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!"

Next Chapter: 3 - Forces of Friendship Part 2 Estimated time remaining: 26 Minutes