A new threat faces Equestria. Darth Karnis, Dark Lord of the Sith has found himself stranded in the Everfree Forest. While he must come to terms with the fact that he is trapped on the strange world, the ponies that live nearby aren't so thrilled with their severe neighbor. Can they come to an understanding and coexist, or has the Magic of Friendship met it's match in the Dark Side?
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"And that's it. You all know what I know now." Twilight Sparkle glanced around at her gathered friends. The five mares looked between one another as silence reigned. Most were curious, the Everfree Forest had always been dangerous and they had little reason to venture into it, so why were they being specifically warned away now?
Rarity was the first to voice the question. The white unicorn coughed politely, “is this new creature really such a dire threat? Perhaps he’ll be content if we just leave him alone.”
Twilight sighed and nodded her head, “that really is what I’m hoping for, but just in case he’s not content to just eke out an existance in the wilds I want us all to be on the same page." The lavender mare readjusted her wings before broaching a more uncomfortable subject, "you all know that I want nothing more than to meet newcomers in peace and frienship, but this... being just seems too volatile and too dangerous. I don't know if we can risk the chance."
Twilight didn't hear her friends' collective gasp of disbelief, her heart felt like a stone. Griffons, Yaks, even Dragons could be reasoned with, monsters and other wild animals could be avoided. This creature? It responded immediately with hostility and then with violence, granted he had been provoked, but what cause was there to become instantly hostile to one of the quietest and most unassuming ponies in Equestria?
Oddly, Fluttershy herself looked uncomfortable with the decision, though it stood to reason that the Element of Kindness would be hesitant to not give someone at least a second chance. Applejack looked solemn, quite used to tough decisions. Rainbow Dash was still nursing a grudge as well as a bandaged wing. Rarity was troubled and Pinkie Pie looked thoroughly confused.
The pink pony opened and closed her mouth, searching for the right words, "but.. why not?" was all she could come up with.
Rainbow Dash was quick with an answer, stretching her injured wing, "this is why not! I just lost some feathers this time, if we bug him again one of you could lose something much more!" In truth, Twilight had been able to repair the damaged wing, but she still insisted that it be wrapped and put on light duty. Being grounded tended to make the blue pegasus more testy than normal.
Twilight clicked a hoof against the surface of the broad map table, "look, I'm not happy about this either, but I can't bear the thought of one of you girls running into this guy and getting seriously hurt, and out in the middle of Everfree..?" She left the statement hanging, they all knew where that would lead. Hurt and helpless in the woods at the mercy of timber wolves and who knows what else.
The Princess of Friendship rubbed her forehead, she wasn't exactly the picture of grace under fire sometimes and this was a problem with no good solution, "the best I can say is we just try to take it slow. We'll stay out of his way, try to minimize contact. If it turns out that he comes to us then we have to meet him with the utmost caution we can. Just, everypony take care, please."
There wasn't much more to say after that and the six ponies adjourned for the evening. There was one, however, who was very displeased with the verdict. No one could foster good relationships through avoidance, she should know. Perhaps the situation called for some assertiveness. At least, just a little.
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The sun was setting and the shadows grew long in the Everfree Forest. Karnis sat beside a fire, slowly weaving some tough vines together. In truth, he was beginning to enjoy himself. It felt like a new start, being sent back to next to nothing and starting over from scratch. A little bit of creativity was all it took to bring up the old comforts of home.
The Sith Lord finished a knot and inspected the simple hammock he'd made, no sense in sleeping on the ground if one didn't have to. He strung it between two close set trees and tested it for strength. The vines creaked beneath his weight as they settled and then held firm. The older Camaasi chuckled, this was the life, a little bit of simple padding and it would be a bed fit for a king! He'd never liked mattresses stuffed with down or shimmersilk sheets or any of the other luxuries his predecessors surrounded themselves with. A Sith should live a simple, spartan life.
