//------------------------------// // Episode 11: Phantom's Fury // Story: My Brave Pony Starfleet Magic: Season IV // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// EPISODE ELEVEN After a good long day, it was time for shifts to switch so that some of the ponies could go home and to bed. Lightning and Starla were heading home as well. They had been hard at work investigating and questioning Earth ponies they knew that didn’t make their scan for the phantom. Some were too young, another one was too old, and a few more were all bent out of shape--obese, or underweight-- and not one of them had any magic, so they were dismissed from the list. “I really don’t think we’re getting any closer.” Lightning said “We’ll never find the phantom like this.” “Don’t say that.” said Starla “Or rather, do say it… after all the more you say it, the more I know we’ll find the answer.” Lightning smiled and pecked his wife sweetly “As usual, you’re right, and I’m sorry for thinking that way.” As they checked off their lists, Starla noticed one pony on Lightning’s list that hadn’t been checked. “What about him?” It looked like a simple Orange Earth Pony, normal too, not having been genetically altered, with a blonde mane, glasses, and a fine suit. His cutie mark was that of a clipboard and pencil, with three small hearts round the tip, and his name was below him, “Dr. Emil Kudos.” Lightning said, “All I found was his picture and his name, but no known address. I asked for the records department to dig up the story on him, but all I know is he’s a marriage-psychologist.” Starla thought was interesting, and couldn’t wait to find out more about him, but when they got home, they found Krysta waiting for them, and she looked a little concerned. When asked why, she held up a file of Dr. Kudos she had delivered and asked “Is this the pony you wanted to research?” “Yeah, that’s him.” said Lightning, and then he and Starla looked inside and the very first thing they found was an old newspaper clipping which read “Marriage psychologist killed in fire” Lightning and Starla gazed at one another in concern, and read the article as well as studying the files, and sure enough, Dr. Kudos was reported dead for some time, long before Equestria was destroyed in The Great War and United Equestria was formed. According to the story; Dr. Kudos, a world renowned marriage councilor and psychologist, whom had helped many over the years, including Shining Armor to help him sort his problems for his upcoming marriage to Princess Cadance, he had sunken into depression, and began to refuse sessions from patients and clients in need. Nobody knew why. Not even close friends or family members of the doctor knew what was troubling him. On the night they planned to confront him and talk to him about it, it was pouring rain and one of the pegasi helping with the weather, reportedly, misfired a bolt of lightning that struck the doc’s house and clinic in Canterlot, and the whole place burst into flames. The ponies managed to get the fire under control, and rescue the poor doc’s body from the house, but in vain as he was already very dead from severe injures he had suffered in the fire, and strangely, his cutie mark was gone, but no one had seen it vanish normally. This struck Lightning and Starla as odd. Usually when ponies died, their cutie marks left the body, floated up high glowing big and brightly, and then dissolving into thin air. So, how did no one see it? This didn’t seem to matter too much to them. Kudos was dead, so that was one case they didn’t have to worry about, still… “It seems so tragic.” said Starla. “The poor guy.” added Lightning. Krysta felt miserable as well, but really there was nothing they could do about it now. “I have to get home now, I have to brief my royal guards for their night shift.” she said. “Okay, Krysta, and thanks.” Lightning said. Krysta vanished through a portal, back her planet. Leaving the couple to get ready for bed, and soon, all across the planet, creatures were sleeping, but it was soon to become a restless night for some. The phantom was resting in his secret lair; he was stirring and groaning in his sleep. Finally, he woke in shock. He clenched his fists in anger. “I don’t think I can wait for this any longer.” he said as he gazed at the centaur silhouette “I want my revenge now, even if I don’t have the power yet.” … Shining Armor was having a hard time getting to sleep. It just didn’t feel the same without his beloved Cadance by his side and on top of worry about where she was and if she was okay. All the searches were still on, but it was beginning to look as if they would never find her. Many were even insisting on giving up