//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 "Canterlot, Interrogation" 
// Story: The Force of Friendship (1. A New World) 
// by Bronysith 
//------------------------------//

		"Twilight are you okay to walk?" Alexx asked, noticing she was limping a bit. "I don't think I can. I used up most of my energy bringing you back to normal." She replied. Alexx's left rear leg had healed from when Twilight restored him. "Come here." He said. Twilight put a hoof around his neck and Alexx assisted her in walking. As they began their slow walk, Alexx asked. "How far until we make it to Canterlot?" "About thirty minutes away. LOOK." She was right. There in the distance, Alexx saw a great city in the side of a mountain. So this is Canterlot? Alexx thought to himself.

As they began their initial ascent into Canterlot, Twilight asked. "Alexx you mentioned back there was the Dark side. Please tell me, what is the dark side?" Alexx hesitated for a moment. Then he said. "There are two sides to the force, the light side, and the dark side. Jedi follow the path of the light side, while sith follow the dark." He explained. "But if you were a sith then wouldn't you be following the dark side?" She asked concerned. "Even though I was sith I walked neither side. I did not believe in killing innocents. I just wanted the power of a sith without being evil." Alexx replied. "That was the first time I ever lost control and succumbed to the dark side. Thank you for saving me from that." "You are very welcome." Twilight said, leaning her head against his.

"Here we are CANTERLOT." Twilight said. As they entered the great city, Alexx noticed tall buildings and ponies dressed in luxurious fabrics. Alexx saw a White stallion in a guard suit look over curiously. "Twiley?" Asked the guard. "BBBFF!" Twilight said. Dropping from Alexx's grip, Twilight ran to him, limping, and gave him a hug. "What happened to you Twiley? Did THIS guy do this to you?" He asked in anger. "NO! Shining Armor, this is Alexx, he saved me today. Without him I would've been dead." Replied Twilight. "Well, Alexx, I thank you for saving my little sister. I don't know what I would do without her." Shining Armor said. "Thank me later. We need to get her to a doctor. NOW!" Alexx replied in fear. "Right! I REQUIRE ASSITANCE!!" Shining Armor yelled. Two unicorn guards showed up and with their magic, levitated Twilight onto their backs and ran off. Alexx and Shining Armor following close behind.

"What is the damage doctor?" Both Alexx and Shining Armor asked in unison. "Well she is going to be fine. We have already treated her for the electric damage. By tomorrow she will be able to walk normal again. But we are going to need her to stay the night." Said the doctor. "I will stay by your side until morning." Said Shining Armor. "No big brother, you need to guard the city. You are captain of the royal guard after all." Twilight said. "But what if you are attacked again during the night?" He asked in horror. "It is fine. I will watch over her till morning." Alexx said. "Thank you Alexx." Shining Armor put a hoof around Alexx's neck and whispered. "Please take good care of her. Do not let anything hurt her." "I will guard her with my life." Alexx replied. Shining Armor released his hold on Alexx. "Okay Twiley, I have to return to my watch. Get a good night's rest." He said giving her a hug. "See you later BBBFF." Twilight replied. 

Twilight slept soundly in her bed. Alexx did not sleep that night however. He kept watch over her room at all times. Not even for a second did he leave her side. She did not deserve this. He thought. As he watched the mare sleep, he could see a light smile on her face. Well she doesn't look like she is in any pain. Good. He gently brought down his hoof toward her and brushed her mane. She is so. So beautiful. He realized. That is the second time you helped me Twilight. I am even deeper in debt to you. When I first arrived here you used your magic to heal my headache, dizziness, and blindness. Now you have saved me from the dark side itself. Something I thought was impossible to escape from. He stopped brushing her mane. For the next six hours Alexx kept a ward guarding the room. It made detection of the force impossible from outside it. Twilight was hurt because of my connection to the force. I cannot allow that to happen again. I gave Shining Armor my word to protect her.

Six hours had passed when Twilight awoke. "Morning sleepy head." Alexx said with a smile, happy to see she is okay. "Morning Alexx." She returned the smile. As they left the hospital, Twilight said. "We have wasted to much time already now. We must see Princess Celestia now and tell her what happened." "Right let's go Twilight." Alexx replied. They both began to gallop towards the castle. As they neared the castle a winged guard said. "Twilight it is good to see you again. The Princesses are waiting for you." "Princesses? Luna is here too?" Asked Twilight. "Yes" replied the guard. The doors to the castle opened and revealed a great hall. 

