You all better like this, because It took me three days to write hahaha.
I skipped around to certain scenes, but I do plan on flashbacks throughout the story while they're thinking about the movie ;)
Gah, this took so long...I'm glad it's finished.
Don't forget to review guys and, of course...
Enjoy!
"Popcorn anybody?"
Padme, Obi-Wan, and Anakin were all situated on the upstairs foyer's comfy couch that Aria usually spread out on when she watched movies. Wanting to be a gracious host, Aria had dragged a lounge chair out of her room to sit in, placing it beside Anakin. Aria placed the giant bowl of freshly popped popcorn on the coffee table.
"I'm sorry, I can't watch a movie without popcorn, it's a must for me," Aria said with a small smile. In her mind, though, she was running through what was in the movie at a rapid pace. Would they recognize Palpatine as Sidious? Or would they find the probability so impossible that it wouldn't even cross their minds? Hopefully it would be the latter. And then there was that bit where after Yoda and Windu talked about the Sith Master and Apprentice the camera purposely focused on Sidious at the funeral—
Aria stopped her train of thought, halfway to her room where the series was stashed. The funeral. Qui-Gon's death. She'd almost completely forgotten…
Aria turned back to the three, who were watching her with curious expressions or raised eyebrows. Aria, however, was focused on Obi-Wan. "Ah…Episode one is during the Blockade of Naboo…start to finish," she explained, holding Obi-Wan's gaze. Padme caster gaze down to her hands, a small frown falling over her expression.
Understanding flashed across Obi-Wan's eyes—Anakin's as well—and for a brief moment, Aria saw the Jedi Master hesitate. However, it was only for a moment, and Obi-Wan's jaw set in firm determination. "All right. Thank you for telling us."
Aria nodded. "Okay…I'll go get the movie…" she muttered, turning back to her room. It took her a few moments to remember just where she had stashed all of the star wars stuff the night before, and once she found her blue ray box set she cradled it close to her. This set was her life, like a lightsaber was a Jedi's.
Chuckling at her analogy, Aria came back into the room, sliding the book that held the cd's out of the case. Anakin was watching her closely, studying the case. "Is that me on the cover? When I was nine?" he asked dubiously.
"Yes," she responded simply with another chuckle.
"And the other guy? He's obviously not me…"
Aria smiled a little more. "Of course not. That's Luke."
She heard Anakin shift closer in from his seat. "Could we watch one of the movies with him? You said it was a different generation, it shouldn't hurt anything."
Aria shook her head. "It might be a different generation, but they talk about what happened to you three. Maybe I'll show you a scene or two on my laptop, I have specific scenes on there I know are all right."
Anakin gave a huff of frustration, but he seemed to realize that was the best he was going to get right now. Aria swiftly pulled out the cd, placing it gently in the cd case. Down the stairs, they heard the door open and slam shut, little feet stomping up the stairs at a rapid pace. Joshua appeared around the corner, breathing heavily.
"Are you watching the Darth Maul episode?" he asked breathlessly. Aria rolled her eyes.
"Yes we are," she said tiredly.
"He's my favorite! Can I watch too?" he asked eagerly.
"Only if you stay quiet," she warned. "And get your own chair."
He scampered off to get the chair, and Aria blushed under the gaze of the other three. She didn't need to ask to know their looks were because of his Darth Maul quip. "He's a…I don't claim him."
"Really?" Anakin asked, obviously amused to some degree.
"Just...ignore whatever weirdness comes out of his mouth, we don't understand it half the time anyway, and we've known him since he was born." She got up in her chair, grabbing the blanket she'd dragged out too and wrapped it around herself. "Joshua, I'm starting it," she called.
The child was there with a chair beside Obi-Wan in five seconds flat. Part of her thought to call the child over to her to keep him in line or from spouting something insensitive or confidential, but she decided to risk it. Getting comfortable, she started the disk, explaining the cast as they waited for the movie to actually start.
"Ewan McGregor plays Obi-Wan, Natalie Portman plays Padme, Jake Lloyd plays Anakin, and Liam Neeson plays Qui-Gon."
She smiled as the opening crawl started.
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away," her brother said with a grin. She shot him a look to shush him as the musical score she knew by heart kicked in, signaling the beginning. Aria hummed the score with a small smile.