Something buzzed along the edge of Karnis's mind, a presence. It didn't seem predatory or hostile so he was content to let it go about it's business. There was something else, however, his fire must have shifted, the light from it was starting to bother him. No problem, a quick douse and he could sleep through the night.
The older Sith opened his eyes to see morning light streaming through the trees. He sat up in the hammock, he'd already fallen asleep! He grumbled a curse on advancing age as he got up. It was a good thing he wound up here, sleeping like that in front of an eager apprentice would have been a lethal mistake. Karnis raked the ashes of his fire flat and began to lay a new one. There was a stream close by and water aplenty, perhaps if he were lucky he could spot some freshwater shellfish or forage more of the wild tubers that grew locally. He would have to gather some mud and start working on a way to produce some useful pottery, but for now...
His train of thought halted in surprise. By his lean-to were two burlap sacks filled with all manner of vegetables as well as a selection of glazed ceramic crockery. His eyes narrowed, how had anything been able to get so close while he slept?
Unless their presence was so minimal or their purpose so benign that it just faded into the background. He stooped and plucked a bright object from one of the rough bags, turning it in his fingers. It was a butter yellow feather. He was reminded of the equinoid from before, but that made even less sense. Why would the creature ever bring him a gift? Perhaps it was more of an offering, something to mollify an angry deity. It seemed more likely.
Still, the old Sith couldn't argue the practicality or the good timing. He gathered one of the larger pots and made his way to the stream, it was as good a time as any to sample the local fare. He could feel the smaller animals of the forest hurrying to get out of his way, some simply driven by the instinct to hide while others avoided the very real threat he represented. Karnis blazed an easy path through the shaded woods, game trails were plentiful and the undergrowth was sparse.
Indeed much of the forest's real estate was broad grassy paths that seemed to lead where ever he pleased. The broad leaves shaded the sun and tendrils of morning mist still hung in the canopy or curled around tree trunks. It was a far cry from the dry, densely packed forests of Camaar Duum or the bustling streets of Coronet where he later set up shop with his traitorous apprentice. All in all, there were worse placed to retire, worse places to grow old. Such a strange thought, the Sith Lord had never given any thought to actually growing old, he'd banked on the idea that his apprentice would eventually kill him.
The Sith lifted his head, the sound of running water was close by, but it carried another sound with it, a rather pleasing sound. The sound of someone singing. The old Sith broke from the trees and made his way out onto the stony bank. It was hard to miss the bright yellow equinoid against the mossy gray green background. She hummed a simple melody to a small group of furry little creatures gathered around her. It made no difference to Karnis, he was here on his own business. The Camaasi knelt and filled the earthenware crock from the stream, the local water seemed almost absurdly pure at least. An unexpected, but not unwelcome boon.
Karnis straightened and turned back toward the treeline. The equinoid's song fell into a sudden silence. The old Sith glanced her way to see her wide cyan eyes fixed on him, clearly quite terrified. If she was then it was no problem of his, all the better. Karnis made his way back under the eaves of the forest, heading back toward his camp. He came close to groaning out loud when he heard the undergrowth rustling behind him mixed with the beating of wings. The Sith drew a deep breath and gathered as much patience as he could before turning to face his pursuer.
To her credit, the yellow indegene didn't immediately flee. She looked terrified, but something compelled her to hold her ground. Unfortunately, she also held her silence. The creature looked as though she wanted to speak, but couldn't get the words started. Karnis waved an impatient hand, trying to draw her purpose out, "what?"
The yellow equine shivered a little and made one more attempt, this time she found her voice, small as it was, and posed a question of her own, "why?"
Karnis rolled his eyes, this was going to be a long process, "why what?"
The indigene managed to press on, "Why are you so angry? Y-you yelled at me and... h-hurt Rainbow Dash... We didn't mean you any harm.... Why?"
