Chapter 130: Trials and Tribulations

After returning to the Jedi Temple, Master Yoda, Windu, Luna, and Celestia informed the four about the plan the High Council devised. They told them all about Obi-wan faking his death and then changing his appearance to get locked up as he managed to get close to Eval and was on his way to meet with Dooku. However, Anakin was the only one who didn't appreciate being told, as he felt he should have known about this.

Regardless, the Jedi had nothing to do but wait for Obi-wan to make contact. And given his last message, if they called him, it would blow his cover. So now... it was a waiting game.

Twilight was currently reading a book when the girl lifted her head. She was looking out a window and saw a figure moving about. That figure was her partner, as Storm was currently running a drill. The girl stared at the boy and sighed blissfully with a lovesick smile. She saw the boy working up a sweat, keeping his skills and body in shape, not to mention all the muscles she felt he had. She found it almost impossible to pry her eyes off of him.

"Twilight... Twilight... Twilight!"

"Huh?" said the girl as she snapped out of her thoughts.

The girl turned, and standing in front of her was Celestia with a stern look on her face and arms crossed. The Jedi Master had been asking her student the answer to a question, and for the past five minutes, she'd been trying to get her attention, but to no avail. It was only until she raised her voice that the princess looked at her.

"What is so important that it's distracting you from what I asked?!" demanded Celestia to her apprentice.

"N-nothing..." responded Twilight as she lowered her head and made herself smaller.

"Then pay attention!" stated Celestia with a firm tone to her protege.

"Y-Yes, Master... Sorry," quivered the girl, focusing back on her notes and not wanting to have Celestia scowl at her again.

"Now, as I was saying..."

Twilight listened to what her teacher said as she didn't want to upset her. While this was happening, Storm was shown balancing on a wooden pole. He was finishing up the obstacle course as Luna was watching her student.

"Remember, my student. Focus... clear your mind of all distractions," said Luna.

Storm heard the words of his master as he took a deep breath. He then took a step forward as nothing was in front of him. Storm was now shown standing on nothing but air as he kept walking forward. Luna had a pathway cloaked as she tested her student's senses and smiled. He passed her expectations as he did a flip and landed near her. The pathway behind him decloaked as it was visible.

"Excellent work," stated Luna, impressed by Storm's run.

"Thank you... Master," said the boy as he bowed before the woman.

"Come along," stated Luna as she began to walk.

Storm followed Luna as they came to one of the rooms for training, as they had a view of the city and the temple gardens below. Luna walked to one side of the small oval room and turned to face her apprentice.

"Ready?" asked Luna as she held her lightsaber out and turned it on.

"Are you ready?" countered Storm as he wasn't backing down from his master.

"Then let's begin," responded Luna.

The boy turned on his lightsaber as he, took a stance and held his lightsaber close to him. Luna smirked as she took a stance but had her blade out and pointed at her student. The two were now moving clockwise, waiting to see who would make the first move. The expressions on their faces also set the mood for Storm; he was looking to beat Luna in a duel finally; as for the Jedi Master, she kept a calm look free of worry.

Apprentice and Master stared eye to eye as they continued to move and stare for five minutes. Soon, they stopped as Storm began to initiate the first move. The boy moved forward and swung his lightsaber left and right as Luna blocked each of them easily. Storm then went for some high-swing attacks; Luna had to lift her blade up to block them as she moved back. When Storm went for a high attack and Luna blocked, he brought his blade back and quickly went for a low attack to her leg; Luna had to take a huge step back to avoid it.

That slight and quick distraction allowed Storm to go back high and initiate a downward strike as Luna quickly positioned her lightsaber horizontally to defend herself. Storm put more strength into his lightsaber as the yellow blade clashed against Luna's blue sword, feeling the strength her student was using to overpower her. Storm pulled back to go for a swing as Luna, in that same moment, spun around, bringing her lightsaber around to block her student's attack. She then spun back in the opposite direction as she came in for a swing. Storm had to step back and lean his head to avoid Luna trying to cut his head off with her sword.

The boy took a few steps as he registered how Luna almost ended him as the woman stood there holding her lightsaber backward.

"Remember what I've told you, Storm. Be mindful of being too aggressive. A Jedi's goal is to defend life, not take it." said Luna taking some steps forward.

