My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season I

by DakariKingMykan

Episode 20: A Visit to Equestria

The creatures of the planet Equestria were still preparing for the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle, keeping well in mind that their magical world had recently been rocked by a series of savage earthquakes.

Little did they realize that in less than seventy-two desperate hours, a series of powerful energy forces would break up the planet’s core and disintegrate their magical world into galactic dust!

Still, the geologist ponies could find nothing all that strange with the earthquakes-- they could detect no imbalance of forces, no plates moving, nothing at all-- and merely dismissed that nothing was all that wrong and the quakes were done with, which meant no cancellation of the coronation, so the preparations continued for the grand event the next night.

For now, it was sundown of the night before the big day, and everyone was asked to do their part for the ball. Rainbow Dash was so psyched to be doing another sonic-boom, but Pinkie Pie couldn’t stop bouncing with glee. Rarity kept fainting in an overdramatic scene on her favorite cushion to be making new dresses and outfits for the grand night, preferably Twilight’s new royal garments. Applejack was just plain proud, and Fluttershy was just happy.

The friends all had a picnic-lunch one afternoon to discuss how things were coming along, but Twilight was very nervous. “I don’t think I can go through this.” she said for the millionth time, but her friends gave her their support. “Darling, you’ll be just fine.” said Rarity “Indecently, I will need you to model for me tonight so I may finish your princess robe, for when you march forth to greet your new subjects and they cheer for joy for you.”

Twilight gulped hard. “Oh, I’m sure you’ll be okay Twilight.” said Fluttershy “If it were me up there, I’d pass out for sure and maybe never wake up again.”

Rainbow Dash laughed at that “No, you’d probably do what you did before-- put on a disguise and pretend that you were some-pony else altogether.”

Fluttershy felt very embarrassed. It all happened during the last Grand Galloping Gala…

She saw a handsome stallion and developed a small crush on him, but she was too embarrassed to talk to him. Despite persuasions and support from her friends, Fluttershy felt so nervous that she slipped into the back, and changed her outfit so she’d seem like an upper-class, rich pony, and put on a whole act and approached the stallion. They shared a dance, but halfway through, Fluttershy’s disguise came off and she was so embarrassed that she ran out in tears.

Just then, Fluttershy felt embarrassed near tears again. The others were very annoyed with Rainbow Dash and scolded her for laughing. “Fluttershy was really scared, Rainbow. I don’t blame her for wantin’ to try that stunt.” said Applejack.

“Besides, I dress up lots of times.” said Pinkie, and just then she leapt over to the back of a tree, and then leapt from side to side changing outfits every second. Fluttershy still didn’t feel any less embarrassed. If anything, now she felt worried that ponies from all over would recognize her at the coronation ball and they’d laugh at her too.

“Don’t think like that.” Spike said “You’ve done so much to help out all over Equestria. Who would laugh at you?”

Twilight suddenly forgot about her own fears and lent Fluttershy a book from her bag. “Here, read this. It’s about how to overcome nerves and get over the fear of being embarrassed. I know I should be reading it, but I think you need it more than I do.”

Fluttershy didn’t feel so sure. “I don’t really want to bother; besides, what about your coronation?”

Twilight felt a little nervous again but admitted “I’m always going to be scared, no matter what, but with all my friends by my side… well… I’m just going to go through it!”

The others applauded her for her courage, and so Fluttershy got the book.

That night, Fluttershy was lying on the ground outside her house with her animal friends all around as she read from the book, but she still didn’t feel any better and began to feel it was hopeless again. “Oh, what am I going to do?” she cried “I want so badly to be there for Twilight when she’s crowned, but… oh!”

Her animal friends cuddled around her to show her she was special to them, and that made her smile, but she still wished she was like other ponies and could overcome her nerves. She gazed up at the starry sky, and made that same wish on every star hoping to boost her confidence.

Suddenly, she saw a glowing star that seemed to be moving across the sky. “What’s that?” she wondered, and the star began to glow brighter as it seemed to be heading right her way. Her animal friends felt scared and scattered to hide. “Wait for me!” she exclaimed as she jumped behind a shrub nearby.

