Hello, everypony. I am the Critique.

Let’s talk about one of the most popular superheroes all time, Superman.

Now, if any of you know me, Superman isn’t exactly one of my favorite superheroes of all time. In fact, he’s not even in my top 10 favorite superheroes list. But despite that, even I can’t deny that there is something to be admired and looked up to within the Man of Steel.

He’s kind, strong, always does the right thing and is an inspiration for many aspiring superheroes and people in general. With a strong moral center, he has been the pinnacle of what people should aspire to be.

And even some of the stories that are told with this character are pretty damn good. Such as All-Star Superman, Superman: What’s so funny about truth, justice and the American way?, and Superman: Red Son, just to name a few being among my favorites. And if you are a fan of the high flying alien from Krypton and want to read a few comics about him, those are the ones I would recommend picking up.

I also grew up on the Superman: Animated Series and Justice League series.

I didn’t include the Death of Superman on this list, simply because even though it was a big deal when it first occurred, it wasn’t so much of a story as it was just an event, if you know what I mean. Basically, everything that happens afterward is more of the story than anything.

So, what is this all leading up to? Why my next review, of course. Mare of Steel by Iowaforever

Now, don’t get the wrong idea. Despite its name, this has very little to do with the recent film. This is a standalone story that was written before the theatrical release, so if you are expecting a parody of this movie, you won’t get it.

Instead, you get something better. I’m sorry for those of you who loved that movie, but I hated that movie. I hated the acting, the plot, the contrivances, the neck breaking scene with no consequences. There were some good to come from it, like the action scenes, but they can only carry it so far.

If you liked this movie, I have nothing against you. It is yours to enjoy, just please keep it away from me. Let’s put our differences aside and agree to disagree, what do you say?

Yeah, I figured that would be your reactions… So, let’s just start the review.

If you haven’t notice, there are spoilers for this story. If you haven’t read it yet, I would highly recommending turning back. As for the rest of you…

So our story starts at night in Ponyville, where Rainbow Dash and Twilight are waiting for the meteor shower to start and as always, Rainbow Dash grows impatient with waiting.

One of the things I’ve noticed from the story is how much dialogue is in it. Now, don’t get me wrong dialogue isn’t a bad thing, but I feel like I’m watching two heads talking back and forth, with very little movement. I know they are supposed to be watching the stars, but I would have really liked to have seen a little more movement.

So the shower starts and after a few minutes, Rainbow Dash decides to turn in for the night, stating that she has a large storm coming in within the week.

When she arrives home, she finds a mysterious glowing rock. She instantly thinks it’s a meteor and with excitement, Rainbow Dash insists on keeping it. However, as she grasps it, the stone starts to make her feel weak and sick, causing her to lose consciousness.

We cut to Fluttershy going to Rainbow Dash’s house to check up on her after she missed their “Pet Play Date”. Fluttershy then finds Rainbow Dash passed out on the floor, her body drained of most of her color.

Oh, my god! She’s turning into Jerkbow Dash again! Everypony run for your lives! Discord is at it again!

No, it turns how that Rainbow Dash is really sick and Fluttershy manages to carry her to a hospital and for those of you that questioning how she was able to carry her, it should be pointed out that Fluttershy has super strength when her friends are in danger.

So the doctor manages to tell the other members of the six, who are arriving at the hospital to check on their friend, that Rainbow Dash is recovering from what he states is radiation poisoning.

Twilight and the others wonder how Rainbow Dash could have been affected by radiation. Some more theories go around to what could have possibly occurred to make Rainbow Dash so sick, ranging from drinking to overeating.

Yes, apparently a show with ponies that are subjected to mostly 5 to 11 year old girls have the main cast drinking every now and then. Of course, if they have access to FIMFiction and read half the stories I’ve read, it’s no surprise they turned to alcohol.

Fluttershy then mentions the strange rock that they found at her house and the doctor says that he will send somepony to bring it by so he can look into it.

The doctor then reveals that Rainbow Dash had never been sick a day in her life and had never had any injuries or reasons to go to a hospital. While it does mention the episode where Rainbow Dash actually was in a hospital, I still have to scratch my head and ask; if she is supposed to be invulnerable, how did she get that injury in the first place?

So the six are allowed to visit Rainbow Dash and Rainbow Dash explains what happened before she passed out, stating that a meteorite appeared in her home and shortly after that she started to feel weak.

The six leave Rainbow Dash to allow her time to rest.

Meanwhile, the meteorite is picked up by a hazard team sent by the hospital for study.

We are going to see what kind of scientific masterpieces we can build from this rock! We can build teleportation devices! We can build giant fighting robots! We can build an entire home fully equipped with a security system and has a hologram projector room that can make illusions of anything we want!

… What do you mean that’s stupid?

A couple days later, Rainbow Dash is released from the hospital and is told to take it easy for the next few days. After being visited by nearly everypony in Ponyville to make sure she is alright, Rainbow Dash heads out to Sweet Apple Arches to help Applejack with the apple harvest.

