As the bright light faded, they found themselves in a quaint village, surrounded by peculiar residents who paid them no mind, going about their day with cheerful, content expressions. The air was filled with the soft clip-clop of hooves and the gentle murmur of conversations.
WordGirl's face lit up with a blend of shock and delight, her eyes widening in disbelief as though she had just stumbled upon a paradise.
"Oh my gosh…" she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. Her gaze darted around, taking in the vibrant, pastel-colored world. "We're in a world full of PONIES!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement as she jumped into the air, unable to contain her joy. Nearby ponyfolk turned their heads, curious about the sudden outburst.
"OMG! This is AMAZING! Oh! Look at how adorable they all are!" Inez exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she took in the charming, pastel-colored world around them. The vibrant colors and cheerful atmosphere seemed to resonate with her, making her smile even brighter. "Isn't this place just perfect?"
"Oh, absolutely! It's a real dream come true—smells like cupcakes and rainbows," Stewie quipped sarcastically, rolling his eyes as he crossed his arms in distain.
"You know, if Aviva and Koki were here, they'd probably be over the moon with this place!" Chris Kratt chimed in, his tone lighter as he imagined their friends' reactions.
"Yeah… if they were here with us," Martin Kratt murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness. His normally upbeat demeanor faltered, and his gaze drifted downward.
Chris Kratt nodded slowly, sharing his brother's worry. "I just hope they're okay, wherever they might be," he added quietly, his tone subdued with unease.
Noticing the shift in mood between the Kratt brothers, Digit quickly tried to lift their spirits. "Hey, don't worry," he said, his wings giving a reassuring flutter. "I'm sure they're doing okay. Once we find all the crystals, we'll be able to bring them back," he continued, his voice a mix of optimism and determination.
"Speaking of which, where exactly are we? Does the remote say anything?" Matt asked, his curiosity piqued as he surveyed the surrounding pony inhabitants.
Stewie, still tinkering with the remote, let out a sigh of frustration. "Yeah, yeah, it's working on it," he muttered, tapping the device with a mix of impatience and irritation. "It's just taking its sweet time to figure this place out. Must be the lack of advanced technology—or maybe it's the overwhelming amount of sugar in the air," he added with a smirk, his sarcasm cutting through his annoyance.
"Well, while we wait for the remote to load, why don't we ask around? Maybe someone here can help us," Jackie suggested.
"Good idea. How about we start with her?" Chris pointed to a nearby earth pony with a light pink coat and a dark pink mane, her flank adorned with a trio of balloons. The pony was happily bouncing up and down, as if she were on an invisible trampoline.
"Excuse me, hi there! I hope I'm not interrupting, but my friends and I are new here, and we were wondering if you could—" But before Jackie could finish her sentence, the earth pony caught sight of her, eyes widening in surprise. She abruptly stopped mid-bounce, gasping as if she had seen a ghost, and then darted away at lightning speed.
"Wait! Please come back; I didn't mean to startle you!" Jackie called after the fleeing pony, but her voice was lost in the lively, colorful crowd as the pony disappeared from sight.
"Well, that went well," Peter quipped with a hint of sarcasm, hoping to ease the tension.
"Don't worry, Jackie. It wasn't your fault," Martin reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "She just seemed startled, that's all."
"I know, but I didn't mean to scare her. Really, I didn't!" Jackie insisted, her voice trembling with concern.
"Well, while we wait for the remote to figure things out, why don't we ask around? Maybe someone here can help us," Jackie suggested, looking around hopeful.
"Good idea. How about we start with her?" Chris pointed to a nearby earth pony with a light pink coat and a bouncy, dark pink mane. Her flank was adorned with a trio of balloons, and she seemed to be bouncing on an invisible trampoline, radiating joy with every leap.
"Excuse me, hi there! I hope I'm not interrupting, but my friends and I are new here, and we were wondering if you could—" Jackie began, her voice friendly and polite. But before she could finish, the earth pony spotted her, her eyes widening in shock. She froze mid-bounce, gasping as if she had seen a ghost, and then bolted away at lightning speed.
"Wait! Please come back; I didn't mean to startle you!" Jackie called out, her voice filled with concern as she watched the pony vanish into the lively, colorful crowd.
