EPISODE TWENTY
Many of the fighters on the team had retreated to the dojos to vent out their frustration with training.
Dyno furiously punched a super heavy punching bag while Myte held it, not even minding the forces of impact, while Rainbow was running on a fast treadmill at incredible speed.
Applejack was weightlifting, and Artie and Buddy were practicing their aim with target practice.
Only Pinkie was seated on the bench, still deeply moved by Dearka’s origin.
“How could everyone be so cruel to him?” she wondered “If I lost someone I’d be thrilled to have them back not, demand they leave and never come back.”
Applejack put her weight down. “It’s no use dwelling on it, Pinkie.” she panted “It may be understandable, but it doesn’t justify him going evil and making people suffer.”
“I know…” said Pinkie “But… after all that I heard, I actually felt there was hope for him.”
Deep she still felt that way, regardless of the others protesting.
“Look, Pinkie,” said Buddy “He’s made it clear he only cares about hurting others now, and fully intends to.”
“That’s right!” agreed Artie “And now that they have Cadance, there’s no telling how dangerous they’ll be.”
Rainbow back-flipped off the treadmill, landing gracefully on her feet, “I still can’t believe Cadance would just up and give in like that. I wonder how the others are taking it.”
They could suddenly hear the mewling sounds of Flurry Heart crying and screaming from afar.
“…Obviously not good.” the twins said at the same time.
Poor Flurry Heart cried her little lungs out. She was crying so loud, she could be heard from nearly all over the entire palace. No one could actually blame her… even for an infant her age, seeing her mother being captured by the enemy was bad enough to bear, but the fact that Cadance willingly let them take her, practically wanting to go with them.
Eventually, the baby cried herself to sleep, but her poor father was still grieving and still asking himself, “Why would she do this?” but then he felt he had the answer “…That voice! It made her do it!”
He clenched his quivering fists vowing, “When I find out who or what that voice is, I swear, I’ll make them pay!”
In the palace daycare, Lightning and Starla, along with Rarity and Spike, and Rhymey and Fluttershy were tending to their own children as well.
They didn’t have a care in the world as their mothers rocked them gently while sitting in rocking chairs.
Lightning was still feeling upset that Cadance threw herself away like that. “After all we did to protect her, what could possibly commit her to pull such a stunt?”
“We’d all like to know the answer to that.” said Starla.
Spike clenched his fists but more in concern than anger, “Now that King Von Devilor has her, I got this sick feeling that we’re in for a whole heap of trouble.”
“Shh…!” Rarity hushed, while motioning at their sleeping daughter in her arms, and the other babies too “We’re all worried, Spike, but we’re all going to do whatever it takes.”
Fluttershy placed Button Fly down in a crib and pecked him softly, but her eyes with tears of worry for Cadance.
Rhymey approached her,
“Fluttershy,
Please don’t cry.”
He embraced his wife softly,
“Princess Cadance must still be alive; they would not let her die
If they let her perish, then they let the power die
“I know,” agreed Fluttershy “I’ll try and be brave, but I wish I knew how she was.”
Cadance awoke to find herself bound by strange web-like threads, holding her in a strange vortex with a mixture of light and dark swirls, but bright enough to see.
“What’s going on? Where am I?” she wondered, and then she suddenly screamed as the threads began to painfully sap her magical energies…
…As outside, King Von Devilor converted the pure loving energy into evil darkness and hatred. The power flowed through his massive tentacles and made his long dark hair stick up and out.
The king laughed softly and wickedly as he felt the power blowing through him and increased the blue flames all around him. “Yes, it’s wonderful! I can feel my very strength growing by the second!”
Every Devil in the realm gazed in awe at their king and the power he was receiving, which made their own strengths increase as well.
“Well done, Scarlet and Dearka,” said Von Devilor. “Thanks to you, we now have greater power than before.”
“It is an honor to serve you, your majesty.” said Scarlet.
“And, begging your pardon, my lord…” said Dearka “Of services merit rewards…?”
Von Devilor snickered, “Of course, I was getting to that.”
He lowered two of his tentacles, pointing them straight at his generals, and then blasted them with large dark pulses, knocking them both to the ground.
