I'm so damn frustrated right now. I found a website where I could publish some of my work virtually free in ebook form. You know I want to test the waters and I hear some writers have had success on the site. But for Amazon and the ibook store to take it, I have to switch the story to epub form… I want to do it on my own, but can't figure out how (I downloaded a thing that is supposed to do it for me, but rejected the file) and I seriously don't have the money to pay for to do it for me so I'm stuck right now… Anyway, that's why I'm just not putting this up so late in the day. Not much to say. I'm just so damn frustrated right now. Ugh! If anyone knows how to do this, I'd appreciate step by step directions.
Anywho, read, enjoy, and review while I go see if I can figure this epub thing out…
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Chapter Four
The Jedi
"Reckless you were. Consulted me before you acted and maybe gotten the children, we would have."
Obi-Wan sighed. "With all due respect Master Yoda-."
Yoda hit Obi-Wan in the leg with him jammer stick and Obi-Wan winced suddenly feeling like he was a youngling being admonished by the old jedi again.
"Too late for respect it is. In Vader's grasp, the Skywalker twins are. Doomed the galaxy is if find them we do not," Yoda said heading out his hut to meditate.
Obi-wan got up to follow Yoda, hitting his head on the ceiling of the small hut in the process. He sighed and continued out.
"But master, we wrong about separating the twins. They needed each other. I saw that much when I saw them on Alderaan. Maybe we're wrong about this too. Maybe Vader needs the twins to help bring him out of the darkness. Maybe Padmé was right," Obi-Wan said.
"Let the fate of the galaxy rest on something that is so uncertain, we cannot. The children, we must find. Come to us, they will," Yoda said sitting on the ground in a meditative state.
"Master Yoda, I don't think you want them both here," Obi-Wan warned. He knew of the havoc they wrecked in the galaxy together. The two were fearless and a nine hundred year old jedi wasn't going to intimidate them.
Yoda picked up on his thoughts and scoffed. "Humble, they are not. The qualities of a jedi they do not have. Impatient they are. Reckless they are. Just like their father…"
"You can't blame them for something they were never taught," Obi-wan pointed out. "Their sixteen and they've been taking care of themselves for three and a half years. Arrogance, recklessness, and impatience have kept them alive all these years."
"Hmp," Yoda said ignoring Obi-wan. "If come to me before acted had you, taught them those things a long time ago I could have."
Obi-wan fought back a smile. Being on this planet in isolation had gone to Yoda's head.
"Mm… On their way they are. Be here soon, they will be," Yoda said confidently.
"How is that?" Obi-wan asked.
"Trust me you must. Be here soon they will be. I am certain."
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"It's weird going back to Naboo again. I thought we would never go there again… At least not so soon. I thought we would be thirty and finally retiring before we went back there," Leia pointed out.
"Thirty?" Luke asked.
"Yeah," Leia said looking up from what she was writing. "It was either Alderaan or Naboo. I wanted to live there. I feel connected to those two planets. I felt connected to Tatooine too, even though I hated it."
"I never want to go back to Tatooine again," Luke muttered.
"What about your aunt and uncle?" Leia asked and then corrected, "Our aunt and uncle."
Luke shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not sure I could ever face them again after I ran off like that. I hope they don't think I hated them or something. I didn't want to leave them. You were just more important to me. I used to feel bad about that you know?"
"Why?" Leia asked not quite understanding since she had never really had a family aside from Luke.
"Because they raised me. They took me in probably knowing what our father had become-not that he's that bad," Luke added at Leia's glare. It amazed him how she could be mad at him for being controlling, but come to his defense. "But anyway, they took me in despite who our father was and raised me like it didn't matter. Any lesser people would have abused me or looked down at me or something, but they took care of me even though I was nothing but trouble most of the time."
"You weren't trouble. Sure you got into things, but you were always nice," Leia said.
"I know, but I always felt bad I abandoned them even though I never regretted running off with you," Luke replied.
"Maybe we can go visit them then. I'm sure they'll understand."
Luke started to reply when the ship suddenly lurched. Luke and Leia fell over in surprise while Threepio cried out and Artoo whistled loudly.
"What just happened?" Leia asked getting up from where she fell.
"I don't know," Luke said getting up and running to the cockpit where Artoo already was speaking frantically. "Wait a minute Artoo. Slow down. What just happened?"
Artoo slowed down and repeated himself.
"We've changed course. How is that even possible? I didn't change the coordinates," Luke replied.
Artoo said something else and then said.
"Someone must have done it earlier because we've already dropped out of hyperspace? That's impossible."
"Luke," Leia said looking at the computer navigator. "What's Dagobah?"
"Dagobah?" Luke asked heading over to the controls. "I've never heard of it."
"Well that's where we are," Leia said and then looked out the visor. "There it is."
"I'm not picking up any cities or anything down there. It looks like it's just a swamp planet," Luke replied taking the controls.
Leia shook her head. "Someone's there Luke. This is all too weird to just be a coincidence. We need to get out of here and contact dad."
