Laying flat upon the cold metal slab, pain skyrocketed through every nerve of Sunset Shimmer’s being. For hours, strapped to that slab, she was subjected to horrendous torture from the evil Sith Emperor. At some point, the tears stopped falling from her eyes as if she just couldn’t anymore. Finally, Palpatine lowered his hands and ceased the force lightning.
“It would seem your will is strong child,” He said lowly. “Why fight the inevitable? You need only agree to serve me. Learn the ways of the dark side of the force and only then will you understand.”
Sunset spoke no words, only moved her head to turn away from the evil old man. Palpatine merely chuckled evilly.
“Resist as you will…” He smiled wickedly. “They always resist… and it matters not. You will soon see the galaxy as I see it.”
He quickly snapped his head in the direction of the three inquisitors, who stood at attention.
“Take her back to her cell,” He ordered.
“Yes, your majesty,” The Third Sister responded.
They all came to Sunset’s side, slowly unbinding her from the slab.
“And when you finish, you will journey to the ruins of the Sith Citadel on Dromund Kaas. There’s a source of power I seek… do not return to me until it is found.”
“Understood,” The Fourth and Fifth sister bowed.
Once the inquisitors finished unbinding Sunset, they slowly dragged her limp body away.
“Oh yes… and one more thing,” Palpatine called.
The three stopped in their tracks and turned. With a single gesture from Palpatine’s frail hand, he beckoned the Sisters to force Sunset’s head back around. Forcing her to look into the dark, soulless eyes of the Emperor himself.
“Worry not my dear, we shall meet again… for another session.”
The Emperor released a sickly, maniacal cackle as the inquisitors dragged Sunset back to her cell once more. Arriving at the holding cell, the inquisitors violently shoved Sunset back inside and she just fell limply to the ground. She seemed so devoid of life, a woman without hope, lying on the cold floor motionless.
The three inquisitors left the poor girl to her cell, knowing she won’t be going anywhere. Slowly, they slither their way toward the hangar of the palace.
“Now it’s off to Dromund Kaas,” The Third Sister announced.
“I wonder what the Emperor seeks on the Sith’s old capital planet,” The Fourth sister questioned.
“That planet is rife with old artifacts and ancient Sith knowledge of those who came before. With luck, it will be a weapon to use against this rebellion.”
“What about what we seek in this planet?” The Fifth Sister asked.
“Worry not. We shall find what we seek and soon we shall consume all the force energy from this entire galaxy… and the one after that… and the one after that…”
The three inquisitors climbed aboard one of the Empire’s transport shuttles and made their way toward the old Sith capital planet.
<>
Morning slowly crept into the sparce, yet sparkling oasis of the open courtyard. The idyll is broken by Uncle Owen’s yelling, his voice bellowing throughout the homestead.
“Luke? Luke? Luke? Where could he be loafing now?!”
The interior of the kitchen offers a warm glow, as Aunt Beru prepares the morning breakfast. Owen entered in a huff.
“Have you seen Luke this morning?” Owen asked. “And those kids he was with?”
“He said they had some things to do before he started today,” Aunt Beru answered. “So they left early.”
“Uh? Did they take those two new droids with them?”
“I think so.”
“Well, he’d better have those units in the south range repaired by midday or there’ll be hell to pay!”
<>
Meanwhile, along the wastelands, the rock and sand of the desert floor are a blur. C-3PO pilots the sleek Landspeeder gracefully across the vast wasteland. Luke leans over the back of the speeder, adjusting something in the motor compartment.
“How’s that?” Luke yelled.
3PO signals that ‘Everything is fine’, as Luke turned back into the wind-whipped cockpit, and popped the canopy shut. Alongside their speeder, the Equestrians sped forth in their own speeder with Storm Shield assuming the controls. The girls eyes look out toward the horizon, trying to spot a sign of where the little R2-D2 droid could be. Turned out finding one droid along the entire desert planet was like finding a needle in a haystack.
“You sure we’re going the right way?!” Twilight called out.
“Old Ben Kenobi lives out in this direction somewhere,” Luke pointed out. “But I don’t see how that R2 unit could have come this far.”
“Maybe we made a wrong turn at that last sand dune,” Pinkie suggested.
“Pinkie Pie, look around you!” Rainbow shouted, irritably. “There’s nothing but sand dunes everywhere!!!”
“Uncle Owen isn’t going to take this very well,” Luke moaned.
“Sir, would it help if you told him that it was my fault?” 3PO offered.
“Sure,” Luke answered brightly. “He needs you… he’d probably only deactivate you for a day or so…”
“Deactivate!” 3PO yelled. “Well, on the other hand, if you hadn’t removed his restraining bolt…”
“Hey you two!” Storm shouted. “Hate to break up your heart-to-heart banter. But there’s something dead ahead on the scanner.”
