I do not own the characters by George Lucas, nor do I own the plot. I am twisting it to add a different character in.I do use many lines from the Star Wars movie when I am doing copied scenes from it. Just to warn you.

Vataloni's View

Vataloni had decided to pay Anakin a visit in the Training Temple once she had finished her lengthy discussion with Padme of her affections for Obi-Wan. Her former Master's voice had stopped talking for almost three hours during her chat, and she hoped he was gone for good now.

Many times in the past, when Obi-Wan was busy with previous engagements, Anakin and Vataloni would venture off to see the new batch of Jedi Younglings that were training in the halls that neither Apprentices had ever trained in. It was a weird sensation to watch the young boys and girls, sometimes no older then four, levitate things for high-ranking Jedi Masters. Vataloni often wondered what her training would have been like if she had studied here as a Jedi pupil, not a Sith. Perhaps she would have had a childhood filled with friends and peers, instead of some harsh old man who usually only pointed out her faults. Her previous Master never allowed her to socialize with other Siths, even though their meetings were rare.

Once, when Vataloni had turned twelve, her Master took her to a high strung planet, filled with overly stressed, smelly creatures who tried to pass themselves off as humans. She was curious as to the reasons why this planet was so horrible, and her Master explained it was being lorded over by a Sith who was incapable of controlling his people. Her Master then set a meeting with the 'King' and Vataloni was to wait with the other apprentice. He was young, maybe her age, and had a lovely set of burgundy eyes that stood out against his grey, frosty skin, and his name was Eloine. A rather feminine name, in Vataloni's opinion, but back then she was ordered to keep her opinions to herself and said nothing. He was the first one to speak to her. They talked about anything that came to mind. From the lovely weather outside, to the horrid smell seeping in the window from the streets. Suddenly, there was a violent clash of lightsabers from the room where her Master was, and then it fell silent. Eloine made his way inside, against his Master's orders, and discovered Vataloni's Master had killed his. Out of rage, he attempted to kill her Master, but Vataloni watched in horror as her Master slowly sliced the younger man into nothing.

That was her first true experience in the Sith world, and she felt repulsed by it. Her Master scolded her for the disgusted look on her face, and she was forced to run through murky swamps to make up for it. Her Master always used to punish her for the simplest things. Sometimes it was over things she hadn't done... She liked Obi-Wan even more as these memories flashed around her mind. He never, ever punished her. Not physically anyway. There had been verbal reprimanding, but nothing too horrible for the young woman to handle.

"Master Anakin?" Vataloni heard a small voice ask as she neared the training room, "Is this how you do it?"

"Raise your arms a little..." Anakin corrected gently.

"Like this?"

"Higher..."

"Now?"

"No..." he chuckled. Vataloni leaned on the frame, watching her friend work with the youngling to get his stance right as he held his weapon. Her presence did not go unnoticed, and after a moment or so she was bombarded with hugs from little Jedi.

"You shouldn't encourage this type of behavior," Anakin said loudly, "They're supposed to be brave Jedi Knights, not wimpy little girls that hug!"

There was a chorus of protests from the Younglings and they immediately backed away from Vataloni, grabbing their weapons and eager to take some pointers from Anakin as he moved around the room. Vataloni soon picked up a training lightsaber and helped a few of the struggling students with their stances. They were so ready and willing to learn, all with great aspirations of becoming the greatest Jedi the galaxy had seen. Of course, none would admit that dream out loud, since it was not the Jedi way to think along those lines. Vataloni knew, however, they all secretly craved to be the best. That was what pushed them to show off for the elder Jedi whenever they were around. Yoda was a paticular favourite for the young Jedi to show off too.

That's what put Anakin and Vataloni apart from the rest. She had learned Anakin had never trained in the Jedi Temple... He was picked up and immediately given the name of Apprentice after Obi-Wan's Master passed on, Qui-Gon. Vataloni wished she could have met the man who had trained the one she loved so dearly, and it was a shame that he had died.

Her eyes followed Anakin as he helped one of the smaller boys get his footwork right when preparing to fight. She smiled; he was so good with children. They all warmed up to him instantly, and would smile when he looked their way. Of course, the younger girls would smile AND flush brightly, since he was a handsome young man.

