My Brave Pony Starfleet Magic: Season 4

After a good long day, it was time for shifts to switch so that some of the ponies could go home and to bed.

Lightning and Starla were heading home as well. They had been hard at work investigating and questioning Earth ponies they knew that didn’t make their scan for the phantom.

Some were too young, another one was too old, and a few more were all bent out of shape--obese, or underweight-- and not one of them had any magic, so they were dismissed from the list. “I really don’t think we’re getting any closer.” Lightning said “We’ll never find the phantom like this.”

“Don’t say that.” said Starla “Or rather, do say it… after all the more you say it, the more I know we’ll find the answer.” Lightning smiled and pecked his wife sweetly “As usual, you’re right, and I’m sorry for thinking that way.”

As they checked off their lists, Starla noticed one pony on Lightning’s list that hadn’t been checked. “What about him?” It looked like a simple Orange Earth Pony, normal too, not having been genetically altered, with a blonde mane, glasses, and a fine suit. His cutie mark was that of a clipboard and pencil, with three small hearts round the tip, and his name was below him, “Dr. Emil Kudos.”

Lightning said, “All I found was his picture and his name, but no known address. I asked for the records department to dig up the story on him, but all I know is he’s a marriage-psychologist.”

Starla thought was interesting, and couldn’t wait to find out more about him, but when they got home, they found Krysta waiting for them, and she looked a little concerned. When asked why, she held up a file of Dr. Kudos she had delivered and asked “Is this the pony you wanted to research?”

“Yeah, that’s him.” said Lightning, and then he and Starla looked inside and the very first thing they found was an old newspaper clipping which read “Marriage psychologist killed in fire”

Lightning and Starla gazed at one another in concern, and read the article as well as studying the files, and sure enough, Dr. Kudos was reported dead for some time, long before Equestria was destroyed in The Great War and United Equestria was formed.

According to the story; Dr. Kudos, a world renowned marriage councilor and psychologist, whom had helped many over the years, including Shining Armor to help him sort his problems for his upcoming marriage to Princess Cadance, he had sunken into depression, and began to refuse sessions from patients and clients in need. Nobody knew why. Not even close friends or family members of the doctor knew what was troubling him. On the night they planned to confront him and talk to him about it, it was pouring rain and one of the pegasi helping with the weather, reportedly, misfired a bolt of lightning that struck the doc’s house and clinic in Canterlot, and the whole place burst into flames. The ponies managed to get the fire under control, and rescue the poor doc’s body from the house, but in vain as he was already very dead from severe injures he had suffered in the fire, and strangely, his cutie mark was gone, but no one had seen it vanish normally.

This struck Lightning and Starla as odd. Usually when ponies died, their cutie marks left the body, floated up high glowing big and brightly, and then dissolving into thin air. So, how did no one see it? This didn’t seem to matter too much to them. Kudos was dead, so that was one case they didn’t have to worry about, still…

“It seems so tragic.” said Starla.

“The poor guy.” added Lightning.

Krysta felt miserable as well, but really there was nothing they could do about it now. “I have to get home now, I have to brief my royal guards for their night shift.” she said.

“Okay, Krysta, and thanks.” Lightning said.

Krysta vanished through a portal, back her planet. Leaving the couple to get ready for bed, and soon, all across the planet, creatures were sleeping, but it was soon to become a restless night for some.

The phantom was resting in his secret lair; he was stirring and groaning in his sleep. Finally, he woke in shock. He clenched his fists in anger. “I don’t think I can wait for this any longer.” he said as he gazed at the centaur silhouette “I want my revenge now, even if I don’t have the power yet.”

Sapphire found herself in the Dream Realm once again. "Hello?"

The creature from before thenmade it's appearance. "Greetings Sapphire."

"You again? What are you doing here?" Sapphire asked.

"I believe it's time we met face to face, my dear." the creature said.

"Really? Where?" Sapphire asked.

"That will be a surprise and the meeting will not be as expect. Until then, Sapphire."

"But wait...!" The realm began to fade and a bright light came in....

...Sapphire woke up in a shock. "So... I'll meet you soon, huh?" she said to herself and she looked at the moon. "I'll be waiting."

In a dark and desolate place, a dreadful and haunting voice was echoing through the darkness. “I am coming! I am coming!” Smoke emitted from the ground taking on the shape of a large centaur creature, with wicked glowing eyes and laughing sinisterly in the darkness.

That’s when Celestia woke up in shock.

“Celestia?!” cried Grand Ruler as he sat upright in their bed. “What’s wrong?”

