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Gungan to the left


Their Only Chance (G)


By : Wendynat

Archived on: Monday, June 6, 2005

Summary:
Faced with the truth of Anakin's turn to the dark side, Padme comes to a difficult decision.

The silence was deafening.

He had done this, had done those horrible things? no, not him. Not him. The other. A dragonsnake was coiled inside him, sickly green fangs twisting and sinking into his soul and making him into something he was not? he would come back to her. Anakin had to come back to her.

Or would he?

Through the frantic confusion of her thoughts, she heard someone enter the brightly lit room. Her eyelids were shut tight and she dared not open them - dared not face the white of light when she knew it would only serve to prove the darkness he had become. To compare the two? she could not. She would not. But she had to know, and the one that had entered would be able to answer her. She knew the person wasn't the one she hoped - and feared - to see, but he could answer her. If she was brave enough to ask the question.

Hope. Her heart swelled for just one moment as she let it flood into her. Hope drove her thoughts down a bright path? Anakin had turned his back on the Dark and all those horrible things he had said would be wiped away? Obi-Wan had spoken to him, talked to him, showed him the truth? he had remembered the love they shared, the future they shared, and turned his power on the dragonsnake, defeating it, dodging the burning flame of its greed. It was possible, wasn't it? Maybe? maybe Anakin was there, just so weak that he couldn't be felt. It was sporadic for her, at best, those times she could feel him? aside from those times that he was trying to communicate with her. Then she could feel him without fail. So maybe he was there?

She opened her eyes.

Obi-Wan was alone.

Of course. Had Anakin been with him, she would have sensed it in some way. Sensed him. But she? didn't. Not really. A small thread still spoke to her, tiny, thin. Like a single thread of silk from a spider's web, it connected them. It pulsed once, a feeble movement. She gasped, eyelids fluttering as she fought to continue to face the light. The strong bond they had once shared was gone, either consumed by the dragonsnake or? no!

"Obi-Wan? Is Anakin all right?" Her voice was distant, low, weak. But she wasn't weak. Not Padm?. Not her.

Obi-Wan didn't reply. When his hand moved to her shoulder she shut her eyes, blocking out the mocking white light.

Her fear was the reality. She could still feel the crushing grip of nothing around her throat. The Force, the dark side of the Force, wielded by her husband? no, not by her husband! By the dragonsnake coiled inside of him. That's why she couldn't sense him, not really sense him. She knew he yet breathed, but that was all. The dragonsnake had taken over, hiding him from her. But Anakin was still in there, still? he had to be. Had to be. Buried under the dragonsnake, there was still good.

She knew this.


The ship moved under her but she did not react. No words were spoken, not even a flutter of eyelids to betray her consciousness. Because she wasn't, not really. Not truly conscious. With all of her strength and will she clung to that gossamer thread, holding it against all hope? maybe, maybe?

But the thread grew thin.

She tried to tell herself it was the distance, the space between their physical selves. Tried to fool herself. But it was hopeless. Anakin's voice- and her own - echoed in her mind. Just a month before? or was it two? Unable to stop the memory from coming, she whimpered slightly.

"Distance means nothing to the Force, my love. When I'm in the Outer Rim, I still feel you - your emotions. I still see your face in my mind-"

She laughed. "A memory, only."

"No. No, not a memory. A week ago, you cried. You stood here - right here, and cried when you heard the rumors that I was killed." Anakin looked oddly pleased at that. "You just stood here, with Threepio beside you. You were wearing red, with your hair bound in a fan of gold. Returning from the Senate, I think."

"A meeting with Senator Organa and Mon Mothma?" She swallowed. "I was wearing the fan the Queen sent me?"

He smiled and moved closer, bending down to kiss her neck. "You see? I wouldn't lie to you, Padm?."