“It looks like our droid…” Luke observed. “Hit the accelerator!”
<>
From high along a rocky mesa, the tiny Landspeeders could be seen gliding across the desert floor. Suddenly, in the foreground, two weather-beaten Sandpeople shrouded in their grimy desert cloaks peered over the edge of the rock mesa. One of the marginally human creatures raised a long ominous laser rifle, aiming at one of the speeders. But the second creature grabbed the gun before it can be fired.
The Sandpeople, or ‘Tusken Raiders’ as they’re sometimes called, speak a coarse, barbaric language as they get into an animated argument. The second Tusken Raider seemed to get in the final word and the nomads scurried over the rocky terrain.
The Tusken Raider approached two large Banthas standing tied to a rock. The monstrous, bear-like creatures are as large as elephants, with huge red eyes, tremendously looped horns, and long, furry, dinosaur-like tails. The Tusken Raiders mount saddles strapped to the huge creatures’ shaggy backs and ride off down the rugged bluff.
<>
The speeders are parked along the floor of a massive canyon. Luke, with his long laser rifle slung over his shoulder, stood before little R2 with the entire Equestrian team surrounding them.
“Oh, I knew I should’ve brought some lotion,” Rarity moaned. “My skin’s going to be as red as a peach!”
“You could stand to use a bit of sun,” Rainbow remarked.
“Hey, whoa, just where do you think you’re going?” Luke asked R2.
“Y’all had us worried to death sugar cube,” Applejack added.
The little droid whistled a feeble reply, as C-3PO posed menacingly behind the little runaway.
“Master Luke here is your rightful owner,” 3PO scolded. “We’ll have no more of this Obi-Wan Kenobi gibberish… and don’t talk to me about your mission, either.”
“Totally! I mean who knows what could’ve happened to you…” Pinkie babbled. “You could’ve been blasted into a million tiny pieces. Or carried onto a conveyor belt, slowly toward a machine designed to crush appliances into tiny cubes of…”
“Pinkie… you’re not helping!” Spike muttered, through her teeth.
“Well anyways, it’s getting late,” Storm replied, observing the sky. “We need to leave this place immediately.”
“I only hope we can get back before Uncle Owen really blows up,” Luke spoke, worriedly.
“And not in the funny way like that show with the singing furry creatures,” Pinkie remarked.
“If you don’t mind me saying so,” 3PO offered. “I think you should deactivate the little fugitive until you’ve gotten him back to your workshop.”
“Oh, don’t be mean to R2,” Fluttershy scolded lightly. “He’s not going to try anything rash, aren’t you little fella?”
All of a sudden, the little robot jumped to life with a mass of frantic whistles and screams.
“Take it easy, little guy! Take it easy!” Twilight urged, turning to 3PO. “What’s the matter with him?”
“Oh my…” 3PO realized, turning to Twilight. “He says there are several creatures approaching from the southeast.”
Luke swung his rifle into position and turned toward the south.
“Sandpeople! Or worst! Come on, let’s have a look.”
“Y’all wanna go to the spot where those vermin might kill us?” Applejack asked sarcastically.
“Come on!” Luke urged.
“We’d better follow Luke just to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself,” Storm advised. “But some of us should stay behind with R2 and keep themselves hidden.”
“O-O-Oh… I don’t like confrontation,” Fluttershy stuttered, stepping toward R2. “M-M-Maybe I better stay… to watch R2, of course.”
“Better make that two,” Pinkie volunteered. “After all, Auntie Pinkie Pie has to make sure two of her bestest friends in the galaxy don’t let those big, meanie Sandy-Pants put their grubby hands on you… inappropriately.”
“Pinkie… I’m a year older than you,” Fluttershy whispered annoyed.
“I think I’d rather stay out of this one,” Spike spoke shakily. “N-N-Not that I’m scared… but figured they could use extra protection.”
“Aw, Spikey…” Rarity sighed.
“Thank you for volunteering Spike,” Twilight nodded. “You guys wait here and keep watch.”
“And if we’re not back in five minutes…” Storm added, tossing Pinkie the keys. “Take the speeder and get out of here as fast as possible.”
Pinkie and Fluttershy silently salute as they watch the rest of their friends, including C-3PO, follow Luke Skywalker toward the nearby ridge just south of their location.
<>
Once in position, Luke carefully made his way toward the rock ridge, scanning the canyon with his electro-binoculars. He spotted the two riderless Banthas. 3PO and the Equestrians struggled just behind the young adventurer. Storm Shield observed with a pair of his own binoculars, while the girls stayed behind him… though Twilight crouched ‘next’ to
“What on Earth are those things?” Rarity pointed out.
“Banthas, popular mode of transportation for the Tuskan Raiders,” Storm Shield observed. “If those beasts are there, then their riders aren’t too far… very territorial creatures, they lived off what this planet can provide for Celestia knows how many years and any who step on their grounds are an enemy.”
