Moving Mountains

Leia's mind was clear and free as she and Anakin battled on the tabletop. Every sound was drowned out by buzzing. All she could see was a blazing blue. Her body was not her own as she was completely under control of the Force. She twirled her blade above her head and spun on her heel. Anakin's blade barely missed her as its tip scraped across the table.

Leia dropped to the floor and backed towards the nearest door. She took a high stance that seemed humorously familiar to Anakin. "I believe it is safe to assume that we need more room."

Anakin nodded. "I'm inclined to agree."

Leia held her ground as if she were trying to figure out what to do. Then she lowered her lightsaber to a forward stance and walked backwards through the hallway. Anakin remained where he was until she reached the other end. He took his time following her. He deliberately scraped his lightsaber against the wall again as he walked.

Leia turned and ran back out towards the landing platform. She knew the fight would continue within a matter of seconds. She looked over the side of the platform, but every available spot was covered with lava. She could hear the scraping of Anakin's lightsaber grow louder as he stepped into view.

"Now what?" Leia closed her eyes and calmed herself. She smiled when she heard her dead son laughing as if lovingly taunting her. "You were right," she responded. "Now can you please give me a break here?"

She opened her eyes when she heard a distant rumbling become louder. She saw a mass of flat volcanic rock lift through on the other side of the lava river. Molten rock rolled off the sides as the land mass settled into its new spot. Leia hesitated for a moment, though she knew she was supposed to somehow get to that land mass.

"Trust in the Force," she assured herself. With her eyes still closed, she threw herself off the landing platform. The rumbling grew louder until her feet landed on solid ground. Volcanic rocks crunched under her feet. Leia opened her eyes and looked up. Anakin landed a few meters from her. Eager to continue, he took the high fighting stance. Leia huffed as she raised her weapon.

"This is it," she heard him say. "The final test. For both of us."

"I knew you would say that." She did know he'd say it, but she didn't know what it really meant.

The two of them stared at each other for a mere second before Anakin moved forward. Leia sprinted and met him halfway. Their lightsabers collided and crossed. Anakin's was the first to slip. Leia swung hers up to avoid decapitating him as he rushed past her. Then they both turned to continue their battle. Leia did not realize that Anakin was moving backwards towards the edge of the island. She felt compelled to force him back until she managed to put him on the defensive. He made no effort to turn the fight to his favor, but instead allowed himself to be driven to the edge until he was teetering on his feet.

Leia didn't see it coming. Still under the tutelage and control of the Force, she caught Anakin in the gut with her foot and kicked him. Rather than attempt to save himself, Anakin fell backwards into the lava. Leia screamed as she jumped back from the immolation. She watched with wide eyes and open mouth as Anakin disappeared into the burning river.

"Anakin!" Leia scanned the river, but she felt no hope that he'd survived. "He can't be dead," she said to herself before realizing the absurdity of the statement.

A minor surge of lava where Anakin had fallen caught her attention. She stepped forward in hopes of seeing him reemerge. A gloved hand broke through the surface and seized the edge of the island. Leia felt relief for one second before realizing it wasn't the glove Anakin wore to simulate his old injury. Instead, it was one attached to a more sinister memory. Leia slowly retreated as the second hand emerged. The black clad figure pulled itself onto land. A familiar black cape brushed the volcanic rock as the figure stood and ignited his lightsaber. The blade was red. A creepy artificial breathing filled Leia's ears. She saw the lava reflected in his helmet.

"Darth Vader," she said.

To her surprise, he actually bowed, though it felt like derision to her. "Now we get to see what you're really made of."

Leia blew out through her teeth as she brought her lightsaber into position. She willed herself to relax to maintain her grip on the Force, or rather, so it could maintain its grip on her. She let it fill every cell in her body. The sensation left her somewhat lightheaded.

"This won't be a repeat of Mimban," she said as she inched towards the center of the island.

"I would be sorely disappointed if it were."

Leia forced her mind to blank out. She felt more energy flow through her, but she was almost afraid that if it continued much longer, she'd burn herself out. Everything she had come to grips with in the past few hours melted away in the fires of blind anger. She shrieked with rage as her blue blade collided with his red one.

