Disclaimer - this story was written for a fanfiction movie challenge with "the seasons" as main theme. I took the opportunity to write a short story about one of my favourite characters in Star Wars. Since Lucas told us nothing about him, I played to invent his past life. My usual betareader is currently unavailable, so please forgive my mistakes.

Season of Love, Season of Hate

Fall has always been our favorite season. From the patio of our house, me and my wife take great pleasure in watching the amazing scenery of the alien forest, whose threes have names unpronounceable for me, born in a world totally different. A planet of sand and stones. For this reason, perhaps, when I am here I spend hours observing the silent dance of the leaves. My Master says that is impossible, that only the living beings generate the Force, but if I focus I am sure I can sense the energy of the forest, the power of the threes that resist, imperturbable, against the terrifying storms that shake this planet during the winter seasons. But I feel also the feeble murmurs of the dying leaves, infinitesimal perturbations of the Force, that during Fall turn into a concert of suffocated whisperings and screams. It is something that never ceases to stun and to amaze me, and I often wonder if this is the reason why I adore so much this season.

It is for a bizarre turn of events that I am here, tonight, right when Fall ends. The threes are almost completely naked and the few leaves remained cry high their pain. They do not want to die, nor they want to remain alone in a dying world. Did my companions feel the same, so many years ago? When the moment came upon them, when our enemies let them to die, after having destroyed our home.
My hand grips the hilt of the laser saber. We will have our revenge. They will pay. All of them.

Long strides lead me towards the house where my wife and I spent so many happy moments. She, the mother of my sons not yet born, is well aware of my decision. She won't try to change my mind, because she is ready to accept her destiny and mine. Moreover, I think she already knew what was in store for me, the day her gaze rested on me for the first time. Nonetheless she resolutely followed me along this path. She is a strong woman, and she knew her duty.
I stop, suddenly, to cast a long look at the villa. I know that I am here for the very last night.

Then the forest attracts my eyes once again. The almost bare threes lay under the livid light of the twin moons, rising against the sky as skeletal fingers. The vista is as sinister as my mood. But, considering what I am going to do, to be here in the midst of a sparkling spring it would have been terribly wrong. Like to bite a delicious fruit covered with larvae. Under my gentle touch the saber comes back to life once more. My Master made it for me, and I would die before letting it fall in the hands of my enemies. "It is unique, dissimilar from any other saber ever created" he said me. "Because you will be alone in the midst of many enemies, and only this sword will protect your flank."

My glare caresses the shining twin blades. The time has come to fulfil my destiny. Tomorrow I will bring to my Master the head of my wife, and I will claim my new name: Darth Maul. I'll bear it with honor, till the victory or the ignominious defeat. For the Sith Lords affections are only chains that stand between them and the realization of their dream. This is the teaching of the Dark Side, that I accepted.
And my wife is my only weakness, that I must eradicate.
A light shines in one of the rooms. My princess is awake. I hurry up, not wanting to make her wait.
A sudden gelid gust of wind brutally blows the last leaves from the threes. They scream in my head but I silence them.
The time for the silent contemplation is over.

Fall is over too. Tomorrow will be the first day of winter.