Note: I will be taking a few things from Star Wars: The Clone Wars as inspiration for a scene in this. Link to video will be provided at the bottom. Don't watch it before-hand though- it spoils the fun!
Part II
Ben stood to the side with C3PO and R2D2 as a witness to the private wedding upon the balcony of the beach house as they went through the procedures. Then they kissed. Ben shut his eyes tight, it was fine to see his mom and dad kiss each other upon the lips, but anyone else? No. He would not have it. He kept them closed for several minutes, shaking his head in disgust. "You can open your eyes now Ben." Padme said, laughing in amusement at Ben's tightly closed eyes. Artoo beeped out tons of whistles, which Ben could only assume was the droid's version of 'laughter' as Ben opened his eyes and glared at the droid. "The wedding is over, you can stop recording now." He stated, much to Anakin's and Padme's amusement. The droid whistled once more, stopping the recording as Padme picked Ben up, laughing as the boy continued to scowl. "Hey!" He said, now turning his glare towards Padme as he squirmed in her grip. "Be nice to Artoo, Ben." She said, still laughing at the boy's sour face. "That droid has been annoying as ever since as long as I can remember. Why should I be nice to it?" He asked as Anakin raised an eyebrow. "The droid is yours?"
Ben's face turned into an even further scowl as they walked downward towards the hills near the beach to celebrate the occasion. "Well, duh! It's a Skywalker family droid. Though I think it's got all memory of you two hidden behind its components. Dad tried to activate its recordings once, but he couldn't get very far into the memory to find anything." He stated in exasperation. "Speaking of Skywalkers, I believe I'm your grandmother now?" She asked with a small smile. "I guess so…" He said, trailing off as Anakin and Padme exchanged an amused look. "What are we going to do now? You're barely 19 years old and you already have a grandson." Padme said, laughing at Anakin as he bumped into her. "Who do you think he looks more alike? Me or you?" He said teasingly as Padme studied the small boy in her arms. "Hmm… I'd have to say, he's got a lot of you in him, but I do see bits of me." "I'm right here you know, no need to act like I'm not!" Ben said, frowning as he squirmed to get out of Padme's arms. Padme laughed at the boy. "You said you want to see a waterfall, Ben?" She asked.
The boy's face lit up further, forgetting all of the previous conversation as he nodded in excitement. "Think you and I can beat Anakin there?" She whispered, though Anakin caught the words with his enhanced force hearing, allowing him a small smile. "I'll race you there." "Deal!" Ben and Padme said at once as Padme let Ben down to join the race. "No force cheating, Anakin." She said with amusement. "How is that fair when Ben can use the force?" "He's much smaller than you, give him a break!" Padme teased. "Alright-alright… but no head starts- especially if you're going to use your force powers!" Anakin added quickly as he glared at Ben, who was smiling up back at him. "3, 2, 1, GO!"
They took off running at full speed, Ben using his small legs along with his force abilities to try to push ahead of Anakin and Padme, who were still ahead. "Come on Ben!" Padme yelled, trying to push the boy forward ahead of Anakin. It worked only for a second before Anakin took the lead again as they headed towards the outer edge of the waterfalls, where Padme and Anakin had first had lunch the first time they had come here. Anakin jumped over small obstacles and jumped over large herds of Nubian animals as Padme continued to pull Ben forward.
The waterfalls were humongous monstrosities that loomed within feet of them. Padme continued to shove Ben forward, but Anakin was still in the lead despite her efforts, and Ben's small legs could barely hold up upon the relentless forward motion. "I'm going to give you one last push forward, alright?" Padme said in between breaths as Ben nodded. Anakin was within inches of the finishing location when she pushed him forward with the last of her strength. Using the force, Ben glided forward towards Anakin, pushing forward in one final leap. "See ya!" He called after him just before his legs gave out and he collapsed upon the finish line, panting. His small legs had pushed too hard, and he was exhausted. Anakin laughed as he and Padme came to join the exhausted boy. "Did I go to fast for you?" He asked as he pulled the boy to his feet. Ben nodded and swayed for a few moments before losing his balance once again. This time, Padme caught him and used her arms to support him as he gaped up at the beautiful waterfalls before him.
