EPISODE FOUR
Grand Ruler Celesto and Queen Celestia were enjoying a soak in the royal hot-springs after their early morning duties-- raising the sun, arranging the guards and sentries, as well as a spot of yoga.
The water was so soothing and warm, but it felt even warmer as the couple cuddled together softly.
Celestia nuzzled happily against her husband.
“Someone seems affectionate this morning.” chuckled Grand Ruler.
His wife looked up at him, “I’m just enjoying the moment. Things have gotten quite serious lately.”
Grand Ruler agreed, “Lightning and the team will be arriving today to give us their reports in person. We’ll soon know more about The Devils than ever.”
They both had to get out of the tub. Their children would be awakening soon, and they would have to help them dress and get ready for school like good parents.
The couple climbed out, and dried themselves off and dressed their usual outfits, but as Celestia fit on her royal gown and robe, she looked in the mirror and saw Daybreaker, snarling and flaming at her, making her gasp and blast the mirror in an act of impulse, shattering it to shards.
“Celestia!” cried Grand Ruler “What happened? Are you alright?”
“…Daybreaker!” cried Celestia “I sa-- I saw Daybreaker in the mirror!”
Concerned, Grand Ruler used his magic to bond all the shards together and fix the mirror back up on the wall, and he saw only his and his wife’s reflections.
Celestia was confused as she walked right up to the mirror, and tapped it softly, but at that split second, her reflection seemed to fade-wipe from her to Daybreaker and back again.
Her husband saw the images too, though Celestia herself seemed perfectly normal, this was not a good sign.
For while, since the evil’s discovery, Celestia had been having a few bad nightmares here and there, and her temperature would increase, and she ended up seeing illusions of her evil counterpart in various locations.
Celestia quickly put herself into a calm and meditative state.
She had been instructed by the court physician to remain calm, and not give in to the evil growing within her.
She let out a huge sigh, feeling much calmer, but she still felt tormented by all this trouble, as well as the great danger that would befall if the evil was released.
She looked up at her husband, “I can’t go on like this forever. Something has to be done.”
“…Something will be done,” said Grand Ruler “Our researchers are doing everything they can, but I ask you again; please don’t try to do anything rash. It could lead to great consequences.”
His wife placed her hand in his, and gave him a loving expression, promising her very best.
Princess Luna knocked at the door and called inside, “Sister, Brother-in-law?”
“You may enter.” Celestia called.
Her sister slid the door open, “You did not come, so I helped the children dress, and they have sat down to breakfast.”
The two parents felt ashamed, but Luna could already sense what held them up. “Was it Daybreaker again?”
The couple nodded, and Luna shook head in dismay. She very worried for her sister-- knowing the experiences of having evil inside of her.
Celestia reassured her, “I’m fine, really. Let’s go to breakfast.”
Later that day, Lightning and his team arrived at the palace, courtesy of Krysta’s teleportation, and were being escorted by the royal guards to the throne room.
Starla, Rarity, and Fluttershy brought Shining Light, Twilight, and Button Fly along, while Buddy was able to leave Seedling at home with Tree Hugger.
The babies seemed undisturbed by the ride, and were sleeping softly.
“Aw, they’re so sweet.” said Krysta “…Just like Flurry Heart when I warped her family here.”
“The Crystal Family is here too?” asked Fluttershy.
Krysta nodded, “Their majesties wanted them here. If your reports are true, it could mean bigger than we thought.”
Lightning clenched his fists tight, but Starla placed her hand on his shoulder trying to calm him.
He smiled tenderly at his wife.
Suddenly, along the way, they all heard the sound of someone screaming in fright, which woke the babies and made them cry.
“What was that?” cried Rainbow.
Artie recognized the voice anywhere, “That’s Sunset Shimmer! She’s in trouble!!” and he dashed off in the direction of the scream.
“Artie!” called Lightning.
“Stop shouting, please!” snapped Rarity as she and the other mothers comforted the crying babies.
Lightning felt embarrassed, and then tried to help soothe his son.
