Chapter 18.

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"Where There Is Shadow, There Is Always Light'

Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie had been on Bespin in Cloud City for a day now, whilst Lando had followed through on their agreement, thankfully. Luke, Han, Lando and some of the fleet pilots and generals were all creating a battle plan, whilst Leia was out on the platform by the falcon listening through R2's radio for any news on the empire or the plans of the death star, after a while she felt like giving up but R2 had pulled through and she had finally received some news, from Endor. "R2, keeping reigning in that signal." Leia ordered before getting up and running back into the building where the men where. "I've had a signal through from Endor..." Leia said catching her breath as she stood in the door way. "What signal? anything we could use?" Luke asked his sister standing up, Leia nodded, "Word of a rebel alliance based there, they've created a confederation with the clans of Endor. The empire are building the death start above the forest moon, they're preparing for attack... there is about to be a war in the Zuma region." Leia said knowing that there was no time to spare. "If there is a rebel alliance we have to get to Endor now...if the empire is creating the ultimate weapon, we could use the help we can get." Han said simply, "I agree...Endor is 15 parsecs away from here, if we want to get there in time we must leave immediately." One of the piloting general's said. "Leia, start up the falcon try get transmissions through the alliance, let them know we are coming.." Luke said looking to his sister who had nodded heading back to the ship to start it up ready for take off and trying to get through to the alliance on Endor.

After the fleet followed the falcon through lightspeed, they quickly approached the Endor system and none of them could miss the huge space station that was almost complete, "That is one hell of a weapon!" Lando said looking through the window, Luke hadn't realised what they were about to get themselves into but he knew now there was no going back. "Stay as far away from that thing as possible, if they see us entering the atmosphere our whole mission could be blown." One of the generals transmitted through to them all, Han listened and led the fleet around the space station safely before landing in the region of the alliance. Upon stepping out they were surrounded by many Ewoks pointing spears at them, holding their hands up Leia took a step forward, bending down to the one in the front. "Its alright, we won't hurt you...we're here to help you." Leia said softly with a smile, offering her hand to show she was harmless, he kind, loving nurturing side coming through, Han liked that side to her too. "We've heard of your treaty with a rebel alliance, we're here to fight with you." Luke responded as the Ewok's relaxed. Han didn't know what was going on, Luke and Leia seemed so connected, it was strange, it made him jealous, he'd never been so jealous before. Eventually the Ewoks led them towards the rebel base where a number of people where, ships, pilots, everything. "Are you Leia?" The lead woman asked as she approached the newcomers, Leia nodded, "Yes we spoke not so long ago...we came from Cloud City on Bespin, we are here to fight with you, the empire have taken something very close to us...we'd like to get that back, and finish this once and for all." Leia said softly, she was such a natural born leader, as if she was made for war, she knew exactly what she was doing and she was completely fearless. "These are my companions, Luke, Han, Chewbacca, Lando, R2 and our fleet..." Leia added introducing them, "It's very nice to meet you, My name is Doma...I'm the leading general for this alliance, come...there is much to discuss. The empire are incredibly close to completing their super weapon, we must stop them before it is too late." Doma said as she led them inside the large hut, "That is why we are here..." Luke added.

Meanwhile back on the death star, Padme lay in Vader's quarters once more unsure of how long she had been there for, but she felt something was happening and she wasn't sure what. She had no idea she was literally above her children, whilst they planned their attacks on the space station she was on. Vader had come into her quarters with a blue dress in his hands, "The emperor requests your appearance this evening, he would like to dine with you." He said handing Padme the dress but she refused, standing up looking at him, "And if I refuse?" She asked folding her arms, the man who betrayed her, who she once worked along side of, who she trusted. "The emperor does not like to ask twice, for your sake I suggest you obey orders." Vader warned handing her the dress, she looked to it but didn't take it. "Did he choose this?" she asked looking up to him, Vader was silent for a moment, "No...I did." she was going to refuse the dress, but he chose it, and a good dress too, it saddened her, her hard persona had gone, only for a split second but it was gone, because he had chose the dress for her. She was curious as to wear he had gotten it but that wasn't important. "Blue has always looked good on you..." He added once more, more softer, like it was Anakin. Padme looked up to him and felt her heart break, he was still in there, this was proof, he was still there...her Ani, he was trapped, begging for a way out. Swallowing hard she took the dress from his hands slowly, "May I shower?" She asked softly knowing she really needed one, Vader said nothing more and led her to the refresher in his quarters, "I will be back for you shortly...the emperor does not like waiting." He warned.

