My Brave Pony: Starfleet Humans

by Dakari-King Mykan

Rating: teen
Tags: Alternate Universe, Human, Adventure
Length: 14148

Lightning shocks Twilight and her friends with an astonishing fact that he, too, had an adventure in the human world.

Movie II: Happens some time before Starfleet Magic III, and Twilight is still alive: Lightning shocks Twilight and her friends with an astonishing fact that he, too, had an adventure in the human world, and did attend the same school as Twilight, but was on an entirely different mission altogether.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-10-05 00:04:06 UTC

Opening Act: Shocking Astonishments

PROLOGUE

The Dimensional Universe…

An alternate, multi-dimensional, magical void filled with stars, planets and worlds waiting to be discovered and mysteries to be unfurled, and is also the basis and location of the mystical planet United Equestria, home to the brave genetically altered ponies of the greatest fighting force in the known universe… Starfleet Magic!

…

A while back, when Twilight was still alive, sometime after Distraught had been redeemed and left to rebuild his race and Titan was vanquished once more.

Deep within the palace of New Canterlot, in the dojo, two strong ponies were dishing it out in a spar. Lightning Dawn, ID-Codename AO0C: A genetically altered alicorn with a golden horn capable of unleashing the Uniforce that could combat anything in its path, and had recently risen to the rank of Fleet Admiral.

And his sparring partner; Twilight Sparkle, a genetically altered unicorn pony, and sub-princess of United-Equestria, but only recently dubbed Junior Captain, making Lightning her superior in the force.

The two had been sparring for a long time at Twilight's request for her to earn something that had been taken away from her some time ago; her alicorn wings, which had been destroyed in the events of Equestria of old and reducing her back to her former unicorn state. She had been through so much in the time that United Equestria was formed, being genetically altered into a more humanoid shape, trained with Starfleet to become stronger and swifter to battle new and more powerful enemies throughout the universe… and still she had not earned her wings back.

She felt that training constantly would help. She sparred with Lightning hard, punching and kicking about, but he, being a lot stronger and swifter than she was having been training longer than she, managed to block her every attack and pound her hard when he guard dropped. Twilight tried her magic, but Lightning just stood there and took the blast, and nothing happened, he didn't even flinch. "You need to stop relying on magic all the time, Twilight." he said to her and dashed at her. Twilight continued to zap at him, but he kept swerving and dodging her every attack until he reached her and kicked her legs tripping her down on her back, and then he swiftly jumped down and lunged his fingers for her neck… for the kill… and he stopped at the last inch.

"Hold!" shouted a voice "That is enough for today." The voice belonged to Lightning's mentor, Grand Ruler Celesto; the commander-in-chief, and founder of Starfleet, and co-ruler of United Equestria alongside his wife, Queen Celestia.

Lightning helped Twilight up off the floor, and Twilight anxiously gazed at her back, and sighed "Nothing."

Lightning and the royal ones sighed. "Twilight, you've got to stop worrying over all this getting your wings back. It's slowing you down worse than ever."

Twilight knew he was right "But it's just… those wings were once part of me, and well I feel silly being a princess and a captain without them."

Celestia told her "It really doesn't matter if you have wings or not, you're still a very special pony."

"You sure are." said Spike as he came in with water and towels for the tired duo. The fairy queen, Krysta, fluttered in around Lightning, her life's companion. "You were incredible out there." she complimented.

Lightning chuckled "Not bad for a pony than can't do natural magic." then his stomach growled "Ooh… but all that training's worked up my appetite."

"Me too, I'm famished." added Twilight.

"Come then, it's nearly dinner time." Grand Ruler said.

All their friends and relatives were there. Twilight's friends, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Applejack, had all been recently dubbed as lieutenant fighters of the force after the last war on the planet, and Lightning's friends were all executive captains, superior in rank to Twilight and friends, but not to Admiral Lightning.

Starla Shine: Lightning's mare-friend for well over a year. ID-Code: KY1M.

Buddy Rose: an expert gardener, ecologist, and tree surgeon, and Applejack's newest farm hand at New Sweet Apple Acres: ID-Code: FT5H.

Artie: A masterful artist in painting, sculpting, carving, you name it. ID-Code: HV7J

Rhymey: Fluttershy's colt-friend, a poet, song writer and café proprietor, who always spoke in rhyme. ID-Code: XL7Z

And the Spanish Twins, Dyno and Myte La Guava: Born on the Planet El Mundo, and the sons of a Starfleet General. Brilliant geologists, expert miners, movers, construction team, and explosive experts: Codes, IW8K and JX9L.

Joining them for dinner were Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, and Princess Luna.

Pinkie saw the others coming to join them. "Hey, there Every-pony." she chirped.

"Pinkie…" snapped Starla "Remember the corrected vocabularies. It's every-body, not every-pony."

Pinkie felt silly. "Ah, buck up, sugar-cube, we all make mistakes." said Applejack.

"Besides, at least we all get to be friends." added Buddy Rose "And speaking of which." He had to present to his queen a beautiful bouquet of flowers he had picked form his garden. "Why, Buddy Rose, they're lovely." she said as she accepted and sniffed them.

Buddy Rose bowed and kissed her hand tenderly "Just my way of saying thank you for inviting us all here."

"Aw…" everyone cooed.

They all sat down and waited for the chefs to come out and serve dinner, when they noticed someone was missing. "Where's Goldwin?" asked Rarity "Surely he would not even think of missing out on such a glorious gathering."

That's when Goldwin appeared at the door to the dining hall. "Sorry, I'm late." he panted and as he rubbed the sweat from his face, he mistakenly, but foolishly removed his magic mask, and turned back into a golden statue. The others couldn't help but chuckle. Artie got up and placed the mask back on his face. "There you go." he said "Ready everybody?"

Everyone nodded…

"All together at the count of three,

We'll say the magic words to set Goldwin free." said Rhymey.

They all counted to three and said the magic words…

"Hocus… Pocus…

…Alimagocus!"

…and Goldwin came back to life, but in a bit of a shock. "What happened?" he asked and the remembered "I knocked my mask off when I wiped my face." Everyone shared a laugh with him and then he took his seat just as dinner was served, and very big royal feast.

Grand Ruler and the Queen took the time to feed their little babies, Castor and Leilani. Fluttershy couldn't stop gazing at how lovely it looked. "They're so adorable." She cooed.

"They really are." said Celestia as she fed her little son his bottle of formula.

Her husband chuckled as he wiped the baby food off of his daughter's little face. "Father's little angel." He said as he softly patted her head.

There were salads, breads, vegetables, noodles, tea, and soft drinks to go around, and meat, especially meat. As they were genetically altered now, they're bodies required more sustenance and nutrients found only in meats… however, they were not the kind who slaughtered animals. All their meats were ordered and delivered specially from other planets.

There was only one piece of garlic-bread left on the tray, but Lightning graciously let Starla have it. She pecked him on his cheek for that.

Fluttershy and Rhymey were eating a course of spaghetti and meatballs, when their noodles got looped together and they ended up drawing towards each other's faces with their noses touching each other's. Fluttershy looked away, blushing, and hiding behind her mane, and Rhymey giggled nervously.

As everyone ate, Shining Armor noticed "Hey, Twili… are you going to finish that steak?"

His sister looked up as if she had been in a trance. "Oh, I'm… working on it." she said as she took another bite.

"What's the matter, Chica?" asked Dyno. "Are you still upset over not having your wings?" added Myte.

Lightning and Twilight's friends all groaned in dismay. "Twilight…" Cadance said "You've got to…"

"I know, I know…" her sister-in-law cut in "Stop worrying about it. I've only heard this like a billion times."

"Aw, come on Twilight." said Rainbow "Even if you don't have wings, I still consider you a good flyer."

Twilight smiled and thanked her for that. "Still, this reminds me of that guy I once met back in that other universe at the high school."

Everyone was well aware of the alternate universe, and the adventures Twilight had. "What was this guy like?" Lightning asked.

Twilight's memory was a bit faded, and she hadn't remembered much, but there was a guy she met at the high school, and he very different than Flash Sentry. "He seemed so uptight. So distant, and he was a bit gruff around the edges, but he sure was talented, and he had only just started school as well."

Lightning dropped his fork, letting it hit the plate, and looked as if he had seen a ghost. "Twilight… what did he look like?"

Twilight couldn't remember much, but Spike did "He was about Flash's height, he had brown hair, brown eyes, he also looked so serious." he gazed at Lightning "He looked like you, and he sounded like you too, even his name was Lightning Dawn."

