Star Wars: A New Beginning

by Duke9295

After seeing a vision of the next decades, young Anakin Skywalker and the Jedi Counsel learns of what becomes of them. Now they must do all that they can to save the Republic and the Jedi Order for when the Empire arises. Please notify grammar errors.

1. Visions

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars nor do I claim that I own Star Wars.

So for this story, I was inspired by having recently (At this time) having watched the (At this time) new Rogue One movie as well as the passing of Carrie Fisher. Now I've seen fanfiction where either Darth Vader returns to being a hero or was never created from Anakin's defection to begin with, so I've decided to give a go at it myself.

The context of this story is that before the start of the (Almost Universally Dreaded) Episode 3, Anakin has a vision of the next several decades, going as far as episode 7, rewinding slowly all the way to the present for him. Deciding to not have the empire be his legacy and to save his future Grandson, he decides to save his family and the republic and Jedi Order as best as he can when Darth Sidious rises up. However, he will never anticipate that Palpatine will have backups just for this event.

Now let's get started…

A LONG TIME AGO, IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY…

STAR WARS

A NEW BEGINNING

After his apprentice exiled herself from the Jedi Order,the murder of Arc Trooper Fives, and the discovery that the Sith aided in the creation of the Clone Army, young Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker seeks solace with his secret wife, Senator Padme Amidala. Unaware that the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic has been set up by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, the war continues.

Until, while Anakin sleeps, he finds a haunting vision of the future…

Chapter 1: Visions

The apartment is always nice. Sure, he could sleep there more often, but wars tend to keep people away from home for awhile. That, and being a mystical monk that isn't supposed to have a relationship tends to make people wonder why said monk is sharing a bed with a woman who happens to be a popular senator. Luckily, he can say that it's bodyguard duties. He's lucky that nobody has figured out they're married, as far as he knows.

In the silk sheets of his bed, the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker stirs as he sees a vision of a girl dressed like she's lived in the desert like him is interrogated by a darkly dressed man that feels familiar with a black mask with silver lining the visor sitting nearby. The man is torturing the girl with the dark side of the force to make her tell him something, but it's making the girl cry out of trauma.

Whoever this girl is, she is strong in the force. Strong enough to turn the interrogation around, making the man tremble. She tells him, "You, you're afraid that you'll never be as strong as Darth Vader." The vision ends as it transitions to the man now wearing a mask, saying in a synthetic voice to a weathered skull with a shattered mask and skull, "Forgive me. I feel it again... the call from light. Supreme Leader senses it. Show me again, the power of the darkness, and I'll let nothing stand in our way. Show me, grandfather, and I will finish what you started."

Anakin was unable to process this as suddenly, the severed head became...Full of life again. It had become a shiny black mask with a triangular mouthpiece, obelisk eyes, and a helmet that cups the back of his head. No form of flesh is visible since he is encased in a suit of the same black as a chest piece with buttons keeps a black cape around his neck. The man is missing it's right hand as it's been severed, with wires poking out of the severed glove.

Standing over him are two people. One a blonde haired man that feels just as familiar as the fanatic as before. He wears a black jumpsuit with a black glove covering his right hand. In his hands is a green lightsaber. Behind that man is a shrivelled old man with golden eyes surrounded by red rings, almost like he'd gotten a horrific fever, and has yellow teeth that are missing as he cackles. The rest of the man is indescribable other than the black hood he wears.

He told the blonde man something, probably to destroy the fallen cyborg, which he believes is the Darth Vader that he'd never heard of. The man looked to his opponents severed hand, then his own gloved hand, which he flexes. Almost on instinct, Anakin flexes his own. The man deactivates his lightsaber and throws it to the ground as he says, "Never. I'll never turn to the Dark Side. You've failed, your highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

Next he sees the man and the cyborg standing together on a platform in a forest. The man tells the robot, "I have accepted that you were once a Jedi named Anakin Skywalker, my father." This shakes Anakin at his core. This cyborg, this monster, is him. And he snarls in a deep, baritone voice, "That name no longer has any meaning for me!" This makes Anakin question, 'What would make me like this? And why would I force my son to fight me?'

Next, Anakin finds himself in a swamp with his son standing next to the white and blue astromech droid, R2-D2 next to a starfighter never seen before, looking somewhat like a T from a bird's eye view. Anakin looked closer, 'I can't believe it, R2 is still around.' His son is looking at something behind Anakin, so he turns and sees what can be described as a ghost. It's of an old man in Jedi robes with a head of white hair and a matching beard. He looks familiar.

