AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This story idea has been done probably a thousand times, but whatever, this is my take on it.

If you don't understand how the whole concept of Force Ghosts work within this story, just ask me about it. The explanation/theory is far too long to describe in this author's note. (And besides: Spoilers!)

Rated T for mature themes and all-around feels.

Special thanks to George Lucas for allowing the fans to play around in his most valuable sandbox. We love you George. At least, I do.


And I've seen your flag on the marble arch

And love is not a victory march

It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

And it's not a cry that you hear at night

It's not somebody who's seen the light

It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Rufus Wainwright, "Hallelujah"


Prologue:

The Redeemed

Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, could not stop the voices in his head as his son lay dying by his Master's hands. No matter how hard he tried, they floated up to the surface of his subconsciousness and popped like tiny little bubbles, dragging their painful words across his mind. Luke raised a gloved hand and yelled "FATHER! PLEASE!" before the Emperor's blue Force Lightning arced across his body. The plea for help was drowned out by screams, and Vader had to resist putting his hands (no, hand) to his head in a weak attempt to cover his ears.

Palpatine stopped the Lightning and looked down at Luke's withering body. He clucked softly. "Now, young Skywalker... you will die." The Emperor raised his hands again, and cast his Lightning. Luke began to scream again as electricity fried his nerves, causing his body to go numb. Within Vader's head, the past continued to slash at him with its memories:

"You will be a Jedi. I promise-"

"Stay with me, Mom-"

"I love you-"

No.

"Learn to know the dark side of the Force-"

"No! Stop now! Come back! Please!-"

"I HATE YOU!-"

Stop it.

"You were my brother, Anakin-"

"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine-"

"I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate-"

STOP IT!

"That name no longer has any meaning to me-"

And suddenly he's no longer on the Second Death Star, confined to a robotic suit, watching his son die. He's sitting in a picturesque green meadow, watching not the cascading waterfalls, but the beautiful woman sitting next to him, laughing brightly. The Dark Times, the wars, the pain are years away. Now, there is just Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, man and woman, enjoying the company of each other, laughing brightly. And in his head he remembers the words of his beloved:

"Sometimes, there are things no one can fix."

Within this moment, Vader realizes everything he has done, has failed to do, the sins and atrocities he has committed. His children are the one bright spot in a galaxy of darkness, and without them, all hope would be lost.

He looked at the man he once thought of as a surrogate father, the one who made him a mechanical monstrosity, who forced him to throw away everything dear, killing one of the last things Vader still had.

You lied to me, Master. You took everything away from me.

He looked down at his son, his child, and thought of Padme, and the life they would never have together. "No" he whispered. Palpatine took no notice, and continued to electrocute Luke.

Padme, forgive me. I didn't want this. For any of us. For all of us.

"NOOOOOO!" Vader roared, and with his one remaining hand, picked the Emperor up by his robes, lifting his Master high in the air. Force Lightning raced from Palpatine's fingertips to Vader's body, overloading his suit's life-support functions. Vader felt none of this, however. Only anger that had been building for nineteen long years of servitude. Before he could lose control of his remaining hand, Vader lifted the Emperor high over his head, and flung him into a nearby shaft, . The scream that followed was the most satisfying sound Vader had ever heard through his helmet.

By now, most of his suit had shut down on him, and he collapsed to the floor. Luke bent down and cradled him wordlessly in his arms. Hastily, yet carefully, Luke lifted his father and began to carry him out of the Death Star's throne room.


As father and son reached an Imperial shuttle, Vader slumped down onto the ground, feeling whatever strength left flee from him. Luke hovered over him once more as Vader's breathing became shallow.

"Luke" Vader said. "Help me take this mask off."

"But... you'll die" he replied.

"It is... too late for that. Just for once... let me look on you... with my own eyes." Vader said. Gingerly, Luke placed his hands around his father's head, lifting the helmet off. He then gently pulled Vader's mask off and set it on the ground. The scarred, chalk-like face of Anakin Skywalker, his father, stared at him.

"Go, my son." It was strange, hearing his own unaltered voice after nineteen years of confinement in that dark prison of a suit. Anakin's vision started to blur and darken at the edges. He took in a shallow breath with his broken lungs.

"I can't just leave you here. I have to save you." The pain and concern in his son's voice was strong, but Anakin knew that his time in the galaxy was up. He had already overstayed his welcome.

"You already have" he told his son. Everything was blurred now, his son's face a blob of colors and life. The overhead hanger lights brightened, and Anakin started to feel himself slipping away from his body. He took one last shallow breath and spoke:

"Luke... You were right about me... Tell your sister... You were right..." Anakin Skywalker, no longer a Dark Lord of the Sith, let out his final breath and rested his head against the ship. His last thought was Padme before his vision went completely black.