My Brave Pony: Starfleet Magic III

EPISODE SIXTEEN

Cadance couldn't have possibly smiled any more than she had been since her brother's spirit was revived; it was hard for her to keep in mind that this was only temporary. She was to help his spirit try to move on, or discover his real purpose.

Cadance was still struggling with that old painful memory she had when he was the Robot Leader. "I destroyed you… just like that." she cried.

"You did what I asked of you." her brother said "I knew that there was no hope for me, and had you not done as I asked, you would have been destroyed for certain, and all of United Equestria would eventually fall under the robots' evil powers again, given the time. I bear you no grudge Cadance, and I am glad we get to have a few more moments together."

For the first time since it happened, Cadance was finally starting to lighten up.

For now, having Fratello back, he was bound to be of good help to everyone, seeing as how he had been with Cadance all the time and knew of many ways to help tip the war against Sombra into their favor.

"As you know, Sombra is keeping his ship far out in the void of Dimensional Space where you cannot reach it."

"He's right." said Lightning "If we fall into Dimensional Space without proper protection, we'll be teleported somewhere randomly, and may never be seen again."

"We can't even get there by dimensional pathways. They only connect to other planets, not objects or vehicles." Added Krysta

"And Sombra's sure to be prepared for us to make such a move to board his ship." Twilight said "We have to try and get him by surprise."

"There is, however, one possibility." said Fratello "Sombra's minions… they somehow manage to teleport to and from the ship here to your planet. If we can somehow learn of this secret, perhaps we can use it to our advantage. I will need every to lend a hand in helping me to help you all."

Everyone agreed to do their best to help him, even Robot-Fratello, whom Fratello couldn't help but gaze at with great interest. "It is somewhat strange, yet almost comforting to be looking at an unrealistic version of myself."

"My sensors are all rigged with puzzlement, but I too will lend any service of which I can provide."

Fratello was very grateful.

…

Meanwhile… Raven was meditating in the dark dimension as she silently thought of going after Celestia again. After obtaining all the information she required, she had decided it was time to make a direct approach. "No more Ms. Nice-pony. I will destroy her, and I shall skewer anyone who dares to get in my way to defend her."

…

Elsewhere, there were more evil plots brewing. Sombra had summoned his remaining minions to discuss his new plans to invade New Canterlot Palace. "I nominate Harkin for the job." Melantha said. "Yeah, he's the best we got." added Frost-Eye "If anyone can get in there and get back those heart shards, it's him."

Harkin heard what they had said, but simply remained still and silent. "Harkin? What is wrong?" asked Sombra. "Did you now hear what we have said?"

"Oh, I heard you… I'm just not interested."

Melantha and Frost-Eye gasped in shock and fear as Sombra's eyes narrowed and his magic flared in fiery bright colors. "What did you say?!" he thundered.

"You heard me." said Harkin "I'm done here."

"What are you talking about?" growled Melantha.

"You're supposed to be one of us." added Frost-Eye.

"You dare turn against me?!" thundered Sombra.

Harkin snickered and explained the entire situation to them plan and simple. "My work here is done, and I have no further need for any of you! So consider this my resignation." He preceded towards the hearts shards they had collected and took them. Sombra roared loudly, making the entire spaceship quiver "THIS WILL NOT BE TOLLERATED!" and his eye glowed widely as he at blasted Harkin hoping to take back the power he had bestowed upon him, and kill him, but Harkin raised his hand and counter the attack with what was actually his own powers. "It's not right to take what isn't yours." He teased "I never had any use of the power you gave me."

Melantha and Frost-Eye backed away from him, and Sombra was growing more furious than ever, but he still didn't have a body of his own keeping him bound to the ship. "I could reduce you all to dust right now." Harkin hissed at them all "But consider this my going away gesture, and thanks for helping me find that which I seek. Good work to all of you, and… goodbye!"

Then his vanished, while laughing, and took the shards with him, much to the shock of his now ex-comrades, and his, raging, former king! "You will pay for this!" growled Sombra "TRAITOR…!"

