Starshine along with Tempest and Scourge were at the holo terminal of their ship as they made their approach to Manehattan. A transmission from Danny was received as blaster fire and explosions were heard from the background. "Uncle, I have landed at Manehattan," Starshine reported. "From what I saw flying in, the fighting is intense."
"Thanks for noticing," Danny said. "Manehattan is in a state of total war. Charming Thunder's Empire and the Equestrian Empire aren't holding anything back. The losses are staggering, and not just our military forces. Thousands of civilians die every hour."
"And each death brings Charming Thunder closer to his goal," Scourge added; interrupting Danny.
"Who is this? Never mind. Explain more later. It is why we can't retreat. If the Equestrian Empire pulls back, Charming's forces will exterminate every being here."
"My father doesn't need a city destroying weapon," Starshine said. "The war itself will deliver what he needs; enough power to wipe out all life in Equestria."
"That's tragic. I heard from the princesses that Master Tol Braga is aiding the enemy. He probably knows how to hurt us so he can block our efforts to save the city. Removing him from Charming Thunder's command is the key to victory."
"He could be anywhere in the city," Tempest said.
"He commands legions of Charming's army. He cannot do that from hiding. Only a handful of Jedi and Sith remain alive in Manehattan. I am sending reinforcements from the Phantom Consortium, they are experienced. Master Satele needs strong leadership in order to win this battle. She is naming you supreme commander of the forces of Manehattan."
"I'll resolve the crisis with as few casualties as possible, uncle," Starshine said.
"Manehattan must not fall on our watch. Our mission is twofold; direct our forces to aid Manehattan, and we will personally find Master Braga. Until my forces arrive, you will rally the remaining Jedi who are in the city while I rally the Sith. Coordinates to their locations are sent to your map. May the force be with us." The transmission ended as Starshine and the others left the ship to find the remaining forces in the warzone of Manehattan.
---------------------
Arriving at one of the locations of the remaining Jedi forces, Starshine recognized the fellow dragon he saved from Infinite during training as a Padawan. The dragon smiled at the sight of help as he stood up. "The hero of Hypogriffia!" he shouted. "You're a welcome sight. The ponies here let me use their home as a base of operations. A spy discovered us." Starshine looked around to see some civilians in the area. "They came to execute these civilians for helping the Equestrian Empire. They are grateful to see you here."
"My father wants everyone in Manehattan dead," Starshine explained. "I'm here to stop that."
"Tell me how I can help. You were the reason I became a Jedi Knight like you."
"Maybe we have a destiny to defeat Charming Thunder and his forces here together."
"If that's true, I'm ready to do what we must."
"I'm taking charge of all Jedi forces. We are rallying forces to end this war. You will rally with my uncle; Danny, at these coordinates. Go."
"With the hero of Hypogriffia leading us, I know we will be victorious. See you there." The dragon left the building to help the civilians to safety while Starshine left as well.
---------------------
At an abandoned casino, a Jedi was fighting a bunch of assassins attempting to kill her. When Tempest was about to help, the Jedi stabbed the last assassin in the chest and killed him in the process. She noticed Tempest approaching and explained the situation. "These assassins were working for Charming Thunder," she said. "They were hunting me."
"Good thing that you handled them by yourself before intervened," Tempest said.
"I'm sorry. I'm Ahsoka. I was once Charming Thunder's personal Jedi ever since the war between Mephiles and the empire. It's hard for me to believe that Charming Thunder would do such a thing. Right now, I feel like it was yesterday. I was also with three other Jedi like me." Ahsoka sighed with regret. "They're dead. We're being slaughtered here."
"Your hopes are just saved. The Council appointed Starshine Sparkle supreme commander of the Jedi forces here on Manehattan. His uncle is gathering reinforcements nearby. Go to these coordinates on this datapad." Tempest then hands a datapad over to Ahsoka.
"Charming's son? Supreme commander? It will be an honor to serve him. I'll go to the coordinates and wait for his orders." Ahsoka and Tempest left the casino to rendezvous with Danny at the coordinates given. It was up to Scourge to round up the last one.
---------------------
Scourge arrived to see Kiwiks get hit in the head by a hilt of a lightsaber of an assassin. He rushed in to intervene the assassination attempt on the Jedi Master and cuts the assassin down. He helped Kiwiks up and then gazed at the assassin. "I know you don't trust my kind, but I am on your side," Scourge said.
"I have to thank you then," Kiwiks said. "That assassin was highly persistent. Before he attacked, he showed me a holo of Master Braga. He ordered them to kill me."
