𝕮𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡
━━ 𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙎𝙃𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙁𝘼𝙇𝙇

━━ 𝘊𝘖𝘙𝘜𝘚𝘊𝘈𝘕𝘛
𝟸𝟹 𝙱𝙱𝚈

Selyn awakes to the feeling of warm, buttery sunlight on her cheek and the quiet sounds of someone preparing tea. The rich scent wafts through the room she's sleeping in, all-too familiar and inviting enough to convince her to open her eyes.

It takes her a moment to recognize her surroundings. Her thoughts are slower than usual, as if her brain has been wrapped in cotton. And a peculiar warmth has spread throughout her body, making her feel weightless and as if she were floating.

She gazes downward, instinctively pulling up the soft robe she has been sleeping in until she can see her abdomen. On the right side of her waist the skin looks different, rosy and new and if she concentrates hard enough she can make out the outline of a scar.

Finally the memories start flooding in, slower at first but as the fuzzy feeling in her head – which must be due to medication, she realizes – finally fades, she remembers it all. Geonosis. Their capture. Anakin. The battle and the republic army. The kiss.

Nadia bustles into view, holding two steaming mugs of tea. She has used Selyn's favourite blend, consisting of herbs and spices coming from Nadia's lush, forest-covered homeplanet. It is comforting and familiar and reminds Selyn of the countless times she's drank it with Nadia, gazing out into a rainy Coruscant.

"You're awake." She smiles. "Good."

"What happened after I blacked out? How are the others?"

"Let's go for a walk, shall we?" Nadia suggests. "The tea needs time to cool and we have a lot to discuss."

After changing into more adequate robes, Selyn joins her as they walk out of Nadia's room, wandering through the halls of the Jedi temple.

Nadia fills her padawan in on everything that has happened. A war has broken loose now, but the Republic is indeed able to fight back thanks to its combat-ready army of clones. The thought of such a great conflict unsettles her.

Together with Anakin and Obi-Wan she has gone to confront Count Dooku, not wanting him to escape from Geonosis and causing more harm to the galaxy's already fragile state. Overpowered by the Count's strong abilities, they had almost been killed if it hadn't been for Yoda coming to their rescue. In saving their lives though he had no choice but to let Dooku go.

"Anakin was injured," Nadia says. "But he will tell you more about it."

Worry twists like a knife in her gut. She should have been there, fighting alongside with him.

Finally they have reached their usual spot. Selyn discreetly opens a window concealed by a rather large statue and climbs out onto the temple's roof. Nadia follows, the mugs still in her hand.

It is still morning on Coruscant, and it must have rained during the night. Tiny droplets of water cling to the city's metal and glass surfaces, shining like a thousand little mirrors whenever they are illuminated by the sun. Being this far up, the speeders sound more distant, the ever-thriving city a little quieter. It's always been like this – being a Jedi, Selyn has always only been able to observe the ordinary life, always too far away to actively take a part in it.

"There are some things I have to tell you, Selyn." Nadia sighs gravely, expression troubled. "I have always hoped I never had to talk about this to you, but times are changing and so must we."

Selyn clings to her warm mug, watching Nadia closely. "Tell me. I can handle it."

Part of her wants Nadia to see that those last words were a lie, that she indeed cannot handle it, and that she's afraid she never can. Because how could she, on top of the war and her secret love?

"You know the prophecy about the Chosen One."

"Everyone does."

"I know. But there's another prophecy, one far less known. Not many Jedi take it seriously since its origin is questionable, and it is ancient – it used to be stored in a holocron that is now lost. That's why many Jedi don't talk about it anymore, they simply forgot – but some of us didn't, and so the knowledge about this prophecy was carried through many generations by a small group of believers."

She looks into the distance, as if she could see the sun rising there, the skyscrapers and the living city. The world her padawan knows, the one that she's about to deliver the killing blow on.

"It is about two people bound by fate." Nadia takes a breath, and starts reciting: "Twin souls, equal in the force. One dies, one shall fall."

Chills spread over Selyn's skin, as if she could feel the ghosts of all the Jedi before her guarding these words. "What does that have to do with me?" she asks carefully. She's not sure if she wants to hear the answer.

"Twin souls, equal in the force. Most of the other jedi interpreted it that the two Jedi the prophecy is about share a deep bond of platonic affection and trust."

Nadia turns her head back to face her padawan, and as she continues her words sound heavy. „But I've always known it would be about lovers."

Selyn looks towards her master warily. Is she implying-?

"I know I can only guess what happened between you and Anakin Skywalker, and I know there's a reason you didn't tell me," Nadia continues softly. "But there are certain things that won't evade my knowledge; I may be blind but there are more ways to see for me than just with my eyes."

