Lead the Way: A Star Wars/She-Ra Story
Chapter 55: Anakin
On Coruscant.
Sam waited in the Jedi Temple hangar as he saw the Silver blade land.
He quickly rushed to it as fast as his legs would carry him.
The ramp to the ship opened…. And he heard the kids all yell, "DADDY!"
Sam quickly took the kids into a group hug with Hordak.
Sam cried as he kissed each of them on the forehead, "my babies! Are you alright!?"
Rey said, "better, now that we're here. Papa saved us."
Sam then kissed Hordak on the lips.
Sam said, "when this is all over, you're getting the best night of your life, sweety."
Hordak winked at Sam.
"Daddy", Aiden cried as he hugged his father's legs.
Sam asked, "are you all okay? Did Vader hurt any of you?"
Rey said, "no. He didn't hurt us. But we were so scared without you."
Sam hugged Rey close to him and kissed her forehead.
"I promise…. We won't let him or the First Order hurt you again", Sam said to his children.
Sam said, "we know you won't. Now, let's get you kids a meal and some rest before we move onto the next stage of our mission."
The kids nod as they follow their parents.
….
Timeskip.
"Shhhhh…. Shhhhhhh", Sam whispered as he rocked Junior to sleep.
"Shhhhh…. Shhhh…. Shhhh", Hordak whispered as he rocked Angela to sleep.
Their children would stay in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant for their safety.
Aiden had fallen asleep in his bed with Grogu snuggled up next to him.
Rey was with her boyfriend, Ani.
Sam and Hordak then placed Junior and Angela in their cribs.
Sam and Hordak kissed each of the kids on their foreheads before leaving the room.
They then made their way to the council chambers.
"Rey", Sam called out.
"I'm here Dad", Rey said as she was with Ani.
"Watch after your siblings", Sam said to his daughter.
Rey nodded as she and Ani walked off to watch the kids.
Sam and Hordak soon entered the council chambers.
Sam noticed that Master Yoda looked very tired, but decided to leave it be for now.
Yoda asked, "now here, is everyone?"
Everyone nods their heads.
"We now have found the location of the Wayfinder", Adora said.
Sam said, "now we just have to locate Mortis, the planet it's on."
Leon said, "easier said than done. We pretty much found Mortis by accident last time."
"But the blade will glow when Mortis is near", Catra explained.
"Meaning this time…. Hopefully it will be much easier to find the planet", Ahsoka said with hope.
Sam said, "so we have a plan. We use the blade to find Mortis, then the Wayfinder, be with that, we'll have coordinates to Exegol."
"We have to do it…. The fate of the galaxy is in our hands", Obi Wan said.
Sam said, "Hordak and I will lead a team to find Mortis. We'll take BB8 with us. Oh, and don't forget to have Threepio's memory restored by Artoo later."
Shaak Ti said, "we'll make sure."
Plo Koon asked, "who will be going on this mission with you?"
Sam sighed before he said, "Adora, Chewie and Han for sure. Luke and Leia as well. We'll need more people to stay behind and prepare for the attack on Exegol."
"I already have various cruisers preparing for the attack on Exegol", Padme said.
Hordak said, "good. We should be prepared for such a fight."
"I already told all of our friends back on Etheria…. They will be helping us as well", Entrapta said with a smile.
"That's good news", Hordak Jr said with a smile.
Sam said, "and we should receive aid from the Bounty Hunter's under Boba Fett."
"We need all the help we can get", Leon said.
"The clones are willing to help as well", Rex said.
Prime said, "as will my Horde soldiers."
"Then we've got no time to lose", Sam said.
Everyone said their goodbyes as they ran off to complete their tasks.
Sam was in his old room as he was changing into some new clothes.
They were very similar to the ones Ahsoka wore during her mission to Mandalore, but without the headband, and it was built for a man, rather than a woman.
Sam then looked at himself in a mirror as he admired his new outfit.
He said, "nice. This should be useful in my next fight. I wonder if Hordak likes the new outfit he got…."
Hordak was in a room as he put on his new outfit.
It was all black, with white shirt collar poking out of it.
"This outfit is cool looking", Hordak said. He looked over his shoulder and muttered, "though I wish it didn't hug my rear too much."
