Well, due to a massive influx of reviews I feel compelled to at least make a small offering, to the readers…its Update Time!
I'm glad that I've been able to put a semi-new spin on a frequently-used plot line…I hope it works out well- I think I'm going in the right direction, but that's for you guys to decide.
Let me know what you think!
Anakin looked at the suit of armor in his hands skeptically. "This thing is supposed to protect me from a sword?" He wondered.
"It's tougher than it looks." Mace admonished, fastening his own suit of protection.
"It better be." Anakin said. With that remark, he jerked the suit over his head.
"Think fast," Obi-Wan warned, tossing Anakin a sword.
Anakin recovered from his surprise immediately, catching the heavy weapon by the hilt with a sure hand. "It's heavier than I'm used to." He admitted. With a few deft spins, he accustomed himself to the heft of the blade. He glanced at it as if being reunited with an old friend, and then sheathed it in the scabbard connected to his armor.
"We should get going, coach doesn't have much patience for late-comers." Mace cautioned.
The three teammates walked out to the fencing ring, finding it empty except for the coach and Nelvin Dooku.
Anakin met Dooku's eyes as he entered the room with a confident swagger.
Dooku looked terrified for an instant, and then his expression turned smug. "Well, well, well the hero finally makes his appearance."
Anakin ignored Dooku's jibe and went to join Obi-Wan and Mace who were sitting on the bleachers, waiting for the coach to finish writing notes on the board.
The coach turned around and removed his ball cap, his thinning white hair sticking up in tufts. "Ah," He said gruffly, chewing on a large wad of gum as he consulted his clipboard for a brief moment. "Anakin Skywalker? They told me you'd be coming."
"That's me sir," Anakin said, nodding affirmatively.
"My name is Cin Drallig, I'll be your fencing coach for this year. I have to admit, your record is pretty impressive, son. Let's see if you live up to the legend." He smiled.
"I'm not sure I'll live up to your expectations at the moment, Mr. Drallig, I've never fenced with a real sword before." Anakin admitted sheepishly.
"Nonsense boy, you'll get accustomed to it eventually. Let's see what you can do. Dooku, are you up for a little friendly sparring?" Cin requested.
Dooku's lips parted in an almost-feral grin. "Sure coach." He replied amicably. He strolled over to the long padded mat in the center of the room. He motioned to Anakin, flourishing his blade intimidatingly.
Anakin pushed himself off of the bleachers, rolling his shoulders and cracking his neck. He took his place across from Dooku, letting his blade fall casually to his side in a deceptively relaxed stance.
Coach Drallig stepped between the two opponents. "Alright fellas, I want a good, clean fight. Show me what you can do." He instructed seriously.
"No prob coach," Dooku replied, almost too agreeably.
"Got it." Anakin answered gravely as Cin backed away.
"Begin." He said.
Dooku advanced much more quickly than Anakin had anticipated. He threw a quick flurry of strikes, adding several unnecessary flourishes and spins.
Anakin remained docile for the first exchange, gauging Dooku's ability. He was surprised to learn that Dooku and he were evenly matched. He threw up his blade to block Dooku's swift chop and batted the boy's next lunge aside with a deft twist of his blade. Anakin went on the offensive, his casual stance and skillful display of blade flourishes confirmed his prowess.
The duel continued, both boys showing an exceptional level of skill and several difficult maneuvers were exhibited. The two boys locked blades, struggling fiercely.
"What's the matter Glamour Boy? Can't handle a real fight?" Dooku snarled, landing a solid kick to Anakin's ribs.
The anger that had been twisting in his guts came to a head and he flew at Dooku in a fury. Batting Dooku's lunge aside, he followed up with a punch to the face that sent the other boy reeling.
He pressed his advantage, hammering on Dooku's defenses with a vicious overhand hack that bent Dooku's wrists weakened his grip on the sword enough that Anakin's next swing knocked the weapon from his grasp.
Dooku stumbled back and fell to a knee.
Anakin kicked Dooku's weapon out of reach and leveled his sword at the other boy's throat.
"Do you yield?" Anakin asked coolly, fighting the smug grin that threatened to break across his stoic countenance.
"Yes." Dooku mumbled.
Slowly, there was clapping and cheering.
Obi-Wan leaned over to Mace. " He's good." He observed
"That boys is how you fence." Coach Drallig said with a nod of approval at Anakin.
Dooku rose from his knees, a furious scowl etched across his face. Breifly he calculated his chances of striking a debilitating blow before the coach could warn Anakin. No. He decided. It'll be better if I can show everyone that hero's can bleed like everyone else. I'll just have to beat him in the deciding bout during the peliminaries. I'll be the one who goes to regionals…And Glamour Boy will be humiliated. Dooku rose from the floor, rubbing the sting from his forearms.
Anakin bowed respectfully. "Thanks, coach." He returned to take his place in the stands with Mace and Obi-Wan.
"Nice," Mace commented, slapping Anakin's shoulder in a comradely gesture.
Anakin grinned, then turned his attention to Coach Drallig as he outlined the year's plans.
Padmé sat on the bench outside the gymnasium as she waited for Mace and Obi-Wan to exit fencing practice. She smirked as she thought back to Dooku's crushing defeat at the hands of that poser, Anakin Skywalker.
It had been pretty satisfying to see Dooku get served, manipulative, conniving little mudcrutch whelp that he was. Es
Especially after that grueling essay Maul had forced her to write. Sadist she thought inwardly.
A grin spread across her face as Obi-Wan and Mace, accompanied by Anakin, came out of the gym.
"Force that detention was brutal. Kriffing Maul had me write a blasted six-thousand word essay." Padmé razzed, bumping fists with Mace and Obi-Wan. She turned to Anakin. "Nice moves, poser." She snarked.
Anakin wasn't sure whether he should be flattered or offended. "Thanks…I think." He said, politely, smiling.
"What do you want, a kiss? I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain." Padmé sneered. She turned on her heel and flounced away.
"You should give him a chance. He's really not so bad." Mace admonished.
Suddenly, inexplicably, a pang of regret, lanced through her chest. She turned around slowly. "I'm sorr-" She started to say, but Anakin was gone.
So, what do you think? Review and let me know. If I get enough, I just might update one more time before I go on vacation! Please review…Please?