'Episode I: THE PHANTOM MENACE. Turmoil has engulfed the Galactic Republic. The taxation of trade routes to outlying star systems is in dispute. Hoping to resolve the matter with a blockade of deadly battleships, the greedy Trade Federation has stopped all shipping to the small planet of Naboo. While the Congress of the Republic endlessly debates this alarming chain of events, the Supreme Chancellor has secretly dispatched two Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy, to settle the conflict...'
"Captain," Qui-Gon said on the screen. Out of her peripherals, Aria saw Obi-Wan tense upon hearing his deceased Master's voice.
"Yes sir?" said the pilot.
"Tell them we wish to board at once…"
Aria leaned back, watching the familiar scene play out only partially. In reality, she wanted to see everyone else's reaction. She knew Anakin did not know what had happened before the small party had landed on Tatooine. It would be interesting to see his reaction.
The two Jedi on screen finally removed their hoods, revealing the faces underneath. Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme all stiffened at how spot on the actors looked to the actual people or, in Obi-Wan's case, himself.
"I have a bad feeling about this…" the Obi-Wan on the screen said.
"I don't sense anything," Qui-Gon responded calmly.
"It's not about the mission Master, it's something…elsewhere…elusive…"
"Well yeah, it's—" Joshua started, but Aria cut him off.
"Shh!" she hissed at him. "I will kick you out!"
Joshua shut up.
"Don't center on your anxieties Obi-Wan, keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs," Qui-Gon chided.
"But Master Yoda said I should be mindful of the future," Obi-Wan protested.
"But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the Living Force, young Padawan…"
"Yes Master…"
"Cheeky Padawan, weren't you Master?" Anakin suddenly quipped.
"Anakin…"
"Sorry Master," Anakin said, though his grin said he certainly wasn't sorry.
"Distract them. I will contact Lord Sidious."
All three of the Star Wars character's leaned forward, curious. Aria realized with a start that none of them had known Sidious was behind the blockade.
Well poodoo, too late now, Aria thought grimly.
"Are you brain dead? I'm not going in there with two Jedi! Send the droid."
"What is it?" Sidious rasped moments later. Aria visibly tensed, though she hoped none of them realized it. Maybe Anakin did.
"This game of yours has failed Lord Sidious; the blockade is finished. We dare not go against the Jedi."
"Viceroy; I don't want this stunted slime in my sight again," Sidious snarled. "This turn of events is unfortunate. We must accelerate our plans. Begin landing your troops."
"My Lord! Is that legal?"
"I will make it legal."
"And the Jedi?"
"The Chancellor should never have brought them into this; kill them immediately."
Aria, who had been straining her ears, decided that Palpatine's voice was too warped by his Sithy anger for them to realize who he was…hopefully.
"Yes…yes my lord, as you wish!"
"Was that a Sith?" Obi-Wan asked suddenly, turning on Aria immediately.
Aria blushed. "Ah…yes…yes it was…"
"I don't believe it," Obi-Wan murmured, sitting back though watching the screen with much more interest.
"You saved my again!"
Aria had to repress the urge to spout Jar Jar jokes as she watched the scene unfold. She was pretty sure that Anakin would be making another quip sometime soon…
"What's this?" the on screen Obi-Wan asked incredulously.
"A local," Qui-Gon responded grimly. "Let's get out of here before more droids show up."
Jar Jar continued to follow them. "More? More did you say? Exqueeze me, but the mosta safest place would be gungan city! It's a ware I grew up. Tis a hidden city!"
"City?"
"Uh-huh."
"Can you take us there?"
"Uh, on second thought, no. Not really, no."
"No?" Qui-Gon asked, as if not hearing him correctly.
"Is embarrassing; but, uh, my friend I've been banished! My forgotten; the bosses will do terrible things to me; terrible things to me if I be going back there."
"You hear that?" Qui-Gon suddenly asked, pointing off into the distance.
"Yeah."
"That is the sound of a thousand terrible things headed this way," Qui-Gon said, hands on his hips as he stepped closer to Jar Jar. Obi-Wan also stepped closer.
"If they find us, they will crush us, grind us into tiny pieces, and blast us into oblivion," the Obi-Wan on screen said.
Anakin started laughing as the on screen Obi-Wan gave Qui-Gon a little smirk. "You sure know how to be persuasive and prove a point, Master."
"Hush up Anakin."
