The morning sun came over the planet of Equis. The rays entered a room as they shined through. They soon fell upon a person's face as he grunted. He tossed and turned as he pulled the covers over him. Soon a banging was heard. The Jedi Knight groaned as he sat up and looked at the balcony doors. They were banging as the sound was getting louder and louder.
"Son of a bitch!" said Storm as he got up. "Who the hell is banging--"
The Jedi turned the handles as the doors busted open. Something collided with the teen as everything went black. Storm was slowly opening his eyes as his vision was starting to form. He was shown on the floor as something was on his back. It was another person as they got up.
"That's one way to knock," said the person who was a girl as she sat up.
The girl in question was dressed in a mail uniform with a sling full of letters and papers. She had pale, light grayish apple green hair, light sapphire bluish-gray skin, and her eyes were gradient from pale, light grayish apple green to moderate gamboge. However, the feature that stood out from the girl was her cross-eyed eyes.
"Uh, Mr. Storm? Where are you?" asked the mail girl.
"I'm right under you, Derpy!" shouted the boy.
The girl looked down as she was sitting on Storm's back. The boy had an unamused look with his hand under his chin.
"Oh, sorry, Mr. Storm," said Derpy as she got off and allowed the Jedi to get up.
"How many times do I have to say this? You don't have to call me that, Derpy. Just Storm is fine," said the boy as he dusted his shirt and hoodie. "Anyways, you got a package for me or something. Or was that your new way of delivering mail?"
"Oh, I almost forgot. I have a package for you," said the Derpy as she began reaching into her mailbag. "Okay, let's see here. Um, name, please?" asked the girl with a smile as she held a stack of papers in her hands.
"Seriously?!!" said Storm as he knew the girl knew his name.
"Name, please," smiled Derpy.
"Storm!!!" shouted the boy as he started losing his patience with the girl.
"Um, okay, let's see here. Storm, Storm, Storm. Ah, here it is, " said Derpy as she searched her bag and pulled out a small box with paper wrapped around it.
"Thanks," said the boy as he took the package.
"Well, I'm off to finish my deliveries," said Derpy as she made her way to the balcony and was now starting to get out the same way she got in.
Storm was starting to walk when he heard a thud. He raced out to the balcony and looked down. Derpy had lost her grip and fell as she landed on some nearby guards who cushioned her fall.
"Intruder!" shouted a voice.
Soon more guards jumped and piled on the girl.
"Derpy!!!" shouted Moondancer as she knew the girl always snuck in to deliver the mail to the royal family instead of going through the front door like a normal person.
The Jedi Knight shook his head as he headed back inside to avoid getting involved. He returned to the bed, sat down, and looked at the package. Other than the name it addressed, it didn't have much info on what it was. It wasn't a bomb as the boy used his Jedi powers to sense any danger the package might have, but his instincts didn't go off. He then shook it while raising it to his ear to see if he could figure out what it was based on the sound. But nothing.
The Jedi then did the one thing to guarantee he would know what the package was. And that was to open it. He then tore the packaging off as only the small box was left. He then opened the lid as a card flew out and landed on the floor. The boy picked it up and opened it as inside was some writing. The teen was now reading what it said.
"I couldn't be more proud to have you as my apprentice. Hope you enjoy your gift. Love, Luna." stated Storm as he finished the last bit of the writing. He then looked inside the box as there was something inside.
In the dining room, Twilight and Spike were shown eating their breakfast. While the tiny prince was feeling much better after his tummy ache, the princess just poked at her food. She was thinking back to what she saw with her brother and partner. The doors then opened up, and in came the boy that was always on her mind. Twilight smiled when she saw Storm, but it soon disappeared as he sat across from her at the table instead of sitting next to her. A servant appeared and brought a plate for the Jedi Knight as he began to eat his food in silence.
"Hey, is everything okay?" asked the princess.
"Yeah," responded the boy with a straight tone.
He went back to eating as he didn't allow Twilight to ask any more questions. The princess sighed as she lost all her appetite and just sat there in silence, staring at the boy. After breakfast, Twilight had some things to check on, so she asked Storm to accompany her. The princess had a checklist in her hands as she walked in front with Storm behind the girl, his hands in his pockets and keeping his head low.
"Hey," said Twilight as that got Storm's attention.
The princess stopped and had her arms to her side. The Jedi Knight was a few meters behind the girl as she turned around.
"Are you okay?" asked Twilight.
