Knights of Harmony, Episode I: Rise of the Elements

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 14

Chapter 1 Author's Note

Chapter 1

A small transport vessel flew through the vast expanse of space, its flight path serene and focused.

This was in stark contrast to the young Harmonist it was carrying. Twilight Sparkle exhaled slowly and sporadically twirled a finger around her Padawan braid, a nervous habit she had not been able to break throughout her years of training.

Trespic, her draconian companion, glanced up from his datapad game and noticed her action. He paused it and hissed gently at her.

Though to a casual observer it might have sounded like nothing more than air escaping, Twilight had understood perfectly. “Nervous? A little bit,” she admitted. “It’s a big assignment.”

Trespic nodded and hissed again, another question.

“No, I can’t think of any other times Padawans got solo missions,” Twilight answered, “and especially not one this big. That’s what’s got me so nervous.” Her voice quieted. “I kinda wish Master Cadence were here,” she confessed. “She’s always so good with talking to new people.”

Trespic hissed again, this time wiggling his eyebrows.

Twilight snorted. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Spike,” she said, though one side of her mouth did pull up in a little smile. “You’re right, though. If Master Celestia gave me this assignment personally, then the least I can do is go; even if it is to a backrocket moon settlement in a backrocket system. I mean, there’s not even a spaceport; we were given coordinates to a landing field.” She exhaled. “I’ll be honest, Spike, I don’t think I’ll find any Harmony-sensitives out there. And then saying that I might want to stay?” Twilight shook her head. “I mean, I’d trust Master Celestia with my life, but this seems a little odd, even for her.”

Spike shrugged, but cracked a toothy smile and hissed once more.

“Oh, I couldn’t believe that,” Twilight chuckled dryly. “I never thought I’d hear her say I should stop researching something; but…” She sighed. “The prophecies are coming true, Spike. The Nightmares are coming back.”

Spike hissed, an offhand comment.

“I know you’re not one for prophecies and such, and maybe they are being misinterpreted,” Twilight conceded. Draconians like Spike were not known for being Harmony-sensitive, and Spike definitely put more stock in what he could see and touch himself. In his defense, though, his keen sight and heightened ability to detect vibrations had kept him and his species pretty safe on their own without Harmony’s assistance. “But then again, I don’t believe in coincidences.” She stood up. “I’m going to review the data from that log I found,” she announced. “Maybe I’ll find something new this time.”

Spike hissed.

“Yes, again,” Twilight said.

Spike rolled his eyes and hissed once more, then returned to his game.

“Twelfth,” Twilight corrected irritably as she left.

* * *

In the back of the ship, Twilight Sparkle held up a hand and Harmony-pulled her datapad over. She started it up and reviewed the information she’d copied from the log for the twelfth time. It had been a passing reference, but it still intrigued her.

Many years ago, there had been two Master Harmonists, wise beyond their already many years. The elder, Celestia, carried a weapon of bright yellow; the younger, Luna, carried one of midnight blue. These colors were often imitated, but even today none seem to possess the ability in Harmony enough to form their kyber crystals as perfectly as they.

They divided the labor between them. Celestia, older and wiser, led with a gentle hand, preferring politics and persuasion over brute force. In contrast, Luna preferred more action, often subjugating rebellions and uprisings through sheer force and her skill with the protosaber.

Over time, the younger grew discontent. How could her sister not see? Talking only covered the problem superficially; it festered discontent. Action preserved peace, she believed; preserved Harmony. She sought out the old ways, took strength from the Dark Side of Harmony, and was reborn as Nightmare Moon.

Her first action was to lay waste to the Harmonist temple, and Celestia was forced to take up her weapon and duel her own sister. Witness accounts say that the battle lasted many hours, and it was so destructive and so unbalancing to Harmony that the temple was of necessity abandoned afterwards. Its location has been lost with time, though some have said that it was on a small, forested moon of a planet in the Micrakn system.

Since then, Master Celestia has remained mostly silent on the subject of the battle, and has even gone so far as to restrict access to records of the time leading up to the battle. However, she has gone on record on attributing the victory to the Elements of Harmony.

Twilight shook her head as she turned her datapad off and tossed it aside. Harmony had not seen fit to give her any new insights this time. She may have learned nothing new, but the question burned even brighter in her mind. The Elements of Harmony. What were they? She knew she'd read about those somewhere. But where? This was the only reference she’d found.

Then again, there was plenty more information in the libraries of the Harmonist Temple of Canterlot; but Master Celestia had not seen fit that she should study there. It almost seemed like she was sending her away, so she wouldn’t discover more.

Or maybe it was part of a trial. Twilight brightened. She was getting to that age, wasn’t she? Cadence had implied that she would be ready for her Trials soon. Yes. Maybe that was it. Maybe this was just a delay Celestia had given her to see if her determination would waver.

It would not. She would complete her assignment, and when she found no Harmony-sensitive individuals, she’d go right back to searching for more information on these Elements of Harmony.

* * *

The ship touched down gently. Twilight sat up and cracked a smile as she undid her safety restraints. “Perfect landing as usual, Si,” she called to the pilot.

Trooper C-Six Six Five looked back and touched his helmet respectfully. “I do my best, Miss Sparkle.”

“And call me Twilight!”

“Yes, Miss Sparkle,” he said, his playful smile evident even through the helmet he wore.

Twilight walked towards the back of the ship. The gangplank slowly lowered, giving Twilight her first unfettered view of the planet. “Well, here we are,” she said. “Elfaus 2.” Her voice dropped back into the sarcastic register. “This is gonna be great.”

Spike looked out the opening and commented.

“Yes, it looks peaceful; but looks can be deceiving,” Twilight said, taking a moment and adjusting her uniform with a few quick tugs. She pulled once on her lightsaber to make sure it was still securely fastened to her belt, and then she turned around to head down the gangplank.

With a polite, “thank you, sirs” to the troopers, she stepped off and headed out into the unknown, with Spike at her side.

Chapter 2

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Chapter 3

Twilight rechecked her datapad. “So for confirmed Harmony-sensitive, we’ve got Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. Two of them have younger sisters, so they’re possibles, and I think I got a vibe from that one woman with the blond hair.”

Spike nodded, silently prompting her to continue.

“And so I…” She deactivated her datapad. “-am going to go do some research at the library.”

Spike gave her a questioning hiss.

“Right now, I don't care if the entire settlement is Harmony-sensitive!” Twilight shrieked, tossing the datapad aside onto her bunk and gesticulating wildly. “Nobody really cares about Harmony, or anything, really! They're just happy doing their own thing, their heads buried in the sand!” She flopped over on her bunk and sighed. There was a slight pause. Then she irritably dug underneath herself to extricate her datapad and she tossed it onto the floor. “I’m gonna have to meditate for an hour to wrap my head around this,” she moaned. “This is a mess. I swear, it'd take a Nightmare showing up here to get them to change their minds.”

Spike hissed apprehensively. He'd read enough to know that if a Nightmare was around, he would prefer to be anywhere else.

“Yeah, same here,” Twilight agreed, sitting up and sobering slightly at the thought. “But seriously, what are the chances of a Nightmare coming here?”

* * *

Getting to the library the second time was much easier. Now that she knew where she was going, it was much quicker in getting there; even if she did find herself constantly checking over her shoulder for any wild rainbow-haired girls on speeders.

And the people here did seem nice. It was a fairly friendly little settlement. People waved to her and called her by name as she passed. Not bad, for only having seen her once.

She was smiling as she entered the library. It was small, yes; but maybe there were some hidden gems in here.

And as she passed the librarian’s desk, Twilight slowed to a stop. She took a step back and pointed to the object that had caught her eye. “Where did you find that?” she whispered.

The librarian shrugged. “Found it in the forest. It was pretty, so I kept it.”

“And you’re using it as a decoration?” Twilight squeaked.

The librarian cracked a small smile. “What else would you use it for?”

“Studying,” Twilight sputtered. “That's a holocron.”

She squinted. “A what, now?”

“A holocron. It's how Harmonists store information.”

She squinted. “Really? I thought it might have been scrap metal from a crashed satellite.”

Twilight nearly choked. “Th-” She held up her hands and pulled the holocron over to her. She felt the Harmony running through her hands as she twisted—she didn't even need to physically touch it—and it unfolded, revealing its hidden information.

“Data holocron,” Twilight murmured as her eyes flicked around. “Great. So much to run through…” She wandered over to a small booth and sat down, her eyes scanning the holocron’s data.

And did it have information. Her eyes caught that elusive phrase.

Elements of Harmony.

She quickly navigated to that portion and read the definition. “‘Ancient crystals made of Harmony itself’?” She scowled. “That's unhelpful. Harmony is and has always been a force; not something you can hold.” She frowned. “Unless they're just really finely attuned crystals. But then why would they say made of Harmony? Unless… unless ‘of Harmony’ means they used Harmony to make them. So they're essentially synthetic kyber crystals?” Twilight shook her head. She knew there was power in synthetic kyber crystals—rumor had it Celestia herself had Harmony-formed the crystal in the heart of her golden lightsaber by meditating on it for a month straight—but it seemed to her that the search for the Elements of Harmony was going to be a dead end. If they did exist, they were probably scattered across the galaxy. Or in lightsabers somewhere, also scattered across the galaxy. Or on the black market. Or maybe even thrown in a black hole somewhere, their molecules scattered across the universe.

Her stomach rumbled, interrupting her inner thoughts. She frowned. She wouldn't be able to focus like this. With a quick wave, she folded the holocron back up, intending to head back to the ship and study it there after getting food.

As she was leaving, though, the librarian coughed. “Where are you going?”

“Back home?”

“You still have my thing,” she said, gesturing where the holocron had stood on her desk.

Twilight’s eyes narrowed. This was a Harmonist holocron. Technically, she had the rights to it. Still, she exhaled, then returned the holocron. She could get it back later.

Actually…

It would have been irresponsible to leave her only clue behind. She closed her eyes and inhaled, then turned back around and subtly waved her hand. “It's a good thing you found that holocron,” she said.

The librarian looked up. “It's a good thing I found that holocron,” she repeated.

“It's a great source of knowledge.”

“Knowledge should be shared freely.”

“You will let me take the holocron home.”

“I will let you take the holocron home.” She held out the holocron.

Twilight took it and gently slid it into her pocket. “Thank you,” she said pleasantly. “Have a nice day!”

* * *

Twilight sighed as she folded the data holocron back up. “It’s been a week,” she said wearily, slumping back on the seat. “I’ve been looking at this thing for nearly a week, and I still can’t find anything I need. It still makes it sound like they’re just artifacts, and for all I know, Celestia just left them there after the fight.”

Spike hissed.

Twilight leaned forward and rested her head on the table. “Yeah, maybe you’re right,” she mumbled. “I could probably use something to take my mind off of this.”

Spike hissed again, this time with a touch of sarcasm.

“Maybe I will. There is nothing wrong with meditating,” Twilight defended herself.

Spike hissed, an offhand comment.

“I do not forget to eat!”

Spike shrugged and hissed again.

“‘Sometimes’? When was the last time I forgot?” she challenged.

Spike looked away and hissed.

“This mor-! Ok, fine. Give me two times.”

“You’ll excuse me for saying, Miss Sparkle, but Trespic is right,” Si interrupted from the doorway. “I’ve barely seen you leave the ship after that first day.”

“It's not…” Twilight sighed. She knew when she was outnumbered. She folded her arms. “Alright, then; what do you suggest?”

“Funny you should ask,” Si said, reaching into one of the pouches on his belt. He pulled out a little holographic chip and held it up. “Found this pinned to the door of the ship.” He tossed it over, and Twilight caught it. She placed it into the player and pushed the button.

A holographic image of Pinkie Pie appeared, vibrating slightly. Twilight moved to adjust the tracking until she realized that it was actually Pinkie Pie doing the vibrating, and not her projector.

“Hi! If you're getting this, that means I've invited you to my party!” She leaned towards the camera and stage-whispered, “But really, I've invited everybody, so you should come and bring everyone, even if they didn't get a special invitation!” She straightened back up. “It'll be great! We'll be celebrating the thousand year anniversary of the founding of our settlement with games and food and fun!” She gave the physical address and time—in town, in less than an hour—and finished with “and there's going to be all kinds of fun! Wait. I said that twice.” She gigglesnorted. “And that just tells you how much fun there'll be!”

Twilight hesitated, her reluctance a stark contrast to Pinkie’s exuberant dancing. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” she murmured.

“Ah, come on, Miss Sparkle,” Si insisted. “We’ll come along. Nothing’s gonna happen on our watch.” Without needing to look, he held up a fist and bumped it with another clone behind him.

Twilight exhaled. “First off, call me Twilight.”

“Yes, Miss Sparkle,” Si smirked.

“Secondly... You’re right, Si,” she said, scratching at her hairline. “I’m probably just letting my concern over my inability to find out more about the Elements of Harmony and my frustrations with the Harmony-sensitives here spill over into other aspects of my life.” She forced a small smile. “Alright, we'll go. Maybe it’ll be fun.”

“That’s the spirit!” Si said cheerfully, giving her a playful nudge on the shoulder. “I've already had some of the boys organize a transport. It’ll be here momentarily.”

Twilight cracked a smile. It would all be fine.

* * *

It seemed to be fine. Twilight exhaled and tried to relax. There were many people here. That was fine. Many people she didn’t know. That was fine, too. As harbingers of peace and unity, meeting new people and making new connections was just part of the lifestyle of a Harmonist.

So why did she feel so unsettled?

Si neared. His keen eye quickly saw through her act (or maybe he just saw her playing with her Padawan braid again). “Something wrong, Miss Sparkle?”

“No, not really,” Twilight answered, quickly dropping her hand. “It’s just… something feels wrong and I don’t know what.”

“Is it that you’re not dancing?” Si suggested cheekily.

Twilight snorted air out of her nose. “I’m sure it’s not that,” she said. “I mean, I don’t mind dancing—I’m pretty good at it—”

Si managed to turn his derisive snort into a weak cough.

“But I just…” She exhaled. “I don’t know.” She straightened up. “I’m going back to the ship.”

Si set his cup down. “We’ll go with you.”

Twilight rested a hand on his shoulder armor. “No. Stay. Enjoy yourselves. It’s just me. I’ll… I’ll probably be back. I just… need to clear my head.”

Si nodded slowly. “As you say, Miss Sparkle.”

Twilight cracked a smile. “And call me Twilight.”

Si grinned right back. “Yes, Miss Sparkle.”

With that, Twilight headed out into the night.

* * *

Twilight walked slowly, still unable to piece together what had been bothering her. What could it be? It was a little bit frustrating, really, knowing something was wrong but not able to figure it out.

She had made it halfway through town when she stopped and gasped for breath, feeling as if she’d just been suddenly dunked in cold water. A cold shudder ran up her spine that would not dissipate, and her breath grew ragged. She had never felt such a disturbance in Harmony. And she had never felt one so cold. The only thing that could make such a disturbance was...

She turned back and sprinted back towards the party, hoping against hope she wouldn't be too late.

Chapter 4

Pinkie shivered. Something wasn’t quite right. She wasn't sure what, though. It wasn't a draft or anything. But it had definitely been cold.

A new person walked in, and Pinkie quickly darted over, distracted by this new development. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie! And you are…?”

The woman cocked her head. “Do you not recognize me?” she asked quietly.

Pinkie shook her head.

The woman smiled darkly. “Believe me, you will know my name soon enough. And it's one you'll never forget.”

“But I don't... Ooh, do I have to guess?” Pinkie asked excitedly. “I love guessing games!”

The woman scowled.

“Um, Hokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty! Black-”

But the woman had had enough; she flicked her hand, and Pinkie Pie flew backwards and slammed head first into the wall. She slumped to the ground, unconscious.

The people nearest turned and stared, but the party was too loud for this scene to be a huge attention-grabber.

Unfortunately, it seemed as though attention was exactly what she wanted. The woman walked up to the stage and jumped up, flat-footed, a good meter off the ground; without any apparent effort. She walked over to Rarity, who was singing. “My turn,” she growled.

Rarity raised her eyebrow, but continued singing.

The woman scowled and held up her fist. Rarity’s singing quickly stopped, and her fingers reached for her throat as she gasped for breath. The musicians stopped and backed away as the woman raised her fist higher. Rarity’s body raised up slightly, her toes scrabbling for grip against the ground, her lekku writhing desperately as she fought to release herself from this unseen attack.

The woman held her up for a few moments longer, then tossed her aside. Rarity tumbled to the ground, landing on her hands and knees, gasping desperately for air. Completely calmly and apparently quite unconcerned about her actions, the strange woman stepped forward to the front of the stage and pulled the microphone up to her level. “Ladies and gentlemen,” she started, her voice cold and low. “I have an important announcement. Today is a momentous occasion.”

“Yeah!” someone who had spent a little too much time with the drinks shouted. “The thousandth year anniversary of the founding of our town!”

The woman scowled, but retained control of herself. “It is also the thousandth year since my banishment. That time has expired. I am free; I have returned.” She spread her arms wide.

If she was expecting genuflection, awe, or perhaps eve applause, she didn’t get it. Instead, a stunned silence answered her.

This more than anything else seemed to bother her. “Does no one remember?” she demanded.

There was a quiet murmuring, but nobody dared speak too loudly.

The woman nearly howled. “I am Nightmare Moon!” she roared, her mouth wide open enough to reveal teeth that had been filed down to sharp points. She drew a lightsaber handle from her belt and pointed it at the crowd. “Remember it well; for soon, all across the galaxy shall know my name and tremble!”

Si’s voice came cutting through the commotion clearly. “That’s a threat if ever I saw one. Light her up, boys!”

Every clone lifted their blaster and began firing. Nightmare Moon lit her lightsaber, and a brilliant red blade burst into being. She spun her lightsaber, almost lazily deflecting the bolts. Civilians scattered, ducking behind tables and generally trying to flee as the shots were redirected into the crowd.

“Hold fire! There's too many civvies!” Si called.

“Where's Twilight?”

“Circle around! Spread out!”

“Wait for a clear shot! Fire when you get one!”

Nightmare Moon lifted her hand and the doors crashed closed, trapping everyone inside. “Before I’ve finished my introduction?” she asked, her voice almost sickly sweet. “I come not to destroy, but to invite.”

“Invite this!” a clone cried as he opened fire.

Nightmare Moon deflected the first bolt right into the chest of another clone. She jumped off, spun backwards, and drove her lightsaber through his chest. More bolts flew, but she had already decided on a course of action. With a flick of her hand, she tore the blaster out of Si’s hands and darted forward, her speed letting her duck under the defensive punch he threw. She seized him by the neck and yanked him against her front, holding her lightsaber against his throat and using him as a living shield. “You. You are the leader. Order them to stand down, and you may live. I could use a few foot soldiers in my new order.”

Si struggled.

“Give the order,” Nightmare Moon repeated, tightening her grip.

“Oh, I'll give the order alright,” Si grunted. He looked back over at the other clones. “Don't cry for me, boys! Get in a good shot! Make ‘em count!”

And that was the last thing he said.

“Loyal,” Nightmare Moon sniffed disinterestedly. “Stupid, yes; but loyal.” She deactivated her lightsaber and stepped backwards; no longer supported, Si’s headless body fell to the ground. “I suppose I can respect that. But will the rest of you-?”

Her answer came in the form of more blaster bolts. The clones circled, spreading out as far as they could.

Nightmare Moon scowled. She flipped through the air and slashed, felling another clone trooper. She deflected two shots from the next trooper, killing the two troopers on either side of him before running him through.

Applejack rushed over to a downed trooper, desirous to help. Her eyes scanned his body, but he had been struck in a vital part, and she could see that he was not going to make it.

He looked up at her, and raised a shaky hand, pointing at her lightsaber. “Use it!” he urged in a pained whisper before he collapsed to the ground.

Applejack stood up and drew her lightsaber. She lit it and held it out defensively. This felt wrong. She'd never actually raised her lightsaber against another person.

Nightmare Moon perked up at the sound. She turned to look at Applejack, and then barked a laugh. “Put that away before you hurt yourself, girl,” she taunted, circling slowly.

“Or before you get hurt!” There was the sound of another lightsaber igniting. Rainbow Dash let out a challenging roar and charged, her shoto shining brightly.

Nightmare Moon sidestepped and lashed out with her boot. Rainbow caught it in her ribs, and she stumbled backwards. Undeterred, she picked herself up and swung her lightsaber wildly, and Nightmare Moon easily slid around it.

More blaster fire erupted. Spike had picked up a blaster from a fallen clone and was firing at her, his eyes narrowed and snarling viciously. Nightmare Moon laughed as she easily deflected the shots, forcing Applejack to dive for cover behind a table. As Rainbow prepared to charge again, she decided to eliminate this threat, and with a quick hand motion, she flicked him out of the window as if he were nothing more than an annoying pest. Spike crashed backwards through the wall, and did not return.

Applejack got out from behind the table. She could watch no longer; she had to act. Applejack neared and swung, intending to trap her by coming from both sides; but Nightmare Moon deflected it easily before batting it away with a second swing. She turned and faced Rainbow Dash; but as Applejack hesitated, she lashed out backwards with her boot in a punishing back kick, hitting Applejack in the chest and knocking her sliding backwards. She dropped her lightsaber, and it clattered to the ground as she gasped desperately for breath. Had she cracked a rib? Maybe two ribs? Before she could even self-diagnose anything, Nightmare Moon swung her lightsaber again, carving a mid-size gash into her shoulder. Applejack collapsed, howling in pain. She couldn’t even attempt to stand; she was out of this fight.

Rainbow’s hit had been more of a glancing blow, and she recovered quickly. She hacked and slashed wildly, her swings out of control. “Stay still so I can hit you!” she shouted.

Nightmare Moon laughed as she simply sidestepped out of the way, not even bothering to bring her lightsaber up. “It wouldn’t do you any good,” she taunted, twisting and gliding just out of reach.

“I can try!” Rainbow spat, still swinging.

Nightmare Moon chuckled as she effortlessly caught her blade with an almost lazy flick of her lightsaber, then kicked her hard in the stomach. Rainbow buckled over. In a move more designed to punish her than end the fight, she brought the hilt of her lightsaber down and smashed it into the top of her head, dropping Rainbow to the ground.

“Rainbow!” Applejack called. Still in pain but determined to help, she reached for a dropped blaster; but with a quick movement of Nightmare Moon’s hand, she was blindsided by a flying table.

Now on her knees and with her world still spinning, Rainbow reached for her lightsaber, only to see a black boot kick it away. She looked up. Nightmare Moon smirked as she twirled her lightsaber once, swung it out and brought it up; then swung it down, intending to decapitate her.

But the impact never came.

Its devastating arc was abruptly halted by the presence of a new, blue blade. They collided with a resounding crash.

Rainbow looked up, somewhat surprised to still be alive. She was even more surprised at who she saw. “Twilight?”

Nightmare Moon looked over at her new opponent. Her eyes flicked over Twilight, and her eyes widened. “I recognize those robes,” she whispered, taking a step back. “You're a Harmonist.”

“I am,” Twilight growled. Her chest was heaving from the run back, but her eyes were narrowed with determination.

Nightmare Moon smiled and took a step back. Her yellow eyes flicked across Twilight’s body, finally landing on her braid. “A Padawan?” She grinned, twirling her lightsaber up. “This is what Celestia sends against me? Oh, how the mighty Harmonists have fallen!”

Twilight twirled her lightsaber into high ready position. She circled around, both for more room to work and to make sure the still-recovering Rainbow was out of range of the oncoming fight. “Judging me by my appearance, are you?” she taunted. “That’s an unwise move.”

“Indeed?” Nightmare Moon grinned, revealing once more her sharpened teeth. She flicked up her lightsaber in a mocking salute. “Well, my dear Harmonist, would you ever so kindly enlighten me as to why?”

