PONY WARS: Return of the Jedi
A long time ago, in a gala far, far, away...
Twilight Sparkle has returned to her home planet of Tatooine in an attempt to rescue her friend Rainbow Dash from the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt.
Little does Twilight know that the Galactic Empire has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first dreaded Death Star.
When completed, this ultimate weapon will spell certain doom for the small band of Rebels struggling to restore freedom to the galaxy...
The small, green moon of Endor floated benevolently through space as an Imperial Star Destroyer moved toward a massive space station. The monstrous, half-completed Death Star loomed behind the tiny green moon like a specter. A massive superstructure curled away from a newly completed section of the station, retracting like the arms of an octopus. Two zipping TIE fighters followed the Star Destroyer as it rocketed toward the Death Star.
“Command station, this is ST 321,” a stallion's voice echoed across a comlink. “Code Clearance Blue. We're starting our approach. Deactivate the security shield.” Operators moved about among the control panels in the large room. A control officer galloped over to the shield's operator.
“Inform the commander that Lord Moon's shuttle has arrived,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir.” The control officer moved over to a view port and watched as the Imperial shuttle landed in the massive docking bay. A squad of stormtroopers marched into formation before the craft. The hatch of the shuttle swished open, revealing only bleak darkness. Ominous hoofsteps began to emanate from the door, and soon, heavy breathing began to accompany it. Nightmare Moon, Lord of the Sith, appeared from the black void and trotted down the ramp, looking out over the assemblage as she made her way to the ship's commander.
“Lord Moon, this is an unexpected pleasure,” the commander stammered, bowing. “We're honored by your presence.”
“You may dispense with the pleasantries, commander,” Moon replied coldly. “I'm here to put you back on schedule.” The commander's face turned ashen as he began to shake.
“I assure you, Lord Moon, my ponies are working as fast as they can.”
“Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them,” Moon shot back, her eyes locked with the trembling stallion's.
“I tell you, this station will be operational as planned,” the commander replied.
“The Emperor does not share your optimistic appraisal of the situation.”
“But he asks the impossible,” the commander stammered out. “I need more ponies.”
“Then perhaps you can tell him when he arrives.” The commander's face turned even paler as his eyes shot open in terror.
“The Emperor's coming here?”
“That is correct, Commander,” Moon replied, calmly. “And he is most displeased with your apparent lack of progress.”
“We shall double our efforts.”
“I hope so, Commander,” Moon said as she turned. “For your sake. The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am.”
A lonely, windswept road wound its way through the desolate Tatooine wastes. A distinct beeping heralded the approach of two mechanical mares as they meandered down the dusty road towards an ominous palace.
“Of course I'm worried,” Applejack quipped to her diminutive pink friend. “And y'all should be too. Gilda Strongwing and poor Spike never returned from this place.” Pinkie-Pie whistled timidly in response. “Don't be so sure. If I told you half the thing I heard bout this Jabba the Hutt, you'd probably short circuit.” The droids stopped as they reached the massive gates of the palace.
“Pinkie, are y'all sure this is the right place? I'd better knock, I reckon.” Applejack looked around nervously, then knocked against the gate with her metal hoof. The sound echoed across the huge iron door. “There don't seem ta be anypony here,” she said, turning around. “Let's go back and tell Master Twilight.” Suddenly, a small hatch in the gate popped open, and a spidery mechanical arm with a large eyeball popped out, inspecting the droids. It began to spatter a strange, alien tongue. “Goodness gracious me!” Applejack reeled in surprise. She pointed to herself and Pinkie as she replied in the same strange language. The eye looked from one robot to the other, the zipped back inside. Pinkie beeped her concern. “I don't think they're gonna let us in,” Applejack mumbled. “Pinkie, we'd better go.” As she turned to leave, a loud grinding noise echoed across the vast desert wasteland. The gate rose with a loud metallic screech, and Applejack turned and gazed into the dark, black cavity. She glanced over at Pinkie, who began to scoot into the gloom. Applejack followed quickly behind as the gate began to lower behind them. “Pinkie, wait! Oh, dear. Pinkie, I don't think we should rush inta all this!”
The two frightened droids were met by a pair of guards, two vaguely pony-like creatures wielding large clubs. Applejack glanced nervously between the guards as they followed behind the droids. Pinkie beeped nervously.
“Just you deliver Master Twilight's message and get us outta here,” she whispered. The pair were met by an unsettling pink creature emerging from the darkness. His body was pony-like, except for the long, pink tentacles that protruded from his face and wrapped around his head. He began to spout the same language that the door guard had spoken earlier. “Oh, my.” Applejack began to speak back to the alien. “We bring a message to your master, Jabba the Hutt.” Pinkie let out a few beeps. “And a gift,” Applejack added. She thought for a moment. “Gift? What gift?” she asked the tiny Astromech. The disgusting alien shook his head negatively. He held out his hoof towards Pinkie, muttering some more lines.
“She says that our instructions are ta give it only ta Jabba himself,” Applejack replied. The pink alien thought for a moment, scratching his chin. “I'm terribly sorry. I'm afraid she's ever so stubborn about these sorta things.” The alien turned and motioned for the droids to follow, and they marched down the dark hall, trailed by the two guards. “inkie, I have a bad feelin about this,” Applejack whispered to her companion.
The throne room was filled with the vilest, most grotesque creatures either of the droids had ever seen. The pair paused in the doorway of the dimly lit chamber as the pink alien crossed the room of drunken creatures to a huge platform where Jabba rested. A maniacal grin spread across the slug-like monarch of the underworld's face. A beautiful mare in a rather revealing outfit was chained to the horrible creature as she danced suggestively to the music permeating the room. The pink creature whispered something in the slobbering degenerate's ear, and he began to laugh, his voice bellowing across the room. Applejack bowed politely.
“Good morning,” she addressed the disgusting crime lord. He bellowed a response in his alien tongue. The two droids jumped forward and stood before the repulsive villain. “The message, Pinkie. The message,” Applejack whispered. Pinkie whistled and opened her mouth, projecting a holographic image of Twilight Sparkle.
“Greetings, exalted one,” Twilight began. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Twilight Sparkle, Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Dash. I know that you are powerful, mighty Jabba, and that your anger with Dash must be equally powerful. I seek an audience with your Greatness to bargain for Dash's life.” Jabba began to laugh heartily at this. “With your wisdom, I'm sure we can work out an arrangement which will be mutually beneficial and enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation. As a token of my goodwill, I present to you a gift: these two droids.” Applejack's eyes shot open at her last statement.
“What did she say?” she asked Pinkie, surprised.
“Both are hardworking and will serve you well,” Twilight continued.
“This can't be!” Applejack shouted in disbelief. “Pinkie, you're playin the wrong message!” As Twilight's hologram disappeared, Jabba laughed, speaking with the pink creature in Huttese.
“There will be no bargain,” he boomed across the chamber.
“We're doomed,” Applejack muttered.
“I will not give up my favorite decoration,” Jabba continued. “I like Captain Dash where she is.” He laughed hideously and glanced over to an alcove near his throne, where the carbonized Rainbow Dash hung from the wall.
“Look,” Applejack whispered to Pinkie. “It's Captain Dash, and she's still frozen in carbonite.”
One of Jabba's guards marched the mechanical mares down a dank, shadowy passageway lined with holding cells. The cries of creatures and droids bounced off of the stone cold walls. Pinkie beeped pitifully as she scooted along.
“What could possibly have come over Master Twilight?” Applejack muttered to herself. “Is it somethin I did? She never expressed any unhappiness with my work.” A door slid open, revealing a room filled with steam and noisy machinery. The guard motioned them into the room where they were met by a tall droid. A mechanical scream echoed across the room as a stubby droid's hooves were branded by a hot iron. Pinkie cowered as the tall droid conversed with the guard.
“Ah, good,” the droid said, turning to face Applejack. “New acquisitions. You are a protocol droid, are you not?” she asked.
“I am Applejack, pony-cy--”
“Yes or no will do,” the droid cut her off.
“Oh, well yes,” Applejack replied sheepishly.
“How many languages do you speak?”
“I am fluent in over six million forms of communication, and can readily--”
“Splendid!” the droid exclaimed, cutting her off again. “We have been without an interpreter since our master got angry with our last protocol droid and disintegrated him.”
“Disintegrated?” Applejack asked nervously.
“Guard!” the droid called, ignoring the question. “This protocol droid might be useful. Fit her with a restraining bolt and take her back to His Excellency's main audience chamber.” The guard grunted and shoved Applejack through a door.
“Pinkie, don't leave me!” Applejack shouted as she was roughly escorted out of the room. Pinkie let out a plaintive cry as the door closed, then beeped angrily.
“You're a feisty little one,” the tall droid commented. “But you'll soon learn some respect. I have need for you on the master's sail barge. I think you'll fit in nicely.”
The court of Jabba the Hutt reveled in a drunken, raucous party. Sloppy, smelly creatures cheered and called rudely at the beautiful mare who danced before Jabba's throne. He leered at the dancer with a lustful gleam in his eye, then beckoned her over to him. She shook her head and began to back away. Jabba shouted in Huttese, but the lovely young mare continued backing away, stammering something back. Furious, Jabba pulled on the chain fastened around her neck, and forced her in front of him. He pressed a switch on his throne, and a trapdoor swung open, sending the dancer into the abyss. As the door snapped shut, a muffled growl echoed from the floor, followed by a hideous scream. Jabba and his monstrous friends laughed hysterically as several onlookers rushed to a nearby grate to watch the dancer's fate. Applejack, standing nearby on the platform, cringed and glanced wistfully at the frozen Rainbow Dash, but snapped her head around as a gunshot echoed across the chamber. An unnatural quiet swept over the group as an oddly cloaked bounty hunter entered the room leading his captive, the huge purple dragon and copilot of the Wonderbolt, Spike. The pink creature took his place beside Jabba, whispering into the crime lord's ear. Jabba listened intently as the masked hunter bowed before him, speaking with a strange, electronically processed voice.
“I have come for the bounty on this dragon,” he said to Jabba.
“Oh no! Spike!” Applejack said quietly to herself.
“At last, we have the mighty Spike,” Jabba boomed across the hall. He let out a long, blood-curdling laugh and waved Applejack over to translate for him.
“Uh, yes, I'm here, your Worshipfulness,” Applejack stammered as she approached the slimy gangster. Jabba continued speaking, using Applejack to translate between his tongue and the hunter's. As Applejack spoke, the hunter looked around, studying the creatures in the room. He noticed the ominous zebra, Zecora, standing near the door.
“Oh, the illustrious Jabba bids you welcome, and will gladly pay ya the reward of twenty-five thousand,” Applejack continued.
“I want fifty thousand. No less,” the hunter replied. Jabba flew into a rage, knocking the golden mare off of the throne into a heap on the floor. As he raved in Huttese, Applejack picked herself up and tried to compose herself.
“Uh, the mighty Jabba asks why he must pay fifty thousand,” she translated. The bounty hunter reached into his cloak and pulled out a small silver ball. He pressed a button, activating it. “Because he's holdin a thermal detonator!” Applejack shrieked in terror. The guards and other patrons began to back away from the hunter, who held the bomb high in his hoof. As the room fell into a tense hush, Jabba stared malevolently until a sly grin began to creep across his vast mouth. He let out a booming laugh.
“This bounty hunter is my kind of scum. Fearless and inventive.” He blurted something to Applejack in Huttese.
“Jabba offers the sum of thirty-five. And I suggest y'all take it,” Applejack translated. The creatures in the room had their eyes locked on the hunter. After a moment, he pressed the button on the bomb, deactivating it. “He agrees!” Applejack shouted in relief. The raucous crowd erupted into a symphony of cheers and applause as the party returned to its full noisy pitch. A few assorted guards took Spike and led him away. Among the various creatures leading the huge dragon was a familiar white-feathered gryphon. As the band started up and dancing mares took the stage, the bounty hunter leaned against a column with a gunfighter's cool as he surveyed the scene. He stopped as his gaze connected with the dark zebra's. Her glowing yellow eyes were locked on the hunter. He shifted slightly, cradling his weapon.
The group of guards led Spike down the same hallway that Applejack and Pinkie had traveled earlier. A tentacle reached out at the passing dragon, but a loud roar quickly sent it cowering back into its cell. The guards hurled the dragon into a cell and slammed the door behind him as he banged on the iron bars.
The room was deserted, the party having been broken up some time ago. The awful debris was the only reminder of the alien celebration that had taken place. A few creatures lay in a drunken sleep in nearby hallways. A shadowy figure moved stealthily through the room toward the wall where the frozen space pirate hung. The masked bounty hunter moved quickly, and paused before the carbonite coffin. He looked around, then deactivated the force field suspending the encased pirate. He lowered the carbonite block to the floor and studied it. He turned to the control panel on the side of the block, and activated a few switches. He gazed for a while at the frozen face of the beautiful pirate, then slid the decarbonization lever on the panel. The casing began to emit a shrill sound as the hard shell of metal began to melt, the contours of Rainbow's face beginning to become freed. Her hooves, which had been raised in protest during her freezing, slumped to her sides as she thawed. Her facial muscles relaxed from their mask of horror, and as she lay in the pool of melted metal, she appeared quite dead. The hunter leaned his mechanical helmet to the mare's face, listening for a breath of life. Suddenly, Rainbow's eyes popped open as she gasped and began coughing. The bounty hunter cradled her in his hooves as she struggled.
“Just relax for a moment,” he said in his mechanical voice. “You're free of the carbonite.” Rainbow touched her face with her hooves, then moaned. “Shhh... You have hibernation sickness.”
“I can't see,” Rainbow muttered.
“Your eyesight will return in time,” the hunter returned.
“Where am I?”
“Jabba's palace.”
“Who are you?” The bounty hunter reached up and lifted the helmet from his head, revealing the beautiful, white face of Princess Rarity.
“Someone who loves you,” she replied, her voice no longer obscured by the helmet.
“Rarity!” Rainbow shouted.
