https://youtu.be/RPYMHWeY9L4

3rd person

Evil is everywhere. 

Evil destroys, tortures, corrupts.

Evil is loud, but it is also silent.

...

Good is everywhere. 

Good creates, heals, inspires.

Good is benevolent, but it is often passive.

Good versus evil...

On that fateful day, as the military-industrial factory on Irisella met its end...

Which triumphed?

Good, or evil?

Anakin POV

After successfully repelling the Rainbow Dragon, I jumped ship, diving into the sea of fire.

Luckily for me, the ocean wasn't boiling.

Gliding underwater, I jetted toward the general direction of the isle. 

Eventually, I surfaced. 

As I waded through the shallows, I used the force to fashion a path through the infernal landscape.

Even the beaches were ablaze; their sands had been blackened with pollutants prior.

Finally escaping the flood of flames, I wiped the sweat off of my forehead. 

"R2, I'm ready for pickup." I informed the clever little astromech, speaking into my wrist communicator.

"Beep boop beeeeeep." R2 acknowledged.

With a quick skyward glance, I easily identified the aethersprite up in the clouds, headed for my current position.

My little blue buddy was as clever as ever.

'Good.' I thought to myself, kicking the sand.

I needed to return to the factory as soon as possible... Obi-wan was probably already upset with me.

Suddenly, I caught wind of a distinct sound...

The sound of footsteps on sand, hundreds of them.

Turning around, I spotted a stampede of Umidori barreling toward me.

Sea-green skin... black, abyssal eyes... sharp, serrated teeth...

"Woooooooo!"

"Yeeeaaaaaahhhhh!"

"Woooohoooo!"

They cheered and hollered...

The children reached me first. 

"How did you do that? The flame-push thingy...!"

"Teach me!"

"Do it again!"

They immediately crowded around me, pulling at my robes and armor.

Charming, but I was short on time.

"Easy there..." I voiced, holding back a toddler as he attempted to gnaw one of my metal fingers off.

Suddenly...

"Mister Jedi!" I heard a youthful voice call out.

"Athina...!" I stated out loud, seeing the wheelchair-bound girl from earlier; her brother wheeled her so that she was in front of me.

The one-eyed kid stared at me for a good bit, looking up and down as she scribbled on a piece of paper on her lap.

Still  keeping tabs on R2, I witnessed my buddy begin his descent.  

As the aethersprite deployed its landing gear, jets of hot air blew over me, courtesy of the thrusters. I even felt my robes drying.

Turning back to my congregation of onlookers, I did my best to flash a cheery smile. 

The warm looks I received in turn melted my heart. 

Something about these people just... resonated with me.

"Thanks, Mister Jedi... for everything." Athina hissed, reaching out to hand me whatever she'd been sketching.

It was me.

I think it was me anyway. The sketch definitely portrayed a Jedi.

"There's no need for thanks. You should have never been forced into this situation in the first place..." I commented, downplaying the praise. "And stop calling me 'Mister Jedi.' My name is 'Anakin.'"

"Alright." Athina cackled.

As the cockpit to my starfighter opened up, I hesitated.

All the faces around me... I could tell that there was so much more they wanted to say.

There was so much more I wanted to say as well, but...

I had to go.

"Stay alive." Levi hissed, squinting at me.

"Don't worry about me, kid. No one can kill a Jedi." I asserted confidently, hopping into the pilot seat.

As my starfighter lifted off the ground, the Umidori gave me a spirited send off.

https://youtu.be/pSjGAlbcOfg

'No one can kill a Jedi.' I echoed, mentally quoting my younger self once more.

I shook my head.

Flashback

"Crackle."

"Crackle."

The flames popped and sputtered.

Within the blaze, the faint outline of Qui-Gon Jinn was still visible.

"What will happen to me now?" I asked Obi-wan. 

The newly knighted Jedi was draped in long, flowing brown robes. 

"Council have granted me permission to train you. You will be a Jedi, I promise..." he vowed, slightly nodding his head.

I turned back to the bonfire, watching as the flames licked over the Jedi's body... slowly consuming him.

My face contorted as I suppressed the urge to cry.

