//------------------------------// // Episode 7: Parents Want to Understand // Story: My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season XI // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// EPISODE SEVEN Once again, Castor and Leilani were having a shared dream of seeing the Dream Knight’s world again while it was so beautiful. Castor was looking at his reflection on the water of a clear stream. He playfully made faces at himself while giggling. Leilani was sitting peacefully on a grassy hill with rabbits, birds, and squirrels cuddling up with her. Some of them placed a crown of daisies on her head. “Aww... how sweet.” she cooed. She looked all around the astounding beauty of the land surrounding them. “It’s just all so beautiful.” Her brother agreed and he thought of those evil shadows and nightmares again. “Why or how would anyone want to invade and ruin such a place?” That’s when they heard a familiar voice behind them, “…All things have their reasons.” It was the Dream Knight again, looking just as handsome and magical as ever. “It’s you again.” said Leilani. “Yes. It seems our paths keep crossing.” he sounded like it was a bad thing. Castor hated to be direct, but he asked the knight right away. “Why can’t we tell others about you?” The knight hesitated to answer, “I have my reasons, just as all things do.” “That doesn’t answer us.” protested Leilani. “We just want to help you. We want to help protect these dreams, and all other good dreams.” The knight remained silent. “Can’t you at least tell us your real name?” asked Castor. The knight looked down at the two children with a silent and still expression. “You can trust us.” said Leilani “That’s what friends do.” “Friends?” asked the knight. He though a moment, “Yes… I suppose, but how do I know I can trust you both?” “What do you mean “How?” said Leilani “You entrusted your power to us to help you protect dreams already.” The knight looked up into the sky. “What choice did I have? I did what I had to in order to prevent the enemy from obtaining which they seek.” The children couldn’t really argue, and they sighed. “We just want to help even more, and we can’t help you if you do let us.” said Castor. Leilani nodded and added, “What do we have to do to convince you?” The knight didn’t know how to answer or even if he wanted to. “Children…” called a faint a familiar voice. “It’s Mother.” said Castor. “Oh, no…! Not now?” groaned Leilani, but the dream was already starting to fade into white. Celestia had opened the curtains letting the warm sunlight in, and then she softly looked between her two sleeping children. “Castor…? Leilani…?” She softly caressed their cheeks with her hands. “Wake up sleepyheads. It’s time to start a brand new day.” The children slowly opened their eyes and gave sleepy groans. Later that day, at The School of Nightmares… Magi was teaching her Literature class-- pacing around the room while quote from a tome she was reading. “…To be a nightmare, or to not be a nightmare…? That is the question, that you all will learn in due time as you haunt the minds of those who dare to dream purely.” Her students took note of this, but some were chattering quietly… “She teaches us all this, and yet she’s not successful herself.” “Maybe we ought to put in a transfer.” Magi took that to insult, and tapped her staff hard and glared at the students with burning, glowing eyes. She wasn’t the only one having difficulties with students… Emcee was handing back test results, and she was not pleased. “C... D… F… F… …F!” She groaned irritably. “What are you creatures; on sleeping medication?! We have gone over these scientific notes for decades, and you still can’t pass simple tests like this?!” The students all looked ashamed. Emcee meant what she had said; being dreams rather than mortal beings, many of the creatures were hundreds-- thousands even of years old. Then, in the gymnasium, Coach Mash blew his whistle at all the students whenever they fumbled, or fouled at whatever sports they were practicing. “Come on! You call yourselves Nightmares?! You look like a bunch of light specks! How do you expect to scare and conquer when you can’t even hit the mark? Fifty laps, all of you!” He blew his whistle, and the groaning students began to run around, and around. Soon the bell rang signifying the end of class, but this was followed by the ringing of a different bell, and a voice over the school intercom called out. “All staff and students report to the assembly hall.” Before long, all the students were gathered, and chattering about, while the three top teachers were, once again, standing before the stage were Zadovia. “Quiet! QUIET!!” she bellowed while tapping her pointing stick on her podium, and all the students hushed up instantly. Zadovia snuffed and then pointed at the teachers. “I