Chapter 9

Previously:

"ARE YOU AN IDIOT?!" Falcon bellowed loudly, glaring at his friend

Present:

Everyone stood there silently, as Skywalker glanced at his vehicle, the Sky Lion, it was slightly banged up after the whole explosion experience, but it was still the most powerful vehicle in the entire F-Zero series.

"YOU… just… Anakin… ah well… I guess now the deal has been finalised…" Falcon looked down, as the two men who had made the deal glared at each other.

"This race'll happen at One 'O Clock, tomorrow, got it Skywalker?" Goroh asked Anakin, one finger pointing at Anakin angrily.

"Got it", was the answer to that question

"And, I do suggest we all stay here and prepare for the race." Don Genie added, smirking at Anakin

"Of course." Anakin smirked back, making the Captain frown
"Now Anakin, I believe it's time you got reacquainted with old friends." Falcon glanced at the Jedi Council, which made Anakin groan inwardly, the Captain then glared at some of Samurai Goroh's men who had been roaming around, "And you all, make sure that no one cowards out of this deal! If it happened, it happened!"

"Falcon… the police will get right to that…" Jody told the angry, masked man

"But, you do know, Captain Falcon, that you need to be arrested for the murders of Black Shadow and Deathborn, along with many other charges…" A police officer tried to break the news to Falcon, who growled in anger and embarrassment, realising that he had no choice.

While Falcon had been trying to convince the cops not to arrest him, Anakin was having a long-delayed conversation with the Jedi Council, one he really did not want to attend. But then, he really had to, no matter what.

"Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight…" Mace Windu stated, making Anakin glare at the dark-skinned man

"Former. Jedi Knight." Anakin put emphasis on the first word, then allowing the man to continue

The twelve stood in silence for a moment, before Jedi Master Kit Fisto glanced at Anakin, frowned slightly and then spoke.

"Skywalker, you never did leave the Jedi Order."

"I know, but I enjoy being the Knight of F-Zero rather than the Chosen One. And I am not leaving the Sky Lion! I haven't been a Jedi for five years, like… I don't wanna be in it anymore!" Anakin snapped, glancing briefly at his vehicle

"Then… you must hand over your lightsaber, you should know that." Windu told the former Jedi, who went back to a neutral expression.

"I know. But, the Grand Master needs to be here when and if I do leave the Jedi Order."

"Well, you were expelled anyway… when Senator Amidala revealed that you were married to her… and she had your children…" Master Shaak Ti told the younger Jedi as carefully as possible, other than Obi-Wan, she was the Jedi that knew Anakin best.

"True. That is why I do not want to be a Jedi anymore, I am attached to Falcon, he's my best friend… also Obi-Wan, like a brother. Ahsoka like a daughter." Anakin stopped there, confessing the names of those he was attached to, not including Padmé, of whom they already knew.

"I shall bring Master Yoda then." Master Chi elected, moving away from the group.

Anakin glanced at the Jedi Master and spoke to him, "Congratulations on being in the Council."

"Thanks Anakin. Congratulations on finding a career you wanted." Master Chi smiled, before turning on his Realm Remote, opening the blue portal, and walking through.

Obi-Wan came by, smiling slightly as Master Chi went through. He was slightly saddened that Anakin wanted to leave the Jedi Order, but Jedi Master obviously did not blame his former Apprentice. It was long time coming.

"So, Skywalker, how did you end up in this realm?" Windu asked raising an eyebrow

The person mentioned just glanced at the Jedi Master, before answering, "It's a long story, involving some Dark Magic and an influx from the Force that only happened due to dimensional…" Anakin stopped his rambling, before saying, "I'll tell when Yoda comes along."

"And here he is." Chi stepped out of a newly-formed portal, with Yoda in front, glancing at Anakin now.

"Tell us now, you must. Interesting your circumstances are." Yoda spoke, in his backwards form of language

"Well… it all started during the time I told you guys of the Sith Lord."

~~~Flashback~~~

A 23-year old Anakin Skywalker was seething, he just experienced Master Windu telling him to stay in the Council Chambers, how dare they? He was the Chosen One!

The man glanced at the apartment of his wife… his wife that is destined to die, if he didn't do anything about it! It was frustrating, knowing that the only choice to save his wife was going to be exterminated… like vermin.

'Which he probably is', thought Anakin, he didn't know what to think about the Jedi nor the Sith.

"Skywalker… Anakin…" A voice then called out, a female voice, Anakin turned back, to see a female, with white hair.

"Who are you?" Anakin asked, surprised at the appearance of the woman

"I am the power you wield… the power the Order says they listen to."

"Force…" Anakin looked on at the woman… an incarnation of the Force itself

"Yes. Anakin, my boy, there are dark times ahead, even darker if I put you in this universe. You need to stay away from events, until the Darkness shall strike again… in the wrong universe."

"What do you…"

Anakin could not complete his question, as the Hero-with-no-Fear got sucked into a white portal that seemed to form under him, as his Force-Presence dimmed significantly in the universe he was in.

