Star Wars: Rise of the Sithby Lord Sylus of NightChaptersSombra's VoidNew DawnSith'ariSombra's VoidStar Wars: Rise of the Sith Chapter 1 Sombra's Void "Awaken. Sith'ari...You are no use to the Sith if you are dead." Vesper stirred. The cold and harsh winter winds whipped incessantly past her ears. Threatening to deafen the young Sith Lord with little of any other sense. Remembering that she is in the cold Frozen North. She clenched her teeth in her mouth and bit back, a thin layer of snow had packed on her back. Shoving away the frostbite, Vesper stood up. The Lord of the Sith stretched, her muscles tight and her bones creaky. She had been lying in the ground for a while. A few of her bones cracked releasing some of the tension within the appendages. She blinked and standing a few feet away was the owner of the voice, Vesper sneered and reached for her lightsaber out of reflex. He wore a long black cloak and think ebony plate mail over his chest, hooves and shoulders. Spikes occasionally donning on his armour. A double hilted lightsaber sheathed at his side. Vesper however did not sense a living being, the Force that he used was not of the physical realm. Her magic as well told her about this. The name of this shadow came more easily than the wind, Sombra. Sombra sneered as he noticed this and commented, his voice thin and raspy, "Smart girl." Vesper rose in anger and defiantly stood towards him, "Wouldn't have killed you if I wasn't." "If memory serves correctly, it was your dragonling slave that delivered the killing blow. You were but a speck. A few more moments and I would have had the Crystal Heart in my hooves." Sombra growled like a wolf, his demeanor was not threatening, thereby deducing that he was not there to incite a fight between them. Which was strange for a few reasons. One, he brutally hated Vesper and her friends. To the point to where he likely would come back from the dead for this. Two, he was taught in a different way of wielding the Force. He was completely immersed in the teachings of the Dark Side. Which is likely how he is able to manifest himself now. Vesper took in a deep breath, more out of annoyance than any real exhaustion, "Leave my servant out of this, if you have something to tell me then speak quickly. I do not take kindly to spirits that have lost their way to the Ethereal Realm." "My my, how you have changed. I expected niceties and preaching of friendship, this...this is strange...even if you are Sith'ari." Vesper grew tired of his arrogant tone, she grumbled as she pushed past him. Though she did find it refreshing that he could actually communicate rather than just grunts and moans. Perhaps the side effects of returning to life in a broken body. Whatever the case, Twilight did not care and decided to humor the ghost, "I am a changed mare." Sombra hovered close, his voice was similar to a lion's growl, "Had Darth Venator left that much dark side energy that he clouded even your judgment?" "Silence-" "I mean, this is you we're talking about. I expected more from you, despite my hatred of you." "I said silence!" Vesper barked, her hoof flicking her lightsaber out of its hilt. The plasma blade ignited in a light amethyst, her face permeating with hatred. She had dealt with more than enough ghosts to last five lifetimes, she was not going to be insulted by another. Sombra huffed and floated on top of the blade, causing no such damage, proving that the was incorporeal. Vesper knew this, but she thought of no way to express her anger without harming the spirit. Though she had no idea why she cared to do him this kindness. His mocking voice tore the final straw however, "Heh, you are hardly in a position to make any kind of threat." "Oh am I?" Vesper turned, fully facing the dead Sith Lord. Vesper willed a combined spell and manifestation of the Force, the energies mixing and causing a discharge within the spirit, crippling it. Sombra coughed as if he once again depended on air, he keeled over and began violently coughing. Ethereal energy escaping him and absorbing into Vesper. Magically forming chains over the spirit. But she shook away the sympathy and barked, "I willingly took this mantle of Sith'ari and this is how I am repaid? No, you will speak your peace and then leave me. I have no desire to be influenced by a worm such as you." She willed the subdued Sith Lord towards her and got a better look at the spirit. Underneath his hood, his face was sunken and slightly less ebony in colour, taking on a whiter shade of black. His eyes were more tired and sunken, the faint green mist that weaved out of the corners of his eyes were slower and less as intense as usual. His look could inspire fear into her once. Now she could do nothing but sympathize for the lowly unicorn necromancer. Sombra choked, Vesper beginning to draw on more Ethereal energies, causing Sombra to lose a little bit more colour, "Where is the second Kaiburr Crystal?" Sombra choked, "I...I don't know." Vesper curled her lip in anger and slammed the spirit against the ground, damaging even the incorporeal form. She did not even expend a lot of her energy to do this. She felt pity for him and grimly whispered, "You were once a powerful wielder of dark magic, now look at you. A pathetic husk of something much greater. How such a weak pathetic fool like you ever found your way to the seat of a Dark Lord of the Sith is beyond me. Now I suggest that you don't lie to me or else I will make you sorely regret you ever considered becoming a Sith Lord. You will not even be able to begin to describe the pain that you will feel." Sombra flinched as she raised her other hoof and whimpered, "Stop! No, I swear I have no idea where it is...but I know who does." Vesper released her grip on the spirit and listened, "Speak. Now." Sombra gathered his wits, the thin layer of snowflakes gently falling from the sky. He answered, "There is a crystal sage within the Crystal Empire. She knows where it is, find her and you'll find the second Kaiburr Crystal." Vesper stepped closer and whispered, "Is there another reason why you are here? Other than to annoy me?" Sombra loosely sat up and bowed, "To pledge my undying loyalty to you-AAAGGGHHH!!!" Vesper flicked her wrist, stretching out her hoof and tongues of electricity leeched onto the spectre and begin to destroy his spirit. Vesper insulted, "You're as loyal as a gold digging whore. You live to fight for the winning side. I can see it in your cold dead eyes. Once you see use in me used up then you will try to toss me aside. It is the nature of the old Sith Lords. No, I can accomplish this on my own. At least with those numbers, I can trust." Vesper halted her force lightning only to finish her thought and with a cruel smile she said, "Enjoy eternity in oblivion." Pushing her hoof out against a deafening crack of lightning burst the spirit into nothingness, a silent scream echoing across the tundra plain of snow and ice. Only to fall silent afterwards, with no sound other than the howling wind. This combined power of magic and Force was still something to get used to. She had only recently cast the spell to combine the two mystical forces. They had mixed, but wisps of the opposing energies still remained separate. Feeling as though he soul inside of her was split between two choices and was indifferent to choose either. She wanted both, she needed both, yet her body was rejecting her plights to still combine the two forces. This makes anything she cast unstable, what she could perform was powerful but not as powerful as it could be. With a simple miscalculation could mean the end of her short reign as Dark Lord of the Sith. She looked left and looked right, nothing in sight to guide her to. No beacon to guide her to the salvation of the roaring icy winds of the Frozen North. Her armour clanked as she randomly chose a direction and promptly stepped her way forward. Her mission was simple, to find the next Kaiburr Crystal. Not only would this incite greater protection upon Equestria but it will mean a more even and level headed casting of her spells and force capabilities. As she walked she could feel the residual dark energy of Sombra. Unwelcoming and hissing at the back of her mind, these left over energies of the necromancer unicorn spoke a lot about his impact upon the Frozen North. The magic that ran through the roots of the frozen land was great and potent, but it was inherently dark. Yet in the immersion of darkness she could feel the warmness of light within the void that Sombra had left behind. Showing that the dark lord held a small amount of ambivalence, at least to a degree. HIs socialist reign of the Crystal Empire was to expand, to make it as great as Equestria in half the time it took Celestia and Luna to build. Where it had taken them centuries to shape the perfect country, Sombra would do in a matter of months. A sound plan, but he had gone around to doing it the wrong way. Vesper pocketed the history lesson back into her psyche, focusing on the path ahead. Her journey ahead was long and arduous, but she was determined. Determined to both save it from these invaders that were on their way, and to protect it from itself. She had much work to do. New DawnRise of the Sith Chapter I: New Dawn "My princess, their forces are still hidden from us. Our hunters cannot find a trace of them." This