//------------------------------// // Episode 20: Final Part: Salvation of Data // Story: My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season VIII // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// “Previous on Starfleet Magic…” As the friends all got into heated arguments about the decisions of what do about the Data Squad, Megadox infiltrated the electronic systems of the Super Computer, discovering the identities of the Data Squad and proceeding to cause a complete and total viral infection all over the planet, after which he brutally destroyed the Power Sources for the Data Squad, rendering them unable to stop the evil viral overlord from taking over! EPISODE TWENTY *Mykan’s POV* The Crusaders and I were still horribly crushed at the loss of our programs. The girls were practically in tears, and I myself felt so numb I could barely find my will to even lift my head. “I can’t believe it; he destroyed them all!” I groaned. The girls kept seeing images of their wonderful Data Beasts, just fading along the wind--pixelating into nothing. “A’RGH!!” DD snarled as she kicked a small rock on the ground and sent it straight up the street. “I can’t believe it’s come to this!” she cried. Sweetie Belle agreed, “After all that we’ve been through, we’ve actually lost it all!” The grownup ponies felt sorry for us all, but suddenly, Rainbow looked up the street, “Whoa!” she cried “I think we’ve got even more things to worry about!” Everyone looked up, and gasped! All electronic systems all over the planet were growing steadily worse. Air conditioners were blowing hot air, water faucets were spewing corrosive acids, lights and transmitters were emitting jolts of low current electricity, and anyone who was near got a nasty shock. All creatures were running from their respective towns and out into the countryside or the wide open canyons where there wasn’t any electrical equipment to harm them. Megadox only laughed, “You can run all you like, but you cannot escape my wrath!” *POV Pause* He powered up more from the systems, which amplified all the malfunctioning electrical devices, to shoot static discharged into the atmosphere, and messing with the planets Electric-Magnetic Field, creating massive lightning strikes, powerful enough to break up the ground. The alarms could not be sounded all over-- they too were out of action, but Grand Ruler wasn’t willing to let this go down so east. “…Emergency Evacuation!” he ordered “Get everyone out of here.” Krysta’s army of fairies emerged from their standby posts and sent straight to work rounding up all the palace staff, while others rounded up villagers everywhere outside in town and began to teleport them all in big groups, to the moon where they would be safe-- they had no time to debate or plot a course where to go. Grand Ruler, Celestia, and Luna helped with the evacuation by teleporting groups to the moon themselves, and all across the planet the evacuation was going rapidly. *POV Resume* Krysta herself naturally helped in the evacuation, and so did the rest of the gang. The ponies all rounded up the civilians as fast as they could, and brought them to Krysta. I went around gathering more ponies and other creatures, and using my teleporter to warp all the groups straight to the moon, and then I went back to gather more. The moon was running out of space due to it being smaller than the planet, and all the many creatures being evacuated up there and all the creatures were growing fearful and irritable, but at least they weren’t wailing on each other-- that was the last thing anyone else needed. Once I got back to the planet, my teleporter began beeping, and then the red light went out. “Oh, no…! I’m out of power! I have to wait until it recharges.” “Mr. Stevens!” called Scootaloo, and she, the other crusaders and Cheerilee caught up with me. “How’s the evac going?” I asked. “It’s nearly done.” replied Cheerilee “Right now we better get out of here ourselves.” I agreed, but I couldn’t transport the group to the moon. “We better get to one of them warpin’ portals.” suggested Applebloom. We all agreed, but before we could head off, some kind of electrical force field surrounded us. “Going somewhere?” Megadox hissed. Scootaloo tried to rush as the barrier, only to receive a nasty shock and fly back into Cheerilee. “Let us out of here!” shouted