It was a few days after my friends had gotten back from Canterlot. News had just broken out of a new comic book store in town, and everypony went to see the grand opening. As soon as the doors swung open, ponies flooded in, and I found my friends near the Batmare stand. I followed them, finding them deep in discussion.
"I've always been a fan of these," Rainbow Dash started out. "I've always liked the setting, characters, and of course, our fearless hero, Batmare!"
"Are you kidding?" Twilight questioned, pulling a copy off the rack. "The villains are where it's at! My favorite has always been Two-Mane. She has two very contrasting personalities in one body."
"I haven't been one for the villains," Applejack argued. "I've always liked the red-maned Batfilly. That one was always my favorite incarnation of the character. She's full of so much energy, and ready to put up a fight!"
"I think Poison Joke has always been my favorite villain when I was reading them with you, RD," Fluttershy piped up. "She doesn't directly fight the villains, but uses her plants. And she cares so much for the environment."
"I don't know what you guys see in them!" Pinkie chimed in, as usual. "Harlequin is where it's at! Though she may be a sidekick to a more serious threat, she always is a good laugh, and she packs a punch with that hammer!"
"Serious?" Fire Twilight joined in on the conversation. "Who said anything about that villain being serious? The Prankster may be a real threat to Gothamville, but he's in no way serious. He takes pranking and jokes to the extreme of them being dangerous! That's why I like him: he's a comically serious threat." I found a moment to swoop in, and pulling a copy off the rack, I explained, "My favorite has always been Catstallion. He's so dashing, even when he's a thief, and there is that romance he has with Batmare…"
"Oh, please!" RD scoffed. "That was just a thing from the newest incarnation! Everypony with common sense knows that Batmare is too awesome to need somepony to have a relationship with." Twilight turned to me, as if she had a brilliant idea. She did, and asked, "Hey, Doodledraw, I bet you could make a great comic book!" Backing up a little, I stuttered, "I…I-I don't know…"
"Oh, come on! You said you were going to take up writing, and you're already a great drawer. This would be the perfect chance to combine those both to do this!" She was right; I would be good at making a graphic novel. I told them, "Gotta go!" and ran to the park, hoping there would be a good idea for a superhero there.
"This is impossible!" I groaned, getting no good ideas after an hour of sitting on a park bench. My whole thought process stopped when I saw Twilight sitting on the bench next to me. She had magical abilities that were close to surpassing the Princesses, and a supernatural superhero would be perfect!
I headed back to my house, and started writing a script for the comic. Before I could draw anything, I knew I had to write out a script for how the comic would be laid out. This, I guessed, would be a story of how Twilight's powers came to be, and she needed a rival with…somepony. I'd think of that part later.
Narrator: The city of Canterlot: A place where crime is on the rise, and the world is in desperate need of a hero. Ever since Nightmare Moon's takeover, night has loomed over the city forever and the ruler has stepped down. But where is this mysterious hero? Perhaps he or she could even still be in school…
(The Canterlot School for Unicorns' cafeteria is packed.)
Twilight: ARGH! This mid-term is impossible!
(Zoom in on Trixie and Twilight. Trixie is eating her lunch, while Twilight is taking the rest of her exam.)
Trixie: Don't be so stressed about it. You always get good grades. Besides, it's your own fault since you get the advanced exam.
Twilight: But the magical tests were the easiest. It's just the written test that makes me nervous…
(Trixie sighs, leaving her friend behind to finish the test. Later, Twilight and Trixie come running out of the school, Twilight holding the test with her magic.)
Trixie: Are you going to give that to the teacher tomorrow?
Twilight: Yep! All ready for tomorrow! (As Trixie walks away, Twi puts the test in her saddlebag, only for the wind to pick up and grab it. Her magic slips and it blows through the wind, leading Twi to run and follow it throughout the city. She finally finds it in an alleyway, and grabs it before it can get away again. The teen mare notices a shadow that looms over her.)
Celestia: Leaving so soon?
(The figure comes out of the shadows, showing itself to be an allicorn mare that looks like Princess Celestia, only the same size as a regular pony, and having a pink mane.)
Twilight: (gasp) You…you're…
Celestia: The former Princess Celestia, yes. My sister has stolen my power, and now only you can defeat her.
Twilight: How do you know it must be me?
