Tartarus Maximum Security Penitentiary was a facility known for resilience. Built on an island located several miles away from the Canterlot shoreline and surrounded by massive stone walls, the actual facility was underground below the main building.

This facility acted as a holding pen for the world’s most dangerous super-powered individuals, and as of twenty years ago, kept most of these individuals in lockup without a chance of release…

...of course, that would soon change if everything went according to plan.

The Man in Shadows’ orders were simple: Four targets, each located at the lowest level of the prison. Two operatives, one focused on hacking the facility’s security system and act as a distraction, while the other worked their way down to the prison floor and freed the targets. From there it would be a simple matter of escaping, and considering each targets capabilities, this would come sooner rather than later.

The only access point was a single lane bridge that received deliveries of food, supplies, and clean clothing bi-weekly, and today happened to be the day the prison sent out their dirty laundry.

The two operatives had commandeered a prison laundry vehicle, placing the real drivers in a safe location were the bridge began. They then donned the women’s uniforms generously supplied by their employer. All they needed to do now was get inside.

Arriving at the prison gate, a guard approached the driver’s side window.

“You guys are later than usual.” He cocked a brow at the two women. “You two new?”

“It’s our first day, actually,” the way the woman in the driver’s seat smiling was at the officer had more in common with an adult entertainer then a female guard, “we were just transferred from the prison in Canterlittle, so you can imagine our surprise when our warden said we were going to Tartarus.”

She had ebony black skin and mossy green hair that fell down past her shoulders. She wore envy-green lipstick and her eyes could easily be mistaken for emeralds.

Her passenger however was doing her best to avoid eye-contact and looked extremely disinterested in making conversation. She looked to be some years younger then the driver and had a scar going down over her right eye. Her most obvious feature was a total lack of the lower half of her right arm, her sleeve knotted at the elbow. The scarred woman’s skin was a rich plum purple and she wore a pair of black leather gloves over her remaining hand.

Upon seeing the woman’s injury, coupled with other woman’s oblivious and flirty attitude, the guard immediately grew concerned. “Are you ladies going to need any help getting around the facility? I’m going on break in five minutes.”

“We’ll be just fine, honey.” The flirty woman stated. “I’ve a natural talent for finding my way around big places. We’ll get where we need to go.”

“Alright…” He replied worriedly. “Well at least let me tell you where the laundry’s usually picked up. You’ll find a docking bay on the east side of the building, just pull in and load the bags into the back. The workers that were going to help you had to move on to their other shifts.”

He eyed the other woman one last time, before a grimace began to form on his face. The expression of sympathy was not missed by the scarred woman, but neither was it appreciated.

“Are you ladies sure you won’t need any help-”

“We’re. Fine.” The second woman growled, without even shifting her eyes from the windshield. The guard stepped back in surprise.

The flirty woman motioned him to lean in so she could whisper in his ear. “Don’t feel too bad. She has some ‘independence issue’ ever since…” She discreetly motioned a finger over her right eye and pointing to her right arm. “...you know.”

The guard looked towards the other woman, who had still not averted her gaze. “Of course.” He responded just as quietly.

The woman driving gave the guard one last flirty wink before starting the truck. Driving to the side of the building where the docking bay was located, they parked as expected according to procedure. However, they completely ignored the laundry bags as they exited the vehicle and headed for the door.

“You remember the plan?”

“Yes. I make my way towards Cerberus, while you obtain clearance to get to the lower levels.”

The taller woman glanced at her more serious partner and shook her head in amusement. “You’re much too stiff, honey. I realize you’re new blood in this business, but that doesn’t mean you have to treat the job so seriously. In our line of work, your presentation is just as important as the crimes you commit.” A playful smile etched its way onto her lips. “Have fun doing your job, be more creative with your banter. It’s what sets us above the common criminals.”

“I prefer to let my actions do the talking.” The smaller woman smirked. “But you already know all about ‘body language’ don’t you?”

“Oh you cheeky little gnat!” The woman said with a giggle. “I’m going to enjoy working with you.”

The two women entered the main building, finding a majority of the security patrolling the grounds and upper levels. The taller woman rolled up her sleeve slightly, revealing an emerald green alloy underneath. A holographic map of the prison appeared on her wrist.

“It says Cerberus is located in the building at the back of the facility, second floor. The elevator to the lower levels is on the first. Looks like we won’t be splitting ways just yet.”

“It’ll give us more time to procure an identification card.” The smaller woman commented.

The taller woman hummed in agreement. Pressing a button on her wrist, a red blinking light was revealed coming up the elevator shaft on the map.

“Well what do you know, we’re in luck. A guard with certification is coming up to the first floor as we speak.” She purred.

Making their way into the building, the taller woman stepped in front of the elevator while the other started up the stairs. “Remember, wait till I give you the signal, then implant the virus.”

The woman on the stairs nodded. “Roger.”

The taller woman was then caught by surprise when the guard suddenly stepped out of the elevator. The two crashed into each other and fell to the floor as the other woman headed upstairs.

