Lead the Way: A Star Wars/Star Wars Story
Chapter 8: Etheria
We see the Star Destroyer holding Sam, Luke and Leia captive. And flying towards it, intending to pull off a rescue; was the Ebon Hawk!
Piloted by Hamill, Artoo, and a very scared Threepio.
"Oh, this is a terrible idea", Threepio said.
Artoo beeped as he hit Threepio's leg.
"Ow", Threepio said.
Hamill made a few sounds as well as he glared at Threepio.
"Hopefully we don't get turned into scrap metal", Threepio said as the droids saw the Star Destroyer.
Hamill nodded at the droids as they quickly went into a crawl space in the ship.
Threepio said, "this will not end well."
The Ebon Hawk was pulled into the hangar bay of the Star Destroyer.
Stormtroopers started to inspect the ship.
"There's no one here", one trooper said.
"Must be a trick", another Stormtrooper said.
The Stormtroopers then left the shuttle.
Hamill started to laugh as the droids left the crawl space.
Artoo boosted themselves up with their jets, and Hamill jumped out as Threepio carefully climbed out.
Artoo bleeped something that made Threepio say, "I am not being paranoid! We are in an Imperial Star Destroyer!"
Hamill bleeped as he told the droids the plan to free their friends.
….
Sam, Luke and Leia were in their cell, when all of a sudden...
"Hey, what the-", a Stormtrooper said, only to be shot
"Who did that?"
The rest of the stormtroopers were then shot.
Sam asked, "what's going out there?"
The cell then opened, Artoo with a blaster in their arms that popped out the front, and Threepio.
"Artoo", Luke shouted.
"Threepio", Leia said.
"Thank the maker", Threepio said.
Artoo then handed them their lightsabers.
Sam asked, "where's Hamill?"
...
Hamill was on the control bridge distracting the imperial officers.
"Shoot that monkey!"
"No you idiot, you'll shoot the-"
But it was too late, as a stormtrooper shot at the control panels.
The Star Destroyer then went into hyperspace!
Hamill ran off to find the others running to the hangars, hoping to make their escape while everyone on the ship was distracted.
Sam and his group were running to the Hangar bay, when they felt the ship was shaking.
Leia asked, "what's going on?"
"Looks like Hamill did something", Sam said.
Hamill then ran to the others.
"Hamill", Sam said.
Hamill then jumped on Sam's shoulders and let out a few sounds.
"Come on, we're almost there", Luke said.
The ship then stopped.
The group made it into the control room of the hangar bay.
"Hamill, find out what happened to this ship", Sam said.
Hamill then connected himself with the ship's system. He bleeped something that alarmed the others.
Leia asked, "what do you mean the Hyperdrive is offline?"
"It's been destroyed", Luke said.
A nearby computer begins beeping.
"We're caught in that planet's gravitational field, but it does not show the name of the planet", Sam said.
"Artoo, open the main hangar doors", Luke said.
Artoo beeps and opens the main hangar doors, and the group sees the planet.
When Sam saw it, he clutched his head in pain.
Luke and Leia asked, "Uncle Sam?"
Sam started to have a vision...
Numerous people of strange appearances.
Terrifying monsters.
Unbelievable magic.
And the man with white skin, red eyes and blue hair.
Sam shook his head as the vision ended, and said, "sorry. Just a headache. Now, let's get onto the Ebon Hawk! Maybe we'll be safe on that planet!"
"I don't see the ship", Luke said.
Hamill bleeped.
"They must have moved it down below", Threepio said.
"Let's go", Leia said.
The group were running down into the Hangar bay, when they heard, "blast them!"
Stormtroopers from all around were blasting at them.
"We're doomed", Threepio cried.
"There's too many of them", Luke shouted as he deflected the shots with his lightsaber.
Sam throws his sabers down into the floor and uses the Force to spin them around, cutting a circle and allowing him, the twins and droids to fall into the space below the hangar.
"Search for the Ebon Hawk", Sam shouted as the group ran.
"Nothing", Leia shouted.
"I don't see it", Threepio said.
