My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic (Season IX)

by DakariKingMykan

Episode 25: Part 2: Second Winds of Love

“Previously on Starfleet Magic…”

The heroes arrived in the Devils’ World, and immediately fell victim to King Von Devilor’s tickery, forcing them to use up some of the strengths and powers fighting shadow clones of the Devils. Meanwhile, Scarlet and Dearka had a huge brawl, ending with Dearka making a hasty retreat while the heroes finally confronted Von Devilor himself. Despite their valiant efforts, the Devil King proved to be far too much to handle, and the heroes’ time and strengths are running low.

EPISODE TWENTY-FIVE

A weary Spike was back in New Canterlot, and his strength was revived, courtesy of their majesties and Agapi, but he was beating himself hard.

“He actually beat my strongest attack!” he wailed “And now I can’t even go back to help the others!”

“Calm yourself, Spike!” said Celestia “You did the right thing by coming back here.”

“She’s quite right.” said Grand Ruler “You were told to exit if things got dangerous, or you could have been destroyed.”

He then looked concerned, worrying about Lightning and the others.

Spike had reported how serious things were, but what their majesties were confused of most was the lack of Devils.

“You say you were only fighting shadows.” said Luna “Then where have the real Devils disappeared to?”

Agapi had a bad feeling about this, “I have a small theory, but I just hope that I am wrong!”

Meanwhile…

Von Devilor glared down upon the pint-sized heroes, and laughed at them while his entire forum still pulsated with dark aura.

“You were never a match for me!” he gloated “I must admit, I’m surprised you all lasted this long, but now I’ve grown more than weary of you and your worthless light and love!”

“It’s not worthless!” shouted Lightning.

Starla agreed and added, “Maybe if you actually understood what Love really is, things could have different for you.”

“Ha!” scoffed Von Devilor “The only thing I understand is that all of you are about to be squashed like bugs, at the hands of my hatred and darkness, which I will then use to conquer the universe and blight out all light and love everywhere!”

Lightning and Starla’s visiors flashed red inside with warning, saying that they each had less than sixty seconds of light power left.

“You guys, you’re going to run out!” cried Artie.

“You’ll get hurt by the darkness!” added Fluttershy.

Lightning clenched his fists tightly, “No, we won’t!” and then quickly he pulled his wife towards him, “What are you doing?” she asked before her husband captured her lips deeply in his.

She was very surprised, but with her eyes still open, she suddenly scanned both their timers were slightly increasing.

That’s when she realized, and began to passionately kiss him back, letting her love pour out, and further strengthening the light within them both.

“What’s this?!” growled Von Devilor.

The other fighters could see it too.

“Of course!” cried Buddy “Agapi’s power is fueled by love!”

Rainbow hit her own head with her, “Duh! How could we have missed that?”

Fluttershy decided to try it out too.

“I love you, Rhymey!” she said to her husband, and Rhymey could only respond by embracing her.

“You are the love of my life
my dear, and loving wife.”

They shared a kiss which strengthened their power too.

“Stop this now!!” thundered Von Devilor. He thrust his tentacles at everyone, but the couples opened their eyes, and quickly dodged.

“Look out!” Applejack called, and she and the others fighters zipped off too.

The two couples broke off from their passionate embraces, and their power levels were way up high now.

Lightning turned to look at all the other fighters. “Heads up!” he called to them, and he and the other three tapped on their energizers giving them all a little boost of their own powers, thus making everyone evened out.

“Wow! This feels awesome!” said Dyno.

“We spent so long focussing on Von Devilor, we didn’t think to try a little loving.” added Myte.

Saber gripped his sword and sickle-and-chain rightly, “Well, now that we do know… Let’s get busy!!”

The entire team agreed.

“For Spike!” said Rarity.

“For all love and light!” added Lightning.

Von Devilor could only laugh “Very charming, and very ineffectual, but if you think just because you’ve given yourselves a slight boost that you have this battle won, YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN!!”

His dark aura glowed brightly, while across the way, someone had been observing them-- Dearka!

He quietly slipped back into the darkness with a little plan of his own in mind.

