A/N: Here is another one. I hope you all enjoy. God Bless.
Disclaimer: I do not Star Wars; it's characters (except my OCs) and dialogue.
Before they knew it night fell upon the planet of Coruscant. Anakin and Ariana were still out in the hallway waiting for the final verdict when Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi came up behind them.
"Well," Qui-Gon inquired, "how did it go?"
"It went alright, I guess," Anakin answered.
"They had us tell them what we felt what the pictures they were looking at were and then asked us questions about how we were feeling," Ariana further explained.
"Right now, they're in there talking. They asked us to wait out here until they have reached a decision," Ani continued.
"And, no, we did not thought-talk while taking the tests," Ari felt the need to assure Qui-Gon.
Anakin, sighing annoyed, exclaimed to his sister, "I told you we are not calling it that!"
"Well, what else are we supposed to call it?!" Ari shot back crossing her arms.
Confused as to what the twins are talking about, the Jedi padawan asked, "What do you mean by 'thought-talk?"
"It's what Ari calls our 'hearing each other's thoughts' thing" Ani explained.
"Ah, yes, your ability to mentally communicate with one another," Qui-Gon nodded in understanding.
"Yeah, that reminds me; how did you know we could do that?", Ari interrogated as she and her brother turned towards the man who had become like father to them.
Qui-Gon chuckled at this before answering. "It was the only conclusion that I could reach when I've seen you two make facial expressions and hand gestures, like you were having a conversation without saying any words."
The twins' responses were surprised looks on their faces as they let out a long, "Oh-h."
"Well," Ari said shrugging sheepishly, "so much for keeping it a secret."
"Does anyone else know?" Anakin asked equally embarrassed.
"Just the four of us," Jinn answered, nodding his towards his student, "and the Jedi Council."
"What?!" and "You told them?!" were exclaimed at the same time by the twins.
"In order for them to agree to test the two of you, I needed to make them aware of your capabilities," Qui-Gon told them so that they would better understand why he did what he did. "But no one else has to know if you don't want them to know, ok?"
The twins looked at each other and then nodded saying, "Ok."
"Good," Qui-Gon nodded in triumph. "Now, all we have to do is wait patiently for the Council to make their decision."
Immediately after he said that a ding, indicating that the Council were ready for them, was heard almost as if they heard them which they probably could. A bit nervous, the twins looked up to Qui-Gon for encouragement. Sensing this, he smiled and nodded his head as he urged them forward by gently guiding the forward with on their shoulders. Before the four of them went in, Qui-Gon let go of their shoulders and then they all went in.
Upon reaching the center of the council chamber the four humans bowed to show their respect before moving onto business. "Come to a decision we have," Master Yoda started.
Ki-Adi-Mundi added on by saying, "The force is strong with them."
"They are to be trained then?", the Qui-Gon Jinn questioned.
"Unique connection to the Force the girl has," Yoda spoke. "Old she may be, but an exception we will make. Master Mace Windu's Padawan learner, she will be. Help her to master it, he will" Windu bowed his head in agreement.
Hearing this, Ari smiled and bowed to her new master in gratitude, which he returned with a head nod. She then shared a smile with her brother as hope for the future began to fill their hearts. But their rising hope would come crushing down with the next part of the conversation.
"And the boy?" Qui-Gon Jinn inquired.
"No, he will not be trained," Mace Windu stated, speaking for the first time.
This shocked the twins and the Jedi Knight. "No?", Qui-Gon repeated, uncrossing his arms. Ari looked at Windu in devastation, while Ani stared him down like he had just stabbed him in the back.
"He is too old," the Jedi Master further explained.
Ari was about to object, saying that she and Ani were the same age when a voice in her head said, "Don't." Turing to argue with her brother, she stopped when she saw the look on his face. One look and she understood, he did not want her to ruin her chances of becoming a Jedi. This has been a dream of theirs since, well, forever. The next words to be said brought Ari out of her thoughts.
"He is the chosen one. You must see it," Qui-Gon declared.
Yoda, with closed eyes, piped up. "Mmm. Clouded the boy's future is."
Taking only a micro-second to think about it, Qui-Gon made a decision. He then walked up to Anakin and placed his hands onto the boy's shoulders. "I will train him, then," he announced, surprising almost everyone in the room. "I take Anakin as my Padawan learner."
Yoda objected by saying, "An apprentice you have, Qui-Gon. Impossible it is to take on a second."
"The code forbids it," Mace Windu agreed.
Qui-Gon then went on to explain that while headstrong, Obi-Wan was ready and that there was very little else that he could teach him. After he said this, a look understanding passed between student and teacher.
Yoda then spoke again. "The boy's fate will be decided later."
Windu added on by saying, "Now is not the time for this. Right now, the senate is voting for a new supreme chancellor and Queen Amidala is returning home to Naboo. This will put pressure on the Federation and cause the confrontation to widen."
"And draw out the queen's attacker," Ki-Adi-Mundi hinted at.
Windu continued by saying, "Go with the queen to Naboo and find out the identity of this dark warrior." Qui-Gon nodded in agreement. "This is the clue we need to unravel to mystery of the Sith."
"Take the young Skywalker girl with you. Her ability to easily sense danger, helpful to your mission it may be. And may the force be with you."
