Chapter 15 - Duel of Fates

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars or any of the characters in it, though we wish we did. We only own Aniya Skywalker and Jaufre (pronounced Jaw-Free) Naberrie. =)

Aniya Skywalker

The Dark Warrior kicks away Obi-Wan and backs through a doorway as Qui-Gon continues to fight him. Obi-Wan runs through after, attacking him again. The being throws Qui-Gon into a nearby wall, but he doesn't let it affect him, attacking it again almost instantly. I skid to a stop near the doorway, stepping over to where I hope I'm out of their sight. At least I need to avoid being seen for now. I hate feeling so… helpless. There's nothing I can do but watch.

Just a little farther in, it's the place I recognize from my nightmare. Not the room itself, but it has a similar design. Long walkways on many levels crisscross the large building. The only way to get from one to the other is by ladders.

The fight pauses for a moment before Qui-Gon slashes at the creature again, and it jumps to a different walkway farther back. The Jedi leap after and swing for him again, lightsabers clashing into a saber lock. It breaks seconds later, and the three continue fighting furiously, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan on either side of the creature.

Fear courses through me as I move forwards through the entrance they just passed through. Their focus is solely on each other, so I can only hope no one notices me here. Everyone left I know is in danger here. Anakin is out in a space battle for the first time in a fighter he doesn't even know how to control. Padme and Jaufre are probably fighting endless droids in the palace as they make their way to the throne room. And unless something changes, Qui-Gon is going to die. He's going to die. The mind-numbing fear continues assaulting me. I already lost one parent. I can't lose the another.

The power generator room is filled with the sound of clashing lightsabers as the three move so fast I have a hard time keeping track of their movements. The Jedi are attacking it from either side, and he easily parries all their blows. Obi-Wan slashes towards the creature's legs but he blocks the attack right before kicking him off the edge of the walkway.

"Obi-Wan," I yelp in horror, darting over to the edge of the first walkway as he falls down out of sight. He lands two stories below me, lightsaber clanking to the ground a few feet away as he barely manages to hold on to the side of it. I'm about to run over to him, but then Qui-Gon uses the opportunity of the creature's distraction to knock him off the walkway too.

The Dark Warrior lands very unceremoniously on his back, nearly stabbing himself with his lightsaber. If only he had. The Jedi jumps after him a second too late. The creature is already standing up and swinging for Qui-Gon. He stumbles back a step before whirling and attacking the creature full force again. The red and green blades continue clashing as they move down the hall. It's not their fight that makes me freeze in horror – it's the location. It leads direction down towards a ray shielded area, the same ray shields that separated him from Obi-Wan, and – no.

Fear fueling me, I run towards the ladder, scrambling down to the one the fight is continuing on. I can only hope Obi-Wan will be fine. He was in my dream, so he should be now. Whatever happens, I can't lose them. Either of them.

Below me, Obi-Wan picks up his dropped lightsaber and jumps back onto the walkway with the fighting pair, running as fast as he can to catch up. The image that I've seen too many times in my nightmares. They move closer and closer to the ray shields, and I get the impression that the Dark Warrior is intentionally leading them there for some reason. He's being pushed on the defensive far too easily for how well he was fighting with them both moments ago.

I finally reach the ladder and start climbing down as fast as I can, tightly gripping the sides to keep myself from falling. Now would not be a good time to fall. I need to get over there. Fast. I try not to look around to prevent myself from seeing the dangerously long drops on either side of the walkway. The fight disappears into the hall, and seconds later, I hear the ray shields start closing. Obi-Wan skids to a stop just inside the first as I simultaneously jump off the ladder down the walkway.

I take off at top speed down the path. The dark warrior is all the way inside the lasers, pacing back and forth impatiently as he watches, waiting for them to turn off. Just like he did in my dream. Qui-Gon is in front of the last one, kneeling on the floor in a meditative position. Obi-Wan stands right inside the first. The Dark Warrior's yellow eyes lock with mine for a moment, and I hastily look away, a shiver running through me. I really didn't want him to notice me.

I dart over to the control box next to the ray shields, scanning over it. I need to get this thing deactivated. Quickly. My eyes scan over it until I'm certain I know which the right ones are. My hands work over the controls, determination surging through me. I have to get these off.