"Where's this Obi-Wan when I need you to take a joke?" Anakin continued to chuckle.
"Anakin…" Obi-Wan warned. Anakin simply continued to laugh.
"We're losing power…"
"Oh, no…" Jar Jar moaned. "Wesa die in here!"
"Just relax, we're not in trouble yet," Qui-Gon assured him.
"What yet?" Jar Jar snapped. "Monsters out there, wesa in here; all sinkin and no power? Whena usa tinking we in trouble!"
Suddenly, at the same time, Joshua, Aria, and the on screen Obi-Wan all spoke the same thing. "Power's back!"
However, Joshua and Aria practically shouted it, pointing at each other and causing the other three to jump, looking at them like they were insane. They broke out arguing briefly.
"I said it first! You owe me a bar of chocolate," Joshua argued.
"No you didn't," Aria scolded. "We said it at the same time, I don't owe you anything."
"What?" Obi-Wan and Anakin both asked, confused.
"It's a contest every time we watch this, don't worry about it, we just try to see who can say it first," Aria said, waving a hand in the air. "Joshua, it was a tie; neither of us owe anything."
"I said it first…" Joshua mumbled.
Aria simply threw popcorn at him.
"Relax," Qui-Gon said, putting Jar Jar in a sleeper hold of sorts. Jar Jar slumped in his seat.
"You overdid it," the on screen Obi-Wan told him.
"I need to learn that so I can use it on you," Aria told Joshua. Joshua stuck his tongue out at her, causing her to chuckle.
"Queen Amidala; has she signed the treaty?" the shadowy form of Darth Sidious asked.
"She has…disappeared my lord. One Naboo cruiser got past the blockade."
Sidious snarled. "I want that treaty signed."
"My lord…it's impossible to locate the ship; it's out of our range…"
"Not for a Sith."
Obi-Wan visibly tensed as Maul appeared. Anakin and Padme, even Aria, all looked at him, obviously worried. However, Obi-Wan kept his face as smooth as possible. Aria was embarrassed by the excited look on her brother's face at the appearance of Maul, and she hoped that the look on her face would keep him from saying something stupid.
Apparently it worked.
"This is my apprentice, Darth Maul. He will find your lost ship," Sidious said before disappearing.
"This is getting out of hand; now there are two of them!"
"We should not have made this bargain!"
"So that's how you all ended up on the big dust ball," Anakin mused after Qui-Gon had decided to go into town on Tatooine with Padme and Jar Jar.
"I believe someone will finally be making an appearance soon," Aria said with a small smile. She laughed, pointing towards a small speeder that was in the background before Anakin could retort. "Luke's speeder! Years before he got it of course."
"I never saw that!" Joshua exclaimed. Aria smirked.
"I have an eye for those things," she chuckled. A small, nine year old Anakin came running down the stairs on screen. "Hey look, there he is!"
Obi-Wan looked genuinely curious, Padme was smiling faintly, and Anakin looked as if he was about to sink into the couch and disappear from everyone's gaze.
"Are you an angel?" the on screen Anakin asked. The present, twenty year old Anakin blushed furiously, covering his face with his hand and looking like he would love to be anywhere but there.
"What?" the on screen Padme asked.
"An angel. I heard the deep space pilots talk about them. They're the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They live on the moons of Iego, I think."
"Put me out of my misery," Anakin muttered under his breath, obviously embarrassed.
"Don't worry, it will be over eventually," Aria chuckled.
"I'm a person, and my name is Anakin!" the on screen Anakin said in an offended tone. Twenty year old Anakin sunk deeper into the couch, looking for all the world like he was ready to disappear. Aria patted him on the back with a chuckle.
"Hey, you guys wanted to watch the movie," she laughed.
"Mom! Mom, I'm home!"
Aria glanced at Anakin. Sure enough, a look of pure, mournful longing crossed his features, and he drank in his mother's features as she appeared on the screen. Aria felt a pang in her heart, thinking of the conditions she would be in when he saw her for the first—and last—time since he was nine. She shoved the emotion deep down, hoping that neither of the Jedi had sensed it. After that, she turned half her attention back to the movie, the other half to Anakin.
Just to make sure he was all right.
"Tatooine is sparsely populated. If the trace is correct, I will find them quickly Master."
"They're on Coruscant!" Obi-Wan exclaimed in shock, staring at Sidious and Maul on the screen. "How did the Council not sense them?"
