A Journey Through the Stars

by OpenBookLina

Ariel wasn't a stranger when it came to experiencing the evil of the Galactic Empire firsthand. When she was six, her world was ripped apart, however she found a sense of hope after meeting a certain princess, creating a lifelong friendship and, years later, igniting an adventure she never saw coming, involving a pirate and a farm boy would would be the galaxy's last hope.

1. A Perfect Day

Soooo why am I adding another story? Because I like a challenge and sometimes just don't think, haha.

Hello everyone! Okay, so I've been a Star wars fan for quite some time now, thanks to my amazing family who finally got me to sit down and actually give the movies a try. Needless to say, after watching A New Hope, I was instantly hooked, and it became my favorite out of the original six movies. Ever since then I have become a big fan of the series, and I now have all movies including The Force Awakens, a Darth Vader blanket, and I'm contemplating searching the internet for a mini R2-D2 robot, hahaha.

Anyway, this is an idea that I've had in my head for some time, and I know this topic is popular in the fanfiction world, but I wanted to give it a go and try it out for myself. Just as a heads up, this story will stick pretty darn close to cannon, but with my own twists, and it will have all the good stuff we love: action, love, betrayal, power, and so much more. I will do my best to make this story as good as people expect or hope it will be, and depending on how this one goes will determine any future sequels/prequels, side stories, etc. Now if you are all reading this, that means I actually have time to write this one out, and this is only the first of many chapters I have typed up and ready to go, although I plan on posting them only once a week.

Well, with that being said, I present to you the first chapter of A Journey Through the Stars, and I hope you all like it. If there are any questions, comments, or concerns, please message me. Just a heads up, while I do love everything to do with Star Wars I am not one hundred percent addicted, meaning I am not knowledgeable about every little detail or history in the Star Wars universe, so every once in a while you may find a name or term that is not familiar. Also, as far as my actual knowledge of Star Wars goes, I have seen all movies (inclusing the most recent Solo movie) but this chapter was actually types out over a year ago at least. I have only seen clips of the Clone Wars and Rebels series, never sat down and watched the full episodes, and I read maybe only two books. So since my knowledge of terms/lore/history is limited I only ask that if you come accross something in my chapters that is wrong or is confusing please just point it out to me and I will explain/fix it.

Anyway, if you guys have any questions or comments please let me know and review to let me know what you think. Just as a warning, there more than likely will be slow updates for this story aince my Harry Potter ones are my top priority at the moment. Thank you all for taking the time to read this, and I'll see you at the bottom. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing in Star Wars! It all belongs to the amazing George Lucas and the wonderful minds at Disney.

Chapter One: A Perfect Day

ArielPOV

"Where are you? Come out, come out, wherever you are…"

Ariel giggled as she curled tighter into herself, trying to make herself as invisible as possible as she hid underneath the kitchen table, watching as a pair of feet slowly inched around it and the woman who they belonged to, wondered aloud where she could be.

"Now, where could my little girl be hiding, hmm?" Ariel heard her muse, and she had to place her hands over to mouth to keep herself from giggling even further. "I could have sworn I saw her around here somewhere. Is she in the cabinet? No, not there…surely not in the closet? Not there either. I wonder…could she be under the table?"

Ariel couldn't help but squeal in delight as the woman bent down suddenly, and the small child was greeted by the lovely, smiling face of her mother, Karina. Karina's face seemed to glow as she smiled radiantly at her young daughter, her jade green eyes sparkling and loose strands of her goldenrod hair framing her sun-kissed cheeks. She reached out for Ariel, but the child, thinking quick, ducked out of her mother's reach and scrambled to her feet out on the other side of the table, shrieking with laughter as she went. She began sprinting round and round the table with Karina on her heels, her braids bouncing on her shoulders as she moved. Soon she made a brake for the back door leading out into the backyard, thrusting it open and shooting out into the bright sunlight, her bare feet padding against the smooth blades of grass. Karina followed her all the way outside, lifting the skirts of her dress as she ran all the way to the prune tree, where Ariel had darted behind in hope of cover. The beaming six-year-old continued on laughing as Karina reached the tree, peeking over one side with a mischievous grin.

"I'm going to get you, Ariel," she taunted playfully.

"No!" Ariel countered through her giggles, looking for a way out, but finding it difficult with Karina watching her every move. Eventually, Ariel decided the risk was worth it and shot out to the left, making a dash for the crumbling stone wall that circled the perimeter of their farm. However, she barely even ran for five seconds before she felt a pair of gentle yet firm hand wrap themselves around her waist, twist her around and hoist her high into the air. She let out another squeal and marveled at her capture, smiling down at her mother, who started swinging her around in circles.

"You got me, Mama! You got me!" Ariel said gaily.

"I sure did. And I'm never letting you go," Karina said, joining in on her daughter's laughter as she pulled Ariel back down closer to her chest and then toppled them both down to the ground. Soon they were rolling together down the tiny slope, the blades of grass itching their faces and the dirt staining their skirts. Soon they came to a stop, with Ariel laying on top of Karina in a giggling frenzy, her hair falling out of her braids in a wild fashion, and her smile bright enough to light up the entire universe. For a moment the two of them paused in their fun to catch their breaths, with Karina still holding Ariel close to her, using her fingers to wipe away a smudge of dirt that was on her face.

"Let's play again, Mama," Ariel said breathlessly. "Now it's my turn to catch you!"

"I'm afraid that's enough play for right now, sweetheart," Karina said as she pushed herself up into a sitting position and placed Ariel in her lap. "We need to go back inside for mid-meal, and then we have to finishing preparing the crops for the market sale."