"Well, that went smoothly," Peter quipped with a hint of sarcasm, trying to lighten the mood.
"Don't worry, Jackie. It wasn't your fault," Martin Kratt reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I know, but I didn't mean to scare her. I really didn't!" Jackie insisted, her voice trembling.
"Why don't we focus on the task at hand? Stewie, what did you find out?" Matt asked, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
"According to the remote, we're in a place called Equestria," Stewie began, glancing at the screen. "It's home to various mythical species like Earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, alicorns—which are a mix of the three—and other creatures like dragons, zebras, and griffons."
"Fascinating! So, I have magical pony relatives? That explains a lot," Peter mused, half-jokingly.
"You know, this place reminds me of a show I used to watch—Pretty Princess and Magic Pony. I wonder if they have their own princess," WordGirl replied, her curiosity piqued.
"Apparently, Equestria is ruled by an alicorn princess named Celestia, who controls the sun. Her sister, Luna, raises the moon," Stewie continued, reading off the remote's data.
"Wow, so the remote actually tells you everything about the world you're in!" Matt exclaimed, impressed.
"It is pretty fascinating," Inez agreed, "But how does it gather all that information?"
"Well, that's the thing. Sometimes it's oddly specific, and other times, it's frustratingly vague," Stewie explained, frowning slightly as he examined the device.
"Anyway, since we're already here, what's our next move?" Digit asked.
I'm not entirely sure," Stewie admitted, "but I have this strange feeling that maybe we're meant to be here."
"What makes you say that?" Martin Kratt asked, intrigued.
"Well, think about it. Out of all the possible worlds we could've landed in, we find ourselves here, in Equestria," Stewie said thoughtfully. "Then again, it could just be a coincidence, and I'm probably overthinking it," he added with a shrug, trying to dismiss the notion.
"Even if we're meant to be here, what exactly are we supposed to look for?" WordGirl questioned, her brow furrowed in thought.
"Don't worry, I'm sure whatever it is, you'll find it. Who knows, maybe the answer is right in front of you!" a cheerful voice chimed in, cutting through their discussion. They turned to see the same pink-coated pony from earlier, her flank still adorned with the trio of balloons.
"Uh, who…" WordGirl began, but the pony quickly interrupted.
"Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie! It's so nice to meet you! Welcome to Ponyville!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, her words tumbling out at lightning speed. "I've never seen any of you here before, and I've met everypony in Ponyville already. And by the way, I don't think I've ever seen… whatever you're supposed to be around here before," she added with a giggle, her excitement bubbling over.
"Um, I hate to interrupt, but could you slow down a bit?" Jackie asked politely, trying to keep up with Pinkie's rapid speech.
"Okie dokie! I'll start over from the beginning!" Pinkie Pie chirped, gearing up for another speedy explanation.
"Alright, alright! Skip the chit-chat! Didn't you say you know how to help us?" Stewie interrupted, his patience running thin.
"Huh? No, what makes you think that?" Pinkie replied, blinking innocently.
"Well, the way you were talking earlier, it sounded like you had some insider information or something," Stewie said, his tone skeptical.
"Insider information? What are you talking about? All I said was that whatever it is you're looking for, I'm sure you'll find it!" Pinkie Pie clarified with a cheerful smile.
"Yeah, but... you know what, nevermind. What do you want?" Stewie sighed.
"Oh, I just wanted to say hi and welcome you to Ponyville! You all look like you're from out of town, and I LOVE making new friends!" Pinkie explained with a bright, cheerful smile.
"Well, we appreciate the warm welcome, but we actually have some important matters to attend to," Stewie replied, trying to keep things on track.
"Aww, that's okay! But before you go, would you like to meet my friends over at Sweet Apple Acres?" Pinkie offered eagerly.
"Friends? As in other ponies?" WordGirl's eyes lit up with interest. "Sure, we'd love to meet them!"
"I suppose it couldn't hurt to make some new acquaintances," Chris added, nodding in agreement.
Stewie sighed, relenting. "Alright, I guess while we're here, we might as well."
"Yay!" Pinkie Pie cheered, her enthusiasm bubbling over as she began leading them toward the outskirts of town. Her energy was infectious, and before they knew it, they were all following her with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
...
