Beyond - Legends The Battle for Ascendance (Anakin Skywalker's Ultimate Quest Beyond Death) - UPDATED April 22/11

Hi. I think I was here, a very long time ago ... a time in which my password was lost. But not my name. Not to my memory. This is the beginnings of a fanfic that ... just did not want to go away. There may be a few others as well, but let us see what happens ok? I am not making any promises. So, as my first post here allow me to present, in its working title "The Battle for Ascendance" -- where an old friend of ours at long last passes into the Force from whence he came. But before that, when he makes his fateful decision, he seems to remember faces -- faces that he has neither seen for the first time, nor the last.

Nominated in 2007 For:

Best Action
Best Drama
Best All Around

Most Underrated
Best Epic

Best Canon Interpretation, Male - Anakin Skywalker
Best Ensemble Cast

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Now enjoy, my friends.

******

Title: The Battle For Ascendance
Author: darth_treyvah
Timeframe: Post-ROTJ
Characters: Anakin Skywalker, and many more.
Genre: Redemption, Adventure, Drama, Philosophy
Summary: Now, in the afterlife, Anakin Skywalker faces his greatest challenge yet -- the challenge for which he was born.

PROLOGUE

"Father ... please ..."

The crescendo of killing Force lightning only increased. Vader watched in a detached haze of pain and disorientation as his son screamed in agony, the tongues of his Master's crackling energy tearing into his flesh, and sinew, the marrow in his bones, pumping legions of deathly cold electrifying barbs into the cells in his bloodstream. The Dark Lord knew the feeling all too well by now. Even before, long ago, when he was young, when he was whole he felt the scourge of the lightning. But the worst of it was not the physical pain.

Oh no. The worst was that the lightning was pain. It was all the pain and all the anger and hatred in the galaxy. It was a dark thing, a living thing of twisted bioenergy that sought like for like. It ravaged the body as it lashed into the mind, ripping away all self control and discipline, revealing the dark recesses within. The lightning reopened old wounds from the mind, memories of loss, and fear, of helplessness and weakness ... of despair. And when it was finally done revealing this pain, magnifying it thousands of times over to the point where you could only scream and scream, your body a mass of useless dying flesh -- only then would the coldness begin.

Inside his armour, Darth Vader winced, not wanting to look on the pain of his son, on his pain so many other times. For he knew the true cruelty of Force Lightning. Eventually, there would be no pain -- only coldness, a deep cold that ate away from within, and drained away the soul. Forever. Just as he had when Dooku unleashed it upon him, as Palpatine had so many other times, as so many others ...

And then, he saw them. Although his eyes were still blurred with pain, from the electronic phantom pain his suit provided him to remind him that his hand was severed, senses beyond his eyes saw them. Vader saw himself. He saw a brown-cloaked young Jedi, still in a padawan's braid, crouched over the body of his mother, and the rage in his eyes as he ignited his blue lightsaber and slaughtered all the Tusken raiders in his way. He cut through all them ... the men, women and children. They had been but filth to him. Evil filth. Blue cut through bone and sinew, and blood. Again and again and again. Blue, and cold and cauterizing. Not unlike Force lightning.

Then he saw the Jedi again, standing over the kneeling body of a broken and defeated Count Dooku. This time the Jedi, while still in brown robes wore a black leather suit. One hand was garbed in a glove of the same material. In his hands, he held his blue lightsaber, and the curved hilt of his opponent's red b

 

This is touching to the last. I love it! That's soo Anakin.

 

Well, so far so good. I just have this part to post really and as for anything after that well ... it is up in the air as to whether there will be more, though there should actually be. So the next part, and perhaps more. If not, it was nice writing this.

******

I: From the Fire He Came ...

Consciousness came and went. Alarms blared, and the sounds of scuffling boots and shouting soldiers filled the air. But that was all distant to Anakin. Even the wheezing of his long ruined lungs was but a background noise. Everything was so blurred, to the point where pain no longer even existed. He was dimly aware of the ground rocking underneath him. And of moving. His son. His son was moving him. Dragging him away from the chaos. White stormtrooper armour, grey officers' and black pilot and engineers' uniforms sped by them.

The floor shuddered again. And Anakin knew that this station was going to be obliterated. Very soon. Time to time he tried to speak, but the darkness came. In and out of it he fell. And he struggled. He needed to feel. He had spent too much time feeling nothing. Nothing at all.

He was only vaguely aware of saying, "Luke, help me take this mask off."

There was a pause. Then the boy -- no, the man's voice came. Soft and filled with pain.

"But you'll die."

Anakin felt dizzy, struggling against this last darkness.

"Nothing can stop that now," he had been dead for so long, and it was now that he lived, truly lived, if only for a short time, "Just for once ... let me look on you with my own eyes."

Luke deserved that much. He deserved to see the man who hurt him so badly. He deserved to see the twisted, crippled thing that he really was. And perhaps see that underneath all that there was ... there was ...

The darkness was lifted for a time. And for the first time in two decades, Anakin Skywalker stared out at the galaxy. He felt the coldness of the artificial air on his scarred flesh, and the blurred shapes of bulkheads through his faded eyes. The arid smells of smoke and burned metal filled his nostrils. And then he saw his son. He saw Luke. Luke and his sandy blond hair. And his young blue eyes. Young blue eyes that were once Anakin's own. But most of all, he saw tears in those eyes. He sensed a horrible sense of loss within them and guilt. Guilt that the last thing his father would see was metal and death.

'No, my son. You have nothing to be guilty for. I did this to myself. I deserve whatever happens to me. You must live. You must live, my dear son ...'