As the two lay down, the energy jolted along their bodies like flowing currents of electricity. Their muscles began to bulge, their eyes were glowing a shade of blue, and their hair seemed to stick up and outward.
“Oh my…” hissed Dearka as he clenched his stronger fists “I feel like I can destroy an entire planet!” he paused a second, “…And I think I have just the one in mind.”
He wasn’t thinking of United Equestria either…!
“Go…” said Von Devilor “Both of you, test your new powers and have some fun.”
Scarlet and Dearka bowed.
“Let’s go give United Equestria a good beat down.” said Scarlet.
“No thanks,” said Dearka “I have my own business to take care of.”
He vanished before anyone could question him.
“My lord, did you hear that?” asked Scarlet “A clear case of mutiny and disobedience!”
“That will be all, Scarlet!” sneered Von Devilor “I told you both to go out and test your powers. Do it now!”
Scarlet quivered softly, and bowed nervously, “At once, sire.”
“Dearka!” she growled in thought “Just you wait! Once I’ve mastered these powers… you’ll be in for it!”
Meanwhile, Lightning had been summoned before their majesties to take on an assignment to the Planet Vistula.
“You see, Lightning,” said Grand Ruler “Need you to transfer information to Major Fenton on what we learned about Dearka, and if so, gather more information to determine whether his story is true or not.”
“I see,” said Lightning.
Their majesties sensed the downheartedness in his voice, and they both understood why.
“We understand how you feel about Cadance.” said Celestia “We both feel the same way, but…”
“There’s no need to say it,” Lightning cut in, “I know: Duty is Number One Priority.
…I’m ready. Who’s going with me?”
Soon, he and his team, consisting of Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Krysta, were ready.
Applejack was going for her powers of honesty, and Pinkie was going for her ways of getting the truth, while Krysta was going naturally to help them get back.
Lightning kissed Starla goodbye, placing her in charge of the unit, as usual.
“Come back safe, you understand?”
Lightning chuckled, “Yes, dear.” And then he patted his son on the head. “You be good for Mommy now.”
His little son cooed softly.
Applejack, Pinkie and Krysta melted at the loving sight, and soon they were off, soaring across space on a dimensional pathway.
Upon arriving at Vistula, they were immediately greeting by Hawk and some of his troops, and taken to the Starfleet Outpost, consisting of a few forts, bunkers, and lookout towers.
“Nice place.” said Applejack.
“It’s not much, but believe me, my entire team and I do our best to keep this planet safe.” said Hawk, “But now to business. I received the memo from their majesties.”
“Right,” said Lightning as he and the girls sat down with Hawk, “We’ll lay it out for you…”
Several minutes later, Hawk had received the full detail of Dearka’s story; Hawk was only half shocked to hear such things.
“Well, the laws were the laws. That’s why we convinced the royal council and the people to disperse with The Ultimate Challenge and the shunning.”
Pinkie sniffled, “When I think how hard he had it, it’s no wonder he became a Devil.”
Applejack passed her a tissue.
“Wait!” said Hawk “What did you mean by Princess Calista showed up with her husband to capture Dearka? According to the records, she was never married.”
“What?” asked Krysta in surprise “But Dearka said in his story she was.”
“And didn’t the law once say the winner was entitled to the princess, no questions asked?” asked Lightning.
“Yes,” replied Hawk “But according to our records, the princess has never been married.”
Lightning and the girls looked back and forth at one another.
“Wait another minute,” said Applejack “Dearka said he returned to Vistula and got revenge on everyone, including Calista. How can she be alive?”
Lightning stood up, “There’s only one way to find out.” And he looked at Hawk “Is it possible for me to see Princess Calista?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Hawk “The Princess is always willing to see us when it concerns Starfleet business. I’ll take you to the palace.”
Lightning agreed, and Krysta would go with him, but he also gave Applejack and Pinkie special assignments. “I need you two to further investigate. I’ve got a feeling there’s more to all this than we know.”
The girls agreed, and they were off.
Applejack went off to visit Dearka’s old village, and see if he could find information about his family, and Pinkie was going to talk with people who used to design the courses and weapons for The Ultimate Challenge.
