One evening, a purple pony was sitting at home. This was Lightning’s friend Abra Kadabra. Code: CQ2E was printed on the front of his new tuxedo. On Unicornicopia he was a world-class magician, and in United-Equestria he was still just that and well renowned for his astonishing feats of sleight-of-hand and arts of illusion, but also for his kindness and generosity, not to mention very gentlemanly attitude.

He had just returned from giving another stupendous performance, and was practicing new types of tricks and magic to help him improve on his acts, and give the crowds new things to gander at. He even borrowed a few books from Twilight to study extra forms of magic not found in his own books.

He was now attempting to cast a few spells on simple clothing. Like his own top-hat he made it fly, made it change color, and made several birds fly out of it.

Next he searched through an old trunk filled with old costumes that used to belong to his parents who were great theatrical actors. Reaching through the trunk he pulled out simple black mask his father had once worn in a stage performance. “Hmm…” thought Abra as he looked through his book and found a section of spells that would, in theory, bring objects to life. “I wonder…”

He gazed at the mask, and with his wand in one hand he read from the book in his other hand. “Concentrate hard while waving wand over object, and enunciate magic phrase loud and clear… All right then.” He did just as the book said-- waving his wand, concentrating hard as both his horn and wand glowed and he enunciated the phrase…

A small wave of sparkling magic settled onto the mask, and it began to hover in midair all by itself. “Ah… success!” cried Abra, but as he tried to reach for the mask it moved away from him. “I say, come back here this instant!” Abra thundered as he chased that pesky mask all around his house, eventually letting it slip out through an open window. “Oh, dear!” groaned Abra as he dashed out of his house in pursuit of the mask.

United Equestria was wider than Equestria of old was, and all the countries and cities although much bigger now were also now much farther away from each other, and the old railway systems of ponies pulling steam engines was no longer sufficient enough to make the journeys possible, nor were they necessary...!

As technology had evolved, newer and more powerful railway systems were constructed. Now the trains were pulled by solar powered engines, which were much faster, cleaner, and more reliable. They could pull longer trains, and didn’t require a team of ponies to pull it. Those old ponies were now professional train engineers or stewards who tended to the passengers, and some even became professional train yard hands and movers. Even though the train would be traveling at night, as it was solar powered, it and all other trains like it had been absorbing so much sunlight energy which was stored and kept for use. The trains could go around the entire planet for a week at least without running low on power.

Mover ponies were transferring a special package onto a train bound for New Canterlot, but the wooden crate was looking badly beat up and not fit for the trip. “We got any others?” one of the movers asked. His partner checked in back and got a much better crate, and carefully unloaded the other crate.

The crate contained a life-sized solid-gold statue of a handsome male alicorn, about the same height and size of Princess Cadence, he stood tall and proud with his right hand curled into a fist and placed proudly over his chest. This statute had been specially made by artist Artie Bristles-- one of Lightning’s friends and teammates-- by request of their royal majesties to decorate one of the corridors of the palace.

As the movers got the new crate ready, they didn’t notice a mask come flying over their heads and landing on the statue’s face perfectly over eyes. The statue glowed softly for an instant, and his eyes opened, and he blinked twice. The gold he was made also seemed to be faded in color and he slowly turned his head to the right, and then to the left and changed the position of his arms. So now his left hand was to his chest and the right was to his side.

The movers came back and were ready to lift him when they noticed “That’s funny? Wasn’t he looking straight ahead?”

They just brushed it all off and assumed they had been working too hard. Then, they loaded the statue into the crate and loaded it onto he train just as it was ready to leave.

Abra, who had been in pursuit of his runaway mask, saw everything but was unable to stop the train for he had arrived late and that was the last train of the day, but when he found out that crate was headed for New Canterlot; he decided to hitch a train there the next day. He just hoped that his mask hadn’t caused any sort of trouble with the spell still cast on it. “Where were you, Abra Kadabra? Where was your mind?” he kept saying to himself.

