Chapter Seven: The Peace of a Dragon
Anakin smiled as he took in the sight of The Castle. The structure stood out in his mind because unlike most buildings the young man knew, this one stood built from massive blocks of stone and mortar. Towers stretched high off of the main structure. Each tower boasted a single window with blown glass panes in each opening. Banners hung along the walls at approximately two meter intervals with the same wolf from the back of the data pad on a red silken banner. At the main gate and to the left of it down the forward face of the castle, golden-trimmed white banners with a large striped feline ran down the face of the castle at the same interval as the wolf banner had.
On all sides of the castle, landing pads rested in bubbles of atmosphere, airlock controlled and linked to the main fortress by tubes of cold plasma to insulate and heat the walkway from the various landing zones to the main structure while Dragons flew to and from the Castle with no visible vacuum-rated suit in spite of what he expected. From what Anakin saw, most of the inhabitants of the system were already planet-side. There was something off about these dragons however. Most of them wore full cloaks that covered their scales but left their wings free to move. Odd choice… Anakin mentally commented before the young man closed his eyes and breathed deeply while the ramp to the Aether met the stone landing dock. The young dragon found himself in a state of nostalgia for a place he had never been as he walked up to the main gate to find an ancient portcullis blocked his and Ahsoka's path inside.
When Anakin looked up to ask for passage inside from the guard, he felt someone throw him to the ground with surprising strength. Anakin looked up to see a black dragon like himself, her red eyes boring into his soul. Wait! Anakin's mind spluttered. HER?! How do I know that's a 'her'?!
The dragon in question had smooth, shimmering scales that interlocked like a serpent's in contrast to Anakin's own jagged and rough scales. Anakin could see as much from the dragon's face. "Who are you?"
The dragon smirked and opened her jaws, drawing closer to Anakin's neck. Suddenly, the dragon recoiled as if she encountered the foulest stench in the universe. Her red eyes grew wide in disbelief and horror. Then, the dragon finally noticed Ahsoka. The female dragon turned to the bewildered Togruta and bowed. "(Forgive me…Stranger.)" The dragon began. "(I am Catherine of the House of Rachel, Sixth Daughter of the The Wrathful One.)"
Anakin raised a brow and stood. "(Why would you apologize?)"
Catherine looked at Anakin as if the man had two heads sprouting from his neck. "(Have your parents taught you nothing of our ways, Offworlder?)"
Anakin visibly flinched. "Daro'ak…" The word came from a deep place in Anakin's mind. Somehow, he knew it to be the word for "orphan" literally interpreted as "lost one" but also instinctively knew the word had deeper cultural implications. Implications, unfortunately, he did not understand. "(My name is Anakin Skywalker.)"
Catherine looked utterly horrified by the word as it left Anakin's mouth. "(You're such a young one.)" She said softly. "(This will not do, Hatchling.)"
Ahsoka blinked as she heard the words. She offhandedly noticed a small crowd amassed around them, almost…protectively after the alien word left Anakin's mouth. The young Togruta stared in confusion as Catherine smiled and took his hand. Then, the girl hissed, a sharp sound her people made when they were truly angry. "Stay. Away. From. Him!" Ahsoka said lowly before her sabers flared to life in her hands.
Everything froze. From the crowd, Ahsoka could hear various people whispering about her sabers stolen by the "(Dartha [Wingless One] female)" and a "(Challenge of Right)". As to what the second phrase meant, Ahsoka didn't have a clue. However, judging by Anakin's lightning-fast expression, the first phrase was definitely derogatory.
Catherine sighed and shook her head. "(Enough! The Hatchling has chosen his Bonded, and they shall be tested as is our custom and law!)"
As the pair walked up to the bars of the castle gate, they opened of their own accord. Once Ahsoka passed through them, the young Force-user became bombarded by a particular group of locals. Ahsoka heard Anakin growl in anger but was surprised when he did nothing further. The young Togruta looked at the females in confusion before she looked at Anakin again. Why are they hanging on me?