"I've already told you, Sparky. I'm fine," said Storm.
"It's just... you and my brother. I'm worried."
"Look, nothing major happened. I just told him the promise I made to you and your parents about keeping you safe. Simple as that." said the boy as he walked around the girl.
The boy walked a few feet and soon felt something grab his hand that kept him from moving. He knew the touch as it was once he had memorized. Twilight got a hold of her partner as the girl held him in place. The boy turned his head to look at the princess before turning away.
"If something is on your mind, you can tell me. I'm your partner," said Twilight.
Her hand moved up and touched Storm's cheek as her other hand was on his left arm with the girl directly in front of him. The girl was staring into her partner's eyes as if she was begging him to tell her. Because the princess had his hands on him and of what her father and brother warned him about, Storm simply grabbed both hands with his and took them off her to avoid any trouble.
"It's nothing, Sparky. Believe me," said the boy as he walked around the girl.
Twilight sighed as she followed him. They walked for a bit when...
"Hold on," said Storm as he got Twilight to stop.
"What is it?" asked the princess.
"I feel a disturbance in the Force," said Storm.
The boy quickly grabbed the princess and put her against the wall with him in front of her. At that moment, a rocket made of cake was shown flying past them as it would have hit them in the face had the Jedi not acted on his reflexes.
"Wee!" said Pinkie as she was shown riding on the cake.
"Ms. Pie!" shouted Gustave as he and the other chefs were chasing after the pink girl and the dessert.
They also passed by the Jedi as they looked to see them chase after their pink friend.
"Well, that was... unexpected," said Twilight, as this was not how she envisioned her morning.
"Yeah, Pinkie is... weird. And that's putting it lightly," said Storm.
He then turned his head as he was now staring into Twilight's eyes once more. For the princess, she took a moment to realize the position she was in due to Storm's reflexes to get them both out of the way. The boy had managed to pin her against the wall with his hands on her shoulder. The princess saw how close their faces were as she felt her knees starting to lose their strength as if she would slide down the wall. In Twilight's mind, there was a small voice talking to her. Telling her to do something. And it involved the boy who was holding her. And the thing was, she was starting to listen to that voice. Almost to the point where her mind was on auto-drive as it began to move her hand on its own.
Soon a thought raced through the princess' head.
"Wanting something doesn't give you the right to have it!"
The princess heard the words of her master as she shut off the voice she was listening to. It served as a switch as, in an instant, the princess now had full control of her brain and put her hand down just as Storm released his hold of her against the wall. The boy didn't think much of what happened during these small moments like Twilight as he continued to walk down the hall. Before he turned the corner, he did stop as Twilight was still up against the wall. She looked to see Storm turn his head as he spoke.
"Tomorrow is my birthday," said Storm as he answered Twilight's question and disappeared.
It was nighttime as the moon shined in the night sky as always. Inside the royal castle, someone was walking. They had a cloak covering themselves as they were walking. They soon came to a set of doors; instead of a regular knock, they did a specific knock that served as a code.
"What's the password?!" said the voice on the other side of the door.
"Pinkie, you know it's me," said Twilight with a look.
"Heh, heh. Just messing with you, Twilight. Come in." Pinkie then opened the door and allowed the princess into the library.
The party girl wasn't alone as the other girls were also present. They were gathered in the library's center as the Jedi princess took off her cloak and approached them.
"Alright, so what's the deal, Twilight?! What'd you want to talk to us about?" asked Rainbow.
"Well, after learning it, it turns out that Storm's birthday is tomorrow," said the princess.
The sound of glass shattering was heard as the girls looked to see Pinkie had dropped the pitcher holding punch. Hearing the piece of information that was informed by the princess, the party girl had a serious look on her face.
"This is a state of emergency!!!!!" shouted Pinkie as she began to zip in and out of frame as she was now in front of a whiteboard and began to mastermind.
"Kind of hard to imagine that he hasn't told us," said Dash to the others as they let Pinkie do her thing.
"Well, darling. He does like to keep stuff to himself," suggested Rarity.
"It doesn't matter!" shouted Pinkie as she tried to reel in the girls' attention. "The point is this is our one chance to show Storm just how much he means to us. He's been an important factor in our lives since he first met us."
"I think you're over exaggeratin', Pinkie. Still, I won't doubt it. The Jedi sure has given our lives some excitement." said Applejack.
"That's why it's our duty to make sure that he has a special day but holds some significance in his life," responded Pinkie.