Luke asked, "where could it be?"
"There it is", Sam shouted.
The Ebon Hawk was suspended over an exit.
The stormtroopers arrive and begin to shoot at them.
"Get to the ship", Sam shouted.
Luke shouted, "what about you!?"
Sam brandished his lightsabers as he said, "I'll meet you there after I deal with these nerf herders!"
As the stormtroopers shot at them from above, Sam directed the bolts back at them!
….
On Etheria.
"I'm glad my mother accepted you, Adora", Glimmer said.
"I was worried she wasn't going to accept me for being a former Horde Soldier", Adora said.
Bow then ran into Glimmer's room.
"Ah! Bow, you scared us", Glimmer said.
Adora asked, "what's wrong?"
"Something's falling from the sky", Bow shouted.
...
Sam kept deflecting the shots right back at the stormtroopers, but he was getting tired.
Sam Force pushed them back, and he was shot in the leg.
Sam cried in pain as he stood up.
"We've entered the atmosphere. Fire retro-rockets", an imperial Officer said.
"We've lost lateral control. We're gonna break apart...!"
The command center explodes as the ship plummets to the surface.
The ship tilts. The stormtroopers all fall and begin sliding, while screaming.
Sam stops himself by plunging his sabers into the ground.
"Come on, Uncle", Luke shouted.
Sam runs over and jumps towards the Ebon Hawk, but it falls as he's midair.
The Ebon Hawk is sent spinning behind the Star Destroyer.
Sam jumps on various debris and objects in midair as he gets closer and closer to the ship. Luke and Leia are both holding their hands out at the ship's door, hoping to get their uncle into the ship as Hamill and Artoo begin piloting the ship.
"Come on Uncle, you can make it", Luke shouted.
Sam reached his hand towards them and it was a struggle at first. But he grabbed onto Luke's hand and then onto Leia's.
The twins pulled their uncle in.
"Close the doors", Luke shouted.
"We're going to crash, everyone strap in", Sam shouted.
Sam then felt pain throughout his entire body!
….
Adora, Glimmer and Bow, along with the others on Bright moon, saw the Star Destroyer falling.
Glimmer shouted, "where did that ship come from!?"
"I don't know", Bow shouted.
"It's going to crash in the Fright Zone", Adora shouted.
They also caught sight of the Ebon Hawk flying wildly away from the Star Destroyer, smoke trailing behind it
Bow said, "um, am I going crazy, or is that other ship heading right for us?!"
"It is heading for us", Glimmer shouted.
"Everyone take cover", Queen Angella shouted.
….
Luke and Leia asked, "Uncle Sam?"
Sam then saw more visions, but this time of the blue haired white man with their features more clear than ever….
….
The Ebon Hawk crashed right in front of Adora and her friend's as they hid behind various things. They all peaked out to see the damaged ship, slightly buried in the dirt.
Some of them began to edge closer as the door to the ship opened up.
Adora got ready to pull out her sword, when Hamill jumped out and landed in front of her, Glimmer and Bow.
Adora asked, "what's that?"
Glimmer said, "looks like a…. Robot monkey?"
"Aww, it looks so cute", Bow beamed said as he was about to pet Hamill.
Hamill then jumped onto Bow's head.
"Ah! Get it off! Get it off! Get it off", Bow shouted.
"Hamill! Stop!"
Luke and Leia ran out with Artoo.
The monkey droid growled as they jumped off of Bow and ran into Leia's arms. Threepio started leading Sam out as he clutched his head for a moment.
Adora asked, "who the heck are all of you?!"
Luke shouted, as he activated his lightsaber, "us? Who the heck are you!?"
Bow asked, with sparkles in his eyes, "whoa, what's that?"
Leia said, "what? Have you never seen a lightsaber before?"
Glimmer asked, "a lightsaber?"
Luke said, "I take it that's a no."
Sam regained his senses as he stood in front of the others.
He said, "I am Sam Skywalker. Jedi Knight, Commander, war refugee, and Uncle to these two children; Luke and Leia Skywalker. These are our droids; Hamill, Artoo Deetoo, and See Threepio. Who are all of you?"
