The Dark Warrior

Twilight Sparkle walked through the hallways of the Crystal Palace, security tapes from her facility and data on Starkiller in hand. As much as she’d hate to admit she’d allowed such a valuable, not to mention incredibly powerful, specimen to escape, her beloved needed to know about it. Especially because of the way it’d torn through the small garrison of soldiers that were supposed to prevent stuff like this like they were nothing more than tissue paper.

Finally, Twilight arrived at the throne room. There, sitting on a throne of black crystal, was a man with charcoal grey skin, a mane of midnight black hair, glowing green eyes that seemed to be leaking some kind of dark purple smoke wearing a suit of gray armor with black boots and a red fur cape with a white and black spotted trim. On his brow was a dark gray crown. Twilight approached the throne and knelt before the figure.

“Ah, Twilight. You know there is no need to bow before me, considering that you will one day be my Queen,” said King Sombra, tyrant of the Crystal Empire and self-proclaimed Master of Shadows. “I trust you have a reason for leaving midway through that enjoyable evening we were having?”

Twilight rose up and looked her lover in the eyes. “Yes, beloved. Our forces had discovered a very interesting specimen,” she explained.

“A SPECIMEN?!” roared Sombra, rising from his throne in anger. “You mean to tell me that you left because of a specimen?!”

“This specimen was truly unique, beloved. It tore through our men at the Darklight Facility like they were nothing. I have the security tapes and data here,” explained Twilight.

Sombra let out a reluctant sigh. “Very well. Let’s see it,” he said, turning his throne away and activating the throne’s view screens while using his magic to take the tapes and data from Twilight.

As the Crystal Usurper watched the recordings of Starkiller slaughtering his soldiers, he found himself unable to tear himself away from the spectacle.  Finally, when the recordings ended, Sombra turned back towards his lover.

“So… this Darth Starkiller creature is now with the Equestrians…” said Sombra thoughtfully.

“Yes, beloved.”

“Then, our strategy must now change. Summon Rarity and Flutterrage. We must find this creature and destroy him before he brings ruin upon my empire, and those wretched Princesses banish me once more,” said Sombra.

“As you wish, beloved,” said Twilight, doing a curtsey and walking out of the throne room, leaving the Dark Lord alone with his thoughts.

Perhaps it is time I used… THEM, thought Sombra.

…

Inside the Equestrian Forward Command Center, two powerfully built women wearing armor and battle helmets were walking down the hallways. One of the women had alabaster feathered wings, deep golden eyes, and long flowing hair that seemed to resemble lush green fields, clear blue skies on a sunny day, and the pink of love and compassion. Her armor and helmet was a deep golden color and had a broadsword attached to her belt. This was Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria and Princess of the Sun.

The second woman had pale skin, midnight blue eyes, and long flowing hair that seemed to resemble the night sky itself. Her armor was midnight blue and black, and had a rapier at her side. This was Princess Luna, Celestia’s younger sister and the Princess of the Night.

Achroma was waiting for them near the entrance to the central hub of the Command Center and respectfully bowed at their approach. “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” said Achroma.

“Of course. Lead the way, Commander,” said Celestia.

As the three women entered the central hub of the Command Center, which was bustling with soldiers, officers, and mission controllers, Luna spoke up. “What do you know about this creature, Commander?”

“I know that he can kick some serious ass. He took on a whole platoon of Crystal Empire soldiers like it was nothing, and he crushed two of their mechs like they were made of paper. Sunset’s working on analyzing his armor and weapons,” said Achroma.

“I see… and where is he now?”

“He’s in a temporary guest room. Last time I saw him, he looked like he was meditating,” said Achroma.

“Can you bring us to him?” asked Celestia.

“Yes, Your Highness,” said Achroma.

...

Starkiller was sitting on his bunk in a meditative state, staring into the crimson blade of the one lightsaber he’d been allowed to hold onto while this... Sunset Shimmer analyzed the rest of them, trying to strengthen his endurance to his newfound connection to the Dark Side of the Force. He could feel his endurance slowly start to build up, but it was like water dripping from a faucet after you turned it off.

The door to the room opened, and through it stepped three presences. One of them Starkiller recognized as Achroma, but the other two, not so much. One felt like sunshine after a powerful storm, while the other felt like beautiful moonlight.

“Erm… Starkiller?” Achroma said nervously.

Starkiller deactivated his weapon and looked up. ”Yes, Achroma?” said Starkiller, looking up at the three women who stood before him.

“This is Princess Celestia and this is Princess Luna. They’re the rulers of Equestria. They’d like to ask you a couple question about, well, what you are and what makes you so powerful like you are,” explained Achroma.

