EDP uses a little of that Demon Magic she's got and opens a little portal, just big enough to fit two ponies through. She grabs Wildshadow's wrist and they leap inside of it.
They end up at that same small cantina in the desert where they first ran into White Star. "Ohhh, I aint sure about this one, WS, they didnt like us the last time we were here.... well they didnt like you anyway..." she giggles a little and decides to go in anyway, pushing an annoying droid out of the doorway. It bounces off the wall and breaks into a couple peices.
It's a nasty, shady place, and EDP kinda likes it. She hops up on a stool at the bar and forces Wildshadow to join her. She orders up an ice cold can of mountain dew, because its always better in a can, then pops the top and drinks it all in one sitting.

EDP takes a good look around the joint. There is an alien band having a funky jam session on stage and in one dark, shady corner there are a few ponies having a shady conversation. EDP perks her demon ears. Hears something about a new sith base.... and a new sith lord..... ohhhh.......

One of the shady ponies is glaring at her, since she is obviously paying attention. She grins widely at him, and he stalks over. "You have something to say to me?" he snarls.

"Besides the fact you smell like fish and look like the wrong end of a wookie?"

He grabs her shirt and brings his face close. "Careful sweetie, you wouldnt like me when I am mad...." "Really?" EDP says, still grinning like a monkey. "Who says I like you now?"

He jerks her off her seat and onto her feet, still grasping the front of her shirt. She's still grinning stupidly at him. "You little whor----" he yowls as she zaps him thoroughly.

"You are a pilot," she grins. "You are a mercenary." He glares up at her, looking at her more carefully now. "What do you want from me?" he growls quietly.

EDP smiles, and says: "I want to hire you."

Wildshadow stayed at the bar while EDP had 'fun' with the guy. After she finished her DP, she walked over there to see what was going on with the him and her friend . . .

The mercenary led EDP and Wildshadow out the back door of the cantina, so they could go unnoticed. Jarod didnt REALLY look like the wrong end of a wookie, but he did need a shave and a haircut.... just not in that order. He grudgingly took the demon pony and her alicorn friend to his ship, a thing vaguely resembling a more famous mercenary ship, but this thing looked about a thousand years newer and didnt rattle like a Ford Pinto when it went into hyperspeed. EDP insisted on sitting in the cockpit with him, much to his displeasure. He wasnt shy about grumbling his displeasure, and it was enough to make a decent girl blush. But then, EDP was hardly a decent girl...

Jarod's ship Diomedes lifted smoothly off the ground and left the sandy planet and stinky cantina behind, headed back for the stinky Jedi Academy...

They came out of hyperspace and drifted through the outer atmosphere of the planet. EDP wasnt really interested in returning to the base, and for the death of her wasnt even stepping foot on the planet until the stench went away. She didnt think that would be any time soon, with or without Lady Mauls skunx, so her butt was staying glued right there in that seat. Jarod growled at her.

They were back for Wildshadow. EDP's Padawan had some business to attend to. "If you come back smelling like skunk juice, padawan, you're getting jettisoned overboard," EDP warned pleasantly, as Wildshadow slipped inside the smaller transport pod. Wildshadow glared at her unforgivingly. "Dont bring back anything I wouldnt bring back," EDP giggled as she popped the tab of a can of Mountain Dew. She shoved it into Jarod's hands and opened another for herself. He stared at it like it was a rattlesnake, and Wildshadow's pod went shooting for the surface.

"Oh, come on, dont tell me you dont like mountain dew...." EDP arched an unforgiving eyebrow at the mercenary pony. He set the can of the stuff down on the control panel to the Diomedes and glared at her narrowly through his pale blue visor, wondering why she was still speaking to him at all. "You know, mountain dew is made of love and fizzy juice..." She leaned forward menacingly.

His head snapped around to glare at her. "What?"

EDP picked the can up off the console and swirled its contents wickedly. "All the little angels and demons who make the dew argued over what to fill it with until they finally came to an agreement. The angels gave it love, and the demons gave it fizzy juice..." EDP giggled maniacally and swiveled around in her bucket seat. "Why do you think its yellow?"

Jarod shuddered and tried very hard to ignore the demon pony. It took some wicked skill to pull that one off. She tossed her head and slapped a mess of red hair into his face. "Will you knock it off?" he growled.

EDP shot him a pouty look. "Awww, is my mercenary getting pissy?" She tiptoed her long, slender fingers across the console, where his hands were resting by the buttons. He jerked them away before she touched him, then grabbed her wrist as she went to push the pretty red button.

"Will you.... PLEASE... not touch anything," he grated, pushing her away. EDP was never really that good at following directions and so pounced immediately out of her chair and onto his lap. "AAAAARRRRRRRR!!!!" he squealed, pressing back against his seat and raising his arms to protect himself. EDP sat like a cat in his lap, grinning like a chesire. "You are TOUCHING me!!!!" he roared.

EDP leaned forward into his irate face and lifted the mike away from his lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a solid kiss on his lips.
That time he didnt mind all that much..... She broke the kiss and leaned back, then delivered a delightful slap across his white cheek.
"What was that for!!" he gasped.

"How DARE you let me kiss you!!" EDP scolded, sliding back into her own chair and crossing her legs at him. "You know I have a boyfriend!!"

Jarod stared at her, his mouth hanging open like a flytrap. "Uh....." he rubbed his cheek sulkily, "when is Wildshadow coming back, exactly...?"





Stormy :
Walks into room looking around for people.
"Hello? anyone here? I'm here to become a Jedi! Any one here at all?
Waits around for a reply. Sits down at a nearby couch and looks around for a Mountain Dew. Finally finds one and sits down to drink it. Calmly sipping on the dew wonders where everyone could be hiding.

"So, another dew drinker, huh? Too many of them these days." Nightstorm walked into the room to greet the new one. "Hope you're not obsessed, that's even worse. I'm Nightstorm, who would you be?" She smiled, but stayed standing by the couch.

Another new pony walked into the slowly filling room looking shy and confused. "aah Hi I'm Gingerbread" said the unicorn. "I've come here to be trained"
*I hope I have the right place*
She looks around the room hoping shes in the right place.

"Man I didnt want to do this, especially when I was having so much fun up here...." EDP slaps on a gas-mask and grabs hold of Jarod. Her eyes glow bright red an instant before they both disappear in a flash of light.

They appear slam straight in the middle of Nightstorm, Gingerbread and that other new pony who didnt say his or her name, knocking them all over backwards. Everyone stares at them, completely mortified, except Nightstorm who just rolls her eyes and mutters a few unmentionable things. Jarod looks like he wants to melt into the floor, but EDP wont let him, she is clinging firmly to the crook of his arm.

"I am Evil Dead Pony!!!!!!" EDP declares through her gas mask. "As you see I am a DEMON pony, NOT a unicorn---" She directs a glare in Nightstorms direction. "I have two demon horns, not one puny horn out from betwixt me eyes. I am Evil, I am Dead, I am a Pony, and this place smells like skunk so I am freakin getting out of here. I am Jedi Knight and Master and I have just loads and loads of Mounatin Dew up on Jarod's ship Doimedes so whoever wants to join me up there certainly can!!!"

White Star appears in the hallway, next to him stands a small little skunk, wearing a Jedi uniform.

"Do you think you can lure Light Jedi with your demands?" He coldly asks, with his lightsaber in hand.

The skunk sticks out his tounge at EDP.

EDP sighs. "Oh dude gimme a break. I am not off to take them to the Dark Side, I had my fun with them already. I am just here to offer them somewhere else to go while you get rid of this skunky smell." She notices the jedi-robed skunk. "Uh.... what the hell is that?"

"Its a Jedi Robed Skunk," Jarod deadpanned, holding a hand over his nose.

EDP looks from the skunk back to White Star, then back to the skunk again. "Well, Whitey, it appears you got enough on your hands to train as it is, and I wont mind taking two, better smelling potential Jedis off your busy, skunky hands." She smiles a little and throws a wry glance back at the two new comers. "I can put them to good work. What do you say?" she asks them directly.

"What kind of work?" asked Gingerbread settling down after the last escapade. "I would like to take you up on that Mountain Dew offer." she said looking at the other newcomer to see if they were planning on coming too. Working with EDP sounded like fun.

Wildshadow jumped when all that commotion happened but then she started to roll on the ground, laughing her head off. Then she gets up and runs to EDP yelling "EDP!". She was about to hug her, but EDP stopped her. "Aww, what is up with you. You don't want a hug? *she had a hurt look on her face but it quickly turned into a big smile* "Heheheh, I thought you didn't want to come down here? *she gives her a wink* Anyway, I can't wait to get back on the ship! Oh, yeah, EDP, this is my hubby, Shadowstorm." "Hi.", he says walking up to Wildshadow.

