My Little Star Wars: The Force is Magic

It has been a thousand years since former Jedi Padawan Luna turned to the Dark Side, influenced by Tantabus. During this time, Celestia has trained many younglings. These younglings became Padawans, the Padawans became Jedi Knights, and a select few became Jedi Masters. These Masters became members of the Equestrian Jedi Council. Every few years, Jedi Master Yoda himself would come to Equestria to view Celestia’s progress. He learned of Luna’s corruption and advised Celestia to be wary of her pupils in the future. Celestia kept this in mind as she continued to train younglings. Now, she has felt a strong presence of a very force sensitive pony, and she makes it her task to find this one, and train the youngling under the ways of the Jedi in her fallen sister's place…

~~~

On the far off planet of Coruscant, Jedi Master Yoda was in meditation in the Jedi Temple. He did this every other hour, to keep his connection with the force strong. He was over 800 years old, but he was a wise and powerful Jedi. The buzzer outside the door rang.

“Enter,” Yoda called in a raspy voice. The door slid open, and a young Togruta Jedi stepped inside. This Jedi was Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano, training under Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. Ahsoka stepped inside the chamber.

“Good morning, Master,” Ahsoka greeted.

“To you as well, young Padawan,” Yoda said, as he stood up, cane in hand. “Been progressive, your training has, hm?

“Yes, Master,” Ahsoka nodded. Her face looked troubled. “Master Skywalker sent me to speak with you about something important?”

“Oh, and what might that be?” Yoda asked.

“One of the younglings has not been himself lately,” Ahsoka explained. “He used to be the nicest Nautolan, but now, he’s been lashing out with anger at the other younglings. We’ve tried to calm him down, but nothing is working.”

“Hm,” Yoda grunted. “Troubling, this news is. The youngling, to me, bring him. Help him, I will.”

“Thank you, Master Yoda,” Ahsoka thanked as she bowed. She left the room, and Yoda pulled out a Hologram Projector. It lit up, and a projection of Celestia appeared.

“Master Yoda,” she said. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“An uprising, there may be,” Yoda informed Celestia. “Come to the Jedi Temple, you must. A disturbance in the Force, I feel there is. The Equestrian younglings, join you they will.”

“I’m on my way,” Celestia nodded. The projection faded, and Yoda put down the projector. He left the room and prepared to help the seemingly corrupt youngling.

~~~

On the remote and distant desert planet of Tatooine, in the town of Mos Eisley, a lone bounty hunter with a steel mask walked into the local cantina. Her shoulder plate shone in the dim light of the bar. The bounty hunter tapped a button on the side of the mask, and it slid upward to the top of the head, revealing the hunter’s face. Her skin was pure white. She was bald, wearing two head tattoos that ran down her scalp. Two more ran down from the corners of her mouth to the sides of her chin. The bounty hunter stepped up to the counter and threw down a coin. She pointed to a drink, and the bartender poured her a shot. She downed it quickly, and she requested another. At the corner of the cantina, another figure in a desert cloak was seated in a booth. The bounty hunter felt that the figure was watching her. She finished her second shot and walked over to the booth. She stood over the Equestrian figure, who was looking through numerous bounties on her holoprojector.

“Ventress,” the figure said.

“How do you know my name?” Ventress asked.

“I’ve seen your work,” the figure said, not looking away from her list of possible bounties. “Both as a Sith and a new bounty hunter. Very impressive with your first, I must say. Genius, switching the precious cargo like that before the fat fool figured it out. I was actually after the same bounty myself that day, even had your head lined up in the scope. But I thought to myself, after doing what you did, you deserve the money.” Ventress pulled out one of her curved lightsaber hilts and ignited the red blade. She pointed the blade to the figure’s face. The red glow lit up her Equestrian face, showing an unamused scowl. The figure had a dark tan coat and a fiery colored mane. She rolled her dark green eyes and waved her free hoof, sending Ventress reeling back. The figure held her hoof up, and Ventress’s lightsaber extinguished and flew into her hoof, as well as the second one on her belt. The figure put down her projector, leaving it on a high bounty for a politician. She inspected Ventress’s lightsabers.

“Make these yourself?” she asked.

“No,” Ventress said. “They were given to me.” Ventress looked down, and noticed a shimmer from the figure’s belt. She used the Force to draw the shimmering object to her. A lightsaber with an extended hilt flew from the figure’s cloak to Ventress’s hand. She gave the figure a look.

“Why don’t we take this matter outside?” she suggested. The figure nodded, and she stood up, picked up her projector, following Ventress outside the cantina. The two stopped after walking to the back of the building. Ventress ignited the figure’s lightsaber, and two purple blades extended from both the top and bottom of the hilt. She took a good look at the double bladed saber.

“You’re a Jedi?” Ventress asked, as she extinguished the blades.