“Are they really as bad as you say they are?” Rainbow asked.
“Let me put it in a way you can understand… when it comes to Sandpeople, they live by their name. They’re not very social creatures, they prefer to live off the land and as far from civilization as possible. But the worst part… they rarely take prisoners… alive.”
Rainbow’s eyes widened to the size of pinpricks, a bead of sweat dropped from her head.
“Noted…” Rainbow spoke.
“There are two Banthas down there,” Luke observed. “But I don’t see any… wait a second, they’re Sandpeople all right. I can see one of them now.”
“Only one of them?” Twilight questioned. “Now why would he be out in the open all by himself?”
“I reckon he’s a scout?” Applejack guessed.
“No… Sandpeople never travel alone,” Storm answered. “If that one’s guarding the Banthas, then the other one must be…”
Suddenly, while the group watched the distant Tuskan Raider through their electro-binoculars, something hugged moved in front of their field of view. Before either one could react, a large, gruesome Tusken Raider loomed over them. The girls screamed at the sight, while a startled 3PO backed away… right off the side of the cliff. Rarity turned and he could be heard for several moments, clanging, banging, and rattle down the side of the mountain.
“3PO!!!” Rarity shouted.
The towering creature brings down his curved, double-pointed gaderffii—the dreaded axe blade that struck terror in the heart of the local settlers. Luke managed to block the blow with his laser rifle, which smashed to pieces. The terrified farm boy scrambled backward till he’s forced to the edge of a deep crevice. The sinister Raider stood over him with his weapon raised and released a horrible shrieking laugh.
*WHAM!!!*
The Tusken Raider was knocked aside by a devastating kick toward the mountain wall… his head hit the wall and knocked him unconscious. Applejack stood with one leg out, after releasing a devastating kick. Storm stood with his jaw wide at the sight.
“Whoa!!!”
All of a sudden, roars caused the group to turn as more Tusken Raiders leapt from the wall above them and stood before them, their own weapons ready to kill.
“Rarity, look out!” Twilight shouted.
Two of the Tusken Raiders quickly grabbed Rarity by the arms and the fashionista screamed. They tried to drag her away as the unicorn turned human struggled against their fierce grip.
“Guys, help!” Rarity shouted.
“Dash!” Storm shouted.
“Right… these two are all mine!” Rainbow spoke confidently.
Rainbow Dash made her way toward the Sandpeople, swaying her body and crossing her legs at a rapid pace like a boxer’s dance. They eyed the cyan skinned teen curiously, as she zipped side to side and hopping about her feet. Two of the raider raised their axes and tried to strike her, but she’s quick to duck and they clattered against each other. She hurled her fists toward their ‘lower regions’, causing the two to cringe and lean over. Another charged toward her with his weapon held high and she retaliates with a side kick knocking him back.
Another raider charged toward Applejack, who knocks him back with another side kick below the chin sending him off the edge of the cliff. Storm Shield fought another Raider, blocking his attacks and holding him back with a punch to the chest. As Twilight kept her guard up, another Tusken Raider jumped toward her with his weapon raised.
“WAIT!” Twilight held an arm out.
Twilight quickly removed her glasses from her face, folding them, and storing it in a pocket in her uniform. The Raider leaned its head to the side, as if utterly confused. Twilight then braced herself, squinting her eyes.
“You should never fight a woman with glasses,” Twilight spoke.
Suddenly another Tusken Raider grabbed her, wrapping its filthy arms around her waist. With a yelp, Twilight swung a leg below his belt out of instinct, knocking some air out of him, and clubbed him with an elbow to the face.
In all that time, Rarity tried to swing herself out of the raiders grip and kicked one leg toward one Raider in front of her, knocking him head-over-heels. She swung another leg toward one of the Raiders holding her, loosening his grip slightly. The girls and Storm fought as long as they could, though the Raiders proved very tough to keep down. At one point, while trying to defend herself, Twilight kept bumping into the Raiders due to her poor vision. Though she managed to dodge two of them, who nearly sandwiched the princess, they were quick to grab her and hurl her toward Luke. Twilight barely picked herself up before she heard a scream and Rarity was thrown on top of her, knocking the wind out of Twilight.
The Tusken Raiders lifted Rainbow Dash, who struggled in their grip, and they threw her into the pile of bodies like a trash bag. Even Storm Shield could barely keep his guard for as long as he could, until a Tusken Raider hurled him aside and sent him rolling amongst the girls. The numbers proved especially overwhelming for Applejack, despite landing a solid kick that sent a Tusken Raider rolling before she too was thrown atop her friends. Whatever remained of the Sandpeople, they gathered around the fallen heroes and they watched helpless as they loomed toward them, their weapons raised in the air.
