equally matched
description: in this world, Yoda prepared for Anakin Skywalker. He knew the dangers of such a heavy destiny and was ready for the worst. Yoda foresaw Anakin's walk in the balance between light and dark. Yoda knew Anakin was a risk, and he needed to be prepared. His solution? you.
tw: cursing and mild violence
a/n: had this idea for a while. thought it'd be a fun story to lay out. not sure how long I'll make it. enjoy!
Anakin couldn't remember a day with the Jedi when he wasn't the chosen one. From the moment he was taken from his mom on Tattooine to now, he was Obi-wan's padawan. Initially, the Council had been apprehensive, but Anakin would like to think they've warmed up to him. Well, all of them except Yoda.
Anakin didn't know what to think of Yoda. Yes, he was a powerful Jedi, but Yoda has kept up his suspicion of Anakin's involvement with the prophecy and hasn't seemed like he'll ever let go.
Still trying to figure out Yoda's reasoning, Anakin tried everything he could to make the older Jedi approve of him. From completing missions to trying to outdo Obi-Wan in meditation, it felt like nothing was enough. But finally, Anakin figured out why Yoda never warmed up to him.
You.
Yoda's "backup," as Obi-Wan described you. You were meant to be the person who could take Anakin on in a fight and win. Yoda had taken you in as a youngling only a year after Anakin's arrival, training you from day one to outdo him.
It wasn't your purpose to replace the chosen one, but to become his equal in everything but importance. If Anakin Skywalker could not walk the path between the light and the dark, you would prevent his descent. What a load of bullshit, Anakin thought.
Anakin still remembered the day he met you entirely by accident.
—
"Anakin!" Turning around, Anakin watched Obi-Wan striding up to him. "Yes, Master?"
"Have you prepared to visit the temple today?" Obi-Wan handed Anakin his satchel, "The Council is pressing us to arrive earlier than planned."
"I have, don't worry." Anakin held the flap to his satchel open, revealing that his belongings were all accounted for. "I didn't pack much for this mission, so it wasn't hard." Obi-Wan chuckled at Anakin's nonchalance, and he guided Anakin towards the door by his shoulder. "I understand, my padawan. Let's make haste before the Council sends the entire temple to retrieve us."
"Yes, Master."
Visiting the temple has always been regarded as a big deal, but Anakin couldn't understand why. Yes, it's the home of the Jedi, but it's nothing special. Anakin doesn't feel any closer to the force here than he does on Naboo. Expressing this concern to Obi-Wan didn't matter either, as Obi-Wan just laughed at him, saying the temple was a part of the force—more than a padawan could understand.
Walking the corridor to the council room, Master Windu greeted them at the door. "Hello Obi-Wan, hello Anakin." Anakin sucked in a breath, snapping back to reality. "Hello, Master Windu. What's the reason for our summons?" Obi-Wan asked, nudging Anakin to pay attention.
"I'm afraid I don't know. I wasn't the one who called you here." Windu responded. "Although, I believe that person may be Yoda; he's with his apprentice in one of the training areas." Obi-Wan bowed to Windu, gesturing for Anakin to follow.
The entire walk to the training room had been dull. Anakin was practically dragging his feet. "What are you doing, Anakin?" Obi-Wan turned towards his apprentice, who froze. "Nothing, master," He took his place next to Obi-Wan. "I don't want to be here, to tell you the truth. Padme is visiting the Chancellor today, and I wanted to tag along."
"Anakin, you know answering a summon is important-"
"I know, master, but-"
"-They're the masters for a reason, Anakin. It's not just a title given so easily-"
"Padme invited me, master-"
"Padme will understand, Anakin. The Temple comes first-"
"It's rude to decline an invite from a senator, you know-"
"Anakin!"
Anakin groaned. He didn't mean for Obi-Wan to start lecturing him. Cutting him off verbally clearly did no good, so the next option? Get away. Speeding past Obi-Wan, Anakin turned the corner to the hallway. Ignoring Obi-Wan's disgruntled cry, he spotted a glow from a room a few doors down. Based on how dim this hallway appeared, it was the only one in use. That had to be it.
Anakin heard Yoda before he saw him, accompanied by a voice he didn't recognize. Someone was laughing, and it sounded like bells. What? Hastened, Anakin turned the corner to the room. Windu mentioned an apprentice, right?
Oh wow.
Who were you?
Anakin stopped at the doorway and watched you with intrigue. You hadn't noticed him yet, sitting cross-legged on the carpet. Anakin felt your presence in the force, sucking in a sharp breath. You were powerful, your presence emphatic, even. The midi chlorines surrounding you were sucking him in, tugging at his own existence. He'd never felt someone so strong, not even Yoda. Yoda was a strong presence, but Anakin associated him with harmony. He was nothing compared to you.
Anakin guessed you finally noticed him, turning to look at him. He felt the world freeze, unable to explain why. Your stare had rooted him to the spot.
When the world started moving, Anakin was shoved to the ground by a body colliding with his. "Dammit, Anakin!" Fucking Obi-Wan. "Why were you in the middle of the doorway?!"
"Get off me, old man!" Anakin huffed, hooking his leg around Obi-Wan's, twisting him to the floor. Feeling your gaze again, Anakin quickly jumped to stand. Obi-Wan followed suit, starting a lecture again. "What have I told you about running off?!" His hands adjusted Anakin's robes.
A laugh interrupted Obi-Wan's rant. Both heads turned. You were laughing. "Enough chiding, that is, Master Obi-Wan." Yoda's voice pierced the air. He toddled over to stand next to you and gave you a look. This seemed to cease your giggles. "Curious of the new presence in the force, I'm sure young Skywalker was." Yoda gestured to you with his cane, and Anakin looked at you again. You had straightened your back at the attention. "Hello. I'm Master Yoda's apprentice."
"Hello there," Obi-Wan took the reigns of the conversation, jumping to greet you. "I wasn't aware Master Yoda had taken in an apprentice. How long have you been with the Jedi?"
"Since I was a youngling, Master. Yoda found me on Corellia,"
"Corellia, you say? That's not far from Coruscant." Obi-Wan, grabbing Anakin's arm to sit across from you. "To get her here, great hassle it was." Yoda quipped. "Not fond of Corellians, the council is."
"Really? What's the council got against Corellians?" Anakin asked. "Their reputation is terrible, Anakin. Lots of smugglers come out of Corellia," Obi-Wan replied. "The council was probably concerned about whether Master Yoda's apprentice picked up any bad habits."
"Threats to the force they pose," Yoda spoke up, silencing Obi-Wan and Anakin's chatter. The tone of the conversation turned. Anakin looked at you, whose face had become neutral. He'd never seen someone so unbothered except Master Yoda. You must've really taken his teachings seriously. "What do you mean, Master Yoda?" Obi-Wan asked, sparing you a glance.
It was you who answered. "Those who indulge in the standard Corellian lifestyle indulge in greed. Greed is one of the worst cravings any living creature could experience," You shifted in your seat. This must've been tough. "Although I wasn't there for long, I know many Corellians who succumbed to crime and violence through their greed. Any Jedi exhibiting selfishness walks the path to the dark side."
"Correct you are, young padawan." Yoda hummed, placing a hand on your arm. Anakin shuddered and looked away. Yoda's hands always felt weird. "The council was suspicious of your apprentice's relationship to the dark side, then?" Obi-Wan inquired. "Was she a threat?" Yoda chuckled in that weird way he does, "Oh yes! Mighty difficult, this one. Took many months to train." You smiled at Obi-Wan, scrunching your nose. Anakin couldn't look away.
"She doesn't seem all that threatening to me, Master Yoda."
Why did he open his mouth? Your smile had disappeared, and Anakin wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Padme was so much better at words than he was. "So that is, boy? To find out, would you care?" Yoda had grown a smile of his own. He gestured for you to stand, and you did without hesitation. Anakin gulped but followed suit at Obi-Wan's nudge.
"You were summoned for this, yes. To spar with the girl, you will, young Anakin." Yoda declared his true intention for the visit. He motioned for you both to take your places on the mat in the middle of the room, and Anakin watched you reach for your lightsaber eagerly. Anakin felt excitement rise, he didn't think he'd get to spar with someone new today.
"Are you sure this is wise, Master? Anakin has a habit of playing dirty in spars." Anakin glared at Obi-Wan for his comment, about to tell you to ignore his arrogant teacher. "Nonsense, yes. Very sure of my pupil's capabilities, I am, Obi-Wan." Yoda waved off Obi-Wan and used the force to toss Anakin's discarded saber to him. It hit him in the chest, landing in his palms with an 'oof!'
"Thank you for the concern, Master Obi-Wan, but whatever Anakin throws at me, I can easily handle." You were confident, it seemed. Anakin liked that. "Well, why don't we find out just capable you are?"
The familiar hum of his saber only fueled Anakin's excitement. He hoped you were a challenge. You hadn't unsheathed your saber yet. Why? What were you planning?
Anakin lightly paced around his side of the mat, feeling the force flow through his veins. "What the hell?" He gasped, seeing your saber. "You have a dual saber?!"
You laughed. He felt his face flush at your reaction. He didn't mean to be so loud. "Yeah, and that's not even the coolest part." You detached your dual-saber at the hilt, and now had a white light saber in each hand. Anakin didn't even know there were white sabers, and yet here you were. "Dual sabers?! why don't I have that, Master?" Anakin looked at your sabers in shock, turning to give Obi-Wan an offended stare. Obi-Wan shrugged. "Hey, I didn't have it either."
"I won them," You spoke up. "In a dual with an old Jedi who'd become dissident."
Anakin blinked. ".. dissident? won them?" His head was spinning. You could win sabers in duals? He suddenly felt suspicious of this, feeling like Yoda was setting him up. "Why are we dueling? Are you gonna try to steal my saber?"
You laughed, finding him funny and kind of.. cute. "No, no. Just testing my skills against the best of the best." You winked, twirling your sabers in your hands, starting to walk around him in circles. "You're the only Jedi knight I haven't fought yet," You say. "Master Yoda thinks I'm ready." Anakin thinks for a moment. "Alright, let's dual."
Anakin goes to one edge of the matt, positioning himself properly. You do the same, although yours is different with the two sabers. Anakin feels this is slightly unbalanced, but refuses to say anything out of pride.
"Alright, Chosen One," You smile, thrill coursing in your veins. "Let's go."