Chapter Eighteen: Visions and Warnings
Spike sat in the middle of the training room trying to open his mind. He could hear the hum of the engine and the smallest of the vibrations of the ship. The thoughts would creep in, thoughts about Twilight, thoughts about the crash.
"Focus Spike, your feelings are going towards grief and sorrow. Focus on what Twilight would want you to be." Anakin said, sitting down next to him. Spike sighed before asking. “What do the Jedi believe when someone dies?”
"Our essence lives on to become one with the Force. All living things have a connection to the Force." Anakin explained placing a hand on Spike's back. "Remember, I know what it's like to lose someone very close to you. I can help you through this."
“I know.” Spike replied, trying to clear his mind again. “I mean it's a little bit more encouraging to know that Twilight is still with me even though she’s not here physically.”
"And knowing that, what do you think she would say seeing you right now?" Anakin asked with a smile. Spike thought for a moment and was about to say something when a voice whispered behind him in a low guttural voice. “Spiiiike.”
Spike’s head turned a moment asking. “Did you hear that?”
"Hear what Spike? This room is built to repel sound from outside so it has just been me and you." Anakin answered confused. "Well, and the vibrations of the ship."
“It was strange, like someone whispering to me.” Spike shook his head as his shoulders slumped. “It was eerie, like there was someone standing right behind me.”
"Maybe you experienced a vision?" Anakin asked curiously. "Sometimes when we focus on the Force we can hear voices only we can hear and see only what we can see."
“So you guys can see stuff through the Force… like impending disasters or where people are?” Spike asked, opening his eyes finally to look at Anakin.
"In a way yes, but it's typically clouded and the future is uncertain." Anakin explained standing up. He moved to be directly in front of Spike. Spike nodded his head saying. “That makes sense, since a single decision can change an entire outcome of an event. Twilight and I experienced that when somepony that Twilight may have angered actually found a time travelling spell to destroy Twilight’s future and ended up ruining Equestria. Twilight tried many times to stop her but it was when she took the pony to the future for the final time did she actually take the time to explain what was eating at her. We set everything right but… what if that changed something in the wider galaxy?"
"We won't know but we can't worry about it, only move forward." Anakin said as he sat down again and placed a rock in between him and Spike. Spike looked at the rock before looking at Anakin questioningly. “A rock?”
"Yup. I want you to focus on the rock. Close your eyes and see the rock in your mind. You are going to lift it with the Force." Anakin instructed. Spike closed his eyes picturing the rock in his mind. He just focused and remembering to breathe. Twilight had always told him that breathing was important when focusing or one could pass out. He didn’t know how to lift the rock but he wasn’t going to lose focus.
"Imagine yourself picking it up with your hand. Try stretching it out as help." Anakin said quietly. "Even with lots of training Force users still do motions to help them focus."
Spike reached out with his hand picturing in his mind picking up the rock. “Spiiiike, he’s coming Spiiiike. He’s coming for all of you.”
Spike tried to ignore the voice to push it away when a hoof touched his shoulder as the voice shouted. “SPIKE!”
Spike’s eyes flew open, he swore he heard Twilight his heart racing. Anakin rushed over to Spike and placed a hand on him. "What is it Spike?"
“I… I heard the voice again. It sounded like Twilight in the end. It told me that he’s coming, that he’s coming for all of us. I don’t know what that means.” Spike pulled his knees into his chest.
Anakin thought for a moment when he said. "I think we better see Princess Celestia."
Spike nodded his head as he climbed to his feet moving quickly to keep up with Anakin. “Did I manage to move the rock at least?”
"It budged a bit but then you lost focus." Anakin said looking back at him. Spike sighed before shrugging. “Practice makes perfect I suppose. I’ll keep at it. So do all Jedi have students?”
"Most of them do but there's some exceptions." Anakin explained. "Some Jedi had duties in the Temple, like the guards."
“So their duties prevent them from having time to teach students.” Spike nodded his head. “It makes sense. Are all students taught the same way? Did it depend on the master?”
"Every Master was different. Some good, some...not so good. We all have different methods and personalities that set us apart." Anakin answered. "Anything else?"
“What do you call the students?” Spike asked knowing he was already told this but he couldn’t remember. Anakin weighed telling him before saying. “Padawan, just don’t mention it when you’re off the ship.”
“I won’t, but I don’t think we can leave the ship without disguises. Twilight was one of the few ponies who actually knew how to transform ponies into other species. I’m sure that Celestia and Luna could do it but with Rex around I don’t think he’ll allow them off the ship.” Spike pointed out with a sigh. “It’s going to be a long journey.”
“We’ll figure something out.” chuckled Anakin as they made their way to the bridge. “Rex would probably be your best bet on blending in planetside for the time being.”
They were heading to the lift when it opened up revealing a rather looking Applejack. Anakin frowned as he asked. “Is everything alright?”
