//------------------------------// // Episode 15: Conniving Conferences // Story: My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season VIII // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// EPISODE FIFTEEN Lightning had taken Swift Star to New Canterlot for some special training; dancing with Goldwin. “Remember, Swift,” Lightning told him “The most powerful of any attacks cannot harm you IF they do not hit you. This dancing program will help you become more evasive and also to help you improve your footwork.” “Yes, sir,” said Swift “I am ready.” Lightning then signaled for Goldwin to start the music. “Okay, Swift… just follow me.” Lightning watched as Goldwin and Swift did simple steps, twirls, leaps, and all that stuff, but he couldn’t join them as he was wearing his super heavy armor just like he and his other team mates promised as part of their own training. Swift was pretty good at the dance steps, for he had already taken some dance classes at the Starfleet Academy. “I often liked to dance,” said Swift “It helped me forget my troubles.” Lightning thought that brave of his student, and suddenly he heard crashes outside. Goldwin and Swift were distracted by them, and Swift accidently swung his arm and knocked off Goldwin’s mask… and Goldwin became a golden statue. “Oh!” cried Swift “What have I done?!” “It’s okay, it’s alright.” said Lightning and he struggled his way over, in his heavy armor, and managed to bend down get the mask and then place it back on Goldwin’s face, and then recited the magic phrase… “Powers of life, now begin, awaken the magic from within!” …Goldwin came back to life, much to Swift’s shock. “What happened?” asked Goldwin. Swift stammered, “Um… I knocked your mask off by mistake and you…” Goldwin nodded “It was just a mistake.” “Hey, Lightning!” Krysta called from the window. “What happened out there?” Lightning asked. Krysta just gave him a straight look, which instantly told Lightning the cadets in the training grounds were still flunking, and those crashes just heard were the cadets falling all over themselves… again. Lightning sighed, and Goldwin suggested, “Maybe you can ask Swift to talk to the cadets?” “Not right now.” replied Lightning. “Why?” Swift asked “Isn’t that why you’re training me to begin with-- to help the cadets understand better?” “Yes, it is, but you’re still not anywhere near ready yet, and besides… there’s still so much to teach you and for you to understand. Once you understand this, I know the other cadets will get the drift. If we tried to send you in now, they may think you’re only getting stronger because you’re training with me, and while that’s partially true, I don’t want the cadets thinking that-- it’ll slow them down even more.” The others all agreed, for now it was best that Swift continued his training. Just then, Captain Shaina came in, “Pardon me, Commander… Their majesties wish to see you at once. The messengers have returned.” Lightning and Krysta excused themselves, and left Swift to continue his dance training. On Ainzul… Down in the temple forge chamber, Tan Shi and Zenia were sparing with one another, to prepare for their next encounter with Starfleet, as well as to test out Zenia’s newly forged weapons. They both felt they were far from ready and trained some more. En Shi was by herself in a quiet area of the temple, and carving a scratch etching of Swift Star on the rock wall. He was all she could think about these days. She could still see him in her mind, surrounded by light and sparkles, and that big smile on his face that captured her heart. “Swift Star,” she sighed softly in her mind “We may be enemies, and you may have fled and rejected me, but this pursuit only makes me yearn for you even more!” These feelings of love she had were so new and unusual to her; quite an experience, one that was really making her feel corrupted and confused, but she still remained loyal to Stammadon, her duties, and she still firmly believed in her own priorities. Right next to her lay several large stones, each with carvings on them like monuments. The largest stone had an extra special carving a pony-like creature, just like herself. “Mother…” she said to the stone “I wish you were here to help me sort my feelings, but though you were not strong enough to make it, I will carry on and be strong in my own way.” Meanwhile, Rai Shi was looking at the ancient scroll Stammadon had used to locate Ka Hotake’s resting place. He was hoping to find any information about him that could uncover any secrets about his master’s trainer. Kara Shi came along, “Did you find anything?” Rai Shi shook his head “This one scroll does not reveal a thing, other than Ka