"Too late," Luke replied squinting his eyes. "I can't see in all this fog. We'll have to land first."
"Master Luke," Threepio said. "I can't see anything. Are you sure this place is safe for droids?"
"Don't know if it's safe for humans, but we're about to find out," Luke said to him and tapping into the force so they could land properly.
They landed with a thud, and heard the sound of trees and branches crushing underneath the ship.
"What was that?" Leia asked running to let down the ramp and step off the ship. The girl stepped on what she thought was land until her boot sank into the murky swamp. "You've got to be kidding me?"
Leia began to wade to the coast and the droids followed her.
"Be careful Artoo. This swamp is pretty deep," Leia said struggling through the waters.
"Oh my," Threepio said as he went through the swamp. "Can't we just leave for once? Must we explore?"
"In a minute," Luke said letting up the ramp so nothing would get in the ship.
Artoo made a response.
"You actually agree with Threepio. That's new," Luke said dryly as he helped Artoo to the coast.
When they were there Luke turned around to inspect the ship and cursed.
"Aw man. You've got to be kidding. Look at all those scratches and the paint. Do you know how much it'll cost for me to fix that?" Luke asked walking back into the swamp.
Leia reached out to grab him before he got too far. "Luke wait!"
But it was too late. Something grabbed Luke but the ankle and tried to pull him under but Leia managed to grab hold of Luke. She pulled against the tentacle that had him.
"Pull harder Leia," Luke urged trying to kick whatever it was off.
"I'm trying. This wouldn't have happened at all if you had listened to me," Leia snapped.
"I was trying to get back to the ship. Don't blame this on me," Luke said as he reached for something to hit the monster with. "Your blaster!"
Leia reached for her blaster which was hidden under her shirt and aimed a few random shots at the creature. It whined and pulled its tentacle away and both Luke and Leia fell back into the muddy water.
"You alright?" Leia asked panting.
"Yeah, but I'm never going to say anything about you carrying that blaster around everywhere again," Luke said as he massaged his ankle. The sound of something cracking and giving way got Luke and Leia's attention, and they both looked up to see the Amidala sinking sideways into the murky swamp water.
"Stang," Leia muttered.
"Oh come on," Luke said getting up. "Do you know how long it's going to take me to clean up the Amidala now?"
Leia rolled her eyes. "Really Luke. Who cares about that? We're stranded."
"To be honest I don't care that we're stranded because we're not stranded. Vader put a tracker on the ship. He'll come find us," Luke assured.
"I'm not too sure about that," Leia replied as she messed with her comlink. "I'm not getting a com. signal."
"Vader's going to try to kill us," Luke muttered standing up.
"It wasn't our fault," Leia said plopping down on the ground. "Think we can get in the ship to at least get supplies?"
"Yeah," Luke said. "But I sense something. Let's look into it first."
Leia nodded and they headed into the thick forest. Artoo rolled ahead and blocked their way frantically trying to get them to stop.
"What other choice do we have Artoo? The ship's stuck. You and Threepio just stay here," Leia said as she moved Artoo aside and continued into the forest. Then she stopped when she heard something roar. Her hand went to her blaster and Luke groaned.
"I hope this won't be a repeat of the akul," Luke said pulling out his own blaster and looking around as they continued slowly into the forest to where they came upon a small clearing.
"I sense something," Leia whispered.
"Me too," Luke muttered. "I feel… I feel like-."
"Feel like what?"
Both Luke and Leia whirled around with blasters raised at the creature behind them.
"Like we're being watched," Luke said irritated.
The little toad-like creature shook his head. "Away with your weapons, young Skywalkers. No harm do I mean you."
"How do you know our names?" Leia asked not lowering hers for a second.
The creature shook his head and simply walked past them. "Reckless you are. Long way in your training you have to go."
"Training?" Luke and Leia said and then rushed after the creature.
"What are you talking?" Leia asked.
"Follow me and you will see," he assured them.
"What do you think?" Luke asked.
"You already know what I think," Leia said to him. "But I don't sense anything from him, nothing dangerous anyway."
"Me neither," Luke said and then shrugged. "It can't hurt to follow him. Not like we have anywhere else to go."
Luke started behind the little creature without waiting for Leia to reply, and Leia was caught between following him and going back with Artoo and Threepio. She sighed and ran to catch up with him. By the time she caught up to Luke, he had stopped in front of a small hut with the creature sitting in front of it next to a familiar old man.
"Ben!" Luke said in excitement.
"Jedi," Leia said in a much less enthusiastic tone.
"Hello Luke. It's been a long time," Obi-wan said to his former pupil's son. Then he turned to Leia and smiled. "And you've certainly grown up since the last time I saw you Leia."
Leia remained passive and Luke rolled his eyes.
"Really Leia," he said.
"What?" she said with her arms crossed.
Be nice, he sent and Leia sighed.
"Hello," she finally said in a much lighter tone than before. "Who are you?"
