Chapter 7: Training
"Are you sure?" Anakin asked that morning when they woke up.
"Of course I am, Ani," Padme said, kissing him briefly. "You're the only one who can do it."
"Maybe I could ask Obi-Wan. He's a master of the council. I'm sure he'll know how to do it, if it's so important for the future," Anakin said, and Padme could sense the hidden resentment in his words.
"Just because you're not on the council doesn't make you any less, Ani," she said, sitting up in bed, staring at him. "What do they do on the council? Make decisions? Sit for hours? Who's the fearless hero? Who's saved them so many times? Do you think a mere title makes them more than you?" " she asked, and Anakin looked down in embarrassment.
"I am, Padme," she began to whisper.
"No, look at me," she said, straddling her husband, forcing him to stare at her. "You're a good person, you're strong, your intentions are noble, your only intention is to save them all. I love you, Ani, never forget that," she said, kissing him, and he reciprocated, feeling strangely moved by his wife's words. He had longed for the rank of Master for so long that he had never stopped to wonder if he really needed it. He participated in council decisions, led squadrons, and participated in the most important battles; he really didn't need the title.
"So you'll do it?" Padme asked after an hour as they prepared to go to their respective jobs.
"Okay, I'll do it," Anakin smiled as he climbed into Padme's ship.
"Oh no, Master Jedi," Padme teased, making him move from the pilot's seat. "I'm the only one who pilots my ship."
"Yesterday, you let Luke pilot the ship," Anakin said, frowning.
"Are you jealous?" Padme asked, and he rolled his eyes.
"No, I drive better than him," Anakin smiled, and Padme thought about how Anakin would react when he found out who Luke was.
Padme left Anakin near the Jedi temple. It wasn't a good idea for them to be seen together all the time; someone might get suspicious. Although Anakin often wished everyone would find out, to be able to put aside the lies and deceptions. He wished he could kiss Padme in front of everyone and for their love to no longer be a secret, but he knew that would be problematic. Padme was an important senator, and he would be expelled from the order.
"You look happy, Anakin," said Obi-Wan, who was waiting for him at the entrance of the temple.
"It's a good day," said Anakin.
"How is Padme?" asked Obi-Wan, smiling when Anakin almost tripped at his comment.
"She's fine. It was very kind of you to offer to drive me," smiled Anakin, and before Obi-Wan could continue lecturing him about his responsibilities to the Jedi Order, he quickly mentioned training the twins.
"I think it's an excellent idea," said Obi-Wan. "You'll do well."
"Will you help me? I thought maybe I should discuss this with the Council for their approval?"
"Anakin," Obi-Wan said, touching his shoulder. "You were just willing to accept Ahsoka as your Padawan. Believe me, the advice will show you want to teach two Jedi."
"What?" Anakin asked, confused.
"Just do it, Anakin. If you need my help, you know where to find me." Obi-Wan smiled, walking with him back to the temple.
Anakin knocked on the twins' door. It was 7:00 a.m. Didn't they know what time the day started on Coruscant?
"It's 7:00 a.m. What's going on, Dad? Anakin?" Leia said, correcting herself and waking up fully when she saw she had almost made a mistake.
"Padme told me you wanted to train with me." Anakin smiled. "Get dressed," Anakin said, handing Leia some clothes.
"With this?" Leia asked, looking at what appeared to be Jedi clothes.
"If you want to go unnoticed at this time, and in the Jedi temple, then yes," Anakin said without pausing to listen to Leia's protests.
"Luke, it's 7 in the morning, I don't have all day," he shouted, and when the boy didn't answer the door, he simply entered, finding him fast asleep. He forced open the windows and pulled the sheets off the boy's body, nearly causing him to fall out of bed.
"What's wrong?" he asked angrily. "Pa... Anakin," he said, almost making the same mistake as Leia.
"Put this on, we'll go train. Padme told me you wanted to do it."
"At 7 in the morning?" Luke asked sleepily.
"If you don't agree with the time, we could do it earlier tomorrow perhaps," Anakin suggested, and Luke opened his eyes in shock.
"7 in the morning, understood," Luke said, starting to dress, and Anakin smiled.
