Part IV
The Final Episode
Another year had passed. Padme had given birth to another baby, a son by Obi Wan named Kory Kenobi. Obi Wan was so proud. Being a Jedi, he never dreamed he'd have a son of his own! Now he knew this boy would be powerful one day, as he had the genes of a Jedi. Just like Luke and Leia. As the three of them walked together by the beautiful waterfalls of Naboo, they felt something wasn't right. "Padme, do you think we've been too hard on Anakin?" Obi Wan asked, touching her hair gently. Tears came to her eyes. This place so reminded her of Anakin, and their love. "You know as well as I do, he is not the same person. He killed the Chancellor in cold blood, he is evil." Though she had spoken these words, she wasn't sure her heart meant them. There was still something tugging at her, something inside, telling her this was not meant to be. As happy as he was with Padme and the children, he knew that this was not his destiny, it was Anakin's. If what Anakin had said was true about the horrible future he had avoided by changing things, they owed him an apology. Perhaps his anger and frustration at being mistrusted again had led the dark side into him. He had do find out.
"Padme, will you be all right for a few days? I'm going to Dagobah to commune with Master Yoda."
"Yes, my love." She kissed him softly. "You will do what you must." He left that day for Dagobah.
In the dark, foggy cave of Yoda, he communed with Qui Gon as well as Yoda, learning the path to immortality. They were most displeased at the change of Jedi lifestyle, including his being with Padme, and how Mace and Anakin had changed the temple and severely relaxed discipline. What was to become of the Jedi order? If Anakin's visions had come true, Qui Gon told them, there would be no Jedi order.In years, Anakin's son would have broiught it back, but at what cost to millions of beings in those years? Anakin had indeed saved the galaxy Obi Wan asked his masters what he should do, but of course they told him he must choose his own path.
While Anakin and Mace in the Darth Vader suit had not been evil rulers, they were feared as a heavy hand for they did not tolerate being challenged or questioned, and they did not restore the Senate. Therefore, in the eyes of many, they were tyrants. Because of this, a rebellion was beginning to gather. Anakin, too preoccupied with his spy camera room, sent Mace Windu out to investigate one growing on a planet in the Agoosa system. Clad in his intimidating suit, with his breathing mechanism, he was well known and feared throughout the galaxy. He was still handy with his lightsaber, as well as able to shoot force lightning with his left hand. Most who saw him shuddered and trembled, and would not challenge him. However, on this planet, he was surprised to meet a young, agile girl who knew the ways of the force and was a budding Jedi. She was thin but shapely, with a brown complexion and long black braids decorated with flowers. She wore a skimpy tan dress and boots to match. Mace had never seen a girl with such moves, spins, twists, and backflips. And she was not afraid of Mace. She ran right up to him, and ignited her own hot pink lightsaber. He returned by igniting his purple one Anakin had so kindly returned to him. She stared him in his mask. He had never seen anyone so bold. "Who are you, young lady?" He inquired.
"My name is Lylah. Lylah WINDU. Your daughter."
He was taken aback in shock. He had no children, did he? "Search your feelings, father, you will know it to be true!" He did. He looked down and shook his helmeted head. "Yes, you who were so judgemental of the young Jedi, you who were so arrogant, were not without fault. Sixteen years ago, you used my mother's love and abandoned her with me. You should be ashamed. I have spent my life learning the Jedi ways to I could face you for that and all you have done to intimidate freedom in the galaxy. I am not afraid."
"What do you want of me?" He asked. She held her lightsaber in attack position. He didn't want to fight her, but he had to defend himself. He was much bigger and stronger, but Lylah was far too fast and agile. She chased him far, lashing back and forth at him until finally he fell backward into an electrical fence. He screamed and shook as the electrical energy jolted through him. When he fell away from it to the ground, smoke arose from his body. Lylah was crying. "I'm sorry, Father, I did not mean to hurt you." She ran to his side, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Father?" She cried, afraid for him.
"Lylah, you are right, I have been so harsh on others, too judgemental. Perhaps if I had been kinder and more understanding to Anakin, he would not have fallen the way he did. Perhaps if I had not been so stuck in my ways, I might have noticed the truth about the Chancellor. I regret so much. And now it's too late. Lylah, help me take this mask off." She realized it was a life support system, and it was failing. She cried harder. "But you'll die."
"Nothing can stop that now. Get this thing off me, let me look on you with my own eyes." She took off the mask and saw his face. They looked into each other's eyes as his time ran out.
"Father, how can I save you?" She asked.
