Ponyball Z Kai: A New Generation

ZEPHYR HEIGHTS THRONE ROOM: 8:30PM

The time had come for Pipp to premiere her new song at the royal celebration. In the last few hours, Sunny, Izzy, Zipp, and Cyre had formulated a plan to get the queen's crown. As of current Izzy and Sunny were backstage, moving into position behind Queen Haven's Throne. Zipp was with her family of course, as to not be suspicious. and lastly, Cyre. He was essentially their muscle and escape plan should things go south. He was sitting on one of the nearby castle tops directly adjacent to the throne room, where he got a birds-eye view of everything. he'd know when they'd need his help. The plan went as follows when Zipp said it earlier...

6 HOURS EARLIER...

Zipp Storm decided to go over the plan with all the members of their group one last time before disbanding to their separate positions later on in the evening. Zipp couldn't stay with the group much longer than current, as Queen Haven would be rather suspicious of how long she's gone this time, even with her exploring in the mountains deal.

"I'll get the supplies. I'll pass them off to Sunny, and then she will get them to you. Once you produce the decoy, get your flanks to the palace. Everypony who's anypony will be there, so security will be tight. I'll distract them so you can sneak in."

"Maximum sneaky!" Izzy said that before Cyre covered her mouth, shaking his head at her before nodding at Zipp, prompting her to continue.

"You'll need to be stealthy. Carefully make your way to the Grand Hall, but watch out for the guards. I'll open the door to the backstage of the throne room. And once Pipp starts singing, my mom will be so caught up that swapping the crowns will be easy-breezy. Cyre will be on stand-by in case things go south. Or when we need to escape. Either one."

Sunny Starscout only laughed nervously at the idea. "Easy-breezy. Sure."

Cyre put a hand on Sunny's shoulder as he smiled at her. "This is no time to be having self-doubts. Besides, you've gotten this far. Why stop now? I have a saying that I picked up on earth. It's called, "there is a point where we needed to stop and we've clearly passed it... but let's keep going and see what happens!" Now I don't think you should apply that in all situations, but this one... yeah. Besides, I've got you're back... we all do, and you know it. Let's get that crown, yeah? And even if things go south, I can use my solar flare to mask our escape. It would be pretty bright though, so I'd suggest covering your eyes."

This made Sunny visibly brighten as she nodded at Cyre's words before the whole group nodded simultaneously.

BACK IN THE PRESENT...

Above the throne room, Zipp and her mother were getting ready for the event. During the brief period, they had a small discussion as Haven dolled herself up.

"I hear you paid our guests a visit."

"Pipp told you?"

"Oh, you know she tells me everything. I wish you would tell me more. You're going to be queen one day. You'll wear this crown. And trust me, it is heavier than it looks."

"Actually, there is something I wanted to tell you. The unicorns don't have any magic. I-I think it's tied to why we can't fly, and I—"

"Zephyrina! I don't know what silly ideas that unicorn put into your head, but we have a duty to protect our citizens. Pegasi are happy enough knowing that we royals can fly. Why would you want to disrupt things?"

"Because it's a lie!"

"It makes them feel safe. One day you'll understand. Your sister does. Oh, and here she is now!"

Pipp Petals came into view, literally hanging by the wires as she started vocalizing.

"Me-me-meeeee!"

"Showtiiiiiime!" Queen Haven and Zipp started to make their way down into the throne room with the help of the backstage pony.

After a huge mishap from Ruddy Sparks due to encountering Izzy and Sunny, He started to cause the stage lights to flicker away from Pipp, and onto Hitch, who now had every single pair of eyes in the room focused on him. In response, he did a rather embarrassing dance and an even more embarrassing musical number.

"Throwin' up, find a glove, Fly around, up above. Doin' stuff that I love, You're like, "Why?", I'm like, "What?" Crisp and dry, eat some mud. Glowing up, lovey-dove..."

Pipp was just as confused as everypony else was, as she also stared at Hitch.

"What is happening?"

