It's the day after the concert and school just ended. Soarin and Rainbow Dash have practice again for their long-anticipated first playoff game this Saturday, and since I don't have anything else I feel like doing today, I decided to watch them at the benches while doing homework. As I work on my math homework, I give the team a couple of glances and notice how devoted Rainbow Dash is to keep the team in good shape while occasionally making glances with Soarin when their teammates aren't looking, which makes me smile. It is so satisfying to see Soarin happy knowing that his girlfriend loves him back. Caramel and I agree that we've never seen him in such bliss in all the time that we've known him.

But as I watch them admire each other while preparing for their big game, I frown a little as I think about my dilemma. Ever since the concert last night, Sunset Shimmer has been stuck in my mind. All-day I have been debating with myself about how I feel whenever I talk to her or when we were flying or whenever she hugs me. I think I know why, but I'm scared to admit that it's a possibility. Maybe I need someone to talk to about it.

"Hiya, Rough Draft!"

I jump in surprise as I find Sonata standing right next to me with a gleeful look on her face.

"Sonata, what are you doing here?" I ask.

"Well, Applejack and I are dropping off some apple ciders for the team, and I just thought I'd say hi," she answers, pointing to Applejack, who is at the front of the stands, setting up a table for cider. "What about you? You looked like something was troubling you."

I chuckle nervously at her question.

"Was I?" I ask.

"Yeah, you looked like you couldn't tell if you should be smiling or worrying about something," she says. "Are you thinking about the next Star Wars movie again? That's still like, forever and a half away."

I smile at her question until I consider what she's asking. I don't want to bring this up to Caramel or Soarin yet, and I don't want to bring any of the Rainbooms into this since they're Sunset's closest friends, so if I was to talk about this to anyone, it probably should be Sonata.

"Okay, I'm gonna tell you something, but you can't tell anybody," I say.

"Ooo, a secret just between the two of us?" Sonata asks excitedly.

"Yes, and it's important that you don't say a word," I say.

"Don't worry, Rough Draft, my buddy," Sonata says cutely with a salute. "I will be as silent as I am incapable of singing."

I give her a sad smile as I know she still wishes she can sing again before I sigh and speak as cautiously as I can.

"So...I think I have a crush on someone."

"Ah, so you finally realized your feelings for Sunset Shimmer?" Sonata asks bluntly.

"What? How did you guess that?" I ask, shocked.

Sonata makes an adorable laugh before she answers.

"Aw, come on, Rough Draft, it's obvious," she says. "You've been hanging with her a lot over the past couple of weeks, and you guys did decide to stay behind when we were heading home from the concert last night."

I think about her statement for a moment before I chuckle.

"Yeah, I guess it's pretty obvious when you put it that way," I say.

"Are you kidding? It's as obvious as Rainbow Dash without her rainbow hair," Sonata says. "First, you couldn't tell that Octavia was so deeply in love with you, then you only realize now how things are going between you and Sunset? I realize you were a major outcast in Applelosa and so spent zero time with any girls, but come on. In fact, why are you only realizing this now?"

I hesitate at that question. I remember that I promised Sunset that I wouldn't tell anyone about her new transformation and try to think of a half-truth.

"Well, last night, we were talking about the concert and the song she made for me, and then we had a heart to heart chat about how things have been improving between us," I say. "And whenever she hugs me, I don't want it to end. It feels as comforting as when Octavia and I would hold each other endlessly when we were together and...yeah, that's when it hit me."

"Awww, that's so cute," Sonata coos. "Are you gonna ask her out?"

"Uh...I haven't thought that far about it," I admit scratching the back of my head. "I don't even know if I want to believe that I think this way about her."

"Why not?" Sonata asks.

I sigh, reluctantly before I ask, "Did I ever tell you what happened when Sunset Shimmer and I first met?"

"Well, no, but Applejack told me," Sonata says.

"She did?" I ask, surprised.

"Yeah, she was a total meany who pretended to be falling in love with you so that you would sabotage Rarity at the Spring Fling, and that's why you were so mean to her before you and Tavi broke up," Sonata recites.

