Author's Notes:

Number of Edits: 5
Number of OCs: ?

(a bit larger this time though we hope to see thou reaction.)
Loot: A 'Welcome to the Club' large envelope full of some general details and locations to meet up with 'likeminded' types. seventeen thousand bits (d20 roll), yet to be foretold items from deposit boxes, and a overcharge from Zapp. Finally a Heart Wood from a timberwolf that still thumps.

[Title] Black Cauldron, a Bank and Shocks
[Maretropolis – City Limits towards the Everfree Forest – Two days since last chapter]
[Doctor Doom’s Perspective]

Looking into the quite obvious looking ‘evil forest’ that she kept saying this place was at from her using a locator spell, having taken the time to learn it as well which got her bouncing that somehow kept her in step with me when we left. I was rather surprised how limber she can me, from my own guess I presumed that the unicorns were the most frail out of the three types of ponies, but it would be accurate that pegasi were due to flight muscles and bone structure. Though griffins and their ‘supposed’ stronger flight builds as omnivores could possibly be better but not faster from what is eluded to.

Taking a long slow breath as I look back to my side to somepony in a rather strangely ‘covert’ outfit, Lyra Heartstrings under my expressed wish for her identity to remain a mystery for her own safety. Bore her in ordering a ‘spy on your coltfriend bodysuit’ which only needed one of those ‘bondage’ full head mask with night vision goggles, her mane and tail done in a simple ‘ponytail’ covered up fashion when I let slip I liked that and that other fancy style. Thinking back on this I wonder if it wouldn’t have been better if I hadn’t overreacted after that first time seeing her dressed like this.

[Maretropolis – Lyra’s Kitchen – Early that evening]

Sighing at the meal that apparently Lyra had made for me having bought actual meat from a griffin butcher, seems that was why she looked ‘mildly’ disturbed in having loss some of her mint color. She bought me MEAT, even did her best trying to prepare it. What did she end up settling on buying after what may have been an herbivore’s nightmare made manifest? Bacon, which one simple word gave me both joy and now realized grim feeling from just how far she’s trying to make ME of all beings truly comfortable, it is the strangest feeling to be put first.

I was so enthralled in my thoughts and having taken a first few bites when Lyra had to excuse herself after ‘cooking’ my bacon at the other end of the kitchen, with the window open, doing so by her magic and a magic run stove. It’s funny how if put to certain functions it can apply, even reminding me of my uncle who made me bacon for lunch at his junkyard business showed me what even second hand goods could do if reworked or melted and made again.

Though my moment of peace was destroyed when I heard a voice whisper near my ear this one word that sent me into action. “Surprise.” Whipping my head around to the right to see a fucking NINJA alien fully garbed with a weapon on their belt yet to be drawn, narrowing my eyes assuming there were more than one assailant I took charge by palm blasting them in the face to try and stun them. But they ducked as my following move was a thrown chair to rush Lyra’s room to try getting her to safety, only to be surprised that she wasn’t in there but the bathroom door was open, charging in fearing the worse only to see nothing but hearing some ‘hoof’steps approaching now I stood guard ready to face whoever sent this ninja after me.

Only to be twitching an eye at seeing said ‘ninja’ from earlier now unmasked with a familiar anthro pony who let me stay here, words could not DESCRIBE the shit I was feeling for attacking her. A strange bought of paranoia has been forming since I got here and nothing bad had yet to happen, which left me trying to see if she was alright only to get my response by a bloody muzzle from my ‘chair throw’ technic earlier having got her when my palm blast didn’t. On the plus side I got to try out that minor healing spell she knew from living in this nearby hamlet outside of the city called ‘Ponyville’, when I first heard that name I laughed.

Sighing as I carefully moved to hug her earning a slight flinch a frown from me, looking into her eyes as she could tell I overreacted. “I am at the crossroads of sorry and regret, if you will let me help heal you to try making amends for that I would be happier than I am now.” I tried being ‘open’ with her seeing as this is the third or fourth time now that something like this has happened, though the first time it’s caused actual blood that only makes it worse for me. ‘I must be the biggest ass to my current ‘henchmare’ host, even after the nice breakfast. I hope I didn’t break anything or burn her wall…’

She gave me a contemplative look having somehow gotten two tissues during my brooding before answering with a smile. “I will if you let me snuggle you and be close to you again like our first night, because it is nice being with you victor.” It is funny how she only agreed if she got snuggle privileges back, these ponies are so weird by their social intimacy standards especially to friends and relationships, that got me thinking again before giving the base of her tail a mock pull.

