Star Wars: Power of the Dark Side

Star Wars: Power of the Dark Side
Chapter XIX: Faded Lines

Vesper breathed calmly. Despite the harsh weather and the cold stinging air that cut through her fur and skin like a razor blade, she felt nothing of the harsh weather conditions. She did not feel the harsh embrace of winter. She did not feel the cold hand of ice and snow envelope her. No, she used her anger as an outlet for her power and to keep the elements at bay. Her simple cloak was enough, to stay the steely blade of winter at bay.

She had finished her task rather quickly, two weeks and three days had passed since Lord Scorpan had given her assignment. Since then she had serious time to think on her own. She was isolated, alone, no pony around for miles. She had done things alone and at the very beginning of this test, she did not know if she could have made it through it. Now Vesper had no doubt, this was a trying but very doable test. Minus the ghosts that tried to devour her force essence ever so often.

The ghosts really were the only thing that faired a problem to her. She could not physically harm them, and her force powers had no effect. She had almost lost her life the first few times, and nearly died a third as she was tricked and fell down a chasm. However, it was there that she had found her salvation against the ghastly hauntings. It was there she found the armour of Darth Embra.

It was a simple set of armour. Lighter than anything she had worn before. Appearing very archaic and fit well to her short and lean physique. The armour was a dark ebony with light blue accents around the spaulders, barding chest plate, and the hoofed bracers. While she wore the armour she felt faster and slightly more agile than before, like the force had somehow enhanced the physical output of the wearer. Her strength had slightly improved and her stamina lasted longer than usual.

When she had returned from the secret cranny, she found out that she even learned a force technique that allowed her to devour ghosts and use them to improve her force capabilities. She had devoured many of the specters that haunted the ruins of the Celestial Citadel. She had never felt so much power before.

True to her promise to herself, she made a routine she followed every morning and she saw slow but sure enough results that made her more physically capable in a fight. That and she practiced more with her lightsaber combat form. She had no way to test if she had improved with it. She recalled her earlier fights and noticed she was put on the defensive a lot which Vesper would now want to avoid. The less she was put on the defensive now, the better.

She traversed the harsh slops of Mount Equus, slippery and icy slopes of the mountain that towered and dwarfed the former majesty that was Celestial Citadel. The howling wind whipping wildly in her ears and bracing the very edge of her hood. Her Sith Blade clanked against her armour, the sound muffled in the blizzardous winds. The slopes steep and jagged sharp ledges jutted up to the heavens. It is said that the First Blessing communicated with the Gods here, and asked for leaders to bring them to a more civilized time. Vesper knew the hidden story well, she had memorized it for the horrors that it truly held.

She needed time away from the fallen castle, she traversed the halls many times and had too many reminders of her dearly missed friend. And whenever that she thought about Applejack she began to think about all of her friends, and their judgment of her character. She felt the brim of the insults cascade through her vast mind and she clenched against them and sheltered her feelings.

As well to find an artifact, another holocron that she had read about in hidden notes in the Celestial Citadel. She learned that in the War of Light and Shadow, the Sith had hidden away with a Sith Lord named Darth Mortis and they took hold in the forgotten and wasted castle. They used enslaved wizards to cast wards and protections on the new Sith hold and even moved far into Mount Equus. It was Mount Equus that things began to change with the Sith. They learned that the Changelings had found the Sith teachings and slowly but surely turned it against them. In time the Sith had made the Changelings flee from their hive and settle elsewhere. In the mountain the Sith hid many artifacts and notes of great power, those Changelings that defected and satyed helped and joined the new Dark Blessing, in hopes that their Jedi counterparts would never find them. They hid clues in the fallen castle and Vesper took great pleasure in finding a specific artifact that would aid her in her condition that hindered her joint Magic and Force capabilities.

She as well needed to lead the Jedi that followed her astray.

She knew it was a Jedi because she could sense the goodness of heart.

The Jedi did not tail far behind and though they thought that Vesper could not sense them, they were horribly wrong.

She climbed a ledge and planted her hooves hard on the jagged and yet smooth stone surface. She stopped as she reached the centre of the stone ledge and waited for the Jedi to quickly join her. Her kerchief that she had wrapped around her neck helped in staving out the cold bite of the harsh winds. She stood on her hind legs and brought a forehoof to rest on the necklace that was around her neck. On the simple leather cord was the necklace that Applejack had worn before Vesper had killed her. She closed her eyes as she flashed a memory in her mind. The memory of when she had both Applejack and Rarity over for a slumber party. Such a simpler time, a time of merriment and laughter that did not have complications or any foretelling of greater conflicts. A smile had danced her lips, albeit not very long but it warmed her heart some at the memory. Despite the fact that they barely got along, they had agreed to for Vesp...for Twilight.

She wore it and it had weight, emotional weight that helped her accept her friend's death. A reminder of what she had done and a reminder that no matter what, she would never do this to her friends ever again.

