Star Wars: The Jedi Reborn ✓

Chapter 3 - It Is Your Destiny

Playlist:

❶ "Victory Celebration" 0.01–1.20—Return of the Jedi Extended OST

❷ "Rebel Briefing" 1.20–2.28—Return of the Jedi OST

❶ At the main square, Leia spotted her brother Luke standing apart from the crowd, his sky-blue eyes staring into the distance and his black Jedi robes disappearing into the shadows behind him. She and Han bisected the plaza.

She could not determine Luke's focal point, but she saw his smile—something she had not observed in a long time, not since before Vader had invaded Hoth—not since their lives had turned upside-down on that fateful day. And definitely not since she had discovered he was her twin brother mere hours ago.

Placing her hand on his shoulder, she spun him back to the celebration.

Luke waved at her, his warm smile penetrating her. The Jedi grabbed both Han and Leia in a hug. His touch at once conveyed brotherly love and unwavering loyalty.

Han broke away. "I need to go check on something. I'll be back in a minute." He winked at Leia before pecking her on the cheek.

"Hurry back," Leia said.

Luke wrapped his arm around Leia's shoulders and guided her to a bench as Han plodded across the square. They settled down on the three-quartered log that nestled against the wooden railing. The forest floor disappeared in the darkness a hundred meters below.

❷ Leia examined his face. It looked older now ... more wrinkles on his brow ... the barely-discernible wampa scars on his lip and cheek. She slammed her eyes shut as a pang shot through her heart.

He pulled his hand away. "I'm sorry."

"What was that?"

"Noth—"

"Luke." Her eyes widened as she saw the agony in his, the tears threatening to spill. And she knew. She didn't know how she knew, but just as she knew when he was injured and needed her on Bespin, she knew he had endured this suffering ... for me. He took this for me.

"Oh, Luke." She grabbed him in both arms, holding his head to her shoulder. Not only the pain, but his grief overwhelmed her. How can he grieve for that monster—he's not our father. He's a beast.

As his emotions spilled over their Force-bond, her hatred disintegrated, unable to survive against the onslaught of the Jedi's compassion.

:Leia, he's all the family I had. He was a good man before, and he became one again.: He bit his lip, a tear threatening to fall once more. :I did it to save you and to save him, too.: His arms gripped her more tightly until his trembling hands shook against her. :And I'd do it again.:

She felt as if she were reading his thoughts, the communion resonating between them. She nodded and held him to her, letting him sob and shudder. "I'm sorry. I cannot mourn him, Luke."

"He's part of the Force now." He wiped the tears from his eyes and looked into hers. "The real man, the real Anakin, lives on."

Images of blue ethereal beings popped into her mind. I wonder how Vader died. Did Luke fail? Did Vader not turn back? Did Luke have to kill his own father?

Then she heard his voice, but he did not speak. :No. Our father turned back, Leia. He sacrificed his life to save me, to save you. There's still good in him.:

She bit back a tear and clenched her eyes shut. Strong hands held her. Beautiful blue Alderaan with its snow-capped mountains and stunning Aldea City—her home planet loomed in front of her eyes once more. Those gloved hands dug into her shoulders now. Even now, she squirmed in the remembered clutches of that monster ... her father.

"Leia." Luke shook her. "It's not real."

She pressed her lips together. "It was. He held me. He made me watch Alderaan blow up. I could have prevented it." Leia pulled away from Luke and stared into the night as tears creeped down her cheeks. She mumbled, "I could have given them what they wanted, but I didn't." Turning quickly to her brother once more, her rage ignited. "He killed them, Luke. He killed my parents. How could he? He was their friend. My father revered Anakin Skywalker."

"But he repented, Leia."

Luke tried to hold her once more, but she shook him off. "Did you forget that he froze Han in carbonite? Sold him off to Jabba? Took off your hand? Almost killed you?"

"He could never kill me. There was too much love in him." His voice penetrated her soul like it did the night before on the catwalk when he told her the awful truth.

She pulled away from her brother and crossed her arms. "How could that monster have any love in him?"

Luke clenched his gloved right fist, staring at it before meeting her eyes.

She worried at the wooden planks beneath her feet, feeling the grooves in the timbers and the cracks in between each one. "You may forgive Vader, but I never will. Nothing can atone for his deeds."

He bit his lip and grimaced as he pulled her into an embrace. "Leia, don't turn into him. Anger, fear, hatred—they lead to the dark side."

She drew away once more. "I'm not a Jedi."

"You will be. It is your destiny." He squatted to come eye-to-eye with her. "Will you be the daughter of Anakin Skywalker or the daughter of Darth Vader? Only you can choose your path."

Leia stepped to the railing and stared into the dark forest. Vader? Skywalker? Why can't I just be Organa?

Did you know ...

● Growing up in the Outer Rim, Luke was protected from the reports of most of Vader's vile deeds. Leia, a member of the Rebel Alliance to Restore the Republic from a young age, was not so fortunate. Many times, her close friends suffered at Vader's hands. At times, she was a victim as well.

●In Bloodline, Claudia Grey reveals that Leia never really forgives Vader.

Tell me what you think ...

● Would you be able to forgive Vader if you were Leia?

● Do you think if Leia doesn't forgive she will turn into another Vader?