Forces of Friendship

by tom117z

Chapters

• 1 - Prologue
• 2 - Forces of Friendship Part 1
• 3 - Forces of Friendship Part 2
• 4 - "Begun, the Clone Wars have..."
• 5 - Visions

1 - Prologue

The sprawling metropolis of Canterlot, Equestria's capital city sped by as seven year old human Twilight Sparkle and her family silently sat in their transport. They were on their way to Celestia's school of the gifted, a place where the brightest young minds on Equus would go for the best education available.

"Nervous Twilight?" Velvet asked her daughter.

"No! OK... maybe a little..."

Velvet chuckled, "You will do fine Twilight, you practically lived in our library for the past year!"

Twilight gave her mother a sheepish smile as her father continued to sift through the galactic news.

"Hmm, seems a Jedi has caused quite a stir in the outer rim" Night Light observed.

"A Jedi?" Velvet looked at her husband.

"Yes, Qui-Gon Jinn and his padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi, seems they nearly caused a diplomatic incident by 'getting involved where they don't belong'".

"I wish I was a Jedi..." Twilight muttered.

"Why do you say that, dear?"

"Because then I would have cool mind powers!" Twilight perked up, kids will be kids...

The sat the rest of the journey in silence, on reaching the giant metallic domed shaped building that was the school they were directed to a eat to wait their turn.

They must have been there for at least two hours.

Eventually, their boredom was dispelled as Twilight's name was called. The family then followed an aging protocol droid up to one of the dome's few spires, when there they were met by several instructors of various species.

"Twilight Sparkle?" one of them called out questioningly, a female togrutan.

"Yes ma'am."

"All right Twilight, you will be provided with several difficult mathematical questions outside the bounds of an average child of your age, mostly concerning hyperspace theory. While there is no time limit the time taken to complete the test will factor into your results. Understood?"

Twilight nodded in confirmation and another droid brought out everything Twilight would need for her test, then said test began.

In a nearby neighborhood a swoop bike race was ongoing between a group of older teenagers, and one mandalorian child, a very illegal swoop bike race.

That child was one Rainbow Dash, she was an avid racing fan and had challenged the teenagers after they had started to bully her friend Fluttershy, a rather timid Twi'Lek girl who would never dare defend herself. A large audience had even gathered to watch the big race.

Rainbow's swoop bike skimmed through the air like a pebble on water, she was far ahead of her opponents and just getting started. She kept speeding up and speeding up determined to humiliate them for how they treated her friend, she pushed the swoop bike to the limit going faster and faster until...

She crossed the finish line!

And then she lost control...

The bike started to veer violently to the left straight towards a nearby power station! Luckily for Rainbow a quick thinking audience member sitting on a speeder bike swept down and just managed to grab Rainbow off of her swoop just as she reached him.

The now rider-less bike dove right into the station exploding on impact, workers ran for safety as the flames reacted with the stations generators and...

A massive explosion sounded throughout the city.

Twilight was in the middle of a mathematical equation that had managed to stump even her, she wasn't expecting such a dramatic interruption.

Neither was she expecting what happened next.

Twilight was so startled she felt a jolt run down her body, she felt within her a power she had never before experienced within herself, and very quickly this power grew out of control and the room was thrown into chaos!

Invisible energies swirled around the room picking up random objects, pinning the instructors and her parents to a wall and crushing the poor droids into small piles of scrap metal. The energies picked up in speed breaking windows and threatening to crush those trapped in the vortex. Twilight tried to stop whatever it was she was doing but she couldn't! She trembled, a tear rolling down her cheek as she closed her eyes hoping this was all a bad dream.

And then Twilight felt a presence, a warm figure who seemed to radiate the sun itself, a figure who placed a hand on Twilight's shoulder and used the force to calm Twilight's raging force storm bringing it slowly to a halt.

Twilight looked up and was surprised, and even more terrified to find Princess Celestia standing there.

"Your highness! I'm so sorry I don't know what..."

"It's okay young one..." Celestia said soothingly. "You have a gift, you are extremely strong in the force..."

"The force? Does that mean I'm a Jedi!" Twilight exclaimed with typical childlike glee.

Celestia chuckled at her reaction and enthusiasm. "While I could send you off to the Jedi Temple for training..." Celestia locked eyes with Twilight, giving her a warm smile.  "I would much prefer you became my personal protégé instead..."

2 - Forces of Friendship Part 1

The transport descended rapidly onto the town bellow. Ponyville was a 'traditional' looking town, and stood very much in contrast to the modern technological marvel that was Canterlot. The shuttle's two passengers could see the buildings were largely comprised of wood with thatched roofs, however while this trend encompassed most of the town there were a few stand out structures. There was one building that looked like a carousel, another that seemed to be decorated with a ridicules amount of party supplies with a giant neon sign exclaiming 'Sugar Cube Corner'. They could also spot the town library, which was built in to a large hollowed-out golden oak tree.

Twilight was rather keen to get to the library, considering the library was the ONLY public library left on the planet that used paper-back books instead of data files, and no data file could ever replace the classic in Twilight's mind.

Twilight studied the town below intently, while her companion, a young eleven year old Trandoshan named Spike seemed more interested in his holographic comic. Spike was discovered by Twilight as a new-born soon after her exam for Celestia's school. At her request Celestia had taken him into the palace, and he had eventually attained the position of Twilight's assistant, though he was more of a brother that anything.

