Starshine ran in fear away from the now destroyed temple. He turned to check if he was being followed then he looked forward to see Tempest in front of him and stopped. He then drew his weapon and pointed his blade at her. "Alright, Tempest," he demanded. "What's the deal?" No response came from Tempest. She then activated her lightsabers and charged at Starshine. She readied a strike as Starshine used his unicorn magic to create a barrier around him. Another Tempest Shadow stepped in front of him and blocked the incoming strike and shoved the other Tempest away causing her to hit a wall. "Another Tempest Shadow?" The downed Tempest Shadow began to glow red with glitch-like pixel particles scattered throughout her body and vanished. "She just disappeared."
Tempest turned to face Starshine and said, "That was a fake."
"A fake? How?"
"I'll explain later. Where is your master?"
"I was going to come help him, but I was too late. The temple is destroyed." Tempest's eyes widened at the news and turned away from Starshine. "Wait, I heard that masked pony said something about attacking the fake you and the Storm King attacking the Jedi Masters and pillaging the temple. Maybe Master Orgus is in there. We need to go back!"
"Not with that masked pony around. You saw what he was capable of."
"Then we need some help. Maybe Queen Novo can help."
"You are probably right. With her Hippogriff soldiers, we might be at an advantage. Let's head to Mount Aris." Starshine nodded and ran with Tempest to Mount Aris to seek help from the Hippogriffs.
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Skystar rushed to Tempest and Starshine to see if they were okay as they entered the throne room. "Are you two alright?" Skystar asked. "I heard that there was an attack at the Jedi Temple. I could see the smoke from here."
"We're fine, "Starshine said. "We need some help retaking the temple. T7 rolled up to the two and beeped a question to Starshine. "Master Orgus is at the temple. Alive. Dead. I don't know." T7 beeped sadly.
"We were hoping that you could spare some manpower," Tempest explained.
"My scouts did say that the Storm creatures have secured the temple and taken what appeared to be the Storm King taking your master to the Forge," Skystar said.
"What's the Forge?" Starshine asked.
"It's a place where lightsabers are made after passing the Jedi Trials," Tempest said. "If your master is there, it's a good place to start. I'll take you there." Starshine nodded.
"Inform your mother of the situation that has developed, your highness." Skystar nodded and rushed out of the throne room while the princess contacted some help from the Equestrian Empire.
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Venturing through a cave system to the Forge, Starshine and Tempest took down some Storm creatures along the way through the cave. Once they found a way out, they saw the commander of the Storm creatures he saw on T7's holo recording along with the Storm King which appeared to be glitch. He used his staff to blast Orgus to the stairs of the Forge and made him roll down the stairs. The duo arrived to intervene as the Storm King turned to see them without saying a thing. The commander did the talking for him. "Our leader knew that you would come save your master," he said. "Your fear betrayed you. You're weak, like your master. You will fall. With him." Starshine nodded in disagreement.
"You're wrong," Starshine said. "The Storm King has been dead for years. He is not real."
"And you are wrong to see the truth. Our king died because he was betrayed by our once proud commander; Tempest Shadow."
"I only did it because I wanted my horn back. I was betrayed."
"Silence!" The commander then drew his spear while the others aimed their blasters at Tempest and Starshine as they drew their weapons. The Storm King illusion then aimed his staff. "Our new master will bring fear to Equestria just as he did to your precious temple." The Storm King fired his staff which made the duo split up and attack the other Storm creatures. Starshine went for the Storm King as the commander watched. He used his unicorn magic to clash with the Storm King's magic blast. He won the clash and made the Storm King vanish into thin air. The two then came face to face with the commander of the Storm creatures and he took a few steps back scared.
"You've lost," Starshine said. "Surrender."
"I--I give up!" Starshine smiled as he slowly made his way to the commander and used his magic to throw his spear away from the creature. "Let me live and I will tell you all I know about that masked pony."
