Team Superstars: Regain The Strength

Thunder groaned as he put his hoof to his head, he felt groggy, barely remembering what had just happened last night. He ignored the beeping of his alarm clock that was currently telling him it was five in the morning! Sometimes he’d start duty this early, but today wasn’t one of them… As he slowly opened his eyes he groaned, remembering he passed out while chasing someone out the front of the palace, but why? He needed to blink a few times to actually clear his vision. It did not take long for him to realise he was in his warm, soft bed, no longer out the front in the cold. Which was a strange, because he wasn’t there now, somepony must have put him to bed. The morning light shone through the windows, shining into the large room he was in. It was his bedroom… His mind was all groggy and fuzzy on the night before as he looked around, trying to work out his surrounds and what had happened. It was almost like a dream to him, he hardly remembered much. There was an intruder in the palace, that’s what he remembered at the moment. Sitting up, he looked around him, his mane ruffled from his tossing and turning.

“What?” He said, looking around puzzled before the memories started coming to him. His heart started race as his thoughts came to him. Remembering what had just happened the night before. “Zoom!?” He exclaimed, looking around, shaking getting up from his bed, looking around him, hoping it wasn’t as terrible as he remembered. Putting on his helmet and chestplate, he trembled as he walked to the door. Expecting the worse. Zoom was shot with unknown powers after all… Who knows what kind of condition she’d be in. He had to check on her wherever she was. He swallowed right as he opened the door, exiting his room, jumping in fright as soon as he heard a voice.

“Thunder! You’re awake!” Called out a voice belonging to another guard. He recognised her orange-brown coat and green socks immediately, her eye colours were like ambers shining in the light.

“O-oh! Hey Autumn.” Greeted Thunder, sounding less joyful than usual when he would greet his friends in the morning. He sighed a bit as he looked down at the ground and back at her. Wondering if she heard what happened last night. Perhaps she did, judging by her remark. But she could have just been excited to see him this morning and is happy he is awake. “Have you heard?” He asked, hoping not to cause panic. Autumn and Zoom weren’t really that close, they got along, but they never really interacted with each other.

“Heard what?” She asked looking slightly concerned before her expression showed dread. Looking really concerned as if she had just gotten the news now. “Oh yeah… Zoom, one of the highest ranked guards was injured in an attack last night.” She said, her voice cracking. “Yes, I have heard. I actually made cookies for her if she were to wake up…” She explained as Thunder’s heart dropped, she hadn’t awakened? His heart was beating as he looked at her. His own friend, she wasn’t dead, was she? His mouth started to go dry as he thought about her, shaking a little. He couldn’t lose her. Not now.

“Is she… Okay?” Thunder asked as he gained a deep pit of worry in his stomach. It felt so heavy, he actually felt sick to the stomach as he worried about the state of Zoom.

“I can show you.”

“O-okay.” He answered, deciding to see if she was okay. His duty wasn’t for another hour or two, so he had time. His worry grew following Autumn to the ward. Where any guards that were hurt for any reason would recover from minor injuries or illness. He had only been there once in his life. When he had accidentally sliced himself deeply with a knife and had to stay there for a few hours before the nurse decided he was free to go. He was glad that incident left no scar on his body. As he approached the ward, he but his tongue as he entered. Making a loud gasp as soon as he sat inside, seeing a familiar pony on one of the few beds. “Zoom!” He exclaimed, tearing up as he looked over to her, trembling as she reached her bed. Her helmet and chestplate placed on the table next to it. Along with a plate of freshly made cookies, untouched. Autumn,n was right, she wasn’t awake yet. At least she was still alive, but breathing heavily. He felt himself fill up with guilt and grief as she watched her make a panicked gasp in her sleep. Ut hurt him as he watched her so helpless. “P-please get up.” He said, his voice cracking ss he put a hoof on her. Feeling her shivery body under the hospital blanket. A tear went down his cheek as he looked at Autumn, who was showing signs of crying herself.

“You would have hated to see her a few hours prior. It’s as if she’s stuck in some violent nightmare. She’s been muttering things like everyone is dead and there’s blood everywhere and she’s a failure for everyone being killed.” A nurse named Dolly said in a depressed expression as she approached to check on her. She had a short blue mane and a pale red coat. “The muttering was giving me the creeps, just imagining her nightmare. In my thirty years of being a palace nurse, I have never had dealt something as violent as this… Since Sky Drop or Taser.”

“Sky Drop and Taser?” Gulped Thunder, remembering other ponies and about them., remembering the first guard, he was brutally killed around the time when Zoom and Thunder would have been toddlers. They were in their twenties now. Sky Drop was talked about for years. He was impaled one night while escorting the queen home, having defended from a drunk stallion. He dismissed all his pain till he was found dead in front of the ward that morning, in a puddle of his own blood. Dolly was the one to find him. The smell and sight never left her mind. Taser was another guard that was killed, he had a limp slice off accidentally while trying to defend Pipp from some thieves near a construction site. She was around twelve at the time. Thunder was about fourteen at the time, he remembered the news clearly. Especially how his own brother tried to take him to the ward for help… It was lucky Pipp wasn’t there to see him get injured since she had ran off after Zipp for something.

