Star Wars: Rise of the Sith

Rise 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...