The next few days after the "double date" went relatively smoothly. It turns out that while Applejack was taking Caramel home, she gave him her own scolding, which Caramel received silently. Shortly after, Applejack decided that even though Soarin told him already, she thought it more honest to tell Caramel in person how she felt about him and dating in general. She went on to try to cheer him up by suggesting that since he seems like a nice guy and maybe they should try to become friends officially. Caramel was still down to have the girl he loves deny him herself, but he was all too happy with the idea of at least being friends.
"It's a dream come true to hear that she wants to get to know me as a friend," he said to Soarin and me gleefully. "Plus, we exchanged numbers, so now I can die happy knowing that I have Applejack's number."
Things between him, Lyra and Bon Bon were starting to become more peaceful. The Monday after the date, Caramel came to the two hyper girls and had an honest discussion with them as well. They were pissed off about it as you would imagine, but they eventually forgave him, knowing that he didn't mean any harm. He also convinced them to stop calling him "Caramel Bear," which they were hesitant to do, but eventually gave in, knowing that it was for the best. They still slip out the name every now and then, but Caramel doesn't pay too much mind knowing they were doing so out of habit.
As for myself and Octavia, we have been spending more time together than usual. Octavia and I usually go to her place after school, where she would perform for me, and I, in turn, would write my new story while she plays. On occasion, Octavia would stop playing and try to peek into what I'm writing, but I have caught wise and would close my notebook before she gets a chance. She would give me playful pout and ask for a peak only for me to tell her that I'll show her when it's ready. We also convinced both of our parents to allow us to go on a special date, and my dad agreed to let me borrow some of his nicer clothes and his credit card for the occasion.
On more joyous news for both the E.M.R. and the Rainbooms, Sonata had her trial while we were at the mall and won her appeal. The judge decided that her good behavior in juvenile hall and her information to the police regarding Aria and Adagio just as we hoped and she was okay to be looked after by the Apples family, provided that she also does community service at the vet clinic that Fluttershy works at. Sonata was all too willing to agree, thinking it would be fun to interact with cute little animals and because she is comfortable around Fluttershy after she comforted Sonata back when we were interrogating her.
The Tuesday after her appeal, Sonata was allowed back into Canterlot High. Once the Rainbows explained the situation, Principal Celestia was hesitant but eventually accepted Sonata's apology with a kind smile. Unfortunately, her acceptance back to Canterlot High was not entirely well-received by the rest of the school. Some of the students like Rarity and Applejack's sisters, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, and their friend, Scootaloo were quick to forgive Sonata, but the rest of the student body were not as ready to forgive her.
It's currently lunchtime on Friday, and Caramel, Soarin, and I invited Sonata to sit next to us since we share the same lunch period.
"So Sonata, how is it going with your classes so far?" Soarin asks.
"I think it's going well," Sonata answers. "There are some students that still look at me coldly, but I'm starting to get used to it. The teachers are pretty nice, but the hard part is the fact that I'm given so much extra school work to catch up on the semester. Thankfully, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie are in the same classes as me, and they agreed to help me out."
"Well, that's good," I say.
"Yeah, though I could do without Doc's experiments on me, though," Sonata says a little down.
"Uh, he's not asking for any blood tests, is he?" Caramel asks, concerned.
"Well, yes, but that's not what bugs me," Sonata explains. "It just feels like every time I'm helping him try to understand magic, I worry how he's doing this to prepare for in case Aria or Dagi come back. Don't get me wrong, I am glad that I'm helping however I can, and I know we need to prepare in case any magic-related thing happens again. But part of me still feels a little guilty that I'm betraying my sisters just because they abandoned me, and I'm worried that they might come back."
Soarin, Caramel, and I look at each other before I ask, "So you're you afraid that they might do something that will ruin your chance to move on?"
Sonata nods sadly.
"I wish I wasn't." She says. "I want to be happy and away from it all and have friends who love me for who I am. That's why I appreciate that you all visited me at juvie, and Applejack's family took me in. You all have been more supportive and loving than I could have dreamed with Dagi and Aria, but I'm scared that sooner or later they are going to do something that will ruin all of it."
