Luke felt a tugging sensation and he was standing in a open tunnel that was high above the ground, waiting next to Darth Vader. It was evening, wherever he was, and there were trees everywhere.

An AT-AT approached, and Luke saw himself being escorted by stormtroopers out of the Imperial Walker. He looked older than he was now, and his older self was dressed in all black. Vader went to meet them.

This was the future, Luke realized. He had seen the past and now he was seeing what was to transpire.

The troopers handed him and his lightsaber off to Vader and were summarily dismissed.

"The Emperor is expecting you," Vader said.

"I know, Father," his older self replied.

Vader glanced at him. "So, you have accepted the truth."

"I have accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father."

Vader rounded on him, pointing Luke's unlit lightsaber toward him. "That name no longer has any meaning for me."

"It is the name of your true self. You've only forgotten," his older self insisted. "I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully. That was why you couldn't destroy me." He turned his back on Vader and walked to the railing, resting his cuffed forearms against it. "That's why you won't bring me to your Emperor now."

There was silence for a moment and Vader looked down at Luke's lightsaber. He ignited the blade and green light burst from within it. "I see you have constructed a new lightsaber." He examined the hilt. "You skills are complete." Vader turned away from Luke. Now Vader and his older self had their backs turned to one another. "Indeed, you are powerful. As the Emperor has foreseen."

"Come with me."

The quiet, earnestness in his older self's voice startled Luke. There was a pause.

"Obi-Wan once thought as you do," Vader said. "You don't know the power of the Dark Side. I must obey my master."

The present Luke snorted in disgust at his father referring to the Emperor as his master. That abhorrent son of a Hutt didn't deserve to be called anyone's master.

"I will not turn," Older Luke stressed, "and you will be forced to kill me."

"If that is your destiny."

Present Luke could feel disappointment wash over him. His father was really okay with killing him?

His older self became even more adamant. "Search your feelings, Father. You can't do this. I feel the conflict in you. Let go of your hate!"

"It is too late for me, Son."

He swore he could hear regret in his father's voice. He could tell his older self was disappointed now, too, but he hid it well.

"Then my father is truly dead."

Stormtroopers came and escorted his older self into a shuttle, leaving Vader alone with his thoughts. He saw his father at the railing, looking out at the forest below. If Luke didn't know any better, he would say Vader was feeling conflict.

X

Luke was in a throne room now. It was dark and a large viewport was against the far wall, looking out into space. A throne was in front of the viewport, and in the throne sat the Emperor himself.

The Emperor taunted his older self, trying to coax him into joining him―into turning to the Dark Side. Finally, it became too much for his older self and he summoned his lightsaber, moving to strike the Emperor down where he sat. Vader's blood red blade caught his own emerald one.

They fought around the throne room, Palpatine cackling in the background, and Vader himself trying to persuade Luke into turning.

"Your thoughts betray you, Father. I feel the good in you, the conflict."

"There is no conflict."

They continued the duel until his older self managed to hide in shadows. Vader went in after him, attempting to locate him. His older self was confident, until Vader learned the truth about Leia and threatened to turn her to the Dark Side.

Present Luke felt all the blood drain from his face. Not Leia.

Apparently his older self had the same thought. A millisecond later he emerged from the shadows with a bellowing a war cry, his saber drawn. He attacked Vader with a fury that honestly startled Present Luke, and he sensed that Father was a little taken aback as well.

Older Luke was relentless, swinging his lightsaber with all his strength, bashing it against Vader's. Finally, Older Luke cornered him and sliced off his hand. He stood there, rage in his eyes, breathing heavily with his lightsaber pointed at Vader's chest. Vader had his arms up, almost as if he was trying to defend himself or plead.

The Emperor's dark chuckle broke into the tense moment. "Good. Your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side."

His older self seemed to come to his senses, horrified at what he was doing. He glanced at his own prosthetic hand and then his father's severed one. He took a breath and deactivated his lightsaber, turning to face the Emperor.

"Never," he said with conviction. His older self threw his saber away from him. "I'll never turn to the Dark Side. You've failed, your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

The Emperor's cold, yellow eyes bored into him. Present Luke could feel the fury radiating off of him. "So be it, Jedi," he hissed. "If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed."

