//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: The Pursuit // Story: Equestria Wars Episode II: The Lunar Republic Strikes Back // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// Charming Thunder's fighter flew behind the YT-2400 freighter as they left Canterlot for a mission. They both then spit up as they both passed by. Rainbow Dash was piloting the ship as she plotted the course to the city Luna was talking about. "I bet that this ship has a few surprises left in her." "Don't get your hopes up, Rainbow," Applejack said as she pointed to a ship that is heading straight towards them. "Cause we've got company." They recognized those ships during the time Luna ruled Equestria as queen. "Its a Providence class destroyer!! Get us out of here." "You got it." Rainbow then turned the ship around as the destroyer deployed droid fighters. The fighters were right on their tail and started firing at the ship they were chasing. "We got droid starfighters inbound," Shining Armor said. "And look up ahead." "I saw them. I saw them." Rainbow said. "Saw what?" Cadence asked, running inside the cockpit. "Providence destroyers, two of them, coming right at us. Check the deflector shield." Twilight went to the controls and pressed a few buttons to check the shield that is on the ship. "Were good." she said. "Great. We can still outmaneuver them." The freighter raced toward one of the oncoming Providence cruisers. The ship then suddenly did a deep dive followed closely by four droid starfighters. The following cruiser continued their course as they headed straight to the oncoming ships. It then collided with the two cruisers which created the huge explosion in the sky. The freighter raced away from the colliding ships, still being pursued by the small fighters. Laserbolts streaked through the blue skies. "Man the guns and take out those fighters." Canderous and Shining Armor left the cockpit and climbed the ladder to the turrets that were on the top and bottom. The put their headsets on and started up the guns. One of the fighters flew to the bottom as Shining Armor tried to shoot it down but he missed. Canderous took out one of the fighters that flew over him and laughed with joy. A fighter flew to the bottom again and Shining Armor took out the fighter for sure this time. "I got it," he said. "I GOT IT!!" "Great kid," Canderous replied. "Don't get cocky." "There are still two more of them out there," Cadence said. As the remaining two fighters continued to fire at the freighter. Canderous fired at one of the fighters but missed as Shining Armor one of them. Shining Armor missed the last one as it flew to the top of the freighter. Canderous fired at it and the fighter exploded in the sky. He then sighed in relief that they were all gone and took off his headset. "THATS IT WE DID IT!!" Shining Armor shouted as he was taking off his headset. "Alright," Rainbow said. "Hang on. I found a good place to hide from the Republic for a while." "Where?" Twilight asked. Rainbow pointed to the cave that was big enough for the ship to land in as she said, "There that looks pretty good. It will do nicely." "I hope you know what you are doing, Rainbow," Applejack said. "Me too." Pinkie then came to the cockpit and said, "Whats going on here? I'm trying to play holo chess here." --------------------- Charming Thunder flew over Ponyville as he finds a place to land in the forest. He found a good spot next to a lake and landed next to it. "Well here I am," he said. He then opened the top hatch of the TIE Advanced and popped his head out. He grabbed his saddlebag and jumped out of the cockpit and found a place to sit while he waits for Qui-Gon and the others to appear. The four ghostly figures then appeared one was small and the other two were humans just like Qui-Gon. "So you came," Anakin said. "Yes. Just as Qui-Gon said I should. Exactly why did you need me here?" "We have brought you here to teach you the ways of the Jedi in order to face Sombra," Obi-Wan said. "If its the only way to stop King Sombra, then I will listen to your teachings." "Act quickly we must," Yoda said. "For time running out it is." "You maybe right," Qui-Gon said. "We need to start now." "I'm not afraid," Charming Thunder said. "You will be. You will be." "Come. Let us begin your lesson." Charming Thunder nodded and followed the four spirits deeper into the forest. They both then came across the same cave that Charming Thunder went in to see the vision of the future of Luna's apprentice. "This is where you saw a vision of a future enemy, correct?" Obi-Wan asked. "Yes. This was the cave where I saw a vision of somepony named Maul. Why have you brought me back here though?" "Enter the cave you must," Yoda replied. "The cave you entered before is strong with the dark side," Anakin said. Charming Thunder walked up to the entrance of the cave as Yoda said, "Your weapons. You will not need them." He nodded in agreement and placed his lightsaber on the rock next to the entrance. He then entered the cave and proceeded on. His quest has finally begun. --------------------- Pinkie was playing chess with Rainbow Dash while Canderous was fixing something in the ship before they could leave the cave. Rarity was just sitting between the players watching them play. Pinkie moved a piece to a new square. A frown grew over Rainbow's face as she said, "Aww man. Even though that I hate loosing, it was a fair move though." "I concur," Pinkie said. "Good game." They both shook hooves and got off of their seats and walked to the engine room to make some repairs with Shining Armor. Twilight was in the cockpit sitting alone in the passenger seat as she monitored what was going on outside. She then heard a door open from behind and Fluttershy entered the cockpit to see her. "Is everything alright?" she asked. "Yeah," she said. "I'm fine." "Oh, okay." She then left the cockpit as Twilight got up to help her brother fix the engine. "I hope you're alright, Charming Thunder," she said to herself as she continued to walk to the engine room. She then saw Cadence helping Shining Armor with the tools. "Everything alright, Twi?" Cadence asked. "I just miss Charming Thunder. I just hope he's alright." "Don't worry. I'm sure that whatever the spirits want with him, it might help us defeat King Sombra once again." "Thanks, Cadence." They both embraced a hug and then started to work on repairing the engine with Shining Armor. --------------------- Charming Thunder kept walking through the cave until he heard a sound. It sounded like the breathing of the suit he wore before. Out of the opening he was in front of came a tall dark figure approaching him. He was wearing the same features as the costume he wore before but human looking. He then took a few steps back and said, "Vader? How is this possible? You're dead." The figure remained silent and turned into a pony version of himself. A flash was then seen in front of him and as it faded away, the figure's head fell off and rolled in front of Charming Thunder. He then took a few steps back and a vertical crack on the helmet began to widen until it split, falling away. Beneath the mask, was his own head, its lifeless eyes staring up into his. As he left the cave he saw Yoda waiting for him outside. "What did you see?" he asked. "It was a vision about me," Charming Thunder said. "I think that it was my dark side." "What you have seen, follow it you must." Charming Thunder nodded in agreement as he said, "I need to head back to my ship to meditate." He then walked past Yoda and walked to the direction he just came from to head back to his ship.