…

The next few days, Fratello spent working with Professor Brain, and his robot counterpart in the labs producing theoretical ways that would possibly help find a way to get onto Sombra's ship…

Still, even with all the impending threats, schedules, routines, patrols, and regulations went on, as well as the planning of Lightning and Starla's upcoming; though many were starting to think of calling it off in view of all the threats and dangers that still remained. Even Lightning and Starla themselves were starting to lean with the idea, but then again, everyone wanted to be brave and bold, and show them that no evil would stop them from carrying on.

So much was done in so little time; Rarity was so excited she had been busy making new dresses and outfits for everyone. Including the Cutie Mark Crusaders, all five of them, whom Starla and Lightning had asked to be the flower-fillies; as a reward for helping saving them all on Leiko.

In fact, that was all they could talk about at school, or at home, or even with each other… and they were still hopeful they would finally get their cutie-marks.

Spike would act as ring bearer again, and Shining Armor would be Lightning's best stallion. Buddy Rose was growing and gathering the finest flowers for everyone to use, and Arite was going to paint what he felt would truly be a masterpiece to end all masterpieces to commemorate such a day. Rhymey was working with Fluttershy and Pinkie to compose music and songs for the wedding ball after the ceremony, and the Spanish twins were working with Rainbow Dash and the wonderbolts to put on the greatest firework show and salute ever, which would include a tradition Sonic-Rainboom.

Applejack was helping with catering, as usual, and Twilight, Cadance, and Shining Armor were helping hard to coordinate everything so it was just right, which brought back a lot of memories from the royal Canterlot wedding when the Changelings invaded the first time… but that was ancient history.

Goldwin was helping out a great deal too with the decorating and placing things just right, and he was going act as an usher at the wedding. "I've never been a royal usher before. Gee… it's so exciting." he said with glee.

Today, they were all going to hold a rehearsal in the royal hall that was being decked out nicely, and Lightning was on his way to fetch his bride-to-be, who was with Rarity at the moment, working on her wedding dress.

He knocked on the door to her room. "Come in." she called. Lightning opened the door, and what he saw nearly took his breath away. "Hey! Starla, what are you doing? You know I'm not supposed to see you in your dress before the wedding."

"Oh, please! That's just a bunch of superstition. I don't believe in it any more than you do. Besides, I'm not in my dress, I'm behind it." and as promised, she walked out from behind the headless pony mannequin to reveal that she was dressed in her regular uniform, but she still look beautiful to Lightning anyway, the way she stood in the sunlight. He just couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Rarity came out from behind a dresser wardrobe with fabric and materials. The dress wasn't quite finished yet anyway. "I can sew and stich any dress instantly, but resizing and converting one so it will fit a genetically altered pony take quite the skill, and I still have so much more to do I don't know where I'm going to find the time to do it all." She overdramatically fainted over the sofa. Starla and Lightning rolled their eyes. "Come on…" Lightning said "We need to get the rehearsal." But suddenly he felt Starla grab his arm "Hold it." she said and snickered teasingly. "Aren't you going to kiss the bride first?"

Lightning teased back. "What, now...? But we haven't gotten to that part yet."

"Well…" Starla said as she moved closer to him "Let's just pretend we have…" and she softy wrapped her arms round his neck and kissed him softly, and he kissed her back. Rarity couldn't help but shed a tear of happiness.

…

At the rehearsal, everyone took their positions. Cadance and Celestia helped guide Starla down the aisle and how to walk, being brides themselves. "Just think proud and tall."

"One and two… One and two…"

Grand Ruler and Shining Armor instructed Lightning on how to properly stand at the altar. "Just stand straight and tall, and keep your eyes on her."

"And try to keep a straight face; you don't want to make a goofy scene now."

