The Jedi Prince III: The Spark of Hope

A short while later, the skiff carrying Harmony Squad and Luke, R2, 3PO, and Ben in the landspeeder, zoomed across the desert wastelands. The speeders come to a stop by a bluff overlooking the spaceport: Mos Eisley. A haphazard array of low, grey, concrete structures and semi-domes. A harsh gale blew across the stark canyon floor. Luke adjusted his goggles and walked to the edge of the craggy bluff where Ben stood.

“Mos Eisley Spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious,” Obi-Wan said.

“Well that’s just peachy,” Rainbow remarked.

“Mos Eisley has tons of rogues, and most of them aren’t friendly,” Cody replied, “If they don’t pick your pockets or steal your mode of transportation, they’ll likely kill us on sight if they want to. My advice: Stay close together as possible, don’t stray, and we’ll be just fine.”

Harmony Squad looked toward Luke, who gave them a determined smile. If Luke Skywalker also knows what they are getting into and how dangerous Mos Eisley is, at least he’s going in ready to take the chance. All they can do was hope that they don’t attract ‘unwanted’ attention.

Cody took a peek through his macrobinoculars and noticed the Stinger Mantis in a bad position, he gasped in horror.

“What is it, Cody?” Sunset asked.

“By the look of it, the Mantis crash landed,” Cody replied.

“I hope Spike and Flash are still in one piece,” Twilight said worriedly.

Cody then turned to Luka and said, “Since R2 and 3PO seem to be in good hands, It’s up to you and Obi-Wan to rescue the princess and get the droids to the Rebel base. We’ll meet you there later.”

Soon enough, Harmony Squad reached what was left of the Mantis. Not too far away, they found Spike and Flash Sentry laying on the ground, moaning as they got up.

“Spikey-wikey! You’re alright!” Rarity said, kissing him on his cheeks.

Spike blushed at this as Cody went over to Flash and asked, “Are you alright, Flash? What happened to the Mantis?”

“Spike and I are okay, Cody. We were attacked and shot down by TIE fighters,” Flash replied, “They spotted us and opened fire before we could turn on the cloaking device and the rear deflector shields were rebooting.”

“Glad you’re okay, Spike,” Twilight said, hugging him.

“Now we just need a ride off this planet and get to the rebel base,” Rainbow replied.

“I’ll contact Hondo to give us a ride on his ship,” Cody said.

“Good thinkin’,” Applejack replied.

Cody then took out his holocaster and said, “Hondo, do you read me?”

It was then that Hondo appeared in the hologram, “I read you Cody. What can I do for you?” he asked.

“We need a ride to the rebel base on Yavin 4. Rebel command is expecting us, can you please help us out?” Cody replied.

“Of course, my friends,” Hondo said as he signed off.

Just then, Harmony Squad headed for the spaceport on their skiff. They tried to keep as low a profile as possible as stormtroopers were searching the city for R2 and 3PO. The squad managed to sneak past them until they reached the landing pads. It wasn’t long before Hondo landed the Last Chance in Docking Bay 96.

Once they loaded the skiff onboard, Harmony Squad met up with Hondo. Upon takeoff, R5 then entered the base coordinates into Hondo’s navicomputer. They then jumped into hyperspace.

It wasn’t long before the Last Chance approached the planet Yavin, heading for one of its moons. Entering Yavin 4, the ship soared over dense jungle. An alert guard, his laser scanner in hand, scanned the countryside. He set the scanning gun down and looked toward the temple, barely visible in the foliage.

Rotting in a forest of gargantuan trees, an ancient temple lay shrouded in an eerie mist. The air was heavy with the fantastic cries of unimaginable creatures. Later on, a familiar YT-1300 Corellian freighter landed on the platform. Exiting the ship was Luke, Princess Leia, R2, and 3PO. Alongside Luke, Leia, and the two droids was tough, roguish star-pilot about thirty years old and a wookie.

“Glad you made it, Luke,” Cody said, “You must be Princess Leia. I’m Cody Ando, and these are my wives, Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer, along with our friends, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Sal, Bucky, Spike, Flash Sentry, and R5-G7.”