As for Artie, he found Sunset in the hall with laundry dropped all over the place, and Goldwin, in his statue form.
“Please help!!” cried Sunset.
Artie was there in a heartbeat, nearly knocking over a couple of hall tables and armor suits in the process. “What’s the matter?” he asked.
Sunset pointed at the motionless Goldwin, “We were carrying clean laundry down the hall when he suddenly just turned to solid gold!”
Artie had the idea of what was wrong, and he could see Goldwin’s mask on the floor by a bunch of towels.
“Remember what we told you: Goldwin is a golden statue-- I made him.”
Sunset stood wide-eyed, still finding it all so shocking.
Artie picked up the mask, placing it on the statue’s face. “You see he comes to life when we put this mask on him, and say this phrase…”
He cleared his throat…
“Powers of life, now begin
awaken the magic from within!”
Goldwin came back to life in a shower of golden sparkles. He woke up with a shock, “What happened?” Then he noticed all the laundry scattered across the floor, and Sunset staring at him as if he were some kind of stranger.
“…Oh, I guess my mask came off again.”
Sunset managed to shake herself back to her senses. “Uh… okay then.”
“Here, I’ll help you guys with all this mess.” offered Artie. The trio began picking up and folding the towels and clothes, which were not re-dirtied from their spill.
Artie and Sunset then attempted to grab the same sheet, when their hands touched, and they looked into each other’s eyes, and they both blushed.
They both looked away quickly feeling embarrassed.
“Um… you can take that.” said Sunset.
“No, no… I insist.”
…but it was Goldwin who took it, and he couldn’t help but snicker at the two, knowing they both seemed to like each other.
“Hey, Artie…!” called Dyno.
“Let’s move it, their majesties want us.” added Myte.
Artie snapped into gear, “I have to go. Bye…!” and he walked off rather swiftly.
Sunset waved after him and kept her eye on him until he was out of sight. “He’s so sweet and kind.” she thought, and then she gasped, “Ah…?! What am I thinking? Why am I feeling like this? I barely know that guy.”
Regardless, she couldn’t stop herself from feeling warm inside
Later on, in the royal briefing room…
The babies were all placed in separate playpens. The tiny babies were fast asleep and quiet, while Shining Light and Flurry Heart shared another pen, as they were bigger than the others.
Sadly, Twilight had her own special flameproof playpen in case she sneezed and let out a small fire spark.
All three pens were shrouded in special bubbles of silence, so the grownups could talk and the babies wouldn’t hear a thing.
Their majesties had read the reports Lightning had given, and seen images from the previous battle-- via the memory spell.
“…Dearka.” Pinkie sighed as she watched the images of him. Even though he was hidden behind his mask, she couldn’t forget how he really looked, and she fell into another romantic daze, which did not go unnoticed by everyone else.
Grand Ruler ceased the images and cleared his throat at her, snapping her out of her trance.
Pinkie felt embarrassed.
“Moving on,” said Grand Ruler “The events and information obtained in the previous battle can now be viewed in retrospect. If The Devils truly believe United Equestria is their best target, we needn’t worry about them striking any other place in the galaxy.”
“But that’s a good thing, right?” asked Pinkie.
Rhymey shook his head,
“It most certainly is not all that right,
We are now the primary target in this Devil fight.
…am I right?”
“You sure are…” agreed Lightning “The Devils will surely continue to come after us, and from what we’ve established they don’t intend to just attack romantic couples and wedding, but anything that’s even remotely connected to Love altogether.”
Cadance felt deeply concerned, “There are so many ways to experience or spread love…
…Family… Friendship… Or even pure enjoyment for an object, food, or life itself!”
Shining Armor cringed, “That means The Devils can go after anyone, at any time.”
“That’s not even funny!” cried Rarity “Why, any second now, the most loving and gentle of creatures can turn the other cheek and become as vicious as those heartless monsters!”
Fluttershy shuddered at such a thought. “We can’t let that happen! We have to tell the people this at once!”
Celestia agreed, “We are already making preparations to publicly inform the entire planet. The people must what danger they are in, and it will give us all a chance to better prepare ourselves for future fights.”