Hotake’s history of being a master thief and a deadly warmonger until his capture.” The two men were still undeterred and positive there was much more to Ka Hotake than they knew; especially considering what he had done to Stammadon-- turning him into such a raging beast and a much more savage fighter. Stammadon then entered the chamber, looking fierce, enraged and ready for a fight. Ka Hotake was with him and trying to warn him, “Are you certain you feel ready to take on your enemies? Your training is doing you well, but you mustn’t let confidence blind you.” Stammadon growled softly, “All the more reason to test my new skills. I must still gather energy to feed my power anyway.” Then he called out for En Shi, and she came into the chamber almost at once, “You called, my lord?” “While Tan Shi is busy with her own devices, you three shall accompany us in an all-out attack on United Equestria.” Kara Shi leapt at the idea and drew out his sword, “I’ve been waiting to get back in some action!” “As have I.” added Rai Shi “We shall make the ponies suffer for the way they have disgraced us.” Unfortunately, Stammadon shook his head an informed them “I will be fighting the forces myself! Your duties are to gather us more fear and not to interfere with my battling.” “What?!” whined Kara Shi “Ah, but that’s not fair, I wanted to--” he stopped when Stammadon glared at him and growled like a monster! “Um… I mean… Yes, sir. I understand sir.” “You had better, and that goes for the rest of you!” The three Shi’s agreed. Meanwhile… A few days ago, Lightning had requested a reconnaissance mission to the Refuge Planet where the Ainzulians had lived for the past month since fleeing from Ainzul. Lightning felt that if anyone had the answers to the mystery powers and information of Master Ka Hotake, it would be Queen Mowaza. Lightning sat down in a chair by the briefing table, which collapsed under his extremely heavy weight due to his armor. “Sorry.” He quickly turned it off and took another seat, and the meeting proceeded. The messengers had just returned and delivered their report to their majesties, and they told Lightning everything. “Are you sure of this?” asked Lightning. “Yes, we are.” replied Grand Ruler, “According to the messengers from Queen Mowaza, Ka Hotake is a master thief, obsessed with the dark arts. His specialty was training people and beings to hate, and use their rage to gain strength. Centuries ago, long, long after Stammadon was sealed away, Ka Hotake lead a bloody reign of chaos and terror to the people of Ainzul, and with an army of trained men at his side, Ka Hotake seemed virtually unstoppable-- destroying every enemy in his path, and he then proceeded to rob riches from the good people. Unfortunately, as a master thief, greed was his master-- he would steal from anyone… even from his own men whom he trained! He would turn against them, destroy them, and keep their share of treasure for himself!” Lightning and Krysta gasped in horror. “Wow! Talk about a sick guy.” Said Krysta “Turning on your own men after all they did for you?! That’s nuts.” “What happened to him after?” asked Lightning. Celestia went explaining, “According the story, some of Ka Hotake’s warriors survived and vowed vengeance for his betrayal. Unfortunately, because Ka Hotake had trained them well, he knew their every move, every power. The warriors knew they could not effectively defeat their former master, so they did the next best thing, and sealed him with a capture spell he was not familiar with.” The rest was history up to that point, and everyone at the table knew this was very serious. Not only was Ka Hotake training Stammadon to be stronger, but it also meant Ka Hotake would most likely betray Stammadon like he did his own men! Not that any of them actually cared for the evil being at all, but the fact that it was controlling Striker, and regardless of his past actions, he did not deserve all this. “There’s got to be a way we can save Striker.” said Lightning. “But how?” asked Krysta “We’ve all seen—Stammadon’s much too strong to overpower. We could never use our heal magic on him.” “I wouldn’t say that exactly,” said Ceelstia. Grand Ruler nodded, “There just may be a kind of power we can use.” and then he used his magic to project images of when Swift Star and Starla Shine used the mysterious aura. “Queen Mowaza states this aura is in fact Pure Inner Strength.” Lightning then remembered Mowaza saying that when she first explained about Stammadon…! “Brave Kung-Fu warriors of our world fought hard, channeling the inner pure strengths, to overpower Stammadon.” Krysta was astounded, “So all this time… we were going about this all wrong.” “It