Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

AN: Here's chapter 54! Thanks for all the great reviews!

Forever Destined

Chapter 54: The Final Battle

Palpatine cackled evilly, even as the massive amount of Force lightning he was pouring into Yoda scarred and disfigured his face.

"This is the end for you...my little green friend..." Palpatine cackled, as Yoda tumbled over the edge.

"Master Yoda!" Dooku cried, as the small Master hit several pods on the way down to the ground floor. Mace leapt at Sidious, but screamed in agony, as Force lightning threw him back into his pod. Dooku leapt into Palpatine's pod and exchanged furious strikes with him.

"I've been waiting a long time to kill you...Count," Palpatine sneered.

"You're the only one that will die today, Sith," Dooku retorted. Palpatine cackled and spun around, whirling his saber and aiming to swipe Dooku's neck. Dooku dodged the lethal blow, but his right arm was sacrificed, as Palpatine swiped his saber through his forearm. Dooku fell to the floor of the pod, clutching his arm. Palpatine cackled and drew his saber up, preparing to bring it down on the wounded Jedi Master. As Sidious brought the blade down, Anakin leapt in front of his grandfather and blocked the blow with his own sapphire blade.

"Anakin..." Dooku sighed in relief.

"Sorry I'm late," Anakin said, as he grit his teeth, pushing up on Sidious' blade.

"You always did like to make a grand entrance," Dooku quipped.

"So...the prodical son has returned..." Sidious sneered.

"Your going to pay for all the people you've hurt and killed. It ends today..." Anakin replied.

"Foolish whelp! You will not defeat me! I will crush you...and then the rest of your pitiful Jed comrades will follow!" Sidious cackled.

"Young fool...you have no idea about the true power I possess! The power of the dark side!" Palpatine ranted.

"Mas Amedda, execute Order 66. My army will now destroy the Jedi!" Palpatine screamed. Anakin shoved his foot into Palpatine's gut and leapt up to Amedda's podium, shoving his saber through the chairman's heart. Sidious roared in anger, as he launched Force lightning at Anakin. The young Jedi cried out in pain, as he was thrown off the podium and descended to the ground floor. Anakin used the Force to stop himself just inches from the ground and set himself down gently on his feet. Sidious stared down angrily at his young prey, before raising the comlink to his lips.

"Xana...storm the Temple now..." he ordered, before he leapt down to the ground floor. He landed and his crimson saber blazed to life. Anakin ignited his own, just as the Sith Lord launched at him with a maniacal howl...


As Padme entered the underground shelter, she gasped, as she looked at the holoscreen that the padawans and younglings were watching.

"Thank the stars. Are you and the children all right?" Zia asked.

"We're fine Zia and it looks like you're doing well," she said, as she sat down and pulled the twins into her lap.

"Oh Zia, she's beautiful. What's her name?" Padme asked.

"I named her Mara and neither of us would be here right now if it wasn't for Mace. He save me from the explosion and delivered her," Zia said.

"I'm so glad you're both okay," Padme replied.

"Baby..." Luke pointed at Mara.

"That's right sweetie," Padme told him. Luke seemed fascinated by the sleeping baby, but Leia was more interested in being the center of attention. She squirmed out of her mother's arms and toddled over to where some of the other younglings and padawans were sitting. Leia looked at the screen and grinned.

"Daddy!" she called. Padme rushed over to her and picked her up.

"That's probably not something you should be watching, baby," Padme said, though she was hardly able to take her eyes off her husband, as he fought the Sith Lord. Suddenly, a frantic Aayla ran in.

"Kit...we have big trouble!" she exclaimed.

"What is it?" he asked.

"There is a legion of Clone Troopers approaching the Temple...and Serra Keto is leading them," Aayla said.

"Serra?" he asked in disbelief.

"She has turned. Anakin and I encountered her on Tatooine. Siri died by her hand so we could get away," Padme explained.

"She's going to try and storm the Temple. We are vastly outnumbered. Our best chance is to barricade the Temple entrances as best as possible," Kit said.

"But that won't keep them out for long," Aayla replied.

"Then all Knights, Masters, and senior padawans must be prepared to fight and keep them away from the shelter entrance," Kit said.

