Within the guardhouse, the newest arrival in Canterlot had already started to attract attention, and how could he not?

Luke was a total unknown to them, a real alien sitting in a cell conversing with one of the guards. But it was because he was an unknown that they became curious, and their curiosity eventually won the battle against their fears. Soon, a small crowd of guards had formed. Still, some had kept their distance and opted to observe while keeping themselves primed for any possible confrontation.

The braver—or foolish—in this case, have opted to ask him questions—simple ones, like if he was an actual alien from another world.

The one thing he never explained or at least in detail was his adventures across the galaxy, he felt that they would be overwhelmed with the information and so opted to tell the guards an abridged version.

Currently Luke was explaining to them about his home world, Tatooine. Reactions varied when he mentioned that his world was a gigantic desert, devoid of green vegetation and scarce sources of water—save for subterranean springs—but also holding a plethora of dangerous wildlife within its sandy cradle that evolved to deal with the extreme conditions.

The Royal guards were both horrified and fascinated, which reminded the Jedi of children listening to a frightening story. Once he mentioned the fabled apex predators that swam Tatooine’s sanded seas and vast dunes caught their full attention. “Wait, you have dragons too!?”

Luke raised his brow at the question. “Yes.” He replied. “I assume, by your reactions, that you have them as well, or something resembling what I’m picturing.”

“If what you’re picturing are giant flying reptiles with four legs that breathe fire, then, uh yeah, we do,” Spearhead spoke up. “I don’t know much about them, but they do have their own kingdom.”

Luke’s expression became one of surprise. A whole kingdom consisted of dragons. Truly, this world continued to marvel at him, and he wondered what other surprises it held.

Though he couldn’t help the shutter in his spine. If these equestrian dragons were as big as a Krayt and had their legendary temperament, he wouldn’t lie and say he’d be raring to face one, especially since this variety breathed fire.

He was taken out of thoughts when Flash spoke up. “Do your dragons have a kingdom too?”

Luke was about to reply when one of the guards spoke up. “Guys!” One yelled out. “The captain’s coming over!”

Spearhead's eyes widened. “Oh shoot, alright everypony in formation!” He ordered quickly. Luke watched with some amusement as the guards quickly got in position, to some it was easy, others however did stumble. Flash Sentry was one of them, and Spearhead’s snacks valiantly and tragically paid the ultimate price.

Luke heard the sound of hooves clicking against the stone floor, silencing the crowd of security as they all stood like status within a workshop. The young Jedi knight could feel the anxiety of the younger less experienced wafting from their nerves, Flash especially. Perhaps thinking he’ll get in trouble.

Eventually Shining rounded around the corner with Carmine tailing behind, the red stallion’s head was slightly bowed with his spiked helmet shadowing his eye a little. The captain’s features were calm, and relaxed while his eyes were sharp like vibroblades, they glanced between pony to pony.

“Hmmmm…” his eyes narrowed at them. Luke could hear one of the guards gulp with anxiety, and he couldn’t blame them. Their captain looked ready to tear them a new one for, what Luke assumed, leaving their posted area. Instead, all they got was a shake of his head. “You know, I would be on your rears for this, but considering the circumstances, I’ll let it slide.” He strolled up to Spearhead and Flash. Just as he was about to speak, his hoof crunched down on Spearhead’s snacks. Shining lifted his hoof, some chips stuck under it as he gave Spearhead a look that said ‘Really?’

Luke quietly chuckled, remembering the time something similar had happened to him in the rebellion. Luke heard a faint ‘sorry’ as Spearhead moved out of the way, then swept some of the chips away with his hoof.

After that incident, Shining turned to Luke and asked. “How’s your stay, currently?”

Luke mulled it over for a bit. “I would say it was pretty good, thank you for asking.”

“I see. Well, I have come to inform you that the princess has decided to have a meeting with you,” he stated, catching Luke off guard.

“Already?” he asked with a look of surprise that marred his features.

Shining nodded, then levitated a key to unlock the cell. Luke put up no resistance once the cool touch of the strange metal cuffs was clamped back onto his wrists.

