Chapter Five: Knighthood…
Disclaimer: I don't own anything here but the story idea, obviously you guys already knew that.
A.N: Yo yo everyone, here's another banging chapter for There is Another. Sorry it took so long to post an update, been on an awesome holiday and of course work takes up my time but I am still planning on update stuff, just some stories are easier then others and it also depends what I'm in the mood to write. I just want to say I appreciate all the love and I will try to be more consistent with my updates. I can't say for sure what will be updated next but I can promise a lot more updates heading this way and possible sometime soon, a new Game of thrones fic. Alright that's enough rambling from me, like always here the link to the discord server and i'll catch you all later- /S5dZyJVW
An immense terror invaded Anakin's sleeping mind, he saw terrible visions. Visions of himself doing awful things. He killed younglings, betrayed the Jedi order, betrayed his master and even hurt…
'Padmé!'
Blue eyes snapped open and Anakin rose, flinging the silk sheets off himself. His heart felt like it was going to hammer apart his chest but that didn't stop him from turning to check on his wife, feeling relieved to see she was sleeping peacefully and soundly. Gently Anakin reached out to stroke her cheek with his robotic hand. Padmé nuzzled into her husband's touch, feeling content as she continued her slumber. The chosen one softly smiled at his wife before getting out of their bed, shivering from the brisk morning air.
Anakin used the force to bring his brown Jedi robe to his awaiting hand, throwing the warm frantic over his shoulders as he approached the doorway, stopping to summon his lightsaber into his hand and then swiftly clip to his side as he left his bedroom to head to the lower levels of his home, wanting to see the sunrise on Naboo's gorgeous waters. Anakin sighed peacefully, feeling at ease with not just himself but also the force, reaching a form of balance he didn't know was possible.
VVRRRRB!
The sound of a lightsaber cutting through the air, temporarily broke Anakin's harmony but also piqued his curiosity. Following the sound, Anakin reached the training yard where he watched as a young man expertly swung his lightsaber, battling imaginary foes as the morning sun rose slowly behind him.
It was Naruto, his son.
The teen paused mid-swing, sensing the approaching former Jedi as he stopped to turn and face his father, a cheeky grin on his face as he called out, "I recognise your footsteps, old man."
Anakin couldn't help but match his son's grin with one of his own, laughing as he replied, "Your senses have grown more attuned, my apprentice."
"Good morning, master." Greeted Naruto in a more respectful tone, briefly bowing to his father before moving to stand before Anakin, asking, "What's on the agenda this morning?"
"Well, I was thinking perhaps we could start off with a peaceful meditation session," Anakin suggested, getting a raised brow in return from his son.
"It sounds like you've been spending time with uncle Obi-wan," Naruto playfully speculated, getting a small chuckle out of Anakin who started to think very fondly of his old master.
"Heh, perhaps I have." Anakin agreed before continuing on, saying, "But I think today is the perfect day to see if you're ready to become a Jedi knight, my son."
Naruto's eyes briefly went wide, a rush of excitement passing through them before the blond teen squared his features into something more controlled, bowing towards Anakin as he said, "Thank you, my master."
"Don't thank me just yet kid, you'll be fighting me as if I'm your enemy. That means I won't be pulling any punches. Understand?" Anakin questioned, wanting his son to fully understand that he won't be holding back and will treat him like he does any other opponent.
"I understand," Naruto told his father seriously, his eyes showing that he knew what he was agreeing to and that he was ready. The two Jedi took their place on their respective side of the arena with Naruto being the first one to ignite his lightsaber, drawing a smirk from Anakin as he also sparked to life his own saber.
"That's my boy." Naruto showed great restraint not rushing carelessly at his father, he was patient as he studied Anakin, looking for an opening but his father left none for him to take an advantage of. So, Naruto would just have to create one.
Naruto made the appearance that he was rushing head first at his father, then suddenly he fainted to the right, now behind Anakin with his saber pulled back for a nasty strike but Anakin wasn't a master for nothing. Twirling his saber while bending his arm backwards over his shoulder, effortlessly blocking his son's attack while simultaneously pushing him back. Naruto's shoes squeaked as they skid across the ground but the son of the chosen wasn't deterred by his father's strength, quite the opposite. It pushed and compelled him to give a hundred twenty percent, to make his father proud but what Naruto didn't know was Anakin was already proud, he was blown away by his son's gift in dueling and his amazing power.
Left, right, a heavy upward slash. Naruto did everything he could think of to break through his father's impenetrable defense while defending himself from Anakin's own haymakers but doing this near-impossible task was starting to quickly drain the teen's energy while his father looked like he was just starting to break out into a light sweat. Naruto didn't bother using the force, knowing his father's mastery of the force couldn't be matched so instead decided it was best to stick to dueling.
The whiskered teen knew he only had one option to actually land a blow on Anakin; he needed to risk getting hit if he wished to land one of his own. Naruto needed to be bold, and unpredictable while also having total faith in his ability in the force.
'What are you planning son?' Anakin questioned as he and Naruto moved in perfect tandem with one another, circling the dueling arena. Naruto could see his father was getting impatient and was starting to advance, just as Naruto thought he would.
Naruto used the force to enhance his speed as he ran towards Anakin, his saber held in a reverse grip so as to not hinder his speed in any way. The Jedi knight in training met his father in an epic deadlock that had the force swirling around them in a harmonic dance of power. The two Jedi matched each other bar for bar, reading each other's movements and emotions but alas, Anakin was just far too skilled, far too powerful to overcome but Naruto wouldn't quit. He didn't need to beat his father but rather, he wanted to prove himself and show how much he appreciated Anakin's training and tutelage.
The two Skywalker's rumble had woken the other inhabitants of their home. Padmé, as gorgeous as the day was long, watched with a smile and a light giggle as her boys trained together. Anakin noticed his beautiful wife wasn't alone, standing by her side were children, his children but he couldn't quite make out their features as if the light or perhaps something else was obscuring them from view but the love-struck man didn't have much time to think upon it as Naruto's stray strike nearly clipped the side of his face.
