Prologue - The Sparkle Side of the Force
STAR WARS
Episode VII - The Return of Darth Twilight
The Galaxy is once again in turmoil.
The Republic faces yet another Mandalorian threat.
However, they had one hope - 10 pony Jedi Masters had earned both the fear and respect of the Mandalorians, promising peace as long as they maintained vigil over the Republic.
It was not to last.
In a very sudden turn of events, the Jedi grandmaster Luna disappeared.
With her disappearance rose rumours of a new sith lord, Darth Nightmare, inciting a new Mandalorian rebellion.
It wasn't long before the remaining 9 pony Jedi Masters, Masters Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Appejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Lyra, Bon Bon and Celestia were similarly suspected of turning to the dark side.
One by one they disappeared mysteriously, all save Celestia.
In desperation the Republic turned to the proposals of the galactic corporation Blueblood Shipyards to make use of the planet Equus, homeworld of the pony jedi masters. The planet is a force nexus so powerful it distorts the very fabrics of reality around it, generating a gravity well powerful enough to maintain a sun in orbit around it.
Harnessing this gravity well they would be able to build a gravity cannon capable of annihilating entire star systems.
With this they hoped to create a deterrent to stop the Mandalorian threat for good.
Now the last Jedi Master standing in opposition to this plan, Celestia, has been accused of treason against the Republic and the Jedi Order and faces execution on the planet Coruscant.
However, the execution is interrupted by the arrival of a lone figure wearing the colours of dark side, wielding crimson sabers, the mark of the Sith.
Who is this Darth Twilight, and what is she after?
Navigating the lower orbit around planet Coruscant was always a hazardous affair, even for perfectly legal entries. The traffic of starships, flickering like an entire galaxy in its own right, was about as frenzied as a newly minted padawan, and about as dense. Then there's the trade stations and shipyards, seemingly arrayed like a pod racer obstacle course. But worse still were the Republican fleets, sitting wherever they pleased and literally taking up space much like the galactic bigwigs they protected down below. These days, however, they were more about protecting the interests of the massive interstellar corporations that drove the blood of the Republic.
Blueblood Shipyards, the largest of superstellar corporations, for example.
Now try navigating all of the above illegally for a challenge.
"This is Republican Destroyer 'Avenger', hailing prison starship 'Vigil', come in 'Vigil'." A gruff, very military voice intoned over the coms, tone very much suggesting that they will do more than hail if not graced with an answer.
"This is 'Vigil'." A young navy corpsman manning the bridge replied, uncertainly, "Requesting permission for lower orbit entry."
"Your manifest numbers at only one single item, 'Vigil'. What are you carrying?" The voice asked, curious.
"....prisoner D-Darth Twilight, S-Sir...." The corpsman mumbled.
"Ah, I see. You are a week behind schedule then. Were there any issues?"
"...just...hyperspace core problems with another ship. We had to....swap ships last minute..." The corpsman strained as he began to sweat profusely.
"Very well. Permission granted. Welcome home, 'Vigil'." The voice replied. The coms link cut off.
So did the young corpsman.
"You may sleep." a shadow behind him murmured, stepping up into the prison ship's command bridge flickering light. As if obeying her command the corpsman wordlessly folded over and fell to the floor like a puppet whose strings had been cut without the slightest hint of ceremony. A little lilac glow dimmed as the figure walked under the harsh flickering artificial light, revealing a form robed in deepest, darkest folds of frayed and tattered black. They said her kind were poor at making use of the so-called 'mind-trick'. Their horns glowing whenever they made use of the force was considered a telltale give away. Well, it was no issue when everyone present had been mind-tricked, say, all 350 crewman of a prison cruiser.
