A/N: I know I don't normally do this for Jedi Wizard, but I had a serious question. This is my first attempt at a LONG fight scene in the Star Wars Universe, not counting the small fight with Sinistra in the last chapter, and I would appreciate any feedback on how good or bad I did at pulling it off. Also, there is a certain hand gesture that Harry does around the middle of the chapter that might be confusing. For any that don't know, it is a backwards peace sign, which is the British version of flipping the bird.

Peace and Out,

Pwn Master Paladin

Chapter 12: Begun This Clone War Has

Harry pulled the old Lightsaber into the attack-ready position, and stared down his opponent. With what he had come to call the Force Broadsword, he had a slight advantage, if only because of its…unique abilities. Unlike a traditional blade, which was cylindrical in appearance, this sword could be called an Excalibur look-alike, except it the blade was made of pure Force energy. As such, Harry could manipulate it, and make it take any shape he wished, although its traditional look was of a sword.

"You think a new weapon will give you the advantage Potter?" Sinistra's eyes betrayed her fear, despite her cocky speech. It was obvious she knew what the weapon was, and how dangerous it could be.

Harry smirked, and moved one step closer. When Sinistra raised her weapon slightly out of fear, he smiled a truly vicious grin. "I already have it." With that the battle was on again. Harry was attacking, dodging, and moving with a speed that gave the lie to his tired state. He rolled under a slash, and came up ready again. When Sinistra attacked with an overhead slash, Harry moved the Broadsword into an overhead position, and focused on the shape. It changed to his whim, and became a round shield that intercepted the Sith's blade. "You know what? This fight is getting old." Harry Apparated right behind Ventress and changed the shape again, reforming the sword shape. He slashed with more power than before, and it was only quick movements that Sinistra was able to block.

"What's wrong Potter? Getting tired?"

"No. Just bored." Harry focused on the Broadsword, feeding more and more energy into it. The color changed, getting steadily brighter and brighter. Eventually, it was such a blinding white that it difficult to look at. With his rapidly depleting energy, Harry gave a final shove, and cut through the other lightsaber's blade. Harry kept moving down, and Sinistra dropped her weapon as Harry sliced it in half. Sinistra tried to get away, but Harry called once more on the Force, dragging her back towards him. He sliced through the air, intending on ending this battle.

Qui-Gon watched as Dooku left the arena, heading for the transports. He went to follow them, only to find his way blocked by droids. I can't stand these things sometimes. He attacked and defended, but for every droid he took down, another seemed to step in its place. Eventually he defeated them, but Dooku was long gone. He jumped down from the seats, using the Force to slow his decent. He began moving towards Master Yoda and the Republic cruisers, intent and taking one to follow, when something made him turn around. As he did, he noticed Harry with his weapon in the air, was about to attack Master Windu! Qui-Gon watched as Dooku left the arena, heading for the transports. He went to follow them, only to find his way blocked by droids. He attacked and defended, but for every droid he took down, another seemed to step in its place. Eventually he defeated them, but Dooku was long gone. He jumped down from the seats, using the Force to slow his decent. He began moving towards Master Yoda and the Republic cruisers, intent and taking one to follow, when something made him turn around. As he did, he noticed Harry with his weapon in the air, was about to attack Master Windu!

Harry cursed luck, the fates, and every deity he could think of at the moment when he had to raise the blade up quickly as Mace and Jango Fett interrupted his battle yet again. He turned around, only to see Sinistra use the Force to push herself out of reach and begin running away. He watched as she called down a small speeder and jumped in, escaping.

Harry turned and glared at Jango, before grasping him in a Force grip and mentally nudging his mind into unconsciousness. He turned around and threw him over to the young Boba. Giving Master Windu a brief salute, he turned back to the boy. "Take your father and get out of here. For both of your sakes, pray that I don't regret my decision." Harry made his way over the transports, tired from the battle.

"Harry!" Not believing what he was hearing, he turned to the right, only to be crushed in the arms of Tayla. He had thought that Mrs. Weasley's hugs were rib cracking, but they had nothing on this. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you are alright."

"I'm fine Tayla, but I need to breath." The grip around his waist relaxed, but only slightly. "Really, I promise I'm fine. Sinistra is an overconfident and annoying woman, but I can handle her."

"You just don't get it Harry. I finally get the nerve up to completely disregard the code and within the next WEEK Master Yoda is calling for any Jedi that can to join a battle group/ rescue mission for you."

Harry, seeing no other way to calm her down, bent down and gave her a quick kiss. "Listen. I'm FINE, and to hell with the code. Somehow I don't think Master Yoda will mind."

Tayla laughed, and began to relax a little. She looked over Harry's shoulder, and stiffened back up. "Maybe not, but it looks like someone does."

