My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season I

by DakariKingMykan

Episode 19: Histories Unfold

Ever since their ultimate vanquish on the Dark Planet, Titan’s disgraced minions had retreated to a cave on a faraway planet halfway across the galaxy, where all they ever did was curl around a bonfire and berate themselves for their ultimate failure. Where would they go now? What would they do? Even if they managed to conquer a world, Starfleet was bound to come after them and they would get beaten again. They had tried and tried, but Starfleet was just too much!

Mysterious pitched a small stick at the fire and hung his head low. “Failures, disgraces; we are nothing.”

“I guess we just sit here and wait for the end to come?” said Rep-Stallion. Dementia sighed heavily “We’ll probably fail at that too. We’re nothing but fools!”

Suddenly, they all heard the sound of someone sniggering in the shadows, it said. “You’re only a fool if you give up.”

The minions huddled together. “Who’s there? Who are you?” asked Mysterious. Out stepped, what appeared to be, a pony that almost resembled the space alicorns-- genetically altered-- She had a humanoid body complete with all the normal features, but her coat was black as night. She had a voluminous flowing mane and tail that shimmered with shadowy light, and she wore dark armor with a large crescent-moon marking. “Like all of you, I, too, am of the fallen evil. But together perhaps we all could be more.”

The minions felt evil’s grin returning to their faces for the first time in a while. “We’re listening.” said Mysterious.

The pony creature explained how she had enemies, who were also ponies-- which the minions assumed to be Starfleet-- but they soon discovered that she was referring to the Equestrian ponies. “Now that I full-fledged power again, I seek vengeance on those who had vanquished me before, but as much as I hate to admit this, I could use help. Already the Equestrians are feeling a small portion of my wrath, but to make things absolute and ensuring of ultimate victory, I wouldn’t mind having a few... how shall I say it-- helpers.”

The minions weren’t too sure at first. “We help you-- What’s in it for us?”

“Agree to help me, and I will grant you all powers and magic beyond your wildest dreams. Together we shall be unstoppable, and no one, nothing will stand in our way. Not even the ponies.”

The minions liked the sound of this. “So, do we have a deal?” the creature asked as she extended her hand. The minions agreed to her contract. “By the way, what’s your name?” asked Rep-Stallion.

“Just call me Nightmare Moon.”

In Unicornicopia, Rhymey was selected for the mission to travel to Equestria and obtain the star stone which was there. He would be going alone, and he was most excited. He tried to do some research before it was for him to go, but strangely the archives had no information at all regarding Equestria.

This struck everyone as very strange. They had all remembered the other night when the Grand Ruler had fainted at the mention of Equestia. He had since recovered, but he had been acting rather peculiar. He seemed rather sad or regretful about something regarding Equestria. Obviously he knew of the planet, yet whenever anyone asked him about it or why it wasn’t listed in the archives, he seemed to act rather distant and did not wish to talk about it.

The royal house-keeping seemed concerned for his majesty as well. He had not slept well or eaten much, but it was always the same story; he just didn’t wish to talk about it. Lightning and Krysta were getting really worried, but for the moment they were escorting Rhymey to the sky palace.

“Just think-- a planet of regular ponies.” Lightning said “I know it’s what ponies originally are, but to actually meet them-- Galloping Galaxies! I wish I was going too.”

“Well don’t forget the real mission.” Krysta said “If the star stone still is there, we better get it before Serpentari does, but at least his majesty is letting Rhymey explore as well.”

Rhymey felt both excited and nervous at the same time.

“There’s no telling just who or what I’ll find,
So many curiosities fill my mind.
Many creatures may come along,
But I will venture brave and strong.
And should I come across any evil there,
I’ll just give them an icy stare…
Grrrrrrrrrraaah…!”

Krysta and Lightning exchanged looks of concern. “He’s ready.” they both said.

Upon arriving at the palace, the Grand Ruler was sitting on his throne, but he seemed deeply entranced in his thoughts. He snapped out of his trance when Captain Shaina announced the friends’ arrival. “Oh, I’m sorry, I was miles away.”

