“Well, isn’t this… fun?” Sunburst remarked as monsters surrounded them from every side. He nearly gagged at the sheer smell the globulous mess called Repellator was giving off. He could see why the cycloptic monster had earned it’s name. “It’s like a Monster Mash. ...Only without the fun that the dance gives you.”

“Displeased to meet you!” Repellator commented, before actually licking Sunburst who actually had to fight back a gag.

“Oh Celestia, oh for Pete’s sake, I’m never going to get this out of my suit! Never!” Sunburst gagged and retched. “...Oh, I’d better not throw up in my helmet here!”

He soon did when the Grumble Bee and King Sphinx punched the poor stallion in the stomach making him stagger back into Lightning and Sunset’s arms.

“Ooh, if we were all so lucky!” the Grumble Bee commented when seeing the two mares help Sunburst to his hooves.

“Pervert,” Lightning muttered. “And for the record, I don’t even swing that way you… Well, whatever the hell you are. ...Mystic Mother, please don’t tell me all those eyes of yours mean you can see through walls!” she quickly commented in a nervous tone upon seeing a monster made completely and I mean completely made of eyes.

“Looks like we’re not seeing eye-to-eye here!” the monster, who was aptly named Eye Guy commented. “Sorry you feel that way, but really I’m actually happy to be apart of this grand reunion!”

“Wish I could say the same…” Sunset remarked as her now massively extended wings created a flaming circle all around the Rangers and Kamen Rider Double. A few of the monsters yelped and jumped back upon seeing this. “Well, you know what they say… Can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!” she joked before sighing. Oh, that was a pretty poor one on her part.

Vapor then summoned her Leviathan Zord and had it create multiple sonar blasts that flattened the monsters to the ground. This did have the side effect of destroying a few homes however, something Vapor deeply hated. More property damage caused via their battles.

“Welp, there goes our insurance premiums… again,” Sunset sighed. “That bought us some breathing room, but not a lot really…” she trailed off before ordering: “Double, see if you can help here!”

“Noted!” Lyra’s voice remarked.

\ Cyclone! /

Firing a few air blasts from her Trigger Magnum, Double made a few of the monsters back off before she once again switched Gaia Memories.

\ Metal! /
\ Luna! /
\ Luna, Maximum Drive! /

Her body turning half-gold, and half-silver, Double spun her new staff around in the air and created some rings before firing them at the monsters, destroying Bones, Eye Guy and Repellator.

“And to finish things…” Bon-Bon trailed off.

\ Joker! /
\ Joker, Maximum Drive! /

Double actually split down the middle, with four copies of the Luna half being formed and all five halves used karate chops on the remaining monsters with only King Sphinx getting away. And even then he didn’t make it very far with another LunaMetal Maximum Drive putting him down for good.

“Welp, suppose you can’t win ‘em all…” Bon-Bon sighed, canceling her transformation before she rushed over to Lyra’s side, the mare slowly awakening.

“Ugh… Now that was an experience. And to think, we’ll be doing that again!” Lyra muttered. “Still, it was fairly exciting, almost like sex but you get the thrill of beating monsters up! Such a rush!” she squealed out.

“Still fairly intimate though…” Bon-Bon trailed off and both Sunset and Lightning gagged.

“Ugh, think I’m going to get diabetes here from all of that mushiness,” Lightning remarked before looking at Sunburst. “Please tell me you and Galaxy aren’t like that…”

Sunburst’s blush said it all.

“Oh, for fu-”

Sunset cut Lightning off before she could finish that sentence. “They’ll be back. If someone can recreate those things once, then they can do it again,” she remarked. “Meaning this is far from over.”

“...Joy.”

On the other side of town, Rarity fell to the ground panting and sweating with Finster rushing over to her side.

“See, I warned you didn’t I? Not to rush yourself, and yet you did exactly that and look what happened!” the little terrier-like creature berated the Element of Generosity as she picked herself off the ground. “As much as I loved finding out for myself you do have the capability to create monsters and are in fact a fast learner you need to pace yourself milady! Patience is a virtue in this line of work, you know! Rome was not built in a day, and I didn’t become a master creature creator and sculptor in a single night! No ma’am!”

“How… How long did it take for you then?” Rarity asked.

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it if I told you…” Finster remarked, with a touch of longing and sadness in his tone. Although exactly why, Rarity wasn’t entirely sure.

“One… One would think just drawing these strange, strange creatures in my book- er sorry, your book, “ Rarity stated quickly correcting herself upon Finster’s glare. “Would not exhaust me so, no?”

Finster smirked privately to himself. One thing he was definitely not keen on telling Rarity, at least this early in the game was that each time she created a monster she consumed some of her own mana -or life force when it came down to it really- in the process. There was a way to get it back, mind, but of course he wasn’t going to tell her that until she did the little favor he had in mind for her. If he decided to tell her at all of course. She was just a little pony fashionista in way over her head.

