For the second time that day, the council was assembled. Many masters were unaware of what was happening, but Master Yoda had summoned them all.
"You must take your seats, masters," Yoda said, standing, and they all obeyed. "It is time," Yoda said, and the doors opened.
Before the confused gaze of all the masters, except for Obi-Wan, Anakin walked hand in hand with Senator Amidala, and the two young people who had come from the future were met by Han outside.
"What does this mean?" Mace Windu asked, watching Anakin take the senator's hand. Was what he had long suspected true?
"We must listen to them," Master Yoda said, smiling at the newcomers. This somewhat calmed Anakin.
"I've come here to confess that I've broken the Jedi Code," Anakin said, and Obi-Wan looked at him supportively. "And I'm not sorry for it."
"How have you broken the code, Master Skywalker?" asked Master Mundi, who already suspected, while Master Fisto watched intently.
"I married Senator Padmé Amidala Naberrie at the beginning of the Clone Wars," he said, and before the surprised masters could say anything, he pulled Padmé closer to him. "I love her, we're married, and that's not all," Anakin began.
"That's not all?" asked Mace Windu, visibly annoyed.
"Padmé is pregnant," Anakin said, watching Master Windu frown. "With twins," he finished, and Master Windu closed his eyes; he hadn't been wrong.
"Luke and Leia," I presume, Master Fisto said with a smile.
"That's right," Anakin said, confused. "Luke and Leia are our children. They have been sent from the future to change it."
"Are you willing to accept what it means to have violated the code?" Master Mundi asked.
"Yes, I am, but first we ask to be heard," Anakin said, and everyone nodded.
"If you'll allow us, we want to be the ones to say it," Luke requested, and they granted it.
They told the story of the future and of Vader. Everyone looked at Anakin apprehensively until Yoda interrupted and explained that this would no longer happen. Master Fisto looked at Anakin with a smile before leaving the chamber.
"Do you really think that future won't happen?" Mace Windu asked incredulously. "Skywalker will become Vader, he'll destroy us all," Mace Windu said. "We weren't wrong, love leads to the dark side."
"You can't judge Anakin so harshly," Padmé said, who until that moment had remained silent.
"Angel," Anakin whispered, trying to beg her not to make things worse. He was prepared to accept his fate.
"No," Padmé said, stepping forward. "Anakin has fought bravely in the Clone Wars. He has proven that he will fulfill his duty. Did any of you suspect he was married? Has he committed any imprudent acts in the name of love? He has served and defended the Republic," the senator said, and no one could argue with her.
"Vader's birth is not my father's fault," Leia said, speaking beside her mother. "Vader was created through Palpatine's deception, and not only Palpatine's, but also this council's," Leia said harshly.
"Leia," Anakin whispered.
"Leia is right," Obi-Wan said, rising to his feet. "The decision I must make now will be the most difficult of all. I myself have judged Anakin harshly on numerous occasions, but I am proud of him. I have seen how he has borne the weight of being the Chosen One, and on Mortis, I saw how he was willing to sacrifice everything to fulfill his duty."
"You only say that because he was your padawan," Mace Windu said.
"I trust Obi-Wan's words," Master Mundi said.
"Skywalker's fate should be put to a vote," Master Shaak Ti said.
"Before that vote, there's something else I must say," Obi-Wan said, and Anakin looked at him, confused. Yoda, however, smiled. Anakin urged him not to, saying it wasn't worth sacrificing himself for him, but Obi-Wan walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I, too, have broken the code," Obi-Wan said, and silence fell over the room. "I haven't decided on a date yet, but I will marry Duchess Satine of Mandalore," he said, and everyone looked at him in surprise except Yoda.
"What does this mean, Master Kenobi?" asked Mace Windu, the most faithful to the Jedi code.
"What you just heard. I, too, have broken the code, and I hope my fate will be decided just as Anakin's has been," he said, standing beside his former Padawan. "You may come in," he called toward the door, and Ahsoka walked confidently inside.
"Ahsoka?" Anakin asked, confused.
"I also broke the code even before I ceased being a Padawan," Ahsoka said, and everyone listened. "I formed a bond with my master despite it being forbidden. I love him like a brother, almost like he's my father," Ahsoka said, and Anakin looked at her, moved. "I'm not ashamed to say it, nor do I believe it will pose a danger to the Jedi or the Republic. As you've seen, love, whether romantic or fraternal, doesn't lead to the dark side."
"How can you say that when you're just a Padawan?" Windu asked.
"I'm 900 years old, Mace," Yoda said. "Despite being the oldest of all, I don't consider myself wise," he said, and Mace Windu looked at him thoughtfully.
"I'm 900 years old, Mace." "That's not all," Ahsoka said, knowing her master would be furious. "I'm in love with Lux Bonteri, the son of a former Separatist senator who died." She glanced sideways at Anakin's reaction; he was frowning at her, while Padmé stroked her arm, telling her not to be upset. "I love him, and even though my feelings aren't reciprocated, I haven't fallen to the dark side," Ahsoka said, standing next to Master Kenobi, avoiding his gaze.
"Interesting events have transpired today," Master Shaak Ti said thoughtfully.
"You're not the only ones with something to say," Master Fisto said, returning to the chamber.