"Spike…!" snapped Lightning "That guy was me!"

There was a long short of everyone spitting out their drinks, choking on their foods, or dropping their utensils in shock, but none were as amazed as Lightning and Twilight.

(INTRO)

Beautiful music began to play as the view of United Equestria was seen form far above, and beautiful voices were singing…

"My little pony… My little pony…"

When all of sudden, someone shouted. "Wait! Hold it! Stop them music! Stop! Stop…!" and everything screeched to a halt as Lightning came out onto the scene. "This isn't Friendship is Magic, and this isn't Equestria Girls." He called out to no one in particular, and demanded that changes be made, such as the view be changed into outer space, and the title card be changed, "And can you change the intro music?" he added, and he got his wishes. "Thank you!" he said and then he ducked down and out of sight letting the true intro begin.

…

"Starfleet X bomber Intro (Extended-Remix"

***MY BRAVE PONY

(Starfleet Humans)***

Myths Unfold

ACT ONE

It all started about a year and a half ago, back when Lightning and his friends still lived on the planet Unicornicopia. They had recently earned their astronaut licenses allowing them to travel to other planets. They had just vanquished Titans evil minions, and had collected two and a half of the mystical Star Stones. Krysta still had amnesia of her role as fairy queen, and Lightning had not totally mastered the uniforce yet.

Not a single one of them had ever heard of the planet Equestria, and had never met any of the inhabitants.

…

Not too far away from Unicornicopia, was the planet Mandala. A beautiful planet consisting of meadows and mountain regions, inhabited by winged beast like humanoids and dragons. Many got along very well and lived and worked together in peace, while others detested this arrangement, as they preferred to be fierce and frightening beasts, and often resorted to wreaking havoc upon the good inhabitants. So the elders of the planet had sent messages across space to hire Starfleet to send officers and establish lookout bases to help keep their planet safer form evil.

One day, the good creatures of a nearby village were enjoying a blissful day as children played and the adults worked, when all of a sudden, a large gaggle of rebel dragons and winged beasts came soaring down from the skies, breathing fire and soaring mercilessly through town scarring the good inhabitants to pieces. "Get 'em!" shouted a dragon as he unleashed his fiery wrath, setting fire to many of the rooftops. "You wimps have lost your pride!" snarled a winged beast woman as she swiped at stands and carts, breaking them to bits and frightening the inhabitants.

The good inhabitants were not as skilled fighters as the rebels and could hardly defend themselves. Finally, a dragon and a winged beast had cornered a winged beast mother and her frightened little son. Things would have gotten really messy had a dimensional space portal not appeared in skies, and several genetically altered humanoid like alicorns emerged and soared down like speeding comets, at the head of the gang was Captain Lightning Dawn, the code AO0C stamped on his armor beneath the Starfleet insignia. "In the name of Starfleet, I order you to desist!" he shouted.

The rebel dragons began to breathe fireballs at the fighters. "Let's go!" Lightning shouted to his comrades. Starla Shine, Code-KY1M, followed behind him and growled in frustration "Why can't they ever do this the easy way?"

They and all their friends evaded the fireball attacks, and landed in the middle of town and starred down the gang of rebels. "This is going to be good." snarled a dragon. "Who wants to get fixed first?" asked a winged beast.

Lightning snickered mockingly. "You should have quit while you were ahead." he said. "Ready guys…?"

"…READY!" the others shouted. "STARFLEET… MAGIC…!" tapping their insignias, their super armor and visors were donned. They all stood together as Lightning proudly proclaimed…

"Guardians of the universe,

United we stand

To punish all evil,

And protect what is grand!"

"…Power of Believing!"

Starla: "Power of Space!"

Buddy Rose; FT5H: "Power of Fauna!"

Artie; HV7J: "Power of Art!"

Rhymey; XL7Z: "Let's begin! Power of Wind…!"

The Spanish twins, Dyno and Myte; IW8K and JX9L: "Power of Fire!"

The dragons and beasts gazed at one another with annoyed expressions and rushed at the fighters. "Go!" shouted Lightning as he and the fighters charged forth. Lightning jumped and split kicked two dragons hard in their faces.

Starla took to the skies and was being chased after by three beasts. "What's the rush, pretty pony?" one of them mocked, but Starla wasn't flying scared, she was getting enough distance to slam hard to a complete stop and then zipped ask the other way fast colliding back first into one of the beasts and sending it crashing hard to the ground. The other two beasts were shocked and outraged. "Come on, let's get her!"

The charged at her head on, but Starla got out her Star Bow. "STARLIGHT ARROW…!" and she skillfully fired two shots at once, striking the two beasts, sparks blasted at them and he fell down to their fallen comrade on the ground.

Buddy Rose leapt up high and flipped through the air landing on his feet and attacked all the oncoming beasts and dragons, but got bashed and kicked a few times as well and sent skidding along the ground. "That does it!" he growled "VINE WHIP!" he cracked his whip on the ground twice as the monsters approached him. He whipped a beast by the talon and sent her slammed into three dragons. Two stayed down, but the third got up and stared him down like a cowhand. "Draw!" he hissed.

"LEAF SWARM…!"

The dragon blew his fiery breath, disintegrating the razor leaves instantly, but in doing so, let his guard down allowing Buddy Rose to skid along the ground beneath the flame blast and lassoed the dragon's mouth shut while he was still blowing, causing the flames to blast in his mouth like a bomb. The dragon, now covered in soot, blinked once, coughed a small smoke-O and fainted.

"You didn't say excuse me." Buddy Rose teased.

Artie and Rhymey both back-flipped along the ground and stopped in an open area where as several monsters ganged up on them. "These guys don't know when to quit." Artie said.

"Let's beat these pains.

Their loss is our gains!" said Rhymey.

The monsters charged, but the two fighters punched, kicked, and bashed the brutes hard.

"PAINT BOMB…!"

"DRILL QUILL…!"

The monsters went down, but one large dragon and one beast were still standing, and they angrily rubbed their claws and talons together hinting it was about to get personal. The two ponies turned and nodded each other and got out their weapons.

"SUPER STAFF"

"WARD SWORD"

Artie took on the beast and Rhymey fought the dragon parrying their weapons against the brutes' claws and talons. The dragon fired his breath at Rhymey, but he swerved out of the way and zipped up over the dragon's head, grabbing him by the horns and actually shoving him down hard, face first into the ground, and Artie gave the beast a good clunk on the head knocking her down and out.

He slapped a high-five, and did a high foot with Rhymey. "All right…!"

"…Out of sight!"

The Spanish twins faced three dragons at once. "Let's burn 'em boys!" the lead dragon shouted and he and his friends all unleashed their fiery breaths on the twins at once, but the twins simply stood where they were and nodded at one another. They joined hands and shouted "BOOM-BOOM FLARE!" and fought fire with fire. The results were explosive sending all of them soaring and crashing onto the ground. "So that's how you want to play? Fine!" growled a dragon, and he and his friends charged at the twins.

"After you, brother." said Dyno.

"Gracias, brother." said Myte, and he leapt up forth and kicked the first dragon hard, and the second. The third stood behind him ready to slash him with his huge claws, but Dyno jumped in and bashed him hard. "VIVA…!" the boys hollered.

As the battle continued, however, the fighters remained unaware that they were being watched by a pair of sinister eyes from a cave in the side of one of the mountains near the village. The stranger sneered sinisterly and continued to watch the fight, particularly observing Lightning the most… waiting and hoping for him to do something special.

Lightning continued to punch, kick, and bash the monsters out of his sight, and he got hit himself a few times, but hardly stood down. One dragon crept up on him from behind and grabbed him hard in a huge bind. "Now I got'cha!" he growled. "Oh, boy!" groaned Lightning as the dragon looked ready for a bit of his head, when suddenly a huge boulder crashed down on the dragon head conking him out. Lightning looked up and saw his Krysta wink at him. "Am I too late?" she asked teasingly.

Lightning gave her the shot signal with his fingers, "Perfect timing, Krysta, as usual."

Soon, the remainder of the gang of monsters huddled together in one place, and all of Lightning's friends came soaring form the skies and landing near him. "It's time for you brutes to see me little toy; RAINBOW ROD!" Holding out his powerful scepter and wielding it swiftly, he dashed over and ran in super speeding circles around and around the monsters to confuse them.

The sinister character eyed the Rainbow Rod from her viewing spot. "There it is." she hissed. "I must get that rod."