"But Mama," Ariel whined, her happiness quickly deflating at the thought of stopping their game.

"None of that, Ariel," Karina said sternly, taking hold of Ariel's hands. "What do I always tell you?"

"When you put your mind to the task ahead, happiness awaits at the end," Ariel replied.

"Exactly," Karina said with a kind smile. "Once we have everything prepared for the market sale, we can play a little more before we have evening-meal, okay? And don't forget, Mr. Kudo is coming over tonight as well—"

"Come on Mama, we have to have mid-meal and finish the crops!" Ariel exclaimed as she pulled her hands free from her mother and then dashed back up the slope and towards the house as fast as her feet could carry her. How could she forget that Mr. Kudo was coming over for evening-meal?! She'll have to work extra hard to help her mother make sure everything gets done.

Mr. Kudo was their neighbor who lived just over a mile down the dirt road, more into the depths of the wood that surrounded the valley in which they lived, in their village. Ariel admired him greatly and enjoyed his company very much, despite his seemingly intimidating appearance. He came by their farm every once in a while, sometimes to help out with the chores if need be, and he always made sure to slip some treats into Ariel's pocket whenever he saw her. The little girl also loved the stories that Mr. Kudo would tell—tales of the old Republic, of brave warriors, high speed chases, and daring duels that he had been involved in during his youth. Ariel would always listen to his stories with rapt attention, so engrossed in them she could picture everything in her mind so very clearly. Mr. Kudo was a kind old soul, so very wise, and Ariel loved it when he came over to visit.

Therefore, she rushed into the house and hurriedly washed herself off before seating herself at the kitchen table to wait impatiently as Karina finished cooking their mid-meal. Once Karina placed a bowl of hot stew onto the table Ariel wasted no time in digging in, having to be scolded by her mother to slow down and not burn her tongue. Despite her rushed attitude, it was a very lovely meal, where Ariel and Karina talked about little things, such as the market sale that was to take place in a few days and what they could do with the extra money they got from the crops and produce they usually sell. Karina was toying with the idea of possibly buying an old model droid to help around the house, while Ariel practically begged to buy a couple animals for her to play with. Promising that they would see how the sale goes before considering getting any animals, Karina and Ariel finished their meal, washed the dishes and then headed outside to gather their crops.

Ariel ran ahead of her mother with the glee and innocence only a small child could have, her wicker basket swinging from her arm and a slight skip in her step as she made her way out into the field where they were growing their produce and herbs, all lined up in lush colors of greens, yellows, oranges and browns, their stems intertwining and their roots stretching deep into the dirt. Karina set all of their baskets down in the middle of one isle of Kriffnuts and then she set to work on pulling them from the ground, along with Ariel. For the next few hours it was constantly pulling and packing as they picked all of their Kriffnuts and then moved on to their Lubos, Ferns, and Laibeens. It was hard work, testing their will and their muscles, and Ariel, being so small, could not move as fast as Karina, but with their combined effort they were able to get the job done just as the sun started to set in the sky. By the time they were finished, they had baskets as well as crates filled to the brim with all of their products, ready to be sealed and taken down to the market sale. Once everything was accounted for, the two of them went back into the house, where Karina set to work on their dinner and Ariel ran up to her room to retrieve her favorite doll, which her mother made for her on her last birthday, consisting of soft, almost satin-like material stuffed with sand, with thin brown yarn stitched to the head to represent hair and a pretty painted face smiling back at her, complete with a simple blue dress. Ariel had been positively thrilled with her gift, and had taken to carrying the precious doll almost everywhere she went, affectionately naming her Luna. Holding Luna close, Ariel made her way back downstairs and settled herself on the kitchen floor to play while Karina finished their supper. A little while later, there was a sudden knock at their front door and Ariel practically leapt to her feet in her excitement, racing out of the kitchen and darting into the front room, where she threw open the door and beamed upon seeing the being on the other side.

"Mr. Kudo!" she squealed in delight as she rushed forward and tackled him, throwing her tiny arms around his waist. Mr. Kudo had bright blue scales that covered most of his body, small, black beady eyes, clawed hands, a long snout, and a bald head with stringy, wire-like white hairs sticking out on the sides by his pointy ears. He wore long, brown robes with a hood, covering a tan tunic with matching pants that have been worn with age. Mr. Kudo smiled down at the young girl attaching to his mid-section and tenderly patted her head, looking down into her bright green eyes.

"Hello, Ariel," Mr. Kudo greeted. "How are you, dear youngling?"

"I'm okay, thanks," Ariel said, refusing to remove her grip from him. "Mama's making nurf tenders with grains!"

"That does sound delicious," Mr. Kudo said. "Why don't we go and see if she needs any help?"

Ariel nodded her head vigorously at the suggestion but refused to loosen her grip on his waist, preferring to hold on tight as Mr. Kudo dragged her along with him, her giggles floating as he took her into the kitchen where Karina was dishing out the delicious food.

"Ariel," Karina reprimanded.

"No harm done, Karina, this little one was just excited," Mr. Kudo said. "How are you?"

"I am good, thank you, Kudo," Karina replied. "All right Ariel, take a seat now, sweetheart, it is time to eat."

The next half hour or so was filled with the content sounds of forks and spoons scraping against plates as the hot meal Karina prepared was eaten with much appreciation and delight, with Ariel swinging her small legs back and forth in her chair as she told Mr. Kudo all about her imaginary adventures that she's had with Luna and the friendly wildlife that lived close to her home.

"And then we blew up the station with our blasters and flew away on flying Banthas!" she said, ending one superb story of how she saved Luna from the evil clutches of the Stormtroopers.

"My, that is quite the adventure you had, young one," Mr. Kudo chuckled.