Lightning already felt he had butterflies in his stomach, and constantly tried to remind himself that it was only a rehearsal, but he held out strong and reached for Starla's hand when she got to him. "He did it!" cried Sweetie Bell, and all the crusaders cheered, but Rarity gave them a strict look telling them to hush. "You're not supposed to yell out like that, especially during the real thing." She reminded them. The girls blushed, "Sorry." They all said. Everyone chuckled softly, and they continued.

"Twilight, you have to stand over here." Celestia instructed. Twilight did as she was told and took her place ahead of all her friends; the bridesmaids. "How cool is this?" she cried "This is the third time I've ever been the mare of honour."

"And why shouldn't you be?" asked Applejack.

"Yeah, you're the best one there is Twilight." added Pinkie.

"I don't know what would happen to us if anything bad would happen to you, Twilight." said Fluttershy.

"Yeah, you go, girl!" said Rainbow.

Twilight felt embarrassed, but loved. "This will be one of the grandest weddings I've ever attended, and I want to see it go through without a hitch." she said with princess pride.

They continued with the rehearsal, unaware that trouble was already eyeing them from afar, just outside the palace. Harkin was standing on a tree limb, in the shadows where the guards couldn't see him. "There they are." He said "If my plan is to succeed, I must show them I mean business."

He suddenly had a feeling he was being watched, and he could see Raven standing on another tree branch and gazing at him. "Well, hello there." she smirked.

"Who are you?"

"It's not who I am, but what I can do for you, for I happen to have reasons for getting inside myself."

He could sense the heart shard she wore round her neck. "So, you are the one we have heard of; the one who seeks the murder of the queen, Celestia."

Raven nodded "And if I'm not mistaken, you wish to obtain the remaining shards. Is that not so? Perhaps we can help each other."

"I do not need your help to accomplish my goals."

Raven snickered "Really…? Even if I knew of a way guaranteed to make your plans succeed?"

Harkin narrowed his eyes interest. "How…?"

Raven grinned sinisterly under her hood "Just follow me, and all be clear to you soon enough."

Harkin wasn't sure if he could trust her for real, but he would be well prepared if she tried anything sneaky. "Show me!"

…

Before long, several guards were guarding the doors to a large vault deep within the palace where the Elements of Harmony were once kept when in gem-form. Now, within that vault sat the four heart shards the team had collected.

The guards could see no one coming, but their Starfleet visors were suddenly detecting some form of dark energy. Popping up through the floor is before they could react, the dark magic knocked them all unconscious. Then Harkin and Raven appeared. Raven casually blew on her finger. "That was too easy." She hissed.

"Impressive…" said Harkin "But this by no means makes us allies."

"I never said we were." hissed Raven. "The other four shards are just beyond that door, and once I have what I obtain, I will let you have the one that I possess."

"Agreed…"

…

The rehearsal proceeded perfectly, but of course it didn't count as the real thing would. "Ooh, I'm so excited; I can't wait!" cried Starla "Me neither." Lightning said "Just think… we're going to be married."

"Married…!"

They kept gazing into each other's eyes, but the moment was shattered when the alarms sounded warning everyone that the vault had been broken into. "Let's hurry!" shouted Grand Ruler. Goldwin stayed behind to look after the crusaders as they were told to remain behind. "What do you think the problem is?" asked Babs.

"I don't know, but I hope it's not very serious." said DD.

"Me too, girls." added Goldwin.

…

Everyone dashed to the vault door to find it was still in one piece, but the guards were all knocked out and laying on the floor. Grand Ruler and Celestia gazed at each other with concern, and then quickly opened the door, only to discover to their horrors, the stone pillar with the red pillow on it were there, but the heart shards were missing.

"They're gone!" cried Cadance.

"How is that possible?" asked Shining Armor. The door had been sealed with a spell that only Celestia and Grand Ruler were able to break together, but then again in that crazy universe full of all sorts of magic and surprises… anything was possible!

Suddenly, Robot-Fratello buzzed and flailed his arms. "Warning…! Warning…! Warning…! Warning…!"

"What is it?" snapped Krysta.

"My sensors detect high levels of evil cosmic powers present in this chamber."

