The next few days after the "double date" with Caramel, Lyra and Bon Bon went relatively smoothly. It turns out that while Applejack was taking Caramel home, she gave him her own scolding, which Caramel received ashamedly yet maturely. 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 officially become friends so she can at least get to know him better. Caramel was appreciative but still down to have the girl he loves to deny him herself, but when she offered to become friends, he was all too happy to accept.

"It's a dream come true to hear that she actually wants to get to know me," he said to Soarin and me gleefully. "Plus, we exchanged numbers, so now I can die 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 began to spend a little more time together than usual. We 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. Octavia and I also spent time at 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.

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 given her good behavior in juvenile hall and her information to the police regarding Aria and Adagio, 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, Principle Celestia was hesitant but eventually accepted Sonata's apology with a kind smile. Her acceptance back to Canterlot High was, however, not entirely well received by the rest of the school. Some of the students like Applejack's sister, Apple Bloom, and her two best friends were quick to forgive Sonata kindly, but the rest of the student body were not as ready to forgive her just yet.

It's currently lunchtime on Friday, and Caramel, Soarin, and I invited Sonata to sit next to us since she has the same lunch period as us.

"So Sonata, how it is going with your classes so far?" Soarin asks.

"I think it's going well," Sonata answers. "There are some students that still give me evil eyes, 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 just 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 a good deal," I say.

"Yeah, though I could do without Doc's experiments on me, though," Sonata says a little down.

"Uh, he's not drawing any blood tests or anything, is he?" Caramel asks, concerned.

"No...well, yes, but it'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 just 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 anything like them or some other magic related thing happens. But part of me still feels a little guilty that I'm betraying my sisters just because they abandoned me, and honestly, I feel a little down that they might come back.

My brow furrows at Sonata's words.

"Are you afraid that they might do something that will ruin your chance to completely move on?" I ask.

Sonata's face falls further.

"I wish I wasn't." She says sadly. "I just want to be happy and away from it all. Be cheery and not frequently ridiculed for being ditzy and absent-minded. I just want to be loved for who I am. I appreciate how you guys and Tavi and Fluttershy and the others visited me at juvie, let alone the Apples taking me in. They 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. After a couple of minutes, I reach out and take Sonata's hand and give it a squeeze 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. Sonata pouts again.

"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 went 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 deep 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 the door when 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 with a smirk on her face.

"Well, maybe I like how apparently you seem to be so eager to see me that you're waiting behind the door," I reply with my own smirk.

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 absolutely 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. I had to help Tempo find her way to the restaurant which annoyed Octavia, but eventually, we made it with time to spare. Tempo parks next to the restaurant 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 9 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 any harm or some sort of misery happens to her, I'll have your head hanging above the fireplace."

My eyes widen, and I slowly 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. Now shall we start the night?"

A smile manages to form on my face.

"I would like that," I answer. With that, we smile at each other as I offer my hand to Octavia, and she accepts it as we walk inside the restaurant.

The place looks fancy yet simple. The walls are a deep kind of 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. "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. It's part of his accent."

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 make sure to help Octavia to her chair first like a good boyfriend should before I sat 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 we're there just to talk about gossip and business and such just like at the ball."

"You didn't go to places like that every day, did you?"

"Oh heavens, no, but we came often enough that it did get rather irritating. This, on the other hand, feels like a modest kind of fancy, which isn't much in comparison, but it's the kind I can take more seriously if that makes any sense."

"Uh...not to really actually," I confess.

Octavia smiles at my confusion. "Don't worry about it. I guess what I'm trying to say is I like this place so far. How did you know about this place?"

"Well, my parents went to Crystal City to see play a couple of years back," I answer. "They grabbed some food over here shortly before we went to see their play and they told me how they enjoyed it."

Octavia smiles at my answer.

"That sounds like a very nice night." She says. "Fancy yet pleasant."

"Yeah, it was," I say. "I had to get help from my dad to look up where it is since he and mom basically 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 ordered the chicken chowder. It took only about ten minutes until our food arrived, and we started digging in.

"So have you seen Sonata around school after Principle 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 fully move on."

Octavia looks at me worryingly.

"But how can they? It's not like they have magic or anything like that to sneak back here. The police are keeping a sharp eye out for them, after all."

"Maybe, but we still don't even know why they were trying so desperately 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. All the same, I hope Sonata can fully move on. Maybe 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."

"Aw, that sounds like fun. Let's definitely use that rain check sometime soon."

"Agreed, Love."

Octavia makes a quiet giggle at her nickname before we go back to our food. We continued eating for about ten minutes until we finished.

"Now that was an actual meal," Octavia says firmly. "My parents and I should have started going to a place like this years ago."