She turns her face towards Selyn's. "I'm no fool. I recognize love when I see it. I recognize it in the two of you."

Selyn swallows. How stupid of her to think that Nadia hadn't known all this time. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"It's alright," Nadia replies. "I figured you'd come to me when the time was ready. Unfortunately, things have taken an unpredictable turn."

"So you're not mad at me? You don't even seem very surprised."

"Let's say I had a hunch," Nadia smiles. "You two are not exactly hard to see through, even for a blind person. And no, I'm not mad – maybe just a little that it took you so long to tell me, but if I'm honest I wouldn't have told anyone either. I'm just worried, Selyn."

Selyn nods, rather relieved.

"You are passionate, you really are, even though you've tried to hide it most of your life. But your urge to protect is strong, and when something you care about is at stake you have the potential of doing great and brave things, but something terrible, too."

In her eyes stands genuine concern.

"I just want you to be careful with your feelings. I do still believe attachments are unavoidable and make our lives worth living, but in times like these they can be a burden, too. One not everyone can shoulder, at least not alone." She smiles. "So overall this is just my complicated way of telling you that I'll be here for you, always."

A thought crosses Selyn's mind. "Then why don't you tell me to break up with him?"

Nadia smiles gently. "If I told you to stop loving him right now, could you?"

Selyn shakes her head. "No. Never."

"There you have it. There's no force more powerful than young love. I couldn't stop you from falling in love, even if I wanted to. And besides: what's bound to happen will happen.

I can't stop the way of the world, Selyn. As much as I'd maybe want to. All I can do is sit by and watch things unfold, praying to whatever gods listening that this prophecy isn't about you."

Selyn fiddles with her braids. Saying that this prophecy is unsettling would be an understatement. She's always had a resentment for concepts like destiny and fate, they'd always reminded her too much of the dragons of Crylles. And this prophecy sounds horribly similar to the dragon's inevitable fall to insanity.

Inevitable. How much she hates this word, this ugly, detested word that seems to be chasing her at every turn, fangs snapping at her ankles, but not close enough to inflict a wound. Yet. But nothing is inevitable as long as she's free. Right?

Then something dawns her. "It can't be about us!" she says triumphantly. "Anakin's midi chlorian count is higher than mine and he's the Chosen One! We can't be equal."

"You can," Nadia says sadly. "You and Anakin are the strongest Jedi in a generation. There is already a prophecy about Anakin – he will truly change the way of the world; I am sure of it. And yes, Anakin's count maybe be higher, but Selyn... the way you handle the force as if it was clay that could be shaped to your will.... it's unique. The other Jedi, they have to work on their connection to the force, they have to tame this energy as if it is a wild horse. They have to force their will upon it."

Nadia turns her head to face her padawan again.

"But not you. The force is a living extension of your will. You've never struggled with it; it comes to you as effortlessly as bending a finger. You've made things look easy that took experienced Jedi years to master. Master Yoda said so himself. And if it wasn't for Anakin's midi chlorian count and the mysterious circumstances of his birth, Yoda would have considered you to be the Chosen One."

The thought is horrifying.

"You've once told me that to you the force is fire."

"Yes."

"This is not a usual thing to say, especially not for someone this young. Having the force manifested as an element of nature, as something that tangible and easily manipulable...this is rare, Selyn. I've always known you've been something special. I've just hoped it would never turn out to be a burden," Nadia concludes, voice laced with worry.

"It isn't a burden yet," Selyn protests, trying to remain positive. But the familiar weight of unwanted knowledge already slides onto her back, adding to the load of the war and her secret relationship.

Nadia's expression turns pained as if she were shouldering this weight with her. She takes Selyn's hand, squeezing it warmly.

"We will figure something out. As long as I'm by your side, we will figure something out."

I promise. The words hang in the air between them, charged with tension about what is to come. Usually, Nadia would promise her that everything would be fine. Usually, Selyn would believe her, like she always had.

But Nadia makes now promises now. Not anymore.

Because maybe deep down she knows, just like Selyn does, that whether or not they are able to keep their promises is not in their hands anymore. Because war is ahead, and dark times loom like heavy clouds above their heads. Their fate is not their own anymore. Ancient prophecies and unforgiving time rule this battlefield now, they've become pawns in a game they don't know the rules of.

Out of death, destiny and love, destiny is the cruellest, Selyn realizes now. Because it takes more than your life, more than your heart. It takes your will, your soul.

And once that happened, her death is meaningless. Her love is, too. Because it weren't her own actions that led her there.

