Power Ponies: The Shadows of Power Collection

Chapters

Stepping Into the Shadows Part 1
Stepping Into the Shadows Part 2
The Lady of Ink
Concert of Banshees
The Terrible Terror of Two
The Art Museum Part 1
The Art Museum Part 2
The Second Gig Part 1
The Second Gig Part 2
A Terror Two Behold
Per Father's Request

Stepping Into the Shadows Part 1

Spike jumped for joy as he and Twilight Sparkle boarded the train for Ponyville. The sun was setting on another wonderfully successful Rainbow Falls Trader's Exchange. Thankfully Twilight wasn't called upon to overlook the event so she was able to focus completely on trading away her books.

“Thanks again Twilight! I can't tell you how much this means to me!” The baby dragon enthusiastically praised

“I still don't think it was a fair trade Spike.” Twilight scolded. “My entire collection of Daring Do books for a small bundle of comics?”

“Not just any comics Twilight!” Spike assured the princess. “Power Pony comics! This is the Shadows of Power Saga, the rarest set of comics ever created for the series!”

Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes dismissively.

“Look at it this way Twilight” Spike continued. “I'm going to love and cherish these comics for the rest of my life, and so will the colt who traded for your Daring Do books. Otherwise they're just sitting on the shelves in your castle's library gathering dust.”

“They are n-” Twilight was about to protest, but quickly realized Spike was right. The only pony in town who ever had any extended interest in the books besides herself was Rainbow Dash, whom at this point now had her own collection, including a few signed by Daring Do herself. Twilight admitted defeat and climbed onto one of the train seats.

Spike sat across from her and lifted up the first comic in the stack.

“You're going to start reading them already?” Twilight buzzed.

“Well we've got a long way until we get to Ponyville; I could probably finish the first book by the time we get there.”

Twilight shook her head, but Spike caught her putting on a content smile as she looked out the window.

“Now then.” Spike looked over the title of the comic; as well as the monochrome background that contrasted the vibrantly colored pony super heroes. “Power Ponies: Stepping Into the Shadows.”

Spike eagerly flipped open the first page which comprised of a series of darkly colored pictures, and a couple of boxed sentences for an introduction.

Like every hero, ever villain has a start.

Sometimes the villain had a bad upbringing.

Sometimes the heroes themselves are to blame.

“Congratulations Mr. Spark.” Complemented an overly husky gray pony in a darker gray suit. “Not many ponies in Maretropolis can claim their technology caught the eye of our top meteorologists. You have the potential to do a lot of good with what you have created.”

In the center of a crowd of ponies stood the flippantly flamboyant and absolutely unmodest Rividicous Spark. The sky blue earth pony turned pegasus was renowned for his technological brilliance, and his almost ironic Icarus like sense of invincibility. His prim black mane was brushed completely back, and was complimented by his overly formal full body black suit. Although both of these were contrasted by the vibrantly golden tinted sunglasses which he was never seen without. His presence at the Maretropolis Science Convention was undoubtedly do to his latest invention. A powerful yet portable weather manipulation machine that used high frequencies and vibrations to manipulate the world around him. The device strapped around the center of his body using a custom fitted black and red suit, which also featured holes for his archaic mechanical wings. For now his invention had only a single node which extended from his upper back like a radar dish, but Spark hoped that with funding from the Maretropolis Scientists he would soon have a full body device capable of both figuratively and eventually literally moving mountains.

The chatter of the crowds was silenced by a trio ponies in lab coats with messy manes of various colors and levels of scruff. One of the ponies, a bright orange colt with dark orange hair and glasses stepped forward to speak with the event's attendees.

“Welcome one and all to the Maretropolis Science Convention, and the Equestrian Sciences of the Future Competition.”

The crowd let out a cheer, and the pony who was speaking raised a hoof to silence them.

“As you know, each year we seek technologies of our scientifically inclined youth to help us usher in the age of tomorrow. The winner of this competition will receive a scholarship to Maretropolis University, and a grant to help fund their future research and projects.”

Rividicous couldn't help but eagerly rub his hooves together. This competition was in the bag and he knew it.

“Without further ado my associates and I ask that you gather your inventions in full display so that we may walk around and take note of them. The judging procedure will take place after...hang on, where is Heat Wiser?”

The two scientists behind the speaker frantically scanned the audience, but there was no sign of their cohort. After a short moment of organized panic a shout came from the back of the room.

“Sorry! Sorry everypony! Sorry! That coffee they made downstairs is a real doozie!”

As every pony in the room shared a laugh a dark red pony about as heavy set as the gentlecolt Rividicous had been conversing with earlier stepped up and joined his colleges. He was escorted by a shady pair of cream colored ponies with off putting green hair. Rividicous took note of their suspicious appearance, but dismissed it as pre-judging paranoia.

“Right, thank you for joining us Mr. Wiser. Are we all just about ready?”

The laughter of the room was quickly replaced with cheers.

“Very well then.” The lead speaker turned back to face his fellow judges. “Cold Shower, Heat Wiser, Jump Start, please follow me, and assist me with the judging.”

Each of the other ponies nodded and followed. Of the twelve ponies competing for the Judges' approvals Rividicous was number seven. His lucky number, another good omen no doubt. The forth pony to be judged was a professional, yet skinny little mare from overseas. There was often a stereotype of girls from her home having bland fur, and being short statured with overly long hair, and big dorky looking glasses, and this girl was fitting the bill almost to a tee. Her invention was a unique magic powered cutter beam whose energy was like that of a lightning bolt, yet it could be used underwater to save drowning sailors, or missing cargo from ships that were going under. The beam functioned pretty well, able to cut a hole into a chunk of ship hull the girl had set up a few meters away.

The lead scientist turned to address his coworkers. “Seems pretty effective to me, what do you all think?”

Heat Wiser took on a sinister looking smile. “I think this is exactly what SHE was looking for!” He proclaimed.

“She?” Murmurs of confusion began to fill the crowds.

“Alright boys this is it!” Heat Wiser announced. “Begin phase 2!”

With that the two ponies who had been following Heat Wiser put on gas masks and took out what appeared to be small cans of hair spray, but in reality the contents of each can was none other than portable traces of the Maneiac's Hairspray Ray of Doom. One by one the ponies of the competition were sprayed stiff by the gasses. Those few smart enough to run quickly found themselves trapped at the room's entrance as more of the Maneiancs masked henchponies stormed and sprayed the room. Rividicous alone remained untainted by the attack. As he jumped behind his own display not long after the assault had begun.

“This is just great...now what do I do?” He asked himself in a hushed whisper.

“Hurry up!” Heat Wiser demanded. “You lot get this cutter downstairs, and out the building! BEFORE the Power Ponies show up!”

“Wiser, why are you doing this?” Asked the orange haired lead pony.

“I refuse to play second fiddle to you any longer Johnson!” Heat Wiser aggressively stated. “With this cutter, and the help of the Maneiace, I'll forge my own name!”

“Really? And what name would that be? Honestly it doesn't get much better than 'Heat Wiser!'”

Wiser spun around to find no one behind him.

“Behind you!” Shouted a squeaky female voice.

Heat Wiser turned around again, but still no one was there.

“Who are you pest? Come out!” The agitated colt demanded.

Heat Wiser may not have known who was tormenting him, but Rividicous recognized the voice.

It belonged to Fili-Second.

The Power Ponies had arrived.

Stepping Into the Shadows Part 2

Spike put down the first comic, and reached for the next one.

“Already Spike?” Questioned Twilight to her young dragon friend.

“I can't help it.” He confessed. “The first book ended on a cliff hanger, and I wanna see the Power Ponies in action!”

Twilight sighed then nodded. “We'll be in Ponyville in about fifteen minutes, so be ready to head back to the castle.”

“Sure thing Twilight!” Spike made a goofy looking salute with his hands before flipping open the comic.

For everypony that embraces the light,

there must be one who embraces the darkness.

That is the order I hope to enforce.

The doors to the convention hall flung open and the remaining power ponies: Masked Matter-Horn, Mistress Marevelous, and Zapp stood battle ready in front of a squad of now unconscious goons. Radiance and Saddle Rager were scooping up all of the defeated henchponies with the help of a massive broom and dustpan, and were dropping them off in large trash bins; all of Radiance's creation. Hum Drum on the other hand was taking advantage of the commotion caused by the ponies' entrance and snuck off to the side to administer an antidote for the hairspray ray to the captured citizens. Asking them to play possum until there was a clear chance to run.

“I'm glad Hum Drum is finally making himself useful.” Spike praised.

“Maybe he got a confidence boost after he saved all of the Power Ponies from the Mane-iac.” Twilight joshed with a friendly wink.

Spike smiled triumphantly before returning to the story.

“Blasted Power Ponies!” Heat Wiser snarled. “I had hopped to be out of here before you arrived.”

“Fat chance!” Zapp scolded.

“We arrive when we're needed, and not a moment later!” Added Matter-Horn.

“Are you gonna come quietly, or does this have-ta get ugly?” Shouted Marevelous.

“Heat Wiser lifted up his front hooves.” Fine, fine. I see no reason to go hoof-to-hoof with the legendary Power Ponies. I know when I'm beaten.

As Hum Drum freed another hostage he turned back to Heat Wiser, and noticed something metallic positioned just underneath his coat sleeves.

“Look out! He's got a-” Hum Drum immediately shoved his small hoof into his mouth, remembering that he was suppose to be staying quiet.

“You!” Wiser flung off his lab coat revealing two concealed cans of hairspray. One pointed at Hum Drum, and the other at the ponies, and from the look of the rather large belt around his belly, he had plenty of spray o' doom to go around.

“Look out Drumy!” Fili-Second dashed to Hum Drum's aid only to be caught in a blast of hairspray as she shoved her friend to saftey.

“Fili-Second! Hang on! I've still got some antidote spray!”

Hum Drum was cut off by Heat Wiser, who towered menacingly between Hum Drum and Fili. He aimed another spray at the young colt, but Hum Drum avoided it in the nick of time; by tripping over his own cape and falling.

“I got you two don't worry!” Zapp gripped her lightning bolt with her teeth, and after a moment a flash of lightning shot out towards Wiser.

The husky colt had just enough time to turn around, causing the bolt to connect with Wiser's heavily protected back harness.

“What?!” Zapp shouted in disbelief. “No effect?!”

Wiser laughed stereotypically manically. “The Mane-iac was right! So sorry Zzzzzapp!” Wiser slurred out the name like saying it was toxic. “Your lightning wont do anything against this protective harness!”

“If lightning wont work, then what about thunder?!”

Everypony turned to see Rividicous wearing his invention in place of his suit and tie. His artificial wings were spread out through the holes in his suit, and the dish like node on his back was stretched out completely, and was releasing several pulse pounding beats like the music of the maretropolis night club.

“Time to step it up!” He proclaimed. He thrust his right hoof down with a high-ya, and the mecanical tentacle on his back fired out a large “wub” burst. One that matched the sound of thunder key for key. The concussive force shoved Wiser back away from Fili-Second, and gave Hum Drum enough time to administer his Antidote spray.

“Curse you Rividicous!” Heat Wiser claimed. “I always knew a pony like you would be trouble for me!”

“Looks like there IS a lot of good I can do with this after all.” Spark praised to himself.

“Nice trick kid!” Zapp commended. “Mind if I give it a shot?”

“Sure no problem!” Rividicous eagerly removed the mechanical contraption, and helped Zapp sling it over herself. Luckily Zapp was also a pegasus, so her proportions weren't very far off from the suit's, and her wings were able to fit right into the holes on either side.

“Time to see what this baby can do!” With Rividicous' help Zapp maneuvered the dish like instrument until it was just millimeters away from her lightning bolt.