Made it a note of reference to ask and test carefully these sensitive spots that ponies had for in case of close quarters combat, would be useful to cripple a Unicorn by whacking their horn, a Pegasus by pressure points in the wings and for the universal places on the pony from an old pony anatomy book Lyra had and recalling acupuncture classes. But her current reaction of a stiffening body with a shuttered breath only ‘triggered’ her heat arousal only to be brought back by both a light zap from the same hand on her covered tail and her snout.

Sighing I drew her back to the living room and sat her on the couch looking over the damage I caused, also seeing her mixed reaction of apparently trying to enjoy my touch again despite her pain and nosebleed before I focus on the slightly improved healing spell that I carefully took my time mending and rubbing her snout gently and muzzle. “If you can, please try not to sneak up on me in the future so I don’t think you are someone out to get me. Ninjas can be a rather frightening prospect to consider, but at least you have something decent to be in while acting as my henchmare.”

She gave that strange cute noise when smiling again like what she’s doing now, and clearly overlooking her proud ‘YES!’ declaration sounding like joy. Also informing my little accomplish of our endeavors for our night as a villain first to this ‘Black Cauldron’.

Looking back to Lyra’s support position having her keep an eye or two out when we go into this area since from her intel there is more wild animal attacks at night, I only got a couple possible types from what she’s heard or seen in papers when regarding this which is why she’s extra skittish for our ‘journey’ to this bar. Got to admit someone has to be pretty ballsy to build a public like establishment in the woods, though have to take note there is also a zebra whom also lives in the area that runs a ‘voodoo’ and medicine business. Likely would be useful if she’s as friendly as lyra says.

[Maretropolis – Everfree Forest/Territory – a couple hours before midnight]
[Doctor Doom – Perspective]

The instant we entered the woods she went from happy to clearly on alert, oddly enough also doing a decent job in blending into the darkness of this forest while walking on this path. Though that golden glow from her night vision is from what I learned influenced by magic aura of the pony in question, but also improving her vision at night like I had assumed due to magic enchantment on them for it to happen. It is a rather running theme that more than half of their advances are magic alone so I can see how their civilization is both backwards and up to ‘code’ from my perspective.

Keeping a careful eye out for trouble with having a reviewed mental list of my offensive and defensive manual checked abilities on the go, oddly enough it feels as if there is more to be written in but clearly in a magic advanced world I’ll need plenty to work with to have the ‘tools’ for most or all moments while finding a place to start building tech parts from a front type establishment. Maybe if I was able to rob a bank enough tonight to either buy Lyra’s building or a ‘wrangle’ first a junkyard from yesterday’s peak at the city’s junkyard had shown opportunities for resources.

Though it was at that point that a rumbling of some bushes caught my attention while Lyra pointed nervously at the foliage in question, the most perplexing sight I beheld was what LOOKED like a ‘wolf’ walk out of said bush with obvious glowing green eye sockets and slight wisps between its joints coming from the chest. “Well if that isn’t one of your ‘timberwolves’, I wouldn’t know what would count as one after this at some point.” Feeling rather confident about this until about seven others came out following it while they eyed me with unusual unease with Lyra making a comment.

“Um, why aren’t they howling or charging at us yet..?” She was far more unnerved than I was becoming as I tried to keep them all in my view only giving her a careful reply with my fingers sparking with electric charge. “Stick to me and make sure there isn’t anything trying to circle around us from behind.” I clearly heard her neck move that sounded like a crack that drew the wolves to give a ‘cautionary’ move to spread themselves out with the first one snarling softly. Magic or not, they were displaying pack like tendencies and that means some form of intelligence and instinctual responses like Lyra.

Roaming my gaze over each of them as Lyra gave out a quiet whimper informing me there was likely a few more. “There’s two more from the other side victor.” I couldn’t feel it but I knew she wrapped her tail around my waist for possible comfort? The second one from the left looked to be tensing up for a leap only to deny that by jagged bolts of lightning shooting from my fingers setting it ablaze that only made it yelp and howl in agonizing pain with the others taking that as their time to attack. Here’s hoping Lyra remembered our game plan of using her levitation magic to throw them to the front of my vision so I can deal with them, otherwise maybe she’ll use her magic blasts to stun or disrupt what’s holding them together.