The boy went back on the attack as he swung. Luna ducked under her student's attempt as she now had her back to his.

"However, mercy doesn't always defeat an enemy, Master," said Storm to Luna as he turned left and aimed his blade high as Luna turned to block it.

They both turned as Storm came in for a swing. Luna kept low and ducked her student's attack. She got up and aimed her lightsaber diagonally to block Storm's next strike. Their blades were held in place as the hum of them clashing was heard. Luna felt herself getting pushed back a bit as Storm tried to overtake his teacher and beat her for the first time.

They broke as Luna twirled her lightsaber in her hand, as Storm began to do a series of attacks. Swinging from left to right as Luna blocked them while taking some steps back, the boy reeled back and went for a swing as Luna stopped it with her lightsaber parallel to her body as she blocked it.

Storm then did a downward strike as it guided Luna's blade down, and he lifted it over his head for an attack. Luna brought her weapon and positioned it horizontally to block. Storm hammered her lightsaber with his as she was being pushed back and fell to the knee. Storm's latest strike had Luna let go of one hand and place it on the floor to stop herself from falling flat as her other hand held her lightsaber and was trying to hold off her student. The look on the boy's face told him that he was saying to his master that she was beaten.

Luna mustered her strength and regained her balance as she pushed her student's weapon off and quickly rolled forward to avoid his swing downward. Storm turned as he looked at Luna and swung. The Jedi Master blocked and guided their blades down before bringing them up to block Storm's overheard strike. The boy pushed her back as he spun around while twirling his lightsaber and made a quick attempt which Luna blocked. Storm quickly spun around and shifted his body to a crouch attack. Luna had to shift her body so that her lower half leaned back while her upper half leaned outward to avoid her student's attempt at her legs.

They looked at each other as Storm got up from his crouch but kept his legs bent as he swung left and right while Luna blocked. He slowly got up while swinging as he spun counterclockwise, going for an attack. Luna sensed it as she aimed her lightsaber toward the floor as if stabbing it. It blocked Storm's attack from his counterclockwise spin, but the boy reeled back quickly, and with the momentum on his side, he knocked Luna's lightsaber away from her as it skidded along the floor.

Having her weapon removed from her hands, Luna instinctively dropped to a knee as Storm towered over her with a smile.

"Finally... I've done it... I've beaten you," chuckled Storm, almost smiling that he did it. "Your weapon's gone. It's over. I... I... I won."

"So it would seem. But you forget, my student. That the need for victory can often blind you," spoke Luna.

Storm made a face as Luna wasn't done yet and went for a sweeping attack with her legs; Storm had to spin and take a few steps back as Luna was able to use her sweeping spin to get back to her feet. Storm was coming in for a strike as Luna grabbed his hands and swatted him forward to avoid him having the chance to strike her; she brought her elbow to hit him in the back as she spun. Storm stumbled forward as Luna took that moment to put her hand out as she took her student's lightsaber away from him. Storm turned as Luna pointed his weapon at him as he stood there.

Both looked as they panted heavily. Luna tossed her head back to get her hair out of her face. She brought her other hand up to move the loose strands away as she rubbed her hair and gave a quick hair flip.

"You are a great warrior, Storm. And a powerful Jedi. Yet, I must remind you that the need to prove yourself can often be a Jedi's undoing." said Luna as Storm looked at her. "You must learn to consider that, and then... only then, will you truly be ready to be a Master." Luna turned off Storm's lightsaber and handed it to her apprentice.

Storm looked at it and grabbed his weapon while looking at his master. Luna smiled as her lightsaber flew onto her side. The woman put her hand out as she rubbed Storm's head and stroked his cheek. The Jedi Master pulled her protege close to her chest as she hugged him.

"I love you... my son," said Luna, having a tear fall down her face.

"I love you too," said Storm, almost immediately breaking the woman's heart.

Luna pulled back as she gave one last pat on Storm's shoulder and left, trying to wipe the remaining water from her eyes. The boy stood there holding his weapon in both hands as he started thinking about what Luna had said. Luna was walking in the halls, still wiping her eyes as thoughts filled her mind.

