Equestria Wars Episode II: The Lunar Republic Strikes Back

by sonicdash123

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Romance, Original Character, Fancypants, Science Fiction, King Sombra, Adventure, Crossover, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe
Length: 11170

After a fierce battle at Canterlot and the Death Star was destroyed, half of the Lunar forces remain vigilant across the land of Equestria and has brought back to life the dark unicorn king of the Crystal Empire.

After the destruction of the Death Star, the New Lunar Republic is now being led by Queen Chrysalis. Charming Thunder and his friends will face the return of a dark foe and learn a dark and sad truth about him.

Published 2014-04-08 17:40:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-04-14 15:44:20 UTC

Chapter 1: The Hunt

A Star Destroyer flies over the kingdom of Canterlot as it deploys thousands of small pods to the four corners of the land of Equestria. One pod headed north to the icy waste lands and crashed in the snow. In the crater, out came a Viper probe droid. It then started patroling the snowy land to find the last of the Lunar Republic forces then report back to the Equestrian troops on what it can find.

Charming Thunder was riding on a speeder bike in the deserts of Appleloosa. It was going 480 miles per hour as he was riding it. Once he stopped, he levitated a bottle of water and took a sip from it. He placed the bottle back in the bag and when he turned, he saw Rainbow Dash flying to him. He steered it around to face her and said, "This speeder bike is amazing."

"Glad you like it," Rainbow Dash said. "I'm sure that you are going to approve this walker to the army and give credit to Applejack for coming up with this design."

"Yes. Yes I shall. I must head back to Canterlot. I need to check the progress on the probes that have been sent out to the four corners of Equestria."

"Yeah. And I need to go back to the Wonderbolt squadron back at base." Charming Thunder then piloted the speeder bike back to the town where his ship is so he can go back home to Ponyville. When he arrived at town, he dismounted the walker and walked towards his ship. It was similar to the TIE Fighter design but the wing shape is different. Charming Thunder entered the cockpit of the ship and pressed some buttons and the engines then started up. The ship then floated off the ground and started to head to the direction to Canterlot.

The probe droid scanned the area for any life forms and kept moving forward when it encountered a cave. It then entered the cave and and turned on its flashlight. As it moved forward, it heard voices and decided to find out where the voices are coming from. The voice came closer and closer. The probe was undetected of their presence when it hid behind a rock. The enemy droid walking to the cave entrance carried a blaster rifle. "Did you here something?" one of the droids said.

"I thought I saw something," the other one replied. "It must've been nothing. Lets just guard the entrance just in case."

"Roger roger." The two droids then turned back to the direction it came from and the probe droid came out of hiding as they left and continued on. It then entered a some sort of laboratory. Its broadcast antennas on its head then raised up as it recorded the information it needs to send back. The queen of the changelings was looking at a test tube with a dark gray to red curved horn.

"Now that we have found this horn, I shall bring this powerful unicorn back to life and the Lunar Republic will then be unstoppable." A changeling then entered the room to make a report to its queen.

"Our sensors have indicated an intruder in our base," it said. "I think that its a spy."

"Find it. I don't want him or her to send back information about what we are planning."

"Yes, your highness." The guard then saluted and started to run to the entrance of the cave. The probe droid's antennas then lowered down and started to head back to the entrance. The two droids that were guarding at the entrance then noticed the probe and was about to fire at it but the probe fired at them first. Once it exited the cave, the changeling fired its blaster at it but missed. The droid fired back and missed as well. As the changeling was about to fire, the probe droid then exploded.The guard was surprised at what he just saw. He didn't even shoot at it. He grabbed his com link and said, "I'm afraid there is not much left."

"What was it?" the queen asked.

"A droid of some kind. I didn't even hit it that hard. It must've had a self-destruct."

"A probe droid."

"Its a good bet that the rebels know we're here."

"Then we better start the evacuation."

Three massive Star Destroyers flew in precise formation over Canterlot as TIE Fighters darted past them. An even bigger Star Destroyer took the formation in the center of the fleet formation. It was Charming Thunder's personal flagship; the Super Star Destroyer.

Charming Thunder was at the bridge watching over the fleet as TIE Fighters, Interceptors, Phantoms, and Bombers fly past his flagship. The officers were working their vast complex of electronic controls as an admiral with a gray mustach walked up to him and said, "Sir, you need to see this."

Charming Thunder turned to the admiral and said, "You found something?"

"Yes." They both then walked to a computer at the back of the bridge where the short clip from the probe droid was playing. The clip showed the image of the Changeling queen looking at an object in a test tube.

"Freeze that image," Charming Thunder said. The clip then froze to the point where the guard was talking to the queen. "Zoom in to that object." The clip then zoomed in to the cylinder tube containing a curved horn. He then took a few steps back in shock at what he just saw. "No. It can't be."

"What is it, sir?" the admiral asked.

"Contact my sister at once and plot a course to that location in the waste lands in the north." He then turned to another officer and said, "General, prepare your men." He then walked past him as he headed to the communications room to talk to Princess Cadence alone.

Chapter 2: Ghost of a Jedi

Charming Thunder entered the comms room and as the doors closed, he pressed buttons on the holo terminal to contact his sister to inform her something important. He then waited patiently for her to answer the transmission. The hologram of Princess Cadence then appeared and she then said, "Charming Thunder, what a pleasant surprise. What news do you bring?" He was then started to sweat as he was about to tell her what he just discovered.

"I have good news and bad news," he said nervously. "The good news is that we found the Lunar Republic base in the icy wastelands in the north and we are heading there now."

"Wonderful news, brother. Whats the bad news?"

"The bad news is that they found....the horn of King Sombra."

Cadence then gasped in shock after what Charming Thunder said. "Impossible. He should be gone forever. The Crystal Heart destroyed him. I saw it happen."

"I don't know why they have it in case you were going to ask. But whatever they are planning, I believe that they are going to bring him back to life."

"Then we must move quickly. I'll contact Celestia and Twilight about the news. In the mean time, you need to infiltrate the base and search for that horn."

"As you wish." The transmission then ended as an officer entered the room.

"We have arrived, sir," he said. "Comm scans are detecting something inside that cave. I believe that it is where they are hiding."

"Prepare to deploy our ground troops. We need to head inside and retrieve the horn of King Sombra before they escape with it."

"Yes, sir." The officer saluted and left the room in a hurry to inform the troops to head to the ground. Charming Thunder then headed to his wardrobe and fetched his snow gear. He puts on his scarf and goggles and left the comms room to join up with the rest of the troops.

