"Do you remember the legend of the purple dragon?" The pony muttered, not turning away from the flickering holographic screens.

"Yes, father." The colt behind him muttered, blowing a strand of silver mane out of his face. "What of it?"

"I do believe it has returned." The pony at the monitor stepped back, pointing a hoof at the screen. "There."

"Father, the purple dragons have long gone extinct. You have been obsessing over this far too long." The younger pony trotted up, squinting into the light. "Indeed, the dragon is purple. But there are thousands of purple dragons on the circuit."

"No, no, that's where you're wrong. This one is purple." The stallion's eyes twinkled and he rubbed his hooves together. "It's the one! I know it!"

"You want it to 'escape'?"

He nodded. "And don't lose this one."

"I've never lost one, father."

"Why do I have to clean up after stupid dragons?" Twilight muttered, lifting the broom into it's holder telekinetically.

"Because you won't ride one?" Her little sister said helpfully.

"That's not my fault! They're big, and mean, and stupid! Why should anyone want to ride one?"

"Twilight, shush! Daddy might hear you!"

"Oh, Daddy already has." A deep voice laughed. A tall stallion - pale blue, with a darker mane - walked around the corner, shaking his head. "If you need to yell like that, please do it away from the dragons."

"Hi, Night Light!" Dawn Glimmer said, running over and hugging his leg.

"Not like it matters." The unicorn grumbled. "They don't seem to care."

"They care." Night Light sighed. "If you would ride one for once, you might understand-"

"-and that's never going to happen." Twilight finished. "Don't you have a race on right now?"

"Yeah, but one of the interns is watching for me. Oh, look what I figured out today!" He turned around, levitating a couple of the metal plates used to enhance a dragon's natural power. "Spike! Spike, come here!"

A huge dragon, easily twice Twilight's height, plodded into the stable. The pale green marks on his sides contrasted beautifully with his purple scales. He growled affectionately, nudging Night Light with his nose.

"Come on, Spike, show Twilight and Dawn what you can do."

The dragon rolled his eyes - Twilight got the feeling that her father had tried this dozens of times - and the metal plates started to spark, merging with his aura. Each being lifted on a bolt of arcane lightning, they stuck to his scales.

"See?" Night laughed. "Look!"

"Dad, I don't really understand why that's so great. All dragons can do that."

"No, they can't. These are all different colors. All the other dragons I've seen can only use one!"

"That's... great, dad."

"And as the Pony Rangers, your duty is to protect Equestria!"

A smaller, blue pony stuck her head in the projected screen. "You said duty!"

The first hologram, a white pony, frowned down at the second, before turning it's gaze back to the ponies assembled. "Celestia and Luna, signing off."

"Bye!"

The six ponies stared at the now-dull wall, mouths gaping.

"We're... what?" Applejack muttered.

Another section of the wall revealed a secret, sliding away like a door. A small figure, not equine at all, stepped through.

"Spike? What's going on?" Twilight asked.

The little dragon shook his head. "You've been in the dark for far too long." He pulled out a box from behind his back, opening the steel cover to reveal a shining white interior. On the what-seemed-to-be silk were six watches. "All six of you are here for different reasons. But you've all had a special connection since before you met."

He walked up to the first pony in line; Pinkie Pie.

"Spike? Didn't you buy cupcakes from me yesterday?"

He rolled his eyes. "I had to make sure it was you." He lifted one of the watches out of the box, a simple grey band. However, when he buckled it around Pinkie's hoof, it turned a bright pink and a small logo in the shape of her cutie mark showed up.

"You, Pinkie, have the Element of Laughter. Use it well."

The next pony was Applejack. This time, the band became orange.

"'Ah could have sworn I'd seen you before."

"I came by for a dozen apples once. Your Element is Honesty. Use it well."

Fluttershy... Rainbow Dash... Rarity...

"Spike, why didn't you tell me?"

The dragon strapped her band on, which became a nice lavender color. "You were the one that couldn't know at all."

He stepped back and held up his other claw, revealing a light purple band with a green flame insignia. It had blended so well with his scales that it hadn't been noticeable.

"Put your hoof to your watch." He instructed.

Each pony felt themselves being lifted into the air, a magical wind kicking up. Arcane metal appeared, shimmering in the color of the bands. The metal attached to each pony's body, forming a thin - but apparently protective - coat.

There was a unified awe throughout the ponies.

"You guys just wait until you see the 'zords." Spike added with a grin.