The Council
Spike lay on the bunk he had been assigned in the dormitory, staring at a small datapad thing he had been given. He had been learning different languages for the past few weeks on the ship.
His talks with the others on board the ship, well the other children at least, they weren't allowed into the rest of the ship as it was a military vessel. While he had not learned much about the galaxy as a whole the views being that of children and while useful Spike was slightly unsure of their validity. What he had learned about however was their pasts.
Spike found out Asha had been a slave for nearly three years managed to escape from the Hutts, stowing away on a freighter bound for Corellia. Slavery was fairly common with the Hutts and she had been used as a dancer girl. Luckily for her she wasn't old enough to be used for anything else. She didn't specify what anything else was but Spike had a sneaky feeling that she had dodged a stampede of buffalo. Spike still couldn't grasp the fact that an entire civilisation was built on slavery. Just imagining millions enduring the treatment that Rarity had with the Diamond Dogs, or the Crystal ponies had at the hooves of Sombra disgusted him.
Zuno and Briana were odd. Spike had met twins before, Pumpkin and Pound cake for one, Aloe and Lotus at the spa for another, and they had all seemed closer than normal siblings but those two, it was like they knew exactly what the other one was thinking while acting on it before they had even had time to speak. Spike had watched them in amazement for almost an hour while they had a play fight. Each time one threw a punch at the other, it was instantly intercepted and parried before a counter was thrown to the same result. The only reason it had stopped had been because Amber had walked in to take them to the room where they ate their meals once again separated from the rest of the crew.
And then there was Brandon.
He had been the only thing that had made Spike life bearable for the first few days on the ship, his constant friendship and compassion had been a pillar for Spike to hold onto. In return Spike had given the human someone to talk to. He was different. He was a savage, possessing more brute strength than any of the others. Along with that, he was very blunt and to the point. Spike had found that despite their few differences they were similar in many more ways. Spike was the only one who could give him a run for his money in terms of pure strength anyway.
He had never really been given the opportunity, not needing to show his strength off back in Equestria but when he wanted to he could move far more than his body size would suggest. He was a dragon after all.
He sniffed once, tearing his mind away from Twilight for what felt like the millionth time that day alone, but it was hopeless and his mind drifted straight back to her. It would be like Zuno trying to forget about Briana. Impossible but that seemed to be exactly what the Jedi were trying to do and whenever he had brought the subject up with one of the masters they had told him of the Jedi's stance on relationships and the dangers they posed.
"Attention all hands." A voice crackled in basic over the intercom system. "Prepare to exit Hyperspace, touchdown at Coruscant ship yards, one hour, twenty two minutes and counting."
As soon as the Intercom had crackled off, the door to the bunk room slid upwards with a slight hiss, and Master Darius strode into the room.
"Well you heard the captain." He said. "Get anything you need and prepare to disembark."
The five potential padawans quickly moved about the room, gathering the few if any belongings that they had before meeting in front of Darius.
"Does everyone have everything?" He asked, looking around. When no one said anything he turned and walked out of the room, leading the others through the ship.
They reached the room that Spike had first been taken to when he boarded the ship. This time however the window was not simply leading onto empty space.
Spike stared out of the viewport of the starship in awe as they descended towards the planet, passing the other ships in orbit as they approached. Beside him, the other potential candidates and the three Jedi masters also looked out of the viewport.
"Coruscant." Frout said. "The capital of the entire republic. Home of the Jedi order and the galactic senate."
"How big is the city?" Asha asked, looking down in disbelief.
Darius grinned. "It doesn't end. The whole planet is one massive city. If it can be found it is likely you'll see it somewhere on the planet. Even if you have to go down a thousand levels."
"How far down does it go?" Spike asked in astonishment.
"to the very bottom." Darius said.
Spike and the others had assembled in the hanger bay of the ship and were confronted by another craft, this one open topped and clearly just for transport across the planet and not between them.
