Memories: Ch. 15

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Anakin stood with his back to Tenel Ka's. On either side of them were two of the demons, one at each end of the hallway, blocking any hopes of escape. Waves of dark emotions rolled off of them, crashing against Anakin's shields. Pain. Misery. Fear. Loneliness. Despair. Suffering. Guilt. Hate. Sadness.

It was almost as if every dark emotion a human could have was given substance, and sent out into the world.

"Anakin," Tenel Ka said; her voice calm and collected. "Remember what we practiced."

"What?"

"Our practice. Your body should remember how to move."

Then he felt her move away from him, the warmth of her back suddenly disappearing from his. Her steps faded down the hallway, and he was about to turn to look at her when he noticed the demon advancing towards him. The flickering distortion of movement rushed forward.

Anakin snarled and raised his blade, beginning a downwards slice towards the main body of the distortion. Suddenly a pseudopod rippled out from the demon, coming in from beneath him, striking him squarely on the chest. Pain flared across his sternum, as what felt like a huge piston collided with his chest. His eyes bulged as he flew backwards, and slammed to the ground hard, the air rushing out of his lungs as he rolled to a stop. As he struggled to breath against the pain in his chest, the distortion made to move past him. In response, he struggled to his feet.

He watched it as it shimmered in the dim light. Deciding if it wanted to go after Tenel Ka or deal with him. Making up its mind, it struck.

Anakin lifted his blade, and could see tendrils of the distortion wrap around his weapon. Light seem to appear from nowhere, as the demon attempted to pull his blade from his hands. His lips pulled away from his teeth, as he shifted his weight, and spun, bringing his blade down and around his body, slamming the point into the wall behind him.

The demon flowed with his movements, and slammed full force into the wall behind Anakin.

A shock wave from the demon's impact tossed Anakin through the air and he rolled to a stop, panting slightly. The dust slowly settled, and Anakin could just make out an impression in the stone of the wall.

That's it, he thought to himself as he once more got to his feet. I just have to fend it off long enough for Tenel Ka to take care of that first one. Then she'll come and help.

He glanced down the hall and saw Tenel Ka rolling and jumping, her blade a blur as she probed the other demon's defenses.

Then she slashed hard, and rainbow light flickered into existence and then exploded outward, signaling the end of one of the demons.

Then Anakin's opponent reappeared in front of him, slowly advancing towards him. Anakin darted forward, and slammed his blade down at the distortion. He struck one of the pseudopods, and with a flash of rainbow colored light, part of the distortion fell away.

A wave of shock and anger flashed through the Force, buffeting his senses as another pseudopod snapped out from the thing's main body, knocking Anakin from his feet.

He landed on his back hard, once more struggling to catch his breath. Lifting his head, he saw Tenel Ka running down the hallway towards him. A hard expression on her face, and her sword, pulled back, ready for her attack.

A flicker of light, and a pseudopod snaked out towards Tenel Ka. She jumped over the appendage, heading towards the wall. In mid-air her body twisted, and her feet landed against the wall. Her body compressed into a crouch, but before she started sliding towards the floor, she pushed forward with her legs, kicking herself off the wall and up towards the ceiling.

Then she fell, her blade sliding home through the center of the distortion. Where her blade sliced through, rainbow light spilled out. Then it exploded in the shower of rainbow motes.

Tenel Ka dropped to a knee, a pained expression flashing across her face, as she exhaled slowly.

Anakin lowered his sword. "What happened with the other one? Did you destroy it?"

She nodded her head once, as she gulped at the air. "That is a fact."

"I see," Anakin responded. "So, that means there's only one left."

Tenel Ka stood, and then winced. Anakin frowned and took a step forward.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

She glanced down and then away towards the wall. Anakin took another step forward, and looked down as well. On her leg was a deep purple and black bruise, running from her mid-thigh to her lower calf. Frowning, he closed the distance between them, and then knelt to get a better look at her leg.

"What's with that bruise?"

"I do not know," she replied. "I cannot move it."

Anakin scratched as his hair for a moment, and then looked up. "What's going on? A curse from the demons?"

"I do not know," she said, turning her head to look out the window. "I have been like this for a while, but it has gotten worse recently."

As she said these things, Anakin noticed another bruise coming from beneath the armor near her shoulder, slowly creeping down her arm, transforming the normally healthy-colored flesh into something dark and fetid.

Anakin stood up. "Let's go to the medcenter."