Sweetie. Megadox only laughed, “You are hardly in position to make any demands. I could destroy you all here and now, but I have an even better idea. First I shall destroy the remains of your world so that you may have the pleasure of watching it all fall, helpless to do anything to stop it. After that, I will dispose of you finally and forever!” He conjured up more static discharges to create a super storm in the sky. Soon it would grow large enough to make hundreds of lightning strikes rain down every square-mile. The buildings, the lands-- all would be destroyed. “No!! This can’t be happening!” I cried. “What are we gonna do?!” panicked Applebloom. The squad and I knew our wrist-coms couldn’t work. If only there was some way to get the programs back online! *Pause* Lightning and the others all regrouped, all wearing their super suits to avoid the lightning blasts. It was a good thing the Starfleet computer was still unaffected by the surge. “Report!” said Lightning, “Is everyone clear?” “All over town should be evacuated by now.” said Starla. The others all agreed, having checked their patrolled sectors. “That takes care of that,” said Spike “But what are we going to do about all this mess?” Indeed, the systems were still going berserk, and the static storm was growing bigger and bigger. “We’ll figure that out later.” said Lightning “Meanwhile, ley’s make one last sweep to make sure we left no one behind.” The team saluted, and off they went, leaving Lightning and Starla together. “Wait a minute.” said Starla, and she checked a blip on her visor. “I’m getting life force readings.” “So am I.” said Lightning “It’s coming from over there, in the Cyber Café.” Inside the Café, Data Stream, who hadn’t evacuated couldn’t possibly be more insane as she kept laughing and cackling, “I’ve never seen so much chaos and panic! Finally, after all this time, everyone who wronged me will get their just desserts.” Suddenly, “Data Stream…” Lightning called. She turned to face the front door and saw Lightning and Starla standing there. “What are you still doing here?” snapped Starla “Didn’t you hear the order to evacuate?” Before Data could answer, the electrical systems inside the café were going crazy and began to shoot shocking bolts everywhere. Lightning and Starla dodged the bolts as best they. Suddenly one of the bolts struck near Data’s table, and she fell out of her stool and accidently knocked her briefcase off the table. The case crashed to the floor and papers spilled out of it on the floor. Starla went to help her up, but Lightning couldn’t help but gawk down at the some of the pictures on the floor. “Are you alright?” asked Starla. Data nastily wretched out of her grip sneering, “I don’t need your help!” Starla growled, but then Lightning called to her, “Starla, look at these!” “Hey! Those are mine!” snapped Data. Starla looked at the pictures, “…Those are mega-virus monsters.” then she angrily turned to face Data. There was no mistaking it now. “…You’re working with Megadox! YOU DID ALL THIS!!” and she forcefully grabbed Data, holding her arms behind her back. “Ow! That hurts!” Data wailed! Lightning angrily threw the drawing to the ground, “Data Stream, how could you do this?! Megadox is destroying everything out there! Don’t you realize he’ll destroy you too?!” Still in Starla’s custody, Data only laughed, “Megadox wouldn’t harm me. I’m his friend.” Starla tightened her grip making Data moan. “You crazy fool!” Starla sneered “Megadox is evil! He wants to destroy ALL FLESHLINGS, and that includes you!” “No!!” thundered Data “Megadox has always been there for me! Sure, we’ve had a few spats, but I trust him and he trusts me! He’s trusted me more than anyone else ever has.” She went on ranting and whining about how hard she had it all her life… “My parents just abandoned me when I was little; they just dropped me off at the park and never came back! I had to spend my childhood growing up in an orphanage where I was teased and made fun of for wearing glasses and having braces, and having a fondness for electronics. “Geek” they would call me! “Nerd” they were jeer. …Like common bullies to the nerdy, I hated every moment of it. As I got older, I studied constantly, and then after the Great War, and United Equestria was formed, I began to develop ideals for newer computer software, like internet