Chapter 8: The Final Showdown
Anakin got up out of bed and stretched. He and Obi Wan had used the force to build a nice sized hut for Padme, himself, and the twins. Later they had constructed temporary homes for Yoda, Obi Wan, and Bail. Anakin peeked back inside the hut to see Padme and the twins still sleeping peacefully. He moved back in to dress and then went over to where Obi Wan was staying. Knocking gently he pushed the door open. Obi Wan was sitting cross-legged on the floor, meditating. He opened his eyes as he heard Anakin enter and smiled. Anakin said, "Good morning Master. How are you feeling?" Obi Wan said, "Oh much better, I'm over my sickness from flying last night. Also, I and Yoda have discussed it, and since we seem to be the only two left after Order 66, we are promoting you to Jedi Master." Anakin grinned and said, "Thank you both. This is a great honor. My only problem is that I don't have my old lightsaber. It got melted on Mustafar." Obi Wan stood up and smiled at Anakin. He said, "Well, that's not true. I picked it up after you fell. I hoped I might give it to your son when he became of age, but seeing as you're back I believe it belongs to you." Anakin smiled and said, "Thank you again Obi Wan." Obi Wan nodded and reached back behind his bed and pulled a thin silver hilt. Anakin took it and activated his lightsaber. Its blue glow illuminated the hut and Anakin looked happy.
After packing up, they headed back to the ship to leave Endor. Once everybody was inside, Anakin moved in their few possessions with the force. He then prepared to board when he heard a rustling in a bush nearby. He went over to investigate, thinking it was an Ewok that wanted to say goodbye, but he sensed something with the force. Suddenly he turned around and activated his lightsaber, it clashed with Darth Maul's, narrowly saving Anakin from death. Surprised, Anakin jumped back and said, "You're dead Maul! You aren't really here! This is just a trick by Sidious!" Darth Maul grinned and hissed, "No, I'm real, I was brought back by Sidious to kill you. Now DIE JEDI SCUM!" Darth Maul activated the other end of his saber staff and spun to attack Anakin. Anakin was just quick enough to dodge his first attacks. He soon began to get into his old groove and began to easily deflect Darth Maul's swings. Anakin laughed and force back flipped over Maul. He said, "You'll have to do better than just standing there!" He swung at Maul's back and the Sith blocked it. Anakin chuckled again and with a fluid swipe, cut Darth Maul's blade in half. One end of the saber fizzled and died. Maul swore and tried to cut Anakin again. Anakin ducked, struck upward and then force pulled Maul onto the blade of his waiting saber. Darth Maul looked at Anakin in the eyes. Anakin whispered, "Tell Sidious that the same will happen to him, if he comes looking for me." Anakin pulled his saber out of Maul and the Sith crumpled to the ground. Again, killed by a Jedi. Obi Wan and Yoda burst from the ship, lightsabers ablaze. Obi Wan said, "We heard your saber, but we couldn't figure out how to get those blasted seatbelts off. Are you o-" Obi Wan stopped mid-sentence when he saw Darth Maul's body on the ground. He took Anakin, and walked back into the ship.
Sidious felt Maul die…again. He was enraged, now there was nobody, aside from himself, who could hope to defeat Anakin Skywalker. He had made his decision, he would go with clone troopers and challenge Anakin to a duel, but there would be no going easy on him. Sidious would have Anakin's head rolling before he even knew he was dead. Sidious called his most elite troops to him. He said, "We are going to find Anakin Skywalker and kill him. I will challenge him to a duel and you must not let any other Jedi interfere. If I die (Sidious chuckled at the ridiculous thought) then shoot him." The troops nodded in understanding. Sidious would have to wait a moment to see where Anakin was headed. But he felt that he knew already. His wife was a Senator, and her family was wealthy on Naboo. If they were leaving Endor, it was most likely that they were going there, to her lake house.
