Just when one mission ends and you think you'll finally have some time to relax, another mission appears.

This time, Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano were on a mission to rescue Jedi Aayla Secura, whose fleet was outnumbered in the far reached of the Quell system.

"Prepare the gunships," ordered Anakin.

And the Jedi and clones rode in to rescue Aayla, while Carousella flew Gabby in, the two of them in a protective energy bubble.

"Rocket droids, incoming!" shouted one clone.

"Carousella," said Gabby.

"I'm on it!" Carousella said, and she blasted as many droids as she could with her magic to give the gunships more time and space to fly in

Super droids were also flying in, boarding Aayla's ship.

"Those droids are boarding Aayla's ship." Anakin shouted over the noise.

Even with Carousella there to blast the clankers, that didn't stop more from coming in and boarding some of the clones' ships to attack them, including the one Anakin and Ahsoka were on.

"Take care of that clanker!" Anakin ordered. "I'll be on board Aayla's cruiser."

"Master, are you that's the wisest thing-" Ahsoka started.

But Anakin, being Anakin, didn't wait for her to finish, and he jumped onto one of the clankers and got onto Aayla's cruiser, Ahsoka and their team soon flying in. Carousella landed beside Anakin, and Gabby began shooting balls of fire at whatever droids came along. The group ran and soon came across Master Secura and the rest of the team.

"Nice entrance, Skywalker." Aayla said as she and the other Jedi began deflecting blaster shots with their lightsabers. "Now how do you plan on getting us out of this mess?"

"Well, I have a ship." Anakin said, slicing another droid.

"It's in the lower hangar as we speak," said Carousella. "We have to hurry!"

The team ran and ran until they came across a single battle droid. Anakin held up his lightsaber, and more droids appeared. But then, Carousella blasted them with her magic.

"All too easy," said the musicorn. Then the team rushed to the docking bay.

"Let's go!" Anakin exclaimed, leading his team away, making sure everyone got to the dock to board the ship.

They soon came to the docking area, and Ahsoka pressed a button to get them access.

"We made it." Ahsoka said.

As the team was about to get onto the ship, there was an explosion. Anakin looked back and said, "It's too late."

Anakin quickly Force pushed everyone into the docking bay as the door was closing.

"Master!/Daddy!" Ahsoka and Gabby exclaimed at the same time as they and the others were all thrown into another room, some landing more roughly than others.

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There was another explosion from the other side of the door. Gabby quickly got up from where she fell off Carousella and started banging her fists on the door.

"Daddy? Daddy! Can you hear me?!" Gabby screamed, banging louder. "DADDY!"

"Don't move the ship!" Ahsoka ordered. She opened the door as quickly as she could, and found Anakin unconscious and in critical condition.

"Ahsoka, we have to leave now!" Aayla said, helping Ahsoka gently pull Anakin to safety. "Hurry. Get him on the ship."

The Jedi managed to lay Anakin down safely in the ship.

"This is where you come in, Gabs." Ahsoka said.

Gabby climbed onto the berth and kissed Anakin on his cheek. But, something was wrong. He didn't heal at all. Gabby kissed him again. Nothing happened. Then she kissed him for a little longer, and then a bunch of times.

"Shouldn't he be healed already?" Ahsoka said, worried and confused.

Gabby kissed Anakin one more time. Still, nothing happened.

"It's not working! My healing power isn't working!" Gabby said in dread.

"How is that possible?" Aayla wondered out loud.

"Why isn't it working?" Gabby asked, looking at her sisterly figure and honorary aunt.

Aayla and Ahsoka quickly saw that Gabby had a little scratch on her bottom lip; probably from when she fell off Carousella.

"You must've hurt your mouth when you fell." Ahsoka said.

"Anakin will need old fashioned medical attention." Aayla said.

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Anakin was hooked up to a life support system on the ship, and General Secura contacted Admiral Yularen.

"You'll never be able to dock your ship with this battle going on," said Admiral Yularen.

"We have no choice, Admiral." Aayla said. "Skywalker's condition may be critical."

"Are all Jedi so reckless?"

"Just the good ones."

However, during the battle, the ship was hit, activating the hyperdrive, and it couldn't be shut down.

"General Secura, what's going on?" asked Admiral Yularen.

