//------------------------------// // Episode 13: Scattered Dreams // Story: My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season XI // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// EPISODE THIRTEEN Over the next few days, repairs were initiated to repair the damages. Road workers were repaving and releveling the roads, with Dyno and Myte assisting them, and construction teams were busy repairing damaged buildings. The Apple Family helped, giving wood, and building supplies and assisted in any way they could, and would you believe one of the volunteer workers was Tree Hugger. “Let me guess…” Lightning joked to Buddy, “…She was once a part-time Foremen as well?” Buddy shook his head chuckling, “Nah, she’s just really handy with tools, and besides I struck a deal with the crew.” He then motioned to DD was working with the crew in the construction zone as part of her training to help her build muscle, strength, and to save pay for the workforce. For this, she wasn’t allowed to use any power-tools or magic. Any digging that had to be done, she did with a shovel or a pick. Any asphalt or cement that needed to be carried and poured, she’d use a wheelbarrow, not a machine. Flattening the road out to make it smooth, she’d just drag a huge cylinder behind her while she ran which simply amazed and astounded the workers in their slow machines. “Coming through!” she’d yell as she zoomed by again, and again, and again. Applejack was astounded by DD’s training coming along great, but then she looked worried. “We may be able to fix these places up, but what about the next time it happens?” She was right, now that The Nightmares had newer powers and mobile dream fields that could make damages in dreams in reality, the planet was in more danger than ever, and civilians were going out of their minds with worry. Lightning explained “Starla’s heading up a conference; explaining to the people our plans so far.” He felt concerned about her, hoping the stress wouldn’t overwhelm her. Meanwhile, at the School of Nightmares… Mash blew his whistle loudly as he trained his team of nightmare football players. “Come on, let’s hustle! Get in the game!” The players were all big and puffed up humanoid creatures, with huge muscles, and wearing uniforms with spikes on her pads and helmets. Instead of a football, they were playing around with a powerful, glowing pulse of energy. The players tossed it back and forth, ran with it, and the opposing players would tackle the home players in attempt to steal it. “Make the split!” shouted Mash. The Quarterback threw the pulse, but he slipped and threw it at a bad angle, forcing the players to scatter about. The ball hit the ground and exploded, blowing everyone all over. “UGH!!!” groaned Mash. He was ever so with this blunder than he marched right over, ready to give his flunkies a good yelling too, when suddenly he noticed… The way the players were all lying about on the ground-- the quarterback lay alone, while his teammates and the other players all lay scattered about away from each other. The quarterback trembled in fear, and stammered, “G-G-Gee… sorry Coach!” “Sorry?!” yelled Mash. “You’re sorry?!!” The players all felt they were in for it now, but Mash was grinning. “…You all just gave me a great idea!” He dashed off for the teacher’s lounge, and called to his students “You work on your laps now. We’re going to the big leagues!!” The students were most confused. Once in the teacher’s lounge, Mash bragged to Emcee and Magi of his idea. “You want to what?” asked Magi. Mash sighed and explained again, “Don’t you get it? Those punks from Starfleet are like a team of players--- they always work together and strategize, but what if I were to split them apart so I can pick off their strongest hitter… Commander Lightning Dawn. Take him down, and the rest of the force will be easy pickings.” Emcee tipped her glasses, “Theoretically, it could work, but our mission is supposed to be looking for Arien’s Golden Sword.” Mash gritted his teeth, “Which will be a lot easier, if we get rid of Starfleet and--” he stopped when realized “Why I am even talking to you two? I got a big game waiting.” He stomped his way to the door. “He didn’t even tell Zadovia about this.” said Emcee. “He’s going to be in big trouble.” Magi cheekily walked up to the door, “Maybe I can still catch him.” She stuck her head out into the hallway, and mockingly called out in a very soft tone, “…Mash? Oh, Maa-aash…?” Then she brushed it off, looking forward to seeing how angry Zadovia would get at Mash. She and Emcee snickered. Starla, though on official maternity leave, was heading up her conference in front of town hall, and Krysta was with her. Many civilians were gathered, and all were complaining and wailing about the impending dangers. “What can we do?” “What are you doing to save us?” “You’re not just going to let us suffer, are you?” “You call yourselves “our saviours!” Mayor Mare banged her gavel on the table, “Order… please!” she called out. “The General will do her best to answer, and put your fears to a bit of rest, but it is imperative that you all listen.” She then let Starla and Krysta take the podium, and she even provided magical images of records of the previous