It turned out that the glowing star was coming from the horn of a very strange pony-creature, one that Fluttershy had never seen before. He looked like an alicorn, yet his body was almost completely humanoid. He wore a powerful looking battle suit and a visor across his eyes. His mane was very short but the same color as his armor, and his coat was the exact same color as Fluttershy’s. He had no cutie mark, and there was a strange insignia on his armor, with a code beneath it.

Fluttershy gazed in such awe and curiosity that she just sat there with her face peeking through the bush. The alicorn creature landed in Fluttershy’s yard, and gazed at his new surroundings. Then he could see some of the animals and Fluttershy poking their heads through the shrub. He powered down his suit, and greeted the creatures by saluting tall and proud, and he spoke in rhyme to them.

“In friendship and goodwill I come.
Unicornicopia is where I’m from.

I seek a treasure for a power feeder.
Take me, strangers, to your leader.”

Fluttershy nervously came out from behind the shrubs, and the stranger gazed at her feeling very strange inside. He had never seen a pony so beautiful before, even if she was of an original, non-genetically altered, like him.

“Forgive if I stare, but in honesty
You seem pretty very and lovely.”

Fluttershy blushed, “Me… really…?” she asked still feeling a little timid. “Um… do you… well I… just want to know… do you always speak like that… in rhyme

“Yes I do… all the time.” rhymed the stranger.

“My name is X-L-7-Zee
But if you like, just call me Rhymey.
I’m pleased to greet you,
It’s nice to meet you.”

Fluttershy approached him and extended her hoof “Hi… I…I’m Fluttershy.”

Rhymey tenderly kissed her hoof, and Fluttershy’s face turned bright red. “Oh my…! Oh!” she was at a loss of what to say or do. Rhymey almost felt the same.

“There’s history right before my face.
I’ve met a new pony in Dimensional Space
And all because of my expedition,
To find the star stone is my mission.”

Fluttershy seemed curious. “You’re from outer space?” she asked “And…what’s a star stone?”

Rhymey nodded in answer to Fluttershy asking is he was from space, but as he tried to explain about the star stone, he let out a huge yawn.

“Sorry, if that yawn seemed deep,
but I am tired and feel I need sleep.
For I have come a long, long way,
…to visit your lovely world today.”

“Oh, you poor thing.” said Fluttershy. Seeing that Rhymey couldn’t possibly mean any harm, she wasted no time at inviting him into her place for the night. Rhymey didn’t want to impose and preferred to continue searching for the star stone, but Fluttershy insisted. “A good night’s rest will put you right, and then maybe I can help you find this… star… stone tomorrow.”

“The star stone’s around here, I’m not wrong.
I could trace its source, it was very strong.” said Rhymey, but Fluttershy didn’t want to hear too much more and insisted that he rest.

As they walked inside her house, Rhymey’s spotted a small shining object hanging over the fireplace. It was half the star stone that he had been looking for-- the yellow part. Rhymey gazed in awe as he dashed over to take it. “What are you doing…?” asked Fluttershy, but Rhymey held the stone and cried…

“My mission was fine,
The star stone is mine!”

Fluttershy was still confused about this whole star stone thing, but when Rhymey yawned again. Fluttershy wasted no time in guiding him to her guest bedroom. “Here you go.” she said “I hope you’ll be comfy.”

Angel and the other animals greatly gestured to the bed, agreeing with Fluttershy, and Rhymey felt he could trust them all. He was far too tired to travel the long distance home, and thought he ought to rest. Then maybe explore more of Equestria the next day before leaving.

Rhymey yawned as he climbed into bed, and he said…

“Thank you, you are very kind,
And right now, if you don’t mind.
I’ll count the stars, or maybe sheep,
And slowly… fall… fast… asleep.” Then he was sleeping very peacefully.

Fluttershy left him alone, and was still hardly able to believe this; a strange pony-like creature just dropped down from outer space and was now sleeping in her house. She felt she had to tell someone, and she got her chance when a knock at the door startled her. It was Applejack. “What up. Fluttershy?” she thought she’d come by with a basket of treats, she had been catering a lot for the ball, and wanted her and her friends to try some to see if they were good.