commend the three of you, you have gathered vast amounts of power for us, but how much longer am I to sit and wait for you to find the Golden Sword?” Mash sighed, feeling overly annoyed of hearing this complaint for the umpteenth time. “Look, I mean no offense here, but if it was an easy thing to find, we would have had it by now!” “I had to admit this…” said Emcee “But he has a point. There’s still countless of potential subjects in which their dreams could house the sword.” “So how do we find the right one?” asked Magi. Mash protested, “Hey, you’re the magical one; you figure out a way.” “What? What about her?” Magic snarled at Emcee “She’s supposed to be all brainy, and yet she botched up that formula of hers.” Emcee balked. “So what if my experiment failed? I’m working on it.” They bickered and bickered, and Zadovia rubbed her face while groaning. Rather than yell at them to be quiet, she changed into a large, glowing, and spooky spectre version of herself, and gave off a loud roar, frightening the trio and many of the students. Zadovia changed back and huffed, “That’s better!” Then she addressed the trio, “If you can’t make up your minds, then allow me to make them up for you. I have the perfect targets in mind for you to strike next.” She opened her book and magically showed large images of none other than Grand Ruler Celesto and Queen Celestia. The crowd awed with astonishment, while the trio were gawking just as much. “Their majesties themselves?” asked Mash. “Of course!” cried Magi. “Why they must have the purest and most beautiful dreams anyone could ever think of… what with all they do and what they hope for…” Emcee wasn’t too convinced as she noted that neither of their majesties had a golden bracelet, meaning they had no connection to the Dream Knight, his sword, or the ability to repel the nightmares. Before she could even say anything, Magi had already volunteered for the mission. “I’ll get their dreams. Even if they don’t have the sword, they’re likely to possess vast amounts of power that could take our forces to a whole new level.” “Exactly.” said Zadovia “Now go, and don’t mess it up.” Classes were also in session in the royal courtyards below. Lighting and Starla were called from New Ponyville to head up courses and make speeches to inspire cadets and the knights in training. Lightning was helping the cadets with their combat skills by having spars with each student. He had to hold back and go as easy as he could on the newbies. Some of the cadets were actually afraid to approach “the commander” himself, which made Lightning sigh, “It’s going to be a long afternoon.” Starla still couldn’t fight because of her pregnancy, but her job was to help the cadets with their aim when firing weapons or magic projectiles, as well as improve their evasiveness by firing her own powers at them. “STAR SHOWER” “PULSAR LASER” The cadets dodged and blocked her attacks fairly well, but then… “STARLIGHT ARROW” That’s when she showed off her masterful archery skills. The cadets dodged the arrows coming at them. “You missed us!” they would taunt, but Starla would only smirk, “…Did I?” That’s when her arrows ricocheted off walls, poles, crates or other things and struck the students from behind. Starla shook her head pitifully at the fallen cadets. “Learn to watch out from behind as well.” Meanwhile… Being the children of their royal majesties, Castor and Leilani didn’t just go to school; they had private lessons and tutoring. They had music class… Dance lessons… Teachings of how to be truly royal, to prepare them for the many big responsibilities they would have in future, such as running the star systems, maintaining peace and order on the planet, how to behave in public and things like that. Sometimes, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor would visit to help teach their little cousins--being well-educated themselves. Cadance taught Leilani how to walk like a princess. “You pick up your skirt in two fingers, and you step, and step, and step…” Leilani followed, copying her every move. Shining Armor taught Castor how to fence, with prop swords. “Get ready to parry…” he said as he readied himself. Castor nodded, but really both he and Leilani were far too distracted to concentrate. They were still thinking about the Dream Knight and wondering how to convince him of their trust… …Leilani tripped over her dress… …And Castor got struck in the chest by such a blow he could have easily parried. “Are you okay?” Cadance asked as she helped Leilani up. Shining Armor helped Castor up too. “What happened? You didn’t even raise your sword or flinch.” The children looked disappointed, but actually more regretful. “Are you two okay?” Shining Armor asked again. “…Exactly what we’d like to know.” said Grand Ruler as he and Celestia stood at the doorway to the private