Lightning was giving a public lecture at New Ponyville town hall for all the civilians to brush up on their survival skills during the war. Lightning even showed everyone slide reels of footage take from previous battles on Unicornicopia, and just how merciless some villains were, and how life in Dimensional Space was nothing to underestimate.

“And so, to recalibrate-- Starfleet and their allies will do whatever it takes to protect you and our world, but you must play your parts too as well as follow orders set by the martial law. There are three basic rules to follow.

Rule One: Do not enter battles.

You cannot get harmed by a battle or the effects of battle... IF... you don’t get involved. When the alarms sound, do whatever you can to reach the nearest shelter before the force-fields activate. If, however, you are unable to reach any shelter in time, get as far from the danger area as you can to avoid being seen or involved.

Rule Two: Help or Hide.

If you do get trapped in the battle area with no means of escape, help out as best as can, only if asked so, or just stay out of the way. Leave it to the professionals.

Finally, Rule three: Defeat the villains.

There are three known basic ways to do so: Either by forcing them to retreat. Render them weak enough to capture and imprison them, or heal them, or if and only if the situation truly calls for it and you have the authorization, destroy them! I repeat, this is only a last, and absolute last resort when all other methods fail and with proper authorization.”

Lightning then answered many questions the listeners cared to throw his way, such as “Why destroy monsters? Can’t you just capture and imprison them all? Then maybe you can try and heal or redeem them as was with Princess Luna.”

Lightning explained that just as they had studied and seen, some monsters and demons were far too powerful to be contained, and using the power of friendship and harmony to try and reason or weaken them would do no good. Some did not wish to even be redeemed and preferred to carry out their evil ways, while others couldn’t be redeemed even if they wanted to be. Some monsters were not actual living beings but rather a monstrous creation made of matter, organics, or simple objects whose only purpose was to destroy and conquer. “We ourselves, in many ways detest having to destroy other creatures, but it isn’t advisable to let the roam free either at the risk of more innocent creatures and worlds being in danger, and possibly destroyed. We just can’t allow it.

Are there any other questions?”

A young mare stood up and asked a question about world warping in space. “Is it always necessary for us to warp to other worlds using a portal and dimensional pathway?”

Lightning recounted what he had learned some time ago. True, the void of their magical universe had oxygen to breath and stable warm temperatures, but the pathways were necessary for providing stable and protective means of space travel, as Lightning has explained. “Dimensional Space exists above normal space and consists of highly powerful and unstable teleportation energies. If you try to enter dimensional space with no pathway or if you stray from the path and fall into space, you will be magically teleported to a random spot anywhere in the entire galaxy, maybe the universe-- There’s no telling where you’d end up. You could materialize over a burning star and fall into it. You can land in the middle of a black hole. You could appear over a sea of acid. A planet with no air or food, or maybe even some hungry giant’s dinner plate. If you are very fortunate, you could very well wind up on a planet that can sustain life.”

He recalled the story of the time Grand Ruler Celesto was captured by Nightmare Moon and launched into space where he was warped to a distant and uncharted planet which later became Unicornicopia and the beginning of Starfleet. “Despite all the worlds we occupy and have explored, ninety-seven percent of it all is still uncharted. That is an awful lot of space to get lost in.”

A bell rang indicating the lecture was over, and as the ponies and other creatures exited, Lightning reminded them all to read up on what he had just taught them in libraries. Then he, too, left the auditorium. Starla, Krysta, Sapphire and Spike met him outside and complimented his lecture. “Well, I didn’t write it.” Lightning said “Grand Ruler gave me this lecture. He told me to pass it on to everyone at this meeting.”

“I still thought it was great.” Starla said.

“Figured, you would.” Lightning teased and he pecked his mare-friend on the cheek.

"Sapphire, have you tried one of the dinosaurs yet?" Spike asked.

"No not yet." Sapphire said. "I'm not sure when I should even summon them." Blitz came in and chomped on her leg. "Hehe, munchy Blitz, come here." She picked Blitz up and he chirped in her grasp. "Wanna get a milkshake?" Starla offered.

"Yeah." Spike and Sapphire cheered.

Meanwhile, Chrysalis was in a deep sleep while the love energy that was captured replenished her life force. Guards were standing watch all around for her protection. No one was allowed to disturb the queen.

Elsewhere, the captain was in a secret lair-- a place where he knew neither Chrysalis nor any of the other remaining changelings would never even guess-- where he could work in privacy.

He seemed to be building up something diabolical. “Wonderful.” he hissed “I still haven’t lost my touch in my design process. I just need one thing more.” He reached down to the floor and moved a false stone panel away revealing a secret compartment containing a single box, and inside the box were several spheres containing the exact same glowing energy from the containers by Chrysalis’ throne.