The two on my far right try taking that chance to attack only for one to be hit by a palm blast causing its head to fly off, and clatter on the ground and the second to be enveloped in levitation by pointing at it and commencing with throwing into the one currently thrashing on the ground from fire. Right about that time I saw something fly overhead crashing into three in the middle of my vision only to unleash the raw lightning onto their combustible forms, taking note of the headless one now having its head reattached by some force I shoot at its chest causing it to fall apart with a slightly moving heart shaped wood sticking out.

By that point I mentally counted four still active only to put that to three when I notice Lyra threw the last one behind us at one of two fire mounds I started, in a rapid fire succession for disabling or breaking apart their forms I blasted either heads legs or chests of the remaining active pulling Lyra along quickly in case others come to investigate with it being close to the city limits. It’s funny how some self-indulgence makes you forget about possible threats besides wildlife, though being glad nothing else has happened with some distant voices of what seems to be a fire marshal and wing flaps. Right, these pegasi control the weather so it would be rather obvious perhaps at this point as first responders.

Once feeling relatively safe I had lyra cast her tracking spell again while I use one of her hair for our current location to mark our path and the location of where we were heading, which will take about an hour. That is if the distance on this map is right, but at least Lyra’s happy about our first fight which is rather cute. “Victor that was amazing what you did! I thought lightning only came from clouds not anyone, though that would explain how you keep giving me little shocks sometimes.” She said that last with a flirty tone I have come to recognize only to sigh rolling my eyes giving her a response. “If you get that much joy out of me keeping you on focus perhaps if the entire night goes well enough I will reward you with what you call tail tugs.” That somehow got her to visibly blush through her mask and those golden glowing lenses turned pink for a moment.

[Roughly 40 minutes later]

Okay, would it kill this forest to try and NOT kill us! I swear to whatever is out there these things kept coming, mostly it were those ‘timberwolves’ though a couple of dead cockatrices that Lyra had somehow bagged saying she could get us a deal if we brought them to the griffin butcher she went to last time. Odd as it was with her holding a bag with two chicken lizard abominations that could be edible to me was astounding, apparently they are to some griffins a delicacy, or even more common to these ‘Diamond Dogs’.

But I shook that off at the more comical thought of causing an oversized manticore look at me and my lightning charged hand of death, simply gave what looked like a ‘NOPE!’ reaction, turned and ran as far as it could towards the direction we were not going in. I am not going to lie, that fucker looked like something out of a nightmare that could have easily gone to town on someone and left not even a doggy bag. Leaving Lyra stunned and cheering at my human ‘greatness’, often times I am left wondering how she can be so optimistic or cheery even in this forest while with me. But all thoughts would come to an end soon as I start to see a glimmer in the darkness as we get closer to our target, at least during this whole time my suit’s internal mini map has been updating on my mapped path.

Carefully wandering out of the vegetation coming across a path that led in the direction to ‘Ponyville’ that made me sigh, should have KNOWN there would have been some path to a bar but from the looks of this and Lyra’s reaction this must also be that zebra’s place by the voodoo theme, though it seemed bigger and rather well built to blend in except for the front.

[Everfree Forest – The Black Cauldron – a few moments later]
[Doctor Doom – Perspective]

Having informed Lyra of how things should go, I told her to keep her silence. Which disturbingly enough was a ball gag that was pulled out of possibly nowhere, was now being fastened and hidden under her mask before fixing that part of it too. In which she gave me a flirtatious wink showing a finger trail over it showing she can whistle through the hole in it, before putting on the goggles again. I will NEVER understand females of any species, EVER. Taking a calming sigh I look at the door before pushing it open ready to see what’s to come.

Which looks like an indoor tiki bar, a tacky one to boot that is pretty busy, with an apparent crowd with some guessed zebras and griffins being about half of those present. Looking through the crowd there are some types of ponies as well, the first step inside got noticeable feathers and wing movements of the fliers in the crowd turning towards me. There was a blinking of confusion as I raised a skeptical eyebrow they have not seen most likely with Lyra seeming to take a nervous shuffle, behind my back from the stares before they cautiously resumed their drinking or talking.

