General Grievous as a...Pony?

It has been one full day now. The death of General Grievous was a serious blow to Separatist cause. As Darth Maul, Savage Opress, and Starlight Glimmer take cover, the Mane 6 and the battle droids that were with Gen. Grievous go speak with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

"Twilight, who are these friends you brought along with you?'" Celestia asked.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, these are battle droids. They're members of the Confederacy of Independent Systems," Twilight Sparkle explained.

"And what do this battle droids want?" Luna asked.

Super tactical droid Kalani walked over to stand beside Twilight. "We want to know if you will join the Confederacy," he asked.

"What is this Confederacy of Independent Systems you speak of?" Celestia asked.

TV-94B walked up next to Princess Twilight Sparkle and Kalani. "The Confederacy of Independent Systems, shortened to the CIS and also known as the Separatists or the Separatist Alliance, is a faction against the Galactic Republic trying to end the corruption they started," TV-94B explained. "We need you to allow us to send supplies and droids on Equestria so the Republic won't come in and invade."

"Hmm. I see. What do you think, Sister?" Luna asked Celestia.

"Very well, Confederates. We will join the Confederacy of Independent Systems!" Celestia told everyone.

The Mane 6 smiled at this news, but were still sad at General Grievous's death.

"May I also explain something?" TV-94B asked.

"Yes?" Luna asked.

"Our leader, isn't with us right now. He...died," TV-94B said. There was some sadness in his voice.

"In battle?" Celestia's sister asked.

"We don't know. We were going to come here and speak with you Princesses, but two Zabraks named Darth Maul and Savage Opress attacked our ship and it crash-landed near Princess Twilight's Castle. General Grievous was trying to figure out a way to speak with Your Majesties and get help, but that's when Starlight Glimmer attacked," TV-94B explained. "She turned the General of the Separatist Droid Army into a pony. Grievous was dragged by Rarity going her boutique to get a new outfit, but Maul and Savage's ship crashed near Carousel Boutique, shot down by our Vulture Droid starfighters. They attacked the General and Rarity got help. We then arrived and two of the Vultures contacted the Separatist Navy and they arrived with more droids to stop Maul. Right before our Hyena-class bombers were going to bomb and everyone was clearing out, General Grievous just exploded. We don't know if it was a thermal detonator from Maul and Savage, or one of our own allies did it. Starlight Glimmer also was helping Maul and Savage, but she escaped. We need a droid factory on Equestria, and we need to stop these outlaws and bring them to justice!"

Celestia thought on the Battle near Carousel Boutique. "Twilight, who is Starlight Glimmer?"

"Starlight Glimmer was a pony that thought everypony had to be equal by having no Cutie Marks. She tricked a entire village into thinking that could earn more friends. Then when we foiled her evil plot, she then took off and we could never find her...until now," Twilight explained.

"Hmm. Starlight Glimmer does pose a threat to Equestria and the Confederacy," Luna stated. After a moment, she nodded. "We'll allow a droid factory to be built on Equestria."

"Thank you, Princess Luna," TV-94B bowed.

"In the meantime, we need to figure who murdered General Grievous and how to bring the General back to life," Pinkie Pie explained.

"At least the General will be safe in that bacta tank you put him in," Applejack stated.

"In the mean time, I'll do some investigating!" Rarity told the Mane 6 and the droids.

"Oh boy," the first B2 Super Battle Droid said. "This is going to be grea.,"

Meanwhile, Count Dooku was on his Providence-class carrier/destroyer. He sensed the death of General Grievous. T-series tactical droid TA-1313, which was the same colors as TV-94B, walked into the Wizard's Tower of the Providence.

"Sir, you needed me?" TA-1313 asked.

"Yes. I've just sensed the death of General Grievous," Dooku explained sadly.

"WHAT?!" TA-1313 yelled.

"I hope, Rarity finds out who this murderer is. Otherwise, the Confederacy will have to select a new Supreme Commander of the Droid Armies," Dooku told TA-1313.

"Who is Rarity?" the T-series tactical droid asked.

"Rarity is one of the ponies on Equestria. I sensed her presence as well. However, I cannot sense who murdered General Grievous. If she can find the murderer, we're fine," the Count explained.

"Yes, Count Dooku," TA-1313 responded as he left the Wizard's Tower.

