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(y/n) POV:

Anakin left down the ramp of the ship before me this time, and waited while I put my robe on, discreetly checking that the holo-communicator was still in the pocket of it. I was definitely stressing too much about checking my pockets, but I really couldn't risk it falling into the wrong hands where anyone could contact my family. And by 'the wrong hands', I mean pretty much anyone except for Yoda, who I'm still itching to talk to.

When I eventually ambled down the ramp, Anakin still stood in the same spot with his arms crossed, and was tapping his foot impatiently.

A faint smirk tugged at my lips and I purposely slowed down, taking shorter, plodding steps. I pretended like I was enjoying the scenery around me, even though it was just the outside of the Temple, which I've seen more times than I can count.

He growled in annoyance as I got closer, "Must you always idle everywhere?"

I gave him a fake sweet smile and hopped off of the bottom of the ramp, "Impatience isn't a good look on you, Master." I walked a few steps past him and then spun around, but still kept walking backwards, "But then again, nothing is a good look on you."

I spun back around and began jogging over to Yoda's quarters when I suddenly felt my movements come to a halt. I tried moving but then I realized my body was held in place by the force. "What now?" I groaned.

Anakin appeared in front of me with his natural apathetic expression, "Don't think that you're off the hook just yet for that M.I.A. performance you gave back at the Senate building. At twilight, meet me in the training room for another session."

"Another one?" I whined dramatically, "But we already did a ridiculously long one yesterday."

Anakin purposely drags out our training sessions because he believes that it'll 'build character' and 'diminish my insubordination', and he always keeps me behind longer than he's supposed to. Training with him is sometimes more exhausting than our actual missions.

He stepped closer to me and crouched so that we were at eye level, and from the close distance I could see every detail of the permanent scar next to his eye, "And they'll keep getting longer until you decide to start listening to me. Got it?"

He continued to look at me with impassive features, unchanging as he calmly waited for my response. I was irritated with how superior he was acting towards me; his subtly cocky tone in the way he spoke caused a rush of anger to flare inside of my chest. I wanted to kick him right in his imperious balls.

But I knew he wouldn't let me go until I agreed, and I still have to talk to Yoda, so I wasn't really up for another round of bickering. I rolled my eyes, "Fine."

His expression was still unchanging as he nodded, satisfied with my response and stood back up from his crouching position, and then released his force hold on me. I sighed in frustration and brushed myself off, speed-walking past him.

"Toffee-nosed asshole." I said through my mind, knowing he could hear.

"Incompetent nimrod." He snapped back.

While still walking forward, I stuck my left hand out behind myself and flipped him the bird. I know it's not very 'Queen-like' to do something like that, but Anakin is the exception since he's always purposely getting on my last nerve. When he didn't say anything about it, I smirked amusedly as I turned a corner at the end of the hallway. Once again, I know we're both unapologetically childish, but we don't care, even though it causes us to be aberrantly petty.

Without knocking, I pressed the button to open the door to Yoda's quarters. I instantly saw him sitting at his desk, polishing the hilt of his lightsaber. I giggled out loud at how much of a perfectionist he is, and how everything has to be neat and tidy for him. It was something I liked to joke about with him.

His attention turned to me when my presence was made clear, and smiled. "Back already, you are?" He asked and turned his body towards me in his chair, putting his lightsaber hilt down on the desk.

I nodded and plopped onto a grey beanbag that was just a few feet behind me so that I was still facing towards him. Unlike the other Jedi, I probably acted the most comfortable with Yoda since he's always been like a father to me. He didn't mind it though. Despite the rules of the Jedi Code, I know he has a fatherly attachment to me, just like how I have one for him. And even though he's usually busy, he was also practically my best friend; my only friend.

I sighed and placed my hands on my knees, "Everything went as well as it could've gone." I told him honestly.

He tilted his head, and a glint of amusement appeared in his old eyes, "Dispute with Skywalker, did you?"

I held up my hands defensively, "Hey, I tried being friendly to him, but he's too stuck-up to even have a normal conversation with." I complained.

He narrowed his eyes and I brought one of my hands down, and used the other to point warningly at him, "Before you give me a five hour lecture on everything wrong with the word 'try', there's something actually bad that's happening."

His expression softened and he folded his hands over his lap, waiting for me to continue. I sighed and leaned my back against the wall, letting myself slouch in the beanbag, "My sister, Princess Avery, was the one to contact me today. And the news she gave was a complete bombshell." I began to quicken the pace of my words and used hand gestures as I spoke, "First of all, King Alastair knows that I'm alive because he saw you taking me from the palace all those years ago. He thankfully doesn't know that I'm a Jedi or where I am, but he's giving me a month to accept his hand in marriage so that he can rule both of our planets, and if I say no then he'll do something bad to Alderaan. I don't know what his plans are but I feel like there isn't any good option and this whole thing is stressing me out."

