Gaven’s Dolgiran: The Lion Galaxy

Inside the saucer section of the two-part ship that made up Gaven’s Dolgiran, as it was called, Robert and Celestia awaited what they presumed to be an interrogation inside the ship’s brig area. It was a fairly easy guess, given the little metal bench they sat in, and the energy shield that lay in front of them.

“Well, this is a fine mess we’ve gotten ourselves into, isn’t it?” Robert asked wryly, as he and the Princess of the Sun watched the video Bunglay had sent Retsu and Bard, displayed on a holographic screen on the far side of the mostly barren room.

Footsteps crunched against the gravel as an orange-clad figure approached the fallen form of Solar Flare, who coughed out “Mercy…”

The figure’s helmet vanished in a flash of orange light allowing her to see a familiar brown stubble covered face. The figure knelt down near her, seemingly in a show of compassion.

“Well, all criminals arrested by SPD are allowed some form of mercy, no matter their crimes…” Robert trailed off, reaching for his Judgement Scanner. Solar Flare sighed in relief, before her eyes widened in absolute terror as Robert’s expression turned vindictive as he raised his Kitsune Blaster. “...But it’s a good thing I’m no longer in SPD isn’t it?”

“So… So she survived, even after all that…” Celestia whispered, her eyes widened in a rare display of terror.

“Well, not for very long…” Robert muttered. “Still, what I’m not sure of, is how Bunglay managed to pull this one off. Fact is, if he was able to fake me… Chances are, he probably faked Solar Flare and her little death scene as well. It’s what I’m willing to believe, really…”

“Sure you’re not just telling yourself that in order to reassure yourself Solar Flare really did survive the combined power of all our Megazords?” Celestia asked.

“Possibly… Mein Gott, I’m not sure what I believe anymore. But all of this, it… It well, makes my detective senses go into overdrive, just wanting to figure this whole haufen scheiße out, honestly…”

“You’d make a fine Royal Guard, you’d know that?” Celestia asked, catching Robert off guard. “You’ve got a staunch love of upholding the law and making sure justice is served, even if the way you do it… Well, comes off as a bit of a cowboy…”

Robert actually burst out laughing at that.

“Oh please Princess, you and I both know I’d be a terrible Royal Guard. Like you said, too much of an American Cowboy. I’m too desperate for attention, and I revel in it. I take stupid risks, ones that are liable to end up getting me killed one day. So, really, you wouldn’t want me in your Guard. ...Plus, I’d look terrible in one of those suits of armor you make your guard parade about in.”

Celestia laughed mirthlessly. “T-That’s true, I suppose…”

“God knows I’m no Kamen Rider Bravo. Shining could pull it off maybe, but me? No way in Hell… Ryugen or Zangetsu maybe, but gladiator style armor?” Robert continued, chuckling at the mental image of Shining using a Durian Lockseed and becoming the Rider called “Mister Dangerous!”, complete with all the flamboyancy (And that was putting it mildly with Oren) that came with it.

“I know what you're doing,” Celestia replied. “Cracking jokes just to pass the time, ease the tension and relax yourself before…” she trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence. Robert looked at her.

“And you're not? That Royal Guard crack?” he asked.

“Who said I was kidding?” Celestia asked, leaving Robert speechless for a few moments. He stared, unable to believe his own ears.

Eventually, however, he did regain the power of speech.

“W-Wait? You were actually serious about that? A-About having me of all people in the Royal Guard?” he asked out, in complete and utter disbelief.

“Yes, I am,” Celestia replied. “You’d do good there, your skills would be a great asset, both to me and Equestria’s defense.”

“How so?” Robert asked, eyebrow raised.

“Think about it,” Celestia mused to herself. “You’re already quite well-trained, and unlike most of the Royal Guard, actually skilled in fighting off monsters instead of the common criminal or enemy soldier. Plus, you’re a wild card, you obey your own set of rules and you're someone who constantly keeps your opponents on edge. You could teach them…”

“Stop, stop right there,” Robert stated. “Me, teach? Oh, that’s a bloody good joke to tell over a few drinks at the pub, but no. I really don’t play well with others all that well aside from a rare few, and even then I’m… like you said, a wild card, reckless and stupid. You’re just being polite when you say I follow my own rules. And this whole assumption rests on us even getting out of this little scenario,” he continued holding up his cuffed wrists. “Which, I honestly don’t think is happening soon safe to say…”

Before Celestia could argue the point any further, the door to the brig opened and both Bard and Retsu stepped inside. Bard pressed a few buttons on the control panel near the energy shield, disengaging it.