Applejack has her start on the southern fields while she goes to get more buckets to gather the apples. Rainbow Dash starts apple bucking when suddenly she smashes the tree into splinters.

Rainbow Dash starts to freak out, though I don’t know why this would surprise her since she can do this with her body.

Applejack comes back wondering what they hay happened to her tree.

“Rainbow Dash, What the hay happened to my tree?!”

I just said that!

Rainbow Dash tries to convince Applejack that the tree seemingly exploded for no reason, but Applejack doesn’t believe her. I do question why Applejack wouldn’t believe her since I don’t think that she would believe Rainbow Dash would wreak her property without cause. But if Twilight Sparkle was able to believe that, then I guess I shouldn’t question it.

So, Rainbow Dash goes back to apple bucking, constantly monitoring herself in order to not repeat the accident.

Later, she goes to Twilight’s house in order to find out what happened. She starts to freak out that Twilight is studying the rock, due to the dangers that it could pose to her. However, Twilight assures her that she has conjured mystical barriers to protect everypony around it.

So apparently, the hospital doesn’t have the right equipment to study the glowing rock, so they gave it to Twilight to study.

We find out that Twilight has been studying the effects of certain minerals on ponies and says that they may increase the strength and speed of a pony. She explains that this may be the reason why Rainbow Dash suddenly has super strength. However, Twilight says that if the magical energies are too potent, the pony may die.

Rainbow Dash starts to freak out (rightfully so), but Twilight assures her that she will be alright and that her inner magical energies will return to normal within a few days.

After a nap, Rainbow Dash decides to go and try to clear her head by talking to Fluttershy and Rarity. However, as she flies off (her speed increasing thanks to her magical energy being enhanced) she runs into Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash decides spending time with Scootaloo would be better since she could die at any moment and decides to hang out with her for the day.

As they approach Sugarcube Corner, they find Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Rainbow Dash sees a notebook in Diamond Tiara’s saddle bag and figures it belongs to Cheerilee. … And how exactly does Rainbow Dash know its Cheerilee’s notebook? There’s no mention of any indication that it was her notebook. Does it have her name on it or something? A picture of herself on it? Does Rainbow Dash have the power to read minds?

So, Rainbow Dash grabs Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara and drags them off to see Cheerilee. Does this count as child abuse? There are so many laws about that it are hard to distinguish. I know in the show they are not very well liked characters, but they are still minors. I don’t think dragging a couple of kids around, with them screaming at the top of their lungs would look good for Rainbow Dash’s image.

Rainbow Dash takes the girls to Cheerilee’s house and we find out that the notebook had Cheerilee’s cutie mark on it and that’s why it was hers.  Or she really likes Cheerilee. That’s no reason to jump to conclusions. However, it turns out it really is Cheerilee’s.

Rainbow Dash realizes that she was able to look through the bag even when the bag was covered. She starts to freak out at this new found power and leaves Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon with Cheerilee.

Rainbow Dash goes to Princess Celestia carrying the strange glowing rock. She asks the guard to see her, but the guard tells her that Celestia is busy at the moment and will have to wait until she is done.

I wonder if Celestia has days were she just wants to do this?

Rainbow Dash sits and waits. However, Prince Blueblood appears and demands to speak to the Princess. However, the guard refuses to let him through. He’s a prince and the princess’s nephew. Wouldn’t he have special perks that way? I guess Celestia knows how poorly he treated Rarity at the Grand Galloping Gala.

Prick…

So, right before Rainbow Dash can go Sonic Rainboom on Blueblood’s well deserving ass, the guard tells her that she may see Celestia.

Rainbow Dash explains what has happened and Celestia starts to magically probe her.

Rainbow Dash: Princess, what does your horn say about my magic level?

Celestia: IT'S OVER 9000!

She discovers that Rainbow Dash has a large amount of magical energies repressed within her and that could be potentially why she has sudden burst of strength and speed. Celestia then explains that Rainbow Dash wasn’t born an Equestrian!

That just seems weird when Rainbow Dash does it.

It turns out that Rainbow Dash was actually a Kryptonian. I would question this except that several animals escaped Krypton as well, such as a dog named Krypto.

So I guess, there was a Noah’s Ark kind of thing on Krypton. I guess that makes Superman Noah. Thought I would question how all the animals would fit in that tiny spaceship, but maybe they used the Phantom Zone.

Anyway, back to the story, Rainbow Dash starts to freak out over this and doesn’t believe Celestia. Celestia tries to calm her down, but Rainbow Dash isn’t hearing any of it and rushes out.

I wonder how Blueblood would have taken his meeting with Celestia after seeing Rainbow Dash burst out in tears?

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

We then get an author’s note about the emotions that Rainbow Dash is going through.

Personally, I don't think I'm very good at emotions like these, but hey, I'm willing to improve. Also, I imagine that if someone came to me and said that not only was I adopted, but not even the same species, I'd probably have a similar reaction... maybe, I'll think on that.