When she finishes, nothing is said or heard except for the conversations from the students around us. Soarin, Caramel, and I look at Sonata worryingly until I take Sonata's hand and squeeze it for reassurance.
"If they come back, we'll be here for you, Sonata," I say kindly. "I'm sure I'm going to sound like one of the Rainbooms when I say this, but you're among friends, and despite the fact, there are two separate factors, both the E.M.R. and the Rainbooms will protect you to whatever end."
"Yeah, what Rough Draft said," Soren adds while patting her in the back.
"Ditto," Says Caramel.
Sonata gives the three of us an appreciative smile.
"Thanks, you guys. "She says. "Speaking of which, Pinkie Pie and some of the others invited me to join them to go and get tacos after school. You guys want to come?"
"Absolutely!" Caramel and Soarin exclaim at the same time.
"I'm afraid Octavia and I will have to rain check on that, Sonata," I answer. "We got plans of our own tonight."
"Oh yeah, tonight is that special night," Soarin says.
"Big night?" Sonata asks before she gasped. "Ooo, are you going to confess your love for each other?!"
I chuckle before I answer.
"Actually, we confessed our love for each other almost two weeks ago. This is just a big date we've planned all week."
"Awwww! You confessed already?" Sonata pouts. "I wish I was there. How did it happen?"
But before I answer, the bell rings, announcing that it's time for our next classes, making Sonata pout.
"Don't worry, Sonata. I'll tell you the story some other time," I say reassuringly.
"Okay," Sonata replies, instantly happy before she gives me a sly look. "Be sure to tell me how tonight goes, too, okay?"
"Yeah, same for us," Soarin adds, pointing at himself and Caramel.
"I will," I say. "Till then, enjoy your tacos."
"Oh, I will," Sonata says while licking her lips and rubbing her hands together as we go our separate ways from the cafeteria.
********************************************************************************
The sky is starting to turn orange as I walk over to Octavia's place, wearing black pants and shoes with a dark blue buttoned shirt. I make it to her front porch and check the time to find that it's 5:27, indicating that I'm three minutes early. I'm thinking of waiting until it's 5:30 sharp to knock on the door until it opens, revealing Octavia waiting for me wearing an aqua dress, black high heels, and diamond earrings.
"I thought I said you don't have to wait in front of my door just to be precise. I'm beginning to think you're doing this on purpose." She says, smirking.
"Well, maybe I like how you seem to be so eager to see me that you're waiting behind the door," I reply, smirking back.
Octavia giggles at my comeback.
"Well, you have me there this time, darling." She says. "I have been looking forward to this as much as you have."
"Indeed. And might add that you look beautiful, Love." I say kindly as I take her hand and kiss it.
She giggles at my performance before she answers. "You may, darling. You may. Now come on, we must inform my mother that you're here, and we're ready to go."
"Of course, Love," I say as we go inside to get ready to head out to our date.
********************************************************************************************************
Tempo drives us over to Crystal City shortly after I arrived. Sheet helping her find her way to the restaurant, Tempo parks next to it, allowing me to exit the car first so that I can open Octavia's door and hold out my hand for her. But right after Octavia gets out of the car, Tempo grabs me by the shirt and forces me to look at her.
"Don't forget I'm coming around nine near the park to pick you two up," Tempo says happily before she secretly hisses in my ear "And remember to take good care of my daughter. If anything happens to her, I'll have your head hanging above my fireplace."
My eyes widen, and I silently gulp and choose my next words carefully.
"I'll protect her as if my existence depends on it," I say with a squeak in my voice.
Immediately, Tempo's angry face turns back to her cheery one.
"Wonderful. Have fun," She says giddily before she lets go of my shirt, gets back inside her car, and drives away.
I turn to Octavia, who has a sympathetic yet slightly amused look on her face.
"Did you know that she was going to do that?" I ask, still sounding scared.
"No, but I wish I did so that I could prepare you for that somehow. I never thought she would come up with a threat like that," She answers.
"Well, it's nice to know that you have such a caring mother in that regard," I say, trying to collect myself.
"Indeed, darling," Octavia agrees. "Now, shall we start the night?"
I smile at her and say, "I would like that."