"Right, well, anyway..." said Twilight.
From there, the girls were now beginning their plan. Soon the girls returned to their guest rooms as only Twilight was left in the library. She made her way to a nearby table and sat down. The girl turned on a small lamp to give her some light as she pulled out a piece of paper. The girl took a quill from a nearby ink jar as she began to plan out ideas.
"I have to give him something. Something that he'll know how much I care and appreciate all he's done for me. I have to, as his partner." said Twilight as she began brainstorming.
The princess continued well into the night. Soon the morning came as the moon and the stars disappeared. The rays of the star passed through the curtains of a room. They soon gave light to the space as it showed Storm fast asleep. The boy was shown sleeping on his side as he felt the sun's rays.
"Mhh... Mnnhhh..."
Storm was now starting to open his eyes slowly as he was sleeping on his left side. When the boy opened his eyes, he was treated to a strand of familiar lavender hair. He gave a small gasp as he now realized who it belonged to. But also what was happening. Twilight was shown sleeping next to Storm as the girl was facing him. She was sleeping peacefully as she had her hands around his arm. The princess was cuddling his arm as the Jedi Knight's eyes went even wider, with a small hint of red on his face.
The princess then moved in her sleep as she leaned in closer. Her breasts touched his arm as they bounced a bit as a boing sound was heard. Storm remained in place all the while as he feared that if he might move even the slightest inch, he'd risk waking the girl and her having him executed. The small boing sounds were enough to wake the girl as she began to open her eyes.
"Huh!" let out Storm.
The girl was now awake as she looked into the boy's eyes. The pair were staring at each other as they didn't move. Storm was still red as Twilight just laid there looking. Soon the realization came to mind as her vision and brain were fully operational.
"Aaahhhh!" shouted Twilight as she turned red.
"Aaahhhh!" Storm responded as they sat on the bed.
"You! How did you-?! Wha...?!" shouted Twilight in a flustered tone. "What are you doing in my bed?!!!"
"Wait, I...!" said Storm as he tried to explain.
However, the princess quickly got off, approached the nearby table, and began using the Force to hurl the objects at him.
"Get out! Interloper! Monster!" yelled Twilight as she threw the objects at Storm.
"W-wait a minute, would you- Oww!" said Storm as he covered up and had his hand out to use the Force on some of the objects to not hit him. He soon got hit in the face with a round sphere which caused the boy to fall back on the bed.
"Y-you're the one in my room!!!!" yelled out the Jedi Knight as he sat up to avoid any more objects being thrown at him by the princess.
"Huh?" said Twilight as she was about to throw a book at Storm.
The princess slowly shifted her eyes as she began to scan the room. True to her partner's words, it turns out she was in his room. Upon realizing that, the red on the girl's face became even redder. Seems she was spent from staying up late and going to the wrong room without notice.
"... I can't believe it. I did it again... I am such an idiot!" said Twilight as she grabbed her face with her hands.
She then turned to make her way to the door as she looked to get out of the room as quickly as possible without making any more trouble. Before she was about to exit the room, she turned to look at the boy who was still sitting on the bed. She still had blushes on her face as she put her arms up over her chest.
"You were staring," replied Twilight with some bitterness.
"Huh?" said Storm with a dumbfound expression on his face.
"Pervert!" shouted the princess as she left and the door closed.
"Wha-wha-wh-wh-what?" shouted Storm as he opened his mouth while looking at the door.
The boy may have just glanced for a second since it was instinct, especially for a boy, but he wouldn't dare unless he wanted to be executed.
"Some way to start my birthday," groaned the Jedi Knight as he flopped back on the bed.
Storm was now making his way to the dining hall. He saw Twilight sitting at the table as she was sipping some tea. The boy was now cautious as Twilight only needed to snap her fingers, and she would give the command to have her partner executed. The Jedi Knight was examining the girl's posture as she sat to see if he could tell the kind of mood she was in. He also approached her as he felt he was trying not to be killed by a predator.
"H-hi, Twilight..."
The girl put her teacup down as she turned to look at her partner.
"Oh - good morning!" said the princess with a happier tone.
"Morning," said Storm with an uneasy smile as he rubbed his neck. The boy wasn't expecting the girl to have such a serious change in attitude, given what happened between them. "Listen, about earlier-"
"No, I'm sorry. I just get very confused when I've just woken up..." said the princess.
"I... see," responded the boy.