A tuft of dark violet hair, the colour of cold nebulae tinted with the dark red of dying stars, slipped out from under the void-black hood. Four hooves came to a stop before slowly lowering the burden they bore onto the floor. The figure knelt on all fours, letting out a little sigh as she regarded the sunset glower like a furious signet ring over the sparkly shadow of Coruscant, glorious capital of the Republic. "Hello again, old friend." She said, nodding at the familiar light-speckled night-side of the densely packed planet. It was like returning to a second home, a place where she and her friends once found meaning and belonging. But now the dark side of the planet seemed to scowl at her disapprovingly as she approached. She didn't blame it.
The lone figure sat in the silence for a while, as if meditating. All the lights above seemed to flicker more and more frantically before finally shorting out as one in a shower of sparks, leaving her alone in the glow of the sunset behind the approaching planet. A few of the holo-panels frizzled and sparked behind her, as if protesting under the sudden increase in gravitational force.
Suddenly, with an angry billow of her heavy black cloak, she slammed a furious hoof down on the metal panelling making up the bridge's floor. "BUCK, WHY?!" Her anguished roar shook the entire ship, causing more holo panels to explode violently and a few loose gas conduits and wires to burst apart deeper inside the already fragile ship. Her outburst slowly gave way to soft but rapid breaths in the wake of the quiet sparks and soft hissing of gas in the distance.
"Hay, easy on the Force'in around there, Twiligh'. They probably felt that all the way on the dark side." A figure wearing all black, even a black Tattooine rancher hat, stepped up, placing a comforting hoof on the young mare's shoulder.
"And on all the drama. Yeesh, you'd think we all made a wrong turn and ended up on the emo side of the Force." Another figure in black, this one borne on cerulean blue wings.
"But...but I thought we really are on the dark side? Oh, oh, I hope we didn't really make a wrong turn..." Another winged figure, this one a bright butter yellow, murmured uncertainly. Unlike the others she had her hood down, her long flowing supernova-pink mane bobbing as she stepped up to join her friends. "That would be awful, after we went through all this trouble to be sith lords. I mean, after all the hard work Rarity did to make our dark side uniforms..."
"Yeah, what's up with that, they're all, like, black! I mean, I know black makes everything, like, 20% cooler, but not when we're all in uniform! Hay, I specifically asked for a big bug-eyed mask that made heavy creepy snorting sounds when I speak!" The other winged one huffed as she landed.
"Girls, darlings, this isn't 'uniform', this is called 'themed'." A fourth figure robed in long, flowing pleated black, said, tossing her beautiful plasma-violet mane over her shoulders. "And there was a sale on black fabric. The dark side doesn't exactly pay well, remember."
"And a sale on all the pink thread in the galaxy! Don't think I didn't notice all the pink stitching!" The sky-blue winged one snapped.
"I like all the pink! It's, like, all really eeeeeeee~vil pink, and that's great cause we're all on the emo side and that makes us all really really really eeeeeee~vil." Another figure bounded into the bridge, this one trailing a tail the pink of candy floss and sith lightsabers.
"Yeah, we all probably make pink look reaaaaally flank-bucking. I mean, 9 ponies, every colour of the rainbow, angry raging sith hormones, wrapped in pink thread, out to cut the buck outta the galaxy, the emo side's never looked more badass." Yet another figure, this one clearly mint green as she her pitch black evil pink-threaded robes were stuck over her horn. She seemed to have given up putting it on halfway and decided to just wear it as a very, very thick bandanna.
"Dark side. It's dark side. I can feel a thousand dark sith lords turn in their dark cryo-sleep out in dark space. You all give darkness a bad name...and diabetes." Another one, a marshmallow white one sporting a fluffy mane the purple and pink of gas giants, muttered moodily as she stepped up next to the mint green one and pulled her robes down hard over her head, causing the minty one to squeak in terror. "Stand still, Lyra!"
"Dunwannaaaa!" The minty one squeaked, stumbling blindly away with her snout stuck in half her evil robes of evil. "Twiliiight, Bon Bon's being mean to meeee! Agaaaaain!"
