The Force's Shepherds
Chapter 133
An Imperial Ball
Lucina shoved the door to the ballroom open, then quietly shut it behind her. She did not hear her father follow behind her. He was probably staying behind a moment so he could catch his breath. After all, she dropped a major problem into his lap.
The visions she, Ben, Noire, Luke, and Dooku were having caused her great concern. She could not simply keep all of that worry and stress to herself. Bottled up and pressurized, waiting for it all to explode. It was not healthy for her, or for anyone else. Besides, all of them (except for Luke, since he was still traveling to Ylisse at the time), agreed to inform her father about the visions.
It still puzzled her why Ben and Dooku failed to mention it before the Ball. Well, Ben's forgetfulness made some sense. He was whisked away by some unknown faction of Dark Mages in order to act as a guard of sorts for Lady Tiki and Nowi. Obviously that would take up most of his attention, rather than talking to Chrom about their nightmares. Besides, he was always the skeptic regarding the visions and nightmares. Always choosing to believe that it was more likely a trick of the Force rather than a reveal of the future.
Maybe he was right? Maybe the Dark Side was attempting to sow doubt and discord among her and her allies. The Force was so cloudy lately, so shrouded in darkness. No doubt a product of the Fell Dragon's influence upon the world. The time was coming soon for his rise, she could feel it. While she hoped Robin's death would have mitigated Grima's return, she also sided with Lady Tiki. There was no way a volcano killed a monster that powerful. She witnessed Grima's terrifying powers firsthand. Watched as he razed the world. Fought back in a desperate attempt to offer some resistance, before finally being forced to retreat to the Past in a last ditch attempt to defeat him.
If this were a normal night, the stress would be getting to her. She'd feel a sense of… hopelessness maybe? What could she do now? What was there to do? How could they defeat Grima once he rose to power? With how the Deadlords had been acting up to this point, it seemed like the Fell Dragon was, once again, one step ahead of them at every turn. He attempted to take Lady Tiki off the board before she could have any impact. Thankfully, Robin was there to help stop that. He also attempted to kill the Shepherds at Demon's Ingle. Weaken his most dangerous foes before finally striking. That failed too… thanks to Robin.
How could he have been Grima's vessel? She thought as she drifted towards a table laden with sparkling glasses of champagne.
She could still scarcely believe that Robin, of all people, had the Fell Dragon's essence within his body. Not just Grima either, but an entity known as The Son, as well. Two entities of incredible power and capable of such evil that it caused her Master to worry. This fact left her feeling… torn. She considered Robin a good friend. They had fought two wars together, and her father placed his absolute trust in him, even when his powers ran amok.
Those two evil entities would explain why that happened. She thought, recalling Robin's final days, where he had been terrified of his own abilities. She frowned as she reached the champagne table, But why would-
A hand slapped against her shoulder.
"Good cousin!" Owain declared, "Why do you have such a scowl upon your face? You look absolutely stunning in such a fine blue gown. A smile will certainly brighten it even more!"
Lucina's thoughts drifted away from her worries, back to the present moment.
Father told me to enjoy tonight. We can worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
She gave Owain a small smile, "It's nothing, Owain. Just… been thinking."
"Ah yes, thinking. That could cause quite the scowl."
"Need a way to turn off that thinking?" Brady asked as he joined the pair in conversation, holding out his flask to Lucina.
Lucina waved off his kind offer, "No thank you, Brady. It's just…"
She took a deep breath, then realized that she had accidentally found her group of friends. All of them were around the drinks table, with drinks in hand. Except for Cynthia, who was clearly a little upset about being left out of the "fun part". Apparently, Luke made sure she would not touch the alcohol. Cynthia probably knew she couldn't, but at the same time, Cynthia was Cynthia. She was nearly impossible to control.
Despite that, Cynthia had a wide grin on her face as she stuck by Luke's side, her head resting against his arm as he chatted with Inigo. The two were exchanging swordsmanship training techniques, with Luke arguing that the flashy maneuvers Inigo enjoyed utilizing could be easily broken by blunt force. Inigo argued that blunt force could not trump superior technique. Both arguments had their merits in Lucina's mind.
Severa lingered towards the edge of the group, likely so she could keep and eye on her mother and father. She might put on a tough act regarding her feelings towards her family, but she held an intense soft spot for them in the end. Especially after spending the past few months helping her mother, Cordelia, recover from the injuries she sustained in Valm. It helped the pair forge a bond that had been severed during Grima's terrible war in the future. Lucina did not think it was possible for Severa to appear happier than she was right at this moment.
Laurent was nose deep in his spellbook, of course. He was always quiet, preferring his solitary study rather than engaging in societal activities such as ballroom dancing and small talk. He did flash her a small smile from beneath the brim of his oversized, worn out hat. A smile she returned.
Finally, she returned her attention to Owain and Brady. Brady was taking a long swig from his flask. She noticed his gaze occasionally darting towards Noire, who sat in a chair near the cakes table, making conversation with Panne and Gaius.
"Peace is strange." Lucina finally admitted.
Owain let out a hearty laugh, "Indeed, it is."
"Strangely quiet." Brady muttered in agreement, as violins and flutes played through the ballroom.
Lucina laughed under her breath, "Indeed, strangely quiet." She sighed, "Leaves me on edge."
Brady arched an eyebrow, "Just waiting for the shoe to drop, eh?"
"Hm?"
"What our priest friend means." Owain started, "Is that, despite this hard won peace, the true war is still coming."
Lucina closed her eyes, "Yes… it is."
"Worry not, Cousin!" Owain declared, "I am certain that this time; with our parents by our side, courage in our hearts, and unwavering resolve, we shall overcome the Fell Dragon and send him back to the pit from whence he came! Why, my sword hand trembles at the very thought of such grand deeds. It yearns for the thrill of combat against the Fell Hordes once more."
"He's excited." Brady translated with a mutter.
Lucina chuckled, "I can tell. And… hopefully it never comes to that."
Brady arched an eyebrow, "Why'd ya say that?"