Vesper opened her eyes as she heard the hooves stop climbing and stand behind her. An expansive cave mouth opened, just where she had deciphered and read. It was dark and all natural light died as it went deeper and deeper, into the very shadows of oblivion. Vesper did not feel a twinge of fear as she gazed into it, she looked into the darkness and found a sliver of pride rise through her as she found the cave that held more Sith secrets than any other she had read about in the notes and books she had found.

A voice raged over the wind, apparently out of breath, "Twi-light."

Vesper turned in dismay and looked to find a sweating and exhausted Rainbow Dash standing before her. Dressed in the garb of a Wonderbolt. Vesper was stunned to say the least, and asked, "Rainbow? What...what are you doing here?"

Rainbow drew in a large gulp of air and explained, "The princess sent me here to you. Listen, it's bad...like...really bad."

She paused as she looked Vesper up and down and fear garnered across her expression, "What...what are you wearing?"

From the fear, Vesper could guess that she knew the significance of the robes. Vesper was afraid of something like this happening. She rested a hoof on the holocron and bent her head to look at the protrusion in the pocket of her robe. It hummed with resonating dark side energy. Raw and uncut. Waiting for Vesper to feed off of it.

Vesper almost choked at the sorrow in Rainbow's voice as she stuttered, "Wha-wha-what happened to-to your h-horn?"

"I have a lot to explain..."

Rainbow shouted outbursting , "What the fuck is happening, Twilight!? First, you suddenly whisk yourself way off to the creepiest fucking place in Equestria! Then, my idles all die at the same time. I have to live in Canterlot because of my new job, away from my friends might I add. Three of which are crazy fucking lunatics who wear black robes and are starting some sort of fascist regime. Fuck!"

Vesper was surprised and shocked at the level of language and volume she expressed her emotions. Too many emotions swirled within her for Vesper to exactly pinpoint which one she felt the most. They were all some what equal. After her rant, Rainbow Dash slumped down on a small boulder and folded her ears back, facing the direction from where they came from. Vesper felt sympathy for the Wonderbolt as she sat in her sadness facing where she had likely came from.

Vesper joined sides with her and sat next to her in silence. Her Sith philosophies told her against this and dismiss her away, but Vesper could never turn away from one of her friends. She was, in fact, doing this for them. Holding onto the last bit of loyalty and personality she had ever since she had taken up the mantle of Sith'ari. She had big shoes to fill and expectations to meet. And now, so did Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow sniffled, stifling a tear to run down her cheek and she muttered, "I just want everything to go back to normal..."

Vesper considered offering a hoof for comfort but she was not exactly dressed to comfort or counsel anything or anypony for that matter. That and what could she say, that everything was going to go back the way it used to be? No, it was too far for that. She was in too deep to turn back now.

Vesper sighed, "It's too late now...this is our world now."

Silence stretched on for what seemed like an eternity, it was uncomfortable and Vesper wished she was not apart of it. But she was partially to blame for it. She had taken weeks to devote all of her time with the teachings of the Sith. The silence was indeed loud and there was nothing that Vesper could do to alleviate it. It was hard to grasp and certainly hard if is somepony like Rainbow Dash. Too hard. Rainbow Dash had gone through so much and likely much more if this is to continue. And she knows it, which is why she is so anxious and fearful.

Finally, Rainbow Dash asked quietly, "Are you one of them?"

Vesper tried to find a good answer for her, "Not necessarily, I am not siding with them no. But I am learning the ways of the Sith."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you doing this?" Vesper feared the way that she sounded, she sounded to level headed despite the situation and it ran her cold with dread, "Why are learning this?"

Vesper dug deep and replied openly to her friend, "I am doing this for you...and for our friends-"

"So you cut off your horn for your friends?"

"Well-"

"You would sacrifice yourself just for us? I thought you above all ponies never liked to be singled out or single out anypony."

"Now Rainbow listen-"

"You should never sacrifice yourself for your friends-"

"I'm trying to protect Equestria!" Vesper shouted, using the Force to project her voice louder. Being careful not to start an avalanche. She continued in a quieter voice, "I cut off my horn because I believed it to be the only way to save Equestria...I was wrong...I put my faith in somepony that I never knew about or never cared to trust. I was carving my own path of self-destruction.

"But I have a new mentor, who has walked both paths of the Force and now I am going to take hold of my destiny and embrace what I must do-"

"Twilight!" Vesper turned her attention away from Rainbow Dash, who as well followed to find the source of the shout. Vesper looked up and knew that she sensed the light side.

The figure was a blur as they rushed in and embraced her warmly. The hug was comforting and the very familiar voice sputtered in her shoulder, "Thank Equestria that you are okay! Oh stars, I thought the worst had happened to you darling!"

