CHAPTER 15

Leia was up early as usual. She got up before the sunrise and moved to the roof of the hut. There she closed her eyes and meditated. She let the force fill her with its energy in the form of waves. She then heard it again, the screams of the lady but this time it was shorter and suddenly followed by the screaming by not only men but the women and children too. What was this? She could feel immense anger ever before. The amount of anger she felt could make her dangerous. Then she felt the comfort which came through a presence about two minutes later but it felt like two hours later. She could hear the voice of two people. Before she could go in further she was shaken by Ahsoka. "Don't go further." She warned softly. "It's too dangerous." She said before sitting besides Leia.

"Who were they? Those people." Leia asked her former master.

"People of this land maybe."

"Always a riddle isn't it?"

"Well if everything was easy then there would be no legend to live up to."

"Of course master." Leia said before staring into the sun which was rising. She then asked Ahsoka the question she longed to ask from a long time. "How bad is it?"

"You shall see."

"Hmm. You tried everything, right?"

"I tried everything and so did Kenobi. But he doubts everything."

"Boys, doubt everything."

"Leia, you lived one year among strangers and now you pass this statement."

"Well that one year was hectic." Saying so the two started laughing. The sun rose and the two went down to prepare the breakfast. As soon as they entered the hall, they found the breakfast ready.

"I learnt something about cooking from Aunt Beru." Luke said cheerfully. The breakfast was delicious.

"Well well, looks like somebody does know how to cook pretty good." Leia commented as she seated herself besides Luke.

"Hey my cooking is not that bad. I learnt whatever I could in the temple." Obi-Wan replied.

"I wasn't talking about you." Leia replied.

"Well, you couldn't learn cooking in the middle of a war. And I was spending my time surviving more than anything. I learnt something, I think." Ahsoka said. At this point everyone in the hall started laughing. "Anyway, we haven't seen YOU cook, Skygirl." She teased Leia.

"Very well, why don't we see tomorrow?"

"Done, just don't burn the entire hut."

"Oh yeah." Leia replied before joining the others in laughing.

After the breakfast, the four moved to the veranda. Luke was given Ahsoka's old lightsaber, while Leia held her father's. The two ignited their blade, Leia with the air of comfort while Luke with the air of fever. Luke lifted the lightsaber gingerly to his shoulder's side and looked at his sister with fear. Leia sensing his fears told him "Don't worry. It's just me." She then moved forward in a striking position with the lightsaber coming from the left. This was enough to frighten Luke who dropped the blade and fell to his knees with his hands around his head. Leia suddenly stopped and switched of her blade. She then bent down to check on Luke.

"Luke what happened? You just have to block me."

"I don't know. I-I got afraid. I-I-I am n-not that b-brave."

"You don't have to be brave to block someone's attack. Come on get up. I know how you feel. Just think of me as some known friend."

"Okay, how is Leia?"

"Perfect. Let's do this again okay."

"Okay."

Leia then ignited her lightsaber, so did Luke. Luke was shaking a bit. Leia attacked him from the left. Luke stepped back. Leia then added "If I come by the left you block me by the right."

"All right."

Leia then repeated the attack but this time Luke blocked her. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan smiled; finally he learnt to block one attack. Leia then attacked from the right, Luke blocked her the same way. Luke was beaming with happiness. Finally he was getting somewhere. Leia then warned Luke and sped up the attacks. Luke blocked them, though with initial struggles, he was able to block them. Then Ahsoka attacked him slowly with her two white lightsabers. Luke tried blocking but failed. Leia then stepped forward and told "Her lightsabers shall come from one side, consider them as one and block them." Luke did as follows and was able to block few strikes of Ahsoka. Luke was delighted. He then blocked Obi-Wan's strikes. Leia then walked with Obi-Wan to the back of the hut and Luke was with Ahsoka in order to improve his skills.

Leia was at the back of the hut. Obi-Wan walked to a stool and sat. He then started "So Leia, you seem to take more on your father when it comes to lightsaber combat."