"EeeeeeP!" The buttercoated one squeaked as the minty one bumped into her, "EEEEEEEEEEEEP!" She shrieked as she found a figure wrapped all in black, breathing menacingly through the thick swath of cloth wrapped about its snout.
"Fluttershy, I AM your shadow!" The minty one growled menacingly through her mask of darkness.
"Ah think ya got her mane reactor." The first figure said, raising her hat slowly to regard the butter yellow one who had just swooned and fainted.
"Mind-tricked in 10 seconds flat." The sky blue one grinned.
"Lyra, what did I tell thee about using the force on thy friends?" A tall, regal form similarly robed in black, trailing a mane of stars swept across a field of dark velvety night that seemed to wave in a non-existent solar wind.
"I regret nothing." The minty one asserted.
"C'mon, guys, look, instead of foaling around like us our fearless leader is meditating on our upcoming mission." A smaller figure, purple tale and spines the colour of Dagobah poking out of his dark robes, waddled in, oversized lightsaber dragging and clinking across the metallic floor. "Ms. Worry-wart's already looking frazzled enough as is."
"But egghead always looks frazzled." The blue winged one muttered. "Hey, egghead, don't suffer it alone, okay. We're all right here with ya."
"Yeah, we're stickin' to ya like caramel to a candy apple, Twiligh'." The first figure tipped her hat.
"I-if t-that's a-alright w-with you, I-I mean..." The butter yellow one murmured, coming around.
"We're here for you, darling, always." The purple-maned one smiled generously.
"We'd be, like, the most eeeeeee~vil kind and supportive friends, like, ever. And we're not missin' this party out for the galaxy! It's gonna be the. Best. Mission. Ever!" The pink one giggled.
"Just leave some for us, okay?" The Minty one grinned, "Don't wanna bring any of this flank-bucking home."
"Well, it's not like we have a choice. I'm always right behind you....like a few hundred hooves behind you." The moody one muttered.
"....girls..." The lone meditating figure finally looked up, slowly. She gasped as she felt a gentle hoof on her back.
"It sounds cliche and dated, but we are always here for thee, Twilight." The last regal figure said, softly, "And....when you're done..." She looked up at the majestic planet looming in the distance, "....we'll be here, waiting for thee. All of us."
"...g-girls...I..." Twilight finally dared looked around.
And she was alone. Again.
The dark, hollow metallic shell of the cruiser's bridge seemed indifferent to her yearning, almost desperate look, as if mocking her with its empty silence. Not even echoes, not even a glimmer of their presence remained. "Please....girls....I...." She whispered, reaching a hoof out into the darkness, before her voice faltered, "I'm....I'm so...so lonely...I can't....I can't do this anymore...." She chocked, "...G-give me....give me strength..." She rasped, pleadingly. "Please....stay with me....just this once..."
She choked back yet another sniffle. Her horn gave a little lilac glow. A little sheet of fragile paper flew out of her robes. They were a rare and precious commodity this side of the galaxy, more a luxury than a practical need. Most prudent people made use of holopads. But this was special. This deserved something more than the artificial blurry glow of holographic technology.
10 smiling faces looked back up at her from the other side of the little sheet of paper. She placed a hoof gently on it, caressing it, as if willing herself to slip past the thin surface and return to the happier times immortalized within. She felt something catch at the back of her throat as she realized once again it was forever beyond her reach no matter how close their smiling faces seemed. To others it may be a picture of the 10 legendary pony Jedi Masters and the one dragon Jedi Meister, the ones whose valiant efforts had earned them the fear and respect of all known threats to the Republic, true symbols of the Knights of the Republic. Their constant vigil alone promised the Republic peace from all that might harm her.
But to her, they were her dearest, most special someponies. They were her friends, her family, her very anchors to the light side of the force.
"I...I miss you all...." She whispered.