The shuttle carrying the troops opened the hatch and deployed troops to the ground along with Charming Thunder. The squad then started to run inside the cave to infiltrate the base and take the horn of King Sombra. As the troops entered the base, they saw a group of droids as a droid said, "Blast them!!" The squad then took cover behind the rocks as the enemy started firing at them. They all then got out of cover and shot the droids that were firing at them. Charming Thunder blasted one of them in the head while the rest were shot in the chest by his squad. He then moved up to the table which had the horn but the horn is not there.

"Darn it," he said. "Its not here. The Changelings must've taken it already."

The commander approached Charming Thunder and said, "Sir, we have spotted a ship getting ready for take off. I believe that is where the horn is being taken."

"Head to the hangar. We need to get the horn before they take off."

"Yes, sir. You heard him, men. Head to the hangar." Charming Thunder and the squad then rushed to the hangar doors that were shut tight. One of the troopers placed a charge on the door and took cover with the others. The door exploded and the squad then got out of cover and moved inside. "STOP THAT SHIP!!" Charming Thunder shouted. "BLAST IT!!" The squad started to blast the ship but it took no damage. The ship then started to take off as they continued to shoot it. The interceptor flew out of the hangar in a flash as the troops stopped firing. "Dang it."

"What now, sir?" a trooper said.

"Lets head back to Canterlot and inform the princesses about the--" He was interrupted when he heard a beeping sound coming from the comlink. He took it out of his saddlebag and turned it on.

The hologram viewed Princess Celestia as she said, "Charming Thunder, report your status on your mission. Have you retreved the horn?"

"No, Aunt Celestia. The target carrying it has escaped."

"The mission was a failure then. Get your squad out of there and head back to Canterlot. The princesses and I including Twilight and her friends are going to have a meeting about this situation."

"I'm on my way." The transmission then ended and he placed his holo communicator back in his saddlebag.

On the flight back to Canterlot, he was in his chambers resting from the battle he was just in. He then heard a voice calling out to him. "Who's there?" he asked as he got up. "Show yourself." The ghostly figure then revealed himself not as a pony but as a human. He had long hair and a beard and is wearing a cloak over his robe. "Who are you?"

"I am Qui-Gon Jinn." the spirit said. "I have come to help you."

"And how pray tell are you going to help? You're dead."

"That may be true. But I am one with the force. A guardian spirit of the Jedi order. Perhaps you have heard of it?"

"I think I remember a man named Luke Skywalker talking about your kind. He is becoming a Jedi as well."

"Yoda must've trained him well then. I heard that Luke has confronted his father and redeemed him to the light."

"Thats good news. But I have problems of my own."

"I know. You are trying to stop this...Lunar Republic from bringing back to life an ancient foe that your kind have feared for a thousand years. What can you tell me about Sombra?"

"He was a unicorn who was once a former tyrant ruler of the kingdom of the Crystal Empire. He was the master of dark magic."

"Unlike the dark side of the force?"

"Yes. My aunts Luna and Celestia have turned him into shadow and banished him to the ice of the arctic north. But he was able to place a curse which caused the kingdom to vanish into thin air. A few years passed til he returned. He tried to rule the kingdom again but a friend of mine named Spike delivered the Crystal Heart, the symbol of the kingdom to defeat Sombra and break the curse that was placed on the kingdom."

"Interesting. And now your enemy has the remains of the dark king?"

"Yes."

"I must leave. Once you finish your meeting with the princesses of your world, go to the Everfree forest. There you will find me, Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Anakin."

"I will keep my promise, Master Qui-Gon." He then bowed to him as the spirit vanished.

Chapter 3: The Return of King Sombra

Charming Thunder was sitting at the round table next to Twilight and Applejack. Applejack wore the same armor she wore at the battle of Canterlot as her helmet was placed on the table. He was staring down at the table thinking about what Qui-Gon said. "Charming Thunder?" Luna said. He then snapped to his attention to Luna.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Is something wrong?" Celestia asked with a little worry.

"No. Its nothing. I just got side tracked thats all."

"Sugarcube," Applejack said. "Tell the truth."

Charming Thunder gulped and took a long sigh and said, "I was contacted by a Jedi spirit."

"A what now?" Luna said.

"Its a ghost when a Jedi dies they become a spirit of the Force. He knows about the situation and he wants me to meet him at the Everfree forest."

"What for?" Twilight asked as she placed a hoof over his shoulder.

"I'm not sure. But whatever it is, it might be something to stop King Sombra if he ever comes back and--" He stopped talking and looked out of the window. "Get down!!" A laser blast came out of the window and impacts on the chair Cadence was sitting on. Charming Thunder ran to the window to see where the shot came from. He saw a pony wearing armor, a jetpack, and a helmet with a "T" shaped visor and antennas on the side.

"An assassin?" Shining Armor said. "But why is he targeting my wife."

"I don't know," Charming Thunder said. "But I'm going to find out." He then ran out of the room to the location where the shot came from and catch the assassin.

At the tower, the assassin placed his rifle away on his back and headed to the balcony of the tower. He pressed buttons on his arm and his jetpack started up. Charming Thunder entered the room as the assassin was about to leave the tower. As soon as the assassin flew away from the tower, Charming Thunder jumped off the edge and grabbed on to his back trying to stop him from escaping. He has been struggling to let go until the right moment. "Let me go, you fool," the assassin said.

"You're not going anywhere," Charming Thunder said. The jetpack was about to fall off. They both noticed and when it fell off of the assassin's back and they both fell to the garden. They both fell in separate bushes and it scare off the animals that were near it. Charming Thuder came out of the bush he fell in first feeling a little bit dizzy. He shook his head and saw the assassin come out of the bush he was in. He then tackled him to the ground and asked, "Do you know who you were trying to kill?"

The assassin struggled as he said, "It was the princess of the Crystal Empire."

"And who hired you?"

"Its just my job." Charming Thunder removed the assassins helmet and punched him the face twice. Twilight and the royal guards entered the garden as he kept punching him.

"Charming Thunder," Twilight said. He stopped punching the assassin and saw Twilight heading his way.

He then looked back at the assassin and said, "Who hired you? Tell us." As Twilight walked up to him, there was silence as the assassin won't answer his question. "TELL US NOW!!"

The assassin then got nervous as Charming Thunder's horn glowed and snapped, "It was Queen Chrysalis. She wanted me to kill Cadence because she wanted to have her revenge."

Charming Thunder turned to Twilight and said, "Its a distraction. She's probably reviving King Sombra right now. We can't just waste time interrogating him."

"Then just end it right now. Maybe he can help us."

"So...you'll let me live?" the assassin asked nervously.

Charming Thunder then got off of him and helped him up as he said, "Yes. Whats your name?"

"I am Canderous. I am a bounty hunter and a skilled assassin."

"Good we may need your skills for this cause."

"If I may, I could be your personal bodyguard if you want."

"Of course. As long as there are no tricks."

"No trickery, sir."

"Good. Come. Let us return to the princesses and continue this meeting."

