A/N: Hey, here is a new update. I have rewritten this chapter three times, and I am still not sure that I like it so let me know what you think! I know that people have been asking about Tatooine, but that will come up in the next chapter, which should be up soon. Thank you to everyone who is continuing to read, and remember criticism/reviews of any kind are welcome and inspiring. I can take the negative too! Anyway, enjoy! and Don't forget to review! :)

GM Chapter 3:

The soaring halls seemed quieter than usual to Anakin as he made his way to the training rooms where the trials for all Jedi are held. The absence of any laughter, or even noise of any kind was apparent and haunting as he walked, the only sound being that of his heavy boots clicking on the smooth marble. Even the youngest of padawans were being deployed to the front lines, the war destroying everything in its path.

He wondered how long it would continue. Would it ever end, or would his own child have to suffer the consequences of all this fighting? Sudden fear gripped him as he pictured Padme all alone with their newborn baby, her arms and body weak and tired from giving birth. She struggled defenselessly as the Jedi worked to pry the baby from her arms.

Anakin knew that he had a duty to the republic and the order, but he also knew that his devotion to his now growing family was already stronger. He would protect them with his life, even if it meant turning away from the Jedi.

Now wasn't the time to ponder such atrocities though, Anakin's mind snapping back into focus just as quickly that it had wandered. The Jedi trials were something of a mystery to most everyone who had not taken them on, and masters rarely bestowed any incite on their padawans. The only piece of information that aspiring Jedi were given was that each trial was specifically designed for each individual; no two tests were the same.

The council members had an astounding ability to be able to determine an apprentice's greatest weaknesses. The calm demeanor that Jedi were trained to emulate from day one served as an excellent shielding device, and it was never a simple task to delve beneath the surface of that mask.

Anakin's mask was nonexistent.

His emotions were plainly displayed in his expressions, and his inability to hold them back and remain tranquil in high-tension situations was seen as a blatant disregard of the Jedi code to most elders. His emotions and strong attachment to others could prove to be his downfall.

The Jedi trials were held in five stages and are normally all held within the temple walls and trial chamber, however there are times when real life feats have been counted as the passage of one stage, sometimes even two or three. Anakin's own master, Obi-Wan, had passed both the trials of skill and courage with his defeat of Darth Maul.

The trial of skill was as simple as it sounded and was designed to test an apprentice's skill with a lightsaber but was wrought with levels of difficulty that required copious amounts of self-discipline.

Courage was an honored Jedi trait, the test being fulfilled if an apprentice was faced with unexpected challenge. Obi-Wan's meeting with the Zabrak Sith was clearly an unexpected confrontation.

Earlier that morning, Anakin had received a message from Obi-Wan telling him that the council had decided there was only one trial left for Anakin to face. Obi-Wan had stood before the council and pleaded on Anakin's behalf that the trials of skill, courage, and flesh had already been sufficiently passed. The fifth stage, insight, was dismissed.

Anakin brought his gloved fist up to his eyelevel as he continued to make his way to the trial chambers, the glove a not so subtle reminder of his passage of the trial of flesh, during which he had endured unimaginable physical pain that the council could not ever dare to try and recreate.

With the trial of insight no longer being considered, Anakin was left to face only the trial of spirit, the most difficult test for any Jedi to face. Physical trials were of no consequence to Anakin, and he could pass the most extreme dangers without difficulty, but the trial of spirit would play upon his heightened emotions and force him to face the deepest darkness within himself.

No apprentice was given the details as to the trial was to be conducted until they reached the chamber themselves, and Anakin's anxiousness was reaching new heights when he stopped outside the massive doors leading to the chamber. He stood outside for a moment, trying to gather his bearings and achieve utter peace within himself; recklessness would destroy him.

Only one thing ever brought him complete serenity, but she was the one thing that was most forbidden amongst his Jedi brethren.

He was conjuring a detailed picture of her in his mind when the heavy doors in front of him began to creak. They opened outward, causing him to take a step back. Through the newly opened narrow space stepped Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"Master?" Anakin asked surprised. "I was expecting the council, or at least Master Yoda."