The hour had gone by fast and Padme was ready, the Jappor Snippet on display because she knew if Vader had seen it, something would have triggered him a little more. Arriving into the quarters he saw her, stopped in his tracks as if his breath had been taken away, seeing the jappor snippet around her neck hit him even harder, after all this time she had kept it, it was just for a moment as she fought the pull to the light, before grabbing her arm and leading her down the hallway. "My master is not as forgiving as I, for your sake I suggest you bite your tongue." He said simply, Padme didn't say anything just sighed and let him lead her to the emperor. Once she was stood in front of him, all her hatred had come back, she hated him with a passion, she just wanted to scream. "Senator Amidala...how good it is to see you...alive." Palpatine said with a smirk as he sat with his hood up at the large dark dining table, Vader placed her in her seat before bowing to his master. "Leave us." He ordered Vader, "Yes Master." he responded before leaving Padme and the Emperor alone. "It has been a long time since I have dined with a friend...please...enjoy." He said eerie as the food was served, Padme looked to him, "We are not friends...you took everything from me...from this galaxy!" she spat at him. "Foolish child!" He yelled, she may be in her 40's but she was so young when they were working together. "You will pay for everything you have done, this galaxy has suffered enough...it won't stand its suffering much longer." Padme said strongly, she was terrified but she stood her ground, Palpatine laughed to her, at her words. "You think you can bring him back don't you? You are no match for the dark side of the force...Vader's hate, his anger flows through him, stronger than any other feeling...stronger than the love you give him." He said with a grin, Padme gripped her knife and fork tightly at his words. "You cannot save him...but there is one more thing that might..." Padme's ears perked, what was he about to say. "You're children...yesssss." He hissed, Padme's heart sank, "You know nothing of my children!" She spat in anger, fighting the tears from falling down her face. "Your bravery will be your undoing! I know more than you think! I Feel everything! Every action, every word, every feeling...every plan...you cannot overthrow me!" He yelled to her in anger, he was terrifying. "Just like I know their next moves...Yess….on Endor...planning their attack against the empire, they will die trying." The emperor laughed, "And you will watch as your children's fate undo by my own hands...or maybe Vader can turn them to the dark side...they can join us." He hissed once more at his plan, Padme's tears came in anger, blood pouring from her hand as she gripped the knife hard enough. "You will not touch my children!" She warned him, before throwing the knife in his direction, stopping it with the force and launching it back at her, he forced the knife through her shoulder, screaming out in pain, not a lethal injury but a painful one. Pulling the knife out she controlled her breathing moving her bloody hand to her now bloody shoulder. "I'd like to leave!" She said in the same brave angry tone she once had. The emperor said nothing more and signalled for her to go, whilst he cackled in his seat.

