Guarantee

They stared at one another. As one Apprentice, to another.

«Okay.» Amanda finaly said, I’ll help you, on one condition.» lowering her axe.

«And what’s that?» Zilla wondered.

«Let me… look arround…» sighing, «I’ve heard of that place; Dhathomir, I wanna see it.»

«Okay.» holding out her hands, «We’ll show you. But then you give us the book, right?»

«Yeah. But only if you keep the deal.»

«Deal! Come on, let’s tell it to my master.»

«No!» Amanda shouted, «He’s not coming along on this journey. I don’t trust him.»

«But…»

«It has to be only between you and me, or I’ll gonna burn the book, and you never get it.»

 

Meanwhile in Secrecy:

«Anakin didn’t open a portal, Ahsoka.» Ventress mockingly laughed at her, «It was there all along. But it’s light only became brighter when he sent your sister through, before it dissappeared.»

Ahsoka stared shockingly in front of her,

«That’s why I saw it…»

«Yes.» chuckling evily, «How unfortunate that I can not help you.»

Ahsoka fixed her gaze at her,

«I believe you can. Is there any other portal left that I can go through?»

«No. And unless someone come in from our world, it wont come any.»

Just as she had said that, a bright light emerged out of nowhere, releasing out a human being, who rolled out to the floor, before laying still, eyes closed.

Ventress and Ahsoka studied her,

«Senator Amidala!» The Padawan shouted.

Ventress looked at the remaining portal,

«I think you can use this one, to get back to your sister, but I can’t guarantee it will be safe.»

«I’ll take my luck.»

Frail dog

«What think ye of Christ? Huh?»

«I think he’s my Master.»

«Good answear.»

«I do love the heavens… you feel any better?»

«What?»

«He he.»

 

Amanda had run for some minutes now, but she had come to a blind-gate. And she looked around herself, as she walked closer to the wall in front of her. Hoping that her followers should have lost her trail by now. But she only realiced how wrong she was, when Zilla jumped down from a roof-top, and came walking up to her with confidence, holding out her hand in a pleade,

«The book, if you please.» she began, «Or am I gonna force it from you?»

Amanda shouted back at her,

«No! You don’t know what you’re trying to take from me!»

Zilla laughed,

«I think I know exactly that, dearie.»

Amanda looked at her,

«You’re right.»

«What?» stopping up

«You really are the pet of Ventress. You’re even acting like her.»

«I known her my entire life! You expect something else?» coming up close.

«I just thought you were one of the good ones… seeing that your sister is good.»

Zilla grabbed hold her tunic,

«I’m trying to be good. Ahsoka is the reason for that.»

«You wanna go back there? To Secrecy?»

«Yeah. So give me the book.»

«Never!» pushing her back before taking up her axe, «That book means a lot to me, and I am not gonna give it to an enemy!»

Zilla drew her breath,

«But we don’t have to be…»

«Stop!» looking at her in distress, «You don’t know what Ventress really did to me… she took me away from my family… poisoned our relationship!»

«Is that true?»

«It is as true as you being dead!»

«No, you don’t want that.» looking at her, «Let me help you.»

 

«I look unto the sky, and what do I see? A frail dog?»

«I sorry, I’m sorry, my queen.» the messenger apolgized,

«I dosen’t have time for your mistakes!» Ventress roared, «Now get out before…»

«Asajj?» it came from the corridor.

«What?» she turned to see the Padawan of Anakin walking in.

«I need your help. Could you get my sister back?»

«Well, well well.» chuckling, «See what the cat dragged in!»

 

Dark woods

«Every nation! Every tongue! Come and witness history unfold! Behold the moment when John eats a new bug.»

Ahsoka where about to walk past the the twelve apostles when she stopped. Listening to their jokes and their laughs.

They were sitting on the side of the road, having a picnic, and she decided to walk over to them,

«Hello? Could you guys tell me the way to the dark woods?»

One of the diciples, looked up,

«The dark woods huh?» the one named Andrew.

«Why would you want to go there?» Simon-Peter asked.

«I tell you one thing.» John joined in, «Don’t go there. Stay away from the darkness.»

