//------------------------------//
// Episode 10: Part 1: Findings and Bindings 
// Story: My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season VIII 
// by DakariKingMykan 
//------------------------------//


EPISODE TEN


It had now been two weeks since Lightning had taken Swift Star as his apprentice, and he was showing excellent improvement in his training. 

Working at the farm with Applejack and Buddy Rose-- he would plow the fields using only his hands and wrists, and pull extremely heavy loads, like boulders, fallen trees, and all the other things that a normal pony wouldn’t be able to budge so easily, not even with Earth Pony strength.

Mining with Dyno and Myte helped him build muscle and dexterity. He was now able to punch large rocks into gravel with ease due to his excessive exercises and strength building.

Still, he was nowhere near that ready to take on heavy responsibilities that they all did yet. While his strength was improving, his speed and swiftness still required work as well as his focusing and believing in himself.


Today, he was training hard in the meadows; tasked with the challenge of taking a simple blue handkerchief away from Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash as they passed the cloth to and from each other while avoiding Swift’s advances.

“Come and get me.” Pinkie teased as she waved the cloth.

Swift charged at her, but Pinkie zipped away, and passed the cloth to Rainbow. 

“Over here!” Rainbow called.

Try as he would, Swift couldn’t seem to catch her, or Pinkie. Neither of the girls was even using their full speed, and neither of them had to fly in the air due to Swift’s slacking.

“This is starting to get boring.” Rainbow said with a yawn.

“Are you kidding? I’m having loads of fun.” chuckled Pinkie, and she dodged Swift again and watched him fall flat on the ground.


“Aw, you’re trying so hard.” Pinkie said out of sympathy, and she prepared to just hand him the cloth.

“No!” Lightning snapped “Don’t give it to him. He must earn it himself.”

Swift was panting heavy, “I can’t… catch her… She’s too fast.”

Lightning remembered how he felt like that when Grand Ruler had trained him, but just like his mentor he said to swift, “That’s not the right attitude. You’ll never pass this test unless you learn to think more positive, focus more carefully… and STOP reacting to everything the girls do.”

Swift felt every ounce of Lightning’s harness sting him like a burning needle-- though it was pretty much a test of patience and courage which all Starfleet fighters were put through, and Swift did his best not to lose his cool.

Pinkie Pie wanted to intervene; saying that Lightning was being too tough, but Rainbow held her back and shook her head telling her not to. “Swift has to learn. We can’t go easy on him.”

Lightning then reached down to help his student up to his feet. The second Swift did, he couldn’t help it and tried to lunge for Pinkie’s cloth, but Lightning blocked him with his arm, causing him to crash face first!

Lightning sighed, “Your moves are too slow and your actions very predictable. These are why you are failing this challenge. You need to learn to relax more and focus on your objective, not blindly rush at it hoping to get it on the first try.”

Swift was starting to get frustrated, “Well how am I supposed to calm down? My cousin’s still off with those evil creeps.”

“Are you still on with that kick?” asked Rainbow “Look, we’re just as concerned with Striker as you are, but all this moping and whining about it isn’t going to help us get him back any faster.”

Swift still didn’t seem any calmer.

“Aw, I think what you could use is a big hug to help you calm down.” And she threw her arms around, squeezing him a little too tightly, due to being stronger than he was.

“Can’t… breathe…!” Swift groaned, and Pinkie let him go, “Sorry, I still get carried away.”

Lightning sighed, but then he had an idea of how to get Swift to loosen up a bit. “Come with me.”

Swift, heeding his mentor’s advice followed him. Pinkie and Rainbow came along too.


While on Ainzul, in the dark mountain temple, Stammadon had left and was nowhere to be seen…

Prior to this, he had instructed his minions,

“I am about to venture forth and find my new trainer. While I am out, I expect you all to continue the onslaught of our enemies. If you destroy them, that’s fine.”
 

En Shi didn’t really seem to care too much about that, she was outside training on the dojo battle ring-- martial arts she attacked targets that popped up all over the ring, and those that appeared in hoards, she blasted them with her Tsunami attack, and even practiced her dodging by unleashing her Hail Storm pellets up high, and served and evading them as they came back down on her. She successful dodged every single pellet and stood gracefully in a finishing pose.

Then suddenly she sighed and gazed off into space in a loving daze. She held one hand over her chest, “Even in training my heart craves the need for love and affection. It is beginning to feel more like a curse than a pleasure.”

Kara Shi saw her from within the temple, “She’s at it again. What is with her and this quest for love? We’re supposed to be on a quest for power.”