Hordak sighed.
Sam and Hordak soon met up in the hallway.
Hamill and BB8 followed behind them. The two droids had made sure D-O have been left in Rey's soon as a surprise.
"Hi honey…. You look much more handsome in that outfit", Sam said with a sly grin on his face.
Hordak smirked and said, "I could say the same thing about you in that little number."
Sam's face was now red as a tomato.
Sam said, "come on, let's get to the Falcon. Remind me to get the Hawk repaired after this."
"Noted", Hordak said.
The two then made it to the hangar bay.
"Come on, let's go", Han said as he and Chewie walked inside their ship.
The others followed them inside the Falcon, and within a few minutes, the ship was taking off.
Luke asked, "so how do we find Mortis?"
Sam took out the blade and held it in his hand.
He said, "the blade glows when we get closer to Mortis. If I can find the right direction to point it, that'll lead us to Mortis. Hamill…. Do you still remember the exact spot where Mortis used to be?"
Hamill nodded and pointed south west of the ship. Sam nodded and pointed the blade in that direction, where it glowed for a second!
Sam grinned and said, "gotcha."
Han and Chewie steered the Falcon in that direction.
Han quickly put the ship into hyperspace, and with that, the Falcon took off towards its next destination.
Sam saw the blade was starting to glow.
"I hope this means we are getting closer to the planet", Leia said.
Sam said, "I'm sure it is. We just have to keep moving as the blade glows brighter."
Han added, "and when a planet shows up out of the blue, we'll know it's the right one, right?"
"You got it", Sam said, then he noticed the blade was glowing brighter.
Luke said, "looks like we're getting closer."
"We're about to drop out of hyperspace", Han said.
Hordak said, "everybody hold on tight."
The ship came out if hyperspace, and San saw an all too familiar sight in front of them.
Sam nearly whispered, "Mortis."
Everyone asked, "that's Mortis?"
Sam said, "yep. Just as I remember it."
Han said, "it looks more like a space station. A dying one at that."
Sam replied, "with the Father, Son and Daughter dead, the world is pretty much dead."
"The Wayfinder must be there…. The blade will lead us to it", Hordak said.
Han said, "come in Chewie. Let's get us down there and find this Wayfinder thing."
Chewie growled as they steered the ship in the direction of the planet.
Sam could feel chills going up his spine.
Hordak asked, "you alright?"
Sam said, "this place still gives me the creeps. Even after nearly twenty years."
Hordak rubbed his husband's back in comfort.
"Let's find a place to land the ship", Han said.
Chewie pointed out a wide open field.
Han said, "good eye Chewie. Let's land there."
The Falcon then landed on the ground.
"Now all of you must be careful…. Mortis is a lot more dangerous than you think", Sam said to his friends.
The others nodded as they exited the ship and split up.
Sam, Hordak, Hamill and BB8 went one way, as Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie went another.
Sam could not stop feeling a bit nervous being back on this planet.
Everything seemed to be more calm following the deaths of the Father, Daughter and Son.
He thought, 'I guess not having living embodiments of the force around can keep a planet from going crazy.'
BB8 beeped.
"The blade seems to be glowing brighter", Sam said as he stared at the blade.
Hordak said, "that's a good sign. Just follow where it gets brighter."
As they were walking…. Sam knew they were heading.
The temple where Ahsoka had died.
Sam said, "it must be in there…. It was under our noses the whole time we were here."
Hordak said, "let's find it before anything else happens."
Sam and Hordak started to climb the walls of the temple.
Hordak asked, "so what all did you see here when you landed here?"
Sam replied, "what didn't we see?"
Hamill beeped to respond to Hordak's question.
Hordak said, "oh my. That does sound quite frightening."
The group soon made it to the courtyard of the temple.
Sam felt himself shiver as he still could feel the events that happened here 20 years ago.
Sam looked at the blade. It was glowing brightly as Sam pointed it around, trying to find where the Wayfinder was.
When Sam stopped in the left direction the blade was glowing even more.
"The Wayfinder is in there", Sam said as he started to walk in the direction.
As Sam walked off, Hordak heard a voice say, "hello."
Hordak turned to see where the voice came from.
Hordak asked, "hello?"