Obi-Wan suddenly turns around, eyes falling on me. "Aniya, what are you doing?!" he exclaims, "You were supposed to be hiding!"

"Trying to disconnect these. I need to focus," I retort, eyes narrowing on the controls. Please let this work, please let this work, I chant over and over in my head. The ray shields open of their own again. Qui-Gon lunges to attack the Dark Warrior, and Obi-Wan races forwards, with one last annoyed glance at me that tells me I'll definitely be hearing about it later. Oh, well.

Finally, I manage to get the wires disconnect, just as the laser walls are starting to shut again. They snap open with a hiss, not moving again. I step over, looking down the hall.

Obi-Wan runs into the main room, joining the battling opponents. The Jedi are on either side of him, lightsabers clashing incessantly as the fight travels around the room, avoiding the pit in the center. I edge along the wall off the hall. If something else happens in here, I want to be there to help however I can.

The Jedi attack him on either side again. Even with both of them fighting him, he's managing to keep their blades at bay. And I can tell that Qui-Gon is slowly tiring. The battle continues to travel around the circle.

There's just the cold and fear flooding me as I watch the battle, the agonizing uncertainty of one of the people I love most dying. Everything just feels cold – it's pouring off the creature in waves of dark energy I can feel but not see, it's surging through me, everywhere. I brace myself against the wall when I realize I'm shaking, and there's only one thought screaming through my mind. Don't let him die, please don't let him die, not either of them.

As they continue fighting, a stray swing of Obi-Wan's blade cuts through the center of the creature's. One half rolls away across the floor, leaving him with only one to defend against them. The being's eyes narrow, and he suddenly throws out a hand, sending Obi-Wan flying across the room, slipping over the edge of the pit.

"Obi-Wan!" I cry as panic overwhelms me. I don't care if I just gave my location away. It doesn't matter. All that matters is that Obi-Wan's probably dead unless he managed to catch onto something inside there. Please tell me he did.

The Dark Warrior attacks Qui-Gon full strength, putting him on the defensive instantly. As their blades lock, the creature reaches, his other lightsaber flying back to his grasp and igniting. The Sith swings the other blade down to stab him.

I freeze for a split second, images of my nightmares replaying through my mind. No, no, no! Horror and desperation explode inside of me, and I throw up my hands instinctively, not really thinking. The Dark Warrior flies backwards from the invisible force slamming into him, falling down into the pit. There's a crash as he hits the wall on the other side, then nothing.

I lower my hands, blinking at them in shock. What did I just do? Qui-Gon spins around, a stunned expression on his face. Obi-Wan jumps out of the pit, and I let out a sigh of relief at the sight of him. He's alright. They're both alright. And the Dark Warrior is long gone down the endless pit with no way to get out. I suddenly feel exhausted now that everything's over.

I run over to Qui-Gon and throw my arms around him. "You were supposed to stay in the hanger," he chides, but hugs me back anyway. After a few moments, I pull away and hurry over to Obi-Wan and hug him too.

"How did I do that?" I ask them finally.

"You used the Force," Qui-Gon informs, "As I've seen you do subconsciously other times."

Just then, approaching footsteps draw everyone's gaze to the door to see Anakin running towards us. "Ani!" I exclaim, letting out a sigh of relief to see him safe. My brother pulls me into his arms.

"At least someone is good at following directions," Obi-Wan remarks from behind us.

"Going into outer space is called following directions better than staying on the ground?" I demand, spinning around.

"What?!" Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both exclaim.

"Um…. I accidently put the ship on autopilot," Anakin attempts to explain, "But I blew up the Federation ship so everyone's fine."

"We better get back out to the hanger and see what the situation is," decides Qui-Gon finally, motioning for us to follow him as he heads for the door.

**w**

Now that all the action is over, I have time to reflect on everything that's transpired over the past… has it only been a week? Despite missing Mom terribly, I'm finally beginning to get a strange sense of belonging again. I actually feel as though I'm meant to be here. With Qui-Gon. And Obi-Wan.

It's really hard to believe it's just later in the afternoon of the day we won the battle. The sun is shining brightly, and I wonder for a second if it ever gets cloudy and rains here. It's almost sad that in a few days, we'll be going and probably never see it again.

"It was the most exciting thing I've been through," Anakin informs me cheerfully, "You should have been there."

"Well, you were supposed to stay here," I remind, "Not blast off into space."