“Yeah…” Autumn sadly added. “I hate hearing fellow guards get injured… But the deaths are worse. I mean, there has only been two on duty guard deaths since Haven became Queen. With her great grandma and generations before, it was way worse!” She exclaimed, tears in her eyes. “I don’t want any of my fellow co-workers die…” She said, looking at Zoom. “Even if I don’t know him or her, it really hurts.” She said. It was true there had been less deaths these days, but it could still happen.

“Same…” Thunder responded. Tears going down his face as he looked at her.

Dolly looked st the two mourning ponies, regretting her words earlier. She didn’t mean to make them worry. “Zoom is not dying.” She said bluntly. “She’s just stuck in a nightmare… Kinda like being stuck in a coma, but she doesn’t need any life support just yet…”

“How long?” Thunder asked, trembling a little as he looked at Dolly, hoping for a good answer.

”I’m afraid I don’t know.”

Thunder looked down at his hooves and back at Zoom. He had never seen her like this before. So weak and helpless, so ill… Just a few minutes later, Haven walked in the ward. Looking rather concerned. “Is she awake?” She asked another nurse who was younger.

“No, your majesty.”

“Oh my.” Haven responded, walking forward, seeing Zoom grunt as her breathing became heavier. “How long has she been like this?”

”Ten hours.”

”Ten hours!?” Haven softly asked, looking over at Zoom. “No sign of waking?” Her emotions were a mix of fear and distress. Hearing the words of the nurse made her think. It was like she was trapped in a nightmare? Maybe it was a magical thing and not a medical thing, she was hit by a magic beam after all. Her heart ached as she looked at her. But there was still hope, right? After-all, her own daughters did help return magic and save the cutie marks when they were stolen from Opaline. Not only that, they live in the same room as the unity crystals. So in a way, they were magic experts right? They must be. if Zoom’s magic was sucked from her, she might need magic to help her. Maybe they might have an answer. “Nurse.” She said quietly, looking over at the nurse who was watching Zoom sweat.

“Y-yes your majesty?”

“Is it okay if I take her to my Daughters and friends to check up on her? I feel like they might have an idea on what’s going on with her if it’s magic related.” Haven explained to the nurse who paused for a moment to think. She knew she was hit by a magical blast last night, it may have knocked her out and she’s unable to wake up. But It’s true, it doesn’t seem to be a physical, mental or medical issue at the moment. Her heart rate was fine, her breathing was panicky at moments, she didn’t need any help from any machines to keep alive. Nothing to worry about. In fact, she appeared to be sleeping and not be coma of some sort. If it was a magical thing that put here, then it was likely magic related that was keeping her in this state. She looked over at the queen, still wanting to keep an eye on her, just in case.

“With all respect, she needs to rest. So do the other patients here. We can’t have too many guests at once.” The first nurse said.

“I think it’s worth a shop.” The second nurse said. “She’s stable enough to trouble, just like she’s having a snooze. I don’t see why you can’t take her there. The Unity Crystals are other with your daughters, right? Maybe being close to them might help her in some way!” She added.

”Thank you, nurse.” Haven responded, ignoring the first nurse’s groan.

Zipp was downstairs early that morning. Izzy was working on something she was knitting, Pipp was humming to herself, working on a new song. Sunny was making herself some eggs. Misty was on a camping trip with Alphabittle for a few days. To meet with her other family, like her cousin and aunt. Even if she didn’t have much memory of them, she wanted to at least get to know them again. It was nice to see her eager to do something out of her comfort zone, besides, she could come back anytime. Zipp yawned as she poured herself some cereal. When she heard a knock on the door. “Huh?” She wondered. Coking her head as she looked towards the door. Puzzled, soon seeing Haven come in quickly with a worried expression. “Mother!?” Zipp exclaimed.

”I am so sorry for showing up without warning!” She apologised. Looking sweaty as she sat down. Zipp and her friends approaching her with concerned as Thunder raced in. Zoom cradled in his hooves, he laid her down gently on the couch, the first thing Zipp noticed was her dull colouring and faded cutie mark. Something she hadn’t really seen before. Unless you count a baby dragon. What had happened? Did Opaline return to take cutie marks or destroy magic again, using a more dire power to do so? Nah, that’s not possible.

”Wh-what happened?” Zipp asked, a feeling of dread filling her.

”Is everyone okay?” Sunny exclaimed after she put her eggs on a plate then looked at Zoom. Noticing the queen’s worried expression. It appeared she had not gotten much sleep last night. Whatever it was must have been rough.

Haven took a while to speak, “I think there’s a new threat after us.” looking down after seeing Thunder nudge Zoom. “I… It happened last night. We were attacked and they did something to Zoom while she was protecting me! We waited for to wake up, but she didn’t. I was helping you’d know what happened to her. Or you could help her.” She gulped, sweat coming down her. She had made all the guards o look over the city and palace for threats more than ever before. Just hoping the thief would be found and no one would get attacked again! “I assumed it was magical, since the nurses said it’s like shes stuck in a nightmare and it’s not a coma! I had hoped bringing her closer to the unity crystals would help in some way!”

