A/N:
Hey guys, gals, and nonbinary pals! Hope everything has been kind to you these last seven years! *nervous potato emoji here*
Here is my first of three "holiday" gifts to the fanfiction community! ;D
I really appreciate you dear readers, and being an avid fanfiction reader and lover, I understand the potential rage, sadness, betrayal and heap of emotions when one invests in a story for it to be unfinished.
I am in no way trying to bash any author, at all. Life is hard, busy, and the fleeting muse can leave for years. And sometimes a story is there to help the author for a specific journey and set of time, and then be left as they progress through life. Unfinished stories have their own poetry, too.
I've been thinking of y'all for all these years. I truly hope time has treated you well.
A massive thank you to the reviewers of the last chapter: WolverineIK1973, JourneyRocks13, Lyn79, XXX1994, changingdestiny40, Silimaira, Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay, Guest, Maja, Guest, kreshryl, StarWarsGirl959, Guest, Random reader, and Guest! (Anonymous reviews answered below). Thank you so, so much! They really mean a lot to me!
It's almost as if the last chapter and reviews are a time capsule, before 2020 and all that's followed. A lot has happened, I'm sure for everyone. May this chapter be something that brings you: rest, entertainment, a brief escape, or anything positive.
So, without further ado, here is Chapter 21: Invasion of When Dreams Clash With Realities.
Invasion
It had been far too many standard rotations since Skywalker had seen his family. Despite all the beauties and splendors of Sylvantar, they did nothing to dull the ache of the spouse and new parent. Before the twins, missing Padme on his long, countless missions was misery. Missing the twins, and Padme's side of the family, he did not know their absence could cause such agony.
Every standard rotation, he talked with his life-partner and kept updated on the Nubian happenings. Padme had gone to a healer and was indeed suffering from postpartum depression. She had been prescribed pharmaceuticals, and after a week of headaches and unusual sleeping patterns, even for a parent of two newborns, she began to feel more herself again. The longer she was on them, the more they would take effect. It was a relief, and her family was supporting her in every way they could. All this helped Anakin attempt to sleep at yet, though he had little luck in the slumber department.
He was sick of the ancient Jedi Sanctuary, and hated making rounds around the grounds and redundant Council meetings. The Knight was assigned youngling duty, and he was going to take advantage of the nature surrounding them.
Many of the younglings had no memories of anything but metal and steel, being reared on the city planet where no nature remained.
He decided to have a hide and seek field trip. While every other Jedi scoffed and loathed his teaching methods, they could not deny the positive outcomes.
Skywalker believed the younglings should be taught how to problem solve, use the Force to enhance navigation, rely on instincts, and practice spatial awareness with the Force. Traditionally, they were taught lightsaber techniques and to rely on their elders for everything. The saber training was useless until they were older and stronger.
He believed it was arrogant, shortsighted, and foolish to train this way. As soon as younglings became padawans and encountered real life scenarios, they often did not return to the Temple alive.
It made his blood boil, how obtuse the Order was about their failing methods. It's no wonder all that remained of the Order after all these years of the Clone Wars were the Council members, a few knights, a handful of padawans, and younglings of the Temple.
Currently, he was perched high up in one of the massive deciduous trees. He carefully watched the youngling below attempt to find him and navigate their surroundings. Anakin shielded himself in the Force, not strongly, but to a level challenging for the students below.
He noted who took charge and followed, what methods the individuals relied on, what their weaknesses were, and those no in one of the groups.
One student stood out to him. She was ahead of the others, but alone. A shy, small twi'lek and youngest of the group, Ninakè. The others, all older than her, ignored and looked down on her. She was the weakest, due to her age and below average size. Though unable to keep up with her peers physically, she was more connected to her Force abilities and intuition. Thoughtful, cautious, and insightful she was finding Anakin faster than the others, despite their outcasting of her.
Jedi younglings could be so cold and cruel, Skywalker remembered. He made no friends for many years after arriving at the Temple.
He watched amusedly as the little one found his tree and puzzledly looked into the branches, unable to see him or sense him fully.
A cold chill ran up Skywalker's spine as an unmistakable presence: Darth Sidious.
Instantly he unshielded himself, which first brought a wide grin to the youngling, until she too sensed at least a darker presence.
The Jedi Knight looked towards the sky, and indeed a fleet of Republic Venator-class cruisers had entered the atmosphere.
The group of younglings sensed him now that he was unshielded and he called to them. He used the Force to amplify his voice. They began running towards him, some having sensed the disturbance in the Force.
He jumped the high height and used the Force to cushion his fall. He landed right next to Ninakè.
He looked the young one in the eyes, the scared little irises staring back at him for guidance. "Don't worry," he placed a hand on her bony shoulder. "You'll be alright," he soothed.
She bolstered herself and completely believed him.
The other students joined them, and all stared at him.
He stayed kneeled at their level, and used a voice as calming as he could muster. "I'm going to need your help. Will you help me?" he asked. Skywalker knew why Sidious was here, what he wanted. He felt it in his bones. The younglings and he were clicks away from the Temple, and them hiding here was their best chance of protection. Same with him being as far away from them as possible.
They nodded and said yes in unison.
"A Sith has come here, he's looking for me. I need you to stay here, and hide. Remember how we've been practicing shielding? You'll need to use that now. Stay here, and I'll make sure the others know where you are. We'll come get you when it's safe. Do you understand?"
The brave little ones nodded, though unhappy to have their teacher and protector leave.
"You can do this, you will all be okay. Use the Force, and you're communicators." Anakin activated his.
Instantly Kenobi answered. "Anakin!"
"Master, Sidious is here."