Chrysalis was setting up the ritual to bring Sombra back to life in the Badlands. She placed the horn on the pedestal as she said, "Everything is now going as planned. Now I just need a simple drop of blood in order to bring him back to life." She then levitated a small dagger as she raised her right hoof. She made a cut on her hoof and made a drop of blood on the horn. The horn then started to glow and float in the air. Shadows then came flying around the horn. A few seconds later, an evil laugh was heard behind the shadows as it started to disappear. Once it was finally finished, the dark unicorn king floated back down to the ground and noticed Queen Chrysalis. She then bowed to the king as she said, "King Sombra, I have brought you back for a reason."

"And I thank you for that," he snarled. "What is it you seek?"

"We have a new enemy. The hero of Equestria who defeated Luna, our once proud queen of Equestria named Charming Thunder."

"How is that possible?"

"Search your feelings, your highness. You will know it to be true." She then stood up as she continued, "He could destroy us."

"He's just a colt. No one could help him."

"The magic is strong with him. The nephew of Celestia and Luna and the sister of Cadence must not interfere with our plans."

"If he could be turned, he could be a powerful ally."

The queen chuckled as she said, "Yes. He would be a great asset. Can it be done?"

"He will join us or die, Chrysallis."

"If you try to betray me in the end, I will use my magic to take you life away. Understand."

"Yes. I will not fail you." They both did an evil laugh as the plan was set to motion.

The princesses, Twilights friends, Charming Thunder, and the Canderous were now back at the table where they were having a meeting as Celestia said, "Its settled then. Charming Thunder will go to the Everfree forest. While Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Shining Armor, Canderous, and Cadence will go to the city in the clouds.

"It is way different from Cloudsdale," Luna said. "Fancypants is there waiting for you. It will be safe for you there till Charming Thunder arrives."

"It'll be great to see him again," Rarity said excitingly.

"You can take my YT-2400 freighter," Charming Thunder said. "It will be much faster for you to get there."

"Be careful, Charming Thunder," Twilight said as they both embraced a hug.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine." He then left the room to head to his ship in the hangar to head to the Everfree forest to see what Qui-Gon and the others want.

Chapter 4: The Pursuit

Charming Thunder's fighter flew behind the YT-2400 freighter as they left Canterlot for a mission. They both then spit up as they both passed by. Rainbow Dash was piloting the ship as she plotted the course to the city Luna was talking about. "I bet that this ship has a few surprises left in her."

"Don't get your hopes up, Rainbow," Applejack said as she pointed to a ship that is heading straight towards them. "Cause we've got company." They recognized those ships during the time Luna ruled Equestria as queen. "Its a Providence class destroyer!! Get us out of here."

"You got it." Rainbow then turned the ship around as the destroyer deployed droid fighters.

The fighters were right on their tail and started firing at the ship they were chasing. "We got droid starfighters inbound," Shining Armor said. "And look up ahead."

"I saw them. I saw them." Rainbow said.

"Saw what?" Cadence asked, running inside the cockpit.

"Providence destroyers, two of them, coming right at us. Check the deflector shield."

Twilight went to the controls and pressed a few buttons to check the shield that is on the ship. "Were good." she said.

"Great. We can still outmaneuver them." The freighter raced toward one of the oncoming Providence cruisers. The ship then suddenly did a deep dive followed closely by four droid starfighters. The following cruiser continued their course as they headed straight to the oncoming ships. It then collided with the two cruisers which created the huge explosion in the sky. The freighter raced away from the colliding ships, still being pursued by the small fighters. Laserbolts streaked through the blue skies. "Man the guns and take out those fighters." Canderous and Shining Armor left the cockpit and climbed the ladder to the turrets that were on the top and bottom. The put their headsets on and started up the guns. One of the fighters flew to the bottom as Shining Armor tried to shoot it down but he missed. Canderous took out one of the fighters that flew over him and laughed with joy. A fighter flew to the bottom again and Shining Armor took out the fighter for sure this time.

"I got it," he said. "I GOT IT!!"

"Great kid," Canderous replied. "Don't get cocky."

"There are still two more of them out there," Cadence said. As the remaining two fighters continued to fire at the freighter. Canderous fired at one of the fighters but missed as Shining Armor one of them. Shining Armor missed the last one as it flew to the top of the freighter. Canderous fired at it and the fighter exploded in the sky. He then sighed in relief that they were all gone and took off his headset.

"THATS IT WE DID IT!!" Shining Armor shouted as he was taking off his headset.

"Alright," Rainbow said. "Hang on. I found a good place to hide from the Republic for a while."

"Where?" Twilight asked.

Rainbow pointed to the cave that was big enough for the ship to land in as she said, "There that looks pretty good. It will do nicely."

"I hope you know what you are doing, Rainbow," Applejack said.

"Me too."

Pinkie then came to the cockpit and said, "Whats going on here? I'm trying to play holo chess here."

Charming Thunder flew over Ponyville as he finds a place to land in the forest. He found a good spot next to a lake and landed next to it. "Well here I am," he said. He then opened the top hatch of the TIE Advanced and popped his head out. He grabbed his saddlebag and jumped out of the cockpit and found a place to sit while he waits for Qui-Gon and the others to appear. The four ghostly figures then appeared one was small and the other two were humans just like Qui-Gon.

"So you came," Anakin said.

"Yes. Just as Qui-Gon said I should. Exactly why did you need me here?"

"We have brought you here to teach you the ways of the Jedi in order to face Sombra," Obi-Wan said.

"If its the only way to stop King Sombra, then I will listen to your teachings."

"Act quickly we must," Yoda said. "For time running out it is."

"You maybe right," Qui-Gon said. "We need to start now."

"I'm not afraid," Charming Thunder said.

"You will be. You will be."

"Come. Let us begin your lesson." Charming Thunder nodded and followed the four spirits deeper into the forest. They both then came across the same cave that Charming Thunder went in to see the vision of the future of Luna's apprentice.

"This is where you saw a vision of a future enemy, correct?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Yes. This was the cave where I saw a vision of somepony named Maul. Why have you brought me back here though?"

"Enter the cave you must," Yoda replied.

"The cave you entered before is strong with the dark side," Anakin said.

Charming Thunder walked up to the entrance of the cave as Yoda said, "Your weapons. You will not need them." He nodded in agreement and placed his lightsaber on the rock next to the entrance. He then entered the cave and proceeded on. His quest has finally begun.

Pinkie was playing chess with Rainbow Dash while Canderous was fixing something in the ship before they could leave the cave. Rarity was just sitting between the players watching them play. Pinkie moved a piece to a new square. A frown grew over Rainbow's face as she said, "Aww man. Even though that I hate loosing, it was a fair move though."