~~~End Flashback~~~

"So that's what happened, you saw the Force?" Windu asked, questioningly

"But what of 'Dark Magic' and all that stuff?" Fisto asked, confused

"Oh… I heard those stuff as I went through the portal, landed in Mute City, where I found out about F-Zero, and then raced… that's how I met Falcon by the way." Anakin responded.

"And, how did you meet him?" Shaak Ti asked, raising an 'eyebrow'

Anakin went into another story, "Well…"

~~~Flashback~~~

It was at the aftermath of the Aeropolis: Multiplex. The city itself was amazing! And the entire region was controlled by a Super Computer! Just the type of place Anakin wanted to stay in, but then, he didn't have enough money to do so and then survive while having an F-Zero garage in the same building. So he had to buy an apartment in Mute City, on the poorer area to do all the three things.

But, Aeropolis was worth the visit, as Anakin now wanted to go see all the mechanical stuff in the lightly-coloured city, which was now shaded pinkish from the sunset. Anakin saw more letters that were… he thought the locals called it 'Japanese'.

To understand signs, Anakin learned a bit of Japanese, enough to read basic signs and saw a few words important to get around with. But, most of the people talked in Basic, so that was good.

But, that wasn't the issue, there was none. Anakin had won his fifth consecutive F-Zero race! The man earned only a minimality of money from this, only fifty-thousand dollars, enough to go by and survive in a world like the Realm he landed in just weeks before.

"Skywalker!"

The voice came from behind, so the Jedi turned around, only to see the helmeted figure of the elusive Captain Falcon. Deciding that the chance won't come another day, Skywalker decided to humour the famous racer who never talked to anyone.

"Captain. What are you doing here?" Anakin asked, sounding curious

"Oh… I just wanted to know if you rigged the races, you just don't win ten times in an F-Zero GX Grand Prix, Skywalker." Falcon hissed the name out, believing Anakin to be another Black Shadow, or worse, Deathborn.

"No. I am just naturally better than everyone else… I practiced since I was three. No lie."

"Three? Really?"

Sensing Falcon's suspicion, Anakin replied with, "Yes. If you don't believe me… that's your decision. Believe me Falcon, I don't want to make an enemy out of you, and it may be in your best health to not make an enemy out of me"

That line only served to make Falcon laugh, as he realised that the man wouldn't hurt him and did not rig the races.

"Well Skywalker, I'll attempt beat you in that case, don't do anything funny. Is that clear?"

"Crystal."

With that, the two left, unaware that they would become friends after talking to each other

~~~End Flashback~~~

"Interesting. So it took time to develop the attachment?" Windu asked, making Anakin frown

"Yes. That is why I became a former-Jedi. To be his only friend." Anakin answered

"A kind thing to do, good job, Anakin." Shaak told the one who stated the story earlier, who nodded his head. Windu frowned at the Tongrutan

"Thus, young Skywalker, fear I do that in the Order, you cannot be kept. Your lightsaber, surrender it, you must." Yoda stated, as Windu outstretched a palm at Anakin, who picked up said weapon from his utility belt, and hesitantly looked at it.

His lightsaber helped him so much recently, but then… he hadn't used it in a very long time, yet, it was a sign of sentimentality… he knew that the lightsaber had to be given, but he didn't want to part with his weapon, which he had grown attached to.

"Anakin, I know how you feel, but you must give your lightsaber… it is part of your life, as a Jedi, not as a racer." A friendly voice spoke, which Anakin turned to, seeing Obi-Wan.

Anakin knew Obi-Wan was right, but he had one more question. He would ask that now rather than later.

Swallowing up his shyness, the former Jedi asked, "Can you give me the supplies for a new one?"

The auburn Force-User thought about that for a moment, before answering: "Of course."

Anakin nodded, getting the determination and lowering the lightsaber to Windu's hand, who closed his palm upon it once Anakin released the weapon that faithfully served him throughout the Clone War and after that.

Silence was the next thing, as Anakin left the room, no words were required, everyone already knew what was going to be said next, all they could do now is mourn the loss of, admittedly, one of their best Jedi. One who had the courage to do what none other Jedi could.

Give the lonely person a friend.

Really sorry for not updating in a while, I just lost a lot of inspiration due to me thinking up new stories… sorry!