Anakin attempted to put some distance between himself and his son but his boy proved to be every bit as tenacious and stubborn as he himself was. In an effort to halt Naruto's charge, Anakin threw his hand forward, releasing a force push packed with a decent amount of power, a blow Naruto took with stride. He did not allow himself to be sent flying, instead shrouding himself in force energy as he burrowed through his father's attack. Anakin was left briefly speechless by Naruto's bold move but even he couldn't contain his excitement as a grin spread across his lips.
The chosen one was ready for his quickly approaching son, ready to disarm and end this spar in a single move. Naruto, not knowing of his father's intentions, drew closer until he was close enough to do an upward swing but that was just what Anakin was waiting for.
A clash of epic proportions had Naruto's arms shaking as he tried and failed to match Anakin's raw power. His saber was sent flying from his hands and the young Jedi was now flat on his back, groaning as he brought a hand to rub his head.
"You did well son but you're not quite there yet," Anakin said as he offered his hand towards his son.
"I'll catch up to you eventually Dad," Naruto promised, accepting his father's hand and thanking said man as he was pulled to his feet. Dusting off his combat robes.
"I know you will, son," Anakin assured Naruto as he patted the young Jedi's back, stopping when he heard and sensed his wife's quiet approach.
"Anakin…" Padmé whispers of his name sent a chill up the Jedi master's spine. Anakin turned to face his beautiful wife, taking her into his arms as he pressed his lips to the corner of her brow. Feeling at peace as he held the love of his life. Anakin frowned when he felt Padmé stop returning his embrace, pulling back to see her cheeks were stained with tears, her eyes a cocktail of betrayal and heartbreak as she softly uttered, "…What have you done?"
"Padmé?" Anakin questioned as he took a step back from his wife, feeling confused and disturbed as the sky started to turn black and the Naboo lake started to turn red and bubble like the Iava lakes of Mustafar.
"What did you do to our boy?!" Padmé screeched in horror, startling and confusing Anakin even more.
"Nothing, he's fine-" Anakin interrupted himself, nearly unable to recognise the black-cloaked figure kneeling and awaiting instruction, "Naruto?"
The figure pulled back its hood to reveal familiar blond spikes but pale skin instead of peach and eyes now sinful orange, replacing once gentle and kind blues.
"Anakin, what did you do to me?" Padmé cried, bruises around her neck, a mark he inflected but a mark Anakin couldn't remember inflicting.
"I didn't-I don't understand." Anakin whispered as he held his throbbing head in agony, tears starting to gather as everything was wrong, so very wrong and it was his fault, he knew it, he could sense it.
"A-Anakin, please help me!" The distressed call of his wife broke Anakin out of his crisis. His eyes widening as he saw his beloved Padmé floating in the sky, holding her neck with one hand while reaching out for Anakin with the other.
"Padmé?!" Anakin screamed as he ran towards his endangered wife, feeling as if he was running in place as he didn't seem to be getting any closer.
Snap!
Anakin froze in place as the snap of Padmé's neck echoed around the courtyard and that's when he heard the laughter. An old deep sound that brought nothing but pain and it was heading towards his son…
"NO!" Vader roared from within his tank filled with Bacta. The glass cracked and bacta started to spill onto the floor, acting quickly the nearby medical droids started to drain the tank. With the bacta fully drained, the cracked glass started to steadily rise and soon revealed Vader's suspended form.
Piece by piece Vader was put back together until the menacing Sith was whole and standing at his 7" glory. Marching out of his personal chambers, the right hand to the emperor moved until he was standing on the bridge of his ship, gazing out the window as he connected himself to the force searching out for his son's presence, a task the Sith would do every day for hours upon end.
'Naruto...'
(On Planet Ashas Ree)
The son of Anakin and Padmé turned his head to the night sky, frowning in confusion at the strange call he felt towards the stars. Ignoring the draw, Naruto continued his task of collecting wood for the fire, his arms more than full with enough sticks and branches to last the two Jedi for the rest of the night with a roaring fire.
Naruto found Leia sitting next to the fire they made, staring at the holo-pad in her hands with a look of melancholy. It was displaying pictures of her family in a slow slideshow of precious memories. Leia sighed as she placed the holo-pad down, reaching out to rub BB-1 dome head and then smiling at her fellow approaching Jedi.
"Still no word from master Ahsoka?" Naruto asked as he threw some sticks onto the fire, taking a seat next to the princess of Alderaan.
"Not yet. *Sigh* It's been like this for months. I hope she's okay." Leia lamented as she thought of her master, even so far away, the princess could still feel their bond through the force. A bond Naruto understood very well as he had his own with his masters, even the deceased Mace Windu.
"You can try sending a message to Ahsoka from my ship. I'm sure BB-1 doesn't mind giving you a hand." BB-1 wanting to confirm his creators words, gave Leia a thumbs up with his little inbuilt lighter and a happy beep.
"Thank you and thank you especially, Bee." Leia said to the happy droid as she gently rubbed the top of his dome-like head. Leia seemed to go quiet for a brief moment as she debated with herself before finally asking her fellow Jedi, "Naruto, would you mind if I sent a message to my parents?"
"You miss them huh?" Naruto commented with an understanding grin.
"I've never been away from them for so long. I just want to know they're okay." Leia said honestly, looking down at the holopad in her hands once more.
"I think I know how you feel." The Padawan replied as he moved to sit next to Leia, continuing by saying, "I have someone waiting for me back at my home."
"Your other master?" Leia questioned, always curious about master Yoda but never prying as she knew Naruto would talk about him when he was ready and it seemed like he was ready now.
Naruto looked ashamed as he glanced into the captivating flames, confessing to Leia, "I haven't spoken to him since I left for Coruscant."
"Have you tried to contact him?"
