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// Chapter 5: Cutie Mark Crusaders Padawan Learners 
// Story: Jedi Knight In Equestria 
// by Thomlight Sparkle 1 
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Later, Sturider and the Crusaders were with the Mane 6 in Twilight’s Library, as Sturider explained his plans to train the Crusaders.

“And so, if you’re approvals I wanna take the Crusaders in as my trainees.” Said Sturider.

“Well, normally, Ah’ ain’t comfy with my little sis’ doin’ something risky, but after seein’ y’all lift that ship of yers’ with that Force stuff. Ah’ give you mah’ approval for trainin’ Apple Bloom. Said Applejack. “But, if it’s alright with you, Ah’d like to try out that laser gun of yers’ sometime in the future.”

“Sure. I’d be glad to.” Said, Sturider.

“Well, you’ve got my approval.” Said, Twilight. “I wanna see how your training works.”

“That can be arranged.” Said, Sturider.

“Um... Well, I know the Crusaders once did some dangerous things, but if you’re training them. Then I’d be okay with it. If you don’t mind that is.” Said, Fluttershy.

“Yes, Yes, Yes! You should train them! Then they can be as cool as you are!” shouted Pinkie Pie hopping with Joy.

“Well, Scoots is trying to be as awesome as I am.” Stated Rainbow as she hovered over the group. “And if you ask me, making her a Jedi Knight would make her just as cool as me! So I say, go on ahead with training her!”

“Well… I don’t know.” Said Rarity. “I mean, you did tell me that your Lightsabers do cut anything. And I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to Sweetie Belle.”

“I can assure you, Miss Rarity. I will make sure that doesn’t happen to Sweetie Belle. Besides, I’m sure I can help Sweetie Belle have a calmer way of doing things with my training. I’ve noticed that she tends to be quite highly strung.”

Rarity pondered. While she wasn’t comfy with her little sister using advanced weapons by herself, there was a kind-hearted gentleman who was willing to help teach her sister how to quite behave. And after seeing how polite Sturider was, and after Fluttershy told her how he helped her in the market, she could trust Sturider. “Well, alright. You have my approval, but if anything happens to Sweetie Belle, you’ll regret it. Big time!”

“I’ll keep that in mind, ma’am.” Said Sturider. He then turned to the Crusaders. “Well you 3, it looks like I’ll be training you to become Jedi after all.”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADER JEDI KNIGHTS!!!” shouted the Crusaders.

“Alright, before we get started. There are a few things you must know. Firstly, in The Jedi Order it is customary to call your teacher “Master” and for the teacher to call his students “Padawans”. Understood?” said, Sturider.

“We understand… Master.” Said, Scootaloo.

“Good, now let’s head back to my ship and we can begin training.” Said, Sturider.




As the four made it back to Sturider’s ship, he explained about the training.

“Lucky for you 3, I managed to grab a few Lightsabers from the Jedi Temple before I left Courasant. So you’ll be able to use Lightsabers of your own.” Explained, Sturider.

“I know I’d like to use that Darksaber.” Said Scootaloo.

“Darksaber?” asked Sturider, he wasn’t sure what Scootaloo meant.

“That black Lightsaber.” Explained Scootaloo. “You said Lightsabers come in different colors, right? Well, since Black is a dark color, and then it makes sense to call that Black Lightsaber a ‘Darksaber’”.

“That makes sense.” Said, Sturider. “Then ‘Darksaber’ it shall be called.” Soon, they were approaching Sturider’s ship. Although, the Lightsabers I grabbed have different colored blades, so I can show you them all and you can decide which ones you want to use.” Said, Sturider, as Scootaloo looked at him with hopeful eyes.  “And yes, including the Darksaber.”

The four were soon inside Sturider’s ship and Sturider began to head for the crate where he took out the Darksaber.

“Now then, Let me show you the Lightsabers, I’ve…..” Sturider started, when he noticed something odd, or infact, something missing. As he gasped in horror. “OH NO!!!” He shouted in shock as he raced over to the table.

“What? What’s wrong?” asked Apple Bloom, concerned for Sturider’s sudden change of attitude.

“The Darksaber! It’s gone!” shouted, Sturider as he showed the Crusaders the case that the Darksaber was in. But only this time, there was nothing inside it.

“WHAT?!” shouted Scootaloo, as she took the case and shook it. “HOW IS IT GONE?! IT WAS IN THE CASE WHEN WE LEFT!!! I WANTED TO USE THAT AWESOME SABER!!!”

“Somepony must’ve stolen it while we were at the Library!” said Sweetie Belle.

“But we wer’ the only ones who wer’ in this ship when Sturider showed it to us.” Said, Apple Bloom.

“Or maybe, we thought we were the only ones who were here.” Said, Scootaloo clenching her fists and she looked around the ship. “I bet someone was eavesdropping on us when Sturider showed us that Darksaber. And then when we left, they snuck in the ship and stole it.”

