2.3k words
༻✦༺

Cal's POV
"There are two places Sidious can be," I paced in the living room as I furrowed my brows in thought.

We all know what Anakin left to do, it's obvious, and I have no doubt that he'll succeed. Killing Sidious is something he's always been strong enough to do; we all know it and Sidious knows it, that's why my old Master feared him so much.

Anakin has just been too afraid to try.

The only problem is getting to him before he pushes himself too far and gets lost to the darkness like we did, or worse - killed.

And I'll be damned if we lose anyone else today. Ahsoka is sitting in a corner, heartbroken over the loss of Ti, and all I want to do is save her from anymore heartache.

"Byss or Mustafar." I finished, pausing to eye the room of my friends and family. We got back to the safe house after stealing an abandoned ship from Coruscant.

"Mustafar?" Obi-Wan knitted his brows in confusion, "Why would he go there?"

I sighed as I glanced down to the floor, "He knew Lilith would never step foot on that planet again, nor Anakin." He believed the memories were painful enough to sway them from ever returning there; his words, not mine, "He considers it a safe place from them both."

"We can split up, half will go to Byss, half to Mustafar." Commander Cody suggested.

I nodded in agreement, "Rex, you and Fives will come with me to Byss. Cody you'll be going to Mustafar with Master Yoda and the Mandalorian." I delegated, putting people who I think will be the strongest together. As well as giving each group a force user for proper defense.

"Who put the little pip squeak in charge?"

I glanced up, following the sound of the rough voice. I rolled my eyes when I saw Crosshair leaning in the doorway, glaring at me. He isn't my biggest fan, mainly because he doesn't trust me and my dark past, "This pip squeak is only one inch shorter than you, and I'm probably older seeing as you were recently made via artificially." I snapped, I had zero patience for his attitude right now.

Master Yoda sighed following our small banter, "Knows Sidious best, Cal does."

Crosshair rolled his eyes with a hum, "I wonder why."

The urge to fling him across the room was strong, but I took a deep breath to ease my anger and unballed my fists; just in time for Hunter to enter the room.

"Enough Crosshair," Hunter shifted his gaze in my direction, "Sorry Commander, he never knows when to shut it," The bad batch leader shot his friend a scolding glare, "Him and I are coming with you, Tech and Wrecker will remain here to work on the other clones and keep them in line."

I was biting the inside of my cheek with my annoyed glare still on Crosshair, "That's fine, but Crosshair goes with Yoda, and you come with me." I spun around to walk towards the front door, I didn't want that clone near me anymore than he has to be, "Let's go."

"Are you forgetting something?" Ahsoka was suddenly in my way and I had to pause my steps to keep from bumping into her. She stared up at me with her arms folded across her chest.

I shook my head, knowing what she was waiting for, "Nope." I waved one finger to the side, causing her to slide out of my way.

"Cal," She growled in annoyance as she once again blocked my path, "I'm going with you." She stood her ground with zero signs of her backing down.

I sighed heavily, shaking my head, "No I don't want-"

Before I could finish, her finger was in my face and I had to back up so she wouldn't poke an eye out, "You are not my father, and you are not my Master," She spoke sternly, causing my eyes to widen, "You are just my boyfriend, and just because we-" She paused and cleared her throat, "Doesn't mean you own me and can tell me what to do." She quickly spun on her heels and threw the door open with the wave of her hand, "So I'm going with you to save my Master, and you are not getting in my way." She barged out of the house, stomping her feet in anger as she did.

Obi-Wan cleared his throat awkwardly from the couch, "So I assume I'll be staying here?"

I slowly nodded, brushing away the lingering feeling of fear my girlfriend left behind, "Yeah, you can barely walk on your own." I turned my head to eye his weakened condition. I still felt guilty for doing what I did to him - despite his forgiveness, "But I'll bring him back to you, I promise."

"Alive, preferably." He half-smiled.

He nearly cried with joy when I told him that Anakin was actually alive, but that all quickly went away when I told him what path his former padawan is now falling down following (y/n)'s death.

I half-smiled back, "I'll do my best."

༻✦༺

Anakin's POV
With one shove forward, a wave of energy shot from my hands and blew the doors to Sidious' throne room open. I strutted inside and smirked when my gaze landed on him, sitting in a chair with a similar smirk to my own, "For someone as important as you, you would think you'd have more security measures out there." I pointed my thumb behind me. I've seen about five clones since being here, and they were all the ones that greeted me the second I lowered the ramp to the ship, "Or are you just that cocky."

He chuckled darkly before slowly bringing his wrinkled hands to his lap and resting them there. He seemed unbothered by my presence, if anything, I'd say he looked eager, "Anakin, it's been a long time since I left you for dead," He lowered his head slightly, causing the hood he was wearing to cast a shadow over his amber eyes, "I assume you're here for revenge?" He smiled devilishly.

I nodded, walking closer to him with my hand on the hilt of my lightsaber, "Your assumption is correct, but not for that," I pulled my weapon from my belt and ignited it, "You took (y/n) away from me every chance you got, and now-" I tightened my grip and held back tears of pain and rage, "She's dead and it's your fault." I growled through clenched teeth, my hands shaking.