"Sorry," Obi-wan said. "I forgot that you don't know us. I'm Obi-wan and this is Master Yoda."
"Master?" Luke asked.
"Yes. A jedi master," Obi-wan explained.
"Nice to meet you," Luke said with a tilt of his head, ever aware of Leia's growing discomfort. "This is Leia."
The old master nodded with his eyes closed. "Know who you are, I do. A long time it has been. Much to discuss we have."
"We're not discussing anything," Leia declared grabbing Luke's hand. "We're getting out of here."
Luke rolled his eyes and turned to Obi-wan and Yoda. "We'll be right back. We're just going to talk for a minute."
Luke led Leia back into the forest and ignoring her apparent displeasure, put his hands on his hips and sighed.
"What is your problem?"
"Their jedi. That's my problem," Leia said haughtily. "And if you don't remember, the last jedi we trusted tried to kill you because of who your father was."
"They're not like him Leia. I'm not getting any bad vibes from them like I was getting from Tytus. Besides, this is coming from the person who willingly went with Darth Vader and trusted him, a virtual stranger might I add, when he told her he was her father," Luke pointed out.
"He is our father and he wasn't a stranger to me. I told you I remember how he felt. And this is way different. Sure Vader's a sith and though I don't really agree with that part he is still our father. These are the guys who took us and then separated us to hide us from the only family we had left. They didn't even want us to grow up together," Leia snapped.
"Look at it from their point of view Leia. They were doing what they thought was right," Luke said.
"And do you think if they had found us first they would have mentioned we were twins?" Leia shot.
"Leia," Luke said rolling his eyes. "Why can't you just trust me? I'm not going to put you in danger. I'd sooner die."
"That's the point," she snapped and after a pause added softly, "I don't want it to come to that again,"
"It won't," Luke said to her. "These jedi won't hurt us. Come on Leia. Please!"
Leia sighed. "Fine, but as soon as I can somehow get a signal, I'm calling dad. This place is hot. Reminds me of Tatooine."
Yoda and Obi-wan were waiting for them patiently when they came back, Leia in a somewhat better mood than she had been before. Luke started to speak but Leia spoke first.
"You know," she said offhandedly. "It is a pretty big coincidence that we somehow got off course and landed here where two jedi are waiting on us. I don't know how you brought us here but you are going to tell me why you brought us here."
Luke hadn't thought about that and he doubted he would have at all if it weren't for Leia pointing it out. Sometimes he was glad she was a wary person.
"The will of the force it was," Yoda explained. "Nothing more. Nothing less."
"Will of the force my-."
"Leia," Luke snapped.
"Fine," she said and stopped talking.
"Sorry about her," Luke said rolling his eyes.
"Hmp," Yoda said starting toward his hut. "Wary and suspicious like her father she is. Rude and arrogant. Not good qualities of a jedi are they. Much to learn she has. Much to learn."
"A jedi," Leia said.
"You're serious! You'll train us to be jedi," Luke said in excitement. "Isn't this great Leia."
"Depends on how you look at it," she replied in a caustic tone (Luke thought that at this rate her voice would be stuck in a permanent sarcastic and dry tone). "Why do you automatically assume we want to be jedi?"
"Your destiny it is to become a jedi and defeat the sith. It is the will of the force," Yoda said going into his hut.
"Wait," Luke said going after him.
Leia kept her distance and it wasn't until Obi-wan said something that she stopped staring after them.
"Aren't you coming?" Obi-wan asked her.
Leia simply nodded and followed after Luke into the small hut who was eagerly talking to Yoda about becoming a jedi.
"Adventure, a jedi does not seek," Yoda chided. "Reckless, they are not."
"I'll try and work on that," Luke said running a hand through his hair.
"Luke," Leia said to him careful not to bump her head on the low ceiling. "We aren't here to train. We have to leave."
"We can't go anywhere now," Luke pointed out. "Our ship is stuck."
I don't want to train to be a jedi and I have no idea what this is about or at least how they see it, Leia sent silently making sure their shields were up so the two jedi couldn't overhear.
What choice do we have right now Leia? Come on. Just until father comes to get us, Luke replied.
You do know Vader kills jedi, right? Leia pointed out.
We'll deal with that when he comes but right now what else can we do. Besides, I don't really want to be a sith like father wants us to be and take over the empire. I'm not evil.
Leia paused and then said, Dad never said anything about teaching us to be sith. And anyway, I don't think the jedi are everything people talk them up to be.
Leia, Luke said in a tone that said he was tired of arguing with her.
Fine. We're stuck here. Train, but-.
I know. You're not happy with this situation and you're not going to make this easy on them, Luke finished rolling his eyes.
You know me so well, Leia said smiling.
"Fine," Leia grumbled. "We'll stay for a while. But that doesn't mean we're becoming jedi. We're only here to see if we can learn anything from you."
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Vader tapped his fingers on his chair as what he now called his 'father sense' went off. His suspicions were confirmed when he checked the tracker and he found out the signal on his it wasn't beaconing, but it hadn't been deactivated. That was odd.
