260 years after the Battle of Yavin, deep in the Unknown Regions.
Rarity stood in a dark hall, lit with dim red lights. She glanced around, analyzing her fellow enforcers. Pinkamena was here, her flat pink hair complementing the scar over her right eye, radiating a cold, wrathful seriousness. So was Rainbow Dash, outwardly as cocky as always, but underneath that exterior feeling nervous.
And then there was Fluttershy. She was not an enforcer, but the others respected her nonetheless. She had saved them from life-threatening injuries numerous times, but Sith do not feel gratitude.
No, they respected her because they feared her. Normally she was a pacific healer. Normally.
The doors slid open, then closed as Lady Sunset, Lord of the Sith walked into the room.
They bowed, and waited as Sunset walked up to her throne. She sat, and gestured to them. "You may rise."
They rose, the Enforcers inwardly wondering why they had been summoned. Their mistress did not waste time with trifles.
Sunset answered the unspoken question. "You are here because I have an announcement to make." Sunset paused for a moment, then continued. "I will be gone for a few hours."
Each one of the Enforcers internally perked up. The one who was named as commander while she was gone could execute a coup, wresting control for themselves.
"You hope that one of you will be Commander while I am gone. However, that honor goes to another." Lady Sunset gestured, and a figure stepped out of the shadows. "She will command you while I go on my errand."
"What???!!!" Rainbow Dash cried out. "My Lady, I am your most loyal servant, your most-"
Lady Sunset cut her off. "Arrogant and cocky Enforcer." Sunset gestured to the dark-robed figure. "Say hello."
The figure threw back its hood. A tanned and freckled face, with piercing green eyes and a head of pale blonde hair stared out at them.
They stared in shock, each one momentarily thrown back to more than a decade ago, before Lady Sunset had come to their world.
"Applejack??!!"
"Hello, girls."
Fluttershy suddenly ran forward. "It's you!!" she cried, her arms wrapping around Applejack. Applejack stiffened, then relaxed as Fluttershy clung to her, her heart pouring out about how they had all thought that she was dead.
It soon became clear that Fluttershy wasn't going to willing let go anytime soon. Rarity saw Lady Sunset glaring, but she did nothing.
Of course she can't do anything. It's too dangerous, Rarity though to herself.
Applejack, clearly uncomfortable about the hugging, tried to gently push Fluttershy away, but Fluttershy clung on.
Applejack gripped her, then shoved her away.
Unfortunately, Fluttershy hit one of the pillars that lined the hall.
Oh no... Rarity thought in horror, her fellow Enforcers mirroring her expression.
Fluttershy staggered to her feet. "You hurt me," she said in a state of shock. Then her expression changed, a snarl of pure hatred and malice overtaking her.
"YOU HURT ME!!!"
She lunged at Applejack, who instinctively dodged, rolling to the side. Fluttershy turned, her eyes now blazing with anger. A torrent of force lightning poured from her hands, coursing through Applejack.
Applejack somehow managed to stay on her feet, igniting her lightsaber. It had a long, single red blade, with two small blades projecting out of the hilt at 90 degrees to the main blade.
The force lightning spun into the blade. Fluttershy, snarling, grabbed Applejack through the Force, slammed her up into the ceiling, then assisted gravity by slamming her back into the ground. She then yanked her close, grabbing Applejack's hand and breaking it, causing Applejack to cry out in pain and drop her lightsaber. Fluttershy dropped her to the floor, laying on top of her. She placed her hands on Applejack's head, unleashing force lightning once more. Applejack screamed, a terrifying, insane scream, as the force-generated lightning coursed through her pain centers, firing them all at once.
Lady Sunset stood, and uttered a word. What the word was, Rarity didn't catch. But she felt the Force energy that was bound up within it.
The lightning ceased, and Fluttershy's expression changed, the anger and hate melting away as if it had never existed. Her face was filled with compassion and concern. "Oh, you poor girl. Let me help you."
Applejack was unconscious, having blacked out from the indescribable pain. Another moment of it, and she would've been dead. In fact, to anyone else, she would be beyond the point of saving.
But not Fluttershy. The Force began to radiate from her, the light blazing like a beacon. It filled the room, causing everyone else to shield their eyes.
The light faded, and Applejack slept peacefully.
Lady Sunset frowned in irritation. "I will be leaving as soon as she awakens." She stood, her hood still enclosing her face. "This meeting is now over."
Rarity and her fellow Enforcers bowed, then turned and strode to the end of the hallway. Fluttershy began to follow them, but Sunset gestured to her to halt. Fluttershy reluctantly waited until the Enforcers left, then approached the throne once more.
Sunset, still standing, gestured to Applejack's prone figure. "When will she awaken?"
Fluttershy, briefly bowing her head, spoke. "I'm not sure what hurt her... One moment I was hugging her, next thing I know I'm leaning over her, and she has massive brain damage."
Sunset grit her teeth. "I did not ask for your questions. I asked when she will wake up."
"Within six hours, Sunset."
Sunset Shimmer clenched her jaw further. "How many times have I told you not to call me that?"
"S-sorry, milady", Fluttershy quavered.
Sunset forced her jaw to relax and waved her hand. "Apology accepted. Will she suffer any long-term effects?"
"Not that I'm aware of, milady."
"Good." Sunset locked eyes with Fluttershy. "How are the children?"
Fluttershy frowned. "Physically they are fine. But they continue to be rowdy and have difficulty reining in their anger."
Sunset stared at her. "I will deal with it. Now go."
Fluttershy bowed, then left the room. As the doors slid shut, Sunset sat on her throne, her hands clasped together.
"In six hours Twilight, I will confront you. Then I shall lure you in, and you will discover my plans for the galaxy..."
Sunset grinned. If anyone had seen it, they would have shivered in fear.