Moments later Pipp screamed as she started to get dragged around the room by the wires as she screamed in surprise and disorientation. It's safe to say that Cyre felt it was time for him to intervene, as he immediately started to fly down towards the throne room, looking for an entrance that didn't involve breaking anything. Ruddy Sparks ended up running out of the control room yelping as Pipp continued to be dragged, while Zipp managed to get the pegasus crystal back and hand it to Sunny as the three of them made their way to the exit...

"Freeze!"

Only for Hitch to ruin all that as the crowd immediately knew the prisoners were free. And Hitch also ended up getting exposed as well as Pipp swung past him. Eventually, Pipp did come to a stop, with her secret exposed to everyone as they gasped. And they all immediately took pictures of her misfortune to her horror. She was immediately known as one, singular thing...

"She's a fake!"

"Fake!"

"The royals can't fly either?!"

"Fake!"

"She's faking it!"

"She's a fake!"

"Uh..." was all Pipp could say in response to all that. She then saw her sister making her way to the exit just as the door swung open, revealing it was Cyre, another one of the prisoners that had escaped... not like they could hold him anyway. As for Zipp, the two sisters' eyes locked onto one another, before Zipp gave a rather simple plea for help.

"Zipp...?"

Sunny Starscout Immediately ran past Zipp, who swiftly followed after. Unfortunately, none of them notice that in their rush, they'd dropped the pegasus crystal. The group of five were now running through the halls of the castle, doing their best to avoid the guards. Cyre then turned to face Zipp.

"Zipp, what's the fastest way out of this place? There are guards everywhere, we can't avoid them forever! You should know the ins and outs of this place, you're the princess!"

"I don't know! And if you hadn't noticed, I've got a lot on my plate right now, so if you don't mind, let me think for a little bit!"

"Nevermind Zipp! I see an exit! the front doors, up ahead... with about 30 guards already there! Alright then, I'll risk it."

Once the group made their way to the front doors, all 30 guards marched on them as Cyre narrowed his eyes as he turned around to face his friends.

"Cover your eyes."

"Wait. What?!? What good is closing our eyes gonna-"

"Unless you wanna go blind for about 20 seconds, you'll do as I ask! Now close. your. fucking. EYES!!! Don't you remember at all what I told you guys earlier?"

Cyre immediately turned to face the mass of guards as he placed his two hands in front of his face and began to shout the signature words as the guards began to charge to him.

“SOLAR FLARE!!!!”

The others closed their eyes just as the effect began to occur. A bright flash of light sweeps over all of the guards, making them essentially blind due to the attack’s overwhelming lighting. Once the attack was finished, Cyre saw all the guards grunting and yelling obscenities before tapping his friends’ shoulders and tossing them over all the guards and out the front door towards the elevator. Once they successfully made it down, they quickly hid in an alleyway with Hitch colliding into a trash can with a thump.

“Okay. I think we lost 'em.”

“Hitch, what are you even doing here?”

“Arresting you. And saving you. So, you know, a little of both actually. You're welcome!”

Zipp Storm felt it was time for her to step into the whole conversation. “Oh-ho-ho, gee, thanks. But we don't need any saving, okay?”

“And you are?” Hitch asked.

“Her mom is the queen!” Izzy answered, to which Hitch started to put two and two together.

“Wait a minute. So that means... you're a princess?”

Zipp Storm could only chuckle before roasting Hitch. “Huh. Look at that. The sheriff just became a detective.”

Just then a nearby screen was playing the breaking news, which captured the interests of everyone involved. Along with a few of the pegasi who would care to comment on the whole thing.

"Breaking story – Zephyr Heights is in turmoil tonight after the shocking revelation that the royals cannot fly."

"Pipp used to be my favorite!"

"If we can't trust our own royalty, who can we trust?"

"I blame the unicorns and the Earth ponies! They ruin everything!"

"This just in – Queen Haven has been arrested for being a phony pony full of baloney."

This caused Zipp Storm to gasp as She saw her mother being walked down to the prison.

"No comment! And no photos! Okay, one photo."

Her mother seemed to be taking it pretty well though.

"Anypony care to explain?" Hitch asked Sunny before she grabbed the crystal, only to find it wasn't in her saddlebag.

