Youngling Chapter 11: The Powerful and the Powerless, a star wars fanfic

Just a warning to you all, chapters will be even more slow in coming as the dreaded exams approach ever nearer. Thank you to everyone who's followed, favourited and reviewed ^^

Morana: Who killed Dooku will become pretty clear in the chapter. Anakin's far too easy to manipulate; at the same time he shows just why the Jedi should allow attachments and why they shouldn't. A three year old alone in Coruscant on any given day isn't a nice thought. Thank you for reviewing! 3

Four guests reviewed last time, so to all of them, thank you so much for reviewing and I'm so glad you're enjoying my story ^^

Disclaimers: I own nothing.

Obi-Wan didn't want to die. He was scared of it and he shouldn't be, because Jedi didn't fear death. Death wasn't a bad thing; you were entering the Force, becoming one with it and that wasn't bad. At least, it wasn't supposed to be. It was meant to be a celebration, though in his experience, he had never come round to seeing it that way. And he was still scared.

Really, when he thought about it, it was the fear of the unknown, the fear of stepping out of a world he had known all of his life and into the Force, an entity that had always been with him, yet was still mysterious. He didn't know the Force entirely, no one did (with perhaps the exception of Master Yoda) and Obi-Wan had never liked entering situation that he didn't know inside out.

The very thought of becoming one with it, of losing who he was to melt away into the Force was a thought that didn't please him. He rather liked being Obi-Wan Kenobi and he wasn't ready to part with his "crude matter" as Yoda put it, not yet. He didn't want to leave this world, he didn't want this to end, but he knew that if it was the way of the Force, then he should accept it. Maybe if it felt like it was the right time, he wouldn't have such qualms about it, but it really didn't. He still had so much more to live for. He was still a living being, and all living beings cling to life with every fibre of their existence, Jedi or not. It was instinct to hold onto life even when death seemed inevitable. Besides, he had more than his life to hold onto. He still had Anakin. And he really wasn't ready to leave him behind.

Obi-Wan glanced at the small boy sitting on his lap, who was staring listlessly out of the window at the night, his head continually nodding, then snapping back up. He didn't want to sleep and the Jedi couldn't blame him. Sleep wasn't an inviting option when all it showed you was death. He would fall asleep soon enough, too exhausted to stay awake, but Obi-Wan had promised that he would stay up with Anakin until he did. So, there they were, at one in the morning, sitting in the living watching the traffic of Coruscant fly past their window.

He doubted that Anakin knew he was scaring him, but it wasn't his fault. He didn't blame the youngling for clinging to him when nightmares of his master's death disturbed his sleep, that he came to the one who was supposed to be in danger for reassurance. He was three and couldn't help being oblivious to such things.

The boy had known yesterday. Though he hadn't told him about Dooku and the large bounty on his head, Anakin had known he was scared, but he couldn't comfort him. Obi-Wan knew he wanted to reassure his master and tell him that it would all be okay, but how could he, when he was the one prophesying his death?

And it wasn't just his execution he was foreseeing either. He said that he saw the Jedi Temple burning. He said the Sith had made him watch. All they could do was pray that the dreams wouldn't come true, but what little hard evidence they had did nothing to alleviate the Jedi's fears. The Sith had made his move; he had murdered his apprentice and set countless bounty hunters on their tail. They seemed to support, if not confirm, Anakin's nightmares. The boy's dreams had already come true once before, there was no reason that they wouldn't do so now.

Nothing was set in stone, Obi-wan knew that, but the odds were against them. The Sith had managed to catch Anakin when he was a fully trained knight. How easy would it be for him to snatch him away now? His powers were too raw, too unstable to fend off all the bounty hunters in the galaxy and he could hardly protect himself from a Sith when he could barely wield a lightsaber. And if his master wasn't there to protect him, who else would take up his mantle?

The youngling had finally given in. His master's train of thought was broken as Anakin slumped against his front, already softly snoring. As carefully as he could, Obi-Wan rose to his feet, cradling his padawan in his arms. He was so tired he didn't wake up as he was carried to bed, his head lolling back on the pillow as he was carefully laid down. The Jedi gazed at him, absently trailing a finger down the boy's soft cheek. Yes, he was very scared dying. He couldn't deny that. But he would rather die a thousand deaths than see Anakin die one. Anakin lived in the dreams; that was definitely was something.

...

It was Padme's last day in Coruscant. The Queen wanted her back by her side and she obviously couldn't refuse. But still, she didn't want to leave. It wasn't just that she loved the planet, so different from her own home, but she didn't want to leave Anakin. There was nothing she could do, no way to help them (it would be strange, if not suspicious, to say the least, to offer to be his bodyguard), yet she did not want to go.

She could only find the time to visit them today, but she had heard about the incident with the bounty hunter. It had come up in polite conversation and it had taken all of her self restraint not to show how it made her heart bleed ice to hear those words, to not run out, to not make any sort of excuse and go straight to them. All Padme could do was take relief in the fact they were all right. Their deaths would have been all over the holonews, so she would never miss it if her world came crashing down.

When she entered their apartment, Obi-Wan was the only one she could see. It was strange how different he looked when Anakin wasn't around. She only caught a glimpse of it before he realised she was there, but the senator saw the weariness, the worry, the exhaustion. He looked worn down, almost defeated. And all this she saw in a second before he slipped his precious Jedi mask on over his emotions. The tiredness didn't vanish, but a calmness seeped into his face that she knew he didn't feel.

Padme knew he didn't feel it because when she pulled him into her arms, he didn't give his usual, light embrace. He held onto her, tight, gripping her like she was the one thing keeping him standing.