Aria shrugged. "Sidious is…an expert at shielding his presence."
"Move against the Jedi first. You will then have no difficulty in taking the Queen to Naboo to sign the treaty," Sidious hissed from the shadows of the cloak.
"At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have revenge."
Aria shivered at Maul's words. They were correct…for the most part. The revenge still have another thirteen years before it came to pass.
It was a terrifying thought. Especially when she realized she was sitting right next to the man who would fulfill Maul's words.
"You have been well trained my young apprentice. They will be no match for you."
"You must have Jedi reflexes if you race pods," Qui-Gon was saying a few moments earlier. Aria couldn't help but laugh as he caught Jar Jar's tongue without even looking. "Don't do that again."
The scene even managed to get a smile out of Obi-Wan. But it was quick to progress.
"You're a Jedi Knight, aren't you?" the on screen Anakin asked.
"What makes you think that?" Qui-Gon asked.
Anakin blushed a split second before his younger self embarrassed him again by calling a lightsaber a laser sword. "I saw your laser sword. Only Jedis carry that kind of weapon."
"Perhaps I killed a Jedi and took it from him," Qui-Gon stated smoothly.
"I don't think so. No one can kill a Jedi."
The present Anakin and Obi-Wan flinched, though Qui-Gon's next words caused Obi-Wan to recoil slightly.
"I wish that was so."
"You should be very proud of your son. He gives without any thought of reward."
"Well, he knows nothing of greed," Shmi told Qui-Gon. Everyone was interested in this conversation. No one had heard it, and no one had been told about it. Aria studied their faces to see their reactions. "He has, ah…"
"He has special powers." Qui-Gon guessed.
"Yes," Shmi said softly.
"He can see things before they happen. That's why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It's a Jedi trait."
"He deserves better than a slaves life."
"Had he been born in the Republic we would have identified him earlier. The Force is unusually strong with him, that much is clear. Who was his father?"
Anakin visibly stiffened, but of course that didn't stop the flow of conversation on screen.
"There was no father. I carried him, I gave birth, I've raised him…I can't explain what happened. Can you help him?"
"I don't know," Qui-Gon said doubtfully. "I didn't actually come here to free slaves."
By the thoughtful looks on everyone's faces, Aria was sure that the conversation was filed away into all of their brains.
"Stay still Ani; let me clean this cut."
"There's so many! Do they all have a system of planets?" Anakin was asking.
"Most of them." Qui-Gon told him.
"Has anyone been to them all?"
"Hmm…not likely."
"I want to be the first one to see them all!"
"Ani! Bed time!" Shmi could be heard saying in the background.
"Ow!" Anakin exclaimed.
"There we are; good as new," Qui-Gon told him with a small smile.
"Ani! I'm not going to tell you again!" Shmi called again.
"What are you doing?" Anakin asked curiously.
"Checking your blood for infections. Go on, you have a big day tomorrow," Qui-Gon told him, earning a sigh of resignation from Anakin. "Sleep well Ani."
Once Anakin was gone, he pulled out his comm link. "Obi-Wan."
"Yes Master?"
"I need an analysis of this blood sample I'm sending you."
"Wait a minute," Obi-Wan said, leaning over.
"I need a midi-chlorian count," Qui-Gon told him.
The present Anakin shot Obi-Wan an accusing glance. "Checking my blood sample without telling me, sneaking around my back. Force Master, why so secretive?"
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes. "Oh, shush Anakin."
The on screen Obi-Wan was talking again. "The readings are off the chart…over twenty thousand. Even Master Yoda doesn't have a midi-chlorian count that high."
Anakin straightened up in his seat at the statement, looking much too proud of himself. Aria rolled her eyes. "Egotistical much?"
"Shh," Anakin responded, smirking lightly. "I'm eavesdropping."
"No Jedi has," Qui-Gon responded to the on screen Obi-Wan.
"What does that mean?" Obi-Wan asked.
"I'm not sure," Qui-Gon responded.
"Finally, race time!" Aria stated happily. "I love me a good race, even if I've watched it a bunch of times and know how it goes. You should see me watch Speed Racer, ha!"
Obi-Wan smiled. "Well, I'm glad I finally get to see this race instead of just hearing about it."
"It's awesome," Aria assured him.