"We're going into hyperspace." said Aayla. "Detach! Detach!"

Admiral Yularen immediately ordered evasive maneuvers to avoid the ship taking the cruiser with them into hyperspace, and the ship zoomed off.

"Plot every course along their last known trajectory." Yularen said. "We need to finish this battle and find them."

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As Anakin was hooked up to the life support, Ahsoka stood by her master's side, and Gabby was laying close beside him, crying. Carousella tried to comfort her girl by nuzzling her, but it had no effect.

Aayla came to fetch Ahsoka, saying she and Commander Bly were needed at the bridge immediately.

"I should stay." Ahsoka said. "Commander Bly doesn't need my help. Anakin does."

"You can help Anakin by getting this ship to safety." Aayla said. "Carousella can stay to look after Anakin. Gabriella, we'll need you too."

"But, Aunt Aayla, my magic isn't working. Remember?" Gabby reminded her.

"Your healing power isn't. But you have others that should."

Aayla picked up the child and held her in her arms as Commander Bly came in, reporting a problem. He reported that the navicomputer's inputs were done incorrectly in their haste to escape and now they were headed for a star, and not the magical kind that granted wishes.
While Carousella stayed to watch Anakin, the others went to take care of the problem.

Unfortunately, the navicomputer was completely fried,

"Shut down all power circuits to reset the coordinates." Aayla ordered.

"That will cut off Anakin's life support!" Ahsoka said.

Gabby gasped; she was almost three, but she knew exactly what that mean risking.

"I don't like it any more than you do, but it is a risk we're going to have to take." Aayla said.

"We're switching off the primary power units." Ahsoka reported.

"Cutting it awfully close." said Rex, seeing as they were almost about to hit the star.

"Ready to shut off auxiliary power," said Aayla.

"On three." said Ahsoka

The team got ready to cut off all power in three... two... one.

And lights out!

Rex, Aayla, and Gabby all got thrown to the back of the ship, Rex catching the child on his stomach with a grunt.

"We're out of hyperspace! Resume all power!" Commander Bly exclaimed.

Aayla concentrated and used the Force to flip the switch and restore all power. It was a close one, but they managed to steer the ship away from the star, only to head for something else.

"Well, we're not going to crash into the star, but we're definitely going to hit that planet." Ahsoka said.

And the ship engulfed itself more in flames as it entered the new planet's atmosphere.

Gabby screamed as they made a rough landing, and she clinged to Rex until the ship finally stopped.

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Carousella kicked the exit door open, carrying Gabby on her back.

"Everyone out! Hurry!" Carousella called.

Carousella got Gabby out and helped the clones out while Ahsoka and Aayla helped Anakin out. And Gabby used her weather magic to make rain pour over the fire, putting it out before it could spread.

"We made it. And Master Skywalker is still alive." Aayla said with relief.

"I'm just glad he wasn't awake to see that landing." Ahsoka said.

"He would have been proud."

"I've certainly mastered the art of demolishing ships and almost getting my master killed."

"Daddy!" Gabby exclaimed, running to her father. She was too worried about her father's life than how Aayla and the others would react to Gabby calling him 'Daddy.'

Gabby knelt down by Anakin, pressing her ear to his chest. She could hear his heart beating, and his lungs still breathing, just barely.

"What do we do? What do we do?" Gabby panicked, tears coming to her eyes. "We can't let him die."

Ahsoka picked Gabby up. "Don't cry, Gabby. We're gonna do something."

Carousella nuzzled Gabby again in an effort to comfort her.

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The crew managed to set up a small camp using some scrap metal to make a protective tent for Anakin, and Gabby was relieved her other powers were still intact, and she used them to make a soft cloud for Anakin to rest on.

Luckily, Carousella had some medical training while she trained as a guard. Unfortunately, most of it was for equines and/or centaurs, one of which was only half-human, so it was difficult to figure out the best way to treat him.

"Please be okay," whispered Gabby.

Aayla took a look at Gabby and Anakin. She heard Gabby call Anakin 'Daddy', which Ahsoka told her was apparently a nickname for Anakin. But, the Twilek Jedi wasn't so sure about that.

"Gabriella, stay still for a moment." Aayla told the child.