“Well, all art is… shall we say exhausting to learn at the first few days of doing it really,” Finster replied delicately careful not to show his hand too soon. “Baby steps first Miss Rarity.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Rarity replied in an inquisitive tone. “How did you know my name anyways, and what was that little favor you mentioned?”

“Oh, of course I knew your name Madam,” Finster said with a little bow. “Everyone knows your name, how could they not?!? You’re Rarity Belle, the finest fashionista in all the land!”

“Yes, well I suppose that is quite true is it not?” Rarity said with a small giggle blushing as she did so. She managed to hide her blush behind a few locks of her mane doing a remarkable impression of Fluttershy in the process. “But let’s not get ahead of ourselves shall we? I’m happily married, remember?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dare to intrude!” Finster exclaimed holding up his hands faking fear of the mare. “Not in the slightest, in fact I actually sincerely congratulate you on staying married this long. Oh, couples these days…” he trailed off sadly. “Oh, they rarely stay together, all for various reasons getting in the way. Hard to make a marriage work really…”

“I’m sensing you’ve been married before,” Rarity replied. “But then again, of course you have! Who wouldn’t want to marry a cute little thing such as yourself? Oh, I really must know the lucky miss or sir’s name!” she babbled excitedly. “Please do tell!”

“Her name was Plepra if you must know. But that’s neither here nor there. As for that little favor?” he asked before giggling. He mustn’t show his hand, at least not yet. “Well, you’ll find out, all in due time. Now, there is work to be done! You must protect me! Thrax, I suspect if he were to get his hands on this book he would truly be unstoppable!”

Rarity’s eyes widened before they narrowed. “Oh, yes quite. Have no fear, you shall be protected on my own life if need be!” she declared holding up her own variant of the trigger magnum with the Bomb Gaia Memory strapped to her waist.

“While I absolutely deplore violence like yourself, I feel that in this case, it may very well be a necessary evil,” Finster admitted. “That brute Thrax would stop at nothing to have the power this book contains. Thrax, unfortunately, has inherited all of his father’s ‘charm’ so to speak, and his ambitious nature. Only the infamous Count Dregon with his Spiderbase ever matched Lord Zedd in sheer power and ambition while he was alive I’m afraid!”

Lord Zedd, Rarity mused. That name sounded awfully familiar. Filing it away for later, Rarity continued.

“Do these creatures serve a purpose? Are they dangerous?” Rarity asked. “I certainly wouldn’t want to put my friends in danger!”

“No, you’re not putting them in danger,” Finster soothed. “These are only experiments, they never would last long anyways. You would need more time and practice to create longer lasting creatures!”

That much was true, but truth be told Finster was worried. Rarity was a powerful mare -The fact that she created a lockseed based on a legendary hero was proof alone of that- and she was learning quickly. Much too quickly in fact. Nor was she a stupid mare, she would get wise to his schemes if he let her. Somehow, she had to be redirected, or she might begin to figure out his true intentions. Then, an idea came to him. It would have to have him forgo his endgame for the time being, but he was a patient monster. He could play the long game if he had to.

“Anyways,” Finster continued on. “Let me tell you, a true artist is never really appreciated!”

“But… But I am appreciated Finster!” Rarity exclaimed. “I mean, ponies come from near and far just to commission me! I have a happy life, a loving husband, a darling sister, and a wonderful adopted son!”

Finster filed away the information about Rarity’s sister for later, she would play well into his plans. Or if all else failed, she could be used as leverage for whatever reason.

“Yes, but have the Princesses themselves ever shown an interest in your work?” Finster inquired.

“Well,” Rarity trailed off. “They have admired my work from afar yes…”

“But have they ever asked you personally for a dress?” Finster continued to press.

“Aside from Twilight and Sunset you mean? No, not really…” Rarity sighed sadly. “And even they hate galas and the like for the most part. Hell, Sunset, as I can recall, has never been one for fancy dress. Even now, if you can believe it, as the Princess of Empathy she takes to wearing these leather jackets whenever she can! Likes to look ‘cool’ as she puts it,” Rarity scoffed. “And don’t think it was just because Robert, a bad boy when he wants to be, showed up in her life! It was before then even! It’s like pulling teeth getting her to wear a dress except if she really and I mean really needs to!” she huffed, flaring her nostrils with a little bit of smoke coming out.

She suddenly looked quite ashamed of herself.

“Oh, here I am, a prim and proper lady to the last bad-mouthing my friends and their choice in dress attire! They should be allowed to wear what they want, and not have me getting on their case about it…” Rarity murmured in shame. “Look at me, just acting like a little filly because I can’t get two of my friends to wear simple things such as dresses! Oh Finster, promise you won’t tell them about my little tirade?”

“I would never!” Finster said with a small wink. “Your secret is safe with me to the last. But surely you must want the other three Princesses to wear one of your dresses am I right?”

