~~~~~ First, there's nothing. Nothing, but an everlasting sea of darkness; leaving me empty. It's all I deserve after everything I'd done; too many lives were lost due to my decisions. The darkness is enough to cause me to collapse to my knees; however, there's something different. I can breathe, just like I used to, no more apparatus; I can move without any hindrance, just like I used to, no more suit; I don't feel the pain anymore, no more burns or missing limbs or scars, just like before. At least in Hell I can be who I was before Vader. Maybe I can be Anakin Skywalker again.
Suddenly, a blinding light shines in front of me; it's intensity reminds me of being back on Tatooine and working under the twin suns. I peer through my fingers to see a figure's silhouette growing in front of me. The back of my hand, although still covered in shadow comes to resemble Vader's glove and my hope begins to fade. I look again at the figure, now almost completely visible, obviously a female. She's strong and tall, she has her hands on her hips and her head tilted to the side as if watching me, it's familiar. "Padme?"
"Not quite Skyguy." The figure's Montrals are now visible as she steps closer, revealing deep orange skin complimenting the white and blue striped lekku framing her face.
"Ahsoka?.." I can barely bring myself to say her name, The last time I saw her was years ago when Vader - I - drove a lightsaber through her stomach, she was the third person who tried to redeem me and I let her down.
"Bingo. You can't get rid of me that easily." She maintains the cockiness in her voice even after everything that's happened. Ahsoka walks towards me and extends her hand to help me up. I'm hesitant to touch her after what I've done. "Are you honestly still doing the whole 'I can do everything on my own' thing after all this time? it's been 23 years." she rolls her eyes, "I thought this ended during the Clone Wars." She doesn't seem angry. I take her hand and get to my feet, I step away from her and look down. For the first time I notice I'm wearing unfamiliar lighter cloaks, Have I truly been redeemed? "Nice robes Master, although; in my opinion, darker colors and armor suit you more." She's smiling, I can't look at her and tears begin to swell in my eyes.
"Ahsoka.." my voice cracks I can barely get out my apology, how do I apologize for everything I've done, I can't be forgiven. What place do I have? I run through what I have to say as quickly as I can. "Ahsoka I'm so sorry for all of this, I can't ask you to forgive me," the tears stream down my face, burning hotter than the lava had, "just know how truly sor-"
Ahsoka pulls me into an embrace, tighter than Vader's suit had been, her hand rests in my hair as she hold me I sob into her shoulder. "Of course I forgive you master, I was never angry, I was just sad because you were in so much pain and you'd lost your way, I'm just so overjoyed you came back to us." She's begun crying as I wrap my arms around her. After Mustafar I remained in a constant state of heat, everything felt hot, everything burned; but Ahsoka's forgiveness and embrace was the first time in a long time I felt warm.
She pulls away and for the first time I notice she's the same height as me, for the first time since she left The Jedi Order I look into her deep blue eyes, still glowing from the tears. We must have both gotten the same idea because we both wipe our eyes in unison.
"Let's go home, master." Ahsoka smiles again and gestures to a group of other figures now standing behind her. Padme, Obi Wan, Master Yoda, Qui Gon, my Mother, Rex, they're all here.
"Let's go home, Snips."