Primus: So…to be honest, the old story kinda got too big and focused so much on the war, when bringing in the personal and relationship stuff, it clashed so hard and looked so awkward. So…we are only rebooting the second half to how it should have been. The story of Arcane and how he handles himself. Now we have to change a few things, which will be addressed in this chapter. This will the only original chapter of this reboot we are using from the old one. Slightly changed, but most of it will stay to give you an idea of what's going on. For now though, the main focus, first and foremost, the life of Arcane. His life in general, relationships, and what he goes through. This is the main focus and always will be at the forefront. If the war does come about, it will be like a secondary thing. So now, here is what we changed with the backstory.
Changed Backstory: Everything went to shit at the end of the clone wars. Dooku was assassinated and Palpatine, while transitioning to being an emperor of the galaxy, was attacked. Palpatine was left barely alive and the attacker disappeared without a trace. Palpatine was put on emergency life support and left in a vegetated state. With both sides' leadership gone, despite the efforts of Padme and others, the Republic and Separatists started to fall apart and divided into different states. The Jedi tried to stop this and aid the galaxy trying to bring them all back together until the Jedi temple was bombed, killing thousands of jedi, clones, and workers at the temple. Yoda's body was never found and the jedi were scattered to the winds across the galaxy. Now the galaxy is now is divided into hundreds if not thousands of different factions all vying for supremacy.
The Citadel alliance, however, is still strong. Unaffected by the fallout they have mostly just consolidated their new worlds even though smaller wars are erupting within them and the factions bordering their space. The Equestrian government has advanced their position startlingly far. Not only do they already have an embassy on the Citadel, but have supplied one of the Mandalorian fleets to garrison the defenses.
"Alright Arcane, time to go to the academy," Twilight says, smiling at him as she lays on her side with her pregnant stomach being massaged by a changeling mother.
Arcane looks a bit miserable at the sound of more school. "Do I have to? I already went through it."
Twilight softly poke his horn and smiles. "Yes. You are able to use the force. Blitz wants you to learn how to use it at least. Don't worry. Your big brother Blazer is going to walk you through every step of the way. You'll see. You'll love it like I have during my years at Celestia's Academy."
"But Blazer can't use the force," Arcane argues.
"And that's why Blitz also made it like a regular school. Blazer and the others are learning many things and so are many other ponies and beings. Even if they aren't force-sensitive, they still want to learn," Twilight says rubbing his head. "You better get going. Your brother Azure is also going for his second year."
Arcane sighs. "Okay. Love you, mom," he says going to her and hugs the pregnant mare.
Twilight chuckles and hugs him back. "Love you too honey. Now off you go. Make sure you learn."
Arcane shakes his head as he hefts his backpack and walks out of the castle, finding Azure speaking with some of the front gate changeling guards. "Hey, big bro," Arcane calls running up.
"Arcane, you finally ready?" Azure asks turning to him.
"Yeah…unfortunately," Arcane says frowning.
Azure smiles as he pats his back. "Come on little bro. You'll be fine. I and Blazer will show you around."
"Great," Arcane whines as a speeder pulls up to them.
Azure smiles at him. "Come on. Let's take a fast way."
Arcane groans slightly as Azure pulls him onto the speeder. "Since when did they learn the speeder?" Arcane asks as the changeling driver speeds off.
"Since earlier this year, young hatchling prince," the changeling says smiling a bit.
"Now do you have your schedule?" Azure asks.
"Yeah. Mom gave me mine," Arcane says patting his backpack.
"Good. Because you going to need it," Azure says smiling before frowning a bit. "Did you hear Blazer is about to leave the academy?"
"Oh, come on," Arcane whines.
Azure looks to him. "Don't worry. I'll stick with you."
"Alright, from here you head into the auditorium for the orientation," Azure says pointing down a hall.
Arcane sighs. "You'll stay with me?"
"Sorry, little brother. I have to head to class. My homeroom teacher doesn't allow tardiness, but don't worry, dad will be there," Azure says.
Arcane slouches his head. "Okay. Thanks for at least being here big bro."
Azure pats his back. "No problem. We're family. Now get going. You got a big day ahead of you."
Arcane takes a deep breath as he started walking, starting to be joined by others wearing the same uniform as himself and those who were wearing an army green version.
"No, big bro. I don't need any more tech support. I can handle the computer on my own." Arcane hears and looks over to see Sunshine walking by him, talking on her omnitool. "Hey, big bro," Sunshine says turning to him.
"You just joined too?" Arcane asks a bit confused as he was sure that Sunshine, being a year younger than him means she has one more year before she can be admitted.
Sunshine nervously chuckles. "I may have skipped last year's orientation. Now I need it to pass."
"How the heck did you get in early?" Arcane asks confused.
"Computer mix up," Sunshine says smirking. "Thanks, bro," she whispers into the omnitool.
"You asked Tek to put you in the system? Why?!" Arcane asks surprised.
"Because." Sunshine stopped as she received a message. "Uh oh. Father isn't very happy."
"You think?" Arcane asks sarcastically.
"Time to go receive my punishment," Sunshine says turning around and walking off almost proudly.
Arcane rolls his eyes as he continues with everyone else. Wanting to ignore the nicknamed 'Spawn of Pinkie Pie'.
Arcane trudges along the hall, his eyes almost ready to close and joints aching, before collapsing onto a bench. "So…much…work…for…first…class…"
"It gets better as time goes on," Blazer suddenly says sitting by him. Which Arcane didn't notice while he was crawling himself here and sees that Blazer is wearing a trenchcoat with a bag sitting beside him with his swords sticking out.
"Hey bro. What are you up to?" Arcane asks looking up.
Blazer smiles. "Taking a break. I practiced enough for some time. So…I'm goofing off," he says grinning.
"Really?" Arcane asks aghast. There is supposed to be a Tartarus amount of work here from what he heard others say…and colleges and academies in general.
Blazer chuckles. "I'll tell you this, the classes get longer, but a bit less work. You just need to put around two weeks of work each for each project. As for me though…I got sword training…dad got me a griffon master…and my big test is today," he explains before shaking his head. "I'm going to have to leave soon little bro. Earlier than I promised dad."
"Oh come on. Can't you stay around and help me?" Arcane asks.
