Chapters "Cousin, why are you at our chambers?" Luna asked me with a hint of worry in her voice.
"I require, training," I told her before specifying, "In oneiromancy... specifically," she raised her eyebrow, "I know I won't reach your level, I don't have the desire to either, I just want to be able to shield my mind from intrusion," my voice wavered as I informed her of my intentions.
It had been a week since she started training me, it was difficult. "T-THAT'S PRIVATE!" I yelled as I pulled away from Luna's horn. Her horn ignited to stabilize the orbit of the moon, I hadn't even realized how long I'd been there.
"And it won't stay private unless you resist," Luna said leaning forward, "we are attempting to short track your ability to shield your mind from Mallory's intrusions, he is trained enough to invade without a physical connection, and we are much more powerful," she explained forcing her horn to my forehead and plunging into my memories once more.
"Sasha, you can always leave the Jedi order and run away with me," The Cathar girl begged me with tears in her eyes. I fought my own tears back.
"I-I can't, I need you to not be near me, I'm not allowed to have these feelings, they're dangerous," I told her, I didn't like the feeling of regret running through me.
"Cousin we are sorry for intruding like this," Luna said taking place next to me, "Do you understand why you must learn to resist us, Mallory will use these memories against you," She said placing a wing around my shoulder and pulling us out of the dream, "But tell us of this girl,"
"Her name was Calyha Smoothclaw, she was an orphan," I informed Luna, "I met her when I was ten and doing a mission with my master, I was smitten with her I had never felt things like I did around her," I wiped the tears from my eyes "And a few months before the clones turned on the Jedi she caught me while I was getting rations for the temple and she told me about this ship that we could use to travel the stars together,"
Luna hummed and she passed me a cup of tea, "We see cousin and why did you not join her?" She asked.
"Because I'm a Jedi, we can't just up and leave the temple whenever we feel like, so she begged me to leave the order and run with her," I said sinking into a bean bag chair that was beside me, "But the feelings I had I wasn't allowed to feel the Jedi looked down on them and for good reason passion and love are paths to the Darkside," I admitted with a sigh. "That's the reason I tried to stay so distant and professional here, I wanted to keep on the path of the Jedi," I told her wiping the tears from my eyes and cheeks.
"We see it must have been lonely for you," She told me laying down, "have you felt the pull of this 'Darkside while you've been here?" Luna asked lifting my chin with a hoof.
"I felt the pull twice," I told her, "The first time I abused the force was to trip a bully at school, after that day though I have been calmer, happier maybe? The longer I have been here, the desire to use the dark side seems to fade, but when I was arrested in Prance I wanted to use the force and break my way out," I explained looking at Luna she gave me a small smile before jamming her horn against my head forcing me to see black.
"Use the passion you felt for Calyha and the desire you felt in Prance, oneiromancy is fueled by your emotion, it is why this is the most dangerous magic, it is how we fell to the 'Darkside'," Luna's voice echoed around me.
I woke up to the rays of the early morning crossing my eyes, "Y-you, did, good," I heard Luna manage between coughs, "really drained us, cousin," she took a deep breath and gave a short exhale before sucking in air once more, "Almost wasn't able to lower the moon,"
"Sorry about that, I can't even remember what happened," I said with a yawn and attempted to stretch, noticing I had been placed and tucked into Luna's bed.
"We did not want your back to be hurting when you awoke," She said, "perhaps you would like to join us for breakfast with our sister?" She asked helping me out of her bed.
"That would be nice," I said finally stretching before following Luna out, grabbing my dagger before leaving.
"Sasha you are doing well in your lessons, you should be able to resist Mallory now, if you wish to end your lessons now we wouldn't be opposed, however, we have enjoyed spending time with you cousin, we certainly wouldn't deny you the chance to continue your studies," She told me as we made our way to the dining room where Princess Celestia waiting with my Mom, a relieved look crossing her features,
"There you are, Sasha, I was worried when you didn't come home, but I trusted you to be safe, after all, you are a grown woman," Mom told me wrapping a leathery wing around me and giving my forehead a kiss.
"Forgive us, Sergeant, we pushed young Sasha a bit hard during our lesson last night, she stayed with us, but you will be delighted to hear that she is a wonderfully talented learner, under this fast track we would expect a student to become capable of active resistance in a month, she has gained the ability to nearly exhaust our mana within a week," Luna said with a large smile before looking directly at me, "Of course we are still weakened by the elements of harmony, it may be a few months, but you will need to resist our attempts with more aggression," She said before addressing Princess Celestia, "Celly your wing is doing that thing it does when you have something to say, spit it out," She stated exaggerating a twitch with her left-wing.
Princess Celestia sighed, "My wing does no such thing but yes I do have something to say, Sasha, it's about how you arrived here," Her voice was hurt yet relieved, "We do not need to worry about Anakin Skywalker finding us, but you will never be able to return to your home planet, or to the stars," She told me, "Using the latent magic buildup from the crash we can tell you came from somewhere... far, far, away," She said, "We were also unable to repair or learn much from your vessel, we were able to recover a safe from the wreckage that is only scorched, I can not speak to the condition of its contents, however," I smiled at her words, as the waiter approached the table.
"That is fine princess my family and home is here, but it will be nice to have something of my masters," Celestia nodded and smiled at my statement, before making her order, the waiter made his way to me but I was unable to answer.
"We will have a fish dish," Luna said motioning between herself and I causing the waiter to pause, "We need something with more sustenance than a salad after last nights lesson," She explained, the waiter jotted her order down for us and went back to the kitchen. "You know Celly also has this twitch whenever she's embarrassed her wings shoot out and her face becomes bright pink, just watch," She whispered, "You know when Celly and I were fillies she once flew through a tree and was covered in sap, we found out when she ran through the castle screaming being chased by bees, Mom called her the Hive Princess for months, much to her chagrin," Luna announced fairly loudly, and true to her word Celestia's face shifted colors and her wings shot out.
"That never happened!" She yelled out her voice higher than normal, "I-i mean I would never do something so ridiculous, I was an excellent flyer when I was younger," She stammered out regaining her composure giving a side look to Luna and me giggling.
"Sister you were a particularly poor flyer as a foal you could barely take off let alone not land without injuring yourself," Luna stated taking a drink of water, "But let us tell no more stories from our foal hood, lest our sister attempts to dredge up memories to use against her dear younger sister," She said before patiently waiting for her food to be delivered.
The rest of breakfast was spent with idle talk with the slow reintegration of Luna into the political system before it turned into where my mom decided to have guards stationed. When we had finished eating and my mom was dismissed with Luna excusing herself shortly after to read up on modern Equestria, Celestia invited me to walk with her. She led me to her personal quarters, "This is the safe we found we have not found a way to open it, perhaps you know?" She asked as she pulling a tarp off a large armory locker, I could feel the force-activated lock, it was similar to a Holocron.
"I think I can open this, it's locked similarly to how Holocrons are," I told her, reaching out and allowing peace and serenity to fill me, "It's fighting me," I said realizing the lock wasn't like a Jedi Holocron, "It's a Sith lock, why did my master have a Sith device in his ship?" I questioned out loud, "Princess you will want to step back for this, I need to think as a Sith would," I placed my hand against the surface of the locker, I thought back to Anakin and what I thought would happen if he arrived in Equestria.
The release of the pressure locks pulled me out of my thoughts, "Sasha, are you okay? You're shaking," Celestia asked stepping closer to me.
"I'm fine," I spit out, "Let's just see what's in here," I stated after seeing Celestia step back. I quickly noticed a full set of polished armor, a long blaster, and another set of damaged armor. Looking more thoroughly I saw a small notebook and the shaft of a lightsaber along with the necessary components to finish crafting it except for a kyber crystal. Opening the notebook I quickly skimmed through unable to read the runes, towards the end of the book I found an interesting entry of loose pages, on the making of Sith kyber crystals.
"Sasha, are you okay?" Fleur asked stepping away from the cameras, "you seem distracted," I looked up at her before turning away and grabbing her a glass of water.
"I'm sorry Fleur, it's just something that was found in my master's ship," I said handing over the glass, she gladly took it before leading me over to some chairs.
"Et what was found in the ship?" She asked motioning for me to sit, "It must have been something big for you to be so distracted."
"It was a journal and armor, and a blaster," I started while dropping into the seat, "And it was locked how a Sith would lock something away, and then while thinking on it I realized the Journal is in Sith runes," Tears started to land on the lap of my pants, "F-fleur, was my master an S-sith?" I choked out. "And then there's Mallory who's trying to get into my head, I-i want to, I don't know what I want," I clamped my hand over my mouth and looked at Fleur's worried expression, "I shouldn't worry you with my issues, I'm sorry," I apologized standing back up, "Next on the itinerary, is an interview with PONY magazine," I said quickly muttering under my breath, "still not cover page," I almost jumped when I felt a hoof on my shoulder.
"We'll talk about this over dinner, oui," She said before having me follow her out. Fleur had chosen the park for her interview, the fresh air filling my lungs was calming. Slowly I closed my eyes and drifted off.
"Welcome back Sasha, are you ready to join us," the voice was double-layered and deep, but feminine. Whipping around I saw Mallory but he was different, his eyes were unfocused, limbs seemed to be stretched painfully, "Do you like what I've done with my host?" I took a step back but he never moved, "He doesn't know it's happening yet, not even aware he's in the dreamscape," I suddenly realized I was stuck where I was, sinking, "His mind is weak, I will make sure he is unable to be saved," I started to breathe heavily as the ooze that sucked me into the ground reached my chest, slowly it filled my mouth.