She was half tempted to tell them all about Robin. To let them know that, after all this time, they were fighting alongside the Fell Dragon instead of against him. Not that Robin knew he was Grima's vessel, gods no. By all accounts, he had no idea until death came for him. Still, he willingly gave his life to help save them all at Demon's Ingle, and that was something to be admired.
That was the way he needed to be remembered. Especially if they found Morgan at some point. She would be crushed if she ever found out that her father was the reason her mother died in the future. All of her friends would be destroyed if they knew that someone they all knew well, Uncle Robin, Ylisse's Grandmaster Tactician, was the one who ruined their lives.
No, she couldn't tell them. She could not sully his memory like that. A new vessel may come along, or Grima himself could rise from the lava rock and ash at the base of the volcano in Valm; but she would never tarnish Robin's memory. She may feel torn about his place in this world, and the true purpose behind it, but she would never doubt his memory again.
"No reason." He sighed, hoping that would satisfy both Brady and Owain, "Just hoping moments like this last longer."
"Ain't that the truth." Brady remarked, flicking his eyes over towards Noire again.
Owain rolled his eyes, "Brady, if you are smitten by Noire, then you need to go speak with her!"
"Sm-smitten!" Brady stammered. He quickly undid the cap to his flask and took a large gulp of whatever strong liquid he had within. He gulped down his drink then winced, "Shit, that was a bit much."
"You're nervous." Lucina chuckled, using the Force to briefly sense how he was feeling. She leaned towards Owain, "He must really like her."
"After living with her in Valm for over a year, closeness has developed." Owain nodded in agreement, "Perhaps their hearts indeed do beat as one, and they have yet to find out."
"Quit with the flowery words crap before I punch ya in the jaw." Brady grunted.
"Is he wrong?" Lucina asked, letting a little bit of juvenile curiosity consume her. The future never allowed her to enjoy anything like this before. It was always a state of chaotic defense. Death and destruction reigned. And getting to learn about who liked who, and who crushed on who, was something she never had the opportunity to engage in.
Brady's cheeks reddened, "Well ah-" He scratched the back of his neck, "I mean-"
Lucina spun him around, pointed him towards Noire, and shoved him forward, nearly making the tipsy Priest trip over his own feet and crash into the cakes table. Lucina chuckled before cupping her hand to her mouth.
"Go get her!"
"I think he would've gone for a more subtle tactic." Owain muttered, rubbing his chin as he observed Brady flip both of them off, take a deep breath, then turn to speak to Noire.
"What are you and the loser talking about, Lucina." Severa interrupted, moving towards the table in order to grab a glass of champagne.
"Vena-" Owain froze as Severa gave him a sharp glare. He cleared his throat, "Severa. We were just witnessing either romantic triumph or catastrophe. Care to join?"
"Owain…" Lucina sighed.
"We're about to watch Brady make a fool of himself?" Severa sipped her glass of champagne, "This is gonna be good. Almost as good as when I saw your father's reaction to Cynthia being pregnant, Luci."
Lucina pinched the bridge of her nose, "Really, Sev?"
"Or that time Brady got into a fight with his violin and lost."
"Ha! Good times!" Owain laughed heartily.
Lucina uttered a light chuckle as she recalled how Brady received the scar over his left eye. It was during a night after they had successfully repulsed Grima's forces from Ylisstol. One of the few moments her Master allowed all of them to celebrate. They broke open the last barrels of firewine from the palace cellars and drank to their hearts' content. The entire time, Brady played his violin for them; until he messed up a note, blamed the violin, and smacked the strings with his bow. Which resulted in a string breaking and snapping against his eye. It left a scar as a nice reminder of that fun evening. The accident was the end of the revelry for the night, as her Master and Sir Frederick promptly confiscated the firewine.
She smiled at the memory. Even during the darkest of times, they found joy where they could. She had the same worries and stresses then as she did now, but it was so much easier to enjoy the little moments before. Why was that? Why did she struggle to live in the moment and enjoy this peaceful time with her friends and family now, and not back then? Was it the constant threat of death? Had she grown complacent due to the lack of an apocalypse surrounding her?
"You're scowling again." Severa pointed out, "Ain't gonna get a noble to come leaping after ya with that."
Lucina rolled her eyes at her friend, "I am not interested in getting a noble interested in me."
Severa shrugged, "Fair enough. Neither am I."
"Is that why you refused to wear a dress?" Owain asked.
"Exactly why." Severa muttered, taking a sip of her drink, "Besides, mother is wearing a dress, and I don't want to-"
"Be compared to her?" Lucina asked.
Severa's face reddened and her grip on her glass tightened, "Steal her thunder… damn it." She sighed, "Fine! I don't want to be compared to her. Can't stand that."
"We don't do that to you, Venator." Owain replied.
Severa opened her mouth to reply, blinked, then glowered at Owain. At that moment, a waltz began to play.
"Odin…" Severa worked her jaw back and forth, "You and I need to have a talk."
Before Owain could protest, she set her glass down, grabbed him by the hand, and dragged him out to the dance floor. Lucina giggled a little as she watched Severa dance with an enormous frown, occasionally berating Owain for both the nickname, and his two left feet. Owain had a goofy, sheepish grin on his face the entire time as Severa guided him through the dance. Lucina remained near the drinks table, a content smile finally passing over her lips.
"Just enjoy tonight, Lucina." She reminded herself, muttering under her breath, "Just enjoy tonight."
A heavy sigh left her lungs, and she plucked a glass of champagne from the table. As she took a sip, she noticed Dooku approaching her. She grimaced, setting her glass to the side.
"Good evening, your majesty." Dooku said with a slight bow.
"Good evening, Dooku." Lucina nodded back, "What brings you in my direction."
"I was just coming by to inform you that your arm is ready for you to pick up. But please, I would prefer if you did so tomorrow morning. Who knows what business the Duchess will need me to conduct tomorrow." He took a glass of champagne and, in his usual regal, proper fashion, took a sip from it. He hummed, giving the glass an approving glance, "Wonderful selection. The Prince and Queen did well."