as it was also believed that Cadance didn’t want to be found. Still, Shining Armor refused to believe that. He knew his wife better than most and claimed she was just upset because of those ridiculous nightmares. Deep down he still had some hope that she’d snap out of it and come home. He just hoped that it would be sometime soon, especially with everything else going on. Lightning was staring the minions down in a shadowy area; even Nomed and Ergo were alive again. All four of them were glaring at Lightning sinisterly. “Give it up, chump.” said Ergo. “It’s time you answered to what you’ve done to us.” added Nomed. “Answer this…” snarled Lightning “Mega Mode, Activate!” but as soon as he tapped his energizer, his mega mode didn’t activate, but in fact his body was shrouded in that great glow, and he transformed into his Enticorn form. The minions were shocked, but foolishly charged at him, and he ended up vaporizing them all in one quick blast, but then his rage began to take over again. “Evil must die!!” He suddenly found himself soaring over United Equestria, roaring viciously, causing a panic down below. He was ready to dive and destroy it all… ...when he woke up in shock again. Starla woke up too. “Honestly, Lightning, not again?!” she groaned. “Again…” Lightning sighed. He poured himself a cup of water from the pitcher on his nightstand beside the bed. “That’s it…” he thought to himself “I’ve got to figure out how to control my powers for good. Maybe then I can get some sleep.” In a dark and desolated place, a dreadful and haunting voice was echoing through the darkness. “I am coming! I am coming!” Smoke emitted from the ground taking on the shape of a large centaur creature, with wicked glowing eyes and laughing sinisterly in the darkness. That’s when Celestia woke up in shock. “Celestia?!” cried Grand Ruler as he sat upright in their bed. “What’s wrong?” Princess Luna burst into the room. “Sister, are you alright?” Celestia shook herself fully awake “I’ve just had the most terrible dream.” Her husband felt her forehead “You’re burning up. You should take your medicine, and have some water.” Celestia agreed, and took her pill. “Ugh!” she groaned from the awful taste, but she didn’t feel any better from that nightmare “I fear it was some sort of warning.” she said. “You may be right.” said Luna “I had felt it too, that is why I have come.” Grand Ruler didn’t have the same nightmare as they did, as he had been wide-awake all night, for he was worried about Celestia. He didn’t sleep a wink, but he felt if he had been sleeping then he would have had it as well “Perhaps it was no dream, but a vision.” he said. “Tell me everything.” The ladies told him what they believed, and he felt it was greatly possible. “If we are right, and I pray we are not, we must act quickly.” “Indeed…” said Celestia “The stronger he becomes, the more we are all in danger.” The very next morning, all the friends received a letter from their majesties telling them to come to the palace at once for an emergency meeting. Soon, they had all teleported, by Krysta’s magic, to the palace. Shining Armor was there too, and he looked a little baggy-eyed. “I didn’t sleep well.” he groaned. Many of the others sympathized with him, even Fluttershy and Pinkie, for they each had a nightmare about being caught by the phantom of magic. “I was so scared I couldn’t go back to sleep.” cried Fluttershy. “Really…? I could…” said Pinkie. “That is exactly why we have called you here.” Grand Ruler said “But I shall let the queen and Princess Luna explain to you.” The ladies took the head of the table and explained of their nightmares. “We think we now know what the phantom of magic is attempting to do.” said Celestia, and Princess Luna nodded “We believe that he is trying to revive Lord Tirek.” The ponies all gazed round at each other with concern. “Who’s Lord Tirek?” asked Spike. Celestia placed a magic book on the table, and she and her sister and husband began to tell the story. It all began an over a-thousand years ago, back when Grand Ruler was still Captain of the Canterlot Guard… The story about the two brothers; Tirek and Scorpan, both came to Equestria to steal magic and rule the world. The three divine ones, Celesto, Celestia Luna worked together to do battle with the brothers. After a long and fierce battle, Scoprpan began to realize the error of his ways, and decided to have a change of heart. He befriended the ponies and their kind, and was willing to abandon all his evil ways. But his brother Tirek refused and continued on his path of conquest, which lead the three divine alicorns to seal the evil Tirek away in Tartarus. Scorpan, Tirek’s brother, had long since