A few hours after lifting off from Endor, the group arrived on Naboo. Anakin was ecstatic to see the blue skies and wonderful people again. After a few minute boat ride, they arrived at Padme's lake house. It was just as majestic as Anakin had remembered. He could also see the balcony where he and Padme were married. Obi Wan used the force to move their possessions inside and then they all settled down in front of a holo-vid television set. The newscaster said, "There have been reports that the Hero of the Republic has risen again. Yes folks, Anakin Skywalker has returned! We have exclusive footage of this." Horrified, they all watched security camera videos of Anakin throwing away the Vader suit and hugging Padme. Padme switched off the holo-vid and looked at Anakin. He suddenly found them all staring at him. Obi Wan said, "I think the emperor knows we are here Anakin. I can feel his presence getting stronger." Anakin nodded and said, "He must've seen that newscast. Damn cameras! If he is here, then I must fight him alone. None of you, he looked at Obi Wan and Yoda, are to try to save me. If I die though…try to avenge me. No doubt he will bring troops to secure him, but clones were never hard to kill. They all nodded in agreement and Padme made a sobbing noise. She said tearfully, "Anakin you have to survive. I don't know if I can take losing you again. Think of the twins! Please, don't go tomorrow. The emperor can't find us here. He won't be able to cross the lake!" Anakin shook his head, too tired to explain the Emperor's horrible power to Padme; he retreated to the bedroom to rest.
The next day, Anakin rose, determined to defeat his nemesis today. Quickly dressing and picking up his lightsaber, he kissed Padme and the twins on the cheek and went to say goodbye to Obi Wan and Yoda. As he stepped in the two Jedi Masters greeted him. Yoda said, 'Go, you must. Before though, something for you I have. "Yoda handed Anakin another lightsaber. Obi Wan said, "It was Qui Gon's. We have seen you fight with one saber in the past, now that you have two, you should be even more devastating. Good luck my old padawan." Anakin nodded a thank you and left. Arriving at the shore by boat a few minutes later, he saw that nobody was on the usually bustling streets. He saw why soon enough. A platoon of elite clones marched through the street, while a black hooded figure walked in their midst. Anakin grimaced, the Emperor had arrived. Anakin waited until they stopped in front of him and he stepped forward, the clones parted and fanned out into a large circle that allowed Sidious and Anakin plenty of space. Anakin said, "Let's get this over with, you ugly, stinking piece of…" Sidious let out a blood hurtling scream and literally flew at Anakin. In one fluid movement, Anakin drew both of his lightsabers, one green and one blue and spun around behind the Emperor. Sidious was still spinning in the air, horizontally toward Anakin and had not seen the Jedi move. Anakin roared and at the precise moment slammed his lightsabers down into the back of the Emperor's skull. There was a sick gargling noise as Sidious' brain was fried and he slammed into the ground, dead. Anakin stood up and pulled the lightsabers from his old master's skull. The clones looked at him, highly surprised and confused. After a pause they began to shoot. Anakin spun on the spot with his two sabers and deflected them all back; the clones fell one by one until all that was left was Anakin standing next to the Emperor's body with a ring of dead clones surrounding them.
Obi Wan and Yoda felt the release of Sidious' life force and sighed. They knew that the battle was over, and Anakin had one. So the prophecy really had come true, Anakin Skywalker had been the one all along. Through his trials and tribulations, to his legendary pod race on Tatooine to his losing of all of his limbs on Mustafar, to being brought back to the light by Qui Gon Jinn. He really did defeat the Sith, and bring balance to the force. Now, the Jedi knew, they could live peacefully in the galaxy, forevermore.
- - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A/N: Sorry for how long it took to update guys, I've just been so busy. But here is the grand finale of A Heart of Destruction. I hope you guys have enjoyed this story and hope to read your great reviews in the future. Also, thanks for all the support and helpful criticism you guys who have reviewed have given me. Without that I don't know if I would have had the courage to continue. Thanks again
-MWritten