I offer my hand to Octavia, and she accepts it as we walk inside the restaurant. The place looks fancy yet simple, with walls painted dark brown with expensive-looking art pieces hanging on the wall. Classical music plays from the speakers installed on the ceiling, and there's an electronic fireplace in the middle of the dining room. In front of us is a black stand with a tall skinny man with a long, thin curly mustache standing behind it.
"Good evening, and welcome to Gustave's. Do you have a reservation?" The man asks in a thick Prench accent.
"Yes. Table for two under the name Draft." I say.
The man looks at his list until he finds my name and says, "Ah, yes, table for Drahft."
"Uh, no. It's Draft." I say.
The man looks up, confused and says, "That's what I said. Drahft."
I am about to counter him when Octavia takes my arm and whispers in my ear, "Just go with it, darling."
I nod and make a gesture to the man indicating that it is all good.
"Very well. Allow me to take you to your table." He says politely while he grabs a couple of menus and escorts us to our seats. I help Octavia to her chair first before I sit down, and the man gives us our menus and leaves with a bow. We look at our menus for a few minutes before I clear my throat.
"So is this 'not too fancy' enough for you?" I ask.
"Oh very much so," Octavia answers pleased. "Back at Manehattan, we would be going to places where the fireplaces are real, and there would be a real band playing. Not to mention half of the time, I'd hear people all around us talk about gossip and business and such just like at the ball."
"You didn't go to places like that every day, did you?" I ask.
"Oh heavens, no, but we came often enough that it did get rather irritating," Octavia answers. "This, by comparison, feels like a modest kind of fancy that I can take more seriously if that makes any sense."
"Uh, not really," I confess.
Octavia smiles at my confusion and says, "Don't worry about it. I guess what I'm trying to say is I like this place so far. How did you find out about it?"
"Well, my parents went to Crystal City to see a play a while back," I answer. "They had dinner here before we went to see their play, and they told me how they enjoyed it."
"That sounds like a very nice night," Octavia says.
"Yeah, it was," I say. "I had to get help from my dad to look up where it is since he and mom forgot where it was."
"Well, I'm glad you did," She says warmly.
A waiter comes and takes our orders shortly afterward. I order the lamb with grilled vegetables, and Octavia orders the chicken chowder. It takes about ten minutes until our food arrives, and we started digging in.
"So have you seen Sonata around school after Principal Celestia let her back in?" I ask to make small talk.
"I'm afraid I haven't," Octavia answers. "But you did mention to me that she's in your lunch period. Is she doing alright to you?"
"She says she's pretty happy despite the expected backlash from other students," I say. "But she sounded worried that somehow her sisters will come back and somehow ruin her chance to move."
Octavia looks at me worryingly.
"But how can they? It's not like they have magic or anything like that to sneak back here," she says. "The police are keeping a sharp eye out for them, after all."
"Maybe, but we still don't even know why they were trying to go back to Equestria." I point out. "Now that I think about it, they might try to find the way back if they're desperate enough."
"That's true," Octavia admits. "All the same, I hope Sonata can move on. Maybe she'll make some friends of her own beside the Rainbooms and us."
"Agreed. Actually, she and the others are off to get tacos right now. I had to get a rain check for both of us," I say.
"Aw, that sounds like fun. Let's use that rain check sometime soon," Octavia says.
"Agreed, Love," I say.
Octavia makes a quiet giggle at her nickname before we go back to our food. We continued eating in silence until we finish our meals.
"Now, that was a meal," Octavia says firmly. "My parents and I should have started going to a place like this years ago."
"What, were the restaurants in Manehattan so fancy that the servings were really small or something?" I say jokingly.
"Yes," Octavia says plainly.
"Oh, come on." I ridicule. "How over-the-top traditional can you get?"
"A rude yet legitimate question, darling," she says. "In any case, the servings were small enough that my family would go get some real food after they've played their part in the social gathering."
"Well, I'm glad this gives you a more filling experience," I say. "That said, I get the feeling that we could be married and in our sixties, and you'll still tell me something about your old life that will leave me confounded."
Octavia chuckles and says, "I certainly hope not. I want to think we would have it all behind us by then with no trace of that time is found apart from a few memories and maybe using my musical skills to be a music teacher."
"You think about stuff like that?" I ask with a smile.