grown very old and passed away, but his brother remained forever sealed. Even when Equestria blew up in the war against Titan and all his forces, the seal still had not been broken, and was reformed with United Equestria now within New Tartarus on the far side of the planet. “Nellie, that’s one doozy of a tale.” said Applejack. “But exactly where does the phantom fit into all this?” asked Buddy Rose. “As this secret has been kept safe in the royal family archives for centuries, we don’t know how the phantom has come to learn of this.” Grand Ruler said “However, the spell that is keeping Tirek well bound can only be broken by harnessing the magic of Equestrian ponies, which explains why the phantom does not target Space Alicorns or other creatures. He cannot use such power, it is no good to him.” Celestia nodded “Nevertheless, we do believe this is what the phantom is attempting, he must be under the impression that he can unleash Tirek and control him to do his bidding. I am convinced he does not realize the true danger he is getting himself into.” “Still, we cannot allow Tirek to be unleashed.” said Luna “If he is freed, all of United Equestria will be in grave danger.” The others didn’t need to be told how serious. They could tell that with all that harnessed magic from so many ponies, Tirek would be virtually invincible! “And to think, my wonderful magic is causing this great treachery known!” Rarity panicked. “Speak for yourself!” cried Rainbow, reminding her that her magic was stolen. Applejack did the same. “Quiet all of you!” Lightning shouted “We’ve got to think of a way to stop this.” “We already have one way.” Shining Armor said “...But it’s not going to be fun.” “What, not fun?!” cried Pinkie, and she felt a little twitch of her Pinkie Sense telling her it was going to be really deep. Grand Ruler cleared his throat and explained to them their idea. “As you know, the phantom seems to have ceased going after many cutie marks, as well as other ponies, which suggests he is nearing his goal of required magic.” Pinkie and Fluttershy realized this and remembered how the phantom said he wanted their magic. Obviously meaning their magic was strong and mighty, exactly what he needed. “What are you saying?” Fluttershy asked. Celestia sighed deeply “It pains me to say this, but we cannot risk it. We have decided…” she paused a moment “…to give up our own magic and hide it away where the phantom will not get to it.” Everyone gasped in the deepest of shock and concern. “Give up your magic!” cried Artie. “But if you do that, and the phantom does attack You’ll be defenseless; you won’t be able to fight back.” added Rhymey. “This is something we are quite aware of…” said Luna “But as my sister said, we cannot take such a risk, but know this…” she said as she eyed Pinkie and Fluttershy “Fear not, your powers will be well cared for. We have chosen the safest place for them.” “Where?” asked Pinkie. “Not where, but whom…” Grand Ruler said. “I will absorb your magic; Transfer and keep them within myself. Doing this will also increase my power dramatically. I will be the palace’s only defense.” “But sire, what if the phantom comes after you?” asked Starla. “She’s right, what if the magic gets stolen from you anyway?” added Lightning. His mentor smirked confidently “While it is true I originally was an Equestrian pony, my genetic-alteration, and centuries of studying and mastering powers from space, I am immune to the absorption just as you and your kind are, Lightning. This is our only chance.” Pinkie and Fluttershy gazed at their cutie mark paintings, and thought of their cutie marks under their pants. They really didn’t want to do this, but after what they had just been told, who were they to argue. “All right.” Said Pinkie “We’re ready.” added Fluttershy (0:33 of the music, stop at 1:25) Then they, the queen, Luna, and Shining armor all stood in a line together as Grand Ruler stood before them. He nodded his head saying he was ready. Then the five ponies concentrated hard, sending their magical forces from their bodies and into him. When all was done… Grand Ruler looked more buff than ever. His golden horns were shimmering more brightly, and his cape was fluttering higher and it was sparkling brighter than ever, but Celestia and Luna’s mane’s had stopped fluttering and shimmering, and all five of them had lost their cutie marks. Shining Armor hung his head low. Fluttershy and Pinkie were near tear, and everyone was totally silent about this whole thing. Grand Ruler approached his wife, and ran his fingers through her motionless mane. “My stars, Celestia, what have I done?” His wife embraced him warmly. “You’re doing what we all