Very AU. I hope it can be enjoyed!
***I don't own anything***
SHADOW OF A HERO
Chapter 1: Discovery
14 Years After the Birth of The Empire
Morning was glorious, cool yet sunny in Alderaan, sitting with her closest friends on the garden of her wide castle, a fourteen year old Leia Organa smiled pleasantly, enjoying a peaceful mind and innocence that were soon meant to leave her forever.
Even though our young heroine here is so rich and powerful, you must not imagine her friends were so many. In fact, depending on your old fashioned or progressive views, you could say she was either completely alone or in the company of two droids. Two droids that while weren't technically hers, had been with her for her entire life, and had made Leia's childhood so much happier and easier than she could imagine; since growing up in the Galactic Empire was nothing short of reclusive and dangerous.
Viceroy Bail Organa had come into possession of C-3PO, a golden protocol droid who often appeared more human than many men, and R2-D2, a little blue astromech who had been outrageously underused since he arrived in Alderaan, since the Birth of the Empire. Organa welcomed them into his life at the same time he welcomed his beloved daughter.
Leia laid comfortably on the fresh grass of her wide garden, it was an action that fed her happiness as it increased her relaxation.
"Your Majesty," the golden protocol droid said, politely. "You should not lay on the ground like that."
The Princess only laughed at the droid, even though his suggestion came from a place of worry and affection, she was never one to take orders very seriously.
"Oh where's the harm, Threepio?" she said, stretching her arms and legs. "This way I can look at and appreciate the blue sky much better; I can smell the sweet scent of the flowers around me, and I rest myself more nicely…"
"And you get dirt on your clothes and insects on your skin," the droid interrupted, annoying her.
But his words had much sense in them, Leia realized, as suddenly she could feel little legs walking on her own ones. "Ah!" she screamed and stood up.
"Oh dear!" C-3PO exclaimed.
R2-D2 released a bunch of excited beeps. Leia laughed loudly as she cleaned dirt from her dress and removed the small insects from herself.
"Your Majesty, I told you—"C-3PO tried to scold but she wouldn't allow that.
"Oh shut up," she said carelessly but without being hurtful. "I'm fine."
"You have a bit of a plant growing on your hair." The droid observed sharply, speaking the fact with much calmness yet reproving.
R2-D2 tried to push his counterpart, almost threatening the protocol droid into leaving the Princess alone.
Leia smiled not yet embarrassed. She was much too comfortable with her droids to ever feel that way with them. Yet she immediately tried to fix her hair, which was rebelliously loose instead of braided like usual.
"Your Majesty," again Leia heard a scolding voice against her, but it was a much more upsetting one. One of her handmaidens had come to get her. She looked at the Princess with such disappointment and severity, it was almost scathingly.
Leia felt the older woman's eyes on her, going through her entire figure, displeasure at her image being more than obvious. "I had just gotten you ready and presentable two hours ago," the handmaiden scolded.
Leia was unfazed yet her tone went a bit haughty. "I appreciate the way you fixed my dress, Madame, and the long time you spent styling my hair. But on a day like this, forgive me, I find it so unnecessary. I'm just spending my time here with Threepio and Artoo, and they see me every day. I really don't think I have to impress them," she grinned.
"Your Majesty, I hope you aren't forgetting His Excellency, the Viceroy, is coming home today!" the handmaiden sternly spat back.
Leia's mouth twisted in displeasure. Who does this woman think she is?
"Indeed, I haven't forgotten," Leia's eyes betrayed her and showed her emotion. "He might be the Viceroy to you, but he is my father. I am very excited to see him after so long and I know he will be happy to see me, too. No matter what I wear or how elaborated my hair is."
Bail Organa had been out of Alderaan for two standard months, and though he often contacted Leia and asked her about her everyday life, she couldn't wait to see him again. This is going to be a great day, the Princess thought and felt. I have the feeling it will be memorable. And not even this bitter, uptight old lady is going to ruin it…
She considered to tell the old woman off, but that's not the way she had been raised. Oftentimes she was startled by herself, startled by her own fists of sudden anger, so unlike either one of her parents. It was a hard thing to do, but she almost always managed to keep herself together and not snap.