There was a scream that pulled me from my dream, jumping to my feet I looked for the source only to be met with a confused stare from Fleur and the interviewing griffin. I soon noticed that my clothes clung tightly to my body with sweat, 'they're judging me, ', I thought in between breaths.
"Mon amie, did you have a nightmare?" She asked, I was confused, before realizing the scream was mine. "Pas important, we should get you something to eat, the interview is already over," She said taking my hand in her magic and leading me out of the park.
She took me to a small restaurant, where I slowly ate, "Sasha, was it Mallory?" I simply shrugged, "You can not face this problem if you don't accept help," She insisted.
"I don't know he seemed different, it might be a way for him to try and corrupt me," I explained to her, "Only Princess Luna can help me," I told her pulling up my coin purse. I saw Fleur's horn light up, lifting her own coin purse she opened her mouth to say something, 'she pities me, ' I didn't let her speak, "Just let me pay Fleur!" I yelled out slamming my hand on the table.
"B-bien bien," She stammered out her eyes contracting, looking around at the ponies staring intently at our table; I dropped a handful of bits on the table and apologized before running off towards the castle.
I sank into Luna's beanbag chair wiping the tears from my eyes, "I-i just lost it and yelled at Fleur over nothing," I said as Luna wrapped a wing around me, "What's happening to me?" I asked looking for an explanation.
"Heightened emotions are a common side effect of aggressive mastering of Oneiromancy, " She said to me, "We suffered the same thing from the stress of dream walking so often," Her magic placed a tissue against my nose, "Blow, we will provide a reprieve from lessons so you can adjust emotionally to the toll of oneiromancy," I felt myself get lifted and placed in front of her vanity, "Let us clean you up," Slowly she worked a clean rag across my face, "We will let Fleur know what is happening with you, go home and rest," 'she's lying, '
"I CAN HANDLE IT!" I yelled pushing away from her and leaving her room. I made my way through the winding halls, something called to me however before I left. I turned around and went to Celestia's quarters, I told the guards Celestia told me to get something, minds tricks are wonderful, entering I spotted the equipment locker still against the wall, I reached out and took the damaged pieces of armor, along with the blaster. Before I left however I quickly grabbed the journal and stuffed it into my pocket.
I sat in my room and admired my reflection in the black visor, forging the helmet to fit my lekku was not an easy task but it will be worth it in the long run. I turned my attention back to the journal, using the little Sith I had learned at the temple I was able to translate the runes, using the sketches I was able to learn about the armor being that for Sith infantry during the Jedi Civil War made with a cortosis weave, based on previous experience, it might work against magic as well, and the blaster was a sniper rifle supposedly prized for its accuracy and power, especially in the right hands. As for a new kyber crystal, I'd need to make a compressor, the instructions were there, but it would take time.
"Sasha, sweetie you've been locked in there for a week, are you okay?" Mom asked after tentatively knocking on the door, 'she doesn't trust me, '
"I'm fine, just been focused on a personal project," I called out to her adjusting the chest piece, I heard another set of hoofsteps approaching, gripping the blaster I waited to hear who was on the other side.
"Sasha," Hearing Luna's voice I relaxed, "We have a lead on Mallory's location, due to you being able to hold a defense against him, we and our sister elected to send you to investigate," Grinning I slipped on the helmet and opened the door slinging the blaster over my shoulder.
"Where am I heading?" I asked the comm-unit crackling to life. The bumping of the rails did little to put me at ease, especially after the last time.
We came to a slow halt a few days after our departure from Canterlot, stepping off the train I quickly received my dagger and blaster from security. Inspecting the sharpness of my dagger I turned around coming face to face with Officer Shield, "Sasha, I'm going to be your liaison for this operation, all intel you find comes to me," She told leading me down the streets, 'hurt me, ' "and welcome to Manehatten. Hopefully, this visit will be better than your last,"
"At least I get to see the sights this time," I said brushing off the pommel of my dagger, "Where do you think he is?" I asked ensuring the blaster was charged as she led me down an alleyway.
"In the hotel room directly across from your safe room," She told me opening the back door of an apartment building, "I'll be stationed with you, if you get confirmed eyes on let me know and we'll prepare for extraction of the subject," We made our way up the stairs, the rest of the trip was quiet. Unlocking the door she pushed it open, leading us in.
Quickly I pushed a table in front of the window when she pointed out the one leading to his suspected room, crossing my legs while sitting back from the table, I leaned forward and rested the handguard of the blaster on the table, "You have the most experience with Mallory from what Princess Luna told," She said, 'traitor, ' I rubbed my brow trying to think of something else, "I'll get you some water, and a snack or two," With that said, Shield moved into the kitchen.
I sat there for two days, only taking naps when night came, he never opened the blinds but when my eyes opened on the third day I saw the blinds wide open, "Shield, I might have something," I called out tightening my grip, setting up next to me shield pulled out a spotting scope and watched with me. The room was empty as I looked directly at the door, soon however it opened and in stepped Mallory, I moved my finger down, silently thanking my master for the blaster training, "It's Mallory," I whispered slowly squeezing the trigger, 'End it, pull the trigger, ' I thought focusing my crosshairs on the center of his head, directly below the horn. I almost fired before noticing the sweat soaking his fur and the way he struggled to breathe. A panicked look filled his face as he slammed the blinds shut.
Officer Shield and I ran across the street but he was gone didn't grab any of his belongings from his room. Picking up his journal I opened the first page and begin to read.
'I have learned of a way to increase my mana reserves by using the very life force of others, after some more practice they will all see how powerful I really am,' shaking my head I skipped a few pages ahead, 'The foals tale of the mare in the moon is real, I will assist in her escape provide her with more magic than she will ever need,' sighing I skipped towards the end, 'I see the faces of those I have slain, they fill me with the sound of a thousand silent wails,' Far more curious in where the Darkside led him I continued, 'I was successful in bringing back the mare in the moon, but it is not my friend, must run, must run, please forgive me,' it quickly devolved into deranged scribbles before ending in on the last readable sentence, 'can't run, must hide,' Officer Shield and I traded glances before heading for the train station.
"Excuse me, station master," Shield called out getting the attention of a tall mare, pulling out a badge she continued, "I'm Officer Shield with the Equestrian Intelligence Agency, we're looking for a yellow stallion he may appear panicked, sweating, and breathing heavily, perhaps," She said stuffing her badge into one of her coat's pockets.
"I remember the stallion ma'am, can I ask what this is about?" The mare asked squaring her shoulders, 'collaborator, ' with a sigh I stepped up and grabbed the mare by her collar pulling her down to my eye level.
"We're on official royal business, and this is a matter of national security, just tell us what we want to know," I insisted pushing her back, with a gulp she looked between me and Officer Shield.
"He purchased a ticket to Ponyville, the train departed about 30 minutes ago, next one won't depart for another 2 hours," The mare quickly turned around and moved away from us.
"So, what was that all about?" Shield asked me as the train crawled towards our destination.
"We needed answers and she was withholding them, so I got them," I stated, placing my helmet on the floor in front of me and closing my eyes to meditate. I felt the anger I had towards Mallory, you need to focus to defeat Mallory , he would not get away again. The train slowed to a stop, grabbing my blaster and putting my helmet on I followed Shield out.
"Excuse me sir," she said approaching the ticket booth, "Equestrian Intelligence Agency, Has this stallion bought any tickets?" holding up her badge and a picture in her aura
"No ma'am, but I saw em' get off the train and head straight into Ponyville, fool was mutterin' and sweatin' like a hog," he told us, chuckling, "Is he some kinda criminal or terrorist?" he asked.
"Yes sir, he's wanted for multiple crimes, thank you for your help," she told the now nervous stallion with a nod, stepping past I gave my own nod, causing him to shrink under my masked gaze.
We slowly made our way through town knocking on doors and checking with the citizens about Mallory's whereabouts, no one seemed to know where he was. As I fought the desire to force them to speak, my armor became hotter, soon a group of six mares approached us, as I removed my helmet wiping the sweat from my brow.
"Sasha?" I heard a familiar voice question, "girls she isn't a metal monster, she's a Twi'lek," looking up I saw Twilight talking to the other mares before she turned to look at me, "I'm sorry for getting in your way Sasha, is Fleur making plans for a photo shoot in Ponyville?" Twilight asked me, before being pushed aside by a white mare.
"Did she say Fleur?" she asked, "I am Rarity proprietor of the Carousel Boutique, and I would be delighted to make you a more... appealing outfit, for a good word to Fleur of course," I took a step back from the mare.
"Fluer models based purely on quality and sometimes how much the contract pays," I informed her, "and this is armor, it's not supposed to be appealing," I told her putting my helmet on, "Twilight, this Officer Shield with the E.I.A, I'm working with them on a manhunt for a stallion named Mallory Rose, red eyes, yellow coat, and he looks panicked, any of you see anypony matching this description?" I questioned, a light blue pegasus stepped up.
"Yeah I saw the guy run into the Everfree," she informed us, "what did he do?" she asked.
"Framed me for murder," I spit out tightening my grip on my blaster and heading towards the Everfree.
Officer Shield stayed close to my side as we entered the forest, she even jumped as animals scurried about us, "What has you so jumpy?" I questioned.
She let out an irritated huff, "What has me so jumpy?, It's the bucking Everfree forest, one of the most dangerous locations in Equestria," she let out stepping in front of me and poking my chest with her hoof, "I, want, to, know, why, you, aren't jumpy," she demanded punctuating her words with a prod of her hoof.
"I have a blaster," I simply told her stepping around and continuing our trek through the woods. Slowly the woods got dark enough where the night vision of my helmet was having trouble seeing past a couple of feet, this is where I started to get a little jumpy, thankfully Shield was too terrified to really notice my quick sweeps of the forest around us, finger shaking around the trigger. Moving further in, trusting my compass, we saw light poking through the trunk of the tree.
"I-I know we're super happy to see l-light, but I don't think we should go i-in th-there," Shield whimpered out, patting her shoulder I turned around, only to be caught with the sight of the fully lit forest, the trees densely grown around the path we had been following, "Oh, that's not horrifying," Shield deadpanned before taking a step towards the now lit path, quickly roots shot from the ground and began to rush us, Shield lit her horn creating her name sake eight meters away from our position, the roots tore through the magic wall with ease; turning around we ran towards the tree trunk and dived in.
I roughly stood up after we slid deeper into the earth, looking around the chamber I found myself in, I couldn't find Shield, or my blaster. Getting to my feet, I reached down to grab my dagger, only to grip air, panicking I looked at my hip and searched the area for my last weapon, only to find bare dirt. Shakily stepping forward I saw carved stone at the center, getting to my knees I placed my hand on the symbol in the center, and attempted to pull it back when a searing pain flowed my hand and fingers, fighting back the tears I watched the roots retreat in the walls, only then was my hand released. As the roots retreated and disappeared I was greeted with the sight of Jedi temple, a single statue of a Jedi stood before me, the lower half of his face covered with a mask. Stepping closer I read the inscription on the base of his statue, Alek, hero of the Mandalorian Wars, just behind the statue of Alek stood tall another statue this one of a Mandalorian, stepping forward, I saw the head of the statue move, and he spoke, "I am Mandalore the Ultimate, successor of Mandalore the Indomitable and succeeded by Mandalore the Preserver," the statue took a step toward me, "Prove your worth, Jedi," it said.
The stone in front of me raised the handle of sword stuck out, "Take the notched sword and defend yourself," the Mandalore told me drawing his sword, gripping the handle I pulled out the blade and deflected the first attack with ease.
I deflected another attack from the Mandalorian and pushed against him, trying to best him, but I couldn't, I wasn't strong enough. Use the Darkside, it's your only hope , that wasn't my voice it was mechanical but it wasn't Anakin's, gain the strength Revan and I did , seeing an opportunity I aimed for the Mandalorians hand as I parried, getting lucky I caught the backside forcing him to drop his sword, twirling I cut the back of his leg forcing him to his knee. Placing my blade against his neck, "You are defeated, submit," I commanded.
"Very well, Jedi, a lucky strike, but I would be a fool to say luck plays no part in victory," he told me relaxing, I began to move my blade away before I stiffened and pushed against his throat his body going stiff as well, he has killed millions, it is unfair to let him live, the voice stated slowly I began to drag my blade, hands shaking.
"I-It's not the Jedi way, he submitted," I pleaded with the voice, The Jedi are wrong, after all even your master followed the dark arts, did he not? my arms were moving by themselves, fighting my desires, "The study of Sith artifacts doesn't make him a Sith," I stated, but you wear the armor of the Sith army's legions, my legions armor , pulling the sword from the man's neck "I won't do it!" I yelled tossing the blade to the side.
"Very well," the voice said no longer in my head, the ignition of a lightsaber shook me out of my stupor, ducking to the side I caught the sight of the Alek cutting off the head of Mandalore the Ulitmate with his red saber. He turned to look at me with his scarred face, wounds clear through slashes on his robes, slowly he approached me raising his saber above his head, "Join me or die," he said, with a shake of my head he brought the saber down using the force I pulled the notched ebony blade toward me and caught his saber inches from my face, calling upon the force again I pushed him away, getting to my feet I steadied myself. "You can fight but only a Sith can defeat me, for I am Darth Malek," he told me slowly approaching, I knew I needed to take the initiative. Rushing him I swung the sword and attempted to strike him down he easily blocked and swiped at me, deflecting. "You are only surviving thanks to the Sith sword you wield," Malek told me backing off.
"No I'm surviving because I'm a Jedi," I shot back, "The Sith empire fell because they could not stand against the Lightside of the force," I told him taking the offensive once more, slamming the sword against his lightsaber forcing him back, but his eyes were not focused on me, they were looking behind me. Using one of the notches in the sword I caught the plasma of his blade and disarmed him, his now deactivated saber landing between us, using my foot I kicked it behind me, "Come back to the order it's not too late, your master will forgive you," I begged of him, keeping my sword ready.
"I've fallen too far to be welcomed back I destroyed Taris and the Jedi enclave on Dantooine," he told me, "I am unable to return to the order, but I can finish destroying it," he said suddenly I felt weak falling to my knees I could see him pulling something from me, his wounds healing, letting out a strangled cry, I attempted to raise my sword but it slipped from my weak grip and clattered to the floor.
"Why?" I questioned a single tear falling from my eye, he simply laughed, through that false jaw of his. My vision slowly faded before suddenly clearing, looking at Malek's face I saw surprise as we both looked down, his lightsaber sat squarely in his chest, and as it deactivated he slumped to the side.
"My, my I am disappointed apprentice," that double-layered voice from my dreams, turning around I saw a tall mare, black as night, a longhorn jutted out, her starry mane framed by her wings, "Now, let's see how we can better you," she said stepping forward and lifting my chin with her hoof, "I imagine you're wondering who I am, my name is Nightmare Moon," recognition of the name, the persona Luna took when she fell to the Darkside, "good you know me," she cheerily announced.
"Princess Luna," I weakly said, "what is going on?" I asked only to be lifted with magic and pressed against the wall.
"Do not call me the name of a mere vessel!" she screamed at me, "I am the living force, I am living magic," she said, "I used the princess as a vessel as I use Mallory Rose as one, soon his body will be perfect for my takeover and he is so mentally weak I will be able to take over completely unlike my last vessel," she said cackling, "and you dear Sasha will be my dark apprentice and help me in my rise to power, I promise to protect your family and friends," she told me.
"Never, I'd rather die than fall to the Darkside," I spit out, she snarled at me and raised Malek's lightsaber while preparing to strike me, I fell to the ground as her magic and focus wavered.
"Sasha!" I heard someone yell looking to my right I saw Shield standing in a tunnel that had formed, she was covered in viscera. Using the force I pushed her back before the saber could hit her. Grabbing the sword I rushed Nightmare and swung, she spun on her hooves and caught my blade, I felt her magic wrap around me once more but a mana blast from Shield disrupted her aura using the opportunity I flipped the saber away and went to strike her down, but her aura wrapped around the blade and pulled it out of my grip, reaching up I loosely caught Malek's lightsaber and ignited it, swinging with my weak grip it slipped out and struck Nightmare Moon in the chest as I coughed, looking down I saw the Sith sword goring me, I looked up into Nightmares eyes, slowly she smiled a black liquid flowing from her mouth.
"I still win," she said as I collapsed and looked at the blue sky.
I woke with a start and gripped my side, feeling the smooth fabric of a hospital gown, looking around I groaned before removing the monitor leads and standing up, searching for my armor and weapons I was interrupted by the door opening, "Ms. Lessa I see you are well, you're items are being held by security," the nurse who walked in told me, "I'll get you your clothes once you're cleared for discharge," she stated before turning around and leaving. Sighing I walked back to my bed and laid down, clutching my aching side.
"Hey, nurse said you were awake, how are you?" Shield asked knocking on the door as she stepped in.
"Feels like I've just been stabbed," I complained looking over and grimacing at her bruised face and face and body, red-stained bandages covering her legs and barrel, "what happened to you?" I asked as she took a seat next to me.
"Zombies, whatever that tree was, wanted to test us or something," she told me, "I think we both fought our demons down there and more," she said shaking, "I was chased through some sort of mansion before I eventually came into a room full of pictures documenting my life," slowly she relaxed into the chair, "what about you? I saw you fighting some sort of shadow tendril mass," she asked.
"I fought a Mandalorian warrior, a Sith lord, and Nightmare Moon," I told her, seeing her shake at the mention of the mare, "she killed Malek, saving my life, and tried to get me to join her as her dark apprentice," I said, "But I'm not giving up on my home, I turned her down and fought her off," I confidently told her, "and honestly I haven't felt this good in a while, I feel calm again, I feel like a Jedi," I stated with a sigh as I relaxed into my bed.
Shield and I talked for a few more hours, before she left, telling me she was returning to Manehatten but that she would probably be in Canterlot to give her full report, and that E.U.P soldiers were coming to sweep the forest. Leaning back as the last rays of light disappeared under my window sill I closed my eyes to rest, letting out a whisper, "Forgive me, master, I was weak,"
"Weak, you are not," a voice said as I looked around the swamp I was in, "adjusting to circumstances, you are, your destiny you have found," I looked around for the voice before noticing I was clad in robes again, "a padawan, no longer you are," The voice stated coming from the base of a tree before he walked out.
"Master Yoda, did the clones and Anakin get you too?" I worriedly asked him dropping to my knees.
"Survived I did, defeat Darth Sidious I did not, exiled to Dagobah I am," Master Yoda told me, "But to knight, promote you, I do,"
"Well, Ms. Lessa your wound seems to be healing perfectly, and there weren't any complications from the surgery," Nurse Redheart told me as she wheeled me out of the hospital, "and your bill was covered by the crown as this was a royal job you were on," she continued, "Now I personally would like to see you stay in town for a few days just to be absolutely sure you don't have any delayed reactions to your medication if anything seems out of the ordinary come back immediately, okay?" she asked as I stood up.
"No problem Nurse Redheart," I told her standing up and smoothing out my shirt, "I'll be sure to notify the doctors if there's a delayed problem, and I shouldn't be alone," I said, "I think I'll stay with Twilight if she lets me," I informed her, lifting the duffle with my gear and heading down the road towards Ponyville proper. Turning down a few roads I rubbed my stomach, "Man I really need to stop waking up in hospitals," I sighed out walking up to the library, "If I find her anywhere, it'll be here," I muttered walking in.
