Anakin's POV
"Is he alright?" I heard Bail Organa ask.
"Yes, although he was slammed into the wall numerous times. There has been no lasting harm done." A medical droid informed.
"Hey, Anakin. I believe this is your lightsaber. Obi Wan gave it to me when he dropped you off here." Organa said.
As I opened my eyes, the turquoise walls adorned with abstract paintings came into focus. For the first time in 2 months, I felt relieved. Organa was standing by my bedside.
"Hey, take it easy, Anakin! Palpatine slammed you against the wall countless times during your duel. Even if you made it out alive, you still got a bunch of bruises." He said as he helped me sit up in bed.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"We're at my house. Do you remember what happened on Mustafar?" Organa proceeded to sit on the bed.
"Y-Yeah...I remember killing Palpatine and his band of idiots..." I started. "How's Obi Wan?"
"He's okay, he's been preparing for the memorial ceremony, which takes place at noon today."
"What about Ahsoka and the others?"
"Ahsoka's in good shape, although she's a little traumatized about her duel with Kihara. Turns out the two of them were friends. Padme is at her parents' house, resting. Her time in the death camps was an ordeal for her. They're watching over the kids, too. Would you like some coffee?" Organa handed me a steaming mug of coffee.
"Yeah, thanks." I took the mug from his hand.
"Lux and Rex are okay. They're preparing for the memorial ceremony. Clay, however, wasn't lucky. His ship was blown up by the Imperials." Organa continued. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Clay. He was fiercely loyal to the Republic.
"And Will?" I saw Organa look down for a minute.
"...Anakin, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Will...kicked the bucket."
"He...did?"
"Unfortunately. He was killed by a bomb, along with Luminara Unduli, Barriss Offee, and some others." Organa admitted. I took a minute to pay my respects to those who fell during the Battle of Mustafar. Master Luminara and I got along pretty well. I still remember that time Obi Wan and I rescued her from the Geonosian queen.
Despite the amount of hostility I had for Barriss, I couldn't help but feel sad about her death. Sure, she bombed the Jedi Temple and blamed Ahsoka for it, but she wasn't the Sith apprentice we were looking for. Then, tears came to my eyes as I thought about Will. William Neisee, one of my best friends in the whole galaxy...gone. Sure, when we first met, we wanted to kill each other, but after I learned about his tragic past, I couldn't help but sympathize with him. Since then, we've been there for each other...until last night. Thoughts of Will, along with horrors I have seen in the last two months...the deaths of families, the fall of the Jedi Order...it was too much for me to take. I buried my face into Organa's shoulder and cried.
"I know, Anakin. It's always sad when someone close to you dies...but death is a natural part of life. Someday, you'll go, too, and you will see him again." Organa rubbed my back.
"You believe there's an afterlife?"
"Oh, yes. Some Jedi can come back as Force ghosts and communicate with the living world. But I'm not so sure about non-Jedi."
"He needs resting." The medical droid informed.
"Okay, but we won't be needing your services anymore. Good day." Organa issued for the droid to leave. "And Anakin, we should be making our way to Coruscant. The memorial ceremony should be taking place soon."
"You mean to say I'm going to the memorial ceremony?"
"Yes! They're gonna bury the fallen of the battle. You might as well pay your respects to Will."
---
"I've got good news for you," Organa announced when he was preparing to leave Alderaan.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah. Immediately after the Battle of Mustafar, I was sworn in as Chancellor of the Republic."
"Good for you! But what about your wife?"
"Oh, I talked it over with her, and she understands. The galaxy needs someone fit for the job in order to restore it to its former glory. But don't worry. I'll be able to visit her."
Obi Wan's POV
"Welcome to the memorial ceremony of the Battle of Mustafar, and we thank you all for coming. First, we will start off by the burial of those who fell in the Battle of Mustafar." The announcer introduced. Yoda, Ahsoka, Lux, Rex, Mia, and I were sitting on the higher ground, overlooking the entire event.
"Here they come," Lux muttered under his breath. Four-legged beasts came in, carrying the coffins containing the bodies of those who died during the Battle of Mustafar. The bodies of Padawans were in their Jedi robes, their expressions peaceful, their hands folded. The corpses of Jedi Knights followed. Barriss Offee was among them. Her arms were staying stiffly by her sides, and she was wearing a beautiful lacy black dress that covered all of her body.
The bodies of Jedi Masters who fell in battle came in sight. Luminara Unduli was among them. She was cloaked in a simple white dress that went down to her ankles. There were even flowers on her head. I bowed my head for a minute to say my last goodbyes to her. She was a good ally. Sometimes, she, Anakin, and I would laugh about the time we rescued her from the Geonosians.
"There he is." Mia pointed to the last coffin. Will looked peaceful in death. He was wearing a snow white dress shirt, ironed pants, and dress shoes. His hands were folded, and he was holding a rose in his hand. I bowed my head again to pay my last respects to him. I dreaded the moment where I would have to tell Anakin what happened. Speaking of him, where is he?
"These people who fell during the Battle of Mustafar died fighting the good fight. They died in order to secure the freedom we have achieved. So let us not forget them and their good deeds. Without them, we would still be in a reign of terror." The announcer noted.
"Barriss..." I heard Ahsoka sob.
"And there are those who have risked everything they have in order to ensure a better future for future generations and have lived to tell the tale. Will those of you sitting on the stage please stand up." The announcer continued. All of us aroused from our seats.