The sound of a sinister and familiar laugh echoed along the walls. "That laugh." cried Celestia. She felt shivers run up her spine, and Twilight felt her anger spiking. "Raven…!"

"Show yourself!" demanded Grand Ruler.

Raven snickered. "Why bother? You already know that I'm here, and I bet you know why?"

"What have you done with the heart shards?" growled Lightning.

Raven didn't answer, and instead, multiple glowing orbs began to shine, and fire projectiles at Celestia. "Look out!" screamed Twilight. Celestia swiftly ducked, and evaded the shots as best she could, but one of the shots hit her in the face and knocked her head against the wall knocking her out cold. "Celestia!" cried Grand Ruler, and he quickly projected a small barrier around his wife deflecting off the other shots.

"You can protect her all you like… nothing will stop me from getting my revenge!" roared Raven and her magical blast continued to fire from the orbs. "Shoot them out!" shouted Lightning, and the team each fired their attacks and projectiles at the orbs, destroying them, but they appeared almost instantly again.

"They keep coming back!" cried Buddy Rose.

Twilight looked around, and suddenly, she could see Raven hiding up in the rafters in the ceiling. She fired a shot of magic at the supports, breaking them and causing her to fall, but she landed smoothly on her feet where everyone could see her. "There she is!" cried Artie.

Raven ran off. "Hey! Come back here!" growled Twilight as she ran after her. "Twilight!" shouted Lightning.

"Twilight, get back here, that's an order!" yelled Grand Ruler, but Twilight continued to run after Raven, determined not to let her get away this time. "Twilight!" shouted Lightning. "Go! Try and stop her." shouted Grand Ruler.

Lightning nodded and took off after Twilight. The others wanted to go too and started running after him, but suddenly, more projectiles shot at them. Starla looked up. "Harkin…!"

"Let's get him!" shouted Spike. They all transformed, and dashed after him, out of the palace and into the grounds below. "Now, isn't this just sad." hissed Harkin "Here I was hoping to see your admiral, but I guess I wouldn't mind a warm up."

…

Raven dashed out of the palace, with Twilight closing on her. "Harmony Hour… Friendship Power…!" Lightning wasn't too far behind either. "Starfleet… Magic…!"

He was catching up to Twilight fast demanding she come back, but Twilight wouldn't listen and fired magical beams straight at Raven. She evaded them and returned fire! Twilight evaded it, and Lightning almost didn't see it coming. "Whoa!" he cried as he barely dodged it.

Raven descended in a small forest just outside of New Canterlot's borders, and Twilight landed too and stared her down furiously. "Leave me teacher alone!" she demanded. "Foolish mare!" growled Raven. "You want a piece of me? Come and get it!"

Twilight glared the angriest glares she had ever glared and charged at her screaming furiously, and the fight was on. Twilight furiously punched and kicked like crazy, and Raven blocked her every pitiful attack, and punched her hard, sending her crashing into a tree, but Twilight dashed right back for more just as Lightning finally made it. "Twilight, stop!" he shouted, but Twilight just continued to fight. The battle became fiercer as the two ponies began to fire magic at each other.

Finally, he couldn't take this and had to jump into battle himself in hopes of breaking them up, but Raven, with her thousand years of training was defiantly no pushover as she managed to defend herself from the two of them almost effortlessly; blocking their punches, dodging their kicks, flipping them over her back. "Twilight, we've got to get out here!" shouted Lightning.

"No!" snapped Twilight "I'm not going to let her terrorize Celestia anymore, even if it kills me!" and she finally managed to land a successful blow to Raven's chest, but it only knocked her back a few measly steps. "Tell me that was not your best. That barely even tickled me."

The battle continued as Raven leapt high up into the trees, and Lightning and Twilight followed her. Lightning managed to land several blows to her, but Raven hardly seemed to flinch, but he did manage to give her a good blast from his golden horn and knock her out of the tree. Raven growled furiously and jumped right back up again, returning the favor and knocking Lightning out of the tree, while She and Twilight seemed to head deeper into the forest, still brawling.