He activated the com in his mask. "Luke," he said into the com. "Luke."
There was a long pause before a voice came through the com.
"Father?" Luke asked seeming surprised.
Vader scowled. Something was definitely not right.
"Where are you? The tracking device I put in your ship is not giving off a beacon."
Luke was silent and Vader instantly knew he wasn't telling something.
"Luke," he warned.
"We had an accident, but me and Leia are fine. Some friends found us and they're going to help us until we can go. Don't worry about us."
"What friends? And why didn't you contact me when you had this accident?"
"We did try… well Leia did. I guess we can receive calls but we can't make them," Luke suggested.
That explained the tracking device, Vader thought and then got back to the task at hand.
"What friends Luke?"
"It's alright father. We're fine. We'll head to Naboo as soon as we can alright?" Luke asked.
Vader began to speak but stopped when he heard Leia in the background of the communications.
"Is that father?" she asked curiously.
"No," Luke said quickly.
"Yes it is. Did you tell him what's going on? That-."
"Leia," Luke said in frustration.
"Give me that com," Leia demanded.
"No way," Luke said and spoke to Vader. "Talk later father."
The communications were cut leaving a very suspicious Vader on the other end. He sighed. It would be suspicious if he suddenly dropped out of hyperspace to go find his wayward children that the emperor knew nothing about he reminded himself. Vader sighed. He would have to take care of his mission overseeing the construction of the Death Star first. Luke and Leia weren't at all in danger. He would have felt that so the two would have to wait.
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"Why didn't you tell him where we were?" Leia snapped.
"What's your problem?" Luke asked.
"I don't want to be here. That's what," Leia snapped.
Luke started to snap a reply but then stopped as he thought about where they were. They were practically stranded on a swamp and forest planet that had no other life forms besides Yoda and Obi-Wan and they had no connection to the outside worlds since their ship was stuck. It was practically Leia's worst nightmare.
He sighed and put his hand on her shoulder stopping her from setting up her tent.
"What?" she asked.
"I wish you would just tell me when you're scared instead of getting all unreasonable and mean," Luke pointed out sitting next to her.
"I'm not scared," Leia said but in a much nicer tone than earlier.
"I know you better than that. You don't like to show when you're scared so you act like a krayt dragon to hide it. I'll tell you what. You don't have to try any of this training out. In fact, we can go see if there's a way to get our ship out that swamp and we'll leave," Luke suggested.
"You're always willing to sacrifice what you want to do for me," Leia said sighing. "If this is what you really want, I guess we can both give this jedi thing a shot."
"And if you don't like it or it at all makes you uncomfortable, we can stop any time," Luke added.
"I'm already uncomfortable with it," said Leia and Luke gave her a wry look.
"Enough talking you have done. Rest you must. A long day tomorrow you have," Yoda chided.
Both Luke and Leia made an indignant sound at being told what to do but set up their tent and got in to go to sleep none the less. Luke poked his head out to talk to Threepio and Artoo.
"Will you two be okay out here?"
"Don't you have another tent Master Luke? It's awfully-."
Artoo replied in the affirmative and Luke zipped up his tent satisfied with the answer.
The next morning, Luke and Leia were rudely awakened by Yoda prodding them in their tent with his walking stick.
"Rise and shine it is. Time to train. Long day, we have," Yoda said.
Leia poked her head out the tent and then reluctantly climbed out, nudging Luke at the same time.
"Leave me alone Leia," Luke replied.
Leia scowled. "You got us into this Luke and if I'm going to get up and train so are you," she replied
Luke groaned but followed his sister out the tent nonetheless. Three hours later, he was wishing he had listened to Leia or stayed in bed at least, as he ran laps around the clearing with Yoda on his back.
"This is ridiculous," Leia said panting. "What does this have to do with the force? All we're proving is that we're in great physical shape."
"Careful you must be young one. Fear lead to anger, anger lead to hate, hate lead to suffering. Path of the dark side it is," Yoda chided.
"This would be a lot easier if I knew what the dark side was," Leia said as she ran next to Luke.
"When calm and at peace you, you will know. A jedi uses the force for defense and knowledge, never for attack," Yoda said to them.
"Does attacking someone before they attack you count as defense," Luke asked.
"Too many questions you ask. Run," Yoda said urging them on.
"Perhaps that's enough running for today Yoda," Obi-wan suggested.
"I'm with him," Luke agreed stopping.
Yoda jumped off Luke's back and looked at Obi-wan. "Two masters a student cannot have."
"A master shouldn't have two students, especially when their Skywalkers," Obi-wan pointed out. "How about I take Leia tomorrow? It would be good for them to train apart."
"Train apart?" Luke and Leia said as they followed the little Jedi into his hut.
"Yes. Attachment to each other you have. Attachments a jedi does not have. There is only the force," Yoda said to them both.
"What's that mean?" Luke asked sitting down careful not to bump his head on the low ceiling.
