Displaced: the grey eyes of the force

A week had passed since John made his offer to the three and it had been a week. First Applejack, Pinkie pie, and Fluttershy had told the others of the offer, and what he said to them in regards to all of the secrets revolving around him powers. To say the others were understandably confused and surprised was an understatement. Twilight was also very upset at Johns blatant accusations towards her mentor and princess Luna. Twilight also asked her assistant spike to send a letter to Celestia so she could hear this news herself. Upon arriving with her sister in tow they all sat down to hear the news.

“What did you find out Twilight your writing made it out to be upsetting.” The solar diarch asked looking to her faithful student.

“Well it turns out that mr mercer had offered three of my friends an opportunity to learn his powers. They said all of it is kept secret because he doesn’t trust you.” Twilight explained.

That definitely got both of the sisters attention. But before they could speak another chimed in.

“You damn right I don’t trust you.” The easily recognizable voice of the man in question.

“Why what did we do to cause your distrust?” The lunar diarch asked hurt by the mistrust.

“You two not a damn thing your ahem ‘nobles’ on the other hand well, better safe than sorry, I won’t have my teachings warped by those who won’t use them properly.” John said walking in with Trixie and a young colt behind him.

“But why keep it secret from us? We would have kept it secret if you asked.” Celestia said. Getting a nod from her sister.

“Because the powers I wield would at the least leave you speechless and a building headache and at worst scare you catatonic.” John said sitting next to the potential three.

“How? What can your powers do that our magic can’t?” Luna challenged.

“The force is by far the most powerful thing in the universe. It surrounds us binds us it can extend life and snuff it with a thought, there were some who could use it to reverse death, Luna. In the wrong hands it can end entire worlds snuff out stars even crush moons, now do you want this to be common knowledge or would you rather I and my order be the only ones with access to the knowledge?” John said looking at the two shocked and frightened regents and the elements who looked terrified.

“You mean that anypony with that power could do untold damages? How would you stop somepony.” Celestia asked a tremor obvious in her voice.

“Easy because I only train those I feel won’t use them for that kind of action and if they did I’d end them myself.” John said looking to the two apprentices, who in turn looked to him sorrowfully. “I don’t expect you to fully comprehend this but it isn’t just your nobles I don’t trust but the other nations who would undoubtedly try their best to find gifted force sensitive individuals for their own army. You both saw how quickly I was able to stop you and I was being diplomatic what if the next one is an assassin for one of the less savory countries hmm? What then you’d both be doomed and you're nation destroyed. That is exactly what I’m trying to prevent.” He added before stilling.

“You were looking out for us? Why. I mean I get why why, but why for us?” Twilight asked looking to the man.

“Because beyond our rockie first meeting your nation has been much more accommodating that I truly thought it would be. It shocked me you and your friends though the whole time were trying to glean anything you could for your leaders, which had you just asked me for a private talk , would have been much easier rather than all this spying, I still knew you truly wanted to befriend me even if we disagreed on some things. Miss sparkle.” John said shocking them further.

“You really care about us don’t you?” Fluttershy asked getting the mans attention.

“Yes, and I’m tired, in truth I look what twenty six? I’m actually closer to fifteen hundred.” John said looking down.

“How are you like us immortal, are you the alicorn of your species?” Luna asked.

“Remember what I said about the force being powerful, well guess what happens what you take the life force of everything living on a planet and transfer it into on single being.” The man said as tears started to fall.

“You don’t mean, why would you?” Celestia said raising a hand to her mouth.

“I didn’t, the former grandmaster of my order did, he wanted there to be one of the grey, a first and last, so here I am the unwitting subject of one of the most horrible force undertakings ever.” John said sobbing. “Every single time I look in a mirror I’m reminded of what I lost….my friends and fellow masters and knights as well as every youngling there was the locals who were so nice and trusting all gone, the second time that ritual was done, the first time it was ever used, there has only ever been three of these force rituals done, ever.”

“Unwitting how did they get you to it if you didn’t want to in the first place.” Rainbow dash asked shook up from the information.

“I was knocked out and bound to a slab by, what I guessed when I awoke in the chamber.surrounded by empty robes and ashes. Once I broke the chains and got out I found the whole place was empty no people no animals even the plants were dead. It scared me so I gathered everything onto a ship, called a person to sell them all and left, For most of those many years I wouldn’t even use the force, it wasn’t till recently that I restarted using them, sorry I’m a bit rusty from lack of use so I started training in and swore that I wouldn’t let what happened to my old world happen here. So yes that is my reasoning for being so secretive.” John explained. Getting sympathetic looks from the sisters and the elements and a few hugs from his students.