"Yeah, and we're going to have a lot more when I'm older," Ariel said with confidence, holding Luna to her side as she continued eating the last bites of her food. "I'm going to get a ship, then me, Mama, and Luna are going to fly through the galaxy! Right, Mama?"

"One day maybe, sweetie," Karina answered with a small smile.

"Your daughter certainly has a knack for telling interesting stories," Mr. Kudo stated.

"Mama does too, she tells me about the adventures she went on too," Ariel said. "She saved a whole kingdom when she was a little girl, and she was the princess."

"My imagination was quite wild, once upon a time," Karina explained, taking a sip from her cup. "Are you done, Ariel?"

"Yes Mama," the young girl replied with a nod. "Mr. Kudo, do you want to play?"

"Ariel, I'm sure Mr. Kudo must be feeling very tired," Karina said.

"Nonsense, it would be my pleasure," Kudo said, wiping his mouth before turning to the child. "What game would you like to play?"

"Ohh, let's play Beat the Bonkas!" Ariel said as she jumped up from her seat and grabbed a hold of Luna in her excitement. "We can make a fort in the front room! We need reintortments to stop the Bonkas from invading!"

"Reinforcements, dear," Karina corrected.

"Yeah, that!" Ariel said, practically jumping up and down. "Come on, Mr. Kudo!"

"You go ahead and start on the fort Ariel, while I help your mother clean up," Kudo said. "I will be there shortly."

"Okay, come on Luna, let's go," Ariel said as she shot out of the kitchen and into the front room, already picturing the structure of the fort in her mind. She started getting to work instantly, taking the two wooden chairs sitting in the corners and arranging them a certain way, along with the two couch cushions, table light, a small stack of holo-books, and the side table. Ariel looked at her fort, quite proud of herself, before she realized that she needed a roof of some kind. But what should she use? Maybe her bedsheets from upstairs? That would be great, but she should probably ask her mother first. Darting out from behind her soon to be finished fort, Ariel started heading back over towards the kitchen when the sudden sound of raised voices stopped her in her tracks.

"…is not going to be involved in this!"

Ariel smile was wiped off her face at her mother's tone and she skittered to a halt just outside of the kitchen next to the doorway. She stood there for a moment, surprised at how sharp and unyielding her voice was. Was she mad at Mr. Kudo? Were they fighting? Holding Luna closer to her chest, Ariel leaned against the wall separating her from the kitchen and listened in while being hidden.

"You know I would never suggest you risking your daughter's life, Karina," Mr. Kudo said in a calm, soothing voice. "I was only suggesting that maybe she should know some of the truth, that's all."

"She's only six years old," Karina countered, her voice lower than it was before. "I want her to grow up living a normal childhood, not with those thoughts haunting her."

"How much longer do you think she will have the opportunity to live a normal childhood?" Mr. Kudo asked. "The Empire's stretching out its hand further across the galaxy every day, and it won't be long before we find ourselves under its shadow. I have a felt it, Karina…a great disturbance in the Force. I feel that something terrible is bound to happen, although I cannot tell what it is."

"Knowing the Force, I'm sure it's something unthinkable," Karina muttered, and Ariel could hear the frown in her tone. "All it ever does is bring pain."

"You know that is not true," Mr. Kudo said softly.

"Give me one reason why I should think otherwise," Karina said, and Ariel heard the sound of water hitting the dishes. "It's bad enough you fill Ariel's head with it. She's not a Padawan."

"I know, but she still should know about the ways of the Force, even if she cannot practice it herself," Mr. Kudo said. "If she grasps it early, then she can see the light of this world, rather than the dark."

"Not this early though," Karina said. "It's not for you to decide, you're not her father!"

There was a moment of complete silence, and Ariel hardly breathed as she continued to listen, wondering why her mother was so upset.

"I-I'm sorry, Kudo," Karina whispered, her voice going from bitterly sharp to gently saddened. "I know how much she means to you. I didn't mean…"

"I understand," Mr. Kudo assured her softly. "I do admit, you and Ariel have come to be important to me, but I know that I could never take Ariel's father's place, nor is it my intention."

"I know that. I just…the work you and I do…I would rather wait to let Ariel be aware of it. She's still so very young, I want her to have a normal life before it gets ruined."

"You want to keep her safe, like any other good parent," Mr. Kudo praised in approval. "But you must also remember that the horrors of your past that you keep buried will not be brought upon Ariel."

"How can you be so certain, Kudo? My biggest fear is that the shadow of my past will take it's vengeance on my daughter. I—I already lost so much, if anything happened…"

There was another moment of silence, and Ariel's face fell, feeling incredibly saddened by Karina's voice. Why was her mother so upset? What was wrong?

"Anyway, here is what I have gathered from our intel from the market last week," Karina finally muttered. "Will you make sure it gets there safely?"

"Of course," Mr. Kudo replied. "When are you meeting with him again?"

"In two days," Karina answered. "How long will you be gone?"

"Not long, I have an arrangement set up so that I may leave tonight," Mr. Kudo said. Ariel had no idea what her mother or Mr. Kudo was talking about and their word confused her greatly. Mr. Kudo was leaving? Where was he going? Why did her mother sound so angry with him earlier? Did she do something wrong? Feeling bad about eavesdropping, Ariel slowly walked out from her hiding place, entering the kitchen in time to see Mr. Kudo place something inside of his robes. The two adults looked over to Ariel as she entered, and Karina's eyes grew wide.

"Ariel," she said. "Sweetheart, what are you doing?"

"I—I wanted to ask if I could use my bedsheets for the fort," Ariel said quietly, biting her bottom lip. "I heard you and Mr. Kudo arguing…did I do something bad?"