Aayla took a careful look at Gabby's face and then looked at Anakin, and she noticed some things. Gabby had the same nose as Anakin. And the same ears. She also recalled when she'd seen one or both of them smile, and they seemed to have the same smile too. And, personality-wise, Gabby showed she was just as stubborn as him sometimes, and sometimes rebelled against what the Jedi Council said. And, the facts of Anakin not hesitating to accept when Padme chose him to be Gabby's bodyguard, him being there when she was born, and that Gabby's full first name was a feminine version of Anakin's middle name. All of it was too strange to be a coincidence.

"We're going to help your father," said Aayla, shocking Gabby.

Gabby became scared. "Please don't get us in trouble!" She begged.

"Wait a minute." Ahsoka said. "Anakin is your real father?"

Gabby looked down. She couldn't deny it any longer, and tears came to her eyes as she answered.

"Yes. I'm so sorry I lied to you. Please don't be mad."

"They had a very good reason for keeping it secret." Carousella said.

"Carousella? You knew?" Ahsoka asked.

"I was sworn to secrecy when I joined the family."

"We will worry about that later." Aayla said. "Anakin doesn't have much time. We need to find help tonight."

"Okay, you and Bly go south. Rex, Gabby, Carousella, and I will stay with Anakin." Ahsoka said.

"No, Ahsoka. In order to get help quickly, we must work together."

"I can't leave him. Master, if I was hurt. I know he'd never leave me behind."

"I know this is hard, Ahsoka. But Anakin has to stay behind and we have to go now." Aayla said firmly. "There's nothing more we can do for him. We must do all we can to get off this planet. As a Jedi, it is your duty to do what is best for the group."

Ahsoka looked at Gabby. The little girl gave Anakin a kiss; even though it didn't heal him physically, she just wanted to show him how much she loved him.

Rex soon found something, a plank of wood with a picture carved into it. The planet was obviously inhabited.

"If you don't mind me asking, General Secura... where exactly are we going?" Commander Bly asked.

"To go find the people who live on this planet." Aayla said.

"Where are we gonna find them? We don't even know where they are."

Ahsoka looked at the wooden picture and said, "It seems to me that. the people we're looking for live near giant trees."

"Very perceptive, Padawan." Aayla said.

Ahsoka looked at her Master resting on his cloud.

"Be strong, Master. Just a little longer." She said.

"Don't worry, Daddy." Gabby said. "We'll get you help. Rex and Carousella will look after you." She looked at her pony, who looked concerned. "Don't worry, girl. I can take care of myself. Daddy needs you more than me right now." She kissed her horse's muzzle before leaving with the others. "If we're not back by daylight, follow the trail I leave."

Gabby ran with the team, making a trail of daisies grow, just in case they got lost.

_____________________________________

It felt like hours as the Jedi and clones kept moving.

Ahsoka and Gabby were both very worried about Anakin, and Aayla could sense it.

"I can sense your worried about Anakin." said Aayla. "Your attachments to him."

"I just get so confused sometimes." Ahsoka confessed. "It's forbidden for Jedi to form attachments, yet we're supposed to be compassionate."

"It's nothing to be ashamed of Ahsoka. I went through the same thing when I was your age with my own master." Aayla said.

"Really? you?"

"He was like a father to me. I realized that for the greater good, I had to let him go. Don't lose a thousand lives just to save one."

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean I can't try to save his life." Ahsoka said.

"Yeah. And letting go shouldn't mean kicking out emotions or connecting with people completely." Gabby said.

"Right now, you are too young to understand, Gabriella." Aayla said.

"I am not!" Gabby stopped in front of everyone, making them stop. "You don't know Daddy like I do. Daddy loves me and my mommy, and he's become a better Jedi and a better person because of it. So don't you dare tell me that his choosing to be my daddy is wrong."

"I never said that, little one." Aayla said. "But if your father has formed attachments to you and your mother, he has violated the Code. A single attachment alone is very dangerous. Two is another story."

"Daddy isn't attached to us like that. He loves us and knows that difference between being attached and being loved. Daddy may be reckless, stubborn, and disobedient to orders, but he's not stupid. He told me that love and attachment are two completely different things. Attachment is being possessive but loving someone and being part of a family... that's something special. And Mommy told me that letting go is never easy for anyone, but with loved ones by our side, they can help us learn to confront negative emotions instead of ignoring them."