“You won’t win this battle, Von Devilor, mark my words!”

Von Devilor fired more dark waves at the fighters, but with their light powers slightly boosted up, they were able move a little more swiftly and they were able to the dodge the blast and evade the tentacle attacks.

“Take this!” shouted Lightning as he aimed a uniforce-punch at a tentacle, actually burning it slightly.

Von Devilor roared, “That actually burned me?!”

“STARLIGHT ARROW” Starla shot a beam for Von Devilor’s face, only for him to block it with a veil of shadows, and retaliate with a dark blast.

Starla quickly dodged, hollering “Now, Artie!”

While Von Devilor was still set in his offense, Artie rushed forth, “PAINT SLUDGE” and managed to throw glops of slimy paint at his face and right in his eyes, blinding him!

“Attack!” shouted Lightning, and all the fighters rushed in, only for Von Devilor to flail his tentacles right at them, and fire more blasts through his hands, without even looking, and forcing everyone to scatter.

“Fools!” he thundered “Did I not warn you that I am aware of everything that transpires in my realm? I can sense your attacks coming even without seeing them!”

He whipped and bashed the fighters knocking them all about.

The fighters all growled.

“Starting to feel mega annoyed!” grumbled Rainbow.

Von Devilor wiped the sludge off his eyes and fired a blast at her. She sprinted out of the way.

He thrust his tentacles at her, and she dodged them.

“Hey…” Rainbow said as she realized an idea, and flew straight at one of the tentacles, waiting for it to curve straight for her, and then she banked off and flew straight for Von Devilor himself.

More tentacles charged at her and ready to blast at her.

“Rainbow, what are you doing?” hollered Starla.

“Trust me!”

She waited for the last second, and then zipped out of the way as the blasts were fired, causing them to miss her and head straight for Von Devilor. He roared and wailed as the blasts hit him hard!

“Well done, Rainbow!” called Lightning.

Rainbow gave him a thumb-up, and then she and all the others turned back and attacked directly while Von Devilor was still stunned.

ZAP!! Lightning gave him a Uniforce Fist hard in the face.

“COLOR KICK” Artie leapt in and gave him a huge WHAMM to the gut!

“STRIDENT SHOCKWAVE” Saber gave him a good zapping that made his hair stick up in all directions.

“BOOM-BOOM ROCKETS” the twins launched their missiles, but this time Von Devilor flailed his tentacles around, swatting them all like flies, and then retaliated by unleashing more dark waves forcing everyone to flee.

No matter how much everyone tried to attack, Von Devilor seemed determined to keep his core safe, wrapped up in his other tentacles and even their combined power boosts weren’t enough.

“I told you,” hissed Von Devilor “This is my realm, and here I am invincible!”

He raised his tentacles way up, and began to absorb darkness from the air, healing himself and restoring his strength.

“I don’t believe it!!” cried Applejack “After all the fighting we just did?!”

Von Devilor began to power-up again, everyone had a feeling it would take a lot more than just a whole lot of love and affection to stand up to him this time.

“It’s been a lot of fun, but I’ve toyed with you all long enough!” Von Devilor sneered.

His aura began to flare up as he prepared to attack, but suddenly, “Huh?!” he could feel the aura starting to softly drain away from him. “What is this?!”

The fighters were astounded too, and then Pinkie looked and saw, “It’s Dearka!”

He stood on large column and was actually absorbing the aura away from Von Devilor, as he was a Devil and could absorb darkness from creatures as well.

“You…!!” thundered Von Devilor.

Dearka didn’t address him, but looked up at Lightning and the others, and nodded at them.

Lightning nodded thankfully at him.

Von Devilor couldn’t keep absorbing energy and attack or defend at the same time, which meant his energy would keep dropping.

“I will not have this!!” he shouted, and he fired a blast straight for Dearka.

“LOOK OUT!!” shouted Pinkie as she dashed off.

“Pinkie!!” shouted Lightning.

Along the way, Pinkie summoned forth all the light power within her, making her body glow brightly, and she intercepted the blast!

KAPOW!!