"You will remain in custody once the Empire arrives," Tempest said before the Storm creature commander was about to strike at Tempest. She then grabbed his hand and threw him in the air and slammed him to the ground. She then cuffed him while he was unconscious. Starshine rushed to Orgus who was regaining consciousness and got up from the ground.
"Starshine," Orgus said. "I must have you to thank for being alive."
"The Storm King was a fake, Master Orgus," Starshine explained. "I captured the leader of the rogue Storm creatures, but not the masked pony."
"You've done a great thing. Maybe that commander has valuable information about who the masked pony is. You on the other hoof, faced a challenge beyond any trial I could assign. There's nothing more I can teach you?"
"What does this mean?"
"It means that all that's left is for you to enter the Forge and construct your own lightsaber."
"I'm tremendously honored."
"Congrats, Starshine," Tempest said.
"There's no substitute for the weapon you create yourself," Orgus said. "Normally we make Padawans gather materials themselves--but you've proven enough." He then gave Starshine all of the components he needs to make the lightsaber. "These are all of the physical components--the rest will come from your mastery of the force."
"I'll stay with him in case anything happens."
"Thank you, Tempest. I'll call a transport to carry the commander."
"What about the temple?"
"The temple will be reclaimed by the Equestrian Empire since their commander has been defeated. I'll meet you there." Starshine walked up the steps to the machine where lightsabers are made. Tempest followed behind him to keep watch. Once Starshine stepped up to the Forge, he placed the components on the table.
"This weapon will be the light in the darkness," Starshine said. He then sat down and closed his eyes as he meditated. Each components were combined with precision to assembled to make his very own lightsaber. He got up and used the force to grab his lightsaber and activated it and gave it a few swings. He deactivated it and placed it on his belt then walked with Tempest back to the temple.
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The temple was reclaimed when the Equestrian Empire came to aid even though they were too late to stop the destruction of the temple. Most of the Storm creatures surrendered as some were fallen during the fight. Starshine and Tempest entered the barely destroyed council chamber as the surviving members talked. "The Storm creatures are still a threat, but without that mysterious pony's leadership, they'll be scattered and ill-equipped," Orgus said.
"That mysterious pony leading the Storm creatures may have fled, but our temple is now destroyed thanks to them," Satele said. "But thanks to this Padawan, the commander of the Storm creature has revealed some valuable information about that mysterious pony. Unfortunately we don't know the attacker's name."
"The enemy knows our weaknesses in our security," Starshine said. "We have to guard against another attack."
"Agreed--and now we have concerns beyond the Storm creatures. Tempest?" Tempest nodded and stepped forward before the council.
"This pony can create virtual reality projections," Tempest explained. "They have mass and form, but no heart or soul."
"Virtual reality?" Starshine said. "So all those the Tempest Shadow I faced and the Storm King were a part of his army?"
"Replicas. The problem is, they may not be real, but their powers are as formidable as the originals. We need to know how to defeat him."
"I agree," Orgus said with a nod. "But other than that, this Jedi captured a commander of the Storm creatures and saved us from destruction. I see no reason why he should remain a Padawan."
"Your bravery, heroism and sacrifice show great depth of character, Starshine," Satele said. "You represent our best hopes for the future. You arrived on Hippogriffia a Padawan, but you leave a Knight of the Jedi Order. May the force be with you."
"I promise to uphold every standard of the Jedi Order and the Equestrian Empire," Starshine said with a bow. The holoterminal then began to beep.
"We're getting a priority signal from Canterlot," Orgus said as he pressed a button on the terminal to reveal Tol Braga of the Jedi Council.
"Sorry to interrupt this important matter with Starshine, but it is time that I spoke to him in person," Tol Braga said.
"I'm at your service, master," Starshine said. "I'll head to Canterlot right away."
"Good. Master Braga out." The transmission ended and Tempest placed her hoof on Starshine's shoulder.
"I'm coming with," Tempest said. "I need to explain things to the princesses about our new foe."
"Right," Starshine said.
"May the force be with you," Orgus said as Starshine and Tempest took their leave.
