Star Wars - The Price of Redemption

Author's Note: Hello, and thanks for coming to read my story! A bit of a heads up, though, this story's in an "alternate universe", and some of the characters may seem OOC since I've only watched the 6 movies, some EU books, and the "Clone Wars" cartoon series, so I do not have much knowledge on all the events from the massive STAR WARS universe, and my apologies if this does not seem like the other multiple FF stories on here

Anyway, I'm writing this story because of the fact that "Episode VII" will be released in 2 weeks from now, which I had never thought would happen, so this is coming out of my fanboy excitement

I was 11 when "Revenge of the Sith" came out, and now I am 21, waiting to see the 7th installment of the new sequel trilogy!

But back to my story… I, too, wondered how things would be if somehow Anakin had been able to live alongside Luke after the now-former Sith turned back to the good side and killed Emperor Palpatine

If this seems similar to other fan stories on here, it is simply because I was inspired by them, and not because I am taking credit for another person's work

So, in short, I hope you all enjoy this story, and I will probably be in a theater with readers like you in 2 weeks to see "The Force Awakens"... Oh, and all rights go to Disney/Lucasfilm

Chapter 1 (Bringing Balance)

"Hahahaha," laughed Emperor Palpatine, clapping his hands, and filled with glee as he witnessed what he assumed was a working plan. "Good, good…"

Luke Skywalker, the 23-year-old Jedi from Tatooine, was simply breathing but not saying a single word.

In front of him was Darth Vader, the "Dark Lord" of the Empire, whose right hand was now sliced off… because of Luke's lightsaber.

Luke had begun using his rage and anger as fuel while fighting his father, but he stopped himself when he realized that if he continued acting this way, he would follow the same path his father had.

As the Jedi looked at his own mechanical hand, Emperor Palpatine grinned, and said, "I can feel the hate inside of you… now, complete your destiny, and take your father's place at my side!"

Looking back at Vader, Luke shook his head, deciding what his choice would be.

Turning to face the Emperor, the young Jedi tossed his lightsaber to the ground.

"Never… I'll never turn to the dark side," replied Luke. "You have failed, your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

The smile on Palpatine's face quickly disappeared as soon as Luke had finished his sentence, and the glee turned into pure hatred.

"So be it, Jedi… If you will not be turned, you will be destroyed!"

All of a sudden, the Emperor's fingertips began to shoot out powerful and deadly "Force Lightning" energy bolts at young Skywalker, who groaned in pain while being thrown into some heavy canisters.

"Your feeble skills are no match for the power of the Dark Side," growled Palpatine.

As for Vader, he simply limped over to be by his master's wide, silent as he watched his son collapse to the ground, being almost electrified to death.

"Father, please," begged Luke, reaching out to his father, hoping that the goodness he had sensed inside him would prevail. "Help me!"

As he continued to watch, Vader felt like this was the same situation from two decades ago, when he was deciding to either help Master Windu or side with Palpatine.

Luke let out a final cry of pain when the Emperor paused to say, "Now, young Skywalker… you will die!"

Trying to catch his breath, Luke tried to stand up, but he wasn't strong enough, especially when the energy bolts came back, causing more excruciating pain.

Vader looked from his master to his son, listening to his cries of pain, and all of a sudden, it was like a door had opened up inside his mind, and memories of loved ones he'd lost were coming at him all at once.

Obi-Wan… Padmé… his mother...

You were my brother, Anakin! I loved you!

I don't know you anymore. Anakin, you're breaking my heart!

He'd been unable to keep them from dying, but he realized that if he did not act fast, his son would follow that same path.

No, thought Vader. This can't happen… this cannot be my destiny!

And, then, in that moment, he was Anakin Skywalker again, choosing to save his son by turning to the Emperor and lifting him above his head, ignoring his master's yells.

As for Luke, he thought he was going to die right before Palpatine's attack stopped, and the young Jedi was surprised to see his father taking the Emperor over to the edge of the abyss at the central core of the throne room.

Using as much of his newfound strength as possible, Anakin hurled the Emperor's body into the bottomless shaft, then peering close to the edge to watch his master's body spin fall into the metallic abyss.

Then, an explosion erupted, followed by a rush of blue light, and Luke, not wanting his father to fall over the edge, went over to his father's side and pulled him back to safety.