Ahsoka sighed,

«I will find it myself.» putting her hood over her head, «Thank you for your advice, but I know that I must do this.» beginning to walk away from them.

Simon-Peter got up on his feet, to catch up with her,

«Why is so important for you that you will go there? It’s nothing but dark there!»

«I know someone there who might help me get my sister back.» looking at him.

«Oh. Well we can’t help you with that, but…»

«I don’t need your help. I only need your prayers.»

«We could arrange that.»

«Bye, bye.»

 

Prince Solomon opened the door when Ahsoka knocked, giving her a comoassionate look,

«Is princess Tamar ready to go?» she asked, but  Solomon gave her a grieved look,

«She can’t leave now. Something terrible has happened.»

«What?»

«Amnon. He was in love with her, but now, he’s not.»

Ahsoka stared confused at him,

«I don’t understand. What have the mission to do with love?»

«Amnon abandoned her, after he had…» he hung his head and sighed sadly.

«What?»

Solomon looked at her again,

«I think you should go.» closing the door, letting her stand there.

Ahsoka angrily cluthed her fist together and growled before turning arround,

«Very well.» she said to herself, «I go alone then.» marching away from the castle of David, in the dirrection of the dark woods that were surronded by a fog. And it was easy to find, when she only seeked after it.

She was going to speak to Ventress, the underground-queen, who lived under these woods. Hopefully she would be able to open up a portal so that she could get her sister back.

But she had to hurry, so Anakin didn’t find out where she was heading, because he would’d allow it.
He never would.

Zilla versus Amanda

«Blessed art thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, who layeth forth the way to walk.»

Hagar looked upon her sister Isha who had her gaze raise towards the sky. She herself, put her eyes on the ground, saying,

«Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam… Shalom.»

The two sisters where on they way to Padme’s appartment, to look for Anakin, carrying little Abid on five with them.

When they got there, they found that the door was open, so they just went straight in. Noticing that the whole place was a mess, amd finding Zilla, and the new girl Amanda, in an intense fight with each other. Rolling arround on the floor. Punching and hitting each other.

«Happy new year to you two.» Hagar began saying to them, as she, Isha and Abid went to stand next to their battle, «Is this how you want to start the new year? With a fight?»

But none of the girls responded to them. Zilla only roared to Amanda,

«Just give me the book!»

«No!»

Hagar and Isha sighed, before Isha proclaimed,

«I do love a good fight, though.» throwing herself upon them to join in on the fighting, «En-garde!»

But instantly, whitout warning, a Jedi-master stood in the doorway, wathing the event unfold before stepping in,

«I knew I sensed a disturbance in the force and that it was coming from here. What is really going on?»

Hagar turned, looking at him,

«Obi-Kenobi-Wan.»

He raised an eyebrow at her,

«Why do you split up my name like that?»

Isha decided to leave the fighting, as Zilla and Amanda continued, and she raised up when she heard who was there, and walked over to him, with easy steps, gripping his tunic,

«Obi-Kenobi-Wan!» greeting him with a kiss. Hagar pushed her away from him,

«Stop it Isha! You don’t have to flirt with every man you meet!»

Obi-Wan stepped closer to the fight that were going on, before he took out an blaster from his belt, and shot three times into the roof to get them from hurting each other.

Zilla and Amanda looked terrified at him. They haven’t even realiced that he was there.

He grabbed hold of Zillas arm,

«Get up! Now! Give me a reason to not report you to the council!»

Zilla was trying to catch her breath, as she let her gaze sweep over Hagar, Isha and little Abid. Before letting it fall to the master’s feet,

«I’m sorry, Sir.»

«Look at me!»

«Sir.» turning her eyes at him, «I was just trying to get my book back, and…»

«Fighting with a twelve year’old, is not what I expect of you.»

Zilla looked over the room, before she gasped, breaking free from his grip,

«Amanda! She’s gone!»