Neither of them spoke. Padme knew he didn't want words right now. He just wanted this, to be held by someone who knew how much he was going through, who could offer support when it felt like he had gone without it for so long. Obi-Wan had got used to being able to depend on Anakin, but that well needed succour was now gone. It hadn't been long, but so much had happened to them that it felt like he had been gone without friends, friends who could really help him, for too long.

The slight tremors that rippled through his body eventually ceased. Padme felt his shoulders sag against her, the tension that was once keeping them so rigid now dissipated. He slowly disentangled himself from her lithe, but strong arms and both pulled away from each other. He still looked tired, but not quite so helpless. She had given him a type of strength that he hadn't had for some time.

"Is Anakin asleep?" at the question, Obi-Wan's eyes met hers, blue-grey, like when stormy clouds on the horizon melted away into the sea.

He nodded, "He didn't sleep very well last night. His nightmares are getting worse."

"Nightmares?"

"Have I not...?" the Jedi sighed, "I must have failed to tell you."

"You can't keep me informed on everything," she gripped his elbow, steering him into the kitchen, "I'll make us some tea, shall I?"

Obi-Wan looked as though he thought about arguing, before he merely sighed and nodded. It was difficult to argue with a senator, but pointless to argue with Padme, "Please."

...

"I presume you've heard the news?"

"The bounty hunter?" Padme raised her head, one small hand still stirring her tea.

"No," Obi-Wan sighed, "the other news."

"Count Dooku's death?"

Obi-Wan nodded, "Yes."

"But... he was a Sith," she took a sip of her tea, her eyes still trained on the Jedi Master, "surely that's a good thing?"

"Padme... how much do you know about the Sith?"

She shrugged, "Not a lot. Only what Ani's told me, but we haven't discussed it all that much."

Obi-Wan stared down at the steaming tea, allowing the heat to rise to his face, the condensation clinging to his skin, "The Sith live by one rule. The Rule of Two. There is to always be one master, one apprentice."

"Why?"

Obi-Wan rubbed his beard, "We're not sure. Until the Sith I defeated we thought they were extinct. There used to be an Order of them, but that was destroyed. Now there is only two. Once an apprentice has learnt all they can from their master, they kill them. Or attempt to. This way the cycle of power can continue, as they then choose a new apprentice," he sighed, "masters turning on apprentices is certainly not unheard of. Though there is always still the rule of two, either master or apprentice can be killed."

The Jedi looked into his tea for a moment, his expression momentarily unreadable, "Count Dooku was the apprentice, killed by his master," his eyes met with Padme, "Anakin is the new apprentice the Sith seeks. He was the one who captured Anakin and somehow transformed him into a youngling. He has now set a bounty for two million credits to whoever can capture him."

"But... how can you be sure?" Padme asked, her eyes large. She wanted, more than anything for this to not be true, but the sick feeling pooling in the bottom of her stomach was telling she wasn't going to hear what she desired.

"He's seen it. I presume Anakin told you about the dreams he had before his mother died?" the sick feeling grew worse, to the point where Padme wondered whether her stomach would decide to purge what was inside of her, "he's having the same dreams, not about his mother, but about the Sith. He's dreamt that he was given a choice. To join the Sith, or I would die."

The senator was sure Obi-Wan could feel every pang of fear and worry that was shooting through her, but the very least she could do was try not to show it, because it was hardly fair on him. It was his death that Anakin had seen, not hers. "And?" she breathed, knowing that whatever answer her friend gave, she wouldn't want to hear.

An odd sort of smile flitted around the corners of the Jedi's mouth. He looked almost proud, "Anakin doesn't remember saying it. He says it only comes it odd snatches. But he refuses to join him"

Padme released a breath she didn't know she was holding. She didn't let it go in relief, because this was nothing to be relieved about. Obi-Wan had been essentially given a death toll, one that had certainly proved itself true before. If it had happened with Ani's mother, if he had seen her death in dreams and reality, why wouldn't it happen again?

"But... he wouldn't give you up like that," she protested, as though there was an actual way to get round these dreams, "he wouldn't."

"Would you prefer him to be a Sith's apprentice?" Obi-Wan asked wearily, raising his eyebrows at her.

"Yes- no," Padme stood up, hands at her elbows as she crossed her arms across her chest. She paced the kitchen, shaking her head, "I don't know, Obi-Wan. I know Ani wouldn't turn to the Dark Side-"

"Even though he has done before?" Obi-Wan asked, looking up at her. Her pacing stopped, a pained expression crossing her face, "his mother's death inspired him to do terrible things, Padme. What do you think my death would do to him? I think my exectuion is a ploy by the Sith to turn Anakin to the Dark Side. Even if he decides not to turn, the grief might do so anyway."

Padme shook her head, refusing to give in to what could be true, "No. He... he's different now, he's a child. He is good, Obi-Wan. He jas always been good, despite everything that has happened."

"I know. But good men can fall and he has done so in the past. And Anakin is three now."

"Surely that's a good thing? Children aren't prone to evilness."

"No," Obi-Wan conceded, "It is the adults who are seduced by the Dark Side, not children. But younglings are more malleable. And they can grow up to be terrible people if that was how they are raised."

"You think-" she sunk back into her chair again, colour drained from her face, "you think this Sith wants to raise Anakin as his child?"

"As his apprentice," Obi-Wan corrected, "think about it, Padme. A child taught in the dark arts, enshrouded and poisoned by darkness his whole life. Anakin may belong to the light now, but my death could change all that. My death would create a wound the Dark Side would find all too easy to infect. And if he belonged to the Sith, there would be no way he could escape."

"But, the Jedi wouldn't let this happen! They've killed Sith before, they would protect him!"