both angered Celestia and surprised her at the same time. These new enemies of hers, whom she trusted dearly, betrayed her. Her pride and her power rose when she learned of this, and the punishment they would feel when she found them would be insurmountable. The pony that spoke to her was Captain Swiftfeather, Captain of the Pegasus Royal Guard, 3rd Regiment. She had not yet assigned commanders, as she would wait until the fighting would start when she would appoint them, Swiftfeather would be a close pick for Celestia. Swiftfeather was a cobalt colored pegasus with bright white mane and tail, accenting the bright gold armor very well. Swiftfeather was originally a transfer from Luna's royal guard, a black sheep amongst them. Celestia saw wasted potential in him and took him over to her Royal guard. And for years he served faithfully, the least could be said for Darth Koselig and Darth Mortis. There was uncertainty in him as well, as she stood there dressed in her armor and her lightsabers weighing down on her belt. Fastened tight and swaying with her every movement, ready to be taken and ignited. She suppressed her magical powers for now, imbuing the sun with it, allowing it to raise and lower on its own, while she welled with the power of the light side. Of which, tarried close to the line of the Dark Side. Something that she always reminds herself. They were upon the Golden Fields, a grass land to the west of Canterlot, heading towards the country of Saddle Arabia. She stood tall upon the grassy knoll overlooking the army she had brought. A force not any larger than perhaps 3,000. A significant amount to show that she was assembling an army, but nothing large enough to issue out large orders or to engage in any real combat. That and the forces of the New Dawn was likely not much. Though Celestia did not underestimate them, the less numbers the more unpredictable they can be. The wind billowed lightly over the plains, her gaze confident on the horizon, knowing full well that they were out there, mocking her. They were just on the edge of her vision, she just knew it. Celestia commanded, "Keep searching, I do not want any parties to cease until we have any information on where they are at." "Yes ma'am." "And I want routine night shifts, evenly distributed throughout the encampment. Anything so much as moves out of place and it will be terminated efficiently." Swiftfeather nodded, bowing respectfully and turned to leave, just as he left she saw Master Adamas. Dressed in her knightly garb, reminding Solinara the days when she was training her. And the day she had to suppress those memories and wait until the final piece would fall into place and engulf Equestria into war once more. She saw it, and did everything she could to stop it. There was a small amount of anger in Adamas' eyes as she entered Solinara's field of view, Adamas bowed respectfully, "Master Solinara." Solinara repeated the gesture, "Master Adamas." Adamas stood next to Solinara, confidence beamed over Adamas as she asked, "So, I suppose you have not picked up anything on them either?" Solinara did not flinch, squinting her eyes at the horizon, "No, if Darth Koselig and Darth Mortis are anything they are masters of intrigue and disguise. I did not know until recently who they were." Solinara whispered her last words, making sure only her and the wind could catch her voice, "A thousand years under my nose." "I as well. You were not the only one affected by that change." Solinara squinted at Adamas, tightening her gaze on the lowly Jedi Master, "Yet you seem...unaffected by Twilight's?" "Are you suggesting that I am a traitor and traded words with her?" Solinara found no crack in the mare's face, this both impressed and troubled her at the same time. Her pride fell slightly as she answered, "No, just curious is all. Don't know who to trust these days." Adamas sighed, "I know...but we can trust in the Force." Solinara breathed deep the plains air, "That we can Master Admas...that we can." She eased her shoulders and asked, turning to the Jedi Master, "There is a reason you have come to me?" Adamas regained her composure as well, sharing that moment with another pony refreshed both of them, "Yes, supplies are running low for the soldiers and all the best trackers have been sent out to find the New Dawn. I was wondering if I could be given the task to hunt for food and water?" Solinara nodded, "Yes you may, though you are a fellow Jedi Master and do not need to take orders from me." Adamas shrugged as she turned to leave, "I know, we are the only Jedi left and I wanted to let you know where I was going in case the worst should happen." Solinara could respect that answer, she felt relieved as well. It told herself that she was not alone. This brought a smile to the Jedi Master's lips and she said, "By all means go, may the Force be with you." "May the Force be with you." Adamas marched off, once more, confidence in her stride. Solinara detected something had happened to her to garner more prideful steps, and she assumed that it was not of romantic involvement, despite Rarity's influence on Adamas. No, it was soemthing else. It reeked of undertow and treason but Solinara did not want to make anything out of a feeling, a gut feeling no doubt. She needed hard facts if she is to deal with Adamas. Solinara shook her head, groaning as she pressed a hoof to her horn. Already Solinara thought of more enemies, Celestia came crashing in her head, "Why do you harbor so much mistrust that the slightest movement irritates you?" Solinara barked back in her head, "I was betrayed by three ponies that I trusted, one of which I treated as my own child, why do you think?" Celestia remained silent, seeing no further argument, she loved her magical alter ego but she hated her at times. Needlessly trusting of anything that talks and breathes. It was something that Solinara came to terms with when she accepted this split personality, something that came with a great amount of time. And many mental battles, which is where Celestia was best. They were a perfect match for one another, each giving one another advice. While she thought of this, her sister came to mind. The struggles she faced with the split, Lunara was ill prepared and not powerful enough to handle this. Add the dead essence of a Sith Lord and out comes a force of powerful darkness, Nightmare Moon. Solinara pitied her sister, that she had to go through such hardships as that. Solinara subconsciously rubbed her shoulder, feeling the very briefly flaring of wounds. Wounds that never fully healed, wounds that not even time itself could fully heal. Her gaze lowered as she thought of this, Celestia wrapped her brain warmly and tightly, helping her in forgetting those memories. Tucking them deep and away, knowing full well that Nightmare Moon was no longer a threat to anypony. Solinara breathed, "Oh Lunara, may the Force be with you. Dear sister." "I need you to focus, Adamas. You are powerful in the Force, I know you can do this..." Adamas winced, a pain rising in her head. These memories that have trickled in from the time she had come back to herself was beginning to impart physical reactions from her body. These side effects have been impeding on her ability to think and ponder her situation. She shook her head, expelling the pain for but a singular moment. As quickly as it had come, the pain was gone. She survived the ritual true, but for what? And at what cost? The Jedi master looked to the horizon, seemingly asking the sun for answers, but quickly found none. It was strange, looking upon a celestial body and not through the eyes of a pony that saw the mare behind it. A near goddess, and yet now she looked on it with disdain and unfamiliarity. Squinting in its dying light, she huffed and continued on her tracks to trap food for the soldiers. Adamas breathed out. She did not hate her former master for what she did, if only she had known what she had meant that day. These memories she had slowly been receiving had no sway on her now, they were memories and that was it. There was emotion behind them, but they were a mere spectre of what they had formerly meant. Perhaps that was her cold mindset coming back to haunt her. It was true that she kept herself separate from her emotions, at least during combat, but she could not shelter herself perfectly from her emotions. Nor could Celestia, and Adamas knew that for a fact. The wind gently rustled against the tall grass, the blades lightly caressing the fabric of her robes. She found a deep animalistic satisfaction with grasslands, she could start galloping or hours and hours upon its billowing softness. She felt peace, she felt serenity. It was heaven, this feeling. She could see the appeal now of what the Dark Side entailed, there was bliss in allowing the love of all things embrace you, make you stronger. Passion is what motivates the masses, it drives all ponies to do wondrous things. Her time spent away from being a Jedi had taught her that. Which is why t conflicted her now on whom she trusted, her former master or her most trusted friend. Though she swore allegiance with Vesper, she could not lend her full loyalty to her. It somehow felt wrong, but it also felt right. Again, she had seen the warmongering tyrant Solinara can be. And the power. But it corrupts, truly