Around me, the Jedi in attendance were stoic and unmoving.

Stone-faced... like statues.

End Flashback

That day, as I stared at the pyre, I finally understood my naivety...

I realized that Jedi weren't the invincible heroes I'd thought them to be.

Then, ten years later... I realized that I wasn't either.

Flashback

"Stay with me, mom...!" I begged, tears leaking from my eyes.

"I... I love..." she murmured, her strength waning.

Before concluding her last words, she went limp in my arms.

End Flashback

...

Never again.

I would never let that happen again.

...

Mom...

Qui-Gon...

Their deaths had one thing in common...

The council's pride.

If they'd only let me free my mother earlier...

If they'd only listened to Qui-Gon, setting aside their self-importance...

They would both still be alive.

Still... I couldn't ignore my failure, at least not in the case of my mother...

I could have... I should have saved her...

After all, if I couldn't... then who could?

I was supposed to be the fastest, the strongest, the most powerful of them all...

The Chosen One...

I laughed to myself, mocking the idea.

No... I was just lucky.

No... not even that.

I would've been luckier to be born into a wealthy family on Coruscant.

...

I was low on fuel...

As I zoomed across the hellish seascape, I thought of my closest loved ones, imagining them as ghostly apparitions among the flames.

Obi-wan...

Ahsoka...

Rex...

Padme...

To protect the people closest to me, I had to gain more power.

...

Without warning, my instincts bombarded my senses, urging me to proceed with caution...

Danger!

Gripping down harder on the throttle, I increased my aethersprite's velocity twofold...

Obi-wan, Ahsoka, my other allies...

I sensed that they were in grave danger.

Suddenly...

"BOOooOOOOOOOOOOooOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"

Like a collapsing star, the factory forcefully detonated.

Athina POV

Far across the burning waves, the factory erupted into a brilliant blaze.

The flare of light was so intensely bright, I had to look away.

Then, Mister Ryoshi caught my eye.

Utter shock reflected off of his abyssal, glassy eyes. 

Finally... his jagged teeth morphed into a satisfied, toothy grin.

Before turning his back on the disaster, he tipped his wide-brimmed hat toward the devastation.

As the old captain walked away, he spat out his cigarra.

Anakin POV

Spotting a lone vulture droid fleeing from the burning wreckage, I cursed myself.

This was my fault. 

"Obi-wan! OBI-WAN!" I shouted into my communicator, desperate for a crackle... any indication of life.

"I'm here, Anakin..." my master suddenly responded, sounding dejected.

"...You had me worried for a second there, master." I replied, breathing a sigh of relief. "Is Ahsoka with you?" 

"Yes, but..." Obi-wan trailed off, his spirits dampened.

"What is it?" I demanded, the knot in my stomach reappearing.

"Anakin... Master Luminara... she's gone. Grievous got to her before he escaped." Obi-wan solemnly informed me. 

...

My mind immediately went to the day prior.

Flashback

"When Master Rancisis's seat was vacated... Master Kenobi wasn't the only one considered to take up the mantle." Luminara divulged suddenly.

I paused, requiring a moment to decipher her veiled language.

"Then... you were approached as well?!" I checked, understanding the gravity of her subtle confession.

"I declined." Luminara answered shortly, confirming my hunch. "My younger self would have been honored, but... I'm no longer captivated by such things as status."

"Sorry... are you really Master Luminara?" I inquired jokingly. 

Despite my outward lightheartedness, I was truly bewildered by everything she was saying.

Her tone, it was too relaxed... too open. 

She didn't sound like her usual self.

...

A long silence passed... Luminara was lost in thought.

"Back on Geonosis, when I thought we'd lost Barriss and Ahsoka... I admonished you. I criticized you for your concern." Luminara stated, saddened.

"That's a bit harsh... you cared as well, right?" I noted, remembering the exchange.

"No, Skywalker... I've been reliving that ordeal for many months, and I see now that you were right. I gave up too soon, that can't be called caring." she responded, strongly denying my exoneration.

"Maybe, but... in all honesty, I do think you had a point." I begrudgingly admitted, recalling the experience.