Lightning and Krysta believed him, and were beginning to feel this couldn’t go on anymore. Nonetheless, Grand Ruler escorted them all to the portal-chamber. Krysta and her fairies had strengthened the portal for the very long journey to Equestria. It was really that far away, so far that it would take much longer to get there than normal skip hops to nearby star-systems.

Grand Ruler was preparing to give Rhymey an extra super return-spell power. It wouldn’t take him as long to travel back to Unicornicopia with it, but suddenly he got lost in his thoughts again and just stood where he was. Lightning gave him a small tap which startled him, and made everyone jump. “Oh, please forgive me. I trailed off. I’ve… been very busy today.”

Lightning and Krysta didn’t buy that a bit. Still, Grand Rule gave Rhymey his return spell, and wished him luck on his mission. “Keep in mind though. These ponies are nothing like us and you will be regarded as a stranger to them and their ways.”

Rhymey acknowledged, and then he turned to face the portal.

“With thoughts in my head, and nerves in my tum,
Look out, Equestria, HERE I COME!”

He dashed right at it, jumped through and was on his way.

Grand Ruler just kept staring sadly at the portal. He looked more bummed than ever. Lightning approached him. “Master, what is troubling you?”

Grand Ruler looked up. “Nothing is troubling is Me.” he lied.

“Sire, you are troubled.” said Krysta “We want to know why?”

“I don’t wish to discuss it.” He turned to walk out of the chamber, but Lightning wasn’t willing to let him off this time, and he quickly sped in front of him, blocking his way. “No!” he snapped sharply “You’re not going anywhere until you tell us your problem!”

Grand Ruler felt livid. “Lightning Dawn, how DARE you speak like that to me!”

“He dares because he’s concerned about you, and so am I.” said Krysta. “We want to help you.” added Lightning “You always taught me never to be afraid to talk about things like this, especially when they really matter, and that no one can really help you if you don’t.”

Grand Ruler hesitated a moment, but Lightning was right. “Both of you come with me.”

He led the two into his master bedroom. He then pulled on a secret rope which pulled a large tapestry up high. Then he pressed keystone into the wall causing the wall to slide up to reveal a specially sealed door. Lightning and Krysta were astonished. Grand Ruler then told them both “I never, ever let anyone else, and I mean ANYONE ELSE in here. Even my royal housekeeping doesn’t know of its existence. However, if the two of you solemnly swear not to mention any of this to another living soul, I will show you something so extraordinary that what follows after you may refuse to believe, but it is all true.”

Krysta and Lightning promised solemnly, and with that, Grand Ruler put his horns through the keyholes dispelling the lock, and the doors opened wide, revealing an elevator lift which took them down, down, and they then emerged in a pitch dark room which slowly begun to light up with torches place along the walls. Lightning and Krysta gazed in awe at the beautiful stone room. It was decorated with lovely wild flowers and small trees. Two soft and beautiful waterfalls glistened in the light like diamonds as they filled up the cute little stream that stretch all the way around the edge of the room.

A soft beautiful music score was heard as well. It felt so relaxing and soothing.

“This is my private sanctuary.” Grand Ruler said as he led them over to the central area “It is my own special place where I come whenever I need refuge after an exhausting day, or just to be alone with my thoughts.”

He and Lightning sat down on a couple of stone benches on a circular platform. In the center stood a beautiful fountain that had a beautiful statue on the top. It was a lovely normal, alicorn with a long horn, Pegasus wings, and long mane and tail. Atop her head was a golden tiara, and a picture of a bright sun was painted on her flank.

“Wow! She’s beautiful.” said Lightning. “Who is she…?” asked Krysta.

Grand Ruler felt a little down again, but answered “She is Celestia; Princess and head monarch of the planet Equestria where Rhymey just went.”

Lightning and Krysta became more amazed than ever. “But how do you know so much about her?” Lightning asked.

Grand Ruler hesitated for a bit, and decided it was time to tell his story.

It all began well over one-thousand years ago.

*Grand Ruler’s POV*

I was born in the magical world of Equestria. I was the only son born to two Earth ponies, and I was named Celesto.

Yet, even at such a young age I felt very unusual and different than others. Then one day I discovered why. I was an alicorn, but I had golden wings, and instead of having just one horn on my head, I had three. All of them were gold, but why this was, not a soul had a clue, not even my parents. Regardless, they loved me very deeply and raised me as best as two loving parents would.