<>
R2-D2, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Spike forced themselves into the small alcove within the rocks, as the vicious Sandpeople walked past carrying the inert Luke Skywalker and their friends. They were all dropped into a heap before their speeders. With the group unconscious, the Sandpeople start ransacking the speeders, throwing parts and supplies in all directions. And then suddenly… they stopped.
Confused, the remainder of the group looked on timidly and nervously as all was quiet… for a moment or two. Just then, a great howling moan echoed throughout the canyon which sent the Sandpeople fleeing in terror.
“W-W-What’s out there?” Fluttershy whimped.
R2-D2 responded with a series of beeps, just as nervous as the others.
“It sounds like a g-g-g-ghost!” Pinkie chattered.
They moved as tightly into the shadows as they could, feeling crushed between each other and the cliffs on both sides. The slight swishing sound that frightened off the Sandpeople grew ever closer, until a shabby old desert-rat-of-a-man appeared and leaned over the unconscious group. R2 made a slight sound and the figure turned, looked right where the others were hidden, and removed the hood over his head. His ancient leathery face, cracked and weathered by exotic climates was set off by dark, penetrating eyes and a scraggly white beard. He squinted his eyes as he scrutinized the nervous looking group.
“Hello there!” The old man greeted. “Come here my little friends. Don’t be afraid.”
R2 waddled over toward where the others crumbled in a heap, whistling and beeping his concern. The others slowly approached, as Ben placed a hand over Luke’s forehead.
“Twilight?” Spike spoke up. “Rarity?”
“Are they all right?” Fluttershy asked, with concern.
“Don’t worry, they’ll be all right,” The old man reassured.
The moaning and groaning from the group confirmed the old man’s suspicions, as the team starting coming to.
“Ow…” Twilight groaned, clutching her head. “What happened?”
“Rest easy, dear, you’ve had a busy day,” The man replied. “You’re fortunate you’re all still in one piece.”
As they all regained consciousness, while Twilight repositioned the glasses over her eyes, Luke looked up toward the man and instantly recognized him.
“Ben? Ben Kenobi!” Luke gasped. “Boy, am I glad to see you!”
“The Jundland wastes are not to be traveled lightly,” The old man spoke. “Tell me young Luke, what brings you and your friends out this far?”
“Well, that little rolling bucket of trouble for one thing!” Rainbow grumbled. “Thinks he’s searching for his former master…”
“I’ve never seen such devotion in a droid before…” Luke added, kindly. “There seems to be no stopping him.”
“He claims to be the property of one ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’,” Applejack spoke, brushing shoulder. “Is he a relative of yours? Ya reckon ya know who he’s talkin’ about?”
Ben pondered this for a moment, scratching his scruffy beard.
“Obi-Wan Kenobi… Obi-Wan? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time… a long time.”
“I think my uncle knew him,” Luke guessed. “He said he was dead.”
“Oh, he’s not dead, not… not yet…” Ben corrected.
“You know him?” Luke asked curiously.
“Well of course, of course I know him,” Ben replied, pointing at himself. “He’s me! I haven’t gone by the name Obi-Wan since oh before you were born.”
“You’re the Obi-Wan Kenobi!” Twilight gasped.
“That’s right,” Obi-Wan nodded, turning to Storm. “And it’s good to see you, Master Storm Shield.”
“Master Kenobi,” Storm bowed.
“Wait… you know this man?!” Rarity asked.
“Well, not personally… but that’s a longer story.”
“Then the droid does belong to you,” Luke concluded.
“Don’t seem to remember ever owning a droid,” Ben replied, looking at the droid. “Very interesting…”
Suddenly, he looked up at the overhanging cliffs and the group looked in his direction.
“I think we better get indoors. The Sandpeople are easily startled but they will soon be back and in greater numbers.”
“I don’t know about y’all,” Applejack replied. “I ain’t gonna wanna be around when they come back.”
Twilight and Storm helped Luke up, the young man rubbing his head. R2 let out a pathetic beep as Fluttershy turned toward him.
“What is it little guy?”
Pinkie Pie suddenly had a thought and started counting heads. Gasping loudly, she looked around.
“Where’s 3PO?!”
<>
Little R2 stood at the edge of a large sand pit, chattering away in electronic whistles and beeps. Luke, Ben, and the group stood over a very dented, very tangled 3PO lying half buried in the sand. One of his arms had broken off. Luke and Storm tried to revive the inert robot, the former shaking him while Storm flipped a hidden switch on his back several times. Until finally, the mechanical man’s systems rebooted.
“Welcome back Tin Man,” Rainbow remarked.
“Where am I?” 3PO asked. “I must have taken a bad step…”
“More like a great fall…” Spike joked. “But no, you were lucky we found you.”
“Can you stand?” Luke asked. “We’ve got to get out of here before the Sandpeople return.”
“I don’t think I can make it,” 3PO quivered. “You go on, there’s no sense in any of you risking yourself on my account. I’m done for.”