"It's the code that all jedi live by," Obi-wan replied.
"What code?" Luke asked tired of the evasive answers.
"There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force," Obi-wan chanted.
Luke seemed to accept that answer but Leia, who wanted to know everything about the jedi that she could know before deciding to commit to it at all asked, "What does that have to do with attachment?"
"A jedi is supposed to separate their emotions from their duty and when a jedi forms an attachment, emotions start to interfere with duty," Obi-wan explained.
"Who says?" Leia challenged.
"It's been part of our teachings for centuries and we live by that."
"Just because you've been doing something for centuries doesn't make it right. I want to know who came up with that and why?"
"Come to understand you will child," Yoda said, "No more questions will we answer today."
"Well then I'll just tell you what I think. This jedi code is too broad and general. It leaves a lot of room for interpretation but with all due respect, the way you explain it, the jedi are droids," Leia pointed out.
"Much like your father you are. Questioning the way of the jedi he was," Yoda pointed out.
"I'm not saying it's wrong. I'm just stating my opinion of it," Leia pointed out.
You really should have been a politician, Luke sent as Yoda passed them both a bowl of what looked like green slop to them. Leia took one glance at it and sat it down in front of her while Luke carefully inspected the concoction.
"What's this?" he asked looking at Obi-wan and the man shrugged.
"Good food it is. Eat up. Replenish strength you will need to," Yoda urged.
"I'm not that hungry," Leia replied as Luke tried to taste the food.
You're lying, Luke sent.
I'll see if I can get into the ship and find something later. But I'm not eating that slop. It looks like slave food, Leia said crossing her arms.
Luke nodded in understanding and as he put a bit of the food in his mouth and immediately gagged. Leia laughed at him and Luke glared at her.
At least I tried it!
Meanwhile, Yoda and Obi-wan were quietly watching their exchange, aware that the two were communicating telepathically though they couldn't hear the conversation.
"Rely on each other too much you do. Rely completely on the force, you must," Yoda said to him. "Let go of attachment to each other you must. Too dependent on each other you are."
"So that means we can't at all rely on people?" Luke asked.
"Not completely," Obi-wan corrected. "The only thing you can rely on completely is the force. I've observed you both and your greatest strength is your greatest weakness."
"What's that?" asked Leia.
"Your dependency on each other. You're at your most powerful together. When you're together you both know there's nothing you can't do, but you both must have that same confidence when you're not together because as long as you have the force, anything is possible."
"But that's not a bad thing is it?" asked Luke.
"It depends on your point of view."
"That is why, tomorrow, train you separately we will. Train you Luke, Obi-wan will," Yoda said to them.
Everyone did a double take then. Leia was the one who didn't want to train at all so it made sense to all of them that Yoda should take the more willing student.
"Are you sure about that?" Luke asked looking at Leia.
"Take young Leia and personally train her tomorrow I will. Train with Obi-wan in the morning you will young Luke," Yoda said.
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"You must focus Luke. Be calm. Let the force flow through you," Obi-wan said to Luke the next day as he tried to help him lift objects through the force.
"Ugh. If Leia were here this would be so much easier," Luke said frustrated.
"And there lies your problem. You depend too much on each other. Stop thinking about Leia. Pretend she doesn't exist and that you're the only one that can help yourself," Obi-wan suggested.
"Pretend Leia doesn't exist? I can't even imagine it to tell the truth," Luke admitted.
"And that's where your weakness is. Now focus, forget about everything," Obi-wan said to Luke.
Luke stared at Obi-wan for a moment and sighed before clearing his mind of all thoughts and concerns, even the ones of Leia, and focused on raising the rocks into the air.
"That's it Luke," Obi-wan said. "Keep your focus. Listen to the force alone."
Meanwhile, Leia had no time to think as she ran with Yoda on her back, but this time with a blindfold.
"Mm," Yoda said with his eyes closed. "Much determination and focus you have. But calm and peace of mind, you must have."
"I have all that when I'm not mad or someone's done something to disturb me," Leia pointed out going to her left to dodge a tree.
"And there is the problem. Let external forces and emotions disturb your calm and peace of mind, you must not. Think when mind disturbed or clouded with emotion, you must not less start down a dark path you shall like Vader."
"Well he may be dark, but Vader's not such a bad guy, at least not for a father anyway," Leia said. "What disturbed his mind and emotions so much then? Why did he turn?"
"Lust for power your father had. Impatient he was," Yoda said to her.
"But why did he want power?" Leia asked. "Some people want power for the heck of it so they can boss others around or make them scared. Vader doesn't seem like that. He's always talking about me and Luke helping him bring peace and order to the empire. That doesn't seem so wrong even though I don't necessarily agree with the empire. Bunch of cowards if you ask me."
"Power, a jedi does not crave. Only peace."
"But you have to have the power to bring peace or what good is it?" Leia asked as she stopped running.
"Why stop running have you?" Yoda asked.