Naruto let out a little scoff as he muttered, "And what would I say? 'Hello Master Yoda, I know I disobeyed you and it's my fault Master Windu is dead but I'm sorry.'" The young blond Padawan was vulnerable as he said honestly, "I don't think he'd even be able to look at me."
Leia was surprised by what she could sense from Naruto. How afraid he truly was of facing his master, the disappointment he still held for himself and of course the lingering remorse for Master Windu. Leia boldly reached out and gently took one of Naruto's free hands into her own, giving his hand a soft squeeze as she said, "I don't know master Yoda as well as you do but I'm sure he misses you just as much as you miss him."
Naruto gave Leia's hand a squeeze back, having a contemplating look on his face as he agreed with a sigh, "Maybe you're right, Leia."
"I thought you knew that about me by now wonder boy. I'm always right." Leia's words made Naruto chuckle, letting go of Leia's hand as he rose to his feet.
"Of course princess, how could I forget." Naruto replied with a roll of his eyes and a smile, waving goodnight as he moved towards his chambers. "I'm going to meditate for the rest of the night. I'm hoping I'll be able to get into contact with master Yoda with the aid of the force."
"I know you will and I know everything will be okay." Leia agreed. Wishing her friend and fellow Jedi a goodnight before turning to the little droid by her side, "Come on boy, let's see if we can make contact."
Naruto knelt in the center of his room, breathing rhythmically as he cantered himself and focused on connecting to the force. With every breath, Naruto became more in sync with every living thing on the planet, he could feel life and its connection to the force. He followed that connection to something much bigger and greater than he could have possibly imagined.
The force in all its purity.
A great bond that embraced all aspects of life, the good and the bad, the light and the darkness but the dark side of the force had no pull or attraction to Naruto. He felt no desire for power, for rule or domination. The dark side of the force was nothing but a shadow created by the boundless light.
It was that light that drew Naruto in and embraced him as a champion, pushing the young Jedi through the force until he once again found himself standing on the swampy ground of Dagobah. The young Jedi stared at his hands and then down at his 'body'. As strange as it sounded, Naruto did not believe he teleported himself to his home planet but instead sent his consciousness through the force while at the same time projecting himself a 'body', while his real one was still safely meditating on Ahas Ree.
And yet, even though Naruto wasn't there in person, he still took a moment to immerse himself in his environment, in his home. He walked the swampy trail without missing a beat, all too familiar with the trail towards his home like it was the back of his hand. The Padawan had no trouble finding master Yoda's home, the inside being illuminated and warmed by a small fire. Naruto quietly crouched as he entered the tiny home, feeling nostalgic. The blond jedi found his attention drawn to his sleeping master who Naruto looked upon fondly before taking a place to sit comfortably as he waited for his master to awaken from his slumber.
Naruto sat in place for hours with his hands resting in his lap and his head bowed, rising when he heard the rustling of sheets and the old masters grumbling as he woke up. The green Jedi master fell silent as he gazed upon his Padawan.
Naruto closed his eyes as he found his posture shifting from shame. His lips lightly trembled as he spoke to Yoda for the first time in many months, "Master…I…I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for letting you down, for getting Master Windu kill-"
Yoda had cut Naruto off, surprising his Padawan by taking him into a comforting embrace. This gesture was the first time in a very long time, that Yoda had ever held Naruto in such a way, the last time being when the Padawan was just a youngling and he awoke in the middle of the night because of terrible night terrors.
Naruto grit his teeth as tears started gently falling in slow steady streams. The Padawan's voice cracked as he asked, "Why aren't you angry at me? How can you forgive me so easily?"
Yoda was gentle and wise as he told his grandson in all but blood, "You're fault, it is not. Happy to see you, I am. Missed you very much, I did."
Naruto was not expecting to see tears in his own master's eyes when he pulled back from the embrace but seeing such a rare sight made the Padawan realize how much he truly was cherished by his master. Naruto wiped away his tears with the back of his arm as he said, "I missed you as well Master and I'm home."
"Grown strong with the force, you have. The light side sings around you, it does." Yoda praised his Padawan with a smile, leading Naruto outside where the swamp seemed to clear some of its mist while rays of light beamed down on the master and his Padawan.
"Thank you, Master. It was…difficult after Master Windu's passing but with help from a friend and a warning from the force, I found my way." Naruto explained to Yoda, briefly telling the short green alien of his dreams.
"Know, you do?" Yoda questioned, curious if Naruto was aware of the fate that befell his father.
"I know Anakin Skywalker was my father and Padmé Amidala was my mother, murdered by Vader." Naruto's answer showed the green Jedi master that he didn't know and a part of Yoda wished for Naruto to stay ignorant and never know but perhaps, now was the time.
"Hmmm." Yoda hummed to himself as he stroked his chin with his clawed hand, glancing up at his Padawan as he said, "Ready for your Jedi Knight trials, you are."
"Master, are you sure?" Naruto questioned Yoda, unsure if he was ready for his trail while also pondering what his trail would be.
Yoda dismissed his Padawan's worries, having nothing but total faith in Naruto as he reminded the son of Anakin, "Survived a battle against a Sith Lord, you did. Conquered the darkness in your heart, you have. Ready, I know you are."
"What do I need to do?" Naruto asked his Master, curious as to where his master was starting to hobble off to.
"Follow." Was Yoda's simple command. Naruto followed Yoda, moving towards a destination in the swamp that the Padawan was unfamiliar with. Stopping when they reached a cave with the entrance blocked by long unyielding vines.
Naruto shuddered as he eyed the mouth of the cave wearily, turning to master Yoda as he asked, "What is this place? Why is it so…cold."
"Strong with the dark side, this cave is. Your trial, it will be." Yoda explained as he moved to sit on a large log near the vine-covered entrance.
"…" Naruto's hand drifted to the hilt of his lightsaber, halting when his master called out to him.
"Your lightsaber, need it, you will not."