“Whatever you fools are up to I won't let you do it!” Heat Wiser lifted both barrels of hairspray at the duo, but the attempts to spry them were interrupted by a big glass window that appeared in front of him; courtesy of Radiance.

“Hold that pose!” Shouted Matter-Horn who froze the angry colts four legs with her freeze ray.

“Gah, what the?!” Heat Wiser struggled to break out of the ice, but to no avail.

“Time to step it up!” Rividicous stated once again.

“Awe yeah!” Zapp cheered.

Zapp's lightning bolt sparked to life, and released a forceful blast of thunder, which was amplified to the explosive force of a sonic rainboom due to Rividicous' invention. The force of the blast not only sent Heat Wiser flying backwards, but also took out a massive chunk of the wall behind him, sending them all flying outwards. Mistress Marevelous used her special psychic rope to tie and hold Heat Wiser before he could fall too far, and Fili-Second made a milli-second sprint downstairs then back up to make sure nopony was in the way of the falling debris. Heat Wiser, and the Mane-iac's henchponies were escorted off the premises by police, and the Power Ponies, who received a standing ovation from the ponies at the Maretropolis Science Convention.

When everything was back to normal the remaining three judges continued with the competition. Unfortunately in light of recent events; two of the ponies were now disqualified from the contest. The girl who had created the underwater steel cutter, and Rividicous Spark.

“How could you disqualify me?!” Rividicous shouted furiously. “Need I remind you, that it was MY invention that helped the Power Ponies take out Heat Wiser?”

“Yes. you did take out Heat Wiser.” Explained Johnson the lead scientist and judge. “But you also took out the entire back section of the building in the attempt. Such technology is too dangerous for what we are attempting to pursue, and we will not be responsible for instigating another attack by a super villain on helpless Equestrian scientists.

“That wasn't me it was-” Rividicous was interrupted by the raised hoof of the lead speaker.

“I'm sorry Mr. Spark, but this decision is final. With that being said the winner of the tenth annual Equestrian Sciences of the Future Competition is Ms. Saphire Dusters, and her Crop Rotation Accelerator concept! Congratulations Ms. Duster!”

Cheers of adoration filled the room, but to Rividicous everything had gone silent. All he could hear was the sounds of his own thoughts as he stormed out of the building.

A concept?! A CONCEPT?! I saved EVERYPONY in that building, and I loose to A CONCEPT?! How in Equestria am I going to get the funding now?! My chance for glory is over and so is my future!

“There is still hope Mr. Spark.”

An ominous voice filled Rividicous' ears, and he discovered he had inadvertently walked into an allyway. One that was getting increasingly dark as the seconds passed.

“Who's there?!” Asked a now panicing Rividicous Spark.

“A friend.” Assured the voice. “An opportunity.”

“Opportunity?” Spark echoed.

“For justice.” The stranger continued. Soon after an entity emerged from the now completely black end of the Ally. It was a white colt that much was obvious to Spark, but everything else about him was a mystery. His entirety was covered by what appeared to be the shadows of the ally, which were loosely blanketed over him like a cloak.

“I can give you what you need.” The stranger promissed. “The money to finish your research, and the chance to strike back at the Power Ponies who wronged you.”

Rividicous was unsure. After all it wasn't all the power ponies that “wronged him” it was only Zapp.

“I'm sure you've noticed it by now.” The stranger carried on. “The crime rates of Maretropolis are at an all time low. Thanks no doubt to the power ponies. Those seven ponies have brought hope back to this struggling city, but they have also brought something else.”

“And what is that?” Rividicous inquired.

“Light” explained the colt. “A light so crushingly suffocating that no amount of darkness dare emerges from it's hiding hole. These ponies are the pinacle of power, and the idols of the whole city, but despite their pedastles they are only ponies in the end. They make mistakes like everypony else, yet to the common horse they are gods, and who is responsible when gods make mistakes?”

A shadowy pointed tendril stretched out from the cloak of black shadows on the colt. Rividicous took a couple cautionary steps backwards, but to his surprise the entity merely pointed up. Up to the surprisingly visible hole in the Maretropolis convention center. The one that Zapp made, and he took the blame for.

“So there are others?” Asked Rividicous. “People who have taken the fall because of the Power Ponies?”

The stranger nodded. “They are few, and far between, but they are there. I'd like your help Rividicous. To find them. To recruit them. We will be the ever present reminder of what they have done. The guilt that hangs over them like the ever present shadows they cannot outrun.

“The shadows of the Power Ponies.” Rividicous liked the idea. A chance for glory had arisen once again. Even infamy was in it's own way a form of acknowledgment. “The Shadows of Power.” He said aloud.

His new friend in the black cloak smiled. “A fitting name. I like it.”

“Then you'll love this one.” Rividicous smirked. “From now on Rividicous Spark is no more. I am Thunderstep.”

“Then I think it's time the two of us step it up.” The colt extended a hoof of friendship, and the two colts vanished into the darkness of the ally.

The Lady of Ink

The train bound for Ponyville arrived just in time for Spike to finish the second book. He put it down then eagerly reached for the second; only to be stopped by Twilight clearing her throat.

“We're here Spike, you can finish you comic in the Library.”

“Awe c'mon Twilight!” Spike begged.

Twilight shook her head, and this time she was adamant. “You're not going to be able to walk and read at the same time. Ponyville may not be as big as the other cities, but there are still a lot of people on the streets.

“You could always carry me on your back while I read.”

Twilight shot Spike a condescending glare.

“Okay okay.” Spike sighed and gathered up the comics putting the two he read on the bottom. “Then let's just hurry and get back to the library.

With that Twilight lifted spike up with her magic and placed him on her back.

“I'll go as fast as I can.” She assured him.

Some words can sting.

Others can destroy.

Some words can often inspire.

But inspiration can be deadly.

“Happy birthday little Inkie!” Shouted Ink Chrome's father to his now five year old daughter.

“We hope you like our gift to you.” Added her mother. “It's something we both worked really hard on.”

Ink Chrome tore into the brightly colored box, revealing what appeared to be a sketchbook, and a paint brush.

“Huh?” The young mare lifted up the book and flipped through the empty pages. “It's blank.” She noted aloud.

“It's a very special book created by your father and I. It combines your father's magic with my love of art. Try it out.” Her mother insisted.

“Okay then...” Ink opened the book to an empty page, and after a moments hesitation painted a very crude looking stick pony onto the page. To her amazement the book began to glow, and soon the pony came right off the paper. It turned to face her and took a bow; making Ink feel like a princess.

“This book will bring anything you create within it to life.” Her mother explained. “That way you will never run out of pages. We hope your creativity will last forever.”

Ink Chrome's face lit up with a wondrous enthusiastic smile. She began to furiously draw into the book creating creature after creature as her cutie mark appeared.

As the years went by Ink Chrome's fame began to expand. Ever popular with the children of Maretropolis, Chrome found a wonderful job at the Museum of Modern Arts where she would spend hours a day entertaining young mares and colts while their parents roamed. It wasn't a difficult job, after all all she had to do was paint, which was easily her favorite thing in the world to do. Yet as her fame grew, so did her infamy. Many parents feared Ink Chrome, and would not like their kids near her or her creations. Some famous artists whose art was on display would often tell Chrome that she had no REAL future as an artist.

“This is all just magic.” Chastised one pony. “There's no real art here.”

“Your paintbrush is nothing more than a magic wand.” taunted another.

But isn't that the point? Ink Chrome would ask herself. Art was always magical to her, but perhaps it was easier for her to have such a perspective with her book. She would often try to use other books, but each one filled up in a matter of days, and the still, lifeless, motionless inklings just didn't feel the same. So Ink Chrome tuned out the noise, she continued to paint for the children, and she filtered out the criticism and the hate. At least until one day, when the Museum of Modern Arts had a special guest appearance.

“Wooow!”

"Whoa!!!"

“Such grace!”

“What beauty!”

Pony after admiring pony praised the beautiful Radiance and her gem encrusted constructs. Even the little children that Chrome would create for where whisked away by their parents to pay homage to the gorgeous artistic hero. Ink Chrome alone stood unimpressed among the horde.

“You can't be serious!” She proclaimed. “I have been doing this exact same thing for years now, and all I ever received for my efforts was hate. Now this pony comes along, does the exact same thing, and you ADORE her?!”

The crowed fell silent as a confused, and slightly startled Radiance trotted steadily up to Ink Chrome.

“My dear.” She chimed with a giggle. “There isn't a possible way you can do what I can. My abilities are one in a million.”

“Wanna bet?” Challenged Ink who quickly revealed her ink stained book and brush.

“Alrighty dear” Radiance shook her hoof as she adjusted her bracelets. “Lets see if your art can Stand up to mine.” Radiance's right bracelet began to glow, and soon a magnificent glowing tower stood behind her. The massive pillar was lined with what appeared to be gems and gold, and housed several fantastic looking pony busts which extended from it's sides in various locations.

Ink Chrome flipped open her book, and began to paint. As she frantically moved her muzzle her annoyance and anger seemingly oozed from her mind and onto the drawing itself.

“Well?” Pushed Radiance. “Have you got anything to share with the class?”

“Real art takes time.” Ink Chrome insisted, much to the annoyance of Radiance. “And besides.” She continued. “Why should my art just stand up to yours, when I can just as easily bring it down!”

Ink Chrome performed one final dramatic swish with her brush, and soon a massive hulking golem comprised of ink, and fury arose from her book. It started out small, but quickly grew and grew until it was towering over Radiance's pillar of light.

“Show her what real art can do!” Chrome demanded.

The hulking ink giant shattered Radiance's tower with a single mighty swing of it's arm. Radiance had just enough time to banish her construct before the toppled remains crushed not only her, but everyone else present around her.

“Are you insane?!” Radiance enjoined.

“No.” Ink answered. “I'm just embracing the monster. The monster you all want me to be!” Ink Chrome began to furiously paint into her book, creating a number of smaller ink golems carrying swords. “Destroy this place!” The mad mare commanded to her mindless minions. “Show them what it means to be a monster!”

Radiance countered by conjuring several armored pony knights. The army charged the golems in a synchronized roar of enthusiasm, and the sounds of sword fighting quickly filled the room.

“Everyone get back!” Radiance pleaded. “Get out of the museum while you can!”

“Those pompous piles of pony slime are not going anywhere!” Ink Chrome drew a locked gate and the main entrance to the museum was quickly sealed away behind it's sturdy rod iron-like bars.

“These ponies have nothing to do with this!” Radiance avowed. “Let them go!”

“These ponies have EVERYTHING to do with this!” her adversary countered. “They're privilaged and powerful, and everything they say is absolute!” Ink Chrome turned to face the terrified crowd of people. Her face twisted beyond recognition by a grizzly murderous smile. “And they've decreed that I am a demon!”

“If you let criticism get in your way than how can you call yourself an artist?” Radiance insisted.

“I'm every bit an artist as you are!” Chrome rejoined. “Here's my proof!” The mad stricken mare conjured a pitch black sword from her book and flung it towards Radiance, who reacted just in time to riposte the construct with a decorative conjured up aegis.

“I see no proof here!” Radiance antagonized. “All I see is a pony who is drunk on her own demise!”

“Then maybe you're just not looking hard enough.”

A smooth voice from an unknown source was followed up by the destructive vibrations of an earth quake. The front entrance to the museum as well as Ink's gate were shattered to bits as a violent techno bass caused every pony in the building to collapse to the ground and cover their ears. Ink Chrome and Radiance looked up to see a technologically tricked-out pony with flamboyant gold glasses and a black face mask emerge from the hole. Escorting what appeared to be a white unicorn cloaked in darkness itself.

The technological terror of a pony slowly advanced towards Ink Chrome. His metallic computerized cyber boots created loud blasts of bass with every step he took. “While you all may see a demon, we see a true artist. One who has had to struggle to make it by, only to be renounced by a goddess of lies and her blind worshipers.” The technicolor techno extended a hoof to the disgruntled pony who eagerly grasped it while attempting to fight back tears.

