My Brave Pony Starfleet Magic: Season III

by DakariKingMykan

Episode 10: Careful what you wish for: Part 2

Spike and Rarity emerged from a department store. Rarity hadn’t bought much, and Spike was more than happy to carry the bags; anything for her! 

“Oh, Spike. I’m so glad you came with me.”

“I’m glad too.” Spike said. “So, uh… anything you know to wish for yet?”

Rarity stopped “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious...”

Rarity still didn’t know what she wanted to wish for either. “How about you?” she asked Spike, and Spike, well it was obvious one thing he would have loved to wish for… if he was just a little older and closer to Rarity’s age instead of being a least seven years apart, and maybe even be a pony, and… he and Rarity lived happily together, but it was just complicated, and too embarrassing for him to even think of wishing for. In his daydreaming, of the small boxes sticking out of Rarity’s shopping bag he was holding fell out and it rolled into a bush. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” cried Spike.

Rarity took it well and forgave him. “Oh, darling, it was just an accident. I shall retrieve it.” So she went towards the bush to find it, and rather than getting herself dirty, used her telekinesis to move the thickets out of the way. She sniffed the air and smelled something awful. “What is that?” she asked aloud, and she got her answer as she parted the last thickets away and found her box sitting beside a smelly skunk, and it gazed up at her. Rarity winced and SCREAMED!

“Rarity!” cried Spike “Don’t worry, I’ll save you!” he dropped the bags and ran to help Rarity only stop at the last ten feet and cover his nose “Eww…!” he groaned.

Rarity just sat on her knees with her backed turned to him, and the green misty smell emitting from her. She turned to face Spike with her teary eyes. “Oh, Rarity!” cried Spike, still holding his nose.

Rarity couldn’t help but burst into a real sob of woe and disgust. “This is so unbearable! I… I… Sti-hi-hi-hi-hink…!”

Spike hated seeing Rarity so miserable, even if it was just a plain skunk spray. “I wish you weren’t so upset.” he said, and his star disappeared and Rarity stopped crying. She just stood up with a plain expression on her face. “Rarity? Are you okay?”

“I feel… fine.” she said calmly “I still smell dreadful, but for some reason that doesn’t bother me anymore.” she gazed down at him and smiled. “You wished I would feel better.”

Spike only then realized that he wasted his wish, “…Ah, I did!”

Rarity still thought it was so sweet of him showing he cared for her, and she reached down and pecked his cheek. Even though she still stank, Spike was so mesmerized by the kiss that he fell over backwards again not caring about the smell.

Rarity still didn’t want to stink anymore, and realized the quickest and easiest way that wouldn’t involve any heavy washing, or doing something gross was to use her wish. “I wish that I didn’t sync-- I mean stink… I--” Her star disappeared, and the smell disappeared instantly.

“Rarity!” snapped Spike “You didn’t have to use your wish.”

Rarity’s lips moved, but no words came out until a second later “Well I couldn’t just--” she stopped and held her mouth. Her lips moved again, no sound until a second later “Did you see that?”

Spike nodded, and they both remembered Rarity wished she didn’t sync as well as stink. Now her lips were out of sync with her voice, and of course, now that she didn’t stink anymore, she could feel upset again. She collapsed on the ground, her lips moving and the sound took a second the get out. “Oh, the humiliation, the unspeakable horrors…!”

Spike helped her up “We need to find Twilight, now!”

The sun would be setting soon, and the magic would wear off.

Grand Ruler was standing out on the tallest terrace of the palace and overlooking New Canterlot. He was still looking rather uneasy, and he still had his star, indicating he hadn’t made his wish yet, and he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to.

Celestia flew up to him and landed gracefully beside him, “Celesto, it’s almost time for dinner.”

Her husband didn’t even move.

“Celesto…?”

“Hmm...? Oh, I’m sorry, darling. I was miles away.” 

“Is something wrong? You seem upset about something.”

“Oh, I’m not upset, I’m just very worried.”

“Is it about the wish I made?”

Grand Ruler didn’t lie to her and admitted it was the wish. “I just have a bad feeling I know how this is going to turn out.”

He said no more, and suddenly his wife began to catch on to what the worrying was about. “Oh, my, what have I done?”

“Let’s just hope it hasn’t come to that.”

