Oh, finally, the end of the movie. now we get to the episodes i've been dreaming about hahaha

I figured if i did the clone wars i had to do the movie, so here we are :D

Thanks for the reviews, I"m glad you guys like it. I can't wait to get to some of these episodes, like Mortis, and Slaves of the Republic.

Yeah. Zelina is going to be in those ;)

Don't forget to Review and, as always...

ENJOY!

"The medicine: it's working!" Ahsoka exclaimed from behind them. "His fever broke. I think he's going to live to stink another day."

"Great," Anakin said with a hint of sarcasm. "Keeping him alive wasn't as easy as you thought it would be, was it?"

"Master, if you've taught me one thing, it's that nothing is easy when you are around."

Zelina laughed. "If I had a glass, I would toast to that. It's the truest thing I've heard all day."

Anakin chuckled under his breath, eyes riveted to the section of the ship he was working on at the moment.

"Do you think Rex and Master Obi-Wan made it out okay?" Ahsoka asked in concern.

"If I know my old master, he has things well in hand," Anakin said easily. "Now help me with this: I want the primary systems fully repaired by the time we reach Tatooine."

Ahsoka handed him some tool he needed as Zelina watched the two closely.

"You both grew up on Tatooine, right? So for you two, this trip is like going home!"

"Yeah…home…"Anakin muttered, a soft, slightly dark undercurrent showing up in his tone. Zelina had the feeling she was the only one who caught it. Gently, she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey…breathe," she told him softly.

He glanced at her, giving her a small smile and letting the tension seep out of him. "I'm good," he told her softly. "Don't worry about me."

"I have plenty of reasons too," Zelina muttered under her breath, though no one seemed to hear.

"I was hoping I would never have to lay eyes on this dust ball again."

Anakin's dark tone of voice seemed to throw Ahsoka off, which was understandable. Normal people loved going back home. Normal people had happy feelings and memories associated with home. Normal people jumped at every opportunity to go back home.

But they weren't exactly normal people now, were they?

"Okay…what happened?" Ahsoka asked. Zelina visibly bristled off to the side at the question, an action that Anakin did not miss.

"I don't want to talk about it," Anakin said lowly.

"What about you Zelina?" Ahsoka asked, turning to her.

"My experience is even worse than his," she said shortly.

"How's Stinky holding up?" Anakin asked, effectively changing the topic and saving them from a very depressing and dark path of conversation.

"He seems to be feeling much better. His fever's gone; even you have to admit he's cute when he's asleep," Ahsoka said with a smile, undaunted by the dark mood just a few moments prior.

"I admit I like him better when he's quiet…but only a little," Anakin replied with a small smile. Zelina simply shrugged.

"He could be cuter," she said with a smirk.

R2 beeped, interrupting their conversation with a question aimed towards Anakin.

"No R2, I want the canon operational first, leave the rear deflector shields for later," Anakin informed the droid, drawing a stare from the other two.

"No rear shields Master?" Ahsoka asked.

"Don't you think that's a little risky Ani? Or perhaps that's not the right word…how about…stupid, cocky, arrogant; the list goes on," Zelina remarked.

"A strong attack eliminates the need for defense," Anakin shot back.

"Well what if your attack comes from the back? Or unexpectedly? You can't really attack if you're already blown to bits," Zelina responded.

As if to back up her words, there came a beeping from the screen Ahsoka was sitting in front of. She banged on the system to get a clearer picture.

"Attack ships closing," she warned them. Zelina swiveled back to her original position, ready to act on any command Anakin shot out.

"Somebody doesn't want Stinky to get home in one piece," Anakin remarked as red shots fired all around the ship.

"Wow, quite a welcome home party!" Ahsoka remarked as they took a shot from—what do you know?—the back. They were all lurched forward as an alarm began to beep.

"Set the approach vector and make ready to land!" Anakin told R2, who rolled away to do just that. "Ahoska, activate the guns!"

Zelina watched as Tatooine grew steadily closer. "Need me to do anything?"

"Make sure Stinky stays asleep?" Anakin suggested.

"Thanks Ani; you make me feel so useful."

"Well, it will help," he grunted.

"All the guns are locked in the forward position," Ahsoka informed Anakin suddenly, earning a groan from Zelina. "It's too bad you decided not to repair the rear deflector shields," she snipped.

"Don't judge him too harshly Ahsoka, he's still learning," Zelina remarked.