"That slimy no good rotten pile of bantha poodoo!" Anakin exclaimed angrily when he saw Sebulba sabotage his racer. "I knew the pod was fine, I should have known he did something to it!"
"Still ticks me off to this day," Aria scowled. She leaned over to Joshua. "No squealing, all right? I won't if you won't. Silence. Keep calm," she chuckled.
The podracers started up and Aria shifted in her seat out of excitement. Beside her, she could see Anakin's fingers twitching, as if he wanted to grab the controls and fly the pod through the screen, like his body was reacting to the sounds from memory and ready to race. Aria chuckled, feeling jittery excitement rush through her.
"Hand me that popcorn!" Aria asked, her excitement clear in her voice. "And go!" she exclaimed with a grin as Jabba started the race.
Of course, Anakin's pod stalled immediately.
"What a way to start," Obi-Wan quipped.
Anakin scowled. "Maybe I don't want you to see this," he grumbled.
"It'll still be good and you know it, just a little start up trouble, that's all this is," Aria stated lightly.
"I still don't like it," Anakin grumbled as his on screen self exclaimed 'Oh no!'
"See, you're up and going again," Aria said with a grin, tapping his arm as his on screen self shot off. "Force I love this part of the movie!"
"I want a podracer!" Joshua exclaimed.
"No!" Aria said sternly as Anakin's pod started to spin out of control. "You would crash and burn in five seconds. Luke didn't even last five minutes his first time in a pod."
"So! I'd be—"
"Joshua…shush. We're watching. No you wouldn't and that is why you're not getting a podracer. It would not end well. Shush!"
Suddenly she launched to her feet. "Yes!" she exclaimed, punching the air as Anakin won the race. She sighed happily, collapsing back into the chair. "Ah…I love races…"
"That was just as you always described it. Not bad Padawan," Obi-Wan told Anakin with a smile.
"I'm going back, I've got some unfinished business. I won't be long," Qui-Gon was saying.
"Why do I sense we've picked up another pathetic lifeform?" Obi-Wan asked cheekily.
"Hey!" the real life Anakin protested, shooting Obi-Wan a dirty look.
"Don't look at me like that Anakin, we'd already picked up Jar Jar, excuse me for thinking we'd picked up another form of him," Obi-Wan scowled. "I didn't know it was you."
"Still, that's insulting!" Anakin responded. Obi-Wan rolled his eyes.
"Just watch the movie."
"Of course, if that's what a pathetic lifeform does."
"You're never going to let this go are you?"
"Nope."
"Oh well."
Of course the mood was entirely different whenever the part came for on screen Anakin to say goodbye to Shmi.
Anakin watched with pain and longing in his eyes as his nine year old self ran back to his mother. "I can't do it Mom, I just can't do it!"
"Ani…" Shmi said softly. Anakin cast his eyes down.
"Will I ever see you again?"
"What does your heart tell you?"
"I hope so…yes…I guess."
"Then we will see each other again."
"I will come back and free you mom. I promise."
"Now…be brave…and don't look back. Don't look back," Shmi told Anakin quietly. Aria and Anakin both looked away from the screen, but for entirely different reasons. Aria struggled to hide her tears at the moment. It pained her, knowing what the next meeting would be like.
Maybe…just maybe…it won't be like that…maybe I could do something about it, a small voice whispered in her head.
"Master Qui-Gon; more to say have you?"
Aria stood at rapt attention, listening to this part of the movie with interest. She had done her best to feign boredom with the Palpatine parts, her excuse being that she couldn't stand politics. Now, however, was a completely different reason. There wasn't a person she positively could not stand on the screen anymore, and they were about to start talking about Anakin.
"With your permission my Master, I have encountered a vergence in the Force," Qui-Gon said on screen. Anakin sat straighter, paying just as much attention as Aria, though the real life Obi-Wan kept his attention on Anakin.
"A vergence you say?" Yoda asked, deeply intrigued.
"Located around a…person?" Windu asked, his attention caught.
"A boy. His cells have the highest concentration of midi chlorians I have seen in a life form. It is possible he was conceived by the midi chlorians."
"You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force. You believe it's this…boy?" Windu asked skeptically.
"I don't presume to—"
Yoda cut him off. "But you do! Revealed your opinion is!"
"I request the boy be tested Master."
"Oh, trained as a Jedi, you request for him, hmm?"
