Epilogue

Twenty years later

Anakin watched anxiously as Luke fought ferociously against the Sith Lord. His son's green blade slashed against the red blade of his opponent, who, despite his age and seemingly feeble appearance was slowly gaining the advantage over the young padawan. It was all Anakin could do not to interfere, but he knew that he mustn't. This was Luke's moment, his test. And Anakin had every confidence that he would pass.

Luke pressed forward, forcing the Sith backwards. Anakin held his breath for a moment as Luke flipped over his foe, and then disarmed him neatly.

"Good," the Sith taunted, "Your hate has made you powerful. Use your weapon, I am unarmed. Strike me down, Skywalker, and you will know more power than you have ever dreamed possible. The powers I offer you can make you even more powerful than your father."

Luke shook his head, his exhaustion clear to all present. He hesitated barely a moment before he turned off his lightsaber and tossed it aside. "Never," he declared. "I'll never turn to the Dark Side. You've failed. Am a Jedi, like my father before me."

At once the Sith dissolved and disappeared, as Anakin smiled broadly. He stood up as the lights in the Hall of Knighthood came up, and one by one each of the Council members rose to their feet as well. There was a brief moment as the Masters conferred silently. The only sound to be heard was Luke's breathing as he caught his breath after the grueling last portion of his trial.

Luke stood in the center of the room, watching as one by one each of the Masters produced their lightsaber and ignited it. His father was the last one to do so, and stepped forward to meet his son in the center of the room. Anakin's eyes shone with tears of pride as he walked towards Luke, who looked up at his father with obvious adoration. There was nothing the young man wanted more than to make his father proud, and at this moment, he knew that Anakin was prouder of him than he had ever been.

"Step forward, Padawan Luke Skywalker," Anakin said, assuming the formality of his station as Luke's Master.

Luke stepped forward until he stood in front of his father. Anakin brought his lightsaber up and moved it over Luke's right shoulder, and then left shoulder. "By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee, Jedi Knight of the Republic," Anakin said as he used his lightsaber to slice his son's padawan braid off. He took it in his hand and handed it to Luke, who took it with a smile. There was no need for words between father and son, for their psychic link was so strong that they could hear one another's thoughts as clearly as though they were speaking aloud.

I'm so proud of you, Luke. I knew you would make it.

I couldn't have done it without your help, Dad.

Anakin smiled, and then put his hand on his son's shoulder. He turned to the rest of the council. "Honored Masters, I present to you Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker," he said.

Although it was highly unusual to do so, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi started to clap his hands. He had known the boy his entire life, and was almost as proud as Anakin that Luke had made it through the trials. It wasn't long before the other masters joined in his applause. Somehow conventions didn't quite matter so much at this point; Luke Skywalker was the first Jedi Knight to be born of a Jedi Knight, and as such, represented a new age, a new era for the Order and for the Republic.

"Come on," Anakin said to his son. "I know at least a few people who are anxious to congratulate you."

Luke grinned. "I bet," he said as his father put his arm around his shoulders.

"Congratulations Luke," Obi-Wan said as he came over to shake Luke's hand. "Very impressive."

"Thank you Master Obi-Wan," Luke replied. "I can still hardly believe it's really over," he added, looking down at the braid of golden hair in his hands.

Obi-Wan smiled. "Yes, I remember feeling that way myself," he replied. "Before we know it your younger brother and sister will be taking the trials as well," he added.

"Well, there's a few more years to go before either Qui-Gon or Shmi are ready," Anakin said. "They're still pretty young."

"Yes, but they're Skywalkers," Obi-Wan pointed out.

Anakin smiled. "True," he admitted. "Are you coming tonight?" he asked Obi-Wan.

"I wouldn't miss if for anything," Obi-Wan replied. "I'll meet you there later."

Anakin nodded, and then left the Hall with his son. Outside in the corridor were Luke's seventeen year old brother, Qui-Gon and fourteen year old sister, Shmi. Upon seeing their older brother, they ran over to him, checking for his braid. When Luke held it up for them with a grin, they both tackled him with hugs. Anakin watched with a smile, the pride he felt for his eldest son filling him.

"Let's go you three," he said at last. "Your mother is waiting for us."

Leia looked up from the datapad she was working on when she heard the door to her office open.

"You ready to go home, sweetheart?" Padmé asked her elder daughter.

"Almost," Leia replied.

"I wonder how Luke did," Padmé said as she took a seat in front of Leia's desk.

Leia focused for a moment on her twin, and then smiled. "He made it," she told her mother.

"Are you sure?" Padmé asked.

Leia nodded. "Absolutely," she replied. She herself had postponed her own Jedi training for the past year in order to serve as a senator in the Republican senate. Padmé had been recently elected as Chancellor, and so Leia had welcomed the opportunity to work with her.

Padmé smiled. "I don't suppose I should be surprised," she remarked. "He's wanted this for so long."

"Yes he has," Leia agreed. "I'm so proud of him," she added with a smile.

"So am I," Padmé agreed. "They'll be returning to the house; let's go so we can meet them there. That report can wait."

Leia looked up at her mother. "You don't think the chancellor will mind, do you?" she asked.

"No, not at all," Padmé replied with a smile. "Let's go."

That evening a grand celebratory party was held at the Skywalker home. Relatives from Naboo had been invited, as well as friends of the family and, of course, members of the Jedi Council. The large terrace behind the house had been decorated and tables set up so that the guests could enjoy the fine summer weather.

Anakin and Padmé were mingling with their guests when Leia walked in with a man that looked rather familiar to Anakin.

"Who is that man with Leia?" Anakin asked his wife.

Padmé looked over to where Leia and the tall, dark haired man were congratulating Luke. "Oh, that's the young man that Leia has been seeing lately," she said. "You remember? He's the personal pilot of the Corellian ambassador."

Anakin nodded, smiling as he remembered where he'd seen him before. "Han Solo, right?" he asked.

"Yes, that's right," she replied. "You know him?"

"Well, I did," he told her. "In a different reality."

"What do you mean?" Padmé asked. "You mean you saw Han in the future?"

Anakin nodded. "Yes, he and Leia were in love," he told her. "I told her that if they were meant to be together that Destiny would bring them together somehow."

Padmé smiled. "Looks like they're meant to be together," she remarked.

Anakin smiled. "Yes, so it seems," he agreed. "Let's go and say hello to our future son-in-law," he suggested.

Padmé's eyebrows shot up. "Son-in-law?" she said. "Were they that close?"

Anakin nodded as he watched Luke walk over to greet Han, with whom he had already become quite close. "She went up against Jabba the Hutt to save Han's life," he told her.

"Yes, that's right," Padme remembered. "Seems you changed his destiny as well," she commented.

"Yes, for the better, I assure you," he replied. "Somehow I don't think he'd be quite as receptive to my experience as Luke and Leia were," he remarked.

"No, I don't think so," Padmé agreed.

Anakin took her hand. "Come on," he said. "Let's go say hello."

Han Solo grew nervous when he noticed Leia's parents approaching. While he'd met Padmé, he had yet to meet Anakin. What do I say to Anakin Skywalker? He thought anxiously as he felt his palms starting to grow sweaty. Leia sensed his uneasiness and looked up at him.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Looks like your dad is coming to check me out," Han replied.

Luke and Leia exchanged an amazed look.

"I don't think you need to worry about our dad, Han," Luke assured him. "He already likes you."

Han frowned and looked at Luke. "What are you talking about, kid? I've never met the man."

Luke smiled, and glanced at Leia. "Well, actually…"

THE END