Twilight bared her teeth right back. She would remain focused. She would not rise to the bait.

Seeing that no more banter was forthcoming, Nightmare Moon shrugged, then began with a quick slash, which Twilight easily parried. She followed up with a jab and then a low swing, which Twilight easily avoided. Nightmare Moon brought her lightsaber up and then swung down, and Twilight rotated to one side to let the blade glance harmlessly off her own.

Twilight suddenly recognized this pattern. This was one of the old katas used for training younglings just starting out with their lightsabers. Though it was long since depreciated and replaced with new forms, she had studied it (for the sake of knowledge, of course), and knew what techniques were coming next. She rotated her body, letting Nightmare Moon’s blade pass over her shoulder, and blocked it as it came back for the returning cross. One side of her mouth perked up in triumph.

This particular kata had a mostly superior attack pattern; most strikes were aimed above the waist. This left the lower half of the attacker somewhat exposed. During training, this meant that a youngling would keep the saber away from sensitive toes while first learning how to swing it; during actual combat, though…

In the middle of the triple upper strike, Twilight retaliated by ducking under and delivering a quick slash to Nightmare Moon’s knees; but Nightmare Moon rotated her wrist and blocked it easily.

But she was far from annoyed. If anything, she almost seemed pleased. “Good, good,” she said, withdrawing her lightsaber slightly. “You know your kata, and how to improvise. But how's your footwork?” She began to circle, and Twilight slowly and carefully shuffled around to stay centered.

Nightmare Moon suddenly attacked, spinning herself and traveling forward. She swung her lightsaber out low, and Twilight lightly stepped out of the way. Nightmare Moon kept her strikes low, making Twilight dance lightly on her feet.

Nightmare Moon grinned.

And then came the sound of another lightsaber igniting. Rainbow Dash had recovered enough to charge in. Twilight realized this and quickly struck as well, intending to pin Nightmare Moon between their two blades.

But Nightmare Moon took this in stride. She deflected Twilight’s attack, and at the same time rotated her hips and drew a second blade with her off hand, this one a beautiful midnight blue, and stopped Rainbow’s attack cold. This one, though, did not appear to be an ordinary lightsaber. Its hum was a slightly deeper pitch, almost throatier in tone, and it had a long cord leading out the back end that attached to a power pack hanging on Nightmare Moon’s belt that Twilight hadn’t noticed before.

Twilight’s eyes widened as she recognized it. “A protosaber?”

But any time she could spend pondering this archaic weapon was quickly used up when Nightmare Moon retaliated with another punishing kick to Rainbow’s stomach before turning both weapons on her. Though the cord definitely limited her somewhat, it was clear that Nightmare Moon was a highly skilled fighter. Her blades danced together, red and midnight blue, in a swirling motion that almost appeared purple. Twilight found herself completely on the defense, and only her connection with Harmony kept her from being filleted alive.

Rainbow pushed herself up, winded but not injured. She roared and charged, diverting Nightmare Moon’s attention. She spun around to face this new threat, giving Twilight a bit of a breather. Red, blue, and green blades sparked together.

Twilight realized instantly that Nightmare Moon was just toying with her.

Rainbow, however, only realized this when Nightmare Moon spun around so her back was facing Rainbow, and proceeded to block all of her attacks anyway with her off-handed blue blade. Twilight jumped and attacked from the front side, if for no other reason than to try and give Rainbow a clear shot.

Nightmare Moon blocked her attack, too. She blocked both of them simultaneously. And she did it while laughing. She stood between two enemies in a straight line, quite literally one of the worst positions to ever be in during a fight, and she was easily holding her own. Twilight realized that she was horrifically out of her league. She'd sparred many good duelists in her training, but she'd never been so outclassed.

She dodged Rainbow’s lightsaber to bring both blades against Twilight’s, She laughed as she spun them around and brought them both straight down, as if trying to shear off both Twilight’s arms. Twilight managed to get her lightsaber high enough for the overhead block and tilted enough to stop them only by the barest of margins.

Nightmare Moon spun, her blades whirring past Rainbow by the barest of margins. Rainbow let out an inarticulate challenging roar and redoubled her efforts.

“Good, good!” Nightmare Moon laughed as she slid past her swing. “That’s it. Get angry at me!”

“Stay calm!” Twilight shouted even as she dodged a blade so nearly that she could feel the heat on her face. “She’s trying to draw you to the Dark Side of Harmony!”

Nightmare Moon kicked at Rainbow’s lightsaber, making her cry out in pain as she smashed her fingers between the handle and her boot. As Rainbow stepped back and shook her hand out, she suddenly spun, clenching her lightsaber against Twilight’s and pinning her in place. She leaned in, rocking Twilight off balance and giving her a great view of her filed teeth. “Oh, don’t tell me you still believe in that false dichotomy,” she purred, her breath a gentle brush of mint against Twilight’s face. “Harmony is Harmony, no matter what others may have you think.” She pushed Twilight back, blocked Rainbow’s next swing almost lazily by holding her lightsaber backwards over her shoulder, and then spun to deliver a kick to Twilight’s knees.

Twilight jumped over it and swung again. No matter what she said, she would not rise to the bait.

Nightmare Moon seemed to sigh as she continued. “Really, now,” she said, spinning once more, knocking Rainbow’s blade aside and using that same momentum to slash downwards at Twilight. “You’ve got the potential inside of you. Show me your power! Show me your skill! Show me you deserve more than a quick death!”

And then she slid aside and brought her hands together. Her two opponents were brought together, and Twilight found herself barely blocking one of Rainbow’s overhead swings. Both girls froze.

Nightmare Moon smirked from her position about two paces aside. “Really, this is just pathetic,” she said sadly. “But still, you do show some potential. In fact, I believe you two could be the first of my warriors in my army; the first of the Shadowbolts!” She deactivated her lightsabers and clipped them back onto her belt, and then held out her right hand. “Kneel and swear fealty to me.”

“Corellians aren't good at giving up!” Rainbow shouted, turning to continue the fight.

Nightmare Moon Harmony-pushed Twilight backwards, sending her careening over. With her protosaber, she blocked Rainbow’s wild swing, and then kneed her in the stomach. As Rainbow recoiled, she swung right towards Rainbow’s head.

Twilight gasped.

A large chunk of rainbow-dyed hair floated to the ground. “I doubt they're good at much,” Nightmare Moon laughed as the acrid smell of burnt flesh and hair filled the room.

Enraged (and now sporting a giant burnt bald patch on her head), Rainbow Dash turned and began hacking and slashing, attacking so viciously that Twilight felt the need to stay back, if for no other reason than her own personal safety.

Nightmare Moon, however, felt differently. She demonstratively held her right hand behind her back, and continued blocking everything Rainbow could throw. She lively stepped backwards, drawing her in close.

And then, with a little whine, her protosaber suddenly fizzled out. Rainbow saw her opportunity and shouted triumphantly as she swung.

“Rainbow, no!” Twilight cried, but her warning came too late.

Nightmare Moon nonchalantly hooked the protosaber handle back onto her belt and raised her left hand. Right before Rainbow’s strike fell, blue lightning burst from her fingertips. Rainbow Dash was blasted backwards. She hit the ground hard; her lightsaber deactivated and rolled away. She coughed and attempted to roll over; but the wind was completely knocked out of her, and she slumped back to the ground, groaning in pain.

“The Corellian needs work,” Nightmare Moon said airily as she folded her hands behind her back, “but you…” She turned back to Twilight. “You are quite the enigma. I know not what I sense in you, but believe you me, I’m eager to find out. I offer you the chance again. Join me, and I will teach you of the ways of Harmony. I will teach you things you’d never even considered; things Celestia would never dare teach.”

How did she know Master Celestia? “Some things are meant to remain hidden,” Twilight spat, raising her lightsaber in case the lightning made a reappearance.

“That's a shame. I'd sooner destroy a work of art than you,” Nightmare Moon murmured. “You would make a fine apprentice.” She raised her arm out to her side, and her lightsaber handle zoomed back into her hand from her belt. She ignited it with a subtle flick of her finger, and a little smile crossed her face. “Oh, well. It can't be helped, I suppose.” And with no further warning, she attacked. She swung, missing Twilight by inches, rotated the blade in her right hand to a reverse grip, then swung back.

Twilight stopped it, holding her lightsaber in front of her. She glanced over at Nightmare Moon’s twisted posture, legitimately confused. What advantage did she get from this position?

Her answer came when she skipped her left foot up to where her right had been and lashed out with her boot in a crescent kick aiming for Twilight’s unprotected kidney. Twilight barely managed to torque her body out of the way, but in doing so, spun and exposed more of her back to Nightmare Moon. She quickly kept spinning and held up her lightsaber to block Nightmare Moon’s attack; but the attack never came. Instead, Nightmare Moon jabbed forward, underneath Twilight’s block. Twilight cried out as the lightsaber brushed against the side of her face.

“Twilight!” Applejack cried.

Twilight stumbled backwards, clutching the side of her head. She looked up.

“That was a warning,” Nightmare Moon grinned.

“Yeah? Well, I’m not that good at heeding them,” Twilight growled through gritted teeth, blinking a few times to make sure that her eye had not been damaged. The scratch seemed to be superficial, though the high temperatures of her lightsaber guaranteed it would scar.

“Twilight!”

Twilight looked over. Applejack, still nursing her cracked ribs and other injuries, had managed to crawl over to her lightsaber. With a herculean effort, she tossed it over, and Twilight reached up and caught it. Now dual-wielding lightsabers, she twirled both of them and lowered herself in a ready stance. Nightmare Moon grinned and twirled her own lightsaber.

And then the fight began.

When a Harmonist dual-wields lightsabers, many new options open up. Few Harmonists wielded two lightsabers as their standard weapons, and those that did usually carried blades of different lengths; keeping the shorter to be used as a defensive weapon while attacking with the longer. But two blades of equal size could be used for a solid defense or a continuous, devastating offensive attack.

Twilight began, spinning like a whirlwind, her boots kicking up dust and both blue blades whirring in the air as she slashed and hacked, varying her blows and weaving a pattern in the air as she attacked, desperate for any hit to land. Nightmare Moon remained light on her feet. She seemed to almost dance around Twilight’s strikes as her wrist worked overtime to keep Twilight’s blades at bay. Though she was not hit, Twilight’s constant attack drove her backwards.

Twilight leaned down and dragged one blade against the ground, sending up a spray of sparks as she spun, attempting to distract from her attempt to stab with her other blade. Nightmare Moon jumped backwards, flipping out of the range of the sparks. She pushed off against the wall and launched herself towards Twilight, who was only just able to get her blades up to deflect the lightsaber. Nightmare Moon stepped aside, easily sliding past Twilight’s next swipe.

And then she swung back.

The two-handed slash stopped Twilight’s attack cold. Twilight’s eyes widened. This woman was strong.

Nightmare Moon grinned, flashing her fangs again. “My turn,” she whispered, before she lashed out with her boot once more. Twilight was forced to spin dodge to get out of range, and though she let her lightsabers swing, Nightmare Moon was not there.

She appeared in front of her, lightsaber primed as if it were a club. With powerful two-handed swings, Nightmare Moon battered Twilight back. With only one hand on each blade, Twilight wasn’t strong enough to completely stop her strikes; all she could do was work on deflecting them and keeping herself in a safe range.

Nightmare Moon suddenly raised her lightsaber high and brought it down. Twilight whipped her lightsabers up into a high x-block, and the two women clenched their blades tightly. Twilight felt a trickle of sweat run down her temple. Nightmare Moon kept smiling. Twilight tried to adjust her weight for a more solid stance, but so did Nightmare Moon; and Nightmare Moon was faster. She shifted her weight to her back foot and snap-kicked at Twilight, forcing her to step back.

Nightmare Moon jumped again, flipping over Twilight (and traveling just barely out of range of her lightsabers). Twilight quickly followed, launching herself upwards. Nightmare Moon slashed at her knees, but Twilight jumped and brought both blades down in a twin strike, hoping that Nightmare Moon wasn’t fast enough to stop them.

Nightmare Moon was fast enough. Her blade blocked both of Twilight’s. “Not bad,” she said. She grabbed her lightsaber with both hands. She shifted her weight and with a rainbow-like motion, forced both blades down to the ground, kicking up a new spray of sparks. As she did, she brought her knee up and delivered a roundhouse kick to Twilight’s exposed ribs. Twilight managed to move her arm back, taking the impact to her upper arm instead. She gasped in pain. It would leave a massive bruise there, but at least she could still breathe.

But as she landed, she knew she was still off-balance. The kick had been harder and had thrown her off more than she’d expected. She stumbled, her legs crossing as she took a step to keep herself upright.

The worst part of any lightsaber battle was that horrifying moment when you knew that you'd made a mistake, and you simultaneously knew that your opponent was skilled enough to take full advantage of it. And that was exactly what happened here. Nightmare Moon’s red blade shot out, easily slipping through Twilight's nonexistent defense, and dropped down, passing right through Twilight’s left forearm as if it hadn't even been there.

Twilight let out a long shriek of pain and dropped to the ground, dropping both of the lightsabers and cradling her left arm. Gasping for breath, she looked up and tried to fight through the pain. She raised her right hand to try to use a Harmony attack; but Nightmare Moon lifted her leg and drove her boot into Twilight's chest, knocking the wind out of her and laying her flat on her back. She brought her lightsaber down to Twilight's neck.

“You are defeated,” Nightmare Moon gloated, showing off her fangs once more.

Twilight grit her teeth defiantly even as she coughed and fought back tears. She would not die begging.

Nightmare Moon held out her left hand and almost lazily flicked two fingers up, and Twilight’s Padawan braid ripped itself off her head. She screamed again and rolled on the ground, unable to determine which part of her body was in more pain and needed to be covered more.

Nightmare Moon turned and faced the crowd, tossing aside the braid derisively. With a gentle flick, she deactivated her lightsaber and calmy clipped it back onto her belt. “This is what the Harmonists have become,” she whispered, her voice carrying easily through the stunned crowd and over Twilight's anguished cries. “Weak. Ineffective. Unwilling—or unable—to embrace true power. Light side, dark side; such distinctions are pure semantics. Harmony is Harmony, no matter how it is obtained.”

Behind her, Rainbow Dash pushed herself to her feet once more, fueled by rage and pure determination. She bent over to pick up her lightsaber and ignited it. She charged.

Without even deigning to look at her, Nightmare Moon lit her protosaber and deflected her attack. With a quick flick of her wrist, she disarmed her again, and Rainbow's lightsaber handle deactivated as it flew twirling through the air towards the spectators. “And those of you without training-” here, she drove her boot into the side of Rainbow’s knee, and she collapsed to her hands and knees with a cry of pain; which was cut off with a choking gasp when Nightmare Moon lashed out and kicked her under the chin, knocking her out instantly, “-are implicit in their corruption,” she finished as Rainbow’s unconscious body toppled over. She clipped the protosaber handle back onto her belt and rotated back towards the crowd. “If you want to be trained in the ways of true power, of the power that some call the Dark Side of the Harmony, come find me.” She held up a fist, and a low rumbling shook the ground; and then the whole building began to shake. It seemed as if the whole roof were coming off.

And that's exactly what happened. The roof peeled back like the top of an old can, literally torn off as a spaceship of ancient design forced its way inside. People shouted and panicked as debris fell from the ceiling.

Nightmare Moon waved her hand, and the loading ramp dropped. She took a single step forward and then leapt up onto the ramp, her body flying unnaturally high through the air. She landed lightly and laughed. She laughed as the ship slowly turned around, and she laughed as it took off, rising higher and higher into the atmosphere. Her laughter could still be heard as the ship flew away, shrinking away into the distance.

And all Twilight could do was watch her leave through one painfully squinted eye.

Chapter 5

Day dawned on a somber settlement. As is the case in most smaller settlements, most people were personally affected by last night’s attack, some more so than others. By noon, it seemed that most of the town had showed up to clean up, or do anything else they could to help.

Most of the town, anyway. Five citizens stood in the hospital wing of the town center, standing around and watching as a 2-1B medical droid finished testing the connections embedded in Twilight Sparkle’s forearm. Seemingly satisfied, he held out his hand, and a little astromech droid trundled forward and deposited a replacement, mechanical hand into his waiting hand. He examined it, putting it through a few flexes and watching how the hand moved. “It seems to be functional; if somewhat crudely made. The lack of synthflesh mountings or any support for nerve endings especially shows shoddy workmanship.”

Y1-O1 beeped irritably, rocking from side to side in her ire.

“There’s no need for such language,” the medical droid said airily as he bent over and began attaching it. “They are but the facts.”

Y1-O1 beeped again, and though Twilight didn't speak binary, she was fairly certain that she had just challenged him to a fight. Applejack placed a hand on her dome, calming her somewhat.

Twilight Sparkle inhaled and glanced around. The process was somewhat uncomfortable, like when something had been numbed and kept getting poked at; not painful, but definitely foreign. Around her, her friends stood supportively. Fluttershy gave her a kind (if somewhat fanged) smile; and Rainbow (who was wearing a knee brace) gave her a thumbs up.

“There,” the droid said, straightening up. “All connections have been made. Please test your new prosthetic, and inform me if you experience any errors.”

Twilight Sparkle looked down and slowly closed, then opened her new hand. It was a strange sensation. It was her hand, and it moved like she wanted it to; but the quiet whirring of the many tiny servomechanisms actually opening her fingers as she did was most unnatural. She did a few finger flexes and moved each finger individually, and was pleased to notice that her hand responded accurately. “It fits perfectly,” she said. She glanced up at the droid, and then at Applejack. “Thank you,” she said to both.

The droid inclined his head. “Just following my programming.”

Applejack shrugged. “T’weren’t nothing,” she said. “Apple Bloom was pleased as punch to get to build one.” She snorted a laugh, then winced from the pain and pressed a hand against her still-injured ribs before she could continue. “She wanted to do the organic connections, too; but I said no.”

And Twilight was thankful for that; she doubted that Apple Bloom would have had the tools necessary for the full body anesthesia that that procedure had required. The none-too-subtle dry laughter of the medical droid certainly didn't help, either. “She did a good job,” Twilight said, still flexing her fingers.

As Twilight ran her new hand through a couple more flexes, Rarity coughed lightly. She stepped forward, her hands folded in front of her chest. “You know, Twilight, while you were… out… we were thinking.”

“They were wrong. Ow!” Rainbow jumped as Rarity jabbed her in the ribs with an elbow. “We were wrong,” she corrected herself.

“About what?” Twilight asked.

“About the whole Harmonist thing.”

“That was so brave of you to jump out there like that,” Fluttershy started.

Twilight scowled. “And it worked out so well for me,” she said, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice as she clenched her left fist.

“Yeah, but you did something,” Applejack insisted. “Rainbow and I didn't last two seconds against her, and you fought her; and you nearly fought her off.”

“But I could have,” Rainbow defended herself. “I just need a little training. You know, I’ve never actually fought anybody else with a lightsaber before.”

“Neither have I,” Applejack added. “None of us have. Except for you, Twilight.”

“What we’re really trying to say is…”

“We want to learn,” Fluttershy finished.

Twilight smiled sadly. “Then I hope you can find someone to teach you.”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“I thought you were gonna…?”

Twilight shook her head. “I can’t teach you. Not me. I’m leaving. I'm going back to Canterlot.”

The girls gasped.

“Can we at least throw you a little going away party?” Pinkie Pie suggested hopefully.

“Yeah, if you've got the supplies with you right now,” Twilight said quietly, “because I'm leaving as soon as I get back to my ship.”

Pinkie frowned, and her normally poofy hair seemed to deflate slightly.

Twilight took a shaky breath. “Thank you all,” she said softly. “It was so nice to meet all of you.”

And with that, Twilight Sparkle turned and slowly left the library.

* * *

Spike adjusted the strap, and Si’s weapon slid to a more comfortable position on his hip. He adjusted it with a grim determination. Si would have wanted him to have it; he would bear it and wield it with honor.

The door hissed open behind her, and Twilight Sparkle stepped in. Spike hissed in greeting, but only got a quiet nod in response. He frowned. He would have expected her to comment on his new blaster.

He was not expecting her to walk over to the navigational computer and start punching in coordinates that looked an awful lot like Canterlot’s location. He gave her a questioning hiss.

“We're going home, Spike,” Twilight answered. “If you've got anything you want to take care of here, now's the time.”

Spike’s question rose even higher in inflection.

“Canterlot,” Twilight confirmed.

Spike hissed and shook his head, not comprehending.

“I failed, Spike!” Twilight nearly shouted at him over her shoulder. “I'm going home, and I’m joining the service corps; if they don't just kick me out! I was the wrong one for this mission.”

Spike tried to protest, but Twilight cut him off.

“The clones we came with are dead, Nightmare Moon is active again, and I could do nothing to stop her!” She held out her left hand and gestured toward her eye demonstratively. “I can’t even protect myself! How does Celestia expect me to help them?” She rested her forehead in her palm. “I just wasn't ready. She should have sent Cadence with me. Or maybe Sunset Shimmer instead. She's a great fighter. I bet she would have won that duel no problem.”

But as Twilight reached up to climb into the pilot’s seat, Spike grabbed a clawful of the back of her uniform and yanked her down. Twilight hadn't been expecting this, and she hit the ground hard, driving the wind from her chest. She fought for breath. It was easy to forget that he was a draconian, and his small size hid great strength.

Spike stepped over her, leaned down, bared his teeth, and snarled.

“I know she sent me-”

Spike snarled again.

“I remember my mission!”

Spike hissed, his tongue flicking out.

“I do remember! I do! I'm just… I’m not strong enough, Spike!” Twilight shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I'm not! I'm just… I'm just not.”

Spike snorted. He walked over towards one of the storage cubbies, and retrieved a small disk.

Twilight recognized it. “The mission hologram,” she murmured.

Spike slid it into the player on the nearby table and pressed the play button. A blue image of Celestia shimmered into existence.

Spike growled. Listen.

And Twilight did.

* * *

Five dejected people sat in the cantina. Rainbow Dash sat on the edge of the table, kicking aimlessly, and nobody felt any desire to tell her to get off.

“Well, now what?” Applejack asked.

Nobody answered because nobody knew.

“A shame she’s gone,” Rarity murmured. Her lekku flicked idly. “I was growing rather fond of her.”

“She was very nice,” Fluttershy agreed.

“She was ok, I guess,” Rainbow said flippantly.

And then, with a quiet whoosh, the door slid open.

Rainbow was the first to see her. She jumped off the table. “Twilight?!”

Twilight waved hesitantly and walked over to their table. “Hey, girls,” she said.

“I thought you were leaving,” Rainbow said suspiciously.

“I was,” Twilight confessed, idly twirling the short replacement braid that hung by her right ear. “But then Spike showed me something. In the mission briefing Master Celestia gave me, she told me that my friendships were my strength.” She cracked a smile. “I guess I missed that part the first time around.” She shook her head. “Look. I'm not strong enough to defeat Nightmare Moon on my own. I know that. But maybe I don't have to be.” She looked up at them. “Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie. Rarity. Applejack. I'm sorry for walking out on you. I know I’m just a Padawan-”

“A who, now?” Pinkie asked.

“I’m still learning,” Twilight translated, “but if you’ll have me, I’d love to be your teacher. I can teach you the ways of Harmony. Not just as a teacher, though. As a friend.”

“I'm in,” Rainbow raised her hand and bared her teeth. “Nobody hurts my friends and gets away with it.”

“Me! Me! Me!” Pinkie cheered, lighting her pinksabers and twirling them around as she spun in a circle (and making nearby patrons flinch away; one quickly moved to another table).