The town, Twilight noted, was abuzz with an unusual amount of activity on this day. However this wasn't particularly a surprise considering what that day was, the Summer Sun Celebration. The Summer Sun Celebration was an event celebrating the longest day of the year that would be attended by Princess Celestia herself, the ruler of Equus as well as Twilight's master and friend. The very same who had practically raised her for the past eleven years and trained her in the ways of the force.

"Ma'am" One of the shuttles pilots called through, "We're preparing for final descent."

"Understood" Twilight acknowledged, "Come on Spike time to put you comic away."

"Aw come on Twilight I was just getting to the good part."

"I'm sure the battles of good and evil can wait a little longer."

Spike just grumbled as the ship came into landing.

With a hiss of the engines and a sudden lurch the shuttle settled down onto the dirt beneath. After thanking both pilots Twilight and Spike disembarked from the shuttled, which quickly took off heading closer towards the library where Twilight would be staying, intent on dropping off the two's luggage before heading back to Canterlot.

At present time there didn't seem to be anyone else in the area, Twilight and Spike stood alone in an empty street between several wooden homes.

"Alright, first stop we need to visit a farmer by the name of Applejack, who is handling the events catering."

"Wait a minute Twilight! Don't forget the princesses other instructions!"

"Spike, making friends will only get in the way of my training. I need to be one hundred percent dedicated to the force, with absolutely no dis-"

Twilight was cut off by a sudden and very violent intake of breath that came from behind them, quickly turning around they found themselves face-to-face with a pink haired human they could have sworn hadn't been there a few moments ago.

"Uh...hi," Twilight managed to say.

Instead of answering the strange person suddenly took off faster than her legs should have been able to carry her, leaving behind two very confused individuals in her wake.

"Well... that was most certainly interesting."

Spike snorted, "Maybe she was intimidated by that," He pointed a finger at the cylindrical object hanging off of Twilight's belt.

Twilight just groaned in response before beckoning Spike to follow her, and together they headed off to their first destination, Sweet Apple Acres.

On reaching the farmstead Twilight was immediately met with the sight of a human girl around her age, on her head she wore a Stetson and around a brown leather belt she had holstered a simple looking blaster pistol.

The individual in question turned as Twilight and Spike approached, and gave them a welcoming smile.

"Well howdy, what can ah do you for?"

"My name is Twilight Sparkle, I'm here to check up on the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration."

"You do all the food stuff right?" Spike asked.

"We sure as sugar do! Would you care to sample some?"

Twilight shrugged, "I don't see why not..."

Applejack reared up and shouted at the barn, "Soup's on, everyone!"

All of a sudden Twilight and Spike were surrounded by dozens of people all who quickly began shoving plate after plate in front of Twilight.

"This here's Apple Fritter. Apple Bumpkin. Red Gala. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp, Big McIntosh, Apple Bloom and Granny Smith. Up'n'attem, Granny Smith, we got guests."

An elderly woman in a rocking chair drowsily woke up, "Wha..? Soup's on? I'm up, here I come, ahm comin'... "

Applejack turned back to Twilight, "Why, I'd say you're already part of the family!"

Twilight laughed with a tinge of nervousness, "Okay, well, I can see the food situation is handled, so we'll be on our way."

"Nonsense," The still drowsy Granny Smith said, "We got plenty o' time to spare."

"Thank you for the offer, really. But I need to get the rest of the preparations checked off the list."

"Please, please don't try to stop her," Spike spoke up, "She gets rather touchy when it comes to checklists and tardiness."

"Well... alright" Applejack conceded, "We'll be seein' ya'll at the celebration tonight?"

"Wouldn't miss it," Twilight responded, before moving off to the next thing on the list.

"So Twilight, what now?"

Twilight and Spike where now nearing the centre of town, decorations adorned the building left and right as people placed the finishing touches for the days event.

"Ugh, there's meant to be a Mandalorian overseeing the security for the day, but where is she?"

"Mandalorian? What's wrong with the royal guard?"

"Nothing, Celestia just decided it prudent to hire a few extra guns this year."

"Hired security? Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

"A little, but I don't even pretend to know what goes on behind those ancient eyes."

"Well I-"

"Incoming!" A new voice shouted.

All of a sudden a figure slammed into the ground where Twilight and Spike had been standing a moment earlier, a foot away from the sprawled form a bemused Twilight held onto a rather shocked Spike.

"Wow, good thing for your super fast reflexes huh Twilight?" Spike said releasing himself from Twilight grip.

"I'll say," The figure said. "Not many can out run me, what's your secret?"

The figure slowly got to her feat, she was adorned in cyan mandalorian armor with a smoking jetpack strapped to her back. Two heavy blaster pistols were strapped to either side of her belt.

The figure noticed Twilight's own weapon holstered on her belt, "Oh right, your one of those force users... cheater."

Twilight gave the figure a very bemused and impatient look. "I assume you're Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow Dash reached up and took off her helmet, revealing the rainbow coloured hair and magenta eyes beneath, "That would be me!"

"Aren't you supposed to be overseeing the defences for the, you know, important celebration happening tonight?"

"Yeah I hear you, I just wanted to sneak in a bit of flying practice in-between, but then the blasted thing malfunctioned and, well... you know the rest," Rainbow shrugged.

"Well just make sure everything is ready for tonight, I really don't want any incidents."

"Hey don't worry, I could organise the whole thing in ten seconds flat!"

"That remains to be seen," Twilight muttered in exasperation.

"Now if that's everything I really need to get this thing fixed, always preferred flying to walking, see you around... erm, what was your name?"

"Twilight."

"See you around Twilight!"

With that Rainbow Dash took off leaving Twilight and Spike behind.

