My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic Season XII

EPISODE FIFTEEN

The war between Moltic and Iceinia began many, many years ago, when both Pyron and Glaceia were still very young and hadn’t met yet.

“FIRE!!” shouted King Flareous, and his men launched more flaming meteors against Iceinia, while at the same time, King Blizzord unleashed his own ice-missiles. “LAUNCH!!”

There were massive crashes, huge explosions, and loads of chaos and devastation that followed. Many civilians, villagers, and wildlife of the respective planets suffered horribly as their homes were blasted to bits, and their loved ones perished in the holocausts.

They were not the only ones…

The more meteors and shots were fired and missed, the more these projectiles flew out into Space, where, over time, they caused the same devastation and dangers to other worlds as well.

Starfleet and other forces attempted to deflect these objects and save the populace as best they could…

…Just as they were today!

A flaming meteor and a stray ice-missile were heading for United Equestria… again!

The entire Starfleet Intercept Squads were armed and ready-- the same as always.

Lightning reported to their majesties. “Everyone is in position and awaiting the order.”

Grand Ruler Celesto gave the go ahead, and Lightning called out to the squads, “FIRE!!”

POW!! The unicorns and alicorns combined all their magic into massive beams that shot out into Space, colliding with the large objects and blowing them to bits, or knocking them off course, straight into the sun where they vaporized to nothing.

These attacks were happening so often, that neither Starfleet nor civilians cheered upon the successful diversion this time.

Even Lightning was not too thrilled, when an officer reported to him. “Another successful diversion, Commander.” Lightning could only nod and remark, “That may be, but frankly it’s not this attack that bothers me… it’s the next ones.”

“This is outrageous!” growled Grand Ruler.

“You’re right.” agreed Celestia “All these attacks. All this senselessness! When will it all end?” Of course, she knew the answer as well as anyone else did.

“This will continue until Flareous and Blizzord are stopped for good.” said Luna. “Until that happens, we can only continue as we are.”

“I agree.” said Grand Ruler, but then his tension was showing at the very thoughts of the enemies. “I just wish I could see them both face-to-face!”

At that very moment, Flareous was raging like a blazing inferno.

“This is outrageous!” he bellowed. “All this time, and that pathetic Blizzord still trifles with me, and Starfleet as well!”

“Yes, sire… it is rather troubling.” said Keltar, but this only earned him a furious glare from his king. “I did not tell you to speak!!” he thundered. “There has to be a way to bring down Blizzord and make Starfleet pay for holding my son away from me!”

Blizzord was fuming the same way to Smark. “There must be a way! I must get Glaceia back and bring down Flareous and Starfleet at the same time.”

He cast an angry look at Smark. “Well! Any bright ideas?! I’m waiting!!”

Smark nervously shook his head and stammered, “Uh… I got nothing!”

Blizzord growled and looked ready for the kill, but merely ordered him away. “And don’t you come back until you have a plan!”

Both Smark and Keltar thought at the exact same moment towards both kings. “Just you wait! I have a plan… that will lead to your undoing!”

The next morning, United Equestria, things were normal as usual. Despite another near fatality from an attack from Outer Space, life continued-- Adults went to work, children went to school, the streets were all bustling with business, and Starfleet kept up their patrols.

Pyron and Glaceia went to their own specific jobs…

Pyron was helping to gather wood and stone for construction companies. With his amazing skill with his flame-sword, and his great strength, the workers were pleased to have his assistance.

“Great work, Pyron.”

“You’re an awesome guy.”

“I don’t know what we’d do with out you.” the pony paused “…Well… I do know, but still…”

Pyron shook hands with all of them and accepted they’re thanks to him, and as he walked along his way to help others, many other citizens would stop and wave hello to him, or thank him previous services…

…And while Pyron appreciated it all, he suddenly began to feel a sense of sadness lingering inside of him.

He wasn’t alone-- Glaceia was looking a bit blue herself, and more than just the color of her skin. She just sat on a bench in the park by herself, with her head hanging low.

She seemed to be staring blindly into nothingness, but really, she could see all the happy couples walking by, and very young children-- that were too young to go to school-- in the playground with their families.

Everyone seemed so happy. So full of light, love, and joy, which brought constant mixtures of happiness, and woe inside her.

Who should come along then, but Pinkie Pie and Rarity, taking their respective infant children on a lovely stroll.