Hordak activated his blue lightsaber as he entered a cave.
As he walked forward, the walls began to shift and change, until he found himself standing in the Jedi temple! But it looked more futuristic and clean.
Hordak asked, "where am I?"
"Hello there."
Hordak quickly turned around…. And the older Leon was standing there.
Hordak said, "Leon?"
The older Leon said, "close."
Hordak said, "wait…. You're the Leon from the future?"
Older Leon smiled.
"Leon did tell us about him…. Seeing the future and his future self", Hordak said feeling a bit confused.
Older Leon said, "indeed. And when you get back to Coruscant, you end up telling me about this. So I knew I'd need to speak to you here."
Hordak asked, "why did you want to speak with me?"
Older Leon replied, "I need to show you something. Namely, the future that your family will have, if you manage to succeed against the First Order."
Hordak asked, now feeling scared, "my Family!? What do you mean?"
"Master Leon, help me", Galen shouted as he was running
Older Leon didn't answer Hordak as he turned to see his padawan running to hide behind his back.
Older Leon asked, "what is it, my young padawan?"
Galen said, "Marek is trying to hit me for stealing his favorite chips!"
Hordak could not stop staring at Galen…. He looked exactly like Sam….
"Get back here", Marek shouted.
Hordak stared in shock and awe as Marek came into view.
Marek looked like Hordak, but with red pupils instead of entirely red eyes, slightly longer blue hair and a chip in his ear.
Marek also had a scar on his cheek and his outfit was a black cloak and a cape with a blood red interior. His lightsaber was combined with a staff of some kind.
Galen screamed in fright as he hid behind his master.
Marek growled in anger as he approached his little brother.
Older Leon held out his hand to stop Marek.
He said, "now boys, don't go fighting like that. Or do I need to bring this up with your family? Or force forbid your girlfriends?"
Marek said, "no! Please don't tell Entra!"
Hordak asked, "Entra?"
Older Leon asked, "now can't you boys just solve your problems without having to chase one another?"
Both boys looked down in embarrassment over their squabbles.
"But this does indeed remind me of those old times with my friend Sam…. And my wife Ahsoka", Older Leon said with a sad smile.
Galen asked, "what do you mean, master?"
Older Leon said with a smile, "did I ever tell you about how Sam's brother Anakin chased after me, him and Ahsoka?"
Galen replied, "I think you've told us a few times."
Marek added, "mostly when we were kids."
"Well…. You two remind me of them so much", Older Leon said with a smile.
Galen asked, "Grandpa Sam and Anakin?"
Hordak stuttered, "Grandpa!?"
Older Leon said, "indeed. Anakin chased me, Sam and Ahsoka numerous times for messing with him."
"Just like how my big brother is doing to me now", Galen said as he turned to stare at Marek.
Marek growled, "what was that!?"
"Now you two…. Stop it. Galen, you go on ahead to the training room, I need to speak with your brother", Older Leon said with a smile.
Galen nodded as he dashed off as fast as he could while Marek and Older Leon stared upon one another.
"Look master Leon…. I'm sorry…. I just got mad…. Galen knows not to touch or mess with my stuff", Marek said with a sigh.
Older Leon said, "I get that, but you should try working things out non-violently. You're brothers. You should stick together no matter what."
Marek sighed.
"You do remind me so much of Hordak", Older Leon said with a smile as he placed his hand on Marek's shoulder.
Marek asked, "besides looking like him?"
Older Leon said, "indeed. You care for others, but you have a bit of an attitude."
"Everyday, I do my best and I want to honor my great grandpa Hordak's memory", Marek said as he stared at the statue of Hordak.
Hordak stared upon the statue of himself as Older Leon said, "I think you've more than lived up to his memory."
Older Leon then placed his hand on Marek's shoulder.
Older Leon asked, "are you ready to have a padawan Marek?"
Marek said, "you…. You really think I'm ready for one?"
Older Leon smiled and said, "I know you're ready. You're one of the kindest and responsible Jedi in the order. You'll do well as a teacher. I have taught 9 padawans before your brother."
"That's a bit more than Master Grogu", Marek said in awe.
Hordak asked, "Grogu?"
