Gale and Twilight entered the buzzing Sugarcube Corner and sat down at a booth. Gale took out a small datapad, and activated it.
"So, where do we begin?" he asked.
"Well, you said you were clones." Twilight said. "How does that work?"
"The Kaminoans cloned us from a Bounty Hunter source." Gale said. "We were bred to be the ultimate soldier, with all sorts of things modified in our genetic code. Growth acceleration, mental aptitude increases, the works."
"How many of you are there?" Twilight asked, taking notes.
"Millions." Gale said. "We're all the same, but we're different in our own ways. We're brothers, Twilight. All of us"
"Fascinating." Twilight smiled. "But that means...you've lost friends in battle, right?"
"Yeah." Gale said. "Plenty. A lot of clones believed we were expendable, if we died we were always replaced. That's not true. A lot of generals treated their clones well. A few...didn't."
"I'm sorry." Twilight said.
"Thanks." Gale nodded, and he took off his helmet. He was like most Clones, only he had a small goatee and slight sideburns.
"You hungry?" Twilight asked.
"A little." Gale admitted. Twilight smiled, and before either of them knew it, Pinkie Pie was standing next to them, notepad in hand.
"What can I get for you?" she asked.
"Coffee." Twilight said. "Gale, see anything you like?"
"What's this here?" Gale asked. "Cross...something."
"Croissant." Twilight said. "Simple pastry shaped like a crescent."
"I'll have that, then." Gale nodded. "And something light to drink."
"Be right back!" Pinkie said. Gale turned to speak to Twilight again before he noticed there was a steaming pastry in front of him, and Pinkie was pouring Twilight's coffee.
"What?" Gale mouthed. "She just left!"
"It's Pinkie, being Pinkie." Twilight said. "She does lots of things that can literally make you go insane. Trust me, I've tried."
"I don't doubt it." Gale said, taking a bite of his pastry. It was warm and flaky, and Gale sighed with relief.
"Like it?" Twilight asked.
"This is the best damn thing I've had in quite some time." Gale laughed. "Beats our rations any day."
As they continued their conversation, Kyris and Celestia appeared inside the Solar Princess's office.
"What just happened?" Kyris asked. "Where are we?"
"Canterlot, the Capital of Equestria." Celestia said. "And what I did was teleportation. I moved us from point A to B in a few seconds."
"Incredible." Kyris said. "Is that possible through the Force?"
"Not through the Force, but through Magic." Celestia said. "Magic is an innate energy similar in many ways to the Force, but much more potent and only found here on Equis."
"I see." Kyris said. "Where is your sister, Luna? You said she would be present."
"One moment." Celestia said. She headed to the door, and a Pony wearing golden armor appeared.
"Fetch my sister." she said. "Tell her our old friends have arrived."
"Yes, Princess." the Guard said as he left.
"Your soldiers, I presume?" Kyris asked.
"Yes." Celestia said. "My Solar Guard. Luna commands the Lunar Guard, and my niece Cadance has the Crystal Guard. Twilight has not yet received Guards, due to her relative time as royalty being limited."
"I see." Kyris said. Then, the door opened and a dark blue alicorn appeared, and she too carried a Lightsaber.
"Luna?" Celestia asked. "How did you find it?"
"I simply waited until you left and tore the room apart." Luna replied playfully, igniting her saber's dark blue blade. "I used my magic to clean things up."
"I see." Celestia rolled her eyes. "Are you not going to greet our guest?"
Luna then noticed Kyris and his own lightsaber, and she bowed.
"Master." she said. "It has certainly been too long since a Jedi has visited."
"I hope to make a good impression, then." Kyris said. "Master Kyris Marchen, General of the 389th Strike Battalion."
"My pleasure." Luna said. "However, I thought the Jedi were not soldiers."
"It is an unpleasant story." Kyris said. "One it seems I must tell you, however."
=====
"Gone?" Luna gaped.
"For the most part, yes." Kyris said. "I and Masters Yoda and Kenobi survived. The Empire has risen, and for now...we are alone."
"I am sorry." Luna said. "if there is anything you need, we will deliver it."
"Thank you." Kyris said. "My clones and I need a place to settle, as well as supplies and resources for the long term."
"You will have them." Celestia said. "However, there is something I must show you."
Celestia moved the bookcase, and revealed the hidden stairwell. Kyris followed them to a sanctum, where on a pedestal stood a Jedi Holocron.
"A Holocron?" Kyris asked. "Why is it here?"
"When we departed the Order to lead Equestria…" Celestia said. "The Jedi gave it to us, so we would always remember what we had learned and experienced. We commune with it, every so often."
"I see." Kyris said, eyeing the Jedi artifact. "When was this?"
"Many, many years ago." Celestia said. "We shall tell you another time. For now, we should return you to your troops."
"My thanks." Kyris said, as he followed them back up the stairs. "One question, though. How will the rest of your people react to our presence?"
"Let us handle that." Celestia smiled. "I have a few ideas."
====
As Kyris and Luna teleported back to Ponyville, Celestia hid her Lightsaber and headed to the Day Court Room. Not surprisingly, it was already packed with nobles and petitioners. She sat on her throne, and asked for silence.
"Ponies and all residents of Equestria, I have an announcement." she said. "For long, we have considered ourselves the only beings among the stars. I and my sister know that to be false."
There were whispers and murmurs of disbelief.
"I will admit, I have kept secrets form you, in order to protect our home." she continued. "However, it seems I can no longer keep such things secret anymore. We have visitors, and friends, from beyond."
There was an uproar of disbelief, and Celestia quieted the crowd.
"Believe it or not, they are here. Where they are, however, I will reveal later. There are things I must attend to regarding their arrival. Before I go, however, I will tell you three things."
The crowd listened with bated breath.
"First, I and my sister have met these beings before, long before Equestria even existed." she said. "Second, they can harness a power unlike any we know or have seen. Finally, when I and my sister left their custody to rule Equestria, they left with us one parting gift."
Celestia took out the Holocron, and revealed it to the crowd.
"This Gift has been silent, but now it speaks." she said. "I ask you to welcome them, wherever they might go. They will also introduce themselves at a later time. I also beseech you not to panic, as they are not here under the sway of evil. I have made sure of this. I will return with their leaders later today. Until them, please keep your gossip and idle rumors to a minimum. I thank you."
There was silence, then a round of applause.
"That went better than I expected." Celestia thought. "I hope Kyris's introduction goes just the same."