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 12: Darkness

RATING: T

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

NOTE: Hey, I just wanted to give a holler for my brother who has blessed me with his immense knowledge of the Star Wars world, seeing as I am a fairly new fan. Thanks Alex! Oh, Happy Independence Day, for anyone who is celebrating. I know I am... smiles

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'Cause the night is long and I hunt for you.
In this darkest hour, where have you gone to?
Won't you come to my side?
I need you tonight...

-Jewel

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Padme couldn't help but laugh when she, Anakin, and Yoda stepped down from the Gunship onto the swamp planet of the Dagobah system. The environment of where they were came off as slightly intimidating...the growth of plants, the wet and soggy ground, and the animals alive in the trees of colossal proportions.

"This way, come..." Yoda said, as he trudged his way through the sodden soil. Anakin and Padme followed him until they were met by their new accommodations for their time on Dagobah. A small hut lay in the dense part of the forest, and by estimation, Padme assumed that it was only as tall as she was in height. They lowered themselves in and crowded inside their new housing.

"Here, you will both stay. Nearby, will I be...until tomorrow, goodbye..." Yoda said as he left, slogging his way through the swamp. Padme lowered herself back inside the hunt, and took in her surroundings.

It was quite comfortably furnished, with a bed, table, sofa, and chair. Compared to her old apartment, the entire hut itself would probably account for one of her rooms in Coruscant. But she didn't mind, and sat down in the chair that was adjacent to where Anakin sat on the sofa.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, noticing that familiar pensive look in his eyes.

"Oh...just remembering all of those days from long ago...when the two of us would persuade Obi-Wan to let us go to the practice theater, when really we just wanted to be together," he said wistfully, a smile lighting up on his face. Padme laughed gently, her mind drifting back to the goodness of that life.

"Don't you remember that one time when I had first been inducted into the Jedi? And all day you helped me train? It was so sweet of you..." she said pleasantly, her voice reminiscent. Anakin smiled as she stood up from her chair, cautious of the low ceiling, and sat herself down next to him on the couch. Her arms wrapped around him as she laid her head against his chest. The two closed their eyes, as they were gently lulled to sleep by the warmth of their embrace and the warmth of the evening...

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For the length of their stay on Dagobah, both Padme and Anakin devoted themselves to the training of Yoda. Every morning they woke up, embracing the day with grueling physical exercise as well as meditative instruction. This left very little time for Padme or Anakin to worry about their children, even though they were permitted by Yoda to view a hologram of the two children once a day. Yoda also commanded that the both of them do their best to keep Luke and Leia from entering their thoughts, as it would keep Darth Siddious from suspecting where the children could be located.

The days wore on, and soon Padme grew tired of her constant training. She had grown irritated with her meditation through the Force, and was becoming physically exhausted with the constant work outs. Padme chose to walk alone one night, telling Anakin that she just needed some solitude. And as she stumbled amongst the heavy foliage, she suddenly stopped.

She could feel the presence again...the Force mutated and grappled at her skin causing the hair on her arms to bristle. Padme quickly pulled her saber from her gown and activated it, cutting the blade through the air with a warning...It was then that she noticed a small gully in the forest where the trees thickened, the shrubbery increased, and the daylight's rays did not reach. Curiously, she walked into it, shielding herself with her readied weapon.

The Force continued to change and the presence of the Dark side grew as Padme continued to venture into the ravine. She then came to a place where the small path dropped off into a menacing hole. Without fear, she jumped through it, dexterously landing on her feet.

Padme stood up and took note of the grimy, moss covered walls of the small cave that she had entered. It smelled rankly and the air was cold and chilly, almost with the feel of death. She took another step forward until she could see around the corner of the cave. Padme froze, as she watched the remnants of sunlight disappear from the cave when a figure crept towards her from the other side of the cave.

She stepped back, igniting her saber quickly, almost in a dream-like state. The figure sauntered closer as the darkness edged into Padme's heart. Their dark robe swayed about their moving form slowly until the person stopped, inches away form Padme's quivering body. They gradually lifted their face, exposing their identity to Padme. A faint cackle emanated from their mouth, but it was quickly extinguished as Padme sliced her saber through the darkness, neatly dividing the Sith Lord's head from his adjoining body.