Obi-Wan stared down at his cold tea, "Anakin saw the Temple burning last night," he shook his head, trembling fingers running over his beard, "I don't know where the Jedi are in the future he sees."

"The Sith won't win," Padme's own hands started to shake as Obi-Wan looked up at her, grey eyes dulled, "He can't!" she went to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, not sure whether she was clinging onto him so tightly for herself or for him. The Jedi didn't say anything, shaking his head slightly as his hands rose to grip Padme's arms, "he won't win," she whispered, holding onto his cloak with white-knuckled grip, "evil may win battles, but it does not win wars. Anakin won't fall."

He heard her voice crack and he shut his eyes, allowing himself to lean back against her, "I'm scared that he won't have a choice."

"He will always have a choice, Obi-Wan. And he made it. He didn't turn to the Dark Side. No matter what your death does to him, if this does come true, he made his choice. Anakin turned away from evil."

"But..." Obi-Wan's fingers clutched at the silky fabric of her sleeves, "he needs me. He's three years old, he can't lose me."

"I know," Padme murmured, rubbing his shoulder, "I know. But he's strong, Obi-Wan. He is, I know it."

"Padme, he's a youngling. How much strength do you think he has?"

...

The iron hands were grabbing him again. They were cold and firm and the long fingernails dug into Anakin's sides, sinking deep into the baby fat. The hands lifted him up, holding up to a window. They were flying above Coruscant and even though they were far enough away that they couldn't see the lights of the lower levels, that the traffic looked like toys, the pillars of smoke billowing from the Temple could easily be seen. It stood out, black and grey against the clear blue sky and shining towers.

Tears filled Anakin's eyes, but he didn't want to cry again and not in front of him. He said he was his friend, but he wasn't. He had hurt him. He was hurting him now, forcing him to stare at the destruction of what used to be his home, what had been home to so many others. And now it was being razed to the ground.

Anakin screwed his eyes up tight, ignoring the heat rising his cheeks, the familiar ache in his eyes telling him that he was going to cry, even though he was trying his hardest not to.

"Look, Anakin."

He was pretending to be friendly, but Anakin could hear the iciness in his voice that he had ever picked up on before, the utter coldness that no longer needed to be hidden. What did it matter what he thought of him now, now he knew who he was. He was not his friend.

"Don't want to," his voice was small, tremulous. Tears were not only spilling onto his cheeks, but they could be heard in his voice.

The hands squeezed his sides painfully, the fingers digging in even tighter; a silent threat.

"Look."

With a sharp intake of air, Anakin opened his eyes. He saw the smoke, saw the temple where there had once been Jedi, where there had once been good people and choked back a sob.

"This will be ours soon, my young apprentice," the cold voice purred, the horrible hands squeezing his sides, "everything will be ours."

...

Anakin woke with a jolt. Almost instantly, still half asleep, he scrambled out bed, his bare feet hitting the floor hard as he ran to the window. His heart was hammering in his chest, sweaty palms sliding against the wall as he tried to peer out of the glass on tiptoes, whining when he found that all he could see was sky. He scurried across the room again to the armchair in the corner of the room.

He went behind it and threw his whole body against it, pushing with all his might. The youngling's face was screwed up in a grimace of concentration, little growls and bleats of frustration as he pushed as hard as he could. His small feet scrabbled beneath him as he tried as hard as he could to push the ridiculously heavy chair. It didn't move an inch.

Anakin let out a yelp as he fell onto the floor, his legs falling out from underneath him as he gave an especially hard shove. He glared at the back of the chair and huffed. He was about to go round it and see if he couldn't pull it instead when he heard the door open.

"Anakin?"

Anakin came out from behind the chair to see Obi-Wan looking down at him, a bemused expression on his face, "What are you doing?"

"Need to see!" Anakin shouted, the determined scowl still on his face.

"See what?"

"The Temple!"

"Young one, you're in the Temple," Obi-Wan said gently.

"I know!" the boy yelled as he started to pull at the chair, "But I need to see it!"

His small hands that were so gripping so tightly to the underside of the chair were pulled away as he felt his master lift him up. Automatically, he wrapped his legs round Obi-Wan's side, calming down almost by instinct as soon as he was tucked against him, a strong arm holding him secure.

The Jedi walked them to the window, holding the fidgeting boy up to the glass. He pressed his hands against the glass, moving his head this way and that before he could finally get a good view of the Temple below. Then, he squirmed and wriggled in Obi-Wan's grip until he was practically on his back, squinting upwards. It was hard to see because of the sunlight, but there was no smoke. The Temple was fine.

"It's okay," Anakin murmured, allowing his master to pull him from the window.

"Yes, it is," the Jedi soothed, holding him to his chest.

"No smoke."

"No smoke. Everyone's fine," he pressed a kiss against his soft hair, the small boy still staring out of the window from behind Obi-Wan's shoulder.

"You're fine."

Obi-Wan gave him a gentle smile and nodded, "Yes, little one, I am."

Anakin gazed out of the window for a moment longer, allowing that reality to sink in, before sighing and pressing his face against the crook of the man's neck.

He didn't bother asking if he had had a nightmare. Instead, he allowed the boy to hold onto him for a moment, relishing in the safety his presence brought, sending pulsing waves of calm across their bond.

Obi-Wan patted his back after a few minutes, making the youngling look up, "Come on, we can just catch her leaving."

"Who leaving?" Anakin asked, puzzled as he was carried out into the living room, before being set down on the floor.

Obi-Wan smiled, wincing a little as a shrill squeal of "Padme!" filled the room. Padme laughed as she bent down to wrap her arms around Anakin, who ran towards her as fast as his small legs would carry him. He practically flung himself at her, latching onto her dress.