are…” she said as a tear fell from her eye “You’re helping us to avoid trouble.” “Brother-in-law…” Luna said as she came and placed her hand over his shoulder “You have our powers now, and hopefully soon we will reclaim them.” Shining Armor and the girls nodded in agreement, showing they were still thankful. Suddenly, the alarms went off, and Goldwin came rushing in, nearly out of breath. “It’s horrible, you guys better come quick!” “Slow down, Goldwin-- What’s wrong?” said Grand Ruler. “I was looking at the clouds through window, and then I could see down below in the village… the phantom!” “THE PHANTOM?!” everyone cried out. “We better get down there!” said Lightning. “I’m going with you, this time.” said Grand Ruler “A good chance to test out my new powers in action.” “We’re coming too.” said Celestia. Everyone gazed at them in shock, even Grand Ruler was shocked, and before he could refuse them, his wife put her foot down. “Those are our subjects down there, and I am just as responsible for their safety, magic or no magic.” Luna and Shining Armor agreed. “Very well, but please be very careful.” said Grand Ruler. “Let’s go!” shouted Lightning, and they all headed off while Krysta stayed behind. There wasn’t must she could do at the moment. There was no time to evacuate all the ponies. The Phantom was standing in the grounds of New Canterlot village near foot of the palace mountain. Many of the ponies were already running in panic to get to safety before Grand Ruler raised the shields. However, several other ponies were still out in the open, among them was a yellow unicorn with an orange mane; name: Fire Ball, and his wife, a peach colored pegasi with a long brown mane. Name: Peach Berry. Suddenly, they and the other ponies turned round and there standing behind them was the phantom. The ladies all screamed, which amused him. “Yes, I’d be afraid of me too.” “Look, if you want our cutie marks, you can have them, just please don’t hurt us!” cried Peach Berry. “I’m not here for your cutie marks; they are of no use to me now. I came to clean up some loose ends, especially with you two!” Peach shuddered nervously, but her husband stepped forth to protect her “I think I’ve heard enough of this sick creep! You lay one hand on my wife, and I’ll…” “You’ll what…?” mocked the phantom “Your magic is useless against me. If you don’t believe me, then shoot.” Fire Ball powered up his magic, and shot a beam of light at the phantom’s chest, but he just stood there and took it like it was nothing. The other ponies froze up in fear and astonishment, while the phantom snickered and raised his hand. He levitated Fire ball up in the air and brought him closer to him. “Fire Ball!” cried Peach. Snickering wickedly, the phantom raised his other hand and prepared to vaporize the helpless pony to ash. “Finally, after all the pain you all caused me, revenge shall be sweet!” Suddenly, the phantom began to glow, and he couldn’t seem to move. “What...?! I can’t move!” Fire Ball was also released, and ran back to his wife and friends. Then they all saw how… The team had arrived, and Grand Ruler was using his new magic to hold the phantom down. “Get inside, quickly!” shouted Grand Ruler. The ponies did as they were told and dashed into the nearby houses, and once they were safely inside, Grand Ruler used his magic to conjure a strong barrier around all the houses. Then the phantom was released as he stared the team down. “Well, if isn’t the chump-patrol.” He hissed. He gazed at Fluttershy and Pinkie “Are you finally ready to accept your fate and hand over your magic to me, or do I just take it?” “We choose neither!” snarled Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy nodded bravely and cheekily “We don’t have our cutie marks anymore.” “What?!” snarled the phantom. “It’s true…” said Lightning “We transferred all the magic to the Grand Ruler and your absorption power won’t work this time.” “Ah?!” the phantom realized they were telling the truth, as he could no longer sense the magic within the girls, even Celestia and Luna had no magic, as their manes were bright and flowing, and he could see how much stronger the Grand Ruler looked. The phantom was just furious. “You’ve all been a nuisance to me long enough! I’ll settle for taking out you first, and then the rest of the planet.” “You’ll do no such thing!” snarled Grand Ruler “We know what you’re up to, and I assure you it will never work. I give you this one chance; give up and turn yourself in willingly.” The phantom laughed at him “You really think I’d surrender to you after I’m this close to achieving greatness? You’re all crazier than I first believed.” The friends were growing very annoyed. “I