Author's Note: I've never written a Star Wars fanfiction, but when I saw Episode Three, the scene that this takes place stuck in my mind and I couldn't get it out. If you haven't seen the movie, this can be considered a spoiler. This is dedicated to LadyotRings, or Tiki, who is the biggest Star Wars fan I've ever met. Thanks for the help with the title. Much appreciated.
Transformation of the Soul
It was tearing his soul. He didn't want this and some inner part of him was screaming, begging and pleading with him to stop, don't do this, you're not like this! He quelled the inner voice and raised his weapon.
They screamed and ran as he advanced, some cowering in the shadows as he cut them down, others pleading endlessly. Most were too shocked to voice their fear. All fell before him. None of them had tears; too stunned to cry.
He looked about him, trying not to see the still warm bodies of children around him, children who'd committed no crime. Innocents.
A whimper caused him to turn. A small youngling, a girl, stared out at him from under an unharmed desk. Her eyes widened as he slowly approached.
He had tears in his eyes, tears streaking down his face. She could see them under his dark hood. His features were contorted in a mix of rage and pain, sorrow and confusion. She stepped out from under the desk and stood in front of him, neither cowering nor begging, the fear gone from her liquid brown eyes. She looked up at him, a solemn and wise expression on her young face.
He found that he didn't want to harm this child. He wanted to train her, to teach her everything that he knew. But his master's command compelled him to act, to strike her down and end her life.
Anakin stood there, lightsaber in hand, watching as the youngling's body collapsed and vanished. She hadn't been real. The last vestige of humanity in him wept for her, and the other younglings, anyway. And Anakin wept for his beloved Padme, and just a little, for himself.
He turned at the doorway on his way out, surveying the damage. A slow smile crept onto his face, simultaneously sad and happy, and any remnant of humanity left him. In that moment he was truly Darth Vader.
The ghost youngling flashed through his mind and the smile fell, replaced by tears welling in his eyes and he slammed the doors shut on the slaughter.
FINIS