“We’re nearing Mirinoi, and the headquarters of the Galactic Union Police,” Retsu stated as he pulled Robert out of his seat by the shoulder. “Ship’s on autopilot, so we’ll be landing quite shortly. But before we do that, I want to ask you a few questions first. And believe me, we’ll know if either of you lie…” he stated warningly.

The two (Robert and Celestia) were led to a small room down the hall, an interrogation room with all of the usual fashionings, a small table and a chair. “Want a cup of water or something? It’d make you more comfortable. Contrary to what you might believe, Celestia, we’re not savages…”

Celestia caught the derision in Retsu’s tone, but she also caught the usage of her actual name, not Solar Flare’s. Robert and Bard caught that as well, surprising them both.

“Sit down.” Bard ordered Robert, who complied and was hooked up to a small machine that registered heartbeat, brainwave patterns, the works. A standard lie detector, then it seemed.

“Firstly, suppose we should start off simple…” Robert was asked. “Firstly, state your name and profession for the record. Standard procedure, you understand…”

Robert nodded at Retsu, knowing how this went. He’d often done this type of thing himself, to the criminals who hadn’t exactly earned themselves a confinement card, or interrogating criminals who had, but knew something relevant to a case at hand.

“Robert Williams, former SPD patrol officer and member of B-Squad, Green SPD Ranger, now an employee of Carousel Boutique and Orange Wild Force Ranger and one of the current bearers of the Lights of Orion,” Robert stated, and Retsu nodded.

“Now,” Retsu continued. “What I want you to do is lie, just to make sure there’s nothing wrong with the machine. Say something you know is inheritingly false. Anything you like. Get creative if you want…”

“I’m a billionaire, and I know everything there is to know about everything. Classic know it all type, the one you’d find in a bad woman’s idea of a fanfiction or romantic novel.” Robert remarked with a cocky grin, and the machine let out a beeping sound, with Robert feeling a small shock. Wasn’t painful, but it was just enough of a prickle to let the Orange Ranger know it was there.

“Okay, machine’s working… Good test run. No discrepancies.” Bard put in.

“Suppose we should get right to the point…” Retsu sighed. “Did, or did you not knowingly kill the being known as Solar Flare?”

“I did. Well, me and the Rangers did…” Robert replied, before quickly correcting himself. No beeps, no small shocks, or anything. It was rather odd, or maybe not. You see, the machine scanned Robert’s brainwaves, and he actually genuinely believed he killed Solar Flare with the Animaria Guardian Megazord, and Celestia killed her with the Solar Streak. Mind was a funny thing really, it believed what it wanted to, and Robert’s mind believed the Solar Flare he saw on Bunglay was indeed a fake. (Despite him later finding out it indeed wasn't.)

Retsu and Bard shared a look of surprise at this.

“That’s… surprising.” Bard murmured to himself, the Zyuman’s eyes widening slightly in surprise.

“If what Bunglay showed us was true, when he said he killed Solar Flare by himself, we’d know he was lying. And we know the machine isn't faulty…” Retsu mused.

“Plus, there’s the fact that Solar Flare is sitting next to him, alive and quite well…” Bard muttered in confusion, his detective senses screaming to him that someone, somewhere was duping them somehow. And that someone looked more and more like Bunglay.

“Well, you know what we have to do right?” Retsu sighed in exhaustion. Bard shared one.

“...Yeah, ask Solar Flare herself.” he muttered, giving the Alicorn a wary, cautious glance.

Meanwhile, back on the planet Equus in the Milky Way Galaxy, Robert and Celestia’s fellow rangers remained unaware as to what had happened and what was currently taking place light years far, far away deep in space.

Sunset was currently at her home, beating up a punching bag to what was pretty much oblivion while smooth jazz played in the background in order to soothe her often volatile temper. The fact was, deep inside half the time she was a bubbling pot of anger ready to blow. There was a reason she took so much time early in the morning practicing her Tai Chi and why whenever Robert was over he was always hearing a mix of chillhop and jazz music.

Mind you, in recent years, she’d been able to curb her bouts of anger thanks to the many remedies her friends had suggested and the Phoenix Zord’s often calming voice in her head. On occasion, something did set her off, like a certain bigoted pony or Goldar had shown but those little things were few and far between nowadays. The anger was still there though, bubbling beneath the surface of Sunset’s normally calm and tranquil demeanor.