Lightning leapt onto his feet and chased after them, but as he got nearer, Raven blasted him and trapped him inside of a hollowed barrier of magic. He couldn't get out, but the magic. "It can't be…!" he said feeling he knew what kind it was.

Before Twilight knew it, Raven had encased her inside of a barrier too. "Catch your breath!"

Twilight furiously ran against the barrier and it knocked her back. "What kind of magic is this?" she asked.

Raven decided it was time to show them. "Take a good look, and you will see." And she pulled off her hood revealing her full face, and… Twilight and Lightning gasped. "A golden horn?!" snapped Lightning.

Raven was capable of using the uniforce as well, which was exactly what the barriers were made of. Raven couldn't help but snicker at them both.

…

Meanwhile, the others were busy brawling with Harkin at the palace grounds. Starla fire her arrows at him, and he skillfully dodged them. Rarity fired a big beam at him which he counted with his Red-Rays.

Rhymey and Artie came at him with their weapons, but he blocked Artie's staff with his strong solid arms alone, and evaded Rhymey's every sword slash. "You know… if it weren't for the things you lack, I'd say you were almost worthy enough opponents."

"This is a game to you?!" growled Artie.

"You'll think different when we're through." rhymed Rhymey, and they both swung hard at Harkin but he leapt up high, causing them to miss and hit each other's weapons. "Huh?"

"Where did he go?" asked Artie.

"I don't know." rhymed Rhymey

Suddenly they looked up and could see him as he soared straight downward with his fists glowing "FISTS OF FURY!" Krysta quickly used her magic to instantly warp the boys out of the way just in time as Harkin smashed the ground hard making a huge crater, much to everyone's shock. "He did that with his bear fists?" Rarity asked in shock.

Harkin snickered "Anyone who has trained as much as I have could easily do the same thing, a pity none of you seem to know that."

"Say what?!" growled Rainbow and she charged at him with all her might. Harkin merely sidestepped out of the way, but Rainbow curved and bashed right into him, actually knocking him backwards. "All right!" she cried for joy, but when the dust had settled, Harkin was still standing. "Impressive." And he zipped right back and punched her hard in the face, sending her crashing into Fluttershy.

"You'll all begin to realize by now that I'm not as easy to push over as my ex-fellow comrades."

As the fight continued to questions and answers did as well. "Ex-comrades?" asked Pinkie as she blocked a punch.

"You mean you've cut ties with Sombra?" added Krysta as she used her magic to pelt huge rocks at Harkin, which he deflected and scoffed. "That fool, Sombra and his wicked plans are of no concern to me. I'm just out for myself."

Dyno and Myte burst through the ground and tried to hold him back. "That doesn't mean we can't still fight you." snapped Dyno. "Si…! We won't let you cause any more damage!"

Harkin shoved the twins away and was faced with Spike, and he brawled at Harkin hard, actually able to keep up with him for a while. "What is it you want then?" Spike asked as he engaged in a strength struggle. Harkin just sniggered and head-bashed him hard sending him skidding along the ground. "Spike!" cried Rarity.

"I'll tell you what I want, and listen carefully." said Harkin "In exactly one week from tonight I want that your Admiral, Lightning, will come to the summit of Fire-Mountain near the Dragon's Lands. There, he and I shall face each other in a duel to the death!"

"TO THE DEATH?!" everyone shouted in shock.

Harkin nodded "Tell him this when next you see him, and that I look forward to it."

"As if, bozo!" snapped Starla "Lightning won't come after you just because you say."

"Oh, but he will…" said Harkin "Or perhaps this will help persuade him." And he held out, to everyone astonishing shock, seven shards of the Crystal Heart all together making an incomplete whole.

"Give that to us right now!" demanded Buddy Rose.

"Um… if you don't mind that is." whimpered Fluttershy.

