Bittersweet Devotion [Star Wars x Anakin Skywalker]

35.

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." -Yoda

(Heres a nice vid of anakin I found, to get you in the mood. You're welcome.

As Anakin harshly tugged Rain behind him toward the ship, her mind raced with possibilities. His grip was firm, a constant reminder of his strength, but it wasn't so tight that she couldn't break free if she wanted to. Yet, where could she go? If she ran back to the others, Anakin would follow, and this time, he might not be as forgiving. Running was not an option.

If she allowed Anakin to take her to the Emperor, what then? The Emperor's fury would be fierce. Could she convince him she was still loyal? No, that was impossible now. Her thoughts drifted to Leia and Luke—her children. The truth of their parentage had only recently been revealed, and she felt the weight of that revelation pressing on her more than ever. And Han—Han was trapped in carbonite, a fate he didn't deserve.

She needed to protect them, to keep them safe from the Empire, and to save Anakin from the darkness that still held him. But how?

The answer came to her in a sudden, terrifying realization. It wasn't clear how she would do it, but it was the only way to save everyone she loved. Her resolve hardened, and she stopped resisting Anakin's pull. He noticed the change and loosened his grip slightly, sensing her compliance. As she walked beside him, her expression became one of cold determination.

She was going to kill the Emperor.

* * *

Chewbacca held Leia close, his massive arms wrapped protectively around her as they watched Rain and Anakin disappear into the distance. Even after they were out of sight, he didn't release her, sensing the turmoil within her. When he finally loosened his grip, Leia crumpled to her knees with a heart-wrenching cry, crawling over to the slab of carbonite that encased Han Solo.

Tears streamed down her face as the reality of their situation sank in. Han was trapped, Rain was being dragged back to the Emperor, Anakin was lost in his own mind, and Luke... where was Luke? The truth of her parentage, her connection to both Rain and Anakin, weighed heavily on her. For one of the first times in her life, Leia felt truly lost.

As she stared blankly into the distance, a flicker of light on the carbonite caught her eye. She leaned closer, squinting in the dim light, and saw a small control panel embedded in the metal.

"Chewy, do you know what these buttons are for?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of hope and desperation.

Chewbacca's eyes widened in recognition. He knelt beside her, gently nudging her aside as he examined the panel. With careful precision, he pressed a series of buttons. The carbonite began to sizzle, emitting a low hiss as it started to melt. Chewbacca let out a triumphant growl, stepping back as Han's figure slowly emerged from the melting carbonite.

For a moment, the room was silent, the tension thick in the air. Then, a raspy cough broke the stillness.

"Ugh, what happened? Why do I feel like I've been slammed into a wall a hundred times?" Han groaned, his voice hoarse.