"Well that was something" Spike said.

"Ugh, come on."

The sun had begun to set as Twilight and Spike trudged towards the looming Golden Oaks Library. After the incident with Rainbow Dash they had gone to the town hall to see how the final decorations were coming along. Rarity, a human girl with purple hair and a rather elaborate fashion sense had been pleasant enough, even if she was slightly too giddy about meting Celestia's protégé and one of the only three known force users currently on the planet. The final stop had been to a shy yellow-skinned Twi'Lek girl by the name of Fluttershy, who had trained a group of birds of various species to produce a marvelous melody for the celebration.

But now with the preparations sorted all Twilight wanted to do was go to the library she would be calling home for the night and meditate before the celebrations began.

"Are you alright Twilight?" Spike asked with slight worry.

"I'm fine Spike, it's just that some of the people in this town seem to be a little crazy."

"Oh come on they weren't that bad, they were probably just overexcited for the celebration."

They reached the front door of the library, which Twilight started to open.

"Yeah, I suppose you're-"

"SURPRISE!"

Twilight just stared in silent shock at the large congregation in the library, at their head stood a familiar pink haired girl.

"So where you surprised!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed excitedly, "Were you were you?"

Twilight could only groan as the last of her patience deserted her.

"Oh cheer up Twilight! The party was fun!" Spike said.

Darkness had fallen and everyone was making their way towards the town hall for the celebration to finally begin. Twilight walked with Spike and a very persistent Pinkie Pie.

"Yeah Twilight, you really need to loosen up!" Pinkie said in her usual cheerful manner.

"It's not that the party wasn't fin Pinkie, it's just that I had no time for any sort of meditation like I had planned."

"Meditation? Why do something that sounds so boring? Only watching paint dry could be worse and who would ever do that? Unless of course you had dozens of magical copies and-

"Pinkie, meditation is how us force users focus our powers and clear our minds. I try to do it at least once a night."

"If I had the force I would use it for something more productive, like baking even more cupcakes!"

"Has anyone ever told you that you're a bit... odd?"

"Oh all the time, I don't even really understand me!"

Twilight chuckled at that, lifting her spirits just a little as they finally entered the town hall, just in time to hear Mayor Mare start her speech.

And it was then Twilight felt it.

Both Pinkie and Spike adopted looks of concern as Twilight clutched her head and swayed on the spot ever so slightly.

"Twilight?" Spike nudged her gently.

"I feel... so cold. I can sense the dark side, and it is powerful and angry and... somethings coming."

The Mayor concluded her speech, "In just a few moments, our town will witness the arrival of our princess, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honour to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who protects us, her people each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria... Princess Celestia!"

But when the curtain opened it was not Celestia standing there, instead there was a figure dressed in dark blue and black armor, and had grotesque yellow eyes that reeked of the dark side of the force.

Twilight's eyes widened as she saw the new figure emerge, and the cylindrical device worn on her waist... a lightsaber.

"Ah my subjects... it has been too long since I have seen your sun loving faces."

"Twilight?" Spike sounded extremely panicked. "Who is she?"

Twilight gasped as she tried to form the words in her mouth, terror forming as realisation struck her.

The figure spoke up again. "Behold, the return of your true ruler, I am Darth Efiáltis , and you will bow before me!"

"Sith," Twilight finally spoke.

At that moment  Darth Efiáltis  sensed a force sensitive presence within the crowd, and her corrupted eyes fell upon Twilight herself. "Ah, an apprentice of my sister, this will be fun!"

3 - Forces of Friendship Part 2

"Seize her!" Mayor Mare shouted towards several royal guard.

The four guardsman either side of the stage all turned their weapons on the Sith and opened fire, their weapons set to stun.

Darth Efiáltis simply and nimbly dodged all four shots before an electrical charge graced her fingertips, but a moment later terrifying lightning erupted towards all four guards and sent them flying across the room into unconsciousness, all of them hitting the ground with a loud thud.

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash shouted in anger, her jetpack roaring to life as she took to the air, aiming both her pistols at  Darth Efiáltis.

Efiáltis only smirked as Rainbow fired off several volleys of blaster fire from both weapons, neither set to stun. With a red flash the Sith grabbed and ignited her weapon and deflected all of the shots right back at Rainbow, one of which struck the Mandalorian in the shoulder knocking her out of the sky and into the ground below.

It was then the civilians began to scream, all of them quickly and violently trying to exit the hall as quickly as possible.  Darth Efiáltis began scanning for Celestia's apprentice within the chaotic crowd, but was distracted when a gunship blasted a hole in the roof and several Equestrian soldiers grappled in on ropes along with a few of Dash's mandalorian guns-for-hire flying in of jetpacks of their own. Efiáltis deflected several more blaster bolts, all of them meant to kill. Growling threateningly the Sith sliced the first soldiers to reach her before calling on the force, she jumped to one wall and the pushed off high into the air and out of the hole in the roof. The pilot of the gunship saw her and quickly turned to train his weapons on her, only for Darth Efiáltis to jump once more, this time landing on the cockpit and driving her lightsaber down into the helpless pilot. Using the force to pry both the cockpits covering and the deceased pilot out she jumped inside and assumed the controls, her gaze turning to the nearby forest.

The apprentice could wait, there was other business to take care of first.

"Twilight!" Spike shouted pointing up at the gunship making a beeline for the Everfree Forest, "Where is she going?"

Twilight looked between the gunship and the forest, knowing all too well why the Sith Lord might have an interest with the dark, monster filled locale.