Harkin simply snickered and repeated his challenge. "I will be waiting, and your friend denies me, I will shatter this piece of crystal junk to oblivion, and oh, what would happen then?" As he vanished he reminded them to tell him. "I can hardly wait… it will be a real challenge to face a real Enti-corn!"

Then he was gone, and everyone was just shocked and upset. After everything they had gone through to keep those shards safe, they had lost them, but what confused them was what Harkin called Lightning. "What's an Enti-Corn?" asked Krysta.

The others wanted to know that too. They had heard of alicorns before… but an Enti-Corn?!

…

Up in the palace, Celestia was finally coming to form her knock out. Fratello and Professor Brain came out from the lab to help out. "Are you alright, Auntie." asked Fratello.

"I am now." Celestia said.

"You gave us quite a scare." said Shining Armor. Then Celestia remembered "Raven…! Where is she?"

"She got away." said Cadance "Twilight went after her."

"She what?!" snapped Celestia.

"Lightning tried to stop her, but I don't think she's listening. She's trying to defend your honor and your life." said Shining Armor.

Celestia was very angry with Twilight. "I specifically told her not to go after her!"

Grand Ruler clenched his fists angrily. "If she ever gets out of this, I'll make sure she's busted!" That was just his anger talking, but the others actually agreed. Twilight had no right to disobey orders this time.

…

Twilight and Lightning were still gazing at Raven's golden horn, still finding it hard to believe. "I know the secrets of the uniforce just as you and your teacher, Admiral." She hissed. "The perfect weapon I'll have to use against Celestia. After all, she has no defense against it."

Hearing those words, burned Twilights blood. "NO! I WON'T LET YOU!" she thundered and slammed against the barrier several times in futile efforts to break it. "My goodness, are you still trying to defend your teacher?" Raven taunted "You seem to have an overdeveloped sense of rage and confidence."

This made Twilight angrier. So Raven decided to deactivate the shields and turn her and Lightning loose Twilight raced straight for Raven, "Twilight, No!" shouted Lightning, but Twilight had already rammed hard into Raven actual knocking her off her feet and through the brambles and out of the forest down a hill and into a wide open field.

Lightning followed them, very annoyed with Twilight. "She's going to face a court martial for this!"

Twilight and Raven reached the bottom and Twilight was over top of her and furiously ramming punches into her face, which did cause her a little pain, but Raven's eyes began to glow as she shouted "Azarath… Metrione… ZINTHOS..!" and blasted Twilight clear off of her with a burst of dark magic.

Twilight was looking weary, but still not willing to admit defeat. "I won't let you hurt Celestia. You hear me?!"

Raven glared at her fiercely, and Lightning finally arrived on the scene and landed right next to Twilight and grabbed her by the arm. "Twilight…!"

"Let go of me!"

"Stop it! We can't beat her like this! We need to go back!"

"No!" shouted Twilight and her horn glowed and she encased him inside a barrier or her own making. "I'm not giving up. This pony has crossed the line threatening Celestia and getting other involved, and I'm not going to stand for it anymore!" and she dashed over at Raven to fight her more. "Twilight!" shouted Lightning.

He quickly charged up his uniforce magic and began to blast away at the barrier, as it wasn't as tough as a uniforce barrier. He managed to break free and charged over at the girls in attempt to break them up again, but Raven kicked him hard and sent him skidding up the hill and hitting a tree, far from them.

Twilight continued to fight as best she could, but Raven was starting to grow annoyed and decided to teach Twilight a lesson once and for all about getting in the way between her and her revenge. Her golden horn began to glow with that mystical light, and she laughed loud and wickedly, and her hands were just glowing brightly. Twilight gazed in concern, but remembered that Celestia's life was at stake, and she began to glow along with her Element of Magic deep within her.

"Twilight!" shouted Lightning, and he dashed down to try and get to her and stop her, but the two ponies already fired two large beams of magic at one another. Twilight pushed and struggled and gave it all she got, but she too stood no chance against the power of the uniforce, and Raven began to send force the powers back at her. Twilight gasped and barley managed to leap out of the way just in time, but Raven zipped right up to her, and actually opened her armorer vest, and zapped her… right through the heart right before Lightning's eyes and horror.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…!"