The darkness left the cave as his body fell to the dank ground. Padme shuddered, an icy gasp emitting from her trembling lips. Her heart was beating rapidly, the sound of her blood pounding in her ears. The light saber fell from her hands as she madly scrambled to escape the darkness of the cave. She struggled to climb up the soggy earth above her, finally doing so. Padme ran from the opening as fast as she could, her robes trailing behind her.

Once she reached the hut, she regained her composure and smoothed her robes while running a tremulous hand over her frizzy hair. Upon entering the hut, Anakin immediately knew something was wrong.

"Padme...what happened?" he asked, rushing from the chair in which he sat. She scrambled her arms around him, allowing her breathing to slow as she melted in his comforting embrace.

"I was...I was walking and..." Padme stopped. She knew that if she told Anakin about her vision in the cave, that he would be worried. And she knew that Anakin's worries for her sometimes drove him to do insane things. The last thing that she wanted was to have to relocate to another distant system...or worse...stop her communications with Luke and Leia each day. She couldn't even bear the thought of not seeing her children's bright faces every morning.

"There was a creature in the forest and it frightened me..." she said quickly, shutting her eyes as she boldly lied to Anakin. He tightened their embrace and lightly smiled.

"You scared me Padme...I've only seen that look on your face a small number of times. You don't scare easily..." he said, looking down on her anxious face. She gently laughed, pulling him to her again. Padme let Anakin hold her for a long time, as the day came to a close, announcing night time, and another sleepless night for Padme.

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"Distracted, you are..." Yoda told Padme the next morning while she attempted to meditate with him. She opened her eyes and threw him a muddled look. Padme already told Yoda that she had lost her saber, and she knew that it wouldn't be long until he saw right through her hidden emotions.

"Yes..." she whispered, averting her gaze from his thoughtful eyes. Yoda made a sound and then stood up from the fallen tree on which he sat.

"Confused about your vision...you are," he said, causing Padme to react to his slow words. Her eyes lit up and her mouth slightly opened.

"How did you know?" she asked bewilderingly. He stood in front of Padme, lightly leaning against his gimmer stick.

"Evil, that cave is..." he said, his eyes observing Padme, scrutinizing every detail about her face. He paused a while after saying this, his body turning away from her. But then he turned back quickly, his eyes suddenly bright and animated.

"Listen to the Force; you must...Obey what it tells you..." Yoda said slowly. Padme sighed as she looked down at her hands.

"I feel as if...the Force is calling me...as if it were my destiny..." she said, her eyes twinkling. "I'm just not sure if I can do it..." she said, looking back up at her Master.

"In yourself, you must believe. In the Force, you must be strong...Complete, your training is. No more, can I teach you..." he said, shuffling closer towards her. Yoda leaned towards her, his large green eyes gazing into her soul. "Ready, you are..." he continued. Padme gazed back at him, feeling the Force react to his words. She stood up, as if she were rising to the challenge. Padme knew in her heart what she had to do. But then the thought occurred...

"Master Yoda..." she said distantly, staring off into a patch of trees. "But...what of the prophesy?" she mumbled, realizing what it would mean if she were to perform the duty to her heart, and the rest of the Republic.

"A prophesy, that misread could have been..." he stated, the certainty of his words striking Padme with mixed feelings. If what he said was true, it would mean so many things! Her heart leapt for a moment, a feeling of ecstasy and astonishment flowing freely in her soul...But then she truly realized what it meant...

"Go..." Yoda said suddenly. "Little time, do you have..." he added, as she ran from the clearing where they previously meditated. Her legs pushed furiously against the soggy ground as she traversed her way through the forest, making her way to the hut where Anakin was waiting for her. Padme pressed on until she found herself at the entrance of her provisional home. She gently pushed the door open, to find herself face to face with Anakin. He walked out of the door and wrapped his arms around Padme.

"Anakin..." she mumbled into his chest, her heart still beating wildly with conviction and fear at the same time.

"Yoda already told me everything..." he responded, resting his head against hers. A sigh of relief abandoned Padme's mouth as she looked up at him. A moment of silence passed between the two of them as they continued to hold each other.

"You realize...that I have to do this," Padme said, her words breaking the tension in the air. Anakin pressed his lips against hers, embracing her in an ardent kiss.

"I know..." he whispered, a tinge of fear in his voice. They continued to cling to each other, not wanting to let go, realizing that it would mean separation once again...