There was the ever wise and serene Luna, always like a second mother to everypony, though not one to be left alone with technology of any sort. There was the passionate and generous Rarity, lovable and quick to fluster when teased, but may the Force be with any foal who dared dirty her robes. There was the courageous and loyal Rainbow Dash, a good rival and an even dearer friend in good times and the bad, but not one you should ever challenge to a pod race. Spike, dearest of brothers and closest of confidants, and most noble of dragons to ever pick up the saber in defense of balance in the force, just never tell him what light saber refractors are made of. Pinkie Pie with her infectious laughter and indomitable spirit that would light up even the blackest night, also first living creature to ever throw a Sith Lord a welcoming party. Bon Bon, blunt yet earnest Bon Bon, the most reluctant of warriors but the most purposeful too. Applejack, strong in body, stronger still in mind and heart, whose honesty shone like a beacon in the darkest days of the Republic, just don't ask her to dance. Lyra Heartstrings, the most adorable of them all, whose unbreakable spirit was an inspiration and guide to all on the cusp of the dark side, just don't add sugar. And there was Fluttershy, sweet and caring Fluttershy, whose compassion was enough to blanket the entire galaxy twice over.
And there was her, the once revered Jedi Master, just a young padawan then, naive, bookish, uptight and dedicated to her training. Never did she imagine anything would be more important to her than her studies in the way of the force.
That realization came all too late.
And perhaps that was what had led her here. In friendship she had found love. From love came fear. And every padawan had the words ingrained deep into their very souls 'Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to Hate. Hate....leads to the Dark Side.'
"Ha." She scoffed, drying away her tears. It was a small price to pay. If it brought her even a hoof closer to getting her revenge for the one thing she had ever begun to care for in the whole universe, for the treasure that she had been bereft of so untimely and unjustly, then so be it. She would embrace any and all darkness.
There was one last smile in the picture. Her most faithful teacher and master, Celestia. She was somewhere down there on that planet, still fighting on the light side, struggling for justice the right way. Bless her soul for staying so strong. Not like her, not like Darth Twilight, first true pony Sith Lord.
She turned the picture over and regarded the back. On it was a list, a very short one, perhaps the shortest list she ever wrote. Recover sabers of friends - check. Find killer - check. Kill killer - check. Exonerate Friends - Failed. Find mastermind - check. Kill mastermind...working on it.
"...Blueblood..." She muttered under her breath. Such a simple plan. The conniving weasel had stolen the schematics for the hyperspace cannon from her, a weapon capable of annihilating entire star systems. All it needed was a dense enough gravity well from a celestial body that allowed its construction, anything but a star or a black hole. Such celestial bodies were rare, but their homeworld, Equus, was one such anomaly, being a planet with a gravity well strong enough to hold its own sun in orbit.
But there was no need for the weapon, not as long as the 10 pony jedi masters who commanded the awe and fear of all were enough of a deterrent to prevent a Mandalorian rebellion. He had to create a need for the weapon. He did not stop at stabbing the Jedi Masters in their backs. Oh no, he had to make them enemies of the Republic, sith lords, not just remove their protection but make them threats, threats that would ally themselves with the Mandalorians. Anything to spur the cowards in the senate to finally endorse Blueblood Shipyards and their plan to turn their homeworld into their hyperspace cannon, their new safety blanket.
Worse of all, she had uncovered everything and she still didn't have a shred of proof to exonerate her friends of the accusations. The galaxy, it seemed, was content to give its fears and paranoia a tangible form to hate and despise. 9 dark pony jedis was as good a focus for their hate as any.
That left only one thing to do. "I'm....sorry girls..." She whispered, as she let the darkness back in once more.
"Rrraaaaaaaaaaaaa....." She felt another spiral of dark rage and hatred consume her, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" She bellowed. Entire panels and consoles ripped themselves off the walls as a force storm of epic proportions rocked the entire ship. "BLUEBLOOD." She roared, her face twisted into an expression of obscene rage, the exploding sparks and flaming consoles lighting up her burning violet eyes, "I. WILL. END. YOU."
There is a disturbance in the Force. And it is coming.
To be Continued...