When I was a little older, my parents introduced me to many of their friends, but they all seemed to stare and act strangely at me because of my horns and wings. This made me feel very uneasy. No one had ever seen a pony like me before, and not a single other pony was like me either.

On my very first day of school, I could feel all the other children staring at me. I wished they wouldn’t. I tried to make friends and be nice but all the others just seemed to go away, they didn’t want me near. Some acted nervous around me as if I were a monster and others they refused to let me join in and play and just laughed at me and called me names.

“Tri horned, freak!”

“Unicrock!”

“Magical mistake, the circus is that way.”

The worst one of all was a pony named Dusk Shine. Every day he would go out of his very way to pick on me, or to laugh at the way I looked. I tried to tell him that I couldn’t help having three horns and golden wings, but he continued to bother me to such an extent. “Look everyone, the little foal’s going to cry and throw a hissy fit.” He would say, and everyone would laugh at me, and mock me by making crying sounds expecting me to start blubbering.

I didn’t throw any fits, but I did run out of the school near tears. I felt so alone, so unwanted. I began to hate the way I looked and feeling so different. I would often sing a sad little song of how lonely it was to be one of a kind, and wishing I could be different so others would begin to appreciate me more.

After all, as would often sing, "It's Lonely Being One-of-a-kind!"

Still, it wasn’t all that bad. As I got older I began to embrace some of the wonders of being alone, with still some lingering hope that I would make friends one day. I learned many magic spells, but in my spare time I learned amazing things like how to stand up right on my hind legs and seem taller. I taught myself how to dance and studied choreography, and even martial arts.

Still, no matter how talented I ever became or how hard I ever worked, I never earned a cutie mark, but I couldn’t understand why, and began to feel that maybe it was something to do with my being different than most ponies. Perhaps it was the fact that I was multi-talented, or destined for other things. Whichever the reason, the magic of cutie marks just wouldn’t sink into me; like an invisible wall preventing the magic from coming in.

Worse than that, I tried to show off my talents hoping to earn a little respect from the others, but all it did was increase the tension and the bullying from them all, especially from Dusk Shine. He threw an apple at me that got stuck on my left horn. “Hey, look every-pony, that apple’s got a mutant on it.”

Everyone laughed at me so much that I couldn’t take it anymore.

I began to study harder with magic, and I found something that would help me-- A cover up spell that turned my golden wings white to match the color of my coat. I also made my center horn white and made the other two vanish. Now I looked normal, and just in time for one of the biggest events for school ponies…The Pony Games! A great event where colts and fillies came out to meet others and get along, make friends. Also, we would learn many things like how to fly better, master their magic, and also to be inspected and judged by the future ruler of Equestria-- Celestia, and she herself had also come to participate in the games as part of her training for her future coronation.

That was when I first saw her. I couldn’t stop gazing at her, and she gazed right back at me and blinked twice while smiling directly at me. “Well, what do you know? I think she likes you.” said Dusk Shine. I was amazed. This was the first time he wasn’t rude or mean to me, possibly was because of the spell hiding my horns and wings, but I couldn’t help but gaze at Celestia again and she gazed back at me.

The games went well, and everyone did their best. I showed off more of my new tricks and skills which helped me clear through a lot of the trials with ease, and everyone applauded me instead of laughing at me. I felt so happy, so wonderful for the first time. Yet every few moments I would notice that Celestia was gazing at me with great interest, and she seemed to applaud for me almost a great deal more than the other players.

During a lunch break, Dusk Shine actually invited me to sit with him and some of his friends, and they kept saying how incredible I was, and it was Dusk who persuaded me to go to Celestia, who was eating her lunch under a tree alone.

As nervous as I felt, I went over, but our eyes met. “Nice day.” she said to me. She sounded a little shy and nervous.

“Yes.”

“For the games… I mean.”

“Sure.”

We kept exchanging remarks back and forth, and we both felt a little silly, Celestia also noticed my wings kept twitching, and I kept feeling my only visible horn in worry. “Are you alright? Why do you keep feeling your wings and your horn?”

I didn’t want to tell her truth for fear she would reject me like other in the past, so I just said “Why, am I doing something wrong?”