“Rainbow Dash got into a spat with Hallow Glow. She was lookin’ fer ponies who wanted to test a new doohickie of hers. Rainbow told her to try it out herself and not to git other ponies involved. Celestia ended up gettin’ called. If yer lookin’ fer her, she’s gonna be on the Promenade.” explained Applejack walking away shaking her head. “Ah swear, both of them need ta know when to walk away.”
“Guess we’re heading to the Promenade then.” Spike said looking up at Anakin before glancing behind him worried for Applejack. Before the door to the training room closed behind her she grabbed a meditation pillow and sat down. He walked into the lift with Anakin as the doors closed. He couldn’t help but wonder if the voice was warning them about someone. ‘The Emperor? We already know he’s looking for us. Someone the Emperor sent after us? Whoever it is they’re dangerous.’ Spike mused trying not to fidget before the doors opened to the Promenade. It was one of the few places that all of the lifts would lead to with how massive the ship was.
“You can’t just go around asking ponies to test out an invention that might not even work or worse, blow up in their faces! Why don’t you just test them?” shouted Rainbow Dash, Spike could feel her anger even from here. If she could fly he knew she would be up in the air at this point. Ponies were giving them a wide berth and even following Applejack’s example and escaping into the lifts. The two walked forward until they were close enough to see Celestia standing in between them using her wings and magic to keep them apart.
“If I could, I would, but I cannot due to the variable nature of magic.” Hallow Glow snapped back, her usually flighty nature gone as she glared right back at Rainbow Dash. “If I merely test these on myself it would only be able to sync with my own natural magic. Using myself as a test subject would not only hinder this project but it could put others in danger. If I perform a test in a controlled situation it would not only reduce the risk of them blowing up but also allow for more variables in the testing.”
“And just how would these stupid necklaces even help us?” Anakin wasn’t sure how Celestia was managing to hold them back at this point as Rainbow shouted. Her magic was merely acting as a wall at this point with how the two would move forward.
“These are enchanted with a disguise spell! According to Skywalker our species isn’t seen as typically sentient. Which makes us easier to spot, supply runs and exploration will be minimalized to just Skywalker and the other humans. This puts them at a greater risk at getting caught as well due to them being well known traitors.” Hallow Glow snapped back her hoof hitting the ground. “How stupid can you be?”
“Enough you two!” Celestia’s voice echoed around the room causing the two to freeze in their shouting match. “Both of you should know better! Rainbow Dash, she was here asking for volunteers, she was not forcing anypony into her tests. This did not warrant a confrontation. Hallow Glow, you should realize that most ponies would be nervous around something that hasn’t had all the kinks worked out of it. And most of all do not refer to another pony as stupid. I know both of you are just doing what you think is right, but this fighting is not going to help anyone. Now go cool down before I use the Binding Chain to get you two to work together.”
The two ponies walked away from each other, Hallow Glow almost running at the mention of the Binding Chain. Spike assumed that it was one of her inventions that she regretted even showing Celestia. Celestia took a deep breath to calm herself down.
“I take it they don’t get along?” Anakin joked as approached Celestia who looked at him tiredly. She took a moment to let out a sigh before replying. “I know Rainbow Dash will reveal in time why she is so aggressive towards Hallow Glow and I know Hallow Glow needs time to get used to other ponies. I figured both are just stressed, but this… this is something deeper for both of them.”
Shaking her head sadly Celestia looked at them asking. “Is there something you needed from me?”
“Spike had a vision,” Anakin said, he wanted to say more when his communicator began to beep. “He can explain it better, excuse me.”
Spike began to explain everything to Celestia as Anakin moved off to the side. “Yeah?”
“Sir, we are detecting a vessel coming out of Hyperspace, what should we do?” a pony on the bridge, Thunderlane it sounded like, spoke.
"Have anyone able to help defend the ship to get ready, I'll check it out." Anakin said through his communicator. He walked over to a nearby window and saw the fighter slowly come into view, firing at them. The ship shook as Anakin nearly lost balance.
"They found us, Spike's vision...this must be what the warning was!" Anakin shouted to himself as he tried to get a better look. ‘Ahsoka? No...that ship looks different. Almost like Grevious but he's dead so who is it?’ He thought to himself as he moved to make sure Spike and Celestia were alright.
"Are you hurt?" Anakin asked the both of them. Celestia had steadied herself before looking at Anakin saying. “I’m fine. Prepare yourself, I am teleporting us straight to the bridge!”
The golden magical aura surrounded her horn before exploding outwards as she teleported the three of them. When the light died down they were on the bridge. None of the ponies were surprised as they ran around panicking trying to figure out what was going on. Nova Explorer and Star Glider were manning the blaster turrets from their seat with the help of another pegasus. One who went by the name of Derpy. Despite her cross eyed appearance she was doing a good job on the weapons.
A beeping sound came from the front of the bridge as Thunderlane spoke. "Princess Celestia, the attacker is trying to contact us!"
“Put him through.” Celestia said as she moved to the front keeping her head up high and her face set to neutral.
A hologram appeared revealing an alien cyborg, looking around at the crew. "Hello there."