and television… but everywhere I went my offers were rejected due to stupid ponies not wishing to bring such revolutionary ideals into their world-- saying the world was better off without such things. All I could do was take up menial jobs like programing and cleaning out other systems instead of being recognized as a great genius!” Now that it was fully understood, Lightning and Starla did feel just a slight bit of pity for Data, but nothing at all excused her bad attitude, her self-centeredness, and did not excuse her for being the terrorist that she was. Data then called over the computer, “Megadox!! MEGADOX, ONLINE!!” Megadox appeared on the screen, “Greetings, Data Stream Fleshling. You have done very well; I finally have all the power that I need to overwhelm this world.” “Tell them!” shouted Data “…Tell them that you really, really like me!” Megadox snickered, “Oh, yes…I really like you. I like you so much I have decided that you will be the absolute first thing to be erased in this world of Fleshlings.” Data’s blood ran cold, “What? No! You don’t mean that! I’m your friend! I’ve done so much for you!” “There comes a time when all things must end,” hissed Megadox “It was fun while it lasted, but you have used up your streaming time.” He began to charge up, and the electrical systems in the café began to fire bolts like crazy, “Let’s get out of here!” Lightning shouted, and he and the others ran to beat it outside, but suddenly, Megadox fired his own blast of power straight from the screen, which hit Data in the head, and she fell unconscious. “Data!” cried Starla. “Come on, let’s go!” shouted Lightning, and he helped Starla carry Data’s unconscious body outside. “You will not escape me, any of you!” Megadox thundered “I will hunt you all down, and I shall enjoy erasing you bit-by-bit.” Then he logged off. What happened to Data Stream? Megadox had zapped her, actually digitizing only her brainwaves, and transporting her into the Digital World where she appeared as a digital version of herself. Regardless of still being somewhat alive, she was ever so upset. She couldn’t believe that Megadox betrayed her after all they had been through together. She really was starting to wake up, realize all the destruction she had caused… and finally, for the very first time, she admitted to her attitude being largely responsible for all this. She clenched her fists and bolted upright. “Two can play at the betrayal game!” she said to herself. “No computer program can truly outmatch a programmer!” The first thing she planned to do was get to her own home terminal, where Megadox’s main source was… except she had hardly any idea where that source was or how to even get there. She hardly even knew where she herself was in the grid right now! “I guess I’ll have to do this hard way. I just hope I’m not too late!” Then, figuring out the controls of the Digital World, she flew off through the grid. Lightning and Starla tried to wake Data up. “It’s no use.” said Starla “Her mind’s been digitized. It’s gone.” The storm in the sky was growing larger, and small lightning bolts were starting to rain down in numerous strikes. “This is it!” cried Lightning. “No!!” cried Starla. Suddenly, as the first swarm of bolts fired, they were blocked off by sparkling light that coated the skies like a barrier. “What’s going on?” asked Starla, but then she and Lightning looked up. The rest of the team regrouped far away, and even Mykan and gang, still trapped in the electric-barrier, could see. “…Grand Celestial Ruler!” cried Lightning. The Ruler looked down at everyone, “You needn’t worry of the electrical storm,” they said “Our powers can help block it, but only temporarily. Megadox must be stopped once and for all, and this can only be done with the help of the Super Cyber Data Squad.” “They can’t.” said Lightning “Megadox destroyed the super computer. All the programs were lost.” The Ruler chuckled, “Nonsense. Just as computers can crash, they can also be backed up and restored.” *Resume* The ruler then raised their great magic sceptre, and fired a beam of magic to disarm the barrier holding the Data Squad captive. “We’re free!” cried Scootaloo. “Hey, look.” said Sweetie. The squad and I looked and saw five tiny, glowing magical computer chips floating before us. “Could it be?” wondered DD. The chips then magically showed