The entire fight seemed to play out in slow motion. She could see every move Vader made before each one connected. Her muscles strained to move fast enough to parry and counter. In desperation, she swung for his hands. She instantly regretted the move when he dodged and grazed her left arm with the tip of his lightsaber. Leia screamed and backed away. Vader's lightsaber swung again; this time it sliced the tip of her hair.

Leia switched her lightsaber to her left hand and held her wound with her right. Her perceptions were still in slow motion as she watched Vader approach her. She awkwardly brandished her lightsaber.

"You are still no challenge for me," Vader said.

Leia's mouth opened before she realized what words were coming out. "Would it be so easy for you to kill your own flesh and blood?"

"Would you kill yours instead?" he countered. "Even to save your own life?"

"Is that what this is about? All of this was a sham? So you could betray me?"

"You are too shortsighted."

Vader swung for Leia's left hand. She tried to block rather than switch hands again. Vader's lightsaber knocked hers to the ground. His blade was close enough just to singe the tip of her nails. Then he spun and slapped her right thigh with his blade. She screamed and dropped to the ground. She rolled over so she could see Vader standing at her feet.

Vader raised his lightsaber as if to strike her. "How desperately do you want to survive?"

Leia shook her head. Hot tears poured down her face. "No!"

Vader's lightsaber fell towards her. In a flash of anger and desperation, Leia held her hand up. A Force wave seized the lightsaber and knocked it from Vader's hand. It landed on the edge of the island and rolled into the lava.

"No!" Leia screamed again. Another Force wave slammed against Vader and pushed him away. Thinking quickly, Leia summoned her own lightsaber back to her hand. She impelled herself to scramble to her feet. Though her arm and leg ached terribly, she willed the pain away. She continued pushing against Vader with her Force wave, but she could feel it growing weaker as he pushed back against it. He gradually began to advance towards her.

A new sense of anger filled Leia. She took a deep breath before shouting in a husky voice, "Die!" The word was still on her lips when she swung for Vader's head. She was too far away to actually harm him. Instead, the blade slashed through Vader's helmet. It split in half all the way around and fell from his head. Leia spun with the momentum and sliced at him again. This time she cut through his chest armor. As if by magic, Vader's entire armor fell away from his body. Finally completely exposed, Anakin Skywalker moaned weakly and dropped to his knees.

Leia raised her lightsaber over her head. Her eyes were wide with hatred. She breathed heavily through her mouth. Anakin slowly raised his head to look at her. His eyes were back to their normal blue, and his face was wet with sweat and tears.

"You did it," he said softly before bowing his head. "You did it."

Leia was suddenly riddled with confusion. "Are you with me, or against me? Whom do you serve?"

Anakin didn't look up. "I serve the Force. That is all."

Leia slowly lowered her lightsaber. "Are you saying this was the work of the Force?" Though she had a difficult time believing it, she glanced around as if searching for an answer. When none came, she deactivated her lightsaber and dropped it. She reached into the Force and was filled with peace and reassurance. "This is the test you were talking about."

The pain in Leia's leg shot through the rest of her body. She fell to her knees in front of Anakin. Both of them were huffing with fatigue. She heard Anakin crying, just as he had when she saw his image on Coruscant.

"Darth Vader is dead," Leia said, "for me, at least." Though it wasn't a question, Anakin nodded in response. Leia struggled with herself for a moment before she said, "Then I forgive you."

Anakin raised his head as if he didn't believe he heard her correctly. "What was that?"

Leia hesitated as if embarrassed. "I said I forgive you. Father," she added for good measure.

"Why?"

Leia was expecting the catechism. "I no longer have room for hatred in my heart, especially for something that no longer exists. Because I am a Jedi, a Skywalker, and I serve the Force."

Anakin chuckled and bowed his head again. "Was that really so difficult?"

"Moving mountains is easier than forgiveness. Though I did get some good advice from my mother." Ignoring the pain, Leia wrapped her good arm around Anakin's neck and rested her head against his shoulder. He was too eager to return the gesture.

"Can we get out of here now?" Leia asked as if she were a little girl.

"I'm way ahead of you."