He smiled tentatively, feeling the near-paralytic muscles of his mouth struggle against his brain's command.

"Now go ... my son," he gasped as his lungs started to fail, "leave ... me."

The darkness was starting to return. But Luke, his blessed son, would have nothing of that.

"No. You're coming with me. I can't leave you here. I've got to save you."

Just like he had been when he was his age. Wanting to save those he loved. To defeat death. But it was not possible. Death is a part of life. He had ignored that for so long, letting the Dark Side make him believe he was invincible, powerful ... but all the while afraid. So afraid. He could not allow his son to have that fear hang over him. Even though he knew he was lost, he had to save his son. One last time.

"You already have, Luke." Had his voice always quavered this much, been this old? Suddenly, he realized something, that while perhaps his sight and his mind were failing, it did not seem like he was alone, "You were right about me."

Obi-Wan seemed to be kneeling down at his side, putting a hand on his forehead. As he had when he was a boy. And ... Padme? She was there too. Was she there ... she was there, and her hand seemed to hold his own. Her eyes shimmered with tears. And she smiled.

Brown eyes.

Anakin cranned his neck to look at Luke straight in the eyes, no longer afraid of the searing judgment that had burned him through another's, "Tell your sister...you were right ..."

The elder Skywalker smiled, and his muscles seemed

 

Welcome back darth_treyvah. While this works quite fine as a stand alone story, I admit I wouldn't mind seeing more.

As far as the placement of this fic, this is the right board for it.

 

Oh wow, I don't see how I could have missed this, but this is powerful, and the scene with Ob-Wan and Anakin was touching. Well done!

Can't wait to see more.

 

Wow. Thank you for the support you guys. Well, let's see what other tricks I may have left. No promises though. But what the hell ...

******

II: Luminous Beings are We

Somewhere, dimly, Anakin heard voices. They surrounded him, distant but very closeby.

"Ready he must be, Obi-Wan," croaked one familiar voice, an ancient voice.

"I agree," said another voice, clear and elegant, a deep baritone, "however, they told me that despite it all it may take time. But he will come around."

"Masters," Obi-Wan's voice replied, his voice now younger and fiercer, "he has already gone through so much. I can't --"

"No choice do you have," the ancient voice scolded, "return -- he -- must."

"Such is the will of the Council," a more stoic, flat set voice agreed. Another very familiar voice.

"The will of the Force this is," the old voice corrected the other.

"Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan ... my dear padawan, I understand how you feel," consoled the noble voice, "if it were any other way, but they told me. They told me this must be so. Obi-Wan. You will not fail. We trust you in this," the other voice-presences seemed to also give their assent, "the Force trusts you."

"I understand, fellow Masters, but ..."

"But right now, most of all he needs to heal," said another voice. The other voice-presences seemed to pause at that voice. It was a soft voice, but it had deep undertones.

"Yes," the flat voice stated, a tone of caution creeping into it, "yet we must consider --"

"There is nothing yet to consider, Master Jedi," Anakin had never heard this voice before, as it smoothly but powerfully interjected, "trust me when I say this --"

"That's funny. What reason do we have to trust you?"

"That is enough, Mace," the soothing tone of Qui-Gon Jinn interposed, "they said he can be trusted. That he is necessary."

"Thank you for your ... 'approval,' Master Jinn," the other, unfamiliar voice seemed to sneer.

"How dare --" Obi-Wan was about to snap.

"With all due respect, I do not need anyone's approval. Only theirs. I have been here a long time, far before any of you," the voice seemed to rip across even as it was smooth and even, crisp and powerful, "and as you have pointed out, they have 'approved' me and therefore this argument is a moot one. He needs to be --"

"He needs no further attachments. He is the --"

"I know who he is, Master Windu," the other's voice was a cold whip-cord, "I know exactly who he is. You dare to condescend to me about him. About attachment? When the one reason he is even here is because of what you term 'attachment?' No," the voice suddenly softened and it seemed like it did so after coming closer to Anakin, "No, it will hard enough for him as it is. I know ..."

"And I will be there for him," Obi-Wan's presence was firm, "always."

"We all will be," Qui-Gon's presence radiated kindness and understanding.

"Yes," said the darker voice, "we will."

"Are you ... going now? Already?" Qui-Gon seemed inquisitive, even a little bemused, "He ..."

"He has enough to deal with as is. But, when the time comes ... when it comes I assure you, he will know where to find me," there was a strange feeling that radiated off of the other ... before it vanished from Anakin's senses completely.

"Our concern, that is," Yoda seemed pensive, and Anakin could detect that he knew the vanished other perhaps a little too well.

"He is right though," Qui-Gon spoke out, his tone clear and decisive, "Anakin needs to rest, and to understand. It is agreed then. Obi-Wan here will help him, as will others. Ourselves included."

Mace Windu, and Obi-Wan gave their assent. Master Yoda as well, though he seemed to shake his head. Then he could sense them dispersing, in this strange dream of half-shapes and feelings. Anakin could have almost sworn he heard Qui-Gon near him.

"Rest my young friend," the Jedi Master's paternal voice soothed, "you will be well soon. I have faith in you. I always did. You and you too Obi-Wan. Perhaps I will see you both later. Take care ..."

And then A

 

Warning, potential sappiness. But well warranted I think.

******

III: And to Fire He Returns

"Well then, I had better take my leave."

Anakin wanted to tell Obi-Wan not to go. He wanted to him to stay. He wanted to open his mouth and use any pretext that came to mind -- that he was in pain, that he wanted to learn about what he was now, to even have a "scholarly" discussion about the fine distinctions between connections and attachments, the Living Force and the Unified Force. Certainly it would have been a first, never being anything remotely near a scholar as a padawan or ever for that matter. Even to ask him where the others were, to have even that bit of pain distract him from ... this one.

