Crisis of Infinite Trixies

“Trixie, are you certain this place is safe?” Fuchsia Blush said, her voice barely rising above a whisper. The pegasus filly’s eyes darted around the thick canopy, jumping at every movement.

“We must,” Trixie said, using her magic to push through the thick foliage. Her words caught in her throat, but she straightened, all bravado. “Master Shimmer wouldn’t want us to give up. Not after everything.”

“Right! We might be the only Jedi remaining!” Fuchsia’s mood slackened, remembering the slaughter at the temple. Only Master Shimmer’s quick thinking had gotten them smuggled onto a freighter out of Coruscant.

“Only Jedi left.” What a comical statement. They were only Younglings with Fuchsia a year younger than her, too young to become even Padawans. But they needed to be brave, and somehow survive the hostile jungle they’d crashed into after traitorous clones shot down their ship. Thanks to the Force, only they’d survived the crash.

“We must survive at all costs.” Emotion stirred in Trixie’s belly, but she repressed it. “And our best bet is getting away from the ship. If the clones come to investigate, we’re in deep bantha poodoo!”

“Okay.” But they both know the odds of them surviving on an unknown, hostile planet weren’t good. They kept trudging forward anyway, letting the Force guide them. While they possessed limited Force knowledge, they could do that much.

After two hours of walking, they finally stopped at a stream. Their legs burned with exhaustion, and their stomachs rumbled. Worse still, Trixie’s throat burned with thirst.

“It’s running water, so it should be fine. I overheard Jedi Knight Mounty talking about it!” Fuchsia said.

“Not like we have much choice.” Trixie bent down and lapped at the cool running stream. While uncouth, the water tasted so nice that she didn’t complain. Around them, strange alien birds chirped their song, high and flutey.

“There’s fruit on that tree. Should we try it?” Fuchsia suggested, pointing at a tree with fern-like leaves. The fruit was small with a hard, fuzzy shell.

Trixie stretched out with the Force, asking if they were edible. But when no reply came, she assumed everything was fine. They were tart on Trixie’s tongue, and she gobbled it down with relish. Beyond some figs Master Shimmer had given them, she’d had nothing to eat for days. Getting some food in her belly helped ease some of her tension. After collecting more fruit, they continued forward.

While the Force pushed them further than two fillies could travel, they were not Masters. They collapsed in a heap in a cave they stumbled upon. Thankfully, it was empty. Unlike some Jedi, Trixie had no affinity with animals. Heck, they seemed to hate her for whatever reason.

The night cooled down, but the air remained humid, so they weren’t uncomfortable in their hiding place. Countless animal sounds screeched and howled outside their cave, predators out hunting now that the night had fallen. Fuchsia, however, didn’t seem too concerned. Out in nature, she seemed at ease. She hummed a ditty as she munched on some fruit for a late-night snack.

“How long until the Masters rescue us?” Fuchsia asked finally.

“What do you mean?”

“Some evil has brainwashed the clones somehow, but they couldn’t have gotten everyone! I’m sure Master Yoda and Chancellor Palpatine will figure out some way to stop whoever’s behind the clones’ betrayal.”

“I hope so,” Trixie replied, pulling a cover of leaves over herself for a blanket, their earth scent making her nostrils twitch. She wasn’t so convinced, but Fuchsia hadn’t seen the slaughter she had.

It haunted her dreams, reliving every terrible moment as clones broke into their classroom and shot everyone in sight, their great numbers overwhelming even the Jedi. Through the Force, she’d sensed every death and cry of pain. Master Shimmer had found Fuchsia hiding in a cleaning closet. She rushed the two Younglings to safety, killing every traitorous clone in her path.

Years passed, and everything came as Trixie had feared. While some clones had poked about, they never found the Jedi stowaways. Their waiting didn’t pay off, however. No one came to rescue them. Trixie feared they might be the last Jedi in the galaxy.

