[Disclaimer: LucasArts owns all characters.]

[This What if? inspired story is written from Anakin's POV. I am considering writing the same story from Obi-Wan's POV and another from Padme's POV.]

[Updated: I've altered this a little. I can't say what I did though, it'll spoil the next chapter (the one I'm about to upload). Enjoy]

[Updated: Fixed some spelling and grammatical errors]

I ran from the Council chambers. What have I done? I could feel the Jedi in Palpatine's office dying. I couldn't get there fast enough. Only Master Windu was left when I ran in. He was standing over the Chancellor on the window. Palpatine was cowering, but I could feel extreme anger strengthening him.

"You are under arrest, My Lord." Master Windu had his violet saber pointed at the Chancellor.

Palpatine looked at me. "Anakin! I told you it would come to this! I was right. The Jedi are taking over!"

I shook my head. "No..." What have I done?

"You old fool. The oppression of the Sith is over. Your plot to regain control of the Republic is over...you have lost!" Master Windu glared at the Chancellor.

Palpatine looked defeated for a moment. But only a moment. The anger exploded from him as he spat his words, "No...no...You will die!" His arms raised and lightning shot out of them. Master Windu barely had time to raise his lightsaber to block it. "He is a traitor, Anakin."

"He is the traitor. Stop him!" Master Windu yelled, groaning as his energy was being used up. I watched with shock and disbelief. What have I done?

Palpatine continued the stream of blue lightning from his fingertips. "Come to your senses, boy! The Jedi are in revolt. They will betray you, just as they betrayed me."

No...I told them about you... I looked at Master Windu. He was in pain now. The lightning was almost too much for him.

"You are not one of them, Anakin." My head snapped back to look at Palpatine. Suddenly, he looked like a feeble old man. "Don't let him kill me," he pleaded. I shook my head once more. This is not true...It's another nightmare...please... "I am your pathway to power. I have the power to save the one you love. You must choose...you must stop him..." Palpatine was pleading once again.

I urged myself not to listen, but I remembered my dream...I couldn't let Padmé die. I needed him...

"Don't listen to him, Anakin." Master Windu bit his words out.

Palpatine cried out, "Help me! Don't let him kill me. I can't hold on any longer..." Master Windu moved closer as Palpatine's strength waned. Palpatine's lightning began to deflect from Master Windu's saber back to its source.

As I watched, the Chancellor's face twisted and distorted, almost like an ageing acceleration. Yellow stole its way into his eyes and red rimmed them. "I can't...I give up...help me? I am weak...I am too weak...Don't kill me. I'm dying...I can't hold on...any longer..." Palpatine's voice began to waver.

Master Windu closed in on the old man. "You Sith disease! I am going to end this once and for all!"

"You can't kill him, Master. He must stand trial," I interrupted, stepping forward. I can't let him kill Padmé's only chance...

Master Windu glanced at me quickly. "He has too much control of the Senate and the Courts. He is too dangerous to be kept alive."

"I'm too weak...Don't kill me, please..." Palpatine pleaded with Master Windu. But his pleas fell on deaf ears.

I shook my head again. "No, it is not the Jedi way..."

Master Windu glared at me and then at Palpatine. "Skywalker, he is tainting your mind. If he survives, he will bring about the end of the Jedi. He must die for the sake of the galaxy and the thousands of Jedi he would murder."

"NO!" I yelled, pulling out my own saber to stop Master Windu in his down thrust.