“Applejack, you won’t believe this!” squeaked Fluttershy, and she kept going off in so many sentences. “Whoa! Slow down at the pasture sugar cube. What’s got into you?”

“Oh, too bad Rhymey’s asleep.” peeped Fluttershy.

“Rhymey? Who’s Rhymey?”

Fluttershy tried to explain about the alien pony she had just met who had come from outer space, but Applejack just giggled and laughed “Fluttershy, stop it. You’re makin’ me laugh to hard.”

“No! It’s the truth.” cried Fluttershy, but Applejack didn’t believe her. She was never one to believe that there was life in dimensional space, and merely dismissed that she had been up too late and her mind was playing tricks on her because of the ball and her nerves about love life. “Look you just go catch some Z’s, and I’ll see ya tomorrow.” And she left still laughing, “Rhymey. Outer space…”

Fluttershy felt a little insulted, but then again wasn’t sure if she could blame Applejack. She didn’t actually see Rhymey. “Maybe tomorrow they’ll all get to meet him.” she said to herself “…And then they’ll see.”

In the gardens of Canterlot, near the hedge maze, the guards stood watch, when suddenly, from above in the starry skies, a pair of red and sinister looking eyes gazed down at the statues, preferably the one of Discord. They eyes glowed brighter, and the statue suddenly faded into thin air, but the guards didn’t notice a thing, and merely changed shifts insisting that all was well.

Discord suddenly awoke to realize he had been brought back to life and found he was floating in the void of dimensional space. “Where am I?” he wondered. “Ooh, but this sure looks like a lot of fun.”

That’s when two large red eyes appeared before him and he heard a dark and sinister voice call to him. “I have released you to do my bidding! I am your master now.”

Discord merely shrugged. “Oh, it’s one of those things is it? Well I hate to rain on your parade, whoever you are, but I’m free now, so I’m just going to enjoy it-- I’m going to make some little ponies suffer for putting me back in stone-- So, thanks and goodbye.”

“You will do as I say!” snarled the voice, and the two eyes glowed brightly and Discord soon found himself trapped in a powerful force-field, unable to move. “Hey! What is this?” he growled. He tried to use his own magic to dispel it, but his every attempt failed. The sinister voice laughed at him. “Fool! Your pitiful magic is no match for mine. In fact, your entire form is a disgrace.”

As if for the first time in a long time, Discord shook with fear. “What are you going to do to me?” he whimpered. The evil voice sniggered wickedly. “You will soon see!” and Discord screamed as he was engulfed by powerful magical rays. “What’s… happening…?! NO!!”

When the magic had faded, Discord felt completely different. He felt larger, stronger, and his voice was much deeper too. He laughed hard and evilly, “What is your wish, my master?” he asked. The evil voice behind the eyes only laughed again.

The next day, Rhymey awoke and thought he’d go and explore more of Equestria himself. Finding Fluttershy still asleep, he wrote a note…

Fluttershy found the note when she woke up, and was regretful that she missed him, but she was beginning to become very charmed by Rhymey’s politeness and gentle words, especially the way he wrote “With love”

“What’s coming over me?” she wondered aloud. “I feel strange.”

Angel, however, had a pretty good idea what Fluttershy was feeling.

All over Equestria, everyone was busy preparing for the coronation, which was taking place that very night. Pinkie Pie just couldn’t keep herself calm. “It’s tonight! It’s really tonight!” she squeaked as she bounced about.

Twilight and Spike were outside preparing for their ride to the palace to prepare for the coronation. “That Pinkie, think she’ll ever calm down?” Spike asked. “Ah, let her.” said Twilight “I’m just impressed by this…” she referring to the giant carriage Princess Celestia had sent for her escort to Canterlot that night; a simple golden carriage big enough to hold at least four ponies. For now, it just stood where it was outside of Twilight’s place. The escort ponies hadn’t arrived yet.

“It really is a comfy car
For getting to places near and far” said a voice.

Twilight and Spike looked up and saw a strange humanoid-shaped alicorn creature standing on top of the carriage. Twilight and Spike saw the creature, and both of them were a wee bit shocked, but judging from the pony’s coat color, they both gazed at each other and immediately assumed it was Fluttershy, who to them hadn’t gotten over her nerves, and put on another disguise.