"It didn't get any more awkward, did it?" asked the princess.
"No! I didn't do anything weird! Not a thing! I swear!" said Storm as he put his arms out and waved them.
"I was asking more about me," chuckled the girl.
"Oh - right, haha. No, you didn't do anything else," said Storm as he sat down in the chair next to the princess and looked at her as they were meters apart. "I mean, other than you throwing stuff at me."
"Sorry about that. And what I did to your forehead," said Twilight as she saw the small bruise on the boy's head when he got hit.
The girl was now standing up and bending forward. Twilight put her hand up to Storm's forehead as she began to rub it and apply some ointment to heal it. All the while, Storm was a bit red at having the princess do this to him while also having her chest in front of him.
"I'm sorry. Did it hurt?" asked the girl.
"N-no! Not at all! Really, I'm fine!" said Storm as he backed up to avoid anything happening with the princess.
"Again, please forgive me."
"I already have, Sparky," said the boy as he took the initiative to grab Twilight's hand and interlock them to show he was sincere.
That alone made Twilight feel better, as the smile on her face showed it. The two teens stared at each other as the touch of each other made them feel warm.
"So, how are you spending your birthday?" asked the princess.
"I don't know," replied Storm as he let go of Twilight's hand and leaned back in the chair. "Probably nap."
"Come on! It's your birthday! You gotta do something other than sleep!" said the girl.
"Like what?" said the boy.
"What else did you do on your past birthdays?" asked Twilight.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?!!!" shouted the princess.
"Okay, to be fair, when I say it's my birthday. It's moreso the day that Luna found me that she considers my birthday. As for what she did in the past, she merely told me that this was the day she took me in and sometimes gave me a small trinket, and that was it. I'm a Jedi, Sparky. Always have been and always will be."
"But do you have to be just a Jedi? What if... could you be something else? Maybe with m-" the princess didn't bother to finish her thought as the voice of her father and master rang in her mind.
"Well, I'm gonna head into town. Luna sent me some extra credits," said Storm as he got up and prepared to exit the castle.
"Mind if I go with you? I've been meaning to look into some gifts for my brother's engagement when the day arrives," said the princess using a half-truth.
"Sure, not like I mind," said Storm.
The boy gave his response as he left the room. Twilight was smiling as she was happy to be with Storm for most of the day. The reason is that she was tasked with distracting and keeping the Jedi Knight away from the castle while the girls followed Pinkie's supervision in setting up a surprise party for the boy. The party girl wanted Storm to experience an official birthday party; she was working into overdrive to organize a party on very short notice. As for Twilight, while she came up with the lie to shop for a gift for her brother and Cadance's engagement in the near future, she was actually looking to buy a gift for her partner.
The pair soon exited the castle and were walking into town. The princess looked back at the castle as she could see some smoke from the kitchen window. She looked edgy as she prayed Pinkie wouldn't burn her home down. The girl grabbed her satchel and caught up with Storm as both teenagers walked around the town square. The first stop they made was the town bakery, where both Mr. and Mrs. Cake were shown having their stand in front of the building as they were giving out some free samples.
"Good day, your highness," said Mrs. Cake as she gave a respectful bow.
"Morning, Mrs. Cake," replied Twilight.
"By the way, Storm. I'm expecting a big delivery of supplies for the bakery soon. I was hoping you could lend me a hand when they arrive?" asked Mr. Cake.
"Yeah, sure," replied the boy in a calm tone.
"Well, we need to get going, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. We got some errands to run," said Twilight.
"By all means. Feel free to take these," said Mrs. Cake as she pulled out a small box and handed it to the princess.
Twilight lifted the cover, and inside were a dozen cupcakes.
"We had some extra from a huge order we made. Plus, we wouldn't want to simply toss them out," said the woman.
"Hey, I'm not gonna deny free food," said Storm as he looked at the cupcakes and licked his chops.
"Thanks," stated the princess as she thanked the bakers.
They waved as the teens kept on walking. For a while, the two teens visited the different shops. While the princess kept up the façade that she was shopping for a gift for her brother, she also paid close attention to things that caught Storm's interest as the girl made mental notes. Eventually, after visiting several places, the pair decided to take a break. They soon were on the hill overlooking the town as Twilight's package of cupcakes was placed between them. The Jedi Knights ate while admiring the scenery.
"So, Sparky? What's this whole Gala that your family and everybody else is preparing for?" asked Storm as he lay on the ground with his hands behind his head while looking at the sky.
