The Ewoks had captured the crew and carried them on poles with their ankles and wrists tied together as they swung side to side. However, while Han, Luke, Padme, and Chewie were on roasting spits, Threepio got his own throne that was carried to a place of honor near the firepit.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Han whispered before Chewie agreed. As the Ewoks began to fill the pit with kindling and firewood, one of the leaders went up and spoke with Threepio.
"What did he say?" Padme asked Threepio, her eyes not leaving the pile of wood accumulating.
"I'm rather embarrassed, Mistress Padme, but it appears you are to be the main course at a banquet in my honor," the droid replied with a fascination in his tone. Padme paled as Han started to struggle.
"Leia!" Luke shouted as Leia walked out of one of the huts. Padme turned to her daughter and smiled in relief. Threepio greeted her before she tried to make her way to her friends and family. However, the Ewoks blocked her way, not letting her through.
"But these are my friends," Leia stressed before turning to the droid. "Threepio, tell them they must be set free." Threepio turned to the leaders and spoke their language. After a few moments, more Ewoks got up and helped put more wood on the fire.
"Somehow, I got the feeling that didn't help us very much," Han grumbled.
"Threepio, tell them if they don't do as you wish, you'll be come angry and use your magic," Luke suggested.
"But Master Luke, what magic? I couldn't possibly-"
"Just tell them," Luke urged. The droid nodded before speaking with the leaders again. The Ewoks were uninterested in hearing about the magic and went on to continue dinner.
"You see, Master Luke, they didn't believe me. Just-" the droid pleaded before Luke closed his eyes. Within moments, Threepio's throne moved off the ground while the droid panicked. The Ewoks froze at the sight of their god figure revolving in the air. The droid continued to plead with Luke to put him down as the leaders of the tribe instructed the rest of the Ewoks. They had the rebels untied and on their feet quickly as Luke thanked Threepio. Han and Leia embraced as Padme untied Artoo.
The leaders brought the rebels into their gathering hut with a small firepit in the center. Threepio was recounting their story to the Ewoks with realistic sounds. Han and Leia sat together in the corner while Padme and Luke listened, sitting among the Ewoks. Once Threepio had recounted up until their escape on Tatooine, drums sounded around them.
"What's going on?" Padme asked. Threepio relayed the question before turning back to her.
"Wonderful! We are now a part of the tribe," the droid informed as the Ewoks swarmed them in hugs.
"Just what I always wanted," Han grumbled, forcing a smile as a few Ewoks tackled him. Chewie bellowed before returning the favor to the smaller creatures. Threepio speaks with another Ewok before turning to Padme.
"He says the scouts are going to show us the quickest way to the shield generator," the droid informed.
"How far is it? We need some fresh supplies, too. And our weapons," Padme reminded before the droid turned to the leaders. She brought Han over to handle the droid and Ewoks as she noticed her children going outside.
Luke stared out into the forest, leaning against the railing of the bridge. Leia followed him, concerned. He had something on his mind, and he rarely kept it from her. He noticed her coming and he straightened. Padme went to go out to him as well, but she hesitated in the shadows, waiting for one of them to speak.
"Luke, what's wrong?" Leia wondered.
"Vader is here, now. On this moon," Luke informed in a low voice. A silence fell for a moment before Leia put her hand on his shoulder.
"How do you know?"
"I felt his presence. He's come for me. He can feel when I'm near, just as I can feel him. That's why I have to go," Luke whispered. Leia clenched her jaw as Padme covered her mouth from the shadows. This wasn't what Padme had wanted for her son. "As long as I stay, I'm endangering the group and our mission here. I have to face him."
"Why?" Leia asked, distraught. "You faced him in the Cloud City, and you lost your arm. Are you sure this is the best idea?"
"When I trained with Yoda, he told me that this was my destiny. I have to face him."
"No, run away, far away. If he can feel your presence, then you should leave. I don't want to lose you," his sister answered as Luke turned to her. His eyes told her that his mind was made up. He was going to face down Darth Vader, their father. "But why?"
"Because," Luke began, his words faltering for a second. "There is good in him. I've felt it. He won't turn me over to the Emperor. I can save him. I can turn him back to the Light. I have to try."
"Luke, our mother doesn't even believe that there's good in him. Are you sure?" she reminded. Padme wanted nothing more than to run out onto the bridge and confront her son. Leia was right that she hadn't felt the good in Vader in years. That man was more machine now, but she wondered if Luke saw something past the Sith. Maybe he had seen Anakin after all these years.
Luke and Leia embraced before Luke disappeared into the night. Padme steeled herself, and she followed her son. She could see Han going to comfort Leia, and Padme knew that her daughter was in good hands. If neither she or Luke returned, at least Leia had Han and Chewie to rely on when she wanted to.
Padme could tell that Luke was following his instincts or possibly the Force the way he was weaving in and out of the trees. He glanced behind him a few times, but Padme hid easily from his view. She guessed that he could still sense her, but he never called out or gave any outside notice that he knew she was there.