Celestia: I have watched your magic from afar. I used to have power like it, long ago when Luna and I were young. Now, that Nightmare Moon has taken over, I have little to no power left. I want you to fight for everypony's freedom.
Twilight: I… (thinking:) This is a very generous offer. Heck, it's from the pony who probably made most of these spells up. (out loud:) I accept your offer!
Celestia: Very good. (narrating while Twilight trains) This training will help you take on the crime that you will face. Unfortunately, you must also hide your identity. Nightmare Moon mustn't know who you are. (done narration, and gives an adult Twilight a costume.) Wear this from now on. Today, you fight crime and start your second life as…Blackbird.
(Meanwhile, at Nightmare Moon's Castle, an adult Trixie, who has just graduated from The Canterlot School for Unicorns, comes in.)
Trixie: You requested me, your majesty?
Nightmare: Yes…it appears my top student has dropped out, and you were second to her.
Trixie: It's a shame Twilight had to leave. But, why did she, your majesty?
Nightmare: I didn't find any good reason for her to drop out, especially with her perfect grades. That is why I need you. I want you to spy on your so-called "friend." If that isn't enough to satisfy you, I'll pay you a handsome reward if you bring her back.
Trixie: You…have my word, my liege.
(Later, Twilight aka Blackbird is overlooking the city with Celestia.)
Blackbird: You never told me, in all my years of training, why your sister rose to power.
Celestia: Ah, I promised myself I'd tell you once you were ready. Well…now you are… (story is told with pictures as she tells it) My sister and I ruled for a few months after a tyrant's reign. She went dark, and was infected by the changelings, leaving only hatred and a hollow shell of her former self. I tried to banish her to the Moon, but I…couldn't will myself to do it. I put her in a magic-proof dungeon, hoping she wouldn't get out. It was only a hundred years ago that she drained my power, leaving me a normal mare, and took over as ruler of Equestria.
Blackbird: So you've been searching all this time for the perfect pony to become a vigilante for the poor and innocent?
Celestia: I have found a hoof-full, but only you have proved the most magical and capable. All others were caught by Nightmare while I was training them.
(A siren is heard by both Blackbird and Celestia.)
Celestia: Looks like this is your first trial. Put on that hood and mask. And remember, nopony must know who you are.
(Blackbird puts her hood over her face and jumps from rooftop to rooftop. Soon, the robbers, a bunch of dragons, have looted a good portion of the jewelry.)
Red Dragon: We'll never starve with this much loot! (nudges Spike) Thanks for telling us about this place, kid. I can't believe you were able to get an inside source to here!
Spike: W-well, I used to be an assistant to a dress-maker, but...she had other interests…
(Blackbird arrives on the scene, teleporting in.)
Blackbird: I don't think she'd like to see you devolve to a life of crime.
(The gang of dragons laughs at her.)
Red Dragon: Wh-what are you supposed to be?!
Blackbird: Your worst nightmare. (She starts chanting something unintelligible, her eyes glowing with light. She then hits the dragons with a bolt of energy, which misses them, but they are still terrified.)
Red Dragon: Guys, I think we better run!
(The others quickly nod, and run away, leaving Spike behind. Blackbird offers the baby dragon a hoof, to which he accepts and gets back up on his feet.)
Blackbird: We better get out of here; I don't want them thinking you're a thief or anything!
Spike: Nopony has ever cared about me before, not even at the Canterlot School for Unicorns.
Blackbird: Come, let's get you to a nice house.
(The two walk away, only to reveal Trixie is watching from afar. The dragons from the raid are there too.)
Red Dragon: So that's why you wanted us looting the place? Just so you can spy on this nut-job?
Trixie: Foals! That nut-job is my best friend is a disguise! I'll just have to rival her for the glory, and make sure her powers never see the light of day again! (Evil laughter)
Narrator: Is Twilight's new identity safe? Will Spike turn from a life of crime once again? Will Trixie threaten Blackbird as the city's hero? Read on to the next issue of Blackbird to find out!
I had just finished up the script for the first edition when Rainbow Dash came in. She greeted, "Hi, DD, just wondering how the superhero comic was doing."
"It's doing great, actually. I've got my first superhero and a rival to her."
"You know, I was wondering…since I've done some hero work in the past-!"
