General Grievous' eyes narrowed to mere golden slits at Chrysalis' revelation.

“You brought me to this world?” He growled with barely repressed hostility. One finger on his left hand twitched as he considered drawing a lightsaber and killing each and every last one of them.

“I must say I wasn't expecting something as powerful as you though,” she looked over the furious warlord approvingly.

'He's perfect for the mission!' She though excitedly. But before she could even continue, Grievous spontaneously charged at her. Naturally her large bodyguards sprang into action and the other Changelings hissed angrily at the suddenly violent cyborg. Effortlessly Grievous split-kicked the bodyguards aside and seized Chrysalis by the throat and lifted her up. Her back hooves dangling helplessly while her two front hooves clumsily pried at his metal arm. His right hand grasped a lightsaber and ignited it, the green illuminating the Changeling Queen's face.

“You have ten seconds to send me back!” General Grievous bellowed in her face, a few birds shot up from their hiding places and flew away from the noise.

“I-I,” she gasped for air as her eyes began to water, “I can't!” She winced when the glowing blade hummed its way closer to her face.

“You don't get a choice in the matter,” he snarled back. Chrysalis continued gasping in pain and fear.

“Please...just hear me-ah!” She hissed painfully. “Just hear me out."

The general looked spitefully into her green eyes for a brief moment and callously dropped her onto the grassy forest floor. Chrysalis fell hard on her side, immediately gulping in precious air and coughing harshly, one hoof on her chest and instantly four Changelings rushed over to their beloved queen. The lightsaber deactivated and was placed back at Grievous side, he stepped back to give them distance. Chrysalis ceased her coughing fit and glared at the Kaleesh warlord before regaining her composure and stood. It didn't escape her notice that Rainbow Dash smirked smugly at her.

“I'm listening,” Grievous stated coldly. Feeling triumphant that he had intimidated even the queen.

“My Changelings and I feed off love,” Chrysalis began in somewhat hoarse voice, she almost checked her throat for any bruises...but she knew they'd be their soon enough.

“Without love to feed on we starve, so in my most daring invasion I impersonated Princess Cadence, niece to Celestia herself in a successful attempt to get my forces inside Canterlot...what I hadn't counted on was being sent out-,” her narration was interrupted by a snickering Rainbow Dash. Glaring over at the Pegasus, she shot a bit of green slime from her jagged horn that whizzed past the unflinching Grievous and stuck over Rainbow Dash's mouth effectively sealing it shut.

“Why don't you let the adults talk deary?” She taunted with a smug grin of her own. Rainbow Dash let out a series of muffled insults and struggled furiously to free herself, but soon became silent and remained still with a bitter glare.

“Anyway, after being rudely sent out of Canterlot we retreated back to my kingdom. But over the following weeks some of my subjects had begun to lose faith in me...and a former suitor of mine who had always desired the throne for himself saw an opportunity,” Chrysalis felt a bit uncomfortable at revealing such a humiliating story to the six ponies she hated the most out of the entire world and a very hostile stranger.

“He amassed a rebellion against me, and soon challenged me for the throne, but because I'd lost so much of my power,” Chrysalis sent another livid glare at the six trapped ponies before shifting her eyes back to the stoic general.

“We dueled, and again I, and those loyal to me were sent out, but while our magical beams fought it created a dimensional rift...I focused on a warrior. Someone powerful and great...two weeks later you showed up.”

A severe silence had come over them all. The atmosphere of the forest seemed to grow thick until Grievous finally spoke with unconcealed contempt.

“You brought me here to be your errand boy?”

“Weapon to help me regain my throne,” Chrysalis corrected quickly, taking a step back while the Changelings around her quietly hissed in case Grievous decided to get physically violent again.

“I have responsibilities of my own! A war to win and Jedi to kill! I in no way care about what happens to you or your precious Changelings, nor do I care about Equestria...now send me back!” The last four words were hissed out venomously.

“I can't-”

“You brought me here!”

“Only the Elements Of Harmony can do something like that! Unless of course I absorb a massive amount of love...but something like that could kill me! I was lucky I didn't die the first time!” She paused, silently seething about Grievous' remarks.

“Its only a matter of time before he sends another one of his minions to kill you.”

General Grievous digested the information steadily, and as much as he hated the choice he was about to make...he knew it would be the only way for him to return to where he rightfully belonged.

“Very well. I will assist you all,” he shifted his gaze to the still trapped six. “But don't expect me to think of this as one big joyful adventure.”

- - - -

The cave itself was dimly lit. Illuminated by torches and candles that alined the vast and rocky walls. The throne room that had once belonged to Queen Chrysalis now belonged to her usurper, the now self proclaimed King of the Changelings...Craw. The new king himself sat on his new and improved throne, jet black with spikes adorning its top, a plush red cushion for a seat. Blood red flags on wooden poles jutted out from the walls, their sides carefully lined with lime green lace. They remained perfectly still as there was no breeze of any sort in he cave.

