A/N: Well, this it is! The final chapter of part 1. I am sorry that it took this long to to post it, but I was having some issues with writer's blockage. It's like even though you want to write, you just don't feel that drive to do it. But I have come to realize that even though it maybe hard to do at times and fanfiction does not take first priority in our lives, it is fun to do. And when you love to do something (e.g., painting, performing, and playing sports) you got to work hard at it in order to get better at it. Anyways, enjoy and God bless!
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.
Anakin and Ariana, along with the rest of the pilots, returned to the palace hanger to find a worried Padme Amidala and Obi-Wan Kenobi coming towards them. After their respective victories and Padme learning of Qui-Gon's passing, she and Obi-Wan went to check on the twins. When they found that the brother and sister duo, along with the ships and astromechs, were not in the hanger they began to fear the worst.
After exiting their ships Padme rushed up to them and hugged them as tightly as she could. "Thank goodness you two are alright."
"What were you thinking pulling a stunt like that?" Obi-Wan demanded. "Qui-Gon wanted you to stay out of danger, not go towards it."
"We're sorry," Ani said with him and Ari bowing their heads. "We just wanted to help."
"We didn't mean to cause any trouble," Ari added on.
"Excuse me, Your Highness," one of the pilots, who was also known as Red Leader, said.
The victorious queen acknowledged him by asking, "What is it, Captain Devins?"
"If I may, Your Grace, if it weren't for these two here, we may not have been able to destroy that droid command ship at all." After hearing that Padme and the twins turned to Obi-Wan to see how he might react.
Understanding what the pilot was implying, Obi-Wan took a deep breath to sooth his rattled nerves before speaking. "I am just relieved that you both are alright."
This caused them to smile briefly before Ani noticed who was absent from this reunion. "Hey, where's Qui-Gon?"
Ari noticed this as well. "Yeah, where is he?"
This caused the Padawan and Queen to look at each other, dread filling their faces. They knew how much the man meant to the Skywalker siblings and did not know how to break the news to them.
Padme wrapped her arms around the twins' shoulders to comfort them as Obi-Wan knelt in front of them, knowing that he must be the one to tell them what had become of their newly found father figure. "Anakin. Ariana. I am so sorry to have to tell you this, but Master Qui-Gon was struck down in the battle by the Sith Lord." He looked down to the floor and took a shaky breath before continuing. "He is gone."
Neither of the twins said anything for a minute before Anakin spoke. "You mean he's dead?", he asked in disbelief.
Obi-Wan nodded in response, "I'm afraid so."
Upon hearing this, Ariana began to cry and wrapped her arms around Padme's waist. In response, Padme just soothingly rubbed her back as a mother would and told her that she was so sorry and that everything would be all right. Anakin, while being hugged close to Padme's side for comfort, stood stiff in shock and disbelief.
All four of them remained like that for a while before Obi-Wan spoke up. "We must inform the Jedi Counsel on what has happened."
Padme nodded in agreement. "Of course. We can contact them in the Command Center."
He, in turn, nodded in gratitude.
Still holding onto the children, Queen Amidala began to lead the way to the aforementioned room. When they did reach their desired destination, they, along with Captain Panaka, gathered around the holo- table as they waited for a connection to the Jedi Council to be established.
Once the connection was received a visual of Grand Master Yoda, Mace Windu, and a couple of the other council members appeared.
Upon seeing them Obi-Wan Kenobi bowed and greeted them, "Masters." He then went on to tell them all the events that had transpired from the moment that they had landed on Naboo to his victory over the Sith Lord. However, when he came to the part about Qui-Gon's passing he was hesitant, still in shock with what had happened.
"Unfortunate Qui-Gon's death is," Yoda said.
"If it is alright with the Council," Padme requested, "we would like to hold a funeral here on Naboo in Qui-Gon's honor. If it weren't for him, I would have been forced to sign the treaty and things would have been much worse for my people."
The Jedi Council turned towards one another to have a silent conversation, afterwards a response was given. "Agree, we do," Yoda told them.
It was then Mace Windu's turn to speak. "The Jedi Council will head to Naboo, along with the Supreme Chancellor."
"Thank you," Padme bowed her head in gratitude. "And if I may ask, who is the newly elected Chancellor?"
"Senator Palpatine of Naboo," was the answer.
This both surprised and pleased the Queen.
"Until then, may the Force be with you," Windu said to them. Obi-Wan bowed to them again as the image of the Council fizzed out.
It would be at least 2 days before they arrived. During that time all of the captured citizens that were put into camps were freed, the battle droids were gathered and destroyed, and preparations were being made for two ceremonies. One being Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral, and the other a parade that celebrates the newly formed peace between the Gungans and the Nabooians. Not to mention that while all this was going on Anakin and Ariana were able to see what Naboo was like.
But when it was time for the Jedi Council and Chancellor Palpatine to arrive everyone was gathered at the town square. This included the captured viceroy who was being handed over to the Senate to be tried for his crimes. The twins were standing up front with Obi-Wan: Ariana on his left, and Anakin standing to his right.