Soon, Lightning and Krysta were at the royal palace, and presented to the, very much alive, Princess Calista.
She was a very lovely humanoid with light blue colored skin, and long voluminous hair that ran all the way down her back.
All three bowed to her, and Krysta whispered to Lightning “She doesn’t look at all like the type who would do as Dearka said.”
Lightning nodded in agreement.
“Your highness,” said Hawk with a bow “This is Commander Lightning Dawn from United Equestria, and Queen Krystaline of the Planet Luminous.
The duo bowed, and the beautiful princess bowed at them. “I am honored to meet you both, but what has brought you here to Vistula?”
“We require clarification on some information we received,” said Lightning, then he paused, fearing of upsetting her “…Involving Dearka.”
Indeed, the very mention of the name made her look shocked, and then deeply saddened.
“Oh, forgive us…” said Krysta “We didn’t mean to upset you.”
“No… no it’s quite alright. I will answer anything you wish to know.”
Meanwhile, Applejack had visited Dearka’s home village, and when she questioned about Dearka’s parents, a villager confirmed, “Yes, they are dead.”
Applejack felt a small turn in her stomach, “And their other son too?”
“Other son?” asked the villager “They had only one child… and that was Dearka.”
Now Applejack felt confused, “I was told they were killed.”
“And they were, I saw it myself. It was over seventeen years ago…”
“Seventeen years?” thought Applejack “But Dearka said his folks told him off ten years ago, and he destroyed them himself when he went Devil.”
Her visor scan as well as her elemental powers of honesty showed the villager was not lying.
Pinkie questioned every carpenter, weapon smith, and engineer who used to work for The Ultimate Challenge… rather too seriously. She cross-examined them like some strict police detective or lawyer in court.
“You’re sure you’re telling me the truth?” she asked “You’re all sure that those obstacles couldn’t have shifted?
You’re sure those weapons should have worked?”
The Vistulans agreed…
“We’re sure.”
“We saw what happened and we don’t understand it.”
“It was like they were sabotaged, and we didn’t do it.”
Pinkie’s features went from hard to soft, “Okay, thank you for your time.” then she left, with only one alibi in mind “Dearka was set up.” she thought “Those obstacles and tools had to be altered by magic, and Vistulans are magicless.”
Back at the palace, the princess confessed everything.
“Even though I was won in The Ultimate Challenge, and the law did state that I was to accept it, I just couldn’t, and I shunned that spiteful man away from me.
I was reprimanded and nearly stripped of my title for defying the law, but were it not for the fact I was heir to the throne, I too would have been banished.”
She then looked tearful again, “Not a day or night went by that I didn’t wonder what happened to Dearka, or that I would pray he would return to me safely, even in spite of the laws never to return upon losing.”
She paused, when she felt her pain getting to her.
“I think we should stop now.” suggested Krysta.
“No, Krysta we can’t…” said Lightning. “We need to know, and she does to.”
Hawk nodded in agreement.
Even Calista agreed and was willing to continue. “Ten years ago, I was away at a conference on another planet, when I heard word that Dearka had returned.
I raced back here as soon as I could, but it was too late. I heard the villagers talking that he was driven off… by me… and his family!
I just didn’t know what to believe.”
She knew nothing else, and said nothing more, but she dabbed her tearful eyes with a hankie. “I just wish I knew what happened to him. If only I could see him again just once more.”
The team looked back and forth at one another, concluding she obviously didn’t know the truth about Dearka now.
Even more so, now they had positive proof there was more going on about Dearka’s exile and return than ever.
Suddenly, the sunlight faded out, and it grew almost as dark as night.
“What’s happening?” wondered Hawk.
Krysta fluttered over to the window, and she gasped. “There’s some sort of dark vortex opening in the sky. It’s blocking out the sunlight.”
Lightning and Hawk raced to the window, and they saw the vortex. There was no mistaking it…
“It’s the Devils!” snapped Lightning.
Calista gasped.
Back on United Equestria, another vortex was opening wide and blocking out the light too.
“What is that?” cried Rarity.
“Whatever it is, I don’t like it!” said Spike.
Starla didn’t like it either. “It’s got to be The Devils.”
That’s when Scarlet appeared and taunted, “Right… what else could it be?”