Harry followed her gaze, and sighed as he saw Qui-Gon giving him a distinctly McGonagall like glare. Then he tensed up again, and tuned towards the direction Sinistra had gone. "I have to go after her."

Tayla pulled back from him, and opened her mouth to tell him not to, until she saw the look in his eyes. She closed her mouth, having seen that look many times before on the missions she had shared with him. She noticed Master Jinn walking up, and decided that there was only one thing to do.

Harry was pleasantly surprised when instead of the verbal tongue-lashing; he received a decidedly NON-verbal one. When they broke apart, he could not help the stupid grin that threatened to split his face in half.

Tayla smiled herself and then became serious. "Kick her ass, and there will be more like that when you get back." She walked off towards her ship and got onboard, trying to keep from worrying, and not succeeding very well.

Qui-Gon Jinn walked up to Harry, displeasure rolling off him in waves. "Knight Potter. You need to get on a transport. We can discuss your actions here when we get back to Coruscant."

"No."

"What was that?"

"No. Negative. Not happening. Take your pick. You have your mission, I have mine. I'm going after Sinistra."

"I am ordering you to get on a cruiser!"

Rather than respond, Harry raised the back of his fist to him, index and middle fingers in a V, before changing into his Nemian Lion form and flying off, leaving a fuming Jedi Master behind.

Harry was flying after Sinistra, using the Force and his animal senses to track the drive trail of the speeder. Judging by how much ground the speeder had covered, he was much faster in this form than it was. He could see off in the distance a small speck of light, so with a beat of his wings he increased his speed. In no time at all, he was right next to the speeder. With a mighty roar, Harry attacked the speeder. Landing on top, Harry transformed back and pulled the Broadsword. He made to cut open the cockpit, but an electrical shock jolted Harry, and Ventress pulled a corkscrew, flinging Harry off the speeder.
Obi-Wan, Anakin, Qui-Gon, and Padme rode in a clone transport, heading after Dooku. Obi-Wan wasn't sure what had happened to tick his former Master off, but whatever it was had done so in a very complete way. A blast from one of the Separatist ships rocked the transport, and Padme almost fell out. Obi-Wan acted quickly, using the Force to hold her in place while Qui-Gon and Ani both grabbed an arm. If he hadn't of been looking that direction already, he doubted that he could have caught her in time.
Harry transformed back into Leon in mid-fall, and allowed his animal side to take over. Ignoring the electrical jolts, he unsheathed his claws and tore the plates covering the engines off. Then with a roar he pulled the main core out. The speeder began to fall and Harry jumped off and watched Ventress ejected and landed 20 feet away. Harry flew at her and transformed in mid-flight.

"Miss me Sinistra?" Harry shouted as he dived. Pulling the Broadsword he dived, planning on attacking and ending the battle. Unfortunately it appeared that Sinistra had a second Lightsaber hidden away in the ship. Surprised crossed his face at seeing the other blade, not having expected it. Sinistra took advantage of the situation and began attacking without pause, driving Harry back, not allowing him time to take advantage of the Broadsword's ability to change shape. Harry was forced back, but with a Force-assisted jump he once again took control of the battle.

"Dooku, stop! You're under arrest." Obi-Wan called out to Dooku, hoping to stall him. Amazingly, it worked.

"You think so my young friend?"

"Your outnumbered my former Master. Even you can not handle three to one odds."

"Of course you're right. But three against two I can."

"Three against two-"Qui-Gon was cut off as Darth Paine dropped from her hiding spot and brought her red blade down. Qui-Gon jumped out of the way, pulling his weapon and engaging in a battle.

"Padme, go somewhere safe. We'll handle this." Padme nodded and went to find a craft they could use to get back as the cruiser they had used was sent to join the battle. "Ani, we'll take him together. He can't beat both of us." He pulled the piece of Harry's lightstaff as he saw Anakin do the same.

"You got it Obi-Wan." The two squared off, facing Dooku, and then rushed together, acting on instinct as they used the Force to know where one was at all times.

Qui-Gon jumped above Paine's weapon, bringing his own into a downward stroke. "You can't expect to win. The Dark Side is not more powerful."

"I know." This answer threw Qui-Gon, as most Sith claimed the Dark Side was the most powerful aspect of the Force. Pressing the advantage, Paine attacked again, driving Qui-Gon back, closer to the battle with Dooku. "Neither side is stronger than the other by themselves; it is the people that make them so. And my Master and I have gathered the best!"

Dooku and Paine jumped away from the battle, and focused on the Force. Ani sensed what was coming and jumped out of the way. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were not so lucky. The Force blast knocked both of them back. Qui-Gon was knocked out, but Obi-Wan crashed against a support beam. A jolt of pain surged through his body, and he fell, unable to feel his legs.

