Author's Note: As promised, a new story. This came to my mind, one depressing day. I just had to write it. Never did plan on posting it, but this is the only one I had done... Enjoy!
Why are you just standing there, watching?
Darth Vader was positive he was going insane as he watched the Emperor's lightening hit his son. Had he really just heard Obi-Wan's voice in his head?
Anakin, he already took your wife. Will you let him take your son?
He already took Padmé.
No, no, wait, his wife had died in childbirth. No one killed her. Hadn't he learned that recently?
He knew she would die. He was counting on it, Anakin.
Vader's head turned to his master.
No. That couldn't be true.
He planted that vision in your mind. He wanted her to die. He needed your rage. He needed her out of the way.
What?
Padmé and Palpatine represented the two extremes of the spectrum, Anakin. Palpatine was the ruthless power-seeker. Your wife was unyielding compassion, goodness.
Vader smiled. That was probably true.
You claimed you loved her, that you would do anything for her, yet you destroyed the one thing she fought for until the end.
Vader's throat tightened with tears.
You destroyed everything she loved. Now will you stand by and let the man she hated kill her son.
My son too, Vader thought.
You failed to be his father when you led him to Palpatine. Redeem yourself, my friend. This is your last chance.
Ani...
Vader's heart caught in his throat. Padmé?
It's me, Ani... Please, save our son... I'm begging you.
You are the chosen one, Obi-Wan injected.
Was he? Obi-Wan said it on Mustafar—the Chosen One was supposed to destroy to the Sith not join them.
There wasn't a time limit, Anakin. You can still destroy the Sith. You still have a chance.
Ani... Padmé's voice faded away.
Luke was begging his father now.
Are you forever Darth Vader or are you my brother, Anakin Skywalker?
Anakin. He was Anakin. Wasn't he?
Do you want to die a slave?
Slave? That was one way to describe how Palpatine treated his servants.
No, he did not wish to die a slave.
Kill him.
That was all the encouragement he needed. But how? The lightening was...
The lightening. It was strong enough to destroy Palpatine now. The sheer force the Sith Master was using could be turned against him.
Vader--no, Anakin--picked the Emperor up and threw him down. And he shook.
Two voices—his brother and his wife—whispered happily in his head. I'll see you soon.