"What, where 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, they're traditional enough that my family would go get some real food after they've played their part in their 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 confound me."

Octavia chuckles before she says, "I certainly hope not. I would like to think we would have it all behind us by then. Not a trace of that time is found apart from a few memories and maybe using my musical skills to be a music teacher or teaching a kid or two how to play the cello."

"You think about stuff like that?" I ask with a smile.

"Oh, for a while now." She answers. "I don't have a concrete plan of what I might do after high school and maybe college, but I certainly won't go back to Manehattan and continue being a cellist there. I would like 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."

The waiter came and gave us the check and I paid it with my dad's credit card. After the waiter came with the receipt and we started heading out 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."

Octavia and I look at each other confused before we looked up and saw 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, people are already starting to set up decorations for the holidays," He says.

"Yeah, but maybe putting up mistletoe is kind of 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 in her purse and looking at me with a flirty 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, "Shut up and 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 our walk through the city to the park. It was dark out, and sure enough, people are decorating buildings with lights and other decorations for the holidays next month. Yes, that is way too soon, but clearly, people in this city like to prepare for these things earlier than they should. But Octavia and I don't pay any mind as the decorations and lights around the city make everything around us look 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.

She breaks out of her trance and turns her head 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 kind of girl?"

"Well, not exactly." She explains. "It's just that this necklace reminds me of my grandfather. The one I was very close with."

I look at her, confused. She rolls her eyes before she elaborates.

"He didn't wear one you silly dweeb, he gave my grandmother one." She says. "I never got to know her, 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 feel something close to one another. Grandfather spent much time trying to enter in well-known orchestras and bands despite how hard it was given that being a violinist is a common practice and the competition was tough, but she was always there to support and comfort him through his various trials. It was around the time when he managed to find his succession that he began to realize how much she deeply cared for him and that deep down he felt the same. He didn't want to simply tell her that he had just figured it out, so instead, 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 that my grandfather showed me over the years 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 smirk on my face.

"What?" She asks, confused.

"She was always there to support and comfort him, huh? That sounds an awful lot like someone I love."

Octavia blushes furiously.

"Mr. Draft, are you trying to flatter me with my dead grandparents?!" She exclaims.

"No, I'm being serious," I state. "I may not have known either of your grandparents, but I do know that you have been like that 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 me and Sunset Shimmer, 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 really 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 really 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. It was a vast place with lots of trees and a couple of lakes. By the looks of things, there would usually be hundreds of people here playing or going on picnics and what not during the day, but since it's night time, it's mostly just a few couples such as Octavia and myself. The park lampposts light most of the park, as Octavia finds a bench to sit in where the area was only lit by the moonlight. We sit down next to each other, holding hands as she lays her head on my shoulder while 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.

We stay quiet for about twenty minutes before Octavia decides to speak.

"You know, you say that you watch me play, but you like to write without letting me see your work."

I smile and shrug with my free shoulder before I reply. "Well, I may have said before that I didn't want to show you while 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 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."

I hesitate before I reluctantly say, "Well, I actually 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 quietly yet sweetly.

I smile and reach into my pocket for my phone with my free hand and turn it on, opening the notes app.

"Right, so where were we, love?"

"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 snaps out of his trance as he realizes he was caught staring at the Gray Woman, who is giving him an amused smirk.

"I don't recall Jedi being allowed to give into attraction to the opposite gender." She said smugly. "I believe they still think that no emotions are good emotions or some sort of over-cautious superstition like that."

Rough Draft blushes as he tries to regain his serious demeanor and says. "Well, we are also supposed to admire the beauty that life creates in The Force."

The Gray Woman roars in laughter, dropping her instrument as she holds on to her gut with both of her arms. Rough Draft looks 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 such a thing. Honestly, Master Jedi, I don't know whether to ridicule you or applaud you for your effort." She says. "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 counters.

"Knowing your history, sparring techniques and philosophies from those before you do not entirely make you all-knowing." The Gray woman says 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 but they can 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 demands.

"Proof? Proof? You're surrounded with proof, you fool!" She ridicules. "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 claims. "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 the caused a fight that destroyed the temple and nearly wiped the Jedi from existence."

"Exactly. 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. If he understood what he was getting into, perhaps he could have approached his newfound feelings better, but 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 fully appreciate the light."

"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 rebuttals.

"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 says. "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 the average human or twi'lek or ordain or whatever, does not mean never truly knowing 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 asks.

"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 answers.

"Why?" The Gray Woman asks 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 thinks about it again before the 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 asks skeptically again.

"No, it's from experience," He answers. "I've despised what they stand since the moment I first fought them."

"Oh? Why don't you explain," She commands.