They grow up so fast, our students. It is the way of things. Soon... I will have done all I can for Storm... then... he's on his own. I... I won't be there to protect him. I've nearly taught him all that I know... then... it'll be all up to him. But one thing is certain, he's my son... and I love him. I only ask ... that you'll remember me, even when I'm gone.

The following day arrived as there was still no word from Obi-wan. It seemed that it was slowly causing concern among the Jedi Council as they feared the worst for their comrade. However, they had to believe that Kenobi knew what he was doing. So again... all they could do was wait.

Storm was currently in one of the gyms of the Jedi Temple as he was doing some basic warmups. The boy had been going hard at it for the past hour; he could feel the sweat as he removed his robe, exposing his upper body. The teen was currently doing his latest rep of pushups as he kept a calm and collected focus.

"98... 99... 100... 101," grunted Storm as he pushed himself.

"Mind if I watch?" said a voice.

The boy came up from his latest pushup as he was in a plank formation. Storm saw Twilight standing before him as the girl wore her workout clothes. The princess smiled upon seeing her partner as it warmed his heart.

"Hey, Sparky," said Storm as he returned to doing his pushups. "If you want to stay and watch, be my guest."

The boy continued to exercise as he felt something when he came up from his latest pushup. He felt some weight on his back as it turned out to be Twilight, who decided to sit on her partner and watch him work out. Storm didn't think much of it as he continued to do his sets while carrying the seated girl.

"Would you like some motivating words?" asked Twilight.

"Whatever floats your boat, princess," grunted Storm as he kept doing his pushups.

"How about this... the stronger you get, the more powerful you are. The more powerful you are, the more you can accomplish," said Twilight looking at the boy seated below her.

"That's... some... wise words... Sparky..." said Storm, breathing heavily as he approached the final sets of his exercises.

After a few more minutes, the boy returned to lie on the ground and began getting on his knees. Twilight got up and looked at her partner, who was taking deep breaths after going through such a workout. The boy then sat with his legs out, looking to do some toe touches to finish his intense workout. Twilight stood behind him as she had her hands on his back to help keep it straight.

The boy was about to touch the tip of his toes when he felt something. Twilight was now pressing her upper body on Storm as her arms wrapped around his front and pushed her chest against his back.

"Sparky..."

"Don't mind me," stated Twilight, trying not to distract her partner from his stretches.

However, it was somewhat of a distraction, especially for the boy, as he could feel Twilight's breast pushing against him. He was trying to focus and not let how big, bouncy, and soft they were, keep him from his goal. As for Twilight, she was enjoying herself as she had her arms hugging her partner's front even tighter while looking at him. The concentrated look on his face as she saw him trying to finish his stretches, she admired it.

"And 10..." said Storm, finishing his toe touches.

The boy took some deep breaths as he took a moment to collect his breath. Twilight was still holding onto her partner as she was just fascinated with the boy. She then pulled out a piece of cloth and began to wipe his face as he turned to look at the girl, their faces so close to each other.

"Thanks," said Storm.

"No problem," stated Twilight.

After a few minutes, Twilight was now doing her own exercises. The princess was doing some situps with her hands behind her head as Storm had his hands on her feet to keep her stable while she came up.

"So princess... how did your lesson go?" asked Storm.

"It was... fine," the girl recalled her lesson with Celestia. "She told me I must keep my mind focused and... not let... things distract me."

"I see. Sparky, how would you feel if Celestia did what Obi-wan did? Didn't tell you about a secret plan she had and wanted to keep you out of the loop? Would you be angry with her?"

Twilight stopped when she was rising as she dropped her arms and sighed. The girl knew what her partner was saying, as the reaction that Anakin got was one of betrayal. He felt like Obi-wan, and the High Council should have clued him in on the plan, but Obi-wan specifically told them to not tell Anakin as he knew how much his feelings would come into play.

"If she knew what she was doing, then... yes. I... have faith in Celestia. She's the one person I trust more than anybody. Well... apart from you, that is." Twilight gazed into Storm's eyes as he still had his hands on her feet. "I trust Celestia that whatever she has in place will succeed. I'd be lying if I said that... a part of me wants to be like her. Is that selfish?"

"No... she's... a role model. And a great teacher. You're lucky to have her." responded Storm. "If there's anybody who deserves to be her prized pupil, it's you. You're smart, talented, beautiful, magically, I might add... but if there's one thing that I say makes you stand out as her student is what I said when we first met. You have a big heart. To your friends, family, to the people you care about. That's why... I think you'll make a fine ruler."

