, the paaaaain!” The shocked pony whined, climbing onto her hooves. “How dare you do that!” Captain Banana yelled. The robot turned his silver mechanical head and seemed to be looking at her. “That’s right! I said, HOW DARE YOU DO THAT!” She screamed, and her horn lit up with her yellow magic. At once, a huge magical banana appeared in thin air, and with Captain Banana’s horn still glowing, although she had no idea what was happening, it opened up and blazing yellow and orange fire came through as the banana peels expanded open. The fire at once caught and consumed the robot, blowing it up. Captain Banana, not knowing how she did that, stopped the spell. In fact, she had not even wanted to do a spell like that in the first place; it had just happened. Ponies everywhere began clapping and stomping their hooves on the ground. They began cheering. Captain Banana nodded, and then flew off into the night using her mechanical wings for the first time. I really am a superhero now! She thought to herself, Now, if only I knew who made him, and then I’ll take them down. Apple Bloom followed her cousin through the dark, cold, empty streets of the downtown part of the big city Manehattan. As their hooves clanged against the chilly hard concrete, Apple Bloom had a gut feeling this wasn’t good. “Babs, I don’t feel right about this.” Her cousin said. “Oh A. Bloom! You gotta learn! Come on, we’re almost there.” Babs said, now trotting faster. Apple Bloom gulped as she saw what they were coming upon on. “This old thing? But it’s just an old building.” Apple Bloom said. “It’s not just any old building. It’s the old factory building!” “What’s so scary about an old, run-down factory?” Apple Bloom tried to keep herself cool. “Well, it’s foretold that whoever goes in can’t come back out! They used to make pony rag dolls inside there, and they say that at night the dolls come to life! If they see you, they’ll take you to the factory and turn you into a rag doll!” Babs said in a horrific voice, balancing on her back legs while holding up her front legs behind her head, making herself seem scarier. Apple Bloom gulped. “I- I ain’t scared!” “Well then, if you’re not scared, and I’m not scared, then why don’t we go in?” Her cousin insisted. “But it’s getting late and we’re not even supposed to be out and when Applejack and-” “Oh please, A. Bloom!” Babs once more cut in, walking nervously herself towards the abandoned factory. Apple Bloom had no choice but to follow her cousin, how she saw it. But what they didn’t know was that the factory was still in use. And not for business, either. Back in the apartment, Applejack decided to go check on the girls. “I’ll be right back.” She said, walking into the room. She gasped. “Where are they!?” She yelled. At once the two older cousins ran out and began searching the streets of downtown Manehattan. ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ Above the city on a cloud, making sure nopony was looking, Captain Banana transformed herself into Starlit Moon, and began her long walk home. She couldn’t arrive at her apartment as a superhero, so that’s why she was doing it up there. But then she remembered- when she wasn’t Captain Banana she had no wings! Falling from the cloud only about ten feet up in the air, she landed back-up with her face against the ground. “Ow...” she mumbled to herself. Picking up her head and opening her eyes, she thought she saw some ponies wandering into the deserted part of town. Villains? Could they be villains? She thought to herself. Standing up, and being a bit wobbly from her fall, she began to walk behind them to see what they were up to. “Apple Bloom! Babs Seed!” The older sisters called out for their siblings. Applejack looked over, and saw what looked like two ponies in the far distance. “I think ah seem ‘em!” she exclaimed, and trotted over, her cousin following her from behind. It was about 8:30, and it was dark, but Applejack could make out the silhouettes of the two... pegasi? Was she seeing right? She stopped in her tracks. Her cousin walked up beside her and stopped too. One of the motionless, statue-like pegasi turned his head, and a bright red laser shot out from what seemed to be an eye. It hit Applejack’s cousin in the forehead and knocked her onto her side into the overgrown grass; she was in a coma. “What the hay?” Applejack mumbled, barely even understanding what she said herself. Starlit Moon continued to follow the ponies she saw. They were headed for what looked like an old... factory? Why would they be going there? Starlit was more curious than ever. She followed them through the overgrown dead grass and hard, rocky soil. “See, A.B.?” Babs said, trying to not let her cousin know she was scared. “A.B.?” Apple Bloom asked. “Ugh, you’re newer nickname! You’re old one was too