Thank you again to all of those who read this story. Enjoy!
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ 2 Weeks Later ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Everything around him was dark. Anakin kept trying to look around him, unable to see anything. Pain coursed throughout his body, causing him to feel slow and fatigued. He knew there was danger, but he didn't know what this person or thing was. Suddenly, out of the darkness, there was a red flash. Sith. Anakin thought to himself. He reached to his side to grab his lightsaber, but was surprised to find he didn't have it. He groaned. His frustration was cut short, for he felt that familiar invisible snake coiling around his neck as he struggled to take a breath. He continued gasping as bright lights began to flicker on. Out from behind a corner, a tall hooded figure stepped forward. The figure had his lightsaber ignited and arm outstretched to Anakin. Anakin recognized him immediately. Through his labored breathing, he gasped, "No!"
The figure reached up and removed his hood to reveal that it was, indeed, the recently deceased Darth Sidous. The Sith Lord cackled at the Jedi's shock.
"Skywalker!" he exclaimed, slowly pulling Anakin further and further off of the ground, "I was wrong about you. You really are weak. Your strength is nothing. You are simple-minded and naive, like all of the other Jedi. I should have had you killed years ago."
Tears brimmed Anakin's eyes, still not able to breath. Sidous raised his lightsaber, pointing it at Anakin. Then, using the Force, Sidious pulled Anakin into the lightsaber, making the blade shoot through the defenseless Jedi's chest. Anakin cried out in agony, falling to his knees before the Sith. Sidious leaned over to Anakin's ear.
"I will have my revenge." he hissed, pushing Anakin to the ground, where he remained motionless.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Anakin woke with a jolt, crying out. He forced his eyes open, finding that they were wet with tears. He exhaled slowly, drying his eyes and cheeks. He was back in his quarters, his various PodRacing posters and spaceship models freckling his walls. He pulled his blanket back and sat up on the edge of his bed. He looked at the clock lying on a bedside table. 0100 in the morning. He sighed. Suddenly, his door slid open, revealing a sleepy eyed Ahsoka.
"Master?" she croaked, "Is everything alright? I thought I heard screaming." Anakin blushed.
"Yeah, Snips. Everything's fine. Just a little dream." he replied. "Sorry I woke you. Go on back to bed." He stood up and helped his half-asleep padawan back to her bed chambers. He stood alone in the darkness of the small living area of the Jedi duo's shared living quarters. Still shaken, he decided the best way to clear his mind was to go on a small walk through the sleeping Temple.
While walking, he did his best to gather his thoughts and pull himself back to reality. It had been very hectic around the galaxy's capital over the past two weeks. New candidates had been nominated for the role of the Supreme Chancellor, the most popular choice being Alderaan's own Bail Organa. Elections were to be underway in the next week. All battle droids became scrap metal and clone troopers were returning to Coruscant. There was still a lot of work to be done, but the Republic had never stood prouder.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Anakin continued into the Room of 1,000 Fountains, finding the steady streams of water comforting. He took a seat along the edge of one of the smaller fountains, crossing his legs and closing his eyes. It's okay. He's dead. He can't hurt anyone. he thought to himself. But no matter how many times he kept thinking it, he couldn't shake the feeling that maybe Sidous wasn't destroyed. Maybe he was still out there. This thought scared Anakin. What if he does something to Padme? Ahsoka? Obi-Wan? Anakin was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn't even notice the small, green Master Yoda take a seat next to him. Yoda looked up at Anakin thoughtfully.
"Trouble sleeping, Skywalker?" he asked. Anakin jumped, looking down to the eight hundred something year old Jedi.
"Master Yoda! I didn't-" he was interrupted by the sound of Yoda chuckling.
"Forgive my sneaking up, but answer my question you did not." Anakin sighed.
"Yes, Master. I've, uh, been having nightmares. I fear that Darth Sidious might not be completely destroyed. What if he comes back? What he becomes more powerful?" Anakin continued with more rhetorical questions. Yoda held up a hand to quiet Anakin down.
"Allow this Sith Lord to instill fear in you, young Skywalker. If you fear him, destroy you he will, even if dead he is." Yoda remarked. Anakin looked away.
"You're right Master." Anakin replied. There was silence between the two Jedi, and the sound of rushing water continued.
"Something, gone unsaid, I believe." Yoda said, still watching the waters, "Proud of you, the Council is, Skywalker. More than bring balance to the Force, you have." Anakin looked up in shock.
"You really think I did it?" he said, a smile forming on his lips.
"Believe it, I do. Always certain, Qui-Gon was. Convinced now, I am." Yoda began. "Many different possible paths were laid before you. Unsure, the Council was about your future. So much anger and attachment, there was. Makes me wonder, it does, if Senator Amidala had chosen to trade General Grievous for you." Yoda stood up to leave, still looking at Anakin.
"Then I guess we owe Senator Amidala a thank you." Anakin said, grinning. Yoda smiled back.
"Hm. Perhaps. A lesson, this must be, though. The future, not set in stone it is. Always changing with every decision we make, it does. Remember this, you must." Yoda turned and took a step towards the doors. "Return to bed, you should. More to do in the morning, we have." Anakin nodded.
"Yes, Master Yoda. Thank you." he replied, standing up. At that, the two went their separate ways.
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
Anakin returned to his bedchambers and crawled back under the covers. He drifted off into peaceful sleep, absorbing all he had learned, and somehow knowing that this was the way things were meant to happen. He couldn't help but think of the cheesy phrase that mothers across the galaxy used to help put their children to sleep, but he thought it fit perfectly in with how everything turned out.
He figured it was appropriate to say that this was where everyone would be living happily ever after.