Chapter 4: Parade Gown

True to his word, Luke took Leia to Watto first thing in the morning. Han offered to come, but Leia said that she could take care of herself.

"Just like you did on the Death Star?" he demanded.

"Hey, if I hadn't been there, then you two wouldn't have gotten anywhere!"

"If you hadn't been there, then there wouldn't have been any reason for us to be there!" Leia rolled her eyes.

"You don't need to come, Han. I can take care of myself. Plus, Luke will be with me. Don't worry about us." Leia placed a reassuring kiss on Han's cheek.
"It's just that this is a pretty tough area. It would payoff to have someone who knows how to deal with these scumbags." Leia pulled on a light blue cloak, and waved to Han as she and Luke left.

When Leia and Luke got close to town, Leia pulled up the hood of her cloak, concealing part of her face. Little did she know that the cloak was the exact same one that Padme had worn to see Watto with Anakin to find out about his Mother. She had just found it in the back of her closet. She couldn't remember where it had come from, but she found it to be very comfortable and beautiful. Luke stopped in front of an old beat-up shop. Outside was a blue alien with wings and a long nose. When he looked up, he nearly dropped the piece of equipment he had been working on.

"You!" he said, pointing at Leia. "I haven't seen you in years. What brings you back here?" Leia backed away uncertainly. Luke stepped forward, and began to talk.

"My name's Luke. I came by a few weeks ago for some parts for my speeder," he said to Watto.

"Yes, yes, I remember you. Who's the woman?" Watto demanded.

"This is my sister, Leia Organa-Solo. We've come here to ask you some questions about a slave that you used to own years ago."

"I have owned many slaves, what makes you think that I'd remember them all?" Leia found her courage, and stepped towards the alien.

"We're looking for information on Anakin Skywalker," she said bravely. This time, Watto did drop the piece of equipment he was working on.

"Come in, please, come inside." Watto flew into his shop, motioning for Luke and Leia to follow him.

The inside of the shop was dimly lit. Various parts to machines lied around, spread across the tables and counter tops.

"I owned Anakin Skywalker for around 7 or 8 years, until he was 10. I then lost him to a beat with a Jedi by the name of-"

"Qui-Gon Jinn," said Leia softly. Watto spun around.

"Yes! You knew him?" Leia shook her head.

"No, please continue." When Luke gave his sister a puzzling look, she gave him a look that seemed to say, "I'll explain it later."

"Anyway," continued Watto. "I didn't hear from Anakin for 10 years after I lost him in a bet. He came back with a beautiful young woman, about your age, you looked just like you. The funny thing is; if I remember correctly, she wore a cloak that looked exactly like that. Anyway, Anakin came back asking about his Mother, Shmi. Just like that, he returned out of the blue. I calmly told Anakin that I sold Shmi to a moisture farmer by the name of Clieg Owen a few years back. Turns out, Clieg freed her, and married her. It was the second marriage for him. He had a son named-"

"Owen. My Uncle," said Luke.

"Do you want me to finish or not?"

Luke mumbled, "Sorry."

"Anakin and the young woman left quickly in search of Cleig Owen, and that's the last I ever heard of him. It was only after the couple left did I realize who the young woman was. She was with the Jedi when I lost Anakin 10 years before. I never caught her name though. I never heard her say much either." Luke bowed respectively.

"Thank you for the information, Watto. I expect I'll see you soon to get more parts for my speeder."

Luke and Leia left the shop slightly content. They at least knew a little bit about their parents.

"Leia," Luke said right as the left the city. "Where did you get that cloak?" Leia shook her head.

"The same place I got the diary, I guess. It just appeared. It sounds dumb, I know, but there's no other way to explain it," she replied. Luke shook his head.

"I don't think it sounds dumb at all. Someone could have put them in your room when you weren't looking. I don't know who though."

Han greeted the brother and sister at the door to Luke's house. Leia gave him a quick hug, and they went inside.

"So, did you find out anything?" Han asked them as they sat down at the kitchen table. Both nodded.

"We found out that our Father was a slave here, but was freed after a bet with a Jedi Knight. We also found out that he came a few years later with our Mother to look for his Mother, and he found her apparently. Our Aunt and Uncle, who raised Luke was our Father's step-brother and his wife I guess. That's all though. At least the trip wasn't in vein," explained Leia.

"But you still don't have all the answers. Where's the next stop? What does that diary say?" Leia pulled the diary out of her pocket.

"Either Naboo or Corescant. We'll probably end up going to both planets in the end; I just don't know where to go first." Luke chewed on his bottom lip slightly.

"Leia, I have a favor to ask of you," he said after a few minutes of silence. Leia turned to her brother.

"What do you need?" she asked him.

"When do you go back to Corescant for the next Senate meeting?"

"In three days, so we should probably leave tomorrow. Why? Is there something that I need to bring up at the meeting?"

"Yes, a proposal. It's a lot to ask though. The old Jedi Temple is still standing on the planet. What about a proposal to rebuild it, and restart the Jedi Order?"

"Are you crazy Luke?" Han demanded. "The Senate will never agree to that! They're too worried about other things right now." Luke shot his brother-in-law a deadly stare. Leia held her hands out as a sign for both men to calm down.

"I think that the Galaxy actually needs a new form of protection. Right now, it's still like every planet for themselves. I'll bring it up next time, but I should first do some research. If Father was a Jedi Knight, than there must be some sort of record of him at Corescant."

Later that night, Leia went back to her corner in the kitchen, and began to read again. Her Mother had to have written something about their Father being a Jedi.

Today was a day to be remembered in Naboo! We had a giant celebration in honor of victory over the Trade Federation. My people have finally been liberated from their Detention Camps, and have returned to their homes. There was a giant parade today, which included the Gungans. Anakin has already begun his training as a Jedi Knight. Qui-Gon's dying wish was that Obi-Wan trained Anakin the best that he could. He felt like there was something special about him. I don't know. I don't understand everything that the Jedis do. I'm just glad that I was saved by such wonderful Jedis. I am still mourning over the loss of Qui-Gon. We had the funeral for him two nights ago. Whenever a Jedi dies, you burn his or her body.

Back to the parade today. Children were dancing in the streets, singing, and waving colorful ribbons. When Boss Nass, Jar-Jar, and General Ceel made it to where I was standing with the Jedi Counsel, Chancellor Palpatine, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Sio Bibble, and my handmaids, I offered him the Globe of Peace. The parade and celebrating then continued for the rest of the day. I think I'm going to go to sleep right now. It's been a long day, and tomorrow I must continue my duties as Queen.

-Padme Amidala

Queen of Naboo

Leia turned the page, and found her Mother in a gorgeous white gown. The gown brushed the ground below her. The sleeves, and the entire both sides seemed to made out of pure white feathers. Her hair's in four mini-buns, and there is a silver headpiece that goes across her forehead. There is also a large white halo of sorts behind her that makes her look almost like an angel. Leia lightly brushed her finger tips over the image, but quickly stopped, finding it silly. She slid the diary into her pocket, and retreated to bed.