Older Leon chuckled and said, "well, he does have the advantage of aging slowly. I wouldn't be surprised if he became the next Grand Master after my time comes. He still looks like he's 20 years old for his species."
Marek asked, "but doesn't the force slowly age those who are force sensitive?"
Older Leon said, "indeed, but Grogu's species ages slowly naturally. My connection to the force has allowed me to live for around 900 years."
Marek smiled.
He said, "thank you Master. I would be honored to take a Padawan."
Older Leon smiled.
"I'll meet up with you later Marek to help you choose your padawan, this will help you advance to the rank of Jedi Master", Older Leon said with a smile on his face.
Marek smiled and said, "thank you Master. Now, I should go find my brother and apologize."
Older Leon smiled as he pats Marek's head.
He said, "very good."
Marek smiled as he ran off to find his brother.
Older Leon turned to look at Hordak.
Older Leon asked with a chuckle, "I can already see you have a lot of questions, don't you Hordak?"
Hordak said, "that's an understatement. So, Marek and Galen are Sam and I's descendants?"
"Yes", Older Leon said with a nod of his head.
Hordak said, "I'm guessing Entra is the descendant of Obi Wan and Entrapta?"
"Yes, and she is Marek's girlfriend", Older Leon said.
Hordak said, "I got that part. So, this is the future. And I'm guessing you showed me this for a reason…?"
Older Leon nods his head.
Hordak asked, "and I'm guessing if we don't win against Palpatine and his First Order, this future will cease to be?"
"I'm afraid so", Older Leon said with a sigh.
Hordak said, "then I'll do everything I can to make sure we win the day."
Older Leon smiled then he started to fade away….
The world around Hordak began to turn back into the temple he was in, and he turned around and started walking down the hall Sam had gone down.
Hordak could then hear the sound of…. Lightsabers?
Hordak quickly ran hoping to find his husband.
….
Moments earlier.
Sam was in a hallway of the temple as he saw the blade glow brighter.
He muttered, "it's here. We're so close to it…. I just gotta find the room it's in…."
Sam then stopped in front of a door.
Hamill beeped.
Sam said, "this must be it, Hamill. Now we've just gotta open the door somehow."
Hamill tried to push the door open, but it didn't work.
Hamill beeped as he shrugged.
Sam started inspecting the door, trying to find any way of opening it.
And he came across a small slot of some kind.
Sam looked at the blade and muttered, "I wonder…."
Sam inserted the blade into the slot and the doors then opened.
"It worked", Sam said with a grin on his face.
Hamill beeped as he jumped onto Sam's shoulder.
Sam slowly entered a large room.
And what he saw shook him.
On the walls was a gigantic mural.
It depicted a gangly looking monster in blood red robes fighting two warriors dressed in blue and black.
Sam said, "deja vu…."
Hamill let out what appeared to be a shiver.
"Come on, the Wayfinder has to be here", Sam said as he searched around.
Hamill looked around, and then spotted a loose panel right in the center of the room.
Hamill beeped as he pointed at the panel.
Sam walked over to it.
He saw a slight hand print on the panel, knelt down and pressed the panel. He stepped back as the panel began to rise into the air.
Hamill beeped.
"I know buddy", Sam said to his droid.
The panel went higher and higher, until they saw a glass case in the middle. And in that case was a small pyramid shaped artifact. The Wayfinder!
"That must be the Wayfinder", Sam said with a smile on his face.
Now that he found it, he and the rest of the Jedi can find Exegol and stop the First Order.
Hamill started scanning the Wayfinder, copying it's data into his systems.
Sam walked over and grabbed the Wayfinder.
"Let's go tell the others we found it", Sam said to his droid.
"You're not going to tell anyone."
Sam grew a frightened look that turned to one of anger as he turned to see Vader standing there.
Sam quickly activated one of his lightsabers.
Hamill snarled as he saw Vader.
Sam shouted, "Vader!? How did you get here!?"
Vader said, "I was able to track that pathetic Falcon here. And you lead me right to the other Wayfinder. But you're not leaving here without it."
Sam glared at Vader as he clutched the Wayfinder tight in his hand.
Hamill kept snarling at Vader.
"You have gone too far this time Vader…. I will never forgive you for kidnapping my children", Sam shouted.
