DISCLAIMER: I don't own the copyright of Star Wars. 'Nuff said. I borrowed some stanzas from the song "I'm Crazy for You" by Madonna. This chapter was inspired by the fic I've read entitled "Karaoke Night" by Melanie-Anne.
SUMMARY: Han beats Leia in the obstacle race during the Rebel Olympics, and as punishment, Leia gets to sing for "entertainment night" later on. (For those of you fantasizing about Leia singing, this chapter is for you. :) )
CHAPTER XVIII- Karaoke Girl"NOW FOR THE OBSTACLE RACE! IT'S CAPTAIN HAN SOLO VS. PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA!" Wedge excitedly announced on the speakers, and along with this, the thundering cheers of the crowds. It was enough to ruin the makeshift stadium because the rebels' excitement was on hyper drive.
Wedge explained what the obstacle race would be like. Han would compete against Leia, and they were required to skip rope first for ten times, ran around poles, make their way through rubber rings, make their way again through ropes tied in between benches, and back again, running towards the goal. Whoever reaches the goal first would be declared as winner.
As they were prepared to start, Leia looked at Han and said in a whisper, "I'll beat you this time!" Han winked at her and said, "Don't worry, the glory is all yours, your highness. But what if I win?" he asked jokingly.
"I won't allow that to happen. And I still won't forgive you for what you did." The bar incident and Han's anger over her was still indelibly etched on her mind, and she was still hurt with what he did.
"ON YOUR MARK... ARE YOU READY GUYS?" Wedge asked. Han gave him the thumbs-up sign.
"SET..." he paused for a while. "GO!"
The crowd went wild again as they watched Han and Leia try to beat each other on the obstacle race. Leia's weight was an advantage, as she was able to jump rope fast for ten times without stopping, and soon, she was already running around on the poles. Han, meanwhile, tripped while he jumped-rope, and he had to jump again for another ten times. Thankfully, he ran fast enough around the poles, and was able to get ahead of Leia.
Making his way through the rubber rings was the most difficult challenge for Han, as Leia was able to make her way easily through the rings. But he was able to get off the rings in no time, and soon, they were up again with each other when they made their way through the ropes almost at the same time. Let me get first ahead of her, Han thought as he tried to make his way through the ropes. He was fast enough, and he found himself running ahead of Leia, who was still trying to make her way through the ropes. He took his chance, and became the first person to reach the goal. Leia still tried to keep up with her running, but it was too late. Han had already won.
"AND LOOK WHO REACHED THE GOAL FIRST! IT'S CAPTAIN SOLO!" Wedge shouted on the speakers, and the crowd gave him a thunderous applause, along with wild cheers and screaming. Han turned his head to look at Leia, who frowned at him, dismayed that Han beat her in this silly game. He smiled mischievously at her, saying, "Oh, sorry for beating you, Your Highnessness," he sheepishly apologized. She looked at him, frowning even more, and with that, she stormed off. Yes, this is just a silly game, all right, she thought, and I shouldn't feel bad about it. But she can't explain to herself why her ego felt bruised when, for the first time, Han had managed to beat her. Han would allow her to get her way, but this time, this experience humbled her, and it made her realized that she couldn't get her way all the time.
Later on, as the rebels prepared to leave the makeshift stadium, and some were cleaning up the surroundings, Wedge announced on the microphone that an "Entertainment Night" would be held in the mess hall. This made the rebels even excited and happy than usual, and Leia was surprised with the unexpected announcement. She went up to Wedge on the announcer's booth and said, "Did I ask you to do this? It's not on the announcement!"
Wedge smiled at her and said, "Oh, Your Highness, I got a lot of request from the rebels here that they would like to have this before the big battle. And I guess it will do them well."
"Who do you think you are to approve orders and requests?" she asked, fuming.
Wedge, who was obviously pissed off with her bossiness, stood up and gave the microphone to her, while he stood by. Then Leia started speaking on the microphone.
"I'VE HEARD ABOUT YOUR REQUEST FOR THIS SO-CALLED ENTERTAINMENT NIGHT," she started off. All the people stopped at what they were doing and listened to her intently. She paused for a while before speaking and thought, I think they want to unwind first before the big battle, so might as well allow them. I don't want to be a killjoy. "AND SO I GIVE MY APPROVAL TO YOUR REQUEST. TONIGHT, AT EIGHT IN THE EVENING, IT WILL BE HELD IN THE MESS HALL, AND I HAVE TO MAKE ONE REQUEST: NO DRINKING OF HARD LIQUOR."
Leia felt it was a wise decision to allow them some fun, but she forbade the rebels to drink wine, as she didn't want them to be drowsy during the battle. "GOT IT?" she asked, her voice blaring all over.
