Around them the chamber glowed an angry orange, absorbing the light from the brilliant fire that was emanating from the center of the small room. The walls held no markings or decoration save one, a large crimson insignia, intricately crafted with materials so old that its true history was skewered
through time.
Directly below rested an ornately crafted thrown. Massive in size, it filled most of the available space.
And sitting in that thrown was a Sith Lord, the Supreme Master of the Dark Side, and although unknown to many, the future ruler of the Galaxy.
Swathed in the traditional robes, the elderly Lord of the Sith sat gazing at his apprentice, who was standing in the shadows, waiting at the far end of the room.
“Step forward,” he commanded.
The apprentice complied.
“You have been trained well, my young apprentice. By embracing the fury within, you have let your passions consume you, and used the fear of others to strengthen you.”
The apprentice said nothing, as was the tradition set down through the millennia.
“The fire in this room represents you well, my friend,” The Sith Lord continued. “It churns with power, cleanses the weakness from anything it touches, and leaves its mark of destruction. So shall it be with you.”
The Sith Lord paused momentarily. “But be wary, the fire will engulf you fully if you are not its master. Such is the Dark Side. You must learn to control the power, or it will control you. If you complete this task, your ability to control the darkness within you will be total, and you will forever be at my side. Come to me, embrace the fire within you, and when you take my hand your life will begin anew.”
The apprentice met the gaze of his Master unflinchingly, embracing the darkness, embracing the power and control – and walked steadily toward his destiny.
As he neared the flames, they surged, mocking him, challenging him, and daring him to move forward.
The apprentice met that challenge, summoning the Dark Side of the Force to create an angry, sullen red shield around him.
He stepped into the raging fire.
Quickly, the flames leapt toward him and began stripping away his shielding. He was unprepared for the ferocity of the attack, but refused to admit defeat. Instead he continued on, feeling the searing pain in his flesh as the flames scorched his exposed skin.
Faster and faster, the shielding gave way, and for the first time in his recent memory, the apprentice felt fear. Fear that he wasn’t going to be able to control the flames. Fear that his skill wasn’t enough. That even after all of his trials, and all of his sacrifices, he had not mastered the Dark Side after all.
His shields weakened even further still. And the pain came in greater waves, scorching him, forcing him to acknowledge his body’s frailty. As the flames slowly carved away at his essence, and his humanity, they brought forth memories of agony and betrayal.
At that moment the naked, awful truth was set before him.
In his mind’s eye he saw himself, as he once was. A weak, scared child, unable to control the power he possessed. A child in need of love and understanding but met with cold and impassive stares. A child that heard all the quiet whispers and caught all of the sidelong glances. A child who reached out for something more, but cruelly, was turned away.
He had always tried to bury the truth, but now, in this moment of desperation he surrendered to it fully.
And it made him furious.
In his fury he found the strength he needed.
He took that pain and rage deep inside of him, held it, focused it, and made it his. Feasting on his anger and pain, the shielding redoubled, the red tinge almost encompassing the flames, helping to propel him out towards the other side.
He emerged through the fire, his body smoking. The smell of charred flesh was in the air. But he stood proud, unflinching, stronger than before.
The Sith Lord nodded, and a chilled smile formed on his lips.
“Well done.”
 The Master held out his hand, and without pause the apprentice knelt down and took it in his.
As the Master spoke, the flames behind them flared and danced high, almost touching the ceiling above.
“From this day forward Anakin Skywalker is dead.  The Sith welcome their newest Lord. On this day Darth Vader is born.”