Paranoid about someone discovering any structure they made, they stuck to living in caves. The region had plenty of caves, though not all animals appreciated their intrusion. Still, they made the best of their situation, discovering the best food through trial and error. Trixie had only gotten horribly sick half a dozen times. Lost and alone, the two fillies became best friends, despite their obvious differences.

“Must you keep your grass beast in here?” Trixie referred to the green-leaved cat resting at the cave’s other end. It was a fearsome beast, almost the size of a well-built stallion. The creature’s bright, yellow eyes were keen and intelligent, raised her head with a curious tilt, before relaxing it on Fuchsia’s lap. It was humorous, considering the size difference.

“What? And abandon her to the wilds outside? Never!” Fuchsia replied with her usual pat answer when Trixie complained about the cat’s intrusion. “Don’t listen to her, Lala. We love having you here. Isn’t that right?” The cat gave a satisfied purr when her friend rubbed her behind the ears.

Trixie only shook her head, amused. Fuchsia had befriended many animals besides the vegetable cat. It seemed she’d made friends with almost every animal they’d come across, all except the razorbacks. The giant lizards were apex predators, deadly as they were ugly. They had a nasty attitude and seemed disinterested in Fuchsia’s attempts to befriend them, more interested in making her a snack. Not that this dissuaded her friend, of course.

“Are you going out hunting for more babo fruit today?” Trixie asked. “Since it’s the razorbacks’ mating season, I’d advise against it.” Last year, they’d learned the hard way just how dangerous those creatures were. They often laired in nearby caves, and Trixie had gotten too close. It’d left Trixie with a slight limp. Without real medical technology, it hadn’t healed right. It was a shame, the caves typically had interesting crystal formations deep underground.

“We’ll be fine. I know where they like to nest.” Her friend had grown from a shy filly into a bold adventurer. If the Order still existed, Fuchsia would be a fantastic Jedi Knight. “You should join us! We’ll need help carrying the water.”

“Fine,” Trixie said, relenting. She wasn’t actually afraid of running into any razorbacks, knowing her friend spoke the truth about knowing how to evade the deadly lizards. Despite her limited Force training, her animal gifts were amazing. If only Trixie were as impressive. Beyond lifting some rocks, she couldn’t do much.

Fuchsia hummed some tune she’d invented as they slipped through the forest. The density of the canopy didn’t hinder Trixie’s perfect sense of direction, leading them toward a nearby stream. Trixie listened, enjoying her friend’s lovely singing voice.

Through the Force, Trixie felt the beat of the jungle, alive but dangerous. She kept an eye out for poisonous creeper leaves. One careless touch paralyzed, leaving somepony an easy meal for the crawling terrors, a beetle-like insect that enjoyed the taste of fresh meat. The plant and insect had a symbiotic relationship, something Fuchsia found fascinating, while Trixie only found it creepy.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” Fuchsia asked as they navigated around a fallen tree. Lala used her mouth to pull Fuchsia over, while Trixie climbed over it herself.

“What has?”

“Since we’ve arrived on this planet? Four years in a couple of days. I wonder how our friends are doing?”

“Our friends.” Dark flashes played in Trixie’s mind, seeing helpless Younglings shot down like dogs by those who should be their friends. A spike of anger sparked in Trixie’s heart.

Sensing this, Fuchsia turned to face her. “We don’t know if they’re all dead. They couldn’t have killed all the Jedi. We were spread far and wide across the Galaxy in our hundreds. Heck, I bet they’ve already rebuilt the Jedi Order. We’ll return to our training in no time!”

“Maybe.”

“Trust me. Like Master Flapjack says, the Light can never be extinguished. Darkness cannot diminish the Force’s connection to light.”

“Light, huh?” Trixie no longer believed in the Light Side, not after witnessing what she had. In her opinion, they’d die on this planet, forgotten forever by the greater Galaxy. Survival was their only duty.

Fuchsia threw her a worried expression but kept her opinions to herself as they continued their trek through the wilderness. They made excellent time. Trixie’s navigational skills coming in handy. While pathetic with nature and animals, she possessed an impressive talent for navigation and tracking.