"Can it Padawan Du'ahn," Anakin grumbled, struggling to keep them from being blasted into a million pieces.

"Yes Master," She shot back, perhaps with a little bit too much sarcasm that bordered on insulting.

He ignored her, spinning around to focus on R2 instead. "R2, see if you can unlock those guns!"

"Sometimes a good defense is the best offense," Ahsoka continued wisely.

"Why don't you switch with Zelina? You take care of your huttlet friend while she helps me up here?"

"None of us are secure with you flying!" Ahsoka snapped back, though she took the somehow still sleeping child from Zelina, who took the copilot's seat and tried to figure out something she could do to help.

"Do you want to warn me what you're thinking?" She asked, tensed and ready for action.

"Just hang on," he warned them both before he pulled them sharply up.

"This isn't going to be the speeder on Coruscant all over again, is it? Because if it is, I'm warning you now I might be sick."

"No, it's not," he told her.

"Good," Zelina told him.

"It's going to be worse."

"What?" Zelina yelped, just as he began to execute a peculiarly long barrel roll. As if the barrel roll wasn't enough, he suddenly dipped down, causing her stomach to plummet.

"Great! You woke the baby!" Ahsoka suddenly shouted. Zelina poked her head around the corner at the sight of Ahsoka on her rear cradling the now crying huttlet.

"Remember when I told you you'd be great with kids?" Zelina asked Anakin.

"Not now you two, I'm a little busy here!" he shot back through clenched teeth.

"I lied," Zelina finished, a death grip on her seat as she tried all the meditation techniques she knew to stay calm. He was on a crash course for one of the fighters that had ambushed them, and it was only because of her sheer belief in his expert—though sometimes suicidal and crazy—piloting and fighting skills.

Sure enough, Anakin shot straight and true, and the ship blasted apart in front of them.

"Got one of them!" Anakin cheered.

"What about the other one?" Ahsoka inquired.

"One thing at a time," Anakin chided her, already pulling back into evasive maneuvers.

Suddenly the ship jerked and Zelina gave a cry of surprise.

"I think we needed those rear shields after all!" Anakin exclaimed as one of their wings went hurtling into empty space.

"You think?" Zelina almost shouted.

"I told you so!" Ahsoka started before she slid as Anakin suddenly tilted the ship on its side.

"Ahsoka, he's trying to get us killed. Just telling you," Zelina told her as the girl tried to regain her footing.

"R2, turn those guns around! R2!" Anakin barked in irritation as he straightened the ship once more.

"Patience Anakin, Ahsoka has to push him back into place first before he squishes her and the huttlet after that stunt you just pulled," Zelina informed him in slight irritation.

Ahsoka added her own comment to confirm her statement. "Why can't you be a tiny little mouse droid?" she grunted.

Anakin jerked suddenly to the left, and Zelina's neck snapped painfully to the side. "Warn me before you do that, please?"

"Not apologizing," Anakin returned. Suddenly blaster fire rang out and Anakin smiled a little. "Get them R2!"

Thankfully, they soon saw ship parts flying past them. "Good shot buddy! You've been holding out on me," Anakin said with a smirk.

"Alright," Zelina said, getting situated better in her seat. "Now for the oh-so-lovely landing."

"Strap in you two," Anakin said frimly. Ahsoka took Zelina's previous seat, staring at Anakin. "You've got that 'we're in trouble' look."

"There's a look?" Anakin asked curiously.

"You can't miss it," Ahsoka and Zelina said at the same time.

"Very funny you two," Anakin said sarcastically. He reached for the communications. "Obi-Wan, come in, do you copy?"

"Kenobi here," came the prompt reply. They suddenly all lurched as they hit a rough patch of turbulence.

"Try not to kill us Anakin, please!" Zelina said sharply.

"Have you reached Tatooine yet?" Obi-Wan asked.

"We're about to have another happy landing there right now," Zelina said sarcastically, scowling.

"Anakin, did you get shot down again?" Obi-Wan asked in a scolding voice.

"Yes!" Ahsoka chirped in before Anakin could stop her.

"Lost an entire wing this time Obi-Wan, I think that might be a new one. At least for while I'm in the ship," Zelina added.

"This ship is too slow! I haven't had time to modify it!" Anakin protested.

"Translation: he decided to postpone fixing the rear deflector shields and we got shot," Zelina told Obi-Wan while Ahsoka rolled her eyes.

"Who's side are you on?" Anakin asked her.

"Yours. I'm trying to teach you to be more honest," Zelina said sweetly.

"Some days Zee…"

"Focus you two," Obi-Wan scolded them, then sighed. "I'm still cleaning up your other mess, but I'll get there," he informed them before he ended the transmission.

"So much for reinforcements," Anakin mumbled. As they entered the atmosphere the ship began to rock violently, alarms going off as things began to heat up. "Hang on. This landing is going to be a little rough!" Anakin informed them.

"Crashes are rough; landings are not," Ahsoka clarified.

"Then it's a crash landing," Anakin said through clenched teeth.

"Finally, some truth! I'm having a good effect on you!" Zelina joked shakily. "Brace for impact everyone!"

The first jolt caused her to gasp as they hit the edge of a sand dune rather hard, skirting across several others before they finally hit the ground. Zelina braced herself against the control panels, tense and breathing heavily as she waited for the ship to finally stop, heart hammering in her chest.

She let loose a shaky sigh. "That was fun Ani. Let's try that again sometime," Zelina said with a grin, patting his shoulder. He rolled his eyes.

"Sure Zelina. Just give me a time and place," he joked.

Thankfully, they were all able to share a relaxing laugh.

Zelina groaned before she jumped down onto the familiar sand. Simply looking at the planet…

It brought around more pain than she cared to feel.

"Welcome home Stinky," she heard Ahsoka say off to her side.

"Jabba's palace is on the far side of the Dune Sea. We need to hurry if we're going to get there by morning," Anakin was informing her. Zelina stood at the front, staring off into the distance over the rolling hills of sand.

Somewhere out there her father was buried.

As was Shmi.

And, in a way, her mother.

"I'm coming!" Ahsoka called. Anakin had come to stand beside Zelina, eyes examining her knowingly.

"Are you going to be all right?" he asked her softly.

"I should be asking you the same," Zelina told him just as quietly.

"The sooner we get off this planet, the better," Anakin mumbled.

Zelina couldn't agree more.

On and on the sand went. All they did was walk, watching the sand blow in the wind as they made slowly progress through the Dune Sea. She stared at the greater krayt dragon skeleton they passed, mindlessly stroking her mother's necklace—still hidden under her clothes, as always—tracing from the head to the tail mindlessly.

"Master Yoda has a saying; old things cast long shadows. Do you know what he means by that?" Ahsoka asked Anakin suddenly, breaking their silence.

"He means your past can ruin your future if you allow it, but don't you forget it was Master Skywalker who said I don't want to talk about my past," Anakin responded, slightly terse towards the end.

Taking that as her cue, Zelina moved to stand beside Anakin in their trek, watching his body language closely.

"Okay, fine," Ahsoka relented. "There's so much more we can talk about out here! Like…the sand!"

"The desert is merciless. It takes everything from you," Anakin said lowly, his gaze riveted to the tiny grains shifting under his feet. Discreetly, Zelina put her hand on his arm comfortingly, a gesture she could sense gave him some of the comfort he needed. It also gave her the comfort she needed, given her own history here.

Though that look in his eyes…

"I won't rest till every last one of them are dead!"

Instinctively, Zelina reached out to him through the Force, sending him waves of comfort and peace; at least what she could manage with her own grim mood. Thankfully, she could see him relax marginally in response to her efforts.

"That's a happy thought," Ahsoka piped up. Her ignorance to the pain and darkness that this place held for them was almost painful. "It won't take us Master, right Artooy?"

R2 beeped in response and Zelina smiled a little, sharing a glance with Ahsoka. At least they had her peppy spirit to keep them from drowning in the past.

The suns were setting whenever they finally spoke again.

Both Anakin and Zelina suddenly stopped, looking around. They both sensed the same thing, the same nastily familiar presence…

"We're not alone," Ahsoka suddenly said out loud.

Anakin's eyes narrowed. "I sense it too...it's the dark side of the Force."

"Dooku," Zelina guessed as the huttlet hid in the backpack on Anakin's back. Anakin's countenance had changed considerably, and he looked a tad bit…

Darker.

We need to get off this planet. There's too many ghosts, too much darkness here, Zelina thought.

"Whether it's Dooku or not, it's coming for the Hutt," Anakin said grimly. He turned to face Ahsoka. "It's time to split up."

"We'll face it together Master!" Ahsoka argued immediately.

"Not this time Snips," Anakin said, placing his hand on Ahsoka's shoulder. "I have a far more important mission for you."