"My name is Adora, this is Glimmer and this is Bow", Adora said.
Bow asked, "what do you mean you're war refugees?"
Glimmer asked, "and what's a Jedi Knight?"
Sam asked, "you know nothing of the Jedi Order?"
Adora asked, "Jedi Order, who are those?"
Sam looked at his niece and nephew and said, "I have a feeling we aren't in the outer rim anymore."
Luke and Leia nodded in agreement at that.
….
Meanwhile, in the Fright Zone.
We see the man Sam had seen in his visions.
Hordak.
Hordak was in his chair petting Imp.
When he felt a huge pain go throughout his entire body.
Hordak clutched his head in pain.
"My lord?"
Hordak growled as he saw visions….
A man with a laser sword was fighting some vicious beasts.
He was showing him how to make said sword.
The two of them sharing…. A kiss?!
And he heard the name.
Sam.
Then he saw more.
Sam shouted, "how could you!?"
Then he saw someone that looked exactly like Sam. His twin perhaps?
"I hate you!"
Hordak then saw Sam next to a woman in a white gown, and he was holding a baby in his arms.
"Please Padme. Please, I can't lose you too", Sam cried.
"I can't Sam…. It's too late for me…. But…. Promise…. Promise me…. You'll protect…. Them…. From the…. The empire…. The sith….", Padme said.
He then saw Sam cradling the body of a blue skinned man.
Sam kept crying the name, "Quarrie."
He saw him burying the man under a flag.
Sam said, "everyone will remember what you did for us, Quarrie. The name; Fulcrum, will honor your memory."
Hordak saw Sam cradling the two infants as he whispered, "Luke, Leia, I promise that I won't let all of this be for nothing."
Hordak was then brought back into reality when he saw Shadow Weaver.
Shadow Weaver asked, "my lord, are you alright?"
Hordak growled in pain as he clutched his head.
"I'm fine", Hordak growled.
"My lord, a giant ship is heading towards the Fright Zone", a horde soldier shouted.
Hordak quickly got out of his seat and ran outside with several soldiers.
Once they got outside, they saw the gigantic Star Destroyer crashing into the Fright Zone.
Hordak exclaimed, "what in the flying Hell is that?!"
Shadow Weaver said, "it's some kind of spaceship. Its design is unfamiliar to me."
"Hey, what was that loud…. Woah", Catra exclaimed as she saw the Star Destroyer.
"A few horde soldiers have been killed by the crash", Shadow Weaver said.
"Let's go inside", Catra suggested.
Hordak said, "be cautious. Who knows what threats could be lurking in there."
Catra showed off her claws and said, "trust me, I've got this."
The 3 along with a few Horde soldiers went inside the ship.
There were bodies of Stormtroopers and Imperial officers laying on the ground.
Catra asked, "what happened here?"
"These people were killed in the crash", Shadow Weaver said.
Hordak asked, "can there be anything here from this ship to salvage?"
Shadow Weaver replied, "that is not likely. But we may be able to check the computers for any surveillance."
Catra said, "I hope there isn't anything disgusting on them."
The 3 then started to walk towards the control bridge.
Catra then saw more bodies of Stormtroopers.
"Hey, these guys look like they were dead before the ship crashed", Catra said.
Hordak saw the burning slash marks on the trooper's chest.
Shadow Weaver asked, "what kind of weapon could cause these slash marks?"
Hordak said, "some sort of…. Laser sword?"
The three of them looked over at a cluster of monitors at some controls.
They walked over to see what was on the computer.
"Hey, I think this computer is working", Catra said.
Then a hologram footage appeared and showed….
…. Sam, using his lightsabers to fight against the stormtroopers as Luke and Leia stand behind him.
Catra asked, "who are they?"
Hordak seemed to zone out as he looked at Sam as he fought against the Imperial soldiers.
Sam shouted, "Luke, Leia get to the ship!"
Luke shouted, "what about you?!"
"I'll meet you there after I deal with these nerf herders", Sam shouted.
"Blast them!"
