//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Mission at Canterlot // Story: Equestria Wars Episode XVIII: The Fall of the King // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// Arriving at Canterlot castle, Tempest left Starshine to speak to the princesses while he entered a room to meet with Tol Braga. "It is good to finally meet the new Knight in person," he greeted. "I'm sure your mothers would be proud of you. I believe that the force has guided you to me. Together we'll reclaim the Crystal Empire." "Redeeming my father is the main reason why I became a Jedi," Starshine said. "I'm organizing a top secret strike team of our best and brightest. You may have just become a Knight, but you don't know the meaning of failure as other Jedi do. You only saved the Jedi Order from destruction once. That mysterious pony that attacked the temple didn't act alone. Now I ask you to confront the ultimate evil and help me capture your father; Charming Thunder." Starshine had a look of concern on his face. "You don't dream small, do you, master?" "The princesses approve. Even your mother. There's a fortress orbiting over the Crystal Empire. It is easy to spot, but its defenses are strong. Charming goes there for personal reasons. Not even his highest-ranking minions can go there. But there is one who does; the mysterious attacker. But thanks to one of our Jedi operative, he has acquired the information we need to board the station and find out where your father hangs out so we can seize him." "What happened to your operative?" "He has gone missing since he returned. I need you to find him along with Tempest Shadow. I heard that you two made a great team against the replica of the Storm King. Other members of my strike team are making preparations to board Charming Thunder's fortress and defeat the security around it. His name is Tarnis. Good luck and be careful out there." Starshine nodded and left the room. He then noticed his mother; Twilight, talking to Tempest as they made their way over. Twilight noticed him and rushed over to him to give him a tight hug. "It is great to see you, Starshine," Twilight said; happily. "Me too, mom," Starshine said; returning the hug. "Congrats on becoming a Knight of the Jedi Order. I am so very proud of you." The two broke the hug and looked at each other. "I need to head out, mom. I have a mission to complete." "Yes. The mission." "What is it, mom?" "Is it wise to go on your own with the other Jedi? What if you fail?" "I won't fail. That's a promise." Starshine then turned his gaze to Tempest. "I trust that the princesses told you about my mission?" Tempest nodded. "I am to accompany you on this mission," Tempest explained. "This missing operative we are looking for is probably deep into Black Sun territory." "I'm not familiar with the Black Sun." "Black Sun is a powerful crime syndicate that rose to prominence here in Canterlot in the latter days since the Siege of the Crystal Empire." "Sounds bad. Shall we go and find the operative?" Tempest nodded and followed Starshine out of the castle leaving Twilight to return to the princesses in the throne room. --------------------- Venturing into pirate territory, Starshine and Tempest looked around to see tons of graffiti painted on old buildings of Canterlot. They then arrived at a security station for the Equestrian Empire. They then noticed that some of the soldiers in there are wounded from some sort of attack. The sergeant of the group was giving orders to help the wounded until he noticed the two enter. "We were sent to find Tarnis," Starshine said. "He has valuable information for us. What's happened here?" "Black Sun happened," the sergeant explained. "They're not a gang anymore. They're an army. We were securing a perimeter around their base as the princesses requested. They hit back with military-grade weapons. Killed six of my men." "Seven, sir," a corporal said. "Moonshadow's gone." "We're not equipped for this fight---not anymore. We can't help you find your friend." "No need to panic," Starshine said. "We'll figure something out." "With all due respect, you don't have a clue what you're up against. We've been fighting the Black Sun for months. Now with new weapons and armor, they're unstoppable. I mean look at us. We're half-dead, and they didn't suffer a single casualty. There's no hope of victory." "If you surrender now, your soldiers will have died in vain. Is that you want? What if they have Tarnis in there? Would you abandon him? This is a moment of truth, sergeant. Do you give up and let evil win, or stand up and fight?" The sergeant thought about what Starshine said and nodded. "I'll go with you---but I won't ask my men to follow." The soldiers approached and stood next to the sergeant. "You don't have to," the corporal said. "The Jedi's right. We can't let that scum beaut us." "Count me in," the soldier said. Always wanted to fight alongside a Jedi." "Then it is settled," the sergeant said. "You two take the front while me and my men will rendezvous in the Black Sun base." "Be strong, all of you," Tempest said. "We'll see you on the inside." The soldiers saluted to Starshine and Tempest as the two activated their lightsabers and rushed outside to confront the Black Sun grunts. --------------------- Starshine and Tempest arrived at the Black Sun base as they killed some grunts guarding the entrance. Once the coast was clear, the