Star Wars: Power of the Dark Side
Chapter VII: A Different Course of Study

"Hello." A stallion's voice said in an inviting tone, yet underlying in his voice there was a level of cruelty and viciousness that chilled Twilight to the bone. Twilight returned to a normal standing position and standing no more than a few feet away from her was a fully formed and full standing stallion, her eyes widening on the spot.

He was tall and well structured, he appeared as if he could give Big Mac a run for his own bits. His face slightly obscured from a dark hood pulled over his head. She could only see the end of his muzzle, his jaw very well structured and his color was dampened by the blue glow that made him up, though she could guess that it was a pale color. The hood was connected to a long dark ebony robe and an even darker tunic.

Though what caught her eye was not what he wore but what was slightly obscure, tucked underneath the edge of his robe glinted what appeared to be the hilt of a sword, but it was too round and it glistened. Twilight became more aware of the situation, apparently she was correct to throw up a shield in case. Now she wished she had used a different spell for defense.

Twilight set herself in a defensive stance, she could not be too careful about these things. She learned well from her fight with Tirek and if this creature thought that they would be able to make it past her without a fight, then he had another thing coming.

He was towering and while he looked and sounded threatening he gave no clear guess that he was here to harm her. He raised a hoof and stated calmly, "I am not here to harm you, nor can I. This is an interactive recorded message."

Twilight waved a hoof through the figure, her fear flaring for a moment that caused her to yip. The ominous figure chuckled, "Yes, I cannot harm you and you cannot harm me."

Twilight muttered to herself, "Incredible..."

"Indeed, I was lucky that I could record as much so that I could respond to questions."

Twilight looked back at the figure, her mind swelling with too many questions to focus on only one. She seemed slightly at ease knowing that they could not harm each other. She felt more fear than when she stood down Tirek.

Twilight wanted to get the obvious out of the way, "What is your name?"

The figure barely flinched at the question, he did not even take a breath or move his head, he stood like stone as he answered, "I am known by many names, some that many of this world do not even know. You may call me Darth Venator, founding member of the Dark Blessing."

Venator inclined his head and said, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Dark Blessing? Not of this world? Now more questions flooded her mind, causing a slight twinge of pain to strike her frontal lobe. She shook her head briefly and refocused as Venator commented, "This is usually where you are to introduce yourself to me, as per the etiquette of equine conversation."

Twilight knit an eyebrow and curtsied, "I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, acting magistrate of Ponyville."

Venator gave a wicked grin, one that likely was not supposed to appear threatening but it had the same level of warmness as a crocodile, "You can live around ponies for a thousand years and still they can surprise you...such odd names for settlements...but I digress, you have more questions. Please ask, and I will likely answer."

Twilight pondered for a moment and paced in place, she could tell that while he appeared brutish and barbaric he held the demeanor of a learned pony. She was facing somepony of an advanced intellect so obvious questions were out. Though she had one that had been pecking at her since she found the artifact.

Twilight motioned to the artifact, "This...artifact or whatever it is, what is it?"

Twilight then noticed that the image of Venator was being projected from the artifact and he moved slightly as he talked, "This is a holocron. It is an artifact and relic of great knowledge and power. Holocrons have also been known to house spirits of the dead, but such things are very advance and could likely compromise the integrity of the holocron. Mainly, however, their use is reserved for teaching Force techniques but it is not their only use."

Twilight knit an eyebrow at the over pronunciation of the word, "Force?"

With great passion Venator explained, "The Force is a living breathing thing. It flows through us all and connects us all together. Something that I think some of us forget."

Twilight stored that piece of information, tapping her chin she continued without his say so, "In a book I read, it mentioned that this...holocron? Harbored a weapon capable of destroying the planet. Is this true?"

A smirk found its way to Venator's mouth as he gave a half answer, "Allow me to ask something in return, what is classified as a weapon?"

She considered the question, "A weapon is an object with the potential of inflicting bodily harm or physical damage."

Venator seemed amused by the answer, "I could not ask for a better answer. Yes, this is true. Now, what about weapons used for a noble cause like say the defense of another being? Like a shield, for example."

Twilight did not understand where he was going with this, but she played along anyways, "Okay..."

Venator must have knit an eyebrow, though it is uncertain to determine whether or not he did, "How would you classify a shield? Would you classify something that is used for protection as a weapon?"

Twilight shrugged, "I suppose not."

"Yet we allow ourselves to be consumed that while it can protect, it can also harm, therefore it is technically considered a weapon. Back to the question, yes it is true. But it is not a weapon." Venator answered, pacing around the room and glancing out one of the many windows in her office. Twilight corrected herself, clearly this was a superior mind. If this certain pony can create a an interactive message then clearly he was above a certain level of intelligence.

