//------------------------------// // 2 - The Droids // Story: Star Wars: Equestrian Empire // by Octavia_Melody //------------------------------// Twilight Sparkle, a lavender unicorn with dark purple mane, lived with her parents, Twilight Velvet and Night Light, in the ivory tower that was a part of the Royal Canterlot Library. Twilight Velvet had a purple mane with white streaks, a greyish coat, and purple stars on her flank. Night Light had a blue coat, a dark blue mane, and star and crescent on his flank. Twilight also had something of an adopted little brother, a purple-and-green baby dragon named Spike, with green scales from the top of his head to his tail. "We're looking for a book named 'Predictions and Prophecies'." Twilight told Spike as she scoured the multitude of shelves while riding a rolling ladder, "I think this might actually be the day that-." Twilight was cut short when Spike accidentally backed into the ladder and Twilight lost her grip. She yelped as she smacked face first into the floor, causing Spike to wince. "Sorry, Twilight..." Spike muttered in embarassment. "It's okay, Spike." Twilight said as she got back on her hooves, "I'm not hurt." "Twily? Twilight, dear?" her mother's voice called out, "Could you come here, please?" "Just a minute, Mom!" Twilight shouted. "It's important!" Velvet shouted back. "Ok, fine!" Twilight relented. Twilight trotted downstairs and followed her mother all the way to the library's main entrance. The library was a grand building with two sets of gold-plated wooden doors at the front and two stone unicorns guarding each side of the marble steps. Velvet opened the doors using her horn's magic and the two mares looked at the two strangest creatures they had ever laid eyes on. On the steps stood a tall bipedal creature that was seemingly made completely from gold and another shorter bipedal creature that moved by gliding. The smaller creature was a white cylinder with two rolling legs and a domed shaped head with lenses and nodes instead of a face. The smaller creature whistled and beeped incoherently as Twilight and Velvet's jaws dropped. "Greetings. I am C-3PO, human cyborg relations, and this is my counterpart R2-D2." the tall, golden one spoke. "Seatreepoke and Arty-Duty, you said?" Twilight tried to repeat, "Who...what are you?" "Well, I am a protocol droid, fluent in over six million forms of communication." 3PO answered, "And my counterpart is astromech droid, used for repairs. We were on a Republic ship headed for Alderaan when our ship was boarded by Imperials. We managed to find an escape pod and landed on this planet. And may I ask, who might you be?" "Did you catch any of that?" Velvet asked her daughter. "I think he said he was fluent in several languages?" Twilight tried to gather. "What's going on?" Spike asked, stepping in between the two mares, "What the hay are those things?!" "Well, I am C-3PO, human cyborg relations, and this is-" 3PO started to say. "Is there anything we can help you with?!" Velvet blurted, still in shock. "Well, we're trying to reach the Planet Alderaan." 3PO tried to explain, "May I ask the name of this planet and its relative distance to Alderaan?" "This is the Planet Equus, but specifically you're in the Land of Equestria." Twilight explained, "Are you saying you're from outer space?!" "Aliens!" Spike blurted, "It's an alien invasion!" "You know what?" Velvet spoke up, "Why don't you two just sit tight inside the library for a minute while we get this mess sorted out?" 3PO walked and R2 rolled into the library while Velvet slammed the doors shut with her horn. "Mom?" Twilight asked, "What are we gonna do? Should we tell the princess?" "I guess..." Velvet wondered, "Maybe you could have Spike write a letter..." "So we can tell the princess about the alien invasion!" Spike blurted again. "Spike..." Twilight corrected, "Let's not word it too poorly. How about this: "Dear Princess Celestia, This is your most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. I just wanted to let you know that we have some strange new visitors to the library. They are the most unusual creatures and claim to be from outer space. If you wouldn't mind having a look at them, that'd be great! Your most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle." Spike retrieved a quill and scroll and more or less copied Twilight's words. He breathed green flame on the scroll, seemingly burning it, but it was actually transported to Canterlot Palace. "Twily, dear..." Velvet spoke up, "Why don't you keep an eye on our two 'friends', while I run and help your father. The princess will probably be here soon to clear this stuff right up!" "Sure thing, Mom..." Twilight muttered, the "Predictions and Prophecies" book still in the back of her mind. After a few minutes, Twilight started to forget about the space creatures and went back to find her book. Once she found it, she began yawning and soon fell asleep. After some time, she felt herself being shook awake. "Twilight! Twilight, wake up!" Spike shouted, "The aliens are gone!" "What?!" Twilight gasped, "Where?!" "I don't know!" Spike replied, "What if they're off to start their alien invasion?!" "We've gotta find 'em before the princess shows up!" Twilight realized. The unicorn and dragon ran all over Canterlot trying to find the two droids. They didn't make it all the way to the palace, but they did find the mechanical pair on a small trail just outside of town. "Where do you two think you're going?!" Twilight shouted, "You're gonna start a panic!" "Oh, my most humble apologies, Madam." 3PO replied, "R2 kept repeating something about his mission to find 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' and wandered off. I tried to tell him that you're our new master now but he wouldn't listen." "I'm not your master or anything." Twilight corrected, "I just want the princess to have a look at you, that's all." "Twilight Sparkle..." announced a firm but familiar voice. "Princess Celestia!" Twilight gasped. Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria and alicorn, fluttered down from the sky. She was a white unicorn with a tall, spiraled horn and large wings, and also a perpetually flowing, glistening mane. Her cutie mark was a majestic sun. "Twilight..." Celestia questioned, "Who are these friends of yours?" "They're not my friends." Twilight answered, "I have no idea who they are." "Neither do I." Celestia admitted, "But I do know a place where we can speak in private." Celestia's horn started to glow and Twilight found herself, Spike, the princess, and the two droids inside a large rocky cavern. Twilight looked around at the seemingly endless maze of caves, dimly lit by glistening and glowing crystals. "Where are we?" Twilight asked. "The Canterlot Caves." Celestia answered, "Long ago, these caves were mined by greedy unicorns until they were exhausted, sealed up, and forgotten. Only me, my sister, and a handful of others know of the caves' existence. "Your sister!" Twilight recalled, "I think this might be the day that Nightmare-" "First let's talk about your metallic friends here." the princess spoke up, "I might have an idea of where they came from." "Where is that?" Spike wondered. "Twilight..." Celestia started to say, "Do you remember your mother? Your real mother?" "Not really..." Twilight said, "I was just a little filly. She didn't look too different from Aunt Velvet...I mean Mom...I mean...she had a white mane, purple streaks, a pinkish coat...all I remember really." "Midnight Sparkle..." Celestia continued, "Was my most faithful student before you were born. She was one of the best magic students in all of Equestria. She learned powerful magic. Very powerful magic. One day she accidentally opened a portal to another world. Perhaps another universe. She was destroyed by an evil creature that came through the portal. A creature I know only as...Vader." "Are one of these guys...Vader?" Spike asked with a gulp. "No." Celestia answered, "Vader was far more fearsome in appearance than these two, although I fear that they may be from the same world. I'm not sure of the exact nature of the conflict these beings are in, but it's possible that their war might be coming to our doorstep." R2 started chiming and beeping and C3PO slapped his dome. "What is it?" Twilight asked. "Forgive me but R2 keeps ranting about some message!" 3PO answered, "Just play the message!" R2's front lens lit up and a blurry blue hologram materalized. It appeared to be some kind of bipedal woman wearing a robe. The woman spoke up: "General Kenobi. Years ago you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father’s request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack, and I’m afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope." "Who is she?" Spike asked. "I don't know." Celestia answered, "But what I do know is that if war has come to Equestria, then you need to know stronger magic; defensive and offensive." Twilight's stomach started to growl, quickly followed by Spike's. "Magic is great and all.." Spike complained, "But could you get us out of here in time for dinner?"