She sometimes wondered if maybe she got that strong temper from one of her birth parents—not very often though. She was never too curious about her origins, she felt that that might be disrespectful to the wonderful couple that had raised her.
So even though she felt her cheeks growing hot with anger, she obliged her handmaiden and followed her to get herself "presentable" again.
When again Leia looked like a rich princess and not so much a carefree teenager, she just waited in her dad's office, staring at the clock impatiently and biting at her nails for having a lack of things to do.
Hour through hour dragged and nothing changed. She was growing incredibly bored and annoyed, to the point her good humor of the day almost faded. But she wouldn't allow that just yet. She ordered a servant—
"Summon C-3PO to my presence."
The golden protocol droid appeared before her almost immediately. "Yes, Princess?"
"Threepio, this was the day my father was supposed to come, wasn't it?"
The droid didn't even hesitate. "Indeed."
"Hmm," she frowned. "At what time was he supposed to arrive?"
The droid informed her and she paled. Bail Organa was three hours late.
Maybe he's busy somewhere else? Maybe he has a lot of work? Maybe… Something happened to him?
The Princess was enraged by her own thoughts. Stop! She ordered herself. Stop being so silly. So he's a little late... But he's never late! It can happen to anyone. Not my Father, though… Out of character? Yes, but that doesn't mean anything.
"Your Majesty," C-3PO caught her attention.
"What?" she snapped, before calming herself and softening her voice; she was angry at herself, not at her friendly yet annoying droid. "I'm sorry, Threepio, what were you saying?"
"I was just asking if you needed anything else."
"I guess not," Leia muttered. "If you want, I could use some company, though."
"Oh, why of course!" the droid cried, delighted.
"Call Artoo, as well," Leia suggested.
"Oh, and why would we need that foolish blue astromech?" The protocol droid sounded almost angry.
"Fine," Leia said. "Do not—"
"Why, I will bring him to you, Majesty. Of course." The droid said and left before giving Leia the opportunity to make fun of him. Leia smiled by herself. Even though her two droids fought at almost every moment, she knew they were the best friends ever.
Leia struggled to keep her positive attitude.
It was nighttime, she could see Alderaan's moons shining from the window. And her father had not yet come.
She felt a sickening gut-feeling in her chest. Why hadn't he come back?
Leia worried so much tears crowded around her brown eyes; she couldn't help it. She was suddenly terrified. She already knew what it meant to lose a parent, she was sure she could not stand losing another.
There was a knock on the door that for a moment lifted her spirits and soothed her, yet when she heard her handmaiden's voice asking for permission to come in, she felt her dreams crashed down. "Yes, Madame, do come in."
The old woman bowed her head. "Oh Child," she said softly. "I can't believe you're still up. It's after midnight, you must be so tired!"
"Where's my Father?" Leia asked, slowly. Her heart beating in her ears though she didn't know why.
"Oh I should've told you, but I thought you must've gone to bed. Well, Viceroy Organa sends his apologies. He has to stay in Imperial Center for a little longer than anticipated. He will arrive here sometime later this week, though he didn't say when exactly."
Leia's immense fear and pain grew into anger.
She had been waiting all day!
She had been terrified when he didn't come… and the answer was that simple?
She should've been relieved—she was. But she also was bothered beyond reason.
"Alright," she said without any apparent emotion. "You may retire."
"Princess, I hope you understand…"
"Good night, Madame," Leia said, almost harshly.
The woman got the hint and left the Princess alone with the two droids.
"I just can't believe it!" Leia cried after the handmaiden left. "He promised me!"
"Your Majesty," 3PO tried to help. "I am sure your father has a reason to extend his absence."
Leia agreed with him, after all, things had been a bit shaky at the Imperial Senate, as far as she could remember from her Father's talks with the gentlemen who usually went to see him. Yet in the moment she could not be reasonable. Her emotion, her age and hormones got the best of her.
She started smashing and throwing everything she could get her hands on. She absolutely destroyed her Father's office. Objects flew and smashed, the Princess groaned like a child.
