Trixie’s heart pounded as the stormtroopers stomped past the cleaning droid she’d ducked behind. But they passed her, oblivious to her presence. Like a shadow, she slunk deeper into the complex. Their schedule was tight. Everything must go perfectly for this plan to succeed. Trixie snuck in alone, best suited to this cloak and dagger stuff.

Through the office door, Trixie heard the commanding officer speaking to someone. They spoke beneath a respirator, their voice a booming baritone. Trixie’s heart seized in her throat, the speaker dark presence overwhelming even behind a thick durasteel door.

“Another delay?” The rasp of the pony’s breathing punctuated their booming voice. While there was some static, it did little to weaken this ponies overwhelming presence. “I expect results, Commander. I shouldn’t need to remind you of the importance of this project.”

Trixie poked her head inside. Her breath caught as the tall masked figure created in blue light from the holo projector on the commander’s desk. She slipped away as the figure turned in her direction.

“Oh course, Lord Vader.” The commander said, tension heightened in his voice. “We’ve suffered a few hitches, but everything is going as planned.”

Even though the flickering hologram, fear spiked through Trixie’s spine. Whoever this Lord Vader was, he was powerful in the dark side, a bottomless pit of darkness. Was he a Sith? What had happened to her Republic?

“Understand this. Solve these delays, Commander Daisy, or you will be replaced.” Lord Vader said.

“Yes, my lord!” Commander Daisy sagged as the dark shape in the holo projector vanished. If he’d said the wrong thing, he would have died. Trixie didn’t doubt this for a second.

Distracted by his near-death experience, the officer didn’t notice Trixie slinking inside his office. Her heart raced faster as she approached the desk that dominated the room. Trixie spotted the armory key sitting on the desk. With the Force, she floated it towards her. She froze as the officer turned, praying he wouldn’t notice the change. But the officer’s attention was on the datapad in his hooves, muttering to himself about figures. Trixie snatched the key from the air and slunk out of the office. Commander Daisy frowned as his door suddenly swished opened, but the intruder had already left.

“That should be enough.” Trixie stuffed another thermal detonator into her home woven bag, giving her a total of fifteen of the explosive devices. The heft of the bag weighed heavily against her filly shoulders, dragging her down. But a Jedi didn’t allow minor discomforts like that distract from her mission.

From her memory, she had ten minutes until the next patrol passed. Their sabotage efforts had the unintended side effect of putting the enemy on higher alert. But with the distraction Fuchsia had planned, she should be able to escape unnoticed.

“Thought so!” A familiar voice said, jerking Trixie from her musings. It was the commander, a blaster aimed at Trixie’s heart.

“I had a feeling somepony was responsible for the recent disturbances. I told them it was rebel scum, but they didn’t believe me! Told me it was impossible because this moon was uninhabited.” The commander’s eyes twitched, his smile a maniac grin. “But now I have the proof these delays were somepony else’s fault! Now they’ll have to listen to me!”

“Put the weapon down.” Trixie thrust her bag forward, putting it between her and the weapon. “I have fifteen thermal detonators. Shoot me and you might set them off!” Trixie wasn’t confident about this theory, but it seemed a worthy gamble. But the commander didn’t seem to hear her.

“Yes, Lord Vader will be most pleased to learn about your rebel cell!” The commander continued. “Clever plan, sending a foal to sneak around for their sabotage efforts. How many are in your cell, filly?”

“Cell?” Trixie blinked. What was this stallion ranting about?

“Don’t lie to me!” Spittle launched from the commander’s mouth. “I know this moon is crawling with rebel forces. Tell me where they are, and I won’t shoot you dead!”

“This guy’s completely lost it!” Trixie thought. What now? Should she play along? Stall until Fuchsia launched her diversion? But with the commander so unstable, she feared the stallion would just shoot.

“Trust the Force.” Trixie thought before straightening. She cleared her throat. “That’s right. My team has been watching your operation for months. We couldn’t allow the Empire to steal from this moon.”

“I knew it! You’re after the kyber crystals too!” The commander replied. “But you won’t have them! They’re my discovery! I’m the one who found the only genuine kyber source on the moon!”

So they were after the kyber! Fuchsia was right about them needing to destroy it. They couldn’t allow the Empire to get their greedy hooves on it. But the problem was extracting herself from this unstable stallion.

“Place the bag down!” The commander said, gesturing with his weapon. “I’ve already called reinforcements. There’s no escape. You were foalish to oppose the Empire’s might, rebel scum.”

“Okay, I’m putting it down slowly. Don’t shoot.” Trixie said, mimicking the action while her mind raced. Should she try influencing his mind with the Force? No, she didn’t have enough experience to attempt that trick. Besides, time was running out. Her best chance was the direct approach.

“That’s a good filly. Doing as you’re told for once.” The commander said, voice smug.

Trixie positioned herself, so the commander won’t notice the blaster sliding across the floor. She only had one shot at this. They both flinched as the alarms blared, red lights flashing above them. Trixie smirked as Stormtroopers yelped in panic as dozens of grass beasts stampeded into their camp. That was the signal.

“What the? Are the rebels attacking the base?” The commander asked. Trixie took her chance.

With lightning grace, Trixie pulled the blaster to her hoof with the Force and fired. While she’d never fired a blaster before, her aim was perfect. The commander gasped, staring at the black hole in his chest before collapsing dead.

“I did it.” Trixie’s heart raced. She’d never killed somepony before, and it brought black bile to her throat. But she cast away those distracting thoughts and rushed outside the armory with blaster and bag in tow. She’d dwell on what she’d done later. They needed to destroy those kyber crystals.

“I got them!” Trixie yelled as she approached the rendezvous point. She ducked as a blaster bolt flew past her check. “But we need to get going! They spotted me!” She fired wild shots back. They didn’t hit anything, but made the pursuing troopers scramble.

Unperturbed, Fuchsia nodded and gestured to Trixie to jump on Lala. It wasn’t like they hadn’t expected this possibility. With a grunt, Trixie pulled herself onto the grassy beast.

Like a speeder, the beast rode the two Jedi fillies away with incredible swiftness. The pack with explosives dangled behind her, thudding hard against Trixie’s back. But a Stormtrooper got lucky, the grass beast whimpered as a blaster bolt grazed her left leg. But even with her injury, she got them to their destination.

“Poor thing.” Fuchsia said as Lala limped to the cave entrance. The animal moaned and licked at her wounded leg. In the distance, they heard officers yelling out orders to pursue them.

“She can’t come with us.” Trixie said, her words urgent. Out in the open, they were vulnerable.

“Sorry, girl. But you need to flee!” Fuchsia said, nuzzling against her friend. “We’ll be okay.”

While the grass beast didn’t seem convinced, the sound of approaching soldiers told her Fuchsia was right. Fuchsia laughed as Lala licked her hair, giving her a goofy-looking curl before thudding away. Giving her pet a sorrowful glance, the filly padded away.

Together, the two Jedi fillies entered the cave system. Equipment the Empire used for tunneling and excavation filled the cave entrance, their surface slightly marred by the mold that seemed to infect anything not cleaned daily. Trixie smirked as she spotted the busted hover drive, her doing.

“Should we just chuck them in?” Fuchsia asked.

“No. We need to find the main source of kyber. I sense it’s deeper in.”

“Okay.” Together, they traversed deeper into the dark cave.

Crystals of rainbow colors guided their path, giving enough faint light to see. They didn’t dare use glowrods. It might give away their position. The path was maze-like, confusing even a skilled tracker like Trixie.

“Beautiful.” Fuchsia stared at the crystals in awe, beaming despite their dire situation.

Through echoes, Trixie heard Stormtroopers enter the cave. Despite herself, Fuchsia’s wide, awed grin earned a smile from Trixie. In her haste, she hadn’t noticed the cave’s natural beauty. She wished they’d explored it earlier.

The Force guided them onwards, Trixie was unsure how far they’d traveled. The cave system was extensive, taking them kilometers deeper into the moon. The Force’s presence was incredible, it’s presence a cascade of light and colors that dazzled the senses.

“This way, maybe?” Trixie gestured to a left opening angling up. While doubtful, Fuchsia trusted her friend’s judgment.

“Hold.” Trixie paused her friend with a hoof.

“I think they went this way.” A Stormtrooper said.

