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4 ABY - Somewhere on the Imperial Ship
Leia swallowed hard as her pod was being pulled onto this imperial ship. She was nervous, terrified, worried but she had to hold her own. She had to be strong. "Be with me, mother." She whispered. Having no idea Ben had snuck onto her ship too, she stepped off and swallowed hard as she waited for the guards to come and take her. Her heart was pounding, she closed her eyes for a moment as she heard the footsteps of the imperial guards getting closer to her. Taking one deep breath she knew now that she had to be the tough Leia, the Anakin Skywalker Leia, the Padme Amidala Leia, the brave and feisty Leia, because she knew if she had let her weakness slip for just one moment, then Vader will have won…forever.
"We've got her." One of the guards said as the other bound her hands together with the restraints. "You're a little short to be a stormtrooper." She said simply.
"Quiet." He said simply, before dragging her off to the cells. Being thrown in wasn't so bad, she could deal with this for now, it was everything after that she was worried about. Sitting on the cold metal bench she closed her eyes and let out a breath once more, "Be with me, mother." She whispered again.
"Leia.." She heard the faint voice of her mother in her head, it was that moment she knew she was there, she was with her, it soothed her and she knew she could do this.
Endor - Rebel Fleet Base
"I can't just sit here knowing she's up there alone." Luke said pacing slightly after they had settled into the base.
"Will you sit down, you're making me dizzy." Han said simply watching him. Luke just gave him a glare.
"Look Kid, I don't know what sort of family drama you've got going on, but Leia gave us strict orders to stay here and develop a plan. She gave me strict orders to protect you and that is exactly what we'll do." He said simply.
"I thought you only gave the orders?" Luke said with a furrowed brow.
"I do…usually. But this seems…different." He said simply, "Anyway, she's not alone. Ben went with her." Han added.
"What? He'll die." Luke said concerned, knowing Obi Wan was a lot older now.
"Anyone who goes on that ship will die, so give it up kid. If you love your sister you'll stay put and do what she asked." Han said simply before walking away to join some of the fleet on their plans.
The Imperial Ship.
Leia was laying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. She didn't know what was going to happen, if she'd even make it. She closed her eyes for a split second before a flash of her father's breathing and footsteps appeared before her, as if she was the one walking in his shoes. Opening her eyes, she sat up quickly, hearing it again and then looking at the door when she soon realized that he was in fact on his way. This was it, this was the moment she would face him again in 16 years.
The door opened and she swallowed hard before closing her eyes and hearing his breaths. They were terrifying, they were haunting to the ears, they made shivers run through her body, they were evil. When she opened her eyes she swallowed hard and made eye contact with him for the first time, though she couldn't see his eyes, she knew they were looking right back at her.
The cries of his newborn daughter filled the room. He watched as the medical droid lifted the newly born little girl from between Padme's legs. "It is a girl." The droid said, handing her to Anakin. His heart was full, his heart was in love. The moment he locked eyes with his tiny girl was the day his heart became full, the day he felt he could no longer breathe. She was perfect. "Leia…" He whispered, staring down at her as Padme cried tears of joy. "My sweet Leia." He whispered, "Oh how I love you." He whispered once more, unable to take his eyes from her, before forcing himself to hand her to Padme. God, that was a beautiful sight to see. His perfect wife and his perfect daughter.
That memory haunted his mind the second he saw her. She was…perfect. She was…Padme. Everything about her resembled Padme yet her presence, facial expressions, attitude all resembled that of his former self. A self he had forgotten.
"You are not a child anymore." His robotic voice stung her ears and she took a deep breath, she would not let this machine intimate her.
"I have not been a child since I was 10 years old. You made sure of that." She said firmly, as he walked further into the room, closing the door.
"Obi-Wan was wise to hide you from me." He said simply.
"I fled." She said simply, her tone very neutral yet you could hear the fire burning within her. He could sense her anger, her pain. "I do not fear you Lord Vader, you are nothing but a pawn of the emperor."
"Then why flee?!" He asked simply. Leia didn't really know how to answer that, so she took a moment before looking at him once more.
"I was ashamed to admit that the man I once knew was gone. That my DNA is now shared with nothing but a monster." She spat, she wanted to aggravate him, she wanted to hurt him because that way, she could tell if there was some light left within him.
"The man you once knew was weak who would succumb to nothing." He said simply pointing to her.
"Anakin Skywalker was everything." She said simply. "He was everything and more to me. You took that from me, as you did my mother." She said simply, seeing his body jolt at the mention of Padme. She watched him and took a step forward, "I do not fear you, though if my fate is the same as my mothers…by the hand of you, then so be it. I am willing to accept my fate, but know that I too have changed and I am not a little girl anymore. I will get through to you." She said to him, she was close to him, so close that she could see her reflection in the glare of his lenses upon his helmet. His breathing still tormenting her.
"You are naive to believe you can overpower the dark side of the force." Vader told her. "I have greater plans for you child, far greater than death and you will obey!" He said simply before walking away and locking her back in. Leia let out a desperate breath before collapsing back on the bed and just sobbing.
A green lightsaber glared in front of her eyes, except this time she was holding it. Looking around it was her who had the control. It was quickly joined by a red lightsaber and the deafening sounds of her father's breathing once more. "If you will not join me, then you will die." His robotic voice said simply, before striking. She blocked, she always had to block. "I will never." She spat back, blocking again and again. The blocks quickly turned into two thrones, two hooded figures with piercing red eyes, glowing yellow and hatred swarming them. Around them was fire, destroyed planets, dead bodies, death, devestations, sadness. On one throne, Anakin - the man she knew before the mask and on the other? Leia Amidala…she was his apprentice, ruling the galaxy alongside her father.
"Leia." She heard a voice and shot up.
"Mother?" She asked to see the figure of her mother in the corner of the dark room. She was glowing, blue lights around her. "You're here." She said with a sad smile.
"I'm always here, I will always be here." She whispered, moving to crouch next to her daughter.
"Momma…I'm scared. I'm so scared." Leia whispered out as the tears fell down her face.
"Have no fear, my child. Oh my sweet girl, I'm so sorry, I have failed you. I couldn't protect you from any of this, but I am so proud of you. For raising Luke, for the woman you have become." She whispered, moving her hand to her daughter's cheek.
Leia closed her eyes and leaned into her hand, "I miss you.." She whispered. "So much." She said it exactly like Anakin did on Tatooine when he buried his mother at just 19.
"And I miss you." She whispered. "There is good in him, Leia, the man you remember is still in there. He is just lost. It is up to you and Luke to save him, guide him home." She whispered.
"I cannot." Leia added.
"Let go of your hatred, Leia, your anger. It will serve you no justice." Padme said softly, "My babies, you are the galaxy's only hope. You are my hope." She whispered.
Leia swallowed hard. "You are just a dream, mother." She said softly.
"I am whatever you choose to believe." She said softly. "But I am always with you."
Leia woke up from her dream and swallowed hard. She had no idea how to do this, but she was going to try her absolute best. She had to, the galaxy and Luke depended on it.
Vader stood next to the Emperor. "You fear the girl will not join you?" He asked Vader.
"It will take some convincing. She will not fall as easily as I once did." He admitted.
"Then you must take everything from her…until she is left with no choice." The Emperor said simply with a menacing smirk. Vader looked at him slightly confused. "Focus Lord Vader and you will see that the girl is not the only Skywalker."
Vader swallowed hard and breathed heavily as he sensed Luke. "It is not possible." Vader said simply, shocked.
"You know it to be true…look into her mind, all will be clear soon my young apprentice." He said before walking away leaving Vader to stare out at the open space.