A Mask Uncovered
(A/N: This is the final chapter of this forgotten story. : hides in shame : I'm so sorry, the last update was in May and it's been waiting for the end. I've finally decided to write it up, and then I'll have another completed fic! (My second one).
Also, there was another little pointer about Vader knowing of his daughter, which I got off a number of people. What basically happened in chapter 2 is 'instinct'. I always thought that somehow Vader knew he had another child, and was just following his thoughts. I'm sorry if this didn't reach out in the last chapter. I hope you like the conclusion!)
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It is over. It is finishing.
The battle, the war, the suffering.
It is all over.
I made an important decision today, one to end it all. It was all too much, too terrifying to explain. My heart could not take any more pain, any more madness. I had seen too much in my life to remember for a lifetime, and I thought that because I had seen all this I would be able to witness upon the greatest pain of them all.
But it was not so.
I had been through it all. The death of my loved ones, the pain of sacrifices, the viewing of another one crumbling before my feet. All of the glory was spent; it was all a sham and a greed behind closed doors. Behind my own eyes.
I had to do it. I had to do what I did.
I found that I could no longer stand by and watch what would become.
I had seen the death of my mother. I had heard the news of my wife.
But I was not going to watch my son die too.
It was all too much. Something just stirred inside of me as I stared down at him then, the most powerful source of pain did come that I never dreamed more possible. I thought that I had escaped it all, that I was free.
My Master was the enemy this time; I had always felt that Luke was that, as I had been told. But as I saw him today, prepared for any pain that came his way just because he would not succumb to the Dark Side, I finally realised who the real hero was.
And it was not Sidius.
I did what I had to do. I did what I felt I should do. I followed love a second time.
It was for everything that I killed my Master. It was for all of the suffering and terrible tragedies I had seen, and what would befall in the end. I knew of my children, what a life this world would lead for them if I stood by and watched them fall.
I would have been broken again.
I could not let them live in the world that Sidius had described to me. As I thought it over I tried to imagine Luke and Leia coping with all of that, the Dark Children by my side.
And I felt sick within.
They deserve so much, they could grow into families of their own, and only my Master and I were in their way. I knew that the effort would end my own life, but I just wanted them to be happy, and prosperous in their own future.
That is why I sacrifice myself for Luke now, as I lie here tonight.
He loved me all along, just not in the way I believed him to.
I think back to all of the ones I have failed as Luke stares at me like this. Obi-Wan, and Padmé, and my mother. Everyone has fallen because of the choices I made. This time, my choices will pick them back up again and start something new.
Something promising.
The one thing I told my son to do was to uncover my face, lift it from this infernal covering. I knew my face had changed from what it was, I could picture the look upon his face, but I was happy only to see it not from behind a mask.
A mask of lies, and hate. I felt free as soon as it left me. And my anger went too.
At last.
It had destroyed so much of me, and I finally knew that in my last minutes of breath. There I times now I feel as if I could go back and apologise to Obi-Wan, my real Master. I will join him hereafter, if he will have it to look upon me again, and forgive me for what I have done in the past.
I hear his promise calling already.
My words and actions were foolish, I believe that. If I could hear back on what I have said back then, I probably would have felt empty inside.
It was not really me. This is the real me.
And I am free.
I hope to see my mother again. She said all those years ago that we would be together after so long a time, and I finally feel as if that will happen. Padmé will be waiting, and so will Obi-Wan. I just hope that they can pardon my crimes.
Even so, I believe it in my heart of a Jedi. A Jedi Knight. Not a Sith Lord.
I feel that many are Jedi's of heart, even the most ordinary people.
It happened to me.
Finally I am free. Free from the slavery, free from the pain, and free from the suffering. It is over at last, the battle is won. I have had my serve to thank from it. I have much to thank in my life. For in my heart, I know I am heading for a better life.
Because I am free. I'm coming home, Mom.
I'm coming home.
END
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(A/N: It's done. It's done! Aren't you happy with me? I hope this was all right for the ending and I hope that others find it suitable. My first Star Wars fanfic! I'll have to remember this. Thanks!)