"Oh, Your Majesty!" 3PO cried after R2-D2 released a fearful beep.
Leia seemed to not listen, she continued her destruction till she could find nothing else to mess.
When it was all over, Leia begin to take in the moments just passed.
She had never been so embarrassed before. She knew everyone in the castle would hear about it, she knew her father would find out… and she wanted the earth to open in two and swallow her, so regretful she was for her stupid tantrum. She had never done something like that… not even as a little girl. Her pale cheeks were red in shame as she tried to apologize—
"Guys, forgive me," she said without facing the droids, her self-loathing at an all-time high. "I didn't mean to snap… Oh Force!" she exclaimed, all color leaving her face. "Artoo!" she cried, rushing to her little droid. "Artoo!"
"Oh Princess," Threepio said. "I tried to stop you… I tried to warn you!"
"What have I done?" Leia cried, tears burning as they streamed down her young face.
The droid didn't answer, didn't make a sound at all. Leia wasn't sure how it happened but she seemed to have broken him. He was still in one piece, yet he looked terrible. A few moments passed and he beeped, 3PO translated—
"He says he needs to be checked immediately, Your Majesty. And I think I finally agree with him."
"Oh but it is so late… no matter! Come with me. I'll get a mechanic."
Leia almost had a second tantrum that night, yet her previous one was enough for her young mind. Her anger came from the fact that as it was so late, she was told her droid could not be checked and fixed until much later.
She took a deep breath as she ordered a servant—
"I don't care what time it is. Get me an expert on astromech droids—now."
Leia sat inside her father's office, biting her nails, trying and failing with all her might to not look at R2-D2.
C-3PO was seated next to her, deactivated—she had enough guilt from her own mind, the last thing she needed were his rational comments.
At last there was a knock on the door, two guards walked in, following the servant Leia had sent out earlier, as well as a young man who was carrying a large, silver briefcase.
"Good evening," the young man said, he tried to approach the princess to shake her hand, but the servant and guards prevented him.
"Your Majesty," the servant said. "This is Mr. Darred Jemabie. A very accomplished mechanic from Naboo, I think he'll be able to help you—"
"Seriously? Leia interrupted, blinking strongly. "I know I said to hurry… and to bring me anyone… but this boy?" she said, looking scathingly at Jemabie. "I said an expert!"
"Your Majesty," the Mechanic tried to defend himself. "I assure you, whatever issue you have with your droid I can help you—"
"Oh dear," Leia sighed. "How old are you?"
The Mechanic blushed. "I'm… well—"
"Do not lie to me," the Princess neared him.
He breathed in and out. "I'm eighteen," he said. "I just graduated and I don't have much experience but—"
"And you think I'm going to trust my droid in your inexperienced hands?"
"Do you really have much of a choice?" Jemabie said, finding his courage in spite the Princess's fiery eyes and the guards that accompanied them.
Leia did a double take, then smirked. He was right. To hell with him…
"Fine," Leia said. "But keep in mind: if my guards fail—which they never do—I, too, can handle a blaster."
"I'll keep that in mind," the Mechanic said, smiling sarcastically.
Leia mostly disliked sarcasm—when she wasn't the one using it—but on that young man the action wasn't so annoying. His face and entire countenance were too nice: lightly tanned skin; soft, curly brown hair; rather pretty, dark eyes… But she didn't care what he looked like, she was praying he'd actually fix R2-D2.
The droid released a series of loud, shrilled beeps.
"What are you doing?" Leia exclaimed, worried.
"Take it easy, Princess," the Mechanic said. "I'm only working. Jeez, what'd they do to him? Smashed him against a wall?"
Leia looked down, embarrassed. Suddenly not wanting to speak anymore.
"If I didn't know better I'd say someone used the Force against him!"
"I'm paying you to repair him—I don't need a diagnostic."
"Basically, you're telling me to shut up?"
"Yes," she said simply, then she stood up. "Guards, you may retire now," she said, not wishing for anyone to see her childish behavior.
They hesitated but she told them off.