Vesper must know this. Adamas had never known Vesper...no...Twilight to be a fool. Never to rush foolhardy in, no, she was deliberate. She was calculated. Even in this new state, she was not like Adamas or Solinara, or Koselig, or Mortis. No, she was still herself, only changed. Adamas felt woozy for a moment, she stopped and calmed her senses, "Oh...this is so conflicting." But she had a task, track food for the soldiers. Soldiers had already been sent out, despite their lack of experience in tracking. This of course was not a statement of the military teachings that was given to them, but they were just simply not taught in standard hunting and tracking. Why did they have too? They lived in a perpetual state of peace for over a thousand years of peace with very little conflict. A border dispute here and there but nothing too over the top. They might find a handful of delectable substances but other than that, nothing more. Adamas calmed her senses, asking the Force for guidance for food. She felt the very pulse of the earth, the breathings of the dirt around her. It was glorious, but she did find what she was looking for. She smirked as she found an abundance of vegetables and clover. Alfalfa as well, it grew in splendor. She stopped though, something was wrong. Not with the food she had found, something else entirely. She felt a disturbance in the Force. It was raw, unbridled in is chaotic purity. Not like the calm darkness that was Vesper, the gentle blanket she could only describe as enticing to say none the least. But this, this was a power outlet for the Dark Side. Sith beasts were not uncommon, but this was almost sinister in its display. She could see the form now, a lithe wolf, gently stalking in the brush near her. Quiet and calm, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. She knew there were more nearby, and she did not even need to sense them to know that. Adamas calmly unclasped her lightsaber, breathing deeply, drinking in the peaceful air while it lasted. Bathing in the glorious moments of peace and serenity. All before chaos erupted on the plains. As though she was riding lightning itself, Adamas charged forth in a burst of Force that made a thudnerous crack across the air. She burst, and in a downward slash she aimed down at the wolf. It missed, the sith beast dodging just in the nick of time. Pouncing for a counter attack, it snarled as it leapt through the air towards her. She punched her hoof in the air and released a salvo of pure Force energy. The wolf was violently sent through the air, landing on the ground with a notable thud. It shrugged off the force that collided with it and growled at the Jedi master. Dark side energy now crackling off of the beasts. They were closing in, the other beasts. Just out of the corner of her senses. This was a trap. She unleashed a series of quick thrusts and slashes with the grace of the wind. Remembering the comfort of the very lightweight curved lightsaber. The flurry of blows collided briefly only to have the dark side energy absorb most of the blow. It was acting as a protective shell around the wolf. This irritated and impressed Adamas at the same time. After the series of maneuvers the wolf almost gave Adamas a smile as it unleashed a howl that caused a choir of them to answer. They closed in and a swiftness Adamas could almost not keep up with. She deflected and dodged the first few pounces and attacks. A few of them landed solid strikes however, one across her hoof and another piercing the flesh on her thigh. She groaned at the pain, but kept calm as she knew that even sith beasts knew how to feed off of the emotions of its prey. With the elegance of a dancer she deflected another wave of unbridled animalistic fury. One after the other, she kept in time and pace with them. Dancing around them as if they were all apart of a ballet they have been rehearsing for. The lessons of defense over attack as beaten into her by Solinara, as she found particular enjoyment in buying time. The alpha of the pack chomped down on her lightsaber, untouched by the dangerous plasma blade. She looked in its eyes, she could see sadistic intent behind them. They spoke to her on an animal level, she was their prey. She did not stand still for long, she let the alpha throw away her lightsaber, seemingly her only way of defense. One of the wolves tackled her to the ground, clamping and tearing at her overcoat. Seeing this happen, she thrust her hoof in a weak point, near its kidney. She heard a wince and the wolf slumped on top of her, she tossed it away and ripped off the overcoat. The silk tunic underneath was scratched and the bruises and wounds of the fight prevalent all around her. She readied her hooves, her mind quickly shifting tactics. It was down to the alpha that was bleeding dark side energy and three more hunters. Two kept to her right, another on her left, and the alpha approaching from the front. She waited calmly, they moved in. Attacking first, was the one on the left. Charging and wishing to daze her, she bashed her hoof against the side of its head and unleashed a quick blinding flurry of punches. Each one was well placed and she watched as the wolf crumpled in a bloody heap next to her. The two on the right were next, each moved in sequence with one another. Separating for a mere moment and meeting together at their target. Wishing to confuse her initially, and succeed where their comrade had failed. However, they would meet the same failure as their fallen comrade. Spinning around and connecting her hind hoof against the jaw of one of them, a horrible crunch erupted the air as it made contact. Quickly ducking out of the way of the second wolf, repeating the same attack she lifted up her leg and bashed its jaw with all the power of her hoof. The wolf flying off of its balance, a horrifying sound of crushing bone exploding the air around her, the thunderous crack of its vertebrae becoming prominent. Under normal circumstances she would not be so forceful to a pack of wolves, but these wolves are not killing for food. They were killing with purpose. She looked at the alpha, at least where he would have been. It would seem that the true colors of the leader are revealed in the final moments, perhaps to inform its dark masters what it witnessed. Adamas spat, a collection of phlegm and blood came out to taint the ground more with blood. She looked to one of her kills and inspected it closely, turning it over to see it without the haze of battle obstructing her view. They were fast, not allowing her to get a good look at them. Their coat was coarse and rough, as it should for a wolf of its size. Patches of flesh were rotted away revealing the flesh and muscle beneath, a vague look at the pure energy of the dark side underneath. It solidified, and as she touched the gossamer layer of dark side energy it dissolved. Normal sith beasts enhanced by its power do not receive such protection. Adamas voiced her thoughts, "These hunters were not designed to fight normal ponies." She pried its jaw open with little resistance, seeing the rows of teeth underneath. As she opened it a thin dark layer of energy evaporated. Normal teeth, unlike the teeth that tossed aside her lightsaber. She grunted, "Humpf...Darth Koselig definitely knows how to breed them." She looked up, in no particular direction and threatened, "Your beasts cannot protect you forever, Koselig." She lifted her hoof and her lightsaber hilt flicked into her grasp and she clipped it to her belt. She left her overcoat and recollected herself, minimal damage. Nothing that would not heal with time. "This encounter will be reported to Solinara. She has to know to keep an extra eye out, " Adamas said with chagrin. The last thing she needed was to give Solinara another reason to look over her shoulder. And Adamas had a sneaking suspicion that this will not be the only attack like this, there will be more traps lying in wait for them. No not a trap. This was not a trap, this was a warning. A warning that the New Dawn was near, and they are waiting. Sith'ariRise of the Sith Chapter III: Sith'ari Vesper hated the snow. It's heavy, even as it falls from the sky and collects on the ground. She loathed its frozen nature. She did however, love cold weather. There was some sickened delight in knowing that only temperature alone could kill a pony. The winter, in her opinion, brought out the true survival nature of ponies. That all ponies must cling to warmth and to stay warm. Those that survive these conditions are true ponies, those that don't deserve their fate. Maybe it was her dark side nature that was taunting her, or maybe it was something deep down inside of her. This anamorphous feeling of true self preservation. She began to run through her teachings as a student of Celestia. Her lessons were consistant on relying on another's abilities, but still praising one's own. That through the actions and consequences of another, that there is teachings to become a better pony. Vesper had to admit, there was merrit in those teachings. However, one's self worth comes from none other than themselves. Ponies are to mold themselves of somepony they admire, but never to copy another. Every pony has a million different reasons to be a million different things. And here she was, revitalizing her trachings of magic that were ingrained in her mind from such an early age. And ultimately what would lead her to her current situation. Her insatiable craving for knowledge. She loved to have it and always strived to know everything. Perhaps that was Twilight's downfall, her curiosity and craving for knowledge caused her to make the wrong decision. Whether wrong or right, it was her decision and she refuses to be torn by it. It has happened, and there is nothing she could do about it now. Throughout her inner debate with her moral compass, she could feel the low thrum of power emanating from the Kaiburr crystal in her lightsaber. The force crystal constantly fed her force energy, a feeling of constant drunken euphoria. She has felt fonts of power before with magic, but one had always had to actively absorb the mana. But with the Force, depending on morality alone these artifacts just give the power. Vesper sighed, releasing air from her muzzle. The cold air rustling the short fur upon her snout. Her footsteps lost no stride in the change of temperature, in fact she felt a little bit more at home in the cold weather. Something her brother likely had as well. Vesper trudged along through the sea of endless white in the direction she vaguely understood was the direction to the crystal empire. The wind beating against her, the cold north trying its hardest to steal another life in its blizzardous like coldness. Her eyes squinted, her mind calculating all manner of things. It was perhaps negative four degrees, with light snowfall. The wind speed, mild. And the chance of a blizzard: 23%. While the chance of a blizzard was so small, she was not one to make risks, and at her current pace she would not reach the Crystal Empire for another two days. If she were to survive, she would need shelter. "Oh, you will need a lot more than just shelter if you are to survive." Vesper groaned as she felt a tide of mental pain and exhaustion attempt to plant its roots. However, she has grown to expect such attacks from spectral forces. Months of training upon the unhallowed ground of a former sith stronghold, she had more than enough practice in combating long dead spirits. They all used the same tricks, tricks that Vesper would not fall for again. The Dark Lord of the Sith expected this spirit as well. She had stolen her armor beneath the stronghold, it was only fair that she would pay the Sith'ari a visit. And that she did. Vesper ahrugged the show of power, beating against her mental barrier, finding the physical manifestation of the spirit. After Vesper found no sight of the spirit she barked against the north wind, "Show yourself, spirit of Nightmare Moon. I am not in the mood for games." "Aw, how sad. How I do adore a good game of cat and mouse..." She felt a shift in the force, as well as the magical winds, as she saw her manifest before her. Taking the frame of Princess Celestia initially, however more thin and lithe muscular structure, she stood tall. Her features manifesting afterwards. Her bright aquamarine eyes, with jet black slits for pupils like a cat's. Her long horn, bearing the sign of great power within the unicorn community, taking its shape. Subconsciously, Vesper rubbed where her pseudo-horn was placed over the wound. Her armor mirrored Vesper's, as they were the same, though Nightmare's did not have any power behind it. As it was appropriate, but Nightmare's show of power came from the force energy and magical energy that radiated off of her. She was powerful, even as she stood before her now. Her eyes analyzed this new Dark Lord of the Sith. A smile crossed the spirit's face as she looked Vesper up and down, "...but you nor I have time for such games." Her countenance reminded her of Princess Luna, though much more older with a sinister gleam in her animalistic eyes. Vesper held back the emotions of Twilight, the anger evening out underneath her skin. She was indeed powerful with every sense of the word. Her voice came softly, the sound of cotton, "Might I say, that you have grown quite impressive. The power that wells underneath you...Mmm...perhaps you are the Sith'ari." Vesper could have easily snuffed her out, again, she had grown used to their tricks. Sith ghosts can only do so much. She would only add to Vesper's power. But she held it back, unlike Sombra she was not as headstrong as the necromancer. That and she plundered two artifacts from her tomb, the least she could do is see what she has to say or if she offers any assistance. Vesper's tone was even, burying all interference from Twilight, "Why have you appeared to me? I have grown tired of spirits drawing themselves to me." "Undoubtedly," Nightmare lifted her brow briefly in agreement, "you should know that I am not here to challenge you, nor insult your power. Sombra was a fool to think he could possess you." Vesper felt no pity on the spirit before, and she did not now. She listened closely to Nightmare's words, "No, I am here to aid you. And not like the spirits before, where they give up themselves for you to absorb them in your power. As much as I would love for you to...sample me...I have something much more appetizing." Vesper was taken aback by the sexual undertone, but buried that back in her mind. She could see into her eyes and see no ulterior motives, either that or she was good at lying. Applejack taught her the signs to when she spotted a liar, and Vesper saw non of those signs hidden behind a veil of niceties. Vesper knit her brow, "Proceed." Nightmare gave a small smile and leaned in close, Vesper could have sworn she was real. Unlike most ghosts, she had no ethereal aura around her. There was no sign that she gave off that she was dead. The feeling of her ethereal breath on her skin was refreshing, a chaotic mixture of warm coldness. A shiver ran up her spine, as her cold whispers seemed to warm her, "I can offer you my services." Vesper heard the purr in her voice, which caused Vesper to swallow hard and her veins alight with fire, "What kind of services?" The teasing specter chuckled offhandedly, "You ponies and your dirty minds...hehe...it is very fun teasing you like this...but, what I mean is: If you let me free of this spectral prison, I will promise loyalty and my knowledge." The world grew dark for a second as she stared deep into her aquamarine pools of seductive power, her voice echoed in her mind, "But, if I find out that you are not this Sith'ari...then I will not hesitate to end you myself. I want this new Sith Empire. I did not bind my spirit to this realm just to have some imposter imprison me." Her razor like seriousness was replaced once more by her breathy bedridden tone. She leaned in closer, practically pressing her lips against Vesper's ear, whispering softly, almost blissfully, "Do we have a deal, love?" Vesper considered her options. She was destined to do this, to revitalize the Sith Empire and make it a superpower once more. But she could not do this alone, as she asked for Adamas for assistance, but one Jedi Master is not enough to help her rise to power. Nightmare Moon has overtaken an empire before, or close to it at least, so she had experience in taking over empires. She equalled, if not surpassed, Vesper's own power. She looked to the phantom in front of her, after her consideration. She had a plan underneath herself, Vesper could feel it. Vesper narrowed her eyes, "And what is it you wish to gain if I agree?" A devilish smile cracked across her face as she explained, drawing a hoof over her chest, "Let's just say that I have a score I wish to settle." A revenant. Now that was interesting. Vesper nodded, "Alright...I will accept your services." Her warm tone whispered once more in her ear, "Excellent, I promise that I will not disappoint." Vesper stepped away, "Now what would you have me do. As of right now, I am the only one that can see you." Nightmare Moon smiled and looked past Vesper to the horizon. Her gaze somewhat grim as she explained, "Smart filly. It is true, that I can influence the world little, whilst I am dead. But then again I am mot dead. A strange state of being, I know, but it was necessary. When the Dark Blessing was put under sleep until the Sith'ari would reveal itself, we all agreed to separate from our bodies for a short while. But like Darth Koselig and Darth Mortis, I hid myself away. Although, very differently than they did. "The Jedi Council had to know that the Sith were gone. So, how was this achieved? I forced them into a ritual that suppressed their dark side energy and created new powerful magical entities. Clever facades for the Jedi and Harmony Knights. I however did not do the same, I released my spirit and bound it to three objects. My horn, my armour, and my lightsaber. You have my armour and my horn, now you must find my lightsaber." Vesper breathed out a sigh, "Where is this lightsaber?" Nightmare Moon added, joining Vesper's side, "It is not that far, I made sure that all my relics were not in the same place. Do not worry, it should only take a few hours." Nightmare Moon finished, "My name is Darth Traess by the way. Come on, while there is still daylight." Vesper could tell that this journey with Traess would be an interesting one. Her mind wetn back to her seductive ways just a few minutes before. What would she be like with a reincarnated form? Her throat tightened at that thought, picking up the pace behind Traess. Interesting indeed...