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Fluttershy couldn't have run if she wanted to, her wings were locked in fright, and even worse she was pinned by his eyes. They had been blue once, she was sure, but now they were gray. The tired gray of a long life of pain. She could sense that just below there was a seething mass of rage, hate, and pain waiting to be unleashed. The mare had never seen anything like it and it chilled her to the core. Sometimes an animal in pain would lash out, but this was different, this being was in control of himself. There was pain, she was sure, but he had lashed out because he wanted to. It didn't make any sense.
The human regarded her for a moment, he seemed to be pondering the question. Was is possible he just knew no other way? Could this being perhaps be another Discord, a lost soul just looking for a friend?
"Why not? How exactly do you intend to stop me?"
Fluttershy's jaw dropped. There were so many reasons not to act the way he did it was impossible to decide where to begin. As for stopping him.. "I-I can get Twilight, or Princess Celestia! W-with their magic, we-" She was interrupted by a threatening hiss and a sullen hum, her eyes crossed slightly to focus on the terminal point of the crimson blade that hovered a fraction of an inch from her nose. The yellow mare's joints felt like they were locked in ice, breath froze in her lungs, the image of that same blade shearing feathers off Rainbow Dash's wing replayed in her head a thousand times in a second.
The human didn't smile, he didn't gloat or grimace or sneer. His expression remained neutral, "This is the simple truth of it. You cannot prevent me from doing as I please. However, I can stop you from going back to your friends. I can stop you from ever leaving this forest again. The only limits you should have are the ones you place on yourself. If it ever benefits me to take your life I will do so, the same goes for your friends, family, and everything else on this planet."
The bloodshine blade suddenly retracted and the human clipped the weapon back onto his belt, "that being said, I am a fair and reasonable man. the offering you left is not unappreciated so I will allow you to go. Tell your friends if you must, but tell them the new rules. Respect my space and I will leave you be, if you try and cross me, however.."
The human gestured, raising his hand and Fluttershy felt her hooves leave the ground. She tried to bolt, galloping futilely in midair. He could use magic! It was impossible! He didn't even have a horn!
The mare felt herself suddenly dropped and she stumbled slightly to keep her hooves, just barely getting them under her before galloping away. She was getting more familiar with the forest and was soon able to see the break where the trees gave way to the meadows where Ponyville resided. The fear was beginning to subside and Fluttershy was able to think more clearly. He was terrifying to be sure, but he did say he could be reasonable, maybe this was a case where diplomacy could win out. Even a dragon could be reasonable when it saw that ponies weren't to be pushed around. All it would take was somepony more brave than she was, one who didn't want to run and hide at the first sight of danger.
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Karnis had made his way back to his camp, he had taken the time to gather some long, thin willow branches. As his fire burned down to coals, he set the pot of water on to boil and began to lay out a space for a more permanent structure. A lean-to was adequate for a night or two, but it was clear that he would be staying for a while. There was plenty of good timber around and the banks of the stream were comprised of good fine clay. He measured and laid out the outline of where the new structure would be and with one eye kept on what was to be his soup pot, the old Sith began to clear away the undergrowth.
For some time the surrounding woods were filled with the sound of snapping twigs and rustling leaves, punctuated by a low hum and sharp crackle as Karnis brought his lightsaber and the Force to bear on the local shrubbery. A Jedi might have disdained the use of their symbolic weapon as a gardening implement, but to a Sith, the saber was a tool just like anything else. Still, while he could clear vegetation and fell trees with it, it wasn't much good for digging and he would need posts and something to gather clay with. The Camaasi sat by his fire, chopping vegetables and tossing them in the boiling water as he pondered the issue.
His reverie was broken by the sound of snapping twigs, someone was coming and he could sense that they knew exactly where they were going. The locals simply refused to leave him alone! The cracking stopped as the intruder found the path he'd cut through the undergrowth and stepped into the clearing. This was a being he hadn't seen before. It's coat was more muted in tones of grey, black, and white and it wore several heavy gold ornaments. Teal eyes fell on the former Sith and she spoke in a smooth voice with an accent much different from the yellow one.