 

Pet of Ventress

«Want some tea, dearie?» Padme asked the Padawan in despair, who sat with her head down, and her hands resting in her lap,

«I…» looking slowly up, «I shouldn’t be here… I really shouldn’t… It… it was wrong of me to come… I’m just in the wrong place…»

«Where else should you be if not here with me?» setting the jug down on the table, gripping her shoulders, «You are exactly where you are needed to be.»

«You really think so?» blinking, «After what I’ve tried to do… I don’t deserve your kindness.»

«Everyone makes mistakes, Zilla.» pouring water into her cup, «But what really matters afterwards, is that you regret it when you realize you done wrong.»

«I…» drawing a shuttered breath.

«Now tell me everything you know about Anakins whereabouts, and we might find him together.»

«I… can’t… I’m sorry.» having a saddened look, «You won’t even believe me.»

«What makes you think that? Tell me, he’s my husband, and I should really like to know where he is. If he’s in trouble or something.»

Zilla stared down at her hands, and could almost not bear herself. She had a heavy weight resting on her shoulders, and she wanted it to go away,

«He’s… He’s…» but there her voice stopped, and she couldn’t say a word more.

Padme looked shocked at her,

«Zilla… what did you do?»

Suddenly the window broke, and pieces of glass scattered everywhere. Amanda came leaping into the room, with the book from Dathomir in her hands, she opened it in front of Padme, and said two words,

«Mazel Tov!» and great light erubted from the pages of the open book, sucking Padme into it. And she vanishes into the book, who worked as a portal to the holy world of Secrecy.

Amanda then closed the book, putting it back inside her tunic, before looking at Zilla with a blood-thirst in her eyes. She gripped her axe, and howled it at her. Growling.

Zilla hurriedly backed away, as shock and fear came across her face,

«What did you do?»

«Grrr.» moving towards her.

«I thought you said that you burned the book, but you had it all allong?»

«I’m the pet of Ventress. That’s what I do.» reaching her axe and taking it up.»

«But I’m her pet too.» Zilla tried, «You don’t have to attack me.»

Amanda snarled, taking up a rock.

«She can only have one pet! And that’s me!»

Confrontation

«Shalom aleichem… Shalom… Shalom… Shalom aleichem…» looking down at the ground, saddened, closing her eyes.

«Whatever you want, my wonderous Padawan,» Anakin began, startling her. She haven’t realized he was there, «Will be given unto you. So what’d you wish for? I’ll give you what you desire.»

Ahsoka slowly raised her gaze, looking back up at him,

«What about my sister? Could you bring her back? I really do miss her.»

Anakin stared shocked back at her,

«No!» he shouted, before lowering his voice again, «No, Snips. No.» gripping her arm as she took a step back, terrified, «Listen,» he said, «In this castle we’re building, You’ll gett your very own room, and I will bring you every book you desire, so that you can study and learn whatever you want. You’ll live like a princess, Snips.»

Ahsoka lowered her gaze,

«I only want my sister. Whitout her… I can’t be satisfied.»

«Forget her!» King Anakin shouted, «She wasen’t good for you anyway! Only bad influence!»

«And that you shall decide?»

«I only wants what’s best for you. And as long you’re my padawan, I can’t let you to have any realationship with her any longer.»

Ahsoka looked up at him, struck with tears in her eyes,

«What?»

«I will give you the very best, if you stop focusing on her, you’ll live like a champion.»

«I dosen’t want that, Master. I only want…»

«Ahsoka… I’m very greatful to have you as my Padawan, but it has to be your choice to be that.»

«It is my choice!» looking confused, «I… I want to become a Jedi-Knight, and… You…» her voice became a broken whisper, «You’re the best!»

«You really mean that?»

«Yes! Of course! What’s your point?»

«Good!» clearing his troat, «Then I will continue teaching you. When you want’s so yourself. But you shall know one thing;» gripping her shoulder, as his tone got harsh, «If you ever quit, if you throws in the towel… then you will not live long enough to see the dawn of day.»

Ahsoka gasped. She opened her mouth, but it came no words out.

Anakin turned to walk back to the cave, where the children were working for him,

«Keep it up everyone!» he commanded, «You’re doing well so far!»