"Absolutely, " She answers. "I don't have a concrete plan of what I might do after college, but I certainly won't go back to Manehattan and continue being a cellist there. I want to do something more humble for the rest of my life. Something where my children wouldn't experience the childhood I had if I have any."
I can't help but smile. "I'm sure you'll find plenty of kids who would love to learn how to play the cello," I say.
"Hmmm, encouraging words from the guy who thought it was just a big violin," Octavia says with a smirk.
I chuckle nervously. "Touche, Love. Touche."
Shortly after that, the waiter came gives me the check, and I pay with my dad's credit card. After the waiter comes with the receipt, we start heading to the door when the man at the front calls out to us.
"Excuse me, monsieur and madame, but you might want to look up before you go," he says.
Octavia and I look at each other, confused before we looked up, and see mistletoe hanging above the ceiling.
Oh yeah. Christmas is coming soon...but it's still November.
"A little early for this, don't you think?" I ask the man.
"Oh, not at all. In fact, if you look at some other parts of town, you'll find people already setting up decorations for the holidays," He says.
"Yeah, but maybe putting up mistletoe is pushing it," I say.
The man replies with a smug grin, "Your lady doesn't seem to mind."
I look at him, confused and turn to Octavia, who is putting on lipstick before putting it back in her purse and gives me a flirtatious look.
"Why do I get the feeling you knew you were gonna need that?" I ask.
Octavia rolls her eyes and grabs me by the shirt and says, "Just come here, you dork," before she pulls me to her.
Well, if I ever had it in my bucket list where my lips get smothered in lipstick after my girlfriend kisses me, it's crossed off now.
********************************************************************************************************8
After our little make out, we start walking through the city to the park. It sure enough, people are decorating buildings with lights and other decorations for the holidays. But Octavia doesn't pay any mind, however, as the decorations and lights around the city make everything looks beautiful to see at night. She wraps my arm with both of her arms and lays her head on my shoulder and sighs as we walk down the streets to our destination.
Suddenly I realize that Octavia isn't holding my arm, and turn to see isn't next to me. I look around for a moment until I see her standing in front of the glass window of a jewelry shop. From the reflection of the window, she has a small but serene smile on her face as she is looking at a sapphire necklace. I walk over next to her, looking at the necklace and clear my throat.
"You know the park is kinda this way," I say half-teasingly.
Octavia breaks out of her trance and turns to me.
"Oh, sorry." She says. "I was just looking at this necklace."
"I noticed," I say with my own smile. "So, you're a sapphire girl?"
"You could say that," She says. "It's just that this necklace reminds me of my grandfather. The one I was very close with."
I look at her, confused, and she rolls her eyes before she elaborates.
"He didn't wear one, you silly dork. He gave my grandmother one," She says. "She died before I was born, but when I was growing up, my grandfather liked to tell me stories about her. They were close friends throughout most of their childhood, and both of them grew up to be musicians. He was a violinist, and she played the flute. It wasn't until they were in their twenties that they started to develop feelings for each other. Grandfather spent much time trying to enter in well-known orchestras and bands with her. It was hard since being a violinist is a common instrument, and the competition was tough, but grandmother was always there to support and comfort him through his various trials. It was around the time that he began to realize how much she deeply cared for him and he decided to tell her he felt the same. So, he took her to a garden up top one of the most famous buildings in Manehattan and gave her a sapphire necklace just like this one and confessed. Whenever he told the story, he'll say at least three times how joyous she was that was to hear him say 'I love you.' for the first time. They married not long after and eventually had my father. My grandfather loved to tell me how he would give my grandmother jewelry on her birthday or during the holidays, but she would never wear them because it was that necklace that meant the most to her. The sad thing is I only got to see it in pictures because it was buried with her. I guess I have gained a thing for sapphires since it was the jewel necklace that the woman my grandfather loved held dearly."
For a moment, nothing is said. Then Octavia turns her head back to me to see the smirking.
"What?" She asks, confused.
"She was always there to support and comfort him, huh? That sounds an awful lot like someone I love," I say.
Octavia blushes furiously.
"Mr. Draft, are you trying to flatter me with my dead grandparents?!" She exclaims.
