Hello all!

Sorry about the lack of update last week, but I was smack in the middle of a blizzard and it messed with my internet connection.

Also, please read the note at the end of this chapter! It's important!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to review!

Mission

Silver

Silver was the color of mourning on Naboo.

It was her color.

Lady Ÿfana, the Keeper of Souls. The Weeping Woman with silver tears and a gentle touch.

Silver was bright, easy to see, a beacon.

It was the color of the soul.

Danè pulled the needle through the fabric, silver bright thread gleaming against dark purple. Silver for Lady Ÿfana. For their reason. For their Queen.

Color held meaning for them.

Clothing was important.

Appearance was everything.

Padmè had been fourteen when she was elected. She was young and inexperienced – people would think her weak. Most of them had been the same age or younger. They would be viewed the same as their Queen. Little girls playing at ruling a planet. So they disguised themselves. Traditional makeup, elaborate clothes. People wanted to see a Queen, so they were given one.

Danè had been young then, younger than Padmè. She thought the older girl a Queen without all the finery.

She held up her work, looking it over with a critical eye. There could be no mistakes. This was important. Their battle dress for their first mission.

A deep, rich purple tunic with long, billowing sleeves, silver embroidery swirling at the edges. A silver belt at the waist, the rest of the tunic tapering down the back past the knees, leaving the front open. Underneath, a purple bodysuit completed the look. The tunic's fabric was thick and padded and the bodysuit itself was armored. It was designed for easy movement, for concealment. The less skin showing the better. The bodysuit had a hood to hide their hair. Eirtaè was the only blond one among them and they needed to hide such distinctions.

They were one body, one mind, one identity.

Physical differences didn't matter.

They were one.

"Danè, it's beautiful," Sachè breathed, holding up her sleeves to look at the embroidery.

Danè gave her a pleased smile while she helped Fè tuck her hair into the bodysuit's hood, smoothing down the fabric so that it lay flat.

"Purple for remembrance," Rabè murmured, "Silver for mourning. Well done, Danè."

"Yanè helped. She made the headscarves," Danè said as she pinned the afore mentioned garment in place on Fè.

Yanè huffed, not even looking up from where she was painting Sachè's face white. "You still made our battle dress for this mission. For all of us. Even those of us that aren't going to run this mission. Stop being so modest."

Danè, in her infinite maturity, stuck out her tongue in response.

Sabè's lips quirked up ever so slightly in a way that meant she would be beaming were she not in makeup. She tended to slip into the role of Queen Amidala at an unconscious level as soon as it was applied. Next to her, Rabè rolled her eyes at them even as she reached for the red paint.

"No," Sabè said, reaching out to stop her, "Not red. Paint me with Ÿfana's Tears."

Rabè blinked before nodding slowly, fingers passing over red and reaching for silver instead. She applied the makeup quickly and easily – the Scar of Remembrance on Sabè's lips, Ÿfana's Tears on her cheeks. She stepped back as she finished.

Sabè's eyes slid open and Danè sucked in a sharp breath.

It was the first time in ages that any of them had donned the traditional makeup. Her heart was pounding in her chest, stomach bubbling with anticipation and nerves in equal parts.

Queen Amidala sat before them.

"Force," Yanè whispered breathlessly, "You still look exactly like her."

Sabè gave them a sad smile, eyes gleaming. "Don't make me cry, Yanè. Rabè already painted my tears."

Yanè ducked her head, pressing her fingers to her eyes. Sachè reached over and rubbed soothing circles into the younger woman's back.

"We've already cried so much," Sachè said softly, "So much so that it feels like we'll never stop."

"Sometimes crying is the only way to explain how broken your heart is," Fè murmured.

"We lost our sister, our Queen," Sabè said, "Of course we weep."

"Then perhaps we should all show our tears," Danè said, "This is our first appearance – let the worlds know that we grieve. Let them know that we have been broken and that we are stronger for it."

They smiled, fierce and sad all at the same time.

Sabè stood, taking the silver paint from Rabè as she passed. With steady hands and long practiced movements, their Queen's double painted Danè's face with silver tears.

"Some women are lost in fire," she said, her voice the deep tones of Queen Amidala, "We were forged in it."

Danè smiled. "And we shine that much brighter because of it."

Silver was the color of mourning on Naboo.

It was the color of tears.

But tears made them braver. Pain made them stronger. Heartbreak made them wiser.

They were not broken.

They were silver.

So, important things to note. Mission is going to be more than one chapter. However, I will be continuing the main story at the same time, so you guys will have to pay attention to the chapter title!

Now here's the part I want you to pay special attention to: Prompt me!

Mission chapters are most likely not going to be that long, but the "chapter" is meant to cover the time period between ROTS and A New Hope. I already have some ideas, but it's 19 years to cover - if you have an idea I'd love to hear it! Now I won't promise to fill every prompt (and if that is the case I will tell you ASAP) because sometimes the muses just don't wanna work with a prompt, but if you have a thought, let me know.

There are some conditions: it has to be in the specified time frame. If you want something BEFORE ROTS, I'll consider it if you can pitch it to me as a good flashback. If you want something AFTER A New Hope - no. I have enough plot bunnies for after. Don't you dare give me more. I might cry.

That being said, go nuts. You can ask for shenanigans, mission angst, aftermath. You can ask for more little Leia. You can ask for people's reactions to the appearance of their rebel cell. You can ask for more Bail and Breha. You can ask for Naboo Court or Imperial Senate events/spy stuff. Ask away!

You can prompt in a review or send me a PM.

These prompts will most likely be posted in bulk - as in more than one chapter on Sundays.

Until nest time,

~Elri