Aquatica appears. "Actually, EDP. . . . ." she grins. "Your Mountain Dew's been rearranged just a little. . . . ." she laughs and grins wickedly, waiting for EDP's response.

Mercenary pony Jarod stared at Aquatica with a face like a homicidal maniac. "You TOUCHED my SHIP?!" he screamed at the very top of his strong mercenary lungs, and EDP had to use a little bit of that aforementioned Demon Magic in order to hold him back. EDP wasnt too sure that Aquatica wouldnt rip the poor boy's throat out.

EDP looked at Gingerbread and said "Ok sweetie we gettin out of here now. Wildshadow, its nice to meet your husband." She looked at Shadowstorm. "Nice to meet you."

"Pleasure's mine--" he began, but didnt get very far before EDP cut him off.

"Wildshadow, figure out if the other new pony has a name and gender, and if he/she wants to join us, and bring him/her back with you when you come on board. Ok buh bye!!"

Once EDP, Gingerbread and Jarod were on board Diomedes, Jarod hit light speed then went stalking around, trying to figure out what got touched. EDP slumped back in the cockpit and propped her feet up on the ship's control panel. Poor Gingerbread was looking a little nervous. "Ah, dont worry," EDP shrugged and waved her hand, as if waving her nervousness away. "Every Cantina in the Universe sells mountain dew."

Aquatica grins, then says to herself, "You know what might make their trip more fun? A surprise visit from me!" She then proceeds to teleport herself into the ship, and, planting a big kiss on Jarod, says, "Surprised to see me?"

"What the FU**!?!?!?!?" Jarod screamed, pushing Aquatica away. He jerked out his pistol and fired 6 shots into her gut.

EDP trounced in, interested by the commotion, and found Jarod staring bug-eyed at a perfectly fine Aquatica, who was giving him a big, nasty smirk that even EDP had to be proud of.

"Oh come on ladies lets not fight," EDP said pleasantly, locking her fingers together and giving an innocent, girlish little shrug. "Aquatica was my pal!! I dont know what her problem is now but there's no need for those insignificant toys of destruction, baby." EDP wiggled her fingers and Jarod's pistol zipped through the air and into her outstretched hand.

"Hey!!" he shouted.

EDP came up closer to Jarod, giving him a scrutinizing eye. "You've been kissing other women!!" she shouted suddenly, looking appalled, and laid a smack across his face that Gingerbread heard from the cockpit.

"AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!!!!" Jarod squealed, confused, as guys tended to get.

EDP turned to Aquatica, toying with the laser pistol in her hands. "You know my loyalties are rare," she said quietly. "What do you want with me?"

Aquatica shrugs. "Hey, I figured you'd need a little excitement on your voyage. I'm not here to make trouble, honest, just help out." She smiles at EDP, then adds, "Besides, what fun is it without another scary pony around?"

Both of the pegacorns were watching all that was transpiring, then Wildshadow said, "Well Shadowstorm lets get on the ship with EDP before her or the pilot's patience runs thin." "Okay, I'll transport us there.", He said. Wildshadow gets close to him and his horn glows and they are gone from the academy. Then they reform on the ship next to the others. "Hi EDP, where are we going now?", Wildshadow smiles at her.

EDP and Aquatica peer around a corner, watching the new little Jedi Trainee wander through the ship Diomedes, looking for something to do. With a wink to Aquatica, EDP throws a switch, and all the lights go out.

Gingerbread freezes, engulfed in complete blackness, and her heart begins to fire like a gun in her chest. "Hello? Is--is anybody there?"

"Cant you feel it?" a voice slithers back at her out of the darkness. "Clear your head and sense it. Let it flow through you, like a running river. Let it tell you what to do." A dense, bloody glow eases into the darkness, and the dull thrill of electricity crackles in the air. Gingerbread spins around to see the Demon pony grinning back at her, the double blades of her saber shooting light across her face. "Are you ready for your first lesson?" she smiles.

Gingerbread spins around to see the Demon pony grinning back at her, the double blades of her saber shooting light across her face. "Are you ready for your first lesson?" she smiles.
"Yes, I am." Gingerbread says confidently.

"Good," EDP smiles. "The first lesson is patience." She leaps into the air and as she descends, makes a figure-8 of her light saber. Gingerbread's brown trousers fall in a heap at her feet. She squeals and yanks them up, giving the demon pony a look that would kill if she wasnt dead already.

Aquatica yawns and flips on the light as EDP shuts off her saber and clips it onto her belt. "The second lesson is Mountain Dew: it's everywhere, get used to it." She tosses one at G-Bread and pops the tab of one for herself. "Then there is a bunch of yackity smack about the force, but I cant teach you that. If you have what it takes you can feel it. And I dunno if we Jedi Masters are suppose to have 2 paddy-wans or not but who the hell is going to care up here on my ship?" she wonders with a giggle.

From somewhere off towards the helm, they hear Jarod the pilot scream "MY ship!!!!!"

EDP waves it off. "Whatever. So what you think, G-Bread? You ready to be my padawan?"

G-bread chuggs the MountainDew and uses a little unicorn magic to keep her trousers together. *This was going to be fun* she thaught,* I could feel Aquatica and EDP before I saw them, hhehehe very cool* " I am definately ready!"

Aquatica stands by the doorway, watching EDP and G-bread. She yawns, bored. "Do you think so?" she asks G-bread. Then, turning to EDP, she grins wickedly. "I'm not so sure about that. . . " she says.

EDP wanders into the helm, with G-bread tagging at her heels and Aquatica lingering behind them, just to see if anything interesting was going to happen. Jarod sees them out of the corner of his eye, and quickly stashes an open can of Mountain Dew under the console. EDP cocks an eyebrow at him.

“I was curious,” he growls, giving his complete attention to the control screen. “It was disgusting.”

EDP reaches and plucks up the empty can, then shakes it upside down in front of his visor. “Disgusting, eh?”

His cheeks go a little red, and with a bit of evil glee, EDP pounces onto his lap and starts checking out the pretty lights and buttons. He sighs and wonders what’s the use of fighting her off. He glances around a mess of red hair and points squarely at Gingerbread.
“You,” he snaps, and the trainee pauses right before she touches a big flip-switch. “Don’t touch anything.” She whips her hooves behind her back and grins sheepishly.

“Oh lighten up, Jarod,” EDP giggles. “We ain't hurting nothing. What’s this button do?”

“DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING!!!!” Jarod squeals as one slender finger pushes one innocent little button. Aquatica and G-bread are floored and EDP is pressed back into Jarod’s arms as the ship Diomedes leaps into hyperdrive.

Wildshadow, sleeping peacefully on the floor, got slammed into the nearest wall. Her eyes came open and "OUCH!" then "AAAAAAAAAA!', she screams. She fights her way to the helm, and when she is almost there, the hy perdrive goes off. 'Oh, good.', she says to herself. She gets there and looks at the 4 of them, wondering who pushed the button without giving her a warning first. Then she said with anger in her voice, "OH and who ever pushed that button, (dripping with sarcasm) thanks for that 'NICE' 'LITTLE' wake up call." "Man do I hurt!", she yelled out as she sat on the floor rubbing her head. A few seconds later, "Oh, I forgot about Shadowstorm!", almost got up fast when she saw him coming into the room. He had a mad look on his face and he yelled, "THANKS A LOT TO WHO EVER DID THAT WITH NO WARNING!" His hair is all messed up and stabbed on his horn is a MD can and almost all of its contents on his face and in his hair. Wildshadow is almost bursting out laughing, he glares at her saying, "I was just getting something to drink out of the fridge, when all of a sudden I was pushed almost all the way in it. And my horn just 'HAD' to get the MD can, which I didn't want by the way. I was fighting my way away from it, when the ship stopped. Oh, and I didn't want to take the time to get it off my horn because I wanted to know, (looking at all of them) WHO PUT THE SHIP INTO HYPERDRIVE!!" 'Now calm down dear, I did, well sorta.', she said sweetly to him with her mind.

Gingerbread tries to pull herself out from under the control panel. Finally after getting her horn unstuck and bumping her head, she succeeds. Feeling dizzy she asks "EDP is there anywhere I can go to sleep for a while? Preferably without falling out of bed."

Jarod sighed as his ship eased out of hyperspeed and shot a glare at EDP, who was standing mildly beside him. "You did that on purpose, didnt you?" he growled.

She smiled without looking at him, and patted his head. "Of course, my sweet."