“Now just follow us; do not cause any trouble here.” Shining stated with a hint of steel in his voice. “Otherwise we will have to take more drastic measures.” He leveled a stern look at the Jedi. “Am I understood?”

Luke nodded. “You have my word, I promise that I won’t cause an issue.”

“Good, now follow us, the Princess is waiting.” He stood aside, letting Luke step out of the cell, flanked on either side by Flash, who was still trying to shake the remains of an apple off of his hind hoof; and Carmine, who at least seemed to be more willing now to just ignore Luke rather than antagonize him. Spearhead, the second in command, trailed behind.

The young Skywalker had a feeling that even after this meeting, he would be here for a while.

Luke followed Shining out, into a large hallway with the ground covered with a large wine-colored rug, stretching from one hallway to another. The interior was much wider from the inside; it was almost breathtaking. He soaked up as much detail as he could, even the walls, shining and reflective, had spirals and intricate shapes running along the surface.

Paintings of what Luke assumed were people—or in this case, ponies— of great importance hung for all to see, to show the vast history of this kingdom…Canterlot he remembered, held within its walls. The young Jedi couldn’t help but appreciate the years of work that went into building this vast structure; every brick of smooth granite and marble must have been handled with excellent care, exquisite precision, and dedication.

He had to admit, Luke felt like he was, perhaps, underestimating the species a little even when they hadn’t developed their technology further. He hoped for the day to come when they discovered hyperspace… Perhaps that was one of the reasons why he was here.

The stroll was lengthy; Luke counted that only five minutes had passed even though it felt shorter, with the only noise filling the air being the sounds of trotting hooves and shuffling armor.

Eventually, he would see their oncoming destination. A great door of blue marble with an image of a pony with wings and a horn carved into the stone. From what his friends told him, the image had to be of an Alicorn: a being of great power that controlled the rotation of the sun and moon… Although Luke was skeptical of such a claim. And yet, there was no denying that this being did exist if the radiant energy he felt three days ago, in that first glorious sunrise, had any say.

As he got closer he examined the door a bit more. A carved image of the sun and moon, on either side of the Alicorn. Perhaps it was a representation of how this princess controlled the star and satellite’s rotation around the planet, it’s interesting, to say the least.

New noises filled the air, a low hum as suddenly the door began to open revealing the throne room. It was just vast, so vast that a Rancor could perhaps make itself at home, hell maybe even a young Kyrat dragon would make a nest here!

At the far end where the rug ran its course, sat in the middle was perhaps the strangest-looking throne that Luke had ever seen. It had two separate sections that at first he thought were steps until he saw the waterfall seeping down from a strip of wall inlaid with gold and silver. The water, as it flowed, displayed the sun on the golden left so long as the sun shone directly on it. It seemed, as well, that the right side was starting to show the faintest signs of a crescent moon as the day went on. Luke was unsure how this worked nor why it was done. Is this how they read time?

The golden throne on the left had a strong, sturdy appearance with a backrest and seat covered by deep blue cushions. The backrest sported shapes along its sides, making Luke think of the flames licking at space from the surface of stars. The base of the throne, likewise, seemed to ‘melt’ into the podium upon which it stood, creating a pool of golden metal that seeped over the steps to the floor he was on.

The silver throne on the right was quite similar in concept, with a seat and backrest covered with purple cushions. The backrest of this one was surrounded by a faint halo of white light that was extremely difficult to perceive in the sunlight. Likewise, with the golden throne, this one also had silver material stretching out from the base and over the stairs. However, these were straight, vertical, thick lines of silver that stopped neatly at the foot of the first step, much like the shadows the moons would cast upon everything at night.

‘Two thrones?’ Luke thought. He was under the impression that there was only one ruler. Going off his new friends' testimonies.

His thoughts were interrupted once they made their stop in front of the throne, and just as he was about to ask where the princess was, a flash of bright light blinded him, catching him off guard.

He squinted and turned his head away from the light, but as he did, he heard a new sound: heavy wings beating against the air, sending gusts that made his hair flutter and wave. Upon opening his eyes he was met with the sight of who could only be Princess Celestia, her presence bearing down on him with familiar, purple eyes.

