What if Anakin NEVER Turned to the Dark Side?

In Revenge of the Sith, we saw Anakin cut off Mace Windu’s arm, join Palpatine, and become Darth Vader. But what if none of that had happened? In this alternate timeline, we explore exactly that possibility.

After learning that Obi-Wan had faced Grievous, Anakin went to Chancellor Palpatine’s office. There, he discovered a terrifying truth: Palpatine was the Sith Lord they had been searching for all along. Instead of acting impulsively, Anakin went straight to inform Mace Windu, who ordered him to wait in the Council chamber until he returned. Anakin obeyed.

However, this is where our story takes a different turn. While Anakin waited in the chamber, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. Through the Force, he sensed the battle with Palpatine unfolding. As the minutes passed, he felt Padmé’s chances of survival slipping away. He knew that, to save her, Palpatine had to live. So he made a hasty decision and rushed to the Chancellor's office.

When he entered, he was horrified. Right in front of him, Mace Windu held his purple lightsaber to Palpatine’s neck—Anakin’s only hope to save Padmé. Anakin pleaded with Windu to let him live, but Windu refused. For a long time, Windu had believed deep down that he was the true Chosen One, having mastered his anger and emotions. And now, Anakin, the so-called "Chosen One," dared to ask him not to destroy the Sith.

In a moment of pride and clouded judgment, Windu raised his saber to finish off Palpatine. But Anakin used the Force to push him back, stopping him. "It’s not the Jedi way to kill an unarmed man," he said. He knew that because he had made that mistake when he killed Dooku, and he deeply regretted it. He didn’t want Windu to do the same. Furthermore, he asked him again to arrest Palpatine together.

For the first time in years, Windu was impressed by Anakin’s wisdom, and for a moment, he wondered if he had been wrong about him. He agreed. But before they could act further, Palpatine struck them both with Force lightning, sending them to the floor. Anakin got up, ignited his saber, and Windu did too. They knew there was no turning back now: to protect the Jedi Order, they had to defeat him.

Laughing, Palpatine revealed a second saber hidden in his sleeve and leapt back into combat. It was a fight to the death for the fate of the galaxy. From the streets of Coruscant, flashes of red, blue, and purple light could be seen, and the Sith’s lightning and laughter could be felt.

In a precise maneuver, Palpatine struck Windu down, leaving Anakin to face him alone. Wounded, Windu realized this was a pivotal moment for the entire galaxy. Using his Shatterpoint ability, he saw a weakness in Palpatine’s defense. Though he couldn’t fight, he could still help; he threw his saber to Anakin.

Anakin caught it in midair and, with both sabers ignited, drove them through Palpatine’s chest. In that instant, balance was restored. As the Sith fell to the ground, he whispered, "I could have saved her..." Anakin knelt, full of fear and doubt: Had he done the right thing? Only time would tell.

Windu approached and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe I was wrong about you, young Skywalker.” Anakin gave a faint smile, though inside he was still worried about Padmé.

The next morning, Windu called an emergency meeting of the Jedi Council. All members returned to Coruscant. Windu explained that Palpatine was the Sith they had been searching for and that he had orchestrated the entire war to lure Anakin to the dark side. Part of his plan included revealing his identity to Skywalker. But Anakin, loyal to the Jedi, had reported him to Windu and helped arrest him.

Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin died in the attempt. Windu admitted that he had nearly lost himself to the darkness, but it was the Chosen One who saved him and brought balance to the Force. For his bravery, he proposed that Anakin be named a Jedi Master.

The council did not hesitate. Yoda, Obi-Wan, Plo Koon, and the others all rose to honor Anakin, who became the youngest Jedi Master and Council member in history.

At the end of the meeting, Anakin remained seated, confused. For years, he had dreamed of this moment, but now that it had arrived, he felt empty. He knew that Palpatine’s death had taken with it the only hope of saving Padmé. Still, he resolved to search the Jedi Archives for another way. As he stood up, Obi-Wan entered the chamber. He asked why Anakin was alone at such an important moment. Silently, Anakin confessed everything: his relationship with Padmé, his nightmares, her pregnancy, and that Palpatine had promised a way to save her.

Obi-Wan, smiling, said he had always known. It wasn’t his place to tell him to walk away because he knew how happy Padmé made him. All he had ever wanted was Anakin’s happiness. Then, with a serious tone, he asked if Anakin trusted him. “Of course, Master,” Anakin replied. “Then listen carefully: Padmé is not going to die. This was all part of Palpatine’s plan to manipulate you. But now you’re free.”

Anakin moved and embraced Obi-Wan. They didn’t usually hug, but at that moment, it truly felt like he was his brother. For the first time, he felt he had made his Master proud.

On the way to Padmé’s apartment, Anakin reflected. Normally, he would have ignored Obi-Wan’s words, but after everything that had happened, he felt different. More connected to the Jedi than ever. He no longer distrusted them. For the first time since childhood, he felt free.