“Who are you?” She asked her savior.

“Yes. Who are you?” Echoed Radiance aggressively.

“My name is Thunderstep.” Proclaimed the colt.

“That's an odd name.” Chrome pointed out.

Thunderstep smiled, but his face mask kept his amusement concealed. “It's not my real name, but that name has long exhausted it's use.”

Chrome nodded. Something about the raw power of this mare, and the pure intimidation of his shadowy friend sparked new life into the mare. Her rage and madness were washed over with resolve, and a goal. “Then so has mine!” She announced. “From this day forth I am Ma..am..En...en...”

“Twilight, how do you pronounce these words?” Spike held up the comic to her friend who was becoming increasingly annoyed with the dragon's unending narration of the comic.

“Encre. Spike. Madam Encre.”

“En...cre?” Spike's cluelessness was overwhelmingly apparent.

“It's from an old language ponies from the Crystal Empire use to use.” She explained.

“Ooooh.” Spike took another look at the name then looked back up at Twilight.

“So what does it mean?” He asked her.

Twilight groaned and tossed the dragon a book of ancient language translations.

“It means Lady of Ink.” She huffed.

Concert of Banshees

“So we have this crazy unknown villain who wants to collect ponies who have been wronged by the Power Ponies and turn them into villains to fight the Power Ponies?!” The whole plot of the comics was starting to get overwhelming to Spike.

“It’s a pretty mature concept” complimented Twilight. “The idea that despite being super the heroes ponies can still make mistakes; what’s the next story Spike?”

Both Spike and Twilight Sparkle peered at the slowly dwindling stack of comics. Spike took the top book off the stack and showed it to Twilight.

“Concert of Banshees” Twilight read aloud. “The origin of Siren Silence.”

“I heard about this villain in another book.” Spike claimed. “Apparently her voice is so powerful it can destroy any technology, and even disable super powers!”

“How does that work?” Pondered Twilight. “I thought that their super powers were a part of them.”

“Not all of them.” Spike pointed out. “Siren’s cries can short-circuit Radiance’s bracelets, and the noise causes interference with Marevelous’ telepathy. And-”

Twilight placed a hoof over the mouth of the enthusiastic dragon. “I get the idea.” She assured.

Spike nodded with satisfaction and quickly flipped open the comic. Just like the others, it started with a few boxed in sentences and darkly colored drawings.

There are many reasons why villains exist.

Some villains exist simply to do wrong.

While others…

Because they have been wronged.

Thunderstep emerged from his labs within the secret safe house of his team The Shadows of Power, and made his way to the large center meeting area. There his recruiter, the shadow shrouded pony of mystery, and their latest acquisition Madam Encre awaited him. Encre was wearing a beautiful, and expensive looking black dress that covered most of her front legs, and all of her back ones. Though it appeared to be made out of the most expensive of black silks, Thunderstep assumed the dress was probably made out of Ink. Like everything else Encre ever had on her. There were also various other henchponies wondering around making themselves useful. Though Thunderstep and Madam Encre were the only ones their leader felt comfortable sending out into the field.

“You rang?” Thunderstep quipped while sending an overly friendly smile and wink towards Encre.

“Another recruit will appear soon” commented their leader. “You two need to be ready to pick her up when she does.”

“You won’t be joining us this time?” Thunderstep remarked.

“No.” The colt answered. “I have my own group of people to process in. It seems the mane-iac has lost favor with a lot of her followers. I will be attempting to provide them with…a greater purpose.”

“Our purpose?” Madam Encre assessed.

The leader nodded.

“So where will this new recruit be located?” Inquired Thunderstep.

The colt turned away from them and muttered the words “Maretropolis Concert Hall” before vanishing into the nether.

Lillian Keys was prepping herself for the most important performance of her life. She had spent her whole life making a name for herself through her beautiful voice, and brilliant piano skills. From talent shows in her youth, to a debut on Equestrian Idol; music was her life, and she was at her happiest while she sang. Although she was a well-established singer and performer, her talents never really flourished outside of contests and charity concerts. Though when she was involved she was often kept as the finale, and her victories in competitions were often uncontested, but despite her overwhelming superiority she was a modest mare, and when questioned about why she took contests so seriously she would always answer: “because it’s what I love to do.”

“But there’s more to it than that this time.” Lilliana reminded herself. “This wasn’t just any contest; it was a contest with a celebrity judge. This time on top of the standard four judges she had to impress, she also had to impress the one and only Saddle Rager of the Power Ponies. Lilliana was nervous, there was no doubt about that, but as always she was one of the last ponies to perform so she had plenty of time to get herself into the right mind and calm her nerves.

“Who do you think it’s going to be?” Madam Encre asked Thunderstep as they prepared their disguises backstage.

“One of the singers I’m sure.” Thunderstep responded as he donned his signature golden glasses.

“You know those things stand out pretty well. Don’t you think they might give us away?” Encre interrogated.

“Got ya’ covered gorgeous!” Thunderstep donned a security detail hat that was a size too large. The extra sized caused the cap to dip downwards from his head concealing his glasses.

Encre rolled her eyes unsure if she should be grateful for the compliment, or insulted by the flirting.

“What do you make of our leader?” She buzzed.

“There’s not much to make.” Thunderstep confessed. “He’s confident though, and he puts his faith in us to get this done.”

Madam Encre nodded. “But we know nothing about him. Do you even know his name?”

“I haven’t needed to ask.” Thunder replied.

Encre was about to protest but Thunderstep cut her off.

“Showtime” he whispered to her. “Let’s get out into the crowd.”

The concert took off without a hitch. Saddle Rager was obviously new to the “Celebrity Judge” thing because while the four other judges were critical if not harsh, Saddle had very few negative things to say. With the exception of one off key mare whom Saddle Rager declared was “just awful.”

Lillian Keys took a deep breath in then exhaled. “My time to shine” she told herself. “If I can impress a Power Pony then there is nopony I can’t impress.” With that whisper of confidence Mrs. Keys took to the stage and took a seat at the Piano. Her performance started out stronger than any she had ever put on before. She had spent weeks prior to the event creating a brand new song for the occasion, as well as spending hours perfecting the matching piano rhythm. The climax featured a beautiful series of downward notes both from her voice and the piano both in perfect sync. Liliana took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and…nothing.

Nothing?! Liliana began to panic and fanatically beat on the highest pitch keys, but the first five keys to the piano produced no noise at all. What’s going on?! This can’t be happening!! Liliana and the piano fell silent; attempting to turn the mishap into a dramatic pause. While the audience looked on in anticipation, and confusion, Thunderstep and Encre spotted exactly what they were looking for. A pony dressed up in the same security get up as the ones they had stolen approached the judges. While at a distance the untrained eye would see only a hushed conversation; Thunderstep using his newly modified glasses was able to zoom in on the pony and see what was really going on. An under the table transfer of bits from the guard to the judges; in other words…

“Sabotage” Tunderstep whispered to Encre.

“There’s no way.” Encre protested. “Saddle Rager’s a Power Pony, and while they make mistakes there’s no way they’d ever do anything illegal.”

Thunderstep glared at Madam Encre from behind his teched-out shades. “If you believe that then why are you here? Remember at the end of the day the Power Ponies are still just ponies.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Encre thought back to her encounter with Radiance at the museum. It’s one thing to think you’re better than somepony, but to openly boast that you are then challenge anyone who tells you otherwise…Encre couldn’t even remember if that was what actually happened. She was blind with rage when everything occurred causing most of the events of that day to be fuzzy at best.

Liliana was still panicking over what had happened. She frantically ran over the piano with her keys and discovered the only ones that worked were the lower pitch keys which she had been using up until that point. At this point, the audience had begun to realize she was not pausing, and began to assume that instead she was choking. Liliana managed to throw together a climax comprised of only the working keys, but it was sloppy and improvised, and in the end resulted in performance that ended on the bare minimum rather than her usual over the top extravagance. Crushed by what had just occurred Liliana sulked off stage, not even remembering to take a bow on her way out. The audience applauded her of course, but she knew a pity applause when she heard it.

The final results of the contest were not pretty. Saddle Rager declared a winner, and the rest of the judges immediately got on bord, and of course when Liliana took her case to the judges they passed her off as a sore looser.

“How dare you!” Liliana cried. “This was clearly sabotage!”

“That's not all.” Thunderstep and Encre stepped forward still under the guise of security guards. “We saw one of the guards hand bits out to all the judges. So it seems this was a joint effort.

Liliana Keys looked at the judges with murder in her eyes.

“I don't know what you're talking about.” Saddle Rager protested.

“Sabotage and bribes?” Liliana told herself. “I never expected the judges of this contest to stoop so low. Especially a member of the Power Ponies!”

“I told you I wasn't bribed!” Saddle Rager insisted.

Hushed whispers filled the crowds as the judges silently paniced among themselves.

“This is unforgivable!” Shouted Liliana Keys with furious tears in her eyes. “Do you have any idea what this will do to me?”

“You need to calm down.” Saddle Rager pushed. “You're thinking irrationally, and I know from experience that's not a good thing.”

“My mind has never been clearer.” Keys insisted. “And mark my words; you will ALL regret the crimes you have committed today!”

With that Liliana keys stormed out of the concert hall. With Thunderstep and Madam Encre on her tail.

“Excuse us just a second ma'am.” Thunderstep tapped Liliana on the shoulder with his hoof as they made their way into the street.

“Oh you two...” Liliana put on a warm, but clearly damaged smile. “Thank you both for bringing this to my attention. I only wish there was some way I could repay you.”

“There is dear.” Madam Encre explained. “You're not the only one the Power Ponies have wronged. Why not join us?”

“Join you?” Asked the confused mare.

The villainous mare and colt removed their disguises revealing who they really were. Liliana fearing for her life began to slowly back away. “I...I know you two...You were the ones that destroyed the Maretropolis Museum.”

“A necessary step.” Madam Encre boasted. “That place was a hive of people blinded by the over abundant light of the Power Ponies.”

“But for every pony that kisses the ground they walk on.” Thunderstep continued. “There are ponies they have shoved aside due to their blind superiority. We are those ponies.”

“So how can I help you?” Asked Liliana. “I don't have any super powers.”

Thunderstep approached the girl and put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. “Your voice is what they tried to steal from you. I can turn it into you weapon of judgement.”

“Thunderstep is a master of technology and augmentations.” Madam Encre translated. “With funding from our organization, and the tools available to him at his lab, we can help you get what you need to help us.”

Liliana thought the offer over, then submitted a proposal of her own. “I'll accept on one condition. My beef is with the Power Ponies, I will not hurt random passers by.”

Thunderstep shook his head. “We wouldn't even consider harming anyone who would be a potential recruit. If the Power Ponies are the only ones you will fight that is good enough for us.”

Liliana donned a smile of relief. “Thank you. Now I don't have to become a monster.”

Thunderstep shrugged in response. “Maybe not, but I must warn you, the procedure to amplify your voice WILL change you forever. The old you will most likely cease to be.”

Liliana mimicked the shrug. “Then I will forge a new identity. Those ponies tried to silence me. So maybe it's time I embraced the silence.”

The Terrible Terror of Two

“These comics are really starting to get interesting.” Twilight complimented as she watched Spike read over his shoulder.

“I don't know Twilight, so far they've just been introducing villains. Not a whole lot seems to be going on, and there's a lot of build up for these characters we wont ever see after this arc.”

“Well maybe they're just building up for an epic finale.” Twilight hinted.

“I guess.” Spike shrugged and picked up the next book.

“So who's the next villain?” Twilight asked.

“Terror Two-Hoof; the half changeling.” Spike responded. “Honestly he's probably my least favorite of the bunch.”

