“Sargent,” Vader commanded. “Bring the box.”
One of the white armored commandos pulled a flat grey square from his pack and pushed a button. As Luna watched, it unfolded out into a cube that promptly popped open to reveal a soft blue interior. Gingerly, the man reached down and picked up the Jedi’s severed head. Holding it delicately, he lowered it into the container, which promptly slammed shut. He hit another button, and there was a hiss of escaping air as the cube vacuum sealed.
“We will ensure that the unruly elements of the population find this. Let them see for themselves what it means to defy the Empire,” the black cyborg continued.
“Her lightsaber makes a fine addition to my collection,” Luna added. “Perhaps we should display it in battle somewhere?”
“A worthy suggestion.” Vader nodded. “Sargent, take your men and hunt down the survivors before they spread too far. Kill most, but allow at least a few to escape. Let the Wookiees hear of this from the terrified lips of their own kind.”
“It will be done, my lord,” said the man. He turned to his men and nodded. “All units, with me.”
All eleven surviving commandos activated their jet packs simultaneously, lifting off from the smoldering village and vanishing quickly into the surrounding darkness. Their advanced helmets would provide them with all the sight they needed, while the survivors would be virtually blind. Luna watched them go with a neutral expression and once they were out of sight, turned her gaze back to Vader.
“We didn’t come here because she was a threat,” the alicorn said.
“No,” Vader answered. “We did not. Jelee Almar was an undistinguished general, a mediocre duelist, and an abysmal pilot at best. Her only real skill lay in the healing arts. She spent the Clone Wars defending secure worlds and medical stations in the Inner Rim from Separatist raiders. Little more than a glorified nurse with a few skirmishes to her name.”
“Then why?”
“To make certain.”
“That I would kill for you?”
“That you would kill someone that you did not know, who had never raised a finger against you, simply because I commanded it. Even when what I told you was a lie.” He paused. “Your vendetta against Cia could simply have been a purely personal affair, your survival against Maul demonstrated nothing beyond the capacity for self-defense. I needed to make certain you could call on your hatred without hesitation or restraint, no matter the target or circumstances. And you have passed that test.”
“But…why? What was the point?”
“You are not an unintelligent woman, Inquisitor. Perhaps you might explain the reasons we came so far.”
“We’re… alone,” Luna said, looking around as if noticing the endless gloom for the first time. “Far from any prying eyes or technological surveillance.”
“Correct.”
“We have an excuse to be here for a time, and proof to offer.”
Vader gave a small nod.
“But that is still avoiding the central question. We have an excuse to be here, and we are safe from anyone who might wish to spy on us, but how does that benefit you? What could you possibly have to say to me that you could not say somewhere… else…” The alicorn stared up at the cyborg, eyes wide.
Vader stared down at her for a moment, still and silent but for his breathing, as if considering a moment longer.
“The Emperor,” he began, “is a blight on the galaxy. In his arrogance he fails to see dissent building under his very nose. In his conviction that he has already triumphed for all time, he sows the seeds for a bloody and destructive conflict to wrack this galaxy yet again. I would see those seeds uprooted, and true order brought to the Empire.”
“And you… want my help?”
“Your fighting skills are raw, but your potential is great. Enduring the Valley of the Dark Lords and coming back alive, surviving against swordsmen on the level of Darth Maul and General Grievous.” Vader looked at her. “Don’t look so surprised, princess. Did you think I had not learned of your little planet’s history? Your history? Your potential has long gone to waste, but with proper training you could make a powerful warrior in service to the dark side.”
“And in service to you?”
“Now you begin to see clearly. I have need of an apprentice, Inquisitor. An agent of the dark side to hone and to shape,” here he paused. “And one day, to thrust through the Emperor’s heart.”
“I’ll do it,” Luna declared without hesitation.
“So eager, Inquisitor?” Vader paused. “Yes, I can sense your hatred. Your hunger to plunge your blade into my master’s flesh. If he were here, now, you would cut him down without flinching. That is good. But it is not enough.”
“My lord?”
“It is not enough that you simply possess the will to end him. You must be willing to end his life on my behalf. And it is here that I find you… lacking.”
The alicorn could feel sweat tricking down her face, and not just from the heat of the fire. How much could Vader sense? What did he know?
