//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Equestria Knights of the True Force // by Gravestone //------------------------------// We returned to the temple and told the others of Fluttershy achievement facing the Trial of Courage. She still acts shy and timid but to the untrained in the ways of the force, that is what she wants them to see in fact Fluttershy is more confident and stronger to the point of telling me that Harry the Bear was going to need his own room next to hers. I agreed for two reasons the first being that Harry was scaring anyone who came to the temple and second that stare of hers was enough to give me nightmares. As I said we did indeed have a party to celebrate her goal but unlike the others, I only stayed for a short while. Taking my leave I ventured to the central tower where I could meditate on the events. I found the solitude quit pleasant as I took a position of meditation. My mind opened to all around and there I greeted my friends. Oh, look who decided to come and visit us. Hello, my friends, I hope I am not disturbing you? No, you are not after all a visit from you is a joyous time indeed. Thank you, Lady Ashla and I thought Lord Bogan would like this bag of Doritos I brought? In the blink of an eye, the bag of Equestria's version of Doritos was snatched from my hand and torn into. They may be a knockoff but they taste just as good they even made the cool ranch style too. Oh, yum, I haven't had these in like forever I take it you forgive me then? There is nothing to forgive we know that you are very busy but we do appreciate when you do visit us. I looked over to see Bogon still eating from the bag just making an affirmative grunt before he stopped eating and placed the bag down. So tell us what is this visit about? Well, it has to do with Fluttershy she has passed the Trial of Courage and I thought I'd let you know. Oh, that is wonderful to hear she will be able to construct her Lightsaber soon. What do you mean by that doesn't she still have the other trails to take? No, as all of them have passed the other trials in the past they each have only one the most difficult for each of them. Twilight must pass the Trial of Insight, Rarity it is the Trial of Skill, Pinkie is the Trial of the Spirit, and both Applejack and Rainbow Dash must pass the Trail of the Flesh. Wait a minute the Trail of the Flesh, you do realize they have to overcome great physical pain, hardship, or loss, the test sometimes resulted in death or dismemberment or have you forgotten that and oh I don't know maybe that they're also pregnant! You need not worry my friend I will make sure the lives growing inside them will be safe. Oh, lady Harmony I didn't realize you were here. It is quite alright and please give my congratulations to Fluttershy but I must go it seems that a Manticore is having trouble delivering her cubs and needs some assistance. We said our goodbyes and I continued my discussion with Ashla and Bogon finding out that Celestia and the other royals only needed to pass the Trial of the Spirit due to the fact all of them believed that they were not worthy to rule until they realized that every decision they made be it right or wrong was for the betterment of their people then and only then did they truly past the test although Celestia did take longer than the others. We continued talking I told them about Pip and his life. It surprised me that Ashla was the one who wanted to rip the souls of those foster parents out of their bodies and cast them across the cosmos. Bogon had to calm his counterpart down promising to look into divine punishment for them. As this was happening I couldn't help I had forgotten something then remembering what I felt after Flutters completed her trial I had to ask if they knew anything about it. I have to ask, after the girls and I were heading back into town I felt a presence it was faint but it was there it felt like pure evil, cold, and full of nothing but hate. Bogon just floated there for a few moments making Ashla and I worried. Damn, I thought you had more time before they showed up. The one you felt was either the master or his apprentice and they have chosen to follow the darkest ways of the force those ways even I consider Taboo. They are what you would call the Sith the master is named Tirek and his so-called faithful student is named Sombra. What do you mean by so-called and where the hell did they come from? What I mean is Sombra chose to follow Tirek out of greed for power, as for where they came from Tirek was the trusted general to the late King and Queen and Sombra was a mere student the same age as Princess Luna. But due to his greed and arrogance, Tirek tried to overthrow the Royals by using the darkest aspects of the Force. He would steal the lifeforce energy of others to do the one thing the force was never meant to do, reanimate the dead. As for Sombra he would corrupt the hearts of others with fear and hate to do his bidding. I sat there and listened as Bogon told me how they almost destroyed the kingdom if not for Tirek's brother Scorpan helping the King to defeat them. See no matter how evil Tirek was he could never harm his brother and that led to his downfall Sombra lost due to his overconfidence and lack of skills in combat. Hearing what Bogon said about Sombra and how he would fight I realized that he was the reason that Luna turned evil it had to be. We continued to talk when Harmony returned with news of a new litter of manticores being born. When she was brought up to date on what was happening she showed her own disdain for those two. I a sure you that no harm will come to any who are in the forest for that is where my power is great but for the temple, it is the strongest. So what you mean is if they attack I need to get everyone into the forest and temple so they can be safe but I must know am I strong enough to stop them? Oh, you would have no problem defeating them, after all, you are the most powerful Force Wielder ever, but it is the girls that must be the ones to defeat them or all of this would be pointless. Wait, what? What do you mean the girls are the ones suppose to fight them, how, who's stupid idea was that? That would be the creator and you never question him. Ok fine but how am I going to train the girls in time, when the bad guys are already here. They aren't strong enough to escape their prison what you felt was a shade so you have time. Ok, that's a convenient plot twist, wait who said that? That would be the voice of the creator. Rrrrright if he so powerful, then how about he just makes time skip ahead to where the girls are fully trained Je' daii knights then? You know it's not a good idea to get him upset or you might find yourself as a girl or anthropomorphic creature something much worse. Ok fine I sorry if I insulted you whoever you are. I think he forgave you look down at your feet. Doing as Bogon said I looked down and there at my feet were five things I never thought I would see again. A case of Mountain Dew. A box filled with Twinkies, Skittles, and Twizzlers. An old wooden crate holding all the scrolls of the Je'daii order. My faithful dog Yukon King who just so happens to be a very well trained retired military guard dog. And come to think of it I should have put this at the top of the list seeing as he is going to be the biggest help and when I say he I mean it's the one and only Master Yoda. Yep the two-foot green guy himself is standing there at my feet all I can do is fangasm in silence. Why here am I? Master Yoda you have been summoned to aid Grand Master Socrates in educating this worlds inhabitance in the way of the Je'daii the True Force. Bendu what you speak of is. Yes, Master Yoda it is and I would consider it a great honor if you would aid me in teaching this world and those who now are eager to learn the ways of the Force to help protect this world. Help you I will feel true balance with the Force in you I sense. Thank Master Yoda but I must ask if you would prefer to train Younglings or Padawans for you see there are some that are nearly my age, that has begun, training much like Luke Skywalker. They are strong with the force but most do have focus there are a few that still possess the heart of a child and seeing smiles on the faces of others makes her happy. Hemhmhmhmhmh This one meet I would like. Joy to all she can give. For the next hour or so, remember time has no meaning here, we talked about everything and everyone I told him about Pip and how intuned to the Force he was I even told him about the Temple and introduced him to Ashla, Bogon, and Harmony. We had a little discussion about Tirek and Sombra but Yoda reassured me that with the both of us we should be able to get not only the girls to the rank of Knights or higher but the younglings as their Padawans so that way we could begin training the others that I had found. Man I know he's got the experience but, no, no, I 'm not going to doubt him. After our talk, we bid the three orbs goodbye, for now, and I, sorry we, returned to the waking world. I opened my eye to see sitting across from me was Master Yoda I looked to my left and right and saw everything else was there as well. only to have Yukon to bark and jump on me knocking me on my back. "I happy to see you too boy now be good and sit," I said making my dog get off me and move over to sit waiting for me to give him another command. "Well, Master Yoda I think we better go and introduce you to everyone and I forgot to warn you that Pinkie Pie will want to throw you a welcoming party so just a heads up on that," I said as we both moved over to the door with Yukon walking by my side. We made our way down to the living quarters where the party was still going and as we entered the room everything went quiet. I felt a little nervous as everyone just stared at the three of us. "Greetings everyone I would like to introduce you to Master Yoda he is here to aid in your training so please show him the respect he so deserves," I said as the first two to move over to us were the ones I suspected. Fluttershy moved over to kneel in front of Yukon petting him and telling him how much of a good dog he