The Jedi Ghost tells his son, "Your father... was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force. He ceased to be the Jedi Anakin Skywalker and 'became' Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So, what I told you was true... from a certain point of view." Anakin questions, 'From a certain point of view, I destroy myself? Who is this man? Why is he familiar?"

He looks back at his son's shocked look, then the background changes. Gone is the swamp, and in it's place, his son is sitting next to a bed in a hut, the swamp seen outside a window. The hutt is barely taller than the average person, so now Anakin must squat down, and he sees what is in the bed. The green skin, the pointed ears, the age of centuries weathered in. It's master Yoda, and he's never looked so vulnerable before.

He wheezes, "Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Luke... Luke... do not... do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor or suffer your father's fate you will. Luke, when gone am I... the last of the Jedi will you be. Luke, the Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned, Luke. There is... another... Sky... walker." He closes his eyes, then fades away. Master Yoda has passed, and Luke was the only witness.

Suddenly, Anakin finds himself inside of a tower of some kind, Luke dangling dangerously over the bottomless pit as he cradles his arm, which is missing it's right hand. He's trying so hard to get away from Darth Vader, with a crimson lightsaber in hand. Darth Vader warns, "If you only knew the power of the Dark Side. Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father." Luke tells him in a hoarse voice, "He told me enough! He told me you killed him!"

"No. I am your father." Those are the words coming out of Darth Vader's mouth. This makes Luke scream, "No. No. That's not true. That's impossible!" Suddenly, he finds himself in what looks like a hallway as Darth Vader faces down the old man from before, now alive and wielding a blue lightsaber. Anakin looks at the design and recognizes it as belonging to Obi-Wan. This man who could be his master calmly says, "You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine."

Suddenly, he finds Luke and this stranger sitting beside R2 and a gold plated doid with bars restricting movement, a Protocol Droid Anakin created called C-3PO. Anakin felt like he heard Luke call this man Ben, but the words weren't spoken, like the Sounds of Silence. From the desert, Anakin recognizes as the Jundland Wastes of Tatooine, his homeworld. Ben asks, "The Jundland Wastes are not to be traveled lightly. Tell me, young Luke, what brings you out this far?"

Luke points to R2, "This little droid. I think he's searching for his former master. I've never seen such devotion in a droid before. Ah, he claims to be the property of an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Is he a relative of yours? Do you know what he's talking about?" Kenobi looks around in admiration at memories, "Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan... Now, that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time."

Luke adds with a hint of a down spirit, "I think my uncle knows him. He said he was dead." Ben corrects, "Oh, he's not dead. Not yet." Luke questions, "You know him?" Ben chuckles, "But of course I know him. He's me." That last part he pointed to himself. Anakin thought to himself, 'You've aged well, master.' Suddenly, Obi-Wan ages down, now he's around the same age as he is the present. He's sitting in a room surrounded by Master Yoda, and a familiar man.

Anakin recognizes the blue suit, the tanned skin, and the dark goatee as Senator Bail Organa, a friend of his wife and the senator of Alderaan. He suddenly says, "My wife and I will take the girl. We've always talked of adopting a baby girl. She will be loved with us." 'What girl was he talking about?' questioned Anakin. But suddenly, the surroundings changed again, to the volcanic world of Mustafar. Obi-Wan stands at the top of a hill with a haunted expression.

The reason why is because Anakin can see himself, now missing almost all of his limbs, and his eyes golden like a sith, slowing sliding down to a river of lava. Obi-Wan screams, "...You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would, destroy the Sith, not join them. It was you who would bring balance to the Force, not leave it in Darkness." This early Darth Vader snarls like a rabid dog, "I hate you!" As his clothes ignite, Obi-Wan exhales, "You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you." He walks away as Darth Vader is ignited by the lava's fires.

Then, the scene transforms to that of a platform as Obi-Wan and Darth Vader battles with their blue lightsabers across the fiery world. Darth Vader snorts, "I should have known the Jedi were plotting to take over…" Obi-Wan finishes, "From the Sith! Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil." Darth Vader roars, "From the Jedi point of view! From my point of view, the Jedi are evil." Obi-Wan's expression darkens, "Well, then you are lost!" Darth Vader smiles, "This is the end for you, My Master. I wish it were otherwise."

The scenery changes to a landing pad on Mustafar, Obi-Wan and Darth Vader circling one another around a body Anakin recognizes: His wife. He didn't know if she was alive or not, but judging by the pregnant curve of her belly that she was possibly mere moments from giving birth. Darth Vader hisses, "You turned her against me." Obi-Wan corrects, "You have done that yourself." Darth Vader threatens, "You will not take her from me."

