Power Ponies: The New Heroes

Red follows the heroes to their home, as he soon returns from his costumed form in a hiding spot. It was now that they could see him. He was a slim, Green pegasus, who had dark green fur, and had a crimson red mane, and blue eyes. His wings also had crimson highlights in the feathers, much like how Cadence had purple highlights in her own pink wings.

"So," he said, "what do you want me to help with?"

Red looked to Luna and the others as they were packing up everything they had "just carrying all this stuff." She explained. Red nodded, and began to help pack everything up.

Outside, Lone was talking with Grimlock, the AI for the Rangers, trying to get one of the vehicles he had invented to get to his location to help with the move.

"Grimlock, I don't care if you don't like it. This isn't for you."

"Well, I still think you should go with the bravo-99 model."

"Why? Even with my space displacement spell, it still moves at a slow speed. The axles aren't even meant to handle the weight of six ponies and whatever they decide to bring. It's supposed to be Red's racer, though why I made it for him is beyond me, as he doesn't use it."

"Oi, both of ya can it. I'll still need to have some help loading everything onto the vehicle."

Another AI who was Red's own one, appeared, named Night Shade. she appeared as a Light blue pegasus, wearing a different colored variant of the Wonderbolt's costume. "Hey both of you come on and calm down. All we need is something that's armored, but also can take the weight of about 6 ponies, AND the cargo."

"Then how about the mark-7 cargo truck. Oh, wait, I already suggested that," Lone said, "but mister plothole here though it was unsightly and inefficient."

"Then how about the mark-7 cargo truck. Oh, wait, I already suggested that," Lone said, "but mister plothole here though it was unsightly and inefficient."

She slaps both of them. "How about you both shut up already?"

"Hey," Lone said, "blame Grimlock. I wanted to bring it, but Grimlock's the one with vehicle access. Kick his plot, not mine."

"Take the Mark 7 Cargo Truck. it can carry everything easy." She said, as it was now two vs one, Grimlock had no choice but to accept.

"Right," he grumbled before disconnecting.

"Remind me to solder his circuits when we get back," Lone said. "I told you we should have put in override codes for the AIs, Red!"

"What is it now ya prick? We're almost done packing up everything? Where are you at?!" He asked calling him still.

"I'm outside. I'd have been up sooner if it wasn't for Grimlock's stupidity and arrogance."

"Okay. Open up the cargo bay and we'll begin to load everything." He told Lone, as he began to take some of the things and load them up at the truck.

"It's not here yet. Me and Night Shade just finished convincing Grimlock to send it. We'll have to wait a few minutes."

"Yeah, I got'cha...just hurry on and get here already." He said waiting to load everything once they were done.

"Well, we got about ten minutes, so unless there's a lot, you can take your time."

"Well, Should take us about that time to finish packing everything." He said, as he was helping Luxi pack everything.

"Right. I'll stay here in case an idiot decides it's a good idea to try to rob the building today."

"Fair enough. Suppose you should also try to prep the tower for the six of us now. If they desire they can all have an entire floor to themselves." Red said with a playful laugh.

Rolling his eyes, Lone activated his communicator and said into it, "Slag, you heard Red. Get rooms prepped."

"You got it, boss," Slag said.

"Hey, I was going to say let them pick what room they want..." He said, as he waited for the truck to arrive.

"You do realize we have manufacturing magic that makes it easy to decorate and redecorate rooms, so does it really matter?"

"Oh whatever, just get about 4 rooms prepped to go."

"You got it, Red," Slag said.

Red continues to wait for the truck as they are closer and closer to finishing.

As the ten minute mark passed, the group heard a deep rumble coming from down the street.

Red smiled "Ah, and there's our ride girls." He said smiling as he went to get some of the boxes to carry them outside.

The vehicle looked like a green and white slope with accents of black in the middle. This was connected to a rectangular box at the back of the main cab. The top of the back had a red, T-like design.

Red smiled, opening the back of the the trailer. "Alright c'mon, load up everything we've got to take in the trailer here." He said to them.

They put all of their luggage into the trailer, the went up to the cab, where Lone was already sitting in the drivers seat. "Buckle up, guys. It may not look like it, but this thing can go very fast, and you will need the seat belts to stop yourselves from being flung out the windshield."