Blazer slowly shakes his head. "I got until the end of the day. Dad has been pairing me up with Jedi and Siths with lightsabers and…let's just they almost lost their head and it takes almost an hour to get the energy back into the crystal. My original dad didn't know what he was asking for at the time. Our dad even agrees that weapons of destruction and power should be limited. Besides, my last test will be against a swordmaster from the griffon counties. Dad will take that and I will have to go," he says before looking to see Arcane with his head down now. "Don't worry. Your other big bro and little bros and sis will be there for you."
"Speaking of little sis…" Arcane starts.
"She is having to clean all the walkers used in practice today by hoof with no reality-bending," Blazer informs.
"Oh, she really loves to use mommy Pinkie's power," Arcane says chuckling a little.
"Yeah, if she does, dad will punish her more and mommy Pinkie is watching her."
Arcane sighs. "So when do you have this test?"
Blazer reaches into his backpack and fiddles around before finding his schedule. "Let's see. You got an hour before my test from your last class."
"And what then? What will you do?" Arcane asks as Blazer shoves the schedule back into his backpack.
"Hang out with my group," Blazer says waving to a group of stallions and mares a bit away and they wave back. "And you guys haven't been paying attention to what was happening to all the gangs and businesses around Canterlot and Manehattan. By the way, shouldn't you be getting to your next class?"
"Shit!" Arcane yells grabbing his bag and runs off.
Blazer chuckles as one of his bodyguards walk over. "Increase pressure. Make sure they pay and know who they are now answering too."
Tek hums to himself as he picks up the server box before shoving it into the rack. "Okay. You can connect it now," he says leaning his head to see Eve's flank sitting out behind the server rack. "And make sure you don't shock yourself," he warns before going to a maintenance dolly and hears some electricity crackle. "I warned ya," he chuckles picking up the next server box.
"I am still fine," Eve says coming out from behind the rack, her metal mane sticking up a little.
"No, you're not. Ground yourself at least," Tek says moving to get the next server setup. "Dad wants all these lines of racks done by tonight."
Eve blinks and tilts her head. "Blazer has just booked a flight to Manehattan."
Tek sighs as he pushes in the server. "Well…he'll be back. He needs to since he started to go out with that prissy filly."
Eve blinks. "Diamond Tiara. Records indicate that her father, Filthy Rich, has enrolled her into the business sector of the school."
"Makes sense. Blazer will be taking control of many businesses soon and now he will be taking control of the high mob boss," Tek says rereading the old files on the many businesses Blazer has already taken and the time stamp.
Eve leans past the rack at him. "Is it possible that he will soon be the leader of all the businesses in the world? Probability indicates it can happen."
"Oh. He will leave three others to control some corners of the markets. He needs competition for a reason," Tek says smiling as he connects the server.
"So…probability?" Eve asks.
"High chance of him gaining a monopoly in many areas with enough competition, but enough of it," Tek says chuckling.
"And areas in outer space?" Eve asks.
"Very, very high? It seems it's easier out there than here," Tek guesses based on his calculations and smiling at the thought. "Now then, help me finish up. The quicker we do, the quicker we can play together."
Eve smiles a bit and walks over to him.
"And that is basically what the force is," a jedi master says as a droid wrote down his words onto the display behind him so all the students could copy it for notes.
Arcane groans as he rubs his face. 'How does my family sit through this? It's boring.'
"And that is all for today's class lecture. You are to study pages one through eight tonight as your homework. But for now, I will explain to you all the ranks in both revised jedi and the sith orders in this school," the master says, getting all their attention.
Arcane blinks as he now pays attention.
"Right now, you are all under the category of force sensitive. This is the lowest rank where everyone starts. From here, all of you will either be sorted into either the sith or jedi order. How this will be done isn't to be revealed till the time has come," the jedi informs, stopping to let it sink in as the droid pulls up a picture of a mannequin in the light brown uniform they all wore.
Arcane looks to his own uniform at that. 'I always did wonder why dad had this personally made for me.'
"The next rank is the jedi and sith hopefuls. These are the next rank in the hierarchy. It means you are officially a member of that order," the master says as the droid brought up four images, a male and female wearing a black and red uniform on the left while a male and female wear light and blue uniform on the right. Both sides having the insignia of the academy on them.
Arcane tilts his head. 'It does look nice…but it needs a little flair…wow. I sound like mommy Rarity,' he realizes after a while of thinking.
"Then after you complete the next level, you advance to jedi initiate and sith acolyte of the respective orders," the master says as the images change and a stylish sash was now around the waist with the insignias of the jedi order and the reformed sith order on them besides the academy's own.
'That looks nice…when can we get custom?' Arcane thinks as he also thought about what to make his before blinking once. 'Geez, I am like mommy Rarity.'
"Next is the jedi padawan and the sith apprentice ranks. These are the final ranks of those in the academy," the jedi informed as the picture changed to where all had a military barrette and a sash from their waist to over their shoulder of their respective colors.
'I really need to ask mommy Rarity to make me an outfit.' Arcane thinks to himself.
"From there, you will be separated into three ranks in both orders. For the jedi, they are jedi guardian, jedi sentinel, and jedi consular. As such, they are not a part of the academy so they have no official uniform," the jedi says as the droid pulled up three images of different jedi.
'Somewhat…cool,' Arcane thinks unsure, giving a tilt of his head.
"Then for sith, you will be separated into sith warrior, sith shadow, and sith inquisitor," the jedi informed as the three jedi were replaced with three illustrations of sith of those classes.
'Wonder what I'll be?' Arcane thinks of both sides, imaging himself in each of those uniforms.
"Then for jedi, you will become a jedi knight," the jedi informs almost a bit proudly, letting the droid put up a new image of a jedi.
'Eh,' Arcane thinks blandly, already somewhat knowing his path.
"Then the sith warrior will become a sith marauder or juggernaut, the sith shadow will become assassins, and sith inquisitor will become sith sorcerers," the jedi says as the droid brought up three new illustrations of the ranks.
'Which are you dad?' Arcane thinks happily.
"Next for the jedi is the famous one that everyone knows. The jedi master like myself," the jedi informs showing an illustration of a jedi master.
'I know dad isn't that,' Arcane thinks smiling.
"Then for sith is the sith master," the jedi says showing an illustration of a sith master.