Harry moved without thought, allowing the Force to flow through him and direct his actions. Dodge, parry, attack, defend, all of it was no longer part of his own mind. He had realized his mistake. I was trying to win, not actually winning. He could almost feel the smack on the back of his head from Yoda's cane, and the trilling laughter of Fawkes as he cursed. After all the times that he had been drilled, he had forgotten the most important rule. Do or do not, there is no try. Harry moved without thought, allowing the Force to flow through him and direct his actions. Dodge, parry, attack, defend, all of it was no longer part of his own mind. He had realized his mistake. He could almost feel the smack on the back of his head from Yoda's cane, and the trilling laughter of Fawkes as he cursed. After all the times that he had been drilled, he had forgotten the most important rule.

Sinistra was getting desperate, allowing her fear and anger to cloud her judgment, attacking without allowing the Force to direct her. Harry waited and waited for his time, always moving, knowing that he would get his chance.

"Very impressive, young Skywalker. I can see why our Master is interested in you." Paine stood, gauging the Padawan in front of her.

"Indeed, he is most impressive." Dooku moved his blade out to the side, pointing straight. "Perhaps now you can see that WE are the side to support in this war. Make no mistake that is what it has become now."

"As Harry would say…abso-bloody-lutely not."

"You say that now, Skywalker, what about if we offer some…incentive." Paine moved her hand, and made a pulling motion. A shriek came as Padme came flying out and landed on the ground. Paine approached quickly, leveling her blade against the Senator. "Join us, and commit yourself to the Dark, or she dies."

"PADME!"

"Don't even think about it Ani. You can NOT join them." Padme spoke from behind the blade, over the ominous hum from the saber as it moved closer.

"Make your choice Skywalker."

"Padme…I can't lose you…"

From behind Ani another Force shockwave exploded outward, knocking Paine away from Padme and disorienting Dooku. "Padme, here!" Obi-wan had used his arms to crawl away from the pillar and used the Force to throw the lightstaff piece to Padme. She caught it, and activated it, assuming a stance from a basic sword defense she had to learn in her duties as Queen over ten years ago. "Padme can take care of herself Ani, you take care of Dooku!"

Anakin nodded gratefully to Obi-wan, then moved after Dooku, attacking again as Paine tried to hit Padme. She may not have had the Force, but she was more than able to defend herself just by reading Paine's body movements. She was still at a disadvantage though.

Anakin tried to focus on the battle, but had to force himself to look away from Padme several times as Dooku fought attacked him. This was a difficult fight, and it was not wise to lose attention. Unfortunately, he did. Dooku saw his chance and attacked, destroying the blade and taking off Anakin's right hand. Anakin crumpled on the floor, in agony from the pain. He did the only thing he could think of and called out through the Force.

HARRY!

HARRY!

Harry jerked as Anakin's mental cry cut through the battle he was having with Sinistra. Seeing him recoil, Sinistra pressed the advantage. Harry grimaced as he fought back, then he felt it: The conviction that NOW was the time to act. He ducked under a horizontal slash from Sinistra and pulled his Broadsword into a tight arc, spinning around and finally ending the battle as he cut through Sinistra's neck. He shuddered as he felt the Dark energy leave her body, but then focused on his own power and searched out through the Force for Anakin. When he found him in pain, he refused to feel the fatigue his body was sending, and disappeared with a pop of Apparation.

"You fight very well Skywalker." Dooku panted as he recovered his breath. He moved to join Paine. "You have the same option now. Join us, or she dies."

"Like Hell."

All heads except for the unconscious Qui-Gon turned to see Harry appear in the hangar, with a glare that would have made Snape proud. Harry moved his hands and pulled Padme away, towards him. "Get out of here, I can't fight them both worrying about you."

"Thank you Harry."

"Don't thank me, Ani over there called me here, I wouldn't have known otherwise."

"Impossible. You don't have a bond with him. Only siblings and Master/Padawan are able to hear each other through the Force." Paine looked at Harry as if he was some strange bug that she could squash without thinking.

Anakin laughed a hollow, pain filled sound as he moved out of the way. "Good thing he's my brother then, isn't it."

Harry turned towards Anakin, noticing the broken sword and cut off hand. "You get out of the way to. We can discuss what you did to MY weapon after I kick their asses." Anakin winced, but nodded and with the help of Padme moved Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon out of the way.

Harry turned on the remaining piece of his lightstaff, and called on the Force to form the Broadsword again. He took a two sword stance, facing Paine and Dooku. "Let's go."

Authors Notes:

Done.

Next time the real game beings