"We know, the scanners just alerted us to the fleet. We're getting readying and locking down as we speak. Where are you and the younglings?" the Jedi Master asked.
"We're a few clicks away to the West. I'm sending the coordinates now," and he did so. "They should stay here and hide. I believe it's best I return to the Temple. I have a feeling I'll be endangering them if I stay."
"I'm sending others to the location now. We do need you here at the Temple, Anakin."
"Understood, on my way."
He looked at the younglings, "You can do this. Master Kenobi has sent people to meet you here and stay with you. They'll be here soon, now try shielding yourselves."
The young ones did to the best of their abilities, which was better than nothing.
"Now, hide. I'll see you when this is all over."
Quickly, they obeyed and Skywalker waited until they disappeared into the flora. He gave them an assuring smile, "Good job." And then he ran off with Force speed.
It did not take long at all for him to arrive back at the ancient Temple.
Jedi ran around finding their posts, activating shields, and readying themselves.
Skywalker ran up to his former Master, who was helping direct members that had been Temple Guards during the war, inexperienced with battle.
"I can't believe he found us!" Obi-Wan yelled to Skywalker.
"I'm not surprised by this monster anymore. Master, he's here for me, he has to be."
Kenobi worriedly looked at him, not wanting to believe it. "Come now, Anakin. He's here for all of us."
"No, he's not. He's here for me, I know it."
His friend's eyes dilated with fear, well hidden, but there. He was about to say something, when every comm. and announcement system displayed a hologram. One of the Supreme Chancellor.
"Anakin, my boy, did you truly think you could hide?" the man evilly grinned.
All the Jedi looked at Skywalker.
"I'm not yours!" he barked back with rage. This man, believed to be a close friend, had tried to kill Leia. His newborn daughter. His.
Palpatine frowned. "Come now, you've been mine since before you were born. I do appreciate your anger, I can feel it so strongly, even from the cruiser." His eyes closed and he pervertedly took in the sensation of rage emanating off Skywalker.
Master Jedi Kenobi stepped in front of his former student protectively. "What do you want?" he growled, disgusted.
The old man's eyebrows raised, "Oh? The Great Negotiator, ready to begin. I'm sure you'll see I have a good deal to barter with." Sidious activated something off screen, and it showed an unconscious Senator Amidala. Her hands were manacled behind her back, and she was only standing because of the uncaring grip of droids restraining her. "In fact, if any of you Jedi had brains, you'd realize this is the most valuable bargaining chip."
Skywalker paled at the sight of his spouse. Fear spewed into his body like never before.
"Ah, the 'Hero with No Fear' drenched with it," again he took a moment to bathe in the man's emotions.
Anakin lowered his head still making eye contact, enraged and ready to tear the Sith apart at a cellular level.
"I have an arrangement to be made. Anakin comes aboard my ship, alone, and I'll release his wife," he said. He seemed bored.
The Jedi heads turned to Skywalker, confused and uncertain.
Skywalker began to tremble with rage.
"Again, if you Jedi had any intelligence… but alas, they're mine now. Those two brats, too," he grinned like a Lothcat. Prideful and wide in a twisted way.
The Temple started to tremble. The beings present were confused, suspecting a quake. It was actually Skywalker's fear and rage.
"Good, Anakin, good!" Sidious repeated what he had said after Anakin decapitated Count Douku.
"Come now, Anakin, let's talk as we once did. I just want to talk, and figured this was the best way to get your attention. You know I'm not after Padme, or the infants. They mean nothing to me. Just you, my boy. If you comply, I have no reason to harm them. Come onto my ship within the next few moments, or watch your family die to the screams of Jedi. Your choice, Anakin." And the transmission ended.
Skywalker shook when Kenobi looked at him.
He began to sprint towards the hanger.
Kenobi caught him by the shoulder, "Anakin, don't!"
He hit his hand away. "What choice do I have!"
"We'll figure something else out!" Kenobi pleaded.
Anakin snorted and continued on too quickly to be interrupted. Kenobi stared at him aghast.
Within a few seconds, the Chosen One Force leaped into the nearest Jedi starfighter and took off.
To be continued…
A/N:
Dun, dun, dun!
The story is wrapping up! I'm not sure how many chapters are left, but not many!
I hope you enjoyed this "present". Reviews, favorites, and follows are massively appreciated. It's been awhile since this story has been updated. If there is anything you'd like to share that has happened since you last read this story, I'd love to hear about it!
To "guest" reviewers:
Guest: That beautiful ship has not been a part of this story, unfortunately. Thank you for your review and time! Until next time!
Maja: Hello again! Thank you for your review! They've meant a lot to me over the years!
I believe your English is great! It takes a lot of bravery to speak a language one's not born into.
So glad you've enjoyed multiple chapters! When they, or if, they find out about the twins. I'm not sure how the Order will react, though they have not been kind to Anakin in the past.
Hello from the USA to Sweden, if you still live there!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. Until next time!
Guest: So glad you found the story! So happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for the compliments and review, it means a lot to me. Until next time! 😀
Guest: Hello! Thank you for your review. Ha-ha, nope! I don't use a text to speech, I'm just very dyslexic and "Palpatine" has always been a weird word for me. Thanks again!
Random reader: Hey! I hope all is well with you, too! I hope I can finish this story, Heirlooms, and Project: Engenisis, too! I plan to, but life can be so much and the muse butterfly can be so fickle and fleeting. I hope the last years have been kind to you, and thank you so much for your compliments; they were so sweet, kind, and supportive! Until next time!
Guest: Hey! Yay! I'm so glad you love it! I'm so, so happy you enjoyed it so far! I hope the last years have been kind to you. Thank you for your praise! Until next time.
God Bless and Many Blessings!
January 5, 2023