The group followed Pinkie Pie along a winding path through rolling hills dotted with trees, the sun casting a warm glow over the landscape. As they approached Sweet Apple Acres, the scent of fresh apples filled the air, and the rhythmic sound of hooves working the fields echoed nearby.
WordGirl could barely contain her excitement, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the vibrant scenery. Birds chirped overhead, and a gentle breeze carried the sweet smell of apples across the farm. She inhaled deeply, a grin spreading across her face.
"Isn't this place exciting? We're actually in a world filled with ponies!" she whispered excitedly to Inez, her voice brimming with energy.
Inez chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I will admit, it is cool and all, but remember, we've got a mission to focus on."
"Ugh, If I have to hear one more 'Yay!' out of you or that pink horse, and I'll lose what's left of my sanity," Stewie muttered, his patience wearing thin with their unrelenting energy.
"Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres!" Pinkie Pie announced with a joyful bounce as they reached the large red barn at the heart of the farm. "This is where my friend Applejack lives! I told everypony to meet us here!"
As they approached the barn, a group of colorful ponies were gathered. A purple alicorn stood in the center, engaged in conversation with the others. She had a kind, yet regal aura surrounding her. Beside her, stood a small purple dragon with big eyes and green scales along his back.
The other ponies introduced themselves—Applejack with her Southern drawl, Rainbow Dash with her cocky swagger, Rarity with her elegant demeanor, and Fluttershy with a soft, shy greeting. Pinkie Pie, of course, had already made her grand introduction.
The purple alicorn—Twilight Sparkle—turned to greet the newcomers with a warm smile. "Hello there! Pinkie Pie told us that you would be coming. It's great to meet you all!" She said, her voice kind and welcoming.
"Wow! First a talking dog, and now, real talking ponies," Matt said amusingly to himself. "This is... kinda surreal."
"Well, any friend of Pinkie's is a friend o' mine!" Applejack said warmly, tipping her hat in greeting.
"If you don't mind me asking," Rarity added with a curious glance, "what exactly brings you all here? It's not every day we have visitors from… well, shall we say, unique species."
WordGirl, practically vibrating with excitement, stepped forward, unable to contain herself. "We're here because of something really important! My friends and I are on a mission to stop the villains from finding these powerful crystals. They want to take over the Multiverse!"
"Whoa, hold on a sec," Rainbow Dash interrupted, hovering in midair with her wings flapping. "Multiverse? Crystals? Villains? What are you talking about?"
"This sounds like a really wild story, are you sure this is real?" Spike asked skeptically.
Inez shook her head seriously. "It's real, trust us. There's this villain named Hacker, and he's teamed up with others like him. They're searching for four crystals, and if they find them all, they'll be able to control every world in existence."
"They've already taken over our worlds—Cyberspace and Earth. Who knows where they're headed next!" Chris Kratt added, his tone tense with worry.
"I'm concerned they might already be in our world as we speak!" Stewie chimed in, clearly on edge.
"Hold on, are you saying you're not from Equestria?" Rainbow Dash asked, cocking her head in confusion.
Stewie's patience snapped. "WE'RE YOU EVEN PAYING ATTENTION?" He yelled. Then, catching himself, he took a deep breath and sighed. "You know what? Just forget it." He shook his head, visibly calming down.
"Hold on a second. You mentioned that these villains are traveling across different worlds searching for powerful crystals, right?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she began pacing thoughtfully. "By any chance, do they use any strange metal creatures?"
"Metal creatures?" Stewie repeated, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Applejack chimed in. "We've been get'n reports about these weird metal critters causing trouble all over Equestria—kidnapping innocent ponies and stirring up all kinds of trouble."
Martin's eyes widened. "Wait... you don't think—"
"ZACHBOTS!" Chris exclaimed, his voice filled with sudden realization.
"Zachbots?" Rarity asked, confused.
"I'm guessing those belong to Hacker and the other villains?" Spike added, glancing at the group for confirmation.
"Exactly!" Matt replied, his tone serious. "Zach uses these bots to do all his dirty work. If they're here, then it means the villains are definitely close."
"And if they're here, that means the Second Crystal might be here as well!" Digit added.
Twilight frowned, her wings fluttering slightly in thought. "This is worse than I thought. If they're here, that means they might want to take over Equestra as well!"