"Welcome to the Ponyville library," Twilight said behind the reference desk, "Oh Sasha, I visited when you first got in, but you were in surgery, then you were sleeping and I got caught up with organizing and ordering new books for the library," she told me.
"By the force, you're working at the library," I said whistling looking around and placing my bag on the floor before noticing the stairs leading up, "and living in one, I mean not too surprising you did in Canterlot," I chuckled, "Hey I know we weren't the best of friends in school or after school. But I was wondering if I could stay with you for a few days and use Spike to send a letter to my mom?" I shyly asked.
Twilight, rolled her eyes, "I wasn't good friends with a lot of ponies in Canterlot," she told me, "But you weren't much of a talker either, except to Fleur and Blueblood," she said sighing, "So both of our faults, I don't mind you staying over for a bit," I picked my bag back up when she agreed to let me stay.
"Mind showing me where I can put my stuff up?" I asked her, and she nodded and led me upstairs a small guest bedroom gave me a place to stow my gear and Twilight was even nice enough to give me a key to lock the door with.
"And I'll call Spike over when he gets back from quills and sofas," she told me I gave her a two-finger salute and sat down and wrote a quick letter explaining what happened to my mom. Heading downstairs after rolling my parchment I grabbed a book called 'the spit shiner's guide to armor care' mom liked it and would reference it when cleaning her armor.
"Hey, Sasha, did you go to Moon Dancer's party?" Twilight asked walking over and taking a seat across from me.
"No, I think I was being held for murder in Prance at the time or being held by the E.I.A," she opened her mouth to say something, but I put my hand up, "It was a whole thing, I was proven innocent in the end, I try not to think about it," she gave me a nod, "Moon Dancer was more of your friend anyways, I didn't talk to her, outside of getting some notes when I was busy with work," I told her adjusting my sheath as I shifted into a more relaxed reading position, "So how was the party?" I asked her
"Well, I didn't go either, you know me my head stuck in a book," she told me looking off to the side, "and then Princess Celestia sent me down here to overlook the preparations for the summer sun celebration," she continued, "and I sort of made some friends who helped me defeat Nightmare Moon," she very shyly said.
"I think you split Nightmare Moon from Luna, pretty sure I finished her though," I told her as she took a step back, "I fought her in the Everfree, put a saber right through her," I said, "That's why I was in the hospital, it got weird in those woods," I told her shivering slightly.
"Must have been really weird, if you're shivering," Twilight said chuckling, "I read about you chasing a stallion that attacked Fleur, from what I heard during the interviews, you didn't even flinch just chased him down, kept him casting spells creating a trail of chaos for metro to follow," the excitement in her voice scared me just a little, "I mean you ran through alleys, you're fearless," she told me.
"I was fearless, still in that Jedi mindset of protecting others and keeping the peace," I chuckled, "I have a lot to lose now though and after the arrests and other events that recently happened, I don't want to fight anymore, I just want to rest, go home have a good dinner with my mom and Fleur," I told her with a shaky exhale, "and honestly I'm scared, that fight with Nightmare Moon, the Mandolorian, and Darth Malek, scared me, I didn't think I'd get to go home," I could feel the tears falling down my cheeks, "Twilight, waking up in that hospital bed was the greatest feeling in the world, but it felt so cold."
"Oh, hey Sasha." Spike said walking in carrying a box and a few bags, seemed like he was struggling, "When did you get here?"
"This morning, let me help you, Spike," I told him grabbing the box and placing it down where he told me, "and before you ask, I'm staying over for a few days before the nurse tells me I'm good to head back up to Canterlot," I said, "also, could I borrow your dragon-fire to send a letter to my mom?" I sheepishly asked.
Spike stretched his arms, "No problem, toss it over," he told me, handing him my letter he took a breath and spit out his green fire consuming my letter, "So, how's the superhero life." I rolled my eyes groaning.
"I'm not a hero, just a Jedi, what we do is-" I choked a bit, "-was normal, where I'm from," I told him raising my dagger, "Feels weird not carrying a lightsaber," I sighed out switching my grip before sheathing, "A dagger just isn't a weapon fit for a Jedi, I need to make a new saber," a single tear ran down my cheek before I quickly wiped it away, "especially since I'm a Jedi Knight now." letting out a deep breath, "As soon as I get home, I'm putting up my dagger, permanently," I stated scowling.
Spike gave me a disheartened look, before nodding and heading up to the stairs, "I'm going to go read some comics," he sighed out, I gave him a nod as I heard glass shatter from the kitchen jumping to my feet I started to run before hearing Twilight.
"Rainbow Dash, what are you doing!?" she yelled out.
"Hey Twilight, I was wondering if you wanted to meet the rest of the girls for lunch, we're going to the Ponyville café." 'Rainbow' said cutting through the very heavy breathing coming from Twilight.
"Sure," she huffed, "but I get to bring Sasha with me," I rolled my eyes stepping around the corner looking at the strewn pieces of shattered glass, using the force to move it into a pile, "Come on Sasha, let's go get free lunch," she huffed out as the other mare shot out of the broken window.
Heading towards the door I saw Spike coming downstairs with an irritated look on his face, "don't worry I'll clean it up after lunch," I called out to him getting a grateful smile in return before he went back upstairs. Twilight and I walked up to the table where her friends sat, I got a few wary looks from most of them except Rarity who looked ecstatic to talk to me. "Hello again, now I didn't get your names when we first met, so I'm Sasha recent Knight of The Jedi Order." I introduced myself, the ponies quickly introduced themselves.
"So Sasha about Fleur, I know she's a big star so how do you know her?" Rarity asked after she ordered her food.
"I was working with her since day one," I said, "Surprised you haven't read about me even with how the magazines wanted to keep me out of Fleur's image, but when she was attacked a few years ago, there was a lot of coverage about me, no interviews though," I said looking at the waiter as he turned to me, "I'll have the Croque Mademoiselle," I told him getting a nod as he left.
"I had heard about that, thought Sasha was a griffon, not a... Twi'lek was it?" she said, looking off to the side, "I mean scouting out a shoot location doesn't sound like something a security guard would do," she chuckled out.
"I'm her assistant, not security, but old habits die hard," I told her looking around the other tables, "I was trained to help where I could, and Fleur was safe inside with the security guards, so I felt I was better placed taking on the agitator," I explained, "I had a little burn from the event but it wasn't that bad, school was more stressful than anything, and then the trial didn't help me keep up with classes either," I sighed out.
The rest of lunch went by fairly quickly only getting questions about what the Jedi did and my armor from the week before Rainbow Dash seemed really interested, and even asked if I could train her. I quickly denied the request citing I was no teacher or a master. When we got back to Twilight's I swept up the glass and covered the broken window before talking to Twilight about getting some pieces made for my compressor, her fervor in looking over the blueprints was infectious.
"It's not the traditional method for lightsaber crafting but on a planet like this, I don't have a choice," I said sighing while giving her translations of the sith runes.
"Neat, so when a Jedi is in a less than preferable situation you guys adapt," she said, I lazily nodded in response, "So what language is this, I've seen your writing it's in Equish?" she questioned.
Biting my lip I hesitated before answering, "It's in sith, it's an ancient language, mostly used by the practitioners of the Darkside of the force," Twilight swallowed as I said that looking a little less wanting to learn about what we were making, "Don't worry what I'm making isn't dangerous it just compresses minerals, and with a little force, into a kyber crystal so I can make a new lightsaber," I explained renewing her interest, stretching as I yawned I looked out the window, "Wow it's late, we should get to bed-" a whine escaped the pony, "-so we can start fresh in the morning." I finished getting a reluctant nod from her.
The next few days we spent going over what I needed made and talked about payment, we settled on 1,500 bits. She was nice enough to see me off when I left giving a wave as I boarded the train back to Canterlot.
The next few months were spent working with Fleur, I even brought up Rarity to her, when I got the packages from Twilight I'll admit I was excited, having already gotten all the non-electric components from a few metallurgists in the area. I enlisted the help of my mom and Blueblood to build it in the basement.
Wiping my brow as we got the final piece secured, "Now when I make my crystal we just have to hope it's not unstable and kills us all," I said getting a worried look shared between the two ponies, "Oh geez, I'm kidding," I told them chuckling getting a relieved sigh out of them, "mostly," I muttered before standing up, "Well I'm off to the market to pick up the rest of what I need." I said running upstairs and out the front door.
When I got home it was already dinner time I took my seat and ate what mom had prepared, and definitely didn't catapult broccoli into Blueblood's mouth whenever he yawned. After dinner, mom and I said our goodbyes and I went back into the basement to forge my new crystal.
The minerals quickly melted together as the compressor heated them, focusing on my new family and friends pushing my love into the crystal as I meditated. I stayed down there for weeks making sure the crystal was flawless and as stable as could be. In the middle of the day, I focused for the final time, this would determine the crystal's final form, I reached out and opened myself fully to the force.
Anger, all I felt was anger, then I saw a flash of trees, blood, hearing screaming, and I saw her gaze at me; opening my eyes sweating as I panted and falling forward, my whole body ached and then it hit me, I puked emptying my stomach on the floor in front of me. Heaving I ran up the stairs to the bathroom collapsing to the floor unable to keep my eyes open due to the pain, I must have been there for a while because I heard mom coming home as I finished, looking in the toilet I saw red, frowning I flushed the toilet and quickly washed my mouth with water and mouth wash, "Hey mom, how was work?" I asked grabbing the mop bucket from the closet, she raised her eyebrow as I filled it, "Oh, I spilled some stuff in the basement, just going to clean it up." I told her.