Naruto looked at the mouth of the cave then back at his Jedi master, asking, "What will I see when I enter?"
"Only what you take with you." Yoda warned, watching in approval as Naruto placed his lightsaber next to the green master, giving Yoda a nod as he entered the cave and strood towards his trails, hearing Yoda's whisper, "Good luck, my Padawan."
(Inside the Cave)
Every step had Naruto feeling colder and colder till the point his own breath was visible, something that should be impossible on such a humid planet. The cave was dark, pitch black as space itself and yet, the Padawan didn't feel the error that one might usually feel from being alone in the dark. Standing tall and strong as he continued to walk forward.
But that was when Naruto heard it, that dreaded breathing he hadn't heard since that horrible night, months ago on Coruscant.
KOHHHH…. KHUHH…
"Impossible…" Naruto whispered, dread creeping up his chest as he could see something big and tall move through the sea of darkness as if it owned the shadows itself.
Red illuminated the entire caver and the humming of a saber nearly had Naruto freezing in fear as Vader loomed above the Padawan in a menacing way but Naruto held strong, staring into Vader's emotionless mask, glaring into his lenses.
When Naruto took a step forward and the apparition of the Sith Lord took a step back. Naruto strode forward with his head held high. Strangely enough, the cave seemed to lose its darkness, the light infiltrated the shadows and gave Naruto the sight he had lacked earlier. He could see Vader clearly in all his terrifying glory but even so, the Padawan continued to push 'Vader' back until the manifestation of the dark side of the force and Naruto's own fears were pushed back into a wall, powerless. A feeling Naruto knew all too well and despised but it seemed the growing Jedi was no longer plagued by such emotions as he told the apparition of Vader, "I no longer fear you, sith."
The horrid breathing stopped and 'Vader' dropped his lightsaber much to Naruto's confusion. The apparition of Vader's mechanical arms reached up towards his helmet making the Padawan apprehensive by what he was going to see. A thousand thoughts of what 'Vader' looked like under the mask had passed by Naruto in a second but nothing could have prepared the blond Jedi for what he was about to see.
It was his own face staring back at him.
Then the cave was illuminated by such strong lighting that it was almost blinding and a hideous laughter rang in Naruto's ears. Naruto's face on Vader's body changed with every flash of lightning, now becoming Anakin's face then a pale older man with poorly healed burnt skin and then back to the mask of Darth Vader. All of this happened in an instant, easy to miss if Naruto wasn't perceptive enough but he caught it, all of it and he understood what it meant. Even if it did break his heart.
Naruto inhaled and then exhaled a shaky sigh, turning and making his way towards the exit of the cave with his head bowed and his mind running rampant with thoughts. Master Yoda was immediately on his feet when he heard his Padawan approaching. Naruto pushed aside the vines, taking a deep breath of the fresh air before turning to give his master a weak smile, a smile that told the small green Jedi all he needed to know. Naruto knew the truth about his father.
"Know, you do?" Naruto nodded his head at his master's question but still needing it to be confirmed, even if it was just appeasing that small bit of hope that Anakin didn't become a monster, a monster that had scared him and killed his master.
"Darth Vader is my father isn't he?" Yoda bowed his head in confirmation, feeling sorrow for his beloved student when Naruto brought a hand up to his cheek to wipe away a stray tear.
"He is."
"…" Naruto's silence worried Yoda until the young Padawan turned to face his master with a look of unwavering determination, saying to Yoda, "I need to know everything."
"Tell you, I will." Yoda promised and assured his Padawan.
"No, master. I have to see it." Naruto explained then getting an idea of seeing if master Yoda could join him in one of his vision trips, telling the small green Jedi, "Meditate with me. The force has shown me visions of the past, of Anakin Skywalker's past. I've seen so much of his life and so many battles but I never got to see how his life ended. I need to understand how he became Vader."
"I understand. Go with you into the force, I will" Yoda promised Naruto with a nod and a smile. One Naruto happily returned as he moved with his old master to the training ground to meditate. A place he hadn't seen in quite some time.
The two Jedi fell in sync almost instantly. Allowing themselves to fall into a trance and be accepted into the force itself. Naruto opened his eyes to see he was in a white void but he wasn't alone, master Yoda was right by his side with his trust cane in hand.
The white void started to swirl and change until Naruto and Yoda found themselves on Coruscant but more specifically in the Jedi council chambers. A room that was mainly empty bar a single soul who was staring out the wide window longingly.
Naruto's empathic abilities were hit full force by his father's clashing and conflicting emotions. All of it was unstable with thoughts trampling over one another but Naruto was still able to make out the worry for Padmé and the children.
"Father…" Yoda glanced at his Padawan and then back at the Jedi's greatest failure. Feeling a great sense of responsibility for what befell the older Skywalker. Why didn't they see it? Did they not want to see it? Perhaps it was easier for everyone to dismiss Skywalker's growing troubles as nothing. Some might blame the war and its growing conflict across the galaxy demanding the Jedi's undying attention, especially in its final moments but perhaps that's just another easy excuse to ignore the growing problem of Anakin being sent into Palpatine's clutches, just as the emperor had wanted. All of it had been planned as to his grand design. The schemes of the enemy and ally alike amounted to nothing in the end.
Naruto started to walk towards his father, wanting to see what he was truly thinking. Naruto wasn't prepared to see the great general Skywalker in tears, mentally and almost physically being torn apart by guilt, indecision and fear.
"Why didn't he tell anyone? Why didn't he ask for help?" Naruto questioned as he looked down at his old master, wondering why his father didn't feel comfortable or safe enough to tell his friends, his fellow Jedi, how much he was suffering.
"Afraid, he was. Assured the Jedi wouldn't help, he feared." Yoda summarized after taking a moment to sense Anakin's overwhelming emotions.