The guard placed his hands on either side of her body and used them to lift himself up as she placed her hands on his chest. Feeling a laminated card attached to a retractable wire on his left breast pocket, she smirked mischievously at the unexpected luck.

Noting the guard’s hands, she cooed, “my aren’t you forward~” Rubbing her hands over his shirt, she batted her lashes. “Not that I’m complaining.”

Jumping back onto his knees in shock, the guard gulped audibly and rose to his feet.

Reaching his hand to offer her aid, he stuttered, “P-Please let me help you up, Miss... “

“Honeysuckle… but you can call me Honey. I’m new here.” Grabbing his hand, she let him pull her up, making a show of the gesture by playfully crashing into his chest with her own.

“Thank you. Your really are quite the gentleman.” She rubbed a pair of fingers against his cheek while the other hand was pressed against his left peck.

“Y-Yes well, I’m sorry for bumping into you back there.” He stated before politely pushing the female guard away. “I wasn’t aware that anyone would be waiting to use the elevator after me.”

Scanning the female guard’s body, the poor sap didn’t notice an identification card on her person. But honestly, he was finding it hard to focus on security clearance with how snuggly the woman’s outfit hugged her form.

He sweated. “Y-You’ve got clearance to head to the lower levels?”

Reaching into her breast pocket, she fondled it as she searched. Pulling out a laminated card attached to a wire, she showed its backside to him. The Guard reached forward to turn it around, only to have his hand moved away by the woman’s finger.

“It isn’t the best picture of me. You wouldn’t mind giving a self-conscious girl the benefit of the doubt, would you? I wouldn’t want to ruin your current opinion of the flawless beauty standing before you.”

“Sorry Ms. Honey, but it’s protocol.” The guard insisted as a cat-like smirk spread over Honeysuckle’s cheeks.

“Oh, I understand.” She sighed, wrapping her arms around the guard’s neck, “Then you have to understand you’ve forced me to do this.”

Leaning in close, she planted a deep kiss on the guard’s lips, a prominent lipstick mark being left in her wake, within seconds the guard collapsed to the ground unconscious. Reaching into her pants pocket, she pulled out a lipstick container. After applying a replacement coat on her lips, she placed the container back in her pocket and stared proudly at the snoozing guard.

“Why is it that boys can never seem to stay awake after a session with me?” She chuckled.

Moving the guard from the middle of the hallway, she placed him in a nearby supply closet before using one of his keys to lock the door. Entering the elevator, Miss Honeysuckle pressed the button for the lowest level. As the elevator descended, she removed her jacket and pressed a button on her metal sleeve.

“I’m in the elevator. There's a guard asleep in the closet near the front exit, but my tranquilizer lipstick should keep him from getting in our way before everything is said and done,” She removed her pants, “How’s it going on your end?”

A voice replied through her gauntlet. “I’m entering into the room containing Cerberus now. Shouldn’t take long to subdue the guards. I’ll shut down the system as soon as I’m done.”

Honeysuckle smiled as she pressed another button on her gauntlet. A flexible emerald colored alloy spread around her arms and legs from the one piece metal unitard that hugged her body underneath her clothes. Once her body was completely covered in the alloy, save for her head, she tied her long hair into a ponytail. Holding it upwards, she pressed a button on her neck, allowing a helmet to form around her face. The helmet had an opening for her mouth and had two spikes pointed forward on both sides of her chin. To complete the look, two large yellow lens now covered her eyes, turning her into a humanoid insect. The elevator stopped and the door opened, allowing the armored woman into the most secure section of the prison.

“Excellent. I’ve just arrived in the final circle of Hell. Keep in contact, but refer to me by my codename from now on, as I will be doing for you. Our communications are on a private channel, but we can’t risk anyone finding out our identities before the operation is completed.”

“Understood. Good luck, Damselfly.” Her communicator replied. The armored woman smiled mischievously, before reaching for the button on her gauntlet to turn off her communicator.

“As too you, Tempest.”

The room Tempest was heading into was of relatively small size, but comprised one of the biggest computer monitoring systems seen on this side of the country. This was the Mrk. III Cerberus computer, named so after the three large monitors that provided surveillance for all the major locations within the Tartarus facility.

The Cerberus computer was often mistakenly considered by many to be just one machine, but in actuality it was comprised of three separate computer systems that could each control the facility should one of the other computers breakdown.

This was done to prevent major breakouts. In order to complete her mission she would need to shut down the systems within all three before one of their back up programs could activate. But first that required taking care of the three technicians that were currently working on the systems.

Tempest stepped into the room, gaining the attention of the three guards working there. They turned towards her as the door behind her closed.

“Excuse me, do you have clearance to be in here, Miss?”

Tempest looked up from under her hat revealing her striking sapphire eyes. “I have all the clearance I need right here.” She grabbed the lid of her hat and tossed it onto the keyboard. Her hair was done up in tall mohawk with buzz-cut sides. She then brought up her hand and began to began to expertly unbutton her security jacket.