Tan Shi, standing casually and looking grouchy as ever simply muttered, “Do I look like I even care?”

Kara Shi held up a small paper En Shi had shown him earlier, “It’s hard enough she wants a mate; look at demands she wants…”

En Shi’s list of demands for the perfect mate read…


“My Ideal Match”


 


· 1: Above all else, he must be a potentially good fighter so that I may personally train him myself to fight by my side.


 


· 2: He must be a pony or pony like creature, identical to my own species, for I do not believe in mixed-matches.


 


· 3: He must be able to maintain good composure and a good sense of swift action.


 


· 4: He must be younger than I am so that may dominate him

 

· 5: He must have no prior existing relationship; I wish to be his first and only!


 


· 6: Apart from being handsome, he must have a smile that shines like the sun.


 


Kara Shi groaned, “I don’t know where in the galaxy to find anyone who can even make it past the first step.”

“That is not any of our concern.” said Rai Shi “Our loyalty is to Stammadon, and our orders to continue the onslaught. We shall do as we are told.”

Tan Shi snuffed “And who made YOU the head minion in charge?”

Rai Shi growled but didn’t protest. “We shall attack United Equestria at once, and we shall take a monster to back us up.”

“I’ve already got one,” said Tan Shi, and she snapped her paw fingers, and out came her beast; a female creature named Blastra! She wore a thick solid skirt that could launch her like a missile, and she had the power to cause massive explosions depending on how much fear energy she absorbed.

“I feel a big bang coming on.” the monster hissed, and she used some of the energy surrounding the temple to blow a huge hole in the floor; a small sample of her power.

Rai Shi and Kara Shi were impressed. “Let’s go.” hissed Rai Shi

Kara Shi called out to the dojo, “En Shi… get your head out of the clouds! We got a job to do.”

En Shi snapped out of her love fantasy and sighed, “Oh, well. I guess duty calls.”


Meanwhile, on the far side of Ainzul, Stammadon continued on his quest. 

The skies were still dark and eerie, and swarming with lightning strikes ever since he had taken over the planet and that was how he liked it. “A world of darkness and despair,” he said to himself, “A world where only the strong can survive, and once I have met with my new master, I will be one step closer to bringing forth this reign on the entire galaxy!”

In his hands he clutched a single scroll, which doubled as both a map and a depiction of a creature of great strength, but ruthless in attitude in training thieves and warriors of darkness.

He had been sealed, long before Stammadon’s original reign, within a small tomb somewhere across the planet.

Stammadon felt confident this creature would help him, but just the same he knew to tread cautiously.



Lightning had taken Swift and the girls to Artie’s Art Gallery. Even though it was closed to the public, being close friends, Lightning and Co were permitted to come and go as they pleased, especially for the cause Lightning was giving.

“Why are we here again?” Swift asked.

“I told you,” replied Lightning “You need to learn to keep your cool and calm, and what better way than visiting an art gallery where it’s nice and quiet, and all these works can help you open your mind.”

“He’s right…” Artie said as he came out with another painting he had rented for the gallery. He hung it up on the wall. It was a beautiful painting of a bridge over a pond with lilies all around the water.

“Wow!” Pinkie exclaimed “Like it.”

Rainbow Dash wasn’t too much of a fan of art, but she felt, “Not bad, but it could use a sky thought.”

Swift looked at the painting, and couldn’t really feel much, “So what am I looking at exactly?”

Artie felt insulted inside, but Lightning explained “These artworks can help you find the inner concentration you need and help you focus better.”

“I don’t get it.” said Swift.

Artie then explained, “When you look at these paintings, you should see much more than just a simple picture; you should see beyond it.

Like this pond painting; think of yourself actually being there. The weather is warm, the grass is moist, the sounds of the water flowing. These are the things the artist was feeling when he made this.

And that’s what I do when I make my own creations. I think about the places or people I paint, and it helps relax me. This helps me learn to control myself better in battle too; I can keep calm, I can focus easier, and even helps me channel energy into my attacks.”

Swift tried harder and looked right at the painting and imagined just what he was told… and he could actually start to feel; it was like he was really there, at the pond.

“Everything suddenly feels… calm, quiet.” he said to himself “I could just stay here, and not have any worries.”

He suddenly could see a little frog at the edge of the pond, and he remembered catching frogs as a little colt. He waited patiently, and inched a little closer, and just as the frog made his leap, Swift caught it.