As they both collapsed, Luke could hear his father's breathing system giving a noise that almost sounded like wheezing, so he pushed himself to stand up, and with his father leaning over his shoulder, the two of them were able to reach the Death Star's docking bay, where generals and officials and stormtroopers and others were trying to hurry out before its eventual destruction.

Eying an available Imperial shuttle, Luke walked over to the ship's ramp, but the pain from the Force lightning came back, and after his father collapsed, the young Jedi felt his knees give out.

As he lifted up his father, Luke was surprised when he said, "Luke, help me take… this mask off…"

"But you'll die," replied Anakin's son, who could not believe what he was hearing.

"Nothing can stop that now," said Anakin, knowing his time was almost up. "Just for once, let me look on you with my own eyes."

Luke wanted to say more, but he could feel that his father was not going to change his mind, so in just a few minutes, the helmet was off, and Luke was now seeing his father face-to-face.

As Anakin smiled, Luke was simply surprised at how he looked. There was a scar on the side of his head, and he looked like he had not seen sunlight in ages.

"Now, go, my son…" replied Anakin. "Leave me…"

But Luke was not going to give up so easy. "No, you're coming with me…. I won't leave you here, I've got to save you."

"You already have, Luke," replied Anakin, referring to the fact that he had helped bring him back to the light side of the Force.

The prophecy was being fulfilled…

"You were right about me," he added. "Tell your sister you were right."

But before Luke could reply back, he could sense his father's energy leaving his body.

"Father…" But Anakin simply closed his eyes one last time. "I won't leave you!"

It was too late. Like Obi-Wan and Yoda, his father had become one with the Force.

With a deep sigh, Luke closed his eyes, and then, he kissed his hand, touched his father's forehead, and a few minutes later, once the body was safely inside… or rather an empty suit of armor… Luke departed from the Death Star, heading back to the Ewok planet.

Several hours later, after having a private fire-burning funeral for his father, Luke walked back to the Ewok village, where everyone was celebrating their spectacular victory.

He quickly felt better after being embraced by her sister, Leia, followed by Han and Chewie, and soon joined in on the celebration.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, everyone was celebrating the fall of the Empire, including those on Naboo and Coruscant, finally free of Emperor Palpatine.

Even some "old friends" were pleased with the victory that the Rebels had brought.

As Luke left the celebration for a moment, looking towards the night sky, he smiled when he saw the Force ghosts of Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi and Yoda… soon followed by a third ghost, whom he instinctively recognized as a younger version of his father.

His smile grew wider, but his moment was broken when a concerned Leia came over, hoping that her brother was okay.

Luke simply smiled warmly, and as both her and Han brought the heroic Jedi back to the celebration, the three ghosts also watched with happiness as the Alliance celebrated the dawning of a new era.

Sometime later…

"Anakin." … "Anakin!" … "ANAKIN!"

All of a sudden, the Jedi Knight felt his eyes open up, as if he'd woken up from a dream that had lasted a lifetime.

"I wondered when you'd finally wake up, old friend."

Anakin was about to answer when he stopped to look where he was at.

Wait a minute. This is my… mine and Padmé's quarters… am i in…

"Coruscant?" replied Obi-Wan, reading the mind of his "brother".

Before he could say anything, Anakin noticed that something was off.

Obi-Wan was still a Force ghost, but for some reason… he felt… different...

"What is going on?"

The Jedi master smiled, and said, "I think it's best if you go look in the mirror."

Getting up from his bed, Anakin made his way to the restroom, quickly realizing that he definitely was not a ghost anymore.

"I'm alive?" said Anakin, still looking at his reflection. It was the way he would have looked around this time, had he not become seduced by the Dark Side.

The 45-year-old man was relieved that he still had most of his hair, although it was a bit more shortened and well-cut.

"This is impossible…"

Obi-Wan smirked, and said, "Only if you believe it is, Anakin…"

"No, I mean… I cannot be… alive," replied the Chosen One. "I died seeing my son with my own eyes!"

His former Master simply crossed his arms, and said, "All things happen for a reason, Anakin…"

With a smirk, Obi-Wan added, "Let's just call this a second chance to live your life… but in the correct way this time."

Anakin was overwhelmed. "This is… I… thank you, Obi-Wan…"

"I appreciate the compliment, but no need to thank me," answered his former Master.

"How long's it been since the celebration?"

The Force ghost of Ben Kenobi replied, "Only a few months… but you'd be surprised how much can change in that amount of time."