The guards began to blush. “Miss! You can’t do that in here!” Another one of the guards shouted.

Tempest removed the jacket revealing a black bodysuit comprised of kevlar and military-grade fabrics. With her jacket now gone, the guards could also see that the woman’s missing right arm had been replaced by a metallic cylinder about the with and length of her opposite bicep. A blue symbol like a pair of lightning bolts was printed on her upper part of the cylinder near her shoulder.

Her right eye began to glow as the sound of a fan began to whirl. Tempest smirked, “You boys look tired. Perhaps it’s time you got some air.”

Wind began to swirl around the end of the cylinder until a shape was created off the device that vaguely resembled her missing arm. She pointed her twister arm at the three men, and within seconds, the guards found themselves being pulled off their feet and towards the woman.

Tempest brought up her foot and slammed her heel down on the center-most guard’s head as he flew towards her. She then broke into a spin colliding her shin with the side of the right-most guard’s stomach, sending him flying into the only other conscious technician. Both were sent flying before crashing into one of the concrete walls lining the room.

Tempest chuckled to herself, “Improve banter, check.” She turned towards the computers. “Now let’s take care of the computers.”

She walked towards the center most computer and pulled a flashdrive from her pocket. She then placed the drive into the computer and watched with a smile as the virus the Man in Shadows had given her was downloaded.

Her turbine suddenly revved up again as she turned toward the left most computer. She pointed her twister arm at the computer. “The Man in Shadows said the virus wouldn’t take long to infect all three systems, but why make it overwork itself.” She fired a large blast of compressed air at the computer, rending it to pieces.

“After all, I do hate to see sick dogs suffer.”

The hallway Damselfly was walking down looked like the entrance to a mad scientist's lair in a spy movie. Futuristic lights shined from both the ceiling, and the hallway floor. Even the door at the end of the hallway seemed to be built for the purpose of maximum security, as the steel door whooshed upwards into a slot in the top of the doorframe.

The room on the other side was extremely plain in design when considering what it was used for. It was a simple square room with a concrete ceiling, walls, and floor, with four rooms enclosed by glass lining into three of the four walls.

These were the cells of her targets. If she were to attempt to hack into them or try to open them by force, the alarm would without a doubt activate, regardless if the Cerberus system were functioning or not.

Damselfly received a call on her communicator. “The system is down and it’s going to take more than just a technician to fix it. The cells on the higher levels will soon be unlocked until the other systems can start up, so set the others free and get ready to join the party. With everyone in a frenzy we should have an easier time getting out with only minor inconvenience.

Damselfly smirked. “Excellent, I’ll see you in a minute.”

She pressed the button on her communicator, before strutting over towards the first cell on her left. Inside the cell a large glass tube that was vacuuming a pink slimy substance from one side of the room to the other. She swiped the security card through the control panel next to the door. The door slid upwards, and the fluid slowly came to a stop in the center of the tube. Just then the fluid sprung outwards with an array of spikes suddenly shooting out of it like it were the head of a mace.

The glass shattered and fluid splattered against ground like a giant pile of pudding. The scent of bubble gum filled the air. The sludge began to grow, change color, and take shape until a tall lanky man was standing before her. He was dressed in a red and white horizontal striped shirt with a pair of chocolate brown caccees. A loafer with a thick black sole was fitted over his left foot, while a green alligator skin boot covered his right. A long scraggly goatee hung from his chin as impish smile spread across his face. “Would you believe rides like that used to make me nauseous.”

Damselfly returned his smile. “Hello Chaos Theory, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“Saluti.” The man greeted with a bow. The hair on his head had been swept back like he had just stepped out of a wind tunnel, but what really caught Damselfly’s attention was that it was colored a jet black in comparison to it to his stark white beard.

“New hair color? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of looking old?”

Chaos Theory chuckled. “Like you, I can be anything I want to be.” His body and clothes changed back to the color when he was a gelatinous pile gum, before transforming himself into a lamppost, a cocker spaniel, and finally Damselfly herself, all the while perfectly matching each transformation’s color, height, and proportions exactly to the originals.

He transformed back. “Why should I feel the need to be content with something as mundane as common hair color?” He snickered, “But enough of with pleasantries. What brings you to my own little section of hell?”

“A proposition.” She explained, “My new employer is searching for some gifted individuals with experience in crime. The pay is quite generous, and as an added bonus, he promises you a chance to bump off the heroes who put you in here.”

“I like him already.” Chaos smiled. He turned his gaze towards the others cells. “But what about the other misfit toys?”

Damselfly began to saunter towards the next cell. “They’ll be free momentarily.”

Chaos followed behind he watched her hips sway with interest. He was then suddenly a lot more interested in watching her move rather than see the next villain she’d decide to free.

She swiped the card to open the next cell. Within it sat a muscular charcoal-skinned man dressed in standard orange jumpsuit. A large mane of black hair covered his scalp and helped to hide his eyes before he looked up. A pair of bloody crimson irises soon met Damselfly’s, causing her to smile mischievously. She turned around to face Chaos Theory and planted the security card in his hands.

