My Father
By Little Author
I've always loved my father. Always.
When I was young, I was told he was a navigator on a space freighter.
I was going to be a pilot, like him, until that day.
The day I went to find Obi-Wan Kenobi.
He told me my father was a Jedi.
He told me my father died at the hand of Darth Vader.
I believed him.
After that, I wanted to be a Jedi, just like my father.
A few years passed, and I still loved him, even though he was gone.
Then I went to Bespin.
That was where it all changed.
I fought with Darth Vader himself.
He cut off my hand; I backed away.
Then he told me what I longed, but didn't want to hear from him.
Darth Vader was my father.
I couldn't believe it; that had to be a lie!
But no, it was true.
Darth Vader was my true father.
I didn't know whether to love or hate him.
Then again, did I really want to love my father?
Yet, he was my father, and I guess I did love him.
Not until I convinced myself this was true though.
Not too long after Bespin, I rescued my friends and proved all that I was worth.
I went back to Yoda, to ask the simple question: Is Darth Vader my father?
Yoda had confirmed my fears.
I had to confront my father, or at least that's what Master Yoda said.
I didn't want to.
I guess now, afterward, I loved that monster.
He was my father, how could I not?
I knew there was still good in him; I felt it.
A memory half forgotten drifted from the place where memories from that long ago are stored.
Someone said there was good in my father too.
I wasn't the only one.
I could help him.
Ben came and told me more; but that is a story for another time.
On a moon called Endor, I went and got arrested by the Empire.
I had to save my father; I knew there was still good in him, as I had told Ben and Leia.
I told him to come away with me, but he only said it was too late for him.
Standing in front of the Emperor was the worst experience I think I have ever had.
My father stood there, watching us; his emotions were still conflicting.
Anger got the best of me, and I lost control.
After I set my emotions right, I told my father I wouldn't fight him.
He found out about Leia; I got angry again.
I beat him until I took his hand.
Then I realized that I was becoming more like my father.
I also knew my test was done.
I was a Jedi.
Yoda said I had to confront Vader, not kill him.
My father saved me from the lightning that lashed through my body like hot knives.
He was Anakin Skywalker again.
I dragged him to the ships, where we could get out of the Death Star, but he was already dying.
He told me to take off his mask.
I had to save him, but I took it off anyway.
What I saw was a kind old man with horrid scars from the past; both emotional and physical.
I told him I had to save him, but he said I already did.
He died right then and there.
I gave him a funeral pyre, and watched his body turn to ashes.
I still loved him.
This time, he was gone, but it wasn't any different than before I knew.
Before I knew my father was the most horrid man that was not the Emperor.
I loved him, though I hardly even knew my father.
My adventure from orphan to son wasn't the one I expected.
There was one thing I learned though.
My father was probably the best father I could have.
Although he never took care of me and did all of those horrible things to me, my sister, my friends, the galaxy, I did something most would not.
I forgave him.
Do you know why?
I do.
I did it because he is my father, and I love him.
A/N: As you know, these characters don't belong to me, (George Lucas is so lucky!) and I hoped you liked it!