"Oh, well work was good had a runner today at the throne, that was exciting." she said walking into the kitchen.
"Really cool I'll be back upstairs in a minute." I called out walking down the stairs and cleaning up my puke before staring into the compressor, I could feel the force flowing from the crystal. Opening the hatch and using the force to grip and lift the crystal I could feel the stability within its crimson outer layer and cyan core; with a hitched breath I placed it into my pocket and went upstairs dumping the bucket before running up to my room and grabbed the saber pieces. After cleaning up I quietly ate dinner while thumbing the hilt pieces wrapped on my lap.
"Why are you so quiet sweetheart?" mom asked, I looked up before looking back down, "Seriously tell me what's going on; did the compressor not work? Did we mess up when building it?" she asked with a worried look.
"N-no, I'm just not sure how I feel about putting it together," I explained, "I have the crystal and it feels surprisingly stable, I'm just worried if when I was having those mood swings, has messed up my ability to be a proper Jedi," I vented, "a-and I know Master Yoda said I was no longer a padawan and was a knight now, I'm still scared mom." I said tears pulling at my eyes.
She wrapped her wing around me, "Sasha dear, it will be fine, you are an amazing and strong mare, and an even better Jedi," she told me wiping my tears away, "Now how about I stay right by your side while you put it together?" she gently asked smiling I hugged her before putting the wrappings onto the table and unraveling them revealing the saber parts, placing the crystal between the hilt pieces I reached out and slowly crafted my blade.
"I'm done," I sighed out picking up my new saber and gently activating it, the blade glowed with a dark crimson, I took a deep breath as I gazed upon it, arcs of cyan running up the blade in erratic patterns.
Everfree Forest
Nightmare Moon gazed upon the slaughtered soldiers smiling as she finished stretching the flesh of the late Mallory Rose. Looking down at her new body grimacing at the imperfect stretches and the bared muscle, she cracked her neck and moved over to the corpses, quickly using them to heal her body.
Nightmare Moon rubbed her head as she struggled to bend their bodies to her will, feeling just how much of her magic she had lost, "That dirty alien, what filthy magic did she use to do this to me, I've lost almost everything!?" she screamed her wings flaring out as she crushed the head of a dead soldier under her hooves. A thought filled her mind, "That blade from Malak was quite interesting," she murmured glimpses on how the blade worked flashed into her mind, taking tearing the armor off the bodies and slinking deeper into the woods planning to craft a saber of her own.
A need for revenge fueling her, a need to have her magic back to full strength and not just stuck to struggle with drain, transmutation, and easy to cast short range levitation spells.
Author's Note
Sasha's new saber hilt.
"Hey Fleur," I called out handing her a coffee, "Like the classic look I'm rocking?" I asked doing a twirl showing off my new robes, before stumbling and rubbing my head.
"Headaches still bothering you?" she asked taking a sip of her coffee, "Need a few more days?" she asked.
Shaking my head I answered, "No, no, I'll be fine, I can still focus," I told her, "and I already saw the doctor, nothing wrong with my head and the blood tests aren't back yet," I explained, "Now stop dodging and tell me, the classic look yay or nay?" I reiterated my question.
"Yay, it works on you," Fleur told me, "Well don't work yourself too much, at least, so what's first on the agenda?" she asked me.
"An interview I've been trying to set up since I got back from Ponyville because I kept missing office hours," I told her, "that will be at 11, then after that, because she won't stop pestering me, a dress showoff with Rarity, at 2," I continued, "and that's really all for today, the world of fashion has been for the most part slow as of late," I explained, "or you know lingering deep-seated racism towards me affecting you," I half-joked, "Oh right and then a fan dinner with Copper Dream and her mom Silver Line at 5." I finished.
"Oui, so we have a few hours," she sighed out, "Breakfast?" she smiled looking at me, I gave her a nod and we headed out to get a quick bite to eat.
"You know you eat like two people," I chuckled while finishing my scone, she shook her head chuckling putting down her third sandwich, "How do you keep that lithe figure?" I asked.
"Extreme Cardio, Sasha, extreme cardio, that and ice baths, helps burn the extra fat," she told me, "Maybe you should try it, getting a little chubby there~" she joked poking me causing me to laugh as I swatted at her hooves, "ticklish are you?" she questioned.
"Y-yes, now s-stop it," I ordered grabbing her hooves and holding them down, "W-we should pay and get moving, it's almost 10," I told her grabbing my coin purse and electing to split the bill. The interview was started sooner than expected especially since when we stood up our interviewer was behind us, "I guess we can do the interview here and now," I groan out pulling out my planner and scratching out the first time and writing down 10, "Because just forget my scheduling." I sighed taking a seat as Fleur quickly ordered two more sandwiches.
The interview itself was simple, mostly about any upcoming shows, which designers she was showing off, and any new designers she was testing the waters with, "Fascinating, I can't wait to see the designs from your secret mare or stallion if you pick them," she chuckled before turning to me and replacing her press badge from Mare's Weekly, with one from The Canterlot Messenger, "I work for both publishers, now onto the second part of the Interview, Sasha, Superhero or Good Samaritan?" she said with a quizzical flourish, I rolled my eyes getting ready to leave when Fleur shot me a sharp look placing my elbow on the table I rested my cheek in my palm.
"Now, the question that is buzzing in all of the circles of Nobility, what exactly is a Jedi? the word has been floating around all over Canterlot." she asked, leaning closer to me.
"A Jedi is a peacekeeper, diplomat, and warrior," I told her, "some of us focused on being warriors like I did, some in history, and of course, many focused on healing and diplomacy." I explained further.
"Why did you become a warrior?" she asked me taking a sip of her coffee.
"It just felt right, the way the saber felt in my hand and the way I moved it all came very naturally to me," I told her, "I'm still pretty good, I was still practicing before I lost my first saber and then these headaches have been making it hard to focus too," I said.
"Interesting, interesting, and why did you not become a royal guard, a soldier, or join a police department?" she asked looking me over.
"I was not educated enough to do so, and by the time I had my degree and was old enough, I already had a good relationship and job with Fleur, so I decided to stick around ex-" I started before being cut off.
"Except when you went on vacation and saved a filly, and stopped a massacre on a train, before being tortured right?" her excited look gave way to her true scoop.
"I was framed during my vacation and spent some time locked up, but I was proven innocent," I said glaring, "and that's all I'm going to say on that," I told her standing up, "A Jedi's work is not something to gawk at and get a raise, promotion, or renown for, what we do; did, is who a Jedi is at their core, I was a warrior and protector, but Equestria has good protectors already, they have more than they need and I don't need to be there, my abilities are not needed and I'm leaving." I roughly stated turning around.
"S-Sasha?" Fleur called out chasing after me, "Tortured? You never mentioned anything like that," she accused.
"I didn't mention it, because my master told me to forget and forgive those involved, holding onto the anger would lead down the path of the Darkside." I told her starting to cry a little as I leaned against a wall.
"I thought your master was dead?" she asked wrapping a leg around me.
"He is, but the force isn't life or death, we can talk to each other at times," I explained, "Only when I'm particularly stressed though does he come and direct me," I told her, "I miss him, I miss the order, but I love mom, and you, and Blueblood, I've been torn for a long time Fleur." she pulled me in close to her.
"I think I understand, you want to go back to your order, but you don't want to leave us," I felt her nuzzle me as she held on tight, "Let's get you home cleaned up, nose blown, and eyes dried, then we'll see Rarity okay and maybe some ice cream before going?" she chuckled balancing me on her withers.
"Ohh Bonjour~" Rarity greeted us at the office causing me to groan, she was an hour early, "Fleur De Lis, I am Rarity Bell, proprietor of the Carousel Boutique in Ponyville I'm sure Sasha has told you all about me~" she cooed leaning forward.
"Oui, the only reason I'm looking over your designs in because Sasha requested I do," Fleur deadpanned leading her to the office as I poured a few cups of coffee with the aide, "So Ms. Rarity why don't you show me some of your designs, I understand if you don't have any floor models the closest opening for a new designer is small and far away." she told the white mare as the aide and I put down the two cups and I took a seat on the couch.
"Oh, well I thought I'd give you a little background before ho-" Fleur put up her hoof stopping Rarity in whatever she was going to say.
"Only the design and quality of work interests me, I do not need a sob story, or a story about helping me get higher into nobility because you know a noble, or the princesses," Fleur told her.
"But I do know the princess quite well in fact," Rarity told her putting a book on the table, "I was just going to offer maybe trying to work a meal in with her, my pleasure of course." Rarity chuckled, opening her designs, and Fleur shot me a look.
"Sasha when is our next dinner with the princess scheduled?" Fleur asked me as I pulled out my planner.
"It would be in two days, Fleur." I said getting a nod and causing Rarity to sweat a little.
"I-I see, Sasha mentioned nothing of your connections during our meeting," she stumbled out, "w-well my designs might seem elaborate but I assure you they will hold up," she laughed out pointing flipping through and swallowing hard.
"Please calm down, even with your little 'connections' thing, you're still further in my opinions book than most are," Fleur tiredly said looking over the sketches, getting a relieved sigh from Rarity who began to speak about how she was keeping them flexible yet durable enough to withstand a day on the town. It took a few more hours before Rarity finished and was lead out, "I will keep you in mind Rarity," Fleur called out with a smile before turning around and groaning, "Please tell me we haven't missed dinner with the filly?" she begged me, I simply shook my head and held the door open for her.
We took our seats at the table of one of the nicest places in town, even getting a balcony table with the cool afternoon breeze flowing over us. Copper Dream and Silver Line showed up a minute after 5 had passed and quickly sat across from us, "Now Copper remember I know you're excited but you must maintain your manners in a restaurant like this no yelling in joy or crying if you need to cry let me know and I'll take you outside okay?" she asked getting an enthusiastic nod in return.