“I gotta get you out of here,” Rarity replied as she helped her weakened lover to her hooves. Suddenly, a deep cackle pierced through the alcove.
“What's that?” Rainbow asked. “I know that laugh.” The curtain on the far side of the alcove opened, revealing Jabba, surrounded by his band of minions. “Hey, Jabba,” Rainbow started. “Look, Jabba, I was just on my way to pay you back, but I got a little sidetracked. It's not my fault.” Jabba merely laughed at the blinded blue pirate.
“It's too late for that, Dash,” he boomed. “You may have been a good smuggler, but now you're Bantha fodder.”
“Look--” Rainbow was cut off quickly by Jabba.
“Take her away!” The guards grabbed Rainbow and began to drag her off.
“Jabba, I'll pay you triple!” she shouted. “You're throwing away a fortune here! Don't be a fool!” As Rainbow was dragged off, Gilda, in her guard's uniform, moved forward and attempted to lead Rarity away.
“Bring her to me,” Jabba ordered. Gilda sighed, then reluctantly lead the beautiful mare to Jabba. She couldn't afford to break her cover just yet.
“We have powerful friends,” Rarity shot towards Jabba. “You're going to regret this.”
“I'm sure,” Jabba replied as he stroked her lovely face. Rarity winced in disgust.
The heavy metal door of the dungeon whined and creaked open as the blinded star captain was thrown into the dark cell. The door slammed shut behind her, leaving only a thin sliver of light. She groaned, trying to collect herself, when she heard a familiar growl.
“Spike? Spike is that you?” she asked as she fumbled around. Spike let out a crazy yell and wrapped his scaly arms around the mare. “Ah, Spike!” she exclaimed as she embraced her first mate. He barked with glee. “Wait, I can't see, pal,” she explained. “What's going on?” Spike barked an excited explanation. “Twilight? Twilight's crazy. She can't even take care of herself, much less rescue anypony.” Spike barked a reply. “A... Jedi Knight?” she asked, confused. “I'm out of it for a little while and everypony gets delusions of grandeur.” Spike growled insistently as he held her to his chest, petting her ragged mane. “I'm all right, buddy. I'm all right.”
Noisily, the main gate lifted, flooding the black chamber with light. Twilight stood in the entrance, clothed in a cloak not dissimilar to the one worn by Celestia. No weapons were visible on her body, not even her lightsaber. She strode purposefully into the chamber. Two guards stood to accost her, but she merely waved her hoof, and they fell back. The young Jedi continued her way down the hallway. The pink tentacled creature approached out of the gloom and began to sputter Huttese at the purple mare. Twilight, however, continued her course, forcing the pink alien to follow her.
“I must speak with Jabba,” she said, calmly. The creature answered in Huttese, and Twilight stopped, waving her hoof. “You will take me to Jabba now,” she commanded. The alien turned in hypnotic response and followed behind the unicorn. “You serve your master well, and you will be rewarded,” Twilight said to the mystified alien.
Jabba slept on his throne, with Rarity lying in front of him. Her bounty hunter's clothes had been taken, and she was now dressed in the skimpy golden outfit of a dancing mare. A chain ran from a collar around her slender throat to Jabba's hoof. Applejack stood nervously behind the sleeping monarch as the pink alien approached him.
“At last, Master Twilight's come ta save me,” she said to herself.
` “Master,” the alien called. Jabba awoke with a start as the alien continued. “Twilight Sparkle, Jedi Knight.”
“I told you not to admit her,” Jabba said back, angry.
“I must be allowed to speak,” Twilight insisted.
“She must be allowed to speak,” the alien repeated. Jabba, furious, clobbered him, sending him sprawling to the floor.
“You weak minded fool!” he shouted. “She's using an old Jedi mind trick.” Twilight stared hard into Jabba's huge, round eyes.
“You will bring Captain Dash and the dragon to me,” she commanded.
“Your mind tricks will not work on me, filly,” he shot back.
“Nevertheless,” Twilight continued, “I'm taking Captain Dash and her friends. You can either profit by this... or be destroyed. It's your choice, but I warn you not to underestimate my powers.” Jabba laughed as Applejack attempted to warn Twilight about the danger beneath her hooves.
“Master Twilight, you're standin on--”
“There will be no bargain, young Jedi,” Jabba boomed. “I shall enjoy watching you die.” Twilight reached out, and a pistol flew from a guard's holster into her hoof. She pointed it towards Jabba, but the trapdoor had already swung open. Twilight was taken by surprise as she and the guard tumbled into the pit below. She quickly leapt to her hooves as the guard scrambled about. A crowd gathered around the grate to watch as a door in the side of the dungeon-like pit began to creak open. Twilight glanced calmly around, taking in her surroundings.
“Oh no! The Rancor!” Applejack shouted as she watched from the grate. As the large door slid open, a massive fanged beast rushed into the room, cornering the quivering guard. In one quick gulp, the beast swallowed him whole, then turned to find its next prey. Twilight galloped away, avoiding the monster's swipes. She picked up the bone of another victim from the floor and brandished it like a sword. The monster reached down and grabbed her in its hand, bringing her closer and closer to its gaping maw. She quickly wedged her makeshift weapon into the roof of the creature's mouth, and it dropped her as it howled in pain, smashing into the side of the cave. Twilight landed on her hooves and glanced past the beast to its holding cell. She dashed past it into the cell, where a barred gate blocked her off from a pair of guards who had been watching. She began to pull on the bars, and the guards laughed, poking at her with their spears. She crouched against the wall as the monster approached, then reached down and picked up a nearby skull. She hurled it at the gate's control panel, and the heavy iron gate came crashing down right on the head of the Rancor. A startled gasp whisked across Jabba's court as the crowd watched the Rancor writhe and die. Jabba began to turn red with anger. A huge smile crept across Rarity's face as Jabba started to rant and rave.
“Bring me Dash and the dragon,” he ordered. They will all suffer for this outrage.”
Several guards rushed into the holding cage to inspect the dead Rancor. They glared menacingly at Twilight, who's expression remained stoic. The guards accosted her and marched her away into the crown of courtiers. Rainbow and Spike had also been dragged into the room from their cell.
“Rainbow!” Twilight shouted as she spotted her friend.
“Twilight!” the blue pegasus shouted back.
“Are you alright?”
“Fine. Together again, huh?”
“Wouldn't miss it.”
“How are we doing?” Rainbow asked, rubbing her eyes.
“The same as always.”
“That bad, huh? Where's Rarity?”
“I'm here,” the white mare called from her position on the platform. Applejack stood behind Jabba as he stroked the princess's body, running his hoof down her accentuated curves. Several of the guards, including Gilda, brought Twilight from the other side of the room. Zecora stood, standing behind Jabba.
“Oh dear,” Applejack began as she translated. “His High Exaltedness, the great Jabba the Hutt, has decreed that y'all are ta be terminated immediately.”
“Good, I hate long waits,” Rainbow shot sarcastically.
“Y'all will therefore be taken to the Dune Sea and cast inta the pit of Carkoon, the nestin place of the all powerful Sarlacc.”
“Doesn't sound so bad,” Rainbow whispered to Twilight.
“In his belly, you will find a new definition of pain and sufferin as you are slowly digested over a thousand years.”
“On second thought, let's pass on that, huh?” Rainbow said, with Spike barking his agreement.
“You should have bargained, Jabba,” Twilight said firmly. “That's the last mistake you'll ever make.” Jabba cackled evilly at this. As the guards dragged the prisoners away, a loud cheer erupted among the crowd. Rarity exchanged a nervous glance with Spike, but Twilight remained firm, doing her best to suppress a smile.
Jabba's huge sail barge floated across the desert floor, accompanied by two smaller skiffs. On one of the skiffs, Twilight, Rainbow, and Spike stood in bonds. The two mares had been dressed in skimpy outfits similar to the one worn by Rarity. A rope bound Rainbow and Spike's wings to their sides. Several guards stood behind them, including Gilda, who tried hard not to stare at the slender body of the rainbow-haired pegasus.
“I think my eyes are getting better,” Rainbow muttered. “Instead of a big, dark blur, I see a big, light blur.”
“There's nothing to see,” Twilight replied. “I used to live here, you know.”
“We're gonna die here, you know,” Rainbow added. “Convenient.”
“Just stick close to Spike and Gilda,” Twilight whispered. “I've taken care of everything.”
“Oh, great!” Rainbow groaned.
Jabba the Hutt rode like a sultan in the massive anti-gravity ship. His entire retinue was with him, eating, drinking, and reveling in merriment. Rarity wistfully glanced out the window at her friends on the skiff, when she was pulled backwards by the chain around her throat. Jabba wrapped his slimy hoof around her, stroking her soft chin.
“Soon you will learn to appreciate me,” he whispered into her ear.
Applejack wandered among the sail barge aliens, bumping into a smaller droid serving drinks. The platter of beverages fell to the floor, and the droid let out a series of angry beeps.
“Oh, I'm terribly sor—Pinkie!” Applejack shouted, recognizing the pink Astromech. “What're y'all doin here?” Pinkie beeped a quick reply. “Well, I can see you're servin drinks, but this place is dangerous. They're gonna execute Master Twilight, and if we're not careful, us too!” Pinkie whistled a singsong response. “Hmm... I wish I had your confidence.”
The convoy moved up and over a huge sand pit. The sail barge stopped over one side, as did the escort skiff. The prisoner's skiff moved out directly over the center of the pit. At the bottom of the deep cone of sand was a repulsive, mucus lined hole, surrounded by thousands of needle sharp teeth. A plank extended from the skiff and Twilight was shoved out onto it. Jabba and Rarity had moved to the rail, watching. Applejack leaned forward and the slobbering villain mumbled something to her. She spoke into a loudspeaker, her mechanical voice echoing across the barge and skiffs.
“Victims of the almighty Sarlacc: His excellency hopes that you'll die honorably, but should any of y'all wish ta beg for mercy, the great Jabba the Hutt will now listen to your pleas.” Rainbow stepped forward arrogantly.
“Applejack, you tell that slimy piece of worm ridden filth he'll get no such pleasure from us!” she announced. “Right?” Spike growled his agreement.
“Jabba, this is your last chance,” Twilight called. “Free us or die.” Gilda moved along the skiff as Twilight shared a quick look of conspiracy with her. The assembled creatures laughed along with Jabba at the young mare's statements. Twilight was prodded forward by the guards toward the edge of the plank overlooking the Sarlacc's mouth. She glanced over to the barge at Pinkie, and gave a little salute. A flap on her pink head opened up.
“Put her in!” Jabba commanded. Twilight leapt from the plank, to the cheers of the bloodthirsty spectators, but before anypony could perceive what had happened, she spun around and grabbed the edge of the plank. It bent under the pressure of her weight, and she used it to springboard herself into the air. She twisted and landed back on the edge of the plank, facing the skiff. She casually outsretched her hoof, and her lightsaber, which Pinkie had ejected from her head, dropped into her grasp. With blinding speed, she ignited the sword and swung at the guard nearest her, sending him overboard. The other guards began to swarm her, and she swung skillfully at them. Gilda drew her weapon and began firing at the guards from behind.
Jabba exploded in rage at the scene that was unfolding before him. He barked commands to the scuzzy creatures around him. Twilight knocked another guard into the pit and began to untie the dragon's bonds.
“Easy, Spike,” she said as she freed his huge, scaly hands. At that moment, the deck gunners on the barge let loose a series of blasts toward the skiff. Gilda was knocked off of the edge and she tumbled onto the sandy slope. She flapped her wings desperately, but the collapsing sand had trapped her.
“Woah! Woah, help!” she shouted as she struggled. She grabbed hold of a rope that had been dangling from the skiff and tried to pull herself out of the collapsing sand. With two swift strides, Zecora ignited her rocket pack and leapt into the air, aiming her wrist laser at Twilight, who had freed Spike and Rainbow from their bonds. She fired, but Twilight leapt high into the air and swung at the zebra with her sword, destroying the laser. The skiff took another hit, and Spike and Rainbow were thrown to the railing.
“Spike, you okay?” Rainbow shouted. “Where is she?” The wounded dragon howled in pain. “I'm okay, pal.” Twilight was distracted for a moment and Zecora seized her opportunity. She fired a cable from a golden bracelet on her wrist, which wrapped around the young unicorn, pinning her front legs to her sides. Twilight hooked her sword under the cable and cut it in a flash, shrugging it off. Another blast from the barge rocked the skiff, and Zecora was knocked to the deck near the rope where Gilda hung.
“Rainbow! Spike!” the gryphon called, struggling to free her wings from the sand.
“Gilda!” Rainbow shouted in surprise. Twilight, shaken slightly, remained standing as the other skiff began firing at her. She leapt towards the skiff and landed in the midst of the firing guards, her sword swinging skillfully. Spike, wounded, tried to lift himself as he barked directions to the still blinded Rainbow Dash, guiding him toward a spear that had been dropped by a guard. After a bit of scrambling about, Rainbow found the spear and grasped it in her hoof. Zecora, badly shaken by the blast, got to her hooves and looked out over the other skiff where Twilight fought a group of guards. She raised her hoof, aiming her lethal appendage. Spike barked desperately at Rainbow.
“Zecora?!” she shouted in surprise. “Zecora?! Where?” The space pirate spun blindly, and the long spear in her hoof smashed into the zebra's rocket pack. One side of the pack ignited, sending Zecora spiraling into the air. The missile she had aimed at Twilight launched into the air and smashed against the side of the sail barge. Her body slammed wildly into the side of the pit, and then swooped downward into the waiting mouth of the Sarlacc. Spike growled a weak congratulation to Rainbow.
Rarity turned from the window where she had been watching the spectacle. She leapt onto the platform with Jabba, and threw the chain around the massive creature's neck. Jabba, startled, reached for the chain, but Rarity had leapt off of the platform, pulling hard on the other end. Jabba's flaccid neck contracted beneath the tightening chain, and his huge eyes bulged out as his scum coated tongue flopped around. He gasped, spasming into death throes, before slamming to the ground in a final stillness. Rarity stopped and began to free herself from her bondage.