“Free the others, I have to get our friend up to speed.” Chaos Theory cocked a brow in reply.

“Alright. But when I get back here, you kids better still have your clothes on.” He turned and began to walk away, but still continued to talk as if Damselfly was still standing next to him. “I’m all for the concept of free love, but there’s a time and place for these sorts of things and in the middle of a prison break is not one of them.”

When she turned back, she found the man was already standing. The bright iridescent lights within his cell made it certain no area of his body was left unseen.

Damselfly started to purr. “Nice to see you again, Obsidian.” The man grunted before walking past her and out of his cell. As soon as he had reached the more open area of the floor, he began to stretch his tired muscles.

“What are you doing here, Chrysalis?” He asked rather bluntly. “It isn’t like you to attempt prison breaks.” He glanced at her over his shoulder with a pair of furrowed brows. “That is, of course, unless someone decided to pay you.”

Damselfly sauntered closer and wrapped her arms around the muscular man’s neck. “Why must you place me under such a harsh light, Obsidian? You know I’d be willing to do anything for you. That is… if your willing to do something for me in return?~”

Her hands traveled downwards over his chest and near past his stomach. Before they could get any lower however, she suddenly felt like she was grasping air. She fell forward and began to stumble but was able to catch herself before losing her balance. She turned to look at Obsidian only to see a black shadowy figure that matched his exact shape standing in his place.

Obsidian’s body was now as black as a shadow on clear summer’s day, his hair now wisped atop his head like smoke coming off a campfire, and his face had completely vanished, save for the pair of envy green eyes that stared back at her. Within seconds the shadows faded revealing the jump-suited man underneath.

He growled at her, “why are you here, Damselfly?!”

As the female villain began to explain, Chaos Theory began to open the other cells. The first held a man with grey skin the color of a gloomy sky, and the other a frail crimson-skinned man with a silver beard and mohawk.

The crimson man was the first to speak. “What is the meaning of this?” The grey man nodded in agreement, his long mullet of snowy white hair bounced slightly as he did so.

"Can't a girl break out a couple of her closest friends without question?" Chrysalis asked as she leaned against Obsidian. None of the four men believed that. Chrysalis groaned, "I was asked to bust you all out. Didn't get much more detail other than that."

"Who would want us busted out?" Chaos theory asked, “If I remember correctly, when we were all finally caught the city threw a parade to celebrate.”

"I didn't get the job directly, I'm… the hired help." Chrysalis begrudgingly acknowledged.

“Damselfly, the other Cerberus computers are kicking in sooner than expected. Most of the guards are downstairs dealing with the escaping prisoners, but we’re running out of time. Grab the targets and get them upstairs now before a patrol is sent to check on you!” Tempest’s voice shouted over Chrysalis's commlink.

“Was that…” the grey-skinned man smiled, “I knew she’d come for me.” He laughed.

Shuffling over, he grabbed on Damselfly’s arm and shouted into her commlink, “Tempest? If you can hear me, remind me to give you a raise!” Damselfly pulled her arm out of his grasp almost immediately. Before she had a chance to shout at him in complaint, the man began barking orders.

“Well you all heard the lady, let’s get this storm started.” He then started to rub his hands as a crack of thunder was suddenly heard. "Oh and by the way, that line’s trademarked."

Obsidian exhaled out his nose as the idiocy of his cell block mates began to aggravate him. He turned to Damselfly, “Will the elevator still be functional with the systems damaged?”

Damselfly smirked, “In case of prison riots the guards need to get to the lower levels somehow. Plus with only one exit leading back to the surface, it makes it really hard for any major breakouts to occur.”

“So what makes you think we’ll be able to use it?” The crimson man asked. “If the guards are dealing with riots upstairs, the elevator will clearly be preoccupied.”

“Yes, but remember Tempest warned us to leave before a patrol came by… which means they’ll have to enter through the only entrance available.” She pointed towards the elevator doors coaxing the prisons to look around her.

“The guards will definitely rat on us if they see us out of our cells.” Chaos Theory explained. “And with such a breach in security, you can bet they’ll be upping their defenses for when we get up there.”

Damselfly only placed her hands on her hips and turned back to face them. “Your point being?” She looked at her armored fingers as if she had just come off from having a manicure. “We’re five of Canterlot’s most wanted criminals, with rap sheets longer than the depths of this prison.”

She smirked at them, “I hardly think roughing up a few prison guards will count as the most difficult thing we’ve ever done.”

A ding was heard from the elevator door, followed by the stomping of multiple heavily armed SWAT officers rushing towards them.

“Freeze!” One of the officers shouted. Sinister grins began to spread across the faces of the prisoners standing before her. Damselfly turned to address the officers who were so intent on halting their escape. A grin soon parted her own lips when she noticed some of the guards were shaking.

“Come on boys, let’s show these brave little lawmen why they call us super villains.”

"I like her~" The grey-skinned man chuckled.

"Watch out, boy, she's a man-eater." Obsidian countered.

