The Adventures of the Power Ponies
#25-The Power of Six-Part 3
The Masked Matterhorn and Hum Drum made their way into the Center Park Ring and stood there waiting. The costumed unicorn was still wrapping her mind around who could've sent that letter. Suddenly, they heard bushes rustling. They approached it and saw a mysterious pony figure coming out into the moonlight. Both the Matterhorn and Hum Drum were shocked to see a pony who was completely obscured by her full-body costume, a flowing cape, and a wide fedora.
"I don't believe it!" the Masked Matterhorn gasped. "It's the Mysterious Mare Do-Well, one of the most mysterious heroes in Equestria! What are you doing here?!"
The Mysterious Mare Do-Well extended her hoof to the left. The Matterhorn and Hum Drum looked and saw five burlap bags with moving things inside.
"How did we miss those?" Hum Drum asked.
The Masked Matterhorn turned to ask Mare Do-Well more, but the mysterious pony wasn't there anymore. All that was left are the hoofprints the left behind.
"How does she do that?" Hum Drum asked.
The Masked Matterhorn used her horn to untie all the bags at once. Suddenly, five familiar mares in costumes rolled right out. As soon as they saw the Masked Matterhorn, they gasped in shock.
"YOU!" They then looked at each other. "YOU?!"
"Marevelous!" Zapp growled angrily.
"Zapp!" Mistress Marevelous growled angrily.
"Filli-Second!" Saddle Rager growled angrily.
"Saddle Rager!" Filli-Second growled angrily.
"Marevelous!" Radiance growled angrily.
"Radiance!" Mistress Marevelous growled angrily.
"OKAY!" Zapp shouted. "I get it! We all have names!" She then turned her head to the Masked Matterhorn. "This is your idea, isn't it?"
"No!" the Masked Matterhorn denied. "I had no idea you were going to be here! The Mysterious Mare Do-Well just invited me!"
"She is right!" a male voice said. Suddenly, the Oracle was standing on top of a high rock. "Hello, again, Ms. Sparkle."
"The Oracle!" the Masked Matterhorn gasped.
"Whoa!" Hum Drum expressed. "So you're an Oracle, huh?"
"What did you expect?" the Oracle asked.
"I don't know; one of those black-and-white whales."
"That's orca."
"No, that's a leafy vegetable."
"That's okra."
"No, that's a talk-show host."
"That's Oprah."
"No, that's a stage play."
"That's opera."
"HEY!" Zapp shouted. "Would some pony mind telling me what is going on here?!"
"Well, like our purple unicorn friend here has been telling all of you," the Oracle explained, "She needs to team up with all of you to fight a great evil."
"NO WAY!" the five heroines shouted.
"Why not?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"Is it my breath?" Hum Drum asked. "Because I already ate Tic-Tacs today."
"It's not that, darling." Radiance said. "It's just that... well..."
"I'm not working with these four again!" Zapp shouted.
"Again?" the Masked Matterhorn asked confusingly. "What do you mean, again? Do you know each other?"
"Really, Ms. Sparkle, how could you be a superhero and not hear of these five?" the Oracle asked. "I'd like you to meet Filli-Second, Zapp, Mistress Marevelous, Radiance, and Saddle Rager, the Power Ponies!"
"Ex-Power Ponies, for your information." Mistress Marevelous added before sighing. "He's right. We did used to be a team. We were probably the best team in all of Equestria."
"Not counting the Wonderbolts, that is." Zapp said. "Just so you know."
"You used to be a team?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "What happened?"
"Differences here, feuds there." Saddle Rager explained.
"No fun anywhere." Filli-Second added.
"That's not what a team needs, is it?" Radiance asked. "And then came... that night.
A year and a half ago, the Power Ponies were in their common lair keeping tabs on Maretropolis. But then, they made the stupid decision as to turning on the radio and listening to the distorted voice on that frequency.