"From my home I smelled the smoke, I see I share these woods with other folk."
Karnis kept silent but he felt his eyes narrow, it may have been a coincidence, but the cadence of her words made him think the rhyme was deliberate.
The new being watched him for a while, but getting no response, she continued on, "worried, I am to have you so near, when you are the object of Fluttershy's fear."
Karnis grimaced and shook his head, turning his attention back to his cooking. He knew how this meeting was going to go, "go home. I've no patience for your games, mystic."
The striped indegene simply smiled and took a seat across the fire from him, "I see you are neither deaf, nor dumb. They call me Zecora where I am from."
The old Sith resisted the urge to grind his flat teeth together, "how wonderful for you."
The quadruped smirked and dug into a bag she'd brought with her, producing a few pale bulbs covered in thin, papery skin, "you're quite ill tempered, just as I thought, so a peace offering I have brought." She managed somehow to peel the skin away and separate a wedge shaped segment that gave off a pungent, yet not unpleasant smell.
"Garlic, it is, I have for you. Just the thing to bring life to a stew."
The Camaasi reached across and took the clove from her. He reached into the Dark Side, ready to burn away any toxins she tried to give him before taking a small sampling bite off one end. It certainly had flavor in spades, dense root vegetables weren't known to be extremely palatable, this would definitely help. He sighed and gave in, tossing the bit of garlic in to cook with the rest, "alright, what is it you want?"
Zecora gave a mysterious grin, "Nothing from you do I require, I merely come to fill a desire."
Karnis sighed, this was going to take a while, "Whose desire?"
The quadruped smirked, "to bring information is my given task, have you nothing you'd like to ask?"
Though he was loath to admit it, there were several questions that drifted through the old Sith's mind, if this indegene could answer them... He figured he'd start with the most obvious, "alright, where am I?"
The striped equinoid smiled, "The land of Equestria and the forest of Everfee, a quiet place for those like you and me."
At least he had names to go on, though the lack of anything broader suggested that this planet really had no connection to anything outside itself. After that was information on these quadrupeds, they seemed to be at least one of the dominant life forms around, "what are you?"
The indegene blinked, "a great distance you must have come, have you no ponies where you are from?" Getting only a stare in return she continued, "though I am a zebra, it is true. Now I must ask, just what are you?"
The Sith felt that he should guard himself, but if this place was as remote as it seemed, what was the harm, really? "I'm a Camaasi from Camar Duum, it's..... Very far from here.."
Zecora seemed to consider his answer for a moment, "stranger words have never reached us, but now, if I may, what is your purpose?"
Karnis could only shrug, "I don't have one. I found myself here through unknown means and home is too far to get back to. I figured I might as well make the best of the situation. Retire in peace and quiet." He emphasized the words, hoping they would get around and these "ponies" would stop bothering him.
The zebra simply smiled in return and stood up, "I take your point and will be on my way, I hope you do enjoy your stay."
The old Sith watched as his visitor got up and left. She didn't run, nor did she stop to look back, she simply went about her business. Karnis felt that at least this one wasn't such a hassle to deal with. The yellow one still grated on his nerves, but the blue one had at least shown some spirit. A certain lack of intelligence, but spirit.
The evening was wearing on and soon the forest outside the Sith Lord's humble camp was darkened with shadows. His thoughts lingered one what was slowly becoming his new home. If this was to become a permanent location, then he would need tools. In order to get tools, he would need contact with the locals. He could only hope that more of them were like Zecora.
Karnis spared a thought for that fact that thus far, she was the only one he thought of by name. He'd heard the names of the other two, but they meant little to him. Perhaps some measure of civility meant more than he first thought.
The Sith rummaged through the burlap bags, coming up with a wooden bowl and a spoon, and proceeded to enjoy a hot meal as the sun sank below the treeline. His thoughts wouldn't have been so domestic if he knew that the information he'd given was at that moment being passed on to someone quite unwilling to leave him alone.