Now, I don’t know if anyone has covered this, so I am going to. The descriptions are kind of mixed. When the story start describing things, it does pretty well I feel. However, when it start getting into dialogue that’s when the descriptions kind of die down. Personally, I felt that there could have been more trauma going on through Rainbow Dash’s mind. Her questioning Celestia’s word and why she would lie to her. Her constantly questioning what is real and what isn’t. What is a lie and what is fact. I would have loved to have seen more of that in the story and I would have loved to have seen it go deeper into her mind.

Like I said, the story does well when the characters aren’t talking, but as soon as they start up, it tends to forget that things can go through their minds and the characters do move while they are having a conversation. They move their bodies or express themselves with facial or slight gestures. This not only adds depth to the characters, but makes them feel real and more than a talking dismembered head.

Anyway back to the story, Rainbow Dash arrives at the Wonderbolts’ training arena and demands to see Firefly. When Rainbow Dash confronts Firefly, who turns out to be Rainbow Dash’s mom, she takes it pretty freaking well that she was an adopted alien from another planet. In fact, she goes on a conversation about what happening in Ponyville before it is even brought up.

I seem to recall her in the last scene doing a lot of this…

She must get over life changing traumatic moments that change your entire perspective on reality causing you to question what is real or not, really easily. I sure wish I could.

Anyway, Rainbow Dash finally reveals that she knows about her being Kryptonian and asks why her mother didn’t tell her. Firefly explains that she didn’t tell her for fear of the guards would take her away. Rainbow Dash starts to wonder what is to become of her, but Firefly explains that she is going to be alright. Firefly then explains how they found Rainbow Dash.

We get some insight into some intriguing characters in Rainbow Dash’s father named Thunderhead and Firefly as they are dealing with a broken down cart. They then hear a loud boom in the distance and decide to investigate. So they find a little filly and decide to adopt it.

They take the filly back to the carriage where they discover that the filly has super strength and can lift the carriage with ease.

We then cut back to the present where Firefly explains that Rainbow Dash’s sudden burst of strength started to diminish over the years. How is that exactly?

Rainbow Dash says she wants to feel like a normal pony and Firefly says that she was never a normal pony and that she knew that even when she was young.

We then cut to another flashback, wait… didn’t we just get done with one? Anyway, we get the flashback of Thunderhead talking about Rainbow Dash’s choices in life.

“That’s true, but you’re not just anypony,” Thunderhead turned Rainbow Dash towards him “One day, you’re going to have to make a choice. You’re going to have to decide what kind of mare you want to grow up to be. Whoever that mare is, good character or bad, she’s going to change the world.”

Oh, come on. You were all thinking it.

Rainbow Dash asks what her father meant and Firefly admits she doesn’t know… Wait what? You lived with him for twenty years and you still don’t know what his thought process is?! You were his freaking wife! You mean to tell me that you never discussed what he meant with you?! That’s bad communication if I ever saw it!

Firefly then gives Rainbow Dash a strange green stone and says that she found it at the wreckage where they found her. She reveals they’ve never figured out what it is, but that maybe Rainbow Dash can.

We then cut to the main six who are at their Pet Play Date, but are worried about Rainbow Dash when she doesn’t show up. A letter arrives via air turtle

Whatever.

And says that Rainbow Dash is leaving Ponyville for a few days to clear her head.

Since Thunderhead is a Pa Kent expy, we can kind of figure out what happened to him...

An unwritten law of fiction, if you are a good parent, you’re going to die.

We then cut to Rainbow Dash coming to Seaddle. (God, I hate that word.) Anyway, she comes across a pony named Honey Dew at a hotel, who Rainbow Dash seems to remember. They share a brief chat about Rainbow Dash’s parents and Honey Dew offers Rainbow to stay at one of the rooms.

As Rainbow Dash drifts to sleep, she enters a dream where she meets up with a stallion and a mare, who merely say that she is ready. And then she wakes up… Weird…

We then get a scene where Rainbow Dash meets up with Honeysuckle, Honey Dew’s daughter… and then Rainbow Dash falls asleep again. That was a tad rushed to me. It feels like there isn’t any particular focus on this part of the story, it’s just scenes thrown together. They’re written well, but they just don’t feel like they’re going anywhere.

Anyway, Rainbow Dash wakes up (for the umpteenth time this chapter alone) and finds herself alone with Honeysuckle standing over her.

Why does this look uncomfortably creepy to me?

Rainbow Dash enters the kitchen and starts to practice using her powers to see through solid objects, just as she had with Diamond Tiara. However, instead she accidently fires two beams of energy from her eyes and causes the pot she was staring at to explode.

When Honeysuckle enters to room, she asks what had happened and you would think that Rainbow Dash would come up with a good lie, but instead she tells her the truth.

And Honeysuckle replies thusly…

Huh… I guess Applejack was right. Honesty is the best policy.

So a few days pass by and Rainbow Dash is trying to settle in her new living space. She constantly helps around the hotel while still trying to get use to her powers. Honeysuckle starts taking a liking to Rainbow Dash (doesn’t everypony) and starts to follow her around everywhere.

Rainbow Dash and Honeysuckle get into a conversation about comicbooks, since that was the only form of entertainment Rainbow Dash had in the hotel and Honeysuckle explains why she loves comicbooks.