Ahsoka and Barriss, crushed beneath the factory rubble on Geonosis...

I'd been so angry, so terrified at the thought of losing Ahsoka.

"Look at your padawan now." Luminara advised unexpectedly, pointing at Ahsoka and (y/n), who were talking.

"What am I supposed to be looking at?" I asked, confused. 

"It hasn't even been a year, but... look at how much she's matured. In such a short span of time, Ahsoka has grown more level-headed, more attentive... she's also becoming a good leader. Her teacher must be first-rate." Luminara complemented.

I couldn't hold back a grin.

"Yeah, he must be." I agreed.

Luminara laughed, then she continued.

"You're even letting her go off on her own... willingly. I misjudged you, Skywalker... whatever unbreakable attachment I saw within you, it's gone now." Luminara affirmed, giving me a nod of respectful admiration.

"Definitely." I acknowledged, secretly knowing the shaky validity of her claim.

...

Luminara was lost in thought again.

Within her, I sensed profound regret.

"I think I've been too hard on Barriss... I've realized that now. I tried to educate her as I experienced it, but... the war hasn't been kind to Barriss. The old ways just don't seem to be working the same, I... I just don't know anymore. I'm so... lost." Luminara confessed, her language chaotic and indecisive.

"But you do care for your padawan." I supported strongly.

Luminara nodded confidently, appreciating my encouragement.

"From now on, I want to focus on Barriss... revitalize her training. Yes... a fresh start, as master and apprentice..."

As the sun drifted across the sky, we talked, and talked, passing by our remaining downtime as the captain prepped his polypwood ship.

As the two of us came to an understanding, I found a new respect for Master Luminara. 

Her words had touched me.

Genuinely.

I think maybe we both had the right idea.

Before boarding the huge, ancient vessel, I turned to Luminara one last time.

"If we're lucky, Grievous won't have brought along an underwater super tank." she added humorously, shaking my hand.

"Let's hope not." I replied, flashing a smile.

End Flashback

"No..." I exclaimed in disbelief.

"Boooop..." R2 beeped sadly.

I shut off my communicator, focusing on the barely-visible vulture droid in the distance.

Violently clamping down on the throttle, I shifted into overdrive.

The starfighter's sublight engines screamed, quickly burning through the remaining fuel cells.

My hands shook with sorrowful rage. My lip quivered.

As I climbed higher into the sky, I glared at Grievous's faraway, tiny silhouette.

I opened my mouth.

If not for the dampening effect of the cockpit, my pained, anguished cry would have echoed beyond the horizon.

A roar that could have splintered the sky.

But... the scream was confined entirely within my starfighter.

As the last of my spacecraft's energy was consumed, its engines died out.

Grievous POV

As I soared off into the storm, I witnessed that single, annoying Jedi starfighter tumble from the sky.

Skywalker.

Sidious would be displeased if he were to perish...

Well... if he happened to die, it would be to no fault of my own.

Why was Sidious so obsessed with Skywalker?

I rubbed my cybernetic chin. 

After a moment of thought, I dispelled the matter from my conscious.

It was of no concern to me. Only one thing mattered...

Sidious would show me that future... after all, I wouldn't have degraded myself into becoming his lapdog otherwise.

Despite my endless legions of troops, despite my keen intellect, despite my brilliant battle strategies...

I knew that I couldn't kill them all. The Jedi were far too powerful, far too numerous.

However, Sidious...

Sidious had a plan.

I was sure of it.

(y/n) POV

Beside the factory's molten ruins, five Jedi, as well as two clone troopers, floated amongst the ocean's currents...

Beaten, battered and defeated.

Beyond the horizon, the seven of us witnessed Anakin's starfighter plummet from the clouds.

Eventually, it crashed into the ocean, at which point Ahsoka started to swim in her master's general direction.

Master Kenobi promptly grabbed her boot, holding her back.

"Ahsoka... you won't make it that far. Trust Anakin... his starfighter floats, he'll be fine." he ordered.

Accidentally ingesting a mouthful of salt water, I started coughing and retching.

Thankfully, Durasteel Strength had a pool. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to swim properly.