'Nope. Still not dad,' Arcane thinks chuckling.
"Then for jedi is the jedi council members. These are senior jedi masters who are chosen to sit on the councils to oversee their orders. Famous ones are the jedi high council," the jedi says showing an illustration of jedi masters sitting around, discussing something.
'Yeah…that's not even him at all,' Arcane thinks shaking his head.
"Then there is the sith lord for the sith," the jedi says showing them an illustration of a powerful sith.
'Close,' Arcane thinks raising an eyebrow.
"Then the final rank of the jedi. The jedi grandmaster," the jedi informs showing an illustration of a peaceful jedi.
'Yeah…still not dad. He's never that peaceful,' Arcane thinks shaking his head.
"Then the sith have the sith council member for the dark council. Think the jedi council members, just made up of sith lords," the jedi says showing an illustration of sith discussing something.
'Nope. Even he doesn't talk long without smashing the table,' Arcane thinks smiling as he imagines Blitz smashing the table in half.
"And finally their final rank. The sith overlord," the jedi says showing an illustration of a very powerful sith.
'Yep. That's dad,' Arcane thinks smiling proudly.
"Those are the ranks. I advise you all to commit it to memory and with that, class dismissed," the jedi announced.
"Finally," Arcane says getting his bag and walks out with everyone.
For his next year, Arcane went through many classes from the core of any school to learn how to use the force, meditation, and physical training. Till at the start of the second year, all of his classes and those of the same year who were force-sensitive were gathered in the auditorium where he saw his father in full armor.
'Aw Tartarus,' Arcane thinks rubbing his head, worried what Blitz might say.
"Welcome all to your second year at the academy. Now, I know all of you must be wondering with rumors spreading that your second year is the year you are separated into either the jedi or the sith orders. Well, they are true. You will be tested right after this orientation," Blitz informs.
"Oh, crap," Arcane says shaking his head, worried what it would give about him.
"As such, prepare yourselves as we start now. Everyone follow the jedi and sith masters to our destination," Blitz instructs.
Arcane and everyone gets up to follow the masters as Blitz steps off to the side and contacts somepony. "Azure, cut class and come to me now. Don't worry, I'll talk to the professor," he says before heading off to the testing rooms.
"Hey little bro, your orientation going well?" Azure asks over the omnitool.
"Yeah. It's fine," Arcane says rolling his eyes, half wondering why Azure was calling him at this moment.
"I'm sorry I can't come, bro. Dad made it quite clear I am to never interfere with the second year force-sensitive class orientation," Azure says.
"Yeah, obviously," Arcane says sighing.
"Sorry little bro. Besides, we are about to get our first lesson in walkers," Azure says excitedly.
"Good luck," Arcane cheers.
"Thanks," Azure says cutting the line as Arcane headed outside with the rest of the grade. As they trekked across the premise, they saw walkers moving around not too far away.
"Good luck big bro," Arcane says watching them move.
"Alright everyone, in here," a jedi calls as they were in front of a fort-like structure used for practice.
"Everyone?" one of the officers asks.
"Yes. Everyone," a sith instructs before they were lead into the structure and then down into the bottom of it where there were many doors. "Ok. I will explain what is about to happen. This level is made of a special material that resonates with the force. Each one of you will enter into the doors where you will meditate alone. Doing this will temporarily increase your presence in the force enough for us to tell something about your connection. From there, we will inform you what comes next," the sith informs.
Everyone looks around before some started to enter the room and the rest lined up for their choice in rooms, Arcane included. After all of them had been put in a room, the lights went out and all the jedi and sith sat down, waiting and sensing.
After a bit of time, the doors opened again, the students all a bit confused as they were lead out where they came from as the next batch went into the rooms, now with Arcane going into his as he sat down and the lights went off. "Cozy," he says starting to meditate.
"All right. Time to put yourself to use and protect your younger brother," Blitz says on the other side of the wall as he watches with Azure, who's eyes were glowing.
"Little brother is more balanced in it," Azure informs.
"So then it will be by choice will it?" Blitz says thinking.
Azure shrugs. "It could be anything and…" he stops as Blitz smiles.
"Yes. Now you see why I brought you," Blitz says shaking his head. "Your auntie Terra is trouble as it is. I need you to keep an eye on those two souls. Protect your younger brother."
Azure slowly nods as he watches one blue and one red energy source in Arcane, separated, yet mingling only a bit.
After the trial, most of that year was standing in front of a jedi and sith. "Alright, all of you, it is now time for you to choose what order to join. The jedi or the sith," the sith informs.
"Think hard on this as it could influence the rest of your life. But once you decide, head to either the jedi or sith section to finalize it. You have till tomorrow to decide," the jedi adds.
The students all started to talk as some started to make their choice and go their way before others left to make their choice later.
Arcane stood there. 'So I am supposed to choose? No one to tell me which to go to or anything?' Arcane thinks, lost in thought, just standing there, never noticing the rest of the students, jedi, and sith leaving the room.
"Has little bro always had it this way? Lost direction?" Azure asks as they watch from another room now.
"Yes. He can be very indecisive on matters. Unlike his mother Twilight," Blitz says before a hand smacked him behind the head.
"Enough of that. Arcane may be that, but that's because there is nothing driving him. He knows we can handle ourselves well and well…what's there for him to do?" Twilight asks walking up.
"He has to find his own way Twi," Blitz says leaning into her.
"And he can't do it without a drive," Twilight reminds.
"Twilight, we have argued this many times. I am not going to argue it again, ok?" Blitz asks petting her.
Twilight purrs. "Please Blitz. Just give him something. He hasn't had any input for his whole life."
"And that needs to change. He needs to take charge and make this choice," Blitz says calming the protective mother.
Twilight purrs and moves under his hoof. "That feels good."
"Now stay calm," Blitz says grabbing and holding her.
"Aw…dad," Azure says walking away.
"You can go," Blitz says.
Azure shakes his head as he gets out of there.
"Here I am," Arcane says heading into the sith section.
A sith master looks up from his desk as other students mingled about. "Are you here to finalize your choice?"
"Yes. I want to join the sith order," Arcane says.
The sith hums and quickly grabs his ID from the scanner. "Go on. The orientation will begin shortly."