Vader said, "oh really? Because every time I see you, there's a twinge of hope in your eyes. Hope that Anakin Skywalker still lies within this shell of a man…."
Sam shouted, "I know there still is! If you really can't feel love…. Then why do you want Padme, Luke and Leia to join you that badly!?"
Vader remained silent before he suddenly thrust his hand forward and called the Wayfinder into his hand!
"Give it back", Sam shouted as he got into a battle stance.
Vader held the Wayfinder and said, "come and get it."
Sam then activated both of his lightsabers and held one of them in a reverse grip.
Vader activated his own saber and pointed it at Sam.
Sam let out a battle cry as he ran towards Vader.
One of Sam's lightsabers clashed with Vader's red lightsaber.
"Give it back", Sam shouted.
Vader said, "if you want it, you're gonna have to win it!"
Sam growled as he kept trying to strike Vader!
Vader then cut a hole through the wall and he jumped through it.
Sam coughed as he chased after Vader.
….
Yoda's cane fell to the ground as he put his hand on his chest.
Shaak Ti came over to Yoda and asked, "Master? What's wrong?"
Yoda coughed out, "sick I have become…. Old and weak…."
Shaak Ti looked worried as she helped Master Yoda walk to the med bay.
"No, my room…. I must go to", Yoda said with a cough.
Shaak Ti nodded as she led him towards his room, with the other Jedi following behind.
No…. Alone in my room…. I must be", Yoda said as he coughed.
Artoo beeped as he spoke with Maz Kanata, an old friend of Yoda.
"Yoda knows what must be done Artoo", Maz said sadly as she stared at her old friend as Shaak Ti helped him walk to his room.
Artoo beeped again.
Shaak Ti helped Yoda into his bed, and she left the room, the other Jedi all looking in from the doorway.
Somehow they all knew…. This would be the end of Master Yoda.
"To reach Anakin…. It will take the strength he has left", Maz said sadly with a tear in her eye.
….
Mortis
Sam kept dueling with Vader as they were now in the courtyard of the temple.
Adora, Luke and Leia then sensed something was wrong.
"Uncle Sam", Luke and Leia said.
Sam's two lightsabers clashed with Vader's red saber.
Sam growled, "I've tried to give you every chance I could! But you keep pushing me away! Give me the Wayfinder! Please!"
Vader was silent and still for a moment until he said, "I will do what I must."
Vader then crushed the Wayfinder in his hand!
"NOOOOO", Sam shouted as he ran towards Vader.
As Sam clashed his sabers with Vader's, he could hear his husband and friends calling out his name.
Luke and Leia shouted as they ran towards their Uncle, "UNCLE SAM!"
Sam shouted as he force pushed them back, "NOOOOO!"
The kids were sent back into Adora and Hordak's arms!
Hordak yelled, "SAM!"
Sam then jumps over Vader and kicks him in the back.
Sam quickly swings his saber forward…. But Vader is able to use the force to stop it inches from his hand!
Sam swings his two lightsabers at Vader as they clashed with the sith's red saber.
Vader pushed back, managing to knock the Sabers out of Sam's hands, and pointed his own saber at his chest!
Sam fell to the ground.
"SAM", the others shouted.
Vader had the perfect strike as Sam ran at him. A strike to the chest that would hit him right in the heart! But as he got ready to strike…. He heard….
"Anakin."
Vader froze as he heard Yoda call his name.
"Anakin...", Yoda said again through the force.
Vader was frozen with shock that his saber slipped out of his hand! Sam quickly went into action and stabbed the saber into Vader's side!
Vader looked at Sam with no emotion.
The others gasped at what they saw.
Vader slumped to the ground as Sam deactivated the saber and dropped it.
He and Vader both heard, "bring balance…. Together…."
….
Yoda exhales deeply as his hand falls to the side.
...
Sam, Luke, Leia, Hordak, Adora and every Jedi felt it through the force.
...
The Jedi all surrounded Master Yoda's bed as Maz said, "rest in peace…. Grand Master…."
….
"Yoda", Sam gasped in sadness.
The others ran to Sam.
They all stared at Vader as he stared upon his wound.
Sam felt torn…. In that moment he let his anger get the best of him…. But he does not want…. Vader…. His…. Brother….