"The elements," Twilight whispered.

"Twilight?"

"Spike stay here" Twilight all but shouted as she jumped onto a nearby speeder bike and started it up.

"What are you doing!? Are you nuts?" Spike protested.

"It's too dangerous for you Spike, I'm sorry, but I must do this alone."

Not giving him the chance to inevitably protest further Twilight pushed down on the throttle and sped off, quickly putting distance between her and her hapless number one assistant. What Twilight didn't notice was five others watching her, and after speeding off they too jumped onto the other parked bikes and quickly set off in pursuit of the force-sensitive student.

Twilight came to a dead stop at the entrance of the mysterious and very dangerous Everfree Forest, darkness seemed to be reaching from the treeline seemingly attempting to swallow the outside world into it's terrifying darkness. A treeline that was far too thick for the speeder to go any farther, running into a tree and exploding was not on Twilight's things-to-do checklist.

As Twilight approached the Everfree forest she didn't hear the rumbling of an approaching engine until it was almost right on top of her, a blue armored individual jumped off, slamming into the side of Twilight sending her tumbling to the ground.

"Where do you think you are going? Are you a spy?!" Rainbow Dash accused.

Applejack came up behind Rainbow and dragged her off of Twilight, "Now simmer down there sugarcube"

Rarity pulled up alongside Applejack and was followed by Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, "Yes darling she is Princess Celestia's own apprentice, I highly doubt she has such malicious intent."

Twilight quickly managed to scramble to her feet, fighting off the confusion to what in the wide world of Equus just happened.

"Rainbow Dash, your arm?"

Rainbow turned to Twilight and just shrugged, "Meh, my armor took most of the damage, it actually protects me unlike the paper-like junk your guys use," she tapped the charred shoulder piece, "But you have yet to answer my question."

"The elements of harmony," Twilight said simply

"The elements of what now?" Applejack asked in confusion

"As Celestia's apprentice she let me in on a few.. secrets. Within the Everfree forest lies a castle, in this castle lays six artifacts powerful in the light side of the force, artifacts that could be used to defeat Darth Efiáltis!"

"Couldn't you just, you know, use that?" Rainbow pointed at Twilight's own lightsaber still hanging on her waist.

"I... would rather not. Taking on a Sith master is something I really have no desire to do if I can help it. No, the elements are our best option."

"Well then we're coming with ya, all of us!" Applejack proclaimed

Fluttershy seemed unsure, "Well I could come, maybe... if you wanted me too, but the forest is just so scary..."

"Don't worry darling we'll make sure nothing bad happens to you!" Rarity comforted her friend.

"And then we can have a 'we saved the world from an evil Sith person' party!" Pinkie Pie butted in with excitement.

"All due respect I think it would be best if-"

"Sugarcube, we ain't letting you go in all alone, end of story," Applejack said with unbreakable conviction.

"Well OK, fine. But please try not to fall behind," Twilight reluctantly agreed turning back towards the forest.

The others quickly went to follow, with Rainbow giving Rarity one of her blaster to protect herself with, with Fluttershy quickly falling into step behind her.

And like that the six entered the dark and dingy forest, towards the dark mistress of the sith awaiting them within.

The journey through the forest didn't exactly go smoothly and proved to be highly dangerous, as Twilight had suspected it might. However it did give them all a chance to unknowingly showcase their individual elements. Applejack was honest the whole way, especially as Twilight hung over a long drop that, if she fell with nothing to stop her, would have resulted in her death. Luckily Rainbow was there with her jet pack primed to full capacity. Fluttershy showed kindness to a young, injured Rancor, and much to the surprise of the others actually managed to befriend the beast! Rarity was generous to a rather fabulous individual named Steven Magnet, an eccentric individual trying to traverse the forest. Pinkie Pie had hilariously sung her way through a scary situation created from illusions conjured from Darth Efiáltis's usage of the dark side. And finally Rainbow Dash had chosen her friends over the 'Shadow Bolts', a knockoff of an elite squad in the Equestrian military whom Rainbow idolizes, who were yet another of Efiáltis' illusions.

Finally they arrived at the crumbling dark ruins of an old castle. A building so old it was made simply of stone rather than the metals most buildings in this day and age were created from. The only other building like it was Canterlot castle, which Celestia had designed specifically for it's older, more 'classic' look. Despite this however remnants of technology could be seen scattered about, the rusted hulls of several ancient defence droids, ray shield generators once used to seal up doors and hallways along with various other odds and ends. One door the six saw however seemed to still have power, or even had recently been re-powered.

Approaching the console Twilight stepped up to examine it.

Door status: Unlocked

Damage Detected: 68% - Warning

Scanner indicates elements chamber has sustained severe structural damage, request immediate repair teams to seal any potential security breaches.

Request for repair teams logged - 1000 years since request was logged - request for assistance still withstanding.

Warning: power levels at 9%

"This is it!" Twilight exclaimed to the others, while activating the console and opening the doors, lowering the power levels down to a mere two percent.

With the doors opening the group rushed inside, three of them drawing their blaster in preparation for whatever lay within.

And within lay the very Sith they dreaded.

Darth Efiáltis turned to look at the new arrivals, five petrified elements grasped with the force, darkness began to swirl around the sith en-mass.

"What is she doing?" Fluttershy squeaked.

Applejack and Rainbow immediately fired on the sinister figure before them, their blaster bolts however seemed to simply evaporate as they contacted the darkness around Efiáltis.

"Oh no you don't!" Twilight shouted, running into the vortex just as it fully formed and consumed Efiáltis, when it cleared both she and Twilight had simply vanished into thin air.