Red smirked, and got in, as Luxi and Luna got beside him, along with Nightmare and Celestia.

"Attention passengers," Lone said, "we realize that you have a large choice of transport when it comes to our great city, and we thank you for choosing Ranger moving and travel services. Keep your entire body inside the cab at all times, unless you wish to lose a limb due to the friction."

They snickered as they were ready to get moving.

"I'm not kidding," Lone said, not looking away from the console. He punched in the coordinates, and the truck began to move.

"We know your not." Red said as the truck was soon on it's way.

About ten minutes later, the truck arrived at the rear of a large skyscraper. Without stopping, it went at it's current speed, about fifty miles an hour, towards a wall. A few feet, meaning ten feet, a part of the ground flipped up, revealing a tunnel that led underground, and to the secret part of their base.

"Welcome home, Lone," a third AI said.

The truck went into the tunnel, the entrance sealing behind it once the last inch of the trailer passed in. The way the tunnel descended was circular, and, as far as the three alicorns and one former villain could tell, made of metal. They went down for another ten minutes before the floor evened out and the truck came to a stop.

"Welcome to the Headquarters of the entire Ranger operation," Lone said as he got out.

Red nodded as he got out, and even helped the other four out as well, allowing them to see the base for themselves. "Take a good luck cause now your stuck here with us!" he said laughing.

"I thought it was just you two that were Rangers," Celestia said.

"We're just the only two that are active here in maretropolis," Lone said, "The building is where the others come when they're on their holidays. In fact, every pony on the building are friends or family that have knowledge of the Rangers, other Rangers, and allies. It's a large operation. Me and Red here are the official unoffical leaders of the group.

Red whacks him on the head for the redundant oxymoron, before rolling his eyes "C'mon, We can let you go look around the tower to go pick out rooms." he said smiling "Even show you my room if you wanna find me or Lone's room if you need him for some reason." he said as he moved to lead them to an elevator.

They got in, though Celestia stayed behind with Lone. "So, Lone," she said, "what do you do?"

"I'm the one who comes up with our tech," he replied. "The truck, our weapons, even our suits. They use nanomachines to build them selves around the user. They're also used to keep the weapons in functioning condition, upkeep of the building, and, if needed, listening devices."

"He also created us," Swoop said over the intercom.

"I even made bodies for those three, as well as one for Night Shade that she can exit or enter at will."

"Who's Night Shade?" she asked, before the voice spoke up.

"I am Night Shade, I'm Red's personal AI partner. don't worry Celestia, we'll meet soon enough it's good to have some new company." She explained smiling.

"Why don't you try to make your inventions public?" Celestia asked.

Lone shrugged, saying, "Because then ponies like Grim will get the weapons, and that would make our job harder. Even without our kits, those guys are hard yo beat. We only kill the bad guys, not the civilians. We don't want any of our gear associated with murder."

"But back at the ware house-"

"It was a bluff. When I said that me and Red are the only active Rangers here, that was a partial truth. We're the only ones here full time. Those in the tower are here for a break, yes, but they'll help if we ask for it. One of the other Rangers was nearby on a roof top that had a sight on him. She would have killed him before he killed anypony there.

Cleanly too. He would have died on the spot."

"Who's the Ranger who was there?"

"You'll see her eventually. You know her, actually."

She nodded, understanding "I see...Interesting..." She said, smiling lightly.

Meanwhile, inside the main tower, Red was giving them the tour, including the pool, spa and sauna, workout room, and much more! he also shown them to his room, and to the rooms that Slag had fixed up for them, and mentioned about how if it wasn't up to their liking, they can change it to be something more of their style.

It was here that a mare wearing a wonderbolts outfit walked up, though the color scheme, instead of blue and yellow, was black, purple, and yellow.

Red smiled a bit. "Hey there Night Shade." He said smiling at her softly.

"Girls, might I introduce to you, my own AI partner. Night Shade, The Shadowbolt." He said motioning to the mare who smiled, waving. "Hi there!" She happily said.

"Hi," Nightmare said warily before whispering to Luna, "is it just me, or does her perkiness similar to Pinkie's?"

Luna shrugged "I don't know. She seems nice, though also reminds me a bit of you and I...maybe it's the coloring..." She mused, smiling.