Everyone still felt skeptical about this.
“They’re all going to be scared out of their wits.” said Spike “And we know that fear, anger, and all negative feelings only empower The Devil’s strength.”
“Well, yeah,” agreed Rainbow “But we’re also over-looking something else; why we fighters are impervious to The Devil’s brainwashing.”
Everyone was still curious about that, and Buddy remembered during the battle, how Scarlet infected Apple Spice, but it wouldn’t have worked if she had tried it on him or the other fighters.
“So what’s the answer?” he wondered.
“I think I know…” said Starla “I’ve been theorizing about it ever since The Devils first appeared, and failed to infect us fighters.”
“Well, spill it already…” said Applejack.
Starla then turned to face Lightning, but she really addressed everyone, “Do you remember our wedding?”
Her husband looked up, “I could never forget it…”
Flashbacks flowed by him and all the others.
King Sombra attacked, and abducted Starla, and he tried to brainwash her to fight against Lightning.
“You did fight against me, but it turned out you never were brainwashed because of your Starfleet Training.”
Lightning stopped there, realizing “…Of Course.”
Starla nodded, “Exactly, because we’re all trained in great strength in both mind and body, that’s probably why we’re able to resist The Devils’ evil.”
Grand Ruler contemplated it over and agreed with Starla, “That must be why; excellent thinking, Starla.”
She bowed her head to him.
“Well, that’s something.” said Applejack “We’re immune to the evil because of our strengths, but that still puts all them civilians in danger. They’re not as powerful as we are.”
Everyone agreed, and there was no way of course the civilians could suddenly become as powerful as they all were.
“Which means, the sooner the people know of this, the better they can be ready as well.” said Rainbow.
Their majesties all agreed.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Captain Shaina entered and saluted to them, “Sorry to interrupt, your majesties. Professor Brain has completed his computations and tests, and I have brought him to you as ordered.”
The Professor stepped into the briefing room, with a serious look on his face. His glasses shimmered.
“Your timing is impeccable.” said Celestia. “How have your tests gone?”
“Satisfactory. Most Satisfactory…”
He placed a clear box containing Dearka’s original mask from the first encounter.
Pinkie began to think of him again. “Dearka…”
The others didn’t like this, and Rainbow nudged her back to her senses.
“What’s the mask all about?” asked Artie.
The Professor explained, “This mask contained trace amounts of molecules and energy of a negative fiend, rather opposite the pure air that we breathe.
In short, it’s rather like a toxin.”
The others all shuddered at such a thought.
“They breathe in poison?” asked Dyno.
“Ay’ Ay’ Ay’! How can anyone live in such conditions?” added Myte.
All this only confirmed The Devils’ story of having to eradicate love because while the darkness was their natural environment, the light and positive energy fields outside of their dimension would harm them.
“What effects would this poison have on creatures like us?” asked Krysta.
“None…” replied Brain “…At least not primarily, but the symptoms can and will begin to show.
Such symptoms include, weariness, weakening of the muscles, and after that it gets very bad!”
Fluttershy shuddered and asked “…Just… how bad?”
The Professor hesitated, but answered “Choking, burning of the flesh, vital tissue disruption… I believe that covers it.”
The others all rolled their eyes back and forth at one another in deep concern, now realizing the full and awful truth.
Lightning realized even worse, “We’ve managed to help those infected by The Devils’ power quickly, if we had taken too long…!” he didn’t have to finish, everyone got the drift.
“That’s why we have ordered Cadance here.” said Grand Ruler.
She looked at him and Celestia…
Her aunt spoke to her, “In view of our enemies and their powers, we just may have to rely on you and your special magic-- The Healing of Love.”
Cadance got the idea, and she agreed.
“What’s The Healing of Love?” asked Rainbow.
Cadance explained “It’s a special spell that I discovered and perfected long ago, and it’s what helped me earn my royal title.”