don’t understand you!” Shining Armor sneered “Why go to all this trouble just for magic?” The phantom then looked hurt, “You wouldn’t understand. How could you anyway?” he sounded as if he was struggling with a deep inner pain “It doesn't matter anyway. You won’t be around long enough to even try and stop me!” Lightning felt his anger starting to broil “Let’s get him!” The others agreed, and charged forth. “Wait!” shouted Celestia, but all the others quickly jumped at the phantom, tackling all about, when the dust had cleared, they all found that they were tackling each other about, but no phantom anywhere. “What happened?” asked Rarity. “Where’d he go?” asked Spike. Their majesties and Shining Armor couldn’t understand it, but suddenly Princess Luna could see the ground crumbling silently and softly towards them. “Watch out! Get out of there!” she screamed, but it was too late, the phantom bust through the ground, knocking everyone in different directions. The phantom laughed hysterically “I never get tired of that old stunt.” He suddenly got blasted hard, by Grand Ruler, and sent crashing into a lamppost. “And I never tired of is how evil never wins.” he said. The others stood with him, and they all regrouped with the gang. The phantom got back onto his feet, but he was grinning, and snickering. “What’s that chump laughing about now?” asked Rainbow. The phantom laughed and laughed and then glared at the team. “You may think you outnumber me, and just because you have a few new tricks that you’ve won it all.” “What in the hotel-bills is he gettin’ at?” asked Applejack Lightning suddenly felt he knew what the phantom was referring to. The phantom leapt in between Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack! “Get him!” shouted Rarity. “Wait!” shouted Lightning, but the girls already charged, aiming strong punches. At the last second, the phantom leapt out of the way, causing the girls to ram into and punch each other out. The phantom then leapt right in between Buddy Rose, Artie and Rhymey, and the same thing happened, the phantom faked out the boys and punched each other out. “There are more of us than of him.” cried Lightning “He’s using the wide open field to his advantage against us. He can attack freely while our attacks could miss and hit each other.” The phantom then leapt over to him and Starla. “Who wants to go next?” Lightning and Starla knew they couldn’t attack together, and attacking him one at a time was not smart either, but just then Grand Ruler stepped forth. “Why, your majesty-- I would consider this an honor.” mocked the phantom, and he lunged forth to attack him, but his majesty froze him on the spot again. “There is nothing honorable about you, not after all whom you’ve hurt.” He then turned to face Lightning and Starla and nodded at them. The two of them nodded, and stepped up to the phantom, both then began to attack him from all sides, weakening him severely. “You go guys. Show him who’s boss!” Shining Armor cheered. Finally, the phantom seemed weak enough to capture and imprison... but suddenly, Grand Ruler gasped, and held his head, groaning in pain. “Master?!” cried Lightning. “Celesto!” cried Celestia. His majesty had not had time to properly adjust himself to his newly absorbed powers, now they were taking their toll on him. He keeled over! The phantom also broke free from the spell that bound him in place, and he flopped on the floor. The force fields around the buildings also vanished. “Master!” cried Lightning as he and the others all dashed over to him. “I’ve done all I can. I just need to rest.” his majesty said “Get in there-- capture him now and end this.” Lightning nodded and left his master in the care of their other majesties and Shining Armor, while he and his space pony friends all stood together. “Ready everyone?” Everyone took out their weapons and charged up, and gave it all their finishers had. “CAPTURE BLAST, FIRE!” “GALACTIC PROJECTILE” “WHIPLASH STRIKE” “SUPER STAFF SPIN” “THRASH SLASH” “BOOM-BOOM FLARE” All those attacks struck the phantom head-on, resulting in large explosions. “They’ve done it!” cried Princess Luna. “They got him!” added Shining Armor. Everyone gazed at the smoke with joyful expressions, but as the smoke died down, the joy began to fade into shock and appalling expression. “I have got to be dreaming?!” cried Starla. The phantom was still standing, and though he looked rather beaten, he hadn’t been shrunk down or imprisoned in a glass sphere. He just stood there, slowly lifting his head, snickering at everyone “Is that all you’ve got?” Then his body began to glow, and all his injuries healed, and his suit was repaired. “No way…!” Dyno. “How is he doing