“Well... when I was really little, some mean ponies came and... they hurt my dad. I mean really hurt him. He couldn’t fly for days... Mom cried a lot, and I didn’t really know what was wrong, so I got sad and cried too... The guards tried to be helpful, but nothing really happened. But if there was a superhero, then nopony would have gotten hurt. Everypony would have been fine...”

I couldn’t have said it any better myself, kid.

I loved this dialogue, but I would have really loved to have seen the inside of Rainbow Dash’s mind here. There is just more dialogue without Rainbow Dash having any mental reaction to what the kid is saying. I would have loved to have seen what the workings of her mind would have been. After all, in the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well, Rainbow Dash really thought she was doing good. And to be honest, she was doing good. But maybe her seeing how she could do more to affect or change the world warrants a reaction.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but I feel the weakest part of the story is describing what the characters are going through while in dialogue.

Okay, back to the story, the next day Rainbow Dash takes Honeysuckle flying around Seaddle. However, as Rainbow Dash looks down to the ground she sees an old face that causes a little bit of anger in her.

Trixie!

Okay… I’m good now…

So, Trixie does her thing where she tries to show off to everypony, but Rainbow Dash intervenes and tells everypony the truth.

Trixie doesn’t take it well and attacks her! Damn, girl, calm down! What the hell happened to events of Magic Duel?

Sir, the Episode was aired on December 1 of 2012. This chapter was posted on October 12, 2012

Oh, so… this chapter was written before that episode aired. Okay, maybe this is why she turned to the Alicorn Amulet.

So, after trying to murder Rainbow Dash and everypony else around her, Trixie finally calms down and runs away.

Oh, wait… That hasn’t happened yet…

Moving on…

After that, Rainbow Dash reveals the crystal she has to Honeysuckle. Honeysuckle asks what it is supposed to do, but Rainbow Dash still doesn’t have any clues. She strikes the crystal in frustration and then the crystal reveals a frozen wasteland for her to travel to.

We then cut to Trixie who is drowning in angst over her defeat at the hooves of Rainbow Dash. A mysterious voice comes to her and tells her how she can get revenge on her.  And we get a line that I think is supposed to reveal the villain.

“Kneel.”

Where have I heard that before?

Why does that sound so familiar?

Rainbow Dash travels far north and stumbles upon a fortress made entirely of ice. As she enters the fortress, that even Elsa would be jealous of, she finds a hologram of a unicorn that claims to be her father from Krypton named Jor-El.

We then learn that Rainbow Dash’s name on Krypton was once Kara Jor-El and that her parent’s died more than a thousand years ago.

For those of you who don’t know, this is a combination of Supergirl’s Kryptonian identity with the Jor-El name, the family that Superman’s Kryptonian identity belonged to.

Jor-El then explains to Rainbow Dash what happened when they were destroyed. He says that his planet was dying and that he was the only one who seemed to foresee it. He tried to convince the people of Krypton to evacuate the planet, but nopony else seemed to believe him. He sent his only daughter to Equestria, knowing that she would be safe and a few minutes after that the planet exploded.

So, Rainbow Dash asks her father to teach her how to control her powers and as the lessons go on, Rainbow Dash asks why Jor-El sent her to Equestria and not somewhere else.

Jor-El explains that he was able to contact planets in a future time… Wait what? If he was able to contact planets from the future, why didn’t he just contact a planet in the future that likely had the technology to save Krypton? Or hell, why doesn’t he just contact someone from the future and ask them to convince everyone on Krypton that their planet is going to blow up?! I think them saying, “Yeah, there is going to be a vacancy where your planet is in about an hour or so” would get their attention! I mean, you have a freaking time window, if not a time machine, and you don’t use it! I’m beginning to see why no one believed you, Jor-El.

Anyway instead of using the time machine to save his world, he contacts Twilight Sparkle’s mother and asks her if she will raise Rainbow Dash when she arrives in Equestria.

We then get the classic Superman speech from Jor-El.

“But there is another reason I sent you here. These ponies mean well, but they can become distracted. They have the capacity to become great, but what they lack is a light to show them the way.”

Why do I hear the voice of Marlon Brando at this point?

We then cut a year and a half later with Rainbow Dash taught in the ways of her powers (something I really would have liked to have seen, but whatever). She is then shown the suit she is going to wear to protect others.

“No mask... Won’t everypony know it’s me if there’s no mask?”

“If you do not wish a pony to see your true face, they will not.”

Well, it works with Sailor Moon so I guess I can’t really say anything. I mean, seriously look at this.

How can no one tell that’s the same fucking person?!

Well, at least in this story, there is an explanation. As she wears the suit, the image of her face changes and her voice deepens. And only powerful magic could break the illusion or if she desires to break the illusion herself.

Anyway, enough of that, Rainbow Dash hears a disturbance as she scans Equestria and darts off to confront it.

We cut to Twilight, who is reviewing the notes she took for the brief time she was studying Rainbow Dash’s meteorite. Pinkie Pie then barges in and declares that her Pinkie Sense says that something bad will happen to Ponyville!