"More important than keeping you alive?" Ahsoka asked.

"Ahsoka…I need you to trust me on this one," Anakin said firmly. "I need both of you to trust me," he added, seeing the expression of reluctance to leave his side on Zelina's face. She didn't really want to leave him by himself on this planet, especially not with the dark side so thick in the air and Dooku possibly on Tatooine as well.

Whatever he had in mind…she knew she wasn't going to like it.

Ahsoka walked ahead, having somehow convinced Zelina to protect the rear of their small party. The coolness of the once blazing desert was a sharp contrast, almost causing Zelina to shiver as she padded along behind Ahsoka, one hand on her lightsaber.

Her mind wandered back to her parting moment with Anakin…

"Are you sure you want to go solo? Are you sure you don't want me to stay behind with you?"

"Zee, I'll be fine, I can take care of myself, you know that."

"Yes, but if Dooku is here—"

"Zelina."

Immediately she was silenced.

"I need you to make sure that Ahsoka is all right. You need to protect her and the huttlet. That baby needs to make it safely back to Jabba."

"Anakin…"

"Zelina, please, just trust me on this."

She was quiet for a moment longer. "All right…all right…but only because you asked."

"Thank you. Now please, hurry, we don't have much time, and make sure those two stay safe."

She wrapped him in a strong armed hug, eyes closed as she buried her face in his chest for a moment. "Just…promise me you'll stay alive, alright? You're not allowed to die on me, and especially not here."

Anakin, startled, took a moment to reply. "I won't, I promise."

Before she pushed the moment too far, Zelina pulled away. "Try not to get into any trouble. Don't do anything stupid."

"I won't. Now go."

"Ahsoka!" Zelina suddenly called as she came back to reality. A warning from the Force had pulled her out of her thoughts immediately.

As the two of them activated their lightsabers, three magna guards popped out of the sand. A look of fear flickered across Ahsoka's face.

"Just stay calm," Zelina muttered to her. "You've got me. Hold your ground."

"I'm holding," Ahsoka said, her voice a little shaky as the magna guards approached.

"I'll take two you take one, all right?"

"Agreed!" Ahsoka exclaimed, and with that they were engaged in the fight.

"Don't let them push you over the edge!" Zelina ordered, moving quickly to avoid the staff of one guard while taking a stab at the other. Her lightsaber hummed through the air, a deadly arch that she intended to use to its full extent.

A bolt of electricity came out of nowhere, causing one magna guard to pause to block the shot. Using R2's distraction, Zelina turned and sliced right through the guard's middle, engaging with the other for a moment to block another blow before lashing out again to cut off the head and slash through the midsection, just to be safe.

"One down," she called to Ahsoka.

"That's great," Ashoka replied. "Think I could get some help? Could you cover my back?"

"I'll get there, give me a moment," Zelina mumbled, already starting to back up. She stretched out with her senses, getting a good feel for the fight Ahsoka was handling.

Little warning bells went off in her head. "Ahsoka, don't back up one more step! There's a cliff behind you!" Zelina warned.

"Aahh!" was her reply, a reply that was distantly fading.

"Ahsoka!" Zelina shouted. Anakin's request ran through her mind.

I need you to make sure that Ahsoka is all right.

"All right Zelina: two magna guards. One cliff edge. Got to keep the Padawan and the huttlet safe," Zelina mumbled to herself, focused on the task at hand as the magna guard came to face her. She slashed and parried, grumbling under her breath the entire time of facing only one five seconds ago and complaining about having to face two again.

A familiar presence was somehow fast approaching, and a welcome one at that. Zelina felt her heart leap as she barely missed one of the magna guard's staffs.

"Anakin!" she called out as loudly as she could. Simultaneously she reached out to him in the force, calling for him, praying he would see her.

The sound of a swoop bike grew closer, and she breathed a sigh of relief, blocking one staff with her lightsaber and grabbing the other with her hand.

"Zelina, where's Ahsoka?" came his still distant yet panicky voice.

"She's fine, think I—" she cursed, dodging a would be deadly swing. "Think you could lend a hand?"

Suddenly, she was only facing one magna guard, the other having been caught—ironically—off guard by a leaping Anakin.

"Where is she?" Anakin asked fiercely.

"Over the cliff. She slid down it but she's all right," Zelina responded. Together, the two came down hard on the magna guards, slicing him to bits in moments.