Sidious's smile only grew, "So much anger, so much pain," He closed his eye momentarily, like he was dwelling in my crippling emotions, "I can feel the darkness, you're becoming everything I wanted you to be."

"Congratulations," I spun my weapon before picking up my pace and strutting closer to him, "It's only going to cost you everything, because that's what you took from me; everything."

My prey shot his eyes open and held his hand up, "Wait," He used the force to stop me in my tracks just when I was only a couple of feet away, "I can bring her back to you." He bargained with a sickening smile.

I shrugged his force hold off of me; he was strong, but right now, I was stronger. I chuckled humorlessly, "You really think your manipulation will work on me? There is no bringing her back!" I shouted with a tears sliding down my cheeks, "I just have to go to her." I whispered.

I plan to do what I was born to do, kill Sidious and bring balance to the force. But I don't plan to make it out of this either, I plan to bring this building down on top of us both when this is over.

He didn't say or do anything as I advanced towards him and swiped my lightsaber straight across his neck. But what happened isn't what I expected, he completely disappeared into a could of smoke.

"Have you ever been curious about the experiences your dead fiancé had to endure?" Sidious's voice echoed in my mind as I spun around, peering at every corner of the room to find him. He was here, I could sense that much, he was just hiding from me like a coward, "You know, the same ones you all opted to ignore and instead shoved unneeded medications down her throat." He cackled.

"Where are you!" I yelled at the top of lungs, anger coursed through my veins and caused my blood to boil.

"Right here Ani."

I froze at the voice, before slowly turning around and coming face-to-face with the love of my life. Her smile was warm and beautiful, and her face was scar and mask free, "You're not real." I spoke aloud to remind myself to believe that. He's in my head just as he used to be in hers, and he's using what he knows is my greatest weakness.

Her smile fell, "Why would you say that?" She stepped a little closer with a look of concern in her (e/c) eyes, "Of course I'm real. He brought me back like he said, I'm right here," She reached her hand forward like she was about to touch my cheek.

"Stop," I backed away and pointed my lightsaber in her direction, "Don't come any closer Sidious, I know it's you, I know it isn't her." I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat.

The figure that resembled (y/n) dropped their hand down with a hurt expression, "Do you not love me anymore?"

She took one step back, prompting me to stupidly take a step forward, "No, of course I-" I paused when I realized I was easily falling into the manipulation. This facade he was putting up was going to be the end of me.

I quickly went forward and slashed my weapon across her torso. '(Y/n)' dispersed the exact same way Sidious did, and the last thing I saw was her appearance shifting into nothing but a skeleton.

"I was always going to kill you Sidious," I slowly turned around to continue searching the room. Seeing her put a heavy feeling on my chest that was close to unbearable, "But now I'm going to make sure it's both painful and slow."

I heard a cackle in my mind, followed by a raspy voice, "I forgot, you don't like to be reminded of your own failures. She's dead, and it's your fault, not mine. I'm not the one who made promises I couldn't keep."

"Stop playing tricks and come out of wherever your hiding and face me." I spoke slowly, my tone dripping with venom, "Or are you scared?" I taunted him.

Just as those words left my lips, all the lights in the room turned off, plunging me into an eerie darkness, "Maybe I just wish to test your skills; my apprentice is dead, I'll be needing another."

I raised my lightsaber and lit up the small space in front of me, "Never in a million years would I join you."

"The color of your eyes, and the darkness within you says otherwise. I can even bring her back Anakin, I wasn't lying about that, all you have to do is join me."

Before I had a chance to respond, a red light was coming straight towards me. Instinctively, I parried the crimson blade and backed away. Only for the light to disappear as quick as it came, darkness overtaking my vision once more.

I slowly looked around the room and tried using the force to aid me in feeling where he was. But it was as if he blocked me off from feeling his signature, he was clouding it from me.

"Ani, how could you leave me behind? I needed you and you weren't there."

The voice sounded like her, but I kept reminding myself that it wasn't, he was only trying to push me over the edge.

"My blood is on your hands."

"I only died so I wouldn't have to deal with you anymore."

"I never even loved you."

"Enough!" I shouted, causing every whisper in my head to disappear and the ground below my feet to shake, "Stay the hell out of my head." I growled, feeling a wall in my mind lift, completely blocking him out. Finally, I felt like my mind was safe.

Again, another red bright light appeared in the darkness, coming down at me from my right. I was able to deflect the multiple swings, and for a few moments I could see Sidious's hooded figure through the shadows.

"Not so easy when you can't read my mind, now is it?" With one harsh swing, I knocked his lightsaber out of his hand. But before I could grab him or go for another strike, a blue light shot through the darkness and hit me straight in the chest.

Immediately I was on my knees, screaming in pain as the electricity circled through my body. Every nerve on my body felt like it was on fire, and soon I was in the fetal position, having no way to fight off this attack now that I was at the mercy of it, "I have other tricks." Sidious chuckled.

Footsteps.

Hurried footsteps were rushing in our direction.

My suffering came to an abrupt stop when I heard Sidious shout, followed by thud to the ground.

Once I had the strength to look up, Ahsoka was standing over me with her hand held out in my direction, "Thought you could use a little help."

༻✦༺
We're so close to the end! ❤️
Maybe 2-3mire chapters; including the Epilogue 😌