One particular dragon briefly showed a bit of the smooth scales on her left leg and smiled at Ahsoka. "(I will be more than happy to teach you my tongue and our ways, stranger.)"
Ahsoka blinked. She had heard Padme use a similar tone with Anakin once when no one thought she was paying attention. Ahsoka pushed down a shiver at the brazen action. In a rough version of the dialect Anakin spoke, Ahsoka responded through stumbling lips. "(Get…off me!)" As Ahsoka spoke, her eyes turned violet. Then, a thunderous blast blew the whores away.
The females stared in disbelief as they struggled back to their feet. Their leader looked on in terror at Ahsoka. "(You're B-Bonded?)"
Anakin walked up and put a gentle hand on Ahsoka as his wings wrapped him such to hide his scales from neck to foot. "(Don't you even think about it.)" Anakin growled as smoke leaked from his mouth as he spoke. He then got in their faces and snorted in distain.
Ahsoka shook her head. "(What…)" She tried but couldn't find the words.
Catherine looked at the group with disgust. "(Foolish nekrio, they will die within a month or two when they try to 'entertain' a Bound Pair to abandon each other.)" Catherine looked at Ahsoka and surprised both her and Anakin by speaking Basic. "I believe the word you would use would be 'prostitutes'?"
Anakin nodded in understanding. Then, he once again noted every dragon save him wore a cloak over their scales. Catherine nodded when she saw him take note of this and sighed. "(It's shameful to expose one's scales to any other besides your Bonded. Thus, we wear altered cloaks in place of other coverings.)"
Ahsoka blanched as Anakin raised a brow. "I don't understand something." He looked at Catherine in confusion. "Are my wings a suitable stand in?"
Catherine blushed noticeably. "Is a tablecloth acceptable according to Human society?"
Anakin looked at her. "If nothing else is available, but not a permanent fix, no."
"The same rule applies towards a dragon's cloak." Catherine nodded. "I would advise you buy one before you go planet-side."
As they looked around Ahsoka and Anakin noticed another odd thing: Males were not seen yet besides himself. "Why am I the only male?"
This drew a hearty laugh from his guide. "You are far from the only male, boy." A quick shake of her head took the smile from her face. "Men are simply rare among our kind." She turned to something that looked like a cannon. "That's part of the reason you draw such attention."
Ahsoka looked at the odd gun in confusion. Then, it clicked. "We're going to be ejected to the planet below?!"
Catherine looked at the cannon. Then, she looked back at Ahsoka. "Would you rather chance vacuum, seeing as Anakin is too young to know proper technique to protect either of you in the descent?"
Ahsoka wisely shut her mouth and nervously climbed in the pod. Soon after, Anakin followed covered by a simple cloak from a vendor in the Castle who exchanged Republic credits for local currency and chose to wrap his wings around his former Padawan in an effort to comfort her as they fell at terminal velocity to Earto. Had they paid any mine to the capsule itself, the pair would have noticed a message melted into the metal: "For use by Hatchlings younger than 100 standard years".
Once in atmosphere over the planet's surface, the confined space of the capsule began to throw Anakin into a panic. He swore under his breath and struggled to keep calm as the young dragon felt the pod plummet to the waiting planet below. Ahsoka gently put her hand on his face. Then, an idea struck her. "Do you trust me, Skyguy?" Anakin only nodded quickly to avoid disgorging his morning meal. Ahsoka nodded, closed her eyes, and focused The Force through her body onto the seams of the pod which groaned and creaked noisily in protest until they gave with a screeching metallic rip.
The rush of fresh air made Anakin smile in relief as his wings unfolded and began to glide. Below him, Anakin saw Ahsoka spread eagle falling slightly faster than him. To correct this, Anakin folded his wings in and darted at such an angle to get under Ahsoka. Then, the young dragon gently opened his wings again and felt Ahsoka impact on his back with an excited laugh.
Where should we land?
As Anakin surveyed the green hillside, he felt a gentle nudge of The Force towards a hill covered with flowers. What is this place? The young dragon asked himself before he angled to set down and answered Ahsoka, Over there!