He smoothed back his hair. "Dont touch me," he snapped. He stared out of the cockpit window, following EDP's gaze. His lip curled into a snarl, and he ripped off his visor. "Where did you take us?!?" he shouted. Looming peacefully out before them, drifting in a vast orbit was a lush moon, glowing green and blue with the water and the woods that made it inhabitable. Jarod was on his feet now, palms placed firmly on the console. EDP smiled as she gestured through the window.

"Welcome to Endor."

After seeing Shadowstorm go (to get the MD can off his horn and wash the liquid that spilled out on to him), Wildshadow went to were EDP and Jarod stood. "Endor? Don't think I heard of the place. What are we going to do there?"





Shadow comes over to wildshadow
You dont know about endor?
oh come on
Endor is a planet class m
Endor was the place where The Emporer got victim of a Rebel attack and
together with his sector fleet got betrayed by Darth Vader.
This place is a favorite hiding place for small groups like the Jediponys.
But come with me and ill show you the more interesting sides of the galaxy.
Imperial City, the shipyards of Yaga Minor, the Temples of Aldoron, and many other places.
Come with me on my ship the SHADOW and ill teach you the truth about the force and its origin
I will wait for you
Shadow

"When the hell did you get on my ship?" EDP roars, pushes him out into the docking bay and seals him in. Opens the hatch and he gets sucked out into space. "Annoying little monkey," EDP snorts. "Leave me alone!! I thought we decided that already."

Gingerbread laughs as EDP pushes Shadow out the ship.

A little taken aback, Wildshadow is just frozen in place for a few seconds then she snaps out of it. And all she can say is "Okay, what in the world just happened......" as she sees EDP put Shadow out into space.

"What a nut-job," EDP muttered, brushing off her hooves and stalking off, leaving Gingerbread and Wildshadow behind as they peered out into space. "What an irritating little punk! He's not even interesting enough to take captive." She meandered out into the cockpit, where Jarod glared up at her pointedly.

"Jettisoning ponies?" he asked.

EDP shrugged. "Don't be next," she smiled, twirling long fingers through his blue mane.

"Why do you always have to touch me?" he growled, jerking his head away from her. That just perked her interest some.

"What happened?" she cooed, her voice oozing with sweetness as she pounced up on his lap. She draped her arms around his neck and made herself very hard to ignore. "Unhappy childhood?"

He stared at her briefly, then flicked his eyes away. "What do you care?"

EDP shrugged. "You're right. I dont." She grinned. "But tell me anyway."

"Forget it," he growled, and propelled her off his lap. "Just the wrong end of a wookie, remember?"

EDP giggled from where she landed on the floor. "Right! Which makes you PERFECT for taking us to Endor!"

"WHAT?" he shouted. "No!!"

"Since you're all wookie-like, the Ewoks will think you're their grand daddy or something," EDP giggled maniacally, enjoying herself.

"Wookies arent Ewoks!" Jarod yelled at her. "I dont LIKE Ewoks!!"

"But they're just teddy bears--"

"Yeah," Jarod mumbled, "Teddy bears with teeth and sharp sticks."

Gingerbread and Wildshadow peered into the cockpit. "What's going on?" Wildshadow wondered. "What are we going to do now?"

"Well, we can either float around in space, aimlessly waiting for annoying Sith Kotzbrocken to come back," EDP twiddled her thumbs and shot a glare across her shoulder at the sulking pilot. "Or we can take a vacation on Endor and play with teddy bears. Where the hell's Aquatica? Lets take a vote!!"

Duke leaned back in his chair and changed the screen from intergalactic television to a starmap. He ran through several systems, looking at planets, before taking a closer look an enhabital moon.

"What are you doing," Beldandis asked, sluping up a Dr. Pepper.

"We need a place to lay low for a while, somewhere where no one will look for us." Duke solomnly answered.

"Oh, no!" He quickly replied, turning his chair around. "YOU need a place to hide, not me. I'm not the one who blew up a building, killing several dozen people and-" His speech was cut short as a small blaster was pointed at his chest.

"They know you work with me." He darkly told him. "If they find you, they will tourcher you, and I know you crumble under inflicted pain. You will fold up like an origami crane."

Beldandis gulped and began to sweat. "Uh, Ok. You're the boss," he slowly moved his chair back until he faced a starfield. "So, where are we going?"

"Some back ass moon called Endor"

"Oh."

"I'll go to Endor!!" Gingerbread said excitedly. I'd like some place where i can run around again.

"Why not. I'd love to see some teddy bears!" ~smiling~

"Wildshadow, why do you sound all excited for?", Shadowstorm said coming into the room drying his hair with a towel.

"Oh, we might be able to go to this place called Endor and see some teddy bear like looking things. Man I'm just so excited! Being holed up in this ship has gotten to me!", she runs from the cockpit to another room and runs around giddily.

"Man she seems so much like a kid when she's like this...........", he said with sigh while looking off into space.

Aquatica leaps into the room and grins, twirling around like a top before finally pulling out a pair of wire-rimmed glasses and a notebook. "Now let's see," she says, setting the glasses on her nose. "When did this dislike of Ewoks develop? Perhaps you were afraid of teddy bears as a young lad? Although," she adds with a smirk, "Teddy bears are only frightening if you get one of the nightmarish variety." Then, snapping the notebook shut, she smiles at Jarrod. "I can remove your fear with hypnosis; however, you'll probably quack like a duck any time someone mentions the word 'spaceship'."

She pulls off the glasses and throws them away, barely missing hitting Wildshadow and Gingerbread. "Nah, I'm anxious to see you squirm when you see the Ewoks. My vote is 100% 'Let's go to Endor!' Besides, I just finished my book, so I have nothing better to do."

Finally noticing everypony staring at her, she blinks in surprise. "What? Do I have something stuck in my teeth?"

EDP gestured widely at her crew. "Nothing in the teeth, Aquatica, but we might want to add that hypnosis into the schedule!"

"What?" Jarod snapped.

"Its unanimous," EDP announced grandly. "We're going to Endor!"

"WHAT?!" Jarod shouted over the cheers of the rest of them. "Unanimous means that EVERYONE votes one way or the other. I didnt vote to go to that stinky backwater moon!"

EDP shrugged. "Yeah but your vote doesnt count." She leaned over his shoulders and started punching buttons and twisting dials, much to Jarod's distress. She caught his hands back as he scrambled to reverse the damage she did, and held him back with more strength in her arms than he expected her to have. He glared up at her, pinned like a baby, as the Diomedes began its descent toward the woody moon. She smiled sweetly at him. "What's this fear you have of Endor?" she wondered quietly.

"Just not a fan," Jarod murmured, giving up into her arms. He kept forgetting what she really was. She didnt seem like a demon. The moon loomed out the cockpit's window, and as they watched, they could distinguish the blue water out of the dark green of the forests.

"Ewoks are harmless if you befriend them right away." EDP assured him. "Maybe we can offer G-bread as a peace offering."

"I dont think she would appreciate that."

EDP only shrugged, considering it.

"It's not the Ewoks I worry about," Jarod grunted. "Its the Gorax."

EDP's eyes went wide, and she grinned.

Aquatica looks at Gingerbread, thinking quietly. "Perhaps roasted with a light orange sauce," she says, grinning.

The others couldn't tell if she was joking, or absolutely serious.

"Ooh, sounds like fun!!!" Aquatica says. "I think we should take an extra special trip, just to visit the Gorax!" Then, looking back at Gingerbread again, she adds, "No, make that slow roasted with some native herbs." The others look at her like she's crazy, but she grins. "Well, only thinking what the Ewoks would like. . . "

Then, she quickly whispers to EDP. "I have an open slot next Tuesday. I'll pencil him in."

The ship Diomedes broke the atmosphere of the moon and descended slowly toward the giant forests. Jarod remained hypervigilant, his fingers tapping the console restlessly as he watched both his controls and the view out the window. They needed a place to land, a clearing where he could safely set the Diomedes down without burning down the forests or, more importantly, destroying his ship. The ship skimmed treetops until he found a place to touch down. He didnt know why he let that girl force him into this. Whatever she was going to pay him, it already wasnt worth it.

The Demon Pony and her crew scampered out of the ship as soon as Jarod lowered the bay door, not bothering to wait for him.

"So when are we going to see some teddy bears?" Wildshadow asked, giddy as a school girl, and hanging onto Shadowstorm's arm. Her husband looked absolutely indifferent to be there.

"They're not teddy bears, they're Ewoks," Gingerbread corrected her.

"But EDP said they were teddy bears," Wildshadow growled, twisting her head to show off angry glowing eyes. G-bread looked a little taken aback.

"Hey now!" EDP shouted from beneath the ship. She was tugging a backpack onto her shoulders. "Don't kill G-Bread, we still need her for that peace offering!!"