Then he opened his eyes, snapping back into reality, “Whoa.”

Artie and Lightning smiled at this, and Artie urged him to look around the gallery and try it some more.

Swift did as he was told, and he went off to explore the gallery. Pinkie and Rainbow joined him, admiring some artwork themselves, but the more Swift looked at each painting or sculpture-- had different fantasies each time. 

While staring at a picture of flowers, he dreamt he was hunting for butterflies in a meadow, and just like before, he concentrated, focussed and made his catch flawlessly.

Even looking at a stone statue of a thinking pony, he began to imagine it was he himself on that pedestal; he was sitting by himself, in a space background with stars and nebulas all around him. He sat with that same pose as the thinker, and pondering deeply from what Lightning was trying to teach him.

“Stop reacting to everything the girls do.”

“Hey!” he suddenly said to himself “That’s something I learned at the Academy; even long before it.

…Instead of reacting to everything my target does… I should anticipate what it’s going to do.”


As Swift continued to just stand there, Lightning gazed at him from the end of the hall when the others came along.

“You okay?” Artie asked.

Lightning sighed, “He’s coming along great with his training, but he still had so much to learn. Sometimes I wonder if maybe I’m pushing him too hard. I keep forgetting he’s still young.”

“Yeah, I don’t think sixteen is that young.” said Rainbow “But even still, you know you can’t go easy on him. Fighting evil, saving the world-- it’s a way rough world. You need to be tough for it.” 

She began to pose for battle and softly punched and kicked the air around her.

“I remember how hard you guys were on us when we joined the force.” said Pinkie Pie.

“Ha!” scoffed Artie “You girls had it easy. Not like the way WE trained back on Unicornicopia.”

Pinkie and Rainbow rolled their eyes, but they knew he was right in many ways. Then Artie consulted Lightning, “Swift will do just fine. You’re teaching him well, and it’ll all be worth it in the end, just like it was for all of us.”

Lightning could only nod in agreement.

Suddenly, there was a huge banging sound followed by a loud rumble that shook the gallery. Some of the paintings tipped off balance on their hangers, and Swift snapped out of his trance. “What was that?” he asked.

“Sounds like it came from outside!” cried Rainbow.

Suddenly, Krysta warped her way into the gallery. “Lightning!” she called “It’s the Four Shis!”

Lightning’s featured hardened, “Come on guys!” and he and the team rushed out just as the alarms finally sounded.

Swift, acting on impulse rushed out with them, but Artie stopped him at the doors. “Oh, no you don’t! This is way beyond your league. You just help the people get inside where it’s safe.”

“Right!” agreed Swift, and he proceeded to help guide nearby civilians into the gallery before the barriers activated.

Then he watched as his mentors transformed.

“STARFLEET MAGIC!!”
 
“HARMONY HOUR, FRIENDSHIP POWER!!”


Swift thought it looked so cool, and he felt a little down that he wasn’t ready to don the suit and be part of the real action. Nevertheless, he continued to help others inside just as the barriers came on.

However, he saw several ponies still outside, especially little children, and now that the barriers were up, they couldn’t get inside where it was safe.

Of course, his nerves got to him again, and though he knew he had to do the sensible thing and let the Starfleet sentries handle it; he rushed through the barrier-- which didn’t stop him from going out, and set to work helping the ponies get to a safer place.

The sentries soon arrived and helped him, and Swift got helped one last pony in the area. “Get her to safety quick.” Said Swift “I’m going to check to see if there are any others we missed.”

“No, wait!” called the sentry, and the guard used his magic to halt swift where he was, “You’ve done enough. You should get to safety yourself.”

Swift struggled and fussed but he couldn’t break free of the guard’s magic.

Suddenly, there was another explosion and the ground shook hard. The very earth began to crack into a small fissure and wall of thick and very solid ice burst from the ground, making a wall between the large separating of Swift and the guard.

With the wall of ice between them, the guard could no longer keep Swift targeted, and Swift was released, but more ice walls appeared surrounding the large vacant area of the town. The ice reached super high, too high for Swift to leap up and out of in his current level of training.

“I gotta get out of this!” he said to himself, and he swung back hard and punched at the ice… only to discover it was much thicker and strong than he thought, and he hurt his hand a little. “Note to self!” he groaned while nursing his hand “Use feet next time.”

Still the pain didn’t last long thanks to his strength being higher than normal, and he got right back up and began to kick at the ice hoping to break through it.


While a little ways away from him, the Four Shis stood glaring at Lightning and the other three.