As they neared the throne room Alexx began to get nervous. I have never met royalty before. I hope I do not say anything incredibly stupid to get me in deep trouble. He thought. They were greeted by two more guards at the doors to the throne room. They opened the doors and in there Alexx saw two great ponies. One had white fur, flowing multicolored mane, and beautiful purple eyes. The other had dark blue fur, flowing blue mane, and light blue eyes.

"Twilight, my most faithful student, it is great to see you again." Said the white one. "It is good to see you too Princess Celestia, and you as well Princess Luna." Twilight replied. "Now your majesties, the reason for my visit is to tell you of the arrival of Alexx. He is well was a-" "Sith lord yes we know Twilight" Interrupted Luna. "How did you know?" Twilight asked. "It seems that Alexx is not the only new pony to arrive in Equestria, Twilight, since he arrived a gateway opened up and two beings entered through it. One got away while we captured the other one." Celestia replied. 

It looks like Shanesen was not alone. Alexx thought. "We have attempted in interrogating him for information, but all we got out was that he, you and the other were sith." Said Luna. "Have you tried- torture your highness?" Alexx asked. Twilight, Luna, and Celestia all looked at Alexx in horror. "Alexx here we do not believe in torture. It pains us to cause others pain so we do not attempt it." Celestia replied. "Okay then." Alexx said. No wonder they could not get any information out of him. He thought. "Now Twilight you were supposed to meet us, with Alexx, yesterday what happened?" Celestia asked. "We were attacked by a sith, supposedly the other one who entered the gate. He ambushed us and nearly killed us. If it wasn't for Alexx, I would be dead right now." Twilight said. "The sith injured me so I had to spend the night at the hospital." Celestia turned her head toward Alexx and met her eyes with his.

"Is this true Alexx? Did you save her?" Celestia asked. "Yes. When I was helpless to save her. I broke free from the bondage Shanesen had me in, and killed him. But I was nearly consumed from the dark side. Twilight saved me from it with her magic." He replied. "Well you saved my faithful student, and with that you have my thanks and respect." Celestia said. "You have ours as well." Said Luna. "Now Alexx, you asked earlier if we tortured him. We do not believe in torture. But if you would be so kind as to.. INTERROGATE our guest we would be deeply appreciated." Celestia said. "But you don't like others being caused pain. Why do you want me to do it?" Alexx asked. "Yes we do not believe in torture, but you do. We need to know who this sith is working for and why they are here." Celestia replied.

"I can tell you why they are her, your highness, they are here because my old master, Darth Shadio, sent them through the gateway. Before I slayed Shanesen, he said that Shadio wanted to conquer this new world." Alexx said. "He's right Celestia, I guess that sith wasn't very bright." Twilight said. "But we still do not know where the gateway is or how they are coming to Equestria. So yes Alexx please, in the name of the sun, get as much information as you can out of the other one." Celestia replied. "Alexx do this for me will you?" Twilight said Her beautiful eyes meeting his. "Twilight you and the others have shown me kindness in ways I can never repay. I will interrogate him." Alexx replied. I myself have never tortured a person, I will do my best to avoid it. But if it comes to that. I will do whatever it takes to help save this land. Alexx thought.

"Thank you Alexx." Both the princesses and Twilight said. "Now the holding chambers are in the room to my left. Please do what you must." Celestia said. "Twilight Sparkle please wait here until he is finished." "Yes Princess, I need to tell you about what happened in the past month anyways." Twilight replied. "Good luck Alexx." She said to him. As Alexx walked to the next room a guard opened the door for him using magic. He entered a dark room with a pony strapped to a table that was inclined at a diagonal angle. As he approached he began to notice Traits to this pony. This pony had black eyes, red fur, and an orange mane. He did not recognize the energy this one was emitting. 

"Now tell me, who are you?" The sith pony just stared at him. "Who are you and how did you get here." Again just staring at him. I wonder if my persuasion technique can do it. He waved his front right hoof infront of him and using the force said. "You will tell me who you are and why you are here." "I will tell you who I am and why I am here." It was a low voice. Yes. Alexx celebrated in his head. "My name is Shanos, a bounty hunter." Alexx was in shock. Good for nothing bounty hunter. Remembering that it was a bounty hunter that ended his fathers life. "I am here because I was hired by Darth Shadio to go into the gateway with Shanesen to find out what this place is." Shanos said. "But earlier you told the princesses that you were a sith. Why?" Alexx asked. "To scare them of course. After Shanesen killed ten of her royal guards, and twenty civilians, they were too afraid to go after him. That is why I am here now."  Ten guards? Shanesen was strong though. But he killed twenty civillians before he got to us? What a heartless man he was. Alexx thought.