He had never seen so much water in one concentrated area in his life, save for lakes and some rivers. Each drop of water had a beauty and elegance to it as the white rapids fell as one off the slopes of the hills above. Rainbows splattered in between the streams, wavered only by the slight pauses within the stream as it trickled downward and created a mist upon the lake below before trickling further down into the valleys of Naboo below. The lush greenery beside the streams was abundant and swayed with the wind like a pattern, taking on a life of its own. The birds sung, the water roared, the grasses whispered. The scene was perfect, almost godlike. There was no mistaking it for such. Naboo was most certainly a gift of the force to those who stepped upon the green planet. "It's beautiful." He said.
Padme laughed at the look of awe upon Ben's face. "I'm glad I brought breakfast with us, then. I was sure we were going to be here for quite a while." She said, smiling as she gently laid Ben down upon the grass. Ben sighed in relief, the grass was cool and soft, almost like a natural blanket, and it tickled as he ran his hand through the strange substance. The substance was quite foreign to him, and it was a rare pleasure that a planet like Naboo would ever be of his Master's-and later his slaver's-choice of stay. Padme opened the basket, smiling at the scent of the food inside, which were still surprisingly warm. Ben is going to love these, she thought, just as the scent caught Ben's nose and he sat up immediately, a huge smile playing upon his face. "Panna Cakes?" He asked with excitement. Both Padme and Anakin laughed. "Slow down, Ben!" Anakin said as Ben slapped two Pancakes onto a plate. "How can I? These are my favorite! Who made these?" Ben exclaimed as Padme gave Anakin a knowing smile.
"Sabe did." Said Padme with a smile as Ben stuffed his face full of Pancakes. Would he ever learn patience? Anakin laughed, reading her thoughts. "Yes, we do have a very impatient boy upon our hands." He whispered towards her, giving her a slight kiss on the cheek. Ben looked away again. "Gross. Will you ever stop kissing?" He said in disgust. "Well I am your grandfather, so you better get used to me kissing your grandmother." Anakin retorted and watched as a smirk played upon Ben's face. "Old man." Ben said, laughing as Anakin got up to chase him.
Anakin tackled Ben right as they reached the waterfall, sending splashes of water everywhere upon them. "Take back what you said." He stated with a playful glare towards Ben. "Never!" Ben stated, force pushing Anakin off of him as he began to run forward again, doing his best not to trip in the water. The chase began anew, with Ben practically swimming as the water climbed up upon him. Anakin chased along after him and grabbed the boy by the shoulder. "Going somewhere?" He asked in amusement as Ben held his hands up in a 'surrender' gesture. "I take it back!" He said, laughing as Anakin pulled him towards the shore, using the force to dry them both off.
They reached the lush greenery upon the side of the waterfall and its lake and collapsed next to Padme. Ben's laughter slowly turned into a groan. "My head hurts." He whined as Padme scooted closer to the boy in concern. "Did Anakin go too hard on you?" She asked, concern riddling through her voice as Ben shook his head. Anakin's laughter died in his throat and his face contorted into a frown as he sensed the sudden onrush of pain from Ben's head. The pain was almost mental, Anakin thought. But that's impossible, who could possibly attacking the boy's mind? There is only us around-his thoughts were interrupted by Ben's sharp scream, his pain resounding into the force. "What's happening to him?" Padme asked Anakin with worry across her face as she held the boy, trying to comfort him. "Ben, you need to push whatever it is out of your mind. Calm your mind, clear your thoughts and listen to the force." Anakin said, approaching the boy slowly and attempting to help.
There was very little he could do as his mind was thrown out sharply by another. "Ben, focus on my presence. Let me in, Ben. Let me see what you see." Ben shook his head, the visions overwhelming him. "You- you can't see th-this." He said, trying once again to push the visions back. "I can Ben, please. Let me help." Ben screamed again in agony, and the mental shields he had pulled up so tightly began to collapse one by one, allowing both Anakin and the darker presence into Ben's mind. Images flashed before Anakin like the blink of an eye, overwhelming Anakin with Ben's memories of pain and loss, as well as happiness and serenity. Finally, the memories stopped, focusing on one scene, but it was not a memory. It was the attacker.
