My name is Anakin Skywalker.
Once, I was a slave. I lived on Tatooine with my mother. I hated it there, and I hated being a slave, but at least my mother was there. I got to Podrace, and build and fix all kinds of machinery and droids.
But not anymore.
Once, I was a Jedi Padawan. I went on all sorts of missions with my Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Being a Jedi had always been my dream, and Obi-Wan was a good Master. But sometimes it really frustrated me how passive and emotionless a Jedi had to be, and Obi-Wan criticized me a lot.
That didn't stop me from marrying Padme Amidala.
It was hard sometimes, knowing I was their supposed Chosen One; I was supposed to be so great and powerful, but the Jedi would still hold me back.
Still, at least I was serving and helping the Republic and the people.
But not anymore.
Once, I was a Jedi Knight. The Clone War had begun by then. At first it was only my old master and I. Then I was assigned a Padawan of my own, a young Togruta named Ahsoka Tano. We made a great team, and we fought and won many battles for the Republic—myself, Ahsoka, Rex and the rest of the clone troops.
It had been hard when she left the Order.
No one seemed to notice my growing darkness, except Palpatine, and maybe Obi-Wan and Padme. The war was more important though, so I couldn't worry about the darkness.
But not anymore.
Once, I was a Sith Lord. In fact I was a Sith Lord for most of my life, longer than I'd been a slave, or a Padawan, or a Knight. (I never did become a Master.)
There was already so much darkness in me, that it was so easy to just fully embrace the power I'd been withholding for so long, with the right words, manipulations, motives, and fears.
As Darth Vader, all who knew of me learned to fear me, and with good reason. I was the image of terror, enforcing the Emperor's will and continuing the Jedi Purges. None dared to strike me down; those that did soon found themselves dead. The suit, the mask, that horrible breathing, struck fear into the people of the Empire.
With good reason, of course. Rumours spread fast: My harsh intolerance for incompetence and failure, my Force Choke abilities, even my skills with a lightsabre amongst those that understood such things. Of course, that meant they were usually Jedi and they would fall quickly under my blade.
The Rebellion feared me. My own officers feared me. The entire Imperial Navy feared me. I was the symbol of oppression in the Empire. I was a murdering, killing, monster of a machine, unfeeling, with nothing to live for and nothing to die for, the Dark Side my only companion.
But not anymore.
Once, I realized I was a father. I found out about my son. Luke. There was something—someone—I could live and die for now. There was hope, but I didn't know it. I was too far gone into the darkness to believe I could be saved.
But not anymore.
Once, I was a slave, a Padawan, a Knight, a Sith. Now, I am none of these things. I am a father. I killed the Emperor; saved my son. I am free.
I gaze into the face of my son, seeing without the red tint for the first time in twenty years; I tell him he was right and before I die I think,
I am a person, and my name is Anakin.
A/N: Hm. For some reason I feel like this wasn't written very well. I certainly don't like it as much as my other oneshots. Ah well.