War On Falling Starsby Timeless Lord SlayerChapters(OLD VERSION) 1 - The Return: The Return (Edited)(OLD VERSION) 2 - The Return: Talks(OLD VERSION) 3 - The Return: Reassignment and Reflection (Edited)1 - Distant Kin, Distant Hope: The Girl (EDITED)2 - Distant Kin, Distant Hope: New Contract(OLD VERSION) 1 - The Return: The Return (Edited)"Alright, Twi, what's this about?" asked Applejack, lifting her Stetson out of her eyes. "You look more worried than I've seen you in years, darling," Rarity noted, frowning as she observed her friend. "I have every right to be! One of the oldest living beings on the planet and one of the greatest figures of history just sent me a letter!" Twilight cried, pacing in her throne room. The members of the Friendship Council blinked. "I thought we'd gotten past all this past heroes and villains nonsense," Discord mused, floating aimlessly around Fluttershy. "Same here!" Pinkie chirped, before inhaling a frosted biscuit. "Mm, man, these biscuits are GOOD!" She offered one to Fluttershy. "You gotta try one!" Fluttershy smiled kindly, gently taking the biscuit and biting into it. "It is good," she said softly. "Back on track, please," Rainbow intoned, forelegs crossed as she hovered above her lover, Applejack. She looked to Twilight. "Now, who the heck is coming back from beyond the sands of time now?" "The-" Spike began, but Twilight interrupted him. "The First Lady of Canterlot!" Twilight cried, as if it were obvious. "...Who?" Applejack and Pinkie asked simultaneously. "Oh my stars! You mean the Dancer of Gems is coming back? After all this time?!" Rarity shook her hooves rapidly as she squealed. "Oooh, I'm positively ecstatic, darling!" "I can't believe the First Lady is actually real. I mean, back when I was a model, all I'd heard were stories," Fluttershy said with a small, contemplative frown. "Wait wait wait, you mean the First Lady? Otherwise known as the Mystical Bladedancer?!" Rainbow squealed as she flew circles around the room. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!!" "Well, glad to see she still has her old spirit. I certainly don't after hearing that old hag is back," Discord grumbled, crossing his arms. "Can somepony please tell us who this 'ere 'Lady' is?" Applejack asked, waving a hoof. "Only the one who taught Celestia and Luna how to fight and rule a freakin' kingdom!" Twilight cried. Applejack's eyes widened. "Well, dang." "I'll say. She's gotta be super old, then!" Pinkie added, stuffing another biscuit down her gullet. "Well? What did her letter say, darling?" Rarity asked, leaning forward on the table. Twilight, in response, lit up her horn, and suddenly a slate of iridescent crystal slammed onto the table. On it was many carved words. Twilight read it aloud. "'Dear Princess Twilight. It has come to my attention that my old students have finally passed on the torch to you and your friends. And, with life around the world becoming generally more peaceful, I've seen fit to return to Equestria. There is little I can do out in the West anymore, after all. Expect me in thirty days time. Notify my students, as well. I wish to see how they have shaped up.'" Silence. Silence, interrupted by Pinkie stuffing another biscuit into her mouth. "Well, sounds like we need to prepare a welcoming party, doesn't it?" "...Since when did you get casual about parties?" Spike suddenly asked, giving Pinkie a quizzical stare. Pinkie shrugged. "I popped out a kid. Don't most mares mellow out after that?" "I can't believe you actually invited me to this!" A gray mare with an orangey-pink mane and rose gold eyes exclaimed excitedly, her hooves tapping on the ground. "Seriously, Luster, thank you much!" Luster chuckled, wrapping a foreleg around her sister. “Of course, sis!” She looked across the group of individuals around her, frowning. “Not so sure everycreature here shares the excitement, though.” “Don’t forget, don’t forget, stay calm, stay caaalm,” Luna was muttering to herself near them. Celestia, similarly, was sweating bullets as she stared straight ahead. Twilight was about the only one of the entire group of royalty who wasn’t in a state of disarray. Although, if one looked closely, they would notice her mane fraying slowly, and then being magically smoothed back into place. The other Friendship Council members - sans Discord - were watching the street ahead with hopeful eyes. Even the Pillars had come after the news was spread. Ponies and other creatures were all around the streets watching with rapt attention. Royal Guard were lined up on either side of the road with banners of the Equestrian Royal Flag held aloft while others held trumpets in preparation. Everycreature was watching the street leading into the city square with hopeful eyes. Luster’s sister, Dawn Rising, continued to tap her hooves. “You think she’s anything like the old stories suggest?” She asked, eyes never leaving the horizon, biting her lower lip. Luster removed her foreleg from her sister’s neck. “I sure hope so. I mean, if the stories are right, she has a blade of magic! How can you not like that? And her being a mare in what was a stallion’s world at the time is just so fun to read about! Like that time she tricked the tyrant of Neighpon into giving her the Jade Dragon!” Luster nudged her sister. “You loved that story.” “I loved her stories,” Dawn corrected playfully, rolling her eyes. “She’s my favorite historical figure and may be one of the most important creatures to Equestrian history!” Luster giggled. “You’re telling me. I wonder if she’ll let me study her magic blade…” Luster gained a far off look, daydreaming as she was wont to do when it came to the subject of magic. “I’d rather study her,” Dawn replied, not catching the meaning of her own words. Suddenly, a figure became visible on the horizon. Immediately, the trumpets sounded, and the banners were raised aloft. Down the street came a stunningly beautiful creature on two legs. She was similar to a Minotaur cow in build, only much more lithe and lean, and far more beautiful than any that the bulls present had seen. She bore no fur at all, from what could be seen, only clothes that covered every inch of her body save her head. The clothes were honestly more armor than clothing, however, yet they moved with her body with the flexibility of high quality leather. The platemail - if it could even be called that - was predominantly gold, with royal purple metal making up the rest of it. Her pauldrons bore the likeness of manticore heads, yet bejeweled, if not made of jewels themselves. In fact, they almost seemed real. Clasped around her neck was a cloak of what could only be made of gems, trailing behind her in a kaleidoscope of colors thanks to the sun’s light. Gauntlets, greaves and boots of similar make to the chestplate covered her arms, legs, and feet, with the gauntlets bearing golden, almost blade like fins on them, and the kneeguards and tips of her boots bearing similar blades and/or spikes, all still in the gold and royal purple theme. Two rather large bumps were concealed by her chestplate, and her rear was rather well heart-shaped as well. But the true beauty was her face. Flat, but not to a disgusting degree, and surprisingly young for someone from the Age of Unification. Her face was unblemished and dazzlingly beautiful, if not otherworldly. A circlet rested over her forehead, and trailing behind that head were two long, tail-like appendages, all the same cyan color as her skin. Her eyes were a marvelous silver, shining with strength and power. On her hips rested what seemed to be the hilts to blades, but they were bereft of any actual blades. Dawn’s hooves instantly stopped tapping, her eyes widening as her mouth fell open, the visage of her fillyhood hero burning into her memory. “Oh, wow…” Luster breathed, in just as much awe as everycreature else. Undaunted, the alluring woman walked up to the group, and stopped in front of them. She briefly scanned them all. “I see you brought a welcoming committee, Princess Twilight,” the woman said in a voice as smooth as silk and as sultry as a Playcolt model. Twilight smiled. “I thought it only best, for a returning hero of Equestria.” “Hm. Indeed,” she looked to Celestia and Luna. “Ah, there you two are.” She looked briefly to Twilight and the others, spying most of them ready to jump her from excitement. “A moment, if you please.” She stepped closer to the two sisters, and immediately frowned. “Celestia, Luna, tell me…” She leaned down to their eye level, being a head taller than even Twilight or Celestia. “...Where is the spine myself and Star Swirl forced into you all those years ago?” She looked to Luna. “I thought we’d overcome your fear by now. And look at your stance, hardly becoming, even for a former princess.” She gently nudged Luna, and she fell flat on her plot with a squeak. She looked to Celestia. “And you. What happened to those years of practicing that winning smile of yours?” She gestured to Twilight. “Your prized protege seems to have beat even you in that, somehow. For shame.” Celestia’s smile twitched. “I-I’m sorry, Master, I-” The woman held up a digit. “Not here. We’ll go over the basics again in private.” Celestia and Luna paled at that. She then turned a cold, winning smile to the others. “Please excuse me for the wait.” She dipped her head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I am Ferlua-” “The Dancer of Gems,” Dawn suddenly gasped, her brain function obviously still rebooting. “Mystical Bladedancer. Master of The Nine Disciplines. Beauty of The Gala. Otherworldly Mage. The First Lady of Canterlot.” Ferlua paused, turning coldly to the young mare. “...And you are?” The sound of screaming brakes could be heard faintly as the young mare’s eyes shrank to pinpricks. “...Dawn Rising,” she responded in a small, toneless voice. “Mm,” She hummed, mouth quirking ever so slightly as she looked to Twilight, resuming her former position. “Is she a protege of yours?” Twilight nodded. “She’s also the sister of my other protege,” Twilight gently nudged the two sisters forward with a wing. Luster looked up at the woman, suddenly feeling shy herself. “Um...hi, Miss Ferlua,” she said, smiling weakly. Ferlua stared at them for the briefest of moments, before her cold smile returned. “Hm. You two are quite promising. I can see why the Princess chose you both,” Ferlua praised. “Oh…” Dawn gasped, her ears perking up as her eyes came back into focus before she started to look down nervously. “Um, Luster’s the really talented one,” she admitted quietly while she started to rub one leg with a hoof, “I’m just the book worm.” Ferlua’s attention seemed to be grabbed by this. “Bookworm?” Ferlua chuckled. “Child, there is nothing wrong with taking comfort in the world of literature.” She leaned down, smiling more genuinely. “It’s no use being shy with me. I can sense your power.” She placed a hand on the mare’s shoulder. “You should be proud of it.” She removed her hand, and stood up. “Now, I imagine you all have much to tell me, yes? Please, lead the way.” “Indeed,” Star Swirl agreed, him and the Pillars smiling at the woman. “I’m sure you’d like to know how we escaped Limbo, after all.” “And I think we all know yer dyin’ to talk about yer own travels, eh, lass?” Rockhoof said with a shiteating grin. Ferlua let out a short breath of laughter. “Indeed I am.” With that, Ferlua was led away, but, Twilight stopped to turn to her proteges. “Why don’t you two wait in the gardens? There’s a lot that we need to catch Lady Ferlua up on alone, and there’s something I want to tell you two later.” Without any other words, Twilight left the two mares behind. Luster let out a deep breath, a hoof going to her chest. “Oh my gosh...I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest…” Dawn didn’t answer at first, simply staring after Ferlua. Very slowly, she reached a hoof up to the shoulder that her hero had touched. “...I’m never showering again.” Author's Note Well everyone, welcome to a Star Wars story I've had in the works since. Naturally, it was inspired by the rush Star Wars fans got when 'The Rise of Skywalker' came out back in December. Honestly, I used to love Star Wars as a kid, then lost interest in it...until December. When December hit, for some reason all my love for the franchise came back tenfold. And thus, this story was born. But, I can't do this alone. My good friend and brother from another mother, Pyro Mance, is helping me write this. He made Dawn Rising, and writes her rather well. Either way, I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter! -Timeless Lord Slayer (OLD VERSION) 2 - The Return: Talks“So, let me see if I am understanding this correctly,” Ferlua said with a deathly calm, fingers steepled together as she sat at a table in the Council Room of Canterlot Castle. “Celestia banished you to the moon,” she gestured to Luna. “Let your excuse for an amalgamate free not once but twice,” She gestured to Discord. “And then, after putting her student through countless trials where she could have been killed along with all her friends, she helped you ascend to alicornhood where you faced even more challenges before your coronation.” She looked to Star Swirl and her old friends. “And you all were freed by her mistake, along with Stygian and the Pony of Shadows. Am I about right?” They all slowly nodded, though Discord simply ignored them all by snoring loudly around Fluttershy. Ferlua took a single, deep breath through her nose, before looking slowly to Celestia and Luna. “You two.” The former princesses stiffened. “I am both disappointed…” They winced. “...and proud of you.” They breathed sighs of relief. “But you are still being retaught the basics.” They groaned. She looked to Twilight and her friends. “As for you six...very well done.” Ferlua smiled. “I am intrigued to see how you handle life in the court.” “Not very well at first,” Twilight said with a giggle. “Pinkie and Rainbow slept through a lot of them in the beginning. Applejack unintentionally insulted more of them, Fluttershy was basically a, well…” “A doormat. It’s okay, Twilight, I know,” Fluttershy said softly, smiling at her friend. Twilight returned the smile, then continued. “And Rarity held up pretty well. As for me...well, I used to live in Canterlot before becoming a princess or even an alicorn, so it wasn’t too big of a challenge.” Ferlua smiled. “I see.” She looked to the Pillars, eyes softening a tad. “I imagine adjusting to a more modern world was hard, my friends. I am sorry I did not return sooner to help you.” Mistmane smiled sadly. “It was certainly hard for some of us, yes.” She sighed. “Going back to my home to find it in neglect and disrepair was heartbreaking, but after talking to the current residents, I learned to come to terms with it. Their kindness was a great help.” “Rockhoof here had it the worst of us all,” Flash Magnus said teasingly, elbowing his friend in the shoulder. “Oi! I did not!” Rockhoof said indignantly. Everyone present raised their brows. “...Okay, fine, I did. But, ‘ey, at least I’m good now, yeah?” Rockhoof supplied, looking around. Everyone laughed. Ferlua soon calmed down. “Well, I’m glad everything has gone so well since I left.” “Why did you leave, teacher?” Celestia queried. Ferlua paused at that. “After we banished Sombra, you simply...vanished. No word, only a note,” Luna added, frowning. Ferlua’s features darkened, and her gaze bored into the wall beyond Twilight. “I’m kinda curious myself,” Rainbow began. She flew over to the woman. “Were you fighting off a bunch of bad guys or