Everyone gawked at how different she looked.
“Oh, admiring my new looks? Well you should, seeing as they were given to me from the power of your precious princess, Cadance.”
Shining Armor roared as he leapt out an open window, and landing with a strong thud that shook the ground.
“YOU!!” he bellowed “Give me back my wife or else!!”
“Shining Armor!” called Buddy.
Scarlet only laughed, “You think you’re really in a position to make threats?”
She lifted up her arms.
“Look out!” cried Fluttershy.
Everyone jumped out of the way as she fired an immensely powerful blast, which blew a huge crater into the ground.
“Whoa! Mega pow here!” cried Rainbow.
“And that’s only a sample,” hissed Scarlet, and she pointed up to the vortex in the sky which began to spew darkness from the Devils’ World.
“Oh, no!” cried Artie.
“Oh, yes…” hissed Scarlet “Thanks to Cadance’s energy, my new power enables me to open this vortex to cast our darkness into your world and the other worlds beyond. We can easily infect the entire populace within a fixed amount of time, and absorb that energy to increase our powers better than ever!”
Starla had heard enough, “Well, we’ll just have to put a stop to you!
…Team ready?”
“READY!!”
They all transformed…
“STARFLEET MAGIC”
“HARMONY HOUR, FRIENDSHIP POWER”
“Dragon Power”
“Mask of Saber”
The second they had all transformed, “SUPER MODE, ACTIVATE” they all donned their super-suits and strengths.
“Bring it on, Scarlet!” snapped Starla.
Scarlet snickered and powered up her aura, which made the visor readings go crazy!
“My goodness…! Her power levels are way off the chart!” cried Rarity.
“We can’t let that stop us!” said Spike.
Starla agreed, “Let’s go!”
The team all rushed forth, but Scarlet merely gave her arm a single swing, unleashing a shocking wave of powerful energy, which blew everyone back hard.
“Ay’ Ay’ Ay! That was rough!” groaned Dyno.
“Si… and she didn’t even lay a hand on us.” added Myte.
Up above, Celestia, Grand Ruler, and even Princess Luna saw the trouble.
“We must do something!” cried Luna.
“We must stop that darkness spreading!” suggested Celestia “But how…?”
Grand Ruler had one idea, but they couldn’t put it into plan just yet, and he sent a telepathic message to Starla and the others, on a one-way magical wave.
“Listen to me all of you, don’t react and don’t’ say anything.”
The team acted still, but stayed focussed on Scarlet, showing they were in fact listening to his majesty.
“We need to wait until the darkness gets really severe enough, then Spike can activate his Majestic Dragon forum, and we will assist as Grand Celestial Ruler.
With our combined light forces, we just may be able to stop that portal from spewing more darkness, but like I said: we must wait for the right moment.
Try to keep the battle going and keep your strengths high.”
Everyone each flexed their right hand, showing they complied with the order, while Scarlet remained oblivious to the entire plot.
“Do you surrender yet?”
“Never!” thundered Starla.
“Wrong answer!” growled Scarlet, and she fired enormous amounts of pulses at the fighters. Some managed to dodged, while others were hit.
“Attack!” shouted Starla.
She and the fighters rushed forth, and attacked, and Scarlet punched, chopped, and kicked them all away with little effort.
Saber roared and ruthlessly swung his sword and his extra arms at her shouting, “Give… me… back… Cadance!!”
WHAMM!! Scarlet knocked his sword out of his hand, and then grabbed onto a set of his arms. She looked him dead in the eyes and sneered, “…Make me!”
She then swung up her feet, kicking him hard in the chest and sent him crashing along the ground, and crashing into some of the others.
“We can’t fight her in this state,
Her power is far too great!” shouted Rhymey.
“Stay on the defensive!” ordered Starla, and she didn’t have to say why to the others.
“Aw, what’s the matter; losing is too much to bear?” taunted Scarlet.
The fighters looked crosser than ever, and the fight continued.
On Vistula, the darkness grew stronger as the vortex expanded, and the Starfleet outpost alarms were sounding as a lookout pony announced… “This is not a drill! General Quarters! General Quarters! All hands, Level-One Battle Stations!”