In the Force she radiated like a sun, shining golden rays open the world. Another thing that struck Luke was how ancient she felt; at least as old as Yoda was, if not older! And yet, she seemed as young and fair as Rarity or Fluttershy. Being close to her felt suffocating like he was in the vicinity of a star’s gravitational pull, but that feeling vanished.

From the gleam in her eye, Luke knew why.

Like Rarity and Shining, she was pure white with flecks of light sparkling softly before vanishing. Her mane held the strangest assortment of colors yet compared to the others. At first, Luke thought it was a rainbow, but with pastel colors. It moved and flowed in the air like it had been submerged under a current of unseen liquid, or like a stream of solar plasma in a false color filter. Even her tail was waving and rippling smoothly in the air, carried aloft by its own wind.

She wore a golden crown with a purple gem in the center of her head, just sitting behind her long horn; which was at least triple the length of what he saw on other Unicorns. Around her chest was a golden torc with ornate writing and patterns chiseled into the metal, and at its center was another purple gem with slight hues of pinks glinting from within. Gold shoes rested on her hooves, shaped in the image of her tall crown.

Princess Celestia gazed down at him with curious eyes that seemed to examine him in detail. She gave him a soft hum and a soft smile that seemed to wean the tension from the air. “So…” she began in a warm, rich voice. “You’re the newcomer that Everpony has been panicking about.” She stated while lowering herself on her throne. Her wings furled behind her back, and every pony present — the captain, the guards, and the girls — sank into a low, deep bow, their forelegs bending down.

Shining stepped up first,. “Your majesty, we have brought the Alien, Luke as he calls himself.”

“Is that so?” She said in a calm tone.

Luke caught a glimpse of her ‘Cutie mark’ which was an image of a blazing sun on her hip. He’d need to ask about that eventually. He took a step forward, the chain between the cuffs rattled slightly from his movements. He lowered himself into a bow, a universal sign of respect to royalty.

He could feel the surprise coming off from the guards to varying degrees, including the princess herself. “It is an honor to meet you, your majesty.” He stated in a polite tone.

Amusement rolled off her like the morning dew on a leaf. She replied. “Oh I appreciate it, but please lift your head, no need for the formality.”

“Either way it should be proper for me to formally greet royalty.” He said. If he hadn’t, Leia would have his ear. Straightening himself up. “I have come to make amends for the issue I have caused.”

Celestia’s brow raised with surprise. “Oh? I see.” With a hum, she rested her back against the seat. “Well before we begin, I hope you don’t mind if your companions join.”

Now it was Luke’s turn to be surprised. “My companion—“ He was interrupted when the door behind opened, and there he got to see some familiar faces.

He couldn’t help but smile once Rainbow Dash saw him. “Luke!”

“Hey you guys, how are you three doing?” he asked.

Applejack gave him a warm yet snarky look. “We should be askin’ you that, sugarcube.”

‘Sugarcube?’

While Luke was processing the name given to him, Rarity attempted to step forth, only for a wall of guards to block her way.

Agitated, she huffed. “Honestly, is this necessary?”

“Sorry miss, precautions are required,” a random guard explained.

“And with great reason you three.” The Alicorn stated, gaining the attention of Luke and the girls. “Now.” Her bright smile reminded Luke of the twin suns of Tatooine soon vanished and became stern like the afternoon sun, an air of professionalism surrounded her as now her sights were on Luke. “Let’s begin.”

Warmth, a sensation he was now all too familiar with, coated his entire body in a blanket of liquid, numbing the various aches that plagued his muscles and nerves. Taking one breath made his chest feel tight like every strand of muscle was stretched further than it should, twitching like electricity was still forcefully surging through them. This was all accompanied by a painful throb in his head acting as the catalyst to waking up.

Opening his eyes, Anakin once again found himself, without a doubt, in the Bacta tank. Held suspended by the breathing mask and the straps on his shoulders, bubbles would occasionally float up from the floor and into the ceiling of the chamber.