"Once again, I'm so sorry it took so long to get this set up, but things got really hectic for a while after I got back," I told the two, Fleur smiled gently before grabbing me as I lost my balance knocking over my silverware and glass, tightly gripping my head, I waved her off as I let out a strained breath, "headaches are killing me." I grunted out standing up and heading to the bathroom.
"You didn't stop me." I looked up and saw Nightmare Moon in the reflection, spinning around I drew my saber igniting it, seeing nothing around me, I lowered my saber, turning it off and clipping it back onto my belt, with a reluctant turn to the sink I looked at the mirror, nothing reflected behind me. Washing my hands I headed back out and couldn't truly focus for the rest of dinner as Fleur gave snippets of advice to the filly and her mom.
"I was just seeing things," I reasoned as I reached my front door, Fleur raised her eyebrow, "I saw something in the bathroom that gave me a start, it wasn't real, probably didn't get enough sleep last night," I explained opening the door, "Good night Fleur." I said shutting the door behind me.
"Good night Sasha," I heard muffled by the solid wood.
We stood on the side of mount Canterhorn near the tip, clad in armor and jackets, tight to protect us from the chill, "Steady your breathing Fleur," I instructed her as she held the blaster rifle in her aura, "Now aim at the chest of the target and smoothly squeeze the trigger."
"Why didn't it shoot?" she asked lowering the rifle and accidentally squeezing a bit harder sending a bolt into the ground a little bit in front of us.
"If you had waited, I would have told you there's a wall that you have squeeze past," I told her chuckling taking the blaster, and taking aim firing off three rounds directly into the center of the dummy, "Nice and calm, puts the clanker down," I quoted handing the rifle back to Fleur, "Thanks for the target mom!" I called out.
"No problem, ohhh nice shot Fleur." mom said bumping her shoulder.
"I didn't make that shot." Fleur dejectedly said, getting a smirk from mom as she slyly looked at me.
"You didn't execute that rock?" she teasingly asked pointing at the burn mark on the ground, getting a shove in return from Fleur.
"Sacré Bleu, I have the blaster, Sargeant," she laughed, taking aim at the dummy and missing, "By harmony, I can not get a handle on this," I smirked as well, before pointing at the rear grip.
"There's the handle," I said, she turned to me raising her hoof.
"Je vais te frapper, Sasha," she threatened with a laugh, "Seriously how do you shoot so well?" she asked looking taking another shot, the round flying left and low.
"Somehow you're jerking the trigger with magic," I observed, "smooth squeeze, don't pull, squeeze," I instructed, "steady breath, aim at the target and smoothly squeeze," I continued, she took a deep breath and fired hitting the target direct center, "There we go, a good enough hit to put down a clanker maybe even a clone." I cheered slapping her on her withers hearing a woot from mom.
"Au visage!" Fleur yelled tossing my blaster back, "Bet you couldn't do that after only a few hours of practice, wooh, oui!" she continued her celebration throwing her hat into the snow.
"Alright, alright," I said tossing the blaster back, and walking towards the dummy, "Now shoot me," I said unclipping my saber and igniting it as she looked at me with a credulous look. "Come on, I'll be fine," I told her, "I set the blaster to stun," I lied, she raised the blaster and fired at me, the red bolt flew at me and I deflected it to the ground, "See told you I'd be just fine, also I lied about the blaster being set to stun, it was still very much lethal." she marched over to me.
"J'aurais pu te tuer!" she yelled at me smacking me with her hoof, "I-I don't know what I would've done if I killed or hurt you," she said tears flowing from her eyes, "you had me shoot you with a blaster rifle that was deadly." her legs wrapped around me and I gently patted her withers.
"You wouldn't have injured me, Fleur," I reassured her, "I'm a Jedi, I've done that before with even more bolts coming at me," chuckling, "I am well trained, I wasn't in any real danger." I explained.
"You swear?" she asked.
"I swear, I trained for things way more dangerous than this," I told her, "how about we just go home? We've been up here for a few hours," I said before falling to my knees and puking up blood, "S-sith spit, not again." I grunted striking the ground and struggling to my feet as a headache rocked me.
"A-again!?" Fleur asked in a panic calling my mom over who looked at the red puddle in front, "T-this happened before?"
"YES!" I yelled, "I didn't mention because you would all be worried, I've seen a doctor for it, it's a gut problem," I told them, "That's what the doctor told me, I have a lingering non-communicable gut and vascular infection, that's causing me to occasionally puke blood and gives me headaches," I explained, "There is nothing we can do about it." I said getting to my feet.
"Your sickness is not of the body," a reverberating voice said next to me startling me awake, with a scream I grabbed my saber and ignited it, illuminating the insectoid form of Cavern, "it is of the mind," she told me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked smiling as my mom opened the door and turned on the lights.
"What is that?" she screamed as I turned off my saber and Cavern yelped, dropping to the floor quickly skittering under my bed, "Sasha get away from that monster!" she commanded me.
Putting my hand up, "Alright mom first rude, she's not a monster," I told her, "and two she's my friend, that I haven't seen since Stalliongrad," I said looking underneath my bed not seeing her, noticing a ballcap I grabbed it and threw it on my bed, "Come on Cavern change back." I said, getting a look from mom.
"Sasha, that's a hat where did that thing go?" she asked me looking under my bed, "seriously, I think I need to get the captain involved now." she complained rubbing her hoof against her forehead.
"Mom, that is Cavern," I told her pointing at the ballcap, "I don't own one of those," I continued, "Now Cavern shift back and introduce yourself to my mom," I commanded while leaning forward and whispering, "Can't you taste how happy I am to see you again?" I asked, "I'll feed you if you're polite~" I cooed out, hearing a hiss as the green flame covered the hat and Cavern was sitting on my bed causing my mom to fall over when she jumped between us.
"Hello Ms. I am Cavern Shift the changeling, I feed on emotions," she greeted raising her holed hoof up, "it is a pleasure to meet you." my mom carefully reached out and nearly jumped back when Cavern shook her hoof.
"I-I'm Sasha's mom, Cereus, " she shakily answered, "h-how did you meet Sasha?" she asked.
"I attempted to feed on a child and she chased me to my lair and refused to kill me, instead fed me," she said causing me to take a step back as mom glared at me over her shoulder, "then I led her Stalliongrad, sadly we were intercepted by a predator, Sasha was injured and I dragged her to a hospital." that seemed to change my moms' mood as she pulled her into a hug.
"You saved my baby girl!" she excitedly yelled out, "you are welcome in our house anytime do you need something to eat?" she asked leading out of my room as I followed behind.
"Some love would be nice, it has been a long time since I've tasted love, since my exile actually." she said smiling as mom sat her at the table.
"Exile, why were you exiled?" mom asked sympathetically, placing a hoof on hers.
"I questioned the queen on her decision to transfer me to excavation from royal guard, she exiled me, a day later another hive invaded and consumed the inhabitants except for the queen who escaped," Cavern said, "I believe, the new hive took residence there, sadly my brain was damaged by the queen when she attempted to consume me for mass," she further explained a horrified look on moms face, "I threw her off a cliff and she took me with her, but I survived the fall."
"By harmony, that's horrible." mom said leaning over and hugging the changeling.
"Horrible?" Cavern questioned, "Are invasion, genocide, and regicide not normal life?" she asked looking between me and mom, "also I like the taste of your sympathy." she complimented.
"Those things aren't normal, you sweet girl," mom said having not heard her talk about feeding, "Why did your queen want you to be an excavator instead of a guard?" mom asked her.
"Age mostly, our queen preferred her guards young and female, I'm not sure why," Cavern answered, "I suppose it is much like how your princess has her personal guard all fit and male," she continued, "I suppose I was the oldest guard, older than her usual transfers at 14." she said, mom and I shared a look as she pulled the changeling in closer to her.
"H-how long ago were you exiled?" mom asked as she stroked the changelings head.
"About two years ago," she said still feeding off of my mom before she let out a sigh, "Such a full meal, I thank you, Ms. Cereus," she states before dropping to the floor and curling up under the table.
"Full meal?" mom asked looking at the table and under me, "I didn't feed her." she said standing up.
"Mom, she eats emotions, all that compassion and sympathy you were pouring out she was eating," I told her, "Situational awareness mom, she told she liked the taste of your sympathy," I explained, "Anyways we'll let her sleep, I need to talk to her in the morning." walking back upstairs I laid on my bed and closed my eyes. Jumping again I drew my saber at the man standing at the edge of the desert cave I found myself in, lowering my saber I stared before noticing I was wearing my armor, the holographic gauges running through telling me how hot the area was.
"There are no Jedi here, my name is Ben," he told me, "How can I help Inquisitor?"
"Kenobi," I said deactivating my saber and clipping it to the side of my armor.
"There is no one by that name here," he told me swallowing, "I am Ben, I work cutting meat." he said turning on a stove.
"Master Kenobi now is not the time to hide from me," I said removing my helmet, "I'm a Jedi like you, I was Jungjoya's Padawan." I explained, noticing a shimmer as I approached.
"How did you survive?" he asked, "You and Master Jungjoya were in the temple during the attack," he said, "I knew a few Jedi made it out but I did not think Jungjoya was one of them." he told me.
"He didn't, I escaped in his starfighter," I told him sitting back down. "I went through some sort of slip in space, ended up far away, I'm not even sure if I'm truly here master," I said, "There's a barrier not too far from your bed, I-I," I stumbled feeling sluggish, "I'm not sure I'll be staying here for long master." I said when I felt the headache come on before it suddenly disappeared.