The aspiring Jedi Master shook his head negatively in response. "No. This part of the trial is not divulged padawans until the time has come, but the Masters are never present during the trial of spirit," he said rubbing his bearded chin, his brow wrinkling in worry. "This test cannot be designed by anyone but yourself. The script will be written as you journey on."

Obi-Wan then turned and motioned for his apprentice for him to follow into the dark room that was located directly beneath the fountain room. Once inside, Obi-Wan directed Anakin to the center of the circular chamber. A single round cushion sat in the very middle of the room; the rest of the room was bare.

Once Anakin was standing in front of the cushion, Obi-Wan moved in front of him and placed a hand on one shoulder.

"I have faith in you Anakin. Trust in yourself and you will do fine. Just sit down, close your eyes and let your mind wander to those hidden crevices within deep inside you." Obi-Wan stared into Anakin's eyes as he spoke, searching for understanding in the young man's depths. "I don't know what you will see, but I know that you can face whatever comes at you and conquer it. I would tell you to listen to the code, but I know that won't work for you," he added smirking. "Just remember, feel, don't think. Use your instincts and they will guide you to the light. Good luck, my young padawan. I'll see you on the other side."

Anakin stared ahead until he heard the heavy doors slamming shut. Finally encased in complete darkness, Anakin took a deep breath and lowered himself onto the cushion. His frustration had escalated with the lack of instruction given to him. Meditation had never been his forte, yet now his entire career as a Knight rested upon his ability to sink within himself, whatever that means, he growled internally, angry at the vague task being given to him.

Already he was letting his emotions dictate his actions, and he had not even begun. He didn't understand how he was supposed to just fall within his own mind, and what exactly would he be looking for when he arrived? The answer was proving to be elusive.

Closing his eyes, Anakin decided to just let himself go. He breathed deeply and allowed his mind to wander until the first images began to arise. Nothing happened for a long while, and his irritation was coming back with a vengeance. He couldn't seem to grasp what he was searching for. The only thing he could think of was Padme, and he doubted that the Masters would be pleased with that particular line of thought.

She was the only thing that seemed to calm though, so he locked onto her smiling image and let himself bask in her beauty, in his mind or not. Her face was solitary as it floated through his subconcsiousness, yet her face was not as he knew it now. It was morphing and changing from the image of her as a young child to the regal, white painted face of a queen, then twin sun-kissed amidst the deserts of his home planet. Soon, he was no longer looking at her face alone but walking alongside her on a rose covered balcony at dusk.

Anakin's whole life beside Padme flashed before his eyes, eventually ending with a picture from just the night before. The purpose of the vision was lost to him, but if all he had to endure was a holo of his life, then he would be utterly satisfied with the turnout.

However, his luck was not that profound, and soon he was spiraling into a nightmare. He was with his beloved at first; they sat together aboard a ship that looked familiar, but the picture was spinning so fast he couldn't quite place it. Bright colors could be seen whirling through the viewport of the screen; flashes of oranges and yellows and reds mixing and twisting into a myriad of shocking dizziness.

Anakin was spinning, and then suddenly, he wasn't.

He was thrust back into the darkness to a scene that was horrifying. The brilliant blue blade flashed and spun in a violent arc as it thrust through body after body, the heads of Tusken Raiders falling to Anakin's dancing boots. The picture was strikingly familiar, but there was one subtle difference. Anakin's normally glowing cobalt eyes that matched his blade had morphed into a hideous yellow that he had never witnessed firsthand before.

The colors stood out like blazing fires against the dark backdrop and drew Anakin in. He was immediately wary of the thought that this depiction of him might have been true and that maybe he had been so lost in his avenging that he had not noticed the distinct change in his appearance.

He did not look like a Jedi.

As quickly as those eyes appeared, they were gone, and Anakin was falling into a dark abyss. The harsh landing knocked the subconscious air from his lungs, and he was gasping, burning for air. The bright colors were back, suffocating him until he heard the unmistakable cries of his wife. His name was being shouted, and the sound drew him from the flames that threatened to engulf him.

He saw her above him, kneeling down on her knees and reaching for him. Reaching up to grasp her hand, Anakin saw his own reflection reflected in her deep, brown irises; it was like looking in a mirror only the image was not the picture of himself that he knew. Those yellow eyes were back, and his wife blinked back in horror before losing her balance and slipping into the fire.