"I concur," Pinkie said. "Good game." They both shook hooves and got off of their seats and walked to the engine room to make some repairs with Shining Armor. Twilight was in the cockpit sitting alone in the passenger seat as she monitored what was going on outside. She then heard a door open from behind and Fluttershy entered the cockpit to see her.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yeah," she said. "I'm fine."

"Oh, okay." She then left the cockpit as Twilight got up to help her brother fix the engine.

"I hope you're alright, Charming Thunder," she said to herself as she continued to walk to the engine room. She then saw Cadence helping Shining Armor with the tools.

"Everything alright, Twi?" Cadence asked.

"I just miss Charming Thunder. I just hope he's alright."

"Don't worry. I'm sure that whatever the spirits want with him, it might help us defeat King Sombra once again."

"Thanks, Cadence." They both embraced a hug and then started to work on repairing the engine with Shining Armor.

Charming Thunder kept walking through the cave until he heard a sound. It sounded like the breathing of the suit he wore before. Out of the opening he was in front of came a tall dark figure approaching him. He was wearing the same features as the costume he wore before but human looking. He then took a few steps back and said, "Vader? How is this possible? You're dead." The figure remained silent and turned into a pony version of himself. A flash was then seen in front of him and as it faded away, the figure's head fell off and rolled in front of Charming Thunder. He then took a few steps back and a vertical crack on the helmet began to widen until it split, falling away. Beneath the mask, was his own head, its lifeless eyes staring up into his.

As he left the cave he saw Yoda waiting for him outside. "What did you see?" he asked.

"It was a vision about me," Charming Thunder said. "I think that it was my dark side."

"What you have seen, follow it you must."

Charming Thunder nodded in agreement as he said, "I need to head back to my ship to meditate." He then walked past Yoda and walked to the direction he just came from to head back to his ship.

Chapter 5: The Vision of the Future

The freighters engines started up and lifted off the ground and left the cave they were staying in for repairs. As the freighter left the cave, a ship out of nowhere started to follow it.

In the cockpit, the changeling soldier was pressing buttons to keep track of where the freighter was going. He then contacted Queen Chrysalis and said, "I have found the target. They're heading for the city in the clouds."

"Excellent. King Sombra is already planning to set a trap for them. In the meantime, deploy the buzz droids and rendezvous back to base. You have done well." The changeling pressed a button and a missile was deployed towards the freighter. He then turned the ship around and headed back to the Badlands.

Back inside the freighter, Twilight was playing holo chess with Shining Armor while they enjoy their flight. They were having fun when the ship then started to shake. They both then got up and rushed to the cockpit to find out what is going on. "What was that?" Shining Armor asked.

"I don't know," Applejack said. "But sensors are picking up something on the ship."

"Whatever it is, it is messing around with our controls," Rainbow said.

"I'll head up there to find out what it is and take care of it," Canderous said as he got up and left the cockpit. He grabbed his blaster and went to an elevator which took him up to the top of the ship as connected a safety strap to make sure he doesn't fall off the ship. When the hatch opened, he popped his head out and saw a group of droids drilling the ship to sabotage the controls.

"Buzz droids." He then took out his blaster and started to fire at the droids. With one droid remaining, it started to crawl up to the shooter. Canderous then shot the droid in the eye and it started to be blown away from the ship. He then went back down as the hatch closed. "It looks like we're fine for now."

"What was it?" Rainbow asked.

"Buzz droids. They were drilling in the ship to mess around with the controls."

"Darn it. And I just repaired this ship."

"We're fine for now though," Cadence said. "We might be able to make it to the city."

"You may be right," Applejack said.

"Alright then. Lets plot a course to cloud city." Rainbow then pressed buttons and steered the ship to the direction where the city is.

Charming Thunder was sitting in front of his ship with his eyes closed as Yoda said, "Concentrate. Feel the force flow. You can see other places. The future, the past, old friends long gone."

Charming Thunder's eyes got tighter and opened them and said, "Cadence. TWILIGHT!!" He then fell on his back and got scared with what he just saw.

Yoda sighed and said, "Control control. You must learn control."

"I saw...I saw the city in the clouds."

"Hmmm. Friends you have there."

"They were in pain."

"In the future you see."

"The future?" Charming Thunder got up and walked to the lake and looked at himself in the reflection. He turned to Yoda and asked, "Do you think that they will die?"

Yoda closed his eyes to try to see Charming Thunder's vision and said, "Difficult to see. Always in motion the future is. But decide you must. If you leave now and help them, you will destroy all the ones they have fought and suffered." Charming Thunder looked at the sky and looked back at Yoda and nodded in agreement.

The YT-2400 freighter flew up high in the clouds and suddenly two cloud cars flew behind them and approached the sides. "No. I don't have a landing permit," Rainbow said. "We just want to see Fancypants." A shot from one of the cloud cars hit the freighter. "Whoa wait a minute. Let me explain. We've been sent from Princess Celestia."

"Rather touchy aren't they?" Applejack said sarcastically.

"Permission granted to land on platform 352," the pilot from the cloud car said. "Follow us and we will lead you to the city."

"Thank you," Rainbow said. She then piloted the freighter to follow the cloud cars to the city and land at platform 352 and go meet Fancypants there.

"So," Twilight said. "We finally made it." They all then saw the floating city that floated in the sky.

As they flew closer to the city, they saw tall buildings that were hotels, stores, and casinos. They then landed the freighter on the platform at the hotel at the center of the city. The ramp then lowered on the side of the freighter as the group walked down the ramp. "If only Charming Thunder were here right now," Rarity said. A door across the way opened and revealed a stallion with a blue stache with three crowns as a cutie mark accompanied by a mare with a mane with two tones of light magentaish gray with a white coat and three fleur de lis' as her cutie mark heading their way.

"Ah, Miss Rarity," Fancypants said. "It is so good to see you here. Fleur and I were wondering when you would be here and now here you are. Welcome to Cloud City."

"It is a pleasure to meet the princesses as well," Fleur said as she bowed to their presence.

"The pleasure is mine," Cadence said.

"Why don't you come with us. We were just off to the spa. You must be exhausted from your trip."

"Of course," Rarity said. The group then followed Fancypants and Fleur inside to go to the spa.

Chapter 6: Cloud City Betrayal

The group was walking down the hallway to the spa when Fleur asked, "What brings you here?"

"Celestia told us to come here but she never told us why," Twilight said.

"I see that your ship looks damaged," Fancypants said. "I'll get my men to work on it while you enjoy your stay here."

"Its a long story on how it ended up like this," Rainbow said. "But thank you."

"No problem." They all then arrived at the spa which almost looks similar to the one back at Ponyville but bigger.

A few hours later after the spa, Fancypants was showing the group around the city. "And here we have the arcade room for fillies to play in and of course ponies your age," Fancypants said. "Right over there is a petting zoo where we keep all kinds of animals like birds, monkeys, and many you can think of."

