A Star Wars Fanfiction

Disclaimer: All Star Wars characters belong to George Lucas. This story was written for my enjoyment and, hopefully, for the enjoyment of other Star Wars fans who will read it. And I, in no way, am seeking any financial gain from this story.

Also, to give credit where credit is due, this story, and any sequels I might write, may show some similarities to the fanfic "The Penitent" and its unfinished mid-quels "Acts of Atonement" which are located at http/vadersmask

(Unfortunately, this website doesn't allow the posting of websites; but if you do a search on Anakin Skywalker fanfiction, you should be able to find it.)

I loved this story so much and was saddened by the fact that the mid-quels have never been finished. So this is my response to that. I hope the writer(s) of those stories are in no way offended by my take on a similar idea. I hope you all enjoy this story.

P.S. There may be some other similarities to other stories located at that same(above mentioned) web address as well as some characters and situations taken from Timothy Zahn's "Thrawn Trilogy"books..

Return to the Light

Author's Note: (7/3/06) This story was my first fanfiction on this website and I was not pleased with how I wrote the beginning of this story. So, therefore, I am revising it, chapter by chapter. If you have read this story in the past, I would love to have your feedback as to whether you feel my revisions have been an improvement or not.

I thought about waiting until I finished revising the whole story and then post it all at once; but then I thought it would be good to get feedback along the way.

Also,if you are a fan of Thrawn, please be patient with my characterization of him. I am new to the world of EU and have tried appeasing some of the Thrawn fans, who have reviewed my story, by adding more of his character traits as the story has progressed. Although, I'd have to go back and rewrite much of my story in order to make him closer to the character you all know. So please be patient with me, remember this is AU, and I hope you will enjoy the rest of the ride. Thank you.

Prologue:

A blinding light came at her and she threw her right arm over her eyes, protecting them from the invading rays. Where am I? What's happening to me? She wanted to ask out loud, but her face felt numb, making it impossible for her to move her lips at will.

"Senator Amidala? Can you hear me?" Came a male voice to her right.

She tried to see where the voice was coming from, but the blinding light caused her to keep her eyelids closed to protect her eyes. Who is that? I don't recognize that voice. Her mind was reeling as to what could possibly be happening to her and she was becoming frustrated that she still couldn't seem to find her voice to answer the person who was trying to get her to respond.

"Senator Amidala? I think she's coming around." The male voice said to her again and then spoke to someone else, she figured, that was in the room with them.

Padme's eyes finally blinked open as her vision finally adjusted enough for her to see the bright white color of the ceiling above her. She turned her head to where she heard the male voice was coming from…But the image was blurry and she could only make out that there was, indeed, a man sitting next to her, looking at her; but she couldn't make out any features. Then her eyes started to become even more accustomed to the light and her vision cleared. The man came into focus and she looked at him with puzzlement and confusion. "Where am I?" Padme finally asked him as, to her relief, her the use of her voice also seemed to come back to her at the same time her eyes did.

The blond hair and blue eyed man she saw looking at her appeared to be a doctor, from the white coat he was wearing; and Padme assumed that he was the mysterious voice who had been speaking to her.

"Senator Amidala." He spoke again to her with concern and eagerness. "It's a miracle that you're alive. When we first found this place, we thought for sure everyone here was dead."

Padme stared at him with disbelief from the information she just received. "What do you mean, dead! Where am I! What happened!" Padme asked…still trying to get her focus and bearings. She then tried to sit up, but found it difficult. Her muscles seemed tight and unaccustomed to movement.

"Please calm down Senator. We will answer your questions all in due time…but please…you must calm down before we can divulge what happened here." The doctor said as he touched her right arm and tried to coax her to lie back down again.

But Padme pulled her arm away from the doctor and finally managed to sit all the way up. She quickly turned and started shouting at the doctor. "BE CALM! BE CALM! How can I be calm! What happened!…I'm must know!" The doctor took it all in stride and allowed her to vent her frustration, pulling his hand back from her arm and folding and looking at his hands in his lap. Padme looked at the doctor in disbelief and fear as he looked back up at her with understanding, waiting to see if she was going to say anything else.

But then a realization hit her. She started to remember being in an operating room…quite like the one she was in now before becoming unconscious. And the events of that day started flooding back into her conscious mind, remembering the events that occurred just before…before…what? Then Padme remembered and looked down at her belly…She was no longer pregnant. She looked back up at the doctor with a start. "Where are my children? Luke and Leia? What happened to them?"

The doctor got up from the chair and then sat on the bed next to her, putting his left hand on her shoulder. "Shh…It's ok…We'll explain everything…but you must stay calm or you'll overexert yourself." The doctor tried to assure her and then put both hands on here shoulders, looking her straight in the eye with concern. What do I tell this poor woman?

Padme, seeing the conflict within the doctor's eyes, started to weep and leaned up against him. "I just want to know where my family is." She said in a muffled tone as she continued to cry onto the doctor's shoulder, while he continued to comfort her.

