(y/n) POV:

"Where do you think we should look first?" I asked Anakin who laid beside me, as I nervously gripped the lush green grass in my fists.

After we had gotten ourselves out of the cave and took some time to regain a more composed mindset, we also decided it would be good to discern our bearings, and make a plan. It wouldn't be a good idea to just jump into this with no plan whatsoever. But at the same time, if we spend all day overthinking and creating possible scenarios in our heads, that will only make circumstances more complicated.

But what worries me is that we still don't know where the rest of our friends are. And the more we wait, the more anxious it makes me.

He sighed, "I don't know. But luckily, it shouldn't be too hard to find them. Same goes for Palpatine; my body felt chilled when I sensed his presence." I felt his body tense as he spoke.

I shifted uncomfortably as well. The memory of the icy feeling I got—both times—from his presence made my stomach churn. It was worse the first time, because my emotions and powers were heightened, which caused my physical pain to be twice as awful. 

"Should we try the lake house first?" I asked, rolling over on my side and propping myself up on my elbow to look down at Anakin. "We'd have to walk for a few miles but it seems like a good place to start."

When we had gotten out of the cave, I assumed we were close to where we had originally fallen in, but it seemed like both Anakin and I had been walking for miles until we found each other down there.

He smirked, "Then we won't walk." He hopped up swiftly into a standing position. "You up for a race?"

I rolled my eyes lightheartedly; even in the midst of uncertainty and potential chaos, he still kept a positive attitude. A race isn't too bad of an idea, actually. The thrill and adrenaline rush will certainly get our blood pumping.

Without verbally answering, I shot up from where I laid and sprinted away, leaving him in the dust. An endless view of vibrant green grass blazed through my vision. I forgot how nice it felt to run sometimes; in a large field under a clear blue sky, with the wind behind me. I'd enjoy it more if we weren't in such dire circumstances.

After a few moments had passed, I was taken by surprise as a pair of arms wrapped around my waist, halting my movements as I was soon thrown aside gently, staggering on my feet.

"Hey!" I laughed sharply, catching my breath from all of the excitement.

Anakin winked playfully as he jogged past me, leaving me to dart after him as soon as I had regained my footing. Eventually we ran side by side at a steady pace so that we weren't sprinting any longer, and used the rest of our energy to sense where our friends could be. But I could hardly feel anything, which gave me no clear indication.

Then I remembered my conversation with Obi-Wan, and how he said he would make a plan of his own. What did that mean? And what could he possibly do on his own to help us in this situation? I couldn't sense him nearby even as we approached the lake house.

"Anakin," I panted, "I think we should—" I was interrupted mid-sentence as I felt a cold chill run down my spine. My words were stuck in my throat, and at the same moment as we approached the lake house, I was met with a sight that made my heart drop.

It was both Ahsoka and Yoda, our two beloved friends, laying pale and lifeless next to one of the many craters and crevices in the ground created by Palpatine.

"No no no." I whispered, my voice cracking as I ran faster. I instantly assumed the worst, and felt my heart pounding harshly against my chest, and the back of my throat burning. 

I fell to my knees, Anakin close behind me, and instantly laid my head against Ahsoka's chest and grabbed her arm, hoping to feel any signs of life. Her body was eerily cold, her montrals felt stiff and harsh like ice.

Next to me, Anakin sighed in relief, running a hand through his blonde curls after he finished with Yoda, "They're still alive." He removed his hand from Yoda's small, unmoving form and sat back on his knees. "Their signature is faint, but it's there. It's as if they've been put to the brink of death, but something is barely keeping them alive." His features scrunched in confusion as he spoke.

I felt so discombobulated by what I was seeing and hearing. How could this have happened? From the surface, both of them could easily be pronounced dead. The thought shook me to my core. But Anakin is right; they're definitely still alive, but it's as if their energy has been sucked away almost completely, leaving them hanging on by a thin piece of thread.

"Wait." I froze as I sensed something different about our surroundings, something that it seems neither Anakin or I noticed in the midst of our fear for our two friends.

A pungent scent hit me. It was ashy, and in a way resembled something close to burning metal.

I gazed wearily around the now destroyed field, but noticed something that seemed out of place compared to the rest of the crevices and splits in the ground. A large, hollow hole-like shape resided about twenty feet in front of us, separated from the rest around it. And, though it was very faint, I could see steam wafting out through the opening.