battle, in which the Dream Fields were now mobile, and able to leave damages behind, as well as capture more civilians in their path. “I realize this must be frightening to you all… but I can assure you, we’re doing everything in our power to reduce risks.” One civilian spoke up, “If that’s true, why don’t you put up the barriers, like you do in every battle.” Many others who already got the idea gave him a stern look for his protest and obliviousness. “…As if it weren’t obvious,” said Krysta “The defense barriers have no effect against our enemy. The dream fields can still get at you, and once inside, ordinary defenses prove ineffective.” Starla nodded, “As it is, you all know the protocol when this defense plan fails. If you see a dream field appear, then do whatever you can to get as far away from it as you can, but now that the dream fields are mobile, Queen Krystaline has mobilized her fairy soldiers to teleport people in groups to distant areas. This we feel is the most resourceful way to keep you safe form a moving dream field.” A mare in the crowd then spoke up. “But what if a dream field suddenly just appears on us while we were fleeing? Isn’t there anyway to prevent that from happening?” Starla regretfully shook her head. “We are not psychic. I’m afraid there is not much we can do of that.” The civilians began to chatter nervously. “Order, please!” called Starla, and the crowd quieted down. “Thank you…” she cleared her throat, and held up her golden band, “As you know, only myself, my husband, and those in our unit are actually given the power to fight off the nightmares. Don’t ask us why; we don’t know. Also, due to my maternity leave and my pregnancy, I am under orders to stray from fighting.” If you civilians do get trapped within nightmares, we will do our best to come to your aid, but you must cooperate with us to attain your safety as well. -Don’t try to engage the enemy yourselves… -Try not to draw the enemy’s attention to you… -Stay out of all buildings, and that includes your own homes, whether inside a dream field or outside…” As Starla continued describe the orders and regulations, some of the civilians did start to feel a little more at ease, while others were still terrified, but they didn’t blame Starfleet for things, now knowing they were only trying to do their best. “I think we’ve got them.” Krysta whispered. Starla hoped so, she still felt upset that she couldn’t help fight, but she looked down at her belly, which still was not showing well yet, and she sighed. Meanwhile, the construction was nearing completion, and the roads were all paved up and the asphalt just needed to set and dry. “Whoowie!” groaned Dyno as he fanned his hand by his nostrils “Nothing like the smell of drying asphalt.” “Give me the smell of fresh explosive smoke any day.” said Myte. “I don’t know,” added Applejack “I don’t mind the smell of fresh laden hay.” Buddy had just finished replanting some trees and flowerbeds near the buildings. It was safe to say what he loved to smell. Tree Hugger walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him and cooed in his ear “Like… way cool, hon.” Buddy smiled at his wife. Lightning was only too pleased to see the community and officers working so well together, but he knew this was usually when trouble was about to strike! As DD and Applebloom sat on a bench, resting from the workload-- Applebloom looked all wiped out, while DD wasn’t as much due to her growing strength. Suddenly, they looked up ahead across the street, and saw darkness forming. “…DREAM FIELD!!” the shouted. Lightning turned sharply and could see the dome appearing. “…Evacuation, now!” The workers immediately dropped all their tools, or whatever it was they were doing and began to run for it, while Applejack quickly sounded the alarms, alerting the entire area. The civilians, knowing the orders, began to run for the nearest area where Krysta’s fairies stood ready with portals to warp them all to safety. Tree Hugger gave Buddy a small peck for luck before she ran off with the other fleeing civilians, taking the girls, and the Apple Family with her. Lightning really hoped Starla wasn’t in any danger, but for now he had to focus on the field up ahead. “Let’s go!” he called to the others, and he quickly rushed towards the field, transforming on the way, “Starfleet Magic!” Then vanished into the field and was gone. “Wait for us!” called Buddy, and he and the others began to rush for the dream field, only for another field to suddenly pop up right in their path, and they ran right into it. “What the…?” cried Applejack. “What’s going on here?” The twins looked up and around. “This isn’t the same field Lightning went into.” cried Dyno. Myte looked up ahead, “Dios Mio! Look! Monsters…!” A whole bunch of well-built, muscle-bearing, creatures stomped forth. All of them were wearing football jerseys with spiked pads. The team stood up, and looked ready to fight. As for Lightning, the moment he entered the dream field, he engaged his Dream Mode, but then he found the streets inside his dream field to be completely deserted. No civilians or anyone else. His friends didn’t come through into the field like he told them to. “What’s going on? Where is everyone?” he asked