“PINKIE PIE!!” screamed Lightning. Everyone gawked in horror, even Dearka.

Pinkie lay on the ground, weak and smoldering, and her suit was nearly out of power, but she was still alive thanks to using up all her light.

Dearka was most astounded. “I can’t believe she protected me like that!”

The others were equally as astounded, but Pinkie suddenly began to choke and gag as she had run out of protection.

“Pinkie, warp out of here!” hollered Starla, but Pinkie was too weak to reach for her transport capsule.

“Hang on, Pinkie!” Buddy called as he soared and grabbed the capsule.

Before he sent her off, Pinkie found strength to say, “Keep Dearka safe!!”

“Don’t worry, we will.” Replied Buddy, then he grabbed Pinkie’s capsule and warped her out of the realm to safety.

He then whistled up to some of the others, and Fluttershy and the Twins flew down to join him in protected Dearka.

“Don’t worry, we’ll keep you safe.” said Fluttershy.

“Si, you just keep draining his energy so we can get a good shot.” added Dyno.

“You’re being a great help to us, muchacho.”

Dearka actually felt flattered, but then maintained his focus and continued to drain Von Devilor’s power.

“I still have power enough!” insisted Von Devilor. “I will destroy you all!!”

He raised his tentacles and launched them forth, to which the fighters dodged, prompting him to unleash dark pulses and blasts.

He used the opportunity, while the fighters were distracted, to gain a boost of energy from the darkness around him, but Dearka continued to hold his stance and slowly drain him.

Von Devilor tried to fire power blasts at Dearka, only for the ponies to lift him out to safety so he wouldn’t break his contact.

This gave the other fighters the chance to rush in and strike Von Devilor hard from multiple directions.

Applejack was surrounded by a swarm of tentacles, and she waited until they charged at her and dodged at the last second, causing them to strike each other.

“We’re going in!” hollered Lightning as he and Starla charged forth.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Von Devilor bellowed, and he unleashed a huge wave of darkness at them forcing them to back off.

“Oh, yes they do!” called Rainbow “SONIC RAINBOOM”

She whizzed by and making a huge rainbow explosion right near his face, blinding him.

And suddenly, “GAH…!!” Saber had rushed in and lassoed his chain around the Devil King’s neck, and Applejack rushed in and lassoed his arms!

“Got you now…!” thundered Saber “Now let my wife go!”

Applejack pulled on her ropes, tightening the grip. “Do it, Bucko!”

“Foolish creatures!” he growled, and poured on all the energy her could into a massive burst then flung them all off of him, but drained a lot of his power.

“It’s working! We’ve got him drained way down!” cried Artie.

Suddenly, Dearka stopped absorbing power, feeling overloaded and exhausted. “That’s it…” he panted “I can’t take in anymore.”

There was worse to come as the ponies’ visors began to warn him. The others’ did the same. Their power levels were reaching low, with no more than two minutes left each.

“Our power is running low.
We have to power up again or go” said Rhymey

“There’s no time to power up again.” said Lightning. “We’ve got to get him now while he’s down.”

“But even with all our powers combined, we could hardly make a dent in him.” said Krysta “And he still won’t lift his tentacles off the core.”

Saber looked down at the covered cover, swearing her could almost see right through it and seeing Cadance was suffering mercilessly.

“I’d give all the power I have if could bust in there and save her!” he groaned softly.

Hearing that gave Lightning an idea.

“Everyone, transfer all your remaining love energy to me!”

“What?” snapped Starla.

The others all looked his way.

“If we can’t beat him all together, then I’ll combine all our powers together for one big shot.”

Everyone immediately took a disliking to the idea.

“Lightning, do you realize what you’re saying?” called Buddy.

“If we give up the last of our powers… we’ll have to head out of here immediately.” cried Fluttershy.

Lightning was aware of this, and he gave everyone a look which told them to do so the second they gave him their power.

“I gave you all an order!” snapped Lightning “Give me your power before he strengthens up again.”

“But Lightning,” protested Starla “Do you realize if you use all the power in such a blast you could blow yourself out?! You won’t be able to defend yourself after that! And the darkness will consume you!” she was speaking out of concern as his wife rather than a General, but Lightning gave her a serious expression, telling her to trust him.