“I’m in,” Applejack said, touching the brim of her hat.

“Don’t forget about me,” Rarity said, flipping her lekku. “I’m in, too.”

Fluttershy nodded earnestly.

Twilight nodded and brusquely rubbed the heel of one hand over her eye. “Then let's get started.”

Chapter 6

Twilight Sparkle began pacing. “Welcome to your first day of training. Usually, in the Castle of Harmony, this is when younglings are introduced to their instructors and Master Celestia; but you already know me, Master Celestia isn’t here, and you’re certainly more mature than a youngling.”

She pointedly ignored Pinkie Pie’s cheerful yet derisive gigglesnort, as well as Rarity’s subtle sliding hand motions that drew attention to her hips.

“As you know, you’re here because you’re Harmony-sensitive. Harmony is a sort of energy field that permeates the entire galaxy. It’s in every living thing. It surrounds us. It penetrates us.”

Rainbow giggled. “Penetrates,” she repeated quietly.

Twilight scowled, but did not comment. “It binds the galaxy together. Some individuals, like you, can sense it and manipulate it. This brings me to my first lesson. Those of you with lightsabers, hold them out, please.”

Rainbow unhooked hers from her belt. “On or off?” she asked.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Rainbow jumped as her lightsaber handle flew out of her hand of its own accord. Twilight Sparkle caught it, and the rest of the lightsabers soon followed.

“Huh?”

Spike walked up, carrying a large box. Twilight placed them inside before reaching down and unhooking her own. “A Harmonist’s greatest strength is Harmony itself,” she explained, placing her lightsaber into the box.

Rainbow reached a hand wistfully out towards her departing lightsaber as Spike walked away.

"You'll get them back when we're done," Twilight said flatly. She continued. “A lightsaber is a physical manifestation of a Harmonist’s ability to commune with Harmony. Therefore, if you want to improve your lightsaber abilities, and grow stronger, you must start with the basics. You must learn to channel Harmony.”

Rainbow quickly brightened. “You mean we’ll get to learn how to lift stuff, too?” she asked excitedly. She held her hand out and squinted, apparently trying to retrieve one of the snacks Spike was currently munching on. He couldn't help but grin. Humoring her, he tossed one over and she caught it. “Alright!” she cheered.

She was less than pleased when it started wriggling in her grasp.

“Rainbow Dash, I didn’t know you liked mealworm biscuits.” Twilight grinned. “I imagine it's an acquired taste.”

Rainbow held it out by the tips of her fingers. “You know, I think I just lost my appetite,” she grimaced.

Twilight lifted it with Harmony, then tossed it over to Spike. He jumped and caught it in his mouth, prompting a round of applause from Pinkie. “Snack-time aside, we’re going to start with a little game called push-feather.”

“That sounds boring,” Rainbow interjected.

“I think it sounds fine,” Fluttershy said. “Nice and safe.” She glanced around. “None of us have feathers, though.”

Twilight grunted. “It’s not… Here. I’ll show you.”

* * *

Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash stood about fourteen paces apart, facing each other, their feet about shoulder-width apart.

“So I just push you over without touching you?” Rainbow asked.

“Basically, yes; but it’s more like I’ll push you-” and here she gave Rainbow a gentle push, “-and you react.”

Rainbow adjusted her weight, but did not fall over.

“Good. See? You felt that. Now feel it coming, and redirect it.”

Rainbow glanced briefly at her hand, and then swung it down, as if she were trying to fan Twilight over.

“No, not like-” Twilight flailed her hands like a kitten batting at twine. “That’s not going to do anything. Feel my push coming and redirect it. I’ll do it again.”

“I thought I was supposed to knock you over!” Rainbow protested.

“No, you’re supposed to react to my pushes and redirect them so I fall over. Basically, you’re working smarter, not harder.”

Rarity giggled. Rainbow turned and scowled at her, and then turned back to Twilight. She held up her hands once more. “Alright. Bring it.”

Twilight gave her a gentle push, and Rainbow rocked backwards. She tried to push, her hands moving helplessly for something she couldn’t see.

“Again?” Twilight tried.

Rainbow exhaled. “I'm not feeling it.”

Rarity tittered.

Rainbow scowled. “Oh, you’re so good?” She stepped aside, dramatically gesturing that Rarity should take her spot. “Let’s see you do it, miss smarty-tails.”

Rarity strutted forward, her head held high. “Very well,” she said.

Twilight waited until she was ready, and gave her a gentle push. Rarity took a stumbling step backwards.

It was Rainbow’s turn to laugh. Rarity scowled and held up her hands again. “I’m ready, darling,” she invited.

* * *

Twilight shuffled through the ship, distracted and looking rather discouraged. Spike looked up from polishing his blaster, and raised an eyebrow and hissed.

“How did it go?” Twilight repeated, turning around and dropping heavily into the nearest chair. “Uh… not great,” she admitted, bringing a hand up to massage her temples. This turned into a grimace as her left hand pushed hard enough to cause a bit of pain; she was still getting used to the new prosthetic. She dropped her hands in her lap. “I don’t think they’re feeling it. I mean, they could feel me pushing, obviously; but none of them could push me back.” She exhaled. “They couldn’t even feel it coming to try and push back. How could they not feel it?”

Spike hissed sarcastically.

Twilight winced. Spike was not, and had never been, Harmony-sensitive. “Right,” she said sheepishly. “Sorry. Sometimes I forget.”

Spike shrugged and gave a noncommittal grunt. He’d gotten over it a long time ago.

Twilight closed her eyes. “I shouldn't have tried to teach them all together. I think I’m going to see them individually. Private lessons always helped me.”

Spike nodded, then hissed something else under his breath.

“I apologized to Moondancer for that!” Twilight defended herself.

* * *

Twilight looked around. “Fluttershy?” she called. She pursed her lips. This was where she’d found her last time. Maybe she was swimming under the water? That would make sense, being a nautolan and all. Luckily, she was prepared.

“And Sunset says I shouldn’t carry everything on my belt,” she chuckled as she reached into one of the pouches and pulled out her aquata breather. She put it in her mouth, took a brief moment to steady herself, and then dove in.

The water in this little river was fairly swift, but it was still somewhat murky. This was not particularly comforting. She looked around, seeing the many rocks and algae growing underwater. A fish darted by, and she decided that maybe it was kinda peaceful down here.

But creepy. Definitely very creepy. Very dark and creepy and she couldn't see behind her and-

She swam upwards, breaking out of the water like a giant fish. She kicked her way over to the side and pulled herself out, panting. Maybe she'd have to do some more water training when she got back to Canterlot.

“What are you doing?”

Twilight jumped. “Oh! Fluttershy! I was, uh, looking for you, actually.” She turned around… and her voice trailed off.

Fluttershy was holding a large, very hairy, and very toothy animal upside down on her lap, and she was looking more confused at Twilight’s sudden appearance than anything else.

“What did I miss?” Twilight asked, casting a nervous glance at the beast on her.

“Not much,” Fluttershy said, holding her hand over the animal’s paw. “Little Beiit here-”

Twilight coughed. “‘Little’?!”

“-was just telling me about his afternoon. He found a whole patch of seriberries. Do you want to join us?”

Twilight squatted on the edge of the bank. “If you don't mind, I'll just sit over here,” she said in a voice that most certainly did not squeak.

Fluttershy looked back down. “Are you here about today’s training?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah,” Twilight admitted. “I'm meeting with everyone individually.”

“Is it that I couldn't feel how to redirect your pushes at all?” Fluttershy nearly whimpered.

Beiit, sensing her distress, raised his head and bumped her gently on her chin. She cracked a smile and continued scratching him.

Twilight paused for a moment. “Actually, Fluttershy? You’re doing alright.”

Fluttershy flushed modestly. “A- are you sure?”

“Harmony is something that exists. If you try to force it, you’ll get nowhere. But if you just let it happen, you'll get it.”

“So I should just let it happen?”

“You're letting it happen now.” Twilight smiled.

Fluttershy smiled back as she scratched behind Beiit’s ears. “This just feels natural to me. What you're teaching us is…”

“Unnatural?” Twilight completed dourly.

“New. I was going to say ‘new’,” Fluttershy quickly said.

“Right.” Twilight slowly stood up. “For next time, pretend I'm an animal. Listen to me; all I'm doing is speaking a new language. Feel what I'm doing. Find Harmony in your own way, and you'll succeed in this.” She paused. “That is, if you’re coming back tomorrow. Are you coming back tomorrow?” she asked.

Fluttershy glanced down, glanced over at Beiit, and then back up at Twilight. A tiny spark of hope shone in her eyes. “Yes. Yes I am.”

* * *

Applejack gently slid her hand down the tree branch. She nodded, confirming something to herself. She stood up, drew her lightsaber, and with a practiced motion, ignited it and sliced through the branch at a very specific angle. She examined the cut, ran her thumb across it, and then nodded.

“How did you know to cut there?”

Applejack jumped. “Twilight! Hey.” She scratched the back of her neck. “How’s it going?”

“Fairly well. You seem to be distracted by something.”

Applejack scuffed a boot against the ground. “Yeah, I guess. I couldn't get a hang of the whole Harmony thing, and I guess it's just bothering me a bit.”

Twilight crouched and rested a hand on the tree trunk. “How old is this tree?” she asked.

Applejack squinted, unsure where that had come from, but answered truthfully. “About twenty years.”

“And how long did it take to start growing fruit?”

A tiny smile flitted across Applejack's face. “About seven.” She sighed. “I get it. I shouldn't be too upset if'n I don't bear fruit right away. It's just…”

Twilight remained silent, letting Applejack silently work it out.

She finally spoke. “It was all so new to me, something I didn't quite understand, and I hate not understanding. I'm not a scholar type what can debate theoretical gobbledygook and whatnot; I like understanding. I mean, trees I can understand. Trees are alive. Trees communicate. And you can't tell me they don't. That’s how I know where to cut, what needs water, what’s infected with mites…”

Twilight nodded triumphantly. “That’s Harmony, present in every living thing. You’ve been feeling it all along. You just didn’t know you were feeling it.”

Applejack nodded slowly, processing this. “So…”

Twilight held up a fruit. “You know what it feels like. So do it to the apple. Listen to it. Feel the Harmony in it. Then just lift it.”

“How?”

Twilight shook her head. “I can't tell you that. Only you can.”

Applejack shifted her weight. “I dunno, Twilight. Honestly, I'm not sure this is for me.”

“Just try it. At least once,” Twilight urged. “If it's not for you, I'll leave you alone.” She paused. “But Spike will probably be back regardless for more of those pies.”

Applejack cracked a smile. “Well, you'll always be welcome back either way.” She exhaled slowly. “Ok. Apples ain't quitters. I'll try it.” She closed her eyes, and held up her hand. She clenched her eyes tighter, her fingers extended and clawed, as if reaching for something.

“Let it flow, don't force it,” Twilight warned.

Applejack nodded and stopped her hand, but still she reached.

And then she felt something.

Her eyes widened, and she glanced up at Twilight. Twilight nodded encouragingly, and Applejack closed her eyes and reached out her hand again. Now that she knew where to look, she could find it again. The apple vibrated, then lifted up on one of the bumps on the base. It fell back down; but Applejack had tasted victory and she was not about to let it slip through her fingers. She closed her eyes tighter and tried again. The apple shook, and then tipped… and then slowly rose into the air.

Twilight smiled. “You did it,” she whispered.

Applejack opened one eye, and sure enough, the apple was floating. She laughed, a triumphant look shining in her eyes, and in that split second, her concentration broke; the apple dropped.

Twilight was quick enough to catch it. She tossed it up and caught it in her open left hand. “That could have been messy,” she joked. Not quite ready to trust her left hand's new grip yet, she floated it over to Applejack with her right. “You got it.”

Applejack reached up and took it, and then looked at Twilight again. She held up her hand and tried once more; and once more, the apple rose into the air. “I did,” she said reverently, this time keeping it suspended. “Haha! I did!” She raised her right hand as if pushing. “You can have the apple. Just for me saying tha-”

But in her inexperience, she pushed outward too hard, and the apple zoomed out, nailing Twilight right in the stomach. With a pained "oof!", she dropped to one knee.

“Oh, blast! I'm so sorry!” Applejack rushed over and knelt beside her. “Are you alright?”

“‘m f’ne,” Twilight managed.

“Are you sure? I feel so bad…”

Twilight gave her a weak smile. “Hey, if Celestia can forgive me for leaving a burn mark on her neck from sparring an hour before her big meeting with the senate, I can let a little pain go.”

Applejack considered this, and snorted. “Looked like a hickey?” she asked.

“Looked like a hickey,” Twilight confirmed.

* * *

Rainbow Dash was not terribly hard to find; Twilight merely needed to listen for the sound of angry words. She found her out in the desert part of the moon, surrounded by tools underneath a small monstrosity of a vehicle that looked as though it had been haphazardly cobbled together out of scrap metal, the remains of previously-junked vehicles, and the things of nightmares. Nearby, a young female human stood, silently egging her on and holding a couple more spanners of different sizes at the ready.

“Rainbow Dash?”

“Ow!” Rainbow bumped her head against the metal. “What gives?” She poked her head out, and Twilight was relieved to see her expression soften. “Oh. It's you.” She extricated herself completely and stood up. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Not much,” Twilight said. “Just wanted to say hi. And talk about training earlier.”

Rainbow Dash looked over at the young girl beside her. She dug around in her pockets and tossed a few credits over. “Hey, Squirt, you mind running and grabbing us something to eat?”

The girl perked up as she dropped the spanners and caught the chips. “Yeah! I’ll be back before you know I’m gone!” She hopped up on a little one-person speeder—which also appeared to be homemade and composed primarily of scrap metal and held together by twisted wire and good luck—and zoomed off, her short, spiky hair whipping in the wind.

As soon as she was out of sight, Rainbow looked over guardedly at Twilight, but didn't say anything.

“She's pretty fast,” Twilight started.

“Yeah,” Rainbow said. A little smile flitted across her face; this was a safe topic. “She's a little speedster. Reminds me of myself, really.” She paused, and then her smile turned wry. “Except maybe a little brighter, ‘cause she hasn’t been kicked out of school yet.”

Twilight glanced over. “What are you building?”

“It's just my little weekend project,” Rainbow shrugged, but she was unable to keep the pride from her voice. “It's a little junkracer. Scoots is my copilot-slash-race manager. We're gonna take all the underground circuits by storm!”

Her junkracer looked just like that: junk. Twilight thought it looked like it would barely handle a simple rainfall, let alone being a storm of any kind. “Isn’t that illegal?”

“Only if you get caught,” Rainbow said with a smirk.

“I… see…” Twilight said slowly. “And you're driving that?”

“Sure am! I'm the best, fastest pilot ever, remember?”

Twilight nodded slowly. She'd been referring to its piecemeal appearance, but she decided not to press the issue. “They say you've got to have fast reflexes for that.”

Rainbow shrugged modestly. “I guess. I mean, I've never had a problem. I can always tell what's coming next on the track.”

“How do you mean?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow shrugged again. “I dunno. It's just… there. Like, I can see it, when I can't see it yet. I just know, you know?”

Twilight nodded. “That's Harmony.”

“It is?”

“I'm sure of it. Remember the whole 'Harmony penetrates everything' part?”

Rainbow expelled air out of her nose. “Yeah...?”

“I meant everything. The world you're on, the ship you drive; it's everywhere. Even in junkracer tracks.” I assume, anyway. As for me, 'not dying' sounds like a better option. “You just happen to pick it up better than most.”

“Oh.” Rainbow blinked. “It's so natural, though.”

“It wouldn't be the first time I've heard that today,” Twilight grumbled.

Rainbow nodded, mentally making the connection. “I think I get what you're saying. I'm overthinking it. I just have to take it easy; let it happen naturally. Just like flying.”

Twilight inhaled, and filled her cheeks with air and held her breath for a moment before letting it out. “Sure. We'll go with that.”

* * *

Twilight approached the doorway of Rarity’s shop again. But before she could open the door, a younger twi’lek, with skin of a similar light color (but baring much more of it) burst through, narrowly missing Twilight, shouting, “Bye, Rarity!” over her shoulder as she left.

“Sui’tei!” Rarity called after her. “Don’t-! Ugh.” She conceded defeat. “Be back before dinner!”

Now a little bit hesitant (and wondering if any more twi’leks were forthcoming), Twilight slowly poked her head in. Rarity stood beside her desk, leaning over, wryly massaging a temple. She glanced up at Twilight, and brightened as she recognized her. “I swear, it’s a good thing I love that girl, because she’s enough to drive me barvy.” She straightened up. “And welcome back, Twilight! I don’t suppose your robes need another washing?”

“No,” Twilight said. “Not yet, anyway. Thank you, though.”

Rarity dipped her head respectfully. “You're quite welcome. How may I help you?”

“I was actually hoping to help you.” Twilight winced. That had sounded better in her head.

Rarity tilted her head back in the twi’lek equivalent of raising an eyebrow.

Twilight exhaled. “It’s about our training this morning,” she said.

“Oh, yes,” Rarity said, now sounding somewhat distracted. “That was surely something.” She held her hands out, and then picked up a tool hiding behind a bolt of cloth.

“I know it didn’t go quite as I’d hoped,” Twilight said.

“No, I can’t say it did for me, either,” Rarity said airily.

There was a pause.

“So, I hope you can make it to our next session?” Twilight tried.

“One can hope.”

There was another long pause.

Rarity looked at Twilight expectantly. “Is there something else, darling?”

Twilight sighed, admitting defeat. “Not really,” she admitted, turning around and dropping against her workbench with a thump. The tools wobbled, some teetering dangerously close to the edge. “By now I’ve usually figured out some way to relate Harmony to what everyone else already does.”

Rarity reached out and caught a small gem that was falling off her bench. “Oh?” she asked, now intrigued. “I’m assuming everyone else has been having doubts about continuing our training?”

Twilight squinted. Rarity hadn’t even looked at it when she’d caught it. A new idea occurred to her, and she held her hands behind her back. “Yes,” she said, making a subtle movement with her right hand.

Rarity reached behind her and caught the tool that Twilight had pushed. She hefted it, and her eyes narrowed suspiciously at it before she turned her attention to Twilight. “Did you do that?”

Twilight nodded. “You weren’t even looking.”

Rarity put the tools back on the workbench, further away from the edge this time. “Well, no; with a sister like mine, you learn to keep track of things without looking if you don’t want sharp crystal shards all over the floor and in the bottom of your foot.”

Twilight glanced down, but Rarity was wearing boots with an intricate design etched into the false leather.

She caught her looking and shook her head. “Oh, not me; Sui’tei,” she corrected. “She doesn’t like shoes.” Rarity frowned. “She doesn’t like clothes very much, either.” She crossed her arms irritably and huffed. “I swear, she’d go naked if I’d let her. Where did I go wrong, I ask you...?”

Twilight glanced around at the numerous clothes blanketing the walls, and then she glanced down at the robes she wore. She owned two pairs, one for winter and one for summer, and she had left the summer set in Canterlot. Perhaps she was not the best person to answer this question.

Rarity huffed once more, and then glanced up at Twilight. “Is this the part where you try to convince me that my ability to sense when something of mine is in danger may be a passive Harmony skill analogous to sensing when I am in danger and thus it would behoove me to return for the next training session?”

Twilight winced. “Maybe?” she said sheepishly. “How did you…?”

Rarity tittered. “Oh, Twilight. Any twi’lek worth her fungi uses her brain for more than just attracting males.” She swished her lekku demonstratively.

Twilight nodded. “Sounds good,” she said slowly. “See you next week?”

Rarity nodded, her sharp teeth poking out of her determined smile. “Wouldn't dream of missing it.”

* * *

Twilight ducked her head under the welcome sign as she entered Sugarcube Corner. This place was odd in that it neither looked like a sugar cube, nor did it seem to sell cubes of any kind. In fact, it didn’t even seem to be a corner; it was built in a round fashion, probably to seat guests all along the rim of the ring. Perhaps it was a family name?

A somewhat plump woman looked up from behind the counter. “Good afternoon!”

“Good afternoon… Mrs. Sugarcube?” Twilight guessed.

“Cake, dearie,” she answered with a little smile. “Cup Cake. What can I get you?”

The origin of the name of the store would probably forever remain a mystery. “I’m actually here to see… Pinkie Pie.” Twilight cracked a smile as something occurred to her. “Cake and Pie, huh? Are you distantly related?”

“I doubt it. We’re from opposite sides of the galaxy,” Cup answered with a little shrug. “It’s just a coincidence.”

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” Twilight shrugged. “Everything happens for a reason.”

“If you say so,” Mrs. Cake said, turning back to her work. “Pinkie’s just back there in the kitchen.”

Twilight followed where she indicated and found Pinkie, organizing burlap sacks of ingredients on the table. “Hey, Pinkie.”

Pinkie bounced. “Twilight! Hi!” And she rushed over and clasped her in a tight hug.

Twilight grimaced as she realized that Pinkie had just gotten flour all on the back of her robes. She reached back and brushed some of it off.

“What brings you by?” Pinkie asked, walking back over to the counter.

“Oh, I just wanted to chat a bit about our training,” Twilight answered.

“Oh, yeah,” Pinkie said. “The game was pretty fun, even if I couldn't push you back. It tickled!”

Twilight blinked. Of all the things she’d expected, that was not one of them. “Yes. Well. I was wondering if I could do anything to help.” She paused. “Training-wise,” she quickly clarified.

“Aww,” Pinkie said, letting drop an apron she'd gotten from somewhere. She quickly brightened. “That’s ok! You don’t mind if I work while we talk, right? Gonna hit the post-work lunch rush pretty soon!”

“Yeah, no problem,” Twilight said.

Pinkie quickly found a large bowl and began measuring out the flour. “Today's going to be a great day,” she started. “We’ve been selling these cakes like they're going out of style!” She paused. “Which it probably is, now that the thousand year celebration is over and after that great meanie crashed the party,” she admitted, “but we’re planning on releasing a new style of cake soon, anyway.”

“What kind?” Twilight asked hesitantly.

“We’re stacking them!” Pinkie announced. “It’s like a two layer cake! It’s like eating two cakes at once!” She dropped a small bag of sodium bicarbonate on the counter, then opened it by drawing her pinksaber and slicing the tip of one corner off.

Twilight pursed her lips. As much as she felt that using a lightsaber as a simple cutting tool was almost sacrilegious, she had to admit that Pinkie had great control. She’d clipped only the packaging; its contents had remained untouched. “You’re pretty good with those,” she said.

“Mm-hm!” Pinkie agreed. “I’ve had lots of practice. I think you can get better at anything with practice.”

“That’s true,” Twilight agreed. “Like Harmonist training?”

“I think so,” Pinkie said. She flicked her hand, and a drawer opened at her will. She reached in and pulled out a rolling pin, then bumped it closed with her hips.

Twilight blinked. “Did you just…?”

Pinkie glanced back at the drawer, and then at the rolling pin. She gigglesnorted. “I guess I did!” she said. “Here, I'm just kinda… in the zone.” She made wiggly motions with her fingers.

Twilight nodded hesitantly. “Is there a ‘zone’ you could get into for training?” she asked hopefully.

“Well, yeah, I bet there is; but I just get so easily distracted!”

Twilight brightened. This sounded like a lecture Celestia would give. She straightened up. “One of the most important things to do before any training is to clear your mind of any…”

Pinkie jumped. “Oh! My cupcakes!” She darted off.

“…distractions,” Twilight finished weakly.

Pinkie stuck her hands into protective gloves and pulled the cupcake tray out of the oven. “Oh yeah,” she said happily. “These look great. You want one?” she offered, holding out the still steaming tray.

“I think I'm good,” Twilight said. “Thanks, though.”