"You really think I'll be a Queen that people will look up to?" asked Twilight, not buying what her partner said as she buried her head into her knees.

Storm brought one of his hands up to lift the girl's chin. The boy peered deep into the girl's blue eyes as if he was getting lost in a sea of nighttime stars.

"Twilight Sparkle... you are a wonderful, adorkable girl. Naive, a bit dunce, and a little obsessive, especially to knowledge, but... I like that about you. I like all your flaws and perfections. You're a wonderful girl indeed, and I have no doubt that you will be the Queen that your people will look up to. You will be the ruler they need. You say that you're lucky to have me as your partner, well I don't think that's true. If anything... it should be me who's lucky to have you as my partner. The only regret I have up to this point in my life... is not meeting you sooner, princess."

Just like that. The silver tongue that the boy had, his way with words, and how it affected the girl. She was in the palm of his hand, and she enjoyed it. What he said and how it affected her made her heart skip several beats faster. Before Storm could do anything, Twilight immediately grabbed his face and pulled him close to where her mouth was inches from touching his. The girl breathed heavily on her partner's face as she wanted to commit the ultimate Jedi sin. And to be honest, the devil was tempting her so bad.

Do it. Do it, Twilight. Give in to your desires. Give in.

The devil's voice the princess was hearing was so convincing it might as well be Storm telling her to just let him have his way with her. Why... why did it have to be so powerful?

Jedi do not form attachments!

But one WEAK LINK can break the chain of a mighty dynasty!

The voices of her master and her father echoed.

Weak link... weak link... weak link in her entire bloodline.

Twilight snapped out of her daze as she sighed and began sniffing a bit. The girl trying not to cry while holding her partner's face as she touched her forehead with his and began to cry. Storm closed his eyes and let the girl have her moment as she cried.

The pair were now walking in the hallways; Twilight had managed to get all the tears she experienced back there out as Storm suggested they head out for a bit. The boy was hoping to take the girl's mind off of things as he was shown reaching for her hand; Twilight grabbed him, and the two teens were now holding hands. However...

"Twilight!" shouted Celestia.

The pair turned as they saw the Jedi Master walking toward them.

"Master," stated Twilight as she let go of Storm's hand.

The woman walked in between the two and yanked the princess behind her.

"Leave him. Let's go!" said Celestia, dragging her apprentice away for a lesson.

"Master..." spoke Twilight.

"Now!" stated Celestia as she kept on walking forward.

Twilight looked behind as there was her partner watching the two go off. The girl had her other arm out as if she was reaching for him when they turned the corner and disappeared. Storm merely shrugged as he thought it best not to get involved.

He made his way to Luna's room as the woman had wanted to speak with him following his morning exercise. Luna was shown in her room as her back was turned to the door. In front of her was a small pot of soil as she had a watering can. The Jedi Master was watering the seed her son gave him when he returned from Twilight's home world as the seed had blossomed into a nice small lavender plant. True to what the people said in the princess' world, the plant gave off a lovely scent that Luna, for the past few days, had helped her to experience pleasant dreams.

The door opened to her room as she finished humming her little tune to her plant. Storm stood there as he saw his master.

"Master."

"How was your morning routine?" asked Luna, turning her back to her apprentice.

"The usual. Twilight did appear at the end."

"Oh, Twilight appeared, hmm," said Luna, still not showing her face, though her voice's tiny bit of bitterness could be noticed. "I'm surprised she was able to let you go, seeing as how she's fond of holding your hand."

Storm gasped at his eyes widen when he heard Luna say that. The Jedi Master, while having her back turned to her apprentice, could tell the expression that he had while attending to her plant.

"You think me stupid? I'm not just your mother; I'm also your Master, my student. Which means I know things."

"Is everything okay?" asked Storm.

"Yes, why wouldn't there be," growled the Jedi Master a bit, still not looking at her apprentice.

"How have you been enjoying your gift?" asked the boy.

"It's a lovely little plant. I love it," said Luna, keeping her back turned. "Storm... I'm gonna ask you a question. And I want you to answer me truthfully."

"Yes, Master?"

"Do you have feelings for Twilight?!" stated Luna bluntly.