Back on Equestria, the battle droids started building the Equestrian Droid Factory. C-9979 Landing Crafts started to land from the Munificent-class star frigates and Recusant-class light destroyers. Newly deployed Armored Assault Tanks, OG-9 homing spider droids, and IG-227 Hailfire-class droid tanks where on the ground roaming the streets of Ponyville. Darth Maul, Savage Opress, Starlight Glimmer had to leave ALC-9 since the CIS had put a garrison of 2 B2-HA series super battle droids and 4 AATs. The droid factory was being created near the Castle of Friendship. At Carousel Boutique, Rarity put on her detective outfit and she headed out to look for some answers with Rainbow Dash.

We had a long road ahead of us, Rainbow Dash and I. Well, not too long because we didn't have much time, but the point is... I was up for the challenge.

Rarity then walked near the crime scene, where General Grievous had exploded.

There I was, surveying the crime scene, and looking très chic while doing it. This must be where General Grievous exploded. Rarity thought inside her head and she sniffed the ground. Then, something caught her eye as she looked at the ground closely. Hmm. These look like hairs from a rainbow mane!

Rainbow Dash gulped. "That's not good."

Rainbow Dash was getting antsy, but I had faith I could find the murderer. It could be...Rainbow Dash? Rarity continued.

Back on Dooku's Providence-class carrier/destroyer, Count Dooku was sensing Rarity's investigation. He was getting very frustrated.

"Come on, Rarity! Quit the narration and find the murderer!" Dooku yelled.

On Equestira, Rarity could somehow hear the Head of State's frustration.

That voice was right. In order to solve the mystery, we had to be focused. Driven. One hundred percent in the-"Ooh! The damask pattern on General Grievous's cape is exquisite! Oh, and this red inside the cape– oh, it's just—" Rarity started before Rainbow cut her off.

"We don't have time to look at General Grievous's cape. The Separatists are going to get angry if we don't find out who murdered General Grievous!" Rainbow Dash stated.

"I know, Rainbow, and I'm on this case like a charm on a bracelet! Here's what I'm thinking: somepony or somedroid had to be near the General, which means somepony/droid must have seen them!" Rarity thought aloud.

Later, Rarity and Rainbow Dash spoke to the 1st B1, the 2nd B2, and the 3rd BX.

"I just have a few questions for you, and I'm sure once we get some things cleared up, we'll—" Rarity started to explain to the B-series battle droids before RD cut her off again.

"Come on, Rarity, we don't have all day!" Rainbow yelled. She then turned and looked at the 1st B1. "Where were you during the Battle near Carousel Boutique?"

"We were fighting for the Confederacy, of course," the 1st B1 told Rainbow Dash.

"A likely story," Rainbow said.

"I'm telling you, we were there during the battle helping TV-94B attack Maul and Savage," the B1 droid explained. "The onlypony who walked near the was you."

"What are you tryin' to say?! " Rainbow asked the droids.

"Just that you and Rarity were near General Grievous before he exploded," the 2nd B2 Super Battle Droid explained what he saw.

The waters were getting choppy. Rainbow Dash's tactics were, well, horrid. It was time for another approach. "Perhaps I should take it from here! You battle droids have such a difficult job. I'm guessing that at times it can be rather... boring?" Rarity asked.

"Boring?" the 3rd BX-series droid commando asked. "Boring? We fight with our lives for General Grievous."

"And of course, being a battle droid can be thankless work. I'm not saying you did, but if you took a break, you more than deserved it?" Rarity asked the droids.

"Thankless?" the B2 Super Battle Droid said confused. "Oh, you're right. We don't get a lot of recognition for what we do."

"However, I did feel someone fly pass me and I realized I was missing a thermal detonator," the 1st B1 Battle Droid told Rarity.

"Hmm. Was this pony flying fast?" Rarity questioned.

Rainbow was worried. "Ugh, who cares how fast they were going?!" she yelled.

Rainbow Dash was questioning my methods. But I knew what I was doing.

Back on Dooku's Providence-class carrier/destroyer, the Count was thinking it could be Rainbow.

"Do you?" Dooku told Rarity through his head.

Back on Equestria, Rarity heard the Count's thoughts.

I was starting to get the feeling myself. Rainbow Dash was acting a little too anxious...

"Oh, oh, oh. Did I say that one out loud? " she asked Rainbow Dash.

"Say what?" Rainbow Dash responded.

"Never mind. I was hearing voices in my head. That's all," Rarity explained. "We'll get to the bottom of this. There's only two pegasus ponies that where present during that battle and that was you and..."