”Okay… Got the feeling we could have came to you.” Zipp responded. Feeling that she must have been very desperate if she thought being closer would help. “But I need you to tell me everything.” She sternly responded. “What happened?”

Thunder sighed as he held Zoom’s hoof. Her pulse was fast. Hearing as Haven explained everything. “It appears her magic was drained from her from that creature you mentioned…” Sunny responded. “But… Why did they only aim for Zoom and not either of you, or anypony else?” Zipp nodded in agreement, it was a bit weird. She thought they would have went after the unity crystals. Or at least Sunny for her alicorn magic. But why a royal guard? Not even Zipp remembered Haven being so concerned for one of her own guards. She knew they were tough and were in it to protect her. But it was no surprise, she did see them as other ponies in her kingdom, besides, it was a magical object that put Zoom in this state. If Zoom and Thunder failed to protect their queen, this could likely be Haven now.

”Yeah. This is pretty strange…” Izzy wondered, speaking about thinking like she does sometimes. “If I was a magic thief. I’d steal the magic from everyone in the castle! More magic for me and less magic to give them the advantage!” There was a pause as Izzy finished. She did have a point, it was unusual that the thief stole only Zoom’s magic and not anyone else’s. Even if it had the chance and ability to do so. But…

”Not helping, Iz…” Pipp bluntly responded.

Zipp walked over to Zoom, she was breathing heavily. Why would the thief only aim for her? She was pretty greyed out, not far from Sparky when a whole bunch of his dragon fire was forced from him. He was drained for days afterwards. But this was also different from such incident. Sparky wasn’t in some magical nightmare afterwards, he was traumatised, more sleepy and not so energetic. But he did get his colour back the next day and perked up again after visiting the dragon lands. ”Well… The thief did say she only needed her!” Thunder added, looking very upset. Remembering her words, he felt rather bitter mentioning her. It came out as ‘thief’ but there were other words to describe her better.

“Only her?” Zipp asked. “Why would she only want her?” It did not take long for everyone to figure out the reason. “What has she got that nopony els-“ They all shared similar shocked expression. It was pretty obvious now why they only went for Zoom compared to anyone else. If she was after power, she would only go after Zoom for a particular one. An imaginary light bulb popped above Zipp’s head, she gasped as a result. “I got it!” She exclaimed, “The superstar powers!” Everyone gasped in shock as she came to the conclusion. “The thief must be after those powers that she, Jazz and Onyx used to defeat Dark Matter for good!”

”But why?” Wondered Pipp. “I thought they’d be practically useless now! They were used for their only purpose, right?” She asked, having kinda had them in the back of her mind and not thinking on it much since.

”I don’t know…” Sighed Sunny. “But those powers are still strong from what I heard. In the wrong hooves, they can be dangerous… Even when Dark Matter is gone.”

”And she already got one of the three!” Pipp screeched in worry. Her heart was racing as the other two appeared in her mind. “She must be after the others!” Then immediately went to her phone. Possibly to warn the others, being close friends with Jazz. Contacting her seemed like a choice she’d make so quickly. But it was a good call to warn them…

”If she went after Zoom. Then there is a change that she is after Jazz and Onyx fir their share of the superstar power!” Thunder worried as he shivered. “I tried to catch her. But-“ He then put his face in his hooves and made a long, disappointed groan.

”Thunder…” Haven reassuringly patted his back. Having known what he tried to do but failed. “You tried, that’s what matters. Is not your fault that jerk was overpowered.”

”Who knows what this thief is going to use these powers for! They might be after the unity crystals, too!” Cried Sunny, her heart racing as she thought about all the possibilities of this new threat. Who was she? What did she wan?. Sure, judging by Haven and Thunder’s story, she wasn’t interested in anyone else besides the superstar powers. But if she wasn’t aware of the unity crystals, then there was no doubt that she might want them for herself. Either to try and give herself more power, or destroy magic for everyone!

”If she is not a pony like mother said. We have to be careful of what she is already capable of!” Zipp exclaimed as Pipp frantically texted someone on her phone. There was silence as everyone looked at each other. Wondering on their next move. Who was this thief and why was she after those with the mysterious powers no one had decided on a name for yet? Was going to be after Sunny and the unity crystals, too? What was she planning? What would they do next? Thunder looked down at Zoom who was not breathing as heavily, her colour was back, but only slightly. But she whimpered and kicked her legs suddenly. He grabbed her foreleg in concern, crying for her to wake up.

”Zoom! Please, wake up!” He cried. His heart racing as he looked down at her. Tears in his eyes as she looked down at her, her heart was racing. Her mane was ruffled, the helmet was on the floor next to the couch. She was making the occasional squeak. Whatever nightmare she was happening, it sounded scary. Otherwise the room was rather silent. Everyone stood there in fear and concern as they tried to think about what to do next