Chapter 14

Having recently gotten out of his hospital bed from his massive duel against Astrid, Hiccup sat in a fetal position at a holographic gaming table with Obi-Wan where holograms of various beasts stood on the table. Hiccup had just mindlessly made one of his beasts move and Obi-Wan gives him a side glance. "Are you alright?"

Hiccup snaps out of his daze and looks to Obi-Wan. "Huh? Uh, yeah, I'm fine. Wh-why do you ask?"

Obi-Wan replies, "Well, it's just that you just left your rancor wide open." Obi-Wan presses a button on a table and causes a yellow, bipedal, muscular beast to walk over to Hiccup's rancor and take it out. "And that's game, I believe that makes it 4 for 4."

Hiccup grumbles. "Just not in the mood for playing, I guess."

Obi-Wan sighs to that. "You're still thinking about Astrid, aren't you?" A simple sigh from Hiccup was all Obi-Wan needed to hear. "Look, I get it, having someone out there who is specifically gunning for you is not an easy feeling, but you can't let that cloud your mind."

Hiccup continues to stare at his knees as he replies, "But how? How can anyone focus when all of this stuff with the war is going on?"

Obi-Wan pats Hiccup's shoulder. "You don't. At least, not entirely. This war has taken a toll on all of us, both physically and mentally. It's caused even the best of us to show some of our worst sides and caused us to see things that we hoped to never see. Of course you're going to still have Astrid on your mind, but the fact is that you still need to focus on your own training and skills."

Hiccup sighs deeply. "Yeah…I guess you're right."

Obi-Wan nods. "Well, I suppose we have time for one more game, that is if you're up for it."

Hiccup smiles and side-glances Obi-Wan. "You just want me to beat you, don't you?"

Obi-Wan chuckles to that. "Now that's the spirit." He resets the game and they go back to playing.

In the dark Separatist base on Raxus, having woken from her duel against Hiccup, Astrid sits at the window of her bedroom, thinking about the fight.

She couldn't shake what she felt towards the end of the duel, how those images of herself and Hiccup seemingly happy together. What did those images mean? How could she possibly know Hiccup before meeting him that day? More-so, how did Hiccup know her real name?

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard her door open. She looks back and sees Count Dooku standing there with a try of food in his hands. "I figured you might be hungry."

Astrid asks, "Since when do you know how to cook?"

Dooku replies, "I never said that." Astrid looks down then back out of the window. Dooku puts the food down and asks, "Alright, what is it?"

Astrid sighs. "Why do you care?"

Dooku replies, "I only care if it's someone that I actually respect. You've been sitting here all day."

Astrid sighs deeper. "It's…nothing, really."

Dooku squints questioningly. "Is it about Haddock?" he catches sight of her clenching her fist to the mention of the name. He nods. "Whatever you do, do not let this boy interfere with your path to The Dark Side. Now, I need to go speak with…someone."

Thinking about who this 'someone' may be, Astrid decides to follow Dooku in secret, following him to his office where she hears a holographic call being made. Interested, she presses a button on the device on her arm and begins to listen in.

Meanwhile, on Courscant, Hiccup stood before the Jedi Council, who had reviewed the video footage that Obi-Wan had sent of Hiccup and Astrid's duel. Having seen enough, Mace says to Hiccup, "So, you fought her despite us specifically telling you not to. I fear that Skywalker's influence is starting to rub on you."

Hiccup takes a deep sigh. "I know what I did was wrong, but Master, you have to understand. Obi-Wan was out and I still didn't know how to fly the ship so, I had to do it. If you're gonna suspend me for disobeying orders, then I fully understand."

Mace looks to the other Jedi in the room before replying, "…And just why would we do that?"

Hiccup looks up in surprise. "Uh…what?"

Mace replies, "Hiccup, while it's true that you disobeyed and order, in doing so you did something that we didn't think you could. You did not let your emotions towards Astrid hinder your ability to fight her and do what's right."

Plo Koon adds, "Not to mention the skillset and power you showed during that duel. It was beyond that of any Jedi we had ever seen."

Yoda adds, "moves that I had never seen from a Jedi, I saw. underestimated you, We did."

Hiccup rubs the back of his head. "I suppose I did show off just a little."

Obi-Wan comments, "Sometimes showing off a little is just what you need. I couldn't be more proud to call you my apprentice."

Hiccup nods. "So, now what? Are we gonna send a search party out to look for Astrid?"

Mace replies, "We will find her, in due time, but for now it is best that we not focus on that and instead get ready."

Hiccup raises a brow. "Ready for what?"

Mace replies, "Why, for Courscant Day, of course."

Hiccup raises a brow. "Courscant Day? What's that?"

Obi-Wan replies, "It's the day that Courscant was declared a core world. We have a festival to celebrate this glorious day, one that we, the Jedi Council, will be participating in. You should come down and check it out, it really is quite fun, and this year, for the first time ever, our clones will be participating as well."