"He is a puppet under Charming Thunder's control. He was trying to demoralize you."
"It's horrifying. Seeing our most peace-loving master speaking with such hatred."
"Master Satele appointed Starshine supreme commander of Jedi forces. You should meet him and the others at these coordinates."
"I'm sorry to say this, but I fear that I'm not much of a soldier. I've never truly recovered from what happened at Ponyville. I've barely managed to survive so far. Perhaps my talents are better applied elsewhere. I could focus on evacuating the wounded to the medical transports." Scourge thought for a moment and sighed.
"Maybe saving lives is just as important as stopping the enemy. Go. Save all the wounded you can."
"Tell Starshine to bring Master Braga home alive. May the force be with you." Kiwiks attended to the wounded as Scourge left the area.
---------------------
Starshine, Tempest, and Scourge arrived to see a meeting going on at the rendezvous coordinates. Two Jedi ponies were among them attempting to calm one of the officers and a group of resistance fighters down. "Everypony, please," the first Jedi said. "This arguing solves nothing."
"There shouldn't be any argument," one of the officers said. "The Empire is here to save the citizens of Manehattan--period."
"We're here to win a war, officer," a resistance fighter said. "What good is saving this city if we lose it?" Starshine stepped up to the table to answer the fighter's question for the others.
"The Jedi have come to rescue Manehattan's citizens and free their city from Charming Thunder," Starshine said.
"If only everyone felt that way," the officer said.
"The officer reports to General Var Suthra," the second Jedi explained then pointed to the group of resistance fighters. "They are a group we found fighting the dark forces to restore government here. They both want our help."
"Charming Thunder's forces sent extermination patrols to our medical evacuation sites," the resistance fighter said. "Those murdering scum slaughtered our wounded. Now they're rewarding the killers with parties and medals and celebrating in plain sight--taunting us before they're shipped back home. We need to strike back before those filth leave Manehattan. Put some fear in them!"
"I won't make any decisions without hearing the officer's request," Starshine said.
"Thousands of citizens are being kidnapped and forced to serve Charming Thunder," the officer explained. "We have to free them!"
"Those 'citizens' are being 'kidnapped' from our prisons! They're criminals!"
"No. They're in custody awaiting trial. They are innocent until proven guilty, and we cannot abandon them to the enemy."
"It's a tough decision," Tempest said.
"Which mission would make the best use of our people?" Starshine asked.
"Jedi fight their hardest when they have a goal they can believe in," the first Jedi said. "Revenge is not our way."
"Supreme Commander Starshine, we've received advanced combat gear from Canterlot, "the resistance fighter said. "If you commit men to my cause, we'll equip you to better face the enemy."
"This is outrageous!" the officer shouted. "You are attempting to bribe a Jedi."
"That is insulting and incorrect, officer. I'm adding to the supreme commander's knowledge. The final decision is his."
"Your revenge will have to wait, freedom fighter," Starshine said. "I'm committing some of my forces to rescuing the civilians."
"Thank you!" the officer said; happily. "I'll provide coordinates to their slave camps. We'll have transports standing by to evacuate our people once they are free."
"I will communicate your orders to our people right away, Starshine," the first Jedi said as he left with the others. A holo transmission of Danny came in on the center of the holotable.
"Good, you've arrived," Danny said. "I have news involving Tol Bragga."
"What's developed?" Starshine asked.
"One of my spies in the Consortium just learned that our job just got even harder than we thought. He and his team picked up picked up an energy surge from the reactors on Tol Bragga's command ship. It's building up to detonation."
"He's using his own battle cruiser to wipe out a whole sector of Manehattan? Why?"
"A reactor detonation at its present altitude won't just flatten a sector. The radiation afterwards will kill thousands in hundreds of kilometers. But the good news is that there is a turbo lift connected to the cruiser on the government buildings. Troops are coming from there."
"What's the plan?"
"You and I will use the turbo lift to get inside the cruiser, shut down the reactors, and deal with Tol Braga."
"Normally, we would run away from enemy cruisers. But this should be easy."
"Meet me at the top of the turbo lift in the cruiser and we will confront Tol Braga together. May the force be with us." The transmission ended as Starshine turned to look at Tempest.
"Tempest, you stay here and watch over things while I am away."
"Right," tempest said with a nod. "Be careful up there." Starshine smiled and walked past her to exit the building.
---------------------
Arriving at the turbo lift past the guards, Starshine took the lift up to the cruiser and arrived to see his uncle dealing with approaching guards and decided to help him. He used the force to push them back as the rest of them fell back to a safer position. "Nice timing, nephew," Danny said. "The controls to the reactor are this way." Starshine followed Danny to the room where the reactor controls are as they fought their way through the soldiers. When they arrived, they see Tol Bragga standing in front of the controls.