"I guess."

"When you were attacking Luke, I could see your father. You treated him the same way he treated Ahsoka."

"I didn't know that."

"Not everyone can know everything."

"I know."

"Hmm, I hear you have been having nightmares, is it true?"

"Ahsoka told you that didn't she?"

"You know I am a Jedi master too."

"So how did you know?"

"You are just like your father. Whenever you or he has a nightmare, the entire place starts to shake. But Luke is different, when he has nightmares he just twitches."

"Hmm, so you know?"

"Well yes. But yet I want to hear it from your mouth."

"Very well, yes I have been having nightmares."

"Since when?"

"Since, the day I left this place."

"Leia, I-"

"Don't, please. They keep on getting worse every time I talk about them."

"Very well then, we need you to face them. Tell me about these nightmares."

"Weren't you hearing? The more I talk about them the worse they get."

"Still, explain your dreams to me."

"But why?"

"I need to understand it in order to train you."

"I don't get it."

"Your peace of mind is essential to every light side skill."

"Hmm, very well then."

"Go on."

"The first nightmare I had was hazy, I couldn't see anything clearly. But I heard voices."

"Whose?"

"Padme Amidala's. She was crying in pain. I spoke about it to the Organas and they told me to forget it. The next day I could see her face. It was in pain."

"Hmm, what happened next?"

"It kept on becoming worse. I could feel the pain she went through. Suddenly one day I could feel the pain of somebody else. Somebody who was close to her."

"Vader's"

"Yes. They conducted a surgery on him without the anesthetics. It pained each and every limb. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move. I couldn't do anything. The only thing I felt was the hole in my heart. One large enough to devour the entire galaxy. It was as though somebody ripped a part of me and destroyed it in front of my eyes. It was unbearable."

"How many days did it take to get that severe?"

"One week."

"Which was the next one?"

"I only saw visions during this one."

"What were they about?"

"Ahsoka walking away from my father." At this point Obi-Wan shifted. His Anakin was in so much pain.

"What did you feel?"

"I felt hurt, alone, abandoned, betrayed and inferior. I felt as though nobody trusted me, as though I had failed someone. I knew I should have followed them but I didn't; as though somebody who was like my sister, who I trusted more than anyone had abandoned me."

"Which was the next one?"

"It was visions of war. Visions of death, betrayal, hurt and anger. Visions which made me twitch in pain. Visions of you and Ahsoka being captured by some creatures. Visions of your death; of Ahsoka's death. Visions of my heart being wrenched away."

"How many days did this take?"

"Months. It would be like one nightmare for a month. It was the one of last month which still haunts me."

"What is it about?"

"A duel on a lava planet." Obi-Wan bent his head and twitched at this. He knew what it was about.

"Mustafar."

"I didn't know it had a name. I don't think I need to explain it to you."

"Explain the pain to me."

"Why?"

"Do it Leia. Let go of it."

"My whole body was in flames. My limbs were cut off. The lava entered the fresh wounds and burned it. Before the duel I felt anger, betrayal. I felt betrayed by my own brother. I saw you walk away when I was in flames. You walked away as though I was nothing, though I regarded you as my very brother, as the closest thing to Qui-Gon. The thing which made me have a hope to live. The only reason I never left the order. Yet you walked away as though I was nothing. My body was burning. The flames reached my lungs I couldn't breathe. I felt cut off from the force. I couldn't feel it flowing through my body. But yet I managed to use it to sustain some of the pain. My one hand was clutching the burning soil of the planet while you walked away with my lightsaber and my wife. As I felt my lungs burn away, I felt the only presence which could help me; Palpatine. My lungs were gone, so was half of my digestive system. I was killed by my own brother. My legs were numb. I couldn't see. But I knew he would save me." Leia looked up at Obi-Wan's face with tears. Obi-Wan was looking away. He couldn't face her not now. "This took an entire month." Leia continued.