"There's something dark over there," Leia said pointing to her right before taking off her blindfold and looking at the cave. She sat Yoda down and looked at him "What's in there?"
"Only what you take with you."
Leia started towards it and then stopped beginning to shiver. She hated the dark and she hated caves, but then she remembered that she could always find her way out if she needed. She didn't have to that far in.
"Very good Luke. Eventually you'll be able to do it on two fingers," Obi-wan said.
Luke wasn't sure. He had a hard enough time upside down on one hand making objects float, and it was taking all his concentration and focus, along with some he didn't know he had, to do that.
Then he felt something in the force. He tried to ignore it, but it was calling him and he broke his focus to listen to it. It was Leia.
Luke broke his concentration completely then and fell backwards. His back was going to be hurting later, but right then he didn't care.
"Luke, what happened?" Obi-wan asked.
"Where's Leia?" he demanded. "Where did Master Yoda take her?"
"Luke calm down."
"She's scared. Where did he go?" Luke said standing up and reaching out with the force to try to find Leia and Yoda.
"I'm sure that Master Yoda wouldn't let anything happen to her. She's fine Luke. Luke!" Obi-wan shouted as Luke took off running in the forest shouting Leia's name.
Obi-wan went after him albeit a little slower. He was getting too old to be chasing after a rebellious padawan.
Luke found Yoda standing patiently watching something shaking his head, but he wasn't concerned about Yoda.
"Where's Leia?" he demanded. Leia's fear was getting worse.
Yoda didn't reply but Luke followed his line of vision to the cave.
"What's she in there for?" Luke demanded.
"Fine she is," Yoda said calmly.
"That's-." Luke stopped when he heard Leia scream and swore violently and ran into the cave.
Yoda shook his head. "Long way from letting go of their attachment to each other they are."
"Hm… But their attachment to each other drives them," Obi-wan pointed out. "We can't ignore that."
"Fear what it drives them to, I do," Yoda said.
"Leia," Luke called in the cave. He didn't have to go far to find her sitting on her knees with her face in her hands.
"Luke," she said taking her face out her hands and then putting then covering her face again. "Luke make it stop."
"Make what stop?" Luke said grabbing hold of Leia's shoulders. She was trembling. That was never a good sign for her. Something had really shaken her. "Leia there's nothing there."
"You don't see it," she muttered. "I should die. I'm going to be a horrible person."
"Who told you that?" Luke asked her but she didn't answer and instead was muttering something under her breath.
Luke didn't try to talk to her again. Instead, he picked her up off the ground and carried her out the cave trying to control his anger when he saw Obi-wan and Yoda.
"What did you do to her?" he demanded.
"Saw a truth she did. Nothing more, nothing less. Learned a lesson she has," Yoda said. "Learned yours, you have not."
"Whatever," Luke said stomping past them and taking Leia into their tent. Leia had calmed down a little by then and when Luke tried to make her lay down, she sat up staring ahead of her.
"You came," she said. "I didn't think you would."
Luke smiled. "You know I'll always come when you call. The entire imperial fleet couldn't stop me." Luke then frowned. "Leia. What did you see?"
Leia was silent before laying back and closing her eyes. "I'll tell you later. Just give me a minute," she said.
Luke nodded and satisfied that she was alright left the tent and headed into Yoda's hut not at all happy with the two jedi.
"What did you send her in there for?" Luke snapped.
"It was part of her training Luke. She had to learn something for herself and unless she saw it for herself, she would have risked going down a dark path," Obi-wan said to him.
"I don't care. I'm more worried about her sanity. She hates dark places and she hates caves. What's your problem?"
"She has to learn to overcome her fears herself, Luke, without you. You won't always be able to protect her. Some things she just has to endure, especially when it's her choice."
"She's endured enough in her lifetime. Leia should be somewhere in a palace asking for nothing if you ask me, and I'll be damned before I let something happen to her," Luke snapped.
"Your father probably thought the same thing," Obi-wan pointed out.
Luke started to snap a reply but then frowned and asked more curious than angry, "What are you talking about?"
"Your father made the same vow to your mother and in the end he tried to kill her because he couldn't get her to come to his side. I saw him try to choke her while she was pregnant with you and your sister. If I hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened," Obi-wan said.
"See you now why protect you and Leia from him, we tried. From yourselves protect you and Leia, we want to. Same fate as father, you must not have," Yoda warned.
"So you're saying in my effort to protect Leia, I might hurt her?" Luke asked.
"Finally see you do. Let go of your attachment to her you must."
Luke shook his head. "I can't do that. Leia's not just my sister. She's my best friend and I don't care what rule of the jedi I'm breaking, I'm not going to abandon her ever if I can help it. Heck, I'll follow her to death if I have to. I'd even-." Luke abruptly stopped.
"Sell your soul if you had to?" Obi-wan finished. "That's a dangerous declaration. It can lead you down a dark path."