images of Surfer Program and the Data Beasts, exactly as they were before, and they inserted themselves into our wrist-coms bringing them back online and fully powered. “I don’t believe this!” I cried, and I looked up at The Ruler whom explained, “We were well aware of the Data Programs. When it was requested that your wrist-coms were made, it was known and feared that such an emergency would call for it, so we had ordered extras made, all the programs were completely backed up.” The girls and I could not be more overjoyed. “We’re back in business!” I cheered. “Well, what are we waitin’ for?” said Applebloom. “Let’s get in there and kick Megadox’s hard drive!” added Sweetie. “Yeah!” agreed DD. I nodded, “Well, here goes.” And altogether, the girls shouted with me, “…TIME TO DIGITIZE!!” I ported in, donning my suit just as I remembered, and the coordinates were already programed and I was off, soaring right into the Digital World and into the Super Computer. “That’s enough!” I shouted. “What, Surfer…?!” snapped Megadox “No! I destroyed you! You cannot be here!” “As you discovered yourself, I am no ordinary program! I have the heart and the mind of a Fleshling; the very things I will use to beat you once and for all. …Megadox, prepare to be shut down!” Megadox was not amused, “The only one who shall be shutting down is you--impudent disgrace to all programing!” The two of us glared each other down, ready for the greatest digital fight ever! I charged for him, aiming to punch his body, but he proved to be quite the skilled fighter and blocked my fist with his. Then aimed to punch me and get blocked by my fist. We both went crazy at one another, punching, kicking, flipping and rolling, both of us seemed perfectly evened out. “No more games…!” Megadox sneered, and he leapt up for a flying kick, striking me hard in the chest. “Now have a taste of grid power!” and he fired his powerful lasers at me, striking me really hard and I fell over. Megadox laughed, “All the power I have absorbed makes me stronger than any mega-virus could ever be. Your out-dated electrons make me laugh.” *Pause* The girls saw the battle on DD’s holo-computer, “If that’s not our call to go in, I don’t know what is.” The other all agreed and prepared to port in. “Please girls… just be very careful.” said Cheerilee. “We will, Ms. Cheerilee.” said Sweetie. “That’s a promise.” added Applebloom. Scootaloo agreed, and then said “Let’s kick Megadox down to byte size!” The team all huddled together and activated their coms, “SUPER CYBER DATA SQUAD… LET’S KICK SOME MEGA BUTT!!” In they went, right in the cockpits of their Data Beasts. DD: “Dread Program, back in action!” Sweetie Belle: “Assault, Ready!” Applebloom: “Totalizer… Ye-Haw!” Scootaloo: “And Arc makes four!” The Data Beasts were on their way, and with them gone, Cheerilee couldn’t do anything else except go find the Starfleet fighters and be under their protection. Once regrouping with Lightning and the others, Starla suddenly had an idea, “Data Stream’s home computer.” “What?” Pinkie Pie asked. “Don’t you see? If Data’s been working with Megadox, then most likely his main source of power is in Data’s home computer, in the New Crystal Empire. Maybe if we can just get to it, we can try shutting it down from there.” Everyone practically leapt at the idea. “Starla and I will go check it out.” said Lightning, and he scooped up Data’s motionless body up onto his back. “Wait, what about the rest of us?” asked Buddy.” “You all stay here.” answered Lightning, and he motioned up at the sky at the Grand Celestia Ruler, still struggling to hold the data storm back. “If they start getting tired, feed them whatever of your own powers as you can.” The team agreed, and The Ruler as well “Good luck!” they called down “But hurry, time grows short!” Lightning and Starla argeed, and then looked at Krysta. “And away we go…!” Krysta said, and with a wave of her wand, she teleported herself and the trio to the empire. Once there, they knew where Data Stream’s home was, and Krysta teleported them all inside the house. The computers were on and in sleep mode. “Wow!” said Krysta “This kid really did have an obsession with computers.” Lightning lay Data’s body on a sofa in back of the room while Starla booted up the computer, and she took one look at the two screens-- all the filed, all the