The four standing in the middle of the room bowed before leaving, with Qui-Gon guiding the twins. Once out of the room, though, Ariana began to mentally rant to her brother. "It's not fair! Why did they accept me and not you? We are both the same age."
"Calm down, Ari. It's ok," Ani tried to sooth her. "They haven't made their decision about me yet."
"Of course, it's not ok, Ani! And if they choose not to make you Jedi, then I won't be one either," she declared.
"What?!", Ani mentally screamed stopping in middle of hall, causing the others to stop as well. He then looked turned at his sister with bugged out eyes, ignoring the two confused Jedi.
"Look, Ani," Ariana began to explain, "before all this started, we promised that we would always be there for each other. Not to mention before we left home, we promised mom that we would look out for each other. We are a team, Ani, ok? So, whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me."
Unexpectedly. Anakin launched forward and wrapped his twin in the biggest hug he could muster. "Thanks, sis" he mentally whimpered to her.
She returned to with equal vigor, and replied, "You're welcome, big bro." She then released them from the hug and said, "Now come on, let's go beat evil's butt." Ari then put her hand out. Ani, knowing what she was expecting of him, clasped his hand into hers. "When a Skywalker flies...," Ari started the chant.
"They can go only go oh so high!", they finished together. They then let go of each other's hands and continued walking.
While unaware of their audience, Qui-Gon watched the two of them with a fond smile before he and his apprentice went after them, to make sure they all got to their required destination.
When they reached the hovering platform, much like the one that the one they had arrived on, they were greeted by a very eager looking Gungan. "Ello, friends. It isa muy nice to see you all again," Jar Jar Binks told them as he bounced over to them.
"Hey, Jar Jar," Anakin replied.
"What's got you so excited?", Ariana questioned.
"Mesa goin' home," he explained.
Ani responded with a, "That's cool."
"Whata 'bout you, Ani? Are yousa and Ari going to bombad Jedi?", the Gungan asked excitedly while punching the air as if he was in a fight.
Ani and Ari gave each other a nervous look before Anakin gave his answer. "Well, not exactly."
Tilting his head in confusion, Jar Jar asked, "Whatcha yousa mean?"
"It's kind of a long story," Ari said this time.
But before the conversation could continue any further, Qui-Gon Jinn put a hand on each of the kids' shoulders. "One that can be told another time. For now, we must prepare for the danger that lies ahead. Ani. Ari. Why don't you check on R2 and R3; make sure that they are ready for the mission?", he asked, pointing in the droids' direction. In truth, he wanted to keep the twins occupied as he and Obi-Wan got everything ready for the mission while having them help in some small way.
Anakin nodded in agreement and said "Ok," before he and Ari walked over in the direction. "Want to check on R3 while I do R2?", he asked his sister.
"Sure," she replied.
"Hey, R2. Hey, R3," Ani greeted the astromechs.
"How have you guys been doing?", Ari asked.
"Ani. Ari, hi!", R3 greeted back.
And R2 answered Ari's question with a simple, "Not bad."
With pleasantries out of the way, the twins began to use their tinkering skills on the droids.
Not long before the queen arrived and they left for Naboo, the twins saw Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exit the spacecraft and couldn't help but overhear their conversation about Anakin. After Obi-Wan left to return to the ship and having already finished checking the droids, Ani and Ariana went up to the Jedi Knight.
Anakin was the first one to speak. "Qui-Gon, sir, I don't want to be a problem."
"Yeah, neither do I," Ariana agreed.
"You two don't have to worry. Neither of you will be a problem," Qui-Gon promised as he bent down to their level and patted Ani on the shoulder. "Ari, you already have a master. And Ani, I'm not allowed to train you. But I want you both to watch me and be mindful. Always remember: your focus determines your reality. Stay close to me and you both will be safe. Understand?" They nodded in response. "Good," he nodded back.
"Master, sir," Anakin then piped up, "I heard Yoda talking about midi-chlorians. I've been wondering; what are midi-chlorians?"
"Yeah," Ari said. "What's so important about them?"
Qui-Gon smirked at this before explaining what they were, how they were important, and how they communicate with them. "When you learn to quite your minds, you two will hear them speaking to you."
"I don't understand," Ani admitted.
"Yeah, me either," Ari added shaking her head.
Qui-Gon smiled before responding. "With time and training, you will. You will." He then guided the children back towards the droids before turning to the queen, who was approaching the ship. "Your Majesty, it is our honor to continue serving and protecting you."
"I welcome your help," she replied as they trekked to the ship. "Senator Palpatine fears that the Federation means to destroy me."
"I assure you that I will not allow that to happen."
As Qui-Gon, the queen, her handmaidens, and the Captain of the Royal Guard stepped onto the ship Jar Jar cheered, "Wesa goin' ho-o-o-me!"
And as he was getting onboard Ani and Ari were leading the astromechs. "Come on, you two," the older twin said.
"Yeah, don't want to be left behind," the younger urged.
At the same time the two droids whistled, "Coming."
After they were all aboard the Nabooian spaceship, they left the galactic capital and headed towards the troubled planet of Naboo; all the while unaware of the hardships of all the hardships they are about to face.