Rarity and RD were soon at Fluttershy's Cottage. Fluttershy opened the door.

"Oh, hi, Rarity. Hi, Rainbow Dash. How can I help you?" Fluttershy asked.

"I've heard you were present during the Battle near Carousel Boutique. Am I right?" Rarity questioned Fluttershy as Rainbow shook her head.

"Um...Yes. You were with me during the battle, Rarity," Fluttershy stated. "Rainbow and I were the only pegasi that were present."

"Did you see someone fly past the first B1?" Rarity questioned again.

"I can't even say. Whoever that was, they were flying too fast!" Fluttershy explained what happened during the Battle near Carousel Boutique.

Rainbow Dash was not going to like it, but there was only one way to find out if my suspicions were correct.

Back on Count Dooku's Providence-class carrier/destroyer, Count Dooku was getting sick of Rarity's narration.

"Rarity, would you do me and favor and cut the narration and find the MURDERER?!" Dooku yelled.

TA-1313 and a B1 Battle Droid stood outside the door listening to the Count yell at Rarity.

"What's wrong with the Count?" the B1 Battle Droid asked.

"I dunno. Maybe the Count's trying to figure out who the murderer," TA-1313 explained to his subordinate.

Back on Equestria, Rarity was inside the Castle of Friendship with Kalani, TV-94B, the battle droids, The Grievous Legion, and the Mane 5.

"What are we doing here?" Kalani asked.

"Yeah. We have a droid factory to supervise!" TV-94B added.

"An OOM Commander Battle Droid can handle that, y'all," Applejack told the battle droids.

"I have found the murderer!" Rarity yelled.

The first B1 Battle Droid gulped.

"Somepony stole a thermal detonator from the first B1 Battle Droid. And that pony was none other than...Rainbow Dash!" Rarity explained, pointing in Rainbow's direction.

"Rarity, I can't believe you would accuse Rainbow Dash of murdering General Grievous!" Pinkie Pie yelled. "She's loyal, for pony's sake!"

"You should've seen her 'loyalty' to the Confederacy," TV-94B stated.

"Let me explain. I never believed you would murder General Grievous, Rainbow Dash. When we found the rainbow hairs in site of Grievous's death, I could tell they fell out! And look at the ends! Then when we were examining the battle, a B1 Battle Droid said that he was missing his thermal detonator," Rarity explained.

"Well, anypony could've stole the B1's thermal detonator," Rainbow Dash stated.

"Precisely why I questioned the battle droids...and Fluttershy! The droids were at their post during the battle, and Fluttershy didn't even know what happened! And why is that? Rainbow Dash then was near General Grievous and she moved the General's cape and planted a detonator on his back. Right?!" Rarity questioned Rainbow Dash.

"I think I know who it is?" Smart Vulture calculated.

"Who?" Speedy Vulture Droid asked.

"Ah, this is nonsense. Guys, you don't believe a word of this, right?" Rainbow Dash asked the Mane 5 and the droids.

"Just admit it – you're as guilty of murdering General Grievous as you are of hating the Separatists New Order!" Rarity yelled.

"Ah, fine! You caught me! I did it!" Rainbow blurted out.

"But...why, Rainbow Dash?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"It was because she doesn't like the Confederacy! I heard her when Cool Vulture and Smart Vulture said you were close to murdering the General. She said, and I quote, 'Heh-heh'. That's the disingenuous laugh you make when you want to seem happy but really you're not!" Rarity explained to RD.

"I thought if I could get rid of General Grievous, then the Separatist Droid Army would leave Equestria forever, so I wouldn't have to deal with his hero speeches!" Rainbow Dash explained.

"Really? That is so not cool!" Cool Vulture Droid said.

"Rainbow, that was awful!" Twilight stated.

"SO WHAT?!" Rainbow yelled.

"Rainbow Dash, that was out of character!" Fluttershy stated angrily.

"As the current General of the Separatists Droid Army, I, Kalani, will punish you by making you clean all of the AATs, OG-9s, and IG-227s," Kalani explained.

"WHAT?!" Rainbow yelled.

"You have to! We're under battle droid protection," Pinkie Pie stated.

"Fine." Rainbow Dash grumbled and flew away.

Back at Count Dooku's Providence, he watched the scene unfold through his holograph.

"So, Rainbow Dash murdered General Grievous. Hmm," Dooku thought. "I'm interested in this Rarity. I will see her soon."

The End of Chapter 3.