Something new has found its way to Equestria, and it doesn't want to make friends.
By some twist of fate, something dark has found its way to Equestria. Darth Karnis, Dark Lord of the Sith has taken up residence in the Everfree Forest and is content to be at odds with his pony neighbors. Can the Magic of Friendship reach a being who thrives on anger, hate, and violence? Or will Equestria be conquered by the Sith?
He knew nothing but fury. A burning, white hot fury fanned by the winds of confusion. The woods were eerily silent around the raw boned near-human. He stood still, barely moving a finger, but his rage was palpable. Every living thing nearby knew well enough that the wisest thing to do was either steer clear or lay low, lest they become the target of that incendiary anger.
The near-human had more questions than where he was swirling through his head, most profound was where he stood. Until recently he had held a precious title, a sacred contract and a legacy, he was Darth Karnis, Dark Lord of the Sith. He was at least, until his apprentice had divined a moment of weakness and acted upon it. Karnis remembered seeing the crimson flash of his apprentice's lightsaber, he remembered bringing his own to bear in preparation for a duel that would decide who would continue the legacy of the Sith. The deactivated hilt of Karnis' weapon was still clutched tightly in his hand, the rest was a blur. He'd felt a strange displacement and suddenly found himself in the middle of a forest, somewhere. He couldn't be dead, he hadn't even engaged his apprentice's blade and his pupil had no talent for Sith sorcery. Somehow he had slipped out of time and space and who knew what else.
The Sith Lord surveyed his surroundings, the woodlands here were dense, likely the planet was a primitive one, meaning his options of getting off of it were severely limited, creepers and vines hung from the foliage. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, immersing himself in the Force. As expected the forest teemed with life, he could sense the furtive motions of prey species and the hunger of predators, but nothing seemed like much of a threat. The one time Dark Lord sighed, there was no hurry, let his apprentice think he had won the day. He would track him down eventually, then they would both see which one of them deserved to lead the Sith.
Not too far away the forest thinned and it's eaves reached out over the rolling sunny meadows of Equestria. A river ran it's lazy way down around a small rise, under a quaint little bridge that connected a stony path leading to a cozy little cottage. Bird houses hung from every available space and homes for rabbits, squirrels, mice, chickens, and a multitude of other animals littered the surrounding area. Soft music drifted through the air as a sunny yellow pegasus fluttered around with a small watering can, tending to her small window garden as well as a little patch of wild flowers that had taken up residence nearby.
Fluttershy hummed to herself as she went about her routine, smiling as she spotted a blue jay still hunkered down in his nest. The pegasus smiled and gained a little altitude, "aw, deciding to sleep in a little bit today?"
She listened as the bird chirped a quick reply, considering its meaning for a moment, "hmm, now that you mention it, it does seem a little chilly today, but that can't be right. It's the middle of Spring, the weather should be getting warmer, not colder. Perhaps the weather ponies had to switch something around."
The vibrant blue bird simply fluffed itself up and nestled deeper into the warmth of it's nest, still disinclined to move. The yellow pony simply giggled and moved on, she could hardly blame the bird, she sometimes felt like staying in on a cold day, wrapped in a nice fluffy blanket with some hot tea and a good book. Fluttershy put her watering can away and grabbed a small burlap sack, heading around the side of her home to spread out some feed for her chickens. Henrietta and Elizabeak tended to get cranky if they didn't get their lunch on time.
She was about to check on the little otter holt beneath her bridge when a hummingbird zipped in front of her and darted around almost in a panic. The pegasus tried her best to mollify the little bird, "oh my, could you slow down just a bit, please? You're not making any sense at all." She held up a hoof for the bright bird to land on, "now, please start from the beginning. What was it you saw?"
Even at a more relaxed pace the hummingbird was hard to keep up with, Fluttershy shook her head, "I'm afraid I still don't understand, could you maybe- oh!" The tiny bird suddenly leapt and buzzed around her head, grasping a thin lock of her pink mane and trying to pull her toward the forest, "o-okay, I'll take a look, if you really insist..." The yellow pony followed the anxious bird down the path and past the eaves of the forest.
Fluttershy tried to keep up with the tiny hummingbird, but she couldn't get through the trees and undergrowth as easily, she was forced to make her way as best she could along the small paths and game trails as she was slowly lead deeper into the woodlands. The Everfree Forest was always a little spooky, but somehow it felt even less inviting today. It was always cooler under the shady trees, but today it seemed unseasonably cold. The pegasus couldn't see her breath in the air, though, it felt more like the chill was inside her, "m-maybe this wasn't such a good idea.. whatever you saw might be happier if we just left it alone."
The little bird chirped insistently and kept zipping ahead. "W-well then could we at least go back and get somepony else?." She gulped, "I... I suppose just a peek wouldn't hurt." The yellow mare did her best to move as quietly as she could, but sneaking up on things wasn't really her strong suit.
Eventually she made her way to the edge of a grassy clearing where the object of the hummingbird's anxiety waited. Fluttershy had never seen such a strange creature. It sat on the ground with it's back to her, long dark hair streaked with grey hung down it's back in a simple braid, from what she could see it was almost furless save for a thin line along it's jaw, the rest of it was somewhat obscured by a voluminous black robe. She wondered what Rarity would have to say about such a garment. The creature didn't seem to be configured like a pony at all, it didn't really match anything the pegasus had ever seen, was this one of the "humans" Twilight sometimes talked about? Should she try to talk to it? Would it even understand her?
Karnis was growing impatient, he could feel the indigene lurking in the forest behind him, confused and more than a little afraid, but that was only as it should be. Primitive beings like this should regard him with awe and respect. What was bothering him was the hesitation, whoever or whatever this creature was, they were maddeningly indecisive. Anything else would have started worshiping or outright attacked by now, but this being was content to just sit right there and be confused! He sighed inwardly as he heard a soft step forward, at last some kind of progress, at the very least a distraction. His relief faded as he heard that same step return back to where it started. The Sith Lord leapt to his feet and spun, "Star's End! What? What do you want!?"
There was a shriek as the strange yellow quadruped dashed off into the woods again, the sound of it crashing through the undergrowth echoing through the trees. Karnis stood for a moment longer, well at least it was gone and not likely to return any time soon. Perhaps he would get working on some kind of shelter, there was no point in sitting around until nightfall if there was no roof to settle under. The Sith began to gather twigs and fallen branches, luxury was nice, but spending some time out in the wild was good for you, it helped make you strong.
It was perhaps an hour or so before he was finished, a simple little lean-to, not much, but it would do in a pinch, the next order of business was a fire and something to eat. Karnis had pulled a little circle of stones together and gathered a bundle of dry sticks when he stopped, "I don't believe it..."
The echo through the Force was unmistakable, and he was ready as another brightly colored indigene dropped down through the forest canopy, this one was even worse! It's coat was sky blue, but with an equine mane and tail in all the bright colors of the rainbow! It was almost offensive to look at, and worse still the timid one was with it, still lurking back in the trees. At least the blue one seemed more resolved and quite angry.
"Who the hay do you think you are, making Fluttershy cry!?"
Karnis was intrigued, they seemed to speak at least some crude form of Galactic Basic, perhaps there was a way off this planet after all, or there had been at one point. The blue quadruped wasn't content to let the Sith Lord ruminate however, it launched itself bodily at him with a snarl.
Karnis' body moved of it's own accord, dancing lightly to the side as his lightsaber came up with a threatening hiss. The crimson blade completed one surgical slash before closing down again. There was a cry as the indigene veered to the side and crashed into the undergrowth, leaving a half dozen stiff pinion feathers drifting to the ground to smolder.
Fluttershy was starting to deeply regret following the hummingbird, whatever this creature was, it didn't want to make friends. Its outburst had spooked the pegasus badly and sent her streaking back toward the safety of her home. She never made it, however, running into Rainbow Dash outside the forest. The blue pegasus had instantly come to the aid of her fillyhood friend and with some coaxing had gotten the whole confused story from Fluttershy. Unfortunately her first instinct was to find the rude creature and teach it a lesson in manners. A lesson that failed miserably.
Fluttershy watched as Rainbow launched herself at the creature, wings spread. The creature had simply dodged to the side, a beam of red light cut through the air, searing along one of the pegasus' wings and leaving some burning feathers drifting through the air. The timid mare's heart nearly stopped as she watched her friend crash into the brush. An overwhelming sense of terror and guilt forced her to dash across the clearing and gather her fallen friend up, pulling her further into the woods and hopefully out of harms way.
The yellow pegasus didn't have much in the way of stamina, however, and in short order it was clear that it was now Rainbow that was helping her along. The two ponies finally collapsed together, Fluttershy holding her friend close and sobbing.
Rainbow Dash ran a soothing hoof along her mane and flexed her injured wing, looking mournfully at the damage, "aw no.. my primaries! and it's nowhere near molting season."
The blue pegasus gave a dejected sigh, holding the crying pony against her and doing her best to calm her down, "I don't know what that thing was, but it sure as hay can't stay here. We should tell Twilight, she'll know what to do." Rainbow couldn't tell if she was trying to convince her friend or herself more.
Karnis was well satisfied with his work, he breathed deeply as though he could physically take the lingering fear and pain into himself. Sith Lords of the past might have simply killed the indigenes outright and have done with it, but this way was far superior in the long run. Casually defeat a warrior and let them run to tell the tale. A little backwater like this couldn't hope to gather enough fighters of a high enough caliber to pose any threat to him. The near human finished his fire pit and soon had a small fire going. He allowed himself a smile, remembering his childhood on Camar-Dum. His master had insisted that those days were no longer his, but culture was a hard thing to dismiss completely.
Camaasi were a simple, agrarian people and very territorial. When a planet's top sentient species were exclusively farmers, the predator population tended to run wild. Kath hounds, acid lizards, and hook hawks were plentiful, Dianoga infested the bogs and the oceans teemed with Firaxan sharks. The most problematic was the Terax a species of large, vicious reptile that was rumored to be an offshoot of the Krayt Dragon. A small piece of glossy black leather made from the hide of a Terax wrapped the grip of Karnis' lightsaber. He had killed the beast himself and claimed what trophies he pleased from its corpse. Such was an honored tradition among the Camaasi, odd since the species was markedly vegetarian. Their broad, flat teeth useful only for grinding the tough root vegetables they used as crops.
Vegetables of the sort that the Sith Lord found growing wild near his developing campsite. This was turning out to be quite the simple and easy life, perhaps this was just the universe forcing him into a well deserved retirement. The more Karnis considered it, the more he found he liked the idea as he took a bite from one of the local tubers.
Twilight Sparkle's horn glowed gently, her magic enveloping her friend's wing in the attempt to repair her damaged feathers. It was working, but it was slow going to return the delicate structures to their proper shape, "you say a human did this to you? Because this looks a lot like magic to me.."
Rainbow groaned, "well it wasn't, alright?"
It was up to her to tell the story, Fluttershy had all but shut down. She was currently shivering under a blanket on the couch nearby, refusing to talk. The blue pegasus took a breath, "he had this beam of light thing, it could only have been a weapon. It was like the spears the royal guards use, but backwards, the dangerous part was, I dunno, nine hands long I guess? And he held onto the shorter part. It cut through my primaries like they were nothing and burned like you wouldn't believe."
Twilight still looked confused and more than a little skeptical, "a spear with a short handle and a long blade? who in Equestria could possibly use something like that?"
"THIS GUY!" Dash tried to cap her impatience as he outburst caused Fluttershy to duck down with a frightened squeak.
"Look, Twi, all I know is that this guy is trouble. He's beyond trouble."
Twilight mused for a moment, "well, what was he up to when you confronted him?"
Dash huffed, unwilling to be diverted too much, "you mean besides picking on Fluttershy for no good reason?"
The lavender alicorn nodded, "yeah, did it look like he had something nefarious in the works. Was he alone, was he planning anything you could see, anything like that?"
"No..."
The two ponies turned as Fluttershy spoke up, "I mean, h-he had sort of a little shelter built, and it looked like he was gathering firewood, like he was going to be staying for at least a little while.
Twilight nodded slowly and clucked her tongue, "I'm sorry, Dash, but we're kind of at a loss here. We don't hold any sway over what goes on in the Everfree Forest, and we can hardly go through trying to get rid of every dangerous thing in it." Rainbow Dash felt her jaw drop, "you want to just leave him alone? What about Fluttershy? What about this?" She pointed to her damaged wing, "this is something you're willing to let slide?"
Twilight held her friend's incredulous gaze for a long moment before replying, "I was turned to stone by a cockatrice not all that long ago, if Fluttershy hadn't been around I might still be a statue out there. I'm not trying to round up every cockatrice and get rid of them." She sighed a little before continuing, "look, I am sorry you got hurt, I'm sorry Fluttershy got spooked, but for right now if he wants to set up a little home out in the forest, let him. If he starts ranging outward and bothering more ponies, then yes, I will absolutely put a stop to that. But for now, I think the best course is to just stay out of his way, alright?"
She looked to the two ponies for affirmation of her decision. Fluttershy nodded quickly, she was in no hurry to cross paths with the short tempered human again. Dash, however, wasn't mollified. She sat with her hooves crossed and shoulders hunched. Twilight caught her gaze again, "I'm serious, Rainbow, I don't want you doing anything foolish with this guy or you might lose more than some feathers. Next time it might be something I can't fix."
Rainbow Dash sighed and rolled her eyes, "fine, I'll leave him alone alright?"
The blue pegasus groaned and relented, tracing a hoof over her chest and fluttering her wings as she invoked their most sacred and unbreakable ritual, "I'll leave the weirdo in the woods alone. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. There, are you happy now?"
Twilight sighed and looked out her window toward the eaves of the Everfree, and the mysterious new problem that had cropped up, "no, not really..."
Karnis sat in the deepening shadows of the forest. Sith weren't normally given to meditation, but there was much that needed to be processed. He sat comfortably on the ground, his lightsaber at his side within easy reach as he immersed himself in the Force. The dark side flowed around him in its strange dichotomy, both a hot pulse and a bitter chill. He was dimly aware of the sounds of the forest turning to more nocturnal tones as the bizarre world went ahead with its ancient cycle unperturbed by the dark presence on it's surface. There was no telling where Karnis had ended up, this planet was likely ages from so much as space flight let alone intergalactic travel. If he was even still in his own galaxy. The indigenous people were an assault of noise and color, but somehow the displaced Camaasi was coming to terms with his new surroundings. Peace may well be a lie, but there was a calm solitude here that Karnis could grow accustomed to. He had accepted long ago that one day he would die early, cut down by the hand of his own apprentice the way his own master fell, but now there seemed to be another choice in front of him. The quiet life of a hermit didn't sound so bad. Night fell on the Everfree Forest and Darth Karnis, Dark Lord of the Sith, smiled.
A new threat faces Equestria. Darth Karnis, Dark Lord of the Sith has found himself stranded in the Everfree Forest. While he must come to terms with the fact that he is trapped on the strange world, the ponies that live nearby aren't so thrilled with their severe neighbor. Can they come to an understanding and coexist, or has the Magic of Friendship met it's match in the Dark Side?
"And that's it. You all know what I know now." Twilight Sparkle glanced around at her gathered friends. The five mares looked between one another as silence reigned. Most were curious, the Everfree Forest had always been dangerous and they had little reason to venture into it, so why were they being specifically warned away now?
Rarity was the first to voice the question. The white unicorn coughed politely, “is this new creature really such a dire threat? Perhaps he’ll be content if we just leave him alone.”
Twilight sighed and nodded her head, “that really is what I’m hoping for, but just in case he’s not content to just eke out an existance in the wilds I want us all to be on the same page." The lavender mare readjusted her wings before broaching a more uncomfortable subject, "you all know that I want nothing more than to meet newcomers in peace and frienship, but this... being just seems too volatile and too dangerous. I don't know if we can risk the chance."
Twilight didn't hear her friends' collective gasp of disbelief, her heart felt like a stone. Griffons, Yaks, even Dragons could be reasoned with, monsters and other wild animals could be avoided. This creature? It responded immediately with hostility and then with violence, granted he had been provoked, but what cause was there to become instantly hostile to one of the quietest and most unassuming ponies in Equestria?
Oddly, Fluttershy herself looked uncomfortable with the decision, though it stood to reason that the Element of Kindness would be hesitant to not give someone at least a second chance. Applejack looked solemn, quite used to tough decisions. Rainbow Dash was still nursing a grudge as well as a bandaged wing. Rarity was troubled and Pinkie Pie looked thoroughly confused.