Vesper shoved he away and said, "What are you doing? How did you find me? And aren't you-"

"A Jedi." Rarity said slightly hurt a the shove away and she explained, "Not if I could help it. Yes I use the light side of the force but I cannot fully embrace what the Jedi believe in. To be honest it never felt right in the beginning. I am a Gray Jedi."

Vesper tried t wrap her mind around it and nothing seemed to add up. Vesper shook her head violently and said, "But wait, how could this have happened? Aren't Jedi taught really young?"

Rarity nodded, "Yes. I was one of the first of a new generation of force sensitives. As was you. Sunset Shimmer was one as well. We were brought in and Sunset had shown prodigy like control of the force. At every turn, I could never fully embrace the code, which is why I am just a Jedi Master and not seated on the council."

Rairty's expression was warm as she said, "I am just so glad that you are alright, I just don't know what I would have done if I had found you-"

She looked at Vesper's chest and she seemed petrified, Rainbow followed her gaze and she seemed shocked as well. Vesper swallowed, as Rainbow Dash pointed, "Twilight...why do you have Applejack's necklace?"

Vesper made no eye contact as she rested a hoof on the necklace and she spoke, "...I...we...I was learning the ways of the Sith at the Celestial Citadel and she had a band of Mandalorian Warriors with her...they attacked me...it took me a while but I got them...me and Applejack met. I tried to reason with her, but she was just so blinded by what she believed in that she tried to kill me..."

Vesper clenched her eyes at the horrible sound of sword piercing through flesh, she fought tears as she finished, "...I had to...there was nothing I could have done...she was too far gone."

Rarity pulled Vesper in for another comforting hug and soothed, "Shh, darling it's okay...I forgive you."

Silence filled the three of them after Vesper's explanation and Vesper stood there in Rarity's embrace for a good few minutes. She forgot how comforting a hug was and how soft Rarity was, she had always given the best hugs. And yet despite this, she could not feel better about herself with her murder of one of her close friends. What really shook her was how quiet Rainbow Dash was, she was deathly quiet throughout all of this. Vesper had never heard Rainbow Dash get so quiet before. Vesper pulled herself away and nearly whispered, "Rainbow Dash...are you okay?"

Rainbow Dash offered no reaction, all she did was, she cracked, "I...I-I can't believe this...it just feels like-"

"-Your life is slipping through your hooves?" Twilight chided, "I know the feeling. I have felt that for a long time, the only thing that has been pushing me is you guys. But now...I don't know who to trust anymore."

Rarity rested a hoof on her shoulder comfortingly, "You have us Twilight. As long as I breathe, I will aid you in any way that I can."

Rainbow Dash took in a breath, seemingly burying her feelings down inside her and said, "Well...that's...a lot to take in. I have to head back and report back to Celestia."

Rainbow Dash flew off, slower than usual, Rarity commented, "Poor dear...she was perhaps the closest to Applejack."

Vesper shook herself and added, "What news...of Equestria and its ponies?"

Rarity coughed, regaining her composure, "Well...the last remaining Sith revealed themselves. Darth Mortis and Darth Koselig. They have effectively divided Canterlot and next...the rest of Equestria."

Vesper turned towards the large mouth of the cave and stared deep into the shadows and commented, "Then I must be swift."

"That's not all."

"Really?"

"Indeed, darling, "Rarity turned next to Vesper, "Celestia has brought back the Jedi and are starting to hunt you down. She is a warmonger and it is only a matter of time before she embraces her true nature to hunt you down herself. And she will not hesitate."

Vesper processed the information, her beloved mentor is now her enemy. How had it come to this? How could this have happened? She had never expected herself to be on opposite sides of her and it pained her greatly. But she had likely hired those Mandalorians and gods know what else she had sent after Vesper. However, she had the element of surprise and mobility of one person. However, Celestia threw the first punch anything at this point is retaliation. And Vesper would do just that.

Vesper sighed, "Why are you doing this?"

Rarity shrugged, "You are my friend. I am not going to forsake our years of friendship because the princess wants a loyal and obedient lapdog. I will try and keep up the facade, but I do not know how long I can put up with it before she starts to knows my next move or exiles me for transpiring with the enemy."

Vesper smiled, "I'm glad that you accept what I am doing and have faith in me."

Rarity returned, "My pleasure Twilight, always."

Rarity looked over the dark cave mouth and asked, "So, what are we getting in that cave?"

Vesper took in a deep breath and stepped closer to the cave mouth, "Inside that cave is the key to my victory against my former master. My reconnection to my magic, as I can wield magic and force at the same time. This is my edge against him."

Rarity stepped forward and stepped to the side and ushered her towards the cave mouth and said, "Well then, let's get underway darling."

Twilight nodded and stepped ever closer to the dark mouth and was slightly put at ease knowing that one of her closest friends was now an ally. And not an enemy, relief was nice to have at this moment in time. For now, she needed to occupy her mind with her revenge against Venator and Celestia.