"It's not something I like to-" Rough Draft begins 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 demands.

Rough Draft hesitates for a moment before he reluctantly agrees. He takes a deep breath before he begins his story.

"It was about five years ago. I had recently become a Jedi Knight after completing my trials. 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. It was also back when Darth Blumblood was trying to take the galaxy for himself claiming he was destined to rule it."

***************************************************************************************************************

"Hang on, Blumblood?" Octavia says with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "Did you create a Sith Lord based on 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, don't hurt yourself, 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 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. 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, I and a battalion of troopers 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. The battalion and I charged into battle from the shuttle we were on for about seven seconds before we were overrun. Sith warriors, troopers, war droids, were surrounding us out of nowhere. Many of the Republic soldiers around me went down like they were grass, and explosions from detonators and war machines were making fire and smoke that covered the sky making everything look dark. 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 feel the lives of the troopers leave their bodies. I tried to protect the ones that were still alive by cutting down any warrior, trooper or war droid of the Sith that I laid my eyes on, but it wasn't long before it was just me alone surrounded by the enemy and 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 puppets were filled with literally nothing but mindless, chaotic darkness with the 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 I would be one with The Force."

"And yet you survived," The Gray Woman states.

Rough Draft nods before he answers.

"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 in every planet in the Outer Rim that Blumblood had taken over. It took a while before I was found by the remaining forces of the Armada 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 questions.

"Well, it turned out that Blumblood went so far as to bond with his minions." Rough Draft explains. "By putting so much of his anger and hate into those mindless monsters, they were fated to die if anything happened to Blumblood, so by slaying Blumblood he defeated his army and thus saved the galaxy. Monteur-Rahn saved my life and saved the galaxy. It is a shame that he refused to fight anymore after that war because 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 raises an eyebrow and frowns disapprovingly. Clearly, there is something on her mind that troubles her. Rough Draft looks at her, confused.

"You disapprove?" He asks.

"It's difficult not to when both you and your former master prove my point." She answers bluntly.

"What do you mean?" Rough Draft asks.

"Well first off, by your own confession, you admit that you could not even try to control your fear at the battlefield despite your training to do so. The Jedi are told to control emotions like fear, but they don't really know what the feelings are because their masters forbid them to even experience what they're like. That can lead to the 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 sits there, stunned at what she said.

"What about him?" He asks.

"Your master also lost himself to his fear and it cost several lives both Republic and Sith," she says bluntly.

"W-what?" Rough Draft says stupified.

"Yes. Tell me, how familiar about the end of the Mandalorian Wars?" She quizzes.

"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 answers. "I know that to get to their leader, Mandalore the ultimate, Revan sacrificed so many of his troops and Jedi to be slaughtered so that he could get to Mandalore and-"

Rough Draft froze before he stares at the Gray Woman in shock. The pieces begin to fit before he speaks.

"You, you don't mean?" He begins before the Gray Woman interrupts him again.

"Indeed," she says. "When Monteur-Rahn learned of the terrors that Blumblood wrought, he began to fear whether or not he could be unstoppable. 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 not matter what it took. So he had to make a distraction that involved sending many of the Jedi and troopers and Jedi to their doom in order to pin down Blumblood so that he could destroy him."

"So...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 these kinds of choice is unthinkable to him.

"How do you know this?" He asks. "What makes you so certain that you know so much about what happened that day? Who are you?"

The Gray Woman's face remains calm as she replies.

"I am the-"

*ringtone*

"Oh, blast it!"

************************************************************************************************************

Octavia and I broke apart from our cuddle and she took her phone out from her purse.

"It's Mother. She's waiting for us at the park parking lot," Octavia says annoyed. "And that was getting so good 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 just focused on the road not wanting to ask how it went as she can see from the car mirror that Octavia had fallen asleep on my shoulder, so she didn't want to disturb her. 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 pay any mind. 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 the girl I love.

Eventually, Tempo parked in her driveway before she realized something.

"Oh whoopsies," She says. "I forgot that we should be taking you home first. No worries. I'll just-"

"Actually hold on there, Tempo," I say, turning to Octavia. "I think we should get a certain someone to bed first."

Tempo looks from the driver mirror again and said "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 open the car door and start to get out and gently pick up Octavia bridle style. It takes a couple of tries to pick her up correctly - I'm not a particularly strong guy and Tempo had to help me carry Octavia right, but eventually, I start the quiet trek to the house, up the stairs (which is harder to do than I expected) and into my girlfriend's bedroom. Tempo moves the covers of her bed away while I gently put her on her bed. Once Tempo puts her under the covers, we are about 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 makes a small smile 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."

"You're welcome, Octavia," 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. I only hope to have so many more dates like these with Octavia Melody.