"Are you okay Sasha?" Obi-Wan asked me, "I can feel something but I can't tell what it is." he told me as I fell onto my side.
"I-I don't know master," I quietly said my eyes closed as I fell asleep, jolting once more I was in a court now, a gold and black alicorn looked down upon me, a looped cross as her cutie mark.
"I am Ankh, goddess of Equestria," she told me, "all alicorns are blessed with only a mere drop of my power; sadly that power can only be used in their realm, as my own can only be used in my realm," she continued, "I wish I could do more for my ponies, so I choose you as you have defeated evil before, and are a great warrior from whence you come," she said to me, "I wish for you to be my champion until this evil, this Sith, in my people's homeland is defeated," she commanded as I stiffened at the mention of Sith, "I will bless your armor so you may purge this vile evil and its army when it rears its head from the shadows," I gave her a nod. She smiled, "Then I return your soul to your body, and I hope next time you are summoned your soul does not wander to other places and I will attempt to shield your mind." she said her horn glowing and sending me back to my bed.
I jolted awake, looking around my room breathing hard as I stood up, noticing the sweat soaking my robes, before catching another wetness, "Well, that's unfortunate." I mumbled collecting my sheets and taking them downstairs putting them in the washer, before running back up and taking a shower, quickly changing before looking at my armor stand in the closet, the original silver of the armor replaced with a slick black, and the same looped cross marked on the left mandible of my helmet.
"Hey Sasha, did you-" mom said walking into my room, "did you wet your bed?" she nervously asked.
"Yeah, stressful night, I guess," I told her closing the closet, "Had some weird dreams, not sure how to feel about them," I said fixing my belt and attaching my saber to it, "well I need to speak with Cavern about what she said last night." I told mom walking back downstairs and seeing Cavern in the kitchen cooking before she came to me and led me to the table.
"I wished for you to be well-fed," she told me pulling out a chair for me and sitting me down, "now eat," she said placing a plate of pancakes in front of me, "or did you wish to speak with me?" she asked
"Yeah, I did, actually," I said looking at her as she lifted a fork with some of the cake on it and fed it to me, "what did you mean by- oh this good-" I said swallowing, "-anyways, what did you mean by my illness is of the mind?" I asked accepting another bite when she offered.
"Oh, your mind has been infected by another's mind," she said igniting her horn and scanning, "and there is another presence there now," she continued offering me more food, "this one acts differently perhaps protection instead of invasion?" she quietly questioned to herself.
"Why are you feeding me?" I asked still taking the bite.
"We are friends, you feed me so I feed you, is this not normal?" she asked, I simply shook my head, "I see I've made a social mistake," she said, "I shall endeavor to correct this in the future, but as we are already here, finish feeding." she commanded holding up another forkful, rolling my eyes I took another bite.
"What, what in Tartarus is this?" mom asked moving her wing between us, I simply shrugged my shoulders getting a shake, "I'll make your bed sweetie, be down in a bit and the three of us will go out for a walk or something." she sighed out heading upstairs.
Cavern shifted into the form of a mare as mom led us outside, "So are you two just friends?" she asked, I gave her a nod, I heard her mumble something, but couldn't catch it.
"What was that mom?" I asked getting a shake in return.
"Oh nothing, just curious about the whole feeding you thing." she told me wrapping her wing around my hip.
"I did not understand that feeding individuals physically was socially unacceptable," Cavern said, "and that it was not equivalent to feeding me emotion," she continued, "a social blunder on my part one I endeavor not to repeat." she shyly told mom.
A hmm came from her as she dropped the line of conversation we spent a few hours in the park before deciding to go to the zoo, "Oh this one is new," mom said looking at the python that slithered over the rocks to get to the heat lamp, my eyes, however, wandered to a unicorn stallion shaking ever so slightly, before his neck jerked and he collapsed, one of the security guards ran over and started calling for a doctor, that he had no pulse.
The stallion's left leg jerked and his eyes shot open, his mouth opened as he lunged for the mare's throat, using the force I pushed her away, she was angry before being shocked seeing the stallion standing up, coagulated blood falling from his mouth as he scanned the reptile room before he settled on me his horn ignited, pulsing, I drew my saber and waited, "Get out of here everyone," I commanded family's running towards the door as the stallion and I stared at each other, I saw a flash of green as mom sent out a message before lowering herself into a fighting stance I wasn't sure why until I saw the drips from the rafters above.
Three more dropped, their bodies were mixed in color, a few not having flesh around their skeleton limbs. We continued to stare at each other, "So sweetie what do you think?" mom asked gently throwing her badge chain over her neck from her saddlebag.
"I think you and cavern work on evacuating the zoo," I said as the first sickly green blast of magic came at me, quickly deflecting it back into the stallion, I saw his body glow as he smiled, "and you let a Jedi do what they do best, handle weird situations." I told her, getting a hesitant nod as she ran out the door, quickly I heard her yelling for ponies to evacuate the zoo. I stilled my mind as the stallion ran at me and brought his foreleg down, raising my saber intending to amputate it, I was shocked to see my saber crossed with his foreleg.
The other zombies, for lack of a better word, rushed me and I used the force along with several kicks to keep them at bay as I resisted the pushing pressure from the unicorn before I pushed him away and leaped up to the rafters the unicorn following me with surprising agility and biting down on my saber blade drips of his blood landing on my face. One of the others got a grip of my pants in their mouth as I noticed the red forming around the magic armor the unicorn seemed to possess, using my free hand I choked my would be grappler and sent them back down. The unicorn clicked at me with a sinister smile as my saber lowered a few more inches towards my face, but he didn't realize his barrier was failing, grabbing the pommel of my saber I used it's length to apply more pressure to the offending creature. It didn't take long for the magic armor he had to dispel, the top of his head falling to the floor beneath us, his body quickly following as I leaped down twirling my saber.
The others rushed me, I quickly twisted and flourished my blade between them, swiftly ending the threat, deactivating my saber, I clipped it to my belt and walked out the door only to be greeted by a hazmat team with spears at the ready yelling at me to raise my hands. With a groan I raised them, I was then forced into a large pool, water from a hose struck me as they covered me in soap. They pulled me into another pool and threw me a minotaur's hazmat suit. I was taken to the hospital and thrown into an isolation ward, looking to the side I saw the guard from earlier sitting on one of the beds.
"Necromancy, they said, we have to be quarantined until they're sure we haven't been affected by the magic," she told me, "They're burning the reptile house with everything in it," she continued before crying, "the only reason I'm here is I touched one, what did you do?" she asked me while grabbing her pillow.
"I killed them," I said, "I-it spit on me, I didn't get it into any of my vectors," I explained, "At least that's what the hazmat team said." I lied down on the other bed and stared at the ceiling, where did a necromancer come from, academics that mention it in passing is rare enough, let alone spell books on the stuff.
The next two weeks were filled with constant blood tests and psychological exams, before we were released, "Oh sweetie, are you okay?" mom asked wrapping her legs and wings around me, "Cavern ran off saying she needed to do research," she continued, "she might be back now, so l-let's go home." she told me before a very familiar mare approached us.
"Good evening Ms. Lessa, Ms. Cereus," she said adjusting her tie, "I'm Supervisory Special Agent 74 with the Equestrian Intelligence Agency, I would like to inform you that the raised you combated in the zoo reptile house were extremely stable," she told us, "and there is no risk of being infected, only the original caster can raise your corpses," she explained, "here is a copy of the magic signature, so you can better combat any raised you may run into from the same raiser." she told us brushing past us, as stiff and robotic as ever.
"You know there are legends of a necromancer who isn't evil, within bat pony circles," mom said, nodding her head aggressively at my raised brow, "He's tall like a minotaur but shaped like you, just without the lekku," she continued, "and he would go around helping ponies and fought the many evils of early Equestria," she stood up and raised her front hooves over her head, "and his slain enemies would be conscripted into his army, be it pony or beast," she told me dropping back down, "they called him Barry Bone Raiser," she finished with a whisper into my ear, I started laughing uncontrollably, "It's not funny he was a great hero always putting himself before others, just like you!" she yelled at me as we made our way home.
Thinking about the raised the agent told us about I couldn't help but think it was connected to the Sith Ankh wanted me to defeat. Donning my armor and keeping my helmet to the side I traveled to the castle.
"Present your request," the stallion said, "castle is on restricted access due to a field trip in the gardens." he explained looking over my armor.
"Sasha Lessa previous student and current friend of Princess Luna," I told him, "I am requesting the audience of any of the princesses in regards to a credible threat to national security," he looked me over again before stepping inside. He came back after a few minutes.
"One of the princesses is granting your request; follow Captain Heartbreak from here," he said pointing out a mare in rose gold armor, "She'll lead you and keep you out of trouble." he explained before leaving back to guard the gates. The mare nodded to me, waved me along, and led me down a hallway I hadn't been down before.
"Princess Cadence is waiting I will be alongside to make sure you don't do anything," she told me with a stern look, "After all you did come fully armed and armored." she elaborated at my unimpressed look, rolling my eyes I gave her a nod and walked in, the very pink princess looking at me with a broad smile as her guard took place next to her.
"Sasha I'm so sorry-" she said standing up and prancing over to me and grabbing my hand shaking it, "- we haven't had a chance to meet~, I'm Princess Cadence, Auntie Celestia's niece," she introduced herself before leading me to a beanbag chair and having me take a seat before levitating a cup of tea to me, "So what do you need royalty for?" she asked taking a sip of her tea.
"I am here to inform an Equestrian governmental head that I have been warned that there may be a Sith lord within equestrian borders," I told her she calmly put down her cup of tea and swallowed, "I understand that this is troubling news but I am prepared to stand up to this threat." I finished putting my own cup and saucer down.