Luke was floored. Now he knew what Leia meant when she said that maybe the jedi weren't all they were talked up to be. Sure they looked like saints from the outside, but to rid yourself of all attachments. Luke could live without things. He had been poor on Tatooine and even though he and Leia made all kinds of money on the run, they normally used it for the upkeep of their ship, weapons, reinvesting for their personal mission that usually weren't paying jobs, or basic necessities. Neither of them were very concerned about having many material things. However, Luke didn't see himself living without Leia or some kind of family in the future one day. He didn't know is he could willingly sacrifice that.
He clenched his jaw and looked at Obi-wan and Yoda.
"Then maybe I'm not meant to be a jedi," Luke said. "Not this kind of jedi anyway."
"Luke," Obi-wan said immediately wanting to do damage control.
"Listen I'm not saying the way of the jedi is wrong. You have some really good principles, but what you're asking me to give up… I can't," Luke muttered.
"Immature you are. With more training, more understanding will come. See wisdom in precautions, you will," Yoda said.
"I'm not bending on this one. I'm sorry. I want nothing more than to be a jedi, but I made a promise to Leia long before I made any promises to this. Leia's right, I shouldn't just run blindly into something I know nothing about and I don't know anything about the jedi," Luke said and started to crawl out the hut. Then he stopped and added, "Maybe that's why they were hunted down. People fear what they know nothing about and when you don't make information open to the public, they think you have something evil to hide. I'm not saying you are evil, but this isn't for us."
Luke crawled out the hut and headed to his and Leia's tent.
"Pack your stuff," Luke said to her as he came in the tent.
Leia looked up from her datapad in surprise.
"What?"
"Pack your stuff," Luke said calmly as he gathered his things.
"Why?"
"We're leaving," he said and stepped out the tent.
Leia followed him. "But why? I though you wanted to be a jedi?"
"I changed my mind," Luke said simply. "We'll talk about this on the ship."
"The ship is stuck," Leia said.
"We're getting it out. If we use the force together, I think we can manage it," Luke said gathering the rest of their things. "Artoo, Threepio. Let's go!"
"Luke!" Leia shouted as Luke started to where their ship was stuck in the swamp. Leia glanced at their tent and then decided they could do without it and followed her brother. Obi-wan and Yoda followed behind them.
Luke dropped all his things in from of him and inspected where their ship had sunk into the swamp. Leia stood next to him deciding to save all her questions about Luke's sudden change of heart for later. Instead, she too took in their ship and touched their connection.
This is certainly going to be tricky, she sent.
But not impossible if we work together, Luke replied and Leia nodded in agreement, both ignoring Yoda and Obi-wan standing behind them.
"Oh Master Luke. Miss Leia. How are you ever going to get the Amidala out? It's impossible. The odds of you getting it out are-."
"Your odds don't calculate the force Threepio," Luke pointed out as he combined his force power with Leia's.
We can do this, Luke said.
I know we can, Leia said closing her eyes and letting the force flow through her with Luke.
Both of them put out their hands out. Leia as though pushing down and Luke as though lifting something up. They grasped onto their ship with the force and Leia moved her hands down and Luke lifted his up. For a moment, it looked like nothing would happen, until slowly the ship begin to shake and then it started to slowly rise out the swamp. Then, the back end began to slowly fall back causing the ship to level again. It levitated in the air for a moment before it moved to more level ground and then slowly was set down.
Luke and Leia broke their concentration and let out a sigh of relief. That had been tiring.
"We did it," Leia panted with a wide grin.
"I knew we could," Luke said gathering their things. Leia went to let the ramp down and headed onto the ship, but Luke turned around to look at Yoda and Obi-wan.
"I'm sorry we wasted your time. And I don't know what your plan was, but whatever it is, me and Leia can't be part of it. We've written our own destiny and it's always going to be with each other," Luke said and bowed his head. "May the force be with you."
"And with you and your sister young Skywalker," Yoda said.
As the ship took off Obi-wan looked stared at it in contemplation before saying, "Perhaps they're right. Maybe their fate does not lie with the jedi. Not yet anyway."
"Hm," Yoda said. "Perhaps right you are. Lies in each other their faith and strength does. Perhaps through the path of the jedi their destiny they will not fulfill. A different path they must take. Hope for the galaxy, they may still be."
"You are right. The force is still very strong with them. They may be more attuned to what it wants even more than we because they have no teaching to follow," Obi-wan suggested.
"Mm… Meditate on this, I will."
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Luke knew what Leia wanted as soon as she sat next to him in the cockpit. He didn't even have to have a connection with her to know it. He didn't immediately reply and so becoming impatient, Leia said, "So?"
"I couldn't be a jedi. Not like they wanted me to be anyway. I'd give up everything else, but I'm not will to let go of you," Luke admitted.
"So you don't think your sister can live without you huh?" Leia asked with a smile.
"It wasn't even about you being my sister. In fact, we didn't have to be related at all. You're my best friend regardless," Luke reminded her. "Besides, it was more that I can't imagine living without you."
Leia leaned her chin on her hand. "Really?"