Gradually, the pair slowed their angled descent as the aroma of the beautiful flowers. Anakin had never seen anything like the flowers that graced their noses. The light of the sun spilled onto the open meadow as the wind rushed through the grass around them and created an atmosphere of peaceful ambiance. Ahsoka climbed off Anakin's back as she felt him tense and keep his eyes trained on the sky. As Ahsoka followed Anakin's gaze, she saw two dragons coming their way. One stood out from the other that flew with her companion because her scales were pristine white and glimmered in the sunlight. Her eyes were gold and seemed to zero on Ahsoka and ignore Anakin.
"I hope for their sake, that's a pair of ambassadors." Anakin growled as the pair landed beyond the hill and bowed in reverence to the flowers. They looked at Anakin. The dark dragon showed to be male due to his serrated scales and motioned for him to meet them. Anakin looked back and walked slowly to the two others after Ahsoka silently assured him she would be ready for anything should it happen.
"(Please leave the flowers.)" The dark dragon said. "(They are revered due to their link with The Wrathful One, Progenitor of the Darith!)"
Anakin and Ahsoka looked at the two dragons and quickly left the field. Anakin bowed to both. "(I'm Anakin Skywalker.)"
Ahsoka smiled. "(It's a pleasure to meet both of you.)" The young Togruta reached out her hand. "(I'm Ahsoka of the Galactic Republic.)"
The two dragons tensed in tandem. The shining white one looked at her companion and Gibbs slapped him with her tail for reasons neither former Jedi could figure out. "(I am Gloria of the Ligith.)" Gloria giggled. "(The grumpy one is my mate, Derek of the Darith.)"
Derek snorted. "(I'll only begin to trust either of you when you prove your Bond in the Rage Coliseum to which we have been asked to escort you.)"
Anakin and Ahsoka looked at each other in confusion. Then, they looked at the dignitary escorts. Ahsoka shook her head and walked up to the Mated Pair. Part of her was insulted that they would imply anything negative about her Bond with Anakin. To that end, the Togruta turned her neck so they could see her Mark. Out of the corner of her eye, Ahsoka noticed the Mark was no longer just an outline of a dragon's head but now had color and showed a profile view of a male Darith head who en eyes matched her skin and lacked the detailed jagged scales and ruby eyes of Gloria's Mark. The two dragons stared in confusion as Darith and Ligith hovered a claw over the Mark.
"(Incredible…) Derek started.
"(You're so young, both of you, how…?)" The question died in Gloria's mouth when she saw the look in their eyes. "(War tempered your Bond faster than usual.)"
Both dragons seemed to be downcast for a moment. Then, Derek nodded to Ahsoka. "(Mount up, Rider.)" He said with a faint look of amusement as the Darith opened his wings. "(It's a good flight to the colosseum from here.)"
Anakin nodded as Ahsoka found comfort on the young one's back. I could use a flight. I hated that blasted pod!
Ahsoka laughed as the pair began to rise through the clouds. I couldn't tell with the way you fought to get out. She paused in thought for a moment. Your name makes more sense now, Skyguy!
Anakin shook his head with a chuckle that sounded like a deep rumble. Then, Anakin turned his attention to the ground. This world enjoyed a level of greenery that rivaled, maybe even surpassed Naboo. Strange creatures ran through the grassland in beards. In the taller grasses, a large group of athletically lean felines waited for their chance at a meal. Near the river, a small group of theropods drank from the river. This world seemed to be truly in the Balance of The Force, not at war with it as he felt in the vision of Malachor or at The Temple on Coruscant. As a result, a sense of peace settled over Anakin and Ahsoka as they neared the great coliseum.
The monolith building stood high against the sky, easily ten stories high and seemingly pulled from a mountain. The stadium shown with the mid-afternoon sun and beckoned to Anakin and Ahsoka with cheers and shouting from spectators. Anakin fell a joint of excitement as he remembered pod racing as a had a different reaction to the ruckus and walked slightly closer to Anakin who brought her closer still with his left wing. Ahsoka smiled as she felt the eyes of those flying over divert once Anakin wrapped hips wing about her and felt her anxious manner melt away at the action.
