Star Wars: The Force is magic

Darth Revan and Starkiller woke early the following morning. Juno was still asleep, but she was quickly awakened by Starkiller. Their hunt began today. The three sat around the work bench, using it as a form of meeting table. The lightsaber parts were brushed to the side so that the table was clear, then they began to discuss their plans. Four powerful Jedi could be sensed across Equestria; One in Cloudsdale, one in Ponyville, one in Canterlot, and one in Appleoosa.

"So," Revan began, his voice somewhat muffled by his mask. "I will go to Cloudsdale to find the Jedi there. Her presence is one familiar to me, so I have the best chance of recruiting her. Starkiller, you said that you would search Ponyville for Jedi, and Juno, you will take Appleoosa."

Starkiller and Juno nodded in response, then Revan nodded to them.

"Alright. We set out in a few hours, grab whatever you'll need and meet outside when we go." With that, Revan left the table, leaving Starkiller and Juno to themselves.

"Juno," Starkiller began. "You go do what you need, I have something to take care of."

Juno nodded, then went off into the cave. Now Starkiller was alone, a feeling that he welcomed. He looked to the unfinished lightsaber on the table before him. All that was missing was a power cell, then he would have his weapon ready. Starkiller took note to find anything in Ponyville he could use as a replacement, as well as parts for Revan to construct his own. A realization dawned upon him that they would need the parts for each Jedi to make their own lightsabers, but the obvious shortage of parts was restricting that.

"Alright..." Starkiller said to himself. "Find parts for the other Jedi to make their own lightsabers...This will take a while."

Starkiller walked away from the table, adding the shortage of lightsaber parts to his list of objectives. For now, he had to prepare for the upcoming search. He walked into a secluded spot in the cave, one separate from the rest of it. A small pedestal sat in the center of the small cavern, on top of it was the green crystal Starkiller had purchased in the Crystal Empire.

Starkiller sat in front of the pedestal and reached out with the Force. The crystal levitated into the air above the pedestal and began to faintly glow. Starkiller closed his eyes and calmed his mind as he began to meditate.

Images began to fill his mind; the first being his former master, Darth Vader. The imposing figure of the Sith Lord sent a wave of anger through Starkiller, Vader's heavy mechanical breathing grating on Starkiller's ears. Rage built up inside the Jedi Knight, but it subsided when another image came to mind.

General Rahm Kota, the first Jedi Starkiller defeated, as well as his teacher after he abandoned Vader appeared. The green blade of his lightsaber formed with a snap-hiss as Kota took an offensive stance. The image of Darth Vader ignited its own lightsaber, the blood-red blade causing the black armor Vader wore to glow slightly from the reflection.

Kota swung first, his lightsaber crackling loudly as Vader parried the blow with his own weapon. The two clashed blades, the lightsabers bouncing off each other with a loud crashing sound with each strike. Kota jumped back as Vader delivered a swing that would have cleaved the Jedi master in half, then lunged the Dark Lord. Kota's emerald lightsaber pierced Vader's chest, the Sith Lord's breathing began to slow. Then, Kota spun the saber while it was still lodged in Vader's chest, causing the Sith to be cut in half above the waist.

Kota closed down his lightsaber with a high pitched *shweep*, then walked away from the body of Vader.

Starkiller's eyes snapped open as the vision ended. In his time here in Equestria, he had forgotten about Kota. If he was one of the Jedi they were searching for, then Starkiller would need to find him as soon as possible.

"It's time." Revan said as he came into the room. Starkiller turned around in surprise, the Jedi having startled him. "Juno has already left, now we must go to find our Jedi. If you wish, I can teleport you to Ponyville."

"Sure." Starkiller responded with a shrug. Revan nodded, then pulled down his hood, revealing his horn and a head of short cropped black hair. Revan's horn was enveloped in a golden glow that then wrapped around Starkiller. There was a bright flash, and Starkiller was gone.

The light faded quickly around Starkiller as he rematerialized in an alleyway.

A sense of nostalgia came to Starkiller as his time as Twisting Wind returned to him. He had not seen or heard from this place since he left four years ago, yet little had changed. He recognized several Ponies from this small community, the ones he didn't recognize must have moved into Ponyville after his last visit.

Starkiller smiled under the hood of his robes. Even if he wasn't truly part of this world, it still felt as though it did.

Not wanting to delay any longer, Starkiller trotted out of the alleyway and into the town. Starkiller chuckled slightly as he noticed how all the buildings were still a creamy yellow. You'd think they would have some variation?

Surprisingly, one building stood out from the others, but Starkiller wasn't sure what to make of it.