A Flashback occurred, to a time of Equestria of Old, long before The Great War…
Many ponies were angered, and filled with hate. If something was not done, it was feared that soon great fights would happen, and peace would begin to diminish among Equestrians, until Cadance, then just a student of Celestia, used her magic to soothe people’s hatred, and make them realize the good within them.
This helped to quell the rage, and make the ponies stop and realize the senselessness of their hatred, and come to realize the better ways of things.
Cadance began to realize and asked her aunt and uncle, “…Are you saying that my spell could help us heal the victims infected by the evil much more efficiently.”
“It may be our best chance and hope.” answered Grand Ruler “...Cadance, you may very well be our greatest asset in the fight against The Devils and their hate, it is for this reason that we’ll need your help.”
Celestia explained, “We need you to transfer part of your magic into everyone else’s weapons and energizers. This way, they shall be able to call upon a small portion of the magic, which should be enough to help deal with infected victims more quickly, in case a battle should escalate longer than expected.”
Everyone else looked down at their energizers, and thought the idea would be cool.
“But how do we know it will really work?” asked Pinkie “We’ve never tried it on The Devils’ power before.”
“All the more reason for this to be done,” said Grand Ruler “Now everyone, gather around; form a circle around Cadance.”
The Space Ponies got out their weapons, as did Spike and Shining Armor, while the Equestrians would absorb the power in their energizers.
Celestia and Grand Ruler both levitated themselves off the floor at opposite ends of the ring.
Both of them nodded at each other signifying they were ready, and then motioned to Cadance to begin.
Cadance closed her eyes and concentrated hard. Her horn started to glow brightly. Her mane fluttered around, and she softly but deeply called out “THE HEALING OF LOVE”
Out from her horn spouted a pink light, infused with golden sparkles, like a waterfall of loving energy.
Their majesties then raised their arms up, and cast their own magic upon the aura, making it whirl in a twister and softly flowing into the weapons and energizers.
The fighters all felt warm and strange, and then all was quiet.
The weapons and energizers were all glowing with the sparkling aura, and then it went out.
“It didn’t work?” asked Buddy.
“No, it has.” replied replied“All of you now have a small portion of The Healing of Love.
“…But we warned,” cautioned Grand Ruler “…What you have been given are mere fractional copies of the magic, so it will not be nearly as strong as the actual force, especially since you will be dispensing this force technologically rather than naturally.”
Lightning got the idea, “In other words, we have to use it properly, and make every shot count.”
Their majesties agreed, but then Shining Armor realized something. “Wait a minute. If you guys run out of power, you’ll have to come back to Cadance to get more.”
Cadance realized this too, and looked at their majesties. “This isn’t the only you called me here, is it?”
Their majesties looked a bit remorseful, and Celestia explained it, “Cadance, you, and your family are the strongest elements of love and joy on the entire planet, as you yourself embody the Element of Love.
We fear that if the enemy discovers this, you and your family may in great danger, which is why… we don’t request, we demand that you and your family remain here at New Canterlot Palace until further notice.”
Shining Armor and Cadance seemed worried.
“Just keep us away from the Crystal Empire? You can’t do this!” protested Shining Armor.
Reluctantly, Cadance agreed with her aunt and uncle, “They’re right. We should stay here where it’s safer.”
She held her hands to her heart, “My love radiates stronger than most creatures. If The Devils find out about this, they could come after me and use me in their plots. Then they would gain untold power!”
Shining Armor and the others shuddered at such a thought.
Cadance turned to face her husband, “They might even come after you, and after Flurry Heart. I don’t want that.”
Now he finally understood.
“But what about the New Crystal Empire?” asked Krysta “There’s no one to lead it.”
“That’s not true.” replied Grand Ruler “We have already thought this ahead, and the Supreme Crystal Council will take over the royal duties-- they already have actually.
All citizens of the New Crystal Empire have been silently informed of this by mail, and have been ordered to keep totally silent of things, for fear of our enemy becoming aware of our secret.
But I’m afraid this is only the beginning. Once the public has been informed of The Devils and their plot, cautionary steps will have to be taken. Possibly even lockdowns, curfew, and enforcement of law and order.”