loudly. Then he heard the sound of laughing, and saw Mash stepping out from the shadows. “What’s going on is you’re about to play in the big game, Commander, and your friends won’t be joining us-- not this time.” Lightning’s features hardened. “What have you done?” Mash snickered, “Oh, trust me, they, too, are having the games of their nightmares.” Right when the alarm sounded… Sunset, and Pinkie Pie were walking their babies in carriages down the road, and Artie was with them, when they were suddenly entrapped by another dream field. Rarity was holding a fashion walk at Carousel Boutique, with Spike watching over Twilight on the sidelines… when suddenly another dream field came rushing in and absorbed them all, and Rarity’s models inside Rhymey was working at his café, and Fluttershy was helping him that day as a part-time waitress; when another field appeared trapping them and all the patrons inside. Rainbow Dash came soaring down from New Cloudsdale when she heard of the trouble, but was astounded to see several dream fields all over New Ponyville. “Okay, what is this?” she wondered. She had no idea which field to enter, knowing that once she went in she wouldn’t get back out. Then she saw Starla and Krysta down below assisting in teleporting civilians to safety. The last civilian went through the portal. “Okay, that’s everyone.” said Krysta. Starla nodded, “Right, let’s go.” Just as they were about to leave… “Hey, wait up!” Rainbow came soaring in and landed near them. “Rainbow…?” Before anyone could say anything else, a dream field had appeared over all three of them, trapping them inside. “Oh, no…! We’re stuck!” cried Krysta. The sound of oncoming footsteps was heard, making the ladies turn round to see a whole herd of football players coming at them. Starla didn’t dare fight or transform, but Rainbow did, offering to protect her. “BRING IT ON!!” she shouted at the monsters. Lightning snuffed at Mash. “So that’s your plan-- separate me from my team and take me down yourself.” Mash, lifted his head up with pride, “…Well, after all, if I take down the heavy-hitter, the rest will fall like weak trees.” Lightning felt outraged, but not really for having fallen for the trap, but he was worried for his team, and especially worried if Starla had been captured in a field herself! Mash then blew his whistle. “Hut, Hut, Hut!!” His lead quarterback called as he and at least ten other players came rushing out into the wide open streets and stood by their coach. Lightning found this ironic; that Mash would split him off from his team just to take him down solo with a team of his own. All the players looked pretty brutal, while the quarterback was bigger and taller than any of them were, and he wore a golden, padded outfit, as opposed to his teammates white outfits. Now he was more worried about his friends and especially Starla than ever; wondering if they were confronted by the same dilemma as he was, and he was unable to get to and assist any of them while trapped in the dream field. “What’s the matter?” chuckled Mash “Afraid that you’re finally outmatch? That your biggest dreams are about to be squashed?” Lightning only gave a cheeky smirk, “The only thing that’s going to be squashed, is you and your team.” The villains all snickered, and the players all armed themselves with small energy pulses on the tips of their shoes. Mash snickered and stood well behind his men, and then with a blow of his whistle, the men started kicking the pulses straight at Lightning in a barrage of blasts. Lightning swerved and dodged as best he could… “Pour it on!” shouted the quarterback, and some of the players spread out to shoot from different angles, making it harder for Lightning to dodge their attacks. Lightning was bombarded hard; sparks and small explosions came with each hit. Mash laughed hard with glee, “That’s it, boys… KEEP IT UP!!” More blasts struck Lightning from all sides, until he was down for the count. Mash blew his whistle for his men to stop attacking! Lightning lay on the ground, smoldering and looking bruised and burnt while his armor was all charged and dented, yet he still showed strength as he struggled to get up. “Wow! You’ve got more fight in you than I thought.” teased Mash. “Too bad it won’t last long. After all, you don’t have your friends to back you up this time, and for that matter; they don’t have you to back them up either! …I wonder how they’re fairing.” Buddy, Applejack and the Twins were actually faring well against the horde of players attacking them. They kicked their pulse blasts at them, but the twins joined their hands together, “BOOM-BOOM ROCKETS!” launching their missiles to intercept the blasts. “Round ‘em up…!” Applejack hollered as she lassoed one fighter with her rope and whirled him round, and around like a ball on a chain, swatting other players. Buddy, armed with his whip, cracked at any blasts that came his way, and struck more players hard, making sparks fly. While Sunset guarded Sun Stream and Biscuit Pie with her life, Pinkie and Artie were battling it out hard with the enemies. “PAINT BOMBS” Artie unleashed his explosives at the players, which they actually plowed through, due to their big, burly bodies, as well as their padding to shield