One blink of his eyes and Anakin was no longer burning but sitting on the shore of a lava river, only a single, slender hand still visible as Padme was carried under and away. His hoarse cries of protest were interrupted by his inhalation of smoke and were soon drowned out completely by the sound of a newborn cry.

Though he had escaped the lava itself, Anakin's body continued to smolder and char as the cries grew louder and louder. The sound of his gasping breaths was the only other sound to be heard, but soon that sound was changing into something more ominous.

The image of the burning river shore tilted one hundred and eighty degrees, transforming back into darkness.

Anakin stood in a darkened room, the heavy, mechanical breathing mixing with the sounds of the baby's cries. This darkness was different from before; it was lighter, and the charred outlines of burnt walls and pillars could be made out in the shadows.

The layout was familiar, and Anakin's feet moved automatically in the direction of the cries. He followed the sounds to a bedroom, empty aside from the crib in the center. He kept walking forward until he could peer over the side of the crib.

The baby's reaction was startling as it shrank back from Anakin and screamed in terror. Anakin stood frozen, his eyes locked on the baby's, and he was again looking into a mirror but the picture of himself had morphed into something even more sister than just yellow eyes. The sharp, angular helmet accented the breathing mask and shocked Anakin's subconscious to the core.

Anakin was afraid of this demon that he had been transformed into and wanted only to destroy it. Almost as if he had stepped out of the black armor shell, Anakin as he was appeared next to the masked figure, azure blade drawn and at the ready.

The room twisted again before this Anakin could open his eyes and attack. When he stopped spinning, his eyes sprang open and took in the sight of the trial chamber around him, however he was not alone. The masked figure stood in front of him, a blood red blade held in his heavy grasp.

Anakin was on his feet instantly, his blue blade clashing against his own, but it was a mirror image. The menacing figure copied Anakin's movements exactly, like an opposing shadow. Their blades danced together, never tiring or losing speed as long as Anakin continued to move.

The realization that he was never going to win washed over him in a rush, panic flooding his body as he realized his life was flashing before his eyes. He was lost as to how to defeat a figure that was essentially himself until his step suddenly faltered in exhaustion. The sweat poured down his temples and into his line of vision, and in his haste to recover he noticed that the helmeted warrior was struggling just the same.

A mirror image.

Finally understanding what he had to do, Anakin shut off his blade and stood at attention.

The only way to defeat this monster was to destroy himself.

Only the image of his wife could bring him the strength to complete the task. His wife and child combined together made him want to be strong. He wanted to protect them more than anything, and the demon before him threatened their safety.

He would do what he must.

Bringing his hands up to his chest, the blade centered over his heart, Anakin ignited his blade, plunging deep into his chest. His eyes widened in shock at the sudden burning pain, worse than any immolation could ever have been or would ever be. His lungs struggled to fight the fire and expand with air, but he was left gasping and losing himself.

Between his slitted eyes, he could just make out the image of the demon struggling just as he was. Somewhere deep inside the pain, Anakin felt a flicker of satisfaction at his triumph, even if it meant taking his own life. A sense of peace and tranquility that he had never felt before blossomed in his chest at the possibility that he had rid the galaxy of the darkness that could stem from within him.

His family would be safe.

Then, just as suddenly as it had come, the pain vanished. The darkness was peaceful.

His breathing was heavy and harsh in the quiet silence of the trial chamber when Anakin's eyes sprang open for real. He was kneeling in the same position that he had assumed when he entered, the only evidence of something having happened being the sweat that plastered his hair to his forehead and the tears that slid down his cheeks.

He didn't understand why he was crying, the events that had taken place all seeming like a distant dream. He struggled to get a grip on his reality, still trying to decide if he was a truly awake.

It was all a dream, he thought. Or a vision, really. But what did it mean?

Emerging from the chamber was like stepping out of a dream. Obi-Wan was there to congratulate him on a job well done while Anakin internally wondered the council could have possibly determined whether or not he passed.

Little did he know that outside of the center, circular chamber sat a ring of twelve smaller chambers. The Masters had been seated inside these individual chambers observing the session. While they could not see anything that was happening inside the trial room or inside Anakin's head, they could sense every emotion emanating from him like a bright beacon.