Chapter 1

Coruscant

"Leia, you know this is as much of a surprise to the rest of us as it is to you." Han Solo said with concern from his position on the couch in their apartment.

"Yes, but…but are they sure it's her…Luke's and my mother?" Leia said as she paced the room and then stopped to look at her husband, nervously wringing her hands in front of her.

"They're quite certain." Han answered her. "The DNA tests ran by the doctors on Naboo confirm it."

Leia looked at Han with continued disbelief and then her thoughts turned to her brother. "Does Luke know yet?"

"No. He's still on that Jedi seeking mission in the outer rim. Said he's still searching for that young girl on Tatooine that has been showing a natural sensitivity to The Force." Han said, now running his hand through his hair.

"I know…I know…" Leia said as she continued to pace around the room again. "But I thought perhaps someone might have contacted him already." She said as she finally walked over and sat next to Han on the couch, to his left. She laid her head on his shoulder.

Han looked over at his wife with concern and put his left arm around her. He started caressing her left arm. "No. We thought it would be something you would like to tell him."

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Tatooine

During his trip to Tatooine, Luke decided to stop at his childhood home to see what condition it was in. The farm had been left deserted…perhaps in hope that someday Luke would be able to return to it, so everything had been left pretty much the way he last saw it, except for one thing. He hadn't been here since Ben and he had left Tatooine 4 years ago; and it looked like someone had done what he had not been able to do…give Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen a proper burial. He then made a mental note to himself to find out who did and thank them as he entered the dome and continued down the stairs to the central courtyard.

Luke walked around the central courtyard and stopped, looking around and remembering all the happy memories he had here with his aunt and uncle. He let out a sigh as tears formed in his eyes and then he turned to head for his old quarters, not knowing what he'd still find there. He knew it was probably destroyed from the attack on the farm, but he wanted to see his old room just the same.

He entered the room and started to look around the burnt out shell, recognizing some of his belongings that had become charred and covered with ash, when his hololink device began to beep. He looked down at his pouch and took out a small portable hololink. He set it on a nearby table and then activated it. "Luke Skywalker here."

Leia's image came into view with a strange look on her face. She looked happy and sad at the same time. "Luke, it's Leia."

Luke looked at her image with concern. "Leia, is everything ok. You look like you've been crying."

"I'm fine." Leia responded, pursing her lips and then smiling with tears still in her eyes. "Everything's just fine. In fact better than fine."

"Then why have you been crying?" Luke inquired, letting go of some of his worry.

Leia paused, looking at her brother, not knowing exactly how to tell him the wonderful news. "Because…they've found Mother…and…and…she's alive." She finally told him.

Luke looked at his sister in disbelief and slowly lowered himself down onto a bench. How can this be? He thought to himself as he became completely speechless, causing him pause for several seconds as he processed this unbelievable information. "Where's she been all this time?" Was all he finally managed to ask her?

"On Naboo…in a stasis chamber…" Leia told him with excitement. "Luke…They showed me a picture of her. She doesn't look a day over 30. I can't believe this, Luke. I'm beyond words."

Luke shook his head in disbelief. "Wow!" We'll meet Mother as a young woman. He thought to himself and then became concerned, wondering what the news of her being in stasis for over 20 years could possibly do to their Mother. "Leia, what has she been told? The news of her being in stasis for over 20 years must have been a great shock to her."

Leia looked back at her brother with understanding and concern. "Not much. They haven't told her how long she's been in stasis. She's been demanding answers…but, like you, they haven't been sure how she'll take the news of being in stasis for 23 years." Leia paused, looking away and then back at her brother. "She has asked about us, of course. She's worried about what happened to us."

Luke looked back at his sister with concern. "What did they tell her?"

"Just that we're fine and not to worry." Leia responded.

Luke paused thoughtfully for a moment, looking away and then back at his sister, not knowing exactly how his sister would react to his next question. "Did she ask about Father?"

Leia cringed and looked away, still hurting from how their father had caused them both so much pain and still not totally being able to forgive him it. She knew in her heart she should, considering that he saved her brother's life and helped rid the galaxy of Palpatine. But she just couldn't. She finally looked back at Luke. "She has…but…Luke…I don't even know what to tell her about Father." She sighed. "How can they tell her?"

Luke looked at Leia with determination in his eyes. "Mother has to know the truth, Leia."

"I know." Leia paused. An awkward silence formed between them, not being able to look at one another. But then Leia looked back at Luke with a guilty and sad look on her face. "Luke…" She finally said. "I'm currently in the middle of some very important negotiations with some of the Old Republic delegates. I'm not sure I can get away….I-I was hoping, with you being so close to Naboo, that you could go see Mother without me."

Luke's face lit up at the thought of seeing his mother so soon. "Of course, I'll leave right away." He then became serious. "I'm sorry you won't be able to accompany me."

Leia weakly smiled at him. "Me too." She then paused. "But what about that little girl you were looking for?" Leia asked with concern.

"It will have to wait." Luke told her. "I found her, but her parents are not very keen on the idea of me taking her away to be trained as a Jedi." He sighed. "In a way, I can't really blame them. They'd be losing their daughter to the new Jedi order for a very long time."