Wildshadow and Aquatica grinned toothily at the Jedi Trainee, who ran up to EDP nervously. But trying not to look it.

"Not really, right?" she said quietly.

EDP shrugged, and looked back up into the ship. "Come on, Jarod!!" she yelled.

"I brought you here." He shouted from deep inside. "No one said I was ever getting out!!"

They all looked at EDP, who grinned sheepishly and excused herself. She disappeared back up into the ship. 2 minutes later, after a squeal and a questionable crashing sound, she returned, dragging the pilot by the ear. "Ok everybody! Lets head out!! Should we try the forest or the clearing?"

Aquatica grins. "The forest, for sure!!! They show up more in forests. Plus," she smiles, spreading her wings and pretending she was about to pounce on G-Bread, "they're much scarier!!"

"HEY!! I'm no peace offering. I've been here before when I was little and the Ewaks are nice. The forest is great to train in and those teddy bears can teach you some cool stuff too."

She turned around and pretended to pounce on Aquatica.

Aquatica giggles, then actually does pounce on G-Bread. "Are you sure you're not a peace offering?" she asks.

The hearty band of travelers trounced through the forests of Endor, looking for a cozy little spot to take a vacation and sip some ice cold mountain dew. G-Bread and Aquatica kept pouncing each other, which started to annoy Jarod once the pouncing pounced too close to him and toppled him down a hill. He looked moderately annoyed with the whole ordeal, so EDP decided that the best way to cure his blues was to have him carry her through the forest. She lept into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Why?" was all Jarod could manage.

"Well," EDP smiled lazily, "You looked like you needed to be cheered up!"

"Why do you think this would cheer me up?" The pilot scowled.

She twirled locks of his hair between her fingers and jerked his face close. Before he had a chance to yell, she purred straight into his big green eyes. He carried her for about 5 miles after that.

"No teddy bears yet!!" Wildshadow announced approximately every 13 minutes or so. Which was interesting, that they hadnt found any Ewok villages yet. EDP at least expected to get surrounded by the little squeaking beasts as soon as they set foot on the moon. The forest was pretty quiet.

"Good!!" Jarod shouted back at Wildshadow.

EDP was about to gently scold the bitter pilot when both their faces changed. Jarod stopped dead in his tracks and shouted "Nobody move!!"

"Why?" Gingerbread wondered, as everyone kept walking. "What's the matter--?"

There was a collective squeal as the ground gave way beneath their feet, and they fell into a cleverly hidden albeit primitive trap...

Wildshadow lifted her head and shook it, then looked down and saw Shadowstorm. She smiled sweetly at him and kissed him real quick on the lips and jumped off of him and looked up.

"Man that first step is a doosie." she said, then while looking at the others getting up, "Okay, I'm out of my 'excited' stage now. So who is going up there to check it out? Master?" Wildshadow looks EDP's way with a smile.

Aquatica grumbles and leaps into the air. Spreading her enormous dragon wings, she hovers slowly over the hole. "Anyone know levitation magic?" she asks, looking down at the ponies still trapped in the hole.

EDP snorted. "Of course we can levitate," she said as she lifted gracefully out of the hole. The rest followed, except Jarod, of course, who didnt have a magical bone in his body. He peered up at them nervously.

"You're not going to---?"

"Leave you down there?" EDP finished, and shrugged. "Maybe!"

Aquatica grins. "Now wouldn't that be mean to do?" she asks. Peering down at Jarod, she adds, "Of course, he probably wouldn't be as tasty for the Ewoks as G-Bread would. . . . "

Gingerbread tackled Aquatica for the last time. "Hey, I'm not the bait now, you are." Gingerbread used some simple uni-magik and made a bubble around Aquatica. She lifted her up just abouve the ground and made the bubble follow them for a while

Jarod managed to climb out of the pit. How he did that is still one of the great mysteries of the universe. He was pretty dirty though when he joined up with them.
"There you are, Jarod," EDP said, distractedly, as if she had been looking everywhere for him.

The pilot snarled, then glanced up at Aquatica, who was lounging pleasantly in her bubble, chomping on a rice cake. "That's a good place for you," he said up to her, two seconds before he tripped and fell flat on his face.

"If we were seeing traps," EDP was saying, "That means the Ewoks must be close. Traps are to protect things, or--" she smiled at Gingerbread, "to catch dinner."

"Bite me," Gingerbread replied pleasantly.

"Oh, we'll let the Ewoks do all the biting," Aquatica grinned from her bubble.

Wildshadow bent down curiously and pushed through leaves until she brought up a small, dirty, rather smelly piece of soft leather. She scrunched up her nose and called after them. "Hey guys look what I found!"

"Very nice, Wildshadow!!" EDP squealed sarcastically. "Why, it's dead animal skin!!"

"Stinky dead animal skin," G-bread agreed, taking a look. Jarod snatched it out of her hand.

"It's the Medicine Man's pouch." He opened the pouch and looked inside. Everyone crowded around his shoulder to take a peek. His face skewed into a look of absolute, morbid, horrible disgust, and he reached one hand in.

The rest could hardly stand the anticipation. "Well what is it?" Wildshadow squealed.

Jarod pulled out the only thing in the bag and held it out for them all to gaze at. "It's an empty Mountain Dew can."

Everyone looked strangely at EDP, who shrugged. "Well it appears the Ewoks have great taste," she giggled. Then suddenly squealed and leapt about five feet forward, knocking Jarod flat on his back. She quickly rolled off of him to see what had poked her squarely in the butt and realized that they were quite surrounded, by a circle of furry little teddy bears with sharp spears.

Aquatica smiles smugly. "Don't I feel lucky I'm in a bubble," she smirks. Suddenly, an Ewok spear grazes the bubble and pops it, leaving Aquatica to fall face down on the ground. Her eyes widen as the Ewoks force her over with the others, and she snarls, "Watch where you're pointing those things or you'll get them right back!!!!!!!!!" She then murmurs to EDP, "Now might be a good time for a peace offering," as she points to G-Bread.

An explosion of metal and energy rocked Beldandis, knocking him from his chair. He slowly climbed back into the seat and rubbed his head. "I know that I am going to have to work a couple of days on that," he said dryly.

Duke dusted off his hands and patted the console. "She stood the test. I think those thruster improvements really helped."

"Yea, but she couldn't dodge all of fire." He sighed. "Any idea who that was?"

"Nope. I think it was a bounty hunter. Probably tracked us from Tantouine." Duke stratched the black patch over his eye. "I doubt he will try that again."

Beldandis's jaw dropped slightly. "You blew him or her into space dust."

"Yea? Think so?"

The blonde haired pony scowled. "Thank goodness we will be landing soon, I want to check the structual damage." A red light came on, and he checked it. "Great, the artificial gravity in the cargo bay is gone."

"I don't have anything in there." Duke commented.

"But I do. A few cases of soda, some food stores and a barrel of Andelusian red wine. It's a nice vintage too. I hope the cask doesn't smash against something when we enter the moon's gravitational pull."

Duke snorted. "You get wierd when you drink anyway. The loss of the alcohol would cause me a few less problems." She scratched his chin, fingers running over beard stubble. "I need a shave."

Beldandis scrunched his nose. "And you need a bath too."

The pony was about to slap that stupid grin off the white unicorn's head when the green moon came into view as they passed the dead planet it was orbiting. He touched a new keys. "Prepare landing sequence."

Beldandis flicked a few switches above his head. "Landing sequence engaged."

"Steady as she goes Beldandis."

Aquatica thrust Gingerbread out towards the furry creatures and shouted "Here's your peace-offering!!"

The Ewoks lowered their spears curiously, staring at the embarassed looking unicorn, and then started whispering among themselves.

"No way!!" Gingerbread cried as they looked almost willing to accept the offer. "I am NOT an offering!!!!" She scrambled back and dove behind the group of ponies. She gave Aquatica a firm shove in the back and said: "Take her!!! She's got more meat on her bones!!!"

"Are you sure?" EDP wondered. "Not with all those rice-cakes she eats..."

Aquatica snarled at them.

The Ewoks were looking confused, and lifted up their spears again. EDP slung her backpack off her back and started rummaging through it. "Dont worry, guys," she said mildly as she eased to her feet. She had something in her hand that they couldnt quite see, and she approached the wary looking Ewok warriors slowly.

"Be careful, Master!" Wildshadow whispered, not trusting the teddy bears with the beady little eyes.

She stopped in front of the apparent leader and grandly said: "We come in peace!" She displayed the offering in her outstretched hand, and all the furry warriors squealed with delight and started chattering excitedly. It was an ice cold Mountain Dew.