When they were alone, the Mechanic laughed, now with irony, and this time he did annoy her.
"What're you laughing at, boy?" she asked, stomping her foot on the floor, her arms crossed over her chest.
"Didn't your parents tell you never to be alone with strangers?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yes. But they also taught me how to… handle those situations." She pulled out a ray gun from her pocket and smiled innocently.
The Mechanic laughed again. "How old are you, child?"
"None of your business. And don't call me child," she turned her back on him so he wouldn't see her pout.
"Well, Princess," he laughed. "I'm just saying… whoa!"
He stepped back suddenly and fell into the floor. Leia turned around again, she had a sharp comment already on her tongue but fell silent as she saw and heard what had stumbled him.
A blue hologram was coming from R2-D2, showing her a moment she would've never learned about from any of the people it showed, never would've known about that moment otherwise.
"That's my father," Leia said, her mouth wide open. "Oh he looks so young!"
The hologram showed two crowds of people, the first one was descending from a ship, the second one was waiting for them.
"Moons of Naboo!" the Mechanic swallowed hard. "Is that… The Emperor?"
Leia moved her eyes from the form of Bail Organa. There was an old man, people gathered around him. He looked kind and friendly—nothing like Emperor Palpatine, yet she could realize, it was him. She heard his name, he was then referred to as Chancellor; and after he disappeared from sight, she could return to focus on the then Senator Organa, and the company he carried.
"Oh I can't believe it," Leia said, getting closer. "Artoo and Threepio were with him already!"
Yes, there they were. The two loyal droids, looking almost exactly as she had always known them. They walked, following their master.
"But who's that other guy?" Leia wondered out loud.
Walking next to Bail Organa, there was a fine young man. Amidst the blue blurriness of Artoo's hologram, Leia saw a face never beheld before.
Leia tried to understand the conversation, she heard the name Grievous being mentioned but then—the image fade away.
"What! No! Put it back!" Leia ordered.
"It's not my fault," the Mechanic said, moving back, kneeling in front of the droid but he stepped back. "He does not want us to see this."
"Artoo!" Leia cried. "Well, make him!"
Darred Jemabie tried his best, he struggled: the astromech was putting on a good fight. Leia saw as Jemabie worked on Artoo, and then—she could see a blue image showing her the past again. But she sighed, disappointed.
"This is the wrong one," she said. "My father isn't here… Oh!"
She jumped, startled. R2-D2 now had put something that looked remarkably like a battle, and the sound of loud blaster fire scared both humans. Overcoming her first impulse of fear, Leia neared Artoo and the hologram again, and just as she did, she stepped back—a bright blue blade, looking like burning sapphire, slashed across the air, then she saw and heard metal flowing around. It was a droid. And the blue blade had slashed it into pieces. Leia then saw that the blade, which was a type of sword, was held by a gloved black hand, which belonged to a face she had just learned.
"It's the man from the first hologram," Jemabie said. "He looks oddly happy at slashing droids, don't you think…"
She didn't. "Well, he's smiling, but… he does look nervous."
"No he doesn't."
Watching more closely, she realized the Mechanic was right, yet she held on to that previous thought. She just thought, felt, that the man had been nervous as he fought, no matter how confident he looked.
"This is so cool," the Nabooian said. "That's a fine warrior."
"A warrior…" Could it be…A Jedi? She didn't dare say that word in front of a stranger.
"Wonder who he is…" Leia thought out loud again. "And how he knew my father…"
"He's called Anakin," Jemabie said. "Anakin Skywalker."
"How'd you know?" Leia questioned.
"It was said in the first hologram. You would've noticed it if you hadn't been focusing so much on Viceroy Organa and his droids."
"Anakin Skywalker…" Leia tested the name. "Anakin. Skywalker. Warrior." Jedi?
"Anakin!" a loud voice called in the hologram.
"I'm here master!" the man called Anakin said. "Where's Ahsoka—"
The hologram stopped.
Leia stood there, stunned, feeling strange, overwhelmed… above all interested.
AN: How's that for a start? Please review, favorite and follow!