something?” Ferlua didn’t answer for a time. Then, slowly, she sighed, and stood up. “I am exhausted from my journey, I’m afraid. If you’ll excuse me.” Without any further words, she left the room. “...Should we go talk to her?” Rarity asked, looking to them all. Star Swirl shook his head. “No. I feel she needs time to herself.” Spike suddenly poked his head through the door. “What the heck did you all do to piss her off?” A low groan filled the air of the garden, disturbing a few of the birds that had taken refuge on a low-hanging branch. Dawn sat on a bench, head in her hooves, hiding her embarrassment. “I made a total fool of myself…” she moaned, shaking her head. “At least you weren’t like the others at the reception,” Luster reassured, a hoof patting her sister’s shoulder. “Did you see how many of the Minotaurs were staring at her chest? And how many Guards were staring at her ass?” Luster chuckled. “I think you should count yourself lucky you weren’t caught drooling.” "Okay, I get it," the gray mare answered, finally lifting her head to look at the sky. "She's beautiful and I'm so gay I should sparkle." “Sorry, but still, you shouldn’t worry!” Luster smiled. “I mean, she praised you! Obviously she doesn’t think you’re a fool.” Dawn just let out a sigh as she drooped forward. "I just don't know what she sees," she muttered, looking at the grass. "I mean, you're the Princess' prime student. We both know the spells, history, and every theory there is, but you can actually apply it while I get a headache if someone's mildly upset around the corner." “And I panic everytime something doesn’t go according to plan. You? You’re always calm in a crisis. Complete opposite of me,” Luster paused, blinking. “Or mom and dad.” "What's the use of a clear head if you can't act on it?" Dawn questioned, hopping off the bench and taking a few steps forward. "Being the black sheep doesn't help that." “It’s just something you gotta work on, sis,” Luster assured, hopping off the bench herself before stretching languidly. “Ah, anyway, I’m gonna go grab a snack from the kitchens. You want anything?” "No thanks," the pink-eyed mare answered, not looking back at her sister. "I'll eat something later." Luster Dawn frowned, but nodded. “Alright sis. Just remember that I’m here if you need to talk, okay?” Without any other words, the pink mare trotted off, leaving Dawn Rising alone in the gardens with only the birds and insects as company. The young unicorn lifted her eyes to the horizon, stepping forward a bit more until she was in direct sunlight. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back towards the sun. She let the warmth wash over her, the heat relaxing her muscles. A small frown spread across her face, a storm of thoughts bouncing around in her head. Suddenly, her thoughts were broken when she felt an immense dark presence nearby. Dawn's eyes shot open and she turned around, lowering her front half closer to the ground as her horn lit up with the same golden pink of her eyes. "W-who's there?" She called, unable to keep her nerves from entering her voice. No response. She looked around her, heart beating like a violent drum in her chest. Slowly, she started to close her eyes, letting her innate six sense for which she’d earned her cutie mark, a slightly open book with a circular symbol containing two horizontal ‘Y’s and a vertical line on the cover, begin to search her immediate surroundings. Not long after, she found the source. It was coming from the hedge maze. The mare opened her eyes and, swallowing her fears, she started to approach, preparing her magic for use in case she needed it. With almost expert precision, she followed her sense to the source, being careful as she approached. What she found was not what she expected. There, floating over a fountain in a lotus position, was Felrua, water from the fountain orbiting around her violently, and her features were screwed in a small scowl, eyes closed. Dawn could only stop and stare from her position, slightly obscured by the wall of the maze, her magic forgotten as she watched the display. Felrua’s scowl grew, and she opened her eyes. “I am meditating, leave me-” she turned her head, noticing the mare. She frowned. “-...” She let out a deep breath, and then stopped floating, landing solidly on her feet as the water stopped orbiting her. She then swiftly hopped off the fountain before the water could touch her. “What are you doing here, child?” She asked slowly. “O-oh, um,” Dawn stuttered, shaking her head as her hooves again crossed and she diverted her gaze. “Luster and I were waiting in the gardens like the princess asked. Luster left to the kitchens and I felt something, um… well….” The mare stopped herself and bit her lip, before letting out a little breath and looking up. “Is everything alright?” Felrua paused at this. “...” She let out a sigh. “It is nothing you need be concerned about.” She turned around. “I suggest you leave.” “Oh,” the unicorn breathed, her ears falling back. “Uh, apologies. I’ll leave you to it.” With a small bow of her head, she turned and began to walk away. Felrua paused again, then sighed once more. “Hold.” The mare immediately stopped, one hoof frozen in midair, hunching her shoulders in response. “Yes, Miss Felrua?” She asked, peeking backward. “...” Felrua walked over to the fountain’s edge, sitting on it. She patted the spot next to her. “Come, sit.” Dawn’s ear perked up towards the woman, her eyes filled with confusion. She slowly turned and walked over to the side, hesitating before she jumped up onto the fountain’s edge. “...Tell me, do you know what I am, child?” The woman began, gaze locked straight ahead. Dawn looked up at Felrua for a moment before she faced forward again, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. “...Asides from one of our greatest heroes… not really,” she admitted, looking back. “The history books are filled with your deeds and works, but no one has seemed curious as to what you are, race or otherwise.” Felrua nodded. “Few cared beyond my deeds,” she let a small smile play on her features as she glanced down to the mare. “Or my looks.” “That’s actually kind of sad…” Dawn murmured, looking back to the grass. “You must have been very lonely.” Felrua let a small chuckle escape her. “Perhaps. But having friends is a boon indeed for such situations.” She shook her head. “Regardless, we’re getting off topic.” She placed a hand on her chest. “I am what is known as a Twi’lek.” Dawn’s head snapped back, eyes wide with surprise and curiosity. “U-um, I’m, uh, deeply honored,” she stumbled, reaching a hoof to her chest. “B-but, u-um, I’ve never heard of a Twi’lek before….” Felrua kept her smile. “I don’t blame you. My race is...well, we’re endangered, and typically in chains.” She patted her chest lightly. “Namely for our beauty. You can imagine where that leads.” A wince shuddered the mare’s entire body. “I can but rather not,” she murmured, once again diverting her gaze. “...I’m sorry.” Felrua shrugged. “It’s alright, child. Regardless, now you know.” Dawn was silent for a while, eyes staring at the grass as it swayed in the breeze. “...Um,” she suddenly spoke up, her demeanor growing even more tense. “While we’re on the topic… what are your, um… head… tendrils for...?” Felrua hummed, reaching a hand up to one of them. Then, to the mare’s surprise, she leaned her head down, and the mare felt one of the tendrils tap her shoulder. “Typically, they are used for a form of sign language. But, there are other uses, as they are prehensile, as well as extrasensory.” She resumed her earlier position. “Wow…” the young mare breathed, looking up at her hero, her eyes full of wonder. “So, do they, like, feel vibrations in the air or do they draw in particulates in the air?” “The former,” the woman replied. “And what about your chest?” Dawn questioned, her full bookish curiosity overtaking her sense of decorum. “I know minotaur mammaries are used to provide their children with nourishment, but you look more reptilian in nature rather than mammalian.” Felrua blinked, then laughed. After calming down, she smiled down at the mare. “They are the same as a mammals, actually. I’m not very reptilian in anatomy.” “Really?” The unicorn questioned, tilting her head. “But your skin is so smooth and colorful and lustrous. I don’t think anything else like it exists in mammal physiology.” “Well, I’m not exactly a normal mammal, now am I?” Felrua joked, smirking. “Well…” Dawn’s eyes drifted to the side. “I suppose not.” She fell quiet at that, looking up towards the sky. “...How were you able to manipulate the water?” She asked suddenly once again. “Are Twi’leks capable of magic like unicorns?” The Twi’lek smiled, then patted the unicorn’s head. “Perhaps I’ll tell you another time. For now, your sister is waiting for you. You should go to her.” She stood up, starting to walk off. “I enjoyed our talk, little Dawn.” She waved gently, then left without any other words. The unicorn watched her walk away, letting herself be alone in the garden for several long moments. She looked back to the sky, staring for a while before she let a soft smile play on her lips. With a giddy giggle she stood up on her hind legs and spun on one hoof, letting gravity bring her off the edge of the fountain and all four hooves. Yes, she thought to herself as she trotted off to meet Luster and the princess. I am terribly gay. (OLD VERSION) 3 - The Return: Reassignment and Reflection (Edited)Ferlua sighed deeply as she closed her door behind her, nearly slumping against it as she did. ‘It’s hard to believe things went so well while I was gone. I know it was necessary to leave for several reasons, but...’ She frowned. ‘...it still felt wrong. Visions and proof be damned.’ She sighed again, getting off the door and inspecting her quarters. It was just as she’d left it before leaving Canterlot so long ago; a fine bed with a cloud mattress, silken sheets, ornate golden leaf designs on the headboard and footboard with royal purple heartwood making up the base of the frame, a writing desk, a jewelry box, a walk-in closet and private bathroom, a lounging area, and a terrace just beyond the terrace doors - everything she’d need, and all kept impeccably clean, she noticed. Walking over to her bed, she sat down on it, running a hand across the sheets. “...It’s at least good to know my friends and students have been happy.” She let a smile play on her features. “Star Swirl certainly had a lot to say about his travels and new studies. Meadowbrook too.” She chuckled. “Celestia and Luna are just as I remember them, too, if somewhat more mature.” Her smile grew. “And seeing that one of Tia’s students has grown so well is nice.” She giggled. “Her friends certainly seemed nice. I could read their thoughts without even needing to use the Force. Her proteges were just as easy.” She let out another sigh, laying back on the bed and simply looking up at the ceiling. “...It really has been all too long…” 6 Hours Later… “She’s taking a lot longer than usual,” Luster noted, chewing on a daffodil sandwich next to her sister. “Knowing the princess, she probably just got caught up in catching up with the rest of the Council,” Dawn answered, her nose deep in a book she’d summoned from her room. “You know they only see each other every so often and they always have so much to talk about.” Luster nodded slowly. “Yeah, I know.” She took a bite of her sandwich. “Still, though, I know the Pillars and the old princesses are there with them reminiscing about Lady Ferlua, but it’s been six whole hours.” Luster gave her sister a worried look. “You uh...don’t think she suddenly plans on exnaying us from the academy, do you?” Dawn snorted at that, putting her book to the side as she looked at her sister. “Please,” she deadpanned. “I don’t think the princess would kick us out for no reason. Our grades are impeccable, you excel not only on written tests but on practicals, and neither of us has ever stepped a single hoof out of line. There’s no probable cause for her to kick us out.” “Except if she suddenly doesn’t like us,” Luster continued, uncertain as she stared at her sandwich. “You’re being overdramatic, sister mine,” the coral-maned mare giggled, nuzzling the pink unicorn with a smile. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t feel any inkling of that happening with my empathy.” Luster sighed in relief, then nuzzled back. Then, “Speaking of your empathy, where were you earlier? I came back and you weren’t here.” “Oh, um,” Dawn answered, drawing back a bit with a light blush. “W-well, um, I met Miss Ferlua in the hedge maze. I accidentally interrupted her meditation but she was nice enough to let me sit down with her and have a nice talk.” Luster gained a grin. “Oh? If it was just a talk then why are you blushing, huh~?” The mare groaned as she covered her eyes with her hooves, her blush growing. “She’s just so nice!” She exclaimed, looking up to the sky, a beaming smile on her face. “And I’m sorry, but I don’t exactly have a lot of creatures who are just nice to me. And she’s just so pretty! I can’t help it!” Luster raised a brow. “The Princess is nice. And very pretty. I’m nice too,” Her horn glowed, making numbers as she counted off. “And so is mom, and she’s still pretty. Then there’s the Council Members, and the librarian, and that one Guard, and-” “Okay, okay, I get it!” Dawn interrupted, waving her hooves. “Lots of creatures, lots of nice! But,” she stopped and looked to the ground, “this just felt different. You know you, mom, and the princess are all very beautiful and all very, very nice but… I don’t know. She just made me feel at ease, y’know?” Rose gold eyes looked up, one eyebrow quirked questioningly. “Really? She seemed so detached to me during the reception. She ignored the Princess, too. And the Council Members,” Luster noted, frowning as she dismissed her magic. “I mean, doesn’t that seem kind of rude?” “I don’t know, maybe?” The gray unicorn answered, giving a shrug. “Maybe she’s just not good with crowds?” Luster gave her sister a deadpan stare. “I don’t get that kinda feeling. It felt more like…” She paused to find the words. “...like she had an agenda, and that’s all that mattered to her.” Dawn was quiet, staring at the ground. “...I don’t know, Luster,” she finally answered. “I guess… I wasn’t paying close enough attention….” Luster frowned, then sighed, running a hoof through her mane. “Well, what she did talk to you about?” “Oh, um...” Dawn’s blush returned. “I may or may not have asked her… about… her… anatomy….” Luster blinked, then grinned widely. “And? What’d she tell you? Spill!” She nudged her sister. “U-um,” the gray mare stuttered, rubbing her leg. “W-well… I found out that her, um… tendrils feel vibrations in the air to add to her other senses….” Luster ribbed her sister in the, well, ribs. “What else, what else?” Again, the gray mare moaned in embarrassment. “Oh, sweet Twilight, I asked her about her mammaries,” she admitted, suddenly realizing her break of social norms. Luster’s eyes widened. “You did not!” “I did!” Dawn yelled into the air. “Seriously, what is wrong with me!?” “What did she say about them?” Luster asked, leaning in. “They work just like other mammals…” Dawn murmured, face back in her hooves. “What? But how?! She has so many reptilian traits!” Luster cried, surprised. “That’s what I said!” Her sister replied, throwing her hooves in the air. “How would that even work? Her anatomy would have to be similar to an ape’s or a minotaurs, but she’s so obviously different from them and-” Luster started to ramble on and on about how impossible it was, mane starting to fray. That, thankfully, was when the doors to the garden opened, and Twilight walked out. “I am so sorry for the wait, my studen-” she paused, looking to Luster, who was still ranting. She raised a brow. Dawn locked her gaze to the princess’, trying to draw her attention with her wide eyes and pinprick pupils as she tried to discreetly nudge her sister with an elbow. “-her blood would have to be a very abnormal color, and even then it’d still be madness to understand how-” Luster turned, seeing Twilight standing there with a smirk and a raised brow. “Oh, Princess! I’m so sorry! I just, we were, uh…” “Rambling and talking about my anatomy?” came the familiar smooth voice of Ferlua, stepping out of the doorway and next to Twilight. She had her usual cold smile on as she looked between the two sisters. If there was a record for how wide a pony’s eyes could get and how small their pupils could get, Dawn broke that record in that moment, and, in the smallest voice anyone had ever heard, she said three small words. “....please kill me….” “Ditto…” Luster squeaked out. Ferlua and Twilight shared a look, before the Twi’lek crossed her arms. “I can do one better.” She raised a hand, palm up. “I’ll train you.” “....Say what now?” Dawn’s expression went from unimaginable fear to absolute confusion so fast, she could feel the whiplash set in. “Ditto,” Luster agreed once more, looking between her teacher and apparent new teacher. Twilight giggled behind a hoof. “Lady Ferlua found me after the Council Meeting, and she asked if she could train you two. She said she thought you were both promising candidates.” “Candidates for what?” Luster asked warily, stepping back. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is this; if there were people in need, would you help them?” Ferlua queried, eyes hardening. Dawn paused at this. A thoughtful look crossed her face as she rose a hoof to her chin. She'd never had to think about it before. She never thought she'd have to. And the more she thought about it the less sure of herself she became…. "...Yes." Her answer even slightly surprised her before she looked up. "If there was some creature in front of me that was suffering… I couldn't just walk." Luster was deep in thought as well, forgoing her old plan of running - in case she was chased by promises of training with a master that had scared even the old Diarchs. She looked down at the grass, her face screwed in contemplation. Finally, she looked up. “Well, I’ve...never really thought about it, but...yes. I don’t think I could ever just stand by idly while others got hurt or worse.” Twilight smiled, looking to the Twi’lek. “I told you so.” “Mm. So you did,” Ferlua crossed her arms. “Very well. From this day forth, you two will be my new apprentices.” She turned around. “After tonight’s party at the Gala Hall, meet me out here at 5 AM sharp. I will be waiting.” With that, she walked off once again. Dawn watched the Twi’lek disappear. “...What did we just agree to?” She asked, looking to her teacher, even more confused than ever. “It’s not indentured servitude or torture, is it?” Luster asked fearfully. Twilight laughed. “Sorry girls, but I couldn’t say. I’ve no idea how the Lady trained my predecessors, so I wouldn’t know.” She turned around, motioning them to follow. “Now, follow me. We have to get ready for tonight’s party.” Dawn shuddered as she got off the bench. “Is it wrong that the party scares me more than what Lady Ferlua has planned for us afterward?” “I hope not…” Luster muttered, following after them. 1 - Distant Kin, Distant Hope: The Girl (EDITED)War on Falling Stars Time is a funny thing. I used to think like many of the shorter lived races. I used to think like a human girl, fresh out of college. That the world was my oyster, and that I had all the time in the world to enjoy it. I've learned quickly from that mistake. Time waits for no one, even someone who doesn't age. It is a ruthless old dictator, and will beat you over the head and thrust you into situations that can end YOUR time. Permanently. Forever. The Clock doesn't play favorites, no matter how much you may think so. Another thing I learned, though this one took longer for me to understand, I'll admit. Even people of considerable age like me, ones you would think Time favors, can end up dead and gone, or turned to dust on some rock or even fuel in a damn sun. All in the blink of an eye. Of course, some, end up as just ghosts of their former selves, or destroyed by their inner circles. Time is a funny thing, like that bastard always says. Like I now always say. ...End of entry. I turned off and placed the holo-recorder down on the table, then walked out of my quarters through my ship towards the bridge. Even with my ship being on the larger side, it didn't take long. Reaching it, I glanced briefly out at the large expanse of space just outside the window. I could see the planet of Rishi outside, the mostly blue oceanic pearl of space spinning consistently as my ship approached. I studied it for a short while, memories of past bounties and hunts here filling my mind. Even a few memories of how I first found this place came to mind, making me smile thinly. I shook my head not long after. "I really am getting old if something like this leaves me so open to nostalgia," I admonished myself. I stretched a bit, then walked out of the bridge and towards my armory to put my armor on. The last thing I wanted to do was to walk into a pirate infested planet without my gear, after all. A strange but no less familiar ship soon touched down in a shoddy landing zone made of simple wood reinforced only lightly with durasteel beams, the only things keeping the landing platform from falling into the deep waters every time a ship landed. The ship itself was predominantly steel blue, and obviously heavily modified. It looked similar to a needle, with a ring at it's back that seemed to act as a stabilizer, and thrusters coming out of the back of the 'needle'. All the internal lights, literally all of them, shone a deep cyan. As the ship touched down, a small man watched in awe. He eyed the ship for many reasons. For one, it looked like something a bounty hunter would own, or at least some kind of mercenary. For two, it looked expensive as could be. It was heavily modified, different from almost all other starships known to him, both in design and modifications. The paintjob was sublime, mostly if not entirely unblemished, a textbook beauty of a ship. There were more guns than what he'd expect from it, as it looked mostly like a cargo ship of sorts. Six guns were on it in total, two on the top and bottoms, and two each on either side, with those on the sides looking just...different. Alien. Foreign. They did NOT look like any standard design he had seen. That, and over all the entire ship gave him a severe feeling of utter wrongness. Not bad, per se, but just...wrong. Different, even. Otherworldly. Ultimately, however, he found it far less interesting when he saw who stepped out. After the ramp lowered, his eyes widened at the figure stomping down it. It was a hulking figure of heavy, silver-colored armor, with some cyan paint along the top of the chestplate, and the faulds - yes, faulds - were similarly colored, with what seemed to be a simulacrum of a gambeson underneath the faulds with a slightly lighter cyan color to them. The helmet looked almost entirely primitive, like a medieval knight's helm, yet, it held a similar style of visor that Mandalore the Preserver once bore; straight, and angular, like a 'T'. A jetpack rested on the back, a sniper rifle attached to it via magnetic clamp, what looked like a strange vibrosword hanging not on it's back but from a sheath at their waist, and on it's hip was what seemed to be a heavily modified Blaster pistol. As a whole, the entire armored figure screamed of the words 'Ancient Mandalorian'. The pirate stared at this newcomer, before said newcomer pulled their Blaster out and to his surprise, fired not a blaster bolt, but something far louder that hurt his ears, leaving a ringing in them. After the man was clutching his ears in pain and the bay door of the strange Mandalorian's ship closed shut, the Mandalorian walked towards him without any other words. As they made it to the diminutive green skinned man with geometric black tattoos on his face - a Mirialan - they produced a hefty purse of credits right at his feet. The figure didn't even look at him as he stared at the purse at his feet. "Payment for your silence. Expect another, heftier payment if it remains silent when I get back." The voice was modulated heavily, so much so it was hard to make out any kind of gender or even race, but at the very least it was in the galactic language of Common. As the Mirialan man watched the Mandalorian walk off, he could only stare. But of course, he wasn't going to let good money pass him by. So, he snatched the purse up and took up position near an alleyway by the ship, keeping a keen eye out for any...'unwarranted' onlookers from his makeshift client. This was Rishi after all, and of course...he couldn't let good money pass him by, right? My mouth was set in a thin line as I looked over the shopping list on my HUD. Ammunition for the plasma portion of my blaster was going to be the easiest to get, obviously, as ammunition for blasters was as common as could be, but the secondary portion would be harder. Solid rounds were hard to come by in this galaxy, even on a planet like Rishi. Same went for the crystals I needed for my ship's guns. One of them was cracked and definitely would be a liability if I didn't replace it, but finding a crystal that large wasn't going to be any easier than finding solid rounds for my blaster. Nar Shadaa might've been an easier place to find such things, but to be honest Rishi was far more safe, in spite it being more of a pirate hideout than the Smuggler's Moon. Nar Shadaa was too hot of a location to visit any more than rarely nowadays regardless. However, there was one shop I knew well, and one that usually stocked crystals of the size I needed, so thankfully I wouldn't have to go far for that item. Even as I looked over my list, I kept a keen eye on my surroundings, and kept my senses alert. Rishi may have been safer, but it was still a lawless haven for criminals. Taking chances was a recipe for disaster here, more often than not. Just...a little less so than Nar Shadaa. Ramshackle houses and buildings of old wood and sheet metal were all around me, the whole town situated on a remote pier, their grime and oil gleaming in the light of the Rishi sun. All in all, it looked like a stereotypical seaside slum. Rishi had such slums in spades, and was thus a hotbed of pirates, criminals, and more. I turned my attention back to my list. Let's see... I also need at least five hundred pounds of raw materials...hmm, what to choose this time...maybe just some wood? I'd stay mostly low profile that way. After all, not many buy wood in bulk. Hm. Wood, then. And it seems I need to refill my water tank for the shower and sink. Hm. Well, that should be relatively easy. Same goes for the materials needed to restock the food processor, though I'll have to deal with average fare, likely, since this is Rishi. Not many pirates with a refined palette, after all. Many eyes were on me, and I could feel each wayward thought as I passed all the myriad peoples around me. Many of them were obviously wary; a Mandalorian, in other words, an obvious bounty hunter, walking the streets of a town full of criminals and outlaws, many likely with prices on their heads? There was no way I wasn't drawing attention. I needed to get my shopping done quick. Descending a shoddy, rickety wooden ramp and turning right into a market, I made my way towards a certain shop and entered it's confines quickly. The innards of the shop were lined with shelves upon shelves of various gemstones and crystals, so many and in such variety that the untrained eye would almost think that more than half of them were decorative. To a degree, they'd be right, as many of the natives of this planet came to this shop for that very reason. However, for the off-worlders, like myself, we came here to buy focus crystals and the like. The rest of the shop's interior lived up to it's owner's tastes; in other words, the ceiling was littered with bowls of still burning incense and tribal symbols or small animal skulls hanging from ribbons or cords. The few windows at the front of the shop almost always brought in light that bounced off the many colorful gems and crystals, creating a kaleidoscope of colors in the shop's front. I only briefly admired it all before walking through to the counter, which was covered in a patterned, orange fur rug. A single bell sat on it, along with a primitive register hewn from bone but packed with the more advanced tech we off-worlders showed the natives ages ago. I rang the bell once, and soon after a voice rang out. "Be right there!" the familiar voice of the shopkeeper called from the back storeroom. I waited patiently, and soon after the feathered form of a Rishii emerged from said back storeroom, cleaning their three-fingered, feathered hand of oil with a much too dirty rag. The greying Rishii's eyes brightened up as she saw me. "Ah! So good to see you again, Shaper!" She approached the counter, smiling at me as best she could with her weathered and scarred beak. "How long's it been? A year? Two?" "I see your memory is as failing as ever, Brighteye," I said flatly. "It's only been eight months." Brighteye snorted. "Well, keep up that attitude and I'll revoke that lifetime discount I gave you." I rolled my eyes as she stared me down before she laughed. "Alright, enough of that. What do you need this time?" "Two focusing crystals, preferably in the Gunship weight class," I replied, crossing my arms in front of my chest. Brighteye hummed, looking behind herself at the storeroom she'd just left. "Well, I think I got a few of those left in stock somewhere back there..." She looked back to me. "...Still, that's quite the request. It's not easy getting crystals of that size, you know." "And I know that you have some. Cut the prattle." Brighteye clicked her tongue. "Killjoy. Any preference on color?" I shook my head. "Alright then. I'll have those brought out to you in a moment." She licked her beak. "First, though-" I dug into my pocket and dropped a hefty sack of credits on the counter. "Payment, right?" Brighteye snatched the sack up quickly, giggling to herself. "You know me so well, dear!" I rolled my eyes. "You're predictable to a fault, Brighteye." "And you're still as much of a stiff as I recall. Honestly, when you killed that captain-" Brighteye began, frowning at me. "Just get me my crystals, Brighteye," I interrupted with an annoyed sigh. She huffed. "Fine, fine." Turning and pocketing the sack into one of the many pockets on her worn apron, she walked into the storeroom once again. I waited for a few moments as the sounds of the elderly avian woman rummaging in the back room were heard, before an entirely new sound was heard, followed by a profound feeling of a disturbance in the Force. "Wha-?! Get back here you little- Gah!" Brighteye's voice was accompanied by the sound of many gemstones clattering to a hardwood floor, rapid footsteps, and the screeching of metal being pulverized. Jumping over the counter, I rushed into the storeroom to see Brighteye nursing a dislocated arm-wing, surrounded by collapsed