“Are you sure, TK-941? All these corridors look the same!” Another said. Their voice echoed across the cave, but Trixie sensed they stood above them somewhere. Trixie pulled her friend back when she spotted the opening above them, but their hunters had already spotted them.

“There they are!” Both troopers fired down at them.

Trixie uttered some unJedi words and dragged Fuchsia into the nearest path. It opened into a large clearing with a crystal bridge with a pit beneath them.

“Freeze or we’ll shoot!” Another trooper appeared from nowhere, his blaster directed at Trixie’s heart.

“Dang it.” Trixie used the Force to push himr over.

“Jedi?! Why you!” The trooper didn’t hesitate to shoot from his prone position. It missed, instead striking the crystal bridge beneath them. With a gasp, the fillies noticed the cracks spreading fast. Their tiny legs beat hard against the crystal bridge as they fled to safety, but the spider-like cracks spread too quickly. The other troopers continued shooting at them, worsening the damage.

“Got you!” Trixie squirmed as the trooper she’d pushed over grabbed her. She pulled out her stolen blaster, but the trooper kicked it over the edge.

“Let her go!” Fuchsia punched the trooper in the chest, but his armor made the filly’s blow useless. Trixie cursed. If only they had lightsabers like proper Jedi!

“Give up!” The trooper said. Trixie’s heart quickened as more troopers approached, surrounding them. They had no chance of escape.

But fortune changed as the ground jolted under them. The Stormtrooper holding Trixie cursed, running to safety, but his efforts were for naught. They screamed in terror as the bridge collapsed, tumbling them into the dark depths below.

“Ugh.” Trixie grunted, her entire body battered beyond belief. Even her aches had aches. Still, she lifted her head, wondering where they’d landed. Had Fuchsia even survived the fall?

But her fears relaxed as a familiar pink shape trotted over to her. While bruised, she seemed otherwise alright. “Are you okay, Trixie?”

“I’ll live.” With some effort, Trixie struggled to her hooves. The room they’d found themselves was a mess, broken crystal everywhere. It wasn’t hard to find the Stormtrooper who’d fallen with them. He, hadn’t been as fortunate as them, a crystal had crushed his plastoid helmet, and the head within it.

“Poor guy.” Fuchsia shook her head, saddened by the loss. While he’d tried to kill them, a life was a life. “Where are we?”

“Not sure.” But Trixie sensed something through the Force. It was strong here, and she sensed something else. It guided her limping steps as she stumbled forward.

“Trixie?” Fuchsia asked, following with curiosity.

The entrance led into a chamber so large the Jedi temple garden might fit into. It displayed the most stunning array of crystals yet, but they sang within the Force, their melody bringing tears to Trixie’s eyes.

“It’s wonderful.” Fuchsia said, breathless.

“And we have to destroy it.” Thankfully, the pack hadn’t gotten damaged in the fall, none of the thermal detonators ever dented. It seemed like blasphemy to destroy such a treasure.

They remained silent before Fuchsia shook her head. “I think they’re singing because they know their time has ended. Destruction, death? They, too, are part of the Force.”

“Yeah.” Yet something nagged at Trixie. She couldn’t leave just yet. It bugged her as she planted the explosives. The setup seemed simple enough, even for a filly.

“This will be a pretty big boom. Can we even escape in time?” Trixie asked. They couldn’t trigger it too late, or the Troopers might discover and disable them.

“We just have to trust the Force.” Fuchsia replied. Not an amazing answer, but Trixie didn’t have a better one.

“Fifteen minutes. That’s the best I can do.” Trixie said.

“We better hurry, then. Do you need me to help you?”

“No, I can manage.” But something stalled her steps before she triggered the detonators. A light caught her eye. Like in a trance, Trixie walked towards it.

“Trixie?” Fuchsia tilted her head in confusion.

There in a slab of ordinary crystal flashed the light. It begged to be freed. Without even thinking about it, Trixie grabbed the nearest crystal and smashed it against the wall. Harder and harder, she struck against it. Confused, but eager, Fuchsia helped with her own blows. While difficult for two fillies, they somehow managed it. The slab of crystal broke open like an egg and the light slipped out. It clicked against the floor before cracking in two. Curious, Trixie’s horn glowed, and a magenta glow levitated the two fragments to her.

“Those are some nice pieces of kyber! Did they call you, Trixie?” Fuchsia asked.

