AN: This is the first story I have ever published. I would greatly appreciate any constructive criticism.
This is a simple one-shot, but with enough feedback it might become something more.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or Buffy the vampire slayer.

Edited: 2012-02-02

Imperial Ascension

Xander sighed as he saw the last toy rifle get taken by a gleeful kid. He was about to call it a loss and see if he could make something else at home, when the owner of the store came up behind him.

"Can I help you?"

"Ah! Don't sneak up like that!"

"Terribly sorry", Ethan said, though he didn't look like it at all. "I couldn't help but notice your disappointment, is there anything I could help you with?" he asked again.

"Well I was planning on going as a soldier, but it seems you're out of rifles."

"Indeed it does. Let's see then, how much are you willing to spend on a costume?"

"Ahh… well I'm kind of broke, so only a few dollars."

"I see. I have a few items without a costume that may interest you, if you'll please follow me."

They walked into the back of the store and looked into a large cardboard box, filled with miscellaneous items. Ethan took out a dark robe and a lightsaber.

"The lightsaber is broken and the robe doesn't look exactly like a Jedi robe from the Star Wars Trilogy, but it's better than nothing."

"How much would it cost me?" Xander wasn't really sure about it, but his options were quite limited.

"Oh they're yours for only 3$, since one is broke, I can't really expect anything more for them than that." Ethan said with a smile on his lips.

"Alright, I'll take them."

The wave of magic washed over Sunnydale as people started to transform into various creatures and characters. Xander's body started to collapse only to rise immediately again. One, if not the, strongest Sith Lord in the entire history of Star Wars was alive once more. Former senator and emperor Palpatine drew in a shaky breath and looked around himself bewildered. The last thing he remembered was being thrown down a shaft on the Death Star by his apprentice Darth Vader. He felt strong rage and hatred at the thought of Vader's betrayal.

'That weak cripple dared try to betray me, now all my work is lost and shattered.'

As he continued to curse the events leading to his death, he started to notice his surrounding and the various creatures running around. With a single thought, all creatures avoided him and paid him no notice. He suddenly felt something wrong about himself and his current body.

After hiding himself more thoroughly, he sat down and started to meditate to understand why his body felt younger and stronger than ever before. Almost immediately he felt another presence within him, that soon started to complain and tried to throw him out.

"Get away! This is my body!"

"I'm afraid that I have a greater need for a new, operational body." He said with a sickening voice.

"It won't work! Buffy and Giles will simply banish you, you should just give up."

"Foolish boy, I'm the strongest Sith Lord in history, the Dark side is strong in me. The Force is more powerful than your feeble mind can comprehend. Neither you or anyone else can stop me."

"They will now you're evil the second they see you, they will now how to defeat you. Besides, a half-dead cripple could kill."

Palpatine laughed at that. "I'm afraid you are mistaken about a great many things. If I don't want to be discovered, I simply won't be. In this new world, no one knows who I am. You and your friends might have some tricks, but you are nothing to me."

With that, Darth Sidious crushed the mind and soul of Xander and took full control of the body. He encountered a minor animal presence in the mind that was easily vanquished.

The Dark Lord of the Sith then continued to meditate for hours, as his spirit took full control of every single part, of the body. The body needed to be strengthened quite a bit before he could use his stronger abilities in the Force.

Even after the spell was broken, he kept at it. Though no one knew, at that moment the future of the planet was sealed, and the first steps toward a new, powerful empire were taken.

A few weeks later, the new Mayor Mr. Finch was meeting a dark robed man in his office.

"I once offered my help to your predecessor; unfortunately we never managed to settle on a mutual, satisfying agreement, before the unfortunate accident. But I'm certain that such a capable man as yourself will know what is best for all. Is that not right, Mayor Finch?" The unknown man asked with an innocent voice.

"Of course! I'm quite certain that your advices and help will be much helpful." Finch answered nervously.

"Good, good. I'll need access to all the information the late Mr. Wilkins had, plus all his literature of the more… supernatural variety. It wouldn't do if some abomination would pop up and cause disruptions to our work."

"Yes, of course Mr. Harris, I'll get right to it."

"Oh, and about the demons he employed, wipe them out... all of them."

The new Mayor nodded quickly and all but ran from the room.

The Sith smiled, while his yellow eyes glowed in the shadow of his cowl. His research into the supernatural forces, or 'magic' as the locals called it, had shown him that immortality was possible. It seemed that the Force acted different in this reality, but that was only to his advantage since he had decades of experience manipulating the Force. His first priorities would be to establish a powerbase and start his research into prolonging his life.

It seemed that the world was splintered and full of potential conflicts. With his powers and charisma, it would be child play to reach a powerful position, and from there it would be possible to unite the world under his enlightened leadership. From there he would spearhead the expansion into space and found a new galactic empire to rule for all eternity.

End