Panic filled him. Even fear. Why was he feeling like this?

Obi-Wan started walking away, and the feelings of anxiety and panic bloomed. But then the Jedi Master turned and met Anakin's wild-eyed stare. The fallen Jedi seemed to hear the other's voice though his lips did not move. It could have been described as telepathy, but they were not quite words that Anakin heard. If it could be called "hearing." Nor images either. It was something else altogether, something very familiar.

~All of that in time, my dear friend. You will find many teachers here, willing to show you who you are. To remind you of who you are. But this is something you need to do yourself. And I think you already know this. I will see you soon, Anakin.~

The nimbus around Obi-Wan glimmered and he vanished. Anakin wanted to scream at him. He wanted to flee. Because, as the warm eyes of Padme Nabarrie Amidala stared down at him he realized he was not ready.

'I am not ready for this, Obi-Wan. I ...' But it was a stupid thought. Obi-Wan was right. This was something he had to face. And what was he so afraid of? He took in a shaky breath. The Jedi cloak was long. It covered his form almost completely. There was quite a bit of shade under the tree. Reaching out with the Force, he eased the hood of the cloak over his bald skull. A small shield, to hide a little of his weakness, of what had happened.

She stood over him for a few moments, and did not say anything at all. Anxiety, a deep sharp pang, guilt, and ... hope gnawed in his chest. But the hood hovered his face, and the scars. Padme had never seen him --

Finally, he spoke, "On the ... Death Star," he inwardly cursed the quavering old voice that his own voice had become, "was it ... a hallucination? A dream?"

She turned and sat down beside him. Though his gaze was blocked by the folds of the hood, he could sense her warmth there, beside him. Her scent of flowers ... He closes his eyes, savouring it, while also fighting back a shudder.

"I think you already know the answer to that," her voice was sweet to his ears, and unless he mistook his guess there was just a hint of wryness in it.

A long time. Then:

"This hood is useless then."

"Mmm hm," a melodic reply for his trouble, "that, and I saw you and Obi-Wan, silly."

Anakin squeezed his eyes against it, his chest constricting and innards twisting even as a wry smile forced itself onto his face. Just like they were so long ago. He could never hide anything from her. Not for long.

"Anakin, take the silly hood off, silly ..."

A laugh broke past his lips. Here he was, twenty years older and she chided him like a child -- warmly despite ...

He felt a warm touch on either side of his face. The next thing he knew, the hood slid off and a young, very beautiful woman stared into his face. He felt her looking at his old, sunken pale face, and the lines around the eyes and mouth. And the scars etched into them. No gallant smooth-skinned visage. No long golden hair. Or a wide beaming smile. Or passion and foolhardiness in his eyes. Just a bald broken sad old man, the remnants of a fool who sold his soul. Just a shadow of what Anakin Skywalker used to be.

Just a shadow of a man.

She reached a hand to touch his face. He felt himself put up barriers, starting at the sight. Her hand was inches away from h

 

Only three people before me reviewed this story? Well, that's mean. It is very good. I love how slow and painful you make his return to wholeness of body and mind (I sounded rather new-age-ee there, didn't I? Oh well.), not because I'm a sadist, but because it's realistic that recovering one's soul/identity from a past like his would most likely not be a romp in the wildflowers. The interaction between Anakin and Padme was touching. I also loved the scene in which Obi-Wan helped Anakin from the fires of Mustafar, and that as soon as Anakin realized Obi-Wan's need to help him wasn't all about him, he took his hand and became the Hero Without Fear again for a moment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it, Anakin wouldn't have gotten a chance to ascend if Obi-Wan hadn't grabbed his hand, thus completing his own redemption?

I hope you decide to continue this. It is a well written, insightful story, and I enjoyed reading it.

Naughtious

 

Thanks again, DarthNaughtious.

As for whether or not Anakin would have gained his ascension without Obi-Wan, I will say this. I don't think either of them could move on without the other. In life, and in, for lack of a better word their meta-life. So in a way the answer to your question is yes, but that is only part of the answer.

As for whether or not I continue this, we will see.

 

darth_treyvah! This is one awesome fic. It's got everything that makes it a joy to read. Good mechanics and grammar, great flow and dialogue and one heck of a good story. You write Anakin and Padme and just about, no, you write everyone else very well. You've captured Yoda's patience and Obi-Wan's wry humor as well as excellent charicterization of Qui-Gon and Mace. Please . . .give us more.

-J

 

Thanks for mentioning this in your other fic. Wow. This was just absolutely stupendous. You are one heck of a talented writer and this puts me to shame.

Wonderful job !

 

Greetings from long ago yet again. Thank you all for the excellent comments, and compliments. I don't know if I can write this much in the way that I was able to. I have and still to an extent am on a break from the Internet. But ... there may be something yet. Let us just see if that is true.

IV: Ideal Forms

Every minute in the eternal present was just that. Eternity. Anakin and Padme walked slowly through the long grasses of Naboo. Neither said a word. None was needed. The sun was warm on his arms, and legs. He marvelled at his body, even as it felt a part of something greater.

They were not the strongest of limbs. But after decades of life feeling only unfeeling metal, they were the most beautiful things that the Jedi had ever experienced. He could almost envision the midichlorians coursing back through them. Singing through them again. It was a universal song, that was made only close second to the sensation of Padme's touch and lips on his tingling flesh.