them. The angry players then armed their pulse blasts, prompting Artie to get out his staff. “I like Baseball better!” The blasts came at him, and he swung his staff like a bat, actually knocking them all up and away into the air, where they exploded harmlessly. The explosion of which disturbed the babies, and they cried and cried. Sunset did her best to try and hush them so as not to draw attention from the baddies, but to no avail. “Hey, let’s get those brats.” hollered a player. Sunset gasped in fear, while Pinkie and Artie felt their rage spiking. “You… keep away… FROM MY BABY…!!” Pinkie shouted, and she charged forth, roaring like a football player herself, punching, and kicking right through the players. Artie then joined in, whacking and pummeling the monsters with his staff. Three of the players lost patience and armed their pulse blasts on the feet again, and kicked them towards Sunset and the babies! Sunset screamed as the blasts headed for her, but Artie and Pinkie were ready for this, and they quickly leapt up high. “Batter up!” shouted Artie as she swatted a blast away. “Who’s up for soccer?” Pinkie teased as she flipped over and kicked the two other shots with her feet. The blasts were sent back to the players, blowing them into their teammates, and knocking every one of them down like bowling pins. “STIIII-RIKE!!” the fighters shouted. Then they both looked at Sunset, whom was very relieved and thankful to them both, but the fight was still far from over. The players charged straight for Spike, as the Dragon Knight, in a football rush, but he was ready for them. “DRAGON FLAME-WHEEL” Encased in his flames, he rolled along crashing into all the men, blowing them about. Rarity punched, kicked, and clawed every fighter than came her way trying to keep the models from her show safe, as well Twilight who was sleeping in her playpen and being guarded sentries. “Let’s move it!” shouted a team-player, and he and his players armed their pulses and kicked them off. “DRAGON FLAME” Spike unleashed his fiery breath to blow up several of the blasts, and Rarity used her own fiery breath to do the same, but sadly one blast soared past them, just flying away from the civilians and blew up Rarity’s inventory of dresses she used in the show. Everyone gasped, and Rarity… she cringed three times-- harder and harder in anger with each shot as she gazed at the burning ashes of her beautiful work! “My… beautiful… DRESSES…!!” she shrieked, and then she let out a mighty dragon roar while venting her flames up into the air, which frightened the civilians, the sentries, and even Spike a little, but it was the monsters that were most frightened, especially when Rarity, in a blazing rage, dashed over and began to beat them all to a pulp. “Take that-- I’ll show you-- Scoundrels!!” When all was done, the players all lay down for the count with Rarity standing in the center, and she gave a big snuff blowing smoke from her nostrils. “…Fashion Murderers!” Rhymey faced off against a horde of players outside of his café, in the streets. He swung and slashed his sword at every projectile fired at him, actually slicing them off, and he dodged the charging players as they came in for a tackle. Fluttershy escorted all the civilians inside the café, outside and further up the street to a place where they would be safer. She then asked a sentry, who was part of the group, “Please watch over them all, I’m going to help my husband brawl.” The sentry saluted, “Yes, General.” Fluttershy then flew off to help Rhymey out. “DRILL QUILL” Rhymey shouted, unleashing his sharp feathers on the players, backing them away. The angry monsters then armed themselves with more pulse blasts, ready to kick, but just as they were about to, Fluttershy came rushing in, and she gave a huge flying kick at one of the players, knocking him hard into his teammates. The monsters lay all about… Fluttershy looked up at her husband and smiled at him, and he nodded proudly and thankfully at her. As for Rainbow and Krysta, they had no civilians to content with; they just had to keep Starla protected since it was not safe for her to even try and fight back. “Here I come!” Rainbow roared as she sped past the monsters, flying in furious circles around them all and causing big whirlwinds that blew them up and all around. One player angrily got up onto his feet and readied a pulse blast to kick, but Rainbow head-butt the monster hard in the chest, causing him to miskick and sent the blast towards Starla, but Krysta was ready for this, and used her double portals to absorb and repel the blasts back at the other monsters, keeping Starla safe. “You okay?” she asked. Starla nodded, but while Krysta continued to battle and defend her, she looked a bit down, frustrated, and upset. Rainbow soared way up high, and then came crashing down at full speed towards the monsters below. “SONIC RAINBOOM” The monsters wailed as she came crashing onto the ground in a huge explosion. The scene faded from white back to Lightning, who still seemed weary from his bombardment. “I have faith in my team, even when they aren’t with me.” he said to Mash, “But I also have faith in myself. That’s the Power of Believing!” Mash only burst out