She gave him a quick peck, and then ordered to the others, “Give him your powers!” and she and the others quickly did as they were told, handing Lightning every last ounce of Agapi’s Love, and their suits powered down.

The split second they had, Lightning was glowing brighter than ever, but they all began to choke and gag on the darkness.

“Get out of here, now!” shouted Lightning.

Everyone got out their capsules and vanished, except for Dearka and Saber.

“I’m not leaving without Cadance!” Saber thundered.

Dearka quickly grabbed him and transported him out through a portal of his own.

They all transported back to United Equestria, where Pinkie and Spike were totally psyched to see them all.

“Rarity…!” Spike called as he dashed over and embraced his wife dearly.

“Oh, Spike!” cried Rarity as she embraced him back and pecked his cheek over and over.

“Where’s Lightning?” asked Pinkie.

Everyone fell silent, and Starla seemed the most disturbed and worried.

Their majesties all realized what must have happened and began to share the concern.

“Please be okay.” Starla muttered under her breath.

Von Devilor and Lightning glared each other down.

“How noble.” The Devil king taunted “The brave commander sticking up for his soldiers and willing to put himself at risk.”

Lightning said nothing and powered up into an Enticorn. His golden aura seemed much brighter due to being amplified hard by Agapi’s Love.

He glowed brighter, and brighter, which irritated Von Devilor and forced him to absorb more darkness to power himself up.

“That won’t save you this time!” Lightning called, and he finished powering up and then soared straight at him like missile while preparing his attack.

“That can’t stop me!” shouted Von Devilor “I’m ready for you now!!” and he conjured up huge fire wall and his tentacles unleashed all the darkness they could possibly launch at him.

Lightning smirked and said “It’s not YOU that I’m aiming for.”

“What?!”

At the last second, Lightning zipped clean upward into the sky, avoiding the barrage of power…

“Please work!” he hoped.

“ULTRA-UNIFORCE” he unleashed his force in a large spin, flowing it in a spiral spin. The bright lights began to crawl all across the darkness, actually illuminating it!

From within his core, Cadance’s spirit could feel something from outside. “What’s happening out there?”

“No!!” shouted Von Devilor, and he already began to feel weary as the light grew brighter and brighter still. “The Light…!!” he wailed as he covered his eyes “I can’t stand the Light!!!”

Lightning’s plan was working as the light continued to takes its toll on Von Devilor, weakening him severely, and even conducting along his tentacles, burning them! Even the ones wrapped around his core, which he was forced to release, exposing the core, and Lightning came soaring in, roaring madly and using the last of his power to give the core a good bam from his glowing fist, puncturing it open wide!

Von Devilor screamed and wailed as the light poured out from him.

Cadace felt the vortex shaking and collapsing. “What’s going on?!” she cried, and she felt herself slipping away through the large, magical current.

“NOOOOOOO…!!!” Von Devilor screamed as he felt his body breaking up, and the fire of blasting lights threw Lightning down hard on the ground, in his normal forum and with no light left to shield him from the explosions and darkness began to close in on him.

Starla could felt a sickening lurch in her heart, “Lightning…!” she cried.

Agapi could feel something too, “Cadance has been released. I can feel her spirit.”

Shining Armor’s heart gave a leap of joy. “That means Lightning did it!”

“He beat Von Devilor.” cried Rainbow!”

“But… but where is Lightning?” asked Krysta.

“And where’s Cadance, shouldn’t she be back yet?” added Shining Armor.

Starla was quivering with such worry, and their majesties all felt the same.

As for Dearka, he suddenly realized that in all the chaos and commotion he hadn’t put his poison-shielding mask back on, and yet he was breathing perfectly without it, and his skin didn’t burn from the very air either.

“What’s happening?” he wondered “Why am I able to breathe here now? Why do the love and the light not harm me?”

“…I… can answer that!” hissed a deep, dark, and wicked voice followed by maniacal laughter, and a strong earthquake.

“What’s happening now?!” cried Buddy.