When they did not simply hold each other, they made love for a very long time. All of Anakin's pent up frustration, rage, and pain in the physical world melted into release in his wife's arms.

"Not bad for an old man, eh?" The sun shone on Anakin's old face, making him squint and smile all at the same time.

Padme's face twisted into something like disgust, but mostly a playful scowl, "I don't know, I thought I had something to do with that too."

Anakin's smile faded a bit as he looked down, "Well ... that wasn't exactly all I was talking about."

One of the things Anakin discovered as he did so was that his new legs, however much they felt, were not steady by any means. At this moment, Padme held onto her husband's shoulders. In one trembling hand, Anakin held a makeshift branch cane, while his other arm held his wife firmly around her waist.

Padme leaned her head onto her husband's shoulder, "You heard Obi-Wan. These things will take time."

"Yes, I know I know." He smiled at her, "I'm not shaking as much as before anyway. Good progress ... for an old man."

When they had first decided to walk, Anakin had nearly fallen over again. This time, however, his limbs somewhat stopped his body from a complete descent -- with Padme's additional assistance all too ready and willingly closeby. As they both started walking, it became abundantly clear that Padme would need to support him. His limbs shook like branches in the wind. Even the arm that held the branch, and the one that held her. Now at least they were walking. Slowly, but walking nonetheless.

Padme held him close, "Will you stop that?"

"Stop what?"

"You're not old, Ani," her tone though sharp, was tinged with molten warmth, "You are whatever you want to be."

"You mean here? In this place?"

"Yes but ..." She shook her head, "I mean, you've always had that power Anakin."

Anakin wheezed, "See, that is what everyone used to tell me. Everyone."

"Well ... that's because it's true, silly."

The Jedi said nothing. Padme stopped walking, and took hold of his arm, "Anakin, it is true you know." Her eyes burned as she sought his own, "You can do anything you want."

"I ..." His eyes were downcast.

"Anakin. Look at us now. We're walking. You are walking. You did it yourself. I'm telling you, Anakin, the only reason you would fall now is if I let you."

"No, Padme." Suddenly his voice was firm and his grip tightened around her. The blue eyes that met hers were steel and almost as grey, "No. You would never let me fall. You never let me fall. That is something I know how to do on my own." He turned away from her, "I am no little boy. Not anymore. No one else is responsible for my actions. But me."

"Anakin," she brought his face back to hers with one gentle hand, "I know you are not a little boy anymore. I deeply cared for that innocent little boy on Tatooine. I still do. But," she brought her face directly into his own, and her flesh blazed, "It is the man -- the man with all his strengths, and f

 

V: Learning to Walk Before Flying

The rounded hut seemed to flow out of the beige around them. It looked weathered and old, almost mummified from the dry air and burned by the heat of the sun. Anakin could relate.

Although he was tired, he was glad to be in the company of his wife and Master. It had never occurred to him in a thousand years, or whatever constituted itself as time here that they would all be together laughing like this -- especially not after so many things, after life itself happened. He expected to be a warm place after his death, which he once thought about every day of what was left of his life ... But he had already been there, and Obi-Wan had saved him from that.

No, that wasn't entirely correct. He had saved himself.

He could already feel his skin tanning in the sun. Vaguely, he wondered if it would burn after so much time away from it. This thought caused him to laugh outloud.

Evidentally, this time around Padme thought that he was doing something else, "Obi-Wan, you said he knew that he could breathe."

"N-no, just laughing," Anakin managed to wheeze. Obi-Wan gave his apprentice a look, and shook his head.

"Anakin, are you sure you're all right?"

The bald, scarred Jedi looked down at his wife, and managed to cup her chin in one of his hands, "I am ... better than I have been in a long time. A long time, my love." He leaned down to meet her lips again, before he turned to Obi-Wan again, "Friends, you say."

"That is what I said before, Anakin."

They stopped outside the door.

"I know. But I just ..."

"Hesitation, my friend?" Seeing the haunted look on Anakin's face, Obi-Wan's grip on his shoulder tightened, "Remember, Anakin. We live in the eternal here and now. There is no hesitation."

"You just sounded like Master Yoda."

"I -- I will take that as a compliment, Padawan," before Anakin could reply to that, he added, "There just cannot be hesitation ... in what we are about to do."

"What do you mean, Obi-Wan?"

"Obi-Wan, Anakin's tired. Perhaps we'd --" the rest of Padme's protest.

"We are not going into the house, Padme. Not yet."

Anakin's gaze squinted against the sun. There was something familiar about that house ...

"Ready he is not, for the house."

They turned around. The sands swirled, and figures seemed to materialize all around them. Faint at first, and then the sands finally cleared away into a sunset of two suns. One was a short green figure with long pointed ears. Another was taller and darker, his face stony and impassive. The third, however, had long brown hair, a neat brown beard and a noble aquiline nose and cheekbones. His eyes were clear.

Qui-Gon Jinn smiled warmly, "Hello, Anakin. Welcome home."

Anakin Skywalker stared at the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. How ... how long had it been since he had seen this man? Over thirty years in another time. He had just been a boy looking up to a tall, broad-shouldered man with kind eyes. If he had even had a father, Anakin had imagined him to look exactly like Qui-Gon Jinn. People had always said the Jedi Master had been old, but Anakin had never believed them. And now, surrounded with a radiating aura that shone like a beautiful afterimage, he knew he had always been right.

Then he became aware of himself by comparison. He looked just as old as everyone thought Qui-Gon was, only even more worn, and darkened at the edges. A bald and scarred middle-aged man who had suffered many infirmities and pains ... most of them brought on by himself. A far cry from the young boy the other had known, who had so much potential ahead of him, as many as the stars he had piloted through in his time. A far cry from the Chosen One.