She thinks of the dragons. Was that what they felt like once they were old enough to realize what would happen to them? But they could have fought, why didn't they?

If they were too weak, she will go to battle in their stead. They gave up and let themselves fall into insanity. She will not.

She will wage a war against fate itself, she will claim back her will and her life from whatever cruel stars have set her destiny, tear it from their iron grasp with bloodied, shaking hands, no matter the cost. She will burn them, if needed. But in the end, it will be her own life that she is holding in scarred palms, it will be her path she's carved out amongst monsters and gods.

Selyn doesn't care that she is being tossed into a battle that no one ever won before. So what – she will be the first, then. Let the cosmos and its might see what she's capable of.

At last, Nadia stirs. They have sat in silence for the last few minutes, watching the sun rise in this new, strange world they've been tossed into. Each of them pondering what the future will hold.

"I think there's someone waiting for you," Nadia says.

Selyn jumps. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that she hasn't felt Anakin's presence nearby, patiently lingering by the entrance to their roof. Wanting to see her.

"I've told the council that you will need the whole day to recover. Use it wisely," Nadia adds with a wink.

She rises, and so does Selyn. As they hug, she has the strange feeling of this being a good-bye, of them both bidding their farewells to their innocent, carefree past that wasn't stained by the hardship they will surely come to endure in the following months. And so Selyn briefly mourns her childhood, her youth. She knows that her time as a padawan will come to an end now, too - this is war, there is no place for children anymore.

She hugs Nadia a little tighter as usual, clinging to the warmth of her embrace longer than necessary.

"Let this spot be your spot," Nadia says as they break apart. "I think it was meant for the two of you all along."

Selyn rests her forehead against Nadia's. "Thank you."

Then Nadia leaves, and Selyn turns towards Coruscant's skyline again. Metal and glass flashes from all around, slim skyscrapers and speeders zooming by so fast they become blurry glint in the bright sunlight.

She waits for him to come to her, and he does. His arms wrap around her waist, pulling her close so that her back and head is pressed against his chest, enveloping her in his warmth and comfort. He rests is chin atop her head, and together they gaze into this morning unfurling before them, just like the silvery Moon flowers in the Bleeding Sands.

The wind whips at their hair and clothes, they are so far up that above there is just the sky, an endless sea of blue and grey. Despite everything Selyn just heard she has never felt as free before as she does now, with Anakin by her side and only the heavens above as their witness. The sun breaks through the clouds overhead and she closes her eyes. She feels as if she were a bird, as if they could rise to their tiptoes at the edge of this roof, spread their arms and wait for the wind to take them up soaring into this freedom awaiting them above.

"With you, I am free," she says.

She isn't sure if he will hear her words, but the wind carries them to him. Anakin pulls her even closer and hums. "We will always be free as long as we're together, Selyn."

She turns around to find him already looking at her, his eyes so soft and full of emotion. Selyn rises to her tiptoes, the way she imagined she could take off to fly, and her lips meet his. This kiss is sweet, and tender, it is perfect for this precious, beautiful moment. She feels as if she is melting beneath his touch, as if the balmy sunlight has evaporated every thought in her head, leaving only warm, luminous bliss.

Anakin's hand slides up her back, resting below her neck whilst the other belongs firmly around her waist. Something feels different about his right hand, though, but her thoughts are too occupied to find out, what. Selyn feels the leather of his tunic beneath her fingertips, warmed by the sunlight, her other hand is buried in his hair, soft, and already missing its padawan braid.

She isn't sure how long they stay like that, seizing this moment as if they'd got all eternity. Right now, it feels as if they do, at least.

At last, they sit down together, her head leaned against his shoulder, hands entwined.

"You've been knighted," she says finally.

"I have. For outstanding bravery on Geonosis. You will be knighted soon for that, too." He reaches up to where his braid once was, an old habit that reminds him now of what he has left behind. "They need generals and commanders now, for the war...we will be assigned legions to lead into battle. Mine will be the 501st."

The thought is unsettling. "I don't feel like a general yet."

"Me neither. But we have no choice." To lighten the glum mood, he says: "I got knighted before you, do you realize what that means? I've bested you."

Selyn laughs. "No, you didn't. The only reason I wasn't knighted with you was because I was still passed out."

He shrugs. "Shouldn't have passed out in the first place then, huh?"

She hits his shoulder jokingly but adds earnestly: "You saved my life on Geonosis. Thank you."

"You would have done the same for me."

She would have. She would have done that and much more to save his life, but she doesn't say that.

"So what happened afterwards with Dooku? He...he cut off your hand, didn't he?" She glances towards dark glove he's wearing.