“And a bounty hunter,” the figure said. “The name’s Blazing Fire. Blazing tossed Ventress’s sabers back to her, and used the Force to pull her own back. “I don’t want any trouble, Ventress,” she said.

“Well, one bounty hunter to another, you won’t get any from me,” Ventress assured, putting her sabers back onto her belt. “But don’t get cocky.”

“I never am,” Blazing said. “You need a bounty?”

“I was looking for one,” Ventress confirmed. “Got something for me?”

“I keep records on every bounty as soon as it’s posted until they come down through file hacking,” Blazing explained. “If you ever need a quick bounty, contact me. I’ll find you the best one.” She tossed Ventress a holoprojector that was privately linked to hers. Ventress put it away and knelt down to Blazing’s level. Blazing pulled up the bounty of the politician.

“This one’s up for 50,000 credits, dead or alive to Jabba the Hutt,” she informed. “Lives in the upper levels of Coruscant, very rich, well defended, arrogant, smooth talker too.”

“That won’t be an issue,” Ventress said. “One problem. I don’t have a ship. Mine was destroyed. Mind giving me a lift?”

“Not a problem,” Blazing said. “But I want ten percent of the cut.”

“Deal,” Ventress agreed. She shook Blazing’s hoof, sealing their deal. Blazing and Ventress walked over to the spaceport. Blazing directed Ventress to her ship, which was a Corellian G9 Rigger freighter with a custom red and yellow paint job.

“You sure you can fly this thing?” Ventress questioned.

“I’ve used this thing for years,” Blazing said. “It may not look like much, but it’s got what counts. Hyperdrive, decent weapons systems, deflector shields, and simple controls.” She became serious. “I will hold my end of the deal,” she said. “I will take you to Coruscant, wait for you to get the evidence for the bounty’s death, then take you to Jabba’s Palace to collect the money.”

“And then I give you your ten percent,” Ventress finished. Blazing Fire nodded.

“Welcome aboard, Ventress,” she said. The two bounty hunters boarded the vessel. Blazing sat down in the pilot’s seat and Ventress got into the co-pilot’s. Blazing started up the engines, and they took off into space.

~~~

On Coruscant, Celestia and her younglings had just landed at the Jedi Temple. Yoda and Ahsoka were waiting for them.

“Greetings, Master Celestia,” Yoda said.

“Hello, Master Yoda,” Celestia said. “To you as well, Padawan Tano.”

“Good to see you too.” Ahsoka said. “This way.” Yoda and Ahsoka led Celestia and the Equestrian younglings through the temple.

“With Padawan Tano, the younglings will go,” Yoda told Celestia. “To Ilum, take them she will. To craft their lightsabers, she will teach them.”

“Understood, Master Yoda,” Celestia nodded. She turned to Ahsoka. “Do take care of them for me, will you?” she requested.

“I won’t let you down, Master Celestia,” Ahsoka assured. She took the younglings with her to a Jedi Shuttle. They boarded the bus-like ship and took off for Ilum. As the shuttle disappeared into space, Yoda turned to Celestia.

“A disturbance I feel in the Force,” Yoda sighed. “The Dark Side, growing, I fear it is. More than ever. Remember your sister, do you?”

“Of course,” Celestia said. “But I haven’t seen her for a thousand years. And now with the Clone Wars raging, I fear I won’t see her until it has ended.”

“Wrong in that statement, I’m afraid you are,” Yoda said, shaking his head.

“What do you mean?” Celestia asked.

“Hm. Coming for the younglings, your sister is,” Yoda said. “Seen it through the Force, I have. Grave danger, I fear your younglings are in.”

“What can we do?” Celestia questioned.

“Nothing, can we do for them,” Yoda regretted. “On Ahsoka’s shoulders, and their own, the younglings’ hope is.” Yoda’s face suddenly showed some hope.

“What is it, Master Yoda?” Celestia asked.

“Powerful in the Force, one of your younglings is,” Yoda said. “Felt it, I have. Change this war, she could.”

“Who?” Celestia wondered out loud.

“Unable to tell, I am,” Yoda said. “Watch carefully, we must, to ensure the identity of the youngling.” Celestia nodded. She followed Yoda through the temple, both of them hoping the younglings would be all right.

~~~

Outside of Coruscant’s orbit, Blazing Fire’s ship came out of hyperspace on the darker side of the planet.

“Here we are,” Blazing said. “Coruscant.”

“How do you plan to get me inside the bounty’s location?” Ventress asked.

“Listen carefully,” Blazing replied. “I have an airspeeder in the back along with my starfighter. Here’s an ID I stole from a past target.” She gave Ventress a holographic ID card. “That’ll get you into the target’s apartment building,” she informed. “His door ID is 7D8N6. I’ll be waiting for you down in the Undercity in the central spire, port 31.”