"Master Qui-Gon," Anakin's tone was neutral, as neutral and even as he always tried to be as a Jedi in his youth, belying the chaos fighting underneath his breast.

Qui-Gon strode forward, and without any preamble embraced the other man. Another stone, one Anakin never thought was even there, broke inside of him. His pale arms w

 

Wonderful update. Is this the end of the story, or is there still more to come?

 

There is supposed to be more, DarthNaughtious. I just need to figure out what exactly is happening next. I think I need to review some Forms of Lightsaber combat myself.

And thank you.

 

VI: A Face of the Force

Anakin ran. Bare-chested, and burning in the sun -- his arms and legs screaming he ran across the sands with the further challenge and weight of a burden on his back.

Sweat poured from his skin. And his lungs groaned. Splotches of colour were steadily growing on his formerly pallid face. His brow furrowed in concentration and strain. Padme stood by the rounded house in the middle of the desert, and watched her husband's exertions.

She had insisted, and he could not refuse his wife. Through one of the many cycles he ran through, he caught her eye, and felt himself smile. She returned the smile, seeing another glimpse of the old Anakin, the Hero Without Fear returning. His burden seemed somewhat lighter then.

If only he did not always poke him.

"Concentrate you must," Master Yoda said, wrapped around Anakin's shoulders.

Anakin tried to talk, but his breath came out in wheezing. That extra burst of speed he felt before was already gone from him. He felt very tired.

"Well you are doing, Anakin," the Jedi Master's gravelly voice hummed at his neck.

"I ... can bare ...ly even ---"

"In time. And so short a time. Barely walk, you could before. Patience, Jedi. Patience."

And indeed, Anakin did realize that he was moving a lot more than before. He did not keep track of time here. It was probably more than likely that there was no time here. Every "morning" and "afternoon" he would train with Master Yoda. When Yoda told him he had to relearn the ways of Form I -- of Shii-Cho he was surprised that he actually felt incredulity. Even after everything he had gone through, he still remembered the basics. That much his former injuries had not really taken away from him. They had, as he had explained to the old Jedi Master, made him more conscious of their deployment and their uses.

But still, Master Yoda had insisted.

"Learn this you have two times before. Now three times."

"You know what they say about the third time, Padawan."

"Obi-Wan ... that wasn't exactly helpful."

Then Yoda had given him a look. Not so much one of authority as somewhat vaguely sinister, "Oh, it will be, learner. It will be."

He remembered hearing Padme laugh at that. He certainly didn't. The running was only part of the training. He admitted that, noncorporeal realm or not he needed to strengthen himself, and to this regard Master Yoda's training was indeed helping him.

"Be ready!"

Master Yoda suddenly leapt, and somesaulted off of Anakin's shoulders. Anakin barely brought up his weapon in time. It was no lightsaber. Even though this world was not Tatooine, was in fact a construct of the Force and ascended minds, he had not been able to find a crystal, nor any of the metals or components that he needed. Honestly, he did not feel entirely comfortable with finding them again.

Qui-Gon had nodded in understanding, "In time, you will let yourself find what you are looking for."

Mace Windu had nodded gravelly, "You have chosen a hard path, Anakin. A challenging one."

"More raw and elemental, it is. Like its student."

"I think ... I think it may have chosen me, Masters."

Then a rare thing happened. Mace Windu actually laughed, "Chosen anyway you look at it. It will serve you well, Jedi Skywalker. And you will need it, when I am the one who trains you next."

"Raw and elemental," Obi-Wan smiled, "I think Anakin can handle that."

"Patience Mace, Obi-Wan. First, handle me he must," Master Yoda looked at Anakin, "Your weapon?"

Anakin brought up his walking stick. Without the branches that he broke off, the slim wood almost felt like a sword. For all it was made of wood, when he focussed it became as hard as diamonds. Just as hard as the objects that Yoda threw at his body. They glittered only briefly in the sunlight. Stones. The ancient Jedi Master nearly flew as he continued skipping and jumping around Anakin. Force-focussed stick met Force-focussed stone projectiles.

Sometimes Anakin parried. Sometimes he even deflected a

 

Wow, that last chapter went on for quite a while, didn't it? I didn't think I quite had it in me. Now I have to see, all the more so where to go from here. There is somewhat of an outline now though. Just needs a little more flesh. Shall we?

VII: Shadows from the Periphery

"You did really well Anakin."

Padme and her husband kissed. They sat in an oasis, the trees providing shelter from the sun. Anakin had been looking for some kind of shelter there, among the dunes and apart from the house. Something about the house just didn't feel right yet. It still seemed so familiar to him though. Nevertheless, this oasis, a pool of water surrounded by trees and vegetation seemed to form from the sands themselves. His wife had not seemed so surprised. Anakin himself was already getting used to it.

He shrugged, "I used to be much better."

Padme snorted and smacked his shoulder, "Better? Pah. I swear, Anakin Skywalker."

Anakin blinked innocently, "What did I say?"

"Only you could make humility seem so arrogant and cocky," her comment made him exchange a smile with her as they kissed again, "You really must be feeling better."

"With a Queen on my lap, always."

"Oh? This Queen sounds like an older woman. Have you been seeing older women again, my philandering husband?" Padme knocked him to the ground, sitting astride and holding his arms pinned to the ground, "Tell me who she is. Tell me ..."

"Oh?" Anakin was laughing, "And what should been done with this 'old Queen?'"

Anakin rolled ontop of Padme, grabbing her wrists and pinning her down. He nuzzled her with his mouth, which caused her to yelp in false dismay, "Punish her! That's what she be done to her. She should be punished."

