ACT TWELVE
The actors received so many positive and great reviews for the play, and Principal Luna was very proud of her students, as was Grandruler, but the two of them couldn’t help but notice Celestia slip quietly out and off the premises and drove off in her car. Grandruler felt like going after her and maybe talk it over, but he stopped himself remembering this was for Celestia’s own good. He just didn’t know if he could trust her… though he really wanted to.
Nobody had a clue of where Sunset had gone, and couldn’t find her anywhere, but decided maybe it was better she wasn’t there and wouldn’t be hogging all the glory for herself, but easily what everyone seemed to like the most was that Rhymey and Fluttershy had officially become a couple; Rhymey being exposed as Fluttershy’s admirer, and they went out to get a milkshake together. Rhymey gazed back at Lightning and winked at him in thanks for helping him, and Lightning gave him a thumb up.
The rest of his friends huddled around him and Starla expressing their reviews of the performance, even Flash commended Lightning. “You are indeed a young man of mystery, Lightning Dawn. I like that in a person.” he said seriously. Lightning narrowed his eyes at him, and the others began to catch on. “Good luck at the big game tomorrow.” said Flash, and he left. Lightning kept his eye on him until he was out of sight.
“So, he’s in on the evil plot too, is he?” asked Buddy.
Lightning nodded.
“Man, I should’ve known that dude had something to hide.” said Artie.
“I say we rush him now.” said Dyno. “Si, we’ll make him talk and get him to spill the beans of what he’s up to.” added Myte, but Lightning disagreed. He was still more than certain that Flash was responsible for putting Twilight in the hospital, and he didn’t want anyone else to get hurt. “Whatever he and his crazy mother are up to, they’re bound to do it after the game, tomorrow night.”
The next evening, everyone gathered at the Canterlot Arena in town for the grand basketball game of the Crystal Empires and the Canterlot Wondercolts. Rainbow, still unaware of the truth of the matters behind the game, was very relieved that Lightning was back on the team, but shocked when he had requested to play in the second half of the game. “But we need you out there now!” cried Rainbow “We won’t stand a chance without you.”
“Trust me…” Lightning said “This just could work. It’s an old strategy, even you should know of it.”
Rainbow did know of it; they just played weakly for the first half so Lightning could get a good look at the players and their style, let them get ahead, and then come at them with everything they had. Rainbow still didn’t think it cool to let Lightning do that, especially as she was team captain, but she ultimately trusted Lightning’s plan.
Lightning hoped he was doing the right thing, he couldn’t afford any mess-ups. The transport gem had only thirty-six hours of power left. If he didn’t get the Rainbow Rod back and soon, he’d be trapped on Earth forever, but he didn’t want to think about only that, he needed to concentrate on the game.
The arena was packed with loads of students from both schools, and school staffs, and families, and some civilians too, including Celestia, whom once again had come with her shades and scarf over her hair to not be recognized, but it obviously didn’t work, as everyone already could tell it was her because of her multi-color striped hair, but just decided to let her have her space and didn’t sit near her.
The students could see her from their seats, and so could the players; She looked so alone, so miserable, and full of remorse. Grandruler and Luna could see her and both felt increasingly guilty and remorseful themselves, but again were forced to hold back until Celestia could prove she was willing to change.
Sapphira was sitting on the opposite side of the arena and could see all the long faces, but they were of no concern to her. “Tonight is the night.” she thought wickedly “It matters not of who wins the game, in the end the real prize shall be mine and my wicked plot can begin at last.”
Lightning’s friends all sat together, and Krysta was watching from the giant sunroof. “This is it.” she said softly, and soon the game was on.
The Empires were just as brutal and fierce as they were rumored to be. They were taller than any of the wondercolts, making it easier to keep the ball out of reach and shoot long distances, earning them a big lead in the first period. They were also very fast runners and dribblers, and even had dirty ways of playing, but not cheating or fouling, which helped them get even more points, and despite numerous protests by the crowds, the referees assured everyone that there was no foul or penalty.
Still, the Wondercolts wouldn’t give up and played with all their might, eventually making a least up to half of what the Empires had by halftime, but lots of people were starting to feel disheartened that the Wondercolts had already lost.
The team was looking gloomy as they went back to the locker room, but it was all just an act. Lightning had seen everything and figured this was all child’s play to him. Coach Penny and Rainbow agreed; now it was time to get serious.