“Anything else?” Ventress asked. Blazing shook her head. She pressed a switch, and the cargo doors opened up. Ventress walked into the back and climbed into the black airspeeder. She started it up and flew out of the cargo hold toward her destination. Blazing closed the cargo bay and flew off to the Undercity. She flew down the central spire and landed at the port she had designated to Ventress. She shut off the power to her ship and kicked her feet up onto the dashboard. She projected her bounty list and looked for a nearby bounty for herself. She found a local criminal Wanted dead to the Coruscant authorities. The criminal was a female Dug living in the Coruscant Undercity near the spire, infamous for 20 murders on Coruscant alone. The reward was 10,000 credits for her death. Blazing stood up and recorded a holo-message for Ventress, should she return before Blazing got back. Blazing stood up, put her EE-3 carbine rifle underneath her cloak, pulled the hood over her head, and left to claim the bounty.

The Coruscant Undercity was a place of less class than the Upper City. The citizens made just enough or a little over what was needed to support themselves, and there was more crime here than the Upper City. Blazing’s dark appearance and short stature was enough to keep her out of the minds of most of the Undercity population. She slipped through the streets unnoticed, keeping her eyes open for her target. She felt the presence of someone watching her. She stepped aside from the main street and sat down at a nearby bench. Up atop a nearby roof, a figure switched on a scope, and quickly lined up a shot with Blazing’s head. The figure squeezed the trigger, and the bolt fired from the rifle’s muzzle. Blazing sensed this through the Force, and she quickly ignited her lightsaber blades and deflected the powerful blast into the ground. Citizens around her ran off, a few screaming. The sniper fired off a few more shots, but Blazing deflected them all. She extended her wings from her cloak and took off, flying at the sniper. The sniper hopped onto a nearby speeder and sped off, Blazing Fire in pursuit. Blazing extinguished her lightsaber and pulled out her blaster rifle. She aimed and fired at the speeder, striking it and bringing it down. The sniper jumped off the bike before it exploded. The sniper crashed into an alleyway, rolling into a trash can. Blazing put away her gun, landing at the start of the alley. She extended her lightsaber and ran at the sniper. The sniper pulled out a blaster pistol and fired off an entire clip’s worth of shots. Blazing deflected each blast as she advanced on her target. She was upon the sniper in seconds, slicing the pistol in half before holding the saber to the assailant's throat. A red lightsaber clashed with her purple one, crossing the blades inches from the assailant's neck. Blazing turned her head to see Ventress standing next to her, lightsaber extended.

“Done already?” Blazing asked. Ventress held up the politician's head as proof.

“I received your message,” she said. “Thought I might try to beat you to it.”

“Bounty hunting is a competition, after all,” Blazing shrugged. She looked back at the assailant, who was the female Dug she was hunting. The Dug was terrified.

“Split the bounty?” Ventress guessed. Blazing nodded. They both turned back to the Dug criminal, and scissor cut her head off.

~~~

In the far reaches of the galaxy, the Jedi Shuttle was blasting through hyperspace on its way to Ilum. Ahsoka and the Equestrian younglings were aboard the shuttle. In the pilot's seat was the droid Huyang. This droid had been Master Yoda's instructor when he crafted his lightsaber, and had been teaching younglings to craft their lightsabers since. Most of the younglings were listening to Ahsoka tell them stories about the Clone Wars and about Anakin Skywalker. But two younglings stayed secluded in the back of the shuttle, studying a Jedi holocron that was on board. These younglings were Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer. They were very dedicated to their work in the Jedi Order, and did not screw around. They spent all of their free time in the Canterlot Jedi Archives, learning what they could. When it was time for them to go to Ilum to construct their lightsabers, they had memorized nearly every text available to them. Ahsoka had finished her story to the other younglings, and she walked to the back. Twilight and Sunset didn't look up from the holocron.

“What's going on here?” Ahsoka asked.

“We're looking for optimal designs for our lightsabers,” Twilight said. “We want them to be a perfect balance.”

“Lightsabers aren't meant to be one design,” Ahsoka explained. “Customization is encouraged when creating your lightsaber.” A beep went off in the cockpit.

“We're approaching Ilum now,” Huyang announced. “Buckle up and prepare for the jump out of lightspeed.” The younglings got into a seat, and Ahsoka walked up to the front. The shuttle jolted forward as it came out of lightspeed. What met Ahsoka's eyes next was horrifying. A Separatist blockade was surrounding Ilum, the flagship bearing a black symbol of a moon.

“Pull up!” Ahsoka ordered. Huyang jerked on the controls, and the ship lurched back. The younglings gripped their seats, trying not to fall out of them. The shuttle turned around away from Ilum, and kept a safe distance from the cruisers. Twilight and Sunset were looking out of the back window, watching the blockade.

“What’re we going to do now?” Sunset asked.

“We’re going to call for Republic reinforcements and destroy this blockade,” Ahsoka said. She contacted the Jedi Temple through the holoprojector. Anakin Skywalker appeared in the projection.

“Hey, Snips,” he said. “How’s the trip to Ilum going?”

“Not good, Master,” Ahsoka replied. “We’ve got a problem.”

“What kind of problem?” Anakin asked.

“There’s a Separatist blockade surrounding the planet,” Ahsoka explained. “And it’s bigger than any other I’ve seen.”

“I’ll get Obi Wan and Admiral Yularen,” Anakin said. “We’ll be there with the 501st and the 212th. We’re going to drive the Separatists from Ilum. That planet’s too important to the Jedi to lose.”

“Copy that, Master,” Ahsoka nodded. “See you soon.” The projection faded, and she sat back down.

“Are we ever going to get down there?” Twilight asked.

“Of course we will,” Ahsoka assured. “Master Skywalker will be here with the Clone Army soon, and we’ll get rid of this blockade. You’ll get your lightsaber crystal.” Ahsoka looked back toward the Separatist blockade. She hoped that this mission wouldn’t be in vain.