shelves and fallen gems, and a clearly punched through garage door, where a small form was running off with one giant crystal tucked under one unnaturally giant furry arm. "Looks like I can't ever escape work..." I muttered, before rushing after the retreating form, hopping through the hole in the garage door and out into the alleys. The cloaked form looked back, seemingly having sensed I was behind them, before picking up speed and jumping far higher than they should have been able to, landing on the roof of a building before running off again. "A Force user?" I wondered aloud, before calling upon the Force myself to propel me upwards and onto the building, just as the thief had. As they hopped from rooftop to rooftop, I decided to activate my jetpack and fly overhead, giving myself the advantage in our little chase. They looked up at the sound of my jetpack's roar, and promptly hopped down into the alleys yet again. Clicking my tongue, I barreled down after them. Speeding through the alleys, the thief tried to toss whatever they could find back at me, and took sharp and random turns in an effort to lose me. Whoever this thief was, they knew what they were doing. That, or they were desperate. I barely kept up, and a few times had to hack a trash can in half with my blade so that it wouldn't knock me out of the sky. Needless to say, I would need to wash my armor after this. Still, how could they move so fast while carrying a crystal weighing nearly a ton? One errant trash can finally scored a hit on me as I was distracted by that thought, forcing me to the ground and allowing them to slip out of sight. Growling, I got back up. "Getting old indeed," I groused to myself before I focused my mind for a brief moment, then let out a breath and took off after the thief yet again. This time, however, my speed was enhanced, the Force pouring power into my legs as I ran after the thief. Breaking out into the streets, I briefly saw them dart into the alley across said street, and rushed after them, pushing the pedestrians out of my way as I did. I swiftly caught up to them, and, stretching out my arm, I fired off a grappling hook. To my surprise, it latched onto not their body, but their tail. As they yelped and fell, they dropped the crystal and even returned their arm back to normal. "Stealing from me was a mistake," I intoned as I walked up to them, pulling on the grapple hook and bringing them closer. I glanced to their tail. It looked far too familiar. The thief turned around, finally revealing to me their visage...and making me stop in my tracks. It was a young girl, an older teen...but she was of a race I never thought I'd find in this galaxy, or even this universe. A race I'd given up looking for. She looked almost exactly like an anthro Tanuki, with blonde hair in a wispy bob cut, complete with the ears of a Tanuki, a button-like black nose, brown fur and a poofy tail. Her left eye was a striking silver, and the other was an icy blue. She looked up at me in fear. "P...Please don't hurt me!" she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. "I... I just needed the money! I-I-I haven't had food in weeks, a-a-a-a-and no one will hire me and...!" She continued to babble on tearfully, but all I could think of was how this was possible. It shouldn't have been possible. I could sense the strength, the power, within her. She was gifted in the Force. But even if that wasn't unusual, what was was the fact that she had pulled off moves that only should have existed in Brand New Animal. She even looked like it's postergirl, Michiru, if you didn't count her eyes and hair color. For all intents and purposes, she was an anomaly. ...However...she could also be a key. A key to helping me figure out a question I'd had since I arrived in this galaxy. "-Please don't hurt meee!" she wailed, crying openly. Frowning, I knelt down to her. "What is your name, child?" She blinked. "Hieh?" "Your name. What is it?" I repeated. "E-Emica. Emica Hiroto," she said shakily, looking up to me with mild confusion. 'A Japanese name... Fitting, I suppose.' "And how old are you?" I pressed. "T-T-T-Twenty six," she replied. Hm. Intriguing. She looked like a teen. Looking away, she curled in on herself as more tears fell. "I...If y-y-you're g-g-gonna rape me, just...just get it over with already!" I frowned. I almost forgot that this armor was bulky enough that it tended to make one assume I was a man. The voice modulator didn't help, either. I shook my head. Enough ruminations. "I have no interest in your body, child." I offered her my hand. "What I want, is to become your master." "...Hieh?" Author's Note Credit for the second bit of art goes to Cal Santiago. Find him here! No, I do not own it, no, he did not draw it for me. I am simply giving him credit where it is due. And so that I don't have angry people comin' after me. I also do not own the song for the intro of the story, nor do I plan on doing a written out intro like I have done with my other stories. Why? It doesn't fit the theme of this story. Hope you all enjoyed it, though! 2 - Distant Kin, Distant Hope: New Contract"M-Master? You're, you're gonna enslave me?!" this prompted a whole new wave of tears and banal babbling. Heaving a breath, I shot a glare down at the girl. "No. I have no interest in you as either product or stress relief. I am not a barbarian." "Wh- then, then, what're you...?" She was curling up. Pathetic, but understandable. The loneliness and fear I felt from her was palpable. "I want to teach you how to survive," Standing, I kept my hand outstretched. "In exchange, I ask only for information." "I-I-I don't know anything though..." Emica said, hesitantly reaching for my hand. "We will see. Now, do you accept, or will you continue to keep your hand shaking midair like a crochety elder?" I barked. "Eep! Uhm, yes! Yes!" Clasping my hand tightly, I pulled her to her feet and nodded. "Good. Now," Turning around, I kept a firm grip on her hand as I began to walk out of the alley, grabbing the crystal as well with one arm. It made for a conspicuous scene, but with the size I am, could be explained as just the natural strength of a hardy alien race. I was close in height to a Wookie at current, that would have to be sufficient. "Stay close. The closer you are, the easier it will be to keep you safe once we return to that shop you stole from." "Hieh?! Why are we going there?!" she screeched, yanking on my arm. "You are going to apologize, and I am going to pay your fine," I explained. "Otherwise, her reputation will fall, and she will deal with more than just thieves of your caliber." "I-I can't-" There was a pause. "You...you're paying my fine? Why?" "You are my student now, are you not? As such, I am responsible for any poor judgements you make, such as this," I replied as we stepped out into the sunbathed streets proper. "Guh!" She flinched. Literally flinched as she made that noise. Slowly, I turned my head to look at her, ignoring the crowd of onlookers and their murmurings around us. "Did you just 'guh' out of reaction to that?" The girl known as Emica Hiroto shrunk in on herself. "M-M-Maybe...?" I cannot believe this. She may as well BE an anime protagonist if she reacts in such overly dramatic ways. Feeling a twitch upon my brow, I slowly turned my gaze from her increasingly embarrassed visage and began to once again pull her along. "Wh-Why aren't you saying anything?!" "Cease your stuttering," I snapped. "You are my student now. My students do not stutter or babble like prepubescent school children." "Nng!" Another flinch and noise. Another twitch of my brow as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. "Neither do they react so dramatically to every reprimand," I hissed between clenched teeth. "Wh-but-!" "Be. Silent," I snapped. "Mmph~!" she whined with pursed lips. My eyes trained upon our destination, yet my mind could think only one thing; 'I hate adolescents.' "Is she uh...she gonna keep blubbering?" Brighteye asked, looking to me, then the sorry excuse on her knees before her, wailing and making a sobbing puddle of herself on the floor. Brighteye rubbed the back of her neck. "I mean, you already paid for her, and she's apologized 20 times now..." "B-Buh I stol frum yooooo!" "Yes," I replied. "And you apologized. She accepted. The first time." "B-Buh-!" "Hiroto." Squeaking, the girl swiftly extricated herself from Brighteye's leg and crawled over to myself. "...Kindly pull yourself up. You look a fool." "Ah!" She shot to her feet, but swiftly clung onto me. "..." Exhaling deeply, I looked to Brighteye. "I take it the matter is settled now?" Brighteye snorted and nodded. "Do you even need to ask, Shaper?" She hefted the bag of credits I'd given her. "Trust me, we're square." "Good," I nodded, and after pulling the girl off of me, I walked towards Brighteye's storeroom. "Then I'll be taking what I initially paid for." "Wh- You can't just-!" Brighteye sighed as I brushed past her and into the storage room, already searching for the other crystal I needed. "I'll be using your repuslorlift," I called back as I took one crystal in the grasp of the Force and moved it over to the repulsorlift's container. Satisfied, I guided it out of the storeroom and back to the storefront, where the crystal the girl tried to steal awaited. After securing it with it's companion, I turned my head to address my new student and Brighteye as they emerged from the store. "I'm uhm...sorry I dislocated your arm..." "Just stop already, kid. Apologies are done, it's behind us," Brighteye waved it off, but set the girl with a glare all the same. "Just remember us feathered folk feel a lot more pain when you do that, alright?" "R-Right!" Emica nodded shakily. Brighteye smiled, patting her head. "Then we're square." Looking to me, she added, "Now get outta here, both of you, before the other creeps show up!" "As if your charm didn't scare them enough," I returned, eliciting a squawk of laughter from the shopkeep. Shaking my head, I turned fully to address them. "Come now, girl. Don't dawdle." "Y-Yes!" She replied, hurrying over. Nodding, I turned back to the repulsorlift and set it to follow us as we walked. "Take care you two! Don't get that kid shot, you hear?!" Brighteye called out. I snorted under my breath. "Old hen." After we had secured the rest of the necessities on my list that I'd been forced to neglect, we arrived at the landing pad for my ship and found a fresh slew of reprobates waiting around it's hull. I glanced around, spotting the corpse of the Mirialan near them, riddled with Blaster burns and holes. I sighed. "I suppose paying for just one guard was foolish of me." "Oi, you, tin can!" cried one of the reprobates. I looked to find a Theelin man brandishing an elaborately carved trimantium blaster, the green of the metal gleaming in the light of the sunset, a similarly elaborate cloak wrapped about his shoulders and upper torso. He was lightly armored, but I recognized the sheen of ciridium plating protecting his vitals. His mottled green skin blended with his chosen armor, as it's design did his facial horns. I rolled my eyes behind my helm. Typical Theelin. "I can just about guess that you don't have many brain cells to toss around that bucket of a head you have, so I'll spell it out for ya," the Theelin tapped his blaster against his shoulder, grinning like a man who'd already won. "You parked in my territory, so as compensation, I'll need you to hand over the codes to your ship." The six pirates behind him all aimed their weapons at me at his words. "Ya read me?" "No," I replied, drawing my blaster and casually loading the lower barrel with red-tipped rounds from my utility belt. The Theelin snickered. "Ah, that's too bad. But I'm sure your corpse will provide some good compensation itself. Same for that little runt behind ya." His men jeered at this, Emica whimpering as she hid behind me. "As will yours," I replied, grabbing a 'grenade' from my hip and tossing it their way. As they scattered and took cover, I took aim. The first few rounds punctured what they did not protect; knees, shins, arms, shoulders. Their ensuing confusion at the grenade's lack of exploding allowed me to fire off more shots, rendering the Theelin with only himself and six guards with pulped heads. Growling, he took aim at myself and fired. The bolt merely bounced off the silvery songsteel plating as I recoiled slightly from the force. Raising my blaster, I returned the gesture in kind with a practiced flick of the striker followed by a flick that sent the magnetic inductors alight, firing off a bolt that seared through his armorless head. Gazing briefly at the array of corpses before me, I grunt before pushing on towards my ship. "Gather up their belongings, then board the ship." I told the girl. "Wh- But-!" she sputtered. "What did I say about stuttering and sputtering, girl?" I queried, shooting a cool glance over my shoulder. Sensing her shock and hesitance, I narrowed my eyes behind my visor. "Forget those fools. They threw their lives away for money and debauchery. They do not deserve to be afforded your pity or mercy." "But..." She looked uncertainly at the corpses as the repulsorlift hovered past her. "They would have enslaved you, girl. Used you as a plaything. Amusement. Property," After punching in the codes to my ship, the bay door opened and I turned to face the girl. "Afford them nothing. It is survival of the fittest here, and their equipment will serve you better than it will their corpses." She continued to look disgusted at the idea, hands held up before her chest in uncertainty. Fixing her with a glare, I shook my head and turned to enter my ship. "Pick up the pace, girl. I do not have all day." Even as I said that, I could not deny I understood her dilemma. But the woman who once shied away from robbing the dead had died long ago, in the cruel lands of Nathema, and the poison of survival. I didn't have anywhere else to go. That's what I ended up with, when I tried to think of a way out of robbing those people's corpses. I didn't want to lose my chance at a home, and I didn't want to make the man in armor angry. So I did as he said. Lowering the chestplate of that gangleader into the crate, I looked up at the person in question. Normally I would have been ecstatic at everything I was seeing, at being in an honest to Ancestors spaceship, but the shame I felt at robbing another person's corpse was hard to ignore. "Good. Now, come," my... I wasn't sure what to call them at this point. Teacher, I guess. That's what they said they would be. I followed them all the same as they showed me how the ship worked, what not to touch, what I'd be helping with, the various rooms... "This is where you will sleep. I do not have any other quarters, so make do. I will as well," they said as they gestured to a single bedroom marked with a blue teardrop. My blood ran cold at the sight. It was obviously their room. And they obviously expected me to sleep with them- "I will sleep on the bridge. If you are in need of rest, then take it. I will chart our next destination in the meantime," I could only stare at their back as they walked away. "Y...you're giving me your room...?" They stopped, before sighing and grabbing their helmet, pulling it off as they turned around. My eyes widened as they revealed a face similar to mine. Brown fur, a silver right eye and an icy blue left eye, the patterns, muzzle and ears of a Tanuk native...and a very feminine shape. "I am a woman, girl. I have no interest in using you for pleasure nor for monetary gain. How many times must I say it?" she asked, an exasperated look crossing her features as she moved a strand of purple hair from her eyes. "EEEEEEHHHHHHHHH?!?!?"
(OLD VERSION) 1 - The Return: The Return (Edited)"Alright, Twi, what's this about?" asked Applejack, lifting her Stetson out of her eyes. "You look more worried than I've seen you in years, darling," Rarity noted, frowning as she observed her friend. "I have every right to be! One of the oldest living beings on the planet and one of the greatest figures of history just sent me a letter!" Twilight cried, pacing in her throne room. The members of the Friendship Council blinked. "I thought we'd gotten past all this past heroes and villains nonsense," Discord mused, floating aimlessly around Fluttershy. "Same here!" Pinkie chirped, before inhaling a frosted biscuit. "Mm, man, these biscuits are GOOD!" She offered one to Fluttershy. "You gotta try one!" Fluttershy smiled kindly, gently taking the biscuit and biting into it. "It is good," she said softly. "Back on track, please," Rainbow intoned, forelegs crossed as she hovered above her lover, Applejack. She looked to Twilight. "Now, who the heck is coming back from beyond the sands of time now?" "The-" Spike began, but Twilight interrupted him. "The First Lady of Canterlot!" Twilight cried, as if it were obvious. "...Who?" Applejack and Pinkie asked simultaneously. "Oh my stars! You mean the Dancer of Gems is coming back? After all this time?!" Rarity shook her hooves rapidly as she squealed. "Oooh, I'm positively ecstatic, darling!" "I can't believe the First Lady is actually real. I mean, back when I was a model, all I'd heard were stories," Fluttershy said with a small, contemplative frown. "Wait wait wait, you mean the First Lady? Otherwise known as the Mystical Bladedancer?!" Rainbow squealed as she flew circles around the room. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!!" "Well, glad to see she still has her old spirit. I certainly don't after hearing that old hag is back," Discord grumbled, crossing his arms. "Can somepony please tell us who this 'ere 'Lady' is?" Applejack asked, waving a hoof. "Only the one who taught Celestia and Luna how to fight and rule a freakin' kingdom!" Twilight cried. Applejack's eyes widened. "Well, dang." "I'll say. She's gotta be super old, then!" Pinkie added, stuffing another biscuit down her gullet. "Well? What did her letter say, darling?" Rarity asked, leaning forward on the table. Twilight, in response, lit up her horn, and suddenly a slate of iridescent crystal slammed onto the table. On it was many carved words. Twilight read it aloud. "'Dear Princess Twilight. It has come to my attention that my old students have finally passed on the torch to you and your friends. And, with life around the world becoming generally more peaceful, I've seen fit to return to Equestria. There is little I can do out in the West anymore, after all. Expect me in thirty days time. Notify my students, as well. I wish to see how they have shaped up.'" Silence. Silence, interrupted by Pinkie stuffing another biscuit into her mouth. "Well, sounds like we need to prepare a welcoming party, doesn't it?" "...Since when did you get casual about parties?" Spike suddenly asked, giving Pinkie a quizzical stare. Pinkie shrugged. "I popped out a kid. Don't most mares mellow out after that?" "I can't believe you actually invited me to this!" A gray mare with an orangey-pink mane and rose gold eyes exclaimed excitedly, her hooves tapping on the ground. "Seriously, Luster, thank you much!" Luster chuckled, wrapping a foreleg around her sister. “Of course, sis!” She looked across the group of individuals around her, frowning. “Not so sure everycreature here shares the excitement, though.” “Don’t forget, don’t forget, stay calm, stay caaalm,” Luna was muttering to herself near them. Celestia, similarly, was sweating bullets as she stared straight ahead. Twilight was about the only one of the entire group of royalty who wasn’t in a state of disarray. Although, if one looked closely, they would notice her mane fraying slowly, and then being magically smoothed back into place. The other Friendship Council members - sans Discord - were watching the street ahead with hopeful eyes. Even the Pillars had come after the news was spread. Ponies and other creatures were all around the streets watching with rapt attention. Royal Guard were lined up on either side of the road with banners of the Equestrian Royal Flag held aloft while others held trumpets in preparation. Everycreature was watching the street leading into the city square with hopeful eyes. Luster’s sister, Dawn Rising, continued to tap her hooves. “You think she’s anything like the old stories suggest?” She asked, eyes never leaving the horizon, biting her lower lip. Luster removed her foreleg from her sister’s neck. “I sure hope so. I mean, if the stories are right, she has a blade of magic! How can you not like that? And her being a mare in what was a stallion’s world at the time is just so fun to read about! Like that time she tricked the tyrant of Neighpon into giving her the Jade Dragon!” Luster nudged her sister. “You loved that story.” “I loved her stories,” Dawn corrected playfully, rolling her eyes. “She’s my favorite historical figure and may be one of the most important creatures to Equestrian history!” Luster giggled. “You’re telling me. I wonder if she’ll let me study her magic blade…” Luster gained a far off look, daydreaming as she was wont to do when it came to the subject of magic. “I’d rather study her,” Dawn replied, not catching the meaning of her own words. Suddenly, a figure became visible on the horizon. Immediately, the trumpets sounded, and the banners were raised aloft. Down the street came a stunningly beautiful creature on two legs. She was similar to a Minotaur cow in build, only much more lithe and lean, and far more beautiful than any that the bulls present had seen. She bore no fur at all, from what could be seen, only clothes that covered every inch of her body save her head. The clothes were honestly more armor than clothing, however, yet they moved with her body with the flexibility of high quality leather. The platemail - if it could even be called that - was predominantly gold, with royal purple metal making up the rest of it. Her pauldrons bore the likeness of manticore heads, yet bejeweled, if not made of jewels themselves. In fact, they almost seemed real. Clasped around her neck was a cloak of what could only be made of gems, trailing behind her in a kaleidoscope of colors thanks to the sun’s light. Gauntlets, greaves and boots of similar make to the chestplate covered her arms, legs, and feet, with the gauntlets bearing golden, almost blade like fins on them, and the kneeguards and tips of her boots bearing similar blades and/or spikes, all still in the gold and royal purple theme. Two rather large bumps were concealed by her chestplate, and her rear was rather well heart-shaped as well. But the true beauty was her face. Flat, but not to a disgusting degree, and surprisingly young for someone from the Age of Unification. Her face was unblemished and dazzlingly beautiful, if not otherworldly. A circlet rested over her forehead, and trailing behind that head were two long, tail-like appendages, all the same cyan color as her skin. Her eyes were a marvelous silver, shining with strength and power. On her hips rested what seemed to be the hilts to blades, but they were bereft of any actual blades. Dawn’s hooves instantly stopped tapping, her eyes widening as her mouth fell open, the visage of her fillyhood hero burning into her memory. “Oh, wow…” Luster breathed, in just as much awe as everycreature else. Undaunted, the alluring woman walked up to the group, and stopped in front of them. She briefly scanned them all. “I see you brought a welcoming committee, Princess Twilight,” the woman said in a voice as smooth as silk and as sultry as a Playcolt model. Twilight smiled. “I thought it only best, for a returning hero of Equestria.” “Hm. Indeed,” she looked to Celestia and Luna. “Ah, there you two are.” She looked briefly to Twilight and the others, spying most of them ready to jump her from excitement. “A moment, if you please.” She stepped closer to the two sisters, and immediately frowned. “Celestia, Luna, tell me…” She leaned down to their eye level, being a head taller than even Twilight or Celestia. “...Where is the spine myself and Star Swirl forced into you all those years ago?” She looked to Luna. “I thought we’d overcome your fear by now. And look at your stance, hardly becoming, even for a former princess.” She gently nudged Luna, and she fell flat on her plot with a squeak. She looked to Celestia. “And you. What happened to those years of practicing that winning smile of yours?” She gestured to Twilight. “Your prized protege seems to have beat even you in that, somehow. For shame.” Celestia’s smile twitched. “I-I’m sorry, Master, I-” The woman held up a digit. “Not here. We’ll go over the basics again in private.” Celestia and Luna paled at that. She then turned a cold, winning smile to the others. “Please excuse me for the wait.” She dipped her head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I am Ferlua-” “The Dancer of Gems,” Dawn suddenly gasped, her brain function obviously still rebooting. “Mystical Bladedancer. Master of The Nine Disciplines. Beauty of The Gala. Otherworldly Mage. The First Lady of Canterlot.” Ferlua paused, turning coldly to the young mare. “...And you are?” The sound of screaming brakes could be heard faintly as the young mare’s eyes shrank to pinpricks. “...Dawn Rising,” she responded in a small, toneless voice. “Mm,” She hummed, mouth quirking ever so slightly as she looked to Twilight, resuming her former position. “Is she a protege of yours?” Twilight nodded. “She’s also the sister of my other protege,” Twilight gently nudged the two sisters forward with a wing. Luster looked up at the woman, suddenly feeling shy herself. “Um...hi, Miss Ferlua,” she said, smiling weakly. Ferlua stared at them for the briefest of moments, before her cold smile returned. “Hm. You two are quite promising. I can see why the Princess chose you both,” Ferlua praised. “Oh…” Dawn gasped, her ears perking up as her eyes came back into focus before she started to look down nervously. “Um, Luster’s the really talented one,” she admitted quietly while she started to rub one leg with a hoof, “I’m just the book worm.” Ferlua’s attention seemed to be grabbed by this. “Bookworm?” Ferlua chuckled. “Child, there is nothing wrong with taking comfort in the world of literature.” She leaned down, smiling more genuinely. “It’s no use being shy with me. I can sense your power.” She placed a hand on the mare’s shoulder. “You should be proud of it.” She removed her hand, and stood up. “Now, I imagine you all have much to tell me, yes? Please, lead the way.” “Indeed,” Star Swirl agreed, him and the Pillars smiling at the woman. “I’m sure you’d like to know how we escaped Limbo, after all.” “And I think we all know yer dyin’ to talk about yer own travels, eh, lass?” Rockhoof said with a shiteating grin. Ferlua let out a short breath of laughter. “Indeed I am.” With that, Ferlua was led away, but, Twilight stopped to turn to her proteges. “Why don’t you two wait in the gardens? There’s a lot that we need to catch Lady Ferlua up on alone, and there’s something I want to tell you two later.” Without any other words, Twilight left the two mares behind. Luster let out a deep breath, a hoof going to her chest. “Oh my gosh...I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest…” Dawn didn’t answer at first, simply staring after Ferlua. Very slowly, she reached a hoof up to the shoulder that her hero had touched. “...I’m never showering again.” Author's Note Well everyone, welcome to a Star Wars story I've had in the works since. Naturally, it was inspired by the rush Star Wars fans got when 'The Rise of Skywalker' came out back in December. Honestly, I used to love Star Wars as a kid, then lost interest in it...until December. When December hit, for some reason all my love for the franchise came back tenfold. And thus, this story was born. But, I can't do this alone. My good friend and brother from another mother, Pyro Mance, is helping me write this. He made Dawn Rising, and writes her rather well. Either way, I hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter! -Timeless Lord Slayer
(OLD VERSION) 2 - The Return: Talks“So, let me see if I am understanding this correctly,” Ferlua said with a deathly calm, fingers steepled together as she sat at a table in the Council Room of Canterlot Castle. “Celestia banished you to the moon,” she gestured to Luna. “Let your excuse for an amalgamate free not once but twice,” She gestured to Discord. “And then, after putting her student through countless trials where she could have been killed along with all her friends, she helped you ascend to alicornhood where you faced even more challenges before your coronation.” She looked to Star Swirl and her old friends. “And you all were freed by her mistake, along with Stygian and the Pony of Shadows. Am I about right?” They all slowly nodded, though Discord simply ignored them all by snoring loudly around Fluttershy. Ferlua took a single, deep breath through her nose, before looking slowly to Celestia and Luna. “You two.” The former princesses stiffened. “I am both disappointed…” They winced. “...and proud of you.” They breathed sighs of relief. “But you are still being retaught the basics.” They groaned. She looked to Twilight and her friends. “As for you six...very well done.” Ferlua smiled. “I am intrigued to see how you handle life in the court.” “Not very well at first,” Twilight said with a giggle. “Pinkie and Rainbow slept through a lot of them in the beginning. Applejack unintentionally insulted more of them, Fluttershy was basically a, well…” “A doormat. It’s okay, Twilight, I know,” Fluttershy said softly, smiling at her friend. Twilight returned the smile, then continued. “And Rarity held up pretty well. As for me...well, I used to live in Canterlot before becoming a princess or even an alicorn, so it wasn’t too big of a challenge.” Ferlua smiled. “I see.” She looked to the Pillars, eyes softening a tad. “I imagine adjusting to a more modern world was hard, my friends. I am sorry I did not return sooner to help you.” Mistmane smiled sadly. “It was certainly hard for some of us, yes.” She sighed. “Going back to my home to find it in neglect and disrepair was heartbreaking, but after talking to the current residents, I learned to come to terms with it. Their kindness was a great help.” “Rockhoof here had it the worst of us all,” Flash Magnus said teasingly, elbowing his friend in the shoulder. “Oi! I did not!” Rockhoof said indignantly. Everyone present raised their brows. “...Okay, fine, I did. But, ‘ey, at least I’m good now, yeah?” Rockhoof supplied, looking around. Everyone laughed. Ferlua soon calmed down. “Well, I’m glad everything has gone so well since I left.” “Why did you leave, teacher?” Celestia queried. Ferlua paused at that. “After we banished Sombra, you simply...vanished. No word, only a note,” Luna added, frowning. Ferlua’s features darkened, and her gaze bored into the wall beyond Twilight. “I’m kinda curious myself,” Rainbow began. She flew over to the woman. “Were you fighting off a bunch of bad guys or something?” Ferlua didn’t answer for a time. Then, slowly, she sighed, and stood up. “I am exhausted from my journey, I’m afraid. If you’ll excuse me.” Without any further words, she left the room. “...Should we go talk to her?” Rarity asked, looking to them all. Star Swirl shook his head. “No. I feel she needs time to herself.” Spike suddenly poked his head through the door. “What the heck did you all do to piss her off?” A low groan filled the air of the garden, disturbing a few of the birds that had taken refuge on a low-hanging branch. Dawn sat on a bench, head in her hooves, hiding her embarrassment. “I made a total fool of myself…” she moaned, shaking her head. “At least you weren’t like the others at the reception,” Luster reassured, a hoof patting her sister’s shoulder. “Did you see how many of the Minotaurs were staring at her chest? And how many Guards were staring at her ass?” Luster chuckled. “I think you should count yourself lucky you weren’t caught drooling.” "Okay, I get it," the gray mare answered, finally lifting her head to look at the sky. "She's beautiful and I'm so gay I should sparkle." “Sorry, but still, you shouldn’t worry!” Luster smiled. “I mean, she praised you! Obviously she doesn’t think you’re a fool.” Dawn just let out a sigh as she drooped forward. "I just don't know what she sees," she muttered, looking at the grass. "I mean, you're the Princess' prime student. We both know the spells, history, and every theory there is, but you can actually apply it while I get a headache if someone's mildly upset around the corner." “And I panic everytime something doesn’t go according to plan. You? You’re always calm in a crisis. Complete opposite of me,” Luster paused, blinking. “Or mom and dad.” "What's the use of a clear head if you can't act on it?" Dawn questioned, hopping off the bench and taking a few steps forward. "Being the black sheep doesn't help that." “It’s just something you gotta work on, sis,” Luster assured, hopping off the bench herself before stretching languidly. “Ah, anyway, I’m gonna go grab a snack from the kitchens. You want anything?” "No thanks," the pink-eyed mare answered, not looking back at her sister. "I'll eat something later." Luster Dawn frowned, but nodded. “Alright sis. Just remember that I’m here if you need to talk, okay?” Without any other words, the pink mare trotted off, leaving Dawn Rising alone in the gardens with only the birds and insects as company. The young unicorn lifted her eyes to the horizon, stepping forward a bit more until she was in direct sunlight. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back towards the sun. She let the warmth wash over her, the heat relaxing her muscles. A small frown spread across her face, a storm of thoughts bouncing around in her head. Suddenly, her thoughts were broken when she felt an immense dark presence nearby. Dawn's eyes shot open and she turned around, lowering her front half closer to the ground as her horn lit up with the same golden pink of her eyes. "W-who's there?" She called, unable to keep her nerves from entering her voice. No response. She looked around her, heart beating like a violent drum in her chest. Slowly, she started to close her eyes, letting her innate six sense for which she’d earned her cutie mark, a slightly open book with a circular symbol containing two horizontal ‘Y’s and a vertical line on the cover, begin to search her immediate surroundings. Not long after, she found the source. It was coming from the hedge maze. The mare opened her eyes and, swallowing her fears, she started to approach, preparing her magic for use in case she needed it. With almost expert precision, she followed her sense to the source, being careful as she approached. What she found was not what she expected. There, floating over a fountain in a lotus position, was Felrua, water from the fountain orbiting around her violently, and her features were screwed in a small scowl, eyes closed. Dawn could only stop and stare from her position, slightly obscured by the wall of the maze, her magic forgotten as she watched the display. Felrua’s scowl grew, and she opened her eyes. “I am meditating, leave me-” she turned her head, noticing the mare. She frowned. “-...” She let out a deep breath, and then stopped floating, landing solidly on her feet as the water stopped orbiting her. She then swiftly hopped off the fountain before the water could touch her. “What are you doing here, child?” She asked slowly. “O-oh, um,” Dawn stuttered, shaking her head as her hooves again crossed and she diverted her gaze. “Luster and I were waiting in the gardens like the princess asked. Luster left to the kitchens and I felt something, um… well….” The mare stopped herself and bit her lip, before letting out a little breath and looking up. “Is everything alright?” Felrua paused at this. “...” She let out a sigh. “It is nothing you need be concerned about.” She turned around. “I suggest you leave.” “Oh,” the unicorn breathed, her ears falling back. “Uh, apologies. I’ll leave you to it.” With a small bow of her head, she turned and began to walk away. Felrua paused again, then sighed once more. “Hold.” The mare immediately stopped, one hoof frozen in midair, hunching her shoulders in response. “Yes, Miss Felrua?” She asked, peeking backward. “...” Felrua walked over to the fountain’s edge, sitting on it. She patted the spot next to her. “Come, sit.” Dawn’s ear perked up towards the woman, her eyes filled with confusion. She slowly turned and walked over to the side, hesitating before she jumped up onto the fountain’s edge. “...Tell me, do you know what I am, child?” The woman began, gaze locked straight ahead. Dawn looked up at Felrua for a moment before she faced forward again, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. “...Asides from one of our greatest heroes… not really,” she admitted, looking back. “The history books are filled with your deeds and works, but no one has seemed curious as to what you are, race or otherwise.” Felrua nodded. “Few cared beyond my deeds,” she let a small smile play on her features as she glanced down to the mare. “Or my looks.” “That’s actually kind of sad…” Dawn murmured, looking back to the grass. “You must have been very lonely.” Felrua let a small chuckle escape her. “Perhaps. But having friends is a boon indeed for such situations.” She shook her head. “Regardless, we’re getting off topic.” She placed a hand on her chest. “I am what is known as a Twi’lek.” Dawn’s head snapped back, eyes wide with surprise and curiosity. “U-um, I’m, uh, deeply honored,” she stumbled, reaching a hoof to her chest. “B-but, u-um, I’ve never heard of a Twi’lek before….” Felrua kept her smile. “I don’t blame you. My race is...well, we’re endangered, and typically in chains.” She patted her chest lightly. “Namely for our beauty. You can imagine where that leads.” A wince shuddered the mare’s entire body. “I can but rather not,” she murmured, once again diverting her gaze. “...I’m sorry.” Felrua shrugged. “It’s alright, child. Regardless, now you know.” Dawn was silent for a while, eyes staring at the grass as it swayed in the breeze. “...Um,” she suddenly spoke up, her demeanor growing even more tense. “While we’re on the topic… what are your, um… head… tendrils for...?” Felrua hummed, reaching a hand up to one of them. Then, to the mare’s surprise, she leaned her head down, and the mare felt one of the tendrils tap her shoulder. “Typically, they are used for a form of sign language. But, there are other uses, as they are prehensile, as well as extrasensory.” She resumed her earlier position. “Wow…” the young mare breathed, looking up at her hero, her eyes full of wonder. “So, do they, like, feel vibrations in the air or do they draw in particulates in the air?” “The former,” the woman replied. “And what about your chest?” Dawn questioned, her full bookish curiosity overtaking her sense of decorum. “I know minotaur mammaries are used to provide their children with nourishment, but you look more reptilian in nature rather than mammalian.” Felrua blinked, then laughed. After calming down, she smiled down at the mare. “They are the same as a mammals, actually. I’m not very reptilian in anatomy.” “Really?” The unicorn questioned, tilting her head. “But your skin is so smooth and colorful and lustrous. I don’t think anything else like it exists in mammal physiology.” “Well, I’m not exactly a normal mammal, now am I?” Felrua joked, smirking. “Well…” Dawn’s eyes drifted to the side. “I suppose not.” She fell quiet at that, looking up towards the sky. “...How were you able to manipulate the water?” She asked suddenly once again. “Are Twi’leks capable of magic like unicorns?” The Twi’lek smiled, then patted the unicorn’s head. “Perhaps I’ll tell you another time. For now, your sister is waiting for you. You should go to her.” She stood up, starting to walk off. “I enjoyed our talk, little Dawn.” She waved gently, then left without any other words. The unicorn watched her walk away, letting herself be alone in the garden for several long moments. She looked back to the sky, staring for a while before she let a soft smile play on her lips. With a giddy giggle she stood up on her hind legs and spun on one hoof, letting gravity bring her off the edge of the fountain and all four hooves. Yes, she thought to herself as she trotted off to meet Luster and the princess. I am terribly gay.
(OLD VERSION) 3 - The Return: Reassignment and Reflection (Edited)Ferlua sighed deeply as she closed her door behind her, nearly slumping against it as she did. ‘It’s hard to believe things went so well while I was gone. I know it was necessary to leave for several reasons, but...’ She frowned. ‘...it still felt wrong. Visions and proof be damned.’ She sighed again, getting off the door and inspecting her quarters. It was just as she’d left it before leaving Canterlot so long ago; a fine bed with a cloud mattress, silken sheets, ornate golden leaf designs on the headboard and footboard with royal purple heartwood making up the base of the frame, a writing desk, a jewelry box, a walk-in closet and private bathroom, a lounging area, and a terrace just beyond the terrace doors - everything she’d need, and all kept impeccably clean, she noticed. Walking over to her bed, she sat down on it, running a hand across the sheets. “...It’s at least good to know my friends and students have been happy.” She let a smile play on her features. “Star Swirl certainly had a lot to say about his travels and new studies. Meadowbrook too.” She chuckled. “Celestia and Luna are just as I remember them, too, if somewhat more mature.” Her smile grew. “And seeing that one of Tia’s students has grown so well is nice.” She giggled. “Her friends certainly seemed nice. I could read their thoughts without even needing to use the Force. Her proteges were just as easy.” She let out another sigh, laying back on the bed and simply looking up at the ceiling. “...It really has been all too long…” 6 Hours Later… “She’s taking a lot longer than usual,” Luster noted, chewing on a daffodil sandwich next to her sister. “Knowing the princess, she probably just got caught up in catching up with the rest of the Council,” Dawn answered, her nose deep in a book she’d summoned from her room. “You know they only see each other every so often and they always have so much to talk about.” Luster nodded slowly. “Yeah, I know.” She took a bite of her sandwich. “Still, though, I know the Pillars and the old princesses are there with them reminiscing about Lady Ferlua, but it’s been six whole hours.” Luster gave her sister a worried look. “You uh...don’t think she suddenly plans on exnaying us from the academy, do you?” Dawn snorted at that, putting her book to the side as she looked at her sister. “Please,” she deadpanned. “I don’t think the princess would kick us out for no reason. Our grades are impeccable, you excel not only on written tests but on practicals, and neither of us has ever stepped a single hoof out of line. There’s no probable cause for her to kick us out.” “Except if she suddenly doesn’t like us,” Luster continued, uncertain as she stared at her sandwich. “You’re being overdramatic, sister mine,” the coral-maned mare giggled, nuzzling the pink unicorn with a smile. “If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t feel any inkling of that happening with my empathy.” Luster sighed in relief, then nuzzled back. Then, “Speaking of your empathy, where were you earlier? I came back and you weren’t here.” “Oh, um,” Dawn answered, drawing back a bit with a light blush. “W-well, um, I met Miss Ferlua in the hedge maze. I accidentally interrupted her meditation but she was nice enough to let me sit down with her and have a nice talk.” Luster gained a grin. “Oh? If it was just a talk then why are you blushing, huh~?” The mare groaned as she covered her eyes with her hooves, her blush growing. “She’s just so nice!” She exclaimed, looking up to the sky, a beaming smile on her face. “And I’m sorry, but I don’t exactly have a lot of creatures who are just nice to me. And she’s just so pretty! I can’t help it!” Luster raised a brow. “The Princess is nice. And very pretty. I’m nice too,” Her horn glowed, making numbers as she counted off. “And so is mom, and she’s still pretty. Then there’s the Council Members, and the librarian, and that one Guard, and-” “Okay, okay, I get it!” Dawn interrupted, waving her hooves. “Lots of creatures, lots of nice! But,” she stopped and looked to the ground, “this just felt different. You know you, mom, and the princess are all very beautiful and all very, very nice but… I don’t know. She just made me feel at ease, y’know?” Rose gold eyes looked up, one eyebrow quirked questioningly. “Really? She seemed so detached to me during the reception. She ignored the Princess, too. And the Council Members,” Luster noted, frowning as she dismissed her magic. “I mean, doesn’t that seem kind of rude?” “I don’t know, maybe?” The gray unicorn answered, giving a shrug. “Maybe she’s just not good with crowds?” Luster gave her sister a deadpan stare. “I don’t get that kinda feeling. It felt more like…” She paused to find the words. “...like she had an agenda, and that’s all that mattered to her.” Dawn was quiet, staring at the ground. “...I don’t know, Luster,” she finally answered. “I guess… I wasn’t paying close enough attention….” Luster frowned, then sighed, running a hoof through her mane. “Well, what she did talk to you about?” “Oh, um...” Dawn’s blush returned. “I may or may not have asked her… about… her… anatomy….” Luster blinked, then grinned widely. “And? What’d she tell you? Spill!” She nudged her sister. “U-um,” the gray mare stuttered, rubbing her leg. “W-well… I found out that her, um… tendrils feel vibrations in the air to add to her other senses….” Luster ribbed her sister in the, well, ribs. “What else, what else?” Again, the gray mare moaned in embarrassment. “Oh, sweet Twilight, I asked her about her mammaries,” she admitted, suddenly realizing her break of social norms. Luster’s eyes widened. “You did not!” “I did!” Dawn yelled into the air. “Seriously, what is wrong with me!?” “What did she say about them?” Luster asked, leaning in. “They work just like other mammals…” Dawn murmured, face back in her hooves. “What? But how?! She has so many reptilian traits!” Luster cried, surprised. “That’s what I said!” Her sister replied, throwing her hooves in the air. “How would that even work? Her anatomy would have to be similar to an ape’s or a minotaurs, but she’s so obviously different from them and-” Luster started to ramble on and on about how impossible it was, mane starting to fray. That, thankfully, was when the doors to the garden opened, and Twilight walked out. “I am so sorry for the wait, my studen-” she paused, looking to Luster, who was still ranting. She raised a brow. Dawn locked her gaze to the princess’, trying to draw her attention with her wide eyes and pinprick pupils as she tried to discreetly nudge her sister with an elbow. “-her blood would have to be a very abnormal color, and even then it’d still be madness to understand how-” Luster turned, seeing Twilight standing there with a smirk and a raised brow. “Oh, Princess! I’m so sorry! I just, we were, uh…” “Rambling and talking about my anatomy?” came the familiar smooth voice of Ferlua, stepping out of the doorway and next to Twilight. She had her usual cold smile on as she looked between the two sisters. If there was a record for how wide a pony’s eyes could get and how small their pupils could get, Dawn broke that record in that moment, and, in the smallest voice anyone had ever heard, she said three small words. “....please kill me….” “Ditto…” Luster squeaked out. Ferlua and Twilight shared a look, before the Twi’lek crossed her arms. “I can do one better.” She raised a hand, palm up. “I’ll train you.” “....Say what now?” Dawn’s expression went from unimaginable fear to absolute confusion so fast, she could feel the whiplash set in. “Ditto,” Luster agreed once more, looking between her teacher and apparent new teacher. Twilight giggled behind a hoof. “Lady Ferlua found me after the Council Meeting, and she asked if she could train you two. She said she thought you were both promising candidates.” “Candidates for what?” Luster asked warily, stepping back. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is this; if there were people in need, would you help them?” Ferlua queried, eyes hardening. Dawn paused at this. A thoughtful look crossed her face as she rose a hoof to her chin. She'd never had to think about it before. She never thought she'd have to. And the more she thought about it the less sure of herself she became…. "...Yes." Her answer even slightly surprised her before she looked up. "If there was some creature in front of me that was suffering… I couldn't just walk." Luster was deep in thought as well, forgoing her old plan of running - in case she was chased by promises of training with a master that had scared even the old Diarchs. She looked down at the grass, her face screwed in contemplation. Finally, she looked up. “Well, I’ve...never really thought about it, but...yes. I don’t think I could ever just stand by idly while others got hurt or worse.” Twilight smiled, looking to the Twi’lek. “I told you so.” “Mm. So you did,” Ferlua crossed her arms. “Very well. From this day forth, you two will be my new apprentices.” She turned around. “After tonight’s party at the Gala Hall, meet me out here at 5 AM sharp. I will be waiting.” With that, she walked off once again. Dawn watched the Twi’lek disappear. “...What did we just agree to?” She asked, looking to her teacher, even more confused than ever. “It’s not indentured servitude or torture, is it?” Luster asked fearfully. Twilight laughed. “Sorry girls, but I couldn’t say. I’ve no idea how the Lady trained my predecessors, so I wouldn’t know.” She turned around, motioning them to follow. “Now, follow me. We have to get ready for tonight’s party.” Dawn shuddered as she got off the bench. “Is it wrong that the party scares me more than what Lady Ferlua has planned for us afterward?” “I hope not…” Luster muttered, following after them.
1 - Distant Kin, Distant Hope: The Girl (EDITED)War on Falling Stars Time is a funny thing. I used to think like many of the shorter lived races. I used to think like a human girl, fresh out of college. That the world was my oyster, and that I had all the time in the world to enjoy it. I've learned quickly from that mistake. Time waits for no one, even someone who doesn't age. It is a ruthless old dictator, and will beat you over the head and thrust you into situations that can end YOUR time. Permanently. Forever. The Clock doesn't play favorites, no matter how much you may think so. Another thing I learned, though this one took longer for me to understand, I'll admit. Even people of considerable age like me, ones you would think Time favors, can end up dead and gone, or turned to dust on some rock or even fuel in a damn sun. All in the blink of an eye. Of course, some, end up as just ghosts of their former selves, or destroyed by their inner circles. Time is a funny thing, like that bastard always says. Like I now always say. ...End of entry. I turned off and placed the holo-recorder down on the table, then walked out of my quarters through my ship towards the bridge. Even with my ship being on the larger side, it didn't take long. Reaching it, I glanced briefly out at the large expanse of space just outside the window. I could see the planet of Rishi outside, the mostly blue oceanic pearl of space spinning consistently as my ship approached. I studied it for a short while, memories of past bounties and hunts here filling my mind. Even a few memories of how I first found this place came to mind, making me smile thinly. I shook my head not long after. "I really am getting old if something like this leaves me so open to nostalgia," I admonished myself. I stretched a bit, then walked out of the bridge and towards my armory to put my armor on. The last thing I wanted to do was to walk into a pirate infested planet without my gear, after all. A strange but no less familiar ship soon touched down in a shoddy landing zone made of simple wood reinforced only lightly with durasteel beams, the only things keeping the landing platform from falling into the deep waters every time a ship landed. The ship itself was predominantly steel blue, and obviously heavily modified. It looked similar to a needle, with a ring at it's back that seemed to act as a stabilizer, and thrusters coming out of the back of the 'needle'. All the internal lights, literally all of them, shone a deep cyan. As the ship touched down, a small man watched in awe. He eyed the ship for many reasons. For one, it looked like something a bounty hunter would own, or at least some kind of mercenary. For two, it looked expensive as could be. It was heavily modified, different from almost all other starships known to him, both in design and modifications. The paintjob was sublime, mostly if not entirely unblemished, a textbook beauty of a ship. There were more guns than what he'd expect from it, as it looked mostly like a cargo ship of sorts. Six guns were on it in total, two on the top and bottoms, and two each on either side, with those on the sides looking just...different. Alien. Foreign. They did NOT look like any standard design he had seen. That, and over all the entire ship gave him a severe feeling of utter wrongness. Not bad, per se, but just...wrong. Different, even. Otherworldly. Ultimately, however, he found it far less interesting when he saw who stepped out. After the ramp lowered, his eyes widened at the figure stomping down it. It was a hulking figure of heavy, silver-colored armor, with some cyan paint along the top of the chestplate, and the faulds - yes, faulds - were similarly colored, with what seemed to be a simulacrum of a gambeson underneath the faulds with a slightly lighter cyan color to them. The helmet looked almost entirely primitive, like a medieval knight's helm, yet, it held a similar style of visor that Mandalore the Preserver once bore; straight, and angular, like a 'T'. A jetpack rested on the back, a sniper rifle attached to it via magnetic clamp, what looked like a strange vibrosword hanging not on it's back but from a sheath at their waist, and on it's hip was what seemed to be a heavily modified Blaster pistol. As a whole, the entire armored figure screamed of the words 'Ancient Mandalorian'. The pirate stared at this newcomer, before said newcomer pulled their Blaster out and to his surprise, fired not a blaster bolt, but something far louder that hurt his ears, leaving a ringing in them. After the man was clutching his ears in pain and the bay door of the strange Mandalorian's ship closed shut, the Mandalorian walked towards him without any other words. As they made it to the diminutive green skinned man with geometric black tattoos on his face - a Mirialan - they produced a hefty purse of credits right at his feet. The figure didn't even look at him as he stared at the purse at his feet. "Payment for your silence. Expect another, heftier payment if it remains silent when I get back." The voice was modulated heavily, so much so it was hard to make out any kind of gender or even race, but at the very least it was in the galactic language of Common. As the Mirialan man watched the Mandalorian walk off, he could only stare. But of course, he wasn't going to let good money pass him by. So, he snatched the purse up and took up position near an alleyway by the ship, keeping a keen eye out for any...'unwarranted' onlookers from his makeshift client. This was Rishi after all, and of course...he couldn't let good money pass him by, right? My mouth was set in a thin line as I looked over the shopping list on my HUD. Ammunition for the plasma portion of my blaster was going to be the easiest to get, obviously, as ammunition for blasters was as common as could be, but the secondary portion would be harder. Solid rounds were hard to come by in this galaxy, even on a planet like Rishi. Same went for the crystals I needed for my ship's guns. One of them was cracked and definitely would be a liability if I didn't replace it, but finding a crystal that large wasn't going to be any easier than finding solid rounds for my blaster. Nar Shadaa might've been an easier place to find such things, but to be honest Rishi was far more safe, in spite it being more of a pirate hideout than the Smuggler's Moon. Nar Shadaa was too hot of a location to visit any more than rarely nowadays regardless. However, there was one shop I knew well, and one that usually stocked crystals of the size I needed, so thankfully I wouldn't have to go far for that item. Even as I looked over my list, I kept a keen eye on my surroundings, and kept my senses alert. Rishi may have been safer, but it was still a lawless haven for criminals. Taking chances was a recipe for disaster here, more often than not. Just...a little less so than Nar Shadaa. Ramshackle houses and buildings of old wood and sheet metal were all around me, the whole town situated on a remote pier, their grime and oil gleaming in the light of the Rishi sun. All in all, it looked like a stereotypical seaside slum. Rishi had such slums in spades, and was thus a hotbed of pirates, criminals, and more. I turned my attention back to my list. Let's see... I also need at least five hundred pounds of raw materials...hmm, what to choose this time...maybe just some wood? I'd stay mostly low profile that way. After all, not many buy wood in bulk. Hm. Wood, then. And it seems I need to refill my water tank for the shower and sink. Hm. Well, that should be relatively easy. Same goes for the materials needed to restock the food processor, though I'll have to deal with average fare, likely, since this is Rishi. Not many pirates with a refined palette, after all. Many eyes were on me, and I could feel each wayward thought as I passed all the myriad peoples around me. Many of them were obviously wary; a Mandalorian, in other words, an obvious bounty hunter, walking the streets of a town full of criminals and outlaws, many likely with prices on their heads? There was no way I wasn't drawing attention. I needed to get my shopping done quick. Descending a shoddy, rickety wooden ramp and turning right into a market, I made my way towards a certain shop and entered it's confines quickly. The innards of the shop were lined with shelves upon shelves of various gemstones and crystals, so many and in such variety that the untrained eye would almost think that more than half of them were decorative. To a degree, they'd be right, as many of the natives of this planet came to this shop for that very reason. However, for the off-worlders, like myself, we came here to buy focus crystals and the like. The rest of the shop's interior lived up to it's owner's tastes; in other words, the ceiling was littered with bowls of still burning incense and tribal symbols or small animal skulls hanging from ribbons or cords. The few windows at the front of the shop almost always brought in light that bounced off the many colorful gems and crystals, creating a kaleidoscope of colors in the shop's front. I only briefly admired it all before walking through to the counter, which was covered in a patterned, orange fur rug. A single bell sat on it, along with a primitive register hewn from bone but packed with the more advanced tech we off-worlders showed the natives ages ago. I rang the bell once, and soon after a voice rang out. "Be right there!" the familiar voice of the shopkeeper called from the back storeroom. I waited patiently, and soon after the feathered form of a Rishii emerged from said back storeroom, cleaning their three-fingered, feathered hand of oil with a much too dirty rag. The greying Rishii's eyes brightened up as she saw me. "Ah! So good to see you again, Shaper!" She approached the counter, smiling at me as best she could with her weathered and scarred beak. "How long's it been? A year? Two?" "I see your memory is as failing as ever, Brighteye," I said flatly. "It's only been eight months." Brighteye snorted. "Well, keep up that attitude and I'll revoke that lifetime discount I gave you." I rolled my eyes as she stared me down before she laughed. "Alright, enough of that. What do you need this time?" "Two focusing crystals, preferably in the Gunship weight class," I replied, crossing my arms in front of my chest. Brighteye hummed, looking behind herself at the storeroom she'd just left. "Well, I think I got a few of those left in stock somewhere back there..." She looked back to me. "...Still, that's quite the request. It's not easy getting crystals of that size, you know." "And I know that you have some. Cut the prattle." Brighteye clicked her tongue. "Killjoy. Any preference on color?" I shook my head. "Alright then. I'll have those brought out to you in a moment." She licked her beak. "First, though-" I dug into my pocket and dropped a hefty sack of credits on the counter. "Payment, right?" Brighteye snatched the sack up quickly, giggling to herself. "You know me so well, dear!" I rolled my eyes. "You're predictable to a fault, Brighteye." "And you're still as much of a stiff as I recall. Honestly, when you killed that captain-" Brighteye began, frowning at me. "Just get me my crystals, Brighteye," I interrupted with an annoyed sigh. She huffed. "Fine, fine." Turning and pocketing the sack into one of the many pockets on her worn apron, she walked into the storeroom once again. I waited for a few moments as the sounds of the elderly avian woman rummaging in the back room were heard, before an entirely new sound was heard, followed by a profound feeling of a disturbance in the Force. "Wha-?! Get back here you little- Gah!" Brighteye's voice was accompanied by the sound of many gemstones clattering to a hardwood floor, rapid footsteps, and the screeching of metal being pulverized. Jumping over the counter, I rushed into the storeroom to see Brighteye nursing a dislocated arm-wing, surrounded by collapsed shelves and fallen gems, and a clearly punched through garage door, where a small form was running off with one giant crystal tucked