[ALPHABET MEME: D is for Dream]

[ansketil]

Title: Forever
Disclaimer: Own Star Wars, I do not.
Rating: G
Word Count: 300
Pairing: Anakin/Padmé
Characters: Anakin Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Chancellor Palpatine.
Request: d for "dream" - Anakin Skywalker - was requested byalbumsontheside.
Author's Note: I am still working frantically on Alexis, btw, it just keeps getting longer! And why does lj insist on moving me around New Zealand without my consent? I haven't even been to Christchurch! I live in Auckland! AUCKLAND!

Light spills from the reflective metal. Etched into the circle is a bendu – the six-pronged wheel of Republic unity. Two prongs abandoned: eight stood for peace. Anakin's breathing is heavy; his chest barely contains the pride of receiving such a decoration.

In recognition for extraordinary valour in battle-

“That was sheer, bloody stupidity, Anakin!” Master Kenobi's voice frays as he speaks, its edges unravelling. “You almost got us killed!”

Jedi Skywalker's teech clench in pain as he grins.“Hey, we're alive, aren't we?”

-It is my honour, in my capacity as Supreme Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, to award-

Padmé brushes her nose across his neck: Anakin smells of engine oil, sweat, and wasted lives. “They're giving me a medal.”

“For killing beings?”

He disengages, “For not getting killed.”

“Isn't it the same thing? We need to-”

“Don't.” They make love. He is home.

-Anakin Skywalker with the Star of Bendu. The Republic is indebted to this brave young man, who has single-handedly brought us to the brink of victory.

Monument Plaza erupts as the Chancellor steps away: Sky-wal-ker! Sky-wal-ker! Sky-wal-ker! The dizzying euphoria of dream turned actuality stuns Anakin, who blinks up into the white sunlight, dumb. If only he could cling to the colour and the sound forever. A thousand battles later, encased in black leather, it will still fire his blood.

Tears streak down Padmé's skin, pricking at her eyes. Tomorrow he will be gone and more beings will die. She claps until her hands are raw.

Together, we will reunite this galaxy! And we will be victorious!

They still play the footage. In the end, it survives all of them. Anakin tilts his head toward the sky as Palpatine's words crackle into the speaker. Forever.

Comments

[wyncatastrophe.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, Ansketil, you have outdone yourself this time. Love the final image of Anakin staring up into the sky.

[ansketil-rose.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[pronker]

Tears streak down Padmé's skin, pricking at her eyes. Tomorrow he will be gone and more beings will die. She claps until her hands are raw.

The implications of receiving a medal sink in. And the change in the Bendu wheel, wow. Really liked this!

Alexis can never be too long.

I wonder why LJ is moving the location around --- could it be something to do with mirroring the ISP address? Like, the ISP moved its transmitter or address? Just guessing. And now there is a reason to visit Christchurch; it makes LJ sound like geocaching, which seems to be lots of fun for many.

[tselfoninternets.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Are you ever going to update that story about the Palpatine clone? I liked that one. Certain story ideas get repeated a lot in fan fiction but that was totally original.

[ansketil-rose.livejournal.com]

I have the majority of the next part written, actually. But I can't work out how to write this particular scene... lol. I have it all worked out, though. Sorry - I'm really slow to update stuff. >.>

[zigsternenstaub.livejournal.com]

Chilling! I love the restrospective tense of this peace, how it seems to be playing from this indeterminate point in the future. Great imagery in this one--Padme clapping until her hands are raw, the crowd chanting, the footage playing. Excellent!

I also love how Padme and Anakin supplant lovemaking for actual communication. Very canon, and very indicative of their inability to understand each other.

[luminations.livejournal.com]

Once again you've packed quite a punch into such few words. I read this the other day but forgot I meant to come back and comment!

In the end, it survives all of them.

Chilling in its simple truth. Maybe it's just me not liking to think about such things.

And I've always thought Anakin and Padme's marriage would be shaky (shakier?) if it wasn't wartime... there's the romance of him coming home infrequently and the mad passion of "get it while you can" without the day-to-day nuisances -- like talking out problems. You show that nicely here.

Bravo for including Palpatine in the request, I love how you unofficially HAVE to do that whenever possible :D