Naboo, Theed: 15 Years Later
A young, fifteen year old Leia Naberrie flipped a page in her book and smiled lightly as the fresh, Naboo air raced around her. It was a beautiful summer day; the sun was shining, the smell of firewood filled the air, and it wasn't too hot. "Leia, can you come here, please?" Sola Naberrie, Leia's aunt, asked from inside. Leia closed her book and sighed. "I'll be right in!"
As Leia walked into her aunt and uncle's house, the sweet smell of lily flowers filled the air. "What do you need, Aunt Sola?" Leia asked, as she walked in the back of the house towards the kitchen, where her aunt stood. Sola smiled, her shoulder-length brown hair flying behind her whenever she moved her head. Sola Naberrie was a very pretty lady, who looked like her niece, except her brown eyes were lighter and her hair was straight and not wavy.
"It was just time to call you in," Sola replied. "Ahsoka will be arriving any minute. You should go put your hair up and put that book away."
Leia nodded and walked towards her room, which she shared with her cousin, Ryoo, who was away at college. She tossed her book on her bed and stole a hair tie from her cousin's side of the room. Placing her dark brown hair in a tight braid, Leia walked back to the kitchen, a happy smile on her face when she saw the beautiful Togruta, Ahsoka, talking to Sola.
"Hey, Ahsoka!" Leia said kindly, as she gave a tight embrace to the young woman. Ahsoka was much like a second aunt of Leia's; she was close to both of her parents during the Clone Wars, and had been in her life since they died. The two saw each other every Monday and Friday, and would go see Leia's mother's grave, and then go out towards the hidden lakeside a couple blocks from her home.
"Hey, Trouble!" Ahsoka chuckled, putting her hand on the teen's shoulder. "I'll have her back home by nightfall."
Sola nodded, smiling. "Have a good evening, you two."
Soon Leia and Ahsoka were walking in town, laughing and smiling. Ahsoka breathed in air, sighing peacefully as they approched the graveyard. In a strange way, Leia found this place beautiful, especially in the late-afternoon, when it was quieter and had less people. The pair made their way to Padmè's grave, and sat down on the grass beside it. It was a large grave, always decorated with flowers and other things. Leia smiled, and touched the cold marble that her Mother was buried under. The two remained quiet for a moment.
"I remember one time, I came to visit your mom after I got back from a mission," Ahsoka started, and Leia's eyes widened as she listened. She loved hearing stories about Padmè. "I was a little down, because that's what war sometimes did to you. And Padmè hugged me and made me laugh, and told me stories about her life. It was so very comforting at the time," Ahsoka paused and sighed. Whenever she talked about her times during the Clone War, she got a little down.
Leia smiled and remained quiet for a moment. "Our galaxy is always at war."
Ahsoka smiled pitifully. "It sure seems that way."
After another couple minutes, Ahsoka stood up. "We should make our way to the lakeside. I have something to give you."
A long walk later, and the girls arrived at a small cove surrounded by large mounds of rocks. Water rushed through the cracks of the stone, creating a nice and cool pond that was crystal clear. If you climbed the rocks, which Leia and Ahsoka often did, and you reached the top, then you would see a massive, beautiful lake outlined with trees. The cove was a place that Padmè discovered when she was younger, and had been a Naberrie family place since then.
After making sure that they were alone, Ahsoka reached in her cloak, and pulled out two lightsabers. "Show me what you learned last week, and then I'll give you the gift." Ahsoka said, smiling. Leia groaned, which made her Master laugh aloud.
The fifteen year old took a blindfold from her pocket and wrapped around her eyes, then she ignighted her lightsaber, that was a glowing green. Carefully, she formed into positions one, two, and three with ease. Then, she back flipped, and struck her saber into a samari pose, and then deactivated it. Slowly, Leia took off her blindfold and smiled. Ahsoka nodded her head, pleased. "Good job, Leia. Remember to take it all slow. That, my apprentice, is how you learn."
Leia nodded, and then sat down next to her master. In Ahsoka's hand, she held a gleaming gold necklace in the shape of a pearl. Leia's eyes widened at it's beauty. "It was your Mother's. She gave it to me long ago, and I decided to save it for you."
Tears filled in young Leia's eyes. "T-Thank you, Master."
Ahsoka smiled.
Coruscant, Galactic City
Vader hated parties.
He hated everything about them. The people, the act, the music. There wasn't a single thing he enjoyed. But, being the Emperor, he needed to have them. It was good for all of the Empire's associates to be in the same place at the same time. It allowed good business oprotunities to strike, which could be good for the Empire. But he hated how he needed to make an appearance, but it was all worth it.