classroom. The both of them looked deeply concerned, and Celestia held up two spelling tests marked each with a D-Minus. Now the children really looked upset and worried. It wasn’t like them to get low marks on tests, and this wasn’t the first time either. They had been slipping and fumbling a lot lately. “Children, what is the matter?” asked Celestia. The children hesitated and then both answered, “Nothing, Mother.” The grownups were not convinced. “That sounds like a pretty big “nothing.” said Grand Ruler. “Children, if something’s bothering you, you need to tell us right away. Remember what we taught you?” The children remembered; if something was bothering them, the right thing to do would be to tell so the parents could try and help. “We can always read your minds anyway.” said Celestia “…And I think it’s about time we did that.” The children were very worried, and begged not to. “You can make this easier and just tell us what troubles you.” said their father. “We… we can’t.” said Castor. “We just can’t tell anyone.” added Leilani. The parents sighed. Cadance and Shining Armor hated that their cousins were not cooperating either, and they, too, were starting to agree to the mind reading. “We’re going to go get the spell ready,” said Celestia, and then she addressed to her niece and nephew-in-law “Will you watch them and bring them when we’re ready?” The couple agreed, much to the children’s fear and dismay. So after their parents had left, while Cadance and Shining Armor had their backs turned, they quietly slipped out the window. The grownups turned round. “Kids?” called Shining Armor. “The window!” cried Cadance. They rushed over and looked all over, but the palace was so big there was already so many places the kids could have run off to hide. Cadance hated having failed her aunt and uncle already, but she and her husband quickly took responsibility and began to organize a search. Goldwin was up on the tallest terrace, polishing the telescopes for the stargazers. “Okay, that looks good.” he said to himself. “Oops, missed a spot on the lens.” He bent over to get his rag and cleaner, when the telescope whirled round, and actually caught his mask, pulling it off and turning him back into a gold statue. That’s when Castor and Leilani had flown up onto the terrace to hide. “You sure they won’t find us here?” asked Leilani. “It’s a big palace. In a while we’ll just change spots.” Then they noticed Goldwin, and his mask hanging off the end of the telescope. “Should we help him?” asked Castor, but both he and his sister knew that if they did the magic and bring him back to life, he’d see them and bring them to their parents. Then again, just leaving him there and nobody else knew he needed help. “We better help him.” said Leilani. Her brother agreed, and fetched the mask. Once it was over Goldwin’s face, they said the magic words together… “Powers of life, now begin awaken the magic from within!” …And Goldwin awoke again. “What happened?” he asked with a startle. “We found you here,” explained Castor. “Your mask was dangling off the telescope.” Goldwin remembered, and he felt silly for having lost his mask again. “What are you two doing up here anyway?” he asked. The children felt embarrassed to say. “Is something wrong?” asked Goldwin. “Why does everyone keep asking us that?!” snapped Leilani, making Goldwin’s eyes widen. She quickly apologized, which told Goldwin enough. “Are you two hiding from someone?” Castor nodded, “Our parents want to read our minds, and we don’t want them to.” Goldwin was well-aware of the children and their struggling. While in his dance classes, where he taught them, they would stumble and fall, even on simple moves they had already mastered. He knew there was no point in asking them, but he did give them the same talk the parents used. “You know, they only want to know what’s wrong because they care for you, and they only want what’s best for you… …Just like we all do.” The children were still unconvinced, and worried about the truth being discovered. “Are you going to take us to mother and father?” asked Castor. Goldwin nodded sadly, “You know I have to.” “There’s no need for that, Goldwin.” said a familiar voice. The children turned round and saw their parents, and their cousins standing at the entrance to the terrace; having found the children easily using palace scanners for their specific bio-signs. “Whatever are we to do with you two?” asked Celestia. “Why are you two so desperate for us not find out?” The children sighed, and Castor explained as best he could. “We just… we made a promise to a friend that we wouldn’t tell.” This was the first the grownups had heard of “a friend.” “You promised a friend?” asked Grand Ruler “Well… I suppose that is a bit understandable, but even still, if it bothers you this much… it sounds