Princess Luna burst into the room. “Sister, are you alright?”

Celestia shook herself fully awake “I’ve just had the most terrible dream.” she said. “I fear it was some sort of warning.”

“You may be right.” said Luna “I had felt it too, that is why I have come.”

“Perhaps it was no dream, but a vision.” Celesto said. “Tell me everything.”

The ladies told him what they believed, and he felt it was greatly possible. “If we are right, and I pray we are not, we must act quickly.”

“Indeed…” said Celestia “The stronger he becomes, the more we are all in danger.”

The very next morning, all the friends received a letter from their majesties telling them to come to the palace at once for an emergency meeting.

Soon, they had all teleported, by Krysta’s magic, to the palace. Shining Armor was there too, and he looked a little baggy-eyed. “I didn’t sleep well.” he groaned. Many of the others sympathized with him, even Fluttershy and Pinkie, for they each had a nightmare about being caught by the phantom of magic.

“I was so scared I couldn’t go back to sleep.” cried Fluttershy.

“Really…? I could…” said Pinkie.

“That is exactly why we have called you here.” Grand Ruler said “But I shall let the queen and Princess Luna explain to you.”

The ladies took the head of the table and explained of their nightmares. “We think we now know what the phantom of magic is attempting to do.” said Celestia, and Princess Luna nodded “We believe that he is trying to revive Lord Tirek.”

The ponies all gazed round at each other with concern. “Who’s Lord Tirek?” asked Sapphire.

Celestia placed a magic book on the table, and she and her sister and husband began to tell the story. It all began an over a-thousand years ago, back when Grand Ruler was still Captain of the Canterlot Guard…

The story about the two brothers; Tirek and Scorpan, both came to Equestria to steal magic and rule the world. The three divine ones, Celesto, Celestia Luna worked together to do battle with the brothers.

After a long and fierce battle, Scorpan began to realize the error of his ways, and decided to have a change of heart. He befriended the ponies and their kind, and was willing to abandon all his evil ways. But his brother Tirek refused and continued on his path of conquest, which lead the three divine alicorns to seal the evil Tirek away in Tartarus.

Scorpan, Tirek’s brother, had long since grown very old and passed away, but his brother remained forever sealed. Even when Equestria blew up in the war against Titan and all his forces, the seal still had not been broken, and was reformed with United Equestria now within New Tartarus on the far side of the planet.

“Nellie, that’s one doozy of a tale.” said Applejack.

“But exactly where does the phantom fit into all this?” asked Buddy Rose.

“As this secret has been kept safe in the royal family archives for centuries, we don’t know how the phantom has come to learn of this.” Grand Ruler said “However, the spell that is keeping Tirek well bound can only be broken by harnessing the magic of Equestrian ponies, which explains why the phantom does not target Space Alicorns or other creatures. He cannot use such power, it is no good to him.”

Celestia nodded “Nevertheless, we do believe this is what the phantom is attempting, he must be under the impression that he can unleash Tirek and control him to do his bidding. I am convinced he does not realize the true danger he is getting himself into.”

“Still, we cannot allow Tirek to be unleashed.” said Luna “If he is freed, all of United Equestria will be in grave danger.”

The others didn’t need to be told how serious. They could tell that with all that harnessed magic from so many ponies, Tirek would be virtually invincible!

“And to think, my wonderful magic is causing this great treachery known!” Rarity panicked.

“Speak for yourself!” cried Rainbow, reminding her that her magic was stolen. Applejack did the same.

“Quiet all of you!” Lightning shouted “We’ve got to think of a way to stop this.”

“We already have one way.” Shining Armor said “...But it’s not going to be fun.”

“What, not fun?!” cried Pinkie, and she felt a little twitch of her Pinkie Sense telling her it was going to be really deep.

Grand Ruler cleared his throat and explained to them their idea. “As you know, the phantom seems to have ceased going after many cutie marks, as well as other ponies, which suggests he is nearing his goal of required magic.”

Pinkie and Fluttershy realized this and remembered how the phantom said he wanted their magic. Obviously meaning their magic was strong and mighty, exactly what he needed.

“What are you saying?” Fluttershy asked.

Celestia sighed deeply “It pains me to say this, but we cannot risk it. We have decided…” she paused a moment “…to give up our own magic and hide it away where the phantom will not get to it.”

Everyone gasped in the deepest of shock and concern. “Give up your magic!” cried Artie.

“But if you do that, and the phantom does attack

You’ll be defenseless; you won’t be able to fight back.” added Rhymey.