Walking through the ship, Padme's blood left a trail on the floor as she headed back to Vader's quarters, needing to fix herself up she removed her dress down to her underwear, and cleaned the wounds, tying fabric around her hand, before finding something, anything to stitch up the wound in her shoulder, it was painful, she cried, she bit down on her lip at the pain, It was awful and now that she knew her kids where on the planet right underneath her she knew she had to do something. Getting dressed back into her more comfortable for combat clothes, the blood on her shoulder seeping through her white top, she snuck her way through the ship before attacking a stormtrooper and grabbing his blaster, quickly making her way down to the cells to see Obi Wan. "Padme!" He called out seeing her, "What are you doing here? You're hurt!" He said coming to the bars, "Don't worry about me, we have to get out of here...Luke and Leia, they're planning an attack against the empire...we have to help them." Padme said in a panic, knowing it would be difficult but they had to try. Obi Wan nodded, "Alright, get me out of here." He said simply as Padme stood back and shot the locks on the bars enough times for them to break free and for Obi Wan to use the force, "We have to be quick, someone will have heard that!" he said simply, taking her hand and leading them out, safely getting to the cockpit where many of the tie fighters where based, along with many stormtroopers, Padme looked to him "What are we going to do?" She whispered, Obi Wan observed for a second, "Go for that ship...get yourself out of here...go to Luke and Leia and end this war once and for all." He said simply, "What are you going to do?" Padme asked sadly as the plan didn't appear to involve him. "There is no way both of us are making it out of here...I will distract them, and you will get that ship." Obi Wan ordered, "Obi Wan..." She said sadly looking to him, "It is my time Padme, I have served my time...let me honour that by doing one last duty to protect this galaxy." He said with a soft smile, Padme let a tear fall down her face, he had been her everything for so long, "I will always be with you...thank you for the best 18 years of my life...it has been an honour your highness." He said softly kissing her forehead, referring to her the way he had first met her, as a queen. Putting his hood up he gave her one last look before walking out into the main bay causing a diversion, withdrawing his lightsaber, Padme took a deep breath and wiped her tears before running to the ship when the time was right and sneaking on, as she was about to set off, she took one last look at Obi Wan before seeing a red light saber go through him from behind, "Foolish of you to think you can overthrow me Obi Wan!" Vader's voice said, "Foolish of you to believe you've won Darth." Obi Wan choked back looking to Padme once more, before he disappeared. Padme cried out as she saw Obi Wan die in front of her eyes, but she knew she had to continue her duty, wiping her tears she began to fly off and saw the stormtroopers firing at her, so she fired back in the ship causing a lot of damage, Vader saw her before letting her leave. Padme flew off towards Endor knowing that it wouldn't be long before they came after her, before finally seeing a base, she landed a distance from the base so that she didn't lead them straight to the battle. Before walking a couple miles, her shoulder bleeding out more since it was knocked after the blasts to the ship, she was dehydrated from the heat, but she had to reach her kids and the force...OBi Wan was leading her this way.

Padme eventually found the base before seeing someone, "Excuse me..." She asked softly, "Senator Amidala?" The older woman asked in disbelief having heard she was dead, "Yes...yes its me...I need your help, my shoulder its bleeding out..." She said feeling a little faint from the heat, lack of water and loss of blood, the woman had put her arm around her bringing her into the huge hut where everyone gathered, people gasped at the site of the thought to be dead former queen and senator, before Luke looked around to see what all the fuss was about, walking over Luke moved through the crowd of people before seeing her...his mother, for the first time in 7 years. "Mom?" He asked himself softly before realising who it was. "Mom!" He yelled excited, sad, scared, worried, all his emotions hitting him at once as he run to his mother. "Luke?" Padme called out in tears seeing her son, her pain forgotten as she ran to him, "Oh my boy! You've grown so handsome." She said as Luke carefully hugged his mother tightly, he had missed her so much. Leia looked up to Han as she too saw the commotion, "What's going on?" Leia asked him before they walked over to the crowd, seeing Padme broke her heart, she didn't realise how much she had missed her mother until this moment, falling to her knees in disbelief Han fell with her, more to support her, "Momma?" She whispered, Han was so confused. Luke pulled back from the hug wiping his mothers his tears knowing they had so much to catch up on, especially about this war, but he turned feeling Leia close by and stepped aside letting the mother and daughter have their moment. Leia's heart felt like it was going to raise out her chest, but she managed to pull herself up and walk to her mother, "Mom?" She whispered again standing infront of her mother, tears filling in her eyes, Padme couldn't even control it anymore, moving her good hand to her daughters face, "Leia..." She whispered out before pulling her into a hug, "Oh my sweet girl." She said in relief finally being back with her kids, Luke moving to hug the two woman too.

Finally they were reunited, but their reunion was not going to last long...because this was the start of the galactic war.

Padme never thought for a second she would be fighting along side her children, against her husband...

but for now, that was not important...she was reunited with her babies.

after 7 years, she was reunited.