Celestia looked regretful about it, as did the others, but they knew it was for the peoples’ safety, and to help them learn more about the enemy and to try and stop them.
“We’ve got much to do.” said Lightning “I suggest we get started at once.”
The others all agreed.
The meeting was over, and the team decided to head home to let Cadance and Shining Armor settle in.
They bid their goodbyes, and the mothers scooped up their respective babies.
Shining Light and Flurry Heart awoke, just as Starla took Shining away.
“Say, bye-bye sweetie.”
Both babies looked very sad, and tears formed in their eyes as they reached for one another and began to cry, awakening the other babies too.
Rhymey covered his ears at the unbearable noise.
“Me oh my…! Four babies cry?
We better get home now, so this is goodbye.”
Fluttershy agreed as she cradled Button Fly.
Krysta quickly warped them away first, and then Lightning and Starla, followed by Spike and Rarity.
Flurry Heart was still upset now that Shining Light was gone. Her parents comforted her, and the others still couldn’t bear the noise.
“Hurry…! Get us out of here!” cried Artie.
“Gladly!” agreed Krysta, and she teleported everyone else back to their respective homes in New Ponyville.
Later that night, Shining Light was tucked into his crib, all quiet and warm and sleeping peacefully as Starla softly stroked his tiny head.
“He and Flurry really like each other.” she said to her husband.
Lightning agreed, “To think, when he gets old he may think girls are icky.”
His wife gave him a smug look, “And maybe he won’t. Maybe he’ll continue to like girls, and maybe he and Flurry will grow up, and before you know it… we’ll have grandkids.”
Lightning felt dizzy in a good way at such a thought. “We’ll see… for now we should get to bed. We’ve got a lot to do tomorrow. I’m not looking forward to telling the civilians about the danger.”
Soon, they as well as all their friends, even the royal families were all tucked into bed, and Princess Luna and her guards were doing their knightly rounds, patrolling the lands.
Suddenly, she had a sinister chill run down her spine.
“What is it, your highness?” asked a guard.
“…I sense something strange in the air.”
Celestia began to cringe in her sleep, so did her husband.
Far away in New Ponyville, All the ponies were snoozing and dreaming away, some of them having a bit more lovely dreams, especially Pinkie.
She dreamt of-- what else-- Dearka.
They were both standing amidst a sparkling pink background, softened by light and he would take his mask off, despite it being lethal, and they would look deep into each other’s eyes, which took her breath away.
Their faces moved in closer, when suddenly the entire fantasy burst into flames.
“Wh-- What’s happening?” cried Pinkie
Then she heard the sound of a sinister snicker, it sounded feminine.
“Hey! That voice!” she cried “I know that voice.”
Then as she stumbled around, she bumped backwards into someone. She turned round, to see Fluttershy, and the two leapt up and screamed before realize who was who.
“Fluttershy?”
“Pinkie Pie…What’s going on?”
“Just what I was about to ask.”
Then that evil voice called to them, “…You’re in my domain now; that’s what!”
Then, SHE appeared in a blaze of fire.
“You!!” cried Fluttershy.
“You’re Celestia’s evil side!” snarled Pinkie “You’re…um… “Sun Broken” No… uh… “Light Shatter.” No… that’s not it!”
“…It’s “DAYBREAKER!!” she shouted, and her flames blazed angrily.
The girls could tell she meant trouble, and prepared to transform, only realize their energizers were missing.
“We can’t transform!” cried Fluttershy.
Pinkie then put up her fists, “We’ll have to fight on our own.”
Fluttershy went from nervous to serious, and put up her dukes as well.
This only made DayBreaker laugh nastily, “How charming, and how pathetic as well.”
Pinkie didn’t take kindly to her insults, and let out a roar of fury as she charged forth… very… very… slowly.
“Hey! What’s happening? I can’t run very fast!”
Fluttershy also was experiencing troubles as she tried to fly, but no matter how hard she flapped her wings, she couldn’t gain any lift.