"You already have, Lylah.I have seen the error of my ways, and I have given up any hold I ever had on the dark side and Sith tendencies. I will now pass on as Jedi. Tell your mother, I am sorry, I love you both." He managed one good kiss for her before he was gone. Lylah lay her head on his chest and cried for the longest time. While she wasn't looking, Qui Gon appeared, and extended his hand to Mace. His spirit rose from the suit, and he was gone, into the aferlife of the good Jedi. The suit collapsed onto the ground as his body was gone.Lylah looked stunned, but, being a Jedi, she could see the spirits, and sense what had happened, and it brought her joy. She stood up and waved as the blue glowy images of her father and Qui Gon vanished. She knew now she must go to Coruscant and devote her life to the Jedi order. It was all she could do to make things right now. And that she did.
Word of the death of Mace Windu/Darth Vader spread rapidly throughout the galaxy. Anakin felt the disturbance in the force, but was not informed untl he witnessed the turmoil in the streets below. The people knew that with his demise, the heavy handed rule of the Empire might be laxed. There were still the clones and droids, and a few desperate recruits, but Anakin Skywalker was going to have to make a stand to keep his position, for things were beginning to unravel. Anakin turned from the balcony from which he had seen the rioting, and returned to his spy room. There he saw Padme and the three children, Luke, Leia and Obi Wan's son Kory. But he did not see Obi Wan. Where was he, and how did this fit in with the disturbance in the force he kept feeling?
Back in the cave in Dagobah, Yoda, Qui Gon, and now Mace had a message for Obi Wan: go to Coruscant, for there the answer will be found.
"But Masters, how will I know?"
Yoda stared at him. "When find it you will, know you will."
"Oh, that helps a lot."
Mace spoke in his newly eternal wisdom. "All will be revealed. Have paitence, Obi Wan. Do not let haste and anger cloud your judgement as they did me, and Anakin. The answers are waiting there for you. I trust you will find them."
Qui Gon ordered him "Go, Obi Wan, for perhaps your most important mission ever as a Jedi. Report back. We will be here if you need us. Trust your feelings."
With that, Obi Wan left for Coruscant.
Anakin Skywalker stood on his highest balcony of his gemstone palace, hands held behind his back, looking down on Coruscant. He sensed his rule slipping away. His suited inforcer was gone, and he was alone.He would meet briefly with important members of his staff, but otherwise kept to himself in his castle, especially the spy room. He noticed that Obi Wan had been missing from Naboo for quite some time now. He wondered what it all meant.
Obi Wan Kenobi returned to the Jedi Temple for the first time in over 4 years. Few of the established Jedi remained there but had spread throughout the galaxy on missions from their 'masters' Mace and Anakin. Lylah had arrived, and was taken as a Padawan by Aayla Secura. She would be a powerful Jedi. Obi Wan searched among the mostly Padawan population, some younglings no more than 10 years old. Two of them saw him, and were excited to recognize him. "Master Kenobi!" They yelled. "It has been a long time." He remembered them, but noticed they no longer wore their hair in padawan style. They explained how Masters Windu and Skywalker had stopped the practice, and Obi Wan commented that at least they had done something right. He didn't agree with much else. The boys followed him around, and he sensed they had a secret to tell him.
"Master Kenobi, would you please come to our quarters?" He followed.When they arrived, they took him in and shut the door. "We have something to show you.I think it's very important, but we don't know what to do" They opened a drawer, and pulled out an old tunic wrapping something up. They unrolled the fabric to reveal a lightsaber. There was nothing so shocking about that in a Jedi temple, until they ignited it. RED. The color of a SITH lightsaber! Obi Wan looked shocked. "Where did you get this? I must know"
The boys looked at each other sheepishly, each afraid to speak. But Obi Wan convinced them it was important. The older boy spoke: "It was almost 5 years ago now, you know, back when, things, changed..."
"You mean when the Chancellor was killed and Master Skywalker came to power?"
"Yes. We were walking down the street beside the Senate building. We knew we were not supposed to be so far away from the Temple unattended, so we knew we had done wrong." Obi Wan just rolled his eyes. As if that mattererd now! The boy continued. "We heard glass breaking, and screaming- and we looked up to see Master Skywalker fighting with the Chancellor!" Obi Wan's eyes widened. The second boy broke in: "He had a red lightsaber, this one!"
"Who, Anakin?" Obi Wan asked.
"No, the Chancellor! He was using this red lightsaber, and Master Skywalker had his blue one." Obi Wan was stunned! What a revelation! From these boys, he found out the whole story- Palpatine WAS a Sith Lord, and Anakin WAS challenging him to stop him! He dropped his lightsaber before Obi Wan and Mace entered, then he went into his pity act, and they foolishly and blindy fell for it! All the time, Anakin was telling the truth! And since Qui Gon had told him of his visit to Anakin, he knew the visions of the horrific future had been true too, and ANAKIN HAD CHANGED THEM!! But because of his lack of faith, and Padme's, Anakin let the dark side creep in and disturb the mission he was on. Things were better than if Palpatine was in charge, but they were not right yet. But they would be. Obi Wan would see to that.
