A death-white wasteland stretched from horizon to horizon. The tremendous heat of two huge twin suns settled on a lone figure, a farm boy who looked much younger than his eighteen years. His shaggy hair and baggy tunic give him the air of a simple but lovable lad. His name… Luke Skywalker.
A light wind whipped at him, as he adjusted several valves on a large, battered moisture vaporator which stuck out the desert floor like an oil pipe with valves. He is aided by a beat-up tread-robot with six claw arms. The little robot appeared to be barely functioning, moving with jerky motions. A bright sparkle in the morning sky caught Luke’s eye, he instinctively grabbed a pair of electrobinoculars from his utility belt. He stood transfixed for a few moments studying the heavens, then dashed toward his dented, crudely repaired Landspeeder (An auto-like transport that traveled a few feet above the ground on a magnetic-field). He motioned for the tiny robot to follow.
“Hurry up!” Luke called out. “Come with me! Well, what are you waiting for?! Get in gear!”
The robot scooted around in a tight circle, stopped short, and smoke began to pour out of every joint. Luke threw his arms up in disgust. Exasperated, the young farm boy jumped into his Landspeeder leaving the smoldering robot to hum madly. Little did the young man realized, a bright light flashed along the desert landscape… only to disappear just as quickly.
<>
As the heat waves radiated across the scorching desert planet of Tatooine, as the planet’s two suns shined brightly, a group of unconscious humans and a tiny little dog lay motionless along the hot desert floor. A pair of lavender eyes slowly pink open and instantly snapped shut as the blinding rays invaded their vision. Twilight Sparkle slowly sat up, stretching her tired limbs before taking a good long look. Seeing the many dunes along the dense desert landscape, her eyes instantly grew wide, and she looked down toward her unconscious friends.
“Guys!” She yelled. “Guys, wake up!”
As Twilight Sparkle walked around the group, she bumped into the first figure awake. She looked up and her face was stunned at the very sight. The Prince of Peace, a now human Storm Shield, had quite handsome features as a human. With peach colored skin, black hair with red streaks, and teal eyes. He looked over toward Twilight.
“Twilight?” He asked. “Something wrong?”
Twilight Sparkle stared silently, but then quickly snapped out of it as his eyes wandered around worriedly.
“Take a look around,” Twilight gestured.
Rubbing his eyes for a moment, Storm looked around as the others started coming to. At first, it didn’t seem like he noticed anything off. However, once he finally noticed where they were, his eyes too went wide. Only, more of a look of recognition than concern.
“I don’t believe it,” He said amazed.
The rest of the group, one-by-one, started waking up.
“Man… I’ll never get used to falling through that stupid portal,” Rainbow groaned.
“Ya’ll would think after six ah these adventures, we’d be used to it by now,” Applejack added.
Then as the girls turned to each other, they noticed they were no longer their usual pony selves. But rather, they all reverted to their human forms… with one exception.
“Oh my goodness, we’re humans again!” Fluttershy gasped.
“Yippie for you,” Spike moaned, looking at himself. “Of course I end up a dog again!”
“Not only that darling but look at the interesting ensemble we’re wearing!” Rarity pointed out.
Everyone looked down at themselves, noticing they were wearing some rather strange clothing made to fit their own specific selves. Even Storm Shield wore black-and-brown robes.
Of course, Pinkie Pie was most excited about everything currently going on.
“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! OH MY GOSH!!! This is so super-terrifically amazing spectacular wonderfully wow, wow, WOW!!! Look at our clothes; they’re so cute!”
Even Rarity couldn’t deny Pinkie made a good point, as she examined her own attire.
“Normally I’d disagree with you Pinkie, but I must admit this fashion is amazing!”
“Girls, I don’t think our clothes, cool as they may be, is the hot issue right now!” Rainbow Dash interrupted.
“Rainbow’s right,” Twilight agreed. “We’re stuck in our human forms, in an unknown location, with absolutely no way of knowing where we are!”
“Actually, I do,” Storm spoke up.
Everyone turned to face the young prince, all genuinely confused.
“What do you mean Storm?” Twilight asked.
Storm faced all the girls (And Spike), before turning back toward the landscape of the desert planet.