It will be invaded by humans whose lives are terrible and come to Ponyville to make a change in their lives and fall in love with one of the main characters!

Twilight and Pinkie Pie gather to the Everfree Forest where they find a…

“Giant... robot... dragon...” was all Twilight could say.

I think Twilight’s as confused as I am…

So the robot dragon attacks the city and manages to find the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who are trying to outrun the thing. However, the dragon corners them and it looks like all hope is lost.

When suddenly… Computer, cue Superman theme song.

Which one, sir?

The one from the animated series. That was gets me pumped up.

What about the John Williams version?

I’m saving that one…

When suddenly, Rainbow Dash swoops in to save the day and beats back the robotic dragon and sends it out of the city.

Scootaloo, impressed by this newcomer (remember the magic suit helps protect Rainbow Dash’s secret identity), that she decides to go after her.

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom try to stop her, but they are confronted by Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie warns them that it is dangerous to follow the mechanical dragon, but after mentioning Scootaloo, Pinkie Pie rushes off to gather the others.

“Don’t be silly; there’s always crowds when big mean robots get beat up and they never get hurt.”

Somepony’s been breaking the fourth wall again. That or she’s been reading too many comicbooks.

Rainbow Dash battles the thing and gives it a chance to surrender saying that she doesn’t want to hurt it.

It’s a freaking robot! It has no emotion! It has no feelings! It’s not alive! It doesn’t-

Ahem…

What?...

…

…

…

Oh! … Right… Moving on…

So, Rainbow Dash tears the machine apart and pulls out the Flim Flam brothers from the wreckage. I wonder how long it will be before they start singing about their Super Beastly Dragon Thingy 6000?

So the Flim Flam brothers leap up and try to take out Rainbow Dash. Yes, they try to take out the pony who ripped apart their giant dragon robot to pieces. I’ll give the Flim Flam brothers this much… they have some serious balls.

“If your plan was to try and overpower the mare who just tore your robot to pieces,” she said, reaching in and grabbing the two other ponies by their shirts “I’ll have to recommend you to a psychiatrist.”

What Rainbow Dash said.

Rainbow Dash takes the two to Twilight and says that the Flim Flam brothers are responsible for the attack on Ponyville. Twilight goes to contact the royal guards and Scootaloo watches Rainbow Dash fly off, still wondering who she really is.

We then cut to Sugarcube Corner where Applejack is shown to be closed minded about the whole thing.

“Nah, I’m glad they’re still alive... But I mean, some mare just shows up outta nowhere ‘n beats up some big robot that just happens to attack town for no reason? I bet she staged the whole thing!”

She saved your sisters, defeated a giant dragon and didn’t bother to hog any glory. She just flew off without even getting so much as a thank you. And she staged the whole thing?! I know you’re not the most intelligent pony out there Applejack, but come on! You can’t be this naïve! Poor Applejack interpretations. They aren’t just limited to bad stories.

Also, I seem to recall you being the reason why the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 was destroyed. You really don’t think they would hold a grudge against that?

“Another thing, why’s she gotta be so secretive about everythin’?”

Gee, I don’t know Applejack. Maybe she’s trying to protect her family and friends from people who want to hurt her, rather than reveal who she is and put everyone she cares about in danger. But that’s just the opinion of one local idiot.

By the way, did you hear about the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well? I don’t know who she is yet, but I have a feeling that she’s more than one pony. I’ve narrowed the search down to somepony in Ponyville. One day, I’m gonna find out who the Mysterious Mare-Do-Well really was. Got any ideas?

Anyway, Rainbow Dash finally reappears at Sugarcube Corner and greets her friends.  The gang is of course happy to see her and then they explained what happened with the robotic dragon and the Flim Flam brothers.

Pinkie Pie then talks to a reporter and comes up with a name for the mysterious superhero. Supermare. … I like it! Supermare. It’s catchy. Sticks with you. The kind of name that looks great splashed upon three columns.

Sorry… Getting nostalgic. Superman the Animated Series. Check it out.

The mayor then comes around to ask Twilight and Pinkie Pie to put together a thank you party for Supermare, something that Twilight isn’t overly excited about. They then continue to discuss what to do about Supermare.

“Can you imagine what our lives would be like if everypony thought we were superheroes?

…

…

…

We then cut to Scootaloo who can’t stop thinking about Supermare and what she was able to do. Scootaloo’s going to be the Lois Lane of this story, isn’t she? Well, as long as we don’t have any sex scenes with her. Heaven knows I got enough of that a couple weeks ago.

As she tries to sleep, she finds a note from Supermare and asks her to meet her on the roof and Scootaloo reacts about as well as you’d expect.

So, Scootaloo goes to the roof of her house and meets with Supermare. Supermare asks her to come with her and fly around the city.

Kidnapping, because that’ll win you points on the heroic meter. Maybe Applejack was right to mistrust you.

So, Supermare and Scootaloo start talking and Supermare reveals her origins and where she comes from. Scootaloo is Lois Lane. Called it.

Shut up, Doomsday!  I didn’t ask for your opinion!

