I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, school got a little busy so I had no time to write. I'm sorry that this is such a short chapter, but a little content is better than no content. Just a warning if you're super squeamish, there will be a very slight description of like, blood and injury in this chapter. Nothing too gory or graphic but this IS the gladiator arena, so it isn't like nobody gets hurt. Also, if you do not already know which animal in the arena is named what I do suggest you do a google search, because I do refer to them by their names.

Disclaimer: No, I still don't own any of these characters. Do I even need to put these disclaimers I feel like you're really stupid if you need them tbh

Chapter Six: Petranaki Arena

Grace held herself with dignity and poise, head held high in the face of her impending death. She would like to say she was not afraid, but she was. Anakin had assured her she would become one with the Force, that she would be at peace, but there were so many things she wanted to live for, one of them being him. He was kind and strong, using his power for good as he spread light through the galaxy. If one was to ever confront their feelings, right before death certainly was a suitable time to be fully honest.

She closed her eyes, fully accepting the inevitability of her life's end before reaching out with her bound hands, searching for comfort in Anakin's. He held on tight, warmth radiating through her from head to toe. His calluses rubbed against her soft skin, but she didn't mind in the slightest. The Senator opened her eyes again, turning to her left to see the padawan staring at her with a raw expression. He stood strong and tall in the face of doom, broad shoulders and strong arms giving him many more years in appearance than he truly had. She knew she could not let him die without knowing her heart in the way she wished he could.

Grace ignored the geonosian tightening the chain connecting her binders to the front of the carriage they were in. Giving her companion's hand a squeeze, she said, "Before we go, I just want you to know that I love you." He stared at her, shocked. After a few moments he managed to muster up a trembling response.

"I thought we had agreed not to fall in love."

"We did, but it did not work. Anakin Skywalker, I truly and deeply love you."

He inhaled sharply, almost refusing to believe it was true. This was the very thing he longed for, had craved ever since they had met. He looked into her beautiful eyes with their trademark cosmetic wings, allowing himself to smile. His heart swelled with joy even as their cart finished its preparations to take them to their deaths, and his hands released hers. Instead of holding her hands, they reached up to cup Grace's face as he leaned in for a kiss.

She returned it, reveling in the last freedom she may ever have. At least she would die happy. It felt as though a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders; she wanted to soar like a bird. Their moment was cut brutally short by the lurching of the carriage and the bright sunlight stabbing their eyes. They reluctantly broke apart, squinting into the sunlight.

A vast crowd of geonosians booed and jeered at them as they were carted into a circular arena, approaching a row of tall pillars of stone. Obi-Wan watched in a surprisingly low amount of shock as he saw Anakin and Senator McNally astride a hovercarriage drawn by a beast ridden by a geonosian, shackled just as he had been. They were supposed to be on Naboo, why was he so bad at following orders?

"Hello Anakin," he greeted. "This is a rather fine mess you've gotten us into."

The padawan allowed himself to be led up to a neighboring pillar, the bugs securing his shackles to a long chain attached to the top.

"We came to save you."

The boy's binders secured, Grace was roughly escorted to a pillar of her own. Obi-Wan snorted and gave his own bonds a pointed look. "Good job."

The Nabooian Senator may have accepted her inevitable death, but she wasn't giving up without a fight. She had managed to get a pin out of her belt without her captors noticing, hiding it in her mouth. She removed it now, paying no mind to the bickering as she began to pick the lock in her binders. She barely even looked up at the cries of various beasts released into the arena, focusing single mindedly on getting free. After a few adrenaline-inducing moments she freed one of her hands, the other still encased in a circle of metal. Chancing a look over her shoulder she saw three beasts headed in her direction, they would not leave her much time to undo the other cuff. Additionally, she couldn't outrun them, so the only way to go was up.

Grace put the pin back in her belt, using the chain for leverage as she scaled the massive pillar. Using any grip she could, she scrambled up as fast as she was able, knowing the high ground was her only advantage.

Anakin and his Master finished bickering, and he was finally able to raise the question on his mind. "What about Grace?"