The pink pony opened and closed her mouth, searching for the right words, "but.. why not?" was all she could come up with.
Rainbow Dash was quick with an answer, stretching her injured wing, "this is why not! I just lost some feathers this time, if we bug him again one of you could lose something much more!" In truth, Twilight had been able to repair the damaged wing, but she still insisted that it be wrapped and put on light duty. Being grounded tended to make the blue pegasus more testy than normal.
Twilight clicked a hoof against the surface of the broad map table, "look, I'm not happy about this either, but I can't bear the thought of one of you girls running into this guy and getting seriously hurt, and out in the middle of Everfree..?" She left the statement hanging, they all knew where that would lead. Hurt and helpless in the woods at the mercy of timber wolves and who knows what else.
The Princess of Friendship rubbed her forehead, she wasn't exactly the picture of grace under fire sometimes and this was a problem with no good solution, "the best I can say is we just try to take it slow. We'll stay out of his way, try to minimize contact. If it turns out that he comes to us then we have to meet him with the utmost caution we can. Just, everypony take care, please."
There wasn't much more to say after that and the six ponies adjourned for the evening. There was one, however, who was very displeased with the verdict. No one could foster good relationships through avoidance, she should know. Perhaps the situation called for some assertiveness. At least, just a little.
The sun was setting and the shadows grew long in the Everfree Forest. Karnis sat beside a fire, slowly weaving some tough vines together. In truth, he was beginning to enjoy himself. It felt like a new start, being sent back to next to nothing and starting over from scratch. A little bit of creativity was all it took to bring up the old comforts of home.
The Sith Lord finished a knot and inspected the simple hammock he'd made, no sense in sleeping on the ground if one didn't have to. He strung it between two close set trees and tested it for strength. The vines creaked beneath his weight as they settled and then held firm. The older Camaasi chuckled, this was the life, a little bit of simple padding and it would be a bed fit for a king! He'd never liked mattresses stuffed with down or shimmersilk sheets or any of the other luxuries his predecessors surrounded themselves with. A Sith should live a simple, spartan life.
Something buzzed along the edge of Karnis's mind, a presence. It didn't seem predatory or hostile so he was content to let it go about it's business. There was something else, however, his fire must have shifted, the light from it was starting to bother him. No problem, a quick douse and he could sleep through the night.
The older Sith opened his eyes to see morning light streaming through the trees. He sat up in the hammock, he'd already fallen asleep! He grumbled a curse on advancing age as he got up. It was a good thing he wound up here, sleeping like that in front of an eager apprentice would have been a lethal mistake. Karnis raked the ashes of his fire flat and began to lay a new one. There was a stream close by and water aplenty, perhaps if he were lucky he could spot some freshwater shellfish or forage more of the wild tubers that grew locally. He would have to gather some mud and start working on a way to produce some useful pottery, but for now...
His train of thought halted in surprise. By his lean-to were two burlap sacks filled with all manner of vegetables as well as a selection of glazed ceramic crockery. His eyes narrowed, how had anything been able to get so close while he slept?
Unless their presence was so minimal or their purpose so benign that it just faded into the background. He stooped and plucked a bright object from one of the rough bags, turning it in his fingers. It was a butter yellow feather. He was reminded of the equinoid from before, but that made even less sense. Why would the creature ever bring him a gift? Perhaps it was more of an offering, something to mollify an angry deity. It seemed more likely.
Still, the old Sith couldn't argue the practicality or the good timing. He gathered one of the larger pots and made his way to the stream, it was as good a time as any to sample the local fare. He could feel the smaller animals of the forest hurrying to get out of his way, some simply driven by the instinct to hide while others avoided the very real threat he represented. Karnis blazed an easy path through the shaded woods, game trails were plentiful and the undergrowth was sparse.
Indeed much of the forest's real estate was broad grassy paths that seemed to lead where ever he pleased. The broad leaves shaded the sun and tendrils of morning mist still hung in the canopy or curled around tree trunks. It was a far cry from the dry, densely packed forests of Camaar Duum or the bustling streets of Coronet where he later set up shop with his traitorous apprentice. All in all, there were worse placed to retire, worse places to grow old. Such a strange thought, the Sith Lord had never given any thought to actually growing old, he'd banked on the idea that his apprentice would eventually kill him.
The Sith lifted his head, the sound of running water was close by, but it carried another sound with it, a rather pleasing sound. The sound of someone singing. The old Sith broke from the trees and made his way out onto the stony bank. It was hard to miss the bright yellow equinoid against the mossy gray green background. She hummed a simple melody to a small group of furry little creatures gathered around her. It made no difference to Karnis, he was here on his own business. The Camaasi knelt and filled the earthenware crock from the stream, the local water seemed almost absurdly pure at least. An unexpected, but not unwelcome boon.
Karnis straightened and turned back toward the treeline. The equinoid's song fell into a sudden silence. The old Sith glanced her way to see her wide cyan eyes fixed on him, clearly quite terrified. If she was then it was no problem of his, all the better. Karnis made his way back under the eaves of the forest, heading back toward his camp. He came close to groaning out loud when he heard the undergrowth rustling behind him mixed with the beating of wings. The Sith drew a deep breath and gathered as much patience as he could before turning to face his pursuer.
To her credit, the yellow indegene didn't immediately flee. She looked terrified, but something compelled her to hold her ground. Unfortunately, she also held her silence. The creature looked as though she wanted to speak, but couldn't get the words started. Karnis waved an impatient hand, trying to draw her purpose out, "what?"
The yellow equine shivered a little and made one more attempt, this time she found her voice, small as it was, and posed a question of her own, "why?"
Karnis rolled his eyes, this was going to be a long process, "why what?"
The indigene managed to press on, "Why are you so angry? Y-you yelled at me and... h-hurt Rainbow Dash... We didn't mean you any harm.... Why?"
Fluttershy couldn't have run if she wanted to, her wings were locked in fright, and even worse she was pinned by his eyes. They had been blue once, she was sure, but now they were gray. The tired gray of a long life of pain. She could sense that just below there was a seething mass of rage, hate, and pain waiting to be unleashed. The mare had never seen anything like it and it chilled her to the core. Sometimes an animal in pain would lash out, but this was different, this being was in control of himself. There was pain, she was sure, but he had lashed out because he wanted to. It didn't make any sense. The human regarded her for a moment, he seemed to be pondering the question. Was is possible he just knew no other way? Could this being perhaps be another Discord, a lost soul just looking for a friend?
"Why not? How exactly do you intend to stop me?"
Fluttershy's jaw dropped. There were so many reasons not to act the way he did it was impossible to decide where to begin. As for stopping him.. "I-I can get Twilight, or Princess Celestia! W-with their magic, we-" She was interrupted by a threatening hiss and a sullen hum, her eyes crossed slightly to focus on the terminal point of the crimson blade that hovered a fraction of an inch from her nose. The yellow mare's joints felt like they were locked in ice, breath froze in her lungs, the image of that same blade shearing feathers off Rainbow Dash's wing replayed in her head a thousand times in a second.
The human didn't smile, he didn't gloat or grimace or sneer. His expression remained neutral, "This is the simple truth of it. You cannot prevent me from doing as I please. However, I can stop you from going back to your friends. I can stop you from ever leaving this forest again. The only limits you should have are the ones you place on yourself. If it ever benefits me to take your life I will do so, the same goes for your friends, family, and everything else on this planet."
The bloodshine blade suddenly retracted and the human clipped the weapon back onto his belt, "that being said, I am a fair and reasonable man. the offering you left is not unappreciated so I will allow you to go. Tell your friends if you must, but tell them the new rules. Respect my space and I will leave you be, if you try and cross me, however.."
The human gestured, raising his hand and Fluttershy felt her hooves leave the ground. She tried to bolt, galloping futilely in midair. He could use magic! It was impossible! He didn't even have a horn!
The mare felt herself suddenly dropped and she stumbled slightly to keep her hooves, just barely getting them under her before galloping away. She was getting more familiar with the forest and was soon able to see the break where the trees gave way to the meadows where Ponyville resided. The fear was beginning to subside and Fluttershy was able to think more clearly. He was terrifying to be sure, but he did say he could be reasonable, maybe this was a case where diplomacy could win out. Even a dragon could be reasonable when it saw that ponies weren't to be pushed around. All it would take was somepony more brave than she was, one who didn't want to run and hide at the first sight of danger.