Just a ways away from the alley was a white house, but it had a roof made of what appeared to be gingerbread, as well as a...Cupcake tower...Needless to say, the composition of the building was very strange, even by Equestria's standards. The smell of baked goods coming from the building suggested that it was a bakery, that made the strange design make slightly more sense.

"Hi there!" A high-pitched voice called from behind Starkiller, startling him. Starkiller turned around and was met by a pair of sapphire eyes uncomfortably close to his own hazel eyes.

"Uh...Hi?" Starkiller responded to the Pony as he slowly backed up a ways from her and got a better look at her. She was a pink Earth Pony with a mane that was a darker shade of pink, and on her flank was a mark with three balloons, two blue and one yellow.

"That's me!" She said aloud. "I'm Pinkie Pie!" Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened as she gasped loudly. "Omigosh! You're not from around here,and if you're not from around here,then you must be moving in somewhere! I need to go prepare a party for you! What's your name?" She spoke very quickly.

Starkiller's eye twitched from the vocal overload. This was going to be a trip he'd never forget.

"Uh...Starkiller." He answered.

"Hey, that sounds like a name that an assassin hired by a Dark Lord in a sci-fi series who's hunting down a rogue group of knights would have!" Pinkie Pie once again motor-mouthed. "Say..." Pinkie Pie's eyes lowered as she raised a hoof to her chin and stared at Starkiller. She seemed most fixated on his robes. "You wouldn't happen to be a Pony like that, would you?"

Once again, Starkiller was at a loss for words. Somehow, this pink Pony had summed up Starkiller's life in the Galaxy almost flawlessly, despite having never spoken to him before.

"No." Starkiller quickly responded. "I just like this style."

Starkiller walked out of the alley to get away from Pinkie Pie, he still had his mission to do. Sadly for him, the pink Pony had other plans and followed him, bouncing along beside him and somehow making a cartoonish boing with each bounce.

"So, what brings you to Ponyville?" She asked. "Wait! Let me guess...You're here to get a present for somepony?"

"No." Starkiller replied bluntly. He hoped that she would lose interest and go away.

"Um...You're visiting somepony! Let me guess, Lyra? Bon Bon? Octavia? Rarity?"

"No I'm not visiting anyone, I don't even know anybody with those names." Starkiller bluffed. He remembered how Rarity had fixed his robes after the pygmy dragon tried to eat him, but saying that he knew her would most likely make Pinkie ask Rarity about it and blow his cover. The last thing he needed was someone recognizing him.

"Oh-oh-oh! You're trying to find somepony for something, and don't tell me no, with robes like that, then you must be trying to keep a low profile while searching for someone!"

Starkiller grunted in annoyance. This mare's voice was really beginning to become grating on his ears.

"Look, I can't really talk, I have something really important to do." Starkiller said politely before picking up his pace.

"So is that a yes?" Pinkie Pie asked as she also picked her pace up. "If so, I can help you!"

"Trust me, you can't."

"Trust me, I can!" Pinkie Pie jumped in front of Starkiller. "I know everypony in town and I can help you find who you're looking for!" She paused to pull out a sleuth hat and pipe from nowhere, much to the bewilderment of Starkiller. "Now then,"-Pinkie Pie took a puff from her pipe and bubbles floated out of it-"What kind o' chap are we searchin' for, matey?" She said with an exaggerated Cockney accent.

"...How did you do that?" Starkiller asked in confusion.

"Do what?"

"Uh...Never mind..." Starkiller took a mental note to figure out how she works later. For now, he set his mind back to finding the Jedi. He reached out with The Force to try and sense them, but something was clouding his vision. There was another very strong Force presence nearby, but Starkiller couldn't determine who it was.

Out of Starkiller's vision, Pinkie Pie's tail began to violently twitch.

"Uh oh..." She said. "GET DOWN!" Pinkie Pie jumped at Starkiller and pulled him out of the way of a falling vase. As the vase shattered against the ground, a mint green unicorn peeked out from a second story window.

"Sorry!" She called down at Starkiller and Pinkie. "My bad!"

Down below, Pinkie Pie jumped off a very irritated and very confused Starkiller.

"Don't worry, Lyra!" Pinkie Pie called back. She then turned towards Starkiller, who was brushing dirt from his robes. "You're lucky my Pinkie Sense caught that in time, otherwise that vase would've given you a nasty bonk on the head!"

Starkiller sighed and brushed off the last bit of dirt, then gave an exasperated glance to Pinkie Pie.

"Thanks." He said sarcastically. "Now, will you please...Wait, Pinkie Sense?"

"My Pinkie Sense! I can predict things when they're about to happen!"