Hesitantly, he pulls it off, revealing metal and fine wires connected in a skeletal build. He looks at her as if he's not sure how she will react.

Selyn slowly stretches out her right hand, too, warm fingertips brushing against the cold metal. It is unfamiliar as she slides her hand into his, but as he intertwines his fingers with hers it feels just like him again. Her thumb brushes over the side of the prothesis.

"Can you feel this?"

He nods.

"Then I like it." She kisses him on the cheek.

He squeezes her hand briefly, and as she looks at him again, there's a multitude of emotions in his face, so intense and raw and real it takes the breath out of her lungs. Gratitude, relief, pride, sadness, and love. It shines above all else, as clear as day, radiant like the sun gleaming through clouds and bathing her in its warmth. No one has ever looked at her like that, with such burning, all-consuming emotion. As if she was the only thing that mattered.

Suddenly she is taken aback by how precious this moment is. So beautiful, and yet so fragile, like thin glass in her careful hands. She must not break it – this is something she needs to protect. This is something to fight for.

His mechanical hand rises to her face, cupping her cheek. She puts her own above it. He is so close, so real, so passionate...all for her. Only for her. The thought makes her eyes tear up.

"What is it? What are you thinking?" His thumb catches a tear that has escaped down her cheek.

"I'm thinking that I've never been in love before. I've never loved someone as much as you. And I'm thinking that part of my heart is yours to keep. Forever." She gives him a teary smile. "Actually, screw that. Not only part of my heart. All of it. All of it belongs to you."

He grins lightly. "So I guess it would only be fair to give you mine in return."

Selyn laughs shakily, her hands still trembling from how intense this moment is, how terribly strong the emotion that has slept within her for far too long.

He pushes a lost strand of hair behind her ear. "It has belonged to you for some time now, anyway."

Anakin leans forward, his lips brushing against hers, kissing her the way he did before, and all she can think is just how lucky she is. How lucky that she has found him, how lucky that she is the one that gets to love him.

The sun wanders but to them it feels as if time was frozen. As if they exist in another world, in a parallel universe where it's just them, no war, no rules.

They exchange stories. Selyn tells him about the missions she has been on with Nadia, the planets she has seen. She tells him about Corellia's starships, about Rodia's lush nature and about the snowstorms on Hoth.

Anakin tells her about his mission with the senator in return, and how he thinks Padmé and Selyn would get along splendidly. His voice quietens, however, as he tells her about the death of his mother. He doesn't dare to look into her eyes as he recalls his anger, his overwhelming grief...and the murder of the Tuskens.

She knows that despite what he did, he's still grieving, so she pulls him close. But it still scares her what he did, how there might be the same monsters sleeping within him that she is keeping restrained and hidden. How they share the same, horrible potential.

One dies, one shall fall.

She pushes the thought aside. She won't think about that today.

That night, limbs entangled and her skin burin if under Anakin's kisses, Selyn forgets all about the looming darkness of war and struggle at their horizon, ready to swallow them whole.

That night, they are simply lovers. Not chosen, not doomed, not destined for anything but each other. Not a pawn or a general or a puppet. Lovers. Nothing more and nothing less.

But still enough to make the world burn one day.

Drenched in gasoline they're just waiting for that inevitable spark that will set them on fire.

END OF ACT ONE

✧･ﾟ:* 𝕬𝘜𝘛𝘏𝘖𝘙'𝘚 𝘕𝘖𝘛𝘌 *:･ﾟ✧

wow. shit is getting really real now.

new prophecy just dropped, drama alert! and now the deeper plot is getting started, what are we thinking? there have been some sexcy reveals this chapter :o
and i just love writing nadia if you can't tell already 🥹
also i'm just generally freestyling with the lore and the force, it might not be all canon what i'm writing as i'm taking some creative liberties to adjust stuff so that it fits this story 😌 hope you don't mind!

ANYWAYS act one is over!! what a ride, so much has happened, and my little Selyn has grown so much as well. I've really grown to love her, and I hope you did, too! I'd love to hear your thoughts about Selyn, about her and Anakin, about the story so far and just everything that comes to mind 😙 Pls don't hesitate to tell me your opinions, I'm so curious to what y'all are thinking!

ALSO a big, big, BIG thank you to everyone who has read so far. This truly means the world to me - that you're giving this story a chance, that you've enjoyed it enough to come this far and that we could embark on this crazy journey of Selyn's story together! Thank you so much for every single read, vote and comment, truly. ❤️

kissing y'all's forehead and right elbow <3 see you next act! 🤙

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