My Little Unicorn: Star Fleet Magic

EPISODE TWO

(Part 2)

With his raging fury, Titan began to capture some of the unicorns, and imprison them in large bubble-like objects. Even Krysta was accidentally caught as well. "Lightning…!" she screamed.

"Krysta! No…!" cried Lightning

"Easy pickings!" laughed Titan.

Before long, the library was a complete and total mess. Bookshelves were knocked down; books scattered all over the floor along with the broken glass and ruined party supplies. All the other unicorns began to run in panic, much to Titan's amusement.

Lightning was furious! "What are you going to do with those captured unicorns?" he demanded to know.

Titan gazed at him and his eyes glowed. "You wish to know…? Allow me to show you then!" he raised his hand and was ready to zap Lightning…

"Hold it right there!" snapped a voice.

Titan looked towards the door, and Lightning saw some of the unicorns he had met that day. Buddy Rose, Artie, Rhymey, even Starla. All four of them were standing upright. Their armors looked shinier, and stronger, and now they had on knee and elbow pads, and wore magic gloves which acted as actual hands for them, and they all wore thick and cool bands round their eyes like masks.

"In the name of Star Fleet… I order you to cease and desist." demanded Buddy Rose.

Lightning could hardly believe it. His four new friends were all members of Star Fleet too, and Titan could hardly believe that Star Fleet was still around after all this time, but he simply chuckled "You don't know what you're up against."

"You don't know what you're up against, Titan." snapped Artie.

Rather than cause a real ruckus, Titan decided to test the warriors out. "If you truly wish to save your friends, I'll give the chance… but you'll have to find me first." Then he vanished in a cloud of black and purple smoke, taking his prisoners with him. "KRYSTA…!" cried Lightning. Feeling overwhelmed with sadness and anger, he angrily pounded the floor with his hoof in frustration.

The others felt sorry for Lightning, but now they had to head off somewhere. "I'm going with you." Lightning said.

"Lightning, No." Buddy Rose said "This is a job for Star Fleet, you should get to safety. We know how you feel about Krysta. We'll get her back. I promise." And before Lightning could protest, the four warriors moved on out. Starla stopped at the door and gazed back at him, almost apologetically, but then she ran off to join her teammates. Lightning angrily pounded the floor again.

The library was still in a mess, until Doctor Penny arrived with her team to help treat anyone was hurt, and following her was an elderly green unicorn, wearing square glasses, the code GU6I, and spoke in an English accent. "Mmm… I say!" he said "What's happened…?"

Inquerius approached him "Can you not tell…?" she asked "Did you not feel the danger?"

"Didn't we all?" added Lightning.

The green unicorn admitted that he did calculate the tremors, "But… I wouldn't have believed it possible that Titan has… mmm… eh… returned as it were."

"Well that's fine and dandy, whoever you are." said Lightning "But it doesn't help find where he's gone or where he's taken the unicorns he took, and my friend Krysta."

The green unicorn kept his cool. "My name, good sir, is Brain- an auxiliary Star Fleet fighter… and as soon as I knew there was trouble I began to… eh… make my calculations, and confirm my theories, and I have come to tell you that, I just may know where Titan has gone."

Lightning's ears twitched. "Where…? Where have they gone? You have to tell me!"

Brain told Lightning to calm down and come to his laboratory house in Greenland.

…

Brain was a regular genius and scientific inventor, and as an auxiliary he wasn't always involved in too many battles, but was always there when and if needed. His laboratory seemed massive loaded with all the usual things you would find.

"Please do not touch anything." He warned Lightning "One little accident in a laboratory could cause massive trouble." Then Brain then sat himself down at a strange contraption that seemed to be heating water. Brain sniffed the steam. "Ahh…! Satisfactory…" he sighed "Most satisfactory."

"What… what is that?" asked Lightning "Is it a device that lets you find Titan? Something that can beat him or get the unicorns and Krysta back…?"

"What? Oh, don't be silly…" said Brain "This device is merely used to make me a cup of tea. I've finally perfected it you know."

"A cup of tea…?" Lightning asked in annoyance "I thought you said you knew where Titan had gone?"

"But I do…" snapped Brain. He cleared his throat "Begging your pardon. If you will just hand me that map over there..."

Brain unfolded the map as soon as Lightning passed it to him, and consulted his notes. "Mm... let me see. Ah, ha! Satisfactory…! Most satisfactory..."

"What is it?" asked Lightning.

Brain explained that the only place Titan could have taken the captured unicorns would be to Blacktop Mountain, which was located on the other side of Violet Swamp.

"Then that's where we should be heading." Lightning suggested.

"Oh, good heavens, no!" snapped Brain "You know it's dangerous to be wandering through the swamp at night? It… eh… especially would not be bright considering… em… our enemy would be expecting you. That is what had said, was it not?"

Brain had a point. Violet Swamp was already a dangerous place even in daytime, but to tread through at night knowing that Titan was likely there, and expecting him was very dangerous. Lightning would also be all alone and he had no magic or weapons to defend himself with.

"I don't care!" Lightning said "Krysta's in danger and so are all the captured unicorns. I'm not just going to sit around and do nothing." With that, he decided to fly out on his own.

"Oh, dear!" cried Brain "The poor chap… I do hope he thinks twice of this at the last moment."

…

Black-Top Mountain was the tallest mountain in the entire dimension, and the upmost level of ground anyone could reach without having to fly so high. An old shrine lay on the mountaintop. Centuries ago it was used as a meeting place for Star Fleet fighters of the past, and that was exactly where Titan was now. All the unicorns were still trapped in their bubbles desperately trying to escape, but to no avail.

Titan was most surprised to realize he had captured Krysta as well. "It's not every one comes across a fairy." he said.

Krysta tried with all her magic and might to escape, but the bubble simply wouldn't break. "What are you planning to do with us?" she demanded to know.

Titan didn't mind explaining to her that he was planning, and while he did he was interrupted along the way by the arrival of three other unicorns. These unicorns were dark and evil looking creatures. Titan had created his very own unicorns to serve as his minions… from corpses and graveyards soil, and infused with a small portion of his magic.

One of the three was a shadowy black unicorn with a sinister voice "Mysterious, at your service my lord." he hissed

The second was a tough and rather pompous but strong unicorn holding a scythe. "Rep Stallion, here master."

The third was a female. She seemed rather attractive, but she was dangerous nonetheless "Dementia is my name. Don't wear it out." she teased.

The minions had reported that the members of Star Fleet were on their way but they had also spotted a white unicorn with a golden horn at the edge of the swamp.

Titan held both his hands together creating a ball of light he used to view the edge of the swamp, and he saw Lightning. "Why, it's that annoying little creatures who tried to stand up to me."

Titan had heard stories of Lightning Dawn and how he had no magic to even do card-tricks, let alone anything spectacular, but he also knew he was the Grand Ruler's apprentice. He had a feeling there was something special about Lightning… possibly to do with his golden horn.

When the minions asked if they should dispose of him, Titan refused. "Let him go." he simply said. He wanted to see Lightning in action and hopefully find out any secrets that would be helpful. "And what of Star Fleet, my lord?" asked Mysterious.

Titan merely turned to his minions and answered with his red eyes glowing madly. "You know what must be done."

…

Lightning stood at the edge of Violet Swamp, and Brain wasn't kidding when he warned him- it really did seem dark and creepy at night. Just a simple gaze through all the thickets and brambles was enough to send chills up his spine. Still, Lightning has come this far, and he knew Krysta and the other unicorns were in danger. "Well… here goes." He said to himself. Then he took one step forwards, crushing a twig with his hoof followed by all kinds of screeches and noises from within the swamp. He gulped nervously but ventured forth.

It was hard to see when there wasn't so much light, but at least it wasn't so pitch dark you couldn't see anything at all. Lightning figured the best way to traverse the swamp was just to keep going forward. He would eventually reach the mountain trail for sure. Jagged rocks, fallen logs and dangling vines seemed to trip him everywhere he stepped. He even ruined his boots got his front hoof dirty by stepping in mud. "Yuck!" he groaned.

Suddenly, Lightning turned and thought he saw a monster, but it was only a tree in the shape of a monster. He saw a scary claw, which was actually just a long branch. Lightning took in a deep breath and counted to ten, then again, and felt better… until he heard the sound of footsteps coming towards him. Quivering in fear, he ducked down, and peeped, "Who's there…?"

The bushes shook and twigs snapped, but then a friendly voice called. "Lightning…? Is that you…?"

Lightning peeked up and saw it was Starla. He sighed heavily in relief. Starla called out to the others who were all close by. They all came over holding flashlights and lanterns "What are you doing here?" asked Artie "We told you not to follow us."

Lightning explained that he didn't follow them deliberately and came out here on his own.

"We realize you are in such worry.

But you must leave here in a hurry." said Rhymey

"Listen!" Lightning snapped at them all "You can tell me that as many times as you want, but I'm not leaving."

The others could tell there was no point in trying to say no. So, despite it being against Star Fleet's code, they allowed Lightning to come with them. So they all traversed though the swamp together. Rhymey even decided to make things easier. Horn glowed, and he shouted, "WARD SWORD!" causing a simple knight's sword to materialize so he could cut and hack away at all the brambles and thickets, making a clear path through.

"Follow me this way…

Hurry now! Don't delay."

Everyone followed quickly, because all the things that Rhymey had hacked seemed to grow back almost instantly.

Suddenly, Starla began sinking. "Hey!" she shrieked "Quicksand!" The others all leapt away before they got sucked in, but Starla couldn't seem to get out, and if the others moved to close, they would get sucked in too. "Starla…!" Lightning called "Don't struggle. You'll only sink faster."

Starla remained calm, and then Lightning pulled a vine from a tree and tossed it to her. Starla caught it. Then the whole gang pulled hard and yanked her out of the sand. Starla was okay, but she was most confused. "There's no quicksand in this swamp."

Suddenly, they could all hear the sounds of heavy footsteps. "What now?" Lightning asked. He soon got his answer as monstrous shadowy images seem to jump right out from round the trees and open fire on them. "Look out!" cried Buddy Rose and everyone leapt out of the way. "Run!"

There was worse to come as those shadows seemed to be popping up all over the place, and worse, the trees were falling over as they had been slashed as if someone were trying to crush the gang, but finally, after running for a while and dodging all the traps they made it out of the swamp all in one piece

"What a nightmare!" Buddy Rose panted.

Lightning was glad to be out of there and now just before them was the starting trail of Blacktop Mountain, and it looked even more eerie than the swamp, sending chills up everyone's spines.

Still, they all climbed, and resisted the urge to fly up the mountain, not knowing what traps lay ahead. Not only we're there more monsters along the way, but booby traps as well- Things like hidden pits, rock slides, falling boulders. Even scary shadows, which only turned out to be the shadows of the gang all huddled against the mountainside.

"And you Star Fleet guys do this all the time?" Lightning asked.

"Yes… we do." Artie said. "That's why we all joined to help out."

Lightning had only read and heard stories about Star Fleet while living with the Grand Ruler. Titan was not the only evil they had ever faced, but there was always some bad guy or other evil forces out there causing trouble. If not for the unicorns, then other races were suffering. So over the ages, Grand Ruler sent many legions of Star Fleet warriors to patrol areas of Dimensional Space and stave off any evil they could find.

This was what inspired Lightning's new friends to join Star Fleet. All their ancestors were part of the force and they all wished to continue the legacy and protect Unicornicopia. Lightning began to wonder if maybe he should join, but he quickly became discouraged due to the fact that he couldn't do magic or summon weapons like the others.

The others felt sorry for Lightning, and wished there was something they could do. "By the way…?" asked Starla "Why do you have a golden horn, anyway?"

Lightning didn't know the answer to that himself. For years he studied and searched through his books, but he could find nothing on golden horns, and even asked Grand Ruler many times, but he was only told the same thing… to give it time. All would be made clear.

Lightning hoped he would find the answer soon, but right now it was time to focus. Soon, after a while of climbing they reached the top of the mountain and there was the old shrine temple just ahead as a flash of lightning and the booming of thunder made everyone wince.

"Well, here we are…" Artie said nervously. That's when the doors to the shrine creaked open, as if they were being invited in.

"Gee! Do you think it's okay…

To go in that way?" asked Rhymey

"We have too." said Lightning "We didn't come all this way to just turn back now."

They all quietly walked through the open doors. It was dark and eerie inside. Nobody could see a thing. "Think we should announce we're here?" asked Buddy Rose.

"How should we do that?" asked Starla

"How about… come and get us?" Lightning called out. That was when the doors slammed shut behind, and everything went pitch black. Everyone else screamed all at once. "…Although a bloodcurdling scream is just as good." replied Lightning.

That's when a torch on the wall lit with fire. Then another torch lit, and another, and another, all the way around the shrine. "Look!" cried Starla.

It was the Unicorns, all sleeping inside magic bubbles, and "Krysta!" cried Lightning. He dashed over towards the bubble. "Lightning, No…!" called Artie

"Don't go…!" rhymed Rhymey

Lightning reached the bubbles, but found his hoof could pass right through them. "These are illusions!" That's when all the bubbles vanished instantly, and sounds of laughter echoed throughout the shrine as Titan's minions appeared. "Well, hello there…!" hissed Mysterious.

Rep-Stallion and Dementia snickered cheekily.

"Who are you?" snapped Buddy Rose "And what have you done with the unicorns."

"…and Krysta!" added Lightning

"They're safe… for the moment." said Rep-Stallion.

"And if you behave nicely, we just might make your fate less painful than theirs." added Dementia.

The gang was starting to tell that these creeps were going to give them no end of trouble. "Don't get any ideas!" snapped Artie "When The Grand Ruler finds out about this…"

"Don't flatter yourself." snorted Rep-Stallion. "We can beat his magic with one hoof. Well, maybe two."

The unicorns stood upright on their hind legs. Rhymey held his sword tightly.

Lightning, however, wasn't sure what to do. He didn't have any magic to use, so at best, he ducked behind a column and watched as the others began to brawl!

Artie and Buddy Rose went after Mysterious. "Let's get him!" shouted Buddy, and the boys charged at their enemy only to end up passing right through him.

"Huh…?"

"What…?"

"Hm, mm, mm…! You missed me." Mysterious mocked at them. The boys tried again only to repeat what happened. Then suddenly they realized. Mysterious was no ordinary unicorn, he was a shadow. He was made of actual darkness, like air.

"You can't touch me…" hissed Mysterious as he ran past the boys, striking them with his horn. "… but I can touch you!"

Even with their armor on, Buddy and Artie felt this would be harder than they thought.

The others weren't having much luck either, as Rhymey and Rep-Stallion went at it with their weapons. Rep-Stallion was very skilled in wielding his scythe, but he was rather impressed by Rhymey's swordplay. "I must say, you are rather good…"

"I have practiced for long… like anyone should." rhymed Rhymey.

Rep-Stallion sniggered, and then pulled a cheap magic attack, "SCYTHE SHOCK!" and his scythe began to spark with electricity that gave Rhymey a jolt. "Ah…!"

"I've had enough…

It's time to get tough!"

He spread his wings out and shouted, "DRILL QUILL!" and as he flapped his wings hard, he sent a swarm of sharp quill feathers from his wings at his enemy like missiles. Rep-Stallion got hit several times as sparks and small explosions hit him. "So, you want to play that way? Fine then…!"

Meanwhile, Dementia and Starla stated each other down. "Let's see what you've got." Dementia sneered as she charged forward. Starla leapt out of the way. "STAR SHOWER…!" and with her shout sent a wave of small star-bolts straight at Dementia, nearly ruffling her mane and Dementia did not like it when someone tried to spoil her pretty looks, and Dementia did not like getting her looks spoiled She turned and glared furiously at Starla. "Oh…! Ye who messes my mane WILL PAY!" she shouted and charged at Starla with all her might.

Dementia also demonstrated her ability to warp the fields around her to negate attacks. Her moves were basically defensive as she didn't like spoiling her looks. "Like they say… a good offense is a strong defense!"

Starla didn't care, but as the fight was about to continue, Titan appeared and called his minions off. "That's enough." he said with an evil snicker. "You have done well, my minions. Return to the castle."

The minions, though disappointed as they were having so much fun, obeyed their master and vanished into thin air.

Lightning peeked from behind the column. "Oh, no…!" Lightning whispered.

"What do you want…?" growled Buddy Rose "Give us back the unicorns."

"Never!" scoffed Titan "But if you insist on seeing them again, I'll be glad to let you join them!" and he fired a stream of magic at the unicorns, most of them dodged, but Starla got hit. "Uhn…" she cried and she was trapped in a magic holding-bubble.

"Starla…!" shouted Lightning

"Let's

get him!" shouted Artie! and everyone fire their best attacks all at once…

"PTEAL DANCE…!" A swarm of razor sharp leaves…

"PAINT BOMB…!" Artie fired blobs of paint, which were actually powerful explosive.

"DRILL QUILL…!"

Titan got hit, but it didn't look as if he was even fazed. "Fools!" he scoffed and, one by one, he trapped each of them in more bubbles, ready to drain their magic.

Lightning was horrified. "What am I going to do?" He was so livid to see his new friends being tortured and harmed as Titan began to absorb their energy, but then he leapt right out and shouted, "LEAVE THEM ALONE…!"

Titan turned to face him.

"Lightning, don't!" cried Starla.

For a moment, nothing happened, and then Titan fired a small projectile which Lightning barely dodged. "Stay out of my way, Weakling! I don't know why The Grand Ruler chose you to be his student, but I'd say he made a poor choice."

Those words made Lightning furious and he stood upright on his hind legs. "Never say anything like that about my mentor again!" and he charged towards Titan roaring like a monster.

Impressed with his courage, but annoyed by his peskiness, Titan continued to fire more shots at Lightning, only to realize that Lightning was pretty quick on his feet and dodged each and every shot as if they were coming at him in slow-motion.

Titan growled and then fire one giant shot of power but Lightning leapt right over it and, with a fierce battle cry, he soared downward and managed to kick Titan right in the chest.

Titan growled in anger as held his chest. "You dare strike me…?" His body began to glow with extreme anger, and he flapped open the lower area of his massive robe revealing that he had no legs at all, and that it was all just black and purple smog. "What…?" snapped Lightning "How…? But what…?" and while he stood there stammering in confusion, Titan saw his chance and unleashed a strong wave of extreme dark energy which hit Lightning with the force of a hurricane draft.

"LIGHTNING…!" the others all shouted, and when the smog had cleared, Lightning lay flat on the ground and felt very weak and sore. Titan laughed hard and evilly and continued to mock at him, "And you call yourself a unicorn?"

Lightning struggled to get up, but he kept on falling back down again. Titan decided, "Well then… allow me to put you out of your misery!" He began to power up again for one final, really big blast. The others could hardly bare to watch, this truly looked like the end for Lightning…

"No…!" Lightning shouted and he struggled, and struggled, and he manage dot stand back onto his hind legs, much to Titan lividness. "Are you still thinking you can win…?" Titan asked.

"I'm… not… thinking…" said Lightning "Magic… or no magic… I KNOW I CAN BEAT YOU!" That's when his golden horn began to glow with a mystical light that seemed to cover all of Lightning's body. He felt incredibly strong now.

"That… that glow!" growled Titan "…No! No it can't be…?"

The others all watched in amazement. "Is that what I think it is…?" asked Buddy Rose.

"Without a doubt…

The truth now comes out!" said Rhymey.

Titan was not willing to let it be so. "Say goodbye…!" he snarled as he continued to charge up, but Lightning, still glowing, stepped forth and recited a chant…

"I summon forth a mystic power

To aid me in this darkest hour

Casting no upon my foe

I now unleash… this magical glow…!"

Titan roared loudly and fired his magic-stream, and Lightning shouted, "…UNIFORCE!" He fired a large and powerful golden force of extreme magic which met with Titan's force sending it right back towards him. "AAHH-Uh…? NO…!"

KAPOW! He was hit hard and seemed to explode in a ball of fire, leaving only his charred robe behind.

Lightning stopped glowing, and he felt extremely exhausted now as if he had just blown out his very body energy itself

The real bubble cells holding all the imprisoned unicorns appeared, and vanished now that Titan was gone. Lightning's friends were released from their bubbles while outside, the dark clouds lifted as the evil vanished from the mountain and the swamp below.

Everyone shouted for joy, and Krysta was so happy to be free and so proud of Lightning while the members of Star Fleet were amazed. "He did it." said Buddy Rose.

"But how…?" asked Arite.

Lightning was slowly recovering his strength but he still felt a little woozy. "Wow!" he exclaimed "What did I just do…?"

"Lightning, you won!" cried Krysta "You saved everyone."

Lightning felt really shocked and amazed with himself. It all happened so fast though.

Suddenly, the doors to the shrine opened, as dawn began to break and the sun shined through, followed by a mystical glow and then… he appeared- a handsome, tall white alicorn with a short dark mane with sparkling stars glittering just like his tail. He wore jewel encrusted golden armor with doublets on each side into it, a red cape with gold markings fluttering on his back, even though there was no breeze. Golden Pegasus wings, golden boots on his front hooves and black on his back ones, and atop his head were three golden horns, all shimmering like the stars

The unicorns all bowed, and so did Krysta.

Lightning's eyes lit up and he actually found the strength to leap for joy. "Grand Ruler…! You're here!"

He ran over to greet his mentor, and The Grand Ruler was pleased to see everyone. "Lightning, my boy…I am pleased you and everyone are safe, and I am very proud of you."

He explained that he had witnessed everything that cautioned everyone to listen to what he had to say, and much to everyone's shock, Titan was not really gone.

Using his magic, Grand Ruler levitated Titan's charred robe over to him and pulled out a damaged block of wood with an ancient seal marking on it. "This was not actually Titan, but in fact a hollowed imitation of him."

He explained that ever since he had fought against Titan a-thousand years ago and banished him into the Dimension of Darkness, it was always known and feared that Titan would one day make an attempt to escape and return to finish what he started.

"Well… it seems as though our fears have been answered."

He continued to explain that Dimension of Darkness was an old prison planet located in the far reaches of Dimensional Space, and the seal that had kept Titan there for all the centuries was now beginning to weaken. Titan had obviously been working hard to restore his powers over time and had now succeeded in creating a small rift in the seal, and that was how Titan was able to send his minions and the fake-him to Unicornicopia.

"He was testing us?" asked Lightning.

"Yes. He was…" his mentor answered, "And now, slowly, but surely Titan will attempt to find ways to expand the breech in the seal so that he himself may escape, and if he does… that will surely mean disaster to all."

The unicorns were starting to feel frightened "We can't let him escape." said Artie.

"What can we do?" asked Starla.

"Calmness everyone…" Grand Ruler said and he explained that there was still hope that Titan would not escape as it would take some time, and a force of immense power to breech the seal wide enough from him to slip through. "I will be doing whatever it is I can to maintain the seal and keep the breech from expanding. I am, however, concerned about this, for it means I will not be able to assist any of you in battle."

This worried everyone, for even though Titan could not escape yet, he would still be able to send his minions and other methods of attack against them. Still, the members of Star Fleet vowed to remain on guard, and they promised to train hard and be prepared for any time an attack was made.

Grand Ruler was pleased to hear that, and he had one final order to make. Lightning was to join Star Fleet and assist the others in battle. Even Lightning was speechless and wasn't sure he was up to it.

"You are a remarkable creature, Lightning Dawn." Grand Ruler said "Though you have no natural magic of your own, you are no doubt that with your golden horn, you have the power to tap into the uniforce. The one thing that Titan and his minions fear most, and by joining Star Fleet, you will learn more and more about your own natural skills and realize that you are capable of doing far more than you think for you possesses a magic far greater than anything that can be conjured."

Lightning asked what that something was, but his mentor said it was something that Lightning would have to discover for himself. "You will learn well, my student, and so will you all." He bowed to his subjects and they all bowed back.

Author's Facts:

-The uniforce was inspired by Medabots, the Medaforce. It's my own idea of making something stronger than the Elements of Harmony.

-The magic gloves are new twist, it's like a magic the unicorns have perfected to helps assist them in battle so they can effectively punch, chop, and wield weapons, or to help them with ordinary tasks like writing letters, or operating simple devices so we don't have to do it the way those FIM's do it… besides… like I said… My unicorns are practically aliens, their allowed to have differences.