"(y/n), don't go near it." Anakin warned me quietly, already sensing what I was about to do. But I did it anyways.

I ran carefully through the grass, making sure I didn't fall into anything, and stopped a few feet from the edge of the large opening. My skin started to feel hot the closer I got, and I realized why with a jolt of terror. Far into the depths below me lay a fiery sea of molten lava, marking the core of the planet.

How could this have even been created? It was significantly larger in size compared to the other craters and openings spread out around us. Does Palpatine have that much power that he can destroy a large portion of a planet all the way to its core? And what does he plan to do with it? So many unanswered questions swarmed chaotically through my brain, and none of them seemed to have a favorable answer.

Soon I felt myself being pulled to my feet and away from the pit by Anakin, who spun me around angrily, "What are you doing?" He questioned in both a frightened and furious tone. "I told you to not go near it. You'd be dead if you fell in." He scolded, his blue eyes searing into me like icicles.

Though I knew his words were out of concern for me, I still felt annoyed that he was treating me like a child.

"We can't just sit around and do nothing, Anakin." I sighed irritatably, moving to walk around him back towards Yoda and Ahsoka. "We need to heal them and fix this mess." My words may have sounded determined, but the truth is that I had no idea where to even start with any of this.

"That won't be necessary." A sinister, chilling voice echoed from behind me. A voice that haunted my memories, and forever tainted the innocence I once had long ago.

I turned around slowly, and as expected, saw a black hooded figure on the opposite side of the pit from where Anakin and I stood. Even though we both knew he would eventually show himself, it still felt too surreal. The immense darkness radiating off of him was unfathomable.

Anakin's eyes were wide with shock at what he was seeing. Just like me, he's only ever seen Palpatine in his Sith form once before, but it didn't take away the unsettling feeling I'm sure both of us got from this encounter. The frostbitten feeling engulfed every bone in my body now, and it was almost too much to bear.

I pulled him by my side hurriedly by the sleeve of his robe, and held onto his arm like both of our lives depended on it. He responded by moving the arm I was holding to instead interlace our fingers together.

"What did you do to them?" I asked boldly, referring to the two unconscious bodies of our friends behind us.

He grinned wickedly from under his hood, "I have consumed every last drop of energy from their pathetic bodies. As soon as I take what little life is left in them," He lifted his hand, effortlessly using the force to bring both of their forms into the air and leave them floating helplessly above the lava far below. "They'll be gone."

My heart raced with fear, and I watched in horror as the bodies of Ahsoka and Yoda hung in the air, moments away from a cruel, tragic fate. Anakin's jaw clenched, and he squeezed my hand tighter. It was taking everything in him to not lunge himself straight at Palpatine.

This isn't going well at all so far. How are we going to keep them alive? And where is Obi-Wan?

"Stop." I commanded quickly as he began to lower his hand. "Just leave them out of this, please." I pleaded as calmly as my shaking voice would let me. Even though my efforts may be useless in the end, I'm hoping to stall him for as long as possible.

His grin never once faltered, and to my surprise, he slowly lowered our friends safely back onto the grass.

"I could leave them unscathed." He mused, slowly drawling out each word. "If you choose to reconsider my offer from our last meeting."

In my peripheral vision, I saw Anakin turn his head towards me, his brows furrowed, "What offer?"

Though I've desperately tried to forget all of my encounters with Palpatine, I knew exactly what he was talking about, and the thought caused bile in my stomach to rise to my throat.

He wants me to turn to the dark side, and if I don't, then potentially all of my friends will die.

It's not the first time he's attempted to do this; and every time he's failed. But now there are lives at stake, ones that I care deeply about.

He laughed evilly in response to Anakin's question, "Her heart has slowly become inundated with darkness, making her the perfect vessel to fulfill my plan."

"What plan?" I asked hesitantly, realizing that I never actually learned why he is so hellbent on turning me to the dark side.

"To conquer every corner of this galaxy. And I'm going to start by ridding it of anyone who dares to stand in my way." He sneered loathingly, enunciating the word like it was a disease. "And you, my dear, are going to join me. As my apprentice." He raised his pale, brittle hand to point at me, and lifted his head so that I was met with a horrifying amber gaze.