Tenel Ka frowned. "I shall fight."

He shook his head, saying, "No, that's enough for tonight. It's a big problem if you can't move. If we give it time, then it will probably just get worse."

Then she winced, and grasped at her stomach, her sword clattering to the ground.

"Tenel Ka!"

She sighed, and unsnapped the fastenings to her leather armor. Anakin stared in shock as she pulled the armor off, revealing her flat stomach and the peach colored halter she wore beneath the green leather. The flesh of her stomach, chest and shoulders was that same dark grey and purple as colored her leg. Then she turned so her back was facing him. It was blackened, the flesh cracked in some places, and as he stared at her in horror, another line appeared in her back. The flesh pulling away from itself, as if her body was fighting itself on some fundamental level.

She turned back towards him, finally looking at him again, fear and pain shining brightly in her eyes. "Anakin... please... help me..."

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Anakin carried his burden up the flight of stairs, surprised at how light she really was. He could feel the heat radiating off her body where it was pressed against his back, where her arms were snaked around his neck, even from where his hands rested on her thighs, and he had to wonder if she normally gave off that much body heat or if whatever was wrong with her had given her a high fever.

He crested the stairs, coming to the small landing where he usually ate lunch with Tenel Ka and Eryl. "This spot should be okay, right?"

He sat her down, leaning her against the wall. "It's the first time we've come here at night," he said as he settled to the floor by her side. "So, what should I do now?"

"You do not have to do anything," she replied. "Just... just be by my side."

Anakin could feel his eyes open wider, not quite able to believe the words he was hearing from her.

Then she continued speaking. "If you stay with me... you will be good bait."

He dropped his head, looking at his hands. And just what did I expect her to be saying?

She turned to look up at him. "What is wrong?"

Anakin looked up from his hands. "How can you say that in this type of situation?" Then he shook his head quickly. "Fine, I get it. I'll be the bait... or their supper, or whatever. So, take it easy for a bit."

She nodded her head. "Thank you, Friend Anakin," she said, and then she leaned in towards him, laying her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

Surprised, he looked down at her, noticing how peaceful she looked. "This kind of reminds me of something, of playing Hide-and-Seek."

She opened her eyes, their grey tones still and peaceful once again. "Hide-and-Seek?"

He nodded his head. "Yeah. The game where you hide, and whoever is 'it' then has to come find you."

Tenel Ka frowned for a moment. "We had to do that here once, but it was because the Shadow Academy attacked the Temple," she said and then sighed. "That was so long ago, back before..."

"Before?"


She nodded her head. "Yes, before."

Then she slowly sat up straighter, staring down the stairs. After a moment, she stood.

"Is it here?" he asked.

"Stay here," she replied. Then grabbing onto the railing for support, she stepped of the landing.

"Don't be stupid," he shot back. "You can barely move in your condition."

"That is why I am using the distance above the floor to my advantage."

He looked at her, frowning, "Tenel Ka?"

Then he noticed movement on the floor below them. A shimmering distortion, as if water was walking around. It moved to the foot of the stairs, and before he could do anything, Tenel Ka had pushed herself off of the steps, her sword raised as she fell. The demon darted up the stairs towards them. Then the two collided. A brilliant flash of rainbow colored light.

Then she hit the ground, rolling a meter or two to a stop, lying perfectly still.

"Tenel Ka!" Anakin yelled as he rushed down the steps, taking them three at a time. "You idiot," he hissed as he dropped the final two steps, falling to his knees beside her. He touched her shoulder, and she started to stir. Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, he grinned at her. "Don't overdo it."

She lifted her head, and looked at him. "I did not get it."

Startled, Anakin raised his blade and then twisted around, just in time for the distortion to slam a pseudopod into the ground where he had been kneeling. The force of the impact threw them both across the landing, slamming them against the wall.

Anakin stood up, even as Tenel Ka leveraged herself into a sitting position. He slowly moved his sword from side to side, scanning the room. "Where is it?"

He took a step away from Tenel Ka, putting her at his back, when she yelled out, "Behind you!"

He snapped his body around, bringing his blade up in an upwards slice. He felt the resistance as his blade struck home, and that shimmering rainbow light flooded his eyes.

The pressure backed away, and Anakin could see the distortion. He placed his sword in a mid-guard. "Come on, I'm the one you want. I'll take you on. Come and get me."