Sam Force pushed the stormtroopers back, and he was shot in the leg.
Sam cried in pain as he stood up.
Hordak whispered the name, "Sam?"
Catra looked at the computer files and said, "it looks like their names are Luke, Leia and Sam Skywalker."
Shadow Weaver asked, "what weapons are they wielding?"
"Looks like this computer has some information on them", Catra said.
"Well hurry up, Catra", Shadow Weaver said.
Catra said, "alright, Jeez. It looks like these things are called; lightsabers. Swords powered by a strange type of crystal…. Kyber crystals. Lightsabers were wielded by a group known as; Jedi."
Hordak asked, "and what's a Jedi?"
"Jedi….", Shadow Weaver said.
Hordak asked, "have you heard that word before Shadow Weaver?"
Shadow Weaver replied, "ancient Etherian history speaks of an ancient order of peacekeepers, who could use some sort of magic power."
Hordak asked, "could these Jedi have survived the crash?"
"Well look here", Catra said.
They watched the footage of Sam managing to get onto the Ebon Hawk and it flew off towards where their enemies were.
Shadow Weaver said, "it looks like these Jedi are in the grasp of our enemies."
"Oh this is just great", Catra said.
Hordak then got an idea.
Hordak said, "we must get our hands on these Jedi."
Catra asked, "oh? And why? Do you think the older guy is cute~?"
Hordak stuttered, "agh, no! I merely want to interrogate these Jedi. Learn how to make these lightsabers, and such."
Catra chuckled and said, "oh, sure!"
"Enough Catra! My lord, I agree with you, with those lightsabers we will finally defeat the Rebels and bring back Adora", Shadow Weaver said.
Hordak had his back turned and was still blushing at what Catra said to him.
Hordak said, "very good, Shadow Weaver. Soon, we'll see just what these Jedi have to offer..."
….
Back at Bright Moon.
Sam, Luke, Leia and the droids were inside the castle.
Glimmer asked, "okay, so can you explain to us where you're from?"
Adora asked, "and what is the Jedi Order, are they the First ones?"
Sam sighed as he explained, "the Jedi were the peacekeepers of our galaxy. Saving people. And for over a thousand generations, the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice in the old republic. Training from younglings, to padawan, to Knight, and if they were lucky, they would receive the rank of master. But…. This was before the dark times. Before the Empire was built."
Glimmer asked, "the Empire? What did they do?"
Sam continued with, "a young Jedi named Anakin. A fellow Jedi Knight, before he turned to evil. After the Empire was created, he helped in Order 66, a mission to hunt down and destroy every single Jedi. He betrayed me, and our closest friends. And he…. Was my brother."
Adora, Glimmer and Bow all gasped as Queen Angella held a shocked look as well.
Glimmer asked, "he was your brother!?"
Bow asked, "he destroyed the Jedi Order?"
"Does that mean Luke and Leia are….", Queen Angella asked.
"They are Anakin's children, but he does not know about them", Sam said.
Adora asked, "but why did your brother betray you and the Jedi?"
Sam said, "my brother had to watch our mother die on our home planet; Tatooine. That's when his descent towards his actions began. He kept having horrible visions of his wife, Luke and Leia's mother, Padme, dying in childbirth. He thought that by becoming a Sith lord, the complete opposite of a Jedi, that he could save her. The Emperor made him his new apprentice. And on that day, he took a new name. Darth Vader. On that day, I lost my brother. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the force."
Queen Angella asked, "the force?"
Sam explained, "the force is what gives a Jedi, and the sith, their power. It surrounds us. It penetrates us. And it binds all living things together. My brother and I were strong in it. It guided us through the clone wars. Before my brother became Darth Vader, he was a truly good man. He was the best star pilot in the galaxy. And a cunning warrior. And my best friend. But when the dark side consumed him, Anakin Skywalker ceased to be. Instead, Darth Vader arose. And in trying to save his wife, Vader only caused her death. Making her lose the will to live."
Luke said, "our mother died in childbirth."
Glimmer held a sad look as she hugged the kids, trying to comfort them.