"We had to get the crystal. Look. Oh, no, no, no, no! It's not here!"

"Seriously?!"

"On the bright side, we had so much fun losing it." Izzy tried to lighten things up, much to Cyre's chagrin.

"Not helping Izzy! Well, what do we do know?"

"We have to go back!" Sunny protested.

"But it could be anywhere!" Zipp said this before the group heard a can clatter behind them, before revealing that the culprit was none other than Zipp's sister, Pipp. Her mane was frazzled, and she didn't look happy at all. In No respect. There was some good news with her being there though. She did have the pegasus crystal they were looking for after all. Zipp and Pipp decided to have a small conversation with each other due to tonight's events.

"Somepony seriously needs to explain why this thing was so important that you had to ruin my whole show over it!"

"Trust me. It was."

"You left me hanging there! In the spotlight! Now everypony knows we can't fly."

"Oh please, you'd have been found out eventually, Pipp, even if it wasn't from our doing. Besides, I feel this would probably make the air a bit clearer, now that there aren't any secrets. I mean, it's not like you're any good at keeping them Pipp, you DID broadcast me, Izzy, and Sunny on live television for all of the kingdom to see, did you not?"

"...Now you listen here, you little-"

Pipp was about to try and do her best to go off on Cyre for what he said to her, but then her phone went off and she just had to see what was going on. It wasn't pretty what she saw, that being her mother in a mugshot. And to make matters worse...

"A warrant is out for the arrest of the princesses."

Queen Haven had one message for her daughters before posing in her mugshot.

"Pipp! Zipp! Save yourselves!"

"What?! This is not happening! This is so not happening!" Pipp was having a mini freakout before Zipp snapped her out of it before it got worse.

"Pipp! Forget about all that. We think we can bring back magic, but we need that crystal."

"Have you lost your mind?"

"Please. This might be our only chance."

"Ugh! Fine! I know a way out. Come on."

Hitch Trailblazer, of course, was not pleased with this course of action.

"What? Wait! You can't just... But I'm a sheriff!"

"Not outside of Maretime Bay's jurisdiction you aren't!" Cyre added as Hitch groaned and begrudgingly followed everyone else.

MARETIME BAY: THE NEXT MORNING

Back in Maretime Bay, Sprout had taken control of Canterlogic and had set it to work, making a top-secret project to help combat what he perceived to be an incoming war on the Earth ponies. He was coming down an elevator to check on their progress. His breathing appeared to be raspy at first, a lot like Darth Vader's. It was revealed he was just drinking a smoothie though.

"Ahhh! Why aren't you finished yet?"

"W-We're working as fast as we can, but we've run out of rivets."

Sprout simply laughed before grabbing the pony by the necktie. "Rivet-ing story. Just make it work, okay?!"

Phyllis also came to the factory to ask her son a few things. As they talked, a pony ended up falling in front of them, but they paid it no mind, accidents happen, especially in their kind of work. "Sugarcube, I know your little top-secret project is important and all, but when do you think my workers can get back to making Canterlogic products?"

"Back to work, Glitter Cupcake!"

"It is my factory, after all, dear."

"But it's my town, Mommy! Your son's now emperor of Maretime Bay!"

Phyllis scoffed at the idea. "Emperor?! But yesterday you were only the sheriff."

"Well, see how fast I'm climbing the ranks? This defense factory is going on offense, and it's all thanks to your love and encouragement. Break's over, Bubblegum McGinty!"

Phyllis Cloverleaf was starting to think that maybe her son was getting a bit drunk on power, but she tried to push those thoughts out of her mind.. they were still there though.

"Oh, dear. Somepony's getting a big head." Phyllis then walked away as a dark silhouette behind a few clear tarps was illuminated, revealing Sprout's secret project, which looked awfully like a pony skeleton. At least for now.

SOMEWHERE EN ROUTE TO BRIDLEWOOD: 3:00PM

"That's the tree from the map. That means... it's this way."