The walls of the trial chamber were made of a thick durasteel that had been laced with an energy enhancer. The serum served to elevate the emotions within a room, accurately testing a Jedi's ability to counterbalance dark emotions. The Masters followed the aspiring Jedi on their tumultuous, emotional journey, all hoping that the Jedi on trial will achieve an unparalled sense of calm and understanding within the force.

Though the Masters were not privy to the details of the visions that the young Jedi experienced, they were able to determine from that singular moment of serenity achieved whether or not a Jedi was ready to be knighted.

It did not matter how easily the previous trials had been passed, emotional maturity was the ultimate test and goal.

"You have done well, Anakin" Obi-wan said, clasping his apprentice's hand in his own. "I followed your emotions the entire time, and though it was turbulent ride, you succeeded in finding the calm. I am very proud of you."

"Does this mean I passed?" Anakin joked, ignoring the uncertainty he now felt from his visions.

"Of course," Obi-Wan smiled. "With flying colors, as I knew you would."

Anakin grinned before replying, "All because of your training, Master."

"Well, I don't want to brag," the older man scoffed. "But you're right. It is all my doing."

"That it is, Master Kenobi. And you will be commended as well," said the Korun Master that had been listening in, undetected. "Well done, Skywalker," he added turning to Anakin.

"Thank you, Master Windu," Anakin bowed in gratitude and respect.

"Follow me. The rest of the council wishes to meet with you both." Windu was halfway down the hall before either younger Jedi could reply. They glanced at each other curiously before scurrying down the hall after their elder.

Anakin had no time to think on his visions before he was rushing after Master Windu and standing, once again, in the center of the high council chamber. Obi-Wan stood proudly next to him.

"A separate ceremony, normally we would have, but changed because of the war, our traditions have," the wisest of Jedi spoke. "Knighted right now, you will be, young Skywalker."

Anakin was instantly overwhelmed with the abruptness of everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours. His impending Knighthood, fatherhood, and eventual departure from Coruscant had his nerves coiled tightly. The pressure was weighing him down.

"As you wish, Master."

"Kneel down, young Skywalker," Windu commanded as he stood and walked to the center of the room.

Anakin followed instruction as Master Windu told Obi-Wan to ignite his lightsaber. The blue blades sprung forth in a brilliant blue burst of light and hovered over Anakin's right shoulder. His hand trembled as he moved the blade from one shoulder to the next in a motion that had been passed down for ages, his voice cracking as he recited the code.

"There is no emotion, there is peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

There is no passion, there is serenity.

There is no chaos, there is harmony.

There is no death, there is the Force."

The room was utterly silent as the ancient words were recited. Every member of the council took this ceremony to be just as significant as any other, the meaning of the words having a heavy impact on each member every time they are heard.

Windu stood between the two men, overseeing the tradition.

"Anakin, do you understand the role you will take on as a Jedi Knight of the Republic?" the Korun asked.

"Yes, Master," he answered, thinking of the words he was required to recite:

"Jedi are guardians of peace in the galaxy.

Jedi use their powers to defend and protect, never to attack others.

Jedi respect all life, in any form.

Jedi serve others, rather than rule over them, for the good of the galaxy.

Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training."

His breathing was shaky, the significance of the moment not lost on him.

Obi-Wan stepped forward then and looked Anakin in the eye. "From here I bestow on you the rank of Jedi Knight. Do you accept the consequences of breaking this solemn vow?" he asked Anakin.

"I do, Master," Anakin nodded.

"Do you accept this rank that I have given you?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then stand Knight Skywalker, and join your fellow Knights in honor," Obi-Wan commanded.

Anakin stood at the same time that the rest of the Masters did, bowing their heads in recognition in a new Knight among their ranks.

Master Yoda stepped forward. "Congratulations, Knight Skywalker. Dismissed you are. Private the ceremony with your former master, is."

"Thank you, Master," Anakin said, bowing before turning and exiting the room. His feet were quickly moving in a fast sprint down the hall, anxious to get home to his beloved and relay his news. Glancing outside, he noticed that the sun had already set, and he would most likely not beat her home.

Still, he raced faster, only caring to reach for her embrace and stay there.

Permanently.

A/N: Review please!