Start of recording: Iron Steed

In a simple, dark blue room, a stallion in a bright costume adjusted a small microphone on his chest. The stallion was rather muscular looking, being covered in white fur across his body, but had a striped mane of light blue and sky blue. He wore a red costume that had a shield logo on the center of his chest, which was connected to a golden breastplate. On his hands blue gloves, with a red mask over his eyes, keeping his identity a secret. Confused, he poked the poke microphone he was putting on, making some loud feedback.

“Excuse me, is this thing on?” He asked

“Yes, Iron Steed.” A mare answered from behind the camera.rom behind the camera as the hero let out a sigh of relief. Even though he was having trouble trying to attach it to his suit and finally was able to place his microphone on his chest. “So… Iron Steed, if I may ask, do you happen to have some form of secret identity?”

The stallion himself himself looked around for a moment, before letting out a small chuckle as he began to respond to the reporter he was talking too. “Every superhero that I know of has a secret identity. I mean, I don’t know of anypony who doesn’t right now. I mean… think about it. Who would want that amount of pressure of just being ‘super’ all the time? If you push yourself too much, even those who are super can tire themselves out.”

Start of recording: Amorous

In another simple colored room that had lavender run along the walls, a pegasus that was covered in pink fur was standing in the middle of the room. She looked rather slender herself, her mane consisting of purple, magenta and a light yellow as it ran alongside the back of her suit. One that had a neckline that consisted of what looked like a yellow and white trim to blend in with her bright azure colored suit and the small sapphire around her chest level.

Her response to the reporter’s first question… was much different then that of the stallion in front of her. “Of course I have a secret identity,” The mare chuckled, rolling her eyes for a moment before looking back towards the camera. “I mean, can you really see me in this while I’m… I’m… while I’m out shopping for groceries or something? It wouldn’t make sense for me to try and go out shopping at Amorous if you know what I mean.”

Start of recording: Canvas

Now the room was a simple shade of red as the focus was on the stallion that was in the center of the room. His fur was that of a brick like orange with his mane being a rather cerulean shade of blue, but his eyes were blocked by that of a pair of goggles, a mask over his mouth and what looked like a full body suit. The top half of it consisting of a painters smock and also a scarf around his neck.

“Secret identities? Oh I have one of those,” The stallion replied back to the reporter. “But when it comes to some of those super mares… they’re always trying to tell you their secret identity. But me, I’m one of those guys who rather not know about others secrets like who their parents are, what your alter ego is or anything like that. Because if you tell me that you’re some… extreme super mega ultra powerful mare? That’s alright with me… I’m fine. I’m fine with that.”

Back to Iron Steed

“So, Iron Steed… what do you like the most about being a hero?” The reporter now asked Iron Steed as the focus was now back on him. “Do you enjoy saving the world from villains on a daily basis?”

“Ah. See, now that’s a tricky one. I do enjoy saving the world from villains, both the ultra ones that I need to stop to some wannabe, but if there’s one thing that gets on my nerves, it’s when they do something on my off time! I’m not gonna say who I am, but even a guy like me needs a day off, and it’s just impossible when you’re at the grocery store, and the next thing you know, BAM!!! A villain enters, and I have to stop whatever it is I’m doing to save the day again! And don’t get me started on dates.”

“You’ve had a villain interrupt you on a date?” The reporter asked, finding that a little hard to believe at first.

“What? I mean… I just want to settle down, you know… have a wife, a child… three at most… but it’s near impossible when… oh, I don’t know, Mr. Cryo enters and starts freezing everyone, you know?”

“You sound like you want to have the world… well.. You want it to ‘stay saved’ for a little bit. Like enough for you to catch your breath and rest, right?” The mare asked him.

“Yeah. I feel like a maid here. You know, I just cleaned the place, can we keep it clean for 10 minutes!? Please?” That had the reporter and him laugh for a moment, before accidentally getting up and almost knocking the camera over.