"Oh really ..." Anakin's smile twisted into a devilish one, as Padme's became very soft and dreamy, "'Punished,' you say?"

A long, long time later, Padme and Anakin lay unclothed in the soft cool grass. Anakin lay on his wife's lap, as she stroked his head gently. Spiky tuffs of silvered hair and the beginnings of a scalp met Padme's questioning fingers.

"Hmm ... It's starting to grow back very nicely. Soon I'll have to comb it for you again."

"Mmm ... I really missed that," he turned and lay there with his ear on her abdomen, wrapping his arms around her waist. He did not let go for a very long time. Padme continued stroking the beginnings of his hair.

"Where do you think the others went, Ani?"

"Not sure," Anakin sighed, "Probably back into the Living Force to talk, or not talk about whatever is they don't want me to hear or not hear."

"Taking cryptic lessons from Obi-Wan now?" She kissed his scalp tenderly.

"Yes, I guess so," he kissed her belly, "How am I doing?"

"You're so cute when you try to act all cryptic."

"Oh really?" Suddenly, he started to blow on it, making a raspberry.

For a while they squealed and wrestled around in the grass again. Until their mouths met. Another longer time later they lay in each other's arms.

"You really are feeling better, aren't you?"

Anakin held her tighter. She did the same.

"I never knew where you got all that energy from."

"Probably from all the training I've been doing lately."

"I know it's been hard for you."

After finding the essence of Form I, Master Yoda, not having conceded defeat, and citing "padawan's luck" as the reason for Anakin's one blow had taken to throwing more stones at the recovering Jedi. Anakin always had to keep an eye out, using his staff more as a weapon than a crutch. Every day, he telekinetically threw them away, only to have the stones return. Sometimes it was like that, back and forth. Anakin could swear that Yoda was having far too much fun doing that.

Not mention Yoda's gimer stick, that had suddenly become a boomerang weapon in the ancient Master's hand. In fact, it was only today that Anakin and Padme had gotten some more time alone.

"It has been hard," Anakin knew better than to try to lie to his wife, "sometimes, it even hurts to move. But as it goes along, it fe

 

Wonderful new post. Sorry it took me so long to respond, I just always forget to look on the "Beyond the Saga Board", as it is mostly EU stories, and I'm not much of an EU fan.

I loved the part about the Sarlaac, and the faces of the Force. You're right, Anakin does have a rather elemental personality, and it's perfect that he start to rediscover himself in a place like Tatooine. So is he going to be required to symbolically confront his fear, now?

 

Oh, he will be facing fear all right, Darth Naughtious. Eventually.

Maybe I should modify the title to this work ... just to let everyone know what it is about.

 

VIII: Most Unwise to Lower Your Defenses

"Form III, Soresu is the ultimate art of defense. Of passive aggressiveness."

Obi-Wan stood at Anakin's side. He looked like an old man again, almost perfectly matching his apprentice. Anakin's hair was coming in more fully, albeit shortly. It was silver and grey, though there were also hints of blond and brown in it -- faded with a time that did not come in another world.

Anakin nodded as the two went into defensive poses, mirroring one another, "I was never as much good with this one as with Shien." He really wanted to know why he was learning all of these things, especially after what happened not too long ago. But he had a feeling that it would be revealed not too far from now.

"It is hard for many to learn, but you remember the basics anyway," Obi-Wan smiled under his white beard, "Together now," he looked over at his old apprentice, and somewhat scowled, "You know, it would be much easier to envision if you would actually build a lightsaber."

The younger Jedi stared at his walking stick, just as he heard the snap-hiss and hum of his Master's old blade beside him. He concentrated the Force around him, feeling its living essence permeat him and the staff in his hands. Just as it had when he sparred with Yoda, the staff's molecules seemed to draw closer together -- its surface becoming harder, and more stable.

Anakin flashed a rue smile, "If this is the Resilience Form, as I have heard it called on occassion, then I think I need a little more resilience."

Obi-Wan laughed, "If there is one thing you do not need to work on, Anakin, it is resilience. At least, physical resilience anyway."

The Jedi Master caught an old and refreshingly familiar smirk from his former Padawan, "Well, at any rate I do need the practice."

"And you will get that. Masters?"

Off to the sides, Master Yoda, and Mace Windu waited. Pebbles and rocks floated around them, "We are ready when you are, Obi-Wan. Anakin."

There was another baritone laugh as Qui-Gon Jinn waved them on, sitting on the house steps next to Padme, "May the Force be with you, my friends." Padme smiled encouragingly at Anakin.

Obi-Wan and Anakin drew their weapons behind them, and pointed.

"Always having to do it the hard way," Obi-Wan spared one last quip.

"We hard-headed people tend to do that, Obi-Wan," Anakin smiled, but kept his eyes forward.

Obi-Wan laughed. And then the stones started flying. The two Jedi caught the stones on the length of their weapons. The Jedi Master's lightsaber, when it caught a stone forced it to crumble into powder. The length of Anakin's staff cracked the stones into pieces. The movements around the two Jedi were close parries -- hitting the stones away on their continued course, or blocks that destroyed them utterly. Then the first volley was finished.

Mace Windu and Master Yoda's facial expressions remained neutral, but their gazes penetrating on the two Jedi before them. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Anakin's free hands remained out before them, all of their fingers curled but two in the traditional Soresu position. Their hands quested the air, feeling the direction of the wind as their weapon arms readied behind them in precise points.

