Quick question about feats and "special powers". Can they be used together? As an example, lets say there is a feat that makes Energy Explosion penetrating damage. The character I want to use it on has a special power that states " Blah-blah can use energy explosion, quake, and pulse wave", or does EE actually have to be in the attack slot? While not a real example, you get the point and what I am asking. Thanks for your help!

No, a Special Power is differernt than a power available on the dial or PAC.

You need the Orange square on your dial to qualify for the example feat from your example.

Are we sure about that? If EE was a requirement to have the feat, then yes, you need the orange square. If a feat says, "When this character uses Energy Explosion damage in penetrating" the special power should work, since it allows the character to use EE.

The question was more about the prerequisites, but you bring up a good point. My main question was answered though, thanks!

Yes, we're sure. There are already several threads on the topic. Use the search feature if you want verification.

It depends on the prerequisites. You always must meet the prerequisites in some way. In order for a power to be used to meet a prerequisite, you must possess the power. So far no special power grants possession of a standard power.

There are some tricks, however, which can be used.

Compel has a prerequisite of Mind Control. You must possess MC in order to be assigned and use the feat. Mandarin (AV), for example, has both a natural MC and an SP allowing it to be used. He can be assigned this feat as he does possess MC, but he only possesses MC on the natural clicks. As such, it is only on those clicks that he can use the feat.
Mental Shields, however, has the prerequisite of Mind Control OR Willpower. It just so happens that on those clicks with the SP giving him MC he also possesses Willpower. As such, on those clicks, he does meet the prerequisite for the feat allowing its use. Therefore, when he uses the SP's MC he is able to use the feat to avoid the MC feedback.
There are some other examples of this, too. A Defender with Willpower can be assigned his feat as well as the Squadron Supreme feat. The SS feat causes the Defender to possess the MC power. If it has used the TA to gain possession of that power, it can use the Mental Shields even on clicks without Willpower.

In the end, it is just a matter of determining if the prerequisite is met or not. If a power is a prerequisite, the power must be possessed by the figure.