long!” Babs cleared her throat, “Now, A.B., should we go in?” “You can... you know, if you’re so brave.” Apple Bloom insisted. “But, uh, since we both came to the point earlier that we’re both really brave, why don’t we just go in together? Y’know, to be fair.” Babs thought she sounded very nerdy, but luckily her cousin didn’t notice. “Fine.” Apple Bloom didn’t want to go inside, but she had to prove her cousin wrong. Starlit Moon followed the two ponies, and soon enough she was inside the factory too. She would have kept doing her work, wondering why these two were here, if she hadn’t seen what she did. She saw two robots that looked identical to the one she saw earlier at the James Stable. Starlit mentally gasped, and looking around, she saw more. Now following the robots through a dark, rusty, and cold hallway that contained a few dustwebs, they turned, and entered a door. It said one thing on it: Manager. Whoever was controlling these monstrous robots would be in there. Starlit heard, and the voice inside (that was not as robotic as the others) sounded very familiar. But she couldn’t tell who. Starlit knew they’d be coming out in no time, and she’d have to get away without them seeing. She looked around, and saw that so far no one had noticed her. She transformed herself once more into Captain Banana, and nervously stood at the Manager door. After what seemed like eternity, she finally got bored and left her ‘post’ at the door. Walking back down the hallway, she heard a scream. Turning her head to see what was the matter, she could not believe her bright hazel eyes at what she saw.
Chapter ThreeApple Bloom screamed. “The doll! The doll! It’s coming for me!” she yelled, beginning to run. The small yellow furred, red-haired pony began running. As she was dashing across Captain Banana, who she didn’t notice because she was going very fast, Apple Bloom saw a shadow of a robot. “The doll again!” She screamed, wanting to curl up and hide. “A.B.!” Babs called, running to her. “What do we do?” Apple Bloom was crying, “The rag doll is coming for us. She’s everywhere!” Babs tried to stay strong. “We must escape.” She said, playing it cool. Captain Banana watched, then realized that these were the two ponies she followed here. She walked over to them, and bending down she asked, “Who are you?” The girls screamed at once. “Shh! I’m good, I’m good. No reason to be afraid. In fact, I’m a superhero.” Captain Banana whispered, calming them down. “I’m Apple Bloom, and this is my cousin B.S.” she said. “B.S.?” Babs asked. “You’re nickname, Babs Seed.” Apple Bloom said, finally getting her back. “Look, girls, you aren’t safe here. You must go home at once.” Captain Banana instructed. Suddenly huge double-doors opened, and two pegasi robots carried Bab’s older sister inside, and they were pulling Applejack inside too in a red laser rope. The two fillies gasped. “Those are our sisters!” They both whispered. Captain Banana knew she’d have to save them, she’d have to save them all. But she didn’t know how. “Let... us... go.” Applejack exhaled, exhausted from fighting the strong lasers and indestructible metal robots. At once two other robots that went into the Manager room were walking out, and a black and bright green zony followed behind them. He had blazing bright green eyes, and matching black and green hair that looked like the style mad scientists had, and he had a messy tail. He wore a pale white vest, and he had huge black bat wings. Captain Banana recognized him, and his cutiemark approved. It was a green toxic symbol. Captain Banana knew this was Professor Electoxium. As his green hooves clapped against the cool, hard, metal floor in the “abandoned” factory, he made his way to a higher part of the building, and stood on what looked like a stage. “Thank you, thank you! And finally, you have done something right! My first prisoners have been captured!” His loud, robotic but yet familiar voice rang throughout the building. He slowly walked towards where Applejack and her cousin were being caged, which was in the corner of the building. A long, tight grin grew on his face when Applejack lifted her weak head to look at the one responsible for her and her cousin being caught. “Have any last words?” The professor asked her, his bright green eyes beating down on her. Bab’s older sister lay on the bottom of the cage, and Applejack said nothing, with a single tear falling from her left eye. “That’s right, filly.” the professor said, and turning around he exclaimed, “That’s right! Soon all of Manehattan will feel that, and I will have total control!” “I thought we’d have total control.” A new voice said from behind. There was something different about the voice - it wasn’t robotic. “Oh, yes, Thunder. We’ll have total control.” The professor snickered. Captain Banana, along with Babs and Apple Bloom, saw a silhouette come out from the shadows. A gray pegasus, a naturally colored gray pegasus, with a bright blue mane and tale, with matching blue eyes and hooves, walked out. The young stallion had a blue cloud cutiemark, with a bright yellow lightning bolt on top of it. Captain Banana didn’t know why or how, but she suddenly had a happy, butterfly, giggly feeling inside. “Uncle Ele-” “Professor Electoxium. I’m at work, and I request you call me by my other, high-quality name.” He cut in. “Professor Electoxium, like I was saying, I wanted to tell you the good news about my mom.” Thunder paused, waiting for a response. There wasn’t one, so he continued. “In about a month she’s going to Ponyville for Ms. Rarity’s fashion show. Mom’s a model for her pegasus attire. Oh, and also she’s almost done with her studies with Princess Luna, and soon she might be the queen of the zonies. All she would need is a horn.” Thunder continued, “I’d be a prince, and dad would be a king, and you’d probably be somewhere in there like that, being her younger brother and all.” “Eh, I won’t need to be royal. I’m going to take over the world, remember? You’ve spent this whole week with me, and I’ve modeled my robots after you, we reconstructed some of this factory, and you still don’t understand I’m going to be more powerful than you’re moms ever going to be?” The professor barked. “No, I remember. Trust me. I just wanted to tell you about it, I guess.” he sighed. Captain Banana couldn’t take it any longer. She whispered to the fillies to stay were they are, and with that she quietly stood up and crept up behind the professor, just a few feet away from him. “What are you doing, Professor Electoxium?” Deep down inside Starlit had a weird feeling, getting on to who was her teacher so long. But he was doing something wrong. And being a superhero, you have to set things straight and make things good again. Not turning his head to see who it was and remaining in his standing pose looking at the robot zony factory in front of him, he replied with one word and one word only: “What?” “That’s what I am asking you, professor. What are you doing?” Captain Banana asked. No reply. She was becoming very impatient. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” she yelled. The professor turned his head, with his eyes still looking straight ahead. Slowly he moved his forest green eyes and saw his opponent. Snickering, he said, “Let me introduce myself. I am Professor Electoxium, and I am the leader of the Robot Zony Factory. Pretty obvious, isn’t it?” “I’m not playing, professor. I, Captain Banana, will put an end to this misery!” Captain Banana firmly said. At once the professor and even his nephew Thunder began laughing. “Cap- capt- Captain Banana! Ha! Such a stupid name!” They began laughing the hardest they’ve ever laughed before. “I said I’m not playing. Now release them or you’ll be the ones imprisoned.” The superhero once again firmly stated. However the two stallions continued laughing, and Captain Banana used this time as an advantage. She lit up her horn, and as a tingle went up and back down her spine, she could feel her magic becoming stronger. A huge fire ball was now levitating in mid air above the unicorn, and she threw it at the cage with the two earth ponies inside it. Applejack found enough energy to let out a small squeal as she really meant to scream, and the fire melted the metal on the cage doors and quickly vanished into thin air. Applejack stumbled to her hooves, and Bab’s sister’s eyes began to open. Drool ran from her mouth, and she too tried to stand up. Apple Bloom and her cousin ran up to their sisters, trying to help them. Ending his laughter, Professor Electoxium trotted over to where the factory’s control room seemed to be. Looking out the dirty glass window at the factory below him, he pushed some buttons and pulled some levers. Some robots’ lasers turned on, and at the same time their heads turned facing Captain Banana. They began shooting lasers at the mare. She bravely leaped up and began ignorantly using her mechanical wings. It was harder than before because of the panicking from the Apple family, but Captain Banana got the hang of it pretty quickly. “Get her!” Professor Electoxium yelled, and at once about half the robots that weren’t already attacking her began to chase her. Captain Banana blew some up, but that trick was too slow to repeat over and over without risking a deadly laser touching her. I must know their weaknesses! I have to find out! I must find out! Captain Banana thought to herself dodging mechanical zonies. Looking up she saw a red laser coming towards her.