The Jedi wondered how on earth he couldn't see how in love his padawan was before. Maybe he hadn't wanted to see it, to deny it with every fibre of his being, but like so much lately, nothing was hidden, nothing could be denied. Children had an openness that was simply lost as they grew up. It was almost refreshing to see his padawan so raw, to know he wasn't shrouded in darkness and secrets. Everything had spilled out and though Obi-Wan had found out things about Anakin that he hadn't wanted to know, he was still glad he knew them. He doubted the boy would feel the same way once he was older, but it would be better for him.

The secrets, the darkness, the emotions that he had kept so safe were poisonous. They ate at his insides and had been doing so for years. No matter how he felt once he was older, Anakin wouldn't have to go back to that. He would make sure of it.

"Why're you going?" Anakin asked, the utter forlornness on his face making Padme roll her eyes. Some things never changed. As far as she was concerned, Anakin might as well had been in his twenties again; Force only knew he'd made enough faces like that whenever she had had to leave before. She knew he didn't actually expect her to stay for him, but her husband certainly liked to make it known that he was not happy she was leaving.

"The Queen has requested that I come back," she explained, playing with a loose strand of hair, "I can't ignore her wishes, Ani. I have to go."

Anakin mulled this over for a moment, before reluctantly nodding, "Okay."

"Will you be all right?"

"Uh-huh," Anakin answered, brightening, "I've got Obi-Wan."

A gentle smile illuminated Padme's countenance, "Yes, of course," she noticed his face falling a little and watched his blue eyes cast a worried glance over to his master, "hey," she murmured, two insisting fingers tugging his attention back to her, "it will be fine, Ani. Really," she squeezed his shoulder, "don't worry. It will be okay," Anakin bit his lip, regarding her with scepticism, "trust me, Anakin."

"Do trust you!" Anakin replied, a defensive scowl marring his brow. Of course he did. Her Ani, always so eager to prove himself to her, even when they were together, even when there was nothing left to prove. From the day they met he had to make sure she knew he was more than just a slave working in a shop, that he was somebody. He had to let her know, had to let the world know that he was more than they what they saw.

He didn't understand that he had proved himself enough; after only knowing them for less than a few hours, he had offered three strangers shelter and swore to risk his life to help them. That, for Padme, had been enough. Anakin would never need to prove himself again, but she doubted it would ever be a concept he could grasp.

"I know," she murmured, "so try to trust me on this. Please?"

The small boy sighed as though given the task of something ridiculously difficult, "I'll try."

To him, it must seem impossible not to give up hope when he had seen what was coming, when he had felt the pain of the possible future. But he would try. For Padme, he would try.

...

"I'm coming too!"

"Anakin, we've been through this, you aren't coming to the meeting," Obi-Wan's firm reply was accompanied by a stern look as he turned to face his padawan. It was a miracle either of them survived his teens; the boy could be just as stubborn, if not more so, than his master and they would have fights ten times worse than this.

At least Anakin had been turned into a three year old instead of thirteen year old. The Jedi didn't want to guess what his reaction would be at the thought of having to deal with a moody, sullen, hormonal Anakin again. Though if they didn't find out how to change him back, he may just have to. Puberty was never a pretty affair, but his padawan had got it worse than anyone else. If only he had lost his propensity to put up a fight along with his height.

"Why not?" Anakin demanded, his hands balled up into fists. He narrowed his eyes, an action which, if he were older, would have made him look suspicious, but now made him look as though the sun was in his eyes, "you're hiding something."

Obi-Wan sighed. Too clever for his own good. Even if he denied the truth, his padawan still wouldn't believe him, "My very young padawan, it does not concern you."

"Does too!" Anakin shouted, standing on his tip toes to glare up at his master, "why aren't you telling me?!"

"Because it isn't your business to know," Obi-Wan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in the attempt to calm himself. It was always pointless to argue emotion with emotion. That would always get them nowhere, "besides, the Council don't want you to know. If my authority isn't enough then their's should be."

"Stupid council," Anakin spat venomously.

The Jedi resisted the urge to roll his eyes and groan in exasperation, as tempting as it was, "They are far wiser than I and they agree that you shouldn't come to the meeting. You don't need to know what we're discussing."

"Wanna know!" the boy yelled, a petulant whine dragging out the last word.

"I know you do, but wanting to know something and needing to know it are two different things. Anakin, you are going to stay here. Rex is outside and I will tell him under no circumstances are you to leave this apartment," for all he knew Anakin could have been plotting his murder judging by the look on his face.

"'m still me! Just cos I'm smaller doesn't mean you can lie to me," Anakin growled, his determination still seared onto his brow.

Obi-Wan sighed, kneeling down in front of the seething child, "I know it's still you. And if I thought it would do you any good to know these things, I would tell you. But it would only harm you, not help. I know that it's frustrating and you feel like I'm belittling you, but whether you like it or not, I have every right to withhold information from you now. You are under my care and I will be the one who will determine what is best for you, not you."

The scowl had now morphed into a sulking pout and Anakin ducked his head, eyes fixed on the floor.

"Anakin," a roughened finger pushed up the boy's chin, though the boy's eyes refused to meet Obi-Wan's, "look at me," he shook his head, whining a little as two hands were placed on his face, cheeks squishing a little as he was forced to look into his master's eyes. He didn't like the sadness he found in the grey depths, something close to remorse shining in the cloudy orbs, "I'm not doing this to hurt you. You know that, don't you? I'm doing this to protect you."

Anakin wanted to look away but the hands keeping him in place were unrelenting, gentle but strong, "Who'll protect you?"

Obi-Wan smiled a little at his answer, "I can protect myself, young one."