The following evening, Twilight and all her friends, along with several of Lightning’s friends were heading to Lightning’s house for a special meeting.

Buddy Rose-- a red alicorn and a very fine gardener in his normal life, as well as a great botanist, tree surgeon and ecologist. He lived on New Sweet Apple Acres in his own house and worked as hired help for Applejack and her family. His code: FT5H

Artie Bristles-- an orange alicorn whom outside of the battle field was a fine artist, painter, and sculptor. His Code: HV7J

Rhymey-- A yellow alicorn who spoke in rhyme. When not in battle, he loved writing poetry, singing songs, and managing his café and poetry society "Rhyme Time", but most of all he enjoyed spending quality time with his mare-friend, Fluttershy. His number even rhymed with the end of his name-- XL7Z

And the Spanish twins: Dyno and Myte LA Guava: Expert mining engineers, explosive experts, geologists, and construction workers from the planet El Mundo, who had a fine knowledge of explosives and work tools. Codes: IW8K and JX9L.

Lightning Starla and Krysta were already there gathered in Lightning’s house. Twilight knocked at the door, and Lightning peaked through the looking hole. “Password?” he asked softly.

“…Flat Trees” Twilight said, which was an anagram of "Starfleet." Lightning let them in all in, and they could see everyone was there. “Everyone ready…?” Lightning asked. Everyone nodded and then Lightning motioned to Krysta, “Do it.”

Krysta nodded and using her warping magic, she created a simple portal that would take them all instantly to New Canterlot, straight into the Royal Palace where their majesties had summoned and were expecting them all for a special meeting. Traveling by warping was much faster than flying at super speeds or taking the train, but was only to be used during certain times and circumstances. “Let’s go.” Lightning said as everyone jumped through the portal…

…and emerged in the main foyer at the royal palace in New Canterlot. “Wow! What a way to travel.” said Spike.

“How does my mane look?” Rarity asked for the umpteenth time. “Oh, my nails, I should’ve had them done. I even should’ve worn a dress.”

“Rarity, calm down!” said Starla “It’s just a quick meeting, not a grand gathering.” Rarity simply scoffed “A true lady can never look too elegant and prestigious for anything at any time or place.” Starla sighed annoyingly. Though she looked a lot like Rarity, it was times like these she was more than thankful she didn’t act like her, and resisted any urges to call her out.

They were all greeted by the Captain of the royal guards, and old ally Captain Emerald Shaina. She led them to the throne room where Queen Celestia and her husband, Grand Ruler Celesto, sat in waiting. Princess Luna was out maintaining her nightly duties.

Everyone bowed to their majesties. “Good evening, your majesties.” They all said. Their majesties bowed back to their subjects, and just then, two familiar ponies came in-- Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor and his wife Princess Cadance returning from their duties checking in the prison-caverns below the palace.

“Big Bro!” cried Twilight as she dashed over and snuggled with her brother. Then she proceeded to snuggle with Cadance, and they performed their little happy-cheer…

“Sunshine, Sunshine! Ladybugs awake
Clap your hands and do a little shake”

They were forced to change the word "hooves" to "hands" seeing as they no longer had hooves. The girls giggled and smiled at one another, but Celestia cleared her throat capturing their attention. “Sorry!” Twilight said. “I understand…” Celestia said “But we have important matters to discuss.”

“Indeed we do.” added Grand Ruler, “I trust you are all aware of our current status in the war against the changelings?”

Lightning nodded, “During these past few days, we noticed that Chrysalis hasn’t been sending as many of her soldiers, and there have been no signs of any recent attacks.”

Rainbow confirmed this because she had a few friends who knew the Wonderbolts tell her that even they hadn’t seen too much while out on patrol.

“That’s very good news.” Fluttershy said happily “It means the kingdom will be free again.”