The captain took hold a sphere and placed inside the body of his creation. “Forgive me if I forgo the kiss my sleeping beauty, but the time has come for you to awaken.” he teased “I have a little job for you.”

Finally, it was almost too dark to tell, but he seemingly removed his left hand from his wrist like a connection, and attached what appeared to be a long cable from inside his arm to the creation, a powerful glow of energy shined, and suddenly, the creation came to life. The captain’s eyes glowed red as he chuckled sinisterly, yet softly. “Now it begins!”

The Cakes served the party their milkshakes. Pinkie joined them after helping put baby Pound and Pumpkin down for their nap. Krysta had her own special drinking glass for just her size. Blitz was given his milkshake in a bowl that was grass flavored cause he was a herbivore.

Spike let out huge belch after finishing his shake. “Spike!” snapped Starla.

“Sorry!” Spike said “It was so good.”

Mr. Cake came along with another milkshake “I thought I’d be ready in case you asked.” He said. Spike couldn’t thank him enough.

Pinkie was just happy her friends came along with smiling faces, only Sapphire still seemed to be a little down. “What’s the matter, Sapphire?” she asked “Come on. Won’t you smile?” but Sapphire didn't feel like smiling. She kept gazing at her dino bracer, wondering when she would get a chance to use it.

Meanwhile, Professor Brain was at the waterworks in New Ponyville with one of his college classes for a scientific research session. They saw the plant, the systems, and the best attraction was the large dam that kept all the water secure so it could all run safely into the streams and rivers, and the rest would enter the plant to be cleaned and used for perfect water for cooking, washing, drinking. Brain lectured his class on the many different functions of the plant, and told them to document everything they would learn for a paper he wished them to write about.

Suddenly, one of the students looked down and saw someone approaching the dam. She motioned for Brain to come and take a look. Her teacher looked down and had never seen any creature like that before. “Curious! Most curious.” he remarked.

It looked like a pony made completely out of metal, with a steel horn on its head as its antenna. “What is he doing?” the students wondered. Brain suddenly had a shaky feeling inside him, and it was answered when the creature began to attack the side of the dam! The guards immediately dashed out to try and stop it, but were unsuccessful as the creature bashed them all away with such strength.

Brain quickly sounded the big alarm, warning the kingdom there was danger. “Everyone, quickly, get inside!” Brain ordered, and his students obeyed their teacher and dashed inside the water-plant before the shields appeared. Soon Lightning and the gang arrived on the scene. Lightning and Starla were already transformed. They stopped by the entrance to talk to Brain. “Professor, what’s going on?” asked Lightning.

“See for yourself.” Brain said as he pointed to the creature. “What kind of creature is that?” asked Twilight. “I thought you’d know.” said Spike.

Lightning and Starla scanned it with their visors, but the life support readings showed nothing. It wasn’t listed under any known living being in the database. Whatever it was it seemed to be trying to destroy the dam, which meant all the water would rush out and wipe out everything in its path for miles-- Towns, forests, farms, and all. Even with the force fields activated it wouldn’t be good. The water would still weaken the foundations and soggy up the lands.

Lightning used his visor scanning, and could actually detect life energies emitting from the creature, only they seemed to be well off, and not normal like in most creatures, but know doubt, this creature's attack power was very strong.

He tried to use his X-ray scan, but the metal surrounding the creature was impervious to the scan. All Lightning could detect was life-like energy. "What kind of creature is this?" he wondered.

The creature was still attacking the dam, and the others tried to fight it, only to get bashed and kicked away hard. It felt is if they were fighting a steel wall. “Wow! He sure packs a punch.” groaned Lightning as he rubbed his chest.

Krysta flew in, and tried to lift the creature with her super strength, but she got kicked hard, like a golf ball being hit. “Krysta!” shouted Lightning.

Krysta poked her head up over a rock. “I’m good.”

Pinkie Pie wouldn’t stand for this “No one hurts my friends that way and gets away with it!” and, defying orders not to actually fight, she dashed right at the creature. “Pinkie, Don’t!” shouted Starla. “Pinkie, stop right now, that’s an order!” shouted Lightning.

But Pinkie wouldn’t listen and leapt up to try and kick the creature with all her might! CLANG!! She gasped and then leapt about holding her foot in pain. “Ouch! Ooh-Ooh, ow-ow! That smarts!” she cried.

“Maybe you can try and capture It.” suggested Spike. Lightning and Starla agreed and readied their weapons. “Fire!” cried Lightning as he fired his blaster and Starla tried her “GALACTIC PROJECTILE!” with her bow set to capture-mode. They were careful not to shoot the dam itself.

