Sorry I haven't posted lately. My excuses are DRL and computer viruses.

Chapter 16: Life After Death

Nothing. That was what Anakin felt.

But this bliss soon left him. Light shone on the Jedi's face and heated his unmoving eyelids. Faint sounds, though indistinguishable, could be heard and caused a buzzing sound in his ears. Pain coursed through his body and Anakin's face burned beyond words describable.

He was not quite over, and the Darkness sensed this.

Cold hands, cold hands belonging to that of a monster, were placed on Anakin's throbbing temple. Even in his state of unconsciousness, he moaned and tried to move his head away from them.

The Darkness was stronger.

"He still lives," the Shadows murmured, surprise filling the evil tones. "Anakin, can you hear me?"

Faintly, Anakin heard Palpatine's voice and, momentarily, he struggled to respond.

That is, until he remembered.

"I know you can hear me," the Sith finally gloated after the young man groaned in agony. "Here lies the Chosen one, moments away from his less-than-glorious death. Neither your wife nor beloved Master are here, so the last words you shall be mine.

"Anakin, you were right- I have been plotting this day long before I met you, but this is just the beginning. Those clones- the same ones who have been so dutifully following your orders fro the past few years- will help me to destroy what little remains of your pathetic Jedi Order. When I instruct them to follow Order 66, they will turn on the Jedi and destroy all of them- the crèchelings, padawans, Knights, and even the Masters. This time tomorrow, your friends shall be no more.

"The democracy for which your wife has dutifully fought shall crumble at my fist. The whole Galaxy shall know how you, their hero, had betrayed me. Gone will be diplomacy- I will have an Empire with me as the Emperor."

Horror filled Anakin but he was too weak to move.

"You could have been my apprentice, my young friend. Anakin, you could have saved your Jedi friends and your family, but you had to do what was right. The moment you cease to exist, I shall tell everyone about your pitiful existence and pathetic end. What a pity it all had to end this way," Sidious sighed though he didn't sound the slightest bit disconcerted.

Another weary sigh filled the room.

Still, Anakin remained motionless.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," Palpatine concluded as he stood up, "I have an Empire to run."

It was over.

Moments stretched into an eternity as the young Jedi laid there, desperately wanting to move but unable to.

Something most unexpected by the Darkness happened.

Though his eyes did not open, Anakin saw someone very familiar glide towards him.

Qui-Gon.

"Anakin," he said gently, his wise eyes looking sorrowfully at the fallen Jedi. "You must get up and fight- you can win this battle. The Darkness has not defeated you yet." Light surrounded the ghost, and the specter brought such peace that all the pain that enveloped Anakin's body seemed to momentarily disappear and be replace with… peace.

"I… can't," he choked, crying out as another searing pain shoot through his head.

The ghost knelt down at the trembling Anakin's side. "The Force is strong with you, young Skywalker," Qui-Gon said softly, placing his fingers on Anakin's ruined face and closing his deep eyes. Sometime later, he reopened them and gazed down at Anakin one last time. "You must complete what you were born to do."

And with that, he was gone.

Much to Anakin's surprise, the pain in his head was gone and he felt his strength flow back to him. Feeling returned to every inch of his body, leaving the prior numbness behind like an old shell.

Yes, it was indeed time.

Palpatine never saw it coming. Because he was looking down at the populace that was to soon be under his dominion, he did not see the blue blade that aimed for his heart.

Minutes later, Anakin still numbly stood there, the motionless body unmoving at his feet. Anakin stumbled backwards in shock at what he'd done and fell down into a chair, his lightsaber falling to the ground from his limp hand.

"Force, what have I done?" he moaned, Anakin's unseeing eyes staring out at nothing. Upon remembering the seemingly-endless volley of Sith lightning, he gingerly reached out to touch the ruined side of his face.

The countenance which he touched and could now see reflected in the large window. A haunted and disfigured face stared back at him, fright and horror evident in his eyes. As part of his face had been partially turned away from the lightning during the attack, only the left side was destroyed, but its deadness was such a sharp contrast from the healthy side that the effect was petrifying.

Yes, Anakin Skywalker had brought balance back to the Force, but in doing so, the Chosen One had destroyed his very self.

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Spoiler for the next chapter: A Changed Man

"Anakin, why is there blood on your hands?" Padmé gasped, her eyes widening at the red stain that was now smeared on the glass.

Behind her, the three other women gasped. Luke immediately began to cry, and Sola hurriedly took the baby into the other room and soothed him.

"Anakin?"

"It was him," Anakin whispered, his lips curling into a bitter smile beneath his cloak.