"What was the recent one?"

"I couldn't concentrate. Ahsoka came and woke me up."

"Hmm. What did you see anyways?"

"Another woman screaming and calling my father's name. She was older though. She had scars all her face. She was injured and was close to death."

"Hmm. Well I think it is time to go and check on Ahsoka and Luke." Leia never realized that it was mid-day. She walked with Obi-Wan to the front of the house. Ahsoka was standing with her hands folded and Luke on the floor, exhausted.

"Let's call it a day, shall we?" he said.

"Fine." Ahsoka said. Later the four walked in the hut. Leia felt relieved. She had finally spoken to someone about her nightmares. The person was someone who was related to the one her nightmares surrounded. She sat in the table.

Soon the day proceeded to night. Leia and Luke were asked to meditate. Leia closed her eyes and let the force flow through her. This time it was way more peaceful. Luke managed to concentrate for a few minutes before falling asleep. Few minutes later the twins were in their bed. Luke slept tranquilly while Leia was racked with a whole new nightmare. It was more like seeing the world through someone else's eyes. She opened her eyes to see everything behind what seemed like a glass or plastic. She then got up and winced in pain as her joints ached. She then had a look at her hands; they were in leather gloves. She couldn't feel her hands too. She took a deep breath and released, only to realize that the breathes came through a respirator. She walked towards the balcony but her leg pained every time she took a step. It felt normal though. She opened the large windows and stepped out. She realized where she was and who she was. She was in the place where he lost everything; Mustafar. She was him; Darth Vader. But why? She then walked towards a worktable and opened a shelf. Inside were all the lightsabers of those he defeated. One among them was hat of Ahsoka's old lightsabers. It was a pain to see one with him while the other was with his sister. They ought to be together like their master and maker. They ought to fight together against the same enemy; not each other. A droid came and told "The bacta tank is ready. Shall I help you in removing the armor?"

"Yes." She replied in a voice which the entire galaxy feared. It was ironic; the voice which once gave hope to everyone now gave fear. She was lucky that she had artificial hearing and sight. Otherwise she would have been a dead soldier, which she was. After removing the armor the droid helped her get in the bacta tank. She stayed there for a while remembering all memories. Her nightmares came in front of her like they were pictures. Suddenly one came up, one which bugged her from three nights ago. Before she could concentrate and see who it was, she was wakened up rather roughly by Luke.

"Leia, LEIA are you all right?"

"Yes I am fine. What happened?" she groaned.

"Oh you don't know. The entire room was shaking. Things were flying. I was woken up by it. I saw you shaking your head and I thought you must be having a nightmare. I never knew that if Jedi had nightmares, the whole room would shake."

"Oh it's what father used to have every time he had a nightmare. Obi-Wan told me. You too will have similar things once you get a grip on your abilities."

"I see, so it's a Skywalker trait then."

"You might say so."

"So shall we go back to sleep?"

"It's almost sunrise."

"So?"

"We could meditate."

"All right."

The twins moved to the roof of the hut and meditated. Luke concentrated for six minutes before sleeping again. Leia was concentrated till the rays of the sun kissed her palms. She opened her eyes softly to see the red sun rising. Luke too got up at the same time and looked as the sun rose to its height. Soon the twins went down and Leia started preparing the breakfast while Luke watched. Luke was amused by the way Leia cooked. He wondered whether cooking was another thing the Skywalkers were an expert on because Leia did it wonderfully. Soon the four had their breakfast and Ahsoka was teased again. Later Luke left with Ahsoka for his lightsaber training and Leia left with Obi-Wan.

"So you had another nightmare."

"Yes."

"Hmm, it is time I thought you something I once thought your father."

"What is it?"

"The ability to control the effects of your nightmare in turn reducing your nightmare."

"Is it possible?"

"Well I thought your father and he was able to reduce his nightmares."

"Okay then."

Leia then learned the skill from Obi-Wan. She was surprised to find out that it was easy and she could master it quickly.