Arcane nods as he heads in with many other students. Soon, they were addressed by a sith master who started giving them a welcome speech. "Now in closing, I will inform you have taken the harder, more rewarding road by choosing to become a sith. As a sith student, you will all be required to take every military course. Not the advanced stuff, just the basic courses," the sith master informs as Arcane realized most of the turians from his grade that were force-sensitive were here.
'Of course. War basic and Turians always mix quite well. Why am I not surprised?' Arcane thinks as he tries to picture his classes.
"That is all. See to the front desk and get your new uniforms. Sith Hopefuls, dismissed," the sith master calls, showing he was very military.
'Let's hope I don't get shouted at that much,' Arcane thinks as he gets up with everyone else and heads out.
"Alright, what he have here is a DC-15A blaster rifle. These were the standard-issue rifle for clones in the clone wars. Can anyone tell me, what is this blaster's maximum range?" the instructor asks showing the weapon to the class.
"Ten kilometers at maximum power," a turian says immediately with his hand up.
"Very good. With that kind of range, this blaster isn't a true repeating blaster. As such, it's accuracy degrades with sustained fire," the instructor lectured as the students, even Arcane, paid very close attention.
'If not sent through amplifiers to help sustain the massive loss of energy,' Arcane thinks as he places a footnote.
"But in a trained professional's hands, it is a very deadly weapon as seen in the overall kill ratio being heavy with the clones over the battle droids. Now, who would like to try these weapons out?" the instructor asks.
All the Turians raised their hands at that as Arcane shakes his head, slightly amused.
"Then step up. We have plenty on training mode," the instructor says as the students started coming up to get one of the rifles and were instructed on how to use them properly.
'This isn't so bad,' Arcane thinks as he tests fires the rifle.
"Today, all of you will get to see what an All Terrain Tactical Enforcer or an AT-TE is capable of," an instructor says as a walker moves onto the field. "Now this walker might be old, but she still packs a punch," the instructor says as the AT-TE stops and takes aim at a target before firing, hitting it from twenty kilometers away, destroying most of it.
'Dang. Even after all this time,' Arcane thinks watching the target crumble.
"Now can anyone tell me what they noticed from that demonstration?" the instructor asks.
"Chemical explosion from a mass-driver cannon," Arcane points out.
"Correct. That gun on the top is, in fact, a mass-driver, not a laser cannon like most would expect," the instructor says as a nearby facility started messing with a console and cardboard cutouts of generic pirates on RC cars of some kind started coming out and moving around. "It also features six anti-personnel laser cannons. Four on the front and two the back," the instructor informs as lasers started to be shot from the walker, each one hitting the target.
"Cool," Arcane says smiling a bit.
"Next, we have the Republic Interceptor TX-130 Saber-class fighter tank or the IFT-X," the instructor says as an old speeder came out of the garage while the walker headed to the garage.
Someone boos in the crowd and most of them chuckle at that. "Ah. You say that now, but the Interceptor was used as armored cavalry and anti-tank units. Can anyone tell me what they have?" the instructor calls for.
"Two dual heavy laser cannons," a turian calls.
"Correct, but what really set them apart is, unlike the walker, they have two Exo-Shell 3 Shield Projectors. Making more defensible. As such," the instructor informs as two repeating laser cannon turrets rose and started firing on the tank.
'Yeah. That can kill,' Arcane thinks, but to his surprise, the lasers couldn't penetrate the shield as the tank moved past at a good speed. 'Huh. Who knew.'
"As you can see, it powered through no problem, barely losing speed and now it demonstrates its dual laser cannons," the instructor informs before the tank started opening fire on a few targets, destroying them.
'Not bad. Good enough for a line,' Arcane thinks.
"It also can be equipped up top with either a medium twin laser turret or beam cannon turret. The turret I doubt you need to be told what that can do, but the beam cannon fires a steady red laser beam at a direct target for about two to three seconds and afterward, it would have to take three seconds to recharge. In those few seconds, it could do a large amount of damage to any infantry unit, and could even take down a destroyer droid's shields in one blast. The turret was often used against infantry units, but it could also do some minor damage to armored tanks during a battle," the instructor says before everyone heard, "I love this part!" from the tank.
'Oh boy,' Arcane thinks excited a bit as a beam fired from the top of the tank, burning a hole through a big target.
"And last, but certainly not least, are its dual thermal detonator missile launchers," the instructor calls.
Arcane blinks at that. 'Thermal, huh?'
"These prove especially devastating to the separatist droid armies as many of their heavy unshielded armor were destroyed when hit with such a weapon usually," the instructor says before the tank fired a missile at a clump of targets put together in a loose formation.
The targets all exploded as splinters fell apart from it. Arcane smiles at that point. 'Cool.'
"And as you saw, droids in formation were nearly destroyed from it. Now the next in the line of the Saber-class assault tank is what the empire at the core of the galaxy is currently using, the TX-130T fighter tank or IFT-T," he instructor calls as a new one with a different paint job and a different top. "Now as you can see, even though it is an upgrade, not much about the tank is improved. It has slightly better armor and shielding, but other than that, the only difference is that it now comes equipped with the beam cannon turret and also carries concussion missiles with the thermal detonator missiles. This vehicle is made for infantry support and for anti-tank combat," the instructor informs as the tank starts demonstrating its arsenal.
'Makes sense. How many are there?' Arcane thinks to himself.
"Now let me introduce you to our latest tank, the 2-MA Sabre-class repulsor tank," the instructor calls and out came a bigger more heavy armored looking one colored black and unlike the other two it had no exposed top, but a fully armored top with a laser medium laser cannon turret and anti-infantry laser cannon.
'Okay,' Arcane thinks taking note in his mind.
"As you can see, it has both a laser medium laser cannon turret and an anti-infantry laser cannon on top. It also has five heavy laser cannons. Three on the front two on the back. It is also like it's previous designs have two missile launchers, but carries forty missiles unlike the twenty and sixteen of the last two. Its standard missiles are a thermal detonator, concussion, and ion missiles," the instructor informs.
"Instructor, can the two cannons on the top turn?" Arcane asks.
"Good eye. Yes, the cannons can turn a full three-sixty degree. This can fire in any direction so it has no real blind spots," the instructor says as the tank lines up a shot, destroying targets with both cannons.
'Good. That's way better,' Arcane thinks as he imagines what it can be used for.