"No, I'm serious," I state. "I may not have known either of your grandparents, but I do know that you have been like that almost ever since we got together. Whether it's over my writing or when you helping me to be brave back when we were chasing Sonata and Adagio, or even when it came to telling you what happened between Sunset Shimmer and me, you've been so supporting that even though you have told me otherwise, I still believe I don't deserve you. Heck, all I've done in return is go to a concert and barely wake up in time for your performance and otherwise watch you play after school sometimes."
Octavia smiles kindly before she wraps her arms around my waist and kisses me on the cheek.
"You do more than enough just by being the silly yet sweet, loving boy I met at Pinkie Pie's party, darling." She says sweetly.
I smile back at her and wrap my arms around her waist and say. "Thank you, Octavia. I appreciate it."
"Anytime." She says before we peck each other on the lips. "Now, let's get going. I do believe you have a park to escort me to."
"Quite right, love," I say as we part from the hug, and she goes back to hugging my arm while we continue walking down the street.
*******************************************************************************************************
After about twenty minutes of walking, we make it to Crystal Central Park. Judging by the size of it, there would usually be hundreds of people here playing or going on picnics and whatnot during the day. But since it's night time, it's mostly just a few couples such as Octavia and me. The park lampposts light up most of the park as Octavia finds a bench for us to sit in where only the moonlight illuminates the area. We sit down next to each other, holding hands as she lays her head on my shoulder and I lay my head on her head. We don't say anything to each other, just enjoy each other's company as we look at the moonlight.
After a while, Octavia says, "You know, you watch me play my music, but you like to write without letting me see your work."
I smile and I reply, "I told you, I don't want to show you when I'm not finished. Writing isn't something you can present as quickly as you can with music, you know."
"I know, but it still feels like only you get to be entertained with my form of art while I'm in the dark with yours," She says. "I don't even know what happens in your story where you meet this Jedi Princess version of me."
"All the more reason for you to wait until I'm done with it," I say. "There's some art that you can't rush."
"I understand. I just wish I didn't have to wait," Octavia says.
I hesitate before I reluctantly say, "Well, I did try to finish that story before tonight, but I couldn't finish."
"Aw, how come?" she playfully pouts.
"Just haven't figured out the ending yet," I answer. "Though I suppose I could read to you where the story continues from on my phone."
Octavia smiles and squeezes my hand.
"Yes, please," She says.
I smile and reach into my pocket for my phone with my free hand and open the notes app.
"Right, so where were we, love?" I ask.
"You were describing my eyes," she says dreamily.
"Ah, that's right. I'll start a little bit before that," I say before I clear my throat and begin to read.
*************************************************************************************************************************
"I sense sadness, grief, suffering, death, yet the planet's moon continues to shine despite so much smoke filling the sky as if whatever was left here took it as a sign of hope. That somehow, the moonlight is telling them that light overcomes the darkness. I thought I also felt a mixture of anguish and comfort. That's about as much as I could gather."
"Good. Very good." The Gray Women said. "There was a time where those who could use The Force knew that there is more to gain from the life around us than simply knowing that they create The Force and make it grow. Anything from the grass, to the rock and even the ocean, have things to tell us, we only needed to reach out far enough to learn what they have to say."
"So I see. " Rough Draft replied, but his mind was focused on the woman herself. Even though he was focused on listening to the music she was playing, he could also sense the passion behind her music. It was clear to him that she had a deep love for the creative arts and desires to express it however she can. It was as mesmerizing as her beautiful purple eyes that were deeper than any purple crystal in Ilum or some of the flowers and large plants in the forests in Tython.
"Why don't you try taking a holo-picture? It will last longer."
Rough Draft snapped out of his trance as he realized he was caught staring at the Gray Woman, who was smirking in amusement.
"I don't recall Jedi being allowed to give into attraction," She said smugly. "I believe they still think that no emotions are good emotions or some over-cautious nonsense like that."
Rough Draft blushed and tried to regain his serious demeanor before he said. "Well, we are also supposed to admire the beauty that life creates in The Force."
The Gray Woman roared in laughter, dropping her instrument as she held on to her gut with both of her arms. Rough Draft looked at her nervously, feeling a little dimwitted from his response as she almost falls off the stone she was sitting on in laughter.