Vader always managed to feel...empty at things like this. Seeing every man accompanied by a woman. Not that Vader couldn't get a woman to accompany him. Ever since her had his year long surgery in which he got normal limbs and real skin and looked like his old self, women always threw themselves at him, which bothered Vader a large amount. He didn't need all of those bimbos. He needed his wife.
He needed Padmè.
Every day, Vader imagined her right by his side. His Empress. Her long, dark curls let loose instead of being held up on her head. A long, flowing dress that would fall to her feet. Makeup if she desired-Not that she needed it, she was naturally beautiful. Vader lusted after the thought. If only.
"Lord Vader?"
Vader snapped out of his daze to see Admiral Ozzel and two stormtroopers standing before him. "Yes, Admiral?" He sighed, I am not in the mood for this.
"There is an incident on Naboo," Ozzel explained. "The Queen is not excepting our demands. Her highness is trying to push our fleet off of her planet. We thing you, sir, should go convince her otherwise."
Vader furrowed his brows and sighed. He hadn't been to Naboo since he was a boy, and he didn't plan on ever going back. It hurt his heart, but he couldn't see his wife's favorite place in the world. It would hurt too much. That's why he never went to visit her grave. Vader couldn't take that emotional trauma. "Send someone else," Vader snapped.
Ozzel sighed. "We tried. The Queen is commanding you."
Vader closed his eyes, and anger surged through his body. "Fine. Ready my ship by tomorrow morning," Vader glared at Ozzel. "Now get out of my sight."
Leia arrived home, nightfall setting upon Naboo, only a small glimpse of sun was left. She had said goodbye to Ahsoka and given her her lightsaber for safety. If anyone was caught carrying one there was automatic treason. One of the rules Emperor Vader made once he became ruler of the galaxy. Ahsoka made Leia swear to secrecy. Make no mistake, Leia remembered her Master telling her. If you are discovered, Leia, you will be killed. No question's asked. Be careful, Leia.
It took a long time for Ahsoka to convince Leia's aunt and uncle to allow her to be trained. Weeks, in fact. In the end, they hesitantly agreed, which made Leia about burst from happiness, and made Ahsoka feel relieved. Why do you want to train me? Eight year old Leia once asked. Because, I believe you will bring peace to the galaxy and stop this madness; Ahsoka had replied.
Since then, Leia was trained in secret, and was slowly becoming very powerful. Well Leia wanted to be a Jedi, she longed to be a Senator one day as well. So her aunt Sola and uncle Darred allowed her to work on her studies and train with Ahsoka. The teenager had quite the busy agenda.
"Aunt Sola? Uncle Darred? I'm home!" Leia called, and got no response from them.
"They went to bed early, keep your voice down, you lunatic." Came the voice of Ryoo, Leia's twenty-five year old cousin, from the living room. Leia rolled her eyes. "Thanks for being so kind, Ryoo."
Ryoo chuckled and turned off the holopad she was looking at. A grim smile came across her face. "Vader's fleet bombed the Queen's palace tonight."
Shock filled Leia's face. How did I not kriffin' sense that?! She thought. "What?! Is the Queen okay?"
Ryoo shushed her cousin once again. "The Queen is fine. Some of her handmaidens died, though, and a few other castle workers."
Leia sighed sadly. "That's terrible."
"The point being, be careful walking around town and such," Ryoo stated. "Stormtroopers are everywhere."
"I can handle a few bucket heads, Ryoo."
"Not if you don't want the Empire to arrest you and find out you're a Jedi padawan."
Leia rolled her eyes. "Fine. Don't worry so much. I'll be alright."
"You better be," Ryoo muttered. "I'm more worried about Pooja. She works right smack in the middle of Dee'ja Peak."
"She'll be fine!" Leia insisted.
"Let's hope so. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is these days." The twenty-five year old said grimly.
Once Vader's ship landed, he sensed fear in the hearts of people on Naboo. He rolled his eyes. He wasn't here to kill a bunch of civilians, he didn't care about them. As he stepped on the landing platform, he squinted his eyes. Naboo was how he remembered it as a child; bright, lively, beautiful. Vader's heart ached. All the things that Padmè was.
But Vader couldn't think about her right now. It would cause too much pain.
As he started walking towards the speeder that would take him to the Queen's palace, he stopped. Vader closed his eyes.
There were Jedi here.
End of Chapter Two.
Just to clarify, (because I made it a little confusing), Ahsoka is training Leia in secret to be a Jedi. For anyone wondering, Luke and Padmè will come into the story in a couple episodes. Thank you very much for reading. Chapter three will be out very soon. Thank you very much for reading and I hope you enjoyed the story.
-shortygirlwriter