"Well…maybe if they have time to think about it…" Leia said with understanding.

"Maybe…" Luke responded with a hint of pessimism in his voice.

Leia weakly smiled at her brother again and then changed the subject back to their mother, with the guilty look forming on her face again. "Luke, I want you to contact me as soon as get a chance to speak with Mother. Please explain to her that I will get there as soon as I can."

"I will." Luke said while weakly smiling back at her.

Leia paused for a moment, looking away and the back at Luke. "Luke…has Father appeared to you at all lately? I mean since the celebration on Endor?"

Luke looked at Leia with shock. She's never shown this much interest in Father before. "No…" He answered her. "…but I wish he would. I'd love to get some advice from him on how to approach Mother."

Leia looked back at him and weakly smiled at him again. "Well…good luck Luke. And may The Force be with you."

"And with you, Leia." Luke responded and then turned his hololink off. He just stared into space for a moment, thinking over his conversation with Leia. He was still in a state of shock and bewilderment about the whole thing. Mother is alive.

"I always felt she was still alive…somewhere. Even though Palpatine said I'd killed her."

Upon hearing the voice, it shocked Luke out of his daze and he quickly spun around. There standing in the shadows of the room was a ghostly figure of his father. Not as an older man, but as a young Anakin Skywalker, about the same age as Luke, in Jedi Master robes.

Luke's eyes became as big as saucers. He hadn't seen him since the day he died when he appeared with Obi-Wan and Yoda on Endor. And even then he didn't speak. Luke finally regained his composure and then his tongue. "Fa-Father?"

Anakin looked at his son with love and sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry I haven't appeared to you before. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to until now. But I've always been with you, watching over you."

Luke got a puzzled look on his face and then returned his father's loving gaze. "Of course I wanted to see you, Father. I love you…you saved my life."

Anakin's face became one of anguish as he stepped closer to his son "But I failed you…your mother, your sister, heck the whole galaxy." He was now waving his arms around and he started pacing. He then stopped and faced his son again, putting his hands back down to his sides. "Obi-Wan keeps telling me that I should let go of the guilt…" Anakin looked away. "…but I can't. All the things I did over the last 23 years just keep coming back to haunt me." He then looked back up at Luke again, looking him right in the eyes. "I just wish I could have another chance to put things right."

"I wish you could have that chance too." Luke said with tears starting to form in his eyes. "I was hoping that I could have saved you from the Death Star….so you could have had that chance."

"I know you did.. And you did save me, Luke. I mean it now and meant it then. But it's more than just mere saving I need now. I guess it's more of a sense of…"

"…knowing that you put right some of the wrongs?" Luke finished.

"Yes, something like that…"

There was a pause between both of them, not know what to say next. But thinking back to his conversation with Leia, he realized that this was the opportunity he had hoped for to ask him about going to see their mother on Naboo. "Father...I don't know what to do about approaching Mother."

Anakin looked at Luke with a weak smile at the mention of his beloved wife of Padme and then became serious. "Just tell her the truth. As you told Leia, she deserves to know the truth."

"I know. But I don't know where to start. Will you come with me?" Luke said with his eyes pleading.

"I'll always be with you, Luke; but…" Anakin paused, starting to tear up and running his right hand through his hair. 'but…I…I don't know if I can face her. I hurt her more than…" Anakin suddenly sat down and started to weep.

Luke moved closer to his father…and with frustration wished he could put his arms around him to comfort him…but not able to because of his father's spiritual form. "Father, she DID ask about you. She must still love you." He finally said to try to comfort him with words instead.

Anakin looked up at his son, his eyes still moist with tears, and then looked away again.

Luke reached out his right hand towards his father, as if he wanted him to take it. "Father, come with me. See her, talk to her. If anything, make peace with her for your own well-being. So you can move on and try to get rid of some of the guilt you're carrying."

Anakin looked back at his son with loving eyes and smiled. "You've become wise, Luke. And you're probably right. I will come with you to Naboo to see your mother. But I won't appear to her until you've had a chance to talk with her and I can see what her reaction will be. I don't want to cause her any more pain than I already have."

"Sounds fair." Luke responded and then thought he'd try to lighten his father's mood. "You know…you're starting sound a bit like Obi-Wan."

Anakin looked at his son, with tears in his eyes. A smile formed on his lips and he started to chuckle. "I guess a little." He answered him with his eyes sparkling.

"You'll come to Naboo then?" Luke asked him with eager anticipation.

"Yes." Anakin answered with a smile and stood up. "…and until then…May the Force be with you, Luke." And then Anakin was gone.

"Wait! I have so much more…" Luke reached out as if to stop him from going. I hate it when Ben just abruptly vanishes and now Father's doing it. Luke sighed. "Well…I guess I'll have to get used to it if I'm going to continue talking to both of them this way.

Luke then got a huge smile on his face and began eagerly preparing for his flight to Naboo to see his and Leia's mother. Mother. Our family will soon be together again, in spirit, if nothing else.