After Qui-Gon's passing, Obi-Wan took it upon himself to watch over the twins until the Council arrived, remembering the promise that he had made during his master's last moments.
As the arriving party began to depart from the ship, Obi-Wan placed a guiding hand on each of the twins' backs and led them over to the Jedi Council. But before reaching their destination they met the newly appointed Supreme Chancellor halfway.
He addressed the three heroes after they showed their respects to him. "We are deeply indebted to your bravery, Obi-Wan Kenobi. As well as to you two, young Skywalkers. We will be watching your careers with great interest," He patted Anakin on the shoulder as he left, which made the boy feel appreciated.
After that, they met up with the Council. However, after the pleasantries were exchanged the Jedi then went into a wing of the castle to gain in-depth reports from all three of them on the accounts of the battles.
Shortly afterwards, Ani and Ari were waiting in the hallways under the watchful eyes of Adi Gallia.
"No matter what happens we will always stick together," the younger Skywalker promised.
This gained a smile from the elder twin. "Thanks, sis," Anakin replied, hugging her.
"Your welcome, big bro," Ariana relayed back, returning the hug.
Meanwhile, Master Yoda and Obi-Wan were in a conference room discussing matters that would influence the future of the galaxy.
"Grant you the level of Jedi Knight the council does," Yoda declared. "But agree with you taking the Skywalker boy in as your Padawan learner I do not."
"Qui-Gon believed in him," Obi-Wan argued.
Yoda sighed tiredly before speaking again. "The chosen one the boy may be. Even so, great danger I fear in his training."
"Master Yoda, I gave Qui-Gon my word," Obi-Wan revealed; much to Yoda's annoyance. "I will train Anakin, even if I must do it without the approval of the council."
"Qui-Gon's defiance I sense in you. Need that you do not."
"Ariana refuses to become a Jedi without her brother," Kenobi tried to reason. He took a deep breath before continuing. "I know attachments are not the Jedi way, but they have a bond that I have never seen before. They draw strength from each other and balance each other out."
The Grand Master took the young man's words into consideration and the truth in them. If anyone would be able to lead the boy away from the dark side, it would be his twin sister. Also remembering Obi-Wan's threat to train young Anakin with or without the council's backing, Yoda conceded. "Agree with you the council does. Your apprentice the elder Skywalker will be."
Obi-Wan bowed his head and said, "Thank you, Master."
The following night Qui-Gon Jinn's funeral took place. Everyone gathered around in the hut-like structure and hypnotically gazed into the flames as they reflected on what kind of an influence he had in their lives.
The twins and Obi-Wan, however, were able to break out of their trances and faced one another. This was when Anakin finally asked the question that had been plaguing the siblings' minds for days. "What's going to happen to us now?"
"The council has agreed to let me train you, Anakin," Obi-Wan answered. "And just as before, Ariana will train under Master Windu. The two of you will become Jedi, I promise."
This made the twins both relieved and nervous.
On the other side of the room Mace Windu and Yoda were talking amongst themselves.
"There is no doubt that the mysterious warrior was a Sith," Windu declared.
Yoda nodded in agreement, "Always two there are. No more, no less. A master and an apprentice."
"But which was destroyed? The master or the apprentice?", Mace Windu questioned unaware that said Sith was right in the room with them.
Suddenly Ariana felt a chill run through her spine along with a sense of dread that caused her to shudder.
"What's wrong, Ari?", Anakin thought to his sister after noticing her shiver.
Not wanting to worry her brother she just shook her head and relayed to him, "Nothing. I'm just chilly."
The day after the funeral was the celebration that honored the newfound peace between the Gungans and the Nabooians. Everyone in the city came to watch this historic event. The spectators were cheering as the Gungans played triumphant music while they paraded down the streets to the palace.
Those who were standing on the steps in front of the castle were Queen Amidala in her royal garb, her council, handmaidens, and members of the Royal Gurad; this included the soldiers and pilots who took park in the final battle. Not to mention the now Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and two Padawan learners.
Now that the twins officially became a part of the Jedi Order, their appearances have changed. They were each given tan colored Jedi robes with dark brown belts and books. Along with their change of clothes, they each took on a different hairstyle. Anakin had his hair cut to a shorter length, minus the traditional Padawan learner braid and ponytail that he was given. As for Ariana, she did not cut her hair but did gain the Padawan learner braid; she also traded her two French braid pigtails for a single bubble ponytail with each bubble separated by decorative silver hair beads.
Upon reaching the palace steps the Gungan leader dismounted his steed and climbed up to said steps. When he reached the top and bowed to the Queen, she handed him a large orb of white light. The Gungan leader then held the orb over his and declared in an authoritative voice, "Peace!"
The resulted in all the people to cheer. And as everyone else was celebrating, Anakin and Padme glanced at each other and smiled. No one noticed the interaction except for, of course, Ariana.
She smiled smugly as she mentally told her brother, "You so have a crush on her."
Anakin just rolled his eyes. He then smirked and replied, "Whatever."
Which just caused his sister to mentally laugh. "Well, we did it, big bro. We're finally making our dreams come true."
"Yeah. Yeah, we sure are, sis. We sure are," he agreed nodding, smiling happily.