It all makes sense now. He wants the Sith to rule the galaxy forever, and needs someone with enough power and darkness inside of them to take his place after his death.

Anakin pushed me backwards, and moved himself in front of me protectively. "You're not going anywhere near her." He growled, reaching quickly for his lightsaber and igniting it, emitting a sharp blue glow. "I'll kill you myself if I have to." He spoke angrily, letting his emotions overtake him.

Palpatine's expression darkened, his lips curling into a snarl, "Your arrogance will lead to your downfall, Skywalker." As he spoke, he lifted his hand once more, but this time, blue streaks of lightening that I was all too familiar with shot out of his fingers.

"No!" I screamed, attempting to throw myself in front of Anakin, but he shoved me backwards harshly so that I fell with a thud, knocking the wind out of me.

I instantly scrambled to my feet, my mind running haywire with fear. Anakin had managed to block the lightening with his lightsaber, but he was struggling. He held his blue blade firmly with two hands, gripping the hilt so hard that his knuckles turned white. The strength of the Sith Lord's power was so colossal, that Anakin couldn't even keep himself rooted. He began to slowly take steps backwards from the weight of the attack he was facing.

A pang of dread engulfed my body. I could feel it seeping from Anakin's signature as well. He knew he was losing.

This isn't how we had planned for this encounter to go; Anakin and I were supposed to do this together. But it all seems so ridiculous, now that we're here. How can we defeat him? He has ten times the power any Jedi could ever have.

But we're the chosen ones, I reminded myself. As much as I wanted to believe we could win this battle, I still have no idea where we would even start.

"I will never join you." I hissed in anger, grabbing my own lightsaber and preparing to fight side by side with Anakin. That is, until I suddenly couldn't move at all. My body was held in place by Palpatine using the force—a strong one, I might add—while still continuing his lightening attack.

"You fool!" He bellowed dangerously. "Now because of you, everyone you know and love will be the first to die. Starting with your precious boyfriend." He sneered as he increased the voltage in his power, preparing to deliver just one final blow to the man I love.

I wanted to scream, cry, use every last bit of power left in me to destroy him, but I couldn't. His strength was too much for both of us.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you." A familiar voice warned, echoing above all the commotion.

I darted my in the direction of its owner, and was both relieved and terrified to see Obi-Wan, standing mere meters away from Palpatine on the opposite side of where Anakin and I stood. Though I was grateful he had distracted Palpatine from causing any more damage, I now feared for his life, seeing as he stood dangerously close to our opposer.

But I also wondered, how did we not sense his presence? And how did we not see him approaching until now? Not even Palpatine noticed him until he announced himself.

Palpatine retracted his lightening, and released his force hold on me. I fell to the ground with a sharp intake of air, not even realizing that my insides began to tighten with each passing second. Anakin fell backwards, his forehead covered in sweat, and his body limp. His lightsaber hilt rolled out of his hand and onto the grass as he turned off the blue blade.

"And what are you supposed to be? The savior?" Palpatine questioned in a mocking tone, turning fully towards Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan stood tall, clenching his fists down at his sides. "Perhaps." He responded simply, while raising an eyebrow and eyeing Palpatine up and down. "Although I must say, it would certainly take much less than a savior to defeat you." He said audaciously with a hint of sass, shocking both me and Anakin, and causing us to glance at each other in bewilderment.

Is he trying to get us all killed? Making Palpatine even more angry is a death wish, and Obi-Wan isn't even armed to defend himself.

"What is he doing?" I mumbled quietly to myself.

Palpatine bristled, moving closer to Obi-Wan in slow, menacing strides. "That is a very bold claim for a man who has nothing to defend himself with."

Obi-Wan smirked and took a step closer to the Sith approaching him, "Well, what can I say? I am virtually indestructible."

After he spoke, his eyes darted over to me, and then Anakin, for a mere split second. But in that second, I could tell he looked at me for a reason. It's as if he was sending a message through his eyes, screaming at me to do or be ready for something. But I didn't know what.

Anakin and I both looked at each other once more, not needing to say a word seeing as it was clear we both knew Obi-Wan was trying to tell us something through his short eye contact with us.

Could this be his plan? I'm still confused as to why he's basically insulting Palpatine and spurring his wrath. That seems like the opposite of what we should be doing.