"You want to be in the comic, don't you?" RD got right next to me, and on her knees, pleaded, "Please? I promise not to be some glory-hog who has, like, a bunch of powers! Just give me flight, and speed, and of course, my Sonic Rainboom!" I laughed, "Of course, of course," and started on the script for my second superhero.
Narrator: In the eternal night that is Equestria, a new hero arises, one of light. Born in an average Pegasus town of Cloudsdale, this young mare fights for truth, justice, and the good of all ponies! She is…The Spectrum!
(Rainbow Dash comes out of the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, after another day of work.)
Boss: RD! Good thing I caught you just as you came out!
RD: What's the haps, sir?
Boss: Actually, I have very bad news. Your division, the Rainbow-Making Studio, is being shut down by the queen. I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash, but you've been fired.
(Her boss leaves, giving RD a lot to think about at home.)
Rainbow Dash: I don't get it. Even though it's been eternal night for about a century, the moonlight is enough to give off each individual color when we need them! There must be something more to this than I thought…
(She puts on her Spectrum costume, and flies off to the Weather Factory. When she arrives, she sees her boss talking to a mysterious figure. She overhears their conversation.)
Boss: What do you mean, "This isn't enough money to pay"?
Gilda: Sorry, but you're going to need more than just one bag of bits to pay up.
Boss: I fired a whole group of workers just to get enough money to pay! Please, just take it!
Gilda: You obviously don't know how it works: You give the griffins money and we provide…protection for the company and its workers. If you don't, that protection goes away…with your life.
(The Spectrum waits until the griffins have left, and comes in, scaring her boss.)
Boss: Oh! Spectrum! I didn't know you were here!
The Spectrum: First of all, it's THE Spectrum, and I'm here to help you get out of your run with the Griffin mob.
Boss: But…they're the only protection I have from Queen Nightmare shutting down this place!
(The Spectrum points a hoof to his chest.)
The Spectrum: I will protect any place where justice is needed, and that includes this factory. I'll make sure the horrible ruler Nightmare Moon doesn't lay a single hoof on this place, because weather is needed, night or day.
(The Spectrum flies off, seeing the griffins in the distance. With her speed, she catches up to them.)
The Spectrum: Hey! The owner of the Weather Factory would like me to say something!
Gilda: And just what would that be?
(The Spectrum punches her in the face, knocking her unconscious, and sending her falling towards earth.)
The Spectrum: He wants his money back! (looks at the other griffins) Anyone else up for hearing a message from my boss?
(The griffins quickly disband, leaving a sack of money falling towards earth, which The Spectrum quickly grabs.)
The Spectrum: (laughs) Thought so!
Narrator: And once again, the town of Cloudsdale is saved again, thanks to The Spectrum!
Applejack came in just as I wrote the superhero's name down, and she looked at RD in utter rage. She exclaimed, "Ugh! I thought I would be able to get here before you had a bad idea runnin' in here!" The light blue mare turned her attention to the intruder, and exclaimed back, "Hey! DD thought it was a good idea since I've actually done hero work in the past!"
"'Hero work'? More like publicity stunt! If you remember, I became Mare Do-Well and saved that cart from fallin' off a cliff!" I put myself between the two arguing ponies and shouted, "Girls!" I turned to AJ and explained, "I'll make a superhero for you, a strong-willed, fast-roping pony. Sound good?" The orange mare nodded quickly, and came over to my desk while a still-irritated Rainbow left.
Narrator: In the darkened town of Ponyville, there lives a generational family of superheroes, each mare of the generation taking on the persona of the Pink Lady, a fierce protector for the city. But when one generation's parents mysteriously disappear, a young mare named Applejack must take on the persona and the creed: the protect all that live in Ponyville, and to keep its citizens pure, truthful, and living in harmony!
(Two mysterious figures bring in a large weapon.)
Flim: Is everything on the super-weapon good to go?
Flam: Yeah, fire this thing up and see if she arrives. Well take her on in hoof-to-hoof combat when she arrives.
(Flim pulls the lever and a part of the machine starts tearing into the side of a building with an axe-like blade. The ponies inside start screaming.)
Flim: I thought you said this place was dilapidated!
Flam: I say a lot of things.
(Meanwhile, at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack is gearing up for another long night of being the Pink Lady, her younger sister arguing with her.)
