𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱☪ - Taegyu

Episode XVI

"I wanted to bring something she loved," RM said, placing the flowers gently before the electronic tomb. Its panel flickered to display an old family photo of young Taehyun and his parents when it detected a visitor. "You don't have to bear all this alone, Taehyun."

Taehyun felt a lump in his throat. "Father, I just... I'm lost."

His father placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We believe in you, Taehyun. Your mother also knew you had the strength to overcome anything. Her love is in the Force, always with you and me."

Taehyun had resented his father for abandoning their family for his Jedi responsibilities. Now that they were in a silent graveyard isolated from everyone, the boy started to see the melancholy in his father's eyes. "Must be hard for you to lose Mum too," he said without any sarcasm, surprisingly.

Beomgyu's absence was like a dagger in Taehyun's heart. The boy wondered how his father endured his mother's death.

"It is," his father nodded, eyes reflecting a deep sadness. "But I carry her love with me. It gives me hope, just as it is for you."

Taehyun's gaze dropped to the ground. "I don't know what to do. Beomgyu is not here anymore." He held back a sob. "Think of it, I don't even know him that much. Perhaps part of me didn't want to acknowledge who he really is. Because then, I would have to let go of him as well as my purpose."

"Love does not take away your purpose. It gives you purpose. It keeps you on the right path." His father drew wise words from his own experiences.

Taehyun could see the same love in his father's eyes that he had for his mother, a deep, unwavering love that had guided the Jedi Master through the darkest times and made him a legend.

"I want to bring him back, father. I miss Beomgyu like I miss mum," Taehyun confessed. His chest tightened as memories of Beomgyu leaving him resurfaced in his mind. He thought of following Beomgyu, but it wouldn't make a difference. He wouldn't stand a chance before the Sith.

RM looked at his son with love and compassion. "Accept your weakness, Taehyun. If you accept it, the Sith can't use it to manipulate you anymore."

Taehyun looked up. "Did you? Did you accept your weakness?"

A small, bittersweet smile tugged at RM's lips. "I did, and it made me stronger. It allowed me to protect those I love."

Taehyun nodded, indicating his understanding. Turning back to his mother's tombstone, he took a deep breath, his eyebrows knitted together in determination. "Mum, I accept myself for where I'm now. And I forgive Dad."

A gale ruffled his pink locks as if the Force had responded to him.

His father's eyes softened with pride, and also a little elated since Taehyun had not called him 'dad' for many many years.

"You're a wholesome Jedi but a horrible father," Taehyun suddenly blurted out, and RM could only smile in bitterness.

However, Taehyun's eyes lit up again when he turned to his mother's photo now shown on the tomb's panel, "You'd also give dad a second chance if you were here, right?"

"Thank you, son." RM said, opening his arms. Eyes brimming with tears he had been holding back, Taehyun fell into his embrace. They stood there, wrapped in each other's arms.

"I didn't realize you had grown this tall." RM patted Taehyun's head which was leaning against his shoulder. The last time he could hug his son, the boy's height was only about his chest.

"I might grow taller than you, who knows?" Taehyun retorted cheekily.

After a while, Taehyun pulled back slightly. He felt a shift in the Force as his father looked into his eyes solemnly. RM's tone was the calm, authoritative one of a Jedi Master, "If you open your heart, Master 8 will transform you with his intelligence. He was chosen to be your Master for a reason. Be humble, Padawan Taehyun."

.･:*:･ﾟ'✭,'✫'ﾟ･:*:･˙

The ramp of the Imperial Cruiser descended with a soft hiss, revealing a bleak, war-torn landscape. Beomgyu stepped onto the ramp, his heart pounding against the unknown, yet the scent of scorched earth brought a wave of nostalgia. Even when his childhood memories remained fragmented, he knew he arrived home.

The land of 'Mirth' was anything but joyful under traces of gunfire and explosion. But as Beomgyu reached the ground, he was greeted by a crowd of planetarians, their faces alight with joy and reverence despite the surrounding devastation. Their voices rose in unison, "Welcome home, your majesty!" They knelt before him, eyes shining with hope.

Utterly baffled, Beomgyu felt a rush of conflicting emotions. He didn't feel deserving of such honor. He was no ruler, just a lost soul, a pawn in the Sith's game. The weight of their expectations pressed heavily on his shoulders.

One elderly man reached out to Beomgyu from the ground. "Prince Beomgyu, you are the true ruler," he said with a trembling voice. "Your return means everything to us."

Beomgyu swallowed hard, his throat tight. "I... I don't know if I deserve this," he admitted.

"You do, brother." Ryujin stepped closer, but stopped a few feet away, giving him a nod of encouragement. "We've all been waiting for you."

As Beomgyu looked around, he saw the Sith standing off to the side, observing the scene with a satisfied smirk. The Sith's obsession with him made sense now– it wasn't just about the dark side of the Force. Beomgyu's very existence seemed to be a beacon for people in wars.

The crowd parted as Beomgyu walked forward, pulled by a ruined palace that stood at the center of the city. Its spires reached towards the sky, though marred by the scars of battles.

As he approached the palace gate, the Sith spoke up with his eyes gleaming, "Your destiny is intertwined with this planet. They need a King, and you need to embrace who you are meant to be. The dark side of the Force flows strongly within you, and with my guidance, you will become more powerful than you ever imagined."

Beomgyu felt a chill run down his spine. He knew the Sith's words were meant to draw him deeper into the darkness. But there was a truth in them that he couldn't deny– he had a connection to this place, to these people. And perhaps, in accepting this, he could find a way to protect them.

Taking a deep breath, Beomgyu replied sternly, "I will embrace my destiny. But know this– I will find my own path." He walked past the Sith to enter the ruined palace.

The Sith's smile widened, a cold, calculating expression. "We shall see, your majesty."