It was quite apparent that they were still watching, just trying to play it off as they weren’t. But wandering in deeper as any of these beings whom had wings made room with what gave off a type of unease that the manticore gave me earlier during the trip. The path led to the bar with each step noticing some zebras whom appeared to be employees here moved with flowing ease and one whom ‘manned’ the bar where their gazes drifted to seemed to be the one running the place.

Upon measured approach to the counter I could see Lyra concealed in their view as a more ‘tactical’ vibe knew she was a unicorn until I heard the zebra at the bar counter speak. “Dark stranger whom hides in cloak with cowl while trotting be of heavy metal clanks from hoofsteps do come, what manner might this humble practitioner be willing to impart?” Her eyes shown with foreign curiosity and some well cultured leadership tone of calm collection, her eyes even for a moment trail over Lyra’s attire of basic preparedness. “Would words spoken in security with fewer ears, be more to what we come to suggest be the requirement for words of play?”

With a slow nod in return added onto it with a gestured hand to lead on, her gaze drifted to my hand for a moment in some ‘glint’ of understanding, before giving a small smile as her ear flicked a few times in some kind of message. Before she left the counter with another younger zebra waving once at me taking her place while following the zebra most likely being either ‘Zecora’ taking her time in walking to a door further back as whispers become more apparent while the front door opened just before fully entering this back room, I think that may have been a ‘Thestral‘ from that anatomy book.

Blinking at a passage way that was concealed by two large shelves with three armed dressed guard either to protect this room or maybe settle trouble out front, though I wouldn’t put it pass me that those waiters may be some type of ninjas’ call it an instinctual vibe. Soon enough after traveling in a lit dug out tunnel we came to a room suitable for this kind of meeting, though with the runes running on the corners of the room show to be enchanted as my suit identifies it as some type of silencing spell or non-scrying. “In this chamber may we speak without much worry over being heard by ears of both friend or foe alike, take comfort in this fact for it is good for me as it is you.”

Nodding as I glance at Lyra as she rubbed her head making sure from the thumbs up that this zebra spoke the truth before sitting down next to me in a seat giving a nuzzle. “For our first meeting I offer a name to go by for future encounters, for there likely wouldn’t be another like me. My name to you is Doctor Doom, you can say I am new to this foreign land and my Henchmare here would be Lyrical Silence.” Having to take pause as both I and Zecora watch her squeal in joy at being acknowledged as such to someone else.

Taking a moment to compose herself as this Zecora, whom looked very well fit even under her modest if suggestive natural ‘clothing’ made from leaves and vines skillfully put together. “Zecora be my name, from parentage it be made. For one whom be a Doctor portraying of Doom, we would be willing to bring advice or service for your first two trips back after this first greeting.“ She smiled in what might apparently be a genuine tone before tapping her hoof in two quick beats before a delayed one beat as another message.

During this whole process I have been watching her and the door we came in while my onscreen detected another movement above, only to see a large envelope is dropped with a light *thump* next to her causing my eyes shift up enough to see a retreating hand, fucking striped ninjas. Lyra was caught by surprise by the action, though Zecora only seemed more surprised how I didn’t react in which I responded to why. “By the things I have come to experience, let us just say I am always suspicious of those who have a ninja capability. Though I have to ask what is in that in assumption be it for me.”

She had that curious look on her face again before smiling gently, maybe a rare reaction to not catch someone unaware. “This gift would be of good tidings for one whom is new to ‘our’ type of environment if things as to be correct.” She picked it up and carefully presented it to me with one hand, perhaps the sort who enjoys strange friends or getting in their good graces even in her ‘territory’. “So this would be a ‘welcome to the club’ type of information?” Only for her to give now a sagely nod in a calm deadly glance to make it clear, also still baring curiosity while seeming to look me over.

“You travel heavy for one in armor expecting trouble, even companion too dresses in a complimenting fashion of style for subtle arts. Perhaps she may garner from learning of it further with permission for her to receive a gift?” Blinking at Zecora once as a gentle tug from my side showed a nodding Lyra making a ‘please’ gesture, only to sigh and nod with her bouncing visibly with joy. “She be young and full of excitement for perhaps willing service to one whom brings unease to even those of flight and war?” She must be referring to the griffins from in the bar half earlier, she wouldn’t be wrong there but best not give away anything concrete.

Leaning forward slightly as the white glow of my eyes shown now. “It wouldn’t be wrong, though it hasn’t hurt for her favoring a road less traveled by most of her species. Though from what I see from you is that not all things are simply black and white as most would say by looking at your stripes alone, for the world has shades of grey in between it all.” That got her smile growing into something mischievous perhaps at this verbal play though there is something about her that screams out to me as she says these words.