would appear so,” agreed Celestia “Stammadon believes in brute force which he uses for evil, but he cannot stand up to the pure strength that emits from within a pure being.” The images doubly confirmed the theory when Swift gave Stammadon a good bash, and Starla broke Tan Shi’s strong barrier. “This is the break we’ve been looking for.” said Lightning, “We may finally be able to bring Stammadon down, but how can we tap into this power? Swift and Starla don’t know how they did it.” Grand Ruler then passed Lightning a scroll given to the messengers from Mowaza. “This was all the queen had sent us. She herself has never been a strong fighter, and doesn’t know how to achieve this art, but promised that this ancient scroll would contain the answer.” Before Lightning could even open the scroll the alarms sounded. Goldwin, Swift, and Shaina burst into the meeting room. “Your majesties!” cried Shaina “Goldwin spotted the danger out the window… it’s Stammadon!” Swift already looked upset, knowing it was his cousin Striker. As for their majesties, they were ready to invoke a new plan. “We’re going to evacuate the entire area… the palace too.” said Grand Ruler “This way, Stammadon won’t be able to harness as much fear from those nearby. Only the brave soldiers and guards remain behind as they can control their fears easier.” “Right, I’ll get my fairies right away.” said Krysta, and she went off. Shaina ran off to gather up her guards to lend their service. “Lightning, you get out there.” said Grand Ruler “Swift Star, though it’s normally against procedure, I want you to help the palace staff evacuate.” Both Lightning and Swift were shocked. “But sire…” Lightning protested. “We don’t have time to argue!” snapped Celestia “We need all the help we can get to get everyone out of here.” Her husband agreed, “You’ve been given your orders, now go!” Then their majesties vanished to assist in the evacuation. Swift was still hesitant. “Well, you heard them!” snapped Lightning “Go help the palace staff, then get yourself to safety.” “Yes sir!” said Swift, and he dashed off. Lighting then transformed, “Starfleet Magic!” Then he flew out the window leaving Goldwin on his own, but since he could not leave the palace, he felt it best to take off his mask and be a statue again. After all… statues couldn’t have fear to feed the villains with. The three Shis had their orders and merely went around attacking the lands and frightening all the civilians so they’d fret and panic. “FIST OF FORCE” Rai Shi pounded the ground hard causing small tremors, which made lampposts and trees topple over, and anyone nearby fall off their feet. “Yes, run… scream!” laughed Rai Shi “It only makes me stronger!” Kara Shi was enjoying himself just as much, as leapt about town slashing with his sword, cutting down power poles, trees, “SHOCKER SLASHWAVE!” He blasted his electrical waves making explosions and breaking up the grounds, frightening the civilians even more. “Maybe this isn’t such a bad job after all.” he chuckled Unfortunately for them, the evacuation was well in progress-- Ponies were being escorted by guards to where Krysta and her fairies set up warp portals to take them out of New Canterlot. Their majesties, along with Princess Luna lending a help, teleported large groups huddled together out of town. Captain Shaina and her guards helped evacuate the palace staff-- guiding them to the fairy portals. Once the last of the ponies were gone and the fairies warped away, Shaina called the guards to arms and to take up their battle positions. Unbeknownst to them, Swift Star was just finishing helping the last of the palace staff get to Krysta’s portal and to safety. “Is that all of them?” asked Krysta. “I think so. Let’s get out of here!” Just as he was about to jump into the portal, Krysta was suddenly blasted and frozen in a ball of ice… again! Her portal vanished instantly, and Swift turned round. En Shi snickered, “You’re not going anywhere, you’re going--” she stopped when she realized who it was…! She gasped, her cheeks went pink. “Oh, no!” groaned Swift, he tried to run into the palace, but the barrier was activated and he couldn’t get inside. En Shi had completely gone all soft and mushy. “Could it be… my love?” Swift was totally cornered with no place to run or escape too, and suddenly En Shi grabbed him and held him tightly against her chest, much to his discomfort and nerves. “I’d know that face of yours anywhere,” cooed En Shi “I’ve missed you so much Swift Star. Why ever did you leave me?” Swift nervously stammered and stuttered. “Oh, never mind that,” said En Shi “I had come here to aid Lord Stammadon, but thanks to that we’re together again, not