very serious.” Celestia was all for the understanding of friendship, but she still couldn’t help but ask, “And just who is this friend of yours?” The children went silent again. “Well, come on… we’re waiting.” said their father. “Who is your friend? Are they in any trouble with you, or someone else?” The children looked up regretfully. “We can’t tell you.” said Leilani. The grownups all sighed, and it was beginning to look like they would have to mind read after all. The children had no choice but to respect their parents’ wishes, and they came along sadly but quietly. Cadance and Shining Armor hung their heads low, and Goldwin didn’t know what to feel what for whom. “Why don’t we go, for support.” he suggested? The couple agreed, and headed inside themselves. As they walked down the hall… the lighting inside the palace suddenly changed. “What happened to all the lights?” asked Goldwin. Cadance and Shining Armor realized almost at once. “It’s a Dream Field!” cried Cadance. “Inside the palace?!” wailed Shining Armor. Then they heard the sound of screaming. “It’s the children!” cried Cadance. “Let’s go!” The trio ran down the hall together. “Lightning, look!” cried Starla. Everyone could see the large, shadowy bubble bulged out from the center of the palace. Lightning growled, and, knowing he was one of the only few that could actually fight off The Nightmares, he decided to head off and investigate. “Starla, you stay here.” His wife agreed, and watched her husband transform. “Starfleet Magic!” And he flew off. One of the students couldn’t help but ask, “Pardon me, General… Are you actually okay with not being able to follow him into battle?” Starla immediately replied “Of course I am…” and she softly touched her stomach. “I have to keep it easy, and besides, I’m just as pleased to help with other duties… such as getting you all inside in times of emergency.” The cadets got the message and they all began to file into the academy building. Starla snickered proudly at the students filing inside, but then her expression changed as she turned round to look back up at the palace. “Be careful, Lightning.” Magi had appeared in the throne room, right as their majesties and the children came through on their way to their bed chambers. The guards had sprung to arms, but because they didn’t possess the golden power, they were made easy work of-- Magi read all their dreams, and then knocked all over them over without breaking much of a sweat. The guards lay down, unconscious all around her. “Pathetic.” she groaned. Then she turned to face her true targets; their majesties themselves. Both were glaring at her furiously while their children were cowering and quivering behind them. Knowing they couldn’t escape from the Dream Field, the parents motioned towards their thrones, and children immediately got the idea. The children raced towards the thrones… Hidden behind the thrones was a floor tile that could flip over, revealing a palm scanner. Only royal family members were recognized. Castor and Leilani scanned their palms, and then, behind them a secret entrance raised up, revealing a stairway to a small bunker beneath the floor where they would be safe and could view the happenings above via monitor screens. Magi suffered, “Those little brats don’t concern me; it’s you two that I want.” Grand Ruler flicked his cape, and Celestia magically changed from wearing her royal dress and cape to her old warrior garments. She didn’t bother change into her Valkyrie forum. “Whatever you want with us, you shall not have it.” she sneered. Magi only laughed, “Really? Well, why don’t we make it interesting then, hmm…?” The majesties stood ready and watched as she summoned a nightmare bubble, which burst and formed into the monster. It seemed to resemble a large tiki stature, with a solid metal body, sharp teeth, and large glowing, red eyes. He let out a mighty roar and growled and snarled. “I am Nightmare Tiki-Terror. All will fall before me!” Down in the bunker, the children shuddered and whimpered at the sight of the creature. “Get them!” shouted Magi. The tiki opened his huge mouth as energy started to build up inside. Their majesties zipped out of the way as a huge, fiery ball flew right past them blasting columns and chunks out of the wall. “We can’t battle it.” Celestia called. Her husband agreed, “We can still stall it.” Magi laughed, “Try stalling us both!” and she aimed her staff and unleashed her magic beams, forcing their majesties to dodge again. The blast hit the windows, shattering the glass and frames. “Show them your specialty, Tiki!” Her monster snickered, and his huge red eyes began to glow brightly, and fired a zap at their majesties. “Celesto!” cried Celesti “I… I can’t move.” “Me neither.” wailed her husband. “You anger the tiki, you pay for it.” laughed the monster. “Once