//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: A New Threat // Story: Equestria Wars Episode XVIII: The Fall of the King // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// Once Starshine killed one of the leaders, he gained access to the Storm creature's armory in the cave. Once he saw the technology he had a choice of either sabotage it or bring it back to the Hippogriffs for better defenses. He decided to grab the weapons and take it to the Hippogriffs. "Once they have this, the Hippogriffs can defend themselves," Starshine said to himself. An astromech droid behind him reactivated and rolled towards him with a beep which made him jump. "You scared me, little guy." The droid beeped a reply that he was captured by the Storm creatures and needed rescuing. "Don't worry. I'll get you out of here." The droid introduced himself as T7-01 and explained to Starshine that it was on a reconnaissance mission. It then beeped that it didn't see the Storm creatures coming and placed a restraining bolt on it. "Good thin the Storm creatures don't eat droids." T7 then explained that when it was deactivated, it used a spy camera to record something that may be important to the Jedi. It then played the holo recording to reveal the same masked pony he saw in the cave talking to the commander of the Storm creatures. "Help me destroy the Jedi Temple near the Hippogriff territory and you will get your revenge on the scum that banished you," the masked pony said. The commander then growled and asked, "How do I know you won't betray us?" "Because we have a common enemy; the Equestrian Empire. The Jedi are only an obstacle in my master's plan to rule Equestria. Once we reach full strength, we will attack the temple." The recording ended and T7 beeped a little worried and said that the recording may useful. It then beeped to ask him to remove the restraining bolt. "Never understood the need for restraining bolts anyway," Starshine said. T7 beeped for joy and thanked him. "Come on. My master may want to see what you recorded." T7 beeped and followed him out of the armory then out of the cave to head back to Mount Aris. --------------------- When Starshine and T7 at Queen Novo's place, he heard yelling going on inside and entered to see a red Hippogriff talking to Skystar and Orgus. "She died in my arms," he said. "You should've seen what those filth did to her." Skystar placed her hand on his shoulder and said, "I'm sorry, Saylew. We all share your loss." Saylew then shoved Skystar's hand off of him and became angry. "For every one of us the Storm creatures butcher, we should kill ten! No, a hundred." "Will that restore your loved one to life?" Orgus asked. "Don't lecture me, Jedi. My wife is dead! Our people, slaughtered. Where were you then?" Starshine then stepped up to Saylew. "Nothing I say will make you feel whole again, but we are truly are doing everything we can," Starshine said. "What about exterminating those animals? The Storm creatures won't stop until we're all dead. Are you going to let that happen?" "I won't quit until the Storm creatures are defeated. That's a promise." "We'll see what a Jedi's promise is worth." Saylew stomped out of the throne room as Orgus had a look of concern. "I hope you can fulfill that pledge," Orgus warned. "I fear that he won't take disappointment well. Everyone wondered why Jedi a long time ago are forbidden to marry or have families. They don't see how attachments always lead to suffering. Passionate emotions can destroy a pony---and Jedi destroyed by passion become something terrible." T7 beeped to Orgus about a reconnaissance report ready for delivery. "T7 was captured by the Storm creatures," Starshine explained. "You'll want to see the holorecording it made." "While I deal with the droid, talk to Princess Skystar. I think her people are ready to help us, thanks to you." Starshine walked up to Skystar and bowed to her. "With the weapons and technology you brought from the Storm creatures, my people can defend themselves," Skystar said. "You risked your life to help us. You know, my people haven't had a champion in some time." "Jedi have a duty to protect and defend others," Starshine said. "And we promised to share our knowledge in return for that duty." A Hippogriff scout came in a hurry and took a breath to explain herself. "Your highness, Storm creatures broke through our defenses," the scout said. "They did something to our food supply. They dropped strange machines in the crop fields. When a scout approached one, he collapsed with sickness. He was lucky enough to crawl away and recover, but those machines are still out there." "Tell your people to stay away from the fields," Starshine said. "I'll get rid of these things." "Once again, I am in your debt," Skystar said. "Hurry to the fields. I fear we don't have much time." Starshine ran outside and hurried down the mountain to the crop fields to see a machine in the middle of the field. He then approached the fields and then started to feel weak and barely collapsed to the ground. He then took a few steps back, held his breath, and rushed in there to the machine poisoning the crops. Once he removed it, a Storm creature came out of the ground and attacked him. He drew his vibro blade and struck at it in the chest, killing it in the process. He then rushed outof