The two circle each other until Obi-Wan is closer to Padme that he checks on her, but still states, "Your anger and your lust for power have already done that. You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind until now...until now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy." Darth Vader boasts, "Don't lecture me, Obi-Wan. I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the dark side as you do. I have brought peace, justice, freedom, and security to my new Empire."

Obi-Wan looks at the madman, "Your new Empire?" Darth Vader threatens, "Don't make me kill you." Obi-Wan points out, "Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic...to democracy." Darth Vader looks at his master with remorse, "If you're not with me, you're my enemy." He ignites his lightsaber, "Only a Sith Lord deals in absolutes. I will do what I must." And like that, Obi-Wan ignites his own.

Now, Anakin finds himself in the senate building, beside Padme and Organa as they watch Darth Sidious holler, "In order to ensure our security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire, for a safe and secure society which I assure you will last for ten thousand years." The entire Senate gives a thunderous applause, save for a few, including Padme and Organa, with Padme whispering, "So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause…"

Now Anakin finds himself in the Chancellor's office, with Darth Sidious wearing Palpatines robes, before donning the familiar dark hood. He sees himself kneeling before the tyrant with the bodies of the green skinned Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and horned Saesee Tiin littering the floors. The window overlooking the city has been shattered, likely a fourth Jedi was thrown over the edge. The future Anakin swears, "I pledge myself to your teachings. To the ways of the Sith."

Sidious wheezes, "Good. Good. The Force is strong with you. A powerful Sith you will become. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth...Vader." Vader bows, "Thank you. my Master." Sidious motions, "Rise, Darth Vader." The scene changes again, to Mace Windu holding his purple lightsaber blade to Chancellor Palpatine's throat by the shattered window. He states, "You are under arrest, My Lord."

Palpatine looks to his side at the Anakin in the vision, "Anakin! I told you it would come to this. I was right. The Jedi are taking over." Mace counters, "You old fool. The oppression of the Sith will never return. Your plot to regain control of the Republic is over . . . you have lost…" At this, Palpatine snarls, "No! No! You will die!" And shoots lightning out of his hand, which distorts his appearance into that of Sidious.

The scenery rewinds to Mace Windu, escorted by the three Jedi, enter Palpatine's office as he sits behind his desk. Mace Windu orders, "In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, you are under arrest, Chancellor." Palpatine questions, "Are you threatening me, Master Jedi?" Master Windu answers, "The Senate will decide your fate." Palpatine roars, "I am the Senate!" Master Windu corrects, "Not yet!" Palpatine stands up, and produces a ruby red lightsaber, and calmy states, "It's treason, then." Anakin was told by Commander Rex those were the words of rogue jedi Pong Krell when he was confronted for his crimes.

Quickly, night became day as it shows Palpatine speaking with Anakin. Suddenly, this vision of Anakin questions, "How do you know the ways of the Force?" Palpatine answers, "My mentor taught me everything about the Force...even the nature of the dark side." This makes Anakin and his vision of his future question at the same time physically and mentally, "You know the dark side?!"

Palpatine starts to rant, "Anakin, if one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic, narrow view of the Jedi. If you wish to become a complete and wise leader, you must embrace a larger view of the Force. Be careful of the Jedi, Anakin. They fear you. In time they will destroy you. Let me train you." Anakin retorts, "I won't be a pawn in your political game. The Jedi are my family."

Palpatine continues, "Only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn to know the dark side of the Force, Anakin, and you will be able to save your wife from certain death." And now Anakin has an explanation...If he follows Palpatine, he will kill his wife. His future self demands, "What did you say?" Palpatine begs, "Use my knowledge, I beg you…" At this, Anakin's future ignites his lightsaber, "You're a Sith Lord!"

Everything goes dark as Anakin sees himself and Palpatine now watching Squid Lake at an opera house. While watching, Palpatine questions, "Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis 'the wise'?" Both Anakin's look confused as the future one answers, "No." Palpatine smirks, "I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life...He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying."

Anakin's future questions, "He could actually save people from death?" Palpatine explains, "The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural." The future Anakin wonders, "What happened to him?" Palpatine tells him, "He became so powerful...the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Plagueis never saw it coming. It's ironic he could save others from death, but not himself."

Anakin starts to wonder if that apprentice was Palpatine given that he is a Sith Lord, but he can't ponder that as his Doppelganger asks, "Is it possible to learn this power?" Palpatine gives a smirk that the duplicate does not see, "Not from a Jedi." A bright light engulfs Anakin as he sees the Doppelganger standing in the center of the Jedi Council with a smug look on his face. Master Windu states, "You are on this Council, but we do not grant you the rank of Master."

