I've had this story in my head for awhile now. Just thought I would share it. Please let me know if there are any errors. I'm not so good with beginnings of stories, but I've been told my middles are great. Just give it a shot. It is a AU. That's how I write mist of the time.

If you like, I would love to hear from you! Feel free to comment.

"Your training is complete. No longer will your name be Anakin Skywalker, but Darth Vader. You will take your place by my side, and together we will defeat the Jedi and rule the galaxy."

Three Years Before

The sound of training blades clashing on each other was the only sound to be heard when Mara entered the training arena. She smiled to herself. Skywalker and Starkiller were at it again. She leaned on the short fence around the arena for a better look. Both had done away with their shirts for the time being and apparently were at a stalemate. Each attack from Skywalker was either quickly blocked or dodged by his opponent.

Finally, with Anakin's next jab, he caught Starkiller in between the ribs with his blade, and with the satisfying shock that the training swords emit, he stepped on Starkiller's wrist and wrenched the blade from his hand.

Mara gave Anakin a slow clap.

"Well done Skywalker. It was time someone put that hothead in his place." She grinned, and swung herself over the fence. "Come on Quinn, you're not going to just lay there in defeat, are you?"

"I might."

"Then you're a nerf herder."

He groaned, and struggled to his feet. Anakin laughed. "You almost had me several times there, though. Like when you kicked me in the gut so you could slash at my neck. That was totally not fair."

Quinn grinned. "The enemy won't play fair, Skywalker. They will do anything in their power to crush you. Just like you did to my wrist."

Anakin smiled sheepishly. "Sorry 'bout that. Guess I got to caught up in my moment of glory."

"No need for you to apologize Skywalker. Soon the only person you will answer to is the emperor himself."The new voice startled them all and they turned to see their trainer, Asajj Ventress standing behind them. "Soon, the rest of Skywalker's training will be the emperor's dealings and you will be heading down separate paths. Him to the Sith, you and Jade to more training with me to become Enforcers. If you do well in your training, you might even achieve the rank of Inquisitor. If your training is completed for today, then begin with your evening tasks."

She turned and strode from the room.

"Spoilsport",Quinn whispered behind her back.

Mara gathered up the training blades and for the guys to grab their tunics. Mara wrinkled her nose.

"You two should hit the refreshener. You smell like a couple of Hutts."

"You would too, if you trained as long as we just did," retorted Quinn.

Mara tossed her mid-length auburn hair and marched off to put the blades away. Anakin grinned. He loved the way his friends bantered back and forth. They had been in training together since they were all about eight or nine. Quinn and Mara had been running circles around their teachers in the Imperial Academy, so the emperor's personal assassin Ventress, had their blood tested for a midi-chlorian count. Both numbers had been exceptionally high. So the emperor had ordered her to train them alongside the boy that was to become his new apprentice. That boy, of course was Anakin Skywalker. They became friends and proved the emperor's point that competition was strengthening and a important part of their training. That was seven years ago. Now their training together was almost finished. True, they would still see each other sometimes, but it wouldn't be as friends. It would be as Sith and Enforcer.

Anakin sighed. He wasn't looking forward to giving up his friends, but just the thought of becoming Lord Sidious' apprentice was thrilling. Sure, the training would be much harder and more painful than anything he had done with Mara and Quinn, but it would be worth it. And finally getting a lightsaber would be a reward all in itself.

He leaned out of the refreshener and grabbed for his clothes. They weren't there. He grabbed a towel and went charging into the room that he and Quinn shared. Anakin saw Quinn face darken with his unearthly grin.

"Aren't you missing something, Master Skywalker?" He asked innocently.

Anakin made a grab at Quinn, but missed."You'll be missing a few things when I'm through with you, you lowlife scum," Anakin growled.

They tussled, Anakin grabbing at the clothes that Quinn was holding out of his reach. Anakin had gotten Quinn into a headlock. If he could just reach his clothes...

"Well of all things I've found you two doing over the years, this has got to be one of the strangest."

Both boys jumped at the sound of Mara's voice. Anakin made a final grab at Quinn and succeeded to come up victorious. Quinn glared at Mara.

"Come on Jade, it's not like your supposed to be in here anyway. I was just trying to get some payback on Anakin."

Mara laughed. "Naw, I was just coming to tell you guys to come on and eat. It's about time. I'll see you when you get to the cafeteria. You'd better put on something a bit more covering, Ani."

When the boys finished dressing, they headed down the corridor to the cafeteria. After getting their food, they sat down next to Mara. Anakin spoke first. "So what exactly do you guys learn during your Enforcer skill training?"

Mara wrinkled her forehead. "Well, we've learned skills in leadership, politics, interrogation, and all ways of espionage. Basic medical and mechanics, too. Quinn got a secondary in technology, and they made me take dancing and social skills." She rolled her eyes. "They say a skill like that can get you into lots of places around the galaxy, but that doesn't make it any more enjoyable. Oh and we both had to learn a lot of skills in hacking into different types of systems. That's a skill I know I'll use. Not to mention learning every form of fighting styles there are in this galaxy

Quinn looked thoughtful. "I wonder what the next stage of training is going to be like. They said it'll be much harder, and a lot more taxing then anything else we've ever done. But look at the bright side. When our training is complete, we'll all get lightsabers. Of course, only Anakin's will be red, the color of the true Sith."

Anakin nodded. "True, but you're both powerful and formidable opponents." He lowered his voice. "And we all know Quinn's secret." None of them dared say it out loud, but they all knew that Quinn had unlocked the power of Sith lightning. They thought it best not to mention it to anyone, lest it be reported to the emperor. They all knew that the emperor would not let anyone with that great of power to live, for fear that they would one day try to overthrow him. Quinn had no intention of overthrowing the emperor, (at least not yet), so the trio decided to keep it under wraps. Quinn practiced in private when they were sure they weren't being watched. Anakin was a little jealous.

When they finished eating, they said goodnight and went their separate ways. Anakin and Quinn to their quarters, and Mara to hers. As the boys were going to sleep, Anakin said,"I can't believe that they think we're ready for the next stage in training. We're hardly fifteen."

"Speak for yourself. I know I'm ready," Quinn mumbled. "And I happen to be sixteen, not fifteen."