“So, how do you do it?” Robert had asked one late night, not that long ago. In his hand, he held a glass of brown ale, while soothing music by a band called Acoustic Alchemy played in the background. He wore a t-shirt depicting someone known as Kamen Rider Fifteen. Odd name and title, to be sure.

Sunset sat at a desk, a quill in her hand as she did paperwork, helping Mayor Mare manage the town’s taxes. She looked clearly frustrated. (Not that Robert could blame her, taxes could get under anyone’s skin.)

“Keep your temper under control, I mean?” Robert continued. “And don’t say I’m always angry, because I’m genuinely curious and as much as I love pop culture gags…”

“That’s the thing, I am always angry. You don’t see it, thank the Mystic Mother for that, but I am. Just learned to… manage it. Up to a point anyways.”

“My suggestion?” Robert asked as he sat down in a nearby armchair, turning up the radio to let the music play a little louder. “Let the Orgs and whatever else Thrax and his nutters send at us feel the brunt of your anger. I mean, that’s what I do to deal with my frustrations, let them have it… And let them get shot full of holes. Really therapeutic, blowing up monsters.”

“Who says I don’t use them as an outlet?” Sunset asked and Robert laughed at that before he gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

“That’s a good girl…” he muttered, as Sunset captured his lips in another slightly longer kiss, deciding the town’s taxes could wait for a moment. They’d still be there to deal with in the morning, for now, she had more important things on her mind…

In the present, Sunset paused from beating up the punching bag and idly looked towards her Growl Phone. Maybe, just maybe she should give Robert a call, to apologize. She was willing her temper was heated during both times they argued, even when Robert tried to come and apologize for the little incident while they were rock climbing.

Making up her mind, she went for the Growl Phone and dialed Robert’s number, but got only his ringtone. Trying again, she still couldn’t get him to pick up.

“Course he’s not talking to me… Probably still trying to figure things out for himself. Stupid!” Sunset cursed herself. So, she tried a different number instead.

“Shayla?” Sunset asked, as soon as she managed to reach the Princess.

“Yes, Sunset?” Shayla’s always kindly voice asked.

“Is… Is it okay if you try and reach Robert? I can’t get ahold of him, and I was hoping you might have better luck…”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Shayla replied, and Sunset let out a sigh of relief she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. But after a few minutes…

“Something wrong?” Sunset asked in concern.

“...Yes, strange. I can’t seem to get ahold of Robert. It’s… It’s almost like he’s dropped off the face of the Earth…” she murmured, starting to sound worried. She didn’t like not knowing what her Rangers were doing, or if they were in danger and she didn’t know about it. “Last he told me, he was going to Canterlot to try and talk to someone, but I don’t know…”

“Luna…” Sunset whispered, eyes widening in realization. “I’ll go find him myself. Thanks, Princess!” she said quickly, before hanging up. She opened a window, and spread her wings rocketing off into the night sky towards Canterlot.

As she reached the mountain city, she closed her eyes and lit up her horn, scanning the city for Robert’s unique signature. It would be difficult to find amongst hundreds of ponies, but she could do it. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she detected Galaxy’s signature, feeling rather weak.

Flying down towards the Canterlot Castle grounds, she found a considerably beat-up looking Galaxy Swirls and quickly helped him off the ground.

“What… What happened to you?” Sunset asked in concern, starting to get really worried. Robert was in the area, and if Galaxy Swirls sustained this much punishment, who knows what kind of shape Robert was in…

Then she spotted a very familiar short sword impaled in the ground, Feather Edge. Celestia would never leave it behind, or go anywhere without it. This only increased Sunset’s worries even further.

“Space… Space Sheriffs, came to arrest both Robert and Princess Celestia. ...Tried, tried to help, but got beaten up pretty badly, and the bastarzi managed to get away with them both, and beam them up into their fancy ship… Mystic Mother knows how far away they are now…”

“W-What?” Sunset stuttered out, before her eyes narrowed, wings catching alight and shooting off small embers. “Tell me what happened, all of it...” she growled out, and Galaxy quickly explained the best he could.

“God-fucking-dammit!” Sunset swore, punching a nearby stone pillar, cracking it slightly. Galaxy actually flinched a little at her strength. “If… If I’d just been here…”

“Chances are, you probably would have been captured as well. Those two really seem to have it out for anyone even close to Celestia, and as her adopted daughter you would have been on their radar, my guess is…” Galaxy tried to say, attempting to talk reason into the angry Alicorn.

