Anakin had Carmine stay behind in case the Chancellor asked for Anakin again. Right now, Anakin was more excited about seeing his wife, and feeling the movements of the growing baby inside her. Their children were back on Naboo with their grandfather so their parents could be alone.

"Daddy loves you so much already." Anakin cooed and kissed his wife's stomach.

Sapphire nuzzled Padme's stomach gently and carefully placed her ear near it, and stood up with a startled snort as she felt the bump move, making the humans chuckle.

Although Anakin was happy that he would have another baby soon, he couldn't help but feel worried about how the war was still affecting everyone and everything around them.

"Sometimes I worry about the Jedi Order." Anakin confessed with a sigh. "Even with the changed code, I think this war is destroying the principles of the Republic."

"Have you ever considered that we may be on the wrong side?" Padme asked with worry.

"What do you mean?"

"What if the democracy we thought we were serving no longer exists, and the Republic has become the very evil we've been fighting to destroy?"

Anakin shook his head. "I don't believe that. Now you're starting to sound like a Separatist."

"This war represents a failure to listen. Now you're closer to the chancellor than anyone. Please, use your royal status and ask him to stop the fighting and let diplomacy resume."

"Please don't ask me to do that." Anakin said, getting up in frustration. "Make a motion in the senate, where that kind of request belongs."

Padme, however, could tell something was bothering her husband. He insisted he was fine, but Padme didn't believe him.

"Ani, don't shut me out. Let me help you."

Padme managed to pick herself up and walk to her husband. She looked at him and told him to hold her.

"Like you did the day at the lake on Naboo. So long ago, when there was nothing but our love."

Anakin held his wife closer as his wife reminded him of a time with "No politics, no plotting, no war."

Anakin started to feel a little better, and he pulled his wife in for a nice long kissing session.

Meanwhile, Carmine resumed his Anakin disguise and rushed to an opera building in Anakin's place. He wore one of Anakin's black princely outfits, this being an opera and all. And, he kept a recording device on him to gather any evidence he could.

Unlike his brother, Carmine actually enjoyed opera, as it'd been one great date he'd been on with Caroline before.

"You wanted to see me, Chancellor." said Carmine.

"Yes, Anakin. Come closer." said the Chancellor. "I have good news."

Carmine got closer.

"Our clone intelligence units have discovered the location of General Grievous. He's hiding in the Utapau system."

"Then... that means we'll be able to capture that monster and end this war."

"I would worry about the collective wisdom of the council if it didn't select you for this assignment. You're the best choice, by far."

"I don't know about that." Carmine shrugged.

"Hmm. Sit down." Palpatine told 'Anakin.' "Leave us."

Those who sat around the Chancellor stood up from their seats and left, allowing Carmine to sit in a chair next to the Chancellor.

"Anakin, you know I'm not able to rely on the Jedi Council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"You must sense what I have come to suspect. The Jedi Council want control of the Republic. They're planning to betray me."

"I don't think-"

"Anakin." The chancellor looked at Carmine a little more directly. "Search your feelings. You know, don't you?"

If Carmine didn't feel suspicious of the Chancellor before, he sure did now.

"I know that they're... a bit mistrusting of some folks in the senate at the moment. I will admit, they've made mistakes, but who hasn't?"

"They asked you to do something that makes you feel dishonest, didn't they?" Palpatine said.

"Pfft! Of course not." Carmine laughed.

"They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?" Palpatine said.

Carmine made himself sound like he was stifling a laugh, "Why would the Jedi do anything so ridiculous?"

"Remember back to your early teachings. All who gain power are afraid to lose it."

Carmine actually knew that feeling. As Count Crescendo, he took enormous risks all the time with every new show, new song, new choreography, and new wardrobe. Some days, he felt worried he would mess up and lose everything. His career, his credibility as a performer, but most of all, being able to give his family the life they deserved.

"Even the Jedi."

"The Jedi use their power for good." Carmine said.

"Good is a point of view, Anakin." said Palpatine. "The Sith and the Jedi are similar in almost every way, including their quest for great power."

Carmine thought about how Anakin would respond, and said, "The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They rely on greed and selfishness."

"And the Jedi don't?"

"Admittedly, we're not perfect, but not even any civilian, royal, or politician is either." Carmine said, standing up in his seat. "Just take me and Carmine being twins, for instance. We have the same face, but we're both far from perfect in different ways. The Jedi are selfless. My father, my brother, my daughter, my niece, and my master are proof of that."

The two men sat silently for a few moments before Palpatine broke the silence.

"Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?"

"No." Carmine answered.

"I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend."

What neither of them knew then, was someone else was watching from afar, remaining invisible, listening, and seeking the truth as Palpatine told who he thought was Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis.

"Darth Plagueis was a dark lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians... to create... life. He had such a knowledge of the dark side, he could even keep the ones he care about... from dying."

Carmine looked at Palpatine oddly. "He could actually... save people from death?"

"The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. Even more so than magic of the Enchanteds."

"What happened to him?"

"He became so powerful, the only thing he was afraid of was... losing his power. Which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It's ironic. He could save others from death, but not himself."

"Is it possible to learn this power?" Carmine asked to keep the Chancellor's trust.