“Hi Fluttershy.” Twilight said “That’s a neat costume you have.”

“Where’d you get that weird armor anyway?” asked Spike.

The creature spoke almost severely back to him...

“This armor, sir, belongs to me.
Now, who might you two strangers be?”

Twilight giggled. “Strangers? Oh, come on, Fluttershy.”

Rhymey raised an eyebrow in confusion. They thought he was Fluttershy?

“X-L-7-Zee is my name.
Call me Rhymey, it’s all the same.”

Twilight and Spike, still not knowing the actual truth, were beginning to worry-- Maybe Fluttershy was more overcome with fear and timidity than they thought, but Twilight had read in the book she loaned Fluttershy, and Spike remembered, that the best thing to do was to humor Fluttershy with gentle humor, and hopefully she would snap out of the joke.

“Okay Rhymey. I’m Twilight Sparkle, and that’s Spike.”

“Oh, tell us, Rhymey, why are you here, and where did you come from?”

“Unicornicopia is where I am from
I’ve found the treasure for which I have come.” answered Rhymey.

“Oh they have treasures in Unicornicopia?” Spike asked teasingly “And they all are humanoid-ponies like you and wear outfits like yours?”

“Well can’t you hear?
It should be clear.”

Twilight and Spike began to take their teasing a little too far by saying things like “Let me guess, in Unicornicopia, everypony loves to dress up and pretend to be somepony else?” or even, “And they play jokes on each other all day back and forth.” Twilight and Spike laughed softly, but Rhymey was not amused, and he felt insulted.

“Honestly! This isn’t fair.
When did you two visit there?

The word is also not “somepony.”
The word is said as “somebody!”

“…Whatever you say.” Twilight said while laughing, and then she and Spike went off, but Rhymey regarded them both as very rude, but he decided to fly off and explore a bit more and maybe find friendlier ponies to interact with and learn more about the world around him.

Ponyville was really was a beautiful place. It reminded him of his hometown, Yellow Hills back home. Suddenly he stopped outside of a place called “Carousel Boutique” He gazed through the windows and saw all the beautiful outfits and attires on display. Of course they were outfitted for normal ponies, and not Rhymey’s shape, but he still found them all fascinating.

“There you are!” hollered a voice, which startled him. Rarity approached Rhymey, having earlier received word from Twilight about the situation, she decided to play along and help Fluttershy feel better.

Rhymey couldn't help but gawk in astonishment. This pony, whoever she was looked almost exactly like Starla Shine, only she had no wings, was not humanoid. Her mane was less voluminous, and her coat had a light hinted shade of gray.

“Fluttershy, I’m so glad I ran into you. I need you to come with me this moment.” and she just dragged Rhymey along with her inside.

“Just who are you?
What’re you gonna do?” Rhymey snapped at her.

Before he knew it, Rarity, still thinking he was Fluttershy, had him try on a new dress that was made specifically for Fluttershy in her new supposed costume, but Rhymey felt embarrassed and outraged, not to mention silly wearing a dress built for a normal pony instead of a humanoid figure, and angrily threw it off.

“Don't be so silly?!
I’m a stallion, not a filly!”

Rarity just continued to try and humor the supposed Fluttershy and said “No need to be embarrassed, darling. I’ve got others for you to try on. You will look so glamorous, you'll charm every stallion at the gala!” Then she ran off to get some more things which gave Rhymey the chance to run so he didn’t have to try the dress on.

“My goodness, who was she?
Why is everyone acting so crazy?”

He decided he had seen enough already, and wanted to head back to Fluttershy’s before someone else saw him and confused him for her, but that’s when he ran into Pinkie Pie dressed in an old Nightmare Night costume. She looked like a female pony-knight. “Hey! Fluttershy!” she squeaked. “I heard you were playing dress-up and thought we could put on a little show before the connotation tonight. I’ll be the mighty warrior knight and you can be my male sidekick, even though you’re not a male. EEE!! It’s going to be so exciting.”