“Why's that?” Inquired the unicorn.

“Well I mean, his power is shape-shifting. That's really not all that impressive considering any changeling can do that.”

“Any CHANGELING can.” Twilight pointed out. “But transformation spells are incredibly difficult for ponies. Even I can't transform another pony into something, let alone change my own appearance.”

“I guess it is pretty special for a pony to be able to change.” Spike admitted.

“Let's give the comic a chance.” Twilight suggested. “Maybe Two-Hoof will grow on you as you read.”

Spike nodded and opened the book.

Sometimes It's not the pony that makes the villain.

Sometimes it's the misfortune that happens upon them.

Sometimes it's the story behind their birth.

“Not many people know the origin of my creation.” Claimed a voice from seemingly nowhere. “There are plenty of rumors of course, but only a small hoofful of them are anywhere close to accurate. You ever hear the one about the siamese twins born to a changeling and his pony mistress? Yeah...that one's pretty funny...”

The door to a convienent store rings as it opens. A dark blue colt in a red uniform greets his coworker behind the register before slipping away into the back room. The cashier on a whim decides to check the schedule. “Huh...he doesn't work today...” He looks back then shrugs dismissively. “Must be after extra hours.” He tells himself.

A few minutes later the manager appears from the back.

“I'm doing a bank run, do you mind opening the safe under the register for me?” He asks.

“You're the only one who knows the code for it.” The cashier responds with hints of confusion in his tone.

Blast it. There's always something.

“Excuse me for a second.” The manager waves his hoof then returns to the back of the store, leaving the cashier to wonder what exactly his boss was doing.

~~~

Ace Specs was hard at work in his specially designated laboratory. Having always had a fascination with the mysterious insectoids that were the changelings, Ace was the prime candidate for the Research and Discovery department of Spark's Labs. A department dedicated to expanding pony knowledge of various races.

“Poor Sparks.” Ace melodramatically mused to himself as he worked. “I heard his son drove himself insane trying to live up to his father. Genius is easily inherited, but impossible to duplicate.”

Several sources of Changeling DNA were laid out for Ace to interact with as he saw fit. Be it with tech, tools, or magic. Ace wasn't the best magic user in maretropolis, but what he lacked in the quality of his spells he easily made up for with quantity. Ace boasted an accelerated memory, complimented with the tactical mind of a professional chess player. All compliments of his research into the talents of various unknown creatures.

“How's it coming Specs?” A familiar orange coated pony in a lab coat and glasses approached the enthusiastic worker.

“Wonderfully Johnson. I think Mr. Spark will be thrilled with the progress I am making.”

“Have you been able to ascertain what allows changelings to change their shape?” Inquired the scientist.

Ace Specs shook his head. “It's very clearly as a result of a branch of magic. A spin off of the branch used by Unicorns. But I would need a live test to break down the specifics in order to expand my research. And it's not like we can just drag a changeling in here and have it cast spells for us.”

Johnson giggled to himself almost manically. “You'd be surprised what Spark Laboratories is capable of my friend.” The head scientist turned around and headed out the door. “But I'm sure it won't come to that. Best of luck with your research.”

A chill climbed Ace Spec's spine as he went back to work.

~~~

Of all the ponies we recruited to the cause,

the hardest by far to get was Terror Two-Hoof.

In all honesty, if Thunderstep hadn't informed me of his father's research

I never would have found him.

The manager of the convenient store emerged once again from the employee only rooms. “Sorry about that, it's been a long day. Let me get that safe open and I'll do my run.”

“You don't usually empty this during your bank runs.” The cashier noted.

“I'm aware of that!” The manager snapped.

The cashier took several steps back and let the manager do his thing. After the safe was open the manager emptied it, then thanked the cashier for his cooperation before heading out the door.

The police arrived on the scene two hours later. They were escorted by the Masked Matterhorn and Mistress Marevalous, who overheared on the police radio that the cashier had called in a robbery.

“Can you describe the pony?” Asked the interrogation officer.

“I can't really explain how.” The quizzed worker began. “But the guy who robbed us looked exactly like our store manager.”

Several police ponies exchanged looks, making the store clerk nervous. “B-but it wasn't him! He's...not smart enough to pull something like this.” The worker prayed his actual boss wasn't within earshot.

“Inspector! Come quickly!”

The pony questioning the clerk followed several cops and the two present Power Ponies to the employes only part of the store. There they found the real store manager tied up and gagged in the bathroom.

“What do ya make o' this Matterhorn?” Pondered Marevolous to her companion

“There's no doubt about it.” Matterhorn turned and took off running to find her friends. “That monster has returned....The half changeling.”

~~~

The police feed buzzed with activity, as all units were called to respond to Pony Spark Laboratories, where an explosion in the Research and Discovery department had resulted in a bonfire that was currently consuming the entire left half of the building. The ponies working in that neck of the area had all gone missing, and all were presumed to have perished in the initial explosion. On a live broadcast over the Maretropolis news, anchor ponies shared their concern for the lost researchers while an angry Mr. Spark openly accused his son of fowl play.

Ace Specs awoke from unconsciousness not long after the explosion, and was laying among the ruins of what was once his research. His front left and back right legs were cold and felt lifeless, and he couldn't feel the left side of his face at all. Had it been blown away? Or Melted? Ace lifted his left leg and rubbed it against his face, to his relief he felt everything accounted for. But to his horror, the leg he saw wasn't the leg he was use to. His legs were that of a changeling. Holes and all. He found his reflection in a broken piece of glass, and to his shock the left half of his face was the same. The shock caused him to jump backwards, and he found himself hovering in the air with the aid of transparent insect like wings. He wasn't sure what had happened, but somehow he ended up with changeling DNA intertwined with his own.

“Someone?! Anyone?! Help me!” Ace Specs pleeded for help, but any attempts to seek aid were met with ponies screaming and running at the sight of a hideous deformed monster. Eventually the commotion caught the attention of the Power Ponies, but even they responded aggressively at the sight before them. An attempt to bring the changeling into custody resulted in him running for his life, and ultimately escaping.

“No one will help me?” Ace Specs asked himself. “It's as if all they see is a changeling...Do they not see the pony who is suffering?”

“We see that pony.” Came a chilling voice from behind Ace. The disfigured pony turned to face the mysterious colt whom spearheads The Shadows of Power.

“Who are you?” Asked a cautious Ace Specs.

“We are ponies just like you.” Assured the colt. “Ponies like yourself, whom have been dealt a bad hand. We see the pony that you truly are, and I seek to give you a purpose.”

“A life of crime?” Ace guessed.

“In a matter of speaking.” Admitted the shadowy pony. “We are taking a stand against the Power Ponies, in an effort to dethrone them.”

“Dethrone?” Echoed Ace.

“Remove them from their pedestal.” The colt clarified. “Retract their god like status among the common colts of Maretropolis. I can give you shelter among those who are just like you; in exchange I request the aid of your...new found abilities.”

“I'm not even sure if I have any new abilities.” Ace Specs admitted.

The colt nodded slowly. “In time. They will make their presence known. In the meantime, I would like to introduce you to your new allies.”

Portals appeared on either side of the colt, and out walked the other three runners of the Ponies of Shadows: Thunderstep, Madam Encre, and Siren Silence.

“Everyone, say hello to your newest partner.”

“Shoot son” commented Thunderstep. “You're a terror to behold.”

“Terror?” Ace let the word sink into his mind. “I like it...Terror Two-Hoof.”

Their leader formed a smile from underneath his cloak. “A fitting name. Come! It's time we set our plans into motion.”

The Art Museum Part 1

Twilight Sparkle awoke to find Spike laying down in the middle of the Library, his face still buried in a comic book.

“Spike?” Twilight let out an exhausted yawn. “Did you ever go to sleep last night?”

“Yup!” Chirped Spike. “I had Owlicious wake me up early so I could get a head start.” Spike’s smile suddenly twisted into an annoyed stare. “He was supposed to wake me up at six AM sharp, but apparently he decided to let me sleep in.”

The owl didn't make a sound; he simply turned his head and looked away.

“So what’s going on in the comic that made you want to get up so eairly?” Twilight asked the eager little reader.

Spike’s enthusiastic grin returned. “What ISN’T going on?” He asked her. “The shadows of power finally started making their moves. First it was small recruitment jobs and infiltrations, but now they're started getting bolder. In this issue they've started planning how they’re going to rob an art museum.”

“The art museum” echoed a confused Twilight. “I thought they destroyed the art museum.”

Spike held up the comic to Twilight; practically shoving it into her face in the process.

“That was the Maretropolis Museum of Modern Art” he explained. “This time they’re going after the Museum of Legendary Painters.”

“Oddly specific for a museum” Twilight criticized.

Spike shrugged. Even for someone gifted in magic Twilight’s suspension of disbelief was never anything to write to a princess about.

Twilight shrugged. “Alright you can read this one, but afterwards try and get some sleep. Baby dragons need their rest.”

Spike grunted causing a small green flame to spark from his nose.

Anyone can make their mark.

They just need some ink and paper.

But like the paintings in this museum

Only some can truly be legends.

“Remind me again why we're stealing slash vandalizing this paint museum?” Thunderstep impatiently tapped his hoof against the floor as the four villains and their leader discussed their next course of action.

“Because Madam Encre wants to send a message” answered the effigy. “And frankly, I think it's a good one to send.”

“What's this have to do with the Power Ponies?” challenged Thunderstep.

“Nothing if we don't get caught.” Answered Siren Silence.

“So now that we're all together we're just criminals?” Thunderstep replied angrily.

“As long as society blindly follows their six gods we will be.” Encre huffed.

Thunderstep let out a dissapproving grunt. “Yeah, well society is a bi-”

“-rd in a cage. Waiting to be set free to see the truth.” Terror Two-Hoof approached his new coworkers in crime having finished memorizing the layout of the building and marking off anything of importance in his mind such as security camera locations.

“How are you Hoof?” Inquired Siren.

“I'm doing well.” He admitted. Although he hadn't much of an opinion on Thunderstep or Encre, Terror found Siren Silence to be...relatable at the very least. After all they both knew what it was like to be recreated and changed forever. Granted Siren at least complied with the change. Terror simply came to terms with it.

“So what's the plan boss?” Thunder asked their shrouded supervisor.

His answer was a shrug. “I'm going to take a gamble this time.”

“Meaning?” Asked Thunderstep.

“Meaning this is Madam Encre's message, so you four will be acting this out without my guidance.”

“Are you sure?” There was a hint of worry in Siren's tone, but Terror reassured her. “He's trained us well, I think we can do this.”

“There's no need to worry” the stranger assured. “I will still be supervising you. If things go south I will intervene.”

“Things wont go south.” Terror gloated.

~~~

The mission, at least in the beginning, was a completely silent operation. Terror Two-Hoof went in first disguised as a museum security guard that he saw while scoping the place out earlier that day. He approached the guard in the camera room who didn't suspect a thing until after he was out cold. Once in control of the cameras he guided Siren Silence and Madam Encre through the labyrinth of paintings.

“Encre, are you plugged in?” Terror asked her teammate.

The young madam flipped on a pair of brightly colored goggles with lenses that matched Thunderstep's. As she and Siren walked along the halls of the museum, dodging guards as they went, their leader who remained behind at their HQ marked a number of paintings to be stolen.

“That one...that one...Oh! The Mare in the Moon! Now THAT is going to be useful!”

Madam Encre painted several bags to life and carefully removed the loot from their frames. Placing each in it's own individual bags without making a sound.

“Siren. Automated Camara to your left.”

Siren Silence let out a high frequency shriek. Too high for a pony to hear, but it shorted out both the automated camera and the one Terror was looking through.

“You're flying blind ladies, move to room 2-B.” Terror tilted his head and spotted a free roaming security guard heading that way. “Guard incoming. 2-C.”