As Twilight continued fighting on the other skiff, Rainbow kneeled, extending the end of the spear to Gilda, who hung below.
“Gilda, grab it!” she shouted.
“Lower it!” the gryphon yelled back, her body starting to slide down the sandy slope.
“I'm trying!” A hit from the barge guns knocked the skiff sideways, and Rainbow slid off of the edge along with everything else on the vehicle. The rope snapped, and Gilda flapped her wings furiously, trying to keep herself from descending further. Rainbow's hind hoof caught on the railing of the skiff, and she dangled above the pit as the wounded dragon held on for dear life. Another hit shook the skiff violently.
“Woah! Woah!” Rainbow called. “Spike, grab me! I'm slipping!” Spike reached out and grabbed Rainbow's hind legs and lowered her to Gilda. Rainbow, still clutching the spear, extended it downward. “Grab it, G! Grab it!” she shouted.
Twilight finished off the last guard and turned to see the barge guns blasting away at her helpless companions. She leapt into the air across the chasm and landed on the barge's metallic side. Concentrating hard, she began to make her way up the side of the barge, when an axe smashed its way through a nearby window. With incredible agility, she grasped the axe and pulled its wielder through the window and into the pit.
The injured Spike struggled to keep his hold on the young star captain, who reached down with her spear for Gilda, who slowly sank further into the pit.
“Grab it!” Rainbow shouted as she strained. “Almost... You almost got it!” Gilda let out a shriek as a tentacle from the Sarlacc wrapped around her hind leg. “Spike! Spike, give me the gun,” Rainbow called. “Don't move, G.”
“No, wait! I thought you were blind!” Gilda protested.
“It's all right,” Rainbow reassured. “Trust me. Don't move.” Rainbow adjusted her aim as Gilda ducked her feathery head. She fired and hit the tentacle dead on. It released Gilda, writhing in pain. Gilda pumped her wings and managed to grab hold of the spear.
“I got it! I got it!” she yelled.
“Spike, pull us up!” Rainbow shouted.
The deck gunners had the group right in their sights when they were blocked by a fearsome sight. Twilight, standing before them like a pirate king, ignited her lightsaber and demolished the huge guns in a second. After disarming the gunners, she dashed across the deck to the next set of weapons, pursued by a group of firing guards.
Rarity struggled to free herself from her chains as the confused Pinkie zipped through the tumultuous crowd. The little droid stopped and extended her hoof, cutting the chains with a little electronic saw.
“Come on,” Rarity said after getting to her hooves.” We've gotta get out of here quick.” They began to race for the exit, passing Applejack, who was kicking and screaming in the crowd of creatures. She turned and followed as they exited the large room. Twilight was warding off laserbolts with her lightsaber, surrounded by guards and fighting like a demon. Rarity emerged onto the deck and Twilight whipped around to face her.
“Get the gun!” she commanded. “Point it at the deck!” Rarity turned to the huge barge gun and climbed on the platform, swiveling it around. A laserbolt struck Twilight's mechanical hoof, and she winced in pain, but managed to take out the last of the guards with a swing of her sword. She glanced down at her wounded hoof, the mechanical parts exposed. She flexed it, and upon seeing that it still worked, galloped off toward Rarity. The two droids had made their way to the side of the barge facing away from the pit. Pinkie began to nudge Applejack toward the railing.
“Pinkie, where're we goin? I couldn't possibly jump.” Pinkie butted the golden mare overboard, then leapt off herself, tumbling down into the sand. Rarity had pointed the massive gun toward the barge deck, and Twilight grabbed hold of a mast rope as she galloped.
“Come on!” she shouted as she swung through the air. Rarity fired the weapon, which crashed into the deck. Twilight, swinging on the rope, grabbed hold of Rarity and leapt into the air onto the barge where Rainbow, Spike, and Gilda stood. The sail barge exploded in the distance, falling downward into the pit. “Let's go,” Twilight said, lowering Rarity to the ground. “And don't forget the droids.”
“We're on our way,” Gilda replied as she shook the last of the heavy sand from her wings. The group piloted the skiff away from the pit and over the sand where Pinkie stood next to a pair of golden legs protruding from the desert floor. With a clang, the two droids flew upwards and crashed into the skiff's electromagnet. As Spike helped the droids to the skiff's platform, Twilight piloted the vehicle away, flashing a quick smile at Rarity. The princess returned the gesture, then turned her gaze to Rainbow, who was groping about in her blindness. She felt her face begin to flush as she gazed at the scantily clad pegasus. She trotted over and wrapped her hoof around Rainbow's shoulder as the skiff sailed off into the distance.
A ferocious sandstorm roared through the desert, impeding the progress of the band of Rebels as they trudged through the desert. Pinkie and Applejack led the way, followed by Rarity, who guided Rainbow, and then Twilight and Gilda, who supported the towering Spike, who hobbled from his wounds. They began to make out a few vague shapes in the blowing sand, and as they trotted onward, the Wonderbolt came into view, alongside Twilight's X-wing fighter and a two-seated Y-wing.
“I don't know!” Rainbow shouted as she hobbled along. “All I can see is a lot of blowing sand!”
“That's all any of us can see,” Rarity replied, raising her voice to be heard over the howling wind.
“Then I guess I'm getting better,” Rainbow said back, rubbing her eyes. The group huddled together underneath the Wonderbolt where the wind had slackened noticeably. Applejack began to lower the gang plank with a hum. “I've gotta hand it to you, kid,” Rainbow said, turning to face Twilight. “You were pretty good out there.”
“I had a lot of help,” she replied, shrugging it off. “Think nothing of it.”
“No, I'm thinking a lot about it,” Rainbow said back, her eyes locked with Twilight's. “That carbon freeze was the closest thing to dead there is. And it wasn't just sleeping, either. It was a big, wide awake nothing!” Twilight reached out and embraced her old friend, an unspoken bond having formed between them. Spike growled affectionately at the young warrior and tousled her mane playfully.
“I'll see you back at the fleet,” Twilight replied with a smile. She trotted over to her X-wing, where Pinkie had already been placed.
“Why don't you leave that crate and come with us?” Rainbow asked.
“I have a promise I have to keep first,” Twilight replied, her eyes rising to the sky. “To an old friend.” She climbed into the cockpit and waved as Pinkie closed the hatch. The fighter's engines roared to life as it soared away from the desert planet. Rainbow watched until the X-wing had disappeared out of sight, then she turned her eyes to Gilda. The gryphon averted her eyes, staring at the ground.
“Guess I owe you some thanks too, G,” Rainbow said to her old friend.
“Figured if I left you frozen like that you'd just give me bad luck the rest of my life, so I might as well get you unfrozen sooner or later,” Gilda replied sheepishly, still studying the desert floor.
“She means 'You're welcome',” Rarity said, putting her hooves around the two pirates' shoulders. Gilda looked up and into Rainbow's rose-colored eyes, memories and experiences long past rushing back to her mind. Rainbow leaned over and embraced the gryphon, giving her a small kiss on the cheek.
“Come on, let's get off this miserable dust ball,” Gilda said as she walked up the gang plank, a small tear beginning to form in her eye.
As the X-wing left the desolate yellow planet, Twilight spoke into her comlink to the others aboard the Wonderbolt.
“I'll meet you back at the fleet,” she called into the headset.
“Hurry,” Rarity's voice responded. “The Alliance should be assembled by now.”
“I will,” Twilight reassured.
“Hey, Twi, thanks,” Rainbow's voice called. “Thanks for coming after me. Now I owe you one.” As the small fighter peeled away from the larger pirateship, Pinkie beeped a few electronic messages.
“That's right, Pinkie,” Twilight replied as she pulled a glove over her exposed mechanical hoof. “We're going to the Dagobah system. I have a promise to keep to an old friend.”
A Super Star Destroyer along with several other ships of the Imperial Fleet floated above the half-completed Death Star and its green neighbor, Endor. A squad of TIE fighters escorted an Imperial Shuttle as it made its way from the Super Star Destroyer to the station.
The shuttle came to rest on the floor of the Death Star's massive docking bay. Thousands of Imperial troops stood in tight formation as Nightmare Moon strode down the path, followed by a very nervous Death Star commander. The shuttle's ramp lowered, and a pair of red-robed royal guards exited, creating a lethal perimeter with their swords. The assembled troops moved to rigid attention with a momentous snap. After a few moments of dead silence, a dark form began to creep from the shuttle door. The cloaked, bent frame of the Emperor made his way down the ramp slowly. His face was shrouded by shadow from his hood, though his piercing yellow eyes shone demoniacally through the darkness, scanning over the procession that had gathered. The Death Star commander and Moon kneeled before him as he approached. The supreme ruler of the galaxy beckoned to the Dark Lord with a clawed hand.
“Rise, my friend,” he said in a deep and unsettling voice. Moon stood and moved next to the Emperor as he slowly made his way along the rows of troops. The commander remained kneeling until the pair passed him, and he slowly began to follow them.
“The Death Star will be completed on schedule,” Moon reported to her master.
“You have done well, Lord Moon,” he replied. “And now I sense you wish to continue your search for young Sparkle.”
“Yes, my master,” Moon answered.
“Patience, my friend,” the Emperor replied as he placed his lion-like paw on Moon's shoulder. “In time, she will seek you out. And when she does, you must bring her before me. She has grown strong. Only together can we turn her to the dark side of the Force.”
“As you wish,” Moon replied calmly.
“Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.” The Emperor chuckled evilly to himself as he and Moon passed by the vast line of Imperial troops.
Once again, Pinkie-Pie found herself waiting around in the damp environs of the swamp planet. She buzzed about, beeping discontentedly as she peered into the window of the small, snug cottage. Fluttershy tapped about as she paced the floor of her home, glancing over at Twilight. Her small frame seemed to have gotten even more frail, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
“Why do you make that face?” she asked Twilight, who was watching her with concern. “Do I look so weak to your young eyes?” Twilight, who sat in a corner of the small room, tried to hide her worry.
“No, of course not,” she replied quickly. Fluttershy let out a weak chuckle.
“I do, yes, I do,” she said back, fixing her soft gaze on Twilight. “I have grown sick. I am old and weak.” She pointed at the purple mare. “When you reach nine hundred years old, you'll only wish you looked this good.” She laughed softly at her joke, then started to cough, hobbling over to her bed. Twilight rushed over and helped the tiny pegasus as she moved. “Soon I will rest,” she said, gazing up at Twilight. “I will forever sleep. I believe I've earned it.” She smiled softly as she rested her head on her pillow, her big, blue eyes fixed on Twilight.
“Master Fluttershy, you can't die,” Twilight said back. A weak smile crept over the tiny pony's face.
“I am strong with the Force, but not that strong,” she replied. “Dusk is upon me, and soon night must fall. That is the way of things... The way of the Force...” her voice began to trail off.
“But I need your help,” Twilight said back, cradling the yellow pony's head. “I've come back to complete the training.”
“You do not require any more training,” Fluttershy replied with a little cough. “You already know what you need.”
“Then am I a Jedi?” Twilight asked. Fluttershy shook her head.
“Oh, not yet. One thing remains. Moon. You must confront Nightmare Moon. Then, and only then, will you be a Jedi. You must confront her.” Twilight's eyes fell, her mind racing. She thought for a moment before asking.
“Master Fluttershy... is Nightmare Moon my mother?” Fluttershy's eyes looked up into Twilight's, full of weariness and compassion. She smiled oddly as she turned on her side.
“Mmm... I must rest.” she replied.
“Fluttershy, I must know,” Twilight implored. The little pegasus sighed.
“Yes, she is your mother.” Twilight felt a sharp twinge in her heart. She had known it to be true already, but hearing it confirmed by the old Jedi was painful, somehow. “She told you, didn't she?”
“Yes.” A look of concern crossed Fluttershy's face. She closed her eyes.
“This is unexpected... and unfortunate.”
“Unfortunate that I know the truth?” Twilight asked, slightly hurt. Fluttershy opened her eyes and studied the mare's face.
“No,” she replied. “Unfortunate that you rushed to face her, that your training was incomplete. You were not ready for the burden.”
“Well, I'm sorry,” Twilight said, her eyes falling.
“Remember,” Fluttershy said, reaching out and touching the young mare's chin. “A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. These are the dark side. Once you start down the dark path, it will dominate your destiny forever.” She coughed as she beckoned Twilight closer. “Twilight... Twilight... Do not... Do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor, or you will suffer your mother's fate. Twilight, when I am gone, you will be the last of the Jedi. Twilight, the Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned, Twilight...” She started to cough, and her soft eyes struggled to stay open. Her tiny hoof trembled as it fell from Twilight's face. “There is... another... Spa... Sparkle...” Her head fell limp as she curled up into a little ball. Her soft, pink hair silhouetted the serene Jedi Master in the shape of a heart. As Fluttershy's last breath escaped her lungs, Twilight turned away, tears coming to her eyes. She exited the cottage in a rush, heading towards her ship, where Pinkie was waiting. She stopped, shaking her head.
“I can't do it, Pinkie,” she choked out, her voice quivering. “I can't go on alone.”
“Fluttershy will always be with you,” a voice echoed through the swamp. Twilight turned to see the shimmering image of Celestia, the magnificent alicorn, standing before her.
“Celestia! Why didn't you tell me?” Twilight half yelled at the ghost. Celestia began to float through the swamp to Twilight. “You told me Moon betrayed and murdered my mother.”
“Your mother was seduced by the dark side of the Force,” Celestia answered. “She ceased to be Luna Sparkle and became Nightmare Moon. When that happened, the good, kind mare who was your mother was destroyed. So what I have told you was true... from a certain point of view.”
“A certain point of view!” Twilight snapped back, turning away derisively.
“Twilight, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view,” the ghost continued. Twilight stood, her back turned, unresponsive. Celestia sighed. “I don't blame you for being angry. If I was wrong in what I did, it certainly wouldn't have been for the first time. You see, what happened to your mother was my fault.” She paused sadly, her voice beginning to tremble. “Luna was a good friend.” Twilight turned and looked into her old teacher's face. The line's around her eyes had thickened, and were full of weariness and regret. Twilight approached the ghostly mare, sitting on a nearby log. Pinkie scooted over and nuzzled the unicorn's leg.