"Now. That is all for our demonstration today. Now get out your notebooks and start taking notes," the instructor instructed.
Azure idly reads a book as Sunshine walks past him before jumping and sitting by him. "Hey, sis."
"Hey bro. Whatcha doin?" she asks cheerfully.
"Reading…watching," Azure says flipping a page.
"Boring," Sunshine complains.
"Welcome to school," Azure says shrugging. "How's your studying going?"
"Oh. It's boring. But mom did make me this thing," Sunshine says cheerfully, holding up a big hammer that was slightly bigger than her and really pink.
Azure goes wide-eyed as he backs away a bit. "Um…sis?"
"Sunshine, smash!" Sunshine cheers, bringing her hammer down and shakes the whole building while only leaving a few cracks in the ground.
"Oh. Dad's not going to be too happy about this," Azure says worriedly.
"Sunshine Reed, please report to the headmaster's office. Sunshine Reed, please report to the headmaster…and bring your hammer!" an announcement yells.
"Aw!" Sunshine whines.
"Now little lady," Blitz's voice calls through the intercom.
Sunshine whines again as she gets up and stomps away. "Frazza grazza, trikczza…" she mutters frowning.
"Um…bro?" Arcane calls over the omnitool.
"Sunshine," Azure says simply.
"Ah. That explains everything," Arcane says. "You got free time man?"
"Yeah. I got about half an hour. Where?" Azure asks, closing and packing his book.
"Balcony overlooking the courtyard. You see the new tank?" Arcane asks.
"Heck yeah. Really loving new designs and everything. On the way," Azure says smiling getting up and grabs his bags as he leaves the lobby.
"So what is your next class?" Arcane asks.
"On physics for arrows, bullets, even lasers. Got to know how to shoot, then it is drivers ed," Azure says smiling.
"Aw, man. You get to learn how to drive a speeder?" Arcane whines.
"Yeah, bro. Don't they teach about speeders and that in the sith line of work?" Azure asks.
"I am only a second year," Arcane whines.
"You'll get your chance soon. It's like having a requirement to have that class," Azure explains as a bell sound came over the intercom. "Oh, lunchtime," Azure says getting up.
"I'm coming," Arcane says smiling at the prospect of food.
'About time to finally learn this stupid thing. I have been waiting for so long,' Arcane thinks as he steps into the large classroom.
The class suddenly went quiet as the door opened and in walked a sith, a jedi, and then a white droid looking creature.
'Okay. What's the first part of the agenda?' Arcane thinks.
"Welcome all. I am Grievous and I will be your instructor to get all of you into fighting shape," Grievous says, making many of the turians talk, recognizing the name.
Arcane blinks. 'Didn't dad kill this guy?'
"Now, I will say this nicely," Grievous says before slamming his fist onto the table, splintering it on impact. "I do that put up with crap in my class. If I say you do, you fucking do it!"
Arcane blinks again. 'Holy…crap…this will be awesome.'
"Now who can tell me what this is?" Grievous asks holding up and igniting a lightsaber.
"Lightsaber," Arcane answers immediately, hoping to get to the good parts.
"Well good job," Grievous says sarcastically. "I would hope you would know seeing as this is lightsaber combat class!" Grievous yells berating.
'Okay. He's an asshole. Why did dad spare him?' Arcane thinks frowning slightly.
"So today, you will be receiving these," Grievous says as both the jedi and sith brought out racks of practice sabers.
Arcane frowns slightly more. 'Okay. Nothing to worry about. Just need to practice with this stuff and I'll be fine.'
"Now everyone come and get them now as we are heading straight to the training area behind me," Grievous informs and everyone gets up and starts to grab a training blade as they next lined up for the training area. Arcane, hearing that, left his stuff and went to get one. After that, for the next four hours, they were taught some basics and drill in them without much rest until the bell rings. "Class dismissed, but you are to practice what you have learned here very intently if you ever hope to wield a lightsaber," Grievous says in a way that the class couldn't tell if they had satisfied him or not with their performance that day.
Arcane pants as he packs his bag. 'Well…at least it's one step closer.'
Arcane gulp as he sat in silence with the rest in this class. This was the elite class. This is where he would learn how to captain a starship. Worry built up inside him. Out of the entire grade, only thirty got into this class. He had to compete with others to earn a spot here. Before Arcane could think any more about this, the sound of staffs hitting the floor echoed through the chamber and, with dread, he watched his father, in full armor, walk out up to the podium. His helmet turning to all the ponies, turians, siths and jedis in the room.
"You have surpassed your peers to earn yourself a place in this distinguished hall. Most of you will fail this course. Past achievements mean nothing here. I am not interested in the names of your father or your family's lineage. What I am interested in is your breaking point. How will you conduct yourselves in battle? How far will you go to preserve your honor and fulfill your duty? These are simple questions that will decide the fate of your family and clans. This school was conceived to make the finest pilots, captains, soldiers, politicians, and the finest minds of this age. Those few who succeed in this class will be granted immediate command of a ship. Those who do not…there will be no disgrace. Whatever happens to you here at this academy or beyond, never forget that you have earned your place here. I have placed the challenge before you. Thus, this concludes this address."
That didn't help Arcane's dread and nervousness.
The training seemed to fly by as Arcane's class were schooled in everything from battlefield related to civil related topics. They were also trained hard in physical matters, making sure they were in good shape and were taught how to fight very well. Then there was training in the force. Everything was difficult to learn, but after a while, Arcane started to enjoy it from the sparing to practicing with the force. Heck, he even came to enjoy learning the core stuff like math, history, physics, and everything else.
"Oh, you look so handsome my little colt," Twilight says hugging Arcane in his sith acolyte uniform.
Arcane smiles a bit. "Yeah. A bit cool huh?"
"Yes, you are," Twilight says as a little filly foal crawled under their hooves.
Arcane smiles down to his little sister. "Hey, little sis. How are you?" Arcane asks, making the foal look at him and giggles.
Twilight smiles as she picks up the alicorn foal and hugs her. "So how did your date go?" she asks petting the foal's mane.
"About that…" Arcane says nervously.
Twilight sighs. "Let me guess…she left when you went cheap and simple?"
"I like cheap and simple," Arcane tries to explain.