"Did they?"
"Ever had champagne before, Princess?" Dooku asked.
Lucina shrugged, "I think I had a sip of some after the Plegian War but I was… I was too lost at that time to enjoy it."
Dooku inclined his chin, "Lost, hm? As compared to now?"
"Now I am simply worried, not lost." Lucina met his gaze, "Why did you not inform my father about our visions?"
Dooku pursed his lips, "Kenobi and I were going to do so, but the appearance of Morgana the Black's envoys gave me some pause."
"Why would that give you pause?" Lucina asked.
Dooku frowned, "I'm not sure." He rubbed his chin, "It was a feeling in the force. Something stilled my tongue in that moment. There was a sudden clarity to the force that caught me off guard. I cannot entirely explain it."
Lucina furrowed her brow, "Something you can't entirely explain about the force is usually something to worry about."
Dooku chuckled at that, "At least you recognize my expertise, unlike Kenobi."
"To be fair, your history with each other is very- er- intense." Lucina replied.
"Has he told you stories?"
"A tidbit here and there." Lucina admitted, "So forgive me if I am a little more guarded now."
"You are wise to be that way." Dooku complimented, "A force adept should always remain on guard. One never knows when the force will send an unforeseen event our way." He glanced away from Lucina over to Luke, "The boy doesn't seem to understand that."
"I think he's simply trying to enjoy this evening." Lucina pointed out, "And probably still trying to figure out how in Naga's name he's going to be a good parent."
Dooku blinked, "Parent?" He narrowed his eyes over to Cynthia, and finally noticed the swell in her stomach, "Ah, I see." He shook his head, "The children couldn't control themselves."
Lucina snorted, "Cynthia controlling herself? You might as well ask the wind not to blow."
That managed to get an ever so slight laugh from Dooku, "Perhaps you are right. You're the one who apparently received the self control of your mother, rather than the impulsiveness of your father."
Lucina frowned at the apparent jab, but said nothing in reply to it. Dooku was just an abrasive old man. A Sith Lord as well. Of course they would not get along very well. They were polar opposites in ideology.
"Did you inform your father?" Dooku asked.
"Hm?" Lucina replied, suddenly dragged out of her thoughts by Dooku's question.
Dooku sighed, "Children and their inability to focus." He cleared his throat, "Did you inform your father about the situation involving the nightmares and visions?"
"Oh! Well, yes. I did tell him." Lucina nodded.
"And his thoughts?"
"He's worried." Lucina replied, "Rightfully so, in my opinion. If Sidious is as dangerous as both you and Ben say, then we need to be prepared for his arrival. Even if it is only a small chance that happens-"
"It is not a small chance anymore." Dooku muttered.
"Visions can be tricky, Dooku." Lucina argued back.
"But the Force eventually reveals all." Dooku reminded her, "And in this case, I feel the Force may be showing us something." He lowered his voice, "Dip into it now. Feel it."
Lucina furrowed her brow. Dooku seemed… anxious. The Sith Lord turned Deadlord was never nervous or anxious about anything. He had supreme confidence, bordering on arrogance, in his abilities with both a blade and the force. If all else failed, he had the knowledge that he could not truly die to help him through any moments of doubt. So if something worried the man, Lucina had to investigate it for herself.
She dipped her toes into the Force, expecting to feel it still in turmoil. Still tossing and rolling like mighty waves in a great storm. She thought she would see a haze through the force, nearly impenetrable to any attempt at foresight. As it had been for the better part of her time in the past.
Instead, the waters were calm. Still, like glass. Filled to the brim with the Dark Side of the Force. Something had calmed the raging storm, tamed the snarling monster within, and commanded it to rise to the surface. It made a cold sweat form on her brow. Grima himself did not leave the Force feeling like this. If anything, he sowed even more chaos into it with everything he did in the future. Making the raging storm more violent, the haze thicker, and the beast that was the Dark Side more furious. He never commanded it, but instead provoked it into a great wrath.
So who was controlling it?
"Only a Sith is capable of this." Dooku warned, "An exceptionally powerful one at that."
Lucina sucked in a breath, "H-he's close, isn't he?"
Dooku nodded, "I fear closer than we should be comfortable with."
Her heart pounded in her chest, "We need to tell my father, now!"
She took a step forward, then froze as her father rose from his throne. A hush fell over the nobles in attendance, and the music stopped. He took a deep breath, readying himself to address the crowd.
"I am sure you all are wondering why myself and the Queen are throwing such festivities tonight." Chrom began, a small, gracious smile on his lips as he played to the Nobles. Much to their delight, and to his internal chagrin, "Well, it is because we are celebrating some great news." He held out a hand to Sumia, "Sumia and I are expecting-"
The doors to the ballroom burst open. An Ylissean soldier with a terrified look on his face, and fear in his eyes, gasped as he rushed towards the thrones.
"Your majesty! Your majesty!"
Nobles started murmuring. Lucina's heart stopped beating in her chest as fear gripped her heart in a vice. Dooku tensed beside her, brow furrowing as he sank into the force, trying to decipher what the meaning of this interruption was.
"What is it?" Chrom asked, his noble smile gone and replaced with a furrowed brow. The gaze of a battle hardened commander.
The poor soldier looked like he soiled himself out of fear. WIth wide eyes, and a trembling hand, he pointed out the thrown open doors of the ballroom.
"A-an Iron Dragon! I swear to the gods, to Naga, even to Grima, milord! An iron dragon is coming down from the sky!"
Chrom's eyes widened. His gaze whipped over towards Lucina. Before she could do anything, Dooku was striding towards the doors. The Nobles all muttered, confused. Some started to laugh at the soldier's wild claims. But when they noticed their Prince unamused, their laughter died, and they began to wonder if what the soldier said was true. Dooku went silent, and stepped to the side in order to peer out a window.
"Take me to it." Chrom ordered.
Lucina jetted over to Luke. Luke was already striding towards her, Cynthia right behind him.