"No, you can't!" Anakin cried, his lower lip trembling, "I need to protect you! Done it before!"

"With powers that you neither fully understand or control. You might have protected us before, but your powers don't obey you. They obey your emotions and we cannot rely on them."

"Can rely on me!" Anakin shouted, colour rising to his cheeks, "we're a team! Meant to trust me!"

"I do trust you, padawan. Really," he insisted at the look of disbelief that crossed his face, "I do. But things have changed. Your safety has to be paramount. If you were old enough to help, you know I would let you. It isn't a matter of trust, but a matter of whether you can help me or not and you can't."

"Want to help," Anakin's voice was smaller now, a plaintive tone to his words. He recognised when he couldn't win a fight, but he still didn't want to give up. He never did.

"I know. But the only way you can help is by doing as I say. I know you have struggled grasping this concept in the past," Obi-Wan smirked a little as the youngling wrinkled in his nose in disgust, "but I'm asking you, please, try to do what I tell you."

Anakin sighed, before slumping forwards against his leg, wrapping his arms around the Jedi's shin, "Okay," he mumbled.

Obi-Wan regarded the youngling clinging to his leg, pulling his padawan's peeling the arms off from around his leg, only to pull him in against his chest, "Thank you, Anakin. I know this is hard for you and I know that you're scared. But you're doing very well, young one."

"No 'm not," Anakin mumbled, hiding his face against his master's robes, rubbing his cheeks with the slightly scratchy material, "'m scared."

"I know. Anyone would be scared seeing the things that you've seen," Obi-Wan soothed, rubbing his back, "but you are handling it well. You're not giving into your fear."

"Might do," the boy retorted, his face still squished against the Jedi's chest.

"We don't know that yet, Anakin," he murmured, his hold on Anakin tightening, "you might, but you might not. There's no point in speculating what may not happen. It will do you no good," Obi-Wan clung to him a moment longer, before reluctantly pulling him from his chest and setting him back to the floor, "don't worry, or at least try not to."

"I'll try," Anakin promised, his head tilting back further and further as Obi-Wan rose to his feet, "won't be long?"

"No, I won't be long. I'm sure I'll be back soon enough," the Jedi gave his young charge a smile before turning to leave.

...

Anakin found it very easy to distract himself nowadays, either by drawing or simply being in his own little world. Lately, he had been trying to move things with the Force, but it wasn't really going very well. He had hit Obi-Wan several times after half an hour of staring at a glass, it didn't move. The Jedi had found it severely amusing; Anakin had not.

He was trying it again now, frowning at the glass, which remained firmly in it's place on the floor. He squinted at the thing, as though if he narrowed his eyes then he could magically harness the power of the Force. He glared at the thing; he knew he needed to stay calm, but it was difficult when it was so frustrating. He used to be powerful and he was still, the youngling knew that. But when he was older, he could control that power and now he couldn't. Obi-Wan was right, he couldn't help. What use would he be against a Sith when he couldn't even move a cup?

Groaning, Anakin rested his chin on his hands, looking rather forlornly at the stubborn object. It wasn't fair. Why couldn't he have kept his abilities with the Force? Yes, all right, he still had power, he had managed to blow apart a room with the Sith inside it, not to mention what happened with the bounty hunter.

But it wouldn't be enough. He couldn't harness the power himself, he just sort of unlocked it and let it loose. And raw power would be nothing against a lightsaber. Maybe if he could get a blaster, then he could defend Obi-Wan, but the Jedi would never dream of letting him have such a dangerous weapon

Anakin shouldn't be thinking and worrying over it. After all, he had promised Padme and Obi-Wan that he would try not to, but it was hard. How could he not think about it when his master was in danger? What made it all so much worse was that he couldn't do anything and even if he could, there was no way that Obi-Wan would let him. He'd want to keep him safe at all costs, which was nice, but at the same time concerning. If Obi-Wan was looking after Anakin, who was looking after Obi-Wan? Maybe the clones could help, but Anakin hadn't seen them anywhere in his dreams.

Speaking of clones, Rex was outside. It couldn't be very interesting standing outside with nothing happening and most likely nothing happening for the rest of the day. Maybe they could distract one another. Rising to his feet, Anakin made his way to the door, reaching up to open it. He expected to see the back of Rex's legs as usual, for him to turn in surprise and smile down at him. But the youngling received no such greeting.

Rex wasn't there.

Anakin stepped out into the corridor, his head swivelling each way in sear for his friend, but he was nowhere in sight.

It started off as a small feeling, just a mere spark of worry in the pit of his stomach. But it grew rapidly, gaining strength with each turn of his head, seeing the emptiness down both ends of the corridor, the silence that somehow seemed louder than any noise he had heard. His hands began to work the hem of his tunic, twisting it this way and that as he waited for the sounds of footfalls, for any indication that Rex was coming back. But there was only silence.

"Rex?" he called out, worry now bleeding into his gut, "Rex?"

Nothing.

He didn't know why he was feeling so worried. Rex's absence wasn't anything particularly alarming, he could have just been called for training or maybe he was changing shifts with another clone. But the clones were given orders to stay outside their apartment at all times and Anakin was almost certain that clones did what they were told. It was part of their who they were, they were supposed to listen to orders. So why would Rex leave?

Anakin glanced back at the apartment, then back at the corridor. Something was telling him to go back inside, that something horribly wrong was happening. But he had to find out where Rex was. He wanted to know the cause for the awful feeling in him, a feeling so strong it almost hurt.

The youngling went back inside, picking up a piece of paper, on which he began to scrawl an untidy note. He had promised Obi-wan he wouldn't run off, but this was important. He wasn't as though he was trying to listen in on the meeting, he needed to know what was going on.