Then he started backing away. The demon advanced. After a few minutes of this, he turned and started running, leaving Tenel Ka alone, leading the demon away from her.

"Anakin!" she called out, "Go to the meditation garden!"

Meditation garden? What's so special about that place, he wondered as he darted through the double doors of the grand audience chamber. They closed with a soft sigh, and he turned heading towards the stairwell. A moment later, the doors blew off their hinges, slamming into the opposite wall. Anakin stumbled as wind slashed down the hallway.

He glanced over his shoulder, and saw the distortion still there following him.

He spun around, bringing his blade back up. A pseudopod slapped out, and struck at his blade. He shifted the weapon, and the creature slammed into the wall, the section where it hit, crumbling into rubble.

Kriff, we'll be lucky to just be expelled from the Order after this.

The demon shot out from the wall towards Anakin, but he ducked, and the demon over shot him, slamming into the floor. Anakin watched in horror as fault-lines appeared in the stonework, and then the floor collapsed.

He jumped backwards, watching as where he had just been standing fell into the darkness of the classrooms beneath his current level.

As his feet touched the ground, the fault-line traced through them, the floor he was standing on, opening up as well, throwing him into the darkness below.

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Anakin landed hard on a student desk in the classroom on the floor below. The wooden top shattered as he slammed down on it, scattering someone's possessions on the floor around him. He groaned and tried to sit up, his back a mass of pain.

Then he saw the flickering distortion again.

He rolled to the left, just as a pseudopod slammed down into the ground where he had been laying. Struggling to his feet, he lifted his sword. "What do you want?"

There was no answer, nor had he been expecting one. The demon began to circle him, throwing chairs and desks against the walls, as it made its track around him. For his part, Anakin circled as well, his feet making small movements, trying to stay in the rough center of the demon's circle, movements designed to always keep his blade pointed towards the flickering distortion of the demon.

He felt something press against his mind, and frowned.

"Wha- you're trying to say something aren't you?"

The Force blasted at him, a wave of unfocused energy which slammed through him, tinged with the demon's ever present despair.

Anakin felt his knees try to buckle, and he struggled to stay upright, shaking his head. "I... I don't understand..."

Then a pseudopod snapped out, and caught Anakin under the chin. His teeth clicked together, and he flew through the air, crashing through the window. He landed on the ground, and rolled a few meters.

He raised a hand to his forehead, and pulled it away to see the blood clinging to his fingers. Then he lifted his head slightly to look around, recognizing one of the meditation gardens.

"The garden? What is so special about this place?"

Then another window exploded outward, and the demon came flying out the window, landing less than a meter from Anakin, creating an impression in the ground as it did so.

Anakin felt around for his sword, and then glanced to the left, seeing it laying there out of reach. "Shavit."

Then the demon jumped on him, and the breath exploded from his chest. His mouth snapped open in a silent scream. The distortion shifted shape, becoming denser and less transparent.

A flicker of motion, caught Anakin's eye and he looked up to see someone jumping off one of the ledges of the Temple. A flash of thin light revealed the presence of a sword, and Tenel Ka's blade connected with the central mass of the demon.

Rainbow light flared around them both, and then Force energy suddenly expelled from the body, driving Anakin deeper into the ground while throwing Tenel Ka through the air.

The demon reared back, lifting its bulk off of Anakin and then shattered into billions of rainbow shards. When one of the shards would touch his bare skin, he could feel a small flare in the Force, a nugget of misery pulling at the back of his mind.

He rolled over, and lifted his head, looking around for Tenel Ka. Finally, he saw her, catched up against a wall, curled into a small ball. Anakin struggled to his feet, and walked over to her, dropping to his knees beside her.

"Tenel Ka?"

Gingerly, he reached out to touch her shoulder as she lay unmoving on the ground. As soon as his fingers caressed her smooth flesh, her eyes snapped open, and she gasped for breath.

"Tenel Ka!" he yelled out, grabbing her into a hug.

He could feel a silly grin on his face as he squeezed her tight. Then she coughed, and he released her slightly, pulling away. She looked up at him with those calm grey eyes of hers. Then she said, "Anakin."

"Yes, Tenel Ka?"

"I am hungry," she responded, her voice even and calm, though softer than she usually spoke.

He barked a laugh, and then placed his forehead against hers for a moment.

"It's all over, and all you can say is 'I am hungry?'"

A flicker of amusement passed across her face, as she replied, "That is a fact."