"Uh, what?" was Storm's initial response, as he didn't expect Luna, of all people, to ask him that, especially that question.

"I asked you a question," said Luna, slamming her hands on her table as it made the pot jump.

The woman stood up and finally turned. The Jedi Master had a stern look as she approached her student.

"Recite to me the mantra."

"Luna, what does..."

"Recite to me the mantra!" yelled Luna as she stared down her apprentice.

"There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
There is no chaos, there is harmony.
There is no death, there is the Force."

"And what are the rules that every Jedi should know?" asked Luna as she circled her student, who stood at attention and looked ahead.

"The Jedi are the guardians of civilization, yet do not allow civilization to destroy needlessly. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for aggression or personal gain. The lightsaber is the symbol of the members of the Jedi Order. If a Jedi ignites his lightsaber, he must be ready to take a life. Jedi respect each other and all other life forms. Jedi must put the needs of the community above the needs of individuals. Jedi must not have wants; self-reliance must be shown. A Jedi will not kill an unarmed individual, nor will they kill for revenge or kill their prisoners. Jedi do not marry to avoid attachment and..."

"Stop!" said Luna as she stood behind Storm with their backs turned. "Repeat that last one."

"Jedi do not marry to avoid attachment...'

"Stop! Again!" stated Luna.

"Jedi..."

"The last two words you said!" shouted the Jedi Master.

"Avoid attachment."

"Again!"

"Avoid attachment."

"Again!"

"Avoid attachment."

"AGAIN!"

"Avoid attachment."

"AGAIN! WITH CONVICTION!" yelled Luna.

"Avoid attachment!" shouted Storm in response.

"Attachment... attachment... attachment..." repeated Luna as she circled her protege and stared him down. "Jedi do not form attachments. The ultimate sin. So... let me ask you, my student? Do you have an attachment to Twilight Sparkle!"

"Master, I..."

"Do not bullshit me!" shouted Luna, as she wasn't here to play games.

Silence followed. Both master and apprentice had their backs turned. Storm took in what his teacher said as he continued to look ahead. He closed his eyes before opening them and giving his answer.

"Jedi are forbidden from forming attachments," answered Storm.

"And you'd best remember that! Twilight is not an attachment; she is a liability. She has her own issues that need not concern you. That's not the role of a peacekeeper. You are a Jedi; she is a princess. Two worlds that will never coexist. So keep your personal feelings out of this!" yelled Luna. "Less you throw away everything you've worked for. So... I ask you again... is there an attachment to Twilight Sparkle!"

"No," responded Storm with a refined look. "She is... what you said, Master. A liability. And as a Jedi, I can't concern myself with that."

"Hmmm. Remember it. Less you pay the ultimate price. Dismissed!" stated Luna.

"Master," bowed Storm giving Luna the proper respect she deserved.

The boy then left her room as Luna glared at seeing her student leave.

Twilight was in her room as she buried her head into her pillow. The girl was crying as she kept hearing the words that echoed in her mind.

"Jedi do not form attachments!" shouted Celestia.

"But ONE WEAK link can break the chain of a mighty dynasty!" shouted Night Light.

"If this is how you'll be when you're the ruler of Equis, then our legacy will die when you take the throne!" stated Shining Armor.

The girl looked at her hand as she had the blue ribbon. The same one that Storm gave her as she pulled it close. The princess realizing her time was running out. Above the Jedi, a clock was ticking down with every passing second. Every second till... her freedom was no more. When the clock strikes twelve, your freedom is gone... forever.

Tick... tock... tick... tock... tick tock... tick tock.

Tick tock!

Author's Note: So, this takes place when Obi-wan is doing the Box challenge with the other bounty hunters at Dooku's hideout. I tried to see if I could cover that epsiode, but unfortunately, it focuses too much on the bounty hunters that I had no way of doing it without making it feel like I shoe-horned in the Mlp characters for the sake of it being a crossover. So instead, here's an original chapter that takes place while that's happening. Plus, seeing a duel between Storm and Luna is a bit more exciting, seeing the story they were telling as they fought. And then of course, what was discussed in her room, regarding the rules about Jedi and attachment. Not to mention, Twilight's time is running out fast. As always, leave a review expressing your thoughts and comments.