Red smiled. "What brings you here, Nighty?" He asked smiling to her.

"Just meeting the others," she said.

"Why is it you look like a shadowbolt?" Nightmare asked, now recognizing the color scheme.

She smiled "Well, Red's the one who designed me..." She explained.

"Really," Nightmare said, an eyebrow raised. "Why, pray tell, did you do that, Red?"

Red didn't say anything, if anything, he flinched a bit, due to the question as he now is hiding his face, as it's blushing horribly.

"Well, it doesn't look like he wants to answer it," Luxi said.

"Indeed," Luna said. "Though I imagine we'll find out eventually," she said grinning, due to her ability to dreamwalk.

And now his entire face was as red as his mane. "ALRIGHT FINE YOU WANT TO KNOW!?" He shouted as his defense and attempts to dodge the question, finally snapped.

"Yes." The three said.

"Fine....c'mon." he said as he took them to the elevator, and took it up to the highest floor, where his room was, before going to his room and leading the way, he opened it up, and revealed to them, various things related to the Night, related to THEM...news clippings of the Maneiac's attacks, and battles, both before and after she became a hero, along with this were various star charts, stories about Luna, and Nightmare, even news clippins of possible sightings of them!

"I had Idolized you two, since I was a little colt....as I grew up I continued to idolize you, hoping I could one day meet you..." he said. "And you, Luxi...I idolized you back when you first shown up as a villain...you were so cool....then, you switched sides, and became a hero a while back...That made you even more cool in my eyes..." he said, as when he switched the settings, the room's walls changed, along with the ceiling and floor, to look as though they were floating in space, around them, the stars, and Moon.

Blushing, Luna said, "Well, I'm certain I speak for the others when I say that we're flattered, we really are."

"Understatement over here," Luxi said.

"But, well, how can I put this?"

"Don't act like a love struck fanboy around us," Nightmare said bluntly.

"I didn't when we met. I won't when we're working together, trust me. I'll keep my lovestruck fanboy moments to myself in private." he said referring to when they left the room, or in his own dreams.

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing," Luxi whispered.

"You and me both," Luna responded.

"It means I won't be distracted from my job due to being star struck at the fact that I'm now working with you three." He said having heard them.

"Not what we meant," they both said.

"Then what did you mean? We're a team now. We shouldn't keep secrets from each other." He said simply.

Raising a fist, Luna said, "Fanboying in private, posters and media related to us, admiration of us for a long time. What do you think?" She raised a finger with each point.

Red didn't seem to follow how she was going about it. "I'm afraid I still don't get what your trying to say so why don't you just say it Luna?" he asked her, looking at her plainly.

"I would, but your apparently too young to understand," Nightmare said.

Red said nothing, and simply walked out of the room, as he went to the elevator alone, and began to descend to the Training room dojo, annoyance clear in his head, at the same time, pain in his heart.

Luxi soke up then. "Did we need to be that harsh?" She asked, as even though they were uncertain, she felt great, knowing that somepony actually idolized her.

"What?" Luna asked, "I was just playing."

"Perhaps it was too much," Nightmare said.

Luxi looked at them. "Perhaps....we should try to apologize?" She suggested, worried.

Red meanwhile had decended, and morphed, and was beginning to train, to get his mind off of the shame that had begun to form, of his embarrassment infront of three mares that not only did he love them, but also he had admired them since he was a colt. it was the stories of them, that lead him to become the strong ranger he was now. He was angry at himself, but also ashamed, due to being embarrassed at what had happened.

Lone and Celestia came into the training room while he was there, Lone noticing how angry Red was. "Red. What's up?"

"Stay out of my way right now. if you REALLY wanna know. ask Night Shade, or Luxi, Luna, or Nightmare." he said as he continued his hard training.

"Best to do what he says, Tia," Lone said. "When he's this pissed, best to stay away from him."

"Right," Celestia said.

Red continues the training, when the other three soon arrive, as Night Shade had lead them there.

"Why do I get the feeling that he won't hear us," Luna said.

"Why don't ya try...he's probably listening, even if he doesn't seem to notice us." said Shade, who went to leave them to do their next work now.

"Wish me luck," Luna said as she stepped over to him and tapped him on the shoulder.