(Slower speed)

Twilight's body jolted with magical currents, and small explosions. Her visor had shattered, and her armor fell off and hit the ground with a loud clang as she fell to her knees… forward onto the ground… followed by a large, fiery explosion!

(Normal speed)

"TWILIGHT…!"

Raven laughed maliciously with evil glee as the smoke cleared and there, poor Twilight lay on the ground, seriously injured, her mane was all tangled, half of her tail was charred off. Her wings looked badly twisted. One of her boots was missing. Her visor was shattered; her armor was all dented and punctured. Her body was badly wounded, bruised, and charred, the top of her horn was black, and she was hardly moving. "No!" she squeaked.

…

While at the palace, Fratello's body began to glow. "What's this?" he asked. "What's happening to me?"

"Fratello!" cried Cadance "What's wrong…?" and before her brother could answer, the magic that kept him going had ceased, and all the rocks, wood, sludge, other things fell to the floor in a big mess "Brother!"

"What happened?" asked Shining Armor "Why did the spell stop?"

…

It stopped because Twilight was the one, who had cast it, and… there was no doubt, she was a goner. Raven cast a glare at Lightning and decided to let him be. "Let this be a warning…" she sneered "Anyone who dares get in the way of my revenge will meet the same fate as your friends. Ciao!" and she vanished while laughing loudly, but Lightning was almost too devastated to care.

He powered down his suit and walked over to Twilight. He got done on his knees and, ever so gently, scooped her into his arms. The wound on her chest was very fatal. "Twilight…?" he peeped softly as he gently caressed her face with his fingers "Twilight…?"

She weakly opened her eyes and gazed up at him. "Lightning." she spoke so wearily and softly she almost couldn't be heard. Tears were flowing down Lightning's face. "Just take it easy. She's gone now."

Twilight slowly laid her hand into Lightning's one free hand. "Lightning…" she peeped "…I'm… sor… ry!" Her eyes slowly closed and Lightning felt her hand softly sliding out of his and it just flopped lifelessly onto her chest. "Twilight…?" Her entire body lost its coloring and turned to a chalky grey, her cutie mark glowed brightly under her pants, and seemingly left her flank and dissolved into thin air, and finally out of her body emerged a newly forged stone representing the element of magic. "Twilight?!" sobbed Lightning. His tears were cascading down his face and splashing onto her body. "No… No…"

And her threw his head high up into the air and let out a very loud and mournful NEIGH… just like the pony he was.

…

His neighing was so loud, Grand Ruler could hear it way at the palace. His blood turned ice-cold "No!" he cried softly "The Starfleet mourn of loss!" It was a mournful cry that all officers on the force made whenever a fellow comrade or loved one died so tragically… and if Lightning was the one making the noise.

Grand Ruler gazed sorrowfully at his wife, and Celestia felt her heart being torn to shreds inside. "No?!" she peeped as her tears began to fall. "…She… she…" and she fell into her husband's arms sobbing.

Cadance and Shining gazed out the window, both completely devastated. "Twili…?! No…! NOOOOOOOOOOO…!"

…

It was not long at all before Lightning was slowly walking down a long carpeted aisle, holding Twilight's body in his arms, passing by a long crowd of extremely sad ponies and creatures, including Twilight's heartbroken parents. Her mother was sobbing softly, but painfully, and her father just couldn't believe it. "My girl…!" he muttered sadly "My… brave… little girl!"

At the end, Lightning reached the table-pedestal and gently lay Twilight upon it, and softly folded her arms lightly across her chest.

Everyone got down onto their knees quietly, and all across Equestria, every single creature that heard of her death were doing the same. Many were just as devastated as other. Some even more.

And extremely large funeral was held as Twilight's body was cremated… a warrior's burial. As her body just lay there and became consumed by the fiery magic. Everyone never felt so hurt, so mournful.

