Sonata Dusk cradled her broken arm and tried to hold back her tears as her master stood over her. She couldn’t tell through his mask but if she could see through it, she was sure he was scowling at her for her weakness.
Every test he had given her outside of torture and interrogation she had failed, and even those two skills caused to many casualties for Vader’s liking. She was sure he regretted having her as his apprentice instead of one of her sisters, but he couldn’t back down now, not without killing Sonata first.
His anger made sense, even to the target of that anger. She had called out for help through the Force but that hadn’t been what had made her master rage at her, it was the fact that her call could have been heard by HIS master that caused him to lash out at his apprentice.
It was this anger that bubbled to the surface when he asked her, “Did you receive a reply to your pitiful little call for aid?” Sonata still didn’t understand how he even knew what she had said through the Force, the call was in her native tongue not his.
Seeing the look on his face he scoffed, or did whatever his respirator allowed as a scoff “Your meaning, while in a language I couldn’t understand was clear nonetheless, now tell me,” he took a step forward “Did you get your reply?”
Before Sonata could answer the Sith Lord they both felt something hit them mentally through the Force.
‘I will’ came the reply they had both been dreading and hoping to hear. Vader couldn’t understand, it was once again a call in Sonata’s native language, but the meaning once again wasn’t lost to him and he felt slight relief that the reply wasn’t that of Palpatine’s cackling laughter or lightning.
Sonata felt her hope swell though, even though it was most likely a pony coming to rescue her, she and her sisters would be rescued! Or at least she hoped they would be…she couldn’t tell from this distance, but the force presence felt warm to her, strong, hopefully stronger than even Vader’s.
Vader looked at the pitiful creature beneath him before considering what he had felt, someone from her land obviously knew where she was now and would be coming to retrieve her. The Force, even from this had sung with powerful light, not strong enough to reach the Emperor's notice, at least, not from where it originated.
He couldn’t pinpoint its origin, but he knew it was close, at least on the galactic scale of things, but it was still far enough from the capital that Palpatine wouldn’t see any reason to investigate personally, not like with Sonata’s original outburst, which started at a point of interest for Palpatine.
The presence though was strong, at least as strong if not stronger than Sonata’s and her sisters, perhaps it was time to find a new apprentice and replace the faulty prototype…
“I have a proposition for you, Sonata Dusk.” His voice echoed through the room, “How would you like to buy your freedom?”
Sunset Shimmer came crashing through the wooden door with a shout of “Master Yoda!” only to find the Jedi Master already waiting for her on his bed.
“Felt that disturbance in the Force, did you?” Yoda glanced at her but otherwise his face was set in an unreadable mask.
“They were calling for help, how could I have not felt it?” Sunset sat down, the lightsaber hooked to her belt moved slightly but made no noise, but Yoda noticed it anyway. Once again if he had any reaction at seeing his old weapon, he didn’t outwardly express it, he just hummed and looked back at Sunset.
“Already prepared to go, are you?” he asked already knowing the answer.
Sunset didn’t know why, but that question caused her anger long forgotten in her conversation with Qui Gon Jinn to resurface once again “Of course I’m going to go!” she snarled “The call for help was in Equestrian, they might be one of my people!”
Yoda merely raised an eyebrow at her but nodded “Hmm interesting, this is.” He stood and hobbled towards her once more, “You are set on this path?”
Sunset only nodded, drifted to the lightsaber at her hip, almost daring Yoda to try and stop her but the Jedi master sighed and shook his head.
“If you leave, you may not return to this place.” He said with finality “The Emperor will know where you are, he and his apprentice will hunt you down like every other Jedi…”
Sunset stood “Are you saying I should be afraid?!” she shouted, “that I should abandon one of my people out of fear?”
Yoda chuckled “Remember my teachings young one, Fear is the path to the Dark Side.” He looked up at her once more “Why do you care for this person you have never met hm?” he questioned her poking her leg with his stick. “The Sunset Shimmer of three years past would have ignored this call, for it was not within her best interests.”
Sunset was about to angrily shout back at him when she stopped to concede that he was correct… three years ago she would have ignored any one from back home calling for help, hell she would have ignored them back when she was home in the first place.
Thinking back to all the times she challenged her inner darkness, to the inner reflection these encounters had caused, made her realize that she didn’t want to be that angry girl anymore, though she still struggled with her rage.
She hadn’t forgiven Celestia or Cadence, she still couldn’t, but now she at least understood why they were princesses and she wasn’t, and so she took at least what she thought was the first step towards being a better pony with her determination to help the one voice that called out to her.
Instead of articulating that though she looked at Yoda and said, “Because it’s the right thing to do, what kind of princess would I be if I let my people suffer?”
Yoda croaked out a laugh at that, the first genuine one she had heard in a while from the small Jedi master, “Very well then Sunset Shimmer, go and may the Force be with you.”
Sunset looked at him gobsmacked “That’s it? No argument, no give me back my lightsaber, no argument?”
Yoda shrugged “Chose you, the saber did, I do not recall moving it from it’s space under my house, and I doubt you could have found it without the Force helping you.” Sitting on his bed he continued, “You are not a prisoner here, child, While I would like to complete your training, or at least attempt to, I can feel the Force calling you elsewhere.”
For the first time in a long time the two had an understanding, she wasn’t the one he was destined to train, and he wasn’t the one to complete her training. With that she stood and walked over to the troll and enveloped him in a quick hug before turning and leaving the hut one last time towards her destiny.
Hours away, at least on foot even for a trained Force user was an imperial research facility, it was understaffed, had maybe two stormtroopers for guards and only had one way off the planet, a small imperial shuttle that remained unused unless emergencies were declared.
Sunset Shimmer surveyed the area through the tree’s noticing that the two stormtroopers weren’t even bothering with patrols, they just sat in front of the small facility, more a bunker really, helmets off, blasters to the side and playing cards in hand. From what she had managed to discern from both her datapad’s access to the holonet and Yoda’s own lectures, this station hadn’t been used for a year and a half, with the researchers heading back to the Capital to change shifts as it were, and catalog they’re findings. This left the two lone stormtroopers to keep the little science station running on their own, and make sure no critters made their way into the base.
Unluckily for them Sunset was more fearsome than any critter. Outside of the building on a makeshift landing pad was the shuttle she needed, she didn’t doubt that she’d be able to fly it or at least make one of the troopers fly it for her. First though she had to get to the shuttle.
“Oh, poor baby Sunset, can’t figure out how to get off this mudball?” the dreaded voice of her shadow whispered in her ear.
Turning around Sunset came face to face once more with her doppelganger and scowled “I don’t have time for you!” she whispered
“Oh, I know that Sunny, your off to go play hero and save the day!” Sunset’s sith red eyes narrowed “no more time to play with little ol me anymore, you’re moving to the big leagues!”
Sunset met her shades red eyes and growled out “What. Do. You. Want?”
The shade just laughed at her younger self’s anger, “Oh nothing, just here to warn you is all.” The shade stood and began to walk backwards to the forest “leave if you want, Sunset Shimmer, but there are worse shadows than I am waiting for you.” With that the shadow disappeared, and Sunset was again left alone to ponder her current dilemma.
Shaking her head the Equestrian turned back to the problem at hand, she could use force or even THE Force to get what she wanted, but she wasn’t as skilled in the mind arts as she wanted to be and while she was confident with a lightsaber she didn’t want to just kill the stormtroopers, that would cause problems for Yoda in the long run, unless she could make it look like an accident…
With her path set she used the force to enhance her speed, sprinting around the perimeter of the facility, fast enough to cause a disturbance around the stormtroopers that caused them to look up from their game, but return to it shortly after assuming the shift in the wind was just an animal or the weather.
The one closest to the forest was about to continue their conversation about how shitty the job they had been stuck with was, when something orange caught his and his partners eyes. Looking over they saw Sunset Shimmer waving at them, and instantly stood to get their blasters and threaten this unknown intruder, before they were slammed into the side of the building with a force push knocking them both out cold.
Dusting her hands off and smiling Sunset used the force to pick up the storm troopers and place them inside the shuttle, but not before stripping one of them down and putting his armor on herself and tying them both together with some rope she had found lying around.
Sitting down in the pilot’s chair, Sunset exhaled through her nose, and touched the controls only for her mind to once more be assaulted by visions like it had when she had found Yoda’s lightsaber.
‘delta 32 this is Shuttle S90 coming in, transmitting codes’
‘just take her in slowly’
‘I can’t believe we were stuck on swamp duty…’
Shaking her head, Sunset began pressing buttons like a girl possessed, using the navi computer she searched for the star system that she felt the disturbance originate from while the ship went through its automated preflight checklist. Looking at it one name stuck out to her, and she set the computers course to it, not even realizing or caring that she had found it completely by chance.
The ship lifted out of the swamp and proceeded to leave Dagobah’s atmosphere. Sunset placed the stormtrooper helmet in the copilot’s seat and once she was safely out of Dagobah’s gravity well, began the transition into hyperspace. Her course set for Mustafar.
Off to adventure! And just like that sunset has given stormtroopers more consideration than anyone else in star wars.
9844294
stop telling him to make Sunset a grey Jedi. its not gonna happen
9844561
yeah she is more like a light sith
I hope Sunset know that this is a trap. She isn’t stupid and if they check the data banks on this ship or run where it was assigned they will trace it back to where Yoda is.
Those unedited chapters look good to me at the first glance, good luck with editing.
The beginning of the path, Sunset is on. Will it lead to triumph, or ruin? That, only time will tell.
9844564
Actually, at the moment Sunset is neither Sith or Jedi. Like Luke, she is in the middle, although balancing closer to Sith than Jedi. Luke was the opposite of Sunset during this phase of his training. And like Luke, I am sure she will be forced to make a choice. Luke chose to deny Palpatine, Vader and the Dark Side and become Jedi. What Sunset will do is up for grabs. She has her tempter, but she knows she does not have to follow that path if she feels it is not what she needs to do, now. She has her choice.