I sigh sadly.

"Yeah, well, I think that would keep us from trying anything," I say. "All that bad blood on top of all the hatred for Sunset after that even after she defeated you and her sisters could get in the way."

Sonata frowns suspiciously at this.

"I think you're lying," she says. "Are you sure your hesitation doesn't have to do with your feelings for Tavi?"

I chuckle sadly at that question.

"You can be unusually observant when you want to be," I say to Sonata, who responds with a pleased smile. "But yeah, it does. I'm not depressed about what happened anymore, but part of me still misses Octavia and hopes that she will see the error of her ways, dump Treble Clef and take me back. I also feel like in a way, Octavia would be right all along if Sunset and I get together, seeing as thinking I cheated on her with her was what led her to dump me. Plus, I still wrote on my note attached to her Christmas gifts that I would be waiting for her, and I feel like I should be keeping that promise."

Sonata's frown deepens at this.

"Rough Draft, I know you still love her, and I know I said things would hopefully work out in the end between you and Tavi," she says. "But you also said you moved on from her and I think you should stay that way. Don't get me wrong, part of me still wishes that this whole Treble Clef thing is just some big misunderstanding like the video and you two would get back together and live happily ever after, but the rest of me wants you to let her go completely, and I think Sunset is the right girl to help you do it. After all, you do like her, don't you?"

"Well yeah," I admit. "How can anyone not like her? She's kind, fun, smart, trusting, supportive-"

"And hot?" Sonata interrupts teasingly.

"Beautiful," I correct. "In fact, that's something that I always thought about Sunset even when I hated her. Her cyan eyes have this... thing about them that shows how time with her is so exciting, and fun and even now, they have a way of showing how she's become so compassionate since the Fall Formal. And then she has that fiery red and yellow hair that's now in lighter shades that show she's a force for good and when she smiles it's so -"

I stop talking for a moment when I realize what I'm saying. Sonata is giving me an amused look that makes my purple cheeks turn red.

"Thank you for proving my point," she teases. "Face it, Draft, my buddy, you're starting to go crazy about her."

I sigh in defeat

"Yeah, but I don't want to be," I say.

"Why not?" She asks. "Who cares about what Octavia would think if you fell in love with Sunset Shimmer? She still dumped you and moved on with another guy just like that, and if there's one thing Granny has taught me about love, it's that it's not something that you throw away when it's inconvenient. I'm not saying Tavi didn't love you, but she dumped you and then found someone else like, less than a month afterward. Sunset was at least willing to forgive you when you came to her regretting the mean things you said about her. She was the one who wanted to help you with Rarity acting so cold to you and get you out of your depressed state. Plus, the way Applejack tells it, she was pretty persistent with trying to make peace with you for quite a while. Octavia has made no attempts to talk to you at any point after Christmas, whereas you just admitted all the time you've been spending with Sunset. Wake up and smell the apple pie, Rough Draft."

I give her a small smile before I say, "You've probably been living with the Apples a little too long if you're saying phrases like 'wake up and smell the apple pie.'"

Sonata giggles cutely before she replies.

"Well, I can't help it if I haven't found an apple-related thing that I didn't like."

"Hey, Sonata, we're heading home," Applejack suddenly calls out from the bottom of the stands.

"Okay, AJ," Sonata calls back before she begins to stand up. She starts walking a few steps before she turns to me and says, "Think about it, buddy, there's nothing wrong with getting together with someone who can make you happy again," and leaves.

As Sonata leaves following Applejack, I start to think about her words. I've indeed been hanging out with Sunset a lot ever since she performed that song with the Rainbooms on my front lawn. She trusted me with her secret new magic, she was so happy with that rose I gave her, and she was so appreciative that I came to her concert just like...

...just like Octavia.

On the other hand, something with Sunset would be nothing like how it was with Octavia. She was also so kind and supporting even when she didn't have to be. She encouraged me to improve as a writer, she defended me against Blueblood, and it was always a blessing to watch her play her cello beautifully. Not to mention how she is stunning; her long black hair, her violet eyes that showed sincerity whenever she spoke, and when she smiled. It felt like everything I ever do of love for her was worth it. There's nothing like being together with Octavia, and there never will be anything like it.