Meanwhile, in the throne room Goldwin was gazing outdoors. It wouldn’t be long until sundown, and everyone would be gathering together for dinner to witness his wish. He turned around to face Cadance and Shining Armor. “Oh, I’m so excited.” he said “The one thing I’ve dreamed about is just a wish away. I’m going to be really alive. I’ll be able to go outside of the palace.”

“You could come visit us in the New Crystal Empire.” Cadance said “We could go on royal picnics.”

“Or we could play sports and do other neat things too.” added Shining Armor.

Goldwin’s smile just kept on growing. He honestly didn’t think anything could spoil it for him now…

But the hooded assassin was still lurking around nearby, ducking the guards and avoiding Starfleet detection. “The time has come for me to strike again. Celestia, prepare to meet your end!” she hissed sinisterly. Her body magically turned black and sank down like a shadow, and crept along the ground getting closer to the palace.

Twilight was peeking around the New Canterlot Library in town, and found what she was looking for about the coin that Spike found. In ancient days of Middle Eastern Equestria, ancient kings badly accused genies and witches of being ill-omens, because apparently everyone always wished by accident or made wishes without thinking of the consequences after which. 

These ponies were sealed away in ancient relics like the coins and stuff. Celestia used the Elements of Harmony to put an end to the wicked kings and their foolishness, but was unable to recover the captured souls as the relics were buried out of sight and never seen again, until discovered by someone passing by and released the spirits and had their wishes granted.

“I knew that coin was familiar.” she said “I’ve got to find the others.”

No sooner had she left the library did she find most of the others outside waiting for her, and a lot of them were missing their stars. “Twilight…” Lightning said “We need to talk.”

They all decided to head back to the palace and talk in private, just as well as it was almost time for dinner… but some of the others were still missing. Rainbow Dash arrived, and she looked pretty wiped out and had at least five pencils threaded into her mane. “All that paper work!” she cried “I never knew being a general was such hard work.”

“Well what did you expect?” Lightning said “You know there’s more to being a soldier than just flying around and battling. Rainbow, just because you have a general’s insignia doesn’t mean you truly are one.”

“I guess I didn’t think of that.”

Fluttershy and Rhymey came along. Both their stars were missing, and they didn’t seem to want to speak though. “What’s wrong?” Artie asked.

Fluttershy rolled her eyes back and forth and Rhymey’s teeth chattered, but Rhymey decided to tell them, he said in Fluttershy’s voice…

“I hate to burst your bubble,
But we are both in trouble.”

Everyone gasped. “No, don’t tell me…” Lightning said.

Fluttershy nodded, and she answered in her regular voice, but it came out in rhyme…

“Rhymey and I were walking
Having a fun time and talking,
And right at that time, I wished I had his rhyme
And now you can hear it in my squawking”

Rhymey nodded and said, in Fluttershy’s voice.

“Fluttershy took my rhymes away.
I just couldn’t rhyme, no matter what I did say
So, I made up my choice, to add her rhymes to my voice.
It worked, but now I speak this way.

Now they both spoke in rhyme, and Rhymey sounded like a female, and as if that weren’t bad enough, Krysta warped Pinkie Pie to the group; both their stars were missing “I found her playing with some children in the playground.” Poor Pinkie seemed ready to collapse. Her voice was really hoarse. “What happened to you?” asked Rarity, with her lips and voice still out of sync.

“I… was having such fun… that I… I.”

“Let me guess…” Twilight said “You accidently wished the fun could never end?”

Pinkie Pie nodded weakly. “It was fun for a while, but then I felt tired. I tried to stop, but I… I…I!!” she broke down and blubbered.

(0:54)

"So I used my wish to make it stop. The poor children were just as tired as she was.”

“Well, I’m just surprised at all of you.” Grand Ruler said. Everyone turned and saw him and the Queen and bowed to them. Cadance and Shining Armor joined them, but Goldwin wasn’t there…!

Dyno and Myte already felt ashamed, despite not having made their wishes yet. “It looks like we’re all haven’t been thinking clearly.” said Dyno. “No…” added Myte “We’ve been blowing our wishes on silly things, and just thinking about ourselves.”

Those who had made their wishes, preferably the bad and mixed up wishes that messed everyone up felt bad and silly. “But, why work for things, or do it the hard way when we can just wish for it easily and be done with it?” asked Pinkie.