"Oh, by The Force, I could live to see the end of all things and would never hear something as silly as that again," she said. "Honestly, Master Jedi, I don't know whether to ridicule you or applaud you for your effort. Truly, the path of the Jedi has become a very devoted yet ignorant one."
"How can you say that? The Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training." Rough Draft countered.
"Knowing your history, and philosophies from those before you do not entirely make you all-knowing," The Gray Woman said with a wave of her hand. "It's important to experience life as others do without giving into the darkness. The Jedi know how giving in to your emotions can lead to things like fear and anger, but they don't understand how they are not entirely good or evil. They can only be manipulated to fall into the darkness if they are not experienced carefully."
"How can you say anything like that with no proof?" Rough Draft demanded.
"Proof? Proof? You're surrounded with proof, you fool!" She ridiculed. "Truly, do you not even know what happened to this temple, or is this a piece of history lost to your order?"
"Of course I know," Rough Draft claimed. "A young padawan wanted to know more about the Force and discovered the ways of the dark side and shared his findings to other Jedi and that started a rift that caused a fight that destroyed the temple and nearly wiped the Jedi from existence."
"Exactly," the Gray Woman said. "And if that padawan had known about what the dark side is like beforehand, he would have understood how important it is to denounce them. Instead, he gave into the ideas, not caring about the consequences. Because he was shunned of things that he didn't understand, his emotions consumed him and the people around him in the end. One must truly know the darkness to appreciate the light fully."
"But truly knowing why are, those emotions can turn you to the dark side does not guarantee that you will never be consumed by it." Rough Draft argued.
"That is true, but if you live in ignorance of what you consider to be your enemy, you and the people around you are in greater danger to the dark side than if you didn't." She said. "Many people across the galaxy are unable to use the Force, yet they can live with anger and fear and many other feelings without giving in to the temptation of the dark side. Just because Force Users like me and you are more capable of causing great harm if consumed by darkness, then others does not mean never truly understanding them is the key. In fact, I'm willing to bet that you're prone to many temptations from fighting the Sith."
"How do you mean?" Rough Draft asked.
"Do you hate the Sith?" The Gray Woman asks.
Rough Draft thought hard about that question. It never really occurred to him to think about how the Sith impacted his feelings to him.
"I suppose I would have to say yes," He answered.
"Why?" The Gray Woman asked skeptically like a school teacher asking a student to explain his answer to a question. "Do you really despise them just for existing as the opposite of what you stand for?"
Rough Draft thought about it again before he says, "It's more than that. They are ruthless and destructive with their quest for power."
"Is that the words of other Jedi I hear?" The Gray Woman asked skeptically again.
"No, it's from experience," He answered. "I've despised what they stand for since the moment I first fought them."
"Oh? Why don't you explain," She commanded.
"It's not something I like to-" Rough Draft began before the woman interrupts him.
"Master Jedi, you have intruded my sanctuary and asked me to play some of my music to you. I think you more than owe me a simple story," She demanded.
Rough Draft hesitated for a moment before he reluctantly agreed. He takes a deep breath before he began his story.
"It was about five years ago. I had recently become a Jedi Knight after completing my trials," he said. "The Sith Empire at that time was beginning to spread across the galaxy, conquering as they went, and the Republic had decreed to send a couple of hundred Jedi into battle with the Republic armada to counter the Sith's advances. Back then, it was Darth Blumblood trying to take the galaxy for himself, claiming he was destined to rule it."
***************************************************************************************************************
"Hang on, Blumblood?" Octavia interrupts with a raised eyebrow. "Did you name this Sith Lord after Blueblood?"
"Well, it usually is a good idea to use my experiences into your writing," I said with a shrug. "Besides, it's hard to come up with a good original sounding name for a dark lord of the Sith when the expanded universe has so many good ones like Darth Sion, Malak, Kryat, Traya, Nihilus-"
"Alright, alright, calm down, Rough Draft," She says, waving her hand. "But does this have a sad ending for 'Blumblood?'"
"Are you violet eyes as gorgeous as your face?" I say, trying to sound flirty.
Octavia squeals in laughter at my terrible move before she playfully smacks me upside the head and says, "Just get back to reading you, silly dork."