"Would you have?" Naruto asked, wanting to believe the Jedi of the past would have done the right thing by his father but given his master's silence, it was hard to say that they would all be like that. As Anakin turned to leave, retreating the Jedi council chambers to face his destiny while also changing the galaxy's dramatically. Naruto sighed as he turned to follow his father, saying to his Jedi master, "What's done is done. There's nothing we can do to change that."
"Continue, you wish to go?" Yoda asked as he kept pace with his Padawan, hoping Naruto would have the strength to bear what came next as well as the weight of his father's decision.
Naruto nodded strongly, his eyes lit with a fire called determination as he swore, "I'm going to see this through to the very end. Maybe then I can finally understand…"
"Together then." Yoda promised as he followed Naruto to the next force vision.
A vision that would show the moment the empire was born.
With a single step, the two Jedi found themselves shifted, no longer were they in the warm embrace of Jedi master council chambers but in the cold and suffocating office of chancellor Palpatine, where said Sith Lord sat with a pleased smile on his lips, turning his head when he heard the door to his office slide open and four powerful force users entered.
Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Saesee Tiin and Agen Kolar, all respected masters of the force, stood in defiance before the future Emperor of the Galaxy. No longer deceived by his wicked mastery of the darkside, the Jedi masters could see him for what he really was. A manipulative monster.
Palpatine turned to face the small squad of Jedi, addressing the highest in authority with a certain amount of smugness, "Master Windu, I take it General Grievous has been dealt with? I must say you are here sooner than I expected."
"In the name of the galactic senate of the republic-" Mace uttered as he ignited his purple lightsaber, saying with a slight sneer to the Sith Lord, "You are under arrest chancellor."
"Are you threatening me, master Jedi?" Palpatine questioned as his hand reached for his lightsaber, hidden within the sleeve of his cloak as the other Jedi masters followed Mace's lead by igniting their sabers of light.
"The senate shall decide your fate." Mace promised as he steadily advanced on the quickly growing agitated darkside user.
"I am the senate." Palpatine swore, so assured of his ascension to power that he allowed the darkside to spread throughout his office, unsettling the Jedi Masters bar Mace.
"Not yet." Mace promised, assured of himself and his fellow Jedi that they would stop this great evil from growing any larger.
Palpatine showed his age was as much of a deception as his intentions for the war. Leaping until he was standing on top of his desk as the room darkened and lightning surged around the Sith Lord in a sinister dance.
A dark screech left the man's mouth, it was something inhuman but powerful enough to stun both Jedi Master's Agen Kolar and Saesee Tiin. Unable to do anything as Palpatine sliced them in half with two quick slashes, horrifying the remaining Jedi masters but they continued to fight against the parell, this hurricane of darkside force energy that was Palpatine.
Mace and Kit Fisto knew they had to work together, it was their only chance to survive. Purple and green sabers cut through the air at astounding speed and Palpatine welcomed the challenge as he faced the storm of lightsaber slashes with blocks and counters of his own. The Sith Lord knew the Jedi were more powerful together, that was why he separated them by disorienting Mace with a powerful kick to his temple and a mighty force push.
Palpatine outsmarted Kit by tricking nautolan with a fake swipe when his real intention was to finish off the still-dazed and unaware Mace but Kit, not willing to let another one of his allies die, threw his lightsaber just as the Sith Lord was about to bring down his own and end Mace's life. Kit Fisto's green saber batted aside Palpatine's crimson lightsaber in a much-needed assist. Palpatine scowled as he went for a second swipe but Mace had already regained his senses by then, flipping out of the way while slowly making his way to his only remaining ally.
Palpatine approached like a predator, his eyes singing with sick glee, finally, he needed to pretend no longer, he could let his detest and disgust for his mortal enemy flow freely. He never felt more empowered than he did on this night.
He charged towards his opponents once more, laughing as he battled the Jedi at once, showing his mastery and superiority in all forms of lightsaber combat. Palpatine noticed out of the two, Kit Fisto was struggling to keep up, becoming more winded as the seconds ticked by. The evil Sith Lord saw the perfect opportunity for a counter after batting aside Windu's downward slash. The nautolan Jedi felt the searing hot pain of a saber piercing his heart then blackness. Another member of the light side, taken by the unforgiving and cruel future emperor.
Mace watched his fellow Jedi master and friend fall but he didn't allow himself to be taken in by rage. That's just exactly what Palpatine wanted. Mace refused to let his emotions overtake him, he would fight as a Jedi should.
The Master of the Jedi order and Dark Lord of the Sith circled one another in a slow dance, their respective sides of the force clashing against each other like angry waves. Mace used everything in his ability and more but it seems the future emperor was more than ready to match the master of the amethyst blade with his raw power but Mace still had an ace up his sleeve, Vaapad.
The technique that could and would tip the scales in his favor. Mace had full belief in his ability to take Palpatine down, especially with his Jedi brethren watching over him from beyond the grave, needing their support now more than ever. The two battling force users moved their battle to the lounge area of chancellor's office, the epic clash of their lightsabers broke the window and the dreaded Sith lord fell to his knees, holding his hands out in front of himself as he was backed into a corner.
Mace held a cold stare as he kept his saber pointed at the cowering Sith Lord, a sneer on his lips as he said, "You are under arrest, my lord."
That's when Mace, Palpatine and even the two spectating Jedi from the future sensed and felt the chosen ones approach. Palpatine was quick to put on the weak old man mask, as he called out for the conflicted Jedi, "Anakin! I told you it would come to this, I was right, the Jedi are plotting to take over!"
"The oppression of the Sith will never return. You have lost." Mace declared, glancing at Anakin and giving his fellow Jedi a subtle nod.
Palpatine seethed, fury flaring in his eyes as he gnashed his teeth together. Scowling as he shouted, "No…No, no, no, You have lost!"
Pure concentrated Sith lightning burst from Palpatine's fingertips, it was thanks to years of skill and pure instinct that saved Mace as he brought his purple lightsaber up just in time to block the vicious attack. Even Anakin was briefly stunned by the power as he took a step back, covering his eyes with his arm to lessen the blinding light being sent his way. Mace started to prevail as his vaapad steadily overwhelmed Palpatine, reflecting his own Sith lightning back at himself.