“Well, of course, I do, but they never ask!” Rarity grumbled to herself. “Oh, if only…”

Finster only sighed. If he wanted to get Rarity to cooperate with him, he would have to serve her for the time being. “Well then, I must say they are doing you a great disservice milady! You should show them your true capabilities! Show them that you are not to be ignored! Make a dress so fabulous, everyone would want one but only one pony in the world, the great Princess Celestia; the Sol Invictus and the Solaris Knight should be allowed to wear it!”

“Oh yes, that is quite so! That’d show everyone that I am not to be ignored! But if I am going to design a dress fit for royalty, I must look the part!”

She snapped her fingers, and with a flash of green magic her fur darkened to something akin to black as night, and she gained golden adornments rivaling even Princess Celestia’s own royal garb. “Oh, I take back what I said before! Now, this… this is me!” Rarity exclaimed doing a small twirl. “Hark! Look upon me, Equestria, for I... am... Rarity!”

“Well, at least I didn’t get one of the less egotistical ones…” Finster thought in a dry tone. Across town, at the now Crystal Oaks Library as Lightning had just taken to calling it the Rangers formed a battle plan.

“Okay, so it’s the book,” Sunburst stated. Both Sunset and Twilight were giving Spike glares. “It’s got to be.”

“Really Spike, whatever possessed you to think that taking a big, black and spiky book that had probably been locked away for a damn good reason was a good idea?” Twilight asked, hands on hips.

“I… I thought it might help Rarity. She was desperate, you should have seen her after Claude blew her off! She was crying, eating ice cream! Bucket loads!” Spike stammered out practically wilting under Twilight’s glare.

“Well, more power to him I say,” Gilda remarked in the background. “He wanted to help his crush, never mind the fact that she was married, and so he did so!”

“Thank you!” Spike stated before muttering: “Glad to have someone on my side…” only for Twilight to intensify her glare.

“Shut up Gilda,” she and Sunset both said before Twilight continued. “Spike, how many times…” she began, rubbing her forehead in pain as she felt a headache began to come on. “Spike, how many times have I told you never to pick something up, and especially never trust anything that seems to think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain?”

“Now normally,” Robert commented. “I’d be with Spike on this one, even if Rarity is married I’d do whatever I can to help her considering she’s become like a mother to me and all, but even I can tell this was completely stupid. And when I can tell something is folly, you know something’s wrong!”

“You should be in bed Robert,” Sunset sighed despite knowing it was probably a moot point. “Doctor’s orders,”

“Yeah, not when the whole town’s gone nuts. Everything getting all prettified was one thing, as I take it that’s just regular Ponyville insanity from all of the other incidents I’ve heard about -Parasprites anyone?- but when old monsters from Finster’s brain start walking and talking again? No thank you, I will not sit down for this!” Robert replied.

“Alright… Fine,” Sunset muttered, rapidly beginning to get the same headache Twilight was inflicted with. “But if you’re going to be helpful, here,” she said, putting on a ring and summoning up the Griffon PlaMonster before bringing it to life with that very same ring. It flapped out a nearby window as Robert was handed a little mirror. “Keep an eye in the sky with this familiar. Look for any rogue monsters, and direct us to them. We’ll look for Rarity, and handle her and that book… Whatever it is.”

“Hey, don’t count me out of this,” Gilda remarked, cracking her knuckles. “If I’m going to be staying with you till death do us part,” she continued, Twilight having sorta explained the situation with her and the griffon princess as best she could. “Might as well make myself useful. Don’t like the majority of you, as you’re much too cheery and touchy-feely for my tastes but still not going to sit around while everything goes to shit and stuff gets trashed.”

“Gee, I never knew you cared.” Sunburst deadpanned.

“Who the Hell do you think I am? Some sort of complete bitch?”

“...Could have fooled me.” Sunburst muttered, and Twilight had to hold Gilda back with her magic before she could pummel the unicorn into a pulp.

“...I’m almost afraid of asking this Gilda, but how are you going to…?” Sunset wondered aloud.

“I have my ways,” Gilda smirked as her arms glowed with an aquamarine tinted mist that made Robert’s eyes practically pop out of their head. “You guys handle your friend, me and my fists have a few things to smash. These monsters are old dudes, right? Probably brittle to the bone. Should be living their days out in retirement homes if that’s the case, not out wrecking everything.”

“Trust me, these guys were dangerous silly looking as they are,” Robert warned. “Gave Earth’s first Power Ranger team quite a lot of trouble. And before that, they were used as planet subjugators,” he warned and a few stares were sent his way. Robert sighed. “Yes, even the pig one. Ate all of the Mighty Morphin’ team’s weapons. Before you ask how they beat him, turns out piggie had a real aversion to spicy foods.”

