A/N: In honour of Revenge of the Sith, which is out now! My lucky brother got to see it at midnight. sigh. He asked me to come along, but I couldn't. Anyway, this is probably one of my favourite chapters - I cried when I wrote it, so I don't know if you'll cry when you read it. But hope you like!
Chapter Sixteen: Your Path
Obi-Wan kept his starfighter a little way away from the hangar. He saw Tsena get out of her ship and race away. Quickly, he landed and ran silently after her, keeping out of sight. He had a strong feeling that something was seriously amiss – and he knew that Tsena knew what it was. As long as he followed her, she would lead him to the source of whatever was causing the disturbance in the Force.
Tsena sped through the corridors, allowing the Force to guide her to where she could feel Anakin approaching. She turned a corner and there he was – striding at the head of a formation of clone troopers, lightsaber in hand. She reached out with the Force to the surrounding area, and to her relief felt that it was deserted – the Jedi must have been called away for some reason.
"Anakin!" she cried, darting forward. He held up his hand, bringing the clone troopers to a halt. He smiled when he saw her, his dark and angry face lighting up. She began to shake as she realised that she alone could affect his moods just by appearing – it made her all too aware of the task she had to fulfil. "Anakin, please, don't do this."
He frowned. "Do what?"
"Don't just throw away everything you've strived for for the past ten years! You're a good person. Don't destroy the only home you've ever known."
"How did you know – "
"Anakin, I know what you have chosen. Please, reconsider," she pleaded, tears stinging her eyes. "Don't go down this path. Please."
"What do you mean? I did this for us!" he said, exasperated.
"Anakin, please just send the clone troops back and we can talk about this together."
He hesitated for a moment. Tsena placed her hand on his cheek. "Please," she whispered, her voice thick with tears.
His face softened, and he turned to the clone troops, ordering them to leave the Temple. Tsena watched them go in relief.
"Tsena, I chose this path for us," he told her.
"I am still a Jedi, Anakin. It's just more impossible for us now," she countered.
"You don't have to be," he said. "You can join us, and we wouldn't have to keep our relationship a secret anymore. We could be married openly."
"I couldn't leave the Jedi, Anakin. The Dark side holds nothing for me. And it's not your path – I know it isn't!"
"You don't love me enough to marry me, is that it? I'm still the same person, Tsena. So you don't love me nowt that I've chosen a different path?" His voice was beginning to rise, and he was getting angry.
"No Anakin, that's not it!" Tsena exclaimed, tears running down her cheeks. "I love you, I'll always love you – can't you see that you're breaking my heart by going this way? It's not you! It's not the Anakin I love!" Tears streamed down as she gazed at him, her eyes pleading, begging him to turn back to the light. She felt his anger begin to falter, felt him softening, beginning to return to the Anakin she loved – and then she heard a noise behind her.
She turned around, and there was Obi-Wan, walking towards them, his face grim. What is he doing here? She turned fearfully back to Anakin, and took a step back when she saw the anger on his face.
"Obi-Wan," he hissed. He glared at Tsena. "You tricked me and led him to me!" he said to her.
"What? No, Anakin, I didn't know he was there, I –"
"You betrayed me!" he shouted, and shot out his hand. Tsena felt an unseen force on her throat, choking her.
He's using the Dark side…she realised. He lifted her off her feet, and even as she choked, she reached into her pocket to grab her holocam. Just as she grasped it, Anakin threw her across the corridor, and she hit the wall and slumped down, knocked out. The holocam fell from her hand and skittered a short way across the floor.
Anakin turned to face Obi-Wan and ignited his lightsaber. Obi-Wan did the same, his heart heavy with grief. So it has come to this…
Anakin charged forward, and Obi-Wan took the defensive, working to block the young man rather than to overpower him. Anakin's strength was being fuelled by his anger, and his attack was wild and forceful. Obi-Wan was solid, drawing his strength from the Light side of the Force, and slowly pushing Anakin back. The two of them spun around each other, their blue blades clashing in sounds that tore at Obi-Wan's heart. This type of battle – between Master and Padawan – should never take place, should never be fought. Every block, every parry sent great pain through him, tears pushing at his eyes.
Anakin slashed down and Obi-Wan pushed against his blade. The two locked in a battle of strength, both throwing all their might behind the lightsabers.
Anakin took a step backwards, and his heel bumped the holocam. It switched on and rose into the air – seconds later, an image of Tsena stood beside the two duelling Jedi.
