Ariana's Trials

Part 39

Ariana's POV

I slashed through the enemies, making sure not to harm any of the Quarren. As I hacked across the water, I focused my wrath on the droids and the idiotic shark. Chunks of metal floated downward in spirals, so I thrust my hand out and commanded the water to move the metal into a shield for the Mon Calamari defences, and it obeyed.

"We need to retreat!" Anakin shouted, "We can't hold the line!" I whirled around in time to watch a Quarren steal his helmet. I dove after it as Anakin tried to get it too, but Ahsoka beat me. I watched the prince leave, and I stayed behind to cover his retreat before I swam after them.

"We need a better plan, not just fight each other until someone wins," Padme says

"It's worked for me," I said

"Yeah, but the last time we did that you went comatose, so no" Kaldur said

"We still won!" I protested "And I took out half the army! I don't see you doing that, Mr went- back-to-get-healed-after-one-stab-wound"

"You ordered me to do that!" Kaldur defended

"Why are you two arguing?" Ahsoka asked, then ducked her head as a droid floated by. I opened my fist and summoned the sea plants, ordering them to grow to hide us.

With a wall of kelp firmly grown, a battle plan was formed. I was to go to the caverns with the prince and Kaldur, to make sure he was hidden. It was a tad bit unfair since we were the best underwater fighters, but I spotted the green dude first

"I was not expecting to see you here, Representative Fisto," I asked

"Neither was I, Princess" He dipped his head "Though, last time we met, you didn't have a tail"

I shrugged "It just happened"

"Can we get on with the plan?" Padme asked

"Yes!" Kaldur grabbed my arm and dragged me away, the prince following

I was BORED out of my mind when the Jedi stopped by. I decided now was my moment to escape and fight some dumb-dumb droids, so I ducked into the kelp and wove my way out of the cave. I drew my sword and slithered up on a group of droids before I smashed them, and then I slithered back into the caves before anyone noticed I was missing. 

"Where did you go?" Kaldur hissed, his voice ringing through my head

"Just went to kill some droids" I hissed back, then turned to the talking Jedi. I felt myself falling asleep. They were all talk and no action, precisely what I hated. I itched to stab something with actual flesh, not the unsatisfying crunch of metal. The shark would be a good victim...

"Okay, normally you aren't this bloodthirsty" Kaldur whispered

"Shut up, Kaldur" I scowled, then went back to daydreaming about killing the shark in the most gruesome way possible

"We have to get back to the ship" Anakin stated

"I'll create a distraction," Fisto said

"Ariana, you go first with Kaldur and the Prince," Anakin said "You two are the fastest swimmers" With a nod, I clasp my hand around the Prince's arm and give a hard flick of my tail, getting us going at a solid pace. Kaldur lags, occasionally slashing a lone droid or two. Most have been drawn off by Fisto

I turn my head to the Prince "Ready? We're about to breach the surface" he gives me a nod, but the ship blows before our eyes. I push him downward, and I follow soon after

"They blew it up," I say

"So we have no escape," Ahsoka says "Let's hope that reinforcements come soon"

3rd POV

It all went badly

With the Gungan's help, they were able to hold off some of the separatist forces, but as the battle wore on, the armies were put into the prison camps. Even Anakin and Padme were captured, alongside Fisto and Jar-Jar

"I have one question. Where is Prince Lee-Char and Princess Ariana?" the shark snarled. He didn't know that the two groups had split to secure safety, but they refused to give up whatever little information they knew

"What do you want with Ariana?" Padme asked

"A Crown Princess is a valuable asset in negotiations. The Count wants to secure her allegiance" The shark let a cold smirk creep onto his face

"She allied with the Republic!" Padme said

"We have resources that can...Reverse that" The shark left the pit

Ariana was tired of hiding. All she was instructed to do was hide, avoid the patrols, and protect the Mon Calamari Prince. And it was boring. Ariana was growing kelp with flicks of her hand, trying to make it shrink, everything. Nothing stemmed from the boredom flowing through her head, and Ariana was ready to pull her hair out...And an idea came. Tugging away the braid, she wove strands of pearls from her shirt into it, making it gleam with tiny white sparkles.

Ariana lost a solid five minutes to her hair, and it still didn't stop her from being bored. She watched a group of Quarren get orders about finding the Prince, and her, for some reason.

"Why am I a target? Dumb robots" Ariana whispered, then glanced at Kaldur, who was sleeping softly on a rock, then looked at the prince, now sulking a few feet away...

"Do not move" A monotonous voice said. Looking up, she saw the droid aiming a gun at her. With a quick glance, she saw the Prince had slithered away, while Kaldur was still asleep. Why was her Guardian always indisposed when she needed him?

"You will come quietly," A second said. Ariana rolled her eyes 

"My Guardian will come as well. I shall wake him" Ariana rose to full height and swam over to Kaldur

"Clankers are here" She whispered "Come quietly" He shot awake, and saw the situation. If Ariana hadn't been in her merfolk form, she could have killed them already. But her arms were exposed, along with most of her torso. He sat up and joined her

"Where did the Prince go?" Kaldur whispered in Atlantean

"No idea. He escaped" Ariana murmured back

They followed the droids to where the two Jedi, the senator and the Gungam were being held, and the shark waited. Once he saw her, an evil and malicious grin broke out

"The Count wishes to speak with you" The shark sneered, then clicked on the device

"Princess Ariana. It is...Pleasant to speak with you" The image of the Sith lord flickered

"Cut to the chase, Dooku. I don't give a shit" Ariana snapped

"I want you to reconsider your alliance with the Republic" He smirked

"Over my dead body," Ariana scoffed

"That is...Upsetting, to see how I have not even told you about the bargaining chip" The image of the man was replaced by two people in chains. Ariana's face changed from sass to shock

"You dare?" Ariana trembled

"I'll leave you to make your decision" The Count cut the transmission, and Ariana drew her sword and stabbed the nearest guard before she fled.

"What's the big deal?" Anakin asked

"That was her brother and his wife" Kaldur gulped "His pregnant wife"