All of Twilight's friends and Lightning's felt so upset. She was such a wonderful friend, and good co-leader, not to mention she would have made the best youngest Princess the planet ever had. Spike felt more devastated than all of them. She was his best friend, and his mother figure. She raised him. She helped take care of him. Now he felt he had no one. He felt all alone, and he wouldn't be able to return to the library anymore.

But Rarity hugged him deeply and pecked his cheek promising that she would gladly take him in and look after him. "Thank you!" he whispered and continued to cry in her arms.

Cadance and Shining Armor were more devastated than he was, especially Cadance, first she lost her brother… twice, and now she lost her best friend and sister-in-law. Her heart ached as if it had been pierced with a sword of fire.

But above all of them… nobody… not a single one of them felt worse than Lightning. To him, Twilight dying in his arms was like watching his whole planet, Harmonious, and all his people and his family blown up again right before his eyes. He was helpless to save them, and he was helpless to save Twilight too.

…

Twilight's ashes were kept in a magical chalice that was placed in the walls underneath a stain-glass window of Twilight, as her memorial, in the royal palace.

Except for Lightning who was resting in his room after such devastation… The two teams, Krysta, Princess Luna, Cadance, Shining Armor, even Goldwin were gathered in the throne room where Grand Ruler, though vastly devastated by what had happened, stuck to his duty and tried to get everyone to be strong.

"Everyone…" he spoke very softly but deeply as he gazed upon the many heartbroken and tearful faces "There are so many things to say at a time like this… but not one of them will do a bit of good. There is no worse feeling than losing a teammate… a close friend… a beloved one. The only cure for it… the time…"

"Time…?!" Goldwin cut in "You mean we'll just forget!"

"No, that's not what he meant." Celestia said, with sadness in her voice and tears in her eyes, but she tried to be brave. "We know how all of you feel; we don't feel any different than you."

Her husband nodded and clenched his fists tightly as so many painful memories flashed by him. "I have lost… so many officers, friends, and comrades over the centuries… more than you could ever imagine. But I have never… NEVER felt as deeply about a loss as this… but we have to go on. We have to keep on living, and fighting if we're going to win this war and avenge her. We have to be brave. It's what she would have wanted!"

"What she would have wanted is to live!" Spike cut in.

Fluttershy was shaking as small painful sobs were contained inside of her. "But it won't do any good. She's gone."

Rhymey passed her a hankie, and said sadly…

"Twilight died, but she was loved by us all.

Just as she loved us… before her fall…!"

"It was nice knowing her." cried Buddy-Rose "And great to serve with her."

Shining Armor could hardly bring himself to what he was about to say but, "She saved us all, many times, and she helped to protect us all after. I never said this to her, but… I think she was braver than I ever could be."

Cadance held him close letting him cry. "I loved her too…" she sobbed "And I'll never stop loving her."

Starla stood by Twilight's memorial window gazing at the picture. She was very upset, not just for Twilight's death, but how this was affecting everyone else… especially Lightning. "Starla…?" Pinkie said as she came over to her.

"She was going to be my mare of honour." she sobbed, but she couldn't take this, and everyone agreed and understood when she told them that wedding was officially off. No one was in the right frame of mind for it… especially Lightning.

He lay flat on his bed with his arm over his face and just lay there ever so still trying to find his strength again.

"Is he going to be okay?" asked Starla.

"He will…" Grand Ruler said "We all will… in due time. For now, it's best to just leave him alone. He'll come round."

(Promo)

In our next episode; Lightning struggles to cope with Twilight's death, but is in for an even greater shock when he finally discovers that he truly an Enti-Corn, and he is left to face a difficult decision of whether or not to accept Harkin's challenge, while Celestia herself is prepared to make a decision of her own about Raven.

Will Lightning be able to pick himself up again, and what other impacts will Twilight's death have on others?

Don't miss the next exciting episode of "Starfleet Magic"

(Next Episode: "Lost and Found")