to mention all alone.” Swift was desperately hoping this wasn’t happening; maybe he was just dreaming…?! En Shi then pressed her lips deeply against his, stunning him-- this was real. He shook himself awake from the stun of the kiss, feeling a bit enamoured by En Shi’s physical attractiveness, but kept well in mind she was still the enemy and he didn’t have time for any of this. “Um… do you think you could let me go?” “I will not…” said En Shi “I’m not letting you out of my sight again. I’ve waited so long to see you.” “It’s only been a week.” En Shi only tightened her grip and rubbed her cheek against his, “Every moment we’re apart is an eternity, my darling! My love for you only grows stronger every second.” Swift turned red with nerves, which only made En Shi stronger. Suddenly, “FREEZE!!” shouted Captain Shaina, and she and her guards had En Shi surrounded and pointing their magical lances at her. “How dare you interrupt this moment!” growled En Shi, but she decided to do as she was told, and froze herself and Swift, along with Krysta too in a small ice dome, which she then teleported away, much to the guards’ anger. Meanwhile, Lightning scouted the area to make sure no one was left behind, when suddenly he was confronted by Stammadon and Ka Hotake. “So, we meet again.” hissed Stammadon. Lightning clenched his fists, “Striker…” he called out “I know you’re in there, you’ve got to listen to me!” “Cease your preaching!” snarled Ka Hotake “You speak to my well trained student, and now he will show his power-- powers of hate and rage, and they will destroy you!” Stammadon threw off his cape and his eyes glowed red with blazing flames. “Whoa!” Lightning said, and his scans couldn’t calculate how high this strength was. Regardless, Lightning wasn’t about to let New Canterlot fall. So he charged up and went Enticorn. “Striker… Or rather, Stammadon! No matter what it takes, I’ll never let the likes of you have your way!” Stammadon laughed, “Strong words never beat Strong fighter.” He then gave his beast roar, and he and Lightning rushed at one another, and Ka Hotake stayed on the sidelines. Lightning punched at his foe, and Stammadon zipped out of the way. He then tried to swing at Lightning, but Lightning zipped too. “Above you!” shouted Ka Hotake. Stammadon looked up and saw Lightning, and… as he had the body and magic of a unicorn… he used that magic the levitate himself. “He can fly!” cried Lightning “He IS getting stronger!” Stammadon collided into him, and the two engaged in a fist-lock! Both sides seemed totally evenly matched. “The fear makes me stronger,” Stammadon sneered “And thanks to my trainer, the hate gives me more power!” “Oh yeah?” jeered Lightning “Well power isn’t everything, you know!” He broke the fist-lock-- shoving his foe off him. Stammadon began to plunge down, but thanks to his training, he was able to use the air bounce ability, and bounded back up towards Lightning, “BLAZE OF THE FLARE KING!” unleashing his fire lion at him, but Lightning bolted up higher just in time, “Whoa! Talk about a fiery temper.” The two continued to brawl, and Lightning made no real attempt to blast his foe with all his might, still not wanting to hurt Striker all that much, though he knew he probably would have to at some point if he couldn’t convince the pony to reject the evil inside him. As the two continued battling it out, Ka Hotake watched with glee, “Marvelous!” “Hold it right there!” thundered a royal guard and he and his comrades were all huddle together in a good army ready to take him on. With the army pointing their lances at him, the guard leader called to the monster, “This is your one chance-- surrender or take the consequences.” Ka Hotake only laughed and taunted, “After all these centuries they still use such a clichéd and tiresome line?” The guard lost patience and called to his troops, “ATTACK!!” The squad charged forth, and Ka Hotake gripped his staff tightly and began to battle hard; parrying the guards’ lances, and swerving and blocking any magical or energy blast sent his way, and strike the guards hard with his staff making sparks fly. “I haven’t lost my touch.” he hissed wickedly. Suddenly, he was attacked by more guards, and dropped his staff. “Hold him down!” the leader called. It really looked as if they guards had him, when suddenly… “FIST OF FORCE” Rai Shi leapt in and pounded the ground making it quake and making the guards all fall. As the free guards came in to attack, Kara Shi came rushing in, “MASTER CUT!” slashing his sword, and striking all the guards. Sparks and explosions flew and some of the guards actually fell unconscious. Ka Hotake saw his chance, and flipped the guards