A few days had passed, and there was no sign of any abnormal activity, this really confused everyone. If Chrysalis and Fratello had all this power at their hands, why weren’t they using it?

In her spare time Twilight had been pondering so hard trying to figure out what that hidden power was she and her friends had forgotten. She even tried going all her reports and all her notes on her findings, but there just so many she worked herself to the bone.

“That’s it!” Spike said “You need a break.” and without giving Twilight a chance to even speak, he dragged into town to Rhymey’s café poetry-club, where it was nice and calm.

Rhymey’s place was called “Rhyme Time” it was a simple café, but not very noisy, and the lights were all dimmed down to give the place a nice quiet feeling. Most of the ponies who hung out there were laid back, hip, and easy going. Some of them even came to read out poems they had written, on stage.

Lightning and Starla were there taking a break form training. Fluttershy was invited by Rhymey for a lunch date, and Krysta was just there hanging out. “It’s never easy being the queen of the fairy world.” she said.

“Could’ve fooled me.” said Spike “I thought being small was wonderful.”

Just then, a light shone on the stage, and Rhymey came out to greet everyone. They all snapped the fingers while others clapped softly, indicating they were happy to see him. They only truly applauded whenever someone read a real strong poem that really got to them all-- as the rules of any poet’s society.

Rhymey took a bow, and welcomed everyone. Speaking in soft, calm voice, he said…

“And now I’d like to share my dream
The stage is open-- start the theme.
The guests are here and just like me…
They wish to share with their poetry.”

More snaps and claps followed as Rhymey went to sit with his friends and the first poet came on stage-- A lilac pony, wearing a black beret and wore hip shades. In the darkness beside the stage another pony played that tradition bongo solo, and everyone snapped the fingers of their gloves with the rhythm and the poet recited a poem she wrote about when she was young and lost her pet cat.

“When I was just a filly, I lost my cat.
I couldn’t seem to find just where she was at
I searched all around, way up high and down low,
But I never found my kitty and I fell into woe.”

Even though she was speaking in a low tone, and very calm and smooth, everyone could feel her grieving inside from those old painful memories. That was basically what most poets did at Rhyme Time; they let their feelings out in the open, and shared it with others through their poems.

“Ooh, it’s so sad.” Fluttershy whispered so as not to disturb the peace. Lightning and Starla held hands and shut their eyes letting their minds by cleared by the soothing of the words. “Always makes us feel light…” Lightning said.

“It’s so comfy.” added Starla as she rested her head on her colt-friend’s shoulder.

“Wow…” Twilight said “I never thought poetry could be so deep like this.”

Rhymey explained that poetry often helped others, which was a reason he took such a shine to it, and how he started to always speak in rhyme.

“It can also put some of your worries behind,
Or even help to clear your mind.”

Krysta nodded and remembered one time when she had nearly forgotten to pick up Twink at his fairy school. “I said to myself “I have to think” and “think” rhymes with “Twink”, and I remembered.”

Spike wasn’t sure how much Rhyming would help. “I just come for the snacks and what not.” and he gobbled down another muffin.

Twilight, however, was starting to wonder if maybe the rhymes would help her remember that power she was searching for. She was thinking about it so hard and listening to the poetry that she actually drifted off into a daydream.

She awoke to find herself outside.
She opened her eyes and opened them wide.
She wore yellow dress, it looked pretty silly
But then along came Spike, and he was in a hurry.
Although he still had a dragon’s looks,
He was dressed like a white rabbit from one of Twilight’s books.

“What’s going on here?” Twilight had to say.
And Spike said “I’m very late. I can’t talk today.”
Then off he ran like a speeding comet,
Leaving poor Twilight confused from it.

She walked along her way through the forest and the night.
Something about this place just didn’t seem quite right.
Then suddenly, before her eyes,
A city of enormous size
Ponies and other creatures all over did dwell
But what this place was, Twilight couldn’t tell.