Sombra's VoidStar Wars: Rise of the Sith Chapter 1 Sombra's Void "Awaken. Sith'ari...You are no use to the Sith if you are dead." Vesper stirred. The cold and harsh winter winds whipped incessantly past her ears. Threatening to deafen the young Sith Lord with little of any other sense. Remembering that she is in the cold Frozen North. She clenched her teeth in her mouth and bit back, a thin layer of snow had packed on her back. Shoving away the frostbite, Vesper stood up. The Lord of the Sith stretched, her muscles tight and her bones creaky. She had been lying in the ground for a while. A few of her bones cracked releasing some of the tension within the appendages. She blinked and standing a few feet away was the owner of the voice, Vesper sneered and reached for her lightsaber out of reflex. He wore a long black cloak and think ebony plate mail over his chest, hooves and shoulders. Spikes occasionally donning on his armour. A double hilted lightsaber sheathed at his side. Vesper however did not sense a living being, the Force that he used was not of the physical realm. Her magic as well told her about this. The name of this shadow came more easily than the wind, Sombra. Sombra sneered as he noticed this and commented, his voice thin and raspy, "Smart girl." Vesper rose in anger and defiantly stood towards him, "Wouldn't have killed you if I wasn't." "If memory serves correctly, it was your dragonling slave that delivered the killing blow. You were but a speck. A few more moments and I would have had the Crystal Heart in my hooves." Sombra growled like a wolf, his demeanor was not threatening, thereby deducing that he was not there to incite a fight between them. Which was strange for a few reasons. One, he brutally hated Vesper and her friends. To the point to where he likely would come back from the dead for this. Two, he was taught in a different way of wielding the Force. He was completely immersed in the teachings of the Dark Side. Which is likely how he is able to manifest himself now. Vesper took in a deep breath, more out of annoyance than any real exhaustion, "Leave my servant out of this, if you have something to tell me then speak quickly. I do not take kindly to spirits that have lost their way to the Ethereal Realm." "My my, how you have changed. I expected niceties and preaching of friendship, this...this is strange...even if you are Sith'ari." Vesper grew tired of his arrogant tone, she grumbled as she pushed past him. Though she did find it refreshing that he could actually communicate rather than just grunts and moans. Perhaps the side effects of returning to life in a broken body. Whatever the case, Twilight did not care and decided to humor the ghost, "I am a changed mare." Sombra hovered close, his voice was similar to a lion's growl, "Had Darth Venator left that much dark side energy that he clouded even your judgment?" "Silence-" "I mean, this is you we're talking about. I expected more from you, despite my hatred of you." "I said silence!" Vesper barked, her hoof flicking her lightsaber out of its hilt. The plasma blade ignited in a light amethyst, her face permeating with hatred. She had dealt with more than enough ghosts to last five lifetimes, she was not going to be insulted by another. Sombra huffed and floated on top of the blade, causing no such damage, proving that the was incorporeal. Vesper knew this, but she thought of no way to express her anger without harming the spirit. Though she had no idea why she cared to do him this kindness. His mocking voice tore the final straw however, "Heh, you are hardly in a position to make any kind of threat." "Oh am I?" Vesper turned, fully facing the dead Sith Lord. Vesper willed a combined spell and manifestation of the Force, the energies mixing and causing a discharge within the spirit, crippling it. Sombra coughed as if he once again depended on air, he keeled over and began violently coughing. Ethereal energy escaping him and absorbing into Vesper. Magically forming chains over the spirit. But she shook away the sympathy and barked, "I willingly took this mantle of Sith'ari and this is how I am repaid? No, you will speak your peace and then leave me. I have no desire to be influenced by a worm such as you." She willed the subdued Sith Lord towards her and got a better look at the spirit. Underneath his hood, his face was sunken and slightly less ebony in colour, taking on a whiter shade of black. His eyes were more tired and sunken, the faint green mist that weaved out of the corners of his eyes were slower and less as intense as usual. His look could inspire fear into her once. Now she could do nothing but sympathize for the lowly unicorn necromancer. Sombra choked, Vesper beginning to draw on more Ethereal energies, causing Sombra to lose a little bit more colour, "Where is the second Kaiburr Crystal?" Sombra choked, "I...I don't know." Vesper curled her lip in anger and slammed the spirit against the ground, damaging even the incorporeal form. She did not even expend a lot of her energy to do this. She felt pity for him and grimly whispered, "You were once a powerful wielder of dark magic, now look at you. A pathetic husk of something much greater. How such a weak pathetic fool like you ever found your way to the seat of a Dark Lord of the Sith is beyond me. Now I suggest that you don't lie to me or else I will make you sorely regret you ever considered becoming a Sith Lord. You will not even be able to begin to describe the pain that you will feel." Sombra flinched as she raised her other hoof and whimpered, "Stop! No, I swear I have no idea where it is...but I know who does." Vesper released her grip on the spirit and listened, "Speak. Now." Sombra gathered his wits, the thin layer of snowflakes gently falling from the sky. He answered, "There is a crystal sage within the Crystal Empire. She knows where it is, find her and you'll find the second Kaiburr Crystal." Vesper stepped closer and whispered, "Is there another reason why you are here? Other than to annoy me?" Sombra loosely sat up and bowed, "To pledge my undying loyalty to you-AAAGGGHHH!!!" Vesper flicked her wrist, stretching out her hoof and tongues of electricity leeched onto the spectre and begin to destroy his spirit. Vesper insulted, "You're as loyal as a gold digging whore. You live to fight for the winning side. I can see it in your cold dead eyes. Once you see use in me used up then you will try to toss me aside. It is the nature of the old Sith Lords. No, I can accomplish this on my own. At least with those numbers, I can trust." Vesper halted her force lightning only to finish her thought and with a cruel smile she said, "Enjoy eternity in oblivion." Pushing her hoof out against a deafening crack of lightning burst the spirit into nothingness, a silent scream echoing across the tundra plain of snow and ice. Only to fall silent afterwards, with no sound other than the howling wind. This combined power of magic and Force was still something to get used to. She had only recently cast the spell to combine the two mystical forces. They had mixed, but wisps of the opposing energies still remained separate. Feeling as though he soul inside of her was split between two choices and was indifferent to choose either. She wanted both, she needed both, yet her body was rejecting her plights to still combine the two forces. This makes anything she cast unstable, what she could perform was powerful but not as powerful as it could be. With a simple miscalculation could mean the end of her short reign as Dark Lord of the Sith. She looked left and looked right, nothing in sight to guide her to. No beacon to guide her to the salvation of the roaring icy winds of the Frozen North. Her armour clanked as she randomly chose a direction and promptly stepped her way forward. Her mission was simple, to find the next Kaiburr Crystal. Not only would this incite greater protection upon Equestria but it will mean a more even and level headed casting of her spells and force capabilities. As she walked she could feel the residual dark energy of Sombra. Unwelcoming and hissing at the back of her mind, these left over energies of the necromancer unicorn spoke a lot about his impact upon the Frozen North. The magic that ran through the roots of the frozen land was great and potent, but it was inherently dark. Yet in the immersion of darkness she could feel the warmness of light within the void that Sombra had left behind. Showing that the dark lord held a small amount of ambivalence, at least to a degree. HIs socialist reign of the Crystal Empire was to expand, to make it as great as Equestria in half the time it took Celestia and Luna to build. Where it had taken them centuries to shape the perfect country, Sombra would do in a matter of months. A sound plan, but he had gone around to doing it the wrong way. Vesper pocketed the history lesson back into her psyche, focusing on the path ahead. Her journey ahead was long and arduous, but she was determined. Determined to both save it from these invaders that were on their way, and to protect it from itself. She had much work to do.
