Chapter 6 – The Purest Warrior

"You fought very well young Skywalker," Mace Windu was now saying. "Meditate and rest for a brief time, and we shall begin again."

Anakin went off to an unoccupied corner of the Great Hall and sat cross-legged in the manner Jedi use when meditating. As usual though, Anakin could not quiet himself.

"You have showed much skill today Anakin," Obi-Wan said sitting down next him. "But you still cannot quiet yourself. How do you expect to succeed in what is to come if you cannot be at peace inside. Let go, and the Force will flow through you."

Anakin did as Obi-Wan said. Meditation was one of the few times Anakin didn't mind Obi-Wan's lectures. It was more times than not Obi-Wan's guidance that allowed him to finally meditate. This time was no different. Anakin felt the Force flow through him like a river through a valley as he let go. It was at these times that Anakin felt invincible, but it never lasted. He couldn't learn to quiet his mind and emotions long enough to feel it.

"You will need all your strength for the next duel Anakin. Master Windu is a formidable opponent," Obi-Wan said.

"Master Windu. I'm going to fight Master Windu," Anakin exclaimed in obvious shock. Mace Windu was rumored to be among the greatest Jedi warriors alive; perhaps the greatest with a lightsaber. Anakin had seen some of Master Windu's lightsaber demonstrations to the younger students, but he had never seen anything that confirmed Mace's reputation as maybe the premier swordsman in the Order.

"Are you ready?" Obi-Wan asked gently.

It hadn't been all that much time, but strangely Anakin was ready. The Force was calling him to the appointed hour. He would duel with Jedi Master Mace Windu. He would win.

"Come Padawan Skywalker. Let us see your impressive skill."

Anakin looked up sharply. Was Mace Windu, goading him? That wasn't possible Anakin thought.

"You have fought well, but others have fought poorly. Now, we will see your skill."

It did sound like Mace was goading him to fight, which seemed very peculiar for the leader of the Jedi Council. Yet, Anakin was getting angry.

"Yes, you will," Anakin said hotly, and sprang toward Master Windu in a flash of speed. And there their lightsabers met, crystal blue against luminous purple. Mace Windu spun, unlocked his wrists, and hit Anakin's saber so squarely that Anakin stumbled backwards and fell.

"So far, I see nothing."

"You will," Anakin said, and there he was again, this time striking quick and powerful, lightsaber above his head. Mace Windu was pushed on the defensive, Anakin continuing to attack.

"You have learned so much today, but now you throw away those lessons," Mace Windu said, sadness evident in his voice.

Anakin noticed the tone and began to step back his attack. He'd been fighting in anger. He'd been fighting wild. He realized now, running the duel through his head, that there had been at least three occasions when Master Windu could have landed a winning blow. Anakin was being sloppy, as Jarven had been, and Mace Windu was telling him so. Then, Anakin smiled. Why not try something that had worked so well once, again. He found the calm center deep within himself, and then, he attacked. Switching his saber from left hand to right hand Anakin twirled with such intensity that Mace Windu was pushed all over the room. But just as Anakin was about to land a winning blow from his ferocious attack, he felt the Force grip him and nudge him off balance.

"Very good. But you still lack full control," Mace said. "Allow me to demonstrate."

Mace didn't spin as Anakin had, to do so was a waste of motion and power in Mace's eyes. But he did throw his lightsaber from left hand to right hand as he attacked Anakin with more power than Anakin had ever felt in a duel before. No wasted movement, just cold precision. Anakin hadn't experienced anything like this before, and for the first time today, he could see the specter of defeat.

"Despair not young Skywalker," Master Yoda yelled from across the room. "Despair is of the darkside."

Anakin hadn't realized that the Council was picking up on his thoughts and emotions during all these duels. It was a little unnerving. Anakin couldn't worry about that at the moment though, as he knew Master Yoda was right. He was already lost if he gave into despair.

"You allow yourself to be distracted, which will get you killed," Mace Windu was saying. "You waste time, when you are so close to your goal. I am just a minor annoyance separating you from what you want. Do you really think you will conquer him if you are so tired from fighting me?"

Anakin stared blankly at Mace Windu, and leapt far away to land well out of reach of Mace's powerful strikes.

What does Master Windu mean by so close to my goal? Conquer who?

In that moment Anakin knew. He knew because he felt it through the Force. What he discovered terrified him more than anything else had before, but he was also exhilarated at the same time. He was moving toward his destiny, or so the Force was telling him. He had only one thing left to do.

"I understand Master Windu."

Raising his lightsaber in salute, Anakin extinguished the blade and let the lightsaber fall to the floor. Mace Windu brought Anakin's saber to his hand and walked slowly toward the defeated Padawan.

"What have you learned young Skywalker?" Mace asked in a deep, low voice.

"Sometimes one must accept defeat in order to achieve victory. That one must never lose sight of the true goal. Never lose sight of that which is most important to accomplish."

"Very good Anakin," Obi-Wan said as Mace nodded his head in agreement. "And what is your true goal in all this? What is most important to accomplish?" Obi-Wan continued.

Anakin looked up sheepishly, almost sadly, at his Master. The determination took hold and a fire of what his heart truly felt burned in his eyes.

"My goal is to achieve peace. That is most important to accomplish today."

"But you cannot be at peace yet Anakin, can you? Something haunts your soul. There is something that your heart desires, but which you feel you must deny it?" Obi-Wan remarked. "What is your true goal now? What must be accomplished now, in this moment?"

"I…" Anakin began and trailed off.

"It is okay Padawan," Obi-Wan said gently, lightly touching Anakin's shoulder.

He hated to say it but he had no choice. Outside of freeing his mother it was the greatest desire in his heart. The determination and fire were back. He could no longer hold in what he felt. What he needed to do.

"I must face you. I must defeat you."