"Not from a Jedi." said the Chancellor.

Lamenta felt the truth flash before her eyes. Well, part of it anyway. She could see what she'd seen in Anakin's nightmares before and sensed that somehow the Chancellor was connected to it.

Carmine soon delivered what information he gathered to Anakin, and they brought it to the Council. Of course, Lamenta warned Anakin about the truth of his dreams having something to do with the Chancellor and Darth Plagueis.

"Palpatine thinks General Grievous is on Utapau?" said Ki-Adi.

"According to Carmine, a partial message was intercepted in a diplomatic packet from the chairman of Utapau." Anakin explained.

"Hmm. Act on this we must." Yoda said. "The capture of General Grievous will end this war."

"What about Anakin's nightmares? And what Lamenta saw?" Carmine asked.

"That sounds like it might be an Enchanted matter." Mace said.

"Quickly and decisively we should proceed." Yoda said.

"The Chancellor has requested... well to Carmine... that I lead the campaign." Anakin said.

"The Council will make up its own mind who is to go." said Mace. "Not the chancellor."

"A master is needed," said Yoda. "with more experience."

"I concur." said Ki-Adi. "Master Kenobi should go."

And the council agreed.

"Lamenta and I will see what we can dig up on Enchanted dreams." Carmine promised, sending his daughter and Crescent to go begin.

"Master, you're gonna need me on this one." Anakin said, walking with Obi-Wan to the ship.

"Oh, I agree." said Obi-Wan. "However, it may turn out just to be a wild bantha chase. Frankly, Hide-and-seek with Gabby is easier."

"Master. I've disappointed you. Uh, I haven''t been very appreciative of your training. I've been arrogant, and I'm sorry." Anakin looked down. "I've just been so frustrated with the Council."

A smile began to appear on Obi-Wan.

"You are strong and wise, Anakin, and I am very proud of you." Obi-Wan said. "I know your family must be as well. I have trained you since you were a small boy. I have taught you everything I know, and have much of that left to teach your brother, who has not had as much time. You have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be, and perhaps you can pass those lessons to your brother as you did with Ahsoka."

Anakin started to feel a little more confident thanks to his master's kind words.

"But be patient, Anakin." said Obi-Wan. "It will not be long before the council makes you a Jedi master."

Anakin smiled, and he embraced Obi-Wan in a big hug, which the latter returned before Peppermint started licking them both.

"Okay, Peppermint! Enough kisses." Obi-Wan laughed before taking Peppermint's rein so they could leave.

"Obi-Wan. May the Force be with you. You too, Peppermint." Anakin said.

"Right back at you." Peppermint smiled.

"Good-bye, old friend." said Obi-Wan. "May the Force be with you."

And then, Obi-Wan and Peppermint headed off on their way, leaving Anakin with Sapphire.

"Guess it's just you and me, Sapphire."

Anakin decided he had to go see his kids. He missed them. However, he also felt tired. So, once he and Sapphire arrived. he went to his and Padme's room to take a nap.

"Save your energy," said Obi-Wan.

"I can't." Padme cried.

Padme let out a soft breath and closed her eyes.

That was when Anakin woke up with a gasp again. And this time, the room was covered in briars and thorny roses. Anakin hadn't grown plants in his sleep since he first discovered his powers. This was getting ridiculous.

The last thing Anakin needed right now was to lose control over his abilities and make himself too dangerous to get close to the baby.

Anakin didn't feel like himself at the moment. He wasn't sure who to turn to at the moment. Most of his friends were out fighting the war, and so was most of his family.

However, he soon saw Gabby walking down the hall by herself, singing to herself as she played with Teddy.

"Hey, Gabby. What are you up to?" Anakin asked.

He'd hoped maybe his daughter could distract him from the dark moments with a fun time like she always did.

"Not much. I'm honestly bored." Gabby said. "Since the Madrigals went home, it's kind of quiet. You wanna see the portal we built?"

Anakin decided that might not be such a bad idea.

Anakin followed Gabby to a room filled with beautiful mirrors and guided him to the one the Madrigals used to get home.

"Now we keep it here." Gabby smiled. "They can visit us and we can visit them."

Anakin had a thought. "Hmm. What do you say we pay them a visit right now?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. We've got nothing else to do. And, getting to explore a new world might be just the stress reliever some of us need."

"We should probably change our clothes first. Mrs. Alicia did say it was warmer where they live."

"Hmm. You're probably right."

So, Anakin changed into some lighter robes and Gabby got one of her sundresses on before going through the mirror with her father, and they were met by a beautiful sight.

"Wow." That was the first word out of Anakin's mouth when he saw the Casita for the very first time.

"Hello?" Gabby called. "Anyone home? Mirabel? Camilo? Maybe they're not home."

"Let's go see outside. And not touch anything."

The father and daughter came by the staircase, only for it to turn into a slide as they walked down.

"Whoa!" They shouted as they slid to the bottom.

"Wow..." Gabby gasped. Then she smiled. "Let's do that again!"

And she ran up as fast as she could, allowing the stairs to slide her down again.

"I gotta find a spell to make the stairs at home do this!" Gabby cheered as her father caught her.

Anakin chuckled and said, "Let's go see if we can find our friends."