His eyes darted around, his sight unimpeded in the bacta unlike in water, granting him a perfect vision of the lab which revealed that Teefour wasn’t present at his usual control station.

He tried to remember what had happened, recollecting a sudden pain in his chest and being on the floor. His last memory was Teefour and the locals looking at him with great worry as he passed out.

Which was why he was in the tank, but….

Anakin just felt so tired…

He didn’t know why, but every part of his body felt heavy and useless. In a way they never had. It was like the years of service had finally caught up, and it was only just now how truly exhausted he felt. He even tried to summon the Force, but that seemed to drain his strength further.

Not even a moment later, his eyelids now felt like they were weighted down with lead. What little strength he had to keep even his eyes open had expired. Attempts to fight against passing out were met with difficulty, moving his limbs and shaking his head, yet it seemed that his body would not cooperate. It became clear that even he could not win the war against sleep. His consciousness gradually drifted away. Into the calm darkness.

“Anakin.”

His eyes shot open and he gasped. The scenery had changed. The bacta tank he was submerged in vanished, replaced by a thick layer of gray fog and…solid ground

Glancing down, it was hard to tell but Anakin could tell he was standing on a smooth, featureless surface akin to polished marble… except he could see right through it.

The former Sith Lord knew where he was. After all; it surrounded him on all sides and even flowed through his being. Pulsing slightly with invisible power evenly, like the soft beats of a living being's heart.

“The Force…” he said quietly. His voice was barely a whisper, yet it seemed to echo off his surroundings.

Slightly surprised but undeterred. He set his gaze to the sky—or what could be considered the sky— and found that it was also obscured by the gray mist. He raised a tentative hand in the air to remove the layer, yet Anakin stopped himself for a moment and then lowered his hand. Confusion ran through him like ichor in his veins. Questions seeped into his mind.

Why did the Force bring him here in the first place? In fact, where is ‘here’?

It was not the calm tides of the Lightside nor was it the churning rapids of the Darkside. Two vast conceptual aspects of the universe, as a whole, and yet the realm that he currently resides in…seemed to be between both?

How was that possible?

“Anakin.” Jolted from his thoughts, the urge to reach for the lightsaber, despite it not being present at his hip, was squashed beneath the great tide of discipline; he looked for the source of the voice but could not find its origins. It seemed to bounce off every surface.

‘At least I wasn’t hearing things…’ he thought. Whether that was good or not was left to fate, so he replied. “Who is there?” he called out. “Show yourself!”

A curious hum was made, full of expectations. Like it had predicted his reaction. “Even after all these years, you are still impatient. I sometimes wonder how Obi-Wan handled you.”

Anakin narrowed his eyes. There was familiarity within the voice, he just couldn’t place his mechanical finger on it. One thing was certain, and that was that the being knew his former master.

“I can feel the uncertainty wafting off you. Allow me to refresh your mind.”

Footsteps could be heard this time coming from behind him. Anakin turned to the source and saw within the thick fog the outline of a man. Strolling closer to him in a patient fashion, the outline created an air of familiarity that rose within Anakin. With a flick of the figure's wrist, the fog parted. Anakin stared, not believing his eyes.

There was no mistaking the person in front of him — tall, brown robes and even darker skin, and calm dark eyes staring at him from a stern, severe face that Anakin hadn't seen in twenty-four years — not since he had witnessed the man, be handed and scorched by Sith lightning — fall into the endless depths of Coruscant from the Chancellor’s office on that horrible night.

“Mace Windu?”

Anyone in his place, save perhaps his father, would have felt anxiety, but not Luke. The rigorous Jedi training and the battles had made sure that emotion would not manifest itself. Though this could not stop a certain pressure within the air, and while it wasn’t tense, he could feel the lingering weight bearing down onto his shoulders.

Popping out his fingers, he rolled his shoulder to loosen some stiffness from his joints. “May I ask: how long will I be kept here?”

Celestia tilted her head slightly at the question. “If all goes smoothly, then not very long.” She smiled slightly. “Now, could you introduce yourself again if you don’t mind?”