He knew she did not have the skills to defend herself that a Jedi possessed, and there was little he could do to protect her. He knew that whatever he did may not be enough, but he refused to allow her to be hurt when he could help. Obi-Wan glanced at her, quickly climbing the pillar. "She seems to be on top of things."

Looking over he saw that she was indeed atop the pillar, having somehow freed one of her hands. He felt a small surge of pride, that was his Grace. A roar took his focus off of her, a redskinned reek charging his pillar. The pigmentation of its rough hide confirmed its carnivorous nature, therefore proving that it would not hesitate to kill him. He waited carefully as it charged, feeling the Force flow around him. Waiting until it was near impaling him on its frontmost horn, he leapt into the air, doing a complicated turn midflight to land on its back. He expertly manipulated his chains to wrap around the beast's horn, and they were torn free of their attachment to the pillar as it galloped away through the arena.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan was having his own problems. An acklay had begun approaching him, its powerful legs waving in the air as it reared in front of him. He felt the Force's calming presence and embraced it, calling upon his lessons with Qui-Gon on feeling the Force's will. He used it to steady himself and make his timing perfect as the green insect raised a leg and brought it down- directly on the chain binding the Jedi to the pillar. He had expertly ducked and freed himself, though his hands were still bound together by the actual binders. He rolled and ducked, dodging every strike the creature aimed his way. His Jedi training was the only thing keeping him calm and alive, the odds stacked impossibly against him.

A geonosian wrangler, upset at the Master's still-beating heart, rode over on its mount and was promptly thrown off by Obi-Wan grabbing the thing's pole and using the momentum to throw him to the arena floor. A vicious blow with the blunt end of the pole kept him down, the acklay finishing the job by stabbing the bug's chest with a brutal appendage. Any hope of being able to hold the beast off with brute force alone dashed, the Jedi adjusted his grip on the stolen spear to be proper for fighting.

The acklay was more hesitant at the sight of a weapon it had felt many times, hissing and rearing. The man used this to his advantage, attempting to go on the offensive with a series of jabs and thrusts. They were all dodged, the insectile creature in front of him just nimble enough to avoid the strikes. He backed off, sizing his opponent up again. Clearly melee fighting was not an option. He wound his arm back and then thrust it forwards, perfectly throwing the spear directly into its flesh. The acklay roared, getting up on its hind legs. The Jedi thought he had won, but the green beast used its mouth to pull the spear from its body, snapping it in two with sharp teeth.

On top of the pillar, Grace was having her own struggles. The nexu was pacing the ground beneath the stone structure, growling up at the seemingly inaccessible prey. They stared each other down, the girl holding her chains in her hands. After a minute or so it seemed to realize something. Using its sharp claws, the beast began to scramble up the pillar, leaving gouges in the stone. Starting to panic at the very deadly creature getting steadily closer, she gripped her chains tightly and brought them down as hard as she could on the nexu's face. She did it over and over again until the beast reached her, razor sharp claws reaching out to gouge three deep lines in her back before it fell to the ground again. She screamed in pain and blood began to flow down her back, staining her white outfit red. It had been torn into two pieces, the fabric across her stomach ripped away by the beast's claws.

Anakin looked up from his mount at the terrible sound of a scream, seeing blood spatter the sand as Grace cried out in pain. He felt anger blossom within him, at himself and at the Geonosians. At himself for failing to protect her, for being so far that he could not save her from the pain. And at the geonosians for trying to hurt her. He was going to kill them for setting that beast on her, they all deserved a slow end. The distraction in the way of her scream had distracted him, and a sharp turn by the reek sent him tumbling off, grunting as he was dragged along the arena floor. The beast finally came to a stop, the chains holding the boy to him slipping away as it stopped moving.

The padawan staggered to his feet, entire body sore from the beating it just went through. He had a few friction burns on his face and his wrists were chafed from the chains. He looked directly into the eyes of the reek, seeing all the pain and sorrow they held. Geonosis had not been good to it, leaving the poor thing abused and broken. It was starved for food and skittish, throwing its head around and snorting. The boy outstretched a hand, using it as a conduit for the Force. He used it to bind their minds, connecting them in a powerful bond. As he inched closer he asked for help, something the scared beast was ready to give. After a final check to assure he would not be skewered, Anakin leapt back onto it and wrapped the chain around its neck as it took off.

