![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladyofleithianDisclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: Well, that concludes the AOTC portion of the fic. Next up is the ROTS portion, which I'll admit I'm ridiculously excited about. :)
Returning to Coruscant would have been worse than a mere indignity if not for one thing that they managed to accomplish. A few more, actually. Managing to survive a duel with several Jedi, for one thing. Getting back to Coruscant with the plans for the ultimate weapon, for another. And most importantly, the war had just begun.
It was only a pity that Padme Naberrie was nowhere to be found. If anything, she would have made quite a brilliant addition to the battlefield. Oh, well.
“Welcome home, Lord Tyrannus,” Lord Sidious said.
“I have wonderful news for you, my lord: the war has just begun.”
“Good, good,” Sidious purred, almost like a contented rancor. “In time, the Jedi will fall.”
Count Dooku, Darth Tyrannus, Dark Lord of the Sith, could already picture it. If anything, even the thought of an Empire to take over for the Republic, to make things how they should be -- orderly, honorable, just and good -- was almost too wonderful a possibility. Even now, he could already feel the niggling feeling at the back of his mind telling him that Sidious was far from interested in that, that the Naberrie girl had tricked him, but even so...
“And what of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine Kryze?”
“I believe the seeds of doubt have been planted,” Dooku said, “With any luck, his inevitable failure will draw him to our side. And Skywalker, perhaps.” Even now, he didn’t know how to feel about the boy. He was powerful, yes, but at the same time, he was woefully uncontrolled. His recklessness would far from make him an effective Sith apprentice. “With all due respect, Master,” he said, “What of the loss of Padme?”
“It’s an acceptable loss,” Sidious said, softly, “I shall have a new apprentice soon.”
Even now, though, Dooku could not help but distrust Sidious, if only slightly. He could not help but wonder, in a way, if he was being played for a fool.
***
It was far away on Mandalore that they had the ceremony. No one else present save for C-3PO, the protocol droid that Anakin had brought to Coruscant long ago, and R2-D2, Obi-Wan’s loyal companion -- and now Satine. Even now, as they took the old Mandalorian vows, Obi-Wan felt, almost, as if he was on the brink of falling, and yet on the brink of rising at the same time. It was a wonderful feeling.
And even now, leaning in towards Satine Kryze, as the two of them shared their first kiss as husband and wife, somehow, Obi-Wan doubted that there could be a happier day than this.
Then they turned to look at the sunset over the balcony, looking forward to a brighter tomorrow. Perhaps tomorrow would not be all that bright considering the beginning of the Clone Wars...but at the very least, it wouldn’t hurt to try.