"Well, I think it is the Skywalkers trait because your father too mastered it quickly."

"I must teach it to Luke."

"Later for now he has to focus on the basic force exercises."

"I know."

"You shall be alone with Luke for a while. Ahsoka and I have to go and get some training droids from a trusted aid."

"So be it."

Soon the twins were alone. They were responsible for looking after the hut. They sat beside each other in silence. Leia was lost in thoughts. While Luke was just sitting there admiring his new skill. He had finally managed to stand in a lightsaber battle. Soon he would begin formal lightsaber training. He was excited. Leia then turned towards Luke. Luke then asked "What happened?"

"Nothing. You said you couldn't use the force right?"

"Well yes."

"Hmm, pick that stone." She said pointing to the stone in front of him. Luke then bent and picked the stone.

"What about it?"

"Fold your fingers around it." Luke did as told.

"Feel it, feel its beauty."

"There is no beauty in a stone Leia. And please stop trying to make me use the force. I do not fit in your religion of Jedi."

"There is a beauty in everything. And you do fit in my religion."

"Oh come on. What is your religion anyway? Who are the Jedi?"

"My religion is my identity. It identifies me as a Jedi; keeper of peace."

"What peace do Jedi look after anyway? If the Jedi were ACTUALLY the keepers of peace then the empire wouldn't have risen."

"That is why we were selected. That is why the force chose us Skywalkers; to rectify the mistakes of the Jedi and bring them back to their track."

"And has it worked?"

"No, not yet."

"It will never. The Jedi, the Sith, they are all the same Leia. We are just blinded."

"You may be right but why does the force communicate with few individuals only? Why not communicate with everyone?"

"I-I don't know."

"It is because the force identifies certain individuals based on what their destiny could hold. It knows all of our actions. The Jedi and the Sith are different. One uses the abilities given for the people and the other uses it against the people. We are different."

"Then why did the Jedi do nothing to stop them from growing?"

"They didn't because they were corrupted. They lived alongside the stench of corruption long enough to be corrupted. Hence they were burnt down. And now those who remain have to rectify the mistakes."

"You are right."

"I know. Now feel the beauty of the stone through the eyes of our religion."

Luke closed his eyes and felt the stone. It's once irritating irregularity was now pleasant. It was now indeed beautiful. He then opened his eyes.

"Now give me the stone." Luke did as said. Leia placed it on the table. "Now pick it." Luke lifted the stone. Leia then took it again. This time she got up and placed it on the floor slightly away from Luke. "Now pick it without getting up."

"Oh came on."

"Go on." Leia said patting him on the back. He bent and reached his hand out to the stone. He tried extending his hand towards it. His hand couldn't reach it. He closed his eyes and tried stretching his hands. He suddenly felt the stone touch his palm. He opened his eyes and saw the stone inside his fist. He finally did it. He used the force to call the stone. He let the streams of joy, relief and gratitude flow. He lifted his head to see his sister who was grinning east to west. He moved forward and hugged her tightly. Finally he could do it. And it was all because of her. He sobbed as he hugged her.

Ahsoka and Obi-Wan had finally returned from the place. They had five bags behind them Ahsoka carried three while Kenobi carried two. On seeing them enter, the twins rushed to help them. Luke lifted his hand and closed his eyes.

"Oh thank you Luke." Obi-Wan said as he felt the weight of one bag lift from him. Leia then used the force to lift two of the bags Ahsoka was carrying. She placed them on the table. Both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka lifted their heads to see one bag floating in the mid air. Leia had crossed her arms. The two turned to discover that Luke was using the force to lift the bag. His eyes were closed in concentration. The entire tire in their faces disappeared and was replaced with joy. Luke then motioned his hand towards the table and the bag landed there. Leia was smiling. Luke opened his eyes and looked at the three. Finally. Obi-Wan thought. Now the twins are ready to undertake the journey of their destiny.