Disclaimer: blah blah blah, you know what I'm trying to say. No money, no sue. ;)
Authors note: This might turn out bad, but this is the sequel to my first fanfic, The Other Side. I hope you enjoy it.
1
The bleak gray light of the borderlands was not the most comforting sight in the realm of the dead, but one man drank it in like a man long lost in darkness. He crawled along the ground, collapsing like a dying man and trying to go further by wriggling along the ground like a serpent. He stopped, exhausted, and lay on the cool, gray, mist-covered earth, shivering from the cold and relief. He had been unable to stop for rest for more days then he could count, and he needed to stop now.
But he couldn't, not with his destination still far ahead, not with Sith possibly near. If the Sith found him… but they couldn't now, could they? They were trapped in their own hell, unable to get out. He smiled weakly, the first smile in Force knew how many long days and sleepless nights. He crawled further, and his ears perked up as a familiar sound reached him.
Running water was near; good, clean, cool water.
He dragged his weary body towards the source of the sound and fell in it, dunking his head and drinking as much as his body could hold.
He was too tired now, too weak from loneliness and exhaustion to even move more then three feet from the water's edge. He lay down jerkily, half voluntarily, half under his body's own compulsion to stay healthy and able to function, curling into a fetal position and closing his eyes.
This was too much even for the one they called "the son of the suns".
Anakin Skywalker slept, legs still mostly in the water, content for the moment that he was safe. The softs swishing of the wavelets in the river a soothing lullaby.
Qui-Gon Jinn walked along on border patrol. There was little need for this now, of course, as most of the Sith were back in their own dimension, trapped by Anakin's barrier, but it had not been proven that all the Sith were accounted for, so Qui-Gon still felt the need to patrol.
Beside, there was little to do besides this; death wasn't very exciting. Except for that battle with the Sith, nothing ever happened.
The horizon looked as grey as ever and there was no sign of anyone. Far in the distance, the glimmering barrier that encased the Sith realm could be seen by one who looked. Qui-Gon sighed sadly; Anakin had been gone for too long, now. He should have been back long ago. What had happened to him? Silently gliding over the ground, the Jedi master walked past a quiet river. He stopped suddenly, cocking his head to listen.
Is someone calling me?
He shook his head sadly and laughed, no humor in his mournful tones. "I must be wishing too hard, now I'm hearing voices."He walked on down the trail, looking around with distracted interest at the riverbank and the water. He turned around and began to go back.
Anakin dragged himself out of the water. Feeling something wriggle in his boot, he took it off, revealing a fish that had inhabited it during the night. He threw it back, and pulled on the boot again. He wanted to sleep for another century, but the urge to go home was stronger. He stood unsteadily, and began to walk. Rubbing his face, he smiled as his fingers encountered the beard he'd had no choice but to grow. They didn't have anything to shave with in the nether realm, and so now he looked as if some kind of mammal had died on his face. Not paying attention, lost in thought, he had no warning of another person in the vicinity until he walked straight into them. Crashing into one another, the man staggered back a step, while Anakin, obviously the weaker of the two, tripped and fell over a root behind him.
"Uhhhh." Anakin grunted, sitting up and rubbing his head.
"Are you alright?" Anakin opened his eyes to see the man's proffered hand.
"Yeah." Anakin's voice was scratchy from disuse and he blushed, looking up into the eyes of…
"Qui-Gon!! Is it really you? Wow!" He smiled, and wanted to hug his old friend in relief, but Qui-Gon didn't smile and stepped away. The older man stared at him, frowning in confusion, and Anakin's smile melted away.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"You don't recognize me?"
"No, I don't, but you obviously know me."
Anakin searched Qui-Gon's eyes, but found no trace of recognition. "It's me, Qui-Gon…"
"I'm sorry, I don't seem to know you, Jedi…" he waited for a name.