the poisoned crop field and released his breath and coughed. He then felt dizzy as he made his way back up Mount Aris to make a report to Princess Skystar. Once he arrived, he approached the princess and bowed with a few breaths. "I've---destroyed the machine poisoning the crop field." Skystar wiped sweat off of her forehead and sighed with relief. "I saw how you suffered out there. What you did was more than brave. It was heroic. You've done more than any Jedi ever has. But tell me something; why would you face death again and again for people you barely know?" "I just can't stand by and do nothing while your kind suffers." "My mother once mistrusted your kind years ago. I wish my people could know you like I do. I should inform everyone that the danger is over." Starshine then turned to notice that Orgus was not here leaving T7. He was about to ask Skystar where he is until he heard his holocommunicator beeped. He answered it to reveal Orgus on the holo. "I'm here, master." "Finally got a hold of you," Orgus said. "Since I left, I've been getting reports of an attack at the temple. It's the masked pony I saw on the holo. He is attacking with an army of Storm creatures. "What should I do?" "If you see the masked pony, do not engage him. He has powers that I never seen before. Head to the temple and push back the Storm creatures." "I'm on my way." The transmission ended and Starshine rushed outside to head back to the temple and hopefully save it on time. --------------------- Starshine runs closer to the temple when he saw the smoke from afar. When he arrived, he sees destruction around. Bodies of Storm Creatures, Hippogriff Soldiers, Jedi Padawans, Jedi Knights, even a few bodies of Jedi Masters, destroyed machinery, crashed ships. Starshine begins to hear some nearby gunfire. He begins to run in that direction and when he arrives, he sees that masked stranger from the caves hovering in the air, surrounded by a red aura, with red, glitch-like pixel particles scattered throughout his body. "There is no reason to resist," the masked pony said. "Your precious Jedi Temple has fallen and your heroes aren’t coming to save you." His right hoof lit up in a red glow and he fired a beam, killing the Hippogriff soldiers that were shooting him. Starshine was trembling, seeing the masked pegasus so effectively murder those soldiers without even trying. He was hiding behind some rumble and he looked again, seeing some Jedi Knights led by a Jedi Master. "You won’t win this battle, stranger!" the Jedi Master said before he and his knights ignited their lightsabers. "Oh, but I already have. While you waste your time fighting me, Tempest Shadow and the Storm King are killing your Jedi Masters on the Council and pillaging everything inside the temple." 'Tempest?' Starshine thought as he continued to watch the scene. 'No, she wouldn’t betray us...' "Die monster!" one of the Knights shouted as he charged at the masked pegasus. "No, don’t!" the Jedi Master called out, but it was too late as the Jedi Knight moved to attack. When he swung, he hit nothing but air. The masked pegasus had suddenly disappeared. 'Where did he-' Starshine thought when a red lightsaber blade emerged from behind the Jedi Master through his chest. Like coming out of thin air, the masked pegasus was holding a double-bladed red lightsaber with one impaling the Master. "Master!" the Jedi Knights cried out in shock. The masked pegasus pulled out the blade and gave an evil laugh. "Weaklings like him are of no consequence," the masked pegasus said. "The strong will always vanquish the weak. You have only your own fragility to blame." He then spun his double-bladed lightsaber before entering a battle stance. "Come, I’ll carve upon your flesh just how hopeless the very thought of defeating me really is." The Jedi Knights cried out in anger and charged. But no matter how fast or how strong their strikes were, the masked pegasus was dodging them with ease, like he wasn’t even trying. One by one, the masked pegasus killed off the Jedi Knights without even breaking a sweat. This made Starshine shake with fear and terror, this fight made him realize that this masked pegasus was all but toying with him back in the cave. When the last knight fell, the masked pegasus looked at the battle before giving off a loud evil laugh. He turned off his lightsaber, putting it on his belt, and began to hover into the air. When Starshine thought the masked pegasus was going to leave, Starshine’s eyes widened in fear as the single visible purple eye of the masked pegasus turned to him. "I can taste your terror, child." Starshine knew that the masked pegasus knew he was here. He knew that hiding behind the rumble was useless and came out, his weapon ready. "All that anxiety and doubt. It's delicious." Starshine was about to charge to his death when the masked pegasus aimed his left hoof at him and a bolt of red energy came out of his hoof and hit the ground in front of Starshine. Starshine stumbled back and fell on his flank with a thud, dropping his weapon onto the ground. The masked pegasus turned to completely face him. "Give in to your fear. Flee, screaming, and I’ll let you live." Starshine was shaking with fear and terror, looking at the masked pegasus as he released a low dark chuckle before it turned into an evil laugh.