I inhaled deeply once I finished talking, collecting back all the air I used from my ramble. It felt good to get that out to Yoda, he's a really great listener and advice giver.

He nodded earnestly and closed his eyes for a moment, taking in my troubled words. He knew how stressful my life could get every now and then, but this was different than any problem I've ever had as a Queen. I chewed my lip and bounced my leg up and down as I awaited some sort of solution from him.

He hummed and opened his eyes, "Quite the conundrum, this is."

I nodded and used the force to levitate a stress ball in the air that was previously sitting on Yoda's desk. I called it over to me and watched as it floated in the air; the stillness of how it levitated was surprisingly calming my overactive nerves.

"Decide from the heart, you must. Have the power to choose, you do." I looked back over at him from the stress ball that still floated in the air. I sighed and dropped it into my hand so I could squeeze it, "I know, but how am I supposed to protect Alderaan from Alastair? I don't have the slightest knowledge of what he's going to do, so I can't even prepare properly."

Yoda smiled and called the stress ball from my hand straight into his own, "On your side, the Jedi are. Fight with you, we will."

My heart instantly swelled with gratitude for my green friend, and father figure. He was right, I did have the Jedi on my side and I knew that they would help Alderaan in any crisis since it's a Republic planet.

"You have no idea how happy I am to hear that." I chuckled in relief. I mean, I'm still worried about what the consequences will be when I say no to the marriage, but at least now I have people I can count on to help me formulate a plan. Well, they still can't know who I am but Yoda will probably help take the lead with me on this.

He nodded and turned back towards his desk, grabbing his lightsaber hilt again, "If a Queen, you can be, then get along with Skywalker, you can."

I groaned but still smiled at his consistent dedication to making sure that I get along with Anakin. I stood up off of the beanbag and went over to the door, "You do realize that reasoning with Anakin is like reasoning with a brick wall? It just doesn't work."

Yoda didn't look at me but I saw a faint smile form at his lips, "Until you get along, a brick wall, you are too."

I scoffed half-heartedly and then exited his room, walking down the halls to my own room, "Oh please....me? A brick wall? Not even." I muttered to myself. I decided that sometime tonight, I'd make another attempt to be friends with Anakin tonight. But only for Yoda's sake. I doubt he and I will be having tea parties and frolicking through fields together, but maybe one day we at least won't hate each other.

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It was now Twilight, and Anakin and I are supposed to start training soon. As usual, I was laying on my bed and staring up at my ceiling, still deep in thought about what I could do to protect Alderaan. I need to use the month that I have to plan. Maybe the Jedi could guard the palace as reinforcements in case of an attack? And we'd have to get my Mom and sister out of there as well if we did that.

Today took such a big turn that I wasn't ready for. But I guess I'm finally getting a taste of the reality of being a Queen. No one ever told me it would be easy, but I think this experience will only make me stronger.

My door suddenly opened jarringly, causing me to sit up in shock and scoot back against my headboard. I was extra jumpy today because of how much overthinking I've been doing, so I was exceedingly startled to see Anakin standing under the doorframe.

He leaned casually against one side of the doorframe with his arms crossed, "Why are you being such a spaz?"

I huffed and rolled my eyes, ignoring his question. Then I threw my legs over the edge of the bed, "Haven't you ever heard of knocking? I could've been naked." I stood up to grab my lightsaber from my nightstand.

I heard him scoff from behind me and I could sense him eyeing my body up and down, "Well you weren't, so quit griping and hurry up. Our session is actually going to be shorter today since I have another commitment tonight."

I snickered and turned around to look at him, raising an eyebrow, "Commitment? What, are you going on a date with Obi-Wan or something?"

That would actually be very entertaining to witness.

He scowled at me and wiped his blonde curls out of his eyes, "No. And what I'm doing is none of your concern regardless."

I sighed, "Whatever. Let's just go."

We walked in complete silence to the training room, as we usually do. It's a step up from arguing though, which I'm surprised we made it all the way to the training room without doing.

I made sure to put my walls up too, because I didn't want him hearing my distressing thoughts about coming up with a good plan to save my planet. I really shouldn't dwell that much on the topic when I don't need to, but it's difficult when you're one of the only people that knows that potentially many lives are in danger. Now that I've fully decided to not marry Alastair, I should update my family about it soon. But would they even be okay with the idea of the Jedi helping us, since I'm also one of them and could be putting myself at risk?