“Pinkie Pie…” Grand Ruler said “United Equestria, Starfleet, and all the rest of it-- Up until now we’ve all gotten along very well, in spite of all the evil we have faced, and all the hardships we have endured we still stand strong, because we have love, care and respect for one another and the sakes of others we hold dear.

And you cannot wish for those things, not with these stars or any kind of magic.”

His voice then became deeper and more serious as he gazed at everyone and the messes they had become and caused. “And then we got these… wishes that make our dreams come true, and instead of making us happier or making the planet a better place, it has sown the seeds of confusion, chaos, discontent, mistrust, and indolence!” He gazed shamefully down at his own star “I said these wishes that make our dreams come true.

...Well… nightmares are also dreams.”

Those who made their wishes felt really badly now, and those that hadn’t were already considering to give their wishes up. Grand Ruler was pleased to see they had learned their lessons, and then he made a wish of his own.

"I wish to reverse all of your wishes and that your stars would disappear!"

So Rarity voice was in sync with her lips again. Rainbow was back to being a plain old Lieutenant. Applejack lost her super strength, and Buddy Rose lost his speed. Rhymey’s got his own voice back, and Fluttershy stopped rhyming.

Then Twilight to use her wish to get rid of all their wishes, and all the remaining stars disappeared instantly. “Sure am glad that’s over with.” Applejack said “To be honest, I didn’t really like bein’ all that strong, too many ponies beggin’ me for favors.”

“Yeah, and I’d rather work my way to be a general. Then I’ll know I’ll be ready.” added Rainbow.

“And talking in rhyme, I can learn how by myself.” said Fluttershy “Besides, it’s almost sort of hard to speak in rhyme all the time. I’m sorry, Rhymey.”

Her colt-friend didn’t mind a bit.

“It takes time to do it, 
But then there’s nothing to it.”

Goldwin came down and saw everyone. “What happened here?” he asked “Where did all your wishes go?”

“It’s a long story.” Shining Armor said.

“Well, we’ll tell you over dinner.” Celestia said, and she clapped her hands and the royal chefs and waiters served dinner. “That’s something I didn’t have to wish for with magic.” Celestia teased. Everyone shared a laugh and then they all sat together for a good hearty meal.

As they ate, the hooded assassin managed to sneak past all the guards, and avoid Starfleet detection, and was gazing down at the party through the glass-roof. She could see Celestia’s cup of tea on the table behind her. She reached inside her cloak and pulled out a very small vial of red liquid. She gazed at the vial, and he eyes glowed yellow. Then, in a small flash, the vial was empty, and Celestia’s tea bubbled softly in the cup, but nobody noticed.

The assassin snickered softly, and then disappeared; only a split second after Lightning looked up at the glass ceiling and thought he saw someone up there. “Hey, that’s weird. I… I thought I saw.”

“What’s that, Lightning?” Starla asked, but Lightning merely dismissed it and thought he was seeing something.

Celestia grabbed her tea cup and was just about to sip, when suddenly Spike began to cough and choke for gobbling down his food too fast. This startled her, and Shining Armor who sat next to her on the left. He put down his cup and Celestia put hers down right by his.

“Take it easy, Spike.” Twilight said as she gave him some of her own tea to help him. “Ahh…! Thanks, Twilight.” he panted.

“Spike, you know you really should have better table manners.” Cadance said as she helped him back into his seat. Everyone sighed in relief, and both Celestia and Shining drank their tea, having switched teacups by mistake.

Suddenly, Shining Armor felt very strange. “Say, what’s going on? Why is it so hot in here all of a sudden?”

Everyone was confused. “Are you alright, my love?” asked Cadance. “I… don’t… know.” groaned Shining Armor “I… think… I’m going… to--” before he could say another word, he fell out of his seat flat on the floor. “Shining Armor!” cried Twilight.

Shining Armor was brought to the sickbay, and the court physician had him hooked up to strong life support. He seemed so pale, and was breathing very softly and slowly. “What’s happening to him, doctor?” Grand Ruler asked “Is it exhaustion? Is he coming down with something?”

The doctor shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s far worse than that, my lord. Shining Armor is… dying.”

Hearing those words made everyone’s hearts skip a beat. Twilight was on the verge of tears. “Dying? My brother…?”

“No…!” cried Cadance “He can’t be…!”

The doctor nodded his head again. “I’ve done all I can, Princess. He appears to have been poisoned.”

“Poisoned?” peeped Celestia.

“Yes, but by what, I can’t say.”