In the nearby throne room the dark shadows reappeared and spat both Twilight and Darth Efiáltis out violently, both landing on the floor at opposite ends of the room in a heap, the elements rolled about in the middle of the room before coming to a stop.

"You fool, your interruption could have killed us both!"

"Using the force to teleport from one location to another, that's a new one."

Both force-sensitives got to their feet and stared the other down.

"The dark side of the force can lead to many abilities, some which many deem to be unnatural."

"Yeah, I can see why, though we are only in the throne room, so it must be very short range."

"Indeed, but your following me may be fortuitous, I had so wanted to meet you face-to-face. You see I-"

While Darth Efiáltis was talking Twilight quickly outstretched a hand and grabbed the elements, dragging them to her.

"No!" The Sith shouted as she realised what had just happened.

Closing her eyes and calling on the light side of the force, Twilight poured all her strength into the five artifacts, which began to glow, before fizzling out just as quickly.

Twilight's eyes shot open in panic as she realised something, "There's only five? Where's the sixth!?"

Darth Efiáltis began to laugh at Twilight's failure before snatching the elements away from the young apprentice, igniting her lightsaber and slicing it down through all five objects, destroying all of them in one swoop.

"Catching me mid-monologue and capitalising on it to get the upper hand? Oh aren't you a cunning one, and yet you still fail," Efiáltis mocked, "What can you do now without your precious Elements of Harmony?"

Twilight locked eyes with Efiáltis, a determined expression filling her face. Slowly she reached down to her belt and clung onto the weapon the had hung inert all this time. Holding it tightly in her right hand Twilight brought it to her side, and ignited it. A blue blade sprung forth with a flash and that ever so iconic fwoosh sound. Swinging it up she pointed the blade at the Sith before her, a soft buzzing sound filling the otherwise silent room.

"You're kidding. You're kidding right?"

Twilight just stood there with the same determined expression.

"Oh why does Celestia and her apprentices always have to be so... Jedi-like? Well... you will see how we Sith deal with Jedi."

Raising up her free hand Darth Efiáltis shot sith lightning straight towards the young apprentice in front of her. Twilight brought her blade up to intercept the lightning, bracing as all that power was blocked by the blue blade, Twilight holding the hilt with both hands as she struggled against the oncoming force. After a few moments Twilight let go with her left hand and swung it to the side, using the force to grab a large nearby piece of rubble and fling it towards the Sith Lord.

Darth Efiáltis called off the lightning to dodge the piece of rubble, only to spot another larger piece sailing in the air. Jumping upwards Efiáltis encountered the debris mid-air, using the force to violently smash right through it, as she emerged on the other side she descended quickly down right on top of Twilight.

Twilight took a step back as the Sith landed and their blades struck one another for the first time, followed by another, and then another. Red and blue clashed as both combatant traded bows. Darth Efiáltis raised her lightsaber and brought down a heavy blow onto Twilight, who blocked it but while her lightsaber was raised Darth Efiáltis kicked out her legs sending her crashing to the floor. Before the Sith could capitalise however Twilight quickly called on the force and pushed Efiáltis back across the room, the Sith in question tumbled across the floor but recovered quickly. Twilight jumped to her feet and chucked her lightsaber in Darth Efiáltis's direction, who batted it aside and Twilight directed it back like a boomerang. Twilight ran forwards towards the Sith Lord and jumped slightly as she performed a stabbing motion down onto Darth Efiáltis, who stepped to one side, but yet not quite in time as the blue blade scrapped along her arm leaving behind a heated gash. The Sith Lord snarled as she registered the wound, and unleashed a barrage of lightning onto Twilight, who caught the attack with her blade, pushed forwards right up to Darth Efiáltis and with a spin heavily brought her saber down onto Darth Efiáltis's own.

Both sabers remained locked against one another as both of their wielders fought for dominance, red and blue sparks flying off and singeing the floor below as neither combatant showed any signs of giving in... at first.

Slowly but surely Darth Efiáltis began to gain ground, Twilight tried to regain her position but quickly found it a futile effort. In order to avoid defeat Twilight shoved her lighsaber to one side, sending Darth Efiáltis's with it. With the lightsaber's no longer locked Twilight was able to take a step backwards, before lifting her weapon up for the next attack. However Efiáltis used the force to grab onto a piece of debris and fling it at Twilight. Seeing it flying towards her from her left Twilight jumped high into the air and flipped over Darth Efiáltis as the chunk of stone came flying past, crashing into the wall. Sticking the landing Twilight brought up her blade in her right hand, only to find Darth Efiáltis already spun around and swinging her own lightsaber towards her, the red blade slicing into the hilt of Twilight's lightsaber and cutting it in half.

Before Twilight could recover Darth Efiáltis grabbed her in a force choke, before slamming her into a wall, and then another, and then right into the floor at the centre of the room.

The battle was over.

Twilight lay injured and sputtering in the centre of the room while Darth Efiáltis stared her down.

"Celestia taught you well, but you could never have beaten a lord of the Sith."

She barely heard the sounds of the other five approaching.

The defeated Twilight looked back at the door to the throne room as five other people ran in shouting her name. Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow saw saw Darth Efiáltis and took aim, wanting to protect their friend. Twilight raised a hand to get their attention and stop them from firing before getting up, looking Darth Efiáltis in the eye and speaking up again, her voice defiant and determined. She finally understood.

“You think you can destroy the elements of harmony just like that?  Well you’re wrong!  Because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are right here!”

The elements activated.