It was hard to write in basic, but he managed to leave a note for Obi-Wan in a place where he would see it. It read: "Rex gone. Not running away. Trying to find him. Dont worry. A."

Anakin then hurried out of the room, shutting the door behind him before setting off down the corridor. He knew that he needed to get out quickly in case Obi-Wan came back. If something bad was happening, which he was now convinced there was, there would be no chance his master would let him investigate or even know about it. No, he had to do this alone.

There weren't very many Jedi about, but the ones that were stared at him. He wouldn't have minded so much if he wasn't so worried about Obi-Wan intercepting him on the way to where the clones were. They all knew who he was and what had happened, but he was so used to being young now that he found it irksome that people would goggle at him as though he was something spectacular, when really he wasn't. As long as no one asked him what he was doing though, he would be fine.

It was quite a trek to the clones quarters and Anakin almost wished that he had Obi-Wan there to carry him. It was so much easier when he had someone to lift him up when his legs got tired, but he carried on. The feeling telling him to stop and rest was overpowered by the feeling telling him that something terrible was happening.

Finally, the youngling reached his destination. He slowed down, forcing the loud patters of his feet to turn into silent shuffles. He was glad that it was clones he was sneaking up on, not on Force sensitives. If he kept quiet enough, they wouldn't know was there.

He slid up to the door, pressing himself against the wall beside it. He could just see through the crack, but the view itself wasn't particularly interesting. The soldiers were huddled around something, only offering their backs to Anakin. Someone was talking, the sound a little scratchy, which meant they were communicating through a hologram. He edged a little closer, almost pressing his ear to the crack between the door and the wall. The crack was tiny, but the voice just about filtered through.

It took him a moment to fully realise, for his brain to kick into action and work on the voice coming from the room. It was like sinking into ice cold water; the cold, pure terror than ran through his body left him breathless, piercing his chest like a thousand sharp needles. Anakin didn't think he had known fear like it.

How could he have not known?

"You will be mine with your master by your side or not"

He had heard that voice a thousand times-

"My young apprentice"

It was him all along.

"The Jedi Order know this, but they're cruel"

He knew the Sith, how could he not have guessed-

"Anakin, don't listen to him"

But the dreams had only started after that day. He hadn't seen him after they had begun. Anakin was only hearing the Chancellor's voice now.

"Join me or Obi-Wan will die"

Anakin wasn't sure how long he was stood there. He couldn't move, his body plastered to the wall. He wasn't even really listening properly any more, Palpatine's voice in the background had been reduced to a cold drone. It was like the part of his brain that controlled his legs had malfunctioned, keeping him paralysed on the spot.

After few minutes, Anakin peeled himself from his spot, barely daring to breathe. Palpatine may not be in the room, but the danger of being discovered was still heightened by the very fact he was talking to the clones. If Palpatine knew he had been listening in, he may figure out that he had figured out who he was. Perhaps he already had; he must be reeking of fear, which any Sith whose senses were powerful enough would be able to lap up.

Anakin had got maybe a few steps away from the door when it opened. Suddenly, everything kicked back into life. It was as though he had found the switch to turn his legs on, because he was suddenly running. He felt a hand try to snatch at his back, missing his tunic by inches.

"Anakin!"

It was Cody, but the boy ignored him, scattering away from him as fast as he could. He ran, tearing through people, pushing aside and past long legs blocking his way. He didn't think about where he was going, only that he needed to somehow get to Obi-Wan; but he hadn't bothered to look up past the Jedi towering over him and it soon came to Anakin's attention that he didn't know where he was going.

Too scared to stop, he carried on, his tiring legs tripping and staggering. The adrenaline was keeping him going, but there was only so much exertion a youngling's body could handle. He fell, his hands too slow to protect his face, which was crushed against the carpet. Anakin tried to shake off the concerned hands helping him to his feet, looking back with wild eyes to see if Cody was following him, but he wasn't there.

Cody wasn't going after him- maybe Palpatine was instead.

Hot blood was staining his mouth, his nostrils full of the choking red substance. It only served to scare anakin further and he managed to break through the circle of worried adults, setting off again. Anakin's limbs ached, a stitch piercing his side with a constant, throbbing stab. He was now convinced Palpatine was after him.

He sobbed, bloody phlegm filling his mouth as he choked and coughed. He had to stop soon, he couldn't keep going, he was so tired, he needed Obi-Wan to carry him away, far far away from scary Palpatine, he wanted to stop, he had to stop, he couldn't breathe any more- he crashed headlong into a pair of legs, falling backwards onto the floor.

Gasping, tears filling his eyes, he looked up and saw Master Windu frowning down at him, with confusion and a concern which he didn't think he had seen there before. Master Windu! He'd keep him safe- he was almost as powerful as his master. Before the Jedi could even ask what had happened, the youngling wrapped his arms round his legs, burying his bloody face into his leggings.

He had never really got on with Skywalker. Their relationship could be amicable, but often bordered on hostile. So it was a surprise, to say the least, to have the boy cling to him like his master. He would have been irked if it weren't for all the blood on his face and his panic throbbing through the Force.

"Skywalker?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at him, "what happened?"

The child looked up, still hugging his legs. His eyes shone with a raw desperation that seemed too old for one so young, "He's coming."

Those two words carried a weight that made Windu's stomach drop. He opened his mouth to ask the question to which he thought he knew the answer to, an answer that he didn't want to hear.

"Who?"

Anakin's head snapped to the end of the corridor. The loud sound of hurried footsteps making their way towards him made him yelp in terror. He scurried to hide at the back of Windu's legs, covering himself with his cloak. But he knew it would do him no good; he couldn't really hide, not from him.

