I am so incredibly sorry for my absence from the Fan Fiction community. I have had a terrible case of writer's block and I have had a ton of homework. I swear I will attempt to update more often from now on. I will hopefully be able to finish this before July. Now, please enjoy this long over due chapter of "The Final Battle."
The Final Battle: Part 19
Tanya barely had time to block Dooku's slice. Whoa, Tanya thought. For an old man, he's quicker than I thought. However, Tanya quickly recovered and slashed right back. Tanya continued to bombard Dooku with attacks of her own, trying to spare glances at her friends to check on their own battles. Ahsoka was holding her own against Ventress, making good use of her two lightsabers. Barriss was having a slightly more difficult time deflecting Grievous' barrage. Tanya's checkup was cut short when Dooku's stab almost cut her right arm off. Tanya caught the strike just in time, but put all of her focus into fighting again.
"You're fighting a battle you cannot win, youngling," Dooku taunted Tanya. "I have fought and defeated dozens on Jedi personally. What makes you think you can defeat me?"
"My smaller ego," Tanya muttered. He's right though, Tanya thought to herself. I have to concentrate on finding a way out of here. She glanced around every chance she got, but the corridor was tight and the only ways out were behind the Separatists, or through the MagnaGuards behind them. MagnaGuards? Hmmm. Tanya thought.
Ahsoka, Barriss, wait for my signal.
To do what?
Just follow my lead.
Tanya struck at Dooku a few more times, before going into a lightsaber lock.
"You fight well, for a child," Dooku sneered.
"If I'm such a child how come I'm beating you?" Tanya asked. Dooku snarled and started forcing their lightsabers toward Tanya's neck. Tanya glanced at Ahsoka and Barriss, who were in lightsaber locks of their own, and nodded. The trio broke their locks, and backflipped, kicking the Separatists in the process. Tanya then Force lifted a MagnaGuard and threw it at them, Ahsoka and Barriss mirroring her moves. The Separatists, having recovered from the kicks, merely cut the droids in half, but it gave the padawans enough time to retreat back up the hall.
"I don't think so," Dooku murmered, before shooting Force lightning at them.
Ahsoka, Barriss, and Tanya heard the lighting head their way, but hardly had time to react. Ahsoka and Barriss dove to the ground and covered their heads, but Tanya, who was in the middle, just stood there.
Tanya NO! Ahsoka and Barriss thought as the lightning sped toward her.
At the last possible second, Tanya outstretched her hands and caught the lighting in them. Dooku looked stunned for a moment, before continuing to assault her with electricity. But still, Tanya held her ground. After what seemed like ages, Dooku ceased fire and Tanya, exhausted, collapsed to her knees and had to catch herself with her arms.
"Tanya!" Ahsoka and Barriss cried out, rushing over to help their friend. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Tanya moaned faintly, clutching her head as Barriss helped her to her feet. "Come on. We have to get out of here," she whispered urgently, as though the danger they were had suddenly been multiplied by twenty-two million.
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Well, well, well. Who do we have here?" Dooku said softly. Ahsoka, Barriss, and Tanya turned to face him, Tanya looking more terrified than Ahsoka and Barriss had ever seen her.
"It seems as though we are in the presence of another one of Master Yoda's diciples," Dooku informed Grievous and Ventress. They looked surprised for a moment before grinning malevolently at Tanya.
"Run," Tanya breathed, taking off as fast as her legs could go. Ahsoka and Barriss followed, confused and very, very afraid.