//------------------------------// // Royal Contact // Story: Across the Stars // by SonnyStar //------------------------------// All at once the rolling green hills of ponyville turned into a thick dark forest. The Jedi Master sensed a myriad of life from its depths, though they kept their distance from the trio. They soon came upon a deep scar in the dirt, several trees that lined it were still black and charred. “Ok, now we just follow the furrow until we get to your ship.” Twilight smiled, sounding a bit more eager than she wanted. “Seems I did a fair amount of damage to this forest. My apologies.” “I wouldn’t worry about it Jorcen.” Spike said, tapping a claw on his leg. “I’m sure the forest will fill in the scar in no time at all.” They followed the gash until they reached a fairly large clearing. Resting near the center off to the side was the mangled wreck of the Windshear. The loading ramp was down and Jorcen was finally able to confirm his fear. R3’s chassis was broken and mechanical parts spilled out onto the floor of the ship. Jorcen made a beeline up the loading ramp, ignoring a question from Twilight as he did. Once inside Jorcen crouched down over the remains of his companion. Were he on a civilized world he could be repaired but here? It would be a truly difficult job, perhaps even an impossible one. “What’s that? A friend?” Twilight asked, a bit of sadness tinged her voice. “R3-78, my astromech droid, my companion.” Jorcen placed a hand on R3’s head dome. “I’m so sorry Jorcen, if you need-” “It’s fine Twilight. He’s just a droid. He can be fixed, I just don’t know if I’ll be able to do it here on this planet.” “Oh…droid?” She took the opportunity to learn what she could. “Mechanical beings. We use them in fields or for jobs too menial or dangerous for sentient species.” “Like…like a slave?” “Not quite, most droids possess artificial intelligence and independent thought.” “Your civilization is so advanced…” Twilight was taken aback by the mention of artificial intelligence, a metal being that could think like her or anypony else. Jorcen turned his attention away from his broken companion and started pulling panels off the walls and gathering bits of machinery. “What are you doing?” Spike asked, curious as to why he was ripping his own ship apart. “I won’t be able to repair my ship, that much has been made obvious. If I’m lucky, there’ll be enough parts that survived the crash to build a long distance deep space distress signal.” “You want to call more aliens here?” Spike asked again, fear snaking into his mind. “Yes, though it’s unlikely that anyone will find it.” “Why’s that?” Twilight asked, taking a step forward. “This planet is located in a part of the galaxy we call the unknown regions. There exist no hyperlanes for ships to travel safely and this area of space is rarely explored due to the danger.” “So…you mean that-” “That yes, I may never get off this world.” Jorcen said forlornly. The galaxy was at war and his army had been scattered by the ambush that stranded him here in the first place. Hopefully the rest of them made their way to a civilized world and would be able to rejoin the war effort. An hour later Jorcen had indeed found the parts he needed and with the tools he was able to salvage from R3’s innards had constructed a functional distress beacon. With one push of a button, a light blinked on and the Jedi began recording his message. “This is Jedi General Jorcen Alketses. I have been stranded on an uncharted world after my ship was damaged when my fleet was ambushed by the Separatists. The whereabouts of the rest of the 312th Legion are unknown. If anyone finds this message I am in need of rescue. This message will repeat, may the force be with you.” “Fleet? Legion?” Twilight asked as she walked up the Windshear’s loading ramp. “Yes, the galaxy is at war. As a Jedi Master I lead troops in battle as the general of the 312 Legion. My fleet was ambushed and destroyed. During the retreat my ship was damaged just as I made the jump to hyperspace. That’s how I got here, your planets gravity well forcibly pulled my ship back into realspace, whereupon I lost control and crashed.” Jorcen stepped forward and handed her a datapad. “Here there should be plenty of things in there to sate your desire for knowledge, including several of the terms I just used.” Jorcen walked back outside, now he simply had to wait until rescue came or until he became one with the force. “I…I have questions.” Twilight said, worry evident in her voice. “Perhaps later.” Jorcen had a good feeling about what she was going to ask about. “Are you guys ready to head back?” Spike asked eagerly, ready to go home. “I believe so.” Jorcen stood to his full height. “I will answer your questions when we return to Ponyville Twilight, I promise.” Her expression wasn’t a happy one but one of content and that would have to do for the time being. Before they made half the distance of the clearing, a dark shadow slammed into the ground just in front of them, kicking up dust and dirt from the impact. “We have found you at last.” Said the scowling form of Luna, Princess of the Night. “Princess Luna? What are you doing here?” Twilight asked, surprised by her appearance. “Step away from this creature Twilight Sparkle. He is dangerous.” “No no Princess, he is not a threat to us, he only wants to return home.” Twilight tried to step in between Luna and Jorcen when a flash of golden light surrounded her and Spike. She reappeared on the other side of the clearing standing next to her mentor, Princess Celestia. “Princess Celestia? What’s going on? Stop her!” Twilight pointed at Luna, who was now taking an aggressive stance in front of Jorcen. “Twilight Sparkle speaks the truth.” Jorcen said, holding up his hands in surrender. “Lies!” Luna yells, stomping her hoof on the ground. “We will know the truth and we will get it from you. Through battle if necessary.” “You don’t want to fight me. You want to calm down and talk.” Luna began to feel a presence in her mind, one she had trouble fighting. “We…we don’t…want to-” Luna threw her hooves up to her head like she was in pain. “You