They were in a small, dark room lit only by the lights from outside. In the center of the room stood two hooded figures, looking down upon an ancient bowl in the center of the room. The bowl was illuminated by a bluish glow, casting an eerie shadow upon the statues of various Sith Lords situated around it as the two figures lifted their heads. The second one, who was standing farthest from the bowl, lowered his hood. It was Dooku. "It appears we have… company." Said the other, whom still had his cloak on. "Stay back, Ben!" Anakin yelled towards the boy, who just stood there, utterly confused upon where they were at. Anakin ignited his lightsaber and leapt towards Dooku, leaving Ben to watch in awe as the fight began. Arcs of electricity began to shoot from Dooku's hands, which Anakin blocked swiftly. "You'll pay for this, Dooku." Anakin stated, glaring at Dooku, whom had begun to pace around Anakin in circles for the impending fight. "You're arrogance hinders you from reaching your full potential." Dooku stated as the lightsabers began to clash once again. The cloaked figure cackled maniacally as he watched the duel between the two. The lightsabers parted once again, drawn down into a more defensive position. "My arrogance means nothing compared to your treacherous actions against a mere boy." Dooku raised an eyebrow at this, but did not allow his gaze to leave Skywalker. "My treacherous actions? Perhaps if I told you it was not my own actions, but your own actions, that led Ben Jade to me. The boy will be mine, and there is nothing you can do to stop it." "NO!" Anakin roared as he lashed out upon Dooku. The lightsabers clashed ferociously, one hit after another, each attempting to uphold the upper hand of the duel. The Sith Lord cackled menacingly as he watched the two lights of such sharp contrast clash against one another. The room was filled with the dark side as Anakin clashed against Dooku, but Anakin took little heed to it. Rather than push it back, he embraced it.
Dooku's defenses let up as Anakin's lightsaber grazed his leg, and in the next moment, he was disarmed. Dooku looked upon Anakin with shock as Anakin grabbed both lightsabers in his hands and placed them inches from Dooku's throat. "Good, Anakin. Very good." The Sith lord cackled, watching the scene before him. He paused for a moment, glancing back at Ben, whom was still frozen in shock. "Kill him. Kill him now."
Anakin hesitated for a moment, here was the person who had caused him and Ben so much pain, so much suffering. He deserves to die, a part of Anakin thought. But the other part, the more Jedi part of him, knew it was wrong. Dooku looked upon his master's face with none other than a look of betrayal. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. All he could do was stare helplessly upon the man whom stood before him, lightsabers raised in a position to kill. It was then, that the realization sparked upon his eyes as he looked upon his killer. No, not his killer, he realized. His replacement. His Master had worked against him all along. "I shouldn't." Anakin stated in confliction as he glanced over at Ben, who was staring up at him with a look of pure horror upon his face. "Do it." Sidious stated with impatience. Ben glanced between the two, both Dooku, and Anakin, and then, finally, he nodded.
Anakin gritted his teeth, but complied with Ben's nod. He clashed the lightsabers together, and pushed them outward into Dooku's neck. Dooku fell backwards, dead before he hit the ground. "Very good, you two have done well. I will be with you shortly, young Jade." He stated, a smile smacking across his lips. Anakin turned his rage towards the man and lashed out upon him. Sidious cackled, and when the blade should have met flesh, it met nothing. The cackle faded out into the darkness, and Anakin sighed in relief, sheathing the two lightsabers as he clipped his own upon his belt. "Come on Ben, let's go." He stated, putting a hand on Ben's shoulder. Together, the two walked out into Dooku's hangar, where the vision faded into darkness.
Sidious looked up from the bowl, smiling upon his apprentice. "We have succeeded. You will go to Naboo. There, you shall find young Jade and Skywalker. Bring young Jade to me." He stated as Dooku bowed. "I will not accept failure. Young Jade will be very… useful to say the least." He said smiling upon his apprentice as his apprentice bowed once again and left towards the hangar, where his ship awaited.
It was in motion now, and there was no force within the galaxy that could stop it.
Not even the asset of the plan, young Ben Jade himself.
(YOUTUBE) /watch?v=ctN5s8z3E8E