"Whie, you and Scout stay here and protect Lady Skywalker, Lady Jade, and the younglings," Kit said, as he and Aayla left to join the other Jedi, who were standing ready to defend the Temple. Padme turned back to the holoscreen, her eyes locking on her husband again.

"Come back to me, my love," she whispered.


Beads of sweat cascaded down Anakin's face, as he blocked another of Sidious' vicious strikes. Anakin's muscles burned under the pressure of the crimson saber crackling mere inches from his face.

"Your efforts are for naught, young Skywalker. You will not win..." Palpatine goaded.

"It was you...all along! You started the war...you tried to have my wife murdered...and you manipulated the justice system, hoping to have me killed as well! That tells me that you're not completely sure you have the power to destroy me," Anakin taunted back. Sidious barred his teeth and kicked Anakin's legs out from under him. The young Jedi landed on his back and screamed in agony, as Palpatine's Force lightning seared through his entire body. And, as much as the other five Jedi present wanted to help him, they were fighting for their own lives against dozens of Clone Troopers that had been ordered to turn on them by Palpatine directly. Anakin writhed in pain, as the Sith monster tortured him viciously.

"Young fool...all that power and you waste it on love," he spat the word in disgust.

"She will soon join you in death, for my apprentice is very eager to sever her pretty head from her body. I'm sure Xana will see that she suffers," Palpatine goaded.

"Padme..." Anakin rasped. Palpatine sneered.

"Pitiful whelp...you cannot save her. You cannot even save yourself," Palpatine snarled.

"Padme..." Anakin panted through the pain.

"Ani...Ani, I'm okay. I love you...I'm so deeply in love with you. You have to come back to me, for I cannot live without you..." Padme told him through their bond.

"Padme..." Anakin uttered, as his sapphire eyes darkened into a cobalt blue and brightened at the same time. The pure power of the Force illuminated them and they seared in Palpatine's own yellow eyes. The lightning still poured into him, but his agonized cries had ceased. The lightning had completely shredded his tunic, leaving his torso almost bare.. He stood up with his saber in hand, even as Palpatine still poured lightning into him. But it just seemed like his body was now absorbing it, for it was causing him no harm any longer. Everyone had stopped fighting to stare at Anakin, who now had a glowing aura around him. The ground beneath them began to shake and the duraplaster around them began to crack under the pressure. A shockwave of power erupted from Anakin, shattering every window around them and knocking Sidious on his back, ceasing his lightning attack. Sidious snarled and launched at him, crimson saber blazing to life once again.

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan called, as he tossed his own saber to him. Anakin caught it and two sapphire sabers blazed forth. Responding to his power, the sabers suddenly blazed white with the blinding power of the light of the Force. Palpatine's saber crashed against Anakin's and exploded into pieces upon contact with the frightening blades that were lit with white flames.

"This...cannot be possible!" Sidious screamed in rage, as he felt his dark powers being devoured by Skywalker's light.

"I have been chosen by the Force to ensure that your maniacal rule cannot continue," Anakin said calmly. Palpatine screamed in rage, as Force lightning erupted from his fingertips. It was in vain, however, as it did not affect Anakin at all.

"Your reign of terror is over...Sidious,"Anakin said, as he scissored his sabers through Palpatine's neck and torso. Sidious howled a blood curdling scream, as the white flames consumed his body. His scream ceased, as he was reduced to nothing but ashes. The room was deathly silent, as they took in what had just happened. After several minutes of silence, the people erupted in victorious cheers. The Holonet reporters swarmed around Anakin, but he ignored them and pushed passed them. Adi Gallia rushed in, panicking.

"The Temple is under attack!" she cried.

"Padme..." Anakin said, as he, Obi-Wan, and the other Jedi rushed into the waiting transport. It took off for the Temple immediately at maximum speed, only taking a few moments to arrive. On the Temple steps, Knights and Masters battled Clone Troopers. The Temple doors had been forced open and Xana was no where in sight.

"She's gone after those in the shelter!" Anakin cried, as he leapt out of the transport.

"Anakin, wait!" Obi-Wan cried.

"Look!" Mace exclaimed. The same Force shockwaves that they'd seen in the Senate Rotunda were reverberating from Anakin again. The Clones dropped around him like flies, allowing the outnumbered Jedi to slay them, before the Clones could do the same to them. The Jedi watched in awe, as Anakin ran into the Temple to save his family from the Sith that was bent on killing them...