Suddenly she heard the sound of someone coming.
She turned and saw two ponies pulling an apple cart and humming
One said “Howdy, my name is Applejack,
This here’s my brother. We call him Big Mac.”

Twilight asked where she was simple as that.
But the two siblings gasped and then they spat,
“How could you not know? It’s the planet of rhymes”
“And to not talk like us is of the most serious crimes.”

“Planet of rhymes…” did Twilight ponder.
She looked all around saw it was no wonder.
Every creature she saw was speaking in rhyme
For it was the law when they spoke every time

As Twilight walked down the paths and round bends
She swore that she could see more of her friends.
Then in a winged-wagon came two friends she knew
It was Lightning Dawn and Krysta too.
“We are the tour guides. We work with such glee.”
“We’ll give you the grand tour, absolutely free.”
Wasting no time, Twilight hoped in
And then, right away, did the tour begin.

On the way they passed the garden of Buddy Rose
The studio where Artie painted Rarity as she did pose
The bakery was run by Pinkie Pie
And the animal hospital of Dr. Fluttershy

Twilight even saw Spike in his rabbit suit
He carried a rather large basket of fruit
Up a dark pathway he did run
Up to a mountain-- a spooky looking one.
Twilight gazed at it from bottom to top,
But Lightning and Krysta warned her to stop.
“Up the mountain is an evil foe”
She brings us terror and feelings of woe.”
“She has captured our leaders, and has risen to power.
She only comes out in the twilight hour.”
“And when she does, there is cause for alarm,
If you do not please her, she will bring you harm.”

Twilight didn’t want to believe it true,
But was this “Nightmare Moon” they were referring to?
“How can she be back?” Twilight thought
She thought and thought ‘till her brain was in a knot.

Suddenly, it began to grow dark,
As the sun sank down over the fields and the park
Down below, everyone ran for home
It wouldn’t be long before Nightmare would roam
Lightning and Krysta both felt a real scare
That they just ran off and left poor Twilight there.
“Wait, come back here!” did Twilight call
But then, someone ran into her, and she did fall.
It was Spike, he apologized, and he tried to run past,
But Twilight stopped him, she wanted answers and fast.
Poor Spike panicked and cried “Please let me go,
If Nightmare catches us, we’ll be sorry as so.”

Suddenly it got darker than it did before
And the wind was picking up more and more
“Oh, no!” cried Spike “We’re too late!
Nightmare is coming! We’ve sealed our fate!”
A sinister laugh came from up high
And there SHE was in the darkened sky.
Twilight gasped, and Nightmare did sneer
“What are you two doing here?”
Spike fainted in a heartbeat,
But Twilight stood tall on her feet.
“I don’t know how you got back…” she said
“But I’ll beat you again!” then she poised her head
But her horn wouldn’t glow. It didn’t give light
She could do no magic. Something wasn’t right.

Nightmare laughed, “Foolish creature so poor and young
You can’t even speak in our native tongue.
Your magic is useless, I can tell.
Now allow me to show you a real spell.”
She closed her eyes, and recited a phrase
And fired out a smoggy purple haze
“In palace you shall stay,
As my prisoner, day after day
Now with the magic that I do cast,
Send them to my dungeon, double fast!”

Twilight braced herself for the big hit
But Spike, he just wouldn’t have of it.
So he leapt and shoved her aside
And he was transported to the castle inside.
“Spike…! Spike…!” Twilight did shriek
But Nightmare didn’t mind catching the little sneak.
“What have you done?” Twilight yelled all vexed.
“He’s in the dungeon, and now you’re next!”
But before Nightmare could do anything
Twilight ran off in a great fast zing
Nightmare growled, “You can’t outrun me.
I’ll catch you yet. Just wait and see.”

So the chase was on, and Twilight did run
Faster and faster than most anyone
Nightmare was close, and not far behind
But Twilight, she was unable to find

Through all the thickets and brambles, trees and brush
Twilight escaped, and for town she did rush.
She tried to call for someone to help
She ran through down and she would yelp
“Someone please help me.” But no one would heed
She didn’t make a rhyme, not one indeed.

