Starfleet Magic (Movie): The Switch Before Hearths Warming/Christmas

ACT SEVEN

As it was nighttime, Luna was instructed about Princess Luna’s duties-- to stay awake and patrol the kingdom and keep an eye on all nighttime activities and jobs.

This was not easy for her at all. She had been through a lot and was already rugged to exhaustion.

She stood up on the highest terrace of the palace and struggled to stay away. She let out a huge yawn. “How does the princess do this?” she wondered.

Just then, Goldwin came along to give her a pep-pill to help keep her wide-awake and alert, which worked very well.

“Wow! I feel like I could run a marathon!”

Goldwin chuckled, and then yawned, “Goodnight, and good luck… Princess.”

Luna winked at him and then continued with her watch.

Some of the friends had already settled into their specific homes and were in bed and asleep, while others were having a little bit of struggles.

Lightning and Starla started out a little shaky. It was shocking enough they had to pretend to be married, but the fact that they had children too…?!

“Mommy, are you going to tuck me in?” Shining Light asked.

Mommy… Being called that sure sent a wave of strange feelings through her.

“Coming… sweetie.” she said putting on an act, and soon she was tucking her “son” into his bed. Though he wasn’t her son, he looked so adorable the way he yawned and drifted off to sleep.

“Goodnight, Mommy.”

“Goodnight.” she said sweetie, and she was about to leave when Shining said her, “Where’s my goodnight kiss?”

Starla’s almost skipped a bit, but she kept herself steady. “Oh, silly me…” she chuckled, and she gave him a huge peck on his little head, which gave her a strange feeling of warmth, yet guilt as well.

“Goodnight.” Shining peeped, and then he was out like a light. Starla could only stare at him with a motherly gaze and feeling.

Lightning, on the other hand, was having a bit of trouble with Twinkle Star while trying to change her diaper. “I don’t know how to change a diaper. I have problems changing my own mind.” he grumbled to himself while struggling.

Twinkle kept fidgeting about, and Lightning had troubles of how to position the diaper and fit it on her.

He thought of using magic to steady things out, but he remembered what Mykan had warned him.

“Commander Lightning can’t do magic, so you mustn’t use yours at any time.”

Somehow or other, he managed to get the kid diapered and changed into her jammies, but then there was the matter of rocking her, and walking her about until she finally fell asleep.

“Finally.” Lightning whispered after setting her down in her crib. Still, he couldn’t help but gaze upon how cute she looked… for a little humanoid-pony.

Lightning then went downstairs where he found Starla sitting on the couch. She had made some cocoa for the two of them.

“Thanks.” he said as he sat down. He grabbed his mug, but hardly felt much like sipping.

It was awfully quiet in the big house, and the couple didn’t know what to say or feel about this whole situation.

“So… um…” Lightning said trying to break the silence.

Starla just nervously drummed her fingers along her mug.

“So… here we are?” Lightning said.

“Yeah… here we are.” replied Starla. Then she finally said what was on her mind, “Lightning, look. This just feels so strange. It almost feels like we’re… well, that we’re…”

“…I know.” Lightning quickly said. “We shouldn’t really talk about it out loud either,” and he whispered, “What if the boy’s listening, or anyone?”

They both agreed to try and keep it low and just play along with things.

“So… should we… head up to bed?” asked Starla.

Bed… the bed they were supposed to share together! That, by far, was one thing that got both their bloods churning with worry, and yet they found themselves gazing into each other’s eyes unable to look away.

“Wow!” Lightning thought “She’s so pretty… for a pony person.”

“He is so handsome the way he looks.” thought Starla.

They suddenly found their faces moving closer and closer…

…Then there was a soft knock at the door that startled them and nearly made them bonk heads, but they snapped into reality and realized what they had almost done.

“I… I’ll get the door.” Lightning said quickly.

“…I’ll… uh… go check on the kids.” Starla rushed upstairs, but she went to the master bedroom. “Oh, my gosh!” she murmured softly year tearfully “We almost went there!”

Lightning answered the door, and was he ever surprised at who it was. “Swift Star…?”

There was no mistaking it, this was Swift Star’s magical counterpart from this world.

“Glad you’re back, sir.” Swift said while saluting. Then he motioned at a big box full of binders containing reports, documents, schedules, and other papers. “Sorry to do this on short notice, but all these need to be filled out by tomorrow morning.”

Lightning thought he was going to faint in terror by all the many papers and things there were for him, which made him remember… he was the Commander!

“Is something wrong?” asked Swift.

Lightning quickly responded. “Uh… no… everything’s just fine.” Then he didn’t know why, but he asked, “Is there anything else?”

“Yes, sir… the other reports need to be completed by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Other reports…?” Lightning muttered to himself.

Swift saluted and bid him, “Good night, Commander.”

“Yes… goodnight.”

Lightning could hardly believe it. “Swift sure is different in this world.”

He entered the study, and he gasped at the loads of papers on the desk-- the other reports he was just told of, plus the ones he was just given!

…He fainted!

Applejack and Buddy had gone to New Sweet Apple Acres.