Scootaloo is afraid that something will happen to Rainbow Dash with Supermare around, not surprising considering the way she handled the Mare-Do-Well event, but Supermare assures her that they will get along just fine.

Maybe I could talk to Rainbow Dash tomorrow...

Uh oh… How is Rainbow Dash and Supermare going to be at the party at the same time? I smell sitcom.

So, it gets even better when Twilight reveals a spell called the Seal of Honesty. Anypony inside the seal will be unable to tell a lie. Oh, this should be good.

Not too far away, Trixie and our mysterious stallion (who we have no idea who he is *wink wink*), overhear what is going on and plan to use the Seal of Honesty to their advantage in an effort to discover who Supermare really is.

Well, this should be interesting. Let’s see how it all plays out.

The ceremony starts and we cut back to Rainbow Dash who is preparing for her big public appearance as Supermare.

Supermare arrives and Twilight’s plan goes into effect. Wow, they must really be suspicious about a mysterious superhero who shows up and just wants to help people. They must be taking lesson on ‘how to support your superhero’ from the Marvel Universe.

However, the spell doesn’t seem to affect Supermare, well that or Mayor Mare doesn’t ask the questions that Twilight wants to. Making this very anti-climactic.

“Well, That was a bit anti-climactic, don’t you think?” Rarity asked.

Rarity, trust me. I’ve got this one in the bag. If I need any help, I’ll ask.

Twilight then reveals that she suspected something like this might happen and that she has a backup plan.

Meanwhile, Trixie is hiding in the shadows waiting for the right moment to strike. Next scene!

We cut back to the party as night begins to fall. And that backup plan of Twilight’s? That goes about as well as the first plan. Which makes this really anti-climactic since there was very little struggling on Rainbow Dash’s attempt to hide her identity. If this did affect her in anyway, she had an easy time hiding it and that’s not dramatic. That’s rushed! I felt like this was a hugely missed opportunity! I would have loved to have seen how the seal affected Rainbow Dash and how she dealt with it!

Anyway, Scootaloo approaches Twilight and asks if she had seen Rainbow Dash. Twilight starts putting together the clues that lead to Supermare’s secret identity and teleports over to Rainbow Dash’s house to confront her about it.

The next day, Rainbow Dash is sleeping in when Twilight appears at her door. Damn, how far away does Rainbow Dash live from Twilight? Twilight accuses Rainbow Dash of being connected with Supermare and asks what the hay is going on.

She’s never around when you are, and you vanish whenever she shows up. You didn’t get confrontational when we mentioned her, and she said she held no ill will towards you when we talked to her during the ceremony.”

What? When was that?! We never saw that! Yeah, it was during when Scootaloo talked to Supermare, but we never saw any conversation of when Supermare discussed Rainbow Dash with the other members of the main six! Where was that conversation?!

So, Rainbow Dash ends up thinking of a lie and tells Twilight that Supermare is a friend of hers that happens to have superpowers. She then goes into a whole privacy speech. And then basically makes Twilight start crying…

That’s seems kind of insensitive on both accounts. Twilight being too wrapped up in fact finding, much like she did in the Pinkie Sense episode and Rainbow Dash basically snapping at Twilight. And I thought these two were supposed to be friends.

I know that Rainbow Dash is trying to avoid her finding her secret identity, but there are other ways to go around this than snapping at her. Rainbow Dash could have her do a one on one interview with Supermare and have her ask any questions that she might have. Have them meet in a neutral location to discuss what Supermare is here for. There are others way you could have done this without hurting Twilight’s feeling, Rainbow Dash.

Also, you told a little kid, who you had known for a few days about your powers, but your friends who you have known for at least three seasons are untrustworthy?

Anyway, the next few days pass by and every pony starts to prepare for the Summer Sun Celebration. Pinkie Pie confronts Rainbow Dash about a new prank she wants to pull. Rainbow Dash agrees and asks what Pinkie Pie has in mind.

Pinkie Pie mentions something with glue and that in order to distract everypony, Rainbow Dash should dress up as Supemare. Rainbow Dash, of course, thinks this is awkward. Pinkie Pie hooves her a suit and some dye to look like Supermare and Rainbow Dash agrees to it.

Rainbow Dash then spots Trixie and thinks that she is up to no good.

Trixie trots in and declares herself the new ruler of Ponyville. Supermare arrives on the scene and gives Trixie a chance to surrender. Trixie tells her to shove it and summons an Ursa Major to attack Supremare.

The fight ensues and Supermare discovers that’s she isn’t quite powerful enough to deal with the Ursa. She decides to try a different tactic and trys to enrage Trixie after discovering that the Ursa Major is being mind-controlled. Supermare then defeats Trixie by knocking her out and the Ursa Major goes about its business.

Supermare then starts to interrogate Trixie for information, but doesn’t manage to get anywhere. So, she pulls a Batman on her and drops her from several hundred feet. Trixie finally reveals that the villain responsible for the mechanical dragon and Trixie’s power rise was Zod.

Supermare starts to search for Zod, but doesn’t find anything.