The Sith Lord could only stare in shock as the elements that were surely destroyed began faintly glowing with the power of the light.

“What?!”

So bewildered by this turn of events, she barely heard what Twilight said next, Darth Efiáltis was trying to figure out why the gems had suddenly come to life, no longer were they inert but ready and waiting for their power to be unleashed.

“Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt represents the spirit of honesty!   Fluttershy, who tamed the Rancor with her compassion, represents the spirit of kindness!  Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of laughter!  Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful man with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of generosity!  And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the spirit of loyalty!  The spirits of these five got us through every challenge you threw at us!”

With each utterance from the apprentices mouth, the elements each sprung up around one of the five each and formed a necklace bearing the gems, now transformed. Applejack's was in the shape of an apple, Pinkie's a balloon, Fluttershy's a butterfly, Rarity's a diamond and Rainbow's a lightning bolt.

“You still don’t have the sixth element!  The spark didn’t work!”

Darth Efiáltis was beginning to hate how defiant and insolent Celestia's apprentice was, but the pure light side energy that now permeated the air was destabilizing her own force powers and destabilised her lightsabers power matrix, preventing her from acting in any form or fashion.

“But it did, a different kind of spark!  I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was hear you girls, to see you, how much I cared about you, the spark ignited inside me, when I realized that you all, are my friends!”

With a light as bright as the sun, the Element of Magic appeared above Twilight, its power radiating so intensely that Darth Efiáltis had to look away and shield her sensitive yellow eyes.

The crown descended onto Twilight's head, a lavender star at it's centre.

“You see sith, when those elements are ignited by the…the spark that resides in the heart of us all.  It creates the sixth element, the element of magic!”

Darth Efiáltis could only watch in complete horror, terror gripping her, as the six element bearers began glowing and the elements themselves began connecting together, gathering their awesome power as the life forces of all six converged within Twilight. Eyes glowing with pure power, Twilight lifted a single hand towards Darth Efiáltis and fired a force blast so powerful it splintered and shattered the ground in it's wake.

"Nooooo!" Darth Efiáltis as the blast hit her, and instead of being torn apart a rainbow coloured vortex swarmed around and consumed the Sith.

And then it was over.

"Twilight?" A voice echoed as Twilight's senses slowly returned.

Opening her eyes Twilight as met with the set of two magenta eyes staring down at her, the person kneeling over her had a warm motherly smile with long rainbow coloured hair that seemed almost ethereal in appearance.

"Princess?"

"There you are my student, how do you feel?"

"Okay but... where are my friends?"

Celestia pointed to her right, showing five others groggily coming back to consciousness. Twilight saw the first rays of dawn were seeping into the decrepit throne room.

"Did... we win?"

"You did Twilight, you let friendship into your heart and in doing so your connection to the light side was strengthened immeasurably. Now if only another can do the same..."

Helping Twilight up Celestia looked over at an eighth person inhabiting the room. On the floor in charred blue and black armor Darth Efiáltis was starting to wake up, her eyes no longer yellow but rather a brilliant sparkling blue. Her ligthsaber dangled on Celestia's belt right next to the princesses own.

"Princess Luna, sister."

"Sister!?" The other six shouted in surprise and shock.

"It has been too long since I have seen you like this."

Luna began to tremble as she tried to shuffle away from Celestia, despite it's futility. As Celestia reached Luna and stood over her she stopped trying to retreat and instead hid herself in her arms, fearful of what happened next.

"For you know what has to happen now," Celestia said with little emotion.

Luna braced herself.

Only to be surprised when Celestia knelt down and hugged her tight, so tight it was if she feared she would disappear should she let go.

"I forgive you."

"You... what?"

"Please sister, we were meant to rule together, come home with me Luna. I miss you."

Tears began to well up in Luna's eyes before she quickly jumped and returned Celestia's embrace, "Yes sister I missed you so much! I'm so sorry, so so sorry!"

"Shh Lulu, it's OK. I forgive you, I love you."

The city of Canterlot went about it's usual routine of daily life. Twilight Sparkle stared down at the vast mountainside metropolis from a high up balcony in Canterlot Castle.

"Nice view?" Celestia said walking up to Twilight, taking her place next to Twilight looking over the balcony.

"Princess" Twilight greeted, "How's Luna?"

"Better. It will take a while but I'm sure she will adjust."

"She was lost to the darkness for so long, it's a testament that's she's recovering as quickly as she is. It can't be easy for her."

Celestia nodded in agreement, "Anyway enough of that, how did it go?"

Twilight stepped back from the balcony and took a lightsaber from her belt, "It took a while to find a new crystal, but I'm happy with the result.

Twilight ignited the lightsaber, a purple blade erupted to life. Twilight swung the saber from side to side experimentally before turning off and lowering the new weapon.

"Finding one crystal calling to you among an entire cavern of them isn't easy."

The crystal caves beneath Canterlot was a closely kept secret only known to a few, Twilight and the princesses being among them. It was one of the largest known sources of kyber crystals in the galaxy, with a large variety of colours, some extremely rare.

"A fine weapon, but please try not to destroy it this time." Celestia jabbed in a non-serious manner.

"You're never going to let that go are you?"

Celestia chuckled.

...

"Princess, with your permission I would like to move to Ponyville."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, to study how friendship empowers the light side of the force. And I can only do that among my own friends, who all live in Ponyville as you know."

"Hmm, a wise course of action. Permission granted. I assume you will be comfortable living in Golden Oaks?"

"You know I will! Thank you princess."