“Only four?” teased Rai Shi “Pity, were looking forward to trashing your entire team.”

“You’ll get that chance after all!” Starla shouted as she and the rest of the team arrived on the scene, compliments of Krysta warping them all to the danger zone. Fluttershy’s droid had appeared, but Rarity’s had not as she was still on prohibition while hospitalized.

“Glad you made it.” Lightning said to Starla “And thanks, Krysta.”

Krysta winked at him.

En Shi snickered, “Predictable.” And she then unleashed a strong wave of watery magic to form an actual dome barrier of water energy over the large fence of ice she had created, thus sealing anyone and everyone inside the dome. “Good thing I’ve been training hard with my magic.”

“We’re trapped in!” cried Applejack.

Kara Shi laughed “Yeah, that’s the whole point. We lure you all out… we trap you in an impenetrable dome… and now we can destroy you all in one easy fight!”

Lightning clenched his fists, “When are you creeps going to learn-- you can never defeat us! Starfleet always wins.”

The other fighters nodded in agreement.

“Well, this time we’re going to prove you wrong.” sneered Tan Shi, and she snapped her fingers for Blastar to emerge from the ground with her rocket thrust firing to keep her in flight. “We’re going to blow you all to smithereens!” she thundered.

The fighters could tell this fight would be tough, especially being sealed within the dome. “Krysta!” Lightning called “Go fetch the sentries, see if they can find a way to break this barrier from the outside.”

Krysta agreed, but her teleport magic didn’t work. “What?” she groaned.

“Sorry,” hissed En Shi “You’ll need to do a little better than that to escape my thick ice prison. It’s so thick that magic can barely penetrate it.

You’re trapped in for the long fight. No comes in, and no one leaves until you’re all destroyed.”

Rai Shi snickered, “You see, there is going to be no escape for you this time. Now let us fight!!”

Left with no alternative, the fighters decided to go for it.

Lightning, Starla, and Rainbow fought against Rai Shi, all three of them rushing straight for him, but he zipped out of the way, ready to tackle them all from any place at any moment.

“Get ready!” said Lightning “Now!” and he and the others scattered, causing Rai Shi to miss and punch the ground hard.

“Attack!” shouted Starla.

“Here we come!” added Rainbow, but as the trio came rushing in, “ROCKET BOOM” Blastar zoomed in, striking them all hard by surprise, and knocked them all to the ground.

“And here’s another incoming!” Blastar hollered, “BOMBS AWAY!” and she magically conjured small round explosives that pelted the trio hard, making small explosions fly everywhere.

Lightning and the others got up again.

“What? You’re still standing?!”

“It takes more than that to keep us down.” sneered Rainbow, and then she was punched hard by.

Then suddenly Tan Shi leapt in, “Then I’ll give you more!” 

She roared like the tiger she was and lunged for Rainbow who zipped away, causing Tan Shi to miss, and then she was lassoed by Buddy’s Vine Whip and Applejack’s rope.

“Grab a tiger by the tail.” Applejack teased.

“Good one.” said Buddy.

Tan Shi roared furiously and stretched herself free, then pulled on the ropes and punched the two ponies down. “How pathetic!” she remarked.

Buddy and Applejack shook off the pain and bolted back up to their feet and glared the tigress down.

“Don’t forget me!” Pinkie squeaked as she joined her friends.

Tan Shi extended her claws, and licked them in a threatening manner. Then she leapt in to attack the trio all at once. 

The trio punched, kicked, and Buddy cracked his whip at her, hitting her in the face but hardly damaging her much as Tan Shi’s fury seemed to be spinning out of control.

“Whoa!” Applejack snapped as she back flipped away, dodging a swipe! “She’s madder than a mother cow bein’ branded!”

“It’s scary!” peeped Pinkie, and she leapt up high as Tan Shi took a dive at her.

Buddy then lassoed her wrists together again holding her in place, “LEAF SWARM” bombarding her with his leaves, and this gave Pinkie and Applejack their shot and they both jumped in to kick at her, but with her legs still free, Tan Shi booted them hard sending them both crashing into the solid ice walls.

“Oooh, that hurt!” groaned Pinkie as she rubbed her head.

“We’ve gotta get this of this here barrier!” sneered Applejack.


The Spanish Twins and Spike stood ready and nodded at one another.

“DRAGON BREATH!”