Hiccup smiles to that. "That…does sound like fun. When does it start?"

Mace replies, "Tomorrow night. We'll send you the information." Hiccup nods and bids the Council a good evening before heading back to his room where he awaits the morning.

Once Hiccup had left, Obi-Wan looks to the rest of the Jedi Council and says, "Now that Hiccup is gone, there is something else I'd like to discuss. There's no denying that Hiccup has a tremendous amount of skills as a Jedi, not to mention the fact that he never once let his emotions hinder his ability to fight Astrid."

Mace nods. "Agreed."

Obi-Wan then adds, "Well, if it's alright with the rest of you, there's something I'd like to do for him." The other Jedi listen in.

The walkways of Coruscant were lined with streamers, banners, balloons, confetti shooters and much more as the majority of the planet was excited for the evening's celebration.

In the senate building, Padmé stood looking out her window, smiling down as the excited crowd forms. Just then, her door opens and she looks behind her, seeing Anakin there with a gold humanoid droid next to him. "Ms. Padmé, Master Skywalker is here for your escort."

Padmé smiles and nods to the droid. "Thank you, 3PO, that will be all for now."

3PO nods. "Very good, Ms. Padmé."

He steps out as Anakin steps up to Padmé, who was wearing a blue dress and had her hair bunched up. He comments. "Woo, you sure look beautiful today."

Padmé chuckles to that. "Thanks. It's a big night, after all." She then turns around and shows an unzipped zipper on her back. "You mind getting this?" Anakin nods and uses The Force to push the zipper up, which Padmé chuckles to. "It's reasons like that I sometimes wish I was a Jedi."

Anakin chuckles back. "Trust me, there's a lot more to it than just moving up zippers." He then sensed something bothering her. "Ok, what's going on?"

Padmé sighs. "Just seems strange, that's all, a festival like this. Considering all that's been happening lately."

Anakin nods. "Well, seems to me like at this time we need any means of distraction that we can get." He then steps up to right behind her. "Though, I get the feeling that there's more to it than just this festival."

Padmé sighs, knowing she can't hide anything from Anakin. "I just…worry about you."

Anakin raises a brow. "Worry about me? Why?"

Padmé sighs and turns around. "I worry that something is going to happen to you that I can't control. Every time I know you're going on a mission, I keep a low frequency radio transmitter in my ear, hoping to never hear the words that would devastate me the most." She holds up an ear piece to prove that fact.

Anakin smirks to that. "Well then, I guess I'm not as crazy as I thought. Any time I know you're giving a speech and I'm not there to listen because of a mission or otherwise, I have someone secretly record you and send it to me, so I can hear your voice, even when I'm away."

Padmé's face lightens up before she gets a look of curiosity. "Who is it?"

Anakin wags his finger. "If I told you, it wouldn't be a secret, now would it?"

Padmé smiles and hugs Anakin tight. "I guess we really are just two crazy secret lovers."

Anakin nods. "And hey, someday this war is going to end, and once it does, I'm taking you on the best honeymoon that a Jedi could offer. No enemies, no senate, no Jedi Council, none of that. Just you and me."

Padmé looks up at Anakin and asks, "Where would we go?" Anakin simply smirks, to which Padmé nods. "Right, wouldn't be a surprise if you told me."

Anakin chuckles to that. "Hey, maybe you're with The Force and just didn't know it."

Padmé taps Anakin's arm. "Are you gonna be down there?"

Anakin sighs. "No, with the suspension I can only watch. Don't worry, I'm sure the other Jedi will put on quite the show."

Padmé smiles. "I hope so too." She then sighs. "Oh, I wish that Master Windu would reconsider the suspension."

Anakin sighs deeper. "Honestly, it is what it is. Don't worry, I'll be in a reserved spot with Hiccup and a few others."

Padmé nods. "That Hiccup sure is something. I haven't seen him all that much, but he does remind me of you quite a bit."

Anakin smiles to that. "Well, he's got a missing limb too now, so there's that." He then hears the crowd start to get louder. "Come on, it sounds like they'll be starting soon." The two of them kiss and head out.

A few hours later, the crowd was roaring out in joy as the festival had begun. Anakin had joined Hiccup, Ahsoka and many other Jedi in a large balcony on one of the city's biggest hotels, and a podium sat just in front of the senate building.

Chancellor Palpatine approaches a podium and announces. "People of Courscant, it is my great joy to welcome you to this year's Courscant Day festival. Now, I understand that with the war going on, many of you have suffered some great losses, I would just like to take a moment of silence as we think about all those that we lost, from the war or otherwise." The crowd goes silent for a minute as they all think about their loses. "Now then, we have a very exciting day planned for you all. Now, while we did suffer loses from this war, this did give us an opportunity to introduce ourselves to some of our most noble and loyal soldiers that we've ever seen. Please welcome, our Clone Troopers!"