“Sunset, I am very disappointed in the behavior you showed in combat training today. According to Luna’s report you went against school rules and tried to expressly harm another student.”

Sunset for her part was leaning back in her chair and trying her best not to make eye contact with the woman glaring at her from across a mahogany desk. It wasn’t the first time she had been scolded by her mentor, and if she had any say in the matter, it most certainly wouldn’t be the last.

She wasn’t going to stay a sidekick forever, she had her own plans, and that meant stepping out of the shadow Sunrise cast and doing things her own way. Who cares if she roughed up that purple-haired brat a bit? At least now she knew never to mess with her again, and the same will go for any villain who thinks they can step up to Sunset Shimmer.

“What’s the point of all that training you put me under to control my powers if I’m never going to use it?” Sunset snarked back, finally turning to meet Celestia’s gaze. “If anything, it’s Sparkle’s fault for not giving me more of a challenge. She knew what she was signing up for when she came here.”

Celestia only shook her head in response. “No, I don’t think she did.” She knit her fingers together and balled her hands in front of her face. “You have to remember, Sunset, that the other students likely haven’t received the same training you did before the Pillars and I decided to start up this school. The likelihood that they would even be able to find an experienced meta-human able to teach them is also almost next to nil. Not everyone is as lucky as you ended up being.”

Sunset brows furrowed at the statement and she immediately turned her gaze away again. “Don’t ever say what I’ve been through was lucky, you got that Celestia.”

Celestia soon realized what she had just said, but still found herself signing in annoyance. “Please refer to me as Ms. Faustdatter when between these walls, Sunset. I may be your guardian outside of work, but here you are as much my student as my daughter. You will receive no special treatment here because of our relationship.”

“Gee mom, does that mean we’re not going out for ice cream now?” Sunset mocked. She turned to gage the expression of her mentor only to met with a cold, aggravated expression. Sunset scoffed, “Why don’t you just kick me out already? Clearly these super-zeros need your help more than I do, so why waste the time? I bet if you let me out there, within a week I’d have every criminal in Canterlot scared so shitless they wouldn’t even attempt jay-walking.”

Celestia only shook her head, “No. As much as you may want me to cast you out, I’m certain it won’t do you any good. I enrolled you here not only so you could graduate and cement Firebird as her own superhero persona outside of Sunrise’s shadow, but also because I have nothing more to offer you. You need to start learning from others and figure out what it means to be a hero in their eyes rather than just being a hero in your own.”

Sunset actually found herself contemplating these words. She hated it, but somehow Celestia always found a way to make whatever she said something to think about. But amongst all this brainstorming, one question still managed to worm it’s way to the surface, forcing Sunset to ask: “Why did you accept that Sparkle girl, anyways?”

Celestia smiled at the question, as if not expecting it to be asked, but was excited that it happened anyways. “Believe it or not, she has an extraordinary file and has shown signs of great power at a very young age, and like you she actually has some training under her belt thanks to her father.”

Sunset rolled her eyes. “Yeah I heard, that Dark Glow guy. But that doesn’t really answer my question.”

Celestia chuckled and reached down into her desk before pulled out a small bottle of whiskey and a clear shot glass. Sunset smiled, to her knowledge only she and Aunt Luna knew of her mother’s habit. She drank responsibly and only at times she knew she could get away with it, but made it a rule among her immediate family that no one else was to know, lest the saintly image of the Nova Heroine be besmirched by bad press and paparazzi.

She downed her drink quickly, not even noticing the burn, before speaking. “You need a true equal, Sunset.” She explained. “I’ve been your teacher for far too long, you don’t have the experience of the other teachers, and I have to admit, you’re way smarter academically than pretty much all the other students...”

Sunset couldn’t help but smile at compliments she was being given. They gave her a feeling of superiority that she greatly enjoyed.

“...except for her.” Celestia pointed out. “I’m not placing any bets, but I have a feeling she’s going to be our valedictorian right off the bat.”

Sunset frowned and huffed in response, “I’m surprised you didn’t say something sappy like, ‘you need to make a friend’.”

“Have no friends not equal to yourself.” -Master Kung.” Celestia said as she hid her alcohol back in her desk. “Please just give her a sincere chance, you might end up finding you’ll fly higher than I ever have, or ever will, once you do.”

Sunset looked at the ground before lifting herself out of her chair. She nodded, “Alright, I’ll give her a chance. Thanks… Mom.”

Celestia smiled, deciding to let this breach in academic conduct slide this once. She waved her off and watched happily as her daughter walked out the door. As she turned and started down the hallway, Sunset put her hands in her jacket pockets and turned her pleasant smile into a hateful scowl.

“Valedictorian my ass.” Sunset growled within her own head. “I’ll char her books and that adorkable little face of hers before I let her show me up again.”