Before Rhymey could protest, Pinkie had already gone into her role playing which really freaked him out, and he ran away before she noticed. “Fluttershy, where’d you go? Are you playing hide-and-seek instead?”

As Rhymey flew across the sky, he felt he was going crazy. At first he was so excited to be visiting a whole new planet of ponies, but now he almost regretted ever coming. He didn’t know if he could take anymore craziness.

“Yo’… Fluttershy.” called a voice. Rhymey looked round and saw a blue pegasi-- Rainbow Dash-- flying to catch up with him. “Fancy you a race to clear your head?” she said. Rhymey growled and quickly zoomed away with such incredible speed, Rainbow Dash was shocked and amazed. “Whoa! When did she ever learn to fly so fast?”

Rhymey flew so fast that he passed halfway across Equestria in mere seconds, and soared directly beneath Cloudsdale. The Wonderbolts patrol barely caught a glimpse of him, but the speedometer readings were off the charts. Whatever passed right by them was moving at a speed more than five times of their fastest flyers. Even Rainbow Dash could never speed like that.

Rhymey realized he had already lost sight of Rainbow Dash and decided to slow down, but he ended up landing in Sweet Apple Acres, right near Applejack and her wagon of apples, and she, too, confused him for Fluttershy. “Golly, Fluttershy. Take it easy there.” she said “I know you’re excited for the party and all, but…” before she could say anything else, Rhymey had fled. “Now what’s got into her mane?”

Rhymey finally made it back to Fluttershy’s, all in deter from his ordeals. “Oh my-- Rhymey, What happened to you?” cried Fluttershy.

“After what I’ve been through,
I’d rather be here with you.” he simply said.

Fluttershy and her animal friends soon had him sitting down and relaxing. Then Fluttershy fixed up a good lunch, and they talked about what happened. Fluttershy was slightly outraged to hear of how her friends treated Rhymey, thinking he was her, but then again it was slightly understandable. Rhymey didn’t care as much, as he didn’t feel like seeing the others again. For now he was just enjoying Fluttershy’s hospitality, and the good food she made.

“This food you’ve made is so delightful,
I think I’ll have another bite-full.”

Fluttershy felt flattered. “I always say, a good hearty meal always makes you happy and well.”

Though he had only known her a short time, Rhymey was starting to really like Fluttershy, and he asked her what Equestria was really like, apart from other ponies, and Fluttershy told him a lot-- about all the dangers she had faced with her friends, and the Elements of Harmony. She even explained how Twilight was going to be crowned as the new princess that very night. Rhymey found it all interesting, but he felt slightly uneasy about the way she described the enemies. To him, the enemies the Equestrians faced were nothing compared to what he and Starfleet had faced before!

“Um… if you don’t mind…” Fluttershy asked “Could you tell me all about your home? Unitopia… er… Unicornia… or…”

Rhymey cleared his throat…

“Unicornicopia is far away.
On the other side of the galaxy, I'd say.
It is far more advanced and functions differently.
And all us ponies humanoid, like me.”

Fluttershy felt amazed. “I wish I could see it.”

Rhymey then gazed at her and said,

“As I make my horn glow,
The magic will flow,
And images of my world I will show.”

Sure enough, as his horn glowed, he projected small images of Unicornicopia. Fluttershy was beyond words of astonishment-- Pony creatures dressed in clothes, no cutie marks, and doing chores by hand instead of magic or using their mouths, traveling through long tubes in the city, transistorized lights and other powerful inventions that weren’t found in Equestria. The most impressive she saw was of Starfleet. Through his rhymes, Rhymey explained about Starfleet, and his race: the Space Alicorns.

First, he explained that their powers were much stronger than that of any Equestrian. In fact, just one of their weakest fighters would easily be able to wipe the floor of an entire Equestrian army without much effort, but of course Starfleet was dedicated to fighting off evil forces; forces far more devious and formidable than anything Fluttershy had told him about. These evils were so powerful, Rhymey feared that if they were ever to come to Equestria, Fluttershy and her friends would never stand a chance. The battles were far beyond their experience, and not even the Elements of Harmony wouldn't be enough to do much of anything. Even Rhymey could barely stand up to them and survive.

