Anakin POV

Palpatine and I were locked in a duel that could end all of this cat and mouse madness that had been going on for the last three years. Whoever won would be the prisoner of the other for an eternity, with no escape. Everyone was locked up who could break him out. There would be no escaping us if I was successful. And if I failed? That was not an option. I never failed.

"Are you happy, Anakin?" he asked suddenly.

What? It was the first thing he had said since we had begun our fight. I thought he was trying to distract me since neither of us had gained any ground on each other.

I spun to the left and sliced at his knees but he jumped out of the way as nimble as a nexu. I started an assault on his torso trying to find an opening so I could cut a limb and force a surrender, but he kept up with me, and I could only drive him back a few paces while he mainly stayed on his ground.

"You're aggressive, Anakin," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "That is why you chose me."

"No," he purred. "You were chosen because you were powerful and cunning. Your skills with a lightsaber was just a bonus."

I swallowed my anger about being targeted by this creep, and I swung upward to re-engage him

There was no Luke or Leia to come and turn me back to the light. I would be in servitude until Jinn or Ashla reached the proper age. Fifteen years, or more back in the hell hole of no Padme, no Obi-Wan, no Ahsoka. I shuddered at the thought.

I had deceived myself into thinking that my training with Depa, Windu, and Obi-Wan had in any way brought me back to the light. Now here I was face to face with Palpatine, fighting him as a slave, and all those emotions have come rushing back. I have not released them into the Force, I have not forgiven this monster for what he did to me. I buried it. I tried to fit the mold the Depa was laying out for me. Be the Chosen One. Be a Jedi. But I was a Sith. To my core.

Something clicked in my mind, and I felt a surge of power rush inside of me. Using the force, I pushed Sidious off of me and saw him flying backwards head first into his throne. I ignited my saber, and stalked towards him. Using the force, I began to choke the air out of him. Watching him gag for breath was so satisfying.

He was just about to become unconscious, the mission was just about to be over when I heard a voice behind me.

"Anakin!"

I wheeled around to see Obi-Wan coming up to the platform with a look of horror in his eyes.

"What?"

"What are you doing?" he shouted above the noise of the fighting.

"Finishing this."

"The sith way?"

"Anyway I can."

"Padawan think. What would Padme say?"

You're a good man. Don't do this. Come back to me.

I looked at my hand, and then at Palpatine on the ground.

"Something took over," I said.

Obi-Wan patted my shoulder. "We will take him together, my friend."

Palpatibe stumbled to his feet and realized he was going to have to fight again. He drew his blade, and said "What does the mighty chosen one need help?"

"Yeah," I said. "But I am not the one going to jail."

We lunged at each other, and Obi-Wan and I worked in perfect sync, like we had when I was a young Jedi. Where he parried, I thrust, and when he was strategic I was bloodthirsty. Sidious has never in his life encountered us both, two brothers of the soul, in such a raw form. He was caught off guard and stumbled back from my ferocity and Obi-Wan's procesion. Finally, we were circling him taking turns slashing at him. He was blocking very weakly, and making feeble attacks with force lightning.

"You can't win, your grace," said Obi-Wan. "Give it up."

"Never. I will win, Anakin. I will come after Padme, I will come after your children, I will come after Ahsoka, I will come after your mother, I will come after the Jedi."

"From where? A locked cell?" I taunted. "Face it Palpatine, your glory days are over, and I am done being your errand boy."

"You will always be a slave, Anakin," he sneered, "either to me or the Jedi."

"Funny, my life didn't seem to fall apart until I met you."

"I gave you power, I gave you fame."

"You ruined me."

"You did that yourself."

I raised my lightsaber, and gritted my teeth. Screw capture. I am just gonna kill this prick. Again.

I ran closer to him.

A scream escaped my lips.

"Anakin no!" yelled Obi-Wan.

I flew backwards, hitting my head.

I dropped my lightsaber.

Darkness enclosed.

When will I learn?