Sam placed his hand on Vader's wound.
Leia asked confused, "Uncle Sam, what are you doing?"
Sam used the force to heal Vader's wound.
Once it ended, Sam said, "despite everything you've done…. You're still my brother…. I hope you'll realize this."
Sam then ran off with tears in his eyes.
"Sam, wait come back", Hordak shouted as he ran after his husband.
Luke and Leia stared at their father as he looked lost.
Adora and Han along with Chewie stood close to the twins.
Luke asked, "have nothing to say father?"
Vader didn't even move. He looked completely lost as Leia said, "a broken man. That's what he is…."
"Don't you see father? The reason why you lost everything, everyone you care about…. Is because of your actions", Luke said to his father.
The others raced off to find Sam and Hordak, while Vader stared at his hands, seeing them shaking like leaves in the wind.
….
Hamill beeped as he saw Sam get inside Vader's Tie fighter.
Sam wiped his tears as he steered the ship
Hordak watched the fighter fly off as Hamill ran over to him.
"No Hamill, you go back to the others, I will go after Sam", Hordak said to the droid.
Hamill nodded, but beeped a question.
Hordak said, "I'll call a shuttle to these coordinates. The rest of you take the Falcon back to Coruscant."
….
Coruscant
Padme, along with Hunter, Catra, Prime, Ashla and the Princesses of Etheria walk towards the Jedi Temple.
Bow asked, "what's going on here?"
"I don't know", Glimmer said.
Obi Wan approached them and said, "Padme?"
"We don't have time, Obi Wan…. I need to speak with Master Yoda", Padme said as she walked past him.
"He's…. Gone", Obi Wan said with sadness.
The others all looked shocked as they heard that.
Padme said, "he's…. Gone?"
Rey and Ani stood alongside the other Jedi as Luminara covered Yoda's body with a blanket.
She said, "he will be honored in the Jedi archives, as one of the best Jedi in the order."
"He is now one with the force", Plo Koon said sadly.
"I can't believe he is gone", Ani said with tears in his eyes.
Rey said, "dad always told me; no one's ever really gone…."
"Rey is right, sweetie", Ahsoka said with tears in her eyes.
Leon said, "once this war is over, we'll find someone to carry on his amazing legacy…."
Padme and the others walked into the room.
Leon asked, "Padme, Catra, what're you all doing here?"
"We all came here…. Padme wanted to speak with master…. Yoda…. Before we learned…. He's….", Catra said with tears in her eyes.
Everyone gave solemn looks as Ahsoka said, "let's head to the council chambers. You can tell us what you need to over there."
….
On Mortis
Vader kept looking out into the distance with no emotion.
That's when he heard a familiar voice.
"Hello son."
Vader turned around to see…. His mother, walking towards him with a soft smile on her face.
Vader said, "you're not real. You're just a memory."
Shmi said, "I'm your memory."
Vader said, "your son is dead. I killed him."
"No, Darth Vader is dead, Anakin Skywalker is alive."
Vader turned to see the force ghost of…. Qui Gon!
He said, "come home, Anakin. You can still turn back from this path."
Vader looked at the saber in his hand and said, "I know what I have to do…. But I don't know if I have the strength to do it…."
Shimi touches Vader's helmet and she smiles.
Vader said, "mom…. I…."
Shmi said, "take off that mask…. I wanna see my son…."
Vader slowly lifted his hands and slid the helmet off, showing his slightly scarred face. His eyes were blue again.
Shimi and Qui Gon smile.
"I know you're still in there, Anakin…. I can see it in your eyes", Qui Gon said.
Vader cried as he said, "I…. I'm s-s-s…."
Shmi and Qui Gon said, "we know…."
Vader stared upon his saber, and growled as he threw it far away into the ocean, his helmet crashing down below as he let it go. When he turned back, the two visitors were gone.
As he stared out near the temple, he saw an old shuttle that had crashed there years ago.
He walked towards it, and the look in his eyes made something clear.
Darth Vader was dead.
Anakin Skywalker…. Had returned.
….
Reviews:
SuperSentai199: agreed.
….
As you can see, Vader/Anakin takes the redemption and story arc Kylo Ren/Ben Solo did.