system programs-- “Data sure has been busy.” It was nothing she couldn’t handle, and she began to flatten files-- resetting the systems so all the computers were back to normal, and once that was done she’d be able to crash and delete any unnecessary systems. “Wouldn’t it just be easier to just smash the whole thing?” asked Krysta. “Not a good idea,” said Lightning. Even he knew enough about computers to know when dealing with things like this, “…Even if we destroy this computer, it won’t stop Megadox, not while he’s got all that extra power fortifying him.” “Lightning’s right,” said Starla “We have to cut him off at the source. I just hope Mykan and the girls are doing okay.” *Resume* “It’s over, Surfer!” Megadox thundered, and he zapped him hard with his laser, making a big explosion, knocking me down onto my back. “Can’t… keep… up!” I groaned, but just as it seemed I was about to bite the digital dust, the Data Beasts came charging and soaring in. “Surprise, Megadox!” shouted DD. “Did you miss us?” taunted Sweetie. Megadox was furious! “Be it Surfer or the Data Squad-- I will destroy you all!” “Fat chance of that happenin’.” sneered Applebloom. “Let’s do it girls!” cried Scootaloo. “I’m with you,” I added “Engage Crush Program!” The girls combined their Data Beasts, and the mega robot was online, and stood by my side. “DATA SABER” My trusted sword came to me, and I pointed it threateningly at our foe. “You call that puny thing a sword?” scoffed Megadox “Let me show you a real weapon!” He harnessed a ton of electrical power from the systems, and materialized into his possession a full-lengthed scimitar. “Think that scares us!” I sneered “Let’s go, girls!” “Right behind you!” hollered DD. Megadox swing his big sword, parrying mine. Then he punched me in the chest knocking me back. The girls in their robot aimed to hit him, but he turned and hacked at them with his sword, blocking their kicks and punches with his free hand, and gave them a good zapping with his laser power. “Your pathetic data powers are no match for me!” he laughed “I have absorbed the power of nearly every computer and electronic system on the planet! I am unstoppable!!” “You’re also annoying!” sneered Scootaloo. “Have a taste of my missiles!” shouted Sweetie. The missiles fired, but Megadox raised his sword, creating a powerful electrical wave that intercepted the missiles and launched the right back at the robot, making big explosions. The girls screamed as they were rocked about inside and sparks began to fly from their controls. “Quick girls… disengage!” I cried. In a bright flash, the Data Beasts were separated and all their sparking stopped. “Whoo-wee… that there was a close one.” said Applebloom Megadox only laughed, “You tried your best, and now I shall-- Huh…?!” he suddenly sensed something strange across the grid “Someone is attempting to tamper my main power units! I must put an end to it.” He levitated himself and went through a digital warp. “Let’s follow him!” I shouted and I leapt off after him. “Hey, wait for us!” called Scootaloo, and she and the others jumped in, traveling along the power lines. *Pause* The Data Storm was getting much fiercer, and the Grand Celestial Ruler was starting to seem tired, making it harder to maintain the barrier. “They’re getting tired!” cried Artie. “We’ve got to do something.” added Fluttershy. They all remembered what Lightning had told them to do, and they all stood together in a ring and transfer the power of their aura to The Ruler, to give them an extra boost. “Thank you…” the Ruler called down to them “But even this shall not last long. The rest is up to our friends.” “Do you think they’ll make it?” asked Rarity. “They will! They’ve got to!” said Spike “…If they don’t, we’re all toast!” “Not very enthusiastic!” grumbled Applejack. At Data Stream’s, Krysta was losing her cool. “Are you just about done yet?” she whined. “Don’t pressure me!” snapped Starla, but suddenly “There! I’ve got it-- Megadox’s main power units.” “Great work!” said Lightning “It’s time to shut that creep down finally and for good.” Starla had the systems booted up, “Preparing for hard drive crash.” and she hit the switch, but nothing happened! All the systems were still fully online. “Um… Why is it not doing anything?” asked Krysta. Starla pounded the key multiple times, but still nothing happened, and