“Hey there, Glaceia.” chirped Pinkie.

“Good morning, darling.” added Rarity, and she cooed to little Twilight. “Say “Hello” dear.” But the two mothers noticed Glaceia hadn’t even acknowledged them and continued to sit as she was.

Pinkie waved her hand before her face, but Glaceia still didn’t respond, until Pinkie called loudly to her. “HEY GLACEIA!!” making her leap off the bench in fright.

Rarity jumped in fright as well, while the babies laughed and giggled.

Glaceia got a hold of herself and panted heavily trying to catch her breath as she stood. “Oh… Forgive me, I was far, far, away.”

Rarity caught her breath and straightened herself out, “Think nothing of it.”

“Mmm… I don’t know.” said Pinkie. “You looked like you were the queen of Frown Town, and you know how I feel about frowning-- I HATE IT!!” Her voice echoed all over the park and everyone stopped to look in her way, making her feel embarrassed.

This time, Twilight and Biscuit looked scared, but Rarity comforted them both so they wouldn’t cry.

Glaceia came forth with her woes. “You have all been so wonderful to me and to Pyron for all this time.”

The ladies were confused.

“But that’s hardly any reason to feel glum.” Insisted Rarity, but suddenly it struck her, “Ohhh…”

Glaceia nodded. “Eventually, I must return to my home planet and leave all this behind. I know.”

Pinkie’s smile faded away as she finally realized that as well.

“I know I will have to leave…” Glaceia continued, “But it does not make it any easier for me, knowing I will be saying goodbye to such wonderful friends you have been.”

Now the tears were starting to come to Pinkie’s eyes, and Glaceia and Rarity.

“Please, excuse me…!” Glaceia sobbed softly, and she wandered off to be alone with her mounting sorrows.

“Oh, my… the poor dear.” sobbed Rarity.

Pinkie couldn’t stand it a bit, while the babies only looked at each other with confusion.

When the ladies returned to town, they headed straight for New Sugar cube Corners to talk things over more, and they found Buddy and Artie sitting at a table and looking just as grim.

“Hey, girls…” Buddy called. “Why the long faces?”

When the girls had told the men of Glaceia’s woes, “I get that,” said Artie. “Pyron was visiting my gallery just the other day, and he told me similar things.”

A flashback to that day revealed an unveiling of one of Glaceia’s newest art creations-- complete with refreshments and soft drinks.

Artie noticed that Pyron was keeping a bit to himself rather than chatting and comingling with the other guests.

“Don’t you want to join us?” Artie asked.

“I would love to…” replied Pyron. “However, the longer I stay, and the more I fit in so well with you all… it will only make it that much harder for me to leave when the time comes.

You have been such wonderful friends and great allies to me and Glaceia. You saved our lives, and with your help, our fathers will pay for their crimes.

…How can we possibly leave it all someday?”

Back in the present, Artie told Buddy all this that very morning, and the two men felt glum for the two aliens.

The ladies now felt even worse, and they all sat at the table wondering what to do.

Elsewhere, there had been more woes occurring… over the past several weeks…!

As there were Starfleet outposts and forces on several planets to ensure protection of populace and good beings in the galaxy, there were also observatories to keep lookout at the skies for any sighting of anything unusual, in hopes of sighting potential threats and dangers and having a better chance to intercept before any trouble happened.

One observatory operator saw something unusual in the night sky-- what seemed like a very distant object moving way out in Space, and it was no comet.

“What is that?” he wondered as he took down all the notes he could.

Another observatory on yet another planet saw the object as well but couldn’t make out what it was. “Whatever it is, it’s traveling at an alarming rate.”

This object continued along its way, and other worlds were about to feel a bit of nasty wraths!

The alarms sounded at another observatory, and the operators scanned and concluded a small meteor shower heading straight their way.

“Sound the alarms!”

“Prepare defenses!”

“Ready interceptors!”

The forces did their very best to deflect the oncoming flaming rocks, while others evacuated towns and villages and put up defenses.

“Where did these come from?”

“It looks like they were forced here.”

“But from where, and by what?”

All these mysteries were to be answered very soon, yet another planet, far, far away began to suffer, not from a rain of meteors from intensive heat as if something were reflecting the light from the sun of system like a burning glass over a bug colony.

The observatory of said planet discovered the reason-- a very large object they had been tracking for days passing by the system, with an unusual surface reflecting the sun’s light.