Without needing a command, they all got onto the transport and as soon as they had taken their seats the craft shot out of the hanger doors pinning Spike to the seat and causing him to be glad that he hadn't eaten much that morning. Even so he felt his insides turning as Darius weaved in and out of other ships in the sky.
"Slow down!" Amber yelled out, but Darius either didn't listen or didn't care and continued to fly.
Spike still couldn't get used to the idea of flying, let alone spaceships and instead placed his head in his lap and his claws over his ears in an attempt to block out the roars of the engines. Beside him, Brandon looked like he was having a similar experience, moaning slightly.
"Don't get worried." Asha smiled, placing her hand on Darius leg, before turning to Spike. "You too. We're going to be Jedi!"
"I don't want to be a jedi." Spike groaned. "I just want to go home."
"Well, maybe you can do that then." Asha grinned. "Be sad to see you go though. I'd love to know more about your home."
Smiling slightly, Spike doubled over again, groaning louder.
"Hey! the seats have just been cleaned. Hurl over the side if you need to." Darius yelled back.
"Darius neck is a better target." Amber laughed.
"I will turn this ship around missy." Darius snorted back before the two burst into laughter, drawing a withering glare from Frout.
"Grow up you two" He growled.
The rest of the journey passed quickly and eventually Spike felt the ship slowed down before touching down and stopping all together.
"We're here." Frout said plainly before standing up and gesturing for the candidates to exit the room. Slowly, the five candidates made their way out of the craft and instantly, Spikes jaw dropped.
"Where are we?" he asked in amazement.
The area they had landed in was absolutely massive, the ceilings soaring to the point where Spike was sure that the whole of the castle in Canterlot could have fit within it with room to spare. The only thing that would stop that from happening were the multitude of pillars, as thick as the Ponyville library and reaching up to the ceiling.
"This is our tower from which we can guard the galaxy." Amber smiled, looking around with a look of comfort on her face. "Our fortress to watch upon the dark."
"This, is the temple of the Jedi order." Darius finished.
Spike continued to stare around in awe as he was led through the temple, not even looking at the other Jedi's that wandered around the temple but feeling their stares burning into him. He hadn't known what to expect when he had been told he was in the temple of the Jedi but he had been expecting something… smaller. The Jedi gave off an air of minimalism, and he had expected their home to convey that feeling as well. Clearly he was wrong.
All eight of them went into a weird glass plated room and the doors slid closed.
"What…" Spike began before he was suddenly thrown to the floor as the entire room shot upwards.
"Where are we going?" Brandon asked confused.
Eventually the room stopped moving and Spike pulled himself off the floor, looking around at the grins of the other candidates.
"And I'm guessing you don't have lifts on Equestria?" Frout asked, turning to Spike.
"There is nothing like that on Equestria." Spike said. "What's it for?"
"Moving between floors quicker than walking up flights of stairs." Frout explained.
Spike followed the others out of the lift, walking through another massive hallway, this one leading towards a large set of stairs and beyond, a room that looked circular from here. Spike could see a single human sitting on a seat, and wondered if this was the leader of the Jedi temple. If he was, he must be powerful.
They got to the opening, not yet going in and Spike couldn't make anything else other than the human male.
"Inside, is the high council of the Jedi order. You must enter alone, and be judged. Good luck. The next time we meet, you will know if you are to be a Jedi, or be returned to your home."
At this, Spikes heart leapt. He could go home, he just had to see this Jedi council person.
Not thinking, Spike sprinted past the others, running into the room before stopping, looking eagerly at the man in front of him. Only then was he aware of the others in the room looking at him with interest. Slowly the others walked in, crowding around Spike and looking around nervously.
"So you five are the potential candidates?" One of the council members, an odd human like creature.
"What are your names?"
"Asha Tawl." Asho bowed deeply, spreading her arms out to the side.
"Zuno…" He began
"and Briana." His sister finished, the pair acting theatrically which Spike had learned they did when they were nervous.