An honest expression shown with pride and her body relaxes. “Befriending others can be rather difficult, especially so when I and my kin live isolated near pony towns. The town fears while the city ignores, even though one may be closer than the other it warms my heart to be seeing mind to mind on some facts so far by one whom remains cloaked in mystery.” There was a playful banter there though I had to ask this now. “I’m rather curious would this ‘welcome to the club’ include information on banks and whom owns which for an easy fulfilling hit?”

Her eyebrow rising with a gentle smile she asked this. “Would it matter if it be one from which hate boils from the heart?” Shaking my head no only got her writing on a waitress pad with a quill for a location and its name, once getting the small paper I read it over carefully. The writing is rather nice though in such a way that the paper has a ‘forest’ scent to it as one look at her shows where she kept it under her leaf skirt.

Near the street of Trothoof third and Flutterbreeze street
Would be a bank by name: Gilded Bit of Trust
If opportunity strikes please recover contents of deposit box 145, is possible leave it unopened and brought upon next visit from the back door.
They have received shipment from the mint only pass noon so the newest three employees be there still under watch of the manager whom runs it.
May you hopefully accept my welcome as a new friend, Zecora Chief of Whisper Clan.

Looking at her eyes with a raised brow before looking at lyra again, saying this in as much to try and embracing her culture a bit. “If you wish to be my friend, than as ‘Lyrical Silence’ here states often starts off with a ‘hug’. So you may have my second hug to this land..” Catching her by surprise by a careful cautious hug only for her to embrace it more so, when it eventually broke, she immediately hugged disguised Lyra happily before recomposing herself with a grin.

[Maretropolis – Gilded Bit of Trust – close to midnight]
[Third Pony – Perspsective]

It has been a grueling day for the accounting department as the senior staff got off earlier because they got that option, but the newer staff for this shady bank didn’t as it was barely a secret that most of their customers were related to pony criminals or their respective mobs. The only true saving grace was the cut throat methods of generating interest or tweaking the system, leaving non-ponies high and dry if they thought to open accounts here from some species views. Three mares and one stallion were working with one of those said mares to be eyeing the ‘newbies’ critically, having made it clear that ‘shortchanging’ results in a visit or two from ‘friends’.

They knew from first day orientation that the one who owned this bank was THE Filthy Rich, public made riches and criminal mob boss to the second largest pony mob in the city. The first biggest came from somewhere in prance, they didn’t know where but so far they have been ‘friendly’ for the last couple decades to keep a low profile from the princess. A fitting phrase here when involving criminals have been ‘out of sight, out of mind’, the pristine walls, actual oak tables and moderate chairs for both parties to sit in made this place all the nicer. That is until there was a strange sound that got all of their ears turning here and there distracted for the source, finally there was a slight ‘twang’ before three out of four suddenly turn to their manager only to see her crumpled on the floor.

Their eyes grew owlishly large with a silently cheering fully covered unicorn mare wearing enchanted night vision goggles, having bandoliers with individual pockets on them and the extra on her hips bouncing in tune with her bouncing hops before making a move to zip tie their manager than raising a hand to them in a ‘shush’ or quiet motion before pointing at them and their manager. “If we um, face down. Will you not hit us?” One of the two younger mares shivered speaking up with apprehension, only to get a nod in return with a raised thumb.

They suddenly felt a couple tons of pressure forcing them flat on their muzzles and saw it wasn’t the mare’s doing, they were all surprised that even while held they physically couldn’t MOVE in any way which proved far more terrifying to be under such a spell. But this thought was distracted as the same mare from before was moving her tail happily to her swaying hips that they KNEW were showing off for a stallion, what that the one who was holding them down? The stallion had his hands ankles and wings zip tied to ensure no escape while the two mares were earth ponies, frightened of being hurt by possibly two unicorns with magic.

But their assumptions were torn apart when the sounds of heavy clanking echoed on the marble flooring, only the more fearful mare saw a cloak and cowled mystery pony speak up and they guessed he was wearing guard armor perhaps. “Lyrical Silence, take this more seriously. Just as your name implies, I will be cross if it doesn’t.” He raised an armored fist in a threatening fashion in which something glowed that they couldn’t see that caused the mystery mare to flinch. The other two mares stared daggers at him for that while the stallion was rather shocked by such a display of social aggression, it’s hard to ever see that or even WITNESS it happening in this day and age. It’s often the mares who did that if at all.