then she and the others saw why as Megadox appeared on screen, “…Impudent Fleshlings-- So close, and yet so far!” “No!” cried Starla “He’s blocking out the controls, I can’t shut him down!” “For once you are correct,” sneered Megadox “But nothing can stop me from shutting down you!” *Resume* “Nobody but us…!” I sneered. Megadox turned round to see me and the Data Beasts standing together. “Don’t you fleshings ever give up?!” “Never!” snapped DD “When we’re through with you, you’ll wish you gave up sooner!” Megadox roared and fired his laser at us, but I just threw my sword clear at his hand, causing him to misaim and shoot his own sword, destroying it and making a big explosion in his face that knocked him over and damaged his laser beams too. “Now’s our chance,” I shouted at the girls “Let’s link up!” “RIGHT!!” the girls agreed, and the Data Beasts joined with me to form my super armor, “SUPER SURFER LINK UP MODE!!” Megadox charged at us, punching and kicking furiously, and I swung my fists countering his attacks and punching him good in the head, but he was still more nimble than I was in my big bulky suit-- he rolled down and behind me and gave me a good flying kick hard in the back. The girls shouted and wailed as they were shaken in their cockpits. “That does it!” I growled, and I charged up whatever power I could, “ERADICATION WAVES!” The blast was fired. “…I think NOT!!” shouted Megadox, and he let out a huge roar as he raised his arms, summoning forth endless amounts of electrical power into a force that shot against my waves. “Have you any idea whom you face?! I AM MEGADOX, OVERLORD OF THE DIGITAL WORLD!! …HERE I CONTROL ALL!!” The energy was so strong, it forced the blast right back to me and struck me hard in big explosions and surges, and I fell over backwards hard! The girls were all thrown forward; hitting their heads on the consoles-- their helmets protested them from injury. But my body glowed and pulsated brightly, and all five of us separated-- myself and the four Data Beasts lying motionless on the ground! “No!” I could hear Lightning shouting at us “Surfer… Girls… get up!” It was no good, my energy had never been so low, and the girls, they shook themselves awake, but the power systems for their beasts were nearly depleted, worse than that: Megadox was blocking the exit ports, so not one of us could escape. Starla tried the keys all she could, but there was nothing she could do. She was beginning to fret! “Come on! You have to do something!” cried Krysta. Megadox chuckled, “At last, after all this time, the Surfer Program and his computerized cohorts have fallen to me! The Digital World is mine, and the world of Fleshlings will be destroyed!!” He charged up, ready to ultimately finish me and the girls off forever… when suddenly he began to gaining power, “What?! What is happening?!” he shouted. Not only was Megadox losing power, but the girls and I were gaining power. “What’s happening?” I asked as I slowly got up “I can feel my strength returning!” “My power’s coming back online.” cried Scootaloo. “Mine too.” added Applebloom. “But how-- what’s going on?” asked Sweetie, and we all got the answer as Data Stream called out to us, “Surprise, Megadox!” She had finally found her way back to her own computer, and since she was digital herself, she could tamper with the systems. “You dare betray me, Data Stream Fleshling?!” thundered Megadox. “It’s called PAYBACK, mister!” Nobody, I mean nobody could believe this was really happening. Finally, the girls and I were all back on our feet. We didn’t have enough power to link up, but enough to get back to action. My Data Saber even returned to my hand. Data then addressed all of us, even those outside who were watching, “I’m sorry, I know I’ve done many horrible things, and I never meant it to get this out of control. I was wild and angry, and I wanted to get revenge on those I hated, but at least now I can help you make things right again.” Everyone didn’t know what to think, but seeing as she helped me and the girls get back up, and Megadox was getting weaker, we had no choice. “I say we trust her.” said DD. “I’m all for that.” agreed Sweetie. “Count me in too.” added Applebloom. “Let’s get in there, and get him!” shouted Scootaloo. “Right…!” I agreed “Let’s do it, Data Squad!” Megadox was far from amused, “I still have