Anakin's thoughts as he goes to bury Padme and makes the final step towards becoming Vader.
Naboo.
A beautiful, lush planet. A planet that I have not seen since before... it happened.
And now I am here to do something I had never thought I would do.
There are three days in my life that I prefer not to remember. Days that I lost control.
The day my mother died, and, in my rage and grief over her death, I killed all those Tuskens. That day, I realize now, began my path to the dark side, a path I have always, in my heart of hearts, regretted taking.
The day I fought my last battle with Obi-Wan, my former Master. My friend, my mentor, my almost-father. The day I became the monster that I am today. I should not have gone to him. I should not have given into my hatred of the Jedi Order, the Order that had tried to refuse me my wife. I fought my hardest, but Obi-Wan was fighting with the power of the Light, I with the power of Darkness. I now know that Light is stronger, but I am too set in my ways, too...evil, to change now. He pushed me, and I lost concentration. I fell, into a pit of boiling lava that changed my image forever. I climbed out of that pit a purely evil man, or so I thought.
But the day I regret most of all is the day I stood, an armored black monster, above my wife, my love, my angel. My beautiful Padme. I towered above her while she screamed for mercy. I asked her for information on my son. She said he was stillborn. I didn't, and still don't, believe her, for I feel his presence in the Force. I became enraged, and lost control once again. I drew my saber, and struck down my wife.
Now I hold her body in my arms. I cannot believe what I have done. When I fought the Tuskens, and when I fought Obi-Wan, Padme was there, to hold me and tell me everything would be alright, and that she loved me. In one moment, I destroyed the one beloved thing I had left. My Padme. I walk down the ramp of my ship, onto the green grass near the lake. The same old man who was here the first time I came with Padme, Paddy Accu, escorts me to a speeder. He catches a glimpse of the woman in my arms, and stifles a sob. He silently drives the speeder over the lake to the villa. I climb out, my beloved still in my arms. I walk past the balustrade where we shared our first kiss, and a tear escapes from the corner of my eye and rolls down my cheek under the mask. Further down the walkway is the rose-covered arbor where we exchanged our vows. I can no longer hold back the flood of tears. I walk slowly across the meadow where Padme and I once picnicked. I set her down in the soft grass that is dotted with the flowers that my Padme loved so much. I use the Force to push aside the dirt, and I make a deep hole, in which I will bury my love. When I am done, I lie down on the grass beside my Padme for the last time. I run my fingers across her bloodless lips, wishing I could kiss them, but this blasted mask is in my way. I stand, and gather my love in my arms. I gently, reverently lower her into the grave. Once again, I use the Force to move the dirt, this time to cover the face of my love. The last handful of dirt I move myself, and as I sprinkle it over the grave, I choke out the last words that Anakin Skywalker will ever say. I whisper "Goodbye, my love."
I turn and walk away. Obeying my mother, I do not look back. I am Vader. Goodbye, my love.
The End
Original cover by Cosmic. HTML formatting copyright 2003 TheForce.Net LLC.