“Bonds of loyalty must be forged, joined, and put to the test. All that you were and are must be broken down and remade into a vessel for the dark side. In order to triumph, even your name will be forfeit. In my service, you will learn to hunt down what remains of your old self and murder it.” Vader paused again. “As Anakin Skywalker was murdered. Only then will you bet fit to join me against the Emperor.”
Luna’s eyes were wide as dinner plates. She may not have been involved in wider galactic affairs for long, but even she had heard of the legendary Hero With No Fear. A great Jedi war hero, some said the greatest of them all. He had vanished during the chaotic aftermath of the Jedi’s attempt on Palpatine’s life, and was presumed dead. To think that he was standing here before her, right now…
“He is not.” Vader interrupted her thoughts. “Anakin Skywalker is dead. I killed him.”
“As you say, my lord,” Luna hastily bowed her head.
“Perhaps right now you do not fully understand what that means. In time, and with training, you will. You still cling to something of the weak, broken creature that you were. Do not deny this, I can sense it. Your feelings for home… for friends… for sister… all of these must be destroyed. Only then will you truly come into the power of the dark side, and only then will you be ready. Do you understand?”
“I…” Luna hesitated.
Her helmeted head turn first to look at the ground, blue eyes staring at the ash-choked earth at her hooves. Next, she looked the smoldering homes and the broken corpses of those the Jedi had tried, so nobly, to defend. She beheld the futility of the light. And she made her choice.
“I understand.” Luna knelt amidst the ashes. “Master.”
“Good. Then before we kill the Emperor,” Vader crimson blade flared to life, held merest centimeters from the alicorn’s neck. “We will kill all that is left of Princess Luna.”
*Breath in* time to be a piece of garbage!
First
Whew... and here begins what could possibly be Luna's true fall into the Dark Side. Before, she had merely grazed it's surface like a water-bug, but now she's close to taking the plunge into the rivers of shadow.
Damn fine work.
memegenerator.net/img/instances/250x250/73513429/do-it.jpg
So, now Maul, Dooku, Vader, and Luna all want the emperor dead?
And they are off on a good start! Twilight can testify.
In her unlimited resolve to accomplish her plan, the night mare finally became what she wanted to protect Equestria from. Princess Luna was dead. Darth Noctis (if she keeps that name, that is) was born.
8685257
A predictable habit of manipulating, betraying, and tossing everyone aside like garbage doesn't win you a lot of friends.
8685257
Well he IS a backstabbing bastard...
Thank you once again for the update.
The parallels between Luna and Grievous continue to grow.
I wonder, will Luna still plan to betray Vader? Probably. Seems to be common amongst the Sith. The Sith are the living embodiments of "Survival of the fittest."
I wonder, are we going to see a return of Nightmare Moon? Will Luna choose to embody the name Darth Noctis? Probably not in front of Palpatine at least...
How will Maul work into this? What is Dooku's view? So many questions!
8685269
Indeed, Sith don’t do friendship.
8685262
This metaphor simply doesn't make any sense. The person's the same. You've just added a bunch of new circumstances and have, predictably, gotten different behavior.
8685317
Sith, at least those inducted old enough to have a past, generally consider their past selves to be dead and buried, nothing in comparison to the power of the dark side. This is symbolized by setting aside their childhood name to take up their "true" name as "Darth [X]", though they may still use their old name for cover identities like Palpatine does.
Of course, as Vader demonstrates, sometimes their past selves aren't quite as dead as the Sith believe.
8683377
Well, according to canon damaged horn lead to magic failures, lack of control over spells and so on (you know, this whole Tempest Shadow/Fizzlepop Berrytwist situation). Horn more like control device rather than a source of magic.
8685346
This fic began years before the movie came out.
8685355
Yeah, but still. Alicorns supposed to be a perfect blend of all three tribes. A total lack of all magic abilities after Luna lost her horn looks extremely strange to me. Loss of ability to use unicorn magic - fine. But how it connected to pegasi flight and earth pony strength and nature connection?
8685364
I view it as being the essential focal point for all alicorn magic, it's removal more or less short-circuiting all magic throughout her body. Though it's worth noting she has retained at least some physical strength and apparently her immortality. Palpatine speculates her horn may grow back in time.
8685381
Oh well, everyone has their own headcanon.
Also, I can not escape the impression that Luna falls because of she rather selfish. Yes, she tries to justify everything she did by saying that she does it for home planet, ponies and so on but it feels rather shallow.
Well, it's least it's my impression.
