A longer chapter for you guys, to make up for my absence last week. Hope you enjoy!
The moment their shuttle landed on Hoth, Anakin could feel the cold on every inch of his body. His whole body was shivering when they stepped off the ramp and he wrapped his robe around as much of his body as he could.
"Don't like the cold?" Padme asked with a smirk clearing not feeling as cold as he was.
"I grew up on a dessert planet. Do you know how cold it got? Nowhere near this." Anakin said as Padme chuckled.
"Well we won't be here too much longer." Padme said and he could hear the sadness in her voice. He knew it wasn't about not being able to stay on his lovely planet, but about not putting others needs before her's for the first time in her life.
Anakin wrapped his arms around her shoulder enjoying her warmth. "How did they manage to pick such a lovely planet?"
"It's so far out and basically lifeless. The Emperor wouldn't think of looking here, until it's too late." Ahsoka told him, saying the first thing to him, since they left.
"Skywalker." He heard a small voice say and looked over to see Yoda walking over to them. He nodded his head in respect. "Speak with you I must."
Anakin looked over at Padme and the rest of them. "I'm kind of in the middle of something." He said not wanting to talk with Jedi master after their last altercation.
"I'm sure we will be fine without you for the beginning of this meeting and if not Padme can inform everyone about everything." Obi-wan said and Anakin had to stop himself from glaring.
"I'm not sure, Padme knows the full extent of everything." Anakin clenched his jaw as Padme opened up her mouth to speak.
"Nonsense. Come along. Come along." Yoda said already turning around not giving him a choice to say no.
Anakin groaned as Padme gave a stern look. She knew how Anakin felt about Master Yoda, but she respected him and figure it had to be of some importance.
Slowly Anakin turned and followed the small man, overpowering him greatly in height.
Anakin looked around waiting for him to speak. If this was so important, why hasn't he said anything yet? He grumbled.
He noticed this whole place seemed to be made of basically snow and ice, no wonder he was cold. This just seemed unhuman to even live in this place.
"Planning on leaving I hear you and Senator Amidala are." Yoda finally spoke up.
"Yeah. We have other obligations." Anakin said wondering where he was taking him.
"A child, I sense." Yoda looked up as Anakin's mouth fell open slightly. "Powerful that child will be."
"What makes you say that?" He asked.
"A child of the chosen one has to be powerful in the force." Yoda said lifting his hand to open the door in front of him.
Anakin stepped in and noticed a small room with a small bed and two cushions. He watched as Yoda sat on the one and motioned for him to sit on the other.
"Believe in the chosen one prophecy you do not." Yoda continued.
"I mean none of you certainly believed it when Qui Gon originally told you." Anakin said slightly bitter.
Yoda shook his head. "Failed you we did. Our own downfall we caused. Apologizes I give you too late."
Anakin was speechless, he wasn't expecting this. "Um, thank you."
"None the less, the chosen one you are. Leave you cannot." Yoda told him.
The moment of respect he was feeling towards the Jedi was quickly fading. "I don't see how that is of any concern of yours."
"Fear I sense in both you and the Senator. Fear will leave your child parentless." Yoda said as Anakin stood up knocking the cushion out of the way.
"My child will not grow up without parents. Padme and I will be there to raise it!" He said his voice rising as he started to think back to his dreams. The dreams he told him to ignore and to accept. Now he wants his help, when it benefits him.
"Not if Lord Sidious has anything to say about it." Yoda shook his head.
Yet again Anakin was speechless. He lifted his hand wanting to attack, but quickly stopped himself. He shook his head and left the naïve Jedi alone, wishing he could slam the door behind him.
Padme kept picturing everyone's disappointed face when it was announced she would be living. She wish she could make them understand, especially Bail and Mon. They both looked so hurt and betrayed, which she didn't blame them. She was a huge aspect in this, but she couldn't risk their baby's life anymore and she couldn't, no she didn't want to, imagine raising the baby without Anakin.
Every time she shut her eyes, she saw him kneeling before Palpatine holding his stub. She was so sure she was about to lose him forever. Before they even had to time to live their life, a life that wasn't all about war and fighting. She couldn't lose him, before their life together even started.
"Padme." She turned around and saw Bail following after her. "I don't understand. How can you and Anakin just leave?"
She was growing tired explaining herself to everyone. This shouldn't be so hard. A mother should be allowed to leave her job, to raise her child.
"I'm pregnant Bail." She softly said seeing the shocked expression on his face.
"Well, um, congratulations." Bail said.
"Surely, you see now, why we need to leave." Padme said.
"As a leader I don't understand and think it's selfish," He paused as she looked away, not able to see his disappointment face again. "As a friend, I slightly understand and know how hard of a decision this was for you."
She smiled slightly. "Thank you." She looked around making sure no one was close by. "Bail, there is one more thing. I didn't want to say this front of everyone."
"What is it?" He looked at her confused and she hoped, she really hoped, she was right to trust him.
"There is a spy here. That is why Palpatine knows about attacks and everything." Padme whispered.
"A spy?" Bail said far louder than she would have hoped. "Are you sure?" He whispered.
"He told Anakin and I mean it would make sense. Just be careful, what you say and to whom. He probably already knows of this new location, so I would plan your attack quickly." Padme told him as he nodded his head.
"Padme." She heard her name being called and looked over to see Anakin walking towards her and she could tell he wasn't happy. "We are leaving now. We told everyone what needed to be said and now we need to leave."
He grabbed her hand and led her to the landing area, or where he hoped was the landing area.
"You can't leave." Ahsoka called out running over to them.
"Listen, Snips, no matter what you say it isn't going to change my mind." Anakin was starting to grow tired of all these Jedi questioning his every move. Just the other day, they didn't trust him, now they want his help.
Ahsoka crossed her arms. "I don't care rather you leave or not, but there is a storm out there. No one can leave or come in."
"I'm one of greatest pilots. I'm sure I can handle it." Anakin stepped closer to her.
"Ani," He heard Padme as her turn back around. "Maybe it would be best if we stayed. I have faith in your flying ability, but is it worth it?"
Anakin opened his mouth to speak, before knowing she was right. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Fine, but when the storm is done. We are gone."
Padme gave him a small smile as she brushed her hand down his arm, seeing him calm down. She grabbed his hand again and hoping to find a room they could use for the night.
"Whip that smirk off your face, young one." Anakin said to Ahsoka without turning around.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Skyguy." Ahsoka said her smirk growing wider.
Anakin's eye shot open and he breathed heavily. He groaned as his hands moved to his eyes. Another stupid dream. He cursed.
He looked over and saw Padme sleeping. He gently brushed his hand down her face.
Slowly he stepped out of the bed and put his boots on, needing to distract his mind. He opened the door and looked over at her and saw she was still sleeping. I hope we are making the right decision, angel.
He walked around the base, seeing the layout was close to being the same as the last. He hoped the training room was in the same area. He needed to distract his mind from everything.
He found it and he was thankful no one else seemed to be in there. He wasn't sure how late it was, but he figured it had to be late. He couldn't really tell being in this block of ice.
He noticed a few seeker droids laying around and had to hold back a laugh. It has been years, since he had to use one of these, but it seemed that was going to be his only opinion. It was going to be like he was twelve again learning to use a lightsaber again. Only this time, no one was going to be here to yell and throw objects at him.
He started the droid up and ignited his lightsaber in his hand. The weapon felt weird in his new hand. It felt lighter than it used to and he could barely feel the vibration. He swung it around a few times, trying to get a feel for it in his hand. His reflexes weren't as sharp as before, but hopefully he could fix that with training and a little bit of his mechanical expertise.
He looked up at the circle droid as it flew around him, he shut his eyes waiting for the shot. He sensed it, before the shot was even fired. Quickly he swung the blade, blocking the attack.
Maybe this wouldn't be so hard. He was strong and powerful in the force. Three more shots fired and he blocked two of them only to be hit by the third.