R2 made a beeping sound.
“No way Goldy, we’re not leaving you that easily,” Rainbow brushed off. “What kind of talk is that?”
“C’mon, we’ll carry you,” Storm replied. “We’ll have you repaired once we get somewhere safe.”
Luke and Ben helped the battered robot to his feet. Little R2 watched from the top pit. Suddenly, Spike’s ears perked up and he glanced around suspiciously. Sensing something, he stood on his hind legs and sniffed the air.
“We better get out of here guys…” Spike warned. “I think those sand monsters are coming!”
“Spike’s right,” Twilight agreed. “Let’s move!”
<>
A while later, the group found themselves in a small, spartan hovel cluttered with desert junk. Yet somehow, it still managed to radiate an air of time-worn comfort and security. Luke was in a corner repairing 3PO’s arm, while old Ben sat thinking.
“No, my father didn’t fight in the wars,” Luke said. “He was a navigator on a spice freighter.”
“That’s what your uncle told you,” Ben replied. “He didn’t hold with your father’s ideals. Thought he should have stayed here and not gotten involved.”
“And you fought in the… Clone Wars?” Twilight asked.
“Very brutal war…” Storm emphasized. “Too many casualties to count…”
“Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight the same as your father,” Ben answered.
“He does sound pretty awesome,” Rainbow spoke. “Would’ve like to have met him.”
“He was the best star-pilot in the galaxy, and a cunning warrior,” Ben described, turning to Luke. “I understand you’ve become quite a good pilot yourself.”
“Sounds like he was a really good friend of yours,” Twilight assumed.
“Oh yes… very much…” Ben nodded sadly. “Which reminds me…”
Ben picked himself up and goes to a chest where he rummages around. As Luke finished repairing 3P0 and started refitting the restraining bolt back on, 3PO looked at him nervously. Luke thought about the bolt for a moment, then put it on the table. Ben shuffled up and presented Luke a short handle with several electronic gadgets attached to it.
“I have something for you,” Ben offered Luke. “Your father wanted you to have this when you were old enough, but your uncle wouldn’t allow it. He feared you might follow old Obi-Wan on some damned-fool idealistic crusade like your father did.”
“Sir, if you’ll not be needing me,” 3PO spoke up. “I’ll close down for a while.”
“Sure, give yourself a rest,” Storm replied. “You earned it.”
As 3PO shut himself down, Ben handedLuke the saber.
“What is it?” Luke asked curiously.
“Your father’s lightsaber,” Ben answered. “This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster.”
Luke pushed a button on the handle. A long beam of light blue shot out about four feet and flickered there. The light played across the ceiling. As Luke admired the lightsaber, Old Ben looked over at Storm Shield as a small smile formed.
“As for you Master Storm, I also have something for you as well.”
Ben walked over to another part of his tiny hovel, before returning with a long wooden case in his arms. He held it out to Storm and the young prince grasped it in his hands. A look of almost realization swept over his face.
“Is this what I think it is?” He asked.
Old Ben nodded his head, smiling in response.
“It would seem you left this behind a thousand years ago,” He explained. “Your master was able to recover it and kept it in his possession for all those years. Then when he left, he gave it to me with the knowledge that his greatest Padawan would one day return.”
“Well, I don’t know about the ‘greatest’…” Storm replied humbled. “And yet I… I…”
But as he slowly, shakily opened the box… he stopped. A smile formed as Storm admired the content inside. A long silver pike with gold trimmings which, even after a thousand years, was kept in pristine condition.
Storm could almost feel a tear of joy fall from his face as he picked the pike up from the box and held it in his grip. The pike itself measured up to about the same height as him (His human height).
“It’s been so long…” He said silently.
Everyone else in the group seemed confused.
“Uh Storm, what’s so great about a pole?” Rainbow asked skeptically.
Storm turned back to the cyan tomboy with a smug smirk.
“I’ll show you what’s great about this pole…”
Storm pressed a button on the end of the pike and a golden lightsaber blade ignited from the end. The girls and Spike took a step back yet looked on in fascination at the weapon. Storm whirled the pike around a few times rapidly between his fingers, switching hands a few times and made it seem so effortless. As an added effect, he pole-vaulted with the other side of the pike over the girls and landed behind them. For extra emphasis, he softly jabbed Rainbow with the blunt side of the pike.
“That is what’s so special,” He said smugly.
Rainbow had to pick her mouth up off the ground where it lay, shocked by what she had just witnessed.
“Could I get one of those, Mister Kenobi?” Pinkie pleaded.
“Heh-heh… all in good time dear,” Old Ben chuckled. “An elegant weapon for a more civilized time.”
“Wait a minute!” Twilight spoke, in shock. “Storm, you mean to say that you… are a Jedi?”