that?!” snapped Myte. Celestia realized “Unicorn magic! He must have absorbed more magic than we thought.” “Very good, your majesty.” hissed the phantom, and he glared at all the ponies “I told you all before, you can never defeat me. I am the phantom of magic, and soon I’ll show this wretched planet what true magic is all about!” “Okay, he’s officially gone insane!” said Artie. “He’s really being pain.” rhymed Rhymey. The phantom heard that, and decided to retaliate, and with the force fields down, he used his magic to set the houses on fire. “No!” shouted Grand Ruler. The civilians inside, as well as Peach and Fire Ball screamed in panic. “Well, it looks as if you have a choice.” the phantom mocked, ...“Save them, or face me.” There was only one possible choice. The team split into two groups, their majesties, Shining Armor and the Equestrian ponies would help rescue the civilians, while Lightning and the space ponies, and Spike would deal with the phantom. “Go!” shouted Lightning. The teams split up and Lightning and his team began to fight the phantom. The problem was, thanks to his healing magic, he was fresh as a daisy, while the others were starting to grow tired, and their mega modes wouldn’t activate. The friends got punched, kicked, and pummeled about, but they refused to give in. Meanwhile, though powerless, the other ponies worked together, throwing hoards of dirt on the flames to keep it down, and soon more pegasi arrived and brought rainclouds to help douse the flames even more, allowing the team to get inside and rescue the ponies within. Things were going smoothly... but suddenly Celestia gasped and grasped her body in pain. “What’s wrong with the queen?” cried Fluttershy. “I don’t know, she was doin’ fine before, now it looks like she’s in some pain.” said Applejack. That’s when Celestia collapsed to the floor, inside one of the burning buildings. “Celestia!” cried Grand Ruler. He finally found his strength again, and managed to bust into the building and save his wife, but she was still in great pain. “What’s wrong with her?” cried Rarity. No one answered her. “Set her down!” cried Shining Armor and they laid her flat on her back. The other ponies wondered why Celestia seemed to be in so much pain, but Grand Ruler ordered them to get back to helping the civilians, which they did. While they weren’t looking, Princess Luna searched through her sister’s pouches on her belt and found the bottle of medicine, and gave Celestia a pill. “She is growing worse I fear.” said Luna. “She almost got killed.” added Shining Armor. Grand Ruler was very worried about his wife, but he didn’t dare give her any magic to boost her strength this time as he was still weak, and it was too dangerous to give her any magic that he could barely control; it would probably make things worse. Meanwhile, Lightning and his team weren’t fairing so well, and were reaching the limits of their strengths, but the phantom didn’t seem to get any weaker thanks to all the magic he had absorbed. It made him as strong as the Dark King’s minions. Most of them now lay on the ground, weak, and their suits powered down, leaving only Spike and Lightning standing, and both of them were looking pretty tired. “What are we going to go?” cried Spike. Lightning panted, but didn’t answer as he had no clue. “Allow me, to answer that for you.” hissed the phantom, and he punched them both hard, knocking them down, and their suits powered down. Shining Armor turned to gaze round “Look!” he cried, and the others gazed to see the horror. “We’ve got to help them!” cried Fluttershy. They all charged forth, but the phantom blasted them back hard. “You all wait for your turns. I want to enjoy this.” He pondered over whom to kill first and decided on Lightning. “They always say the best way to defeat an army is take out the leader.” “Light… ning!” cried Starla. She struggled to get up, but she couldn’t. The phantom reached Lightning, but just as he was about to move in for the kill, he got blasted hard from the side by and unknown magical force. Everyone looked in the direction the blast came from, and saw someone standing down the way… A female humanoid-pony with a horn, but no one recognized who she was, as she wore a red and black ninja outfit, hiding everything as well as her face, her eyes, and her mane and her horn. Her tail was hidden inside her outfit. Around her neck, she wore a golden triangular-shaped medallion, which the phantom seemed to recognize “It can’t be...!” he cried. The ninja pony flexed out her hands, and began to dash towards the phantom at incredible speed. The phantom tried to blast at her, but she dodged every single one of his strikes by sprinting