Disclaimer: All Star Wars characters/locations/etc belong to LucasFilm, but the storyline (once it derives from the movies) is mine, so pretty please give credit if you decide to use any ideas or repost 🙂
The skyline of crimson and darkening clouds only gave the tiniest glimpse into the battle that was being fought on Mustafar. Hot air bellowed out from the lava that bubbled up to the surface, the heat creating a stifling, suffocating canopy over the planet.
Sweat beaded on Anakin’s forehead, yet even the exploding fire in the distance did nothing to deter his focus. His focus on the Sith. With a cry of outrage and anger, he swung his saber in an arc that came down heavily onto his opponent. How dare you try and take MY family from me! screamed his mind, emotion alighting his veins and fueling him against the counter-strikes from Palpatine.
“Such anger young Skywalker.” Darth Sidious grinned, yellow, crooked teeth showing. His eyes, so dark and empty, stared at Anakin with the confidence of one whose plans are falling perfectly into place. The red blade came within an inch of Skywalker’s neck, a warning from the Force being the only thing that saved him from a painful, deadly wound.
Anakin dropped into a roll to avoid the collision of sparking saber meeting his skin, and came to his feet with one jump. Using the momentum, he dashed forward and with a firm hand on the Force leapt into the air. Sending a quick succession of swipes at Sidious, he did not wait for the Sith Lord to retaliate, preferring to go on the offensive instead.
The energy he used from this feat, left him the slightest bit winded, and the Sith took his shot. With a quick speed that shocked Anakin, Sidious scathed the skin of his right arm – every move intentional. There would be no quick death for this menace in the Darth Lord’s side, on the contrary, the ex-Chancellor planned to draw this out and make every action as painful as possible. Anakin Skywalker would be shattered into nothing more than a barely breathing structure, and then, oh yes, Sidious let his lips turn up in evil glee, then, when the boy could only beg for mercy and plead for forgiveness, he would take his chance. He would treasure each moment, letting the last thoughts of the foolish child’s mind be that he failed, and because of his failure, the Sith would never stop hunting for his family…until they were dead, or turned into Palpatine’s own puppets. Then, and only then, would Darth Sidious take the final strike and end Anakin Skywalker’s life.
Letting his mind return to the battle, Sidious chortled at the battle stances Skywalker chose. How adorable, how utterly immature. Someone needed to be taught a lesson, and Sidious thought of himself as perfectly qualified to do so. With a practiced swing that did not give any indication he had been sitting in an office for years, he allowed the red blade to sashay past the boy’s face – a warning, of who he was dealing with. Drawing the Dark Side close to him, Sidious used it to hold Skywalker in place.
Anakin twitched, muscles tense in adrenaline and fury. He had sorely underestimated the Chancellor, but how could he have possibly known of Palpatine’s ridiculous aptitude at combat? Ever since he could remember, the only activity the Chancellor was involved in included paperwork, speaking in front of large groups, discussions, diplomacy – nothing pertaining in the least to battle. He glared at said person.
Stalking from one side of him to the other, Sidious flipped the saber’s handle easily. “Such emotion, loss of control,” he started, hood hiding many of his features for which appreciated, “quite unbecoming for a Jedi. I wonder what the Council would say about this, hm?” Sidious paused, letting the seconds tick by as he ever so slowly turned around. A smirk appeared on his face. “Oh dear, I fear a significant fact slipped my mind only now. The Council can never give you an answer, do you know why boy?” He came closer. “Because of you. You killed them, every death rests on your conscience.”
As Sidious cackled madly, Anakin’s blood, which had already begun to boil, erupted into a frenzy of irate anger. In all truth, he did not know if he was a Jedi or a Sith. Anakin did not seem to meet the mold for either, and that left him alone in a world where the Force was apparently black and white. I really couldn’t give a kriff about that right now! and with that Anakin broke out of the Force hold and made good use of the precious few seconds of surprise.
One underhand swipe aimed at the Sith’s middle.
Overhand – the shoulders.
A flurry of sharp movements that materialized as a blue blur.
Through every jab sent his way, Sidious retaliated with equal or greater force. He appeared unconcerned and as Anakin’s energy lessened, the Sith’s grip on the Dark Side grew.
Ok. Clearly need a new plan. Offense is not happening…mused Anakin, grumbling internally at the stupid Sith’s skill. He had underestimated Palpatine. Breathing in deeply, he tried to focus on calming himself – not exactly easy when everything you thought you knew turned out to be a lie, not to mention the emotions that threatened to drown him. Nevertheless, Anakin made himself focus and draw on the Force, not through anger, but remembering the love of Padme. And sure, some rage he was unable to hold back, but all things considered, Anakin thought he faired pretty well.
As Sidious increased his offensive strikes, aiming for critical limbs and toying with Anakin physically and psychologically, he matched the Sith’s saber – blow for blow. Though Sidious had more years of experience than Anakin, the effects of his battle with Windu and Yoda were still being felt.
He’s still a man…Anakin reminded himself, when he ducked to avoid an especially violent move. Part of him wondered how the Sith was even keeping up, considering his age, but whatever the reason may be, Anakin was coming to the realization that Sidious, at least at this moment, could not be defeated.
“You will never defeat me!”
“Like I said,” a Force push, “earlier,” the red saber swung high, “I don’t have to defeat,” his blue blade met it, “you,” he drew on the Force firmly and shoved every weight of it towards Palpatine, “to win.”
ANAKIN.
Not. Now.
Quit being an idiot! If you do not make it onto this ship, Padme has threatened to come back down to the surface herself.
Anakin rolled his eyes, gritting his teeth as he tried to hold Sidious back.
I am being completely serious. She said to tell you that if you do not get up here in ten seconds, then she is coming down and dragging you back.
The sound of an engine roaring overhead caught his attention. Briefly, his eyes flickered up and saw the ramp being lowered. Part of him screamed that no, he did not need to get on that ship. He needed to stay on Mustafar and finish Palpatine for good. Yet, Anakin knew his wife well and if what Obi-Wan was saying was the truth, then nothing would stand in her way, not even a Jedi Master.
Making a quick decision, Anakin used the last remains of his energy to make the far leap onto the ship’s ramp. As soon as his feet touched it, the ramp began closing and he walked into the Naboo star skiff.
Let me know what y’all thought! 🙂
~ Southern Dreamer
Southern Dreamer 