Whether or not she's ready to face Vader... that's the second big question.
Interesting seeing Qui-Gon there to counsel Sunset. Good to see him involved again. Maybe he can make all the difference...
9844203
So no rebels
9844870
it depends on how far i let the timeline go, Rebels takes place in like 3bby
9844871
I thought it was 4bby or 5bby Disney got that a little confusing especially cause they keep some stuff from legends but throw so much away that they really need to just make a time line for fans
9844577
Yeah, I was thinking that about the ship too. She could destroy it, but the troopers could still talk. It could be a problem for Yoda, but he could also hide well enough that no one would know he's there anyway, as long as Sunset doesn't blab. Although, Vader might learn about Yoda from her anyway, the same way he learned about Leia from Luke in the movies. Hmm.
Don't do it Sonata! Just hang on and wait a little longer, Sunset is on her way!
I really want to see which direction you take Sunset, what kind of Jedi she becomes. I think if she leans too far one way it'd feel wrong but not leaning far enough would lack commitment, a balance would be hard to present if not done right.
I'll admit to not knowing much about Star Wars lore but the idea and concepts surrounding the Force (before Disney) and how people interpret them have always been interesting to me. Seeing yours will be fun.
I really wonder why people don't like my idea and theory as well i mean i want to know why?.
Why does the mental image of Sunset in stormtrooper armor amuse me? Is it because I can just imagine her trying to get her hair into that helmet?
'she could have seen through it, she was sure he would have been scowling at her'
'too'
I feel like there's something missing here. Like 'Sunset only nodded, but her hand drifted to the lightsaber at her hip,'
'you're'
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought sith generally had yellow eyes?
'shade's'
And again, shouldn't that be yellow?
9845593
yea the red eye thing was a brain fart on my end
9845696
Yeah ... Mind you, I get it, if there's one color you connect with Sith, it's red ... just not generally their eyes ...
9845697
lol in my defense i stayed up till like 4 writing chapter 7 and then speed blitzed chapter 8 after i woke up so
Oooh, dang that's gonna be an offer Sonata will KNOW is gonna end badly for her, but I don't think she'll be able to stop herself from accepting... And I didn't say it last chapter, but it was sad to hear that her sisters threw themselves into Vader's service so willingly. Something tells me that even if Sunset makes it there, they won't want to leave.
Love this, and I’m looking forward to more. I hope we get to see growth and adventures rather than get get to hear about said growth after a multi-year time skip though. All the same, the writing itself feels really good.
9846614
This time skip kind of had to happen, but now that she's actually beginning her journey across the galaxy we'll have good growth...maybe it'll depend on what i have happen
And Sunset jumps out of the frying pan straight into the fire. This should end wonderfully for her!
Think I would've liked a few hundred words of wonder for seeing a star up close. Seeing a planet beneath her getting small. This is never something she'd have words to express back in Equestria. And now she's in space. Wonder and feeling tiny and small would've made this far better.
9859416
She's very focused on getting to Sonata, but She will still have to make the slow decent to Mustafar
While I loved this chapter, I can't help but feel a missed opertunity for a RvB joke of "Hey." "Yeah?" "You ever wonder why we're here?"
I fell like Fallen order is a good showing of what sunset may be capable of at this point. Well almost at that point.
This story starting to remind me of Fallen Order all of the sudden.
9977978
I would make the bottom half into a sealed tea mug,
9977978
I'd just go with an ergonomic grip and a leather wrapping around the handle, cause seriously most lightsabers look awful to hold.
i have a bad feeling about this
Can't wait for more, I really can't.
10043951
Lol I'm trying but real life keeps getting in the way
10043960
I totally feel you. Since I've finally started and published a story, I got sick, had a really bad issue with my ear, started the quarter, and now I have 10 homework assignments due in the next three days despite only having four classes.
Mad respect to those who can update stories in any form of schedule.
Seriously though, amazing job, (and I don't even like Star Wars). Keep up the great writing, whenever you can.
Wait seriously? I was expecting sunset to call on yoda's bs on helping the innocent, I was also expecting sunset to rant about Yoda to her counterpart
10059506
This chapter was mainly to have sunset get off the planet and was written in a rush. So alot of things that i wanted to do in hindsight didn't happen
10059511
Hmm makes sense but I'm loving this alot. I hope you'll get a chance to flesh this out more later
10059519
Next chapter comes out in the morning
10059528
Yay!! I'm happy, I hope sonata gets saved, I know she's done horrible things but she still has a good heart
10059528 Sorry, what's 'morning'? I only see darkness and stone...
I guess a datapad can teach a lot about flying a ship.
10437366
It's implied that the Force mainly taught her what she needed to know
Hm! Awesome work! Hmm...best be sure to see if those StormTroopers really ARE KO’ed, Sunset...
And hmm...I can only wonder if Vader will actually manage to get his dark force claws on Sunset??? Good to see that Yoda was also understanding as well. The Force calls to you Sunset! Heed it and let no mere words stop you!