out of the way, and kept going forward. She approached the phantom and began throwing her fists and feet at him, and he fought back blocking her every strike, but he finally missed a punch, and the ninja socked him hard in his gut. Then she punched him hard in his face. The phantom was outraged and tried to blast her hard, but she leapt up, flipping over him, and kicked him hard in the back sending him skidding along the ground, and before he could get up, the ninja’s horn and her right fist glowed, and she struck the ground hard, send a shockwave of power through the ground and erupting at the phantom. Sparks and explosions flew everywhere, and he flipped over onto his back. “Look at her go!” cried Lightning. “She’s incredible.” said Starla. “But who is she?” Spike wondered. Next, the ninja took off her pendant and held it out. It began glowing, and then it just stopped. The ninja gawked at in disbelief and tried to reactivate it, but to no avail. The phantom struggled to his feet, and used his healing magic to restore his strength. He said nothing, and just glared at the ninja with fury. Then, he vanished into thin air. The team was speechless, and Lightning found strength enough to get onto his feet. He approached the ninja as she put her pendant back on. “Who are you?” Lightning asked. The ninja didn’t even turn to look at him. She just dashed off and leapt up high into the blinding sunlight. “Ah!” Lightning shielded his eyes, and when he looked around he couldn’t see her anywhere. All that she left behind was a small note she had dropped. It said… “I am no one to be trifled with, but stay out of my way if you wish to avoid disaster” All the others were confused, but suddenly, Celestia began to awaken after her painful ordeal. “Quickly, we must get her home.” said Grand Ruler. The phantom never felt so outraged. “I didn’t want to believe it, but it is real!” he growled “A warrior is trying to unleash the hidden power. I cannot allow this to happen.” Fortunately for him, he already knew the ninja had not tapped into the full and complete power yet, which gave him an outside chance, but now that Pinkie and Fluttershy’s powers were no longer within his grasp, he would have find some other way to unleash Tirek, but first he would need to take out the team and that ninja once and for all before they got any stronger and would ruin his plans. Soon Celestia was at home in palace and resting in bed. Grand Ruler, Princess Luna and Shining Armor exited the bedroom, closing the door behind her. “She’s alright, for now.” said Grand Ruler. The others were relieved to hear, but they were all still deeply concerned. The girls even told Lightning and Spike what they had seen in the battle. “Sire, what’s the matter with the queen?” asked Starla. His majesty and the others all looked strange, and deeply concerned. “Master?” peeped Lightning. His majesty looked as if he were struggling to hold something back, but finally even Luna and shining Armor agreed that they had to know the truth. So they told them everything! “What?!” snapped Lightning. “No way!” cried Krysta. “The queen is dying?!” shrieked Rarity. “Quiet, please!!” Princess Luna snarled softly, reminding everyone that her sister was sleeping. Grand Ruler explained to everyone about the medicine, and that it was almost empty. After that, Celestia was to be put into surgery, as was given in the instructions. “After that… it will be entirely up to fate.” Grand Ruler said. He looked really upset and worried, and not a single one of the others could blame him. “I need you all to be brave and strong, and I don’t have to explain how vitally important it is you keep this to yourselves.” Everyone took their right fists and held them against their chests, and saluted with their other hands. This was the Starfleet salute of a most solemn word of honor, not to be broken under extreme penalty! As well as this, they now had more things to take care of than ever, but the number-one question on everyone’s mind was who that ninja was, and was she really on their side? (Promo) In our next episode,Celestia finally undergoes her surgery to save her life, but it is unknown if she will survive and everyone is on great edge. Rarity also decides to teach Thunder Cloud how to function in the world around him, which seems to make him warm up to her, much to Spike s chagrin, but Neila decides to defy the Dark King’s orders and plans to finish what her fallen comrades started by sending one of her own Cardinals to attack United Equestria. Will Celestia be all right, and will the heroes stand up to Neila’s wrath? Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!” (Next Episode: “Unlucky Rabbit’s Foot”)