"Kriff, Tenel Ka," he shot back. "Do you realize just how reckless you were?"

"I want to eat gyuudon."

"Fine," he said, as he chuckled slightly. Then he stood up, holding a hand out towards her, "Can you stand."

She nodded her head, and grasped his hand, using it as leverage to lift herself up. When she was almost in a standing position, she winced in pain and crumbled to the ground again.

Frowning, he lifted her from the ground, and walked her back into the Temple. He went to the second floor, taking her to his classroom there. As they arrived, she looked up at him again, saying, "I am hungry."

Anakin laughed, and set her on her feet, as he shook his head. "Wouldn't you rather go to the hospital and get checked out?"

Tenel Ka glanced down for a moment. She then settled into one of the chairs and then shook her head. "I am hungry."

He sighed, and straightened up. "Fine. You wait here, and I'll be back in a little while with some food. But after that, we're going to the hospital. Understand?"

She stared at him hard, and then her eyes flicked away from him as she sharply nodded her head.

Anakin walked towards the door; as he reached it he glanced back at her, finding her staring out the window once again. He watched her for a moment, and then left the room.

Calmly he walked through the hallways, heading towards the main entrance.

As he stepped out into the night air, a cold wind whipped at his hair, and he glanced up towards the stars. Tonight, he thought to himself. Tenel Ka will be able to go back to being a normal girl.

He grinned at the stars, and then ran down the path to the small shop where he usually purchased the foods he shared with her. Picking up some gyuudon, he ran back to the Temple, returning to the classroom where he had left Tenel Ka.

He pushed open the door to the classroom, and stepped in, calling out as he did so, "Hey Tenel Ka, I got the..."

His voice trailed off as he discovered that the room was empty. He stared at the empty chair where he had last seen her, a frown flickering onto his face.

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "There was still one left."

Dropping the bag of food, he spun around and ran from the class, his feet pounding on the stone floors as he hurried to the hallway where he usually found Tenel Ka.

She was trying to make me leave. To escape, so she could deal with it all by herself.

Suddenly, pain lanced through his head, a lightning bolt of agony. His stride faltered, and he slammed into the floor. Lifting himself up to his hands and knees, he glared down the hallway, once more seeing the familiar distortions of a demon.

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He glared down the hallway as the demon slowly advanced. The pain wavered in his mind, as if someone or something was screaming at him, just above the level that he could hear.

"Are... Are you trying to tell me something?" he ground out between clenched teeth. "S-say it so I can understand."

Finally, his vision wavered, distorting from the familiar hallway, seemingly melting into a swirl of colors. Nausea and vertigo warred against his senses.

Out of the maelstrom, a shadow strode forward. Through the glare of light and color, Anakin could see a feminine form, slight, diminutive, with a familiar walk.

He stood up, his hand instinctively reaching for the wall to steady himself. But when all he could see was the swirling reds and oranges, the sensation of the marble wall under his fingers caused the dizziness to strengthen.

He glared at the form for a moment. "Are you the last demon?"

Black specks flickered in front of his vision, and the silhouette continued forward. Finally, it got close enough to resolve, slowly fading from the darkness, into an almost familiar sight. Red hair. Grey eyes. Copper-toned skin. He blinked his eyes, and glanced up and down at the girl.

She was a few years younger than he himself was, and wore the same type of armor as Tenel Ka. One arm ended just below the elbow in a cauterized stump.

He swallowed, as he recognized her. His mouth opened. Then closed. Finally, it opened again, and words spilled out: "Tenel Ka?"

Suddenly, the swirls of color were gone. He found himself just outside the Temple. Brilliant sunlight poured down upon him, and he glanced up at the yellow-white ball of the sun. Above the horizon, Yavin was rising up into the sky, swirled with orange storms.

He frowned, as he spun in a circle. There was the Temple, but the town that surrounded it was gone. There were no apartment complexes or modern hospital facilities. Just the ancient Massassi structure where he had originally trained.

As he watched, a group of students gathered near the edge of the forest, and his uncle stood among them, passing out helmets. Anakin walked closer, frowning as they seemed to either ignore him or not see him. Two of the students he recognized immediately. One was his sister Jaina and the other was Tenel Ka. They both appeared younger, in the early teens at the latest. The final two students were a tall, lanky Wookiee and a boy with brown hair and the same color eyes as Jaina. This boy looked familiar but Anakin could not place him.