“Spicy foods eh? Good thing my country knows a few things or two about that!” a very familiar voice commented with a small chuckle as Daring landed outside the Library, before walking in only to be greeted via a hug from Sunset.

“Daring!” she shouted happily.

“Hey Sunset,” the adventurer chuckled fondly ruffling Sunset’s mane. In the background, Gilda’s beak hung loosely. Not just at the fact Daring Do was a real pony, but Sunset apparently knew her. “Could you… uh, stop glomping me for a moment? Sorta makes it hard for me to help out here.”

“Oh… Yes, sorry,” Sunset laughed nervously before regaining her composure.

“There’s fanfiction about you two, I just know it…” Robert teased with an unashamed grin.

“Oh yeah, you little chico zorro?” Daring asked waggling her eyebrows. “Remind me to read some of it sometime. You just don’t get any ideas okay? Anyways, there’s some sort of book involved in all of this I gather…?” the gold-furred pegasus asked having heard some of the conversations from outside. Galaxy apparently was right behind her, and once he was outside away from the sunlight he pulled down the hood of his cloak.

“Yeah, there is,” Twilight confirmed giving Spike another small glare. “What I don’t get is, how this all connects to all of Rita’s old monsters coming back to life…”

“Seems to me that there’s more to that book than meets the eye…” Daring remarked.

“So, simple enough plan,” Sunset remarked. “We find Rarity, pry that book away from her, and torch it.”

“Thank you,” Lightning remarked. “Something that’s not too overly complicated, and something that I can finally get behind!”

“...When you say it like that, you make it sound so easy,” Twilight pointed out. “Something tells me Rarity won’t let us get ahold of that book so easily. She’s not just getting magical power from that book, something tells me it’s working it’s magic on her. We find her, Goddess knows what she’ll do.”

“You’re one of her best friends right?” Gilda asked. “Surely she wouldn’t hurt you…”

“In her right mind, no,” Twilight replied. “But I’m not entirely sure she’s in that. So in which case, we need to prepare for the worst… HENSHIN!” She shouted pulling out her Sengoku Driver and slamming the Wizard Lockseed into it before slicing it open.

“Wizard Arms: Shabadoobi Showtime!”

As ever, a zipper to Helheim opened up above her but this time a massive version of Wizard’s helmet lowered down before opening up giving Twilight ruby-encrusted armor and the WizarSwordGun.

“Now, it's showtime!” Twilight remarked.

Back at Carousel Boutique, Rarity was hard at work stitching together her most extravagant dress yet, something so ridiculously detailed it would look right at home on the body of someone from the Capitol of Panem.

“Just saying Rares, you haven’t been sleeping in days,” Zephyr remarked in a concerned tone. “You’re going to work yourself to death here!”

“I don’t need sleep, Zephyr, I need to create~” Rarity responded, letting out a smaller giggle. “You worry too much. I know, when I’m finished with this, I’ll give you a makeover to match my own~”

“Yeah… I’m not entirely sure that whole Nightmare Moon homage gimmick would work for me…” Zephyr trailed off. “Listen Rares, this whole thing? It isn’t right. It’s not you!” he pleaded.

“Oh, but it is me! I’ve never felt so much more alive!” Rarity turned, smiling seductively at him. “Don’t you want to at least try it?”

“Uh…” Zephyr sweated. “Listen, as much as I like to dive into new things -Just ask my sister- I think this is a little too much for me. Ever since you got that book, you’ve been acting differently. Surely you have to realize this?”

“I’m merely releasing my inner creation. That goddess called possibility, she’s within me!” Moving away from her dress, she sauntered over to him. “You know, why wait? Let’s make you truly my equal.” Trapping him in a kiss, she began to reshape his body like she had her own.

Suddenly, a voice called out: “Wizard Au Lait! Special, please!” before Rarity found herself kicked back into a mannequin before she could complete the reshaping. “Very nice! Fabulous!” the Wizard Lockseed called. Twilight’s hoof during the kick had been engulfed by a flaming dragon’s head.

“Jungle Beast, Spirit Unleashed!”

“Rarity, hand the book over to me, now. I won’t ask again,” Twilight said as she pointed the SwordGun in Gun mode at Rarity. “I don’t know what’s happened to you, but I promise you I’ll fix this.”

“Fix? Darling, I don’t need to be fixed!” Rarity rose to her hooves, giving a toothy grin. “I’m finally free to be myself! Now, I was in the middle of something when you rudely decided to interrupt.”

“Nice to know,” Gilda remarked, having morphed into the Green Elephant Ranger. Nearby, Sunburst was getting Zephyr to safety knowing very well this could turn ugly. “Oh for Goddess’s sake, that dress? I’m so glad we barged in. It’s ghastly!”

“How dare you, you obnoxious, overgrown turkey!” Rarity sneered, her horn lighting up. “I will not stand for such insolence!”