Back in her office, Celestia smiled to herself. She hoped that her words might finally lead to Sunset making a breakthrough and start opening up to people, perhaps finally even make some friends. She knew she had a boyfriend of course, and as far as Celestia was concerned, Flash showed himself an honest and kind enough sort that could have a good effect on Sunset. That smile swiftly turned into a sad frown as she remembered that of course the opposite could also become true, and she would be stuck with two hellions instead of one. After all, Sunset, her little sunshine, was a much her father’s daughter as she was her own, and he always viewed others as underlings to use and make worship, or fools that need to be brought done to their 'rightful' level.

She mused over the thought and became steadily more concerned. Sunset did have a way of intimidating others and finding ways to wrap people around her finger. She was beginning to think she might need to keep a closer eye on her when her door was suddenly kicked open.

“Tia!” Luna shouted. “You need to see this!”

Luna brought up her phone in order to show Celestia the latest breaking news report.

“Greetings Canterlot, I’m Rum Burgundy and this is Channel 4 news. Shock and panic has gripped the citizens of Canterlot today as no less than an hour ago, four notorious super criminals escaped Tartarus Penitentiary. The inmates—confirmed by the police to be Crimson Banner, Obsidian Shard, Chaos Theory, and Hurricane Creed—were last seen entering a parked prison laundry vehicle before making their escape into the city. Reports from the front gate and a previously unconscious prison guard also suggest that two suspicious women seen in the prison and driving the vehicle were likely involved in the break out, but no major evidence clearly confirms this.”

Luna turned off her phone as the anchorman soon shifted to another story about cats. She looked at her sister, both quickly meeting each others eyes. Luna turned almost immediately, not even waiting for confirmation from her sister. “I’ll go get the other Pillars.”

“Please do.” Celestia replied, taking out her whiskey and shot glass again.

She poured herself another drink, "First Magnus is late... then Sunset starts acting like her father... and now this. This day just keeps getting better and better."

As Sunset walked to her room, she failed to notice someone was sneaking up behind her.

She felt a hand grab her shoulder and pull her back into a hug with a stolen kiss following soon after, not that she minded. She liked it when Flash played the bad boy and wished he did it more often. They broke the kiss, "Hey, sorry if I made you feel jealous." Flash said as he cupped Sunset's cheek.

Sunset smiled, but then raised an eyebrow. Flash wanted something. "Okay bae, what do you need?"

Flash sighed, "You know you can a real bitch to me, I can take it, but could you try to at least be civil towards everyone else." Sunset wanted to back away, but Flash kept his hand on her.

"You’re my girlfriend, I am obliged to worry about you. I know you might not be scared of Twilight, but her little brother," Flash looked squarely into Sunset's eyes and she could feel the room temperature dropping. "I don't know what it is, but after what we’ve seen today, I'd rather not see you on his bad side. There’s something in him that just isn’t right."

Flash released his hold. Sunset wanted to scoff at the notion, but Flash's eyes remained steely in his caution and the room didn't feel any warmer.

She sighed, "Fine. I won't break your new toy," she teased. Flash’s composure finally broke as a blush spread across his face. "Just make sure you share her." Sunset added with a wink.

She turned, leaving her boyfriend to stew in his own flustered thoughts. She didn’t get too much farther down the hallway before she started to hear Flash laughing. This made her smile, he knew she was kidding. It was refreshing to know someone understood her like he did.

It didn’t take long for her to reach her room after that, and upon pushing open her door found that that Sparkle girl had already set up her stuff on the right side of their room. Sunset shrugged at the missed opportunity to haze her some more. It didn’t matter anyway, they could discuss ground rules later… all of them in her favor of course. At least the dork decided not to take the side of the room she preferred. Sunset decided to be a little less mean to her come later.

A knocking on her door soon drew her away from her thoughts, and upon opening it was met with an unexpected sight. Two girls she hadn’t originally noticed at combat training were staring at her as if they had been searching for her all day.

One was a girl with light blue skin and silvery-white hair. She was dressed in a dark blue sweatshirt and purple skirt with a glittery light blue stripe lining the bottom. The other was a younger grey-skinned girl with darker grey hair done up in a braided ponytail. She had light blue glasses, a pearl necklace, and for some reason, a silver spoon hanging from her neck. She was wearing a purple shirt and a pink skirt.

“Sunset Shimmer,” the older girl spoke as if her name passed as some kind of greeting, “the Great and Brilliant Trixie wishes to speak with you.”

Sunset cocked a brow and leaned on her doorway, “Alright, and your name is?” She answered back sarcastically, earning a scowl from the girl in front of her.

“Her name is Trixie Lulamoon and my name is Silver Spoon.” The younger student greeted more formally. “You may not remember us, but we were the two students Twilight Sparkle dropped you on during combat training.”

Sunset’s sarcastic smile soon turned into an annoyed frown. “So what, you’re here expecting an apology or something? Newsflash Lens, I don’t apologize for anything, especially if it isn’t my fault. So if you’re looking for someone to lick your boots as penance, find Sparkles. Bitch has so little backbone it’s amazing she can even stand herself up.”

