This is a sequel to my previous story You Have a Choice. They can be read independently, but if you want a little more context just read the epilogue. Hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER ONE

TYTHON

"Jedi Knights, now are you, Leia and Luke Skywalker," Yoda's voice rang throughout the chamber. Everyone was silent out of reverence for both the ceremony, and Yoda's presence. He only came back to the Jedi Temple once a year for the ceremony, the rest of his dealings remained unknown, except for the fact that each time he came back more knowledgeable of the Force.

"For the choosing, stand." The newly-minted Knights rose obediently, synchronized with each other from years of training.

"Knight Luke Skywalker, discovered your calling, have you?" Yoda asked.

"Yes Master Yoda," Luke said calmly, a serene look on his face. "I wish to become a Jedi Consular." He had always wanted to study the mysteries of the Force, and with the wisest creature he knew, Yoda, as his instructor, it was a dream come true.

"Forward, step you may," the green alien said. "Knight Skywalker, a rigorous path, chosen have you. Not know, do we, much of the Force. Calmness within, have you. Serve you well, it will."

Relieved to hear Yoda's words of encouragement, Luke felt himself relax as he stepped to the right of the Jedi Master. He watched eagerly as his twin sister stepped forward at Yoda's command.

If Leia hadn't been so good at shielding, the others would have picked up on the borderline anxiety attack she was having. Everyone in the Jedi Order who ranked between Padawan and Master was present for the Knighting ceremony, and Leia thought her heart was going to jump out of her chest. Now was the time she was going to tell the Order that she would no longer be part of their ranks. And as if that wasn't stressful enough, her twin brother and her father were there as well.

Why does everyone have to be here? she thought angrily, looking from her friend Zyrma, who had been Knighted an hour ago, to Master Secura, who had taken her on as a Padawan for eleven years. And the first thing she was going to do as a Knight to show her gratitude was leave the Order.

Do you really want to do this? she thought to herself. You could be like Obi-Wan, and be a diplomat for the Order.

Yes you do. You want to make policy, not enforce it, she argued with herself. She spared a look at her father, and seriously reconsidered becoming a Jedi Guardian. Her mother had said that her dad had butted heads with the Council himself, and wouldn't be angry if she left the Order. But what if her mother was wrong? And, her stomach clenched at the thought, what if Luke was angry with her too? He had always been so calm, what if her leaving the Order set him off? The two of them had never really been separated, always leaning on each other for support.

Her nerves were getting to her, Yoda was asking the dreaded question, what was she going to say?

"I wish to become a Senator in the Galactic Assembly," she said, sounding far more confident than she had expected.

"Leave the Jedi Order, will you?" Yoda said, his voice as lilting as always.

"Yes, Master Yoda," she said reverently, staring directly at him. She couldn't lose her resolve by looking at Luke now, not when she had openly admitted to wanting to leave the Order. Already she could sense the swirl of emotions rippling through the chamber, and didn't dare try to figure out which belonged to her brother and her father.

"For you, a fitting choice it is. Concise you are, strength in subtlety," Yoda continued. "Step forward, Knight Skywalker."

Leia bowed, a composed look on her face as she took the seemingly gargantuan steps towards Luke and Yoda. Did Yoda just give me his blessing? she thought numbly as Yoda made his closing remarks.

Luke's heart stopped when his sister announced her intention to leave the Order. What was she thinking, giving up being a Jedi? They were the peacekeepers of the galaxy, what could she do in the Senate she couldn't do as a Jedi?

He looked to his father for guidance, but was shocked to see the faintest trace of a smile on his face. Had everyone lost their mind? Yoda was carrying on as if Leia had announced she wanted to be a Jedi Guardian, his father seemed pleased that she wanted to leave the Order, and Obi-Wan was as inscrutable as ever.

The moment Yoda finished speaking hushed conversations broke out among the Padawans, and the Masters made a beeline for Yoda, except for his father, who enveloped the two of them in a hug.

"I'm so proud of both of you," he said softly, before stepping back. "I think your friends are waiting," he said, gesturing to the cluster of Knights that had formed in the corner. Leia gave him another hug before joining her friends, while Luke walked over to where Obi-Wan was standing apart from the others.

"What is she thinking? She's lived her whole life in the Order," Luke said.

"Leia is following her own path," Obi-Wan said gently, "the same way you are following yours. Are you sure your concerns are for her, and not for yourself?"

"Concerned about myself? What do I have to be worried about?" Luke asked.

"Life without your sister. The two of you have never been apart for very long. Perhaps you are worried you will not be the same."

"What? No, I-," Luke floundered.

"Quiet your mind. You're dealing with a very stressful event. Focus, Luke," Obi-Wan said calmly. Luke nodded and took a deep breath.

"I guess I'm just sad Leia will be leaving," he admitted quietly.

"And it is understandable. Forgive me, it seems Master Yoda requests my presence," Obi-Wan said, squeezing him on the shoulders before departing. Luke stayed where he was, still in shock from his sisters decision. She hadn't mentioned leaving the Order to him at all, and hadn't done anything to indicate she wanted to do anything else. She was always attentive in the lessons on diplomacy and politics, an avid learner. But paying attention in class didn't equate to abandoning the Jedi Order.

Looking over to where his sister stood among the group of Jedi Knights, he could already sense distress in their Force bond. Quickly, Luke walked over to see what was causing her to worry.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Zyrma asked, a hurt look on her face.

"I wasn't sure I was going to do it, but about a week ago it just became so clear I knew I had to," Leia said honestly.

"So you didn't say anything for seven days?"

"It was a big decision, I wanted to think about it," Leia countered. Her eyes strayed to where the gathered Masters were beginning to split up, some of them making their way towards her. Zyrma followed her gaze and scowled.

"I guess they're here to take your lightsaber," she said bitterly, before walking away. Luke moved closer to his twin to support her, sending feelings of calmness and reassurance along their Force bond. He felt it tighten as Master Secura came to a stop in front of them, unsure of what she was going to say.

"I can't say I won't miss you Leia, you've been an excellent Padawan," Aayla said sadly, giving her a hug.

"I'll miss you too," Leia mumbled, a growing feeling of sadness beginning to overwhelm her. Did she really want to give up the Jedi Order? She wouldn't have this sense of camaraderie in the Assembly, that was certain.

"Are you going to take her lightsaber?" Luke asked, Zyrma's words still on his mind. It had happened in the past, with Padawans who had been expelled from the Order.

"No," Aayla said. "You'd have to do something dishonorable to warrant that. And I just wanted to remind you that you still have the Order's support, even if you're not actively in our ranks."

"Thank you, Master Secura," Leia said.

"You can call me Aayla now, you're a Knight after all," Aayla teased. "Don't forget you're as well-trained as the rest of us."

"I won't," Leia promised.

"I'll always be here for you. Now I think it's time you go back to your family, that's what you get two days off for," Aayla said, a twinkle in her eye, "the next three are to make your life hell for leaving the Order."

She and Leia exchanged one more embrace, before the twins walked back to their father.

CHANDRILA

Padme stared at the holo, watching the minutes tick by. Any minute her husband would be on-world with the twins, and her problems would fade to the back of her mind. It had been nearly eighteen years since the fall of the Galactic Republic, but the same problems that had plagued it were beginning to reemerge. Some days Padme felt like she was reliving the years before the Clone Wars. But the galaxy would never come to that. The Clone Wars had destroyed so much across the galaxy, no sentient would dream of taking up arms against each other like that again in their lifetime.

The holo beeped, announcing the hour, and Padme rose from her desk, excited at the thought of her family waiting for her at the apartment.