As the pair walked to the main floor of the expansive arena, the crowd erupted into yet louder cheers and whistles. Ahsoka felt herself tense as Anakin's comfort begrudgingly left her to stand opposite and wait for instruction. Instruction never came however. Six Ligith walked out in rows of three and quickly took hold of Anakin, one on each arm and leg while two blocked Ahsoka's view of Anakin. Meanwhile, Ahsoka faced similar oppression as four Darith held her fast, one for a limb.
Why do they avoid his wings? Ahsoka thought in confusion. I can use that. Eyes closed, Ahsoka called her sabers and attacked the two that held her arms with the sabers suspended in The Force. The two sabers struck the two Darith who held her arms. With them distracted, Ahsoka willed The Force to launch her towards the center of the arena with a strange torrent of emotion inside her as she ran for Anakin.
Avoid their wings, Snips. Anakin warned. It's taboo for dragons regardless of race.
With a stony nod Ahsoka commanded her sabers to cut the tendons on her would-be captors. As they screamed in pain, Ahsoka couldn't help her smile. Once the hilts met her hands again, Ahsoka deactivated the sabers and clipped them back to their place before she looked up and glared at the six Ligith between her and Anakin. Ahsoka reached deep within herself and drew on the anger she felt at the moment. It held for what seemed to be an eternity as Ahsoka grit her teeth and released with an enraged scream. Black lightning arced from her fingers and would have obliterated the two front Ligith had the white dragons with golden trim not been expecting it. Harmlessly, the lightning passed through the mistresses' outstretched forepaws. Then, they broke away and went for Ahsoka.
At this point, Anakin knew the lightning took a lot from his Ahsoka and focused. Quickly, Anakin pushed his guards and slammed them into the wall across the area. Then, he used The Force to simultaneously shield Ahsoka and choke the nearest Ligith. "(Give. Me. Ahsoka!)"
Ahsoka funneled the energy Anakin used to shield her into her own body and threw Anakin's own saber to him. Then, the pair stood back to back, blades raised in defense as Darith and Ligith now converged on the duo.
"Anakin, before we die, I want you to know." Ahsoka felt tears roll as she spoke. "I love you, du d'bhem, du ke'leh."
Anakin growled and felt his anger spike as he heard Ahsoka begin to cry. "(You are mine, and I am yours forever, Snips.)" Anakin spoke with his born tongue. "(I love you, too.)"
As the pair fell to the dusty floor in unison, dark visions of a stormy world with cities on stilts to avoid the crashing, angry waves below them ran through the pair's minds. Lightning stabbed the sky as dark laughter echoed across the structures. Inside, countless tanks held men. Suddenly, Rex's helmet flashed through view.
"Yes, Lord Sidious." Rex spoke to an unknown person in an almost robotic tone. "It will be done."
Outside of the vision, many in the crowd saw the horrors of war the pair suffered as the experienced pieces of the grand war raging beyond their borders. The dragons as one felt sickened as they realized genetically bread Hatchlings fought in this senseless bloodshed. War stood only as an option of absolute last resort for Dragons as they were a species so tightly bound in The Force such that every life was respected and precious, especially hatchlings regardless of origin. Together, they resolved to end this mad Dartha's mindless grab for power!
"Find Fives. Find. Fives! Find him. Now!" Another flash, a battalion painted to honor Ahsoka stood in front of her and saluted the former Jedi as if she never left the order. Finally, a thunderous, irate roar seemed to rip through The Force itself.
Back on Coruscant, Palpatine smiled. All was going to his plan. Soon, the Jedi would be no more, and he would rule his empire withan iron fist. A moment before it assailed him, the covert Sith Lord felt a well of unfathomable rage rise like a wave and knock him off his feet. "YOU HAVE SHED THE BLOOD OF INNOCENT HATCHLINGS IN YOUR SMOKESCREEN, FOOLISH DARTHA! PREPARE TO RESTORE BALANCE WITH YOUR OWN HEAD!"
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