//------------------------------// // The Offer // Story: Rainbow Dash's First Trial: Clone Wars Year 1 // by Hikarikurai24587 //------------------------------// Chapter Twenty: The Offer     Rainbow’s ears were ringing as she opened her eyes, her body being dragged against the metal ground. A clawed hand gripping the back of her neck and the pace they were moving at suggested that she was in the hands of the General. ‘He’s planning on using me as a shield, isn’t he?’ Rainbow thought as her eyes blinked open. She knew she had to get away, her hands reached back and she tried to loosen the grip to no avail. Instead it tightened, the claws almost digging into her flesh. Lightning arced out from her skin causing the General to turn around and slam her into the ground. Rainbow Dash let out a yell twisting to get away. The General glared at her before dropping her and kicking her in the side. Pain erupted through her entire body as she slid across the ground slamming into a nearby wall. She coughed trying to breath as she was grabbed again. This time it was by the head which was swimming.      “Well that was fun.” a voice spoke causing Rainbow’s eyes to flicker around before landing on the source. She let out a groan as she saw a figure walking next to them. The fact that the General paid no heed signalled that this was most likely a spirit. most likely one the spirits Rainbow had seen during her meditation.     “I mean ‘A’ for effort, but I think you shouldn’t be just using one of the abilities. There are other abilities.” the spirit told her and Rainbow saw the lower half of the figure begin to run before vanishing into yellow lightning. ‘Great, that was really helpful.’ Rainbow grumbled mentally her breathing getting harder. She heard Obi-Wan running up ahead and the pace increased again. She heard the General let out a growl. ‘I can’t let myself be used to kill Obi-Wan.’ Rainbow thought feeling electricity rush throughout her body. She needed to get back to Padmé and Anakin, tell them what was going on. Her body surged forward earning a roar from the General. She didn’t care, she had to get to them, her vision began to blur. Her body jerked, slamming into a nearby wall, the lights flickering before dimming. Rainbow collapsed into a heap as everything seemed to slow down. Footsteps echoed down the hallway. “You are being reckless, what do you gain by doing this?” Rainbow blinked as mist filled the area. Etaitiv approaches her as she struggled to her feet. He stared down at her before saying. “It is your way I suppose.” Rainbow was about to speak but pain flooded her senses causing her to drop. “Your body is not used to the power your abilities wield. You have injured yourself critically.” Etaitiv informed her as Rainbow breathed through clenched teeth. When Rainbow didn’t respond Etaitiv moved past her causing her to stand up and follow after him weakly.  “You seem to know a lot about these abilities of mine.” Rainbow pointed out managing to keep pace with the mysterious elder. “They are reflections of those who travelled before you. Commanders, leaders, those who understand that war is not just a battlefield but a service to their country. This is your first war.” This statement gave Rainbow Dash pause. “Duty, Honor, Perseverance, Nobility, Justice, Order, Bravery, Integrity, Loyalty. The meaning of the colors, each with their own unique ability.” “Why are you telling me this?” inquired Rainbow Dash as she stopped in her tracks. Etaitiv turned to look at her, she shivered, staring into his emotionless eyes. “You are not wise, you are stubborn and brash. Most people would seek to understand a new ability, a new gift. Yet even in your free time you chose to fly and sleep in the clouds. Let me show you what your newest ability can allow.” Rainbow Dash glanced off to the side as she thought about her response. Looking back at Etaitiv she responded. “Sure, why not.” Etaitiv moved forward, his fingers barely brushing against her forehead. Power rushed through her veins. The fog swirled around them before vanishing along with Etaitiv revealing Ponyville. It was a normal day, the sun was shining and ponies were going about with their day. Seeing her friends Rainbow Dash ran forward knowing that with their help she could find Fluttershy faster. She barely noticed how fast she had moved. “Twilight! I need your help finding Fluttershy! It’s rather hard and… Twilight?” Rainbow caught in rather quickly that her friend didn’t even acknowledge her. “Twilight! Applejack! Oh come on!” Rainbow Dash let out a groan of frustration, the fog returning just as Pinkie Pie passed by. Rainbow looked back to see Etaitiv standing there holding out his hand beckoning for her return. She looked back, knowing that no matter what she would always return. Especially at the moment, she watched Pinkie Pie wave in her direction and for a split second she thought. ‘No. I’m going to return and I’m bringing Fluttershy and the Clones with me.’ she thought before walking back saying. “I could go back, but I have a friend to find first.”     “How truly loyal.” Etaitiv spoke as if there was something interesting in her actions. Yet there was no emotion in his voice as usual so it was difficult to tell. That was when her dream began to glitch, the fog disappearing in some places. Etaitiv’s appearance flickered between that form and a red skinned alien with piercing eyes.     “Rainbow Dash!” Anakin’s voice broke through and Rainbow Dash turned around the mist thickening as she ran towards the sound of her friend’s voice.     C-3PO walked with R2-D2 towards the ship, his optics taking in everything around them. They were going through a particularly dark hallway. The only light coming from R2, it passed over the walls revealing charred patches and puddles of blood.     “I don’t like the looks of this.” C-3PO said as he glanced around. “I wonder what happened here.”     R2 let out a few beeps causing the protocol droid to look at him saying. “A power discharge? Then why didn’t you say anything? We could be in serious danger.”     