"Oooh," Fluttershy said. "Can I go see them?"

"Why of course." Fluttershy then entered the petting zoo to go visit the animals. "Now if you follow me. Me and Fleur will show you to your room. It has a great view of the city."

"You guys go ahead. I'll meet you there." Fluttershy has a robin on her right arm as she continued to sing along with the birds.

It was night time in the Everfree forest and Charming Thunder was getting ready to leave as Yoda watched. "Charming Thunder," he asked, "Leaving so soon are you?"

"I'm sorry for not telling you, Yoda," Charming Thunder replied. "But I can't keep the vision out of my head. They're my friends and I got to help them."

"Much to learn you still have."

"But they will die if I don't get there on time."

"You don't know that," the voice of Anakin said. He then appeared to him as he continued, "Even Yoda couldn't see their fate."

"But I can help them. I can feel the force."

"But you could not control it yet. Right now it is a dangerous time where you will be tested by the dark side."

"Listen to Anakin you must. The cave. Remember what you saw in the cave?"

"It was just a fear I confronted, Master Yoda."

Anakin walked up to Charming Thunder and placed his hand on his shoulder and said, "It is you the dark king wants. That is why your friends are made to suffer."

"Its why I have to go."

"Charming Thunder, I don't want to loose you."

"Like the way Obi-Wan lost you. Don't worry. You won't."

"Stopped King Sombra must be. But heed a warning for that this is your final lesson. Beware anger, fear, and aggression, the dark side are they. Once you choose a quick and easy path as Anakin did along time ago, you will become an agent of evil."

"Patience," Anakin added on.

"And sacrifice my family and friends."

"If you honor what they fight for, then yes."

Obi-Wan appeared behind Yoda and said, "If you choose to face King Sombra and do it alone, we cannot interfere."

"I understand," Charming Thunder replied. He then climbed up to the top of the cockpit and fired up the power converters. The engines started to run as he was getting ready to take off.

"Charming Thunder," Obi-Wan shouted. "Don't give in to hate. That leads to the dark side."

"Don't worry. Thank you all for your help." Charming Thunder then closed the hatched as the ship was about to lift off.

"Reckless just as Luke he is," Yoda said. "Matters are worse."

"He is the worlds last hope," Qui-Gon's voice said.

"No. There is another." The TIE Advanced then left the Everfree forest as the spirits faded away. He plotted a course to Cloud City to go save his friends before the vision comes true.

The next day, Twilight and the others were getting ready to have breakfast with Fancypants and Fleur. Rarity wore an outfit that she bought at one of the shops in the city. A door to their room opened as Fancypants and Fleur entered. "Ah, Miss Rarity," Fancypants said. "You look absolutely beautiful in that outfit. Its like that you belong here in the clouds."

"Thank you," Rarity said.

"Perhaps you would like to join us for a refreshment. Everyones invited of course."

"Lead the way then," Twilight said. They all then left the room and headed to the dinning room to have their breakfast. Long shafts of light poured across the corridor between tall white columns.

"Since we we're a small operation," Fleur said. "We don't fall into the jurisdiction of the Republic."

“So you're a part of the mining guild, then?” Canderous asked.

"No not really," Fancypants said. "Our operation is small enough not to be noticed."

"Has Celestia approved this?" Twilight asked.

"Why yes. But things have developed that will ensure security. I've just made a deal that will keep the Republic out of here... forever." The doors to the dining room opened, revealing a shocking sight. At the end of the table sat the unicorn himself; King Sombra. Fluttershy got scared at his presence as Shining Armor drew out his pistol and popped off a few shots at the unicorn. The dark kings horn glowed and deflected the shots to the walls. Just as quickly, Shining's weapon flew across the room and into Sombra's waiting hoof. He levitated the weapon down on the table.

"Surprised to see me again?" King Sombra asked. “We would be honored if you would join us.” A squad of battle droids then came from behind the group pointing their weapons at them as the group stared at Fancypants.

"We had no choice," Fancypants said, his eyes falling. "They arrived before you did. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too," Applejack said icily.

Chapter 7: The Deal

Twilight, Fluttershy, Cadence, Shining Armor, Applejack, Canderous, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity were all sitting in a stone cell covering their ears from the high-pitched whistle screeching loudly in the cell. Once it finally stopped, they got up and sat on their chairs that was left in here for them. "I can't believe that they betrayed us," Shining Armor said.

"I thought that they were friends of ours," Rarity said.

"I hope that Rainbow is all right," Applejack said. "I just don't know why the droids took her."

The two droids strapped Rainbow to a rack as King Sombra strode across the room. He then turned to Rainbow and said, "For every insult, you will scream a dozen times." The rack then lowered her closer and closer to the torturing mechanism that was below her. He then exited the room where Fancypants waited.

"Sombra," Fancypants adressed.

"You may put Rainbow back in the cell with the others 'til I leave." Sombra said to a magnaguard, ignoring Fancypants.

"What if she dies?" the magnaguard asked.

"She will not be permanently damaged." the king replied. Screams can be heard from the room Rainbow was in as Sombra and the others were walking to the elevator."

"King Sombra, what of her friends?" Fancypants asked.

"They must never again leave this city."

"That was never the condition of our agreement, nor was torturing Rainbow Dash for no reason." Fancypants shouted, angry.

"Perhaps that you and Fleur have been treated unfairly?" Sombra asked.

Fancypants sighed and replied, "No."

"Good. It will be unfortunate if I had to leave a garrison of droids here.” The elevator he was in closed as Fancypants turned and walked down the hall, muttering to himself.

“This deal's getting worse all the time.”

Pinkie Pie and the others were playing a game of charades while Canderous was just laying down on a bed. "Is it a...movie?" Fluttershy asked. Pinkie nodded in disagreement and did the same gesture again.

"Is it related to cooking?" Twilight asked. Pinkie nodded and did another gesture. A door from behind her opened as a magnaguard carried Rainbow to the cell and threw her in.

"Rainbow Dash," Pinkie Pie said. "Are you alright?"

"I feel terrible," Rainbow mumbled. Applejack came and helped her to a cell bed.

"Why were they doing this?" Rarity asked.

"They didn't ask me any questions." The door opened again and Fancypants entered the room along with two guards.

"Get out of here, Fancypants," Twilight shouted.

"Just hear me out for a second," he barked. "Sombra has agreed to turn you all over to me."

"Over to you?" Canderous asked as he got up from his bed.

"You all will have to stay here, but at least you will be safe."

"He just wants us all dead," Rainbow said.

"He's not after you at all. He's after somepony called Thunder."

"Charming Thunder?" Twilight asked.

"King Sombra has set a trap for him."