"It's nothing more than a big party filled with many nobles. They mostly try to gain favor with my parents in hopes of expanding their own house. Not to mention, I'm expected to many interactions with potential suitors." sighed Twilight while looking ahead.
"So, see anything you might want to give your brother?" asked Storm while looking at the clouds.
The princess hesitated for a moment when she heard that response. She quickly remained calmed and spoke.
"No," said Twilight as she had her head down. "I thought this would have been easy; you think you know what to get someone when you spend so much time with them." Twilight let out a sigh as she took a bite of the cupcake in her hand.
"Yeah, stuff like that happens. But I've learned that if you really care about someone, they'll like whatever gift you get them. No matter how small or big it may be, as long as it has special meaning and you put your heart and soul into it, I know they'll appreciate it. And if they don't like it, well screw 'em." said the boy.
"That's rather blunt," said Twilight.
However, the princess was taking in words said by her partner. While distracting the Jedi while the others set up, she admitted that spending one-on-one time with him was fun. After a while, Twilight realized that she didn't need to get Storm some fancy stuff or something over the top. As long as he knew that she picked a gift that she felt meant a lot to them, it didn't matter what she got.
"You know, you're right. Thanks, Storm. I guess I got so wrapped up in finding the perfect gift that I should have realized it shouldn't matter what I get, so long as they appreciate the effort I put into getting it." said Twilight.
"That's the spirit!" exclaimed Storm. He kip-up as he got to his feet. The hood of his hoodie covered his head, and he threw his head back to make it fall as he turned to look at the princess. "So you want to continue looking, or do you want to call it for a day?"
"Yeah," responded the girl as she finished her cupcake. She rose as both teens went back into town to continue their exploration.
Once more, Twilight was paying close attention to anything Storm liked while also playing the act of getting a gift for her brother. Shop after shop, the two teens were searching. After a while, the pair were shown walking when they passed by a building. Once Twilight saw the place, she immediately geeked out and rushed in. Storm saw his partner disappear into the building when he reached the front door.
"Equis town library," read Storm as he made an unamused look. "Nerd."
The boy scoffed at how the princess was as he had no choice but to follow her inside. The boy entered the place; he saw the librarian as she gave a wave. He looked up to the second floor of the place as he saw Twilight zooming over to many shelves. The Jedi Knight saw the girl running up and down, left and right, going over several different book covers and putting them in her arms as she created a stack.
"Is that the new editions of Mooncurve's Seven Theories on Bending Time? The new Daring Do book? No way!" Twilight let out a gasp as she picked up another book. "Predictions and Prophecies, I've been waiting to read this since it was released." giggled Twilight.
"Well, Sparky's gone," said Storm to himself. "Nothing to do but wait till she wakes up from her own personal heaven."
With that, the boy took a seat on one of the chairs on the bottom level as he grabbed a book from the table. He'd figured that he might as well do something to pass the time till Twilight was ready to leave. Safe to say that the Jedi found the story to be rather interesting. Soon the boy found himself immersed in the book; before he knew it, he finished the book and looked at the chronometer on his comlink and saw that only 30 minutes had passed. With that, Storm picked up another book and began reading. After finishing his third book, the boy decided to check on the girl.
He walked up the flight of stairs and saw Twilight kneeling at a table; she had gone through 10 books within one hour based on the stack to her left. Storm just had a smile on his face at how cute Twilight's obsession with learning was.
"So, how's the reading coming along?"
Twilight looked up and saw the boy. "Oh, Storm. How long have you been standing there?"
"About 2 minutes, regarding how long it's been since you got distracted... I'd say a little over an hour."
Twilight immediately started to get red from embarrassment. She hated that she got distracted, even more so that she was supposed to keep Storm busy. And here she was, being the one distracted, not to mention that she still didn't find a gift for him.
"Oops, sorry. I guess I got carried away." Twilight then stood up and dusted herself off. She then put the books away. "Now then, let's continue our quest."
"Sure, but can we stop to get something to eat. I'm famished." suggested the Jedi Knight.
Twilight nodded as she, too, was feeling a bit famished. With that, they both left the library and went to the Hayburger joint. Once again, it amazed Storm at how much the princess was in love with the restaurant that she devoured the massive order of food she got. Though in a way, he admired the princess's willingness to pig out and not care about what others thought. In a way, it was kinda cute for a girl.