Taking a glance at my master, I saw that she was completely detached from our surroundings.

Lost in thought...

Lastly...

Barriss floated alongside the body of her master.

Suddenly, we locked eyes.

"She couldn't speak... she couldn't even speak her last words to me." Barriss sobbed, her tears coalescing with the expansive body of water.

Later

https://youtu.be/UpeZou5xQpg

By the time we alerted the blockade, Grievous had already jumped to hyperspace.

The slimy general escaped... again. No thanks to me.

Fortunately for us, Captain Ryoshi quickly organized a search party.

Eventually... the ocean's fiery fury dissipated, simmering into calm.

The captain's mighty vessel found us not long after.

Then, we guided the old sailor to Anakin's water-bound aethersprite.

At that point, the dark clouds overhead had reached their limit.

Thus, the rainstorm began...

My spirits had been dampened already. 

With the monsoon, they became drenched.

Within the torrential downfall, rain, sweat, and tears became indistinguishable from one another.

...

Captain Ryoshi agreed to return us to the landing point. He was surprisingly enthusiastic about it.

Well, maybe it wasn't so surprising.

When I asked the aged seafarer how his people would carry on, he gave a condensed, four-word response.

"Take after our ancestors."

Adi POV

So as to shelter from the rainfall, most of us moved below deck. 

Only three stayed... my padawan, Padawan Tano, and Skywalker.

I shivered, water dripping from my sodden robes.

Holding my head in my hands, I attempted to sort out my chaotic thoughts.

The operation had been a colossal failure.

My protegee would be blaming himself, undoubtedly.

Unfairly.

The blame was squarely on the shoulder of us masters.

'Master Luminara...' I lamented, glancing at her body, draped in cloth.

I willed myself to stay composed.

"Hahaha!"

I heard the giggles of two umidori children, playing.

Observing the tykes, I saw that the object of their attention was a wooden doll.

The pink doll was carved fully out of polypwood, complete with a long, sword-like weapon in one of its hands.

...

A Jedi doll.

As I continued to reflect, alone, I lost myself inside my conscious.

...

Internally, I found myself asking the same question... over and over.

Did we leave the planet of Irisella in a better state than when we arrived?

Ultimately, I concluded that we did...

But, I also concluded that it was to no credit of our own.

(y/n) POV

Anakin, Ahsoka, and I sat abovedeck, albeit far apart from one another.

Surrendering to the downpour, we became one with the water.

Then, suddenly...

I spotted a chromatic, luminescent reflection on top of the nocturnal waves.

Whipping around, I focused on the factory ruins, still barely visible behind us.

And there it was...

Atsuminagi, perched atop the desolate foundation.

The beast spread its glorious wings, its hide beaming in the dead of night...

Like neon lighting in the depths of the Coruscant underworld.

"GUURRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!"

The Rainbow Dragon let out a vociferous, victorious roar that might've even created a ripple in the waves.

"Splash!" 

"Splash!"

"Splash!"

The sound of splashing caught my ear, causing me to look over the vessel's edge.

Where there had once been a thick, noxious layer of pollution, there was now...

Life.

The cured ocean was now teeming with life.

Gradually, we passed through the colossal coral forest once again, eventually reaching the landing point.

Burst POV

The Umidori looked so much more different than the species I was used to, but...

As a clone, diversity of appearance was a welcome change.

As we huddled below deck, I found myself surrounded by families.

Fathers, mothers... children.

It reminded me of a conversation I'd had with Rex earlier.

https://youtu.be/vp8tjpLAEfA

Flashback

"General Gallia, General Windu... they're so cold, so distant... I assumed every Jedi was the same." I stated. "Your General... Skywalker... he's different."

At the same time, I pictured Commander (l/n) alongside General Skywalker.

They were both different.

"He is." Rex agreed strongly. "When I was a rookie, and my squad filed in front of the General for the first time... do you know what he said?"

"What?" I asked, curious.

"'If any of you happen to... leave my sight during battle, I'll just write you off as a casualty.' That's what he told us." Rex quoted, nodding.

My eyes widened, instant comprehension washing over my face.