I don’t see how the royal guards does this sort of thing; he could be anywhere. She stopped and slapped herself.

Did she just think ‘She stopped and slapped herself’? Rainbow Dash, you don’t need to think what you are going to do.

Supermare starts to think that the archives of Equestria might have something on Zod, so she goes to investigate.

However, even after explaining her situation to the guards, they refuse to let her inside. However, Blueblood suddenly appears and tells the guards to let Supermare through. That seems kind of weird.

So, Supremare and Blueblood start to comb through the place when Blueblood starts attacking her and actually manages to pin her down! Damn, has Blueblood been eating his Wheaties or something?!

Actually, it turns out that Prince Blueblood this whole time was General Zod!

… Actually, this was kind of a cool twist… A bit unexpected and could have used more build up but… actually; it makes sense why he would choose Prince Blueblood to impersonate. He’s near the royal family so he always knows what the princesses are planning, he pretends to be a stuck-up bumbling idiot that no one likes because it throws off suspicion and he is royalty which means he has the funds, resources and power necessary for whatever plans he has.

That’s actually kind of neat. But I have a hard time seeing Zod act like this…

Unless it turns out that cake is his kryptonite.

Supermare and Zod duke it out with Zod beating the living snot out of her, stating that he is going to bring Equestria the future it deserves under his iron hoof, by killing Celestia and framing Luna for her death.

Zod defeats her and places a kryptonite necklace around her neck. And no, it’s the actual rock, it’s not cake. Although, the thought of Pinkie Pie assaulting Zod with cake would be funny, not going to lie.

So, wait, if Zod was carrying that kryptonite around with him, then how is he not on his knees writhing in pain? I think that’s a very legitimate question!

Zod orders the guards, who are also under mind control, to take Supermare to Ghastly Gorge.  I guess Zod has the power over mind control or something. Though I don’t remember that being a thing in the comics.

So, the guards take her to Ghastly Gorge and trap her under a rock so she can’t escape.

We then cut to Pinkie Pie bursting into Twilight’s house in the middle of the night. Pinkie Pie says that her Pinkie Sense has picked up something going wrong at Ghastly Gorge.

So, Pinkie Pie explains that her Pinkie Sense tells her that Rainbow Dash is trapped at Ghastly Gorge and they go off to investigate.

That’s oddly specific for Pinkie Pie’s Pinkie Sense; it’s usually vaguer than that. But I guess, it’s like Spider-Man’s Spider Sense, it basically does whatever it wants.

“Well, I suppose if Rainbow Dash is in trouble then I could spare myself.” Rarity yawned

Not exactly the friendly concerned reaction I was expecting from Rarity, considering she is the best friend to Rainbow Dash. I wonder how she’d react to other life threating problems?

Rarity, Applejack and her family are trapped under their barn after a huge earthquake and they can’t get out!

Hm… I’ve never really been fond of apples. I’m sure their fine…

Rarity, Fluttershy just got shot and needs a kidney transplant!

I am not giving up my perfect kidney. What were to happen if my kidney were to fail?

Rarity, Pinkie Pie is dying of cancer!

Well, I suppose I could make an appearance at her funeral.

You’re a bitch, you know that?!

Though to be fair, none of the other girls are showing that much concern for Rainbow Dash either even though Pinkie Pie’s Pinkie Sense has never been proven wrong and everypony in Ponyville already knows that. Man, that year or so away from them must have really drifted them apart.

Well, okay except for Fluttershy…

Yes, there is a reason why she is best pony. Get over it!

They go to Ghastly Gorge and start looking high and low for Rainbow Dash. They run into several of the guards from the castle, who it turns out are working for Zod. They attack the heroes, but our heroes manage to fight them off. Twilight discovers that the guards were brain washed, just like the Flim Flam brothers.

They finally find Rainbow Dash under the boulder, but Rainbow Dash tells them to worry about the necklace around her neck. When confronted why, Rainbow Dash finally reveals that she is Supermare. Rainbow Dash explains that she didn’t tell them who she was because she was afraid that her friends would turn on them.

And since this is a GOOD story, Rainbow Dash’s friends welcome her with open arms, even after explaining she was an alien. Now a bad story would have made her friends hate her for a small white lie, but thankfully the author actually knows what he is doing.

However, the characters seem a little too accepting, like this was a normal day for them. Like they were saying to themselves, “Yeah, I could totally see Rainbow Dash as a super powered alien from another planet. Yep, totally legit and not surprising or life changing at all. I wonder what I’ll have for breakfast this morning”

“Let’s not get distracted here, Twilight,” Rarity walked up to Rainbow Dash “How am I suppose to know that you aren’t just lying to us?”

Um… isn’t there an evil plot to kill Celestia that Rainbow Dash should probably be stopping? I mean, you know who Zod’s secret pony identity is. Isn’t saving Celestia a bit more important than proving who you are to your friends? I mean she’s only the ruler of Equestria and an innocent life in all this. Probably should be saving her.

No? Just going to hope that Zod hasn’t already killed her? Okay then.

