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THE LAST of the Separatist forces fell beneath the weight of Republic firepower. Blaster bolts flew across the battlefield, but with each passing moment, the droid army weakened. Aruna and Anakin pushed forward, finally working in sync as they cut through the remaining defenses. The air was thick with the sounds of victory—explosions fading, blasters quieting, and the final retreat of the droids echoing through the canyons of Ryloth.
Aruna panted heavily as she stood beside Anakin, both of their lightsabers still humming in their hands. The battlefield stretched out before them, silent except for the distant hum of Republic ships in the sky.
"We did it," she said, her voice rough from the intensity of the fight.
Anakin gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable, but the tension between them had eased. "Yeah... we did."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the adrenaline of the battle still pulsing through their veins. Aruna wanted to say something more—to break the silence between them—but before she could, Padmé's voice interrupted their thoughts.
"Aruna!" Padmé called out as she approached, her eyes bright with relief. She walked with purpose, her diplomatic robes now stained with dust from the battlefield, but her presence was as calm and commanding as ever.
Aruna straightened as Padmé came closer, feeling a flicker of warmth at the sight of her. No matter the circumstances, Padmé always managed to bring a sense of hope.
"You were incredible out there," Padmé said, offering Aruna a genuine smile. "You really turned the tide of the battle."
Aruna felt a swell of pride at Padmé's words, though a part of her still lingered on the earlier tension with Anakin. "Thank you, Padmé," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "But I couldn't have done it without the team." She shot a glance at Anakin, who was standing a few paces away, listening but keeping his distance.
Padmé gave a small nod to both of them. "It's clear that you and Anakin make a formidable team. The Republic couldn't ask for better Jedi."
Aruna smiled tightly, the words stinging in a way she hadn't expected. As Padmé turned to speak with the Republic officers nearby, Aruna's gaze drifted back to Anakin. She knew what she had to do.
Taking a deep breath, Aruna stepped forward, closing the distance between them. "Anakin," she said quietly, her voice softer now. "I need to apologize."
Anakin turned to her, his brow furrowed slightly. "For what?"
"For earlier," she said, her eyes meeting his. "For letting... whatever this is get in the way of the mission. I was distracted, and I let my emotions get the better of me. That's not who I want to be."
Anakin studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. But after a pause, he gave a slight nod. "We both have things to work on," he admitted, his tone less sharp than before. "But we got through it."