"Finding him was the will of the Force. I have no doubt of that."
Everyone looked at Windu, who sighed. "Bring him before us then."
"Cheery," Anakin said sarcastically. Obi-Wan shot him a look that had Anakin immediately backtracking. "Sorry Master."
"The boy will not pass the Council's tests Master. He's too old."
Anakin scowled at Obi-Wan, who seemed to wish he could disappear into the couch like Anakin had earlier, though for entirely different reasons now.
"Anakin will become a Jedi; I promise you," Qui-Gon told the on screen Obi-Wan smoothly.
"Do not defy the Council Master, not again."
"I shall do what I must Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon responded with a smile.
"If you would just follow the Code you would be on the Council. They will not go along with you this time."
"You still have much to learn my young apprentice," Qui-Gon responded, placing a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder. Aria spotted the present Obi-Wan's shoulder twitch, as if in response to the action.
He must be remembering, she thought. I wish Qui-Gon's death wasn't in this movie, he really doesn't have to go through that again…
"Your thoughts dwell on your mother."
Aria sighed. Surely this scene would only serve to remind Anakin of his recent nightmares of his mother. It would do him no good.
"Afraid to lose her, I think," Yoda stated. Beside Aria, Anakin stiffened.
"What does that got to do with anything?" the on screen Anakin asked skeptically.
"Everything!" Yoda exclaimed. Aria smiled mournfully, repeating his next line with him. "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear lead to anger, anger leads to hate, hate…leads to suffering."
The others looked at her curiously, but said nothing.
"It's not disrespect Master, it's the truth!"
Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin, catching Aria watching him from across the way. A stormy look crossed his features for a second. They both knew what was coming.
"From your point of view," Qui-Gon responded evenly.
"The boy is dangerous. They all sense it, why can't you?"
Anakin stiffened. Even Aria could tell that he was shocked and hurt. She could practically feel the rift between them growing, and it scared her.
I've got to make amends and fix this, she thought. Obi-Wan's determination and care for him later will be the perfect opportunity.
"His fate is uncertain; he's not dangerous. The Council will decide Anakin's future; that should be enough for you. Now get on board," Qui-Gon said in a reprimanding tone.
Obi-Wan looked for a moment like he was about to argue, but he bit back whatever his words were and did as Qui-Gon asked.
The tension in the room was crackling; Aria could only hope that it would relax soon, and that the two could come to an understand. Or, at the least, Anakin could manage to forgive Obi-Wan for his thinking ten years ago.
"Jar Jar is on his way to the gungan city Master."
"Good."
"Do you think the Queen's idea will work?"
"You just question everything, don't you Master," Anakin said stiffly. Aria shot him a look.
"Anakin," she warned, shooting him a look and earning a fiery eyed look from Anakin. She didn't back down though, and he held his tongue.
"The gungans will not be easily swayed. And we cannot use our power to help her," Qui-Gon was saying. There was a moment of silence on the screen before Obi-Wan spoke again.
"I'm…I'm sorry for my behavior Master. It's not my place to disagree with you about the boy. And I am grateful you think I'm ready to take the trials."
"You've been a good apprentice Obi-Wan. And you are a much wiser man than I am. I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight."
Aria sighed, settling back into her chair and watching Anakin silently for a moment. He obviously knew her gaze was on him, but he said nothing. She shook her head with a small, sad smile.
He'll understand soon…I'm sure he'll forgive Obi-Wan for something said ten years ago.
As the movie progressed, Obi-Wan gradually tensed. They all knew what was coming. Aria just hoped her brother, the great Darth Maul fan he was, would stay quiet and not hit a nerve or be insensitive.
The battle of Naboo had already started. Now…now they were just waiting for what they knew was inevitable. Now they just waited for the scene of Qui-Gon's death. Vaguely, Aria noted that Anakin might never have learned just what happened. Now he would know the truth.
And see the pain his Master had suffered.
"Stay in that cockpit!"
Everyone in the room—not counting Joshua—tensed. They were officially at the scene they had been dreading. Aria sucked in a sharp breath as Darth Maul appeared, and Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon pushed their way forward.
"We'll handle this," Qui-Gon told them.
"We'll take the long way," Padme responded.
Anakin leaned forward in his seat, a frown on his face as he took in the scene as it began to play out. Obi-Wan had sank backwards into the chair, a pained look on his face. Already, as the on screen Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon advanced, she could see him judging his every move and thinking of what he could have done differently to save his master.