two walked in the base with their weapons still active. They arrived at a room where a Black Sun leader was talking to a holo of a hooded pony. "Tarnis!" the leader shouted which made Starshine's eyes widen after hearing the name. "We risked everything for you. Is this how you betray us?" "You were compensated well enough with weapons armor to make the Black Sun invincible," Tarnis said. "Invincible? There's two lightsaber wielders carving up my base! This is your fault. We never should've trusted you." "If two Jedi have come for you, Salarr, it wasn't my doing." Starshine and Tempest walked up behind Salarr. "You won't get away with betraying the Equestrian Empire, Tarnis," Starshine said. "I've shed that skin long ago when I was a Jedi. I have no time with this nonsense. Finish your pointless battle. Canterlot's fate is already sealed." The transmission ended and Salarr drew his weapon as a Black Sun grunt rolled up behind Tempest and Starshine with his blaster drawn. When the grunt was about to take the shot, he was shot in the back by the soldiers who arrived as backup for Starshine and Tempest. "Surrender, you scum!" the sergeant demanded. "We've got you surrounded." Starshine and Tempest got into battle position as Salarr began to back away. "He's come here to arrest you, Salarr. I suggest you let him." "Black Sun doesn't surrender!" Salarr shouted before he began to open fire and more grunts entered to join the fight. Tempest handled the grunts while Starshine handled the leader. Starshine deflected the blaster bolts and Tempest chopped the grunts down. When Salarr was about to draw a blade from his sheathe, Tempest threw her lightsaber and pierced Salarr in the chest. The leader collapsed as Tempest walked up and reclaimed her lightsaber. "Can't believe it!" the sergeant said; surprised. "We just took down Salarr. Black Sun won't forget that anytime soon. We lost some good soldiers, but this victory gives their deaths meaning. Thanks for leading this mission. Any sign of the pony you were looking for?" "That operative we were looking for turns out that he is an agent of evil," Starshine said. "But why?" Tempest asked. Starshine then approached the holoterminal to contact Master Braga to tell him the bad news. The hologram of the master appeared and had a look of concern. "Any reason why you are calling me at a Black Sun base?" Tol Braga asked. "I bring bad news, master," Starshine said. "Tarnis is a traitor." "What?" Tol Bragga then thought of something for a moment. "Where was his last transmission?" Starshine then looked at a terminal and found coordinates to where Tarnis's transmission was coming from. "You got to be kidding me. It's at an Lunar Republic bunker not far from here. But that's not the worse news. It saws here that Tarnis was planning to use some sort of 'city prison' on Canterlot. Happening today." "That is not good. The city prison was an old project that was cancelled years ago. Find Tarnis and stop him from using it. Master Braga out." The transmission ended and Starshine and Tempest now have a new objective; capture Tarnis and stop him from activating the city prison. --------------------- At an old Lunar bunker, Starshine and Tempest sneaks past the guards that looked similar to the invaders of the Crystal Empire. Once they arrived in the communications room, they see Tarnis talking to the hologram of the same pony that attacked the Jedi Temple at Hippogriffia. "I'm departing Canterlot now, master," Tarnis said. "The city prison deploys in minutes. The Empire will have no choice but to surrender." The pony chuckled evilly. "You will then return a hero, my apprentice," the masked pony said. "Our plan is already taking shape." "I wouldn't count on that," Starshine said as he and Tempest approach Tarnis. "What's this, Tarnis? A loose end? For shame." "Have you two come here to die?" Tarnis activated his lightsaber as Starshine and Tempest did the same. "Surrender, Tarnis," Tempest said. "You can still give us the information you stole from your new master." "You mean this data disc I carry? It will be a waste if you are willing to confront my master and and his master. Once I kill you, I will I will bring your heads to my ultimate master." "Don't let Starshine steal your moment of triumph!" the masked pony said. "With pleasure, master." Tarnis used the force to push Starshine and then fired lightning from his hoof at Tempest. Tempest blocked the lightning and reflected it back at Tarnis. Starshine then got up and charged at his opponent with his horn glowing. Tarnis was about to strike, but Starshine used his unicorn magic to teleport behind Tarnis and stab him in the back. A data chip rolled on the ground as Tarnis on the ground. Tempest grabbed the data chip while Starshine deactivated the city prison. "You pony filth. You killed my apprentice! You will die for this. I will see to this." "Why don't you come here and face me yourself so that we can settle it now?" "I'd rather not. My master keeps me on a short leash sometimes." "Who is your master?" Tempest asked. "Now that would spoil the surprise." The transmission ended as Tempest stood next to Starshine. "We now know the name of our mysterious enemy." "And with it the information we need," Starshine added. "We should head back to tell Master Braga." "Agreed." The two then walked away from the terminal and left the bunker to return to Canterlot castle.