After their hasty escape from Zephyr Heights, the six of them made their way to Bridlewood using a map, Though the tension that they had on the way there was so thick you could probably cut it with a knife. To be fair though, most of that tension was contained within Pipp and Hitch, the two unwilling participants.

"What am I even doing here? Hoofing it across daisy fields, looking for a magical crystal that doesn't even exist!"

"It was supposed to be my best show ever. And now it's all over. I'm a criminal! And it's all because of..."

"...them!" both Pipp and Hitch said together.

"And that is so not cool."

"No, it is not. Did I just agree with a Pegasus?" While Hitch contemplated himself, Pipp walked over to Zipp to have another family discussion.

"Hey! Are you sure she even knows where to find this other crystal?"

"Don't you trust me at all?"

"I don't know. You are the one that just got Mom thrown in jail!"

"Look, once we get our magic back, the whole kingdom will be so excited, they won't even remember what happened back there? You'll be a hero, Pipp."

Hitch Trailblazer was now drilling Sunny about bringing her in again... although honestly, it's really ridiculous at this point to consider.

"Now Let's get one thing straight."

"We're almost to the river, everypony!"

"After this whole escapade is over with, you are gonna march back home to Maretime Bay with me. Is that clear?"

"Crystal."

"Great. Because this badge means that I'm the she— ahhhh! No, no, no, no, no! Where's my badge?! Hey! You!"

Hitch pointed an accusing hoof towards Izzy Moonbow, who was prancing through the flowers before directing her attention towards the stallion.

"I know unicorns like shiny things!"

"Oh, you know, I think I did see a shiny badge-y thing on the ground a few hours ago."

"What?! Hours?!"

"Well, maybe it's for the best. Between you and me, buddy, that badge was creating an unhealthy power dynamic." Right after that Izzy started singing and started to prance again like nothing happened, leaving Hitch to again ponder what he'd gotten himself into. They eventually make it to the river, only to find that the bridge was out. Sunny gasped before trying to find a solution.

"What are we gonna do? Cyre, you could fly us over, cant you?"

"I could, but I won't."

"What?!? why not?"

"If we're all gonna be together, the least we can do is try to get along and not bicker the whole way to Bridlewood. Think of it as a sort of training exercise really."

Pipp Petals, of course, tried to one-up her sister again due to their sudden predicament. "Any ideas, Zipp?"

"You know what would be great right now? Let me think. Maybe something like... THE ABILITY TO FLY!" Zipp shouted at her as she spread her wings out in protest.

"You know what would be even better? Not being stuck in the middle of nowhere as OUTCASTS FROM OUR OWN KINGDOM!"

Hitch Trailblazer then tried again to get Sunny to go home with him, to no avail. "Oh, well. That's the end of that. Time to go home. I wish I could say it was nice meeting all of you, but it wasn't. Come on, Sunny."

"Everypony, stop! We're gonna get to the other side, find the crystal, and bring back magic! And once we do, you'll get to fly, you'll get your fans back, Cyre... well I'm not really sure about... and you'll have me in custody! Everypony happy now?!"

It was just then that they heard a loud pecking noise, followed by a huge crash. Everyone turned to face Izzy who had managed to cut down a tree during the span of their conversation, making a makeshift bridge for them.

"Ta-daaaaa!"

"All right!"

"Ah, great."

"Come on, everypony!"

As the others crossed over the tree, Cyre could've sworn he'd heard someone say "Heeeeelp!", but it didn't come from any of his friends. He decided to just go ahead with his friends.

9:30PM

A campfire had been set up for the night as the crew took a rest for the evening. before getting so sleep, they had a few small conversations. Hitch was trying to be a loner, trying to set fire to his own campsite a few feet away. Zipp made it a matter to tease him for that as well.

"Come on, stupid stick."

"You need some backup, sheriff?"

"No! Thank you. I've got it. Come on... If only I had a match... Hah!" He did manage to set a fire... only for it to fizzle out seconds later, which made him growl in response as Zipp spoke to him again.

"Oh, well, that was sad to watch. Come on, don't be a hero, dude. Come get warm."

Hitch Trailblazer spotted Sunny walking river to him to try and convince him to give her newfound friends a shot.