Silver Spoon adjusted her glasses. “Actually we came here to speak with you specifically.” Sunset actually found she was surprised by that response. Save for Flash, most kids tended to actively avoid her because of her rough personality and intimidating presence. “We saw how strong you were in the Pit today and heard you were personally trained by Headmistress Celestia herself. We were hoping we could hang out with you, and maybe learn what being a real superhero is like?”

Sunset blinked at the request, once again surprised. Were they asking her to be their tutors? If not, it was definitely the weirdest friendship request she ever heard. A mischievous smirk soon spread across Sunset’s face. Her mom did want her to make some new friends after all.

Sunset placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chin in a haughty expression. “Alright, I’ll help you out. But you have to do everything I say and not ask questions. You want to be the best like me you have to act like it, I won’t accept anyone who shows even a hint of restraint. Especially against those who think they can make fools out of us.”

“Like that Sparkle girl who humiliated you today?” Trixie asked mockingly, she knew exactly where this conversation was going.

“You got a problem with helping me get her back?” Sunset threatened.

Trixie and Silver Spoon looked at each other before turning their gazes back to meet hers. “Are you kidding?” Trixie replied. “No one flattens Trixie and gets away with it.”

Silver Spoon looked more hesitant, but didn’t take much longer to answer. “Diamond Tiara always said, only hang out with the people who can get you ahead.” She thought. Silver Spoon soon nodded in agreement to Trixie’s previous statement. “I’m in.”

“Glad to hear it,” Sunset smiled evilly, “You know girls, I think this could be the start of a beautiful and productive new friendship.”

Elsewhere in one of the mansion's many sitting rooms, Twilight was cautiously entering to see most of the students already congregating there and talking amongst themselves. Standing between them all was Applejack and Rainbow Dash, who looked like they were locked in some kind of intense staring contest.

Confused by the scene playing before her, Twilight walked up to the closest other student she could find. The person she found, Rarity, was currently in the middle of a conversation with another girl she hadn’t yet gotten the name of.

“Excuse me?” Twilight greeted. “Rarity, right? Applejack’s friend?”

Rarity turned upon hearing Twilight’s voice. “Oh, hello there dearie. Yes, my name is Rarity.” The beautiful girl extended her hand out to shake. “Twilight Sparkle, if I’m not correct?”

“That’s me.” Twilight replied and shook the other girls hand. She then turned towards the other girl. “And your name is?”

“Coco Pommel.” She whispered. Her voice was so quiet, Twilight was almost uncertain she was speaking at all. She was about to ask for her name a second time when Rarity interrupted.

“Forgive her timidness, darling. She gets nervous around new people.” Rarity smiled like she was introducing her shy younger sibling. “Her name is Coco Pommel.”

Twilight wasn’t normally one confident enough to make jokes, but following Rarity’s introduction could help but crack one at Coco. “Charmed~” She said in her best attempt to mimic Rarity’s posh and proper accent.

Thankfully the joke seemed to land as both Coco and Rarity began to giggle.

Twilight sighed in relief, “Could either of you tell me what’s going on? I’m afraid I came in late.”

Rarity waved her off as if she had only arrived fashionably late to the party. “Oh Applejack and Rainbow Dash are just having another silly contest. It would seem that fight they had earlier has really sparked a goodhearted rivalry between the two.”

“But it’s just a staring contest?” Twilight stated the obvious. “Why does everyone seem so interested?”

Suddenly Rarity softly coughed into her closed fist, almost as if embarrassed. “Well... someone may have noticed those two starting up their contest and… perhaps started taking… wagers on who would win.”

The undertones in Rarity’s words were not lost on Twilight. “Rarity, you didn’t?” She lightly scolded, “Ms. Luna warned us against this sort of thing.”

Rarity scoffed at the accusation. “I most certainly did not! A true lady would never stoop so low as to endorse a lowbrow game of chance like this.”After Coco cleared her throat in response, Rarity coughed into her hand again. “I may have however placed a small sum of dollars on Applejack, only to show my support for a friend, of course.”

Twilight placed her hands on her hips and scrunched up her face curiously. “Then who set up the bets if not you, Rainbow Dash, or Applejack.”

“I believe it was that scaly boy over there, your brother, correct?” Rarity pointed across the room towards a group of other students who were currently placing bets. Once they dispersed, Twilight could then fully see the one keeping tally of all the odds.

"Spike?!" Twilight shouted, causing both Rainbow Dash and Applejack to blink at the exact same time.

"I WON!" Pinkie cheered as everyone else started to groan. She then skipped over to Spike to collect her winnings.

“What’s going on here?!” Twilight asked as she stalked over to Spike like a mother about to scold her child.

Spike handed Pinkie her winnings minus his cut as the 'house'. “Come on Twilight, don’t be mad.” Pinkie said trying to defuse the situation. “We all just wanted to see who’d win a staring contest and everyone was betting anyway. Spike just had the fun idea to putting everyone’s money where their mouths were.”

Twilight glared at Spike, “Spike, you know gambling in wrong. What if Ms. Luna caught you?”