"How can someone so young know so much?" Ahsoka wondered.

"I just told you. Mommy and Daddy taught me. Both of them." Gabby said. "And Queen Reigna once told Fantasia, who told Carousella, who told me that negative emotions are like a virus. If you ignore them instead of treating them, they grow and get worse. But if you treat them, they go away and you're more ready for them when they come back. I don't care what the Council thinks of me if we ever get off this planet, but if they're too stubborn to see that Daddy-"
"We can worry about that later." Aayla said. "We must keep moving if we want to save your father."

_____________________________________

Night soon fell. Carousella slept by Anakin's side while Rex took the first shift watching for any danger.

Rex soon heard rustling in the grass, and turned on his light, searching around.

Carousella's ear twitched, and she woke up and looked around, seeing nothing. But, she sensed something was nearby.

_____________________________________

The search party eventually came by a giant tree. There were no signs of life, and little Gabby was starting to get sleepy.

"Watch out!" Aayla shouted, tackling Bly out of the way of a giant pod seed. Gabby screamed as she barely managed to dodge one, and Ahsoka grabbed her.

"No wonder it's deserted." Ahsoka said. "It's a death trap."

"You'd have to be crazy to wanna dodge these everyday!" Gabby added.

That was when Aayla spotted a dirt trail caused no doubt by a pod being dragged across the ground.

"It looks like someone or something intelligent enough to figure out a use for the pods has dragged them away. All we have to do is follow the trail. Let's go."

Ahsoka carried Gabby as they ran. Even with all the excitement, the princess couldn't help falling asleep in Ahsoka's arms.

_____________________________________

Meanwhile, at the camp. Anakin started to wake up, and he started to sit up as he heard a growl.

"Anakin, are you okay?" Carousella said, getting him to lay back down.

"Be... behind you." Anakin said.

Carousella looked and saw a griffin-like creature approaching. "Rex! Look out!"

The creature grabbed Rex by the arm with its jaws. Rex tried to get his gun, but the creature pinned him down with its paws. Then, Carousella jumped in and began fighting off the creature herself, managing to scare it off with a few magical blasts, Rex helping with some blaster bolts.

"That was a close one," said Carousella.

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It was close to dawn as the search party came across some tall grass. That was when the heard a low growl.

"Gabby, wake up." Ahsoka said.

Gabby yawned and woke herself up, and then she was really awake when some big creatures came and attacked their team. Gabby managed to nab them with her vines, and scare them off with some storm clouds, but not before Cameron, Lucky, and Flesh were killed.

"We have to keep moving." Aayla said, picking up Gabby as they began running, trying to run faster than they'd ever run before.

_____________________________________

By morning, the team finally found signs of civilization. A civilization that was pod central. It was a cute village filled with little houses made from the giant pods, and the villagers looked like lemurs. Gabby thought they were so cute.

"They're so cute," Gabby gasped with a smile.

"We're here to ask for help, not cuddle them." Ahsoka reminded her. Then she waved hello as they walked into the village.

An older villager, who seemed to be the leader, came over.

"What have you come here for?" said the leader, whose name was Tee-Watt-Kaa.

Gabby jumped down from Aayla's arms, wanting a chance to speak.

"Hello. My name is Gabriella Amidala, Princess of Naboo. And these are my friends, Jedi peacekeepers from the Galactic Republic." Gabby began. "Our ship crashed here a few miles away and one of us is very badly hurt, and we need your help. Please."

It surprised the older Jedi and Commander Bly how good the young princess was doing for her first time negotiating with another leader.

"Violence breeds violence. Jedi are no peacekeepers," said Tee-Watt-Kaa, glaring at Aayla's lightsaber.

Gabby wanted to say something else, but Ahsoka interrupted.

"We're fighting for freedom," said the Togruta.

"And freedom and peace require fear and death?" said Tee-Watt-Kaa. "We colonized this system to find solace from your wretched war. We came to find peace. You must leave. You will only destroy what small amount of peace is left in the galaxy. You will only bring the destruction of us."

"Regardless of the Clone Wars and our part in them, we still need your help." Aayla said. But still, the leader of the pod village refused.

