Chapter Four: Failed Negotiations
“If anything happens,get everyone into the castle.” Twilight instructed Shining Armor before running in to check on the Princesses. “How are you feeling?”
“Get the barrier up, we will be fine.” Celestia panted climbing to her hooves. Twilight nodded her head quickly forming a barrier around Ponyville.
“I’m sorry.” apologized Anakin and Twilight looked at him. “We led them here, even if we were trying to escape.”
“It is better that you’re here, you can help us.” Twilight said watching as vessels approached. “You can tell us what to expect.”
“Depending on who they send. If it is a representative they would relay what they have been told. They would paint the Empire as something good. That they seek to bring peace and that they are merely hunting down traitors. If they even realize that you are sentient.” Anakin explained pacing back and forth. “The two you would have to worry about is the Emperor, if he takes interest, and his Apprentice: Darth Cyrin. The Emperor is cunning a deceitful. He uses his words and hides behind a friendly facade. If it wasn’t for my own Master I would have fallen to his side.”
“And Darth Cyrin?” Twilight asked, seeing pain deep within Anakin’s eyes as well as restrained anger.
“She is violent only reigned back by her master. She uses fear and intimidation to get her way.” Anakin looked away as he spoke those words. “A far cry from who she used to be.”
“Sir.” Rex interrupted causing Anakin to turn around. “We should at least set up defenses around the castle. Just in case negotiations fail.”
“Don’t use your technology.” Twilight told him earning looks of confusion from both of them. “I don’t want them to know that you helped us or best case scenario that you were here. I don’t want to imagine what they will do.”
“Understood Ma’am.” Rex said, Twilight glanced towards the outside saying. “Now or never.”
Twilight looked at Anakin before casting a spell saying. “This will allow us to communicate mentally. So they can’t listen in and suspect.”
“Stay safe.” Anakin replied, Celestia and Luna nodded their heads solemnly moving towards the barrier followed by Cadence, Twilight, her friends, Spike, and Starlight Glimmer. Twilight looked at her saying. “I need you here. You and Trixie need to keep everyone calm.”
“You're going to need help.” Starlight told her and Twilight shook her head saying. “If they manage to take down the barrier you are the best chance anyone has. Besides, I already have a backup plan, just in case.”
“Twilight….” Starlight trailed off before giving her a hug. “Stay safe.”
“I will.” Twilight returned the hug, when they parted Starlight stood there watching as they passed through the barrier.
“They’re just going? Just like that?” Trixie’s voice spoke up causing Starlight to look at her. “No backup? I know they’re powerful but we don’t even know what creatures those are!”
“Get every creature you can find.” Starlight ordered and Trixie looked at her eyes wide in disbelief. “Twilight thinks they need to handle this on their own, if those humans attack we need to be there to back her up. That’s what friends do.”
Trixie nodded her head before rushing off. Starlight looked past the barrier, she was getting a bad feeling.
Twilight took a deep breath as they approached the humans who had all landed. They were all wearing the same white armor. They all raised their weapons and Celestia lifted a hoof saying. “There is no need, I am here to speak to your leader. You have landed upon our world without cause we are here to reach an accord.”
Twilight was shocked when she saw the soldiers look at each other before saying. “Remain here.”
One of them ran off as Twilight looked at Celestia who told her. “I learned their language when the man visited over five thousands years ago. It was needed, I am just glad that the language hasn’t changed.”
Twilight didn’t feel much better, but at least she understood. Cadence shifted looking at Celestia who glanced at the soldier before casting a quick spell on Cadence and Twilight.
“What did you do?” he asked gruffly, raising his weapon, and Celestia gave him a smile saying. “For Princess Cadence it is to be able to understand and communicate with you. Princess Twilight just needed a way to communicate.”
The soldier took a step back, Twilight had a feeling that he was frowning, the other approached saying. “Darth Cyrin will see you now.”
“Anakin, they want us to meet in the camp.” Twilight informed Anakin, the link was silent before Anakin replied. “Careful, you want to meet them on neutral territory. If you go in there, there is a chance that if something goes wrong you’ll be captured.”
Twilight was about to speak but Celestia raised her hoof saying. “I would like to speak on neutral ground.”
Celestia pointed towards an area on top of a hill just as a strange female walked up. She had red skin with white markings upon her face, what appeared to be a blue and white headdress, and gold eyes. Twilight sent the mental image to Anakin and just felt pain and sadness surge in the link. ‘He knows her.’ she thought as she observed the humanoid. She glared at them as Celestia calmly moved in the direction she had pointed with her hoof. Twilight followed before looking back seeing who she assumed was Darth Cyrin talking to someone in the palm of her hand. Rainbow Dash flew up to Celestia asking. “What’s the plan?”
“Be prepared, I do not want them to have any surprises during the negotiations.” Celestia told her as Twilight looked at her. “They were not expecting us.”
“To be expected, sister, Master Kal Jeron did not expect us to be the sentient life he had sensed.” Luna pointed out a frown on her face. “Yet he did not raise his weapon when he saw us acting with intelligence.”
“We can not go back on our ways. We seek peace and come to an understanding with those willing to do the same.” Celestia stopped at the top of the hill. Her horn glowed, a table made of stone formed up from the ground and seats appeared in front of it. Some were made for the humans and the others for the ponies. Celestia took a seat as a teapot and tea cups appeared.