around him, and reclaimed his staff, but rather than being greatful at his saviours, he scorned them “The next time I need your help I will gladly ask for it!” The two Shis were infuriated, but there were still many guards to battle. “Hey, where’s En Shi?” snapped Kara Shi “We could use her.” “Never mind that,” growled Rai Shi “We can take these weaklings ourselves.” En Shi finally dispelled her ice shield in the field, and Swift was shaking, not just from the chills but the fact no one knew where they were. “Oh, feel that sunlight.” said En Shi “I’ve spent so long in the darkness and battling I’d forgotten how bright it can be. It almost feels like… we’re on a date, my darling.” Swift tripped to tiptoe away, but she spotted him and put an ice wall. “I told you, I’m not letting you leave my sights. Don’t even try to escape.” Swift chuckled nervously, “I was… just stretching my legs.” but really, he knew he was trapped. “Now then, where were we…?” hissed En Shi as she approached him, and then she embraced him and cooed “Right, we’re on a date! You wanna cuddle!” Swift lost his balance and fell to the ground with En Shi looming lustfully over him. “Um, don’t you think it’s a bit early to go from zero to one-hundred right off the bat?” En Shi snickered and grabbed his hand, brought it to her lips and licked his fingers softly yet lustfully much to his stinging shock. “Ohh…!” En Shi moaned “I swear to you, Swift Star, the more I’m with you the harder it is to deny. We must be soulmates!” “You’ve got to be kidding me!” grumbled Swift, but suddenly he realized and thought, “This is my chance to leanr more about her. Sure, we didn’t get very far the last time, but if I can get her to tell me about her past… maybe I can still convince her to fight for Starfleet’s cause. I’d much rather have her as an ally than an enemy.” “Um, before we go any further, shouldn’t you tell me about yourself and why you fight?” he asked. En Shi’s expressions changed, she looked more serious now than before. “After all… you know about me, but I’d really like to learn more about you.” he couldn’t believe he just said that to her. “Hmmm… I suppose you’re right.” replied En Shi “I do know about you, so it’s only fair that I tell you about me. It will make our love all the stronger.” *En Shi’s POV* I was born on a planet called Aquitaine. It was a planet that was mostly covered in water, but still had its land masses. My father had perished before I was born and I never got to know him, but I learned from my mother that he was a great hunter and warrior, who mastered the vast energies of water and ice. You see, our world was not without its dangers, its wars, and it’s beasts that hunted for us just as we hunted for them. My mother was also a skilled warrior and taught me her ways of power, wanting me to be just like her. “Look Mother, I destroyed my first sea-beast.” Indeed, the creature was colossal, and yet I managed to defeat it all on my own, using the very skills I was taught. “Well done, En Shi. This is no ordinary creature, but the very creature I remember that destroyed your father. Then again, your father only perished because he was weak and unprepared, and such was the price he paid for it.” “I don’t understand, mother.” “You see my dear, in this world only the strong survive. In war it’s destroy or be destroyed. Those who are powerful will live, and those who aren’t will perish. That’s the way it’s always been, and that’s the way it will always be.” I really felt my mother’s words deeply affect me, but not that I already wasn’t aware of such laws the way I grew up and saw things. Destroying that creature was more a hobby to me than a conquest, and a great way to build my strength, as well as show it off. *POV Pause* “What?” cried Swift “You mean you actually got a kick of destroying that creature?” “Of course, after all it did kill my father, but like I said… he died because he was weak, just as that creature met its end because I was stronger than it was. Hence the laws of the world-- Kill or BE killed! And that is why I wasted no effort in improving my powers with each creature I hunted down and slaughtered!” Swift was really starting to feel creeped out; En Shi was sounding completely monstrous, and more so than having just been taught or shown about strength and battle. *POV Resume* With every creature I hunted down, my thirst for power grew and grew, and I became stronger than ever before, but being a simple wasn’t enough for me. That’s when my mother announced we would be leaving Aquitaine, for the planet Ainzul where we would join the armies of the Great and Powerful Stammadon! Of course, I was simply delighted too; for rather than