"What's going on?" Luke asked.
"I don't know, but-"
A loud roar filled the air within the ballroom. Nobles cried out in alarm, ducking their heads. Truly, a dragon had stumbled upon the city. Frederick cleared his throat and started ordering the guards within the ballroom to begin evacuating the Ball. Sumia remained near Frederick, but not out of choice. Chrom told her to stay put, since he was not sure what they were dealing with and wanted her to remain safe.
The rest of the Shepherds began to assist in calming the nobles and evacuating them. A few of them joined Chrom as he marched out of the palace. Lon'qu, Lissa, Kellam, Sully, and Vaike flanked the Prince. Cordelia did her best to calm down the Nobles while Henry wheeled her through the ballroom. Donnel stayed close to Maribelle as both worked to funnel the Nobles out of the palace, away from where the roar of the Iron Dragon was coming from. Anna, Gaius, and Panne defended the cakes, much to the Taguel's annoyance. Virion and Olivia joined Maribelle and Donnel, acting as calm guides out of the palace.
Lucina's face paled as the roar only grew louder. It was coming from the Palace Courtyard, near the Shepherds barracks.
"Let's go." She told Luke.
"Hey! Wait for me!" Cynthia cried. She picked up the hem of her dress and chased after the two force wielders. The rest of the children from the Future followed.
Lucina and Luke sprinted out of the palace and out to the courtyard, where they joined Chrom, Sully, Vaike, Lon'qu, Lissa, and Kellam. All of their gazes searched the night sky for any sign of an Iron Dragon. Lucina saw stars twinkling above her head. A full moon lumbered high in the night sky. But there was no-
The outline of a strange, flying object with three wings shadowed out the moon. Her eyes widened as it descended lower and lower. A bright light winked to life from it, nearly blinding her. She raised her hand, shielding her eyes. The roar from the object grew louder, drowning out everything else.
She squinted through the bright light and saw Luke's hand drift towards the lightsaber he always had on him. Chrom's hand rested on Falchion's pommel, his grip tightening, even though he was not sure what this thing was. Sully barked at both Inigo and Owain to grab all of them some swords from the barracks, and both of them rushed off to follow her order.
The roaring remained as the three winged, metal… thing finished its descent. It landed with a low groan in front of her father. Lucina pushed her way past Vaike so she could stand beside him. A strange wind whipped up around them as the bright light softened, revealing the head of the strange metal beast. A beast without eyes. Unless the strange, black colored glass counted as eyes? Or was it even glass?
What kind of dragon is this? Lucina thought as she struggled to compare it to the draconic forms of both Tiki and Nowi.
The sharp hiss rang out. Steam shot from a pair of pistons at the belly of the iron beast. A ramp started to lower, revealing a gray, lit up interior. Lucina's eyes widened. This was not a beast, and it certainly was not a dragon.
A group came down the ramp. For a split second, she could not tell who they were.
The hammering of her heart ended when she caught sight of stark white armor, perfectly polished and shined. Soldiers in white armor, with grimacing helmets, and strange, black weapons came down the ramp. At the head of them, was a… person? But he could not be a person. What person has blue skin and pupiless, red eyes. He looked human enough. He walked like a human. Had hands, feet, two ears, two eyes, and a nose. But at the same time, Lucina knew he could not be human.
"The hell?" Brady muttered, eyes wide. The cap to his flask was off, but he did not bother to take a drink.
Luke remained tense beside Lucina, his hand drifting closer and closer towards the lightsaber hidden in his robes. Chrom hand tightened around Falchion's grip. They all waited with bated breath as the group of five soldiers in white, a normal looking man in a gray uniform, and the blue skinned creature paused a few feet from them, at the base of the iron thing's ramp.
Lucina could scarcely catch her breath. Her eyes were glued to the soldiers in white. Then, the blue skinned man took another step forward, making her heart hammer in her chest again.
They're real. She thought, panic and fear filling her, Naga, they are real.
The blue skinned man paused a few feet from her father. He was taller than her father, but not by much. Maybe an inch or two. His slicked back, carefully tended to, black hair was a stark contrast to her father's more natural, blue hair. To Chrom's credit, he did not show any weakness in the face of this new creature. His face remained like stone, and his hand never left Falchion. The blue skinned man glanced at the divine weapon for a brief moment, then opened his mouth to speak.
"Greetings." He said, his voice disturbingly montone, "I am Admiral Thrawn of the Galactic Imperial Navy. May I ask who I am speaking to?"
The normal looking man leaned close to the blue man's ear, "Sir, perhaps they do not understand-"
"I understood just fine." Chrom replied, voice terse as he eyed Thrawn carefully.
Thrawn's red eyes widened ever so slightly, "Indeed, you did." The corner of his mouth twitched, hinting at a slight smile that he refused to wear, "I am glad to know that we can understand each other. That is a most fortuitous coincidence."
"I guess?" Chrom replied, suspicion thick in his voice.
"May I ask your name?" Thrawn asked once more.
Chrom kept his brow furrowed, "Prince Chrom, of House Ylisse."
Thrawn's gaze lit up, "Ah, then I guessed correctly. This is an important place on this world. Judging by the Prince title, I assume you are the ruler of this world?"
The tense exchange gained some levity when Sully snorted, "Of the world? Maybe in his head."
"Sully." Chrom hissed, warning her.
An amused look crossed Thrawn's eyes. Before he spoke again, he noticed some of the Nobles exiting the palace and gawking at him and his soldiers. He cleared his throat, and folded his hands behind his back.
"Perhaps we could move our discussion to a more private place? I'm sure it will help cause less of a stir."
Chrom followed his gaze over to the Nobles evacuating the Palace. Many stared in stunned awe at Thrawn, his vessel, and his men. Donnel gaped at the three winged thing, while Maribelle was rendered completely silent. Virion kept himself between the newcomers and Olivia, his brow furrowed as he regarded them with caution.
Chrom nodded in agreement.
"Yeah." His grip on Falchion relaxed a little, "Let's go somewhere private." He nodded for Thrawn to follow, "This way. Your men can stay here."
"Admiral?" The normal human questioned.
"You may come along, Captain." Thrawn replied, "I think the good prince is referring to the Stormtroopers." He waved a command, and the soldiers in white returned to the belly of their vessel, "Lead the way, your majesty."
Lucina stayed rooted in place as Chrom turned on his heel and walked back to the Palace. Thrawn followed, but he paused right beside her, red eyes regarding her with mild curiosity.
"You've been staring for some time. Who might you be?"
Lucina swallowed hard, "Lucina."
His expression did not change. But through the force, Lucina felt something strange emanate from him. A sense of victory, triumph, as if the knowledge of who she was fulfilled him in some way.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Primitive.
Far more primitive than even Thrawn could have anticipated. Especially since these people managed to destroy a probe droid.
A Republic Probe droid, even the old models, were always capable of self defense. They all had at least one blaster to fend off any threats or impediments to their assigned mission. Usually, Probe Droids were heavily armored as well, so they could withstand the impact they sustained upon landing on a planetary surface. The weapons these humans possessed, on this planet, could not penetrate that armor. Not unless they were made of an extremely durable, strong, sharp alloy.
So how did they destroy the Probe droid? He wondered as he followed this location's ruler, Prince Chrom, towards what he assumed to be a study within what appeared to be a palace.
While definitely a primitive society, judging by the lack of anything remotely industrious (there weren't even basic electrical lights, or even kerosene lamps), he had to admire one thing about this little civilization hidden in the deep core of the galaxy.
They were exquisite craftsmen. One could easily call them artists. The blade he saw on Prince Chrom's hip was unlike any he had ever seen before. It lacked any sort of traditional form, especially when it came to a guard. He wondered if it was, perhaps, a ceremonial weapon of sorts. But judging by how quickly the Prince's hand drifted to it upon his arrival, he doubted it was merely ceremonial.
The weapons they sported weren't the only things he found to be quite beautiful by design. The rest of the palace was a sight to behold. It was not as grand, or massive, as some of the other palaces he had seen in the Galaxy. It certainly did not rival the elegance or pomp of the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. By most metrics, it was far from spectacular.
However, it did not need such displays of grandeur. It was fancy enough, but also incredibly welcoming. A building that did wonders to display the skill of its people, while at the same time embracing newcomers with open arms. Wonderfully designed, in Thrawn's opinion. It spoke much about the values of the people that lived here. From the design of the palace: the soft tones of the paint, the gentle curves in the columns, the rounded edges of the windows along the corridor he strode through, and the focus on their history through tapestries instead of on any overt displays of power, he could tell these were peaceful people. They desired tranquility, craved it even.
But… He glanced at the heavily armored guards that flanked Prince Chrom. His red eyes flicked to the swords on their hips, and the lances in the grip of various guards wandering the halls of the palace, They are not afraid of combat.
A peculiar dichotomy, but not one he necessarily disagreed with. Many civilizations in the galaxy believed in one of two philosophies: War and domination, or peace and cooperation. Galactic worlds, especially before the rise of the Empire, often revolved around one or the other.
The Mandalorians, for example, until the Empire brought them to heel, were a warlike race that thrived on conquest and domination. Their entire culture was built around it. The very thought of peace with others sparked outrage among the common folk of that world. It made them a powerful warrior race. But it also created their greatest flaw: the inability to know when to quit. To know when they were beaten.
The Naboo, were on the other end of that spectrum. A Human civilization with enduring peaceful intentions. For the majority of their history, with the exception of the Gungans, they lacked any formal military. Only a small security force resided on the planet. While admirable, and a recipe for mild peace and quiet, it also made them easy targets. Queen Amidala and her advisors found that out the hard way when the Trade Federation came knocking on their door.
This civilization of humans believed in both. Peace, but strength. Perhaps even peace through strength. The prospering city surrounding the royal palace was a sign of strong leadership. It made him grow some respect for Prince Chrom. Even if this was a primitive people, without knowledge of even the most basic of steam engines, they were not primitive in their culture or their morals. It made the gap between the Empire, and them, possible to bridge.
If all goes well, Lord Vader will never have to set foot here.
Thrawn hoped the Fist of the Emperor would never have to come down here. Lord Vader was not meant for peaceful negotiations. Now, he could be wrong, but he doubted it. Thrawn was hardly ever wrong when he assessed an individual. He had been around Lord Vader enough in the past three years to have a pretty firm grasp on who he was, and how he would interact with these people. He would be cold, firm, blunt- perhaps too blunt. He was a hammer that someone brought to the negotiating table when they did not plan on striking a compromise. The brute force, the trump card, the player that flipped the table over and punched the opponent until they couldn't put up anymore resistance. He was not suited for delicate first contact work. Even less suited due to the main objective.
He glanced at the woman trailing behind him and Vanto. Lucina looked at him with intense caution, bordering on fear. Other than when his shuttle touched down in the Palace courtyard, scaring all of the natives in the process, she was the only one who showed any fear afterwards. Odd too, considering that the others guiding him towards the Prince's study did not seem afraid. Rather, they were wary and curious.
A guard opened a solid, wood door at the end of a hallway, allowing the Prince, his small retinue, Thrawn, and Vanto to enter. Thrawn quickly took notice of everything in the study.
It was certainly a monarch's office. A grand tapestry hung from the one wall without windows, depicting the life of a woman with blonde hair and a serene expression. Perhaps the founder of this nation? Or maybe someone of even greater importance? If she was the founder, then she would have been on display for the entire palace to see, not just in the Prince's study. No, the woman depicted in the tapestry had deep personal meaning to the Prince. He noticed the strange mark on her forehead, then noticed that same mark on the Prince's shoulder as the monarch unbuttoned, then shrugged off his formal coat and set it over the back of his chair.
A relative? Perhaps a parent or a sibling?