"Oh Ariel ," Karina sighed softly, walking over to her daughter and wrapping her up in a warm hug, stroking the back of her head. "No baby, you didn't do anything bad. Mama and Mr. Kudo were just talking about something important, and Mama got frustrated, that's all. You know you're not supposed to be listening in on other people's conversations, though."

"I'm sorry, Mama," Ariel said, hugging her back. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kudo."

"It's all right, youngling," Mr. Kudo said with a kind smile. "What do you say we go and finish that fort, huh?"

Some of Ariel's earlier excitement returned to her and she smiled as she broke off from her mother's hug, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and then left the kitchen to go upstairs and grab her bedsheets, with Mr. Kudo trailing behind her.

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Later on that night, when a wonderful game of Beat the Bonkas was well spent, and resulting in a very messy front room, Ariel was bouncing on her bed, her face positively beaming with glee as she rose and fell, her covers bunched up around her feet and her hair dancing around her as she moved, her jade green eyes twinkling. The soft hue of her lamp cast dancing shadows along the vibrant green walls of her room, across holo-pictures and shelves holding toys. A giggle left Ariel's mouth as she continued bouncing on her bed in circles, and it kept on going even after the door to her room opened and a gentle yet stern voice called out to her.

"Ariel, you were supposed to go to sleep ten minutes ago," said Karina.

"But Mama, I can't sleep!" Ariel exclaimed, pointing out of her window where a beautiful aurora was shifting across the sky, weaving in between the stars in a mixture of different lovely colors. "The sky is awake! So I'm awake!"

Ariel continued on with her bouncing at this point, her innocent smile lighting up the room even more while Karina sighed softly and managed to give her daughter a smile despite herself.

"Where do the colors come from, Mama?" Ariel asked in between bounces. "Do the angels make them? The ones you told me about?"

"I'm not sure sweetheart," Karina replied as she crossed the room and took a seat on the mattress. "Although I wouldn't be surprised, something so pure and beautiful could only be made by something equally as beautiful. Now that is enough playtime, it's time for bed."

"But I'm not tired!" Ariel protested stubbornly.

"Ariel," Karina said, furrowing her eyebrows and giving her a tone that clearly said this was not up for discussion. Ariel, being on the receiving end of that tone many times, instantly stopped bouncing and her face fell.

"I'm not tired," she repeated softly.

"Come here and lay down," Karina instructed, reaching around to straighten out the blankets and pull them back. "I'll play with your hair until you fall asleep."

"Can you tell me a story, Mama?" Ariel asked as she reluctantly fell down onto her bed and pushed herself underneath the covers as Karina pulled them over her. "Please?"

"Which one do you want to hear?"

"The one about you and Papa," Ariel said, a smile on her face. "That one's my favorite."

"Ariel, you've heard this one a thousand times," Karina said, shaking her head while giving Ariel a tender and amused smile.

"Pleeeeeeeaasee?" Ariel pouted, making her eyes nice and big, sticking out her bottom lip.

"Oh, all right then," Karina said with a light laugh. "But after that it's straight to bed, missy."

Ariel nodded her head eagerly as she snuggled up against her mother, grabbing Luna and tucking her underneath her arm. Karina smiled down at her as she leaned back against the headboard, using one hand to run her fingers through Ariel's wavy locks and resting the other one in her lap.

"Well, once upon a time, there was a lonely girl named Karina who lived on a planet so very far away across the galaxy," Karina started. "She lost her family when she was little, and had to work for a mean, bad creature called the Blocka."

"Meanie Blocka," Ariel said, scrunching her nose in distaste.

"Yes, he was big, green, and really smelly," Karina chuckled. "Karina worked for him for a long time until she was able to escape with the help of a kind man who took her to another planet where he offered her a job working in his home. A while later, Karina met a boy, who was so very handsome and brave as well, and was one of the best soldiers in the army."

"Papa!" Ariel beamed, knowing the man who had stolen her mother's heart so long ago. "Papa was a good guy, wasn't he?"

"You bet, honey," Karina agreed, her smile becoming more nostalgic. "Your papa was an excellent fighter, and he was a part of many missions during the war. His name was Kaden. He and Karina met during her apprenticeship to a wise healer and they soon began courting each other."

"What's courting again, Mama?" Ariel asked curiously. "And ap—apren…"

"Apprenticeship, dear. It's when a master takes in a student to teach them their trade, such as healing people who were sick or hurt, like Mama does sometimes dor our village. And Courting is when a man takes a woman for special outings," Karina explained. "One time your papa took me all the way to the Zaldan System, just to see the aurora at its brightest, and we had a picnic there as well. Anyway, Karina and Kaden courted for a long while until they decided to get married."

"I bet you were the most beautiful bride ever!" Ariel stated with bright eyes.

"Your papa certainly thought so," Karina said. "It wasn't a big wedding, just small enough for his family, and a few of our dear friends."

"Didn't your family come too, Mama?"

"No, sweetheart," Karina answered, her smile turning sad at this. "I didn't really have any family, but it was okay, because Kaden was my new family."

"Was this your wedding ring?" Ariel asked, curiously pointing at the ring resting on the hand that was in her lap. Out of everything they owned, Ariel knew that this ring was especially precious to Karina, and one of her most treasured items. It was a worn, simple silver ring that had a beautiful white stone the size of a tiny pebble embedded in it that looked as though it was dipped in stardust, shining brightly even in the dim light.

"No, this wasn't my wedding ring, I wear that one on this hand," Karina said, gesturing to the other simple golden band that she wore on her left hand, engraved with tiny flower designs. "This one here was a gift."