"Anytime Twilight. I can sense that you will go on to do great things."

"I promise not to let you down!"

"I know you won't."

Soon Twilight would move to Ponyville, and Luna would settle down and resume her role as princess. But this was only the beginning.

Now the forces of friendship had been awakened.

Elsewhere, deep space

"Yes my master?" A lone figure knelt as he presented himself to a holographic transmission.

"Lord Tyranus, I have sensed a great disturbance in the force."

"I have felt it."

"A small world in the outer rim, Equus. Great powers have been awakened, powers that can not be allowed to fall into the republics hands."

"I will ensure this world is brought under separatist control."

"Do not underestimate them my apprentice, it's rulers are powerful in the force."

"Yes, my master."

With that the transmission cut off, one of the battle droids present addressed Count Dooku.

"Orders sir?"

"Contact the Neimodians Flim and Flam, tell them to have their droids at the ready. Also contact the Changeling Queen Chrysalis on Equus, tell her that Tyranus is finally ready to collect, and they should not defy me if they want their hive to have a foreseeable future. By the end Equus will either join us, or we will burn it."

4 - "Begun, the Clone Wars have..."

The Gala was in full swing, the guests poured into the grand hall of Canterlot Castle as one of the most prestigious events of the year went into full motion.

At the entrance of the hall Princess Celestia and her apprentice Twilight greeted the guests as they arrive. Twilight's friends had all gone their separate ways trying to make that night the 'best night ever'.

Applejack was trying to flog her stocks to any passers by she could.

Rarity was trying to woo a man who happened to have the title of 'prince', despite being a complete upstart as Rarity tragically found out.

Rainbow, who was adorned in full Mandalorian ceremonial armor instead of a dress, was chatting up an elite fighter squadron who happened to be her life-long heroes.

Pinkie Pie was... being Pinkie Pie.

And as for Fluttershy... the Twi'Lek was chasing animals and inadvertently terrifying them, much to her... frustration.

All in all however the party was continuing as dully as Princess Celestia was used to, until two figures blatantly not from Equus approached both her and Twilight.

Celestia examined the two figures, "It's been a long time since any Jedi set foot on this world, what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Believe me Princess Celestia, the pleasure is ours your highness. I am Obi-wan Kenobi and this is Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker."

Celestia gave them a respectful nod before motioning towards Twilight. "This is my apprentice, Twilight Sparkle."

"Greetings Twilight, I heard about your redeeming of Princess Luna, remarkable for one as young as yourself."

"You honor me, master Jedi."

Celestia spoke up again, "I assume you're not here for the gala? What request do you make of me?"

"That, is something best discussed in private your highness."

"Very well then, we can discuss what you need to discuss in my private study, your fellow Jedi may feel free to enjoy the gala while we talk."

"Hold on, why am I staying here?" Anakin asked.

"Come now Anakin, an invitation to the gala is a great honor, let's not offend them by refusing."

"As you say master," Anakin sighed.

Celestia motioned Obi-Wan to a nearby door, and while asking one of the servants to continue letting in the guests they departed.

With them gone, Twilight approached Anakin. "I've never met a Jedi before."

"I've never met a a force wielder following neither Sith nor Jedi teachings before."

"Yeah... I doubt many Jedi approve of such an arrangement."

"I don't see the problem, you follow the light and protect those you are sworn to, just like the Jedi."

"Luna did call me Jedi-like," Twilight recalled.

The two force-wielders talked a while longer about various subjects from the Jedi to recent event on both Equus and in the larger galaxy, before an almighty crash got their attention.

"That can't be good," Anakin remarked following Twilight as the she rushed into the main gala hall.

"The Republic could use you, we can't let the Sith win."

Obi-Wan finished petitioning Celestia to join the Republic's war effort, which would destroy their current neutrality.

Sighing, Celestia took a seat behind her desk, thinking on the Jedi's proposal.

"You ask much of me Obi-Wan."

"I know, and believe me I wish I didn't have to ask at all, but the dark side gains power every passing day."

"I don't want the Sith to win any more than you do, but I have my people to think of first and foremost, though I would wish you and the Republic luck. Let's just hope these 'Clone Wars' come to a swift end."

"It's a no then?" Obi-Wan sighed.

"I will discuss this matter with Princesses Luna and Mi Amore Cadenza, but they will most likely be of similar mindsets. Equestria is a peace loving nation, I don't want to take all that away in a war, they aren't ready for a conflict of that size."

"I understand, you need to protect them. They're like your children in a way aren't they?"

"I've been watching over them on may own for a thousand years," Celestia pointed out.

"Yes, it must be good to finally have two others to bear such a considerable weight."

"Soon to be three," Celestia chuckled.

Obi-Wan simply raised a questioning eyebrow.

"My apprentice, Twilight. I first discovered her force sensitivity her in her childhood, she was my youngest ever student and... I ended up effectively raising her for a good portion of her life. She is a daughter to me above all, and she will one day join me on the Equestrian throne."

"You hold a lot a faith in your apprentice."

"She has made me proud, both in her studies and... she saved my sister, succeeded where I failed so long ago."

"I see."

"Is something wrong?"

"I sense something about her, it's unclear and might be nothing, but I would tread carefully. It would be best for all of us for you to see to it that she does not follow your sister's unfortunate path."

"I have up-most faith in my student, she won't fall to the darkness."

"I shall trust in your judgment then, I-"

And loud crash echoed throughout the castle.

"Blast, what was that?"

Celestia only responded with a sly grin.

"...what did you do?"

"Me? Oh nothing. Come, we better see what the damage is."