Twilight quickly threw up a shield as Rarity fired her horn and the Boutique’s whole front half was blown wide open with both Twilight and Gilda being knocked backwards onto the street.

“...You know, I was almost insulted by that turkey remark. Real clever, I ought to applaud her for that,” Gilda deadpanned. “Real cute.”

“Might I make a few suggestions?” Finster asked, peering out of the whole. “You see, I gave so many designs my mistress never decided to bring forth. Would you be so kind as to do so in my stead?”

“Gladly,” Rarity replied ideas flying into her head and being transmuted onto the page with each design flying off.

“And just when I thought they couldn’t get any uglier…” Twilight muttered as this sheep-like creature took shape.

“I have come to spread the Word!!!” The sheep creature bellowed, gnashing little sheep sized cotton balls launching from his fur until they were a hoard. “You must all be enlightened!”

“Just what the fuck…” Gilda trailed off, launching her Elephant Spirit at the hoard as Sunset rammed ‘Sheeple’ with her Savage Cycle. She then spun on the bike’s front wheel and hit him with the vehicle’s back end.

“Tool of monarchic oppression, you will not silence the Word!” Sheeple backhanded Sunset off the cycle and into another home. “Tell them all my sheeple!”

“Billy was the Phantom Ranger!” the hoard bellowed, assaulting Gilda with sonic screams. “King Sombra lives!”

“...Oh, a conspiracy theorist, how lovely,” Twilight remarked, shooting the hoard with her borrowed weapon. “Hands off my wife. Only one who gets to yell at her is me.”

With that, both she and Gilda punched Sheeple in the face.

“Thanks… I think,” Gilda muttered before her eyes widened. “Twilight, behind you!”

King Sphinx leaped in from behind ready to strike Twilight with his blade till the sound of Sunburst and his Savage Cycle was heard, with the Black Ranger leaping off of it and slicing King Sphinx across the chest with his Jungle Fans.

“In the back! Low move!” Sunburst shouted, kicking King Sphinx in the chest before pulling out the swallow crystal and changing his crystal saber into the swallowrang and tossing it. King Sphinx just knocked it out of the air with fireballs but was only left open for Double’s Rider Kick, the Joker Extreme.

“Everyone must hear the word!” Taking the punch, Sheeple sent Gilda tumbling away with another wave of sound. “Cadence is Princess Amore! Twilight Sparkle is Celestia’s daughter!”

\ Metal! /

“You know, as fun as some of these theories sound... “ Double remarked as her right half turned a solid silver. “I think you need a tinfoil hat or two.”

With that, she spun her staff in midair sending blasts of green-colored wind towards Sheeple. Sheeple slide back, more and more of the little monsters spawning from him. “Time itself has been sundered! You’re all blind fools, unable to glimpse the truth!”

“Yeah yeah… Don’t care!” Double said pulling out another memory.

\ Trigger! /

Just as she was about to perform the Trigger Aerobuster on the monster and his minions, Repellator leaped in and fired off blasts of slime from his mouth coating Double in this sticky substance. And as if to make matters worse, Putties were now swarming the town.

“Why… Why?” Rarity asked Finster. “Why are they attacking my friends? You said this was just art, not violence. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, not really… I just wanted everyone to see what I can do!” she pleaded.

“There is art in destruction, my fair Rarity, such beauty,” Finster replied, smiling warmly. “You’re merely introducing a brand new art style to your pastel world,”

“Your mistress… She was Rita Repulsa wasn’t she?” Rarity asked dangerously, her eyes narrowed. “I should have known from the start. Your creatures… No, your monsters, they match her style. Thrax’s style. Goddess, I was such a fool. ...Such a fool,” she whispered to herself in shame.

Finster stepped over to her, placing his hand on her side. “Now my dear, don’t be so hard on yourself. Some people are just too charismatic to ignore,” He locked eyes with her, eyes shining with magic. “You’ve not only improved yourself and your husband, how about that sister of yours? Ah, and that dragon too. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“No… No, this isn’t improvement. This is just you using me for your own ends. I should have seen that before,” Rarity replied, hitting Finster hard across the face with a right cross.

Finster tsked, shaking his head. “Oh, Rarity, you say that as if you have a choice.”

“Everyone has a choice. And I choose to stop this. What if I ripped this book in half right here, or burned it? What would happen to you then?” Rarity asked.

“You never had a choice, none at all,” With a flick of his wrist, the magic he had slipped into Rarity took hold, blotting out her will. “Now, lets go round up those youngsters shall we?”

“What… What the Hell did you do to her?” Sunset asked, eyes narrowed upon seeing Finster. The book’s power had grown strong enough to make him visible, if not give him physical form. Her sword was practically ablaze in her anger as Putties began to melt all around her.

“Nothing that needs to concern you Ranger. I’d be more worried about your friends,” Gesturing behind her, he hummed in delight as the swarm of sheeple enveloped Double and Gilda. “Best make see to it they don’t become chew toys. Come now, Rarity. We have places to be!”