"Where did Master Fisto go?" Mace asked.
"I've broken the code too," Master Fisto said, and everyone could have sworn Mace Windu rolled his eyes.
"I've broken the code too." "In what way?" asked Master Mundi.
"You may come in," smiled Kit Fisto, inviting Jedi Aayla Secura inside. She entered, both nervous and brave.
"We are in love, and we will marry at the end of the Clone Wars, if we survive," said Master Fisto, taking Aayla Secura's hand.
"What a surprise," said Anakin, looking at Aayla.
"Some of us aren't so obvious, Skywalker," said Aayla, winking at him, making Obi-Wan laugh.
"Anyone else who's broken the code?" asked Mace Windu as Yoda observed everyone with a smile.
"I think we should leave that door open," smiled Kit Fisto. "I've invited many people who might have a lot to say."
To everyone's astonishment, dozens of Jedi entered one by one to confess to having violated the code after witnessing the tender kiss between Skywalker and Senator Amidala. After Master Fisto invited all those who had something to say, they had finally mustered the courage to confess.
Many confessed to having formed bonds between master and padawan, bonds of brotherhood, and even romantic relationships. Some confessed to being married, and some even had children they had hidden because they were Force-sensitive. By then, Mace Windu was speechless with amazement, while the other masters could only smile; they had been too blind.
"I'm sorry, Mace," said Obi-Wan, "but I think that's not all."
"Is there still more?" Mace almost shouted, making everyone laugh.
"Is there more?" "We're receiving multiple calls from Jedi Masters who are on missions."
"Let them talk," Master Mundi said.
One by one, the calls from Jedi cruisers began to arrive. The holograms showed Masters confessing their fraternal bonds with Padawans, their marriages, their relationships with members of the Senate, among many other things. The word had spread since Anakin's kiss with the senator.
"I'm willing to hear anything," Mace Windu said when calls from distant systems began to come in.
They were former Jedi who had left the Order, others who still remained, and even Padawans who called to confess their ties to the enemy. They had formed bonds with members of the Separatist Senate, but not even that connection had distanced them from their duties as Jedi, nor had it led them to pass on valuable information.
"Obviously you weren't the only Master Skywalker," Master Mundi smiled.
"I don't think so," Anakin smiled.
"The first to speak, certainly you were," Yoda smiled, and Anakin thanked him with a look.
"I think everything has been said," Master Shaak Ti said. "Mace Windu will speak on our behalf. I believe his mood is the most solemn." She joked, and Mace glared at her.
"There's not much to say," Mace Windu said. "Nor a vote to cast." Everyone listened in astonishment. They had expected to be expelled or sent to other jobs.
" "We must reform the code. Love is not the enemy we thought it was," Yoda smiled, and Mace nodded.
That was a change no one had expected. Finally, only Anakin and the council remained in the chamber.
"You've earned a place on this council, Skywalker," Mace Windu said somewhat hesitantly and unconvinced. Anakin smiled. He had hoped for this for so long, when the chancellor's words echoed in his mind, but now it was different.
"I can't accept it, Master Windu," Anakin said. "I haven't earned it. Until recently, I was just a Padawan. My battle experience is extensive, but I lack the wisdom necessary to fill the position you're offering me. I still have much to learn," Anakin said, and Obi-Wan looked at him proudly.
"I thought the rank of Master was what you wanted," Master Windu said, surprised.
"Perhaps someday, when I'm swayed by the Chancellor's words, but it's not what I truly want, nor what I deserve."
"I think it's time we explained our plan against Palpatine," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin outlined their plans in great detail. Everyone listened attentively and could hardly believe how astute Senator Amidala was.
"You'll have to feign displeasure with the council," Master Mundi said. "Perhaps an argument in front of the Chancellor."
"Tell Senator Amidala to come in," Shaak Ti instructed.
"Senator Amidala, your ingenuity has truly astounded me. You have our full support, but we need you to continue pressing the Chancellor about Anakin's master rank," Master Mundi said.
"I will. What's the plan then?" Padmé smiled, taking Anakin's hand, happy to be able to help without having to hide.
"We need you to request a meeting with the Chancellor where he informs us that Anakin will be a member of our council. We will accept him into the council, but we will publicly reject his master rank in front of the Chancellor," Master Mundi said.
"I must also inform you that your husband has declined the master rank we offered him," Master Shaak Ti added, and Padmé looked at Anakin with a smile.
"It's not my thing," Anakin whispered in her ear, making her laugh.
"I'll do it as soon as possible," Padmé said, completely confident that she could convince the Chancellor.
"I'll do it as soon as possible." "I need to speak with Luke and Leia," Yoda said, and Anakin nodded. What did Master Yoda have to talk to his children about?
When they left, they informed Luke and Leia that Master Yoda was waiting for them. Han was fast asleep in one of the armchairs outside. Anakin rolled his eyes, tempted to wake him, but Padmé told him to leave him alone, that he would eventually grow fond of him.
Anakin and Padmé walked through the temple looking for Ahsoka, and Padmé was sure that Anakin wanted to question her at length about her feelings for Lux Bonteri.
Obi-Wan, on the other hand, was calling Satine to tell her everything that had happened.