"Brandon." He said.
"Spike." He finished nervously.
"Do we frighten you?" Another creature asked, this one like the human but with small horns on his bald head.
"No." Brandon said, clearly nervous.
"You do not need to lie to us Brandon." A male human said kindly. "Allow us to introduce ourselves. I am Master Luminous."
"Mace Windu." another jedi spoke.
This continued as each member of the council, almost ten in all introduced themselves, before Mace Windu addressed the candidates again.
"Do you know why you are here?" He asked.
"To become Jedi." Asha answered instantly.
"And is that what you want?" Amber asked.
"I want to go home." Spike said softly, drawing all eyes to him.
"Ah yes, Darius mentioned a new species would be joining us here." another jedi smiled "what exactly is you're species?"
"I'm a dragon." Spike said, puffing his chest out ever so slightly.
"And which planet does your species call home?" Windu asked. "is it within the core worlds? The outer-rim? Further afield?"
"Um… Equestria." Spike said softly. "I don't know where it is, I was hoping…"
"… that we would know where it was." a jedi named Keith said.
"Yeah." Spike said weakly.
"If anyone on this council can shed light on this planet, speak now." Windu asked.
No one spoke and Spike's eyes filled with tears. The silence cut into his stomach like a knife, ramming home the fact that he was here and as of now there was no way he could find his home.
"I am sorry Spike." Amber said with a sad undertone in her voice. "I know this must be hard for you."
"Hard!" Spike shouted through his tears, shocking the other candidates at his sudden outburst. "That's my home! My friends! My family! They're all gone! Don't tell me you know what that's like."
"Spike. Everyone on this council knows some of what you are feeling. In becoming Jedi, we cast off our old lives, leaving families behind and yet here we are members of the order of Jedi. Defenders of the weak and innocent across the galaxy. This is what we offer you all." Amber said simply.
"I don't care!" Spike screamed, before turning from the council chamber and sprinting out tears streaming down his face.
Without a second thought, Brandon ran after him, racing from the council chambers and leaving the members of the council shocked.
"I told you." A jedi spoke up, looking at Windu. "They are too old, they will not take to training well."
"I agree." Keith said. "Running out of the council chambers. Has that ever been done before?"
"I do not believe so." Luminous said thoughtfully. "But surely you cannot doubt the potential of the candidates. That human named Brandon, for a member of his species to be able to feel the flow of the force, I do not believe there has ever been another. And the dragon, this Spike. He is interesting. I can sense the flow of power through him but there is something deeper, hidden from me."
"The dark side. It hides itself in the darkness. He should not be trained." Keith insisted.
"I do not believe so." Luminous shook his head. "The dark side can manifest in creatures but I sensed no taint upon him. I believe he should be trained. Such a creature would be taken advantage of by slavers in the universe if left to his own devices being unique as he is."
"We should bring them back." A jedi insisted.
"No." Luminous said simply. "This is something he and his friend must settle. We do not own them and cannot force them to join us. It is a choice they must make of their own free will."
Brandon ran down the massive hallway, stopping halfway down the steps as he saw Spike sitting on one his head in his lap, sobbing gently. Sitting down next to him, Brandon put an arm around Spike.
"Hey..." Spike sniffed, looking at the human.
"Spike." Brandon nodded.
"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with the council?" Spike asked.
"Perhaps. I would rather stay here remember we will be partners."
"Thanks but you could be throwing your chance at being a Jedi away." Spike pointed out. "I thought that was what you wanted."
"It was. When I was young, I dreamed of being Jedi. To become powerful while protecting everyone I loved. But now if you don't join I won't join." He said.
"You'd give up your dream for me?" Spike asked incredulously.
"I would rather want you to stay here. You are one of my only friends" Brandon replied.
"But…" Spike began, but was cut off by Brandon.
"If you leave. Where would you go? Your only hope of finding home is the Jedi. Stay with me. We could learn together while searching for your home, together... then you can go back to where you came from."