“My stars! It’s enormous!” cried the operator!

The heat was intense and caused much discomfort to the populace, but thankfully, there were no major casualties.

“We’ve got to track that object! Find out where it’s going and then some.” said the operator.

One of his crewmates already had a fully calculated readout, and the operator nearly jumped to the ceiling upon reading it. “We must warn United Equestria!!”

Each of the four ponies spent that day not on patrol thinking of Pyron and Glaceia, even while doing their chores or normal work.

Buddy was picking flowers from his garden…

Artie sat at a blank canvas wondering what to paint…

Rarity was at her sewing table-- hardly paying attention to what she was doing, resulting in disastrous mistakes…

And Pinkie was just gorging on cupcakes, one after another with a low expression on her face.

“Um… honey…?” asked Apple Spice, but seeing his wife give not even a flicker and just continue to pop more cakes down her throat. “…Uh… never mind.” and he left her.

Just then, at that very moment, each of the ponies happened to have the same idea by the little things right before them…!

Pinkie-- with all the fallen sprinkles spread on the table…

Rarity-- with the bits and scraps of fabrics she accidently ruined…

Artie-- just by looking down at the many colors on his painting pallet…

And Buddy-- by the many different flowers he was staring at.

“THAT’S IT!!” they all exclaimed at once, and they all hurried off to see one another, only to run, smack, into each other on the road and all fall, but they were too excited and pleased to groan, and they all went off on a ramble sharing and expressing their idea.

They decided to make a little memory box for the alien couple, and all their friends could place something in it as a remembrance.

Over a song, the friends did their things…

Artie carved the box out of wood, smoothed it down, and painted marvelous mural landscapes all over the lid and the sides, and even the insides, while the others went around and gathered bits and trinkets to put inside it without letting Pyron or Glaceia know… though Pinkie almost let it slip…

The song started out bittersweet…

[Pinkie]

Poor friends in dumps…
Got a case of the low-down lumps
Don’t wanna leave your friends behind

[Rarity]

It saddens us real deep…
We can’t bear to see you weep
But we have something from our hearts and minds

Then the music turned into a cool pop tune…

[Artie]

Gotta paint up this box just so it looks just right.

[Buddy]

I’ll throw in a flower, it’s fake, but light.

[Both]

This gift will memorialize every moment and sight.
Because it’s a gift for our friends.

[Rarity]

Please give a little something,
it’s a small price to pay
Just a little something to remember this day

[Pinkie]

Hey, Pyron, Glaceia…

[Rarity]

Shh! Don’t give it away!

[Both]

We’re making a gift for our friends.

[Boys]

A gift for our friends.

[Girls]

A gift for our friends.

[Pinkie]

Aaaaa-yeah-EeeEee-yeaaaah!

[All]

A gift for our friends.

While all this was happening, their majesties were enjoying some quiet teatime in one of the palace solariums. When they were interrupted by Captain Shaina delivering a Top-Secret and Urgent envelope of papers and marked with a red circle and skull mark meaning “Extreme Danger!”

Grand Ruler took one read of the documents and reports, and his eyes bulged!

“What is it?” asked Celestia.

Her husband let her see the readouts, and she gasped hard!

Later, Rarity made it to Lightning and Starla’s place, and they each contributed to the memory box. Lightning put in a Starfleet badge, and Starla added a miniature telescope. Shining Light added a cute, but crude picture he drew of himself.

“Aw, that’s so sweet.” cooed Rarity.

“I did it all by myself.” chirped Shining.

“You did…” cooed Starla “I’m sure your friends will love it.”

Lightning inspected the contents of the box, and he was rather astounded by all the many bits and trinkets that were given, even a small handmade pendant, obviously Rarity’s donation.

“Don’t you think this a bit much?” he asked.

“Certainly not.” insisted Rarity. “What could be finer than a glamorous, precious piece to reflect the memories of those who have served with you, cared for you and…” she stopped as she started to tear-up. “Oh, my goodness…”

“Well, I think is all marvelous.” said Krysta. “When are you going to give it to Pyron and Glaceia?”

“Not just yet.” replied Rarity. “Pinkie Pie is planning a most-wonderful party where the presentation shall be made.” Then she realized, “Oh! I must get home and choose something to wear. Ta-Ta!”