"YES, YOUR HIGHNESS!" the rebels agreed. When Leia was about to leave, Wedge spoke again on the microphone. "OH I FORGOT, PARTICIPANTS FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NIGHT WILL BE THE PEOPLE WHO LOSE IN THE GAMES," he said, while winking at Leia. Leia was shocked at what he said, and asked, "You want me to look like a fool?" Wedge ignored her and continued, "SO LOSERS, BETTER PREPARE A SONG OR DANCE NUMBER FOR TONIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WANTS TO JOIN THE KARAOKE SINGING, JUST GIVE ME A LIST OF YOUR NAMES! SO LONG, AND HAVE A GOOD DAY!" Then he signed off. Leia followed him as he went out, asking, "Don't tell me, I too have to participate for entertainment night!"
"Yes, you will, sweetheart," Han replied as he, along with Luke, approached them and walked with them back to the base.
"What kind of a laser brain idea is this, Wedge?" she asked furiously. This day, it seemed like as if fate was setting her up for double embarrassment. She felt like strangling Wedge for making this stupid rule that the losers in the games were to participate in the entertainment night.
"Rules are rules, your highness," Wedge told her, and with that, he left off before he could experience again the hot temper of Leia being lashed out on him.
"Hey! Come back here!" Leia exclaimed in a whiny tone. She turned to Han. "Did you gave him this idea?" she asked. Han shook his head, and with that, he said mockingly, "Oh come on! Why are you so scared of singing in front of us? I've heard you sing once, and your voice was great!" he complimented, remembering that he once heard her sing a few stanzas of a song when they were still in the apartelle.
"You did?" Luke asked in amazement. "Han said you can sing, why don't you give it a try?" he asked.
Leia felt flustered and irked. What the hell am I being asked to sing for? She was never the "performing arts girl". She hated karaoke singing, and she would never sing in public, except when she was all alone in her room, while listening to her music player. There, no one would make snide comments on how scratchy her singing voice sounded. During her schooldays, her friends would drag her off to spend a night singing at a karaoke lounge, and she would rather sit around there and watch her friends sing. When her friends would ask her to sing, they would never stop cajoling her until she would finally give in, against her will. And she has to endure the secret laughs of her friends while she sang, and it irked her very much. Worse, her friends would laugh harder when her score on the karaoke machine would be: Never mind, just for fun! Or Forget it, buster, you have no singing career! Her friend Winter could sing better than her, and she was no match for that.
"I'm tasked to approve the rules here, and now that I've approved this one, I allow you guys to have this. But I'm out of it!" Leia said.
"Hey, your highness, can you sing a few stanzas of your favorite song?'" Han requested her. Leia gave him a dirty look. Han continued to tease her, and said, "If you sing tonight, I owe you lunch until the war is over." He smiled that cute, lopsided smile of his, and Leia couldn't help but feel her heart melt in her chest. Only that smile of Han's can make her give away. But this time, she didn't allow herself to. "I can buy my own lunch, thank you very much, Captain Solo," she replied in a haughty tone. She tried to stop herself from blushing, as Han still had that charming smile plastered on his face.
"If you sing for us tonight, just this once, I'll not only buy you lunch, but also breakfast and dinner," Han bargained with her.
Leia turned to Luke, saying, "What am I to do? Don't you know how I hated singing in public? It's my worst nightmare!" Then she narrated how embarrassing it was for her to sing in a karaoke bar and have all her friends laugh at her, that's why she vowed never to sing in karaoke bars again, or in public.
Luke smiled at her, and it made her feel better. "It's just for fun," he whispered, "And you won't lose anything once they hear you sing."
"But I hate it when people laugh at me when I sing!" Leia exclaimed vehemently. "Oh, why do unwanted circumstances like this always seem to find me?" she added in despair.
Luke placed his arm around her. "As I told you, let go of your Ice Princess facade, and let lose once in a while. Just try singing your heart out, only for tonight." Then he added, "I'll be your biggest fan." He smiled, and Leia felt relieved. It made her change her mind, thinking, I guess I have nothing to lose, after all. She smiled at Luke, saying, "I'll sing for tonight."
Han heard what she said, and jokingly commented, "If you sing, and become a singer, I'll buy your album! I'm sure it'll go platinum!"
"Don't worry, Captain Solo, by tomorrow, I'll be changing my career." Leia shot back sarcastically. She was thankful that Luke relieved her with her worries, but now, she dreaded tonight. She felt sure Han would be there to heckle at her. That nerf herder.
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At
eight in the evening, sure enough, the mess hall was filled with the
rebels, talking animatedly and excited at the "Entertainment
Night". Leia arrived there with Luke and Han, and they chose a
place close enough to the makeshift stage. Soon, the program began.
The losing ice hockey team did a dance number, while the participants
from the three-legged race either sang a duet or by themselves, which
made the audience roaring with cheers and applause. Leia never
expected that some of the rebels in the Alliance were this talented,
and didn't show any hesitation in performing that night. Heck,
they can sing better than me, she thought, as she watched the
girl who last sang went down the stage. Then Wedge, who was again the
emcee, took over.
