Disclaimer: I don't own the characters in this piece; they belong to George Lucas and his entities. No money is being made, and no infringement is intended. This story is not to be moved to any other site; it is intended only for fanfiction.net.
Rain beat down upon the makeshift shelter. Each drop hissed as it rolled off the tarpaulin that served as the roof.
Underneath the shelter, a man and woman sat. The woman poked their fire with a twig. The twig caught the flame, and she dropped it into the fire. The fire crackled, and the twig was consumed.
The woman turned to look at the man. She opened her mouth, as if to speak, then closed it.
"What are words in a time like this?" said the man.
She nodded. "I never thought that victory..." She swallowed.
The man's face crumpled, and he looked away. He didn't want to cry. He didn't cry. He was strong. He did not know pain.
For the first time, the woman allowed herself to look beyond the fire. Her eyes took in the battlefield. Pieces of ships and shrapnel scarred the land.
That was all she could bear to see. She did not want to look at the fallen. She did not want to identify the lifeless forms.
"We--they--gave our all," she said.
The man bowed his head. He felt weary beyond his years. "I was prepared to die with them."
"They took the Yuuzhang with them."
"They saved the galaxy." The man raised his head. "Why did the Force allow us to survive?"
"The Force must have plans for us."
They considered her statement as the rain tapered off. The woman put her arm around the man. He sighed.
"The Falcon survived. We should go back to Coruscant and tell them what happened, Mara."
One hundred years later
A respectful silence envelopes the memorial. The girl reaches out her hand to trace the names of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
She reads the names to herself and ponders each one for a moment. Though she never knew them, she wants to honor them.
Han Solo. Leia Organa Solo. Jaicen Solo. Jaina Solo. Anakin Solo. Corran Horn. Mirax Horn. Kyp Durron. Wedge Antilles.
And the names on the pillar go on and on, lining the twenty sides of the pillar."That's your great-great uncle and aunt," whispers her father, pointing to the names that head the column. "Your great-great grandfather knew some of these people."
The girl nods. She steps away from the pillar and walks over to the doorway. Above it are emblazoned two names: Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker. It is a tribute to the two who survived the Yuuzhang Final Encounter.
She smiles. If it were not for them, she would not be here, nor would her father. The galaxy wouldn't have a leader. And it would be short one Jedi apprentice.
Once again, she reads her great-great grandmother's name.
"Jade?" Her father taps her on the shoulder. "Jade Skywalker?"
"I'm ready, Dad." Jade blinks. For, in front of her, two bluish apparitions are smiling. She recognizes them from holos. They are the ones that lived.