The reserve players, Lightning and Rainbow rushed out onto the court. The students of Canterlot cheered like crazy now that their secret weapon had come out, but the Empires, not knowing a thing of what they were in for, simply laughed and mocked the Wondercolts, practically insisting they just hand them the trophy. “The game’s not over until it’s over.” Lightning said.
The ref blew his whistle and the game was on again. He threw the ball way up high, the Empires stood ready to grab it, but Lightning leapt way up high catching it, much to the astonishment of the Empires and the crowd. The Empires’ coach could hardly believe what he saw. Next, Lightning landed on his feet and rapidly dribbled the ball that it made the Empires dizzy. Lightning then zipped right past them, still dribbling, made it to the basket and leapt up over it making a perfect slam-dunk.
The Empires got their game faces back on and looked ready to play tough, but it was no use. Lightning made several more baskets thanks to his magnificent skills-- he ran from one side of the court to the other end in the wink of an eye; he made far shots with tremendous accuracy and distance, and intercepted the ball with his jumps or super speed. He also gave the other players the chance, passing them the balls while all the Empires foolishly surrounded him in attempt to stop him, making it easier for the other players to make perfect baskets, with their opponents distracted.
The Wondercolts were catching up, and the Empires’ coach, outraged, waltzed up to the ref and snapped “Hey! Are you blind? That kid is big time doing something illegal here.” but the ref angrily insisted “Look, Coach, nowhere in rulebook says anything about jumping too high or running so fast. Now sit down!”
Soon it was the end of the fourth and final period, and thanks to Lightning the score was tied, and with one minute to go. Everyone seemed overjoyed that Canterlot was going to win for sure, all thanks to Lightning, but this made him start to feel a little uncomfortable as he could hear some of the students in their seats praising him but not caring a bit for the other players, not even Rainbow. This made the other players feel a little bummed out, and some were casting mean looks at Lightning for hogging all the spotlight to himself, despite that they were winning.
Lightning felt terrible, all he wanted was to win the game, and suddenly he had an idea of how to put things back in balance. When the ball was thrown to him and he went for the basket, he deliberately slipped and made it look like he missed and fell hard onto the floor, twisting his ankle. The crowd gasped in horror, and a time out was called.
Penny rushed out to the scene, and despite that she couldn’t find any swelling, Lightning put on a very convince act, wincing as she felt along his ankle. “Ouch! That hurts!” he cried. The players, now feeling sorry for him, graciously helped Lightning to the benches.
Sapphira kept her eye on Lightning as he was being carried, and she wasn’t so sure that was all an accident, but the team sure was, and Rainbow nearly broke out into a panic. “This is a total disaster! We were about to win it all!”
“Rainbow, calm down.” said Penny, but really she was about an inch away from having a panic attack herself. “You can still win it.” Lightning told them. “You don’t need me out there. Just believe in yourselves, in the team, not just me.”
After a moment of hesitation, the team agreed to give it a try. Lightning was replaced with another player. Only twenty seconds were left, and the ref blew his whistle starting the time.
The Empires had the ball and managed to make a basket, putting them two points ahead, and with only ten seconds left, everyone felt their hopes being dashed once again. The Wondercolts only hope now was to make a three-point shot, but Rainbow gazed over at the benches, at Lightning, and he gazed back at her which told her to believe! She nodded at him and stood ready with her team as they got the ball.
Thanks to Lightning’s playing, the Empires were all wiped out and tired from their previous plays to try and stop him, which slowed them down just a little, giving the Wondercolts the chance they needed. As the Empires surrounded each player trying to steal the ball or prevent the player from passing, the Wondercolts passed the ball back and forth between teammates making their way across the court, and finally Rainbow got the ball and, with only a few seconds left and the Empires charging at her, she made the shot.
The ball bounced off the rim of the basket, and then off the other side, and began to spin around, and around the rim. The final nanoseconds were ticking, and the ball slipped into the basket just in the absolute nick of time, giving the Wondercolts three points, and the win!
The entire arena erupted with the sound of loud and happy cheers, but the Empires and the coach were totally outraged and devastated. For the first time ever, Canterlot had beaten Crystal High. Luna and Grandruler were overjoyed and were barely able to contain themselves, and Celestia… she was very impressed. She turned to gaze up at her sister and Grandruler and they gazed down at her and nodded proudly, and she nodded back, and then she got up and left. Grandruler kept his eye on her until she was completely out of sight. Luna put her hand on his shoulder, understanding his pity for her. Grandruler then snapped upright and cleared his throat telling Luna to look professional. It was time to award the winning team the grand prize.