"Yeah, but not even just you. To be a jedi, it's all about being above human need and family, love, emotional attachment is a human need you know? I don't think it's possible to be human without it," Luke said.
"True," Leia replied. "But I admire people who are willing to do that for the sake of everyone else."
"No one should have to give all that up to dedicate themselves to something. I don't think that's what their code means although I do think sacrifice is a part of it. Just not that kind of sacrifice," Luke said to her. "You were right though. I shouldn't have jumped into this without knowing anything about it."
"Ever the impulsive one," Leia said with a smile.
"Ever the wary one," Luke added. "But we complement each other."
Luke started to get up but Leia stopped him. Luke looked at her questioningly and Leia averted her eyes.
"What?" he asked.
"You don't think that… do you ever wonder if I'm really any better than the people I fight against sometimes?" she asked.
Luke tilted his head in confusion at her. "What makes you ask that?"
Leia didn't answer and then Luke remembered when she said she was going to end up a horrible person in the cave.
"What did you see when you went in that cave?"
Leia was silent for a long time and Luke was starting to think he was going to have to pry it out of her until she said, "I saw myself as an adult and I don't know what I was, but I had power. I had some kind of title or right and at first I was glad because I thought it meant I was making a difference. You know… I thought I was helping make the galaxy a better place but that wasn't it."
"What did you do?" Luke asked.
"I was just like my former masters. I treated people like they were below me all in the name of trying to bring order and peace to the galaxy. Human life didn't matter anymore and then, when you tried to warn me I tried to kill you," Leia said softly.
Yoda and Obi-wan's words came back to him and though he hadn't understood it. So the jedi teachings did have merit to it…
"What's that mean Luke? Am I destined to be a monster for wanting to give people like that their just deserts?"
"No," Luke said slowly as the two jedi's words rang out in his mind. "But I think it's the way you do it. The intention can be good, but the way to get it doesn't have to be and that's what makes it evil. "
"But what was that vision saying about me? Is it my future?" Leia asked. "I don't want to be like that. I'd sooner kill myself than be that way."
Luke felt Leia's emotions going in a spiral and slid his chair closer to her.
"Calm down," he said leaning his head on top of hers. "Maybe it was just a warning."
"A warning?"
"Now before I say this, I'm not saying that you're a bad person. But you can be kind of cold and unfeeling. I think it's a warning. Maybe it's time you let go of your past. You can't let it bother you anymore," Luke said.
"I'll never forget it. It's what motivates me to keep fighting. People shouldn't have to suffer like that," Leia whispered.
"You don't have to forget it. Don't ever forget it in fact. Let it drive you. But don't let it bother you so much, make you bitter, or dominate your destiny I guess," Luke said. "It'll drive you crazy."
Leia was silent as she contemplated Luke's words. Luke decided no more words were needed and starting to close his eyes when the ship com went off. He sat up and answered it. Vader's hologram came up.
"I see you have gotten back on course from your detour," he said.
"You probably want an explanation," Luke said to him.
"Eventually," Vader replied. "But I am currently on a very important assignment from the emperor. So I would appreciate it if you would both head straight for Naboo and make no more detours that I might personally have to intervene in."
"It wasn't even our fault," Leia said. "It was those dumb jedi."
Vader was silent for a moment before replying, "Jedi?"
Luke looked at Leia out the corner of her eye. Leia got the message and began to try putting together an excuse, before Vader raised his hand.
"I will inquire about your 'detour' at another time," he said not sure he even wanted to know. "But I'm warning you…"
"Don't worry about it," Luke said as the ship dropped out of hyperspace. "If you're paying attention to your tracker, we're in the Naboo system."
Leia sat up and gazed at the beautiful planet for the second time in her life, the planet she never thought she'd step foot on again.
"Never thought we'd step foot on this place again," Luke said in wonder looking at it with her.
"Especially to be calling it home," Leia added.
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In the next chapter, Luke and Leia finally meet their mother's family and after proving who their parents are, they're treated like royalty and given the stable home they really never had. But it doesn't stay that simple. Luke and Leia were made for the spotlight and again gain the attentions of the queen prompting her to making a stunning move…
It was interesting writing this because I knew that the jedi would be critical of Luke and Leia's attachment to each other and Luke would have to choose, but the way I see it you can't make a promise to something if it interferes with a promise you already made to someone so I found it as a reasonable way to write this. I also like writing Leia's cave scene, I thought I would do Luke but then I was like… Leia might have an interesting vision in there.
Anywho sorry it's so late, but I am just so frustrated trying to figure out how to make an epub. If I don't figure out how to do it, I have to pay the website that I'm going to do it through () $99 to convert it and that's ridiculous to me when I can do it myself if I can just figure out how to do it and publish an ebook for free. I don't have that money right now and I don't have a job to invest in it. I should go ask my friend who blew eighty dollars to get a hoodie with her name and a short phrase on it (shakes head). That's it. I need a job for the holiday's. Anyway hope you enjoyed. Review Please!