“Yeah, you’re probably right…” Sunset grumbled. “Just wish I knew a way to go after them, but none of our Zords are space-flight worthy…”

Suddenly, a small little cylindrical object hit the ground in front of them, making a small clattering sound as it hit the gravel. It was almost like it had been tossed, Sunset mused as she picked up the object to inspect it. Her eyes widened. It was a Dino Charger, a purple one depicting a Plesiosaurus on it. She turned to Galaxy.

“One of yours? Got a secret Zord that I don’t know about?” she inquired in a rather interrogative fashion, and Galaxy only shrugged. Then, both he and Sunset let out a gasp, as in the light of the moon, atop a hilltop path, a figure was visible. She, at least judging by the form, wore a dark colored uniform -Probably purple if the Charger was any indicator- and had a gold sash across her chest, and had a gold-toned katana strapped to her hip, while a Dino Morpher rested on her other hip. But the most distinguishing feature of all, was her feet. No, not cloven hooves, but feet. Whoever she was, she was definitely not a pony.

“Who are you?” Sunset asked, drawing her Phoenix Blade and gripping it tightly. In her other hand rested Feather Edge.

“Just a friend. Well, not to you, but to Robert, or any other human that may have survived after all these years. I don’t care much for ponies, honestly… Not after what you pulled. But right now, if you’re the protectors of this planet, who am I to judge? The Zord that Charger summons, it’ll get you where you need to be. Better hurry though, as time’s running out…”

With that, she vanished into the shadows without saying a word. Sunset sighed, and shared a nod with Galaxy before pressing down on the Charger and throwing it. Far away in Scotland, under the deep dark, almost black waters of a loch, two amber eyes opened…

Back on Gaven’s Dolgiran, the ship drew ever closer to the planet of Mirinoi. For the most part, the planet, it was still the same evergreen orb it had been 3,000 years prior, covered in thick forests and deep lakes with the occasional large and hugely technological city popping up out of the dense woodlands. It was as if humankind itself was perfectly in tune with nature on that world.

None of this, of course, mattered to Celestia at the moment, as she sat calmly in the interrogation room chair letting Gaven ask her any questions she liked. To Bard’s surprise, she made no moves to escape, not even bothering to use her magic. His suspicions and worries went into overdrive. Yes, it was possible she was waiting for the right time to strike, but it was also equally possible that she really did mean no harm.

“State your name and occupation for the record,” Bard told her, and Celestia calmly nodded.

“Princess Celestia of Equestria, ruler of the Day and current holder of the Solaris Knight powerset.” she replied, and Retsu raised an eyebrow.

“What, no Raiser of the Sun included in those titles?”

“I’d say that, but that would be a lie,” Celestia replied in turn, in what caught both Retsu and Bard off guard with her humble tone. “Contrary to what my ponies believe, I do not raise the sun nor does my sister Luna raise the moon. It was a lie we told long ago, to cement our power and make the ponies believe us as gods. A mistake I admit, made in a bout of arrogance…”

“Figured…” Robert muttered, as he leaned up against a wall, and everyone looked at him. “Well, I’m not a dummkopf. Nobody, not even you four combined, possess enough magic to raise a celestial body, let alone two, and completely subvert the laws of science as we know it…”

“Anyways, if you could continue?” Retsu asked.

“Very well.”

Bard nodded at the Princess of the Sun’s statement before continuing. “Are you the being known as Solar Flare?” he asked.

“I am, and I am not…” Celestia replied, and Retsu raised an eyebrow.

“Elaborate,” he asked.

“I was the being known as Solar Flare, but at the same time, I was not. We had a… split personality. It was created during a bout of anger during a time in which a human tried to have his way with me… Key word, tried.”

Retsu winced, and sent a pang of sympathy towards Celestia. No one, not even her deserved that.

“I let my fury, and shame take over, and Solar Flare, the Solar Invictus, and the Solar Tyrant was created. Every evil emotion, every dark thought I ever had, was poured into her creation. For thousands of years, she influenced my actions no matter how much I hated it. Perhaps I needed her, to make me a strong ruler, even if it shames me to admit it…” Celestia mused.

Retsu let out a long sigh.

“Yes, but how is it you are standing here today, when we know and saw Solar Flare destroyed?”

“Bunglay’s video, I’m not sure how he created it. But what I do know is, my personal student Twilight Sparkle found a way to separate me and Solar Flare’s split personalities and used it. Upon that, I lured Solar Flare to an abandoned quarry where me and the other Rangers along with Animus himself destroyed her, even after she grew to a colossal size. That, I’m afraid, is all I know…”

During all of this, much to Bard and Retsu’s continued shock, the lie detector never went off at any point during their interrogation of her. Celestia sucked in a deep breath, and motioned for Retsu to come closer.