“Um… actually Fluttershy…” Twilight tried to cut in, but some of her friends already believed that victory was assured. Pinkie Pie couldn’t stop leaping about and cheering for joy. “We should have a party to celebrate.” and she blew into a noise maker and threw confetti everywhere. Applejack calmed her down, “Whoa there Pinkie, don’t be all gettin’ your party game on just yet.” she said. Pinkie giggled and settled down, but none of the others seemed amused, and Twilight asked if they were really winning the battle. Celestia shook her head “We have already captured a great number of the changelings.” she said, and then used her magic to show them all images of the prison-caverns.

All the changelings that had been captured were still shrunken in size, kept on the spheres of blue liquid. Shining Armor and Cadance made constant checks in the caverns as part of their daily duties to help pay back their aunt and uncle for putting them up in the palace. Cadance even used a little of her love magic to keep the changelings nourished, even though they were frozen in suspended animation.

“The point we are trying to make is this is all merely a reprieve.” Grand Ruler said “Chrysalis is well-aware that her ordinary tactics are proving futile against our forces, and is strategizing a new method of attack. We don’t know how it shall be performed or when the attack will come, but rest assured that it will, and we must be ready for it.”

Both he and Celestia decreed that Starfleet would maintain constant patrols, and the Wonderbolts would be notified to do likewise and report any findings of abnormal activity. Twilight and her friends would also maintain their training and duties as well as continue to assist Starfleet on the road to earning their commissions to the force.

Everyone understood completely, and Lightning promised on everyone’s behalf. “We’ll do everything we can. We beat Titan and his gang, we can beat the changelings.”

Their majesties nodded and bowed to their subjects who bowed back, and as the meeting broke up, the royal footmen came in to announce that a package had just arrived. “Bring it in!” said Celestia.

The crate was brought in and opened revealing the golden statue. “Wow! It’s incredible.” Krysta said.

Artie however seemed more shocked than astonished, as did their majesties. The statue looked fine in all, but his arms were pointing the wrong way around, his head was turned to the right instead of looking straight ahead, and the gold seemed to be a little faded in color. “I didn’t make him like this.” Artie said. He remembered every step he did too; carving the mould in stone so the hot melted gold would be poured into it, giving the statue its proper shape.

“What’s that on his face?” Shining Armor asked and Cadance moved in closer to look at it “It looks like an old bank robber's mask for a play.” she reached up with her hand to touch the mask, but that’s when the statue opened his eyes and raised his arms stopping her from reaching it. Everyone gasped hard and Cadance backed away from the statue. The statue’s head moved again and then he stood still…

Everyone began to feel the same and Grand Ruler and Celestia were about to call the guards, when suddenly, “Wait!” called a voice and he appeared in a puff of smoke.

“ABRA...!!” everyone cried with glee. “Aha, yes… Abra Kadabra, at your service.” Arba said with pride as he tipped his hat and waved his cape.

Everyone was glad to see him. “What are you doing here?” asked Shining Armor “In fact, how did you get past the guards?”

Grand Ruler explained that Abra made an appointment to enter the palace upon his arrival. “Abra, please explain the purpose of your visit.” Grand Ruler said.

“Oh, yes your majesty” Abra said as put his hat back on. “First I extend to you all my apologies. I’m afraid this whole business with this statue is all my doing. You see, I was practicing some magic on that old mask when it got from me and landed on his face.”

“Precisely!” answered Abra “And I have been trying to get it back since yesterday evening. So if I can just have it back, I can be on my way.”

“Wait!” snapped Rainbow “If you take the mask off, what will happen to him?”

“Rainbow, don’t be silly.” said Twilight “It’s not like he can think or feel anything.”

“Twilight is quite right.” added Abra “He is merely a statue made out of gold, and he has no idea that that magic mask is making him move.” He approached the statue and attempted to take the mask back, but the statue raised his arms to stop Abra from doing so and pointed straight at the mask. This astonished everyone, for it meant that he did know about the mask.

Their majesties were really impressed. “Abra, this is incredible.” said Celestia.

