Chapter 65
Laetitia was sitting in the Comet. She still had about 2 hours to reach Naboo.
It was funny. She felt uneasy and uncomfortable in her own Starfighter that used to be like a home for her. Granted it was a bit dusty but still. Being in it brought back memories Leah had literally forgotten about.
How Anakin had reacted when he first saw it. How the masters commented on it. What she went through with it. What the Starfighter itself went through.
She was so tired that she didn't even realize she fell asleep.
She had the same nightmare she had for the past 6 years but the difference was, she knew what it was. How she did what she did to her own father.
She was on a rocky planet but this time she knew it was Mustafar.
She saw a person down the hill, struggling to come up. This time, she knew it was her own father, Anakin, whom she had cut off his 3 limbs.
He looked at her with clear hurt and betrayal in his yellow eyes. It was too much for her to handle, so she turned around but the view in the dream didn't change.
She felt Obi-wan next to her, shouting his emotions to his gone Padawan.
And there it was again. The screaming. The smell of burnt flesh. The sound of a piece of meat rolling down the hot rocks.
Anakin was screaming in pain from what his daughter had done to him.
Laetitia woke up screaming from the pain she felt in her dream. Every time, she had screamed unintentionally from what she had seen but this time, it was different. It was like she was the one burning and in pain, not her father.
It must have something to do with having my Force powers back. That's the only thing that is different.
BB-8 beeped in worry after hearing his maker's scream.
"Yeah, Beeb. I'm ... fine." She panted "I just … had a … bad dream, alright?"
The worst one and it's actually happened.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Galaxy
Darth Vader was on his way to Naboo when he woke up panting from his sleep. He didn't even realize he had fallen asleep but that wasn't the point.
In his dream, he saw the day everything had changed for him. The day he was betrayed by his own daughter. After she was betrayed by him, of course, but still.
It was strange. He had never seen, heard or thought about what had happened and now, after 6 years, he dreamt about it as if he was reliving it.
Why? What does it mean? Why now?
On Theed, the capital of Naboo
Laetitia had parked her Starfighter somewhere no one could find. She had left BB-8 with it, seeing he was more than capable to protect it.
On her way, she had bought a cluster of jasmine flowers. They were Padme's favorite, which were also used in her funeral dress.
She entered her mother's tomb. It was known as 'Padme Amidala's mausoleum'.
"Hi, mom." She breathed out.
Unlike the Naboo custom, Padme's family decided not to cremate her. So her corpse was placed in a rectangular stony coffin, with the emblem of Naboo engraved on it.
On the left, there was a small metal tray floating in the air. It contained Leah's lightsabers.
The whole way to it was a long way but inside, it was only a small room and the coffin was placed at the center of it.
On one wall, it was written:
Here lies Padme Amidala Naberrie Skywalker
Daughter of Jobal and Ruwee Naberrie
Martyr of The Empire
Queen, Senator, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Wife and Mother
May she rest among the stars
And:
Here lies the unborn Naberrie and Skywalker child
Child of Padme and Anakin Skywalker
Victim of the Jedi's cruelty
Prince or Princess, Brother or Sister, Son or Daughter
May he or she be a part of the stars
Not far from that, above a tray:
Here lies Laetitia Shmi Naberrie Skywalker
Daughter of Padme and Anakin Skywalker
Daughter of Here With No Fear
Princess, General, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Hero, Martyr and Victim
May she find peace within the Force
Martyr and victim? What genius came up with that one?
On the other wall, the one where Padme's head was supposed to be, there were engravings. Pieces of glasses that were painted. It was basically a window. The painting included Padme and her daughter, Laetitia. She was holding her daughter and they were smiling happily.
As soon as Leah saw her mother's painting, she dropped at her knees and started crying. The cluster of flowers slipped through her hand.
"Don't be mad, okay? I didn't come because I didn't even know I had to. What a daughter I am, right? I just wake up and forget about my perfect mother."
She laughed crying.
"You know, it's funny. I practiced about what I tell you when I come and see you but now, I'm out of it. It's like I don't know how to talk."
She had 6 years to tell her, even though she was sure her mom was watching over her.
"I was a good girl and kept my promise about Luke. He's … happy and living a normal life. Of course, I will never get to be a part of it but … I'm happy for him. I'm happy that he's happy ... And the other promise …" she paused, with no words to say.
"I already apologized for that." She sobbed like a child justifying her mistake.
"Besides, it's not like I'm not paying for it. I am seeing his death whenever I close my eyes. I can't even rest. I've actually lost the amount of time it's happened." She said.
She closed her eyes and tears kept coming down. Her mother had been like her best friend. She loved her with all her heart.
"I really miss you, mom. I just wish … I could hold you right now."
She felt a gust of wind touching her cheek. She found herself more at ease by that. She could swear it was just like her mother's touch. As if she were there, holding her.
"Thanks, mom. I really needed that. I love …"
But she was interrupted by what she felt.
Suddenly she felt cold. The anger, fear, hate! The place was overloading with it.
The darkness was too much that she winced in pain and touched her heart.
But what does that mean? Where have I heard those combinations before?
Coo Pah.
Her blood stopped running in her body as soon as she heard that.
That sound of breathing. The one she had heard on the HoloNet Palpatine had given out right after the rise of the Empire. The one that shook your bones.
She suddenly realized, Darth Vader was there.
Done :)
