Disclaimer: I do not own Anakin Skywalker or Obi-Wan Kenobi. Also, I quote a Moulin Rouge song in here, so, nope, don't own that either. I do, however, own Arden and Lilly.
1: Waking Up and Getting Out
The sunlight shown through that small window, fluttered through its cloud-like curtains, and finally kissed the sleeping eyelids of that young girl's face. Her brown ringlets fell on the pillow beneath her head and one drowsy hand lifted to rub her green-brown eyes. With a yawn, Arden slowly sat up in her bed and looked lovingly at the Star Wars poster across from her on her shut bedroom door. The faces of her two favorite Jedi stared back at her with expressions of worry and strong determination. She had seen that movie four times now, enough to earn her the title "obsessed" from her friends who just didn't understand the tragedy of Anakin's choice or the pounding lust for power of the Sith. Only her younger sister Lilly understood, as annoying and childish as she was in every other way.
Arden shook her head sleepily and made her way to the closet. Being a lazy Sunday, she chose a loose pair of khakis and a red t-shirt. She shut the closet-door and turned to enter the bathroom when something was happening somewhere else that would alter her reality possibly forever.
On the fiery planet on which Anakin and Obi-Wan dueled, it seemed to both parties that the evil Jedi was winning. Kenobi was growing weary as his apprentice's attacks simply wouldn't stop. He was younger and was driven by hate, what had Obi-Wan to fight for? The death of his dearest friend and the return to a broken Republic? Pardon him if he was anything less than motivated. Yet he knew what had to be done and tried his hardest to accomplish his task; the question was, could he?
"It is over for you, my Master," Skywalker spoke through the thunder of lava. Yes, it certainly did seem that way—no! Obi-Wan would not allow himself to think like that!
The battle raged on until Kenobi had the higher ground. The fight was (a tad unbelievably) won. Unless of course Anakin would be foolish enough to—
"Don't try it, Anakin!" Obi-Wan warned, truly worried for his opponent.
"You underestimate my power!" the Sith apprentice barked, proceeding to do the unthinkable. He leapt up into the air, flipping, and—
Kenobi cried out with pain and surprise as one of his enemy's boots collided with his forehead, sending him down onto the rocky earth. He saw Anakin beside him; apparently he had not meant to kick his Master, for he was laying on the ground, squinting with discomfort as Obi-Wan's world began to darken and spin. His apprentice soon disappeared from sight and before long all he saw was black.
The Jedi Master opened his eyes to further darkness but now could hear the sound of someone bustling about just feet away from him. They were singing a song of some sort and from the pitch of the voice, Obi-Wan registered the singer as a female. Was it Padme? No, that wouldn't make sense. Or was he just delusional? Kenobi sat up and felt something brush against his cheek; it felt like silk. With one hand he felt out in front of him and touched what felt like a wooden door. Using the Force, he willed it to open.
"Come what may... I will love you until my dying day," the young brunette was singing. She went silent then, holding a folded piece of clothing (a nightgown, it seemed) to her chest and sighing, staring once more at her bedroom door. Obi-Wan followed her gaze and nearly gasped with amazement. It was a picture of Anakin, Padme, Yoda, Darth Sideous, and himself! But how?
Arden turned around to hang the nightdress in her closet but instead found herself looking straight into a pair of cerulean eyes. Her entire body froze and she could not breathe for what seemed like an eternity. She dropped the apparel and could not even scream.
For Obi-Wan the effect was similar, except he had previously seen the girl and was sure that this was her abode. He went rigid and found himself wishing to be back at the battle—the battle! His head spun around from side to side; where was Anakin? Better yet, he thought, where was he?
Finally, the voice she had been searching for emitted from her throat and she managed to stammer,
"G-General Kenobi?"
He looked at her with confusion and dawning distrust. Instinctively he reached for his light-saber only to find its loop on his belt empty. Obi-Wan stood up, a pounding in his head where Anakin had hit him began to throb. He touched the place where it hurt and quickly recoiled his hand, for he felt blood and the oils on his fingertips stung badly.
"Master Kenobi," Arden said, with an unshakeable certainty that that was who this was. "Would you like me to get a cloth for your head?" Frankly the wound frightened her, for it was a long gash already encrusted with dirt and outlined in bruising skin.
He nodded, knowing it was impolite to ask a favor of a stranger (a lady in particular) but this was not an ordinary situation. Also, with her temporarily gone, he might be able to observe his surroundings. However she only entered and occupied the bathroom for a moment before coming back and approaching the Jedi.
"Thank you," he said softly, accepting the small towel and gently rubbing his head with it. About half-way done with this task, he noticed the girl's eyes never left him. He looked down at her and suddenly felt himself growing quite awkward indeed.
She sighed. "A real Jedi right here in my room! It's... it's fantastic! It can't be true!" Her eyes were moist with happiness, though for what reason Obi-Wan could not begin to speculate. "I've been so rude," she said, feeling more than a bit like Wendy in Peter Pan. "My name is Arden Ashwood," she extended her hand to him.
After a brief uncertain pause, Kenobi shook her hand and asked how she knew his name and the fact that he was a Jedi. Arden responded that it was actually quite difficult to explain. She summarized by saying there were many tales about Jedi much of them included Kenobi himself. There were pictures of all the Jedi and Kenobi, being one of her favorite characters of the myths, had been easy to identify. Arden told him, after he inquired, that the year was 2005 and they were currently on the planet Earth.
"So, you are familiar with the ways of the Jedi?" Kenobi asked.
"Well, I have never even seen a real light-saber but yes," she said with a little smile that contained just a hint of pride. "I believe I am quite well-learned with that subject. So is my sister Lilly—" her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh my gosh!" Obi-Wan took a step back, not knowing what the young female was thinking.
Arden grabbed Obi's free hand and almost skipped with excitement. "You have to meet my sister! She would jump off a bridge to meet you!"
The General's brow furrowed nervously. "Oh please allow her to do no such thing!" Arden laughed with one of the brightest smiles Obi had ever seen. She explained to him that it was just a saying and then asked him if he would mind waiting here until she brought her sister back with her. He replied that no, but would she mind if he sat down? Arden walked over to her desk and pulled out the chair in front of her computer, gesturing to him that he was welcome to have a seat.
Before she opened the door and left, she took one more glance at him, eyes dreamy and smile wide. "General Kenobi, you have no idea how happy I am to meet you."