“This planet is called Tatooine, which lies along the Outer Rim of wild space,” He explained. “I’ve been here almost a thousand years ago; matter of fact, I’ve been to ‘many’ planets in this galaxy aside from this one.”
“Was that before you were sealed in the Philosopher’s Stone?” Spike asked.
“Precisely,” Storm nodded. “This galaxy has been at constant war between two heated rivals: the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi have always been the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, while the Sith seek nothing but chaos and control.”
“Wait, how did you even end up here to begin with?” Rarity asked.
“About a few hundred years when the alliance with the Wizarding World was established, the three tribes managed to figure out a way to traverse through multiple universes through various portals. Mother always told me never to wander, but one night curiosity got the best of me and I ended up traveling through a portal to this dimension.”
“And you’ve traveled to other planets here too right?” Rainbow asked.
“Indeed I have. There are many planets in this galaxy: Hoth, Coruscant, Taris, Balmorra, Alderaan, Quesh, and even here, Tatooine. I could name all the ‘other’ planets in this galaxy, but we’d be here all day.”
Twilight approached Storm, looking toward the sky with a fascinated smile on her face.
“Wow!” She exclaimed excitedly. “I’ve always wondered if there was life anywhere in space. Hearing all that from you it’s… it’s indescribable!”
“Uh Twi, don’t know if you noticed but… there’s no life here,” Rainbow gestured to the barren wasteland.
“On the contrary Rainbow, Tatooine’s actually full of life,” Storm corrected. “That being said, most of the life here are… ‘unfriendly’. There’s Sand People, Jawas… and the Hutts, they are the worst! They practically run this whole place.”
All this made Fluttershy whimper, as she hid herself behind Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Spike leapt up into Twilight’s arms, huddling up as close to her as possible.
“What the hay are Hutts?” Rainbow asked.
“You don’t want to find out,” Storm answered.
It was then Twilight remembered one very important detail. She looked around, recalling they were missing one ‘very’ important member of their group.
“Oh my gosh, where’s Sunset?!” She exclaimed. “I lost hold of her in the portal!”
“I’m sure she’s around here somewhere,” Rarity assured.
This news seemed to worry Storm greatly.
“I’m not too sure about that.”
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked worriedly.
“I mean if she got lost in the portal, there’s no telling where she ended up,” Storm explained truthfully. “For all we know, she might not have ended up on Tatooine.”
“Then we have to go looking for her,” Applejack spoke up.
“And how?” Rainbow asked. “This place is so huge we wouldn’t even know where to begin.”
“Luckily, I still have some things from my time here a thousand years ago,” Storm said.
Storm held up his hand, projecting his red magical aura. Within a moment, and a bright flash of light, there was a black transport speedster with aqua blue trimmings and laser guns sitting before them all.
Everyone stared at the vehicle wide eyed and their mouths hanging open.
“Now that is a stylin’ ride!” Rainbow smirked.
“How are we all going to fit in there?” Rarity asked. “It looks like it barely fits two.”
“Trust me Rarity,” Storm assured her. “This baby’s a lot more roomy than she looks.”
“She?” Spike questioned.
“You heard me! You always refer to these vehicles as a ‘she’.”
Storm opened the hatch, gesturing them all to climb in. Twilight was the first to climb aboard, blushing a bit when Storm offered some assistance. One by one, they all hopped in only to discover it was actually roomy enough to fit them all with plenty of room to spare.
“How is this possible?” Fluttershy asked.
“Magic,” Storm chuckled. “But all joking aside, it’s a simple expansion effect. Looks small on the outside, but much larger on the inside.”
Storm took his place in the driver’s seat, starting up the engine. The transporter sprang to life, ready to carry them to wherever they needed to go.
“Alright ladies and gentlemen, let’s find Sunset!” Storm declared.
“And where do we start first?” Twilight asked.
“I know a place…”
With that, the speeder shot across the desert sand towards where they hoped to be some form of civilization. The journey to find Sunset Shimmer had officially begun…
<>
Meanwhile, as the heat waves radiate from the dozen or so bleached white buildings, Luke piloted his Landspeeder through the dusty empty street of the tiny settlement. An old woman rushed out of the speeding vehicle’s path, shaking her fist at Luke as he flew past.