Fluttershy didn’t know what to think, but the sight of all the enemies she saw in those images almost made her want to go hide under her bed.

Rhymey’s lips curled into a small sneer.

“Monsters like these make me sick.
So I joined Starfleet really quick.
For in my family there is but a tradition
At least one of us joins them every new generation.
The monsters, they hurt and destroy with no remorse.
So my friends and I fight them all of to stop them of course.
And to this day, I’m happy to say,
We’ll help maintain peace, and make all evil pay.”

Fluttershy kept gazing at the images, preferable the ones of Rhymey. He was so brave and handsome. She began to have that strange feeling inside her again. As for Rhymey, he really enjoyed telling her that story and he began to feel closer to Fluttershy now that he understood her way of life, but mostly because she was kind-hearted, had a gentle soul. Despite her timidity, all he could see what good things in her. They both soon found they were gazing into each other’s eyes, and both turned away with their cheeks blushing.

Rhymey’s shyness soon faded into sadness. “What’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked.

Rhymey sighed and said…

“I must return soon, as you know.”
I wish you could come with me when I go.”

Fluttershy heart began to race as if she had been proposed to. “Rhymey? You mean it?” Of course they both knew that wasn’t possible and very dangerous for Fluttershy, what with all the evil monsters always attacking. Plus, a normal pony like her wouldn’t really fit too well in his advanced society.

“Oh… Oh, dear, me!
If I made you upset, I’m sorry.”

“Oh, you didn’t upset me.” Fluttershy said, but she was feeling a little sad at the thought of saying goodbye to whom she considered a pony like no other she ever knew. “When do you have to leave?” she asked “Do you think maybe you’d have time to… well… if you could stay… would you… would you…” she hesitated “Would you dance with me at the coronation ball?”

Rhymey’s heart pounded like crazy, and he blushed and thought that would’ve been lovely, but alas, he didn’t have a ticket to the ball. Even so, he didn’t wish to actually be seen, not after everything he had been through already.

“But I suppose, just for a chance,
I will save you one little dance.”

Fluttershy smiled and thanked him while deeply thinking to herself “Oh, my goodness! I just asked out a stallion that I like.”

At the same time, Rhymey felt just as strange as he thought,

“I’ve never felt like this before.
It’s not just friendship, but something more.”

It was already late afternoon, and a lot of the ponies had gone home to have a long rest before the big event. Twilight and Spike were still laughing and they when they met up with most of the others about Fluttershy pretending to be a space pony, but their laughter soon faded into worry that Fluttershy still hadn’t snapped out of it yet. “Twilight, isn’t there anything you can do with magic?” Spike asked, but Twilight shook her head “You know just as well as I do, Spike. Fear isn’t something you can easily magic away.”

“Magic what away?” Fluttershy asked as she came up to her friends. The friends were glad to see she was back to normal and out of that supposed disguise.

“Hey there, sugar cube.” Applejack said “Not being Rhymey anymore?”

Fluttershy felt a little annoyed. “Rhymey’s not very happy with all of you for the way you treated him.” she said, but her sternness faded into soft happiness, “But he promised to share one dance with me before he leaves, and to think he actually wished I could go with him.”

The others felt slightly worried. According from what Twilight told them, the book mentioned even if Fluttershy seemed to be snapping out of it, it was best not to allow her to have a relapse of fear and shyness, or she’d probably go back to her supposed disguise, and it was best to continue to humor her.

“Well, Gee, Fluttershy.” Spike said teasingly. “We hope you two have fun.”

“Yep!” added Applejack “And if you do decide to go with him, send us postcard.”

Fluttershy’s anger began to show again, and she scoffed and galloped off.

“What just happened?” asked Pinkie. “Your guess is as good as mine.” said Rainbow. Twilight felt the most worried. She wanted Fluttershy to be there for her coronation, but not in some disguise or feeling angry at them. “Okay, everypony listen up.” she said “At least we know it was helping. So let’s keep up the humoring her and maybe she fully snap out of it tonight.”

The others agreed.

By sundown, many ponies and other creatures were headed for Canterlot. The royal palace was divinely decorated for what was sure to be the grandest event ever. The musicians were also tuning up, and even playing several songs they wished to play at the ball-- slow dancing songs.