“That sounds very likely my young friend.” Said Sturider. “But we can’t go around asking random citizens about it. You 3 are the only ponies in this village who’ve seen the Darksaber. So no one will know what it looks like.”

“But how we will find it?!” asked Scootaloo.

“All we can do is trust in the Force. As I said, it called to me when I found it, so it calls to me or one of you three, if it’s near.” Said, Sturider.

“Sounds good.” Said Sweetie Belle. “But, let’s see those other Lightsabers you have.”

“Certainly.” Said, Sturider as took a bigger case out from the crate and placed it on the table, and opened it. And inside the case were 9 different styled Lightsabers.

“Now, this is a good opportunity for you three to begin training.” Said, Sturider. “This will also help you receive the Sabers that will soon belong to you.”

“How will it work?” asked Apple Bloom.

“Well, since the Darksaber called to me, then the Force will guide you to a certain Lightsaber that will fit you.” Explained Sturider. “First get on your knees and close your eyes.”

“Huh? How will closing our eyes help?” asked Scootaloo.

“If you focus on using your other senses, then you can’t focus on using the Force. Your other senses can deceive you in many cases.” Explained Sturider.

“Alright, I’ll play along.” Said Scootaloo, still confused. As she and the other 2 fillies got on their knees and closed their eyes.

“Now, just slowly breath in, and out as you sit.” Said, Sturider.

“What?” asked Scootaloo, even more confused.

“Just do as I say.” Said, Sturider.

So the Crusaders did as they were told and slowly, they began to feel the Force within them. And then they had a strange sense, as a humming sound was heard in their minds.

“What do you feel?” asked, Sturider, starting to sense the humming himself.

“I feel a tingling sensation.” Said, Sweetie Belle.

“So do Ah.” Said Apple Bloom.

“Even Me.” Added Scootaloo.

“That’s the Force flowing through your bodies. Now lift your right hand and let the Force do its work.” Said, Sturider.
The Crusaders did as they were told and as they held up their hands, they began to feel the Force getting stronger, and then from the case, 3 Lightsabers rose.

“Ah’ think Ah’m startin’ to sense a Lightsaber fer’ me,” said Apple Bloom.

"Do you 2 feel it too?” Sturider asked Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, who nodded their heads. “Good, now use the Force to bring your Sabers into your hands. And don’t open your eyes until you feel them in your grasp.”

The Crusaders then started to pull with the Force as they felt it going through their hands and then the Sabers slowly floated from the case and then slowly each one floated into each of the Crusaders’ hands until they were in their grasp.

“Alright, now open your eyes.” Said Sturider.

The Crusaders did so and looked at the sabers that were in their hands.

“We did it! We did it!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle with a squeal.

“Alright, now stand up and each one of you ignite your saber one-by-one and you’ll see your given blade colors.” Said Sturider.

The Crusaders nodded their heads, as Apple Bloom ignited her saber, with emitted an orange blade. Then Sweetie Belle ignited hers, which emitted a sky blue blade. Finally, Scootaloo ignited hers, which emitted a purple blade.

“Hmm, it may not be sword-like. Or black, but this saber’s awesome too!” said Scootaloo as she inspected her new saber with awe. As they extinguished the blades after a minute or 2 of observing their sabers’ blade colors.

“So, now what?” asked Apple Bloom.

“Before we continue, I need to measure you 3.” Said, Sturider as he took out some measuring tape and measured the circumference of the Crusaders’ waists.

“You’re not gonna make us dresses are you?” asked Scootaloo. “I’m not one for wearing girly outfits, as she pointed inside her mouth in a gagging fashion.

“No, this is for your utility belts.” Explained Sturider as he took each measurement.

“Utility belts?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Yes, how else are you gonna carry your sabers?” said, Sturider. “Alright, until I complete your belts, we’ll postpone Lightsaber combat training, and concentrate on Force skills.”

“What? But I wanna learn how to use a Lightsaber, now!” whined Scootaloo.

“First, you 3 must learn to use the Force under your control. And once you are skilled enough with the Force, then we’ll move to Lightsaber combat.” Said, Sturider.

“So, what are we suppose ta’ do with our sabers?” asked Apple Bloom.

“For now, I’ll hang on to them, we can’t risk them being stolen like the Darksaber.” Said, Sturider.

“Okay. I guess that would be okay. I don’t wanna lose this saber.” Said Scootaloo as the Crusaders handed Sturider their sabers.

“Alright, tomorrow after school, come here and our training will continue.” Said Sturider as he put the crusaders’ sabers in a different. “For now, it’s getting late. And we will stop here.”

“Sounds fine, besides, it’s almost time fer’ me ta’ have dinner anyway.” Said, Apple Bloom, as she left.

“I just hope we’ll find the Darksaber. I know I have my own Lightsaber now, But I still wanna try it out.” Said Scootaloo.

“Trust the Force, young one. We will find it.” Said, Sturider. But deep down, he wasn’t so sure if they would find the Darksaber at all. But he wanted to have a positive attitude. For now, he was training 3 young fillies, and that came first.