The way he phrased everything though and how he projected his voice, he sounded so confident and noble in his every syllable. Twilight could think of a few ponies that could use some pointers from this pony. If he was a pony at all.

He said he was from somewhere off this planet and that scared her, this made her wonder of whether or not they are prepared for more like him.

As if he read the expression on her face, Venator said, "You have no idea..."

It could barely be heard and Twilight asked, "You didn't answer one of my earlier questions."

He turned his gaze back to her as she continued, "Who created the holocron?"

Expressionless, Venator answered, "I did."

While she asked questions they were all petty and mattered little despite how heavy they might have seemed. She really had gotten nowhere on what he is or how he created this. Just vague questions and vague answers. However, she swallowed hard and rested a hoof on the oak table, "Why did you create this holocron, besides allow a weapon of mass destruction rest inside?"

Venator took his time to answer and he said, "Beauty and harmony, governed by one eternal law. All that begins, must end...my life had ended centuries before you found this holocron and believe me Twilight it was no accident that you found this.

"You see, the Force, can often have effects on ponies allowing a certain level of midochlorians to allow itself to well inside of you. This chemical allows a certain connection to be made to the Force and it grants special powers to the wielder. You did not find this artifact-"

"-It found me?" Twilight interrupted.

"Yes, it responded to the level of midochlorians that runs through your veins. I designed it so that somepony with a certain concentration of this chemical to let the holocron find itself to that pony. And it happens to be you."

He paused and turned to her, "While I am an interactive recording, I am still very much a teacher. And for the trials and tribulations that lie ahead...you all will need this. This is destiny at work, Twilight Sparkle. You will carry the mantle that cannot be carried by any other pony, a rite to many but few ever succeed. You must carry the mantle of Dark Lord of the Sith."

Twilight swallowed hard and stepped back in fear, "Dark Lord?"

Venator's voice became darker toned and his seriousness never ceasing to cause shivers to run up her spine, "Sadly yes, it is a ver tall order. As there are none left to live. Though I am not telling you how to run your life, I am merely stating the facts. This holocron chose you for a reason, Twilight. Remember that you chose to investigate this. You brought this on yourself, and quite possibly the ones you love. You know little of what lies within this holocron, yet you know that it is dangerous. This holocron can find somepony else who is just as worthy as you are."

It all was true, she did take it from the castle and decided to investigate. There were numerous times for her to just drop it or turn it back over to Celestia. But the way that he spoke, he made it sound as if there was something on its way to Equestria to harm its citizens. She turned away from Venator and thought long and hard.

Something was coming, and the way that Darth Venator was phrasing everything. She was likely not going to be able to handle this threat with the Elements of Harmony or with conventional magic. She witnessed first hoof that something that inherently had this Force, resisted magic aside from telekinesis. And the only reason the Elements work is because it is a positive reaction to the negative magic that a being emits. Which kind of made sense, considering the Elements would not work on Sombra.

She as well had to admit that her curiosity was peaked, this being had knowledge that she would love to know. There was a reason however, that this title was called Dark Lord of the Sith. It likely had properties similar to that of dark magic, in that it had adverse effects on the user.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Darth Venator, "If I may add, I would like to mention something. While you would hold a title that can make normal ponies tremble, know that my teachings are not conventional of the normal ways of the Sith. I will teach you that, while you might choose one side, you personally do not change."

Interpretation, there were benefits to using dark magic and Princess Luna proved that she could wield it correctly.

While these all convinced her, there was one fact that drove it home. She wanted, with all of her heart, to protect her friends and family.

Twilight turned sternly to Darth Venator and said, "Alright, I have considered my options and I only see that, through learning your teachings, can I protect the ones that I love."

Darth Venator inclined his head briefly and said with the same level of seriousness, "Alright. But be warned, you will have great powers and I can mold you into something powerful. You will be hunted for what you are. From this moment on, I am the only one that you trust. There exist on both sides of the force, fanatics who will lead you astray. Zealots of light who wish to purge you, and fanatics of the dark that wish to cut you down and take your spot. You will learn not of complete darkness, but its perks and you will learn partially of the light.

"From this moment forward you will refer to me as your master, you will answer with only 'Yes, my master'. From me you will know the true power of the dark side."

Twilight shivered, she knew that she was playing into this pony's hoof but she did not care. She wanted to protect those she loves, while she will go into this with an open mind, she will close off anything that is too much. She knew her limits, and she was not going to change because of this. What she is doing could be classified as reckless and foolish. But she could not doubt her sneaking suspicion that somethign was coming.

She rested her gaze on the holocron that rested on her table, within that holocron lied their salvation from this horrible fate that will befall Equestria if she would continue on with any other plan.

Twilight did not move and asked, "When do we start, my master?"

She glanced over her shoulder and Venator answered, "Immediately."

Author's Note

Sorry for that cliff hanger everyone......actually no I'm not, that was really fun