Rhymey was standing up on a flat roof of the palace where no one, not even the royal guards could see him and kept well out of sight as he watched many ponies from all over come to the palace gates. Among them were Princess Cadance and Shining Armor from the Crystal Empire, but easily he gazed up at the tallest tower and saw two alicorn ponies, two princesses-- Celestia and Luna--, standing side-by-side and watching everyone coming. Celestia greatly reminded Rhymey of the Grand Ruler back home, she was very pretty too, and yet. She seemed a little sad.

He couldn’t hear them talking, but even where he stood he could read their lips…

“Sister, are you feeling alright?” asked Luna, but he sister didn’t answer and continued to gaze down at all the happy ponies below, preferably the couples, and even her niece Cadance with her husband, Shining Armor. All it brought to Celestia were bad memories of that horrible day.

After she banished her wicked sister to the moon, the royal guards who were sent to try and retrieve their captain had returned with grieving news. “Your majesty, it hurts us to say to you that we have called off the search for the captain. As of moments ago, he has disappeared beyond our world.

He is presumed to be…

...hopelessly lost in space.”

Now Celestia seemed so sad she looked as if she was going to cry. Luna understood why her sister was upset, and a look of regret appeared on her face. “Sister… I… I know it means naught now, but I am truly sorry.”

Celestia turned and smiled sadly at her “I know you are…” then she stared up into space “I just wish he was here with me now, or at least I could let him know I still love him.”

Luna decided to let her sister be to have a moment to herself before the presentation.

Rhymey didn’t know whom Celestia was missing so much, but he felt very sorry to see such a beautiful mare on the verge of tears. Still, now he had to wait for Fluttershy. She planned to meet him privately before meeting up with her friends for the coronation.

Suddenly, he could see her far below in the castle ground she was there in a green gown with a crown of flowers in her hair. She looked so incredibly stunning; the Rhymey almost lost his footing and fell off the roof.

Fluttershy was pacing back and forth nervously. “What do I do?” she cried “Rhymey’s expecting me!” She had to think fast, or else Rhymey would be gone soon and she wouldn’t be able to dance with him even if she wanted, but she just didn’t find the courage, but then one of the bunnies began to motion behind her. “What is it?” she asked. Then she heard someone clear their throat. It was Rhymey. Her heart was pounding wildly, and she felt so nervous she couldn’t even run.

Rhymey thought it was rather cute the way she acted shy but he said so sweetly…

“You look beautiful, Fluttershy.
The prettiest thing to grace eye.”

Fluttershy finally knew the feeling was real, and Rhymey felt the same. He softly tapped the insignia on his armor twice, and in a magic flash his outfit had changed into his formal uniform. Fluttershy thought he looked so handsome.

At that moment, the musicians were rehearsing another slow song, which they both could hear very clearly.

Rhymey extended his hand to Fluttershy. She hesitated, but then placed her hoof in his hand, and they two began to dance. While at the same time, Celestia was still on the terrace looking up at the stars, and she began to sing to the music.

A single tear fell from her eye, but she knew she had to put her feelings aside and greet her subjects for the coronation.

While down below, as the song ended Fluttershy actually curtsied to Rhymey and he bowed to her and tenderly kissed her hoof again. The other animals applauded for them both. “That was wonderful.” said Fluttershy “Thank you, Rhymey.”

Rhymey smiled, but then he looked a little grim again.

“I enjoyed that very much.
I’ll always remember as such
But now afraid I must fly.
Fluttershy… this is goodbye.”

A sad expression appeared on Fluttershy’s face, but she knew this was the right thing to do. “I… I want to give you something before you go.” she said “Something, you know, to remember me by.”

“…A gift, for me?
What is it? Please hurry!”

Fluttershy searched through her gown, and realized she had left it the coach which she came in. She decided to run and get it, and then meet him on the roof of the castle. Then she dashed off.

Rhymey changed back into his normal uniform, at the same moment Twilight and friends arrive and all him standing alone, having missed Fluttershy and still thinking he was her in disguise again. Rhymey gave them all a stern look.

“Forgive me if I sneer,
But why are you all here?”

“Oh, nothing.” said Rainbow as she held in the urge to laugh along with some of the others.

“So, Fluttershy-- I mean, Rhymey.” Twilight asked teasingly “When do you share this big dance you promised?”

Rhymey refused to answer as he had had quite enough of their mocking him, and still thinking he was Fluttershy.

“This has gone on quite enough!
I’m going home before things get rough.”

“Oh! You mean back Unicornica?” teased Applejack “And you say you wanted to bring your-- I mean Fluttershy with you?”

“I think it sounds like fun. Can I come too?” added Pinkie.

“I’d love to accompany you.” teased Rarity. “Oh! Do tell when our departure time is?”

Rhymey clenched his fists and sneered,

“I’m opening the passage in just a minute,
But when I do, you won’t be in it!”

He stomped his foot angrily and began to fly up towards the roof.

“Oh? How come?” the others asked in a teasingly, and Rhymey called to them…

“First: You’re just too bad a-crowd,
And second: Only space alicorns allowed!”

The others watched until he was way up on the roof, and believed that Fluttershy would finally snap out of this little gag. “If that doesn’t help her, I don’t know what rightly will.” said Applejack. As they all headed into for the main gates, still laughing, Fluttershy came dashing forward, and almost ran right into Spike. “Oh! Sorry Spike, I just really have to go.” And she sprinted off.

“Okay, Fluttershy.” Spike called to her, but suddenly everyone stopped laughing “Wait a minute.” said Rainbow “How could Fluttershy have just run past us, when we just saw her fly up to the roof?”

There was only one explanation. “There really is a Rhymey!” cried Pinkie. The others couldn’t believe it. “A real space pony?!” cried Rarity overdramatically fainted again. Applejack remembered what Fluttershy had just told them that she had to go “Hey! You don’t suppose she’s really goin’ with him?!”

They all panicked and Twilight teleported everyone all up to the roof. Rhymey had already activated his return-spell, and they were just in time as he teleported in a big beam of light, up, up and off into the sky. They all assumed that Fluttershy had gone with him. “She was telling the truth all the time.” said Twilight. “And we didn’t believe her.” added Spike as tears came to his eyes.

“Fluttershy!” cried Pinkie, and she Rainbow and Applejack burst into tears hugging one another in woe.

“Oh, Fluttershy! What have we done?” cried Rarity. “We’ll never be able to apologize to you, or see your friendly face ever again.” she fell to the ground sobbing.

They all felt very sad, but Fluttershy came up to them. “It’s okay. I forgive all of you.” called a voice. “FLUTTERSHY!!” everyone exclaimed and ran over to group hug her. “I’d never leave all of you. I’d miss you all too much.” She then explained she was rushing to get a gift for Rhymey, which was one of her butterfly clips that sometimes wore on regular days, and he reciprocated by giving her one of his writing quills.

“I’m just glad I got to say goodbye.
He really was a special guy.”

Everyone then noticed she made a rhyme, but they all simply smiled as they continued to watch watching the sky until the beam of light was totally gone.

Rhymey soared the long way across the galaxy, and finally returned to Unicornicopia. Lightning, Krysta, and the Grand Ruler were pleased to see him, and that he recovered the held star stone they needed. They quickly rejoined it to its other half making the complete stone again. “Well done, Rhymey.” Grand Ruler said “Thanks to you we now have three star stones.”

Rhymey smiled.

“What was it like on Equestria?” asked Krysta. “Tell us.” added Lightning, and through his rhymes, Rhymey explained everything, including spotting the princess, Celestia, and how he heard her singing about a lost love of hers.

“It really is a lovely tale” but then he noticed,
“Your majesty, you look a little pale!”

Grand Ruler, with his back turned, said “I will be fine. If you will excuse me.” and then he walked slowly off. Rhymey was confused, but Krysta and Lightning knew what was up with him.

Grand Ruler had gone to his private sanctuary and sat down sadly while gazing at the statue of Princess Celestia. It was good to know that she was alive and she still loved him, but he still didn’t feel he could ever face her.

(Promo)