The young Jedi gave her a nod, clearing his throat he introduced himself. “My name is Luke Skywalker,” he said in a calm tone.

Celestia hummed. “A strange name — but oddly fitting for a strange creature like yourself. Both familiar to our conventions and yet, not.” Specks of curiosity glittered within her eyes. “So what are you exactly?” she asked. “I have lived for a long time and seen all sorts of beings, but you are something new.” Her lip quirked up. “It’s safe to assume that you are not from this world?”

A smile rose from his lips, and a small humorous chuckle came out. “Yes indeed,” he said in a good-hearted tone .“I am indeed not, and before you say anything — no, I am not here to take it over.”

Celestia snorted. “I assume it's not your first time?”

“Nope,” Luke replied instantly. “Not even my first, and I doubt it will be my last.”

The quirk on her lips turned into a full bright smile. “That’s fair,” she said, her body posture beginning to relax. “So how did you end up in our world?” she asked, curiosity lacing her tone.

He could sense that the others were curious too, even Carmine despite his suppressed agitation and distrusting emotions that came off from him. In any case, he would answer her question. “Well, it is a lengthy story,” he stated. “But I will tell it as best as I can.” With a calm sigh, he began explaining with a neutral expression. “My Father and I had escaped from a battle, but unfortunately the ship we resided in had a damaged system due to conflict, forcing us to be stuck in hyperspace.”

Before he could continue, Celestia raised her hoof. “Hyperspace?” she asked with curiosity.

Luke considered his answer for a moment. “How much of a grasp do your people have on astronomy?” he asked. “Specifically, the actual distance between stars, as opposed to the apparent distance.”

She hummed thoughtfully. “Enough to know that it would take much longer than the average pony’s lifespan to reach here even at light’s speed, if you were indeed from another world.” She gave him a level look. “I assume this ‘hyperspace’ circumvents that issue.”

A smile slowly brightened on his features. He was glad to know that had a better grasp of physics, which made it much easier to explain. “You would be right. Hyperspace is a parallel dimension that allows for faster-than-light space travel to other worlds, and…we had been stuck in it for five days,” Luke stopped for a moment, a look of realization kicked in with his brow rising. “Frankly, it was a miracle we even survived at all.” He admitted with a slight nod of his head.

“Why is that?”

Luke, in a small burst of mischief, answered in a deliberately neutral tone. “Because of the risk of accidentally hitting a planet or a star. Or getting too close to a supernova, or Force forbid a black hole en route. And then there’s also this affliction called ‘hyper rapture’ to consider—“ And so Luke went on, going into a tirade and listing off all the things that could go wrong in hyperspace, while everyone present just stared at him as if he grew a second head, sprouted tentacles, or both at once.

Celestia raised her brow in cautious surprise. “You…sensed our world?” she asked, confusion marring her tone.

Luke nodded. “Through the Force, and before you ask — ” he raised a hand to forestall the imminent question. “I will endeavor to answer your questions regarding that eventually.” He coughed into his fist and continued. “But yes, I sensed your world, and…it was quite honestly nothing I had ever experienced before, and…” A smile stretched over his features, filled with sincerity. “It gave me hope, knowing that there was a possibility of salvation.”

The young Jedi continued with his story, the princess and the others encapsulated into the tale. Even his friends listened in as he went into further detail — how he and his father had managed to escape hyperspace by first shutting down the system and then performing a risky maneuver that required precise timing — and, Luke thought to himself, an extreme amount of luck.

In the timelessness of the Living Force, a certain old man briefly separated from his oneness with everything to shout in utter long-suffering exasperation.

“Luke! How many times have I told you that there’s no such thing as luck!?”

Like father, like son indeed; irritating Obi-Wan Kenobi even in death.

Luke shook off the feeling that someone was shouting at him from a vast distance and continued with his story.

It had been… rough to say the least. Honestly, rough was an understatement; when the system was shut off the momentum unfortunately continued and it felt like he was being forced out of his own body. Thankfully he was strapped in the chair—thank the Force for that—but the sensation left his body shaking like a frightened Womprat.

