The galaxy, an intricate dance of stars and cosmic energies, played host to the unseen orchestrations of the Force. In its ethereal domains, Padme found herself adrift in a nebulous expanse, her consciousness entwined within the celestial embrace of the Force.
Echoes of her past life lingered, a fragmented tapestry of memories that seemed distant yet vivid.
Suddenly, a radiant presence enveloped her formless consciousness. The tendrils of the Force wove around her, coalescing into the familiar shape of a woman. Padmé's eyes widened in recognition and disbelief.
-"Am I... dreaming?" Padme's voice reverberated through the cosmic expanse.
The ethereal figure solidified into the visage of Shmi Skywalker, her essence exuding warmth and love.
-"My dear child, you are not."
Padme blinked and asked tentatively:
- "Shmi…is that you?"
- "No, child. We are the force. We took that appearance of a familiar face will be easier for you. We came to tell you that you will be returning soon back to the living. We have woven a tale of extraordinary proportions for you. The chosen one needs you."
Padme was awash with emotions—a convergence of confusion, disbelief, and a glimmer of hope.
-"Anakin... is he ok? can he be saved?"
-"The chosen one path to redemption is our design. We seek to restore balance to the galaxy and want to end his suffering." Shmi spoke with unwavering conviction and unconditional love.
Questions brewed in Padme's mind, the enigmatic designs of the Force revealing only glimpses of its grand cosmic plan.
-"I am sorry…but what does it mean?"
Shmi's presence radiated understanding.
-"The Force yearns for equilibrium, a harmony between the extremes: dark and light. Extreme solutions like the Sith purge before and the Jedi purge now are not our desired method. But sometimes, our children stubbornness leaves us with no choice."
-"We prefer balance among all its children." Shmi continued.
-"Feeling emotions with control, living fully in the world while safeguarding not just loved ones but all life. It encompasses the use of abilities, once labelled 'dark' or 'light,' as the Force reflects the user's needs, ambitions, love, care, or obsessions."
-"Balance isn't about the dichotomy of dark and light but the amalgamation of both." Shmi elucidated.
-"The Force doesn't categorize these aspects. They merely exist as facets of its children's existence. The pendulum swings but should not linger in extremes. When it does, the chosen one may end up being the catalyst of drastic changes such as purges. It is not our preference, and our child always suffers for it. "
Meanwhile, within the confines of his chamber, Vader remained locked in an emotional turmoil, Shmi's spectral presence an anchor in the maelstrom of his thoughts.
Vader looked at his mother's spectral image, his voice laced with shame and longing.
-"I've caused so much pain and destruction... I've lost myself."
Shmi's presence remained a beacon of compassion.
-"The Force offers redemption, Anakin. But you must be willing to take it. The path to absolution begins with acceptance and balance. Since you were little, you always wanted to do better, to be better. But, Ani, just trying is enough…You are enough."
Tears streamed down inside Vader's mask, unseen but felt, his heart a battlefield of conflicting emotions. The weight of his past actions, the devastation wrought in the name of darkness, weighed heavily upon him.
-"The light... is it still within me?" Vader's voice trembled, the glimmer of hope flickering amidst the darkness of his soul.
Shmi's ethereal form shimmered with love.
-"Don't you know? You are already on your way back to the light. Otherwise, this conversation would not be possible. The light always waits within, Anakin. The moment you embrace love, you will find your way."
Following the transformation that started the moment Shmi appeared, Anakin eyes turned another shade of blue under his mask when he saw Padme's spectral form shimmered beside Shmi's, a gentle smile gracing her features. He was still grappled with the shadows of his past. But, the cosmic energies pulsed around them, weaving threads of destiny and hope—a tale of love, loss, and the undying quest for balance.