Anne cried as she crawled into bed, after attempting to meditate but to no avail. She fervently wished that she could feel the softness of her father's large, ebony cloak surround her with the ever so slight scent of leather. She pulled the black wool blanket over her head and tried to imagine it was her father's cloak. Like Anakin, she was often plagued with nightmares and insomnia. After struggling to fall asleep, Anne dreamt that she was in a wonderful place with flowers, waterfalls, and large shaak's gazing on the grass. She was so joyful here; it was a happy place in her dreams.

The caretaker also rested, but knew that soon the Emperor would be arriving and that they would have to clean and prepare for his arrival. It would not be easy, for so many years the place had been abandoned; it was somewhat of a miracle that the structure was still intact. This infamous training center had a reputation of haunted by old Sith spirits that were slain in the halls.

xXx

Luke and his father were meditating prior to starting their mock battle, despite his father's years in the Dark Side of the Force, Luke knew he was a very skilled warrior and always managed to land Luke on his back. Luke had one time felt that he was good with the lightsaber, but now that was in doubt.

"Don't doubt your abilities, my son. You are excellent swordsman, you've managed to learn most of the forms, you just need to decide on one and stick with it."

"Form V Shien / Djem So, I believe is my stronger form of them all."

"Well let's see then."

The two Jedi jumped to their feet and after bowing to each other ignited their lightsabers. Anakin at first held back his true strength and allowed his son to get in a few solid hits but then the blade was fiercely arcing around him and saw the serious look in Luke's eyes. Without warning, Luke recognized that his father was no longer holding back that he was fiercely dueling. Luke smiled.

"What's so funny, my son?"

"You are, you were holding back, weren't you?" Luke said as he parried another strike.

"Yes. I want you to gain confidence in your abilities; you can not doubt yourself especially when on Malachor 5."

Luke nodded his head and acknowledge the wisdom in his father's words and took another vicious swipe at his father's midsection before it was intercepted and the two swords clashed they started to bully each other through the Force. Luke then did something completely unexpected, he pulled a tendril of Force energy, leapt straight in the air, and landed squarely on his father's back, knocking him down and watched gleefully as his father's red blade extinguished and the lightsaber hilt rolled away.

"What in the blazes are you doing?" Anakin exasperated asked.

"Winning." Luke laughed. Until he felt a fierce pull and flung across the room he landed on his feet and saw the hilt of Anakin's lightsaber at his feet, he attempted to reach for it, but it was already floating into his father's hand.

"Don't brag that you are winning, until your enemy is defeated, my young naïve son."

Luke immediately returned to the fighting position and Anakin went on the aggressive, he could barely match his father's strikes. As the two continued to spar, they were tiring themselves and eventually both of them decided to call it quits.

"For the record, Luke, that leap was a bit unexpected, but I ask that you do not attempt that move again, at least on me."

"I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No. Just be cautious who you leap at or you might find yourself without legs and an arm."

Luke looked at his father's face and saw that he was deadly serious and seemed to regret that infamous leap that crippled him on the black sands of Mustafar.

xXx

Anne awoke the next morning to see the caretaker opening her door and handed her a bucket full of cleaning supplies as well as a list of chores.

"We must prepare for the Emperor's arrival." Anne sighed deeply and noted a pair of black pants and a matching shirt. She quickly shed off her soiled dress and dressed in the warm clothing. After eating an apple and drinking a glass of water, and ordered to start in the foyer of the academy. There were several large ladders to pull down cobwebs and to dust the finials of the large columns. It was hard work and Anne felt her muscles stretched and exercised as she continued to work. At least the Emperor wasn't around to crack his whip or light her skeleton with dark side lightning. The caretaker was silent and rarely said anything except to give an order or to inform Anne of the time for her meals.

