Misread Prophecy

AUTHOR: Abigail

SUMMARY: What if the 'chosen one' wasn't Anakin Skywalker? What if the Jedi Council realized their mistake too late?

CHAPTER 4: Secrets

RATING: T

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that was created by George Lucas.

NOTE: voila! Read and enjoy. Make sure you review! PLEASE!

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Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things that you do

-Coldplay

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Master Yoda, Mace Windu, and Obi-Wan Kenobi boarded the Jedi Gunship. As the engines started, they all turned to one another.

"Anakin took to his assignment fairly well, considering what we are asking him to do..." Obi-Wan said, above the roar of the engines. Yoda nodded, his pensive eyes flowing over each of the Jedi Masters.

"Sense something else, I do. Distrust in the Chancellor, he has, as does the rest of the council..." Yoda replied, leaning against his knobby walking stick. Master Windu turned to Yoda.

"Except for Miss Amidala," Windu noted, taking into account the tight relationship she had with the Chancellor and their refusal against her request to be Palpatine's representative. "Although, I feel she responded quite properly, don't you Master Yoda?" The small, green man closed his eyes at this, inhaling a slow breath.

"A turn of events, I see coming for Senator Amidala. Involving Skywalker, perhaps..." he said leisurely, his eyes remaining closed. Obi-Wan and Mace eyed each other.

"With all due respect, Master, is he not the Chosen One? Is he not to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force?" Obi-Wan asked, remembering the old prophesy. Yoda opened his eyes, looking at Obi-Wan.

"A prophecy . . . that misread could have been," he answered, his meditative face scanning the view below them. Master Windu and Obi-Wan watched the buildings fly by them in silence, pondering the wise words... "Grown dark, the force has...manipulative, it has been...seductive, to some..." Yoda said, his tiny green hand brushing over the sparsely placed hair on his head.

The rest of the trip proceeded in quiet meditation, while all three Jedi held their thoughtful faces, considering what had been said...and what had been left unsaid...

Padme stood out on the veranda as she watched the sun pass below the horizon, its remaining rays lighting up the darkness in her heart. She had been brooding silently for an hour, contemplating, thinking, trying to resolve the conflict in her head. She trusted the Chancellor, with all of her being, for he had proven himself time after time that he was worthy of her trust. Padme had been Senator to Naboo for quite some time now, and she knew her opinions and beliefs relating to the war, and that she and the Chancellor thought quite correspondingly.

But she believed in the Jedi way of life as well, and everything they stood for. Padme had resided in both of these worlds quite peacefully for such a long time, but why suddenly the separation of ways? the disjointing of beliefs and values?

The surreptitious voice in the back of her mind returned, bringing her thoughts to the meeting earlier in the afternoon. Just the slight image of it in her mind sparked a fire in her soul, one that had rarely been sparked before. The flames licked her bones, sending a wildfire of anger throughout her body and mind. Padme felt a sudden resentment towards the Jedi, and the way they had betrayed her. For that's what they've done... she thought. The council fully realizes the training that Padme has undergone, all of the effort and hard work she's put in...how powerful of a Jedi she was becoming...Yet they promoted Anakin to the rank of a Master?

They're jealous of you...Yes, Padme listened to the voice, as it slowly fed her anger. They know how powerful you are, how powerful you will become...Padme closed her eyes, listening and fully understanding it all. She never realized that their hidden plans had been lurking their all along. Padme always requested to go with Master Kenobi on his missions, but Anakin always got the privilege...They treated her as if she were still a Padawan learner, following her master around, obeying his every whim and wise word.

It's because they fear you and your power...Of course, Padme realized. They know my strength...the strength that I didn't even know I had. It was the Chancellor that had first brought this matter to her mind, in his office earlier. "...it disturbs me to see how much they are holding you back from your true potential," he had said earlier. Was this true? Did Padme truly hold the key to the rise of a new Empire, or the strengthening of the old Republic? All thoughts were banished from her mind when she felt Anakin's presence.

She turned around to see him come out onto the veranda. He raised his face towards her, and a dejected look washed over him. She briskly walked to him, not saying a word as she threw herself into his open arms, desperately clinging to his comfort. She hid her face in his robes, hoping that the glistening drops forming at her eyes would be hidden from his worried eyes.

But Anakin knew all too well Padme's emotions, and held her tighter. "What's wrong, my love?" he whispered in to her ear, stroking her silky hair. The tears freely left Padme's eyes now, as she looked up at Anakin, a dazed and confused look on her face.

"Oh Ani...I'm so lost..." she said, sobs racking her body. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her trembling body. "The council is treating me like a Padawan...I'm wondering what's happening to the Jedi Council. This war has begun to jade their principles..." she hissed angrily, the memories flooding back to her. Anakin stopped stroking her hair as Padme pulled away from him, facing Coruscant's skyline again.

"Don't do this...don't shut me out. Let me help you," Anakin pleaded, walking over to her. Padme carelessly wiped the tears from her cheeks, her eyes scanning over the large towering buildings as the sun disappeared, bringing with it nighttime. Padme's mind was astray, her thoughts continually mislead by her own contradictions...She felt utterly lost.

Anakin watched Padme's face for a moment, as the final waves of sunlight gave a glimmer to her tear-streaked face. He gradually pulled her to him, encasing his arms around her, which she willingly allowed him to do. They stood there, safe in each other's embrace, as Anakin shakily spoke to Padme.

"Let me hold you Padme...like I did by the lake on Naboo, so long ago...when there was nothing but our love...no plotting, no politics, no war..." Anakin finished, giving into the sweetness of Padme's arms clinging to his masculinity. "No secrets..." Padme added, hiding her face once again in Anakin's chest.