”I see…” said Starkiller, thinking it over for a moment. ”Very well, then. If they insist.”

“Okay, then let us start with the most obvious one,” said Princess Luna. “What are you, exactly?”

Starkiller was sorely tempted to respond “I’m Batman,” but somehow he felt that it would be unwise to anger two Princesses that looked more than capable to taking him down without much of a problem.

”I am Darth Starkiller, and I am a cyborg,” said Starkiller simply.

“I see…” said Celestia thoughtfully. “How exactly did you end up like this?”

”Well… I was severely electrocuted, then I got hit in the face by a ship. When I woke up, I was like this, except my armor was a bit different. This mask,” said Starkiller, tapping one of his talons against the side of his mask. ”Is the only thing that’s keeping me alive.”

Celestia and Luna nodded to show that they understood. “What was that weapon you were staring at just now?” asked Luna.

”This? asked Starkiller, holding up his lightsaber hilt. ”This is called a lightsaber. It’s an sword, very similar to the ones you wear at your sides. Except, the blades of mine are made of plasma, and the color comes from from a certain type of crystal embedded within the hilt. My lightsabers also have an additional crystal embedded in them that allow for, for lack of better term, special effects. They’re not as clumsy or random as a projectile weapon. They’re elegant weapons for a more… civilized age. Well, civilized where I come from,” explained Starkiller.

“And where is that exactly?” asked Celestia.

”Well… I don’t really know how to explain it other than ‘a long, long, long way from here,’” said Starkiller.

“I see…” said Luna thoughtfully. “What kind of ‘special effects’ do these crystals of your have?”

”They range from siphoning off the life energy of my enemies to enhancing the effects of my electrical attacks… but, the only reason they work like they do is because of my connection to the Force. Otherwise they’re just ordinary crystals,” explained Starkiller.

Celestia, Luna, and Achroma all looked at each other in confusion.

“The Force?” asked Celestia, sounding completely bewildered.

”The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the universe together,” explained Starkiller.

“So… it’s like Equestrian Magic, then,” said Achroma.

That explains why I sense… thought Starkiller before he spoke aloud. ”If you say so,” he said.

“Very well then, Starkiller. I’d like to see what you can do. I might just have a proposition for you,” said Celestia.

”If it’s about joining your army in the fight against King Sombra, then you don’t need to ask. I’m in,” said Starkiller.

“Well, that makes things much more simple. However, I’d still like to see what you’re capable of, so if you’ll follow Achroma to the Training Facility,” said Celestia.

Starkiller nodded and followed Achroma out of the room.

…

The training facility resembled an arena in many ways. A circular chamber lay in the center of the room. Above, capping the facility was a large dome, made of some sort of glass.

“Simple, but impressive.” Starkiller noted, glancing at the smooth, steel walls. Burn marks and scratches covered patches of the walls, remnants of training long past, he supposed.

”Okay, Starkiller, can you hear me in there?” Achroma’s voice boomed over the concealed speakers.

”Yeah!” replied Starkiller.

”Okay, then let’s get this party started!”

Several robots emerged from rising platforms in the floor, all of them armed. Starkiller thumbed the activation button of his lightsaber, igniting his crimson blade.

Here’s where the fun begins, thought Starkiller.

As one, the robots opened fire upon Starkiller, whose blade almost effortlessly reduced their bullets to dust. The Sith Lord then used the Force to push one of the robots away before following up with some force lightning. The robot detonated like a bomb upon contact with the wall.

Starkiller then followed up by throwing his lightsaber, slicing two more of the robots in half before returning to him like a boomerang. The last robot, however, he simply Force Dashed up to and sliced to ribbons with his lightsaber.

”All too easy,” said Starkiller.

”All right, now let’s see how you handle this!” said Achroma, pressing a few buttons on her control panel, thus upping the difficulty levels.

…

Hours had passed by, and Darth Starkiller stood victorious over the ruined robots’ bodies, tired, but nonetheless feeling triumphant.

The door opened and Celestia, Luna, and Achroma entered, all three of them beaming.

“Well, I must say, you certainly are a spectacular warrior, Mr. Starkiller,” said Celestia.

Luna scoffed. “Whatever, I’m not impressed,” she said.

Celestia chuckled. “You are too impressed, sister. However, that is besides the point. Starkiller, you’ll be serving on Achroma’s team,” she said.

“The soldiers in my squad are some of, if not the best soldiers in the entire military. I think you’ll fit in quite nicely with us,” said Achroma.

”Sounds good to me. Just one last thing to do,” said Starkiller.

Starkiller then knelt before Princess Celestia.

”I am at your command… my Princess.”