But maybe what I need shouldn't be something like what I had with Octavia. Perhaps it should be something that could be better. Sunset is a special girl with all that she has done and how much she changed. She does tend to smile a lot whenever she sees me, and she was pretty persistent in earning my forgiveness, and I do enjoy the time we spend together. Maybe we can go further than just friends.

Suddenly, I get an idea for a new story. I hesitate with the idea of taking it further, but at the same time, my mind grows persistent in wanting me to do it. I check the time, and I realize that Soarin and Rainbow Dash still have about a half-hour left of practice, so I could use the time to get started.

I grab my notebook and flip through the pages until I find a section that has not been used for notes and take a deep breath. I pause for a moment and smile when I realize that this will be the first time that I write a story since Octavia and I broke up. I shake the thought off before I take out my pen and begin to write.

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

Two weeks have passed since Rough Draft's encounter with the Gray Woman at Acht-To. He told the Jedi Council that there was nothing on that island but the ruins of the first Jedi temple, and they took the news with disappointment but understanding. It later turned out to be for the best as the Republic needed his help once again. It turns out that a special group of Sith are trying to cause mayhem in the core world of Alderaan.

Officially, Alderaan is a Republic world, but unofficially, the planet has been facing nothing but civil unrest. Ever since their queen died, the people of Alderaan have been fighting a between its three main houses of political power; House Organa who are loyal to the Republic, House Ulgo, an army of assassins and House Thul who sympathize with the Sith and their quest for control over the galaxy. Any Sith Lord who tries to succeed where Darth Blumblood did not starts their conquest with an alliance with House Thul in exchange for assistance with their pursuit to destroy House Ulga and especially House Organa.

The Jedi Order has been informed that a new group of Sith called the Marauding Krayts have joined an alliance with House Thul and have become a threat dangerous enough to turn the tide of Alderaan's civil war. A large group of Jedi has already jumped into the call of battle, but from what we know now, it's unlikely there's a lot of them that have survived from these Sith cultists. It appears they also have a particular warrior of sorts that they have been using to hunt down and destroy any Jedi that goes into enemy lines. Somehow, this special Sith can decimate people in seconds and brainwash them to do the Krayt's bidding. The Jedi council is perplexed about this unique being who can cause that much harm. They decide that given his experience in dealing with powerful Sith, they found it best to send Rough Draft and find out what he can.

Rough Draft was uneasy about this new mission, to say the very least. Judging by the council's demeanor when they gave him this assignment, it sounded like this will be unlike anything he ever encountered before. In his mind, he began to doubt what he can do against the likes of this unusual foe. But he knew in his heart that there is nothing else he can do but follow his duty to the Jedi and the Republic and trust in the Force. Thus, he went back to his ship and charted a course to Alderaan.

When he arrived, he was immediately hailed on his comlink by Hania-Adag Organa, a well-respected senator for House Organa. She demanded that he comes to her office as soon as he made it to her planet. She didn't say more as she didn't want to risk whatever information she has on the halo for fear of it being tracked by House Thul or the Marauding Krayts. Rough Draft didn't know what to think of the senator's brief message, but if she is in some sort of danger or has information that could help him assist the Jedi already fighting on Alderaan, then he must make haste to the planet.

After a couple of hours, he flew down to the city where the House of Organa resides. As soon as he landed his ship on a landing pad, a small group of Organa soldiers arrived to escort him to the senator's office, where she was pacing back and forth in worry before she saw him.

"Master Draft. I was getting worried that you wouldn't be coming," she said anxiously.

"Senator Organa, forgive me. I came as fast as I could," Rough Draft said respectfully. "You said you have some information for me that I assume has to do with the Sith's special warrior?"

Hania-Adag Organa hesitated before she answers.

"More rumors than real news," she answered reluctantly. "From what our spies and sympathizers from House Thul have told us, there's some sort of conflict going on with the Marauding Krayts and their warrior."

"What kind of conflict?" Rough Draft asked.