“My pleasure,” Leia replied.

“Hello, Leia,” Rarity greeted.

“And you two are?” Cody asked the pilot and wookie.

“Han Solo, I’m captain of the Millennium Falcon,” the pilot introduced himself, “This is my first mate, Chewbacca or Chewie for short.”

“Hi, Han. Hi, Chewie. I’m Cody Ando, and these are my wives, Twilight Sparkle and Sunset Shimmer, our friends, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Sal, Bucky, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Spike, Rarity, Flash Sentry, and R5-G7,” Cody said.

“Good to meet you,” Han replied.

“Howdy, Han,” Applejack greeted.

“Good to meet you, Han,” Rainbow added.

“You sure are a warm and fuzzy big fella,” Fluttershy smiled, facing Han Solo. “What kind of creature is he, Han?”

“He’s a Wookiee,” Han replied.

“A Wookiee?” Fluttershy asked confused.

“Our friend here’s part of a species of tall, hairy beings native to the planet Kashyyyk,” Bucky explained, addressing Chewie, “They are among the strongest species you’ll find anywhere in the galaxy. Their planet is mainly swampland and forests, but they can actually adapt to icy worlds without protective clothing, gloves, or boots.”

“Chewie also saw some action during the Clone War, when the Separatists invaded his home planet of Kashyyyk,” Cody added.

“I see…” Fluttershy nodded, interested.

Han, Luke, and the others are greeted by the Rebel troopers as Luke and the group rode into the massive temple on an armored military speeder.

The military speeder stopped in a huge spaceship hangar, set up in the interior of the crumbling temple. Willard, the commander of the Rebel forces, rushed up to the group and gave Leia a big hug. Everyone was pleased to see her.

“You’re safe,” Willard sighed, holding Leia. “When we heard about Alderaan, we feared the worst.”

“We don’t have time for our sorrows, Commander,” Leia replied, straight to business. “You must use the information in this R2 unit to plan the attack. It is our only hope.”

Off to the side, Twilight and Cody made their way to the center of their friends, who all waited anxiously.

“Are we really mounting a full-scale assault on the Death Star?” Rainbow asked.

“Looks like it Rainbow,” Twilight replied.

“I figured we would be needed for this,” Cody added, with Sal and Bucky nodding in agreement.

Overlooking the jungles of Yavin, a lone guard stands in a tower high above the Yavin landscape. He surveys the entire countryside, while a mist hung over the jungle of twisted green.

Meanwhile, General Dodonna stood before a large electronic wall display in the war room briefing area. Leia and several other senators are on one side of the giant readout. Aside from the Equestrians, the low-ceilinged room was filled with star-pilots, navigators, and a sprinkling of R2-type robots. Everyone listened intently to what Dodonna was saying, while Han and Chewbacca stood near the back.

“The battle station is heavily shielded and carries a firepower greater than half the star fleet,” Dodonna informed. “It’s defenses are designed around a direct large- scale assault. A small one-man fighter should be able to penetrate the outer defense.”

Gold Leader, a rough looking man in his early thirties, stands and addresses Dodonna.

“Pardon me for asking, sir, but what good are snub fighters going to be against that?”

“Well, the Empire doesn’t consider a small one-man fighter to be any threat, or they’d have a tighter defense,” Dodonna explained. “An analysis of the plans provided by Princess Leia has demonstrated a weakness in the battle station.”

R2-D2 stands beside a similar robot, makes beeping sounds, and turned his head from right to left. Fluttershy and R5 watched nervously as Dodoona presents a simulation of the Death Star and the target area.

“The approach will not be easy,” Dodonna continued. “You are required to maneuver straight down this trench and skim the surface to this point. The target area is only two meters wide. It’s a small thermal exhaust port, right below the main port. The shaft leads directly to the reactor system. A precise hit will start a chain reaction which should destroy the station.”

Twilight Sparkle jotted down the notes rapidly on a notepad, while beside her Rainbow Dash, Sal, and Bucky were also paying close attention.

“Is that all?” Spike muttered, under his breath.