Karnis had made his way back to his camp, he had taken the time to gather some long, thin willow branches. As his fire burned down to coals, he set the pot of water on to boil and began to lay out a space for a more permanent structure. A lean-to was adequate for a night or two, but it was clear that he would be staying for a while. There was plenty of good timber around and the banks of the stream were comprised of good fine clay. He measured and laid out the outline of where the new structure would be and with one eye kept on what was to be his soup pot, the old Sith began to clear away the undergrowth.
For some time the surrounding woods were filled with the sound of snapping twigs and rustling leaves, punctuated by a low hum and sharp crackle as Karnis brought his lightsaber and the Force to bear on the local shrubbery. A Jedi might have disdained the use of their symbolic weapon as a gardening implement, but to a Sith, the saber was a tool just like anything else. Still, while he could clear vegetation and fell trees with it, it wasn't much good for digging and he would need posts and something to gather clay with. The Camaasi sat by his fire, chopping vegetables and tossing them in the boiling water as he pondered the issue.
His reverie was broken by the sound of snapping twigs, someone was coming and he could sense that they knew exactly where they were going. The locals simply refused to leave him alone! The cracking stopped as the intruder found the path he'd cut through the undergrowth and stepped into the clearing. This was a being he hadn't seen before. It's coat was more muted in tones of grey, black, and white and it wore several heavy gold ornaments. Teal eyes fell on the former Sith and she spoke in a smooth voice with an accent much different from the yellow one.
"From my home I smelled the smoke, I see I share these woods with other folk."
Karnis kept silent but he felt his eyes narrow, it may have been a coincidence, but the cadence of her words made him think the rhyme was deliberate.
The new being watched him for a while, but getting no response, she continued on, "worried, I am to have you so near, when you are the object of Fluttershy's fear."
Karnis grimaced and shook his head, turning his attention back to his cooking. He knew how this meeting was going to go, "go home. I've no patience for your games, mystic."
The striped indegene simply smiled and took a seat across the fire from him, "I see you are neither deaf, nor dumb. They call me Zecora where I am from."
The old Sith resisted the urge to grind his flat teeth together, "how wonderful for you."
The quadruped smirked and dug into a bag she'd brought with her, producing a few pale bulbs covered in thin, papery skin, "you're quite ill tempered, just as I thought, so a peace offering I have brought." She managed somehow to peel the skin away and separate a wedge shaped segment that gave off a pungent, yet not unpleasant smell.
"Garlic, it is, I have for you. Just the thing to bring life to a stew."
The Camaasi reached across and took the clove from her. He reached into the Dark Side, ready to burn away any toxins she tried to give him before taking a small sampling bite off one end. It certainly had flavor in spades, dense root vegetables weren't known to be extremely palatable, this would definitely help. He sighed and gave in, tossing the bit of garlic in to cook with the rest, "alright, what is it you want?"
Zecora gave a mysterious grin, "Nothing from you do I require, I merely come to fill a desire."
Karnis sighed, this was going to take a while, "Whose desire?"
The quadruped smirked, "to bring information is my given task, have you nothing you'd like to ask?"
Though he was loath to admit it, there were several questions that drifted through the old Sith's mind, if this indegene could answer them... He figured he'd start with the most obvious, "alright, where am I?"
The striped equinoid smiled, "The land of Equestria and the forest of Everfee, a quiet place for those like you and me."
At least he had names to go on, though the lack of anything broader suggested that this planet really had no connection to anything outside itself. After that was information on these quadrupeds, they seemed to be at least one of the dominant life forms around, "what are you?"
The indegene blinked, "a great distance you must have come, have you no ponies where you are from?" Getting only a stare in return she continued, "though I am a zebra, it is true. Now I must ask, just what are you?"
The Sith felt that he should guard himself, but if this place was as remote as it seemed, what was the harm, really? "I'm a Camaasi from Camar Duum, it's..... Very far from here.."
Zecora seemed to consider his answer for a moment, "stranger words have never reached us, but now, if I may, what is your purpose?"
Karnis could only shrug, "I don't have one. I found myself here through unknown means and home is too far to get back to. I figured I might as well make the best of the situation. Retire in peace and quiet." He emphasized the words, hoping they would get around and these "ponies" would stop bothering him.
The zebra simply smiled in return and stood up, "I take your point and will be on my way, I hope you do enjoy your stay." The old Sith watched as his visitor got up and left. She didn't run, nor did she stop to look back, she simply went about her business. Karnis felt that at least this one wasn't such a hassle to deal with. The yellow one still grated on his nerves, but the blue one had at least shown some spirit. A certain lack of intelligence, but spirit.
The evening was wearing on and soon the forest outside the Sith Lord's humble camp was darkened with shadows. His thoughts lingered one what was slowly becoming his new home. If this was to become a permanent location, then he would need tools. In order to get tools, he would need contact with the locals. He could only hope that more of them were like Zecora.
Karnis spared a thought for that fact that thus far, she was the only one he thought of by name. He'd heard the names of the other two, but they meant little to him. Perhaps some measure of civility meant more than he first thought.
The Sith rummaged through the burlap bags, coming up with a wooden bowl and a spoon, and proceeded to enjoy a hot meal as the sun sank below the treeline. His thoughts wouldn't have been so domestic if he knew that the information he'd given was at that moment being passed on to someone quite unwilling to leave him alone.
The Dark Lord of the Sith slowly settles into his new home. Twilight Sparkle is wisely cautious of his presence, but she knows that he can't be ignored completely. She keeps an ear to the ground and does what she does best, gather information. But the funny thing about research is sometimes what you come up with is not what you were expecting.
The sun rose high over Everfree Forest, its dense canopy filled with the songs of birds and the scurrying of other arboreal creatures. One of the few paths that lead through the forest towards the river had grown a new trail overnight. The small path lead deeper into the woods and a great deal of activity could be heard at the other end. Branches snapped, soil was upturned and sounds of exertion filled the air.
It had been nearly a week since Darth Karnis had set up shop in these woods and he was well pleased with the progress he'd made. Space had been cleared and stout posts had been sunk to mark out the pentagonal frame of a sturdy Camaasi style mud hut. The builder sat on a log nearby, running a sharp stone across a simple wooden shovel. He needed good clay to build up the walls and the former Sith Lord was not about to dig with his hands.
The last few days had been quiet, the old near-human was almost willing to believe that the bright indiginous people of this planet had finally learned to give him some space. He knew it was only a matter of time before that silence was broken, however. Perhaps a more permanent home would convince intruders that he wasn't about to leave.
With the new tool complete, Karnis gathered up a woven basket and made his way through the undergrowth down to the river. He wandered along the stony banks until he found a spot beneath an overhang that had the dense gray of a clay deposit. The old Sith dug the simple spade into the bank and levered out a chunk of dense earth. It was precisely what he needed, but he'd need plenty more for a solid hut.
Karnis halted his work and bent toward the hollow he carved out, reaching in to pry out something gleaming in the mud. A quick rinse later revealed a shining ruby seemingly already cut and polished, just lying in the ground. The Sith considered the stone for a moment. He had seen stranger things on other planets, but if gems of this quality were just lying around, did they have only negligible worth to the locals or would he still be able to convert it into currency, perhaps get his hands on some proper tools if they were available.
The old Camaasi decided to at least try his luck. He pocketed the stone and gathered up the basket of clay. It would be enough for the foundation layer at least, if he could find a metal shovel or perhaps even a pick, the work would go much faster.
Pinkie Pie had a mission. An extra super serious mission that required nothing less than her full attention. The weather team was bringing in storm clouds! It was the pink pony's solemn duty to make sure that every pony knew that just because the skies were a little gray, it was no reason to get all down in the dumps about it. After all, once it was done raining, the bright sun would come out once more and all the pretty flowers would bloom and birds would sing and there would be cupcakes and candy and everything would be so super great that everypony would forget about the lousy old rain.