"This is a little awkward," Mia said.
"These people who are with me on stage played a major role in the Battle of Mustafar, whether it be storming HQ, fighting the Imperial Navy, or liberating the death camps. Will Masters Yoda and Kenobi join me please." The announcer requested.
"Captain Rex." I summoned. Rex made his way to where we were.
"Captain Rex, fought for Skywalker, you have, and showed true loyalty, you have, during the reign of the Empire. And aided in the rescue of Senator Amidala, you have, so present you with this medal, we do." Yoda said as I put a gold medal with the words Galactic Hero, First Class around Rex's neck and shook his hand. He looked shocked that he was getting an award.
---
"Lux Bonteri, you helped in the liberation of Onderon during the Clone Wars and became the Senator of Onderon. On top of that, you aided Ahsoka Tano in the rescue of 15 younglings from the death camps right before the Battle of Mustafar and helped rescue Senator Amidala. And for that, we present you with this medal." I wrapped the medal around Lux's neck and shook his hand. He looked rather surprised.
"Mia Mircada," Yoda called. Mia walked up to us just as Lux was taking his seat.
"Mia Mircada, you have helped the Jedi numerous times during the Clone Wars and helped in the liberation of the death camps. On top of that, you survived a duel with Palpatine, which not many people can do. For that, we present you with this medal." The announcer put the medal around Mia's neck and shook her hand. Mia kept a straight face the entire time.
---
"Ahsoka Tano, you have fought alongside Anakin Skywalker as his Padawan during the Clone Wars and worked to prove your innocence when you were accused of bombing the Jedi Temple. On top of that, you played a major role in the fight against Palpatine. Sometimes, you worked together with other Jedi to decipher Palpatine's motives. You singlehandedly saved Padawan Petro from certain death at the hands of a red beast on Geonosis, and stood up to your friend, Kihara Mekugna, who was the new Sith apprentice. Of course, those aren't very easy tasks. It takes a great deal of courage to do anything as difficult as those." The announcer began.
"You also worked to protect the Jedi on numerous occasions, like when you hid the younglings inside a secret chamber in the Jedi Temple. You also forgave Barriss Offee for her wrongdoings, even though most people find it hard to do so, and more importantly, you helped preserve what was left of the Jedi Order. And for that, we not only present you this medal, but invite you back into the Jedi Order, not as a Padawan, but as a Knight." I concluded as I wrapped the medal around Ahsoka's neck. She smiled a little bit.
"Oh! Sorry for being late! Traffic was bad." Bail Organa interrupted.
Anakin's POV
"Oh, Anakin. Just in time. We were just about to give you an award." Obi Wan said.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. Now, if you would step over here..." He gestured for me to take a step forward. The announcer grabbed a medal.
"I missed the burial, didn't I?" I whispered to Organa.
"Unfortunately," Organa answered. I sighed and took my place in front of the announcer.
"Anakin Skywalker, you trained Ahsoka Tano during the Clone Wars and stuck by her side when she was accused of bombing the Jedi Temple. You also played a very important role in the fight against Palpatine. First off, by killing Emperor Palpatine, you have destroyed what remained of the Sith and brought balance to the Force. Not only that but after 2 months of exile, you came back to Coruscant, where the remaining Jedi saw you as a leader. Despite knowing that everything you had was at risk, you took it upon yourself to lead the Jedi into battle, where they scored victory." The announcer began.
"You also fought against your long-time fear of losing those you love. Sure, you first submitted yourself to Palpatine in hopes that he would help you, but you learned quick enough that he was not to be trusted. And you did save most of your loved ones, and that was by fighting Palpatine, not to mention the rescue of your wife. And for that, we would like to present you with this medal." Obi Wan concluded as the announcer put the medal on my neck. It said Galactic Hero, First Class. Ahsoka gestured for me to turn around, and so I did.
It took me a while to catch on. People were genuflecting, some even kneeling. I even turned around, and the people on stage were doing the same. I couldn't believe it. People were respecting me for defeating their oppressor. Sure, I was just a guy doing the right thing. I'm just...ordinary Anakin Skywalker. Nothing special, unless you count being the Chosen One special.
"Not only do we present you with this medal, but we would like to promote you to the rank of Jedi Master, for you are more than ready." Obi Wan added after a while. Me, a Jedi Master? Two months ago, I would've been ecstatic. But after all that I've been through...being Palpatine's advocate, having nightmares of my friends dying, witnessing Order 66 and the Battle of Mustafar, going into exile out of fear...I've had enough trouble for a lifetime, honestly.
"No, thank you," I said, and I left with people watching my every move.
Obi Wan's POV
"He's more than ready to be a Jedi Master, and yet he rejects it. Hmmmm." Organa noted.
"I don't blame him. He has a family." I added.
"A Jedi who strays from the path of a typical Jedi and instead chooses his own path. Anakin Skywalker, what a guy." Organa said.
"Let him go, you must, Master Kenobi, for choose his own path, he can." Yoda chimed in.
"He's gonna be a great father. I just know it." Ahsoka let a smile invade her face.
I couldn't help but feel happy for Anakin. He was finally going to have a normal life at last. To me, he was a brother, perhaps closer. All these years, I've come to know him as the brave Jedi who valued friendship and trust above all. But there's one thing I'm going to regret, and that's how much I will miss him.
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Author's Note: 2 more chapters to go! Can't believe this story's almost over! I'm a little sad about it, but I can't wait to work on my next story! May the Force be with you!