"The Trial of the Spirit!"
To pass the Trial of the Spirit, apprentices had to look deep within their souls, on a quest of self-discovery. This test was designed to pit a potential Knight against their most dangerous enemy: the darkness within themselves.
While Anakin had known of his darkness but he had not really been confronted about it, he considered this as a sign that he has control over it.
On Ilum he was faced with both sides of the extreme versions of himself, the one totally dedicated to the light and the other, totally dedicated to the dark.
This process would be personal, so they would not be able to broadcast something like this. Anakin would not like to do so, but thankfully he would just be entering a meditative state of being to complete this trial.
That is what or how it is usually done anyway.
"I am afraid to inform the crowd that while the Trial of the Spirit is being done, there would not be much action to see." The announcer continued. "In fact it could take a few hours to complete depending on the Padawan in question."
"So for now, I will hand over what will be happening next to the Jedi around here. To see their opinions and the opinions of others within the crowd about what has taken place." The announcer said.
"Of course we will not be doing just interviews but will be setting up various shows to entertain the people as our protagonist of this event goes through his fourth trial." The announcer finished here.
The ultra-personal details of the test, it is one that not even the High Council dare dictate.
A Padawan must write the script for what will transpire on the journey. Because of the dangers of such deep meditation, a Master was always present to help guide a student back after they pushed them past where they least desired to go in their thoughts.
The worst that could happen following a failed trial is awakening from meditation screaming and mentally broken.
Anakin was seated within the spotlight but for now the cameras would not be on him, or at least would not be focusing on him as he is supposed to meditate. While meditating, instead of coming across any hidden devils within, what he instead discovers is a weird link.
A connection between himself and Aayla.
He is otherwise quickly drawn away from this however because of another pull from within towards another direction.
This leads to the him discovering shatterpoints within himself showing multiple versions or timelines of events that could happen and one of them showed him being attacked. The figure that was revealed to him was of the dark side, that much he could make out.
His features however were lacking and he could only see that it was a male of some kind, everything about him was twisted to the extreme.
'Well, I guess the events going to take place within the next hour or so will be interesting.' Anakin thought to himself.
[]
Meanwhile within the crowd of spectators, the three girls of whom had become close to Anakin during his stay here as a Jedi were conversing amongst each other.
People within the backdrop were also discussing various things. The business moguls, the politicians and even the Jedi from young and old seemed to be having a good time.
"When will Ani be finished?" Ahsoka said to the other two within their small group.
"Well, at this rate he could be going on for another hour simply because he has to do meditation." Aayla spoke having the authority over the three due to the age and rank difference.
"I think he will finish faster." Barriss responds to no one in particular, but what she was really doing was directing this towards Aayla in an attempt to prove she supports Anakin more then she does. Childish but it does get her point across.
Aayla is not unaware of her supposed competition, but she doesn't think she would have any. Considering she was obviously the better choice of course, but why would these two Jedi, whom are known to be against stuff like this even show this kind of behavior.
They dont, but it is subtle enough that an exchange happens between the two while Ahsoka is none the wiser.
While the three were having their conversation, moving over to another two people who were also discussing some things.
These two being the Jedi Masters Qui-Gon Jinn and Mace Windu.
"What do you think?" Mace asked.
"What do I think of what?" Qui-Gon answered with a question.
"How has our young apprentice been doing so far?" Mace answered back with a clarified answer.
Humming to himself before continuing, Qui-Gon says. "His performance so far has been very good, excellent if not perfect in his approach." Qui-Gon says thoughtfully.
"He was almost a match against Master Yoda, the boy is definitely something." Mace speaks about Anakin's lightsaber prowess.
"You have taught him well, Master Windu." Qui-Gon compliments.
"Well, I believe we have both taught him well." Mace replies.
Qui-Gon just nods at this comment before continuing. "Going back to the topic of whether or not I believe Anakin has done a good job, I would say yes. In my opinion he could still work on a few things but it would seem that he has mostly surpassed us."
Mace also thinks the same way and responds. "Yes, that is a good summary of how I feel about the subject."
Again, as these two Jedi Masters were having their own talk about the current event so too was Palpatine stewing within his own thoughts. His own plans, actions and his current predicament of having to entertain those around him.
'Stupid politicians and corporations trying to come in on my scheme.' Palpatine had been here for the entire event cataloguing Anakin's progress and was pleasantly surprised by the boys talents.
'He will most definitely make a good Sith apprentice.' Palpatine thought to himself as he was staring rather intensely at the meditative form of Anakin.
Every now and then he would be bothered but within the Force he was trying to work his way in. To see if he could gather any readings on the boys current progress within the Trial of the Spirit. He was looking for a way to infiltrate and maybe influence the boy some more.
He has already created enough reason as is, why not try and create more?
Palpatine doesn't second guess his decisions and would likely go through with his plan to fully take Anakin under his metaphorical wings.
"Supreme Chancellor, I was hoping to meet with you and..." Someone was talking to him as he needed his full concentration on another task. Palpatine needed to multitask doing multiple things at once.
Also given that the Jedi are there he would be unable to make any progress at all, as he could alert them to his presence. Not that they would be capable in actually finding him, given his ability to maneuverer around them for so long.