New DawnRise of the Sith Chapter I: New Dawn "My princess, their forces are still hidden from us. Our hunters cannot find a trace of them." This both angered Celestia and surprised her at the same time. These new enemies of hers, whom she trusted dearly, betrayed her. Her pride and her power rose when she learned of this, and the punishment they would feel when she found them would be insurmountable. The pony that spoke to her was Captain Swiftfeather, Captain of the Pegasus Royal Guard, 3rd Regiment. She had not yet assigned commanders, as she would wait until the fighting would start when she would appoint them, Swiftfeather would be a close pick for Celestia. Swiftfeather was a cobalt colored pegasus with bright white mane and tail, accenting the bright gold armor very well. Swiftfeather was originally a transfer from Luna's royal guard, a black sheep amongst them. Celestia saw wasted potential in him and took him over to her Royal guard. And for years he served faithfully, the least could be said for Darth Koselig and Darth Mortis. There was uncertainty in him as well, as she stood there dressed in her armor and her lightsabers weighing down on her belt. Fastened tight and swaying with her every movement, ready to be taken and ignited. She suppressed her magical powers for now, imbuing the sun with it, allowing it to raise and lower on its own, while she welled with the power of the light side. Of which, tarried close to the line of the Dark Side. Something that she always reminds herself. They were upon the Golden Fields, a grass land to the west of Canterlot, heading towards the country of Saddle Arabia. She stood tall upon the grassy knoll overlooking the army she had brought. A force not any larger than perhaps 3,000. A significant amount to show that she was assembling an army, but nothing large enough to issue out large orders or to engage in any real combat. That and the forces of the New Dawn was likely not much. Though Celestia did not underestimate them, the less numbers the more unpredictable they can be. The wind billowed lightly over the plains, her gaze confident on the horizon, knowing full well that they were out there, mocking her. They were just on the edge of her vision, she just knew it. Celestia commanded, "Keep searching, I do not want any parties to cease until we have any information on where they are at." "Yes ma'am." "And I want routine night shifts, evenly distributed throughout the encampment. Anything so much as moves out of place and it will be terminated efficiently." Swiftfeather nodded, bowing respectfully and turned to leave, just as he left she saw Master Adamas. Dressed in her knightly garb, reminding Solinara the days when she was training her. And the day she had to suppress those memories and wait until the final piece would fall into place and engulf Equestria into war once more. She saw it, and did everything she could to stop it. There was a small amount of anger in Adamas' eyes as she entered Solinara's field of view, Adamas bowed respectfully, "Master Solinara." Solinara repeated the gesture, "Master Adamas." Adamas stood next to Solinara, confidence beamed over Adamas as she asked, "So, I suppose you have not picked up anything on them either?" Solinara did not flinch, squinting her eyes at the horizon, "No, if Darth Koselig and Darth Mortis are anything they are masters of intrigue and disguise. I did not know until recently who they were." Solinara whispered her last words, making sure only her and the wind could catch her voice, "A thousand years under my nose." "I as well. You were not the only one affected by that change." Solinara squinted at Adamas, tightening her gaze on the lowly Jedi Master, "Yet you seem...unaffected by Twilight's?" "Are you suggesting that I am a traitor and traded words with her?" Solinara found no crack in the mare's face, this both impressed and troubled her at the same time. Her pride fell slightly as she answered, "No, just curious is all. Don't know who to trust these days." Adamas sighed, "I know...but we can trust in the Force." Solinara breathed deep the plains air, "That we can Master Admas...that we can." She eased her shoulders and asked, turning to the Jedi Master, "There is a reason you have come to me?" Adamas regained her composure as well, sharing that moment with another pony refreshed both of them, "Yes, supplies are running low for the soldiers and all the best trackers have been sent out to find the New Dawn. I was wondering if I could be given the task to hunt for food and water?" Solinara nodded, "Yes you may, though you are a fellow Jedi Master and do not need to take orders from me." Adamas shrugged as she turned to leave, "I know, we are the only Jedi left and I wanted to let you know where I was going in case the worst should happen." Solinara could respect that answer, she felt relieved as well. It told herself that she was not alone. This brought a smile to the Jedi Master's lips and she said, "By all means go, may the Force be with you." "May the Force be with you." Adamas marched off, once more, confidence in her stride. Solinara detected something had happened to her to garner more prideful steps, and she assumed that it was not of romantic involvement, despite Rarity's influence on Adamas. No, it was soemthing else. It reeked of undertow and treason but Solinara did not want to make anything out of a feeling, a gut feeling no doubt. She needed hard facts if she is to deal with Adamas. Solinara shook her head, groaning as she pressed a hoof to her horn. Already Solinara thought of more enemies, Celestia came crashing in her head, "Why do you harbor so much mistrust that the slightest movement irritates you?" Solinara barked back in her head, "I was betrayed by three ponies that I trusted, one of which I treated as my own child, why do you think?" Celestia remained silent, seeing no further argument, she loved her magical alter ego but she hated her at times. Needlessly trusting of anything that talks and breathes. It was something that Solinara came to terms with when she accepted this split personality, something that came with a great amount of time. And many mental battles, which is where Celestia was best. They were a perfect match for one another, each giving one another advice. While she thought of this, her sister came to mind. The struggles she faced with the split, Lunara was ill prepared and not powerful enough to handle this. Add the dead essence of a Sith Lord and out comes a force of powerful darkness, Nightmare Moon. Solinara pitied her sister, that she had to go through such hardships as that. Solinara subconsciously rubbed her shoulder, feeling the very briefly flaring of wounds. Wounds that never fully healed, wounds that not even time itself could fully heal. Her gaze lowered as she thought of this, Celestia wrapped her brain warmly and tightly, helping her in forgetting those memories. Tucking them deep and away, knowing full well that Nightmare Moon was no longer a threat to anypony. Solinara breathed, "Oh Lunara, may the Force be with you. Dear sister." "I need you to focus, Adamas. You are powerful in the Force, I know you can do this..." Adamas winced, a pain rising in her head. These memories that have trickled in from the time she had come back to herself was beginning to impart physical reactions from her body. These side effects have been impeding on her ability to think and ponder her situation. She shook her head, expelling the pain for but a singular moment. As quickly as it had come, the pain was gone. She survived the ritual true, but for what? And at what cost? The Jedi master looked to the horizon, seemingly asking the sun for answers, but quickly found none. It was strange, looking upon a celestial body and not through the eyes of a pony that saw the mare behind it. A near goddess, and yet now she looked on it with disdain and unfamiliarity. Squinting in its dying light, she huffed and continued on her tracks to trap food for the soldiers. Adamas breathed out. She did not hate her former master for what she did, if only she had known what she had meant that day. These memories she had slowly been receiving had no sway on her now, they were memories and that was it. There was emotion behind them, but they were a mere spectre of what they had formerly meant. Perhaps that was her cold mindset coming back to haunt her. It was true that she kept herself separate from her emotions, at least during combat, but she could not shelter herself perfectly from her emotions. Nor could Celestia, and Adamas knew that for a fact. The wind gently rustled against the tall grass, the blades lightly caressing the fabric of her robes. She found a deep animalistic satisfaction with grasslands, she could start galloping or hours and hours upon its billowing softness. She felt peace, she felt serenity. It was heaven, this feeling. She could see the appeal now of what the Dark Side entailed, there was bliss in allowing the love of all things embrace you, make you stronger. Passion is what motivates the masses, it drives all ponies to do wondrous things. Her time spent away from being a Jedi had taught her that. Which is why t conflicted her now on whom she trusted, her former master or her most trusted friend. Though she swore allegiance with Vesper, she could not lend her full loyalty to her. It somehow felt wrong, but it also felt right. Again, she had seen the warmongering tyrant Solinara can be. And the power. But it corrupts, truly Vesper must know this. Adamas had never known