Author's note: Hi, guys. Forgive me for not updating in so long. Hope you are all well.
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She watched quietly as her father and brother began to converse, her hands starting to tremble.
Leia couldn't stop her heart from breaking and her world from blanketing itself with a layer of misery as she considered what she had seen regarding the state of her father's soul.
Paying attention to what her two familial relations were saying was also something she couldn't do at that time, despite that that was what she desired strongly at that second.
She shut her eyes and turned, then grasped tightly on the railing near her for support and bent a bit forward, taking in a breath.
Her throat burned with mad fury as she held back the words she wanted to unleash at the dark lord.
"So, you've accepted the truth."
"I've accepted the truth.. That you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father."
Bits and pieces of their conversation entered her ears as Leia noticed her body start to shake from her emotions.
She wanted to scream.
Scream at her father and demand an answer as to what he had done and why he had done this to them.
What I wouldn't give to just curl my hands into fists and hit him over and over again on that chest of his stupid suit!
Far off now were the emotions of hurt and down low they had sunk. Now it was rage that she was now dealing with and fighting against.
And very much losing to.
Focusing now on the Force, her guilty conscious started to weighed down heavily on her. She could almost feel the large amber orbs of her Master Yoda looking disapprovingly on her.
"Forgive me, Master.." Leia muttered softly to him under her breath.
"We will not turn.. and you'll be forced to kill us." Luke's saddened voice somehow managed to reach her and breakthrough and shatter the wicked anger she had been dealing with.
She listened quietly, carefully.
"..if that is the destiny of you both." He stated simply.
"What?!" Leia exclaimed very loudly in shock.
It felt as if her soul had been stabbed with his words.
Enough. Leia gritted her teeth.
She rapidly began to gather strength from the Force to do what she was about to do.
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"What?!
The loud unexpected exclamation and voice startled both Vader, Luke, and the near by stormtroopers keeping guard. Both father and son quickly turned their head, only to see the young woman fast approaching.
Luke's eyes widened.
The princess's eyes were illuminated with anger and her arriving presence was very intimidating for one so small.
Has she given into hate? Luke questioned to himself sadly, heart dropping.
"Leia, wait!-" His hand quickly grabbed her shoulder, trying to keep her from speaking and getting any closer to their father in such an anger and risk making matters worse, but the moment his prosthetic hand made contact with her Luke understood.
He had felt it.
Her anger was not of the dark side, but just anger, rooted in hurt.
"No! Back off Luke! Let me have a word with him too, he's my father also!"
Luke's eyes and expression softened and he allowed her to pass, giving her a courteous nod.
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She made you weak!
The memory of his master's snarling voice played in the Sith's mind.
Vader's yellow eyes stared cruelly behind his mask at her, nostrils flaring.
"Your Highness." He mocked coldly, acknowledging her presence once she at last faced him.
Leia raised her arm swiftly and pointed a finger at him.
"You!" Leia began, jabbing her finger at his direction with a scowl. "How dare you consider my brother and I in such a way! As if we're trash to you- something you can dispose of-"
The sith interrupted, roughly knocking her hand away.
"You forget who you're dealing with, girl." His voice raw anger and he having bent lower, his face near her own.
"The blood of countless Jedi lay on on my hands and I will continue to slay any Jedi I find that do not wish to turn to the dark side. No matter who they are to me, even by blood." Vader spat loudly, making Leia flinch, despite herself.
"You no longer have me snared in your grasp. You made me weak and almost even hostile to the dark side...and you will pay for it, Princess. That is, if you will not turn." He finished, standing upright.
"You don't mean any of that." Leia answered back, face stern, but her eyes showing the hurt in them and her voice breaking.
"She's right, I feel the conflict within you." Luke agreed. "The good in you I feel is saying the opposite." The blonde man said, a small smile on his lips at the presence of the goodness he could sense in his father. "Let go of your hate."
"...It seems the two of you will have to wait and see to know just how serious I am." The dark Lord coolly uttered, crossing his arms. "Take them!"
After Vader had sounded the command soon after the twins were being escorted away, Leia being shoved in a direction by a stormtrooper.
"No!" She yelled, wanting to speak further to her father to try to persuade him.
"No, wait!" Leia cried out to Vader.
Her gaze had never left him.
He had turned away from facing them. Arms still crossed, he stared off into the night sky.
It's okay, Sister. Luke's soothing voice spoke into her mind.
We still have time to try to save him. Don't lose hope.
But, Luke what if this is our last real chance? I failed and could have done much better! Leia cried out in anguish to Luke. I didn't even have a chance to really try to rescue him!
In a split second after she finished with her words her world turned into an unbelievable flash of white.
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Leia smiled. A family hug..it was small yet big things like this she had terribly missed of them during the nights she could not sleep.
"Might I give you a tip to help defeat Vader?" Bail grinned to Leia.
Leia smiled and looked up into her father's eyes.
"Yes, of course. What is it?" She asked, eager to hear what he had to say.
"Well, this is purely and strictly me speaking. Not high wisdom from the Force...
Shower him with affection! Love him dearly!
There is goodness in the man still and I know you feel it, child. It's something that you feel deep within your soul that you don't understand how. It's in your very being. That goodness is Anakin. Love Anakin. Love him, Leia!
What father could resist their sweet darling and loving daughter? You know that's how you always got me to give you all those sweets before bed when you were a child, loving on me and pleading with me the way you did." He teased whispering to Leia.
He gave her a playful wink.
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The princess's brown orbs grew big at vision and an idea came to her mind. If she was going to do it, she had to do it now, before it was too late.
Father I love you! We both do! She cried out loudly in her mind to him, sending him the mental message.
Hungrily she waited and prayed for a reaction or response from him, anything that would let her know her words had an effect on him.
Immediately the Sith's arms fell down to his sides and Vader's head turned, looking at her.
Then she was all too soon brought past the door and it shut, separating the family.