Sunset let out a scream of rage, and ignited all the sheeple freeing Double and Gilda before turning her blade on Repellator slicing him in half gore splattering her costume.

“Oh, isn’t this fun?” Thrax laughed as he teleported in bolts of red lightning, his mother’s wand in hand. “Oh, I always should have suspected my Godfather had this back-up plan in store… Never thought it’d be quite this amusing though!” he laughed, before firing red lightning bolts at Sunset, Double, Baroness and the rest of the Rangers knocking them to the floor.

“Unleash the Power!” Daring and Galaxy shouted as they fired their Dino Morphers at Thrax and just as he was knocked back by the energy blasts they morphed and hit him in the face with twin flying side kicks.

“Everyone’s come out to play it seems…” Thrax muttered, as he raised his staff skywards and brought down even more bolts of lightning that Daring and Galaxy just only absorbed with their blades before fireballs were sent their way flooring them. “Now if you excuse me, I have an old friend to catch up with!”

With that, he teleported off to Finster’s location.

As it happened, Finster and Rarity had cornered both Spike -Who had been using his flames to charbroil putties- and Sweetie Belle in a park atop a wooden bridge.

“Oh, isn’t this cute, a knight in shining scales come to save his sweetie!” Finster giggled. Thrax just observed from a rooftop.

“Rarity... “ Sweetie pleaded. “This isn’t you… Please, stop. You’re scaring me!”

“Oh but, Sweetie, soon you’ll be even better than you are now!” Rarity giggled, taking both Spike and Sweetie in her magic. “Finster, I believe we’re ready to start~”

“You know, I never did tell you what happened to that wife of mine now did I?” Finster asked even as Sweetie and Spike struggled to get free. “It was an accident I assure you, I never meant to harm her,” Taking the book from Rarity, he began the spell. His magic overpowered Rarity’s, the power of the book seeping into them. “But, that’s about to be fixed,”

“Well Finster,” Thrax remarked as he teleported down to the terrier-like creature’s level. Both Spike and Sweetie’s eyes widened in fear upon seeing him. “Still up to your old tricks I see,”

“I was hoping to be finished before you caught wind,” Finster tsked, continuing his spell. Both teens locked up, their expressions going blank. “Are you here to stop me?”

“Oh no, quite the opposite I assure you,” Thrax remarked. “Orgs are so unreliable these days, I need something besides them if I’m going to continue my parents’ legacy. Consider me this offering you up a job opening, to continue what you loved best.”

“Certainly a tempting offer indeed. We shall speak after I’m settled in. If you excuse me.” Melting into a ghostly apparition, he flew into Spike. Another shape manifested from the book, flowing into Sweetie Belle. The book slammed shut, dropping them both to the ground.

“Well now Finster, you’ve actually outdone yourself…” Thrax chuckled having just realized what the monster maker’s plan actually was.

‘Spike’ groaned, sitting up slowly. Blinking his eyes, he held up his hands. “Ah~ It worked! I live again!” Rising to his feet, Finster took in his new form. “Ah, the vigor of youth, I had long forgotten it.”

“Congratulations are in order Finster,” Thrax remarked. Unknown to any of them, an emerald green griffon with gold detailing was flapping above them, watching everything. “I suppose your greatest experiment is a success…”

‘Is it?” Finster reached over, shaking Sweetie Belle. “Plepra? Plepra, wake up!” he pleaded.

‘Sweetie’ groaned, opening her eyes. “Where...?” she blinked, looking at the dragon in front of her. “Where am I?”

“S-Sweetie…?” Rarity whispered in fear, having been released from the spell. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!?!” she screamed at Finster, her horn sparking angrily.

Finster snorted, hugging Plepra close to him. “I undid the worst mistake of my life, I brought my dear sweet Plepra back!”

“That’s… That’s what this was all about?” Rarity whispered out in horror. If she’d taken notice of Thrax, she said nothing. “You using me as a puppet, you making me attack my friends with your creations, you taking control of Spike and then my sister, just to bring back your wife?”

“I’m sorry about all of that, but I needed to make it right!” Finster snapped, smoke rising from his nostrils. “And I’m not letting anyone ruin this!”

“You brought me back, again?” Plepra asked slowly, looking down at her new body. “This isn’t me, Finster. You stole this body from someone else!”

“But… But I only wanted to be reunited with you…” Finster whispered. Thrax seemed actually quite amused by all of this, leaning up against a tree and conjuring up a bucket of popcorn.

“All the times you’ve brought me back, did you ever consider how much it hurt?” Plepra pulled away, glaring at her husband. “And now you’ve stolen these bodies from those who haven’t even begun to live!”