"Well..." Hania-Adag began hesitantly. "I know an expert on these dark force users like you would find me crazy, but they say that their special warrior defected."

Rough Draft stared at Hania-Adag bewildered.

"D-defected? A Sith defected?" He asked.

"See? It sounds even more ridiculous when you say it!" Hania-Adag exclaimed. "They say that their special warrior is this powerful apprentice who is running away from her master, and they believe that she's defected from their side with wishes to turn herself to the Republic. The Sith are trying to keep this quiet from House Thul as they are trying to get the apprentice back without any word of what's happened to their allies."

Rough Draft stared at Hania-Adag perplexed by this. He's heard tales of some Jedi convincing allies of the Sith to come to the light side like the bounty hunter Jeriack and one the former Imperial agent Sonatah. But for a Sith to run away from their kind and supposedly defect from their dark ways on their own like this has never been heard of. The Sith are not known to show any sympathy or interest in those who follow the light, and this could very well be a trap to lure more Jedi into their deaths.

But then he remembered the words of the Gray Woman; "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." It seemed like a risk to trust the words of someone long dead, but maybe she was right in that there is more to the Sith than what he, the Jedi Order or the Republic know. His instincts tell him that this is a foolish thing to consider, but his heart tells him that maybe The Force was using his journey to Acht-To to guide him into helping this Sith deserter find the light if by chance what Hania-Adag says is true.

"Well, then if that's so, then I must find this apprentice and-"

"Are you crazy, Master Jedi? That's suicide!" Hania-Adag exclaimed. "We're talking about a Sith that has destroyed dozens of your fellow Jedi like they were nothing, and this could very well be a trap!"

"Perhaps," Rough Draft admitted. "But if there's even a chance that he can be turned to the light and be used against his former masters than we must-"

"She," Hania-Adag corrected. "The winged demon is a woman."

Rough Draft looked at the senator, confused.

"Winged demon, Senator?" He asked.

"That's what those who have survived call her," She explained. "A winged Sith pureblood."

Rough Draft stared at the senator, unable to believe what he just heard - the humanoid, red species known as Sith, where the dark order took their official name. The Sith aliens or purebloods have never been known to have wings or have possessed any in their ancient history even long before they were first affiliated with the Dark Jedi that created the Sith Order thousands of years ago. You may as well be saying you can teach Tuskin Raiders to perform in an opera on Coruscant.

"No disrespect, Senator, but are you sure that none of your men have been drugged or have their minds meddled in some way by the Sith?" he asked.

"There has been no sign of my men under any drug influence, and Jedi Master Bonnia assures me that she has found no sign of meddling with their minds while she's been treating them." The senator answered. "As for where this being could be, we have reason to believe she could be hiding inside the Killik colony east from here. The Kyrats have searched and found nothing, but maybe you will have better luck, Master Jedi. Be warned, however, this winged being is dangerous."

"So am I," Rough Draft said before he bows to the senator goodbye and exits the office.

After renting a land speeder from a nearby port, Rough Draft traveled east to the Killik nests, where the bug creatures tend to live in solitude so long as outsiders do not attack them. He parked his speeder a couple of clicks away from the nests and hid it behind a few bushes before he began sneaking his way into the nests. The large nests serve as good hiding spots, and he goes from nest to nest in search of this mysterious Sith padwan without being detected by the Killiks. For about an hour or so, he searched for any hint of Sith activity or presence in this area but found nothing.

Suddenly, as he was about to leave, he felt a very strange presence in the Force. There is something or someone that is conflicted with their emotions. Like a heart filled with hate is trying to whip out its sudden feelings of sympathy and regret. Before he could think further about this strange presence, however, he felt something coming straight towards him.

Quickly igniting his green lightsaber, he turned around in a defensive stance to find what was indeed a female Sith pureblood with large, black wings. She was wearing Sith battle armor and was charging at him with two yellow-bladed crossguard lightsabers.

Author's note: a crossguard lightsaber is what Kylo Ren's lightsaber is.

The winged Sith screamed in anger as her lightsabers began clashing with Rough Draft's.