Anakin was starting to feel a bit irritated with Obi-Wan. "Can you simply just-"

"Just look outside, and you'll see where to start."

Rolling his eyes, but having a smirk on his face, Anakin went to the balcony of his apartment, feeling a soft tug at his heart as he remembered when he and Padmé used to look up at the night sky, counting the stars one by one as they appeared.

If only she were here with me… but she can't… and it's all my fault

"Not entirely, at least."

"Is this going to be a regular thing with you?" exclaimed Anakin.

Obi-Wan simply said, "Only when I am needed… and I'm sorry about Padmé, Anakin, but that can also be fixed, as well."

"What are you saying?" said Anakin. "That she is alive, like me?"

Before he could answer, they were interrupted by a sudden noise at the door.

"Someone's trying to break in?"

Anakin consciously reached for his lightsaber, but quickly figured out that he did not have one. "Obi-Wan, why do I…"

But his best friend was now gone.

Why am I not surprised?

As the doorknob continued rattling, Anakin simply did the first thing that came to his mind… running to hide inside the closet.

When the former Sith lord closed the closet door, the one to the entrance opened, and he heard a voice say, "See? Told ya, piece of cake!"

Han Solo?

As the rebellious pilot walked into the apartment, the people behind him followed suit, with one of them saying, "Oh, sure, you've probably done this multiple times."

Leia?

"Look, princess, let's just look for what the kid needs, and get out of here."

Anakin frowned in confusion. Was he talking about Luke?

"Don't worry, Han, I can find it," replied Luke, entering the room, as well. "You can go back with the ship."

"Whatever makes you happy, kid," replied Han, leaving the room. "Feels a bit weird in here anyway."

As he left, Leia turned to look at her brother, placing her hands on her hips.

"What?" said Luke.

"There is something you are not telling me," replied Leia. "Why else would you have us walk up here?"

Luke answered, "Because I can feel h - someone in here besides us."

Leia looked confused. "What are… Han just left, Luke, it's just us in this room, along with-"

She was interrupted by the sound of multiple buttons and noises coming from an astromech droid. "R2? What is it?"

Letting out a few beeps and whistles, the blue miniature droid slided across the floor, into the master room, and stopping at the closet.

[Over here, Luke] said R2-D2, talking to his new master in beeps and whistles.

"Artoo, that is only a closet." Leia exclaimed.

But Luke felt otherwise. "No, I can feel it, too,,."

As the young Jedi reached the closet doors, Anakin held his breath, trying very hard to not make a sound.

["Huh… maybe I'm imagining things] beeped Artoo Deetoo, as he rolled away, but Luke was not so sure.

"Wait a minute…"

All of a sudden, Anakin heard his son's voice appear in his mind. "Father, I know you are in here. I can sense your presence."

At first, he remained silent, but then, he heard Leia say, "Luke, what's happening? Why does it feel... so strange all of a sudden?"

"Father, just come out before she finds you herself."

Part of him wanted to, but the rest of him was not so sure, especially since he would definitely not receive a warm welcome from his own daughter.

Speaking of Leia, she turned Luke to face her, and said, "Explain, Luke, because the fact that, on this particular day, from out of the blue, you wanted to retrieve something from this room that belonged to someone I do not know of, and now you-"

She wanted to finish her sentence, but stopped when she saw a middle-aged but youngish man step out of the closet.

"Oh… our apologies, sir," said Leia, in a polite tone. "Is this your place?"

"You could say that, yeah," replied Anakin, knowing that she did not recognize him.

As for Luke, he simply smiled, sensing Leia's confusion and his father's discomfort. "How are you feeling, Father?"

"Father?" Leia looked at her brother with confusion. "Luke, your father is dead… you told me you burned his suit back on Endor."

"Yes, that is true, but… well…" replied Luke.

Anakin sighed, knowing whatever came next would not be very pleasant.

"Miss Leia… your brother is right."

"How did you know he was-"

The hero without fear said, "I know because I could sense it through his feelings… you look so much like your mother…"

"Who are you?" Leia asked, her confusion becoming mixed with irritation.

"My name is Anakin Skywalker," replied the Jedi Knight. "But I used to be Darth Vader… and I am also the father to you both."

Author's Note - Things are about to become interesting!

If you readers enjoy the story so far, then that's great to hear! Just leave a review and tell me what you think!

And again, my apologies if I leave out certain things. Still trying to catch up with the other fans...