The bubblegum mare's hooves hit the ground and stuck there, her relentless bouncing instantly halted when she saw what lay ahead. A tall figure dressed in black stood at the edge of the Everfree Forest, blinking up at the sky in confusion. It was so weird to see anything actually wearing black, well, besides Princess Luna of course, but she could really make it work. Pinkie watched as the being looked from the low, overcast sky above Ponyville to the bright, clear sky over Everfree and back. It was like he didn't know the weather just kind of did its own thing over the forest.
The pink mare blinked when she saw the figure's eyes fix on her, drawing his hood up against the threatening rain and making his way toward her. She hesitated, torn between wanting to properly greet a newcomer and needing to obey Twilight's warning about "the weird guy in the forest." She pranced in place for a moment before spinning to face the opposite direction. She couldn't really talk to him if she wasn't talking TO him, right?
She heard footsteps growing closer, a faint cough, a pause, and then a weird kind of scratchy sounding voice, "um.. I'm looking for someone interested in buying quality gems."
Pinkie was put off balance, not a place she was used to being put, "uh-huh?"
There were more footsteps to the side, she turned to keep facing the other way, "if you could, direct me to someone who would be interested in purchasing a gem... Perhaps a purveyor of tools?"
The voice was starting to sound agitated and more than a little confused, "I don't... I don't get it, is this some local custom?"
Pinkie shook her head, "uh-uh, Twilight said we aren't supposed to talk to weird guys from the woods.."
She heard a sigh, a sound of defeat and acceptance. It was a very familiar sigh that she heard a lot, but she never really understood why. Finally the voice came again, "whatever, someone looking to buy gems?"
Pinkie pointed a hoof further into town, "Carousel Boutique, Rarity is always looking for jewels, she might pay... Just as long as you're super duper nice to her and don't do any scary stuff.. pretty please."
She heard him turn to face the way she was pointing, muttering a quick, "thank you, uh, Pink One," before the sound of footsteps moved away, further into town. In less than a moment, Pinkie was zooming at full speed in a different direction. She had to tell Twilight!
Karnis looked back just in time to see the peculiar pink equinoid dash off at high speed, she seemed to be heading toward the tall crystalline castle at the edge of town. He found that structure rather intriguing. It brought back memories of his stay in Calius Saj Leeloo in the early years of his apprenticeship. Berchest's City of Glowing Crystal was an awe inspiring sight no matter who you were.
The old Sith made his way through the small town, ignoring the stares of the locals. He made a beeline toward the rounded building the Pink One had pointed out. The front door was somewhat shorter than he was tall, he would have to duck to get through it, but that was only to be expected on a planet where one stood taller than the indigenous species. He knocked on the door and took a step back so he could be easily seen.
The sound of hooves rapped on wooden floorboard before the door swung open to reveal a sterling white pony with a rich purple mane that seemed to be elegantly styled. Not quite to the measure of Alderaanian or Coruscanti fashion, but extravagant by comparison.
The pony immediately broke into a well rehearsed pitch, "welcome, darling, to Carousel Boutique! My name is Rarity, how may I..." She halted, eyes wide as she spotted the Sith on her doorstep.
With a dramatic cry she sprang back, a blue glow turned his attention to the small horn that this specimen sported, but Karnis was more interested in what he didn't physically see. This being touched brightly against his awareness, she seemed to have no small talent in the Force.
He was brought back by a rather camp tirade, "ruffian! I know not what your fiendish purpose is, but you'll not take me without a fight! Though I may be a proper lady, I can defend myself against..."
The Sith Lord ignored whatever she was babbling about, he was here on business. Karnis dug into the pouches along his belt and produced the shining ruby for the gibbering pony to see.
The White One halted immediately, her eyes fixed on the shining stone with a covetous look, "oh my goodness! Where in the world did you find such a fine specimen?"
Karnis turned the stone slightly, making sure the light caught on it's facets, "in the mud by the river near where I live. I can bring more if I find them, but I find myself in need of proper tools, and currency with which to purchase them. I was lead to believe you would pay for gems like this. Enough for a decent digging implement at least."
The pale pony's eyes were fixed on the bright gem as she answered, "I can? oh! Yes, of course I can, let me just... Wait there, I won't be a moment!" She dashed back inside.
Karnis was left waiting, he could be patient. Assuming the mantle of Dark Lord didn't mean that he existed in a vacuum. The Sith had contacts across the galaxy, he could be diplomatic when the situation called for it.
The old Camaasi regarded the red stone, it seemed there was a market for these gems, not a bad stroke of luck. If he could find more then he could perhaps purchase everything he needed to get a solid foothold on this strange little planet.
Something brushed against his consciousness, a feeling that put his hopes of a quiet life into deep question. There was a being nearby, one that positively glowed inside the Force. But more than that he could detect a certain mentality, serious, dutiful, servile. The marks of a being who was so much more, but never put themselves above the common rabble. Karnis's fist tightened around the gem, it's facets digging into his skin. Jedi!
The Sith Lord turned to face the approaching presence, preparing for a fight he was certain was coming. It had been a long time since he was tested against a Jedi, and the presence of one here was a foreboding sign.
Twilight Sparkle stopped some distance away from the man in black, there was something about him, some strange force. It wasn't wholly unfamiliar, one could get almost the same impression among unicorns, but this being as almost certainly human and from what she had gathered, humans couldn't use magic.
There was something else that was strange, Twilight felt oddly cold in his presence. It was already chilly out with the impending rain, but this was more like the bitter chill of winter, the kind of cold that went straight through a pony. She exhaled slowly, half expecting to see her breath fog in the air.
The alicorn princess halted as the being turned toward her, she could understand why Fluttershy had been so scared. Still, she wasn't one to back down. Twilight spread her wings and tried to look as authoritative as possible, wishing she had more time to prepare her introduction, "greetings, stranger. I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship and personal protege of Princess Celestia of Equestria. I wish to know why you have come to our town." Overall she was pleased with it, diplomatic, but at the same time she wasn't here to exchange pleasantries, nor would she brook any nonsense from the stranger.
He seemed slightly taken aback, but his eyes narrowed in suspicion, "princess? Since when do Jedi take such lofty titles?" Twilight tilted her head, her train of thought stumbling over the unfamiliar word. She shook her head, focusing on business, "yes, princess. I want to know why you're here. You've terrified one of my friends and injured another. While that alone is enough for me to wish to imprison you in the deepest dungeon I can find..." She sighed and folded her wings again, "I'm told you can be reasoned with, so in the name of Friendship I'm willing to give you one last chance." The princess planted her hooves and posed the question once more, "why are you here?"
The being regarded her silently for a long moment. Hoofsteps drifted out through the open door as Rarity returned. The man in black shrugged and produced a large ruby, "I'm just here to sell a gem to this young lady, I find myself in need of tools."
With that he turned away, exchanging the stone he bought for a decent amount of bits, assured that it would be more than enough for the tools he needed. With business concluded, he wandered back toward the market, brushing past Twilight without a word.
The purple alicorn watched him go, thoroughly confused. She vaguely registered Rarity coming to stand next to her, "what was that, darling? That can't be the same thing poor Fluttershy was so worked up over."
Twilight shook her head, "I really don't know anymore.." There was a familiar gleam in her eye and her lips curled into an eager grin, "this will require further study."
It was perhaps an hour later when Karnis made his way back into the forest, a pickaxe and a spade held in his grip. They were a little short for his stature, but they would be better than nothing. If needed, he could always re-haft them later. The Sith Lord wound his way through the forest, he would return to camp and take stock of what he needed. Any currency he would be able to gather would go toward making himself more self sufficient. Karnis found himself surprisingly partial to the local roots and there was already plans to clear space for a vegetable patch. Tubers were easy to grow, most tending to sprout from themselves unlike seedlings that needed to germinate and be constantly hovered over.
Peculiar weather aside, the old Camaasi was starting to take a shine to this place, he'd even stopped concerning himself with whatever it was that howled in the night. Most creatures didn't dare come too close to his camp. Well, nothing dangerous at least.
Darth Karnis is on the move. His first foray into Ponyville was surprisingly anticlimactic, however, little more than a shopping trip. Twilight and her friends are stymied at the Sith Lord's behavior, it doesn't seem to match the initial encounters, in fact for the most part he seemed quite civil. Perhaps there is some hope after all.
Fluttershy crept through the Everfree Forest. She had found the stranger's camp deserted and left another bag of supplies. After all, he did seem at least somewhat grateful for the first gift, perhaps a few more would sweeten his disposition.