"And we're the bait," Fluttershy said.

"And he's on his way here as we speak." Canderous felt heat rising to his face as his anger peaked.

"Perfect," he said. "You fixed us all pretty good didn't you?" He then hauled off and punched Fancypants sending him spiraling across the room. The two guards then instantly pummeled Canderous to the ground with their rifles, knocking him to the ground. Fancypants stopped them before they were about to fire at him.

"STOP!!" he yelled. "I've done all I can do. I'm sorry I couldn't do better, but I have my own problems."

"Yeah, you're a real hero all right," Canderous spit from his spot to the ground. Fancypants and the guards left as Shining Armor and Cadence helped him up.

"You certainly have a way with other ponies," Shining Armor said. He then placed him on the bed and dabbed at the blood that was leaking on his cheek.

Sombra and Fancypants stood at the top of the stairs of a large chamber filled with pipes and chemical tanks. In the middle of the room, there was a round pit housed a hydraulic platform.

Sombra made an evil grin as he said while he scanned the equipment, "This facility is crude, but it will be adequate to freeze Charming Thunder for his journey to Queen Chrysalis." A droid that looked similar to a regular battle droid with a vibrosword on its back approached.

"King Sombra, ship approaching," it reported. "TIE Advanced class."

"Good," Sombra replied. "Monitor Charming Thunder and allow him to land." The droid bowed and left the chamber.

"King Sombra, we only use this facility for carbon freezing," Fancypants said. "I don't know what will happen if you put him in there but I think that it might kill him."

"I do not Chrysalis' prize damaged. And one more thing, take Twilight and her friends to my ship."

"But...but you said they will be left in the city under my supervision."

"I am altering the deal. Pray that I don't alter it any further."

Pinkie was bouncing a ball to the wall and catching it every time she throws it. A door slid open as Fleur and Fancypants entered. "Come with us," Fleur said. "There has been a change of plan."

"You are to be taken to Sombra's shuttle leaving the city," Fancypants said nervously. Twilight and the group gasped in fear to hear the new as battle droids entered the room.

Chapter 8: King Sombra's Trap

Charming Thunder walked through the halls of a deserted corridor. He stopped hearing footsteps from a group approaching. He quickly hid in a nearby doorway and drew out his pistol as he watched a group of droids escorting his friends. He then moved to a corner as the group moved on. Once he was about to follow them, a super battle droid popped out of the corner and started to fire at him. He took cover and when it stopped firing, he popped out and shot it. He then moved forward to the hallway where his friends were being taken. Twilight turned and saw him heading their way. The commando droid drew out its sword and jumped to attack him but Charming Thunder dodged and shot it in the head. "Charming! Don't! It's a trap!" she shouted before she could finish her warning as she was pulled through the doorway by a battle droid and disappeared from sight. He then raced after her and galloped in an anteroom. They were nowhere to be seen. As he entered the room, the door behind him slammed down. The platform he was standing on then rose up, leading him to another room. The darkness of the room was deathly quiet.

The lights of the room then turned on as he heard a sinister voice saying, "The magic is with you, Charming Thunder." Charming Thunder turned and saw the dark king himself waiting at the top of the stairs. "But you are not strong enough to face me." He then walked up the stairs to go face to face with Sombra. He then grabbed one of his lightsabers and ignited it. King Sombra did the same and ignited a purple blade. Charming Thunder was the first to attack but Sombra blocked the blow. The swords of the two combatants clashed as they fought.

Fancypants, Fleur, and the battle droids marched onward, surrounding Twilight and the group. As they reached an intersection, they ran into a group of Fancypants' guards. They pointed their rifles at the droids as they surrounded them. "Hey," one of the droids said. "Whats the big idea." The guards then disarmed the droids and handed a rifle to Fancypants, another to Fleur, and another to Twilight and her friends.

"Well done," Fancypants said to a guard. "Hold them in the security tower and deactivate them, and keep it quiet. Move." The guards then began to march the droids away from the group.

"What are you doing?" Rarity asked.

"We're getting out of here," Fleur replied.

"I knew it all along," Fluttershy said. "It had to be a mistake."

"Do you think that after what you did to me we're going to trust you?" Rainbow said.

"I had no choice," he replied. "Now if you all can just calm down and just follow me to your ship."

"Right," Twilight said. "Come on. We need to get out of here before the droids figure out that we escaped." The group nodded in agreement and galloped their way to their ship. Along the way, a group of battle droids spotted them and started to fire their blasters at them. The group did the same as they moved into an elevator.

King Sombra and Charming Thunder stood locked in combat on the platform overlooking the chamber. The platform swayed as their swords clashed. Charming Thunder drove Sombra back aggressively forcing him to use defensive tactics. "You have learned much, young one," King Sombra said as he backed down the stairs.

"Don't worry," Charming Thunder replied. "You'll find that I am full of surprises." Sombra made a quick move, hooking Charming Thunder's lightsaber out of her hoof and sending it flying. Another lightning move at his feet forced him to jump back. He lost balance and rolled down the stairs to the circular freezing platform. He rolled away just in time to see Sombra descend toward him like a giant black bird. He kept his gaze locked on the dark king.

"Your destiny lies with me, Thunder," Sombra said as he circled the fallen colt. "Luna knew this to be true."

"No!" Charming Thunder shouted as the hydraulic elevator opened noiselessly behind her. He then got to his hooves and moved cautiously back from the dark king. Sombra took a swing of his sword which forced Charming Thunder to leap backwards, falling right into the opening. As the freezing steam rose from the pit, Sombra turned and deactivated his lightsaber.

"All too easy," he murmured. "Perhaps you are not as strong as Chrysalis thought." Through the steam, Sombra saw a red blur rise upward. He turned to see Charming Thunder, who leaped in the air and dangle from a few hoses. "Impressive..." he mused. "Most impressive." Charming Thunder jumped down and blasted him with magic. He then levitated his lightsaber and activated it in hiss hoof and was instantly lighted. King Sombra light his sword as well. "Celestia has taught you well. You have controlled your fear...now release your anger." Charming Thunder, realizing he had been foolhardy before, assumed a defensive stance. A quick sword exchange, and he pressed Sombra back. "Only your hatred can destroy me." Charming Thunder then leapt in the air turning a somersault over Sombra. When he landed, he slashed at him as the room began to fill with steam. As King Sombra backed up from Charming Thunder's strikes, he dropped behind the platform and into the outer rim of pipes. Charming Thunder moved to the edge of the platform and deactivated his lightsaber and hooked it to his belt and jumped down to the pit.