Back to Amorous

“Stop right now? Settle down!?” Amorous asked in shock. “Why would I do that? If it was possible, I would never sleep with these evil doers around.”

“Don’t all heroes need a chance to rest from time to time though, Ms. Amorous?” The reporter then asked her.

“Only after some hard defeat, really. But you see me, don’t you? I don’t lose, only have close calls. And trust me, big guys like Iron Steed can complain all they want, but there’s no way I’m gonna quit this near thankless job! Ladies, you think we should let these guys do everything for us when they whine more than us? Heh, I don’t think so.”

“I’m sure that the public thanks you and every other hero all the time for your deeds, Ms. Amorous,” The reporter then told her. “I’m always grateful for what you and other heroes do everyday to keep the ponies of Maretropolis safe.”

“And I thank you in return, to all of you who thanked us. Some folks may not like us, but we try our best to keep you all safe.”

“I wish you and your fellow heroes the best of luck wherever duty calls.” The reporter complimented the pegasus. “And show them that mares can definitely kick some serious flank.”

“Please, I may be a mare, but I can kick more flanks than the stallions I work with.” Amorous said with a cocky grin.

‘All units, we have a downtown pursuit in progress. I repeat, a downtown pursuit in progress. Suspects are said to be armed and extremely dangerous and they already have hurt several bystanders…’

As he was hearing this over his car radio’s police scanner, Shining Armor was on the way to a very important event. Though, it was as he was hearing this that he recalled that he was already a couple hours early and he was already dressed. Leaving him with two options. Option A, stay the course… or Option B, take a quick detour.

It only took him close to a second to make his decision. And he chose the latter of the two.

“I got time to spare.” He said to himself, turning a knob inside his car. A couple of beeps were heard, making the vehicle he was in take over in driving. His seat leaned back, leaving him lying on his back, though he raised his arms as metal arcs went over him, making him go into his costume, AKA, The Iron Steed. To the outside, civilians saw what looked like an older truck turn into the sleek and stylistic Ironmobile, complete with an open roof, where they saw the Iron Steed behind wheels, ready for action.

Of course, he didn’t really quite get that far as he had to stop just as he was beginning to pass the Maretropolis Park when what looked like a filly almost stepped out into the road.

“Iron Steed! Iron Steed!” The voice of an elderly mare yelled, waving towards him. Reacting, Iron Steed slammed on the breaks, turning a bit to not hit her.

“What is it, ma’am?” He asked.

“My granddaughter’s kite is stuck in a tree and won’t come down. Can you help get it down for her?” The elderly mare pointed to a kite that was stuck in the tree as the same filly that almost jumped out in front of the ironmobile was now right next to the elderly mare with a really sad look on her face.

Iron Steed himself, took a moment to look back at the dashboard screen that was tracking the pursuit that the police were in, noticing that they were coming back around and slowly circling the park.

“Uh… y-yeah, I got time.” He replied, jumping out of the car and, with his strength, ripped the tree straight out of the ground, roots intact. The filly stood under the tree’s leaves, extending her arms out to retrieve her kite as Iron Steed shook the tree. “Come on, come on, get out of there.” Some beeping was heard from his car’s computer, followed the sound of sirens and gunfire. He looked to the right, seeing the crime in the distance, making him shake the tree harder. “Come on! Get out of there!”

“Ooh! It’s getting loose, Mr. Steed!” The filly spoke with a slight lisp. Causing him to shake a little harder as the kite was slowly beginning to slip off of the tree branch. Landing right in front of the filly after a few more shakes. The police sirens and gunfire were just close. Iron Steed threw the tree to the side, using it as a makeshift barrier, causing the criminals’ car to crash, ending the chase. All the Iron Steed could do was take a deep breath, lifting the tree and planting it back where it came from, even if it had a noticeable dent in its side.

As a pair of officers cuffed the two criminals in the car, that was when one of the other police officers from another squad car stepped out and thanked him personally. “Thank you very much now, Iron Steed. If you didn’t help us out, who knows what would’ve happened.”

“Please, if it weren’t for you, then they would’ve got away.” Iron Steed replied, giving the officers a sense of pride.

“Why thank you, sir.” Another one of the officers said, before noticing something. “Hey, it looks like you have a fan.” When Iron Steed turned around, he noticed that the filly that he got the kite for was back… and this time she had a marker with her.

“Mr. Steed, can you please sign my kite?” She asked him, holding out the kite and the marker for him. He rolled his eyes with a chuckle, taking the kite and marker.

“And what’s your name, sweetie?”

“S-starlight,” She told him nervously. “Starlight Glimmer.” He began to write on the kite.

“To… Starlight… be good… Iron Steed.” He returned the stuff to the filly, ruffling her mane. “Stay in school.” The filly, overjoyed by his compassion, thanked him and even went as far as to hug him before running off in order to join her grandmother.

“Would you look at that, you got yourself a fan… You definitely made her day, Iron Steed.” The officer that pointed out the filly to her told him with a smile. Before the hero could say anything though, that was when he heard something come up from the scanner in the officer’s patrol car.

“All units, please be advised. We have reports of an armed robbery around Solaria Avenue…” The first thing that the hero did was pull up his left glove so he could look at the watch that was on his wrist

“Armed robbery? … I still got time.” He spoke to himself, turning his attention to everyone. “It’s alright, I got this. Officers, ladies, stay safe.” Iron Steed jumped into his car, ready to head to Solaria Avenue… until a voice spoke.

“Two ready for take off! All systems go!!” A cheery sounding voice announced. Which immediately had Iron steed turn to his right to see that a unicorn colt with a dark fur coat in his teens, sat in his passenger seat, wearing a more makeshift costume to his own.

“What the-!? Who the hay are you!?” Iron Steed demanded.

“Well, I’m Iron Colt!”

Around the time that he began to hear the voice again, things soon began to click in his mind. More specifically, on where he knew this kid from. “Wait wait… Hold on a moment… you’re that one colt from the… from the fan club! Sombra! Sombra right?”

“My name is Iron Colt!” The colt glared back at the hero with a stern look.

“Look. I’ve been nice for you. I signed every autograph piece you’ve given me, took photos with you, and even-”

“Nonono! You don’t have to train me at all!”

That part had Iron Steed raise an eyebrow under his mask. “Uh, what?”

“I’ve know all your adventures, moves, catchphrases, everything! I’m your number one fan!”

That had Iron Steed let out a sigh, before looking back at him. “I’m sorry, kid, but I can’t,” As he said that, he pressed a button on the dashboard that ejected the colt from his seat onto the grass. “You can really get hurt out here… besides, right now,” He looked back at his watch again, realizing that he was losing time that he thought he had as he looked back at the colt. “I have no need for a sidekick.” He stepped on the gas and drove off.

And in doing so, leaving the colt behind as he was just getting back up on his hooves. “Wait! I have powers too! Just give me a chance, please!”

On one of the apartment complex buildings that was overlooking Maretropolis, a rugged looking stallion in his mid thirties was sifting through a purse that he just stole from a mare off the street. Rummaging through everything as pictures, makeup, gum, and other items were now being scattered all over the rooftop.

The stallion himself was trying to be aware of his surroundings in front of him. But the one thing that he did not happen to pay attention too… was what was behind him.

“You know, you can tell a lot about mares by the contents of their purse,” The Iron Steed spoke, making the thief jump in fear. “But judging by what I’m seeing, you don’t have intentions of it.”

The stallion himself tried to pull out what looked like a knife from his back pocket. But before he… or Iron Steed could do anything about it, it was shot out of his hand as a small arrow was bolted to the ground. Shortly before a blunt arrow hit the stallion in the head… and a rather familiar heroine soon stepped out from behind a greenhouse on the roof. “Iron Steed…”

“Well, hello, Amorous.” Iron Steed replied, a bit surprised by her arrival. Amorous grabbed the thief by his shirt’s collar. “Oh no, it’s alright, I got him.”