AJ: Applebloom, I'm not letting you go with me to watch over the town. You're too young.
Applebloom: You've been saying that for the past 6 years! I told you, I'm not a baby anymore! I can handle this!
AJ: Applebloom…we've been over this before. The first-born mare of each generation takes on the job of being the Pink Lady. Under no accounts must the Pink Lady have a sidekick-!
Applebloom: In fear of being discovered, I know. I just really want to help you out. I have a feeling that tonight, you may not be able to handle the heat alone.
AJ: Sister, I've been able to handle monsters ten times my size, not to mention the Parasprites, so I'm sure I can take whatever I'm thrown tonight.
(Applejack puts on her pink hat and mask and goes off to protect the town. Applebloom sighs, and looks off as her older sister runs into the night. Soon, Flim and Flam have taken a good chunk of the building from before out.)
Flim: Is this "Pink Lady" going to show up sometime soon?
Flam: I hope. I don't want chopping down this building to turn out to be a waste of time.
(Pink Lady arrives just as the building is about to fall.)
Pink Lady: WHAT IN TARNATION IS GOING ON?!
(Pink Lady runs to the falling building, and with a powerful apple-buck, prevents that part of the building from falling. As ponies cheer from inside, the Pink Lady is almost hit by the mace part of the machine. She quickly pulls out a rope and latches onto the thing before its pulled away, and when it swings back up, she lets go, sending her to be right in-between the two villains.)
Pink Lady: Alright, (she starts twirling a rope in the air) which one of y'all should I tie up first?
Flim: Well, I don't know, maybe you should tell us which one of those Apples you are out of the ones we rightly beat.
Pink Lady: Wh-what?
(In this moment of confusion, Flam punches her in the head, knocking her out. Meanwhile, back at Sweet Apple Acres, Applebloom and Big Macintosh are waiting for AJ to come back.)
Applebloom: Big Mac, I'm worried. Applejack's never stayed out this late before! I just had a feeling something bad was going to happen tonight! I just knew it!
Big Mac: Your Granny Smith had the same type of foresight. She called it the "Gitchy," and no matter what, she was always right; Even about her hip getting busted up. Too bad your sister doesn't have it.
Applebloom: I've gotta save my sister! Something tells me she's in big trouble!
(She quickly takes off a red table sheet and fashions a skirt and mask, and turns her bow into a bandana. She heads off before Big Mac can say a word in his defense. Soon, Pink Lady wakes up, first seeing her two captors.)
Pink Lady: What do you want? Why do you think you know my identity?
Flim: We were hired by somepony top-secret, saying that you know a mare by the name of Blackbird, isn't that right?
Pink Lady: I'm not telling you twins anything!
Flam: But…we have you tied up in your own Rope of Truth! It guarantees that you be honest no matter what question we ask!
Pink Lady: Ha! Not if that pony is already an honest soul!
(Applebloom is her superhero persona sneaks up to the machine. She looks to see Flim and Flam about to threaten Applejack.)
Flim: Well, maybe if you won't tell us, we'll just have to make you!
(Applebloom leaps up.)
Applebloom: Not if I can help it!
(The two brothers turn around to see her as Pink Lady gasps at seeing her sister.)
Flam: And just who are you supposed to be?
Applebloom: I'm… (she assesses her outfit over to pick an appropriate name.) …Red Gala! And I'm here to save Pink Lady!
(She kung-fu kicks Flam, knocking him out, and throws a Zap Apple straight into her sister's mouth.)
Pink Lady: A Zap Apple! (She takes a bite out of it, and with her new-found strength, pulls the rope apart.) These things are great for getting out of a sticky situation!
(She punches Flim in the face and grabs him by the collar.)
Pink Lady: Alright, who's this top-secret source you're supposed to be working for?
Flim: We'd never tell! She said she'd slit our throats if we did!
(Pink Lady puts him back down and ties him up with regular rope next to his knocked-out brother.)
Red Gala: We're just going to leave them here?
Pink Lady: Hopefully, these foals have learned their lesson and will go back to the sorry place they came from.
(The two heroes run back to Sweet Apple Acres. After they have left, Trixie comes from behind a building, and climbs the machine to meet up with Flim.)
Trixie: You let her escape!?
Flim: We couldn't get any information out of her, and those Zap Apples made her strong. Now we kept our end of the deal. Give us our payment!
