If Wishes Were Horses ( episode ) Station residents suddenly find their imaginations are manifested in physical form ; a spatial rift threatens to destroy the Bajoran system . Summary . Teaser . Quark finds Odo is his bar during a particularly quiet time , continuing to oversee the area ( and always keeping an eye on himself ) , so he starts to tell him he needs to lighten up and have some fun , perhaps in a holosuite . Odo dismisses imagination as a sign that one is not paying attention to one ' s real life . Quark offers to create a Shapeshifter " playmate , " at which point Odo declares , " " You ' re disgusting ! " " At seeing Jake Sisko walking toward a holosuite , Odo warns that Quark had better not have created any " playmates " for him . Jake ' s program , Quark explains , is one that includes famous baseball players from Earth , such as Tris Speaker , Ted Williams and Buck Bokai . Quark has made it his business to learn about Human customs and traditions because a wise man , he says , can smell profit in the wind . He tells Odo to try it . " " I don ' t have a sense of smell , " " Odo says . As Quark explains economics to Odo , on the other side of the bar , Dr . Bashir and Lieutenant Dax are having dinner . Julian wants to become romantically involved , but Jadzia politely refuses and points out that he has eyed several other women as well . She returns to Ops , where she finds there are elevated thoron emissions in the nearby Denorios belt . Dax and Sisko hypothesize that it is because the amount of traffic around the station is currently elevated . Meanwhile , O ' Brien reads his daughter Molly a bedtime story – " Rumpelstiltskin " – and tucks her in . However , Molly comes back out and claims Rumpelstiltskin is in her room . O ' Brien returns with her and finds that Rumpelstiltskin truly has appeared in her room . Act One . O ' Brien sends his wife and daughter away , and calls for security . Rumpelstiltskin wonders where the straw is , supposing he will be asked to spin it into gold . He ' s not making any threats , nor any other reason he is there . Two security guards arrive at O ' Brien ' s quarters , but cannot catch Rumpelstiltskin , who disappears , leaving the guards grasping at thin air . O ' Brien calls for Sisko , but before the Commander can proceed , Jake interrupts him , and shows his father that the baseball player Bokai has followed him home from the holosuite . He also does not appear to know why he is there . Meanwhile , Dr . Bashir is asleep in his quarters , but he is awakened by the caresses of a very amorous Dax . He resists at first , supposing that she is sick , or that he is hallucinating . But he can ' t think of a good answer when Dax asks why he is resisting . He decides to accept his apparent good fortune for a moment , but then believes it to be a prank . Just then , Sisko calls for all senior officers . Sisko introduces Buck Bokai to the senior staff , pointing out that the former baseball great had been dead for 200 years , and Rumpelstiltskin , who expresses annoyance that now everyone knows his name . Sisko asks Dax if these puzzling events could be related to the thoron emissions , but she doesn ' t seem to know what he is talking about . Then the " real " Jadzia Dax appears , much to Bashir ' s embarrassment . Act Two . Bashir examines Bokai , and pronounces that he , and all the new characters , seem to be real . The " fantasy " Jadzia continues to have eyes ( and hands ) for Bashir , but when she suggests they return to his quarters , the doctor unequivocally rejects her , and she promptly disappears . Just then Odo contacts Sisko , reporting odd and seemingly random events , such as snow on the Promenade , occurring all over the station , apparently from people ' s imaginations . Sisko calls for a yellow alert while Dax determines that there is , in fact , a subspace disruption where anything that falls in disappears . They ' ll have to do a full analysis . Meanwhile , Odo reports that the snow is gone , but a Gunji jackdaw is loose . He shoes him off and goes to Quark ' s , announcing to everyone to refrain from using their imaginations . There , Quark has found himself surrounded by beautiful women who are unable to resist him and hopes whatever is going on lasts forever , until Odo points out every one of his customers is winning at dabo . He desperately tries to " wish " them to lose , but he is outnumbered . Dax and Bashir , with the help of O ' Brien , are developing a theory as to the cause , and the remedy . Bashir tries to apologize , but Jadzia says an apology is not necessary ; we all have fantasies , she points out , and besides , she was a young man once herself . But then she comments on the " fantasy " version ' s submissive nature . Bashir thought she would let it go , but then the " fantasy " version of herself appears and enters the room , objecting to the description and calling the real Dax a " cold fish . " As if on cue , the computer finds a match for the kind of phenomenon that is presently occurring on the station in the Hanoli system in the 23rd century – unfortunately , the phenomenon destroyed the entire system . Act Three . A probe is launched into the wormhole to hopefully better understand the effects of the thoron . While O ' Brien is busy working on the solution , he is heckled by Rumpelstiltskin . The Chief tries to ignore what he calls the " figment " – until Rumpelstiltskin mentions