She tried going to police station and stated her case.
But instead, a punishment was slapped in her face.
The head warden, whose name was Rhymey,
He ordered Dyno Myte-O to lock her up quickly.
“Wait!” cried Twilight “Let me out!”
But Warden Rhymey simply said “Quiet, you lout!”
“Insufficient poetry
Is a Class-D felony
You disregard our rhyming rules,
I’ll bet your one of Nightmare’s ghouls.”

“But, but…” Before Twilight could say much more
The warden headed right out the door
His two guards said “She’s makes such fuss
But she’ll never speak exactly like us.”
Then they left the room of stone,
And poor Twilight felt she was not alone

She heard a small sound, and she turned round to see
Two more were locked in the same cell as she.
One dressed like a magician; the other was a genius brain
“Why are you two here?” Twilight wanted them to explain.
Both of them revealed they, too, spoke in rhyme
But that wasn’t why they were doing their time.
They were both accused of also working for Nightmare
Because of the arts they practiced with care.
Magical illusions like a magician would
And experimentations like any genius should
“We hoped that we could defeat Nightmare with wit
But it just wasn’t enough, and because of it…”
“We were locked up wrongfully, for the mistakes we made
We tried to appeal to the courts, but hopes did fade.”
“They won’t listen. They think we are wrong,
When they are the ones who are wrong all along”
“We had felt there was nothing more that we could do,
But now there is something now that you are here too.”

All of that rhyming made Twilight feel dizzy
All she wanted were some answers, plain and easy
The two explained how before Nightmare came
Way back then, things were not quite the same…

Their leaders, the Grand Ruler and his Queen
They ruled the planet and every scene
Both of them were friendly and truthful and wise
They always brought happiness to everyone’s eyes
But the queen had a sister, and she felt neglected
Useless and jealous for seeming so rejected.
She hated her sister for receiving all the grace
And for being well known in every place
She longed to be strong and recognized by all
So one night she stole a magical jewel
Despite is being against her sister’s rule
The jewel had empowered her with all she would need
But soon she was filled with evil, hate and greed
She had become Queen Nightmare, and usurped the crown
The rulers had fought bravely, but they were struck down.
Now they were imprisoned on the Mountain of Doom
Inside Nightmare’s castle of darkness and gloom
Many have fought valiantly to set them free,
But Nightmare was strong and very tricky
Even their best fighter, named Rainbow Dash
Though strong and swift, she also had taken a bash
She also was captured along with the rest,
Nightmare was too much even for the best

Now she ruled the kingdom and commanded everyone
These were dark times and they weren’t much fun
Her demands and her orders were on everything
To bring her foods and goods as an offering
Make her mad, and she’ll cause trouble
She’d storm the kingdom on the double
“She’ll wreck the town, and make us pay.”
“We may not live to see the next day.”

Twilight had finally heard enough.
Something had to be done with all this stuff
“You said you were glad I was here.” Twilight said
That’s when Brain motioned with a nod of his head
He and his friend had been secretly planning about,
And built a secret passage to let them all out,
“The two of us alone, against Nightmare won’t be right”
“But with you by our side, triumph we just might.”
Twilight wasn’t sure, but either way
It was better than hanging around in jail all day
So they crawled through the hole, one, two and three
And before too long they all were free.
But the alarms went off and the lights were lit
And the police were running about in a fit.
“They’re searching for us!” Twilight cried
So they all ran off to quickly hide.

The authorities searched high, and they searched low
But couldn’t find where the convicts did go.
The had retreated to the forest, outside of Nightmare’s lair
The mountain was just a head, and the castle way up there.
Twilight asked “What now? We’re here.”
The magician hushed her and said “Here’s the plan, my dear.”