It left one major problem, however. If the stranger wasn't home, then where was he? He didn't seem to take too kindly to intrusion so Fluttershy certainly didn't want to run into him on his way home. For now it was best to leave her gifts as anonymously as possible and get home before he ever knew she was there.
The yellow pegasus sniffed at the air, she could smell a strange scent, a combination of warm wood smoke and sharp ozone. There was supposed to be a storm in Ponyville sometime soon, she wondered if a bolt of lightning had struck nearby and started a fire. That couldn't be the case, she didn't see any animals fleeing like they would if there was a forest fire. There was no other trace of smoke either.
The shy mare could hear something as well, a strange sound like the buzz of a large insect. It echoed through the trees and lit her curiosity, guiding the pegasus toward the sound. Soon a strange crackling sound could be heard as well, but more concerning were the sounds that accompanied the hum. The sharp yelps and moaning howls of timber wolves. Fluttershy ducked her head, this wasn't right! Timber wolves were nocturnal, they shouldn't be active during the day, unless something had wandered too close to their territory. But their hunting grounds were clearly marked, everypony knew to stay clear of them...
But what if it wasn't a pony?
With a soft cry, Fluttershy took off, running towards the sounds that echoed through the woods. She hoped she wouldn't be too late.
The yellow mare finally found the source of the commotion. As she predicted the stranger stood, glowing blade in hand as a pack of timber wolves circled, waiting for an opening.
One of the wolves leapt toward the stranger, jaws snapping, but it was only met by the flashing blade which carved a smoldering line across the outstretched claws, leaving the rest of it's wooden body to scatter across the ground. Another took advantage of the distraction and jumped in as well, but this was met with an open palm. There was a silent roar and the timber wolf rebounded sharply as if it had rebounded against something solid, flying back to shatter against a stout tree. The stranger didn't wait for the other two, he closed the distance and brought his thrumming weapon down and across in two precise slashes, leaving the wolves tumbling apart.
The stranger closed down the weapon and turned toward Fluttershy, fully aware of her presence, "once more, Yellow One, you seem incapable of simply leaving me alone."
Fluttershy trembled, knowing what he didn't. She could already see the scattered bits of timber wolf pulling themselves back together into one big amalgamation. The pegasus could only stammer and point, trying desperately to warn him of the danger, but too shocked by the violence to form coherent words.
Some sixth sense seemed to warn the stranger of impending doom, he spun to face the giant timber wolf as it reared up. The heavy swipe of a wooden claw ripped the weapon from his hands and the stranger was knocked back and pinned. He was far from out of the fight however, with one last effort, the stranger reached out toward the descending jaws. Jagged bolts of blue lightning crackled from his finger tips, searing across the giant timber wolf.
Fluttershy hit the dirt and covered her head, squeezing her eyes shut against the blinding light and deafening crack of lightning. She couldn't tell if it was her, the timber wolf, or the stranger that was screaming the loudest.
The sound finally died after what seemed like an eternity. Fluttershy slowly opened her eyes and looked out over the aftermath. The air was thick with smoke and the timber wolf was little more than smoldering scraps wood and ash, down for good. The stranger, however, was also down. He lay still amid the wreckage, smoke drifting from his robes, his lightning had rebounded on him as it tried to find the ground.
Fluttershy cautiously made her way forward, nothing moved. She blanched, seeing glimpses of deep red through the rends in the stranger's clothes. The yellow mare did what she could, the stranger was still alive but he was in bad shape. His breathing was shallow and he seemed to twitch spasmodically, minor burns covered his hands and face.
He needed treatment, this being was sharp, violent, perhaps even cruel, but what kind of pony would Fluttershy be if she just left him here at the mercy of the elements? Carefully, she got herself under him and managed to lever him onto her back, carrying the stranger back the way she came toward his camp. He would be much safer there, but she needed to get help.
Fluttershy managed to get back to where he lived, laying him out on the dry mossy ground, hoping it would be good enough. Zecora was relatively nearby, but this didn't seem like it would be a normal injury, the pegasus was certain magic was involved which only left one option. She gulped, hoping Twilight wouldn't be too upset with her. She gave the comatose stranger one last glance, biting her lip as she took to the air, finding her way up through the canopy and winging her way back toward Ponyville.
Twilight Sparkle checked over the prone figure. It had taken Fluttershy some time and considerable help from her animal friends to bring the stranger to the castle. Correspondence back and forth and some borrowed books had gotten her at least passing familiar with human physiology, but some things didn't add up. For one, the stranger's ears terminated in pronounced points that sloped down and back. Even more peculiar were his teeth, they were broad and flat, vaguely similar to pony teeth. Certainly the dental structure of a pure vegetarian, odd considering the stranger's disposition. Fluttershy hovered nervously nearby, her eyes darting between the injured being and her own task. The claws of the timberwolves had slashed through the material of the stranger's robe. She had borrowed some thread and fabric to repair the garment. Fortunately, the being also wore a crimson vest made of a tough, flexible material that spared him from any deeper harm. In spite of that protection, his lightning had done enough. Burns covered his arms and face that Twilight spread a cooling salve on before wrapping with a soft bandage.
"Is.. he going to be okay?" Fluttershy's already soft voice was nearly lost in the expansive room that now doubled as an infirmary. Twilight hadn't been thrilled with the idea of her bringing food and supplies to such a dangerous being, but she hadn't really expected otherwise, and since he had proven to be at least civil on a couple of occasions, she had relaxed her opinion of him slightly.
The alicorn princess bit her lip, "I want to think so, but..." She shook her head, "I honestly don't know. I don't think he's actually human. I cross referenced a bunch of lightning spells and none of them are really great, but they're also nothing like what you described.
Twilight shuffled through the book on human anatomy she had borrowed, there was another snag that had revealed itself upon her first inspection. Electricity passing through the heart could still cause havoc even if it wasn't outright lethal. Twilight had detected some minor palpitations, but she also discovered a secondary rhythm. Whatever this person was, he had two hearts.
She finished tending to the stranger's wounds, "he's stable for now, but it might be some time before he wakes up. You did the right thing bringing him here, Fluttershy." She was rewarded with a small smile as the pegasus worried over her sewing.
The next thing Twilight wanted to inspect was the object that had been brought with the stranger. Violet magic carefully lifted the intricately crafted cylinder. It looked both incredibly modern, but at the same time, savagely tribal. The metal that could be seen had been precisely shaped, darkened and patinaed with age. The lower half was wrapped in a tough material that reminded Twilight sickeningly of Spike's scales. A string of small teeth was looped around one end while another strand of beads and a single large claw hung from the reverse. There was an inset button and a small dial. Holding the weapon slightly away and wincing a little, Twilight depressed the button.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, she tried again, but the handle remained inert. She looked it over and twisted the dial a little, but still there was nothing. Was it damaged in the fight? She couldn't imagine a weapon being very useful if it was so tricky to use. Her magic probed deeper, identifying the intricate wiring, several magnetic components, a compact yet extremely powerful power source, and a sturdy internal frame that held-
Twilight gasped and nearly dropped the device, "Sweet Celestia! I think there's something alive in there!"
"You're not entirely wrong."
The old Sith sat up with a groan, taking a moment to orient and get his bearings. He was inside what he assumed to be the tall crystalline structure with two of the colorful "ponies" one of whom held his weapon.
He reached out and an unseen force plucked the handle from Twilight's magic and brought it to his hand. The crimson blade hissed to life before settling into its menacing thrum, "you need to maintain physical pressure around the casing, most lightsabers have such a feature, dangerous as they are." His captors breathed an audible sigh as the blade vanished once again.
"What you felt was the Kyber crystal that focuses the blade. It is neither sentient, nor alive, but it is deeply infused with the Force. I imagine it didn't feel too friendly." He eyed the purple pony carefully, "but you already know this, don't you?" Twilight slowly shook her head, "no, how could I? I haven't got a clue what half of any of that meant." She rubbed a hoof between her eyes, "maybe we should start at the beginning, with your name? I haven't been able to catch it."
The old Sith narrowed his eyes suspiciously, Jedi rarely resulted to trickery or subterfuge, but it was known to happen now and then. "Karnis," he answered, "Darth Karnis, if you prefer a title." This was no trick, from their expressions and through the echo in the Force, both these creatures held no recognition. He pressed deeper, "Your master's tutelage was lacking if you've not heard of the Sith."
