Separatist takeover complete. Another Republic planet has fallen. Onderon has seceded to the Confederacy of Independent Systems under the rule of a new king. However, a small band of rebels have taken refuge deep within its vast and savage wilderness. From an abandoned outpost, they plot to take back the heavily fortified capital city of Iziz and end the Separatist occupation.

The Jedi Council had a meeting in which some of the Onderonian rebels spoke with them.

"Unfortunately, the only way to reclaim Onderon will be through armed struggle." said Young Lux Bonteri. "But we lack sufficient hardware and supplies."

"Onderon is in your king's rule and at the outbreak of the Clone War," said Obi-Wan. "he chose to align it with the Separatists."

"Our true king has been silenced," said an older rebel. "The one you recognize is a traitor and a Separatist minion. We need your help to survive this."

"Find a way we shall." said Yoda.

Lux bowed.

"We await your answer."

And the transmission ended.

"There are pockets of rebels on many of these planets that just need guidance." said Anakin. "With training and resources, they could attack soft targets while the Republic continues to engage them on the battlefield."

"That sounds like terrorism, Anakin." Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Well, I think of it as an insurgency to help realign these planets with the Republic."

"If Anakin's idea is too terrible, what can we do?" Carmine asked.

"We can divide the Separatist forces and press them on two fronts." said Mace.

"A means to an end fear cannot be." said Yoda. "Stop those who spread terror the Jedi must."

"Indeed." Obi-Wan agreed. "What you're suggesting would open up dangerous possibilities. And we must not train terrorists."

"How do we even know if they're terrorists?" Carmine pointed out.

"They're rebels." Anakin said.

"How we conduct wat is what distinguishes us from others." said Obi-Wan. "Funding rebels to overthrow a legitimate government puts innocent lives at risk."

"We can minimize collateral damage by using arms that mainly affect droids."

"Anakin does have a point. Even if we're not part of the fight, we should at least help them defend themselves." Carmine said.

"The least we can do is help them defend themselves." Mace agreed. "Test the tactic while we're at it."

Anakin chuckled and said, "This could be a great new weapon for us."

"Must you weaponize everything?" Carmine said.

"You weaponized pillows and music." Anakin pointed out.

"I told you a million times, that pillow fight in the classroom was started by accident!"

Obi-Wan sighed. Despite different personalities, the twins definitely shared the trait of behaving like children.

"Train and observe." said Yoda. "Send advisors we will."

"I'll assemble a team." said Anakin.

"I'm going with you." Obi-Wan said, getting up from his seat and approaching Anakin.

"What, you don't trust me?"

"Too much." Obi-Wan placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder. "That's what worries me."

"Guess that means I'm going too." Carmine shrugged.

Anakin assembled a team, and they took a ship to Onderon, arriving at a drop zone above the wilderness. The Jedi, all wearing cloaks, jumped out from the ship and landed in the wilderness. Their horses arrived as well, all dressed in camouflage outfits to prevent their bright colors from making them stick out like sore thumbs.

Everyone moved very carefully through the jungle, but didn't know that they were spotted by some rebels hiding in the bushes.

Gabby and Lamenta each accompanied their fathers wherever they went.

Gabby and Anakin passed through some part of the jungle, when a horse-like creature came up and howled in front of them.

"Stay where you are." said a woman riding the creature.

Gabby looked to the left and screamed as she saw another creature with a rider.

"Identify yourselves." said the woman.

Anakin pulled down his hood and said, "It's all right. We're friends."

Gabby pulled her hood down too."

"Jedi." gasped the girl.

Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and the Jinns soon arrived at the scene as well, all of them pulling their hoods back.

"I'm Commander Tano." Ahsoka introduced. "We're here to help you take back your planet."

"My name is Steela." said the new girl. "I'll guide you to our secret base."

Luckily, they had three horses. But they had seven riders. A clone and six Jedi. The youngest children rode Carousella, the twins took Crescent, and Obi-Wan and Ahsoka rode Peppermint as Steela guided them to their base. Rex stuck with walking.

The Jedi rode the horses into sunrise the next morning. Steela brought them to what looked like an abandoned garden, where there were some other creatures with riders. Some of them could fly and looked a little like dinosaurs. And at the front, there was a young adult male waiting.