Tears of pride and happiness welled in her eyes, as she watched her husband vanquish the evil Sith Lord.

"It's over babies. Daddy saved the galaxy," she said, as she stood over the crib where they were napping. Suddenly, there was a loud boom, as the hatch to the shelter was blown off by a thermal detonator. The younglings began to cry out and whimper in fear, as Whie and Scout's sabers blazed to life. Through the smoke, Whie saw a crimson blade coming at him. He sidestepped it, but not before Xana impaled his right shoulder. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground.

"Whie!" Scout cried, as she knelt beside him.

"I'm fine...it's just a shoulder wound. Protect them," Whie told her, his voice laced with pain. Xana raised her saber to bring it down upon them.

"Whie!" Scout cried, as she turned away from Xana.

"Don't be afraid, Scout," he whispered to her, as he caressed her face.

"Serra, no!" Padme cried, as she watched the two young lovers, which reminded her of herself and Anakin.

"I'm what you came for. Leave them and the children alone and take me," Padme said.

"Padme, no!" Zia cried. Whie struggled to his feet with Scout's help, clutching his shoulder.

"Lady Skywalker, I can't let you surrender yourself to this traitor!" Whie spat at Xana. She snarled and yanked Padme forward by the arm.

"Everything will be fine. Watch my babies for me," Padme said, as Xana tugged her along roughly and soon, they exited the shelter into the ground level fo the Temple.

"Where are you taking me?" Padme asked.

"Shut up!" Xana snapped. Xana stopped suddenly, as Anakin approached them.

"Let her go, Xana," Anakin demanded calmly. Xana snarled and put her saber to Padme's throat, causing Anakin to stop moving toward them.

"She destroyed my future with you! She destroyed my life and now she must pay for it!" Serra cried.

"Serra, you're not evil...not really. You don't want to do this," he pleaded.

"Do not assume you know me! Serra is dead and I will snap her neck if you come any closer!" Xana screamed.

"Serra is not dead...and Xana is dying. I feel the good in you...the conflict. Fight and come back to us, Serra," Anakin pleaded.

"I have nothing without you!" she cried.

"That's not true, Serra! We all love you. I love you...as a friend. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth!" Anakin pleaded.

"Why? Why couldn't you love me the way you love her!" Serra screamed, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry Serra, I wish I could answer that. But my children are innocent in this and they need their mother. Please...don't take her away from them. If you really love me, then you'll let her go. You're free, Serra. Sidious and Grievous are dead. They can no longer hurt you. Let us help you," Anakin pleaded. Serra's grip on Padme slackened and she slowly backed away from her. Padme ran into Anakin's arms and sighed in relief.

"Are you okay?" he asked tenderly. She nodded and kissed his cheek.

"Everything's going to be okay now, Serra. We're going to help you," Anakin said.

"There is no help for me...I am a monster," Serra uttered, as she pointed her blade at her own heart. Padme yelped in surprise and buried her face in Anakin's chest.

"Serra, no!" he cried, as he used the Force to pull her saber from her hand.

"Let me do this, Anakin! I am a murderer and I have nothing to live for!" she screamed. Anakin refused to let her commit suicide and used his power to knock her unconscious. She fell to the floor, gently, thanks to Anakin cushioning the fall.

"Is she going to be okay?" Padme asked.

"She has a long road to recovery, but eventually she'll be okay again. She came back to the light and that's the first step," Anakin replied, as the Council members and other Jedi filed into the atrium. Obi-Wan ignited his blade and prepared to drive it through Serra's chest.

"Ben, stop!" Anakin called.

"She killed Siri," he protested.

"No, Xana killed Siri...and Serra killed Xana," Anakin replied.

"Grievous and Sidious tortured her. They made her what she became. She was just another one of their victims, but I believe that she can be rehabilitated," Anakin said. Dooku and Qui-Gon smiled at each other, intending to acknowledge Anakin's maturity. They glanced at Mace and Yoda.

"The compassion you show her has astounded us all," Mace said.

"Saved the galaxy and the Jedi, you did today," Yoda added.

"Your brother has just recently accepted our appointment to the Council and now...we would like you to fill the next vacant seat," Mace continued. Padme gasped and looked up at her husband with pride.

