My Little Pony: Exiles of the Empire

by Hikarikurai24587

Shadow Moon Festival (Night)

Rarity walked down the rows of stalls chatting with Sweetie Bell. She had been pleasantly surprised to find out that this festival not only allowed them to talk to the dearly departed but the living as well. Only when the moon had started to rise, the eclipse gave Luna a boost in her power yet the light of two moons was something else. She chuckled before looking around for Crosshair wanting to introduce him to her little sister.

“Scootaloo is staying up with Rainbow Dash’s parents while her aunts and parents look for somewhere safe to live.” Sweetie Bell spoke sadness in her voice as she looked at the ground. “Rarity, I’m scared.”

“Oh sweetie… I know, I’m scared too.” Rarity told her as she faced her sister. “I wish you were here with me.”

Crosshair passed by and made a passing glance at the sisters. He adjusted the toothpick in his mouth and started walking away not saying a word.

“Croooosshair!” Rarity called out waving her hoof towards the Clone, Sweetie Bell looked at her sister like she was crazy for a brief moment. “Come over here and meet my darling little sister.”

“Hello.” Sweetie Bell called out wondering if her voice was even strong enough. Everything was getting worse in Equestria to the point where ponies were afraid to speak their minds.

“What is it Rarity?” Crosshair asked, annoyed and not even turning around to look at them. Rarity walked up to him saying. “I noticed that you are all by yourself. So you can join me and my little sister and explore the festival. Crosshair this is Sweetie Bell, Sweetie Bell this is Crosshair!”

“Whatever, I don’t know what we’re doing and I don’t really care.” Crosshair responded as he sat down, back against a small hill as he examined his rifle.

Rarity sighed as she patted her sister on the head before walking up to him. Sweetie Bell held up her hoof wanting Rarity to be careful.

“This festival, it is to honor the dead and reconnect with our loved ones. Don’t you have anyone like that?” Rarity asked, looking at the bright lights. A group of fillies and colts talking with the ghosts of their parents. A sad smile stretched across Rarity’s face.

“Nope. Can’t say I do.” Crosshair responded still not looking.

“You know, you may have some of the best vision ever but do you actually see?” Rarity asked, shaking her head waving to Sweetie Bell. “Come along, let’s leave him to his own devices.”

Sweetie Bell walked up to Crosshair and peered up at him asking.  “Are you alright?”

Crosshair’s eyes shifted to look at the little Sweetie Bell. He rolled his eyes with a sigh as he said. “Yes I’m fine.”

“You don’t look alright.” Sweetie Bell pointed out before looking at Rarity. ‘If you want to be left alone, we can leave you alone.”

“And what makes you say that kid?” Crosshair asked, now giving his full attention. Sweetie Bell shuffled her hooves against the dirt, not disturbing it once as she explained. “You could have stayed on the ship, Rarity told me that most of the clones did, but you’re down here. You want to keep out of the crowds and yet are close to the festival. I don’t think you are feeling alright.”

“Alright kid you got me. I don’t want to take any chances, I would prefer I be around if something happens than stay bored on the ship.” Crosshair explained with a sigh. Rarity blinked in surprise, Sweetie Bell was a lot more attentive than she was previously.

“Well how are you going to know the best escape routes or ambush spots if you stay in one place?” Sweetie Bell asked, she was just glad there was one clone that was willing to talk with her.

“I’m just taking a break.” Crosshair answered as he made himself more relaxed, placing his rifle to the side. Rarity hid a laugh before smiling at Crosshair saying. “Well then, if you don’t mind, I think my sister has plenty of questions she wants answered.”

“Alright then, ask away kid.” Crosshair answered, almost pleased that he had someone to talk to despite the fact he was acting so cold before. Sweetie Bell asked away, sometimes adding in her own theories to see how they panned out.

Hunter was sitting silently listening to the words of the song, thinking about the Republic he once served and what it became. He looked up at the sky and spoke to himself. "Sure been through a lot, me and the boys. Well, them and…" His words were cut off as he saw Fluttershy walking by. "Oh, hey there." He said looking at her.

Fluttershy was pale, she had just finished talking with her brother, she had never seen him so tired before. So drained, she knew there was one time when she was trying to get him to work hard at something. This was different, the ponies back home, they were being overworked just so they could survive. She looked up seeing Hunter and gave a half hearted smile that did not reach her eyes. “Oh…. Hello Hunter.”

Hunter gave a smile in response, his heart reminding him of someone seeing her. “Care to talk about it?”

“I….” Fluttereshy knew it would do some good to talk about it, she couldn’t find the words right away. “I just received word from my brother.”

“You never mentioned to me before of you having a brother. I take it...he’s back in Equestria then?” Hunter said with a sigh, wondering about his fellow Clones. Fluttershy nodded her head explaining. “He’s my younger brother, always going with the flow, never staying in one place for too long… he used to anyways. He recently decided to actually stick with hairstyling and was living with our parents when….” Hunter eyed Fluttershy curiously waiting in suspense.

“When the Empire came.” Fluttershy mumbled sadly wiping at her eyes. “Zephyr stayed behind to make sure our parents were alright.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll liberate your world and save your family.” Hunter responded optimistically. He shifted a bit so he could stand up, walking over to Fluttershy and pet her on the head. Fluttershy looked up at Hunter and smiled saying. “Thank you, Hunter. You know, you will always have a home in Equestria once this is all over.”

“That’s very kind of you. Now, what say you, we get something to eat?” Hunter looked at her rubbing his rumbling stomach. Fluttershy’s smile turned to a more genuine one as she nodded her head saying. “Of course!”