“If it is possible, can you have your partner take Robert and himself from the room? There’s something i want to tell you, and I don’t want him to overhear, lest I scare him…”

Retsu looked worried, but his instincts (Along with the lie detector) were telling him that Solar Flare was definitely not going to resurface anytime soon. He nodded, and gestured for Bard to take Robert from the room. Once the two were alone, Retsu glanced at Celestia.

“Speak your mind.”

“Alright…” Celestia replied, taking a deep shuddering breath. “I… I think… I think Solar Flare might not have been completely destroyed. Physically, yes, that I believe, but not mentally. Over the past few months, I’ve been getting… urges. Destructive, angry ones. And I’ve been hearing whispers in my head. Like during the Winter Ball, she said this: “Oh Celly, you can’t be rid of me forever. I’ll always be there, right by your side. Whenever you’re feeling your lowest, whenever you’re mad at something, or whenever you just want to break down and cry… I’ll be back to play. Don’t think you can escape me forever. Nor what’s coming. The Devil… He’s a-comin’, coming to collect. And he wants you. The only thing that makes me unhappy about all of this is that I’ll be unable to be there with you and watch you burn. Hmm, I wonder how your putrid soul will taste to him, hmm?” I worry… I worry for the day when she returns, and if -No, when, she does, I won’t be able to stop her this time…”

Eventually, the ship touched down outside the headquarters of the Galactic Union Police, and both Celestia and Robert still cuffed were led inside. An armed guard, dressed in black uniforms that looked frighteningly familiar to Robert escorted them.

“Jesus Christ, talk about putting on the Reich…” Robert muttered to himself, and Retsu hmmed to himself.

“Believe me, I’m no fan of this change in uniforms either…” he agreed. They walked inside a very large main building, where they were greeted by a man in a red suit, with a flowing cape. Bard and Retsu were quick to salute him.

“As requested, we’ve brought you the criminals known as both Solar Flare and Robert Williams to headquarters to await trial.”

“There will be no trial,” the Space Police Chief, known only as Weeval said as the armed guard raised their rifles to Celestia and Robert. “Only crime and punishment. And the punishment for their crimes is only… execution!”

Two members of Weeval’s squad restrained the two Rangers, while Bard and Retsu quickly shouted “Electroplate!” and changed into their armor.

“What’s going on here? What’s the meaning of this?” Retsu demanded, drawing his Laser Blade.

“There’s been a regime change,” Weeval said. “And the Space Sheriffs, at least your generation of them, are no longer needed...”

Two metal boots were heard, and a being that resembled Gaven, only with more aggressive armor, and red lines covering him (Seemingly a silver version of Estevan’s armor) strode into view.

“I’d like you to meet the new version of the Space Sheriff program. Based upon, as you might have guessed, the armor of your partner. Only with one key difference. This one doesn’t suffer from the burden of emotions…” Weeval chuckled.

“Great, the T-1000 approach, because that always works so well…” Robert muttered, keen to get off one last crack before death.

“Ready, aim…” Weeval ordered, but before he could shout off “Fire!”, the roof of the building exploded, and a massive purple and white form resembling a Plesiosaur revealed itself. Well, vaguely resembling one. You could tell the inspiration was one, what with the long neck, reptilian eyes and the two fins that made up the Zord’s wings, but for the most part it looked like some sort of space shuttle or jet. The Plesiozord let out a loud shriek, almost as if in a battle cry.

And teleporting from that Zord (Galaxy at the helm) was the rest of Robert’s team, along with Shining and Twilight tagging along.

“What!?!” Weeval shouted. Shining drew his sword.

“Surprise…” Shining smirked as he morphed into the Magna Defender and pointed his blade at the commander. Twilight meanwhile, took out what looked suspiciously like a Sengoku Driver and slammed it onto her waist before taking out a lock with a banana on it before placing it inside the Driver. She then sliced the lock open with a small cutting blade on the belt.

“Lock On! Banana!” the belt seemingly shouted, as a zipper opened up and a metal banana slowly floated down towards Twilight, before opening up and transforming her into a crimson and yellow European knight-like warrior with silver chainmail, holding a lance. “Come on! Banana Arms: Knight of Spe~ar!” the belt shouted, with the sound of trumpets accompanying it.

“Now... “ Shining said slowly. “To borrow a catchphrase… Sa, dohade ni ikuze!”