Celestia apologized, “I don’t mean it that way.”

I apologized to her, and then she asked for my name. “Celesto...? I like that name. It means… heavenly.” I blushed, “Really? Well, so does Celestia. I think it’s… beautiful.”

She giggled softly.

“Um… Celestia… after the games… I know you’re the future ruler and you’re pretty busy, but… would you… would you walk home with me?”

She hesitated for a moment, but she agreed. “I will… Celesto-- I think you’re sweet.”

My heart leapt with joy. She thought I was sweet, and with my newfound confidence blossoming in my eyes, I finished the games as one of the top five grand winners along with Dusk Shine. “Hey, you know… you’re all right.” he said. It was a sign that he and I would be friends, except when we had a playful wrestle to congratulate each other for our victories the magic spell wore off and my horns and wings were exposed. Everyone gasped loudly, and as expected, many of them began to laugh at me and call me names again. The referees declared me disqualified, thinking I had been cheating all this time, using magic, and confiscated all my medals and awards.

“Yeah, you’re all right,” said Dusk “All right as in wrong, Tri-horned reject!”

Celestia saw and heard everything and thought everyone was being very unfair. She saw me run off on my own with a look of extreme sadness in my eyes.

“Celesto?” she called as she raced after me “Celesto?” I stopped and turned to face her. “Well, what do you want?” I asked almost sharply. Celestia walked up to me. “You… you promised to walk home with me, remember?”

“Aren’t you going to laugh at my horns and wings too? Every-pony else is.”

She shook her head and said with honesty and truth, “I don't think there's anything wrong with your horns. In fact, I think they're handsome. Much better than the way you were trying to hide them.”

I felt a little better hearing that from her, but still “They make me different from every-pony else. Everyone picks on me just because I look different.”

“But that’s what makes you so grand, unique and special.” Celestia said “Combine that with your sweet personality-- why any filly should consider herself lucky to be seen with you.”

Celestia was very kind-hearted and understanding; as she was raised and trained to be. She never judged anything by how it looked, but what they could do.

It became clear to me that even though she was future ruler of Equestria… I had made a friend. Something I had always wanted, and amazingly, something she had always wanted too; with all her training and prepping, it felt so nice to her to interact and share with someone else.

(the song)

As I grew older I mastered more magic, and skills, and continued to practice my own arts. I would often see Celestia from time to time, sometimes even at her own request. I even taught her some of my tricks like how to stand upright and dance in many other ways besides ballroom dancing. She enjoyed every moment of it, and she taught me some other types of spells, like even how that when in future, she’d help raise the sun in the sky and welcome the day. We were such great friends, and we grew closer and closer every day.

Celestia showed me that friendship was a very powerful gift, and she felt honored to share it with me, and I felt the same way. Eventually, Celestia was crowned princess, and we couldn’t be together as often anymore. She had her duties to attend to and a hefty schedule.

We still wrote to each other, but ultimately we couldn’t bear not to be without one another. So I decided I would become a royal guard. It was the only thing I could think of that would at least allow me to be closer to her.

The training was vigorous and put many strains on me. However, I managed to graduate with full honors, and not only that, I qualified for a special tournament that would decide who would be captain of the Royal Canterlot Guard, and serve as Princess Celestia’s right-wing pony.

Unfortunately for me, Dusk shine and several other bullying ponies entered the tournament as well. They hadn’t changed a bit over the years. They were ruder than ever and continuously picked on me trying to weaken my confidence. “Give up, Tri-Horned retard!” snapped Dusk “No way the princess is going to want a freak show like you by her side.”

I paid no attention to them and only promised to give it my all. When the tournament began, Celestia wished us all the best of luck, but the way she constantly would take a moment to gaze over at me, it was almost as if she were hoping that I would win.

I did very well, thanks to my skills and training. I was still taunted at and teased by Dusk, and I even found out that all he seemed to care about was winning just so he could be by the princess’ side for popularity reasons. He saw her nothing more as a trophy and promising privileges, not caring at all that the princess would at times need protection. This angered me severely, and made Celestia feel unhappy to overhear it as well.