The guard entered the room only to find himself tied up and silenced by thick lengths of black rope. Madam Encre and Siren Silence went about their way as the guard fell to the floor.

“The boss is marking paintings in rooms 2-C and 2-D. Feed sent to your goggles.”

“Roger Terror.” Encre acknowladged.

“Thunder, how's our exit?”

“Ready and clear Hoof.” Came terror's voice from outside the museum walls.”

“Alright Madam, that's everything the boss wants. Time to send your 'message.'”

Madam Encre dawned a sadistic smirk as she painted several small figurines on a single page of her book. Each being fluttered alive as Encre's words slithered out of her mouth. “Leave nothing unclean.”

One by one the figures marked up the paintings. Replacing their vibrant colors and beautiful tones with sickly blotches of ink. That trickled off the paintings as though they were cut and could bleed.

“Art in it's purest form.” Mocked a satisfied Enrec. She directed all of her underlings towards a portrait of Radiance, and personally made sure that not a spec of paint remained. As Enrec marveled in her work a buzz came from their intercoms.

“Guys, bad news, company.”

“What kind of company?” Inquired Thunderstep.

“The bad kind of company.” Terror Two-Hoof responded.

“More guards?” Asked Enrec.

Terror shook his head off screen. “THEY are here.”

There was a period of radio silence before the group's leader clarified.

“Suit up guys! The Power Ponies are here!”

The Art Museum Part 2

If you were to ask me which of our jobs I remember fondest.

My answer would be the museum heist.

What makes it so memorable from all the others?

This was the one time everything went completely perfect.

Fili-second sped up ahead of her friends. In roughly an instant she circled the entire museum and made a b-line back to her friends. “There's no point of entry.” She told her friends. “Are we sure someone broke in?”

“Hum-Drum picked up the silent alarm on our scanners.” Masked-Matterhorn explained. “There has to be something going on.”

“No offense to Hum-Drum” Zapp interjected. “But this wouldn't be the first time he misinterpreted an alarm going off. Remember that time we ended up showing up at Maretropolis High only to find out it was a fire drill?”

Mistress Marevalous looked up at Hum-Drum who was riding on the back of Matterhorn, and was flushed from embarrassment. “With the slew of crimes that have been happening recently I'm almost certain something is going on.” She protested.

Marevelous defending the colt helped him relax, but this was no time for a break, because the ponies had arrived at their destination.

~~~

“Thunderstep! Exit! Now!” Terror Two-Hoof was cycling through camera feeds desperately searching for not only the Power Ponies, but anyone or anything that would have tipped them off. Distracted by the amount of information his brain was processing Terror hardly had time to speak in complete sentences to his team.

“If I make an exit now those blasted ponies will know where we are!” Thunderstep contested the order, but warmed up his machine regardless.

“Trust me. I have that covered.” Terror reached underneath the camera controls and pulled out a small device with a big red button. “This was going to be in case Thunderstep couldn't make an exit, but it also gave him an idea of how the team could escape, or at least make the fight with the Power Ponies a bit simpler.

“Terror?” Thunder hailed to his coordinator.

“Everything's set, make the exit.” He heard in response.

“Works for me!” Thunderstep slammed his mechanized suit's hooves into the ground. The resulting bass drop conjured a miniature earthquake which cause a section of the wall to collapse.

~~~

“Over there!” Zapp pointed to the newly destroyed section of wall. Just then the sound of a high yield explosion rang out from the back side of the building.

“And there...” Added Saddle Rager who pointed meekly.

“That could be a distraction.” Marevelous pointed out.

“We can't take that chance” Matterhorn protested. “For all we know either one of the explosions could have been a distraction.”

“So what do we do?” Asked Hum-Drum.

“We split up.” Matterhorn answered. “Zapp and Saddle Ragger fly over the building and cut off anyone trying to escape. Fili-Second since you're the fastest one out of all of us you go to.”

“Aye-eye!” yelped Fili-second who was gone in a fili-second.

“Aye ma'am!” Seconded Zapp who flew off followed by Saddle.

“The rest of us will make our way to the first hole in the wall and hopefully catch whomever we can there.”

~~~

Terror flipped over to the camera at the front of the museum and managed to catch a glimpse of four of the ponies making their way towards Thunderstep's newly created hole.

“You got four ponies coming to intercept you.” He warned his field team.

“Did you see which ones?” Asked Siren.

“Matterhorn, Radiance, Marevelous, and...the runt; what's his name?”

“Hum-Drum.” Replied Siren to their camera pony. "Thanks for the info."

“No problem, now if you'll excuse me I need to-” Terror looked behind him, and something about the scene felt off. Everything was just as he left it at first glance...but then he noticed one of the ponies he had knocked out was a few inches off from where he had landed the first time, and was only a few sneaky steps away from a button to trigger a silent alarm. “Blasted. There's always something...” Terror quickly ran for the door's exit making certain to kick the guard who was playing possum in his face with his hoof as he left. “That should keep you out for a bit longer.” He mumbled.

Thunderstep, Madam Encre, and Siren Silence emerged from the hole in the wall they had created. As they walked out into the parking lot they tossed aside their bagged up paintings as the Power Ponies moved to Intercept them.

“These two again?!” Radiance scoffed.

“You know them?” Matterhorn asked.

“They're the ones who trashed the Museum of Modern Arts.” Radiance aggressively explained. “Was busting up one museum not enough for you?”

“As a matter of fact it wasn't.” Madam Encre taunted. “In fact destroying it was so much fun, I decided to destroy every museum in Maretropolis. Slowly of course. You can't enjoy a fire if it burns through all your kindling in a few minutes.”

“What's with this gal?” Questioned a slightly disturbed Mistress Marevelous.

“She's a psycho just like every other super villain.” Radiance hissed.

“I resent that statement!” Thunderstep objected. “Not all of us are crazy; you just don't understand our genius.” As he spoke an antenna emerged from the back of his suit. It stuck straight up and began to release pulsing sound waves into the air. Thunderstep bobbed his head in rhythm to the beat his suit was releasing, and a large grin formed under his mask. “How about a demonstration?”

The beat picked up as clouds began to form, but then suddenly stopped. Thunderstep looked down at the Power Ponies and raised one of his hooves.

“Let's step it up.” Thunderstep pointed at Matterhorn who jumped out of the way and dodged a bolt of lightning. Thunderstep smiled sadistically feeling a sense of satisfaction at making the Power Ponies battle against the forces of nature rather than with them.

“Time to power pony up!” Shouted Marevelous. As she did Matterhorn began to fire heat rays from her horn at the team of three who scattered in response.

“Siren!” Thunderstep shouted to his teammate. “EMP!”

“That will short out your suit!” She shouted back.

“Doesn't matter.” Thunder smirked.

The Power Ponies looked at one another.

“Get ready girls!” Shouted Matterhorn to her team.

Siren Silence stepped up between her friends and inhaled. As she did various cords and parts of her body began to glow a bright blue color. She exhaled and several locking noises were heard.

“Radiance!” Matterhorn shouted to the bright white pony who built up a marvelous gem covered shield.

Siren Silence began to sing, starting with a fairly low note then she steadily escalated the pitch, until the notes sounded less like singing and more like shrieking. A blue aura expanded out from her in all directions as her shirking escalated. The aura came in contract with Thunderstep and sparks shot out from his suit. Thunder quickly shook off the suit as it died away. More shockingly though, the aura washed over Radiance shattering her shield, and causing her bracelet to glow purple. Magical sparks shot out from Matterhorn's horn, and Marevelous gripped her head with her hooves as a result of a splitting headache.

“What's going on?!” Shouted Masked-Matterhorn.

“I have called for silence.” Siren explained. “And when the Siren demands silence, all shall abide.”

“Darling something's wrong.” Matterhorn and Marevelous looked back at Radiance; who was shaking her hoof. Her bracelet hadn't stopped glowing since Siren's attack, and try as she might she couldn't create anything.

“My rope...” Marevelous was panicking as she struggled to stand. “Where's my rope? I can't sense my...gah this headache.”

Masked-Matterhorn looked at the three ponies and tried to shoot a beam from her horn. Nothing happened. “This can't be happening...our powers...She's disabled them.”

~~~

Fili-second, Zapp, and Saddle Rager arrived at the back of the museum. To their surprise the only one there was Masked-Matterhorn who was standing at the hole.

“Matterhorn?” Zapp asked confused. “I thought you were checking out the other hole.”

Masked-Matterhorn trotted past the three ponies. “We ran into problems with the robbers, we need to get out of here.”

“You're saying we run?” Zapp asked in disbelief. “No way! If you guys are having trouble we'll come bail you out right girls?!”

Fili nodded eagerly, and Saddle Rager nodded to a lesser extent.

“Suit yourself.” Matterhorn turned around and fired out a split laser beam at Zapp and Fili hitting them both in the back of the neck sending them to the ground.

“Matterhorn?!” Saddle Rager landed between her now unconscious friends. “How could you?!”

“Get out of here.” Demanded Matterhorn.

“Get out?! GET OUT?!” Saddle Rager's eyes glowed green and bloodshot.

“YOU ATTACK OUR FRIENDS AND EXPECT ME TO 'GET OUT?!'”

“Blast it...” Terror cursed his luck, and jumped backwards as a fully enraged Saddle Rager bared down on him. The force of the slam flung Terror backwards and broke his disguise, revealing the half pony half changeling.

“Who...are you?” Saddle went to attack the abomination again, but he faded away in a black shadow and vanished. Soon after the rest of the Shadows of Power faded away the same way, along with their stolen art. Leaving the seven defeated Power Ponies alone, and confused.

“What...just happened?” Asked Mistress Marevelous to her friends.

“We...lost...” Matterhorn sighed and attempted to collect her broken friends.

The Second Gig Part 1

When The Shadows of Power crew returned to the safe house they were hailed by a standing ovation of thousands of ponies. Standing in the middle of the group was their leader who greeted them as champions of justice.

“Welcome back everyone, congratulations on a successful mission.”

“I don't know if we can call it 'successful'” hissed Terror Two-Hoof.

“Did something happen?” Inquired their leader.

“I just...made mistakes...” Terror's head sank.

“You did the best you could.” Comforted Siren.

“Guess I just need more practice.” Terror confessed.

“If that's the case, then how about we get you a bit more?” Suggested the leader.

“What did you have in mind?” Pondered Thunderstep. Madam Encre shot him a look.

“Star Horizon, what have you got?” A purple colt in a dark blue coat turned from the computer screen he was staring at in the corner. His eyes were bloodshot, like that of a pony who hadn't slept in years.

“You guys could always rob Maretropolis International. They house a ton of unmarked bits that don't belong to anyone; so we wont be stealing from other ponies.”

“I don't like this Thunderstep.” Protested Encre. “We're here to take revenge on the Power Ponies, and knock them down a peg. We're the balancing factor for the ponies, not a crime syndicate.”

“She's right.” Everyone turned to face the leader as he spoke. “We are not criminals. However the Power Ponies don't know that. We can use that to our advantage.”

“I don't follow.” Responded Encre to the notion.

“We pretend to rob the bank.” Terror explained. “We're not actually doing anything except luring the Power Ponies to us.”

“Exactly” praised their overseer. “Make an entrance, make it loud, do whatever you can to get the Power Ponies attention, and the attention of as many people as you can. When you beat those super heroes at their own game the ponies of Maretropolis will know that the Power Ponies, are not so powerful after all.”

The four agreed on this plan and split off to prepare. Thunderstep headed back to his workshop while Terror and Siren Silence headed off on their own. Madam Encre remained in the meeting area and began to paint in her book. She created a likeness of Radiance as accurately as she could; then one at a time painted tiny bubonic rats who jumped and bit at the construct as it shrieked in horror and suffered.