While this confuses Anakin, his future self bellows, "What? ! How can you do this? This is outrageous, it's unfair...I'm more powerful than any of you. How can you be on the Council and not be a Master?" While this does concern most of the council, Master Windu is unfazed and points to an empty seat, "Take a seat, young Skywalker." The Future Skywalker somewhat apologizes, "Forgive me, Master."

The scene transforms to Yoda and Anakin meditating together. Anakin realizes this is the wise master giving to him advice when he addresses, "Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them, do not. Miss them, do not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is." The scene transitions to the apartment balcony of Anakin and Padme.

Anakin's apparition is looking out at the view of night time Coruscant with Padme behind him in a bathrobe. She questions him, "Anakin, how long is it going to take for us to be honest with each other?" This Anakin explains, "It was a dream." She asks him, "Bad?" He expresses, "Like the ones I used to have about my mother just before she died." She questions, "And?" He tells her, "It was about you."

"Tell me." Padme insists. Her husband states, "It was only a dream." Turning to look at her, he can see she's not convinced, so he says, "You die in childbirth…" This shocked Anakin, but up to this point, he thought to himself, 'Must have been Sidious. For all I know he could've made a false vision to drive me to aide him.' He returns to the vision and see's Padme protectively hold her belly, "And the baby?" The duplicate shrugs, "I don't know."

Now the sun rose up and as Anakin helps stop the blinding light, he sees himself and Padme in a hallway. Anakin recognizes the formal dress and thinks, 'Wait...Didn't Padme just buy that outfit? This must be a recent memory' Padme tells his shade, "I'm...Annie, I'm pregnant." The hallway opens up to the inside of a CIS starship overlooking Coruscant, with Palpatine chained to a chair with Anakin battling Count Dooku, the aged man who took his arm.

Suddenly, Anakin gets an advantage and severs Dooku's hands with his lightsaber and takes Dooku's curved blade in his hand. Palpatine chuckles, "Good, Anakin, good. I knew you could do it. Kill him. Kill him now!" Anakin's apparition is holding the lightsabers in an X shape with Dooku's neck very close to the blade. He grunts, "I shouldn't…" Palpatine snarls, "Do it!" And just like that, Anakin cuts off Dooku's neck like paper and scissors.

At this moment, Anakin awakes with a startle. He's still in bed but is now drenched in sweat. He looks to his side and sees he hasn't stirred his wife. He shakes her, "Padme...Padme, wake up!" She slurs, "Whatisit?" He explains, "Well, to put it simply, I think I just saw the next 60 years." She turns on a lamp, "I need some context." Anakin explains, "I don't know how to explain it, but first I saw our grandson being a sith. Then I saw our son save me from the sith."

Padme asks, "Our son? And what do you mean save you from the sith?" He explains as he gets out of bed, "I'm being played. We all are. Palpatine's a Sith Lord who grooms me into a Sith Lord when I become obsessed with keeping you alive and end up killing you." Padme wakes up, "Anakin, this is a lot of information." Anakin continues, "It gets worst. When the Jedi finds out, he'll kill all of them. As far as I know, only Obi-Wan and Yoda will survive, until they die of old age and fighting me."

Anakin starts getting dressed, "I have to meet with the Jedi Council. You can only trust Senator Organa, he'll lead a rebellion against Palpatine's empire after the war...And I think he adopts our daughter when you die." Padme asks, "What do we do?" He answers, "We keep Palpatine from doing what he does. We save our future grandson from becoming a madman that prays to my skull, we save as many people as we can. The Jedi will confront Palpatine."

Anakin rushes through the apartment as 3PO and R2 notice him. 3PO addresses, "Master Anakin. It's unusual to see you up this late-" "3PO, I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry!" He rushes out to his speeder to get to the Jedi Temple. Padme follows in a white dress and her appearance reasonable. 3PO asks, "Lady Padme, may I ask what the problem is?" Knowing the droid won't understand, she vaguely explains, "There's been a crisis found within the senate and Jedi Order. We have to leave very quickly. Anakin will be at the temple and I'll be with Senator Organa." 3PO bows, "Understood, my lady."

Anakin flies to the building with the pillars that is the Jedi Temple. He lands his speeder at a landing bay with the Security attending to him, "Master Skywalker, are you aware of what time it is?" Anakin answers, "Yes, Quill, but this is very important. Are there any other jedi present?" The officers look among themselves before the one that spoke, Quill, answered, "Yes. Luckily the sun has started to rise so most of the Council is here preparing to discuss the Clone Wars."