Rebels began to stare as the Jedi entered and climbed down from their horses.

"Hmm. A bit rough around the edges, wouldn't you say?" Obi-Wan said.

"That's why I brought Rex here." said Anakin.

"They're not exactly what I would call shinies, sir." Rex confessed, looking around. "But I could work with them."

Lamenta looked around curiously at all the different people, but she clung to her father when she heard one of those creatures squawking.

A flying creature flew in with the same man from before on its back. He climbed down and approached the group. But, he looked a bit surprised when he saw two Anakins.

"General Skywalker?" The man looked between the two.

"Long story." Carmine said.

"We're at your service." Anakin said. "This is General Kenobi, Commander Tano, Captain Rex, and Padawan Jinn. Also my twin brother. And these are Princesses Gabriella and Lamenta."

"And the horses are Lieutenant and Commander Mareheart, and Peppermint." Gabby said.

"We're looking forward to taking the fight to those scrappin' droids." said the man.

"Yes. All in good time." said Obi-Wan.

"Saw. Saw Gerrera." the man introduced

"He fashions himself as our leader," said Steela, then playfully punched his arm. "though no one elected him."

"Well, for now, we're in charge." said Anakin.

"And there is much to learn." said Carmine.

The Jedi and rebels gathered around a transmission table, ready to begin learning.

"The Separatists have strength in numbers." said Anakin. "We're gonna show you how to target and destroy them."

"Now, to be clear, we aren't here to fight your war." Carmine said. "And not just because some of us require further training or are too young."

"Rather," said Obi-Wan. "we are here to show you how to conduct it in the most efficient and successful way possible."

Anakin had Rex step up.

"I'll show you how the 501st destroy clankers." Rex said. "First, I need volunteers to carry supplies from our entry point a halfklick west"

"Shouldn't be a problem." said Saw.

While the oldest Jedi were talking, Ahsoka approached Lux, happy to see him again for the first time since before his mother died.

"It's good to see you too, Ahsoka." said Lux.

"I didn't realize you had such strong ties to Onderon." Ahsoka said as they walked together.

"Onderon is my home. My mother represented it in the Senate."

"Your voice is strong, like hers was." said Steela.

"Have you reconsidered joining the Republic Senate?" Ahsoka asked Lux.

"Even if we do take back Onderon it won't change how I feel. I'm not fighting for the Republic."

"Well, what matters now is we need each other's help just like we did on Carlac."

"Carlac?" Steela stopped in her tracks. "What happened on Carlac?"

Ahsoka and Lux stopped and faced Steela.

"Ahsoka is the reason I'm here and not with Death Watch." Lux explained.

"Really?"

"What he means is..." Ahsoka began.

"She saved me from a huge mistake."

Lux left the two girls alone.

Steela approached Ahsoka and said, "Lux obviously thinks highly of you."

"I guess so." said Ahsoka.

"Let's hope that respect is well founded."

Later, Ahsoka instructed the rebels on how to defeat a clanker tank, emphasizing the importance of taking out both chambers, otherwise leaving the tank operational. Ahsoka nodded to Rex, who placed two balls inside the tank, and electricity sparked all over the tank.

"Everyone, divide up into teams of two and we'll practice an assault on both hatches." Anakin instructed.

Lux immediately called taking the top.

"Let's see what you're made of, Bonteri." said Saw, playfully punching Lux's arm.

Rex passed the guys two of the same balls he'd thrown into the tank.

Lux and Saw started to climb on the tank, only for Lux to slip from the cannon, and knock both him and Saw to the ground. Luckily, Lamenta quickly made a soft dream cloud catch them.

"You guys, okay?" Lamenta asked.

"We're good." Lux said. "Sorry about that."

Lux climbed off the cloud and tried to help Saw up, but Saw slapped his hand away and said, "You're a terrible soldier, Bonteri."

"Hey, give him time." said Carmine. "It takes more than a day to become a prima ballerina."

"I don't see what dancing has to do with this."

"All I'm saying is all things take practice. And battle and dance are more alike than you'd think. In a way, dancing is a battle between keeping balance, following a rhythm, and not falling down or bumping into other dancers."