"If you do not wish to become one with the Force in pieces, Jedi, you will leave this place at once," she hissed as she presses on her attack.

"I have not come to harm you, Sith, I merely wish to talk," Rough Draft said calmly as he deflects every blow with ease.

"Oh, spare me your lies," she screamed as she continued to strike at the Jedi. "Do you expect me to believe you aren't here to avenge the Jedi I have already cut down?"

"If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it already instead of threatening me to leave," Rough Draft said as he parried every attack. "Sith like you are not the kind of people who give such opportunities."

"It's because I am no longer among the Sith that I haven't easily overpowered you and chopped you into pieces, Jedi. Don't push it," she claimed.

"And I have cut down Sith with ease no matter what kind of lightsabers they wield," Rough Draft replied. "And in case you are not aware, I could have cut you in half just for showing any alliance to the Sith, but I'm giving you a once-in-a-lifetime exception that I would never have given the likes of Darth Blumblood or Morphan-itis."

At that moment, the winged Sith stopped attacking and stared at Rough Draft in surprise. She looked at him deep in her yellow, Sith eyes before she let out an amused chuckle.

"Well, well, well," She said. "If it isn't Master Jedi Rough Draft, the Sith Cleaver."

Rough Draft chuckled lightly in response.

"Is that what your Sith cultists friends call me over at House Thul, Sith?" He asked, amused.

"I am not Sith," she hissed before she looked at him puzzled. "But no, this isn't right. The Master Rough Draft I'm told of slaughters Sith Warriors with ease, overpowers assassins and sages like they have the force powers of a wompa rat. If even half of the stories I've heard about you are true, I should have been cut down by now."

"I'm as skeptical about you as you are with me, my strange winged friend," he replied. "I've heard nothing but how you're some monster that has killed many of my Jedi brothers and sisters with ease since before I left Tython, and yet as soon as I land on Alderaan, I hear something about you defecting, and you attack me with little conviction to kill me. It appears neither of us are what we have been lead to believe."

The winged Sith pureblood frowned at this. It's clear to Rough Draft that this meeting is not what either has expected.

"What do you want, Master Jedi?" She asked skeptically.

"I already said," he answered. "I wish to talk."

The winged pureblood raised her eyebrow at this before she sighed irritatingly.

"Not here," she said. "I have a camp inside a cave not far from here. But if you think of trying to stab me in the back, you'll be dead before you touch your sword."

"Funny, I could say the same thing to you," Rough Draft said with an amused smirk. The pureblood nods her head in understanding as they quietly leave the Killik nest and hike to a cave inside the mountain. Since it was getting dark by the time they arrived, the pureblood turns on a heater next to a sleeping pat, and she and Rough Draft sit by the heater to warm themselves from the cold.

"So," Rough Draft begins. "You seem to be very familiar with my name, but I can't say I know yours. What do I call you?"

The winged pureblood thinks about this before she answers, "I won't give you my real name, but if you must call me something, then you can call me...Aruetyc."

Rough Draft chuckled as Aruetyc is Mandalorian for 'traitorous.'

"Very well, Aruetyc, why don't we try getting to know each other. Set the record straight on some...rumors," he suggested.

"Such as?" Aruetyc asked suspiciously.

"Well, if I may be blunt, all I know about you apart from having killed many Jedi is that you supposedly defected from the Sith and that you do indeed have real wings even though purebloods are not known to ever possess wings. Care to elaborate?"

Aruetyc looked at him suspiciously before she impatiently answered.

"If you must know, I was experimented on by my master, Darth Barmas," she said. "He discovered a few experiments that Darth Blumblood attempted to make before his death, and one of them had to do with combining Sith DNA with other species to make the perfect Sith warriors."

"So somehow his brainwashed army was only the beginning," Rough Draft said to himself quietly before lifting his head up to face Aruetyc again. "And he made you be a part of his own attempts at completing Blumblood's work?"

"I chose it," she said firmly. "My former master is a skilled alchemist, and if there was a chance to gain my own kind of power, I knew - or I thought back then, I should take it."

"You thought it was wise to do that?" Rough Draft asked.

