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Anakin's POV
I stood over the sink on my ship while gripping the metal edges firmly. I spat the liquid out of my mouth, and watched the running water wash away the blue solution. I then loosened my grip, and ran my hands under the cold water, before splashing it over my face as I mentally prepared myself for my dreaded arrival to Mustafar.

I slowly glanced up to my reflection in the mirror to meet the image of my own bloodshot eyes. I hadn't stopped crying for the entire ship ride. I was too heartbroken, and completely devastated by what she had done, by what she has fallen victim to. But as hurt as I am by it, I know it isn't her fault, it's his. That disgusting manipulator is inside of her head, and I need to get him out.

I just wish that when I had found her in that awful place yesterday, that I didn't bring her home. I wish that I took her far away from Coruscant; not giving Palpatine the opportunity to corrupt her any further.

Or better yet, I wish I never left her today. I knew I should have listened to the feeling in my gut that told me something was deeply wrong. But I selfishly ignored it for the sake of finding information on Palpatine, which turned out to be for nothing anyway.

So, I failed her miserably.

I blamed myself for this, and now I have this one chance to get her back. And I'm fucking terrified that I'm going to fail her again, and lose her to the darkness forever.

I sighed heavily as I dropped my head down and tightly closed my eyes; suppressing the tears that were trying to break through. But like I have been doing with almost everything today; I failed. I choked on the lump in my throat, and broke down for what felt the hundredth time in the last hour.

The door behind me suddenly opened, causing me to jump in surprise, but I silently thanked the interruption for pulling me away from my depressing thoughts.

Artoo beeped as he rolled forward, and hit me in the back of my leg smoothly. I quickly used my sleeve to wipe my eyes, before turning around, and smiling down at him, "Yes I'm fine Artoo, are we almost there?" He beeped a yes and did a spin before rolling away towards the cockpit.

I stepped out of the bathroom, and wiped under my eyes once more to catch a few of the stray tears. Then I felt my stomach drop with anxiety as I heard the buzzing of the ship, it was letting me know that we were coming out of hyperspace.

Letting me know, that we were here.

I sat on the pilot seat in the cockpit as I gazed out of the front window. I was looking right at her familiar Star-fighter, the one I had gifted to her not long after she lost hers to Grievous on the malevolence. I still think she believes it's from Master Yoda, I never told her it was actually from me because around the time I got it for her, we weren't on the best of terms.

I sighed as I shifted my gaze to the building where I could faintly feel her force signature.

I have always had a strong connection with her, I used to be able to feel every emotion that radiated off of her body. But now, everything felt different, she felt different.. and my connection with her wasn't as strong as it used to be.

My heart raced as I saw her exit the building and pull a hood off of her head. I could hardly see her features, but I knew she was looking over in my direction.

Then she began coming towards me and I quickly stood up to meet her, "Stay in the ship Artoo." I instructed my droid sternly. I didn't want him to get caught up in any of this, and I mostly didn't want him to see his maker in her condition.

I nervously walked over and lowered the ramp to my ship; preparing to do everything in my power to get through to her, hoping she will listen to me about Palpatine, and get on this ship.

As soon as it finished lowering, her smiling figure came into view, and I ran down the ramp to quickly pull her into an embrace. She hugged me back with a relieved sigh, "I recognized your ship Anakin, what are you doing here?" She asked as she pulled away from the hug, but kept her grip on my arms.

"I was worried about you Princess," I gazed into her beautiful (y/e/c) eyes, not seeing the same person that I saw in those holograms. Despite the slight difference I could feel in her force presence, she still looked, smiled, talked, and felt just like my sweet girl. Furthering me to believe that a part of her true self is still alive, "Let's get out of here, come with me please." I pleaded as she caressed my cheek gently, I leaned into her touch and savored it as my heart beat with happiness that I got to see her.

She shook her head with a soft smile, "I can't go Ani, not yet," She removed her hand from my face and gently rubbed my arms in a soothing way, "I have to stay here and wait for orders."

"From Palpatine?" I asked; trying to hide the disgust in my voice.

She nodded, still smiling like nothing was wrong, "Yes, but don't be afraid of him my love, he's going to help me. I can become stronger through him and keep you safe from all that I've seen." Her face held excitement while she spoke of his deceiving lies, "I can save you from ever leaving me, he can teach me to defy death."

I cupped her face gently with desperation in my eyes, "Baby listen to me, I don't need you to save me. You never needed to save me, he's been manipulating and lying to you from the very beginning."

She scrunched her face as she gripped my wrists to pull my hands off of her, "How can you say that? He's been nothing but good to me Anakin," She angrily pointed to the building she just came out of, "He helped me kill the separatists leaders, the same ones who tried taking our lives over and over again. It's because of him that I was able to end this war."

"And you slaughtered the Jedi too, what was that supposed to achieve?" I asked as I slowly backed away from her, the darkness in her was seeping through her skin; showing itself to me, "They were our friends (y/n), your friends." I was hoping if I reminded her of the people she once knew, it could get to her, make her feel something over what happened.