The Twins held their hands together and used their finisher, “BOOM-BOOM FLARE”
 
But as their flames blasted at the ice, “TSUNAMI” En Shi unleashed her strong watery wave dousing the flames and pushing the trio back. She glared sinisterly at the fallen trio, “…Ice try, boys…

…HAIL STORM!”

She bombarded them with her powerful ice pellets. The boys dodged as best they could but got struck several times.

“What’s going on!” groaned Dyno.

“Her ice attacks feel stronger!” said Myte.

“It must be something to do with all this ice she’s put up.” suggested Spike.

En Shi snickered softly, “Took you long enough to figure that out. Yes, when surrounded by ice or moisture, my water and ice attacks increase many fold.” and she rushed in to attack!

The trio leapt back in different directions, and spike got out his Dragon Knight Saber. “Party time!” he growled, and he and the twins rushed in attacking En Shi from all corners, but En Shi gracefully ducked, swerved and blocked their every attack with her arms, legs and even her strong tail from behind.

Spike came down to slash at her with his sword, but she blocked him with her wrists alone, flicked him up and kicked him hard in the chest.

The twins then grabbed her by each of her arms to hold her down.

“You’re going down Chica!” sneered Dyno.

“Way down!” added Myte, and they gave her a huge toss throwing her hard, but En Shi recovered nicely and landed on her feet. “I must say, you’re both pretty strong, but neither of you are right for me.”

The twins were confused, but the brawl continued.


While Artie with his Staff and Rhymey with his sword fought against Kara Shi, with Fluttershy as back up.

Three against one, but Kara Shi managed to keep it any even fight with his swiftness and stealth. He parried their weapons and Fluttershy’s droid’s metal fists.

Still the trio fought hard, and Rhymey managed to catch Kara Shi off guard and slashed at him. Sparks flew, and Kara Shi rolled on the ground.

“Take that,
…Splat!” Rhymey taunted.

“Why you--!!” 

Suddenly he was grabbed by Fluttershy’s droid and he dropped his sword. “You’re not going anywhere.” Fluttershy growled at him “Get him!” she called to the boys.

Artie and Rhymey nodded and clinked their weapons in a cheer before rushing at the two, but suddenly Fluttershy’s droid began to quiver and her grip began to weaken allowing Kara Shi to slip through and zip off, quickly grab his sword, “SHOCKER SLASHWAVE!”

“Watch it!” shouted Artie. He and Rhymey managed to sprint out of the way as the shockwaves were fired, but the droid didn’t seem to move and got hit hard.

Rhymey gawked in horror, and his wife called out to him through the droid’s failing voice. “Rhymey, I’m losing power!” and the droid went completely dead.



Back at home, Fluttershy’s visor-screen flashed red, with a sign blinking “CONNECTION ERROR”

“No!” she cried as she hammered on her controls, but the droid would not start up again.



“It’s the ice wall!” cried Artie “It must be too thick for the signal to get through clear enough.”

The droid just lay flat on the ground, and Kara Shi snickered “Looks like that’s one down.”

Infurated, Rhymey glared at him, “DRILL QUILL” and unleashed his feather missiles at him.

Kara Shi whirled his sword like a propeller, defending himself from the barrage.

“I’ll get him!” said Artie, and he rushed in to tackle the samurai, “ROCKET BOOM!” Blastar intercepted him; bashing him hard and sent him skidding along the ground.

“I know this comes as a blow…” the monster teased at him, “BOMBS AWAY!” and she bombarded him with a barrage of explosives. Artie bolted upright and whirled his staff, defending himself just like Kara Shi did.

“This isn’t getting us anywhere!” he called out to anyone who was listening.


“He’s right.” agreed Starla “We’ve to bring this barrier down! Then we’ll have more room to fight.”

“Ha!” scoffed Rai Shi “Wishful thinking, but I am doubting you will be succeeding!”

“He’s right!” Lightning thought “Even we get any clear openings to try and attack the barrier, one of the minions or the monster will try and stop us. These guys certainly knew what they were doing when they lead us into this trap.”
 
Still, he tried to blast the ice wall with the Uniforce, but Rai Shi went straight at him, forcing Lightning to dodge, unable to power up enough. This also guaranteed he wouldn’t be able to power up enough to go Enticorn either .

“PULSAR LASER” 

Starla fired at the wall of ice causing it some damage, but Rai Shi lunged at her forcing her to dodge, and “Starla!” Lightning called as he rushed in to help his wife.

“My turn!” said Rainbow “SONIC RAINBOOM!” and she zoomed forth to ram the wall, only for Tan Shi to leap down on top of her head, knocking Rainbow to the ground, skidding to a halt. Rainbow struggled to her feet and rubbed the dirt from her face.