"Hey, Storm? Can I pick your brain for a bit?" asked the princess as she wiped her mouth of the sauce.
"Sure. What's on your mind?" asked the boy as he took a drink.
"You know how all the top Jedi have some kind of specialty? Some excel at combat and swordsmanship; some are adept in subterfuge, healing, and so on. Even you have your own special power!" said Twilight.
"I wouldn't call it special," said Storm as he knew the girl was referring to the trick Luna taught him.
"Anyways, I was just thinking I need something like that too," the girl stated.
"I guess you're not wrong. As for you, Sparky... I thought your knowledge was your thing? If you wanna make a name for yourself, shouldn't it be with that?" responded Storm.
"I mean, I did read alot to please my master. So I do know my way around when it comes to facts. But knowledge isn't very helpful in the middle of a heated battle, is it? Or in a serious situation?" stated the princess. "I figured I'll need to do better than that if I want to be a Jedi Master."
"Well, you can use the Force to do stuff as any Jedi could. And you know your fair share of acrobatic moves," the boy stated.
"Sure, but that's basic stuff. It's more like me being a jack of all trades, master of none kinda situation," said the girl.
"That may be the case, but if you look at it from another angle, those skills make you a pretty powerful Jedi."
"What do you mean?" asked the princess.
"You know the fundamentals for everything. In fact, I bet you got them memorized and committed to heart. There's nothing particularly bad in terms of Jedi combat and skills."
"Well, yeah, but I'm average at all of them. Compared to the others, I'm probably not that great. I'm better than Ahsoka, but that's only because she's a Padawan. Compare me to Master Kenobi, Master Skywalker, and even you. You're all at least more skillful than a simple princess. And then compare me to Celestia or Luna, or even Master Yoda. I'm worthless. I'm just smart. That's all I am. That's all I'm good for." said the princess as she put her head down and felt some tears form when she was venting out her hidden anxiety.
"Hey, now!" said Storm as his voice was so loud that it snapped Twilight from her state. "Don't you dare say that about you, Twilight! You're not useless; you're not worthless. And you're not just a pretty girl with smarts. If anything, you're worth so much more."
"Storm, please..."
"I mean it! I get you want to compare yourself to others, but that's not a good way to live your life. If all you're doing is trying to see how you stack with others, you're missing the bigger picture. The point is to find out what makes you special. Now you are comparing yourself to me, Anakin, and Obi-wan. All three of us have had experience in the field that has influenced us to improve our skills. Things we've witnessed first-hand that affected our training methods. It's why when Luna trusted me enough that she brought me along with her on the missions she was tasked with, despite me being young and still a padawan. But she felt like it was a way for me to learn outside of reading maps." stated Storm as he reached out to grab Twilight's hand and comfort her.
"Now you are comparing yourself to Master Yoda, which is farfetched. 'Cause let's be honest, no one can ever be like Master Yoda. He's wise and powerful for someone old. I'm trying to say that you don't need to have a special Force power or ability to be relevant. A Jedi who can do everything decently well would actually be more useful than a Jedi who simply is an expert in one field. Strategically, your options expand significantly if you've got even one person who can react to any change, whether on or off the battlefield. Meanwhile, Jedi with only one specialty are practically useless in some situations." said the boy.
"Like how some don't know what to do if they get stuck in a role that doesn't suit them?" responded the girl.
"Exactly. That's why a versatile Jedi who can adapt to anything is a valuable asset. At least, that's how I've always looked at it and made an effort to learn all sorts of Jedi tricks and abilities."
"Hm, but then I'm still just an asset. It doesn't sound like that'll earn me a reputation as one of the best," stated Twilight.
"For that, you just need to keep working hard and improving your skills, yeah? If you're average at everything, then that means you don't have plenty of room to grow," responded the Jedi Knight.
"Yeah, I guess that's true," said the girl as she started to see the boy's point of view.
"Your strength is that you can do anything. So if you keep improving and end up even above average..."
"Then I'd shine brighter than any one-trick pony."
"That's my girl," smiled Storm.
"Thanks! As always, you've really given me a lot to think about," said Twilight.
"Glad to help. Though, I wouldn't really call myself first-rate either. So we'll both have to keep working as hard as we can. And I'm willing to help you in any way I can, Twilight. I mean, we're partners."
"Y-yeah, we're partners," said the princess as she tightened the grip of her hand on Storm's. "Now and forever."
"Hey, as long as I'm around, I'll do all I can to teach you what I know."