“Sure you got him. I just took him out for you.” Amorous replied as she went to go pick up the arrows that she had used.

“Sure you took him out, but his attention was on me.” The hero told her

“The fact I exploited to do my job.” The heroine countered.

“MY job, you mean.”

“A simple ‘Thank you’ would work.”

“Thanks, but I don’t need any help.”

“... Whatever happened to ‘Ladies First’?” Amorous then decided to ask the stallion.

“Well, whatever happened to equal treatment?”

“Hey, look, the lady got me first.” the thief spoke through a mumble, right before being bonked on the head by Iron Steed.

“And now we’re even.” Iron Steed spoke.

“Or we can say we both did it and share it.” Amorous replied.

“I work alone.”

“And I think you need to-” She leaned forward and grabbed his head, making him look into her lovely eyes. “See the picture.” All Iron Steed could do was blush.

“Are… you doing anything tonight?”

“You know what we’re both doing tonight… honey.” Amorous turned around, flared her wings, and took to the sky, leaving Iron Steed to have a goofy grin across his face.

“I’m the luckiest stallion on earth.”

“... Can I go?” The thief asked, right before receiving another bonk to the head. All before the stallion realized that he did not exactly have any handcuffs to hold the guy for when he woke up. Leading him to have to get creative by taking the thief’s belt and tightening his hands around a pipe. All before cleaning up the mess that was made and looking for some kind of identification on who the purse belonged to.

“Hey! Iron!” The voice of Canvas yelled, past flying a helicopter that was dripping with paint. Iron Steed turned to see Canvas piloting the vehicle, in what looked like an aerial dogfight against some alien invaders.

“Hey, Canvas!” He waved back.

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready!?” His friend asked, swishing his tail as a ramp made out of paint was formed as he continued to pursue the helicopter.

“I still got time!”

“Don’t be late!!” He heard his friend shout again, before leaping through the open door of the helicopter and beginning to fight those that were inside. At first, Iron Steed thought that he should return the purse that he just found to its rightful owner… but something else changed that as he heard somepony scream and noticed that a set of strobe lights were focused on the skyscraper across the street… and what looked like a pony standing on the edge of the building.

“Oh dear Celestia, he’s gonna jump!!” Everyone below screamed as the pony jumped off of the roof, attempting to end his life. Not wanting to see anyone dying, Iron Steed figured that he could interfere, taking a few steps back then go in a full on sprint, jumping and catching the pony in the air, with both of them crashing into the building. The pony, which was an earth pony stallion in his mid forties, groaned in pain.

“I think you broke something.”

“Well, after some therapy, you’ll thank me for this.” Iron Steed replied with an optimistic tone as he noticed the seal of the Maretropolis Bank in the room where they landed. But, it was as he was beginning to get up that he soon… heard something. Almost like a beeping noise. “Wait a minute…” He dragged the stallion, putting him in a corner to sit down at. While today seemed a bit relaxing, he had the feeling that he needed to use his real power instead of his strength alone. With a flex of his arms, his skin and hair turned into metal, making his steps make a loud clunk with each step. It may not be the most stealthiest ability, but if he suspected what he thought it was, stealth was out of the window.

Following the beeping, Iron Steed placed his ear against one of the walls. The beeps got louder and louder as he followed the sound… but they were also coming off faster and faster. Almost as if something was… about to go off. “Oh no…”

BOOM!!!

An explosion went off, throwing him against the wall with rubble of what was the wall and also the steel lid to a bank vault. Walking out and past the explosions was a minotaur with two straps across his chest. Each one carrying enough dynamite and explosives to level an entire skyscraper. And he was carrying a sizable amount of money in a duffle bag with his spare hand. Of course, he was smiling at first… before he watched Iron Steed push the seal to the vault off of him as he stood back on both feet and stared him down.