"Yes, yes. I am sorry to inform you but I am currently very busy right now. Now if you may leave me alone." Palpatine answered in his best diplomatic voice.
"Oh- Why- Well- Of course Supreme Chancellor, I would never interfere with your... business." The random stranger said interpreting correctly that Palpatine wanted to be left alone right now.
[]
Approximately 15 minutes had passed by and everyone was still relatively engaged in the event. Most were by now off doing their own things waiting for Anakin to awaken from his slumber but what everyone didn't know was that he was done already.
In fact he hadn't even started because he never needed to but it was not like anyone else would know of this. He was supposed to basically record what had happened and then pass it down to someone to evaluate his performance.
Such a basic method of grading but it at least respects an individuals privacy... Ok, it did not really respect it when a person was forced to recall and even explain in detail what had happened to them to someone above their position.
'At least the Jedi tried, I guess.' Anakin's experience on Ilum would account for this trial but he didn't know how to explain to them what had happened.
He could lie, just as he was going to do now but he had wanted to, at least at that time keep it a secret because it involved other things. He wasn't thinking at the time of this consequence because he got greedy yet again, which lead to his current problem.
At least it was not as if he wouldn't be able to fabricate something for the Jedi High Council.
Anakin pretends to exit his meditative state and everyone is confused because the projected timeline was meant to be around at least an hours time. He begins writing on the given notebook about some fabricated Force vision event and he stole the originals vision.
In doing so he wouldn't really be lying when he says it is his vision.
After this, the next trial would now begin. "Ladies, folks, gentleman and everything in-between we have finally arrived towards the final event. The finale." The announcer says.
"The fifth trial known as the Trial of Insight." The announcer continued. "The Trial of Insight was the last test offered as part of the Trials of Knighthood."
"Installed in the Trials program after noting that, while a Jedi could take down a Sith, they could be undone by common thieves, this test helped a Jedi to see what was really in front of their eyes through use of the Force."
"Young Padawan Skywalker will have to see through illusions, evaluating an individual's true persona." The announcer was still speaking.
"To complete the test, Padawans were forbidden from reviewing any of the possible puzzles in the Jedi Archives; such an advantage would make the test moot."
"Through the Jedi of Old, the Trial might require a Padawan to analyze and decipher the High Riddles of Dwartii, or decode broken text in scattered files. Sometimes, a field of stones would be laid out on the Trials Chamber floor and a Padawan would be forced to locate the single grain of sand amongst it."
The announcer finished with. "Today, for the entertainment and amusement of the people, Padawan Skywalker will complete all versions of this trial."
Anakin was faced against the first test where he would have to analyze and decipher a puzzle but not one of the High Riddles of Dwartii but through the combined effort of the Jedi High Council, and a few other Jedi Masters was a suitable puzzle created.
After having completed this Anakin would move on to the next test which would require him to decode some broken texts scattered within some files.
He would also go on to complete this within a speedy timeframe while simultaneously still keeping the audience interested, especially because the last test would determine if he could advance in rank and become the youngest Jedi Knight within the Jedi Order's history.
The announcer was continuing his job quite well. "Now our hero will have to enter his final test where a field of stones have been laid out before him. Amongst this entire field he is to locate the single grain of sand amongst them."
Anakin thought to himself. 'These old Jedi trial methods are something else, in fact why do the current Jedi even keep the tradition of the trials.'
For Anakin, the Jedi High Council had wanted to scourer through their records to create something to test him and they decided to modify the methods of old. Considering everything about Anakin, his traits, his abilities and his genius above his peers and even those older than him, they had to do something.
The Jedi couldn't ignore his fast rise.
'Now to finish this boring situation, lets wait until the mysterious attacker appears.' Within the Force Anakin knew his time was nearing when he would learn the identity of the attacker within his vision.
A minute had passed and he had already identified the grain of sand but he was intentionally waiting for what is to happen next.
Knowing that the time was right, Anakin stepped forward in the direction of the grain of sand. Out of nowhere a devouring darkness bursts through one side of the room going directly towards him but Anakin dodges to see the monstrosity.
'Its John Doe...' Anakin thought to himself as he was barely able to make out the things Force signature. After the transformed John Doe made his entrance, the room erupted into chaos and the broadcast was meant to be cut off but Palpatine had his own plans in place.
Some other people similar in their transformed state followed after John Doe attacking anyone they could see. It would seem that John Doe was the only one with some semblance of sanity left.
The Jedi had things mostly under control but it would seem that people were being blocked off from getting close to him. 'Palpatine sure does know how to make it dramatic.' Anakin thought to himself.
"Skywalker~" John Doe's voice had become more ghoulish and demonic suiting his now new appearance.
"I dont think I ever actually called you by your actual name." While everything was chaotic, Anakin could take this time to speak to the guy. "I believe John Doe may be more appropriate for your situation now more than ever."
"Skywalker~" John Doe just continued in his sluggish voice before leaping towards him with his red lightsaber ignited and fully ready to burn him.
Anakin takes a few steps back to dodge the blow before igniting his very own lightsabers, and with only one activated given he wants to take a more defensive position for now.