Trixie: I pay you for information, not if you do your job or not!
(She leaves, keeping Flim tied up and Flam unconscious.)
Narrator: How is Trixie tied in with these events? Why is she employing these villains to do her dirty work? And will she ever find out that Blackbird is her own friend? Find out soon in the next issue of…The Pink Lady!
Finished with the story, which had a nice tie-in to the Blackbird one, I guided Applejack to the door. A few minutes after I had started a drawing of the three, Spike came in. He greeted, "Hey, Doodledraw."
"Hi, Spike. Why are you here?" I was quick to ask.
"Well, the girls were talking all about how much they liked how you portrayed them in your comic, and I was wondering if I could be in one?" He walked over to my desk as I answered, "Yes, of course! I was actually going to have you be an assistant to Blackbird, Twilight's superhero alter-ego, but I'm sure you can come along for the ride."
"Hey, DD, are you going to make yourself a superhero?"
"What, no! That would be weird. I mean, what power would she have, the ability to draw things into existence? That may be great, but it seems a little…powerful. Even superheroes need weaknesses." After saying that, I began writing a script for Spike's superhero into existence.
Narrator: In Canterlot, they're rises a hero, Blackbird! With her loyal assistant Spike, they fight the dangers and evils of the city. But, Spike has a haunting past that not even the years can let go. What happened? Who is this dress-maker he used to work for? How does he seem to know Twilight before they met? Find out in The Secret Origin of Spike!
(At Canterlot School for Unicorns, about 15 years ago: Trixie is taking her entrance exam. The teacher rolls in a cart with a dragon egg on it.)
Trixie: So all I have to do to be accepted into this school is crack this thing?
(The teacher simply nods, and Trixie fires up her horn, which with a few seconds of focus, cracks it open, showing a cute baby dragon.)
Trixie: Aw, he's kinda cute! Do I get to keep him as a pet?
Teacher: Sorry, you can't; he belongs to the school. But, look on the bright side, you passed the exam!
(Trixie and the teacher leave the room, the teacher carrying the hatchling on her back. We then skip to a few years later, 5 years to be exact, and find Spike is working for the Royal Messenger Service.)
Spike: Let's see…I need to get this note to a Miss Sharp Wit by four…I forget where her room is…
(Spike is so distracted by reading the letter that he bumps into a purple unicorn, who is about 12 at the time.)
Spike: Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for you to lose your things!
Twilight: No, no! It's completely fine! Just a test to see what I've learned that I need to finish by tomorrow! No worries, kid!
Spike: Hey, as long as I don't accidentally burn up the letter, it's okay with me!
(Twi holds out a hoof for Spike to shake.)
Twilight: I'm Twilight Sparkle.
Spike: I'm Spike, Royal Messenger.
Narrator: The two became fast friends afterwards, but Twilight quickly became caught up in… "important matters" outside of school, and Spike is caught in over his head.
(Spike is in the throne room of the castle, Nightmare Moon casting an angry glare at him.)
Nightmare: Spike, I'm afraid that you have made fast friends with Twilight Sparkle, probably the most promising student we've had.
Spike: Yes! I really like hanging out with her once my shift is over and-!
(Nightmare holds up a hoof to silence him.)
Nightmare: It is concerning to see you become friends with her, because we fear the sadness of both of you once you'll be taken away.
Spike: Wait, what?!
Nightmare: You realize you will not remain this height forever. You will grow until not even this castle can contain you. That's why we only use baby dragons and messenger ponies anymore. I'm sorry, Spike, but…if you want to maintain a friendship with her, you have to quit your job.
Spike: F...Fine! As long as I can be with her!
(Spike leaves and walks down the corridor to the school.
Spike: (thinking) I'll never get a job now…nopony would ever hire a dragon to help them…
(Spike bumps into a white unicorn, who drops some of the fabric she's holding once she hits him.)
Rarity: Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't see where I was headed over the fabric pile and…wow…I've never seen a dragon quite like you before.
Spike: Yeah, yeah, make fun of the messenger outfit. Like I'll be wearing it for long…
Rarity: Why? What happened?
Spike: I made friends with this student at the school and they wouldn't let me remain with her because I had to leave my job once I grew older, so I quit.