“This seems familiar.” grumbled Luna as Celestia poured herself a cup and took a seat as they waited. Spike was pacing back and forth feeling uneasy, he was surprised that Darth Cyrin hadn’t followed them immediately. Rainbow Dash was darting back and forth yet even she did not go near the encampment. The day that had once been sunny and bright was cloudy and grim around there. Like something was oppressing the normal magic of the pegasi and twisting it. That was when she spotted a vessel descending.
“I think they called someone else.” Rainbow informed them landing next to Twilight who looked at Celestia who sipped her tea saying. “They could not obtain the high ground so they have to change their tactic.”
“They are cautious.” Luna mused as a cake appeared on the table with some silverware. “Really sister? Are you planning on sharing?”
“I am.” Celestia replied, a tone in her voice that tried to keep the air light yet she had a seriousness in it. Twilight would describe it as nervousness, but the only time she had seen Celestia nervous was during the flashback. Pacing back and forth upon her throne room floor imaging frightening scenarios if she sent Twilight away. Taking a deep breath Twilight tried to calm her own nerves when Rainbow Dash said loudly. “About time! I see her, she’s got another human with her.”
“Looks like he’s elderly with the way she’s helpin’ him. Awfully important, has some guards wearin’ red helmets and cloaks. I’m countin’ eight.” Applejack said standing next to Rainbow Dash. “Don’t see how they can be a danger.”
“Looks can be deceiving.” Twilight mumbled under breath as her two friends headed back to the table. The first ones over the hill were a few of the guards that Applejack had pointed out, then Darth Cyrin and the old man, they were flanked by the rest of the guards.
“Greetings.” Celestia spoke climbing to her hooves and motioning for the seat in front of her. “I am Princess Celestia, my sister Princess Luna, my niece Princess Cadence of the Crystal Empire, and this is Princess Twilight my former student. Behind us are the heroes of our land, Equestria. Thank you for agreeing to this meeting.”
“I am Emperor Sheev Palpatine and this is my Aide Ahsoka Tano.” the man said as he was led to one of the human sized chairs and he took a seat. “It is unfortunate that our presence is required here.”
“Yes, we were quite surprised at your appearance.” Celestia said, Spike refilled her up as she took a seat. “Tea?”
Emperor Palpatine smiled politely saying. “Of course!”
The tea was poured and Palpatine took a sip savoring it saying. “Exquisite, quite unlike anything from my home planet of Naboo.”
“You must love your planet as much as I love mine.” Celestia said, taking a sip from her own cup. Twilight looked at the Aide which she knew was Darth Cyrin just with a new outfit. ‘Ahsoka Tano, I wonder if that is her real name while Darth Cyrin is a title.’
“Tell me Emperor Palpatine, why is it that you have come to our planet?” Celestia asked as she sliced a piece of the cake. “It has been over five thousand years since anyone from another world has visited our planet.”
“Strange, I do not recall any stories or reports detailing such a… fascinating world.” spoke Ahsoka choosing her words carefully taking a polite sip of the tea. Celestia gave her a polite smile saying. “Master Kal Jeron kept his promise and did not reveal our location to his Republic.”
Ahsoka glanced over to Palpatine who set down his cup sighing sadly. “Do you speak of Jedi Master Kal Jeron?”
“Yes, do not worry, I know he has long since passed.” Celestia assured him and a looked of sadness passed over Palpatine’s face. “Is something the matter Emperor Palpatine?”
Palpatine was silent for a moment, choosing his words carefully, then he looked at Celestia saying. “It is with great regret to inform you that the Jedi Order betrayed and turned against the Republic. It is the reason why we are here.”
“We were tracking a rogue Jedi and a few traitors to this world.” Ahsoka spoke, placing a device on the table and pressing a button and an image of Anakin and the others was projected. “Once detained we are to bring them back for trial of the attempted assassination of the Emperor. We expect full cooperation.”
“Our world has been protected for over five thousand years, we have stayed out of the wars of your galaxy, you have no right....!” Luna stood up quickly before clearing her throat to try and keep herself composed. “We would prefer it if you hadn’t destroyed our only form of protection which my sister and I had sustained since our last guest.”
Celestia looked at her sister before nodding her head slightly saying. “There was a vessel that managed to break through but it appears to have been abandoned. Search there if you wish, however do avoid any lands that are populated are either under my rule or the rulers of the respective species. We are not part of your Empire, you will not enter the towns or cities without written consent or permission.”
Ahsoka looked like she wanted to argue but Palpatine raised his hand and she went silent. “Of course, we only wish for peace. I thank you for your understanding.”
Palpatine moved to get up when Celestia glanced at him over her cup as she took a sip. They locked eyes and she set the cup down saying. “One more thing: How is it that you managed to bring down the barrier? There was no energy disruption so it could not have been from your own vessels. It was like a powerful force managed to dissolve it within seconds of coming in contact with it. It wouldn’t bother me if it was done carefully, like this meeting. Yet instead it was destroyed with no regard for what it could have been protecting.”
The smile on Palpatine’s face slipped and Celestia spoke her next words with a serious look in her eyes. “Only a malevolent force would destroy a shield with no knowledge of what it was protecting. From the moment you have sat down you had not once apologized for what you have done nor have you shown any regret.”
The smile dropped completely from Palpatine’s face before his lips pulled back into a sneer.