By the end of the tournament, it was down to me and Dusk. We both had fought long and hard to make it that far, and now the deciding match had come. “I’m going to enjoy taking you out, you overgrown manure pile.” he snarled at me. I said nothing and just merely concentrated. I took a moment to gaze over at Celestia, and she threw a handkerchief at me as a sign for luck. Every other pony and creature in the crowd began to realize what was going between Celestia and me, and actually cheered me on, and this greatly angered Dusk.

The match began!

I did very well, as best I could, but after a few water breaks, I began to feel sleepy and tired, and it slowed me down, ultimately costing me my victory, and Dusk Shine was declared the champion. It was the biggest disappointment of my life, and though I wanted to take my defeat like a stallion, I walked off in shame.

However, when Dusk Shine went to Celestia to accept his “Prize” and the many riches and glorious things that went with it, it was discovered and revealed that he had cheated in the tournament by putting sleep-powder that dissolved the water I drank to refresh in-between breaks, which was what made me sleepy and easier to beat. “I did it for all of us!” snapped Dusk. “Who the heck wants the three horned mistake by their side.”

Celestia finally lost her patience, and angrily slapped him across the face herself. Everyone gasped in shock, and Celestia spoke severely to Dusk. “You are no knight, Dusk Shine. A Knight has honor, respect, courage... and most of all, they have heart... like Celesto has!"

As expected, Dusk scoffed and could only say "But he has three horns. He's a freak!"

Hearing this, many audience members and the other participants finally saw Dusk for the shallow bully he was; booing him and throwing food at him. Celestia was especially disgusted by Dusk's shallowness. "You hate him because he looks and acts differently than you, and therefore you deem him unworthy to be a knight, or deserving of any chances of friendship!"

I overheard what Celestia had said, and walked back into the stadium. The entire crowd cheered at Celestia for reading Dusk out, and even more so when she used her magic to strip him of his armor. "You are a bully and a cheater, Dusk Shine! You are the one who is undeserving of knighthood!"

Dusk never felt so humiliated in his life, but he was escorted from the grounds by the guards, and as for me... I was declared the true champion, not just on technicality, but because it was strongly believed that I would have won fair and square had I not been drugged, and also for my integrity, good nature, my courage and bravery. I had struggled for so many years and finally earned the respects of many.

Celestia knighted me as Captain of the Guard and dubbed me her official right-wing.

After assuming my place as captain, I took my duty to heart and helped lead the army against any evil threats or invasions. I helped keep Equestria and the princess well protected. I often got to stand by her side too, but she preferred I call her by name and dispense with the formalities.

As time went by, the kingdom began to respect me being captain as much as the guards and Celestia did, and then one night, during a grand galloping gala ball, I was summoned before Celestia, because she had a gift for me as a reward for all my services, kindness, loyalty, and various other fields. She presented me with a red cape with golden sparkles. She had made it herself just for me to go with my golden, jewel encrusted armor. It suited me very well, and the whole kingdom agreed, but to me, it was the most wonderful gift I could ever receive.

I kissed Celestia’s hoof tenderly and asked “Oh, princess fair, may I have the pleasure of this dance?” She accepted, and I escorted her down to the ballroom floor, and everyone cleared the way to give us plenty of room. The music began to play, and as we danced beautifully, we began to sing special words to it-- words that expressed how much we meant to one another no matter what we looked like, what we wore, or what our places were…

She was wonderful to me, as I was to her.

As the song ended, I bowed to my princess and she curtsied to me, but we both became lost in each other’s eyes, and then, right in front of everyone in that ballroom we shared our very first kiss. Everyone cheered and applauded loud and wonderfully.

Though our love had become public knowledge, it did not affect our duties. I continued to remain as loyal and obedient and received no special treatments or things like that. Still, Celestia and I grew closer and closer to each other every day. She would invite me to have tea with her, and was her personal escort to every major event. We would share ideas, hopes, and dreams. Easily our favorite pastime was looking up at the stars and all the constellations, no matter where we went, we never denied the true feelings we had for one another.

Then one day, Celestia came to me and asked if I would consent to be her prince consort! “What…?!” I said unable to believe, “Marry?”

