//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8: Gifted 
// Story: Star Wars: Ponies of the Old Republic 
// by BlueSun52 
//------------------------------//


CHAPTER 8 GIFTED


It was late in the afternoon and the gang gathered around Garret in the medical room. Everypony was staring at Garret's horn which he received recently and they were amazed that he had become a unicorn. Scootaloo was standing on a stool next to Garret's bed and was poking at the horn several times over. Garret didn't mind it after the first few times because he was having a hard time believing it himself, but when doing it for a long period of time such a thing could really get on a pony's nerves.

Garret calmly grabbed Scootaloo's hoof and said, "I think that's enough poking at it."

Scootaloo gave out a weak smile and said, "Sorry"

Applejack walked up to Garret and asked, "How in all of Equestria did ya get a horn? Ah know thet some earthponies can get one if they have a strong connection to magic, but how is it thet ya have one?" 

Twilight interjected and said, "Well, there are some things about magic that just can't be explained. Magic is a very complex thing. It can take any form and can be random at times, take Pinkie for example."

Everypony then turned their attention to Pinkie. She was trying to put random things in T3 like balloons, cake baking supplies, and other party related things. She looked back at the group, smiled, and waved at them.

Applejack looked back at Twilight. "Ah see your point there."

Twilight nodded and looked back Garret. "Do you have any questions that you want to ask?"

Garret thought about it for a moment and said, "Does this mean I get to be a knight?"

"Well, you would be a solar apprentice, but I'm sure that could change over the time," Twilight said.

"I have another question. Why did you put the word solar in front of both apprentice and knight?"

"It represents that we learned our abilities and skills from Celestia's teachings. Over a thousand years ago, there were two different teachings. One of them were the teachings of Celestia and the other was Luna's teachings. The ones that learned from Celestia were known as the Solar Knights, while others who learned from Luna's teachings were known as Lunar Knights," Twilight explained.

"Wait, what about all the unicorns in the Luna Empire? Are they considered Lunar Knights?" Garret asked.

"No, they're not considered Lunar Knights. They call themselves Nightmare Warriors. They use the dark side of magic, while both Solar and Lunar Knights use the magic of light and harmony," Twilight clarified.

"So are there any Lunar Knights out there?"

"No, there hasn't been a Lunar Knight in over a thousand years. I want to tell you what happened, but I believe that Celestia and the high council of the Unicorn Order should be the ones to tell you." Twilight replied.

"Well I suppose if there is a reason for it, then I can wait until then," Garret said.

Twilight smiled and was glad that Garret was more understanding than Applejack when she was asking about it.

"If you don't mind Garret there was something I wanted to ask you," Twilight said.

"Sure, what is it?" Garret asked.

"Why is your name Garret?"

"Ummm, I don't understand the question."

"It's just.....normally a pony would have a name that's related to their field of work, what faction they’re on, or even a name from their family. Garret just seems to be a very simple name," Twilight explained.

"Ya know, I've been wondering about that too now that ya mention it," Applejack said.

"It does seem unusual," Fluttershy said.

"Yeah that's even weirder than I am," Pinkie said.

"Beep boo beep bee."

"You said it T3," Pinkie replied to what T3 said.

"So why do you have a name like that?" Scootaloo asked.

Everypony looked at Garret waiting for him to answer.

"Well, you guys know that I'm a scout right?" Garret asked the group.

"Yeah?" Everypony said in unison.

"Because I'm a scout, there are civilizations that might have a hard time understanding why we have names that are related to everyday items or things. So Garret seemed like a perfect name that I could use for first contact, until they could actually understand why our names are like that. And since I used Garret a lot anyway, I got used to calling myself that," Garret explained.

"Okay, now we know th' reason why, but that doesn't tell us your real name," Applejack said.

"It's Solar Recon," Garret said.

"Solar Recon?" Fluttershy questioned.

"OH! OH! I know why. It's because he's a scout and I bet one of his parents were scouts too, so that's why he was named that way," Pinkie said.

"Yeah, that's pretty much on the ball there," Garret said.

"Which one of your parents was a scout?" Scootaloo asked.

"My father was a scout and my mother was a soldier," Garret said.

"Yer family sounds like they've been in the military for a long time," Applejack said.

"They have been for a long time," Garret replied.

"Well anyway you better get some rest. We've decided that it was best that we try to plan something tomorrow," Twilight said.

"Okay, but aren't you afraid that the Imperials might have a good idea of you being with us? I mean, a lot of ponies did see you with us," Garret pointed out.

"Gadon was one step ahead of us. Thet's why he brought us here to one of th' Bek's secret locations and all of th' Beks are staying low until th' Imperials stop looking around for them," Applejack replied.

"So all we have to worry about is getting off this planet. But for now, just rest," Twilight said to Garret and started walking away.

The rest of the gang soon followed her. Just before Applejack went out the exit, she stopped for a moment and took a deep breathe. She then went back to Garret and laid down her hat on a nearby table. Garret was puzzled at first in regard of why Applejack came back to him, until she said, "Garret, there's something Ah wanted to talk about."

Garret raised one of his eyebrows. "What is it Applejack?" he asked.

"Remember when we were back at th' Griffons' base and Ah mentioned my little sister?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah?"

"Ah think now is a good time to talk about it and th' reason why Ah have a hard time trusting another pony," Applejack said. She took a deep breath and started to say, "It all started with a pony named Soul-"





It was the next morning and Garret was waking up. He got up from his bed and felt a lot better than he was yesterday, after what had happened at the swoop race and having headaches from gaining his horn. He ate the breakfast that was left on his table and went out to meet with the others. He walked along the hallways, until he entered into a large area that was filled with dozens of Bek members grabbing supplies and weapons. As he was walking by them, he saw his friends, expect T3, with Zandra, Gadon's bodyguard, but what was surprising was that next to her was a diamond dog. It was Canderous, the one that he met back in the Undercity when they were looking around for Fluttershy, the journals that Pinkie needed to find, and to get into the Griffons' base.

