Starfleet Season 2 (Rewrite)
Episode 16: Princess Step-Up
Previous ChapterNext ChapterSapphire and her pokemon were walking through New Ponyville one morning which was surprising empty. Not a soul or pony was outside. Not one. "Where is everybody?" she asked herself. She went back to the castle and opened to door to a scary sight. All of her friends were in the castle, looking sick. Their noses were red, their manes were plastered on thier faces cause of the sweat, they were coughing and they could barely stand up. "Oh my god!" she cried and rushed over to them. "What happened to you guys?"
They tried to explain but they all started coughing and sneezing until Rainbow managed to croack out, "Ponyflux."
"Ponyflux?" Sapphire had heard of this before. Ponyflux was a disease that is similar to the flu, but much worse
Sapphire went to New Ponyville Hospital but before she could go in she was stopped by Dr. Penny, "Sorry Sapphire. The hospital has reached max capacity and we don't have any more rooms available."
"Oh my." Sapphire whimpered. "Looks like it's up to me to care for Lightning and the others." She went back to the castle and this time found more ponies in the castle, but they were no ordinary ponies. "Grand Ruler, Queen Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor?! You too?!" she cried in shock, even the pokemon were shocked, but it was true. The royal family had the same symptoms as Lightning and the others. And she guessed that the New Canterlot and New Crystal Empire's hospitals were filled up too.
"So now I have to care for seventeen ponies.... by myself."
"Not you're not."
"Huh?" Sapphire looked at Dusk, Midnight and Sunrise. They all had determined looks on their faces as well as Ampharos, Noctowl, Zwellous and Dragonair. "You guys will help me take care of them?" she questioned.
The pokemon nodded "Alright then. Looks like I have no choice." Sapphire too everyone to one of her largest guest room and put together sixteen more beds. After everyone got into bed, Sapphire started by taking their temperatures. "Looks like everyone's averaging 103.2 fever. Wow...this Ponyflux sure is bad news," she said as he put all the thermometers away, "Listen up everyone! Don't get out of bed ok? Rest is the most important thing you all can do now. Just relax and let me take care of everything."
Everyone gave her a weak smile and Ampharos and Dragonair came in with multiple ice packs to help bring down their fevers. After that, Sapphire looked through all her books to see if there was any cure for Ponyflux.. sadly, the books didn't hold any information except for the symptoms. "Sigh... nothing. Looks like I'll have to give regular cold medicine. That does work for the flu so it should work with the Ponyflux too." Sapphire went into the bathroom and found the cold medicine bottle. "... One bottle for seventeen sick ponies... not good. Luckily, I have my cloning spell." She lit her horn and used her magic to make ten more bottles of the medicine. "Perfect, now time to give them some medicine." Sapphire gave her friends and the royal family regular cold medicine, but two ponies were refusing.
"This.. is.. for.. you..own..good..take...the..medicine." Sapphire said as she tried to give the spoonful of medicine to Rainbow Dash and Princess Luna who kept moving out of the way. Finally, Rainbow swung at the spoon and caused it to fly into Sapphire's face. As she began to laugh at her, Sapphire wiped off the medicine from his face and smirked back. She had a plan "Oh Noctowl~" she sang. Rainbow and Luna immediately stopped laughing as the owl pokemon landed on her bed. "Use Psychic on Rainbow and Luna's mouth."
"WHAT?!" Rainbow cried. "No! Wait! Stop!" Luna added. Too late. Noctowl's eyes glowed as well as Rainbow and Luna's mouth. It opened, much to her protest and fruitless struggle to keep her mouth shut. Sapphire gave the medicine to her and Noctowl stopped Psychic. Rainbow grumbled, "Well played Sapphire."
Sapphire grinned. She then made the friends bowls of chicken soup to help them too. She cooked the soup perfectly and made seventeen bowls of soup. Once they were finished, she used her magic to levitate them to the room, "Here guys, this soup should help you feel better." She gave the friends and royals their chicken soup. "Thanks Sapphire.. achoo!" Lightning sniffled. Sapphire grinned.
Sapphire repeated this cycle for the next two days. After another soup giving Sapphire staggered into the throne room and collapsed in her chair. She had small bags under her eyes from keeping an eye on her friends at night and she looked tired, "Phew, taking care of everyone is not easy." she sighed.
Her pokemon came up to her, "Are you okay?" Dusk asked.
"I'm alright. Thanks for helping me guys." Sapphire grinned but suddenly though of something. "Wait a minute... if their majesties are sick then... who's ruling United Equestria?" The pokemon gasped. They never thought of that. "This is bad. Really bad. With all of the royals sick then that means.... I have to takeover."
The pokemon looked at each other. "But I've never ruled before. I don't even know what to do."
"What about the statue and the guard captain?" Amphaors suggested.
"Goldwin and Shania? Well... I guess he could help me, but what about the others, I can't just leave them here without no one to care for them."
"We'll watch over them for you."
"Thanks Ampahros, but you guys might need some help caring for all of them." Sapphire used her magic to make five clones of herself. Each clone was wearing a shirt with a number on it. "Alright clones, while I go and rule United Equestria until their majesties are better, I'm placing you five in charge of taking care of my friends.
Clone 1: Ice pack duty.
Clone 2: Soup making and giving.
Clone 3: Medicine duty
Clone 4: Temperature taker
Clone 5: Make sure everything goes smoothly while I'm gone."
"Yes ma'am!" All the clones replied. Sapphire saluted and flew out of the castle to to New Canterlot. Entering the palace, Sapphire was immediately greeted by Captain Shaina. "Princess Sapphire, have you seen their majesties and Princess Luna?" she asked. "i can't find them anywhere."