The soldiers all donned their battle suits, armed their weapons. Some rushed out of the base and out into the open, while others stayed behind to guard the place and armed the defense weapons so they base wouldn’t be invaded.
Hawk and Lightning each fired light beams up into the sky to alert the troops where to head.
“Krysta, you stay here and keep the princess safe.” said Lightning.
Krysta gripped her wand tight and proud, “You can count on me.”
“Let’s go, Major!”
“Yes sir.”
The two men leapt out the window and soared towards the fields, while all Calista could do was order her royal guards to take their positions and defend the palace.
“I don’t like the looks of this.” she murmured.
“I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet.” said Krysta.
Lightning and Hawk landed in the field where it was really dark, and they both transformed.
“STARFLEET MAGIC”
That’s when Applejack and Pinkie, already transformed, landed near them, and Hawk’s soldiers came rushing in over the hills.
One of them called to Hawk, “Sir, we’ve ordered people in the village away to safety.”
Hawk nodded at him.
Then, he appeared out from the expanding vortex.
Calista could see from so far away.
“It’s Dearka!” growled Krysta.
“What?” cried Calista “…That’s Dearka?” Her heart began to race, but her nerves were twitching in a bad way. “He’s a… He’s a…”
“…A Devil.” Krysta cut in “We didn’t get a chance to tell you, but it’s true.”
Calista shook her head in disbelief.
Dearka seemed so different-- dark, creepy, and definitely evil.
Dearka looked around at the fields all around him, “There’s no place like home, and soon there won’t be a home at all.”
His body shrouded in dark aura and he looked ready to level out everything in his path.
“Dearka! Stop!!” shouted Lightning.
Dearka could barely believe his eyes, “Well, well…” he hissed “How lucky can I really be? I get to destroy this planet and be rid of you pests at the same time.”
“Just a minute…!” thundered Applejack “We’ve been investigating here and we found out--”
“Silence!!” shouted Dearka, and he unleashed a strong wave of darkness at everyone, forcing them to dodge, but the force made big explosions that knocked them all off their feet anyway.
Calista screamed softly.
“Lightning!” cried Krysta.
The fighters all got back up on to their feet, but were astounded by Dearka’s incredible power.
“I came here to destroy this planet, and I fully intend to.” Dearka growled “And it serves them right for what they did to me!!”
The fighters realized it would be in vain to try to reason with him.
“I guess we’ll have to do this the hard way.” said Lightning, and he concentrated hard and went Enticorn, impressing Hawk and his team.
“So that’s what an Enticorn looks like.” said Hawk.
“Eeyup,” said Applejack “And that ain’t all…”
She motioned over at Pinkie, and Pinkie nodded at her.
“VALKYRIA” they both shouted and changed into their Valkyrie forums.
Some of the male soldiers whistled softly at how pretty the ladies seemed.
“All right!” said Krysta “With Lightning as an Enticorn and two Valkyries, the light power they have may give us an edge.”
Calista was amazed at the sight of the powerful fighters, but then her gaze fell at Dearka again. She could still hardly believe this creature was her beloved!
Dearka didn’t laugh or growl, he just stood where he was, with his eyes glowing deeply behind his visor, and looking ready to destroy anything in his path.
Lightning rushed forth first, and Dearka zipped out of the way swifter than ever, causing Lightning to miss.
Dearka reappeared behind him and prepared to attack.
“Now Applejack!” shouted Pinkie.
“Let’s rope this hound-dog!” added Applejack.
Together they raised their swords and fired their binding light-beams straight to ensnare him…
…But as the lights ensnared him, they suddenly faded out-- shattered by the dark aura.
“What the--” cried Pinkie “Did you see that?!”
Applejack nodded…
…And Dearka snickered, “The darkness within me now is far greater than it was before, and those pitiful lights of yours are but mere candles that can barely hold themselves!”
Lightning stomped his foot before the Devil, “For the last time, you must listen to us!”
Uninterested, Dearka turned to punch him, but Lightning blocked his fist with his own, and the two forces of Light and Darkness resulted in big jolts, making a small explosion, blowing the two apart.
“Troops, prepare to engage!” shouted Hawk. His soldiers stood ready.