“This is something we are quite aware of…” said Luna “But as my sister said, we cannot take such a risk, but know this…” she said as she eyed Pinkie and Fluttershy “Fear not, your powers will be well cared for. We have chosen the safest place for them.”

“Where?” asked Pinkie.

“Not where, but whom…” Grand Ruler said. “Sapphire will absorb your magic; Transfer and keep them within myself. Doing this will also increase her power dramatically.”

“But sire, what if the phantom comes after her?” asked Starla.

“She’s right, what if her magic gets stolen anyway?” added Lightning.

“I’m sure her Element will not allow that to happen. Remember it reacts when danger is near her. So her magic will be safe.” Celestia said. “This is our only chance.”

Sapphire wasn’t sure about this at all. She was used to her own alicorn magic. To take on Celestia, Luna, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Shining Armors’ magic as well?! “Sapphire… I know you have your doubts but if there is anyone who can do this it’s you.” Grand Ruler claimed.

Celestia and Luna nodded.

Pinkie and Fluttershy gazed at their cutie mark paintings, and thought of their cutie marks under their pants. They really didn’t want to do this, but after what they had just been told, who were they to argue.

“All right.” Said Pinkie.

“We’re ready.” added Fluttershy.

"Me too." Sapphire added.

Then they, the queen, Luna, and Shining armor all stood in a line together as Sapphire stood before them. He nodded his head saying to begin. Then the five ponies concentrated hard, sending their magical forces from their bodies and into Sapphire.

When all was done… Sapphire’s hair was flowing a little and her crown was shimmering brighter than ever. Her eyes were completely white and she was floating in the air. She closed her eyes and the glowing stopped. Celestia and Luna’s mane’s had stopped fluttering and shimmering, and all five of them had lost their cutie marks.

Shining Armor hung his head low. Fluttershy and Pinkie were near tear, and everyone was totally silent about this whole thing. Grand Ruler approached his wife, and ran his fingers through her motionless mane.

“Sapphire…” Luna said as she came and placed her hand over his shoulder “You have our powers now, and hopefully soon we will reclaim them.”

Shining Armor and the girls nodded in agreement, showing they were still thankful.

Suddenly, the alarms went off, and Goldwin came rushing in, nearly out of breath. “It’s horrible, you guys better come quick!”

“Slow down, Goldwin-- What’s wrong?” said Grand Ruler.

“I was looking at the clouds through window, and then I could see down below in the village… the phantom!”

“THE PHANTOM?!” Everyone cried out. “We better get down there!” said Lightning.

“I’m going with you, this time.” said Grand Ruler.

“We’re coming too.” said Celestia. Everyone gazed at them in shock, even Grand Ruler was shocked, and before he could refuse them, his wife put her foot down. “Those are our subjects down there, and I am just as responsible for their safety, magic or no magic.”

Luna and Shining Armor agreed.

“Very well, but please be very careful.” said Grand Ruler.

“Let’s go!” shouted Lightning, and they all headed off while Krysta stayed behind. There wasn’t must she could do at the moment. There was no time to evacuate all the ponies.

The Phantom was standing in the grounds of New Canterlot village near foot of the palace mountain. Many of the ponies were already running in panic to get to safety before Grand Ruler raised the shields. However, several other ponies were still out in the open, among them was a yellow unicorn with an orange mane; name: Fire Ball, and his wife, a peach colored pegasi with a long brown mane. Name: Peach Berry.

Suddenly, they and the other ponies turned round and there standing behind them was the phantom. The ladies all screamed, which amused him. “Yes, I’d be afraid of me too.”

“Look, if you want our cutie marks, you can have them, just please don’t hurt us!” cried Peach Berry. “I’m not here for your cutie marks; they are of no use to me now. I came to clean up some loose ends, especially with you two!”

Peach shuddered nervously, but her husband stepped forth to protect her “I think I’ve heard enough of this sick creep! You lay one hand on my wife, and I’ll…”

“You’ll what…?” mocked the phantom “Your magic is useless against me. If you don’t believe me, then shoot.”

Fire Ball powered up his magic, and shot a beam of light at the phantom’s chest, but he just stood there and took it like it was nothing. The other ponies froze up in fear and astonishment, while the phantom snickered and raised his hand. He levitated Fire ball up in the air and brought him closer to him.

“Fire Ball!” cried Peach.

Snickering wickedly, the phantom raised his other hand and prepared to vaporize the helpless pony to ash. “Finally, after all the pain you all caused me, revenge shall be sweet!” Suddenly, the phantom began to glow, and he couldn’t seem to move. “What...?! I can’t move!”