Just then, Lightning and Starla came in with Fratello holding the teacup Shining Armor drank from. “Fratello says it’s the tea.” Starla said.

“The tea…? Are you sure?” asked Twilight.

“Affirmative…” said Fratello “I have analyzed the contents. Chemicals detected: C5, H3, Ho2, and mixed with high contents of--”

“Never mind all that!” shouted Rarity.

Grand Ruler took the cup to examine it more closely, and realized something even more shocking. “Celestia, this is your teacup.”

“What?!” snapped Celestia. Everyone else gasped in shock, and it was true. They could tell because when dusting for fingerprints there were marks all over the bottom the cup where Celestia always held her cups in her hand, and then it suddenly hit everyone that she and Shining Armor grabbed each other’s cups by accident. “The poison was intended for me!” cried Celestia.

“But who did this?” asked Goldwin “Who poisoned the tea and why?”

Lightning suddenly remembered “That hooded creature.”

“What was that, Lightning?” Grand Ruler asked.

“During dinner I thought I saw some strange creature in a hood and robe, outside on the glass roof looking down at us.”

Celestia felt uneasy, and Twilight gazed at her “So it’s true; you are being threatened!” she said “And now Shining Armor is dying because of all this!”

Celestia and Grand Ruler said nothing, which further confirmed the answer that Celestia was defiantly being threatened, but right now that really didn’t matter much. Shining Armor didn’t look so good. “Is there anything we can do for him?” Cadance cried “Please say there is…”

“I’m afraid not, Princess.” the doctor hated to say “There is nothing that I can do. I’ve never seen this kind of poison before, and I have no idea what’s it like, and if I try any magic on him to remove the poison it would probably only kill him faster. I’d say he’ll be gone within the hour.”

Cadance and Twilight felt their hearts ripped in half. They both collapsed over Shining Armor and softly let out their emotions. This brought tears to many of the others eyes, and anger and outrage to others. Some of them vowed vengeance against the assassin, whoever she was!

Krysta sadly turned to face the window in grief, and then noticed that the sun had almost completely set. Then she remembered something and looked at Goldwin and saw he still had his wishing star. “Wait!” she yelled “Goldwin, you still have your wish.”

Goldwin had completely forgotten in all the commotion and drama, and everyone’s eyes lit up. Grand Ruler had only wished away everyone else’s wishes, but not Goldwin’s as he wasn’t there when it happened.

Goldwin caught on to the idea and what everyone was thinking. “But… but I wanted to wish--” he stopped, and by now everyone felt a little pity for him. “Goldwin…” Cadance sobbed “I know how much it means to you, but… Shining Armor… he means so much to me. I can’t lose him.”

“I can’t either.” cried Twilight.

“Oh, I understand…” Goldwin said as he approached the bed “And you’re right. How could I ever be truly alive and have fun knowing I didn’t help out, for a friend at that.” he closed his eyes and gazed over Shining Armor “I wish for nothing more than for you to be okay, my friend!” His star vanished, and Shining Armor’s body glowed softly. The doctor checked his pulse, heart, and blood flow. “It’s working!” he cried “He’s coming back! He’ll be alright!” and sure enough, Shining Armor rose upright in his bed “Oh!” he groaned “What happened? Why is everyone looking at me?”

Cadance and Twilight hugged him hard, almost squeezing him to death, and cried harder than ever. “I thought you were a goner, bro!” sobbed Twilight.

“Aw, Twily…!”

As everyone huddled around Shining Armor to express their relief that he was okay, no one noticed Goldwin slip quietly and sadly away, except Lightning and Starla.

Goldwin had done a very noble thing, but even though he was very happy for Shining Armor, now all his hopes of going outside were once again out of his reach. He quietly walked into the throne room, stood on his pedestal, and gazed sadly outside at the twilight, the world beyond, and all the other things that might have been!

Lightning and Starla saw how sad he looked, and couldn’t blame him. “Goldwin, are you going to be okay?” Starla asked to him, but Goldwin really didn’t feel much like talking now. He reached up slowly and pulled his mask off, turning back into a statue.

Lightning and Starla gazed at each other in pity for Goldwin, but they knew that Goldwin would come around, and eventually he did, and Shining Armor was very happy to hear what he had done for him. “You’re a real friend for saving me like that, Goldwin.” and Goldwin was happy, even while a statue.

(Promo)