"We're not gonna get in trouble are we Master Kenobi?" The padawans asked. He patted their shoulders and smiled. "No. You boys have done a great and amazing thing today, something that will change the galaxy. My only regret is that you didn't come forward sooner. Please, don't ever be afraid to confide in me." They said they wouldn't. And it was then, realizing the influnence and friendship he had with padawans, made him realize his place was here, at the Temple, instructing the next generation of Jedi.
Back high in his castle, Anakin spent a restless night. He could sense a disturbance in the force, but was unable to read if it was good or bad, or a little of both. The next day, he became distraught when his spy cams and holos revealed that Padme and the children were not on Naboo! Where were they? He had to know! Just then, one of his droids came in to advise him there was a disturbance in the street below. A rebellion! Someone daring to attack the capitol! He ordered the armies not to fire until he ordered. He went down onto the street himself, his black cape following behind him as he ran. His blue lightsaber was held tight in his hand. He stood in the middle of the road, his droids and clones and soldiers at his back, as the rebels approached. "Emperor, you must listen to our demands, we come in peace!" At these words, he motioned for the armies to hold their fire. In front of the marching rebels was a hooded figure, petite, delicate compared to the others, but its face concealed.
He felt a strange presence, one he had not felt in more than four and a half years. As the mob was within yards of Anakin, they stopped, and the figure dropped its robe. He prepared to strike, until he saw, it was Padme! He was so overcome with emotion at seeing her again, but also with grief she had turned against him and was marching with his enemies, and that they had used her as a human shield. The strongest force user in the galaxy looked faint, as if in a trance, his eyes glazed over, and his legs collapsed from beneath him. He had passed out from the stress and shock of it all. Before anyone could say anything, the mob turned on him, and began kicking him and punching him. Just then, Obi Wan, who had sensed, heard and seen the rucus finally made his way to the scene, and he used his lightsaber to hold off he attackers. He and Padme ran to Anakin's side. He was lying face down in a pool of blood. They rolled him over and saw that he had blood coming out of his mouth and nose. Obi Wan felt his chest, and realized that the attackers had done internal damage. He must be rushed to the emergency medical center at once.
He and Padme comforted each other in the waiting area. But it wasn't as lovers, it was as concerned friends of Anakin. Without words, they realized their life together was over, Padme would return to Coruscant to restart the Senate, and Obi Wan would return to the Jedi temple. Kory would come with his father to be trained as a Jedi, but of course he could see his mother, and half siblings, anytime. This was for the best. But for now, the main concern was Anakin's life. A medical droid came out and told them his lungs were full of blood, and they had been pumped out. He had a few lacerations on his internal organs, but they were easily repaired. He should survive without any permanent damage. Obi Wan and Padme were so relieved, they ran into Anakin's hospital room. They stood over him and wept, and hugged. Just as they did so, he opened his eyes. The machines he was hooked to began to change their readings.
Days went by, and still Anakin did not speak. He was a strong, healthy young man, and he should have healed right up. But he was fading. Obi Wan and Padme came every day, and asked the droids what was going on. About a week later, he told them it did not look good. "His systems are healing and functioning properly. By all rights, he should be improving. But for reasons we can't explain, we're losing him"
"He's DYING?" Obi Won said in surprise.
The droid bent his metal head and stuck out his spindly arms. "He's lost the will to live"
It was as if he was willing himself to die. He didn't seem to respond to anyone in the room, human or droid, even though he appeared wide awake. Finally, he spoke to a medical droid. "I have but one final wish. Before I die, I want to see my children. Just for once, let me look on them with my own eyes. Let me touch them" When the droid told this to Padme, she broke down in the floor and cried. She went to the Jedi Temple where they were staying, and brought them to their father. Obi Wan stayed back out of view. Anakin appeared to be asleep, or unconscious. His face was pale. Padme spoke his name "Anakin" He did not respond. She tried again, a little louder. "Anakin, can you hear me?" His eyes opened, and his head turned toward her. "Yes" The machines in the room changed their readings again as his heart rate and breathing picked up. With a smile on his face, he reached to touch the faces of Luke and Leia, almost five years old, for the first time standing in front of their father. He stared at them intensely. His blue eyes danced back and forth gazing at every part of them. He pulled their little hands to his mouth and kissed them. Tears dripped down his face. Then Padme spoke "Anakin, I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I know now about the Chancellor. Obi Wan told me some padawans saw the fight and kept the red lightsaber. We believe you. You were right." Anakin looked up at her with more happiness than he had ever felt. She continued: "What I mean to say is, I was wrong, and I forgive you. I LOVE YOU" She bent to kiss him, and his heart machine beeped out of control!