Craw himself, like most male Changelings was without a mane, had holes through his legs and wickedly sharp fangs. His eyes were a fiery red with strange, black slitted pupils. His tail was short and he too had a large and jagged horn. Although his was even more gnarled and twisted like that of a deformed tree and seemed to spiral out of head.

The king prodded the device that lay in front of him on his cushion. It was small and yet it was causing him much frustration.

“How does this damn thing work!?” His voice, unlike Chrysalis was not layered nor did it have that exotic echo. It was rather emotionless despite his frustration. Craw sighed once before looking at a hoof and remembered how those two had used it...

A brief red glow enclosed the hoof and it magically shape shifted to a fingered hand. Snatching the device up triumphantly, he squeezed its sides once.

It beeped.

'Perfect.'

A blue hologram appeared, standing on the surface of the device. The figure was clean shaven but had rather long hair, dressed in thick robes and had a reserved look to him.

“King Craw,” he bowed for a few seconds before resuming his fully upright posture.

“Renn, update.”

“Everything is going just as you planned, your Changelings are feasting well and we have disposed of anyone who dares stand against us.”

“You know that they will be coming soon enough, and what I expect of you both,” Craw's red eyes stared unblinkingly at the little blue hologram.

“Perfectly sire, kill the six and-”

“General Grievous,” Craw finished venomously.

“I warn you sire...General Grievous will not be an easy target. He is a master saber duelist and strategist...he kills Jedi for sport and he will show us no mercy when we fight him.”

“I never said it would be easy Renn, but with my improved Changelings and two Force users like yourselves, you should be able to kill him easily.”

- - - -

  It was night in Ponyville, but the library was still well lit and every being in it was still very much awake.

“So let me get this straight...,” Spike began, taking a deep breath, rubbing his temples. “You made a deal with Queen Chrysalis!”

“Hey its not like WE had any say in what happened!” Rainbow Dash glowered at Grievous, who briefly acknowledged the angry Pegasus.

“Whoever usurped Chrysalis will attack your homeland, and I want to leave this world, and if I fight to do it then fine,” at the cyborg's words Rainbow Dash flew up close to his face and glared furiously at him. Grievous suppressed a laugh, he was not in the least bit intimidated by her.

“Let's not fight everypony,” Twilight's horn glowed purple and pulled Rainbow Dash away magically, “Princess Celestia will be here soon and-”

A few solid knocks sounded at the door.

“Oh um-uh come in!” Twilight nervously looked at Grievous and the now calm rainbow maned Pegasus landed quietly on the wooden floor as the door slowly opened to reveal the majestic Princess Celestia. Even General Grievous was a little stunned.

Her appearance was almost other worldly...a flowing multicolored mane and tail that like her younger sister never seemed to stop flowing. Golden hoof covers and big golden necklace with a jewel in its center. A long horn that reached the general's vocabulator when hunched over, kind purple eyes with long eyelashes and a gleaming gold crown.

Every one of the ponies including Spike bowed humbly at the princess' presence. Grievous did not bow, not as a sign of hostility but Celestia was by no means his ruler, but he did acknowledge her with a quick nod when her eyes looked him over.

'I've been alive for more than a thousand years yet I have never seen anything like him before!' Celestia acted quickly.

“Good evening my little ponies,” she smiled down at them warmly, giving them their signal to rise.

“And you must be General Grievous...,” she wasn't completely sure of how to proceed but lucky for her Grievous spoke next.

“You must be here for an important reason princess,” the Kaleesh warlord nodded to her. They all understood now was not the time for standard formalities.

“I wish that this could be just a social visit but I'm afraid that the situation has been more dire than you would think.”

“What do you mean princess?” Twilight piped up cautiously, while she had explained what they had learned in a letter she hadn't expected Celestia to be this worried already.

The princess of the sun's wings briefly splayed out before folding up against her sides.

“Appleloosa is under attack.”

Applejack gasped, fear in her eyes as thought of the farmers and her cousin; Braeburn.

“W-what kinda attacks?”

“Many ponies have been found severely drained nearly to death, and many of its authorities have been found...,” Celestia hated the word she was about to use next, “murdered.”

All the ponies, including Spike gasped in fear and disgust.

“The weapons were used by unknown assailants like we've never seen. They apparently use these swords of burning light.”

“Lighsabers,” Grievous said from the back of the room darkly. “That means you have treacherous Jedi scum in your world!” Grievous' fists clenched furiously at the mere thought of Jedi. The injustices they and the Republic had inflicted upon him and his people.

“Regardless of who they are, they must be stopped,” Celestia looked down at the smaller ponies, “Twilight, I want you and you're friends to assist with the evacuation of Appleloosa, the train tracks in Appleloosa have been rerouted and will take you all to Canterlot once the evacuation is complete.”

Twilight nodded determinedly.

“We'll do whatever it takes Princess Celestia.”

“I will oversee the repairs of Ponyville, the train will take you all there first thing in the morning,” she looked up to Grievous who had regained his composure. She silently hoped he would go but she would not force him.

“If there are Jedi...count me in.”

Celestia nearly sighed with relief, knowing it would be seven and not six who would hopefully save Appleloosa.   Next Chapter: Getting better acquainted Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes