Author Note: This is my first story on the website - please take me seriously. It's also a story that I have ben thinking about for a LOOOOOOONG time...from before I discovered Google Docs and started writing! Also, I would love any feedback, especially feedback that can tell me how to correctly label and/or upload and/or edit chapters and stories or write better. Also, I don't own Star Wars or any the other worlds/fanfic stories mentioned. I did ask, though... Also, this is totally AU. And I support Anidala. If anyone tries to tell me otherwise... : (

A Touch of Myth

Anakin flopped onto the couch in his Jedi Knight quarters and closed his eyes. Nothing but silence and friendly darkness. Not the kind of darkness that makes you do horrible stuff. Just the kind that waited behind closed eyes and protected you so that you could be alone in your own head. That was what he needed right now. Silence, darkness and alone-ness. Not loneliness - that was when you wanted someone to be with you, to understand you. And the silence wasn't the tense silence that comes when the galaxy holds its breath, nor was it the awkward silence when you don't know what to say. It was simply the silence of understanding, from your very surroundings. He needed to think, to plan, to try and make sense of the mess he was in. He had lots of Council work to do - it was times like these that he regretted accepting the forced invitation to become a Council member. There were also a lot of missing troops that everybody thought he would find. Plus Padme had asked him to come with her on a vacation of sorts. He really needed to sort everything out.

"Anakin?"

"Yea?" He responded to the familiar, but unwelcome, voice of his former Master without opening his eyes or moving.

"We have a meeting with Master Yoda."

"Nobody told me about this!" The Jedi Knight sighed, turning his head away from the sound. "When is it?"

"Now."

Anakin sighed again, rolled off the couch, stood up, and glared at Obi-Wan with a mixture of annoyance and fatigue. "Alright. Let's go."

Master Kenobi nodded and walked out of the door. Anakin followed him, dimly wondering what in the galaxy Yoda would want him for. He was kind of zoned out, so he didn't notice when the duo entered the Council Room.

"Anakin. Have a seat." He recognized the deep, calm, commanding voice of Mace Windu. He realized that he was in the Council Room and that Yoda and Mace were there. He went for his regular seat, then started when he realized that his padawan was curled up in his chair.

"Oh! I, uh, took your seat, didn't I?"

"It's fine, Ahsoka. I don't have an assigned seat."

"Phew."

Anakin took the seat nest to her, noticing along the way that the other seat adjacent to the one his Padawan was in was occupied by Padme. Part of him had wanted to go over and sit with her, but that would have seen too suspicious. Instead he gave her a quick smile. She smiled back, but her face clouded with worry after it. What was wrong? Obi-Wan took a seat as well, next to Anakin.

"Anakin, we know you are extremely busy, with Council work and the missing troops. But we have a mission for you."

"What is it? And why me?"

Padme spoke up. "There have been disturbing rumors of strange creatures sighted on Naboo - crosses between snakes and human women, giant wolves with red eyes and a taste for sentient flesh, regular people walking around with molten-gold eyes, murmuring something about finding a good body...and some of the people swear they heard the name Anakin Skywalker mentioned during the incidents. Also, you are one of the experts on strange creatures."

Anakin smirked. He definitely was an expert on strange creatures.

Master Yoda spoke this time. "Alone, you will not be. Coming with you, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and Senator Amidala will be."

The young Jedi Knight immediately grew concerned. "Pa - Senator Amidala's coming? I'm not sure if she'll stay safe..."

The Senator's outburst took them by surprise. "Ani, I'm coming, whether you like it or not. I'm not going to stand idly by while my people might be suffering!"

There was a rather awkward silence in the Council room. Then Mace Windu asked, "Did Senator Amidala just call you Ani?"

"She knew me when I was nine. Or don't you remember?"

"Last time I checked, she called you General Skywalker..."

"You know what? Let's just forget about that, okay?" Everyone agreed.

"So when are we going?"

"In two standard hours. I would suggest you pack your things, everyone." The four going on the mission left the Council Room in a group, then split up to get to their rooms. Anakin quickly packed the essentials - a few spare changes of clothes, including jeans and a few T-shirts that had band names written on them, hygiene products, and survival gear. This was a mission, after all. He also packed his longbow, quiver of arrows, and his forest cloak. He had his knives in his utility belt already. No armor this time, unfortunately. And he already had a sword. Anakin left his suitcase in his room and went to go check on the others. First up was Ahsoka, as she was in the quarters next to his. It was necessary, since they were Master and Padawan.

"Hey, Snips. How's it going in there?" he called through the door.

"Fine, Master!"

"Need anything?"

"Nope!"

Anakin shrugged and walked down the hall past his room again. He turned the corner to the left and walked down two doors to his former Master's quarters. Just as he was about to knock, Obi-Wan opened the door to see Anakin standing there.

"You packed?"

"Yes, Anakin, I'm ready."

Just then, Ahsoka turned the corner. "You two ready?"

"Yes, Ahsoka."

"Let's go check on Padme. Knowing her, she'll probably need help packing," Anakin joked. All three laughed at that.

After catching a speeder to the Senator's apartment, the trio waited in the turbolift to get to Padme's apartment. They didn't talk, leaving the group to ponder the mission ahead of them. Wolves with a taste for sentient flesh...snake-women hybrids...molten-gold eyes...It all seemed incredibly familiar, though Anakin couldn't quite put his finger on it. Do they have something to do with me?

"Anakin?"

"Wha - Yea?"

"I sense something is troubling you, my old Padawan. What is it?"

"It's just..." Anakin sighed frustratedly. "It all seems familiar - the snake women, the giant wolves, everything." He looked back at his old master. "What does it mean? Am I really involved in all this? Was my name really mentioned in the incidents?"

"I don't know, Anakin. But I do know that we'll find a way to work this out."

"Maybe using your 'Great Negotiator' skills." They both laughed. Anakin looked back at Ahsoka. She seemed lost in thought, so Anakin left her alone. The turbolift doors opened suddenly, prompting the three to step out. Padme's apartment was just down the hall. Anakin led and, thankfully, no-one asked why.

"Padme? You in there?" he called softly, knocking quietly.

"Yes. Come in, I think I might need some help."

Anakin snickered. "Thought you might." He opened the door, stepped in first, his padawan and master following him.

"Hey, guys. I know I should keep it practical, but I just love this dress, and I want to take this, and this, and this, and this..." Anakin let her ramble on. He knew she wouldn't listen to him if he tried to tell her to stop. "...oh, Ani, I just can't decide!"

Thankfully, nobody questioned Anakin on his nickname this time. "I would suggest packing your...archery gear. We may need it."

Padme nodded. She put the dresses away and opened a secret drawer in her closet, taking out simple pants, a simple shirt, a green camouflage-looking cloak, longbow, and a quiver of arrows. "Also, take clothes you can move in. And definitely take your blaster."

"No headdresses this time?"

"Force, no. And try taking one suitcase this time."

They went on like this until Ahsoka noticed they only had fifteen minutes left. Padme quickly got herself together and traveled with the Jedi to get their bags.

)O0o0O(

"Alright, Anakin, tell the others what you told me in the turbolift." Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padme and Ahsoka were in the cruiser to Naboo. Anakin had wanted to pilot, but Padme had grabbed him away too fast. Now they were lounging in the lounge (where else?) and reviewing what had happened. Apparently Obi-Wan thought it was a good idea to share Anakin's thoughts.

Anakin took a deep breath. Then another. Then looked at Obi-Wan in near panic.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know what to say!"

"Just say what you said to me. Verbatim."

"What?"

Obi-Wan sighed. "Word for word."

"Oh." He then spoke up to address Padme and Ahsoka. "I have been thinking about - "

"Thinking? You've been thinking? Skyguy, the Hero with No Brains, was thinking?"

"Shut up, Snips. I was thinking about the incidents Padme told us about, and I realized I wasn't shocked, or even mildly surprised. In fact, it all seemed...familiar. Like I knew it was going to happen...and the fact that my name was mentioned...I'm probably a big part in all this."

There was a long pause. Then Ahsoka spoke up, albeit hesitantly.

"It could be something to do with the Chosen One prophecy..."

"I don't know, Snips. I don't think so. What would the Chosen One have to do with daemons?"

"Daemons..." This time, Obi-Wan was speaking. His face creased in a thoughtful frown. "Where did you get that word?"

Anakin opened his mouth to respond, then realized he didn't know. "No idea. It just popped into my head."

"Try and trace it."

Anakin shrugged, leaned back, and closed his eyes. The others started to discuss their thoughts.

"I think it's just-" Right then, Anakin screamed.

"AAAAAGH!"

He was in a terrible state, thrashing and moaning. He fell out of the chair. The others saw smoke rise from his body. Padme ran to him, then Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. Obi-Wan reached into the Force. And what he saw scared him to death. Anakin had to be healed. Now.

Obi-Wan quickly held Anakin's head down and reached deeply into the Force. Suddenly Anakin gasped and lay still. He took a deep breath. Then another. Then another. After what seemed like hours, he cracked open his eyes.

"Uuuhhh. What happened?"

Obi-Wan spoke, concern heavy in his voice. "You mean you don't remember?"

"All I remember is...something...I...I just don't know what."

Just then, an announcement came on. "We are landing now. Please be at the door waiting."

Ahsoka spoke up. "We should go."

"Yea. Let's go."

They walked out of the ship and saw that they had landed next to a huge crack in the ground. A speeder was hovered down by one of the officers, then the officer walked up into the ship and the door closed.

"I have a feeling this has to do with the creatures. Padme and I will check it out. Obi-Wan, you take Ahsoka and ask around the nearest town."

Obi-Wan nodded. "Come on Ahsoka, we have work to do."

After Obi-Wan and Ahsoka had gotten on the speeder and rode out of sight, Padme looked up to Anakin.

"So, here we are. Alone again." Anakin gently leaned down and kissed her on the lips, there being no-one in sight. They stayed that way for a while, then parted. "We should probably go check out that crack."

"Yes, and we may do something else while we're at it." They kissed again and started walking along, a safe distance away from the edge of the crack.

Then the snake women showed up.

Dracaenae, thought Anakin.

Anakin pulled out his lightsaber, ignited it, and leapt at the two monsters in one smooth, effortless motion, landing on the lip of the crack. He Force-pushed them into the hole.

"Ani!"

"Padme!" Anakin shouted as the hand that had wrapped around his ankle pulled him into the chasm.

Sorry about the cliffhanger, guys...or AM I? Also, do you want a story about Anakin talking to ghosts?