This was intriguing to Starkiller. If she could sense things like that, then maybe she was the source of the blockage that prevented Starkiller from sensing the Jedi. Maybe she actually could be of use after all, two can cover ground much faster than one.

"Hmm...I think you actually can help me with who I'm searching for."

"Really!?" Pinkie Pie yelled. "WOO-HOO!" She cried, grabbing Starkiller in a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Starkiller tried to respond, but all that came out of his mouth was a pathetic 'ech' sound. The hug lasted slightly longer, then Pinkie let go. Starkiller coughed coughed loudly as he was able to let air back into his lungs, which filled quickly..

There was a pause, Pinkie smiled a toothy grin as Starkiller regulated his breathing. Once Starkiller was sure he was breathing alright, he began to walk to the building with the gingerbread roof.

"Alright. I'll let you help, but we need to go somewhere private so we can discuss-"

"Got it!" Pinkie Pie yelled as she grabbed Starkiller and ran at breakneck speeds into the building, up the stairs, down the hallway, into the bedroom and gently closed the door behind them.

Pinkie Pie let go of Starkiller, the poor Jedi having a very hard time comprehending what in the hell was going on anymore. He swore to the Force that Pinkie Pie would be devastating if given a Lightsaber, or even a basic how-to on using the Force. Maybe she was the Jedi they were searching for...Actually, Starkiller was having a much easier time sensing the Jedi now. Regardless, Pinkie could still help.

"So, what do you need me for?" Pinkie Pie asked. "Do you want me to be your sidekick? I'll be like your 'Padawan' or something!"

"Well, you know that I'm looking for somebody, and I'd like you to help. But you have to promise not to tell anypony." Starkiller said, lowering his hood.

"Sure thing! Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" She said, doing motions that matched her words, including poking her eye with her hoof. "That's a Pinkie Promise!"

Starkiller chuckled slightly as he remembered that from Fluttershy and Rarity. It then occurred to him that they most likely still lived in Ponyville, and if they saw him then they would recognize him as Twisting Wind. Starkiller let out a sigh and hoped that it wouldn't happen.

"Alright. This is what you need to know."

General Grievous, still in his cybernetic form, trudged through the muck of the Everfree Forest. The creatures of the woods, however aggressive they be, all seemed to flee or tremble in the Kaleesh-turned-cyborg-turned-Changeling's presence. And why shouldn't they? These pathetic creatures were nothing compared to the General's new powers as a Changeling.

The General's yellow cat-like eyes swept over the foliage of the jungle, the path his mechanical clawed feet trod upon lead to the town that his senses, as well as the grating voice of Queen Chrysalis, said that a powerful magical signature was. Grievous swore to his gods that he would crush that bug if she wouldn't stop speaking.

Regardless of annoyance, Grievous began to devise a plan to catch his prey. He sensed three powerful beings in the residual area and one was very close by. Another was somewhere in the heart of the town, and the other was between the two. Grievous decided that when he grew closer to the edge of the forest, he would change back to his Pegasus form and lure the Ponies over to a secluded are, then he would make his move.

A gleeful laugh emanated from Grievous' false vocabulator, a noise that caused some creatures that lingered to gain the common sense to run.

The General stopped his stride and lifted his left arm. His six fingers angled upward as he held out his palm, then the General concentrated. A green flame ignited above Grievous' hand: a jagged shape took form, several holes were in it, as well as some protrusions and green ichor inside. The object looked like some sort of flower or plant, the General wondered why, this wasn't what the item he had pictured was supposed to look like. It seemed that Queen Chrysalis was beginning to have an impact upon his thoughts, too.

Grievous let out a loud grunt, then hastily shoved the item into his cloak; it wasn't how he had pictured it, but it would still do.

With that out of the way, Grievous continued his stride until he came to the forest's exit. A cursory glance told him that the area in front of him was just a plain field with a small stream going through it, as well as a small hut just a few meters from his position; a hut that contained the first powerful sense.

The Changeling warlord marched along the path and right up to the door, this place was secluded enough that he didn't even need to bother with disguising himself. The General rapped forcefully on the door, causing a startled squeak to come from inside.

The door was quickly opened by a cream-colored Pegasus mare with blue eyes and a pink mane that reached the ground. She gave a frightened gasp upon seeing General Grievous, but she was cut off by a strong blow to the head. The mare fell to the floor unconscious and was picked up by Grievous, who took her back to the forest's entrance and placed her in the gaping mouth of the trees.

Grievous felt a tinge of pity for this diminutive creature, but followed through with his orders nonetheless. He raised an arm to the mare and concentrated yet again, this time a green cocoon formed around her, as well as a web of green ichor. Grievous then grabbed the cocoon and scaled the tree, hanging it in the highest point so passersby wouldn't see her.