"We don't need the Power Ponies in our lives, do we?" That comment got all their attention. "Just look at them all. Filli-Second belongs in the party circuit, not in law enforcement. Saddle Rager is a time-bomb waiting to go off, and if she's not, she's too much of a chicken to do the real job. The only thing bigger than Zapp's storms is her ego. Radiance has to be the center of attention; that's why she wears that costume. And Mistress Marevelous... need I say more. This is the Purifier, and I say, support the Super Purification Act!"
The radio ended and the heroes looked at each other nervously.
"After that, we got into a big argument." Mistress Marevelous said. "One thing lead to another, and... we split up. I guess that deep inside, we knew the Purifier was right about us."
"Yeah." Zapp said. "I guess she's right too. After all, I dealt with my grief by signing autographs. I guess I do get a big head about myself."
"Look at yourselves." the Oracle said getting their attention. "No one said a team had to be perfect, but you were willing to put your prides ahead of your responsibilities. If you focus on what one pirate-radio host said about you and let it split you apart, then you really do need some improvement. I nominate the Masked Matterhorn and Hum Drum."
"Us?" the Masked Matterhorn and Hum Drum asked.
"Them?" the other heroes asked.
"Indeed." the Oracle said turning his head to the purple unicorn. "I said you needed a team to stop the great threat. Remember, the Dark Alicorn has already made her way back to Equestria, so she could make her move any time now. So I suggest to put your differences aside and work together one last time for the sake of Equestria. Once you do that, I promise the Purifier will never bother you or any other superhero again. What do you say?"
The superheroes looked at each other thinking hard about them. After a moment of thinking, Saddle Rager spoke.
"Um, if it's all right... I'm willing to rejoin the Power Ponies."
"Well..." Mistress Marevelous said, "I guess if Saddle Rager agrees, then so do I."
"Like I said," Zapp said. "I kinda miss being part of a team."
"Same here." Radiance agreed.
"Okie-dokie-lokie!" Filli-Second joined in.
"Well, Masked Matterhorn?" the Oracle asked. "If you agree to this, you'll become more than a team."
"What will we become?" the Masked Matterhorn asked.
"That is something you should learn on your own."
The Masked Matterhorn looked at the other ponies and smiled. "Let's do this."
Not long after, the Masked Matterhorn gave the situation to the rest of the Power Ponies, but even the danger in it didn't scare them (well, maybe Saddle Rager). They approached an abandoned tower that used to be the central lair for the Power Ponies. They opened it back up and decided to get Power Tower back in business.
"We didn't think this would happen
We've been apart for so long
I've never felt so happy to be wrong
There's a danger in our world
Must stop this evil threat
And now, all the pieces are already set
We're heroes reunited
Forever fight as one
Heroes reunited
Securing Equestria's future
Heroes reunited
We'll get the job done
Heroes reunited
Making our big comeback tour
We've been so separated
We forgot what we had
But back together, we are glad
Protest all you want
We will never go down
Watch out. The Power Ponies are back in town
We're heroes reunited
Forever fight as one
Heroes reunited
Securing Equestria's future
Heroes reunited
We'll get the job done
Heroes reunited
Making our big comeback tour
WE'RE HEROES REUNITED
FOREVER FIGHT AS ONE
HEROES REUNITED
SECURING EQUESTRIA'S FUTURE
HEROES REUNITED
WE'LL GET THE JOB DONE
HEROES REUNITED
MAKING OUR BIG COMEBACK TOUR"
Meanwhile, right outside of Maretropolis, a cave sheltered an Alicorn wearing a black-and-blue armor and bearing a blue, smoke-like mane and tail. She looked at Maretropolis and chuckled.
"My work starts tomorrow."
"Wow." the Masked Matterhorn said admiring the newly-refurbished lair of the Power Ponies. "This is amazing. I can't believe we got this place back up again."
"Yeah." Zapp said. "This place sure does bring back memories. Hey, Filli-Second, remember when we had our pets race across this room?"
"Do I ever?" Filli-Second replied. "But I still think the race was rigged."