Twilight bristled a little, "I was given the best education available, taught by Princess Celestia herself. I don't know what all that was about crystals and forces, but it's not for a lack of proper schooling. You're the first human to set foot in Equestria. It stands to reason that there are things that we don't know about each other."
It was Karnis's turn to sneer, "I am not a human, I am a Camaasi. In the Core we, and others like me, are referred to as near-human, which is just insulting enough to make me hate the Core worlds on general principle."
"Is the use of magic common among your people?" This was clearly going to be a delicate interview, she'd have to step carefully around the temperamental being, but if Pinkie could foster friendship with Yaks, then the least she could do was get some questions answered.
The old Sith watched her for a moment, obviously this pony was going to insist on playing dumb. He sighed, "no more than many other races out there. We are not as Forceful as the Iktochi or the Miraluka, but nor are we stunted such as the Hutts or Wookiees.." His scowl deepened, there was no recognition in the pony's expression and no guile in those freakishly large eyes, "you truly have no experience with the Force, do you?"
Twilight shook her head, "what you're describing it what we call magic here. The ephemeral forces that suffuse the world." There was a difference and Karnis knew it. Use of the Force wasn't accompanied by the shimmering glow he saw from some of these "ponies," it wasn't the same, but it was of similar ilk. Humorously, he realized that these ridiculous creatures had more in common with the Nightsister covens of Dathomir than either Jedi or Sith. This was going to take a long time and a lot of discussion. Best taken in the short term. There was already much that he had to meditate on.
Hooking his lightsaber to his belt again, the old Sith gathered his robe. It was now going to need to purchase patches and thread to make repairs. He supposed good, functional zeyd-cloth was out of the question. Judging by the ponies around him even black might be a tall order. Bundling the garment, he prepared to take his leave without a further word. The Sith Lord came up short as he came against a pair of soulful cyan eyes. The Yellow One hovered in front of him, "you're leaving? You can't go yet, you were very badly hurt! You need to rest and recover." She seemed so impossibly stern.
Twilight held her breath. Fluttershy had the preternatural ability to connect with some of the most fearsome creatures in Equestria. Even the hydra that laired in the local swamp knew to leave her in peace. Those were just simple animals, though, and Fluttershy still held a healthy respect for them and knew when to steer clear. This being was made from something else entirely.
The stranger waved slowly, a smooth gesture of his hand. Flutterhy's wings dropped out of time and she gasped as she was lowered to the floor out of the way. "Your aid is appreciated, but your concern is unfounded. Rest and recovery is something I intend to get. Back home in my own camp." He made for the door but paused for a long moment, turning back, "the last basket you brought contained a few small round vegetables with bright red skin and white flesh. I was rather fond of them." He was still a moment longer before slipping out and closing the door behind him.
Two very confused ponies remained behind staring at the door and trying to process everything that had gone one. Even Twilight Sparkle could come away with mere conjecture for much of the interaction. Well, there was one solid fact, "so... the spooky, dangerous newcomer... likes radishes?"
Fluttershy was content to look on the bright side of the situation, "at least I know what to do with leftover radishes now. Angel Bunny won't eat them."
Darth Karnis made his way back through the strange little town. It had taken long enough to find the way out of that absurd crystal castle, startling another purple pony and a small purple reptile in the process. Now he was heading back toward the eaves of the woods and from there to home. Perhaps he could find the site of his battleground once more. The wooden canids were worthy foes, he might be able to gather a new trophy.
"Hey! New guy!"
Karnis sighed, he remembered that voice. Turning, he saw the violently colorful pony hovering a few paces away. She snorted and tossed that rainbow colored mane, smacking her forehooves together in a threatening gesture.
Twilight has attempted to bridge the gap between her world and the Sith Lord, Darth Karnis. While they attempted to learn from one another, the exchange was more than a little one sided and the princess came away with more questions than answers. The meeting planted a seed, however, and one pony was feeling it start to sprout.
Karnis gazed at the bright treasure he had uncovered, more precious than the gems from the bankside, more dear than the small knife that made fine crafting easier, more valuable than his own lightsaber. A bundle of cloth nearby held the priceless discovery, three shelves of fungus striped in vanes of rich cobalt. Karnis was familiar with the polypore, on Camaar Duum it was known as Hinon's Bracket, around the rest of the galaxy it was simply called Blue Moon. A casual vice for many who didn't want to delve into spice or other controlled substances. It was an old favorite of Karnis's as well, though one that was given up years ago. Well, was he not the master now? And truly, a master of what? A small camp in a thick forest surrounded by pastel 'Ponies.' What harm was there in returning to a simple pleasure?
The Sith Lord dug the point of his knife into the tough segment of root he'd gathered, there were no Cocorab trees around, but he could make do with what he had. Slowly but surely the bowl began to take shape, every scrape helped to connect it with the smaller hole drilled through the gnarled stem. It had been nearly a full day of work, but the end result would be sweeter for it.
Karnis checked his handiwork, a stout, if unortodox pipe, air flowed freely and the walls of the bowl were thick and sound, it would last for a good while. He broke up some pieces of the dry fungus and packed them into the bowl, lighting it with an ember from the fire and sitting back to enjoy the sweetly fragrant smoke that sent him back to his youth. He'd been no more than a naive boy back then, but the old camaasi couldn't say he was unhappy. It was a pleasant memory to return to and old men were entitled to think back on their youth.
Karnis was so relaxed he didn't even mind the soft crunch of leaves approaching his camp. He sighed, sending a plume of blue/gray smoke upward, "if you ruin this for me, Yellow One, I will truly have no reason to forgive you."
The soft squeak told him that his warning was understood, but there was no sound of retreat. Indeed those unobtrusive steps only got closer, "I-I'm sorry, I don't mean to intrude. I... I just wanted to talk.."
"That would be quite the change, usually you want to run." The old camaasi took another puff of sweet smoke and sat up, watching as the winged pony sidled into view and took a position across the fire pit from him, "very well, Yellow One, since you insist on being around me, what is it you want."
"F-Fluttershy.."
"Come again?"
The pony hid behind the fall of pink hair, "m-my name... It's Fluttershy, not Yellow One"
For a long moment there was only the faint crackle as the Blue Moon smoldered. Finally the old Sith lowered his pipe and shook his head, "you vex me, you know that? You constantly hold back, you stay in the background, speak little, you're always ready to flee at a moment's notice, and by all rights you should be terrified to know I'm so much as close by. Yet you seek me out constantly and now you have the temerity to correct me."
"I'm sorry..."
"You've got something, I don't know if it's really courage. I don't know if it's really anything, but you've got something." Karnis set the root pipe aside to smolder down as it pleased, "what did you want to discuss?"
Fluttershy pawed bashfully at the ground, trying to find the right words, "well.. Timberwolves. And Manticores, and Hydras, and a lot of other dangers out here in Everfree Forest. Equestria has its fair share of monsters and..." She took a moment to gather up her courage, "and I think it would be best if you moved closer to town where it would be safer." Karnis leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees and tenting his fingers, "but danger doesn't always stay in those areas does it? Sometimes there are dangers quite close to home, are there not? Security is a matter of degree, for example, what is the punishment for murder here?"
The yellow pony shook her head, "I'm.. sorry, the punishment for..?"
Karnis blinked, "when a pony kills another for whatever reason, galactic standard calls it murder."
Fluttershy's eyes widened even as her pupils shrank in horror, "wh-what? n-no! Nopony would ever... at least.. not on purpose.."
The Sith Lord raised an eyebrow, from what he had gathered, these ponies knew what weapons were, there was a standing military force, someone thought it was a good idea to have a specific guard detail for the ruling body. At the very least warfare was known on this planet. Perhaps he should have asked when the last war was. It seemed absurd, a world where no one wanted anyone else dead? Had the Light polluted this place so thoroughly? If what the Purple One had said was true, how had it come this far with no Jedi involvement?
Karnis decided to try another avenue, "Very well, what would be a common transgression that would be punishable by law?"
The yellow pony frowned and considered the question for a while. Perhaps a bit too long. The old Sith raised an eyebrow, "is it that difficult? Have you no crime anywhere? No violence? Nothing?"
The pegasus shrank back, "n-no! I mean... You say that like it's a bad thing. Of course there are dangers. Your encounter with the timberwolves should have proven that."