"Don't tell me you forgot me already!" Anakin felt a small smile come onto his lips. "I mean, yeah, I've been gone for a while, and yeah, maybe I haven't shaved; but you'd think the man who rescued you from slavery would at least remember you for a few months." Anakin's smile broadened as Qui-Gon went white
"An…An…"
"An…a…kin. That's right! Say it with me now! Anakin! AAACK!!" Other words were choked off as Qui-Gon grabbed him and hugged him a little too tightly.
*Qui-Gon… Ani can't breathe! * Anakin was released as Qui-Gon received his message, only to be grabbed again in another, somewhat gentler, bear hug.
"I take it you missed me?" Anakin laughed as he patted Qui-Gon's back.
"Anakin! Your face!"
"What?"
"You're young!"
"WHAT?!" Anakin spun around and ran to the water's edge. Staring at his own reflection, he smiled slowly. "Well, how do ya like that?" He turned back to a stunned Qui-Gon and giggled "I'm young!"
Qui-Gon, long since gone into shock, stammered as Anakin came back to him. "I didn't know where in Life or Death you were! What took you so long?"
"I was weak from power drain. It took me a while to get back to my feet." Qui-Gon led him to a small log beside the river, and they sat together.
Anakin gave Qui-Gon a sideways look as he felt the other's concern, "I'm okay, you know. It's not like I can die again, and I wouldn't even if I was able to. I'm fine, I just needed some rest."
"And you got it in the water?" Qui-Gon asked skeptically, glancing down at the soaked pants Anakin sported.
"I was a little tired last night, I didn't care where I slept." He glanced at the older man and smiled "How's things on the home front?"
Qui-Gon stood and brushed off his pants. He smiled warmly, "Why don't you come see for yourself?"
As they walked toward the quarters Anakin shared with Padme, Anakin couldn't help but stare in wonder at the people and things around him. He had been in the nether realm so long that feeling totally safe had become a wistful memory, one that he had feverently wished to return to. It was sunset, and Anakin grabbed hold of Qui-Gon's arm and stopped him. He stared out the man-high window at his side, lost in the innocent wonder of a child. Qui-Gon smiled gently beside him, and opened up the balcony door. They stepped outside, and Anakin felt his breath catch in his throat as he stared up at the one thing that had stayed in his love throughout his time in the dark side.
The stars.
They winked down at him, and Anakin felt a tear of happiness run unchecked down his cheek. In his darkest moments, while desperately trying to make it home, he had questioned whether he would ever see them again. The thought of that might have been less painful then the thought of losing Padme, Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, or his own dear mother, but it still ached. The stars…
After all, they were family of a sort. The Force that had sired Anakin had been present in their creation as well.
"Thanks." Anakin whispered, glancing over at Qui-Gon. "I needed this."
"It wasn't a problem, Ani. You do love those stars, don't you?"
"All my life. They were always, and will always be, a part of my soul." He shook his head ruefully "I never did get to see them all, though. I wish I could've."
"I don't think anyone could see them all in one lifetime, Anakin. It would take a few times around to see everything." He smiled once more, and laid his hand on Anakin's muscled shoulder. He turned him around, "Are you sure you don't want to change clothes?"
"Why?" Anakin looked at his reflection in the glass, and laughed. A tall, blond man with tan splotched with brown mud stains, and a tunic with a large rip down the back and one arm laughed back at him. "I guess I should change, after all." He concentrated, and pictured himself as he was at nineteen, in a dark maroon and navy combo. Smiling at Qui-Gon, they walked to his quarters.
Inside, Obi-Wan and Padme sat, eating a small meal and talking softly. They turned upon hearing the door open, and gaped in surprise. There was a small clink as Obi-Wan dropped his fork.
"General thongs-a-lot!" Anakin yelled, smirking and laughing at their reactions.
"An…An…"
Anakin turned to Qui-Gon with a look of one who had seen this somewhere before. "Here we go again."
So, how did you like it so far? Should I continue it? PLEASE REVIEW!!! J