While all the battles were going on… Far, far away from the action Swift Star was still trying desperately to beat his way through the ice, unaware that his panicking and worrying was actually feeding the villains more strength.

“Come on!” he growled “Got to… break this… ice down!” and he kept on kicking at the wall, making it crumple softly. “Keep going! Never give up!”

The more he kept attacking the barrier, the more the ice crumpled.



Finally, the two sides-- the Shis and Blastar and the fighters-- regrouped and glared each other down. Both sides having fought a lot, but the fighters were feeling a little beat from al the beatings they had taken, while the Shis and the monster weren’t looking nearly as tired.

“The inner fear and doubt you give only strengthens us and our monster.” sneered Tan Shi.

Kara Shi felt the strength within him growing. “Strange, I feel a little extra strength coming on though, but I like it anyway.”

Buddy was panting softly, “If anyone has any ideas, now would be a great time to tell.”

Lightning winked at him and motioned softly behind him where Krysta was hiding right behind his back and Krysta blinked her eyes at the others in Morse code. “Just play it cool, and if my idea works we can turn the tables on these creeps!”
 
The fighters didn’t respond her, not wanting to give themselves away, but they hoped for the best.

Krysta’s plan was the guys were goad the villains into attacking them all at once, and then warp the team out of the way at the last second so the villains would only attack each other, which would give the team the perfect chance to powerful, and attack the villains in a huge barrage of attack-after-attack-after attack, which would hopefully weaken them enough to finally capture them all.

“So, do you admit defeat yet?” Blastar called to them.

“Not a chance!” growled Lightning “As long as we’re still standing, we’ll still fight you monsters off.”

The others all nodded in agreement, and the villains snickered.

“You have much more honor than we thought.” said Rai Shi “But your foolishness will be your undoing.”

The minions and Blastar all powered up ready to strike them all at once, “Get ready Krysta.” Lightning whispered down at her.

Krysta nodded and readied her wand.



Suddenly, En Shi noticed out of the corner of her eye, “What…?”

The villains and the fighters all turned and could see way off on the far end of the ice barrier, “Swift Star!” cried Lightning.

“What’s he doing here?!” asked Rainbow.

“I told him to stay in the gallery!” grumbled Artie.


Swift was panting heavily, but after all that time he had dug through the ice wall pretty deep; all it needed was one final hit. “Focus!” he told himself “Focus hard and concentrate!”

He began to relax his insides and his mind like he did in the art gallery, thinking of all those calm and lovely places, while clenching his fists tightly.

Then feeling a burning of strength suddenly igniting inside of him, he leapt up high and came down hard with a thundering roar.

“STOP HIM!!” shouted Rai Shi.

Blastar quickly fired her rocket and zoomed towards Swift, just as Swift came crashing down hard on his target.

WHAMM!! That one his broke right through the weakened ice, causing it to start cracking and crumpling all around and the walls began to break open.

Large shards ice and huge boulders began to fall from above.

“AVALANCHE!!” cried Pinkie

The big water barrage atop the dome began to flood in as well in a huge splash, forcing Lightning to, instead, create a huge uniforce dome to shield himself and his friends.

“LOOK OUT!” cried Kara Shi as he and his comrades got splashed by the wave and the walls completely crumpled, washing Blastar in a huge watery wave.

Swift them screamed as a big ice boulder came down on him, “Oh, no!” 

CRASH!! It seemingly crushed him.


When all had ceased, Lightnign dispelled his barrier.

The villains were all drenched, feeling like a mountain had fallen on them, but they were still standing nonetheless.

“What a washout!” groaned Kara Shi.

Tan Shi and Rai Shi were furious, but En Shi just continued to stare at the spot where Swift stood, and then to her astonishment she the big ice boulder shift as Swift actually punched his way through it, breaking it to bits.

“He sure seems strong, but as strong as the others.” she muttered to herself. She also noted he was a pony, younger than she was too.


Blastar then got up, soaking wet. “My rocket!” she growled. All that water had doused her out, and she glared furiously at Swift.

“Uh, oh,” he whimpered.

“Swift!” cried Lightning and he tried to rush over and save his student, but the other three Shis blocked his way. “We’re not finished with you yet!” growled Tan Shi.

The three of them lunged at Lightning, forcing the other fighters to assist him.

“Krysta!” Lightning shouted “Get Swift out of here!”

