//------------------------------//
// Chapter 16 
// Story: PBB: A Pirate's Life 
// by AntiBronyBenSwolo 
//------------------------------//

I cannot believe we actually won the battle of Wakanda. I mean, WOW! I'm impressed with how our team pulled through and fought against Sonata's droids. A lot of people, including Huron and Daddy Banks, were congratulating me for leading the defense. Even Limlugeth congratulated me, and she doesn't even talk! Anyways, the PBB and I were all celebrating our victory and mourning the losses of the dead Gondor soldiers in the Shire along with Prince Beragon and his army, Black Panther and his soldiers, and the hobbit citizens who lived in their little holes. I don't really want to brag, but I felt so proud of winning Wakanda for my friends that way. I haven't felt this way in ages.

Danish the Red then walked up to me and decided to tell me something. "I congratulate your leadership Aria in winning the battle" Danish said, as he slowly put his hand on my shoulder "But the war isn't over yet". I asked him what he meant by that, and Danish then told me that he just got word that we have found Sonata's total battle droid number, and that our battle at Wakanda was only a small handful of droids compared to how many droids she's got cooped up with her. "If we don't act quickly, she could multiply her troops and do so much worse than what Wakanda could have faced" Danish reminded me, but I then remembered that droids weren't the only casualties in the Wakanda battle. I knew we couldn't risk worse than what we got back there.

Black Panther then walked up to me and said that we found the source of Sonata's droids. "I just got word from Question, and he told me to tell you that she's building her battle droids in a factory on a planet called 'Geonosis'" the King of Wakanda said, as I almost jumped for joy, but then realized that she's clearly outnumbered us at this point. Any sort of attack would be a suicide mission. We might have won the battle of Wakanda, but we didn't win it without our fair share of casualties. I told Black Panther that we shouldn't attack it, due to our lack in numbers compared to her droids, and it's a risk I would never take.

Beragon overhears this and asks what's going on. I then tell him about the Geonosis factory and how Sonata is using them to build her droids. "Why are we not acting when we have the chance?" Beragon said, with the confidence he could muster after Wakanda's victory. I then told him to look at his army. I told him that all I saw were men that could all die by my hands if I make a simple mistake. "You see men who could die by your simple mistake? I see men ready to give their lives so that others could live! That's why they're the army of Gondor after all." Beragon said, encouraging me to make this move. He then told me that if this is a factory, then if we take it down, we could limit Sonata's army and this war will end much quicker.

Connie then heard my plight and decided to help out. "Aria, Steven went through a similar problem. He tried to not be my friend anymore because he was afraid I could get hurt. You can see how that went after I told him that I wanted to be a part of his universe. And now, these soldiers are willing to be a part of yours" Connie told me as she put my arm around me. I put my hand around Connie, thanking her for the encouragement, but reminded her of our dwindling numbers compared to Sonata's. Connie, thinking this through, pulled out her lightsaber and volunteered to help in the attack on Geonosis. Steven, Peridot, and Lapis all decided to volunteered as well. I thanked them for their help, but said it wouldn't be worth it though.

Now that I kept on thinking about Wakanda's battle, I realized how much of an amateur leader I was. Back when I was a Dazzling, Sonata and I were just Adagio's Backup singers. Adagio would have been to go to girl with a plan, and even SHE led us to lose in the first Battle of the Bands. Why am I suddenly becoming to go to girl with a plan? I didn't quite get it. Was some of Adagio rubbing off on me? I have no idea. And even if I am becoming the go to girl with a plan, I doubt that I could simply think my way through Sonata's factory, and whatever defenses she's got laying there to possibly kill us. She couldn't have left her factory defenseless after all.

Beragon then put his hands on my shoulder and reminded me of how much of a leader I was back at Wakanda. "I'm not sure if you noticed this, but we were outnumbered in the Battle of Wakanda from the beginning until when you played your guitar like that." Beragon said, slightly making me feel better. If we were outnumbered at Wakanda, then how did we win? "It's not about numbers Aria. It's about strength in what you know what to do." Danish commented, as he sees where Beragon is coming from. They're both saing that we already have some pretty heavy fighters on our team, me included.

I finally thought it through and decided to have the attack on Sonata's droid factory be Green lit. "Okay, Fine. We will attack Wakanda, but I'm not gonna be the one who'd going to lead the attack". Everyone looked at me, shocked, as I said that I nominate Prince Beragon to lead the attack against Sonata's droid factory, and the majority of her army. Beragon was flattered, but denied the request, saying that even he could be a pretty amateur prince at times. Beragon then told me of a legendary warrior from long ago; a ranger by the name of Aragorn, and how he didn't want to be king, but fulfilled his destiny and became one anyways. I then stared at my saber and back at Beragon, and decided that I will indeed lead the attack on Geonosis.