He silently watched as the fought against the remotes. Frowning slightly, as Uncle Luke called a halt to the training when Tenel Ka destroyed one.

Then they separated into pairs, and prepared to spar one with the other. Jaina and the Wookiee went first. There battle was intense and furious, and over all too soon. He frowned as he scratched at the top of his head, trying to figure out just what he was seeing.

Then Tenel Ka and the boy were facing one another. It was almost with a touch of awe that he watched their fight. The boy was cocky, and fought with a flourish and a grin that would do Anakin's dad proud. Tenel Ka was as stone-faced as ever. Her movements precise and controlled.

He felt a presence beside him, and glanced down to see the one-armed Tenel Ka quietly standing beside him. An air of sadness etched onto her face as she watched her other self battle the boy.

Before he could ask her what was wrong, he felt a twinge in the Force, which caused his head to snap back towards the sparing match. He watched in horror as time seemed to slow to a crawl. Tenel Ka began an upward cut with her blade, the boy moving his own in a vertical slice to block. As Anakin watched, Tenel Ka's blade flickered from its turquoise color to a light orange, and then the blade flickered and died. The boy's saber sliced through the flesh of her arm.

The boy's mouth dropped open, and her arm continued the movement it had originally started, Tenel Ka's saber still firmly grasped in that hand. Both hand and emitter continued upward towards the boy's chin.

Anakin quickly glanced down at the Tenel Ka beside him and saw her pain clearly in her eyes and the way she held her hand against the stump of her arm. Then he returned his attention back to the students. As he watched, the emitter of the saber, a tooth of some kind he noted, slammed into the bottom of the boy's jaw. His head snapped back, the emitter turning slightly as it began to fall away.

Then a spark spat out of a crevice of the tooth, and with the familiar snap-hiss the saber flickered into life once again. The meter long shaft of energy emerged out the top of the boy's head.

Jaina screamed and the Wookiee roared. Uncle Luke began to rush forward as Tenel Ka collapsed in shock.

The saber's blade flickered away into nothingness once more, a grey stream of smoke coming from the crevice which had emitted the spark. The hand and the hilt began a journey towards the ground, followed by the dead boy. Then the saber exploded, causing the top third of the boy, the hand and the hilt to flash from existence.

Uncle Luke stumbled to a stop, and stared at the remains of the boy. Jaina had dropped to her knees and was wailing, the Wookiee trying his best to comfort her.

Then the scene was ripped away, the world suddenly replaced by swirling colors, except this time they were purple and black and blue. Dark and filled with despair and melancholy. Lightning flashed within the swirls, and Anakin looked down at the Tenel Ka beside him, noticing her pain. Instinctively, he slipped an arm around her, and the swirls slowly smoothed out, lightening as they did so.

Finally, they resolved themselves into a scene once again. Anakin found himself standing once more on Yavin 4 in front of the Temple.

The shattered remains of the Temple.

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Anakin stared at the shattered remains of the Jedi Temple. The massive base of the Temple still stood, and what he could only guess was the supporting structures. Everywhere else, walls were gone, and what stone remained in place was blackened. The stench of fire and explosives hung heavily on the air. For a moment, he wondered what had happened to the Temple.

Then his guide started walking forward, leading him through the rubble, until they found Tenel Ka pushing at a huge block of stone with her shoulder. He frowned, noting that she was alone as she worked, though the other students he had seen were working in groups of two or three. She was once again dressed in her leather armor, though her hair was left unbraided, instead of the normal braid mixed with beads that would hang down her back, her hair flowed wild and free. Unrestrained. Anakin was not entirely certain which he liked better.

Then he saw himself.

Or at least a younger version of himself, one that was at least five years younger than he was now.

The young Anakin walked up to her, and stared at her back for a moment, chewing at his lower lip. Finally, he spoke, "Hey, Tenel Ka."

She glanced over her shoulder at him, and blinked her eyes a few times. Then without saying a word, she turned away and returned to her task.

In silence, the young Anakin walked up and began to help her. As the younger him helped her push, Anakin noticed that her shoulders were shaking.

Finally, she collapsed to the ground, giving into her tears and grief. Both Anakins stood there in shock, watching as she slowly recovered from her breakdown.

Once she had gained control of her emotions again, she glanced up towards him, and asked, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you not hate me?"

He shook his head, frowning. "Why would I hate you?"