Nearby, Captain Rex and many other Clones had gathered in a building where Rex says to them, "Alright, men, it's show time." They all stand surrounding the balconies of the large temple, hardly a corner not covered by the white suited men. Rex holds his right arm up and says, "Ready!" The troopers then hold up blasters to the sky, all aiming just in front of them. Rex then drops his hand and says, "Fire!" And suddenly, all of the blasters fire balls of fireworks that explode in the air, creating a stunning display and getting the crowd cheering.

The Clones continue along this line for a bit and Anakin comments from his seat, "I gotta say, Rex, you do know how to put on a show."

Once the Clones were finished, Palpatine then announces, "One more time for Captain Rex and our Clone Troopers!" The crowd cheers some more before Palpatine announces, "Alright, there is no question that we would've lost this war months ago if it weren't for our most skilled warriors. Give a hand for…the Jedi!"

The stairs behind Palpatine go dark for a moment before each step lights up with alternating green and blue lightsaber blades on each side. The Jedi move their blades to the side as they get ready.

First, Plo Koon and Ki-Adi Mundi run towards each other before, once they meet in the middle, they step on the bottom of each other's foot and begin to run upwards, making it look like they're running up a wall but the wall is each other. They get a few feet off the ground before backflipping and landing on the steps.

Next, Kit Fisto and Luminara step up and hold their green sabers up in one hand before holding out their other fist and letting go of their hilt, making their blades float in mid-air. They cause their sabers to twirl around themselves before returning to their original hand.

Seeing this, Anakin looks to Hiccup and asks, "You teach them how to do that?"

Hiccup shrugs. "I only showed them how I did it once. I guess they've been practicing without me knowing. Does feel kind of cool."

Finally, Obi-Wan and Mace face each other with their blades held high as they both Force Lift each other up into the air and do a front flip before colliding their respective blue and purple lightsaber blades. The crowd cheers them all on as Palpatine approaches the podium again. "Thank you, Jedi. Now, this was a bit last minute but, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi has something to say."

Obi-Wan approaches the podium and says, "Thank you, Chancellor. People of Courscant, I speak for the entire Jedi Order when I say that it has been an honor to serve you all during these trying times. Now, as busy as we have been trying to keep you all safe, I am certainly one to recognize when a Jedi has gone above and beyond what I thought were possible. I'd like to invite one of our newest Jedi apprentices, Hiccup Haddock, to the stand!"

Surprised by this, Hiccup looks to the others in the balcony with him before shrugging and heading down. Once Hiccup gets to the podium, Obi-Wan pats him on the shoulder and says, "This young man has only been a part of the Council for a matter of weeks now, but he has more than proven himself as a very skillful Jedi warrior. It was only recently that he came face to face with a very powerful dark Force user and got out of it with only a missing leg."

Hiccup rubs the back of his neck. "You didn't have to mention that part."

Obi-Wan then says, "Now, it is because of what we all saw from this fight, we…would like to do something. Master Yoda?"

From behind him, a short, green lightsaber blade is ignited, to which Yoda says to Hiccup. "Kneel before me, Haddock."

Hiccup looks to Obi-Wan and asks, "What is this?"

Obi-Wan replies, "Just kneel."

Looking back to Yoda, Hiccup does just that. He then points the blade to Hiccup's right shoulder and says, "By the right of the Council…" then to his left, "…by the will of The Force…" then to the top of Hiccup's head. "Hiccup Haddock, I hereby knight thee…Jedi Knight of the Republic!"

The crowd goes wild once that was done as Hiccup looks up with shock. "M-me? A Jedi Knight?"

Yoda nods and deactivates his saber. "You may rise."

Hiccup gets up and faces the crowd again, filled with delight over this unexpected announcement. From the balcony, Anakin was gripping his shoulders very tight, to which Ahsoka noticed. "You alright, Sky Guy?"

Anakin tries to hold in his feelings but replies with a stern voice, "It's…fine." In his mind, he was thinking, "I go against the council's wishes and get suspended, he does that and gets knighted. How is that even fair?"

Obi-Wan then announces, "This is the quickest that anyone has ever gone from Padawan to Jedi Knight, at least from what I've seen." He puts his hands on the microphone and tells Hiccup, "I could not be more proud to be your Master. How do you feel?"

Hiccup smiles, but then feels something amongst the crowd. He then sees a patch of blond hair poking out from amongst the crowd. Raising a brow, thinking that it might be who he thinks it is, he was relieved as it was a young child who simply had the same hair. Hiccup blinks to that and realizes he was asked a question so he replies, "Oh, uh, it feels good. Uh, I need to go." He then dashes off into the building and takes several deep breaths, both from being glad it wasn't her but also concerned as to why he thought otherwise.