"From who, Mama?"

"Nice try missy, no more distractions, now. Let's get back to the story. Years later, as the war was ending, Kaden had gone off with others to find the last of the evil droids to put an end to it…but something went very wrong. The battle turned bad, and…and then…"

"And Papa went away?" Ariel said quietly, her happiness fading away as it always did at this part in the story. Karina was silent as she took a deep breath, her eyes becoming glossy looking. Ariel always hated seeing her mother cry, it made her feel bad. She knew that Mama loved Papa so very much, and she missed him all the time. These bedtime stories were precious to her, as it always hurt Karina to talk about Kaden, so she didn't mention him too often. Ariel took hold of her mother's hand and began tracing patterns into her palm as a way to make her feel better. She was rewarded with a weak smile, as Karina seemed to be pulling herself together.

"Yes, Papa went away," she confirmed. "Mama was very, very sad when he was gone, but she eventually realized that everything would be okay. You know why?"

"Why?"

"Because when your Papa died, he became one with the Force," Karina whispered slowly, yet lovingly. "Do you remember what Mr. Kudo told you about the Force?"

"Yes," Ariel said with a nod. "But I thought you didn't like it? Isn't that why you were mad earlier?"

"Mama just gets mad with certain aspects of the Force," Karina said, looking as if she was having trouble explaining what she meant. "There are bad things about the Force that Mama doesn't like, so sometimes it's hard to remember that there are good things as well. Your Papa is now a part of something that flows through all living things, something that watches over us and guides us through our lives. Papa is a part of something good, and even though we miss him, he will not truly be gone from us, not really. Sometimes Mama just needs to remember that. Once he was gone, Karina left her home, and ran away to the far reaches of the universe. She was so sad that she never wanted to feel any sort of love again, because she was scared she would lose it as she did before. But soon she would break that promise to herself, because later on, she met someone who she would love more than anything in the galaxy: a beautiful baby girl, named Ariel. Karina and Ariel moved to Lothal to start a new life for themselves, and together they lived happily ever after."

"I like that story," Ariel said, casting her eyes downward to where she was still playing with Gwen's hand. "I wish Papa was here, though."

Karina drew Ariel in for a tight embrace, kissing the top of her head and rubbing her shoulders in a comforting fashion. Ariel returned the hug with equal force, savoring the love that poured off of her in great waves.

"Me too, sweetie," she mumbled. "All right, you've had your story, now let's get you tucked into bed."

Ariel suddenly realized that she was much more tired than she had been before, her mother's gentle voice lulling her to sleep as well as her fingers in her hair. The child let out a short yawn before nodding her head and rubbing at her eyes. Karina moved to stand up and then tucked the covers around Ariel's tiny body as the little girl placed her head on the pillow.

"Mama?" Ariel muttered sleepily.

"Yes?"

"Can we go to the Zaldi…um, Zalee…"

"Zaldan system?"

"Yeah, that," Ariel said. "Can we go to where Papa took you on the picnic?"

"Maybe one day," Karina replied after a brief moment of silence.

"Tomorrow?"

"No, not tomorrow," Karina chuckled. "Arden and Zula are coming over tomorrow, remember?"

"Oh, right," Ariel said through another yawn, forgetting that their neighbors were going to help them get ready for the trip to the market together. "When will Mr. Kudo be back?"

"What?"

"Earlier, he said he was going away."

"Oh, he just had some business to take care of," Karina replied. "He'll be back before you know it."

"What kind of business?"

"Never you mind, little lady," Karina said, ending the topic with a wave of her hand and a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "No more stalling. It's bedtime."

Ariel, feeling herself fall under the blissful spell of sleep nodded once before finally closing her eyes and snuggling deeper underneath the blankets, her little chest rising and falling as she went into a deep slumber.

It only felt as though Ariel had been asleep for a few minutes before a thundering sound suddenly woke her up, her eyes snapping open and a startled gasp leaving her mouth as she stared wildly around, wondering what had happened. The loud and strange sound was coming from outside, and it was one that she had never heard before. As the seconds ticked on, the noise became even louder, slowly reaching a point where it Ariel had to cover her ears, her body trembling. It was a heavy rumbling sound, and soon the source of it started making the ground shake ever so slightly. All of a sudden, a blinding ray of white light shone through the glass panes, and Ariel grunted as she held up a hand to shield her eyes away from the light. In the next moment, there was the sound of feet thundering up the stairs and in the next moment, the door to her room opened with a hiss and Karina dashed inside, her eyes wide with fear and dread, a cold sweat on her forehead and her movements frantic, her hair falling out of its loose bun. The terrified, panicked and sickly expression on her mother's pale face had a sense of foreboding and fright swell up in Aril's chest.

"Mama," Ariel whimpered, now more awake than ever.

"Ariel, come with me, now!" Karina said, hurrying over and grabbing Ariel's arm. With one swift yank, she pulled her daughter to her feet and then the two of them were flying down the stairs. Ariel's heart was pounding as they moved, and the dark house was suddenly lit up with the blinding white lights that were outside, and from the distance, Ariel could hear another loud rumble and thumping noise, as if something extremely heavy had touched the ground not too far away. Keeping a tight hold on Ariel's hand, Karina pulled her through the house until they reached the back door that led out into the yard. Once they were just outside of it, Karina stopped and for a moment looked straight into the surrounding wood, breathing heavily, and Ariel saw that her hands were shaking terribly.

What's going on? Why are there so many loud noises? Why is Mama acting like this? Thoughts like these were swirling around in Ariel's head as Karina bent down so they were at eye level, and she was shocked to see that Karina's was brimming with unshed tears.