“I guess so.” It felt right to Trixie, like they belonged together. “I think these are my lightsaber crystals.” Though, where she’d learn to even make one was beyond her.

“Congratulations, Trixie!” Fuchsia said, giving her friend a massive hug. “You’re on your first step to become a Jedi Knight! Though, two is strange. Are you going to wield dual lightsabers, Trixie?”

“Maybe.” The Force threw her a warning, telling her their time was short. “We better get going.”

“TK-558! I heard something. I think those Jedi fillies are close!” A voice said.

“So much for fifteen minutes!” Trixie uttered an oath, changing the timer to three. “Hurry! Hurry!”

“There they are!” Blasters fire shot after them as they ducked into the nearest entrance. It was narrow enough to force an adult pony to crouch. They hoped it would stall the troopers enough for them to escape.

“Gah!” Fuchsia winced as a bolt struck her back leg as they crawled out the narrow passage. They leaped away from the hole before another stray bolt might hit them.

“Fuchsia!”

“What luck.” Fuchsia gave a self-deprecating laugh. “Right where Lala got hit too!”

“Hold on! I’m getting you out of here!” Trixie said, desperation entering her voice.

“Freeze!” A Stormtrooper said, emerging from a side tunnel, his blaster pointed at Trixie’s head.

“You.” The cave rumbling drowned whatever Trixie was about to say as their explosives set off in a chain reaction. The sound was deafening as the tunnel rumbled like mad. They’d never had a chance to escape. Trixie yelped in fright as a large piece of crystal collapsed above her, her legs frozen in fright. But Fuchsia used the Force to push her to safety. Everything went black as the cave collapsed on top of them.

Trixie groaned, blinking in confusion. Her head throbbed, wincing as she lifted it from the rock she’d been using as a pillow. She winced, and rubbed her left eye. Her hoof came away bloody, she had a nasty gash there.

“Hello?” Her raspy voice echoed as she cried out. It amazed Trixie she’d survived. She gasped, pulling a stolen glowstick from her pouch.

“Fuchsia!” Trixie rushed to her friend half covered with rubble. “Fuchsia!”

Her friend coughed, opening her eyes. From her expression, she seemed in terrible pain. “Trixie, are you okay? You’re hurt!”

“Me? What about you?” Trixie examined the rocks confining her friend, desperate to know if there was some way to remove her. With her injuries, it might not be safe

This earned a choking laugh from Fuchsia. “I’ve been better.”

“Fuchsia.” Tears gushed from Trixie’s eyes, one leaving a bloody stain. This couldn’t be real. This had to be a nightmare. With a weak hoof, Fuchsia stretched out a hoof and grabbed Trixie’s.

“Hey. It’ll be okay.” Fuchsia said, showing unbelievable courage. Despair filled Trixie’s heart when she realized the rock trapping her friend was solid stone. Even with the Force, she’d never lift it. A broken sob escaped Trixie’s lips, and Fuchsia only squeezed her hoof tighter.

“You can’t go! What will I do without you?”

“Hey. You’re brave and strong. You can manage it.” Despite her terrible pain, Fuchsia’s expression remained serene. “I believe in you, Trixie. The Force is strong in you. You have a great destiny ahead of you, I can feel it. Me? I’ve done what the Force asked. It’s time I join the others in the Force.”

“It’s not fair.” Trixie released a sob, her words muffled by her tears.

“No, it’s not.” Fuchsia said, her expression sad. “I don’t want to see you alone, Trixie. But! But! There are other Jedi out there. You are going to find them and fight together against the Empire.”

But Trixie stayed silent, not voicing her true opinion. Her friend was mistaken. No Jedi existed in the greater galaxy. When Fuchsia died, she’d be the last, all alone. Had this mission even accomplished anything? Or was it only two fillies’ foalish delusion? Trixie would die in the cave. Neither of them would escape.

A cough escaped Fuchsia’s lips, tears staining her eyelids. “Trixie, I love you. You’re the best friend a Jedi could ask for.”

“Yeah.” Trixie barely got the word out through her sobs. “I love you too.”

“Trixie.” Fuchsia’s voice got weaker. Trixie could feel her friend fading through the Force.