Ahsoka stood there, like frozen, watching him as he walked away,

«Do…» she drew her breath slowly, «Do you want me to do anything, Master?»

He turned back around, looking at her,

«Go and be with your friend in the summer-land as you said you would.»

Ahsoka looked relieved back at him,

«Thank you.» doing a bow before him, «My Master.» and then she went into a running state. Running ahead to the forest.

Burned it

«One flower to me, and one flower to you.» Princess Tamar, the daughter of King David, said as she was having a tea-party with Ahsoka in the garden outside the castle, «And flowers to the unicorns, the fairies and butterflies. And to all that liveth among us.»

Ahsoka smiled back, as she sipped from her cup.

The boys, thus will say, the sons of David, where practising with their swords a stones throw away.

«Mmm.» she said, taking a biscuit.

«How’s it going between you and your master?» Princess Tamar asked.

Ahsoka sighed,

«He’s busy building his castle right now. He’s having the kids from the orphanage to help him out.»

«And how’s it going between you?»

Ahsoka looked down for a moment,

«Since he sent away my sister…» looking up so their eyes met, «He dosen’t wanna talk about it… he dosen’t realize I’m hurt…»

«You want her back?»

Ahsoka stood up to her feet,

«Yes. But that’s not gonna happen when the portals are gone.»

Tamar also got up,

«I think I know someone who can open a portal. Wasen’t that what Anakin did when he sent away Zilla?»

«I… I don’t know… but who do you mean?»

«Someone else from your world, someone that thrives with dark magic?»

«Are you talking about… Ventress?» widening her eyes.

Tamar nodded,

«The underground Queen, yes.»

Ahsoka shaked her head,

«We could never go to her. She will only betray us and can’t be trusted.»

«Are you sure? We should give her a chance. If you want your sister back, I mean.»

«I don’t know.» looking hesistant, «I don’t want to go behind my master’s back. I’ll just talk to him about it.» walking in the dirrection of the gateway that led out of the garden.

«You don’t have to tell him everything you know.» putting her hand on her shoulder, «It seems to me, he’s controlling you, and that’s no good. It’s about time you start living your own life.»

«I am living my own life.» Ahsoka stated as they left the garden.

«Not in the way that I will suggest.» Tamar said.»

«Look. I really should be heading back now.» Ahsoka responded, «I must keep the time.»

The princess shrugged her shoulders,

«Wery well.» giving her a hug, «But if you want my help, come and meet me tomorrow afternoon, and we will find the queen.»

«Maybe.» walking away, «I will think about that.» wawing goodbye, «See ya.»

Tamar returned the wawe,

«Goodbye Ahsoka and good luck on your way.»

 

Zilla slowly walked through the corridor if the Jedi-temple, feeling sad to her heart.

She couldn’t avoid that everyone turned and looked at her with suspicion. Someone were surprised and other showed confusion, repeating the same question over and over again,

«Where have you been?» it got wispered througout the area, «Where’s she been?»

But Zilla didn’t answer them. She didn’t say a word. All that was in her mind, was to find the book. Because whitout it, she felt lost. Left whith no hope.

She’d almost walked into Obi-Wan because she kept her gaze down, not looking up, and she felt his hands gently touching her shoulders,

«Zilla…» he said in a soft tone.

«No…» she quickly turned and walked past him, «No time.» hastening througout the corridor, «I need to find…» she started to run, and made it to the library, the Jedi arcives, «If I only could track it down. But maybe I can.» looking arround for any clue.

Obi-Wan reached her,

«Zilla.»

«No.» Trying to run again, but he hindered her of it by grabbing her arm, «You tell me what’s going on? Where’s Anakin and Ahsoka?»

«You have no idea.» shaking her head, «And I will not tell.»

«I just want to help.»

«Then you should stay out if it.» freeing herself from his grip, only to run into a child with an axe.

Amanda looked up on her, with eyes as dark as the death itself,

«You!» She began with a recognition in her tone, «I know what you’re looking for, but you’ll never get it!» lifting her weapon, «I burned it.»

Betrayed

Ahsoka woke up where she had been sleeping peacefully in the cave. Only to see that her master wasen’t there this morning.