“Countdown…” Iron spoke in his serious tone.

“Eisen Steed!” The minotaur spoke in germane, the language from his home country.

“And Iron Colt!” The voice of Sombra broke. Both turned to see Sombra standing near the window, but also with what looked like a twin next to him.

“Eiserner Colt?” Countdown asked in confusion. All while Iron Steed just let out a deep sigh as he turned himself around to face his fan, who ran to his side.

“Heyhey, wanna hear how I got here so fast!? See, I can use my shadow as an extension to me and go through wormholes and-”

“That’s cute.” Iron Steed replied, before looking at the colt with a serious expression on his face. “Now go home.”

“Kleiner Dummkopf…” Countdown grumbled, which translated to ‘little oaf’.

“Can we talk?” Sombra asked, holding Iron Steed’s hand and dragging him a few feet away from the villain. “You always, ALWAYS say ‘Stay true to yourself’, but you never said who to be true to yourself to! Well I finally figured out who I am. I am your ward. Iron Colt!”

“And you have officially gone too far there, kiddo.” Iron Steed replied, quickly grabbing Countdown by one of his straps as he tried to sneak away.

“It’s all because I’m not as strong as you, is it!? I can control my shadow just fine, and we can do things twice as great together! Can you do two things at once!?”

“I can beat this explosive minotaur and take you home, if that answers your question.”

“Auch dein outfit ist absolut lächerlich!” Countdown shouted. Meaning ‘also, your outfit is completely ridiculous!’

“Oh come on, give me a chance!” Iron Colt pleaded “L-look! I can go get the police!” He turned and ran away, only for Countdown to place a stick of dynamite in his pocket without the colt realizing it.

“Wait! Don’t!” Iron Steed demanded.

“It’ll just take a second, I swear!”

“No! Stop! There’s dynamite!” He tossed Countdown and jumped to Sombra, who began to enter through a portal. The sudden tackle caused Sombra’s destination to go way off kilter, where instead of going behind the crowd below, they were in Downtown Maretropolis’ railway. Iron Steed tossed the dynamite to the side as Sombra fell down a convenient flight of stairs that employees used for maintenance.

Unfortunately, the stick of dynamite Countdown lit was a highly combustible one, resulting in a huge explosion that blew off a a few meters of the train tracks. And to make matters worse, there was a train coming straight for the opening in the tracks.

“Oh, give me a break!” Iron Steed yelled, jumping over the hole and took a stance in front of the train. He winced, ready for the sudden impact that was going to happen.

CRASH!!!

All the passengers in the train were abruptly launched forwards, as Iron Steed was pushed back by the force, but was luckily slowing down the train. With a lot of pain searing through his body, he wanted to scream loudly, but kept it in from being out of breath. In seconds, the front of the train dangled over the hole, completely stopped, with an in pain Iron Steed in front, letting out a painful wheeze.

“... Nailed it.”

It was only minutes after the explosion that occurred on the railway and police were already spread out and investigating the area. Calling in paramedics to tend to all of the passengers that were on the train that Iron Steed had to stop so it would not plummet off of the rails and cause any casualties.

Though, there was one pony that the police had to put in the back of a patrol car. And unfortunately, it wasn’t a criminal or a villain. “Wait!! It’s a rookie mistake! I can be better! Believe me, please!” Sombra pleaded, before he was placed in the back of the car. Causing Iron Steed to let out a big sigh before looking towards both of the officers in front of him.

“Please, make sure that he’s back at his home and that his mom knows about this…” Iron Steed told both of the officers. “There’s already been enough trouble for one night. Did you make sure to call paramedics?”

“Yes, Iron Steed. They’re making their way here, post haste,” One of the officers said to him. “We also dispatched a medical team for the stallion you saved earlier.”

“Good.” He looked to his watch, realizing that he was extremely late. “Oh great. Can you guys put a note down that Countdown robbed the bank?”