“Ok!” Pinkie made a little flicking motion with her hand, and a cupcake flipped up out of the tray and onto a nearby plate. She lifted it up and began frosting it.

Twilight felt her eye twitch. Natural. Harmony was just natural to these girls. Something about this didn't seem fair.

Pinkie, completely unaware of the aneurysm she was threatening to give Twilight, finished and held a cupcake out. “Are you sure you don't want one?”

Twilight sighed, conceding defeat. She took the cupcake. “You know what? Sure. I'll take one. See you at our next training.”

“Bye!” Pinkie said cheerfully. “Ooh, and take one for Spike!”

Twilight quickly left the kitchen, passing Mrs. Cake again. She chuckled lightly at Twilight's bewildered expression. “Pinkie has that effect on people,” she said.

“Yeah. She's... something,” Twilight conceded.

“Try not to think about it too much,” Cup suggested. “It's just Pinkie being Pinkie.”

Twilight pursed her lips. That went against everything she'd been taught, and she knew that one day, she'd get to know Pinkie a little bit better. But for right now, she had new trainings to put together; new ideas to work with. It wasn't hopeless; she'd just been looking at everything from the wrong angle. The day looked brighter already.

And the delicious cupcake didn't hurt, either.

Chapter 7

Once more, Twilight stood in front of her students. “Thank you all for coming back. I'm glad to see you're all here.” She started pacing. “First off, let me start by saying 'I’m sorry'. I was trying to teach you like I have been taught. But I started my training when I was very young. I didn't know the manifestations of Harmony, or just how much it affected my life. You, though, have numerous life experiences behind you. You’ve seen things. You’ve felt things. You know Harmony; you just didn’t know you knew it.”

“Eh. There’s a lot of things I don’t know,” Rainbow said flippantly, digging for something between her teeth.

Twilight cracked a smile. “But now I understand how to teach you—by building on what you already know. Now that you know what to look for, you'll know how to use it.”

“Are we gonna do more push-feather today?” Rainbow asked.

Twilight shook her head. “Not quite. Today…” She signaled to Spike, who brought over a small spherical object, “you're going to start training with your lightsabers.”

“Whoa!” Pinkie breathed.

“Wizard!” Rainbow cheered.

“This is a training remote,” Twilight explained, turning it on and letting it slowly rise through the air. “It will shoot little stunner bolts. They'll sting, but they're nonlethal. Your job-” and here she unhooked her lightsaber, “-is to catch them.” She demonstrated, igniting it and holding her lightsaber at low ready, shifting it ever so slightly. The remote hovered around, rotated in the air; and then without warning, fired a small bolt of energy. Twilight didn’t even need to react; her blade absorbed the bolt. “This teaches you more about letting Harmony decide the fight, because you can’t react fast enough after the bolt has been fired. Basically, you must react to the bolt before it is even fired; so you'll need to feel Harmony—in your own way—if you want to avoid getting- Gah!” She jumped as the remote shot again, narrowly missing her thigh. “-tagged,” she finished wryly, deactivating the remote with a quick wave of her hand.

Rainbow punched a fist into her open hand. Fast sounded great to her. But now she had another question. “When are we going to spar each other?”

Twilight chuckled. “Probably not ever, really,” she said.

“Why not?” Rainbow demanded.

“Because playing with an actual lightsaber is a great way to lose a hand,” Twilight said flatly, flexing her own prosthetic for emphasis. “Unless… Does yours have adjustable power levels?”

Rainbow squinted at the base of hers. “Is that what this little knob is for?” She twisted it, and it fell away in her hand… along with the power cell of the lightsaber. The blade instantly fizzled out into nothing.

Twilight fought the urge to facepalm. “Maybe we should talk about what makes a lightsaber work before we start training with them.”

* * *

Twilight turned off her datapad and closed the hologram, pointedly ignoring the yawns and mutterings of relief from her tired students. “And now that you know how a lightsaber works, I'm going to show you the corresponding parts on your own lightsabers. Those of you that have them, of course.”

Rainbow Dash was first, eager to get started. She held out her shoto, and Twilight took it. She rolled it in her hands and pulled with Harmony, and easily disassembled it. “Simple setup, ilum crystal. Nicely built.” It had probably been someone’s backup or secondary weapon, but she wasn't about to tell Rainbow that. “It's solid and simple. Shouldn't give you any problems.”

“Sweet,” Rainbow said, taking it back.

Applejack’s blue lightsaber was next. Twilight disassembled it, and her eyebrows raised. She squinted closer at a few of the parts.

“What?” Applejack asked.

Twilight leaned in closer, examining a component. “Yeah, this inverter is a mark IV. They quit making these many, many years ago.”

Applejack squinted. “That good or bad?” she asked.

“It just is,” Twilight answered with a shrug. “I mean, it's a bit heavier than the V or VI; but I've never heard anyone have any problems at all with the mark IV. It’s a basic, reliable saber. It fits you.”

“Thanks,” Applejack grinned. She clipped it back onto her belt with no small amount of pride.

Pinkie’s pinksabers were next. In all honesty, Twilight had been deeply curious to know just how she'd managed to get a crystal—and twin crystals, at that—to emit a pink blade.

And just like their bearer, they were full of surprises.

Twilight almost couldn’t figure out how to open it. It seemed to be one piece of metal. Thankfully, Pinkie noticed, and (after a little giggle), she showed her underneath the lip of the emitter guard where the two pieces clipped together. Twilight was impressed.

Now that she finally got one open, she took a look, and then squinted. The crystal she recognized as being synthetic, and the wiring style looked uncomfortably familiar. “These are… Where did you get this pattern?” she asked.

“We found it,” Pinkie answered cheerfully. “A spacer splattered himself across an asteroid from like, forever ago, and he had one on his belt and instructions on how to build one on a datapad. My sister Maud found it, and copied the pattern. I think she still has the original, though. Why?”

Twilight's eyes flicked over the lightsaber again.There was no denying the golden contacts. “This is… this is an Anarchist design.”

Pinkie frowned. “They’re the bad guys, right?”

Twilight scoffed. “Seeing as how they want to let the whole galaxy descend into anarchy, yeah. They're the bad guys.”

Pinkie deflated. “But I like them…”

Twilight quickly realized what it had sounded like. “Pinkie, no. It’s not that you’re an Anarchist. See? You're on the light side, so it's light coming from darkness. It’s symbolic, really.”

Pinkie brightened. “Whee!” she cheered as she clipped them back on her belt.

“Alright. You three take turns, and make sure to not damage my remote.” Twilight glanced over at Rarity and Fluttershy. “And now for you two.” A little smile crossed her face. “It’s building time.”

* * *

Twilight descended the hidden ladder into the basement of Rarity’s shop. She turned around, and let out an impressed whistle. “Whoa.”

Rarity nodded, crossing her arms with no small amount of pride. “Impressive, isn’t it?” she said airily. “This is my workshop. Elfaus 2 may be a small moon, but I have clients from all across the galaxy who buy my wares; and many of them have a taste for that which sparkles.” She held up some fabric that seemed to sparkle in the light of the glowpanels. “This fabric is infused with glowcrystals for that extra touch of pizazz.”

“Fascinating,” Twilight said, reaching up to touch the cloth.

“And this fabric stretches a good three standard inches without showing strain or distorting the pattern. I originally designed it for hutts, but it turns out they don't particularly care to wear the same thing every day. I'm not too worried. I'm certain I can use this as some kind of maternity clothing.”

“Or if you gained weight,” Twilight suggested.

Rarity’s eyes narrowed slightly. Too late, Twilight remembered that while the archetypical twi’lek was slender, that archetypical twi’lek never turned down food (as Ryloth was not known for its fertile ground), leading to obesity among some of the spacefaring members. She winced. “There’s no good way to come back from this, is there?”

“Not really; but you get points for trying,” Rarity said kindly.

“So! Crystals,” Twilight said with a quick clap. This she could talk about.

As it turns out, Rarity could as well. “Oh, yes. You know, I’ve always been good with finding gems,” she said. “In fact…” She walked over to a nearby workbench and pulled out a small crystal from a tiny drawer. “This was the first one I found. It's a funny story, really. It feels like I was drawn to it. It’s always held a special place in my heart, like I had a connection to it somehow. I can’t even identify what it is, and it’s dreadfully brittle; and yet-”

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Rarity, that’s a upari crystal!”

Rarity blinked. “A what, now?” she started.

“A upari crystal! It’s one of the crystals that can be used in lightsabers. Hold on.” Twilight unhooked her lightsaber from her belt, held it between the palms of her hands, and slowly rotated them and pulled them apart. Her lightsaber disassembled in midair, revealing all its parts. And there in the center…

Rarity’s eyes flicked back and forth between the crystal in Twilight’s lightsaber and hers. She held it up. “Could I…?”

Twilight nodded.

With dextrous movements, Rarity swapped the two crystals. Twilight reassembled her lightsaber, and kept it levitating.

Rarity hesitantly took it, and hefted it. “It’s quite… solid.”

“I’ve also heard ‘bulky’,” Twilight admitted, “but I like it that way. Really, it’s all personal preference. When you build yours, you can build it just about any way you want.”

Rarity nodded, and then looked back down at the lightsaber. She took a breath, then took another, and then flicked the switch.

It sprang to life with a quiet hum, and the blade…

“Oh, my. That’s beautiful!” Rarity exclaimed. “It’s such a lovely shade of blue!” She swung it experimentally a few times. “I almost don’t want to give it up.”

Twilight cracked a smile.

“It does feel… wrong, though,” Rarity admitted, deactivating the blade and hefting the handle. “Is it possible to… have a curved handle?” she asked, drawing in the air over her hand what she imagined. “Thinner, of course. More narrow. And the blade, could it be a bit longer?”

Twilight nodded. “Of course. It’s your weapon; but more than that, it’s a manifestation of your connection to Harmony.” She held out her hand, and Rarity returned her lightsaber. Twilight disassembled her lightsaber again and returned Rarity’s crystal. “How about you meditate on it for a while? Don’t stop thinking about it until you have something you will be proud to carry for the rest of your life.”

Rarity saluted. “It shall be beautiful and terrible in its glory,” she swore.

* * *

Twilight whistled as she glanced around. “You live here?” It appeared that she lived in a hollow tree, with a little hole that gave her access to the water. Everything she owned was seemingly hand-made, and animal motifs covered everywhere else.

Fluttershy nodded. “It's pretty nice,” she said. “My animal friends helped me spruce it up.”

“It's cozy,” Twilight said, sliding onto a stump. She felt a little impact on her boots, and she glanced down to see a small animal looking quite upset. Twilight hesitated, staring as he chattered. “What’s he saying?”

“He’s wondering why you’re sitting on his table,” Fluttershy answered with a small smile.

Twilight shot to her feet. “Oh, sorry,” she said. Wait. Why was she apologizing to an-

“Hey!” She looked down to see that the little animal had scratched right above where her boots ended.

“Angel!” Fluttershy scolded. “You apologize!”

The little creature crossed his forelegs and chattered, probably a half-hearted apology.

It was a good thing Twilight was a Harmonist who remained in control of herself, otherwise she might have used her boot to splatter the little ‘angel’ into two-dimensional art. She shook her head. “You're a nautolan, so your lightsaber needs to be built a little bit differently.”

Fluttershy paused. She examined her hands quickly, as if afraid she had something wrong with her. “In what way?”

“Normal lightsabers don't really like being submerged; but there's a way to design the circuitry so it works just fine. It just requires two crystals, preferably identical, to form a bifurcating cyclical-ignition pulse that helps it self-repair any water damage before it even happens.”

Fluttershy blinked. “A… what, now?”

Twilight exhaled. “If you can get two crystals, I’ll help you build a lightsaber that works underwater.”

Fluttershy brightened. “Do pearls work?”

Twilight paused. “If they’re really high quality, I’m sure they’d work. Why?”

Fluttershy turned to one of the nearby storage lockers and began digging inside of it. Twilight noticed that they seemed to be of varying
brands and sizes; it was likely she’d scavenged these.

“Where is it…?” she wondered aloud.

Twilight watched in fascination as one of her animal friends opened another of her lockers, jumped inside, and pulled out a small package. “Thank you,” Fluttershy said, unwrapping it. She turned and held them out for Twilight to see. “I got these from my mother. It's... the last thing she gave me.”

“That’s uncanny,” Twilight murmured, examining them. They were, as far as she could tell, perfectly round and exactly the same. “Obviously, I can’t tell just by looking at them; but if they’re pristine enough, these will work perfectly.” She cracked a little smile. “I think this would be perfect for your mother's gift.”

Fluttershy beamed.

* * *

Twilight puffed out her cheeks as she headed back towards her ship. For some reason, that had just seemed too easy. Maybe Harmony had decided to allow it to all work out.

Or maybe something had gone terribly wrong, or was about to go terribly wrong, and she just hadn’t known it yet.

Then again, she had fought against a Nightmare, and had lost her hand. Maybe this was as 'wrong' as it was going to get for now, and it was now time for things to go right for a while.

Slightly buoyed by this pleasant thought, she climbed up the ramp to her ship and came across Rainbow Dash, sitting at a table.

“Hey, Twilight,” she said, not meeting her eyes.

Twilight squinted. That was really unlike Rainbow. “Rainbow, what’s…?” Her voice trailed off.

Half of Rainbow Dash’s right sleeve was laying flat against her side. The cut was too clean to have been made by anything less than a lightsaber.

“We got a little… carried away in our practicing,” Rainbow said sheepishly.

Twilight clasped her head in her hands. “Rainbow!” she cried. How could she have let this happen? They were initiates! Not even Padawans! She knew she had gone too fast! How could she have been so foolish?

“It’s ok,” Rainbow said placatingly. “Applejack’s been really good to me. And I'll learn how to fly one-handed. I'm sure it's not too hard.”

“Rainbow…” Twilight moaned.

Rainbow suppressed a little chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Twilight demanded. She glanced over to see Spike, one fist shoved into his mouth to stifle his own laughter. A little suspicion began worming its way into her mind. “Rainbow,” she started.

Rainbow put her right arm out of the sleeve. “Gotcha!” she shouted.

That's not funny!” Twilight scowled, but she couldn't suppress a little grin. Playing pranks on your instructors was a time-honored tradition of the Harmonists. They were coming along just fine.

Chapter 8

“Twilight! Twilight!”

Twilight raised her head from her datapad. Training wasn’t supposed to start for another hour or so; but she’d definitely recognized that voice. “Rarity?” she called back.

“But of course! Open up!”

Twilight set down her datapad and stretched briefly. “Si, could…” Her voice trailed off, and, with her smile fading slightly, she got up to open the door herself.

The boarding ramp dropped right in front of Rarity, and she lithely scampered up. “I completed it! It was amazing! I knew exactly where all the parts went and I just couldn’t wait to show you!” she said, holding out her lightsaber handle.

Twilight took it reverently. Rarity had designed a curved handle, made of a beautiful, silvery metal she didn’t recognize right away. The handle had been wrapped in alternating strands of thick leather that would provide a good grip; it seemed to be waterproof (and twi’leks didn’t sweat as much as humans did). Twilight ignited it, and smiled. It really was a lovely shade of blue. Taking a step back to make sure Rarity was out of the range of the blade, Twilight waved it experimentally, feeling it slice cleanly through the air, and flipped it around her hand twice. She took another step back and took a few practice swings. The curved handle lent itself to a different fighting style (one that Twilight had not studied much), but Twilight knew quality when she saw it. “This is brilliant,” Twilight said almost reverently, deactivating it and handing it back. “Now take it apart.”

Rarity was taken aback. “I beg your pardon?”

Twilight turned around and dug in a crate on the table behind her. “Apple Bloom found me some low-power cells that will be perfect for training. They won’t slice through anything, but they’ll sting.”

Rarity blinked and mechanically took the offered power cell more out of instinct than anything else. And then a connection was made in her mind, and her lekku flicked. “Am I to understand we are going to be sparring with each other?” she asked.

“That’s for next week, and for whoever’s dumb enough to take Rainbow Dash up on her offer because we both know she's going to challenge someone today,” Twilight clarified. She paused. “And it’s probably going to be me dumb enough to take her up on that.”

Rarity tittered.

“Today I want to practice simple motions, first. Simple strikes and blocks. Then we can go to the more complex swings and other moves later.”

Rarity nodded. “Walking after crawling. I understand.”

“Good.” Twilight bit her lower lip. “I hope everyone else gets it so easily.”

* * *

“This is bantha fodder,” Rainbow grumbled as she grudgingly installed her low-power cell. “We know how to swing a lightsaber.”

Twilight bit her lower lip. “A lightsaber is not a typical weapon,” she said. “Last week's lesson was to get you started feeling Harmony in combat situations. This week is how to use your lightsaber the way it’s supposed to be used.”

“It’s a lightsaber,” Rainbow said flippantly. “Cuts everything. End of story.”

“Not end of story!” Twilight protested, somewhat offended. “It’s an elegant weapon, not a fancy plasma cutter!”

“Yeah,” Applejack added dryly. “We saw how well that worked out for you against Nightmare Moon.”

Rainbow Dash scowled at her, but found that she could not contest this point. She settled for scratching irritably at the bald spot Nightmare Moon had left her with.

“So let’s see how you used your lightsaber against the remote,” Twilight said, continuing. “I’m assuming you learned a little bit about how deflecting works?”

“Nah. I was fast enough to avoid them on my own.” Rainbow Dash demonstrated by bouncing in place and making a few quick dodging motions, nearly dancing with her hip motions.

Twilight watched. As irritated as she was at Rainbow, she did notice a few things. “Very well,” she said. She squared up, drew her lightsaber, saluted briefly (there was no reason not to be civilized about this), and stepped back into a fighting stance. Rainbow shifted her weight and drew hers, holding it one-handed (as shotos normally are).

Twilight started circling. Rainbow matched her, her feet never crossing and keeping her weight on the ball of her foot. This was a good start.

But it was only a start.

Twilight started with a downward slash. Rainbow dodged around it and swung down, but Twilight had anticipated this. With a circular motion, she redirected it, sending the shoto flying up by her shoulder, and swinging back down to gently tag Rainbow on the ribs.

Rainbow gasped in pain and scampered back. She bared her teeth and shifted her body so her injured side was more shielded, and then switched back. “Didn’t hurt; more surprised than anything,” she defended herself quickly.

Twilight nodded. “That’s the point of the low power cells,” she said. She flipped her lightsaber around and held it back up in a ready position. Rainbow Dash did a hard check, and then swung. Twilight quickly spin-dodged and swung back, aiming for Rainbow’s exposed kidney. But Rainbow was fast, too; she pushed off her front foot and the blade barely missed. She swung again, and Twilight blocked it, her movements smooth and flowing.

Rainbow’s moves were less so. She suddenly went on the offensive, hacking and slashing. Twilight circled back, easily blocking and parrying every single one of Rainbow’s swings. Rainbow’s blocking was almost nonexistent; she used her speed and turns of her body to avoid getting tagged again.

Suddenly, Twilight stepped in and clenched their blades together, her hands up by her own head as she held Rainbow’s blade in place. “You're fighting like a boxer,” she said. “I bet if we dropped our lightsabers and went fists only, you'd win the fight. But we’re not boxing.” She abruptly pushed off, spinning her whole body to get the necessary force. Rainbow wasn’t quite expecting that, and took a stutter step back. Though her defensive positioning would have stopped any forward swing, Twilight wasn’t swinging forward; she spun and dropped into a low stance that enhanced the long reach of the blade, and she reached around and tagged Rainbow right on her hindquarters, making her jump and squeal. “We’re dueling,” she finished

“No fair,” Rainbow scowled, rubbing balefully at her newest injury.

“If you’d been holding your lightsaber in a proper guard, you would have been able to stop that easier,” Twilight retorted. “Which is why I’m trying to teach you the basics first.”

Rainbow glared, but was unable to say anything against this. “Fine,” she grumbled, stepping back into line.

Twilight stood in front of the group and held her lightsaber up. “Lightsabers are an extension of your arm. Every movement should feel natural. Start with a simple overhead swing.” She demonstrated. “Keep the wrist supple and relaxed. If you’re tense, you’ll swing badly.”

She winced as Fluttershy seemed to go out of her way to remain tense; her swing an awkward flail more than anything else. “No, not like that. You’re swinging, not swatting at a fly. Let it flow.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to hurt a fly, anyway,” Fluttershy said.

Rainbow snorted. “Really?” she asked.

“Oh, no,” Fluttershy said. She opened her mouth, revealing her sharp, nautolan teeth. “I always kill everything I eat quickly and painlessly.”

“You eat flies?” Rarity asked, a bit perturbed.

“You eat fungus,” Applejack said offhandedly.

“If we’re done discussing our eating habits,” Twilight said loudly, “we can continue. These power cells aren’t going to hurt anyone; but you need to get used to how the lightsaber feels. Gentle motions. Simple techniques.” She demonstrated once more. “Remember to keep the lightsaber within your shoulder-width if you can. Too far out means it has to travel further which means it’s more likely to be blocked. Again!”

Chapter 9

Twilight walked around her students, calling out instructions. “Low block! Low parry! High strike! Step back, parry midsection! Overhead strike! High block! Shoulder guard!” Twilight stopped in front, a little smile playing at her lips. “Good!” she said proudly. “I can see you’ve all been practicing.”

Rainbow deactivated her lightsaber and flipped the handle around her hand. “You know it,” she grinned.

“I forget how advanced you are,” Twilight said humbly. “You’ve improved so much in just three days.” She met each of their eyes. “And I think we’re ready for actual sparring.”

Rainbow visibly brightened. “Sweet!” She thrust her hand in the air. “I call firsties!”

Twilight chuckled as she retrieved a few items from a storage locker. “Very well.” She tossed her a red wristband. “Put this on. If we’re sparring, we’re going to do it right.”

Underneath Twilight’s ship, there was an empty area, cleared to the bare dirt of all debris. Twilight finished drawing a wide circle with her lightsaber, marking the boundary of the ring. “Good,” she said, self-satisfied. She walked back to the center, and drew two lines in the center, approximately one pace apart. “Rainbow Dash, you’re on the right. Rarity, on the left. Spike will referee.”

“What, you don’t want to be in here with us?” Rainbow asked jokingly, twisting the red cord around her wrist.

“More like draconian scales are naturally resistant to lightsabers,” Twilight answered, “so he’s been a center referee ever since he learned the rules.”

Spike buffed his claws against his chest. He wore similar wristbands, one on each side. He stepped forward to the center between both contestants. He held both arms up, and then brought them down in a semblance of the two bowing to each other.

“Salute.” Twilight demonstrated by flicking her lightsaber up in front of her face, then down.

Rarity repeated the action. Rainbow saluted by bringing her hand up to her face and extending two fingers before curling them around and bringing them down, in what was clearly supposed to be a salute but looked eerily familiar to a rude hand gesture in some systems. Rarity recognized it; she scowled, and her hand tightened around her lightsaber. The briefest of smirks crossed Rainbow’s face.

Spike held one hand between them, and then, with a sharp hiss that was more of a piercing whistle, scampered back out of the way; a clear signal to start.

Rainbow Dash circled, and Rarity followed suit. Rainbow bounced rapidly, as if looking for any opening; Rarity walked with her head held high.

“Don’t cross your feet,” Twilight warned. “Shuffle. Always shuffle!”

Rarity shuffled. Rainbow feinted, and Rarity spun out of the way.

Twilight grimaced. That had been far too slow, and she’d let her lightsaber hang. A skilled fighter would have taken advantage of that. Twilight would have slashed at the ribs, likely slicing her in half as she turned around. Sunset Shimmer would have darted in front and passed the lightsabers under her own arms, running the lightsaber through her opponent’s chest without even turning around. But then again, that was Sunset Shimmer, and no one was quite as good as she.