"He didn't say that." I alleged, skeptical.

"He did, Burst. I didn't understand what he meant at first, but it looks like you do. Which means..." Rex trailed off, suspecting my true thoughts.

"You got me." I admitted. "Rex... when the war finally ends, what will happen to us?  Haven't you ever wondered that?" I pleaded, hoping for some common ground.

"I have." Rex answered plainly. "I guess I'll find out when it happens."

"I want to believe in the republic I was bred to protect, yet... the more battles I fight, the more I find myself wondering... who is this war really for? Who does the republic serve, really?" I questioned, disillusioned. 

"It's not unusual for us veterans to have those thoughts." Rex observed.

"I'm tired, Rex. I'm just... tired of it all." I confessed, strong emotions leaking into my speech. "I'm tired of watching my brothers die in my arms, I'm tired of having the same nightmare, over and over, and I'm tired of being the one who lives through it all."

I paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"Better, brighter men than me have died. The only reason I'm still here is because I can kill, I can destroy, and I can do it well." I growled through gritted teeth. "I don't want to fight for peace anymore... I just want peace of mind."

"Then leave the army, find the life you're seeking. The galaxy is a big place... there must be somewhere out there where you can find peace." Rex suggested, much to my surprise.

Our conversation had ventured into unknown territory.

"I don't think clones can do that, Rex." I contended, doubtful.

"I met a brother who did it." Rex shockingly revealed. "Cut is his name, yeah... he lives on a farm, has a family too."

...

My preconceptions had been shattered.

I was unsure of how to continue.

"Then, Rex... why are you still here?" I pressed, pushing the spotlight back to Rex.

"Because my family is here." Rex affirmed. "I still have my doubts about this war, but the brothers and friends I've met mean everything to me." 

"It's the same with me." I admitted, remembering commander (l/n). "But... I don't want to keep going, not anymore. Does that make me a coward?"

"No, I don't think that's cowardly... not anymore. It takes courage to walk away from what you know." Rex decided after consideration.

"Yeah..." I reluctantly agreed, thinking of Slip.

"Do your duty, Burst... whatever that means to you." Rex urged, hitting me with a rough slap on the back.

...

In such a brief span of time, Rex opened my eyes to what I thought was impossible.

So many new possibilities...

So many paths I could take...

I still wasn't sure.

...

"Do you have the nightmares too?" I asked, finally breaking the silence.

"I don't think there's a brother who doesn't." Rex confirmed grievously.

"Lately, they've been even more intense." I divulged.

End Flashback

https://youtu.be/r6Qbbyc1eLc

(y/n) POV

As soon as our transport arrived to pick us up, I isolated myself within a private quarters.

Barriss did the same.

"Knock knock."

After a while, I heard a knock on the door.

"Hey... can I come in?" Ahsoka requested. 

She was more disheartened than I'd ever seen her.

"Sure." I accepted.

As the shuttle skyrocketed into to the air, Ahsoka and I sat next to each other in silence.

"Barriss is... she's as you would expect." Ahsoka voiced abruptly.

"Who wouldn't be?" I asked rhetorically.

Suddenly, Ahsoka gripped my hand, a gesture I accepted.

Then, to my shock...

Ahsoka burst into tears, crying into her free hand. 

Her sobbing persisted over several minutes, eventually being reduced to a light whimper.

All throughout, I gripped her hand, staying with her until she'd let it all out.

"Do you still believe what you said earlier, about the Umidori...?" Ahsoka pried suddenly, wiping off the last of her tears.

Considering the matter, I thought back to Grievous's unexpected monologue.

I thought back to the state of the planet, of the village...

I thought back to my misconceptions about the people living there.

"No..." I stated strongly, peering out the window at the beautiful planet. "Nobody should have come here..."

"Somebody should have stopped them." Ahsoka added, her eyes still red.

"Yeah..." I trailed off, unenthusiastic. I wasn't really listening anymore.

"I'll give you some space..." Ahsoka offered, to which I nodded.

After giving my hand a quick squeeze, she exited the compartment.

Left in silence, I was finally able to curse my failures... alone.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

I repeatedly drove my fist into the metal wall.

The pitter patter of rain masked the banging sounds.

Master Luminara was gone...

Barriss was devastated, her future uncertain...

All because of my pitiful lack of power.

If I'd only been faster...

If I'd only been able to pull Master Luminara down...!

Any other Jedi, any other padawan would have been able to do it.

I shouldn't have come...

...

Maybe I wasn't cut out to be a Jedi.

...

No...

I needed to take after Grievous.

'I've been thinking inside of a box this entire time.' I concluded.

Where brute force didn't cut it, I would have to use my head.

Trickery.

...

As the shuttle rose above the stormy clouds, something outside the window promptly grabbed my attention.

A mystical, breathtaking sight.

Irisella's sunlight shone through the scattered raindrops.

As the glare penetrated the water droplets, it refracted. 

The result?

A prismatic arch of light.

Like ribbons of color, layered on top of one another.

Was this what they called a... 

"Rainbow?" I muttered to myself.

Indeed. A double rainbow, arcing across the sky.

Red... orange... yellow... green... blue... indigo... violet...

The hues were so radiant, I could have sworn they were shining through the window...

Illuminating the compartment...

Wait...

Colorful light was flooding the compartment, but it wasn't coming from the window.

I plunged my hand into my robes, fishing out the green kyber crystal I'd pocketed earlier.

The sharp, precious stone was no longer green. 

Moreover, the kyber's luminosity had spiked; it gleamed brilliantly... like a beacon.

The crystal radiated every color imaginable, shifting hues every few seconds.

Holding the ethereal jewel between two fingers, I lifted it above my head.

It fluctuated a few more times, before settling on a single wavelength of light.

Clutching the gem in my fist, still overwhelmed by my emotions, I resisted the urge to cry.

...

The crystal had chosen me.

A small victory.

Later 

https://youtu.be/9ZBihl6gk4c

Barriss POV

Jedi Master Luminara Unduli... dead.

As soon as the news got out, a traditional Jedi funeral was coordinated.

Hundreds of knights and masters congregated within the temple pyre room.

The room was packed.

Grand Master Yoda, Master Windu, Master Fisto, Master Shaak Ti, Master Gallia, Master Kenobi, Master Koth, Master Piel, Master Mundi, Master Plo, Master Tiin, Master Billaba...

The entire high council was in attendance.

They were motionless, as well as emotionless.

Cold, dry... exactly like my homeworld.

I felt the tears welling up, but I forced them down.

We stood in silence for what felt like an hour...

Honoring my master's memory...

Just as she would've wanted it.

'Master... what were you trying to tell me?' I thought to myself, downcast.

I would never know.

Finally, her veiled body disappeared into the floor.

The ornate hatch was sealed, and a brilliant beam of yellow light shot up from the floor.

Meaning... my master had already been cremated. She was now... one with the force.

Supposedly.

With the ceremony over, the attendees began filing out.

Ahsoka and (y/n) stood close by me for a long while.

Eventually, they too made their exit, but not before whispering some words of assurance into my ear.

...

That left Master Skywalker and I.

Master Skywalker's gaze hadn't left the location of my master's body, not even after she disappeared from view...

...

With the watchful eyes of the council gone, I allowed myself to cry... ever so slightly.

Why...

Why did my master have to die?

I knew the answer... 

General Grievous sought vengeance, and my master had been in the way.

She was barely a knight when she was sent to Kalee.

It wasn't her mistakes that led to this.

The council was to blame.

'They started all of this.' I thought to myself, my blood boiling.

Suddenly, I shivered.

An invisible, twisted, evil aura enveloped me.

At first, I perceived it to be a consequence of my negative emotions.

My fear, my anger... my hate.

Most of all... suffering.

Then, I realized that the dreadful emotions I sensed weren't my own.

They were Master Skywalker's.

Without warning, he put a hand on my shoulder: a final attempt at consolation. 

He looked me in the eyes.

His brow was furrowed.

"The war, the pain... the suffering... one day, I'll put an end to it all." he declared, resolute.

As the Jedi Knight walked away, his hood cast a shadow over his facial features.