"I'm not sure if they're more interested in fighting the droids or each other." said Obi-Wan.

"They'll learn." Anakin said, crossing his arms. "We just need time to train them properly."

"Keep your eyes on the quick learners. In this fight, time is not on our side."

"You think it's so easy, huh?" Carmine challenged Saw. "Then let's see you do this."

Carmine got into position and did three perfect pirouettes in a row.

"Twirling? Easy." Saw said, and he got into almost the same position Carmine had.

But, when Saw tried to turn, he got only halfway around all wobbly and lost his balance and fell onto his rear.

"You were saying...?" Carmine offered his hand.

"Carmine, this isn't dance class." Anakin said.

"I know that. Just making a point."

So, Rex continued with training the rebels.

"Come on! Move it like a soldier!" Rex instructed.

Saw also started shouting out for soldiers to do better, pick up the pace. Carmine also offered a few tips like watching alignment and adjusting body weight.

Steela, meanwhile, tended to Lux.

"You sure you're up for this?" Saw teased Lux.

"Saw." Steela scolded her brother.

"It was an accident." Lux defended.

"You would've had us both killed." Saw scolded.

Steela got between the boys and pushed them apart before they could start a fight.

"Sit down, boy. This isn't the Senate." said Saw. "You've got no talent for this."

"Hey, leave him alone." Gabby said. "Just because someone's a politician or a royal doesn't define them as a soldier."

"She's right." Lux said. "It's going to take a lot more than muscle to defeat the Separatists."

"Politics have failed us." Saw turned his back on Lux. "We have no choice."

"We always have a choice." Lux said.

"Then make yours."

"Can you stop acting like you're four long enough to actually some training done?" Gabby said, sounding annoyed. "And that's coming from and actual four-year-old."

"Look, if we're going to succeed you'll need to be exceptional with words and action." Steela told the guys. "There will be time for both."

The next lesson involved destroyer droids.

"Destroyers are quick, pack twin blasters and come with their own shield generators." said Anakin. "Nothing short of a cannon will pierce it."

"In other words, don't take them lightly." Carmine said.

"But they do have two weaknesses and you will need to work together to exploit them."

Rex activated one of the destroyer droids, and Anakin explained that the shields deflected high velocity attacks.

Rex shot the shield twice to demonstrate.

"What the shields don't stop are slow and stationary objects." Anakin continued. "They're designed to absorb them so nothing hinders their movement."

Ahsoka then demonstrated by rolling another electric ball into the destroyer's shield, electrocuting the destroyer.

"Destroyers are blind from behind," said the Togruta. "A distraction combined with a rear assault will give you a kill. The trick is to get the right speed on the droid popper."

Rex then activated all three destroyers and held up another ball, which he explained was unarmed.

"Just concentrate on getting it past the shield." he said before tossing it to Saw.

"Watch and learn." Saw told Lux. Then he rolled the ball, only for it to bounce back off the shield.

Gabby and Lamenta both giggled because now Saw was the one who missed something right after he gave Lux a hard time for missing.

"Quite brilliant." Lux smirked.

Ahsoka then tossed Lux a ball, and the young senator rolled the ball a little more slowly. Unlike Saw's, the ball actually got through.

"Nice job, Lux." Gabby clapped.

"Hmm. Nice touch." Ahsoka complimented.

"Thanks." said Lux. Steela stood behind him, looking jealous.

"Not bad." said Steela. Then she took a turn, only to get the same result as Saw.

"Be mindful of your frustration." said Obi-Wan. "It'll only hold you back."

"It's true. A lot of dancers have ended their careers too early because they strived for perfection a little too much." Carmine said, practicing some stretches, since he didn't have much to do with the training.

Lux then guided Steela, telling her to use her shoulder, let her arm swing, and keep her eyes on the target.

Ahsoka looked at Lux holding Steela's arm in a certain way. She only liked Lux as a friend though, especially since she already had a special someone now.

"Everyone pair up. We'll practice in groups." Rex said.

While everyone else left to continue training, Carmine and the girls were left alone.

"I guess they don't need us." Lamenta said.

"Well, where the master goes, Padawans usually go too." Gabby said. "And since Uncle Obi-Wan is teaching your daddy now, we're stuck here until training is done."