I chuckle and wait for her to calm down before I continue.
**************************************************************************************************************
"Blumblood had a strong army, and he was starting to conquer worlds one by one with ease, " Rough Draft continued. "My former master, Monteur-Rahn, took it upon himself to lead our forces and intercept Blumblood on the planet Russian, and I volunteered to join in the front lines. When the shuttle that I was on landed, a battalion of troopers and I were first to come out and join in the battle. I remember feeling so eager to fight because I had just become a knight, and I had a group of the Republic finest to meet the enemy with me, so it felt like I was ready for anything. When the shuttle landed, the battalion and I charged into battle for about a few seconds before we were overrun. Sith warriors, troopers, and war droids were surrounding us out of nowhere. Many of the Republic soldiers around me went down like flies, and explosions from detonators and war machines were creating fire and smoke that covered the sky, making everything look dark even though it was daytime. I had my lightsaber out and was cutting down anything that was getting near me, but I could barely focus on what was happening. I heard screams coming from all around me as I felt countless troopers become one with the Force. I tried to protect the ones that were still alive by cutting down any enemy that I laid my eyes on, but it wasn't long before it was just me. For the first time in my life, I was afraid."
"You were afraid to fight your enemies alone," The Gray Woman presumed.
"No, it wasn't just that," Rough Draft answered. "I don't know how Blumblood did it, but his men were like mindless, monstrous versions of the dark lord himself. The droids didn't act this way, but the troopers and especially the Sith warriors all had been brainwashed to do nothing but destroy anything in their path. Blumblood was known for experimenting with the dark side of the force, and he appeared to use that in a way where these warriors, no, these mindless puppets were filled with nothing but a desire to destroy. Their lack of consciousness made their attacks sloppy enough for me to cut down any that were getting near me, but their sheer numbers and the strength in their mindless anger made them harder to defend myself. It was only a matter of time before they were going to overpower me."
"And yet you survived," The Gray Woman stated.
Rough Draft nodded before he answered, "Yes. Before I was overrun, all the Sith suddenly stopped fighting and began to seize uncontrollably. The war droids also began to malfunction and then break into a million pieces. I didn't know how to react, but before I could do anything else, all of the men just feel dead. I later found out that it didn't just happen in Russian but on every planet in the Outer Rim that Blumblood had taken over. It took a while before the remaining forces of the armada found me, and when I did, I saw Master Monteur-Rahn. He comforted me and said to me how everything is alright, and he defeated Blumblood in battle."
The Gray Woman looked at Rough Draft unfazed with the last part of his story.
"And what does this have to do with the Sith you were fighting?" She questioned.
"Well, it turned out that Blumblood went so far as to bond with his minions." Rough Draft explained. "By putting so much of his anger and hate into those men, they were fated to die if anything happened to Blumblood. So, by slaying Blumblood, causing his army to fall, Monteur-Rahn saved my life and the galaxy. It is a shame that he refused to fight anymore after that war. I would have liked to have fought by his side during the many encounters of the Sith that followed. Now I try to be a little more like him every time I face the Sith because he set the standard in destroying such forces of darkness."
The Gray Woman raised an eyebrow and frowned disapprovingly, making Rough Draft look at her, confused.
"You disapprove?" He asked.
"It's difficult not to when both you and your former master prove my point." She answered bluntly.
"What do you mean?" Rough Draft asks.
"Well, first off, by your own confession, you admit that you could not control your fear at the battlefield despite your training to do so," she began. "It's as I said; Jedi are told to control emotions, but they don't know what the feelings are because their masters forbid them even to experience them, and that can lead to darkness as it once did to someone close to me."
"Really?" How did -" Rough Draft began before the Gray Woman interrupted him.
"That goes double for your former master. Monteur-Rahn, is it not?"
Rough Draft was stunned at what she said.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Your master also lost himself to his fear, and it cost several lives both Republic and Sith alike," she said bluntly.
"W-what?!" Rough Draft exclaimed, stupified.
"Yes. Tell me, how familiar about the end of the Mandalorian Wars?" She quizzed.