“Twilight relax,” Spike said in far more jovial tone then a person being scolded should have had, “you heard what Ms. Luna said, she’s in the faculty lounge, probably taking it easy like you should be.” He began flipping his fingers through the small stack of bills he had collected from the pot. She knew he didn’t mean it, but Twilight couldn’t help but feel like she was being mocked by the gesture for being too compliant with the rules. “Besides, if nothing else I was just helping these guys out. They wanted to place bets and thanks to you, mom, and dad, I’m an honest boy who’s good at math. So at least when they deal with me, they can expect to not get cheated, unlike in most of the ‘legitimate’ gambling dens in this city.”

Twilight would have continued reprimanding her little brother, but it was at that point that Luna’s astral form phased into the room through the wall.

“STUDENTS!” They all heard their teacher’s voice shout within their minds.

Spike gasped and Pinkie let out a brief shriek, both immediately rushing to hide their money before Ms. Luna could see it. Spike quickly took his stack of various denominations and shoved it in his pocket and Pinkie took her much larger wad of cash and shoved it down her shirt, creating a very noticable lump in the stomach of her outfit. Pinkie did her best not to make eye contact with the ghostly-being in the room and sweated profusely.

“I am sorry to interrupt you all, but an urgent matter has occurred in the city that requires the Pillars’ attention. The majority of your teachers will be leaving the mansion in order to investigate this occurrence, leaving only my sister and myself to supervise you.”

The students could pick up on the slight sense of panic present in the astral form’s voice. Applejack stood and began walking towards Ms. Luna, “What exactly is goin’ on out there, Ms. Luna?”

Luna’s astral projection sighed, “I suppose you all have easy access to the news, so keeping this from you would be a futile effort. A number of dangerous super criminals have escaped from Tartarus Penitentiary and are currently at large within Canterlot City.” A few gasps from the students made Luna thankful they understood the severity of the situation. “We are sending out the Pillars to quickly subdue them before they can do any major damage to the city or its populous.”

Some of the students looked at each other in worry before turning back to Luna. “Do… Do you need our help?” Twilight asked. “Did you come here to ask us to be some sort of backup?” In most of their minds, the students--including Twilight--all hoped Ms. Luna didn’t require them.

“Like I said, my sister and I will be remaining here to supervise you.” Ms. Luna stated more clearly. “The other Pillars should be more than capable of dealing with this threat.” A more serious look soon spread across the astral form’s face. “What we are more concerned about is some of you running off to aid your teachers without being properly trained first.”

A few coughs were heard and some students--including Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie--began scratching the back of their heads upon hearing that last statement. The people who were most likely to attempt this knew she had them pegged.

“Let it be known now that if anyone is found off school grounds before this crisis is dealt with, they will be punished severely.” That familiar stare their teacher gave back during combat training returned and sent a shudder down everyone’s spine.

Ms. Luna turned and headed back towards the wall she had entered through, nary saying another word. She then stopped, almost suddenly, and spoke in a low intimidating voice that sounded much more aggressive when compared to the calm commanding voice she used earlier, “Also, Ms. Pie, Mr. Sparkle, return all the money you have collected from your fellow students and don’t ever let me catch any of you gambling in this building again.”

She finally phased back through the wall again, leaving the entire student body with looks of fear and disbelief strewn across their faces. With a defeated sigh, Spike pulled out his stack of dollars and a sheet of paper he had been using to keep track of everyone’s bets. Pinkie Pie meanwhile looked like she was about to cry as she pulled the hem of her shirt outwards allowing her money to fall to the floor like so many dead leaves picked up in Autumn.

Twilight was debating whether or not she wanted to say ‘I told you so’ to Spike, but upon seeing how depressed everyone else was as they took back their money, she thought better of it.

She rubbed her chin in thought. Being right about something wasn’t nearly as fun when everyone else was sad because of it. A light bulb suddenly went off in her head, “Hey, has anyone here heard of tokushu keihin?” She asked. Everyone turned to Twilight, clearly curious, this brought a smile to her face as well as one to Pinkie and Spike’s faces as well.

Author's Note

For those of you wondering, kakuhen is a method in Japan to circumvent the Japanese gambling laws against cash based gambling. It was an idea generously offered by Foxhelm, and my friends may go into more detail concerning this idea in a later chapter.

For now however, we have two new characters for the power index! Powers and supervillain names for the other villains will be introduced in the next chapter.

Power Index

Chrysalis Hives/Damselfly

High-Tech Exoskeleton
The user utilizes a specialized suit of armor by using technology alone. Armor function's by the user's thoughts, so the user has to concentrate if the suit is to function properly.

Tempest

Robot Arm/Air Blast/Vacuum Creation
User possesses and is able to wield a programmable, mechanical arm. The user can release air/wind over a specific target area from this arm causing great damage and/or delivering great shock waves of pure force. User can also create vacuums by sucking in air with the power of a jet engine. This often allows the user to draw people and objects towards them.

Chrysalis's costume design is based off Marvel's Beetle and an anthro version of the armor she wore in the comics:

Tempest's costume is based off Marvel's Winter Soldier: