My Brave Pony Starfleet Humans STARFLEET EVENTS

Chapters

Prologue: Human Lightning Dawn
Act 1: Differences Apart
Act 2: Strangers and Stranger
Act 3: Let the Games Begin!
Act 4: Curious Clues
Act 5: Mysteries Unfolding
Act 6: Set Sail for Disaster
The Wicked Witch Doctor
Act 8: Midnight Sparkle
Act 9: Amends
Final Act: Friendly Endings

Prologue: Human Lightning Dawn

PROLOGUE

In California, several men, dressed in burglar outfits, slunk about the streets, ducking out of sight whenever anyone came near, and finally, they made it to the boat docks where a speedboat was waiting for them.

They boarded it and headed far out to sea, and rendezvoused with a large yacht that belonged to their boss. A very rich and greedy looking man dressed in a gangster’s suit and smoking a cigar.

“Ya got it, boys?”

“Sure, thing boss.” said one of the thugs, and he handed him a briefcase.

The boss opened it revealing not money, not jewels, but a sacred stone tablet with ancient writing on it.

The boss grinned and then asked “Did anyone give ya trouble?”

“Nah, it was easy-peasy.” said a thug.

Recently, a team of paleontologists were digging for dinosaur bones believed to be in the area. Though they didn’t find any, they did find the ancient tablet, which they intended to donate to the museum, but the thugs ambushed the team on their way to the nearest museum.

They beat up the archeologists, damaged their cars, leaving them stranded, and made off with the tablet to bring back to their boss.

“Look at that thing, it’s gotta be worth at least a hundred-million.” said a thug.

The boss snickered “Maybe, and I’ll settle for nothin’ less… than a hundred-billion!”

He and his men shared a laugh at the thought of such blackmail, except the guy on the end. He also didn’t look as big and as burly as the other thugs.

“Hey, what’s the matter?” asked the boss “You don’t think that’s funny.”

The dude didn’t answer, nor did he remove his burglar mask.

The boss immediately pulled off the dude’s mask, and revealed him to be a young adult male, in his early twenties, with peach colored skin, and two-toned brown hair that stuck up.

The other men already didn’t recognize him, and reached for their guns, but the guy swiftly spun and kicked them all out of their hands, and then swiped the briefcase with the tablet in it.

“Thanks for the souvenir!” he called as he dashed for the deck.

“Get that punk!” shouted the boss.

The men started to chase the man down, and all got out their spare guns and began to shoot at him, forcing the guy to leap over behind a stack of steel crates and barrels.

“Get him!”

“He’s over there!”

Thinking quickly, the man kicked one of the barrels over which spilt oil onto the deck.

The men slipped and skidded along the slippery deck. Two of them fell over the side and into the water; another two conked their heads on the walls and fell unconscious.

The boss stopped in his tracks, and whistled loud.

The guy, thinking he was home free, began to run for it, but as soon as he turned the corner, he ran smack into another gaggle of thugs that grabbed him and punched him hard, and then held him tightly, and snatched the briefcase from him.

The boss came up to the group and looked the man in the eyes, finally able to identify him.

“Well, well, never thought I’d ever meet you, Lightning Dawn.”

Lightning grinned sarcastically and scorned “Pleasure’s all mine, McGavin!”

McGavin grinned and took the briefcase back. He checked inside, and the tablet was still safe. “Ya know ya shouldn’t be goin’ takin’ other people’s properties, boy. Could end up in a whole heap of a mess.”

Lightning’s features hardened “That sounds rich coming from you.”

He explained how he witnessed his men robbing from the archeologists, and after secretly calling the police and paramedics to help them, without being seen, he decided that since he couldn’t help the archeologists, and that they would be fine despite their injuries, he ambushed one of McGavin’s men and snuck in with the group to steal the tablet back. For such a fine artifact belonged in a museum, and not in the hands of a crooked, greedy gangster.

“All the people you’ve hurt, killed, blackmailed. People like you make me sick.”

McGavin moved in closer to him “Yeah? Well, I got just the cure for ya…” then he instructed his boys “Toss him over the side. Let him swim home.”

“But boss, can’t we just shoot him?”

McGavin’s feature’s hardened. “I said toss him! It’ll be more painful if he can swim that far. Besides, I want him alive so he can live knowing that he failed. The great Lightning Dawn finally blew one.”

He laughed as he walked off, and the thugs dragged a struggling Lightning right to the edge of the yacht to throw him overboard.

When suddenly, a robin came soaring down from out nowhere and attacked one of the thugs in back of his head, startling the guy, and making him jump, giving Lightning the chance to bite one of the other thugs’ hand, and stomp on other’s foot, and kick the last one over the ledge.

Now free, Lightning began to fight back, but he stopped a moment to gaze back at the bird, that gazed back at him. “Perfect timing, Krysta; as usual.”

The robin chirped at him, and then Lightning dashed straight for McGavin, tackling him to the ground and making him drop the briefcase and his lit cigar!

McGavin struggled to fight back and grabbed his gun, but Lightning punched his hand knocking the gun away, and punched McGavin hard in the face.

He jumped off him, grabbed the gun and the briefcase and dashed off.

“Stop him!” shouted McGavin.

All his thugs began to chase after him, and leapt out one-by-one trying to ambush him, but he just punched and kicked them out of the way.

The other thugs grabbed their guns and began to shoot at him. He slipped around a corner to avoid the bullets, and then looked up at the large flag atop the yacht.

He fired his own gun the grommets, breaking the ropes and causing the flag to fall on the men. They all fussed and fidgeted about. Only one thug was still free and chased Lightning to the edge of the yacht.

The two engaged in a struggle for the briefcase, but Krysta flew in and yanked on the thugs hair with her talons, making him let go, and Lightning punched him hard and down.

With that settled, Lightning jumped into one of the speedboats, and launched it off the yacht with Krysta on his shoulder and the briefcase safely in hand.

He revved the engine hard and managed to get away… just in time.

The soft breeze and the rocking of the waves caused McGavin’s cigarette to fall into the oil spill on the deck, and the yacht burst into flames, forcing all the men to jump overboard.

The coast guard arrived shortly after which, and came to arrest any and all survivors.

All the men were stripped of all their weapons and tied up tightly.

Suddenly, one of the cops noticed the briefcase on the deck of his boat.

He looked inside, and there was the tablet, still in one piece thanks to the special protectiveness of the casing.

“Where did this come from?” the man wondered, but he couldn’t see or hear too much, with the brightness of the flaming yacht and the noise from all the other boats.

Lightning had cleverly slipped the briefcase onto the boat and then road off across the sea in his stolen boat.

“Well, now things should get back to normal, thanks to us. Eh, Krysta?”

Krysta chirped twice.

“Well, let’s on home.” said Lightning “I think I’ve had enough vacation for one adventure.”

And not too far away from him, about twenty miles off the coast of California was Mystic Island, where he lived and worked… when he wasn’t out being some mystery hero.

MY BRAVE PONY
STARFLEET HUMANS

STARFLEET EVENTS

(Credits play)

As the credits played, news articles were shown of McGavin and his gang being captured, the archeologists being saved, and the tablet being recovered, but not a single article had any information who the person who did all this was.

Other shots showed of other heroic deeds Lightning had done…

-Thwarting Bank Robberies.
-Saving ladies from getting mugged.
-Even standing up to a whole biker-gang.

Just basic, everyday heroic deeds.

Yet, each and every heroic deed he did, he made sure to flee so nobody would see him, or that his face would not be plastered all over the news and things like that.

...But he was not always like this.

Eighteen years ago, Lightning Dawn, who was only five, lost in parents in a terrible car accident…

They driving along a simple road, when a gang no-good bully boys speeding right past them and decided to tease the family by throwing a beer can through the window at Lightning’s mother, hitting her, and she freaked, which caused her husband to freak, and he lost control of the car, driving it straight off the road and down a hill.

In the midst of it, Lightning’s seatbelt broke, and he was thrown out of the car through his open window as it tumbled and rolled.

The car exploded, and claimed the lives of both his parents. He was found and rescued by the paramedics and his wounds were treated.

Sadly, with no other living relatives, he was sent to orphanage. It was a fairly nice place, with very nice managers, and the other orphans were nice too, Lightning made a few friends with many orphans, but sadly they were forced to part ways when the children were adopted.

He was never lucky enough to be adopted like most of the other children, that was very painful for Lightning, and he felt very alone, missing his friends.

The more the children were adopted, the more friends he lost, and the more his sadness increased.

So he spent lots of his time alone studying and observing in archology, exploring, and even battle strategies from the wars of history.

Lightning continued to live at the orphanage until he got a job as a janitor in a movie theater, and an extra part-time job as a dishwasher at the local diner.

He managed to make enough money to rent himself a simple, unfurnished loft in town. He would use whatever money he made to buy food for himself, some decent clothes, and a sleeping bag. He also didn’t use the lights and water so much, which helped keep his bills and his rent low and easier to pay.

Still, the years he spent being alone without many friends led to bitterness, frustration, and deep emotional trauma. Still, he wasn’t sure if he was willing to make friends, for fear of losing them again, just like he lost everyone else.

One night, as he was returning to his loft, it was pouring rain…

He was about to enter the building, when he heard the distinct sounds of painful chirping. He looked near the dumpster in front of the building, and he saw a little baby robin, obviously orphaned, lying in the remains of a nest that had been blown out from one of the trees by the storm.

…the poor little thing didn’t look injured, but obviously undernourished, and much too young to be alone, especially in such dreadful weather and with no place to go.

Feeling his heart melting with pity and sadness for the little dear, Lightning scooped her up, in the remains of the nest and brought her to his loft with him.

There, using his knowledge from his study of animals, he tended to the little birdy, cleaned her up, and dried her off, and fed her some berries he had brought home with him for his food stock.

“There you go… that’s better.” he said to her as he fed her like a father caring for a baby. “You’re just like me, aren’t you? Nowhere to go, not much to look forward to?”

The little robin only chirped at him, almost as if it were trying to say “Thank you”

Lightning couldn’t help but smile at her, and noticed how her eyes seemed to twinkle in the soft lights coming through the window form the streetlights… like a crystal.

“I think I’ll call you Krysta.”

Krysta chipped twice, almost in a singing tone, as if she was saying she liked it. Then she lay down in her nest and fell asleep.

Somehow, having her with him reignited Lightning’s long-lost passion for companionship, or maybe it was just because he knew he couldn’t just abandon her, believing her mother and family would never come back for her.

So, he decided to keep her and care for her like a pet.

He even used some unused napkins he had brought home and covered her softly like a little blanket and placed her nest near his sleeping bag.

“You know what, Krysta…” he said softly as he gazed down at her “…I’m not going to be so lonely around here anymore.”

A few weeks past and Krysta grew stronger in Lightning’s care, and she learned how to fly all over the loft. Lightning could hardly keep up with her.

“You little rascal, come here…” he would laugh as he chased her.

Lightning never felt so happy in a long time, and yet, he had that bad feeling again; eventually Krysta would have to leave him as birds were meant to fly free.

A few weeks later, Krysta had grown a little bigger, and she seemed able to fend for herself. Lightning decided… maybe it was time for them to part ways.

So, he let her go, but not before a heartfelt goodbye.

“You take care of yourself…” he cried softly “Drop by form time to time…”

Even Krysta looked a little sad, but she flew off out the window, into the world.

Alone again, and heartbroken, Lightning could not fight his sorrows, and sagged to the floor of his loft. His tears splashed on the wooden planks.

Overwhelmed by sadness and heartache, Lightning had lost all hope, and ultimately felt that friendship was virtually worthless and couldn’t help him too much if all he would do was lose those he cared for.

All it did was make him think of his dead parents, and all the joy he had lost during his childhood. He didn’t feel there was anyone he could trust ever again…

…until, a year later, he was about eighteen years old.

*Stop the Castaway theme*

All that year, Lightning continued to work, and he continued to live the way he was, but now he longed for a way to change his life, to help him forget.

He was just leaving his dishwashing job at the restaurant, when he noticed a gang of punks loitering outside the restaurant, which was bad enough considering the “No Loitering” signs clearly posted.

Something about them struck up an old memory. Then it hit him, they were the dudes that caused the car accident that killed his folks.

The manager of the restaurant kindly tried to inform the men that they were not permitted to loiter, but all the manager got was taunting, teasing, a rock thrown at the window of the restaurant and a beer-can thrown right at his head.

Infuriated, Lightning dashed outside.

“Hey!” he shouted.

The men didn’t recognize him at all, but laughed at how puny he looked.

“Look what we got here, boys; Fresh meat.” said the leader.

The other boys laughed, and the leader approached him threateningly “So you wanna be a hero too, junior?”

Lightning was too enraged to feel any fear, and clenched his fist. “You’re nothing but a filthy bucket of scum!”

The punks fell silent, and the leader didn’t look impressed. “Wow, you’re not very polite are you? Well, I am, that’s why I’m gonna let you take it back.”

Lightning was no fool, he knew how guys like these behaved, and luckily, he came prepared.

The leader suddenly lunged at him and tried to punch him, but Lightning ducked out of the way, making him hit the solid wall, hurting his hand, and Lightning kicked him really hard in between the legs, and punched him hard in the face knocking him down.

The other punks couldn’t believe it, and all ganged up on him. One held out a knife, another held out a chain to use as a weapon, and the other held a bat.

Unshaken, Lightning fought against them all.

The punks lunged at him with all they had, and Lightning skillfully swerved and dodged their attacks, and he kicked the punk with the bat in his stomach. Then grabbing the bat himself he knocked all three of them unconscious…

“One…

Two…

…Three!!”

They all fell on top of each other.

Lightning was panting hard, and his rage was still burning hot!! As if he wanted to get those punks while they were still down, but the manager stopped him.

“Lightning! Stop!” he said “They’re down… you beat ‘em.”

Now Lightning’s rage was starting to drop and he felt a mixture of emotions flowing through him. He dropped the bat and just ran off, just before the police had arrived.

The manager, the staff, the customers in the restaurant could hardly believe what they had just seen.

One man in the far corner took a particular interest in what he had seen in the young man that just beat up those punks.

He got up and decided to leave to avoid being questioned by the police as witness.

One of the waitresses informed him “Sir… you haven’t paid yet!”

He quickly wrote a check and gave it to her. “I believe this will cover it, and help repair any damages done.”

Then he left out the backway before the police came in and began to question the witnesses.

The waitress gazed down at the check, and gasped at the large sum it was worth!

Meanwhile, Lightning hadn’t gone very far. His loft was only a few blocks down the street from the restaurant.

He sat on the bench outside the building and was still trying to catch his breath, unable to believe what he had just done. Part of him was scared, but a bigger part of him liked it a lot! Beating up those punks and getting revenge for his parents.

“Hello there young man.” said a voice.

Lightning turned and saw a man staring at him through the shadows of the night.

“I saw what you did back there. You obviously have other talents than just dishwashing.”

“Look, whoever you are…” Lightning said.

The man stepped into the light saying “The name is… Grandruler.”

Lightning’s eyes bulged in awe and astonishment “Grandruler, as in… Celesto Grandruler? The millionaire, ex-astronaut, and super-businessman.”

Celesto nodded and held out his hand “Pleased to meet you, Lightning I believe. I heard your name.”

Lightning nervously shook his hand “I’ve read all about you. You’re practically a living legend.”

Celesto cleared his throat “Yes, but never mind that. I think you and I should have a little talk. Now don’t worry, I mean you no harm.”

“What do you want with me?”

Celesto explained to Lightning about how he liked to help those in obvious need, to better their lives than what they were if they really needed it desperately.

“Judging that you live in this building, and the way you fought those men, I think it’s clear to me that your life is not all that well and comfortable.”

Lightning admitted it, and told him the deal with the punks and how they were responsible for his parents’ death years ago.

That was already more than Celesto needed to hear, but he couldn’t help but ask “Tell me, son, what other talents do you have besides… uh… what I saw.”

“Well, despite not having a decent education, I have knack for war history and an interest in archeology.”

Celesto tested Lightning’s knowledge by quizzing him on war events, and he answered each and every one of them correctly. Celesto even tried to trick up Lightning by deliberately giving him incorrect statements only for Lightning to correct them.

Celesto was very impressed. No proper education, yet he knew all this stuff at a college level.

“Lightning, my boy… I believe I can use someone like you, but the decision is yours. If you refuse, I’ll understand.”

A chance to really turn his life around, and work for a man who was a living legend. Lightning couldn’t refuse and accepted the offer.

Lightning got all his affairs in order, and quit his jobs, and gathered his belongings, and left California with Celesto, arriving at Mystic Island, and of course, and he was invited to stay with him at his grand mansion, temporarily until everything got sorted out.

For the first six months of his new life, Lightning was tutored privately to further test his history knowledge and skills, Celesto had hired the best history professors from state universities.

The professors were very impressed with Lightning’s skills and he was awarded with a degree.

Celesto did not bribe the professors at all. Lightning really had earned it.

This was what Celesto hoped for, and so, he quickly gave Lightning an ideal job; a teacher at one of the many schools he owned; Crystal-Prep Academy, which was slightly understaffed.

The pay was quite handsome, enough for Lightning to buy a regular apartment, and fully furnished too.

Students at CPA were not exactly thrilled having a guy under the age of twenty as their teacher, but after seeing what Lightning was capable of; they all grew to respect him, especially the staff.

Lightning also took time to join a gym and build up his body a little.

This proved very helpful when he one day witnessed a group of bully-boys attacking a bird-sanctuary in one of the parks, and one of them went as low as to steal a lady’s purse.

Lightning wouldn’t stand for it, as he had no patience whatsoever for bullies, thieves, or any crooks whatsoever and he taught the boys a quick lesson. He chased them down, and cornered them under a bridge.

The boys tried to fight in retaliation, but Lightning easily overpowered them, and turned them over to the authorities. He also managed to return the lady’s purse to the lady, but didn’t wish to accept any reward.

“Helping you was rewarding enough.” he said.

Celesto heard of Lightning’s heroics and selflessness in refusing any reward, and asked why he did that.

“I didn’t do that to be rewarded. I did it because I know how it feels to be pushed or really have bad things happen, and I don’t want other people who don’t deserve it to suffer like me. I guess you could say, I want to help right wrongs and make bad people suffer for what they do.”

Celesto never heard such braver and finer words and promised “If that’s really what you want, I’ll support you in any way I can.”

Lightning liked that, and he was really starting to think his life was turning around.

Then, one day, Lightning saw two naughty boys picking on something very small, and he rushed over and frightened them both away, not having to fight them nor needing too.

He noticed it was a robin, about three years old. Her wing looked sore, but not critically.

However, Lightning gazed deeply at this bird, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Krysta…?”

The robin looked up and him, and chirped in the exact same way.

“…Krysta!”

His eyes flooded with tears, he hugged the little birdy ever so softly, keeping in mind she was in pain.

Once again, he brought her home, nursed her back to health, and in a week or so, she was fine again.

She was a lot bigger now than she was before, almost bigger than most robins. She had obviously grown strong since the years they were apart, not strong enough to deal with big predators as easily, but able to fend for herself, and get food, things like that.

Still, being reunited with Lightning, and having been saved by him a second time, there was no questioning in it. She decided to remain with him, and they became virtually inseparable.

Of course he couldn’t take her to school with him as most pets were not allowed, and Lightning didn’t wish to keep Krysta all cooped up while he away. Plus, since Krysta seemed to know her way around, he allowed her to fly off during the day, and then return to him later.

Sometimes, Krysta would even act as the eyes and ears behind Lightning’s back, looking out for danger or people in trouble that Lightning could help.

She was pretty smart for a mere bird.

Like a hero and his sidekick, Lightning and Krysta always sprang into action to beat up minor bad guys, help people in trouble; the normal simple stuff, but always preferring to flee and refuse any rewards.

A reward meant nothing to Lightning, as long as the bad guys were dealt with and the people were saved.

That was only the half of it though.

From time to time, he thought of his parents, and wished they were alive to see him now. No amount of money he made, and no reward could ever bring back to him nor replace what he lost, and he would always keep in mind that sometimes… even friendship, love and caring would not be enough to help things.

Some people who took note of his attitude and approach in life would often prove to be a little difficult to him.

…Among them was a student of his at CPA!

Act 1: Differences Apart

Author's Note

Keep in mind, this is not “Equestria Girls Friendship Games” It's an A.U of it. This is MY WORLD, and I can change the plot and edit things however I desire, especially seeing as in my canon, the original Friendship Games DID NOT occur..

Act 1: Differences Apart

ACT ONE

It had been a few months since the evil Demonites and the Sirens were defeated. However, nobody who attended or worked at Crystal Prep actually knew that, or anything about the Starfleet forces, for everyone had gone home to the mainland during that summer, and the news said nothing about it, as Celesto had paid them for silence, not wanting them to be internationally exposed, and he did not wish to get more people involved.

Even Lightning Dawn knew nothing of the ordeals, and today was his first day back on the job teaching his history class.

“So even though World War two came to a close, the memories live on. Many lives were lost; many were not even soldiers but rather innocent beings, and those who were not lost were now forced to cope with having lost friends, family, even those very close to them. These were things you were asked to contemplate over as your wrote your reports on war; How it would affect you, what you would do if drafted into battle, or how would you go about to end the war.”

Some of the students gazed at him with awe as he lectured them, a few girls just gazed lovingly at him-- the old crushing on the teach-- but there was one particular student not in class, whom Lightning intended to have serious talk with.

The bell rang, and the students immediately started to get up.

“As you exit…” Lightning called “Please hand in your reports, and be sure to study for next week’s test on warfare and alliances. It will count for a great percentage of your final grade.”

All the students turned in their papers and left. Some girls even winked at Lightning, which he rolled his eyes too.

As soon as the last student left, Shining Armor, the new dean of Crystal Prep came in, and smiled at Lightning as he held up a newspaper showing McGavin and his gang being arrested, and everything else. “You little devil, you.”

Lightning chuckled softly “A simple “Welcome back” would’ve done just as good.”

Shining Armor shook his head “You’re something else, kid. It’s no wonder some of the students look up to you.”

Lightning then reached into his desk and picked up a folder “Speaking of students…” he reached inside and pulled out a report with the name “Twilight Sparkle” inscribed on the top, and he shot a worried expression to Shining Armor, Twilight’s elder brother.

Shining Armor feared things were about to get a wee bit ugly. “Try to go easy on her.”

Lightning could only sigh.

Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle, one of the Academy’s A-Students was hard at work studying the pictures she and Lightning had taken while on their expedition to that crypt that was under the island.

…the very crypt where the Demonites lay imprisoned until they were released by the Sirens.

Since then, that crypt had gone under international controls, but still she had no idea what it meant, not to mention all the mysterious other happenings that seemed to go on at the neighboring school, Canterlot High.

“What do you think, Spike?” she asked.

Her pet dog looked up from his water bowl, shook his head and barked once.

“Yeah, you’re right, but I’m so close to figuring it out. Something weird keeps happening on this island, and I’m going to find out what. It could be my big ticket to finally getting into the Everton Independent Study Program!”

She was so carried away in her dreams of glory that she fell out of her chair.

“Ow!”

Spike couldn’t help but sigh.

Just then, there was a knock at her door, and Lightning walked in.

“Oh, hi, Lightning.”

“It’s Mr. Dawn…” he said “Remember that when we’re on school-grounds.”

Twilight giggled nervously and adjusted her glasses. “Sorry. What brings you here?”

Lightning said nothing, not knowing what to say, and just handed her the papers. “Hey, this is my history report.” She looked at the results, and she gawked in shock. Her glasses fell off and hit the floor.

“A C-Plus…?”

Lightning nodded “I figured it best I show you now than let the whole class see. I know you have a reputation.”

Twilight grabbed her glassed, made sure they were clean, and pinched herself to check if she wasn’t dreaming “But… I… you-- I’ve never gotten a C before.”

“I realize that, and I’m sorry…” said Lightning “But I could not give you a higher mark for that…that… story.”

“But I don’t understand. I came up with excellent features, ideals, and creative means to end the war.”

“That may be, but you didn’t portray it accurately enough.” said Lightning “You portrayed simply by talking and resolving differences would end all the war and fighting; and while that could be true, that’s not how it would work in real life.”

Twilight was growing irritable. “So, you’re saying I should just fight, and kill and hurt more innocent people.” She pointed at a news-clipping on her desk about the thugs being hauled away.

Lightning could only sigh in disappointment. It was bad enough she put words in his mouth. He really hated it when Twilight tried to point out flaws in his arguments.

“Twilight, how many times do we have to go through this? Sometimes in life…”

“I know, I know!” Twilight cut in “Sometimes you have no choice; you have to fight, because some people aren’t of compassion and won’t listen to reason.”

Lightning sighed again. “Twilight, listen to me. I’m not trying to be your enemy, nor do I wish to give you low grades, but I just don’t see how you can expect to function properly in the real world if you can’t understand what it’s like out there.”

“But I do know what it’s like…” said Twilight “I study hard, and I watch and learn…”

“But you don’t have any experience.” Lightning cut in.

Twilight tried to come up with an argument, but she ultimately had nothing and felt a little embarrassed.

“I’ll let you rewrite your paper and hand it in by next week’s test.” said Lightning and he headed out closing the door behind him.

Twilight sagged into her chair, and Spike walked up to her and licked her finger tips. “He could be right, Spike. I may not understand things the way he does, but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable of anything.”

As Lightning and Shining Armor walked to the main office, Lightning was awfully quiet.

“I take it you had the lecture again?” asked Shining Armor.

“What am I going to do with her?” Lightning said “I know she means well, but I just don’t think she knows how deal with certain things. I mean, I let her come with me to that crypt hoping she’d realize a few things, but…”

Shining Armor patted his back “Hey, ease up. It’ll be okay. Besides, right now we should be focussing more on what’s up ahead. Like the Friendship Games at Canterlot High tomorrow.”

Lightning rolled his eyes “We can discuss why they want me to come again over business dinner tonight; your wife’s treat.”

“Yep; her treat…”

The two men walked into the main office only to find so many students and other teachers all gathered together, and they all went crazy at Lightning’s presence, all acting like a bunch of groupies at a rock concert.

“Quiet! QUIET!!” shouted Lightning. Everyone hushed up as Principal Cadance came out. “Lightning, I’m glad you’re back. Here are your messages, your appointment schedule, my uncle is still waiting for your reply to the expedition, and these test-papers need to be graded.”

The crowds began to shout and holler again trying to Lightning’s attention as he took his papers from Cadance and told her, “Principal Cadance, I only have so much time and only two hands... I’ll do what I can WHEN I can.”

Then he shut himself up inside his office, where it was nice and quiet like Twilight’s room, the only sounds heard were the air-conditioning, and the soft beeping sounds of the computers and Ham Radios.

(1:47 to 2:37)

He removed his clip-on tie, and loosened his collar as he sat down and sighed heavily and sat down to his quiet work.

Krysta flew in through the open window and landed on his desk near him.

He stroked her softly and smiled at her “Looks like I’m not the only one having a big day.”

Krysta chirped once.

Then Lightning held up a pamphlet regarding the Friendship Games; Canterlot High VS Crystal Prep Academy. “I don’t know why I should even bother going. Those guys have beaten us two years straight; totally crushed us.”

Krysta chirped twice and pecked at the paper “Yeah, you’re right. I’ve never actually gone before, and it would a chance of scenery. I could even meet some new students and teachers… but it’s not them I’m worried about, it’s Twilight.”

He knew about Twilight’s recent obsession with Canterlot High and how she had been curious about all the strange happenings around it. He himself was also just as curious and had observed things from time to time, which was what lead him to explore that crypt with Twilight.

Had still had all the pictures and data saved onto his computer, but nothing made any sense.

He walked over to the window and gazed outside at all the things he could see. The school grounds, the cities, and even one of the parks nearby.

“Something really weird happens on this island, Krysta, and I can’t help but feel that somewhere, something is about to happen.”

Music began to play…

He patted Krysta softly, and began to reminisce of all his hardships and how he got where he was today.

Strangely enough, Twilight was singing the exact same song as she walked all around campus, feeling so left out and concentrating on the road ahead of her.

They even both sang the exact same chorus at the same time, and both felt the same way at the end of the song, “…It’s been a long road”

Meanwhile, that very day at Canterlot High, all the students were so confident about their upcoming third and consecutive triumph of the Friendship Games; their school against Crystal Prep.

This would all be thanks to the Starfleet gang.

Fluttershy and her boyfriend Rhymey were walking through the corridors on their way to meet up with the rest of the gang.

Fluttershy seemed a bit nervous about competing, like she usually did. “What if I make a mistake? What if I cost us an event, or worse, what if I end up costing us the trophy?”

He boyfriend assured her…

“There’s nothing for you to fear,
We go through this every year.
Thanks to the skills have learned,
Our opponents from Crystal Prep get burned.”

He referred to the fact that their Starfleet powers and experiences helped them and the gang develop graceful and stronger skills for their every days lives; flexibility, endurance, strength, speed, even their wits, but it was not their actual powers though. Those powers could only be accessed by the energizer badges they and all their friends kept on them but never actually wore them in public.

So, it was pretty much just natural skills.

“But still, doesn’t it feel like… cheating?” asked Fluttershy.

“It so isn’t…” said Rainbow as she waltzed up behind them kicking her soccer-ball. “We’re been through this every year, they accuse of cheating, and we prove to them it’s natural skill and talent. HI-YA!” she kicked the ball super-hard sending it bouncing all along the walls, zooming past the students, knocking a teacher down, and finally stopping before Principal Celestia’s feet.

“Uh-oh...!”

Fluttershy hid behind Rhymey, shuddering in fear, and Rhymey felt just as shaken too.

Celestia was tapping her foot with her hands on her hips. “You know the rules, Rainbow Dash.” she said deeply “That’s a week’s detention.”

“But I can’t, I have to practice for the games.” said Rainbow.

Vice Principal Luna stepped out and reminded her sister it was true “I’m afraid that since Rainbow Dash is one of our most promising athlete’s, she cannot be subjected to detention.”

Even Celestia couldn’t argue with that “Very well; after the games then, and any repeats of this will double your sentence. Understood?”

“Yes, Principal Celestia.”

Celestia nodded at her, but confiscated the ball anyway to ensure Rainbow wouldn’t forget what she had been told. Rainbow was not happy about it.

The friends met outside the school by the statue, where the portal to United Equestria secretly stood.

Rainbow sulked and threw a pebble at the lamppost.

“I’m not trying to pick sides, Rainbow…” said Buddy Rose “But you did have that coming to you for letting yourself get carried away.”

Rainbow grumbled “Yeah, yeah, yeah…! Can we please talk about something else?”

“…Like my totally awesome victory party!” squealed Pinkie Pie, and she threw confetti and blew a noisemaker.

Applejack calmed her down “Whoa, easy there. We haven’t even won yet.”

“…I know that, but we’re going to win anyway. We always do.”

“Yeah, but, somehow that’s beginning to run dry.” said Dyno.

Myte nodded and added “Tienes razón , es *You’re right, it is* It doesn’t feel as challenging anymore, and that takes part of the fun out of the games.”

Sunset Shimmer had to agree “It’s not like going on adventures, or fighting off evil beings. Even if we lose, which I doubt we will, it doesn’t really matter.”

“Well it does matter to Grandruler and the two sisters.” said Artie “Besides; whether we win or lose it doesn’t change the fact that those Crystal Prep kids are nothing but a bunch of meanies. It pays to see them get their butts kicked for once.

“Well, that’s that.” said Starla Shine “We can’t let our school down. They’re counting on us to keep the streak going.”

“Oh, speaking of our school…” said Rarity, and she whisked off.

“Uh-Oh,
Here we go!” the others all groaned in rhyme.

That’s when Rarity came back with a rack of new uniforms she had made for Canterlot Wondercolts.

“Ta-da…! Complete with new and improved jersey fabric for every flexibility, and shining silk numbers to reflect our glamour in stunning performances. Oh, Isn’t it just incredible?!”

The others rolled their eyes.

“…It was the first dozen times we heard that.” Applejack teased. Some of the others snickered.

Rarity felt insulted. “Humph!”

“Okay, okay, relax.” said Sunset “Let’s just go out there and at least try to have a good time. After all, isn’t that what the friendship games are supposed to be for?”

Fluttershy folded her arms and blew at her hair “It would be, if those Crystal Prep students learned to be friendly.”

Rhymey especially didn’t like the Crystal Prep students. Every year during the fencing competition they would always give him a rough time and be rude to him just because of the way he spoke in rhyme.

He picked up a stick pretending it was his blade and thrust and parried…

“There’s nothing wrong with my speaking in rhyme.
They pick at me and I beat them every time.”

Soon, the school was all cleared out as most of the students had gone home.

“Come on, let’ go practice in the field.” said Rainbow.

All the others got up and followed her to the back of the building, but Artie stopped and gazed at Sunset “You coming?”

His girlfriend smiled at him and said “In a minute, I have to make my weekly report.” And she winked twice, telling him it was… that sort of report.

He understood and blew her a kiss, which she pretended to catch and then she returned it.

Then he ran off leaving Sunset to take out of her knapsack her special two-way dimensional book, and she began to write in it.

Commander Lightning Dawn…

It’s been three whole months since the Demonites and the Sirens were defeated, and all is well here.

We all continue to use our power to fight crime and evil whenever it arrives, and we never use it for personal gain.

I really wish Princess Twilight Sparkle, Rest in Peace, was there to read this with you.

I have come a long, long way, and I can truly say that I am happy. I have many friends, a wonderful boyfriend, and something better to fight for, rather than just for power and glory.

I think it’s safe to say that I truly have understood the full meaning of friendship, as well as how to handle warfare and battles, even though there may come a time when something happens beyond my control, I know that you know I will handle it however I can that you would. It’s what you trusted me with, and I will uphold it always.

If anything occurs that we might need your help for, I will be sure to notify you.

Yours truly: Captain Sunset Shimmer.

Meanwhile, far, far away… somewhere over the Pacific… was a large and lonely island with a volcano on it, and surrounded by jungles of thickets and palm trees.

On the island, a shadowy figure stood within the shadows. The breeze blew her long hair and she raised her arms out, and the breezes ceased.

Another shadowy figure stood behind her.

“Have you done as you were told?” she asked him.

“Yes, master, but I still don’t approve too well.”

The lady stiffened with fury and reached into her pocket for something the other character knew of.

“I did not say I didn’t do It.” he quickly said “Please… don’t do it to me.”

The lady stopped and warned him “Need I remind you who is responsible for your well-being; that made you who you are today.”

The man apologized, though he secretly detested every single thing that was going on.

Just then, a plane flew overhead; that of the ocean map-makers.

Onboard, two men were charting the entire area.

“Hey, look down there.” One of them said as he pointed to the island.

The pilot was confused “Strange, I don’t remember there being any islands in this part of the ocean.”

The lady on the island did not approve of the plane’s presence, and raised her hand. She began to chant in a native language while waving her hand in circles.

The clouds in the sky began to clump together, growing dark and darker. The winds began to stir up as the ocean got rough.

The plane began to swerve and tumble in the strong winds as the storm broke.

“Whoa! Hey!” cried the pilot as he fought for control.

“What’s going on?!” cried the other man “A second ago the sky was perfectly clear!”

Lightning shook the skies, and one of the bolts struck the plane, blowing it up and the men with it.

The lady snickered and then waved her hand again, and the storm ceased, and all was clear again.

“…And it is only beginning.” she hissed.

The other character could only clench his fists and hang his head low.

Act 2: Strangers and Stranger

ACT TWO

Two years ago, Cadance’s older brother, and only living blood-relative, Fratello set sail with his team of Deep-sea fisherman. He emailed her everyday via his satellite powered cellphone, and kept well in touch with her.

Then one day, the news revealed a great storm out at had sunk the ship. There were no survivors whatsoever. However, the very last message Cadance received from her brother was about the storm, and that he had escaped in a life-raft…

But the message was poorly spelled, which suggested he was injured and weak, or that his phone was malfunctioning. After that the messages stopped coming.

Cadance had been haunted and plagued by it ever since, but despite the overwhelming evidence, she refused to believe her brother was gone. She knew him better than anyone, and deep down she couldn’t stop believing that somehow he was alive.

Still, she had to do her best to be brave for her students.

Bright and Early the next day, the students at CPA were all on the busses and prepared to head to Canterlot high, on the other side of the island.

Principal Cadance announced that all the students sit down and behave themselves. “Today, we compete in the Friendship games against Canterlot High.”

The students did not look so optimistic.

“Why bother?”

“We always lose to those guys.”

Cadance cleared her throat telling them all to be quiet. “Regardless if we win or lose, the whole point is for us to establish a good relationship with our neighboring school, and I expect to see courtesy and good mannerisms from all of you.”

The students agreed… at least to try, but to them this was pure torture.

Soon, the busses were on their way.

Some of the students were already whispering, plotting and scheming to come up with ways to ensure they would win this year.

The brain behind this was Indigo Zap; a snooty, in-your-face member of the CPA Shadowbolts, and she was determined to win this year and hopefully humiliate Canterlot High.

She passed around her plans to her buddies, and they secretly swapped it around making sure not to get caught.

“Sugarcoat, is it all set?”

Sugarcoat, a nerdy student, tipped her glasses and a manner telling her “Duh, I didn’t spend the last two weeks calculating and formulating every aspect for fun… that was just a bonus.”

Lemon Zest, another student, couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. “I really don’t think cheating is a cool idea.”

“Yeah? Well I do.” sneered Indigo “We’ve tried everything else, and you know the old saying: “If you can’t beat ‘em; cheat ‘em”

“Um… actually it’s “If you can’t beat ‘em, join em.” said another student, Soursweet “But whatever.”

Indigo sat back down and scoffed.

Meanwhile, Twilight sat up front, looking a bit grim, and her school bag gave a little quiver.

“Spike, take it easy in there.” she whispered.

Her big brother was sitting next to her and asked “You talkin’ to me, Twily?”

Twilight had snuck Spike with her, when she was really supposed to leave him at the animal shelter that morning. She just couldn’t bear to be without him, and was keeping him concealed inside her bag and doing her best to keep it secret.

“Uh, know… just… talking to myself. Ya know, doing a few equations in my head.”

Her brother wasn’t sure what to think.

“Shouldn’t you be sitting with Cadance?”

“Nah, she wanted Lightning to sit next to her so she could go over a few things with him. Besides, I’d rather sit up here with you.”

He wrapped his arm around his sister. She did enjoy this, but she felt a bit awkward the way some students looked at her.

She was often teased and hooted at, since Shining Armor was the dean, and he was married to Cadance, which made them all feel Twilight got unfair treatments being family and all.

“Just ignore them.” he would say to her “At least you don’t have to represent them in the games.”

Twilight giggled softly. “Actually, sometimes I wish I were competing. Then maybe I could figure out what Canterlot High’s strategies are and come up with logical ways of determining their weaknesses.”

Her brother sighed “Twily, you’ve gotta stop overworking yourself like this. It’s not good for you.”

Twilight sighed “That’s what everyone says, except Lightning.”

Her brother shrugged “Twily, come on, don’t do this.”

“I can’t help it. I really think he just hates me.”

“He does not, but are you sure it’s not that you hate him?”

Twilight couldn’t say for sure. She didn’t really hate Lightning. He was a fine teacher for his age, and the students all looked up to him. “It’s just that, he takes things way to seriously, and he always jumps the gun and resorts to fighting to resolve his issues.”

Shining Armor couldn’t disagree with her, he, too, had his only little worries about Lightning, but all he could really think to say was “I don’t think you and he are as different as you think. Offhand I can’t think how, but there must be something.”

Twilight wasn’t sure if she could believe that, as she looked over her brother at the seat opposite theirs where Lightning sat with Cadance.

They practically were having the exact same conversation as the others.

“I know Twilight means well, and she’s a good student…” Lightning said “But she just doesn’t have the experience, the actual feeling, a sense of what it’s really like out there in the real world.”

Cadance shook her head, and though she well aware of Lightning past and hardships… “Lightning, I’m not trying to pick sides but, maybe you should learn to open up a bit. Be a little more optimistic instead of always lounging in the darkness and looking at the negative of things. You need to let go of the past.”

Lightning scoffed in a soft chuckle “That’s rich; “Let go of the Past”. I mean look at you. Here you are waiting for someone to come back that isn’t coming back, and after two years it still hasn’t clued you in yet; and you tell me to let go of the past.”

He stopped when Cadance’s expression hardened, and she folded her arms and slowly turned away from him, feeling very hurt.

Lightning felt deeply remorseful, and he had to keep well in mind this was his supervisor he was talking too, and what he said was not at all nice.

“I’m sorry, Cadance that was very rude of me.” Lightning said “I’m just worried about you. I think your setting yourself up for extreme depression.”

“I accept your apology...” Cadance said “But you’re wrong; Fratello alive, I just know he it. I know my brother; he would’ve survived.”

Lightning said nothing. Talking to her like this was almost like talking with Twilight, but not wishing to hurt her anymore, especially with his job on the line, he let it go.

Soon the busses arrived at Canterlot High, and all the students were there to greet them, as well as Principal Celestia and VP Luna, since Cadance was their adoptive niece.

Cadance and Shining Armor were overjoyed to see them, and shared a welcome hug. The Canterlot students thought it sweet, but the Crystal Preps merely scoffed and rolled their eyes.

Then the students’ eyes met with one another, and the Crystal Preps didn’t look a bit friendly nor interested in making friends.

Nevertheless, everyone was welcomed in for the welcoming party. The games would begin in the afternoon after the opening ceremonies.

Meanwhile, there was nothing to do that morning but party and try to get along.

Twilight stepped off the bus and was glad to be back at Canterlot High, for her ulterior motives were to snoop around and try to gain more information on all the strange happenings she suspected at the school… equipped with a special device she wore round her neck she made herself to detect abnormal energies and masses.

Spike began to fuss about in her backpack again. “Spike, stop it! I’ll let you out when the coast is clear.”

Lightning stood behind her and cleared his throat.

She turned and nervously giggled, while he just walked past her.

Twilight sighed heavily, not wanting to think about how close that was.

Suddenly, her device began to resonate near the statue in front of the school. “Weird…” she said as she moved in closer and the resonance became stronger.

“Twilight…!” Lightning called. She quickly shut off her tracker. “Are you coming?”

“Yes, I’m coming.”

As both she and Lightning walked up the stairs into the school, they couldn’t help but notice the Canterlot students looking at them.

“Hey, Twilight…”

“Long time, no see, Lightning.”

“How are things in space, Lightning?”

“Wow, they're back.”

Lightning and Twilight couldn’t understand this. Everyone seemed to know them, but they were certain they had never seen any of these people before, although walking down the halls made Twilight feel a little funny.

“Why I feel like I should know them?” she wondered “And this school? I’ve never actually been inside of it, but it feels all so familiar to me.”

Lightning felt more strange and awkward than she did. “I think I need I need some water.”

He rushed to the nearest fountain and took a few squigs, and when he got up, he bumped right into a Canterlot Student; Starla Shine.

“Oh, I’m sorry…” he said.

Starla, however, gazed at him, and her eyes began to sparkle. “Lightning? I can’t believe it, you’re here!”

Before Lightning could say anything, she had thrown her arms around him, hugging him warmly. Many of the students saw this, and while the Canterlot students didn’t mind, the Crystal Preps were confused and felt awkward…

Lightning blushed and felt very embarrassed “Um… excuse me, but have we met?”

Now Starla felt confused. “Lightning, it’s me, Starla. Don’t you remember me? And why are you wearing those clothes with the Crystal Prep insignia?”

Lightning didn’t know how much more confused he could possibly feel, and shook his head to snap himself awake from passing out in shock. “I’m sorry, but I think you’ve got the wrong guy. Excuse me please.” and he walked off rather quickly before anything else happened.

Starla still couldn’t understand it. Then she turned and saw Twilight coming up to her and asking “Um, why did you just hug Lightning like that? Are you his girlfriend or something, because I don’t think that’s very appropriate for a student to date a teacher?”

Starla felt her head would burst if she got any more confused. “I have to go…” she said, and she quickly sprinted off nearly knocking off Twilight’s glasses as she sped past her.

“O-kay…” Twilight simply said, and she walked down the hallway, passing by a small picture on the wall, decorated with a flowery wreath around it.

It was a picture of Flash Sentry, and below it was a plaque dedicated to his memory. This shocked Twilight to learn a student had passed away, but strangely, something about the picture itself seemed to bring back more and more deep feelings… like something from long ago that she couldn’t seem to remember.

Starla had rushed off to meet up with the rest of the gang, as they went over final details for the games, and when she told them of whom she met up with in the halls.

“You’re sure…?” asked Buddy Rose, still unsure to believe it.

“I’m positive.” said Starla “It was defiantly them. Twilight even said Lightning’s name.”

“So, Twilight goes to Crystal Prep now.” said Applejack.

They all remembered what happened; how that Twilight, obviously not the Princess Twilight Sparkle from the dimensional Universe, whom was dead, but the human counterpart of her from their world, and she used to attend their school, and had a crush on Flash Sentry, not knowing he was an evil Crystallite.

When the Crystallite aliens were plotting treachery, back when the gang first met the Lightning Dawn that they knew, Flash Sentry, while he was originally evil had attacked Twilight, knocking her into a deep coma.

They got the news that she had recovered and her IQ was up but a lot from the attack, but unfortunately she had suffered from permanent amnesia. She remembered nothing of her life at Canterlot High, any friends she had, not even Flash Sentry or the Lightning Dawn they all knew.

“Then that must mean the Lightning you saw was the actual human Lightning Dawn.” said Sunset.

“It’s gotta be…” said Pinkie, and she opened her laptop “Grandruler sent me this email this morning telling us to expect this.”

She opened the message and it read…

“If you see someone who looks like Lightning, don’t be fooled. He is not the Lightning Dawn that you all know and love; He is a teacher at Crystal Prep, and he has never met any of you before, and try not to frighten him or anything.”

“And you just tell us this now?” snapped Rainbow.

Pinkie giggled nervously “…Oops?”

Starla felt really embarrassed now. “I must’ve sounded so stupid to him out there.”

“I can’t believe he’s a real teacher.” said Applejack“I mean, he’s only a few years older than all of us.”

“We’ve heard other things about him, too.” said Dyno.

“Si, like he’s some mucho adventure-dude who beats up bad guys and recovers stolen goods.” added Myte.

This made everyone feel curious about the new Human Lightning.

“I wonder what he’ll think of us now.” said Fluttershy.

Rhymey though deeply and said…

“Well, Starla’s impression may have gone awry.
But it was a simple mistake, and she can say she’s sorry.
I’m sure that he’ll understand and let it go,
And we can befriend him just as so.”

“He’s got a point.” said Artie “But don’t forget it’s not just him we’ve gotta deal with…”

The others all agreed.

Soon, they were gathered in the gymnasium along with all the other students from both schools, and things did not seem to be getting along that well.

Though the place was decked out nicely with all the decorations and food tables, and everything else, practically the entire place; Canterlot students stood on one end of the gymnasium, the Crystal Preps took up all of the other. Neither side seemed willing to make any efforts to interact with one another, but mostly it was the Crystal Preps nasty attitude that drove them apart.

Indigo crushed a cup in her hand and declared “You guys are so going down this year.”

Many of the students stood beside her hissing like snakes and snarling like angry creatures.

Fluttershy felt creeped out, some of the others were irritated by their attitudes, and others, including Sunset were growing quite concerned. This was not a good start towards the so-called “Friendship” Games.

“Gee, I never thought I’d say this…” said Pinkie “But this party is kind of a… downer.”

“Ya think?” said Rainbow. “Why can’t we just get the games over with and be done with this already?”

“That’s not how it goes, Rainbow.” said Buddy “Besides, you know as well as we all do these games last all through the weekend.”

“At least our accommodations and quite provided for.” said Rarity “Mr. Grandruler did permit us all to stay over the night and paid well for our provisions and such.”

“Speaking of Grandruler, shouldn’t he be here already?” asked Dyno.

“Oh, you know these businessmen, always busy like bees.” said Myte.

The party still didn’t seem to be getting any livelier, and Pinkie stood firmly and said “I think it’s time to crack open a can of my specialty.”

“Careful, Pinkie…” said Sunset “You know what could happen if you overdose it.”

“Ah, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

She swiftly went around, placing trays of cupcakes and other fancy treats on the snack-tables, and then took the DJ’s place one stage and shouted “Okay, everyone, it’s time to REALLY PARTAE!!”

With that, she fired her party cannons of confetti, changed the lighting, and cranked up the music, and the students from both schools couldn’t help but move to the beat, finally starting to get into the partying mood.

“Yeah, now that’s more like it.” Pinkie hollered, and that’s when she began to glow as he magic began to show.

“Pinkie…!” Artie called to her softly, and gave her the kill-gesture. Pinkie quickly stopped before she gave it all away to the Crystal Prep students. Thankfully, they were all too busy partying to notice…

…except for Twilight.

She saw the whole thing, and she raised her detector to scan Pinkie, and the levels registered abnormally. “Strange…” she said.

Then she moved along scanning Pinkie’s friends, and they all registered too. As for Sunset, her levels were off the charts, far higher than any of the others. “What is this?” Twilight wondered.

She then tried scanning all the other students, and but they all registered clean. Then she suddenly remembered “The statue outside…”

She silently excused herself from the party and ran out of the gymnasium, right past Lightning. “Where are you going?” he called to her.

“I’ll be right back.” she called back, and then she was gone.

The ladies and Shining Armor came up to him, having seen Twilight run past.

“I guess she’s still not much of a party animal.” said Cadance.

Lightning understood that, and he looked through the doors at all the students and how happy they all seemed to be, now that they weren’t quarreling, though they were still separated on opposite ends of the gymnasium.

“Why don’t you go in?” Celestia suggested.

“Yes.” added Luna “You never got experience a school gathering like this.”

The two sisters knew fully well about Lightning’s past, also having met him before through Celesto, they both knew this was not the magical Lightning Dawn they knew.

“I don’t think so…” Lightning said “I’m a teacher, not a student. It just wouldn’t feel right.”

He continued to gaze in at the students, and then his eyes fell upon Starla, the girl who hugged him and mistook him. He did think she was rather pretty though, but that’s as far as he went; not wanting to come off as anyone disgusting.

A teacher liking a student…? What would be next?

“I need some air…” Lightning said, and he headed for the front doors.

“Poor kid.” said Shining Armor “That’s one thing he and Twilight have in common; they’re both downers.”

“At least it’s understandable.” Someone said.

The four turned round and saw Celesto standing there, finally back from his meetings that morning. “Hello everyone…”

“Hi uncle…” Cadance said, giving him a hug.

Shining Armor shook his hand.

Celestia gave her husband a soft kiss.

“I’m glad to things are under control here.” he said “Oh, and Cadance, this dropped in at the office for you. I thought I’d bring it to you in person.”

He placed a letter in her hand, but Cadance preferred to look at it later and tucked it away in her suit.

“Did get the grant for the expedition?” Luna asked.

Her brother-in-law nodded “Now it’s simply a matter if Lightning wants to take it, but he’ll have to let me know my tomorrow morning. Where is he by the way?”

“He just stepped out for a bit.” replied Celestia.

Outside…

A few groups of students were just hanging out and chilling with one another rather than go to the party, while Twilight slunk about to avoid being seen. She made her way over to the statue, and got out her detector. The levels registered the biggest and craziest reaction she had scanned yet.

“This… this is impossible.” She cried.

Spike popped his head out from her back and watched with awe.

The resonance became stronger, and stronger, until suddenly in a big flash of light. “Hey, what’s going on!” cried Twilight as she struggled to maintain a firm grim as her scanner seemed to absorb a powerful flowing energy from the statue.

Lightning was just stepping outside when he saw the weird lights emitting from the statue. “What in the name of…?!”

All the students hanging around saw it as well, and there were just as shocked and surprised.

Then, the lights ceased, and everything was all quiet.

Twilight fell onto her bottom, and Spike fell out from her bag. No one else saw her or knew what she had just done. Even she couldn’t figure out what just happened, but her device was now glowing softly.

“I knew something strange happened at this school, but what is it?” Twilight asked to Spike. Spike could only shrug as even he couldn’t figure it out.

As for Lightning, he back against the wall with a creeped out expression on his face. He rubbed his eyes and softly swatted himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.

…there was no denying what he saw. “I don’t know what that was…” he said softly to himself “But I’m going to try and find out what. Then maybe I can figure out just what goes on here on this island.”

Meanwhile, that wasn’t the only mysterious thing that had happened!

What started out as a calm quiet day in Japan, a huge hurricane broke out over the entire country.

What was normally a very hot day in Australia, it was snowing!

And even in Russia, it was normally bitterly cold, and yet today, the people were outside without their jackets on, and that didn’t happen often.

All over, very strange and abnormal weather patterns were occurring, but meteorologists and scientists were baffled and hadn’t a clue how this was happening?

It was actually the work of that evil lady in her secret lair, causing all the hurricanes, typhoons, just as a bit of fun, and she laughed hysterically as she watched it all from her monitors.

“How wonderful. Long have I waited to see the people suffer and squirm. The hour of my dominance draws near.”

She clapped her hands, and her minion approached her.

“You called, mistress?”

“By this time, your message should have been given. It is time for you to go and play your part.”

The minion agreed but he couldn’t help but say “I don’t understand? Why is it so important we carry out this little side quest of yours?”

His master turned and sneered deeply at him “I will take no chances. I want total assurance there will be nothing to interfere in my plans. Nothing must ever be overlooked you know, or do you have a problem with that?”

“No… I have none.”

“Right then, get going, and do not disappoint me, or else…” and she threatened him with the remote control.

The minion ran off to carry out his mission, leaving the master to turn back to her monitors and narrow her evil eyes at everything she saw.

Act 3: Let the Games Begin!

ACT THREE

That afternoon, everyone was gathered in the big fields in back of the school, which were all decked up and the whole place resembled that of a small stadium.

The Starfleet gang were all dressed up in their outfits that Rarity made them, and were now waiting in their dugout to be called out.

“Well, here we go again.” said Sunset “You all ready?”

The others gave her a thumb-up, but they did not seem very optimistic. “Ready to seize another easy win.” said Artie.

Even Rainbow didn’t feel much like this was anything to jump for joy for. “Well, at least we’re playing sports.” she said, trying to feel the flow. “Not working.”

“Well, I’m ready.” Pinkie said with glee “Ready to go out there and really have some fun. That’s what the friendship games are all about, right?”

Fluttershy however was still worried about the Crystal Prep athletes “They really seemed raving mad. I think they really want to win this year.”

“Who doesn’t?” said Dyno.

“I think she means they may try to cheat their ways in.” added Myte “Even I can feel they were.”

“I say we just let ‘em.” said Applejack.

Rarity gasped in shock “Applejack, how can you say such a thing? Cheating at the games; could there be anything more inconsiderate and more indiscreet.”

“All I’m sayin’ is, it’d be nice to have at least some form of challenge to these here games.”

The others still didn’t feel too optimistic.

Suddenly, Sunset’s message book began to glow from her bag. “It’s a message from Lightning.”

“You mean our Lightning, the pony?” asked Starla.

Sunset nodded and read her message.

“Sunset, could you please do me a huge favor and check the portal outside of the school.

Something unusual has happened; the transporter here in the lab has lost connection with the human world, and we suspect something is wrong back there.

Please look into this and report back at once. This could be very serious.

--Commander Lightning Dawn.”

“Check the portal…Now?” Sunset said.

The others felt confused too, but unfortunately they had no time to question things any further, nor look into the portal issues, because the big doors to their trench opened wide. It was time to head out.

Sunset however, was not willing to let this go so easily and began to rush off. “I’ll be back, don’t worry.” she called out.

“But Sunset?” Buddy Rose called out, but she had already gone, and the crowds began to cheer loudly for the athletes to appear.

“Leave her for now, let’s get out there.” said Buddy Rose.

(0:35 to 1:33)

The gang all exchanged looks of readiness and all dashed out into the field, and the Crystal Prep athletes as well.

The crowds cheered like crazy as the players soon lined up on opposite ends of the tracks.

Celesto sat proudly from his position with the other staff members and spoke clearly into his microphone.

“Hello and welcome one and all to the new Canterlot High Stadium for the annual Friendship Games of Canterlot High VS Crystal Prep Academy.”

The crowds cheered louder than ever and chanted for their respective schools.

The Canterlot gang all waved to everyone, but the CPAs sneered and growled fiercely as their opponents.

Fluttershy couldn’t help but gulp hard, but the others all stood strong.

Indigo was determined more than ever to beat them all and really put them in their place. She whispered silently to Sour Sweet “Is everything all setup.”

Sour Sweet nodded her head sweetly and then her features hardened “And if you ask again you may not be around to actually play in the events.”

Indigo gnashed her teeth, but remained calm.

Then, Applebloo, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Daphne Dill all marched from the school and into the stadium, carrying with them each a large key.

“Ah…” Celesto announced “I see the Crusaders are here to activate the traditional glow torch.”

The girls each climbed a separate set of stairs leading to a small console to insert their keys into. Once all the keys were in place, they all counted backwards from five to one, and all turned their keys, causing the large torch in the center of it all to ignite with artificial and harmless flames.

“That’s it!” cried Celesto “The torch is now lit thanks to the girls’ cooperation and efforts. Let the games begin!”

While the crowds cheered, Twilight, who was sitting with her fellow Crystal Preppies didn’t seem to interested in the events, and kept looking down at her detector which was still glowing softly.

She tried to open it to observe it closer, but the second she did, there was a large glow of light. She shut the detector quickly, but her fellow schoolmates were already looked at her wondering what that light was.

“Just… um… something I’m working on. Heh-Heh…!”

The students shrugged and went back to watching things, and Twilight sighed in relief. “That was too close.” she whispered to herself.

Meanwhile, Sunset was already out in the front of the school by the statue where the portal was supposed to be, but as she laid her hands on the stone…

That’s all she felt; nothing but solid stone. Now she began to fret and panic “Where’s the portal? Where’s the portal?!”

It was no use, she couldn’t find it.

She had to run back and inform the others immediately!

The first event was already well underway; a simple five-hundred meter dash. The contestants were all lined up and soon… they were off!

The first event, Canterlot won, due to the team having excellent running skills, as usual.

“Okay, it’s on!” growled Indigo.

Pole-Vaulting!

Artie’s opponent cleared his jump perfectly, but when Artie went up, and dashed with his pole at the ready, as soon as he stuck his pole into the ground for the leap, it snapped before Artie could spring himself up, and he crashed onto the ground.

The crowd gasped, the CPA students all laughed at him, and Indigo secretly sniggered at the deliberate sabotage. However, Artie wasn’t beaten yet, and picked up the remains of his pole, sticking it hard into the ground, and he actually leapt up on top of it, and then gave a huge leap, up, up and over the bar.

The crowd gasped in awe, and Lightning was most intrigued. “How did he do that?”

The referee’s checked the rulebook, but could nothing to challenge the action with. So the round was a tie.

Indigo was really annoyed and couldn’t believe it.

In the fencing competition, it was Rhymey against Lemon Zest.

“Ah, Lemon Zest,
I hear you’re the best.” he complimented.

“Shut up, and keep your compliments to yourself!” snarled Lemon “I can’t you still use those stupid rhymes to talk!”

Rhymey’s features hardened, but decided to let his blade to the talking, and sure enough, he beat her in a total washout.

“My rhymes are neither dumb nor stupid or lame
But they have nothing to do with how I play my game.
So I suggest that next time you show respect and more
I leave you now to wallow in defeat upon the floor.”

And he left, leaving Lemon to angrily pound the ground.

Indigo was even more angry than ever, especially when she found out that her friends had forgot to switch out Rhymey’s good blade with the a rusted one as part of their plan to cheat.

In a three legged race, racers all dashed along, but suddenly, Indigo and Sugar Coat sneakily dropped a couple of wads of very sticky chewing gum in the way of the Spanish twins.

The twins toddled along the gooey gum, and their cleats got stuck and they fell over. Indigo and Sugar snickered as they continued to race.

“You okay?” asked Dyno.

“Si, but the race!” cried Myte.

Rather than try and unstick their shoes, the boys then gazed at each other and nodded and quickly jumped out of their cleats, and tied their arms together and began to race on their hands.

Once again, the referees found no rule that could challenge it, seeing as no one ever tried racing on their hands before.

They caught right up to Indigo and Sugar. The girls could not believe what they were seeing and it became a neck and neck tight run to the finish, but Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie had already claimed first place and another easy win for Canterlot.

The Crystal Preps were starting to lose their patience, but it was just no use.

Even during the next event which was a simple tug-of-war; Buddy Rose against a strong male from Crystal Prep.

They stood atop two tall pillars and would have to pull until one or the other fell from his stand.

“We can’t lose this time.” hissed Indigo “I replaced the plating on our guy’s stand with a special magnetic field that our genius from campus rigged up, and he made sure to put the iron pellets into his cleats. There’s no way he can be moved.”

Sugar Coat blinked once “You frighten me sometimes, ya know that?”

Indigo scoffed and watched the match.

The two boys pulled and pulled, and Buddy Rose was already showing signs of losing the match “What’s going on? I can’t budge him!”

The other guy pulled and pulled hard well, despite his was big and ripped, that still didn’t mean he was in good shape, and he started to lose his breath and was sweating more than Buddy was.

Of course, his shoes didn’t move an inch!

“Come on! Come on!” shouted Buddy as he pulled and pulled, and suddenly the other guy got yanked right out from his shoes and fell from his stand, pulling Buddy down with him.

Since the other guy fell first, Buddy was declared the winner.

Indigo turned bright red with rage like a boiling kettle!

More and more events occurred, and despite Indigo’s best cheating efforts, Canterlot still won. Sunset even dominated the dirt-biking course.

“Don’t you guys ever lose?” Indigo snarled angrily.

“Maybe or maybe we don’t.” Sunset playfully said.

Indigo angrily threw her helmet to the ground and kicked her bike like a mad-girl.

Lightning could hardly believe this at all. Never had he seen such determination, such skill. It was like watching himself take on a swarm of challenges. “How are they all doing this?” he kept wondering and felt that maybe, it had something to do with what he had witnessed at the statue.

Cadance and Shining Armor sighed heavily, feeling that once again everything was going to be one-sided. Celesto, Celestia and Luna hated seeing the two like that, but the two sisters couldn’t dare ask their students to simply stop winning, and Celesto, though he was pleased that Canterlot was winning, he too felt the boredom and dissatisfaction from all the easy victories. It wasn’t good for Crystal Prep, nor all any other school he supervised as Chairman of the schoolboard.

“The final event for today is archery!” he announced “Starla Shine and Sour Sweet take their positions as the targets are set.”

Sour and Starla glared at each other strongly, and the contest was on. The two girls were phenomenal and hit their every target perfectly. So perfectly the score was tied, and so a final shot would decide it all, and one last special target was set.

This special target was made by Indigo, in a last ditch effort to try and humiliate Canterlot high at the games.

“And just how is this supposed to work?” asked Lemon Zest.

“Just watch.” hissed Indigo.

The target was set firmly and Sour was up first. She fired her shot, and the target spun round and around and around and stopped with its backside facing the archers…just as Indigo had set it to do.

The spotter checked the shot “Not quite a bullseye, but still a hard shot to best.”

“Turn the target back please.” Starla said.

The referee blew his whistle “Wait! You can’t. The rules state that the target must not be altered.”

The Canterlot crowds were outraged, even the two sisters were.

“This is an outrage.” said Luna. Her sister agreed and asked Celesto “Can’t you lodge a protest?”

Her husband shook his head “I can’t, the rules are the rules, but I am concerned as to how this happened?”

He had already begun to suspect cheating was a foot, but without proper proof, he couldn’t point any fingers or lodge any protests.

“Aw, isn’t that a shame…” Sour said sweetly, and then she sneered “How can you hit a target you can’t even see?”

But Starla just stood where she was with her arms folding and a smug grin on her face. “This is what I get for playing with amateurs.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Starla licked the tip of her finger and held it up to feel the wind, and then calculated all the angles and velocities she needed. “Watch and learn…” she said as she backed further away from her standing point, and turned to her right.

Twilight watched with astonishment and curiosity “What’s she up to?” she wondered.

Starla then armed her bow, and then shot her arrow sending it banking off of metal poles and other obstacles and it went straight at the center of the target, while reciting a rhyme of her own which went…

“I shot an arrow in the sky
And when it hit they yelled…”

“…Bullseye!” shouted the spotter

Sour’s mouth hung wide open in shock, and the Canterlot crowds cheered for joy.

Indigo finally gave in and fell to her knees, but she was in far too much shock to speak or even more. Sugar even gave her a small flick. “I think she’s out of these games.”

Starla waved to everyone, and then she looked up at the main judges stands where Lightning sat with the others, and their eyes met. He couldn’t help but nod proudly at her.

She smiled at him, and then ran off to join her teammates.

“And that’s all for today…” Celesto announced “What a performance we’ve seen today by the Canterlot High Wondercolts.”

The Canterlot crowds cheered, but the Crystal Prep students booed and hissed, much to the chagrin of Cadance and Shining Armor, and even the others were annoyed by their poor attitudes as well.

“Tomorrow the games continue with the Academic Decathlon, where the points will doubled, and Crystal Prep may still catch up yet. So get a goodnight’s sleep and be ready for tomorrow here at the Friendship Games.”

Act 4: Curious Clues

ACT FOUR

That was the end of the first day, and the sun was beginning to set.

Soon, everyone was gathered in the gymnasium for the huge dinner feat prepared by Celesto’s faithful chef, Cookie Dough, and the cafeteria at school as well.

Roast Beef, Turkey, Chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, even pizza’s soups and fries, and big dessert table for afterwards.

Once again, the students from the respective schools did not wish to sit with one another and interact and just sat on opposite ends of the gym away from the other, at their own tables. Even when they got up to get more food, when two students from opposing sides met up, they would look away from one another.

Twilight noted how much everyone seemed to really hate one another, and she didn’t like it a bit.

Even her schoolmates were still being grumpy and miserable towards each other now.

“I can’t believe those guys…!” Indigo grumbled “…They totally stomped all over us.”

“Please don’t grumble at us.” said Sour, and then she sneered “It was your idea to set all that up, and they beat us anyway.”

“Maybe if you had done better in the Archery event.” snapped Sugar!

“Hello, Starla Shine’s a master archer!” protested Lemon.

On and on, the girls argued, and Twilight couldn’t stand much more of this, not to mention she had to feed Spike, whom she had kept outside all day, out in front of the school where no one would see him.

“Where are you going?” Indigo asked.

“Me? Oh, I... just need to… stretch my legs. Yeah, I’ve been sitting dead still all afternoon.”

The girls all just glared at her angrily, and felt very unconvinced, but ignored her and went back to their argument.

Shining Armor sat at one of the staff tables with his wife, aunts and uncle, and he watched his sister leave the gym. “Poor Twily, she really ought to stop alienating herself like this.”

The others all gazed at him both understandingly, but awkwardly too.

“Okay, okay, I admit not many of the students have been friendly to her either.”

Celestia couldn’t help but sigh and groan “Some Friendship Games this is turning out to be. I hope this doesn’t lead to a war of schools.”

“I hope not too.” agreed Cadance “It’s already hard enough with this rivalry, but if things got any worse…”

Her uncle cut in and assured her “Don’t worry, that will not happen, I’ll make sure of it. I built and run these schools to try and help others, not to cause riffs. Perhaps once the two schools realize how similar they are, things can start to get better.”

“That will be easier said than done.” said Luna.

Suddenly, Cadance remembered her letter. She took it out and read it, but it turned out to be nothing more than a map of the Pacific Ocean, and attached to it was a note that said…

“Meet me at the East Coast of the island at Midnight on Saturday night.”

She recognized the handwriting anywhere and almost burst into tears “….Fratello!” she cried softly.

Everyone else looked at the note, and there was no mistaking the handwriting.

Celesto also examined the map, and he was astonished by the area that was circled in red ink. “This is the very area I wanted Lightning to scout on the expedition.”

“It’s where Fratello’s boat sank two years ago.” cried Cadance. Now her tears began to flow “He’s alive! My brother’s alive!”

The others wanted to believe it, but it all seemed so improbable, so mysterious, but there was only one way to confirm this. The note said to meet whoever it was by the East Coast at midnight that night.

“Where’s Lightning?” asked Celesto “He must know about this.”

“He’s in the washroom, he’ll be back soon.” said Shining Armor.

Twilight crept outside to the bushes where she was keeping Spike hidden to avoid getting in trouble.

Her dog was so happy to see her and licked her cheek almost uncontrollably.

“Aw, Spike.” she cooed, and she fed him bits of scraps she had smuggled from her dinner plate, and a couple of doggie treats from her knapsack. “I hate to keep you here like this. Oh, what am I saying, even I hate being here like this. No one’s really been nice to me, even my own fellow schoolmates.” She got out her detector which was still glowing, “And what’s worse I still can’t figure out the mystery behind this whole school.”

Suddenly, she could hear voices from around the corner.

The Starfleet gang were holding a private meeting outside where hopefully no one was listening, and Sunset finally had a chance to tell everyone what she had learned.

“What do you mean the portal’s gone?” asked Applejack.

“I mean it’s gone as in it’s not there anymore.” said Sunset.

She led the gang over to the statue, unaware that Twilight was spying on them from the bushes.

“Look…” Sunset said as she felt all along the stone, and nothing happened.

“It really is gone.” said Buddy Rose “But how?”

“I have no idea” said Sunset. She got out her book. “I reported this to Commander Lightning Dawn…”

“…Commander Lightning Dawn?” Twilight muttered in confusion.

Spike growled softly, and Twilight quickly hushed him.

Fluttershy was certain she heard the noise, but she couldn’t see anyone.

Sunset showed everyone a reply she had gotten from their Lightning Dawn, when Sunset reported how the portal had lost its energy, but exactly how and why, even they didn’t know.

“We’ll do everything we can on our end to see if we can restore power to the portal, but for the time-being, transport between the two worlds is impossible.”

“…That’s all he said.”

Everyone then took out their energizers to make sure they were still working.

Twilight watched as Sunset held her hand over each one and her hand and eyes began to glow eerily, much to her shock.

“They still have power.” said Sunset.

“Well, that’s a good thing.” said Rainbow “But how do we fix the portal?”

“I’m not so sure we can…” said Rarity “None of us really know how this thing is supposed to work anyway.”

“Ooh-Ooh-Ooh!” cried Pinkie as she waved her hands up giddily “What if we try energizing it with some of our own powers?”

“Couldn’t hurt to try.” said Applejack.

They all assumed based on their surroundings that no one was watching and got out their energizers, and Sunset stood in the middle.

Lightning was just washing up in the washroom. He was the only one in there, and he splashed some water from the faucet on his face. “Oh, why did I eat so much?” he groaned “This has been one of the strangest days I’ve ever seen.”

Just as he was about to leave, he saw a strange light flash out of the corner of his eye… from the window. “What was that?”

He moved over and stood on the radiator to get a good look out the high window, and there he could see it all…

The Starfleet gang, holding up strange looking badges to the statue, and unleashing flowing colors of some magical energy at it, and Sunset herself began to glow in a golden light, transforming into a shining angel like character, and gave some of her own light to the statue.

Twilight saw it too, and was so shocked she could hardly move. Her glasses fell of her face and onto the ground, and Spike hid behind her, whimpering frightfully.

Twilight’s detector began to go the craziest it had ever reacted, and opened wide.

“Oh, no!” cried Twilight, and she once again fought for control against her own device, which began to absorb the magic from the others, and in a bright flash, their powers were transferred into the device, and all was quiet.

“What happened?” asked Artie.

The others had no idea, but not only were the portal not restored, their energizers were no longer resonating with power. Even Sunset felt her magic had just vanished without explanation. “What’s going on?” she asked in a fret.

“We’ve lost our powers!” cried Pinkie “WE’VE LOST OUR POWERS!!”

Starla grabbed her and held her hand over her mouth “Pinkie Pie, will you keep it down?!” she growled.

Pinkie nodded sheepishly, but still all of them were in uproar about no longer having their powers. What happened to them? Where did they go?

“This is a guess, I could be mistaken,
But… it almost felt as if our powers were taken.” said Rhymey.

“Funny, that’s what I felt too.” said Fluttershy. “One moment I could feel the power, then it starting getting weaker. Then it was gone.”

The others all concurred having all felt the same thing, but they had no evidence to really prove it was just that simple, and even still, who would want to steal their powers, and why?

“Let’s go in and ask to see the security cameras.” Buddy Rose.

The others agreed, and ran back inside.

Twilight poked her head out from the bushes, and put her glasses back on, still unable to really believe what she had just seen, not to mention did! Still, she could not deny that her detector had absorbed it all.

“I knew there was something strange going on at this school, Spike.”

Spike noted the slight difference in her voice, rather deep and somewhat sinister.

“This may explain why they’re so good at the games, but not anymore. Just think of what I can do with this discovery… once I understand it a bit more.”

As for Lightning, he was still standing on the radiator, almost as if he had forgotten how to move, and he finally snapped out of his trance, but lost his balance and fell off onto the floor.

“Oof! Ow!” he groaned. Still, that blow form the impact informed him what he just saw was real and that he wasn’t dreaming.

What now? What was he to think or even do? Though he had gotten his answer--yes, there was something odd about the island, and it was somehow tied with that gang-- now his mind just flooded with tons of more questions, but also a bit of fear as well, especially by Sunset Shimmer.

It was obvious to him that she was not like the others.

He exited the bathroom and bumped right into Starla as she and the gang came by.

“Oh, Lightning… I’m sorry.” she said.

“Uh… yeah… me too.” He said to her “I… Um… have to… get back to the table.” Then he walked off rather quickly and awkwardly as if he were desperate to get away.

“What was that all about?” said Applejack.

“He looked as if he had seen a ghost.” added Buddy Rose.

Fluttershy stammered “Maybe… maybe… unless…”

“Unless what?” asked Sunset.

Fluttershy twiddled her fingers and could hardly find the words to speak, but Pinkie then shot off as fast as she could…

“Maybe Lightning saw a flash from the window in the washroom and wondered “Gee, what was that?” and so he climbed on the radiator and looked out and saw us trying to energize the portal, and now he knows something’s up with us.”

The others all stared at her with wide eyes, and then shook their heads snapping out of their shock.

“Yeah, pretty sure he didn’t see us.” said Rainbow “I mean, he’s a teacher. He wouldn’t go around spying on others.”

“But… what if he did see us?” suggested Dyno.

“Ay’-Ay’-Ay’! That won’t be a good thing.” said Myte.

“Or maybe he just feels a bit awkward for bumping into me again.” said Starla. She began to feel a bit bummed, now having possibly ruined her chances of apologizing to him.

“Never mind that now, we’ve got to see the security cameras.” said Sunset.

They all entered the gym, everyone was still eating. The amounts of food seemed endless.

The gang made their way to the staff table. Lightning felt a small shiver run down his spine when they approached.

The gang asked Celestia and Luna if they could check the school surveillance cameras.

“Please, it’s very important.” Sunset said “It’s about… a little problem we’re having.” She put a little emphasis on her words, which told the sisters it had to do with the magic and stuff.

The sisters agreed and excused themselves to escort the gang to the main office.

As the gang all left, Starla stayed behind and turned to face to Lightning. She kindly approached him, and he winced softly.

Cadance, Shining Armor and Celesto noted this, as did Starla.

“About earlier today, when you first got here; I wanted to apologize for that little… mistake I made.”

Lightning hesitated and almost didn’t know what to say, until Shining Armor softly tapped his foot with his under the table.

“I… accept your apology.” Lightning said “…Thank you for that.”

Starla smiled, but couldn’t help but note his still acting a bit strange as if he were intimidated by her.

Then she went off, and Lightning kept his eyes on her until she’d gone through the door.

“Okay, what’s going on here?” Cadance asked.

“Hmm…?”

“You’ve been looking at that girl a lot.” said Shining Armor “You don’t by any chance…” he clicked his tongue and gave him a friendly nudge, but Lightning was outraged at such a thought

“Absolutely not!” he practically thundered “I hardly even know her anyway, and besides, I’m a teacher and she’s a student. That’s way out of line.”

“Yes, in most cases it is.” said Celesto, then he recited something he learned from the pony Lightning Dawn. “But one thing I learned is, even though you are different by social status, you are still people, and there isn’t anything that says two people cannot be together. That’s how Celestia and I got back together.”

“Yeah…” said Cadance and then she held her husband’s hand “Just look at us. I’m Principal, and he’s a former student, now the dean.”

“We can totally understand it, Lightning.” Shining Armor said, but Lightning was growing a tad annoyed “I realize this, but believe me; I have no feelings for Starla. That’s not what’s bugging me.”

“Well, what is it?” asked Shining Armor.

Lightning was about to tell them all that he had seen, when suddenly the bell rang, meaning meal time was through and it was high time to bust their trays and the students to get settled in for the night.

“Come on then…” said Celesto as he got up along with the others, but Lightning remained where he was. “Oh, and Lightning… take a look at this.” Celesto said handing him the map and Cadance’s letter and quickly informed him of the situation.

Lightning, after reading and considering things, decided maybe it best not to tell them what he had seen just yet, and to get in on what they were planning.

Meanwhile, Celestia and Luna had already been told of the situation and were viewing the footage from the cameras from the computer in Celestia’s office.

“Right about here…” Artie said.

The footage showed the gang channeling their energy into the statue, when suddenly the energy seemed to be flowing away from them, like being sucked through an air-current, right into the shrubs nearby.

…they could not see it was Twilight and her detector as she hidden very well behind the shrubs.

There was a bright flash of light, and the screens went out; obviously the camera had been busted by the power surge and couldn’t show anymore.

“You were right, Rhymey.” said Sunset “Something really did snatch our powers away.”

Rhymey acknowledged this, but then he said…

“We may know our powers were stolen now,
But what caused this to happen, and why, and how?”

This was what everyone wanted to know, but the cameras had nothing left to show due to being busted.

Rarity cleared her throat, and everyone looked at her and gawked; she was wearing a trench coat with a matching fedora. “Detective Rarity is on the case…” she said “And we’re going to get to the bottom of this faster than my costume change.”

The others all blinked once.

“I think she’s been readin’ too many of them Shadow Spade books again.” said Applejack.

Rarity ignored that and said “If we’re going to find out what happened to our powers, we must gather clues. First stop: The scene of the crime!”

She was acting very different than her usual self, it almost frightened the others, but seeing as she was right anyway, they decided to just go along with it.

“Don’t take too long.” said Celestia “It’ll be lights out very shortly.”

The others all agreed, and headed outside.

“Sister…” Luna said “I’m very worried. If their powers really have been stolen, then perhaps it’s a sign that some sort of danger lurks near.”

Celestia couldn’t deny that, and what worried her most was that her powers had not been stolen yet. If there really someone or something stealing power from Canterlot High, she was likely to be next. “I better tell Celesto.”

Outside, the gang scouted all around the bushes. Pinkie was even sniffing around and acting like a little rat searching for food.

As for Rarity, she imagined the entire world around her was in black and white, and her inner detective voice was narrating.

“There I was surveying the crime scene, and looking Tres Chic while doing it.”

“What are you doing?” asked Buddy Rose.

“Oh, um… juts thinking thoughts.”

“Well do ya think ya might wanna start lookin’ for stuff instead of at your reflection?” Applejack sneered.

Rarity sank back into her thoughts…

“Though their manners were rude, my peeps were right. In order to solve this mystery we had to be focussed. Driven! One-hundred percent in the--”

She stopped when something caught her attention. “Ooh, look at this.”

She held up what appeared to be a small crystal. “Why this color is so divine! Who would ever dream of throwing something this gorgeous away?”

The twins walked up to her and tapped the crystal.

“Because it’s fake…” said Dyno.

“Trust us, we knew stones.” added Myte.

Rarity felt a little disappointed, but then she realized something else about the crystal. “Aha!” she shouted “But it is a clue. This is the same imitation crystal from the shoes worn by the Crystal Prep students.”

The others could all see it too.

“Someone was out here, from Crystal Prep.” sneered Artie.

“Wait…” said Rainbow “A Crystal Prep student stole our powers? How is that possible? They don’t know we even have-- or rather had powers.”

“I’m not so sure.” said Sunset “Indigo Zap seemed pretty determined to get at us during the games. Maybe she sent someone to spy on us?”

“Oh, but, we lost our powers after the games.” said Fluttershy “I don’t think Indigo would’ve tried anything like this.”

The others would have protested is Rarity had not shouted “Aha!” She had found another clue “Behold!”

“A… dog biscuit?” asked Starla.

“Exactly.” said Rarity “I think I have all that I need now to find the culprit.”

Before anyone could even question her, VP Luna called to them saying they would have to come inside for the overnight and the doors would be locked.

Despite the urgency of the mystery, the gang did feel rather bushed after a long hard day, and there wasn’t much they could do now.

Seeing as there was no real threat or danger to deal with, they thought it wouldn’t be too bad to work on things in the morning…

…Except for Rarity.

“So even though the hour had stuck, I remained just as determined as ever to solve this mystery and solve it tonight!”

“Rarity…!” Sunset called “Do you want to spend the night out here?”

Rarity followed her and the others back into the school.

Act 5: Mysteries Unfolding

ACT FIVE

Most of the Canterlot Students who lived in the general area just went home and would return the next morning for the games to continue, while the remaining students along with all the Crystal Prep students would be spending the night in the gym.

Celesto had special cots he had ordered, all complete with pillows sheets, covers, the works. He wanted nothing but comfort for his students.

Despite the many number of students staying, the gym was more than big enough for all, especially seeing as the girls and guys were divided by their own respective sides.

Some of the students even packed their own pyjamas, while others would just sleep in their regular clothes. All their shoes and extra things were kept in the respective locker rooms.

“Gee, it sure feels weird staying in the school like this.” said Dyno.

“Si, and on the weekend too.” added Myte.

“Well, at least we won’t have to worry about being late in the morning.” said Buddy Rose.

Rhymey and Artie looked across at the girls’ side, and spotted their girlfriends getting ready for bed.

Fluttershy was brushing her long hair, and then she spotted a note on her pillow which read.

“Sleep tight
My angel of light.”

She looked over at Rhymey and whispered “Thank you.”

He could read her lips and smiled at her.

Sunset was climbing into her cot. Then her eyes met with Artie’s and she smiled at him.

He blushed softly, and he blew her another kiss, and she returned his.

The lights suddenly flickered, and everyone turned to face Celesto, “Alright everyone. Get a good night now. Wake up call is at seven sharp, breakfast will be served at 7:30. Then wash, dressed, and be ready for the academic decathlon by nine.

All right… lights out. No talking.”

He turned out the lights and left, but left the gym doors unlocked in case the kids had to use the washrooms, and the emergency lights were on but very faint so people could see and find their way around.

All the students were out like candles after a long day. Some of them snored softly, but no one complained, especially those who brought earplugs.

Much later that night,

Cadance was ready to leave and head for the meeting place at the east coast of the island. Her uncle was going with her and so was Lightning.

“You all are in charge while we’re gone.” Celesto said to the others

“You can count on us, dear.” said Celestia.

“We won’t let anything bad happen.” added Luna.

Shining Armor nodded and then hugged his wife and wished her luck. “You really think it’s Fratello?” he asked.

“I don’t know what to think now, but I have to know.” said Cadance.

“Come on, let’s go.” Lightning said. Then he and the others left and climbed into one of Celesto’s limos, and they drove off. As they went, Lightning couldn’t help but gaze at the statue in front of the school.

“Lightning, is something wrong?” asked Cadance.

“Hmm…? Oh, it’s nothing, really.”

Celesto was not convinced “Lightning, I remember you wanted to tell me something important at dinner. Now, what was it?”

Lightning still wasn’t sure if it felt right to tell him, or Cadance, but he calmed himself and let it out and he told them what he had seen.

Celesto felt his insides churn slightly, but Cadance seemed confused and concerned “You saw what?”

“I mean it…” said Lightning “I know what I saw; lights coming from the statue, I saw what those kids were doing, and I saw Sunset change into this… this… thing. I don’t know what it was, but I know what I saw.”

Cadance felt Lightning’s forehead, but he didn’t feel very warm “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”

Lightning softly back away from her insisting he wasn’t crazy, but Celesto knew this was serious, having been told by his wife what happened with the portal and stuff, and he couldn’t let Cadance and Lightning know the truth… not yet anyway.

“What you saw was them rehearsing.” he quickly lied.

“Rehearsing?” asked Lightning.

“Yes, I asked them to form a special production I plan to feature for the Fall Festival next week.”

“But, I thought there was no Fall Festival this year?” asked Cadance.

“Oh, I… decided to reschedule it. You just didn’t get the paper forums yet.”

Lightning wasn’t so sure he could believe that. “Then how do you explain the lights and Sunset turning into… whatever that was?”

“Super special effects…” Celesto fibbed “My Company is testing out a new form of holographic costumes that actually look like the real things. Wardrobe change will become a thing of the past.”

Cadance actually bought into that, and though still skeptical, Lightning believed it too, but still, he couldn’t help but feel maybe there was something else out there too. Something… dangerous!

Meanwhile, back at school, Rarity had left her cot to supposedly go to the washroom. She managed to slink by and get into the girls’ locker room where all the girls’ uniforms form Crystal Prep lay neatly folded, and all their shoes were underneath the benches in neat little rows.

Donning her fedora from out of nowhere, she slipped into her detective fantasy again.

“This wasn’t going to be easy. I knew exactly what I was looking for-- a shoe with one of the diamond emblems missing from it-- but exactly where I needed to look was the problem.”

She looked each pair of shoes, one pair at a time, and then she finally found what she was looking for; a pair of shoes and one of them had the crystal missing on it. She also noticed in the uniform pockets were a couple of dog biscuits, identical to the one she found in the bushes.

Finally, there was the knapsack hanging from on the hook on the wall.

“This was it, I was finally going to crack the case and reveal who the guilty party that robbed me and my friends of our super powers, although, it wouldn’t be very polite to break into someone else’s private knapsack and go through their personal belongs, would it?”

While she was hesitating, she heard someone opening the door; the only way in and out of the locker room.

It was only Twilight, coming to use the bathroom facilities.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know… um, why are you wearing that hat?”

Rarity sheepishly removed it “I was, uh… just trying it on as part of my fashion trend, and uh, I think it’s pretty chic.

Twilight blinked once. “Okay… but then, why are you over here instead of over at the Canterlot side of the room where your locker is?”

“Oh, um… I was just… um… practicing my fashion strutting for the big show I’m hosting after the Friendship Games.”

She demonstrated by strutting along the floor.

“O-kay then…” said Twilight.

“Well, um… I’ll just be… getting back to bed then. Goodnight.” and Rarity ran from the room and stopped outside with her back against the door. “That was far too close, and just when I was about to solve the mystery.”

She went off to get a drink from the fountain.

Inside, Twilight rummaged through her knapsack, and Spike popped his head out from the bag, and almost yipped happily that she was here.

“Shh, keep it down Spike.”

Then she kept looking through her bag and found her detector. “I just couldn’t sleep, not after everything I saw today. I’ve got figure out what all this strange stuff is about.”

She gazed down frightfully at her detector and was a bit nervous about opening it again, but she managed to open it anyway, unleashing a powerful glow of light, which frightened her and Spike, but nothing could have prepared them from what happened next…

A strange rift had appeared, and through it they could see what looked like another world.

Another flash of light zoomed through the rift and crept under the door and out into the hall where it materialized into a large plant-like monster. It growled and snarled fiercely.

Shining Armor marched down the halls “What’s going on out here?” he called, and the second he turned the corner, he screamed!

His scream woke all the students.

Twilight peeked through the door of the locker room and gasped “What is that thing?”

Spike growled and charged at the monster “No, Spike!”

Spike lunged at the monster and bit its stem, but the monster whipped him off, and turned and roared at the little dog, and began to chase him back into the locker room.

Celestia and Luna dashed around the corner just in time to see the monster disappear into the locker room, but the students missed the whole thing as they gathered at the doors to the gym.

Inside the locker room, Twilight was backed against the wall in fear, but was too frightened to even scream. She watched as Spike ran from the hideous creature and then he fell into the rift, into the other world. “Spike!” cried Twilight.

The monster followed Spike through the rift, and Spike came out the other end, right into Twilight’s arms… and the rift sealed and was gone.

Twilight felt she was about to have a heart attack, but was ever so relieved Spike was okay. “Are you alright…?” she said as she held him close.

“Yeah, I feel fine.” Spike answered.

They both gasped, and she dropped him onto a pile of uniforms, and Twilight backed away from her own dog as if he were some sort of monster.

Outside, Shining Armor was shaking nervously and whimpering.

The sisters ordered the students to go back to bed, and that Shining Armor was just having a nightmare; trying to keep the truth under wraps.

Shining Armor was too shaken up to speak properly. “N-N-Not Nightmare… wasn’t… s-s-s-sleeping… M-M-Ma… Monster…!”

“There, there, my dear… you’ve had a long day.” said Luna “You need your sleep.”

She led him to the man office where extra cots were set up for the staff staying overnight.

Celestia noticed the students were still at the doors “All of you, go back to bed. There is nothing to worry about.”

The students weren’t convinced, but obeyed and all went back to bed, but Sunset was not so sure, and swore something had happened.

As she climbed back into her cot, she also noticed Twilight’s cot was empty; the only one that was too.

Rarity noted this as well, and both of them were starting to happen upon the same connection that Twilight was involved in all this.

Back in the locker room, Twilight was gazing fearfully at Spike, still unable to grasp what just happened.

“Spike… you… can talk…?”

“Sure looks that way.” said Spike “But I don’t know why I couldn’t before, until I fell through that strange hole to get away from that overgrown weed.”

Twilight approached him with extremely eager eyes “Tell me, when you fell through that… hole… what happened? Where did you go?”

“Can’t say for sure…” answered Spike “It all happened so fast, but for a second it was like I was in some kind of alternate dimension. The next thing I knew I was here again and I could talk.”

Twilight was finally starting to make many connections. “That explains a lot.” she said as she gazed at her detector. “Spike, I think on something really big here, but for now we’ll just keep it to ourselves.”

Meanwhile, it was nearly midnight, and Cadance, Celesto and Lightning were at the east coast on the far side of the island.

“See anything?” asked Celesto.

“Nothing but clear skies, the ocean and California on the horizon…” said Cadance “I don’t get it. It said to meet him here.”

Suddenly, Krysta flew by and landed right near Lightning. She began to flap and tweet excitedly. “What is it, girl?” Lightning asked.

Krysta continued to flap and tweet.

“Someone else is here?”

At that moment, someone called out to them from under the tall deck.

“Psst…”

Everyone looked on, Cadance felt a bit nervous, and Lightning and Celesto stood bravely. “We know you’re there. Come out!” said Celesto.

The man stepped out from the shadows, and Cadance’s heart began to race with joy and shock. “Fratello…?”

Her brother looked up at her and nervously said “Um… hi, sis.”

Tears formed in her eyes, and she ran over right into his arms, hugging him tightly and wept. “It’s you! I thought you were gone forever!”

Her brother hugged her deeply. No tears formed in his eyes.

Lightning and Celesto felt touched to see such a reunion, and they approached the siblings.

“Uncle Celesto.”

His uncle smiled warmly and shook his nephew’s hand “I never thought I’d see you again. Welcome back.”

Fratello smiled at him and then shook hands with Lightning “I’ve heard about you, but I never thought I’d ever meet you.” Lightning said “I didn’t think you were still out there.”

“I know it must’ve been really hard for all of you. I only just floated ashore in California two nights ago, and I really wanted to see my family again. So I took a boat and rowed all the way here.”

“You rowed?” Cadance asked in shocked “No wonder you look so tired.”

Fratello felt he had to tell them all everything and he sat everyone down to tell his story.

*Fratello’s POV*

Our boat sank in that huge hurricane.

I managed to survive by holding onto a life raft, but I lost the emergency locater transmitter and my cell-phone. So I couldn’t contact anyone for help.

There were no other survivors.

The ocean was really getting rough and tossed me all over, and I eventually passed out.

When I awoke, I was surprised that I was not only still alive, but my raft had washed on the shores of this unknown island with a tropical jungle, but no animals. There was even a hollow dead volcano in its center.

I tried to escape in my life raft, but the surfs were too much for me, and my raft was damaged beyond repair.

I soon discovered that the island was uninhabited, but the trees did provide me with edible berries and coconuts, and being an expert fisherman I speared some fish from the nearby shallow waters. I caught rainwater in coconut husks, and I even built myself a mini tent from the remains of my raft and branches.

Making fires was the hardest part, but eventually I got it going.

Still, as the months passed I began to grow miserable and agitated, longing for companionship, and to be home and with my family again.

That was the one thing that kept me going all that time, knowing I had to be brave, and believe that I would one day be rescued.

Two years later, fate shined on me, and provided me with what I needed to escape.

A large sheet washed up on the shore. It was dirty and damp and splotched with dead creatures and kelp, but when dried, it flowed in the wind just like a sail.

This was it; my ticket to freedom and back to civilization!

Working hard and using sharp rocks, I chopped several trees down, and I made some strong ropes by weaving threads of long strings of bark and leaves.

I constructed a raft and mounted the sheet on it as a sail, and with my expert sailing knowledge and expert in wind motion, I passed those powerful surfs and escaped to sea.

For days and days I battled the strong waters, and even braved a typhoon or two. Finally, I made it! California.

I was spotted at the docks just coming in, and the friendly sailors helped me ashore and helped me clean up, but as I desperately wanted to come home to Mystic Island, I crept out, took one of the boats, and rowed here.

That very well covers it.

*POV ends*

Cadance wiped the tears from her eyes “You poor dear…”

Celesto and Lightning felt equally as bad for Fratello, which made them feel all the more glad he was alright.

Still, something struck them as odd as they checked the map and the area of the ocean that was circled in red.

“I didn’t think there were any islands in that part of the ocean.” said Lightning.

“Exactly my point as well.” said Fratello “If the island is truly uncharted, perhaps I’ve made a discovery, and now that I’m make… will you all help me chart it down?”

Celesto jumped right at the offer “Strangely enough, this is exactly where I wanted to send you, Lightning.”

“Sir…?”

Celesto explained that weather tracking stations worldwide had been receiving signals of very abnormal weather patterns emitting from the exact area marked on the map, but ultimately no one had the answer of what was going on.

“To make matters worse, many planes and ships passing through that area have been reported missing, believed to have gone down.”

“And you want me to investigate into this.”

Celesto nodded, “And right before you ask, I’ve already made arrangements for you. You will travel by submarine. This way you can avoid many dangerous weather conditions that may happen.

…What do you wish to do?”

Lightning gave it some good thought, and realizing the kind of discovery that could be made, as well as answering mysteries that had been baffling people, he couldn’t refuse.

“I better go with you.” said Fratello “I can help you navigate there easier and I know the island well.”

“I’m going too.” said Cadance.

The others all gazed at her in shock of her request.

“I just got my brother back, and I want to see just what it is that took him from me.”

“That is out of the question, Cadance. This is a dangerous venture.” said Celesto.

“I realize that, but…”

“No buts.” snapped her uncle.

“I agree.” said Lightning “Besides, you’re needed more at school for the decathlon.”

Cadance couldn’t argue with that. She felt rather disappointed though, but didn’t let it show.

“Come on, we better get back.” said Lightning “I want to shove off at the earliest possible time.”

They all went back to the limo to head back to town and prepare, but as Fratello passed by Celesto, his cell-phone made a soft static sound, and the screen faded softly, but he merely dismissed it as a glitch. “I’ve been meaning to get this phone replaced.”

On their way back, even Fratello tried to give Cadance her chance “I wouldn’t mind if you come. After all, I may have made such a huge discovery that I’d want you to be among the first to unveil it with me.”

Cadance was flattered, but once again Celesto and Lightning both put their feet down.

“No, and that’s final.” Lightning said “And supervisor or not, Cadance, this time you can control me with this decision.”

“That will do, Lightning.” said Celesto, and then he looked over at his niece “Cadance, I’m sorry, but this is for your own good. I just don’t want to risk your safety. Not because I have no faith in you, it’s just… I don’t want to lose you, and neither would your aunts, the students, and what about Shining Armor. Do you understand?”

Cadance nodded sadly.

Fratello felt sorry for his sister and wished he could help her come, but for now he was still glad just to see her again after a long time, as was she.

Act 6: Set Sail for Disaster

ACT SIX

They stopped off at the school; all the students were sound asleep.

Shining Armor was asleep as well, after that big scare from that monster. Luna was asleep too, leaving Celestia up and taking her turn watching over the students.

She could not believe her eyes when the gang returned and she saw Fratello.

“Fratello… you’re alive?” she cried softly, trying to control her happiness.

Her nephew nodded and they hugged warmly, but they kept very quiet so as not to wake anyone.

Fratello felt so happy to see his aunt again, but wished his Aunt Luna and his brother-in-law were both awake too. Not that it mattered; there was little time to spare.

“I just thought it would be proper to let you see him again.” said Celesto, and he explained to his wife what was happening.

“I see, you’re going back to find the island.”

Fratello nodded shamefully “I hate to leave so soon, but… I just really feel this island needs to be known to the world.”

“I understand.” said Celestia “I’m just so glad you’re alive and well.”

Fratello smiled, but Lightning noticed a slight hint of sadness… or was it regret in his eyes?

Celesto’s phone vibrated, and he answered the call. After he hung up…

“It’s time.” he said.

He had already called well ahead planning the expedition before Fratello’s note was received. He also felt it be best if the boys set off now while the students were still asleep.

“Cadance…” Celesto said “If you’d like, you can come with us to send them off.”

Cadance agreed eagerly and Frtalleo seemed delighted, but a bit frightened as well… which Lightning also noted.

And when Fratello walked past Celesto to hug Celestia one last time, Celesto’s phone reacted funny again, just like at the coast.

He walked past again to rejoin the group and the same thing happened.

“What is wrong with this thing?” Celesto grumbled.

Lightning was beginning to have his suspicions.

Soon, the trio returned to limo and the drove to the main boat docks on the west side of the island that overlooked the Pacific Ocean.

There, the massive submarine was being loaded and was about ready for castoff.

“Well, I guess there’s only one thing left now.” said Celesto, and he opened a small compartment where sat poured glasses of champagne.

Lightning immediately got the drift “Bon Voyage.” he said as he raised his glass. Cadance and her uncle raised his but Fratello didn’t drink his at all.

“Something wrong…?” Cadance asked.

“Um… well, it’s just been… so long since I’ve had any of this and… I…” he handed his glass back “I really just don’t think I’m ready.”

The others all found this very odd, even someone in Fratello’s position wouldn’t be nervous of a little champagne.

Lightning especially found this behaviour to be very peculiar.

Still, there was no time to question; it was time to shove off.

Krysta perched on Lightning’s shoulder, and Fratello standing next to him. “Well, this is it. Off on another one.” Lightning said.

Krysta nodded.

Cadance gazed tearfully at her brother, as if she was never going to see him again, and he gazed back at her, still not shedding any tears, but looking just as upset as she was.

“I think I better leave you two alone for this…” Lightning said.

“Good luck, Lightning.” Celesto said as he shook Lightning’s hand.

Lightning then hugged Cadance goodbye and boarded the sub.

The two watched until they were out of sight, but as they turned back to face Fratello, he had gone.

“Fratello…?” Cadance called.

“Where did he go?” asked her uncle.

Suddenly, they both felt something shoot them in the backs of their necks, and they both fell to the ground completely blacked out.

Someone then crept out from the darkness and began to drag them both into a crate which was sealed and loaded onto the sub with the last bit of supplies.

Only two skilled aquanauts, Mary and John, both were employees for Celesto’s company, were going along on the voyage.

Once the supplies were all aboard, and Lightning and Fratello were ready, the sub began to sail away from the island.

“Well, we’re on our way.” said Lightning.

“Yes, we are.” agreed Fratello.

“We’re taking her down now.” said Mary.

“Hang on.” added John, and the sub began to dive beneath the waves. The moonlight made it a little easier to see out the portholes, and what a beautiful view it was. So many fish, coral reefs, even pretty plants.

As pretty as it all was, Lightning felt exhausted, having been up most of the night. “I’m gonna hit the sack. We’ve got a big day ahead of us. How about you…?”

“Oh, uh… I’m not very tired, but I will adjourn to my room.”

Lightning and the others still wondered if Fratello was feeling alright, the way he was speaking.

He excused himself from the group and left.

“That is one strange guy.” said John.

“It’s not too late…” said Mary “If you think we should, we can return to port and drop him back off.”

“No, no…” Lightning said “We’ve made it this far. We may as well continue.” He let out a huge yawn and decided to head to bed before he collapsed off his feet.

Then he left and the two aquanauts continued to maintain watch. However, John took a look at the console. “Huh, that’s weird. The gauge says were carrying a few hundred pounds more weight than was estimated.”

Mary checked it “Maybe it’s just a fault. I’m sure it’s nothing. We already passed through all security.”

Meanwhile in Fratello’s room, he was lying down on his bed, and made absolutely sure that no one was around, and he gently tapped his temple three times and said “Phase two is complete, master. We will be there by midday tomorrow; all of us!”

The mysterious lady snickered in her lair.

“Excellent… everything is going according to plan.” she hissed. Then she spun in her chair to gaze at her monitors “I think I’ll just have a little more fun while I’m waiting.”

She worked the controls, and two large metal rods appeared. She grabbed hold of both rods, and both she and the rods began to glow in a soft blue light.

At the same time, more and more strange weather patterns were occurring all over the world. Deserts were getting vast amounts of rain, meadows and forests were not getting enough rain but rather too much sunlight. Warm places were getting cold, and cold places were warming up.

The lady laughed manically and remarked “…Beautiful.”

The next morning, all the students awoke at the sound of the school bell. Some of the kids practically fell out of their cots in fear of the sudden sounds.

Vice Principal Luna spoke over the P.A “Good morning students, please be advised that breakfast will be served at 7:30 A.M. Please clear the gym immediately.”

Many of the students groaned but began to file out.

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie noticed out the windows. “Look… it’s snowing.”

Before anyone could disbelieve her, they all looked out the windows and sure enough. “It really is snowing.” said Sunset.

While this was an amazing thing to see, all the students felt very concerned.

“It never snows on this island.”

“Something’s wrong.”

Even Twilight was amazed as she looked at the snow from her cot, and then she looked down at her detector which she had taken to bed with her. “Could I have done this?” she wondered.

Celestia, Luna and Shining Armor saw the snow from the office windows, and they even tuned into the weather station on the radio.

“Meteorologists are baffled and officially stumped by the suddenness of this mysterious cold front which was hit Mystic Island, but all signs do not show of it stopping anytime soon.”

All three adults were just as baffled and could hardly understand it themselves.

“How could this be happening?” Luna wondered. She then noticed the others were very worried. Neither Cadance nor Celesto had returned since they left for the seaport.

Celestia checked her cell-phone for the millionth time, and all she had were old messages, but nothing from her husband. “This isn’t like him.” she said “He always tells me where he is or if he’s going to be late.”

“Maybe his phone isn’t working anymore.” suggested Shining Armor “Or maybe it’s because of this weather.”

“Highly doubtful.” said Luna “He would have called by other means, and don’t think weather like this can affect our phone services.”

Celestia felt her stomach turn, a feeling she only got when she felt that there was something was really, really wrong, and it wasn’t just the strange weather.

Shining Armor was just as worried about Cadance. He tried calling her cell-phone again, but the signal could not be reached.

“Come on, Cadance. Where are you?”

Suddenly, they could hear the sound of arguing coming from the hallways, as all the students were fussing about who got to use the showers in the locker rooms first.

The adults had no choice but to put their worries on hold and get some order back amongst the students.

Soon, all was calm again, and soon the students were all showered, dressed and eating breakfast in the gym, and Celestia made the announcement “Don’t forget, today begins the academic decathlon. Though neither Mr. Granduler nor Principal Cadance are able to attend, the three of us will still act as judges.”

The Starfleet gang sat at their private table.

“They can’t seriously be expecting to go on with the decathlon today.” said Buddy Rose.

“You heard the announcement.” said Rainbow “Besides, I don’t see why anyway. A little snow shouldn’t slow us down.”

Starla was wondering where Lightning was, for she couldn’t see him at the staff table, and she remembered how frightened he seemed of her last night when they bumped into each other again.

“Snap out of it, girl.” said Applejack “We got a whole heap of other things to be worryin’ about.”

“Yeah, like how to get more seconds.” Pinkie joked. Everyone shot her a straight look “What? I’m still hungry.”

The twins felt a little shivery. “I can’t stand it when it’s cold, even if it’s outside.” said Dyno.

“Esto es una locura! *This is just crazy*” added Myte “I never gets cold on Mystic island. What in the name of nature is going on?”

“I don’t think this is nature’s doing
I’ve got the feeling there’s trouble brewing.” said Rhymey.

“You could be right.” agreed Fluttershy, and she showed everyone weather images from all over the world on her cellphone.

“No way!” cried Artie “Ice-Skating in the Bahamas? Sun tanning in Moscow...?”

“This is positively preposterous.” said Rarity “I’ve heard of abnormal weather conditions before, but this actually takes the cake. We’ve got to do something.”

“But what?” asked Starla “In case you’ve forgotten, we still haven’t got our powers.”

Twilight could overhear her faintly but clearly.

“We still haven’t gotten to the bottom of who took them.” Artie said.

“When I find out who did, they’re gonna get it but good!” Rainbow threatened.

Twilight felt her heart skip a beat, and got up rather swiftly to bust her tray.

Rarity spotted out of the corner of her eye and noticed Twilight’s shoes, and how one of them was missing its diamond emblem.

Her features hardened and she excused herself from the rest of the gang.

“Now where’s she going?” asked Buddy Rose.

Twilight walked casually down the hall, heading for the girls locker room, while Rarity followed her.

Twilight then looked round behind her, and Rarity slipped behind the garbage cans, which she found rather disgusting.

One of the students came by and threw her banana peel, missing the can and landing on Rarity’s head. She held in her urge to cry out in grossness all she could.

When she looked up, Twilight go into the girls’ locker room.

She angrily tossed off the banana peel and crept to the locker room and peeked through the crack in the door, which was no closed all the way.

“What are you doing?” another student asked.

“Shh, be quiet!” she sneered softly.

The girl blinked once “Whatever.” and then she walked off.

She could see Twilight, and a few other girls, but she kept looking at Twilight, and noticed she was dumping a few scraps from her plate into the very knapsack she had examined last night.

Then, she saw Twilight take a doggie treat out of her pocket; exactly like the one she had one.

Rarity’s mouth hung open softly, and without even donning her fedora, she slipped into her deceive thoughts again.

“All the clues made it almost unquestionable. Was Twilight Sparkle, an innocent and smart student the guilty party? No, I couldn’t believe it, at least not yet. All I needed was one more piece of evidence; something really big!”

The other girls left the locker room, and Rarity snuck in past them hiding round the corner where the showers were.

Twilight had not seen her come in, and now believed she was totally alone.

“Okay, they’re gone.” she whispered into her back, and Spike popped his head out…

Much to Rarity’s surprise, and then to her shock, Spike began to speak.

“Ya know I’m getting really tried of hanging out here in your bag all day. I really need to use the bathroom.” Spike groaned.

“I’m sorry Spike, but what else can I do?”

She pulled him out, and laid a set of napkins on the floor allowing him to do his… business… since she couldn’t take him for a walk.

“Ugh!” Twilight groaned.

“Sorta what happens when you haven’t been walked.”

Twilight quickly took the dirty napkins to one of the toilets and flushed it down.

When she came back, Twilight placed Spike back in the bag, along with her detector. “I’m going to participate in the decathlon, and I don’t want any more strange things happening.”

“You mean like that thing we unleashed last night…” said Spike.

Rarity blinked once “What thing…?” she muttered under her breath, and then she noted how the detector was glowing with multi colored lights, the same colored lights as the powers from the portal and that respective colors of her and her friends’ powers.

That was all the proof she needed, though it still struck her hard.

Twilight left the locker room, and Rarity saw this as her chance to try and snatch the detector from Twilight’s bag, but just as she was about to, a whole flock of Crystal Prep girls entered the locker room, spoiling her chance.

She knew she couldn’t even try now or she’d get in trouble for poking through another student’s belongings, not to mention exposing the well-guarded secret of the power to more people.

Still, at least she knew what was going on and she just had to tell the others fast…

…and were they ever surprised, and Pinkie gasped hard, but she spoke softly this time. “Twilight did it?”

“Yes, I heard and saw everything.” replied Rarity.

“That explains a lot.” said Artie “Shining Armor really must’ve seen a monster last night. Twilight must’ve unleashed it herself.”

The others were shocked, appalled, but mostly confused. “Why would Twilight do this?” asked Dyno.

“She seems like just a sweet ordinary student.” added Myte “Well except for being so anti-social.”

Fluttershy was more concerned for Spike. She knew it wasn’t the Spike she knew and loved, but still “That poor little dog must still be there in her bag.”

Everyone was amazed at how Twilight was able to get away with all this.

“Say…” said Applejack “It’s just a guess, but is anyone else here thinkin’ maybe that’s what’s causing this weird weather?”

Everyone agreed it was possible, but aside from that…

“We’ve got to get our powers back.” said Sunset “We can’t let Twilight meddle with them anymore. Who knows what other things she might unleash?”

Rhymey scribbled down some plans on his napkin…

“We’ll have to move quite carefully
We don’t want to cause trouble unnecessarily.
We will have to corner her while she’s alone
We cannot risk our secrets being shown.”

Everyone agreed, and all decided to keep close watching over Twilight.

Soon, breakfast had ended, and it was time to begin the Academic Decathlon.

A song broke out over the course of the events…

There were many types of contests in the decathlon including Baking, chemistry, woodshop, even a spelling bee.

The Crystal Prep students spared no effort in desperation to catch-up, and catch up they did thanks to the double point values.

All through the contest, Twilight began to feel uneasy as each member of the Starfleet gang always seemed to gaze at her with a straight look… as if they were on to her.

By the end of the events it was a tie between the Wondercolts and the Shadowbolts.

Now it was down to the final ordeal, Twilight Sparkle VS Sunset Shimmer in an extreme battle of mathematics…

They each sang their own solo part in the song.

In the end, Sunset’s calculations were incorrect and Twilight was declared the victor.

As it now stood, Canterlot High and Crystal Prep were tied perfectly.

“This has been an exciting decathlon.” Celestia announced “I think Crystal Prep just may take us at Canterlot by surprise, but there’s only one way to know for sure, and that’s a sudden death.”

All the students gasped like in horror movie.

“After lunch, we will decide the best students from each side to represent in the final faceoff.”

With that settled things were really getting tense for all the students.

Celestia also whispered to the others “Any word from Celesto yet?”

Luna and Shining Armor shook their heads, and Celestia was really feeling worried now, wondering where he was and if he was okay.

…

Meanwhile, the sub had run into rough waters as the weather above the waves was treacherous. Mary and John could hardly control the steering. In the tumbling they bumped their heads together and fell unconscious.

“Quick the controls!” cried Lightning and he and Fratello dashed over and began to battle with the steering, finally managing to get the sub under control and the things calmed down.

Then, the radar began to beep, and sonar detected a large mass of land ahead.

“Up periscope.” said Lightning. He looked through it and could see the island up ahead, but he did find it somewhat peculiar that the storms they had just run through seemed to be all around the island off in the distance, yet the island and the surrounding area were all clear and calm, even the skies were perfectly clear.

He let Fratello look through the periscope. “That’s it…” he said sounding almost joyed “That’s the island I lived on.”

Mary and John began to come to, and once they were told of what happened, they all prepared to head ashore.

This meant checking up on the supplies for what to take with them first, but as they looked over and checked the crates, they could suddenly hear the sound of tapping and faint screams coming from one of the crates.

“Hey! Anyone…!”

“Let us out!”

Lightning and Fratello quickly opened the crate, and were shocked to see Celesto and Cadance fall out.

Both of them took in a huge breath of air.

“What are you two doing here?” snapped John.

“You stowed away?!” added Mary.

Celesto got up and helped Cadance to her feet saying “No, we didn’t.”

“What happened?” asked Lightning.

Cadance thought hard “The last thing I remember, we were at the docks, saying goodbye, and then… I blacked out.”

“I feel the same.” said Celesto “I remember feeling woozy, and then… when I woke up, I was with Cadance and we were stuck in that crate.”

“Well, um… I guess you may as well stay here with us.” Fratello said.

He had a point, it was more than too late to turn back, and Celesto couldn’t and wouldn’t dare send for any of his rescue choppers due to the storms and stuff.

He tried his satellite powered cell-phone but could get no signal, so he couldn’t even call Celestia and tell her what had happened. He was very worried that she would be worried, but for now he thought it best to help out.

“I guess you got what you wanted after all, Cadance.” Lightning said.

Cadance didn’t know whether to feel joyed or concerned, but now it didn’t matter much. The main objective was getting ashore and exploring the new island.

The sub surfaced, and remained in free float about five hundred meters from the island.

As they all unloaded and prepared to launch life boats, the team all worked together loading simple supplies from the crates, and then they cast off, leaving Mary and John to mind the ship.

As they all rowed towards the shores, Fratello looked really uneasy as if something was disturbing him.

“Are you okay?” asked Cadance.

Fratello couldn’t find the heart to answer her, and Cadance judged that maybe he was feeling strange coming back to the island, but Lightning was not convinced. He and Krysta were now fully convinced he was hiding something… but what?

They all took their first step onto the island, and the view was just breathtaking. It was like being a tropical paradise with the jungle, the warm sea air. Cadance took off her blazer and tied it around her.

“It’s all so peaceful here.” she said.

“Sure is.” said Fratello.

Celesto admired the view as well, but he couldn’t help but take out his cell-phone, which was working now. “It works!” he cried, but as he ran up to the gang, phone went all static again. “Oh, not again…” he ran back to where he was, and his phone was working again.

While he sent a call to Celestia, Cadance walked further up the beach to get a better view of her surroundings, leaving Lightning and Fratello together.

Lightning stood behind Fratello and couldn’t help but get out his own cell-phone. He moved in closer to Fratello, and the phone went static. He backed away from him, and his phone was fine.

He did this a few times, and Lightning suddenly began to realize what was really going on.

“Krysta, get out of here and watch for what happens.” he whispered.

Krysta nodded and flew off into the jungle.

Lightning then quickly devised a plan to expose Fratello, and grabbed his canteen of drinking water out from his explores belt and casually walked past him.

“So, this is where you lived for two years?” he asked, playing it cool.

“Uh, yeah… pretty much.” Fratello said.

“I bet I know what you didn’t like about this place most.”

“What?”

The next thing he knew, Lightning turned round and splashed water from his canteen onto Fratello’s arm snapping “The water!”

“A’RGH!” Fratello screamed.

Cadance and Celesto turned immediately, and before they could react, Fratello’s arm began to spark and it just detached from him, falling onto the sand, revealing bits of metal, wires and circuitry.

Celesto dropped his phone and stared in shock, and Cadance, for that brief moment she had completely forgotten how to move or speak and just stood where she was gazing in extreme surprise.

“F…Fr…Fra…tell…o?!” she cried as tears came to her eyes.

Suddenly, everyone could hear a loud buzzing sound, and the three humans suddenly found they couldn’t move an inch.

Fratello was the only one still moving. He picked up his wrecked arm, and could see his master standing within the brambles of the jungle. “Bring them in…” she called to him.

“Yes, master.” Fratello said with deep regret in his voice. He reattached his arm, confiscated all the weapons and transmitters, and actually was able to lift all three of the humans with his super strength, taking them away with him.

Celestia’s voice could be heard over Celesto’s discarded phone.

“Celesto… honey, are you there?”

The Wicked Witch Doctor

ACT SEVEN

Celestia hung up and told the others what she learned.

“They’re on the island?” Luna asked in shock.

“Are they okay?” added Shining Armor.

Celestia hated to make things sound worse, but she couldn’t lie to them “Something must’ve gone wrong. I could hear this buzzing noise, and then Celesto didn’t answer me.”

“They’re in trouble?” cried Shining Armor.

“They could be, but I pray they aren’t.”

They all still had the map and coordinates, or rather photo copies of it. Luna suggested “Perhaps we should send a rescue team to the island?”

“We can’t…” said Shining Armor as he checked on the computer “According to this weather readout, there are worse conditions happening out at sea, as well as all over the world. A conventional rescue would be out of the question.”

Celestia already knew that even though she still had her own powers, and could probably make it herself, she was needed at the school more than ever, and she still didn’t dare risk exposing her secret to everyone, including Shining Armor.

“What are we going to do?” asked Shining Armor “What can we do?”

Meanwhile, the students were all having lunch in the gym. The Crystal Prep students, pleased with the latest turnaround in the scores from the decathlon, were ruder than ever; blowing raspberries, and making nasty faces to the Canterlot students, many of them wanted to retaliate by starting a food fight…

…and they did!

The kids went totally crazy. Food flew in all directions, splatting on the floors and tables, but mostly on all the students.

The Stafleet gang were the only ones who didn’t participate, as they were not even there.

They had left the gym earlier, and we’re all waiting outside in the hallways, waiting for Twilight to sneak out into the girls’ locker room.

“There she is…” said Buddy Rose.

“…Let’s move.” said Sunset.

Twilight was suddenly confronted by everyone, standing right in her way like a human wall. All of them had their arms folded and scolding expressions on their faces.

“Um… excuse me, please.” she said nervously, but the others would not budge.

“No more games with you, girl.” said Applejack.

Twilight blinked in confusion.

“We know what you’ve been up to; you and that little thing of yours you made.” said Artie.

Now Twilight felt her blood turn cold, and she gulped nervously. She knew she couldn’t try to lie her way out of this.

“Confess! Confess!! CONFESS!!” shouted Pinkie.

Twilight’s hair came undone and her glasses fell off. Even the others were a bit appalled by Pinkie’s shouting, but Twilight gave in. “All right, follow me.”

She led them all to the girls’ locker room, the girls followed her inside, but Rarity blocked the guys from coming in. She pointed to the sign and said “Uh, uh, uhn… girls only.”

The guys sighed and backed away from the door.

Inside, the Twilight opened her knapsack and Spike popped his head out, but he was surprised to see the other girls. “What are they doing here… uh… I mean… Arf, Arf!”

“It’s okay, Spike…” Twilight said. She sighed heavily “…They know.”

“Say what…?!”

Fluttershy couldn’t help it, and had to take Spike out of the bag and smother him “Oh, you are just so adorable. The resemblance is defiantly uncanny too.”

Spike couldn’t help but wag his tail happily.

The girls all giggled, and then Twilight grabbed her detector.

At that point the girls came out from the locker room and rejoined with the boys. The boys saw the device glowing with its multi-colors.

“So that’s where our powers have been all this time.” said Dyno.

“Why did you do this, Chica?” Myte asked.

Tears of regret formed in Twilight’s eyes “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted to learn about the strange energy coming from your school, and learn more about what goes on here on this island. I didn’t know it was magic, or how it worked.”

The others were still not pleased with her.

“So you decided to just steal our powers and keep them for yourself? Is that it?!” snarled Rainbow.

“No, it’s not like that.” cried Twilight “It just started to absorb energy on its own, but I don’t know how. I’m really sorry.”

Despite her sincerity, the gang was unmoved by the seriousness of the whole ordeal.

That’s when the detector began to go crazy again and caused another rift to appear in the middle of the hallway. “I don’t know how this happens either!” cried Twilight.

“Is there anything you do know?!” snarled Sunset and she grabbed the detector and snapped it shut, thus sealing up the rift.

“That was a portal to United Equestria.” cried Fluttershy.

“United Equestria…?” asked Twilight.

Now the gang was really infuriated.

“Do you have any idea how serious this is?!” growled Starla “You could’ve unleashed horrors and chaos with unthinkable consequences.”

“Hey!” snapped Spike “Don’t talk to her like that. She didn’t know, for that matter even didn’t know.”

“That’s not the point!” snapped Sunset “For someone who seems to be so smart, did you ever think maybe you shouldn’t mess with things you don’t understand?”

By this point Twilight’s tears were falling earnestly “But… I want to understand.”

“But you don’t, and I don’t think you can!” snapped Sunset.

To Twilight, she was acting just like Lightning and the way he talked down to her.

“You don’t really understand, Twilight.”

“That’s not how it works in real life.”

“How many times do we have to go through this?”

“You may watch and learn, but you don’t have any experience.”

Twilight couldn’t hold it in anymore and just ran off crying.

“Twilight, wait!” cried Spike, and he wretched himself out of Fluttershy’s arm and chased after her.

The gang immediately felt remorseful.

“That poor girl.” cried Rarity.

“What she did was very wrong,
But it seems we came on much too strong.” Rhymey added.

Sunset felt the most remorseful “Some friendship games these turned out to be. Even I turned my back on the very thing I was trying to promote.”

Artie walked up to his girlfriend and comforted her “It’s not all your fault. Maybe we weren’t playing our roles any better?”

The others all held their heads down in shame.

“Hey, wait…!” snapped Rainbow “She still has the device with her.”

Everyone gasped.

“We’ve got to get it back from her. It’s the key to getting our powers back.” said Sunset. Then she and the others ran off to find Twilight, and hopefully apologize to her as well…

…unbeknownst to them, Indigo Zap had emerged from the gym and had seen and heard everything, and she grinned very wickedly with a nasty idea flowing through her mind.

She ran off to gather her friends.

Meanwhile, Celesto, Cadance and Lightning were brought into a dark and sinister lair, inside the island volcano. They still could not move an inch, but they could still see and hear everything.

They were placed in a cell with strong bars keeping them inside.

Fratello felt very regretful for what had just done, but he knew he could not defy his master’s orders.

That’s when the master herself spun round slowly in her chair, and stepped out of the shadows.

She appeared to be a middle aged woman, with tanned skin, long black hair, and native paint streaks across her face, but she also have visible mechanical and cybernetic parts. She was just like Fratello, half human, half cyborg. “I am Xaydie. (Zai-E-Da) Welcome to my island base.”

The prisoners could not respond due to their current state.

“Your bodies have been paralyzed by neural field I have conjured with a combination of magic and cybernetics. The field neutralizes the nerve impulses to your voluntary muscles.

…I shall now release you.”

Xaydie’s eyes began to glow, that same buzzing noise was heard, and the prisoners could move again.

Celesto angrily ran up to the bars, and could already feel they were made of a solid titanium alloy; impossible to break with ordinary strength.

Cadance gazed sadly at her brother, fighting back her tears of shock and shame and fear. Her brother was half machine, and working for this woman all this time?! “Fratello… How could you…?”

Fratello bowed his head in regret “I’m… so sorry, Cadance.”

“Who are you? Why have you brought us here?” Lightning said in a demanding tone.

Xaydie snickered and explained everything…

“Three hundred years ago, I was a powerful witch doctor. I served the people of my tribe well; healing their wounds and tending to their needs, until one day my people believed that my magic was growing too great; too evil! They said that I no longer cared for helping others, and that all I desired was more power; enough to have the world all for myself.

…Perhaps they were right.

They performed a powerful exorcism on me, plunging my precious powers into darkness. Rather than ending my life, I was merely banished from the tribe. Many feared my people were far too kind, and that was their mistake.

Being skilled in ancient arts, I managed to slowly regain my power back, and I vowed vengeance on my people as I would proceed in my conquest to control the world.

To retain my life force, I was forced to ultimate infuse my spirit with mechanical pieces, and as time progressed and modern technology advanced, I managed to upgrade my body and increase my powers all the more, combining them with cybernetics to achieve my goals.

With my power growing, I spent the many decades forming this island, and terminating anyone who dared to cross into my territory.

And now, I have all this. This island is in fact a giant resonator. By combining my magic with the technologies I have assembled, I can control the Earth’s climate and weather patterns.”

Her many monitors came on, and the prisoners could see all the strangeness happening, even the snow on Mystic Island.

“You crazy fiend!” snarled Celesto “Don’t you realize what extreme harm you’ll be committing to the planet and the people?”

Xaydie snickered “Yes, and I enjoy every single moment of it. Soon, I will be fully prepared to take my rightful place as the new ruler of this world, and the people will have no choice but to surrender to me and my great power if they value their lives and their planet.”

“Then what’s stopping you?” cried Cadance “And why did you bring my brother into this.”

“Quite simple, actually…” replied Xayide. “There are but two conquests I must fulfil before I can claim the Earth as mine, and the first is my body.

Though I have maintained it well over these few centuries, I cannot continue like this. I desire a new body to transfer my spirit into, to serve as a replacement.”

She glared at Cadance most sinisterly, which instantly told everyone her plot.

Then Xaydie gazed over at Fratello “Your brother and his men sank in a storm that was not of my doing. He was fortunate to have washed ashore on my island, but he was seriously injured and very near death. So I decided to rebuild him into my personal lackey.

I also could see through his mind and found he had a most beautiful sister. So I sent for him to lead you here so that I would take over your body. I had no desire whatsoever to inhabit the body of a dirty male.”

All the men, even Fratello resented that remark dearly.

Now Cadance was livid and upset with Fratello “Fratello, why, how could you do this to me; to us?”

“Cadance, believe me, I really didn’t want to, but I had no choice. You see… there’s a bomb inside me.”

“A Bomb?!” the others all exclaimed.

Xaydie nodded and held up a remote control “Just a little precaution I installed to prevent any deviation. All I have to do is arm it, and then press the little red button, and KaBoom! No man has ever died twice in his life before.”

The others were virtually speechless.

“So, you need a body…” said Lightning “But what else is stopping you?”

Xaydie snickered and turned to face her monitors “This…”

The screens changed, and the images Lightning and Cadance saw left them even more speechless than before.

Images of the past, and the Starfleet gang were battling the Crystalites and the Demonites and the Sirens, even the time “Those are the students of Canterlot High!” cried Cadance.

Then, there was another figure Lightning saw. “What? That… that’s me!”

“No, Lightning.” Celesto said, finally deciding to confess “He looks like you, but he’s really a different creature.”

Lightning could hardly believe this, but he could not deny the images he was seeing. “Putting on a play, huh?” he said in a scolding manner “Holographic costumes, right!”

Cadance was equally as shocked “Uncle, why did you never tell me any of this.”

“How could I? I didn’t want to get anyone else involved and bring danger into their lives. I guess it didn’t do much good as I thought.”

“You guess?!” snapped Lightning “I always knew there was something strange about Mystic Island, but I never in my dizziest dreams pictured anything like this.”

Xaydie turned off the monitors “I’m not taking any chances. I realize that you and you’re little gang of heroes may try and foil my plans, which is why I had Fratello bring you here, Celesto. Surely your friends will be worrying about you and will attempt to come here… and when they do… I will be ready for them.”

Xaydie laughed, and the others felt their bloods turn cold.

“Now I must prepare…” said Xaydie “The ritual which will allow me to take over your body, Cadance. It is long and hard, so… enjoy what time you have left.”

She walked off and Cadance felt ever so frightened, and Celesto and Lightning were outraged. “You horrid little witch!” snarled Celesto “You’ll never get away with this.”

Xaydie’s response was paralyzing him on the spot again, and then she released him after a moment “Let that be a warning to you, I won’t tolerate such insolence. You have only had a mere taste of my power. Continue with your insolence, and your fates will only worsen.”

Then she left through a doorway.

Celesto pounded the bars angrily, while Cadance fell to her knees.

Fratello tried to speak to her, but she was not interested in anything he had to say and turned away from him coldly saying “I don’t know who you are anymore, but you are certainly no brother of mine.”

The others showed him the same resentment, and Fratello knew he deserved this.

“Fratello, come!” Xaydie called.

“Yes, master.” Fratello called back and he sadly left through the doorway.

Cadance could hardly hold it in anymore, and she brought her knees up to her face, and began to weep softly in heartbreak and betrayal.

Lightning and her uncle sat next to her and comforted her. Celesto felt deeply ashamed and responsible for all this, and now he had to figure out a way to make things work better.

“Where is my walking stick?”

“What?” snapped Lightning “How can you be worried about your walking stick at a time like this?”

Celesto didn’t answer him, but found his walking stick in the cell. The one thing Fratello hadn’t confiscated. “I hope this works…” he said.

Cadance and Lightning couldn’t understand, until they watched him twist the crystal atop the stick, and two small antennas appeared out of the sides, and he began to speak into the crystal like a radio.

“Grandruler to submarine. Grandruler to submarine, please answer me.”

Xaydie had not destroyed the sub, nor made any attempts to raid it. Either not noticing it or wanting it kept intact for her plans.

Mary and John answered the radio.

“We can hear you sir.” said Mary.

“Now listen carefully, both of you. We are in a tight bind here. Do exactly as I tell you.”

“We’re listening.” said John.

“I need you to send a special electronic-fax to my wife. Include this message…”

…

The Starfleet gang were still looking for Twilight, but her tracks had already been covered by the snow, not to mention it was rather cold out as well.

“We’re not dressed for this weather.” cried Rarity as she shivered.

“She can’t have gotten far.” said Buddy Rose.

Twilight was all curled up behind the bushes, and weeping miserably. Her tears practically froze to her face.

Spike managed to sniff her out, even in the cold.

“Twilight…?”

She looked down at him. “All I ever wanted was for people to take me more seriously, understand me better.”

Spike tried and tried, but he couldn’t think of anything to say. “You’re right, it is looking pretty bad.”

Twilight buried her face shamefully in her knees.

“Ah, quit moping around.” snapped a voice.

Twilight and Spike looked up and saw Indigo and her friends staring at them, obviously they knew everything.

“You already have the power to demand respect from everyone.” said Sugar Coat She hinted at the detector filled with all the power inside it.

“What are you saying?” asked Twilight.

“Duh, unleash the power.” said Lemon Zest “After all, they used it, now you can use it and really understand it, plus you can give Crystal Prep the recognition and honor it deserves by helping us get even.”

Twilight was positively livid at such a thought “I will not!” she snarled “Besides, I hardly understand how it even works.”

“Oh, really...?” said Sour Sweet and then she snarled “All the more reason to suck it up!”

Indigo stepped in “Think about it like this. You always wanted to go to Everton, become someone really smart and well educated, but why wait. I’ll bet there’s more knowledge and secret packed in that thing you got than ten of the best universities could ever hope to teach.”

Twilight still didn’t know, and the girls broke out into a song trying to convince her.

(Just think of the scenes being rewritten a bit)

By the end of the song, Twilight couldn’t resist the temptation anymore, and she opened her device.

Sunset and the others finally saw her, and Sunset dashed forth to try and prevent her from unleashing the magic, but it was already too late.

The magic was unleashed and began to consume Twilight in a huge ball of light.

“Twilight!” cried Spike.

“HELP… ME…!!” Twilight cried as she vanished fully into the light.

While inside the school, lunch had already ended, but all the students were busy cleaning up the mess they had made from their food fight. Celestia was far from pleased when she had caught them and demanded they stop.

“If you wish for the friendship games to continue, you had better clean this mess up, all of you!” she scolded.

As she watched the students work, Luna came in with a fax she had received form Celesto. “Don’t worry; Shining Armor did not see it.”

Celestia eagerly read the message, telling her about the island, the trap and about Xayide.

Celestia could no longer contain her urges “I have to go out there. They need help. Don’t try and stop me!”

Already realizing there was no arguing it, Luna had no choice but to let her sister go. “Please, be very careful, sister. This Xaydie sounds extremely devious.”

“Devious or not, I won’t let her hurt Cadance, Celesto, or Lightning!”

She ran out the doors heading for the front doors, and ran right past Shining Armor. “Celestia… where are you going…?”

She turned round quickly and shouted “No time to explain!” but before she could dash out the doors, there was a powerful tremor that shook the whole school.

“What was that?” asked Shining Armor.

Then it grew dark outside, and all the lights in the school went out, followed by the booming sounds of someone laughing wickedly.

“That’s sounds like Twilight.” cried Shining Armor.

They rushed outside and what they saw nearly petrified them.

Shining Armor could hardly believe his eyes. “Twily…!”

It looked her but she had taken on the form of a powerful looking demon, and she laughed, which frightened everyone, even Indigo and friends.

“You were right!” Twilight sneered “I didn’t understand magic before, but I DO NOW!!”

She laughed manically while unleashing a glow of magic.

“This is so not good!” cried Pinkie.

“Really, what was your first guess?” said Rainbow.

Act 8: Midnight Sparkle

ACT EIGHT

Twilight laughed wickedly, and everyone shuddered in fear and concern, even the CPA students watching through the gym windows cowered beneath the shadow of their schoolmate. Why even Indigo and her friends were frightened.

“What have we created?” cried Indigo.

“…We? ...We?!” snapped Twilight “I suppose in a way I should thank you. Had you not encouraged me, I never would feel such power.”

Indigo and the others felt everyone gaze furiously at them.

Then, Twilight turned and fired a blast of power at the statue, tearing open another rift.

“It’s United Equestria!” cried Sunset.

Twilight loved what she was seeing and began to open more rifts, but the forces were so strong, the very ground began to crack up.

“Twiliy, stop!” shouted Shining Armor “What are you doing?!”

“Silence!” shouted Twilight and she fired a shot at her own brother. It just missed him, but the force still knocked him back right into Celestia and Luna.

“Sis!” cried Shining Armor.

Twilight clenched her fists “All my life I’ve been socially neglected, outcast by many just because I was different. I tried and I tried to fit in, but nothing was ever good enough for any of you, but now…” she chuckled wickedly “…Now there is a whole other world full of magic, just waiting for me to discover!”

She opened more rifts, which caused the ground to become more and more unstable.

“Twilight, stop!” cried Sunset “Don’t you see you’re destroying this world too?”

“Yeah, so what?” and she zapped at her, and Sunset skillfully back flipped out of the way.

“You okay?” Artie asked.

“I’m fine, but we have to stop this!”

It became clear to everyone that Twilight could be reasoned with; therefore they would have to stop her by force.

“We have no choice. We have to fight her.” said Buddy Rose.

“But we can’t, we don’t have our powers.” cried Pinkie.

That’s when Celestia stood up and realized she had no other choice.

“What are you doing?” cried Shining Armor.

Celestia stepped forth, concentrated hard until the mark of magic glowed on her forehead, and she shouted “…Valkyria!”

Everyone watched as Celestia transformed into the Valkyrie of magic.

Shining Armor never thought his eyes could bulge any wider, and his mouth could hang open any longer.

The CPA students were shocked, and Twilight surprised. “So, you have magic too? I guess I should have scanned more than just the students.”

She grabbed her detector and attempted to steal Celestia’s power, but she raised her shield harmlessly blocking the force.

“What?”

Celestia lowered her shield and drew her sword, “Student or not; I won’t let you steal my power, just as I won’t let you harm this world.”

Twilight growled and glared at Celestia, and the two charged forth.

Meanwhile, though Celesto’s message had been sent, the prisoners began to fear something was wrong.

“They should’ve been here by now.” said Celesto.

“What do we do?” asked Cadance.

Lightning tried and tried with all his strength to pull on the bars, but they were much too strong. “It’s no use.” he panted “It’d take an army to break these.”

Suddenly, they all could hear the soft sound of chirping.

“Krysta…?”

The little robin flew in through a hole in the side of the volcano and right down to the cell.

“Listen, Krysta…” Lightning said, and he pointed at the console “Hit that big green button to open the cell and get us out.”

Krysta responded, and she flew over to the console and stomped hard on the big green button with all her strength, opening the cell.

“It worked!” cried Cadance.

“Well done, Krysta.” said Celesto.

Krysta flew over to Lightning and perched herself on his shoulder.

“Okay, let’s get out of here.” said Lightning “When we get back to the sub we can try and shut this place down.”

As they exited the control room, they walked down a long flight of stairs, but Cadance began to slow down, thinking about Fratello, and how she wasn’t sure if she could really leave him here in Xaydie’s clutches.

“Candace…” Celesto said “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t answer him, and didn’t have to. The look on her face immediately told him what she was thinking. Lightning saw the same thing.

“I know he betrayed us, but he’s still my brother, and… I just can’t leave him here.”

“But Cadance we can’t just go back for him, not yet anyway.” Lightning said.

“He’s right, Cadance.” added Celesto “Once we get back to the sub we can plan and come back armed. Only then may it be easier to get Fratello back, but in our current state we won’t have a chance. We were lucky enough to get out as it was.”

Cadance understood and followed the men further down the tunnel.

It got hotter and hotter as they went deeper, and they soon emerged in room with a large pit leading to the lava in the crater, with nothing else but a narrow walkway to the way out.

“It’s like an oven in here.” groaned Lightning.

“We can’t stay in here too long.” said Celesto “Keep moving.”

With their backs to the wall, they all slowly began to slide along the pathway. Cadance knocked one of the rocks off the path into the lava pit far below.

“Oh!”

“Steady, steady, Cadance.” said her uncle.

They continued to slide on, and they couldn’t help but gazed in the pit. The lava was boiling brightly. Just the sight of it seemed lethal.

They were nearing the exit, when suddenly; Lightning stepped on some round pebbles and began to stumble.

Krysta panicked and flew off of him.

“Whoa… Hey!!”

“Lightning!” cried Celesto. He tried to reach for him, but Lightning had already slipped off the edge.

“NO!!” Cadance screamed.

They both looked over, and believed they saw Lightning’s body splash into the fiery lava below.

Tears formed in Cadance’s eyes “Oh… Lightning…!”

Celesto gazed down in extreme shock and heartbreak “No… Lightning…”

Krysta could hardly believe it herself and looked ready to cry.

“How tragic…” Xaydie hissed.

The others looked ahead and saw her standing right there at the other entrance, and their anger began to rise.

“A fitting punishment for escaping; which is considerably quick and easy compared to what I shall do with the two of you!”

“You…!!” Celesto thundered, and he started to charge at her, but she used her powers to paralyze him and Cadance and Krysta, again.

Xayide snickered softly.

*Breaks Fourth Wall*

“Some people just never learn.”

*Unbroken*

A few moments after they left the walkway, Lightning had not fallen in the lava after all, and was just clinging onto the rough rocky surface. The rocks were scalding to the touch, but he managed to hang on and climb his way back up onto the ledge.

“I’ve gotta try and save them, but I’ll need some supplies.”

And he dashed out the exit and out of the lair to race for the sub.

All across the world, the weather was growing worse.

Some places were now getting too hot. Other places were too cold. A few major cities were taking on excess water due to extremely heavy rainfalls, and other towns and villages were hit by strong winds which began to form giant tornados, forcing many of the people to get into their bunkers, and those who had none to flee for their lives.

Even on Mystic Island it was snowing harder than ever, and the temperature was continuing to slowly drop, this meant bad disaster for many islanders who were not well prepared for such situations, since it never got like this before.

While at Canterlot high, things seemed only to be heating up… battle-wise.

Twilight blasted at Celestia…

She dodged and leapt right up, kicking her hard and sent her stumbling around and around in midair.

“Now’s my chance!” she cried, and she raised her sword up. The blade began to glow brightly.

“Wait, don’t!” cried Spike!

“No, no, it’s okay.” Sunset said “She’s going to try and heal her.”

“HARMONY BEAM!” Celestia shouted, and she unleashed her magical force directly at Twilight.

Twilight shook herself out of her dizziness and saw the beam heading straight for her. “No!” she shouted, and she countered blast with her own magic, sending Celestia’s beam right back at her.

“Oh, no!” she cried, and braced herself as the force struck her and sent her crashing down hard.

“Sister!” cried Luna.

Celestia managed to get onto her feet, but just that one blast really took it out of her.

Twilight laughed loudly “That was so pitiful.”

Celestia growled.

“She can’t win on her own!” cried Fluttershy.

Rhymey agreed and added…

“It’s no wonder she can’t win.
Twilight has all our powers within.
It’s like trying to fight an army to one
I don’t see how this can be done.”

“I think I do…” Starla said and she pointed at Twilight, and the others could see she was still wearing the device around her neck.

“Gotcha, Starla…” said Dyno “If we can just get it from her, maybe we can use it against her.”

“Si, but how can we even get it from her?” asked Myte.

The others could see that getting anywhere near Twilight would be difficult enough, especially with all the rifts continuing to open.

Buddy Rose then looked over his shoulder towards the arena round the back of the school.

“Come with me, I’ve got an idea.”

The others didn’t understand but followed him to the arena.

Twilight charged forth, and Celestia held up her shield blocking her, engaging in a struggle, but of course, it didn’t last long as Twilight had a huge advantage, and shoved her away hard sending her skidding through the snow.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Twilight teased and she laughed.

Luna ran over to her sister and helped her up “Are you alright, sister?”

“Yes, but it’s no use, she’s too strong for me to handle alone.”

Twilight hissed and clenched her fists. “I’ve never felt such power before. I want more… MORE!!”

She continued to open more rifts to United Equestria. Now there were so many holes that the ground began to give way, right beneath people’s feet.

“Jump!” shouted Sugar Coat.

She and her friends jumped out of the way before falling through, but more and more of the ground was giving way, and Indigo fell through, just barely grabbing onto the edge, with all her friends handing onto her and each other in a chain.

“Help! Help us!” shouted Indigo.

The adults tried to rush over and save them but got cornered by more holes. Celestia tried to rush over…

“Oh, no you don’t!” snarled Twilight and she blasted at her sending her back hard.

“I’m… slipping…!” cried Indigo!

“Don’t… don’t let go!” shouted Lemon Zest.

Suddenly, a rope came at them “Grab it!” shouted Buddy Rose. The girls grabbed it quickly, and Buddy pulled very hard, actually pulling them all up, much to their surprise. He didn’t have any powers yet it was like he had the strength of ten.

“…CHARGE!!” The others shouted as they came rushing in armed with simple tools and items from the games.

Twilight snarled angrily and fired multiple shots at them all, but they all just evaded every shot, zipping out of the way, and kept on running forward.

Applejack whirled her lasso around and around and snared Twilight’s arms together. “Got’cha!”

Twilight merely smirked and said “I can still zap you with my eyes!” and she unleashed more projectiles, but Rhymey leapt in with his sword and began to skill repel each shot.

“What?!” snapped Twilight “How is this possible?”

The others didn’t answer and just continued to go at her.

Starla armed her bow, and fired right past her. “Ha, you missed!” but Starla grinned and retorted “I wasn’t aiming for you.”

The arrow bank shot off the walls and then zipped past Twilight, cutting the string on the device round her neck. It started to fall “No!” shouted Twilight.

She finally freed her hands from he rope and reached down to catch it the device, but Artie came rushing in and pole vaulted right up at her and snatched the device.

“Pinkie! Rarity…!” Artie shouted and he pitched the device right at the girls as they came skating by on roller-blades.

Twilight was growing furious and chased after her, but as she got near the girls, Pinkie tossed the device over to Rainbow as rode by on her motorbike “Got it!”

“Not for long!” snarled Twilight and she fired multiple shots as she chased after Rainbow.

Rainbow steered her bike as best she could, but the snow and ice made it hard to concentrate and she began to slide and dropped the device.

“It’s mine!” snarled Twilight.

“Not today!” said the twins as they snatched it and ran off with it.

“You will suffer for this!” shouted Twilight as she chased after the boys, and as she gained on them, they split up and ran in opposite directions. Twilight chased after Dyno cornering him, but much to her chagrin.

“Sorry, I don’t have it.”

Twilight turned and saw Myte, with the device, running for Sunset. “Catch, Chica!”

Sunset rushed forth to catch it.

“No!!” shouted Twilight, and using her magic, she levitated the device in midair.

“Oh, no!” cried Sunset.

“Oh, yes!” hissed Twilight, but just as the device was inches away from her, Fluttershy threw Spike up and he caught the device in his teeth and landed near Sunset.

“This is for your own good, Twilight.” he said “I want you back to normal.”

Twilight blinked in shock “Spike…?”

Sunset grabbed the device saying “He’s right, Twilight.” and she zapped her with the device gaining some of her power back, enough to turn into her Shining Angel form, right in front of everyone’s eyes.

“I understand how you feel. I was like you once. You feel like you can have everything you ever wanted, but it’s not the right way. You’ll still be alone, even with all that power because you’re using it wrongly.”

“Ha!” scoffed Twilight “Don’t try to fool me with such pathetic lies.”

“It’s no lie!” protested Sunset “Having power is one thing, but what you use it for is quite another, and if you won’t listen to just me, then maybe you’ll listen to us all.”

With her powers practically restored, she used her pure magic to restore the powers of all her friends, and they all began to transform and shout out their elements and powers.

Starla: “Power of Space!”

Buddy Rose: “Power of Flora!”

Artie: “Power of Art!”

Rhymey: “Let’s begin… Power of Wind!”

Dyno & Myte: “Power of Fire!”

The girls also transformed into their Valkyrie forms, and Celestia’s power was restored a bit.

Celestia: “Magic!”

Rarity: “Generosity!”

Rainbow Dash: “Loyalty!”

Pinkie Pie: “Laughter!”

Fluttershy: “Kindess!”

Applejack: “Honesty!”

All the heroes stood together, and the CPA students and Shining Armor could barely believe what they saw, not even Spike “Wow. This is kinda cool.”

Twilight screeched in extreme fury “I’ll show you what real power is!” She summoned up all the power she could.

“Everyone ready?” cried Sunset.

All her friends nodded and stood together until their bodies were glowing with their powerful magic.

“Take this!” shouted Twilight, and she unleashed a huge magical burst.

“Now!” shouted Sunset, and she and all the others combined their energies into a powerful blast to counter her shot. The two forces met and seemed equal in strength.

“Twilight!” cried Spike.

She gazed down at him and looked right into his sad little eyes. Right then and there she began to realize her error of her ways. She let down her guard and let the pure magic consume her.

“Twiliy!” cried Shining Armor. He tried to rush in, but Luna held him back “But Twily, no… they can’t!!”

There was a huge flash of light, and when it faded, all the rifts were sealed up, the portal was restored to normal, the gang got all their magic back, and Twilight…

Everyone else thought she was gone, and that the team had destroyed her.

“We did not destroy her.” said Sunset “We healed her.”

Sure enough, Twilight lay on the ground, fully back to normal.

She sat up right rubbing her eyes and felt around for her glasses; feeling them right in front of her.

“…Twilight!” Spike cried, and he dashed over to her, licking her face. She hugged her little dog warmly, and then her brother came over and hugged her too. “I thought you were long gone, sis.”

Sunset approached Twilight and smiled down at her.

“Why? Why did you help me, after all I’ve done?”

Sunset shook her head playfully “I told you, I was like you once, and I made some mistakes, but I learned from them, and others had the power to believe in me, and all were willing to forgive and let me have another chance.”

The others all nodded respectfully.

The CPA students were really at a loss for words, and Buddy Rose turned to face them “I think you all should learn something from this, and how not to judge others so harshly.”

The students, now fully aware that the Starfleet gang were not truly using magic during the games and that it was all natural skill, were inclined to make up for their nasty attitudes, as well as having convinced Twilight to unleash the magic that could have doomed them all.

Twilight felt like crying. “I am so sorry for everything I’ve done, but I didn’t mean it.”

“We know you are.” said Sunset, and held her hand “But if you truly are sorry, you will be forgiven and accepted by all.”

Twilight smiled.

“Oh, my goodness!” Celestia cried. In all the stress and the battle, she had completely forgotten “Celesto’s in danger.”

Now that the secret was out, and that the gang had their powers back, she shared the information she received form her husband, and they all were shocked beyond imagination.

“Cadance is with them?!” cried Shining Armor “And some crazy voodoo lady’s going to try and take her body…?!”

“Not if we can help it!” said Starla.

Celestia still had the map showing the way to the island.

Sunset had an idea and picked up Twilight’s detector. “I know you don’t know how this works, and I’m sure either, I’m not even sure this is smart; but come with us.”

“Me…?!”

Even the others were shocked and confused.

“I have an idea.” Sunset said.

Not wanting to waste time arguing, they all decided to just head off.

“Here we go…” said Sunset, and she used her magic to levitate Twilight up into the air, much to her fright but later astonishment. “This is… kinda neat.”

Then they flew off along with the others, flying across the ocean faster than a squad of planes.

Act 9: Amends

ACT NINE

Xaydie brought her prisoners in a big empty room aside from her control ops. It had to be big for the big ritual she was going to perform and transfer her spirit into Cadance.

Cadance, still paralyzed, was tied up and placed in a tub filled with green liquid and sacred leaves and powder for the ritual, altogether was very rancid to smell. She could hardly breathe well.

Xaydie then released her from the paralysis, and as expected, Cadance felt like gagging by the scent of the horrible odors.

“Don’t worry, it’ll all be over soon.” said Xaydie “I released you from the paralysis so that I can move freely when I inhabit your body. Then Fratello will untie me so that I may proceed with my plot to dominate the world.”

Fratello looked more regretful than ever.

“Fratello, please… don’t do this!” Cadance groaned.

Fratello clenched his fists and really felt like helping her.

“You stay where you are and guard the others.” snarled Xaydie, and she held up the remote for the bomb, enforcing her threat.

Fratello nodded and remained at his post watching over Celesto and Krysta perched on his shoulder. Though they were both still paralyzed, they were unlikely to cause any trouble.

Celesto couldn’t even move his mouth to speak, but he could still see and hear well enough, and his insides were going crazy with worry for Cadance, and he could do nothing. Worse than that, he was still morbidly upset over Lightning’s supposed death.

“It is time…” hissed Xaydie.

She laid herself on a solid stone bed also covered in sacred leaves and with ritual beads.

“This old body of mine has worn and served its purpose for far too long. I can hardly wait to feel what it’s like to be young again.”

Cadance struggled to breathe but was losing strength fast due to lack of fresh air. “What’s going to happen to me? I don’t think I’ll take kindly to having you in my body.”

Xaydie snickered “Oh, you won’t have to worry about any of that. Once the ritual is complete, your spirit will be nothing more than a wandering soul.”

Cadance gasped.

“That’s right; a wandering spirit, doomed to roam the Earth, languishing unloved, unnoticed, and with hardly any hopes of even finding peace. Perhaps if you are lucky enough I will consider making you a mechanical body you can inhabit, just like your brother.”

Cadance gazed over at Fratello, and he gazed frightfully back at her.

Xaydie then lay flat on the bed. “Let’s begin.” She lay flat on her back, closed her eyes and held her hands together with a string of voodoo beads between them, and she began to chant her ancient spells.

Winds began to pick up right in the very room itself, and Cadance could feel herself getting lightheaded.

Suddenly, as the ritual seemed to be working…

BANG!! A gun fired, disturbing Xaydie’s concentrating. “What?!” she snarled as she looked up.

There stood Lightning, armed with supplies from the sub; a gun, a knife, rope, and a few grenades. “Ceremony’s over, Xaydie!” he snarled.

“Lightning!” cried Cadance.

Celesto and Krysta were overjoyed as well, though they couldn’t move, but Xaydie was speechless on how Lightning survived his fall.

“I’m not so easy to get rid of.” Lightning said.

Xaydie growled, and thought it was tempting for her to fight Lightning herself, she wanted to get the ritual completed, which meant she couldn’t try to paralyze him, having to keep her power leveled.

“Get him!” she shouted at Fratello.

“Yes master.”

He turned to face Lightning fiercely. “I’m sorry, Lightning, but I have my orders.”

“Fratello you don’t have to do this.” Lightning said, but Fratello lunged at him. Lightning swerved to dodge him, but was caught off guard and Fratello punched him hard, knocking him off his feet, and being part machine, Fratello was much stronger that average.

“Whoa!” Lightning groaned, as he rubbed his chest. He got up onto to his feet but made no attempt to shoot Fratello, not wishing to kill him for Cadance’s sake, not to mention risking blowing the bomb inside him.

Fratello lunged at him again, and he rolled out of the way.

“Fratello, I don’t want to fight you.”

“Oh, and you think I want to?” cried Fratello “I have no choice, can’t you see that.” He punched hard, and Lightning ducked causing his first to slam clean through the rock wall and trapping him.

“You’re wrong, you don’t have to. We can try and help you.”

“STOP IT!” shouted Fratello, and he broke himself free and swiftly kicked Lightning hard, into the control room, and his gun dropped out of its holster. It then became of a struggle to get at it. The two men fought brutally, but Fratello had the upper-hand, and got the gun.

Lightning stood with his back at the console, and Fratello holding him at gunpoint.

Meanwhile, the team had just braved through Xaydie’s storm surrounding the island. The winds were rough, the rain was rough. Rarity never thought they’d get through it. She also never thought her hair would ever recover from such an ordeal.

“Never mind that… look on ahead.” said Celestia.

“That must be the island.” said Sunset.

“We made it!” cried Pinkie.

“No, not yet we haven’t.” said Dyno.

“We still have to find the others.” said Myte.

Suddenly, those wearing visors could detect strong energy forces coming from the volcano.

“I think we found them.” said Artie.

“Let’s go!” shouted Sunset “Hang on, Twilight.”

“Right!” cried Twilight, and she held on tight as she, Sunset and the others flew closer in.

While all this was happening, Xaydie was busy finishing the ritual, and now Cadance was starting to feel her life-force weakening, and did it hurt…

…so much she couldn’t help but scream!

“You hear that!” snapped Lightning “You’re sister’s going to die because of you.”

“Shut up!” shouted Fratello “Just shut up! I’m ashamed enough as it is!”

“You don’t have to be!” shouted Lightning “You can help me save her. We can stop Xaydie!”

“She’ll blow me up! I died once before; I really don’t want to go through that again.”

“Not even for your own sister?”

“Huh…?”

“I know you may be part robot, but you still have the emotions of a human, and Xaydie can’t make you forget those.”

Fratello struggled with his emotions, finding it difficult to maintain his stance, giving Lightning the chance to tackle him to the ground, causing him to accidently pull the trigger, shooting the console.

Sparks began to fly as the machine began to go crazy.

The entire lair began to rumble, and Xaydie’s ritual was disturbed once again. “No!” she growled “I was so close!”

Cadance was very weak from all the pain she had endured, but was still in control of her own body, and with the machine’s disruption, the paralysis field was neutralized, so Celesto and Krysta were set free.

“That’s much better.” he groaned as he stretched himself free.

Xaydie saw no choice but to abandon her ritual and stand to fight by herself, and she would start by detonating Fratello.

She grabbed her remote control “That worthless scrapheap. I give him one simple task and he botches it up. Now, he will pay!”

“Oh, no you don’t!” shouted Celetso as he rushed forth, tackling her to the ground, causing her to drop the remote.

“Don’t toy with me!” Xaydie snarled as she shoved him off of her and reached for the remote, only for Krysta to snatch it and fly off with it.

“I don’t think so.” Xaydie hissed, and then she held her hand out, causing Krysta to stop in midair. She wasn’t paralyzed, but she couldn’t seem to fly forward or anywhere.

Celesto tried to rush her, but she used the same telekinetic force to lift him off the ground too.

“I told you, you hadn’t seen my full power, some of which is just natural magic.”

She then flung Celesto hard into the rock wall, knocking him unconscious, and then made Krysta come closer to her. “When I’ve finished, little birdy, perhaps I’ll have you for a victory feast!”

Lightning peeked into the room, and saw this. He pulled the pin out of one of his grenades and tossed in the room, away from everyone.

BOOM! The grenade exploded, causing the room to shake, and broke Xaydie’s eye contact, releasing Krysta from her power.

She raced over to Lightning and gave him the remote, but Xaydie then used her magical force to yank the pins out of Lightning’s other grenades. “Ah!” cried Lightning and he fussed about and pulled off his belt, and threw it off just in time as the bombs exploded, but forced him back hard and the remote went sailing upward.

Xaydie used her powers to steady it in midair and bring it into her grasp again. “Yes!” she shouted, but as she rejoiced.

BANG!! Fratello came in, still holding Lightning’s gun and shot the remote perfectly, destroy it.

“Fratello!”

He gazed at her angrily and declared “I’m done with you!”

Xaydie growled angrily, but suddenly, there was a loud crash, and the walls burst wide open.

When the dust cleared, there stood the team, with Sunset and Twilight at the head.

“Wow…” Lightning exclaimed softly as he gazed at them all in their hero forms. Starla gazed back at him and nodded.

“Surrender, Xaydie!” snarled Sunset “We have you completely outnumbered.”

Xaydie, as outraged as she was, she was laughing evilly.

“Did I miss the joke here?” asked Rainbow.

“You may have me outnumbered…” hissed Xaydie “But we’ll see who has who outmatched!” She laughed wicked and began to expand and transform; into a giant mechanical version of herself.

“Uh… guys…!” cried Twilight “…Tell me one of you has an idea.”

“I have one…” snarled Xaydie “Just sit back and accept your eternal reward!” She prepared to fire a huge zap from her laser eyes.

Sunset quickly conjured a huge barrier to shield them all, and while it did, the force sent all the heroes flying out through the hole, but Twilight was hanging on for dear life onto the ledge.

Xaydie followed the heroes outside and eyed down at them all. “So, you’re the mighty Starfleet, I’ve heard of. I expected you to be a lot tougher than this.”

The team stood tall and brave, but the truth was, they weren’t feeling a-hundred percent and neither were their powers due to Twilight using them up during the first battle, and the long trip to the island while braving the storm.

Nevertheless, they were not willing to give up and looked ready to brawl. “We’ll take you on.” sneered Sunset “And we won’t give up until we’re taken our last breaths.”

The others all nodded in agreement.

“Such spirit, but foolish as well.” sneered Xaydie, she fired her lasers, and the team scattered about, and unleashed their magical blasts on her, slightly damaging her, but hardly enough to really harm her.

“My turn!” snarled Xaydie, and she used her telekinesis to try and levitate them all, only to find they were immune to her spells; their own magic shielded them.

As the battle continued…

Twilight felt herself slipping from the ledge, and would have fallen to her doom had Lightning not rushed in and helped her up, but he was very surprised and asked. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ll explain later… if there even is a later.”

They untied Cadance and got her out of the tub.

She panted stressfully trying to catch her breath.

“Are you okay?” Twilight asked.

Cadance nodded while still panting.

Twilight was relieved but also surprised to see that Fratello was alive after all, and though he didn’t look much like a robot on the surface, she knew what she had been told.

The lair began to shake and quiver more.

“I think the battles getting worse out there.” cried Twilight.

“No!” snapped Fratello “It’s the island itself!” He raced back to the control console, which was now seriously malfunctioning. “The main reactor’s going haywire! The weather patterns are going way out of control!”

Indeed, the weather was getting worse, all over the entire world, typhoons, hurricanes, and tornados, blizzards…why it was storm to end all storms, and growing worse by the minute.

It was getting so out of control that the Earth’s magnetic field was growing unstable, and the structure of Earth itself was beginning to weaken.

If nothing was done to end the storms soon, the Earth would literally fall apart!

Lightning tried the controls, but they were all fried. “It’s no good. We’d have to destroy the main reactor itself, but I can’t see how.”

Twilight then had an idea, and held her device up in the air.

“What are you doing?” asked Cadance.

“I’ll try and absorb the magic.” replied Twilight, but unfortunately, for even more unexplainable reasons, the device could only absorb pure magical energy. The machine energy was not the same type, and therefore could not be absorbed.

“It didn’t work!” cried Twilight. “I don’t know what else to try!”

Fratello looked down at his body, and put his hand over his chest. “There is one way that’ll work.”

Everyone gazed at him, and he gazed back at them; preferably at Cadance.

“I’ll throw myself into the lava crater, which will detonate the bomb in my body. The force will be strong enough to cause a volcanic erupting, which will destroy this entire island and the reactor as well.”

“But… Fratello.” cried Cadance.

“No! No! You can’t!” cried Twilight.

Lightning gazed deeply at Fratello, obviously not wanting him to go through with it as well, but even he could see there was no other way. The bomb was built into Fratello and obviously could not be removed so simply, and it was too dangerous to even try, plus there wasn’t even any time, or time even to get supplies from the sub get back and set everything up and clear out in time.

…The reactor had to be destroyed fast!

“I have to do this…” Fratello said.

Tears were flowing down Cadance’s eyes. “No… no you don’t! There’s got to be another way!”

“You can’t just kill yourself!” cried Twilight.

Fratello looked deeply at his sister, as if he wanted to cry himself, but he still could shed no tears, and he aimed his fist at her and Twilight.

“What are you doing?” asked Cadance.

“Goodbye sis. I love you, and I’m sorry!”

“Brother!”

Suddenly, Frattello shot Cadance and Twilight in the necks with stun darts, the very ones he had used before, and the girls fell unconscious.

Celesto awoke from his knockout, and entered the control room “What’s going here?”

“No time to explain.” said Lightning as he scooped up Twilight in his arms “Help me get them to the sub!”

Celesto didn’t understand, but he scooped up Cadance, and rather than going the regular way, Fratello lead them back into the ritual room where there was a secret emergency exit. “Slide down this chute, it will take you outside.”

Celesto and went first with Cadance. Krysta flew down after them, and just before Lightning went down with Twilight, he took a moment to gaze at Fratello one last time “You sure you want to go through with this?”

Fratello nodded sadly. “I betrayed all of you, and worse than that I betrayed Cadance, but I would gladly die for her if it meant saving her. You helped me remember that.”

Lightning smiled sadly yet proudly at Fratello and shook his hand.

There was another huge tremor.

“Go, now!” cried Fratello.

Lightning nodded and slid with Twilight down the chute.

Fratello felt very upset, and held his hands against the cold walls and hang his head low.

Lightning landed at the bottom of the chute outside where Celesto was waiting. “Where’s Fratello?” he asked.

Lightning gazed grimly at him and replied “He’s not coming with us. He had something… very important to do.”

Celesto finally realized what was happening, and while this did strike him heavily with grief, there was no time to waste. The men rushed to get the unconscious ladies to the boats, but as they prepared to head off to the sub, Lightning could see the giant Xaydie on the other side of the island, still battling with the others and the others weren’t holding out very well due to their weakened states.

Then he spotted Twilight’s device and remembering what she tried to do in the lair, he got an idea.

He grabbed the device and leapt out of the boat.

“Lightning, where are you going?” shouted Celesto.

“Just get to the sub!” Lightning shouted as he ran towards the danger zone.

Xaydie swung her huge arm, slamming many of the fighters like baseballs, and she fired her beams at the others, creating a huge explosion. The fighters managed to evade it, but were knocked all about by the huge force.

All of them felt pretty weak, and their powers were fading fast.

Xaydie laughed wickedly “Pitiful creatures! You are ranked amateurs to one whom has fought for centuries!”

Everyone barely managed to get up onto their feet and huddled together.

“This is nuts!” groaned Buddy Rose.

“We can’t go on like this much longer.” cried Rarity.

“I really wish Lightning was here.” Sunset murmured, and by that she meant the magical Lightning Dawn and his Enticorn powers.

Xaydie stomped towards the helpless team, and then raised her hand and gave it a huge swing, creating a large air current which separated the gang into two groups, the guys from the girls.

“What just happened?” cried Pinkie.

“She split us up.” said Artie.

Xaydie snickered and gazed down at the girls “Perhaps I shall take one of your bodies instead. Imagine the immense power I get combining your magic with mine, or better yet, I can mold all your bodies together into a super body.”

Everyone shuddered at such a thought.

Xaydie then gazed at the guys “And as for you…I shall destroy you and reconstruct you all into my obedient robot army. I will be totally unstoppable as I conquer the world!”

She powered up her lasers, ready to fire.

“NO!!” screamed Flutteshy.

“DON’T DO IT!!” shouted Celestia.

The guys braced themselves for what seemed to be the kill, when suddenly, Xaydie roared and screamed as her body began to lose power.

The others looked on and saw Lightning standing on a huge rock, holding Twilight’s device, and using it to absorb the natural magic from Xaydie.

“Ye-haw! Pour it on, boy!” Applejack cheered.

“Keep it up, Lightning.” cried Starla.

“I’ll… try!!” shouted Lightning.

“Stop! Release me!” shouted Xaydie, but Lightning continued to absorb more power causing Xaydie to shrink in size and grow weaker by the second.

Finally, the device had absorbed so much energy; it exploded, forcing Lightning off the rock and onto the sand.

“Lightning!” cried Starla.

“I’m okay!” Lightning called, and he pointed at Xaydie, whom was now half her size and extremely weak having lost her powers, and her mechanical body began to malfunction due to the imbalance of powers.

“Curse you! Curse you all!!” she screeched.

“Now’s your chance! Get her!” shouted Lightning.

“Right, come on, everyone!” cried Sunset.

The gang all huddled together and combined every bit of magic they could spare into a powerful force of energy and fired it straight at Xaydie, hitting her hard and sent her flying up, up, and far, far out over the ocean, right into the savage storms surrounding the island.

“I’M GOING TO GET YOU ALL!!” she hollered at them, but the metal in her body began to attract the lightning all around, which struck her hard…

“No…!! NOOOOOOOOO…!!!”

KAPOW!!

…She was gone!

“WE DID IT!!” cried Sunset, and all the others began to cheer along with her, but the moment was broken as the island began to quiver, and the storms finally hit the island.

Lightning got up onto his feet “We’ve got to get out here!”

Everyone agreed and quickly flew off for the sub, far, far away. Starla flew over to Lightning and took his hand. “Hold on tight!” she told him, and she flew off with him to catch up to the others.

Lightning couldn’t help but gaze back at the volcano. “Thanks, Fratello!”

The sea was getting rough and the sub was getting tossed about, but everyone managed to get aboard safely just as the last of their powers gave out, and they all de-energized into their normal clothes.

“Quick, take us out of here!” shouted Celesto.

Mary and John nodded and started the engines.

“Full throttle!” cried Mary.

“Dive-Dive-Dive!” added John “Everybody hang on tight!”

Everyone braced themselves tight as the sub began to steeply dive beneath the waves, and was still getting thrown and tossed about by the savage water currents.

“Come on, Fratello!” cried Lightning “Do it now!”

(This music: Stop at 2:35)

Fratello, now know that everyone was safely off the island, stood above the lava crater was ready for his big jump.

He took a few seconds to think back upon his life, and how much his family and his friends meant to them. “This is for you, Cadance!”

He looked down into the pit, and roared loud as he leapt off the edge, down, down into the lava.

Upon contact, the bomb inside him exploded in a huge BAM, trigging the eruption of the volcano, and caused the main reactor to explode in one might huge BOOM!!

The shockwaves caused a small series of tidal waves that hit the sub beneath the waters, rocking it all over the place, and everyone stumbled about inside.

The entire volcano was destroyed and the lava spread out all over the island, melt it all into chunks of rock that sank beneath the waves.

With the destruction of the reactor, the weather patterns receded, causing all the big storms to break up and all the weather patterns across the world to slowly return to normal, restoring the natural balance.

The waters calmed down and the sub surfaced.

Everyone gazed out the portholes at where the island once stood.

Cadance and Twilight awoke from their knockout and looked out as well. Tears spread down Cadance’s face as she gazed over at the island. “Goodbye, Fratello…” she cried ever so softly “…I forgive you.”

She bowed her head and softly let out her emotions.

“Oh, Cadance!” cried Celestia, and she held her niece tightly “I’m so sorry, dear.”

Everyone felt ever so bad and sorry for Cadance, especially Twilight and Lightning.

Celesto sighed sadly as he sat down. “Let’s go home.”

As the sub headed further out to sea, everyone continued to gaze at the island sight until the very last moment.

Final Act: Friendly Endings

FINAL ACT

Mystic Island was back to normal. The snow was all melted and tropical warmth return.

The gang decided not to tell anyone else of what happened, not wanting to cause more worry and more panic, and Celesto was again, forced to pay all the news stations and reporters on the island into secrecy, for everyone’s sake.

Cadance knew she could never really get over the death of her brother, but it was now somewhat comforting to know he died a hero rather than a traitor. She kept a large picture of him in her office at Crystal Prep, with a wreath of flowers around it as a monument, and she had her own private service for his memorial, just by herself.

As for the Friendship Games, they were all called off. Since everyone had had quite enough excitement for one weekend. Plus, Indigo finally confessed that she and her friends had cheated during the games, resulting in disqualification. So Canterlot High was awarded victory be default.

But Indigo, her friends, and all the CPA students promised never to act the way they had again. “We’ll just train to get better, and maybe next year we’ll win fair and square.” Indigo said.

Her friends agreed and shook hands politely with everyone before hopping on their busses to head home.

Shining Armor was still amazed by all this.

“So, let me see if I get this right.” he said, and he gazed at Sunset “You’re an alien pony from an alternate dimension connected to ours with super powers, and the rest of you have powers just like hers which you use to fight bad guys?”

“That’s about it.” said Sunset. The others all nodded.

Shining armor hesitated for a moment, but then remarked “…Awesome.”

As for Twilight, her detector was all busted beyond repair. She felt it was for the best after all the trouble it caused.

Lightning approached her, and he was smiling at her, quite possible for the first time. “If it weren’t for you, we all couldn’t have made it out of there alive. I’m proud of you, Twilight.”

She smiled at him.

“But don’t think this means I don’t expect you not to write that paper.”

She giggled and said “I think I can actually ten papers of it now. I finally understand what you’ve been telling me, about war and how not all things are simple.”

She was referring to how she wished Fratello could have been saved, but it all had to be done to save everyone and everything; one life against many.

“I couldn’t agree more…” said a voice.

Everyone turned towards the statue, which was glowing, and there he appeared!

“Lightning!” cried Sunset.

“It’s really you.” added Sunset.

Twilight and Spike were speechless and kept gazing back and forth at the two men.

“Unbelievable…!” said normal Lightning, and he walked in closer “You look just like me.”

Super Lightning gazed at his human counterpart and extended his hand. Normal Lightning shook it nervously. “I never thought we’d ever meet.”

“Dang it, guy, why are you here?” asked Applejack.

“Once the portal repaired on both ends I came here as fast as I could, but from the looks of things, I guess you have it all taken care of. Well done, everyone.”

He approached Sunset “And as for you…” he said, and he gave her a large medal and new badge. “Congratulations, Major Sunset Shimmer.”

She could hardly believe her ears “Major, me?”

He nodded at her “You’ve earned it.”

She smiled thankfully at him. “Thank you sir.”

They saluted to one another.

Super Lightning took a good long look at Twilight. She reminded him a lot of Pony Twilight, whom he missed every day, and also he remembered when he interacted with this Twilight on his first visit to the human world. “It’s strange, and somewhat comforting to see you again. Even though you don’t remember me.”

Twilight bowed her head shamefully. “I don’t remember, and I don’t think I ever will. I don’t even know what I’m going to do now. I may have learned a lot, but there’s still so much I have to learn yet, and so much I want to discover. All I know is, I’m never going to learn it if I keep to myself all the time.”

“Does that mean you’re not going to go to Everton?” Cadance asked as she and all the others came up to her. “Are you going to stay at Crystal Prep?”

“Well…” Twilight contemplated “These students and people here at Canterlot High seem to know more and more about friendship and things I’d like to study. I don’t suppose that… maybe…”

“That you’d like to transfer here…?” said Celestia.

“I think that would be a marvellous idea.” said Luna.

Celetso nodded in agreement. “You were a student here once, Twilight, and though you don’t remember, perhaps its best you don’t. You can start anew here.” he gazed at all the others “And I know I can trust all of you to make her feel welcome.”

“You bet we can.” said Pinkie.

“Oh, it would be so wonderful.” added Fluttershy.

“There are lots we can share and do
We’d love to show it all to you.” said Rhymey.

Twilight felt so touched and wiped a couple of tears from her eyes, and she shared a big group hug with her new friends.

“Well, I better go.” said Super Lightning “I have my own world to look after, but if you all need me, you know what to do.”

They all nodded.

He saluted to everyone, and they saluted back, and he shook hands with his human counterpart again. “Good luck.”

“Yeah… you too.”

Super Lightning then marched to the portal and vanished.

Krysta, who was sitting on the statue got hit by some of the sparkles.

“Wow, neat stuff.” she said, and then she gasped she realized she could now talk. Lightning was shocked too, as we’re the others.

“Oh, brother. Here we go again.” Spike groaned.

Everyone decided to have a picnic lunch, to celebrate their victory and welcoming Twilight into school, as well as Sunset’s new promotion.

“I like this…” she said, admiring her new badge “Solid silver too.”

“Really shows off your eyes.” Artie as.

Their eyes met, and she smiled lovingly at him. They shared a kiss.

Fluttershy and Rhymey saw it, and then gazed at each other, and she leaned softly into his arms.

The others all thought the two couples were sweet, so did Lightning.

He still would remain at Crystal Prep, feeling those students would need him more, but he promised to come back every now and then, especially if they ever needed a substitute teacher, and he still intended to continue to help others in need, but right now…

“Come on, Krysta. It’s time we were on our way too.”

Krysta flew onto his shoulder. “Ready.”

“Wait…” cried Twilight “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know… a lot’s happened over these past few days, and I realize that even I still can learn a lot. Right now, I just need some time to think.”

He hopped on his new motorbike, and shot everyone a playful wink, but mostly gazing at Starla. “Ciao.” and he rode off.

While Starla sat where she was with a queer look on her face.

“Hey, you’re blushing.” Rainbow teased.

“Huh…me? No, I’m not.”

“Yes you were.” teased Dyno.

“You so were, chica.” added Myte.

“Ah, romance…” said Rarity “Even if it is a student to a teacher.”

She giggled and laughed, and Starla stuffed a bread roll into her mouth, making everyone laugh at her.

As for Lightning, he and Krysta continued to ride off as Lightning's Adventure Theme played

(Bike rides up and off a ramp)

*Scene Freezes*

*Fade Out*

MY BRAVE PONY
STARFLEET HUMANS

STARFLEET EVENTS

*Credits Roll*

Author's Note

Ahhh... that was invigorating. Now, back to work to make the ponies and their humans squirm more. An Anti-Brony's job is never done. Heh-Heh-Heh!