"Hey." Anakin snapped. My head shot up and all of my previous thoughts vanished as I looked into his annoyed gaze.

"I was listening." I lied quickly, before he could ask. I knew he said something but I was too deep in thought to pay attention to whatever he was talking about.

"Oh really?" He smirked and crossed his arms; and began to tower over me, enabling me to arch my spine backwards so I could still look up at him.

"Then what did I just say?" He asked in a mocking tone.

He knew I wasn't paying attention, and just wanted to rub it in as usual. I held my hands behind my back to stop myself from punching him right in his smug face.

I sucked my teeth in and smiled back at him, "You just said that....you're excited for your date with Obi-Wan." I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing, even though my smile was enough to show it.

He rolled his eyes and backed away from me, causing me to lean up again. He sighed, "I said that we should start with a practice lightsaber duel. So get yours out." He gestured to my belt.

I nodded and pulled the hilt out, igniting the bright blue blade to life and holding it with two hands in front of me. He did the same and then we instantly began to swing and parry at each other for the first ten seconds, while I kept taking steps backwards as he advanced towards me. I then unexpectedly changed course to duck under his next swing and run around him. Before he could react, I roughly kicked the back of his left knee and watched as he fell backwards and inhaled sharply as the wind was knocked out of his chest. I smirked at my swift victory and stood over his legs, pointing my lightsaber at his neck. Even though he was bigger and probably stronger than me, I was definitely faster.

"Looks like you're becoming a bit too slow, Master. Or should I say, Grandpa?" For once as he looked up at me with wide eyes, he seemed genuinely impressed with how quickly I was able to gain the upper hand. I didn't know why, but seeing how impressed he was made me feel unusually elated.

After a moment, he chuckled from underneath me, "Maybe, but I believe you're the one who's becoming too slow, my Padawan."

I rose an eyebrow in confusion but before I could comprehend his words, he hooked my ankle with his foot and pulled on it so that I fell backwards this time. I let out a breathless laugh as my back hit the cold floor; and not a fake laugh, surprisingly, but a real one.

But then my laughter was stopped as I quickly sat up, only to feel a burning pain collide with my forehead. I yelped in pain and scooted backwards in my sitting position, bringing my hand up to my forehead even though I couldn't actually touch it because it would just make the pain worse.

"Oh my—are you okay?" I looked up and saw Anakin with his lightsaber in front of him; and he looked sincerely horrified. I knew why, though. He had gotten his own arm cut off by Count Dooku, so he knows the excruciating pain of being touched by a lightsaber. It was shockingly strange to see him so concerned about me, which is why I didn't respond right away. Or maybe he just a doesn't want to get in trouble with the Council.

I was trembling with aftershock and my eyes were still wide as I nodded absentmindedly. Thankfully the lightsaber only touched my forehead for less than a second, so the damage shouldn't be too severe, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt like hell right now.

Anakin sighed and put his own lightsaber into the sheathe of his belt, and then wiped the sweat off of his forehead, "Okay, I'm going to get a first-aid kit, and I promise I'll fix this." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than me.

He ran out of the room and left me still trembling on the floor. I scooted backwards some more until my back was leaned against the wall, so that I had some sort of support for my body. I tried to control my breathing and ensure that I didn't pass out from how freaked out I was. A panic attack on top of a lightsaber burn would definitely not mix well.

Within a minute, Anakin came rushing back in with a first-aid box and kneeled beside me, ransacking the box for whatever he was looking for. His breathing was just as heavy as mine, signaling his anxiety. Once again, I didn't know if he was actually worried about me or just worried about the consequences that he could face. He eventually pulled out a small bottle with clear liquid inside of it, and exhaled in relief as he held it in front of his eyes.

Then he turned his head towards me and gently grabbed the wrist of my hand that was still hovering over the burning area on my forehead. When he saw it, he winced and his features twisted into an expression of bona fide worry, making my insides churn nervously.

"Is it that bad?" I croaked.

He shrugged as his expression changed nonchalantly back to its normal emotionless base, and still kept his eyes on my forehead, "That depends. Do you want the truth? Or the sugarcoated truth?"

I groaned and leaned the back of my head against the wall, then brought it upright again. This would happen to me, on a day like today. I sighed, "I guess I'll take the truth."

(a/n): I had a lot of fun writing this chapter🥰 I hope that you guys are still enjoying this so far, I'm so excited to continue this and see where it goes. Let me know what you think!

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