"For the same reason your sister now hates me," she replied. "I killed your brother. I killed Friend Jacen."

The older Anakin's mouthed dropped open, as he listened. He turned towards his guide. "Brother? I have a brother?"

The Tenel Ka by his side stood as emotionless and quiet as ever. Finally, Anakin turned back to the scene in front of him as he heard his younger self speak again.

"Wasn't it an accident?"

"Yes..." she said her voice weak and hesitant. "But it was still my fault. I rushed through building my lightsaber. I did not check to ensure that everything was proper and flawless. I thought the warrior holding the weapon more important than the parts that made up that weapon. My pride killed him."

The younger Anakin shrugged his shoulders, and looked towards the block of stone that they had been pushing. "That may be..." he began. "But you were Jasa's friend. He always wanted to make you laugh. I don't think he would want you to be this sad over an accident."

Tenel Ka just looked at him, not saying anything. The young Anakin turned from the stone, to stare once more at Tenel Ka. After a second, he spoke up again. "Besides, you're my friend, and you always will be. Oh, yeah, since I heard you weren't going to take a prosthetic, frankly, I think that's kind of silly, but I figured out a way for you to still braid your hair with only one hand."

He pulled out a datapad and a long strand of green ribbon, holding both out towards her, saying. "It's all recorded on here, and I brought you a new ribbon to tie into your hair as well."

Hesitantly, Tenel Ka took the datapad and ribbon from him, and her body hitched slightly as she fought against her sobs. "Th-thank you, Friend Anakin." She sat there for a few minutes, looking down at his gifts to her. Then she glanced back up at him. "I... I am going home in a few days. I think I may need some time away from the Jedi. Away from the memories. There are too many demons here for me to stay. Do you understand this?"

Anakin thought for a moment, and then nodded his head. "Yeah, I understand. But don't worry, I'll be here waiting to help you when you come back. That's what friends do for each other, right?"

Then a smile flickered across her face for a split second. A scene which flashed through Anakin's memories. Anakin looked down at the Tenel Ka who stood beside him. Staring at her, as he slowly began to remember Tenel Ka and Jacen and their Wookiee friend, Lowbacca. He remembered their visits to Coruscant. The terrible time in his house after Jacen's death as his father and mother broke down. And finally, he remembered watching her ship as it lifted off, his Uncle standing silently beside him. He remembered telling his Uncle that she thought there were too many demons here for her to stay here.

And he remembered his Uncle's reply: Death is a tragedy... but only for the living. Those who have died go on to other things.

Anakin remembered at the time not quite understanding what his uncle meant. Now, he thinks he does.

As suddenly as the visions appeared, they ended, and Anakin was once more leaning against the wall of the Temple. It was the Temple as he had seen it since returning to finish his training. Frowning slightly, he returned to his classroom, and went to his desk, pulling out the package that Jaina had given to him a few days earlier. He opened it and looked into it for a moment, and then closed the bag, running from the room.

A few minutes of searching and he found Tenel Ka standing in a hallway as she stared out the windows into the night. At the sound of his approach reached her, her head snapped towards him, and she lifted her sword.

Anakin stared at her. The leather armor which exposed the tanned skin of her legs, arms and shoulders. Red hair pulled into a tight braid. Grey eyes that flashed with concern as she saw him. Then he noticed that she had two arms, and for a moment, wondered if the demon had lied to him. Then he noticed that one hand had the skin pulled away, revealing the subtle gleam of a prosthetic.

"Friend Anakin," she said, her voice soft, barely carrying the short distance between them. "Please go away. I cannot protect you as weakened as I am."

"Tenel Ka," he said, shaking his head slightly. "The demons aren't real. They never were. You gave rise to them. You created them. They're a manifestation of yourself. Of your memories from the first time you were here for training."

She looked away from him. "I... I do not understand what you are saying..."

He gestured towards the bruises, and cracked flesh on her body. "That's why it hurts you when you defeat one of them. You're destroying pieces of yourself." He paused and inhaled a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. Then he slowly exhaled before continuing to speak. "The demons... No... You wanted to tell me something. You were trying to make me remember. But I was too hard-headed, you were pouring too much power through them, and I couldn't understand. Until there was only the one left."

A small hand touched his elbow, and he glanced down to see the younger, one-armed Tenel Ka standing there, staring.

The older Tenel Ka stared in shock at her, and slowly lifted one arm, looking down at her hand. At the prosthetic machinery visible through the tear in her skin.