"You will tell me how you got here." Alexx said using the persuasion technique again. "That won't work again sith." Shanos replied with an evil smirk. Damn it. I didn't want to have to, but I guess there is no other way. He thought. I will do this but I will not enjoy it. I cannot fall down to the dark side again. "Now you will tell me, HOW DID YOU GET HERE." Channeling energy into his horn and sending a stream of lightning into Shanos. He cried out in pain as the electricity coursed through his veins. How do the inquisitors do this all the time? Celestia was right. It does pain me to do this. BUT I MUST!! "Now tell me HOW DID YOU GET HERE!?" He demanded. "You will get nothing out of me" Shanos said spitting in the face of Alexx. He did not hesitate this time and sent more lightning into Shanos, upping the charge.

Over the next seven hours, screams could be heard throughout the palace. I am getting nowhere. How has  he resisted it for so long? Alexx thought in frustration. Shanos was panting heavily. The pain must be unbearable. But how could he withstand it. Alexx knew in the days seeing Darth Shadio torturing for information, that even a Jedi Master would have submitted by now. It pains me doing this. Bringing a defenseless person suffering. There has to be another way. "Shanos tell me. Do you have any family, friends perhaps?" Alexx saw Shanos raise an eyebrow. "Why yes of course I do." "Any children."

Alexx saw Shanos pupils dilate. Gotcha. He thought with a smirk. "So you are a bounty hunter, why?" Alexx asked  "Well, yes I do have children, that is why I am a bounty hunter. I would do whatever it takes to feed my children." Shanos replied. "So Darth Shadio hired you to take on this new land?" Alexx questioned. "Yes, but his offer of pay was too low. When I asked for a higher offer... he made a different offer." Alexx raised an eyebrow. "What offer was that?" "He said I do this job and he lets my children live." Alexx was in shock. He knew Shadio was evil, but to kill a child, that is just monstrous.

"So that is why you came to Equestria?" He asked. Shanos bent his head down. "Yes, my kids are my life. If they died I would not be able to go on. They are all I have left. If I failed this mission, he will kill my kids." "Please tell me Shanos, tell me how you came to Equestria and I will make sure that Shadio will not be able to find your kids." Alexx promised. Shanos eyes lit up. "You would do that?" He asked "Yes. Children should not be a bargaining chip." Shanos lit up a smile. "Thank you Stal. Now the gateway can only be entered through as long as their is a force-sensitve being here. YOU, are the gatekey." Alexx was in complete shock.

"How often can they use the gateway Shanos?" He questioned, shocked to learn that he is the reason that an invasion of Equestria is possible. "So far they haven't been able to stablize the gateway. So they can only enter it once a year. In one year from today, Shadio is going to invade this land, with an army." Alexx was now scared. One year to prepare for an invasion. Not nearly enough time. To face Shadio and others. There are going to be many casualties. I must tell the others. "Now Stal, I have filled my side of the bargain, now you promised me." Shanos demanded. "You are right Shanos, now imagine your kids for me and where they live." Alexx said as he placed his horn on Shanos's head. He saw a home on Dantooine. Two kids, one boy and one girl. Alexx, through the force, began to place a ward around the children's energy. "There it is done. Shadio will no longer be able to find your kids." "Thank you Sta-" "Call me Alexx, Shanos, I gave up my Darth status a while ago." "Okay, thank you Alexx. I would like to call you my friend. You saved my kids from death. OH one more thing there is another sith in Equestria." ANOTHER! Alexx was concerned that there was an immediate threat. "Are you sure?" Alexx asked.

"Yes. He is an assassin and he can disguise as any person er pony that he wants." Shanos replied. "Do you know who he was disguised as?" Alexx questioned. "Yes he took the form of UGGHGH!" Alexx noticed that Shanos coughed up blood. "SHANOS, WHO IS HE DISGUISED AS?!" It was too late. Some outside power killed him. The autopsy showed he died of a heart attack. It must be him. Shadio must be watching me right now. He saw that his pawn failed and decided to end him now. Why is it everytime I make a new friend, something bad happens to them? Alexx wondered in fear. Twilight was injured and now Shanos was killed. He walked onto a balcony outside. It was now nighttime. Using the force to he shouted "SHADIO I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!! I CHALLENGE YOU. IN ONE YEAR WE FACE OFF! ONE ON ONE IN A KAGGATH! NO INVASIONS, NO ARMIES JUST YOU AND ME!!" his voice boomed throughout all of Equestria. The kaggath was a sith duel. In a kaggath there was a victor and a corpse. "IT SHALL TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE OF EQUESTRIA, ON YOUR SHIP THE TYRA!" The Tyra was Shadio's flag ship. Alexx felt a presence in his mind. It was an evil energy that he felt and heard a voice say...

I accept.

-End Chapter 5