Grievous looked over the mare, surely if she was missing, the someone would come looking for her. An idea came to the General. He grabbed the cocoon and lowered it, just enough so that someone could see it if they came to the forest. She would make the perfect bait, should someone come looking for her.

Grievous let out a small chuckle, then hid to wait for his prey's arrival.

"-and they will stop at nothing until Equestria is under their control." Starkiller finished his explanation to Pinkie Pie, informing her on who the Jedi and Sith were, that there were Sith in Equestria, and also who he was; though he omitted his service under Darth Vader.

Pinkie Pie stared blankly at Starkiller, giving a very welcome silence. Sadly, the silence was broken by Pinkie as she began talking again.

"You think I could be one of these Jedi? Oh-oh-oh, I wanna have a pink light-thingy, wait- two pink light things! -And I could move things with my BRAIN!" Pinkie Pie jumped over to Starkiller and grabbed his face, pulling him uncomfortably close. "Tell me where I can sign up, I wanna be a Jedediah!" She happily announced.

Starkiller grabbed her with the force and pulled her off of him, much to her astonishment. Pinkie Pie began rambling again about how she would be able to do party tricks and so forth with the Force. Starkiller sighed under his breath, she was going to be hard to work with.

"Okay, then, Pinkie Pie." Starkiller began as he gently set her down. "I'll teach you, but you must do exactly as I say. Got it?" Pinkie Pie gave an excited confirmatory nod, still smiling widely. "Good. In a few minutes, we'll try to find the Pony we're searching for. But first, you need to know how to find him."

"Well, I already know everypony in town, and I mean EVERYPONY. Just tell me who you're looking for and I can find them!"

"Well, I don't know exactly who I'm looking for. The Jedi has a powerful presence in the Force, but there's some other presences blocking it. You were one of them, the other...Was familiar, but I can't say for certain who it was."

"Well, if I'm a Jedi, then that means I can use that Force thing to sense him! If I can just do that..." Pinkie Pie tightly shut her eyes and began to rub the sides of her head as she thought. Starkiller rolled his eyes at her, though Pinkie Pie didn't notice.

"Pinkie Pie, I don't think-"

"Found him!" Pinkie Pie interrupted. "He's at the town hall!"

Starkiller threw his hooves into the air as if to say 'I give up' while pulling a neutral expression. Without another word, Starkiller stood up, opened the door with the force, walked over to it, then motioned for Pinkie to follow him, all the while keeping his expression neutral.

Pinkie Pie smiled, again, then bounced out of the room and down the stairs. Starkiller followed, but was shortly stopped by Pinkie Pie, who had gone uncharacteristically silent.

"Something's wrong." She said, her tone slightly worried. "I know it."

Starkiller reached out with the force in an attempt to see what she was talking about. A shudder ran through him as he sensed the same disturbance from Canterlot just outside of town, as well as a faint Force presence near it. Starkiller's eyes widened as he recognized the presence.

"Something's got Fluttershy!" Pinkie Pie yelled as she ran down the stairs. "Come on Starkiller, we need to save her!" It worried Starkiller slightly that Pinkie Pie wasn't acting bubbly or absent-minded anymore and was now acting with a calm head. Without argument, Starkiller followed Pinkie Pie. This would be the prime opportunity to eliminate whatever the disturbance is.

The two ran through the marketplace, weaving through the large crowd of Ponies while also dodging stalls they couldn't see coming. A few Ponies were pushed aside by Starkiller as he ran, eliciting a few colorful names being thrown at him. He payed little attention, though, and followed Pinkie Pie.

Starkiller halted as they ran past the town hall. He could sense the Jedi inside. His attention was caught by Pinkie Pie, who worriedly ran back to him.

"We don't have any time to waste, Fluttershy could be in danger!" She said, grabbing the collar of his robes.

Starkiller grunted, turning his head towards the town hall. Pinkie Pie pulled on his collar again, urging him to follow her. If he went with her, then the Jedi might go somewhere else and they'd have to track them down again. Starkiller shut his eyes and sighed audibly.

"Pinkie, go into town hall and get the Jedi!" Starkiller commanded, taking her hoof off his shoulder. "You aren't anywhere near ready to face this, I'll take care of it!"

Pinkie faltered a moment, then quickly nodded.

"I trust you!" She said. "Please save her!"

Starkiller nodded and watched as Pinkie Pie ran inside town hall. He quickly redirected his attention to Fluttershy and ran towards her house.

