What did the universe look like when it started its existence? Was the emptiness suddenly consumed with an illuminating light, one that ripped up the darkness and replaced it with wholesomeness? Did the newly created stars sing the praises of a god who created them with a flick of his hand?
No.
She knows, because the universe suddenly came into existence in a fraction of a second, in the tiniest space of time that she let go of her duty and responsibility.
Anakin exhales, the world is good again, and a smile spreads over his face as he leans down and presses his lips to hers, capturing her mouth in a kiss that leaves a bittersweet taste on her tongue. "Yes," he breathes softly. "You're safe now, Padmé. Safe with me."
A wave of nausea hits her and she crumples against his chest, the tears flowing freely now. "Anakin," she gasps, "what have I done? What have you done?"
"Shh," he murmurs, stroking her hair. "You did the right thing. It's okay. You're safe. Our child is safe." He smells of smoke and leather and sweat but underneath it all is his own scent, soft and comforting like a warm breeze, so Anakin in its essence.
"Come," he says softly, taking her hand in his.
"What about my ship? And C-3PO? And Naboo and—"
"Shh," he soothes, gently placing one finger on her lips. "We'll take care of that soon, okay? It'll all be over soon, Padmé, trust me."
A plume of lava shoots through the air beside them. She follows him, one hand clutching her swollen belly. "Where are we going?"
He stops and looks at her. His eyes are muddy golden-red, not the pure blue ones of the man she married. The scar slashing through his right eye seems to glow from the lava, and he smiles, one corner of his lips twitching upward like it always does.
"Home," he answers simply.
…
"Your room, milady." A teasing trace of the old Anakin creeps into his voice as he leads her into their bedroom. It's spacious, comfortable, and has floor-to-ceiling windows allowing her to see her husband's fiery empire. Black robes fill the closet, and she concludes that this must be where Anakin sleeps.
A droid walks in clumsily and addresses Anakin. "The Emperor wishes to see you, Lord Vader," it says robotically. "Will the lady have anything?"
Anakin frowns. "Tell him I'll be along shortly." He turns to Padmé. "I don't want to leave you here by yourself," he whispers. "What about the baby?"
"I'll be fine, Anakin," she says, although the strain in her voice weakens her lie. "Just go." Maybe it's the hormones or maybe it's the baby herself, but she can't think straight and all she wants to do is lie down and wait for the world to calm down.
He kisses her gently on the forehead. "I won't be gone long," he promises. The black of his cloak billows out from behind him as he strides out the door.
Hurry back, Anakin.
...
"Master." He kneels at the feet of the Emperor, head bowed. The lava light pools in his golden brown hair, almost like he's being set on fire. "You sent for me?"
"Yes," the Emperor rasps slowly. His hood covers the wrinkled old face and yellow pupils. "Yes," he repeats lazily, rising from his throne to stand by Anakin. "The girl, your wife…Padmé, is it?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Mm." He begins to pace, Anakin's eyes trained on his every move. "And you love this Padmé very much, Lord Vader?"
"Yes, my lord. I would lay all the galaxies at her feet if it made her happy," he says passionately. "I would do anything to protect her."
"Anything, you say?" Palpatine chuckles. "Be careful with that word, Anakin. It's quite strong." He pauses for a moment. "But I digress. Your wife, she is here on this planet."
"Yes, my lord. You will keep her safe and alive, I presume?"
"Oh yes, Lord Vader, fear not," Palpatine says smoothly. "Your wife will live." He paces some more, but Anakin stays firmly planted where he is, his fingers twitching towards his lightsaber. "Walk with me, Anakin." His limbs break free of their stiffness, and he forces his joints to move into a march beside the Emperor.
"Anakin," the Emperor says. "I have watched you grow from a young boy into one of the most powerful Sith I have ever seen before. Your powers have increased hundredfold, my young apprentice."
"Thank you, my lord. I am honored to have you as my master, to complete my training."
The Emperor waves his hand lazily. "You have little left to learn, Lord Vader," he praises. "But," he says, "nobody is without flaw."
Anakin bristles. "I understand, my lord."
The Emperor's walking slows. "You are becoming more and more powerful with every passing second," he says softly. He looks at Anakin. "Lord Vader, to what extent does your loyalty to me reach?"
"I would lay down my life for you, my Master," Anakin says sincerely. "You have kept Padmé alive, and I owe you my life. She is my life. Nothing in all the galaxies could possibly sway my love for her, not even the Force itself."
"Hmm." The Emperor surveys Anakin, the bright yellow pupils almost glowing from beneath the shadows of his hood. "Anakin, I must ask you to do something."
"Anything, my master."
"There is an army on the planet Chryia," the Emperor says. "The people have been neutral so far, but I can sense Separatist feelings from them. Go to Chryia, Lord Vader, and bring me a new army."
"But what about Padmé, my lord? I will not leave her."
"This is not a choice, Lord Vader," the Emperor says sharply. "You must depart immediately."
"I will not go," Anakin says stubbornly. "I won't leave Padmé. I can't risk losing her to something outside of my control. I will not let her die like my mother."
"I knew you would be like this," Palpatine growls, fingers twitching. "Stubborn, selfish, blinded by love—"
He barely has time to parry Anakin's sudden swipe at him with his lightsaber. "I will never leave her alone," Anakin snarls, "not as long as I can help it." Palpatine slashes at Anakin, and he blocks it, a shower of sparks bursting from the collision of the lightsabers.
A bolt of lighting erupts from Palpatine's wrinkled palm straight towards Anakin, but he deflects it with his lightsaber and directs it into the glass surrounding the throne room, where it shatters and dissipates into the air. "You will not take Padmé from me!" Anakin yells, parrying Palpatine's next strike. "You will not take my strength from me, old man. It is I who holds the power now."
"Is that so?" Palpatine snarls, aiming for Anakin's neck. "We shall see about that!" A crackle of Force lightning hits Anakin's mechanized arm, rendering his forearm useless and numb.
He yells in pain, but doesn't even miss a beat in his seamless fight sequence. His anger only fuels his determination to win as he slashes mercilessly at the Emperor, finding weak spots: his legs, his veiny arms, the spot of neck under his jaw exposed by his falling hood.
He's gaining now; the old man is falling, Anakin notes with a savage delight. In one fell swoop, Anakin severs the Emperor's wrists and catches his lightsaber in his free hand, forming a cross between the two with the Emperor's neck between them. Palpatine gasps, the breath rattling in his lungs.
"Don't kill me!" the Emperor wheezes.
Anakin smirks. "You are a coward, Palpatine. You are weak and foolish. You thought that I would not be able to tell that you are plotting to get me away from my wife? So you could kill her and take my powers when I came back? I am not a fool like you."
"Anakin, don't kill me," he begs.
Anakin laughs, a deranged, maniacal sound. "You are not fit to rule the galaxy," he says coldly.
The lightsabers move past each other with a quick swoosh, and Anakin stands, supremely satisfied with his work.
"But I am."
to be continued.
[review replies]
Ilja: thank you so much!
alpha wolfstar: awww i love you. we're officially 40% of the way done with this story! expect two to three more updates!
nightrxy: xdjfkljhask this is so nice of you, thank you so much omg
Guest: thank you! padmé is, for me, a more difficult character to write than, say, anakin, for some reason or another. so i'm glad you liked her point of view!
carter: ? ahh i love YOU so much, you're so sweet, this is such a nice review aww you're the cutest omg i love you
[a/n]
everyone's favorite angsty sith son saves his wife and kills the evil emperor, and now they can live on mustafar with their kids in relative peace and happiness...right?
reviews are read more eagerly than sith jar jar theories