was. While Pinke kneeled down in front of Yoda and asked all of her normal questions in her normal speed. Yoda looked up at me and smiled. "True to warn of this one you did," He said before he turned back and began to answer all of Pinkie's questions. Next was Twilight who bowed to Master Yoda showing him respect, then the others followed suit Rarity, AJ, RD, and Fluttershy all stood before him bowing and introducing themselves. After that I allowed the younglings to come over and introduce themselves as well but when it came to Pip's turn Yoda smiled and laughed. "With this one strong is the Force yes feel it I do," Yoda said looking at Pip. Looking around at the others Yoda moved over to a seat to get comfortable before he began to speak once more. "Tell completed the trial which of you has?" "Um, That would be me Master Yoda," Fluttershy said slowly walking over to him. Closing his eyes Yoda focused not only on Fluttershy but the others as well. "I see teamwork, isolation, fear, anger, betrayal, focus, instinct, forgiveness, and protection endured you each have only one trial remains but different for you they are," He said opening his eye to look at all of them. Twilight and Rarity walk over to speak with Yoda while RD and AJ came over to me. "Um, Big Guy why does he talk like that?" Rainbow asked pointing her thumb at Yoda. "It is the way his species speaks much like Zecora and her rhyming," I said a little offended. "Oh, cause when we heard him I could ah sworn my Uncle Orange was in the room seeing as he talks the same way and it kinda made me smile," Applejack said a Rainbow Dash just nodded. "Why don't you to go over and get to know him better after all he will be training you as well," I said pushing them over to where Yoda has been sitting. Somehow Pinkie turned the party from a Congratulations Fluttershy Party to a Congratulations Fluttershy and Welcome to the Je'daii Temple, Ponyville, and Equestria Party for Master Yoda as well. As this was happening I receive a call from Celestia informing me that she and the others will be arriving shortly to greet Master Yoda and introduce themselves. I did send them a picture of what he looked like so they wouldn't be too confused or startled at his appearance. But other than that things were going smoothly so why do I have this feeling that if the girls aren't trained and ready then this world is going to end. Somewhere far to the north the cloaked figure made its way into a dark cave. "Master the Shroud has returned," A shadowy figure said as it floated around. "Come, my slave, show me what you have seen," A large dark figure said as it moved closer to the Shroud. The Shroud removed its hood to reveal the mummified form of a man it reached into its head and pulled out its one eye handing it to its master before falling to the ground in a heap. "So Lord Tirek what is there to see after this thousand years of imprisonment?" The Shadow figure asked as it floated over to the larger figure. "Patients Sombra we do not want a repeat of last time," Lord Tirek said looking into the eye. " Fascinating it would seem that in the thousand years we were imprisoned there has been a great increase in the population and it appears that they do not or can not use magic," Lord Tirek said as he gazed into the eye only to sit up straight. "That is impossible how could someone like that exist without me knowing of them," he roared before throwing the eye across the room. Sombra Look at the state his master was in before going to retrieve the eye and look through it himself and when he came to the same image as Tirek he too became angry but he continued to watch. "This can cause trouble for us but if I play my cards right I could make Lord Tirek us up his magic so I can swoop in and save the day making my self-look the hero only to give them a false sense then I can destroy them from the inside," Sombra thought to himself as an evil grin spread across his darken face. With the party over and everyone heading to bed with Celestia and the others choosing to stay the night I escorted Master Yoda to his new quarters just down the hall from mine. As he entered his room Yoda stopped and turned around to look up at me. "Child all of them are with and yours they are yes?" He asked. I looked into his eyes. "Yes, Master Yoda they are and I know that it goes against the Jedi code to form an attachment like that but I am a Je'daii and I love all of them equally the same as I..." I said before he raised his hand. "Understand I do yes, the Jedi order was flawed as the Sith one side of coin only focused on but both you see clearly. Following ways of the Order you must," He said to me before pulling out of his robe a scroll from the crest and handing it to me. "Without permission, I did take forgive me I ask," "There is nothing to forgive these are for everyone to read and better understand the Je'daii so please keep it with you,' I said handing it back to him. Saying good night I made my way to my room opening the door I was greeted by Yukon jumping on me knocking me to the floor. After I petted my dog I