Pinkie Pie burst through the town hall doors, the large spire was mostly empty save for two Ponies. Pinkie Pie recognized the Jedi almost instantly; he was a tall Pegasus, his coat was beige with a short brown beard and mane. Pinkie Pie recognized him as Rivet, one of the construction workers.

"Rivet!" She called as she ran towards him. Rivet turned towards her, a slightly confused look on his face.

"Rivet, I need you to come with me!" Pinkie Pie said with serious urgency.

Rivet turned towards the other Pony and motioned for him to leave.

"Sorry," His gravelly voice said. "This is a private matter."

The other Pony nodded and left, leaving just Rivet and Pinkie Pie.

"I know what you're here for, I sense the disturbance too." Rivet said as he walked over to Pinkie Pie. "I see you finally figured out that you're force sensitive." Rivet looked her over. "I think that with a little work, we'd make a fine Jedi outta you. Now, come on, let's go save your friend." He said, continuing towards the door.

Pinkie Pie ran out with him without another word. Rivet trotted down the street rather calmly despite knowing what's going on. Pinkie Pie grunted and ran beside him.

"Hurry up, we can't let Starkiller face this thing alone!"

"Starkiller?" Rivet asked, his tone slightly surprised. "Well, this just got interesting." He said with a smirk. Rivet picked up his pace slightly, much to Pinkie Pie's slight relief.

"Rivet, we need to-"

"Call me Kyle." He said. "Kyle Katarn."

Starkiller slowed his run to a trot as he came up on Fluttershy's cottage. He could sense the disturbance nearby, but he couldn't pinpoint where, the Force presence that prevented him from sensing the Jedi was blocking him again. Starkiller continued on, walking down the dirt path until he came to the mouth of the Everfree Forest.

He could sense the presence that was blocking him very close by. Starkiller glanced down at the the ground as he noticed a green slime on the ground. He looked closely at it, something was familiar about it, but he couldn't determine what. His thought process was interrupted as a large drop of the slime dripped onto his hood.

Starkiller looked up and saw the source, a large cocoon, and inside of it was Fluttershy.

Starkiller prepared to free her with the force, but something struck him hard enough to take him off the ground. He flew a few meters and crashed hard into one of the trees. Starkiller fell to the ground unconscious.

General Grievous laughed as Starkiller slumped over. He expected more of a fight from the Jedi, but regardless, the trap had worked. Grievous grabbed Starkiller by the back of his neck, then crawled up the tree to get Fluttershy. Once he had gotten her, he shifted into a more travel friendly form.

With a flash of green fire, General Grievous changed into a small dragon and flew off towards the hive with Fluttershy and Starkiller in his claws. He would drop them off at the hive where they would be imprisoned, then return to gather the remaining two Force presences.

Within minutes, Grievous was back at the hive's entrance. He shifted into his Changeling form and went deeper inside, dragging his captives behind him. Soon enough, he was standing back in the hive's center, where Queen Chrysalis already waited.

"I see you've brought presents," She said as Grievous tossed the Ponies in front of her. "How thoughtful."

She passed an approving smile at Grievous, then flew over to the Ponies, her insect-like wings buzzing loudly as she did so. Chrysalis landed in front of them and gave a quick analyzing glance over them. She recognized Fluttershy from the Royal Wedding, but she didn't recognize the other one.

"Now, I must return to my hunt." Grievous said as he turned to exit.

"Wait a moment," Chrysalis called. "They will do. Pupa, Ray!" Chrysalis called to her guards, who quickly came to her side. "Take these two to the cells. Await my orders after that." Ray and Pupa both saluted, then took the two away. "Now for you," Chrysalis said, turning back to Grievous. "I want you to remain here. If they escape, you will put them back."

Grievous gave a curt nod, then walked away.

"I shall do as you ask for now, Queen." He said. "But I do not plan on being your slave forever." With that, Grievous exited the room.

Chrysalis let out a mirthful laugh, things were going all according to plan. She didn't care about Grievous's loyalty, once he had outlived his use, she would deal with him. Until then, he would make an excellent assassin.

Chrysalis laughed once more, then returned to her throne. A grin dripping with malice formed along her face as she sat, the only thing she had to worry about was Twilight Sparkle. Chrysalis's grin grew wider as she thought up what Grievous would do for her next.

Pinkie and Kyle slowed their running as they came to where they had sensed Fluttershy, only to find that she was gone, as well as the disturbance.

"We're too late..." Pinkie Pie said mournfully as her fluffy hair went straight.

"Don't worry." Kyle said, wrapping a comforting hoof around her. "We'll find where she went, and when we do, we'll make whoever took her pay."

Pinkie Pie glanced up to the sky.

"Don't worry Fluttershy..." She said. "We'll find you, I promise."