"Then she's not the mare for you. You'll find a mare one day," Twilight says smiling.
"Come on bro. Azure is waiting to give us a ride in his speeder," Lightning calls.
"Lucky bastard," Arcane curses under his breath.
"Come on bro," Spectrum calls impatiently.
"Give me a sec," Arcane calls back before turning back to Twilight. "Bye, mom," he says kissing her cheek before looking to his little sister. "Bye, sis," he says giving a quick kiss to her cheek and runs off.
The filly giggles, pushing on him.
Twilight smiles as she rocks her gently. "Good luck son."
Azure shakes his head as he looks over his omnitool before feeling a heavy weight push down the speeder. "You need to lose weight."
"I'm an alicorn," Arcane says dryly.
Azure looks behind him to the stallion twice the size of him. "Not an excuse."
"Can we just switch to humanoid so nobody has a right to complain?" Spectrum asks.
A flash of light and they were all turned into humans, with Arcane slightly bigger than all of them. "Better?" Arcane asks.
"Yes, now don't whine anymore. Both of you," Spectrum scolds.
"She is sounding more like momma Rainbow every day," Arcane says looking to his big brother.
"That's a given," Azure says as they all get strapped in as best the could.
"Better not let her hear that at school you two. She told me she and the wonderbolts were stopping by to help teach pegasus to fly," Lightning points out.
"Yeah. That's going to be tough to do," Arcane says as Azure takes off.
"Wait?! Mom is going to be there today?!" Spectrum yells.
"Yeah. Dad asked her to help teach some flight in case of trouble," Lightning says.
"Oh, today will be fun," Spectrum says as they sped to the academy.
"That was a distraction?" Azure asks as Blitz leads them down the hall.
"Celebrity endorsements are always good to have," Blitz says smiling.
"Really dad?" Azure asks.
"Was our idea," Rainbow says landing in front of them.
Blitz chuckles as he wraps a hoof around her. "Yeah. With her team taking care of the students, we can handle other matters, very serious matters."
"And me?" Spitfire asks.
"I can do you," Blitz says smirking to her.
"And me?" Fleetfoot asks.
"Get all of you later and wear your uniforms," Blitz says smirking to them.
"Um…dad?" Azure says, reminding them he was there.
Blitz rolls his eyes. "You'll get used to it when you get your own mares and…stallions," he mutters as he looks to Spectrum.
"Mommy!" Spectrum yells, running past and pushing Azure out of the way to hug Rainbow.
Rainbow laughs as she hugs back. "Hi, honey."
"Mommy," Spectrum says squeezing her as hard as she could.
Rainbow chokes a bit. "Honey. Let up on the hug. Only Pinkie does it this hard."
"Oh, somepony missed her mom," Blitz says smirking.
Rainbow rolls her eyes. "Just show them the surprise."
"No, that is your job," Spitfire says snickering.
"I'm busy trying to coordinate the lesson," Rainbow tries to defend.
"Right now?" Fleetfoot asks, joining Spitfire in the smirk.
Rainbow sticks her tongue out at them.
"And you left me to do most of the work," Soarin growls, walking up to them.
Blitz chuckles. "Only because you got the stamina to keep up."
"You come here," Soarin demands.
"You get back to work and leave my wives and kids alone," Blitz orders.
"I am your wife too mister!" Soarin says obviously pissed and Blitz walks over to her.
"Care to show it?" Blitz asks chuckling.
"You stay right there. I am chewing these three out," Soarin informs.
Blitz gives a quick kiss. "Go ahead. I'll take the foals."
"Congratulations, you have gone up a rank. I think we can stop going so easily in your training," Grievous says in the tone that all the students had come to expect.
'Oh boy. Here we go,' Arcane thinks rubbing his head after all the pounding annoyances from this once great military leader.
"Now we are moving on. You will now start using these in practicing in here," Grievous says walking over a few tables lined with lightsabers. "Now who wants to tell me what these are," Grievous inquired.
'I'm not even going to touch that,' Arcane thinks, thinking back to the first time.
"No one? Are you all so stupid to not even know?" Grievous asks.
'No. He's baiting us into a double trap. Let someone else take the fall,' Arcane thinks frowning.
"No one then? It would seem I am very disappointed in all of…" Grievous starts.
"Sir?" one of the other students says and Grievous looks over to the tables and sees one of the sabers shaking before it flew to Arcane who grabbed it.
"Sorry. Got tired of the silence," Arcane says, quickly taking apart the saber with the force and looks it over. 'I am such an idiot.'
"Someone has been practicing their telekinesis. So tell us, what is it?" Grievous says, now looming over him, showing even in Arcane's humanoid form, he towered over him.
'Oh, yeah. He's big,' Arcane thinks as he kept looking through every part before he stops at one. "The power regulator is not as strong. This is a training saber, isn't it?"
"Well, even planet dwellers can make something of themselves if they try," Grievous says sarcastically walking back.
Arcane raises an eyebrow as he slowly puts the saber back together.
"Now, like I was saying, you will all be training with these in class and your training will be stepped up," Grievous informs.
'Well, this will be something else,' Arcane thinks as he floats the saber back onto the table.
"Now come and get them, all of you. We are starting today with sparing against the commando droids.," Grievous says as many BX-series droid commandos jump down and pull out a sparring saber.
'Now? Great. And these things are a hassle,' Arcane thinks as a lot of the students get up to grab their sabers.
"Begin!" Grievous orders.
After hours of sparring, the droids stopped and Grievous walks up with noticeably more jedi and sith than usual. "Today is a special day. Today, we start teaching you the style you will come to use as a wielder of the lightsaber. Will you use one or two? Maybe you will use a double blade or a force pike as your weapon? Either way, you will start your training now. Now you must choose," Grievous informs.
Arcane blinks as he looks to his training saber and tries to think of the moves he has been putting out. He then starts moving it between hands before stopping and heads to those who had two lightsabers on their belts.
And thus, time passed as Arcane grew and his training was stepped up. He was trained in piloting walkers, hover tanks, and speeders and the next year, he chooses to take the starfighter course and learning how to pilot a spaceship. As he trained, his skills grew and so to did his knowledge until he reached the sixth year of the academy.
Arcane stared at himself in the mirror as he put on his red and black military beret.