"Well, we're not just gonna sit around and let them take over!" Rainbow Dash declared confidently, hovering in the air with a determined look. "We'll help you stop them and find that crystal before they do!"
"Absolutely!" Rarity added, her eyes narrowing. "We can't have such ruffians disturbing the peace of Equestria."
"It sounds so scary... but if you need help, we'll do whatever we can." Fluttershy quietly replied.
"Tomorrow, we'll head to Canterlot and inform Princess Celestia and the other princesses about this. If the villains are here, they need to know right away," Twilight explained.
"I'll start drafting a letter to them, explaining the situation!" Spike eagerly volunteered. "Maybe we could split up—while some of us go to Canterlot, the rest can search for the Second Crystal."
Stewie crossed his arms, surveying the ponies with a raised eyebrow. "Well, it's about time we got some competent help for a change."
"Do you really think we'll find the crystal here?" Martin Kratt asked, casting a glance at the Mane Six.
Twilight offered a reassuring smile. "If the Second Crystal is in Equestria, we'll find it together. We've handled our fair share of threats before. We're stronger when we work as a team."
Applejack smiled confidently. "Y'all can count on us. Whatever you need, we're here to lend a hoof."
WordGirl grinned widely, still struggling to contain her excitement. This is going to be so cool! Ponies teaming up with us to save the multiverse!"
Stewie rolled his eyes. "Yeah, a bunch of magical horses teaming up with a bunch of kids, some Earth scientists, a superhero, and a bumbling idiot. What could be better?"
Peter, completely missing Stewie's tone, clapped Stewie on the back with a grin. "Hey, don't be so hard on yourself! You can do anything if you just put your mind to it!"
Applejack glanced around at the group, her smile warm and welcoming. "Well, y'all look like you could use some rest after all this excitement. Why don't ya stay the night at Sweet Apple Acres? We've got plenty of space in the barn."
The Cybersquad exchanged glances, "Thanks, Applejack," Matt said gratefully. "After all the traveling, some rest sounds pretty good."
"Yeah, we could all use some shut-eye," Chris Kratt added.
"Alright, fine," Stewie muttered. "But only because I refuse to sleep outside like some common peasant."
"Yeah, beats sleeping outside!" Peter added, patting his stomach. "Plus, maybe I can grab a bite of one of your famous apple pies I've heard about."
"You're more than welcome to some pie, sugarcube," Applejack chuckled. "C'mon, I'll show y'all to the barn."
...
Unbeknownst to the group, they were being watched by one of Zach's miniature spybots, which hovered silently near a window, hidden in the shadows of the orchard. The tiny machine then zipped away, disappearing into the darker depths of the apple trees, where Zach, Buzz, and Delete had set up camp. Earlier that day, the trio had been spying on the unsuspecting residents of Ponyville—and Equestria at large. When Zach caught wind of the Cybersquad being in town, he immediately ordered his spybot to find them and track their movements.
"Did you see that? Those Earth-kids are here too! They must be following us!" Buzz whispered excitedly.
"And they've made friends with those ponies!" Delete added, eyes widened. "But what do you think they're doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious, you Tin-Cans? They're here for the same reason we are—those crystals!" Zach shouted. "But fear not, they don't even know we're already here! And besides, I've got a plan that'll take care of them once and for all." He chuckled darkly. "By this time tomorrow, Equestra, the Elements of Harmony, and everything else in this world will be OURS!"
Buzz and Delete exchanged nervous glances, but nodded in agreement as Zach continued to cackle, confident that his scheme would go off without a hitch.
"Those Cybersquad fools think they stand a chance," Zach muttered, a smirk stretching across his face. "But they're about to find out they're way out of their league. Especially since we've got a few... friends helping us out now."
Buzz's eyes widened. "You mean... them?"
"Uh, but boss... what if the Cybersquad finds out about the team-up?" Delete asked nervously, scratching his head.
Zach waved him off, unconcerned. "By the time they figure out what's going on, it'll be too late. They're already preparing the plan. We'll strike from all sides, and the Cybersquad won't know what hit them."
Buzz grinned, finally feeling the same excitement as Zach. "Yeah! With those three on our side, we'll wipe the floor with those goody-two-shoes ponies!"
"Exactly!" Zach said, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Tomorrow is the beginning of the end for them—and the start of our own rule!"