Agapi had a fearful feeling strike through her, “…Von Devilor!!”

Far away, in the open fields away from the palace, the ground burst wide open as what appeared to be a large dark orb rose up high into the air, and darkness began to form in the skies blocking out the sunlight.

The orb suddenly burst, and Von Devilor appeared, floating in midair, only he was no longer in his giant mutated forum from the Devils’ World. His core was gone, he had no large tentacles, it was just his ordinary human form, but he was five times the size of the ponies, and he now had visible legs were dark tan colored, muscular, and had spines poking out the back sides, his arms were just as muscular, evil looking, and wrapped with black cuffs around the wrists, his black hair was sticking out in all directions, and his horned helmet was gone, and he wore black torso armor, with a blood red metal skirt, like a gladiator.

“I am renewed!” he laughed “The curse on me is no more, and I have resumed my original forum! The light and love can no longer harm me, or my Devils!”

He raised his arms up laughing maliciously as the Devils appeared in vast numbers in many, many rows across the field beneath him, no longer wearing their masks as they were no longer needed.

“Those… Those are the real Devils!” cried Spike “They have to be!”

Starla growled when she realized “Von Devilor was planning this all the time-- He wanted us to do battle with him to weaken ourselves, and if he was defeated he knew he would only be revived like this!”

Agapi herself felt very stupid for not thinking this could happen from the beginning. “Now he has returned, and he is just as powerful and as deadly as ever!”

“Information we could have greatly used beforehand!” grumbled Princess Luna.

Starla ran forth into the open and shouted up, “Where is Lightning! What have you done to my husband?!”

Von Devilor snickered “It’s not what I’ve done, but what he did. The poor fool never could have had a chance.”

Starla froze on the spot feeling tears coming to her eyes.

“So, Lightning is…” cried Artie “…No, he can’t be!”

“Lightning cannot be gone like that,
He’s much too strong to be beaten flat!”

“Lightning…?!” Krysta said in trembling sadness!

Grand Ruler clenched his fists tightly, and his teeth chattered softly. “No, I refuse to believe that!”

Celestia held her hands together by her mouth praying it wasn’t true.

Suddenly, a dark portal opened wide, and Lightning leapt out through it, wearing his spacesuit and helmet, much to the delight of everyone, and the shock of Von Devilor.

“Lightning!!” cried Starla, and she rushed over to him. He deactivated his suit and rushed towards his wife, embracing her deeply.

“He’s alive!!” Pinkie shouted with glee and joy. The rest of the team leapt with joy too and Krysta flew in speedy, happy circles. “Wee! Whoopie!!”

Celestia wiped a happy tear from her eye while Grand Ruler sighed “Thank the stars!”

Von Devilor could barely believe his eyes and growled angrily, and Lightning quickly looked up at him, “I’m not that easy to get rid of…”

He reflected back to the oncoming explosions…

“…I used up all my power, and Agapi’s love, but just before the explosion got me, I activated my heavy spacesuit, which shielded me.

I was out cold for a few minutes, but my suit protected me from the darkness, and when I came to I used my capsule to warp here.”

He paused and pointed up angrily at him, “And it’s a good thing I did, because now we’re going to defeat you once and for all!”

“I second that!” agreed Starla as she stood loyally by her husband’s side while holding his hand, and all the others fighters and their majesties all stood forth with brave and determined expressions.

“Celestia, are you ready?” asked Grand Ruler as he held out his half of the Rainbow Rod.

“…I am.” agreed his wife, taking out her matching half.

They joined the two halves together and merged into Grand Celestia Ruler, whom everyone was delighted to see.

“Astonishing.” murmured Agapi.

The Ruler then aimed their scepter and cast a soft glow of light of the fighters, restoring their suits and powers back to full, and they all automatically transformed again.

Von Devilor didn’t seem the least bit concerned or deterred. “Power up all you like. It won’t save you.”

“We beg to differ.” said The Ruler.

Then they pointed their scepter way up at the sky, and fired a large ball of light, up, up, and out into space, where it then split into several small rays of light that shot their ways, in different directions, across space.