The magician reached into his cape, pulled out box
Sealed up tight with the strongest of locks
“I found this one day when I was walking
Then I heard the sound of talking.
It spoke “To open this box, to find the key,
Gather at least friends of three
Then hold the box to the moonlit skies
And my secrets shall reveal before your eyes.”
“That’s it?” asked Twilight with a sneer.
The two friends nodded, “And as long as we’re here…”
“We may as well give it a try now
To reveal its secrets, raise the box high now”
All three of them held the box with one hand
And the held it to the moon as it shined on the land
The box began to glow, it quivered and shook
Then the lid popped open to reveal a book
The book began to glow, and float and hover
And voice seemed to call from the front of the cover.
“I am the spell book of magic-harmony
I was trapped in that box for over a century
I can help stop the Nightmare’s evil curse
To cast any of my spells, just read its verse”
The book then fell into Twilight’s grip
And all through pages did Twilight flip
She found all the spells were written in rhyme
“So I have to speak like that every time?”
Her friends, they nodded, it was the only way
To break the curse and make Nightmare pay.
So they ventured forth with no time to waste
Up the mountain to the castle, they ran with haste

They arrived at the castle’s front door
But they found it was shut and they could proceed no more.
But Twilight was well-prepared
And at the door she began to stare
She said “One, two, three and four
I ask to open up this door!”
The doors began to open wide
Revealing just what was deep inside.
It was all just one massive room
The friends heard a voice saying “Welcome to your doom”
The torches lit up, and doors shut tight
Then Nightmare appeared in a flash of dark light.
She gazed at Twilight “Oh, it’s you again.
You and your friends must be insane
I suppose I’ll have to teach you lesson
And then lock you up in my possession.”
The clapped her hands twice and the friends could all see
All the prisoners she had captured, there were so many
Many of the villagers, and even Rainbow Dash
Spike in his rabbit suit, and the royal ones in stash
The all were pounding and begged to be free
But Nightmare refused and she snarled very sternly
“I’ve captured you all. You are all mine
And all over this kingdom, the darkness will shine
For I am Queen Nightmare-- no one can stop me.
Now I’ll do more… starting with these three!”
She recited a chant, and her horn began to glow
And magical energy began to blow
Twilight managed to leapt out of the way
But her two friends were caught by the prison ray

With them now locked up, Twilight was alone
And would have to face Nightmare, all on her own
“How charming…” Nightmare mocked “But don’t make me laugh
You can’t even rhyme. Not even a half
You don’t stand a chance against me.”
Twilight smiled and then said “We’ll see.”
“Huh?” Nightmare gasped, and Twilight showed her book
“See this, Nightmare. Take a good look
Now I’ve mastered the rhyming ways,
This is the end for you-- the last of your days.”
The prisoners smiled, and Twilight did too
All her rhyming was pure and true.
The fight was on and Nightmare did attack
And with her new book, Twilight fought back.
With her newfound rhyming and magical book
Twilight fought well. The beatings Nightmare took
She never believed what this pony was doing
All these magical spells she was constantly brewing.
Then soon, Nightmare had taken enough, and she had
She knocked the book a way and burned it like mad
“No! Twilight screamed “My source of magic!”
Nightmare just laughed “Isn’t it tragic?
You came so close, but close isn’t enough
Prepare for your ends… it’s going to be rough!”
The jewel round her neck began to shine
“One final-attack and victory is mine!”
But Twilight was not beaten. “I still have one shot
And it’s going to win-- believe it or not!”
There was one spell she saw in book.
And her eyes narrowed with a very strong look
Nightmare’s magic continued to glow,
But suddenly Twilight’s magic began to show
Then, up in the air she leapt up high
Blowing off the roof and stood in the sky.