“More or less,” Storm nodded. “A thousand years ago, when I landed in this world, I quickly learned that I wanted to fight against the Sith Empire and their evil corruption. One of the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy saw potential in me and decided to train me. For years I worked and fought hard to battle the Empire. I even remember this one conflict I had with Darth Bane.”
“Darth… Bane?” Twilight asked curiously.
“That’s an even longer story…”
“For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic,” Ben added. “Before the dark times, before the Empire.”
But for whatever reason, Luke hadn’t been listening at all.
“How did my father die?”
“A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights,” Ben answered. “He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.”
The group were in shock over how a single man could be responsible for the death of warriors as famous as the Jedi Knights. Still, one part of their conversation sparked their curiosity.
“What’s the Force?” Fluttershy asked.
“Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power,” Ben explained. “It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.”
“Sort of like our magic in Equestria,” Twilight compared. “How it helps grow all the plants… changes the atmosphere in the sky… even keeps us safe from the Windigos.”
“Exactly that,” Storm nodded.
R2 made beeping sounds, drawing the group’s attention. But mostly Ben Kenobi’s.
“Now, let’s see if we can’t figure out what you are, my little friend,” Ben spoke. “And where you come from.”
“We only saw one part of the message,” Spike replied. “We were wondering if you could—”
The recorded image of the beautiful young Rebel princess, projected from R2’s face, cut Spike’s words short. The team looked toward the hologram of the fair maiden with awe.
“I seem to have found it,” Ben replied.
Luke gazed toward the lovely girl’s image, as it flicked before his eyes.
“General Kenobi,” She spoke. “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.”
After some slight static, the transmission cut short. Old Ben leaned back and scratched his head. He silently puffed on a tarnished chrome water pipe, while Luke had stars in his eyes. The group turned toward one another, as Spike stared with his jaw intact.
“I figured someone was in desperate need of help…” Spike spoke, in shock. “But this is bigger than I imagined it was going to be.”
“Well Spikey, good thing you went with your instincts fiddling with the portal,” Rarity replied. “Now we know what brings us all here right now.”
“You must learn the ways of the Force if you’re to come with me to Alderaan,” Ben told the group.
“Us?!” The Equestrians (Minus Storm) gasped.
“Alderaan?” Luke chuckled. “I’m not going to Alderaan. I’ve got to go home. I’m late, I’m in for it as it is.”
“Luke, I think we have bigger things to worry about than being late for dinner or chores,” Rainbow remarked.
“It’s bad enough one of our best friends is lost in the galaxy or worst,” Twilight added. “But now there’s someone else in peril, probably someone of great importance. If we’re to find this woman and hope to find clues about Sunset’s disappearance, we’re going to need all the help we can get.”
“The young Princess is right Luke,” Ben agreed. “She needs your help. I’m getting too old for this sort of thing.”
“I can’t get involved!” Luke argued. “I’ve got work to do! It’s not that I like the Empire. I hate it! But there’s nothing I can do about it right now. It’s such a long way from here.”
“That’s your uncle talking.”
“Oh, God, my uncle,” Luke sighed. “How am I ever going to explain this?”
“Learn about the Force, Luke,” Ben advised.
“Kenobi’s right…” Storm nodded. “The war may not be coming to you now, but if Darth Vader was after this princess then he’s sure to suspect what he’s looking for was in R2-D2. He’ll send his entire army down here and everyone on this planet will be in danger.”
“I’m all about family and responsibilities too Luke,” Applejack stepped up. “But if I thought like that back home and mah family were in peril for doin’ nothin’, I’d regret it fer the rest of mah life.”
“Besides, you said you wanted an adventure,” Twilight reminded. “This is the best chance you have.”
Luke Skywalker thought about it for a moment, as if deep down he was struggling between what he wanted to do and what he felt he needed to do. On one hand, he could spend another season content with his chores and dreaming about another opportunity he’ll miss out. But on the other, he’d get to have that adventure and perhaps play an important role in this rebellion like his friends, exploring the galaxy, seeing planets, and daring the odds… and yet to do all that, all of it, he’d leave his only family behind.
“Look, I can take you as far as Anchorhead,” Luke compromised. “You can get a transport there to Mos Eisley or wherever you’re going.”
“You must do what you feel is right, of course,” Ben nodded.
“Well… if Luke’s not going to go,” Storm motioned. “I’m going with you. To finish where I left off.”
“The portal brought us all here for a purpose,” Twilight added. “If we help you get this message straight to Alderaan and possibly save that woman, we could use your help to find our lost friend.”
All the girls and even Spike stepped forward, standing beside Twilight and Storm as they look toward Ben Kenobi. He looked toward the entire group, even the nervous Fluttershy who tried to be brave in the wake of an unknown peril. He nodded with silent approval, despite the fact most of them have no experience with his ways… still, he saw potential in each and every one of them. And Luke looked on from the doorway, silently wanting to join in… but feels bound by his own sense of duties.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RySHDUU2juM
Obi wan Kenobi...... That's not a name i heard in a long time
Pinkie, sometimes you can be so damn annoying! Sorry about that. Obi-wan became one of my favourite character in this series.