Fire Ball was also released, and ran back to his wife and friends. Then they all saw how…

The team had arrived, and Grand Ruler was using his new magic to hold the phantom down. “Get inside, quickly!” shouted Grand Ruler. The ponies did as they were told and dashed into the nearby houses, and once they were safely inside, Grand Ruler used his magic to conjure a strong barrier around all the houses.

Then the phantom was released as he stared the team down. “Well, if isn’t the chump-patrol.” He hissed. He gazed at Fluttershy and Pinkie “Are you finally ready to accept your fate and hand over your magic to me, or do I just take it?”

“We choose neither!” snarled Pinkie Pie.

Fluttershy nodded bravely and cheekily “We don’t have our cutie marks anymore.”

“What?!” snarled the phantom.

“It’s true…” said Lightning “We transferred all the magic to the Sapphire and your absorption power won’t work this time.”

“Ah?!” the phantom realized they were telling the truth, as he could no longer sense the magic within the girls, even Celestia and Luna had no magic, as their manes were not bright and flowing. The phantom was just furious. “You’ve all been a nuisance to me long enough! I’ll settle for taking out you first, and then the rest of the planet.”

“You’ll do no such thing!” snarled Grand Ruler “We know what you’re up to, and I assure you it will never work. I give you this one chance; give up and turn yourself in willingly.”

The phantom laughed at him “You really think I’d surrender to you after I’m this close to achieving greatness? You’re all crazier than I first believed.”

The friends were growing very annoyed. “I don’t understand you!” Shining Armor sneered “Why go to all this trouble just for magic?”

The phantom then looked hurt, “You wouldn’t understand. How could you anyway?” he sounded as if he was struggling with a deep inner pain “It doesn't matter anyway. You won’t be around long enough to even try and stop me!”

Lightning felt his anger starting to broil “Let’s get him!”

The others agreed, and charged forth.

“Wait!” shouted Celestia, but all the others quickly jumped at the phantom, tackling all about, when the dust had cleared, they all found that they were tackling each other about, but no phantom anywhere. “What happened?” asked Rarity.

“Where’d he go?” asked Spike.

Their majesties and Shining Armor couldn’t understand it, but suddenly Princess Luna could see the ground crumbling silently and softly towards them. “Watch out! Get out of there!” she screamed, but it was too late, the phantom bust through the ground, knocking everyone in different directions.

The phantom laughed hysterically “I never get tired of that old stunt.”

He suddenly got blasted hard, by Sapphire, and sent crashing into a lamppost. “And I never tired of is how evil never wins.” She said. The others stood with her, and they all regrouped with the gang.

The phantom got back onto his feet, but he was grinning, and snickering.

“What’s that chump laughing about now?” asked Rainbow.

The phantom laughed and laughed and then glared at the team. “You may think you outnumber me, and just because you have a few new tricks that you’ve won it all.”

“What in the hotel-bills is he gettin’ at?” asked Applejack

Lightning suddenly felt he knew what the phantom was referring to.

The phantom leapt in between Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack!

“Get him!” shouted Rarity.

“Wait!” shouted Lightning, but the girls already charged, aiming strong punches. At the last second, the phantom leapt out of the way, causing the girls to ram into and punch each other out.

The phantom then leapt right in between Buddy Rose, Artie and Rhymey, and the same thing happened, the phantom faked out the boys and punched each other out.

“There are more of us than of him.” cried Lightning “He’s using the wide open field to his advantage against us. He can attack freely while our attacks could miss and hit each other.”

The phantom then leapt over to him and Starla. “Who wants to go next?”

Lightning and Starla knew they couldn’t attack together, and attacking him one at a time was not smart either. Sapphire charged forth and leaped into the air and changed into the large wolf again. She roared at the Phantom and blasted him with her now powered up magic sphere. The sphere sent him flying. “You go guys. Show him who’s boss!” Shining Armor cheered.

Finally, the phantom seemed weak enough to capture and imprison... “Get in there-- capture him now and end this.” Grand Ruler said.

Lightning nodded and he and his space pony friends all stood together. “Ready everyone?”

Everyone took out their weapons and charged up, and gave it all their finishers had.

“CAPTURE BLAST, FIRE!”

“GALACTIC PROJECTILE”

“WHIPLASH STRIKE”

“SUPER STAFF SPIN”

“THRASH SLASH”

“BOOM-BOOM FLARE”

All those attacks struck the phantom head-on, resulting in large explosions. “They’ve done it!” cried Princess Luna.

“They got him!” added Shining Armor.