“Right…!” Krysta agreed, and she fluttered over to where swift was confronted by the monster, while En Shi still didn’t budge, until her comrades called out to her.

“En Shi!” Rai Shi shouted.

She snapped out of her trance and joined her comrades in the battle.


While Swift nervously backed away from the approaching monster, and his fear and doubt was giving her strength again to restart her rocket.

“Yes!” hissed Blastar “Feed me your fear.”

Swift then tried to make a break for it, but Blastar found her speed again and zoomed up in front of him. Swift tried to run again, but Blastar blocked him. He wasn’t fast enough in training to make a good get away from her.

It was actually his own fear, as well as his weariness that blinded him to forgetting about his training that day to NOT react to everything the monster did.

“Don’t come near me!” he suddenly declared “I’m Lightning Dawn’s personal student. Harm me, and I’ll get you! He will!”

The monster seemed unmoved, “Your mentor as you see is a little tied up at the moment.”

She motioned at the big brawl between the team and the Shis duking it out like crazy. Many blows were exchanged and taken, and still neither side was looking ready to fall.


“Get a good look.” hissed Blastar “I’m about to blow you up, and then your comrades will follow.”

Swift was on the verge of freaking out, but as Blastar prepared for her attack, he suddenly remembered and thought, “Wait… if I know a creature like her, she needs to call out her attack to make it work.
 
That’s it! I can anticipate her actions!”

“I’m coming Swift!” Krysta called and she prepared to warp him

“BOMBS AWAY” Blaster shouted, but just as she unleashed her bombs, Swift saw his chance and leapt away hard, at the same moment Krysta fired her warp magic at where he was, causing her to miss her target and strike the ground. The resulting flash wave forced the bombs to explode right in Blastar’s face making her scream, “AAAAAHHHHHHH….!!”

The villains and the fighters looked over and saw the commotion.

“What’s goin’ on over there?” snapped Applejack

Never minding it, while the villains were distracted, the other fighters saw this as their chance.

POW!! Rai Shi was punched hard by Lightning and Starla.

Rhymey and Spike swung their swords at Kara Shi, slashing him hard and causing a big explosion.

Applejack, Pinkie and Rainbow kicked Tan Shi hard in the gut sending her skidding along the ground.

And finally, Buddy and Artie nodded at one another and struck at En Shi with their finishers.

“WHIPLASH STRIKE!”
 
“SUPER STAFF SPIN!”

KAPOW!! En Shi was hit hard and knocked high off. But she was not defeated due to not being weak enough.

She landed right near her comrades where they all lay, but then she gazed over at where the monster lay unconscious after getting bombarded in the face by her own explosives. She didn’t explode due to not being hit by a finisher or strong enough attack, but she was down cold barely moving.

“Did he just beat her?
Really defeat her?” asked Rhymey.

“He did!” said Lightning in astonishment.

Swift himself was astonished as well, “I did it! I actually beat a monster.” and he smiled proudly with glee “THIS IS AWESOME!!”

…A smile that shined like the sun… En Shi slowly got to her feet gazing at him as her insides melted away and her heat beat wild. “That’s it. He’s the one!”

“What?” snapped Rai Shi “What are you talking about!”

En Shi ignored him and began to slowly move towards Swift.

“Hey!” Lightning shouted and he rushed to attack her, but En Shi turned round, “TSUNAMI!” hitting him and the other fighters hard with her wave.

Lightning shouted out as he drifted along “Krysta…! Get him out of here!”

Krysta agreed, but before she could raise her wand, En Shi froze her in a huge ball of ice and kicked her to the side. 

Swift gasped, and then felt all his courage and glee change back into fear as En Shi was now standing right before him.

Strangely though, seeing her close, he did think she was rather attractive, but still frightening, and he knew he didn’t have a chance against her.

However, En Shi gazed down at him with a loving expression and then, she scooped him up over her shoulder declaring “Starting today you will be mine and mine alone.”

“Wait! WHAT?!” shouted Swift.

The other Shis were just as shocked as he was.

“She can’t be serious!” wailed Kara Shi, but En Shi was very serious as she carried Swift with her, “Come, let me take home where we can be alone. Be a good boy now.”

“No! Help me!” Swift shouted “Commander! Someone…!”

Lightning and the others had just recovered from the waves, just in time to see En Shi give Swift a small tap to his head knocking him out cold and making him easier to deal with. “Aren’t you adorable.” she cooed, and then she vanished with him.

“SWIFT!!” Lightning cried.