laughing. “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.” Then he blew his whistle again to start another wave of pulse blasts. Lightning dodged and swerved around each blast as best he could, and finally he saw an opening he needed, and he leapt right in front of some of the players as others kicked more shots. He then quickly zipped away causing the shots to hit the monsters. “Hey!!” shouted Mash. “What the!” cried the quarterback. “Stop him!!” The other monsters continued to kick pulse blasts, or run and tackle at Lightning, but he took advantage of the whole situation. Even though he was one against many, the fact that there were so many bad guys teamed against him meant less room for them to run around, or avoid accidently hitting or running into each other. Lightning also found openings to attack the monsters himself-- kicking them in their helmets, or blasting at them with Uniforce pulses, blowing the paddings right off of them. “What’s the matter with you guys?!” bellowed Mash. “Get in there, and knock him out of the field!” “Yes, sir, Coach!” hollered the Quarterback, and he called to his men, “Group Huddle!” The monsters all huddled together, and looked ready to charge together in one big rush; each them armed with two pulse blasts, one on each of their shoes. “Time for the big playoff!” laughed Mash. Lightning stood where he was, charging up his own power. His golden horn was glowing, and so was the rest of his body. The players began to run forward to finish him off, and they all kicked off their pulse blasts at the same time, creating a powerful, large ball of energy that rushed straight for Lightning. “Now it’s my turn!” Lightning bellowed. “UNIFORCE!” POW!! He fired his great force in a stream towards the ball, actually forcing it back towards the monsters. The monsters all gasped and scattered about, leaving the quarterback stuck in the middle. “YOU IDIOT…!! GET OUT OF THERE!!” shouted Mash, but it was too late; the creature was struck hard by both forces and he was totally vaporized into black smoke, which formed into a dream bubble, which then burst. The force of the explosion, as well the force of the two powers colliding, caused the dream field to weaken and collapse. Mash quickly blew his whistle, “Team, retreat!!” The monsters didn’t have to be told twice, and they quickly disappeared along with their coach, leaving Lightning standing wearily, but triumphant. With Mash gone, all the other dream fields vanished too, forcing the other players to retreat too. Only half of them entire team survived, the other half were beaten by the fighters. “So long bozos…!” Rainbow balked. Krysta flew in cheerful circles, and while Starla was pleased the battle was over, she still didn’t feel very upbeat or proud-- for obvious reasons. Back at the School of Nightmares… Zavodia dropped a huge bucket of soap water, and a huge mop before Mash; his punishment for insubordination and blundering. “I’ve given the janitor time off. You will clean the entire school, from top to bottom!” “But boss!” he tried to protest, but Zadovia wouldn’t hear of it. “It’s bad enough you went out there without notifying me, but you not only wasted a great deal of dream energy, you didn’t even bother to search for the golden sword… AND… you lost half our football team!” She looked mighty steamed. Her eyes were glowing sharply with anger, and her hair looked more blazing than ever. Mash huffed as he reluctantly set off for his duties, walking past Magi and Emcee whom were snickering at him. “Ahem!” Zadovia snapped at them both. “You two… go and help him!” “What?” cried Magi. “Us…? Why?!” wailed Emcee. Zadovia glared at them furiously, “You knew about this insubordination, and you did not report to me. Any objections?” she pointed her pointer right at them, and its tip was sparking in a threatening way, prompting the ladies to dash off. The damages left behind from the battles were only minimal, and nothing for the construction crews to fix up. Lightning sitting on a bench, resting and recuperating from being pummeled so much. Some of his friends came over, including Starla. “Lightning, are you alright?” she cried. “Simple story, but I’ll live.” Lightning groaned, but then he looked up at his wife with love. “Are you okay?” “She’s fine, thanks to me.” Rainbow gloated, which earned her an angry glare from Krysta. “…I mean, “Thanks to us.” Lightning was relieved, but he noticed Starla seemed a bit bummed. “You okay?” She forced a smile, “Yeah, don’t worry…” and she touched her stomach “We’re both fine.” Lightning already had his intuitions warming up on her true feelings. Suddenly, Buddy, Applejack and the twins showed up. “Anyone mind helping out with the damages?” asked Buddy. Everyone else just sighed. (Promo) In our next episode: Starla feels completely fed up from missing all the action and excitement that she and Cadance confide in one another resulting in deep emotional memories from both families. Meanwhile, Emcee creates a new monstrous wonder that can change its shape to resemble somebody dear to the fighters making it difficult to bring themselves to battle. How can our heroes overcome this shape-shifting menace? Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!” (Next Episode: “Dreaming of You”)