"And I'll do the same. Like finding out your past and your parents."
"That's all I could ask for, Princess."
"You as well, Jedi Knight."
The two teens stared at each other as brown met blue. The pair sat across from each other as they had smiles on their faces to highlight what they were feeling. Nothing else mattered but how they wanted to help the other as they wanted them to be happy.
"Sun's going down soon. Wanna head back before it gets too dark?" suggested Storm.
"Y-yeah. In fact, after having this conversation. I think I know what gift to get." said Twilight.
"Then let's go."
The pair soon left the place. On the way back to the castle, Twilight told Storm to wait outside the shop as she went in alone. After a few minutes, the girl exited the place as she found what she wanted, and it was inside of her satchel. The boy didn't bother to ask as the night started crawling out from beyond the horizon.
As they entered, the Jedi Knights made it back to the front of the castle doors. Upon entering, the whole place was dark. The only single light was shown coming from a hallway. The Jedi noticed it as they looked down and saw it emitted from a certain direction. They cautiously followed it as they began to investigate. They arrived at a pair of doors as the light came from inside the royal library.
Soon Storm pushed the doors in, and upon opening, he got shot in the face with a blast of confetti. Soon the whole room lit up.
"Surprise!!" said the girls as they shouted from their hiding spots.
The Jedi Knight wiped off the confetti in one motion as he saw the girls. He then looked around the room with a serious expression on his face. For Storm, he was trying to figure out what this all was that the girls did.
"So, what are you all doing?" asked Storm as a record scratch sound was heard.
"Sorry, my bad," said Spike as he accidentally made that sound by scratching the needle on the record.
The girls glared at the prince before looking at the Jedi Knight. For Pinkie, her jaw dropped and then turned into a puddle of pink goo before it reconfigured.
"You don't know what a surprise birthday party is?!!!" shouted Pinkie as her voice boomed around the room.
"You've never had one," said Twilight.
"Should I?" responded Storm nonchalantly.
"What?!!!" shouted Pinkie even more.
"Alright, calm down, Pinkie," said Aj, and she and the others all had to collectively get their friend to sit down and relax as she was starting to go insane at how Storm had never had a party in his life.
They all dragged their pink friend away as both Jedi Knights watched them.
"So, you've never had a party in your life?" said Twilight.
"Again, is that a bad thing?" responded Storm.
"Master Luna, never did anything for you? Even as a kid?" asked Twilight as Celestia did a small party for her every once in and while.
"Does extra training count?" stated the boy.
After spending some serious time stopping Pinkie from pouncing onto Storm to strangle the Jedi, the group began to show Storm some things that made up a birthday party. They did a few party games that the pink girl created as the boy questioned the purpose of some of them but eventually let Pinkie do her thing. During the middle of the event, Twilight had to carry Spike to his room for the small boy who still had to get the proper sleep.
For Storm, as the party went on, he started to smile a bit more. He didn't admit it, but the Jedi Knight was having fun. The party went well into the night as soon as it was time for it to end. Storm was shown on top of the tower that he and Twilight had considered their secret place as he looked up at the night sky. While the boy was stargazing and enjoying the quiet, he was soon joined by someone. And it wasn't the princess.
A soft fluttering sound was heard as the boy noticed it. A small object was shown flying above the Jedi as it then descended and landed on the cobblestone next to the boy. It was a small mammal with pointed ears, sharp fangs, and attached wings that looked like skin.
"Trying to look at the stars too?" asked Storm.
"Clink," said the animal.
"What's your name?"
"Clink"
"Huh? That's something. How about I call you... um... let's see. You like the name, Sonar?" asked the Jedi.
"Clink"
"I'll take that as yes," said the boy.
"Who are you talking to?" said Twilight as she made her presence known.
The princess was shown walking up the last flight of steps. The girl had her owl on her head as she looked for her partner after the party had ended.
"Hey, Sparky."
"So, who were you talking to?" asked the girl.
"This little guy," said the boy as he directed his attention to the small mammal next to him. "I've named his Sonar."
"Aw, what a cute little bat," said Twilight as she saw the small mammal.
"Hoo!"
"Clink!"
Both Sonar and Owlowiscious glared at each other as if they were rivals.
"Play nice!" said Twilight to her owl.
Sonar then hopped onto Storm's shoulder as Twilight stood next to him. She, too, leaned and looked at the scene as both Jedi watched and enjoyed the night.