Even now, after all this time, Anakin had great difficulty with this Form. A part of him wanted to go into Shien, into Djem So and try to reflect some of the rocks back with his weapon. He found it ironic. After a life time's worth of aggression, and being broken by it to the point of being less than human, of being weak and barely alive, the aggressive streak was still inside him. It bothered him, and yet he realized it was inevitable. It was who he was.

He could sense Obi-Wan's presence comforting him, as though he himself knew what his old friend was feeling right now. It reassured Anakin.

Obi-Wan turned to Anakin, "Shall we, my old Padawan?"

Anakin returned the other's smile, "By all means, Master."

The second wave came at them. They continued keeping their attacks close to their bodie

 

Hmm. A little more mushiness, but it was spur of the moment. And ... perhaps it works. But before that, there is the rest. Enjoy.

********

IX: All Dreams Pass in Time

Anakin rested in the oasis once more. He blinked at the spots of sun through the foliage as he rested on his back. Then the Jedi stirred, rolling onto his side -- his arm reaching for his wife's form beside him. Yet his hand found only the grass and dirt. It took him a little while to realize that Padme was not there.

A brief pang of concern flashed through his chest as he sat up, but then Anakin remembered that there were many other times that Padme had left while they slept. He must have fallen asleep at some point. Where his wife was, or where she went to during these times was a question that had not been answered as of yet. Nevertheless, he could still sense her, and know that she would return. In the Force, everything and everyone was always there. That much the recovering Jedi did not have to be told by anyone. He just knew. He just felt it.

This peace that flowed into him was an unaccustomed sensation. He had always spent his time in the physical world on edge, or in pain -- save for the moments of comraderie in the Order, with Obi-Wan, and the solace he often found in Padme's arms. It was a peace that started the moment he died in his son's arms. All the anger and fear had been swept away, and only love remained. For that one moment, he had had a hint of what this would feel like. And this oasis was a representation of that feeling -- a symbol of his regeneration. He knew that these moments here, in this oasis without a moisture farm were just as important as the training and realizations he was receiving.

Anakin sat up and looked down at the nearby pool of water. His silvered hair was longer now. The scars on his flesh were more faded now, more a part of his body than absences of it. He smiled, that same lopsided smile he always had even when he was younger. Yet there was a gentleness there. Despite his life, he had always had an easy smile. They were mostly passionate grins, or some expression of extreme emotion. Amusement. Shame. Elation. But this was a gentle smile, and for the first time in ages it came even more easily -- filled with maturity, and experience. And acceptance.

He closed his eyes and let the peace of the Force flow through him.

He almost did not see the other coming.

A humming-whir slashed through the air where Anakin Skywalker's head used to be. The Jedi tumbled out of the way -- calling his staff to his hand as he faced a red lightsaber blade. Before he could even get a glimpse of his attacker, he raised the length of his staff to block a downwards strike from the other. From his crouched position on the ground, saw the other's weapon twist down. At that point, the Jedi used both hands to "punch" his staff forward into his opponent's body, using one foot behind him to himself off.

It hit the other, throwing the form backwards. Yet it backflipped and landed on its feet, now in a crouching position of its own. Anakin lunged forward, using the Force to propel himself before his assailent had the chance to recover. Staff met crackling blade. Anakin tried to focus on the other, but whoever or whatever it was it kept to the shadows and moved like a blur. The figure pushed him back with a flurry of strikes, which the Jedi responded to almost as quickly.

Almost, but not quite.

Suddenly, the other jumped through the air. Its striking patterns were irregular and suddenly very predictable. Anakin tried to keep up, the figure was now avoiding many of his own blows and trying to strike at where the Jedi exposed himself. Very quickly, Anakin found himself on the defensive once again. Then, with sleek strength and viciousness, the dark figure -- Anakin could see it a little more clearly as someone of a medium build under a dark robe and cowl -- slashed down on Anakin's raised weapon.

Anakin raised the length of it two-handed, punching the weapon as it came down. Both staff and lightsaber struck. And stru

 

X: Remembering to Fly

They met in front of the house, as they had gotten into the habit of doing before each "trial." Anakin was the one who started calling these sessions trials. He remembered Qui-Gon laughing at that.

"No, no, my friend. 'Trials?' These are merely training sessions."

Anakin arched up one eyebrow.

"Merely?"

By this time, he had already visualized the essences of Shii-Cho and Soresu. The older Jedi Master "merely" laughed in response to that.

But Qui-Gon Jinn was not laughing today. He listened, with great seriousness as Anakin described to them all the nature of his visions. By the time it was over, there was a long silence. Mace Windu's eyes were fixed and downcast, while Qui-Gon Jinn put a sympathetic hand on the Chosen One's shoulder. Yoda's ears drooped, and the ancient Master suddenly looked very sad.

"Hoped this would not come so soon, we did."

"Nevertheless, it is here," Qui-Gon's voice, as always was level and calm, but the light of quick resolution within his eyes as always betrayed that tone, "Obi-Wan's assessment of our situation is correct. We just need to work a little more at unlocking the abilities of yours that we can."

Yoda looked up at Anakin consideringly. Then he poked the Jedi in the calf leg. That seemed to jolt the Jedi Knight out of his stupor, causing Padme to laugh, and Obi-Wan to smile. Even Mace Windu seemed somewhat amused by that familiar gesture.

"Strong your body has become now, young Skywalker," Yoda grunted, "equally strong must your own mind be. Flew over you this dark man did in your dreams?"

"Yes, Master. He used a few fighting styles, but one of them was definitely Ataru."

"Then learn to 'fly' again you must too," chortled the ancient Master, giving what Anakin thought was a conspiratorial wink, "Come now, young Jedi."