“I’ve told you kids to slow down!” The woman shouted.
Luke soon burst into the power station, waking ‘The Fixer’, a rugged mechanic, and Camie, a sexy, disheveled girl who has been asleep in his lap. They grumbled as he raced through the office, yelling wildly.
“Did I hear a young noise blast through here?” The Fixer asked.
“It was just wormie on another rampage,” Camie replied.
Luke bounced into a small room behind the office where Deak and Windy, two tough boys around Luke’s age, are playing a computer pool-like game with Biggs, a burly, handsome boy a few years older than the rest. His flashy city attire, a sharp contrast to the loose-fitting tunics of the farm boys, make it clear he was no resident of this place. A robot repaired some equipment in the background.
“Shape it up you guys!” Luke called out, seeing Biggs. “Biggs?”
Luke’s surprise over the appearance of Biggs gave way to great joy and emotion. They give each other a great bear hug.
“I didn’t know you were back! When did you get in?”
“Just now,” Biggs replied. “I wanted to surprise you, hot shot. I thought you’d be here… certainly didn’t expect you to be out working.”
A chuckle escaped Biggs’ lips, while Luke rolled his eyes with annoyance.
“The Academy didn’t change you much…” Luke replied. “But you’re back so soon? Didn’t you get your commission?”
Biggs has an air of cool that seems slightly phony.
“Of course I got it. Signed aboard The Rand Ecliptic last week. First mate Biggs Darklighter at your service…”
Biggs pulled up a salute which came off as slightly playful.
“I just came to say good-bye to all you unfortunate landlocked simpletons.”
Everyone chuckled. The dazzling spectacle of his dashing friend was almost too much for Luke, but suddenly he snapped out of it.
“I almost forgot,” Luke remembered. “There’s a battle going on! Right here in our system. Come and look!”
“Not again!” Deak moaned. “Forget it.”
<>
The group stumbled into the stifling desert sun. Camie and The Fixer complained, forced to shade their eyes. Luke had his binoculars scanning the heavens.
“There they are!” Luke pointed out.
Biggs took the binoculars from Luke, as the others strained to see something with the naked eye. Through the binoculars, Biggs saw two small silver specks.
“That’s no battle, hot shot…” Biggs shook his head. “They’re just sitting there! Probably a freighter-tanker refueling.”
“But there was a lot of firing earlier…”
Camie grabbed the binoculars away banging them against the building in the process. Luke grabbed them back.
“Easy with those!” Luke frowned.
“Don’t worry about it, Wormie,” Camie teased.
The Fixer gave Luke a hard look and the young farm boy shrugged his shoulders in resignation.
“I keep telling you, the Rebellion is a long way from here,” The Fixer spoke, matter-of-factly. “I doubt if the Empire would even fight to keep this system. Believe me Luke, this planet is a big hunk of nothing…”
Luke agreed, although it’s obvious he isn’t sure why. The group stumbled back into the power station, grumbling about Luke’s ineptitude. Luke Skywalker was just about to join the group when his ears picked up a sound. He turned around and looming in the distance an object seemed to come toward him. His eyes tried to adjust thinking it might be a mirage. But as it got closer, it turned out to be a zooming black transport speedster approaching the building. The vehicle slowed to a stop at the foot of the boy’s feet, as the hatch opened up revealing the pilot… Storm Shield.
“Morning sir,” Storm greeted.
“Um… hello,” Luke replied, uncertainly.
“I was wondering if you could help us out,” Storm continued. “We’re trying to find someone, but the engine’s acting up. And if you can, we’d like to know if there’s a joint that could provide some drinks for me and my friends.”
“Friends?”
Storm Shield nodded, before lifting himself out of the vehicle. To Luke’s surprise, six female heads peeked out from the hatch. One of the girls, the only one with glasses, held a purple dog with green tufts of fur in her hands. It took a moment for Luke to process the entire scenario.
“I’ll… see what I can do,” Luke spoke.
<>
Elsewhere, in another part of Tatooine, the escape pod carrying C-3PO and R2-D2 crash landed in Jundland (‘No Man’s Land’ as the natives call it), where the rugged desert mesas meet the foreboding dune sea. The two helpless astro-droids kick up clouds of sand as they leave the lifepod and clumsily work their way across the desert wasteland. The lifepod in the distance rested half buried in the sand.
