March 31, 2008
Post-Script
As Luke helped clean up from the party on Endor, he spotted the three spirit Jedi, still behind the fence. Leia joined him, drinking in the sight of the three she knew to have died. Luke draped his arm lovingly around his sister's shoulders. Gazing on, they watched as a new form appeared. The woman they now saw strongly resembled Leia, though her features were softer. Her shoulder-length chocolate curls were held away from her warm face by a gossamer green ribbon that matched her satiny dress. "It's her," Leia confirmed Luke's suspicion. The twins were frozen in wonderment at her, watching what happened next.
"Ani!" The woman's kind voice reverberated as she moved ardently toward the youngest Jedi. Anakin whirled around; even Luke and Leia could feel the excitement welling up within him. "Padmé!" His voice was full and young. No sooner was the name out of his mouth than he had her in his arms, his cheek resting against her head. Luke smiled down at Leia, just as she was smiling up at him. They held each other's gaze for a moment before returning their attention to the spirits.
"Time to go, it is," Yoda announced reluctantly.
"We have much to do," Obi-wan reported.
Visibly bewildered, Anakin and Padmé gave Luke and Leia respectful nods, as did Obi-wan. "May the Force be with you," the latter bid the living. Then, the spirit group retreated into the woods, disappearing into the netherworld.
Luke couldn't suppress a chuckle as he hugged his sister, and she followed suit. After twenty years of doubt, the Skywalker family was reestablished and the Force was in balance, once and for all.