“Indeed it is your majesty.” Abra agreed. Then he got an idea and luckily he had magic book he got the spell from, and peeked at the spell again “Ah-ha! IT says if I recite the magic phrase twice in a row, he should come fully alive.” he said “Stand back everyone. I hope this works.” He waved his wand over the mask, conctrating hard as his wand and horn glowed again.

The statue glowed brighter than ever and when the light had faded, his golden body now seemed flesh as blood, though still rather shiny. He could move about more properly now. Everyone else was more astonished than ever. Even Twilight hadn’t learned spells like that yet. Pinkie felt so excited that she almost dashed up to the statue eager to befriend him, but Applejack stopped her again. “Easy there now.” she said “The fella just came to life. Too bad he can’t talk though.”

“Let me try something.” Grand Ruler said. Being a child of the gods, and once created the first space alicorns, he felt his magic wold be able to help the statue. “Now, don’t move.” he said to the statue. He then concentrated, and his three golden horns began to glow as he recited the spell…

A small beam of light fired from his horns, but the statue nervously moved out of the way in fear causing the beam to miss and bounce off the walls floor and ceiling. “Watch out!” cried Lightning. Everyone ducked and leapt up high to avoid being hit by the bouncing beam, and finally the beam hit the statue’s feet instead of his head.

“You missed his head and hit his shoe.
But what is there that smart feet can do?” asked Rhymey.

He got his answer as the statue began dancing with incredible talent. “Wow! Look at him go.” said Starla. “Why, he’s a regular little twinkle-toes.” added Rarity.

The statue was a very good dancer, but before things got any wilder, Abra grabbed the mask and pulled it off his face, and in a flash of light...!

“Well of course. Weren’t you listening before?” said Abra “You all must understand he IS a statue. You see he’s only real when you put this magic mask on him like-so, and say the magic words…

In a flash of light, the statue came back to life. Everyone was relieved to see he was fine. “Now, let’s try this again.” Grand Ruler said “…And this time… don’t move.”

He concentrated again, and repeated his spell, and this time hit the statue’s head with the magic. The statue’s lips began to twitch followed by a few soft sounds. “I… I--” he tried and tried “I… I… I can talk. I can talk!” Everyone felt overjoyed as the pony walked around and kept saying “Hello!” to everyone. Celestia and Grand Ruler smiled at each other.

“Now, wait a moment.” Abra said interrupting the joy and he spoke to the statue “Before you get carried away, there are some things you should know. Firstly: If you ever leave the palace, the magic spell will cease to function, and you’ll become a statute again.”

This worried the statute. “You mean I have to stay here in the palace, forever?”

“Well, for the moment, yes.” Celestia answered “Just until we can figure out how to make a stronger spell that will truly bring you to life, but it’s a very complicated thing, and it may take a very long time.”

Grand Ruler nodded in agreement, “We will try our best, but for the while, at night you will be a statue, and during the day. We all will help to guide and take care of you, and so shall our subjects whenever they visit us.”

Despite that the statute could think, feel, and talk, read and write, he still had a lot to learn about the world and everything in it, and there was no spell that could make him an instant genius like that. So, everyone agreed that they would all do their best to help their new friend adjust.

To start off, they gave him a special name-- Goldwin: which meant “Companion of Gold” and that was exactly what he was like. “Just remember, everyone.” Abra said “Don’t forget those magic words that unlock the spell to bring him to life.”

Some of the friends remembered the words, but all the others kept going in circles trying to remember the words, and said together…

As the music played, Goldwin began to dance around all over, and even use his wings to fly up and around in loops. The others all joined him.

In our next episode, things go rotten at school when Cheerilee seems to be in a very bad and considerably hostile mood. The children try to reason with her only cause her to become more enraged and treat the children abusively.

Why is Cheeriliee acting so hostile, and how they help cure her?

Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!”

(Next Episode: “To Teach the Teacher”)

My Brave Pony Starfleet Magic: Season II

by DakariKingMykan

Episode 2: The Magic Statue