Fluttershy glanced around for a food stall that didn’t have much of a line. She didn’t want to wait for too long.

Rainbow Dash walked past the stalls munching on a caramel apple. She was hiding her own worry, having talked to both the Wonderbolts who remained on Equestria and Scootaloo. She felt torn, her loyalties to her country and her loyalties to the princesses. It was like she was needed in two places but couldn’t do anything about it.

“Psst.” A sound came out from somewhere around Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash turned around looking for the source of the noise. Her mechanical wing flaring a bit before relaxing.

Wrecker jumped out from behind her from hiding and wrapped his arms around her, giving her a noogie. “Gotcha!” He yelled with a hearty laugh. Rainbow Dash laughed her wings starting to flap as she began to wiggle out of the grasp.

“Seriously?” Rainbow Dash tried to stifle her laughter but the large grin on her face was banishing the false irritation. She laughed again before looking at Wrecker and punched his shoulder with her hoof as she asked. “How are you enjoying the festival?”

"I'm bored! I haven't had some action in forever!" Wrecker responded with his head sulking. Rainbow Dash patted him on the shoulder before looking around. “Have you tried the games? It’s not action but it could give you a workout.”

"Does it involve blowing something up?" Wrecker asked excitedly. Rainbow Dash stared at him before shaking her head. “Festival, Wrecker, you can blow things up when Grievous pops up again.”

Wrecker stopped for a moment thinking. "Hey if this is a festival...what say you and I go mess around with the fireworks!"

Rainbow Dash glanced around before shrugging her shoulders saying. “Alright, let’s be careful though, we don’t want to ruin this for everyone.” Wrecker let out an excited yet mischievous laugh as he bolted towards the fireworks. "Beat ya there!!!"

Rainbow Dash ran after him, her wings flapping but she decided against flying. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to fly, she was just unused to the mechanical wing. There was no underlying feeling of dread whatsoever. "Slowpoke!" Wrecker yelled back at her. Rainbow Dash picked up her speed easily overtaking Wrecker, sticking her tongue out at him.

Pinkie Pie bounced through the rows and rows of stalls. She hadn’t been able to speak with her family except for Maud. They were alright, keeping to their rock farm, but it was only a matter of time before they were found. It did worry her, but she knew that they would be able to take care of themselves.

Echo happened to be standing closeby, who was talking to his old friends and brothers of Domino Squadron. He had just finished talking to one of them in particular by the name of Fives as he turned around. A tear was on his face, which he quickly wiped away when he saw Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie waved at Echo saying. “Hi!”

"Um, hello there. Pinkie Pie, right?" Echo asked awkwardly knowing the obvious answer but he was a bit shaken up and was trying to keep his composure. He took a seat on the ground and started to periodically pull at the grass beneath him. Pinkie Pie sat down next to him saying. “Yup! Sorry we haven’t been introduced. You’re Echo!”

"Yeah that's me." Echo responded quietly. Pinkie studied him for a moment before asking. “Will you be alright?”

"Yeah. Just missing my brothers. Did you know that this whole ordeal was almost prevented?" He asked, pounding the ground in frustration. Pinkie Pie tilted her head in confusion.

"One of my brothers Fives he...he found out about the entire plot. Despite all his efforts he was treated as a lunatic and killed...and then it happened." He pointed his blaster forward as he said angrily, another tear appearing. "I can't tell you how much I want to shoot this blaster at that bastard Palpatine's face!" His head turned away from Pinkie Pie, sobbing sounds emitting from him as he set his blaster down. Pinkie Pie nuzzled into Echo’s side. She didn’t have the words to comfort him. She didn’t know what to say.

"Sorry, I…" Echo's words stopped as he wiped his tears and turned to look at Pinkie Pie with a smile. "I guess I am just ready to win. Beat the Empire and earn our freedom, mine and yours. Everyones."

“I think you were always ready to win, you just needed something you could truly fight for. Not someone else’s purpose but your own.” Pinkie mused glancing up at him already having gotten comfortable.

"I hadn't thought about it like that before but you're right. You know, I have really grown fond of you Equestrians." Echo responded, petting her head. Pinkie Pie smiled as she said. “We like you too.”

Spike found himself sitting quietly nudging at the doll he bought. The little figurine of Twilight wandered around on the grass.

“Spike?” Twilight’s voice called out causing Spike to turn his head. He could see her but it was almost like she was a faded photograph. “I’m sorry Spike.”

“Twilight?” Spike asked, reaching out for the spirit, yet it was almost like she couldn’t see him. “I tried, I tried to be there for you. I did my best to save all of you. It wasn’t enough, they are still....”

“Twilight, we will return to Equestria, we will save our planet.” Spike said moving forward to her. Twilight’s face was filled with distraught as her image began to fade. “I promise, you don’t have to worry about us or the planet. We will find our own way. You gave us that hope, I miss you, I always will but you can’t let yourself feel guilty for doing everything you could.”

“Spike?” Twilight asked as her spirit began to focus. “Spike, I am so proud of you. You have to be strong Spike, no matter what comes your way.”

Twilight reached out to pat Spike on the head but it never came. It was like something was pulling her back as she yelled. “SPIKE! You have to move on, otherwise he will use what happened against you!”

“Twilight?” Spike asked, reaching out for the ghost as it began to fade. “Twilight!”

“Don’t listen to the Son, whatever he offers you don’t listen!” Twilight ordered as her form faded. Spike landed on the ground as fireworks went off marking the end of the festival.