She stood up from the bed, looking around,

«Master?» she saw some green light coming from the corridor longer inside the cave, and walked towards it, «Master?» she knew she had the chance to just run away now that he was gone, but she also knew that he would only chase her down again. And that was the only thing that kept her staying. She knew she wouldn’t get rid off him untill she became a Jedi-knight herself, and untill that day came, she was doomed to suffer under brutal training-sessions and endless lessons.

If she only got to convince him that she was ready for the Jedi-trials, he might let her go, but if not, there’s was no escape. His words echoed in her mind,

«Where ever you go, I will always find you. There’s no escape.»

And when she thought about it, it made her cry. Was she afraid of him? Was that the reason she wanted to run and get away?

She put her hand to her face as she slowly walked through the corridor towards the green light,

No. She thought not. But she wanted her own life. She needed a life of her own. Needed to be something greater than a padawan, and wished to prove it to him that she could be, and someday, as a Jedi-knight, she would even have a padawan of her own, but she would never be as wild as him. Never sink down to his level.

But he wasen’t evil, though. All he did… he only meant it for good.

«Master?» Ahsoka tried again, reaching the end of the corridor, «where are you?» she looked arround at the open area where she now found herself in, wondering, «What is this place?» it looked like a tomb.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned arround, startled,

«Master!»

«You shouldn’t be this far into the cave, Snips. It isn’t safe here.»

She grabbed his robes,

«I’m… swallowed, «I’m ready for the Jedi-trials.»

Anakin looked surprised at her for a moment,

«Ahsoka…» chuckling, shaking his head, «You still got much to learn, but I admire your eagerness.»

Ahsoka looked down, and sighed,

«Let me just take them and be done with it, okay?»

He put his arm arround her, leading her out,

«It’s up to me to decide when you’re ready. And you still got many years ahead of you.»

«No.» she stopped up, «I can decide so myself, and I say that I’m…»

«Patience, Snips.» continuing too lead her out through the corridor, «Patience. When the time comes, I will see to that you will not fail. But for now, you need to keep your ears open, and watch and learn with an open heart.»

 

Zilla looked arround herself with a feeling that she had lost everything. She should never have threatened the kings life, and now… now she was back in her own world. Separated from her sister. Away from the world of Secrecy. The wonderous world that contained magic.

But here, it was nothing. Not like Secrecy. Here it was no fairy-dust, no dragons… only boring people with politics and lightsabers. She was used to that, had grown up with it. But she had never felt so free that she did in Secrecy.

But sadly, Anakin had pushed her through a portal as a punishment for what she had tried to do to him. And now she found herself here, back in the chamber where it all had started.

Where she and Ahsoka had found the book that brought them to the magical world, but now…

Zilla looked arround herself, noticing that the book that took them there, were gone.

Gone? How? It couldn’t be. Maybe someone had taken it? But whom could that be? Who other than she and Ahsoka would go into Anakin’s room?

Maybe Padme? Or Obi-Wan? but why would they care about a book? If they where the one who had taken it, she needed to get it back, because if she didn’t, how should she ever get to go back to Secrecy?

Consequences

After flying through a portal of light, Amanda found herself standing in an chamber. and on the floor, laid a open book, which was one of the first things she noticed. She took it up and studied it.

In it was written stories. She saw her own name, and Ventress. Even the Jedi were written in it, who were the new-comers to her world. She closed the book and tucked it to her chest. Now she was in their world, and this book could possibly be her way back, so she wouldn’t loose it.

She stepped towards the door that she saw in front of her, and pointed out her head. What she saw, made her retreat inside the room again.

It was an corridor in chaos. Children were running everywhere, screaming and shouting;

«It’s my diary!» Hagar pointed out, «And I will have it back!»

«Over my dead body!» a boy replied. He was holding it in his hand, beginning to read aloud as Hagar stormed after him down the corridor;

«I’m in love with…» he grinned at her, a mocking grin that turned to a silly laugh, «with Skywalker, the guy who rescued me. We shall meet him today.»