Everyone gazed at the smoke with joyful expressions, but as the smoke died down, the joy began to fade into shock and appalling expression. “I have got to be dreaming?!” cried Starla. Sapphire growled.

The phantom was still standing, and though he looked rather beaten, he hadn’t been shrunk down or imprisoned in a glass sphere. He just stood there, slowly lifting his head, snickering at everyone “Is that all you’ve got?”

Then his body began to glow, and all his injuries healed, and his suit was repaired.

“No way…!” Dyno.

“How is he doing that?!” snapped Myte.

Celestia realized “Unicorn magic! He must have absorbed more magic than we thought.”

“Very good, your majesty.” hissed the phantom, and he glared at all the ponies “I told you all before, you can never defeat me. I am the phantom of magic, and soon I’ll show this wretched planet what true magic is all about!”

“Okay, he’s officially gone insane!” said Artie.

“He’s really being pain.” rhymed Rhymey.

The phantom heard that, and decided to retaliate, and with the force fields down, he used his magic to set the houses on fire. “No!” shouted Grand Ruler.

The civilians inside, as well as Peach and Fire Ball screamed in panic.

“Well, it looks as if you have a choice.” the phantom mocked, ...“Save them, or face me.”

Lycanroc, Noctowl and Ampharos suddenly appeared. Lycanroc used rock Slide to smash the fire so Noctowl and Ampharos could rush in and grab the civilians.

“Good job you three.” Celestia said.

Meanwhile, Lightning and his team weren’t faring so well, and were reaching the limits of their strengths, but the phantom didn’t seem to get any weaker thanks to all the magic he had absorbed. It made him as strong as the Dark King’s minions.

Most of them now lay on the ground, weak, and their suits powered down, leaving only Spike and Lightning standing, and both of them were looking pretty tired. “What are we going to go?” cried Spike.

Lightning panted, but didn’t answer as he had no clue.

“Allow me, to answer that for you.” hissed the phantom, and he punched them both hard, knocking them down, and their suits powered down.

Shining Armor turned to gaze round “Look!” he cried, and the others gazed to see the horror. “We’ve got to help them!” cried Fluttershy. They all charged forth, but the phantom blasted them back hard. “You all wait for your turns. I want to enjoy this.”

He pondered over whom to kill first and decided on Lightning. “They always say the best way to defeat an army is take out the leader.”

“Light… ning!” cried Starla. She struggled to get up, but she couldn’t. The phantom reached Lightning, but just as he was about to move in for the kill, Sapphire came in and slashed the Phantom away.

The Phantom growled and Sapphire stood in front of Lightning and roared once more. “You’ll pay for that, human.” He charged Sapphire but a blast came out of nowhere and sent him back.

Everyone looked in the direction the blast came from, and saw a quadruped, stag-like Pokémon with four pairs of antlers. It’s main body is black with a blue stripe down its back and a short, bushy tail. Starting at its knees there is a blade-like trim around each leg, which forms a point under each hoof. There is an upside-down, V-shaped marking on its chest in the same color as the trim on its legs. Its head and neck are blue, and there are two large, tufts that extend onto its chest and curve upward. Its first pair of antlers extends onto its head and curves around the underside of its eyes. The eyes are black with X-shaped pupils. There is a short marking on top of its snout and an upward curving horn on each side of its head in place of ears.

“It can’t be..!” the phantom cried. Either way he charged the large stag pokemon but the Stag charged him and threw him into the air and blasted him with a large sphere of energy, sending him crashing to the ground. The Phantom launched some magic at it, but the stag made a shield around itself and deflected it back at the Phantom.

BOOM!

“GAH!” The ponies were amazed. “It’s incredible!” Lightning said.

“But what is it?” Starla added.

The phantom never felt so outraged. “I didn’t want to believe it, but it is real! I cannot allow this to happen.”

Now that Pinkie and Fluttershy’s powers were no longer within his grasp, he would have find some other way to unleash Tirek, but first he would need to take out the team and that ninja once and for all before they got any stronger and would ruin his plans.

Back at the palace, the team were discussing what they just saw. “It’s a pokemon?!” Lightning exclaimed.

“Yes. It’s called Xerneas.” Sapphire explained. “It’s a legendary Fairy- type pokemon and a legend about Xerneas says that when the horns on its head shine in seven colors, it is said to be sharing everlasting life. And... that was in my dreams.”

“Woah…” everyone gasped.

“But why did it suddenly show up here?” Spike asked. Sapphire shrugged, “Legendary pokemon have their own lives and duties.” she added.

Now they had another mystery to solve. The Mystery of the Appearance of Xerneas.