Aria hated putting him through this, but he wanted to see it. No matter what painful memory it brought up.
Obi-Wan grimaced as the nine year old Anakin on screen found himself in a ship he didn't know how to control on automatic pilot. "You're telling me that was all a mistake?"
Anakin smiled weakly. "Yeah…maybe a little…"
The movie was already back on Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and Aria saw Anakin wince at the kick in the face Obi-Wan took.
Ironic considering Obi-Wan took a similar hit from Anakin in episode three…
She squashed the thought as soon as she realized what had just popped in her head. She refused to think of the future Vader Anakin. She couldn't let that taint this experience.
How could it not?
"Go back? Qui-Gon told me to stay in this cockpit, so that's what I'm going to do!" the on screen Anakin said, snapping Aria out of her thoughts. She chuckled.
"I love your logic Anakin," she snickered.
Obi-Wan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "How many times has that kind of thinking got us into trouble?"
"And how many times has it saved your skin?" Anakin pointed out.
Aria laughed. "Touché."
"I'll try spinning; that's a good trick!" the on screen Anakin exclaimed. Obi-Wan groaned.
"Anakin, how many times have I told you spinning isn't flying?"
The real life Anakin shrugged and smiled. "Hey, it worked."
They were back to the fight with Maul, and Aria winced when she saw Obi-Wan kicked off the catwalk. Anakin knew better than to make any quips here. They all knew what had happened.
As the on screen Obi-Wan was stopped by the energy shields, she could see the look on the real life Obi-Wan's face that had been expressed time and time again in the fanfictions:
If only I had run faster. If only I hadn't let Maul separate us. If only…
It was etched on every line of his face.
Aria's breath caught in her throat as they finally came to the scene she was dreading. Obi-Wan realized it was coming too.
On screen Obi-Wan was cut off from Qui-Gon and Maul by one energy shield as the two fought around the giant hole, forced to watch helplessly. Bile rose in Aria's mouth and she looked away, feeling like she would be sick at any moment. Anakin's eyes seemed frozen to the screen in silent horror, finally starting to understand the magnitude of how much Obi-Wan had suffered that day.
Aria couldn't even bare to glance at the screen. But she knew by the sounds.
There was the sound of an elbow to the face—followed by a wince from Anakin—Qui-Gon's grunt of pain and then…
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Anakin looked away, meeting Aria's tortured gaze with his own for a moment. Terrible understanding was alight in his eyes. But of course, their attention was drawn back to the screen, watching as Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi's face contorted with rage, staring hatefully at Maul from behind the energy shield.
The gungan's were cornered. Padme was brought before the Viceroy…but it all passed in a blur. All they really cared about was Obi-Wan. They all knew how the rest went.
Anakin felt numb, completely shocked by what he had seen. He'd always known that Qui-Gon's death had been hard on Obi-Wan—it had been hard on him too—but he had never thought…
He had never seen such a look of fury on his master's features. He'd never thought such a thing was possible…but now…
The Obi-Wan on screen lunged at Maul, attacking him with a flurry of rapid blows, bearing down on Maul in a fury. He easily cut through Maul's lightsaber, kicking the Sith back. But he took too long in landing a final blow, and Maul was back on his feet. In Obi-Wan's continued pursuit of Maul, he took a hit to the face, causing to Anakin to flinch while Obi-Wan backfliped, using the momentum to his advantage before going right back into the fight. Maul seemed to be toying with him, taunting him…
The two locked blades, Obi-Wan bearing down on Maul with hate alight in his eyes, teeth bared in anger.
But being so off balance caught him, and Maul was able to push Obi-Wan back into the hole. Anakin leaned forward in concern, wanting to jump through the screen and help Obi-Wan. However, all he could do was watch helplessly as Obi-Wan clung to an outcropping for dear life and Maul kicked his lightsaber down the hall, sending it tumbling.
The scene suddenly switched, startling Anakin as his nine year old self reappeared on screen. He blinked, watching as he took out the droids, accidentally hitting the main reactor.
"Blowing up the droid station was an accident too?" Obi-Wan asked from off to his side. Anakin noticed his Master's voice wavered a little, but he didn't comment on it.
"Hey, things happen," Anakin said with a shrug, eyes still glued to the screen.