“When I first knew her, your mother was already a great pilot,” Celestia continued. “But I was amazed how strongly the Force was with her. I made a promise... I took it upon myself to train her as a Jedi. I thought that I could instruct her just as well as Fluttershy. I was wrong. My pride has had terrible consequences for the galaxy.” Twilight stared at the old mare, entranced.
“There's still good in her,” she said.
“I also thought she could be turned back to the light. It couldn't be done. She is more machine now than mare. Twisted and evil...”
“I can't do it, Celestia.”
“You cannot escape your destiny,” the old mare replied.
“I tried to stop her once,” Twilight continued. “I couldn't do it.”
“Moon humbled you when you first met her, Twilight... But that experience was part of your training. It taught you, among other things, the value of patience. Had you not been so impatient to defeat Moon then, you could have finished your training here with Fluttershy. You would have been prepared.”
“But I had to help my friends,” Twilight insisted. Celestia grinned at the young mare's indignation.
“And did you help them?” she asked. “It was they who had to save you. You achieved little by rushing back prematurely, I fear.”
“I found out Nightmare Moon was my mother,” Twilight replied with a sigh.
“To be a Jedi, Twilight, you must confront and then go beyond the dark side,” Celestia continued. “The side your mother couldn't get past. Impatience is the easiest door for you, like your mother. Only, your mother was seduced by what she found on the other side of the door, and you have held firm. You're no longer so reckless now, Twilight. You are strong and patient. And now, you must face Nightmare Moon again!”
“I can't kill my own mother,” Twilight replied, her eyes falling.
“Then the Emperor has already won,” Celestia said with a sigh.
“Fluttershy spoke of another,” Twilight said inquisitively.
“The other she spoke of is your twin sister.”
“But I have no sister,” Twilight replied, confused.
“To protect you both from the Emperor, you were hidden away from your mother after she turned. The Emperor knew, as I did, if Luna were to have any offspring, they would be a threat to him. That is the reason your sister remains safely anonymous.” Twilight's eyes shot open with a sudden realization.
“Rarity!” she shouted. “Rarity's my sister.” She thought of the bond that she had formed with the white unicorn when she had been hanging below Bespin. It was as if the two mares' minds were somehow linked.
“Your insight serves you well,” Celestia replied. “Bury your feelings deep down, Twilight. They do you credit, but they could be made to serve the Emperor.” Twilight looked off into the distance, trying to comprehend everything that she had heard. “Your mother was not conscious during her birth,” Celestia continued. “I did not know about her alliance with the Emperor then, but after she awakened, she slinked away into the dead of night. It was afterward that I learned the horrible truth. I knew that once she had regained her strength, Luna would seek out her child, so I hid you and your sister. She did not know that she had birthed twins, so I decided to split you up to keep you safe for as long as possible. I took you to live with Luna's stepbrother Owen on Tatooine, and Captain Organa took Rarity to live as his daughter on Alderaan.” Twilight turned and settled near Celestia.
“What was my father like?” she asked. Celestia sighed and closed her eyes before answering.
“Your father was a great stallion. He was strong, brave, and loyal to the last. He died shortly after you and your sister were born. Luna... blamed me for his death. She never forgave me. I doubt that she ever will.” Twilight's eyes fell as Celestia continued her narrative.
“The Organa household was high-born and politically quite powerful in that system. Rarity became a princess by virtue of lineage... no one knew she'd been adopted, of course. But it was a title without real power, since Alderaan had long been a democracy. Even so, the family continued to be politically powerful, and Rarity, following in her foster father's path, became a senator as well. That's not all she became, of course... She became the leader of her cell in the Alliance against the corrupt Empire. And because she had diplomatic immunity, she was a vital link for getting information to the Rebel cause. That's what she was doing when her path crossed yours... for her foster father had always told her to contact me on Tatooine if her troubles became desperate.” Twilight, overwhelmed by the truth, suddenly felt protective of her sister.
“You can't let her get involved now, Celestia,” she pleaded. “Moon will destroy her.”
“She hasn't been trained in the ways of the Jedi like you have, Twilight... but the Force is strong with her, as it is with all of your family. There is no avoiding the battle. You must face and destroy Moon!”
The vast Rebel fleet stretched as far as the eye could see. Shuttles, cruisers, and various fighters dotted the star-filled sky. Hundreds of Rebel commanders were assembled in the war room aboard the central command ship. Skybuck Antilles squirmed uncomfortably in his seat as he watched the display screen alongside the other Rebel pilots. In the center of the room, on the holographic display, a model of the half-completed Death Star and the nearby moon of Endor floated and turned. Gilda made her way through the room, moving to Rainbow and Spike, who stood near Rarity and the two droids.
“Well, look at you,” Rainbow said, pointing at the insignia on the gryphon's chest. “A general, huh?”
“Oh, well, somepony must have told them about my little maneuver at the battle of Taanab,” Gilda replied with a grin.
“Well, don't look at me, pal,” Rainbow said back, suppressing her smile. “I just said you were a fair pilot. I didn't know they were looking for somepony to lead this crazy attack.”
“I'm surprised they didn't ask you to do it,” Gilda returned, nudging Rainbow's shoulder.
“Well, who says they didn't,” she replied sheepishly. “But I ain't crazy. You're the respectable one, remember?” The room suddenly went silent as hoofsteps echoed from the nearby hallway. General Octavia, her black mane flowing behind her, trotted purposefully across the stage and stood behind her podium. Her stern purple eyes held a strong authority as she looked out over the hushed crowd. A deep scar ran along the side of her face, a token she had received from the battle of Hoth. She was followed closely by Admiral Derpy Hooves, a grey pegasus with a short-cropped blond mane and a pair of wandering yellow eyes, and General Photo Finish, a grey mare with a short, grey and white striped mane, and a pair of thick glasses. Octavia cleared her throat as she began to speak.
“The Emperor has made a critical error, and the time for our attack has come.” She turned to the holographic model of the Death Star. “The data brought to us by the Bothan spies pinpoints the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station. We also know that the weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial Fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain attempt to engage us, it is relatively unprotected. But most important of all, we've learned that the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the final stages of the construction of this Death Star.” A volley of spirited chatter erupted from the crowd. Octavia tapped on her microphone for attention. “Many Bothans died to bring us this information,” she continues. “Admiral Hooves, please.” Derpy stepped forward, pointing to the image of the floating battle station.
“You can see here, the Death Star is orbiting the forest moon of Endor,” she announced. “Although the weapon systems on this Death Star are not yet operational, the station does have a strong defense mechanism. It is protected by an energy shield, which is generated from the nearby moon of Endor. The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, our cruisers will create a perimeter, while the fighters fly into the superstructure and attempt to knock out the main reactor.” A concerned murmur made its way around the room. “General Strongwing has volunteered to lead the fighter attack.” Rainbow turned to her old friend with a look of respect.
“Good luck,” she whispered. Gilda nodded her head. “You're gonna need it.”
“General Finish,” Derpy announced. She stepped to the side as Photo Finish moved to center stage.
“Ve haf stolen a small Imperial shuttle,” she boomed in her thick accent. “Disguised as a cargo ship, und using a secret Imperial code, a strike team vill land on ze moon und deactivate ze shield generator.” The assembly began to mumble among themselves.
“Sounds dangerous,” Applejack murmured.
“I wonder who they found to pull that off.” Rarity said to Rainbow.
“General Dash, is your strike team assembled?” Finish asked, looking directly at Rainbow. Rarity, startled, shot her glance to the smirking pirate, her surprise slowly changing to admiration.
“Uh, my team's ready,” Rainbow replied. “I don't have a command crew for the shuttle.” Spike raised his scaly hand, growling his volunteer. “Well, it's gonna be rough, pal,” Rainbow said, smiling at her dragon friend. “I didn't want to speak for you.” Spike waved it off with another growl. “That's one.”
“Uh, General... count me in,” Rarity said, raising her hoof.
“I'm with you too,” came a voice from the back of the crowd. Everyone's head turned to the source of the voice. Standing in the doorway, helmet under her hoof, was Twilight Sparkle. She grinned as she made her way over to Rainbow and the others. Rarity smiled and embraced Twilight. Twilight half returned the hug, and Rarity, sensing something wrong, asked,
“What is it?”
“Ask me again sometime,” Twilight replied, hesitant. As the team moved out of the room, Pinkie beeped a singsong observation to a worried Applejack.
“'Excitin' is hardly the word I would use,” the golden mare shot back.
The Wonderbolt rested in the hangar near the stolen Imperial shuttle, which looked ominous among all of the Rebel ships. Spike barked a final farewell to Gilda as he led the droids into the shuttle where the strike team rested. Gilda turned to face Rainbow.
“Look, G, I want you to take her,” Rainbow said. “I mean it. Take her. You'll need all the help you can get. She's the fastest ship in the fleet.”
“All right, Dash,” Gilda replied. “You know, I know what she means to you. I'll take good care of her. She won't get a scratch. Alright?” Rainbow looked at her warmly.
“Right. I got your promise, now. Not a scratch.”
“Would you get going, you old pirate,” the gryphon returned, laughing.
“Good luck, G,”
“You too, Dash.”
Twilight made her way through the rows of ships in the hangar to the Imperial shuttle. She stopped and turned to see who had been following her from the war room. Startled, Skybuck began to retreat as Twilight's expression softened.
“Wait, Skybuck, what is it?” she asked.
“I, uh...” he began. “I wanted to say good luck. And, uh... come back safe. All right?” Twilight smiled.
“Sure thing, Skybuck.”
“Cause, um...” the white colt stammered. “You're an amazing commander, Twilight, and, um--” He stopped as she approached him, nuzzling his face with hers.
“I'll be all right,” she whispered. “You stay safe too, okay?” She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss before turning toward the shuttle. Skybuck's face turned beet red as he slowly lifted his hoof to his lips, and a goofy grin spread over his face.
“You got her warmed up?” Rainbow asked Spike, who was working at the controls of the shuttle. Spike growled a frustrated response. “No, I don't think the Empire had dragons in mind when they designed her, Spike,” she said back. Rarity and Twilight made their way into the cockpit, taking their seats. Spike barked and flipped some switches. Rainbow's gaze was locked on the Wonderbolt, which she stared at through the window.
“Hey, are you awake?” Rarity asked jokingly.
“Yeah, I just got a funny feeling,” Rainbow replied, wistful. “Like I'm not gonna see her again.” Spike, hearing this, looked out the window as well, his gaze fixed on the ship. Rarity put a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder.
“Come on, General. Let's move.” Hearing this, Rainbow snapped back to life.
“Right. Spike, let's see what this piece of junk can do. Ready, everypony?”
“All set,” Twilight replied.
“Here we go again,” Applejack muttered.
“All right, hang on,” Rainbow said as she pulled back on the throttle. The engines roared to life as the shuttle lifted off, folded its wings, and zipped off into space.
The covered control room was dimly lit except for a pool of light at the far end where the Emperor sat in an elaborate control chair, looking out at the green moon. Nightmare Moon, standing with a group of other members of the Imperial council, cautiously approached her master. After several tense moments, the Emperor rotated his chair to face Moon. His oddly shaped hands rested on the sides of the chair, his piercing eyes locked on his disciple.
“What is thy bidding, my master?” Moon asked.
“Send the fleet to the far side of Endor,” the Emperor ordered. “There it will stay until called for.”
“What of the reports of the Rebel fleet massing near Sullust?” she asked.
“It is of no concern. Soon the Rebellion will be crushed and young Sparkle will be one of us. Your work here is finished, my friend. Go out to the command ship and await my orders.”
“Yes, my master.” Moon bowed, then turned and exited the room.
There was a great deal of Imperial traffic in the area as construction proceeded on the Death Star. Transports, TIE fighters, and a few Star Destroyers moved about. Rainbow looked back at Rarity and Twilight while Spike flipped a few switches. The Death Star, and the Emperor's Super Star Destroyer were directly visible from the cockpit window. Rainbow twisted nervously in her seat.
“If they don't go for this, we're gonna have to get out of here pretty quick, Spike.” The dragon growled his agreement.
“We have you on our screen now,” a voice announced over the intercom. “Please identify.”
“Shuttle Tydirium requesting deactivation of the deflector shield,” Rainbow announced into the transmitter.
“Shuttle Tydirium, transmit the clearance code for shield passage,” the voice replied.
“Transmission commencing.” Everyone stood, tense, as the high speed transmission beeped its way across the communicator.
“Now we find out if that code is worth the price we paid,” Rarity muttered.
“It'll work, it'll work,” Rainbow reassured. As Spike whined noisily, Twilight stared at the huge Super Star Destroyer looming in the distance.
“Moon's on that ship,” she said, pressing her hoof to the glass.
“Now, don't get jittery, Twi,” Rainbow replied. “There are a lot of command ships. Keep your distance though, Spike, but don't look like you're trying to keep your distance.” Spike barked a question. “I don't know, fly casual.”
“I'm endangering the mission,” Twilight said firmly. “I shouldn't have come.”
“It's your imagination, kid,” Rainbow said back, putting her hoof around Twilight's shoulder. “Let's keep a little optimism here.”
Moon stood, her back turned, staring out the window to the Death Star. She turned, urged by an odd vibration in her chest. After a moment of stillness, she marched down the row of controllers to the young Admiral, who had been leaning over a controller. He snapped to attention at Moon's approach.
“Where is that shuttle going?” she asked, motioning toward the console screen.
“Shuttle Tydirium, what is your cargo and destination?” the Admiral spoke into the transmitter.
“Parts and technical crew for the forest moon,” Rainbow's voice responded. The Admiral turned to Moon.
“Do they have a clearance code?” she asked.
“It's an older code, sir, but it checks out. I was about to clear them.” Moon looked upward as the familiar feeling pulled at her chest again. “Shall I hold them?” the Admiral asked.