Fuchsia wanted to say more, but her strength failed her. Instead, she held Trixie’s hoof tight. They stayed that way until Fuchsia’s passed. But Trixie refused to let go, her tears falling with a broken dam.

She continued to hold her fallen friend’s hoof, even when the soldiers dug her out. She remained unresponsive as they rescued her, drained of any life. After treating Trixie’s wounds, they threw her into a locked room, but she barely noticed. She’d lost all hope. Trixie had lost any reason to fight.

Then he entered the room, his dark presence like an icy wind blowing through her soul. His breathing rasped as he stared down at her, a towering darkness. A heavy silence passed as he continued to study her. And Trixie didn’t protest. If this giant killed her, she wouldn't protest. She was a Jedi and refused to beg for her life.

“So you're the Jedi filly the Stormtroopers were making such a fuss about?” Vader said, pacing around her. “Your efforts were brave. I’ll give you that, but ultimately futile. The Empire will locate other sources of kyber. Your efforts only caused a minor delay at best.” But Trixie refused to respond, still as a statue.

Then a fist struck her face, hurling her across the room. Trixie’s back struck the other opposite wall, blinding her with pain. She glared daggers up at the towering darkness.

“Better.” The giant said. “I knew that’d get a response from you. You have fight left in you.”

“Torture me all you want,” Trixie spat back. “You’re getting nothing.”

“Such bravado from such a small filly. And hate too. I can sense how much you despise me.” Lord Vader said.

Trixie said nothing, gritting her teeth. She seethed, blackness gathering around her heart. If it wasn’t for this pony’s Empire, Fuchsia would still be alive.

“And your hate gives you strength. The Force is strong in you, little one.” Vader mulled this over. “How would you like to become stronger?”

“Huh?” Trixie blinked.

“Hate burns stronger within you, but I can make it burn even brighter. Through the Dark Side of the Force, you will become powerful, dangerous, unstoppable.”

“Are you offering to train me? Why?”

“The Jedi Order is finished, but they still hide around in holes like rats. I need someone to drive them out. I sense you’re well suited to this task.”

“Tsk. You want me to help you?” While the existence of other Jedi surprised her, Trixie kept her expression neutral.

“And why not? The alternative is destruction. Keep to your Jedi code and you will die. Side with the Empire and you will survive and grow powerful.”

Trixie mulled this over. Fuchsia wouldn’t approve of her doing this, but she was gone now and Trixie had little other choice. She couldn’t afford to die here. She needed to survive. Trixie swore she’d make this stallion and his Empire pay, whatever the cost. To do that, she needed power. If the Dark Side gave her this power, then so be it. It wasn’t like the Light Side had helped her.

But she still hesitated, her words caught in her throat. Could she go through with this? Vader watched her in silence, a silent sentinel of darkness. His power was unbelievable. Was this what ultimately destroyed the Jedi? The Force told her yes. Vader was a Sith, the ultimate enemy of the Jedi.

“Yes.” No, she had to survive, no matter what, for Fuchsia’s sake. Vader was wrong. Her friend hadn’t died for nothing. She would survive to destroy this pony. Trixie would destroy the Sith, whatever the cost.

“Good. You now belong to the Order of Inquisitors. Henceforth, you shall be known as the First Sister. Your old name is dust, forgotten.” Lord Vader dropped something in front of his newest agent. They were the kyber crystals she’d found in the cave. “I expect these belong to you. Yes, I can sense your connection to them. I will teach you how to build a lightsaber suited to your task. Come, I have a shuttle waiting for us. We will begin your training at once.”

“Understood, Lord Vader.” The First Sister said, standing. It amazed her how the Storm Troopers showed their former enemy such respect after trying to kill her. She supposed it was the power of her new position.

A green figure caught the First Sister’s eye, and she froze. In some bushes was Lala, Fuchsia’s grass beast. The animal whimpered at her sadly, guessing at their mutual friend’s fate.

“Is something the matter?” Lord Vader said, examining her.

“Nothing.” The First Sister walked to the parked shuttle, forcing Lala from her mind. That was her old life. She couldn’t afford to dawdle now.

“No hesitation.” The First Sister muttered to herself as her hooves entered the shuttle to her new life.

Author's Note

If you're wondering, this version of Trixie was based off this image. I just happened to come across it, and it got wheels turning around in my head.