"Only you Anakin, only you."
Obi-Wan's voice trailed off as the scene returned to Maul and Obi-Wan.
Maul sliced at the rim of the hole, showering sparks down on Obi-Wan in an attempt to get him to let go. Anakin felt sick, seeing his Master in such a helpless situation without Anakin there to help. But he had somehow gotten out of this mess; at least Anakin was sure of that much.
Anakin watched, impressed, as Obi-Wan launched himself out of the hole, calling Qui-Gon's lightsaber to his hand before landing neatly behind Maul, cutting him clean in half.
Both pieces of Maul fell down the hole, and Obi-Wan was left standing in the room, alone with Qui-Gon. Anakin felt his gut clench as Obi-Wan rushed to Qui-Gon's side, shocked to hear the sound of tears in Obi-Wan's voice as Obi-Wan cradled Qui-Gon in his arms.
"I-it's too late," Qui-Gon gasped.
"No!" cried Obi-Wan.
"Obi-Wan…promise…promise me you will train the boy…"
"Yes Master!" Obi-Wan responded immediately, his voice cracking.
"He…is the chosen one…he…will bring balance…" Qui-Gon said weakly as Obi-Wan nodded excessively. "Train him…"
And with that, the Jedi that had saved Anakin, that had freed him and given him a chance at a new life…was gone. And the great Obi-Wan Kenobi cried, sobbing silently as he held Qui-Gon close to him.
Anakin's vision blurred, and he realized that he was crying. To save his pride, he quickly wiped the tears away, steeling himself. He had never truly understood what Obi-Wan had gone thought. Never. And now he knew…and he would never look at Obi-Wan the same.
"Confer on you the level of Jedi Knight, the Council does. But agree with your taking this boy as your Padawan learner, I do not."
Anakin frowned, watching the following conversation with great interest. It was just Obi-Wan and Yoda, no one else.
"Qui-Gon believed in him."
Yoda sighed. "The chosen one the boy may be. Nevertheless; grave danger, I fear, in his training."
Obi-Wan seemed to steel himself, and Anakin was curious at the dark song that played in the background along the lines of da da da, da, dada, da, dada…
"Master Yoda. I gave Qui-Gon my word. I will train Anakin. Without the approval of the Council if I must!"
Anakin was shocked. The always rule abiding Obi-Wan Kenobi had been willing to go against the Council for him? He suddenly felt a deep sense of respect for him, a respect that he hadn't truly possessed in a long time. He had truly misjudged his Master, and he felt ashamed because of it.
"Qui-Gon's defiance, I sense in you," Yoda said. "Need that, you do not. Agree with you the Council does…your apprentice, Skywalker will be."
Anakin sighed. He would need to give Obi-Wan a lengthy apology for his behavior and for having misjudged him, as well as thank him for everything he had done for him.
Aria sat back, watching the funeral grimly. Watching the movie, knowing it had all really happened…made it an entirely different experience. That much she was sure of.
"What will happen to me now?" the nine year old Anakin asked Obi-Wan.
"The Council have permitted me permission to train you. You will be a Jedi. I promise."
Aria sighed, watching with only half interest as the scene shifted to Windu and Yoda.
"There's no doubt the mysterious warrior was a Sith."
"Hm…always two there are. No more, no less. A master, and an apprentice."
"But which was destroyed? The Master, or the Apprentice?" Windu mused.
"The apprentice," Aria quipped from her seat, throwing the other's off. She blushed. "Sorry," she muttered.
Thankfully though, her words had distracted the others from realizing that the camera had focused on Palpatine after that.
Aria was able to relax, enjoying the scene of the parade and seeing everyone smile after everything that had happened it was a nice relief. As the credits rolled, Aria stood and stretched, looking at the other three as Joshua darted off to re-enact his favorite scenes in his room.
"So, now you know," she said, stifling a yawn. "Star Wars: Episode One—The Phantom Menace."
"That was…interesting." Anakin spoke quietly, probably still recovering from the scene of Qui-Gon's death. Obi-Wan hadn't even moved since then.
Aria smiled at them sympathetically, putting a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "I'll…give you a few moments for you to cope."
"That would be much appreciated…" Obi-Wan said, his voice miraculously steady.
Aria nodded. "I'll be in my room when you're ready," she said softly.
Something told her it would be a while before they were.