Rarity: Well, that's just terrible! Maybe…you could work with me! I could use an extra set of hooves-or claws as the case may be-at my boutique.
Spike: That sounds great!
Narrator: Spike became an assistant to Rarity for many years, helping her out with many assignments. It wasn't until the unicorn went on a solo mission to retrieve rare Ice Diamonds from Scandineighvia that he actually felt useless…
(Spike is at the Canterlot Boutique, pacing worriedly.)
Spike: (thinking) I can't believe it…it's been more than a week. Rarity said this trip would take six days at the very most! (out loud) I hope she's okay…
(The door bursts open. Rarity comes in, wearing winter clothes from her hike up the mountains. She takes off a saddlebag filled with gems.)
Spike: Oh, good! You brought extras for my sna-!
(Rarity pulls out a hoof to stop him from grabbing them.)
Rarity: Sorry, Spike, but…I'm going to need these gems for my next few design projects. I'll be working on these alone.
Spike: But there's no possible way you can do that! I live here as well as work here.
Rarity: Spike…I think there's something we need to talk about… You see, I think I realized why the Queen didn't let you stay long, besides your relationship with Twilight. I won't be able to handle you once you become older. I'm sorry, Spike, but…your wings have grown in, and your growing out of your old clothes…I'm sorry, Spike, but I can't handle you anymore.
(Spike, in furious silence, leaves the shop. He walks through the endless night, heading towards the castle.)
Spike: (thinking) She's right: I'll become a menace as I get older, like all those dragon gangs I hear about. I've been so busy trying to keep up with my job that I completely forgot about Twilight! After all these years, I'll finally get to see her!
(Spike gets to Twilight's dorm room, only to find it locked. In a bout of dragon strength, her knocks down the door, only to find the room empty and the only pony inside being the janitor.)
Spike: W-what happened? Where's Twilight?
Janitor: Sorry, kid, the unicorn who did have this room dropped out just a few days ago. She was a nice girl; shame you just missed her.
Narrator: With nowhere else to turn to, Spike joins a small dragon raid. With them, he plans to raid a jewelry store where the owner trusts him. It's already too late before the owner realizes it's a trap.
(The dragons leave with a good portion of the jewelry.)
Red Dragon: We'll never starve with this much loot! (nudges Spike) Thanks for telling us about this place, kid. I can't believe you were able to get an inside source to here!
Spike: W-well, I used to be an assistant to a dress-maker, but...she had other interests…
(Blackbird arrives on the scene, teleporting in.)
Blackbird: I don't think she'd like to see you devolve to a life of crime.
(The gang of dragons laughs at her.)
Red Dragon: Wh-what are you supposed to be?!
Blackbird: Your worst nightmare. (She starts chanting something unintelligible, her eyes glowing with light. She then hits the dragons with a bolt of energy, which misses them, but they are still terrified.)
Red Dragon: Guys, I think we better run!
(The others quickly nod, and run away, leaving Spike behind. Blackbird offers the baby dragon a hoof, to which he accepts and gets back up on his feet.)
Blackbird: We better get out of here; I don't want them thinking you're a thief or anything!
Spike: Nopony has ever cared about me before, not even at the Canterlot School for Unicorns.
Blackbird: Come, let's get you to a nice house.
(The two walk back to Twilight's new house, and both sit down in the living room.)
Blackbird: You know, you remind me of a dragon I used to know as a friend. He was kind, helpful, friendly…he'd hate to see what dragons have come to doing nowadays.
Spike: Well, I'm sure he didn't mean to devolve to it. I mean, if he had to.
Blackbird: I feel like I should trust you. No need for this anymore.
(She takes off her hood and mask, revealing herself to be Twilight. Spike gasps at the sight.)
Spike: Twilight?!
Twilight: Spike?!
(The two hug, both starting to tear up)
Narrator: After many years of trials and separation, the two will finally become a dynamic duo of both magical and physical strength.
I looked at the sun that was setting in the distance, and told Spike, "I think you should be heading back to the library right about now. Spike looked and nodded. He soon headed out, leaving me to revise some things in the story.
After I looked all four stories over, I started to draw three ponies and a dragon that would be the superhero team of Equestria. It just needed a name. I couldn't think of one, so I headed to bed. I finally thought of something: Equestria's Elite Eight, but realized I was about four short.