Applejack was fitting in well with her “family” and what really surprised her was the fact that Bright Mac and Pear Butter were alive, and Granny Smith was… passed away, while in her world, her Granny Smith was still alive, but her parents, likely, weren’t.

“Glad you’re home, Sis.” said Applebloom. “We were beginning to think something really went wrong.”

“Eeyup.” agreed Big Mac. “I don’t know how you Starfleeter’s do it, but you always come out of it okay.”

Applejack chuckled almost nervously. “Yeah… that’s use, alright; prepared for anything.”

Then she thought, “I certainly wasn’t prepared for all this. I wonder how Bud’s making out?”

Buddy had a little more surprising than she did. It was amazing enough they were neighbors living across from each other, when Buddy didn’t live on the acres back home, but the fact that he had a “daughter” with Tree Hugger.

Buddy was tucking 2-year-old Seedling into her crib.

“Kissy-Kiss?” the little toddler cooed, and Buddy just couldn’t resist the sweet little girl, and he pecked her sweetly on the head, yet thinking, “This is incredible. It’s almost like looking into the future.”

Once the kid was sleeping peacefully, he left the nursery and stopped right in the middle of the hallway to get a hold of himself. “Easy now… I can do this. Just keep up the act.”

“Hey…” DD called softly from behind, making him jump in fright, and made her jump too. “Whoa! What’s with that?”

Buddy calmed himself, “Nothing, I… I was lost in thought. What’s up?”

DD was astounded by her “cousin’s” behavior; he usually wasn’t jumpy like this. “Just reconfirming, we’re still on for patrol in the morning?”

Buddy blinked in confusion, “Patrol?”

Now DD was confused, “Well, yeah, I’m a junior cadet, remember. You said you’d supervise me on my next rounds.”

Buddy remembered what he had been told that DD was not just his cousin but his private pupil and on the verge of becoming a full Starfleet Officer.

“Oh, yeah… sorry. I just don’t know where I’ve been today. I mean, a lot’s happened.”

DD then headed off to bed herself, leaving him to head downstairs to the living room where a fire was roaring in the fireplace nicely.

He sat on the sofa trying to keep himself together. “So, far so good…” he muttered himself, but there was still one thing worrying him…!

That’s when the front door opened, and Tree Hugger came in from teaching a night Yoga Class in the snow. “Yo… I’m home.” she called softly…

Buddy turned and saw her…

She flicked back her lovely locks behind her head, which made her look prettier than ever.

“That’s her…” Buddy thought. “She’s beautiful…! Ack-- wait! What am I doing? She’s not my Tree Hugger, even though she is in a way.”

He also noted her big belly as she was five months pregnant-- as he was told.

His heart was racing with feelings of warmth, but more of worry, especially when she came over to him, “Hey, there…” she said, and she leaned down and kissed him tenderly on the lips, which shocked him as he sat there with his eyes open wide and his face turning red like a heated kettle.

Tree Hugger felt something off about him; his lack of kissing her back. “You feeling alright? Your love is vibing, but your Zen is, like, way M-I-A-?”

Buddy was frozen stiff. She even had her Hippie Talk, which he still understood.

Finally, he snapped awake, “…Just, a little tired, it’s been a long day.”

Tree Hugger wasn’t too convinced, while Buddy was feeling slightly relieved. “I can do this. I can pull through this act… I hope.”

Then there were Rhymey and Fluttershy, living in General Fluttershy’s cottage.

Button Fly was in his crib fast asleep. The couple had tended to him wonderfully, but it still shocked and frightened them that they had to pretend to be married with a kid.

This also meant sharing a bed together.

Oh, it wasn’t all that awkward. They both even thought it would be great practice before they got married for real, but they still felt a bit nervous. With all this happening, it felt like they had been married a long time.

Rhymey felt the covers quiver as Fluttershy shivered.

“I say,
Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded softly, and then she turned to face him,

“No! No, I’m not.
It’s this fear I’ve got.

I know we have to roleplay well,
To make our ruse go really swell,
But… pardon me that I fess up,
What if we cause a little mess up?”

Rhymey understood,

“I feel the same way, I do,
I’m just as nervous too.
But I do know that I love you so,
We can do this, me and you.”

She blushed and her eyes twinkled.

“Well, if that’s how you feel…
Can we practice marriage for real?”

Rhymey eyes widened,

“Fluttershy…?!
Oh, my…!” he said, especially when Fluttershy shut her eyes and pursed her lips forth.

Of course, he couldn’t resist her. It was going to be their future life.

He slowly moved towards her, and just as their lips were about to make contact.

Angel suddenly hopped up onto the bed, frightening them both. Just like Fluttershy’s real pet rabbit, he had nightmares, and he needed a cuddle at night-- as in sleeping in bed with the two of them.

The little rabbit was shaking with such fright, Fluttershy just couldn’t say No, much to Rhymey’s dismay.

Then, there was Artie…

He had already put his little “daughter” Sun Stream to bed in her crib, and he just kept watching her. He found this all to be incredibly unbelievable.

When first he got to this place, he was greeted by Sunset Shimmer.

“Hi… heard there was trouble today.” she said, referring to an alert that spread out over the happenings at the palace. Thankfully, she didn’t know of the switch.