Molly , in what could be interpreted in a threatening way . When O ' Brien is about to lose his temper , his " figment " disappears . The crew find that the phenomenon is getting larger , pulling in matter from nearby . While Jadzia and Bashir continue to monitor the probe in search of a solution , Bokai follows Sisko and they briefly discuss baseball and Bokai ' s career . Baseball , it seems , simply fell out of favor with the general public – only 300 people were in the stands for the World Series . Bokai expressed deep gratitude for Sisko ' s loyalty to the game . Rumpelstiltskin , Bokai , and " fantasy " Jadzia all discuss what to them seems like a surprising turn of events . " Jadzia " is annoyed and puzzled as to why Bashir would reject her , when he created her in the first place . Rumpelstiltskin wonders why O ' Brien would dream up a character who frightens him . They both insists that their plan has been a failure , but Bokai says that he has made a real connection , and " it ain ' t over till it ' s over . " Act Four . The subspace anomaly continues to expand while the crew discuss the earlier rift . A Vulcan vessel attempted to seal it , but ended up destroying the system . O ' Brien argues they have better technology , so can perform the same procedure with better control . Sisko then orders Kira to clear all personnel from the pylons as a safety precaution before implementing their plan to seal off the anomaly ( which now represents a clear threat to the entire Bajoran system ) . Odo was supposed to help , but he still has his hands full with Gunji jackdaws ( emus ) running rampant through the promenade . As Kira reaches lower pylon one , she is nearly enveloped by a wall of flame , and calls for emergency assistance . She then sees a burning , screaming man running toward her – and she has no escape . Cringing in the corner , Kira expects to be roasted alive . But after a few seconds , she looks up ; there is no burning man , and no evidence of a fire . Sisko calls through her comm badge , asking for her report , but Kira is momentarily too confused to respond . Finally she says " false alarm " , runs a few scans , then proceeds with the evacuation , somewhat nervously . Meanwhile , Odo is still dealing with the Gunji jackdaws ( and numerous other " imaginative " problems ) when Quark runs up to him to report two missing persons – a blonde and a brunette , who his imagination had conjured up earlier , but just then , the two ladies appear and resume acting affectionately to Quark . Knowing that all the strange occurrences on the station have been the result of imagination , Quark expresses no surprise when Odo confirms that none of the recent oddities originated in the unimaginative mind of Odo himself . Odo returns to his office and runs a security sweep on the pylons , only to discover that he has wished Quark into a holding cell , confirming to himself that he " does " have an imagination . Jake is sitting with his baseball glove , procrastinating on finishing his homework , when he hears the sounds of a baseball park , and Bokai appears , inviting him to play . Jake resists , citing the trouble he ' d get into with his father if he didn ' t first finish his homework . Suddenly , Benjamin Sisko appears ( out of thin air ) behind Jake ' s back ; Jake mutters an excuse as to why he hasn ' t completed his homework . His father disappears , and so does Bokai , and Jake starts getting serious about his homework . The senior staff is still trying to contain a rapidly - growing subspace rift , which is now big enough to be seen on - screen . As Sisko looks it over , Bokai appears next to him . Rumpelstiltskin is seen observing O ' Brien , and " fantasy " Jadzia is smiling at Bashir , who ( like the rest of the senior staff , except Kira ) is staring intently at the anomaly . Act Five . Kira appears to confirm all pylons have been evacuated and secured . The one hope is a torpedo sent into the anomaly . While the real Jadzia is at her station , the fantasy Jadzia expresses fear at the seriousness of the situation – Bashir told her that if this didn ' t work , all life on DS9 , real or imaginary , would be ended . She asks him to hold her , which he does , but does not take his eyes off the viewing screen . O ' Brien is ready with the torpedo , and Sisko calls a red alert and orders him to fire . At first , everything seems to be going well , but then it appears that they are not getting a controlled collapse of the anomaly . Despite heroic efforts by the senior staff , the station is hit by something , and Sisko immediately orders damage control . Fantasy Jadzia is seriously injured , and Bashir attends to her . Although sensors have come back online , it seems inevitable that the station is doomed . When Sisko asks for suggestions , nobody answers – except Rumpelstiltskin , who claims to be able to solve the problem – for a price . A confused Keiko , holding Molly , suddenly appears , and Rumpelstiltskin says " I always wanted to have a daughter " . O ' Brien refuses to agree , and angrily insists that if Rumpelstiltskin can seal the rift , he should do so , before realizing to his own confusion that Rumpelstiltskin is a fictional character from a children ' s fairy tale . At this point , Sisko realizes that everything – including the anomaly , is the product of a wish , or at least an expectation , and as more people believe it exists , its size increases . Sisko orders O ' Brien to lower the shields , and believe that there is no subspace rift outside the station . O ' Brian complies . As the senior staff present begin understanding , and believing , all readings return to normal , and the " imaginary " characters disappear . Though almost everything is back to normal , the unusual thoron readings persist . Sisko orders the station go to yellow alert , and asks Jadzia to continue her investigation , " but no speculation ! " Sisko then goes to his office , and , soon , Buck Bokai appears , and explaining through baseball metaphors that he is part of an extended mission that followed a Federation ship through the " hole in space . " His people wanted to see what " imagination " is really about in an attempt to learn more about humanoids . " Bokai " departs shortly after suggesting that he and his compatriots might return " next year " to inform Sisko about his species . Memorable quotes . " " Family entertainment . That ' s the future , Odo . There ' s a fortune to be made . Little holocreatures running around . Rides and games for the kiddies , Ferengi standing in every doorway selling . . . useless souvenirs . " " " " You ' re going to replace all your sexual holoprograms with family entertainment ? " " " " Oh , no ! No ! I ' m expanding ! I ' m negotiating to lease the space next door so I can use the same hologenerators . " " " " You ' re still disgusting . " " ( Odo walks off ) " " Till the day I die . " " " " Julian , you are a wonderful friend . " " ( Bashir sighs heavily ) " " I enjoy the time we spend together ! " " " " Stop ! You ' re driving a stake through my heart ! " " " " Try a high pitched sonic shower . It ' ll make you feel better . " " " " No it won ' t ! " " ( Dax walks off ) ( to self ) " " I ' ve already tried it . " " " " Sorry I ' m late . I was having dinner with Julian . " " " " How is our young doctor ? " " " " Young . Anything going on ? " " " " Why do we tell her stories about evil dwarves that want to steal children ? " " " " She really is submissive , isn ' t she ? " " " " I am " not " submissive ! . . . am I ? " " " " Let me out of here ! Let me out of here ! Get the Nagus on subspace , I want to talk to him and I mean now ! " " ( He touches the force field holding him and gets zapped ) " " I ' m not spending another minute in this cell ! " " " " How did you get in there ? " " " " How did I get in here ? ! You put me in here ! " " " " Ahh . Hah ! I guess I did , didn ' t I ? " " ( Odo chuckles ) " " Yeah . . . " " ( Quark then vanishes ) ( Odo chuckles ) " " No imagination indeed . Hah ! " " " " Perimeter sensors are picking up a subspace oscillation . What the hell does that mean ? " " " " Ladies and gentlemen , may I have your attention , please ? ! " " ( Grabs a mug from Rom ' s tray and bangs it on table ) " " LADIES AND GENTLEMEN . . . " " ( Notices Morn passing by ) " " . . . And " all " androgynous creatures . . . Your attention , please ! " " " " I ' m going to have to ask you all to please refrain from using your imaginations . " " Links and references . References . 2026 ; 2042 ; 2169 ; 23rd century ; 24th century ; airlock ; allergic reaction ; androgyny ; anomaly ; antipasto ; art ; auxiliary power ; Bajoran system ; Bajoran wormhole ; Baneriam hawk ; baseball ; baseball ( object ) ; baseball bat ; baseball field ; baseball glove ; baseball mitten ; baseman ; baserunning ; bedroom ; bedtime story ; Betazoid ; Betazoid envoy ; blizzard ; bonsai ; byproduct ; Buck , Bokai ( illusory ) ; captain ; centimeter ; class - 4 probe ; com circuit ; concussion ; constable ; constabulary ; crop ; dabo ; ; daughter ; Dax , Jadzia ( illusory ) ; day ; Denorios belt ; deputy ; dermal regenerator ; Derry ; ; dimensional shift ; dinner ; ; ear ; emergency medical kit ; environmental control ; envoy ; epitaph ; exothermic reaction ; fairy tale ; family entertainment ; farmer ; Federation ; female junior lieutenant ; Ferengi ; fever ; fire ; fish ; flux density ; folded space ; gold ; ground ball ; Gunji jackdaw ; habitat ring ; hallucination ; Hanoli rift ; Hanoli system ; Harry ; heart ; holding cell ; hologenerator ; hologram ; holosuite ; home run ; homework ; horse ; hour ; imagination ; impulse engine ; impulse sustainer ; intruder alert ; ; joke ; junior lieutenant ; kilometer ; king ; kingdom ; Larosian virus ; league ; lease ; level one personnel sweep ; life support ; locust ; London Kings ; lunch ; magnetic shock wave ; medical tricorder ; messenger ; Milky Way Galaxy ; minute ; missing person ; Nagus ; ; Old Crow ; ops ; optical scanner ; painting ; perimeter sensor ; plasma field ; playmate ; poorhouse ; Promenade ; prophet ; proton ; pulse wave ; pulse wave device ; pulse wave initiator ; pulse wave torpedo ; pylon ; quarters ; queen ; raktajino ; red alert ; Replimat ; ride ; rift ; " " ; second ; security sweep ; senior officer ; sensor ; shapeshifter ; shields ; sir ; snow ; sonic shower ; souvenir ; ; squeaker ; Stadius ; stake ; station log ; storybook ; ; stuffed animal ; subspace ; subspace anomaly ; subspace disruption ; subspace oscillation ; subspace rupture ; subspace scanner ; Tartaran landscape ; three - dimensional chess ; thoron emission ; thoron field ; torpedo ; torpedo guidance ; trollop ; visual scanner ; Vulcan ; wanted poster ; warp engine ; wave intensity analysis ; wave intensity pattern ; ; tricorder ; World Series ; wormhole ; year ; yellow alert External links .