He clenched his teeth as the droids continued firing and his hand wasn't blocking the shots as quickly as before. With the amount of times he was hit, he wouldn't be able to survive a battle, let alone Palpatine.
"Argh!" He yelled throwing the lightsaber across the room.
He felt the droid take one more shot at him. He looked over with rage in his eyes and lifted his hand crushing the small sphere instantly.
He sunk down placing his hands to his knees, feeling truly hopeless and defeated. How can they expect me to defeat Palpatine and be this chosen one, if I can't even block simple attacks? How can I protect Padme and our baby?
He looked up feeling something bump against his leg. He saw it was Padme astro droid, R2. "You gonna try and attack me again?"
R2 gave him a sad beep and he looked over seeing the droid he just crushed.
"Sorry about that pal. I guess I should control my anger a little better. Another thing to add to my list of things." He sighed.
R2 beeped again and Anakin looked over as the droid was handing him his lightsaber. "Thanks R2."
"He seems to think you should stay as well." Anakin looked over and saw Obi-wan in the entry way. Clearly he sleeps as little as I do.
"If you saw me just training, you wouldn't be saying that" He said grabbing the lightsaber from R2, before attaching it to his belt.
"It will take time and patience, but soon you will be back to normal." Obi-wan gave him a small smile.
"You should know by now, patience isn't one of my strong suits." Anakin said waking past him as Obi-wan placed his hand on his shoulder. "Please don't ask me to stay again." He said sounding defeated.
"Anakin, you must know you are the chosen one." Obi-wan told him.
Anakin shoved his hand away. "Why does everyone keep saying that?! How do you or any of them know I'm the chosen one?! As you can clearly see, I wasn't able to defeat him before. I literally almost died."
Obi-wan saw the fear on his face. "By the will of the force, you survived though."
"Because you and Ahsoka came and he cowardly ran away." Anakin answered back.
"Call it what you will." Anakin looked at him as he spoke and saw so much sadness on his face.
"I don't know what you want from me. I'm not some Jedi you can just boss around. I'm a s-" Anakin couldn't finish the sentence though.
"A Sith? Do you truly think that?" Obi-wan crossed his arms.
"It's what I was trained to be. I know nothing else." Anakin softly said.
Obi-wan shook his head. "You may have been trained in the ways of the dark side, but a Sith you are not. A Sith wouldn't sacrifice his life multiple time to save the people he cares about. A Sith or a Jedi wouldn't love or care as much as you do." Anakin raised his eyebrow at the last part. "You are not a Sith nor Jedi. You use both sides and both qualities. Both of them will help you defeat Palpatine."
"You're starting to sound as crazy as Yoda." Anakin crossed his arms looking at him.
"I want to help you Anakin. You've said in your dreams you were always alone when facing Palpatine, even back on Mustafar, besides Padme, you were alone. This is a task you can't do on your own, even as the chosen one. We will defeat him together. I know you are scared, but are too arrogant to ask for help. You, I, and even Padme both know running away isn't going to stop this. You both know, he is going to stop at nothing to find you and now that he knows of the baby, nothing will stop him from searching for it as well."
Padme woke up, sensing it was still night time. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and she saw Anakin sitting next to her.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
Anakin paused and bit his lip thinking of what to say. "You know how much I love you and our baby right?"
"Yes. Of course." She said sitting up and rubbing his arm feeling him exhale.
"We both aren't saying it, but we both know Palpatine is going to stop at nothing to find me and our baby, if we run." He felt Padme stop brushing his arm and look away. "I know you fear of losing me, just as much as I fear of losing you, but I can't put our baby's life at risk like this, Padme." He looked at her seeing the tears already filling her eyes. "I need to face him again. I need to defeat him. It is the only way we can ever live a normal, safe life."
"I know." She softly said feeling his arms wrap around her. They both were silly to think, they could out run him and try to act like he wasn't a threat. Anakin had to be the one to kill him, no matter how much that scared them both.