“No!” hollered Lightning “All of you stay back!”
The soldiers were all confused, and Lightning also meant for Pinkie and Applejack to keep down too.
“I just felt his power, he’s much too strong, but you can still help. I need you send all the power you can spare to me.”
Pinkie and Applejack caught on at once.
“You heard the commander…!” called Applejack “Let’s give him what he needs.”
Pinkie agreed, and as much as Hawk wasn’t quite sure, he called to his troops “You have your orders, now do it!”
The troops complied and activate their energizers granting Lightning whatever power they could give. Hawk and the ladies did the same, which caused them all to power down, but caused Lightning to glow brighter than ever as his strength massively increased.
Dearka was unimpressed, “First I’ll take down you, and then your friends can watch as I blow this planet to ash!”
“That is not going to happen!” growled Lightning as he flared up brightly.
Dearka’s aura flared up too, and the two fighters rushed at each other, colliding right into one another, and rocketing right up into the sky.
High up, the two began to punch and kick furiously at each other.
They were brawling so fiercely it was hard to tell who was attacking or defending!
In the midst of the fighting, Lightning called to him “Don’t… make me… have to hurt you!!”
“It makes… no difference… to me!” bellowed Dearka.
Finally, Lightning punched him hard, while Dearka kicked him equally as strongly, and the two were sent backwards, still hovering in midair.
“I’ve known pain and suffering much longer than I’ve known love and compassion, further proof that light and love and trust are nothing but false illusions made to set people up for a big disappointment!
I had it all, and then it was taken from me, and when I tried to gain it back I was horribly shunned and treated as a criminal!
But… what goes around comes, around, and around, and around!!” he said that was waving his arms creating a large pulse of aura, and fired it straight at Lightning.
“Look out!!” screamed Pinkie.
Lightning remained where his was, with his fists glowing brightly!
“ULTRA UNIFORCE”
POW!! He fired a huge blast at the pulse, actually pushing against it, and sent it soaring high up into the sky where it exploded in a huge flash of light!
The brightness of the explosion was so bright, its light actually reached through the portal, which made the line shine softly in the Devils’ World, making everything shake and The Devils all wailed and groaned, as did Von Devilor!
“What’s happening?!” he thundered.
The light ceased and rumbling stopped.
From deep inside of Von Devilor, Cadace actually felt the force herself.
“What… what was that?” she wondered. She still felt weary from her energy being drained.
Suddenly, she could feel something else within the void with her, and she suddenly felt herself feeling a little perked up, but different on the inside as well.
“What’s happening to me?”
Then she could hear that voice calling to her again.
“I need you to trust me.”
Cadance felt herself starting to slip away! “Who are you? What are you doing to me?”
“Trust me…!”
Cadance felt herself fading out as everything flashing white before her eyes!
“AAAAAHH…!!” Von Devilor wailed and groaned as he began to feel strange. The lower part of him containing the white light was going crazy and pulsating rapidly.
“How is this possible?!
…AAAAAAAAHHHH!!”
In a huge flash, something flew out from his lower part like a speeding comet that began to soar all around the realm frightening the Devils.
Back in United Equestria, the battle had waged on for a while, and the darkness had grown immensely, strengthen Scarlet’s power which she used to pummel and punish the fighters mercilessly.
She punched…
She kicked…
She blasted…
All the fighters were looking pretty bruised and beaten, while Spike remained far in the back to keep protected for the big plan, but he couldn’t bear to watch his friends suffer any longer.
The fighters all groaned and held their arms or legs or their sides in pain, and their suits were running low on power, while Scarlet barely seemed scratched, mostly due to the fact that everyone was fighting defensively.
“I wish Lightning was here.” said Starla.
Scarlet snickered, “Well, this has been a lot of fun, but I think I’ve proven my point-- thanks to this new power I’m invincible, and now I’m going to do what I wish I had done long ago… and wipe you all out for good!!”
She was about to charge up, when suddenly… POW… a bright flash emitted from up high in the palace and two large beams flew out from a window.
“What’s this?!”
The two lights began to merge, and there appeared none other than Grand Celestial Ruler, glowing brightly as ever as they would.
The fighters’ smiles grew, while Scarlet gasped.