enough power to wipe you out, and then I will deal with you, Data Stream!” “Wow, you finally got it right!” sneered Data. All five of us charged at Megadox. DD gave him a good tail whipping in the chest, and Arc came soaring in and fired its lasers. Megadox merely blocked the attacks with his strong hands. “Allow me to return fire!” He then raised his hands and unleashed waves of electricity, striking Arc hard. “Whoa!! Mayday! Mayday!” cried Scootaloo. I leapt straight up high grabbed her by the wings, balancing her in midflight, and we both glided through the air. “Nice catch if I do say so myself!” “I will destroy you!” shouted Megadox, and he aimed to shoot again. “Oh, no you don’t!” growled Applebloom, and she rammed Totalizer hard into his huge chest. “YE-HAW! Take that!” “Good shot girls!” I hollered “Now, let’s put this misfit program out of commission once and for all!” The girls agreed, and Scootaloo sped Arc on ahead with me still holding on tight, “Get ready, Surfer.” “I was born ready.” I teased. Megadox roared as his power continued to deplete. “No, I will not let this happen!!” He tried to syphon more energy from the systems. “Oh, no you don’t!” shouted Data, and she cut off all his connections “…You’ve been cut off!” Megadox wailed, and then he was rammed by Dread and Totalizer. “Now’s my chance...!” I cried. Scootaloo agreed and began to fly in fast circles, and I let go, launching myself like a missile straight for Megadox. “You won’t!” he shouted as he prepared to zap. “He will!” thundered Sweetie, and she fired her missiles at him, hitting him hard and distracting him. “HERE I COME!!!” I screamed, and… WHAMM!! WHAMM!! WHAMM!! …I thrust my sword clean through his chest, and clean through his back! Megadox began to pixelate and spark with electrical jolts as his image began to fade away, “I… have been… beaten… …BY FLESHLINGS------!!” …then he was gone, completely digitized into nothing! Data Stream grinned widely, “You did it…! You destroyed Megadox!!” The girls were cheering and shouting for joy, and I… just fell to my knees sighing in relief, “It’s over. We’ve won.” *Pause* The systems were automatically being restored, and with that all electronic equipment and systems went back to normal-- no longer going berserk and causing destruction. “Look up there!” cried Dyno, and everyone could see as Myte pointed out “…The Data Storm is vanishing!” The skies were clear, and the Grand Celestial Ruler transformed-- defusing into Grand Ruler Celesto and Queen Celestia. “They did it!” cried Celestia. “…They have!” added her husband. It was now safe for the entire populace on the moon to return home again, and soon everything would be back to as it was-- mostly. Back at Data Stream’s house, Lightning and Starla were hugging and jumping for joy while Krysta fluttered about. *Resume* The girls and I ported out, landing in Data’s house. The girls and I shared a big group hug and cheer. “We did it! No more Megadox!” I cried. The girls cheered for joy. Then, Data’s image appeared on the computer. “Great job, everyone. Megadox will never harm the Digital World or the real world again.” We were all surprised to see she was still in here. “What are you still doing in there?” asked Lightning “Come on out.” There was a long moment of silence, and finally Data said “…I can’t. I don’t think I can ever return to my body now. My brain was fried.” Face turned round, and Starla tried all she could, but there was no way she could undo what had been done to Data. “I can’t get her out of there. It’s no use.” “There has to be a way!” I cried. “We can’t just leave you in there.” added Sweetie. “It’s okay…” said Data “Even if I could come back… what I would I be coming back too-- I’ve done so many terrible things. I nearly destroyed the entire planet, and I’d have to answer the charges brought up on me.” Lightning knew she was right. No matter how anyone felt, she would have to pay for what she did-- as was the code of Starfleet: Never to allow emotions to affect decisions, and such crimes could never be overlooked.” “But if you don’t return to your body…” I said, and Data filled in the rest “…Yes, eventually my body will die, but I’m willing to make that sacrifice. At least this way, I can make up for everything I’ve done-- Now I’m going to protect the Digital World so nothing will ever attack it