As Thunderstep made his way to his quarters he was stopped by Star Horizon.

“Hey! Got a moment?” The overly excited pony asked.

“I suppose.” Answered Thunderstep. “What's up?”

“I just wanted to say that I'm a big fan.” The jacketed pony admitted. “Your technology is really amazing, and I LOVE those tricked out glasses of yours.”

Thunderstep wasn't about to pass up a chance to stroke his ego. “Well, why thank you. You're too kind really...Star wasn't it?”

The colt nodded. “Star Horizon. The eyes of the Shadows as the 'big guy' calls me.”

“Why's that?” Quizzed Thunder.

“I-it's because of my special talent.” Star Horizon brushed back his long coat revealing a cutie mark of an oddly shaped eye and hourglass. “I try to know as much as I can about as many people as I can. I'm always watching everything and everypony, and if something's not my business I make it mine.”

“You're a stalker?” Thunder asked rather bluntly.

“According to the police I am.” Horizon confessed. “I got arrested when my neighbors found the spy camaras I installed in their house.”

“Not gonna lie, that's creepy.” Thunderstep admitted.

“I know, I know, but I can't help it. I'm always craving information. To the point that I don't even sleep.” As he spoke the shaky jacket pony picked up an energy drink with his hooves and swigged it down. “The leader dude recruited me because he believed I'd be able to find out the true identities of the Power Ponies.”

“Have you?” Questioned Thunderstep with renewed interest in the crazy colt.

“Not yet, but I'm close! I have quite a few leads.”

Thunderstep looked around to make sure no one else was listening in on their conversation. Then he leaned in to address Star Horizon in private.

“Do you know the identity of our leader?” He asked the boy.

“The head honcho? I sure do. It was one of the first things I found out.” Star boasted.

Thunder's eyes widened. “You have to tell me!” He demanded.

Star shrugged. “Sorry man, I'm under a NDA.” He made a motion with his hoof over his mouth like he was zipping his lips shut.

“Is there any way I could get you to D the NDA?” Bargained the impatient tech pony.

Start thought to himself then nodded. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small chip-like drive. “Plug this into one of the cameras so I can watch the bank.”

“You want to watch us fight the Power Ponies?” Buzzed Thunderstep.

Star nodded. “That, and I want to find any openings or exploits in the bank, in case we do decide to rob it later.”

“Fat chance” muttered Thunder. “I may be willing to give the super villain shtick a try, but the others are only in it for the Power Ponies.”

“I don't blame them.” Star admitted. “We're told when we're recruited that we're not the bad guys...but sometimes I don't know.”

“Society in Maretropolis is dictated by the will of the Power Ponies.” Thunderstep explained. “They're the ones who decide who the 'bad guys' are. That's what we're aiming to change.”

Star Horizon seemed satisfied with Thunderstep's resolve. “And I'm sure we will. Sorry to bug ya.”

Thunder shook his head. “Not at all. Nice talkin' with ya.”

~~~

Siren Silence entered Terror Two-Hoof's room and found him pacing around in a circle. She had temporarily swapped out of the black latex body suit she had been wearing during the museum raid into a large purple dress. Siren huffed as she awkwardly maneuvered. Due to her augmentations as well as the cords that ran through and around her body Siren no longer fit into her favorite dresses. Instead she had to buy dresses that were a size higher just to fit in them, but because her body never actually got any bigger they dresses always seemed to sag. Like the convict ponies in Maretropolis Capital Prison who intentionally wore prison outfits that were a size too large.

“Hoof what's wrong?” She asked her pacing partner.

“Nothing.” He hastily answered. “I'm just running through how we're going to exicute this mission.”

“Boss already told us how we're running it. We go in. We make noise. We wait for the Power Ponies.”

Terror Two-Hoof ceased his constant walking and held up his front hoof. He examined the hole in his leg the blew through it as if in disbelief that it was there. Sure enough he felt nothing as his breath passed through the hole. “I know he said to run this loud, but I don't think that's the best course of action. Going all in from the start has too many risks.”

“Like what?” Siren raised an eyebrow to Terror, convinced he was simply over thinking this whole thing.

“If we go in guns blazing right away the cops will get involved long before the Power Ponies do. If that's the case we might have to resort to hurting them.”

“So what?” Buzzed Siren with a hint of annoyance in her tone. Though truth be told she wasn't actually annoyed. Siren wanted to see if Terror could stick to his guns and keep his rationality when challenged.

“Our bout is with the Power Ponies.” Terror explained. If we lash out at random cops not only will our group look even more bad than I'm sure it already does, but we could potentially turn the entire city against us. Is that worth revenge?”

Siren cringed a little. “I'm honestly not the pony to ask that. I've done a lot of things in the past few days for revenge. Lots of extreme and probably terrible things.”

Terror sighed and trotted to the end of his room. He stared at the blank gray wall as though looking out of a window, but a window would have been a pointless luxury in an underground hide away. After a pause he turned back to Siren.

“Where do we go after this?” He asked her.

Siren gave him no response so Terror continued his philosophical rant.

“Encre and Thunder's reputations are completely destroyed. I've been turned into a monster, and you...”

Siren Silence's head sank as she removed her dress. As it fell to the floor Terror for the first time got to see her fully exposed body.

~~~

“Okay Spike that's enough.” Twilight snatched the grey scaled comic away from the dragon faster than he could huff out a small flame in protest.

“Twilight what gives?!” wined the small dragon.

“This comic is clearly for older ponies...er, dragons. I'm sorry Spike, but I'm afraid I'm just gonna have to hold onto this until you are older.”

“Twilight come ooon” Spike pleaded. “For Celestia's sake her entire body is covered in technology and metal.”

Twilight turned to the next page of the comic, sure enough the only thing still resembling a pony was Siren's head, mane, and tail. Almost every other part of her body appeared to be either made out of metal or wrapped in tentacle like cords.

“Alright fine.” Twilight huffed, as she handed the comic back to spike.

Spike turned to the page Twilight was just looking at. “Besides it's not like any of the ponies in Ponyville wear clothes.” He mumbled.

Twilight awkwardly scoffed in response.

~~~

“I'm. Sorry. I'm at a loss for words.” Terror Two-Hoof confessed.

“It's okay. I was too at first.” Siren admitted. When the surgeries were finished I could hardly believe I was starring at a mirror, but after practicing on my own in my room, and after that massive shriek I let loose during the museum raid I've come to terms with my new powers....and the burden I have to bare as a result.”

There was a knock on Two-Hoof's door, and soon after both Madam Encre and Thunderstep entered. Without Two-Hoof's permission.

“She's a piece of work ain’t she?” Coxed Thunderstep who immediately noticed Terror admiring his work.

Siren huffed and quickly shoved herself back into her dress. “You two could at least show SOME amount of consideration for privacy.”

“Buuut, this isn't even your room.” Thunderstep rebuttaled.

“The notion still stands Thunderstep.” Terror affirmed. “Why are you in my room?”

“Because it's go time of course!” Thunderstep declared. “I was sent to round you all up, I just happened to grab Encre first, and saw that Siren wasn't in her room. Are you two ready to go? Or do you need a minute more to admire my brilliance?”

Siren looked back at Terror who shrugged dismissively.

“We're ready, but we're not doing this how we were instructed.”

“What do you mean Terror?” Encre asked.

“Terror want's to avoid police involvement as much as possible.” Siren explained.

“So I'm proposing we go in quiet and take hostages. We can avoid police involvement using captured civilians as a deterrent, and at the same time can use them to negotiate a fight with the Power Ponies.”

“Get the Power Ponies, and get no one else involved.” Thunderstep pondered the notion then emitted a laugh of satisfaction. “I like it! Alright Terror Tactician we'll go your route!”

“Terror Tactician?” Echoed Two-Hoof.

“I like it.” Teased Siren. “It's a fitting name for you.”

“I'm not changing my name.” Terror croaked.

~~~

The Shadows of Power made their way to Maretropolis International. The largest bank in the city. However they informed no one of their change in plans. Just like the museum heist Siren Silence, Thunderstep, and Madam Encre laid low while Two-Hoof scoped out the area. Donning the appearance of a security guard Terror made his way around the bank until he found the room which housed all the cameras. He gave the door handle a tap of his hoof.

Locked...He knocked on the door, and soon after a different guard wearing the same uniform answered.

“I'm here for your lunch break” Terror bluffed.

“I wasn't suppose to get a lunch for another hour” The guard contested.

“We had to change the schedule around. A lot of ponies called in today.”

“What do you mean? There are only three guards that work in this branch...and come to think of it, I don't-”

The guard was interrupted by Terror who shoved him against the wall of the camera room. The guard faded out of consciousness as Terror locked the door and took the guard's place at the monitors. Chipping Star Horizon's drive into the bank's network as he did.

“Star, are you in?”

A voice buzzed in over Terror's com-link.

“Ye-yeah I'm in! Finally I can start observing this place. So many ponies taking out money, putting it back, OH! A safety deposit room, who knows what secrets ponies stash away in there.”

Terror rolled his eyes. Horizon was more excited than a filly on Hearth's Warming, and three times as jittery.

“By the way, what's with this ninja approach? I thought you guys were blazing it loud and proud.”

“We found a better way to do this.” Answered Terror modestly. By we he meant he, but he was never one for taking all the credit.

“I can respect that” Star claimed. “Besides this gives me more time to lo...hang on...Terror check this out! Camara 2 in the lobby.”

Terror peered at the camera, but all he saw was a bashful looking green pony talking to a well oversized colt bank teller.

“What exactly am I looking at Horrizon?” mumbled Terror.

“You see the mare talking to the teller?” prompted Star Horizon.

“There are only two ponies in this shot Star” Terror pointed out.

“Yeah-yeah-Listen! I cross-reference on the feed from your heist at the museum the other day, and that pony has a 9.958 point match on Saddle Rager pre-supper-angry-ragey mode.”

“Someone wanna translate that?” Interjected Thunderstep. “Cause all I heard was something about Saddle Rager.”

“I'm saying your job, AND your chance of fighting the power ponies just got a LOT better!” Star Horizon explained. “Because Saddle Rager is in the bank! Right now! Alone!”

“Sounds good to me.” Terror hummed with a smirk.

Thunderstep mimicked the smirk as he suited up his tech, face mask, and golden glasses. “Let's go make us some money.”

The Second Gig Part 2

The sounds of rumbles flooded the bank, which began to shake and knock ponies off their feet. Thunderstep and Madam Encre marched confidently into the center of the building escorted by a force of pony shaped ink constructs. Ponies began to panic, and worry and screams filled the bank. A few reached for phones to call the police, but a loud shriek coming from the front door caused the various devices to spark and short circuit. Siren Silence strutted in with her head held high to join her friends who each split up with their own inklings and began to bind and gag the civilians. Madam Encre approached the pony the group believed to be Saddle Rager. The pony fiddled with a bracelet that was hung loosely on her arm before holding her hooves up in defeat.

“Terror” Encre coldly called over her communicator.

“Aye” the voice on the other end acknowledged. “She did something with her bracelet, and Star Horizon has eyes on the Power Ponies. They’re inbound.”

Madam smiled with satisfaction. She then turned around and pretended not to know what the mare had done.

“They will stop you.” Saddle Rager proclaimed.

“Who?” Encre feigned.

“You know who.” The hostage persisted.

“The Power Ponies?” Madam Encre teased. “We’ll see.” Madam Encre slammed her hoof onto the floor, and the ink construct approached Saddle Rager. It melted down into a messy black puddle before wrapping itself around the mare’s legs and mouth.

“Saddle Rager won’t risk transforming in the middle of the bank where people can see her.” Terror Two-Hoof explained to his team. “But I have no doubt that the other ponies will prioritize rescuing her. We can’t let them regroup with her. Madam Encre-”

“What’s up?” She responded.

