Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or related concepts. The only things I own are things/people/aliens you don't recognize, unless otherwise stated in a disclaimer.

A/N PLEASE READ: This is my second SW fic. A couple of things: I am much more knowledgeable about the original trilogy than the prequels, so therefore I may have screwed things up. If I do, tell me specifically what I did wrong, and where it is referenced/not referenced in any movie, (except the 2004 original trilogy DVDs,) and I shall do my best to explain or fix the problem. Second, I did put the Prelude in present tense for a reason, but the main story will be in past tense. Third, this story is AU. Repeat, AU. So, if I get a snotty review saying something like "This story is wrong! No one survived the Jedi Temple," it will be disregarded. Last, in the Prelude, I think Anakin is OOC in his dialogue. Any questions or comments will need to be put into reviews, which I do reply to. Flames will be used to torch Jar-Jar and Palpatine.

Prelude

"Master Skywalker, there are too many of them. What are we going to do?" I hear the youngling say. I scoff silently. Does this young one not sense what Anakin Skywalker is here to do? Peeking in from my hiding place outside the door of the council chambers, I see the Jedi-turned-Sith activate his lightsaber, frightening those inside.

Though I am only a Padawan, I realize what I must do. I reach for my own saber, and activate it.

I step into the council room, feeling dwarfed and in over my head. "Stop," I say, trying to act and sound brave, yet failing to accompany my stance with strong words. "D- Don't do this."

The older Jedi turns to face me, his cold blue eyes boring into my face. Now I know I do not look brave; I can feel myself wince as his concentration changes from the younglings to me. I hold my lightsaber in front of me, trying to look confident, but failing to do so as Skywalker steps toward me.

"Do you think it wise, Padawan, to cross sabers with a Sith?" He inquires, still staring at me. I feel my heart thumping faster, and I can tell that he senses my fear.

"No," I say almost instantly. "It is not wise, nor rational. But it is my duty as a Padawan to protect others. Even at the cost of my life."

"Though your actions do not show it, you are intelligent. But, unfortunately, wisdom will do you no good if you can't fight." The Sith raises his lightsaber, preparing to attack.

I prepare to parry his assault, and his blade falls, clearly intending to miss me, but as I dodge his second swipe, his lightsaber singes my robes. I must draw the battle away from the young ones, I think to myself, parrying a third swing, and a fourth. I back myself out of the chamber as Anakin continues to attack me.

"You are as good as they say you are," I say to him, panting.

"You are better than I would have expected, boy, but you are still no match for me," he says.

Several younglings sneak past Anakin, running out of the temple. But the master senses them. He uses the force to send me flying across the hall, then goes in pursuit of the children.

My head collides against the glass window, and as I fall, I see a flash of what he sees, and feels…

The younglings run down the stairs; clone troopers firing at them, and I… no, he, impales one with his lightsaber. I can hear his thoughts.

To protect you, Padmé, to protect us and our child. To protect you. He stares across the sky at an apartment complex. I can see a figure at a windowsill, staring at the temple, and I cannot tell if it sees him or not, but his thoughts of the girl diminish as he attacks more younglings, and soon I see no more…

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The dawn is near as a young woman walks onto her balcony, smelling smoke and exhaust. She sees a boy, not even fourteen by the look of it, dressed in Jedi garb, hanging off the small fence that encloses the balcony. She pulls him onto her porch and attempts to wake him.

"Wake up, boy," she says, shaking his shoulder. He slowly drifts into consciousness. "What happened to you? Who are you?"

"I…" the boy says, his green eyes looking at the woman, confused. "I don't know."