my magic eyes glare at you, you’re hopeless to resist the paralyzing power I cast.” Magi landed before him and pat his arm. “Well, done. You just may get extra credit for this.” Her monster was thankful. Magi then proceeded to move closer towards their majesties. “Now, let’s take a look at your dreams, and find what we’ve been searching for.” Against this sort of powerful dream magic, their majesties couldn’t budge an inch as Magi drew nearer to peek into their dreams. The children were frightened below in the bunker, and were pounding on the monitors. “Mother…!” “Father…!” “Here I come!” hissed Magi, but just as she was about to fire her dream beam, when their majesties were swooped away by Cadance, in her Silent Ninja forum, and Shining Armor as Saber. “Have you no shame for peer into others’ privacy?!” scolded Saber. Cadance merely nodded in agreement. Magi was infuriated, and even more so when their majesties were able to move again, being out of tiki’s gaze. “Get them all!” Magi shouted. “With pleasure...” agreed Tiki, and he opened his mouth to breathe more fire… …When Lightning burst in through a hole in the wall, already in Dream-Mode, and gave the monster a huge kick in the side, toppling him over with a loud crash. Magi growled and Lightning glared at her. “Have you no decency for people’s privacy!” he scolded. “Hey, that’s what he said!” scoffed Magi, but then she flicked her robe and looked raring to brawl. “I’ll show you “decency!” She zapped at him, and he leapt up and over her, before whirling around and firing a blast out of his horn, striking her hard and sending her slamming a set of suits of armor. “Lightning, behind you!” shouted Grand Ruler. Tiki’s eyes were glowing again, but Lightning quickly zipped out of the way. “Where’d he go?” huffed the monster. “Right here…!” Lightning called as he came crashing down from above to attack, only to get blasted by Magi’s rays, and sent him crashing hard into the thrones, smashing them to bits. “Oh, no!” cried Celestia, and then she joked “I just had the pillows fluffed.” Castor and Leilani saw the fight on the monitors. Their hearts were racing and their bloods were flowing, all in fear. Lightning was getting beat up by the villains, and he didn’t dare go Enticorn; his power would be so strong he’d destroy the entire throne room; maybe even cause the palace to collapse. “I don’t think the commander can face them both on his own.” cried Castor. “Yes, but no one else can help him fight.” said Leilani. Then things got even worse as the children watched their parents and their cousins were backed against a solid wall, and being approached by the villains. “I’m growing tired of waiting.” hissed Magi. “I dream to see your dreams!” The four royals huddled together, but their majesties were already prepared for this. Quickly, they had teleported themselves and their relatives at random points across the throne room. “To dream an impossible dream…!” Grand Ruler taunted. “You’ll have to work harder to make this one a reality.” Lightning bolted upright from the wrecked thrones. Magi decided to play on his words. “Did you say “hotter?” and she snapped her fingers, and Tiki roared as he fired multiple fire blasts from his mouth, seeing drapes, flags, and carpets ablaze. “Fire!!” shouted Saber. The automatic extinguisher couldn’t respond while within the Dream Field as their main control unit was from outside where it couldn’t’ detect anything. “Put out those flames before the whole room burns up!” called Celestia. “I’ll try and handle the creeps.” said Lightning. “Don’t let the monster paralyze you.” cautioned Grand Ruler. Lightning agreed, and jumped in to confront Magi and Tiki. “You think you’re so magical?” balked Magi, and she got out her spell book, quickly reciting a magical phrase, and that’s when she multiplied herself and the monster in five each. “What the--” cried Lightning. “What’s the matter?” all five Magis taunted “Seeing more than you can believe.” The Tiki monsters all snickered wickedly. Lightning, although able to fight them, was still unable to use his visor to scan for which were the real villains. “Think I can’t zap you all?” he sneered, and he prepared to fire small pulses of uniforce, when he realized he would probably and accidently hit one of the unconscious guards, or his friends. “I’ll have to do this the old-way.” he decided, and he lunged for one of the Magis, aiming to punch her face, only to fall right through as it was one of the illusions. He aimed to kick one of the Tikis, it, too, was an illusion. Worse than that, the illusions were able to fire at him and hurt him, as part of Magi’s nasty tricks, and this made it all the more harder for Lightning to keep track of all the targets he had already attacked, causing him to strike the same illusions twice, and thrice. Meanwhile, Celestia