Looking back, he realized that it was both a terrible and wonderful idea. Ah if Uncle Owen saw this he’d be tearing his hair out.

Ah, good times, good times.

“And I have to say, after being stuck in hyperspace for a week, your planet was a welcome sight for sore eyes,” he stated with a smile that slowly flipped into a frown. “Until…it happened.” A tremor went up his spine. The room felt a little colder with the sunlight seeming to dim and withholding its warmth from the world.

Luke gazed out in no particular direction, the events prior resurfacing within his mind. The day when they were attempting to fix the vessel to make proper landfall was ruined when It came. He remembered that moment when it managed to get its oppressive tendrils of cold indifference past his defenses to make him submit to its whims. Its vengeful and hate-filled desires could be felt through the Force.

Luke was familiar with them, the desire for revenge, the desire to oppress anything beneath Its heel; but most of all Its desire for freedom. Luke at the time was momentarily surprised by such a desire until he realized that there was a reason for its probable imprisonment. All he could think about now was the scenario of it leaving the moon; the thought made his chest burn with searing heat. Though he had barely even been on this planet for a week, Luke would not allow this entity to do unto others what it attempted on him. He couldn’t allow it. He wouldn’t.

“Mister… Skywalker?” He blinked, taken out from his thoughts he glanced up towards the monarch; a look of concern deeply rooted in her eyes. The resemblance to Aunt Beru, when she was in her “concerned mother” mode, was uncanny. For a moment his emotions almost swelled remembering his aunt uncle again, which he quickly pushed down. “Are you alright?”

Not just her. He felt those present gazing at him with varying degrees of concern. He realized his fist was balled so tightly that the joints within his synthetic hand were creaking from the pressure. Luke uncurled his hand and nodded slowly. “Yeah…I am.” He gave her a calm reassuring look, and then he started to explain. “When my father and I saw your world, we immediately planned to make landfall with what little power our ship held within its battery core. We repaired what we could…until It came.”

“It?” Celestia repeated.

“We don’t know what it is…other than that it was on the moon.” As soon as he mentioned it, Celestia’s posture changed. They were small of course and unnoticeable to the average person, but with a well-trained eye like his, Luke could tell that she went stiff, her shoulders tensing by an inch and her wings seeming to spread out a little.

The young Jedi was about to ask if she was alright when she interrupted him. “Are you sure…?” she asked.

The question made him pause. He heard the desperation in her tone. The force around her seemed to quake and quiver from her emotions, and it was…familiar. Very familiar.

“I am quite sure,” he stated. “It was powerful too.” From what he sensed, the power It wielded was vast like an ocean around an island; a grand mountain that reminded Luke of when he faced his father for the first time, on Cymoon-1 years ago. It made him question the reality of things, how something like that could even exist in the galaxy. “To defend ourselves, my father suggested we combine our powers. It helped greatly but it was still a struggle, and then I…blacked out.” He licked his lip. “It all happened in an instant, but I guess when it happened the Thunderclap, as you call it, was made…”

The room became silent, implications now filtered through the room like a fresh breeze of smoke from an ashen tree. They know the truth now and Luke felt the guilt bubble from his heart, he bit the inside of his cheek and said. “I am so sorry for what I—“

The Princess silenced him with the raise of her hoof, her features were calm and her gaze was stern. “Do not apologize, Mister Skywalker. For the thousands of years I’ve been in this world I can determine whether somepony is lying or not.” Her lips quirked slightly. “You do not fit that criteria. The truth is all I've heard from you, and for that I thank you” Celestia rose from her throne, her hair flowing just above her shoulder and wings. She turned her eyes to Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash. “As for you three; I also thank three for coming and vouching for our guest here. Your conduct and testimony today are a testament to the nigh-limitless scope of your honesty, generosity, and loyalty. However, I must now ask that you all vacate the room please.”

An array of emotions flashed quickly on their muzzles, ranging from surprise to mild shock and agitation. Luke could tell that Rainbow Dash was about to argue. Before he could say anything, Celestia beat him to it. “Before you speak, hear this. Your friend is in no way in trouble.”