The lord of the Sith was in agony, he couldn't turn off his own power and he knew why, the dreaded Jedi master was controlling the flow of his lighting with the force, putting Palpatine in a position where he couldn't stop shocking himself even if he wanted to. His only hope was to turn his head and call out to the chosen one, "Please Anakin help me…" his face steadily started to morph and disfigure itself, reflecting how evil and disturbing Palpatine really was on the inside but the didn't stop the old lord from groveling pathetically towards Anakin, promising, "Gah! I-I have the power to save the one you love!"
"Don't listen to him, Anakin!" Mace screamed as he was pushed back slightly from the force of Palpatine's lightning.
"I-I, I can't hold on for much longer…" Palpatine whispered as he exhausted himself momentarily, his face burnt and steaming from the lightning. Palpatine's yellow eyes glared at Mace with all the hate he could muster before once again looking towards Anakin pleadingly. His outburst of lightning came to a halt as he slumped back against the wall, panting as he tried to regain his breath.
Mace knew what he was about to do was against the Jedi code, striking down an unarmed opponent but he needed to do what had to be done if there was any chance of the Jedi's survival, "I'm about to end this once and for all."
Anakin looked slightly panicked by Mace's words, feeling conflicted as the man he viewed as a father figure and mentor who knew the way to save the love of his life and his unborn children was about to die, "What? You can't." Anakin begged, trying to think of a way to keep the chanlor around so he could save the ones he loved the most, even if the man was a Sith, "He must stand trial."
Mace was baffled by Skywalker's nativity, shaking his head as he explained to his fellow Jedi, "Anakin, he has control of the senate and the courts. He's too dangerous to be kept alive."
Palpatine withered in pain as he attempted to back away from the powerful Jedi Master, once again pleading pathetically, "I'm too weak, please, don't kill me."
"It's not the Jedi way, please master Windu, he must live!" A general, broken by a terrible and aggressive war, beseech his fellow Jedi and master to let Palpatine live, growing more frantic as options left his grasp and in his mind, the life of his family would most certainly die, "I need him!"
"Please don't!" Palpatine pleaded with a cry, raising a hand in front of himself as he feared all his planning, all his ambitions were about to crumble before his very eyes.
But alas the future emperor was saved by a desperate "No!"
Mace Windu wailed as he held his dismembered wrist, unable to believe he was betrayed by his fellow Jedi and even more so, distraught that he couldn't put Palpatine down when he had the chance. The old and wounded Sith Lord seemed to regain his strength for a moment, aiming his fingertips at the valuable Jedi Master as he thundered, "POWER! UNLIMITED POWER!"
Mace's agony increased tenfold as he was fried and violated by the corruptive power of Sith lightning, being sent flying to his presumed death out the broken window.
Anakin fell to his knees in disbelief, looking down at his shaking hands with slightly wet eyes, whispering to himself, "What have I done…"
Naruto watched with despair as his father fell before his very eyes, and could Yoda hide his pain, even if he already knew the outcome. Naruto watched as his father was championed for the title and rank of Darth Vader, a Sith Lord.
Then that's when Naruto felt it, order 66.
No words could describe the horrible pained cries the force let out that day as Jedi were snuffed out like dying stars in a sea of blackness. Naruto felt every death and in a way thanks to his empathic abilities Naruto experienced every blaster bolt singing and piercing his skin, the burning flames of his Jedi fighter igniting in a mighty explosion around him but none of it, none of it could compare to the betrayal each and every Jedi felt that day.
Naruto had fallen to a knee and the world around them had once again gone white, Yoda was quick to rush to his apprentice's side, holding Naruto as he asked his student, "Alright, are you?"
Naruto gave a subtle nod and a faint smile as assured Yoda, "I'm fine, master. I just…I wasn't expecting to feel it all."
"Dark day for the Jedi, dark day for us all, it was." Yoda muttered as he soon became lost in his own thoughts about the older Skywalker.
"…" Naruto didn't say anything as the world shifted from white to black, steadily morphing and growing more hotter until the two Jedi's were standing on the Sith planet of Mustafa.
Alone Anakin stewed, alone gave Anakin the time to think over his actions, every atrocity, all done in the name of love. The chosen one grit his teeth and closed his eyes as he could still hear the younglings screams, a deep guilt weighed on Anakin's shoulders as the upcoming father thought of his own children yet to be born. He was doing this, all of this for them and his beloved Padmé. He couldn't let the Jedi's sacrifice be in vain, he couldn't let his family down, not again.
Naruto and Yoda watched as Anakin's gaze lifted to the sky, spotting a familiar silver ship about to dock not too far from the once Jedi, now Sith, own ship. Padmé, came out of her ship cradling her stomach, tired and exhausted from not just her pregnancy and space travel, but the once Queen of Naboo couldn't wait to be in her husband's arms. Yet, as soon as she was in his loving embrace, she started to tremble, tears welling up in her eyes as she clung to her husband's robes.
"Padmé, you're trembling." Anakin whispered, pulling back to wipe away a stray tear, "What are you doing here?"
"I was worried about you." Padmé replied, slightly pulling away from her husband as she whispered, "Obi-wan…he told me awful things."
Anakin's jaw briefly clenched at the mention of his old master, asking, "What things?"
Padmé almost looked unable to say it, not believing her husband was capable of killing all of those innocent people, "He said you turned to the dark side, that you killed younglings."
"Obi-wan is trying to turn you against me." Anakin swore, his mind already showing signs of being plagued by the darkside.
"I think he's trying to help us." Padmé told her husband, wanting him to understand that their oldest friend just wanted to help them in such a dire and horrible situation.
"Us?" Anakin asked, confused and worried about what Obi-wan could possibly know.
