Sidious's blade leapt through the force into Anakin's left hand, instantly igniting as both red and blue beams were held at the dark lord's throat.
"Well, isn't this familiar," Anakin said evenly as Palpatine panted heavily, drained from the strenuous battle now past.
The Sith Lord raised his arms up as if trying to surrender as he glanced toward the vase where he had heard a slight noise only moments earlier.
"Well what are you waiting for, Skywalker?" Palpatine goaded. "We all know you're capable of murdering an unarmed opponent. And here you feign adherence to the lofty goals of the dogmatic Jedi order. I can feel your anger. I can feel your hatred. Kill me, strike me down with all of your anger, and your journey toward the dark side will be complete!"
Anakin merely smiled coolly and said, "Your hollow lies mean nothing to me. I have defeated the last of the Sith. I have fulfilled my prophecy as the Chosen One, and the galaxy shall never again have to deal with the likes of you."
"The Sith will rise again," Palpatine retorted, but Anakin merely laughed in response.
"Although I would welcome the challenge, even you know deep inside your empty, black soul that the Sith die forever with you. Although the dark side will always tempt those who succumb to its silent lure, never again will the ancient Sith ways and teachings be known in the universe."
Palpatine knew what he said was true, and that only fueled his hatred. He desired more than anything to hurt Anakin, to make him suffer, to leave him with a wound that would fester for the rest of his life, and he knew just what to do.
His eerie cackle echoed through the spacious throne room. "My dear Anakin, I'm afraid you should have killed me when you had the chance." Palpatine's grin turned into a vicious scowl as he reached out with the dark side of the force and crushed the larynx of Padme Amidala Skywalker.
Anakin felt through the force Padme's sudden anxiety as she frantically fought to breathe. "No!" Anakin screamed as he reached out with his tremendous power and used the force to simultaneously shatter every bone in Palpatine's body, hearing the former Sith Lord's deafening screams as the two blades scissored to cleanly sever the head of his former mentor and friend.
A tremendous gust of dark energy tore from the body of the dead Sith Lord and filled the throne room before it disappeared into nothingness, the living force replacing the chasm where a vacuum remained from the corrupted power of the vile being that was now destroyed forever.
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Obi-Wan and Yoda were fighting side by side in the courtyard, their lightsabers swinging in graceful arcs as they cut down clone after clone. Yoda drew back his arm, and threw his lightsaber into a clone commander, running up and jumping on his falling body to pull out his lightsaber and pounce on the next clone before the dead commander even hit the ground. Only a handful of troopers remained when they both felt a great disturbance in the force.
Anakin had projected his grief and anguish in a tremendous wave that affected every Jedi and force sensitive being in the galaxy, and caused many to lose their strength and stumble because of the intensity of the sorrow that seemed to wound the force itself.
Obi-Wan shot a troubled glance to Yoda and said, "Master Yoda, I'll have to leave the rest to you and the others. I'm going to help Anakin." With that, he turned and sped toward the palace entrance.
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Anakin ran over to the vase where his wife lay as fast as the force could take him. He took her in his arms as she frantically struggled for breath, tears running down her face as she clung to his robes with all the strength she possessed in her dying body.
Anakin held her tightly, tears spilling down his cheeks as his wife began to weaken, mouthing his name as he tried to regain his inner calm in order to summon the force and try to heal his dying wife.
Obi-Wan burst into the room to the horrible scene before him. Padme lay in Anakin's arms, the last traces of life leaving her limp body. A lump rose in his throat as he felt the pain of his friend and brother. He wanted to rush over and be with his former padawan to help him through this terrible moment, but understood that right now Anakin needed to be alone with his wife.
Anakin recalled his own mother in his arms this way over three years ago. He remembered the sound of her weak voice, her soft touch on his face as she recognized her son. He keenly recalled his utter feeling of helplessness as his mother, his kind, gentle, loving mother, died in his arms.
And then he remembered his whispered promise on that day as he picked up that sacred dirt that covered her shallow grave and let it sift through his clenched fingers. I wasn't strong enough to save you, Mom. I wasn't strong enough. But I promise, I won't fail you again.
As these words echoed through Anakin's mind, he felt the most intense feeling of love and comfort that he could imagine as he was centered again with the force.
Obi-Wan watched in amazement as Anakin placed a hand over the throat of his wife, and a soft blue light appeared under his touch.
Anakin willed his beloved wife's trachea and larynx to be whole again, feeling them form under his fingertips. He then focused with all his might and transferred some of his life energy into his motionless wife in his arms.
He blinked away his tears as he saw his angel's brown eyes flutter open and stare directly into his.
"Ani," was all she was able to say before her husband bent down and kissed her with all the love he carried for her in the depths of his soul. He ruefully pulled away, tears running down his cheeks. "I thought I lost you, Angel."
Padme reached up and wiped away his tears, her own now mingling with his. "You'll never lose me Anakin, never. Even if I died I'd be with you." She pulled his face to her own and kissed him with an equal passion.
They held each other for a few moments in a tight embrace when Obi-Wan cleared his throat in the corner.
A deep blush filled Padme's cheeks as she saw that their moment wasn't as private as she'd liked to believe, and then the color quickly drained when she realized its implications. A frightened look quickly covered her features, and Anakin brought his hand to her face and slowly caressed her cheek. "It's alright, Padme. I told him about us."
A wave of relief rushed over her as Obi-Wan approached the happy couple.
"I assure you it was quite a shock," Obi-Wan said, not quite sure what to say, "but I've promised not to say a word to anyone. Speaking of which, if you don't want the Jedi order to know, I suggest you end your embrace before they arrive."
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Anakin and Padme walked hand in hand through the lush grasses of Onderon, the evidences of the former battle all around them.
The Jedi had met in Palpatine's throne room as they briefly celebrated their victory and the destruction of the Sith forever. It was decided that the following day the Jedi council would convene and Anakin would relate the events of the day to be recorded and chronicled in the annals of the Jedi order.
Obi-Wan had suggested that someone escort Senator Amidala home, and Anakin jumped at the opportunity, thankful again for his friend's intrusion.
He was grateful that Padme was not yet showing, as that would certainly arouse suspicion by all. Plus, he knew that it would be a tight fit in his cockpit for the both of them, even as slender as his wife currently was.
R2D2 whistled and beeped excitedly as they approached the starfighter.
"Good work R2," Anakin said as he carefully examined his ship. "It looks like it will easily hold up until I can make some permanent repairs. I owe you one." R2 whistled an affectionate response as Anakin and Padme boarded the starfighter.
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Anakin held Padme in his lap with his arms around her waist, her head resting on his chest and neck as they both gazed lazily at the stars streaking around them en route to Coruscant. Anakin gave his wife an extra little squeeze as she turned her head to kiss his cheek.
"I've been meaning to ask you something," he said, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Padme looked at him quizzically. "What is it?" she asked.
"Palpatine told me that you had been killed," Anakin said, "and I could tell he thought you were dead. How did you manage to escape?"
Anakin listened with unabashed awe as Padme recounted the details of her dungeon imprisonment.
"You mean to tell me that you single-handedly took out two of Palpatine's personal guards, and all without even a weapon?" he asked incredulously.
"I guess you shouldn't mess with me, huh," Padme laughed, gently elbowing him in the ribs.
"I'd be much too frightened to mess with a Senator," Anakin said playfully, touching the side of her face and turning it up to his own before kissing her deeply.
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Note: This isn't quite over, a few chapters are left.