Rainbow jumped forward, jabbing, and Rarity instinctively tried blocking it by bringing her lightsaber hilt down. Twilight cringed because even if she had managed to get there in time, Rainbow’s lightsaber would have passed right through the handle and hit her anyway. As it was, Rarity yipped in pain and stumbled back. Her recoil was too strong; she ended up tripping over her rear foot and hitting the ground hard right on her hindquarters.

Twilight winced as Spike separated the two. Maybe it was a good thing they’d started this so early.

Spike dipped his head gallantly and helped Rarity up. Rarity gave him a wink.

Twilight rolled her eyes.

Applejack ignited her lightsaber and grinned.

Fluttershy ignited hers and leaned back.

Twilight bit her lower lip. That was off-balance, even for a nautolan. Not a good way to start a match.

It didn’t get any better when Spike whistled to actually start that match. Applejack shuffled forward, lightsaber held in front of her—and Fluttershy stepped back.

Twilight pursed her lips. She knew where this was going, even before Fluttershy crossed up.

Sure enough, as Applejack kept advancing, Fluttershy kept retreating; and Applejack only got one good swing in before Fluttershy left the circle completely (with an accompanying squeak). Spike whistled and held up two fingers for the penalty points, and Twilight put her head in her hands.

Pinkie Pie smirked and ignited one pinksaber. Rarity followed suit. At the whistle, Pinkie Pie started by flicking her lightsaber up. Rarity’s eyes followed. She flicked it over to the other side. Rarity’s eyes followed.

Then she skipped forward and slashed almost off-handedly, slashing under her arm. Rarity blocked it, clumsily and with one hand up by her face; but block it she did.

Twilight bit her lower lip. That might have worked, if Pinkie were to then continue spinning the other way around and kicking out with her hind leg. But if Rarity were faster, she would have pushed back and bisected Pinkie before she had a chance to fully spin.

Neither of these things happened, of course. They merely separated and sized each other up again, walking in a small circle. It was stiff and awkward, but at least they were moving.

Pinkie spun her lightsaber around her hand, making it hum vibrantly. It was a bright pink circular blur, and Twilight was fairly impressed at her dexterity.

Rarity, however, remained focused. Knowing that she could not get through the pink blur, she elected instead to go for the weakest link—Pinkie’s hand. She attempted a jab right in the center; and, to the surprise of many, actually hit. Pinkie pulled her hand away as if she had been burned (which she had), and her lightsaber twirled away out of her grasp. It clattered on the ground, and Rarity pulled back slightly.

“Keep going!” Twilight urged. “A real fight doesn’t stop there! Pinkie, think fast!”

Rarity swung. Pinkie sidestepped, moving faster than she looked able to. She ducked under the second swing, and, still crouched, stretched out her hand. Her pinksaber rattled, and much more quickly than Twilight had expected, shot back towards her hand.

Rarity brought her lightsaber down, wisely going for Pinkie’s outstretched hand. Pinkie pulled it back just in time, and paused just long enough to look up at Rarity and stick her tongue out…

And thus losing her concentration.

Propelled by its momentum, her lightsaber handle kept flying and slammed right into a very sensitive part of Pinkie’s anatomy.

“Ooh! Owie…” Pinkie collapsed onto her knees, hands clamped protectively between her legs, and her lightsaber handle rolled almost cheekily away.

Twilight exhaled and rested her face in her hand. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Spike looked over his shoulder from his comforting position at Pinkie’s side and hissed an agreement.

Chapter 10

Twilight nodded as she watched Applejack deflect Pinkie’s (much more controlled) swing, and then quickly return one of her own (which Pinkie dodged with a little spin on the ball of her foot). Although ‘competent’ may have been a bit generous a description, they certainly had improved a lot in these past couple weeks. Right now, both participants were still fairly ‘rooted’ to the ground and definitely not as light on their feet as they should have been, but really, it was a difference of night and day from their first matches together.

In fact, this time, their fight ended not by injury, lightsaber to the eye, or accidental kick to a sensitive area, but by Spike’s whistle; they had managed to last the entire allotted time.

“Good! You’re improving, getting to know your weapons better. Good.” She glanced back at her other students. “Rainbow Dash, and… Fluttershy.”

“Eep!”

Rainbow Dash hopped from foot to foot on her starting line, eager to get started. Fluttershy, in contrast, shuffled forwards, holding her lightsaber handle in front of her as if trying to hide herself behind it.

Twilight pursed her lips. Still? Come to think of it, had she ever struck with her lightsaber?

Either way, both players were soon put in the ring, with Spike between them. At his signal, both ignited their lightsabers; and with a sharp whistle, the match started.

Rainbow bounced around, swinging her shoto every so often as if she were jabbing for distance. Fluttershy seemed to be getting better at shuffling her feet, but that was about it. And, to be perfectly honest, she was already pretty good at that to begin with. Twilight really wasn’t sure what to expect from her now.

Rainbow batted away Fluttershy’s lightsaber. She quickly brought it back up, but Rainbow batted it away to the other side. She chuckled.

Twilight scratched the back of her neck. Yes, they were friends; but couldn’t Rainbow take training a little bit more seriously? If she’d tried that on Applejack or Rarity, it would have been different; but she was sparring Fluttershy, so she could get away with much more.

Rainbow seemed to want to demonstrate this by swinging almost lazily, making Fluttershy retreat anyway. She feinted to one side, and when Fluttershy stepped to the other, skipped forward and clenched sabers. With a flick of her wrist, she disarmed her, sending Fluttershy’s lightsaber flying.

And, as much as Twilight was loathe to admit it, it was nice to see someone was picking up some of the techniques she was trying to teach. “If there’s an opportunity to, end the fight!” Twilight called.

Rainbow flipped her lightsaber around and grinned. She swung her lightsaber forward for the ‘killing’ blow…

But her hand wouldn’t move.

Fluttershy’s left hand was up, holding Rainbow’s lightsaber in place with the power of Harmony. Rainbow scowled and tried to force her hand forward, and Fluttershy suddenly pulled, tipping Rainbow off balance. She fell forwards, and caught herself with her hands, with her lightsaber rolling. Fluttershy snatched it up and pointed it at her. Unlit, but still.

Twilight pursed her lips. Impressive.

Training was over for the day, so Twilight and Spike slid into their usual seats around their table. Twilight crossed her arms and nodded. “It’s been going really well,” she said. She paused. “Well, mostly well,” she amended.

Spike hissed questioningly.

“Yeah, it’s Rainbow.” Twilight sighed, placing her right hand on her temple. “She’s getting frustrated. She’s got it in her, and she’s a good fighter—she really is; it’s just… not coming naturally to her, and I think that’s really frustrating her.”

Spike hissed.

“Anger,” Twilight corrected gently. “Anger leads to the Dark Side. But you’re right. I need to do something to help her, but what? She’s just so different. She knows how to fight. She basically has to relearn everything.”

Spike drew himself up, closed his eyes, lifted his head as if looking dramatically off into the distance, and placed a claw on his chest in a passable impression of Master Celestia.

“Right, right. ‘We all have much to learn’.” Twilight inhaled, held her breath for a few moments, then slowly exhaled. “So is it something I’m doing wrong?” she asked.

Spike shrugged.

“She's got the drive, she's got the intensity; I just…” Twilight sighed and conceded defeat. She folded her hands and placed them on her lap. “I’ll meditate on the others. It’ll come to me eventually.” She inhaled, held it, and let her mind drift. “And then there’s Fluttershy. She’s so defensive and hesitant on the attack that I’m debating teaching her Soresu so…” Her voice trailed off, and she slammed a palm into her forehead. “By Harmony, I’m an idiot.”

Rainbow paced like a caged animal in front of the door. When Twilight had asked to see her alone, she knew what it would be about. Really, anyone could have seen it coming; but it still kinda stung to be told you weren’t good enough. What did Twilight know, anyway? Some crazy girl from Canterlot, practicing some hokey religion and moving things with her hands.

As if hearing her name, Twilight opened the door and started. “Oh. Rainbow. You got here quicker than I was expecting.”

“Yeah, speed’s a special talent of mine. You wanted to see me?” Rainbow said snippily.

“Yes,” Twilight said, remaining calm. “It’s about your training. You’re frustrated. You feel like you’re not progressing, like you’re not learning.”

Rainbow scowled. She turned and placed her hands on her hips, expecting an argument.

One didn’t come. Instead, Twilight bowed her head. “It’s my fault.”

Rainbow had not been expecting that. “What?” she said dumbly.

“It’s my fault,” Twilight repeated. “I’m trying to teach you my style, Niman, because I know it best. But that means it plays to my strengths, and not yours.”

“Hey, I’m strong,” Rainbow defended herself.

“Yes, you are, Rainbow,” Twilight said placatingly. “But Niman is more or less the jack-of-all-trades style. It doesn’t have any particular strengths, but it doesn’t have any particular weaknesses, either. It’s a safe, balanced, steady, middle-of-the-lane adapting-to-what-you-get style; and that’s the kind of person I am. But that’s not you, is it?”

Rainbow wryly shook her head.

“You’re fast. You’re quick. You’re strong. You’re a bit shorter than average.”

“I am not!” Rainbow protested.

“You’re naturally athletic,” Twilight continued as if she hadn’t heard. “You can’t win with my style. It’s not you at all.” She stood up, and motioned Rainbow to follow her. “You use a shoto not because it’s convenient, but because it’s meant for you.”

Rainbow was mildly taken aback. She shrugged. “Well, I did just find it,” she said dismissively. “It was just, you know, a coincidence.”

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” Twilight said firmly. “You are the kind of person who would willingly sacrifice reach for speed. You would strike fast and dodge rather than block. You would use your whole body as a weapon. I need to teach you how to use your shoto properly.” She grinned. “I’m going to teach you Ataru.”

“Ataru is aggressive,” Twilight instructed. “Ataru is flashy. Ataru is speed. Power. Quickness. It requires quick thinking and even quicker reflexes. In other words, it’s everything you stand for.” She ignited her lightsaber (which, of course, had been reduced to training level) and spread her arms wide. “Come at me, Rainbow.”

Rainbow ignited her own lightsaber, and looked up from her position on the ground floor. “You’re on the second floor, Twilight,” she said.

Twilight shrugged. “Come at me, Rainbow,” she repeated, twirling her lightsaber once around her hand.

Rainbow shrugged and headed for the stairs, but found herself Harmony-pulled back to her original position.

“Come. At. Me,” Twilight repeated.

Rainbow scowled. “What, you expect me to just jump up there or something?”

Twilight smiled. “I do.”

Rainbow blinked. “You what?”

“Ataru relies heavily upon a Harmonist’s ability to run, jump, and spin using Harmony. You know Harmony. You know what you feel and how you feel it. You know your body. Combine them. You've got Harmony in you. You’re fast, Rainbow; I know you are. But using Harmony, you can be faster. Quicker. More acrobatic. Let it flow through you and let it lift you. Let it carry you where you want to go.” She made a beckoning gesture. “Now. Come at me.”

Rainbow looked down at herself, and then looked up. Her eyes narrowed in determination. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then charged.

As she ran, she felt the Harmony inside her. She could increase her jump if she just tapped into it. It was part of her, wasn’t it? It was in her. She just needed to give it a little nudge. With a mighty roar, she jumped.

That roar rapidly raised in pitch and turned into a slight scream of terror as she overshot the jump, arced high over Twilight, and slammed into the wall.

Twilight grimaced even as she caught Rainbow with Harmony, regretting deeply that she was not faster. “That’s… good!” She let Rainbow down gently. “You definitely had a little help from Harmony there. How does it feel?”

Rainbow slumped to the ground. “Like I just got into a fight with a vodran,” she answered weakly. “Does learning always have to be this painful?”

“Not quite. Lesson two.” Twilight stood up, clipped her lightsaber back onto her belt, then fell backwards off the second story balcony. She landed in a perfect three-point stance. “See? There I used Harmony to slow my fall. Try it. Get used to how your body reacts, how Harmony affects you. We’ll have you flipping and cartwheeling in no time.”

Rainbow pushed herself up. She looked down and nodded. If Twilight could do this, so could she. She jumped off.

And though she made a valiant effort to keep the ground at bay, she landed, hard.

Twilight winced. “Ok, lesson one point five: how to physically break your fall in case you can't catch yourself in time. I’m sorry! I really should have started with that one.”

“Is’all good,” Rainbow slurred. “Really.”

Chapter 11

The idea to split up the training into more personalized events had been nothing short of revolutionary. Fluttershy had indeed taken to Soresu naturally, and seemed oddly pleased that the biggest weakness of the form was the lack of standardized attack. Her natural shying away from strikes was going to be a problem, but with an emphasis on keeping her blade motions small, she grew more confident; and by the end of their second lesson, she had been able to deflect four strikes in a row. The fifth had lightly singed a head-tendril (Twilight had, to her embarrassment and Fluttershy’s pain, grown overconfident in Fluttershy’s ability) and they had mutually decided that there was a good place to end it.

After giving it a little thought, Twilight realized that Rarity’s natural grace and curved hilt meant Makashi would be a good fit for her. She was right, and from their first lesson, Rarity took to it like a mynock to power cables.

Unfortunately, Twilight was a bit more power cable than mynock with this form. Quite a few of her demonstrations were inflected with phrases like, “but smoother”, “in a straighter line than that”, “my foot skipped too much on that, try to keep it a smoother move”, and once, the embarrassing but always classic, “but without that last fall on your hindquarters.”

“Sorry about that. Makashi is my weakest form. Master Celestia or Sunset Shimmer would be better at this,” Twilight apologized as Rarity helped her to her feet.

Rarity took it in stride. “Don’t worry, darling. It’s my form for a reason. And it shall be glorious.”

But where this idea had really shone was with Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash flipped easily over Twilight’s shuttle, bouncing off with a quick handspring where her hands barely brushed against the metal, and landing lightly on the ground, hands out for balance.

Twilight clapped. “Very good!” she said. “You’re really getting the hang of this.”

Rainbow smirked. “You know it!”

“I think you’re good on that for now. Up for another sparring match?” Twilight offered.

Rainbow hesitated as she unclipped her shoto.

Twilight noticed her hesitation. “What is it?” she asked.

“I’m just… I’m not sure I’m feeling it,” Rainbow confessed, rolling her shoto between her hands. “I mean, it’s great and all, learning about Harmony and these sweet tricks; but I’m a pilot. I fly ships. It’s what I am. It’s what I do. This is…” Her voice trailed off.

“Not really you?” Twilight suggested.

Rainbow nodded, a wry smile playing on her face. “Something like that. I mean, peaceful Harmonists; but I’m more likely to get into a cantina fight rather than break one up, you know?”

Twilight nodded. “I’m sorry to hear that; but that’s fine. Not everyone can walk this path; and not everyone should. I wish you luck.” She bowed and gave her a small smile. “Maybe you’ll come back to play with us every once in a while?” she offered.

“Yeah. Maybe.” Rainbow gave Spike a playful salute as she departed.

Spike watched her leave. He looked up at Twilight and hissed questioningly.

“I don't know,” Twilight answered, watching Rainbow slowly disappear into the distance. “I guess we'll let Harmony decide that.”

Scootaloo was excited, there were no two ways about it.

Her pilot, though, seemed to have her thoughts elsewhere; she kept picking up the wrong tools, her soldering was sloppy, and once she almost tried to mount a bracing bracket upside down.

Finally, she couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Rainbow, are you ok?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, Scoots. Just… thinking a bit.”

“About this race?” Scootaloo said hopefully.

“Yeah!” Rainbow said, hoping she sounded convincing. “More like thinking about what I’m gonna do with the prize money.” She ruffled Scootaloo’s hair. “When we win.”

“Yeah!” Scootaloo cheered.

Rainbow grinned. “Pass me that fusing pen. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

The morning of a race is always an exciting one. Racers are making last minute adjustments and guarding their vehicles against any sabotage. In the stands, credits (for transactions both legal and under the table) change hands, claws, and paws so fast it’s hard to tell where any of it came from in the first place.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were working on some last minute tightening. Well, one of them was, anyway.

“Leave him alone, Scoots,” she said from her position under the junkracer, and Scootaloo reluctantly pulled her tongue back into her mouth. “You can do that after we win.”

The time for the start of the race drew near. Junkracers (the vehicles and the people who piloted them) of all calibers lined up on the line, most under their own power, a few gently pushed and at least one dragged (probably because they had wired the repulsors’ power supply into the ignition circuit).

Rainbow hopped in, sitting back to back with Scootaloo. She held up her fist over her shoulder, and Scootaloo reached up and bumped it.

A green twi’lek holding a flag that was comprised of more cloth than what she was actually wearing on her body stood a few paces in front of the racers. She whipped the flag up, the universal cue to start the engines.

Rainbow hit the switch, and the engines rumbled to life. As other racers did the same, she looked back behind her and nodded. Scootaloo gave her a thumbs up; everything looked good from this end.

The twi’lek waved the flag around her head in a circle once, twice, thrice; and then whipped it down to the ground. Rainbow punched the accelerator, and was pleased to feel the engines roar beneath her as the junkracer shot forward, leaving opponents behind. She heard Scootaloo whoop excitedly.

But it wouldn't be a race without a little competition. She had barely passed the first checkpoint when she heard Scootaloo call, “One to your left, hard!”

Rainbow banked over, barely cutting them off. She chuckled under her breath as she heard the angry shouts behind her.
Now, blasters of any variety (and that included slugthrowers) were disallowed in these races. But it was surprising and disturbing to realize just how much leeway that gave the racers.

Rainbow felt more than heard it when the racers behind retaliated by throwing something metal at her. She adjusted by barely tapping the steering wheel, and avoided it.

Scootaloo squealed as another racer bumped her from behind. They were clearly intending to push her off course and spin her out.

But on the next turn, the sun was in the right position. Scootaloo reached down, picked up a small piece of scrap metal that had been polished to a bright shine, and angled it just right to hit the other driver’s eyes. Instinctively pulling away, it separated them just enough for Rainbow to jet forward at an angle, making the other two racers behind swerve to narrowly avoid a collision.

Lap one thus concluded. Cheers and jeers drowned out the clink of credit chips.

Some racers, holding back to avoid the eager, lap one jockeying (or perhaps to earn a shill in the betting booths some credits), started pushing up now. Scootaloo hefted her own piece of junk—a broken spanner—and hurled it at just the right moment at the nearest racer. It hit the windshield and clattered across, bouncing and landing in the engine compartment. It started smoking immediately. She smirked; but had no time to enjoy the victory. “On your left!” she called.

Rainbow Dash adjusted her path smoothly, forcing the other team to readjust, angling them against the rocky outcropping she knew was coming up.

The next two laps passed fairly normally. But the lap after that, some of the Rodians got a little bit cocky. They rode up closer, and their windshields’ design meant that Scootaloo’s little mirror trick didn't work. They bumped into the back, making Scootaloo cry out another warning.

And then they threw some of their own junk. There was a sound of impact and Scootaloo cried out again, but this time in pain.

Rainbow Dash looked back, and her eyes narrowed as she saw Scootaloo applying direct pressure to a wound on her cheek. She pulled to the side a little bit further, baiting them into trying to pass.

They took the bait. And as they did, Rainbow Dash stood up, balancing with one foot on the seat and the other on the steering stick. She reached out and slashed with her lightsaber, severing a few rather important lines and cables. The right engine (and only the right engine) sputtered and died, sending the junkracer into a devastating spiral. Rainbow chuckled as she jumped back into her seat. Nobody hurt Scootaloo.

The race was getting closer to the end, now. If any racer was holding anything back, it was all coming out now. Scootaloo was calling out hazards quite literally left and right, she had run out of things to throw, and more than once Rainbow had to let the junkracer take the bump to avoid greater track hazards or attacks from other racers. Enough people had seen Rainbow’s little lightsaber trick that all stayed far enough back to not be on the receiving end, but there was still plenty that could be done.

Lap forty-eight passed just fine. But junkraces were fifty laps.

The call of credits (or maybe the fear of creditors) grew stronger than the hesitation and self-preservation that had hitherto prevailed. Junkracers were pushed harder, and Scootaloo only barely called out a warning before another rammed into their side, clearly trying to push them off balance.

Instead, they jammed together and clenched. Rainbow grit her teeth as she heard the wrenching of metal on metal, trying to remember what she’d done to stabilize that back corner and not liking any of what came to mind. The metal split, ripped like cloth.

“Rainbow!” Scootaloo shrieked.

But the damage had been done. Even as Rainbow Dash reached for the arc welder to pass back to Scootaloo, she could feel the vibrations wrenching the ship apart. The split continued traveling, even reaching under her seat. She dropped it and tried to hold the racer steady, but knew that it was only a matter of time before it split. “Scoots-!” she tried to call out a warning, but it was too late.

The ship was ripped in half, tearing itself apart by the stress and force from the engines. The force threw both Rainbow and Scootaloo apart. Scootaloo screamed as she was hurled from the racer.

Time seemed to slow down for Rainbow Dash. She needed to save Scootaloo. That was most important right now. She reached out, instinctively, feeling the Harmony in her. The Harmony in Scootaloo. She reached, and then closed her hands and pulled.

Just a split second before she impacted the ground, Scootaloo was yanked backwards, hitting Rainbow in the chest. Rainbow wrapped her arms around her and tucked around her.

But that wasn't all she could do. She could control her fall, control her body. And she did, enough that she could break her fall using what Twilight had shown her. She slowed them down, not enough to stop them completely but enough to soften the landing. Together, they hit the ground and rolled through the sand as racers whizzed by.

Rainbow lay covering Scootaloo until she was reasonably certain that all the other racers had passed. Once the noise of the engines had died away, she slowly stood up, mentally checking her whole body for injuries. Shrapnel chunks were scattered across her shoulders, there was a patch of gravel rash on her right hand and forearm, and parts of her pants had been ripped almost to shreds; but she was very much alive and, for the most part, very much unharmed.

And, to her immense relief, so was Scootaloo.

“How did you do that?” Scootaloo asked as soon as she could speak again.

“Well, Scoots,” Rainbow said slowly, “to tell you the truth, it’s because… I’m a Harmonist.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” Rainbow said, her voice a bit more confident now. It sounded right, saying it aloud. “I’m a Harmonist.”

Scootaloo scratched her head. “I thought you’d kinda given up on that,” she said.

“Yeah, well, I changed my mind. Harmonist-ing is about protecting and helping others and keeping people safe, and if that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right.” She pulled Scootaloo in and gently rubbed her knuckles on the top of her head, prompting Scootaloo to laugh as she tried to squirm free. “Speaking of keeping people safe, this junkracer idea? No good. Whose idea was this, anyway?” Rainbow wondered aloud.

Scootaloo extricated her head. “I think it was your idea,” she said.

“Whose idea was it to listen to my idea?”

Scootaloo grinned. “Also yours.”

“Blast,” Rainbow Dash cursed under her breath and gave the useless half of a junkracer a derisive kick. She looked away, then looked back at Scootaloo. “Say, didn’t you tell me a while ago your little speeder was having a little trouble taking tight turns?”

Scootaloo brightened at that thought. “Yeah, it does. Wanna help me fix it?”

“You bet.”

And so the two of them headed back off the track and back home. Until…

“Uh, Rainbow?”

“Yeah?”

“How are we getting home?”

There was a pause.

“...blast,” Rainbow muttered.

Chapter 12

Twilight nodded. “Good. Rainbow, I’ve really been impressed with your efforts lately.”

Rainbow tossed her lightsaber handle in the air nonchalantly and caught it. “Hey. Gotta be the best I can be, right?”

“Yes,” Twilight said hesitantly, memories of stories about Harmonists pushing themselves too far and falling right into the Dark Side coming to mind. She shook her head. “Alright, sparring time.”

Rainbow and Rarity squared up in the circle, by now used to the process. Rainbow bounced in place. Rarity saluted, her stance relaxed but ready. Twilight stood between them. “Go!”

Rarity started with a jab and a slash combination. Rainbow deflected the jab and rolled out of the way of the slash, then jumped, swung overhead, and brought her lightsaber down. Rarity managed to deflect it and move it off to the side.

Twilight pursed her lips and nodded. It was a little too far—a good block only needs to get the blade just out of range to hit you, no need to waste energy or risk leaving yourself unguarded by pushing it further—but it was still pretty good.

Rainbow spun around and swung, but Rarity blocked it again. They clenched blades for a moment, and then Rainbow rolled backwards along the ground, lightsaber held safely out to the side. Rarity’s return slash went right over her head; she hadn’t expected that method of dodging.

Twilight nodded. Risky, but definitely part of Ataru’s style. She was learning.

Rainbow popped up and slashed. She had overestimated her range, and all Rarity had to do was lean back a bit to avoid it. Also good; her natural elegance meant the Makashi style of dodging was almost instinctual.

But Rainbow had learned to not put all her faith in one swing. She jumped up and slashed down, giving herself a tiny boost, and Rarity was not able to slide back fast enough; the shoto blade sliced right through the front of Rarity’s shirt.

Twilight suddenly found herself being grateful that Spike was currently out on an errand with Applejack’s older brother.

Rainbow smirked and relaxed slightly, clearly expecting Rarity to react with some distress at being thus disrobed.

Rarity, however, had no apparent qualms about her sudden bodily exposure. As Rainbow let her blade fall, Rarity struck with precision. She tapped Rainbow on the upper wrist with her lightsaber, drawing a gasp of pain and making her drop it as she recoiled. Before Rainbow could do anything else, Rarity’s lightsaber was at her throat.

“And this round goes to Rarity,” Twilight said.

Rarity deactivated her lightsaber and bowed to Rainbow, who returned the gesture grudgingly and with a scowl.

“Thank you, Rarity, for that… demonstration on maintaining your focus and not being distracted by anything until the fight is over,” Twilight said, determined to put a positive spin on this. “Your movements were very precise.”

Rarity nodded her head respectfully, but made no motion to cover herself.

There was a pause.

Rarity cocked her head, as if expecting more instruction.

“Rarity?” Twilight said, making a gesture towards her ruined shirt. “Could you…?”

Rarity sighed dramatically. “Oh, fine,” she said, taking hold of the bottom corners and tying them together. This technically preserved her modesty, though she had tied it a bit tighter than strictly needful.

Fluttershy looked away, her face flushing slightly.

Twilight coughed. “Let’s… refrain from any more undressing attacks,” she said, “and continue. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, you're up next.”

Apple Bloom stomped inside and slammed a fist on the door button harder than necessary.

Applejack looked up. “Apple Bloom? You doing alright?”

“Yeah, ’m’fine,” she said darkly.

Applejack pursed her lips. “Now, why don’t I believe that?” she asked.

Apple Bloom grunted in answer. She just gathered a few of her things and strode out.

Applejack pursed her lips harder, but she suppressed the urge to chase her down. She knew that sometimes Apple Bloom just needed her space.

But she also knew that Apple Bloom could take things a bit too far when she was upset. She nodded towards Winona. “Go make sure she's ok, would you?”

Winona beeped cheerfully and followed her out.

Apple Bloom was out of sight by the time the astromech droid made it outside. She trundled along, heading towards the little shed Apple Bloom enjoyed tinkering in. She was most likely to be headed there. As she did, she sensed another person approaching.

Twilight waved in greeting. “Hey, Winona! I'm looking for Applejack, is she around?”

Winona beeped her answer.

“Oh, great.” She paused, then laid a finger on her nose. “I don't actually know binary; was that a yes or a no?”

Winona slowed to a stop, retracted her third balancing leg, and rocked forward and backwards exaggeratedly.

“‘Yes’. Alright.” Twilight sighed. “I really should learn droidspeak one of these days.”

Winona beeped what Twilight could only assume was assent.

The sound of welding sparks drew her attention. Winona beeped and quickly headed that way, and Twilight followed, curious. She poked her head inside. “Hey, Apple Bloom!” She paused. “What are you doing?”

“Building a lightsaber,” Apple Bloom grunted as she shoved a connector on top of another part.

“Why?”

Apple Bloom adjusted her goggles. “Because.”

Twilight bit her lower lip. She was no master of social interaction, but it was clear there was a lot more going on here, and a good Harmonist would try to help. She glanced over at Winona as if hoping for a little guidance, but she just flicked her optical sensor from Twilight to Apple Bloom, and did it again. Taking this as the droid’s version of a nudge of encouragement, Twilight continued. “Apple Bloom, a lightsaber is a huge step, and a huge responsibility. Most Harmonists don't even start training with them for years, let alone build their own.”

“Guess I'm not most Harmonists, then,” Apple Bloom grumbled, not looking up from her work. “S’not like you're training me or anything, anyway.”

Twilight winced. She was right. She'd focused so much on the people closest to her age that she hadn't even considered working with the younger children. Unable to respond, she watched Apple Bloom work. She glanced over at Winona, but got no hints from the droid. She shook her head and traced over-

Her eyes widened. “Wait!” she cried. “Apple Bloom, no!”

“What?” Apple Bloom demanded. “You don't think I should have one?”

“Less that and more you're building a bomb,” Twilight said worriedly. She pointed. “Look. You've inverted the emitter matrix. That’ll create a power loop and make the lightsaber explode when you ignite it.”

Apple Bloom scowled and examined her work. Realizing that she was right, she attempted to tear the offending item out, only to realize she had screwed it on too tightly.

“And what were you planning on using for a focusing crystal?”

“I don't know,” Apple Bloom said, now doubly-frustrated. She scrambled for a driver. “I hadn't gotten that far yet. But if Diamond Tiara can figure it out, I can, too.”

Twilight froze. “Wait. Are… are you saying Diamond Tiara has a lightsaber?”

“Yeah. And she was paradin’ it around, showing it off, slicin’ through rocks and trees with it.”

Twilight felt a chill run down her spine. “Was it red?”

“Yeah,” Apple Bloom said, fiddling with her emitter matrix.

Twilight sank back against the wall of the shed, horrified. Diamond Tiara as an apprentice of Nightmare Moon? She was still fairly young, just a child.

Then was Nightmare Moon here? On Elfaus 2? The Harmonists had been searching for her across the galaxy, but what if she'd been here the whole time? Right under their noses?

Apple Bloom did not understand the depth of Twilight's concerns. She twisted another screw. “Eh, she'll be fine. But I won't cry if she does cut her own head off.”

“It's not really her I'm worried about,” Twilight murmured. Ignoring Winona’s questioning beeps, she hurried out of the shed.

Twilight wandered through town, waving at a few people she’d started to get to know, but her eyes kept flicking around and she was unable to focus. All she could think of is how Diamond Tiara and others may have been taken in by Nightmare Moon and she had had no idea. She was not a good Harmonist, she was out of her depth, what was she thinking…

She paused. She thought she’d felt the briefest spike of anger directed at her, but she wasn’t sure. A slight presence? She closed her eyes, took a steadying breath, and reached out.

There! She spun to see the source, and recognized the young girl hiding behind a tree.

It was Diamond Tiara. And at her belt hung a lightsaber handle.

“Diamond Tiara!” Twilight called.

But Diamond shook her head and took off deeper into the forest.

Twilight gave chase, but Diamond was faster. Sure, she may have been well-off, but she lived here, and Twilight was still a visitor. She found herself stumbling over rocks and tripping over roots, and falling further behind.

She burst out into a clearing, but was alone. She spun around, listening, feeling; but Diamond was gone. She couldn’t feel anything through the forest; and she couldn’t pinpoint anything. Twilight exhaled through gritted teeth. She was starting to hate this forest.

“This is bad,” Twilight said, pacing around her ship. “This is bad. This is really, really bad.”

Spike nodded.

“What if Nightmare Moon is here? What if she's hiding on Elfaus 2?” Her eyes widened. “What if she's got more apprentices? Doesn't Diamond have that friend, the one with the cybernetic eye? I haven’t seen her in a while!” She dug her fingers through her hair. “I didn't even think of checking the younger ones, let alone training them! Oh, what was I thinking?”

Spike hissed.

“I am calm!” Twilight paused, then did a quick breathing exercise to make that true. When it finally was, she continued. “It’s just… I know she said to contact her if I needed anything, but I’d hate to drag her all the way out here for nothing. What if it’s a false alarm? What if they’ve actually found her already and I try to call Grand Master Celestia over here for some random Dark Harmonist that I could actually handle myself?”

Spike hissed.

Twilight exhaled. “And if I’m wrong, it’s suicide.” She gave her younger brother a teasing side-eye glance. “You always have such a great perspective on things.” She stood. “Alright, I’ll contact her. Could you-?”

Spike, having expected this, had already punched in the proper coordinates. He leaned over and hit the transmit button. It pulsed for a moment, and then the shimmering figure of Grand Master Celestia appeared.

“Twilight Sparkle, my faithful padawan!” she greeted her pleasantly. She rested a hand on her hip. “It's been a while! How have things been going?”

“Fine! Fine, uh, things have been fine. Training, training is going well, I've got a few good students but I'm pretty sure I messed up by not including their little siblings and-”

“Breathe, Twilight,” Celestia said kindly. “I'm sure you're doing wonderful work.”

“Thanks,” Twilight said, mentally kicking herself for that. Celestia was a kind master, more understanding than anyone else she knew, and Twilight knew she was just being silly. She took a steadying breath. “I think Nightmare Moon is still here, on Elfaus 2. And I think she’s taken at least one apprentice.”

Celestia pursed her lips. “That, unfortunately, seems like a sound theory. We've had no leads on her location. It's reasonable to assume she wanted to take an apprentice before her full-scale attack phase. There must always be two, after all.”

“So what do we do?”

“I've given it some thought, and I would like to come see for myself.”

Twilight's heart skipped a beat. “As in, you're coming here, master? To Elfaus 2?”

Celestia nodded. “Indeed. Call it, ‘two friends catching up’. I'll leave tomorrow and…” She leaned down and performed a few calculations. “I should be there in about two days your time.”

Twilight saluted. “I won't let you down.”

Celestia chuckled. “I'm certain you won't. All you need to do is to be yourself, my faithful padawan.” With one of her tender gestures, she bid her student farewell, and the hologram fizzled out.

Twilight took a couple steps back and sank into a chair. “Heh,” she said, a little smile on her face. “Master Celestia is coming here!”

And then horror set in.

“Master Celestia is coming here!” Twilight shot to her feet. “Oh, brix! She's coming here! Spike! We gotta get ready!” She started darting around, nervously brushing off dust that didn't exist off panels and chairs. “We have to clean up! I have to wash my robes! I have to wash my students’ robes! Spike! Do your robes-? no, no, you don't like them, do you… oh, I have so much to do!” She looked around rapidly, mentally cataloging all that was wrong and all that could go wrong, and headed out to the door, but she was dragged to a stop.

Spike held her back with one claw wrapped around her belt and hissed a single word, with one finger held up.

“Right,” Twilight said, taking a steadying breath. She folded her hands and performed a calming breathing technique. Slowly, her heart rate returned to normal, and her back straightened as she relaxed, the tension leaving her body.

She clasped her hands together and smiled serenely. “But seriously. We have to get ready.”

Chapter 13

Everything seemed to be going well, in Twilight’s opinion. Her students had all agreed to practice some presentations for Master Celestia. They were learning quickly and sparring well, and she'd even had to step into the ring a few times herself to give them a sufficient challenge.

Soon, the day had arrived. Master Celestia was coming! Twilight was so nervous and excited, she’d tied her sash on backwards that morning and had made it halfway down her gangplank before Spike could tell her she’d forgotten to eat breakfast. Really, though, this was the most exciting thing!

For some people, anyway.

“I still don’t get why you’re so worked up about the big boss of the Harmonists coming,” Rainbow said blithely, scratching at her ear. She glanced around the cantina.

“It's-! Rainbow!” Twilight scolded.

“What?”

“She’s more than just the ‘big boss’! She’s my mentor, a great friend, an even better duelist! She's an amazing Harmonist!”

“Got that from you calling her ‘grand master’,” Rainbow said blithely.

Twilight clenched her fists in frustration, and the metal of her hand whined slightly under the strain. “Do not mess this up.”

“I'll be good,” Rainbow said quickly, brushing at her hair to try and look more presentable.

Twilight shook her head. Rainbow took nothing seriously. There was a reason she was not going to have Rainbow spar for Master Celestia. Applejack and Rarity, sure; but Rainbow and Fluttershy would be doing kata. And Pinkie Pie… well, Twilight hadn’t been sure what to think of her. She had finally put her in charge of preparing some refreshments. And then she'd had to put her in charge of finding a place to put them, as Pinkie had interpreted that as a request for a party.

So thus it was that she was going to meet up with the greatest and wisest Harmonist there ever had been… in the small town’s cantina. At least Berry Punch kept it relatively clean.

Rainbow glanced over the scrawled menu. “Think she'd like to try our famous blaster-bolt-in-a-jug?”

Berry Punch snorted.

“No,” Twilight answered. “She tends to drink Gatalentan tea. And I've explained how she likes it.”

“Yeah. Only about a billion times,” Berry Punch grumbled, irritably setting a glass down harder than necessary on the counter.

Applejack slid onto a stool. “Well, here's an easier one for you, then. Five juice blender, please! Heavy on the apple.”

Berry Punch brightened and quickly started mixing.

“Ugh. That is healthy and has no alcohol,” Rainbow groused.

“I like it and no one asked you,” Applejack said snippily, accepting her drink.

Rainbow rolled her eyes.

Towards the rear of the cantina, Pinkie Pie was rapidfire pressing a button on the long-range communicator. “Weird…” she murmured, squinting.

“What?” Rainbow asked, eager to find a new source of entertainment.

“I can't reach my parents,” she mumbled.

Rainbow squinted. “The asteroid miners?”

“Yeah.” Pinkie frowned. “Usually at least Marble is around. But I can’t get anybody. I wanted to tell them about this party.”

Applejack paused, her glass lifted halfway to her lips. “You know they can't come, right?” she asked slowly.

“They’d still want to know,” Pinkie insisted.

Applejack tossed her head back and finished her drink, and neared. She poked a few buttons herself and pulled up the error console. “No, see, here's your problem. The signal isn't… wait.”

“What?”

Applejack squinted. “It's going out—I thought it wasn't, but it is—but it's getting redirected, and the communicator thinks it's working. It's… it's being jammed, but something special.”

“Who's jamming the signal?”

“I don’t know, it’s not like they’re showing their scandocs for everyone to see. But it's good stuff. I can't see how to break it.”

“Hm,” Twilight murmured. She pulled her personal comlink out of a pouch and held it up. “Twilight Sparkle to Master Celestia.”

There was no response, not even static.

“Twilight Sparkle to Master Celestia, do you copy?” Twilight tried again, a note of worry coloring her voice.

“Maybe she’s out of range,” Pinkie suggested.

“But didn’t you say she was coming today?” Applejack asked. “Like, right about now?”

“Yeah,” Twilight murmured. “She… she should be in range.” Concerned, she exited the cantina and looked up at the sky, scanning for a ship.

There! Up in the sky! She recognized it as a small transport, like the one she'd been assigned to get here. Her heart jumped in excitement.

But something was wrong. Her skin crawled. Why did everything feel heavier? Something was wrong.

She wasn't the only one who felt it. “That's coming in too fast,” Applejack said warily.

“Master Celestia knows what she's doing,” Twilight said, hoping she sounded more confident than she felt. “I hope,” she added quietly.

But if anything, the ship gathered more speed. It tilted, as if the pilot had made a grave mistake, and it was coming to land on its side.

“I'm going to have to disagree with that,” Rainbow said. She ran ahead through the street and started hammering on doors urgently. “Hey! Incoming! Out of control ship! Get out!”

Applejack and Twilight quickly followed suit, clearing out any potential victims from the ship’s path.

Sure enough, the shuttle veered out of control and crashed, slamming into the ground, sending up a large cloud of dust that only grew as it skidded through the center of town, snapping off panels, breaking off a stabilizing wing, and sending scraps of both itself and the buildings it hit flying before finally ramming into city hall and coming to rest halfway through the wall.

There was a brief moment of heavy silence.

“Master Celestia!” Twilight called, coughing.

Suddenly, the door was bisected by a red blade, and then Nightmare Moon blew the door apart, hand extended and Harmony crackling in the air. She spread her arms wide, her lightsaber still burning. “What?” she asked, apparently unaffected by the dust and smoke. She spun to take in the people staring. “Surely you didn’t think I had left?”

Rainbow pulled out her blaster, but she hesitated; she remembered how easily Nightmare Moon had deflected blaster bolts last time, and there were too many civilians again.

Nightmare Moon continued, still pacing. “But what a welcome I receive on my return. Am I not sufficiently advanced in the ways of Harmony for you? Do I not merit, too, a grand master's welcome?”

“Where is Master Celestia?” Twilight shouted.

Nightmare Moon turned towards her. “She can't save you now…” Here her smile darkened, “my future apprentice.”

Twilight held up her lightsaber and ignited it. “Where is she?” she asked again, pointing it at her.

“I think you know.” She held up her hand, and Twilight stumbled. The force of her mental attack was incredible. She’d never felt anything like it. Memories of Master Celestia flew across her mind, unbidden, and she attempted to suppress it. Her lightsaber dipped to the ground and she brought her own hand up to her forehead as she tried to fight off the attack. Pain arced through her mind as the mind probe battered through her defenses, and she dropped her lightsaber completely and let out a cry.

Her last memory with Celestia surfaced, and Twilight was more than a little embarrassed to realize just how easily she had brushed off her comment on her friendships being her strength. But she didn't have time to think about that; Nightmare Moon was still trying to force her way in deeper, and it was starting to burn with physical pain, like she was actually being burned, as if the attack were with a hot metal rod penetrating her brain than with Harmony. Panting, she forced up another semblance of a shield, trying to deflect her attack, or at the very least weaken it so the black spots would disappear from her vision.

Then, just as suddenly, it stopped. Twilight collapsed, panting, but strong hands caught her before she hit the ground.

Nightmare Moon paused, hesitating for the first time. “Then where…?” she murmured.

Twilight looked around. Applejack had caught her, and Rainbow close on her other side, blaster still out and held over her shoulder protectively. Rarity stood nearby, Pinkie Pie had her hands on her pinksabers. Even Fluttershy was here.

And then, for the first time ever, a flicker of fear crossed Nightmare Moon’s face. “The Elements,” she breathed. Deactivating her lightsaber and jamming it onto her belt, she sprinted towards a house, leaped into the air, and launched herself off the roof, propelling herself with the power of Harmony.

Twilight wanted to give chase, but the strain she'd just been under meant she could only stumble weakly to her feet and fall forward, requiring catching by Applejack again. Rainbow leaped onto the roof, ready to give chase or at least let off a few blaster bolts after her, but she had already disappeared into the forest. Knowing the danger, Rainbow irritably jammed the blaster back into its holster and raised a hand in a rude gesture.

Twilight scowled. She was starting to really hate that forest.

“What did she do to you?” Fluttershy asked.

“She… she probed my mind,” Twilight answered weakly. “She was… looking for Master Celestia.”

Applejack bit her lower lip. “Was she not on the ship?”

“I thought she was,” Twilight said unsteadily. She pushed herself up again. “W- we need to find out.”

“On it!” Rainbow said, jumping down.

Chapter 15

Rainbow’s ship had definitely seen better days. At first sight, Twilight had wondered if her ship had been cobbled together from different ships, like her junkracer had been; or if it had just been that old and had had the majority of its components replaced one by one until it was almost unrecognizable as any one particular model. It had at one time been a decent shuttle built more for people than cargo, though that had been many, many years ago. By now, it had been used for hauling all kinds of whatever it was she got hired to move, with comfort clearly an afterthought (for everything that wasn’t the captain’s chair, that was). Rarity had clearly mumbled ‘bucket of bolts’ under her breath as she climbed the walkway, and Rainbow had pretended not to hear. Applejack had almost had to drag Fluttershy aboard.

But that being said, once it started, it was still a decent ship, and flew relatively smoothly. Or maybe Rainbow really was that good a pilot.

Not that that mattered much once they hit the forest proper. They needed to get low enough to see, which meant getting close to the trees. Branches and leaves smacked against the front, the underside, and all over.

“This is a mess,” Rainbow complained, looking down. “What am I even looking for?”

“Anything unnatural,” Twilight answered. “Her ship, a camp; anything that looks out of place.”

Pinkie jumped over to the viewport, nose pressed up against the transparisteel as if expecting to see something right away.

Her hope would be in vain. “We’re not going to see anything from up here,” Applejack pointed out, scowling at the thick foliage. “It’s too thick. We’re going to have to get out and walk.”

Twilight scowled, knowing walking would be painfully slower, but couldn’t see any alternative. “Alright. Find us a good place to land.”

“There is no place to land,” Rainbow protested.

Applejack scanned through the window. “I think that’s a clearing,” she said, pointing. “Through there.”

Rainbow gently adjusted the steering sticks, grimacing as a particularly thick branch broke on the bottom of her ship. “Worth a shot.”

Applejack had been right. There was a small section where no trees grew, just large enough for Rainbow’s ship. With deft motions, she spun around and descended, landing smoothly. “Perfect landing,” Rainbow Dash said, with no small amount of pride.

“Yes, thank you, Rainbow,” Twilight said, hand against the doorframe. Rainbow flicked the switch, and the door opened.

Well, it tried to; it bumped against the frame a few times, metal whining in protest. Now that Twilight looked closer, it was heavily damaged, as if it had taken a few too many blaster bolts. Rainbow grunted and walked over and kicked it in a very specific spot. It opened, dropping to the ground with a loud thunk audible even on the swampy ground.

“Oh, good, now she knows we’re here,” Applejack hissed.

“I’m poor, fight me,” Rainbow hissed back.

“Girls,” Rarity said warningly.

Twilight walked forward, her boots squishing against the marshy ground. She looked around. She held up her hand. The others watched intently, hoping she would share her discovery…

“No, I’ve got nothing,” she said dejectedly. “It’s just so… clouded around here.” She glanced around, as if considering asking the forest nicely to be less clouded.

“Forest is a nasty place,” Applejack agreed.

“Not a fan,” Rainbow added.

Twilight took a deep breath. “We’ll just have to work together. Come on, come down here, and feel.”

“Feel for what?” Pinkie asked as she slid down the ramp.

“Anything. Close your eyes, reach out, and… feel. Now, which way should we go?” Twilight took a few steps forward, orienting herself, and pointed. She waited a moment, then opened her eyes.

They were all pointing the same direction.

“Well, that answers that question,” Twilight said brightly. She clapped her hands together. “Let’s get started.” She started walking in that direction.

Fluttershy mumbled something that sounded vaguely like ‘bad feeling about this’ as she followed, pinned close to Rainbow’s side.

“I really hate this forest,” Twilight muttered, slicing another vine out of her way with her lightsaber. The way ahead looked clear, so she lowered it, but she still did not trust this forest at all.

“You’re not alone,” Rainbow grumbled, slicing another vine herself. She flipped the handle around her hand. “This place is freaky. Did you know that most people who go in don’t come out?”

Twilight held up her hands. “Why would I know that? Why would I want to know that?”

“I dunno,” Rainbow said with a shrug as she walked forward. “Just a fun little bit of Elfaus 2 trivia.”