8685392
You're free to believe what you wish but Luna does hesitate to actually harm Twilight (though not her associates) and actively lies to the Empire to cover up the young princess' involvement in order to protect Equestria. Vader certainly believes that something of Luna's old attachments remain, and he can read her mind at least in part.
8685392
She’s been quite selfish since Korriban, I agree with you heartily on that. Her inclination to use or kill anyone around her, be they imperials or rebels, as she wishes, all her talk about being righteous, following the only way to save Equestria, being the most noble of all alicorn, treating Twilight as a lesser and calling her a naive whelp, ... And I sense this is only the beginning.
I wonder if this is gonna be similar to how it was with Starkiller...
8685335
That is certainly their view. Doesn't stop them being wrong.
8685427
To be fair, Twilight is a naïve whelp and has never asserted herself as the other princesses' equal.
8685501
The Sith perspective is that their past is dead, and they'll be happy to make you join it if you disagree.
Oh, boy. Luna starting to sound like General Grievous. Next thing you know, she’ll start losing limbs throughout her training, and have them replaced with machine parts, until there is nothing left of the pony she once was.
...... oh, please don’t let that actually happen.
So, Vader has revealed his intentions to Luna - to kill the Emperor. Of course, Luna took the offer to become his apprentice without hesitation.
I imagine that Dooku won’t be as happy with the latest turn of events as Luna is. While he, too, wants Sidious dead, he especially wants Vader dead, since the black cyborg killed him personally.
And now, Luna’s true descent into the dark side begins. And with that, comes the true birth of Darth Noctis.
8685566
Luna’s tendency to hate everything that is not pony and to rage at everything that doesn’t go her way seems, for me, to mirror Grievous’ mindset. Quite ironical that she even borrows his quotes as well.
8685691
Better yet, a Sith Daybreaker!
And thus, Luna dies.
The Princess is dead. Long live the Darth.
8685691
Who could stand against an army of these ?
pre00.deviantart.net/2d47/th/pre/f/2015/259/a/6/sith_celestia_redux_by_ncmares-d99svcq.jpg
(Source)
8685269
Random question not related to the post it's replied to!
We've seen the yellow eyes of the Sith manifest in Luna a few times... Are we going to see the slit eyes of Nightmare Moon at some point as well?
8685381
I still disagree with this concept, but can't win them all.
I wonder... if Luna is to become a more valuable asset to Vader, will she be getting a full medical screening not unlike what Celestia has been prone to? That may tell if the Horn is actively regrowing or not. I think Vader might do this because afterall, a well care for tool is a more effective one.
8685710
Like Palpatine isn't going to try that with Celestia. The Sith have a real fetish for turning family against each other.
Or their clones.
And we come up to the biggest problem of the Dark Side: it grants you power after it has tempted you to destroy everything precious to yourself. What's the point of power if you lose everything? Will Luna really kill Twilight, Celestia and all of Equestria for power? Then there would be nothing left to use it for.
8686191
A hero complex that causes you to futilely believe that somehow, you alone will manage to maintain your most treasured goal- For Luna, this would be Equestria, as it stands.
Of course, this inevitably fails anyway.
Example: Darth Vader believed he could save his love through the dark side. Ultimately, he became Darth Vader when he realized that the opposite is true.
8686191
This is how the Sith would answer you. Of course they are literally incapable of simply being happy (hedonism/sadistic pleasure is as close as it comes) without watching their powers drain away, so take that how you will.
One a less philosophical level, by the time you reach the "kill your family" stage you're probably already so full of wrath and greed for power you simply don't care anymore. The Sith are, in their own way, every bit as dehumanizing as the worst of the Jedi policies.
8685566
Why would Dooku be upset? He sent Luna back to the Korriban academy when he did because he sensed Vader would be there soon. Why else but to place the alicorn where the cyborg would find her and spirit her away?
8686238
Yep, which is why the most "human" force users tend to be of those races where almost all of them are force sensitive but they chose not to take a side in the war between the light and the dark.. cause both sides will dehumanize you in some way. One will make you a monster by growing your dark emotions, the other will require that all your emotions be restricted so that you may confront that which lays before you with full clarity of mind.
So Luna is Starkiller. I was wondering if you were ever going to introduce him into the story. I would've liked to have seen him however, I think it does make a lot more sense to just have Luna substitute for him. This fic may have become overcrowded with apprentices.
Will Luma be like, "Oh, yeah. A sith of old gave me the name Darth Noctis. Can we just use that name instead of a new one. Also Called It!