"I guess they dont send Dew out to the petting zoos," Jarod grumbled, getting to his feet and brushing off as the Ewoks began herding them towards their village.

Aquatica makes a face and follows the Ewoks. "Never did see what was so great about Mountain Dew," she mutters. She turns to G-Bread and glares. "I do not have more meat than you!" she growls. "And besides," she says, turning to EDP, her voice becoming louder, "Rice cakes are not only good for you, they taste delicious."

The others shush her.

Wildshadow goes to Aquatica's side and asks in a whisper, "Do you have any rice cakes on ya? I LOVE rice cakes and I haven't had any for like 3 weeks." Then smiles at Aquatica.

Aquatica looks carefully up at the Ewoks, then pulls out a bag from her jacket and hands them to Wildshadow. "Enjoy," she says with a smile.

The ship lurched, then finally settled on Endor soil. Duke had found a large enough clearing in the endless forest to attempt a landing.

"Great!" Beldandis stood, stretched, then headed for the door. "I haven't felt real gravity in one time."

Duke pulled a pair of black leather gloves out of his pocket and followed. The door on the side of the ship slid up and a ramp unfolded, with the two ponies exiting the ship. He sniffed the air. It smelled like mold and dead fish. "It's stinks." he growled.

Beldandis took the tie out of his mane and let his golden hair loose in the breeze. "You are the one who wanted to come here."

Then Duke realized that the fish smell was coming from a stream or river, he could hear running water. Suddenly he wanted to take a swim. He wandered to the left of his ship, leaving Beldandis behind.

"I'm going to check the ship and cargo bay," the white pony called out to him.

Duke answered with a careless wave of his hand. "Whatever."

EDP glared back at Wildshadow and Aquatica, who were eating rice cakes real subtle-like. "Put them nasty things away!! You tryin to get us shish-ka-bobbed?" Wildshadow looked confused, then stuffed the rest of her rice-cake in her mouth. EDP frowned at her gerbil-cheeked padawan. "Why dont you just chew on some rocks? Or some of these tasty twigs?"

Wildshadow glowered at her.

The little parade of ponies and Ewoks marched up to the base of a massive Ewok city, that rested safe in trees that towered high above their heads. The ponies craned their necks to try and see the top of the city. "Wow," Gingerbread marvelled. "It's really really tall." The others agreed with her.

"Yeah, isnt it great?" Jarod muttered. "I'm sure looking forward to pooping in bowls and taking baths in stagnant water that smells like wet Ewok--"

EDP coiled her tail around his legs and yanked him flat to the ground.

"AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!" he squealed, spitting out something wet and soft that he hoped was mud.

The Ewoks waved them over to a simple, clever machine, made with a pully and large basket. They climbed in, EDP dragging Jarod across the muddy, twiggy ground, and two Ewoks at the pully started cranking. The group of them slowly ascended, marvelling at the view they were offered as they climbed higher into the treetops. EDP rested her arms back on the rim of the basket and smiled down at Jarod, her face mottled by the shadows and sunlight streaming through the leaves. She was standing on his chest, and had a fantastic view. He managed to supress an intense desire to toss her demon a$$ over the edge and just practiced some of those relaxing deep-breathing exercises that his therapist always suggested.... which was hard considering he had a 110 pound demon on his chest.

They reached the upper levels of the village and were escorted out of the basket. They waited just outside of it as furry little warriors scampered off with the sacred can of Dew. Curious, beady black eyes peered out at them from behind leather door-flaps and from behind the shelter of the leaves. Jarod was still tangled up in EDPs tail. If he hadnt been he would have run away screaming, or maybe leapt off the edge. He was wondering if maybe he could drag EDP with him....

An ancient looking old Ewok approached them, surrounded by an entourage of warriors and flanked by the local medicine man. This one was apparently the leader. EDP bowed smoothly, cueing the others to do the same. Each of the magic ponies worked their translation spells in time for the Leader's first words.

"Welcome back to our city, Evil Pony of Death!"

They all stared at her. "Back?!" they chorused.

Wildshadow went up to EDP and whispered to her with a smile and a laugh in her voice, "You are a sly devil aren't ya?"

Willow stared cautiously at the group of ponies that had just entered the village from a hut nearby. "The Ewoks seem to think alot of them" She thought to herself. Then she noticed the robes! "Jedi's!! I've heard of them. But never have I seen.....!" She began to approach them, all to aware of the ponies that had abandoned her on this god forsaken moon ten years ago. Would they treat her the same? Could they get her off this Moon? Do they have any Mountain Dew or maybe a Butterfinger?

A group of young ewoks jabbered happily. One of them noticed Jarod's jitters and went running for him. It leaped into the air and landed on Jarod's back.

Jarod squealed and went tumbling across the wood. The rest of the little ewoks thought it looked like great fun so they joined in, pouncing on the blue and white pilot. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!" Jarod frantically tried to peel the furry little things off of him. "They're TOUCHING ME!!! Oh get them off! Please get them off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Everyone watched him curiously, then went back to their business. EDP turned her attention back to the young pony who had approached them. She was wearing soft leather and appeared to have been living in the village peacefully with the furry little ewoks. EDP leaned close, examining the girl thoroughly, and then took a whiff.
"WHEW!!!!!" EDP yelped, leaping back a few feet. "Girl what they bathing you with? Herbal Ewok?"

Jarod rolled between them at their feet, with 6 or 8 young ewoks hanging on for the ride. "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!!"

EDP clasped her hands together and sighed wistfully. "Oh what a WONDERFUL father he'll make!!"

Jarod immediately leapt to his feet. "Father?!?!?!?!?"

EDP looked suprised. "Oh, did I say father?" she grinned evil at him and cooed: "I meant breeder."

She tuned the pilot out as he completely lost his mind, and went searching through her backpack. "So, Ewok-girl, tell me something about you." She pulled out two ice cold cans of mountain dew, kept one for herself and passed the other to Willow.

Duke stripped off his clothing, down to his shorts and plunged into the clean river that spread before him. The water was strikingly cold, but clear, and he opened his eyes just as he came to the surface.

He released a sigh of contentment and splashed back to shore. he grabbed a bar of soap that he brought with him and began to lather up his mane. Duke had felt filthy ever since touching down on Tontouine. That desert planet caused sand to appear in places one didn't even know he or she had.

Footsteps.

He was about to reach behind and grab his gunblade when Beldandis's voice muttered something. "What?" Duke asked, annoyed with the disruption.

"Oh, the fuelcel lodge is blocked. And, the Mountain Dew exploded. The entire cargo bay is covered with soda." Beldandis ran a hand through his blonde hair.

"Oh, dear." He mocked. "Your going to die."

"Yea, man. No Dew to keep me going."

"Look," Duke growled. "I want to bathe in peace, if you have anything else to say then I suggest you say something now or else..."

He gulped. "Nope, can't think of anything else."

"Good, then go."

Beldandis turned, flicked his tail, then marched back to the ship. He stopped as he came close enough to touch it. "What the hell-?"

Willow popped open the can and downed it! "Ah yea that's good stuff^_^!! Sorry about the `Eeu de Ewok` being abondoned on a moon does tend to leave one without proper bathing products! My name is Willow and honestly I have no idea how I got here:) I just woke up one morning and here I was, now if I ever find out who put me here I gaurentee they will be short a few limbs when I'm through! And if they're male, well I won't even go there^_^" She sighed and watched the pilot unsucessfully try to fend off Ewoks. "Got any more Dew? 10 years is a long time to go without it!"

EDP looked moderately surprised, but pulled another cold dew out of her backpack and handed it over. Surrounding Ewoks were beginning to drool all over themselves, so she tossed a few out in their direction and they scampered for them. EDP's crew was beginning to wonder how all those cans were fitting in that little backpack. "Ten years?" EDP gave Willow a curious, red-eyed stare. "Then why have I never seen you here before? This is a coveted demon pony vacation spot!!"

Jarod had a brainstorm and made a beeline for the Backpack. EDP noticed him coming and slipped it off her back before he toppled her over. He dug through it, pulling out can after can of the dew and rolling it across the wood planks, away from him. The young ewoks stared after the rolling cans, until the hypnotizing greens and reds lured them off and away from Jarod. Aquatica applauded mildly. "Nicely done, for an earth pony," she smirked.

"We really have to get him counselling," EDP sighed.

The village leader stepped up to them. "Death Pony, we will have a celebration to welcome you and your friends here. Join us for the Feast!!" The leader paused for a minute, his black beady eyes looking at the demon pony nervously. "Will you---"

"Supply the Dew?" EDP offered.

The leader took that as a definite maybe and went chattering off excitedly with his Shaman to prepare the party. Jarod trudged up to EDP, looking tired. He didnt have a magic bone in his body, and none of them had bothered to make their translation spells include him. "What did that furry mutt tell you?"

EDP shrugged, taking Willow by the shoulder and strolling off. "I think he said he was going to let you sleep in the nursery," she shrugged, and Jarod screamed off behind her.

Staring curiously at the screaming pilot Willow said, "Well, I've only been living in the village for a few months now. For years I had been a prisoner of that blasted Gorax! Three years ago I somehow managed to escape and was living in the forest until the Ewoks captured me. The only thing that saved me was an old crushed can of dew buried in my pocket. I have heard them speak of a Demon pony before, though I always thought it was just one of their stories. Who are all your freinds? And what is wrong with that guy?"

EDP giggled. "What's wrong with that guy? He's a pansy, that's all. At least thats all I can figure." Still giggling, she started braiding her long red mane into piggy tails. "Jarod is my hired pilot. I get the feeling he is going to cost me a LOT of money."

Willow looked like she agreed with that one.

EDP continued with introductions. "That wing`ed unicorn over there standing by the other wing`ed unicorn is my Paddy-wan Wildshadow. Since I am an impressively powerful Jedi Knight and Master--" EDP coughed into her fist "--I am training her to be a Jedi. The guy next to her is Shadowstorm, her husband. The white dragon-winged tiger-tailed sadistic chick is Aquatica." EDP leaned close to Willow's ear and shielded her mouth with a hand. "Watch out for that one!" She whispered. "She likes rice cakes!!"

Willow looked like she wanted to say something but EDP kept talking.

"The white unicorn who looks like Ewok Bait is my future Padawan G-Bread. I of course am Evil Dead Pony (esquire), I am quite dead, rather evil, and questionably a pony." EDP winked and draped an arm around the girl. "But don't worry, I've done my time with the Dark Side and man are they a bunch of stiffs!! Hanging out with the good guys is much more fun... they have a better since of humor!!!"

Jarod stopped screaming and stormed up to them. "I am going to get in my ship, fly away, and leave you freaks here to play with all your dirty little ewoks!!!!" He shrieked, squeezing his eyes shut tight and going a completely fabulous shade of purple. EDP looked impressed, and sauntered across the wood to him. She wrapped her bare white arms around his neck and clasped her hands behind his head, thrusting his face forward.

"If you leave now," EDP smiled into his glittering green eyes, "You won't ever get paid." She twirled long fingers through his blue hair and whispered at his lips: "You do want to get paid, dont you?"

"Uh...." Jarod replied eloquently.

"Plus, I might blow up your ship. Dont think I wouldnt, I've done it before." EDP grinned, and Jarod started screaming again.

G-bread watched the argument and the little bears carefully. She wandered around the group looking for something to do. She conjured up a little flame to entertain the ewaks for a while. She brought a bubble into the act and had them fight. Being quite bored G-bread felt like sending a message to someone at home. *Selcryn* This was going to be fun she thaught. *Selcryn.. whats up? it's G-bread* She hadn't met him yet but she knew he was at the temple.

Selcryn:
*ACK, HOW ARE YOU SPEAKING IN MY MIND?!?* He regains his composure when he realizes that G-bread is one of KC's Jedi. *Nothing much...we're just going to see if we can save Stormy...*

*Sounds like fun. I'm with EDP. We are playing with bears. You should join in when you guys are done saving Stormy. hehehe* With some influence from EDP she knew flirting around with Selcryn was going to be entertaining. She concentrated hard and managed to make a bubble pop on his nose. *hehehe*

Selcryn:
*Playing with bears...whatever...I'll tell the others, and~WHAT THE?!?* he begins rubbing his nose with both hooves, getting stares from the Ponies around him. "...It was...Gingerbread...I think that's what she called herself..."
Seeing the other ponies suddenly understand, he remembers about what G-bread told him, "oh yeah, she says we should join her and the others with...bears...do you know what she is talking about?"

"Bears? Hmm. . . " Bouncy thinks for a moment. "Are there any Jedi that collect teddy bears? Or maybe there are Jedi that ARE bears!!!" She thinks for a moment longer. "Or not."

"Or maybe they're bear-like, and she was just referring to them as bears," Nightstorm suggested. She was scrubbing off her horn from all the junk that had accumulated on it since the whip cream with a cloth she had conjured up while no one was looking. "Like ewoks or something."

EDP yawned, and stretched, scratched behind her horns and stalked up behind G-Bread, who was loitering in Laa Laa Land and shamelessly flirting with someone EDP had never met. EDP was proud of the young trainee... already flirting so well!!!
"ALL RIGHT, SLACKER!!" EDP shouted in her ear, and G-Bread leaped with a scream and did a somersault straight over her feet. EDP grinned. "That was cool. Come on."

She led the unicorn across the village to where the others were lounging, waiting aimlessly for the Ewok Feast that would happen later that night. EDP bent and rummaged through her backpack, pulling out three light sabers. Hers, and two training ones. One she tossed at her Padawan Wildshadow, and the other she handed to Gingerbread.

"What's going on?" Jarod wondered, trying to look less than curious but couldnt help it. Anything involving potentially sweaty young women always captured his undivided attention.

"Training exercise," EDP grinned, her eyes glowing blood red. The two blades of her saber extended, casting an eerie light across the faces of everyone watching.

Wildshadow looked at her oddly. "Both of us?"

EDP laughed shortly and crowed "Unless you can't handle it!!"

Wildshadow snarled and snapped on her saber. G-Bread eagerly opened up the blade and they both lunged at the demon pony at once. Sparks exploded out from where the blades met, and EDP pushed them back away from her and twisted her saber in air, wielding the dangerous, double-bladed thing casually. Wildshadow and Gingerbread stalked around the demon warily, watching her face for weakness or innattention. EDP just grinned at them, and didnt bother to turn when one or the other circled behind her back. She didnt need to see them to know where they were. She closed her eyes and laughed, dipping her blade once then twice, cutting G-Bread's saber hilt in two and striking Wildshadow's blade as the Padawan blocked the blow. G-Bread yelped and jumped back as the ruined weapon sparked in her hand. She backed out of the session as EDP turned her focus on her Padawan.
"How ready are you, Wildshadow?" EDP asked her. "How ready are you to call yourself 'Master'? And if I give you that chance, can you trust yourself to take it?"

G-bread watched in wonder as the lightsaber broke. She was going to need a lot more practice. *Selcryn... are you good with lightsabers? I just lost to EDP* She wanted to see what he looked like. It was fun flirting with him and she loved the little tips she picked up from EDP. 'Well at least while I'm sitting here I can practice some magickal stuff." She sat down on a stump within a safe distance from the dueling ponies. 'I know I can change appearance but its been so long since I've tried' G-Bread closed her eyes and concentrated hard. Slowly a black spot developed on her body. It grew and spread like spilled ink. G-Bread's white body turned totally black. *tehe I did it! I changed my color. Selcryn you should see how good I look now*

Evil Dead Pony, Master and Jedi Knight at large, stood in front of her Padawan with double-bladed lightsaber in hand, watching her carefully. Wildshadow was still breathing heavy from the training exercise, and still standing at a battle-stance, waiting for her Master's next move.

EDP just looked at her, with an odd look on her face. Something was lingering in the back of her head, a thing that had always been there, but never quite so strong. There was an Evil in her padawan, that threatened to summon EDP's most ANNOYING enemy. She had passed her trials and proved herself a competant fighter, but there was something still missing. Some rational part of EDP COULDNT make her a Knight, and didnt want to, even though she was eagerly wanting to take on G-Bread as Padawan.

She snapped off her lightsaber and backed away from Wildshadow, shaking her head sadly, then spun away. "Enough of this crap!!" she shouted, grabbing the daydreaming G-Bread by the horn and the annoyed Jarod by the hair. "It's time to get pretty for the Ewok Party!!!"

Wildshadow looked at her master, still in her battle-stance, wondering what was the matter with EDP, then shook herself and followed along after, saying, "Ooooooooo, I can't wait to get all prettied up!!" Then she stopped half way, turned around, and yelled to Shadowstorm, "Come on, you are getting pretty too!!" She then crossed her arms and waited for him to get up. He looked at her and had a look of disgust on his face, but he hurried and whipped it off his face before she saw it and got mad. He thought he looked fine, but got up anyway and went to get 'pretty'. Then after seeing him get up, Wildshadow started skipping to where EDP went.

G-Bread was having fun partying on Endor with EDP but something seemed wrong. She was worried about EDP but something else caught the back of her mind. *Selcryn? Selcryn where are you?* She hadn't talked to him in so long. Maybe what she felt had to do with the others. Maybe he knew what was going on. *Selcryn please answer me. Something is wrong and I don't know what it is. Are you allright? EDP's worried about something but I know theres something else. I just can't put my finger on it.* She sat down on a log and tried to sift through her thoughts.