“No. Leave them to me,” Moon replied. “I shall deal with them myself.”
“As you wish, my lord,” he replied, surprised. “Carry on,” he announced into the communicator.
The group waited tensely as they listened for a response.
“They're not going for it, Spike,” Rainbow whispered. Suddenly, the voice came back over the transmitter.
“Shuttle Tydirium, deactivation of the shield will commence immediately. Follow your present course.” Everypony breathed a sigh of relief, except for Twilight, who remained worried.
“Okay!” Rainbow said enthusiastically. “I told you it was gonna work. No problem.” The stolen shuttle moved off toward the small green moon in the distance.
The Imperial shuttle rested in a clearing of the moon's dark, primeval forest, dwarfed by the ancient, towering trees. On an adjacent hill, the helmeted Rebel contingent made its way up a steep trail. Rainbow and Rarity trotted slightly ahead of Spike, who walked alongside Twilight. Pinkie and Applejack brought up the rear.
“Oh, I told y'all it was dangerous here,” Applejack whispered to her pink companion. Not far below, a pair of Imperial scout troopers wandered through the bushes in the valley, their speeder bikes parked nearby.
“Shall we try and go around?” Rarity asked.
“It'll take time,” Rainbow said back. “This whole party'll be for nothing if they see us.” Rarity motioned for the squad to stay put, then she headed down the hill with Rainbow, Twilight, and Spike. The group crouched in the thick bushes. “Spike and I will take care of this,” Rainbow said to the others. “You stay here.”
“Quietly,” Twilight warned. “There might be more of them out there.”
“Hey, it's me,” Rainbow replied with a grin. She and Spike began to creep towards the scouts. Rainbow stepped on a twig, and it snapped under her hoof. The nearby scout immediately whirled around, knocking her into a tree.
“Go for help! Go!” he shouted to his companion. The second scout jumped onto his speeder bike and took off, but Spike fired his crossbow, scoring a direct hit. The bike crashed into a tree while Rainbow and the other scout engaged in a fistfight.
“Great,” Twilight groaned. “Come on.” She started for the scuffle along with Rarity, both mares brandishing their pistols. As they galloped through the bushes, Rarity stopped and pointed towards another pair of scouts sitting on their bikes, with another empty bike nearby.
“Over there! Two more of them!” she called.
“I see them. Wait, Rarity!” Twilight shouted at the princess, who had raced for the empty bike. She leapt on it and started its engine, tearing off after the scouts. Twilight jumped onto the first scout's bike and raced after Rarity. “Quick! Jam their comlink!” she shouted.
“Hey, wait!” Rainbow called as she flipped the remaining scout to the ground.
The fleeing scouts had a good lead on the two mares as they zipped through the giant trees, the fire from their bikes' laser guns blasting away at the foliage.
“Move closer!” Twilight called as she doggedly pursued the scouts. Rarity floored it, closing the gap between her and her targets. One of the scouts scraped against a tree, slowing him down. “Get alongside that one!” Twilight yelled. Rarity pulled up beside the scout, their bike scraping against each other. While he was distracted, Twilight leapt from her bike and landed on the back of the scout's. She knocked him off of the vehicle and quickly got it under control. Rarity had pulled ahead, and they tore off after the one remaining scout. They passed by another pair of scouts, who started up their own bikes, firing at the mares. Twilight's bike started to smoke as it took a glancing hit.
“Keep on that one!” she yelled, pointing at the fleeing scout. “I'll take these two!” She slammed on her brakes, and the two pursuing scouts zipped ahead of her. Twilight kicked her bike back into gear and started firing at the scouts who were now in front of her. She blasted one of them, and the vehicle spun out, crashing into a tree trunk. The other glanced back nervously before speeding up, the purple unicorn hot on his tail. Far ahead, Rarity and the first scout raced a high speed slalom through the trees, moving at a deadly rate. Rarity's bike hit a sloped section of ground and shot into the air, out of sight. The scout looked around, confused, until Rarity's bike came crashing down, firing bolts at the disoriented scout. He quickly pulled out a handgun and fired at her. The bolt struck her bike, and it careened out of control. She dove off as the bike slammed into a tree and exploded, her body tumbling and bouncing across the forest floor. The scout looked back, proud of his shot, before he slammed into a tree.
Twilight and the last remaining scout continued their weaving chase through the trees. The scout slammed the side of his bike against Twilight's knocking her around. Twilight fought to maintain control, and she slammed back against the scout. The two bikes suddenly locked, their front vanes having been smashed together, and they began to weave through the trees as one. A huge tree loomed ahead, and Twilight, thinking quickly, leapt from the bike and into the nearby brush. Her bike slammed against the tree, breaking off from the scout's, who banked and turned around to find her. She rose from the underbrush as the scout began to fire his laser guns. Twilight ignited her lightsaber and deflected the bolts from the oncoming bike. At the last second, she leapt out of the vehicle's path, slicing through the bike's controls. The bike shuddered, then pitched and rolled into a tree.
Rainbow, Spike, and the droids waited anxiously with the rest of the Rebel troops in the clearing. Pinkie's radar antenna protruded from her head as she spun around, scanning the forest. She let out a few beeps.
“Oh, General Dash, somepony's comin!” Applejack warned. The squad raised their weapons. Twilight stepped out of the foliage to find the group's weapons trained on her. Too tired to care, she plopped down on a nearby boulder. The group quickly lowered their guns when they saw who it was.
“Twilight! Where's Rarity?” Rainbow asked, rushing up to her. Twilight's eyes shot up.
“What? She didn't come back?”
“I thought she was with you.”
“We got separated.” The two mares exchanged a silent, grim look. Twilight rose, brandishing her weapon. “We'd better go look for her.” Rainbow nodded and signaled to the squad leader.
“Take the squad ahead,” she ordered. “We'll meet at the shield generator at Oh-Three-Hundred.”
“Come on, Pinkie, we'll need your scanners,” Twilight said, nudging the pink droid. The two mares, the two droids, and the dragon moved off into the woods while the squad marched off toward the generator.
“Don't worry, Master Twilight. We know what ta do,” Applejack said as they marched onward.
A white, furry face with huge black eyes and long ears slowly peered over at the fallen unicorn. The rabbit, Angel, was about half as tall as the pony, and wielded a sharp spear. He slowly poked at the unconscious form below him. Rarity groaned, which frightened the stubby ball of fuzz. He jumped back, prodding her again. Rarity sat up, staring at the rabbit. Her clothes were torn from her fall, and her face was slightly bruised. The rabbit jumped and began to circle her, brandishing his weapon.
“Cut it out!” she yelled as he poked at her. She got to her hooves and the rabbit quickly backed away. “I'm not going to hurt you,” she said in a softer tone. She glanced around at the dense forest and the charred remains of her speeder bike. She sat with a sigh on a nearby log. “Well, it looks like I'm stuck here. Trouble is, I don't know where 'here' is.” She rubbed her temples, trying to ease her headache a bit. She looked over at the watchful rabbit. “Well, maybe you can help me. Come on, sit down.” Angel held up his spear again, growling. “I promise I won't hurt you,” Rarity reassured, patting the log next to her. “Now come here.” Angel continued to growl. “All right. You want something to eat?” Rarity reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of an energy bar. She offered it to the rabbit, who cocked his head and sniffed, moving cautiously toward the unicorn. “That's right. Come on.” The rabbit sat on the log next to her and perked his ears up, sniffing the air. He looked around warily, spouting some chattered words in his foreign tongue. “What is it?” Suddenly, a laserbolt crashed into the log, sending the rabbit and unicorn flying off. Rarity brandished her own gun while Angel hid in the brush. She turned to see an Imperial scout pointing a gun at her head.
“Freeze!” he ordered. “Come on, get up.” Another scout approached, confiscating her weapon. “Go get your ride and take her back to base.”
“Yes, sir,” the second scout replied. He started toward his bike as Angel, crouching, stabbed the first scout in the leg with his spear. The scout yelled in surprise, looking around for what had stabbed him, when Rarity crashed a large branch into the back of his head. He crumbled to the ground as she grabbed his laser pistol. She fired at the second scout, who had taken off on his bike. The bolt struck the bike, and it careened of into a tree, exploding. The forest grew quiet once more as Angel poked his furry head up from behind the log. He mumbled his awe at Rarity, who motioned for the furry creature.
“Come on, let's get out of here,” she whispered. As they moved into the forest, Angel pulled at Rarity's clothes, leading her down a dim path through the trees.
Nightmare Moon strode down the corridor to the Emperor's private chamber. The red-robed guard stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
“Halt! The Emperor does not wish to be disturbed at the moment,” he commanded. Moon raised her hoof, lifting and choking the guard.
“The Emperor will see me now!” she ordered as she tossed him to the side. The large door slid open as Moon entered the eerie, foreboding throne room. It appeared to be empty. Moon's hoofsteps echoed as she approached the throne. She stopped before it, remaining motionless. The Emperor sat with his back to the Dark Lord.
“I told you to remain on the command ship,” his voice echoed disapprovingly.
“A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor,” she reported.
“Yes, I know,” the Emperor replied, his voice calm. Moon paused for a moment.
“My daughter is with them.”
“Are you sure?” the Emperor asked, his voice as cold as ever.
“I have felt her, my master,” she replied.
“Strange, that I have not. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Moon.”
“They are clear, my master,” Moon said back.
“Then you must go to the moon of Endor and wait for them,” he ordered.
“She will come to me?” Moon asked sceptically.
“I have foreseen it. Her compassion for you will be her undoing. She will come to you, and then you will bring her before me.”
“As you wish,” Moon replied, bowing. She quickly strode out of the throne room.
Rainbow, Twilight, Spike, and the droids spread out as they moved through the foliage. Twilight stopped as she spied a the charred wreckage of the speeder bike. She signaled to her friends.
“There's two more wrecked speeders back there,” Rainbow pointed as she galloped over to Twilight.
“I'm afraid that Pinkie's sensors can't find a trace of Princess Rarity,” Applejack said, worried.
“I hope she's all right,” Rainbow muttered gravely. Spike growled, sniffing the air, then began to push off through the foliage. “What is it, Spike?” Rainbow called as she followed the dragon through the underbrush. A dead animal hung from a small stake planted in the ground. Spike eyed it greedily as he licked his lips. The others quickly gathered around to see what the dragon had found. “Nah, it's just a dead animal,” Rainbow said, pulling on Spike's arm. The dragon couldn't resist, though, and he reached out for the fresh meat.
“Spike, wait! Don't!” Twilight yelled. It was too late. With a sproing, the entire group found themselves hanging from a large net, suspended high above the clearing. Pinkie let out a few startled beeps and squeals as Spike roared. Rainbow spit the dragon's paw from her mouth.
“Nice work,” she groaned. “Great, Spike. Great. Always thinking with your stomach.”
“Will you take it easy?” Twilight chided. “Let's just figure out a way to get out of this thing.” She squirmed, trying to free her tangled hooves. “Rainbow, can you reach my lightsaber?”
“Yeah, sure.” The net began to slowly spin as Rainbow squeezed a hoof past Applejack, reaching for the saber on Twilight's belt. Pinkie began to hum as she extended an electronic saw from her hoof, cutting away at the bottom of the net.
“Pinkie, I'm not sure that's such a good idea,” Applejack said, worried. “It's a very long dro--” With a snap, the net broke open where Pinkie had been cutting, and the group tumbled down to the forest floor below with a chorus of banging and knocking. As they began to regain their senses, they realized that they were surrounded by a group of rabbits, each of them brandishing a spear. The furry creatures had encircled the group.
“Hey, point that thing somewhere else,” Rainbow said angrily, shoving a nearby spear away from her face. The rabbit began to chatter angrily and swung the spear back around. Rainbow, miffed, drew her gun and pointed it at the creature.
“Rainbow, don't,” Twilight said. “It'll be all right.” The rabbits swarmed the group and confiscated their weapons. Spike growled menacingly at the furry creatures. “Spike, give them your bow.” Applejack, still struggling to free herself from the net, sat up in confusion.
“Oh, my head,” she muttered. “Oh my goodness!” Upon seeing Applejack, the rabbits let out a simultaneous gasp, chattering amongst themselves. The nearest rabbit dropped his spear and bowed before the mechanical mare. In a moment, the other rabbits followed suit. The creatures began to chant as they waved their stubby arms.
“Do you understand what they're saying?” Twilight asked.
“Oh yes, Master Twilight,” Applejack replied. “Remember, I'm fluent in over six million forms of communication.”
“What are you telling them?” Rainbow asked, annoyed.
“Hello, I think... I could be mistaken. They're usin a very primitive dialect. But I do believe they think I'm some sorta god.”
“Well, why don't you use your divine influence and get us out of this?” Rainbow said snidely.
“I beg pardon, General Dash, but that just wouldn't be proper.”
“Proper?!” Rainbow shouted in frustration.
“It's against my programmin ta impersonate a deity.” Rainbow scowled, moving toward Applejack.
“Why you--” Several rabbits thrust their spears at Rainbow, protecting their new found god. Rainbow backed up and held up her hooves. “My mistake. She's an old friend of mine.”
A procession of rabbits wound its way through the ever darkening forest. Their prisoners, Twilight, Rainbow, Spike, and Pinkie, were carried, bound to poles and wrapped in vines. Behind the captives, Applejack was carried on a litter like a queen by the diminutive animals. The procession crossed along a narrow, shaky walkway, high in the trees. On the other side of the walkway, a village of mud huts and rickety walkways weaved through the trees. The lead rabbit continued marching his procession through the village. They stopped in what appeared to be a village square. Twilight, Spike, and Pinkie were placed on the ground, still tied to their poles. Rainbow was placed on a spit over what appeared to be a fire pit. Applejack watched from her litter with rapt fascination, though the others were much less than fascinated.