“Their rescue attempt will most likely involve Fili-Second. I need you to coat the back entrance in an oil slick, and coat a small area around the VIP while we’re at it.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Encre acknowledged as she headed off.

“Thunderstep, Siren, when this tactic fails the ponies will most likely try one of two things. Zapp will use her powers to try and force us out, or Radiance will create something to air lift her out. Depending on which strategy they use you two need to be ready to counteract it.”

“Roger Two-Hoof” Thunderstep buzzed.

“You got it!” Siren added.

“Terror” Star Horizon interrupted. “Camera A outside, you should have eyes on the Power Ponies.”

“I do” acknowledged Terror. He looked the team over then grinned manically. “And they’re one pony short.”

~~~

The power ponies convened across the street from the bank. “I can’t believe those creeps would choose today of all days to attack this place” grumbled Zapp as she fiddled around with her lightning bolt necklace.

“I can’t believe they knew what bank Saddle Rager would be at.” Masked Matter-horn fretted. Concern for her friend was oozing out of the tone of her voice.

“We don’t know for sure that they knew.” Mistress Marevelous pointed out. “Her distress signal is still going off which means those creeps still haven’t found it.”

“Maybe they don’t even know who she is!” Hum-Drum suggested.

“Or maybe this is some kind of trap!” Zapp notioned.

“We can’t risk a direct confrontation for too long.” Matterhorn noted. “Once the police arrive we’ll engage them as a distraction.” She turned to her young red-capped assistant. “Hum-Drum, when we engage the enemy you’ll need to lead the cops in an attempt to rescue the hostages.”

Hum-Drum pointed to himself in disbelief with his hoof. “W-why me, why do I have to do it?” He whined.

“Well we usually have Saddle Rager do it.” Zapp barked.

Masked Matter-horn held up a hoof to silence her. “Usually yes…however this time Saddle Rager IS a hostage.

Hum-Drum sighed. He was concerned for the outcome of their strategy, but acknowledged that there was no alternative. All of them would be needed if a fight broke out. Helping the cops’ free hostages was the least he could do.

~~~

The Shadows of Power team waited patiently for the Power Ponies to make their first move, but as far as they could tell the group of heroes was content to just sit and wait.

“Terror what gives?” Thunderstep blurted with annoyance in his voice.

“I don’t know” Two-Hoof admitted. “They should have sent Fili-Second in by now…or done something.”

“They probably want us to make the first move.” Thunder growled.

“That’s not it.” Terror assured. “There are numerous times where it’s better to give your opponent the first move, but a hostage situation is NOT one of them.”

“All the more reason for us to do so” Thunder pointed out.

Terror-Two Hoof shook his head as he looked over the camera feeds. “Remember, they think we’re robbing the bank, they don’t know we’re here for them. They’ll inevitably have to act given the situation they think they’re in.

“Gang! We got a problem!” Star Horizon suddenly cut in.

“What’s up?” Questioned Terror.

“My police radio’s buzzing like domesticated honey bees.”

“Meaning what exactly?” Muttered Thunderstep in response to Star’s similie.

“Meaning in about ten minutes you’re gonna have a swarm of police ponies on your flanks, and things are about to get sticky.”

“Leave that to me” announced the shrouded voice of their leader. “Beta, make your move.”

~~~

“I can’t believe this!” Gasped the Masked Matter-horn as she took her hoof off her com-link.

“What’s going on?” Inquired Marevalous.

“The Maretropolis Police Force just got pulled away to the opposite side of the city. Apparently riots have begun to break out!”

The six ponies exchanged glances with one another in response to this new turn of events.

“So we’re on our own then?” Groaned a disapproving Zapp.

“We will get some help eventually.” Matterhorn disclosed. “But for now we’re gonna have to do this without any.” She turned to her friend Fili-Second who was eagerly jogging in place.

“Fili-Second: Can you get Saddle Rager out from the back while we go in the front and distract them?”

“You got it!” Fili saluted Matterhorn and zipped away all in one motion.

Matterhorn motioned for Hum-Drum to go around back as well without saying a word. Hum-Drum snuck off unbeknownst to the bank’s cameras.

“The rest of us, it’s time to power pony up!”

“Zero hour” Terror warned his team. “Get ready guys.”

Zapp flew up to the top of the bank and pointed her necklace straight up. Grey storm clouds began to form as various bolts of lightning struck the building’s roof. Like battering rams to a wall.

Thunderstep made a mad dash for the roof, and upon arriving ascended to the sky with the help of his clockwork wings. His suit glowed with activity, and various beats and sounds emitted from it causing the storm to intensify.

A constructed police force equipped with gem encrusted combat gear marched on the front entrance, and were quickly engaged by a small army of ink knights rapidly drawn out by Encre.

Masked Matter-horn attempted to cull the ink army with a powerful horn blast, but a song from Siren Silence caused her horn to fizzle out.

The sounds of grunting, steel, and punches rang out as though a war had broken out in the streets. An ink knight cut down a gem soldier only to be beheaded by another. Terror Two-Hoof was watching the mad orchestra of discord play out over various screens when the sounds of a slipping pony followed by a loud thud broke his concentration.

Fili-Second had dashed in through the back door when she was sure enough commotion had been caused out front, but as she entered her feet trailed off after contact with Encre’s Oil Slick, and the zippy filly found herself skidding along the floor and into a nearby wall. Hum-Drum snuck in behind her taking extra care not to slip, and the two of them soon found themselves face to face with none other than the friend they had come to save.

“Saddle Rager!” Cheered Fili happily. How did you escape?

“Everyone else is doing such a good job distracting those villains; I had just enough time to sneak away from everything that was happening.”

“Well let’s get back to the others!” Fili-Second chimed. “Now that I’ve gotten you out we can focus on freeing the rest of the hostages.”

“My thoughts exactly” the mare eagerly responded.

Fili-Second zipped back to the front lines, and Saddle Rager soon joined her. Both Matter-horn who had recovered from Sirens attack, and Marevelous were both delighted to see her.

“This will get a lot easier now that Saddle is back!” Marevelous praised.

“Yeah but, where’s Hum-Drum?” Pondered Matterhorn.

The group looked around, but the little filly sidekick was nowhere to be seen.

Hum-Drum had actually stayed behind in the bank, something didn't seem quite right to him. As quietly as he could he made his way to the center area of the bank where the majority of the fight was taking place. There he took note of several hostages. One of which was a bound and heavily guarded Saddle Rager.

“Oh no!” Hum-Drum cried. “It’s a trick! I gotta go warn-”

It was too late. The “Saddle Rager” outside had transformed into a massive menacing red dragon. Terror Two-Hoof’s trap had successfully been sprung.

A Terror Two Behold

Terror’s Persona of the Fiery Dragon lashed out at Masked Matterhorn and her allies. He missed Fili-Second by a mile, but the other ponies that were not quite as fast had to duck and weave to avoid the massive dagger-like claws.

“What in Maretropolis is goin’ on here?” Shouted Marevelous as the behemoth’s claws raked mere inches away from her mane.

“This isn’t Saddle Rager!” Replied Matterhorn who was unleashing an assortment of magical beams at the dragon, but the attacks did little more than bounce off the dragon’s nail-tough magic resistant hide.

“It must be that changeling we ran into earlier!” Zapp concluded. Since Matterhorn’s magic was proving ineffective Zapp decided to try the forces of nature. She pointed her necklace to the sky and a rampaging twister enveloped the dragon.

Terror Two-Hoof scoffed in his mind. If this is the extent of their power then I surpass them with my intellect alone. He gave a mighty puff, and Zapp’s tornado was enveloped in a magical green flame. Turning the prison the mare had conjured into Terror’s personal protective shield. Yet another defense the Power Ponies would have to fight through.

~~~

The fighting inside the bank had died down thanks to Terror Two-Hoof’s cunning distraction. Radiance alone stood between her friends and the enemy; however her focus was split between the battle at hand, and the one occurring almost immediately behind her. Because of this it was proving difficult to keep her constructs in check, meanwhile Madam Encre continued to draw more ink knights to replace those that had fallen. Unlike Radiance who could create a bulk of constructs immediately, but then had to dedicate extreme amounts of focus to keep them doing what she wanted them to do; Madam Encre created her drawings one or two at a time, but gave little concern for what they did afterwards. The bank’s walls and windows were stained black with the life of her creations, but this did very little to phase the arguably psychotic mare. While Radiance sought beauty in everything; Encre it seemed desired a world turned black.

~~~

Fili-Second had made a mad dash for the bank once the fight with Two-Hoof had broken out. She was determined to fix her mistake by locating the real Saddle Rager as well as Hum-Drum who were both still somewhere inside the warzone that was Maretropolis International. The front of the battered building was blocked by the battle between the conjurers, so she had to use the back way in. She rounded the corner with earnest then immediately dived for the concrete ground as a defining scream erupted from the doorway. Siren Silence and Thunderstep emerged to intercept the speedy filly that was jittering in place like a caffeine addict. Fili racked her brain for a way around them, but with Thunderstep taking up the doorway, and Siren slowly advancing on her the pickings were slim.

“We don’t have to fight.” Siren propagated. “Surrender and you and your friends can leave.”

“Or-” came a condescending shout from Thunderstep. “You can not surrender, in which case I will happily spread your speedy green flank along the pavement!”

Fili-Second mulled over her options before her short term attention span took over. “Hmm…Option D!” Fili-Second began to spin in circles rapidly. Causing herself to accelerate faster and faster with each lap she took.

“D?” Thunderstep looked at the spinning supersonic mare then exchanged a glance with his partner. “What the heck was option C then?”

“Thunder for crying out loud LOOK OUT!”

Siren’s shouting caused Thunderstep to look back at Fili only to get smacked aside by a pony that seemingly got shot out of a canon. Thunder got shoved to the side and slammed into a nearby wall. “Now that’s what I call faster than a speeding bullet…” He mumbled to himself desperately attempting to remain conscious.

In one ludicrously rapid motion Fili-Second shot past Thunderstep, grabbed Saddle Rager and Hum-Drum, and darted out the front door reducing several gem and ink constructs to dust and puddles of ink respectively. It wasn’t until she saw herself careening straight for the fiery green tornado that she attempted to slam on the breaks. Fili-Second began to skid to a halt leaving a trail of black burning skid marks behind her. She stopped just short of the neon inferno thanks to the help of Mistress Marvelous and her lasso, but the whiplash caused Fili to lose her grip on Saddle Rager who was flung inside.

Saddle flew through the pillar of fire so rapidly that the damage to her person was minimal. She ended up running into the leg of Terror Two Hoof who was still in the form of a dragon.

Ever the observer Terror had opted to remain inside his fortress of fire and wait for the smoke to clear, but now he had an intruder in his domain, and he didn’t much care for that.

“What have we here?” Snapped the dragon, “a tiny little morsel looking to play?”

“Tiny?!” Snapped a slowly enraging Saddle Rager. “Tiny?!?!” Her eyes turned bloodshot as her rage consumed her. She began to grow as her hulking monster form emerged. “I’LL SHOW YOU TINY!!!”

The dragon grew a sinister smile exposing several fangs; time for plan B.

~~~

Back at the Shadows of Power HQ Star Horizon called over their leader to his monitors.

“What have you got for me?” The cloaked enigma inquired.

“Our splinter group has scattered, the police made two arrests, and a band of them are headed to the bank. Apparently the battle there is buzzing all over the radios.”

Something about this satisfied the shadowy figure. “Perhaps it’s time we withdraw our front line.”

“Are you sure sir?” Horizon questioned. “The group seems to be doing pretty well, and they certainly seem to be enjoying themselves.”