“Then why are ya tellin' us to leave, Yer Majesty?” Applejack asked, frowning.

Celestia’s reply was instant but gentle. “Because Mister Skywalker has revealed sensitive information that I feel should be kept between as few ponies as possible. I do not doubt your willingness to help, but what he has mentioned so far would cause unnecessary panic among the ponies if it left this room. Now, you have all done your jobs and vouched for his innocence. I ask you, please, to go home. See to your homes and families. Mister Skywalker here is in good hooves.” She gave them that gentle smile once more. ‘I swear it on my crown and authority as Princess.”

Before the three could protest, Luke spoke up. “Girls, it’s okay.” Bringing their attention to him, he gave them a comforting smile. “I’ll be okay.”

“But Luke—“ Rainbow Dash tried to speak out.

“Dash, I promise I’ll be okay.” His smile widened more, showing that what he said would be true. For a moment he sensed something flicker with the three, like a small ember before vanishing. The urge to raise his brow was suppressed, so he wasn’t sensing it randomly. Interesting. “Look, once I finish up here I’ll tell you more stories of my adventures.”

Her eyes lit it from that, yet reluctance still glowed in them. Something was in those girls, what that was he couldn’t tell because of how fast it flickered away. In any case, his message seemed to get through with reluctance Rarity nudged them both. “Let’s go you two, we wouldn’t want to delay his stay longer than necessary.”

Rainbow grumbled earning a pat on the shoulder by Applejack who felt the same, she gave young Skywalker a small glare. “You better keep your promise.”

He chuckled at that. “I will.”

Soon the three left with two guards guiding them out, meanwhile he turned back to Celestia who had a raised brow and a hint of a smirk. “I must say, you certainly continue to grow more interesting.”

He chuckled at that. “I aim to please,” he joked.

The smirk widened a little, she turned to the captain of the guard. “Captain Shining armor,” she called out.

“Yes, ma’am?” The unicorn stepped forward, his posture stiff and disciplined while his face was like stone.

“Please release Mr. Skywalker from his bonds,” she ordered politely. Shining followed through with no issue. Freed, Luke took the moment to rub his wrist and twirl his hand around to remove stiffness while watching as the cuffs returned to their normal shape.

“Thank you. I’ll be honest, this world fascinates me,” Luke admitted while returning his gaze to Celestia. “I hope you don’t mind sharing knowledge of your world.”

Celestia chuckled. “I wouldn’t mind, but that would have to wait.” She turned to address the remaining guards in the throne room. “Please return to your posts now, this meeting is over. I appreciate that all of you have decided to join. But it's over now.” Without a second thought, they all began vacating the royal chambers, but Celestia called out one particular guard. “Spearhead, could you fetch my student?”

“Yes ma’am!” he saluted. He hurried out afterwards until only Luke, Shining Armor, and the Princess were left in the chambers.

With a hum, Celestia slid off her throne, hoof clopping against the gold-accented steps. “Mr Skywalker, I appreciate everything you told me. However, there is more to your story than you realize,” she stated. Her features were relaxed yet held a sternness that reminded Luke of his old masters: Yoda and old Ben.

Luke slowly nodded. He had a feeling that she had more information about It judging by her reactions earlier. “Well, what can you tell me, Princess?” he asked calmly.

An indescribable glint manifested within the princess’ eyes. “Follow me,” she said, turning to another entrance within the chambers. “And I will explain everything.”

Author's Note

Yes, I’m still alive. I apologize for taking to so long, this year has kept me from writing, but I do still write when I have the time.

I felt so bad about leaving you guys hanging, but I wanted to give you all the best quality story. You all deserve that.

But it kinda got worse when I got betrayed by ‘Friends’ who didn’t come to help me out when I needed it. I will not name them because they matter little to me now, no it’s not someone from my writhing team. They are my real friends and they helped me moved through.

The chapter was proofread by The Psychopath, I’d suggest checking out his stuff honestly, he’s one hell of a writer.