“I I don’t know what to say… I’m sorry for your pain, please know we would never ask you to do something that we ourselves wouldn’t do.” Celestia said standing up and approaching the depressed man, pulling him into a tight and supporting embrace.

At her action all of the present ponies joined in adding their support. They stayed that way for about ten minutes just letting themselves be an anchor for the man who had lost so much. When they all stepped back they found that he was looking less sad and more happier than they had ever seen him.

“Thanks you all I... l needed that.” He said wiping his face with his robe sleeve.

“Anytime Johnny you don’t have be alone anymore.” Pinkie pie said hopping on his back for a hug.

“Yea I’ve finally found a place to truly be at peace.” He said rubbing the mares arm.

“Well with that out of the way have the three of you agreed or no either answer will not affect my opinion of you.” John asked looking to the tree.he first to answer was pinkie.

“Yep I a have and my answer is absotively posolutely.” She said smiling widely. Following her was Applejack.

“I reckon it be worth doin sides it might help with the farm.” The farm mare said nodding to the man. The last was Fluttershy.

“Oh um well I talked to my animal friends and many of them agreed it would be good for me, although some were not happy with the idea of the change, I’ve decided yes I’d like to learn. You said it can be used for healing then it would make it easier for me to help during a medical emergency.” The timid mare said. “ if that’s ok with you.” She added hiding behind her mane.

“Excellent well when I and my two other students get ready to leave I’ll need you three to come with for your robe fitting and orientation.” John said. “ oh and miss shy please tie back your mane it’s hard to see your pretty face if it’s hidden, think of it as a…. lesson on improving your self esteem.” He added using the force to gently moving the mares long mane behind her ears revealing her blushing face.

When they all exited they all headed to sugar cube corner for a few snacks and a chance for them, though Celestia and Luna had to bid farewell not before John caught their attention.

“Look I can’t give you the fire arms I use but like I said I can give you some more effective policing equipment. It’s not much but they are much more effective than spears and swords. Oh and if either are having a bad day or night I don’t mind to come by and talk even if it’s just to help you pass the time you can, I usually can go several days without sleep, or if you want entertainment in the form of me dealing with an unruly noble.” He said his tone sincere and truthful. Though the last parts both touched and made the two laugh.

“Thank you John we both appreciate your offer and I may take you up on it some of them are getting a bit uppidy lately.” Celestia said as her and her sister teleported away.

“Those two, they work too much.” John said lowly as he returned to the others.

The rest of that day was spent roaming around the town with the girls as they showed him around, greeting everypony and enjoying the day, but as it goes all good things must come to an end and John along with Trixie and blitz and the three future apprentices all headed back to the castle temple for their first lessons in harnessing their newly discovered latent abilities. Their beginning training would take the rest of that month and a full quarter of the next before the three could efficiently use their newly awoken power. Applejack who’s force abilities leaned closer to the force jump, force lift, push, and pull abilities where she was able to lift exceedingly heavy items and objects. Pinkie pie who, somehow, was able to learn to refine her force lift to mimic they way a unicorn lifts and manipulates objects, making her skills as a baker that much better. And Fluttershy whose skills were naturally aligned to healing was quickly becoming the resident force healer, everything she learned was geared toward it, meaning she would be the fastest and most skilled doctor if she chose that path. Her confidence in that time had grew as well no longer was she jumping at everything but was more open and involved because of it.

The three did have things they had to adjust to namely the communal bathing, seeing their master and fellow apprentice strip in front of them was a shocker, but they eventually got use to it. Another was Johns near constant teasing them, it started off simple poke and prod here and there while they were meditating to teach them to ignore it, But would ramp up to him constantly groping them both physically and with the force to throw them off during exercises and dodge training.

The only one who fared better in this regard was pinkie who simply said she was used to being groped and touched by others from some of the more adult themed parties she had been to. John who had been listening at the time smirked and started on pinkie at random at times,although it didn’t seem to phase her but seemed to reinforce her will of course he also wasn’t surprised when pinkie showed up to his private room often to talk to him about the different ways to throw the others off.
she also explicitly stated she was always open to a little fun, as long as it was relegated to anal and oral, she was wavering herself for her for her honeymoon if and when she got married.John who admittedly was a little pent up would agree and several times take the mare up just to relieve some stress from those days they both agreed that it was just simple sex for fun. John noted that there may have been something building but only time would tell.

The next was Applejack who at first was very distracted by his actions which usually culminated in her swinging at him for it, after she realized what he was doing she quickly learned how to tune out the sensations. She also learned from pinkie how to steel herself for when he started during further training. She also ended up being the one who John generally tended to talk to about improving the place, less in the since of decode and more in practicality. John also felt something from the mare when he and her were alone. But like the pink mare he tabled it.