Poor Sunset......Emperor Palpatine isn't done with her yet......knowing him. He'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants....
Oh, poor Sunset. Let's hope the Force will be truly with her.
Also, I like Storm's weapon. I didn't even know Jedi had weapons like that. But If I'm not mistaken, that almost looks like the ones the imperial guards used from Force Unleashed. Plus they kind remind me of Grevious' robot guards.
10818179
. The bad lip syncing songs, I haven't seen them in a long time.
It is here that our heroes meet a character who plays a crucial role in the remainder of this movie and the movies moving forward. A former Jedi Knight who comes to the rescue after our heroes try and fail to hold their own against the savage Sandpeople, who's characteristics are nearly like the Native Americans who despise the settlers for taking a portion of their land to set up business and civilization. And it is also during this time we learn another stunning secret about Storm Shield in this universe: That he didn't just travel to other dimensions before sealing himself in a stone, but he also trained and fought as a Jedi Knight.
And to make him stand out, it was a decisive choice to grant him a rather 'unique' form of weaponry and the like of which we rarely see. Soon as I saw it, to say I was impressed with Mr. Enigma's decision was an understatement. But now that they finally got the message they needed to understand what's going on, they face another mission: To attempt to take this message back to Alderaan and report the princess's discovery of a weaponry plans (Course they don't know she's a Princess). But convincing Luke Skywalker may not be easy, even though he longed for adventure and a chance to expand his horizon that would mean leaving his family. It's not so much like he'd prefer to spend his days working as a farmer, this is not the case. It's a matter of simply being afraid to actually go through with your dream knowing that there is a sacrifice involved.
As for Sunset Shimmer... all the things that she is going through, such torture can break the minds of even the strongest humans (Even though Sunset is not entirely human). We can only hope she holds on for as long as she can, hoping our heroes had not given up on their quest to rescue her.
10818183
A classic line. At the time, we would not have guessed how great a jedi Obi-Wan truly was, not until the prequel saga was explored along with a few spin-offs that expand on Obi-Wan's youth (Especially 'during' the Clone Wars in events not covered by the films themselves).
10818192
Yeah... Pinkie Pie does get annoying at times. But she does have her uses here and there.
10818209
Good thing this is an 'E' rated project... any higher and we could've put her through much worse than being struck by electricity over and over.
10818223
None of us would've known. It takes a great deal of research to discover all forms of weaponry the Jedi have used over the years. Some even more impressive than others.
I liked this chapter, really hope your not gonna do the trope I know is popular with Sunset being in the SW universe.
Not that there is anything bad about that trope, it's just been done enough in MLP fics I think.
I knew that Storm would have been a Jedi, did not expect though he would have been involved in something from the TKOTOR series.
Luke! Go with them! You are needed!
Great job with this chapter, also:
*Storm Shield and the others return through the portal*
Celestia: Storm [Middle name here] Shield! *grabs him by the ear and drags him off* You are in big trouble young man! Going off into unknown and dangerous lands where you could've gotten killed?!
Storm: But mom-!
Celestia: No buts mister! You're in for the grounding of your immortal life!
Foreshadowing much, Pinkie?
Meanwhile at the Lars:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dcCpHRBLyBU
10818243
Oh man....I even shutter at that thought.
10818255
There's a lot about Storm Shield that his new friends don't know about. The audience can only speculate what more secrets there are to reveal.
10818260
Yeah... I could almost see Princess Celestia acting this way. But that's going to depend on 'how long' they're going to be in that universe.
10818243
I'd just spit in the dude's face if he tried to break me. To quote what Tron said in Tron Uprising "I'd stay like this forever than be a puppet of a tyrant."
10818269
Yep... that's Pinkie Pie.
Did you catch a reference she was making? I'd respect you if you can find it.
10818282
You should... there's a ton of evil things that go on in my mind.
10818306
True, true. Still, finding out that her son could have been killed would not make for a very happy sun princess
Great chapter!
Hang in there Sunset!
The Mane 6 are going to use the force to be jedi! Sweet!
10818318
Well if they are curious to learn while they are there, they could find a take-away from this trip.
More please rescue sunset and hoppuly mane six have lightsaber
10818308
All I could tell from that quote was predicting what happens to 3P0 in The Empire Strikes Back. But I do know that earlier she and Fluttershy quoted that scene in "Griffon the Brush Off." Pretty nice callback!
10818337
More is still to come in due time. We have big plans for what we have in mind moving forward.
10818234
Yep.