The approaching footsteps grew louder and Windu braced himself for somebody, though he didn't know who. He had guessed why Anakin was so scared, but he couldn't assign a face to his cause of terror. It took all of his skill as a Jedi to keep the shock from spreading to his face and his mental shields were as high as they could go; he didn't think he had had to exercise such self restraint in all his life.

"Master Windu," Palpatine smiled, his voice like wet silk, "I saw Anakin go past here. Is he with you?"

It took a fraction of a second for Windu to answer. There was so much- too much information to take in at one time, but he had to keep his composure, had to pretend he had no idea what was going on. But Anakin knew; somehow, he had managed to figure out what a whole council of trained Jedi Masters could not. And his fear was so very loud. They could both feel it and as Windu met Palpatine's eyes, he was certain that he already knew the Jedi was aware of his true nature.

"Anakin," he pulled the boy out from behind his cloak, gripping him by his upper arm. He knew the boy wanted to cling and hide, but he at least had to attempt at pretense. He may not do anything in a corridor of full of Jedi, but he was still dangerous and Windu still had to pretend he knew nothing, "he fell over, I think. His master doesn't know where he is, I was going to take him to him."

"You're a busy man, Master Windu," Palpatine purred, "I could take him to his master."

Windu's hand on Anakin's arm tightened to the point where it hurt, "Thank you, Chancellor, but there's really no need. I have to talk to Master Kenobi on some other matter anyway."

He bowed, noting how Anakin stood stoically, staring up at Palpatine with round, staring eyes. If only he were older; it would certainly help if he could at least pretend that the Supreme Chancellor wasn't a Sith lord. But, Windu knew by this point, really, it was too late anyway. There was no point in pretending any more.

"Come, Anakin," turned round, steering the boy round with him, the hand that was fixed so tightly on his arm sliding up to meet his hand. Anakin held onto it fast, his head turning to see if Palpatine was still there. He was, just standing there, watching, a small smile playing on his lips.

He felt Windu squeeze his hand and he looked up at the Jedi to see the tiniest shake of his head. Anakin leant in closer, his spare hand latching onto his rough cloak. They made their steady progress down the hall, Palpatine's eyes boring into the backs of their heads. As soon as Windu turned the corner, he swept Anakin up into his arms and started to run.

…

Obi-Wan hadn't actually expected Anakin to go anywhere. Rex's absence was concerning enough, but now with his padawan gone, the situation seemed more dire; the note explained his absence, but it didn't explain the fear pulsing through their bond. He hadn't felt such terror since their encounter with the bounty hunter.

Unless Anakin had actually decided to go out of the Temple in search of Rex (in which case if he were all right, he'd be in a whole world of trouble), Obi-Wan couldn't see what would scare his padawan so much. They were safe in the Temple, or at least they were supposed to be. What could possibly terrify him so much?

He heard the sound of the door opening and he turned, letting out a sigh of relief. Anakin was being carried (by Master Windu of all people) into the apartment, the fear depleting somewhat as his eyes fell on his master. His face was covered with dry blood and tear tracks, but other than that he seemed unharmed.

"Thank you, Master Windu," Obi-Wan sighed, relief washing through the bonds on both sides. To his surprise, Master Windu didn't hand over his padawan, in spite of the boy's wriggling. His mental shields were high, but the Jedi could see the worry marring his brow. What had Anakin done in his escapade?

"You need to leave," he ordered, closing the door, "now."

"What? You said that we were safe-"

"I was wrong, the Temple is the most dangerous place you could possibly- Anakin, stop it," Obi-Wan stared in amazement as Anakin stopped fighting, sinking against Windu with a pout on his face. He didn't know which was more alarming; the fact that the Jedi Master was scolding him or that Anakin was actually doing as he said. Master Windu's exasperated gaze fell upon Obi-Wan, "Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith."

Obi-Wan stared, "What?"

"Start packing," the Jedi didn't move, frozen, his eyes round and staring.

Windu took a step forward, "Anakin somehow found out this out, but Palpatine knows. I'll look after him, now start packing."

It took Obi-Wan a moment before springing into action. As he dashed into his room, Windu, with as much calm as he had left, walked into the kitchen, wetting some tissue before he began wiping off the cracked blood on the boy's face. Once his face was relatively clean, he came out, to see the Jedi hurriedly making his way to Anakin's room.

"How can he be the Sith?" Obi-Wan asked over his shoulder, his eyes still holding the large, shocked quality, "w-we should have been able to sense it!"

"You know our senses have been blinded by the Dark Side for some time now," Windu answered.

"Yes, but… Chancellor Palpatine?!" he paused to give Windu a look of mingled confusement and dismay, "he was here, right here," what little colour was left in his cheeks was drained away, "I left Anakin alone with him."

Windu sighed, moving to him and placing a hand that wasn't full of youngling on his shoulder, "No one could have known. I don't even know how Anakin had figured it out, but you weren't to know. You need to hurry. I doubt he'll do anything in broad daylight but as soon as he has an opportunity to he will strike."

"Markyle!" Anakin cried, watching as Obi-Wan's bag got filled with clothes.

"Yes, it's all right, I've got him," Obi-Wan replied distractedly, glancing up at Anakin as though to check he was still really there, "What do you think he'll do?"

Windu shook his head, "I'm not sure. If he was bold enough to abduct Anakin before, I don't know what he'll do."

Obi-Wan slung the bag onto his shoulders, reaching out to take Anakin. Windu passed him over, the small boy eagerly clinging to his master, "Come. We don't have much time."