Sam finished with, "I promised to protect Luke and Leia from their father. And the Empire. Only a few Jedi are left. My friends Leon, Ahsoka, and a few more. But we lost so many others. I even lost…. Quarrie."
Adora asked, "who's Quarrie?"
Sam felt a few tears fall down his face.
Hamill then the jumped on Sam's shoulders as he comforted him.
"Quarrie was my…. First love. I met him during the start of the Clone Wars. He was the pilot of the Ebon Hawk, our ship", Sam said.
Bow asked, "what happened to him?"
Sam managed to say, "he died in our escape from the system capital; Coruscant."
Adora asked, "what were the Clone Wars?"
Sam said, "several systems, called the Separatists, wanted to be independent from the republic. They used battle droids for their fighting. We used clones. A bounty hunter called Jango Fett had offered his DNA to make a clone army that the republic used to fight. But it was all planned by Sidious, Lord of the Sith. He was the Chancellor of the Republic, and the Master of Leon's old teacher, Count Dooku, who was leader of the Separatists. Sidious activated Order 66, a command that made 90% of the clones kill the Jedi, deeming them all traitors. It was that 10% that kept some of us alive. The Clone Wars pretty much ended the day the Republic fell."
Queen Angella asked, "what would Vader do if he found out about his children?"
Sam explained, "he would try to seduce them to the dark side. To make them sith, like him and his Master. And I'm NOT going to let that happen."
"That's so sad", Bow said with tears falling down his face.
"I can't believe Luke and Leia's father…. Would only use them for the dark side", Glimmer said.
"I can't believe that you went through something like that, young one", Queen Angella said.
Adora asked, "what's going on now in your galaxy?"
"Palpatine had died from some disease 7 years after the Empire was formed, and now Vader is the emperor", Sam said.
"We are all part of the Rebel Alliance", Luke said.
Glimmer asked, "Rebel Alliance?"
Adora asked, "also, how did you all end up here?"
Sam said, "we were captured by the Empire during a scouting mission. Luckily, our droids were able to get aboard the Star Destroyer and help us escape. Due to an accident with the hyperdrive, we ended up here."
Leia added, "and it seems like the Empire isn't here yet."
Luke asked, "where are we anyway?"
"You're on Etheria", Adora said.
As soon as Sam heard that word, he clutched his head.
Luje asked, "Uncle Sam?"
Sam said, "Etheria? It really does exist?"
Bow asked, "you've heard about Etheria before?"
Sam replied, "an old friend of mine, named Antauri, would tell me stories of this planet. And that my future would lead me here. And I keep seeing visions of a man I'm supposed to meet on this planet. Also the Jedi Temple had archives of this planet, it used to be in the outer rim, but it disappeared from the system", Sam said.
"I can guess we are in the unknown regions", Luke said.
Bow asked, "what man are you supposed to meet here Sam?"
"Well, he has blue hair, white skin and Red eyes", Sam said.
Adora, Bow, Glimmer and Queen Angella's faces paled.
Leia asked, "what's wrong?"
Adora replied, "the man you just described…. Is our worst enemy. My former leader. Hordak."
Sam said, "that's the name I kept hearing as well. He's your enemy?"
Glimmer replied, "yeah. Adora used to work with him and his forces, but after learning about us, she joined our side. The man you're supposed to meet is the man who's hunting us down!"
Sam said, "he's the one I am supposed to meet!?"
Luke asked, "what do you mean he is hunting you down?"
"Well here on Etheria we have our own Rebellion, we've been trying to stop Hordak and his army the Evil Horde for years, as he wants to rule Etheria with an iron fist", Glimmer said.
"Great, another Empire", Leia said.
"This keeps getting worse and worse", Threepio said.
Bow asked, "but why would you want to meet Hordak?"
"I am supposed to meet him in the future due to these visions", Sam said.
Adora asked, "visions?"
Sam explained, "the force can give people visions of the past, present and future. I keep seeing visions of Hordak and I. Comforting one another in times of strife. Fighting against Imperial forces. And from what I've seen of him in these visions, our meeting may turn him onto a better path."