R2 replied back as he continued to move forward. Though he was taking pictures just in case someone was missing when they found the others.     “R2, are you quite certain the ship is in this direction?” C-3PO questioned as he followed behind the astromech who beeped in response. “This way looks potentially dangerous.”     They stopped right in front of a lift to a door as R2 let out a few chirps. This seemed to upset C-3PO. “I know the whole place is dangerous! I suggest we stay here and let Master Anakin find us.”     The door hissed open and the two droids looked over to see Anakin and Padmé standing there. Anakin looked a little irritated at the fact that the two droids were hanging about there but he says. “3PO what are you doing? Don’t just stand there. Let’s get back to the ship!”     C-3PO watched as they ran past him shaking his head slightly. They moved after him, Anakin revealing that the ship was a lot closer than the protocol droid had originally anticipated. Anakin was busy instructing R2 to power up the engines the sounds of blasters in the distance. Obi-Wan ran down the hall away from Droidekas as they rolled to a stop firing at the Jedi who shouted. “Hold the ship!”     Anakin moved large cubes in the way of the fire as Obi-wan joined them and the doors closed.     “Master Anakin, might I inquire as to where Miss Dash is?” 3PO asked and Anakin looked around saying. “She was with Obi-wan last.”     “We got separated, I tried to tell you before I was jammed. I believe she would have headed back to the rails but I didn’t see her.” Obi-Wan said, Anakin moving towards the door. “Anakin, no. It is too risky.”     “I’m not leaving her behind.” Anakin replied as R2 beeped excitedly, chirps intermixing. “A life form? Is it Grievous?”     “I believe it might be Rainbow Dash. I will go and see.” 3PO told them as they went to take off. The protocol droid walked off of the bridge and into the medical bay stopping in his tracks as he saw Rainbow Dash floating in mid air her whole body enveloped in shadow. Though her outline was in a bright white light. Strands of the same white light were wrapping around her. He took note of the injuries on her, bruises and burns appearing to be glowing white as well. Adding up the total quickly, 3PO knew that Rainbow would need medical attention immediately.     “Oh dear this does not appear to be good.” 3PO said to himself before walking out ready to inform Anakin and Obi-Wan of this. He paused when he noticed they were distracted by oncoming fire and everytime he wanted to speak something rather important was happening. He looked at R2 saying. “I hope there will be enough time to explain that Miss Dash is on board. Though I do not know what is happening with her at the moment. It is strange, she seemed severely injured and yet she managed to make her way onboard the ship without any assistance.”     R2 let out a few worried chirps and 3PO placed a hand on his head saying. “I know and I’m not sure if a medical droid could help her in the state she is in. It is odd the way I found her, I’m not sure there is any historical facts or religious ceremony that would have the sort of state she appears to be in.”     In the background the Malevolent crashed into the moon. Anakin standing up from his seat and looking at C-3PO. “Well?”     “I have found Miss Rainbow Dash, she is on board. However….” C-3PO trailed off and Obi-Wan spoke up sensing worry from the droid. “However?”     “I must show you.” C-3PO led them to the medical bay and Anakin darted forward shouting. “Rainbow Dash!”     “Anakin wait!” Obi-Wan cried out in warning as Padmé moved to check on her as well. “Senator, please. I don’t think we should be moving her or disturbing her in this state.”     “We can’t just leave her like this.” Anakin snapped back and Obi-Wan moved closer saying. “She is injured, Anakin, badly. I can only assume that she encountered Grievous and somehow got away.”     “We did find a hallway that was seemingly damaged by a powersurge.” C-3PO reported looking at the astromech. “There was… blood.”     “That must have been her, but to injure herself by using that power. Anakin, let us wait until we are aboard the ship before even moving her. This state might be the only reason she is alive, if we interrupt it we might lose her.” Obi-Wan told his former Padawan who looked at him then to Padmé. He nodded his head saying. “We’ll be back shortly… R2 I want you to check the ship. Make sure there is nothing new. Rainbow Dash couldn’t have crawled here, we would have noticed it. Either something brought her here and left or it’s still on board the Twilight.”     R2 let out a chirp of affirmation before going to patrol the vessel.     “That is good thinking Anakin.” Obi-Wan told him as they moved back to the bridge and sat down. Padmé decided to remain by Rainbow Dash’s side as they flew back to the ship. C-3PO placed a hand on her shoulder saying. “I am sure she is going to be alright.”     “If I hadn’t ordered her to go with Obi-Wan, she wouldn’t be like this.” Padmé said, her brown eyes looking at the white cord-like strands wrapping around Rainbow.     “I am sure that this was not your fault, you did not know that any of this would happen.” 3PO told her before looking in front of him. “I do not blame you and I am sure Miss Dash does not either.”     “Thanks C-3PO.” Padmé patted the metal hand on her shoulder.     R2 rolled around in the cargo bay, scanning everything carefully as he looked around. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, yet something felt off. Whatever brought Rainbow Dash onboard didn’t trigger any alarms meaning it was careful. Then why would it just turn around and head back to the Malevolence. There was no trace of an intruder so R2 carried on. Inside one of the spare parts containers was a deactivated B1 Battle droid. It’s hand twitched as its head moved up looking around slightly before going back into standby mode.