"I must do what is best for my people. We cannot help you."

"Please!" Gabby begged, tears forming in her eyes. "Can't you at least give us some medical supplies? My daddy is the one who's hurt, and he could die!"

That seemed to have sold the leader. And he called over a younger creature.

"I cannot ignore a plea for help," said Tee-Watt-Kaa. "I will send my son Wag Too to help your father. He is a healer. But only one Jedi may go with him. The other and you, Princess, must stay for assurance. We wouldn't want a surprise attack on our village. Or the kidnapping of our only healer."

"Bly and I will stay," said Aayla. "Padawan, go and help your Master."

"No, the clone and his blaster cannot stay." Said the leader, whose name was Tee-Watt-Kaa. "He will go with the young one."

"I can do it. I don't need help," Ahsoka reassured.

"Ahsoka," Aayla began.

"Don't worry."

"Be mindful of your surroundings, Padawan. Those creatures are still out there."

"If you do need help, remember the trigger words I taught you." Gabby told Ahsoka. "They'll let Carousella know to come rescue you."

"Got it. We won't be long." Ahsoka promised as she left with Bly and Wag Too.

_____________________________________

While Aayla went to talk with Tee-Watt-Kaa, Gabby looked around the village and started to play with some of the Lurmen, as she learned they were called, by tumbling on the ground like they did, and she showed that she was one of the good guys by dancing happily and growing lots of pretty flowers around them. The Lurmen seemed to like it, and it distracted Gabby for a while from how worried she was about Anakin, but not completely.

Gabby had a lot to think about now. Her secret was out all because she had a slip of her tongue, and because Aayla noticed similarities between her and Anakin, and the Jedi Council would surely want a DNA test to know for sure. What could she do? What would she do? What should she do?

The Council would no doubt be furious at Anakin for keeping such a secret, and even more once they also learned Anakin married Padme. Given how much Anakin showed he had a connection with Padme, it was pretty clear they were more than just friends. Even though they didn't marry just because they had Gabby, a lot of other couples tended to do that if they had babies before marriage, from what Gabby heard.

Gabby couldn't bear the thought of her father being expelled because of her, or both of them. But she figured she would've preferred the second possibility, because if just her father left, there might've been the possibility she might never see him or Padme again. She couldn't bear even the thought of growing up without her parents. What if it also meant she wouldn't get to see her friends? And what about Carousella? What if the Jedi forced her to cut off all ties with everyone she loved and kept her in the Temple like a princess locked up in a fairy tale just to keep her from forming new attachments?

Okay, that last one might've been dramatic, but give the kid a break.

_____________________________________

It felt like days to Gabby until she saw Ahsoka and Commander Bly arriving with Anakin on a stretcher, Carousella arriving close by with Rex on her back, his arm injured. Many Lurmen gathered and looked at Anakin curiously.

"Uh... Snips?" Anakin said, feeling uncomfortable being stared at by all the villagers.

"Hey, give the guy some space," Carousella said, shooing the lookie-loos, but then Carousella looked to her right and exclaimed, "Incoming princess at three o'clock!"

The Lurmen quickly scattered as Gabby practically screeched to a stop, letting dust fly behind her.

"Daddy! You're alive!" Gabby exclaimed, getting down and carefully hugging her father, showering his face with lots of kisses.

"Good to see you, Baby Girl." Anakin said. "Told our secret, huh?"

Gabby turned red in shame.

"It was an accident. I swear. It just slipped out." Gabby said, sounding sad again. Then she hugged her father again. "I just don't wanna lose you, Daddy. I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too." Anakin smiled.

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Anakin was brought to Wag Too's healing tent, where he used a special natural oil to aid in healing Anakin. He also used a small bit of it to apply to Gabby's scratched lip and wrapped a towel with some of the oil around Carousella's injured wing. With hope, Gabby would be able to kiss and make it better again in no time, and Carousella would be able to fly again.

"Don't worry. You and your father will be all better soon," said Wag Too.

"Thank you so much for helping Daddy, Wag Too." Gabby smiled.

"He's very lucky to have a brave and caring daughter like you."

Gabby only hoped she could be brave long enough for them to fully recover and for the Republic to find them so they could go home.