"It's the way of the Sith," she defended. "You of all people should know that we will do whatever it takes to get what we achieve through our passion so that we can gain strength and through strength, we gain power, through power-"

"Through power, you gain victory, and through victory, your chains are broken; thus, the Force shall set you free," Rough Draft finished. "Yes, I am well aware of the Sith code, but I think there's a line between being persistent and being a little reckless to get what you desire."

Aruetyc smirked at Rough Draft.

"No offense, but I think all the Jedi I have faced would strongly disagree with you," she said boastfully. "I'm stronger, faster, and my wings give me the high ground when dueling against anyone, I can bend the will of lesser men to do my bidding."

"Yet I sense great conflict with you, Aruetyc," Rough Draft said. "I felt it before you attacked me. There's something foreign in you that holds you back from continuing your dark ways. Something that kept you from having any true intentions to kill me."

Aruetyc raised her eyebrow.

"My, my, my, and I sense there's more to you than an eagerness to destroy all Sith," she said. "Seems we both have decided to betray our reputations."

"Indeed, now why is it you are defecting from the Sith?" Rough draft asks.

"You first," Aruetyc demanded. "I've already started with explaining my wings."

Rough Draft frowned as he hesitantly thought about the best way to answer without revealing the secret of the mysterious Octavia Melody on Acht-To. At the same time, however, he didn't want to lie to Aruetyc since she appeared to trust him at least a little bit.

"Well... if we must be honest, it's not something I can explain because it contains a secret best left unknown to the galaxy," he began to answer. "But the short answer is a...good friend recently told me that peace is no good to you if your only means of obtaining it is destruction. You could say this friend gave me a good argument that helped me try to put that idea into practice after hearing of your desertion."

Aruetyc raised her eyebrow skeptically before she gave a small nod as a way of saying that is a good enough answer for her.

"Now it's your turn again," Rough Draft declared. "What kept you from trying to cut me into pieces with your nice crossguard swords?"

Aruetyc smirked briefly before she frowned again. She stared at the heater for a minute before she answered with her eyes still glued to it.

"It was during our latest ambush against a group of Jedi," she began. "They were hoping to investigate on the Marauding Krayts not knowing that we had a trap set for them. Before even half of them were able to ignite their lightsabers, I had cut at least a dozen of them down. Those who survived my sudden attack fought gallantly against me and the other warriors - slaughtering twenty of us at least, but it wasn't enough before we sent them running. My master ordered me to pursue them and I chased them down, picking them off one by one. Finally, all that was left was this Twe'lik girl. She defended herself with all the strength she had left, but it wasn't long before she was relieved of her weapon. I expected her to plead for her life, she looked so scared. But she didn't. She just stared at me and she slowly sat on both knees and said 'I'm sorry.'"

Rough Draft looked at Aruetyc confused to which she continued with a smirk.

"Yeah, I didn't expect that either as you would imagine. When I asked her for what, she said 'that all you know is the darkness.' I didn't know what to think. I felt like I should be disgusted by her strange act of kindness, but somehow I found myself...comforted, a feeling I've never felt before. I wish I was able to ask why she would say such a thing, but before I could, my master caught up with us and ordered me to kill her. I tried to think of a way around it, but he kept ordering me to do it and the Twe'lik Jedi had her eyes closed, accepting her fate. I held my breath and sadly cut off her head thinking it best that she died painlessly, but for the first time, I hated killing someone. It wasn't a big deal before; she was hardly the first defenseless person I killed, but this time I begin to feel that it wasn't right. It was as if my eyes were opened and I started to see that my enemies weren't just my enemies, they were living beings with better, purer reasons to live than to gain power. Do you know what I mean?"

"I think I'm starting to," Rough Draft answered honestly, giving Aruetyc a kind smile that she returns.

"Hmm, subtle,"

"AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"

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

I jump so badly that I drop my notebook and pen. I turn around to find Soarin giving me an amused look as he sits on the bench behind me.

"What the heck, man?" I exclaim. "I thought you're practicing."

"Dude, practice ended ten minutes ago," he says pointing at the empty field. "You really need to be careful how you get deep into your writing."