Celestia and Obi-Wan bust into the gala hall, meeting up with Anakin and Twilight who stood staring at a destroyed gala hall. And at the center of that destruction five individuals stood looking rather guilty.

"Run," Celestia whispered into Twilight's ear, she took the hint, quickly gathered her friends and quickly retreated out of the gala hall. Celestia watched them go, trying not to burst out into full-blown laughter.

Obi-Wan raised an amused eyebrow. "Did you intend for this to happen, your highness?"

"Oh yes," She grinned mischievously.

5 - Visions

Canterlot bustled late into the night. Vehicles flew through the city going to their various destinations, restaurants, bars and even the odd casino blared brightly trying to attract their next customer.

The higher end district was much quieter in comparison to the city proper, large lavish mansions decorated the side of mount canter leading all the way up the the large and ancient home of the former Jedi turned Equestrian princesses. The only activity on this night was the odd shuttle carrying the so called 'nobles' of the planet Equus, and the odd more militarized shuttle patrolling the streets carrying the members of the Equestrian Solar Guard. Everywhere you could see the emblem of Equestria displayed with pride. The emblem consisted of a sun and moon as well as two ancient mythical creatures called alicorns flying either side, one alabaster with a pink mane and one blue with a silvery mane. When Celestia and Luna had arrived to combat Discord many Equestrians believed them to be the human incarnations of the mythical alicorns of the sun and moon, thus when they took the throne the sun and moon became their symbols of power.

The myth of the two alicorns consisted of the said two alicorns emerging early in the history of the planet, shortly after its colonization when the world was split into three factions. During this time it is said an anomaly in space opened up and 'creatures of the winter' spewed through, casting the planet into an ice age. However, shortly thereafter the two alicorns followed the creatures through, combating and destroying them. The two sisters taught the three factions friendship and harmony, before leaving back through the anomaly and into wherever it was they came from. The event was now celebrated with hearthswarming eve and day.

While evidence did suggest an ice age around that era, Celestia had never been able to find any evidence of such creatures.

However one being knew it to be true, knew how far the connection between their world and the world of the alicorns went.

The very same creature that remained trapped in stone in the castle's royal gardens, but not for much longer as cracks started to appear across the surface.

Soon he would be free.

Celestia moved around a destroyed castle, yellow lightsaber ignited. Through the debris and smoke she could make out the scattered corpses of both Equestrian citizens and guard personnel, signs of an obvious fight everywhere.

As Celestia made her way out of the castle, lightaber humming all the way, she was shocked at the sight that awaited her.

Chaos. Some parts may have seemed almost comical, the pink clouds raining down chocolate milk for instance. But the burning city, the monstrous mutations of what was once the planet's wildlife and so much more painted a horrific picture. In the distance Celestia could see a downed cruiser, a great many holes having been torn from it's once pristine hull, by the look of it's condition survival of the crew was doubtful.

And the bodies in front of her.

Twilight, Luna and Cadance were all there, lightsabers laying silently next to their corpses. The element bearers were strewn not too far away.

"Did you really think you could be rid of me Celestia?" A mocking voice called out.

"Discord! What have you done?"

"A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, a planet of Chaos stood out in a galaxy at war. It's princess of the sun having failed to protect the one's she cared for most. Can you feel the anger Celestia? The hate?"

"If you're trying to turn me Discord, it will not work."

"A pity, I've witnessed worlds where a certain Solar Flare cast her way throughout the land leaving naught but ash in her wake."

"I know not of what you speak, Discord. But it matters not, face me coward!"

"As you wish."

In that moment a mismatched monstrosity of a creature appeared in a flash of light before the princess. Celestia lifted her lightsaber, only for the creature to snap it's fingers and the yellow blade of her lightsaber to withdraw into the hilt.

"Come now, you should know those glowsticks don't work on me, without the elements you're finished! I win... and soon the galaxy will follow. You, the Jedi, the Sith, all will fall to chaos, and it will be glorious.

Celestia looked up in horror as the figure of Discord began laughing maniacally, in the sky several ships became visible, Republic Venator class Star Destroyers and Separatist droid control ships alike sat in the sky... burning.

...

Celestia awoke with a start, instantly jumping from her bed and reaching for her saber, but not igniting it on realizing the truth of what she had just witnessed.

Moments later her younger sister broke thought the doors into the room, "Tia, we sensed your distress? Are you OK?"

"I'm fine Lulu, but we are in mortal danger," Celestia responded.

"Please sister, do tell."

"First off, guardsman," One of Celestia's guards, slightly shell shocked from Luna's violent entry, entered the room and stood to attention.

"Yes your highness?"

"Lieutenant, I want you to check on something in the castle gardens, the statue representing the creature Discord."

"At once your highness!" He saluted before running off.

"Sister?" Luna asked questioningly.

"I experienced a force vision, and what I saw was... disturbing."

Celestia took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

"The force showed me what could be, Equus burning, Discord free. The galaxy to fall to his chaos soon after."

"This news is most troubling sister, we-"

Both sisters stopped as they both sensed something, a deep disturbance in the force. The dark side of the force had just spiked in power around the planet, Cadance and Twilight almost certainly felt it too.

"Your highness'!" A guard recruit burst into the room, "We've received a report from the gardens, the statue of Discord exploded ma'am, and something... emerged from it before disappearing."

"Then it is as we feared," Celestia sighed, "Sister I will summon the element bearers, only they can hope to defeat Discord."

"Then out hopes lay with them Tia, let's trust they can prevent the future you witnessed from coming to pass.