"Uh, well, I know the battle of Malachor V was when the Jedi Knight Revan and his friend, Malak, took their first true steps to the dark side." Rough Draft answered. "I know that to get to their leader, Mandalore the Ultimate, Revan lead many of his troops and Jedi to their deaths so that he could get to Mandalore and -"
Rough Draft froze before he stared at the Gray Woman in shock.
"You don't mean?" He began before the Gray Woman interrupted him again.
"Indeed," she said. "When Monteur-Rahn learned of the terrors that Blumblood wrought, he began to fear whether or not his enemy could be stopped. His fear and anger for the dark lord's deeds were foreign to him just as much as they were to you in the battlefield. Like any Jedi in his position, he grew desperate and eager to stop the Sith no matter what it took. So he had to make a distraction that involved sending many of the Jedi and troopers to their doom to pin down Blumblood so that he could destroy him."
"So, you're saying my own teacher was sending me to my death?" Rough Draft says petrified.
"He might not have known you were there, but yes," The Gray Woman replied. "What's more is that those minions did not need to die. They were part of an ancient Sith ritual that possessed their bodies through the use of a powerful Sith Holocron. Even in death, the Sith using it can continue to possess people. Those who are possessed can easily be freed through a simple shielding ability, but if the Holocron is destroyed, those possessed will die with it. I assume you can figure out which choice your former master made?"
Rough Draft was speechless. The idea of his former master making those kinds of choices was unthinkable to him.
"How do you know this?" He asked. "What makes you so certain that you know so much about what happened that day? Who are you?"
The Gray Woman's face remained calm as she replied, "I am the-"
*ringtone*
"Oh, blast it!"
************************************************************************************************************
Octavia and I break apart from our cuddle, and she takes her phone out from her purse.
"It's mother. She's waiting for us at the park parking lot," Octavia says, annoyed. "And your story was getting really interesting too."
"That's okay. We were reaching the point where I'm stuck anyway," I say.
"Well, you better be ready to tell me the rest the next time we do this," Octavia said before letting out a small yawn. "And put some more romance in there while you're at it."
"That I will do, love," I said, smiling. "Now, let's head home. You look like you're about to pass out."
*****************************************************************************************************************
The ride back to Canterlot is quiet. Tempo is focusing on the road, while Octavia had fallen asleep on my shoulder. I'm starting to feel tired myself, but I'm too focused on watching Octavia sleep and thinking of how happy I am to be with her to care. Early this semester, I wouldn't have dreamed of being together with someone like her, and now I just had this romantic date with this beautiful, wonderful girl that I wish could have gone on forever. I have seen things like this in many movies and shows that have developed this hopeless romantic side in me, but none of that compares to experiencing it with Octavia.
Eventually, Tempo parks in her driveway before she realizes something.
"Oh, whoopsies," She says. "I forgot that we should be taking you home first. No worries. I'll just -"
"Hold on there, Tempo," I say, turning to Octavia. "I think we should get a certain someone to bed first."
Tempo looks from the rearview mirror and says, "I think you're right. I'll come from your side -"
"Actually, I have something else in mind," I say as I unbuckle my and Octavia's seat belt.
Tempo is confused with what I'm doing until I get out of the car and gently pick up Octavia bridle style. With Tempo's help, I quietly enter the house and go up the stairs, and enter my girlfriend's bedroom. Tempo moves the covers of Octavia's bed away while I gently put her on her bed. Once Tempo puts her under the covers, we turn around to leave when a hand grabs mine.
"You didn't think I would let you leave without kissing me good night, did you?" Octavia manages to say while sleep is still taking over her.
I smile before I answer. "You know for a second, I actually did."
With her eyes still closed, Octavia smiles before she weakly jerks my hand toward her as she mumbles, "Come here, you big dork."
I kneel down and lean my head to give her a soft kiss. She kisses me back with her hand lightly caressing my cheek with all the energy she can muster. We part after a few seconds before she speaks again with her eyes still closed.
"Thank you for taking me out tonight, darling," she says.
"You're welcome, love," I say quietly. "Now, get some sleep. I'll text you in the morning."
"Fine. I love you," Octavia mumbles, her consciousness starting to fade away.
"I love you too," I say before I kiss her forehead and follow Tempo out of the room to take me back to the car and drive me home.
This is a night I will never forget, and I hope to have so many more dates like these with Octavia Melody.