The Sith spirits surrounded the young girl and would whisper dark promises but Anne couldn't hear them; there was only one that was once exiled and stripped of her power by her own students. She was Lady Traya; she also believed that the Force was an entity that didn't care which side used it, whether light or dark. Although, Lady Traya knew of both sides of the Force and remained vigilant and had regained some of her power, she found the tragedy of Anne Skywalker to be haunting. Unbeknownst to Anne, Lady Traya protected the child from the truly vile and dishonorable Sith Lords. Many here wanted to take possession of young girl and thereby live again. However, Lady Traya forbade them and she was strong enough to fight the spirits. Anne was a beautiful child and the child of the Sith'ari. The Sith prophecy described the Chosen One's fulfillment to rid the galaxy of not only the Jedi but to conquer the Sith as well. Darth Traya understood it to mean the destruction of the Force itself, if there were no Jedi and no Sith, the Force would no longer determine the fight between the two extremes, perhaps it could die. Lady Traya believed it to be the Force itself that benefited the most of the constant struggle between two super powers, Jedi and Sith, light and dark.

xXx

Often Anne would seemingly freeze and felt dark spirits dancing in the dark shadows of the hallway. However, no matter how scared she became she would hear a woman's comforting voice soothing her fears and calming Anne so she could continue her chores. Lady Traya's time would come eventually when Anne would be ready to see her spirit, she was patient; the evening fell and the caretaker told Anne to take a bath and come to the dining room for supper.

Anne immediately jumped to her feet and ran to her small chamber, grateful to be off her knees. After bathing, Anne found a black formal dress made of the finest silk laying on her bed with a matching velvet cloak, shoes and socks. She also found an unusual sight gracing her bed, it was a teddy bear; she grabbed the toy and hugged it as she cried. After being relieved to finding the bear, she quickly dressed and walked to the dining room. The caretaker was pleased that the child was obeying and it seemed the bits of kindness actually made Anne work harder and more diligent. The caretaker was to beat Anne if she did disobey or became defiant. However, Anne seemed to do better on kindness and genuine care than with beatings and denial of simple pleasures such as eating, bathing, and getting rest. Anne ate her dinner quietly, enjoying each morsel.

After eating, she gathered up the plates, but stopped when a droid entered the dining room, taking the dishes from her.

"You are excused to meditate and to get ready for bed. I'll be in shortly to let you know its lights out."

"Okay." Anne approached the caretaker, took the hand into her own, and kissed it.

"Thank you." Anne stated sincerely.

The caretaker nodded and Anne removed her shoes and laughed as she ran down the hall skidding to a stop, when she felt an evil presence in the foyer. Frozen in fear as the visage slowly approached her, wearing a white mask with red accenting its eyes; she felt herself lowering to her knees in homage to this Sith Lord.

"She belongs to me, get away from her. She is a beautiful child that is not to be corrupted. She is the daughter of our Sith'ari, leave her be you will or you seek his wrath." The other spirit responded as the Sith Lord faded back into its abyss. Lady Traya looked upon the child. Anne felt warmth as her head lifted by the psychic touch of the ghost. "Be not afraid, child. Use your fear to make you stronger; no one can enslave you with your consent."

Anne looked into the kind lady's face and asked, "Who are you?"

"I am Lady Traya. You are Anne-Marie Skywalker, the daughter of our Sith'ari. A treasure to behold, you are your father's beloved jewel."

Anne cried at the Lady's soft-spoken words and sentiment. Anne continued onto her chamber and after mediating, she crawled into bed and fell asleep. The caretaker had looked in on her and then gently closed the door as her com-link started to beep.

It was Lord Sidious, "Milord."

"Progress on the Academy improves further, I expect?"

"Yes, milord; your chambers are nearly completed."

"Good. Ensure that the slave is at my throne, prostrating. Also have my whip oiled and ready."

"Yes, milord." The caretaker sadly replied.

"Is there a problem?" Sidious eyes flashed a brilliant yellow as his indignation raised.

"No, milord, I will obey."

"You better, or else you will never see your daughter again, do you understand?"

"Yes, milord."

"Good. I will be arriving in one week."

"Very good, milord, safe travels."

The caretaker wiped a small tear and inspected it as it glistened on the fingernail.

Lady Traya realized Anne was in very serious danger, from this Lord Sidious. The beatings would no doubt further weaken the child and without a natural defense of a strong will, the Dark Side would corrupt her and the strongest Sith entity would take possession, without any fight. Anne would have to be very strong not only in body, but in spirit most of all.

xXx

After the heavy discussion of the plan of attack and even a back up plan, Anakin, Luke and Mara Jade left for Malachor it would take several weeks to arrive and have the imperial fleet on standby.

Author's Note: Thank you all my dear readers and to those who have left reviews. As always I do not own any of these canon characters, I am merely playing in Lucas' galaxy. Darth Gladiator45