"We need to talk," Anakin muttered after a good hour of assistance to the Younglings. Vataloni frowned as he turned back towards the pupils, smiling, "As much as we love spending time here, we must be off... We'll be back soon. Keep up the excellent work."

There were groans of protest and Vataloni spent an extra five minutes assuring the adorable little students that they would spend more time in the training room on their next visit.

Anakin walked quickly down the hall and motioned for Vataloni to follow him into the records chamber. It reminded Vataloni much of a library. There were rows and rows of shelves with little lights blinking every so often. Inside the shelves, however, were centuries worth of information that the Jedi would look through on occasion, if they felt lost about a subject. Usually, the chamber was noy busy. There were a few teenage Jedi apprentices gathering things for their Masters, or a Jedi Knight here and there reminiscing through old files.

"What's wrong, Anakin?" she inquired softly when he pulled her to the farthest corner of the chamber, checking around thoroughly to make sure no one was nearby. He looked her face over and raised an eyebrow, "I had an interesting chat with my dear wife just before I left for the Training Temple..."

Vataloni felt her heart stop and she swallowed painfully, "Oh really?"

"Yes," he sniggered, a smirk slowly moving across his face, "Do you know what we talked about?"

"I haven't the slightest idea," Vataloni managed to get out dryly. Anakin rocked back and forth on his heels, a devilish smile forming on his lips, "It was very fascinating to hear, you know? About a new love sparking between a certain Jedi and his apprentice..."

"Don't say it so loudly," she hissed, pushing him even further back and away from the eyes of a few students who had taken a seat near the pair. Anakin's smile had not stopped growing, "So it is true... Padme was not just hearing things! But Vataloni... For Obi-Wan? Isn't he a little too... old?"

"Padme's older then you," she snapped, glaring at him heatedly, "So I don't see why you should bring that up!"

"Come, come," Anakin chuckled, nudging her, "You know I'm only poking fun with you. I'll keep your secret since you've kept mine."

She breathed a sigh of relief and she had the urge to hug him. It was a strange urge, but she needed comfort in Obi-Wan's absence. A thought suddenly dawned on her.

"My lightsaber," she breathed into Anakin's ear. She frowned and pulled away, gazing upon his confused face, "My lightsaber... I never got it back from that night at the Opera... I've just been using the ones I find in the Training rooms when I go..."

"Perhaps you should see Palpatine about getting it back?" Anakin suggested, "I'm sure you need it."

"I feel so stupid," she confessed, slapping herself on the forehead, "How could I not have noticed THAT of all things was missing?"

"Maybe your mind was on something... or someone else," Anakin laughed, giving her a small push towards the door before she could snap something at him, "Go see the Chancellor... He's free this afternoon."

Vataloni stood outside the door to Palpatine's office for some time, debating whether or not to enter. She felt so foolish... crawling back pathetically to ask for her lightsaber back. What kind of Jedi was she?

"Vataloni," Palpatine's voice crackled from the intercom system beside his door, "Either come in or go away... You're standing in front of my sensors and they are going off every time you move!"

She flushed in embarrassment and pressed her hand against the detector, then instantly stepped inside once she had been granted access. She stopped short from his desk and held her hands respectfully folded in front of her, "I do apologize, Chancellor, but I was deciding whether or not to bother you."

"I know why you are here," he chuckled, "Your lightsaber was given to me the day after the Opera by the attendant who had taken a hold of it by accident. I was wondering when you would come for it."

Vataloni's shame returned completely and she cleared her throat before answering, "I have been focusing on other things..."

"Such as Master Kenobi's departure?" he inquired, smirking slightly, "Love is such a time consuming thing."

"I'd really rather not discuss it," Vataloni said heatedly, "The return of my weapon is all I need and I will be on my way."

She wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Palpatine had this eerie feeling stirring in her gut, and Vataloni wished to go back to her room and reply the message Obi-Wan had sent her briefly, which consisted of - Hello Vataloni. Can't talk much. Plans for invasion about to commence. Food is terrible. Really do not like flying. Clones are very boring to talk to. Best luck at handling Palpatine, and speak with Yoda if he troubles you too much. I miss you. Much love. - which Vataloni had been over the moon to listen to. She wanted to play it over and over again, loving the deep tone of his voice. It was soothing her aching heart.

"You seem distressed," Palpatine commented, "I can sense that in you... Now do you understand why Jedi Knights do not entangle themselves in romance?"

"My lightsaber, Chancellor," Vataloni ordered forcefully, still managing to keep the tranquil tone of her voice present. Palpatine's brow furrowed, "Was that an order?"

"More of a pleasant request," she hissed. They locked eyes for a second and Vataloni suddenly felt something give her a light push towards him. Looking around, bewildered, she felt the push again. There was no one else in the room with the pair, so... how was it she was being pushed and pulled towards Palpatine?

And why was the Force nearly bursting in this room?

Her eyes suddenly widened, "Chancellor... Have you always had the ability to manipulate the Force?"

Palpatine laughed loudly and she was pushed forcefully up the stairs to his desk, "I let my guard down for you... Did you know that?"

She stared at him stupidly and a chair suddenly hit the backs of her knees, causing her to tumble backwards.

"I can mask my use of the Force very well," he explained, standing up and pacing. She watched as he levitated her lightsaber above his hands, slowly twirling it, "I could have hidden it today, you know? But it's been long enough... Obi-Wan isn't here to tell you what is right and wrong... You shall make your decision about me when the time comes."

Vataloni shifted nervously in her seat and stiffened when he walked around her, leaning down beside her ear and sliding his hand lightly along her shoulder, then down to her arm.

"You've gotten very lovely," he whispered, "But you're still the same little girl who frightens around men of power."

"Don't be ridiculous," Vataloni murmured, not daring to turn her head and look at him, "I am not frightened."

"I can sense it," he breathed, "You are riddled with fear. It has almost consumed you. Let it... Let it happen Vataloni."

"Fear leads to a path forbidden to me," she replied, trying to slow her breathing and contain her rapid heartbeat, "The Darkside-"

"Calls," he muttered, "Can you hear it? Will you answer once again, Silme?"

A small gasp escaped her lips. Silme... It was a nicname the tribal women of Endar had given her when Vataloni was seven. They compared her skin to the soft pale glow of moonlight, which was what her nicname meant. No one had known about the name... No one had called her it off the planet, expect her old Master when she had done something worth praise.

"You..." she exhaled, standing up and gazing at him through frightened eyes, "No... No you can't be..."

"Don't act so shocked," Palpatine snapped, his voice suddenly turning into the cold one she had grown used to in her younger years, "I thought you would have caught me, by now. I used to think you were bright."

"You left me..." she whimpered, suddenly feeling helpless under his gaze, "I wasn't worth anything to you anymore."

"I was going to find you once I had finished off my other apprentices," he stated calmly, "But I needed you to be welcomed by them... By the Jedi. I wasn't expecting you to turn into one of them, of course, but I was hoping you'd push for sympthay among the fools."

"You... You got in my head," she exclaimed, bumping into his desk as she backed away from his advancing figure, "You listened to my thoughts.. How-"

"I have many powers," he stated, stepping so close to her that she was forced to turn her head to the side to avoid his, "That doesn't mean I will show you them all at once."

His hand slid along her jaw line and gripped her chin harshly, making her yelp as he brought her face back towards him, "I think we can keep this a secret, don't you?"

Vataloni looked away and nodded her head, staying mute. Palpatine hissed, "Look at me!"

She quickly brought her eyes back to his and he continued, "I have ways of making you suffer if you let this little... secret... out. Wait until I call for you, and I will. Anakin will know soon enough, and you will both heed me when I ask of you..."

He stuffed her cold lightsaber into her shaking hands and placed his hand on her lower back, giving her a small shove away, "Off you go," his voice had returned to the weak and elderly one of Chancellor Palpatine, "I'm sure you've got what you came for."

Vataloni had never moved so fast in her life as she bolted for the door, not even giving him a second glance.