The colt thought it over then shrugged to himself. “Alright then; let’s see just how far they’re willing to go in pursuit of their goals.”

~~~

The fiery green tornado finally began to subside. Masked Matterhorn, Fili-Second, Zapp, and Mistress Marevalous stood at the ready to attack the phantasm en mass. Knowing that with the aid of Saddle Rager they could finally take down the fire breathing behemoth. The flaming twister dissipated, and when the smoke cleared they discovered Saddle Rager locked in a wrestling match with…herself.

“Oh great now what?!” Moaned Zapp in disbelief.

“That’s not our only problem girls!” Announced Marevalous as the sounds of police sirens began to flood in from the horizon.

“We can’t let the police get involved!” Shouted Masked Matterhorn to her team. “These guys will tear them to shreds with their powers if they get even half the chance!”

“Police are on the scope!” Star Horizon warned his team. “Whatever you’re doing, you need to do it now!”

Siren Silence and the now recovered Thunderstep made their way to the front of the bank where Saddle was deadlocked with her doppelganger. Zapp without warning aimed several lightning bolts at the duo, but thanks to Thunder’s tech he effortlessly redirected them. The two played hot potato with a bolt from the blue while Masked Matterhorn and Siren Silence swapped supersonic sound waves.

Terror who was still disguised as the hulking Saddle Rager socked his opponent across the cheek with the bulk of his now massive hoof. This caused the titan to stumble backwards as Terror backed away and joined his group. His disguise fizzling away as he joined his group.

“What’s the matter?” Taunted Zapp. “No fight left in ya’?”

“Our fight is with you.” Explained Terror Two-Hoof, who had taken the form of a whole changeling to maintain his image to the Power Ponies. “We have no interest in harming civilians or the police for that matter.”

Thunderstep muttered an incomprehensible complaint.

“If you had no interest in harming civilians then why take hostages and why destroy this bank?”

Two-Hoof looked back at the now ruined bank. All the glass of the building was completely shattered, and the walls and floor were covered in torn paper, ink, and the occasional unmarked bit. Madam Encre was breaking off her deadlock with Radiance and was slowly making her way towards the ruined entrance.

“A casualty of causality” proclaimed the changeling.

The police ponies formed a half circle around the perimeter of the Power Ponies blocking the villain’s apparent escape.

“We have no interest in letting you go” commented Matterhorn.

“Our freedom is no longer up to your discretion” hissed the changeling. “It’s time you learned that every light casts a shadow.”

As he said this the shadows of the group appeared to expand and consume them. They sank into the ground and vanished without a trace.

“What in the hay was that supposed to mean?” Inquired Marevalous to anyone who would answer.

“I’m not really sure.” Matterhorn looked at the ground then looked back up at the bank. “So I guess we’ll just have to ask.”

~~~

Thunderstep, Terror Two-Hoof, and Siren Silence emerged into the center of the hideout. Madam Encre was nowhere to be found, and Thunderstep was furious.

“What gives you hooded freak” shouted Thunderstep to their leader. “I thought you were some all-powerful warlock of shadows or something, you teleport us all the time so why did you leave Encre behind?!” Thunderstep grabbed the figure by his cloak, but a dismissive dark force shot up from the ground in front of him and separated the two colts.

“My relocation spells are limited to a small area, and I didn’t have to time teleport you three then cast the spell again for her.”

“So where is she now?” Asked Two-Hoof.

The leader turned to Star Horizon. “Eyes, got anything?”

“A heavy armored police transport just rounded the corner of one of the stoplights I bugged. Trajectory suggests it’s headed for Maretropolis’ maximum security prison.”

“Great, we’re never getting her out of there!” Barked a flustered Thunderstep.

“Never say never” hummed their boss. He turned to face Terror Two-Hoof and the others followed suit.

Terror bit his pony leg and his eyes darted every which way. “It’s a stretch, but I got a plan.”

“Wonderful, everyone go to your respective rooms, and get plenty of sleep. You’ve all done exceptionally well, but tomorrow you’ll need to go even further.” He dismissed the group and everyone headed their separate ways; except for Thunderstep whom he suddenly stopped.

“What’s up boss?” Thunder asked him.

“My name is Starstriker Shadow.” Their leader answered in a calm yet frozen cold voice. “Better I tell you directly then you hear it from Star Horizon.”

Per Father's Request

They say prison changes ponies

Some change for the better

Some change for the worse

And some simply realize that they will never change.

Madam Encre sat alone in her cell. Maretropolis’ police force had constructed special cells should they ever need to arrest one of the power ponies, however as luck would have it these small squares of unforgiving reinforced metals functioned just fine to house someone like her. Not that Encre minded. She had always found herself to be antisocial with anyone other than children, and would probably have had a short fuse with any cell mate she was given. The space was silent as a graveyard, and her creative mind fluttered free; unrestricted by the white noise of modern life. She wept a single tear at the realization that her mind was finally creating at the pace she wanted it to, yet this was the first time in her life she had no tool to create with, nor any paper on which to draw. She was truly alone for the first time in her life, but it wouldn’t be for long would it? Surly Thunderstep and the others would get her out.

Her cells solid metal door creaked open slightly. A single piece of paper floated inside along with a pen and matching eraser. Madam Encre looked up in a half trance at the door.

“Per your father’s request” came the anonymous voice of an unknown security guard. “You will be given one sheet of paper a day to draw on. You have also been given the pen to use. The eraser will work on the ink.” After the explanation the door slammed shut and the guard walked off.

Her father… that idiotic unicorn…this was all his fault.

Or was it?

He always had his nose in her mother’s art; coming up with all sorts of enchantments and spells that complimented it. He eventually created his magnum opus, the magic sketch book. And what did he do with it? He gave it to his crazy daughter who used it to ruin her life in a fit of jealousy. As she began to ink up the paper Encre thought back to the bank job. She had been unsuccessful in rejoining the group and because of that she was left behind. But looking back on it she hadn’t really cared enough to join back with them. And when the Power Ponies and the police came to collect her she put up no resistance. She dismissed her minions and accepted her fate. Why was that?

She remembered the fight with Radiance at the bank. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced; the clashing creativity, the contrasting views, the desire to prove that she was on the same footing as her rival. It all felt surreal in her mind, like a dream that had come alive only to die and return to her mind as nothing but a memory. She looked at the drawing; a perfect presentation of her fight with Radiance. Every detail was precise and fine-tuned; as though she had traced over a photo. Madam Encre had spent her entire time as a “criminal” loathing the very existence of another pony with powers so similar to her own, but looking back on the events she realized that she no longer despised Radiance.

She respected her.

And she couldn’t wait to get out of jail and fight her again.

~~~

Thunderstep paced uncontrollably outside of a locked door. Terror Two-Hoof, and their leader whom had recently dubbed himself Starstriker Shadow, had sealed themselves away in Terror’s room. A room which had apparently acquired a lock; no doubt due to Thunder constantly waltzing in whenever he pleased. Thunder began to run various calculations and concepts through his mind. He believed he had found a way to improve his suit. He would have to augment his arm the same way he augmented Siren, but if successful he could link the suits functions to his nervous system allowing him control over the more malicious forces of nature with nothing more than an afterthought.

The door opened, and Terror and Starstriker exited. Standing on either side of the now open doorway as Thunderstep waited anxiously for the plan.

“I’ve talked things over with our leader” Terror Two-Hoof explained, “and I have a plan that will get Madam Encre out of prison and back with us with minimal issues.”

“Perfect!” Praised the overly excited pony. “Where do we begin?”

Starstriker and Terror exchanged looks then glanced back at Thunder.

“I’m sorry Thunderstep, but this is a solo operation.” Starstriker coldly confessed.

“What?!” Thunder’s confused and slightly annoyed gaze darted between the two colts. “You can’t be serious!”

“Terror Two-Hoof is the only one among any of us who can get in and get out without drawing any attention at all.” Starstriker explained. “Sending in anyone else has too much risk attached.”

“But she’s our teammate! We should ALL be involved in the rescue!”

“That’s not how this works Thunder” countered Two-Hoof.

“And why not?!” Barked Thunder to the amalgamation. “What if it was Siren that needed saving, and you were told that only I could save her? Wouldn’t you feel annoyed?! Wouldn’t yo-”

“I would accept the wishes of our leader, and wish you the best of luck in retrieving her.” Terror Two-Hoof’s words were cold and emotionless. Devoid it seemed of any concern for anypony.

Thunderstep stood up on his hind legs and threw his hoofs in the air in defeat. “Well fine then! Good luck to ya! I’ll be waiting here doing NOTHING until you guys get back.”

“It’s not like you’re the only one sitting this out Thunderstep.” Terror pointed out. “Siren wasn’t too keen on this plan either.”

“That’s because it’s a dumb plan!” Thunder argued.

“It may be a dumb plan Thunderstep” interjected Starstriker, “but it’s the best plan we have, and it’s the one I have chosen to support.”

Thunderstep scoffed. He could hold a futile debate with Terror until he was blue in the face, and he had done it before, but when the boss made up his mind then you took what you got.

“I will free Encre Thunderstep.” Terror Two-Hoof assured his teammate.

“You’d better, and do it quickly. Lord knows she’s probably going insane in there.”

~~~

Two days passed, and for Encre they could not have passed any slower. She had been quiet and cooperative for the most part, but today she found herself escorted back to her cell for assaulting another inmate. Encre didn’t care; as far as she was concerned she had it coming.

“Who did that mare think she was? I’ve stood hoof to hoof with Radiance and what has SHE ever done with her life. Get busted trying to rob a convenient store?” Encre actually had no idea what the mare had done to end up in jail. She had been too busy exchanging strangleholds with the pony to ask. Never the less the outburst cost her the piece of paper she would have received today. She was just grateful she had left her pen and eraser in her cell, or she might have lost them instead.

She picked up one of the pieces of paper and stared at the drawing. It was an outfit she had designed for herself. One that she would make out of ink once she had gotten out of this wretched correctional facility. It was a long skintight suit that covered the entire length of her body like the one she had been wearing; however the top of the flank area had an additional section that went up and over her back legs and tail giving the outfit the appearance of an innocent dress. As a dress it would be elegant and fabulous, but should the need arise she could detach the add on, and what was form would then be replaced by function.

She turned the paper over and began to sketch on the back; silently praying to herself that whatever she drew would not bleed through to the other side. She drew herself in a series of poses in her new outfit. She liked how she looked.

After a couple of hours of posing and drawing there was a knock on her cell door followed by the aggravating complaints of it slowly opening. It opened a fifth of the way as per usual and Encre slowly walked up to it.

“Lunch time already?” She asked in a rather uncaring tone.

“I’ve got paper for you” replied the guard.

Madam Encre was befuddled. This was a different guard than the one who brought her paper the past couple of days, and the fact still remained that she wasn’t supposed to get any today.

“Didn’t you get the memo?” She snarked. “I don’t get paper today. Paper is only for the ‘good girls.’”

“Eh, you know what they say about rules.” The guard dismissed. “Besides what they don’t know won’t hurt them…or will it?”

A piece of paper that was folded four ways was tossed into the cell. Encre scoffed and quickly sketched out her new outfit. Her eyes widened as the paper began to glow. The glow consumed her, and once it faded Encre found herself wearing the outfit she had designed. Dress section and all.

“How did…” Encre looked up to find the door to her cell completely opened. Standing on the other end was none other than Terror Two-Hoof who had taken the guise of a security guard.

"There's nowhere we can't get to" Terror boasted. "Everything casts a shadow."

Madam Encre looked down at the now empty piece of paper. “So this a page of my sketch book?!” She didn't know if she was grateful for the paper, or mad cause Terror had torn the page out.

“This was the easiest way to get your powers back to you” Terror explained. “I’m just lucky it’s the pages that are enchanted, and not the book itself. Your father put a lot of time and effort into that book it seems.”

Her father… that idiotic unicorn…this was all his fault.

And she was truly grateful.