“It was all for you my dear…” Finster whispered actually feeling the smallest pangs of guilt beginning to rise up inside him. Plepra was right, these two… They’d only now just begun to live their lives. Did he have that right to take that away from them? Just so he could relive his own life?

“I-If I may?” Rarity asked, cutting in. “What your husband has done it... it sickens me but...” she leaned down, scooping up the discarded tome. “If you both agree to leave my sister and my friend, can’t I create you new bodies?”

“N-No,” Finster said shaking his head. “If you did that, you’d use up all of your mana. Your life force. I squandered my chance at life, I can’t allow you to do the same. Not even for my wife.”

“I could still try!” she argued, frowning. Thrax continued to observe, wanting to see what becomes of this. “Everyone deserves a second chance!”

“Rarity, I appreciate your sentiments, and your generosity, it’s your greatest trait after all but no… I don’t deserve a second chance. You know what I did to my wife? When she found about my crimes? I murdered her, and just kept bringing her on back as a clay sculpture. Never thinking her just quite right, I took an axe to her, again and again. Now ask yourself, is that someone truly worthy of a second chance? Of your death?” Finster asked her. “Please, I beg of you… Just let me face judgment for my crimes. Maybe the Mystic Mother will spare me mercy, maybe she won’t. It’s up to her to decide what becomes of me.”

Rarity frowned, gripping the book tighter. “That’s cowardice and you know it! You’re too afraid to face what you’ve done, too afraid to buckle down and redeem yourself! Too terrified of making something better with yourself!

“And what about Thrax over there? He’d gladly take me, just to make more monsters. That… That is a fate worse than death,” Finster replied. “Please, just let me die so I will never harm this world again.”

Rarity glanced at Thrax, then down at the book. Turning to Thrax, she hardened her gaze. “Thrax, you are a monster,” She glanced back at the two before back at him. “If you help me with this spell and leave the two of them to us, I let you walk away with this book.”

“Really now?” Thrax asked. “A member of the Elements, betraying Equestria just to save two measly little lives? I never thought you to be so bold… But, sorry. I can’t accept that.”

With that, he zapped Rarity into unconsciousness before turning his attention to Finster and his wife. He raised his hands, both crackling with orbs of lightning. “I’m sorry Finster, but all I need is the book. You’re just a loose end.”

He fired, only for a purple flash to intercept the lightning. When Finster and his wife looked up, they saw Emily holding back the lightning blasts with her Spin Sword.

“Run, you two, now! Tell the Rangers as to what’s going on! I can handle him!” Emily shouted.

“Well, isn’t this a surprise. Letting a monster live. You just keep on adding up to your crimes Emily Suzuki…” Thrax grinned devilishly. “Another mistake to add to your tally!”

“Yes, I’ve accepted I’ve made far too many mistakes in my life, but allowing two lives to live, and stopping you from getting your hands on more power than you’ll ever need? Well, I think they all even out. Unleash the Power,” she stated calmly, morphing directly into her Ranger form. “Plesiosaurus, Power Ranger Purple.”

She continued fighting back Thrax’s lightning bolts and slashed into his skin drawing blood before kicking him backwards through a tree. “I could have taken the coward’s way out, Seppuku, but no. I’m choosing to live my life, go with whatever crimes I committed and help the next generation however I can,” Emily stated. “Even if that means dying in the process and falling to you!”

She charged forwards leaving a purple trail of lightning behind her, sending Thrax flying before she drew a few symbols in midair with her Samuraizer. アースパームス：クラッシュ

Two hands made of sheer rock and earth erupted from the ground and crushed Thrax in-between them before retracting allowing Emily to send a yellow wave of energy from her sword. Thrax fell to the ground, his body smoking as the rest of the Rangers ran up along with Twilight and Double.

“DAMN YOU!” Thrax shouted as he grabbed the tome. “Magic wand, make these monsters grow!” he roared as all of Rarity’s creations within the past hour grew to colossal size. Chuckling, Thrax teleported out with the tome in hand.

“Oh hell…” Sunset muttered.

“Wild Zords, combine!”

With shifting and whirring sounds, the Leviathan Zord split in half and his head and jaw folded open to become feet and the tail split open at the back as the Kitsune Zord’s back legs folded up into his chest.

Excess metal in his chest detached to form twin katanas and it’s head folded downwards to become a chestplate as his front legs detached with hisses of steam with the wings of both the Phoenix and Thunderbird Zords detaching as the tail feathers sprouted clawed hands and both Legendary Bird Zords became the arms. The Phoenix sported the kanji for fire on her winged shoulder pad and the Thunderbird, the kanji for lightning on his own.

A tusked head popped up from the Kitsune Zord’s neck, and the Vampire Bat Zord, wings detaching as it grafted itself onto the back of the Megazord and it’s head moved upwards and became the helmet.

“Animaria Guardian, online!” Sunset shouted as all four Rangers went into Orion Mode, transforming the Megazord into its own Orion State even as monsters surrounded it from all sides.