The other villains were still in shock. “What does she think she’s doing?!” growled Tan Shi. 

This could not be ignored, and the villains decided to retreat and try to stop En Shi.

“Until next time!” growled Rai Shi before he vanished along with the others and at the same moment Krysta found her strength to break out of the ice ball. As freezing as she was, she noticed the villains were gone, the monster was still unconscious, but Swift. “Oh, no!” she cried “Did they take him?”

The others were all shaking with worry, outrage, sadness, unable to believe what just happened, but none felt as Lightning; his body quaking with anger and worry, and he shouted right up into the sky “SWIFT STAR------!!!”



While back on Ainzul, Stammadon had found what he had been searching for, and confirmed it with his map.

“This is where you lie after you were defeated in battle.” He hissed as he observed the rock formations of the tomb. It was atop a plateau, surrounded by rocky pillars and a large sarcophagus bound with enchanted chains lay in the center.

A stone caring on the top of the box matched the creature on the map, fully confirming this was what Stammadon had come for, and he began to charge up his power. “With my vast strength, I undo this seal of the ages. Awaken from your imprisonment to aid me!”

He blasted at the chains, shattering them off. All at once the area began to quake as the rock pillars crumpled, and the box began to glow and tilt upright.

The box then vanished in a bright flash forcing Stammadon to cover his eyes from the brightness, and when all had ceased, there he stood: A tall a monstrous creature wearing a red and black chang pao with a symbol of a fiery dragon inscribed on the front, coated with black armored platings on the shoulders, arms, and gauntlets, and topped off with a small red cape with a gold lining.

He had two large bull horns, a flat but solid face mask covered his mouth with a long solid beard sticking out and dropping to his chest, and in his hand he carried a long red staff that had a small spiked ball on both ends.

“I am Master Ka Hotake! Overlord of the raids and king of all thieves, for many centuries I had plundered and conquered all that I desired, until I had been sealed by the warriors of Ainzul.” he then glared at Stammadon “Why do you release me?”

Stammadon bowed, “I know that you are indeed a strong master, and wish you to train me. From this moment forth I pledge to you my allegiance. Teach me your ways so that I may grow stronger and wiser!”

Ka Hotake gazed deeply at the groveling creature before him, not knowing who he truly was; he could sense the darkness within him. “You are a creature of vast strength, and your heart is as dark as night itself, but I can see you still are held back by another force… that of the creature who’s body you inhabit.”

Stammadon felt tense and worried he wouldn’t get his chance after all.

“However, since you have released me, I shall give you a test to ensure you are worthy of my teachings.”

He waved his staff around causing the rocks all around to rise up which he then bombarded Stammadon with forcing him to rise up and defend himself.

Stammadon punched and kicked the rocks to dust, skillfully swerving and dodging more, even leaping on top of many that came at him and using them like stairs.

Finally, a huge boulder more than five times the size of Stammadon came down from above, and he roared like a mighty lion and blasted the rock with his magical waves, blowing it into gravel dust before landing before Ka Hotake, whom was very impressed.

“You have good potential.”

Stammadon simply stood where he was and didn’t even bow, that was went Ka Hotake came at him in a sudden lunge, and the two fighters put up a sparring brawl.

Ka Hotake punched, kicked and wielded his staff while Stammadon dodged and blocked his every strike, until he zigged when he should have zagged, and got hit hard by a spike tip of the staff,  sending him soaring up high, but he managed to straighten himself out and land gracefully on his feet.

“Hold!” snapped Ka Hotake “You are indeed a worthy fighter, I believe that I can teach you to be better, but it will take much if we are to make good use of the body you inhabit, for it holds you back with its size and the feelings that dwell deep within-- the goodness and purity of the one that was.”

Stammadon bowed to him, “Tell me what I must do, Master Ka Hotake.”

Ka Hotake approached his new student, “We have much to do if we are to purge you of that which binds you down. Only then will you be able to attain true darkness and the power you seek.

Come, let us begin!”

He took Stammadon by the hand, and the two villains leapt off the plateau, to begin their training.


To Be Continued…!


(Promo)
 

In our next episode: En Shi is determined to have a romance with Swift Star who finds himself hopelessly trapped within the villain’s lair. Lightning and friends plan to once again infiltrate Ainzul and free their friend, but they come across Stammadon and new master, which prove to be most dangerous.


 


Can Swift survive his predicament, will the heroes manage to rescue him while overcoming the growing dangers ahead?


 


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


 


(Next episode: Part 2: Intimate Intimidation”)