“Hold on… he got away?” The other officer then asked him.

“Only because my ‘sidekick’ interfered.” He called his car over to his location, before taking one last look at Sombra inside the car.

“And is the robbery by Countdown connected with the explosion on the railway-?” They tried asking him, just before they saw Iron Steed’s transport arrive a few seconds later.

“Ask the kid. It was originally in his back pocket,” The stallion replied, just as he quickly hopped into the drivers seat and locked himself in. “I’m sorry officers, but I gotta go! We’ll catch Countdown tomorrow!” He stepped on the gas and booked it.. Taking off and leaving the police behind in order to continue their investigation.

Eventually though, Iron Steed was able to reach his intended destination. The maretropolis cathedral. Having his car transform back into its standard form, he stepped out of the truck. Dressed in a suit and tie as he walked through the door.

Yet, there was one thing that he forgot to remove. And that was something that he did not notice until his friend pointed it out to him. “You’re late…” Spearhead, a dark orange coat pegasus stallion with an unkempt blue & cyan mane, spoke. “Thirty minutes late… What was the holdup this time around?”

“Countdown, and an annoying wannabe sidekick making it worse.” Shining answered, adjusting his suit. “How do I look?”

“Good,” he said, before walking over and taking off what was Iron Steed’s mask as he looked back at his friend. “But I think your bride wants to see you as Shining Armor. Not Iron Steed.”

“Thanks, buddy.” He stood by the doors, taking a deep breath. “It’s showtime.” He opened the doors and walked in. Sitting in the seats were other various heroes, still in costume, with his soon to be wife, Cadance up front, with the priest, both looking a bit annoyed, but glad to see Shining had arrived.

As the priest was beginning to speak, that was when the pegasus began to whisper at the unicorn that was going to be her husband. “You’re late… when I asked you earlier if you were doing anything, I didn’t think that you had actually forgotten. I thought you were just doing playful chitchat.”

“Well, I got occupied, you know?” Shining replied. “The city can’t keep itself safe, you know?”

“Yeah, but you do realize that you’re not the only hero in this city,” The pegasus replied. “I mean, there are many other heroes that are not here right now that could be patrolling the streets. I’m sure one of them can cover you.”

“I didn’t see any around at the time. And you went off to do your thing.”

“I thought you hated sharing.” She asked him.

“Not if it means it can get me the day off.”

“Yeah, but you were kind of cutting it close there.” Cadance then pointed out to him.

“And you didn’t cut it close enough.” He told her, just as she turned towards him.

“Look… I love you,” The bride said to the groom with a smile. “But if the two of us are going to make this work, we need to be more than just who we are under the mask. You know that… don’t you?”

Yet, before Iron Steed could answer, both of them heard the priest say the most important part. “... Shining Armor. Will you take this mare to be your beloved wife? To care for her and provide for her for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” Shining answered both questions

“Mi Amore Cadenza. Will you take this stallion to be your beloved husband? To care for him and provide for him as long as you both shall live?”

“I do.”

“I now pronounce you, husband and wife.” Both Shining and Cadance gave each other a passionate kiss, with the other heroes applauding for their marriage.

“For as long as we both shall live…” The pegasus told him, repeating the same words that the pastor just said as she gave him a smile. “No matter what happens.”

“Hey, we’re superheros. What’s the worst that can happen?”

Author's Note

Welcome to the prologue... a few things that I do want to mention right away (because I know that some of you might have questions about this) is that with this world, there are major differences between it and the standard world of Equestria that everypony is familiar with. First, the only alicorns that exist in this world are both Celestia and Luna... which explains why Cadance is a pegasus in this story. It will also be a common theme in the next chapter when we transition to the present day. Second, since this is based on the power ponies, modern technology like cars, computers, camera's and other items such as weapons and firearms are also present here.

Now that we've covered the glory days... it's time to jump ahead. Fifteen years later.
-Frost