AN: And enter Padme...

Knights and the Queen

The game was in a delicate balance. A lone knight fought valliantly against the forces of the dark army, the other members of his team lying dead or wounded on the floor. His brother knight was stuck, caught between two mentors, and unable to make a decision.

The game could shift either way, it all hinged on the decision of the inactive knight. Yet, he was alone with the demons of his imagination. It would be unthinkable to turn against the man who raised him, as unthinkable as a chess piece attacking its own side, but he had to do something to protect his love. The sides of the Force fought for control of the Chosen One.

It seemed that the dark would win. The knight fighting the king was not strong enough to truly vanquish him. His demise would destroy the younger. The king of the dark side might not prevail, but drowned in his grief, the hero would take the king's place. He would either turn now or later. The dark would win.

So the light side had provided it's queen.

"Ani!"

"Padme! Angel, what are you doing here?"

"That doesn't matter now. Go Ani, Obi Wan needs you!"

The queen had leveled him with a hard stubborn stare, clearly conveying that her principles would not change. But the knight did not see the firey determination on the face of the woman in front of him, all he saw was the destruction of his queen. He saw only the visions that, for the power to prevent them, he would burn the world.

"Padme, Palpatine has a way to save yo-"

"I don't WANT to be saved if it comes at the cost of Obi Wan or any other innocent life. I WON'T be the cause of your fall." The light side won a little more control in the heart of the Jedi.

"I love you, Anakin. I would never want you to save me in such a way." The light side flooded the knight at the words and if he truly loved his queen, then he would stay that way. He would stay light.

Darth Sidious was no fool, and he knew that his original plan had been thwarted. The Chosen One would not be so easily manipulated this time. Tensions had run rampant through the relationship between the boy and Master Windu, but with Master Kenobi, there was love. With Padme, there was love and love was not someting of the dark.

Yet Sidious was nothing if not flexible, and plans were made to be revised. Skywalker would never turn so long as Kenobi remained by his side, and if such was the case then Sidious would consetrate all his power on taking down Kenobi. He proved a worthy opponent, even for a Jedi, the whirling defense blocked every attack Sidious had.

But Kenobi's defense was not impenetrable. In fact, taking down Kenobi would really be too easy. He'd admitted his weakness right in front of him not two hours ago. His padawan. He'd said he loved him.

Palpatine Force-pushed Obi Wan back, smashing his head against one of the pillars, and turned to face a distracted Skywalker. The boy viciously attacked him in a beautiful, deadly dance of power and rage.

Ataru. Obi Wan's Master had used it, but given the Jedi's love for Soresu, Palpatine doubted Anakin knew much about that style. A series of flips and slashes, usually saved for the advanced Ataru swordsman, would effectively threaten Skywalker right in front of Kenobi. His future apprentice had left an opening in his stomach.

The blood red lightsaber swung to Skywalker, but it was almost child's play to guess Kenobi's next move. Predictably, the Master Force-jumped between Anakin and Sidious. Sidious pierced his intended target.

AN: Anakin fans forgive me. I'm sorry if I made didn't make him look like the heck of a swordsman that he is. He's just very, very, emotionally traumatized by now so he's not at his best. I know this was a long shot, but in the end, I just couldn't get it out right and I had to "pick my poison". Please review anyway though! :P