Twilight glared at Rainbow’s back, looking away from where she was walking. “You and I have very different definitions of fu-aii!” For as she spoke, her boots suddenly gave way beneath her, and she fell, rolling down a steep hill she hadn’t seen. The mossy rocks provided no grip. Somehow, she managed to stop herself, holding on to the edge by just the tips of her fingers. Her lightsaber handle, having followed her down the slope, also fell, twirling through the air and showing her just how far down it was to fall. She gulped.

Applejack darted forward and grabbed on to her wrists, and Twilight grabbed on like her life depended on it; it most certainly did. Her boots scrabbled for purchase against the rocks, but there was just no grip.

Applejack was strong, but not even she could hold her forever. Frenzied thoughts ran through Twilight’s mind. This is not good! She looked down. Can I catch myself? Will I have time? I can’t even see! Maybe I can slow my fall and-

“Drop!”

Twilight looked up at Applejack in shock. “What?”

“It’ll be ok! I promise.”

Twilight knew that made no sense. But she trusted Applejack.

And so she let go.

She fell backwards, and then-

Thwoomp!

She landed on something oddly soft. She tried to stand up, but whatever she was on was too soft for her to get much traction. What the brix? she wondered, looking around. “Is this a plant?”

Applejack landed beside her. “Yep,” she said, rolling down. “Told you it’d be alright.”

“How did-?”

“Recognized the plant. It’s all leaves, no wood. Makes a good bed in a pinch; or, in this case, landing pad.”

Twilight grinned. “Thank you.” She rolled over and slowly pushed herself up. “Alright, now I just need my…” She looked behind her and saw Applejack holding her lightsaber in her hand, tapping it against her cheek. She grinned as she reached out for it. “Keep that away from your face,” she said in faux annoyance.

“Ever feel like you’re being watched?”

“Now is really not the time, Rainbow,” Twilight scowled. “It’s been the better part of an hour, and-”

“I’m serious,” Rainbow interrupted, looking around, her hand drifting towards her blaster. “Something’s watching us.”

“Something deadly?” Fluttershy asked worriedly.

“Knowing this forest? Most likely,” Applejack muttered.

“Not you, too,” Rarity hissed, now a bit irritated that Fluttershy was holding tightly onto her. Or maybe it was Fluttershy’s vice-like grip on her shoulder. At least she didn’t grab on to her head-tails, that would have been very painful.

And then a low growl emanated from the nearby trees.

“No, now that one I heard,” Rarity said, her eyes narrowing. She dropped into a more defensive stance. “Where’s it coming from?”

“Up ahead,” Twilight said slowly.

“From behind the rock?” Applejack asked.

“Wait…” Twilight’s eyes widened. “No, it is the rock!”

And indeed it was; the rock rose up and roared.

“What is that thing?” Twilight cried.

“Boar-wolf!” Rainbow answered, readying her blaster.

“No!” Twilight shouted, and to her surprise, Fluttershy’s voice had mixed with hers. “This is its home!”

“Yeah, well, I’m about to be its dinner, and I’d like a little ranged action!” Rainbow defended herself. “Unless you want me to throw my lightsaber?”

“Saber throw is a valid technique, but probably not practical here!” Twilight called. “It’s a predator, we just have to show it we’re not worth the effort.”

“No, wait…”

Twilight lit her lightsaber, and the wolf flinched, but roared again. “That’s right,” she murmured, slowly circling. “It’s loud, it’s bright, it’s not tasty…”

“This isn’t… wait!”

But Fluttershy’s voice went unheeded. Rarity and Applejack followed suit, igniting their lightsabers and spreading out.

“You don’t want none of this,” Applejack warned, dipping her lightsaber. The boar-wolf let out a roar, and adjusted itself. Applejack got ready to jump back, but it didn’t move again.

Rarity noticed. “Why isn’t it moving?”

“Maybe it’s waiting for others,” Applejack suggested.

“We’ll have to get past it!” Twilight called.

“Wait!”

Fluttershy’s screech was enough to drag them all to a stop. Not only was it loud, it was unexpected, especially coming from her.

“He’s not angry,” she said firmly. “He’s in pain. I can feel it.”

“I can help with that,” Rainbow offered, lifting her blaster again. Twilight slapped it down irritably.

“I’m going to help him,” Fluttershy said firmly. She slowly stepped forward, one hand held out. The boar-wolf bared its teeth, but again didn’t move. Fluttershy drew closer, slowly, confidently. Rainbow didn’t holster her blaster, just in case.

But to their shock, the boar-wolf seemed to recognize she was there to help. He lowered his head and lay down. “Oh, you’re such a good boy,” she murmured. She ran her hands down his foreleg and gasped. “He’s got a metal shard in his paw!” Fluttershy looked down. She reached down to pick it up with her fingers, then paused. She held her hand up, and closed her eyes. The metal shard slowly and steadily pulled itself out. She scratched it gently on its foreleg, and it scampered off, still favoring that paw.

Twilight clipped her lightsaber back onto her belt. “Wow,” she said slowly. “That was impressive.”

“Thanks,” Fluttershy said meekly.

Applejack glanced at the metal shard. “What do you suppose that is?” she asked. “Looks old.”

Twilight hefted it. “I don’t know; but I hope it means we’re heading the right direction.”

Chapter 16

Fluttershy shivered. “I don’t like this,” she said.

“Me neither,” Twilight admitted, “but I’m not seeing another option.”

They stared at the mouth of the cave, deep in the darkness. It almost seemed to be an actual mouth, trying to swallow them whole.

“It just… feels dark,” Applejack muttered.

“I feel it, too. The Dark Side of Harmony is strong here.” Twilight ignited her lightsaber and held it over her head as she stepped forward.

“You think Nightmare Moon might be in here?” Rainbow asked, half skeptically, half nervously.

“No, but I’m not about to walk through here blind.”

Rainbow grunted in acknowledgement and ignited her own.

The clicking of boots against stone sounded oddly loud after the marshy ground of the rest of the forest, and this was not helped by the echoing of that noise combined with the humming of their lightsabers. Different colors of blades shimmered in the dark, casting harsh shadows. The water dripping from the ceiling added another spooky vibe. Twilight shivered, and not just because of the cold. This was not a pleasant place to be.

One particularly large drop of water landed on her pinksaber blade, and it hissed as it vaporized instantly. Pinkie Pie giggled at the sound, and the sound seemed to partially crack the spell. She noticed. “Hey, girls,” she started. “What do you get when you cross a rancor and a hutt?”

Twilight had never heard this joke before, and, if she was lucky, she’d never hear it again. She took a step away from Pinkie, as if the answer that had come from her mouth was just that shocking.

“That was horrifyingly crude, Pinkie Pie,” Rarity protested even as she tried to suppress her chuckles.

“I know,” Pinkie said blithely. “But sometimes, when things are really dark, you need a good laugh.” She gigglesnorted. “I’ve got another one. Did you hear about the droid who went for a cleaning?”

And it continued, with Pinkie cracking jokes. Rainbow joined in, trying to match joke for joke, but Pinkie seemed to have an endless supply. Applejack threw in a few farming jokes, and even Rarity had one to share.

It was a bit of a surprise to all of them when the cave ended, bathing them in the dim light of the forest. On the even brighter side, it seemed like Pinkie and Rainbow were bonding a bit more; they were walking closer to each other now.

Twilight came to the other side and gently nudged her. “Thanks, Pinkie. You were great in there.”

“No problem!” she said cheerfully.

But once they were outside, a new problem appeared. The path they’d been following through the cave turned sharply over a cliff, something Twilight almost didn’t realize until just in time. It must have been from an ancient river.

“What’s with you and falling off cliffs today?” Rainbow had to ask.

Twilight ignored her question. “I don’t think there’s a good way through here,” she murmured, straining her eyes the other way. She fingered her lightsaber nervously. “We’ll have to cut our way through and we don’t have time…”

Rainbow looked up. “I think I can get a better view if I get up there.” The cave they’d just come through rose up to a steep hill. “No problem.”

Hand over hand, Rainbow slowly climbed up to the top of the cave mouth.

“You see anything?” Twilight asked.

“Not yet,” Rainbow answered. She pulled herself up higher. She swung her leg up, and her boot slipped off. She scowled at the gasps she heard, and pushed herself all the way up. “Hey, there’s a little ledge here.” To her surprise, it was a decent size, and…

A strange beeping interrupted her thoughts. She glanced down. “Is that my comm?”

It was. She answered it. “Go for Rainbow,” she said. She glanced down, half-expecting it to be Twilight, but her white comm was not in her hand.

“Rainbow! Just the pilot we wanted to talk to.”

“Who are you?” Rainbow asked.

“They call us the Shadowbolts. And we have a business proposition for you.”

Beneath her, her friends watched her have the conversation, but were unable to hear most of it.

“Who is she talking to?”

“I don’t know.”

“How is she getting a signal?”

“I don’t know.”

There was a slight pause.

“Wait. Is she asking about leaving?”

Rainbow paced. “That's a great price, but that's a tiny window.”

“Hence the payout. What do you say?”

“I told you, I’m talking life or death here.”

“So are we. If you’re not at the landing strip in half an hour, you’re going to miss out on the biggest payout of your life.”
Rainbow looked down. She could make it back in half an hour.

But would it be worth it? She looked further down at her friends, and knew. “No deal. I’m a little busy.” Rainbow clicked the disconnect button and put the comm back into her pocket. She exhaled and looked around, and her eyes widened as she saw something she hadn't before. “Girls? I think we’re here.”

Rainbow held the vine tightly as Applejack used it to climb up. Rarity and Twilight were already up on the ledge, and both were staring at what Rainbow had found.

“What is it?” Rarity wondered.

“It's a temple,” Twilight answered softly. “A Harmonist temple. I had no idea there was one all the way out here.”

“Wow-ee!” Pinkie said. “It’s gotta be at least a thousand years old!”

“I think you’re right,” Twilight breathed. It seemed oddly reminiscent of the one on Canterlot, though much smaller, and made of what seemed to be natural stone.

They slowly approached the main gate, ancient and overgrown, with the occasional rust patch. There were no door handles.

“Do we knock?” Pinkie asked.

Twilight shook her head. She took a step back and raised both her hands. “No. You just have to know how to open it.” She slowly turned her right hand ninety degrees, and with a rusty click, a small door opened in the gate itself. Twilight walked through, slowly followed by her friends.

They stood in the main atrium, before the main entrance. “Circle up,” Twilight called, reaching out her arms.

“Do you think Nightmare Moon is here?” Fluttershy asked.

“Probably. But we’re going to get something that’s going to be to our advantage. We’re looking for artifacts called the Elements of Harmony.”

“What do they look like?” Rarity asked.

Twilight paused. “Actually, nothing I found could describe them beyond ‘ancient crystals made of Harmony itself’. They look old, I think. Probably shiny. Most likely ancient, maybe even mechanical, like the holocron. I’m just really hoping that we'll be able to sense them,” she admitted.

“Good enough for me,” Rainbow said.

“We'll do it together.”

“Alright!”

“Good plan.”

“She'll never see it coming.”

There was a collective pause. That voice, while still feminine, was deeper, huskier, and did not sound familiar. They glanced over to the source. Nightmare Moon stood in their circle, her hands on their shoulders, leaning over in the huddle with them. As she noticed that she'd been recognized, a slow, fanged smile spread across her face.

Everyone scampered back. Lightsaber blades burst into being. Rainbow’s blaster was out and in her hand, and she was already firing.

Nightmare Moon merely held up her right hand. Before Twilight could voice a warning, she had caught the bolts with her bare hand; and then clenched it into a fist. Rainbow squealed as her blaster crumpled into scrap metal, and she was only barely able to pull her hand free in time. It clattered to the ground, useless.

Nightmare Moon looked around, apparently unconcerned with the colored blades burning around her. “I was hoping you were all coming to take me up on my offer,” she shouted as she took a lazy step back, her eyes wide and her predatory smile even wider. “Seems as though I’ll be disappointed.”

“Yeah, you will!” Rainbow shouted, undaunted, pulling out her lightsaber.

Nightmare Moon grinned. “Corellian,” she said in greeting. “I see your hair has started to grow back.”

“I see you’re still just as ugly,” Rainbow retorted.

“Oh, so desperate, that you descend to such insults?” Nightmare Moon laughed. “Well, I might be, too, were I in your position.” She laughed again.

“What do you know?” Rainbow demanded.

“Rainbow, she’s trying to rile you,” Twilight murmured her warning, but it was half-hearted; she was nervously curious to know what Nightmare Moon had up her sleeve.

Nightmare Moon chuckled darkly. “I know plenty. I know you seek the Elements of Harmony. I know they’re the only thing that can defeat me.” Her wicked smile gleamed. “And I know you don’t know where they are.”

Twilight tightened her grip on her lightsaber. “What makes you so sure of that?” she asked, hoping she was more confident than she sounded. How much had she heard?

“Because… oh, I’m sorry. Silly me. Were you looking for these?” She raised her hands and pulled them into her chest, and five stone spheres burst forth from the ground. They began to circle around Nightmare Moon like tiny satellites.

But something was wrong. “There’s only five,” Twilight murmured, glancing around as if hoping to see a sixth appear.

Rainbow Dash deactivated her lightsaber, fingers clenching and unclenching, clearly debating if she should make a grab for these Elements.

And then Nightmare Moon clenched her fist. The power of the Dark Side of Harmony crushed them into tiny shards that fell to the ground, clinking as they fell.

And with them, their hopes also shattered.

Chapter 17

Nightmare Moon looked at the gathered Harmonists. “It’s over, girls,” she laughed. “You can’t win without the Elements of Harmony. Your training is incomplete, your skills are weak. There is nothing you can do. Nothing can stop me now. The universe is mine.”

Twilight’s breath came raggedly. She was right, wasn’t she? They had no chance against a Nightmare. Had she just sent her friends to their death?

And then there came the unmistakable whirring sound of a lightsaber spinning through the air. Nightmare Moon looked up just in time to see a green shoto spinning right towards her head. She easily avoided it by merely tilting her head. She watched it spin by and hit the ground and fizzle out. She paused, as if trying to comprehend who would be so stupid.

She got her answer when she looked back up just in time to see the bottom of Rainbow Dash’s boot flying at her face, quickly followed by the rest of her. Nightmare Moon twisted her whole body to avoid it, but she wasn’t fast enough. Rainbow Dash landed on the ground, scooped up her shoto, and ignited it defiantly. Nightmare Moon slowly lifted her right hand to her cheek, and gently brushed the tips of her fingers against her skin. They came away streaked with red. She clenched her hand into a fist and snarled.

“Rainbow’s right!” Rarity cried, pointing her lightsaber at Nightmare Moon. “We can’t give up now!”

“The fate of the galaxy’s in our hands!” Applejack added.

“There’s six of us and one of her!” Pinkie shouted.

Twilight looked around at her friends, willing to fight—and maybe even die—together. She couldn’t help but smile and even tighten up. “Then let’s do it! Together!”

“Then together you will die,” Nightmare Moon growled. She held both hands out, and the handles zoomed into her hands. Blue and red blades burst into being.

There was a brief pause.

Twilight started. Letting out a roar, she charged. She started with an overhead swing, which Nightmare Moon easily blocked with her red lightsaber. She made to bring the protosaber down, but flipped the handle in her hand to block Applejack’s swing. She drove forward, pushing Twilight back and batting away Applejack’s return swing and Rarity’s jab. Rainbow leaped over her, slashing down, and Nightmare Moon dodged the blade by moving just her head again, missing by only the barest of margins. She caught Twilight’s slash with both blades in an x-block, rotated her hips and thrust her off to the side, launching her towards Rarity who had to quickly pull her lightsaber out of the way, and lashed out behind her with a kick, keeping Fluttershy back.

Applejack darted in to take advantage of her leaving her side open, but she deflected her strike away with an almost offhand motion behind her back with the protosaber. She spun and delivered two strikes which Applejack only barely blocked. A third would have been fatal; but her attention had been drawn by Twilight, Rainbow, and Rarity. With a sweeping motion, she gathered the two blue blades, parried Rainbow’s thrust, and kicked, missing Twilight’s knee by a hair and forcing her to jump back.

Pinkie Pie attacked from behind, her twin sabers whirling in a circle. Nightmare Moon deflected both, her sabers moving slowly and methodically even as Pinkie whirled. Her pinksabers moved so quickly and so wildly no one else was sure how to strike, and no one wanted to get close enough in case of friendly fire. Nightmare Moon used this to her advantage. She batted her spinning strike down, deflected Twilight’s reaching strike from behind, and spun to engage Pinkie. She caught her in a mountain block, both lightsabers up, and delivered a front snap kick to Pinkie’s chest, knocking the wind out of her and making her stumble back. In the same movement, she crossed her lightsabers behind her back to block Rainbow’s strike, then kicked at Rainbow’s unprotected stomach, forcing her to scamper back.

They fought valiantly, but everywhere they struck, there were flashes of red and blue blocking, deflecting, redirecting. They'd never fought as a group before, and to avoid getting in each others’ way, they seemed to be attacking in sets of three and two. She only had two lightsabers, but they seemed to be doing the work of four.

Two lightsabers…

Rainbow Dash recovered from a particularly hard kick and squinted as something new occurred to her. That power cord looked really exposed. Maybe she could help even the odds. She held back, waiting for the opportune moment, and when Nightmare Moon swung to engage Pinkie Pie again, she struck. Rainbow crouched and then dove, using Harmony to launch herself, twisting in midair as she swung her lightsaber. She knew Nightmare Moon would sense her coming and sidestep the attack.

Which, of course, she did.

But Rainbow Dash wasn’t aiming for Nightmare Moon.

Her lightsaber passed through the power cord as if it hadn’t even been there. The protosaber sparked and died instantly. Enraged, Nightmare Moon swung down with her red lightsaber, and though Rainbow was propelled by Harmony and spun in the air, she couldn't quite get out of the way in time. Her swing left a deep gash on Rainbow’s leg, and Rainbow screamed. She pushed out with her hand, and Rainbow Dash flew backwards. Unable to right herself in time, she slammed head first into the wall and fell limp to the ground.

But it had been a tactical sacrifice. Though the Harmonists were now down a member, Nightmare Moon was forced to drop the useless protosaber handle and fight with only one blade. The power cord sparked as it dragged along the ground behind her, her red lightsaber held high, spinning to take in all possible threats. She reached out for Rainbow’s fallen lightsaber, but Rarity was faster; she dove in and scooped up the handle.

“Twilight!” she called, throwing it over.

Before Nightmare Moon could readjust for this, Twilight caught it and ignited it, holding it in an off-side reverse grip.

Nightmare Moon scowled. Apparently intent on taking out her biggest threat first, she charged at Twilight; but she deflected her strike and slashed out with Rainbow’s shoto, forcing her to jump higher (and faster) than Twilight had thought possible to dodge it. She leaped backwards and resettled. With only one to her two and surrounded by others, she was at a distinct disadvantage, especially with Pinkie closing in again.

She quickly changed tactics. She brought her left hand over in a sweeping motion, and rubble flew at Fluttershy. She squeaked and hid behind her lightsaber, which sheared it in half; thankfully, nothing hit her tentacles.

In retaliation, Applejack jumped and slashed at Nightmare Moon’s left side. They clenched blades, and Nightmare Moon reached up and pushed her away with her left hand. Applejack flew backwards, propelled by Harmony. She tried to hurl another block of stone at Rarity, but she sensed it coming and spun to dodge it, and she had to move fast to deflect both her jab and Twilight’s attack from the right. For the first time, she was driven backwards.

But she had a few tricks left. She raised her hand and a burst of blue Harmonic lightning erupted from her fingertips, aiming at Applejack, who let out a startled cry and flinched. Twilight was close enough; she stepped in front and caught it with her lightsaber.

Nightmare Moon batted away Rarity’s lightsaber and tried again, this time with a different target. Fluttershy gasped and held up her hand, and Twilight cried out; she was not fast enough.

But Fluttershy caught it with her hand, held it for a moment, and then threw it down, sending it harmlessly into the ground.

There was a brief pause there as both Twilight Sparkle and Nightmare Moon, the only ones of those present who had had any real Harmonist training to speak of, paused to stare. That was certainly unexpected, especially from someone who only generously could be called a Padawan.

Then Pinkie jumped in, and Nightmare Moon spun out of the way. Her cloak spun behind her, and Pinkie’s left saber swing caught the edge of it, passing right through it. Rarity let out a devious chuckle at the clothing damage and rejoined the fight.

Nightmare Moon retreated further into the temple itself. Now the sounds of lightsabers clashing and stones clattering echoed off the desolate walls, adding another dimension to the fight.

“She's too strong!” Applejack called.

“Don't think like that!” Twilight called back, blocking an overhead strike. “We can overcome any obstacle together!”

Pinkie giggled. “That almost sounded like a proposal!”

“Now is not the time!” Twilight shouted.

But the levity seemed to lift the slight spell of darkness, and Applejack swung with renewed vigor, landing two blows whereas before she was only getting one.

The fight continued, lights flashing and lightsabers clashing. Twilight took a small step back. Her students were fighting amazingly well. Even so new in Harmony, they were managing to last a lot longer than she’d even dared hope. But then again, that was the power of Harmony. She cracked a wry smile as she flipped her lightsaber over her hand. Nothing would surprise her anymore.

And then the unmistakable sound of a blaster firing did just that.

Twilight spun around. “Rainbow?” she gasped.

For it was indeed Rainbow Dash, limping but still with plenty of fight left in her. She lifted her tiny holdout blaster and fired again. It was small enough that it may have only had enough juice in it for another shot or so.

Nightmare Moon dodged it and took this opportunity to flee. She turned and jumped up onto a ledge, what should have been a second floor. Twilight tossed Rainbow’s lightsaber back to her and faced the Nightmare. She felt the Harmony flow through her and jumped, following her. She twirled her lightsaber, spared a split second to glance beside her…

Too late, she realized that her friends were not able to follow. Only Rainbow had had any training on Harmony-assisted jumps, and she was still in no condition to make this one. Her heart stopped. She'd fallen into a trap!

Nightmare Moon let out a chuckle and stepped forward, deflecting Rainbow’s next shot.

“Hold on, Twi! We're coming!” Applejack called, desperately looking for stairs.

Twilight held her lightsaber in front of herself, trying to keep herself calm. She started with a quick overhead slash, quickly spinning it to a body strike.

Nightmare Moon blocked them dismissively. Twilight glanced around for something, anything, and let out a tiny shriek as Nightmare Moon stabbed. She deflected it, but Nightmare Moon forced her lightsaber over, pinning her in place and clenching the blades together. She was strong.

She shifted her hips and held their blades in place with one hand, and pressed her other hand against Twilight’s head. “You fascinate me, Twilight Sparkle,” she hissed.

Twilight cried out in pain as Nightmare Moon’s mental probe dug deep, her power enhanced by the close contact.

“I may come out of this with more than I previously thought,” Nightmare Moon purred.

Visions flashed unbidden through Twilight's mind. Visions of her. She wielded a red lightsaber, and she stood beside Nightmare Moon, as Master and Apprentice.

“You have potential like I've never seen. I will teach you things the Harmonists don't dare to even study,” Nightmare Moon breathed.

And she would learn. She would be a master of Harmony. Not even Master Cadence could stand in her way. She would fall before her, as would…

No!

Her friends!

Shocked back into coherency by that thought, she seized hold of it. Her friends. Applejack, so trustworthy and open; Fluttershy, so shy but so kind; Pinkie Pie, always cheerful and good for a laugh; Rarity, so beautiful yet so generous, Rainbow Dash, with her rough exterior but undying loyalty to her friends…

And then the vision changed.