He thought of Padmé: maybe she would be fine, maybe everything would go as Obi-Wan said. That night, Anakin woke up to Padmé groaning in pain. The bed was soaked—her water had broken. The baby was on the way. Anakin rushed her to Coruscant’s medical center and called Obi-Wan. If there was ever a moment he needed his brother, it was now.

As Padmé was being cared for, Obi-Wan arrived and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Breathe. Trust in the Force. This is a happy moment,” he said. Anakin tried to smile.

Suddenly, a medical droid interrupted them: Padmé wasn’t expecting one baby, but twins. Anakin was shocked. He felt a mixture of joy, fear, and hope. Padmé began to scream. For Anakin, it was like reliving his visions. But before he could react, the first baby was born—a boy. “Luke,” they said. Then came a girl. “Leia,” said Anakin.

They had chosen those names months ago. Though they expected only one, now they had two. Anakin was overwhelmed with joy. He was a father. Padmé, smiling, told him, “I'm okay, Annie. Everything’s fine.” Anakin looked at Obi-Wan and realized his fears were gone. His Master had been right. The galaxy was at peace, and best of all, his family was whole.

As he reflected, Anakin realized everything had been a manipulation by Palpatine. The Sith must have been so powerful in the Force that he influenced Anakin’s nightmares to instill fear. He thought about how despicable the Sith were: manipulative, selfish, and power-hungry. But now he had a son to teach and a daughter to love endlessly. Padmé and the children were safe. At last, they could live the life they had always dreamed of... if the Jedi Council allowed it.

Upon leaving, Obi-Wan told him there was still one thing left to do: he had to tell the Jedi Council the whole truth—that Padmé had given birth, that he was the father, and that they were married. Anakin understood, but said that would have to wait. His wife needed him more than ever.

The next morning, Anakin requested a meeting with the Jedi Council. He told them everything: his relationship with Padmé, the birth of Luke and Leia, and how much she meant to him. He explained that although the Jedi Code forbade attachments, Padmé had always made him a better Jedi. She had always supported him and wanted what was best for him.

Then he looked Yoda in the eyes and asked if he could remain a Jedi Master while maintaining his relationship. Yoda sighed, but before he could speak, Mace Windu intervened. He told Anakin that allowing that would break a thousand-year-old code and go against everything they stood for.

But Windu didn’t stop there. He said that maybe those same strict rules had blinded them to who Palpatine really was. That they had been manipulated for so long out of pride and ego. Windu then looked at Yoda and requested that Skywalker be allowed to remain a Jedi Master, married to Senator Amidala. “He saved me,” he said, “and now I must return the favor.” Yoda nodded. The rest of the council agreed. Anakin could stay.

That same night, Anakin received a call. It was Ahsoka, who had returned to Coruscant after defeating and capturing Maul. Anakin was impressed and met with her. They talked for hours. He told her everything: about Palpatine, about Padmé, and that the Council had accepted him. Ahsoka was surprised. She had never seen Anakin so happy. It made her reconsider her decision to leave the Jedi Order years ago. Maybe the Order had changed. Maybe it was the same one she had loved as a child.

But that didn’t matter now. She wanted to meet the Skywalker twins. So, they went together to Padmé’s apartment. When Ahsoka saw the babies, she was emotional. Then Anakin held out his hand: “Ahsoka, when Leia is old enough, she’ll need a teacher. Would you train her?”

Ahsoka was stunned. It was an honor—but she also knew what it meant: she would have to return to the order and train Leia as a Jedi. She thought about everything Anakin had done for her. He had always supported her, even when she was expelled from the order. After reflecting, Ahsoka accepted. She wanted to pass on everything her Master had taught her.

They embraced. It was time for Ahsoka to face the Order she had once rejected. She returned to the Jedi Temple and requested an audience with the Council. She asked to rejoin the Order and take the Jedi Trials to become a Knight.

The Council deliberated and concluded that she was not yet ready. But then Plo Koon intervened. He rose from his seat and requested that, until Ahsoka was ready, he would take her as his Padawan and train her. The Council agreed. Ahsoka was once again part of the Jedi Order, as the apprentice of her old friend Plo.

Years passed. Life couldn’t be better for the Skywalkers. Padmé was the new Supreme Chancellor. Luke and Leia grew up training with Anakin’s closest friends: Obi-Wan trained Luke, and Ahsoka, now a Jedi Knight, trained Leia.

Anakin’s relationship with Windu also improved. Though he had given him the title of Master, Windu knew Anakin still wrestled with his darkness. So, over the years, he taught him the Vaapad combat form to balance his light and dark tendencies.

Anakin grew stronger than ever. He even came to consider Windu a friend. Ten years had passed since Palpatine’s death. Everything in the galaxy seemed in balance.

Or so they thought… Somehow, Maul had escaped.