hunting creatures in the wild, I’d be able to destroy warriors by the thousands and really prove my strength and expose the weak. Unfortunately, during the great battle, my mother was struck down by a strong tiger warrior master. “Mother!” “En… Shi… you… must… be strong. I have fallen… but only because I am weak, and such is my fate to perish… but you… you still have great strength… use it, and don’t suffer my fate!” Naturally, I fought the very tiger master and brutally ended his life. He was not as strong as I thought and yet my mother fell at his hands. *POV Ends* “Though my mother’s death was regrettable, such is the price she paid for not being strong enough.” Swift gulped hard. “You see, Swift Star, the strong ae meant to rise, and the weak will perish.” “So, you didn’t do it just to avenge your mother’s death?” Swift asked nervously. “Oh, no… even had my mother lived I would still have slaughtered the beast, as were my orders, but then again I would have done it regardless. I’ve always enjoyed hunting and destroying others. It made me what I am today!” Swift knew he had reached the brink here! He finally could see En Shi’s actual colors. It wasn’t about revenge. It wasn’t about mere survival. En Shi was true to herself right from the beginning-- as cold as the very ice power she used! “There’s no way I can convince her to change for the good,” Swift thought “There is no good in her! She’s so beautiful on the outside and yet rotten and bloodthirsty to the core! She wasn’t kidding when she told me I could never change her. How could I have been so blind?” En Shi gazed at him with hungry eyes and lowered herself towards him, “Now that we know more about each other… I am yours for the taking.” She leaned up and began kissing the tip of his ear making him feel nervous, as well as disgusted. “You see…” she whispered seductive to him, “Before I was turned to stone for ten thousand years, I had reached the age of my life where I began to experience… love. Something I couldn’t understand. Something I was never taught… But now… you captured my heart, and I can feel the love stronger than ever. I love you deeply Swift Star, and now… you will be… mine!” She moved down to place her lips over his, much to his fright…! Suddenly, there was a big explosion behind them, and En Shi turned and bolted up right angrily, “How can there be so many interruptions?!” she growled. “Show yourself whoever you are, or I shall devastate the land and destroy you with it!” While she was distracted, Krysta flew up to Swift; having had escaped from the ice seconds after they all had landed in the field, and En Shi never noticed due to being so wrapped up in her lust. Swift smiled and nodded at her, and Krysta teleported them both away. “Huh?” snapped En Shi as she whirled round, “Swift?! Where did he go?” She couldn’t see him at all, and despite he couldn’t have gotten that far from her, “He’s gone! I’ve lost him again!” She clenched her fists feeling more angry than foolish for letting him slip. “No matter… the fact our paths have crossed again doesn’t mean it’s for the last time. We shall meet again, my love!” Krysta teleported him someplace safe, far away from the field and the town, “Thanks! I really owe you for that.” he said to Krysta. “Good thing I made that explosion to distract her,” said Krysta “I couldn’t teleport you as long as she was lying on you. That is one messed up lady.” Swift felt exactly the same, but now that he knew of En Shi’s true personality, he would never allow himself to be taken in by her charm again. He thought quietly to himself “A creature like that who needlessly slaughters for no reason other than for thrills and joy… I hope she really gets what’s coming to her!” Meanwhile, the guards had faired too well against the trio of villains on the ground, very few were left standing while the rest lay unconscious. As for Stammadon, he and Lightning were still fighting it out in the air. “You have to listen to me!” shouted Lightning “Ka Hotake is not who you think he is. He’s just powering you up to use you!” Stammadon didn’t listen and punched him hard in the face sending him tumbling back several feet. “He would do no such thing! He is my trainer!” “I’m serious!” thundered Lightning “He’ll betray you, just like he betrayed everyone who ever worked for him!” “STRIKING FORCEWAVE” Stammadon unleashed his fury, forcing Lightning to strike back, “ULTRA UNIFORCE” The two forces collided making a huge explosion in the air, and the two fighters got caught in force waves that blew them both out of the sky. They both landed on the ground, panting angrily. Lightning called to his foe, “Striker, I don’t want to destroy you. Please