A young Master Celestia strode forward, her protosaber resting on her belt. Beside her stood Starswirl, one of the early Harmonist masters. Others stood, ancient masters she didn't recognize, other five. And across from them, Nightmare Moon, sharpened teeth bared and lightsaber burning.

In the real world, Twilight stood still, eyes glazed over, as the fight raged on around her. Pinkie had made it up first, and the others weren't far behind. Nightmare Moon swung two-handed and Pinkie blocked it with both pinksabers, and tried her own attempt at a kick. Nightmare Moon blocked it with the heel of her boot on her shin, making Pinkie cry out with pain. Fluttershy swung her lightsaber, and Nightmare Moon took a small step back.

Drained from what had been happening in her mind, Twilight fell face forward. Applejack jumped forward and caught her. “Come on, Twi,” she said urgently, giving her a shake. “Wake up! We need you!”

Twilight shook her head, trying to clear it. Rainbow Dash and Rarity stepped in front to protect them, while Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie tried to sandwich Nightmare Moon between them. It had been going long; Rarity was breathing hard, Pinkie’s normally voluminous hair was weighed down with sweat, and Rainbow was still limping. But even through this, one thought remained clear in her mind.

“We’re going about this all wrong!”

“What?”

Twilight straightened up. “Master Celestia never talked about lightsabers during the fight because she didn’t use them! The protosabers of the time could never have lasted as long as the fight lasted. The Elements of Harmony are us!”

“They’re what?” Applejack demanded.

“It was a translation error! ‘Ancient’ is supposed to be ‘timeless’, and ‘artifact’ is just a noun for something that can hold and focus Harmony! We are the Elements of Harmony!”

“I don't know about you, but I'm feeling really mortal right now!” Rainbow called.

“But the Harmony inside you isn't!”

“Fascinating,” Nightmare Moon said, in a tone that made it perfectly clear that she did not actually find it fascinating. “You're the Elements of Harmony. Now you'll die.”

Twilight stepped forward. “No. Now you'll be defeated, because now I understand more about the Elements of Harmony than even you.”

This defiance shocked Nightmare Moon into listening. “Don't pretend to lecture me, girl!” she spat.

“And when the five elements come together, Harmony itself holds them together.” Led by the pressing thought in her mind, she reached up and pushed, feeling the Harmony flow through her.

The woman stayed strong, her stance low and balanced; but her shadow seemed to be torn off, flapping like a flag in the wind. It seemed to scream, and then dove back down, reattaching itself to Nightmare Moon.

Twilight gasped. “A wurms!”

Rarity squinted. “There was only one…?”

“No, a wurms! A creature of the dark side! I thought they were extinct! They’re parasitic worm-like creatures that enhance your connection to the Dark Side of Harmony!”

“How do we defeat it?”

“We’ve got to get it off her first! Do it again! Push! Together!”

But it was not to be so easy. Nightmare Moon backflipped, putting more distance between them. She deactivated her lightsaber and ran.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Rainbow was faster, beating her to the archway. In too much pain to run normally, she had launched herself with Harmony, letting it flow through her and move her. She leaped around, pushed off the wall, and skidded to a stop in front of her, cutting off her escape. She twirled her lightsaber around her hand. “I owe you one for this,” she growled, gesturing at her leg.

Nightmare Moon scowled. “Stand aside,” she hissed.

In answer, Rainbow Dash slashed down at her arm. Nightmare Moon rocked backwards out of the way and delivered a two-handed overhead slash, but still moving with Harmony, Rainbow twirled out of the way. Applejack tried to take advantage of her opposite side opening, but Nightmare Moon was faster. Rotating faster than seemed physically possible, she slashed down, and Applejack cried out. Her lightsaber fell to the ground, sliced in half, and she shook her hand.

“Applejack!” Twilight cried.

Rarity stepped up as Applejack skipped back. Pinkie Pie tossed one of her pinksabers over, and Applejack caught it and ignited it, still shaking out her right hand.

Nightmare Moon tried to stab at Rainbow Dash again, but Fluttershy blocked it. They worked in tandem. And with Pinkie and Applejack circling around, both wielding pinksabers and jabbing over and over at both sides simultaneously, Nightmare Moon was driven back.

While she was distracted with the other five, Twilight tried pushing again. Nightmare Moon’s shadow shrieked. Fluttershy joined in, and the wurms seemed to be tearing. Nightmare Moon howled and threw her lightsaber, forcing Fluttershy to duck, breaking her concentration. She rushed at Pinkie, blocking her pinksaber hilt with her left hand and, devoid of her own lightsaber, settled for driving her fist into Pinkie’s stomach. She pushed her away, forcing Rarity to drop her lightsaber and catch her.

But this had been her fatal mistake. Nightmare Moon held up her hand, calling her lightsaber back, but Twilight snap-kicked it out of the way, and the combined momentum sent it sailing out through a window, shattering the old glass. Now, she was surrounded and unarmed.

But an unarmed Harmonist is anything but. She raised her arms over her head, and called upon Harmony. Cracks started forming in the ceiling, and dust and rocks began to fall.

She was trying to take the whole temple down on top of them!

But even so, Twilight was calm. She raised her hand and pushed again, and her friends quickly joined in. It was a race against time, and the cracks on the ceiling grew deeper. At the same time, slowly, painfully slowly, the wurms was being torn from her body.

And then it happened. Its former host collapsed, and the wurms scrambled, looking like more of a shadow than a creature. It writhed angrily.

“Lightsabers up! It's looking for another host!” Twilight shouted.

It seemed to find one that pleased it. Slithering like a snake, it crossed the ground, dodged Applejack’s pinksaber swing, and headed for Fluttershy. It jumped, and she flinched, instinctively protecting her face but leaving the lower half of her body unguarded.

And then a burst of Harmonic Lightning impacted the wurms, lifting it into the air and slamming it into the stone wall of the dilapidated temple.

The one formerly known as Nightmare Moon was on her feet, her face pinched and sharpened teeth bared in determination and rage. With an angry cry, she raised her hand again and another round of Harmonic Lightning erupted from her fingers, and the wurms seemed to scream and writhe as the lightning crawled across its body.

But there was no mercy on the woman’s face. She raised her other hand and Harmony-pulled the nearest lightsaber to her, and ignited it with a quick flick of her wrist. She kept the wurms in place with the lightning, flipped to a reverse grip, lifted the saber over her head-

And drove it down.

The wurms twitched once, and then moved no more. She twisted, then dragged the blue lightsaber blade through its body once more; but she had killed it with the first strike. It quickly crumbled into dust.

When the last bit had disintegrated, the lightsaber fell from her hand, deactivating itself, and she dropped to her knees. “Free,” she whispered, her voice shaking. She raised her hands, as if seeing them for the first time. “Free.” She touched her head. “I… Finally, I am… free.” She looked up, looked at Twilight’s Harmonists, then back down. She slowly picked herself up. She flicked her fingers, and the lightsaber she’d used previously zoomed back into her hand. She looked at Twilight. “This… this is your weapon?”

Twilight nodded.

“It is perfectly balanced and very well made,” she said, her voice cracking as she rolled it. “A bit bulky, maybe; but perfectly balanced. No loose parts or any superfluous designs; it bears the mark of a good Harmonist.”

Twilight was unsure why she was giving her lightsaber a critique. “Thank you…?”

“No,” she said forcefully. “No. Thank you.” She reached out and fell into Twilight’s arms. “Thank you,” she whispered, grasping her tightly. “Thank you, thank you. Thank all of you. I…” She pulled back, looking into Twilight’s face. A pained expression crossed her face as she lifted her hand and ran a finger along the scar Nightmare Moon had carved into Twilight’s face, and her hand continued along until it came to Twilight’s mechanical hand. She gasped. “I am so sorry,” she whispered, burying her face in Twilight’s shoulder. “I am so, so sorry.”

“I am so, so confused,” Pinkie whispered behind her back.

But things were about to get weirder. Familiar stomps sounded in the distance and grew close; the sound of clone troopers approaching. Twilight looked behind her and saw the glint off the recognizable armor of clone troopers entering the temple, and leading them was Master Celestia, lightsaber in hand.

“Ha. Here comes the cavalry,” Applejack said wryly.

As she entered, Celestia paused, clearly taken aback. She took in the sight. Fresh lightsaber scars littered the ground and walls, and up on the second floor…

She leaped up on the ledge easily. “Are you girls alright?” she asked anxiously.

There were general murmurs of assent. Once Celestia had been assured that they were fine, she turned her attention to the other woman standing there, stock-still. Her facial expression was unreadable, though her jaw was tight.

Celestia met her eyes. “Luna,” she said softly.

“Celestia,” Luna answered tersely.

“It's been a while.”

Her facade cracked slightly. “It's been too long,” Luna agreed, her breath coming heavier now. She nervously twirled Twilight’s lightsaber in her hands. “I’m sorry,” she started lamely. “I know that’s not-”

“No,” Celestia gently but firmly cut her off. “I’m sorry. For all my talk of Harmony and friendship, I didn’t realize that my weakest link of all was with my own sister.”

“Sister?” Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash whispered in shock. They looked nothing alike.

“Will you accept my friendship?”

Luna may have sniffled. “Only if you’ll accept mine,” she said.

Celestia pulled her into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered, seemingly unaware of the others watching. “It’s good to have you back.”

“It is good to be back.”

They remained like that for a few minutes, just basking in each others’ company. Finally, Celestia leaned back. “So much has changed since you’ve been gone.”

“And yet, I’m certain much has stayed the same.” Luna paused and tapped her chin. “Speaking of the same, as I recall, there was… one thing…”

In a motion quicker than anyone could follow, she swung Twilight’s lightsaber up and ignited it in one quick motion. Celestia didn’t even see it coming.

All gasped. Rainbow reached for her own lightsaber.

And half of Celestia’s hair drifted to the ground.

Luna grinned as she deactivated the lightsaber. She deftly spun it around her fingers and blithely held it out for Twilight to take. “There. Now, we are even.”

Celestia froze. She gasped. Her hands traveled down her hair, grasping at the burned, severed ends.

And then she began to laugh. It started low and quiet, and then grew louder until she threw back her head she was laughing so hard. “Oh, yes. I remember now,” she finally managed to say as she wiped a tear from her eye. “Oh, my. After all these years, I’d nearly forgotten… No matter. It is a small price to pay for having you back.”

Pinkie was the first to join in her laughter, and it soon spread across the rest of the Harmonists.

And once again, the light shone through the darkness.

Chapter 18

Twilight watched as Celestia introduced Luna to the clones, and Luna, her head bowed, was explaining what she had done. It was clear that the clones weren't sure if they should trust her; but she seemed to be understanding of that, even accepting. She kept her head somewhat bowed… only to suddenly shoot up again with a squeal when Celestia gently tickled her under her ribs.

Twilight cracked a smile and glanced back at her Harmonists. Rainbow Dash was describing their exploits (and probably aggrandizing her own contributions), gesticulating wildly to Fluttershy, who was paying rapt attention despite having been part of the adventure. Pinkie Pie was leaning on Applejack’s head, bobbing her own head as Applejack and Rarity chatted about their experiences, and what Luna's return could mean.

She became aware of a presence behind her, and she glanced behind her to see Celestia, her hands folded and resting in front of her. She inclined her head. “Thank you, Twilight Sparkle,” she said softly. “You have done more for me than you could ever know.”

“Master Celestia, it was…” She gave a shaky smile. “It was completely worth it.” She flexed her left hand. “All of it.”

“I am glad you have such a perspective,” Celestia said. “I am truly grateful for what you have done.”

Twilight nodded, then hesitated. “You were right,” she blurted.

Celestia cocked her head. “About what, Twilight?”

“I did come to enjoy my time here. So much so that I'd… I’d like to stay here.”

Celestia nodded, silently inviting a little more clarification.

“Permanently.”

Celestia nodded again. “And what led you to make that decision?”

“I'm not really sure,” Twilight admitted. “I mean, I spent most of my time trying to figure out how to communicate with them, and making sure they didn't cut one another’s limbs off with their lightsabers…”

Celestia cracked a knowing smile.

“But when I was with them, I felt… complete. Like with them, I could accomplish more than I could ever do on my own.” She glanced up. “That is true Harmony, isn’t it?”

Celestia nodded. “It is one of its manifestations, yes. One of the strongest, in my opinion.”

“So you don't mind if I stay?” Twilight asked hopefully.

Celestia pursed her lips, as if thinking how to best word her next statement.

Twilight bowed her head and exhaled, resigned. “I understand. I mean, I'm technically still in training.”

“As am I,” Celestia smiled. She rested a comforting hand on Twilight's shoulder, making her look up. “We all have much to learn, and much to learn from each other. They will make fine Padawans… provided they have a good teacher.” She squeezed Twilight’s shoulder gently.

Twilight’s eyes widened. “You mean…?”

Celestia took a tiny step back and made a flicking motion with two fingers, and her lightsaber unclipped itself from her belt and gracefully arced through the air into her waiting hand. “Kneel, Twilight Sparkle,” she ordered.

As if in a daze, Twilight slowly sank to her knees. Was she really…?

“With your skill, you fought a Nightmare twice and survived. With your courage, you did not retreat from that which you knew to be right, regardless of the grave danger posed to you. Though you lost your hand, your determination did not waver; nor did your spirit break under the dark visions imposed by Nightmare Moon.” Celestia ignited her lightsaber, gleaming brightly and shimmering golden even in the bright sunlight, and brought it down over her shoulders. “By the right of the Council, by the will of Harmony, I dub thee a Knight of Harmony.” With a tiny flick of her wrist, Twilight’s small braid was cleanly severed by Celestia’s lightsaber and fell to the ground.

Twilight looked up, still in shock and barely registering her friends clapping around her. “Thank you, Master Celestia,” she said dumbly. “I- I won’t let you down.”

Celestia smiled. “Of that, I have no doubt. But as for right now, my fellow Harmonist, I believe you have a ceremony to attend.”

Twilight started. “A ceremony?”

“It seems Elfaus 2 likes rewarding people who save their settlements from crazed Nightmares. Who knew?” Celestia joked.

The door swung open, and the six Harmonists stepped forward. Twilight inhaled slowly through her teeth. It seemed like the entire town had turned out for this event; the town hall seemed almost completely filled, save for a narrow aisle down the center.

She heard a squeak behind her, and knew without looking that Fluttershy had ducked behind Rainbow Dash. Rainbow exhaled sharply through her nose, and ignoring the squeaks of protest, pulled Fluttershy forward. She adapted to this by hiding behind Rarity, instead.

That didn't stop the applause from coming. Twilight grinned and stepped forward. Beside her, Rainbow Dash strutted, her head up in the air, only breaking stride long enough to give the little purple-haired girl cheering excitedly right next to the aisle a high five of power. Beside her, Applejack walked, blushing slightly. Apparently, she wasn't used to being the center of all this attention, and she reached up to adjust her hat to shade a bit more of her face.

On her other side, Pinkie Pie skipped blissfully down the aisle, and Twilight would have given her a look had it not been so in-character for her. Next to her, Rarity strutted, her lekku swishing behind her, walking as though this were a fashion show; and Twilight was fairly certain that some of the cheers directed at her were more catcalls than anything else.

Behind her, Fluttershy shuffled forward. The longer she was out there, the further she retracted into herself; but the more determined she seemed to be to get to the end.

At the front of the aisle, the mayor stood. She stood in a solid stance, feet shoulder-width apart, and she held her hands clasped professionally behind her back. Next to her, Spike stood, holding an ornate black box. He looked over and gave her an encouraging hand gesture with the hand supporting the box. Twilight couldn't help but grin.

They soon came to the front of the hall and stopped, standing all in a straight line at attention (some more than others). The mayor opened the box and retrieved a medal. She pinned it on Fluttershy (who only flinched a little bit), and worked her way down the line, pinning a medal on each Harmonist.

After the last medal was pinned to Rainbow Dash’s chest, they all turned around, and once more applause rang through the hall.

Twilight smiled as she bowed in respect for the honor she was being given.

She was home.

Chapter 14

Twilight shut the door to her shuttle and exhaled. Nothing. The shuttle Celestia should have been on was empty. No Celestia, no clones, no blood, no signs of a struggle; not even evidence of a pilot droid. They'd run scans on the whole forest, but there was so much interference and static that it had been an exercise in futility. She wanted to call in a whole regiment of clones to search it (or, at the very least, just burn it to the ground); but the long-range communicators were still all jammed. Short range comms still worked, but that did little to unisolate the moon. Spike was working on unjamming it, along with that guy who seemed friendly but definitely owned way too many screwdrivers, but there was no telling how long it would take them to do that.

“Hello, Twilight.”

Twilight jumped. “Diamond Tiara?”

Diamond Tiara strode forward. Her lightsaber hung at her belt, and she wore a twisted smile.

Twilight held up her hands. This was a delicate opportunity—surely Diamond knew something that could help!—and she needed to be cautious. “Diamond,” she started.

“Don’t ‘Diamond’ me,” she said. She held up her hand and demanded, “Tell me where Master Celestia is hiding.”

Twilight felt the cold tendrils of the dark side gently brush against her mind, and a shiver ran up her spine, one unrelated to the ambient temperature. “What?”

Diamond moved her hand again, a bit more forcefully this time. “You will tell me where Master Celestia is hiding.”

Twilight flinched. Diamond was not skilled in this, obviously; but even trying it showed she had great confidence in her own strength. Or maybe Twilight’s own skill in persuasion lent her some measure of resistance to the technique. “Master Celestia?” she prompted.

“Master Moon knows you’re hiding her!” Diamond Tiara said angrily. She held up her fist.

Twilight gasped as she felt a vice around her neck tighten. She was shocked. For someone, especially as young as she was, to jump straight to that, was troubling.

Especially since she was actually pulling off this technique successfully. Twilight winced, knowing she knew a couple ways she could get out of it but not wanting to hurt Diamond Tiara, but the only one coming to mind right now was the cho mai.

Before she had to make a decision, Diamond Tiara dropped her fist; it had been for intimidation only. “You will tell me where you’re hiding her!”

“I will lead you,” Twilight answered slowly, massaging at her neck. This wasn't a lie. She would lead her.

Diamond Tiara looked around irritably. “What? The library? This place is a dump!”

Twilight bit back a snarl. This was a great library. Given the opportunity, she would totally live here.

“There’s no way Celestia is here.” Diamond Tiara glared, turning her attention towards Twilight. “Why are we here?”

Twilight subtly waved her hand. “You want to be here.”

The Dark Side of Harmony could force an individual to do something against their will, but the Light Side was more limited in that that was impossible to do so. Any mind-changing influence the Light Side of Harmony could exert was required to be somewhat consensual; in other words, while you could not force someone to do something they didn’t want to do, it was quite possible to put your own spin on things so that both parties could be satisfied.

“I want to be here?” Diamond Tiara asked dubiously, though her head bobbed slightly. “Are you sucking exhaust? Why would I want to be here?” Her hand drifted towards her lightsaber. “Is Celestia here?” she asked again, her voice harder.

Twilight maintained her composure and tried again. “You want to defeat the Harmonists.”

This time, it was easier. “I want to defeat the Harmonists,” Diamond Tiara repeated.

“To defeat someone, you must understand how they think.”

“To defeat someone, I must understand how they think,” Diamond Tiara agreed. Her hand slowly drifted away from her belt.

“You want to do a little Harmonist training.”

“I want to do a little Harmonist training.”

“You want to meditate.”

“I want to meditate,” Diamond Tiara repeated, sinking down onto her knees.

“You don’t want to be interrupted.”

“I don’t want to be interrupted.”

“Succumbing to distractions is weakness, and you are not weak.”

Her voice hardened. “Succumbing to distractions is weakness, and I am not weak.”

“You want to meditate for at least three hours.”

“I want to meditate for at least three hours,” Diamond Tiara repeated.

“And you will not be disturbed.”

“And I will not be disturbed.” Diamond Tiara closed her eyes, and it was clear that nothing short of a rancor stampede would get her to rise from her position.

Twilight dropped her hand and bent over, suddenly winded and panting from the exertion. She hadn’t done that in a while, and she certainly hadn’t led anyone through that many steps before.

She quickly caught her breath. She had only about three hours, and she needed to move quickly. She held up her communicator. “Hey, Spike? I need a favor.”

Rarity entered and then slowed to a stop. “Ah, Twilight?” she asked, her voice more of a squeak.

“Yes, Rarity?”

Rarity pointed. “Why is Diamond Tiara meditating in the center of the library?”

“That’s what’s so important that I called a meeting,” Twilight answered tersely.

“I see,” Rarity said hesitantly. “And I’m assuming the others will be here soon, then?”

“Already here, Rares,” Rainbow Dash said. She, too, slowed to a stop, then pointed. “Why is Diamond Tiara meditating in the center of the library?”

“I'll explain when everyone gets here.”

“There’s a bad guy in the middle of the library and you’re waiting on explaining?” Rainbow huffed. “I know you’re all about, like, patience and stuff; but that’s not what patience means.”

“She most likely doesn’t want to have to repeat herself five times,” Applejack interjected, followed closely behind by a skipping Pinkie Pie, “and I know you aren’t patient enough to sit through that.”

Rainbow grunted, but did not disagree.

Applejack glanced around. “Actually, I think we're all here, now.”

“But Fluttershy-” Twilight looked behind her.

Sure enough, Fluttershy had appeared, just as silently as she always moved. She nodded in greeting.

Even as grim as things looked, Twilight couldn’t help but crack a smile. She turned to face the others. “Alright. Let's begin. Earlier today, Diamond Tiara came to my ship and tried to mind-trick Master Celestia’s location out of me.”

Fluttershy gasped.

“No, no; mind-trick, not mind probe,” Twilight quickly clarified. “Very different. I’m better at the first one. Not nearly as painful.”

“I’m assuming you won?” Rarity asked, looking at Diamond Tiara with slightly more horror than before.

“I did, which is why she’s meditating right now. But the important thing is, if she doesn't know, Nightmare Moon doesn't know, but she’s desperate to find out. And she thinks we’re hiding her.”

“But that’s ridiculous,” Rarity said. “She hijacked the ship before any of us even knew she was up there.”

“The power of the dark side tends to be blinding,” Twilight said with a shrug. “Maybe she thinks Master Celestia bailed before landing and we’re covering for her. But either way, if she doesn’t get an answer soon, there’s no telling what she’ll do.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Fluttershy murmured.

“Me, neither.” Twilight agreed. “Long-range communications are jammed. We can't reach anyone off-planet, we can't wait for backup. If Master Celestia is close, she's not responding to the com.”

“If she's even still in commission,” Rainbow added darkly. Rarity jabbed an elbow in her ribs.

“We're on our own,” Twilight finished.

“So what do we do?” Fluttershy asked.

“We take the fight to her,” Rainbow said, punching a fist into her open hand.

“Rainbow, that’s not the answer to everything,” Rarity scolded.

“Actually, I think Rainbow’s right this time,” Twilight said. “She won't be expecting this. When Diamond Tiara doesn’t come back, she’ll start to wonder; but we’ve got probably an hour or so before she’ll start to actually get suspicious enough to do anything. If she’s convinced we’re hiding her here in town, I don’t know how many she’ll kill before she’s convinced otherwise. If we have a chance to strike, it’s now.” She exhaled. “I know your training is incomplete. I know it’ll be dangerous. You know it’ll be dangerous.” She glanced down at her mechanical hand. “We know what she can do, and I know that this time, she won’t be holding back. We might not make it back.” She looked back up. “But if we have any chance to stop her, it’s now. I won’t force any of you to come with me; but I would be honored if you would. Who will come with me?”

Rainbow crossed her arms. “I think the only question here is ‘whose ship are we gonna take’?” She glanced around and held up a hand. “I volunteer to fly, by the way.”