Anakin began to follow Yoda out into the sands, when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I think I will join you this time around."

"Master?" Obi-Wan looked mildly surprised.

"Yes, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon Jinn stretched and shed his Jedi cloak, revealing the white robes underneath, "No sense in letting the rest of you have all the fun." His wink was much more pronounced than Master Yoda's. Obi-Wan couldn't help but smirk in return.

Yoda turned around and gave Qui-Gon a very level look. It was a very significant gesture.

"The will of the Force indeed," Yoda grumbled, edging his way again deeper into the sands.

Anakin looked at Qui-Gon, wondering what that was all about. The Jedi Master returned the look, and shrugged, "My lightsaber skills. I have been out of practice for quite some time. This is as good an opportunity as any."

"Then wait for another opportunity, you will have to," Yoda called out, "Your weapons. You will not need them."

"Here, Anakin. I'll hold this for you."

"Thank you, Padme." He was about to hand her the thing that had been his crutch and weapon for so long. He paused for a few moments. The vision, and the feel of it was still too fresh in his memory. She smiled gently, and slowly removed the stick from his hand.

"Remember what Obi-Wan said about dreams, my love."

Anakin closed his eyes for a few moments, then he opened them and smiled at his wife, "I'm sorry. I always have trouble letting go."

Padme smirked, "I've noticed."

She leaned in and they kissed.

Then he let go.

As they were leaving, Padme turned to Obi-Wan and Mace, "Aren't either of you going with them?"

Mace shook his head, "No, I think it's best we sit out on this one."

Obi-Wan nodded, "Besides, Ataru hasn't been my main Form for a very long time. Yoda and Qui-Gon are Masters of it. They know what they are doing."

Padme's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "... I hope you all are. Whatever it is Anakin has to do, he won't wait forever to hear about it from you. Especially after what happened."

"Don't worry, Padme," Obi-Wan's eyes turned from her and regarded the retreating figures of the three Jedi, "It ... won't be long now."

Meanwhile, farther away Yoda came to a stop. Qui-Gon and Anakin remained before h

 

Updated.

*Phew.*

 

XI: Beyond the Bounds of Metal

"I saw you fly, Anakin," Padme's voice was full of wonder, "I saw you fly and it was beautiful."

"Yet you are the angel, my love. Not me."

"... Anakin ..."

The Jedi Knight slowly, and reluctantly let go of his wife to face his Jedi instructors and friends. What he saw in their faces actually shocked him, "Masters?"

"That was impressive, Anakin," Obi-Wan finally said.

"Thank you, Obi-Wan --"

"No, you don't understand. That was ... that was really, very impressive."

"Soars, your spirit does now," Master Yoda blinked up at him.

"... thank you?"

Mace Windu nodded his head appreciatively, and said nothing at all. But he looked very impressed. Anakin still did not understand.

"Anakin," Qui-Gon's eyes twinkled, his voice deep with understanding and pride, "You have to understand that no one has ever truly ..."

"Yes?"

"No one has ever truly flown with the Force before."

Anakin's brow furrowed, "But ... from what Obi-Wan told me, what you all have told me more or less is that we are infinite here. All of us ..."

Qui-Gon considered that comment for a time, "The Force is infinite, Anakin. I suppose we could do the same. Certainly, in the other world we could use it to float, or leap, or increase our speed. And I suppose here, as I said, we could fly. Certainly, we have more energy for it than we did before."

"Then," Anakin's face creased into a perplexed grin -- a tentative smile with one raised eyebrow -- a combination of wonderment and true question, "Then why don't you? I couldn't possibly be the only one to have done this. Even I'm not that ... that ..."

"Anakin, you have always had more energy than any of us here," it was Mace Windu's turn to state this time, "The fact that you have passed into the Living Force like the rest of us does not change that fact. That is probably why ..."

"... you are the Chosen One, my old Padawan," Obi-Wan smiled, and clapped Anakin's shoulders, "if anyone can pass these trials, it is you."

"I just thought ..." Suddenly, the fierce joy dimmed away from Anakin's eyes, "I just thought we would all be ... equal here."

Obi-Wan looked very taken aback by the sudden sadness on his former apprentice's face, the subdued quality of his tone, "But we are, Anakin," he looked at the other Masters before saying anything further, "We are who we were in life, you know. Only ... we are the essence of that."

"I don't --"

"Don't you feel it, Anakin? Don't feel the air coursing through your lungs? The strength of your heart as it pumps? The sensations of your skin against the air and the elements that we make, and make us up here? Can't you see the light of the suns so much more clearly? Hear so much more well? And just feel? Anakin, in the galaxy, one often reaches a certain prime of life. There is a point where there is still the vitality of youth, but it is ... is tempered with a maturity, and an understanding.

"No, I'm not talking about only those who have use the Force. There is a point, where one finds things so much clearer. They have moments of clarity in the other world that put everything into perspective. It's true -- they can still feel anger and irritation. Even fear. But, in those moments they become so much more in ... context. But there is one thing, in our prime, that we never realized long ago," Obi-Wan laughed ruefully, "not even I."

"And what is that, Obi-Wan?"

"That these moments, with youth's vitality and maturity's experience are not just passing moments. They are not transitory elements that we must accept to be transitory. Anakin, they are forever."

Anakin blinked. Then he reached out his thoughts, tentatively, to the bond that he and his old Master shared. His face, once old slowly lit up into a youthful expression.

"You see, Anakin. We are all still different here. We are all individuals, with our own skills and preferences. But we all connected as well. Even though we cannot fly, or fly as long as you, we could still fee

 

Wow! Your writing is awesome.