"Are you sure about all this? Because if we just go back to Maretime Bay..."

"What have we got to lose?"

"By giving magic back to our enemies? Uh, let me think. I know – a lot!"

"Come on. Do they look like enemies to you?"

Pipp Petals was busy being told that her sparkle was aquamarine, her sixth favorite color, as she did a cute little wing flap in response, making Hitch sigh.

"I don't know. Maybe I should just go back to Maretime Bay where I'm needed."

"If that's what you want. But you should know I'm actually glad you're here, Hitch. We all are." Sunny walked back to the others, sitting down. Hitch snorted, eventually joining them begrudgingly before Izzy laid out her plans, before noticing that Izzy was a bit upset.

"So I think we should set off at first light. Last stop – Bridlewood. What's wrong, Izzy?"

"It's just that... being with you ponies... and Saiyans... has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. I guess I just don't want our adventure to end."

"But, Izzy, you'll get your magic."

Hitch then turned in Izzy's direction to ask a question. "Can I ask you a question? Why did you come to Maretime Bay?"

"I always wanted to visit. When I was a filly, I found this pretty lantern. It had a message inside. It said I had friends in Maretime Bay. It... It was you!" Izzy handed a paper that she'd found from a lantern long ago that inspired her to come to Maretrime Bay back to Sunny, the message's creator as Sunny relived memories of her father who had passed.

"I made it with my dad. We always promised each other that someday we would prove that all ponies were meant to be friends. We'll do our part. Hoof to heart."

Hitch Trailblazer was properly inspired to go along with the others instead of being a burden the whole way, which made the others cheer. Except for Cyre, he just nodded. "Hey, um... I want to do my part. What have we got to lose, right? I have to admit. A unicorn forest does sound kind of magical."

ENTRANCE TO BRIDLEWOOD

"Or not."

The group had just arrived at the forest entrance. there were multiple signs that could simply be translated to varying degrees of "stay out".

"I don't know Hitch, Looks pretty welcoming to me I did land somewhat nearby here on this planet after all," Cyre said with a smile before directing his attention to Izzy.

"Come on! My house isn't far from here!" After a short walk through a patch of forest, the whole crew walked inside as Izzy opened the door, with Cyre having to duck due to his extreme height of 6 feet and 7 inches. As they looked around, they saw a bunch of Izzy's possession and creations, one of which stared at Hitch and Cyre, which freaked Cyre out a little bit.

"Did you make all of this?"

"Yup! "Uni-cycling"! Isn't it funky?"

"It is gorgeoooous!"

"I also make friendship bracelets!

"Ah, cool."

"Wait, wait! Watch this! Hold everything! Aah! I've never gotten to use this with actual friends!" Izzy giggled as she pulled out a flower-shaped cart of sorts, with its bud closed. after a few cranks, it opened up to reveal a tea seat, which made Cyre roll his eyes. not at the invention, which he did find interesting. But rather the tea party deal. It was so overused as a little girl sorta deal. At least on Earth, it was. The others gave Izzy praise though.

"I so wish I had live-streamed that!"

"We don't have time for that right now. If we're gonna get the information we need on the Unicorn Crystal, we can't stick out like sore hooves. We need to look like unicorns."

"Yay, makeovers! I love makeovers!" Pipp was all for a makeover.

Zipp Storm storm and Cyre however, were not. As they both laughed nervously. "No. No, this is not... This is not what I signed up for. No."

"I'm in agreement with Zipp, I refuse to let anyone give me a makeover... not after what my mother made me wear and look like sometimes..." It sent a shiver down his spine every time he thought about it.

Sunny Starscout then turned to Izzy, who was finishing a cup of tea.

"So, Izzy, can you do it?"

"A glow-up? Honey, you came to the right cottage."

After their little dance number, the others left to find some info on the unicorn crystal, Cyre stayed in Izzy's house. He did end up handing his scouter off to Izzy cause she continued to pester him about it before they left. Now Cyre was all by himself, pretty much waiting for them to do what they needed to do unless they needed help, to which, once again, he could tell when they needed it.

Didn't make it any less boring though.