Chapters The Aquabats cometh...To Equestria...If that wasn't clear...View Online
The Aquabats cometh...To Equestria...If that wasn't clear...
SOMEWHERE, IN A PEACEFUL-LOOKING MEADOW...! I mean, one day, Fluttershy is setting up for an outdoor lunch for her and her friends in her yard. Angel shows up with some paper plates.
"Why thank you, Angel Bunny" she said taking them. As she was setting the plates, a flash of light startles the poor Pegasus.
When the light disappeared, in it's place was a strange, black, armored cart with rubber wheels, strange markings and an equally strange insignia on it's side right at the edge of the Everfree Forest.
Quivering with fear, Fluttershy slowly approached the cart. Just as she made it to the spot, the cart opened and out came a strange creature sporting a moustache that looked like it was drawn on his upper-lip with a marker and a black tooth wearing a blue long-sleve shirt with an A in a white circle as a logo, black shorts, black sneakers, a belt with the insignia on it, a silver-colored aviator-like hat and a black mask.
The creature looked around not noticing the panicy pony as he is distracted by the scenery. As he takes in a deep breath and exhales, two more similar-looking creatures exit the cart. One of them with metalic hands and a weird sound coming out of his joints and the other a big, burly fellow both wearing the same outfit as the first creature with the metal-handed creature having a chin guard.
"What's your assessment, Commander?" asked the metal-handed creature to the first creature.
"I'm not sure, Jimmy" replied the Commander, "Scan the area for any intelegent lifeforms"
The big creature notices Fluttershy and picks her up to show the other two. "Look, guys" he said approaching them, "I found a pink-haired, yellow horsey with wings and picturres of butterflies on it's butt!"
"Hold her still, Crash" requested Jimmy as a grid-like light comes out of his eyes onto Fluttershy's face.
"Whatcha got, Jimmy?" asked the Commander.
"According to these readings, Commander, this horse-like creature has the ability to talk among other things" replied Jimmy.
At this, Crash and the Commander couldn't help but laugh. As the Commander immitates a horse, Fluttershy finally calms down enough to ask "What's so funny about talking?" Shocked at her asking, Crash drops her and joins the others in backing away from her.
"Astounding" Jimmy said.
"It's not gonna eat us, is it?" asked the Commander. As Jimmy nods no, a wirey creature in the same outfit with long, black hair exits the cart looking as if he just woke up from a nap.
The long-haired creature yawns asking, "What's all the commotion out here?"
"TALKING PONY!" replied Crash as Fluttershy looks from behind him.
"EagleBones" said the Commander, "Go find Ricky so we may properly introduce ourselves to our equine homie here" EagleBones reenters the cart as Applejack and Spike show up.
"There you are, Fluttershy" said AJ before noticing the creatures.
"The girls and I have been looking for you" added Spike. AJ nudged him making him notice the group.
"Who in tarnation are these guys?" asked AJ.
"More importantly" added Spike, "WHAT are they?"
"I don't know" replied Fluttershy, "When I said something to them, they backed away from me"
EagleBones comes back with one more creature with braces. Jimmy, still spellbound, says "Commander, I think that strange cloud we drove the Battletram through must have sent us into an alternate reality where the sapient race is that of horse-like creatures" He then walks over to AJ, kneels to her hand picks up her right front hoof continuing, "Gentle beast, we are but mere ambassadors of another world" before kissing her hoof.
"Ho-ho there, lover-boy" said AJ as she pulls back her hoof. Jimmy then stands up walking back to the others. "Tell you what" said AJ, "Why don't we head back to the rest of our friends and we can sort this out?" Moments after making it back to the cottage, Rainbow Dash, wearing a chef's hat and an apron, flies over to Spike, AJ and Fluttershy who have beaten the creatures there.
"THERE you guys are!" Rainbow Dash said. "We need you to help settle an argument"
"That'll have to wai-" said AJ before RD interrupted.
"See, I brought hot dogs and a grill and was getting ready to cook them, but Rarity said I should've cooked them at home"
"I can't help it if I'm concerned about everypony's safety, especially when it comes to my friends" Rarity added.
Rainbow then says "I tried to explain how a barbecue worked, but then Pinkie Pie tragically suggested using a blowtorch to cook them. And to make matters worse, Twilight decided to stay out of it"
AJ does a facehoof, sighs and says "I'd like to help you deal with Rarity, but right now we have another issue to disguss"
"UGH, IT'S THE TICKET INCIDENT ALL OVER AGAIN!" cried a hungry Twilight as she begins munching on the flower display next to her.
Just then the Commander and his friends show up. The other ponies stare at them.
Rainbow flies over to them asking "Who are THESE guys? WHAT are these guys?"
"That's what we've been trying to tell you" said Fluttershy.
AJ continued "These here fellas wound up here in their strange cart they call a Battletram. They said they were from an 'Alternate rality' of some sort"
The Commander and his group are equally silent until Crash points out, "Commander, there's more of them and they're having a barbecue!"
Regaining his composure, the Commander walks up to the ponies saying "Greetings locals, we are the Aquabats. We come in peace. I am the MC Bat Commander and these are my homies; Crash MacLarson, Rickey Fitness, EagleBones Falconhawk and Jimmy the Robot" Each of them in that order greet the girls as their name is called.
Twi then does the same. "Well then...Welcome to Equestria. My name is Twilight Sparkle and these are my friends; Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and I see you've already met Applejack, Fluttershy and Spike. Would you like to join us for lunch...? Or in this case, WAIT FOR SOMEPONY TO COOK IT!? UGH!"
Rarity looks at Twilight whining "But what if the table cloth catches fire?"
Twilight groans saying "Great, now I'M involved"
While everypony except Pinkie and the Commander tries to sort out this issue, Pinkie waves at the Commander. The only intelegable phrases in the conversation are as follows;
Rainbow Dash shouting "ARE WE GOING TO BE ON THIS SUBJECT ALL DAY!?"
AJ saying "Now let's everypony calm down and put this in a vote"
Spike saying "Rarity's just looking out for everyone's safety! What's wrong with that?"
Crash saying "You can't have a barabecue without a grill, that doesn't make sense!"
The Commander notices Pinkie holding a blowtorch. "I have blowtorches stashed all over Ponyville" she said, "In case of blowtorch emergency"
To this, the Commander scoots 10 feet away from Pinkie. Moments after resolving the grill issue, Spike, the Aquabats and the girls all sat round and the Commander gets ready to explain their situation, being as far away from Pinkie as possible.
"Well, my little homies, it all started a while ago..." SOMEWHERE, ON A PATCH OF ROAD IN THE DESERT A WHILE EARLIER...! Sorry. "We were just riding along in the Battletram when all of a sudden, we see a motorcycle with one of those baskets a passenger could sit in. In it were two of our enemies; Bones' melevolent brother, EagleClaw Falconhawk and Crash's rogue Genie wish, ManAnt. We wound up trying to evade them. Suddenly, this strange rainbow cloud comes out of the sky and covers us"
"The next thing we knew, we wound up here" added Jimmy.
"Uh-oh" Crash said, "Commander, I just realized something!"
"What is it, Crash?" asked the Commander.
"If WE'RE here, that could mean Manant and EagleClaw are here too!" continued Crash
The Aquabats gasped. "Wait...I just realized something too" said Ricky, "...I LEFT A CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉ IN THE OVEN!"
He rushes off soon followed by the others once again leaving the Commander with Pinkie Pie.
"Aw, come on you guys, don't leave me with the crazy one again!" he said following the rest of the group.
When they got back to the Battletram, they run into a creature that seems to be a cross between the Aquabats' species and a Griffin.
"EAGLECLAW!" shouted Bones, "Where's ManAnt!?"
A creature with a giant ant's head for his own comes out of the Battletram eating the soufflé.
"YOU FIEND" cried the Commander, "HOW DARE YOU DEVOUR FOOD THAT ISN'T IN YOUR PROPERTY!?"
The Commander falls to his knees in distress.
"It's a soufflé, darling" Said Rarity, "He can make another one"
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" replied the Commander, "IT WASN'T HIS!"
Rarity ponders this and says, "Well I guess I can understand. If somepony came into MY home uninvited and ate something I prepared for myself, I too would be upset"
ManAnt then says, "Oh, how RUDE of me, why not have a taste...?"
"Okie-dokie" replied Pinkie.
ManAnt places the soufflé on the ground and runs to a nearby rock and lifts it. As Pinkie makes it to the soufflé ManAnt shouts "OF MY POWER!" before he tosses the rock at Pinkie completely missing her. "WHAT!? DARN THE LUCK" a frustrated ManAnt shouted.
"YOU TRIED TO HURT MY NEW FRIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEND!" cried Crash as he grows to a great size. He walks over to the Battletram, picks up the rock and shouts "STUPID ROCK!" as he chucks it into the Everfree Forest.
The other Aquabats proceed to battle EagleClaw. Fluttershy reaches her boiling point and charges toward ManAnt.
After a series of punishing blows from Fluttershy, a frightened ManAnt says "EagleClaw, LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" He then runs to the back of the Battletram and grabs a trash can. "Grab the soufflé and follow me, I'm not finished with it yet!" ManAnt said running into the Everfree Forest with the trash can for some reason.
EagleClaw grabs the empty pan from Pinkie as she licking it following ManAnt and then shouts "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAGLLLLLLLLLLLECLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!"
After a few seconds, ManAnt shouts "YOU IDIOT! IF THE PAN WAS EMPTY, WHY DID YOU BRING IT!?" EagleClaw reutrns and beans the Commander with the pan. He then does a scratching motion in the air saying "EagleClaw!" before rejoining ManAnt.
"We can't let them escape!" said the Commander recovering from the blow. As Crash goes back to normal size, everpony goes after them.
Sighing as she and Spike enter the forest, Twilight says "Just my luck. All I asked for was a nice, quiet lunch with my friends and what do I get to go with it? Some weird creatures, a robot, a giant ant in a suit with a trash can and A MUTANT GRIFFIN!"
Was that the Aquabat's trash can? What was that weird cloud that brought them to Equestria in the first place? Where did Crash throw that rock? Tune in to the next chapter of My Little Homie to Find out!
Taxi, follow that Battletram!
SOMEWHERE, DEEP IN THE EVERFREE FOREST...! ManAnt and EagleClaw are standing around catching their breath. The trash can begins to move.
"It's about time!" grumpped EagleClaw. The trash can opens and a female creature in a lab coat and such emerges stretching and yawning.
"Good morning starshine" said ManAnt sarcastically, "An alternate dimension full of talking, colorful horses we somehow got stuck in with the Aquabats while you were visiting Lala Land says hello!"
"VAS!?" cried the woman. Our heroes manage to find them.
"What in the!?" shouted ManAnt upon their arrival.
"Hold it right there, ManA-" The Commander stops himself after seeing the woman. "Aw come on! You guys have Eva Mudlark with you!?" Eva cackles and exits the trash can.
"Und now" she said, "I shall create a beast to fight you zo we may escape! EAGLECLAW! ZE COMPONENTS!"
EagleClaw looks around then asks "...You mean the garbage bag?"
"Ja, ze garbage bag" replied Eva, "Vhy do you take zo long!?"
EagleClaw then admits "I threw it at the Aquabats during our persuit of them"
ManAnt then pops him on the head. "YOU NUMBSKULL! IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE WHEELS, I WOULDN'T HAVE CONSIDERED TEAMING UP WITH YOU!"
Twilight then groans saying "Can we wrap up this three-ring circus anytime soon?"
Pinkie then pops out of the trash can much to the Commander's surprise, sure she was next to him. "OOH, YOU GUYS ARE CIRCUS FOLK!?" Pinkie asked as the "Pinkie" next to the Commander falls revealing to be a cardboard cut-out, "WHERE'S THE LION TAMER!?"
A frightened Eva pushes the can over. "We'll sort this out later" ManAnt said, "For now, RUN!"
The three run away again. Eva grabs her trash can dumping Pinkie out of it. "EEEEEEEEAAAAGLECLAAAAAAAAAAAW!" EagleClaw shouted again.
"WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT!?" shouted ManAnt.
Zecora arrives just as the Commander tries to ask Pinkie how she performed the preceeding act she did. "Oh my, what is this? There is something here amiss"
Fluttershy then walks up to Zecora explaining, "Um, yes, you see...I found these guys at the edge of the forest who say that they and three other people that just left came here through a strange rainbow-colored cloud"
With a grimace, Zecora says "This is far worse then I thought, to my hut, dawdle not!"
When they got to her hut, they notice a hole in the roof. They open the door to see the rock Crash threw earlier inside Zecora's cauldron. "So THAT'S where it landed" said Crash.
An angry Zecora then says "Look what you did, you otherworldy lout, it will take WEEKS to get it out!" She then starts yelling in her native tongue. Moments after calming her down, Zecora then says "I apologize, but in order to help you, I would need to make a special brew"
"That's understandable, strange hermit Zebra homie" said the Commander, "I'd be mad too if something I needed was plugged by a rock"
"Well NOW what do we do?" asked AJ, "You're the only expert on these types of things we know"
Zecora giggles saying "Fret not, there is another, he is the son of my brother"
The Aquabats ponder this and look at Twilight who replies, "Her nephew"
Rarity then asks, "Is he back home where you are from?"
"Far away he is not" said Zecora, "he lives up in Canterlot"
"Well what are we waiting for?" asked an impatient Rainbow Dash, "Let's hop on the next train and find this guy!"
"A train?" scoffed the Commander, "No need, my impetuous rainbow-haired homie!"
"He's right, Ms. Dash" replied Jimmy opening a screen in his hand, "Prior to our arrival here, I installed a warping mechanism to the Battletram. I'm setting it's coordinents right now"
Finishing up, our heroes exit Zecora's hut only to find that the Battletram is not there. "...Jimmy?" asked the Commander, "Where's the Battletram?"
Jimmy looks at his screen along with Bones. Bones then looks at the Commander saying "Uh, Commander, I think Jimmy made a boo-boo"
"Make that a fleshwound, Commander" added Jimmy, "It seems I warpped the Battletram TO this Canterlot place befoe having it come here first"
The shagrined Commander then says "Great, next you're going to tell me the warping feature is out of range and we'll have to take the train afterall"
Jimmy then looks at his screen again saying "Yes, that's exactly what I was going to say next" before shutting it.
With an upset chuckle, the Commander starts ranting. "That's just great! We're stuck in Happy Silly Horsey Land with three of our greatest enemies and now we've lost the Battletram! I mean, when I woke up this morning, I was in a RADICAL mood! Now look at us! WHO DOES THAT!?"
Spike kicks the Commander in the shins yelling "SNAP OUT OF IT!"
"You're right little homie" said the Commander recovering from the kick, "Now's not the time for freaking out, now is the time...For a train ride...Aquabats (And local homies), to the Train Station!"
He then runs off. "Does he even know WHERE the train station is, let-alone how to get to Ponyville from here?" asked AJ.
"You'll have to excuse him" replied EagleBones, "He's not big on thinking about such things"
Just then, the villains can be heard again;
"SCHNITZEL!"
"EAGLECLAW!"
"FOR PITTY SAKE, GIVE US TIME TO PLAN OUR NEXT ATTACK!"
Moments after finding the Commander, navigating their way out of the forest and getting to the Train Station, our heroes meet the ticket booth. "How many in your...Group, ma'm?" the booth runner asked Twilight.
"Thirteen" she answered.
"Don't you mean how many in your-?" the Commander asked before AJ put her hoof over his mouth.
"We should've told you about this before, but no one in Ponyville uses the P-Word willy-nilly around Pinkie Pie" AJ explained, "Not that we don't like her...You-know-whats, but in places like this, it makes it hard to get anything important done because everypony is distracted with the festivities"
Pinkie's eyes widened before she said "Festivities?"
"APPLEJACK!" Spike and the other girls shouted as the increasingly excited Pinkie starts jumping up and down.
"Aw Hay Seed!" said AJ realizing her mistake moving her hoof off of the Commander's mouth, "You also have to be careful about what you say around her"
One party later, the group finally manages to get on the train.
"Okay, now we need to do bunking arrangements" said Twilight.
"How about half of us go into each room?" proposed the Commander.
"One problem" Twilight claimed, "We have thirteen members in this...gathering" She then asks "Who will be in your room along with the other Aquabats?" The Commander didn't think about this.
"That's okay, sugar cube" started AJ, we'll draw straws for that decision"
That night, we find the girls in their room. Zecora is with them and Pinkie is apparently in the Aquabats' room. Spike and Rarity are fast asleep with Rarity's falsies on the nightstand while she's wearing a mud mask and cucumber slices over her eyes.
"So what are you so worked up about with the Aquabats?" asked Twilight.
Zecora sighed and began to explain. "A great war will happen soon, as foretold from many a moon. Several worlds colliding by and by, do you recall this, Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy's wings erect in fear saying, "Y-you don't mean..." Everypony looks at her.
"What are you talking about?" asked AJ.
"Wait a minute" said Rainbow Dash, "Are you talking about those guys who took her for some weird protection deal 20 years back?"*
*This will be explained later on...In another work of fiction.
"Indeed I am, Ms. Rainbow Dash" started Zecora, "Many a warrior soon will clash. Later on I shall explain, for now let us reach the destination of this train. One of twelve leads our target group" she yawned laying her head down on her pillow. "My eyes now begin to droop" she finished falling asleep.
"One of twelve?" asked Twilight, "What does THAT mean?"
"I don't know" replied AJ, "But Zecora's right, we'd better get some shut-eye"
Everypony falls asleep except for Fluttershy. For a few seconds in that otherwise dark room with the light of the moon coming from the window, tossing and turning, Fluttershy then tries to wake Twilight up gently before the Commander opens their door turning on the light.
"Sorry to disturb you guys" said the Commander as the sound of Pinkie talking about Rainbow fills the air, "But somebody needs to either turn her off or switch places with her"
"HOW DO YOU PLAY THIS GAME!?" cried Crash.
Meanwhile back in the outskirts of Ponyville, ManAnt, EagleClaw and Eva are sitting around a Campfire. All three of them have hunger in their eyes.
"If ve have to eat zomeone here, I zuggest ve eat EagleClaw first!" shouted Eva.
"As tempting as that seems" ManAnt started, "We should think of tomarrow"
"What ABOUT tomarrow?" asked EagleClaw.
"Lets just say, when the BATS are away" snickered ManAnt slowly facing Ponyville, "The Ant, the Eagle-like man and the mad scientist will play!" All three start laughing until EagleClaw is randomly beaned with an apple knocking him backwards unconcious.
"KEEP IT DOWN!" shouted Big Mac.
What sinister plan could be brewing in ManAnt's head? Will our heroes be able to stop them? Don't ask me, keep reading!
Pains, Trains and...Well, you get the idea
SOMEWHERE, IN THE TRAIN STATION IN CANTERLOT...! The train makes a stop the next day. Our heroes exit the train and begin their search for the Battletram. While looking, the girls decide to give the Aquabats a brief tour until they're stopped by a brown Earth Pony with a lite-blue mohawk in a dark-blue humanoid robotic suit and matching helmet with red eyes through the vizor and his flank area sporting a police badge Cutie Mark.
"Hault" said the Earth Pony pointing to a yellow line at his metalic feet, "This area is off limits to civilians" He then notices Twilight and kneels down. "Twilight?" he asked.
"Um...yes" replied the nervous unicorn, "Do I know you?" Removing his helmet, the Earth Pony smirks revealing his brown eyes as well as the rest of his face. "Murky?" she asked looking into his face.
"Yes" he replied.
Twilight took a moment to look at him before asking "...What happened to you?"
Murky sighed and began to explain. "Two years ago before you left, I was on my first mission with the girls. We were taking down a snake oil operation. The gang used a spell that made my front and back legs and tail disappear from existance. Then their leader knocked me out. For the remainder of that year, I was-"
The Commander stops Murky and asks him "So, why is this area off limits?" in a slight mockery of his voice. He snickers at this before he notices Jimmy glaring at him.
"A strange foreign object has materialized in town square yesterday" replied Murky in a slightly offended tone putting his helmet back on, "Investigations on it's nature are currently in progress"
"Might the 'foreign object' in question happen to look like this?" asked Jimmy holding up a picture of the Battletram.
"Yes" he answered.
"THE BATTLETRAM!" yelled the Aquabats. The Commander ran past the line with glee.
"COMMANDER, WAIT!" cried EagleBones. Jimmy runs after the Commander followed by Crash.
"HALT, RETURN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LINE!" shouted Murky taking a stun gun out of his right leg compartment, "YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO COMPLY!" He then looks back at Ricky and EagleBones.
"Uh...Heh, don't look at ME!" said Ricky sheepishly.
Just then, a voice said "Let 'em through, Murky!"
Murky stands down as the others follow the eager Commander and they find the Battletram on top of a kiosk. Several ponies and an adlet are investigating the area. A red alicorn with aquamarine hair in a braided ponytail, gold eyes and a yin-yang symbol Cutie Mark wearing a pair of white pants, black shoes on her back hooves and a yellow tank top approaches Twillight.
"Twilight!"
"Oh, hi Hay Flower"
Rainbow Dash walks over to the two as Jimmy climbs into the Battletram.
"You know her?"
"She was another student under Celestia's teachings. I was hoping to introduce her at Shining Armor's wedding if we ran into her"
"I would've come to it, but as you may have experienced, we were in the middle of a crisis. I was put on a wild gosse chase-"
"HONK!" shouted Pinkie Pie making Twilight glare at her. She gives an apologetic grin and sits down. The Commander scoots over to Rainbow's right.
"You were saying?"
"Ahem...Princess Celestia sent me on a quest to prevent Queen Chrysalis from carrying out her plans. I went alone as it was too much pony power for anyone in the original four of us to go. I let my confidence get the best of me, but I was later joined by some of the newer members, but it turned out to be a...Fluke" Hay Flower finished remembering Pinkie's outburst. "So, what brings you here?"
"It's an important task we must do, we must speak to my nephew"
"Oh, Zulu? He's back up in the cabin. Fizz! Slicer!" Just then, a cloaked, yellow, brunette, blue-eyed male Earth Pony with a hat similar to AJ's and a red and white spotted bandana on his face and a blue purple-eyed female one with a red mane braided into a more ninja-like ponytail in the same fashion of her tail show up. "Escort our guests and their party up to the cabin while we finish up here"
"And while you're at it, can you get this thing off my kiosk?" Pleaded Doughnut Joe.
Hay Flower uses her magic to move the Battletram.
"One of us will have to stay down here while Jimmy recharges" said the Commander.
"I'll do that" said Bones walking over to the Battleram.
"No need" sang one an afroed pony "I'll take care of your friend until he's rested"
"Thank you, Hussle" said Hay Flower.
"...SWYSD?" asked Twilight.
"His mother listened to too much funk when she was pregnant with him. Everypony's had the decency not to bring it up so much"
Our heroes began following the two Earth Ponies up the grassy hill on the outskirts of Canterlot.
"So what's SWYSD?" asked Crash.
"Sing What You Say Disorder" replied Twilight. "It's a disorder where your voice sounds like it's singing nonstop. This gets to be a nuisance for those who wish to be taken seriously"
Continuing up the hill into a forest, Dash walks up to the male Earth Pony.
"So...Slicer, huh? That's a pretty cool name"
"Must be" replied the male Earth Pony.
"Wait a minute" said AJ making everyone stop, "Slicer? As in APPLE Slicer, my long-lost cousin!?" She looks over at the female Earth Pony "Our cousin Braeburn told me you were abducted by desperados!"
"I was" replied Slicer, "They sold me to a slave trade in Clop Kick City. I was supposed to work in the orchards of the ones that bought me, but with many others, I was rescued by a group of ninjas from the Oataku Clan. I took up ninjutsu to defend myself. Turns out it was my primary talent, hence my Cutie Mark"
"So wait" scoffed Rainbow, "YOU'RE Fizz?"
"That's merely a shorter nickname then what I prefer to go by. My real name I do not wish to reveal yet, but you may refer to me as The Pony With No Name. I prefer this because of my days in the desert"
"...Fizz it is"
"Hey, that rhymed" giggled Pinkie. She then proceeds to sing a song related to Fizz's long nickname. "So you've been through the desert Mr. Pony With No Name" She continues from there.
"Oh for Pete's sake!" muttered AJ.
"Does a mild case of SWYSD involve writing a song off the bat and singing it right away?" asked Ricky.
"No, she just likes to sing" replied Twilight.
"LAA LAA LALALALALA, LALALA LA LAAA!"
"PINKIE PIE!" shouted Rainbow Dash making her stop.
"If that's done" said Fizz, "Shall we continue?"
"We're almost there, just need to get up this mound in front of us"
Our heroes follow the two Earth Ponies up the mound to a big cabin complete with a pool-hot tub set, osen and some other stuff.
"Whoa, this place is so rad!" said the Commander. "You guys must be really rich!"
"Actually, her majesty had this built for us under Hay Flower's request" explained Fizz.
"A lot of this stuff is for either training or recreational purposes when we're not out on missions. Feel free to partake in some of this stuff while you wait"
"I am sure you have many things we could do, but I must speak to Zulu"
"I'll take you to him" said Fizz, "He should be up at his brewing station at this time"
Moments later, our heroes are in a lounge. AJ and Slicer are talking amongst each other, the Aquabats are over at the ping pong table and everypony else is walking around taking a personal tour of the place.
"And that's how I wound up joining the Knights"
"Land Sakes, I can't wait to tell your folks that you're alright"
"I prefer that you didn't"
"Why not?"
"I don't want them to worry more then they already are. Being abducted by desperados was bad enough to make them worry, but if they found out I've been risking my life to keep Equestria safe, it might just give 'em a heart attack! So please, let ME tell them in time"
"...Alrighty then"
Spike falls between them.
"Spike, what in the name of all things that grow on trees are you doing?"
"Well, I saw some gems in that chandelier up there. I jumped for them and...I fell"
"Ooh, y'all better not touch those without askin', that's Hay Flower's stash"
AJ, Spike and Rainbow give Slicer a quizical look.
"...She's part dragon...Also part phoenix, part griffin and part minotaur...She has a very convoluted family tree"
Meanwhile, Zecora and Fizz stop at a door in the upper level where Spike fell off of.
"Well, here we are" said Fizz knocking on the door. "Hey Zulu, you have famlily visiting!"
"Send them in, I have a big order I need to fill out for the Hospital!"
Zecora enters the room.
"Greetings my dear nephew, there is a favor I need to ask you"
"Aunt Zecora, what brings YOU here?"
"Just one thing, listen to me, it is an emergency. Eight beings not of this world, were found by Twilight and the girls. Three of them run amuck, I wanted to help, but there was terrible luck"
"What happened?"
"The remaining five and what they've done, one threw a rock in my cauldron"
"So you and the others came here for my help. What about the other three?"
"To get them all home, there is a lot to do, do you know the proper brew?"
"I think so...Just let me finish bottling up this batch and we can get started on it"
Just then, a bell goes off.
"Oh my!"
"That's the debriefing alarm, come on!"
Everyone gathers in the lounge. The Knights are all present. Jimmy enters and takes a seat next to a familiar face...To Pinkie.
"PARADISE!" squealed Pinkie giving a hug to the green-haired, tan Earth Pony with the flower in her long mane and a coconut tree Cutie Mark. "It's been so long! What brings you to Canterlot?"
"...I will explain later"
"Thank you for your patience, everypony" started Hay Flower. "As you may know, we have guests here from out of world. Our first course of action is to do everything in our power to help them get home-" she belches out some fire at the same time as Spike and the scrolls they dispensed show up at the opposite dispenser.
Spike unrolls the scroll that came out of Hay Flower. "Attention Knights of the Triangular Table; her majesty has requested Hay Flower, Apple Slicer, Murky Hill, Paradise, Fireball and Fizz to report to her ASAP, a moment of great urgency has occured"
Twilight uses her magic to get the letter in front of Hay Flower.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle, by now you may be dealing with three strange creatures. I've dispatched a special team that should arrive shortly...What could that mean?"
"Only one way to find out" said Hay Flower. "We need to get to the castle"
"We'll take the Battletram" said Jimmy. "We'll fly it to the castle"
Spike dashes out of the door to wait for the others.
"Thank you for your assistance. LET'S RIDE, KNIGHTS!"
"COME ON, GIRLS!"
"AQUABATS, LET'S GO!" After shouting this, the Commander and the other Aquabats get stuck with the other groups who are stuck in the door.
Fluttershy's right back hoof is stuck in the cluster, Fizz is standing behind them and Spike, Twilight and Hay Flower are clear outside.
"Um...Maybe come out one at a time?" asked Twilight.
Moments (And one time-consuming untangling) later, our heroes arrive at the castle and make it into Celestia's throne room. Celestia is looking out a window.
"Girls, gentlecolts, thank you for responding to the message. This assignment is very important" she said turning around. "My student- Twilight Sparkle?" she exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't know you were visiting. And who are your friends?"
The Commander walks over to Celestia.
"Dear Princess Celestia, we are the Aquabats, we come in peace. We-" he then pauses.
"...You..."
"...Sorry, it's just that the last time we wond up in a realm ruled by a equine, we were almost thrown into a lava pool"
"My goodness...Well, I wouldn't dream doing such a thing"
"...Just checking. Anyway, this problem you have, would it happen to involve a mad scientist who specializes in mutant filth, a giant ant and a unusual-looking griffin?"
"Why yes, actually"
"I thought so, rest assured majesty, we WILL bring them to justice!"
Just then, a chrome cart carrying a hooded figure, the cakes and their kids, a cyborg resembling Angel dressed like an Aquabat, a brain in a jar with a poorly drawn version of the Commander's face on it with a mask and hat and a blue band with the A logo around the bottom of the jar and look-alikes of Rickie and Bones with their respective bodies viloently sewn togeher to make one two-headed one being pulled by a pegasus dressed like Kenshiro baring a Cutie Mark of the North Star and a unicorn in a zero-suit-esque outfit with a Cutie Mark of a set of teeth both resembling teenaged versions of Pound and Pumpkin respectively arrives.
"GET IN THE CART!" shouted the pegasus.
"Do as he says" pleaded Carrot Cake, "We'll explain later!"
"We'll go with our former selves" said the brain in the Commander's Voice. "Aquabats, to the still-intact Battletram!"
"Still intact?" asked the Commander.
Everyone gets into the vehicles and rides off.
"...Um...Good luck to all of you?"
What's going on here!? Who are these newcomers? Tune in next time, readers!
It's time for some answers
SOMEWHERE, ON A CLIFF ROAD...! Our heroes are speeding along in the chrome cart followed by the Aquabats in the Battletram with a group that claims to be them and a cybernetic Angel Bunny.
"So what's going on, Mr. and Mrs. Cake?" asked Pinkie.
"Well" started Carrot, "We were getting ready to open up Sugarcube Corner, minding our own business, when we were visited by an unusual-looking Griffin, a giant ant in a suit and the creature in this bag"
"LET ME OUT OF HERE, SCHNELL!"
"ManAnt and EagleClaw!" shouted Dash. "How did you capture...This third one?"
"MEIN NAME IS EVA MUDLARK, YOU SACK OF GLUE FACTORY FODDER!"
"You guys use Ponies for glue?"
"Their bones actually" said the cloaked figure in a raspy version of Rainbow's voice. "Anyway, they were going to be their first victims before we showed up"
"Pony bones for glue" said the reddish-pink, cyan-haired pegasus with bluish-green eyes and a fireball Cutie Mark. "Sounds like a better fate then what I witnessed...I'd keep my eyes on that pink one if I were you guys"
"Fireball here once fell into a dimension where you were some crazy murderer who turned everypony into cupcakes" explained Hay Flower. "She wound up having to pull a Hazel Nut and Pomegranate on her"
"And don't think I won't do the same to YOU should the occasion arise!"
"Well, you don't need to worry about that with ME!"
Fireball gives her the "I'm watching you" gesture which saddens Pinkie with this lack of trust. Meanwhile in the Battletram, the Commander, Jimmy and Bones are at the cockpit. The Commander is at the wheel.
"Robot, why don't you go see if Crash and Ricky need help getting some answers from our passengers?"
"Very well, Commander"
Jimmy exits the cockpit as Bones migrates to the front seat.
"Commander, I'm worried. Between our current situation of being stuck in this world and this recent occurence, it seems that something big is going down"
"Relax, Bones. It's probably nothing"
Well, let's check on "nothing" and see what's going down. Present Ricky is sitting at the window looking out.
"So in the future, are there a lot of aliens that live among you?" asked Crash.
"The only alien is Space Monster M" replied the brain.
"The future?" asked Jimmy.
"16 years to be exact" said the Angel-esque cyborg in a low-voiced Austrian accent. "If our calculations are correct, then we're two months from a catastrophic event that we must rectify before it's too late!"
"What kind of catastrophic event?" asked the curious Robot.
"In two months time, the three that arrived here with you in this dimension find a way to summon a mighty creature from your world!"
"Space Monster M"
"Right. Several events have taken place since then. He winds up destroying the parents of the Cake Twins and set many bad things in motion. Not even the Princesses, rest their souls could stop him. This disharmony had destroyed the Elements of Harmony for good and re-awakened Discord, the Space Monster M of OUR world. They seperated the power over Equestria which renamed Udrak and Discordria for their respective sides. They have recently started a war for more land! The group assembled is from the guerrilla and resistance groups against both countries known only as the 'remainer of Equestria'. We have arrived here to prevent all of this from ever happening in the first place"
"That's terrible!" cried Crash, "What happened to Future ME!?"
"...He was eaten" replied Future Bones.
"It involved the little dragon the other group has with them" added Future Ricky.
"And MY future counterpart?"
"I got the robot equivalent of the Commander's fate" said Future Angel's AI computer flashing in his right eye as his robot arm on that side pointed to it.
"Hense my attire"
"Hey guys" Present Ricky said finally, "There's another pegasus that looks like the one we first saw, only...different. And she's riding a giant dragon!"
"Oh no" said the Future Commander, "Discord must have sent his bully after us!"
Just outside the window was an all-grey version of Fluttershy in a jupmsuit that's black on the left and white on the right riding a dragon that resembles Spike in his greed form with a scar across his face. The dragon roars and moves up to where Present Bones and the Commander are. At the sight as the dragon makes his way to the ponies, the Present Commander jumps in fear then spills the coffee he bought while still in Canterlot all over himself.
"AAAAAAAUUUUURRRRGH!!" our present-day hero shouted as he flails at the pain on his lap and abomin causing the Battletram to swerv. "THAT CLOWN-BAG MADE ME SPILL MY COFFEE!"
As the Commander flails around, EagleBones grabs the wheel desprately trying to keep the Battletram on track. The other Aquabats struggle to keep their footing. Present Jimmy his hanging on to the Future Commander for dear life as he bounces around in his jar.
"WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE!?" cried Crash.
"CALM DOWN, CRASH!" said the Future Commander desprately attempting to prevent the inevitable. "YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU-"
"I CAN'T HELP IT!" Crash starts growing. "GETTING EMOTIONAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!"
"Well this is a fine kettle of fish!" sniped Future EagleBones looking at both Rickies with a scowl on his face.
"...Don't look at us!" replied the Rickies.
"STUPID DRAGON!"
As the Battletram swervs out of control, the Fluttershy-esque mercinary catches up to the cloaked figure's group.
"So, you managed to find me before I did, huh?" she said in a sinister version of Fluttershy's voice. "HOOF ME OVER, NOW!"
"What?" squeaked Fluttershy.
The cloaked figure sighed and removed her hood revealing herself to be Rainbow with a grey streak down her mane, an X-shaped stitching on her face and an eyepatch on her right eye.
"What the hay!?" shouted Dash in a extreamly surprised tone.
"I'll explain later" Future Rainbow replied. "POUND, PUMPKIN, WE NEED TO LOSE HER!"
"RIGHT!" replied the Pegasus.
The twins pick up speed soon followed by the Aquabats. Suddenly, ManAnt arrives hooked onto EagleClaw's legs by his own.
"GET BACK HERE WITH OUR SCIENTIST, YOU GLUE-SACKS!"
"Make us!" Snapped Fireball.
"That's enough!" shouted Rarity, "They'll see that as a challenge!"
"And what's wrong with THAT!?"
"My mane is messy enough as it is! I don't need to add pimples to the mix!"
"What?"
"They come from worry, darling"
"Psh, watever" Fireball replied flying up to the two. The twins stop at the sight of this "GO, I'LL HOLD THEM OFF!"
Fluttershy throws Eva out of the cart. ManAnt grabs the sack and they fly back toward the town.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAGLECLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!"
"WILL YOU STOP DOING THAT!?"
"IT'S MY THING, DEAL WITH IT!"
"VILL YOU TWO SHUT UP UND GET ME OUT OF HERE!"
"DON'T MAKE ME REGRET SAVING YOU AND DROP THIS THING!"
"...EAGLECLAW!"
The group is silent...
"...FLUTTERSHY!" everypony but Future Dash shouted in an upset yet not at all surprised tone.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do. They wanted to be with their friend. And YOU guys stopped for Fireball"
"...I've missed that about you" chuckled Future Dash.
The Battletram stops as both parties are at the outskirts of- "Did somepony say-" FOCUS! "...Sorry" ...At the outskirts of town...*Ahem* Sorry about that...Now where were we...? Ah yes. Everyone exits their respective modes of transport except for Future Dash. Future Pumpkin uses her magic to take out a futureistic wheelchair and place Future Dash in it. Future Dash rolls over to the group as the twins unhitch themselves.
"...What in the name of all things battered and fried was THAT all about!?" asked AJ after looking for Future Fluttershy and Spkie who have apparently retreated for now.
"And why are you- am I- are we-? Oh forget it" added Rainbow.
As things calmed down, explainations were given.
"...But what happens to US in your future?" asked Twilight.
Future Pound sighs and begins; "When our parents were destroyed, Pinkie took us in. Because she had to be responsible for us, she slowly mellowed out until she was hardly the fun-loving Pinkie Pie she once was"
Pinkie faints "WHAT!? But I hardly got to say ANYTHING in the last chapter!" So did a few other members in the mane 6! Rarity and Fluttershy didn't say anything at all. "...Fair enough" ...Okay.
"After our two worlds combined, the Apple Family was bought out on Discord's side of Equestria, now Discordria" continued Future Pumpkin. "They live comfortably as long as they give half the proceeds to Discord. Same goes for the Udark side"
"Twight co-founded the Remainder of Equestria with Pinkie, Applejack and myself" Added Future Dash. "I suppose you know what happened to Fluttershy and Spike"
"The scar on Spike was because of me" said Future Jimmy. "I tried to fight him, but my body was destroyed along with the Battletram. All the working parts that could be salvaged were used for Angel's implants"
"And me?" asked Rarity.
Future Dash bowed her head in silence for a moment before she removed her cloak revealing that she was wearing a dark grey turtleneck without wing holes and an adult diaper.
"...What happened to your- m-my- our-? DARN IT!"
"It was Fluttershy that did this to me" sighed Future Dash. "When the Elements of Harmony were distroyed, the strain got to her and she surrendered to Discord's will, turing her into the complete oposite of herself. She became a sadistic mercinary. Thanks to her, Spike gave in to his greed and became her loyal pet after she did away with Rarity. She took to mutilation when he first tasted meat. My wings, the Commander's body and parts of Angel, Ricky and EagleBones were as far as she got with us before Nurse Redheart rescued us and restored us as well as she could. Crash wasn't so lucky"
"...What about your scar, the eyepatch and inability to use your back legs?" asked Rainbow. "I'm pretty sure the grey streak in the mane came naturally"
"The streak is from what I witnessed...As for the rest of this stuff, a cinderblock fell on me which also took away my blatter control, a couple of foals were running with scissors and I was hit with a baseball that gave me a subconjunctival hemorrhage...Basically, I've been having a bad day"
"Speaking of blatter control" started Future Pumpkin, "It should be time for your change"
"...Unless we get the Aquabats and their enemies back to their world, this could be you" said Future Dash as she rolls away.
"So now not only do we have to get you and those other guys back to your world" started Twilight, "But we have to do it before they get the chance to bring this Space Monster M. guy into OURS!"
"That's about the size of it" said the Future Commander.
Everyone looked at the town.
"Then we have no time to lose" remarked Twilight, inadvertently reviving Pinkie from her faint spell with laughter.
"Finally, now, what's the pla-?"
Oops, we're out of time, see you in the next chapter! "OH COME ON!"
Hunt for Red Oc- I mean the bad guys!
Hunt for Red Oc- I mean the bad guys!
SOMEWHERE, BACK AT FLUTTERSHY'S COTTAGE...! A hungry Angel searches frantically for something to eat. Suddenly, EagleClaw enters the cottage.
"...THIS is what that yellow winged horse's place looks like on the inside?" he asked himself, "WHAT A HIPPIE! I guess I should do a little redecorating with my...EAGLECLAWS!" He proceeds with his signature motion and posing before Angel shows up ready to fight. "HAHAHAHA! You think that YOU, a helpless little bunny, are enough to stand up against ME!? Don't make me laugh! EEEEEEEEEAGLECLAAAAAAAAAW!"
Fizz, Fluttershy, Future Angel and Future Jimmy arrive ready to attack him.
"That's as far as you go!" said Fizz pulling out his hoofheld crossbow.
"How did you find me?" asked EagleClaw holding his talons up in the air.
Fizz gives a low, muffled giggle before moving behind EagleClaw pointing the arrow in this back and saying "You could say that it was like-"
"MAGIC!" shouted a magician in a red wrestling mask materializing from a puff of smoke with a giant humanoid cobra in black bottomwear right behind Fizz.
"Exa- Aw pony feathers, there's another one!" claimed Fizz looking behind him.
"Two more" replied Fluttershy.
"...Whoa, where the heck!?" asked the magician.
"...I believe you have sent us into a world of unusually sapient creatures...Again" replied the cobra in an surly voice.
"Hey, don't blame me, I didn't even MEAN to use that spell!"
"That's not good" said Future Jimmy, "Carl and Cobraman were supposed to have arrived at the same TIME as Space Monster M"
"T-t-t-then why are they h-here now?" asked Fluttershy in a frightened tone.
"It's a butterfly effect" Future Jimmy explained. "When we rescued the Cakes, something had to take it's place"
"THIS IS TERRIBLE!" shouted Future Angel.
Present Angel looks at Fluttershy confused and points at Future Angel.
"...I'll...Explain Later?" she claimed giving a sheepish grin.
Cobraman knocks Fizz out. He, EagleClaw and Carl use this distraction to flee from the cottage.
"EEEEEEEAGLECLAAAAAAW!"
"Oh goodness!" That's all Fluttershy could say in response to Fizz's unconcious body.
Groaning, Fizz stands up two hours later as the party- Pinkie, don't even think about it! "Aww..." ...As the GROUP is gathered around in a circle in the cottage. He joins the disgussion sitting between Fireball and Slicer.
"So what did I miss?" he asks Fireball.
"We're just talking among ourselves for right now"
Twilight stands up and clears her throat.
"If I may have your attention, everypony" she says making her way to the center of the circle, "In light of the circumstances, I appoint myself leader of this operation"
"WHAT!?" exclaimed the Present Commander in disbelief and standing up just as quickly. "But you...Don't have 'Commander' in your name!"
"...On a more IMPORTANT note" started Hay Flower after giving the Present Commander a glance walking toward Twi, "Being the head of the most elete task force in Equestria, I'm a likely candidate as well"
"And what about Future Me?" added Rainbow. "She's got the most knowledge of the situation"
Pointing to everyone in order of who said what, Twilight says, "You're annoying, you were too late to throw your hat in and I called it first"
"...She has you all there" said Future Dash.
"...Just like that?" asked Rainbow with with a quizical look in her eyes.
"Hey" replied Future Dash, "After 16 years of mistakes in a post-apocolyptic situation, you appreciate what she has to say"
"Yeah, her organization skills made the R.O.E possible" added the Future Commander. "And this is coming from YOUR brain in a jar"
"Fine" groaned the reluctant Present Commander. "...What's it like in there, by the way?"
"You have very little mobility and I can't do stuff people with bodies do anymore"
"...With the issue resolved, what is our first course of action?" asked Fizz getting everypony back on track.
"...While you were unconcious" started Twi making a parchment appear in front of her, "Zecora sent me a list of some missing components to the potion that would send the Present Aquabats home...Then I had it revised by Zulu" She walks over to Applejack and gives the list to her. "First thing's first, we split everypony into teams. AJ, you, Paradise and Slicer will look for everything on this list. There's a group of herb-collecting ponies outside waiting for you. You'll make up the Collection Team. Commanders..." The Present Commander's face lights up. "You and both sets of the rest of the Aquabats except for Crash go with Hay Flower, the Future Cake Twins and the Rainbow Dashes to act as the Round-Up Team"
"Aw man!" groaned the Present Commander who's hopes of leading one of the teams has been dashed...No pun intended.
"You'll be in charge in gathering the villains of your world and making sure they don't get away from you until you can get back home"
"Hang on, sugarcube" started AJ, "Wouldn't my herding capabilities be better suited for that team?"
"Ooh, you're right" replied Twilight reconcidering her decision. "New arrangement; Slicer will take your place as team leader and I'll switch you out with the Present Commander"
"WHAT!? Why am I the one getting the boring job?" objected the Present Commander.
"Because this entire time, YOU'VE been complaining more then Rarity!" Twi snapped.
"...You HAVE been, darling" added Rarity.
"Now then" continued Twilight, "Fizz, you, Fireball and Murky will be the Protection Team who will stay here keeping the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the present variations of Crash, the Cakes, Fluttershy, Spike and Angel safe from any fatal harm"
"Well there you go" snarked Fizz at the Present Commander, "At least YOU will be out in the field"
"Why the Cutie Mark Crusaders?" asked Flutershy.
"It's important that they do" replied Future Dash. "In the future when the founding members got their Cutie Marks, they decided to make the Crusaders an organization across Equestria when they were a little older. This came in handy when Discord and Space Monster M took over. On the year we came from, a great dispute between them over the affairs of the Crusaders network broke out making them disband from each other. Dispite this, they continued their work, albiet separately. If anything were to happen to them in THIS time however, the Cutie Mark Crusaders' history will end in it's opening chapters"
"...Oh..." That's all our timid little friend could say.
"Alright then" Twilight said turning back to the center of the circle. "I'll be leading the Scout Team which will consist of Pinkie Pie, Rarity and myself. Okay everypony, let's go!"
Everyone starts heading out to do their jobs...At least they would, if both sets of the Aquabats didn't get stuck in the door again.
"...Exactly HOW did you goofballs bag the bad guys in your world?" asked an exasperated Rainbow.
Moments after getting THAT mess cleared up...Again, the Round-Up Team is seen at the Battletram. Present Jimmy exits with a robotic bird's head the size of a regular person's. He places it on a robot about Crash's size. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Giant Robot Birdhead!" he exclaims. "May I see the Future Commander?"
Future Ricky and EagleBones hand Present Jimmy the Future Commander. After removing most of the stuff that was on the jar and places him into the robot. The robot activates.
"What the...?" the robot said with the Future Commander's voice looking at his hands. "Whoa, I'm a robot now! This is SO RAD!"
"Now we're talking!" said Future Pound Cake feeling amped up.
"Jimmy, when did you make this thing?" asked Present EagleBones.
"I built it prior to the meeting" answered Present Jimmy.
"Well, that's a coincidence" said Hay Flower, "I have a feeling we may need some additional help, so I called somepony back at H.Q for back-up"
"THIS IS AWESOME!" shouted the Future Commander, "But why a bird's head?"
"I was out of human-like heads" Presnet Jimmy replied.
Crash and Present Angel arrive with Fizz.
"I tried to stop him" Fizz said in an exasperated tone, "But he and the rabbit insisted on seeing you off on your mission"
"I also wante to ask" said Crash kneeling down at Future Angel, "How can you talk when THIS one can't?"
"...I don't know" Future Angel replied, "It came with the implants"
One akward silence later, the Future Commander gestures with the hand of his new body.
"Aquabats (and assorted pony homies), LET'S GO!!"
Meanwhile up in Pinkie Pie's loft on Sugarcube Corner, the Scout Team preps up to survail the perimeter.
"So what is OUR assignment, Twilight?" asked Rarity.
"We'll be providing surveillance incase anything unusual in the area happens. If that Space Monster M. guy shows up, it's all over. For now, we seve as the teams' eye in the sky. I've given each team leader a walkie-talkie to communicate with us incase they find something"
Pondering this, Pinkie says, "Wouldn't the eye in the sky thing work better with a balloon?"
"...I think she's got you there" Rarity said.
"That...makes sense...Let's go, girls"
"WHEE! I'll go grab some board games"
"What!?"
"It's for the best, darling, the last time I was stranded in a balloon with her and no supplies, she thought I was a cupcake...That reminds me, we'll need food and beverages"
"...Okay...Now I just hope everypony can pull this off"
Will our heroes prevail in this danger? Who is this special somepony Hay Flower sent for? Tune in next chapter to find out!
Leave and let's fly to the library
SOMEWHERE, IN A HOT AIR BALLOON...! The Scout Team has set up their base. The baskets ends have telescopes on them, even one sticking in a small, wide, circular hole in the center of its floor.
"All teams report in!" Twilight barks through her walkie-talkie.
"Round-Up Team, ready to roll" said Hay Flower.
"Protection Team, everything's fine here" added Fizz.
"Collection Team, on our way to the first ingredient" claimed Apple Slicer.
"Good, we'll keep you posted incase anything comes up around your area. Also, when you can, please give me an update on your jobs. Good Luck, everypony"
"Twilight, calm yourself" Rarity reassured our seemingly tense heroine as Pinkie is setting up a board game, "There's nothing going on right now. Stress isn't good for complexion, darling" Twilight ignores her just focusing on the task at hoof. "Perhaps if you eat something, you'll be a little more calm"
"I would" said Twilight finally, "But I have first watch"
"Then I call first ROLL!" Pinkie says grabbing the dice.
Rarity rolls her eyes and takes a bite out of her sandwich. Meanwhile back at Fluttershy's cottage, the Protection Team is patrolling the area while their protectees are sitting round as Fluttershy comes in with some tea and places it on the table.
"Would anypony care for some tea?" she asked.
"I'm BORED!" whined Sweetie Belle laying on her back.
"I'm thirsty" said Scootaloo in a corner reading a book.
"I'M thirsty AND bored!" complained Apple Bloom on an antsy Crash's head.
"ME TOO!" shouted Crash leaping to his feet from the chair, "AND MAYBE A LITTLE HUNGRY!"
"Oh my, I could make you a sandwich if you want" the timid Pegasus offered.
"I CAN'T HOLD IT IN! I NEED TO DO STUFF!" Crash cried as he loses controle of his powers taking Apple Bloom with him. "UAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
"WHAT IN THE HOOF IS GOIN' ON!?" shouted AB as she and Crash go through the roof as he reaches his maximum hight.
The Protection Team looks on the spectacle with worry. As the Present Twins cry like crazy, the others exit to see if Apple Bloom is okay while Cup Cake tends to the twins.
"Goodness!" claimed Fluttershy, "You should have taken that outside!"
"I CAN'T HELP IT!" whined Crash, "I DO THIS WHEN I'M UPSET!"
"APPLE BLOOM'S UP THERE!" shouted Sweetie Belle.
"Everypony calmdown!" said Fizz in a clam voice "Now what happened?"
"I don't know" said Fluttershy still shook up from the fiasco, "Crash grew again"
"Well to be honest" started Fireball, "They HAVE been cooped up in there for hours. Maybe we can try it this way" Fireball grabs a stick and draws out a plan in the ground. "Okay, here's the plan, two of us will serve as protectors of those who need to do stuff around town. The thrid pony in our team will stay behind to look after who's left. Once whoever they protect is done with what they set out to do, whoever comes back first will alternate with the one who stays depending if anypony else needs to do anything. In the event that EVERYpony needs to go out, THAT should be self-explanatory"
"...Huh" said Fizz, "So...I guess we'll have to ask what's on everypony's agenda"
"In that case" started Scootaloo as Sweetie Belle unfurls a list spanning from where she's holding it to Fireball's hooves, "We have a list of crusades we would like to tackle by the end of the day"
"And I'M sure nopony told our parents about this crazy time-and-space history-altering hullabaloo!" added Sweetie Belle spitting out her side of the list.
"I probably should head back to my place for a sec and pick up some things for the twins" said Mr. Cake
"I think maybe we should migrate to the library" Spike suggested.
Hesitating to add to the list of to-dos, Fluttershy says, "Um, if it's not any trouble I need to find somepony to fix my roof"
"SORRY!" shouted Crash who apparently hasn't calmed down yet.
"I NEED SOMEPONY TO GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!" Cried Apple Bloom miraculously hearing the conversation from atop the currently giant Crash's head. Fireball flies up to get her.
Meanwhile, with the Round-Up Team, SOMEWHERE, IN THE ORCHARDS OF SWEET APPlE ACRES WHILE PRESENT JIMMY IS BEING YELLED AT BY GRANNY SMITH...! Present Ricky and Present EagleBones are in the Battletram's kitchen with the Future Cake Twins. Future Pound is looking around in the cupboards.
"...And despite the circumstances, she's still very optimistic...Just a little more mellow" Future Pumpkin said finishing an explaination about Future Pinkie Pie.
"Anything to eat around here?" asked Future Pound with his stomach grumbling.
As the following conversation carries on, Future Pumpkin starts clicking her teeth until she gets a piece of bubblegum out of her pocket and starts chewing on it.
"We had a chacolate soufflé the other day" started EagleBones, "But one of the guys we're after ate some of it and Present Pinke Pie ate the rest of it"
"...That I buy" replied Future Pumpkin.
"That reminds me" EagleBones started, turning his attention at Ricky, "I thought you swore off sweets in the name of fitness?"
"I did" Ricky answered, "I was making it for you guys to help celebrate our band's anniversary"
"Oh..." EagleBones said, momentarily forgetting the topic. "...Anyway, there's apples outside"
"What, and get my head chewed off!?" shouted Future Pound.
Just then, EagleBones starts thinking about something else...
"Hmm...There's something else..."
Meanwhile, back with the Scout Team, after winning her 20th game of three-way tic-tac-toe against the girls, Pinkie thought of something...Something important.
"Hey girls" Pinkie said, "I just thought of something...Something important"
"What is it, darling?" asked Rarity.
"If it's another game, no right now, we need to focus" said Twi trying to get them back on topic of the situation.
"Oh no, no" Pinkie reassured Twilight as she walked toward her. "I was just thinking" She continued neither her nor Twilight noticing Carl warping his way into the balloon, "If they WERE planning to bring this Space Monster M. guy to our world, what would they need?"
Rarity whimpers trying to get their attention fearing they'd give Carl ideas. Carl holds his hand up to his masked ear to listen to their conversation.
"Hold on, Rarity" said Twilight, "Now then...If they were to bring somepony into this dimension asside from the cloud that brung the Aquabats and the first three of their enemies here, they would probably need either a machine that could open a window to another dimension or a magical pendant of some sort"
Rarity, annoyed that they weren't noticing her uses a series of paper and markers to draw arrows to point at Carl. She even rotates them aroud and nothing!
"You mean like the Alicorn Amulet?" asked Pinkie.
"The what?" Twi asked back.
"Something I read about when we got back from your brother's wedding" Pinkie Answered, "Probably nothing we need to worry about, now what you were saying?"
"Giiiirls!" the frightened fashionista whined crinkling a few blank pieces of paper. Carl grabs a piece and a marker to write down what they're saying.
"Please wait your turn, Rarity" Twilight said, "Now then, if they were to know what artifact they need, they would have to check the library"
Pinkie sighs in relief saying, "That's good. At least we can rest assured that they would need a means of knowing where the library is and somepony who knows-"
Rarity yelps finally getting the girls' attention long enough to see that Carl grabbed her.
"MAGIC!" Carl shouted as he teleports away with Rarity.
The two are silent.
"Uh...Oh" That's all that came out of Pinkie's mouth.
All the while, Future Fluttershy and Future Spike are perched on top of a big, nearby cloud listening to the conversation.
"...Of course" Future Fluttershy said with a sinister, yet surprisingly adorable look on her face, "The Pendant of Quantum Cosmo!" She then mounds Future Spike who flies off into the Everfree Forest...DUN, DUN, DUUNN...! Sorry.
Meanwhile, back at Sweet Apple Acres, AJ is seen standing in between Granny Smith and Jimmy.
"NOW GITCHER CON-FANGLED CONTRAPTION AWAY FROM OUR APPLE TREES!" shouted Granny finishing up yelling at the poor, frazzled robot with AJ holding her back. "GO ON, NOW, MOVE YOUR CABOOSE!"
"AND WHERE'S APPLE BLOOM!?" demanded an angry Big Mac shaking his rolled-up hoof at him.
Just then, EagleBones dashes out of the Battletram. "I SUMMON THE- WHOA!" he shouted tripping over Hay Flower who was standing right at the foot of the door looking at the apple tree the Battletram's grill nearly hit. He then gets back up and tries again. "I SUMMON THE DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE!" he shouted bringing a bird that apparently, only he could see appear on the black glove on his right arm. He then points to Applejack asking, "You see that Orange pony in the hat, Dude?" The bird nods. "Grab her by the shoulders and await further instructions" The Dude does so, lifting AJ up to where her back hooves are just barely over Jimmy's head, making her hat drop to his feet.
"What in tarnation!?" shouted the freaked-out Earth Pony.
"Just get ready to tell her which way the library is" EagleBones told her as he grabbed her hat and took the keys from Jimmy then runs back to the Battletram, "I'll explain on the way, C'MON!"
Everyone complies with this and make their way into the Battletram followed by Granny Smith and Big Mac. Nopony noticed them until EagleBones put the Battletram into flight mode and made it airborne.
"I don't know what all this is about" said Granny Smith resting her front hooves on the dashboard, "But now I'M involved!"
Leaning toward Ricky in the front passenger's seat, Big Mac says, "Just go with it, she won't take 'no' for an answer"
"Are you sure about that?" asked EagleBones.
"Eeyep!" THERE it is.
EagleBones shrugs then readies the loud-speaker to communicate with AJ and the Dude. Speaking of, let's see what they're up to.
"...Yer a girl" started AJ looking at what she percieves is the bird's head, "So why does he call you 'The Dude', iffen you don't mind my askin'?"
The Dude just shrieks at her.
"We're ready over here" said Eaglebones positioning the Battletram toward the two.
"Uh...Alrighty, then" said AJ, "I may need to get my barrings iffen I know where this is goin'...But I'd say...Somewhere over yonder" she said with a gulp, pointing in the direction of the library.
"FLY, DUDE, FLY!" EagleBones shouted.
The Dude takes to the sky going in the direction AJ pointed...Let's see how the Protection Team is doing. Twilight and Pinkie are already at the library in a panic galloping back and fourth in front of the door. Spike manages to calm them both down.
"What are YOU guys doing here?" asked Twilight.
"I take it that it's the same reason YOU'RE here" Fizz answered.
The Collection Team shows up with already almost all the ingredients on the list noticing the other teams assembling.
"Well" Pinkie snickered, "It looks like we were all on the same...PAGE!" she said bursting into laughter. Twilight raised an eyebrow to her. "...You get it? It's a library...And...I was...Using a metaphore about having a common reason for being here...And made it sound like a pun...Books...."
"...Anyway" said a battered and bruised Commander, "I take back what I said earlier about the Collection Team job. By the way, where's your prissy homie?"
"She got abducted by that magician wrestler guy" Answered Twilight, "More improtantly, where are Fireball and Crash?"
"Anypony there?" asked Fireball on the walkie-talkies.
Twi pulls her's out asking, "Fireball, where are you?"
"I don't know what happened, but somehow, we wound up in Manehattan" she answered.
"OH WHAT THE HAY!?" Twilight shouted in a 'Say WHAT!?" maner.
"I don't get it either, but I kinda lost Crash in an abandoned parking garage" Fireball confessed. "He ran off into the lower levels chasing after some monsters and a guy called the...Clock Hose, or whatever temporal gardening tool he called him screaming at him to get him and the other Aquabats out of a time loop they were in back in their dimension. He agreed under the condition that he manages to beat him and his cronies...I wasn't allowed to help him"
"Oh goodness!" said Fluttershy hearing this.
Oh dear, let's see what's going on.
...Huh...Well, back to the library. Twilight looks at the sunset with a yawn just as the Round-Up Team arrived.
"You know what, it's been a long day, let's settle in for the night" said Twilight.
"It doesn't look like the enemy made their move yet anyway" added Fizz, "Nevertheless, somepony has to keep a vigil"
"We'll decide who gets the first watch after a short rest" said Twi opening the door to let everypony in. Present EagleBones returns AJ's hat. "By the way, I know the situation doesn't call for it, but I'm counting this as a slumber party!" she continued with glee, "It'd be my second one!"
"WHAT!?" shouted Pinkie in dismay. "YOU HAD YOUR FIRST SLUMBER PARTY AND I MISSED IT!?"
AJ pops back out with a "What have you DONE!?" look in her eyes.
"Uh...Oops?" That's all she could say.
With a sigh she tells Pinkie, "Iffen it makes you feel any better, sugarcube, it was during a downpour while me and Rarity had a bit of a dispute over our differences...Speakin' of Rarity-"
"Abducted" Twi answered.
"Ah...Well, once everypony's gotten a chance to settle down, we should come up with a plan to get her back" AJ said scooting the down-hearted Pinkie into the the library.
Will Pinkie come out of her funk? Why did Future Fluttershy head into the Everfree Forest? Weren't we supposed to add another knight in this chapter...? Ah, I'll get her into the next one.
Adlet the good times roll!
SOMEWHERE, AROUND A CAMPFIRE BY A GIANT TREE IN THE EVERFREE FOREST...! ManAnt and his modly crew are roasting hot dogs and marshmallows as Carl reports his knowledge of what he heard today. Rarity is sitting between him and Cobraman tied up in a boa constrictor.
"And you're sure about this?" asked ManAnt using his mandables to break off a piece of his hot dog.
"I mean it, man" said Carl placing his in a bun and putting condiments on it, "That purple one said there was a book in her library that could tells about an artifact that can open a portal to our world and summon some guy named Space Monster M"
"Space Monster M, eh?" queried Manant.
"Well if you RUFFIANS think for ONE second that I would tell YOU where the library is" claimed Rarity, "You have another thing coming!"
"The Pendant of Quantum Cosmo" hissed Future Fluttershy emerging from the darkness with Future Spike, "A book on it DOES exist and it just happens to to be in grasping range of our collective apendages. And I know where it is...But not where you think" As she comes closer, Rarity tries not to cry. Future Fluttershy approaches Cobraman moving her head to make him scoot away from Rarity. "Rarity, old friend...Do you recall the incident with a dragon who was about to go to sleep for a century?"
With a gasp, Rarity says, holding her tears back, "Y-you don't mean--!"
"Oh, yes" grinned Future Fluttershy looking over at the group, "That very cave contains a passage way to where the Tome of Quantum Cosmo is kept. It was covered by the dragon's hoard"
"DAS IS GUT!" said Eva who was fiddling with a rotten apple core.
"We'll head up there at the crack of dawn!" claimed ManAnt.
"NO!" Boomed Future Fluttershy, "It has to be tonight! We must be one step closer to the enemy! From now on, you will follow MY orders!"
"NOW JUST A MINUTE THERE-!" objected ManAnt before Future Spike roared at him.
"...That's better" said Future Fluttershy smugly"
"So, if we know where the book is" started EagleClaw, "What do we do with the unicorn?"
"Bring her along" Said Future Fluttershy, "She'll be of use to us"
EagleClaw puts out the fire and the group gets ready to leave.
"You plan on moving ahead of scheduel and put the events that lead to YOUR current days in motion, aren't you!?"
"...Sure" said Future Fluttershy hsitantly, "THAT'S my plan..." She then mounds Future Spike with the others.
EagleClaw grabs Rarity who could no longer hold in her fear any longer.
Within her wailing as they took flight, Rarity cries out, "SOMEPONY HELP MEEEEEEEE! AAAAAAAAAAAAAH-HUH-HUH-HUUUUUUUUH!"
Meanwhile, back at Twilight's place, everypony is talking among themselves. Pinkie seems to have recovered from her funk and talking to Crash. Spike is in a cage, angrily freaking out. Accept for Jimmy, the Present Aquabats are in pajamas.
"I'LL TEAR OFF HIS MASK!" shouted Spike rattling the cage, "I'LL TEAR IT RIGHT OFF! I'LL TEAR IT OFF AND WEAR IT TO TOWN!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! PAGE!" Laughed Crash, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-! I don't get it"
"NYAAAAH!" squealed a frustrated Pinkie covering her face with a pillow.
Crash looks around looking at the book next to him picking it up. He examines it for a moment.
"...Ohh...PAGE!" said Crash.
"You ruined the moment" said Pinkie in a muffled tone.
"Where did the cage come from?" asked Present Ricky.
Uncovering her head, Pinkie replies, "Oh, I have cages stashed all over Ponyville, in case of cage emergency"
With glee, Twilight approaches the gathering with Applejack at her side wearing a mud mask.
"Okay, everypony" she said in her excited voice, "After dinner, the boys will have the higher level tonight and the girls will be down here. The refreshment table and the path to it will be neutral ground"
Listening to her, AJ stomps her right front hoof at her saying, "Twi, focus, would ya?"
"What?" asked Twilight before remembering the situation. "...Oh, right...Sorry about that. Now then, let's hear some status reports"
Fizz clears his throat to start. "Asside from that temporary mishap with the random happenstance sending Fireball and Crash to Manehattan, everything's been going smoothly on our end"
"We just shipped the ingrediants we collected to Zecora and Zulu" added Slicer, "We just have three left"
"And those are?"
"A fruit from the Bombom tree on Gallopagos Island, the rare Crystal Flower from Northern Equestria, and...an animal with metal wraped around it..."
"It is hurricane season on Gallopagos" added Paradise, "It would be a difficult voyage"
"And with how rare the Crystal Flower is" said one of the herb-collectors, "There's no telling where it would be...It could even be extinct!"
"Hey...I wrestled a...Griffin...A teenaged dragon and...Several plants today" Our present-day hero said mustering the energy to talk through his incredibly sore state from where he is laying, "I can handle...A little rain"
"That's very noble of you" said Fluttershy placing a bowl of soup on the Present Commander's lap, "But you might need to rest tomarrow"
"As for us" added Hay Flower, "Our progress is self-explanitory"
"I see...And you all know the current situation with Rarity" Twilight said before looking at Present Rainbow Dash, noticing she's still wearing a chef's hat and apron. "...Uh, Rainbow, why are you still wearing that?"
"Huh?" Rainbow looks at herself. "We've been busy these past couple of days, I guess I didn't have time to put this stuff away. And I left my grill at Fluttershy's"
"Uh...I might have smooshed it during my last episode" Crash admitted.
"Swell" said Rainbow in a chagrinned maner heading for the door, "It's a good thing I got an extended warenty" She opens a door to find a yellow Earth Pony with red polka dots on her coat like pepperonis, a Cutie Mark of a slice of pizza and a mane and tale as brown as a breadstick. Rainbow looks back at the group saying, "Pizza's here"
Thinking about his soreness, the Present Commander looks a Fluttershy saying, "Good...Call on the...Soup" Fluttershy smiles at him as he grabs the spoon and starts eating.
Rainbow looks back at the delivery mare asking, "You don't have Pony Pox, do you?"
"I get that question a lot" she replied, "It's just how my coat is"
"...Huh"
"...Anywho, I think I got the gist of what's goin' on here" said Granny, looking back at Twilight as Rainbow leaves and Pinkie has a talk with the delivery mare. "These here Bat Fish fellers are from another dimension and came here from a rainbow colored cloud with a giant ant, a strange-lookin' griffin and a lady obsessed with garbage. Then a wrestling magician comes here with a giant cobra-like monster because THESE here fellsers from the future saved the local bakers and their kids. Now we's here lookin' fer a book about an artifact that can open portals to other dimensions"
"Eeyep" answered Big Mac.
"Sound's right" added Apple Bloom.
"That's the situation in a nutshell" said AJ grabbing a towel to remove the mud mask.
"Oh good" said Granny Smith, "I thought I was losin' track at the end there"
Future Angel looks over at Future Rainbow Dash sitting at a window watching her past self run off then over to the moon.
"It's all going according to plan" she said to herself. "When the book is found, I will certainly change history how it SHOULD be!"
"Yes, but first, we need to aprehend the criminals" said Future Jimmy.
"What?" Future Rainbow asked turning around noticing them. "Ah, yes, I remember" She rolls over to the cage.
Moments later, Present Commander, apparently well enough to stand and Present Jimmy are on Twilight's balcony. Jimmy takes a bite out of his slice of pizza.
"Are you sure Fluttershy would be okay with you being out of bed?" Jimmy asked the Commander who stiffly walks over to the rail.
"She said to try moving around every couple of hours" replied the Commander struggling to bend over as he lays hunched over, he tries a couple of times to bend his knees. "So, how about these past two days, huh?"
"It has been eventful" said the concerned Robot watching the Commander as he slowly looks up to the stars and rest his head on his fist, "Yet, somehow it seems conveniant, don't you think?"
"How so?" asked the Commander using his eyes to look at Jimmy not willing to change poses any time soon.
"Well, concider this" Jimmy started taking another bite out of his slice, "Our future sleves and those of two infants and of Rainbow Dash arrive to retroactively avert a crisis that is to happen in THIS time"
"Yeah, and?" asked the Commander slowing standing up straight.
Swallowing, Jimmy then continues, "Then an evil future variation of the very first pony we meet coming here found a similar means to come back to this time. There's a puzzle to all of this, Commander, and I assure you that the pieces WILL fall into place"
Just as the Commander was about to say something, A purple blur whizzes by and both could hear the blur shouting "FLAMETHROWER EMERGENCYYYY!" in the Commander's voice.
"What the-?" Jimmy said before noticing the Commander dangling on the rail on the oposite side, "COMMANDER!"
Present EagleBones, Ricky and Crash come out to help Jimmy pull their Commander up.
"ROBOT! ROBOT!" That's all the Commander can say as they struggle to get him up. The other Aquabats are stumbling over each other trying to positon themselves.
Just then, the girls exit the ground level to check out the problem.
Fluttershy looks up into the sky. "Was that me...And me?" she asked herself.
As she's shaking her head, Pinkie's tail starts twitching. The next morning, Jimmy had just finished recharging. He steps out of the recharging chamber to find a red, wolf-like creature with long, spikey brown hair and pale yellow paws and tail tip curled up asleep on an otherwise empty table. Jimmy turns on the lights waking her. The creature sits up revealing that she has a humanoid form and a patch of white fur ranging from the front of her torso to most of her muzzle. As her legs dangle from the table while she's rubbing her right eye, she turns her head to see Jimmy.
"Good morning, miss" Jimmy said hoping to make a good impression.
"Huh? Oh, hello" the creature said moving her paw from her eye opening them both revealing that they're completely yellow with black pupils, "Is this YOUR wagon?"
"Well...Sort of, this is what my friends and I reside in this vehicle" Jimmy replied.
The creature stands up on the floor.
"My name is Fauna, by the way" she said shaking the Robot's hand, "I'm an Adlet"
"I am Jimmy the Robot" He bows to Fauna. "Mechanical scientist, inventor and keaboard player of the Aquabats"
"...Aquabats?" queried Fauna, "Is that a kind of fish?"
"Well, actually, it's the name of our group" Jimmy answered. He then notices Rarity who seems to have cried herself to sleep from her ordeal on the floor untied. "Ms. Rarity?" He and Fauna head over to her unconcious body. Jimmy kneels down and nudges her to wake up. "Ms. Rarity, are you all right?"
Rarity groggily opens her eyes revealing her falsies were apparently stolen from her. "J...James? Is that you?" She looks up at Jimmy then starts to cry again. "Oh, I've done a terrible THING!" she sobbed wrapping her front legs around Jimmy's robotic waist, "I didn't want to, but...THEY THREATENED ME-HEEEE!" She notices Fauna then yelps.
Jimmy notices a note in Rarity's mane and takes it out making her turn her attention toward
After a few minutes, Rarity invites Jimmy and Fauna to breakfast at her home while she puts on a fresh set of eyelashes.
"So" started Fauna taking a bite out of her toast, "What does that note say?"
"Hang on, I'll read it" Jimmy said clearing his robotic throat and unfurling the parchment. "It says 'Dear The Aquabats, we have no further use for this one, she's served her purpose. We have taken your interdimensional window and have found the book you wish to protect. You will soon know the meaning of dispair! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. From, Future Fluttershy' That's all there is"
"Being a unicorn, they forced me to use a spell to guide them to a book about an artifact that would open portals to other worlds, known only as the Pendant of Quantum Cosmo" Rarity reported, "It was either that, get fed to Spike's future counterpart, or let that foul-smelling scientist spray me with a device she called 'Mister Slopety-Slop'. I tried to be strong, but I cracked under the pressure!"
"That's AWFUL!" cried Fauna. "But wait, if they already have a book about this pendant, why do they also need an interdimensional window?"
"They must be planning on using it as a means to communicate with Space Monster M. in OUR dimension and get him on board with the plan to bring him into THIS dimension" Theroized Jimmy, "We should head back to the library and report this to the others!"
"Now THAT doesn't make sense!" Fauna said in confusion, "If we had to go back to the library to tell them all of this, why did we come HERE for breakfast?"
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, darling" answered Rarity.
Will this turn of events be a game-changer for our heroes? How will they respond to their new ally? Tune in for the next chapter! Same My Little Homie Time, same My Little Homie...Place...On the internet...Thing...
Fluttershy and the MC Bat Commander's Radical Adventure...A glimpse of it, anywayView Online
Fluttershy and the MC Bat Commander's Radical Adventure...A glimpse of it, anyway
SOMEWHERE, AT TWILIGHT'S LIBRARY...!
Spike daydreams about rescuing Rarity. They were about to kiss before Carl and Cobraman show up.
"YOU HAVEN'T WON YET, SPIKE!" he shouted, pointing his staff at him, "COBRAMAN, GO!"
Rarity faints as Cobraman starts shooting snakes at Spike. Spike dodges them with ease while guarding Rarity. The two make martial arts poses at each other.
"You will not succeed, for she will remain here and is with us!" Cobraman said in a mock kung fu movie voice.
"Never, for Lady Rarity shall be liberated and free from your grasp!" replied Spike in the sam type of voice.
As the two charge at each other...
"SPIKE!" Hearing Twilight's voice snaps Spike out of it to the point where he notices that he was about to slap Scootaloo with a wooden spoon. "There's a thing called self-control!"
"Well you know how boys are" added AJ at the cooking station.
Twilight, at the toast station, turns her head saying, "I know, but still, he almost hit Scootaloo with a wooden spoon!" She then turns back around seeing that she accidentally buttered Angel's face.
Over by the counter, Fluttershy is spoon-feeding the Present Commander cereal and as he's sitting in a bathtub with the water frozen on top and his face covered in frost.
"You're sure this will help you heal faster?" asked Fluttershy.
"Totally" said the Present Commander, "I saw this work in a movie once"
"Commander" added Present EagleBones tuning his guitar, "How many times do we have to tell you that not everything you see in the movies works in real life?"
"Bones, we're in a world that looks like a giant cartoon everywhere you look" the Commander said to his weaponized guitar player, "It's gonna work. On another note, how about that craziness last night, huh?"
"You mean that thing where you and Jimmy heard you whiz by on a purple blur?" asked Crash drawing with Pinkie and the Crusaders. Not knowing what to do next, Spike still looms over Scootaloo with the spoon making her nervous that he might act up again.
"Oh-oh, and that fly-bys with the two Fluttershys" added Pinkie before noticing Crash sneaking a peak at her drawing making her cover it.
"All I saw was a shooting star that sounded like a jet engine" Crash replied.
"I didn't draw that" said pinkie thinking he meant what he saw on the drawing.
"That's not what I was...Aw nevermind" Said Crash giving up on the conversation.
"Hmm...What I think we might have witnessed was a predestination paradox" said Twilight getting Ricky this time. Disgruntled, AJ takes the butter knife from her and gives it to Ricky. An embarrassed Twilight gives the piece of toast to Ricky and heads into the living area.
"Pre-what-now?" Asked Spike.
Twilight clears her throat to begin explaining. "A predestination paradox, or casual loop if you prefer, is a time loop that sends one either back or forward in time depending on when subject A, the one sent through time is sent to correct or see the mistakes that subject B, his or her past counterpart made or is about to make, usually to either rectify the situation or cause a problem like I did for myself one time.
"I remember that" Pinkie replied.
"Uh, excuse me, JIMMY, but was that really the best you can do to simplify what you just said?" asked the Commander.
After letting out a groan, Twilight looks around for a visual aid of some sort.
"Hmm..." She then looks over in Spike's direction. "Okay, say that Spike represents subject A and Crash, subject B. Spike, please come here for a second" Spike walks over to Twilight who places the spoon on the counter. "Now, subject A had just gone back in time to say...Two months ago. Crash? Walk over to the Cakes"
"Uh...Okay" Crash puts the crayon he was holding down and stands up looking around. "What cakes?"
"She means us" said Carrot Cake.
"Oh" Crash said walking over to the Cakes
"Okay then...Subject B is now at the spot before his first encounter with subject A, and he's...On his way to work ready to get that big promotion" Crash starts marching in place acting like he's carrying an attache walking down the street with glee.
"OOH-OOH-OOH! I think I know what happened with subject A!" shouted Pinkie making Crash stop and slowly relax his body to listen.
"Um...What is it?" asked Twilight cautiously.
Pinkie clears her throat. "Subject A GOT the promotion only to find out that the ponies he was working for were actually aliens planning an invasion to strip the planet of its resources, use us as their food supply and SELL THE REMAINS TO SLAVERY!"
"Hoo, good thing I'm subject B" responded Crash, "Don't wanna go through all THAT again...It's happened to me before"
"Actually, that's the point of this" Twilight said to him. "Now then, both of you stand between that spot in front of Jimmy, Rarity and that adlet over there"
"Is that bacon I smell?" asked Fauna.
"Miss, please be quiet during the lecture" Said Twilight nonchalantly to Fauna. Crash and Spike move over to the spot. Spike breaks out into a sweat as Fauna counts down from five on her fingers. "As I was saying, that spot represents the crosswalk where- ADLET!?"
"ADLET!?" Rainbow and Pinkie, the Cakes and the Crusaders cried.
"OH GOODNESS!" yelped Fluttershy.
"MATH DOGGY!?" said Crash not getting why they are panicking. Everypony who panicked starts running around while AJ stays by the stove frozen. Ricky waves the butter knife at Fauna as EagleBones gets ready to fire. Fauna hides behind Jimmy who gets ready to defined her. The Future Aquabats, except their Commander who is sound asleep join him. The Present Commander struggles to grab the spoon from his cereal to also wave it around, to no avail. Through this commotion, the babies cry leaving their future selves to calm them down. Future Pound is rocking Pumpkin's past self and vice-versa. Crash looks at Fauna shouting "YOU'RE SCARING EVERYONE, YOU...MATH DOGGY...GIRL...THING!" He leaves the library so he wouldn't break the roof off of it. "GETTING EMOTIONAL!"
As Crash unintentionally terrorizes everypony outside, Granny wakes up looking down. She lets out a yawn.
"What's all that hootin' and hollarin' abou- AGH! BIG MACINTOSH, GET A BROOM! AN ADLET GOT IN!"
Hay Flower, having just come out of the shower, uses her magic to pull down a volt of lightning to get everyopony to stop. "Now, what is going ON!?" she boomed stomping her right front hoof at the crowd.
Emerging from the corner getting out of his meditative state, Fizz reports, "Rarity and the Robot found Fauna and everypony's freaking out about her being inside the library"
"What!?" Hay Flower said turning her head towards Jimmy and Fauna. Fauna waves at Hay Flower. "How did you get here so fast? I sent the letter yesterday. And if I read the paper correctly, the trains are out of commission while they clean up an avalanche- did not think that through"
"When I recharged, I found her asleep on a table in my laboratory" Jimmy explained, "Ms. Rarity was found on the floor"
"The room was at such a comfortable temperature, I fell asleep through the rest of the day" Fauna added.
"I'd hate to break this up" Rarity said remembering the situation, "But DO keep on track, would you?"
"...About what?" asked Fauna.
With a sigh, Rarity reminded the forgetful adlet. "Book? Pendant? Interdimensional window? DANGER!? HONESTLY, darling, keep up!"
"THEY FOUND THE BOOK!?" shouted Twilight in distress. "Wait, pendant? THE PENDANT OF QUANTUM COSMO!"
"You know of it?" asked Jimmy.
"The pendant was forged by the great unicorn, Quantum Cosmo who was best known for her work with interdimensional magic" geeked Twilight, "Legend has it that she hid a book of her spells that contained where she hid the pendant in a cavern...Where did they find it?"
Rarity took a deep breath and began. "Do you remember that DREADFUL dragon incident"
Spike and the girls think about this for a second.
"Be specific" requested Present Rainbow Dash.
"Yeah, like, are you talking about the one where we had to convince one to go sleep somewhere else?" asked Pinkie
"Or the time Spike went kleptomaniacal?" added Twilight.
"What about that mess with the teenage ones when he joined the migration?" Fluttershy wondered.
"How did you know about THAT!?" Rainbow asked her.
"She told me during our spa date the next day" she answered.
"...The first one" Rarity answered. She then looks over at Jimmy and Fauna. "We have a lot of unusual things happen here in Ponyville"
"Oh no...THERE!?" As Twilight rubs her temples growling, Spike burps out a flame and a book materializes from it. There was a note being used as a bookmark. Twilight takes the book, opens it, then reads the note.
"Ahem, 'I can't explain right now, but we managed to attain the book in our own time. I requested Princess Celestia to send this copy to you on this day. You needn't worry about the pendant or the last two ingredients to the potion that will get the Aquabats home, we'll take care of that. You just worry about the trash monsters approaching the town. Signed, a friend...' Trash monsters? 'P.S, do not read past page 50 until I say so'" Twilight finished.
Noticing the Present Commander is bursting out of the frozen layer, Fluttershy moved the bowl away. The Commander stands up and reveals that he is wearing a pair of Aquabats-print swim trunks along with his hat and mask. Fluttershy covers her eyes after placing the bowl on the floor next to her.
"Sounds like Eva Mudlark is making her move! Aquabats, LET'S- GOOOOOOOOOOOOH!" he cried clutching his abdomen falling submerging into the water.
Fluttershy jumps in after the Commander, fishes him out, listens to see if he has water in his lungs and proceeds with performing CPR on him. The Commander coughs out the water.
The Commander looks at EagleBones then points to him saying, "Not a word, Bones, technically, it's working!"
Crash, still in an upset state, asks "So she's on our side?"
"Seems like it, big guy" Replied the Present Commander recovering from his cramp and standing up, "Just one question...What the heck is an adlet, some kind of...warewolf?"
"That's not really what we were talking about" Twilight reminded the Commander, "But I guess it doesn't hurt to have a quick lesson. Even if the one I was giving was interrupted by the subject"
"Hang on" requested Jimmy as he scans through his database, "According to my data, the Adlet is a mythical beast of Inult origin. In some tales, it is said that early members of this race were..." He takes a quick glance at the Cutie Mark Crusaders and then Crash. "Delivered by the stork to a beautiful Inult girl and a big red dog. The litter consisted of 10-"
"Wait, did you say big red dog?" Asked Crash shrinking down to normal size and reentering the library.
"Not THAT big red dog, Crash" Jimmy answered "...Smaller one....Any way, half of them were regular puppies while the other half were hybrids of the worst of both parents known as Erqigdlets. The father of the girl..." He pauses to see that his comrades looked lost. "I had a notion that you wouldn't be able to keep up, so I've taken the liberty in making these before I joined the voyage here" Jimmy pulls out some puppets. "All I need is a stage-"
"Hold on a second, darling" Rarity interrupted, "Where did you get the materials for those from?"
"The most disorganized room in the place. Now then-"
As the Commander left to get dressed and avoid the impending explosion, Rarity's mind starts reeling remembering what happened to her shop the time she switched bodies with AJ and Rainbow Dash. "My- ee- bleh-" was all she could get out of her mouth before fainting.
Groaning, Sweetie Belle asked "You touched stuff in her inspiration room, didn't you?"
"...Maybe?" Jimmy replied.
"There's no time for this!" Twilight shouted right after Sweetie Belle called Jimmy a dodo. "Now then, we all have a busy day ahead of us. And if this book is from the future, we should be ready for what's coming our way"
"Well, we can't do anything on empty stomachs" said AJ calming down, "So why don't we finish up here, and-?" She then turns back over to the frying pan seeing that the eggs spontaneously burst into flames making her and Ricky yelp. Pinkie rushes to the kitchen area's island in front of Ricky and sprays the fire with a fire extinguisher. She then tries to say something before the Present Commander, who had just gotten back and witnessed the incident interrupts her.
"Don't tell me" he said expecting himself to be correct, "You have fire extinguishers stashed all over Ponyville in case of fire extinguisher emergency"
"Hmm" pondered the Robot, "The same must go for flamethrowers"
"Wow, you guys catch on quickly" said Pinkie sounding impressed.
"Aw man, those were mine, weren't they?" asked Crash staring at the smoldering, foam-covered mess.
"Uh...Afraid so, sugarcube" AJ answered with hesitation worried about what he'd do in response with to the answer.
"That's okay" Crash reassured a shocked AJ, "We were talking, the doggy girl scared everyone, you got distracted"
After a little bit of mumbling, AJ fainted and Ricky drops the butter knife.
"...What the what?" asked the Present Commander just before he was whisked away by what appeared to be a badly damaged robotic alicorn that looked partially like Future Pound Cake with Future Pumpkin Cake's horn. "WHOA!"
Crash runs out to see what just happened. "WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT!?" he shouted just as he started to grow again.
"IT CAME BACK OUT!" Lilly Valley cried while tending to her garden.
Meanwhile in the outskirts of town, the alicorn drops the Commander before crashing into a nearby rock.
"Not a coordinated flyer, are ya?" asked the Commander standing up and dusting himself off.
The robot stands up trying to regain his footing. "Functionality at 50%" a feminine voice said coming out of him.
"Ugh" That's all the Commander could say.
"C...Commander...My friend" the robot said in Jimmy's voice, "I don't have long to...Explain, but...I need to ask you a request"
"Um...Okay, not freaky homie" the Commander answered still freaked out from the unexpected migration.
"I...Don't expect you to understand right now" the robot said sounding badly injured, "...But it's crucial that you give...YOUR Jimmy this" A floppy disk pops out of the robot's head. "Functionality at 42%" he said again in the female voice.
The Commander slowly approaches the robot taking the floppy disk. "Okay, now what?"
"That disk...contains my memories...Do not put it in Angel's hard drive...for two days" the robot requested. "Functionality at 34%" There it goes, "How I enjoyed...Our time as a band...Like the time we found...Jimmy Jr.'s egg...I wish for him...Not to suffer what has happened to him in OUR future"
"Wait a minute, how do you...?" The Commander then looks at his eye on the damaged side. "...Jimmy?"
"The Jimmy that came here...Has the memories of...Before and after what really...Happened to me." The robot stood there as the Commander tries to wrap his head around this. "Functionality at 20%. Activating self-destruct sequence"
"Wait, what?" the Commander asked.
A group of four giant golum-like creatures made of garbage approaches their way.
"As a last...Act of friendship" the robot said walking over to the advancing army, "I will stop these monsters...Before they get near the town"
"Uh...Okay...Man..." said the still-confused Commander.
"Functionality at 5%" the voice said as the robot flew at the monsters "Good luck, old friend...You...Must...Stop...Heeeeeeeeeeeeeer" The blast the robot produced incinerates the monsters completely.
The Commander looks at the disk then at some nearby mares on a camping trip.
"Uh...Don't mind me, ladies, just return to your camping" The Commander said leaving them confused. Disoriented from the passing incident, the Commander says to himself, "Well, THAT wasn't the weirdest day-starter I've ever had...He said sarcastically"
What was THAT all about!? Where did that second book come from? WHEN did it come from? Tune in to the next chapter to find out!
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Equestria!
SOMEWHERE, AT THE PONYVILLE DUMP...! Eva is giddily making monsters made of muck. Meanwhile, Future Fluttershy gives EagleClaw a card with some numbers on it.
"These are the coordinates to Space Monster M's location" she hissed. Carl held on to the card as EagleClaw punches in the coordinates. "Now, press enter and step asside"
"You got it, boss!" Said Carl pressing the button, "TECHNOLOGY!"
Just then, a strange void appears on where the window is...Then it shows a shot of space with some unusual visuals to it. the two move to different sides of the machine so Future Fluttershy and the others could see.
"Hey, this isn't Space Monster M" EagleClaw said, "It's a cartooooon!"
This was unavoidable, so let's get it over with, clap-clap...! Sorry...
When the cartoon finished, Carl looked at the card.
"Oh MAN, YOU PUT IT IN BACKWARDS!" he shouted scooting Future Fluttershy asside so he can put the right numbers in, "BEEP-BEEP-BOOP-BOOP-BOP-TECHNOLOGY!"
Another portal shows up showing a giant white face with an M on the forehead. In a deep, monsterous, slightly worbbly voice, the creature asked, "WHAT THE!? DO YOU MIND? I'M PLOTTING TO STEAL SUPERMAGIC POWERMAN'S SUPER MAGIC POWER AMULATE!"
Clearing her throat, Future Fluttershy says, "Yes, well...How would you like a break from that?"
"...I'm listening" said Space Monster M. noticing the talking winged horse in the center of the gathering.
"Now then" started Future Fluttershy making the others scatter away from the machine so she may pace, "This bares further explaination, but I am from the future. I came here to move the events that take place a month from now into effect in the next two days. To do this, I will need a special item known as the Pendant of Quantum Cosmo" She holds up the book to Space Monster M's face. "And according to this book I hold in my hooves, it's located in a mountain in Northern Equestria"
"Hmm" pondered the disembodied head...space monster...thing..."And this pendant is the only means of coming to your world? What am I to do in the meantime?"
"Be patient" Future Fluttershy answered turning to EagleClaw. "EagleClaw, I will trust YOU to bring it to me" She tears out the map page and give it to EagleClaw.
"HIM!?" shouted ManAnt in disbelief, "Given his performance, he's likely to botch the job!"
"That's because you IMMEDIATELY PUT YOURSELF IN THE LEADER POSITION WITHOUT HAVING IT PUT TO A VOTE!" EagleClaw snapped, "WHAT'S MORE, YOU DON'T ASK ANYONE IF THEY HAVE A PLAN! IT'S ALWAYS GOTTA BE YOU, YOU, YOU!"
"It was MY IDEA TO TEAM UP TO DEFEAT THE AQUABATS!" ManAnt snapped back.
"Yeah? Well...ONE OF THEM'S MY BROTHER!"
"ENOUGH!" boomed Space Monster M. in frustration, "SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!"
"I'll put you BOTH on the assignment if it will get you two to cooperate!" added Future Fluttershy. As the two set off after shrugging at each other, she turns her attention toward Carl and Cobraman. "As for you two-"
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEGLECLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!" THERE it is.
"...I need you to carry the machine around. We don't want our friend here to miss out on the fun...EVA!" Future Fluttershy turns over to the muck monster army. "How goes the creation of our first wave?"
"...Only vave, unfortunately" Eva answered downheartedly, "Your order for zose giants exhausted mein zupplies"
"It'll have to do" groaned Future Fluttershy. She then looked around a little bit. "Now I just need somepony to have a proper conversation with so I don't go mad from all this incompitance"
"Perhapse I may be that somepony?" Asked a deep-voiced stranger. Everyone turns around to see a muscular, cloaked figure wearing a horned helmet fashioned like a minotaur's head and what appears to be an exo-suit walking along dragging a wheeled iron box behind him by a chain.
"Ah, Lord Cammat Bendcrom, my old friend" said Future Fluttershy in ecstacy, "And I see you brought your...Friend along with you"
"Indeed I have, Fluttershy" Bendcrom replied, "He will come useful when our plan comes together"
"Who's THIS clown!?" asked Carl.
"HOW DARE YOU!?" Future Fluttershy snapped, "Cammat Bendcrom happens to be one of the most trusted commander in the Discordian army"
"So, what are you up to now?" Bendcrom asked Future Fluttershy.
"We were just getting ready to assault Ponyville" Future Fluttershy replied, "Care to join us?"
"Why, I'd be delighted to" Bendcrom answered back.
Meanwhile, the MC Bat Commander arrived back at Ponyville only to see that it's surrounded by a strange, sudsy moat. He notices a lever on his side where a drawbridge is set up. He pulls the lever hesitantly expecting it to be a trap. The bridge lowers and he crosses it slowly hearing a creak coming from it. As soon as he made it to the Ponyville side, Pinkie comes by swimming in the moat.
"There you are!" Pinkie said making the Commander get into a frightened fighting stance.
"Oh, Pinkie...Pie, was it?" Asked the Commander calming down, "Has this moat always been here, or am I just a little tired from the trek back here?"
"COMMNADER!" Crash shouted climbing over the buildings in front of him like a fence. He then shrinks down and gives the Commander a big hug. "I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!"
"Good...To see you too...Big guy" the Commander responded straining with the air he had. Crash lets go of him. Catching his second wind, he asks, "Where did this moat come from?"
"Oh, Ricky built it" Crash answered.
"Where did he get the water and bubble bath soap?" the Commander asked.
"Huh...? Oh, THAT!" As Crash gets ready to explain, Pinkie climbs out on the drawbridge side shaking herself dry then proceeds to itching herself with her right back hoof for a little before walking over to the Ponyville side. "You see, the moat itself was actually a happy accident. Remember the griffin you wrestled? I don't know if it's the same one, but she lossened a rock on a nearby mountain that shot across the town with her on it. This lead to some water from the river above coming out of it which was going to flood the town before Ricky made a groove into the ground surrounding it deep enough to prevent it from being washed away. This in turn caught a run-away wagon delivering bubble bath to a local store which mixed in with the water"
"...That seems elaborately conveniant" the Commander said trying to wrap his head around the explanation.
"It's like going for a swim and taking a bath at the same time" Pinkie commented making her way to the Ponyville side of the moat.
"...Uh-huh...Anyway, where's Jimmy?" the Commander asked remembering his appointed mission holding up the disk, "I was asked by that weird robot to give him this and not put it into the rabbit's hard drive for two days"
"He's with Twilight working on a way so the bad guys we capture don't get away when we capture them" Pinkie reports gesturing them to follow her.
Back at the library, Twilight and Jimmy are tightening a few last screws on a conainment device.
"There, that should do" Twilight said sighing in relief.
"This conainment dome will make sure that not even ManAnt can escape" Jimmy added returning his hand back to normal. Just then, Pinkie, Crash and the Commander arrive.
Stay tuned for an announcement!
Hello, everypony, it is with a heavy heart to inform you that this is where (This version of) My Little Homie must come to an end. But, worry not, I plan to make a fresh start with a "Do-Over" Version soon. This one just got a little too convoluted and due to not working on it for a while, I forgot where I left off in the previous chapter. With that said, here's how the rest of this version would've played out (This is gonna be quite a read, so brace yourselves):
Once everyone in the Aquabats' Rogues Gallery were captured and the cataclysm of the future seemingly averted, a rainstorm arrives revealing Future Fluttershy to not be corrupted by Future Discord (Keep in mind this version took place before his reformation), but it was an elaborate ruse devised by Future Twilight who caused an accident that resulted in the conditions of Future Angel, Future EagleBones and Future Ricky who were all sworn into secrecy over it. As the Teenage Future Spike transforms to normal, Cammat Bendcrom reveals himself to be the real Future Commander with his "Friend in the box" revealed to be Future Crash who fell asleep from boredom. The "Future Commander" with our heroes was just a sophisticated puppet voiced by him through the Bendcrom helmet which flashed every time he spoke through it. Oddly, Future Jimmy had forgotten all of this which reminds the Present Commander of the Floppy Disk he got from Future Future Jimmy. He inserts it into Future Angel's Hard Drive. Future Jimmy reveals that the actual Future Jimmy used spare parts to make Future Angel into a cyborg with the ability to talk post-accident. After THAT explanation, it's revealed that Future Jimmy was captured by Future Rainbow Dash who is revealed to be a Discordian double agent who had a more convoluted plan, revealing that her state was just as elaborate a ruse which in turn revealed why the timeline hasn't reset just yet. Future Rainbow had revealed that she lost her eye in the struggle that resulted in her turning Future Jimmy into robotic duplicates of the real Future Pound and Pumpkin Cake who she tricked into staying behind and the parts left over into a new eye.
The duplicates fused into the Alicorn the Present Commander encountered and captured everyone. Future Rainbow refused to set those on what would now be her side further revealing that she did all of this for her OWN plans to reset history and become the ruler of Equestria, drinking a potion made from the accident which transforms her into a giant, demonic Alicorn with flames for a mane and tail. Suddenly Gilda appears on the scene with a "Time Stone" (The item responsible for bringing the Future half of the cast into this story in the first place) and uses it to send both Fluttershys, Future Spike and the Present Commander to the times of Star Swirl the Bearded who tells them the location of the Pendant of Quantum Cosmo and sends them back to the present (Three days earier) where Guilda is revealed to be the Gryphon the Commander fought for the feathers. After finally convincing Past Gilda of the situation, they board the train to Canterlot where it's revealed that the reprogrammed Future Jimmy followed them with Future Rainbow's Time Stone. A series of hijinks ensues resulting in Future Jimmy coming to his senses and heading off that night to inform the Past Commander. With the confused Past Gilda and eventually, Celestia and Luna in tow, our heroes find the Pendant and make their way to the area this casual loop started. There, Celestia frees our heroes. Jimmy cancels out the signal of Space Monster M. and the Aquabats use the Pendant taking them, the Battletram and their enemies home, thus foiling Future Rainbow's plans and resetting the timeline to the point before the Aquabats ever showed up in Equestria.
...You could SEE why a do-over is in order. It became a dark, convoluted mess! But give me a few moons, I'll have a new version up and running!