The Ruler gazed down at her and sneered, “You’re not the only one that can surprise their enemy with secret skills.”
They both then gazed down at Spike, and he got the message.
“Here goes…!” he shouted, and he leapt up high into the air. “When the darkness is deep enough, I have the power to unleash my most powerful forum!”
All at once, his body began to glow brightly and expand, and he became The Majestic Dragon, glowing and roaring in the sky.
“Spike…” Rarity said under her breath.
“Perfect!” said Starla.
Everyone looked up at how Spike and the Ruler were side-by-side, like a noble knight and its trusted steed.
The Ruler even mounted Spike and held their scepter up high, just like the two as well. Spike snuffed angrily at Scarlet.
Scarlet’s anger began to flare as well as her aura, “You think I’m scared! Let’s see what you’ve got!”
“Oh, it’s not YOU we’re aiming for…” hissed The Ruler.
Scarlet was confused, and then watched as Spike soared over and across her, heading straight for the vortex.
“No!” cried Scarlet. She began to rush after them.
“Stop her!” shouted Starla.
Just barley getting back up, the fighters began to chase after her and the duo.
Spike stopped just before the expanding vortex.
“Hey Devils…!” he called into it “Got a little something for you…!”
He toon in a huge breath, and his jaws began to glow brightly.
“FLAMES OF LIGHT”
The Ruler then raised their huge, glowing scepter…
“MYSTIC LIGHT”
They fired their power, combining with Spikes, and the two forces soared straight through the vortex.
Von Devilor could see the light coming!
“…Not this time!” he bellowed, and he raised all his tentacles up high absorbing darkness from the very air around him, and fired it all straight at the light, pushing against it!
The duo could feel the force pushing against them.
Scarlet laughed, “You underestimate the awesome powers of my King Von Devilor!
…Just as you underestimate me!!”
She prepared to fire a strong blast at the duo, only to be bombarded hard by other magical blasts from the fighters.
“We still have enough to go on!” said Starla “You and your king will never defeat us!”
Scarlet growled, and powered up as strongly as she could. “I will aid my king! I will fight for the darkness and hate!”
That’s what she hoped for, when suddenly a big light burst through the vortex.
“What’s that?” asked Buddy.
The light suddenly cast a glow on The Ruler and Spike, intensifying their power, and also firing a blast onto Scarlet, sending her hurling into the vortex.
Scarlet wailed as she flew back hard, “No!! I was so close!!”
No sooner had she passed through the void and landed back in her home world, did the power of the duo and the strange light seal the vortex up, enraging Von Devilor to the point where he roared so loud he made the entire realm around him shake!
His roar was so massive that Dearka could hear him through the vortex on Vistula.
“…My king!!”
The vortex was also beginning to close form his end too. Feeling the safety and well-being of his king far more important, he just dashed off through the vortex.
“Wait!!” shouted Lightning, but he had already gone, and the vortex had sealed, restoring the light back to the planet.
Calistia was practically saddened to see Dearka had gone, but was still relieved the planet was safe.
Krysta was confused and wondered “What was all that about?”
Lightning landed on the ground, changing back to his normal state.
Pinkie, Applejack and Hawk rushed up to him, all of them were confused as to what happened as well.
“I think we better head back home.” said Lightning.
The others agreed.
Back at United Equestria, the sunlight began to shine now that the vortex was gone.
The Ruler had disappeared, defused back into their majesties, and Spike stood next to them in his normal forum too. All the fighters had powered down their suits, and yet everyone’s gaze was fixated on the strange light that was swirling round, and round in the sky.
Before anyone could even ask what it was, the light slammed onto the ground, and there stood a humanoid pony that nearly everyone recognized almost at once, especially Shining Armor.
“…Cadance?”
(Promo)
In our next episode: The creature reveals itself and also the true history behind The Devils, and also gives hope and new powers to the team for the upcoming final fight. Meanwhile, Dearka decides to return to Vistula and runs into the face of his old flame, prompting Lightning and the others to return and attempt to convince him about his past.
Who is this creature in Cadance’s body, and will Dearka finally learn the truth?
Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!”
(Next Episode: “Unveiling in the Light”)