"Yeah, I don't think Hordak can become a better person", Bow said.
"He's killed countless people! Even my father", Glimmer said.
"But the Force keeps telling me it's true", Sam said.
"The Force never lies", Luke said.
Hamill then ran over to inspect Adora's sword.
"Hey", Adora said.
Luke asked, "what's with that sword, Adora?"
Adora said, "that's the sword of She-Ra. It transforms me into a warrior known as, well, She-Ra. And I don't want a robotic monkey to get his paws on it!"
"She-Ra? Looks like Antauri was right", Sam said.
Adora asked, "you know about She-Ra too?"
"Antauri told me stories of She-Ra. He said he was a mentor to the previous She-Ra who helped the Jedi Order during the High Republic", Sam said.
Adora said, "woah! No way! So, maybe that's a sign that our paths were meant to cross?"
Sam replied, "perhaps. I get the feeling that the force is willing all of our destinies together. Mine, yours, and even enemies we may share. Maybe I could try to contact Antauri to help you, Adora", Sam said.
"That would be great thanks", Adora said.
Leia asked, "I hate to be rude Uncle, but how are we going to get back home?"
Sam replied, "we'll need to get the Ebon Hawk repaired. It's our only way off of this planet, and our only way to contact any of our friends."
Queen Angella said, "we can provide you with the tech you need for this, Sam."
"But I am afraid it may take a while", Bow said.
"But in the meantime they can stay here", Glimmer said.
"Come on, we'll show you to your rooms", Adora said.
Sam said, "we appreciate all of this. Thank you."
And with that, Adora began leading the Skywalker's and their droids through the place.
"This is the biggest room in the castle, you all can sleep here", Glimmer said.
"Thanks", Luke said.
Sam then sat down cross legged as he closed his eyes.
Adora asked, "what's Sam doing?"
"He's trying to contact Antauri. Let's hope he does", Leia said.
Artoo beeped and so did Hamill.
Sam continued to meditate, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself in a dark shadowy realm, with Antauri sitting right in front of him.
Sam said, "hello Antauri."
Antauri replied, "hello, old friend. You are on Etheria, I presume?"
"Yes, the visions were true Antauri, but I have a bit of doubt", Sam said.
Antauri asked, "about what?"
"About Hordak…. Am I truly supposed to meet him? From what Adora and her friends say, he is a terrible person", Sam said.
Antauri said, "he is not beyond redemption. He is on a dark path, but with your help, you can bring him onto a better one. Your actions could not only help him, but all of you. You, and your new friends."
Sam asked, "but how can I convince them Hordak will be able to change his ways?"
Antauri chuckled and said, "you can leave that to me."
Sam asked, "you want to speak to them?"
"Yes, once you're done meditating, I can project myself through the force and appear to them", Antauri said.
"Okay", Sam said.
Sam then opened his eyes.
Luke asked, "Uncle Sam?"
Leia asked, "did you speak with Antauri?"
Sam nodded.
Adora asked, "what did he say?"
"He wants to speak with you, Adora and your friends", Sam said with a smile.
Antauri then appeared in the room.
The others all gasped as they saw Antauri standing there.
He chuckled and said, "hello to you all. Now, I believe you have some doubts about what Sam said involving Hordak?"
"Yes, Antauri, from what we have seen, I think it is impossible for Hordak to become a better person", Bow said.
"He's destroyed cities, killed countless people and even had my father killed", Glimmer said.
"I just don't think there can be any good in him", Adora said.
Antauri looked thoughtful for a moment, before he smiled and said, "then why don't I tell you the story... of Revan?"
….
Reviews:
SuperSentai199: indeed, it's a very sad moment. And Sam must now take care of his family.
Spongebob: so is Patrick's belly button.
….
And thus we finally get to the She-Ra reboot! I've been super excited to get to this part of the story!
This chapter takes place after episode 3 of the show; and 14 years after Revenge of the Sith.
Also, very soon, we'll be having chapters uploaded almost every day! So keep on the lookout for more frequent updates!