A shaky sigh left her. Her emotions had been unwieldy since she'd become pregnant, and she hated it. "I know, Anakin. I'm sorry, I just- I can feel you, sometimes, I think. But I can't see-"

As if he hadn't heard, he continued, "It's hard. I wanted to be with you so badly but I couldn't? and then the Chancellor was kidnapped and we were sent back here. And I was almost happy he'd been kidnapped, so I could come back to you. I'm glad it happ-"

"Anakin!"

He pulled back to look at her, that mischievous expression not at all tempered by the gravity in his voice. "It's the truth."

"But? it was awful, what happened. You shouldn't wish for such things, just so we can be together. It's not worth it."

"It is to me."

Once breached, the dam flooded over. Memory after memory swept through her mind with no rhyme or reason or order, pulling her along helplessly.

I'm not the Jedi I should be?

I killed them? every single one of them?

Someday, I will even learn how to keep people from dying?

My loyalty lies with the Chancellor? and with the Senate? and with you?

I've become more powerful than any Jedi has ever dreamed of and I've done it for you. To protect you.

Love won't save you, Padm?! Only my new powers can do that?

I am more powerful than the Chancellor. I can overthrow him, and together you and I can rule the galaxy. Make things the way we want them to be!

Anakin, you're breaking my heart!

Don't you turn against me!

I love you!

LIAR!

She wept.


Voices surrounded her. Gentle, soothing voices, sometimes interspersed with others? the others would perhaps have been soothing to any other, or in another time?

One of the medical droid's voices rose above the others. "There are two? healthy babies."

Twins.

What was she going to do?

The thread had grown stronger while she slept. It was no longer just a delicate strand, but a small rope, twisted with love and hate and jealousy. And it was then that she realized she wasn't the originator of the rope that yet connected them - he was. She couldn't release the rope, couldn't let it go, couldn't cut it loose. She didn't even try.

Because it couldn't be done? or because she didn't want to do it?

She didn't know.

The darkness seethed on the other side, the dragonsnake's breath seemed to brush her as pain flowed through the rope. Pain, and anger. And a hot resolve. Revenge? Hatred?

Just then, her baby moved. A girl. It was a girl. She knew this. And yet? there was sometimes another feeling? twins. That's right. The medical droid had said twins. The baby moved again, and the darkness seethed again. And the dread pooled in her stomach, flooded her limbs, seeped into her heart.

Anakin would not stop.

He'd wanted her by his side to create his new Empire. Would he ever stop trying to find her, to convince her? Would he then turn to their daughter, or their son? She knew, knew without question, that she bore a boy and a girl. What chance would they have? He would hunt them down and take them from her, kill her if necessary - he'd already proven himself capable of that. What if they resisted? He would kill them, too.

I have seen a security hologram of him killing younglings.

He'd already proven himself capable of that, also.

She would hide with them, take them to the far reaches of the galaxy, ask Master Yoda and Obi-Wan for help? an icy snake of fear slid down her back.

Distance means nothing to the Force?

Even the dark side? she wondered briefly, before the rope made itself known with another pulse of anger. Distance didn't matter.

In a panic, her mind raced. She was a liability, she was the real threat to her children! If she lived, Anakin would know, he would know? the Sith would know? they would know that her child - her children - had to have survived! But?

?if she died?

?if they didn't know the child survived?

It was their only chance.

There was no decision. It simply was. Her will, ever strong, gave the order. Her body obeyed.


There was pain.

The rope pulsed and twisted, pain flowing through it sharper with each breath. Something was happening to him. Something? he wasn't dying. Almost, but not?

Now was the time. He was distracted by his pain. She was distracted by his pain; her own pain was minimal, the medical facility advanced enough to provide some surcease from the normal pains of delivery? just a slight pulling, a tearing ache, as the surgeon droid pulled one babe from the incision in her stomach. She cried out, and wept, her tears for the child she'd never get to know. Never?

"A boy."

She opened her eyes, saw Obi-Wan standing next to her holding her son, holding Anakin's son. "Luke," she whispered, bringing her hand up to touch his face. His eyes were shut tight, face screwed up in anger at being pulled from his warm, safe hideaway. Her arm dropped back to the bed. She had to protect him. To protect them.

She had to die.

The pain came again and she sobbed, forcing her eyes open once more as the medical droid held up her daughter. She was awake, her eyes staring into Padm?'s with an unusual sense of awareness. She tried to reach out, but was too weak. A thin thread seemed to form between them, stretching from her daughter to her, and she almost smiled? but then she felt his pain began to lessen.

She mustn't linger.

"Leia."

She was slipping away, her body obeying her will? the rope pulsed once more, and with a wave of sadness she pulled back from the thread that connected her to her daughter. The rope pulsed strongly, pain and fear still there, but something else? something else beneath the fear and anger.

Love.

Hope.

Good.

A kernel, nothing more? a glowing ember hidden beneath ice and dragonsnake's flame. She saw it. She felt it. She knew it.

Their children would be the key.

"Obi-Wan," she breathed. He moved closer, Luke still nestled in his arms. "There is good in him? I know there is? still?"

One final breath, and then the rope was fluttering blindly... reaching out for something that was no longer there.




Original cover art by Phurie. HTML formatting copyright 2005 TheForce.Net LLC.


Fan Fiction Rating

Current Rating is 9.55 in 94 total ratings.

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Reader Comments

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Author: Ek'efe
Date posted: 6/6/2005 8:35:58 PM
Ek'efe's Comments:

Brilliant, it explained a lot and was wonderfully written. I'll certainly look for more fanfiction written by you.

Author: boushh2187  (signed)
Date posted: 6/6/2005 8:52:09 PM
boushh2187's Comments:

I absolutely loved this piece. It fleshes out those scenes in the film in very moving way. Wonderful job, really. I'll be directing my friends this way. ;)

Also, the cover art is fantastic!

Author: DarthIshtar  (signed)
Date posted: 6/6/2005 9:04:24 PM
DarthIshtar's Comments:

I love the idea that he can see her as clearly as if she were standing next to him. I love the image of the rope wearing thin.

Author: obaona  (signed)
Date posted: 6/6/2005 9:39:52 PM
obaona's Comments:

Wow. That really makes sense, and was wonderfully written. It felt like such a clear read of Padme's mind. I especially liked the last line - ending lines are hard to do, but that one was just ... perfect. :)

Author: Rhaya  (signed)
Date posted: 6/7/2005 12:10:59 AM
Rhaya's Comments:

Wow...theirs a thread in a forum I post to analizing why such a strong charactor as Padme would give up on life after just having given birth. I think this explins it beautifully.

Author: Janell
Date posted: 6/7/2005 2:56:55 AM
Janell's Comments:

I really struggled with the idea of Padme dying "just because" in the film. This well written, unique story provides a satisfying and plausible explanation of why this powerful hero in her own right gave up the fight when it seemed she still had so much to live for. Thanks for this great story!

Author: AnakinsGirl
Date posted: 6/7/2005 8:06:46 AM
AnakinsGirl's Comments:

Wow, that ending almost made me cry! I loved it! You are very talented, and I hope to see more of your writing!

Author: MistiWhitesun  (signed)
Date posted: 6/7/2005 10:02:21 AM
MistiWhitesun's Comments:

[whistle]

Wow. That was great.

Keep writing!

Author: EmpressPadme6762  (signed)
Date posted: 6/7/2005 1:02:27 PM
EmpressPadme6762's Comments:

Wow, that was great. I can actually see Padme going through these things in her mind and then deciding to give her own life to save her children and eventually her husband.

Author: jedisister
Date posted: 6/19/2005 9:24:22 PM
jedisister's Comments:

Quote:[i/]I really struggled with the idea of Padme dying "just because" in the film. This well written, unique story provides a satisfying and plausible explanation of why this powerful hero in her own right gave up the fight when it seemed she still had so much to live for. Thanks for this great story![i/]

I totally agree!! This is a wonderful explanation for Padme's death and also explains Leia's memories beautifully. I wish this could be canon!! Very well written, thank you!