Obi Wan entered but stood back. He explained the whole thing, even how Qui Gon had told him about the visions being true. Anakin beckoned him to his bedside, and they embraced, as brothers once again. He told Anakin he was going back to the Temple. He was no longer going to be with Padme. She was Anakin's. Anakin apologized for letting his rage take him over the brink of the darks side. Though they all understood now how this had happened when they didn't have faith in him or believe him, he still felt guilt. But things were really wrapping up nicely.
Within a few days, Anakin was released from the hospital. He returned to his castle with Padme and the children, Obi Wan and Kory visited for awhile. When Anakin was completely well again, he took the children on a big outing, bonding with them in the best ways. He took them to the stores, and together they filled up the palace with toys, furniture, pets, colorful pretty things, and most of all, love. It was empty no more, lonely no more.
The rebels were now satisfied, because Padme had asked Anakin to restore the Senate and he had! So he had stopped the visions, destroyed the Sith by killing Palpatine and draining himself of the dark side, and he brought balance to the force by being on both sides of it and conquering all evil with goodness. Anakin had fulfilled the prophecy after all. Yoda was proud, as were Qui Gon and Mace. Everyone was.The Senate building was restored to its former glory and democracy rang in a new lifetime of peace and fairness for all the galaxy.
In the halls there, one beautiful day, there was a coronation for the Emperor, Anakin Skywalker, and his Empress, his wife, no longer a secret, Padme, Senator Amidala! Make that Padme Amidala SKYWALKER! They marched along and waved to their people and creatures and droids wearing not black but radiant blue velvet. The speaker announced their arrival "Emperor Anakin Skywalker... Empress Padme... Prince Luke.. Princess Leia...PRINCESS LEIA??!! What a flashback from Anakin's visions! Leia was indeed a princess after all, but in a much better way! With her real family, in happiness and freedom!
After the new republic was established, and all was well, and the Jedi Temple was running fine with Obi Wan in charge, Anakin and Padme decided it was time for that honeymoon they'd never had. Padme had spent much time on Naboo, so she didn't want to go back there just yet. She would take her husband to proudly visit her family soon though! She asked Anakin where he wanted to go, but Tattoine was not his first choice. "Alderaan" He said, his face lighting up at the thought. "Alderaan? Why?" What a strange choice, of every planet in the galaxy! But she agreed, and off to Alderaan the Skywalker family went for their vacation.
Anakin, Padme, Luke and Leia stood on a veranda near Bail Organa's place, looking out at the gorgeous mountain view. Padme sighed. "Yes, this is a lovely, peaceful place, the mountains are so beautiful this time of the Alderaan summer season" Anakin looked at the scenery, then back at her. If she had any idea just how beautiful it was that Alderaan was even still here! Someday he'd have to tell her about how it was destroyed in his visions,but for now he was just too happy that it was still here, and she was still here, alive! And how overjoyed he was that he had not become a villianous monster who terrorized the galaxy, or that he was not trapped in the terrible black metal suit and mask, unable to breathe without it. He felt so lucky not only to have Padme and the children, and to be a part of their lives, and to be on an existing Alderaan, but to be whole (well, except that one hand)and healthy. She looked up at him, so beautiful, his pretty blue eyes, his golden hair, his smile, his body, it was hard to imagine the nightmare of him being chopped and burned, and not able to breathe. Or that she would be dead, and the children raised by others? These things still haunted them, but they were only shadows that were fading fast. Now it was all too good, none of that happened, things were all right. Anakin and Obi Wan had made them right. Everything was really going to be okay!
Anakin took one more look at the panoramic view, then at his beautiful, loving family, and out of joy and gratefulness, he took in one huge breath of fresh air, and exhaled with a sigh. It felt so good to be able to do that. No suit, no mask. Padme stared at the mountains again, and turned to Anakin, holding onto his arm. "Oh Anakin, I'm so glad you decided to come here. These mountains are breathtaking." Breathtaking? He thought how funny and ironic that was, considering what he had just been thinking of. Ha, breathtaking! He smiled with much pleasure as he turned to her, took her in his arms, and said, "Padme, you take my breath away!"
Then he couldn't help but bust out laughing, and she laughed too, as he picked her up and swung her around and around, surrounded by the glorious view of Alderaan. As Anakin spun Padme around, Luke and Leia ran circles around their parents, shrieking and giggling. Their laughter echoed into the mountains, and thoughout the galaxy, in celebration.
THE END