"Anakin," Tsena's hologram said, her quiet voice filling the empty corridor and echoing slightly. "By the time you get this message, I will most likely be gone. Please don't blame yourself – it isn't your fault. It might be hard for you to understand, but I know that dying for you is my destiny – like bringing balance to the Force is yours."
At these words, Anakin's blade faltered for a second – but then he pushed against Obi-Wan's lightsaber harder than ever.
"It's so hard for me, knowing that to save you, I have to leave you," Tsena's image continued. "It hurts so much knowing I won't be there when you are made a Knight, or when you begin to teach your own Padawan. But at the same time, it eases my heart to know that you will continue down the right path, as I know you will."
Anakin's grip slackened slightly, and Obi-Wan saw some of the fire in his eyes flicker out.
"Dying is nothing for me if it means you are safe. It is nothing for me if it means you will fulfil the prophecy and your destiny. It means nothing for me if it gives you the brightest, most wonderful future I can imagine for you. Giving my life to save yours is the most honourable death I can imagine – if you are alive, safe and on the right path when you receive this, it is worth it."
Only a small spark of the original anger and hatred flickered in Anakin's eyes now, and Obi-Wan had almost overpowered him.
"I want you to know, Anakin, that I died because I love you. You are the best thing that has happened to me since I became a Jedi, and I will always be with you. I know you will choose the right path. I love you so, so much, my beautiful Anakin, and I will always love you. Forever."
The image of Tsena disappeared, and a single tear made its way down Anakin's cheek. He twisted away from Obi-Wan and deactivated his lightsaber. Obi-Wan stared at him warily, his weapon still raised.
"I will not fight you, Master," Anakin said, his voice wavering. "You can kill me now – I know I deserve it. The woman I love died to keep me on the right path, and she came back to me, only to find that I turned away from that path." He broke down, falling to his knees and dropping his lightsaber to the floor. "I'm so sorry, Master!"
Obi-Wan reached out to Anakin with the Force – all he could sense was grief and remorse. Anakin had returned to the Light side. Obi-Wan deactivated his lightsaber and stepped forward, placing a hand on the young man's shoulder.
"Anakin, fighting you almost tore me apart. To see you turn back to the Light side is all I need to forgive you."
"I'm so sorry," Anakin said again. "I will never use the Dark side again, not when it made me –" He broke off and looked to where Tsena lay unconscious. He rushed to her and took her hand in both of his. "Please wake up, Tsena, please get up…"
She stirred and slowly opened her eyes. "Anakin?" she said – and suddenly her expression was frightened.
Anakin saw it and it pierced him like a toxic dart. He had put that fear in her eyes. He had choked her and made her afraid.
He bent over her, sobs wracking his body. "I'm so sorry Tsena, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!"
Bewildered, Tsena looked over to where Obi-Wan stood. She saw that his lightsaber was deactivated in his hand, she saw Anakin's hilt lying on the floor, and she saw the holocam hovering in the air a few centimetres away. Then it clicked – somehow, her message had played, and Anakin had stopped fighting Obi-Wan. He had returned to the Light side.
"You've come back to me," she whispered, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. "I knew you were still there, beneath the darkness. There's no need for forgiveness."
She struggled to her feet, and Anakin helped her up shakily, wiping his tears away hastily. She looked at Obi-Wan. "Where's Jovarii?" she asked.
He closed his eyes. He could feel her in the Force – she was in danger! "Something's happening," he said.
Instinctively, Tsena pulled out her comlink. There was a message from Mace Windu. She must not have noticed it in her rush to reach Anakin. She played it.
"All able-bodied Jedi are to report to the Council chambers immediately."
Obi-Wan pulled out his own comlink and played the same message.
"What –" she started to say.
"They must have found out about Palpatine," Anakin said grimly.
"Palpatine?" Obi-Wan questioned.
Anakin nodded and shuddered slightly. "He is a Sith – Darth Sidious."
Tsena breathed in sharply and Obi-Wan's mouth dropped open slightly.
"We have to go," Tsena said. She looked at Anakin. "This must be the time to fulfil the prophecy."
Anakin paled slightly, but nodded resolutely. Tsena slipped her hand in his, and he squeezed it. She was by his side now, and he knew she would see him fulfil the prophecy. He knew she would be with him to the end. He called his lightsaber to him using the Force – the Light side of the Force. He glanced at his master, who stepped next to him in a gesture of support and encouragement. Anakin nodded.
"I'm ready."