Down below in the village, everyone could see
The powerful glowing and wondered “What can that be?”
They soon her a voice-- it was Twilight
She asked for their help to make things right.
“Everyone, please hear my cry.
Send out your strength across the sky
To work this magic, I will need
Your faith and believing, it you’ll only heed
Send me your magic from deep within
And together I know… WE SHALL WIN!!”
At first all the villagers didn’t know
But Lightning and Krysta knew it was so
She spoke in rhyme, she really was a friend
So, their magic, to her they would lend
They closed their eyes, and the magic and shown
And flew to add it to Twilight’s own
Soon two more added theirs, then six, then eight
And soon the whole village at a fantastic rate
They sent their magic to Twilight in the sky
Just as Nightmare shouted “PREPARE TO DIE!!”
She fired her magic in a powerful blast
But Twilight’s full power had shown at last
She fired her own powerful magic attack
It countered the dark one and sent it right back
Nightmare gasped, “No! It’s not true…
How can my magic be weaker than you?”
Twilight smirked “I have friends by my side
And you Nightmare, this is the end of your evil pride!”
The blast hit Nightmare with full force
And began to destroy the evil in that horse
A big explosion erupted on the floor
And Nightmare… she was no more.

The evil magic faded away
And soon the sun rose on a brand new day
The prisoners and villagers they were all free
They all leapt for joy crying “YIPPEE!”
The Grand Ruler and his Queen, then they could see
A smaller dark pony that Nightmare used to be
“Princess Luna…” said the Queen “Are you okay?
Answer me please. Don’t delay.”
Her sister got up, and she was filled with shame
All that had happened-- she was to blame
“Oh, sister…! Please, forgive me do
I just wanted to be strong and as famous as you
But I don’t know what came over me
I’ve been a very, very bad pony.”
Her eyes filled with tears of sorrow
She felt she wasn’t going to live to see tomorrow
But the Grand Ruler said “Luna, don’t cry.
We understand what you did and why.”
His wife nodded and gazed down at her sis
And all she had to say was this
“You are my sister, and I should have known
Years of neglect and your hatred had grown
I should have been more open, and treated you well
But since I hadn’t, you fell under a spell.
But the spell is broken now, and I want you to know
How sorry I am for treating you low.”
Grand Ruler stepped forth and said “How about it
Will you give us another chance? Please don’t doubt it.”

Luna hesitated, she couldn’t believe it
Everyone around her, the love, she could see it
No one was mad, or hated her for what she’d done
They all wanted to be friends, and have some fun
Luna felt warm inside. She felt all-new
She hugged her sister and said “I forgive you.”

The Princess, the Queen, the Grand Ruler too
All shared a group hug with love so true

That very day they all would celebrate
The defeat of evil and how Twilight was great
She saved them all, and she was given
A great big medal tied with a ribbon
“You have brought us freedom. You have brought us glee
You are truly given us our harmony.”

Everyone below kept chanting her name
But suddenly Twilight didn’t feel the same.
The world around her began to whirl
She felt her head spinning in a twirl.

“Twilight was just having a dream.
A dream about rhymes or so it would seem.” said Rhymey.

Twilight nodded, and she stopped rhyming, but she suddenly remembered something she learned in her dream. “Harmony!” she said “That’s it?”

“…The Elements of Harmony. That’s the hidden power Queen Celestia was talking about.”

The others felt she had a point. “It has been a long time since any of us used them.” Fluttershy said “I practically forgotten we had that magic.”

Twilight felt silly for having forgotten about the elements’ magic that rested within her and her other five friends, but to think it was the rhymes that helped her remember it.

Twilight now understood Rhymey’s point of view much better, and from that day on she promised herself she wouldn’t think strangely of it ever again.

This promise went in her friendship report, and she also stated that she learned that it was okay for some to follow their own ways “Even when it looks like it has no use, it just may come in handy.”

In our next episode, Fratello unleashes his latest project, a giant robotic dragon. So massive and so incredibly powerful, the friends find it extremely difficult to stop it and protect the village. Cadance also slips off hoping to reconcile with her brother and save him, but her efforts prove futile and she soon finds herself cornered and staring death in the face.

Will Fratello destroy the planet, will Cadance meet her end?

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

(Next Episode: “Enter, the Dragonoid”)

My Brave Pony Starfleet Magic: Season II

by DakariKingMykan

Episode 20: Time for a Rhyme