"He knows. He wants to help you, me, the babies." Padmé said as one of her hands left Anakin's chest to rest on her stomach, looking exhausted and scared but that didn't stop her from trying to reach the love of her life, "Anakin, all I want is you, your love."
"Love won't save you Padmé. Only my new powers will." Anakin tried to explain to the love of his life, wanting, her no, needing her to understand.
Padmé shook her head, asking, "But at what cost?! You're a good person please, don't do this."
"I won't lose you like I lost my mother. I have become more powerful than any Jedi has ever dreamed of and I'm doing it for you. To protect you, to protect them." Anakin swore, resting his hand on Padmé's slightly bloated stomach.
"Please come away with me. Let's leave everything behind while we still can." The former queen of Naboo begged her husband, holding his hand tenderly.
"Don't you see? We don't have to run away anymore, I have brought peace to the republic." Anakin desperately tried to explain to Padmé, madness overlapping his eyes as he said, "I am more powerful than the chancellor. I can overthrow him and together, you and I could rule the galaxy. Make things the way we want them to be."
Padmé backed away slightly from Anakin, taken aback by everything he was saying, "No, I don't believe what I'm hearing. Obi-wan was right, you changed."
"I don't want to hear anymore about Obi-Wan." Anakin demanded with a frown, his eyes darkening in jealousy at the mention of his former Master, "The Jedi turned against me. Don't you turn against me."
"I don't know you anymore. Anakin, you're breaking my heart." Padmé whispered, staring at her husband as if he were a stranger, "You're going down a path, I can't follow."
"Because of Obi-wan?" Anakin questioned with narrowed eyes, feeling his jaw clench furiously as he slowly started to lose his senses.
"Because of what you've done, what you plan to do." Padmé reached out and grabbed Anakin's hands, tears in her eyes as she pleaded and begged, "Please stop now while you can, I love you, I swear."
Anakin almost seemed convinced by Padmé's plea, feeling his anger as well as his connection to the Darkside slowly fade until he spotted his former Master, staring down at Anakin in disappointment. The chosen one's fury returned tenfold. Feeling betrayed, Anakin glared at his wife as he shouted, "Liar!"
"No!"
"You're with him! You've brought him here to kill me." Anakin roared with deranged eyes, not even aware of what he was doing as he held out his hand, constricting his pregnant wife's breath with the force.
"A-Anakin…" Padmé whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks as her eyes started to turn red.
Obi-wan rushed out of the ship, ordering his old Padawan, "Let her go, Anakin. Let her go!"
Obi-wan used the force to stop Padmé from hitting the ground too harshly, rushing to her side to see if she was still breathing. Feeling relief when he saw she was still breathing.
Anakin paced like a mad dog, eyes crazed as he glared hatefully at his old master, the darkside whispering in his ear, plotting and deceiving the chosen one."You turned her against me!"
"You have done that yourself." Obi-wan stated with disappointed eyes, feeling thankful his beloved master Qui-gon was no longer alive to see the monster Anakin had become.
"You will not take her from me!" Anakin roared like a furious lion, his pacing coming to a stop as he glanced at his unconscious wife, feeling guilt and hate for himself at what he did, at what Obi-Wan made him do.
"Your anger and lust for power has already done that." Obi-Wan responded with a shake of his head, starting to see and realize how far gone his apprentice truly was, "You have allowed this dark lord to twist your mind, until now…now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy."
"Don't lecture me Obi-wan." Anakin sneered, turning his back on his master and wife, "I see through the lies of the Jedi. I do not fear the darkside as you do."
Anakin allowed the darkside to embrace him as its champion, declaring proudly to his former Master, "I have brought peace, freedom, justice and security to my new empire."
"Your new empire?" Obi-Wan questioned in dread, becoming sick from Anakin's overwhelming madness.
Anakin's nostrils flared, deeply inhaling as he tried to cook his temper, almost begging his master to stop and just listen to him for once. Cast aside the Jedi and join him but alas, that's not who Obi-wan was and Anakin knew that, "Don't make me kill you."
"Anakin, my allegiance is to the republic, to democracy!" One of the last Jedi master's in the galaxy roared, hoping there was still a way to save his old Padawan but also understanding, that he may have to kill his student, his friend, his brother…
"If you're not with me then you are my enemy." Anakin said as he reached down for his lightsaber, his mechanical hand clenching around the grip tight.
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must." Obi-Wan promised as he stood tall, pulling out his own saber as he awaited to see what his old pupil would do.
"You will try." Anakin swore before flipping through the air, his saber sparking to life before cutting downwards in a deadly slash. Obi-Wan was quick to bring his own saber to life, blocking Anakin's strike with a grunt, and taking a step as he was pushed back by the chosen one.
Naruto and Yoda watched all of this in silence. Naruto couldn't believe what his father did to his mother but yet he had seen Anakin's cruel act with his own eyes and felt all his horrid emotions. Even now as Anakin steadily pushed his master back, Naruto could still feel his father's hate, his desperation to win, not realizing he had already lost everything that mattered to him.
The epic duel between the two masters of the force was as grand as it was important. Whoever won would decide the fate of the galaxy, for better or for worse. It would seem Anakin was giving it his all as he put his master on the back foot, pushing him back into the room where he killed all the separatists. Obi-wan managed to knock aside his old Padawan's saber out of his hand but that didn't mean the chosen one was left defenseless.
Anakin's mechanical hand wrapped around Obi-wan's throat in an unexpected move. Slowly choking the apprentice of Qui-gon while his non-mechanical hand gripped the struggling Jedi's other wrist which still had a lightsaber. Slowly the blue blade of light started to descend down to Obi-wan's neck but the Jedi master would not allow himself to be killed in such a horrific manner as he kicked Anakin away. Obi-wan took that moment to breathe, rubbing a spare hand along his bruised throat before charging at his brother with the intent to kill, bringing down his saber in a life-ending blow that Anakin managed to stop by summoning his saber to his hand. He glared at his master hatefully before throwing his hand forward in a deadly force push that Obi-Wan blocked with one of his own. The two force blasts rang like a thunder clap upon impact, the power of the those forceful blows rocked the room but that didn't stop the two battling force users, simply moving their fight to a bridged area, uncaring that during their clash they had destroyed the computer systems that protected the building from the erupting lava from down below.