Karnis blinked slowly. Timberwolves. Wolves made of timber. He was starting to detest this place again. Fluttershy lowered herself to the ground, hooves fiddling nervously with the moss, "e-even I've had to... f-fight now and then.."
The Sith Lord deadpanned, "you." He couldn't believe this jumpy, furtive creature had the courage to stand up to so much as an errant dust mite. "Do tell, what dangers have you had to face?"
Fluttershy opened her mouth to answer, but paused. Nightmare Moon was the obvious answer, but she had stayed back for much of the encounter. The first time she met Discord. She spent more time bickering with her own friends. The Changeling invasion? She wasn't much use there. "I.. I... Um.. I scolded a dragon once?" That had been a resounding victory, even she couldn't deny that.
Karnis rolled his eyes, retrieving his pipe from where it lay and stirring the ashes, getting the ember going once more, "Yellow One, if you're going to lie at least put some effort into making it somewhat believable. Any creature fierce enough to be called a dragon would never be moved by.. Well, whatever it is you consider to be harsh words." He watched the yellow pony for a long moment, waiting for her to try again. Eventually he was forced to prompt her, "is that all? Are there no other fearsome beasts you can label as conquests?"
Fluttershy pawed at the ground a little, feeling somewhat ashamed that she hadn't done more considering she was attached to a group of ponies who regularly went on dangerous adventures. A small idea flared to life and her expression brightened, "actually, yes! Yes, there is one more. Um, j-just one moment... please.." She picked up and fluttered quickly away through the canopy, leaving the Sith Lord to sigh and go about his business.
It wasn't long before the pegasus returned, this time actually announcing her presence, "I'm back! Sorry that took so long, but I can definitely list this guy as a resounding victory."
Karnis was raking the fire, getting the coals prepared to cook for the evening. He paused as he locked eyes with the supposed conquest the Yellow One had brought him. It was a small creature, laughably so, clearly some type of prey species. Those beady little eyes were designed to pick out fine details and the long ears surely aided in listening for danger.
As Karnis stared, the little creature stared back, both more focused on each other than on Fluttershy's rambling. "Angel Bunny was always such a hoofful, he wouldn't eat or go to bed, sometimes he just refused to listen at all! I've gotten a lot better at managing him and our relationship has become much better because of it."
The old Sith gave some thought to simply wringing the soft little creature's neck and having done with it, but something stopped him. There was a strange sapience in those dark eyes, it almost seemed like it was challenging him, hinting that if Karnis gave in to that desire and simply kill it then the little creature would somehow win. He could feel a small smirk curl his lip. This world positively reeked of the light, but here and there he could still find some backbone in the most unlikely places. He bent over his firepit and began to build a small smudge to cook over, going back to the original topic, "so, you came all this way to tell me that you worry for my safety and want me to move closer to town. Even after what I did to your rainbow friend the other day?"
Fluttershy frowned, she knew that Rainbow Dash had been acting weird, flying laps around Ponyville at top speed. She had said something about the stranger telling her to burn off some energy and she just had to do it. The mare shook her head, "actually no. I want you to move closer because I'm worried about the safety of other creatures."
Karnis stopped prodding at the fire, "the creatures you came to tell me were dangerous? You want me to be... nicer to them?"
Fluttershy nodded firmly, "a whole pack of timberwolves is gone now. You wandered into their territory, they were only defending their home. They would and have done the same to ponies, but that doesn't mean they should be destroyed on a whim! I... I don't want you hurting the animals here!" There, she had said it. Her legs felt like jelly and her wings were frozen shut, but she had at least said it.
The old Sith had turned back to his fire, stoking it into readiness as he sat silent for a long moment. When he spoke again it was almost to himself, "to be honest, I didn't want to." He looked up and there was a brief shadow of an expression that might once have been a smile, "does that surprise you? Our enterprise is marked by decisive action. If there is a threat, it is removed. There is nothing to be gained from senseless bloodshed. In appropriate measures, yes, it is a powerful tool, but as you say, yesterday it was unneeded and that is unfortunate."
He lapsed into silence again as he brought out his cooking pot and filled it with water to boil, "it was disquieting as well. Anymore, when I am drawn to combat it doesn't feel as it once did. I feel fractionally slower, my movements are less sharp. Age is catching up to me and even I cannot fight it forever." Perhaps that was the reason his apprentice had chosen that moment to strike, he had sensed that his Master was starting to grow feeble. Strangely, Karnis felt a little pride at that fact, that his student wasn't going to wait until the master was old and frail to prove himself.
The fire crackled as a log shifted, sending a flurry of sparks up toward the lowering sun. It broke the old Sith from his reverie, bringing him back to the present. He dug into his supplies and brought out a few large root vegetables and a selection of herbs, beginning to chop them roughly. He glanced to the Yellow One still nearby, "I suppose there's no point in sending you away if you've come this far. Twice." He began to toss ingredients into the boiling pot, "so, tell me about these timberwolves."
"But Twilight said that there is no air in outer space. Was she wrong?"
Karnis shook his head through the small puff of smoke he released. The conversation of timberwolves had forced him to make connections with animals he was familiar with. As it turned out, the yellow pony was rather enamored with the idea of creatures from other worlds, "she was not. At least insofar as air that would be breathable by most species, but some few creatures have managed to make their homes in the void. Purgills, Neebray Mantas, a type of enormous slug known as an Exogorth," He paused to stir the sullenly bubbling pot, the water and vegetables within slowly becoming a hearty soup. "When I was only an apprentice, my master showed me the hunting grounds of a great Summa-Verminoth. A truly colossal, space faring predator. We never saw the beast itself, but I was taught to spot the signs of its presence." Through the tale, the pony sat in rapt fascination, "it must have been so exciting to see so many strange creatures."
Karnis hummed, "I wouldn't know. They were meant as object lessons, we were not sightseeing. My master wanted me to observe the behavior of various animals. To watch how predators deployed their strengths and how prey animals compensated for their deficiencies. Many carnivores adapt to be small and stealthy, working in secret. Likewise there are plenty of herbivores that grow large and powerful in the effort to not become a meal. We invent social structures and build vast cities and consider ourselves to be above and beyond the rest, but at the end of the day, we are all animals. A city may be larger than an insect hive, perhaps more complex, but they both serve the same purpose."
"Your master sounds very wise.." There was a little trepidation in the way the pony spoke. Karnis was obviously rather advanced in age, it was likely that a mentor figure was no longer around.
The old Sith chuckled as he confirmed it, "she was indeed. Wise and powerful. That is our way. There are only ever two Sith, as decreed by Darth Bane. One to embody power and one to crave it. Only by eclipsing our master to we prove ourselves worthy to carry the mantle. I overcame my master, as my apprentice was to overcome me."
Fluttershy frowned a little, "but then, what happens now? If you're not around to teach your apprentice?"
Karnis thought back, that singular instant, the fraction of a fraction of a moment. The briefest hint of warning before danger. He could have so easily missed it and never known until he was cut down. He had been distracted for only a split second and his apprentice had taken advantage. He could still hear the hiss of the igniting blade, see its crimson glow illuminating his apprentice's features. The eager grin, the surety in his eyes. He held not a single doubt that he would be victorious. The old Sith drew deeply on the crooked pipe and breathed out a thin stream of bluish smoke, "Lord Draconis will forge his own path, take his own apprentice. I have taught him all that I can. He was ready."
The yellow pegasus nodded slowly, "still, I'm sure he would have preferred hearing it from you. I'm sure your own master wished you well when you were ready to move on."
Karnis looked up quickly. She had not. In fact her life had ended with a curse as he remembered it. The battle had been hard fought and Karnis had been wounded greatly, but he had been ultimately victorious. Striking a decisive, killing blow. Apparently the implication was lost on the Yellow One, a being from a world where murder was so uncommon that she didn't even recognize the word.
Karnis had no regrets. It was the way of the Sith, he had done what was only right to claim his title as Dark Lord. Karnis prided himself on his honesty. He might skirt the truth or conceal part of it, but never once did he outright lie. And even in the gaze of those large, limpid, soulful eyes did he intend to start lying now. The old Sith knocked the layer of ash from his pipe and tamped out the remaining embers, "I think that's enough stories for one evening. The soup is ready."