"Thank you very much to our last
performer." He paused and said, "At last, the moment you've all
been waiting for... next singer would be our royal highness, Princess
Leia Organa!" Leia froze in her seat upon realizing that she was
next in line. The people were cheering for her to go up the stage,
and she saw Wedge gave her a smile and a wink. She had no choice but
to stand now and go up the stage, and when she finally got up, Wedge
asked her a few questions.
"So, Your Highness, ready to sing? I've picked out a song on the karaoke for you, and you'll be singing it."
"Yeah, right, get on with it!" she said in angst, while trying to conceal her shyness and doubts brewing inside her. She looked from afar, and saw Han and Luke wave at her. Wedge went down the stage and played the music. She was surprised when she heard the song. It was one of the songs of Ryza, her favorite singer. She felt thankful that she knows how to sing it, having heard it many times on her player.
"Swaying room as the music starts, strangers making the most of the dark," Leia sang. She felt all ears were on her and her singing, realizing that the audience grew quiet and she couldn't hear a single noise from the pin-drop silence except the sound of her own voice. She concentrated instead on the song and tried to forget that she was singing in front of an all too eager audience."I see you through the smoky air," she continued singing. "Can't you feel the weight of my stare... you're so close but still a world away, what I'm dying to say, you bet..." She realized that she could actually relate the song to Han. He was so near, yet so far.
"I'm crazy for you, touch me once and you'll know it's true... I never wanted anyone like this, it's all brand new... you'll feel it in my kiss... I'm crazy for you."
Back in his seat, Han felt affected with the lyrics of the song. Why am I affected? he thought as he listened to Leia sing the rest of the song. He admitted to himself that indeed, Leia can sing. He actually felt the longing in the song, and was sure that was what she was feeling. Right then and there, he wanted to go up the stage and kiss her. He, too, was also crazy for her, but still, his inhibitions were pulling him back. He felt like a weakling with the thought of proposing his love for her.
Leia was about to finish the song, and she was now reaching the high parts. She found it at easy for her to do so, as she was already carried away.
"You'll feel it in my kiss because I'm crazy for you, touch me once and you'll know its true... I never wanted anyone like this... it's all brand new... you'll feel it in my kiss... I'm crazy for you... crazy for you..."
The song ended, and when she was finished singing, the audience gave her applause, and some were even standing up. Cheers echoed from the room, along with wolf calls. Leia was dumbfounded at their reaction, and was touched that people appreciated with her singing. Speechless, she was only able to mutter a "thank you" into the microphone before she handed it back to Wedge. She immediately left the stage and returned to her seat.
She was relieved that her ordeal was now over, and it was surprising that she felt liberated from her inhibitions. Luke gave her a high five. "You can sing, don't you know that?"
"I never thought I could," Leia said smilingly. She turned around and looked for Han, as he was not in his seat. She didn't notice him leave until she went back. "Where did he go?" she asked Luke.
"He said he'll be out for a while and will return, but he never did," Luke replied.
Leia stood up. "I'll look for him." She went out of the mess hall and walked down the corridors hurriedly, while searching for Han's presence, until she spotted him standing at the door of the hangar. Leia felt an urge to approach him, but some unknown force was preventing her to do so.
Han, meanwhile, thought as he stood by the hangar's door, I want to run away from these, but the more I do, the more it seems to find me. He cocked his head and saw Leia standing at the distance. Even from afar, he could see the longing in her eyes. He couldn't fathom it out. It was something he didn't understand, but he could feel it in his heart.
Leia looked at Han, and also saw the longing in his eyes. Are we seeing the same thing with each other? she thought. Anytime now, she was going to give in. But she didn't. Han looked at her for the last time and ran further, until she could not see even his shadow.
As he ran back to his quarters, Han thought, I'm dying to say this to you, but I can't. He was good at running away from his feelings, and he would soon forget about it. But with her, the more he did, the more it plunged deeper into him. I'm crazy for you.
Leia walked around, dismayed that she didn't even have the courage to go up to Han and tell how she truly felt at that moment. But just like him, something pulled her back. She too, wanted to ran away from it all, but the more she did, she felt herself going mad if she'll just find herself one day sobbing over a love meant to be. What would I follow? My heart or my brain? Leia was a rational person, but with this, she felt her head battling with her heart.
If I'll lose him, I can't take it. I don't want to lose my love because I followed my brain.
She too, was crazy for him.
I'm crazy for you.
A/N: I'm torturing Leia for my own amusement, but it's not everyday you get to read about her sing. Like her, I get into embarrassing moments, like when my classmates in high school would ask me to sing and they'll laugh at me, hehe! Stupid me... but don't you know that Carrie Fisher, the actress who played Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, can sing? Logon to blueharvest. and go the "sounds" link found at the side of the main page. Go there, and you'll find a music link to the singing voice of Carrie Fisher. You'll be hearing her sing once you click it. Tell me what you think about it once you've heard it!
Thanks again, and RR please!