under one unnaturally giant furry arm. "Looks like I can't ever escape work..." I muttered, before rushing after the retreating form, hopping through the hole in the garage door and out into the alleys. The cloaked form looked back, seemingly having sensed I was behind them, before picking up speed and jumping far higher than they should have been able to, landing on the roof of a building before running off again. "A Force user?" I wondered aloud, before calling upon the Force myself to propel me upwards and onto the building, just as the thief had. As they hopped from rooftop to rooftop, I decided to activate my jetpack and fly overhead, giving myself the advantage in our little chase. They looked up at the sound of my jetpack's roar, and promptly hopped down into the alleys yet again. Clicking my tongue, I barreled down after them. Speeding through the alleys, the thief tried to toss whatever they could find back at me, and took sharp and random turns in an effort to lose me. Whoever this thief was, they knew what they were doing. That, or they were desperate. I barely kept up, and a few times had to hack a trash can in half with my blade so that it wouldn't knock me out of the sky. Needless to say, I would need to wash my armor after this. Still, how could they move so fast while carrying a crystal weighing nearly a ton? One errant trash can finally scored a hit on me as I was distracted by that thought, forcing me to the ground and allowing them to slip out of sight. Growling, I got back up. "Getting old indeed," I groused to myself before I focused my mind for a brief moment, then let out a breath and took off after the thief yet again. This time, however, my speed was enhanced, the Force pouring power into my legs as I ran after the thief. Breaking out into the streets, I briefly saw them dart into the alley across said street, and rushed after them, pushing the pedestrians out of my way as I did. I swiftly caught up to them, and, stretching out my arm, I fired off a grappling hook. To my surprise, it latched onto not their body, but their tail. As they yelped and fell, they dropped the crystal and even returned their arm back to normal. "Stealing from me was a mistake," I intoned as I walked up to them, pulling on the grapple hook and bringing them closer. I glanced to their tail. It looked far too familiar. The thief turned around, finally revealing to me their visage...and making me stop in my tracks. It was a young girl, an older teen...but she was of a race I never thought I'd find in this galaxy, or even this universe. A race I'd given up looking for. She looked almost exactly like an anthro Tanuki, with blonde hair in a wispy bob cut, complete with the ears of a Tanuki, a button-like black nose, brown fur and a poofy tail. Her left eye was a striking silver, and the other was an icy blue. She looked up at me in fear. "P...Please don't hurt me!" she cried, tears welling up in her eyes. "I... I just needed the money! I-I-I haven't had food in weeks, a-a-a-a-and no one will hire me and...!" She continued to babble on tearfully, but all I could think of was how this was possible. It shouldn't have been possible. I could sense the strength, the power, within her. She was gifted in the Force. But even if that wasn't unusual, what was was the fact that she had pulled off moves that only should have existed in Brand New Animal. She even looked like it's postergirl, Michiru, if you didn't count her eyes and hair color. For all intents and purposes, she was an anomaly. ...However...she could also be a key. A key to helping me figure out a question I'd had since I arrived in this galaxy. "-Please don't hurt meee!" she wailed, crying openly. Frowning, I knelt down to her. "What is your name, child?" She blinked. "Hieh?" "Your name. What is it?" I repeated. "E-Emica. Emica Hiroto," she said shakily, looking up to me with mild confusion. 'A Japanese name... Fitting, I suppose.' "And how old are you?" I pressed. "T-T-T-Twenty six," she replied. Hm. Intriguing. She looked like a teen. Looking away, she curled in on herself as more tears fell. "I...If y-y-you're g-g-gonna rape me, just...just get it over with already!" I frowned. I almost forgot that this armor was bulky enough that it tended to make one assume I was a man. The voice modulator didn't help, either. I shook my head. Enough ruminations. "I have no interest in your body, child." I offered her my hand. "What I want, is to become your master." "...Hieh?" Author's Note Credit for the second bit of art goes to Cal Santiago. Find him here! No, I do not own it, no, he did not draw it for me. I am simply giving him credit where it is due. And so that I don't have angry people comin' after me. I also do not own the song for the intro of the story, nor do I plan on doing a written out intro like I have done with my other stories. Why? It doesn't fit the theme of this story. Hope you all enjoyed it, though!
2 - Distant Kin, Distant Hope: New Contract"M-Master? You're, you're gonna enslave me?!" this prompted a whole new wave of tears and banal babbling. Heaving a breath, I shot a glare down at the girl. "No. I have no interest in you as either product or stress relief. I am not a barbarian." "Wh- then, then, what're you...?" She was curling up. Pathetic, but understandable. The loneliness and fear I felt from her was palpable. "I want to teach you how to survive," Standing, I kept my hand outstretched. "In exchange, I ask only for information." "I-I-I don't know anything though..." Emica said, hesitantly reaching for my hand. "We will see. Now, do you accept, or will you continue to keep your hand shaking midair like a crochety elder?" I barked. "Eep! Uhm, yes! Yes!" Clasping my hand tightly, I pulled her to her feet and nodded. "Good. Now," Turning around, I kept a firm grip on her hand as I began to walk out of the alley, grabbing the crystal as well with one arm. It made for a conspicuous scene, but with the size I am, could be explained as just the natural strength of a hardy alien race. I was close in height to a Wookie at current, that would have to be sufficient. "Stay close. The closer you are, the easier it will be to keep you safe once we return to that shop you stole from." "Hieh?! Why are we going there?!" she screeched, yanking on my arm. "You are going to apologize, and I am going to pay your fine," I explained. "Otherwise, her reputation will fall, and she will deal with more than just thieves of your caliber." "I-I can't-" There was a pause. "You...you're paying my fine? Why?" "You are my student now, are you not? As such, I am responsible for any poor judgements you make, such as this," I replied as we stepped out into the sunbathed streets proper. "Guh!" She flinched. Literally flinched as she made that noise. Slowly, I turned my head to look at her, ignoring the crowd of onlookers and their murmurings around us. "Did you just 'guh' out of reaction to that?" The girl known as Emica Hiroto shrunk in on herself. "M-M-Maybe...?" I cannot believe this. She may as well BE an anime protagonist if she reacts in such overly dramatic ways. Feeling a twitch upon my brow, I slowly turned my gaze from her increasingly embarrassed visage and began to once again pull her along. "Wh-Why aren't you saying anything?!" "Cease your stuttering," I snapped. "You are my student now. My students do not stutter or babble like prepubescent school children." "Nng!" Another flinch and noise. Another twitch of my brow as I struggled to keep my emotions in check. "Neither do they react so dramatically to every reprimand," I hissed between clenched teeth. "Wh-but-!" "Be. Silent," I snapped. "Mmph~!" she whined with pursed lips. My eyes trained upon our destination, yet my mind could think only one thing; 'I hate adolescents.' "Is she uh...she gonna keep blubbering?" Brighteye asked, looking to me, then the sorry excuse on her knees before her, wailing and making a sobbing puddle of herself on the floor. Brighteye rubbed the back of her neck. "I mean, you already paid for her, and she's apologized 20 times now..." "B-Buh I stol frum yooooo!" "Yes," I replied. "And you apologized. She accepted. The first time." "B-Buh-!" "Hiroto." Squeaking, the girl swiftly extricated herself from Brighteye's leg and crawled over to myself. "...Kindly pull yourself up. You look a fool." "Ah!" She shot to her feet, but swiftly clung onto me. "..." Exhaling deeply, I looked to Brighteye. "I take it the matter is settled now?" Brighteye snorted and nodded. "Do you even need to ask, Shaper?" She hefted the bag of credits I'd given her. "Trust me, we're square." "Good," I nodded, and after pulling the girl off of me, I walked towards Brighteye's storeroom. "Then I'll be taking what I initially paid for." "Wh- You can't just-!" Brighteye sighed as I brushed past her and into the storage room, already searching for the other crystal I needed. "I'll be using your repuslorlift," I called back as I took one crystal in the grasp of the Force and moved it over to the repulsorlift's container. Satisfied, I guided it out of the storeroom and back to the storefront, where the crystal the girl tried to steal awaited. After securing it with it's companion, I turned my head to address my new student and Brighteye as they emerged from the store. "I'm uhm...sorry I dislocated your arm..." "Just stop already, kid. Apologies are done, it's behind us," Brighteye waved it off, but set the girl with a glare all the same. "Just remember us feathered folk feel a lot more pain when you do that, alright?" "R-Right!" Emica nodded shakily. Brighteye smiled, patting her head. "Then we're square." Looking to me, she added, "Now get outta here, both of you, before the other creeps show up!" "As if your charm didn't scare them enough," I returned, eliciting a squawk of laughter from the shopkeep. Shaking my head, I turned fully to address them. "Come now, girl. Don't dawdle." "Y-Yes!" She replied, hurrying over. Nodding, I turned back to the repulsorlift and set it to follow us as we walked. "Take care you two! Don't get that kid shot, you hear?!" Brighteye called out. I snorted under my breath. "Old hen." After we had secured the rest of the necessities on my list that I'd been forced to neglect, we arrived at the landing pad for my ship and found a fresh slew of reprobates waiting around it's hull. I glanced around, spotting the corpse of the Mirialan near them, riddled with Blaster burns and holes. I sighed. "I suppose paying for just one guard was foolish of me." "Oi, you, tin can!" cried one of the reprobates. I looked to find a Theelin man brandishing an elaborately carved trimantium blaster, the green of the metal gleaming in the light of the sunset, a similarly elaborate cloak wrapped about his shoulders and upper torso. He was lightly armored, but I recognized the sheen of ciridium plating protecting his vitals. His mottled green skin blended with his chosen armor, as it's design did his facial horns. I rolled my eyes behind my helm. Typical Theelin. "I can just about guess that you don't have many brain cells to toss around that bucket of a head you have, so I'll spell it out for ya," the Theelin tapped his blaster against his shoulder, grinning like a man who'd already won. "You parked in my territory, so as compensation, I'll need you to hand over the codes to your ship." The six pirates behind him all aimed their weapons at me at his words. "Ya read me?" "No," I replied, drawing my blaster and casually loading the lower barrel with red-tipped rounds from my utility belt. The Theelin snickered. "Ah, that's too bad. But I'm sure your corpse will provide some good compensation itself. Same for that little runt behind ya." His men jeered at this, Emica whimpering as she hid behind me. "As will yours," I replied, grabbing a 'grenade' from my hip and tossing it their way. As they scattered and took cover, I took aim. The first few rounds punctured what they did not protect; knees, shins, arms, shoulders. Their ensuing confusion at the grenade's lack of exploding allowed me to fire off more shots, rendering the Theelin with only himself and six guards with pulped heads. Growling, he took aim at myself and fired. The bolt merely bounced off the silvery songsteel plating as I recoiled slightly from the force. Raising my blaster, I returned the gesture in kind with a practiced flick of the striker followed by a flick that sent the magnetic inductors alight, firing off a bolt that seared through his armorless head. Gazing briefly at the array of corpses before me, I grunt before pushing on towards my ship. "Gather up their belongings, then board the ship." I told the girl. "Wh- But-!" she sputtered. "What did I say about stuttering and sputtering, girl?" I queried, shooting a cool glance over my shoulder. Sensing her shock and hesitance, I narrowed my eyes behind my visor. "Forget those fools. They threw their lives away for money and debauchery. They do not deserve to be afforded your pity or mercy." "But..." She looked uncertainly at the corpses as the repulsorlift hovered past her. "They would have enslaved you, girl. Used you as a plaything. Amusement. Property," After punching in the codes to my ship, the bay door opened and I turned to face the girl. "Afford them nothing. It is survival of the fittest here, and their equipment will serve you better than it will their corpses." She continued to look disgusted at the idea, hands held up before her chest in uncertainty. Fixing her with a glare, I shook my head and turned to enter my ship. "Pick up the pace, girl. I do not have all day." Even as I said that, I could not deny I understood her dilemma. But the woman who once shied away from robbing the dead had died long ago, in the cruel lands of Nathema, and the poison of survival. I didn't have anywhere else to go. That's what I ended up with, when I tried to think of a way out of robbing those people's corpses. I didn't want to lose my chance at a home, and I didn't want to make the man in armor angry. So I did as he said. Lowering the chestplate of that gangleader into the crate, I looked up at the person in question. Normally I would have been ecstatic at everything I was seeing, at being in an honest to Ancestors spaceship, but the shame I felt at robbing another person's corpse was hard to ignore. "Good. Now, come," my... I wasn't sure what to call them at this point. Teacher, I guess. That's what they said they would be. I followed them all the same as they showed me how the ship worked, what not to touch, what I'd be helping with, the various rooms... "This is where you will sleep. I do not have any other quarters, so make do. I will as well," they said as they gestured to a single bedroom marked with a blue teardrop. My blood ran cold at the sight. It was obviously their room. And they obviously expected me to sleep with them- "I will sleep on the bridge. If you are in need of rest, then take it. I will chart our next destination in the meantime," I could only stare at their back as they walked away. "Y...you're giving me your room...?" They stopped, before sighing and grabbing their helmet, pulling it off as they turned around. My eyes widened as they revealed a face similar to mine. Brown fur, a silver right eye and an icy blue left eye, the patterns, muzzle and ears of a Tanuk native...and a very feminine shape. "I am a woman, girl. I have no interest in using you for pleasure nor for monetary gain. How many times must I say it?" she asked, an exasperated look crossing her features as she moved a strand of purple hair from her eyes. "EEEEEEHHHHHHHHH?!?!?"