And she ran off leaving the box in Lightning’s hands. “Rarity, wait…!” he called, but Rarity was already too far off, as well as too excited to hear.

Starla chuckled.

“Oh, well.” said Lightning. “We’ll just hang onto it.”

Starla agreed.

Then, there was trouble as the air-raid warning siren sounded, making little Twinkle cry in fear.

“Daddy!” cried Shining as he raced to his father, trembling.

“Easy, easy.” Lightning said trying to comfort his boy while Starla held and comforted their daughter.

Grand Ruler’s Voice then was overheard. “Emergency! Commander Lightning Dawn and your entire unit… report to New Canterlot Palace immediately! All civilians are to retreat indoors and remain so until further notice.”

The civilians all dropped whatever it was they were doing and made a break for their homes and shelters.

“Let’s go!” said Lightning said as he picked his son up in his arms. Starla stood next to him holding the baby, and Krysta teleported everyone to the palace.

She then returned to round up the rest of the unit and their kids if necessary. Pyron and Glaceia were summoned too.

Once the unit arrived, Starla noticed, “Lightning, you brought the Memory Box.”

“Oh, no!” groaned Lightning. “We were in such a hurry I never had a chance to put it down.”

“We can’t let Pyron and Glaceia see it yet.”

Lightning agreed, and since they didn’t dare take it to the briefing room in case of running into the couple, as he and Starla dropped their kids off at the palace daycare, Lightning asked the Daycare Manager if she would look after the box, to which she agreed, and placed it on her desk to keep an eye on it.

No sooner said than done, did the parents hug and peck their kids. “You behave yourselves now.” said Starla.

“Yes, Mommy.” said Shining Light “And don’t worry about Twinkle. I’ll look after her.”

Lightning smiled proudly, “That’s my boy.”

“…Our boy.” corrected Starla.

In the briefing room, the entire unit was immediately shown magical images of a truly, frightening sight-- an incredibly massive rock flying through space, forcing bits of debris to other planets, and reflecting sunlight onto nearby planets as it passed.

“That’s one humungous piece of rock!” cried Spike.

Their majesties stopped the magical images, and Grand Ruler addressed everyone. “These images were taken weeks ago by long-ranged telescopic stations at other Starfleet outposts. All tracking calculations have been confirmed.”

He didn’t have to go on, everyone else got the idea.

“It’s heading straight for us?” cried Rainbow. “Well, that’s no problem. We’ll just blast it off into the sun like we always do.”

Everyone else wasn’t nearly as optimistic as she was. “Look at that big thing!” wailed Applejack. “I don’t think blasting it’s going to work this time.”

“You are quite right.” said Celestia. “While we have been able to deflect objects heading for us many times before, this one is far too big. According to the calculations…” she paused “…It’s about half the size of the moon.”

Everyone’s eyes bulged wide, and their mouths hung open. This meant the object was far too big and heavy to simply knock off course with normal deflection.

“Well, then… just move the sun.” suggested Rainbow, but Celestia shook her head again. “That also is not optional-- not this time.”

“She’s not kidding.” Dyno said as he and Myte went over the readouts.

“This is no ordinary rock.” said Myte “According to this from deep-core scans, its interior is composed of unstable gasses and cosmic radiation.”

Lightning cringed softly, “Meaning we can’t let it fall into the sun, or it’s unstable chemicals may cause a powerful chain-reaction.”

“Just so…” replied Grand Ruler. “Such forces could damage our sun, and we’d be in worse trouble than before.”

“You don’t say!
And it’s headed our way?!” cried Fluttershy.

“That would seem obviously so,
But where did it come from; I’d like to know.” said Rhymey.

Pyron and Glaceia both had sickening feelings. “…Form our fathers!” Pyron said, and he pointed at the frozen image of the object, “I’d recognize this stone anywhere. It’s from Moltic-- one of my fathers failed attacks against Iceinia.”

Glaceia noted the streaks along the object being Iceinian ice-rock as well. “Yes, my father is responsible for this as well.”

Starla managed to solve all this, “Many of the misfires headed out into space at a fantastic speed. In time, they would have collided with smaller objects, such as meteors, comets, and whole asteroid fields, and thus… tons and tons of small rock form together into one giant planetoid.”

“That was our assessment as well.” said Grand Ruler.

Lightning kept gazing at the object, concerned with its size and velocity. “How long do we have?”