and Grand Ruler used their powers to conjure up buckets of water to douse every flame, while Saber used his sword to slash off the burning curtains to keep the fire from spreading, and Cadance helped to clear away the unconscious guards. All four of them huddled together after finishing the job. “That should stop the fire.” said Saber. Cadance and their majesties agreed… only for all four of them to suddenly be paralyzed by Tiki’s curse. The real monster and the real Magi appeared before the frozen group; revealing her trick. “No!!” Lightning cried. He tried to rush through the illusions, but they kept zapping at him from all directions. Celestia and Grand Ruler couldn’t teleport while in this state. This particular type of paralysis was unlike anything they had ever felt. “You didn’t think you dream of outwitting me, did you?” Magi taunted. “Now, once and for all, let me see YOUR DREAMS!!” Three of the royals screamed as they were hit by the dream streams-- Cadance couldn’t make a sound. Lightning kept getting blasted at by the illusions, unable to help. Magi saw all kinds of things… Shining Armor had dreams of being reunited with his sister, Twilight Sparkle-- which could never truly happen. Cadance’s dreams were that of a world filled with light and love, and where everyone appreciated one another. It was their majesties dreams which intruiged Magi the most. “Oh, my…!” she exclaimed “Look at all this…” Their majesties envisioned a universe filled with peace, order, friendship, and harmony. No more bad guys, no more evil, no more crime, no more battles-- a world where Starfleet was no longer needed. …It was just so peaceful, like an improbable dream! The children just couldn’t bear to watch this much longer! Lightning was getting pummelled, their parents and cousins were in great danger, and still powerless to fight back. “They need help!” cried Castor. “If only they had the same power as Lightning did!” wailed Leilani. Magi finished observing the dreams, and taking in the energy, but she was ever so outraged! “No!! It’s impossible!” she bellowed. “How can this be? Their dreams are so pure-- all of them-- and still no sign of the Golden Sword?!” Suddenly, there was a big flash of golden light illuminating from above. The villains looked up and covered their eyes as the two parts of the magical sword appeared. They joined together to make the weapon whole, and the sword began to sprinkle golden sparkles down over the room, dispelling the illusions, and setting the four royals free. “What’s happening?” wondered Lightning. The four royals were fully free, and then each of them noticing a glowing on their wrists. All at once, in bright flashes, they were each donned with a golden dream bracelet, and went into Dream-Mode like Lightning. “What?! No!!” cried Magi “This can’t be happening!” Celestia and Grand Ruler gazed at one another; the both of them feeling incredibly different, yet new and improved. Cadance and Saber felt the same… Lightning slowly got up onto his feet. “This means you all can battle the nightmares now, too!” Grand Ruler clenched his fists remarking, “Yes!” and he turned to face the villains, with his family all huddling around him. “Oh, this is going to feel great!” hissed Saber. Magi and Tiki were far from willing to give in. “Paralyze them!” Magi ordered. “Right!” agreed her monster, but just as his eyes began to glow, the royals zipped out of sight. The monster and Magi looked around and all about. “STRIDENT SHOCKWAVE” Saber unleashed his lightning at the villains from above, striking them hard, and sent them skidding along the slick floor. The royals then landed on the floor and spread about. Cadance and Saber went after the monster, while their majesties faced off with Magi herself. “…No more kid’s stuff.” sneered Celestia. She dashed, and leapt up over her husband, landing on his hand, and he sprung her forth for a high-jump kick. Magi blocked her boot with her staff, repelling her off, only for Celestia to flip kick her right in the face, knocking her hat off. Magi wasn’t too hurt, but more enraged than ever, especially when Grand Ruler leapt in and began to punch and kick at her, forcing her to defend herself; blocking him with her staff, and her own punches and kicks. Celestia then joined in herself, and together with her husband, they each gave Magi a double punch, sending her sailing out a hole in the wall and out onto the palace battlements. The children saw it all, and they were astounded. “I don’t believe it!” said Castor “They’re actually winning.” Leilani nodded, and she and her brother realized that the Dream Knight had to be responsible for all this. “Why would he do it?” Leilani wondered. Cadance and Saber battled hard with the monster. Tiki tried to paralyze them again, but Cadance swiftly moved about too much to