“Glad you’re okay.”

Artie hardly knew what to say. He knew this was not his Sunset Shimmer-- the Magical One-- but her human counterpart who came to live among the magical ones, married his pony-counterpart and had a kid. Yet, even in a pony-like appearance, anyone that didn’t know better would be fooled.

The family had supper, and then it was time to put Sun Stream to bed.

“I suppose I should get to bed too.” he thought quietly. He was very nervous about this, but his nerves calmed down when he saw Sunset was not there in the bed they would share together.

He took some time to undress, put on his sleepwear and climb into the bed, still fretful of something that was likely to happen.

He was worried that Sunset would come in, and strip herself in front of him, then climb into bed wanting to “Get it on!” which freaked him out, knowing she was not his wife.

He got his answer when Sunset came into the bedroom yawning and feeling exhausted. “All that woodcarving sure knocks you out.” she said wearily.

Artie remembered, unlike his Sunset, this Sunset was an artist just like General Artie, and she indeed looked beat to do much of anything.

“Whew!” he sighed softly in relief.

Of course, Sunset wasn’t too tired to want a goodnight kiss, and she turned to face him with her lips pursed forth.

Artie knew he had to play his role well, and to help him, he thought of his own wife, and pictured it was her lying next to him, which helped him bring his lips to her in a loving smooch.

When they separated, and she smiled at him, and lay down, drifting off to sleep, he just lay flat down on the pillow looking straight up at the ceiling in near shock, but he kept reminding himself, “I’m not having an affair, I’m just doing as I was told!

I’m just… doing… as I was told!”

Sunset was sound asleep beside him, snoring very softly. He couldn’t help but wonder how his Sunset and the other Artie were doing.

Back in the Human World, Sunset had shown Artie into their college dorm where they lived for the duration of the term.

The two of them just sat on the bed feeling too embarrassed and afraid to crawl in.

“I… I can sleep on the sofa.” Artie offered.

“No!” Sunset snapped, “Sorry… you don’t have to, sir. You’re higher in rank. You should get the bed; I can sleep on the sofa.”

“No, no!” Artie insisted “I can’t do that. This is your life, it’s your dorm room, it’s your bed… you should rightfully have it.”

“But Sir… I insist that…” Sunset couldn’t go on.

Artie was about to be firm with her and make it a direct order, but he couldn’t bring the words out.

So, a compromise was made… and they were soon both in the bed together.

Artie lay on his back looking up at the ceiling, while keeping his distance away from the woman on the other side of the bed.

“You can come closer.” Sunset said, though nervously.

“Um… thank you, Colonel.”

“Artie… you know you have to stop being so formal with me. I know our ranks and all that, but we have to play our roles right so no one will suspect anything.”

“Alright. I’ll try my absolute best.

Um… goodnight, Sunset.”

“Goodnight.”

Everyone else had gone to their respective homes as well.

(1:32)

Some of the others were sleeping peacefully, while others were not so well.

Human Fluttershy lived in a small house in the suburban area, preferably near a forest and marsh where other wild animals lived, but not so many as back home.

Here, she lived with Angel, just like her own pet rabbit. He was all tucked into his basket and sleeping peacefully, and Fluttershy thought he was so sweet and well cared for.

But she still felt lonely without her husband, her son, and many other of her animal friends.

As she climbed into bed, she looked out into the night sky and shed a small tear.

“Goodnight, Rhymey, my love,
I pray to all the stars above.
I wish you were here. I miss you so dear,
It the feelings that we’re all made of.”

Within the city, Rhymey occupied Human Rhymey’s single apartment in the urban area, which was just over “Rhyme Time” Café, much like his own join back home and very convenient for him…

But his heart ached as he lay alone in bed, missing the warmth and comfort of his wife’s presence.

He said sadly to himself,

“Goodnight Fluttershy, wherever you are,
We may be apart, but no matter how far,
I really love you, and always think too,
That you are my one and only star.”

(2:34)

Lightning and Krysta stayed in Human Lightning’s apartment loft, which was much better furnished than the empty lot it used to be.

In all his years on the force, he had never felt so worried about so much at the same time.

He looked down at his left hand, right at his ring finger, which was now bare. He had removed his wedding ring just like some of the others to help with the playacting, and it really made him feel sad.

He was standing at the window and looking up at the night sky, and the sleepy city off in the distance with all its lights glowing and thinking about his friends, especially Starla…

Starla stayed in Human Starla’s apartment in the city, on the top floor of a five-story building, with a perfect view of the night sky. Human Starla even had a telescope of her own and binders full of astronomy notes and findings.

She felt strange being all alone again. Human Starla had no parents or any other family, so she naturally lived alone.

She missed having Lightning near her so much, and this also brought on serious worry about her children back home, and she prayed they were okay under the care of their allies.

“The sooner we find that magic, the better.” she said to herself.

Lightning was thinking the same thing. “Tomorrow… it begins.”

(4:17)

Lightning saw Krysta, asleep in her little nestbox bed. She was so peaceful. This made him feel calm and quiet, as he climbed into bed and fell asleep.