Vesper...no...Twilight to be a fool. Never to rush foolhardy in, no, she was deliberate. She was calculated. Even in this new state, she was not like Adamas or Solinara, or Koselig, or Mortis. No, she was still herself, only changed. Adamas felt woozy for a moment, she stopped and calmed her senses, "Oh...this is so conflicting." But she had a task, track food for the soldiers. Soldiers had already been sent out, despite their lack of experience in tracking. This of course was not a statement of the military teachings that was given to them, but they were just simply not taught in standard hunting and tracking. Why did they have too? They lived in a perpetual state of peace for over a thousand years of peace with very little conflict. A border dispute here and there but nothing too over the top. They might find a handful of delectable substances but other than that, nothing more. Adamas calmed her senses, asking the Force for guidance for food. She felt the very pulse of the earth, the breathings of the dirt around her. It was glorious, but she did find what she was looking for. She smirked as she found an abundance of vegetables and clover. Alfalfa as well, it grew in splendor. She stopped though, something was wrong. Not with the food she had found, something else entirely. She felt a disturbance in the Force. It was raw, unbridled in is chaotic purity. Not like the calm darkness that was Vesper, the gentle blanket she could only describe as enticing to say none the least. But this, this was a power outlet for the Dark Side. Sith beasts were not uncommon, but this was almost sinister in its display. She could see the form now, a lithe wolf, gently stalking in the brush near her. Quiet and calm, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. She knew there were more nearby, and she did not even need to sense them to know that. Adamas calmly unclasped her lightsaber, breathing deeply, drinking in the peaceful air while it lasted. Bathing in the glorious moments of peace and serenity. All before chaos erupted on the plains. As though she was riding lightning itself, Adamas charged forth in a burst of Force that made a thudnerous crack across the air. She burst, and in a downward slash she aimed down at the wolf. It missed, the sith beast dodging just in the nick of time. Pouncing for a counter attack, it snarled as it leapt through the air towards her. She punched her hoof in the air and released a salvo of pure Force energy. The wolf was violently sent through the air, landing on the ground with a notable thud. It shrugged off the force that collided with it and growled at the Jedi master. Dark side energy now crackling off of the beasts. They were closing in, the other beasts. Just out of the corner of her senses. This was a trap. She unleashed a series of quick thrusts and slashes with the grace of the wind. Remembering the comfort of the very lightweight curved lightsaber. The flurry of blows collided briefly only to have the dark side energy absorb most of the blow. It was acting as a protective shell around the wolf. This irritated and impressed Adamas at the same time. After the series of maneuvers the wolf almost gave Adamas a smile as it unleashed a howl that caused a choir of them to answer. They closed in and a swiftness Adamas could almost not keep up with. She deflected and dodged the first few pounces and attacks. A few of them landed solid strikes however, one across her hoof and another piercing the flesh on her thigh. She groaned at the pain, but kept calm as she knew that even sith beasts knew how to feed off of the emotions of its prey. With the elegance of a dancer she deflected another wave of unbridled animalistic fury. One after the other, she kept in time and pace with them. Dancing around them as if they were all apart of a ballet they have been rehearsing for. The lessons of defense over attack as beaten into her by Solinara, as she found particular enjoyment in buying time. The alpha of the pack chomped down on her lightsaber, untouched by the dangerous plasma blade. She looked in its eyes, she could see sadistic intent behind them. They spoke to her on an animal level, she was their prey. She did not stand still for long, she let the alpha throw away her lightsaber, seemingly her only way of defense. One of the wolves tackled her to the ground, clamping and tearing at her overcoat. Seeing this happen, she thrust her hoof in a weak point, near its kidney. She heard a wince and the wolf slumped on top of her, she tossed it away and ripped off the overcoat. The silk tunic underneath was scratched and the bruises and wounds of the fight prevalent all around her. She readied her hooves, her mind quickly shifting tactics. It was down to the alpha that was bleeding dark side energy and three more hunters. Two kept to her right, another on her left, and the alpha approaching from the front. She waited calmly, they moved in. Attacking first, was the one on the left. Charging and wishing to daze her, she bashed her hoof against the side of its head and unleashed a quick blinding flurry of punches. Each one was well placed and she watched as the wolf crumpled in a bloody heap next to her. The two on the right were next, each moved in sequence with one another. Separating for a mere moment and meeting together at their target. Wishing to confuse her initially, and succeed where their comrade had failed. However, they would meet the same failure as their fallen comrade. Spinning around and connecting her hind hoof against the jaw of one of them, a horrible crunch erupted the air as it made contact. Quickly ducking out of the way of the second wolf, repeating the same attack she lifted up her leg and bashed its jaw with all the power of her hoof. The wolf flying off of its balance, a horrifying sound of crushing bone exploding the air around her, the thunderous crack of its vertebrae becoming prominent. Under normal circumstances she would not be so forceful to a pack of wolves, but these wolves are not killing for food. They were killing with purpose. She looked at the alpha, at least where he would have been. It would seem that the true colors of the leader are revealed in the final moments, perhaps to inform its dark masters what it witnessed. Adamas spat, a collection of phlegm and blood came out to taint the ground more with blood. She looked to one of her kills and inspected it closely, turning it over to see it without the haze of battle obstructing her view. They were fast, not allowing her to get a good look at them. Their coat was coarse and rough, as it should for a wolf of its size. Patches of flesh were rotted away revealing the flesh and muscle beneath, a vague look at the pure energy of the dark side underneath. It solidified, and as she touched the gossamer layer of dark side energy it dissolved. Normal sith beasts enhanced by its power do not receive such protection. Adamas voiced her thoughts, "These hunters were not designed to fight normal ponies." She pried its jaw open with little resistance, seeing the rows of teeth underneath. As she opened it a thin dark layer of energy evaporated. Normal teeth, unlike the teeth that tossed aside her lightsaber. She grunted, "Humpf...Darth Koselig definitely knows how to breed them." She looked up, in no particular direction and threatened, "Your beasts cannot protect you forever, Koselig." She lifted her hoof and her lightsaber hilt flicked into her grasp and she clipped it to her belt. She left her overcoat and recollected herself, minimal damage. Nothing that would not heal with time. "This encounter will be reported to Solinara. She has to know to keep an extra eye out, " Adamas said with chagrin. The last thing she needed was to give Solinara another reason to look over her shoulder. And Adamas had a sneaking suspicion that this will not be the only attack like this, there will be more traps lying in wait for them. No not a trap. This was not a trap, this was a warning. A warning that the New Dawn was near, and they are waiting.