Another thing he quickly gleaned: this Prince did not give a damn about formality. If he did, that coat would have stayed on. He would have remained stiff, but courteous. As soon as the study doors closed, and it was only himself, his retinue, Thrawn, and Vanto, his entire demeanor shifted to a more relaxed posture. He still appeared wary, and rightfully so. Thrawn did just descend from the sky in a machine no one on this planet had ever seen before. But he no longer looked uncomfortable or tense.
There was a large bookshelf in the study, and for a second, Thrawn guessed the Prince to be a man of learning as well. But the spines were not cracked, which told Thrawn that perhaps the Prince was not as much an intellectual as he initially thought. Finally, the large window behind the chair and desk, looking out to the city he ruled over. A fabulous view fit for a king. The fact that Prince Chrom placed such emphasis on that window, dominating the room, told Chrom that he cared deeply for the success of those he ruled over. He was a good ruler, and likely a good man.
Perhaps negotiations are going to go much smoother than expected?
A heavy sigh escaped Prince Chrom's lips, "So… your name is Thrawn?"
"Admiral Thrawn." Captain Vanto quickly corrected, only to be silenced by a sharp glare from his commanding officer.
"It is, your majesty." Thrawn replied, tone as even as if he were speaking to one of his soldiers. He made a show about glancing around the room, "I must say, this is a lovely study."
That earned him a slight smirk, "It's not really mine." Chrom stated, catching Thrawn off guard, "I use it now, but I've never been the kind of person to sit behind a desk and do work. This was my… close advisor's study at one point. He's gone now though."
Much more of a soldier than ruler then? Thrawn observed as the Prince remained standing, his hand never drifting too far away from the sword at his hip.
Chrom cleared his throat, "Right, I always forget my formalities. Frederick loves to remind me about those." He nodded to the taller, broader man near the door, "That is Frederick, Knight Commander of Ylisse." Thrawn gave the man a nod, "These are a few of his subordinates: Sully, Kellam, Lon'qu, and Vaike." The Prince then gestured to the young, blonde woman standing near him, "This is my younger sister, Lissa."
"H-hi?" Lissa replied, giving Thrawn and Vanto a nervous wave of her hand.
Chrom opened his mouth again, only for the doors to the study to burst open. A woman in a wheeled chair was shoved in by a man in purple and gold robes. A bright smile was on the young man's lips despite the apparent tension within the study. Trailing just behind those two, was a woman wearing a regal gown fit for a queen. She carried herself tall and proud, calmly striding by everyone else towards the Prince.
"And…" Chrom uttered a reluctant sigh, "This is my wife, Sumia."
Oh? Thrawn now understood that hesitant sigh. The Prince did not want someone so close to him in this room.
"And you've already introduced yourself to Lucina."
Thrawn glanced over his shoulder at the anxious, blue haired woman. His objective in this mission was mere feet behind him. All he had to do was calmly negotiate a way to come with him to Coruscant. It shouldn't be too difficult. She was clearly someone of importance in this land, otherwise she would not be in the Prince's study at this moment.
"Now then," Chrom cleared his throat, "Where um… where do we go from here?"
Vanto pursed his lips, "That's actually a good question. Admiral?"
Thrawn nodded, "Normally, there are certain protocols that must be followed when a vessel of the Imperial Navy makes first contact with a new civilization. However, that first contact is normally not with people, and I mean this with no offense, as primitive as you are."
"Primitive?" Vaike said, a little puzzled.
"He's calling ya dumb, shit for brains." Sully muttered, "One of them cave folks from waaaay back in the day. Har! Maybe I should call you a Knuckle Dragger. You might've fit in well with them."
The people in the room chuckled at Sully's jest. Vanto even joined in the laughter, albeit more quietly. Thrawn allowed an amused expression to cross his lips, but he kept his attention focused on the task at hand.
"Due to the nature of your civilization, I'm going to disregard the usual protocols in favor of gathering as much information as possible. The more information I have, the more easily we can build a cooperative relationship."
Chrom furrowed his brow at that. He remained standing, never even moving to pull the chair out from his desk.
"In my experience, empires are not very cooperative." He explained, "I've already fought one, and beaten them, in a war. A recent one at that. So forgive my hesitance to believe you in this instance."
Thrawn inclined his chin. Another Empire existed at one point on this planet. Which meant this world was fractured between different civilizations. Civilizations that were actively hostile to each other too. No better than a bunch of warlords and clans running about the planet. No wonder the Prince and his people valued strength of arms as much as their desire for peace. They needed to be militarily capable of defending themselves and striking back against any manner of enemy.
It will also make any sort of peaceful takeover of the planet borderline impossible. Thrawn thought. After all, different rulers, different civilizations, had different cultures. They had different laws, different priorities, different values. All of which would be difficult to properly balance.
One thing at a time. He reminded himself, We must complete the objective first.
"I completely understand, your majesty." Thrawn replied, "War tends to leave unseen scars, and it can make us hesitant to engage with anyone similar to their previous enemy. But I can assure you, the Galactic Empire is not a warmaking Empire. In fact, its founding ended a years long civil war, and brought stability and peace back to the galaxy."
"Did it?" Chrom replied, skeptical. He glanced at Sumia, who gave him a small shrug, "I'm sure you want to negotiate some sort of… treaty?"
Thrawn nodded, "That would be ideal, yes."
"Well," Chrom took a breath, "I would like to do so as well, but I will not without one of my chief advisors present. He is currently away on a diplomatic mission, but should return soon."
"Oh, right!" Lissa chirped, "Ben had to go talk to those Dark Mages."
Dark Mages? Thrawn thought, his brow raising slightly.
"Heh, gotta wait for General Kenobi to come help out, eh Chrom?" Vaike teased. Thrawn's entire body stiffened, "Maybe you should ask him to teach ya a thing or two? Or better yet, Teach himself could teach ya a thing or two about talking."
"Negotiating is different than talking." Sully pointed out as she jabbed Vaike's shoulder.
"Teach knows that!"
General Kenobi? Thrawn thought.
One glance at Vanto, and he noticed that his aide was thinking the same thing. It should not be possible for there to be a General Kenobi on this planet. Unless this world had a familial line called Kenobi (which would be a remarkable and impossible coincidence with odds that even a protocol droid could not calculate), then the Prince was referring to THE General Kenobi. The one supposedly killed during the latter days of the Republic, when the Jedi Order was purged by then Chancellor Palpatine.
"So, I appreciate the offer to begin discussions." Chrom stated, not missing a beat despite his friends comments, "but I'm going to wait until I can get a second, reliable perspective on this. Besides, I barely know you." Chrom pushed away from the desk and stepped around it, "I hope that maybe you could stay a day or two, so that we can get to know each other a little better."
The Prince held out a hand to the Chiss Admiral. Thrawn glanced at it, then took it, giving the Prince a firm handshake.
"It would be a pleasure, your majesty." Thrawn said with a small nod.
"Great." Chrom nodded back, "Frederick, see the Admiral to the guest quarters. And try your best to give him a room away from Maribelle."
"Of course, milord." Frederick nodded, opening the door to the study for Thrawn and Vanto. As the pair exited with Frederick, Thrawn could feel Lucina's stare never leaving him.
She suspects something.
Chrom walked with them for a few paces, "It is late. In the morning, we can talk more. For now, um… enjoy Ylisstol. I'll send a messenger for you to let you know when breakfast is ready in the morning."
"That would be appreciated, your majesty." Thrawn blinked, "What of my soldiers?"
Chrom hesitated, "Cordelia?"
"Yes?" The woman in the wheelchair replied.
"How much room is there in the old barracks?"
"The Shepherds' barracks?" Cordelia replied, "There's… a few bunks available. More than enough for the Admiral's men to sleep in."
"Then they can stay there. Sully and Vaike can show them where that is."
"We can?" Sully replied, one eyebrow raised.
"We can!" Vaike declared, marching away with Sully trailing behind him.
Thrawn gave them all a small, grateful smile, "Thank you very much. Myself and my men are grateful."
Chrom nodded, "Well, enjoy your evening, Admiral. I have some work to get done now, so we will talk in the morning."
"You as well, your majesty." Thrawn said with a bow. Vanto mimicked him.
Without another word, the Admiral and his aide followed Frederick away from the Study. As they walked, Thrawn took in more of the palace, occasionally taking a long glance at a painting or tapestry that caught his artistic eye.
After a few moments, a flight of stairs, and a stroll down a long corridor, Frederick directed them towards a room with a pair of small beds in it.
"Unfortunately, this is the best we can do. Duchess Maribelle of Themis is also in town at the moment, and she is a close personal friend of the Royal Family. She has the main guest suite." Frederick explained, his expression neutral, eyes wary, and voice tense.
Thrawn nodded, "Not to worry. The hospitality alone is appreciated."
Frederick nodded, "If you need anything, there is usually a guard at the end of the corridor. Privy is also at the end of the hall."
Vanto blinked, "Pr-privy?"
"Thank you, Sir Frederick, I assume?" Thrawn guessed. The broad shouldered man nodded, "We will not need any more assistance. It has been a long day, and we are looking forward to some rest."
"Likewise." Frederick nodded in agreement, "Have a goodnight, Admiral."
The door shut, leaving Thrawn and Vanto alone in the guests' quarters. A quaint space. Neutrally decorated to match the rest of the palace. A small, green banner with the same symbol he saw tattooed on to the Prince's shoulder rested over the door. There was a small balcony on the other side of a windowed doorway. The two small beds were on opposing sides of the room, giving the two occupants their own space.
"It's not bad." Vanto mumbled, "What exactly is a privy though?"
"The lavatory, Captain."
Vanto blanched, "O-oh- um... I'm guessing plumbing is-"
"This palace certainly has plumbing, otherwise it would not be so clean." Thrawn corrected Vanto before he could finish his statement, "It is just not very advanced. I suggest washing your hands thoroughly."
"Noted." Vanto nodded, a weak grin on his lips. He sighed and folded his arms. His fingers tapped against his sleeves, "So, this is interesting."
"You noticed, didn't you?" Thrawn quickly brought up, keeping his voice low in case there was any way for anyone to listen in on their conversation.
Vanto's eyes shifted back and forth. He was keeping a wary eye out for any listening devices as well. Good, Thrawn had taught him well so far.
"I did. It's been a long time since I heard that name. Used to hear it all the time in Republic Propaganda during the Clone Wars." Vanto furrowed his brow as Thrawn moved towards the balcony door, "You don't think they're the same person, do you?"
"Unless this planet also has a Kenobi family here, which I very much doubt, then that is certainly a possibility."
"How?" Vanto asked, "Obi Wan Kenobi was reported killed in action on Utapau."
"Did they ever find a body?" Thrawn asked.
Vanto furrowed his brow, "I-I'm not sure." He reached for the small, portable datapad he kept on his person, "I'll conduct some quick research."
"Good." Thrawn nodded, "If this is the same Kenobi as the Jedi General, then we may have hit an unforeseen snag in our mission."
Vanto was quiet a moment as he picked up on what Thrawn was worried about.
"A Jedi is going to attract Lord Vader's attention, isn't it?"
Thrawn gave Vanto a grim nod before returning his attention to the balcony window, "It will. And unfortunately, I must report the possibility to him."
Vanto paled, "C-can't we just… fudge the report for now? We want this to remain peaceful, right?"
"Do you want to test Lord Vader's wrath? Remember, he may be joining us on this mission, but his primary mission for the Emperor has always been the eradication of any surviving Jedi. If Obi Wan Kenobi is here, then that is a Jedi Lord Vader cannot ignore. Kenobi was a member of the Jedi High Council, after all."
Vanto furrowed his brow as Thrawn brought a hand to his chin.
"You're worried now, Admiral?" Vanto observed.
"Very." Thrawn muttered, "Because now, we're stuck. No matter what, Vader will want to investigate this personally. If his personality is any indicator, the investigation might end in a bloodbath."
"So… our offer of negotiations and a treaty is-"
"Now a farce, yes." Thrawn finished for Vanto. The disgruntled Chiss reached for his comm link and clicked in on, "Now, all we can do is buy what little time we can to remedy this situation and maybe achieve the objective before violence occurs."
"Isn't there a possibility that Lord Vader restrains himself for the sake of the mission?" Vanto asked.
"When it comes to hunting Jedi, I'm not sure." Thrawn replied, "That uncertainty worries me." He brought the comm to his lips, "Chimaera, this is Admiral Thrawn, do you read?"
Static at first. Then the thunderous baritone of Lord Vader replied.
"Have you located the target, Admiral?"
Thrawn sighed. Such single minded focus was both a blessing and curse. In this instance, a blessing for Vader, and an annoying curse for him.
"I have." Thrawn replied.
"Is she apprehended?"
Thrawn exhaled, "Not yet."
"Why not?"
Thrawn clenched his jaw. Rare conundrums like this caused him great annoyance. There were not many right moves to take from here. He wanted to avoid violence if at all possible. Decimating this civilization with brute force would be an exceptional waste of firepower and lives. But he did not want to risk Lord Vader's wrath. He already pushed his luck far enough in that regard. If he were to go against the Emperor's directive to eliminate any Jedi upon discovery, that would give Vader all the excuse he needed to eliminate him in turn.
There was only one route forward.
"There is a complication."
"I do not deal in complications, Admiral. Neither does the Emperor." Vader growled back, "Are you incapable of accomplishing the task at hand?"
Thrawn grit his teeth, "I am. However… we have a possible Jedi here."
Vader went dead silent. Thrawn furrowed his brow after a couple moments as he wondered if he might have lost connection with the Chimaera.
"Have you identified the Jedi?"
Thrawn took a deep breath, "In person, no. But we have a name." He took one more breath. No turning back now, "The locals call him General Kenobi."
The silence from Vader was deafening. Thrawn again, wondered if he lost connection.
"I am on my way."
Wh-what!?
"Lord Vader?" Thrawn asked, voice even, "These people could be mistaken. It could be that-"
"Obi Wan Kenobi was never confirmed killed on Utapau." Lord Vader growled, "We thought he was eliminated later during the purge, but his body has never been recovered. Which means any report of his survival is to be treated as true. I will be on the planet's surface in the next hour. I expect to speak with you, and whoever you contacted, immediately."
The comm on the other end of the connection clicked off, telling Thrawn the conversation was over. Thrawn uttered a heavy sigh. He clipped the commlink back to his belt.
"Vanto, you might want to go tell that guard that I need to speak with the Prince urgently."
"What should I say, sir?" Vanto asked.
Thrawn looked up at the night sky from the balcony window. He folded his hands behind his back. The first steps have been taken. He hoped Lord Vader would wait for concrete confirmation regarding the possible Jedi. He should not have gotten his hopes up.
"Tell him Lord Vader is on his way to talk."
And pray that he keeps himself restrained.
It was a name that made Darth Vader's heart nearly stop beating his chest. When it started again, it beat faster than ever before as rage pulsed through his veins. Sheer hatred burned hot within him as the name Thrawn said echoed in his mind.
General Kenobi… Obi Wan Kenobi… Master…
All of those feelings, all of those stirrings in the Force that he felt throughout this long journey to this planet, were not misplaced. The Dark Side revealed the truth to him long ago, he just refused to believe it. Obi Wan Kenobi was alive, and hiding here; on an unknown planet in the Deep Core of the galaxy. Vader could scarcely believe it, but he knew it was true.
His powerful, cybernetic legs carried him off of the turbolift as soon as the door opened to the hangar bay. A platoon of stormtroopers, the 501st's finest, waited for him next to a second Lambda class shuttle. They were not there to act as guards on the planet's surface. Lord Vader did not need guards. He needed soldiers to help him exterminate the Jedi, and any who sheltered him.
This was the vanguard, which he would lead personally. More landing shuttles were being fueled as he marched past the platoon and up into the belly of his shuttle. Within a few hours, more soldiers would be ready to storm the planet, if needed. Lord Vader would assess the necessity of further action once he landed.
Kenobi…
He strode to the cockpit of the shuttle and folded his arms. After all these years, his old master, the man who betrayed him, who nearly killed him, who turned Padme away from him, was within his grasp. Vader long feared that he would never have the opportunity to kill the damned Jedi Master personally. Initial official reports during Order 66 always said that Jedi General Obi Wan Kenobi had been killed during the Battle of Utapau by his soldiers in the 212th Attack Battalion. When no body was recovered, it was immediately assumed by those in the know that Kenobi survived.
In reality, Kenobi was killed attempting to kidnap Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan and his newborn daughter, Leia. Blasted to smithereens as he tried to flee the Imperial navy via an escape pod from Senator Organa's corvette. Of course there would be no body to recover then, it was supposed to be vaporized. The entire situation was kept very quiet, in order to save the reputation of Senator Organa, who had become a staunch supporter of Emperor Palpatine in the Senate. Lord Vader learned of it only when his Master told him personally.
So, how was it possible for Kenobi to be alive? Was he, perhaps, acting prematurely?
No, the Force did not lie. His instincts did not lie. The Dark Side whispered to him throughout this voyage, telling him that his greatest foe, his greatest prize, lay at the end of it. Obi Wan Kenobi was alive.
I will destroy him.
Vader's shuttle lifted off. The foils unfolded as it exited the hanger, and it jetted down to the planet's surface, following Thrawn's signal to a lone city. A city Thrawn managed to message the name of.
Ylisstol.
And chapter! Thrawn has arrived and met Chrom! A pretty tame meeting all things considered. But now, Vader is coming down, all because of Kenobi's name being dropped. Things are gonna get bad, fast. And I'm going to have fun writing it! Not much else to say about this chapter, really. We're moving at a pretty fast pace now towards a big showdown. Hope you all are ready for it!
Anyways, let me know what you guys think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have a nice day, and stay safe out there!
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