The two of them rushed over to the edge, where Ahsoka and R2 where standing at the bottom.

When did R2 get down there?

"Ahsoka, is the huttlet all right?" Anakin called down.

"Nice of you to join us Master. And yes, Stinky's fine," she called back.

"Good. Think you could hurry up and get him up there? Dooku is trying to frame us, and the faster we get this Huttlet to his father, the better," Anakin responded.

"I'm coming just give me a moment, Stinky is being a handful," she shot back.

"Come on you two," Zelina said impatiently. "Before we get more visitors."

Ahsoka climbed up the slope, making it to them in moments as R2 flew up with his tiny rockets. Together they all silently made their way to the doors to the palace.

"Put Stinky out front where they can see him," Zelina told Ahsoka. "Just in case someone plans on shooting first should we show up. That should keep them from firing."

"Pleasant thought," Ahsoka said sarcastically as they approached the door. It slowly opened, and a protocol droid tottered out.

"We have Jabba's son," Anakin informed the droid.

The droid looked as surprised as a droid could be. "Oh my! I will take you to Jabba immediately!"

With a sigh, they all followed the droid through the halls of Jabba's palace, watching every dark corner as they passed. When they came to the main chamber, Anakin and Zelina stood in front, covering Ahsoka.

"This is Jedi Master Skywalker, and Padawan's Tano and Du'ahn," the protocol droid introduced. "Dooku was wrong," the droid added, and the two stood aside to let Ahsoka through, carrying little Stinkey safely in her arms.

She passed him over to an obviously overjoyed Jabba, and the moment almost was perfect until…

Jabba spoke, and the protocol droid confirmed what Zelina was surprised to hear.

"You are to be executed immediately."

"What?" They all asked, shocked. As those in the room drew their weapons, the three of them activated their lightsabers, forming a protective triangle.

"Does this always happen to you?" Ahsoka asked Anakin.

"Everywhere I go," he answered sarcastically.

Suddenly, a beeping filled the room. "Your Uncle Ziro has contacted us," the protocol droid announced, answering it immediately.

Surprisingly, it was no Hutt that showed up in the middle of the room, but none other than Padme.

"Greetings honorable Jabba. I am Senator Amidala of the Galactic Congress. I have discovered a plot against you by one of your own. Your uncle will admit he conspired with Count Dooku to kidnap your son, and frame the Jedi for the crime," she informed him.

"I don't think I've ever been this happy to see her," Zelina remarked as the transmission shifted to display Ziro the Hutt.

Jabba angrily confronted him, whilst Ziro stuttered to defend himself. Back and forth they went, until finally…

"It was Count Dooku!" Ziro blurted. It seemed only to make Jabba angrier.

The image went away, and Padme returned.

"Ziro will be dealt with by the Hutt family most severely," the protocol droid informed them all.

"Perhaps now you will allow the republic to use your trade routes, and hostilities can come to an end," Padme said softly.

Jabba laughed before he spoke, and the protocol droid answered for him. "Jabba agrees. A treaty is in order."

"You will not regret this Jabba," Padme informed him, and finally Anakin, Ahsoka, and Zelina all deactivated their lightsabers.

"The clone armies may move through Jabba's territories," the protocol droid further translated.

"Senator," Anakin suddenly cut in. "You have my undying…gratitude."

Codeword, love, Zelina thought to herself with a pang through her heart.

"No Master Skywalker, it is I and the Republic who owes you thanks," Padme responded.

With that, the transmission ended.

"Jabba would be most appreciative if you brought Dooku to justice for his crimes against the hutts," the protocol droid said.

"You can count on it Jabba," Anakin said a little darkly.

Zelina really didn't like the way he had started to sound so dark recently.

Zelina, Ahsoka, and Anakin all stood ready as Obi-Wan finally arrived with Yoda, and Zelina smirked lightly as they stepped off to greet them.

"It's about time you got here. We could have used you, oh…several hours ago," Zelina joked to Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan simply smiled. "It seems you three had everything under control," he responded smoothly.

Zelina chuckled. "If by under control you mean as crazy than ever, then yes."

All five of them turned to look at the reunited father and his son, and Zelina sighed, allowing herself to star at Anakin from the side for a moment, taking in his every feature. It seemed that this mission had been meant for them to re-find themselves, or to at least find out just how bad off they all were so they could begin to help each other. And despite the success of the mission and the leap that it gave them in progress…

There was still a long war in front of them.