Darkness is gracious, it is patient, and it is everywhere.
It's hidden in the wood on your hearth, on the kettle on the fire; it is under your chair, under your table, even under your bed.
Walk in the midday sun and darkness is there, attached to the soles of your feet.
The brightest lights cast the darkest shadows.
Anakin was that light.
As a boy on Tatooine it was just he and his mother. Life wasn't always easy, but they had each other and that made up for it. Then Qui-gon came and whisked him off, promising he would become a Jedi. Then Qui-gon ended up dying and Anakin was shipped with Obi-wan: The reluctant master.
He hadn't seen his mother in ten years, then he started visions; nightmares. Shmi was in pain, and Anakin had to help her. He was supposed to be protectng Padmé on Naboo but he couldn't just stay there while his mother was dying! The council would never understand, but Padmé did. She risked her life so he could save and be reunited with his mother again...but it was too late. She died anyway. Her last words still haunted him in his sleep. He still had nightmares about slaughtering the Tusken camp -though he would admit it to no one, not even his master-. The terrified look in the children's eyes as he murdered their parents, siblings, and them. Anakin still remembered, while he was killing them, a small voice inside his head had asked: "Why are you killing them?"
They killed my mother. He had snapped back at the voice. They deserve this.
He had been so close to the darkside that day, and he hadn't even realize it.
A few months later the Clone Wars started, bringing a new challange for Anakin Skywalker: train the snippy Padawan Ahsoka Tano.
At first, he wanted nothing to do with her training; she was noting but a bratty little girl he was forced to take care of...But she soon grew on him and Anakin saw something in her. He knew that one day, she would be a great Jedi Knight.
Or at least...she would've been.
Of course his Padawan had to be accused of murder and blowing up the Temple. Why they could'nt have gotten Obi-wan, Yoda or even Mace Windu to check it out was beyond him, but they were called and they had paid the price.
Now who knows where she could be? Starving in an alleyway? Captured and sold into slavery? Dead?
"Nothing lasts forever, even stars burn out." Obi-wan, the other Jedi, and the dragon in his heart were always telling him, reminding him of that. Someday, he might loose Obi-wan or Padmé, or they might loose him. The Jedi Council didn't understand, they would never understand! They didn't know their parents, have their mother die in their arms, get married, or even ever had their Padawan turn her back and leave after everything you've been through.
Ahsoka, why did you leave? We could've helped you, I could've helped you! I was asking you, begging you to come back! You didn't even turn around as you walked away.
Anakin-no, Darth Vader frowned as those thoughts turned in his head.
Do you know what I have become? What I have done? Padmé and my child are dead. I tried to save them but I couldn't. I wasn't strong enough, but now I will be. Strong enough to keep everyone I care about from dying ever again and no one can stop me!
Darth Vader mentally sighed. There was nothing he could do now. All he could do was continue building the Empire, stop the Rebels...
And stay hidden in the shadows.
And there you have it. A re-edited, re-published version of Hidden in The Shadows. Thanks for reading, and maybe leave a review! They always make my day. Have a nice one!
Disney Syndulla