Willow watched the party with a mild curiosity. She never like to actually partake in the Ewok festivals but they are fun to watch. She could sense a tension in the group though, especially from EDP. "Wonder what's going on?" She wished she could approch them. Wished she could trust them but she was afraid, afraid they would leave and she would be trapped on this moon forever. She sighed and stood up, "I can't let this fear rule me! Surely not every pony in the universe can be like the ones that abandoned me here. And in all fairness I really have nothing to lose." She took a deep breath and began walking towards the festival.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

Duke pulls his shirt on and freezes as Beldandis belts out a horrible scream. He snatches up his gunblade and rushes back to the ship. As he approches the open entrance he cautiously materializes the blade on his weapon and looks for his partner.

All he sees is an open can of Dew spilled on the ground, a memo pad and some very large footprints.

"Shit," he curses and charges the forest following the prints

Duke continued to follow the large three-toed footprints through the endless Endor jungle. In his right hand his gunblade glinted in the sunlight. He trekked with an angry ferocity. The thought that anyone would steal his enguineer and friend hade him even more annoyed.

He ran his free hand across his brow, brushing his sweat wettened hair from his face. His fingers ran along his eye patch, and along his hairline. His dark mane felt heavy.

Suddenly through the trees the trail came upon a well worn path, hardened through the years. The footprints creased. Duke silently cursed, hoping that the creature (whatever it was) followed the line and he jogged down it.

The sounds of music and laughter began to pierce the ordinary noises of the forest and he followed the sounds, coming upon the Ewok Villiage. He pushed a large leafed fern from his view and stared at the tree houses.

A stone spearhead jabbed the pony in the back and he turned to face a bear warrior.

Evil Dead Pony glided across the wooden decks of the Ewok village, the jewels in her long red hair sparkling in the torchlight. She kept Jarod by the arm so he wouldnt run away screaming, and he didnt try too hard to get away. He had to admit to himself, the Demon looked real damn good in the firelight. Dressed in a shimmery pink gown and decorated with gold. He felt dirty and meager beside her.

The rest of the pony crew were dressed all nice and fancy. Jarod hadnt been surrounded by so many pretty ladies since his last drunken frolick at hometown frat party, and whatever those furry little ewok monsters had given him to drink was sure tickling his fancy. (His what? His fancy!!)

Willow didnt have anything quite so exotic to wear, a problem that EDP had fun fixing. The young unicorn looked uncomfortable in the light, silvery material, and didnt really look like she knew what to do with herself amidst all the merriment. She looked like she had something she wanted to say, but didnt know how to say it. EDP wasnt in the mood to be spoken to. She was wound up tight as a rattlesnake and ready to bite somebody in the ass. EDP usually liked parties, especially ones where mountain dew flowed free and chocolate pudding was never in short supply, but tonite even the crisp citrusy glory of dew and the smooth texture of pudding couldnt soothe her ruffled nerves. Furry little teddy bears were getting drunk off mountain dew and a fat creature that looked like a three-toed sloth was roasting on a spit. Wildshadow danced with her husband Shadowstorm and wisely kept a decent distance from her Master, and Aquatica was sneaking caramel rice cakes in the shadows behind the ewok musical band. Gingerbread was pining over the dashing heroic Selcryn, sipping pensively on an ice cold dew.

EDP's eyes shifted lazily, her interest perked somewhat. She deposited Jarod with a couple chattering ewoks and stepped up to the edge of the village. She peered down into the dark of the forest curiously, and a slow smirk eased onto her face. They had company.

Being forcefully lead into the Ewok village by spearpoint Duke placed his hands into the air nonthreateningly and tossed down his gunblade which the Ewoke had quickly taken into his possession. He stumbled onto the path and slowly walked toward a set of stairs which lead up into the treetops, and toward the partying creatures.

"Look," he muttered. "I am looking for a friend of mine..." That caused the teddy bear to jab him. "Ouch. Watch it." He growled.

It wasn't too long before more Ewok companions were surrounding the two, curiously mumbling amongst themselves. Duke loked over at a railing, where a white demon pony in a glitering dress stood. She grinned at him.

"I don't suppose you have seen a friend of mine?" he attempted to casually ask, although a few drops of sweat beaded on his grey forhead. "White earther, golden hair? He goes by the name of Beldandis (pronounced Bell-dandy)."

EDP smiled wickedly at him. "Beldandis? Maybe hanging out with Urd and Skuld?" (anime ref, sorry!! :)

The prisoner glared up at her, not appreciating it. EDP giggled and shouted down at the furry little warriors in their own squeaky, irritating language. The little bears looked confused for a minute, but lowered their spears and gave Duke a little room. The ewok holding his gunblade had a firm grip on it and wouldnt give it back.

"Better let the stinky thing keep it for a while!" EDP shouted down at Duke as he tried to yank the weapon back. He growled and let go, and the furry thing tumbled over backwards. EDP laughed and waved him up. "Come! Join our party, and tell me who you are! Maybe together we can find your friend!!"

He gave a tug at his t-shirt and followed her. Deciding it was best for him to play along, for now, Duke started to speak as she pulled out an ice cold Mountain Dew and handed it to him.

"Well, my friend and I were enjoying a relaxing stay here in the Hilton of the universe when I heard him scream from my ship. I was taking a bath in a nearby river and rushed back to my ship when I found his scattered belongings, a couple of smashed cases of soda and large footprints."

EDP knocked back her own can of Dew and smiled. "So, why come here?" she asked.

'She's getting too nosey,' his mind flashed the warning. But instead he heard himself answer with "We were hiding from a group of bounty hunters." 'Stupid!' He wanted to smack himself.

Her eyebrows arched up in interest. "Oh, really," she cooed. "What'd ya do?"

"Killed a few people, who killed my brother." He opened the soda and downed it in one gulp. He never really liked the stuff, but after trudging in the hot forest all day made him thirsty.

"Oh," she ginned, inching closer to him. "So... have any idea what made your buddy disappear?"

He stepped back, feeling uneasy. "Nope. Was hoping you could tell me."

EDP slipped her long white fingers through his gray forelock before he had the chance to duck back away. "You're dirty," she took a whif of his hair and scrunched up her nose, then grinned. "Thats ok, though, I like dirty boys!"
EDP knew he didnt trust her, and she found that incredibly amusing. She grabbed the front of the man's shirt and dragged him through the village to meet her other dirty man.
"Jay!!!!!!" she shreiked gleefully. "I found a MAN for you to play with!!!!!"

Jarod squinted up at her and didnt really want to know what she was talking about. He pushed a few baby ewoks off his lap and grabbed his cupful of happy juice as he staggered to his feet. "Pleasure to meet you." He looked at him curiously. "Do I know you?" Duke stared at him suspiciously and tried to back away when Jarod flopped forward into the man's arms, spilling happy juice all over him. "Oooooh," Jarod sighed sadly, shaking out his empty cup. He shrugged and tossed the cup over his shoulder. "Oh well. Welcome to the fray!" Jarod crowed, hanging around Duke's neck and laughing happily. "You're gonna like it here. Me and you are the only single guys here and there are plenty of pretty ladies to go around!!"

"How do you know I am single?" Duke growled, and Jarod snorted, as if THAT should be obvious enough.

"Look at you," the mercenary giggled. Duke scowled and pushed Jarod off. The pilot landed on his butt and giggled maniacally.

"Oh dont take it so hard," EDP patted his shoulder kindly. "He's right, but its ok! Willow here needs a man!"
The demon pony gestured at a perrywinkle-blue unicorn in a fancy silky dress, who stopped dead in her tracks and stared at them like a deer caught in headlights.

EDP flipped up Duke's eyepatch curiously, and he snapped her hand away. "Nice," she grinned. "How'd you get it? Jarod!! Show him your scar!!"

Jarod looked up at her, horrified, and shrieked "How do you know about that?!?!!?!?!"

EDP shrugged him off. "Oh come on, Jay, we've all seen you naked."

Jarod screamed.

Duke made good on the opportunity to slip away. It didnt escape EDP's sharp demon eyes, though, and as soon as she snapped her fingers he was surrounded by angry-looking little bears with pointy sticks.

He turned around, glaring at EDP. "Call off your bears. I'm not in the mood to party."

She grinned evilly, leaning on a railing. "No," she said.

Duke decided that he had had enough. Before anyone could react he planted a roundhouse kick across the face of one of the Ewoks closest to him. When the Ewok flew backwards he snatched his spear from its grasp and swing it low, tripping up the remaining warriors. When one rolled quickly back to its feet Duke ducked down, his leg sliced behind the Ewoks kneecaps causing the bear to fall again.