"I can see why the Imperial soldiers barely slept," Luke muttered in his mind. If Anakin was already such a monster with the time, he couldn't imagine what it was like being Darth Vader. "I wonder if Darth Sidious suffered the same way?" Luke wondered grumpily.
Finally, Luke was ready and almost fainted when he saw Leia.
"You really look like a Padawan," Luke whispered, looking at her. They had even given her a Padawan braid.
"You know, the lie has to work," Leia smiled. "What's wrong with you?" she asked.
"It's 7 in the morning, Dad really is obsessed with time."
"Less crying and more action," Ahsoka said, dragging them to the training grounds.
"But we haven't even had breakfast yet," Luke complained.
"Believe me, when he's finished with you, all you'll want to do is sleep," Ahsoka said seriously, and the twins gulped.
Everything they'd been warned about was nothing compared to reality. Anakin corrected every stance the siblings made, and a twitch appeared in his eye when Leia mentioned she had no idea how to use a lightsaber. Luckily, Obi-Wan had thought of that and had given her one.
"Luke, your stance leaves a lot of empty space. Improve your arm posture."
"What's wrong with my arms?"
"It's too easy to disarm you," she said, disarming him for the fourth time that day. Despite his mistakes with his posture, the boy was better than many of the Jedi she knew. Luke had mentioned that an Elder Yoda had trained him, which was why he was so good. However, he could be better.
"Done," Luke said, improving his posture.
They had been training for almost two hours, and the twins were easily considering becoming one with the Force as an option.
"I know you're considering becoming one with the Force and dying, but you won't achieve it without effort," Anakin said, attacking them.
"Stop complaining, Luke, and keep training. We wanted this," Leia said, attacking her father, who, surprised, realized that for someone who knew nothing, he had learned impressively quickly.
"You're only saying that because you want to be daddy's little girl," Luke said in an annoyed whisper that only Leia heard.
"There's no time to whisper in a battle, Luke," Anakin reprimanded, attacking him.
"I'm sorry," Luke repeated.
"Aww, you're only saying that because no one here calls you Grandmaster Luke Skywalker," Leia whispered, unseen by Anakin.
"Why don't you say anything to her?" Luke complained, angrily.
"If I don't hear or see her, it means she's done well and isn't at risk of being killed in battle," Anakin explained, and Luke continued grumbling sulkily.
"That's unfair," Luke complained, while Ahsoka laughed and watched.
She knew firsthand how hard it was to train with Anakin, but she also knew how much he had learned. The man's precognition was simply legendary, having led him to win numerous battles with minimal casualties.
"I hope this is worth it," Luke said to Leia before blocking an attack from Anakin, who again reprimanded him for talking.
"The Separatists don't always attack one on one," Anakin indicated, winking at Ahsoka, who launched herself at them.
"Protect each other," Anakin indicated, seeing that each of them was separated.
"Isn't it better to attack separately?"
"If you have someone to back you up, and if you're not exposing the group, leaving an open space puts your companion's life in danger."
"Anakin always leads by example," Ahsoka smiled when she had the chance to speak. "Everyone trusts him. His squadron is one of the best. We've had the best battles alongside the 501st."
They finished training hours later. It was almost lunchtime, and the twins could barely move; they just wanted to rest. Ahsoka accompanied them to the cafeteria to get something to eat and recharge their batteries. Padme had already told her that morning that she knew everything. She was surprised at first, but Ahsoka agreed it was for the best.
"What did you mean by 'father leads by example?'" Luke asked Ahsoka. Anakin wasn't there, and they were quite alone in the dining room.
"His squadron would entrust their lives to him and his decisions. Many generals, when they see battles lost, see them as mere clones, as something disposable. My master, on the other hand, is different from many other Jedi. If they're losing the battle, he'll stay and lose with them. He always makes sure the casualties in his squadron are minimal. If he has to go and rescue one of his men, he does. He's always been an example to all of us who have fought by his side."
"Now, do you want to go see Padme?" Ahsoka asked, and the twins nodded. "It's good that Anakin doesn't notice, he might get suspicious."
"He said he had business to attend to with Obi-Wan," Leia mentioned. After lunch, they changed to go visit Padme.