Her eyes darkened while a low growl escaped her throat, "They were corrupt Anakin, he exposed the Jedi for what they really were and Cal and I helped him bring peace to this galaxy." She then smiled again, like she was proud of everything she had done, and it made my stomach turn in a sickening way, "You saw what they did to Cal, and I know they would do it again. Then with what Windu did to me, that was unforgivable." She stepped closer to me and I remained frozen in place as I stared at the woman I love.. in fear, "They deserved it." Her beautiful (y/e/c) eyes shifted into a sickening yellow; and I slowly began to no longer recognize the person in front of me.

I slowly shook my head as tears fell from my eyes with every blink, "No Princess," I tried to keep myself from choking on the lump in my throat, "They didn't deserve what you did, especially those younglings." Her eyes grew cold when she saw that I wasn't agreeing with her. I was shattered by what I was hearing from her, but I still didn't want to give up, there's still so much she doesn't know. And I couldn't bear the thought of a life without her, "And Windu isn't responsible for your torment, Palpatine is. I found cameras in your room that were set up to his computer-"

"Liar!" She shouted to cut me off as she began to pace with a wild look in her eyes. Everything I was saying to her was going right over her head, and that's because she didn't want to listen. She was stuck on this idea of saving me from death, and that he was the only one who could help her. So she was refusing to think rationally, "You're siding with them?" She asked in disbelief as she stopped moving and eyed me like I was the one betraying her, "Did you come here to kill me?"

My eyes widened at her sudden conclusion, and I hesitantly took a step closer, so I could continue to try and reason with her, "No, listen to-"

I stopped speaking when I felt my windpipe closing and I shot my hands up to my neck. Her hand was currently raised in my direction with a deathly gaze, "I did it all for you!" She shouted and I could see the water pooling in her eyes, "Why can't you see that I was trying to make everything better for us?"

She squeezed tighter and I dropped down to my knees while I struggled for oxygen, "(y/n)-" I tried to beg her to stop with a heavy feeling in my chest.

I didn't think my heart could break anymore than it already has today, but she just proved me wrong. I couldn't believe that she was really using the force on me like this. I never would have thought that we would end up here; me being on the brink of death, with her being the source of it all.

It's kind of ironic, she claims she's doing this for me, to save me from death, but here she is; bringing her own fears into her reality. But she's so deep into the darkness, I'm pretty sure all of her lines are blurred.

I felt my head spinning as tunnel vision began to creep up on me; letting me know that I was close to my end. I looked right into her eyes, pleading for her to let me go, "Princess stop-"

She blinked rapidly like she was pulling herself from a trance and she released her grip on me. I felt the force around my neck disappear and I took a deep inhale to gain back what I was being deprived of. Only to begin to cough violently, my throat was stinging and burning from the ghost of her tight hold, "I'm so sorry Anakin, I didn't mean to hurt you," She apologized with a deep sadness in her tone. She never came towards me though, she remained in the same spot with a heart broken look in her eyes.

I kept my watery eyes on her from my position on the floor, "I forgive you, if you just please get on this ship and leave here with me." I begged her in a hoarse tone before coughing once more.

She shook her head, "No, but you need to go."

As I regained my composure, I slowly stood up while shaking me head, "I can't," I may be insane or delusional at this point, but I still wasn't ready to let her go. Fourteen years I have loved her, and I'm not going to lose her like this, "Not without you."

She backed away from me to create some distance, "I have to finish what I started, I can't stop until I have the knowledge that I need for us to be happy."

"(y/n), I won't be happy if you continue to do this," I attempted to beg one more time, I was completely sobbing at this point, I was no longer holding back, "You're breaking my heart. We are all we need, I love you, so please stop this."

She slowly shook her head with no change in her features, "Love won't save you Anakin, only my new powers can do that."

"But at what cost?" I shouted to her, feeling all of my emotions ripping me apart on the inside, "You're a good person don't do this."

"But I have to!" She shouted back; tears forming  in her eyes as well, "I'm doing this for you Ani, to protect you."

"Don't do that," I shook my head as I slowly backed away from her once more, as I started to finally believe she really was too far gone for me to reach, "Don't spill blood in my name."

She paused as she stared me down with her sickest yellow gaze, "But I have," She growled menacingly, "And I will do it again, a hundred times over."

As soon as those last words left her lips, all hope in my heart completely died. I felt numb as I stared at the woman that I love, and only saw a stranger in her place.

And it fucking devastated me more than anyone could understand.

I slowly brought my hand to my lightsabers handle, "You're going down a path that I can't follow Princess." I sniffled as I tightened my grip on it, without pulling it out, "I'm begging you to get on this ship with me and leave all of this behind."

She stubbornly shook her head once more with a cold look in her eyes, "No."

A whimper escaped my lips as I pulled my lightsaber from my belt, "You're not giving me much a choice baby." I reluctantly ignited my lightsaber.

"What are you doing?" She whispered as she eyed my movements with surprise, and an also hurt expression.

My throat and lungs burned with every inhale like the air was acid. The pain of the thought of what I had to do was causing everything in my body to hurt, "I'm so sorry, but I can't let you hurt anyone else."

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Thoughts?
I'm scared to write the next one omg. But I plan to get it done and the last few chapters done by Thursday! Thursdays will now be the Deliverance update dates (:
And I want to take a guess and say I have 4 chapters left, including the Epilogue.
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