Almost immediately the rest of the Ewoks charged into stop the pony, but he backflipped from the foray and landed before EDP, the stone dagger pointing directly at her throat. "I said I am not in the mood to party," he said between breaths. "Now, do you have any idea where my buddy is? Or not?"

Her eyes squinted, almost glowing...

EDP reached up and touched the stone spear with one long finger, and it dissolved into dust. She snatched the pole out of Duke's hands and punched the blunt end into his gut. He doubled over with a grunt, and with a swift kick, EDP sent him tumbling over backwards.

"How DARE you?" she shouted at him. "These Ewoks arent your enemies!!" She threw the broken spear away and stalked up to him. "And if you want my help, assassin," she knelt down in front of him, her demon eyes burning with the blood-red fire of hell, "thats not the way to get it."

Aquatica quickly becomes bored with the Ewoks, so she winks out, focusing on a particular yellow peg.

Bouncy looks up from her book when she sees Aquatica wink in, then rolls her eyes. "What now?" she asks.

Aquatica grins. "Let's go find someone to make fun of. Like, oh, say. . . Darth Maul, for example?"

Bouncy's eyes widen. "WHAT?????"

"You heard me."

Bouncy turns back to her book. "You're more insane than I thought!"

"Oh, shush, you're just a spoil-sport, that's all."

Bouncy shakes her head, then stands up and walks over to her mirror, tying her hair in a ponytail. "Nonsense. I like to have fun, just not making fun of Sith lords who'd prefer to skewer me on a lightsaber."

Determined, Aquatica says, "You're coming with, and that's final!" Before B can protest, she grabs her arm with one hoof, then winks out, focusing in on where Darth Maul is.

Aquatica and Bouncy wink in, somewhere, the surroundings bleak and not very inviting.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING???????" Bouncy roars, her face twisted angrily at Aquatica.

Aquatica shrugs. "Well, you weren't about to come along any other way. . . "

Bouncy growls, about to say something more, when she hears Kc. *Kc??? I can hear you, but very faintly!!! Aquatica's decided to kidnap me or something. . . . I think she's just insane. . . *

"Hey, I heard that!" Aquatica exclaims.

Bouncy simply scowls at Aquatica.

Duke stared into the eyes of the demon pony. For the first time he knew true fear, peering into the hells of her soul. He gulped, a vain attempt to regain some composure. "I am s-sorry." He meekly apologized. "I was angry. Something took my partner in crime, and I want to find him."

EDP backed away from Duke, accepting his apology. She looked off, feeling gloomy. Aquatica had split the scene. That irked the demon pony. She might have needed her later, since whatever adventure this assassin pony had brought to them was promising to be a wild one.

"Look," EDP said to Duke shortly. "I'm game for an adventure, so I'll help you out. First, you have to tell me what you know about who took your friend." She glared at him darkly. "AND you have to promise that you wont knock any more Ewok guts out!!" She offered her hand. "Deal?"

He looked at her hand for a second, then back at her. "Deal," he agreed and accepted the offer, clasping. She helped him up and he began to tell the story.

"Like I said before, I was taking a bath and I herd Beldandis scream. I ran back to my ship only to find the notes he was carrying and some cargo splattered all over the place. I found some big three-toed footprints and followed them for quite some distance until they disappeared in the jungle. Then I herd the whooping going on nearby and here I am. Thought that maybe your buddies here," he gestured to the Ewoks, "might have taken him. But now that I think of it, I guess their feet aren't big enough."

Jarod, who was drunk as a frat boy and sitting on the ground near Duke and EDP, looked up at them with huge, watery eyes. "I know what took him," Jarod whispered, a look of terror on his face. "I know what took your friend."

EDP and Duke hurried up to the drunken pilot. "What? Do you mean who?" Duke asked, taking Jarod's shirt urgently.

"No. What. This is why I didnt want to come here. I dont want to get involved." The pilot looked about ready to panic.

EDP knelt down beside him. "Tell me, Jarod." He shook his head stubbornly, and EDP lunged forward at him, knocking him over and taking two big fistfuls of his hair. She yanked his face close and red glowing eyes were inches from his. In five seconds she made him sober, and as her eyes melted back into a softer shade, she made him intoxicated with a different kind of drug. "Tell me, Jarod," she whispered at his lips.

He stared at her, speechless to begin with. "The Gorax," he breathed.

Willow walked up to EDP with a look of terror on her face. "The Gorax!?!" Please, I spent eight years trying to get out of that mountain. If that's where he is there's very little hope for him. I barley survived!" She looked down softly shaking and closed her eyes. The thought of going back there was almost to much to take.

EDP grinned at them, all too terribly interested in getting into trouble. "'Very little hope' is better than no hope, friends. I'm all for it."

Jarod grabbed the demon pony's hands. He seemed more comfortable with touching her now. "Its a long way to where the Gorax live," he said, quiet urgency in his voice. "And the way there is no walk in the park."

"Where do we have to go?" Duke urged.

"Desert of Salma," Jarod muttered miserably, knowing that if he refused to answer, EDP would force it out of him eventually. He was lucky that so far she had been gentle with him. "North of here, and beyond the cliffs." He looked at Willow sadly. "Eight years?" he marveled quietly. "My god, I'm sorry."

EDP waved them off, and motioned the rest of her crew over. The ones who had hung around, she thought, irritated. "Wildshadow, Shadowstorm, G-Bread!! No one has to go who doesnt want to, except Jarod, of course," EDP smiled sweetly at the pilot, who went whiter than he already was. "And I would value having you along, Willow, as someone who knows the enemy. But I am going on a great adventure, to the caves of the monstrous Gorax!!! Who will join me!?"

Willow shuddered. Just picturing those caves in her mind froze her with fear. But she knew that they would need her help. sighing deeply she whispered, "I'll go."

"I'll do it! Selcryn isn't talking to me anymore and I have nothing else to do." G-Bread said a little depressed.

EDP patted poor G-Bread's hand comfortingly. "Oh, its ok sweetie. You just need to learn to FLIRT harder," she giggled. "Who knows? Duke's lost friend Beldandis might actually be cute!!"

EDP could sense and see the fear in Willow, and thought that driving her emotionally crazy would be an interesting bonus to the adventure. She felt sorry for the poor unicorn though, who'd been left behind by someone along time ago. EDP wondered who.

"Now all we need is Wildshadow's answer before we're on our way." EDP glared at her padawan and said grandly: "So Paddy-wan, what'll it be? Stay behind and play with your teddy bears, or, have the chance to prove to me that you are worthy of being a Jedi Knight?"

"Well I'm going with you of course!! The Ewoks are okay to hang out with, but I don't want to miss out on all funny stuff that always happens around you. *Wildshadow gives EDP a smile* And also, I want to have more fun on this planet and see what this 'Gorax' thing looks like. So lets go!!" She looked at all of them, then smiled big.

G-Bread perked up at the thought of Duke's friend. Beldandis was someone she definitely wanted to meet. She went to an Ewok hut to change into some more "adventurous" clothes. The outfit she got from EDP was great but it wouldn't work out for running through the jungle. "Lets go then!"

"Of course I'm going," Duke piped up. He shot a look at the Ewok still in possession of his gunblade. "Mind if I have that back?" he thumbed at the critter.

EDP took the cue from G-Bread and snapped her fingers, dressing everyone in travelling clothes. She shot a wry glance at Duke and said: "Well DUH you're coming." and went to get her backpack. Jarod still wanted to get his hands on the pack of hers, to see what was REALLY inside it.

The demon pony came back to the group about 5 minutes later, just when everyone was starting to get nervous, with 3 Ewoks trailing behind her. The Ewoks were carrying packs, too, ones bigger than her own.

"What is that?" Duke pointed suspiciously at the furry coterie.

EDP nodded, looking around for the one furry warrior who still had Duke's gunblade. "You'll see," was all she said, and wiggled her fingers. The gunblade popped out of the surprised Ewoks hand and shot through the air into hers.
She looked at Duke and grinned. "You want this?"

"Of course," Duke said, and reached for it. EDP snapped it out of range and smiled straight into his face.

"You have to promise that you wont use it on me or my crew." EDP warned casually. "If you stab us in the back, I can make your death long and more painful than the fate of a world of sinners." She slammed the gunblade into his chest and he grabbed it and watched her as she walked away from him, with her innate, dangerous grace.

"OK my freaks, lets get this party started!!" she crowed and leapt into the lift that would take them to the forest floor.



To be CONTINUED!!!!!!!!!

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