//------------------------------//
// 5 - The Darkness 
// Story: Star Wars: Equestrian Empire 
// by Octavia_Melody 
//------------------------------//

The three ponies galloped away as the Daleks aimed their gunsticks and fired energy beams at them. The three dodged and teleported as best they could and Celestia ended up sending them, as well as Spike and the droids inside Canterlot Castle. Canterlot Castle was a large, sprawling palace embedded in a hillside and the throne room was a majestic sight with large purple banners and stained glass windows.

"This castle won't hold against the Daleks." The Doctor advised.

"I can put up a magic forcefield but I can't hold it indefinitely." Celestia said, "Also, I can't sit here and wait while my subjects are slaughtered!"

"I'm trying to think." The Doctor said, "If only we had something that could lure them off planet. That's it! This galaxy is already ruled by its own empire, right?"

"I'm not sure." Celestia said, "I know that Twilight's parents were killed by someone looking for the metallic creatures."

As if in answer to Celestia's statement, a triangular white ship flew by and rattled the windows. Celestia and The Doctor trotted over to an observation balcony and saw the ship circling the castle.

"I think that's one of the empire's shuttles." The Doctor explained, "If I'm right, then the ship will land and a team of soldiers will pop out."

The ship did land and a squadron of ten Imperial stormtroopers marched out of the back. The stormtroopers fired their blasters, broke down the doors, and stormed the palace.

"Hands up!!" the lead stormtrooper ordered, "Everyone, hands up!!"

The ponies stared blankly, unsure how to respond. 3PO was the only one who raised his hands as R2 gave a defiant whistle. The stormtrooper then realized that the equines had no hands to raise and shook his head.

"Down on the ground!" he shouted, "Kneel down or whatever it is that you creatures do!"

The ponies again stared blankly as a blue mist started to form around the stormtroopers. A black alicorn with a blue helmet and crescent cutie mark materalized before them.

"Nightmare Moon." Twilight whispered.

"Oh my beloved subjects." Nightmare Moon announced, "It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun loving faces...wait, you aren't my subjects are you? Who and what are you?"

The stormtroopers did not respond and Nightmare Moon's horn started to glow.

"Open fire!!" the lead stormtrooper shouted.

All ten stormtroopers fired their blasters but Nightmare Moon put up a magical shield and laughed.

"Fools!!" she gloated, "From now on, the night will last forever!!"

Nightmare Moon summoned lightning bolts to attack the stormtroopers and two of them fell over dead. The stormtroopers started to panic and backed away. Nightmare Moon fired even more powerful bolts from her horn and two more troopers were obliterated. 

"HELP!! STOP!!" the troopers begged as all of them were destroyed.

"Bask in eternal night!!" Nightmare Moon shouted as the last remaining trooper, the captain.

The captain grasped his throat and flung off his helmet, revealing a very plain looking man with brown hair. The man vomited some sort of black substance, liquid night itself.

"Who are you?" Nightmare Moon demanded, "Where are you from?"

"The droids..." the man gasped, "Have to find the droids..."

"What is a droid?" Nightmare Moon asked.

She then looked up at 3PO and R2, realizing that they were droids.

"This is interesting." she surmised, "And if it isn't my beloved sister who banished me?"

"And I shall do it again if I must." Celestia answered.

"In any case, I am the rightful ruler of Equestria." Nightmare Moon continued, "And nopony, even if they're not a pony, is going to stop me!"

Celestia stared her sister down as Nightmare Moon summoned shadows to surround the castle. Both of them were 
distracted when Twilight trotted over to the stormtrooper captain.

"You killed my parents." Twilight said.

"What..." the stormtrooper tried to say.

"In the library!!" Twilight shouted, "You burned it down while my parents were in there!!"

"They...wouldn't...give..." the stormtroooper stammered.

"You...you...bucking murdering bastard!!" Twilight swore.

Even The Doctor gasped upon hearing such language but Twilight simply started beating the captain with her hoof.

"Twilight, stop!" Celestia pleaded, "You'll kill him!"

As Twilight suddenly heard the man's neck snap, she gasped and wiped angry tears from her eyes.

"I think I just did." she realized.