Chapter Twenty-Two
Mira

My world seemed to stop when I saw Obi-Wan be thrown against that wall, his body crumpling to the ground. I stared in horror, tears pricking my eyes, as I watched him struggle to get up, only to fall back down, unmoving.

In that moment, everything else faded away – the clash of lightsabers, the sounds of battle, the taunting laughter of Darth Maul. All that mattered was Obi-Wan, my friend, my protector, lying there, seemingly lifeless.

Maul's mocking voice cut through the haze of my grief. "Your so-called friend is dead, Mira. You have nothing on me."

His words fueled a surge of rage within me, and I turned to face him, my eyes narrowing into a hard, unforgiving glare. Without a moment's hesitation, I swung my lightsaber with all my might, catching him off guard and severing one of his hands.

Maul's scream of pain echoed through the hall, and he backed away, cradling his injured limb. "You'll pay for that, you insolent girl!" he snarled, his yellow eyes burning with hatred.

But I refused to be cowed by his threats. Channeling the Force, I pressed my attack, my lightsaber a blur of motion as I drove him back. Maul was a skilled fighter, but he was no match for the sheer force of my fury.

"Obi-Wan is not dead!" I growled, my voice laced with determination. "And I will not let you take him from me!"

With each strike, I poured my heart and soul into the fight, fueled by the need to protect the one who had always been there for me. I would not – could not – lose him, not like this.

As our blades clashed, I could feel the power of the Force coursing through me, amplifying my strength and speed. Maul was on the defensive now, his movements growing erratic as he struggled to keep up with my onslaught.

In that moment, I was no longer just a queen – I was a warrior, a Jedi, a force to be reckoned with. And I would not rest until Obi-Wan was safe, and Maul lay defeated at my feet.

For he had taken too much from me already, and I would be damned if I let him take my friend, my mentor, my very reason for fighting.

This was my moment, my chance to prove my worth, to show the Sith Lord that he had underestimated me. And I would seize it, no matter the cost.

As Maul continued his assault, I knew that I could not defeat him alone. I had to find a way to even the odds, to turn the tide of the battle in my favor.

Scanning the room, I caught sight of Count Dooku, who was gloating over Obi-Wan's fallen form. An idea began to form in my mind, fueled by desperation and a determination to save my friend.

With a surge of the Force, I pushed Maul back, buying myself a brief respite. Then, without hesitation, I turned my attention to Dooku, my lightsaber igniting once more.

The Sith Lord's eyes widened in surprise as I charged towards him, my blade a blur of motion. He barely had time to raise his own weapon in defense before I was upon him, raining down a flurry of strikes.

Dooku, caught off guard by my sudden attack, was forced to divert his attention from Obi-Wan, his focus now solely on fending off my relentless assault.

In the chaos, I caught a glimpse of Anakin and Master Yoda rushing to Obi-Wan's side, their expressions etched with concern. "Obi-Wan!" I whispered, my heart filled with a mixture of hope and fear.

As Anakin and Yoda tended to Obi-Wan, I continued to engage Dooku, my determination fueling my every move. I had to hold out, to keep the Sith Lord occupied until help arrived.

The battle raged on, the clash of our lightsabers echoing through the hall. Dooku was a formidable opponent, but I refused to back down, my mind focused solely on the task at hand.

With each passing moment, I could feel my strength beginning to wane, but I knew that I had to persevere. Obi-Wan's life hung in the balance, and I would not – could not – let him down.

As the fight continued, I could feel the weight of Dooku's gaze, the Sith Lord's eyes narrowing in a mixture of frustration and grudging respect. He had underestimated me, and now he was paying the price.

But I knew that I could not hold out forever, and I silently prayed that Anakin and Yoda would be able to revive Obi-Wan in time to turn the tide of the battle.

For if Obi-Wan did not rise, then all would be lost. And I would not – could not – bear the thought of losing him, my friend, my mentor, and the one who had always been there for me.

As the battle raged on, I felt a sudden shift within me, a presence clawing at the edges of my consciousness, demanding to be set free. In that moment, I made a decision – I no longer cared about the consequences, about the risk of unleashing this formidable power.

With a roar, I surrendered myself to the darkness, and in a blaze of fury, the monster within me tore free from its confines. Massive, scaly wings unfurled, casting a shadowy veil over the battlefield, and eyes burning with the fiery depths of Mustafar fixed their gaze upon Dooku.

The dragon had been unleashed, and the queen was no longer bound by the constraints of her mortal form. Fire and fury would now reign supreme, as I unleashed the full might of my transformed state upon the Sith Lord.

Dooku, taken aback by the sudden change in my appearance, faltered, his eyes widening in a mixture of shock and fear. He had not anticipated this, had not prepared for the sheer power and ferocity that now stood before him.

I surged forward, my jaws snapping and my claws slashing, driving the Sith Lord back with relentless attacks. Dooku struggled to keep up, his lightsaber a blur as he desperately tried to fend off my onslaught.

But I was unstoppable, fueled by a primal rage that knew no bounds. The very air crackled with the energy of the Force, as I channeled its power through my transformed body, unleashing blasts of searing heat and devastating strikes.

Dooku's defenses began to crumble, and I could sense his growing desperation. He had not expected to face such a formidable foe, and he was quickly running out of options.

As the battle raged on, I caught a glimpse of Anakin and Yoda tending to Obi-Wan's still form, and a surge of determination coursed through me. I would not let my friend's sacrifice be in vain – I would defeat Dooku, no matter the cost.

With a final, earth-shattering roar, I unleashed the full extent of my power, engulfing Dooku in a torrent of flames and crushing him beneath the weight of my massive body. The Sith Lord's agonized screams echoed through the hall, and then, silence.

As the smoke cleared, I stood victorious, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of further threat. But in that moment, all that mattered was the well-being of Obi-Wan, and I turned my gaze towards the two Jedi, my heart filled with a desperate hope.