The Ruler then winked down at Lightning, and he winked back.

Scarlet was scrambling through the meadow, away from all the other Devils, still searching for Dearka ever since he ditched her in their duel.

Finally, she spotted him up ahead, standing with the fighters as they huddled together beneath The Ruler.

“Now I’ve got you!” she sneered softly “You’re finished, Dearka!”

She held up her arms ready to blast at him from afar without being seen, when suddenly she started to feel strange. She felt she was growing weak, tired, and ready to pass out as if her energy was being drained away.

The fighters were soon joined by the entire New Canterlot Army of Knights as they came marching and flying over the hills to the sound of cavalry trumpets tooting

“Knights, take aim!” bellowed Captain Shaina.

All the knights and soldiers aimed straight for Von Devilor with their lances, weapons, and horns.

“Take a good look, Von Devilor!” hollered Lightning “You won’t stand against all we’ve set up against you.”

“…FIRE!!” shouted The Ruler, and everyone launched their best attacks in a mega barrage, straight at Von Devilor.

The Devil King only snickered, and raised his hands. Just like magic, a dark, transparent wall appeared before him.

“It’s a barrier!” cried Starla.

The blast struck the wall hard, not even getting close.

“That was pathetic!” he hissed.

The fighters and the knights were all confused.

“How did he get enough power to make up such a strong defense?” asked Pinkie.

Spike looked down below where Von Devilor was floating, “Look there…! The Devils, they’re loaning him their power!”

The Devils below him all had their arms up high, and transferring dark aura from their own life forces to give power to their king.

Von Devilor chuckled wickedly and explained, “I had The Devils in hiding, and absorbing all the darkness and aura they could out of our realm.

Once the curse on us was broken, they came here with me, with more power than even an army could handle, waiting to grant me, their king, the strength and power that I need to finally crush you, our enemies, for good!”

The Starfleet forces were incredibly livid and outraged.

“Are you insane?!” shouted Luna. “You’re draining the power and energy from your very subjects! You’ll render them weak, or worse…!” she didn’t have to go on, and some of the Devils below already began to look tired.

“Everything in life has its price.” said Von Devilor. “All of my Devils are fighting for the same thing; Victory, and are more than prepare to offer their very existence to the cause!”

Rarity felt sick to her stomach, “That’s… That’s simply…!” she couldn’t find words as she continued to grasp her gurgling stomach, and smoke flowed from her nostrils.

Dearka suddenly began to feel strange. “What’s happening?”

Aura began to slowly flow from him and straight over to Von Devilor, strengthening his power even more.

“What are you doing?” asked Rainbow. “Why are you strengthening him?”

“I… I’m not!”

Von Devilor snickered, “Who said you had a choice? Who said any of them had the choice?

I have planned and waited long and hard for this day for centuries upon centuries. My Devils are here to fight by my side and give me the power I require, whether they desire it or not,” he paused and glared at Dearka “And I should be thanking you, Dearka, for absorbing much of my power from the previous battle!”

Dearka growled and tried to resist the pull all he could, but it was no use. Pinkie rushed up to him and held him up. “Don’t give in! Try to hang in there!”

“I’ll teleport him out of here!” said Krysta.

“Oh, no you don’t!” thundered Von Devilor, and he poured on the force absorbing a great deal of power from Dearka, the force of which shoved Pinkie off him hard, and Dearka screamed as loads of energy were taken from his body full force and leaving him feeling very weak and tired, and he just collapsed on the ground while Von Devilor enjoyed the large boost he had obtained.

His entire body began to pulsate with aura and he looked ready for any attack.

“This is the end for you, Starfleet!” he roared “You won’t escape from this attack! By the power of the darkness, the will of all my hate and evil, YOU SHALL PERISH!!”

To Be Continued…

In our Final Episode: It’s the ultimate showdown of Love against Hatred, and while Von Devilor seems confident that his power cannot be topped, Starfleet surprises him with a few hidden tricks of their own which could finally decide the outcome of this war.

How will the war end, and how will everyone be affected?

Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!”

(Next Episode: “Final Part: Love Nearly Conquers All”)