During this moment it took them by surprise as the mystery stallion looked over the open vault door before levitating the doorway wider as he continued. “Keep a watch on those three and whistle if there is trouble, I have some forced withdraws to make…” He trotted slowly into the vault and after a few moments the sounds of defensive enchantments against damage started to go off while a few flickering lights inside illuminated, an intense ripping open of each locked drawer could be heard of screeching metal before pieces of them were thrown clattering to the floor with a mare saying this. “That shouldn’t be possible so quickly, some of the best theft deterrent spells are laid in there.”

At hearing that this ‘Lyrical Silence’ took a proud stance with a happy movement of her tail in a crooning fashion that’s muffled. The next sound was things being scraped into maybe a bag and the deposit boxes, they could see were being twisted and pulled violently until the enchantments failed making a whole row of them clatter with a bag floated closer to receive items, the most shocking was some of which were stolen goods now being stolen from whomever took them! “You could get a reward for turning those things in!” The stallion tried to helpfully chip in with his opinion that earned him looks from all three conscious mares now, only to look sheepish from realizing again that they were in a bank robbery by two masked mystery ponies.

There was a pause from inside the vault as if the mystery pony was considering it, only to reply with this supposedly to his henchmare. “Lyrical can you zip tie their muzzles too? Don’t want them offering any more helpful ideas and be considered accomplices to this.” The three captive ponies blanched a bit under that idea only for them soon to be zip tied around the muzzles causing them to be muffled until a groan of somepony waking up got their attention until the Lyrical Silence pony mare whacked her on the head with a branch they didn’t see until now.

But not until she made a whistle sound causing the mystery point come out while they still couldn’t see his face, it was both intriguing and frustrating at the same time to the captive pony ‘audience’ that caused him to ask a question. “What is the problem?” This Lyrical Silence pointed at the knocked out manager than the flashing crystals above showing the alarm going off, that made him face muzzle into his cowl with ‘five’ fingers? That baffled them until he ordered her to fill up the bag with bits and items from the vault while he puts the hostages in there with her, their eyes widened again even as she levitated them in one at a time until doing as he beckoned.

That is until about three minutes later a loud ‘whoosh!’ noise came with the front doors still locked blew open revealing two super heroines. The first one whom is known as ‘Zapp!’ is a pegasus flapping in the air with a smirk on her face while having an athletic figure with a larger C cup bust and toned hips and ass wrapped in a mostly blue body suit with white boots and gloves having electric bolt flare even with her mystical lightning bolt necklace around her neck. Her eyes glowed pure white while her rainbow mane and tail flowed up and behind her with well-muscled wings, as lightning jolted from the necklace around her in a brash stance in the air.

The second one zoomed in next to her holding a donut box with the label reading ‘Donut Joe’s to go!’, the earth pony mare was in a tight air resistance reducing fabric that gave a good image of her D cup breasts held up while her body looks like it could burn any fat away no matter how much she ate while the story is describing her body in detail she’s plopping a donut or two in with joyful glee as if hearing a unknown compliment. But continuing on her pink mane and tail look like a cotton candy trail that looks curved for more of her running speedster style, bouncing soon after in place to give the viewer of this story a good look at her body in a bubbly manner that got the mysterious cloak and cowled pony in possible armor to point a armored gauntlet in question.

“It’s Fili-Second just being herself, just go with it because she does weird stuff like this.” Zapp said in a frustrated tone, only for her friend Fili-Second to speak up with a cheer. “Well Zapp I am so happy because we finally got to show up in the story again! Even though it’s been a minor show in for me a couple times, but I’m happy because we get to fight our possible friend/enemy!” That earned a blink in confusion before the mystery pony spoke up this time as if to derail any future argument that looked to have been rolling out. “I hate to interrupt you both but, would it be too much trouble to deal with each other? I have a schedule to keep to, also it bites into that the longer you argue and I am not a ‘stallion’ who will dishonor you both by sneaking off before fighting you.”