“Only a precise hit will set up a chain reaction,” Dodonna emphasized. “The shaft is ray- shielded, so you’ll have to use proton torpedoes.”

Sitting beside Luke was a hotshot pilot around sixteen years old. His name was Wedge Antilles, “That’s impossible, even for a computer.”

“It’s not impossible,” Luke replied. “I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back home. They’re not much bigger than two meters.”

“Then y’all better be a good shot Luke,” Applejack advised. “Everyone in this room only has one shot at that there reactor. Can’t afford to make any mistakes.”

“Then man your ships!” Dodonna instructed. “And may the Force be with you!”

The group rose as everyone left.

In the outer regions of space, the Death Star began to orbit around the planet toward the tiny green moon. Inside, Tarkin and Vader watched the computer projected screen with interest. A circle of light intertwined around one another on the screen showing its position in relation to Yavin and the forth moon.

“Orbiting the planet at maximum velocity,” The intercom spoke. “The moon with the Rebel base will be in range in thirty minutes.”

“This will be a day long remembered,” Vader declared, “It has seen the end of Kenobi and it will soon see the end of the Rebellion.”

Back in the main hangar deck, Harmony Squad, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and R2-D2 enter the huge spaceship hanger and hurry along a long line of gleaming space-fighters. Flight crews rush around loading last-minute armaments and unlocking power couplings. In an area isolated from this activity, the group discover Han and Chewbacca loading small boxes onto an armored speeder.

“All flight troopers, man your stations,” A voice spoke, over the loudspeaker. “All flight troops, man your stations.”

But as they see, Han deliberately ignored the activity of the fighter pilots’ preparation. While Luke was quite saddened at the sight of his friend’s departure, most of Harmony Squad were disappointed.

“So…you got your reward and you’re just leaving, then?” Luke asked.

“That’s right, yeah!” Han confirmed. “I got some old debts I’ve got to pay off with this stuff. Even if I didn’t, you don’t think I’d be fool enough to stick around here, do you? Why don’t you come with us? You’re pretty good in a fight. I could use you.”

“Come on! Why don’t you take a look around?” Luke asked, getting angry. “You know what’s about to happen, what they’re up against. They could use a good pilot like you, you’re turning your back on them.”

“What good’s a reward if you ain’t around to use it?” Han retorted. “Besides, attacking that battle station ain’t my idea of courage. It’s more like suicide.”

Everyone turned toward Twilight and Cody, who stood in the back watching them silently during this time.

“A deal is a deal after all,” Twilight spoke up. “He’d help us get the Princess back with the Rebels, we’d ensure he gets his money, and he never puts up with us again. That was our agreement, and a promise is a promise.”

“All right…” Luke gave up, addressing Han. “Well, take care of yourself, Han. I guess that’s what your best at, isn’t it?”

“Well fine… I guess that’s that…” Applejack sighed, tipping her hat. “So long, Han.”

“Yeah… bye,” Fluttershy sighed sadly.

Luke and the group go off. Han hesitated before he calls out, “Hey, kids… may the Force be with you!”

Luke and the group turned, as Han winked at them. Luke lifted his hand in a small wave, as did all the others, before they go off. Fluttershy waved meekly toward Chewbacca, who waved back as she turned away with a tear in her eye. Han turned toward Chewbacca, who growled at his captain.

“What’re you lookin’ at? I know what I’m doing.”

In the meantime, Luke and the group meet up with Leia and Dodonna under a huge space fighter.

“What’s wrong?” Leia asked.

“Oh, it's Han! I don't know, I really thought he'd change his mind,” Luke said.

“He’s got to follow his own path,” Leia replied. “No one can choose it for him.”

“Leia is right, Luke,” Cody agreed. “Every decision we make in life defines our story; we can only hope Han made the right choice.”

“I only wish Ben were here,” Luke sighed sadly.

In response, Leia gave Luke a tiny kiss, before turning off. Just as Luke heads for his ship, another pilot rushed up to him and grabbed his arm.

“Hey, Luke!”

Luke turned and were shocked by who it was.

“Biggs!” Luke gasped.

“I don’t believe it!” Biggs smiled. “Hey, how are you?”

“Great,” Luke replied.

