TRUE DARK.

When Anakin was accepted into the Jedi Order, Palpatine abducted him, refusing to allow him to be trained as a Jedi. Raised in darkness, Anakin resists Palpatine's attempts to sway him to the Dark Side at all costs... Ten years later, he escapes. But will the Jedi heed his warning about Palpatine's true nature? Or will they too lock him away forever?

CHAPTER SIX.

Anakin's eyes were wide, staring out of the cockpit as Obi-wan flew the ship down towards the Spaceport. "It's the same," He glanced at Padme, smiling broadly, before looking back out the cockpit. "It's exactly how I remember it."

Laughing, Padme shook her head. "If only you could see your face right now," He looked like the little boy he had been all those years ago when he had first arrived on Naboo.

Shmi smiled at the wide eyed wonder in her son's eyes, "We come here, every year on your birthday." That had been the hardest time, Anakin's birthday, she had always been more sad then, than any other day.

Looking at her, Anakin smiled and reached out to take her hand. "I love you Mom."

xx

Looking around in awe at the beauty of the place, Anakin seemed to relax in front of the others. Padme smiled as she watched Anakin close his eyes and take a deep breath of the fresh air. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Shmi grinning a little at her. She turned and looked at Shmi curiously. "What?"

"It's nothing Padme... just something I noticed. You'll one day realize it too." Before Padme could ask what she had meant, Shmi had gone to the room she was staying in with Cliegg.

When she turned back to where Anakin was, she saw Obi-wan talking to him. Walking over to them, she decided on something. "Hey there, how would the two of you gentlemen like to join me for a walk?" They nodded at her proposal.

After a several minutes of walking, Obi-wan glanced at Anakin. "How did you escape?" It was something that intrigued him, how had Anakin managed to escape from a Sith Lord?

Anakin took a deep breath and sighed ."I just used some of the techniques Master Qui-gon taught me." He paused to gage Obi-wan's and Padme's reactions. "In order to escape, I used Force Push to push down the walls of my cell. Force Speed came in handy for running to the ship. Thanks to Force Sense, I was alerted to things happening around me. I also cloaked myself in order to hide after Palpatine realized I had escaped."

"I'm guessing you've learned a lot more than that," Obi-wan said, looking impressed.

"In ten years?" Anakin nodded, "Master Qui-gon was a good teacher, and I was a very eager student."

Padme looked at Anakin, her face creased with concern. "You don't have to talk about this if you don't want to Ani."

Anakin smiled and shook his head, "I don't mind, Learning to use the Force are some of the best memories I have had since I was taken."

Obi-wan looked at him curiously before looking at the ground. 'I wonder how much he has learned... Hmm, let's see what happens.' Bending over, Obi-wan picked up a stone and tossed it at Anakin when he wasn't looking. The boy easily dodged it even though his back was facing Obi-wan. He then turned around and grinned. "Precognition? Nice, that always comes in handy."

Obi-wan was caught off track as Anakin shook his head, still grinning. "Even though I do know Precognition, I actually heard what you were planning. By the way Obi-wan, you should probably strengthen your mental shields."

Padme was trying hard not to laugh at the look on Obi-wan's face. The Jedi was stumped... he had let down his guard? In front of a padawan nonetheless. Or perhaps Anakin was just that strong.

xxx

Shmi stood on the balcony, watching Anakin walk with Obi-wan and Padme. He'd been through so much, had suffered more than anyone ever should, was suffering even now. Closing her eyes, Shmi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself,

"He'll be alright," Cliegg walked to her, wrapping his arms around his wife. "He just needs time."

Shmi shook her head, "What if he can't get over everything he's been through? What if he never finds peace-"

"Stop," Cliegg turned Shmi to face him. "he will be alright." Cliegg told her, "He's already more comfortable around all of us, and he's starting to relax."

"But he's afraid-!"

"After what he's been through, that is to be expected." Cliegg smiled and shrugged, "All we can do, is be there when he finally wants to talk about it."

He looked out towards where Anakin, Padme and Obi-wan were. "Besides... I'm sure you've noticed it... but I have a feeling that someone will be able to open him up more. After all, from what I heard, that girl was able to put him in his place when needed." Holding Shmi close, Cliegg sighed. "He'll be fine," he said, trying to ease Shmi's fear. "With you as his mother, how could he not find the strength to overcome everything he's suffered?"