That earned confused looks from them both before they start a form of rock paper scissors with each other, with Zapp apparently winning the first to attack. The mystery pony having taken a stance waiting for her now as he casually spoke saying this, with both eyes set on them. “So you both will fight me at once or one at a time?” the answer he got was zap flying at him rearing up a punch only to be knocked out of the sky by a couple of thrown chairs with a glow of one hand, with his other hand pointed at Fili-Second stopping her dead cold for when Zapp saw this she blanched at seeing someone capable of literally stopping her. Only to come back into action using the power of her necklace to try striking him with lightning to knock the stallion out, only to see the electricity condense around his five fingers flowing into him while taking the wind out of her body.

Blinking at the action before looking back at Fili-Second saying this to her. “When you and your friend wake up do tell her I am sorry for this part, it’s rather belittling to strike down two mares who are outmatched.” He said almost casually with some regret ebbing out, with another fully masked and suited mare came out the vault brimming with four full bags and whistling at him. “Right, I am just finishing up here.” He said soon after zip tying Zapp from a distance before knocking out Fili-Second as she heard this last part. “Well at least with this pilfered loot I will be able to start my war chest, and start paying you back-“ Her vision faded to black with the masked mare nuzzling the mystery stallion whom she knew was Doctor Doom for some unknown reason.

[Maretropolis – Gilded Bit and Trust, crime scene – After midnight]
[Masked Matter-Horn – Perspective]

I came rushing as quickly as I could after gathering the girls, upon our arrival there was both Zapp and Fili-Second sitting on the sidewalk with Zapp still winded as if somepony had bucked her stomach repeatedly. Rushing up to her as I begin doing a diagnostic spell to see what’s wrong while my erratic slow token of speaking was so shocking I lost track of what I was doing to just STARE at her, she was speaking in a depressed tone muttering about a stupid author for being a meanie.

That was until Zapp spoke up telling me what had happened in her own colorful way, even cursing at this strange ‘mystery stallion’ that somehow drained her when she attacked with her magic. That caused me to panic if there was anypony capable of draining magic! “Are you SURE he drained you? Because from what I am getting is a mild case of weakness.” I spoke shakily, historically there was only one such pony who could do that and he wasn’t a pony at all. He went by the title and name of ‘Lord Tirek’ who died long ago in tartarus of mysterious causes, even more confusing was how nopony saw who did it and there was no magic signature either for any death spell. Only just one hole in his forehead, it is the biggest mystery of all time second to Starswirl the Bearded’s disappearance.

But going by both of their accounts this mystery pony was indeed powerful, was capable of using magic and somehow got the upper hand against two of the fastest heroines Equestria has ever known! This is BIG TROUBLE! ‘Breathe twilight, follow through on your foal sitter’s relaxation technic. You can do this, you are Princess Celestia’s top prized pupil and can do this.’ My thoughts were interrupted this time by my sidekick Spike disguised as his alter ego humdrum, all because of my illusion spell. “twi- I mean Masked Matter-Horn I got the eye witness reports from the detectives inside, word for word like you would have asked me for. There were two suspects, one of them a Mysterious Stallion wearing a cloak with a cowl making any facial recognition impossible and said he was wearing armor of some kind with only gauntlets and hoof greaves being sure.”

He gave me time to process internally the main culprit whom hurt my friends, until he distracted me with details on the stealth mare named ‘Lyrical Silence’ with him, by the description it made me wonder if she was some mystery mercenary for hire. Was she this new mystery pony’s henchmare or victim? Was she mind controlled to do as he desired in dark places?!? “Masked Matter-Horn you’re doing that over reacting thing again, we need to help the girls. Panicking won’t help us and we can inform our guest heroines tomorrow when they get to the city.” That kicked me into gear and storming into the bank with a mission as the four bank employees here were still with detectives as a fifth was talking to them as well showing a brown earth pony stallion with a black mane and tail asking them questions and berating his hard earned tax bits on the police.

Only when I reached the vault did some things catch my eye, in one of the broken open deposit boxes was a gem from a stolen collection last year from the prench embassy, looking into another showed a stolen wonderbolts mint collection of the members a century ago focused on Blitz Flight. Looking back onto the detective ponies I said this loud enough for all of them to hear that caused Filthy Rich to pale a bit. “I need some warrants to be done up for the remaining deposit boxes as just glancing at two alone I can already identify two items in separate boxes that these are stolen goods.” With a resounding yes chorus making sure to double check my trivia facts on crime cases just to be sure, until I wonder back into thought wondering what kind of stallion would steal stolen goods and rob a bank at the same time?!