"So you slipped past the guards," Tol Bragga said. "That's unfortunate, but you won't win. For Charming to succeed, the people of Manehattan must die. Only then, this ruined kingdom can be redeemed."
"We'll discuss this--after we stop those reactors from overloading," Starshine said.
"I can't let you do that. Equestria isn't worth saving. Every being--every creature--is weak and useless. All except him. Charming Thunder is strong. Perfect. He will cleanse every kingdom of our impurity."
"My brother broke you, Master Braga," Danny said. "Surrender and the Jedi will help you."
"Your brother's thoughts were with me for a long time, Danny. But I broke free. And when I did, my eyes were open." Tol Braga then activates his lightsaber as Starshine and Danny did the same for theirs. "I've seen such horrors. That these things are not allowed to exist...it has to end. Here. Now." Danny charges at the corrupt master, but Tol Braga used his force push to push him back and impact on Starshine. They dropped their lightsabers and then quickly got up to dodge an object being thrown by Tol Bragga. Danny and Starshine then used the force to get their lightsabers in their hooves. Starshine then charged at him and strikes at him as Tol Braga blocks them. They then clashed as Danny came from behind and disarmed him by using force lightning. "Defeating me will accomplish nothing. The reactors are still set to overload." Realizing the thought of the reactors Danny used his force speed to rush to the reactor terminals and deactivate the reactors.
"You were saying?" Starshine said as he pointed his lightsaber at Tol Braga.
"Do you really think you've won? You only prolong Equestria's suffering. In the end, no one is saved. This battle will be fought forever. Nothing I do matters. Nothing."
"You chose to join my father and people suffered because of it."
"I just wanted it all to end. No Jedi. No Sith. No war. Charming is never patient. I've carried so much hate on everyone." Footsteps were then heard as Tol Braga gasps at this dark presence. Danny stood next to Starshine as the figure approaching from above was Charming Thunder himself. Tol Braga stood away from the two as Charming Thunder appeared.
"That's not good."
"No it's not," Danny said. "He's here." Charming Thunder leaps down behind Tol Braga as Starshine and Danny activate their lightabers in their hooves. Charming Thunder then took a few steps closer behind Tol Braga and looks at him.
"You have failed me, Tol Braga," Charming Thunder said as he activates his lightsaber and prepares a strike.
"Avenge us!" Tol Braga said to Starshine as he was being struck down by Charming Thunder.
"Starshine, run!" Danny said as he charges at Charming Thunder and jumps with a strike ready. Charming Thunder used his unicorn magic to toss Danny aside and he impacts on a wall knocking him out.
"Uncle!" Starshine shouted. Charming Thunder then turned his attention towards his son.
"You would be wise to surrender," Charming Thunder warned as he got into his battle position.
"Yeah? Probably." Starshine attempts to strike at his father, but was stopped when he used force choke on Starshine.
"Give up!" Starshine looked at the terminal screen next to him and used his strength to use his magic to rip it off and throw it at him. Charming Thunder used the force to stop it and released Starshine and tossed him aside. He ducked as Charming Thunder threw the screen and marched towards him as he made a run for it towards the turbo lift. Charming Thunder reached a hallway with windows as Charming Thunder turned into his shadow form and appears in front of Starshine. Starshine stabs Charming Thunder, but it didn't kill him. Charming Thunder used his powerful force push to shove him away with the lightsaber still in his chest. The grounded Starshine used the force to get his lightsaber back, but it stopped in its tracks as Charming Thunder used the force to stop it. "Surrender, my son."
"Never again, father!" Charming Thunder smiled.
"We shall see." The lightsaber activates by Charming Thunder's power and rotates towards Starshine's chest and barely stabs him as he screamed in pain. Danny charges with his lightsabers active and Charming Thunder blocks his incoming strikes.
"I won't let you touch my nephew again!" Danny said as he strikes at his dark brother. Charming Thunder then delivered a heavy strike to push him away.
"Such hatred, brother. You would've been made an excellent apprentice."
"I am Sith. Not a dark king like you." Danny uses the force to fire lightning from his hooves and tosses him out of the window. Starshine gets up and looks out the window to see his father fleeing back to the Crystal Empire. "Coward. Let him flee."
"We were so close," Starshine said. "At least our objective was complete."
"Yes. Return to your ship and tell your crew what happened. I must inform the princesses about the victory." Starshine nodded and limped towards the turbo lift.