The team and Penny couldn’t stop leaping about and cheering, and Lightning ran out to join them, exposing that he wasn’t hurt at all. “I don’t believe this!” snapped Rainbow. “But I do…” said Lightning “You see what I mean by how believing can be a big help?”
Rainbow and the team understood, and promised to try it out more often, but still all they wanted to do was cheer for joy. “We won! WE WON!!” they all cheered. Lightning’s friends cheered, and so did Twilight’s, forgetting that they were all still mad at each other and quickly looked away from one another, and Krysta was flying in circles with glee. “WHEE…!! WHOOPEE!!” she screamed. “I’m so proud of Lightning.”
Soon, the team all stood together, ready to accept the award. Grandruler gave his speech, and expressed his proud feelings towards the team, and his extra Lightning Dawn for showing excellent conduct for his teammates, and allowing Rainbow Dash to make the winning basket. “Well done, Lightning. Honor, kindness and believing are things we must carry with us in our minds and hearts all the time.”
Then, it was time! The grand trophy-- the Rainbow Rod, was lowered from a secret hiding place in the big score displayer box up above the court, and was slowly being lowered down on wires in a glass dome on a silver platter. Lightning gazed widely at it. “There is it! I’ve done it!”
Sapphira saw it too. “It’s time…!” she hissed.
Grandruler grabbed the casing. “On behalf of myself and all the staff of the supreme school council of Mystic Island, I am pleased to present this magnificent trophy to this year’s champions, The Canterlot Wondercolts.” but as he prepared to hand over the trophy in its case to Lightning, to everyone’s astonishment, it was gone! The platter was there, but the dome and the rod were gone.
Suddenly, all the lights went out, and all the people were gasping and stammering around in the dark. “Get those lights back on!” shouted Luna.
When the lights came on again, everyone screamed in horror, for a swarm of strange looking creatures-- Crystallites, were gathered on the court. “Rainbow couldn’t believe her eyes. “Huh?! “Monsters…? Real monsters…?!”
Grandruler dropped the platter in shock “Am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?”
Sapphira stepped forth snickering wickedly “Take a close look, Earthman. They are the beginning of this world’s end, but the beginning of mine.”
“Sapphira? You’re behind this?!” growled Grandruler. Lightning gazed at him “I told you she was one of them. She’s their empress.”
“Yes…” snarled Sapphira and she held up the Rainbow Rod, which she had sneakily snatched, and used it to transform into her into her Crystallite form, frightening everyone.
“Give me back that rod!” snarled Lightning.
“Never!” shouted Sapphira “Long have I waited for this moment, and who knew that I’d be able to take you out as well, Lightning Dawn.” and she explained her plot…
Ever since she and her Crystallite army had lost to Starfleet, Sapphira realized she would never be able to rule the Dimensional Universe, even if she eluded capture. After she, her son, and several agents escaped from prison, they came to Earth in the human world, realizing maybe she could conquer and rule it, but unfortunately her magical-powers didn’t function very well in the human world, but she knew the one sort of magic that could not only allow her to change that, but increase her powers ten-fold-- Rainbow Magic! After all, rainbows, light, and crystals made a perfect match.
Also, in her many years staying in the human world, she had done many things, and hurt many humans to achieve another goal. She had her agents built a satellite in orbit, which would be powered by her own magic once the Rainbow Rod had been obtained, and with it, she would be able to turn the entire world into a Crystallite world, and turn all the humans into her slaves; [art of the largest empire that ever had existed. “With all this power and the many more I shall gain, I will take over the Earth with my massive empire, and then return to crush the dimensional universe. Even your precious Starfleet won’t be enough to stop me this time.”
Lightning clenched his teeth and stood ready for a big brawl. “I won’t let you do this!” and he ran forth to grab the rod from her, but the warriors shielded her and punched him hard seemingly knocking him unconscious. “Lightning!” cried Starla. Krysta pounded on the glass roof with her talons. “No, Lightning!”
He just lay there on the floor, not even moving while Sapphira laughed at him “Pitiful creature. You spent all this time, all this planning, and it was all in vain.” She then turned to leave and begin preparations to activate the satellite cannon; first target, Mystic Island.
She glanced down at Lightning one more time. “As for that one, destroy him. Anyone who tries to help him, destroy them too.” Then she left, and the warriors prepared to kill Lightning for good.