Daybreaker snickered, “You can’t anything either? Well maybe I can, and I’ll invite the whole gang to watch!”
The girls wondered what she meant, and Daybreaker unleashed a hot wave of energy, which made all the others appear… trapped in cages of fire.
“Rhymey…!” cried Flutershy.
Her husband called out to her…
“Fluttershy…
…Pinkie Pie!!”
Even Lightning and Starla were bound by the flames. So were Cadance and Shining Armor.
“What’s going on?” cried Cadance.
“This is like some weird dream!” yelled her husband.
Everybody’s wailing and yelling alerted the attentions of two others who were also stuck in the dream with them…!
“Celesto… look!” cried Celestia.
Their majesties looked ahead!
“Lightning!” cried Grand Ruler.
Lightning could hardly believe his eyes, “…Master?”
“…And Celestia too?!” added Starla.
Daybreaker saw the couple over her shoulder, and used her powers to raise a huge firewall.
“Your majesties!” cried Fluttershy, then she screamed as both she and Pinkie were magically imprisoned in flaming cages too, and sent up high to join the others!
Only their majesties were left standing, but even they remained powerless to stop the evil.
“What is all this?” thought Grand Ruler “I know this seems like a dream, but how are Lightning and all the others here as well.”
Daybreaker laughed, but addressed only Celestia, “Just thought I’d give you a little warning…
…You can try and supress me all you like, but it won’t stop me, all your resisting does is make me even stronger, and now not only am I able to haunt you in your nightmares, but anyone’s, including all those who are dear to you!”
The others were all suffering miserably, unable to defend themselves, for this was Daybreaker’s nightmare, meaning she was in control things!
“Stop this, you monster!” thundered Celestia “Leave them all alone! It’s me you want!”
Daybreak laughed, “No, it’s not you that I want, it’s what YOU yourself actually want.”
Celestia trembled.
“Don’t fool yourself, and just give in. Let the power deep inside consume you. Let yourself become enveloped by the flames of daylight.”
Grand Ruler put his hand on his wife’s arms, “Don’t listen to her! Don’t give into her wicked desires!”
“Silence you!” thundered Daybreaker, and she imprisoned him in a cage as well.
“Celesto!” cried Celestia.
Grand Ruler found that even he had no power to escape this nightmare, which gave him the idea, “Celestia… if this is your nightmare, you can stop it!”
Celestia gasped in realization. “I’ve got to wake up!” and she tried with all her might to make a wakeup call.
“You dare resist me?!” thundered Daybreaker, but the dream was already beginning to fade, “No…!!” she cried as she tried to regain control “…THIS IS NOT OVER!!”
Celestia woke up, bolting upright in bed in a shocking gasp.
Her husband did the same!
Cadance and Shining Armor too…!
All across New Ponyville, every single one of the friends awoke in fright.
In New Cloudsdale, Rainbow fell out of bed and onto the floor with a thud, but was she ever shocked and trembling, “…That felt so real!”
Princess Luna knocked on the window of the royal master bedroom, and her sister opened it.
“Sister, Brother-in-law; are you alright? I felt a great disturbance in the air.”
The couple agreed, reflect on the nightmare.
“This is not good!” whimpered Celestia “Daybreaker has the power to haunt anyone’s nightmares now, not just my own.”
Grand Ruler, realizing the full seriousness of this realized, “Something will have to be done sooner than ever. We must not allow the evil to gain any further control.”
His wife and sister-in-law agreed.
…But what could be done about it? How could they stop something that existed in Celestia’s subconscious?
There had to be a way! The fate of the entire planet depended on this.
(Promo)
In our next episode: Apple Spice moves in with the Apple Family when Applejack fails to find some way to annul the marriage contract, but Spice still seems more intrigued with Pinkie Pie than ever. Meanwhile, Scarlet and Dearka’s rivalry on who’s the better soldier strengthens as they try to outdo one another when they each send a monster to attack different locations.
Will the team manage to quell the fighting, and how does Pinkie feel about Apple Spice?
Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!”
(Next Episode: “Two Ways of Separation”)