Chapter 9: Clash of the Lightsabers

Charming Thunder walked through a tunnel like entrance as he cautiously crept into a reactor room. He ignited his lightsaber and stepped in front of a large window when she saw a shadow moved from the corner of his eye. He turned to see King Sombra and he rushed forward to attack. As he galloped, a large piece of machinery detached itself from the wall, flying toward him. He spun and slashed the machine, cutting it in half as another piece of machinery already flying towards him. Charming Thunder used his horn to blast them, then saw several pipes flying his way. Sparking wires began to pull themselves from the walls and creep towards him. As he used his magic to defend himself, a large piece of machinery smashed through the window behind him and a fierce wind began blowing through the room. Sombra stood as Charming Thunder grabbed hold of a rail, holding on for his life. A piece of machinery crashed into him and he slipped, rolling across the floor and out the window. He fell into a gantry outside and tumbled over the edge. Acting quickly, he grabbed hold of the gantry and kept a firm grasp on his deactivated sword as he hung. He clipped the sword to his belt and slowly began to climb his way up to the ledge.

Twilight and the group rounded a corner and headed to a door to the landing platform. They got a glimpse of the YT-2400 freighter outside before the door slammed shut. The group dove into an alcove as the pursuing droids arrived sending a rain of laser fire towards them. Twilight and the group returned fire as Fancypants desperately punched at the door's control panel. "Give me a minute," he shouted as he pressed buttons on a panel next to the door. A microphone then appeared and announced, "Attention. This is Fancypants. The Lunar Republic has taken control of the city. I advise everyone to leave before more droid troops arrive." The mike the went back inside the panel and went to the controls to the door and pressed buttons. The panel then beeped and the door to the ship started to slide open. The group then dashed outside, racing to the ship as Canderous held off the droids.

"Twilight," Canderous shouted. "Go. I'll hold them off. You guys get out of here."

"But what about you?" Applejack asked.

"A certain sacrifice must be made. I can't let them take you." He took a long pause as he shot a droid to the head and got back to cover behind the corner of the door. "Its been a n honor fighting with you all."

"Good luck," Cadence said. The group then ran up the ramp of the freighter and the ramp then started to close up. As the engines started running, Canderous got out of cover and entered the hallway and blasted as many droids as he could. He then got shot in the shoulder and dropped his blaster. He then ran to the droids and started to punch them. A super battle droid came behind him and shot him in the back. Canderous started to crawl to his blaster as a battle droid walked up to the crawling pony and kicked his blaster away. It then shot him in the head and started to fire at the freighter. The freighter then lifted off the platform and into the darkening sky as droid star fighters were taking off in pursuit.

Charming Thunder moved along the railing to the control room. Sombra darted out trying to lung him. Charming Thunder then instinctively raised his sword, deflecting Sombra's strikes. Sparks flew as the blades clashed, King Sombra gradually forced Charming Thunder back toward the gantry. “You are beaten,” he said as he continued to push him back. "It is useless to resist. Don't let yourself destroyed as I once was." Charming Thunder answered by rolling sideways, thrusting his sword viciously. The blade nicked Sombra's shoulder and his silver armor began to smoke. Sombra backed up, lifting his hoof to the wound, but he quickly recovered and his eyes glowed green, backing Charming Thunder up to the narrow end of the gantry. Sombra swung his sword down, crashing against the instrument complex at the end of the gantry. Charming Thunder swayed as the platform shook as Sombra struck again. His sword then came down across Charming Thunder's right fore hoof. His hoof shot across the air, tumbling down into the deep pit along with his sword. He screamed out in pain, squeezing his severed limb under his left front leg, and began to back up to the edge of the gantry. Sombra slowly followed as Charming Thunder reached the edge as he bites back his tears as he held on to the railing. "There is no escape," Sombra said as he said as he towered over the young colt. "Don't make me destroy you. You do not yet realize your importance. You have only begun to discover your power. Join me. With our combined strength, we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to Equestria."

"I'LL NEVER JOIN YOU!!" Charming Thunder screamed as he slowly edged himself off of the gantry and onto the broken instrument complex.

"If you only new dark magic," Sombra continued, sheathing his sword. "Princess Luna never told you what happened to your father."

"She told me enough," Charming Thunder shouted as tears begin to form in his maddening eyes. "She told me you killed him."

"No. I am your father," Charming Thunder's eyes grew wide as he took in the king's words as his heart began to sink in his chest.

"No...No, thats not true. Thats impossible." he screamed.

"Search your feelings you know it to be true."

"No! NO!" Tears flooded from Charming Thunder's eyes as he screamed maddeningly, trying to deny the horrible truth that lay in front of him.

"Charming Thunder, you can destroy Chrysalis," Sombra continued. "She has foreseen this. It is your destiny." He reached out his hoof, extending it to Charming Thunder. "Join me. And together we can rule Equestria as father and son. Come with me. It is the only way." As Charming Thunder lifted his eyes to meet his father's, a calm came over his body. He wiped the last of his tears, got to his hooves, closed his eyes, and fell. King Sombra darted to the edge of the platform as Charming Thunder fell down the deep pit. The wind whipped around him and he turned as he made his way out of the room. As the beaten bruised unicorn tumbled down the shaft, an exhaust pipe opened and sucked him inside. He then came to rest atop a circular grill. After a few seconds, the grill popped open, and he dropped through the pipe, falling down to a weather vane hanging below the city. He hooked his back legs around the vane to keep from falling to his death. As he hung, he tried to swing his remaining front hoof up to get a better grip, but his body would not obey. It was all he could do to hang, nearly lifeless, from the cracking weather vane.

"Aunt Luna....Luna, please," he mumbled as his will to live was nearly gone. "Luna...Twilight." There was an ominous cracking as a piece of the vane broke off and tumbled down into oblivion. "Twilight...Please hear me..."

Chapter 10: Rescue at Cloud City

Twilight seemed to be lost in a fog, her soft expression troubled. Rainbow was busy busy operating the ship while Shining Armor stood behind, watching the readouts. "Charming Thunder," Twilight muttered under her breath. "We've got to go back," she demanded.

"Whatever do you mean, Twilight?" Cadence asked.

"I know where Charming Thunder is," Twilight explained.

"But what about those fighters?" Shining Armor asked.

"Rainbow, just do it."

"You got it, Twilight," Rainbow replied. The freighter then made a graceful banking turn towards the city. The ship dove to the underside of the floating city. Twilight tried to remain calm until Cadence pointed out of the window.

"Look, somepony's up there," Cadence said.

"It's Charming Thunder," Twilight shouted. "Rainbow, slow down. Slow down and we'll get under him. Applejack, open the top hatch." Charming Thunder hung desperately by one leg, his body swaying in the wind below the city. The vane continued cracking, more pieces breaking off. As his vision began to fade, his leg slipped from the vane, and he began to tumble downwards. His fall quickly broken by the top of the YT-2400 freighter. Applejack, emerging from the top hatch, grabbed the battered colt's body and pulled him inside. Flak started to burst around the ship as Rainbow struggled with the controls. "Applejack?"