Hagar roared against the boy, who turned direction, and ran back in the direction of the crowd, where Amanda stood in the doorway of Anakin’s room, as she watched them. Currently hiding.

The boy continued reading, as the other children took hold of Hagar. Holding her fast, preventing her from reaching the book;

«My sister is very eager, but that makes me…»

Hagar managed to free herself from the grip of the other children, and throwed herself at the boy, knocking him down,

«You gonna pay for what you did!» she yelled, giving him a punch to the face, «How dare you read…»

Amanda saw an adult entering the corridor, marching towards the scene,

«What is going on here?» he said in a sharply tone. He wore the same kind of clothes that she had noticed that the Jedi who had come to her world, had been wearing.

And as he walked past the door where she was standing, she retreated back inside the room. But by then, it was allready to late to stay out of sight, he had allready spotted her,

«You there!» looking dirrectly in her direction, but Amanda closed the door, before she looked around the chamber of a place to hide.

The Jedi-master in the corridor, took the diary from the boy who had been reading it aloud,

«I’ll confiscate this. No one will have it.»

Hagar got up to her feet,

«But… sir…»

«Go to you room, child. Or I’ll report you to the council.»

Hagar let out a frustrated sigh,

«You don’t understand… no one does.» the boy whom she had attacked because of the diary, also got up on his feet, but she pushed him down on the floor again, and ran away.

The Jedi-master made his way to Anakin’s chamber and opened the door before stepping inside. He found Amanda standing in the middle of the room, looking arround herself.

When she saw him enter the room, she grabbed her weapon which she carried on her back,

«Do not come closer.» she warned him. «I got an axe.»

 

In the world of Secrecy, Zilla, as a bird, landed on the outside of the cave of the spaghetti-monster, which were in winterland, and where Anakin and Ahsoka were sleeping for the night.

As she stepped inside, she transformed into herself again, just as Ventress had predicted.

She grabbed the dagger from her belt, as she silently sneaked up to the knight bed. The Jedi whom had oppointed himself to be king over winter-land, laid in a deep sleep.

She held the sharp blade of the dagger right over his chest, clutching her fist tight arround the hilt.

«I’m sorry, Skyguy.» she wispered as a tear escaped her eye, «But I have to set Ahsoka free…» She closed her eyes, and were about to drive the dagger in to him, but just as she hurled it down, it didn’t enter his into his heart. It stopped. Because Anakin had oppened his eyes, and were now holding his hand over the handle of the dagger, looking at her with intensity.

Zilla froze,

«I’m sorry.» suddenly she was out of words, «I’m sorry… my king…»

But Anakin rose up, squeezing the knife out of her hand,

«We were looking for you, thinking you were in danger.» forcing her over to the wall, placing his hand to her throat, «Yet you show up, all in one piece. Trying to kill me?»

«I’m sorry…» She had closed her eyes tight, «I just wanted to save Ahsoka… from you!»

Anakin looked over to his sleeping padawan for a moment, who laid at the other side of the cave, before returning his gaze to Zilla,

«Maybe it is the opposite.»

Zilla opened her eyes again, and looked at him,

«What?» tears streamed down her face.

«Maybe it is you we need to get rid of. Because I know, that Ahsoka needs me.»

«Not from my point of wiew.» Zilla protested, «She is perfectly fine whitout you. Because you’re too hard on her.»

Anakin’s eyes darkened, before they got a glimpse of yellow,

«Then we’re perfectly fine whitout you too.» he grabbed her arm, dragging her over to a corridor longer inside the cave, which looked both dark and scary.

«No!» it came from Zilla, but Anakin covered her mouth with his hand, «No!» she still mannaged to say, «Please… I’m… I’m…»

«I told you that every action you take, will have consequences.» Anakin said harshly as he forced her into the dark, «And that’s exactly what’s gonna to happen now: consequences.»

Amanda with the axe and an enchanted dagger

 


It was Christmas Eve, and Amanda ran through the snowy landscape of winter-land, towards the mountains, were the dragons had their place.

She had heard something about a portal, that led to another world, and she wanted to find it.

