Author's Note: I realize this is a shorter chapter than most. I had planned on making Chapter 7 the final chapter, but then I decided to separate the part of Chapter Seven right before they leave for Coruscant to fight Sidious. In this chapter, Anakin wants to go and take on Sidious alone, but his wife wants his friends to go with him, and his friends want to help him.
Chapter Seven
Destiny of the Chosen One
The next day, the Council gathered again to discuss Sidious and his apprentice, Darth Maul.
"Unfortunate it is, that Maul escaped, he has." Yoda began.
"We should still be able to track him. I ran into him on Dantooine just before arriving here myself." A voice spoke, just now entering the chamber. It was that of Master Kit Fisto. Behind him followed Master Luminara Unduli and Knight Bariss Offee.
"Master Fisto, Master Luminara, Knight Offee. A great pleasure it is, to see you have survived." Yoda replied.
"Thank you, Master Yoda. We searched for other Jedi survivors, but found none. it would appear we are all that is left, save for the Younglings." Luminara said.
"Good it was, the Younglings saved, they were. But finding this Sith Lord, impossible it may be. Apprentice to Sidious, he is, yes." Yoda answered.
"Masters, if I may, it was myself and Master Jinn that stopped him before. I am confident that I will be able to defeat him again." Obi-Wan spoke up.
"Impossible for now, it is. Focus on Sidious, we must. Destroyed, he must be, if bring balance to the Force, we can." Yoda said to a silent Council.
"Master, I will deal with Sidious. It is my duty to see him destroyed." Anakin answered.
"Then go, you must. Help, we advise you bring." Yoda replied, looking in Anakin's direction.
"No, Master, this is something I need to do alone." Anakin told them. Yoda only nodded, and the Council adjourned for the day. Later, however, Yoda summoned Ahsoka and Obi-Wan to the Council chambers.
"Master Kenobi, Padawan Tano. Aware of this poison, in Skywalker I am. Allowed to face Sidious alone, he cannot be. Both, know him best you do. Assist him, you must." Yoda told them.
'We understand, Master. We will talk to Anakin before he leaves tomorrow. " Obi-Wan replied. They made the journey to the Lars homestead, where Owen, Beru, and Cliegg had allowed Anakin and Padme to stay with the newborn twins. When they arrived, Padme and Anakin appeared to have already begun to cover the issue that Ahsoka and Obi-Wan were tasked with.
"Ani, this is suicide. You shouldn't go alone. At least take Ahsoka with you. If you go alone, the poison will take you from us." Padme was telling him.
"Padme, I can't. He needs to be destroyed and I need to be the one to do it, even if it may be nearly impossible." Anakin replied, his tone not too pleased, telling Obi-Wan that they had been discussing this for hours.
"Anakin, you may be the one who needs to destroy Palpatine. That is your destiny as the Chosen One. But Padme is right, my friend. You cannot do this alone."
"Come on, Master, let us go with you. We can take him together."
"No, Snips, you don't understand. This poison, it'll find a way to force me to kill you and Obi-Wan if you come with me. I can't take that risk. This is something I have to do alone."
"But I thought you said you weren't going to leave me! After everything we've been through, how do you justify this as not leaving?" Ahsoka replied, trying to keep her Jedi calm. Anakin, however, knew his apprentice, and could see that he was already upsetting her just by looking at the tears beginning to develop. He had in fact promised her he'd never leave her alone and without a Master, or for that matter, someone she cared deeply for. But was this so different? They'd been on so many missions together just as dangerous or even more dangerous than this one. They'd been swarmed with enemies, and both of them had come fairly close to death now and then. He wasn't sure what to do.
"Ani, please! If you won't listen to me, then listen to your friends! They're trying to help you! Let them help you defeat Palpatine. I still need you when you get back. Luke and Leia need their father." Padme pleaded. Anakin sighed. He knew she was right. He couldn't leave his wife and children alone, not after everything they'd been through. And he couldn't honor his promise to Ahsoka without taking her with him. He realized then that they were right. He couldn't do it alone. Palpatine would easily kill him if he even tried. He needed help. He silently thanked the Force for making him see the wrong in his overconfident decision before looking up to speak.
"You're right, Padme. I can't leave everyone behind now. If I did, I'd be forsaking our children to a life without their father, while breaking a promise to someone else I care too much for. I'm sorry, Ahsoka. You're all right. We should do it together. It's the only way." he said, putting an arm around his wife and his Padawan.
"Good thing you changed you mind, Skyguy. So, when do we take out that slimy Sith rat?" Ahsoka asked.
"Well, lets all get some rest tonight. We'll leave tomorrow for Coruscant. Then we'll face Sidious, together." Anakin said, and they nodded in agreement. The next day, they made their way to Coruscant as planned.
Well, that's it for Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight, Fulfilling Destiny, will be the final chapter of Returned. But wait, don't complain yet, there is going to be a sequel, so you need not bother flooding me with "Will there be a sequel?" questions while I'm writing it, lol. Many of you will be asking soon what happened to Darth Maul after he fought Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka on Mustafar, as this story deals with Sidious. In my next story, The Last of the Sith, you'll find out exactly what happens to to Maul. It will explore how he escaped death, The Jedi's efforts to find and stop him, and whether or not they will succeed.