Before either Lukes could even blink, Palpatine flicked his hands up and blue, flickering lightning erupted from his fingertips. The lightning hit its target straight on. Luke saw himself writhing on the floor, screaming in pain.

"Young fool," the Emperor taunted. "Only now, at the end, do you understand. Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the Dark Side." Present Luke saw his father slowly rise to his feet, his breathing wheezy and labored, and walk to Palpatine's side. "You have paid the price for your lack of vision."

Vader merely stood there, watching as the Emperor slowly killed his older self.

"Father, please," Present Luke cried. His own father couldn't let him die!

A second later, his older self parroted his younger self, pleading with Vader to help him. "Father, please!"

Their father looked between his older self and the Emperor, seemingly at a loss for what to do. Present Luke sensed a fierce internal struggle.

"Come on, Father," he whispered, hoping for him to do the right thing.

"Now, young Skywalker," Palpatine said. "You will die."

His older self's struggles were getting weaker, his breathing choked and ragged, his screams tapering off. Suddenly, Vader lunged forward and lifted the Emperor over his head in one swift movement. Palpatine yelled in surprise and kept blasting force lightening. Vader staggered to the reactor shaft and threw him over the side. He fell to his knees, leaning against the side and watching the Emperor fall to his death. There was a flash of blinding blue light and it was all over.

His father leaned heavily against the side of the reactor shaft, his breathing even worse than before. It was obvious his respirator was damaged. It was likely the life support system in his suit was failing.

His older self crawled over to Vader and gently lowered him into his arms. Present Luke was strongly reminded of a young Anakin Skywalker doing the same for his mother.

X

Luke found himself walking beside Older Luke and Vader. Older Luke was doing his best to hold Vader up as they stumbled to a shuttle. However, just before they got there, one of them lost their footing and they both went down. Exhausted, but determined, his older self dragged Vader the rest of the way and leaned him against the boarding ramp.

"Luke, help me take...this mask off," Vader rasped.

"No!" Present Luke shouted.

"But you'll die," Older Luke protested.

"Nothing...can stop that now," Vader argued. "Just for once, let me...look on you with my own eyes."

Present Luke felt tears slip down his face. Just when he thought all the heartbreak was over, this happens.

Older Luke looked hesitant, but he nodded in agreement. He carefully lifted the helmet and then detached the mask from their father's face.

Even though Present Luke already knew what he would see, he still couldn't help the sharp intake of breath when he saw Anakin Skywalker's face. He could feel his heart shattering all over again.

Vader, now once again Anakin, smiled at his older self. "Now...go, my son. Leave me…"

Older Luke shook his head in denial. "No, you're coming with me. I'll not leave you here. I've got to save you!"

"You already...have, Luke. You were right," Anakin whispered. "You were right about me. Tell your sister, you were right…" He smiled once more and his eyes closed.

"Father," his older self pleaded. Father's face slackened and he began to fall slowly back. "I won't leave you!"

It was too late. Anakin Skywalker was gone.

Present Luke shuddered as quiet sobs racked his body. Older Luke brushed a hand across Father's chest. A tear ran down Older Luke's face as he bowed his head, and Present Luke could see his shoulders start to shake.

Just when Luke thought everything was over, he opened his eyes to find himself in a clearing. It was night and there was a funeral pyre. Anakin Skywalker, formerly Darth Vader, rested upon it. His older self stepped forward with a torch and lit the pyre on fire. Older Luke was the only one in the clearing. Present Luke and his older self watched the flames grow high and mourned the passing of their father.

A/N: Once again, I appreciate all the reviews, favorites, and followers. They really make my day. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter.

I'm still in the middle of writing chapter 5, so I won't be updating for a little while. I anticipate being able to post a new chapter within a week or two. If the wait ends up being longer, just know I do intend to finish this story, and I'm not intentionally leaving you hanging. Real Life tends to throw curve balls (not to mention writer's block ugh :P), and I apologize in advance if it takes me a while to update.

Thank you for the support, and feel free to review! :)

Best wishes,
LRR