Spike looked at Brandon l for a moment, before relenting. He was right of course. He was alone in this galaxy, perhaps indefinitely. His only hope, his only friend, was here. Making the only logical choice that he could, Spike nodded.
"I'll stay here, as long as you stay as well." Spike said simply.
"We need to go back to the council and we will probably need to apologize for running away. Brandon pointed out.
"I know. I doubt anyone has done that before." Spike smiled.
"Maybe." Brandon grinned back before turning and walking back towards the council chambers.
The council watched in silent as Spike and Brandon re-entered the room in silence before Spike finally went to speak.
"We understand Spike." Windu said, cutting him off before he could speak. "Honour to your family made you leave, and honour to the temple brought you back."
"My friend brought me back." Spike pointed out.
"I didn't say it was your honour." Mace said tersely before turning to the other masters. "Members of the council, shall they be trained in the ways of the force? Guided along the path of the light side as Jedi to someday hold the rank of Padawan?"
"Yes." Luminous said, raising his hand.
"Yes." Keith agreed, raising his hand.
One by one, the other masters in the room raised their hands and expressed their approval. As soon as the last Jedi had spoken, Windu addressed the five again.
"Very well. It is by unanimous vote of the high council of the Jedi order, that you five are to be trained in the ways of the light side of the force, as Jedi. A Jedi lives their life for the Republic."
"Hence forth, you are initiates of the Jedi order. You shall be trained to wield the powers you possess. As five you were, and as five you will train. Henceforth, you shall be known as members of the Darius Clan, until you pass through the crystal caves of Illum and complete the Apprentice Tournament, and earn the right to be known as Padawans." Windu Finished.
"Those who will train you are already known to you." Luminous stood up as he spoke. "Master Darius has been assigned to your clan. He will teach you the ways of the force, and help you pass the trials ahead."
As he said this Spike saw Darius enter the chambers, even though he hadn't seen him when he had run out of the chambers.
"Mater Darius. These initiates are now yours to train. I leave them in your capable hands." Windu said before every member of the council stood up, looking directly at the five new initiates.
"We, the council recognize these five as members of the order of Jedi. Act in the interests of the weak and oppose violence wherever it may be. These are your responsibilities." The council spoke, each one in perfect unity with the others.
Master Darius walked in front of the five as the council finished speaking and sat down again, gesturing for the five to leave the chamber. As they did they were met by Amber, and Frout. Both were waiting by the lift.
"Well?" Amber asked.
"They entered as candidates. They leave as initiates." Darius said.
The others looked at the five initiates, who were still looking dazed at the council's verdict. As Darius spoke however it truly sunk in.
"We did it!" Zuno laughed, clapping his sister and the back before pulling her into a hug.
"We are in the order." Asha smiled, although not raising her voice, a trait that she had picked up while she was enslaved.
"We did it Spike." Brandon laughed.
"Yeah." Spike chuckled. He still wasn't quite sure what he was going to do, but Brandon had made a compelling point. He now at least had somewhere to stay, people to look after him and even if they weren't Twilight they were good people.
He frowned slightly at the thought of Twilight she was like his sister and mother figure. The tears he was feeling. He would probably cry himself to sleep again that night as he had every night so far but he was getting better. That is to say he was getting quieter to the point that it was nearly silent and didn't keep anyone up. At least he wasn't alone in his actions. Asha did similar things and even when she was asleep she tossed and turned and occasionally screamed as she remembered what her life was like before the Republic.
Not all of the group were broken but two of them were. It would take it all their strength to overcome the shattered parts of their past.
Maybe though just maybe the aspects of harmony ran as strong in this galaxy as it did in Equestria.
That was fun to write. It was quite hard to put Mace Windu in character but I guess I did a good enough job. I also added quite a few characters to the council and some members won't be in the story. I hope you guys enjoyed chapter 3 so for now bye.