“How did we get into this mess?” 3PO complained. “I really don’t know how. We seem to be made to suffer. It’s our lot in life.”
R2 answered with a series of beeping sounds.
“I’ve got to rest before I fall apart. My joints are almost frozen.”
R2 kept responding with beeping sounds, as C-3PO looked around the seemingly empty landscape.
“What a desolate place this is.”
Suddenly, R2 whistled and made a sharp right turn. 3PO turned as the little droid started off in the direction of the rocky desert mesas.
“Where do you think you’re going?” 3PO yelled.
A stream of electronic noises pours fourth from the small robot.
“Well, I’m not going that way. It’s much too rocky. This way is much easier.”
R2 countered with a lengthy whistle.
“What makes you think there are settlements over there?”
R2 continued to make beeping sounds.
“Don’t get technical with me!”
And R2 continued making beeping sounds.
“What mission? What are you talking about?” 3PO asked, growing annoyed. “I’ve had just about enough of you! Go that way! You’ll be malfunctioning within a day, you nearsighted scrap pile!”
3PO gave the little robot a kick and started off in the direction of the vast dune sea.
“And don’t let me catch you following me begging for help, because you won’t get it.”
R2’s reply was a rather rude sound. He turned and trudged off in the direction of the towering mesas, turning briefly toward 3PO who barely acknowledge R2.
“No more adventures!” 3PO called out. “I’m not going that way.”
R2 beeped to himself as he made his way toward the distant mountains, while 3PO took off in the opposite direction.
<>
Across the Dune Sea, C-3PO, hot and tired, struggled up over the ridge of a dune. Before his sights came several more dunes, which seem to go on for endless miles. He turned back to the direction of the now distant rock mesas.
“That malfunctioning little twerp, this is all his fault!” 3PO grumbled. “He tricked me into going this way, but he’ll do no better!”
In a huff of anger and frustration, 3PO knocked the sand from his joints. His plight seemed hopeless, when a glint of reflected light in the distance revealed an object moving toward him.
“Wait, what’s that?” 3PO observed, brightening. “A transport! I’m saved!”
The bronze android waved frantically, yelling at the approaching transport.
“Over here! Hey, hey! Help! Please, help!”
<>
Back at the Power Station, in the Anchorhead Settlement, Luke Skywalker shares a conversation with their new guests. Twilight Sparkle, Storm Shield, and their friends gathered together along a table sharing a malt brew. Not their first choice for a quick drink, but anything to quench their thirst from the dying sun (Course, they had to keep a ‘special eye’ on Pinkie Pie). Meanwhile, Fixer and the others are heard working.
“… so I cut off my power, shut down the afterburners and came in low on Deak’s trail,” Luke explained, animated. “I was so close I thought I was going to fry my instruments.”
“Then what happened?” Rainbow asked.
“As it was, I busted up the Skyhopper pretty badly,” Luke continued. “Uncle Owen was pretty upset. He grounded me for the rest of the season. You should have been there… it was…”
“Awesome?” Rainbow asked.
“Fantastic!”
“Heh… my answer’s better.”
“You ought to take it easy Luke,” Biggs spoke, approaching the boy. “You may be the hottest bushpilot this side of Mos Eisley, but those little Skyhoppers are dangerous.”
“Oh yes, I’ve seen what happens around Skyhoppers,” Storm nodded in agreement. “One minute, you’re driving at an accelerated rate and next… WHAMMO! You’re nothing more than a dark spot on the downside of a canyon wall.”
“Exactly!” Biggs nodded.
“Look who’s talking,” Luke argued, toward Biggs. “Now that you’ve been around those giant starships you’re beginning to sound like my uncle. You’ve gotten soft in the city…”
“I’ve missed you kid,” Biggs smirked.
“You two seem like pretty good friends,” Twilight observed.
“Oh yeah, we go way back,” Biggs replied. “And you are?”
“Oh! Where are my manners?” Twilight replied. “I’m Twilight Sparkle. And my friends over here are Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Storm Shield…”
“Ahem!”