Celestia explained it was a marvelous idea and that I would make a wonderful prince and later king. This way all their dreams would come true and Equestria would become one of the most peaceful and prosperous realms in the known Dimensional Universe. “Celesto, I love you and you love me. What more could there possibly be needed? You’ve done so much for me and for Equestria, and I know that together you and can only do well for everyone.”

Absolutely nothing could make me want to refuse. She was also right in every detail, we loved each other, we wished only good for the kingdom. So I accepted her proposal.

We planned to announce our engagement at the next year’s ball, and all that time I spent making the rainbow rod, as a gift of affection to my fiancée. Though the scepter was but just an ordinary piece of gold with jewels, having made it myself meant that it was truly a gift from the heart, just as the red cape was a gift from Celestia’s heart to me.

On the eve of the ball when we were ready to announce the engagement and I was planning to present Celestia with the gift I had made for her, when the palace was attacked…

Celestia’s younger sister, Luna, jealous of her sister’s duty in raising the sun, and wishing to cast the kingdom into an eternal night. Overcome by resentment and bitterness, she had transformed into a demonic creature known as Nightmare Moon! Using her vile magic, Nightmare had created a small army of shadowy ponies called Shadowbolts to attack the palace.

The guards and I sprang into action. The fight was long and rough, and the evil ones were very tough, so tough that my guards could barely fend them off. Many of them were critically injured and bits of their blood had stained my armor as I tried to help them.

In the midst of the chaos, Celestia herself tried to join in the fight, but got hurt pretty badly, and a little of her blood splashed on me…!

“Celestia!” I cried, unable to believe what had just happened. It was at that moment that something inside of me sparked, and my three golden horns began to show off a force of unbelievable power, and using that great power, I blasted all the shadowbolts away just like that.

*POV Pause*

Lightning and Krysta sat and gazed in awe, “The uniforce.” Lightning croaked.

His master nodded “I had discovered the secret of the golden horns, and in time I learned much more. The uniforce is ultimate power of the rare golden horns. By using the uniforce a pony can increase its battle capabilities to beyond infinity!”

Lightning and Krysta were shocked and amazed. “Whoa! Infinite power!” cried Lightning. It was all starting to make some sense to him-- why everyone acted strange around him seeing him with a golden horn. “But how come I kept feeling so wiped out every time?” Lightning asked.

“The uniforce is very powerful, possibly one of the most powerful forces of magic in the all the universe, but it is also very dangerous and requires intensive training, concentration and mastering to control effectively. Until such requirements are met and fulfilled, the uniforce can only be used for an instant. It focuses all the energy of the pony in one concentrated burst.

...After I had used it on the shadowbolts it left me drained of all strength. I had nothing left to fight off what happened next.”

Lightning and Krysta felt chills run down their spines. "That explains why I got so tired every time I used it myself." Lightning said to himself.

*POV continued*

In my weakened condition, Nightmare Moon easily overpowered me and trapped me inside a large gem; hurling me up, up, up and straight out into dimensional-space, where she hoped I would perish!

The last thing I could see was Celestia reaching out to me and screaming in tears, “…NO!!”

I called to her, “CELESTIAAAAAAAAA…!!”

I soared higher and higher out into space, and because I had entered dimensional space with no pathway or proper protection, everythign flashed white around me-- I was instantly warped away to a random place passing out at the exact moment of teleportation, and everything went black!

When I came to, I found myself on the ground on a very distant, barren, and abysmal dimensional planet. It was almost as bad as the Dark Planet-- wastelands, empty fields, and nasty red skies. At least there was air I could breath, water suitable for drinking when filtered, and small trees that bared fruit, but still. I looked up at the night skies at all the stars…

...It was incredible; not one constellation I could recognize!

Where was Equestria? It was out there... somewhere! How would I ever find a teeny little speck in a galaxy this size; why I had no way of knowing back then if I even WAS in the same galaxy.

My heart began to break and I felt cold inside. I prayed and wished on every star I saw that this was all just a terrible nightmare and that I’d wake up from it soon… but it wasn’t.

I was a galactic castaway; perhaps forever!

Then, things went from bad, to worse...!

The area where I was sitting, the ground was unstable and sitting on gas-pockets. Powerful geysers fired all around me. I ran for my life, and just as I neared the end of the field, WHAMM! I was hit hard and sent sailing up, up, and over... landing hard onto a bed of jagged and sharp rocks!