Blow after blow was struck, and the clash of two blue sabers seemed to put the force in agony but the battle waged on, the dark versus the light for dominance but Obi-wan held steady even if it felt like his arms were about to shatter. The two force users caught each other by the wrist, using one another as a way of reprieve to catch their breath as lava spewed into the air behind them. Obi-Wan broke their deadlock first to find a place to take cover from the bits of magma that went flying. Anakin followed his old master in taking cover behind his own pillar, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
The bridge holding both Master and ex-apprentice started to melt within seconds, Anakin and Obi-wan tried to cross before it fully broke apart but they weren't to be so lucky. Clinging to two stray cables, the two force users held tight as the steadily melting upright bridge flowed down the magma river towards a deadly waterfall. They both started to climb like their lives depended on it, which it unfortunately did. Obi-wan made it off the doomed bridge first, landing on a small hover pad that was used for the few workers of Mustafa. The Jedi master turned and a part of him hoped, no prayed Anakin wouldn't make it but that was a fool's dream for he knew that something as simple as this would never beat his ex-apprentice.
His thoughts proved to be true as Anakin did make it, using a nearby droid as a temporary platform before joining his former master and continuing their intense battle.
Naruto and Yoda found themselves watching on a cliffside near the lake of fire, observing with worry and anticipation as Obi-Wan flipped away from Anakin, landing not too far from both Jedi from the future. Obi-Wan pointed his saber down at the furry-ridden chosen one, panting as he yelled, "It's over Anakin, I have the high ground."
"You underestimate my power." Anakin replied with his tone filled to the brim with misplaced confidence.
"Don't try it." Obi-wan warned his foolish former Padawan but, alas, Anakin refused to see the trap that was right in front of him. So blinded by his own arrogance and power, Anakin leapt through the air with the intent to land behind Obi-wan and impale him on his saber. Yet that's not what happened.
"ARGH?!" Anakin screamed in agony as all his limbs at his mechanical arm were cut off, leaving nothing to save him or catch his fall as he trembled down a hill of ash and stone, landing dangerously close to the lake of fire.
Obi-wan looked away, gritting his teeth as tried to turn and leave, thinking his job was done. He saw Anakin&: lightsaber glinting off to the side and without hesitation picked up the chosen lightsaber but he didn't leave, he couldn't. Anakin's pained screams drew his attention once more and as he looked down at his old Padawan, all the emotions he had attempted to hold back and repress came out in full force, "You were the chosen one! It was said you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness!"
Anakin's yellow Sith eyes shined, the emotion behind them reflected his very soul and how truly lost he really was. Even in his weakest moment, he allowed the darkside to control him, to manipulate him, even in this agonizing moment, all the broken man could muster was a foul, "I HATE YOU!"
Obi-wan, heartbroken, managed to croak out, "You were my brother Anakin, I loved you…"
Even Anakin, for all his rage, for all his hate, was momentarily stunned. A tear streamed down his cheek before evaporating off by the heat. Flames traveled up Anakin's legs and soon all the chosen one knew was pain. A pain unlike anything he had ever felt before as he was slowly roasted alive.
Obi-Wan looked away, covering his mouth as he attempted to block out his brother's screams. He turned and walked away, wiping away his own tears as he passed the stunned and silent Naruto.
"I…I think I've seen enough master."
Yoda nodded in agreement, ushering Naruto away from the horrific scene. The two Jedi disconnected themselves from the force vision, back to Dagobah.
"Alright, you are?" Yoda questioned, concerned that what they saw might have been too much for his Padawan.
"I think I am." Naruto replied with a weak but true smile, showing how much he had grown in such a short time. "I just wish things were different."
"So do I." Yoda lamented with a disappointed sigh before taking on a more serious look as he said, "Your final test, you must take."
Naruto nodded, taking a knee as he responded with a bow, "I'm ready, master."
"So you are." Yoda commented before preparing himself to ask his favorite student a question he's been dreading since he first acquired the child under his care, "Naruto, my Padawan, when the time comes for you to face your father, what will you do?"
Naruto was silent as he kept his head bowed, emotions swirling around the empath until it subsided like a calm storm. The son of the chosen one lifted his head to show his determined eyes as he gave his master his answer.
Leia found herself no longer on Ashas Ree, instead, she was somewhere cold and dark. A place that reeked of the dark side. It was unfamiliar to Leia and the princess had no way of making out any distinguishing features of the area besides all the metal and the red lights.
As Leia hesitantly traveled further down the dark metal hallway, the Jedi started to realize this dark dreary place was actually a prison but for who?
Leia soon got her answer as she spotted a familiar figure, beaten, bruised and weak, suspended by chains was none other than her master, Ahsoka Tano.
"Ahsoka!" Leia screamed as she reached out for her master through the force. The connection of their bond is strong enough for Ahsoka to feel and even see Leia, weakly lifting her head as she begged.
"Leia…help me…"
Leia gasped as she awoke with frightened eyes, the force swirling around her protectively as she brought her knees to her chest. The princess of Alderaan looked towards her door as it slid open and Naruto entered with his Padawan braid cut, signifying his new rank as Jedi Knight.
"Leia, what's wrong?" Naruto questioned as he rushed to Leia's side, taking her hand as he tried to soothe and comfort his fellow Jedi.
"Ahsoka, she's been captured by the empire. We have to save her." Leia whispered before looking towards Naruto, needing to know what they were going to do to save her master.
"Don't worry Leia, we will find her." Naruto promised before bringing the shaken girl into a hug. Knowing that their journey and battle against the dark side was only just beginning and that their war had finally started…