…

Obi-Wan and Mace hurried silently through the corridors, the flurry of their cloaks the only sound they made as the passed through the halls like shadows. The dying light of the Coruscanti sun was reflecting in Anakin's shining eyes, large and watchful, swiveling round to peer into every shadow lest anything hiding in them looked back at him. But they passed through undisturbed; neither Sith nor clone pursued them.

They reached the hangar bay, heading to a ship that Obi-Wan knew had a cloaking device. Palpatine may not come after them himself, but the galaxy was still riddled with bounty hunters eager for credits. Anakin's condition put them at a weakness that they would find all too easy to take advantage of.

"Where should we go?" Obi-Wan asked, standing outside the ship, his senses pricked the for the sound of someone approaching, "we still have the bounty hunters to think of."

"I suggest the Outer Rim, somewhere uninhabited. The further away you get, the better. Hopefully you shouldn't have to stay for too long, but it's best to keep away. I don't how powerful he is, but I would try to get as far away from here as you can, so he can't sense you."

Obi-Wan nodded distractedly, "And what will you do?"

Windu sighed, "I must inform the Council. And then I will confront him myself."

"No!" Windu's eyebrows rose in surprise at Anakin's shrill protest. The youngling was staring at him again, his eyes wild. He wriggled and fought until Obi-Wan let him down onto his feet. He ran to Windu, the determined scowl the Jedi was so used to seeing tinted with desperation, "you can't!"

"It is my duty, Anakin."

"He'll kill you!" Anakin bellowed, "You can't go!" the Jedi regarded the small boy at his feet, rather startled.

"If that is the way of the Force, so be it," he replied simply.

Anakin did not like this answer. Tears sparkled in his eyes and jutted out chin wobbled, "I don't want you to die!" This was probably the closest he had ever got to saying that he liked Windu. It was certainly one of the nicest things he had said to the Jedi and under any other circumstances, the Jedi might have had half a mind to laugh.

But the youngling was so serious. And for only a second, he saw the shadow of the adult in him, the raw, wild energy that he had, a fierce intensity burning in him that seemed to be all too powerful to be encompassed in one so small. And then, it was gone and all that was left was a scared child. The power was still there though and Windu could see that, on some sort of level, Anakin knew they wouldn't be seeing each other again.

He knelt down in front of him, meeting the intense eyes, "If I die, then it is the way of the Force. I have accepted this a long time ago. If I have made peace with this, then so should you. If you can't, then at least accept that I have accepted," Anakin's trembling hands were toying with the hem of his tunic. He didn't want to accept it, that much was obvious (he had such difficulty letting go) but he didn't have any other choice. He was powerless to help, "go to your master," Windu said quietly, "it's time for you to leave."

The youngling nodded, giving Windu one last look before running into his master's expectant arms. Master Windu rose to his feet, eyes fixed on the master and padawan, "Good luck, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan nodded, one hand absentmindedly rubbing Anakin's back, "And you, Master Windu."

The Jedi gave him a small, shrewd smile, watching as the two boarded their ship. He didn't leave until the ship was a mere silver speck in the blood stained sky.

…

Anakin watched as Couruscant fell away, the city getting smaller and smaller until he could see the curvature of the planet. Maybe this was the last time they'd see the planet. He liked the city planet, with all of it's shining towers, but if he was being honest with himself, he didn't really mind where he was. Just as long as Obi-Wan was with him. They plunged into space, vast, dark, the scarred planet getting smaller and smaller before eventually being enveloped by the eternal black. Anakin was sat in the cockpit with Obi-Wan, curled up in the chair next to his. He knew he couldn't fly, but he didn't mind. He didn't particularly feel like flying. He wasn't really sure what he felt. He didn't want to think any more, not now that there was nothing good left to think about.

A loud sniffle broke made the Jedi turn his head, his eyes falling on the small boy next to him. His padawan was rubbing at his cheeks with a sleeve, his lower lip wobbling, "Anakin?"

"Mhm?" Anakin nodded, not looking up at his master.

"Are you all right?"

Anakin took a breath, trying to steel himself, to speak without his speech crumbling away entirely, "Thought he was my friend."

Obi-Wan blinked in surprise. He hadn't even really thought about it that way- but then again, he had had so little time to think at all. Everything had happened so quickly. His padawan had been deceived just like the rest of them, but they hadn't known the Chancellor. Their betrayal was one of Jedi and Sith, not one of friendship. Palpatine had lost their trust some time ago, but not Anakin's. Anakin had always defended the Chancellor on every turn, firm in the belief that the Council's feelings towards his friend were misgiven.

But he was wrong. They had all been wrong, in a way; they were right not to trust him, but they hadn't been able to sense his true nature. They had been under the same roof as a Sith for years and no one had been able to see it. How powerful could they truly be if they lacked the insight to see what was right in front of them.

"As did I, my young padawan," Obi-Wan reached over, lifting the boy up with one arm before depositing him on his lap, "none of us could see his true nature."

"But I knew him!" Anakin wailed, "I-I should have known!"

"The Dark Side has been blinding us for a long time now, my padawan," Obi-Wan murmured, stroking his hair, "not even you could not have guessed his true nature."

"I should have," Anakin protested.

"We all should have. All of us have been betrayed," he swept away the few stray tears leaking onto his cheeks, "but I know you have had the worst betrayal out of us all."

Anakin sniffled, rubbing at his achy eyes, "What're we gonna do?"

His small hands gripped his master's wrists as his face were held in the rough, warm palms, "We're going to keep you safe. We're going to hide in a place so far away that no one will find us. And once this is all over, we're going to go home."

Anakin held onto him tighter at those words. He could hear the resolve in his voice, but there was something else too. Underneath the bravery, hiding away under the fearlessness in his voice, Obi-Wan was trying to convince himself as much as he was convincing Anakin.