"Me?" Anakin asked in awe.

"You have gone far beyond the accomplishments that it takes to acquire mastery, Chosen One. Grant you mastery, this Council does," Yoda said. Anakin looked at his smiling father and grandfather. He humbly bowed before the Council members.

"Thank you Masters," he said. Padme leapt into his arms and began planting kisses all over his face. He chuckled and spun her around.

"I saw it, Ani. I saw you save us all," she said.

"But everyone should really be thanking you for my victory," he told her. He brows furrowed.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"The Force gave me the power I needed to defeat him, angel, but your love gave me the strength I needed to use that power," he told her. Padme melted in his arms, as he crushed his lips against hers in a hot, passionate kiss.

"Oh Anakin," she breathed, just before he crushed his lips against hers again.

"It's over, it's finally over," she almost cried in relief.

"It's over angel...it's over..." he promised, as he held her close.

"Oh my goodness...we have no Chancellor now. The Senate will probably be calling an emergency session of the Senate tonight," she said.

"They will probably nominate you," he replied.

"Then I will have to decline," she answered. His brow furrowed.

"You will?" he asked.

"It's not what I want right now. I am perfectly happy with my current post in the Senate and focusing on my family...which might be growing," Padme said, looking into his eyes. His eyes widened and he looked down at her flat stomach, then back up at her.

"Padme...are you..." he trailed off.

"I haven't been tested yet, but I have been sick the last few mornings. I think...I might be pregnant," she replied. His hand flew to her abdomen and he focused on her with the Force. His face broke out into a wide grin and he spun her around in his arms.

"You are...you're pregnant!" he announced. Padme squealed, as he spun her around again, laughing as he did. The Jedi around them began applauding and Padme blushed at the attention.

"Congratulations, Lady Skywalker," Scout said, as she and Whie handed Luke and Leia to their parents. Anakin and Padme kissed their children and enjoyed the company of their Jedi family...


Mere hours later, Bail stood on the Chancellor's podium, as he had accepted the nomination and won the vote...thanks to the fact that Padme had declined her nomination at the current time.

"Fellow delegates, it is with great honor that I accept this post. I promise to uphold peace and democracy where my predecessor did not. I promise to be your humble servant and listen to the people. There is much rebuilding to be done within our Republic after what has been a catastrophic war. But it is with great joy that I officially declare that the Clone Wars are over! Peace has been restored, thanks to the Jedi and most specifically, Jedi Master Anakin Skywalker. It is he we have to thank for our restored peace and democracy. It gives me great honor to lift the Emergency power restrictions and hand the checks and balances back into the hands of the Senate where they belong!" Bail concluded his speech and cheering ensued. Padme smiled at her friend from her pod, where Anakin stood with her. He docked her pod and they stepped out, heading for the atrium.

"Padme!" Sola cried, as she spotted her.

"Sola!" Padme said, as she hugged her sister.

"Oh, we've missed you so much. We just arrived back from Serenno, but we saw everything on the Holonet!" Sola exclaimed. Shmi and Elana bombarded both Anakin and Padme with hugs and kisses, as they held Luke and Leia.

"This calls for celebration. We should return home and break open some fine wine," Elana said.

"That sounds wonderful, grandmother, but I think I will have sparkling cider," Padme replied.

"But darling, you haven't drank sparkling cider since you were..." Elana trailed off, as her eyes widened. Anakin laughed at his mother, grandmother, Sola and Jobal.

"Padme are you..." Sola trailed off.

"Pregnant?" Shmi finished. Padme nodded and all four women squealed in delight.

"That's why you declined the Senate's nomination!" Sola exclaimed.

"I'm perfectly happy to continue as Naboo's Senator for now. Perhaps when our babies are older, I will consider a higher office. But for now, my family is what I want to focus most on. Plus, there is still much I would like to do for my planet as Naboo's Senator," Padme replied.

"Come along everyone. Let's all go home and celebrate together," Dooku announced to his large family, as he flexed the metal prosthetic that was serving as a temporary hand until his real one was completed. They all agreed and were all immensely happy to finally all be together again...

Loose ends are all tied up in the next chapter, as this epic finally comes to a close in the next chapter. Look for it soon:)