Nearly out of breath, she reached the dragons cave and called for her friend,

«Absalom! Absalom! Come on out.»

She waited a few seconds, before she heard heavy steps. The ground rumbled as the mighty dragon made his way to the outside.

She could she him point out his head from the caves opening.

«Amanda.» he said with a deep voice. «What brings you here?»

The child approched him, laying her hand onto his big nose,

«I’ve heard about a portal. You know where it is?»

«Yes. How so?»

«I want to check it out.»

The dragon exhaled, letting out some smoke from his nosetrills,

«That portal is unstable and dangerous. It’s not a place to be… You shouldn’t come anywhere near it.»

Amanda looked down,

«Please. Please fly me there. I’m not afraid… and maybe I can see where those Jedi come from, or whatever they call themselfes.»

The dragon gave a sad look at here,

«Their world is not like here. It’s a world whitout magic… If you enter the portal, it is most likely that you would never return again… Is that what you want?»

«I’m not afraid… magic or not… I don’t care.»

The dragon stepped out og the cave, looking mighty and wonderous with his beatiful, stale, red skin. He lowered himself down to here so she could climb onto his back,

«I can no longer protect you if you go to another world.» flying up into the air.

«That’s okay. I don’t think I would need protection if there’s no magic.» She closed her eyes as she hold onto his horns, the wind blew in her hair, and before she knew it, they had landed again.

Absalom lowered himself down again, and she climbed off and landed in the snow on her barefeet.

The dragon moved his head towards the green light that were only few meters away,

«There’s the portal. But it could dissapear at any moment. It’s very unstable.»

«I just want to check it out.» Amanda said, walking closer.

«I won’t be able to help you if you get sucked into it.»

«That’s…» as she neared it, she felt a invisible force-power taking hold on her, dragging her into the portal.

«If that’s is what you want…» was the last thing she heard the dragon say, before all became light arround her, and she were floating through a tunel of light, surrounded by lightning.

 

Ventress made her way through the darkened corridor, before she stopped at Zilla’s cage

The little Padawan were sleeping now. Her little pet.

She took up her key and opened the door that held her inprisoned.

Zilla awoke with a start, staring questingly at her with tired eyes.

Ventress removed the chain arround her hand with her magic,

«I’m back, my pet. And I have a mission for you.»

Zilla rose to a sitting position,

«What’s that?»

«It seems Anakin and Ahsoka are still looking for you, but…»

«What?»

Ventress pulled up something from her sleeve,

«Take this dagger, return to the cave, and take care of Anakin.»

Zilla rose up to her feet,

«Take care of him?» she stared confused at her, «What do you mean? He’s my friend!»

Ventress walked closer up to her, gently grabbing her cheek,

«He’s not your friend, deary. And haven’t you noticed how he treats Ahsoka?»

«He… he means it well, he…»

Ventress narrowed her eyes,

«What he truly means, is to rule… and… he want’s his Padawan become like himself, so he is continuing to…»

«I don’t believe you…»

«Yes you do… Your mission is to sneak into the cave while they’re asleep, and then you’ll end him. With this dagger, you will put his days to an end, and set Ahsoka free. And then you both will come and live here with me, like princesses. No one should be meant to…»

«Anakin is a good man.» Zilla shouted, «All he want’s is… it’s only good thing’s. He’s just a little arrogant and stubborn, but…»

«All I ask of you, is to free Ahsoka from his influence.» Ventress repeated, handing the dagger over to her, «Are you up for the task?»

Zilla sighed,

«If you want me to take his life, isn’t it easier to just use my lightsaber?»

Ventress shaked her head,

«No. Because then, he will wake up by the sound of it. But this dagger is enchanted. And it is silent.»

Zilla took it from Ventress hand,

«Okay.»

«I will take you both under my wings when all this is over, if you only remain loyal to me. Now go.» giving her a gentle push out of the cage. «Fly, my friend.» transforming her into a bird, «Only when you reach the cave, you will become your old self again.»

And Zilla flew out on her wings, out into the Christmas night.

«But I will watch you, pet.» Ventress said, staring into a globe, «I will watch you.»