"How can I rig a race with slow animals?" Zapp asked.
"I... I don't know." Filli-Second answered.
"All right." Mistress Marevelous said. "We got the team back. We got our tower back. Now, all that's left is to find this Dark Alicorn and stop her."
"And we've got to do it quickly." the Masked Matterhorn said. "The Oracle said that she'll make her move at any time. So... exactly what can any of you do?"
"My mind is connected to my rope." Mistress Marevelous explained.
"My necklace here allows me to control the weather." Zapp explained.
"I am fast." Filli-Second said.
"My bracelet here makes both a good accessory and a solid projection of whatever I can think of." Radiance said.
"Um..." Saddle Rager said, "My power kinda happens when I get mad. And it couldn't end well for anyone."
"Why?" Hum Drum asked. "What can she do?"
"You'll know it when we say 'brace for impact'." Zapp said.
Starlight Glimmer sighed as she entered her shampoo factory. She found a newspaper on the ground and picked it up. She widened her eyes when she saw the front cover.
"Power Ponies Return!"
"No!" Starlight growled as she stomped into the empty factory. "How can this possibly..." She stopped in her tracks and looked around the building. She didn't see any of her employees anywhere. "Hello? Is any pony here?"
Suddenly, Starlight saw something hit the floor right in front of her. She saw the pen and looked up to where it fell from. She gasped when she saw her workers tied up from the ceiling. They were all struggling to escape the green tendrils wrapped around them. As they struggled, a maniacal cackle echoed through the building.
"What the Celestia's name is going on here?" Starlight asked backing up. That was her mistake. She didn't see the green hoop until it was wrapped around her leg. A strong tug tripped the unicorn and she was dragged into the shadows. She tried to escape, but it was no use.
When she woke up, Starlight Glimmer tried to get up from her chair, but she felt that there was something weighing her down. She saw a lot of green tendrils wrapped around her and realized she couldn't budge. She looked around and saw she was inside her own office, but there were green tendrils connected to the ones tying her up. Starlight rubbed her hooves on the wrap and felt the texture.
"Is this... hair?" Starlight asked.
"Give the mare a prize!" a familiar mare's voice called out from the door. She chuckled as she brought herself into the light. Starlight gasped in fear when she saw a dark-purple mare with a pure green mane that moved around on its own. "Ding-dong. The witch is mine."
"What is this?" Starlight asked. "Who are you?"
"I'm so disappointed." the mare said. "Sure, my coltfriend's probably the only pony who knows I exist, but I'd think you'd recognize your most persistant employee, don't you think... boss?"
Starlight Glimmer squinted her eyes at her captor and widened them in surprise. "Green Locks?! What happened to you?"
"This could have been prevented, you know." Green Locks said. "All you had to do is give me and my fellow employees benefits. You wouldn't listen to our union. That's why I had to see what secrets you've been hiding. But while I was here, that light came down on the street and I fell. One thing led to another and... Bada-bing, bada-boom, kapow!"
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Starlight asked. "If you want to crush me, get it over with."
"True, I can easily pop you like a balloon," Green Locks said. "But where's the fun in that? No, I'm going to humiliate you and make sure justice is served. Do you know why I broke in here last night?"
"Didn't cross my mind." Starlight replied. "Were you hoping to get an early start on Donut Tuesday?"
"Actually, I was finding these!" Green Locks said throwing down a folder. The sight of it finally made Starlight Glimmer nervous and sweaty. "Inside here are daily planners, scheduled interviews, and scripts for a certain pirate radio program supporting the Super Purification Act. Starlight Glimmer... YOU'RE THE PURIFIER! Hmm... Since you were running an illegal radio show, I wonder how Celestia would react when she finds out who you really are."
"Who do you think she's going to believe?" Starlight Glimmer asked. "Anyone could've forged these papers. Besides, it's going to be the word of a maniac against mine."
"Maniac?" Green Locks asked. "Maniac?! ...Actually, that's not bad. In fact, it fits me completely. The Mane-iac! Beautiful! Poetic! What do you think?"