"Ariel, sweetie, I want you to pay attention to me, all right?" Karina whispered hastily. "Do you remember your special hiding place you found in the woods? Do you remember where it is?"

Ariel nodded wordlessly.

"I want you to go there. Go to your special hiding place in the woods—and I want you to stay there."

"But—Mama—"

"Ariel listen, we don't have much time!" Karina said, taking Ariel's face in her hands. "This is very important. You have to go to your hiding place and stay there, okay?"

"Aren't you coming, Mama?"

"I…I can't come with you, darling," Karina whispered, her voice sounding utterly broken and a tear making its way out of her eye. "You have to go on by yourself."

"I don't want to go," Ariel said, tears of her own now falling freely down her face at the thought of being alone. "I don't want to go, Mama."

"You have to," Karina said, trying her best to sound firm. "There are bad people here, sweetie, and you have to hide from them."

Ariel continued to cry as Karina removed her silver ring from her finger, took Ariel's hand, and gently placed it in her palm.

"I want you to have this, Ariel," Karina muttered to her. "It will protect you, and guide you, whenever you feel lost or afraid. Whenever you need me, or whenever you think of me, all you have to do it hold it to your heart, and I will hear you."

Karina closed Ariel's hand around her precious ring before enveloping her in a tight hug, kissing the top of her head with quivering lips and peppering her cheeks with soft kisses.

"My Ariel," she said, smiling through her tears and staring tenderly into her face. "My beautiful, sweet girl. I need you to be strong, brave, kind and cheerful for me. Can you do that?"

"Yes, Mama," Ariel cried, not knowing why her mother was saying all of this, and that alone made her feel even more afraid. Karina gave her daughter one last kiss before staring into her eyes, with such fierce and unyielding love.

"Now go. Run to your hiding place, and don't look back, no matter what you see or hear. I love you."

"I love you too, Mama."

Without another word, Karina stood to her feet and nudged Ariel towards the woods directly ahead of them, and Ariel , wanting to heed by her mother's words, darted towards the trees, with Luna tucked under her arm and the ring clutched tightly in her fist. Her eyes were a bit blurry from all her tears, but she didn't let that deter her as she went as fast as her little legs could carry her, fear pumping through her entire body. After about a minute she finally made it to the tree line, where she slowed down a bit, her breathing heavy. Another loud booming sound came from behind her, and despite herself, she glanced back over her shoulder, the sight causing her to stop in her tacks.

There, just coming over the distant hill to the west of their farm, was a huge group of soldiers dressed in white armor and white helmets, carrying something that appeared to be blasters. Stormtroopers. The blinding white light was coming from a cruiser ship that was sitting in a small clearing just behind the hill, probably the one that brought the Stormtroopers there in the first place. They were still some ways away, so Ariel couldn't see exactly how many there were, but she could see that they were heading in the direction of the farm. And leading the Stormtroopers in the front, striding tall, dark and frightening, was someone, or something that Ariel couldn't quite make out. A creature of some sort…a creature in black. At that moment Ariel had the strongest urge to go back to her home, but her mother's words stopped her. Don't look back, no matter what. With a quiet whimper and renewed tears, Ariel reluctantly turned away and continued on, running into the woods and letting its darkness shield her.

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The first thing that registered in Ariel's brain as she awoke was that the sun wasn't shining like it was supposed to. Her bleary, heavy eyes took a moment to adjust to her surroundings and once they did, she rubbed at them with her small fists and stared around. She was currently sitting inside the hollow opening of a gigantic, towering tree trunk, so big it could easily fit her and one other child comfortably. The little hovel was naturally made at the base of the trunk behind a cluster of bushes, so that the entrance was difficult to see, especially in the dark. Ariel had come here many a time when she would play in the woods with Mr. Kudo, deeming it as her secret hiding place. She came across it one time when she had wandered away from her mother for a moment to chase a Zudu cub, and claimed it as her special place for when she wants to think or be alone. It had taken her some time to find it last night, but when she did she hurriedly crawled inside and curled up into a frightened, quivering ball, with nothing but the thick limbs of the tree to protect her and Luna. Memories of the previous night filled her mind and Ariel sniffled, bringing her knees up to her chest and placing her head on them.

As she was hiding in her secret spot, once in a while there would be loud, booming sounds that reached her ears, along with the scary noises of gunfire that seemed to make the ground rumble beneath her. Due to all of this, Ariel spent over half of the night with her eyes wide open, tears streaming down them as she thought of her mother. Where was she? Was she okay? Would her mother come to get her once all the scary noises stopped? Ariel really hoped so, because being out in the woods all night in the dark was frightening, and she desperately wanted to go home. After a very long time, Ariel's exhaustion finally got the best of her, and the last thing she remembered was leaning her head against the inside wall of the tree trunk with Luna tucked safely in her arms.

Sniffling again, Ariel raised her head and looked back outside again through the space in between the branches of the bushes. It was definitely morning time, but the clouds outside were a dark, stormy and gloomy gray color, making it look like it was going to rain soon, with no sun in sight. There was a breeze drifting in the air, making the surrounding leaves tremble. Moving ever so slowly, Ariel crouched down and moved towards the entrance, sticking her head out a little. Looking around, Ariel bit her lip nervously. Was it safe to come out yet? Her mama told her to stay in the tree, but that was forever ago. What if her mama needed her? What if she was out there looking for Ariel right now? Just taking a step out wouldn't hurt, as long as she didn't leave the tree. Taking a breath, Ariel pushed away the branches and slowly crawled out of her hiding place, getting to her feet. The breeze was even colder out here, moving her hair out of her face gently and ruffling the skirts of her dress. Staring around, Ariel didn't see anything out of the ordinary, and everything was eerily silent. The loud sounds must have stopped while she had been asleep. Ariel did a full circle, looking at everything around her, but at one point something caught her eye that caused her to freeze in her movements. A great feeling of dread entered her body, and her eyes widened in horror as she took in the sight of a large black cloud rising from the trees in the distance, dancing wickedly before her eyes. Black clouds like that was made up of smoke, which is caused by fire. Which means that there must be a fire off in the west…in the direction of her home…