But I trust him. And if that's his plan—as crazy as it seems right now—then I'll go along with it.

Anakin and I both slowly stood up so as not to make any noise or cause attention in our direction. But those efforts were wasted because of what happened in the next few seconds.

Palpatine raised both of his old, pale hands, "Let's see how confident you are when you're dead." Twice the amount of lightening from before exploded through his fingers, completely devouring every inch of Obi-Wan's body.

"No!" Anakin and I both yelled at the same time. My heart shattered into thousands of broken pieces. This can't be real. I refuse to believe any of it. I'm hoping that this is all just a bad dream, and that I'll wake up knowing that everyone is still safe.

"Obi-Wan..." I cried, squinting my eyes against the blinding electric blue lightening. It was so bright that I could hardly see anything, and it didn't help that my tears began to blur my vision. I didn't want it to be true. I didn't want to believe that my best friend was dead.

I felt a hand grab one of my own, and looked over to see Anakin; tears streaming down his cheeks. But the look in his eyes said everything.  We were going to fight until our last breath to destroy this monster, even if it means we don't make it out of this battle. We'll do it for our friends, and the rest of the galaxy. And for Obi-Wan.

But before we could do anything, Palpatine had finally subdued his lightening revealing a sight that shocked all of us.

Obi-Wan stood in the exact same spot where he always was, completely unscathed, not a hair on his beard out of place.

For a moment I wondered if I had lost my mind, or was hallucinating. How could anyone have survived that?

I'm glad to see that he's alive, of course. But there have been so many surprises today, and they all keep coming one after another. How did he keep himself safe?

He chuckled, brushing off his shoulder as if there was dust, "That was cute, but it will take more than lightening to destroy me."

Palpatine's amber, fiery rimmed eyes were round with shock. Whatever Obi-Wan did had clearly stunned him, completely caught off guard.

Hold on. He's stunned, and caught off guard, meaning he's distracted. That's what Obi-Wan was trying to tell us. To strike when Palpatine is distracted.

I nudged Anakin's side with my elbow, prompting him to look over at me. Though tears still stained his cheeks from earlier, his features showed blatant shock and confusion.

'Now.' I mouthed to him. He didn't seem to understand what I meant at first. But after a few seconds his expression shifted into one of realization, making me internally sigh in relief.

Hand in hand, we both used all of our might to quickly lift Palpatine off of the grass with the force, and used every last bit of strength we had to throw him down into the pit of lava that he had foolishly created. He yelled out as his old body plummeted, but we soon didn't hear him anymore, and instead heard a faint splash down below, as well as the sound of simmering lava.

In an instant, Anakin and I ran like the wind to the other sit of the pit. I got to Obi-Wan first and all but tackled him to the ground. He sat up with a grunt of laughter and pulled both of us into a group hug. This time the tears that fell from my eyes were tears of joy, and I held on tightly to both of them, praying that I would never come close to losing them ever again.

I sniffled, laughing as I wiped my eyes, "How did you do that?"

He shrugged, his blue eyes glinting in the bright sun. "Force projection. Believe it or not, I am not actually here with you both, but using my energy to emit a projection of my physical form." He explained.

Anakin's brows knitted in concern, "Force projection? Didn't you tell me that attempting to do that for a long period of time and with strenuous effort could be fatal?" He asked in a rush.

Obi-Wan chuckled, "Yes, but you both know I would do it in a heartbeat if it meant keeping you safe." He assured softly. "Though, I'd best be getting back now. Elijah vowed to kill me if I died." He laughed, smiling softly. His features portrayed just how exhausted he looked and probably felt.

Anakin and I both stepped back after seeing him off, with the warm thought in mind that we would be seeing him and everyone else again real soon.

As soon as his form had faded, I ran to jump into Anakin's arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. He dug his nose into the crook of my neck, "We did it, baby." He breathed, kissing every inch of my skin. "We finally did it."

Finally, after all this time. The prophecy that haunted and tormented us for so long is fulfilled at last. We fought as one—light and darkness—and brought balance to the force. Together, we are the balance. We always have been. Since the very beginning, and to the very end.

(a/n): I published the epilogue at the same time as this chapter so please go check it out! It's pretty short, and technically the last chapter❤️