Lightning continued to run in circles and then fluttered up, up, up. He set the rod on "Capture" and the rod began to glow. "RAINBOW FORCE" Lightning shouted, and blasted the monsters from above. "UH OH…!" shouted the creatures as they all were hit and exploded, and when the smoke cleared, the creatures were all shrunk down and trapped inside prison-spheres, and the rest all lay unconscious. Lightning's friends cheered and leapt with joy and Lightning landed gracefully on the ground and proclaimed "Starfleet… victory is ours!"

Minimal damages were done in the village, but none of the other inhabitants were badly hurt, just a few bruises and grazes here and there. All of them were cheering in thanks to the fighters. "Thank goodness we sent for your services." The mother beast said.

"What would we do without you, Starfleet." a dragon said.

"We were glad to help." said Lightning as he and all his friends accepted handshakes and thanks from all the good creatures. Krysta soon headed off to send for reinforcements to help bring the rebel creatures to take them to prison. They could see the sooner that Starfleet was setup the better the planet would be.

Suddenly, as the fighters prepared to leave and head back to Unicornicopia, Lightning got struck by surprise by magical beams, and was knocked back hard, dropping the Rainbow Rod. "Lightning!" cried Starla.

"Are you okay?" asked Buddy Rose.

Lightning wasn't hurt badly, but he wondered what that was that hit him. He and his friends then saw the Rainbow Rod was levitating and floating towards a mysterious humanoid female, with pale blue skin, and diamonds as spikey hair stacking up. She wore a silvery sparkling cape, a jewel-encrusted tunic. Around her neck was spherical sparkling pendant. "Who's she?" asked Artie. They didn't know, but it became clear she was up to no good if she was trying to take the Rainbow Rod. The fighters scanned her with their visors, and saw her physical strength, defense, and magic levels were very high!

She gripped the rod into her left hand and snickered at the fighters.

"Give me that back!" Lightning demanded. "Now why would I want to do that?" hissed the lady.

Convinced she was wicked, the fighters stood ready to brawl. Lightning tried to call the Rainbow Rod back to him, as it normally would, but the rod didn't respond to his voice orders. "It no longer will function for you that way." the lady sneered "This weapon is now mine, and with it I now have the power I need to make all my wishes come true."

"Let's get her!" shouted Lightning. He and his friends charged forth, but the lady's eyes glowed brightly and she sent them all back hard. They got up and rushed at her, but she swiftly swerves and ducked out of the way of their every attack, and hit them all back with powerful kicks and punches. Sparks flew everywhere, and it also didn't help that the fighters were still a little tired from their previous battle.

The lady snickered wickedly. "I don't know if this is either fun or a waste of time." She then clasped the pendant around her neck, the jewel began to glow and a large swirling portal vortex appeared behind her. "Love to stay, but I really must be going!"

The fighters got back up and gazed in awe at the vortex, having never seen anything like it. They tried to scan it with their visors, but there was no info about this phenomenon. Still, Lightning was not about to let his weapon slip away. He and his friends continued to attack at the lady, and continued to get bashed and pummeled away, but suddenly she was caught off guard and got punched hard in the face and dropped the rod. "Ugh! My beautiful face!" she cried.

Lightning managed to grab it, but the lady blasted furiously at him, which soon resulted in the fighters playing Keep Away; passing the rod back and forth in attempt to keep it away from the lady. "Lightning, catch!" cried Artie as he tossed the rod over to him. "No!" shouted the lady as she blasted the rod knocking it into swirling vortex. Everyone watched in horror as the rod swirled round and around and vanished in a bright flash. The lady screamed in frustration and jumped through the vortex after it. "Come back here!" shouted Lightning as he jumped after her, but the vortex vanished before he could reach it causing him to fall onto the ground.

His friends gathered around him, but Lightning angrily pounded his fist into the ground over losing the Rainbow Rod; the very weapon his mentor had entrusted him with. The others couldn't blame him, and their minds were racked with curiosity. Who was that lady? What did she want with the rod? Most importantly; where did she go with it?

"Lightning…" Starla said trying to comfort him "Don't worry; we'll get the rod back."

Lightning spoke calmly. "But how…? Where do we even start looking?"

The others had not a clue, but just then, Dyno saw something shimmering in the grass. "Hey, look at this." he said as he scooped up the lady's pendant, which used to make the vortex appear. "She must've dropped it during the struggle." said Myte.

"Look, it's cracked too." said Buddy Rose. The jewel was indeed cracked and its magical glow was slightly faded and pulsating.

"It may be a clue,

But what should we do?" asked Rhymey.

Lightning grasped the jewel and suggested they return to Unicornicopia. "We've got to tell Grand Ruler about this, now!" So they left the rebels for their reinforcements to handle and headed back to their home planet.

Once there, they flew up to Grand Ruler's floating palace in the sky high above Rainbow City. At first the guards wouldn't let them pass without making a proper appointment, but Grand Ruler could tell this was an emergency and let them pass. "Master!" cried Lightning as he and his friends dashed into the throne room, almost forgetting courtesy and bowed to their ruler, he bowed back to them. "What have you to report, Lightning?"

Lightning felt almost too embarrassed to tell his mentor what happened to the Rainbow Rod, but it had to be soon. After explaining and showing Grand Ruler the pendant, it became clear to him what was going on. "I didn't believe it entirely myself, until now." Grand Ruler said "This is very serious indeed."

He started with the lady they met…

Her name was Sapphira; Empress Sapphira. She was a crystal-like humanoid creature; a Crystallite from the planet Jemanite, where she once ruled as queen, and was defiantly one of the most wanted criminals in the Starfleet profiles. The Crystallites were very attractive creatures, but only on the surface. They were reputed to having the most outrageous of egos in the galaxy, and were treacherous thieves that specialized in stealing treasures and preserving their good looks, but most of all, seizing control of all they desire, namely worlds which would entitle them to steal more treasures and conquer more worlds.

Long before Lightning's arrival on Unicornicopia, Starfleet engaged in war with these loathsome creatures, and managed to defeat many of them and force the rest into surrender, but Sapphira refused to give in. She battled with Grand Ruler, and after a fierce fight, Sapphira was arrested, but as she was being taken to prison, she pulled one last trick up her sleeve and disappeared through a warp vortex right before the guards' eyes.

Grand Ruler had not seen it, and was not certain of their claims at first. Starfleet searched, and searched but were unable to find any possible leads to where Sapphira had gone. So he spent years researching chronicles obtained from every corner of the universe he and his team had visited to that point. "And I suddenly had a lead."

Grand Ruler, led them all to the royal library, and opened a magical safe whereas a single tome lay on a cushion on a stone pillar. "What is it?" asked Starla.

"This ancient chronicle…" Grand Ruler said "It has been in my possession since the earliest days of Unicornicopia and during my many expeditions across out dimensional universe it has been filled with many tales and myths told by other races. One of them depicts of another whole universe that exists outside of our own."

The ponies and Krysta gazed in shock, but not deeply as it was often alleged that their universe did exist about that of another, and there was a possibility that others existed as well. Just nobody had ever seen them before as no one had ever been able to venture beyond any such boundaries.

"That must be where Sapphira and the Rainbow Rod too is now." said Lightning.

"Yes, Lightning…" agreed his master "And obviously it is where Sapphira has been hiding all these decades, for the chronicles also say that only two possible gateways to that alternate universe exist." He held up Sapphira's pendant "This jewel is obviously one of the two sources. I don't know what the other one is or where it is, but one thing is certain; it proves that the stories of the other universe are not myths."

Silence followed as everyone felt their minds going crazy with astonishment, and then Lightning stepped forward. "Master, I must go there." he said. His friends all gasped "WHAT?!"

"I have to!" snapped Lightning. "I've got to get the Rainbow Rod back. Even if Sapphira doesn't have it, she's bound to go looking for it, and even still you saw what she did with it. The command-seal has been broken. That means anyone could hold that rod and there's no telling what might happen. Master, you've got to let me do this."

Grand Ruler nodded "Yes… yes, Lightning, you are right, but just I hope you realize what you are getting into."

"Well go with you, Lightning." Buddy Rose said.

"Sure." added Artie "Sounds like a really cool place."

"There will be much to see and explore.

Who knows what could be in store?" said Rhymey.

"No! The rest of you shall stay here." Grand Ruler said.

Lightning's friends were shocked, "But, your highness, why?" asked Starla.

"No one knows exactly who or what Lightning will encounter in the new universe. Sending him there is already risky enough. There is no sense in sending you all and risking your lives as well."

Lightning gazed at his friends and said "It'll be alright. I've been going on dangerous adventures long before I met any of you. I know how to survive."

"But Lightning… what if you're wrong?" asked Dyno. "Si, what if you run into some sort of danger you can't handle yourself?" added Myte.

Lightning's mind was made up. The Rainbow Rod was entrusted to him; it was his responsibility to take care of it. "I have to do this, and there's no time to argue." He then turned to his master "How do I get to this universe?"

This was something even Grand Ruler didn't know. "The chronicles do not say how this magic is used. Send for Professor Brain and Abra Kadabra, they should be able to help."

…

Before long, Professor Brain and Abra were at the palace and studying and examining the jewel. Brain, being a scientist, and Abra being a magician and an expert on magic, managed to figure out how to summon the portal to the other world. "Satisfactory! Most Satisfactory." said Brain. "I must say, this is astonishing." added Abra "I've studied all sorts of magic and never come across anything such as this."

"Well… if our calculations are correct, we should be able to produce a portal suitable enough." said Brain.

While they completed their setups, Lightning was preparing for immediate departure. "Are you okay, Lightning…?" asked Starla.

"Oh, sure… considering I've never been so nervous and excited in my life."

The others still didn't feel it was fair that he had to go alone, especially Krysta, who seemed more nervous than the rest of them.

Grand Ruler had something to give to Lightning. "I want you take this with you." He said as he fit a special pendant around Lightning. "It is my hope you will not need to use this, but when the times comes you will know what it does and what it is for."

Trusting in his master's words, just like every other time, Lightning slipped the pendant around his neck and kept it tucked under his clothes. "I wonder what it'll be like there?" he wondered aloud. He knew his initial mission was to find the Rainbow Rod, and if need be, defeat Sapphira, but this was, however, a great expedition he was leading. "What will I find? What will it be like?"

His master patted his shoulder "I suggest you don't worry about this sort of thing, and take at least a little time to enjoy yourself."

(Breaks Fourth Wall)

"That goes for you all out there too."

Lightning nodded in agreement.

(Unbroken)

"I'm ready."

One by one, Lightning's friends bid him a farewell and good luck, especially Starla who gave him a long peck on the cheek for good luck. Lightning's face turned red "Heh, heh… thanks Starla."

"It is time to go." Grand Ruler said. "Is everything ready, Professor?"

"Yes, your majesty." said Brain, and he gave Lightning the jewel pendant he was to keep on him at all times. All he had to do to activate it, was hold it gently in his fingers and rub it either in the sunlight, or the light of the moon in either universe, it would take him to the other universe, and back from the point where he first left.

"I understand." Lightning said.

"Good." said Brain "However, Captain, there is one vital part of information I must warn you of." He was referring to how the jewel was badly cracked and faded. "It's losing power?" Lightning asked.

"Slowly but surely." replied Brain "If my calculations are accurate, in exactly… um… I make it, 720 hours from now, the space-warp gateways will be closed, and you will not be able to reopen them."

"What he means is…" Abra cut in "If you don't come back within thirty days, you may never return at all."

Everyone felt shivers run up their spines. "Whoa!" Lightning cried. Now he felt more nervous than before, but he still intended to go. He stood in the middle of the great hall where the sun shined brightly through the windows and rubbed the jewel as he was told. Everyone could feel the winds picking up, inside, and the vortex appeared. Everyone gazed at it in awe at its swirling and glowing.

Lightning turned to gaze at his friends one last time and saluted to them all. They all saluted back at him and he started to dash straight for the vortex. "Good luck my brave pony." Grand Ruler muttered, but poor little Krysta was shaking so nervously and zipped after him. "Wait for me!"

"KRYSTA!" the others shouted, but she had already followed Lightning inside and the vortex had sealed.

…

Lightning and Krysta felt themselves swirling and tumbling through a tunnel of wacky swirling colors and lights, and suddenly… everything went dark!

Stange New World

ACT TWO

"Lightning…! Lightning…!"

Lightning could hear Krysta's voice echoing in the dark, and he slowly opened his eyes and his vision became clear to find himself lying on the grass near a pond of a city-park. "Krysta, I thought you were told to-" he stopped when he noticed "Krysta…? Are you a… robin?"

Krysta gazed at herself, and flapped her wings and ruffled her feathers. "Sure looks like it, but never mind me… look at you."

Lightning gazed at his reflection on the pond and was he ever surprised. His golden horn, his wings, his tail… were gone. He had turned into a complete, and total human-creature His head and face looked different, and even his clothing was different. In place of his patrol uniform he now wore a white T-Shirt, with a black track jacket with matching pants with white sneakers, and the pendants were still round his neck and tucked behind his shirt.

"Wow!"

Both he and Krysta were astonished, but not nearly as astonished as they gazed around where they were. "What kind of place is this?" Krysta, Lightning didn't answer. As well as the park he could see tall buildings all around him and suburban areas too. "It's just like Unicornicopia only… it isn't."

At the exit gate to the park they read the sign over it; "Mystic Island Central Park." This at least told them where they were, on a continental island

It was all so incredibly breathtaking, Lightning had almost completely forgotten about his mission. He only had thirty days, but he didn't even know where to start looking for Sapphira or the Rainbow Rod. "Well, we won't find anything just standing around here. Let's take a look around."

Krysta agreed, but she wasn't used to flying in new form. She also found she had lost her super strength and any magic she had, but Lightning still had his super speed and skills, he just couldn't fly or do magic, and having always been a humanoid type creature, he was used to his new body. So Krysta perched herself on Lightning's shoulder and Lightning dashed off into town, checking out all the new sights as he sang a song in his mind. He even stopped at a few places and danced to the music.

Everything seems so familiar

but it feels so strange and new.

Everybody seems so peculiar

Look at all the things they do

They haven't got magic and don't use wings

They just walk and talk on their way

Are they even aware of the many things,

…of all the danger they're in and what's coming their way?

What a strange place- where could my Rainbow Rod be?

There is no trace- time is running very shortly

All across space- I'll continue my journey…

…in this strange new world…!

Some people even caught quick glimpses of Lightning leaping long ways across the rooftops and wondered if they were just seeing things.

I don't know where to go

I haven't a clue

I'll search high and low

But what can I do

There is evil at foot, and the people don't know

Of the horrors and trouble they're in

I can't let it happen… I won't let… No!

If I try and somehow I just know that I'll win

What a strange place- where could my Rainbow Rod be?

There is no trace- time is running very shortly

All across space- I'll continue my journey…

…in this strange world…!

I know it's here, or is it there,

I find somehow… somewhere…!

What a strange place- where could my Rainbow Rod be?

There is no trace- time is running very shortly

All across space- I'll continue my journey…

…in this strange new world!

This strange new world!

As the song ended, Lightning was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't see he ran clean out into the road as a car came down the way. The driver slammed on the breaks and car tires screeched as they skidded along. Lightning quickly rolled out of the way, but the car skidded right into the bushes.

Krysta perched herself on a tree branch. "Uh, oh…!"

"Galloping Galaxies…!" grumbled Lightning.

The driver of the car emerged; tall woman with voluminous, multicolored striped hair, and she didn't seem very happy. Lightning tried to apologize politely, but the woman snarled at him "You crazy kid! You shouldn't run wild like that in the road."

Lightning didn't like her angry tone. "I said I was sorry!" he snapped at her "Maybe you should watch where you're going!"

Krysta wanted to fly in-between the two and get them to calm down, but Lightning had previously told her to let him handle things, and that birds didn't talk in this world.

The woman clenched her fists, but realized he was right, she had been a little distracted by a few things and wasn't all paying attention. "That's still no excuse. Now my car is stuck, and you could've been killed." she barked "Anyway… what are you doing out here anyway? Shouldn't you be in school?"

Lightning felt confused "School… Me…?"

"Oh, I see… you're playing hooky."

"I most certainly am not. What are you the truant officer?"

"No! I happen to be a high school-" but before the lady could answer, Lightning had approached her trapped car. "What are you doing now?" the lady asked. "Stand back please."

"What are you-?"

"Please, stand back!" growled Lightning. The lady, scowled but did as she was asked and saw, to her astonishment… Lightning pulled that half-ton automobile and actually dragged it out from the bushes and back onto the road. Lightning clap rubbed his hands, but the lady just stood where she was with her eyes and mouth open wide.

"Well…!" Lightning said. The lady snapped out of her gawking. "You… You…" she stuttered "That's impossible. You can't have done that."

Lightning felt a little insulted. "I can and I just did right in front of you." He was really starting to lose his patience.

"But… a boy you're age and size, it simple isn't possible to just lift a half-ton vehicle like that."

"Oh, and expert on fitness, and on welfare it seems." Lightning said sternly. He tried to be polite, but this woman was just impossible.

The lady tried to protest "I was just pointing out my opinion, not to mention informing you of your dangerous acts."

"My dangerous acts…? Well, maybe I like running wild in the street. Did that ever occur to you?" The lady tried to protest but Lightning spoke right to her face "…and in any case, how I behave, and wherever I go is frankly none of your concern! Now, I've pulled your car out, so be so kind as to take it and leave before I really get angry and throw it back!"

The woman scoffed and angrily marched into the car, and it wouldn't move. "Well, I hope you're happy. When you dragged my care you seemed to have…"

"…Try switching it on!"

The woman held up her keys, having totally forgotten what with all the commotion, and soon she was on her way and out of Lightning's sight. Krysta flew out of the tree and onto Lightning's shoulder "Wow! That went well." she said, and Lightning did feel a little regretful for barking off like that, but he didn't like that woman's attitude, or frankly anyone who tried to boss him around and tell him what to do without honest reason. He wasn't about to let anyone push him around or get in the way of his mission. "Don't worry, Krysta. We won't have to deal with her anymore. Let's go."

As they continued to walk around town they came no closer to finding any clues to even get clues of where the Rainbow Rod or Sapphira was. Lightning sat on a bench to rest his feet for a bit, but soon the sun was starting to set. "Where are we going to stay?" asked Krysta.

"Well, they have hotels here. I guess that will do." Lightning said. His stomach growled too "I hope it has a restaurant. I'm famished."

There was a hotel just down the street, and they did allow pets to be brought in, but when Lightning tried to check in at the front desk, he was asked to pay the fee and handed the desk-clerk a few small yellow coins from his pocket, which the clerk did not acknowledge as real money. "What? Is this some sort of joke, young man?" the stern man asked.

"Joke?" asked Lightning "You asked me to pay, and I paid."

The man rudely passed Lightning his coins back and told him to leave the premises. "No!" snapped Lightning "I paid for a room, fair and square. This is the only kind of money I have!"

The man called for security to come and escort Lightning away, but before the big men could get near Lightning…! "Hold it!" shouted a voice from the front-door, and all went dead quiet in the room as everyone who it was, but Lightning and Krysta could hardly believe their eyes…! "Could it be?" Lightning murmured.

A tall man stood at the door, wearing a white suit a red cape and holding a walking stick. His hair was dyed a very darkish blue. He approached the desk clerk, who gazed at the man very nervously. "M… Mist… Mr. Grandruler, sir."

Lightning and Krysta exchanged gawking expressions.

"What's all the trouble, here?" Grandruler asked. The desk clerk explained how the young man was trying to trick him with phony money. Grandruler picked up one of the coins and examined it closely. "Well, bless my stars. A man like you would turn down real gold?"

Many gasps came from the people.

"Real gold…?"

"Where did this kid get gold?"

Lightning felt every eye in the lobby staring at him. Grandruler gazed at Lightning "What is your name?"

"Lightning Dawn… sir." Lightning said and bowed to him as if he were addressing his actual master.

Grandruler could tell just by looking at Lightning that he had no home, no families, and was pretty much lost. "Come with me. I will help you find what you are looking for."

Lightning assumed he was talking about the Rainbow Rod, and even still… this man who uncannily looked like his real teacher, Lightning decided to follow him; if it was a trap he could always fight his way out. Grandruler didn't even mind him bringing his pet bird.

Outside, a white limousine was waiting, and soon they were off. On the way, Grandruler told lightning more about himself- Captain Celesto Grandruler; millionaire, ex-astronaut. He flew on many space missions, was one of the last men to walk on the moon, and served aboard the international space station.

"Space station…?" Lightning said in confusion.

Grandruler raised an eyebrow feeling confuse "Yes, you know, a space station?"

Lightning shook his head. "Are they anything like Starfleet outposts?"

"Star… fleet… outposts?" asked Grandruler.

"Uh… never mind." Lightning said.

Grandruler continued to explain that, after the tragic and unexpected death of his parents, he retired from his career, and dedicated his life to helping the less fortunate. He owned many of the buildings around Mystic City, including the hotel they were just at, but his best hobby was seeking out poor street wanderers and helping give them hope, and punish those who were ill-mannered and caused trouble.

Lightning and Krysta felt this man, though not really the Grand Ruler they knew, was just like him in many, many ways.

Soon, they arrived at his grand-manor on the far side of the island, away from all the bustling noises and crowdedness of the city.

Krysta was placed in a bird house in the garden greenhouse where other birds flocked around and lived, and she ate what all the other birds were feed, seeds, nuts, berries, which she didn't actually mind. "Think any of you could get me so salt?" she asked the other birds, but they didn't even look at her as they couldn't understand her. "…Never mind."

Lightning ate with Grandruler in his dining hall where he was treated to a warm supper prepared by his chef, whom Lightning compared to as Cookie Dough, but he did his best not to make a big deal. "This world is getting stranger and more mysterious all the time." he thought to himself, and he also wondered if maybe… just maybe everyone he knew from his world had doubles of themselves in this world?

"Tell me, Lightning… what brings you hear to Mystic Island?" Grandruler asked.

"Uh… well you see…" Lightning wasn't quite sure how to explain, but ultimately decided to come clean. "Actually, I'm a genetically altered pony creature from the planet Unicornicopia, and an officer of an intergalactic defense force called Starfleet. I was sent here by my king and mentor, The Grand Ruler. My mission is to retrieve a powerful weapon that was stolen from me by an evil sorceress, who intends to use the stolen weapon to conquer this world, and I have less than thirty days to do so, or I'll be trapped here in this world forever."

Grandruler just gazed at him awkwardly. "I… see…" he simply said, but obviously he didn't believe a single word of it, for he was a serious man who didn't really believe in such paraphernalia, having actually been in space many times there had so been no proof or even remote sightings of such things.

"I'm telling you the truth." Lightning said "Your world, as you know could very well be on the verge of grave danger."

"Yes, I'm sure it is." Grandruler said, still not believing Lightning, and thinking that he just had an overactive imagination; a typical reaction to orphans who had been on their own a long time, they would just make stories up. "Tell me, have you ever been to school before?"

Lightning felt insulted "I was homeschooled by my teacher, the Grand Ruler."

Grandruler decided he had heard enough, and it was late anyway. Grandruler thought it best Lightning get some rest, for he was planning to enroll him in high-school, to help set him back on the right track. Lightning would have protested, but decided there was no point in arguing anymore. He didn't believe him, and it wouldn't make sense to annoy the kind man who was putting him up and giving him food and shelter.

He was given a nice room and was told to get plenty of sleep, as he assured him he would be off to school in the morning. "It's for your own good. Now, if you need anything, just ring for my servants. Good night, Lightning."

"Good night, your majesty."

"What was that?"

"Sorry… force of habit."

Grandruler shut the door and left him. Lightning fell onto his bed. "Great! Some first day on the job this turned out to be." He groaned to himself.

Just then, he heard a tapping on the window. It was Krysta. He opened the window. "Well, how did it go?"

"I told him everything, he doesn't believe me, and now he's sending me to some high-school in the morning."

"What?!" snapped Krysta "That ridiculous. You don't need to go to school; you already know a ton of things."

"Now, hold on a minute." Lightning said "Maybe this can help after all. Maybe I can learn a little more about this world or even this island, it'll help me search for clues, and maybe I can get some people to help me."

Krysta agreed it was worth the shot, and she promised to help Lightning. She would fly all around the island and report back to him of anything she would find that would help them gain leads. "Good idea." Lightning said. With their plans settled they bid each other good night, and Krysta flew back to the bird sanctuary in the greenhouse.

First School Day

ACT THREE

The next morning, Lightning was dressed up and was on his way in with Grandruler. Lightning was very nervous because he hadn't been to school since he was a little colt. He had attended preschool on his home planet, Harmonious, before it was destroyed, but all his real education and training was all privately taught to him by Grand Ruler on Unicornicopia.

Still, he wasn't willing to turn back, as he was still eager to learn more about the human world. If he was to effectively seek clues to find his Rainbow Rod or Sapphira, and fit in with the society around him, he had to become a member of society.

Already, Grandruler had made arrangements during the night with the school board, which he was also an executive member of, and managed to pull a few strings. Soon, they arrived at the school, Canterlot High, in the suburban areas on the western part of the island. He owned the school and ran it as superintendent.

They were both about to go in when Grandruler's cell-phone rang; he had to answer to it as it concerned a few business deal issues. So he told Lightning to on ahead and he'd join him shortly. "Just walk straight through the front door, and you should meet up with Vice Prinicpal Luna. She'll take you to Prinicpal Celestia, and by then I should be with you."

Lightning nodded and stepped out of the limo, and his first impressions of the school were fine, it wasn't all that different from the schools back home. "This is it." he said to himself.

"Pst…! Lightning…! Over here." chirped a little voice. Lightning looked around and could see Krysta in a tree right near him. "Krysta, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be out looking for leads."

"I know… but I just wanted to keep my eye on you so I know where to find you." she gazed at the school and all the students there. "Gee, what a crowd. You sure you're up to this?"

"Don't worry about me, and besides it's only temporary. Once the mission is over we can leave."

Lightning also had a plan of his own which he hoped would help the mission got smoother. He was taught how sometimes the best way to find what or who you were looking for was draw them out into the open. So he didn't intend not to keep that he was an alicorn on a mission secret, and just tell people, maybe even prove by showing off his skills, someone was bound to believe him, and maybe he would gain help to find the Rainbow Rod, and draw Sapphira into the open.

"You always were one for taking risks, Lightning. You know that?" said Krysta.

"Hey! Risks is what it's all about, now you better get out of here, I've got work to do and so do you. The minute you find anything, tell me at once."

Krysta agreed and headed off, and no sooner had she when someone did holler. "Hey, you there…!" Lightning turned and saw it was a teenage boy roughly his age, and yet he looked so incredibly familiar. The boy approached him "You're standing in the flowers I planted."

Lightning looked down at his feet. "Oh! Sorry about that, Buddy Rose."

The other boy looked surprised. "How did you know my name?"

"Uh… well… I…"

"Come to think of it, I've never seen you around here before. What's your name?"

"My name's Lightning Dawn. I just transferred here."

Buddy Rose gazed at the crushed flowers. "I think I can help them. I know a lot about gardening. I planted lots of the flowers around the school and tend to them every day."

Lightning watched as he worked, and there was no doubt he was just the Buddy Rose he knew back home. Suddenly, an announcement was made over the P.A speakers which could be heard from outdoors. "Good morning students." The principal said "Just a reminder, that all newly transferred students are to verify their arrival at the main office. That is an order. Thank you."

Lightning suddenly snapped to, remembering what he was supposed to be doing, but he couldn't help notice that voice sounded so familiar. "You better shake a leg." said Buddy Rose "Principal Celestia can get really nasty when people disregard school policies."

Lightning nodded. "Nice to have met you." and he dashed off into the building. Inside the main hall, everything looked straight forward. Lightning even saw the display case with all the trophies and school honors, and right next to the case was a beautiful mural of the school itself. "Wow!"

"You like that painting?" said someone behind him "I made it myself."

"It's beautiful…" Lightning turned to see the boy who resembled another one of his friends. "You're Artie."

Artie didn't act surprised, most people knew who he was, and those that didn't often just saw the mural and his name signed in the corner. "That's me, all right." He said extending his hand "You're new here, aren't you?"

"Uh, yes… I was on my way to see the principal."

"Well, good luck… and trust me, you'll need it. She's not really in a good mood today. See ya." And no sooner had he gone did a tall woman with voluminous purple, sparkling hair approached Lightning. "Excuse me. I couldn't help but hearing that you're new here."

"Yes, I am."

"I'm Vice Principal Luna, and if I'm right, you must Lightning Dawn. Please follow me."

She lead him to the main office and said that she and her sister, Celestia had been expecting him since they received the phone-call last night from Grandruler, but before they could enter the Principal's private office, the phone Rang and Luna had to take. "Just go inside, I have to take this."

"Thank you."

Lightning walked up to the door, took a deep breath and knocked softly.

"Come in!"

Lightning opened the door, and the Prinicpal turned in round in her chair to face him, and they both gasped in shock and shouted "…YOU!"

"Oh, no…! No…!" cried Lightning "This isn't happening."

Celestia couldn't believe it herself, but nonetheless she did realize the advantage over this, and Lightning realized it too. "I'm you're principal now, and I expect you to respect that and the rules. Understood?"

As much as Lightning felt outraged, he agreed "Yes… ma'am!"

Celestia went over Lighting's recently presented file, and was shocked to find that he had no family, no birth certificate, not even any records of previous schools attended. Celestia angrily slammed the file on her desk "This is an outrage; an absolute insult to the school system."

Lightning didn't like her tone, but he spoke calmly "I was told to be welcomed at this school, and the arrangements were not to be questioned."

Celestia was confused and more outraged "And just who authorized this?"

"I did!" snapped a voice from outside the door. Celestia felt a shiver run up her spine as she turned around nervously and saw him standing them, tapping his foot and glaring at her with disappointment. "Mr. Grandruler."

"…Celestia." he spoke very deeply "I take it you two already know each other."

Lightning and Celestia gazed at one another and nodded, and it soon became clear to Celestia that Lightning was another one of Grandruler special kids whom he went out of his way to help. "I completely forgot. You'll have to excuse me. I've been having a little trouble lately."

Grandruler slowly approached her "I hope I can trust you Celestia. I've been hearing stories about you sliding off the edge, and if there's one thing I won't tolerate, it's when people on my payroll forget the rules of conduct, especially to those I'm trying to help. You had better shape up, missy!"

"Yes sir."

With that all settled, Lightning was given his schedule and map of the school and told to head off to his first class. He went off and Grandruler gazed at Celestia. "I'll be watching." Grandruler said as he quietly shut the door, and Celestia sighed as she sagged in her chair shaking her head in dismay.

Outside, Grandruler seemed more concerned for Celestia than disappointed. "Luna, you should know better than to let your sister blow her top like that."

"Sorry sir…" Luna sighed "She's going through hard times."

Grandruler nodded, but the silence was soon interrupted by loud banging sounds and screams coming from outside in the main-hall. "What the devil…!" snarled Grandruler as he, Luna, and Celestia dashed out to the hall.

A couple of punk kids were lighting cherry-bombs in the hall, extremely against school rules, and with them was a teenage girl with orange and red striped hair, and her boyfriend stood next to her, but he didn't seem to like what was happening. He then looked down the hall. "Watch it! Here comes Grandruler!"

The other two punk kids stood up right in fear and ran for it; many of the other students saw him examine the ashes, and the soot all over the floor and the walls. "Who did this?" he bellowed "Well!"

The girl approached Grandruler and put on a weeping face. "Mr. Grandruler, I saw who it was." and she pointed at the two punk students. "It was them!" She then nudged her boyfriend, forcing him to comply with her veracity, when really he knew the truth. "Yes sir, we both saw them."

Grandruler glared down at the two boys, but Celestia decided to handle it herself and told the boys to meet her after school for extreme punishment. The girl, however, who was really responsible and told the boys what to do, was very pleased with herself. Her boyfriend shook his head in dismay. "Sometimes you go too far, Sunset. You're going to get busted one of these days, you know."

"As if." remarked Sunset "I've done okay up to now, and I expect you to help me keep it up. Got it…!"

"Whatever." he boyfriend said as he went off to class and he secretly thought in his mind "But you'll never expect what's in store for you and the rest of this world, Earth-Girl!" his eyes shimmered a wicked glow of pale blue.

…

Lightning, not having seen any of it all, followed his map to his first class, literature, and on the way he met up with another familiar resemblance, as a young teenage boy was slipping a letter into a locker, obviously not his. "Excuse me…"

The other boy jumped in startle, and as Lightning expected, he spoke in rhyme.

"I'm sorry there,

But you gave me a scare."

"I see that… uh, your name wouldn't happen to be Rhymey, would it?" Lightning asked.

"William Stirskewer III (Three) is my name.

But folks call me Rhymey just the same."

Lightning already knew why, and didn't bother to ask what he was doing with that letter in the locker, and merely asked for directions to class, as he had a hard time understanding the map and the building. As luck had it, he and Rhymey had the same class right then, and he gladly showed him the way.

The teacher welcomed Lightning, having been told of his schedule, and let him take his seat, but Lightning soon found the class to be very boring, for all the lessons were things and subjects he already had learned a while back during his training and studies back home.

The same thing applied was with his next class, mathematics, it, too was easy as pie. The teacher merely assigned the students to copy the problems off of the board and solve them, and Lightning was finished in almost no time, much to the other students' and even the teacher's shock amazement, but to Lightning, the hours seemed to last forever, but he kept hoping that soon things would turn up and he'd learn the things he came for.

His third period was science and biology, with Professor Brain, yet another resemblance, but that was the only interesting by far that he learned. Even that class seemed too easy, why Lightning even handed in his basic assignment that day for the professor to gaze at… "I must say Mr. Dawn, this certain is. Satisfactory…

"Most satisfactory…!" Lightning muttered along with the professor, knowing he would say it, and his fourth period was Arts and Crafts. That class really didn't start out well for him, as some of the students like picking on the new kids, throwing bits of paper at him, Lightning did his best to ignore them and they just kept throwing stuff at him while the teacher's back was turned, worse than that, the teacher didn't really like Lightning's sketching of the Rainbow Rod he had made. "This is what you call a work of art, Mr. Dawn?" she sneered.

"Is there something wrong with it?" Lightning asked. The truth was the teacher didn't like it when students were able to draw or make things better than she could, and she would often resort to bullying and mocking their works, even if it was good looking. "I'm afraid this is not worth the effort." She said as she crumpled up the drawing and threw it away. Many students laughed at Lightning, but Lightning felt cross and hurt. Artie, who was in the class as well, was cross with everyone and sorry for Lightning.

After class, he took the crumped drawing out of the trash and decided he'd keep it for himself, to help him keep his mind on the mission, and he headed to the cafeteria for lunch. At least the food was very nice, which did help spark some of Lightning's observations, that humans ate the same foods from his universe.

Still, he was starting to feel maybe coming to school wasn't a very good idea after all. He didn't feel challenged enough, and though he had run into some familiar faces, he really didn't feel like he fit in with anyone. It got worse when he kindly asked if he could sit in empty places, but most students coldly rebuked him.

However, Lightning spotted Buddy Rose, Artie, and Rhymey all sitting together at a table, and waved for him to join them. "Thank you."

"Don't let the others get to you." said Buddy "Here at Canterlot High, the students prefer to stick to groups. They don't take kind to newbies."

"I've noticed that."

Lightning looked around and could see all the many groups…

Athletes… Fashionistas… drama… eco kids…techies… rockers… and several other kinds of groups too. Lightning compared them like how power sources in Starfleet were divided by fields, but nobody behaved cold or harsh to one another.

Still, Lightning un-crumpled his drawing of the Rainbow Rod for his, seemingly, new friends. They all thought it was wonderful. "It's almost as good as my work." said Artie "But what made you think to draw this?"

Lightning felt a little nervous, but decided to tell them about it, when suddenly he heard the students laughing at a girl who had dropped her tray and spilled food on her books, a girl whom Lightning could almost identify exactly… with long purple hair.

"Who's that?" he asked.

Rhymey answered…

"That is Starla Shine. She is kind,

But she has a very one-tracked mind.

Her interests is studying stars and stuff,

And many students treat her very rough."

Lightning could see for himself as Starla tried to gather her things up, and a big bullying student took her astronomy book. "Hey, give me that back!" Starla demanded, but the tall guy wouldn't let her have it. "What's the matter? You going to cry, little star…?"

Lightning had seen enough and waltzed over and grabbed the bully's arm. "Hey! Hey!" the guy whimpered as Lightning pulled it down slowly down and took the book from him. "Just because she's different than you, doesn't give you the right to bully her." Lightning said.

Starla looked up at him and felt touched that someone was standing up for her, but the bully was outraged and watched out of Lightning's grip and glared at him fuming. "You're the new kid, aren't you? You know what I call newbies around here…? Fresh meat…!"

"Am I supposed to be scared?" Lightning simply said. Many of the students felt shivers run up their spine as they saw what looked like was going to be a fight. Some we're even hollering "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight…!"

The bully looked ready for a brawl, but the warning bell rang indicating lunch hour was nearly over. "I'll settle with you later, punk." and he stormed off.

Lightning cleaned off Starla's book and handed it to her "Thanks." she said "But you didn't have to do that, I'm not helpless."

"I just wanted to, that's all." Lightning said "I feel people shouldn't be pushed around without good reason."

Starla felt the same, but she had to leave and head to class, even though she hadn't eaten lunch, and Lightning found himself unable to take his eyes off her, but she thanked him one more time before she left. Lightning eventually snapped himself out of his daze when his new friends told him he'd be late for class.

At the popular table, where Sunset, her boyfriend Flash, and several other students were sitting saw the whole thing. "That new kid's not like most others." Sunset said.

Flash sighed and rolled his eyes "And let me guess, you think he might be valuable to boosting our image, am I warm?"

"You're burning up." said Sunset. She got out her powder compact and made sure she looked pretty enough. "Step back, I'm going in."

Flash sighed "Every time, she does this."

…

Lightning's next class was Geography, and was finally something he knew would help him learn more about the Earth and things. When Sunset waltz up to him. "So… Hi." She

said to him.

"Um… hello…" Lightning said.

"So, you're the new kid, huh? Don't worry; I've been down that road before. Oh, sorry about that, the name's Sunset Shimmer."

"Sun… Set… Shimmer?"

"I know, weird name right? But hey, I'll bet no one knows who you are either."

"Well, just a few actually."

"Well, trust me, if you stick with me and my crowd, you'll be part of school popularity in no time."

Lightning was starting to get the feeling this girl was just spouting a bunch of nonsense, and while her offer was tempting, he reminded himself he came to complete a mission, not to become popular. "Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer to get where I am on my own."

Sunset felt appalled "Um, maybe you didn't hear me. I'm offering you the chance of a lifetime."

"And I said thanks but no thanks." replied Lightning "I'm just not interested."

"Not interested?!" snarled Sunset, and before she could react any further, the teacher came in and told everyone to take their seats, especially her. "This isn't over." she said to Lightning.

Rhymey and Buddy Rose were in the class with Lightning and could barely believe what they had just seen, and they felt Lightning was in big trouble now. Everyone in school knew about Sunset Shimmer and her in-crowd. They were the most popular group on campus. Many would offer their very souls to get in and be as popular as they were, but most knew that Sunset Shimmer was a rotten girl, a total snob, and above all things, bad news.

As the class continued, Sunset eyed across at Lightning from her seat, and was already plotting more things for him, and Flash, sitting next to her hated it when his girlfriend acted like this. "Why did I ever get stuck dating an Earth-Girl like this?" he wondered to himself.

Beliefs

ACT FOUR

By the end of the day Sunset was still complaining on how Lightning had brushed her off like that. "He doesn't want to be popular, and he just insults me like that? No one insults me like that."

Flash was growing annoying with her whining "He didn't really insult you. Give it a rest."

"Don't tell me to give it a rest!" she snapped at him. She looked on an ahead and could see Lightning heading out the door. Flash gazed at him also with greater interest than his girlfriend. "There's something odd about that kid." he thought to himself, and he walked off. "Where do you think you're going?" snapped Sunset.

"I'm going to meet with my mom. I've got stuff to do." And he just left her there. She angrily stomped her foot and huffed.

As he left the school, he saw Lightning with his buddies up ahead, and a pale-blue car approached the front of the building. Flash hopped in next to his mother. "Where you able to find it?" she asked to him. "No, Mother, and if what I suspect it true, we could be in for some bad news." He pointed out the window at the buddies, particularly towards Lightning. His mother saw him and gripped the steering-wheel in slight frustration. He did look heavily like Lightning, but it was uncertain if it was him for sure. "We will have to watch him more closely. In the meantime we'll continue our own search for what I seek."

Lightning saw many of the students hop on busses for home, but Lightning remembered Grandruler was going to pick him up later. Buddy, Artie, and Rhymey met up with him. "Well, you made it through the first day." said Buddy.

"Are you kidding? I am so glad to be out of there." said Lightning "This has been one of the most boring days of my life- Teaching me a whole bunch of things that I already know."

That explained to the boys how he was able to finish all the assignments so easily. "But I thought you said you've never been to school before?" said Artie.

Lightning rolled his eyes back and forth. "Well, yeah… I was taught by my master."

He was about to tell the boys the whole deal, when he looked up, and saw that same bully who was picking on Starla, with his buddies of four more, spotting Starla and walking up the street to catch up to her.

"I smell trouble

…on the double." said Rhymey.

Lightning narrowed his eyes and pursued after the bullies, but they had already caught up with Starla at the corner of the street, away from the school grounds. "Hello there, twinkle star." mocked the leader. Starla looked up from her book, but didn't respond and tried to keep walking, but two more of the bullies blocked her way. "Excuse me." she sneered.

"You're excused." said one of the bullies as he flipped the book out of her hand. She bent down to pick it up, but it got kicked away. Now Starla was angry.

"Uh, oh… I think she's gonna cry."

Lightning and the boys had just reached them, when Starla unleashed a furry of kicks and punches at the big brutes, knocking them over like trees. "Oh, did I mention I study martial arts too?"

The bullies just groaned as the got up feeling sore and ran away like cowards. Starla turned to pick up her book when she was startled by Lightning and the boys standing behind her. "Oh, you scared me."

"Sorry." Lightning said as he gave her back your book. "I didn't know you could move like that."

Starla admitted she volunteered at the town library, larger than the school library, which was where she was headed then, and she usually found time to look in a book or two, not just about stars and astronomy. She just didn't defend herself in the lunchroom because fighting was against school rules, but since they were now away from the school, she just let it out.

Buddy, Artie, and Rhymey also admitted they knew a thing or two about martial arts and studied it in their spare time. "You should join us for study-buddies, Lightning." Buddy offered.

Lightning wasn't sure at first, but when realizing this would be his big chance to finally learn things about the world like he wanted to he decided, "Sure, why not. Oh, but I have to meet Grandruler now, to pick me up."

"Oh, no worries…" Artie said and he pulled out a device Lightning had never seen before, and he gazed at it strangely. "What?" said Artie "Haven't you ever seen a cellphone before?"

Lightning shook his head, which made the others wonder "What planet is this guy from?"

He surprised Lightning again, informing Grandruler that Lightning was with them and he would know where to pick him up much later, to Grandruler understood.

"You know Grandruler that personally?" asked Lightning.

"We all do,

Just as you." said Rhymey.

As they all walked off the library together the other four explained to Lightning how Grandruler helped all of them. Some of them started out as orphans; frightened, alone, and yet talented in some fields, like art, planting, poetry, and astronomy, but feared the world would never recognize them. So, out of the kindness of his heart, he took them into his home at the Grand Manor, and raised them as if they were his own, he helped them find jobs, and paid for their induction and education.

Rhymey, however, was the only one of few who still had a family, and a very large one, and not many problems, but he still knew Grandruler personally having met him when he hung out with his friends. To them, Grandruler was one of the kindest people on the entire island… but for some reason lately, he seemed to be more down in the dumps, and not in very pleasant moods, especially towards Celestia, but nobody knew why, or even a bigger mystery, why Celestia was always in such a nasty mood herself; always blowing her head off at anyone near her, even when they don't do anything or even look at her.

The only person she seemed open to was her sister, VP Luna, who was probably the only one who knew what was wrong with her sister, but refused to tell anyone as it was understood between them.

This made Lightning feel a little remorseful for his previous run-ins with Celestia. "Well, still… she doesn't have any right to be such a grouch." He said, and his friends agreed, practically half the students at school agreed Celestia's temper issues were going too deep, but nobody knew what to do for her.

Still, it was best not to think about her now.

They made it to the town library, and Lightning ran into another familiar resemblance. Ms. Inquerious the head librarian, and Starla's supervisor. She knew the gang personally and often reserved them a quiet table to study at, but Lightning was also told that she suffered from a stroke a few years back which impaired a part of her brain for her vocal facilities. Now she could only speak through questions, but she was very nice nonetheless.

"You will inform me if you need any help?" she asked.

The teens smiled at her and nodded in thanks. Inquerious sighed "How is it that not all children are like them?"

Lightning found many of the subjects he was interested in that he didn't learn at the school, about Earth and its history, space, geographies. He found it all so incredibly fascinating he wished his friends back at home could see all this with him. So maybe school would be a tad boring to him, at least he had a way to learn more effectively of what he wanted to learn.

Still, nothing he would learn in the books would help him find the Rainbow Rod or Sapphira, which reminded him as he reached in under his shirt and pulled out the transport-jewel, and it had faded slightly. It now had only four weeks before its magic disappeared.

"What's that?" Starla asked quietly as she stared at the jewel. The boys saw it too and thought it was pretty, and Lightning decided to come clean "Okay, you guys, listen carefully…" and he told them everything about his mission, and even showed them the picture of the Rainbow Rod and how he had to find it before Sapphira did, but the others thought it all just a joke, and did their best not to break out laughing loud in the library.

"It's the truth." Lightning said.

"Lightning, you don't have to make up stories." said Buddy "We already consider you one of us, no matter how strange you may think you are."

Artie looked at the jewel and as convincing as he thought it looked, he had seen glowing fake-jewelry like that at the crafts shop where he worked. "Still, it is beautiful. It looks so real."

"It is real." Lightning protested "Why won't you believe me?"

"Lightning, as much I hate to say this, but there's no concrete evidence suggesting that alternate universes actually exist." said Starla. "I should know. I've gone over a lot of these books."

Lightning tried to protest again, but the library was about to close and everyone had to leave. Lightning groaned in dismay that no one believed him still.

As he walked out into the street, Rhymey was waiting for his bus, when he looked across the street at the animal shelter where a pretty teenage girl with pink hair was feeding the rabbits, and reading the very letter that he had slipped into her locker.

"You're smile is as bright as the sun in the sky

Your kindness to animals makes my heart fly.

And though you are timid, you're as sweet as pie.

You are very special to me, Fluttershy."

The girl, Fluttershy, blushed and giggled nervously. "Oh, I wish I knew who wrote this. She said softly, but there was no name written, and there were many students who wrote poetry at school; the poets crowd.

Rhymey sighed heavenly as he gazed at her, and Lightning could guess the obvious. "You really like her."

Rhymey nodded, even the others knew he was crushing on Fluttershy. She was beautiful, smart, kind, and loving and caring to animals; everything he imagined as his dream girl… one like him with a gentle soul. Lightning asked "Why don't you just go up to her and tell her yourself?" but Rhymey felt too embarrassed to even consider doing that.

"Alas, dear me…

I am as shy as she.

For now I can only continue to write

And keep far away from her sight."

Lightning sighed, a typical reaction for most cases of guys in love. He knew this too well himself, back home when it came to someone special whom he liked.

Rhymey's bus came and he had to leave, but he cast one last look at Fluttershy before getting on.

…

Soon, Lightning was back at the manor, and he asked Grandruler if he could see the manor's library. "Well, if it will help you catch up on studies, go right ahead."

He showed him to the massive library, which was nearly as big as the town library, and Lightning got straight to studying more about the Earth and Space. Grandruler had never anyone with such eagerness to learn, not to mention crash coursing. "There's something unusual about that boy."

As he walked off and left Lightning on his own, he passed by a large portrait in the hallway, of himself in his spacesuit, with his helmet off, and saluting. He smiled proudly at the portrait and saluted back to it.

Chef Cookie Dough saw him. "You miss those days, don't you sir? You must be proud to have been one of many men to set foot on the moon."

"It's all a long time ago and well behind me, Chef. My place is here on Earth, and helping people out when they need it most."

Chef admired his master for his ways, "Tell me sir, do you not think you will ever have someone special to share this wonderful of yours with?"

Grandruler felt a little low at that. "No, Chef, I don't think there is anyone, not in that manner. Besides the children and teens that I help and knowing they have a chance is all I really need."

He then walked off to his office, but once he was alone, he looked really down in the dumps. On his desk was a framed photograph of himself and a familiar woman near him wearing a victory wreath, and holding a riding trophy. Behind then was a racing horse, also wearing a victory wreath. He sighed heavily "It's just not possible anymore. She's not the woman you remember."

…

As Lightning continued to study, he could hear a tapping coming from one of the large windows. "Krysta…!" He hastily opened the window and let her in. She was exhausted after flying all around the entire island all day. "Did you find out anything?"

"Only how hard birds have it." Krysta panted, and explained that all day she was chased by cats and dogs, pelted at by mean kids with stones, and other birds thinking she was trying to invade their turfs. There was on particular dog that picked on her a lot in the park before she got there. It was purple with green floppy ears and dyed green tuft of hair on its head. She was saved by the dog's owner, a girl with lilac skin, and long dark blue hair with pink and purple stripes, who pulled him back.

"Sorry, I didn't find out what we wanted to know."

Lightning sighed "That's just dandy."

"Well don't feel bad, we still have four weeks." said Krysta "Something's bound to show up. We just have to keep looking."

Lightning knew she was right, but he wished people would start believing about his stories and stuff, then maybe things would go smoother, but every time he tried to prove it, he got interrupted by other things.

Still, there was plenty of time, and he wasn't willing to give up, but he and Krysta couldn't help but sake off the sneaky feeling that somewhere, danger was lurking and ready to strike at any second.