"Oh. Looks who's a handsome stallion," Terra says cheerfully as she floats through his wall.
"Aunty Terra, do you want mommy to imprison you inside a vacuum again for a few days?" Arcane asks, reminding her what Twilight did to her last time she did this.
"Hey. It's not my fault she had a plunger at the time. If she didn't, I would have gotten away," Terra tries to defend before floating over behind him. "You are pretty good looking though."
"Yeah, and only two more years in the academy," Arcane says, looking to his assortment of sith items on the walls.
"Hey. You went through five years of this. I think you can handle two more," Terra tries to encourage.
"At least I didn't take up Zoids class. That might have been too much of a workload," Arcane says getting his stuff as he was nervous today for he has a new trial, a coming of age for all sith and jedi. The construction of his first true lightsaber.
Terra sighs and floats over before placing her hooves on his. "Hey now. Calm down. You are not going to be passing…whatever it is, if you keep at it like this."
Before he could answer, the castle shook. "Terra!"
"Oh dear," Terra says turning to the door. "I better get going. Just remember Arcane, breath and think," she advises before quickly flying off.
Arcane shook his head as he headed out, getting in his speeder and activating it. "Hey bro, wait for us," Spectrum calls as she and the siblings also attending the academy now piled in.
"Of course. Get on," Arcane says sarcastically.
"So are you ready today? Azure graduates," Lightning says.
Arcane's heart skips a beat. "Yeah, wouldn't miss it. But I got some papers to turn in so I might have to skip the ceremony," Arcane says, remembering that military cadets only have a seven-year curriculum when they enter at Azure's age. 'Lucky bastard.'
"So bro, can you tell me what the second year is like and the trial we go through?" Night Shifter asks.
"Sorry. Dad told me never to tell you guys," Arcane says taking off. 'Deja vu.'
"Aw," Shifter whines.
Arcane, despite feeling envious of his older brother, couldn't help but smile as he got his diploma in full Mandalorian armor.
He sighs before walking off as the rest of the class for there's as well and heads toward the trial grounds where some droids were left behind. He shakes his head as he activities them and they start up and swing their staffs around. "Yeah…don't feel like it," he says before the droids were suddenly held in a force grip and were pulled at the limbs. "Sorry. Need something to calm down fast."
"Is that all?" Blitz asks walking down the classroom steps.
"Father?" Arcane asks looking over to him, changing his form to a pony almost instinctively.
"Are you fine Arcane?" Blitz asks as Arcane dropped the droid.
Arcane nods. "Yeah. Fine."
"Son, you don't have to lie. I can tell you are sad to see your brother and his friends go," Blitz says.
"It's not that," Arcane says waving his hoof and the droid was pulled apart.
"Don't do that to the droids. Your mother Applejack will get mad," Blitz reminds.
"Sorry. Shouldn't you be at the ceremony, congratulating big bro?" Arcane asks putting it back together.
"I will later when we are alone. I will tell him you send your congratulations and you best head to your trial as it has already started," Blitz informed.
Arcane sighs as he walks off. "Yeah."
Blitz shook his head at how spiteful his son was becoming, starting to blame others without his knowledge.
Arcane sighs as he walks out of the workshop and looks over his new lightsaber. 'Might change this soon,' he thinks as he looks it over and then the classroom which is now empty. "Huh. Must have gone to the common. I guess I can meet them there," he says to himself as he gives a wave behind him to the droid as he walks off. "Thanks for everything."
"There goes another one," the droid says almost nostalgically.
Arcane walks down the hall as he heavily thinks about the fact that he has his own saber now. 'Maybe I should add some things. Maybe some waterproofing obviously. Shock pads. If I'm going on bounty missions, silencing would be good as well. Oh boy. There's a lot,' he thinks to himself as he enters his room.
"Help me!" Terra yells from a capsule as Twilight passes his room.
Arcane sighs before stopping and turning to her. "Mom. Let her go."
"No, she is being punished," Twilight says.
"Mom," Arcane says tiredly staring at them.
"Yes?" Twilight asks as Terra acts like a spoiled little filly.
"Let her go. Not worth it anymore," Arcane says shaking his head.
"Oh, it is when she acts worse than your baby sisters. Come on, young lady. You are going to the corner. Hurricane already said so," Twilight reminds.
"Mom," Arcane says more roughly and rubbing his head.
"You can take it up with her mother Arcane and do not think you are too old that I can't bend you over my hooves and spank you," Twilight says, making Arcane shrink back.
'Sorry Terra. You are on your own,' Arcane thinks.
"No. Help me!" Terra yells as Twilight carries her off.
"I don't want any of that," Arcane says with pity for her.
The final two years passed not as quickly as the first six to Arcane, but they still passed quickly. Seems Blazer was right about that bit. Until it came time to take his final exams. His first was a mock battle with him and a team against some of the instructors who were besieging the fortress building. His team managed to stop them at the third layer of defenses and got an average grade.
"They are not going easy. They are taking it seriously," Arcane says sitting down as others took the exam.
"Which means we need to do the same," a classmate says.
"Looks like Mevea isn't having such a hard time," another points out.
Arcane frowns as he looks to the female turian with her own squad who barely looked as winded and scoffs. "Great."
"And there it is. The exam is over," another says and they look to the scoreboard and soon her score appeared at the top.
Arcane shakes his head. "Dammit. I'm so going to kick her ass."
Next was the armor exam. The students either chose an AT-TE or an IFT-T to run a mock battle.
Arcane frowns as he looks between the two vehicles. "Take the IFT-Ts. Let's get onto the field before them."
"Yes, sir," his classmate says jokingly as they went off to grab the vehicles and Arcane follows behind them.
"Alright. Let's go with the line formation and then we will move to either side of me and speed up," Arcane instructs.
"Yes, sir," the rest says as they get into the vehicles.
"Move out!" Arcane says into the headset after putting it on.
From there, the three tanks moved out and in the end, scored elite scores.
"Your test shall be simple and complex. First, you are to use your magic to teleport from here to that contained enclosure. It is completely sealed with no way in or out besides teleportation. If you pass, then the next part will begin," a unicorn informs, standing in the front of the class with large boxes in front of him.