Red instantly stopped his fighting, as he simply moved to stand still, and turned to face them. His helmeted face, and emotionless visor was denying them any look at what was going on in his head.

"What?" he said.

"We want to apologize," Luna said. "We didn't think you'd be this mad. We were just trying to joke around with you."

".......You went a bit too far.....I can handle joking but that was going a bit overboad, Luna.....especially considering the fact that I idolized you, Nightamare, and Luxi since, well, I was a kid, and since Luxi came onto the scene which was when I was in my late teens." he said, as he wasn't that far off from Luxi, in terms of his age. "you really shouldn't have said that...or even made any sort of hint that I might do such an act like that." He said, as his helmet still hid their vision of him.

"How was I supposed to know? It's not like you love me or the others." Red tensed up here, and Luna saw this. "You do, don't you?"

"..........." Red said nothing. but the V shaped black visor on his silver helmet raised up suddenly, and Luna was able to see his head inside. though his mouth was covered by a face plate of sorts, she could clearly see his eyes, and they were clearly showing a hurt heart due to her joking earlier. "All three of you.....if I am completely honest...." He said softly. as he began to look away.

"Red," Swoop said over the intercom, "if you don't tell the truth, it won't be best for any involved."

"And you may be more miserable than you are now," Slag added.

"They're right," Grimlock said in a rare moment of helpful insight.

"I loved all three of you.....I felt it as I grew up...I loved you all..." Red said. "I was your biggest supporter Luxi...and to you as well, Luna, Nightmare." He said, being genuinely honest.

"Why didn't you tell us," Luna asked.

"Tch, You would have only laughed...not taken me seriously at all..." He said as he went to look away from the trio.

Meanwhile-unknown location

Grim was standing around a table in a bare warehouse with other gang leaders. Those represented were the Reapers, obviously, the Kings, an all male gang that wanted to make slaves of all mares, including the princesses, and wore anything the steryotypical stallion would wear, the Heralds, a religious focused gang that dressed like priests, and the one with the most notoriety, the Rebels, who wanted to just remove the city government and cause chaos. They wore civilian clothing with weapons strapped to their backs or thighs.

"So," he said, "anyone know why we're here?"

"To serve me." Called one female voice, revealed to be Element Empress, back to take over.

"You," the King representative said, "why is a lowly mare here?"

"I'm here," Element said, "to give all of you morons leadership. All of your plans have been beaten by the Royals. I'm here to help you."

"And, if I may ask," the Herald representative asked, "why you called all of us here? We aren't the leader of our groups, with the exception of Mister Grim here."

"Because, you ARE the leaders of your groups now." She said smirking deviously.

"And how is that possible," the Rebel representative said.

"I killed all of the other leaders and, with you all being the second in commands, that now falls to you," Element said. "As for why I called all of you here, it was to have you and your gangs join me."

The King spoke up. "Why would my gang, join you? and be lead by a lowly mare?" he said, showing his clear annoyance at this fact.

Element simply glared at him before her horn lit up, and the stallion who spoke began to cough from strangulation. "Because," Element said, "I can easily kill the lot of you without raising my hands."

He growled a bit through his coughing as he choked "Okay Okay Okay!!!"

"Good," she said before crushing his windpipe. "But I can't have anypony questioning me, now can I?"

"Of course not! Of course not!!" He said coughing more hoping to survive.

"Good," she said. "But, I must have an example so only the stupid may try." She steadily increased the pressure with each word. The other gang leaders were looking in shock, except for Grim, who simply raised an eyebrow.

Impressive, he thought to himself.

"Now," Element said in a completely casual voice, "die." She completely crushed his windpipe, killing him. "That is the fate of any who question me. Make sure you don't make the same mistake."

They all were scared of her, horribly afraid.

"What would you have us do," the Herald leader asked.

"Do what you normally do for now. Should I need you, which will be soon, I shall send for you. Do not let any outside of your gangs membership know, not even the sluts you use. I have another purpose in mind for them."

They all nod "Yes Ma'am we understand."

She let out a small smile before walking away, saying in a pleased tone, "Good. Now, go back to your gangs, and await for my word."

As they all left, with Element still there, she said to herself, "Now, how to take care of those Rangers?"