"Mama!" Ariel cried, instantly taking off back the way she had come last night, moving as fast as she could past all the surrounding trees. Her heart beat frantically inside of her chest as she ran, sharp vines and branches ripping at her dress, prickling her skin, and her mother's ring was still pressed tightly in her palm, more than likely leaving a mark of its own. The surrounding forest passed by her in a mindless whirl of green and brown, and Ariel's sole focus was getting back home. The path back to the farm seemed to take a lot longer than what it took for her to get away from it last night but Ariel never faltered, pushing her tired legs faster, wanting more than anything to be back by her mother's side. It took a little time, but soon enough Ariel saw the break in the trees ahead that would lead out into the field that lay between the forest and her home. With one last ounce of strength, the tiny girl hurried forward and darted out through the trees—only to stop short, nearly tumbling to the ground with a gasp, her eyes growing even wider at the terrible scene before her.

Off in the distance, engulfed in the smoldering black smoke of an almost dead flame was her home, scorched and crumbling from the heat and devastation of the fire that still flickered softly inside of it. After all this time, the fire had done its work on the majority of the house and even in the fields, where nothing but ash remained of their crops and produce. The smoke rose high into the sky, so big it could be seen for miles, and it created a smell that made Ariel feel sick to her stomach. Nonetheless, Ariel raced forward towards her home, her chest rising and falling with each breath she took. After what felt like forever, she finally came within good distance of the farm, careful not to get too close. A great sadness filled her as she watched the place she had grown up become gray ash in the dirt, barely able to keep itself up anymore. Holding Luna closer to her, Ariel started to circle the ruins, looking all over for the one person she so desperately wanted to see.

"Mama?" she called out timidly. "Mama?"

She continued to circle the house until she came towards the front, and it was there that she stopped dead in her tracks, her entire body freezing up. She stared blankly ahead at a figure that was lying in the grass up ahead, some distance away from the fire. Moving ever so slowly, Ariel approached the figure with caution, her hands trembling slightly. As she came closer, she saw that the figure was a woman, lying still and unmoving on the ground, her ghostly pale face seeming at ease, her eyes closed and strands of her blonde hair falling into her face.

"Mama?" Ariel whispered as she fell to her knees beside Karina's still form. "Mama…are you okay? Mama?"

Karina made no response, made no indication that she heard Ariel in any way. Ariel's eyes scanned her mother's body and she saw that there was a wound on her stomach…a gaping, singed hole that had a dark red stain around it, painting Karina's fingers the same color. Ariel wasn't sure what this was, but it looked like her mother was hurt.

"Mama? Mama, come on, you have to wake up. We need to go."

Again, Karina didn't move, and Ariel instantly started to worry. What was wrong with her mother? Why wouldn't she wake up? Setting Luna down beside her, Ariel reached over and gently tried to shake her mother awake, but to no avail. She tried once again, this time a bit rough, but it still did no good. Karina remained limp and unmoving, and the dread Ariel felt earlier increased ten-fold, and she could feel the tears begin to form in her eyes.

"Mama! Mama, please, wake up! Please, wake up, Mama! Mama!"

Ariel's cries fell on deaf ears and she could feel the tears slide down her cheeks in sadness and confusion. Why wasn't her mother waking up?! She needed her, why wasn't she getting up?! Ariel tried patting Karina's face and she was surprised at how cold it was. Her mother was so very cold. Not knowing what else to do, Ariel leaned over and gently placed her head over Karina's chest, wishing to her the soft thumping rhythm of her heart that always calmed her. However, there was nothing, no sound whatsoever. This made Ariel's tears fall even faster and she fisted her small hand in Karina's dress, her sobs being the only sound around them. At that moment she wanted nothing more than to have her mother wrap her arms around her and tell her everything would be okay, that they were safe and would always have each other like she always does. But Ariel had a bad feeling that it couldn't happen…not this time. How long she stayed there crying over her mother, she didn't know, nor did she care, not even when a light mist of rain started to fall from the clouds above. Within minutes, the rain became heavier, and Ariel could feel herself becoming soaked. Eventually she started shivering but refused to leave Karina's side. After a while, she felt a hand suddenly place itself on her shoulder tenderly, and she flinched at the touch, whimpering.

"Ariel."

Ariel turned her face towards the familiar voice and she saw Mr. Kudo bent down beside her, his dark eyes shining in sadness and grief. He had a cut underneath his eye and his robes were torn up a bit, but he didn't seem to care as he was gazing at her softly.

"Th-they h-hurt her," Ariel said through chattering teeth. "Th-they hurt M-Mama."

"I was too late," Mr. Kudo whispered, staring down at Karina with regret on his face. "Oh Ariel, I…I'm so sorry."

"W-wake her u-u-up," Ariel pleaded. "P-please."

"I can't, young one," Mr. Kudo said, his voice rather tight. "She's gone."

"Gone?" Ariel repeated.

"Yes. She is one with the Force…she is with your father now."

At Mr. Kudo's words, fresh hot tears ran down Ariel's face and mingled with the rain. She held her mother even tighter, burying her face in her chest, her body shaking from the force of her sobs. No, her mother can't be gone, she can't! Those who become one with the Force can never come back, and that means Ariel would never see her again. But she has to! She needs her Mama! She needs her. Ariel continued to cry for a moment until she felt Mr. Kudo's hands start to lift her up and detach her from Karina.