His majesty explained, “Already, this object can be seen in the night skies with the naked eye. We estimate that in less than one week, things will start to go from bad to worse.”

He conjured up more calculated images. “As the objects get closer towards us, just as you had seen, it will start to reflect light from the sun directly onto us. We’d all die from excessive heart suffocation before the object hits us, and when that happens… well…”

The images showed the object striking the planet, and due to its massive size, it would wipe out all life on United Equestria. Even the planet itself would likely explode!

“We’ve got to stop it!! WE’VE GOT TO STOP IT!!” shrieked Pinkie.

Everyone was shaken up by her sudden outburst. “I assure you; we have a plan formulated.” said Celestia. She looked over at her husband, and he narrowed his eyes, “…However, this plan involves a great risk.”

A long moment of silence followed as everyone’s nerves began to rise.

Before long, everyone was gathered in the laboratory where Professor Brain was going over the final inspections of his latest device-- a super implosion bomb. It was about the size of a small box.

The Professor was very pleased. “Ahh, yes. Satisfactory. Most Satisfactory.”

Pyron and Glaceia had never seen such a device before.

“What does this do?” asked Glaceia.

“What does it do?!” Brain asked, feeling a bit insulted. “My dear, this device, when activated, will save our world. That is what.”

He then activated the computer to show images of his theory. “Starfleet have always anticipated that such objects would threaten our world and other worlds.

However, since said object cannot be deflected, our best chance would be to plant this device at the core of the object, and then, upon activation, the device will create a massive demolecularizing field to cause the object to collapse into nothing. Thus, sparing us from a horrible fate.”

Artie explained to the couple, “Basically, it’ll cause the rock to collapse inward and vaporize harmlessly.”

Pyron was incredibly impressed. “Simply incredible,” but then he realized the risks, and addressed Lightning, “You mean to say…”

Lightning nodded, “We’re going to have to send a team to that rock to plant the device at the core and then detonate it.”

Shivers crept up everyone’s backs now fully realizing the incredible dangers involved.

Grand Ruler stepped forward. “I will be going on this mission, in command, and while ordinarily a mission of risk such as this would be on a volunteer basis, I have already selected the team to join me.

Lightning, you of course will be my co-commander.”

Lightning bowed graciously, “I am at your side, sire.”

The team was then selected-- Dyno and Myte, Buddy, Applejack, Spike, and Pyron.

“All of you have been chosen for a special reason,” said his majesty “Apart from your great strength, and your skills in geology, you have incredible ability to withstand and work in the intense heat within the core of that rock.”

The rest of the team understood well and took it in some stride, but Rainbow couldn’t help but ask, “And just what are the rest of us supposed to do?”

Celestia explained, “We’ll be organizing immediate evacuation-- to get everyone to safety in case the mission should fail.”

Glaceia and Pyron felt sickening turns in their stomachs, as did some of the spouses.

“I know it seems frightening,” said Celestia “But we always must prepare for the worst as well as the best, and no matter how much faith we have in ourselves and each other.”

Lightning gazed at Starla. His wife had a faithful expression on her face, but he knew she was as concerned as he was.

Rarity was quivering softly as she gazed at Spike, and he gazed at her.

Easily it was Glaceia and Pyron who were the most concerned.

He approached her and assured her. “I know how you feel about this, but I am needed.”

Glaceia bravely tried to fight off her tears, “I understand, but if anything were to happen to you, I… I just don’t think I could go on.”

Everyone’s hearts were feeling heavy.

Pinkie sniffled and looked as if she was going to bawl.

Lightning approached them. “Glaceia, you know we must do this.” Then he looked at all his friends. “We all know we must do this, because if we don’t, everyone could die-- Everyone! We need you to be brave.”

Glaceia said nothing but gave a soft nod indicating her understanding.

Now, there was much planning to do, for that giant rock was coming in with its sights on the planet!

To Be Continued…

(Promo)

In our next episode: It’s blastoff as some of our heroes take off to tackle the dangers and adventures of the oncoming planetoid, which are soon met with incredible, yet unwelcoming surprises. Meanwhile, the evacuations are met by more trouble as monsters come forth to delay things.

Can our heroes save their planet from both threats?

Don’t miss the next exciting episode of “Starfleet Magic!”

(Next Episode: “Future’s on the Rocks: Part 2”)