[Maretropolis – Filly Glade Apartments, Lyra's Place – after heist]
[Doctor Doom’s – Perspective]

Okay, good news is I went to a bar run by a zebra named Zecora, got the deposit box she wanted when I was robbing said bank and got at least ‘most’ of this supposed shipment by stacked amount of ‘bits’ that were placed in the vault on a trolley cart. Lyra’s demasked herself and bouncing in glee and was rather shocked how I handled two of the fastest heroines of the city, it felt as if I was fighting children. Only for the fact it felt like that after I was absorbing that ‘Zapp’s’ lightning attack, she looked physically drained when it kept feeding into me.

Maybe that’s why I felt super charged from when I saw how slow that pink one was moving when I struck her with immobilization hoping it would work. “Maybe it would still work, though my normal senses may not be able to keep up with them because I had the element of surprise on my side. Also I was indoors compared to that ‘Zapp’ while the one named ‘Fili-Second’ would normally have the advantage unless I was flying.” While I was thinking on this topic I saw Lyra appeared in my vision again grinning proudly as she hugged me by wrapping her arms around my neck.

“We did it victor! Hehehe, I was so nervous I was shaking inside the vault when I heard them and you talking outside. I froze up inside there and didn’t come out to protect you…” She visibly deflated in front of me looking rather depressed, it was hard to take on seeing someone try to cheer for me only to fail when it came to the bank heist. Maybe she’ll grow out of it or maybe I’ll need to just make sure she’s safe in the background…

Taking a sigh I move my fingers to draw her from the crouched position holding my leg shaking like a leaf until I carefully bent down to pick the mint unicorn up to stand again, making her look into my eyes as I took off my mask to show her my face so she knew I wasn’t upset with her. “Lyra Heartstrings, who was the mare who went out with me tonight?” She looked into my eyes after raising her chin a bit. “I am that mare. “Whom was the one who had my back when fighting nine ‘timberwolves’ and saw me scare the daylights of a ‘manticore’?” Lifting her head more confidently with a weak smile saying this now. “I helped you there victor, it made me happy.” She shuffled her hooves in an embarrassed fashion soon to ruffle her mane into a bit of a bounce let down look. “Who is the sexy mare that had my back when we went into a definitely dangerous bar in the middle of the woods where we could have been killed and buried?” She blanched a bit and recovered slowly by saying this with a bit more confidence. “I am that sexy mare.”

Smiling softly at her as I rub one of her ears getting a full brimming smile now as I say this. “Lyra, I may not have looked it but I was scared too. I had possibly thought of ‘THE. WORSE. POSSIBLE. THINGS.’ That could have happened to us tonight, but do you want to know what kept me going and collected?” She looked at my face wondering that until I said this. “A cute mare who had my back gave me the confidence to push forward even if we got into quite a bit of trouble tonight.” It was at that moment where she got those renewed ‘bedroom’ eyes and jumped me taking a first pony to human kiss, her lips were surprisingly soft and that tongue that soon slithered into my mouth sent shivers down her spine when touching my canines that made her lose the strength in her legs with her mane and fur slightly statically charged.

[Third Pony Perspective – the news!]

The screen plays showing the bank heist scene where the Power Ponies were gathered and said that two of the six had apparently briefly fought a villain in their fair city of Maretropolis and descriptions are sketchy at most of a duo pair of a Stallion shockingly leading this time and a strange professional mare who may be a mute due to the name disclosed as ‘Lyrical Silence’ being a unicorn in question, while the mystery stallion in cloak and cowl stated to be a unicorn also who may be wearing armor.

Nothing can be sure at this time but the Power Ponies have given their assurances that they are on the case! Tune in next time as we’ll try to hopefully be on the scene if we are lucky to cover said confrontation that dares to threaten this city, also in other news the bank Gilded Bit and Trust is now under investigation for being a place to hide stolen goods!

[Maretropolis – unknown apartment – later that night]
[GBT Mare Manager – Perspective]

Having entered my apartment and checking everything for tampering or sabotage I release my form revealing a black chitin exterior that appears after green fire encases my body allowing me to finally relax and was quite glad that my disguise didn’t fail from the blow to the head. Looking over my appearance in the mirror with a grimace from the subtle bruising from being knocked out twice by blunt instrument, only to sigh and try focusing on the spell my queen taught me when she comes into focus on the mirror saying this. “What happened to you drone?”