"They are at my castle. Unfortunately, they've caught the Ponyflux too, so I'll be taking their place until they get back." Sapphire replied. Shaina was shocked, but she could see that Sapphire didn't have any other choice. Someone had to run United Equestria while their majesties were out. "I was hoping you could help me since you've seen how their majesties work?" Sapphire questioned.
Shaina thought for a moment, "Alright.. I'll help you."
"Thank you, Captain Shaina."
"Alright then, come, you have much to do."
Sapphire nodded and followed Shaina. In the throne room, Sapphire professionally addressed the servants and guards. "Today, I will be performing their majesties duties today and tonight until they are well once again. I assure you, I can perform all of their duties.
Dismiss."
The servants and the guards exited the throne room, leaving Sapphire with Shaina. "So what do I do now?" she asked.
Shaina took out their majesties 'To Do' List. "Well, today it looks like they have some appearances; The New Canterlot Rose Contest and a school opening and etc."
"Alright then, lets get to work."
And so Sapphire began Queen Celestia and Grand Ruler's duties for the day. She rode in the carriage, waving to the ponies as she passed by with a big smile on her face. At the rose contest, she sniffed the flowers while holding the first place ribbon with her magic. She saw more flowers and more ponies waving at her to come over. With a grin on her face, she continued. At the school opening, She used her magic to hold up and ribbon as the photographer pony was getting ready to take a picture of her cutting the ribbon, thus opening the new school. She cut the ribbon and there was a bright flash. The crowd cheered loudly with joy.
Soon, she and Shania was back at the palace in the throne room. "Phew." Sapphire collapsed on the throne room, exhausted from all the royal duties she had to perform. "Excellent work, for the first time, Princess." Shaina praised.
"Thanks. I couldn't have done them all without you"
"Now it's almost dusk, so it's time to lower the sun and raise the moon."
"Right."
Sapphire and Shaina went to the tallest balcony in the palace. Sapphire closed her eyes and the tip of her horn glowed in. Slowly but surely the sun lowered in the sky and the moon slowly came up and soon it was nighttime. "Wonder how my clones are doing taking care of everyone?'
At Sapphire's Castle
The clones were getting straight to work, feeding the gang some chicken soup, taking their temperatures, feeding them their medicine and refilling their ice packs. Soon, everyone was asleep in their beds and Clone 5 closed the door. "Nice work everyone. They'll be better in no time." she said.
The other clones quietly cheered and tip-toed away from the door, letting the sick gang get the rest they needed.
Back at the Palace
"Nice work, Princess." Shania praised.
"Thanks."
"Now I'll leave you to perform Princess Luna's duties."
Shaina left Sapphire alone on the balcony. Suddenly Sapphire felt a little dizzy and sneezed. "Is it possible I'm starting to catch the Ponyflux?" Sapphire said to himself. She shook her head, "It doesn't matter though...everyone is counting on me. I can't let them down."
Soon for the rest of the night, Sapphire entered the dream realm and protected ponies and their nightmares. And she did their majesties and Luna's duties for the next week!
Finally, Lightning, his friends, the girls and the royal family were all cured of the Ponyflux and feeling a lot better. "I feel fresh as a daisy." Pinkie cheered.
"Yeah, thank goodness Sapphire took care of us." Rarity said.
"Wait... I just thought of something... if their majesties were sick then whose been raising the sun and moon for this week?" Rainbow questioned.
Everybody froze at that question. "I never thought of that!" Lightning cried. Before the gang could panic, the front door opened and in walked Sapphire, "Hey guys." she greeted in a horse voice.
"Oh my stars!" Rarity cried.
"Galloping Galaxies!" Lightning added. Sapphire looked nothing short of awful. Her mane was disleveled, she had terrible bags under her eyes, her nose was bright red, her mane was plastered on her face and she could barely stand. "Cough Cough.. achoo! Hi." she croaked
"What in the galaxy happened to you?" Buddy questioned.
Sapphire sniffled. "I've been... sniffle.. preforming their majesties duties for them... a-achoo!"
"You raised the sun and moon?!" Grand Ruler exclaimed. "For the whole week!"
Sapphire nodded. "Someone.. achoo... had to look... cough cough... after the kingdom.. achoo!" Lightning approached her and felt her head, "And from the looks of it, you caught the Ponyflux too."
Sapphire sneezed. "Hold up, if she was in New Canterlot then who are these five?!" Artie asked, referring to the five Sapphire's. "Clones." Pinkie replied. "Duh."
Artie felt stupid.
"Anyway," Celestia cut in, "We better get you to bed, Sapphire."
"O-Okay." Sapphire suddenly felt very lightheaded and collapsed on the ground. "Sapphire!" Everybody cried.
Sapphire slowly woke up, feeling awful, and meeting the faces of her concerned friends and royals. "Ugggghhh... wh-what happened? A-Achoo!" she groaned while rubbing her head. "You collapsed from your high fever, darling." Rarity answered. "How long have you felt sick?"
"The night of.. achoo... The night I first performed Luna's night duties." Sapphire sniffled.
The team felt bad for Sapphire. She was sick and yet she still managed to take care of the kingdom and technically all of them as well. Sapphire coughed again, aggravating her sore throat. "Come on, off to bed with you." Celestia said as she picked Sapphire up in her magic. She carried her to bed and placed her under the covers. "Thanks."
"Now you get some rest." Grand Ruler advised. Sapphire nodded, "Lightning, Guys?"
"Yes Sapphire?" Lightning asked.
"Can you guys care for my dragons and pokemon please?" she asked hoarsely.
"Of course darling." Rarity said.
Sapphire grinned and dozed off.
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