The two attacks hit the creature hard, knocking into a wall. “YEE-HEE…! We got him!” cried Pinkie as she leapt for joy. The others cheered, but they suddenly stopped cheering when they saw the creature rise up from the dust. “It didn’t work!” cried Starla.

The others couldn’t believe it much either, but the creature seemed immune to capture magic. Twilight tried some of her other containment spells, and force fields, but the creatures slipped right through them all, doubly proving that the creature couldn’t be held back or contained.

Krysta even tried to use her warp portals to teleport the creature, and even they didn’t work—just slicked right off of him like water-- “This is crazy!” she cried “Hardly any magic seems to work on this guy.”

Sapphire looked at her dino bracer. "Then how about..." she pressed the button and Blitz turned into a card. "Alright then... Dino-Slash, Styracosaurus Charge!

(Play to 00:20)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVEby2zgMsI&t=1s

Blitz changed into a full sized dinosaur and roared at the robot. Lightning and the others were shocked at his size. "Awesome!" Starla exclaimed.

The robot charged Blitz but Blit simply hit him with his front right leg sending it crashing into the dam! Then Blitz stomped on the robot. "Alright, get him boy!" Lightning cheered.

Blitz backed off as the robot sparked and eventually was deactivated. "He did it." Starla gasped. But the victory was short lived because everyone heard cracks and saw the dam cracking even more. "Oh, no! It's gonna break!" Lightning cried.

Pinkie was horrified, “If that dam breaks, all of New Ponyville could be wiped out. We won’t have a place to live!” Sapphire gasped in shock. Suddenly, she felt a strong surge inside of her and her cutie mark started glowing brightly and clouds began to form above her. "What's happening?" Starla asked. "Lightning?"

"I don't know." Lightning replied.

The dam cracked and water started to burst out but at the same instant, Sapphire let out a large lion roar and the clouds behind her turned into roaring lions!

(Like this)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4_0IKK83Cg

The water was stopped by the massive winds and pushed back into the dam. Sapphire lit her horn and repaired the broken rocks, fully repairing the dam. "Galloping Galaxies." Lightning gasped. Blitz roared in victory.

The changeling captain had seen everything, and he wasn’t too upset that his robot creation failed as it was only an experimental test. He was surprised though at the power Sapphire had displayed. “A small sample of what I have in store for you, Ponies. Just you wait.

And that human has some powerful abilities indeed.”

He silently snuck out of his secret lair, and made his way back to the fortress where he was summoned before Chrysalis at once. “You summoned me, my queen?”

“Yes.” hissed Chrysalis. She didn’t sound very pleased. “Can you explain this?” She motioned to the jars of energy by her throne. They had been looked as if they had been drained from her long rest period as her life force was reenergized, but the jars seemed much lower than they ought to have been, even after her long rest, but there was no indication of any leaks in the jars.

The captain, who was really the culprit and secretly stealing the energy for his projects, pretended to be concerned. “This is an outrage!” he snapped “My queen, had I had been here…”

“I don’t want to discuss details.” snapped Chrysalis “I just want to you to find out who did this and why and when you do… bring them to me!” she had that glare in her eyes meaning she would punish whoever was responsible dearly.

The captain bowed and promised he would find whoever was responsible, and as he walked out the throne room he thought nastily to himself, “The day will come, Chrysalis, when I will crush you like the parasite you are!”

In New Sugarcube Corner, Lightning was finishing writing his report to the queen and Grand Ruler.

He gave the report to Spike who sent it off. That’s when Sapphire and Starla came downstairs, all of them were glad the robot was beaten. But still, that robot-- “You don’t think Chrysalis sent it do you?” asked Spike.

Despite this, however, “I don’t know this isn’t her style.” said Lightning . “It’s too unpredictable, too dangerous.”

“And another thing, Spike…” Starla said “Changelings don’t know very much cybernetics, or any type of machinery. According to research, they rely so heavily on their own tricks and magic, they feel they’re better off without them.”

“But where did that robot come from?” Krysta wondered aloud. The others all wondered the same thing, and they all began to have a feeling that maybe someone else was out to get them, but who was it, what did they want, and why? "Well one thing is for sure... Sapphire's dinosaurs rule!" Spike exclaimed in joy. "Blitz stomped him to to scrap heap. And what a roar you did." Spike hugged Sapphire who blushed in embarrassment.

"Looks like Sapphire has more surprise then we thought." Starla stated to Lightning who nodded in agreement.

One thing was certain. The battle that day told them all to train harder and make themselves stronger for future battles.

Professor Brain had gathered the scrap remains of the robot to try and examine it and maybe find ways to help make Starfleet’s weapons and armor stronger as well.

At least the kingdom was safe for another day!