don’t make me!” The villain just growled like a beast, “I am STAMMADON!! I am the strongest being in the galaxy, and those that I deem weak will be annihilated!” Lightning could see there was just no getting through to him, and it was looking as though he had no choice and would have to go for the kill. Stammadon lunged forth, and so did Lightning and the battled continue. “I must focus my hate!” Stammadon said to himself “Unleash my fury!” He roared and began to fight stronger than ever, which prompted Lightning to really unleash his Enticorn powers… no more holding back now! The two swung with fists like crazy, blocking each other’s fists that made explosions as they made contact with such power! The two then met in a fist lock, and struggled hard, but suddenly Stammadon seemed to be getting the upper hand. Ka Hotake looked up, “Yes, use the fury-- the hate!” It really looked as if Lightning was about to get pinned down, when suddenly, magical beams of light shot at him from down below. It was Grand Ruler Celesto and Queen Celestia, using their horns to give him a much needed boost of power. “You!!” thundered Rai Shi. “Stop that!” added Kara Shi. “Why don’t you make us!” their majesties said together, and they both raised a hand and fired more power at them and Ka Hotake. KAPOW!! A big explosion which blew the villains over and off their feet! Then their majesties granted energy to the fallen guards which made them all spring back onto their feet. “Uh, oh! They’re refreshed!” cried Kara Shi. Rai Shi growled angrily. And up above, thanks to the power boost he got, Lightning managed to, once again, match Stammadon’s strength perfectly. Lightning gave a huge roar, unleashing his aura at the villain, and sent him smashing to the ground so hard; he made a huge crater in the dirt road. “Master!” cried Rai Shi, and he and the others ran over to help him up. Lightning then powered up to blast them all again, when suddenly the villains were encased in an ice dome. “En Shi!” snapped Lightning. She snickered at the guards and the heroes, and then vanished with her comrades in tow. Lightning growled, and then changed back to his normal self as he landed softly on his feet. “They got away again!” “Let it go, Lightning.” said Grand Ruler “They’ll be back, and the next time we’ll be more prepared.” Lightning agreed, but he still wasn’t willing to really give up on Striker. Back at the temple, Stammadon was roaring like a herd of lions, “They continue to grow stronger! I train, I strengthen myself! Why? Why can’t I defeat them…?!” The three Shi’s bowed to him extending their apologies. Kara Shi grumbled to En Shi, “This is your fault, you know.” “My fault?” “If you hadn’t gone off and helped us, we’d have crushed those guys.” “Enough!” thundered Stammadon “Leave me, all of you! I would be alone with my thoughts.” “Yes, master.” said Rai Shi, and he and the others went off. Ka Hotake decided to leave as well, “You did do very well today, but it seems I too have much to learn about our enemies. Perhaps you can teach me as I continue to teach you?” Stammadon agreed, “Thank you, master. It is good to know I may trust you.” Ka Hotake bowed, but he sinisterly thought “And I trust you to fall right into your place, you fool! He still has no idea what he’s in for.” That night, Lightning was having a soft sparring session with Swift, and Swift’s dodging was improving very well, even though Lightning was only going easy on him. “Hold!” Lightning said, and Swift came to a dead stop. “That will do for today.” Swift bowed to his teacher, and Lightning bowed back. “I’m sorry about Stammadon.” said Swift. “No need to apologize, it’s not your fault, but he is getting stronger. Starfleet’s really going to have to toughen up.” Swift thought of Striker, still imprisoned by that evil force, “Do you think we’ll ever beat him, and get Striker back?” “I believe so…” said Lightning, and he held up the scroll from Queen Mowaza “And this… may very well be the key to just that.” For now, it was late, and they both had had exhausting days, so they decided to head to bed, and look at the scroll another time. (Promo) In our next episode: The babies are on their way, but Rarity is having serious doubts about her baby due to a series of nightmares she has had. Meanwhile, Megadox goes rogue and sends a combining virus without Data Stream’s consent, which once again puts the hospital and all other systems in danger, which proves exceedingly difficult for the data squad to handle! Will the babies be born successfully, or will Megadox finally achieve the havoc and chaos he craves? Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!” (Next Episode: “Babies Make Three”)