went over to my desk and turn on my laptop typing in my password I opened a few files and began looking through them. As I was doing this I got tired of having the person in my room keep watching me from the shadows hitting the keys on the laptop to lock it I closed the screen. "So are you the new assassin that Blue Blood sent to kill me?" I asked not even turning around as the figure stepped out of the shadows. "How did you know I was here I used a cloaking spell to mask my presence?" The figure said in a feminine voice. "Yes about that, to be honest, I knew you were here for some time, in fact, Master Yoda even felt your presence as well," I said turning to look at the face of the person who was standing there with a serious expression holding what looked like a very sophisticated gun. "It doesn't matter what you say, I have a job to do and I have never failed to complete one when I'm highered," She said standing in the middle of the room raising the gun up to point it at me. " I sorry it has to end like this we could have been friends if things were different," She said firing the weapon at me multiple times the distinct sound of a blaster could be heard throughout the room. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_NXs_Yu95M With my force training, I was able to block each shot with my hands until the sight of it caused the assassin to lose focus allowing me to use force push on her knocking her back at the same time bringing the now blaster to my open hand. As this happened my room's door burst open to have three of the temple Guards standing there with their lightsaber pikes active and at the ready. The assassin dropped to her knees looking at the floor as her breath caught in her throat. " I failed, I can't fail and now because of this, their going to die," She said still looking at the floor. The guards were about to step in and take this woman into custody but a familiar voice stopped them. "This one is no threat stand at ease I ask you," Master Yoda said as he entered my room. The guards stood at attention before turning to leave the room. Yoda using his cane slowly made his way over to the young lady stopping just two feet in front of her. "Lives of who, are to end I ask you to make such a foolish mistake attacking someone powerful?" Yoda asked the woman. She was about to say something but turned her head. " It doesn't matter now when word gets back to him their going to be dead, just the same," She said looking at the floor once more. I walked over to stand next to Yoda dropping to one knee I looked at the slumped form before me. " What is your name and who is going to die because of your failure?" I asked her for her to flinch at the words. "Yes, yes, name, of one so skilled know we must," Yoda said as he placed his hand on the woman's shoulder closing his eyes. "Tempest, Tempest Shadow," The woman said still looking at the floor. "Tell me Tempest Shadow who's lives are in danger?" I asked Tempest, for Yoda to open his eyes and smile at Tempest. "Worry not for family safe they will be," He said before turning to look at me. " Hurry we must long journey to place call Trottingham we go," He said as he left the room. "Wait, why are you helping me after I tried to kill you?" Tempest asked looking at me as Yoda had already left. "It's who we are it's what we do," I said helping her to her feet. "Now how about we go and save your family?" We walked out of the room and down the hall to the elevators Master Yoda has already joined us. When the doors opened we were greeted by Chrysalis, Celestia, and Luna all three smiling at us. "Okay, I know that look what did you three do this time?" I asked, as all three feigned shock as I just stared at them. Fine if you must know we had Rand D work on somethings one You might like," Celestia said rolling her eyes. With that, we turned at the sound of engines as a recognizable transport ship came to land in front of us with several people stepping out of the side door. https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/5/5f/LAAT.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20070315205756 http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100528235612/starwars/images/d/db/LEGGASoldiers.jpg One of them I recognized very well walking up to him and shaking his hand. "Captain Armor it's good to see you allow me to introduce you to Master Yoda," I said shaking his hand and bringing him over to great the Friendly Jedi. "Um, I know you all want to be all polite and stuff but my families lives are still in danger," Tempest said looking at all of us with pleading eyes. "Correct you are, go we must," Yoda said as he made his way to the transport ship with Tempest on his heels. "We are going to have a long talk when I get back," I said looking at the three royals before turning to join the others. Stepping on board the transport as the door closed behind me I turned to face Captain Armor. "Captain, tell the piolet to take off and head to Trottingham we have a rescue mission to complete," I told him as I looked at tempest hoping that we do make it in time.