"No!" Ariel exclaimed. "Don't take me from my Mama!"

"Ariel, we must go," Mr. Kudo said. "We must get away from here, before they return."

"Mama!" Ariel cried, weakly fighting of Mr. Kudo with what little strength she had left in her. "Mama…"

It took a minute, but Mr. Kudo was finally able to get Ariel to let go of Karina's dress, and he carefully lifted her into his arms, holding her against his chest. After bending down to pick up Luna, Mr. Kudo adjusted Ariel in his arms, wrapping his brown cloak around her to protect her from the rain, and then turned away, starting to make his way down the hill to the dirt road below. The young girl placed her arms limply around his neck as he carried her, and she stared at her mother's figure as they moved further and further away from her, the tears still stinging her green eyes, only yesterday filled with so much innocence and happiness, to be replaced by despair and a pain that no child should ever have to endure. In one single night, her world was completely ripped away from her, and she could do nothing but walk away from what she called home. She quietly called for her mother one last time as Mr. Kudo took her away from the farm, where Karina's body lied and the rain putting out the remaining fires that consumed her house.

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Ariel sat quietly on the metal crate, lost in her thoughts and sniffling as she waited for Mr. Kudo to come back for her. The Kodian himself was speaking with a man close by, who was loading supplies onto a very large ship with his workers, all of whom were moving hastily, as if an evil spirit was hot on their tails.

After hours of traveling on foot, Mr. Kudo and Ariel managed to make their way to the closest city to Ariel's village, Nova, where they had immediately set forth for the small space port that was located on the outskirts of it. There weren't too many ships at this port, but Ariel noticed that nearly all of them had the same mindset as this one—loading up their things and taking off as soon as possible. Ariel shifted underneath Mr. Kudo's cloak, which he had draped around her to keep her warm, and looked over to stare at Mr. Kudo and the man he was talking to with red, puffy eyes. They were within just enough distance for her to make out a little of what they were saying.

"…had your chance last night…couldn't afford two of you…"

"..willing to pay the cost…"

"…the Empire's closing in…matter of time before they reach us and the big cities…"

"…only myself and the child…have to escape…"

"…if I'm found hoarding stowaways…"

"…our only chance…please…"

There was silence for a moment as the man looked over Mr. Kudo's shoulders at gazed at Ariel , seeming so small and fragile sitting on the crate with her doll held against her chest. Something must have broken his resolve, because he then nodded at Mr. Kudo, saying that they would be preparing for takeoff in five minutes, and after Mr. Kudo handed something over to the man, he made his way back over to Ariel, relief shining in his eyes. Gathering Ariel once more in his arms, he carried her past the crew of workers and up the ramp leading into the ship. Once they were on, Mr. Kudo took Ariel down into the lower level, where all the cargo and supplies were being kept. Moving swiftly and silently, Mr. Kudo weaved his way between many crates and containers until he found a small space cramped in a shadowy corner, settling himself down and placing Ariel in his lap. All through this, Ariel remained silent, never saying a word, her eyes still burning from the endless tears she had shed earlier. Confusion, grief, pain, and even a tinge of anger kept shifting through her, and despite all these feelings inside of her, it left her numb and cold.

"I can feel your suffering, young one," Mr. Kudo murmured softly. "Do not let them fester inside, or they will control you."

At that moment, through all her sadness, Ariel could start to feel a strange warmth envelope her, chasing away some of her negative thoughts and feelings. Rather than question it, Ariel embraced it gratefully, resting her head against Mr. Kudo's chest. She was willing to take any sort of comfort than wallow in her pain.

"I know that you are upset, Ariel, and you have every right to be," Mr. Kudo said while rubbing her arm. "I know you miss your mother, but remember that she will never truly be gone. She lives in your heart, and her spirit flows within the Force, which flows through us all."

"She said she would always be with me," Ariel sniffed.

"And she will be," Mr. Kudo said. "You have my word Ariel, I will take care of you, and no one will ever hurt you as long as I live. We'll get through this together."

Ariel was quiet as she listened to his words, her eyes traveling down to the silver ring resting in her palm. She had never let go of it since her mother gave it to her that night, and she wasn't going to part with it anytime soon. Karina believed that the ring was special, and it was her most prized possession. Running her thumb over the stone, Ariel huddled deeper under the cloak.

"Where are we going, Mr. Kudo?" she asked.

"I have an old friend who may be able to help us," he replied. "He lives on a planet far away, hopefully this ship will be able to slip through customs easily, and we won't be discovered. Once we get to the system, we'll go forth from there."

"Which planet?" Ariel said, finally raising her eyes to meet his.

"Alderran, child," Mr. Kudo answered. "We are going to Alderran."

Well, what do you guys think? I know I might have pulled on the heartstrings a little bit here, but believe me, this chapter is very important for the future. As I said, any unfamiliar names or terms in this is mostly me coming up with my own ideas. The inspiration for Mr. Kudo came from Greedo in A New Hope with a few obvious changes, so you guys can have somewhat of an idea of what he looks like. Please, please review and tell me what you think of this first chapter. I'm sorry if this point of view isn't exactly how a six year old should think or feel, but it's my first time writing in the point of view of a character this young, so don't be too hard on me. And I realize this chapter is very similar to the opening of Rogue One but I already had this planned out before I ever saw the movie so I wasn't going to change it (again, disclaimer: Star Wars is not mine). I really hope you guys liked this, and I'll see you in the next chapter!