"Well, that doesn't mean you can read behind my shoulder," I ridicule.

"Now why ever not?" He asks with an amused smirk. "Don't want anyone to read your new adventure about you and your girlfriend?"

I blush furiously before giving him a deathly glare.

"Sunset is not my girlfriend!" I bark.

"I didn't say it was Sunset," Soarin says. "But it's obvious she's Aruetyc in that story."

"No, she isn't!" I claim.

Soarin chuckles and shakes his head.

"Rough Draft, I love you like a brother, but as glad as I am that you're writing again, you still clearly stink at subtlety," he says. "A female character with dark red skin and yellow eyes and wings just like when Sunset was a she-demon and Jedi Rough Draft having an open mind that she's turning over a new leaf - a.k.a. what you wish you did much sooner, and something possibly going on between the two of them? Not to mention the rose you gave Sunset on Valentine's Day and you guys staying behind after the concert last Friday? That tells me that either you two have the most convenient, platonic relationship ever or you've started to have actual, heartfelt feelings for her."

My blush remains as I turn away to try to hide it. But even as I look away from my friend, I know the deed is done.

"So...wanna talk about when you started feeling this way?" Soarin asks.

"Not really," I say.

"Aw, don't be such a spoilsport, Rough Draft," Soarin says. "Clearly you got something for Sunset and it's eating you up."

"You can't prove that," I claim still not looking at him.

"Buddy, you're writing a fanfiction story about you and a girl. You've only done that once before and that was when you and Octavia were together," he points out. "Clearly, you're taking a special liking for Sunset Shimmer again. You really like the person that she's become."

I sigh, reluctantly before I turn to face my friend.

"Okay yes, I've started to like her, like her," I admit.

"I knew it," Soarin says, smirking. "Which brings us back to my original question, when did you start feeling this way?"

I sigh before I reluctantly spill it out.

"Honestly, I think I've felt this way for a while now and only started to realize it after the concert," I say. "I know I already grew to admire her for everything she's become since the Fall Formal; so kind, considerate, devoted to her friends and all that jazz, but I guess looking back, I've realized how...I don't know if I want to say happy per se, but I'm always glad to see her whenever we see each other at lunch or in English class or when we do stuff together with all of our friends like the concert or the Valentine's Day hang out. Lately, I've started to really enjoy seeing her smile or whenever she just hugs me tightly or feel special whenever she wants to talk about her life before she came to our world. Maybe she acts like that to me because I was her first friend or something, but... well I guess I really want more of that now and I wish I knew what I could do about it apart from just writing another story."

Soarin rolls his eyes at the last thing I said.

"Well, it's obvious what you do, man," he says. "Ask Sunset on a date."

"I don't know," I say scratching the back of my head. "I guess I could, but I don't know what I could do that's not just going to Sugarcube Corner."

"Well then suggest a movie or something," he suggests.

"No, that's pretty much what we did when we first met," I counter.

"Exactly," Soarin says. "When you guys did that, it was awkward, get together that was fake from the start and something you both regret. So do it all again only this time make it all real."

I hesitate before his last words start to echo in my mind; make it all real.

"You're right," I say. "If I want to do something with her, it should be something we've done before when she was pretending to like me only this time it's real. Maybe that way I'll know for sure whether or not this is just my mind playing tricks or I really just want to be with her in that way."

"Awesome," Soarin says. "So, how are you going to ask her?"

I scratch my chin before an idea pops into my head.

"I think I know just how to ask her, but I'm going to need your help," I say.

"Oh boy, please don't tell me you're thinking of some over-the-top gesture just to ask a girl to the movies," he says concerned.

"Oh Soarin, my dear boy, have a little more faith in me," I say smirking. "I have something a little more sneaky in mind; a test if you will that involves the story I'm writing..."

Soarin looks at me for a moment before he smiles and moves to the seat next to me.

"Oh boy, this is exciting," Soarin says, grinning. "Oh, and by the way, really? You had to have Aruetyc boasting about always having 'the high ground?'"

I roll my eyes at my best friend's criticism.

"Oh shut up and listen closely," I order.