But none of them knew that a droid was watching them and reporting their location.

While the droids were on their way, and the soldiers were training, Carmine was giving his niece some pointers on how to improve her dance technique.

Leaps were definitely harder than the hops, skips, and jumps Gabby typically did when she was just walking down a path.

Meanwhile, Steela was frustrated with her inability to get the ball through the shield.

"You made it look easy." she told Ahsoka.

"It wasn't always that way." Ahsoka said.

"Right. The Force. That your secret?"

"No. Perseverance. Look, you'll get the hang of it I wouldn't let it get you down."

"I'm not feeling down." Steela looked at her weapon. "I just know what I'm good at."

"Watch out! Going down!" Carmine exclaimed, and he fell on his stomach, his daughter and niece falling on top of him, as they'd fallen during a lesson. But the three of them were laughing now.

But all of them were still unaware of the droid watching them. Even the horses were too busy overseeing training to notice.

The final lesson was shooting, which Steela mastered easily as she shot some battle droid heads line up on the edge of a stone wall.

"Impressive. Most impressive." said Anakin.

"Fixed targets are one thing," said Ahsoka. "How about this?"

Ahsoka used the Force to make one droid head move around, and Steela shot it with ease.

"Good." Carousella said. "But I recall from my royal guard training that you also must prepare for more than one target, and to attack and defend at any speed. What about this?"

Carousella used her horn to move more than one droid head and move them more quickly, in circles, crisscross, up and down, and side to side. Steela really had to focus in order to hit them. And she hit every last one.

"Great job!" Carousella stomped her hoof twice, which was an Equinaran sign of praise.

"You have clearly mastered your ability to focus." said Obi-Wan to Steela.

Suddenly, Crescent and Carousella both started to get into defensive positions as they began to feel something headed their way.

"Carousella? Crescent? What is it?" Anakin asked, noticing the horses' behavior.

Peppermint hunched into the same position. "Something's coming."

But, Rex continued with the lesson.

"A headshot is the only decisive way to disable a droid." he explained. "They don't need arms, legs, or even bodies to pass intel to central command. All right, shoot at will."

However, as Steela was aiming her blaster, she saw something through the bushes coming toward them.

"Wait a minute. What is that?" said Steela.

Carousella flew up a little bit and saw...

"Battle droids!"

"Take cover!" Rex shouted.

Anakin and Obi-Wan flipped back and activated their lightsabers.

"Carmine, protect the kids!" Anakin said.

Carmine made the girls drop down to the ground and crawl underneath the blaster bolts' path.

"Okay, girls. This is important. Stay low and go." Carmine said, and he guided the girls behind the transmission table to keep them both safe.

"It looks like training is over." said Obi-Wan said.

Obi-Wan and Anakin used their lightsabers to deflect the shots.

"I'll take the left flank if you take the right." said Anakin.

"I'll make some plants eat those droids." Gabby said.

"No, we can only protect them." Obi-Wan said. "We cannot fight this war for them."

"Try telling the ponies that." Gabby said, noticing her and Obi-Wan's ponies blasting droids with their magic, and Crescent swooping at them from the air.

"But they're not Jedi." Lamenta pointed out.

"But they are affiliated with us." Gabby said.

"Ponies, cease all attacks!" Anakin shouted. "We can't fight this war for them."

The ponies were confused, but reluctantly ceased their attacks and got themselves to safety. Carmine sat and hugged the girls close to his body to make sure they stayed down.

Steela and the others kept trying to shoot down the droids. But there were too many. However, according to Obi-Wan, the Jedi could still hold them off while Steela and her people fled the scene.

"You didn't teach us to run." Steela said, and she activated her wristcom. "Saw, use your disruptors to take out the droids."

And the soldiers did as they were trained. They threw explosives at the battle droids and blew them up.

"Not bad." said Anakin.

"That is only the first wave." said Obi-Wan.

And he was right, because a tank soon came in and fired its cannon, blasting tons of debris all over the place.

"We'll handle this." said Obi-Wan.

"No, I will." said Steela. And she aimed her gun in the Jedi's direction. "Duck!"