”Suppose I should be thankin’ ya too.” Applejack said, coming forward to join Rarity “Ever since my folks died, Applebloom’s been the thing holdin’ my family together. If she weren’t around... well, there’s no tellin’ what I’d do.”

“Hey, you could get creative.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Yeah, what the hell is that supposed to mean?! A family member almost dies and you joke about it?! I don’t know which one of the six that is, but they are lucky I don’t! Otherwise, they would get a face full of shotgun!

So, finally, Rainbow Dash explains that Blueblood is evil and that he is going to try and kill Celestia. Rainbow Dash tells the others to ready themselves back at Ponyville and then come to Canterlot. And with that, Rainbow Dash flies off to confront Zod again.

“I just hope she knows what she’s doing.” Twilight said “Okay, I think I have enough magic for a teleport back to Ponyville, but we might be cutting it a bit close. So if I singe anyone... I’m really sorry and didn’t mean to do it.”

And if I take off somepony’s limb, know that I am really, really sorry.

We cut to Celestia who is just raising the sun when Luna comes in to greet her. Luna notices that Celestia is stressing out about something, but when asked about it, Celestia doesn’t really understand it herself.

Celestia starts to raise the sun for the celebration when she is attacked by one of the brainwashed servants of Zod. However, thanks to Supermare arriving, he manages to save Celestia and stop the assassin.

Supermare explains where the assassin came from and explains that she can apprehend him. She then soars off to confront Zod.

She finds Zod and attacks him, revealing his identity to Canterlot. They fight all throughout Canterlot and exchange banter back and forth. God, I love superhero stories.

That would not be enough. You don’t know what it’s like to really be a leader, to have

hundreds of ponies obeying your every command. While you would go about with your foalish dress-up game, every stallion, mare and foal would kneel before Zod!”

I still have no idea where that comes from… But I swear I’ve heard it before…

Rainbow Dash knocks him into the throne room and prepares to slice the two pillars Zod is stuck between causing them to fall on him.

Please don’t be mad at me for this, Princess,she thought.

You are stopping a terrorist from taking over her kingdom and murdering her! I don’t think a little property damage is going to bother her too much!

Rainbow Dash finally pins Zod down and demands his surrender. Zod, of course, refuses and starts to overload the magical energies in his body, that will cause him to explode killing everyone in Canterlot.

Wait, what?

Yeah, apparently unicorns are walking nuclear bombs in this world.

Anyway, we cut back the rest of the main cast, who are evacuating Canterlot. Celestia confronts her student and asks if Rainbow Dash is Supermare. When Twilight responses confirming it, Celestia asks them to not tell Luna about Supermare’s secret identity.

Supermare grabs Zod and hurls him into outer space to protect every pony. Zod explodes, supposedly killing himself, but everypony is safe thanks to Supermare.

Rainbow Dash falls onto the ground and doesn’t manage to move.

No, no. We’re not there yet, but I’m sure it’s coming…

We cut to a hospital where the main cast is waiting for word on Rainbow Dash. The doctor appears and says that Dash is in a coma and they are unsure if she will awaken from it.

Firefly then appears and tells the six about how Rainbow Dash arrived on Equestria. Firefly asks if she can have a moment alone with her daughter and the main characters leave to allow her mother some privacy.

Rainbow Dash enters a dreamlike state where she meets with her father and manages to awaken from her coma. Everyone rejoices that Rainbow Dash is alive and you know what that means…

However, as Rainbow Dash and her friends are celebrating, we cut to a mysterious stallion, who is carefully monitoring Equestria and analyzing every possible threat, including Supermare.

And that’s the end of Mare of Steel. How does it hold up?

Pretty damn well. I know I made fun of a lot of points and there are some problems spread throughout. But when the story gets it right, it gets it right. The characters feel like their counterparts (at least for the majority of it. Still questioning a couple places), the descriptions, when they aren’t in dialogue, are still pretty damn good, and the plot is pretty solid (with a few spots that I do question).

Can it be improved? Yes. Does the make it bad? No. This is still a well-crafted story, despite its flaws. And ultimately, these flaws don’t take away from the overall experience enough to take you out of the story. The characters are strong and believable, the villain was kind of cool, the actions scenes were good, and it changed enough of the source material to still make it original, while still staying true to what they stand for. It has some heartfelt moments that I felt could have been expanded upon, but that doesn’t mean I don’t felt this story didn’t try.

This story and its author clearly did their best to give us something wonderful and that shows in every chapter. And while there were shaky spots in the story, such as the talking head syndrome, the magic overload (which to me still makes no sense) and a few scenes that really leave something to be desired, I felt that the overall experience was a good one, with very few places that needed to be touched up. And I believe that with more practice and more time, some good proofreaders and some great support, Iowafoever will be a great writer. Probably a writer who can in fact, go places with his work.

I would love to see more from him and I wish I had more time with his stories because-

Sir, you are aware there is a Part 2 to this story, are you not?

… There is?

Indeed.

Then what the fuck are we waiting for?! Let’s jump into Mare of Steel Part 2!

Click on the link to jump to Part 2.