"Well, you have to be a member of the guard to actively stand up against threats," she told me when I leaned forward to speak she cut me off, "Your operation with the E.I.A was a decision made between my aunts and the director of the E.I.A, if I had been present; you never would have been given the green light," she firmly stated "civilians are not to be ordered to partake in manhunts or any law enforcement role, and you are a civilian, the only time you are allowed to use violence is in pure self-defense." she stood up when saying this.
"What are my options to defend earth then?" I asked, "Because no offense the damage a Sith lord can do is greater than what your guards, police, or E.U.P could possibly hope to prevent or clean up after." I told her, staying seated.
"You are willing to give up the job that in the paper you said is the reason you didn't join up in the first place?" groaning I nodded getting a smile in return, "then I'll give you some brochures!" she excitedly told me dropping a set of brochures on my lap, "I'll come by your house in two days to see which branch you'd like to join~" she singsonged pushing me out of her room, "Also I'll let my aunties know about the Sith threat." she told me waving as I left the palace.
Sitting on the couch I read through my options and none of them really fit what I would normally do, "Geez, all of these are too regimented," I groaned out as Fleur put down a cup of hot chocolate next to me, "I mean the Jedi were strict, but these are a bit too strict, if you didn't want to go on a mission you could always discuss it with the council," I said tossing the last one to the side when mom came home.
"I heard you came by the palace-" she said throwing herself onto the end of the couch as I pulled my legs in, "-why didn't you stop by and say hi?" she asked picking up one of the brochures, "are you planning to enlist?" mom asked tossing me the day guard's propaganda, "If so I suggest that one, I'll put in a good word." she told me smiling as Fleur brought out dinner.
"It was something Princess Cadence said, I need to be a guard, cop, or soldier if I want to fight this potential Sith lord," I told her getting an off look of worry, "But the guard, military, and police are too regimented for me, maybe I'll talk to Cadence about a special sector for me." I said taking a bite of the Prench cuisine Fleur loved to deliver.
"Sith are you sure?" she asked sitting up straight, "because if so I'll let you know about anything I hear about that." mom told me.
"It was part of my vision and those are not always accurate, so I'm not 100% positive," I said sipping on my drink, "If there is a Sith Lord I fear I'm the only one that could stand up to them." I stated with a sigh, looking down at my hilt and armor.
The next two days were simple with mom trying to convince me to join the day guard and Fleur pointing out the benefits of the others. I was already outside going through simple form training when the princess approached with her guard. "Hello Sasha, might we go inside so we can discuss your branch or police force selection?" she asked me I simply chuckled.
"Not interested, when the Sith rears their head-" I told her finishing up my movements,"- I will engage them, your rules of engagement be demand." I finished clipping my saber to my armor and removed my helmet, leading her inside I pulled out a chair before taking a seat across from her.
"Well we can't really make a habit of allowing vigilante work to be done within our borders," Cadence said to me, "If you fight this Sith and are not a member of the services, you will be arrested." she sternly told me.
"Well, that brings me to my proposal," I told her, "As a Jedi, I have several unique perspectives on security and would make a wonderful fighter in specific situations," I explained, "Perhaps we could set up a sort of tactical response or taskforce, I could head it, I only need to have emergency medical and travel expenses covered," I said, "Send me through basic or whatever but keep the freedoms I had with the Jedi." I suggested.
Princess Cadance raised her eyebrow, "And how would this task force operate?" she asked me looking over to her guard, "I mean the E.U.P has special forces units, they're the ones we sent in after Mallory Rose, so how would yours be different?" she questioned me.
"Well, for one I would be involved with the force and the use of a lightsaber," I started saying, "and of course, I could handpick who I feel have the most potential, mold them into wonderful guardians, maybe even getting a few more blasters made." I explained.
"And how about lightsabers?" she asked leaning forward.
"Absolutely not, a Jedi's weapon is not to be wielded by those untrained and insensitive to the force," I firmly told her, "Lightsabers are far more dangerous than your weapons and it takes years of meditation before you're allowed to use a practice saber." I explain getting a curt nod in return.
"I'll discuss your suggestion to the section chiefs-" she told me standing up"-and will let you know when a decision has been reached," she said leaving, "Have a good day Sasha." I gave her wave and a slight bow.
Two weeks after Cadence left a new power flowed through me, mixing and meshing with the force, I'd never felt stronger than I did in this moment, "My champion," I heard Ankh say, "This force is far stronger than I had assumed, and meshes well with my divine energy," she told me, "With more study of it, I may be able to use you as a conduit," she proudly stated, "however I have tried through a particularly power unicorn and through one of the first alicorns," she mumbled, "Neverless, I will only attempt if I am sure it is safe and with your blessing my champion." she told me.
"Thanks for your consideration, I guess," I said lowering myself and my property to the floor before opening my eyes, "What happened to your other potential conduits?" I asked, standing up, not entirely sure I wanted to know the answer.
"The alicorn exploded, and the unicorn went insane," she said as I stared in uncomforted silence, "Strange it was the unicorn that went insane you'd think they would explode when the ultimate power of a goddess is pushed through them," she stated staring off into space, "Anyways; my champion, have you made progress in finding this Sith menace?" she questioned me stepping closer.
"No, I've been blocked by the crown while Princess Cadence discusses a special forces unit, slash, task force with the joint chiefs," I informed her, "The military and police units are too regimented for me and I need to have more freedom," Ankh nodded, "I expect to hear from her soon however." I told her pushing my chair back under my desk and arranging my collectibles back into their spots.
"Then this gives you time to practice to with my newest gift to you, the magic of a goddess," she announced stamping her hoof into the floor, leaving a black mark on my rug, "greatly diminished, but the magic and power is there, no need for a focus either, benefits of god hood~" she told me flaring her wings, "Now try to raise a shield, you need only imagine the thing infront of you to do so." she commanded.
Rolling my eyes I raised my left hand and imagined a shield infront of me, shocked when I saw a golden glow radiate from my hand, dropping my hand it quickly dissipated, a frown crossed Ankhs muzzle, "the shield should have maintained itself," she said, "again," she commanded.
I raised me hand and performed the spell once more admiring the golden glow and the blanketing warmth it gave off, "Okay, so do I need to keep thinking about the shield?" I asked lowering my hand, the shield following the movement.
"Strange," the goddess mused, "perhaps it is how my power meshes with your force?" she pondered as I dissipated the shield, "I believe in terms of general spells they will go through your hands," she told me, "and now I will give you the rest of your gift, since your body is acclimated." she announced on pressing her horn against my forehead.
I woke up, my throat was dry, my head throbbed, and my robes clung to me with sweat. Struggling to my feet I made my way to the door and stairs, stumbling on the first two steps, I soon lost my balance and tumbled down the rest of the flight.
Groaning I dragged myself to the kitchen, hearing a muffled noise, thumps vibrating through the floor; I opened the fridges door my hearing slowly coming back, "Sasha, sweetheart are you okay?" I heard mom calling our, "let me help you." she said, grabbing the workout drink, my eyes struggling to stay open as the orange flavor hit my tongue.
I sputtered and coughed as I sucked down the sweet liquid, "wh-what time, is it?" I groaned blinking away the liquid covering my eyes before rubbing at them, "mom, what's wrong?" I asked her, sitting up, as she looked at me worriedly.
"Your eyes, what happened to them?" she asked causing me to jump to my feet and run to the bathroom, "Sasha," mom called out as I looked in the mirror, focused on the gold taking up a quarter of each of my aqua eyes, "Are you okay?" she asked me.
"Yeah, I think so, just magical now I guess," I said placing my hand on the mirror, I took in a sharp breath noticing I could barely see magic wisping around me, "This is weird." I said leaning back and focusing on anything but the wisps of magic. Slowly they dissipated.
"What's weird sweetheart?" mom asked stepping next to me and wrapping her wing around me.
"I can see magic now, it's disorienting to say the least," I told her, quietly I imagined flames flowing from my hands, "Neat." I stated looking down at the flames licking around my hands.
"Sasha, how are you doing that?" she asked taking a step back in awe, "did you find some artifact or something?" she questioned me.
"No, I was made a champion," my voice filled with confidence, "and the power is flowing through me, mixing with the force," I smiled as I chuckled raising my hands and looking them over, with practice I'd be unstoppable, "That Sith doesn't stand a chance." I spit out before laughing loudly, the towels on the rack and the mirror shaking through the power that bled from me.
Shield ran down the halls, trying every door none would open, she could hear the slapping of the decaying corpses and the rattle of chains behind her, their voices repeating, "You did this to us, face what you've done for crown and country," they choked out, the now dark blood falling from their mouths. Tears streamed down the unicorns face as she found a door that opened, ducking in and locking it behind her, she was met with a series of pictures, pictures of her life, taking a tentative step forward she saw her older sister when they were just foals in school playing O&O, a smile crossed Shields face, she walked through admiring the pictures of her life, before she came to the one that changed everything, her sisters graduation from the Guard Academy.
The beasts rammed their bodies against the door, "Come out officer," they said in unison as Shield moved deeper into the room of memories, soon she stopped and looked closer at another one, her first kill, a drowning, a mob boss she had wrapped him in the chains of his anchor and thrown him overboard of his own yacht. She had intended to arrest him, but he was physically stronger than her and her only hope was to kill him, either way she was congratulated for a job well done. She moved deeper looking at all the pictures of the creatures she had killed, remembering why she killed them, terrorists, international serial killers, rapists, mobsters and mob bosses, all threw the first strike. The door splintered as it was broken down, turning around Shield steadied herself and rushed the zombies, they had deserved it, and she was just doing her job.