I was such a mess! Several of my bones were broken! Several others dislocated! I was bleeding badly and the pain was unbearable! I could hardly breathe!

I knew that my body could never heal from this. My bones were so incredibly damaged that it would take more than a miracle if they would ever heal, and even if they would heal in time, I would ALWAYS be in immense pain.

With my life fading fast, and no hope of my body ever healing in it's current state, there was only one way I knew to save myself; I would have to reconstruct my body, give it a new shape! Be better than I was before!

Better...

Stronger...

...Faster!!

Using every last bit of powerful and complex magic I had learned and mastered, I performed the dangerous surgery and refitted my body both inside and out. I created more bones, tissue, vital organs and nerves connections that would help me heal and survive. The pain was so immense and the operation so complicated to do on my own that one false mistake would have surely finished me, but in the end it was all a success....

My body was now humanoid shaped. It took some time for me to get used to, but I soon discovered the incredibility of having this new body. I could grab things in my hands, instead of using my mouth, or using magic to levitate things. I could jump farther, reach up higher and in time I hoped to discover more.

(Skip to 2:17)

It was then I decided that if this planet was going to be my home, the least I would do was make it more pleasant. If I could fix my body, there was no telling what I couldn’t do without trying.

(2:27)

So, I took off... soaring higher and higher than I had ever soared before, high above the planet. Then, using my magic I began to fix up the planet. I made the forests, the mountains, the waters. I cleaned up the skies. I even learned how to raise the sun and the moon, and control night and day just like Celestia taught me. I even learned how to control the weather.

I had changed the planet into a world almost as identical to Equestria. Now I had plenty of food and water, beautiful landscapes and comfortable conditions to exist in!

...Except I was still lonesome and longed for companionship for there were no other creatures in this world with me. Not even a bird or a mosquito.

So I decided that I would have create terrestrial-life myself.

I was fortunate enough to have found a few threads of other ponies manes or tails stuck to my armor from the battle, Celestia’s was among them and the other were from the guards whenever I helped them up with they were down. There were also still a few small specks of blood still stained on my armor I hadn’t washed off. All this was exactly what I needed.

Using my magic, almost exactly how I remade my body, I combined the DNA samples and infusing them the very essences of elements, and my magic, and it worked-- Two creatures were born. Two baby humanoid alicorns, one male and one female. “Yes! YES!!” I cried for joy. I had created life!

I created the first 100 baby alicorns, which became the ancestry of our soon-to-be race. They were all I was able to create. I couldn’t create Earth Ponies, Pegasus, or normal Unicorns. No matter how hard I tried, the samples, and magic that I used were only able to create Alicorns.

Even still, I felt it wasn’t at all bad, for it meant that everyone would be the same. All would have horns, all would have wings. There would not be any real physical differences in creature type.

I took care of all one-hundred of the young ones like a proud father. I gave them food, shelter, and protected them with all my power.

As they grew older, I schooled them myself. We even learned to use proper words such as “Everyone” instead of “Every-pony” They also did not ever seem earn their cutie-mark’s either, and it was obviously because I myself still had no cutie mark, and it was my magic that had helped to originally create these ponies. That same magic prevented them from receiving cutie marks.

Still, the ponies did not mind one bit. Why would anyone want to let some picture on their flank tell them they were special, or good at something?

As the decades passed, my ponies grew into adulthood. Whole ancient cities and villages began to form, and those who found mates started families of their own-- when I created the ponies, I was very careful to make it so none were actually blood related, by using and manipulating DNA and blood samples that I used. Every single one of them was different. This was essential to avoid incest.

More ponies were born. Each and every one of them all looked up to me, and thanked me so graciously for giving them life, homes, education and protection. They were so grateful to me and all that had done and would continue for them... they had asked me to become their crowned leader. So I had assumed my rightful position as the leader of this new world, The Grand Ruler, the Tri-Horned Alicorn, and this world of ours became forever known as Unicornicopia.