Chapter Four"And now we shall take over the city of Manehattan, and we shall have total control!” Professor Electoxium yelled, ending his statement in an evil laugh. He looked down at Captain Banana. “How’s that for a superhero?” He laughed again. Captain Banana lay on the ground. The laser had hit her in her front left leg, and a hot tingle went up and down her body. All over it felt like fire. She could feel tears coming from her eyes. Every time she tried to move just a little bit of her body it felt like thousands of needles were being injected into her pony skin. She tried to light up her horn, but she barely had no magic. The pain was too much; she wanted to scream but she didn’t have the energy to. “And that’s how you do it.” The professor snickered. Turning to his nephew he whispered something, but nopony except the two stallions could understand it. His nephew Thunder nodded, and began walking over to were Captain Banana lay motionless on the ground. He picked her up, and as the superhero’s eyes closed, he dragged her into the Manager room. The Apple family had made it outside. The older sisters were waking up and moving around, but they still didn’t have enough strength to fight any robots. Captain Banana was laid down on a table in the Manager room. The metallic, rusted doors were shut. The messy, folded blinds were shut. Thunder stood at the door while his uncle looked over the superhero. “And you thought you could defeat me. Ha! How stupid.” He hissed. Thunder stood at the door, and his sad eyes looked down at the innocent mare. “When she awakes she’ll get it. More pain, more game!” The professor said, “And now for business. We need to find out how to not get ourselves hurt with our own weapons.” As they continued talking, or as I should say, as the professor continued talking, little did they know that Captain Banana was awake. She listened for extra information, and maybe something could help her. “We can’t use too much poison in the laser-like formulas. If we get toxic anywhere near me I’m done. I can’t withstand it.” Professor Electoxium slyly whispered to his nephew. Thunder shook his head, nodding. “We can’t raise the amount. It’s very deadly, so we can’t risk ourselves.” he said. “You mean risk me. Nopony cares whether or not you survive.” his uncle barked back. “Ha ha! You never told me how funny you were! Jokes like that!” Thunder fake laughed, knowing his uncle as well as he did now he knew he wasn’t kidding. I care if you survive, Captain Banana thought looking at Thunder. Now, if only you could help me. “Now, we will finish Manehattan once and for all! The robots will enter the room and attack her with the lasers again. That will be the last of a stupid superhero trying to get in my way.” He hissed. “But what about you? Won’t you die?” Thunder asked, acting concerned. “If I’m not around the toxic I will.” He replied. Toxic? Weakness? The professor? Could this be a trick? Or could his weakness really be toxic? Could he be using his weakness against me, against us, to protect himself? Toxic would be the last thing I think of for his weakness! It’s worth a shot. Captain Banana thought. The doors opened. Five robot zonies walked inside. The professor nodded to his nephew, and they walked out. Captain Banana lit up her horn. A laser like before was heading for the mare. But Captain Banana was faster. Using the rest of her small amount of magic, she vanished from the room. Appearing only about five feet away in the hall, she began to run. The pain attacked her more than the robots. The feeling of prickly needles in her legs. Fire-like heat rushing through her back bone. The feeling of her lungs being closed. Her heart beated faster and faster. Sweat ran from her hairline and down her neck. As her hooves hit the hard, metal factory floor she wanted to stop. She wanted to go home. But she couldn’t. Deep down inside Starlit Moon knew she’d have to save her city- her country, even, from the monstrous villains. In the control room, the professor and his nephew watched the factory. “Where is she going!?” The angered professor yelled. “THUNDER! DON’T JUST STAND THERE! DO SOMETHING!” He yelled, and Thunder ran down the stairs of the control room and into the bottom floor of the factory. Captain Banana was frantic. She had no magic left at all. She was very weak, and robots were running towards her. She was cornered. She wanted to go home. She wanted to be saved. But she is the hero. She would have to save herself. Or maybe not. Thunder ran into the commotion of the robots. He kicked, smacked, and pushed robots out of his way- and Captain Banana’s way. “What are you doing?” Captain Banana asked him. “Shh! That’s what I was going to ask you. Now leave before my uncle finds out.” Thunder whispered. “Your uncle is the professor?” Captain Banana said quietly. “Yes, I just said that, didn’t I? Oh, now, just run. Go!” He whispered back. “Thank you. Thank you!” Captain Banana said, beginning to trot. Thunder turned back around, and he acted like he was trying to catch the superhero so that he allowing her to escape wouldn’t look so obvious. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! YOU IDIOT! GET HER! GET THE GIRL!” The professor yelled from the control room’s broken window. “Your robots are in they way! Tell them to stop!” Thunder yelled back. “I can’t! They’re to catch the mare!” he said. Thunder groaned, seeing plan A of his plan wasn’t passing. But like all good escape artists, he had a plan B. Running past a few pipes that contained the toxic to the laser formula to be injected in the robots in the factory, he did none other than kick it. The old pipes broke, and the gas was released. “Run! RUN!” He yelled to Captain Banana, who was near the big metal double doors of the factory. “YOU IDIOT!” Professor Electoxium yelled, running down the steps and trying to make his way out of the factory. The Apples sat outside, and Captain Banana came flying out with her mechanical wings, falling to the ground reaching for fresh air. “That poison is going to be spreading pretty far. We can’t stop here!” Thunder said to the five ponies outside. “You’re right- uh, what’s your name?" Captain Banana asked. “Thunder Storm. And your eyes are gorgeous.” He replied, not even knowing what he just said. “What?” Captain Banana asked. “Oh, uh, what? I don’t know. I’m Thunder. Just call me Thunder.” he said. “Alright Thunder, we need to get these ponies back to where they live. Where are you fillies from?” The superhero asked. “We are from Ponyville. I’m Apple Bloom, and this is my sister Applejack. Babs and her older sister are our cousins, and they live here.” “We could take a vacation to Ponyville, while the city is being refurnished back to normal.” Babs said, and all four Apples agreed. “We need to get you on the train. Thunder, you shou-” Captain Banana began, but was interrupted. “Help! HELP! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!” A familiar robotic voice panicked. “Uncle Electoxium?” Thunder mumbled to himself. “I’ll go help him.” Captain Banana said. “What? No, don’t. He can help himself.” Thunder said back. “I thought toxic was his weakness.” Captain Banana remembered, now trotting back towards the factory. “It is.” Thunder whispered to himself. ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ ★ ♞ ★ “Professor Electoxium!” Captain Banana yelled, making her way into the factory. Captain Banana looked down at the black and green zony. His beat red eyes were filling with tears. The professor was dragging himself out, and looking up at Captain Banana, he whispered with one breath only one word,“Why?” he said, closing his eyes. “What do you mean? You are a citizen of Manehattan. And even if you weren’t you still deserve to be rescued. I am giving you a second chance. Maybe you won’t be free, but you’ll still have life.” “But I tried to hurt you." The stallion whispered, “Why are you helping me?" “You really don’t understand, do you? I am forgiving you, Professor. I forgive you.” Captain Banana dragged the stallion out from the double doors holding her breath to avoid inhaling the poison. She heard sirens in the distance, and looking up she saw some police officers running into the scene. “Here he is, deputy.” Captain Banana said. The officers thanked her, and some news ponies with cameras and microphones came wanting to interview their new superhero. “What is your name? How long have you been a superhero? When will we see you again?” Some reporters asked her. “I can’t answer all those questions. But all I can say is that I am Captain Banana, and I am watching my fellow citizens in case of danger. And with tha-” “Thank you, Captain Banana!” Apple Bloom tugged on her left mechanical wing. “You saved my life.” “Mine too. And our sisters’.” Babs added. In the distance the two sisters nodded their heads. “You are very welcome. Heh, what’s a superhero for?” Captain Banana flew off into the morning sun after the dark night’s drama. The crazed professor was arrested, and the Apple Family, including the two from Manehattan, went back to Ponyville. “You’re going to see the other Cutie Mark Crusaders! Yay!” Apple Bloom cheered getting on the train, and with Babs joining in the hooting and hollering. “I can’t wait to see Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle again!” Babs said. “You’ll just have the best time!” Apple Bloom added. As the train chugged off and the reporters began to leave, Thunder Storm looked in the sky as Captain Banana flew away. I wish I see you again. Someday, Thunder, someday maybe you will. He thought. A few days passed. Everything seemed normal. Starlit Moon kept her identity as Captain Banana secret. Bubble Rose was her quiet, usual self. Almost too quiet. A new professor was hired.