Arcane hums as he steps up to his box and looks it over, sizing it up before taking a deep breath, his horn glowing his blue aura color. Imagining the box and how it shapes up in his mind, thank you, uncle Spike, for the video games and how to handle 3D spaces from them. Before he heard a snap and then opens his eyes to the darkness as he blinks to make sure it is really dark and he hasn't gone blind. "Wow…talk about empty…feels like a cell."
"Then what am I?" a very familiar voice says behind him.
Arcane blinks and turns suddenly to see Twilight smirking at him, her horn lighting up the room. "Mom?"
"I am right now your examiner as requested by your father," Twilight says with a clipboard and pen at the ready.
"Dad? But…why?" Arcane asks, now genuinely confused. If Blitz wanted, he could have fought Blazer himself and knock him on his feathered ass in an instant. So why this exam for him?
"We are beginning the next part of the examination," Twilight says in a tone that still scared Arcane.
Arcane's hair stood on end for a moment before settling back down. He must be getting used to her scary image and voice…doubt anything or anyone can match her. "Okay…what's the first step?"
Twilight hums happily, but the way she said it made his hair stand up slightly again. "Magic pool."
Arcane slowly sweats at that tone. "Oh boy."
As more of the exams came, two of the students kept competing. Trying to get better scores than the others until the final of their exams. Lightsaber combat. Arcane choose the more difficult option, four magnaguards.
Arcane scoffs as he walks over to one of the arenas with the four guards and looks around to see a female turian he knew full well walking past him before she looks over and glares, making Arcane glare back as they took out their lightsabers and Mevea activities hers while Arcane kept his off and they both stop on the inside of the arenas.
"Begin," a master calls and the droids start-up and hold their staffs up as they advanced on the two.
Mevea immediately charges, going for the legs to trip them and take out their mobility as Arcane looks over the four guards, trying to see a break in the group before rushing off to the side. Both came to the respective groups before Mevea slices off one leg and Arcane moves under a staff and holds up his lightsaber, aiming between them before activating it and keeps moving, ducking under the second staff and slices a bit into the chest of a guard, cutting some of the exoskeleton before swinging it and sliding away, leaving some cut marks on the first.
Mevea was working on two of the guards as she holds out her saber, intending to cut the guards as soon as she found an opening when they attacked. However, Arcane kept moving around and between the guards, deactivating and activating his saber constantly, finding the openings as the guards tried to hit him, making him cut the parts he can see, the pipes, servos and whatever he can see that looks important.
Mevea frowns as she pushes against a guard's staff, making it stagger back and into two others before she took a slice and slices into its chest, cutting the power line, making it tumble to the ground dead and holds up her saber to rest.
Arcane raises an eyebrow as he kept watching how the guards were moving and notice the stagger in them. He then holds up his hilt and waits as they slowly advanced before he moves to slide under them and the guards lower their staffs to hit him before he hits his legs onto the staff bars and jumps over them, activating his lightsaber and slices the backs of the front two cutting into the main computer line for the legs, thus making them collapse as Arcane lands behind them and slices across the backs of the other two, slicing into the main bar inside their chests, cutting off the line and power for their legs, making them fall.
Mevea growls as she keeps striking at one and blocking its attacks before pushing it away and slices its head off, but the guard kept coming, making her slice its legs and then slice into its chest as it falls, making it fall apart into pieces.
Arcane kept watching the guards on the ground were crawling now, trying to get at him with the staffs and Arcane shakes his head before jumping in between them, quickly putting his lightsaber down and jumps away. Arcane then reaches out with the force and turns on his lightsaber, slicing into one droid and the makes it spin around, slicing into the rest many times and spin back to him as he catches it and turns it off, looking to his handy work of the dead droids before looking to Mevea.
Mevea, however, was holding two droids before she pushes them away and gives a slight force push, making them stumble back into the third, letting her have the chance to quickly slice across their chest into two before ending up on the third who was smart and holds up its staff, blocking her a bit before Mevea kicks it's leg and sends it bending down, making Mevea have a chance and slice the other way, taking out the main core accidentally as she slices more into the chest and burns it apart before pushing it off.
"The battle is over," the master calls.
Arcane sighs in relief as he looks his lightsaber over. "Good. Barely any damage still," Arcane says looking to the scoreboard and saw an average score. Arcane hums as he looks to Mevea who was smirking at him before her score showed up and Arcane smirks as she looks devastated as she looks to the below-average score. "Well…that's my cake for the day," he says grinning, walking back to the others.
"That is all for your exams," Grievous says walking up. "You all came to me. Pitiful. But now you may survive what life will throw at you, but you can not do it alone. No one can do everything. As such, look around you. You are not in this alone. You are the next generation. Make us proud," Grievous instructs.
All of Arcane's year's force sensitive class were in a room where they had just heard the graduation speech and he smiled. He had done it. He had graduated. He would now be a true sith. He had even scraped by and passed the captaining course. By the skin of his teeth, but he did it.
"Now we present you with a final choice. A choice which can help define your life," an announcer of a jedi master calls. With only him, a sith beside him and what looks like a captain in an officer's uniform on the other side, both standing at attention. "Bear in mind, if you so choose, you may change, but we encourage you to stick by it for a few years at least. You can be part of the jedi order," he announces, gesturing to himself before gesturing to the sith. "The newly reformed sith order," he says before moving his hand to the officer. "Or a mercenary. Whatever you choose, is yours alone," he finishes before they step up to some tables with a terminal set up.
Arcane blinks surprised as many were also caught off guard. So…they don't all have to be part of any of the two orders? They can also be a mercenary? Should he though? He did take that captain course and it might come in handy for the mercenary life. But then again, the war might come at any moment and his father possibly won't mind him joining the army.
As the graduates started to make the choices and go to the officer and masters, Arcane was left looking between the sith and mercenary. Watching as everyone gave him a wide berth as he stayed sitting on his haunches in pony form. Trying to decide between choices that will decide his fate for the coming years. One that he wonders to the side if his father had to make.
Closing his eyes and then takes a deep breath, Arcane stood still for just a few moments and lets all that he learned over the years pass by him before opening his eyes again.
"Okay."
There is now one less ship assigned that day.
And this is our new story for the second half of the long-running story. We hope to really expand on the original idea for the second half of the story which was Arcane's story. The war got in the way of the original and we focused too much on it. Now, we are going to make this right. After all, relationships are one of the important elements of a story.