Eventually, they arrived at an Imperial landing platform. Luke surrendered himself as Padme stayed back. However, she was so focused on attending her son that she failed to notice the scout in the trees. Padme felt a barrel at her back before she put her arms up. The trooper took her blaster and quickly frisked her.
"Alright, get moving," the scout informed as he brought her towards the lift. She glanced over at Luke, who was being detained by several troopers. He hadn't seen her disappear into the elevator. The trooper cuffed her behind her back before the doors opened to reveal Vader waiting. Padme's eyebrows rose in surprise, not realizing that the Sith lord would be so close.
"A rebel found in the trees, sir," the trooper informed as they stepped off the lift.
"I feel that two rebels have been captured," Vader noticed before instructing the trooper to hold Padme behind him. She grimaced, realizing that she was going to be used as collateral.
The lift's doors opened again to reveal an officer, two more troopers, and Luke with his hands bound in front of him. The officer bowed to Vader as Luke's eyes settled on his mother. Padme pursed her lips before Luke turned to Vader.
"This is a rebel that surrendered to us," the officer stated and extended his hand toward Vader, revealing the lightsaber. "He was armed only with this."
"Good work, Commander," Vader complimented as he examined the weapon. Luke stared at his mother, a mix of confusion and worry on his face. The Sith turned to the troopers and officer. "Leave us. Conduct a search and bring the rest of their companions to me."
"Yes, my lord," the officer nodded before he and the three troopers retreated to ground level. Vader motioned for Luke to follow him as they walked along the lower deck. Padme walked between her son and Vader, glaring at him. Vader turned to both of them before stopping.
"The Emperor is expecting you," Vader told Luke, ignoring Padme for the moment.
"I know, Father," Luke answered. Vader paused before turning to Padme.
"So you have accepted the truth?" Vader asked, his question directed at Luke while he watched his former wife. "Did your mother deny the truth?"
"I told him who his father was," Padme spat, nearly revealing that there was another child.
"I've accepted that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father," Luke clarified. Vader flinched before he breathed in.
"That name no longer has any meaning for me," Vader warned.
"It is the name of your true self. You've only forgotten," Luke began as Padme turned away. She wanted nothing more than her doting Anakin, back from the Clone Wars. To her son plead for his father broke her heart. "I know there is good in you. The Emperor hasn't driven it from you fully. That is why you couldn't destroy me. That's why you won't bring me to your Emperor now."
Vader stared at his son as he could feel Padme's conflict within her. A small piece of his tarnished and tattered heart broke to feel the hope and despair swirling within her. He glanced down at the weapon, distracting him.
"I see you have constructed a new lightsaber," Vader mentioned, changing the subject. Padme closed her eyes, refusing to let the tears fall. The saber ignited to show the green blade. "Your skills are complete. Indeed, you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen."
"Come with me," Luke pleaded as the saber turned off.
"Obi-Wan once thought as you do," Vader remarked, glancing at Padme. "You don't know the power of the dark side. I must obey my master."
"I will not turn, and you'll be forced to kill me," Luke informed before his mother stepped forward.
"Over my dead body," she sneered, glaring at Luke for a second. She hadn't spent over two decades protected her children for Luke to surrender like this. Vader regarded her outburst.
"If that is your destiny," Vader whispered before Padme snapped to him. Her eyes were narrowed and wild.
"Search your feelings, Father," Luke began again. "You can't do this. I can feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate."
"It is too late for me, son," Vader murmured, keeping his eyes on Padme. Her eyes softened for a moment as if she could feel a hint of remorse in his voice. "The Emperor will show you the true nature of the Force. He is your master now."
"Then my father is truly dead," Luke sighed, turning to his mother. Padme shifted her gaze back to Luke. He had a plan, but he had hoped that he would have been able to reach his father. Padme swallowed as Vader signaled for troopers to come forward.
"Take the boy to the shuttle. I will be there momentarily," Vader explained. Luke stepped towards Padme before he was pulled back. She nodded, telling him to go peacefully. Reluctantly, Luke left with the troopers as Padme faced Vader.
"Are you going to kill me now?" Padme asked bluntly. Vader regarded her for a moment, but he didn't move. "Finish the job that you started back on Mustafar?"
"I'm not going to kill you," Vader answered darkly. "I want you to go back to your gang of rebels."
"And why would you want that? To prove that there's more than just Luke and I on this rock?" she wondered. "I'm not leaving my son at the mercy of monsters."
"If the Emperor finds you alive, he will kill you," Vader warned as Padme held her head high.
"If that is my destiny," she answered, repeating his words. "What a dramatic irony, isn't it? To be killed be my former husband and my former mentor."
"Please, Padme, I can only stall them for so long," Vader informed. Padme chuckled as tears fell down her cheeks. A glimpse of Anakin had come through, but he hadn't changed her mind.
"You should now better by now that it's useless to argue with me," Padme whispered and swallowed, a lump forming in her throat. Vader breathed out and dipped his head forward.
"I didn't want this for you."
"I never wanted this for you, either, but here we are," she reminded. Vader stood straight again before leading her to the shuttle as well.