“How’d you get here… are you going with us?!” Biggs asked.

“I’ll be up there with you and have I got some stories to tell you.” Luke replied.

Red Leader, a rugged handsome man in his forties, came behind the group. He has the confident smile of a born leader.

“Are you sure you can handle this ship?” Red Leader asked.

“Sir, Luke is the best bush-pilot in the Outer Rim territories,” Biggs replied.

Red Leader patted Luke on the back as they stop in front of his fighter.

“You’ll do all right,” Red Leader said.

“Thank you, sir,” Luke replied. “I’ll try.”

Red Leader hurried to his own ship.

“I’ve got to get aboard,” Biggs spoke. “You can tell me all your stories when we come back. All right?”

“Hey Biggs, I told you I’d make it someday,” Luke said.

“You did, all right!” Biggs replied, heading off. “It’s going to be like old times, they’ll never stop us!”

Luke laughed, shaking his head in agreement. Just as he heads for his ship, another voice called out.

“Hey guys!!! Check it out!”

Rainbow Dash, who had been absent the whole time, approached the group. Only she was dressed much like a starfighter, even carrying her own helmet. Only in comparison to the standard orange outfits Luke and most of the other pilots are wearing (including Cody, Sal, Bucky, Flash, and Spike), Rainbow’s outfit comes in a dark blue that matches her cyan skin tone. She, Flash, and Spike had customized helmets to fit their heads.

“What do you think?” Rainbow asked, presenting herself. “I’m officially part of the flight team, Tr hey even have my favorite color!”

“W-W-Wait a minute, you’re on the flight team?” Twilight asked.

“Yep. So are Sal, Bucky, Flash, Spike, R5, and myself,” Cody replied.

“But Dash, Sal… are ya sure you wanna do this?” Applejack asked worriedly. “You realize some of these pilots ain’t likely to make it back! What if ya get blown up?”

“Applejack has a point, darlings,” Rarity agreed, “Are you sure about this, Spike?”

“I am, Rarity,” Spike replied.

“Not to worry, Twily. I’ll make sure we return,” Cody said.

Luke smiled over Rainbow’s words. But suffice to say, while Applejack knew there’s no talking Rainbow out of it she can’t help but worry.

“Just… just promise me you won’t do nothin’ stupid out there,” Applejack insisted.

“We promise,” Sal replied, as he and Applejack shared a kiss.

“Be careful, Bucky,” Fluttershy said.

“Promise us, you’ll make it out,” Pinkie added.

“I will, and I promise to live for you,” Bucky replied, as he shared a kiss with his girlfriends.

“Good luck, Cody,” Twilight said.

“Watch out for Vader,” Sunset added.

“Thanks, Twily. I will, Sunny,” Cody replied, sharing a kiss with his wives.

Rainbow Dash makes her way to her own assigned ship, as the group looked on and saw her approach an X-Wing. Cody, Sal, and Bucky also climbed into some X-wings, while Spike and Flash decided to use two Y-Wings. As Cody got into his X-wing, R5 was loaded into a port on the rear of it.

As Luke began to climb the ladder into his own sleek, deadly spaceship, the crew chief, while working on the craft, pointed to R2, who was being hoisted into the socket on the back of the fighter.

“Hey, this R2 unit of yours seems a bit beat up,” The Chief observed. “Do you want a new one?”

“Not on your life!” Luke replied, on the contrary. “That little droid and I have been through a lot together. You ok, R2?”

The crewmen lower R2-D2 into the craft. Now part of the exterior shell of the starship, the little droid beeped that ‘he is fine’.

“Good,” Luke replied.

He climbed into the cockpit of his fighter, putting on his helmet.

3PO and most of the girls looked from the floor of the massive hanger, as the crewmen secured 3PO’s little electronic partner into Luke’s X-wing. It’s an emotional filled moment as R2 beeped good-bye.

“Okay, easy she goes!” The Chief instructed.

“Hang on tight, R2,” 3PO spoke. “You’ve got to come back.

R2 beeped an agreement.

“You wouldn't want my life to get boring, would you?” 3PO asked. R2 whistled his reply.