Twilight looked toward the ground, seeing Spike scuffing her leg with his paw and raising a brow. She sighed with an eye roll, as she lifted her friend onto her lap.
“And this is Spike,” Twilight smiled.
“Luke Skywalker, nice to meet you,” Luke replied. “Things haven’t been the same since Biggs left. It gets so… quiet here.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a place being quiet is there?” Fluttershy asked curiously.
Luke merely shrugged, as Biggs leaned toward Luke.
“Listen Luke, I didn’t come back just to say good-bye…” Biggs confessed. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but you’re the only one I can trust… and if I don’t come back, I want somebody to know.”
Luke’s eyes widened over Biggs’ seriousness and loyalty. The latter turned as the girls and Storm leaned in curiously.
“This is kind of a ‘private’ conversation,” Biggs pointed out.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about us Biggsy!” Pinkie replied. “We absolutely, positively promise not to let anyone else know about it.”
“… Promise?” Biggs asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!” Pinkie promised, with the gestures.
Biggs nodded slowly, as he gestured for the group to come closer.
“I made some friends at the Academy,” He whispered. “When our frigate goes to one of the central systems, we’re going to jump ship and join the Alliance…”
Luke, amazed and stunned, was almost speechless… ‘almost’.
“Join the Rebellion?! Are you kidding!”
“How in tarnation y’all plan on doin’ that?” Applejack asked.
“Quiet down will ya!” Biggs hissed. “Sheesh, got mouths bigger than a meteor crater! Anyway, my friend has a friend on Bestine who might help us make contact.”
“You’re crazy!” Luke whispered. “You could wander around forever trying to find them.”
“I know it’s a long shot, but if I don’t them I’ll do what I can on my own,” Biggs explained. “It’s what we always talked about. Luke, I’m not going to wait for the Empire to draft me into service. The Rebellion is spreading, and I want to be on the right side—the side I believe in.”
“And I’m stuck here…” Luke sighed.
“What about this Academy we’ve been hearing about?” Twilight inquired. “If there’s a term coming up, maybe you should consider applying.”
“Not likely! I had to cancel my application.”
“Why?” Fluttershy asked curiously.
“There has been a lot of unrest among the Sand People… they’ve even raided the outskirts of Anchorhead.”
“Your uncle could hold off a whole colony of Sand People with one blaster,” Biggs pointed out.
“I know,” Luke nodded. “But he’s got enough vaporators going to make the place pay off. He needs me for just one more season. I can’t leave him now.”
“I know the feelin’ sugar cube,” Applejack replied, understanding. “In the farm where I came from, our family’s always workin’ hard during the busiest season of the year. Cider Season’s the busiest… it takes time and a lot of hooves to provide the best cider for every po—everyone we do business with. Hardly any time for playin’.”
“I feel for you,” Biggs assured. “But you Luke are going to have to learn what seems to be important or what really is important. What good is all your uncle’s work if it’s taken over by the Empire?... You know they’re starting to nationalize commerce in the central systems… it won’t be long before your uncle is merely a tenant, slaving for the greater glory of the Empire.”
“Goodness!” Rarity gasped.
“Wait, what about that thing you said of how those ‘Empire’ guys won’t bother with this rock?” Rainbow pointed out. “No offense, Luke.”
“None taken,” Luke replied.
“Things always change,” Biggs replied.
“I wish I was going…” Luke sighed. “Are you going to be around long?”
“No, I’m leaving in the morning…”
“Ah, but we only just met!” Pinkie whined. “That means we probably won’t be seeing you for a couple dozen chapters or two!”
Everyone turned toward Pinkie Pie in confusion. Rainbow’s facial expression toward the two boys easily translated to, ‘Don’t ask’.
“Maybe someday…” Biggs spoke hopefully. “I’ll keep a lookout.”
“Well, I’ll be at the Academy next season… after that who knows?” Luke shrugged. “I won’t be drafted into the Imperial Starfleet that’s for sure… take care of yourself, you’ll always be the best friend I’ve got.”
“So long, Luke,” Biggs spoke.
Biggs turned away from his old friend, heading toward the far end of the power station. Luke sighed as the group slowly approached the farm boy. Twilight placed a hand upon his shoulder, causing him to turn.