Anakin continued speaking. "Years ago, you were training here with your friends. You were happy and proud. And then something terrible happened. A horrible tragedy. A senseless accident. A pointless death. It was something that haunted you, tortured you. And you ran away. You went home to heal."

"Jacen..." she whispered silently, as she lowered her sword.

"I promised you that I would be here to help you when you came back. Then I lost my memories, so I wasn't here when you did return. So all that time, you were here at the Temple fighting those demons. Fighting yourself and your memories."

"I... I do not know..."

"It's all true," Anakin shot back. He then reached into his bag and pulled out a ribbon. "Here, do you remember this? Today, you will go back to being your old self. Accept your guilt, your sorrow and your pain. Work through it. Acknowledge it, stop fighting it, stop letting it be the ruling factor of your life. If you accept it, then the fighting will end."

He stepped forward, and loosened her hair. Then with a few quick, deft movements, he braided the ribbon into it. He stepped back away from her. "I saw you smile once, just before you left for Hapes. Can you do it again? Throw away your sword, and smile. Be free from your demons."

She frowned, and looked down at her weapon. Then she shook her head. "I cannot throw my sword away, Friend Anakin. I have depended on it for so many years."

"You have to let it go. All of it."

"Without my sword..." she replied, a lone tear slicing down her face. "I am weak. I am a useless warrior. This is a fact. I would just cause problems for my friends. For Anakin and Eryl."

Anakin shrugged his shoulders. "So? That doesn't matter. It's what friends are for. To help you through the problems that you cause. To help you through your problems."

He silently watched her as she considered his words. Emotions flared to life in her eyes, warring with one another. Suddenly, another tear sliced its way down her face.

"Thank you, Friend Anakin," she said, and then she looked up at him. Tears lined both of her eyes, and sorrow and grief and a look of contentment stood out in them, shining brightly. "Thank you... so much."

A smile started to form on his face as she lifted the sword. Then she spun it around, grabbing hold of the blade, pressing its tip to her chest. With a simple drop, she fell down onto the sword, sending it through her chest.

He stared in shock at her for a second, and then dropped to his knees, pulling the blade from her chest and tossing it away behind him. "Tenel Ka! Don't die!"

He grabbed her up, and pulled her into a hug.

Then a soft voice spoke, "Friend Anakin."

He looked up, and through his tears saw the younger Tenel Ka standing there. Sniffing back a tear, he told the shade, "I'm sorry I took so long."

As the room dissolved around them, reverting back to the training fields under the bright morning sun, she shook her head, and said, "It is all right, Friend Anakin. You came back to help me. This time... you will not leave me alone?"

Anakin shook his head. "Of course I won't. I'm your friend."

"You will be my friend, even after everything you learned? Even after... Jacen?"

"I promise," he replied.

She smiled, and behind her, another form took shape. A male shape stepped into sight. Tussled brown hair, brandy-colored eyes, and a soft blue shine surrounding him. He gently touched the younger Tenel Ka's shoulder and smiled at her. Then he looked towards Anakin, and said, "Hello, Little Brother. Still getting into trouble I see."

Anakin stared silently, his mouth opened in shock. Jacen just grinned at him, a lopsided slash of the mouth, and stepped around the demon, kneeling down beside Tenel Ka. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, and then placed a hand on her chest, and one on Anakin's forehead.

Anakin could feel the Force flowing through him, and looked down to see Tenel Ka's wounds slowly healing. He watched as the flesh began to knit itself before his eyes. He glanced up at Jacen's ghost. "Are you healing her?"

Jacen chuckled and gave a quick shake of his head. "No. I'm dead. I can't do anything like that. I'm just helping you direct your abilities."

Finally, he stood up, and tossed a wave to Anakin. "See you, Little Brother. And tell Jaya that Lowie and I say hi."

Anakin could only gape as Jacen dropped an arm around the shoulders of the one-armed Tenel Ka, and turned her around, leading her away from him. As they walked away, the field disappeared, slowly being replaced by the classroom.

As it finally faded from view, he blinked his eyes against the bright morning sun streaming through the windows. He looked down at the sleeping form of Tenel Ka in his arms, and pulled her into a slightly tighter hug. He could feel her vitality and health in the Force, and he sighed.

"Tenel Ka," he said softly. "It's time to wake up, Tenel Ka. Time to wake up from your dream."

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