“Oh great… Just what we needed,” Sunset deadpanned as Repellator charged at the Megazord. “Slime at extra large size.”

The Knasty Knight swung his blade just as Repellator swung his claws at the Megazord. The claws were batted aside, and the Knight’s blade was caught in the Megazord’s hands.

The swallow zord flew in just as Sunset replaced the Phoenix Crystal with the swallow’s own. The Megazord reached out, and grabbed the Swallow Zord by the wing and threw it at the two monsters.

“Swallowrang, Whirlwind Finish!” Sunset shouted, and threw the zord allowing it to create a minature cyclone around the Knight and Repellator who ended up slashed not only by the howling winds but the Swallow’s own sharp wings.

“Dragozord Stinger!” Trixie called as she launched the DinoStegozord’s weapon at the two monsters finishing them off in a massive explosion.

“Yes! With this new stature, all of Equestria will hear the Word!” Sheeple billowed, flexing his arms. “Celestia is a windigo! Fluttershy is a vampire!!!”

“Oh shut up…” Sunset muttered, making the Megazord clock him across the face. Trixie was soon to follow with her own mecha. Sunset lit up her horn, and a green circle of glowing runes appeared in front of the Megazords, before firing a massive amount of laser bolts towards Sheeple.

“Sunset, may I get the honors of shutting this idiot up for good?” Trixie asked.

“Much obliged.” Sunset called back knowing exactly what Trixie had in mind.

Trixie went into Super Dino Mode and made her Megazord leap forwards spinning it like a buzzsaw slicing right through Sheeple.

“Any last conspiracies?” Trixie asked as a line of golden energy appeared right down through Sheeple’s midsection.

“Bulk and Skull are the real heroes! Applejack is immortal! But… I guess I’m not!” Sheeple shouted, before falling forwards and exploding.

“Good riddance…” Sunset muttered. “I thought he’d never shu-Woah!” She yelped as Bones and King Sphinx charged the Megazord from the side making it stagger back.

King Sphinx fired off some more fireballs at the Megazord, making it stagger backwards before Lightning summoned the Boar Zord and it replaced the Thunderbird while Vapor summoned the Deer allowing it to replace the Phoenix.

The Megazord charged forwards glowing with gold light drilling right through Bones chest as he exploded behind it. Next, the Deer arm was raised, and massive versions of the antlers bound themselves around King Sphinx. The tails of the Pachy and Ankylo Zords flew out of nowhere and walloped King Sphinx in the chest sending him flying back into a mountainside. Eye Guy came running up before the Pachy Zord fired off a blast of flame from its mouth incinerating him entirely.

“What, you think we were going to be taken out of the fight that easily, Princesa?” Daring asked atop the head of her Zord.

“Now, what to do with you…? Sunset mused before she brought out the Fusion Charger and pressed down on it. “Ah yes, I know. Haven’t used this one in a while.”

“Fusion Charger, Engage!” she shouted throwing it to the Ankylo Zord, and the Zord accepted it with open mouth. The Boar Zord detached before a new shoulder pad formed and the Ankylo Zord leaped into the awaiting connection point steam hissing out upon the fusion. Daring meanwhile was teleported into the Animaria Guardian’s cockpit.

“Now… Ankylo Hammer: Golden Colossal Crush!” all five Rangers shouted before the now massive warhammer was raised before slammed right down atop King Sphinx’s head and like his predecessors he went up in a massive explosion.

“Monsters… Extinct!” the Rangers shouted as the Animaria Guardian raised its arms in victory.

“So, you’re sure about this?” Rarity asked, Finster and Plepra’s spirits having left Spike and Sweetie’s bodies.

“Yes, I am. I squandered my chance at life, and even after death I continued to trouble you Rangers. It’s now time to own up to my crimes. My only hope is that I will see Plepra again. Someday.”

“I’m sure you will,” Rarity said, the three atop a hilltop staring up at the night sky. “The Mystic Mother as I’ve found, she can be… lenient.”

“Please, don’t fill me with false hope,” Finster sighed sadly before he kissed her on the cheek making Rarity giggle and blush. “Now you take care understand? You’ve got a wonderful family, and I want to see them grow. I’ll be watching you, me and Plepra. Goodbye Mrs. Rarity.”

With that, his and Plepra’s spirits faded away and became golden orbs that flew upwards into the night sky. Rarity, wiping away her tears smiled. “Goodbye… Finster.”

Author's Notes:

Okay, well, that's the end of that. Huge thanks to Shagohad12 for his co-writing for me on this chapter. Seriously, he came up with this whole damn plotline and helped me turn an otherwise normal day in Ponyville -cause it is, isn't it?- into a definite Power Rangers style adventure. Oh, and if any of you want to raise hell about the combination at the end? May I remind you this is a thing.

Next time... Rainbows and Lightning!