cannot control me!” Finally shaking the compulsion from her head, she readied herself for a fight…she had no choice now. “Be careful my sister, do not underestimate him.” Celestia said, pushing Twilight and Spike behind her. “If you require my aid…” “I’ll be fine sister.” Luna said back, extending her wings to their full lengths. “I must protect our little ponies.” Jorcen saw that there was no reasoning with the regal looking pony called Luna. He sighed and reached to his belt, grabbing his lightsaber. “I will fight you if I must.” With a sharp hiss, the bright orange blade of his lightsaber sprang to life. Bringing it up in the stance of Form III, ready to gauge his opponent’s capabilities. A light blue aura surrounded her horn, blasting a beam of magical energy at the waiting Jedi. Jorcen was quick to block the blast with his lightsaber, deflecting it to the ground between them. Luna’s eyes were wide with shock. She was the Princess of the night, her power raised and lowered the moon yet this alien was able to withstand her magic. Luna growled, she would have to resort to a style of combat that she thought she had abandoned centuries ago. She launched off the ground with her tremendous strength, flying at Jorcen with great speed. Jorcen, with his senses enhanced through the force, anticipated the attack. He Jumped into the air himself and hit her with concussive blast of pressurized air using the force. The near explosive impact hit Luna like a boulder, slamming her into the ground in a cloud of dust. “We don’t need to fight, I mean you no harm.” Jorcen extinguished his blade, trying his best to get through to her. “If we could just talk I can explain.” “Listen to him Princess!” Twilight called from behind Celestia. “Silence Twilight Sparkle! He can control minds, you are only saying what he wants you to.” Luna launched back into the air, uprooting many trees with her as she did. She positioned herself in front of the sun and started raining the trees into the clearing. Jorcen’s blade ignited in a flash as he defended himself from the onslaught. Slicing through any tree that got close to him. The last tree was flying his way when he caught it in his telekinetic grasp. The tree was surrounded by Luna’s aura as the two tried to push it towards the other. It didn’t move in any direction for some time before the two powers pushing on it caused it to explode into splinters. Using the hail of wood as cover, Luna dashed down and hit the ground next to Jorcen. The force of her impact knocked Jorcen off balance enough for her to pivot on her front hooves and deliver a strong buck to his body. Jorcen was surprised by the force of the blow as he flew through the air. He used the Force to cushion his impact as he collided with a boulder on the edge of the clearing. It didn’t take long for him to get back to his feet, using his power to lift the boulder and hurl it towards the dark princess. Luna held her ground, conjuring a blue shield around herself, reducing the boulder to rubble when they collided. “You are indeed a powerful warrior. It has been sometime since we faced a foe such as you.” Luna surrounded her horn with a long aura that took the shape of a blade. “It is clear that magic will not decide this battle, rather our martial prowess.” “If that is the path you wish to take.” Jorcen readied himself in a more aggressive stance. He rushed forward, his speed enhanced by the force. Their blades clashed with the sound of thunder, shaking the ground around them. Switching to Form V, Jorcen began to rain heavy blows against the spectral sword. Despite her strength, Luna found that she was losing ground. The force of his strikes was unlike anything she had faced save Celestia. Luna retaliated as best she could, her every attack being either deflected or blocked, only to be followed by his heavy hits. With one final overhead strike, Luna’s spellsword wavered and she fell to her knees, looking up at the alien angrily. “What are you waiting for?” Jorcen deactivated his weapon and clipped it back on his belt. “Because I told you I have no interest in fighting.” He held out a hand to help her up. “My name is Jorcen Alketses. I wish our meeting could have been more civilized.” Luna looked at his hand warily. Despite what had just transpired she didn’t feel any evil intent in this man. She lifted a hoof to meet his hand to which she was promptly helped up. “Princess Luna.” She said before disappearing in a light blue flash. Jorcen looked around the clearing, momentarily confused. Twilight sat at the edge of the clearing, her mouth open in disbelief. When Jorcen said he was capable of defending her and Spike she had no idea that meant he was a match for Princess Luna in battle. Celestia stood beside her, thinking something similar. She knew that neither combatants had shown their full power. She carefully stepped forward to stand in front of Jorcen. He matched her in height, something she wasn’t used to. “I see we acted hastily and with poor judgement.” She said, bowing her head slightly. “When we felt your presence we thought you were a threat to us. Please accept an apology on my and my sister’s behalf.” “It is quite alright. I understand your reasoning.” “I am Princess Celestia. Ruler of this kingdom of Equestria.” “My name is Jorcen Alketses. I suppose I am a refugee to your world. Apologies if I have upset the order of things.” “I believe it is I who should apologize. Twilight would you come here please?” Twilight shook her surprise away and trotted to Celestia’s side. “Yes Princess?” “I believe it would be proper to invite Jorcen to Canterlot. I never planned for a first contact scenario but I think if we treat as if we were receiving a foreign dignitary we could still build relations.” “I’ll make the arrangements Princess. I’ll have Spike send word before we arrive.” “Very good my student.” Celestia turned to Jorcen and nodded. “It’s not uncommon for Jedi to serve as ambassadors. Until we meet again Princess.” Jorcen bowed to Celestia. She smiled at the gesture before she vanished with a golden flash of light. “Jorcen…” “Yes Twilight?” “Just…what are you?”