“I know it might not mean much,” Twilight replied. “But perhaps until you and Biggs see each other again, we can be your friends if you want.”
Luke glanced silently toward Twilight and the group, seven young teenagers (Roughly) and a little dog that he only just met. Yet for some strange reason, he had a good feeling about this group as if there’s a special quality about them. A smile formed on his face, until The Fixer turned a corner.
“Your transport’s fixed up,” The Fixer replied. “Hope you got the money for this job.”
“Way ahead of you,” Storm replied. “Excuse me a second, ladies.”
Storm made his way toward the Fixer to discuss the matter of payment. That left Luke Skywalker alone with the girls and Spike.
“So… where are you guys staying while looking for this friend of yours?” Luke asked.
“Well… truth be told we don’t really know this place very well,” Twilight answered honestly. “We were honestly just passing through and hoping we might meet someone who’d know.”
“I’d let you all stay at my place,” Luke offered. “But it’s going to be tough convincing Uncle Owen.”
“Oh, we wouldn’t want tah take advantage of the hospitality,” Applejack assured. “We’ll be happy to work it off.”
“We?” Rainbow asked, till A.J. nudged her. “I mean, yeah… work’s cool. We can do that.”
“Hmm… well, if you’re all willing to follow me, I can at least show you where I live,” Luke spoke. “It’s actually not that far from here.”
“Sounds great!” Spike replied.
Luke looked down toward the little dog, realizing that he just spoke.
“Uh, I mean… woof?” Spike added sheepishly.
Luke looks up toward Twilight Sparkle.
“It’s kind of a long story…” Twilight smiled sheepishly.
Nevertheless, what matters now was that together they found a place to stay for the time begin. Whether or not this would get them any closer to finding Sunset Shimmer or not, just to at least have something close to shelter while in Tatooine would be more than enough for the group. Considering that they don’t know this place, apart from Storm Shield, nor do they hardly know anyone else here, they could use all the help they can get. Who knows what they’d run into if they stuck around these canyons at night?
<>
Elsewhere, the gargantuan rock formations are shrouded in a strange foreboding mist, the ominous sounds of unearthly creatures filled the air. R2-D2 moved cautiously through the creepy rock canyon, inadvertently making a loud clicking noise. He heard a distant, hard, metallic sound, and stopped for a moment. Convinced he’s alone, he continued on his way.
In the distance, a pebble tumbled down the steep canyon wall as a small dark figure darted into the shadows. A little further up the canyon, a slight flicker of light revealed a pair of eyes in the dark recesses only a few feet from the narrow path.
The unsuspecting robot waddled along the rugged trail till suddenly, out of nowhere, a powerful magnetic ray shot from the rocks and engulfed him in an eerie glow. He managed one short electronic squeak before toppling over forward. His bright computer lights flickered off, then on, then off again. Out of the rocks scurried three Jawas, no taller than R2. They holster strange, complex weapons as they cautiously approached the robot. They wear grubby cloaks and their faces shrouded so only their glowing eyes can be seen. They hiss and make odd guttural sounds as they heave the heavy robot onto their shoulders and carry him off down the trail.
The eight Jawas carry R2 out of the canyon toward a huge tank-like vehicle the size of a four-story house. They weld a small disk on the side of R2, then placed him under a large tube on the side of the vehicle and the little robot was sucked into the giant machine. The filthy little Jawas scurry like rats up small ladders and enter the main cabin of the behemoth transport.
<>
It was dim inside the hold area of the vehicle called the Sandcrawler. R2 switched on a small floodlight along his forehead, stumbling around the scrap heap. The narrow beam swung across rusty metal rocket parts and an array of grotesquely twisted, maimed astro-robots. He channeled a pathetic electronic whimper, as he stumbled off toward what appeared to be a door at the end of the chamber.
R2 entered a wide room with a four-foot ceiling. In the middle of the scrap heap sat a dozen or so robots of various shapes and size. Some engaged in electronic conversation, others simply milled about. A voice of recognition called out from the gloom.
“R2?”
A battered C-3PO scrambled up toward R2 and embraced him.
“R2-D2! It is you! It is you!”
And as all this happened, the enormous Sandcrawler lumbered off toward the magnificent twin suns which slowly set over a distant mountain ridge.