Grace was crouched upon the top of the pillar as the nexu paced below. It had not taken the blows from her chains lightly, but it was still set on killing her. It could smell the blood dripping down her back, could sense her weakness and pain. She was trying to stay focused and centered as she watched the beast, careful not to focus on her pain. She tried to keep her mind away from it, but it felt as though her back was on fire. She could barely keep from crying as she stood her ground, brave in the face of this hardship.

Finally working up courage again it began to scale once more, but Senator McNally was prepared, gripping her chains tightly as she swung on them like a rope, coming down to kick the nexu in the side with enough force to knock it to the ground. Adrenaline was pumping through her again, dulling the pain in her back as she hung by one wrist and pure determination above a hungry monster. It got up, whimpered, and began to pace again as she scrambled back to the top.

Grace retrieved her pin from her belt once more, unlocking her second shackle. She did not let it drop from her hands, keeping the weapon. She cast her eyes about the arena, searching for a familiar face. She zeroed in on the reek, being ridden by Anakin. She smiled, allowing a small laugh. Of course he of all people, her reckless and headstrong Jedi, would have stolen one of the animals sent to kill them. As she admired him, riding his steed like a warrior into battle, she noticed he was coming in her direction. Truly her knight in shining armour, here to save the day. She was very capable when the situation called for it, but the odds were stacked impossibly against her here. But there was her loyal Jedi protector, come to save her from the beast terrorizing her. He rode in fast and with purpose, the reek using its frontmost horn to knock the nexu aside. It flew through the air and to the ground, unmoving. The boy beckoned at her, calling for her to jump down. Throwing aside her chains, Grace took a leap of faith off the pillar. She felt herself stop mid-air, the padawan holding out his hand. With great care he set her behind him on the large beast, turning around to give her a quick peck on the lips. With a thrash of his chains the mount was off, galloping to where Obi-Wan stood facing an acklay. Arriving at his side they both called to him, and the Jedi took the chance quickly. The trio rode away from the third beast, stopping in the middle of the arena, where they were quickly surrounded by droidekas.

Grace held Anakin tighter, looking around at the shielded droids that were sure to be her end. Obi-Wan glanced around and ignored the face that the Senator's blood was slowly staining his nice robes, oozing from three diagonal slashes. If he anticipated living past the next five minutes he might try to do something about it.

The crowd had been going wild during the spectacle but now was silent as the droids cocked their weapons. Anakin leaned back into the Senator's arms, briefly closing his eyes to soak up one last bit of comfort before he met his end. If only he had more time with her, for he knew it would be the happiest time in his life. Even now, facing his end, he was happy. A weight was lifted from him as he was able to be fully honest with himself and with Grace, revealing his true feelings and finding them to be requited. He was happy to at least be granted the privilege to die with his Master; a brother and a mentor, and the woman he loved.

Obi-Wan knew there was no way out and wished he had left the order for Satine. He would be alive and happy, probably with a child or two. He could help bring peace to Mandalore, standing at her side as she united the unstable planet. He knew Anakin's life would be very different, but perhaps he would be safe too. Perhaps none of them would be here if he had left all those years ago. Although, deep inside, he knew that the Jedi Order was the one place he truly wished to be. It was where he belonged, and if he died for it so be it. He would be one with the Force and get to see his fallen Master again, in a way. It would be nice.

The three held their chins high as the droidekas cocked their blasters, but a commotion from above drew their attention. There, bursting from the audience, was an army of Jedi.

End of chapter

Notes!

-I always cringe when Padme jumps onto the reek's back behind Anakin, like that's gotta hurt. I just had to change it, I hate that part skadjfkasjf

-I do think it was kinda unnecessary objectification, but I left in Grace having her outfit become a crop top because you have that cosplay right? I'm like 90% sure you have that cosplay. An idea,,,,, cosplay yourself0-0

-This chapter has been kinda short, but I wanted to update since it's been a while lol

-When that nexu slashed Padme she really should have been bleeding more, I fixed that ig

Tune in next time for the next chapter!