"Okay. Lets go," Applejack's voice replied in the comlink. The ship raced away, followed by droid starfighters which continued firing at the freighter. They turned to see Charming Thunder, bloody and battered, enter the cockpit, supported by Applejack. Twilight jumped up and wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace.

"Oh, Twilight," Charming Thunder mumbled as he returned the hug.

"Alright, Rainbow. Lets go," Applejack called as she sat in the co pilots chair. Twilight helped Charming Thunder from the cockpit to as another blast rocked the ship. He lays down on the on a cot, his injured leg wrapped in a protective cuff. Twilight gently wiped his face as the ship got hit by another blast.

"I'll be back," Twilight whispered before giving Charming Thunder a kiss on the cheek and turned to Fluttershy and said, "Watch over him."

"Okay," Fluttershy said as he walked up to where Charming Thunder laid and sat next to him. As Twilight made her way back to the cockpit, Shining Armor and Applejack were madly working the ship's controls. A huge blip had recently appeared on the radar screen, and Twilight recognized it right away.

"Lucrehulk battleship," she murmured.

"It looks like a blockade," Fancypants said as he pointed to the other ships.

King Sombra was at the window of the battleship's bridge watching as the escaping ship gets closer. A battle droid pilot approached him and said, "They'll be in range of our tractor beam in moments, your highness."

"Good. Prepare the boarding party," King Sombra said. "And set your weapons for stun."

"Yes, your highness." The droid went back to its controls of the battleship and readied the battleship to activate the tractor beam.

Twilight was pressing buttons as she plotted a course back to Ponyville. "The coordinates are set to Ponyville," Twilight said. "Even if we have to push through the blockade."

"We can loose them if we go under them," Rainbow suggested. "Once we fly under the blockade, we won't have to bother flying over them and getting caught in their tractor beam."

"Great idea, Rainbow," Cadence said. "Lets try it." As the freighter was about to fly under the blockade, Charming Thunder was resting until he heard a voice.

"Charming Thunder," Sombra's voice said in his head.

"Father!" he said when he opened his eyes.

Fluttershy noticed him awake and asked, "Who?"

"Son, come with me," the voice said again.

"Luna, why didn't you tell me."

"Tell you what?" The ship shook as he got up and walked to the cockpit. Fluttershy followed him as he walked.

Back at the cockpit, Rainbow checked the sensors and said, "We're undetected. They're blind." Cadence and Shining Armor worked frantically as the freighter raced under the blockade. Charming Thunder limped his way into the cockpit, gazing out the window.

"Its Sombra," he mumbled as he lifted his hoof to the glass.

"Charming Thunder, it is your destiny," Sombra's voice echoed again.

"Luna, why didn't you tell me," Charming Thunder asked himself.

"Strap yourselves in," Rainbow said. "This is going to be bumpy."

"Why?" Shining Armor asked.

"Before we left Canterlot, I installed something that will give us a boost away from those fighters behind us. Lets just say that it is kind of like a sonic rainboom." She then pulled a lever and the ship got a boost of speed away from the fighters. They finally escaped King Sombra's forces and headed straight to Ponyville.

Sombra stood at the window transfixed on cloud city as he sensed that the ship has escaped. The droids then glanced at him in terror as he slowly turned and trotted off of the bridge.

Charming Thunder's eyes slowly slid opened and noticed that he wasn't on the ship anymore. He was laying on a hospital bed. He turned to see a tall medical droid with modular arm attachments as he was checking his medical conditions. "Good morning," the medical droid said.

"What happened?" Charming Thunder asked.

"You've been sent here in a coma for two days. Your hoof is replaced with a cybernetic one." Charming Thunder then looked at his right hoof and saw his golden cybernetic hoof.

"Thank you for helping me. I appreciate it."

"It was my pleasure. Now if you excuse me. Nurse Redheart needs me with another patient. In the meantime, I'll send the visitors in." The droid opened the door and as it left the room Twilight and the rest of his friends entered the room.

"Hey, Charming Thunder," Twilight said. "How are ya' feeling."

"I'm fine thanks to you." He looked around and noticed something missing. "Where's Canderous?"

"He sacrificed himself to let us escape cloud city."

"He was an honorable colt," Rarity added.

"And what of Fancypants and Fleur? Where are they now?"

"They are staying at Canterlot 'til we find a way to take back the city," Rainbow said.

"Twilight, can I talk to your friends alone for a second?"

"Of course." Twilight trotted out of the room and closed the door.

"Listen, girls. I have something to tell you. Fluttershy, do you remember the time back on the ship that I was talking to myself?"

"Yes. I was confused at first," Fluttershy replied. "And now you are going to tell us. But why not Twilight?"

"Because she wouldn't understand what I'm about to tell you. When the time comes, I will tell her. Tell Cadence and Shining Armor about it as well. Promise me that you won't tell nopony else."

"Of course, sugarcube," Applejack said as she placed a hoof on his arm.

"Cross my heart hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye," Pinkie said as she gestured the words.

"Thank you." Charming Thunder took a deep breath and said, "King Sombra is...my father." The group then gasped at what he said.

"Wait a second," Pinkie said as she grabbed a cup of water and took a sip. She then spat out the water and shouted, "SOMBRA IS YOUR FATHER!!!"

"Really?" Rainbow asked. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. He told me himself before you rescued me."

"How's your hoof by the way?" Fluttershy asked. Charming Thunder then showed the group his new and approved arm as it shined to their faces.

"The medical droid did what it could."

"We better get going," Applejack said. "I need to start bucking those apples out of those trees."

"I'll see you later once I'm out of the hospital, okay?"

"Okie dokie loki," Pinkie Pie said as she bounced out of the room. Twilight then entered the room to talk to Charming Thunder as the group left.

"I'm glad that you're all right," Twilight said as she placed a hoof on his cybernetic hoof. "I was afraid that you died."

"Me too," he said. He then turned to the window and said to her, "Don't worry, Twilight. This time when I see King Sombra again, I will defeat him." TIE Interceptors flew over the hospital as they flew towards the fleet and headed straight for Canterlot.

THE END

Prologue

Once upon a time in a magical land of Equestria....

EQUESTRIA WARS

Episode II
The Lunar Republic Strikes Back

It is a dark time for the Republic. Although the Death Star was destroyed, Equestrian troops have driven the Lunar forces from Canterlot and pursued them across Equestria.

Evading the Equestrian fleet, a small group of those still loyal to the Republic cause, led by Queen Chrysalis, have established a new base in the remote icy waste lands in the north.

Charming Thunder, obsessed with finding the remaining Lunar forces has dispatched thousands of remote probes to the four corners of the world....