“I have a really bad feeling about this,” Rainbow muttered. Spike growled his concern. The chatter of the rabbits stopped as an old rabbit, dressed in a medicine man's outfit, made his way over to Applejack. After examining the captives carefully, he began to chatter softly to the golden droid, who responded in the same language. The rabbits began filling the pit beneath Rainbow with logs. “What did he say?” Rainbow demanded.
“I'm rather embarrassed, General Dash, but it appears that you're ta be the main course at a banquet in my honor. As drums began to echo through the trees, a white figure moved from one of the huts.
“Rarity!” Twilight and Rainbow called in unison as the princess moved into view. She started toward the captives, but the rabbits nearby held her off with their spears.
“But these are my friends,” she pleaded. “Applejack, tell them they must be set free.” Applejack began to chirp to the medicine man, who listened and shook his head negatively.
“Somehow I got the feeling that didn't help us very much,” Rainbow muttered as the rabbits piled more logs in the pit.
“Applejack,” Twilight started, an idea coming to mind. “Tell them if they don't do as you wish, you'll become angry and use your magic.”
“But Master Twilight, what magic?” she asked, confused. “I couldn't possibly--”
“Just tell them.” Applejack began to chatter to the rabbits, and their faces grew disturbed.
“You see, Master Twilight? They didn't believe me. Just--” Suddenly, the throne, with Applejack still on it, rose into the air and began to shake. “Oh, dear!” Applejack cried. The rabbits fell back in terror from the floating throne, which had begun to spin. “Put me down! Twilight! Pinkie! Somepony, help! Do somethin!” The chief sputtered orders to the other rabbits, and they quickly began to release the bound prisoners. Twilight relaxed as she slowly lowered the throne that she had lifted with the Force as her hooves were untied. Upon her release, Pinkie began beeping and sputtering angrily, spitting sparks at the nearby rabbits.
“Thanks, Applejack,” Twilight said as she approached the golden mare.
“Why, I never knew I had it in me...” Applejack muttered, oblivious to the truth of the situation. Twilight simply smiled before rushing over to her friends.
A glowing fire danced in the center of the low-ceilinged room. A group of rabbits were sitting around the fire, along with the Rebels. Applejack animatedly chattered a story in the rabbits' native language, waving her hooves around as she spoke. The rabbits seemed entranced by her words, and hung on each one as their eyes grew wide. At the end of her tale, the chief turned to confer with the other rabbit elders. He turned and squeaked out a proclamation. Drums beat as the rabbits stood and cheered.
“What's going on?” Rainbow asked, confused.
“I don't know,” Rarity replied. Twilight, who had been smiling along with the others during the tale, suddenly stopped as a dark cloud passed through her consciousness.
“Wonderful!” Applejack exclaimed. “We're now a part of the tribe.”
“Just what I always wanted,” Rainbow said sarcastically as a rabbit embraced her. “Well, short help is better than no help at all, Spike.” The dragon growled softly as Angel hung from his scaly arm.
“He says the scouts are gonna show us the quickest way to the shield generator,” Applejack continued.
“Good, how far is it? Ask him. We need some fresh supplies too. And try to get our weapons back.” As Rainbow and the golden mare conversed, Twilight slipped away into the darkness and onto the walkway. The soft breeze blew through her mane as she slowly trotted, her eyes fixed on the looming Death Star in the sky.
“Twilight? What's wrong?” The mare turned to see Rarity, who had followed her. Twilight fixed her eyes on the soft unicorn's face for a moment before answering.
“Rarity... do you remember your father? Your real father?” Rarity thought for a moment.
“He... he died when I was just a foal. I was too young to remember. All I had were pictures.”
“What did he look like?” Twilight asked.
“He was very handsome. I was told he was kind...” She stopped, looking up. “Why are you asking me all this?” Twilight looked away.
“I have no memory of my father,” she replied. “I never knew him.”
“Twilight, tell me. What's troubling you?”
“Moon is here... now, in this forest.” Rarity stopped, alarmed.
“How do you know?”
“I felt her presence,” Twilight replied. “She's come for me. She can feel when I'm near. That's why I have to go.” She turned, facing the princess. “As long as I stay, I'm endangering the group and our mission here. I... have to face her.”
“Why?” Rarity asked, confused. Twilight moved closer, her voice nearly a whisper.
“She's my mother.”
“Your mother?” Rarity was startled by this sudden revelation.
“There's more,” Twilight continued. “It won't be easy for you to hear it, but you must. If I don't make it back, you're the only hope for the Alliance.” Rarity began to slowly back away.
“Twilight, don't talk that way. You have a power that I... I don't understand. And could never have.”
“You're wrong, Rarity,” Twilight continued, drawing closer. “You have that power too. In time, you'll learn to use it as I have. The Force is strong in my family. My mother has it... I have it... and... my sister has it.” Rarity stared into Twilight's deep purple eyes. The intensity frightened her, but she didn't back away. Slowly, the pieces in her mind began to fit together. “It's you, Rarity.”
“I know, somehow...” the princess trailed off. “I've always known.”
“Then you know why I have to face her.”
“No!” Rarity shouted. “Twilight, run away. Far away. If she can feel your presence, then leave this place. I wish I could go with you.”
“No, you don't. You've always been strong.”
“But, why must you confront her?” Rarity asked.
“Because... there is good in her. I've felt it. She won't turn me over to the Emperor. I can save her. I can turn her back. I have to try.” The two sisters embraced, holding each other close as Rarity held back her tears. Twilight slowly let go and began to move away, disappearing into the darkness. As her sister vanished into the night, Rarity began to tremble. Rainbow, who had exited the hut, spied her in the shadows. She made her way over and asked,
“Hey, what's going on?” Rarity stifled her sobs.
“Nothing. I—just want to be alone for a little while.”
“Nothing?” Rainbow asked sceptically. “Come on, tell me. What's going on?” Rarity looked up at her, struggling to control herself.
“I... I can't tell you.” Rainbow began to lose her temper.
“Did you tell Twilight?” she asked, accusing. “Is that who you could tell?” She scowled and started to trot away, exasperated. She stopped, then turned back. “I... I'm sorry.”
“Hold me,” Rarity said as she leaned in to the star captain's warm embrace. The two mares stood together in the darkness as Rarity struggled to hold back her tears.
An Imperial shuttle floated down, landing gracefully on the platform of the outpost. Nightmare Moon slowly walked down the ramp of the shuttle and into an elevator, where she exited onto a ramp inside the complex. She was met by two stormtroopers and a commander, with Twilight, in binders, in their center. The young unicorn gazed up at Moon with a complete calm.
“This is a Rebel that surrendered to us,” the commander reported. “Although she denies it, I believe there may be more of them, and I request permission to conduct a further search of the area.” The commander extended his hoof to Moon, holding Twilight's lightsaber. “She was armed only with this.” Moon gazed over at Twilight, then took the saber from the commander.
“Good work, Commander. Leave us,” she ordered. “Conduct your search and bring her companions to me.”
“Yes, my lord.” The officer and troopers withdrew, leaving Moon and Twilight alone in the oddly tranquil room. The sounds of the forest filtered in through the walls.
“The Emperor has been expecting you,” Moon said, her back to the young mare.
“I know, mother,” Twilight replied.
“So, you have accepted the truth?”
“I've accepted the truth that you were once Luna Sparkle, my mother.” Moon turned to face her.
“That name no longer has any meaning for me.”
“It is the name of your true self,” Twilight continued. “You've only forgotten. I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully. That is why you couldn't kill me. That's why you won't bring me to your Emperor now.” Moon looked away and stared at the lightsaber in her hoof.
“I see you have constructed a new lightsaber,” she said as she ignited it, examining the brilliant, green blade. “Your skills are complete. Indeed, you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen.” They stood for a moment before Moon extinguished the saber.
“Come with me,” Twilight said softly.
“Celestia once thought as you do.” Twilight stepped closer to the Dark Lord, who remained still. “You don't know the power of the dark side. I must obey my master.”
“I will not turn,” Twilight replied, firmly. “And you'll be forced to kill me.”
“If that is your destiny--”
“Search your feelings, mother,” Twilight cut her off. “You can't do this. I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate.”
“It is too late for me, my daughter,” Moon replied. “The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master now.” The two mares stood, eyes locked for a moment, before Twilight turned away.
“Then my mother is truly dead.”
Rainbow, Rarity, Spike, and the droids stood with Angel and another rabbit scout, overlooking the massive Imperial shield generator.
“The main entrance to the control bunker's on the far side of that landing platform,” Rarity observed. “This isn't going to be easy.”
“Hey, don't worry,” Rainbow replied. “Spike and me got into a lot of places more heavily guarded than this.” The rabbits began chattering to Applejack.
“What's he saying?” Rarity asked.
“He says there's a secret entrance on the other side of the ridge,” the mechanical mare replied.
The vast Rebel fleet hung near a blue planet. A giant Rebel Star Cruiser maintained an intimidating presence at the front. The Wonderbolt roared up next to it, tiny in comparison. Gilda sat at the controls with Screwball, her purple pegasus copilot, sitting next to her. Gilda switched on her comlink.
“Admiral, we're in position,” she reported. “All fighters accounted for.”
“Proceed with the countdown,” Admiral Derpy's voice echoed across the headset. “All groups assume attack coordinates.” Gilda turned to her copilot, who's twisted, purple eyes studied the ship's console.
“Don't worry, my friends are down there,” she reassured. “They'll have that shield down on time... or this'll be the shortest offensive of all time.” Screwball cocked her head, then flipped a few switches.
“All craft, prepare to jump to hyperspace on my mark,” Derpy's voice ordered.
“All right, stand by,” Gilda responded. She pulled on a lever and the stars began to streak past out the window. The ship exploded into infinity with a boom as a rainbow ring radiated from its point of exit. Derpy's cruiser followed suit, then the other ships in the fleet began to zip away.
The Rebel team had reunited with the strike squad, and were spread through the thick undergrowth. Below them lay the bunker leading to the generator. Four Imperial scouts, their bikes parked nearby, kept watch over the entrance. Angel chattered away, motioning with his fluffy hands.
“Back door, huh? Good idea,” Rainbow mused to herself. “It's only a few guards. This shouldn't be too much trouble.”
“Well, it only takes one to sound the alarm,” Rarity said back.
“Then we'll do it real quiet-like,” Rainbow replied with a smirk. As they conversed, Angel scampered out of the bush and over towards the bunker. Applejack noticed, and gently tapped Rarity's shoulder.
“Uh, Princess.”
“Quiet,” Rarity hushed.
“I'm afraid our furry companion's gone and done somethin rather rash.”
“Oh no!” Rarity whispered as she noticed Angel, who had begun to climb on the speeder bikes, flipping switches. Suddenly, a bike's engines roared to life, the scouts leaping up in surprise.
“There goes our surprise attack,” Rainbow groaned. The scouts ran over to Angel, who had zipped off into the forest.
“Look! Over there! Stop him!” they shouted as three of them mounted their own bikes, racing after the rabbit. The fourth watched them go, keeping his post at the door. The group exchanged delighted looks.
“Not bad for a little furball,” Rainbow commented. “There's only one left. You stay here. We'll take care of this.” She turned and nodded to her dragon companion, who nodded back. The two winged creatures slipped down the hill toward the bunker. Applejack moved over to Pinkie and the other rabbit.
“I've decided we're gonna stay here,” she said firmly.
Angel sailed through the trees on the bike, barely dodging the huge obstacles. As the Imperial scouts pulled up behind him, firing, he decided he'd had enough, and rounded a tree. He leapt from the bike and grabbed hold of an overhanging vine, swinging up into a tree. He laughed as he watched the scouts race by below, still following the unoccupied bike.
Rainbow snuck up behind the remaining scout and tapped him on the shoulder. The scout turned to see Rainbow rush behind the bunker. He gave chase, but stopped as he rounded the corner, surprised to see the waiting strike team. Rainbow returned to the front and opened up the door. Rarity and Spike approached as well, peering into the seemingly empty bunker. The entire squad entered the doors, leaving a lone patrol behind.
The elevator door opened, and Nightmare Moon strode into the room, followed by Twilight. They stood before the huge throne under the piercing gaze of the Emperor. Moon bowed, though Twilight remained firm.
“Welcome, young Sparkle,” the Emperor said in his deep, commanding voice. “I have been expecting you.” Twilight looked up into his eyes defiantly. The Emperor peered down at the binders on her hooves. “You no longer need those.” He snapped his clawed fingers, and the binders disappeared with a flash. Twilight looked down at her freed hooves. She could now easily wrap them around the Emperor's throat. It would be simple. She stood firm, shaking the thought from her mind. “Guards, leave us,” the Emperor commanded. The red-robed guards turned and disappeared out the door. The Emperor turned his head to face Twilight, his pronounced chin protruding from his hood. His grey goatee danced playfully about his chin as a grin grew over his devilish face, his one long fang protruding from his mouth like a deadly fang. “I'm looking forward to completing your training. In time, you will call me master.”
“You're gravely mistaken,” Twilight replied. “You won't convert me as you did my mother.” The Emperor got down from his throne and snaked his way over to Twilight. He peered into her eyes, and Twilight could clearly make out the contours of his dark, twisted face.
“Oh no, my young Jedi,” he said, his deep voice rumbling with an evil undertone. “You will find that it is you who are mistaken... about a great many things.”
“Her lightsaber,” Moon said, holding out the weapon. The Emperor took it in his lion's paw.
“Ah, yes. A Jedi's weapon,” he mused. “Much like your mother's. By now, you must know your mother can never be turned from the dark side. So will it be with you.”
“You're wrong,” Twilight said back. “Soon I'll be dead... and you with me.” The Emperor let out a deep, maniacal laugh.
“Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your Rebel fleet.” Twilight's eyes darted up in surprise. “Yes, I assure you, we are quite safe from your friends here.” Moon looked over at Twilight, who maintained her defiant gaze on the Emperor.
“Your overconfidence is your weakness,” she said firmly.
“Your faith in your friends is yours,” the Emperor replied.
“It is pointless to resist, my daughter,” Moon added.
“Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design.” The Emperor motioned out the window to Endor. “Your friends up there on that moon are walking into a trap. As is your Rebel fleet! It was I who allowed the Alliance to know the location of the shield generator. It is quite safe from your pitiful little band. An entire legion of my best troops awaits them.” Twilight's gaze darted between the Emperor and Moon, and then to her saber in the Emperor's hand. “Oh, I'm afraid the deflector shield will be quite operational when your friends arrive.”
Rainbow, Rarity, Spike, and the rest of the strike team stormed through a door and into the main control room, quickly taking the personnel prisoner.
“All right! Up! Move! Come on, quickly!” Rainbow said as she herded the officers out of the room. Rarity glanced at one of the screens on the control panel.
“Rainbow, hurry!” she called. “The fleet will be here any moment.”
“Charges, come on!” Rainbow called to her troops, who readied their explosives. Outside, Applejack watched as a large group of stormtroopers galloped into the bunker, leaving guards at the door.
“Oh, my!” she whispered to Angel, who had made his way back from the forest. “They'll be captured!” Angel chattered a bit, then darted off full steam into the woods. “Wait! Come back! Pinkie, stay with me!”
Inside the bunker, Rainbow looked up to see dozens of Imperial weapons trained on her and the other members of the squad.
“Freeze! You Rebel scum,” a commander ordered. More stormtroopers poured into the room, disarming the rebel contingent.
The Death Star and its nearby moon hung distant in space as the Rebel fleet roared out of hyperspace. Gilda flipped switches as she spoke into her comlink.
“All wings, report in!”
“Red Leader, standing by,” Skybuck's voice called.
“Grey Leader, standing by.”
“Green Leader, standing by.”
“Lock S-foils in attack position,” Skybuck commanded. From the bridge of the Star Cruiser, Derpy stood alongside Octavia and Photo Finish.
“May the Force be with us,” she muttered softly. Gilda looked worriedly at her copilot, who motioned nervously at the control panel.
“We've got to be able to get some kind of a reading on that shield, up or down,” she said, scratching her chin.
“They're jamming us,” Screwball explained.
“How could they be jamming us if they don't know we're coming--” Gilda's eyes shot open as she realized the implications of what she had just said. She slammed down the switch on her comlink. “Break off the attack!” she shouted. “The shield is still up!”
“I get no reading,” Skybuck's voice returned. “Are you sure?”
“Pull up!” Gilda insisted. “All craft, pull up!” The Wonderbolt banked hard to the left, veering off along with the other fighters in the group, avoiding the unseen wall. Alarms screamed and lights flared in the huge cruiser as it changed course abruptly. Derpy darted back and forth, her comlink in her hoof.
“Take evasive action!” she shouted. “Stick close to holding sector MV-7.”
“Admiral, ve haf enemy ships in sektor 47,” Admiral Finish reported from her console. Derpy's eyes bounced in her head, aligning for a moment as she realized what had happened. She grabbed hold of her comlink and shouted,
“It's a trap!”
“Fighter's coming in,” Gilda's voice reported. The Wonderbolt and several squads of Rebel fighters flew towards an armada of TIE fighters. The sky exploded as a fierce dogfight ensued. “Accelerate to attack speed! Draw their fire away from the cruisers.”
“Copy, Gold Leader,” Skybuck confirmed.
Through the round window behind the Emperor's throne, the battle raged on as distant flashes lit up the dark sky.
“Come, filly, see for yourself,” the Emperor beckoned. Twilight slowly inched toward the window, looking out through a small section. “From here, you will witness the final destruction of the Alliance, and the end of your insignificant Rebellion.” Twilight, her heart in torment, glanced over at her lightsaber, which sat on the armrest of the Emperor's throne. He smiled as he stroked the saber. “You want this, don't you?” he asked, an evil grin on his foul lips. “The hate is swelling in you now. Take your Jedi weapon. Use it. I am unarmed. Strike me down with it. Give in to your anger. With each passing moment, you make yourself more my servant.” Moon watched as the agony spread to her daughter's face.
“No!” Twilight refused.
“It is unavoidable. It is your destiny. You, like your mother, are now mine.”
The Rebel strike team was led out of the bunker by their captors. The surrounding area, which had previously been deserted, was now full of stormtroopers and large, two-legged AT-ST walkers. As the troopers marched, a beeping sound rose from the undergrowth. Applejack stuck her golden head out of the bush, waving at the troops.
“I say there, were y'all lookin fer me?” she called. The troopers galloped off toward the droids, weapons raised. The mechanical mares ducked behind a nearby tree. “Well, they're on their way, Pinkie,” Applejack whispered. “You sure this was a good idea?”
“Freeze! Don't move!” a trooper ordered.
“We surrender,” Applejack replied, hooves in the air. As the troopers moved to take the droid, a band of rabbits dropped from the trees, clobbering the troopers. In a nearby tree, a rabbit lifted a huge horn to his lips, sounding the attack call. All hell broke loose as hundreds of spear brandishing rabbits hurled themselves at the troopers. Bikers darted around, firing at the fuzzy creatures, only to be stopped by boulders dropped from the trees above. In the confusion of battle, Rainbow and Rarity broke away from the squall and darted back to the door. Rainbow frantically punched the code, but to no avail.
“The code's changed. We need Pinkie!” Rarity called.
“Here's the terminal,” Rainbow said, locating the nearby socket.
“Pinkie, where are you?” Rarity asked into the comlink. “We need you at the bunker right away.” Pinkie and Applejack had been hiding behind a log as the battle raged around them. Suddenly, the stubby little Astromech let out a series of whistles, shooting off across the battlefield. Applejack, panicked, rushed off after her.
“Goin? Whaddaya mean, you're goin?” Applejack demanded. “Goin where, Pinkie? No, wait! Pinkie, this is no time for heroics!” Biker scouts raced around the droids, firing at rabbits as they scattered for cover. A group of rabbits had prepared a primitive catapult and moved it into position. The device fired away, launching a massive boulder at an AT-ST. The walker, struck by the boulder, turned and began blasting away with its guns, destroying the primitive weapon. As it stomped off after the rabbits, a pair of logs dropped from the trees and crushed the walker's head between them. Another line of rabbits had wrapped a vine around a walker's feet, and they pulled it to the ground, attacking the fallen vehicle with their spears. As a pair of bikers raced through the woods, their riders were clotheslined and knocked off by a vine that had been stretched between the trees. Despite the stormtroopers' obvious technological advantage, the rabbits had an edge that the Imperial troops didn't: the home-field advantage.
The Wonderbolt and the other Rebel fighters weaved back and forth around the Star Cruiser, trying to draw away the fire from the pursuing TIE fighters.
“Watch yourself, Skybuck!” Gilda called into her comlink. “Three from above!”
“Red Three, Red Two, pull in!” Skybuck ordered.
“Got it!”
“Three of them coming in, twenty degrees!”
“Cut to the left!” Skybuck commanded to his team. “I'll take the leader! They're heading for the medical frigate.” Gilda steered the Wonderbolt through a complete flip as her crew fired at the TIEs.
“Pressure's steady,” Screwball reported.
“Only the fighters are attacking,” Gilda observed. “I wonder what those Star Destroyers are waiting for.”
The fleet of Star Destroyers waited silently some distance from the battle, the Super Star Destroyer resting in the center. Moon's young Admiral stood at the ship's huge window with a fleet commander.
“We're in attack position now, sir,” the commander reported.
“Hold here,” the Admiral replied.
“We're not going to attack?”
“I have my orders from the Emperor himself. He has something special planned for them. We only need to keep them from escaping.”
The Emperor and Moon watched the aerial fireworks out the window alongside a horrified Twilight. Another Rebel ship exploded into a fireball.
“As you can see, my young apprentice,” the Emperor continued, “your friends have failed. Now, witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station.” He picked up a comlink. “Fire at will, Commander.” Twilight's mouth dropped open in shock as the giant dish on the completed side of the Death Star began to glow. A powerful beam shot out toward the aerial battle, vaporizing a Rebel Cruiser.
The Wonderbolt was buffeted by flak from the cruiser's explosion. As Gilda struggled to regain control of the violently rocking ship, Screwball motioned out the window toward the half-completed battle station. Gilda's eyes went wide in panic as she grabbed her comlink.
“That blast came from the Death Star!” she shouted. “That thing's operational! Home one, this is Gold Leader.”
“We saw it,” Derpy replied into her communicator as panic ensued on the bridge around her. “All craft, prepare to retreat.”
“You won't get another chance at this, Admiral,” Gilda's voice came over.
“We have no choice, General Strongwing. Our cruisers can't repel firepower of that magnitude.”
“Rainbow will have that shield down,” Gilda assured. “We've got to give her more time.”
Pinkie and Applejack stumbled to the door as Rainbow and Rarity provided cover fire at the troopers. The little pink Astromech scooted her way over to the terminal and inserted her hoof, beeping rapidly. Suddenly, a laserbolt exploded next to her, sending her crashing into a wall. Her head began to spin as smoke streamed from her body, various appendages sticking out of her hooves. Rainbow rushed to the terminal as Applejack got to the ground and cradled her wounded companion.
“Oh, Pinkie-Pie! Why did y'all have ta be so brave?”
“Well, I suppose I could hotwire this thing,” Rainbow said as she struggled to remove the casing on the terminal.
“I'll cover you,” Rarity replied as she popped off a few shots into the raging battle. Rabbits, flying out of the trees in their primitive hang gliders, dropped rocks from above onto their adversaries. A walker lumbered forward, firing blasts at the furry creatures.
The Death Star's deadly beam continued picking off the Rebel fleet from its side, the rampaging Star Destroyers firing from the other. Gilda steered the Wonderbolt frantically between the starry field of obstacles as she shouted into her comlink.
“Yes! I said closer!” she ordered. “Move as close as you can and engage those Star Destroyers at point blank range.”
“At that close range, we won't last long,” Derpy warned.
“We'll last longer than we will against that Death Star, and we might just take a few of them with us.” The Rebel cruisers moved closer to the Star Destroyers, firing rapidly at the massive black ships. Tiny fighters zipped around, blasting away as they weaved back and forth.
Out of the window, the trio watched as the Rebel fleet was slowly decimated.
“Your fleet has lost,” the Emperor said, turning to Twilight. “And your friends on the Endor moon will not survive. There is no escape, my young apprentice. The Alliance will die, as will your friends.” Twilight's eyes filled with anger as she struggled to keep her calm. Moon watched her carefully as she stood, hooves shaking with rage. “Good, I can feel your anger,” the Emperor goaded. “I am defenseless. Take your weapon! Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark side will be complete.” Unable to hold back any longer, Twilight raised her hoof and her sword shot from its resting place on the Emperor's chair and into her hoof. Fire flashed in her eyes as she ignited the weapon, swinging madly, though her blow was blocked by the red blade of her mother. The blades sparked on contact, and Twilight pulled back, preparing to fight Moon once again.
The battle of the forest moon raged on, troopers firing at rabbits with their laser weapons, while their diminutive adversaries ducked and wove through the trees, bashing the troops with logs, rocks, and any other materials available. A walker stalked through the trees after a group of rabbits, firing and sending the creatures flying away with its powerful laser blasts. As it marched on, a group of rabbits released a pile of logs under the walker's feet. After a few wobbly steps, the massive mechanical beast tumbled over, crashing to the ground in a heap. Spike climbed through the trees with a group of rabbits. He leapt from his perch onto another AT-ST with a loud crash. The walker's pilot reached up out of the top hatch and came face-to-face with the massive purple dragon. With a roar, Spike hurled the pilot to the ground and climbed inside of the walker. After studying the controls for a few moments, he began to pilot the walker through the trees, firing at groups of unsuspecting stormtroopers. The rabbits cheered as the giant machine began to turn the tide of battle.
Rainbow worked furiously at the control panel, wires sparking as she attempted to hotwire the door control. With a loud cracking spark, the door began to slide open.
“I got it! I got it!” she called to Rarity, who rushed over to the door. A few moments afterward, a second large metal door crashed down in front of the first. Rainbow scowled as she went back to the wires, when suddenly, Rarity let out a scream. She fell against the wall, holding her shoulder, which had been struck by a laserbolt.
“Princess Rarity, are y'all alright?” Applejack asked, concerned.
“Let's see,” Rainbow said as she turned her attention to the wounded mare.
“It's not bad,” Rarity assured, her face straining.
“Freeze!” a stormtrooper shouted from behind. The group turned to spot a pair of troopers, their weapons trained on the Rebels. Rarity held her pistol at the ready behind Rainbow, out of view of the troopers. As the troops began their slow march, Rainbow's eyes locked with Rarity's, the moment suspended in time.
“I love you,” Rainbow whispered.
“I know,” Rarity whispered back. As Rainbow stood, her hooves in the air, Rarity fired at the unsuspecting troopers, taking them out quickly. Rainbow turned to see a giant AT-ST standing just behind her, its deadly weapons aimed at them.
“Stay back,” she whispered to Rarity. Suddenly, the hatch on the walker popped open, revealing Spike's scaly head. Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief as she smiled back at her dragon friend. “Spike, get down here! She's wounded--” Rainbow stopped mid-sentence as an idea sprung to her mind. “No, wait...”
Twilight and Moon danced about, engaged in a raging duel of sabers. Sparks flew across the room as the two mares clashed their weapons together. The young Jedi's skills had grown since the pair's last duel on Bespin, and as she swung, Moon backed away under the force of her daughter's violent blows. As she stepped back, she found herself on the edge of the room's large staircase. With another crashing blow, Moon lost her footing and tumbled down the stairs, while Twilight stood at the top, poised to strike.
“Good,” the Emperor laughed from his throne. “Use your aggressive feelings, filly! Let the hate flow through you.” Twilight glanced over at the twisted Emperor, then back down at Moon, who lay in a heap on the floor below. She stopped, realizing that she had played into the Emperor's hand. As she recalled Fluttershy's words, she deactivated her sword and relaxed her body, calming herself.
“Celestia has taught you well,” Moon said as she got to her hooves.
