~Next day-Sitting Room~

"No,you did not!"

"Yes,i did."

The sitting room was full of laughter. Anakin was telling comical stories about his childhood. As the princess started pouring tea into cups,Anakin started another story involving a...dragon.

"...and another swipe of my lightsaber,and it was dead."

"Oh,really? how brave. How many heads were there?"

"Three."

"You killed a dragon with three heads by yourself?"

"Last time we checked,there were only two." Obi-wan had entered the room,a smile on his face.

"Sir Obi-wan! You will join us for tea?" Aida took another cup.

"I might as well. i'd like to hear more of my padawan's..unusual stories."

The princess laughed again.

Obi-wan took the cup from Aida and took a sip as Anakin began another adventure story. He was both happy and amused by how easily Anakin got along with the princess. It was as if they were siblings when they talked.

A servant walked into the room. "Master Jedi,your apprentice,and the princess are being summoned in the king's council room. It is most urgent," he said. "Of course," obi-wan replied. As they put their cups down, Aida wondered, "That's strange. Noone is to be present other than the councilmen when my father is having a meeting. Follow me." As she led them through the hallways, Anakin whispered, "Master, what was it that the king privately discussed with you last night?" "You will know soon,Padawan. Very soon," was his master's reply.

The servant opened the doors and they entered. The king looked most distressed. "Aida, dear,please sit down. Master Obi-wan...we have recieved a threat," he started. Instead of sitting down, Aida stood with both Anakin and Obi-wan. Obi-wan nodded. "They....they will abduct the princess,if we don't hand over the stone," he said. Aida gasped,and almost fell back. Anakin steadied her. "..but we will not bow down to their wishes. Obi-wan, is it possible for you to have your apprentice guard my daughter at all times?" the king asked. Obi-wan sighed,and nodded. "Father, what do they want with the stone?" Aida said. "They want to take it to the satellite of Lavigne, the small planet Afee. There, the city has lost power,and they wish to use the stone to give it back its energy." Anakin shook his head. "But if the stone left this planet,the energy would...deteriorate," he said. "Exactly. That is why we cannot allow it. They claim their families are on Afee,and are dying...but there is nothing i can do! The stone taken means total blackout of Lavigne,and i will not tolerate that!" the king said. "There must be some other way," Aida thought. One of the councilmen agreed, "There is."

They all looked in his direction. "This is councilman Dagon," the king introduced. Dagon nodded his head in greeting. "If we cut the stone in two,it would provide energy for both planets," Dagon said. "Impossible! The stone is too strong!" a woman sitting next to the king protested. "Yes,with tools,every type of blaster,and other material made on earth,it is impossible. But for the jedi's weapon?" Dagon looked at Obi-wan. "Hmm.." Obi-wan sighed. "Where is this stone?" he asked. "We will lead you there, if you agree," Dagon said. "I must contact my master first," Obi-wan turned to a dark corner. He took his comlink and signaled Master Yoda. "Yes?" came the old master's voice. "master, they wish us to cut their energy stone in half...with our lightsabers," he said. "The reason?" Yoda asked. After Obi-wan stated what the plan was, there was silence. Finally,Yoda replied, "take sides, you must not. Contact the gang leader,you should. If he agrees to the king's plan,so be it. Be careful Obi-wan." "yes,master," obi-wan replied. He signed off. he turned to his waiting companions. "Contact the gang leader. if he agrees,we will do as you say," he told them. The king nodded.

-Garden-

"The nerve!" aida was walking furiously ahead of anakin. "Abduct me to get the stone? Ridiculous!" she continued. her gentle voice had an angry tone to it. "Princess,you must be patient--" "Aida," she corrected him shortly. "Aida," Anakin said.

"What?"

"You must--"

"be patiet?"

"yes."

"can't."

"why"

"don't have that gift."

"of what?"

"being patient!"

"I thought you had a patient nature."

"yeah? Meet the real me."

Anakin sighed. "Please just---hold on," he abruptly stopped. aida whirled around. "what is it?" Anakin held up a hand and slowly turned. "duck!" he pulled Aida behind a pillar as a blaster shot missed them. "Stay here," he instructed Aida. Aida quietly nodded. Anakin took his lightsaber and activated it. A blaster came at him and he quickly deflected it. He had to keep the princess safe. He stepped out and tried finding out who was shooting. A man in a black cloak was blasting a garden tree to peices. "Stop!" Anakin deflected 5 shots at a time. Suddenly he heard a scream. "Aida!" he shouted. He deflected another bolt,and went to Aida's hiding place. Another man was trying to get her hands tied. aida,however,was struggling feircely. "Get--off!" Aida kicked him in the groin. The man gave a yelp. "Go,Anakin!! I'll take care of him!" Aida said, giving the man another good kick on his face. Anakin said, "I'll be right here!" and he deflected another bolt. the stranger was now advancing on him,firing two blaster pistols at a time. Anakin tried deflecting and dodging each bolt that came at him. He heard another scream from the man trying to abduct Aida. "Who are you?" he cried towards the man still shooting at him. Instead of answering, the man gave another 6 blasts and fled. Anakin couldn't chase him,he needed to help the princess. As he was going back to the hallway where she was,Aida landed another punch at the man's face. the poor man's nose was bleeding. Anakin almost burst out laughing. "call security!" Aida said, pinning the kidnapper's arms around his back. "OW!" he cried. In response, she just kicked him from behind. he starting groaning in pain. As anakin pressed the security button, he heard aida hiss, "Who sent you?" "Nobody," the kidnapper groaned. He yelped when she put her arm around his neck,threatening to strangle him. "I-i don't know!" he shouted,almost crying. Obi-wan came running down the hall,obviously feeling something had been wrong in the force. "Well, it looks like you and the princess have handled this quite well,padawan," he commented, looking at the grinning face of Anakin, and the princess, who had given the man another kick. "Oww!" he cried.

-Later-

"I did not know you had skills such as those," anakin said, as he and the princess started walking towards her chambers. "that's my advantage. I look fragile at first but when you test my skills,suprise,suprise," she replied. Anakin chuckled. "thanks againfor helping,Anakin. You will make a very fine jedi bodyguard someday," she said, entering her room. "You're welcome, your--Aida," Anakin said. Aida smiled and closed the door.

Anakin sighed in exhaustation as he walked towards his quarters. He needed some rest after the excitement of the day.

As he lay sleeping in his cot, Anakin dreamed an unusual dream.

Everything was black,no light anywhere. he knew he was trying to look for something--or someone. He heard Aida's gentle voice humming through the darkness. "Anakin..." she called in a singsong voice. "Anakin, please come help me..." her voice was strange. Anakin tried to answer back, but like in ones dream, you find you can't speak. "Anakin...where are you?" Anakin started running towards the voice. he tried to call her name, but it was no use. "Anakin...Ani...."

"ANAKIN!!" Anakin woke up to his master shaking him. "master! What are you doing here?" he asked,suddenly worried. "The princess has been kidnapped," was Obi-wan's short reply.