The one who needed the most work was Fluttershy, John had been working hard with her to stop, this culminating in her getting the most attention from him in regards of actual lessons but in his relentless pestering and antagonism. It hurt him somewhat to have to pick on her the worst but he knew that she needed the extra push so he did even after all the breakdowns she had over it, the paralyzing fear from the sudden touches both from him and the force, and the tears shed from his constant pushing her.

He had almost give up when one day he pushed just enough to get her to push back. From there she started to improve she was now at the level her friends were at the start but was starting to make real progress.

Trixie who would come by for her lessons was also teaching the younglings found at the orphanage, on how to sense the force and how to learn proper meditation. She had become an adept mentor for the youth, having dropped her speaking in third person to become their teacher, John who was proud was about ready for her to face the final test to see if she was ready to take on the full responsibility of the position of master warden, having been made knight warden shortly after she completed her advanced training while the other three adults were just learning and John had began planning for the younglings who were getting use to their new home.

That is where they are now with all of the younglings and the other three as she stepped into the area John had told her to. The final trial she would face would be the trial of the grey, where she would put all of her teachings to use in a fight against two force constructs one of the light and one of the dark. John who had finally brought Trixie up to the harbinger to create her first lightsaber. Her saber was a saber lance which doubled as a monk staff when the blade was extinguished. She was also told to design her master warden ensemble for If and when she finished her final trial.

As the mare prepared for her trial the others were busy asking John questions.

“What’ll happen when she starts this here shindig” Applejack asked looking to the man.

“Once she starts she has to finished there are only two ways out originally either you succeeded or die, I changed it to where if your knocked out you fail and it takes three years for one to take it again, but I have a feeling she will pass she’s been training on her own and studies harder than anyone I’ve ever met.” John said never taking his eyes off of the mare as she deactivated her saber staff.

Standing John spoke out to the small crowd of younglings and the mares. “ today one of our own takes her final step in her training. Today she takes the trial of the grey here she will face two sides of what she would be like under the dominion of either the Jedi or sith this is her test, no interference will be done. She must do this on her own, make no mistake this challenge is meant to test all of your skills.” John said looking to the former show mare who looked back at him with a determined look. “ are you ready knight warden lulamoon?”

“Yes grandmaster I have made my preparations, I have trained and meditated, force is my guide.” She replied bowing.

“Then it has begun May the force be with you knight.” John said as he erected a force shield around the arena.

The moment it went up the two force manikins both shifted to look like the mare before them though both were vastly different. The left one wreathed in a blue aura had on bright white robes with three bands on her left arm her fur was vibrant and her eyes seemed far brighter than necessary. The right was dressed in an a black, armored robe her fur was pale and her eyes were yellow she had several scares across her and had a snarled look.

“Oh look little miss beatrix lulamoon has arrived.” The left said smiling.

The right smirked and spoke. “So the oh so great and powerful Trixie decided to show. What kept you, scared?”

“I’m not scared a wise fighter prepares, that is what took so long.” The knight said not rising to the dark side projections bait.

“Smart move Miss lulamoon but did you repair enough?” The light side projection asked.

“Only one way to find out.” The darksider said while leapt at the mare her saber staff lighting up with a crimson blade.

The two danced the dual of blades Trixie was holding her ground while letting her opponent wear themselves out. When they broke Trixie noticed that the lightsider hadn’t moved which perplexed trixie till she felt a disturbance and left away ad the ground she was at was crushed by a large force push.

The battle went on for some time John looking on in neutral indifference. While the rest watched anxiously. Trixie who was fighting and dodging was getting nervous as the fight progressed, her energy which was backed up by the force was starting to run out and she was looking to options to win this fight. Running through the various things she had been taught she remembered on vital bit John had said about dealing with two opponents, the easiest was was to enrage one then lead them in the blind rage.

Formulating a plan of action Trixie started by taunting the darkside projection,
succeeding and driving it into a fury as she lead it toward its counterpart who was to busy trying to amp the darksider. She didn’t realize the trick till the opened her eyes in time to see the red saber staff blade slice down and cleave her in two. The darksider who quickly regained her composure realized her error but not before it was sliced in two at the waist and decapitated. Ending the trial and earning the former magician her victory.

When the fight was over John lowered the force shield and stood, his face neutral and composed.

“Knight lulamoon, you stand victorious in your trial and have earned your new title of master warden. Stand and acknowledge her.” He said raising his hands as the others started cheering and clapping.

Trixie who was happy looked to them as she had called mentor for the last bit and watched as he looked to her with a content smile. The celebration that night was heard all the way in ponyville, much to the pleasure of its citizens.