again, and you all can return to your regular lives.” The girls were in tears, feeling really upset over this. “But Data Stream…!” sobbed Applebloom. “Hey, it’ll be alright.” said Data “It’s always been my dream to revolutionize computers, and now… it looks like I got what I wanted after all. Thank you, everyone… for helping me see the error of my ways. I promise-- I will do the world good now. …Goodbye.” Nobody said a thing. We just watched as she faded into digital energy, and then flew off through the power lines, and zipped off into the air. With that, her computers went completely dead. “She’s gone.” said DD “She’s really gone.” It was a very somber moment for all of us. All that was left was Data’s useless body that would probably never wake up. Lightning couldn’t just allow it to die, so he knew the only logical thing that could been done. A while later, we dropped off Data’s body in New Canterlot, at the royal palace, we delivered our reports to their majesties and the gang, told them all that happened, and their majesties agreed. Data’s body was frozen into a state of suspended animation, and kept in a special holding facility underground, until and if there would ever come such a time Data Steam’s mind could be re-uploaded to her body again. Celestia felt extremely guilty for this, “This is all my fault.” she said “I created Megadox decades ago, so really this all happened because of me.” “No, don’t say that.” said Grand Ruler “It was all an accident. You had no way of knowing it would get so out of hand.” “Besides,” I added “Data sort of brought it all on herself, but that’s beside the point. She wants it this way, and she is doing me and the girls a good favour.” Indeed, with Megadox gone, and the Digital World safer from invasions, there was no more need for the Data Squad to exist. For now, the girls and I had been asked to turn in our wrist-coms, just as Lightning and Starla were told to give up the Super Computer-- it was brought to the palace, where it and the wrist-coms containing the programs would be sealed away, and kept ready if ever needed again. This was hard for me and the girls. “I’m actually going to miss being a cyber-superhero.” I said. “Me too,” added Sweetie “But at least now we don’t have to worry about it anymore.” “Yeah, it’s about time I got back to my sports and my flying lessons.” said Scootaloo. The others all agreed, and as for their friends and relatives… Applejack hugged her sister, “My little sis, responsible for savin’ the world.” Applebloom smiled. Rarity and Spike cuddled Sweetie Belle, “I’m going to make a whole new fashion line of clothes in honour of this.” promised Rarity “I’ll call it “Cyber Sensations.” Think of the publicity it will have.” Spike and Sweetie rolled their eyes and chuckled. “Hey, Scootaloo, think you could teach me some of your moves?” asked Rainbow. “I’ll have to check my schedule.” teased Scootaloo. Finally, Buddy hugged DD, “You’re going to make a great fighter someday, DD. You have the heart, and now you have some experience.” His little cousin smiled, “Does this mean I get to join Starfleet now?” she teased. “No, you’re still too young for that.” Everyone shared a small laugh, and their majesties also promised me and the girls that would be well rewarded for our services, just not at the moment. With that, we all decided to just head on home. We had such a busy and horrifying day and were in need of a good rest. “Rhymey?” said Fluttershy. He looked at her… “…I’m… I’m really sorry for yelling at you. I know you were only trying to help everyone.” Her husband nodded and softly caressed her face with his hand, “I know exactly you felt too, There just wasn’t much we could do. But if you’ll forgive me, I’ll forgive you.” The couple smiled at each other and kissed softly. As for me and the girls, “Well,” I said “No matter what comes…” I paused and the girls and I nodded at one another, “…TIME TO DIGITIZE!! …YEAH!!” (Promo) In our next episode: Lightning and his team get down to some serious training to prepare for the next attack. Meanwhile, Stammadon is reaching the absolute pinnacle of his strength, and Ka Hotake feels the time has come to make his move and use Stammadon as he planned. Can our heroes stop the two master villains? Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!” (Next Episode: Part 1: “The Master’s Plan”)