You're doing an amazing job please add the shadow guard from Star Wars the Force Unleashed
10818391
We'll take it under consideration, no promises guaranteed. But we'll look into it and determine if the plot permits it to be possible.
And now for the hardest part of the hero's journey...
10818209
Just hang in there, Sunset! The Group is coming to save you and the Princess.
Also, Storm truly is, in the words of a very wise and surprisingly talkative Tibetan Monk Snake, "like life, HE is a conundrum of esoterica."
and his Jedi weapon is so SWEET! it's like Robin's Staff but with a Lightsaber end!
10818281
Sigh,...Dang it Gary!
10818308
my guess is either Monsters Inc or The Brave Little Toaster
10818486
The Losing someone to become the hero moment.
I’m busy in the kitchen.
Me: “Hurry, hurry!”
Silver Shill: “Yes doctor!”
(I proceed to take a costumer’s order, and cook their food with Gustave le Grande)
Me: “NEXT!” (One of the CA staffs came to take the order)
Silver Shill: “Yes doctor!”
And repeat...
10818486
The hardest part of the hero’s journey “so far”.
10818503
Ah, kitchen duty... that is so murder! Good thing no customer ask for the mucho grande special.
Sunset's looking in very bad shape thanks to Palpatine, and now the group knows about Obi-Wan and certain past events in the time of the Clone Wars and such. But more will be revealed to them in time.
10818577
Yes, it is very sad to imagine what Sunset is going through. But on the other hand, they have an experienced Jedi on their side with tons of knowledge that could prove rather useful. They'll need all the help they can get.
So exciting, one thing I cant wait to see is the Mane 6 learning the ways of the force, keep up the fantastic work Drama and Enigma
10818656
It is sure to be a learning experience if the girls get the chance to do so. Seeing as how being humans makes it 'slightly' difficult to use their magic. I mean I'm sure they still 'can' as the events of the C.A.'s second story have taught us. But the least that can happen is having a means to 'increase' their power.
10818518
uh dramamaster just out of curiosity what is the mucho grande special?
10818719
Every bloody item off the menu... but you’d need to sign a waiver for it.
10818729
oy that would sent someone to the hospital i’m surpised we haven’t made it an eating challenge
if everyone is going to learn the ways of the Force, are they all going to get their own style of lightsaber? as Storm has shown, there is certainly no end of different versions of the lightsaber. hehe, Fluttershy seems like the kind of Jedi that would not even carry a lightsaber; just rely only on the Force itself.
10818751
We have been discussing ideas on what would happen if the girls were to not only learn the force but were likely to have lightsabers of their own. We're not making anything official just yet, but we are confident that all our fans will be treated to a surprise yet to come.
10818742
except Wakko
A little nitpick around the time the Tuskins grab Rarity. Mentions her as a princess and alicorn, as if it's getting mixed up with Twilight. Otherwise all's good. I also got a feeling Ben knows well enough who the two droids are, but is keeping mum about it.
10818503
Me: (To Silver Shrill) Hey.. umm, anything i can do to help?
Like cleaning the dishes or creating new foods for the next cinematic adventure?
10818848
Yeah originally I gave that position to Twilight during the editing process then switched it to Rarity but forgot to fix those parts... but don’t fuss about it, Enigma can fix it easily.
Anyways Obi Wan definitely knows something. Especially his history with R2.
Sunset is definitely having the worst time of her life. As Dramamaster829 has said, if this story were not classified as "E", I do not even want to think about the torture we would see with this maniac. I wonder how Galen (aka Starkiller) is going to react when he sees her.
Our group of heroes have learned two things: It isn't good to go lightly with the Sandpeople (although those who have seen The Mandalorian will know that the relationship of this species with the other inhabitants has improved); and that Ben is Obi-Wan, one of the Jedi most remembered by fans. This character was the one who prompted Luke to embark on a journey, and I can't wait to see his relationship with the rest of the girls. As Rainbow points out, I'm looking forward to seeing them get their lightsabers (they're going to feel the same as when The Young Six received their wands). Interestingly, C3PO's reaction is a hint of a shocking revelation that we would see in episode V. Luke seems hesitant about what to do, but he is soon to see that he has no choice but to embark on this journey, especially as he is about to happen to his family.
Storm is a box of surprises. Of course he is a new character and that this adventure helps us to get an idea of his personality, but that he was a Jedi and he has his own weapon has been a surprise, and it seems that he hasn't lost practice even after a thousand years. I want to see everyone fighting together. Although he looks to leave a vehicle for Pinkie to pilot ... I know she was better option than Fluttershy or Spike, but it is clear that he doesn't know our pink pony like we do. At the moment, his personality is reminiscent of a cross between Twilight and Luke.
I caught the reference to The Wizard of Oz. I love C3PO and R2D2, it's amazing that the originals were played by humans in disguise and not by dolls like in most science fiction movies. Much encouragement with the next chapter.