//------------------------------// // Finding Home // Story: Rainbow Dash's First Trial: Clone Wars Year 1 // by Hikarikurai24587 //------------------------------// Chapter Eleven: Finding Home Rainbow Dash blinked as she walked down the ramp with Yoda next to her and the squad behind her. There were some Jedi awaiting them as well as Padmé and an older man wearing fine clothing. The moment her foot his the ground did the man greet them with a smile on his face. “Master Yoda, we were expecting your return and you must be the young lady who they found. I am Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance.” “Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow bowed in greeting as Palpatine waved his hand wanting to talk with her some more. Shrugging her shoulders she walked forward as he spoke again. “I must say, when Senator Amidala told me about you and your plight I was quite concerned. We have never met Equestrians before but when she informed me that you are a peaceful race from your explanations I wanted to see you in person. I must apologize for what happened out there.” His gaze lingered on Rainbow’s bandaged wrist. “Although I am quite concerned where the Jedi found you. There are dark tales about Moraband, there aren’t many who venture there with good intentions. Many do not survive more than a day there. Yet here you are.” Palpatine’s smile was warm and gentle, yet a chill crawled up her spine. Most of the time when she was close to others she could hear their loyalties. Yet with him there was nothing, she was about to shrug it off as him being well guarded when she saw the old man again. Palpatine’s head turned slightly before he moved away to talk to Padmé. As he passed in front the old man vanished and all sound returned. Rainbow blinked as she heard him say. “We will have to make sure she does have a place to stay. After all she is the only representative of her race and I did hear of her… escapades in the Jedi temple.” Palpatine flashed her another smile before Rainbow looked at Yoda who nodded his head saying. “With the Jedi she cannot stay. A home she should have.” Rainbow looked at the two before scooting her way over to the squad and Padmé. She appreciated the gesture but she wouldn’t even know where to begin. Her house in Equestria was a cloud. Padmé offered her a smile as Palpatine looked at her saying. “I am sure we will be able to find something to your liking.” “N-now?” Rainbow was startled, things were moving quicker than she expected. “Well we would start out by just looking. You wouldn’t have to choose one right away.” Padmé told her patting her on the shoulder. “We just thought you would prefer a place of your own as soon as possible.” “Thanks.” Rainbow said looking at all the buildings, Palpatine was at her side saying. “Unfortunately we are all very busy at the moment to help you look. If you want to look by yourself I would be happy to send an Aide or two with you to finalize any paperwork.” “Sure.” Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure what else to say, Palpatine’s hand was hovering by her back as he guided her over to a speeder to where an alien man stood. The squad followed after her, as was their duty, and Rainbow felt a little relieved. Though she did want to stop by the Jedi temple to gather her clouds.     “Careful be, bored easily she gets. No telling what she will do there is.” Yoda warned though his voice held a fondness. Palpatine glanced at him saying. “I do believe the aides can handle whatever she can do.”     Yoda just replied with a slight smile.     “Whoo hoo!” Rainbow said flying by as the aides attempted to show her one of the apartments that was on their list.     “Maybe something a little higher up?” Doc suggested watching her fly around. “Something not as close to the speeder lanes?”     The aides nodded their heads as they led them out, Rainbow flying above them. The next apartments had a few criticisms lobbied towards them.     “Too cramped.”     “Uhhh, I think something or someone died in here.”     “I think it’s a bit too close to the lanes.”     “Meh.”     One of the aides, a human named Kinman Doriana, rubbed the bridge of his nose as Rainbow looked around the latest apartment they had chosen. It was an older model, having been built upon an older building but kept the same appearance and design. Her eyes took in everything, this time no comment escaped her lips. She turned around looking at him with her magenta eyes as she said. “This’ll do.”     ‘Finally.’ he thought, moving away to get the paperwork started, hoping that if they did find more of her species that they would be less picky. Rainbow grinned at the clones as she said. “There are enough rooms in here if you want to visit!”     “Ma’am? Where are you going to find enough money to decorate this place?” Rampage questioned and Rainbow paused before saying. “I’ll find a way.”     She gave them a smile as she moved to explore the rest of the apartment. Ash looked at the rest of the squad the rest of them fanning out. That was when Rainbow Dash poked her head out of the door leading to the stairwell. “Are you guys even paid for your service?”     Silence was the only thing that greeted her and it began to dawn on her just how this Republic treated the ones fighting their war. Her fists clenched, red lightning arcing around it before she turned away saying. “This’ll be your home, for you and your brothers.”     “Ma’am?” Rampage's voice was quiet and she looked up seeing him standing there. “Thank you.”     “No problem.” Rainbow replied, walking forward and patting him on the shoulder with a smile on her face. “Guess I’ll have to find a job. Wonder if they’ll take weather ponies.”     “No… but I think you can try and go for the Republic Navy.” Crossbones suggested leaning against one of the doorways, his arms folded. “I’m sure that, once you’re trained, General Skywalker would love to have you as part of his fleet.”     “Don’t I have to be a part of this Republic for that?” Rainbow pointed out and it was Ash who spoke up. “You do, we shouldn’t discuss this any further until you’ve settled in at least. Is there anything else we can do for you?”     “Make yourselves at home.” Rainbow told them before remembering what she was going to do. “And don’t go anywhere. I’ve got an idea and I want to see if it will work.”     She ran up the stairs before they even had a chance to respond. There was a reason why she rejected the other places, there was no balcony. She had spotted it the moment they were on approach. Her wings spread as she exited the building and took off quickly flying towards the clouds. She swiped as many of them as she could hold in her arms. She flew back and forth to the apartment decorating it with the clouds.      Crossbones leaned against the wall watching her.     “Why did you suggest that she join the Republic Navy?” Ash questioned across from him. “She shouldn’t be involved in this war!”     “She shouldn’t be, but she is, and I’d rather she know how to fight and join us on the field than to see her struggle in the Senate. She’s not a representative, she’s a fighter. Even with how little time we’ve known her, I have to say she’s not one for sitting still.” Crossbones pointed out watching the aide that had stayed move to tell her that everything was finalized. “And I know she’d be more than willing to keep us alive on whatever battlefield she joins us on.”     Ash was quiet as he thought about it.     “There is the problem that her race or her planet is not a part of the Republic. She will be needing support.” Ash sighed, hanging his head and giving it a shake. “I don’t know how much help we’ll be.”     “Well she seems to be close to General Kenobi and General Skywalker. She also seems to be close to Senator Amidala and she seems to have made quite an impression on the Supreme Chancellor.” Doc mentioned as Rainbow flew overhead, almost sticking the clouds to the ceiling. “Is this just replacing the furniture for now or are you planning on keeping some of the clouds?”     “I’m keeping some of them, it’ll remind me of home.” Rainbow replied before flying up the stairs again. Tank chuckled before following after her slowly just to keep an eye on her.     “Do you think it’ll work?” Crossbones asked, looking at Doc who nodded his head saying. “It might take a bit, but I think they would allow her conditionally.”     “Probably just to keep an eye on her. With her speed I don’t think anyone would be able to keep up with her when she goes flying.” mused Ash before shaking his head. “Again, this would be all up to her.”     “Are you guys done talking? Come on, I want to show you around.” Rainbow said from up the stairs causing Crossbones to chuckle. He shook his head before pushing himself off the wall and climbing the stairs. He took note of the swirling clouds on the walls covering the metal.     “Is this a thing all Equestrians can do?” Crossbones inquired, tearing his eyes away from the wall and Rainbow replied rather quickly. “Not really, there are three… technically four species of po… Equestrians. Pegasi, we’re the ones with the wings. Earth Ponies, they would be what you would consider normal if it wasn’t for our tails. Then there are the Unicorns, I wouldn’t say they can be compared to the Jedi. They are able to cast magic with their horns. Then there are four alicorns, beings that hold traits of all three species. There are only four known alicorns and all of them royalty. Princess Celestia and Luna are sisters. Celestia raises the sun and rules through the day while Princess Luna raises the moon and watches over us at night. Princess Cadance is the Princess of Love, not in a 'controls the love of everyone' sort of way but amplifies love in a person. According to Twilight, who is the latest Alicorn, she just became one. She hasn’t figured out what she’s the Princess of just yet, but she’s a smart pony, she’ll figure it out.”     Crossbones glanced at Doc all the Clones taking note of the word choice.     “Anyways, Pegasi are the only ones who are able to move clouds and we also make them. Not that we can control the weather but we can steward it. Trust me, there is a schedule and if we miss one day we have a lot to make up for.” Rainbow sighed shaking her head as the door leading to the outside slid open as she was about to head into the main room. “That is one thing I am never going to get used to.”     “I can fix that.” Tinker said, moving to take a look at the door. “I think it’s because some of the older systems automatically sense someone moving. It was a glitch in some of the older door models but it kept people from running into them, most of the time.” “You know, I never saw the Chancellor’s aide leave.” Grimm spoke up as they entered the seating area. Kinman Doriana was standing in the middle of the room covered in clouds. The clones looked at Rainbow Dash who then remembered. “Oh yeah, you wanted to tell me something.” “Chancellor Palpatine requested to know if you were planning on becoming a citizen of the Republic. You are a representative of your people and it would move things along quicker if….” Rainbow Dash cut him off mid sentence. “Well yeah, if I need to pay for things, getting a job would be a lot easier if I was a citizen.” “Did you have a profession in mind?” Aide Doriana pryed and Rainbow glances at the Clones before answering. “I want to join the Republic Navy.”