Anakin listened as she said this, and looked to the sky. No secrets...he repeated in his mind. The words hung like cobwebs in the silence as the couple remained rooted to their spot, grasping on to that small moment in time. The moment was theirs, and they held onto it as long as they could, knowing those moments like that became more precious and rare as they raging war continued on...

Padme kissed Anakin goodbye as she left for the Galaxy's Opera House, acting on a message she received from the Chancellor saying he wished to meet her there. At first, she hesitated at his bewildering invitation, but finally chose to go. She clothed herself in an evening gown, while her handmaiden helped with the perfecting of her hair. Once she arrived at the Opera House, she searched around the endless hallways, not sure where she should look for the Chancellor. He hadn't given her a specific location as to where she should meet him.

Finally, she discovered the Chancellor's box, silently entering as she opened the door. The entertainment tonight was the Man Calamari Ballet performing "Squid Lake". Chancellor Palpatine, and his aides Mas Amedda and Sly-Moore, quickly turned around when Padme entered the box. "Ah, Miss Amidala. Come closer. I have good news!" Palpatine said as he summoned Padme to the empty seat next to him. "Our Clone Intelligence Units have discovered the location of General Grievous. He is hiding in the Utapau system..."

"What good news!" Padme replied. "We'll finally be able to catch that monster and end this war!" Palpatine nodded, but scooted closer to Padme. The undertone of his face changed as he leaned in.

"I would worry about the collective wisdom of the Council if they didn't select you for this assignment. You are the best choice by far … but, they can't always be trusted to do the right thing..." he whispered suspiciously, watching Padme stare back at him, slightly dumbfounded. The Chancellor then turned to his aides, eyeing them darkly. "Leave us," he spat quickly. Sly-Moore and Mas Amedda obeyed, quickly exiting the box, leaving Palpatine and Padme alone. The Chancellor watched them leave, then turned to Padme once they were gone.

"Padme, you know I'm not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will..." he said, his eyes drifting over to the ballet sequence. A moment of silence proceeded, until Padme spoke up.

"I'm not sure I understand, sir..." she said, hoping that the Chancellor would fully explain what he was trying to get at. He turned again, a serious look compounded on his face. The corners of his mouth twitched as he spoke, "You must sense what I have come to suspect . . . the Jedi Council wants control of the Republic . . . they're planning to betray me." Padme was taken aback by his words...but then again...

"I wouldn't think that..." she started, but the Chancellor leaned closer. "Padme, search your feelings. You know, don't you? They don't trust me! Or the Senate!" he hissed, his face contorting with anger. Padme relayed the words, and spoke quietly...almost to herself.

"I must admit my trust in them has been shaken..." The Chancellor beamed inwardly as Padme said this.

"Do you know what your husband is doing behind your back? He's spying on me...the Jedi only appointed him Master just so..."

"Anakin would never do that!" she said forcefully, interrupting the Chancellor. It scared her that this man knew about their marriage and that he would even assume that Anakin would do something as terrible as treason. He slowly shook his head at this.

"Padme, you said so yourself. You can't trust the Jedi Order anymore. They are plotting against me, the Senate, even you!" he said, grabbing her shaking hand. She quickly pulled it away, eyeing him with skepticism. "Remember back to your early teachings. 'All those who gain power are afraid to lose it.' Even the Jedi..." he said, his eyes gazing through her own.

Padme considered his words, but responded quickly, her mind strongly disagreeing with what he was saying...even if her thoughts weren't. "The Jedi use their power for good." The Chancellor smiled, his mouth turning upward, curling his lips.

"Good is a point of view, Padme. And the Jedi point of view is not the only valid one. The Dark Lords of the Sith believe in security and justice also, yet they are considered by the Jedi to be. . .evil. This is still the Jedi point of view. So you see, it's all relative..." the Chancellor said, watching Padme's once very arguable face turning into one of agreement...

"The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think inward, only about themselves...While the Jedi are selfless, and care only about others" she added, doing her best to remember all of her teachings from her younger years. But the Chancellor seemed to know to much...

"Or so you've been trained to believe...Can't you see it, Padme? Why else did they refuse you from being my Representative? They know that they can control Anakin, tell him what to do, knowing he will obey. Consider their motives...they fear the loss of power...that's what this is all about..."

Padme listened quietly, finding the wise words of her Master useless at this moment. For she was truly starting to believe it all...as if some faint image was becoming clearer as the fog lifted...

"Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis 'the wise'?" he asked, his face calm and relaxed. Padme slightly shook her head, listening to his quiet words. "I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life ... He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying..."

Towards the end of his story, Padme's ears perked up...and suddenly her mind was attentive, alive... "He could actually save people from death?" she asked incredulously. Her vision crept into the back of her mind again... Chancellor Palpatine nodded, continuing on. His face turned to the ballet, which was quickly nearing the end of their performance.

"The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be..." he paused at this, turning to Padme's conscientious face. "Unnatural," he added, looking into her sparkling eyes. Padme felt the possibilities flying through her head, and she felt her gaze lower down to her not yet showing stomach. She gently placed her hand against it, feeling the tiny orb of life that lay there, silently growing inside her. Padme did not notice the Chancellor's pressing gaze until she raised her head again.

"Is it possible to learn this power?" she asked, her hand still placed against her warm stomach. The Chancellor smiled slyly, looking down at Padme's pale hand. "Not from a Jedi..." he said, watching Padme consider his words carefully. The rest of the ballet was watched in silence; as thoughts and beginnings formed in Padme's mind...the Chancellor's as well...