As our kingdom grew larger, the ponies began to assume simple lives, and as Grand Ruler I did my best to maintain order and peace. However, I never wanted to be addressed by my real name, Celesto, again for all the bad memories it brought me, and remembered the evil Nightmare Moon had once ruined my entire life and taken away everything that was once important to me, and practically still was. That was when I began to detest evil, and I realized that if just that evil had cost me so much, what could other evil forces do to others? Other innocent creatures would probably suffer the same fate as mine, if not worse.

My alicorns understood my resentment to evil and began to share my view of things. Some wished to continue to live in peace with, while others decided to join me in my new quest to stand up against all evil.

So I and my new followers began train. I even learned how to master the uniforce, and learn more about it so using it would not exhaust me so much, and I could call upon it at will and even use it several times before feeling weak.

The rainbow rod, still in my possession, had become charged with incredible powers I learned and mastered, and I kept it always safe for such a time if it would it be needed.

My army continued to grow, and we discovered ways to become incredibly powerful; stronger and swifter even than any Equestrian pony ever was. We even began to develop weapons and technologies far more advanced as well to aid us and even help us advance our own civilization as well.

We all felt like star-class fighters and the way our armors would shine like the stars in the sky, and we all fought and could move swiftly like shooting stars. Hence we decided on our name “Starfleet!”

We soon got our chance to test our skills when the very first evil forces began to attack our world. We were so well trained and possessed such powers that the evils ones were easily defeated. Simple villains we would imprison until such a time, if any, they would be rehabilitated, redeemed. If not then we would keep them imprisoned for life. However, the really dangerous ones that wished no redemption, and were not possible to reform, we would have no choice but to destroy. This was a horrid move to make, and as much as we detested having to take lives of others, we had to face facts that if we didn’t, those creatures would continue to roam free and continue to hurt and destroy more and more.

Eventually we also discovered how to successfully traverse through space, and head off to other worlds. As my army grew larger over the past decade, we decided to send our many soldiers, as many as we could spare, to other worlds to establish outposts to protect the good life that resided there, maybe even find allies who would help us for our just cause, but only if they wished for it. In return we asked for provisions and things to add to our world, such as food, livestock and other animals to help provide for us and make our world more complete.

Even still, as I continued to maintain the balance and order of my kingdom, command Starfleet, and protect the civilians, I never forgot about Equestria. I would always take the time to search across the stars and hope that I would one day find Equestria or some hint of its location, but it was just no use. Finding one tiny speck in such vast universe-- looking for a needle in a haystack seemed easier and at least probable.

I began to lose hope of ever finding it, and my cape reminded me of my beloved Princess Celestia, nothing I would ever wish for apart from stopping all evil would be greater than to once again touch the flower that was her face and gaze into her eyes again.

I would always love her. Always!

*POV Ends*

Grand Ruler sighed heavily, and softly gripped the edge of his cape while gazing at the statue of Celestia.

Lightning was at a loss for worse, while Krysta blew her little nose with tiny hankie “That’s so beautiful and sad!” she sobbed.

“But Master…” Lightning asked “Now that you’ve found Equestria, why didn’t you go with Rhymey?”

His mentor shook his head “You don’t understand, Lightning. It isn’t that simple anymore. A-thousand years is a long time to be away, and I have changed ever so much."

He looked down at his hands, remembering how they were once hooves!

"So much has happened to me over the ages. I could never fit in Equestria now, not after all I've learned, all that I've done. I don't even know if Celestia is still alive, and even if she is, what then?

What would I say?

What would I do?"

He paused and sighed almost sadly "I really have nothing to expect by going back now, and besides, how could I just leave." he motioned at all around him "This... is my home. It's been my home longer than Equestria has. I can't just abandon my subjects, my soldiers, the vow that I made to fight evil and help those in need.

...Even if it means I may have to ultimatley give up all hope of ever seeing Equestria, and my dear Celestia ever again."

“Oh, Master!” sighed Lightning. He was still finding it all so hard to believe that creation of their planet, their race, and all of Starfleet had such a tragic and frightful beginning.

“You’re very brave and noble your majesty.” said Krysta.

Grand Ruler smiled “So are the two of you. Never stop remembering that, and remember: A true leader is not made by how strong, rich, or good looking he is... but by those who choose to follow him." he then gazed at the statue "...Or her."

Lightning gazed at the statue and wondered how Rhymey would be when he got to Equestria.

(Promo)