Prologue

Taking a deep breath, Leia knocked on the door to Mon Mothma's quarters. Wringing her hands, Leia looked down at her feet, having never felt so unsure in her life. She had made her decision last night, but now that she was here it was impossible not to have second thoughts. Am I making a huge mistake? she thought to herself.

The door opened revealing the esteemed Senator Mothma, dressed in her typical white robes. "Princess Leia, what a surprise. I've been hoping to speak with you for some time," she told her younger colleague warmly.

Surprised, Leia simply smiled in response. "May I come in?"

"Yes, of course."

Stepping into the quarters, Leia took a moment to compose herself. There's no going back now.

"Please, sit" Mothma said, gesturing to a modest armchair. Sitting down, Leia put her hands on her lap, trying not to convey how nervous and conflicted she was.

"What is it you wish to discuss with me?" Mothma asked, oblivious to Leia's internal turmoil.

Taking a deep breath, Leia assumed a well-practiced diplomatic stance. "Senator Mothma, I have come to inform you that I will be leaving politics effective immediately."

Shocked, Mothma stared at Leia with her mouth agape. "Whatever made you choose to do that?" she asked incredulously.

Staring at the floor, Leia replied "I will be training with my brother in the Jedi arts."

"Jedi arts? With your brother? What brother?" Mothma asked, her bewilderment evident.

"I have recently learned that Luke Skywalker is my twin brother," Leia answered in a monotone voice.

"Luke Skywalker is your brother?"

Leia merely nodded in response, suddenly irritated with Mothma's incredulity. "That is all I wished to discuss with you, Senator," Leia said tersely and stood up to leave.

"Leia, wait!" Mothma exclaimed abruptly, all sense of formality gone. "Why are you doing this? Surely you must know that the New Republic needs you!"

Leia looked away, touched that Mothma would consider her vital to the new order, but unswayed regardless. "I know, I just…" Leia trailed off, unsure how to put her emotions into words.

Noticing the conflict within the young Princess, Mothma chided herself for being so brash. "You've been through so much, Leia," she said softly. "I'm sorry, nobody has the right to ask anything of you."

Leia gave Mothma a faint smile. "Thank you. I think I just need some time away from the spotlight. Perhaps I'll return to politics someday, but now… after everything that's happened…"

Mothma stood up and took Leia's hands. "I understand."

Leia smiled, although she was sure the Senator couldn't possibly understand. Nobody could understand what she had been through or what she had been forced to witness. Nor could anyone understand what it was like to learn that you were actually the offspring of evil incarnate.

Releasing Mothma's hands, Leia willed away the strong emotions billowing within her. Resuming her diplomatic face, she thanked the Senator once again and left the room quickly before she could second guess herself.

Chapter 1

"That's good Leia, just focus on your breathing" her brother whispered softly. Leia sighed internally, willing herself to let go and feel the force around her as her brother had taught her to do. It was difficult for her, however. She was impatient. For almost a month, Leia had trained with her brother in the Jedi arts but she was frustrated with her lack of progress, irritated at herself for not being able to manipulate the force like Luke could. Luke had been the epitome of patience, telling Leia that she would break through eventually and that she shouldn't be so hard on herself.

It's easy for you to say that, Luke she thought to herself glumly. She could sense Luke's considerable strength with the Force, it all came naturally for him. Meanwhile here she was, sitting cross legged on the floor meditating, unable to move so much as a pebble with her mind.

The Force isn't about moving rocks, Leia her brother had told her. It surrounds and penetrates all of us, you must understand it before you can manipulate it. She scoffed internally at her brother's pretentiousness, he had had barely any training at all and yet he acted as if he was omniscient in the ways of the force. Pushing her frustrations away, Leia tried in vain to clear her mind as Luke had taught her to do.

"Feel the Force surrounding you, emanating from you and from me" Luke told her. Frowning, Leia redoubled her efforts, feeling perspiration developing on her brow. She had had no trouble identifying the Force when she had begun her training, she had known of its presence all her life yet had never been able to identify it. It buzzed around her, gently caressing her mind, whispering indiscernible yet somehow poignant truths. Leia exhaled deeply, calmed by its soothing presence.

"Good, good" she heard Luke say, sounding farther away than before. "Now reach out, tell me what you feel." Leia strained, stretching out with her mind into the void. She felt the Force whooshing around her, building in strength until it was billowing like a hurricane around her.

"Power," she muttered "Unlimited power"

Luke looked up, concerned yet curious. "What else?" he asked.

Leia's breathing quickened, and she felt her muscles tense. "Pain, unspeakable pain." Swallowing hard, she willed herself to persevere deeper into the Force, far deeper than she had ever gone before. "Anger, rage, violence."

"And between it all?" Luke asked cautiously, disconcerted by the dark feelings emanating from his sister. "A balance, do you sense it?"

Retreating she tried to make sense of the rushing gale before her. Slowly forms began to materialize, a small blue orb appeared on the horizon, beckoning her. Reaching out, Leia tried to touch it, but she was held back, a firm, dark force held her back. Let me go! she screamed to herself. Rage coursed through her and the dark force relented, freeing her from its torturous grasp. Rapidly the blue dot approached her, ballooning in size until it surrounded her. She felt a horrible heat as the blue hue violently transformed into red flames, engulfing her.

"Leia!"

She heard Luke pleading with her, far, far away.

"Leia, stop!"

The flames dissipated, and with it the unbearable heat. She felt herself get yanked away as the Force retreated from her. With a dull thud, she felt herself fall back to the ground as her surroundings reemerged. Slowly opening her eyes, she saw Luke staring back at her fearfully.

"…Luke?" she asked quietly, her throat dry.

Luke blinked a few times, regaining his composure. "You were levitating," he remarked softly. He opened his mouth as if to say something else, but apparently decided against it.

"Levitating?" Leia asked incredulously. "Luke, what just happened?"

Luke shook his head and stood up. Leia watched as he walked stiffly away to turn on the light. Squinting as her eyes adapted to the brightness, she took in her surroundings. She was in the meditation chamber of the temple on Ilum. Looking down, she saw that she was sitting on top of a jagged crack on the floor which she was sure had not been there before.

"Did I do this?" Leia wondered, looking up at Luke confused.

Luke swallowed and nodded absentmindedly, his eyes locked steadfastly on the floor.

"Luke, talk to me. What is happening?"

Looking up, he made eye contact with his sister briefly before looking away.

"I… I'm not sure. I'll have to meditate on this"

Of course you will she thought angrily. That's your response to everything, isn't it?

Luke's eyes shot back to Leia's, his concern evident. He pondered Leia's face briefly, sensing her frustration and confusion. "That'll be enough for today," he mumbled before swiftly turning around to leave the chamber.