"Hey, Storm. Hope you weren't offended?" said Twilight.
"About what?"
"The party?"
"Why would I be offended by that? I mean, sure, I didn't know what it was. But I can't say that I didn't hate it. I kind of liked it." said the boy with a smile.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. It's nice to spend your special day with people who care about you," said Twilight as they looked deeply into each other's eyes. "Um, Storm, I... I got you something."
The princess then pulled out something. It was a tiny box that she held as she presented it to her partner.
"It's not much, but... I wanted to get you a gift."
The boy took the box from the girl as he looked at the wrapping. He tore it apart as he lifted the lid and saw what was inside. He picked up the object as a pendant with the mark of Twilight's crest.
"It may not be something fancy or expensive. But I wanted to show my appreciation for you. It may be small, but it holds so much more meaning to me. It represents time. The time we've spent together, every single minute, every moment since you first became my partner." Twilight now had a smile with some slight red on her face as she looked at Storm. "I just wanted to get you a gift to show just how much you mean to me."
Storm didn't notice, but a little tear had rolled down the side of his face as he looked at Twilight's gift.
"I love it," said the boy as he closed his hand and smiled at the princess.
The pair smiled as this moment between them was one of happiness and joy. Especially cause it was with each other and nobody else.
"Hey, you said, Luna got you something. What did she give you?" asked the girl.
"She got me this," said the Jedi Knight as he pulled out a piece of ribbon. "This piece of cloth was in my hands when Luna found me. She didn't say much but that it was with me. Also, this."
Storm pulled out the card/letter his master sent him the other day. Twilight grabbed the card and then began to read it. The voice of Luna began to narrate.
"Dear Storm,
Another year passes, and you know what that means. It's also another year since the day I found you. Since I took you in as my own. Every year, this day rolls around, and I do my best to make you happy. But this year, things are different. That being is... it's not just us. You have some people who you've met that have changed your life. As a Jedi, you're expected to carry out your duty. But as a teenager going into a young adult very soon, your responsibility is to spend time with those who matter. People who will care and support you, no matter what. No doubt, you will become and be one of the greatest Jedi, to ever exist, and no doubt, you will fulfill your destiny of becoming a Jedi Master.
[Voice breaking] And I couldn't be more proud to know that I trained someone who went on to do great things. Allow me to be vulnerable for a moment. It breaks my heart to see that you're growing up right before my eyes when it wasn't that long ago that I held you in my arms as a tiny thing. All the crying you did, causing me stress, to stay up sleepless nights, but if I had a chance to do it all over again. I would do it in a heartbeat because I love you. I love teaching you; I love having you as a student. I just hope that I was the Jedi Master that you needed. You are and always will be in my heart. And you will always be, my son. I couldn't be more proud to have you as my apprentice. Hope you enjoy your gift. I love you, Storm. I can't wait to see what you do next.
Love, your master and mother, Luna."
Twilight finished reading the letter given to the boy by his master. The princess couldn't help but shed a tear as she felt moved by what Luna had said by pouring out her heart to her student. She then looked at Storm as the boy looked at the pendant in his hand. He then put it on as it fitted perfectly around his neck.
"Thanks, Sp- Twilight," smiled Storm as he looked at the princess.
"I'm just glad you're happy," the girl smiled as she gave the card back to her partner.
"You know what, keep that ribbon. It suits you, 'cause this gift confirms what I said. You're not just perfect. You make me smile when you're around. You're interesting all the time. When I'm with you, it's like I never want to leave." said Storm.
"Oh!" gasped Twilight as the biggest shade of red formed on her face when she heard that. "Is... is that so? Very well, I endeavor to keep that in mind." The princess was now stuttering and fumbling over her words hard after hearing what the boy had just said. "I apologize for pressing you. I have matters I must attend to right now, so, uh..."
Twilight didn't finish that statement as she quickly left with the ribbon Storm had given her as she disappeared. Owlowiscious soon followed after its owner as both Storm and his bat friend were left looking confused about how the princess was acting.
"Clink"
"You said it, bud. I wanted to tell her that she's fun and I never get bored around her, but it came out all weird. Ah well, hopefully, she got it." said Storm as he didn't fully grasp what he said to Twilight and how it made her feel and act.
Soon after that, the Jedi Knight decided to head to bed. The bat on his shoulder decided to go with its new friend. It seemed that the Jedi not only increased his bond with the princess but made a new one in the small animal clinging to his shoulder.