He walked over to them and said, "Morning everypony. I'm guessing that we have a guest today."

"Yeah, wonder how you figured that out?" Canderous said sarcastically.

"Back off Canderous. This pony proved himself more than capable of being a Bek and deserves a little respect," Zandra threatened Canderous.

"Whatever," Canderous replied.

"Thanks Zandra. Where's Gadon? Is he somewhere else?" Garret asked while looking around.

"He just wants to be alone right now. After what happen to Gilda at the race, he's been grieving over her. I don't really care what happened to her, but she was like a daughter to him and it will take some time for him to get over," Zandra explained.

"If you two are done talking for one moment, I can tell you how to get off this planet," Canderous said bluntly making Garret raise one of his eyebrows and Zandra to look at him with a stern look. "I have an offer to make and I have a feeling you won't refuse."

Garret paused for a moment and said, "Go on."

"I found a way where you can get codes to get off this planet and I know how to get you a ship to do so," Canderous explained and continued, "You see, my boss, Blueblood, hasn't been paying me the amount we agreed on and I don't like being ripped off. So now I want to get off this planet and I believe you have the means to get the codes that we need as well."

"What codes?" Garret asked.

"The ones in the Imperial base that's on the surface," Canderous answered.

"Then how do we get in?" Garret asked.

"Remember that little droid you have? He actually belonged to the Imperials, but wasn't coded to follow their command at the time. One of the gangs was able to steal the droid from them and thought it would be a good idea to put it up as a prize for the race without realizing what they could use him for."

"What could they have used him for?"

"They could have used that droid to infiltrate the base without any of the Imperials knowing about it and steal the codes from them." Canderous pointed out.

"Really? Then where is he? I haven't seen him since last night." Garret said looking around for the little droid.

"Where do you think?" Canderous replied.

"You already sent him to the base?" Garret asked.

"It was th' best time ta do it," Applejack said.

"The hard part was getting Pinkie off of him," Twilight said looking back at Pinkie who was still crying for T3 and Twilight just shook her head.

"So when do you think T3 will be back?" Garret asked.

"It'll be awhile, but I'm sure th' little guy can handle it," Applejack replied.

Garret looked back at Canderous and said, "Okay, when T3 gets back with the codes, you said you would get us a ship?"

"Yep. Blueblood's flagship, The Golden Phoenix. It's one of the fastest ships in the galaxy," Canderous answered.

"Wait, if it's such a fast ship, then why do we need the codes?" Garret asked.

"The ship's fast, but it's not fast enough to avoid the entire Imperial fleet's fire power. We need the codes so their automated defenses don't fire at us or otherwise we’ll be space toast," Canderous explained. "When you have the codes, meet me at the nearby cantina. We'll work out the rest of the plans and head over to Blueblood’s estate from there," he finished and started making his way out of the Beks’ base.

Twilight let out a sigh and said, "I really hope this plan works. If anypony needs me, I'll be with Pinkie. Harmony knows that she needs a shoulder to cry on, until T3 comes back." Twilight went over to Pinkie and took her somewhere else.

"I'll be in the medical room rechecking our supplies. We're going to need them if anything goes wrong," Fluttershy said and went to the medical room.

"Hey Garret, there's something I need to talk to you about, but Big Z needs me for a moment. So I'll be back later," Scootaloo said walking besides Zaalbar to wherever they were going.

Zandra just left on her own and didn't give a reason why. Garret just presumed that there was some Bek business to take care of.

It was just Applejack and Garret by themselves. Applejack was blushing a bit and Garret felt a little uncomfortable. Before Garret could think of something to say, Applejack looked at him and said, "Garret, thanks."

Garret looked back at Applejack and asked, "For what?"

"For listening to me last night. Ah didn't trust ya at the beginning of this journey and Ah've made things hard for us. But even though ya didn't have a reason to listen to what Ah've been through, you still listened and ya even respected my wishes about waiting for me to tell ya about my sis. Ah really feel like Ah can trust a pony again and I'm glad that's ya," Applejack said. She then got closer to Garret and pressed her head against his neck. Garret was caught off guard and blushed. Applejack looked up at him and said, "If ya ever need me for anything, Ah'll always have y'alls back partner. And that is the honest truth."

Garret smiled at what Applejack said and replied, "Thanks Applejack. And I got yours too."

"Glad ta hear it. If ya need me for anything, Ah'll be over at the garage. We'll more than likely need some ship parts in case the ship isn't as good as Canderous says it is," Applejack said making her way to the garage.

As Garret was watching Applejack walk away, he was thinking about what she said. 'I'm glad that Applejack is opening up more.' Garret then felt a tap on his shoulder and looked over to see that it was Scootaloo. "Hey Scoots, you said you wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Yes. We have blueprints on Blueblood's estate and we needed to go over it with you," Scootaloo said and started to pull one of Garret hoofs to lead the way.

Garret went along with it and followed her.





Garret was in a room with Scootaloo and Zaalbar, as they were putting down the schematics of Blueblood’s base.

Garret was looking at all the schematics and asked Scootaloo, "Heya Scoots, what's with all the schematics here? Shouldn't we go over this with the rest of the group?"

"Not yet. I wanted to go over this with you about breaking somepony out," Scootaloo replied.

"Who?"

"We're going to rescue my big sister, Rainbow Dash."


END OF CHAPTER