“I will not fight you, mother,” Twilight replied, her voice calm once again. Moon began to ascend the stairs toward her.
“You are unwise to lower your defenses.” She struck out with her blade, and Twilight leapt backward, shooting into the air and landing on the catwalk above.
“Your thoughts betray you, mother,” she called from her perch. “I feel the good in you... the conflict.”
“There is no conflict.”
“You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before, and I don't believe you'll kill me now.”
“You underestimate the power of the dark side,” Moon quipped, glaring upward. “If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.” Moon threw her sword upward and it sliced through the catwalk supports before flying back into its master's hoof. Twilight tumbled down to the floor in a shower of sparks, rolling out of sight under the Emperor's platform. Moon dropped down to find her as the Emperor laughed softly to himself.
“Good... good.”
The two armadas blasted away at each other in a huge point blank confrontation. A Rebel Cruiser finished off a Star Destroyer before retreating, crashing into a second Imperial ship. The cruiser and Star Destroyer collided in a huge fireball, taking out several Rebel fighters and TIE fighters with it.
“Watch out, squad at .06,” Gilda called into her comlink. An X-wing blasted away, destroying a group of nearby TIE fighters.
“Good shot, Red Two,” Skybuck's voice called.
“Come on, Dash,” Gilda muttered to herself. “Don't let me down.”
Imperial officers watched eagerly at the main viewscreen of the forest bunker. An Imperial pilot's face appeared, blocked out partially by static.
“It's over, commander,” the female pilot, who sounded oddly similar to Rainbow, announced. “The Rebels have been routed. They're fleeing into the woods. We need reinforcements to continue the pursuit.” The controllers began to cheer as an officer opened the large door. Their eyes shot open as they came face-to-face with the Rebel contingent, their weapons trained on the group of Imperials. Rabbits disarmed the group as Rainbow and Spike rushed into the bunker with their explosive charges. They lined the small room with the explosives before hurrying out.
Moon stalked the low-ceilinged area beneath the Emperor's throne, slowly waving her saber through the semi-darkness, looking for the purple unicorn.
“You cannot hide forever, Twilight,” she called into the darkness.
“I will not fight you,” Twilight's voice replied.
“Give yourself to the dark side. It is the only way you can save your friends.” Moon continued forward to the firm, shadowy form of Twilight. “Yes, your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong. Especially for...” She stopped as an odd tremor resonated through her chest. Her eyes gleamed evilly as she pieced together the information she had gleaned from Twilight's mind. “Sister... So, you have a twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her, too. Celestia was wise to hide her from me. Now, her failure is complete. If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will.”
“Never!” Twilight shouted, the rage returning to her voice in full. She screamed in anger, smashing her saber against Moon's in a mad frenzy. Twilight fumed as she relentlessly hammered away at the startled Moon, who backed up under Twilight's maddening blows. The pair emerged from the underside of the platform and out into the large room towards a long bridge. Each blow from the raging Jedi brought her mother closer to defeat. As Moon struggled to keep up, she was knocked to her knees. She reached up to block, but Twilight's blade sliced through her hoof, sending it toppling over the bridge which overlooked the station's central fusion core. As her sword and hoof spiraled away into oblivion, sparks began to fly from the stump of the Dark Lord's severed mechanical limb. Twilight, her eyes dark, slowly approached Moon, placing the blade of her saber near the fallen Sith's throat. The Emperor smiled a twisted, evil grin as he watched from his seat. His piercing yellow eyes were dancing with glee at the spectacle.
“Good!” he called out. “Your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfill your destiny and take your mother's place at my side!” Twilight's eyes fell to the remains of her mother's mechanical hoof, then to her own black-gloved hoof. She stopped, her heart twinging as she realized how much like her mother she had become. She gulped as she shook the anger from her body, forming the decision that had spent a lifetime in preparation. She slowly stepped back, then hurled her lightsaber over the railing.
“Never!” she shouted at the twisted monarch. “I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed, your highness. I am a Jedi, like my mother before me.” The Emperor's eyes reddened as his glee turned to wrath. He slowly stood from his throne.
“So be it... Jedi.”
Rainbow and several other fighters dashed from the bunker and raced across the clearing.
“Move! Move!” the star captain called as she beat her wings furiously. A huge shock wave knocked them all flat as the bunker exploded in a massive fireball.
Derpy, sitting in her control chair, quickly flipped on her radio.
“The shield is down!” she announced. “Commence attack on the Death Star's main reactor.”
“We're on our way,” Gilda replied. “Red Group, Gold Group, all fighters follow me.” She laughed to herself. “Told you they'd do it!” The Wonderbolt, followed by several other Rebel fighters, zipped away towards the massive unfinished superstructure.
Twilight stood motionless as the Emperor reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes shooting daggers at the young mare.
“If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed.” The sinister draconequus raised his hands, and blinding bolts of lightning shot across the room from his fingertips. Twilight attempted to deflect the bolts with the Force, but the Emperor persisted, firing them with even greater speed and power. As the bolts sunk into her body, Twilight's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the floor. A sadistic grin grew over the Emperor's gnarled face as he stepped closer, channeling the bolts through the young mare's body. Twilight let out a piercing scream as she writhed in pain. Nightmare Moon slowly got to her hooves and struggled over to her master's side.
“Young foal...” the Emperor taunted. “Only now, at the end, do you understand.” Twilight continued to shriek in pain as the lightning shot through her limp body. Tears spilled from her eyes as she clutched the railing of the bridge. “Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the dark side. You have paid the price for your lack of vision.” As she writhed in agony, Twilight reached up weakly toward Moon.
“Mother, please!” she screamed. “Help me!” Moon's eyes, locked on her dying daughter, turned to the Emperor, then back to Twilight.
“Now, young Sparkle, you will die.” The lightning from the Emperor's hands grew brighter, lighting up the dim room as they channeled through the helpless mare's body. Twilight shrieked even louder as she writhed in unconceivable pain. As she watched her daughter scream, Moon's eyes shifted back to the Emperor, who was laughing sadistically. She wrapped her front hooves around his waist, hoisting him into the air, and began to slowly walk toward the edge of the bridge. The Emperor, startled, began to struggle, maddeningly redirecting his lightning to Moon. She winced in agony as the bolts pierced through her body, but continued on her course undeterred. With one final burst of strength, Nightmare Moon hurled her master over the edge of the bridge. The dark ruler let out one final scream as his body exploded against the fusion core. Moon collapsed as a rush of wind whipped through the room. Twilight, breathing heavily, slowly crawled across the floor to the fallen Dark Lord, pulling her away from the edge. She wrapped her hooves around her mother's limp body, crying softly as she lay in her embrace.
Rebel fighters trailed behind the Wonderbolt as it raced across the surface of the Death Star to its unfinished section.
“I'm going in,” Skybuck announced as he dove his X-wing inside of the superstructure.
“Here goes nothing,” Gilda added. The ships raced through the ever narrowing shafts of the station, trailed by firing TIE fighters. “Lock onto the strongest power source,” Gilda said into her comlink. “It should be the power generator.”
“Form up and stay alert,” Skybuck added. “We could run out of space real fast.” The TIEs began firing at the X-wings, sending one of them crashing to the side of the shaft.
“Split up and head back to the surface,” Gilda ordered. “See if you can get a few of those TIE fighters to follow you.” A group of X-wings peeled off, pursued by TIE fighters, while Gilda and Skybuck continued through the main tunnel. The Wonderbolt scraped against the side as the tunnel narrowed. Two TIE fighters had stayed behind, and were following closely. Outside, several cruisers concentrated their fire on the massive Super Star Destroyer.
“We've got to give those fighters more time,” Derpy commanded. “Concentrate all fire on that Super Star Destroyer.” Inside of the ship, the young Admiral stood on the bridge alongside a commander as they watched the battle unfold.
“Sir, we've lost our bridge deflector shield,” the commander reported.
“Intensify the forward batteries,” the Admiral ordered. “I don't want anything to get through.” The commander didn't respond, but stood petrified as he stared out the window. “Intensify forward firepower!” the Admiral shouted.
“It's too late!” The Rebel ship finished its collision course with the Super Star Destroyer, exploding into it with a massive fireball. The giant ship lurched back from the impact and spiraled into the side of the Death Star, exploding and sending giant pieces of shrapnel across the sky. The Rebel fleet, no longer backed against a wall, began to unload their weapons into the damaged Death Star. Within the structure, chaos ensued. Troopers and officers galloped through the corridors in panic, trying to reach escape. In the midst of the confusion, Twilight carried her mother's weakening body toward an Imperial shuttle. No one seemed to notice the two mares as panic spread throughout the station. When she had finally reached the shuttle, Twilight collapsed, the strain becoming too much. The explosions on the station grew louder as Moon beckoned her daughter closer.
“Twilight,” she whispered. “Help me take this mask off.”
“But, you'll die,” Twilight said back.
“Nothing can stop that now. Just for once...” Moon began to cough weakly as her breathing became labored. “Let me look on you with my own eyes.” Slowly, hesitantly, Twilight removed the helmet from her mother's head. The flowing, blue mane had vanished, and Twilight softly caressed her scarred, bald head before unclipping her face mask. As the mask fell away, Moon's burnt blue lips curled into a smile, her eyes weak with strain. “Now go, my daughter,” she whispered. “Leave me.”
“No,” Twilight refused, her voice beginning to quiver. “You're coming with me. I can't leave you here. I've got to save you.”
“You already have, Twilight.” Tears began to form in the eyes of the once-powerful Dark Lord as she gazed up at her daughter. “You were right about me. Tell your sister... you were right.” Twilight felt her eyes began to water. She sniffled back her tears as she cradled her mother's dying body.
“Mother... I won't leave you,” she whispered.
“I'm so proud of you,” Moon choked out, her voice growing faint. Tears began to roll down her destroyed face. Twilight leaned in closer, nuzzling her mother's cheek. Moon coughed, then whispered into her daughter's ear.
“I love you...”
The Wonderbolt led a swerving bomb run through the violently shaking superstructure. The Rebel cruisers outside bombarded the station with their weapons, each hit setting off a chain reaction. As she reached the main reactor shaft, a single X-wing remained beside her.
“There it is!” Skybuck called into his comlink.
“All right, Skybuck. Go for the power regulator on the north tower,” Gilda ordered.
“Copy, Gold Leader. I'm already on my way out.” The X-wing zipped up to the top of the huge reactor and fired several proton torpedoes, causing a series of small explosions. The Wonderbolt dove toward the main reactor, blasting it with torpedoes as well. Outside, Derpy and Photo Finish watched from the bridge of their cruiser as the Death Star began to erupt with explosions. On a viewscreen, Octavia watched from her own cruiser.
“Move the fleet away from the Death Star,” she ordered.
An Imperial shuttle rocketed out of the docking bay just before the station erupted in a huge fireball. Moments afterward, an X-wing sped from the exploding station, followed by the Wonderbolt. Gilda piloted the ship toward the moon of Endor as the Death Star exploded in one final fireball. Inside, Gilda and Screwball cheered with relief.
Rainbow and Rarity, Spike, the droids, the Rebel troops, and the rabbits looked to the sky as the massive structure died with an awesome display. Cheers abounded as soldiers and rabbits alike began to dance about.
“They did it!” Applejack cheered as she swung Pinkie around in an embrace. Rainbow looked down from the sky to Rarity, who continued to stare at the stars,
“I'm sure Twilight wasn't on that thing when it blew,” she said, trying to be reassuring.
“She wasn't,” Rarity replied. “I can feel it.” Rainbow's eyes fell to the ground.
“You love her, don't you?” she asked.
“Yes.” Rainbow turned away, her heart sunk.
“All right. I understand,” she replied. “When she comes back, I won't get in the way.” Rarity smiled.
“Oh, no, it's not like that at all,” she said, turning towards the dashing pirate. “She's my sister.” Rainbow turned, stunned by this, then smiled. The two mares wrapped their hooves around each other in a warm embrace and shared a passionate kiss.
Twilight set a torch to the logs stacked under the funeral pyre. She stepped back and watched solemnly as the flames rose up and consumed the body of Nightmare Moon, her mother. Rainbow and Rarity watched alongside Spike and the droids. Gilda stood with them, watching as well. Even General Octavia had come down from her cruiser and was standing in the audience. As she watched the fire burn bright into the night, Twilight couldn't help but cry. As she sobbed, she felt a familiar white hoof on her shoulder. She turned and threw her hooves around Skybuck, crying softly into his shoulder.
A huge bonfire danced in the midst of a huge celebration. Rabbits beat on drums, singing and dancing as music played through the woods. The Rebel troops danced merrily, embracing one another. Rainbow, Rarity, and Gilda sat together, laughing and exchanging stories as they smiled. Applejack was in the midst of a conversation with Angel, while Pinkie and Spike were engrossed in another round of their holographic chess game. Twilight sat on a log by the fire with Skybuck. They laughed softly as they recounted battles and adventures they'd had, staring up at the starry sky. Twilight, her hoof around Skybuck's shoulder, leaned in and shared a long kiss with the pilot, and they sat in silence for a while, simply enjoying each other's company. At last, they stood and began to make their way to the celebration. Twilight stopped, though, and Skybuck turned back, confused.
“Aren't you coming to the party?” he asked.
“I'll be there,” Twilight replied. “Just... give me a moment.” Skybuck nodded and trotted off towards the others. Twilight turned and stared back up into the stars, memories of her journey flashing through her mind. As she stared, a shimmering, ghostly figure began to take form in the sky. The image of Celestia smiled down at Twilight as she floated gently in the night sky. A second form began to appear next to her, the figure of a diminutive, yellow pegasus. Twilight smiled up at her teachers as they gazed down at her, ever proud of her accomplishments. As they floated into the sky, another figure began to take form. It was a beautiful blue alicorn, her soft shimmering hair dancing around her grinning face. As Luna Sparkle smiled down at her daughter, Twilight felt a tear begin to form in her eye. She smiled and waved as the three Jedi faded away into the starry night...
“I love you, too.”
-THE END-