Sith'ariRise of the Sith Chapter III: Sith'ari Vesper hated the snow. It's heavy, even as it falls from the sky and collects on the ground. She loathed its frozen nature. She did however, love cold weather. There was some sickened delight in knowing that only temperature alone could kill a pony. The winter, in her opinion, brought out the true survival nature of ponies. That all ponies must cling to warmth and to stay warm. Those that survive these conditions are true ponies, those that don't deserve their fate. Maybe it was her dark side nature that was taunting her, or maybe it was something deep down inside of her. This anamorphous feeling of true self preservation. She began to run through her teachings as a student of Celestia. Her lessons were consistant on relying on another's abilities, but still praising one's own. That through the actions and consequences of another, that there is teachings to become a better pony. Vesper had to admit, there was merrit in those teachings. However, one's self worth comes from none other than themselves. Ponies are to mold themselves of somepony they admire, but never to copy another. Every pony has a million different reasons to be a million different things. And here she was, revitalizing her trachings of magic that were ingrained in her mind from such an early age. And ultimately what would lead her to her current situation. Her insatiable craving for knowledge. She loved to have it and always strived to know everything. Perhaps that was Twilight's downfall, her curiosity and craving for knowledge caused her to make the wrong decision. Whether wrong or right, it was her decision and she refuses to be torn by it. It has happened, and there is nothing she could do about it now. Throughout her inner debate with her moral compass, she could feel the low thrum of power emanating from the Kaiburr crystal in her lightsaber. The force crystal constantly fed her force energy, a feeling of constant drunken euphoria. She has felt fonts of power before with magic, but one had always had to actively absorb the mana. But with the Force, depending on morality alone these artifacts just give the power. Vesper sighed, releasing air from her muzzle. The cold air rustling the short fur upon her snout. Her footsteps lost no stride in the change of temperature, in fact she felt a little bit more at home in the cold weather. Something her brother likely had as well. Vesper trudged along through the sea of endless white in the direction she vaguely understood was the direction to the crystal empire. The wind beating against her, the cold north trying its hardest to steal another life in its blizzardous like coldness. Her eyes squinted, her mind calculating all manner of things. It was perhaps negative four degrees, with light snowfall. The wind speed, mild. And the chance of a blizzard: 23%. While the chance of a blizzard was so small, she was not one to make risks, and at her current pace she would not reach the Crystal Empire for another two days. If she were to survive, she would need shelter. "Oh, you will need a lot more than just shelter if you are to survive." Vesper groaned as she felt a tide of mental pain and exhaustion attempt to plant its roots. However, she has grown to expect such attacks from spectral forces. Months of training upon the unhallowed ground of a former sith stronghold, she had more than enough practice in combating long dead spirits. They all used the same tricks, tricks that Vesper would not fall for again. The Dark Lord of the Sith expected this spirit as well. She had stolen her armor beneath the stronghold, it was only fair that she would pay the Sith'ari a visit. And that she did. Vesper ahrugged the show of power, beating against her mental barrier, finding the physical manifestation of the spirit. After Vesper found no sight of the spirit she barked against the north wind, "Show yourself, spirit of Nightmare Moon. I am not in the mood for games." "Aw, how sad. How I do adore a good game of cat and mouse..." She felt a shift in the force, as well as the magical winds, as she saw her manifest before her. Taking the frame of Princess Celestia initially, however more thin and lithe muscular structure, she stood tall. Her features manifesting afterwards. Her bright aquamarine eyes, with jet black slits for pupils like a cat's. Her long horn, bearing the sign of great power within the unicorn community, taking its shape. Subconsciously, Vesper rubbed where her pseudo-horn was placed over the wound. Her armor mirrored Vesper's, as they were the same, though Nightmare's did not have any power behind it. As it was appropriate, but Nightmare's show of power came from the force energy and magical energy that radiated off of her. She was powerful, even as she stood before her now. Her eyes analyzed this new Dark Lord of the Sith. A smile crossed the spirit's face as she looked Vesper up and down, "...but you nor I have time for such games." Her countenance reminded her of Princess Luna, though much more older with a sinister gleam in her animalistic eyes. Vesper held back the emotions of Twilight, the anger evening out underneath her skin. She was indeed powerful with every sense of the word. Her voice came softly, the sound of cotton, "Might I say, that you have grown quite impressive. The power that wells underneath you...Mmm...perhaps you are the Sith'ari." Vesper could have easily snuffed her out, again, she had grown used to their tricks. Sith ghosts can only do so much. She would only add to Vesper's power. But she held it back, unlike Sombra she was not as headstrong as the necromancer. That and she plundered two artifacts from her tomb, the least she could do is see what she has to say or if she offers any assistance. Vesper's tone was even, burying all interference from Twilight, "Why have you appeared to me? I have grown tired of spirits drawing themselves to me." "Undoubtedly," Nightmare lifted her brow briefly in agreement, "you should know that I am not here to challenge you, nor insult your power. Sombra was a fool to think he could possess you." Vesper felt no pity on the spirit before, and she did not now. She listened closely to Nightmare's words, "No, I am here to aid you. And not like the spirits before, where they give up themselves for you to absorb them in your power. As much as I would love for you to...sample me...I have something much more appetizing." Vesper was taken aback by the sexual undertone, but buried that back in her mind. She could see into her eyes and see no ulterior motives, either that or she was good at lying. Applejack taught her the signs to when she spotted a liar, and Vesper saw non of those signs hidden behind a veil of niceties. Vesper knit her brow, "Proceed." Nightmare gave a small smile and leaned in close, Vesper could have sworn she was real. Unlike most ghosts, she had no ethereal aura around her. There was no sign that she gave off that she was dead. The feeling of her ethereal breath on her skin was refreshing, a chaotic mixture of warm coldness. A shiver ran up her spine, as her cold whispers seemed to warm her, "I can offer you my services." Vesper heard the purr in her voice, which caused Vesper to swallow hard and her veins alight with fire, "What kind of services?" The teasing specter chuckled offhandedly, "You ponies and your dirty minds...hehe...it is very fun teasing you like this...but, what I mean is: If you let me free of this spectral prison, I will promise loyalty and my knowledge." The world grew dark for a second as she stared deep into her aquamarine pools of seductive power, her voice echoed in her mind, "But, if I find out that you are not this Sith'ari...then I will not hesitate to end you myself. I want this new Sith Empire. I did not bind my spirit to this realm just to have some imposter imprison me." Her razor like seriousness was replaced once more by her breathy bedridden tone. She leaned in closer, practically pressing her lips against Vesper's ear, whispering softly, almost blissfully, "Do we have a deal, love?" Vesper considered her options. She was destined to do this, to revitalize the Sith Empire and make it a superpower once more. But she could not do this alone, as she asked for Adamas for assistance, but one Jedi Master is not enough to help her rise to power. Nightmare Moon has overtaken an empire before, or close to it at least, so she had experience in taking over empires. She equalled, if not surpassed, Vesper's own power. She looked to the phantom in front of her, after her consideration. She had a plan underneath herself, Vesper could feel it. Vesper narrowed her eyes, "And what is it you wish to gain if I agree?" A devilish smile cracked across her face as she explained, drawing a hoof over her chest, "Let's just say that I have a score I wish to settle." A revenant. Now that was interesting. Vesper nodded, "Alright...I will accept your services." Her warm tone whispered once more in her ear, "Excellent, I promise that I will not disappoint." Vesper stepped away, "Now what would you have me do. As of right now, I am the only one that can see you." Nightmare Moon smiled and looked past Vesper to the horizon. Her gaze somewhat grim as she explained, "Smart filly. It is true, that I can influence the world little, whilst I am dead. But then again I am mot dead. A strange state of being, I know, but it was necessary. When the Dark Blessing was put under sleep until the Sith'ari would reveal itself, we all agreed to separate from our bodies for a short while. But like Darth Koselig and Darth Mortis, I hid myself away. Although, very differently than they did. "The Jedi Council had to know that the Sith were gone. So, how was this achieved? I forced them into a ritual that suppressed their dark side energy and created new powerful magical entities. Clever facades for the Jedi and Harmony Knights. I however did not do the same, I released my spirit and bound it to three objects. My horn, my armour, and my lightsaber. You have my armour and my horn, now you must find my lightsaber." Vesper breathed out a sigh, "Where is this lightsaber?" Nightmare Moon added, joining Vesper's side, "It is not that far, I made sure that all my relics were not in the same place. Do not worry, it should only take a few hours." Nightmare Moon finished, "My name is Darth Traess by the way. Come on, while there is still daylight." Vesper could tell that this journey with Traess would be an interesting one. Her mind wetn back to her seductive ways just a few minutes before. What would she be like with a reincarnated form? Her throat tightened at that thought, picking up the pace behind Traess. Interesting indeed...