Heck, she’d just gotten her cutie mark a couple of months ago—a star-shaped wand surrounded by a scattering of stars. It showed Trixie’s special talent. Navigating by the stars was her specialty. While Trixie wasn’t quite sure what the wand meant, she supposed it symbolized a guidepost or something. She’d be an amazing tracker if the Order still existed.

“Four years, huh?” It seemed like a lifetime ago when they’d landed on this accursed planet. To their dismay, it was uninhabited, making any communication with the outside world impossible. “Here’s to another four years, I suppose.”

“What’s that?” Fuchsia asked, pointing up.

Distracted by her dark thoughts, Trixie hadn’t noticed something flashing across the sky. Was that a ship? Lala growled, and Fuchsia patted her fur to calm her.

“This might mean rescue!” Fuchsia said, eyes alight with hope.

“Or danger.” Trixie scanned the future with the Force, but her limited training revealed little.

“We need to check it out. Where’d they land?” Fuchsia asked.

“Several clicks away.” Trixie cursed. With their tiny legs, it’d take days to arrive that far through the dense, dangerous forest.

“Or?” Fuchsia said, breaking into a wide grin as she sensed her friend’s thoughts.

“Must we?” Trixie asked warily.

“Please?” Fuchsia said, all pleading sweetness.

Trixie screamed as Lala bounded past a large tree, leaping high into the air. She held onto the grass beast’s fur for dear life, praying to the Force this would end soon. Fuchsia cackled with delight, whooping as they bounded from tree to tree.

“That was fun!” Fuchsia said as she dismounted. She gave Lala appreciative ear scratches, which earned a purr from her leafy friend.

“Right.” Trixie’s legs were shaky as she landed on the green foliage.

Fuchsia eyed her friend with concern, ears turned down. “Did that scare you? Sorry.”

“I’m fine.”

“Remember what Master Yoda always says: ‘There is no emotion; there is peace.’ You can’t allow your fear to control you.”

“Easier said than done.” Trixie really didn’t want a lecture. “It’s over here.”

With delicate care, they approached the landing point with caution. They’d both agreed to keep their presence hidden, just in case the visitors were hostile. They might be criminals or bounty hunters.

From the outset, it was clear the newcomers hadn’t crashed. Uniformed ponies were talking amongst themselves. They wore gray uniforms Trixie had never seen before. Was it a new Republic uniform? Hope rose in Trixie’s heart.

A strangled cry escaped Trixie’s lips as ponies in white plastoid armor entered the clearing. She darted back into the cover of the brush, heart beating kilometers a minute. “Clones!” They’d finally come to finish the job!

“It’s okay,” Fuchsia said, stroking Trixie’s hoof. “I won’t let them hurt you.” Her brow furrowed. “And I don’t think they’re clones.”

“What do you mean?”

Fuchsia peered through the brush again before nodding in satisfaction. “They aren’t clones. Their presence feels different in the Force. And there are some slight physical differences. One trooper is four millimeters taller.”

Trixie looked again, realizing her friend was right. While similar, these soldiers weren’t wearing clone armor. But what did this mean? Had the Republic become more militarized after the Clone Wars? Something didn’t feel right.

“We should check what they want before showing ourselves,” Trixie said, and Fuchsia nodded in agreement.

With their knowledge of the jungle, it was foals’ play to spy on the newcomers. Trixie hid behind a packing crate and eavesdropped on the soldiers.

“My life support systems must be broken. I’m sweating to death on this wretched rock!” Soldier one said, his voice augmented from his comm.

“Of all the backwater moons to build a base! We might be stuck stationed here for months!” Soldier two said. “Is there anything worthwhile on this rock?”

“Dunno. I haven’t heard anything. Like they’d tell us anything. It’s a pretty hush-hush mission.”