"At least I stayed in the cockpit," he argues, "You got out."

"But I stayed on the ground," I retort. "That's much less dangerous."

"Much less dangerous than trailing people in a lightsaber battle?" Anakin shoots back.

"Actually, yes, because at least I wasn't taking part in the battle," I retort.

"I seem to remember hearing you're the one who threw the Sith down the pit?"

"You're impossible," I groan. Anakin's reply is cut off as we follow Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan to the ship where the newly elected Chancellor Palpatine just got off. All four of us bow, and he stops in front of us with an almost-pleased expression. Thankfully, I don't feel the wary feeling half as strong as I did the first time. Still though, I think something is slightly off. I shake it off pretty quickly once he starts talking.

"We are indebted to you for your bravery, Jinn and Kenobi," he states with a smile before turning to Anakin and me. "And you, young Skywalkers. We will watch you both with great interest." Anakin sends me a slight surprised glance. I'm just staring at Palpatine in completely shock. Seriously. I can't believe we've actually been acknowledged by the new leader of the galaxy. And just a week ago, we were nothing. I can't quite comprehend how our lives have made a complete turn-around in the past week. I'm actually not even sure how to react. How do you talk to the Chancellor, anyway?

Palpatine then walks past us to Padme, who finally is dressed like the Queen she is. Though honestly, I don't see how she could stand to walk around wearing that. Maybe that's a secret reason she always has someone else wear it instead. As he addresses her, Masters Yoda, Windu, and several others disembark from the ship. We bow and a quick exchange of greetings goes between the Jedi.

"Congratulations on your election, Chancellor. It is so good to see you again," I hear Padme saying.

"It's good to be home," Chancellor Palpatine replies, "Your boldness has saved our people, Your Majesty. It is you who should be congratulated. Together we shall bring peace and prosperity to the Republic." We can only hope so. Somehow, through any possible sadness I'm feeling, I can already see a better and brighter future for both of us. Now I know exactly why Anakin and I were feeling something would change a lifetime ago. What that really only last week?

**w**

Jaufre Naberrie

"Ani!" I call, hurrying over to the twins. Now that the battle is over, I think it's time for us to make sure everyone we know is safe.

"Jaufre?" Anakin calls excitedly, turning around.

"I heard about your glorious expedition into space and blowing up the Trade Federation ship," I remark. It's truly impressive that he managed something not even an entire fleet of experienced pilots could think of. I don't know how he did it, but I'm truly grateful.

"Well we just have the way of doing the most unexpected things sometimes," suggests Aniya.

"And I definitely heard about you defeating a Sith which even two Jedi couldn't," I add with a smirk.

Anakin looks past me, eyes falling on someone else. "Hi Padme," he calls happily.

"Hi," she greets them before moving forwards to stand beside me. "We owe you a debt of gratitude for your efforts to save Naboo. We could never have won of you hadn't intervened."

"You did awesome," I congratulate, "I really hope this makes the Council reconsider not training you."

The twins look a little overwhelmed. I suppose they've probably never been thanked like that before. It's not surprising with the life they've lived. No one deserves a life like that.

"But if they still refuse, you're most definitely welcome with us," I add. Honestly, if not for their sakes, since I know they really want to become Jedi, I'd wish they could stay here on Naboo with us. Even though we've only known each other for several days, we've gotten pretty close. We owe it to them to at least take care of them if we have the chance. Incidents like this tend to give bonding moments, what can I say?

"Thank you," Anakin says grateful. Aniya nods beside him.

"We'll have a parade celebrating our victory in a few days," Padme informs them, "Until then, you can stay at the palace here."

"The palace?!" exclaims Aniya excitedly.

"Yes, the palace," I repeat, then smirk, "But you'll just have to excuse any holes in the walls. We blasted up the main halls pretty badly, and they'll take some time to fix up."

A short distance away, I notice Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan heading off with some of the other Jedi. "We should go join them," Anakin says, nudging his sister. They take off running after him.

"I received word our family is fine," Padme tells us as they disappear from sight, "But I'm pretty sure Mom is never gonna let you hang around me when something this dangerous is happening ever again."

"Let's just hope there won't be a next time," I chirp, a sigh of relief escaping me. The battle is over. Many lives have been lost, but at the end of the day, we won.

Final Note: This was not the climax! ;)