~~~

Aboard the Separatist flagship, battle droids kept the flagship in orbit above Ilum. A tactical droid patrolled the bridge, keeping everything in check. One droid’s panel beeped.

“Sir, there’s a ship that just dropped out of hyperspace in sector 6,” the droid said.

“What model type?” the tactical droid asked.

“We can’t tell,” the droid responded.

“I don’t like it,” the tactical droid said. “Prepare for a direct attack.”

“What if it’s one of our ships?” the droid asked.

“It’s not,” the general said. “It’s the Jedi. I can feel their presence. They must not be allowed to reach the planet’s surface. Prepare to attack. Wait for my command.”

“Roger, roger,” the droid nodded. He turned back to the panel and pressed a few keys. The flagship general looked out toward the shuttle. She could sense the Jedi younglings aboard the ship, and she was going to make sure they did not get their lightsaber crystals.

~~~

Aboard the Jedi Shuttle, most of the younglings were frightened. Ahsoka was trying to calm them down. But in the back, Sunset was in meditation with the force. She was searching for her saber crystal from the ship. She suddenly opened her eyes with a gasp.

“What is it?” Ahsoka asked.

“My crystal,” Sunset said. “It’s aboard the Separatist flagship.”

“What?!” Ahsoka cried.

“Commander Tano,” Huyang called. “Several ships are coming out of hyperspace behind us.”

“Master Skywalker and Master Kenobi made it,” Ahsoka breathed. She looked back, and a Republic Fleet blasted out of hyperspace. Four Republic Assault Ships and three Venator Class cruisers. Huyang piloted the shuttle to the central Venator cruiser. The cruiser opened up the front hanger and the shuttle flew inside. The shuttle landed in the hangar, where Anakin, Obi Wan, Celestia, and Yoda were waiting. The younglings, Ahsoka, and Huyang stepped off the shuttle and walked up to their Jedi Masters. Clone Captain Rex and Clone Commander Cody stepped next to Anakin.

“The fleet is ready, General,” Rex informed.

“Thanks Rex,” Anakin nodded. “Get to the gunship. I’ll join you in a moment.” Rex nodded, and he left for the Republic Gunships. Anakin turned to the younglings.

“We apologize for the…complications…in your trip,” Obi Wan apologized. “We did not account for a Separatist blockade over the planet.”

“Don’t worry, young ones,” Celestia assured. “The blockade will be cleared, and you can continue with your mission.”

“Hm,” Yoda thought. “Strange, this sudden Separatist activity is. Never before, have they been interested in Ilum. On the flagship, a Sith Lord, I fear there is.”

“Dooku?” Ahsoka worried.

“No,” Yoda said, shaking his head. “Not Dooku, nor Ventress. A new Sith, I fear there may be.”

“A new Sith?” Anakin asked.

“Uncertain, I am,” Yoda regretted. “However, soon, we will know.”

“What are your thoughts on the matter, Master Celestia?” Ahsoka asked. Celestia didn’t respond. She was looking in the directon of the Separatist flagship.

~~~

The general of the Separatist flagship looked out from the bridge, out to the Republic fleet. She didn’t look away.

“My lady, the cruisers are ready for a full scale attack,” the tactical droid informed. The general didn’t acknowledge the droid.

“Ma’am?” the droid asked.

“I sense a presence,” the general said. “A presence I haven’t felt in a thousand years.” The general snapped out of her trance. “Attack on my command.”

“Yes, my lady,” the tactical droid said, bowing briefly. Both the Republic and Separatist forces were ready to attack. The Republic would stop at nothing to liberate Ilum, and the Separatists were just as determined to eradicate the Republic fleet.