“Figures.” Soldier one kicked a rock in annoyance. They froze as they heard rustling in the bushes. “They said this moon was uninhabited, right?”

“I’ll look, cover me,” Soldier two said. “Careful.”

Tense moments passed as the pair crept forward, only to leap back in shock as a lizard the size of a filly skittered past them into another brush of trees. The pair of guards released some amused chuckles before returning to their post.

Trixie and Fuchsia spent the next few hours surveying the newcomers, making sure they remained unseen. Much of what they said confused Trixie. They argued about what they’d learned in a nearby cave.

“Empire? What does that mean? Did someone assassinate Chancellor Palpatine and take over the Republic?” Trixie wondered out loud.

“What makes you so sure he isn’t Emperor himself?” Fuchsia argued back. She lay against her grass beast, using it as a living pillow. “He’s already kept power for too long. Why not go the extra kilometer?”

It made a surprising amount of sense to Trixie. The Force nudged her in that direction. Had the Chancellor ordered the clones to attack the Jedi Order? The tension in the cave became palpable as they theorized.

“Why are they here, you think? Minerals?” But this answer didn’t satisfy either of them. The Force told her something bigger was happening here.

“I vote we don’t reveal ourselves and keep watching them,” Fuchsia said.

“Agreed,” Trixie said, nodding. But her smile turned mischievous. “Though a few things might go missing.” While the troopers’ rations weren’t appetizing, they were a nice change of pace from the usual jungle fare.

It continued like this for weeks. They spied on the ever-growing base while stealing minor supplies here and there. Not that the Stormtroopers, as they were called, made it easy. They patrolled their camp with diligence. A few died by poisonous viper weeds and grass beasts, but they soon wised up and grew more cautious.

It soon became clear the visitors were searching for crystals, the kind Fuchsia and Trixie had found deep within many caves. Many scientists came down to examine the various crystalline structures found deep below. Many razorbacks had died trying to protect their homes, killing many. But the troopers’ armor and blasters were too formidable, forcing the poor creatures to relocate elsewhere or face annihilation.

“Do you think they’re after kyber?” Fuchsia asked one morning, sipping at some root tea she’d boiled. The Force was strong on the moon, but Trixie sensed something greater in the cave system.

“It’s possible.” As a Youngling, she’d heard plenty of stories about the Force-empowered crystal. The old stories said the crystal chose its wielder, becoming the core component of the Jedi’s lightsaber. Trixie suppressed a shudder, sensing it meant nothing good.

“If they are, we have to stop it!” Fuchsia said, her eyes determined.

“Right.” While stupid and reckless, they were still Jedi. They wouldn’t allow this evil to happen. Trixie’s smile turned sly. “And I already have some ideas.”

“What do you mean it’s gone missing?” an irate Commander Daisy said. The pink unicorn was overweight, his large frame fully filling his uniform. His gray cap hid his blond mane. “That was an expensive piece of equipment!”

“I don’t know, sir,” the poor Stormtrooper said. “I packed it last night in its proper place, I promise!”

“Get him out of my sight,” the officer said, disgusted. Trixie noticed many of these Imperial officers had an inflated opinion of themselves.

And the sabotage continued. Constant complications disrupted the Imperial’s progress. Despite losing credits by the day, the Empire refused to leave. Trixie’s frustration grew by the day at the officers’ stubbornness.

Fuchsia frowned. “They must be under pretty strict taskmasters. I doubt they’re going to leave.”

“What now?” Trixie asked.

“We must destroy the reason they’re here.”

“I saw some thermal detonators in the armory.” But stealing them wouldn’t be easy. They stood behind serious security. Worse, someone would notice their absence. The Empire would learn with absolute certainty that someone was sabotaging their efforts. Couldn’t they relocate elsewhere on the moon? Trixie doubted this cave system was the moon’s only source of crystals.

But when Trixie expressed her doubts, Fuchsia only gave a confident grin. “It’s worth the risk. The Force is guiding us to do this.” Trixie couldn’t argue against that, and they started planning.