"I think you're about to get fitted for a straightjacket." Starlight said.
"No doubt you already hit the silent security alarm you have under your desk." the Mane-iac said. "Any minute now, the police will surround the place, and I'll be arrested, and you'll be free to do your superhero protests, and everyone will be singing and laughing and giggling like the Littlest Elf. A happy ending; is that what you had in mind? Tell me, since I'm going to be incarcerated, I want to know why you're against superheroes. One little thing for me before I get locked up, please?"
Starlight Glimmer thought for a moment and decided to answer. "You saw how I run a business here. The world will get along better without those super freaks showing off their powers. You think that you have the right to tie up me and my company just because you can? I'm the Purifier for a reason. All I have to do is speak the voice of reason."
The Mane-iac laughed loudly. "AND THEY SAY I'M THE CRAZY ONE! WHAT DEAD-PAN DELIVERY! YOU ARE HEE-HAW-LARIOUS!" She calmed down. "All joking aside, I have to say, you're right. If I told the public you're behind the Super Purification Act, no one would believe it unless you said it yourself. So..." She pulled out something from her mane that frightened Starlight: a tape recorder. "...Thank you for saying it. Now, once the police and a superhero or two find me, they'll also find your confession."
"This can't be!" Starlight gasped in terror. "All my work, ruined... by you! Look, I'll make you a deal. I'll give you all the days off you need!"
"Stop groveling, Starlight Glimmer." the Mane-iac scoffed. "It makes you look desperate. Trust me, this is for your own health."
"Green Locks," Starlight said, "If you pull of this stunt, you'll never be hired for a job again. What could you possibly have to gain from all this?"
"What do I have to gain?" the Mane-iac repeated. "Let me tell you, 'boss'.
"Even as a filly, I was always unseen
Now, look before your eyes. Evil is going green
For the first time ever, the ignoring will desist
Now, it's time...
It's time I become notiiiiiiiced
You've all been treating me like I'm invisible
Now, it's about time the world knows I'm invincible
My beauty reaches out and you can't resist
Now, it's time...
It's time I become notiiiiiiiced"
"That's right! It's time I become noticed! Hostages..."
Without hesitation, the employees tied to the ceiling began singing out of fear.
"She's got an envy for glory and fame
Now, she wants the world to know her name
She's changing the rules of the game
She will never be the same"
"FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, I FELT LIKE I DIDN'T EXIST," the Mane-iac sang,
"NOW, IT'S TIME...
IT'S TIME I BECOME NOTIIIIIICED
IT'S TIME I BECOME NOTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICED"
Meanwhile, in Power Tower, the Zapp had finally managed to turn the computers on. The machines hummed and vibrated.
"Hey, I got them working again." Zapp said.
"Wow, I'm surprised you managed to get the whole system working." the Masked Matterhorn said.
"Well, I don't want to brag," Zapp said, "But I did get a C+ on Engineering in my superhero school."
"That, and you remembered you had to plug it in." Mistress Marevelous pointed out.
"Ha, ha, go hogtie a barrel." Zapp snared.
"What are these lines?" the Hum Drum asked pointing at some moving lines on the screen.
"That happens to be a police frequency." Filli-Second explained. She approached the panel and put on a set of headphones. "Well, Squad 4 is enjoying a box of donuts, there's an emergency alarm set off in Glimmering Shampoo Company, and... someone's listening to hip-hop music? Must have picked it up by mistake."
"Wait, what?" the Masked Matterhorn asked. "An emergency in a shampoo company?"
"Well, if there's an emergency involving the police," Zapp said, "Then they're going to need a renewed group of superheroes to back up them up."
"It would be a good start to get back on our hooves." Saddle Rager said.
"Then it's settled." the Masked Matterhorn said. "Let's Power Pony up!"
"What?" everyone asked.
"We're heroes." the Matterhorn said. "I thought we'd need a catchphrase. Anyway, let's go!"