be caught in one place, and she kicked him hard in his metal chest, sending him right towards her husband. Saber looked ready to attack with sword and sickle, but Tiki thrust out his metal fists and pounded him hard in the face and the gut, sending him sailing out another window, onto another set of battlements. The monster rushed to the window and aimed another fire blast at him. Cadance dashed into attack him, only to get punched hard. “You’re too soft!” Tiki mocked, only then to get blasted by Lightning out the window. “And you’re too thick to understand.” he jeered. Then he looked over at Cadance. “You okay?” She gave him a thumb up. Outside, on the wall, Tiki was infuriated, and he yelled up at the window, “I’ll get you for that!” “Wrong!” snarled Saber “…I’ll get you!” He gripped his sword tightly, and then shocked it with his power to ready his finisher, as was hinted by the glowing symbol of the golden dream sword appearing on it. “SHOCKING SABER STRIKE” The Tiki, being metal, was highly vulnerable to electricity. One strike… and that was it! The creature wailed and failed as it sparked and jolted by electrical beams and he fell over the side of the wall, exploding in midair, and his dream bubble burst. “Alright…!” Saber cheered “Like a dream come true.” Cadance and Lightning was overjoyed. Meanwhile, on the other side, their majesties were both brawling with Magi hard. Grand Ruler punched her hard in the gut… Celestia kicked her hard in the side sending her sailing across the battlements. Then together, they moved their hands together, and cast binding magic over Magi, holding her in place. “…Got her!” cried Celestia. Her husband agreed. “Let’s take her in. We’ll find about her, and the nightmares. Then we can try and stop them!” That’s what he wanted, but it was fruitless… Magi broke free from bondage easily-- snapping those bindings as if they were thin strings. She was still just a dream, and dreams could not be contained by normal forces or what magic their majesties currently possessed. Magi decided to retreat, while assuring their majesties. “You may not have had what I really wanted, but know this… thanks to what I have obtained from you, the nightmares will grow only stronger, and soon your world, and all worlds beyond will belong to us!!” She vanished, and the Dream Field was dissolved, and just when Lightning and the others rushed onto the scene. “Argh…! She got away again!” groaned Lightning. Grand Ruler shook his head, “It wouldn’t have matter had you’d gotten here anyway. She would have escaped regardless.” Celestia’s suddenly remembered, “The children!” The grownups all quickly dashed back inside to get the children out of the bunker, only to find they had already let themselves out. They ran to their parents, hugging them warmly. Starla had flown over the minute the Dream Field vanished. She was relieved to see all was well… or nearly so! The throne room was a complete and total wreck, but nothing the royal construction team couldn’t fix in a jiffy. That night, the children were being tucked warmly and safely in bed as their parents bid them a loving good night. “Children…” their father said to them. “About this friend of yours…” The children looked nervous again, but their mother then assured them. “…We won’t try to pry into your privacy if it means that much to you and your friend. But just the same, we want you to try harder in your studies.” “Yes, Mother.” The children agreed. The parents pecked their kids good night once more before leaving them to fall asleep quietly. Soon, they found themselves again, in the Dream Knight’s world, standing before him. “You gave our family the power, didn’t you?” asked Castor. The knight softly nodded, “Yes.” “But why did you?” asked Leilani. “I thought you said you couldn’t trust us?” “I never said that I didn’t really trust you.” replied the knight “But you did keep to your word by not telling anyone of our connection. It proves of your purity as well as your deepest devotions.” The children felt slightly flattered. “So, will we ever get to tell anyone about you?” asked Castor. The knight hesitated. “Can’t you at least tell us your name?” asked Leilani. The knight looked off into the beautiful scenery of the land around them all, and the children looked with him. “…I will consider it.” (Promo) In our next episode: Leads are starting to become clear to Lil Fair and her ghost friend, which leads the Cutiemark Crusaders to doing their own investigations. Lil, on the other hand, finds herself losing more and more control over herself as the spirit continues to grow stronger and continue its own crusader against all that it loathes. What will be discovered about the case, and what will become of Lil? Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!” (Next Episode: “Part 1: Life of a Little Adult”)