Author: sashask8ter
Date posted: 6/21/2005 11:00:51 AM
sashask8ter's Comments:

Very nicely done. It gives an explanation for Padme loosing the will to live without being weak, as she is potrayed in the movie.

Author: Shadowolf
Date posted: 6/23/2005 9:17:44 AM
Shadowolf's Comments:

This gives Padme's death so much more meaning and makes her seem just as strong as I always thought she should be. Dying to save her kids rather than just giving up makes so much more sense! Good job!

Author: Phurie  (signed)
Date posted: 6/24/2005 4:38:31 PM
Phurie's Comments:

Just wanted to stop by now that the archive is back up and say a proper congratulations! I'm still in love with this story. You have Padme down perfectly, and those little snippets of Anakin are spot-on too. I still remember the first time I read it - following her thoughts, unsure of where it was going and then, "Ohhhh!". And it still works.

Also, watching ROTS with this story in mind really does enhance that scene a whole bunch *smiles* Congratulations again!

Author: leandar
Date posted: 6/24/2005 6:51:37 PM
leandar's Comments:

Well done.

Author: Jedi Trace  (signed)
Date posted: 6/28/2005 12:17:30 PM
Jedi Trace's Comments:

I loved this, wendynat! I had a hard time with the explanation of her death in the movie, but this story actually made it very plausible and much more sympathetic than my original impression.

Excellent vignette!! I'm looking forward to reading more of your work. :)

~Trace

Author: DARTH_CLEMENTINE
Date posted: 6/30/2005 11:32:54 PM
DARTH_CLEMENTINE's Comments:

"One final breath, and then the rope was fluttering blindly... reaching out for something that was no longer there."

-that was so beautiful...i loved it! u did a really good job entering the mind of Padme ;)

Author: LadyChi  (signed)
Date posted: 7/1/2005 12:25:48 AM
LadyChi's Comments:

I enjoyed this piece very much. You gave a logical explanation for what many have called an 'illogical' move on Lucas's part. The emotions of the piece were very moving. I look forward to more from you.

Author: heineken32
Date posted: 7/1/2005 11:40:58 AM
heineken32's Comments:

this is really wonderful. yes, its been said that padme's death was inexplicable bec she has always been a powerful leader and such a strong woman... and then she has to die from a broken heart out of loving anakin so much and hoping for a family of her own. keep up the great work, WENDYNAT. and yes, that last line was utterly beautiful... :)

Author: Mcily Nochi  (signed)
Date posted: 7/1/2005 3:41:13 PM
Mcily Nochi's Comments:

Padme's death in the film bothered me enormously, but here you have found a beautiful and entirely plausible explanation. The ultimate sacrifice to protect her children, her younglings, from Darth Vader's blade. Thank you for this. This is what fanfic is for - filling up holes and making the films that much better in the retelling.

Author: Darth Tempest  (signed)
Date posted: 7/2/2005 5:41:33 PM
Darth Tempest's Comments:

Very nicely done. You and I think along the same lines when writing our stories (i.e. getting inside the characters' minds). Hopefully, my story will be archived soon. Keep your eyes out for "Ghosts".

Author: Smuggler_Shidakis  (signed)
Date posted: 7/9/2005 8:38:58 PM
Smuggler_Shidakis's Comments:

Wow. You really got into Padmé's mind wonderfully. I was dissatisfied with the movie's reason for her death- Padmé always seemed too strong to simply loose the will to live. I simply love this take on it, that she sacrificed herself for her children. It seems very much like something that she would do.

All of her thoughts, all of her emotions were perfect. Great job.

Author: anakin_vader2be
Date posted: 7/13/2005 4:33:38 AM
anakin_vader2be's Comments:

Wow...this is simply one of the best pieces of fanfiction I've ever read! It's really emotive, I think, and the flashbacks fit perfectly in there...keep up the great work!!!

Author: Darth Hakim Baba
Date posted: 7/26/2005 12:29:16 PM
Darth Hakim Baba's Comments:

That was a fantastic peice of work. You are very talented! Excellent job!

Author: IMustBeANerd
Date posted: 10/26/2005 12:28:08 PM
IMustBeANerd's Comments:

As a mother, it always bothered me that Padme' would give up, "die of a broken heart" because she didn't have her man, leaving her children alone....this story now has me viewing her death in a completely different manner. Brilliant!

Author: BloodRaven
Date posted: 11/17/2005 12:55:36 PM
BloodRaven's Comments:

Oh this is so terribly sad and yet it certainly explains the events that had occured beautifully. Though I wished she would have lived I think how you presented this completely explains why she passed away perfectly...

Author: Veloz  (signed)
Date posted: 12/30/2005 5:39:09 PM
Veloz's Comments:

Wao this truly left me speechless.. i had never thought of Padme's death this way, and i gotta say, it makes a whole lot of sense to me now, cause her "easy" death simply shocked me before .. she chose her death to give her kids a chance.. Obi Wan chose his death to give Luke a chance to escape.. hmm could it be?

Interesting, interesting

Very well done! *applause*

Author: folk
Date posted: 5/20/2006 9:09:31 PM
folk's Comments:

This is wonderful. A very good analogy as well, with the "rope" that connects them--though I'm not so sure it's an analogy, really. I agree that they were connected in a way very few people ever were.
I think it's interesting that you focus more on Leia and have Luke be the one she doesn't realize is there for a while. Not something I've seen in many fanfictions, and I'd be very curious to know why that is; if you have time, a quick email would be great.
The flow of this story is good, and you know how to use sentences artistically, i.e. using the short-paragraph form to move through a series of images and thoughts that make it possible to make a 2-3 minute scene into something much longer in the readers' minds. Nicely done.
I'd love it if you would take a minute to read some of my work; www.fanfiction.net/~folk
I only have one starwars fanfic up at the moment--it's mostly Harry Potter and other things--but I feel like we have a similar writing style and at the very least I'd like the opinion of an author who knows what they're doing.
Please keep writing; very nice work.
Ciao,
~Ivy~

Author: Kasoapa
Date posted: 2/20/2007 8:49:07 PM
Kasoapa's Comments:

Thank you for that piece, as everyone else here has agreed no one liked the idea of Padme, such a strong willed character, breaking so simply like a pathetic soap opera drama. This version is perfect for her character, it makes much more sense.
I think that your translation should seriously be added into the Ep. III novel. It’s the explanation we all needed. Good work and thank you again.

Author: ratna
Date posted: 3/18/2007 2:20:54 AM
ratna's Comments:

Beautiful rendering of Padme's character.

Author: Seri1
Date posted: 4/24/2007 8:50:22 AM
Seri1's Comments:

Since reading this fic I always get weepy at that scene...
Excuse me, I need a tissue XO

Author: Jewellw
Date posted: 5/25/2007 8:25:29 PM
Jewellw's Comments:

this is awesome! I loved this, very moving!

Author: JediQueen
Date posted: 6/25/2007 2:06:45 PM
JediQueen's Comments:

Wow! I love this fic. I remember the first time I read it was soon after I had seen Revenge of the Sith. And it pains me to say I was not very impressed with the movie. But I read this fic and it made it so much better in my mind. I had known or at leasts suspected that Padme` was going to die by Anakin's hand. But was terribly dissapointed at how easily she gave up. Padme` had always been such a strong charecter and her daughter was such a strong charecter after her. The it was just really dissatisfying to me that she went down so easily. But this fic gave reason to her death in my mind. So thanks.

Author: Regan
Date posted: 8/15/2009 4:32:02 PM
Regan's Comments:

Wonderful story, and the first plausible explanation of Padmé's death I've read. She wouldn't just give up the will to live, not when she had just had two babies who needed her... unless it was the only way she could protect her children.

Your story shows her strength, even at the end.

Beautiful.


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Archived: Monday, June 6, 2005







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