And the Jedi did duck, and Steela blasted the gate to the corral with all the creatures in it, breaking it and freeing all the animals, who knocked down many of the droids.

Saw and Lux then jumped onto the cannon, this time getting an explosive into it successfully. And they both got pretty dirty doing it.

"Now you look more like a soldier than a politician." chuckled Saw.

"Well, maybe a good politician needs to get dirty now and then." said Steela.

The soldiers gathered as the Jedi stood before them. Carmine stood up with a little girl in each of his arms. Lamenta was clinging to him like her life depended on it.

"Take confidence from this victory." Obi-Wan told the soldiers. "But rest assured, there will be more droids coming now that they know your position."

"It doesn't matter." said Anakin. "You're ready now. We are going to take the fight to the droids. You don't have to hide in the jungle any longer."

"Droids were a bit dim, more so than I imagined." said Saw.

"They make up for it in numbers." said Ahsoka. "They're designed to overwhelm."

"It tends to happen with enemies of many kinds." said Crescent. "They know if they can overwhelm you enough, you'll be easier to defeat."

"But they're not designed to deal with our approach." Anakin continued.

"We hit them where they least expect it." said Lux. "And before they realize what happened,"

"We fad in with the rest of the population." Steela finished.

"Exactly." smiled Anakin.

"We need a plan to get inside the city." said Ahsoka.

Lux thought for a moment and declared he had an idea.

Later, the group tied their creatures and the horses to what looked like floating carriages carrying stuff. The Jedi all kept their hoods up to stay hidden. Lamenta hid her face in her father's chest, feeling scared of the droids.

"It's going to be okay, Little Lamb." Carmine whispered, patting his daughter's back.

A droid stopped the group and asked Lux what they were doing outside the city gates.

"Hunting." said Lux. "We've been trekking for days."

"Did you register before your excursion?" asked the droid.

"No, but most of our time is spent in the bush collecting our traps. We come to the city to sell."

Meanwhile, another battle droid inspected the ship of the craft.

"You can't get thrip larva like this is Iziz." Lux said, holding up a little bag. "Only the biggest trees on the other side of Onderon."

That was when Steela stepped in.

"Hey, listen, we need to deliver all of this in time for supper." she said.

"Hmm. Are you scanning anything?" The battle droid asked the one beside the ship.

"It's hard to tell with so much organic matter." said the second droid.

"Come on! Our merchants are waiting inside." whined a rebel girl. "Can you hurry it up?"

And so, the droids let them through.

"Good job." Ahsoka praised Lux as they were in.

"Like Saw said, those droids are dumber than we thought." said Lux.

The group was soon inside.

"Good plan." said Anakin. "But now the hard work begins."

"You must find recruits and choose your targets wisely." said Obi-Wan.

"They'll be looking for us," said Steela.

"We should split up." Lux said, standing up.

"Regroup after nightfall." said Saw. "I'll alert our brothers."

"We'll make sure you have the supplies you need." Anakin promised.

"Rex and I will take care of that." said Ahsoka

"Good luck." said Lux.

"You too." said Steela and Ahsoka at the same time.

Lux, Ahsoka, and Steela soon left and split up.

"How do you think they'll do?" Anakin asked.

"I have a feeling we'll be pleasantly surprised." said Obi-Wan.

"So you admit our new strategy will work?"

"I am hopeful, Anakin, hopeful."

The Jedi decided to split up as well. Anakin and Gabby continued riding a carriage, Obi-Wan rode on a different creature (which sparked a bit of jealousy in Peppermint), and Carmine and Lamenta rode Crescent.

Carmine was genuinely concerned about Lamenta's safety. Gabby might have been willing and ready to fight in the field with her father, but Lamenta wasn't. And Carmine wasn't much more prepared than she. So, he told the others he was taking Lamenta home for the sake of her safety. Gabby volunteered to go with them, seeing as they seemed to do just fine without her help. Anakin didn't object, as he cared for his daughter's safety as well.

"Don't worry, Baby." Carmine said, looking at his daughter's eyes. "This will be the last time we have to be in battle until we're actually ready for it."

So, the disguised pop star and his girls rode Crescent, who used his magical horseshoes to get them back to the Temple where they would be safe.