Author's Note: Happy Halloween, everyone! This story starts 2,000 years before the prologue to Life on Merca. However, it will continue to the first year of the Clone Wars. So, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars.

Key: Normal, Writing

According to the Ancients themselves, their homeworld, known as Shinudanaka, was destroyed, as of this writing, 4,357 years ago. The cause of this mysterious catastrophe has yet to be revealed by the Ancients.

-History of the Ancients

Date: 17,053 AF*

Location: Shinudanaka

The two beings looked at the remains of their home. They never believed such a thing was possible. The female began to weep. The male tried to calm her. "Zani, it's going to be alright. The reports said that they managed to get everyone off planet. There's no need to cry."

Zani glared at him, causing him to cringe instinctively. She always had that effect on people, he thought. He then noticed her beginning to speak through her tears. "They evacuated everyone who survived, Maelod. There were only four thousand still alive. That's how many of us there are now. Out of several billion." She glanced at his arm before adding, "And you're not doing too well yourself."

Maelod looked at his arm. It was covered in blood from a deep gash that he had somehow missed noticing before now. "Guess there's still some adrenaline in my system." He said. He turned back to Zani, and continued their conversation. "Anyway, we should go join the rest of the survivors, as you call them. I'm flying, by the way." He headed towards the cockpit. He paused. "Are you coming?"

"I'll be there in a second." She looked out the viewport. This would likely be the last she ever saw of her homeworld. She dried her tears and went into the cockpit.

Maelod looked at her. "Ready?" She nodded, and he began preparations to jump to Hyperspace. "Alright, disengaging autopilot. Entering coordinates. And… Jump!"

For some reason, Zani couldn't help but feel somewhat uneasy. It was almost as if something bad was going to happen, and she could sense it. She briefly considered telling Maelod, but decided against it. No need to worry him.

Notes for you!

* After Founding. This dating system begins in 25,053 BBY, when the Republic was founded.