After dealing with the security, he heads to the Jedi Council meeting room, finding Ki-Adi-Mundi distinguished for his enlarged head, Plo Koon orange skinned and wearing a respirator covering his eyes and mouth, Obi-Wan Kenobi, the horned Agen Kolar, Saesee Tiin, the ornate red-skinned Shaak Ti as a hologram, Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Yoda, Depa Billaba with brown braided hair with markings on her forehead, and Stass Allie with her scaled cranium and white tendrils for hair.

When Anakin enters, Obi-Wan looks to him, "Anakin? What is it?" Anakin explains quickly, "I saw a vision last night. And this one was of the next several decades." Master Windu asks, "What did you see?" Anakin explains, "What I saw was like a holovid in rewind save for a few spots. But from what I saw...Chancellor Palpatine is secretly a Sith Lord called Darth Sidious, he grooms me into his apprentice Darth Vader, and we change the republic into an Empire that oppresses the galaxy and hunt the Jedi."

Depa rises from her seat. She is now standing next to Anakin as she questions, "I am capable of transferring my visions to my Padawan Caleb. I, as well as the rest of the council, will be able to see them as well if you allow us to." Anakin and Depa meditate in the center of the room, as she requests, "Now...Remember the vision...Think of everything you saw...Now...Let us see!" At this exclamation, the entire council sees everything.

Not just of the future, but also of the past that they could not see before. Each Jedi Master see's the last moments of their life added to it. And almost all of them are the same. A hologram of the Emperor appears to clone soldiers as he tells them, "Execute Order 66." And each of them executed by the soldiers they called brothers. Plo Koon had an additional vision, of an orange skinned girl much like Shaak Ti that he recognizes from when he brought her to the Jedi Order only to exile herself, all grown up.

He thinks aloud, "I saw little 'Soka." This brought him to the brink of crying since he was one of those hit the hardest by Ahsoka's ending. Master Fisto questions, "What do we do about this? If we confront Palpatine now, he'll just kill us and brand us as traitors?" Master Mundi points out, "And don't forget that unlike these visions, Dooku and Grievous are still active and have a droid army." Master Yoda addresses, "Act on this now, we can not. Wait, we must. Trick the trickster, we will. Survive, we might not. The next generation, our priority is. Weaken this empire, we shall."

Shaak Ti speaks with a broken voice, "I will confront the Kaminoans about the cloning process, see what other orders there are. In the meantime we must also warn all Jedi to have the Biochips removed. I'll also start the removal of the Biochips in the younger ones." Her hologram vanishes, Master Allie worries, "I'm worried about Shaak Ti. The clones have been like children to her. To find out something like this…"

Master Windu rises, "I'll warn any and all Jedi right away...Our greatest fears have all been realized." As Anakin and Obi-Wan leaves, he curses himself, "I can't believe we were tricked. I should've thought more clearly after Tiplar's murder. Fives was a hero and we made him a monster." Obi-Wan assures him, "Thanks to this vision, we can now save the Jedi and his clone brothers. Fives would've been proud of us."

Across the galaxy, the elderly man with a white beard with a black cloak and a mechanical beast with eyes of amber stare at a hologram. The cyborg snarls, "They WHAT!? The Jedi now know your identity, Darth Sidious!?" The hologram of the cloaked man with only his jaw visible nods, "That is correct, General Grievous. It would seem that General Skywalker has seen several moments in the future of multiple decades."

The white haired man questions, "And he saw us victorious, our empire arisen. What happens now that they know?" Darth Sidious explains, "We will move ahead with the plan. It's time this war ends. And in the meantime, it is time that the Sith makes it's return. It matters not that they know. We will have our empire, no matter what plans they make. We. Shall. Endure." The hologram fades away.

General Grievous bellows, "Count Dooku. How is it that Sidious is able to know that the Jedi know his identity?" Dooku explains, "Because, Darth Sidious is a firm believer in the rule of two. When Maul fell in his first battle with General Kenobi, he was believed dead. So I was made his next apprentice as Darth Tyrannus. He knows that we are both not young men and that old age would catch the both of us."

Grievous exhales, "Get to the point, old man." Dooku continues, "So when this war ends, either me or Darth Sidious will die somehow. And Darth Sidious has spent decades grooming a new apprentice within the Jedi Order. Whether it be Anakin Skywalker, Pong Krell, Barriss Offee, or Leto Quill, we will have an apprentice when this war ends." Grievous chuckles, "That didn't stop you from making Ventress your apprentice."

Dooku retorts, "When you're my age you'll understand. But nevertheless, Skywalker knows his path now, Krell was shot by the clones he hated, Offee is now an intergalactic prisoner, but the last I mentioned...Leto Quill, he's already under our thumb. He's our own spy in the Jedi Order. When the time comes, the galaxy will know him, as Darth Acheron."