Chapter 3:

Nezuko was tired of walking but she continued on anyways. All of a sudden she came to the end of the fields and saw a beautiful palace sitting on the edge of a cliff, with a roaring waterfall cascading down into the river below. As Nezuko gaped at the sight of the palace, she was struck by its sheer beauty and splendor. The intricate carvings and ornate details of the palace's façade spoke of a culture that valued both beauty and sophistication. The palace's expansive courtyards were filled with lush gardens and sparkling fountains, while the interior was adorned with rare works of art and exquisite furnishings. Nezuko was overwhelmed by the majesty of it all, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for the people who had built such a magnificent structure. As she gazed upon the palace, she knew that she had stumbled upon a true masterpiece of architecture, and she felt deeply honored to be in its presence.

Suddenly she heard a voice. A very loud and angry voice. Turning in fear she saw a man running towards her. In his hand was an odd contraption. Sleek and black with many strangely shaped tubes. Terrified, Nezuko turned abruptly and without hesitation, fled, with the intention of preserving her life at all costs. The intense rush of adrenaline pumping through her veins was the only thing that kept her going as she ran, her heart racing with each step. The overwhelming feeling of terror continued to consume her as she struggled to put distance between herself and whatever threat she was facing. The sound of her own labored breaths and pounding footsteps were the only sounds that filled the air as she sprinted away, desperate to find safety and refuge from the danger that pursued her.

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the air, catching Nezuko's attention. Abruptly halting her footsteps, she could not help but turn around to investigate the source of the voice. To her surprise, an elegant young woman was fervently shouting, clearly angry and agitated, at the man who was chasing her. Nezuko watched intently, captivated by the unfolding scene before her.

As Nezuko watched the young woman shouting with such fierce determination and resolve, she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions welling up within her. Though she did not know the woman personally, the intensity of her protection for herself sparked fragmented memories of her beloved brother, who had risked everything to protect her from the Hashira when they had wanted to kill her. The memories of her brother's love and his final sacrifice flooded her mind, overwhelming her with a sense of gratitude and admiration. A lump formed in her throat, and tears welled up in her eyes as she recalled the selflessness and bravery of her brother. Despite the danger and risks involved, he had always been there to protect her, and seeing the young woman exhibit such similar qualities of unwavering loyalty and courage stirred up an array of feelings in Nezuko. She felt both grateful for the protection she had received and saddened by the painful memories that it brought up. Nevertheless, the scene before her filled her with a sense of hope, and she watched with bated breath as events continued to unfold, eager to see how the situation would resolve itself.

Nezuko was once more lost in her thoughts, still feeling the overwhelming emotions from the memories of her brother's protection. As she stood there, she was caught off guard when she suddenly realized that the young woman had made her way over to her. With a kind and warm smile, the woman extended her hand out to Nezuko in a friendly gesture. Initially hesitant, Nezuko couldn't help but be drawn in by the woman's inviting demeanor, and slowly reached out her own hand to meet hers. As her fingers intertwined with the stranger's, Nezuko looked up and met the woman's gaze, and for a moment, saw her brother's kind and gentle nature reflected back at her. The familiarity of the woman's smile and the warmth of her hand gave Nezuko a sense of comfort, as if her brother was still watching over her and protecting her in some way. Tears began to well up in her eyes once again as she longed for her brother's presence. Yet she couldn't help but feel grateful for the kindness and compassion the young woman was showing her, and for the reminder of her brother's love and protection.

"Hello there, I am Padme, Queen of Naboo,"

The woman introduced herself to Nezuko, who nodded in response, unable to speak. Sensing how awkward the situation was, Padme smiled, asking for Nezuko's name. At this, Nezuko froze, realizing she had not communicated with anyone besides her brother and his friends for a long time. As she scanned her surroundings in a panic, her eyes caught sight of a stick lying on the ground nearby. A look of uncertainty crossed her face as she considered the possibility of using a stick as a writing utensil. With a shrug, she figured it was better than nothing, and picked it up, ready to use it as her makeshift writing tool. As she poised the stick over a nearby patch of dirt, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself, imagining the absurdity of her current situation. With a grin on her face, feeling surprisingly content with her new stick-pen, she picked it up and slowly wrote her name in neat kanji. The woman, Padme, examined the kanji with a confused expression, her brows scrunched up, just like Tanjiro's did when he was confused.

Finally, Padme sighed and said,

"I'm sorry but it appears that I can not read this writing."

Devastated, Nezuko could feel herself deflate until she was practically a flat, Nezuko-shaped, pancake on the ground. Padme laughed, not unkindly, and gave Nezuko another one of those smiles.

" Perhaps the Royal Translator will be able to read your writing! Come now, lets go find him!" She said brightly.

Nezuko immediately was revived and popped back to life. Nodding her head enthusiastically, she allowed Padme to, once more, take her by the hand and lead her into the palace.

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MEANWHILE ON HOTH…

Kodo Donnal, a solitary old man who lived ALONE on Hoth. He was on his usual daily routine when he heard an explosion nearby. Turning his tauntaun in the direction of the sound, his heart raced with a mix of fear and curiosity. Had the Republic finally found him? He had heard strange noises and sightings on Hoth before, but this was different. The explosion was deafening and felt like it had shaken the very earth beneath him. He rode through the snow and ice, his breaths visible in the frigid air, until he reached the site of the blast. As he dismounted from his tauntaun and approached the massive crater with burnt streaks emanating from the center, he felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Something was wrong, very wrong.

But it was not the crater that shocked him the most. As he looked towards the center of the crater, his eyes fell on a boy who was curled up into a fetal position. He had dark hair that slowly grew more reddish towards the tips, and he wore a strange green and black checkered robe of sorts. An odd-looking sword was strapped to his waist, and Kodo couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over him. Who was this boy, and how had he survived the explosion? Was he dangerous? Was he even alive?

Kodo took a step closer, his hand resting nervously on the hilt of his blaster. The boy remained motionless, and Kodo could see no sign of life. His heart raced as he considered the possibility of danger, wondering if he should turn back and alert the authorities or take matters into his own hands. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something terrible, yet incredible, was about to happen. As he stood there in the icy wasteland, staring down at the boy, he knew that whatever was about to unfold would be something that he would never forget.

As Kodo slowly approached the boy, his hand outstretched towards the checkered fabric of his robe, a knot formed in his stomach. He knew he was taking a risk by getting so close to a stranger in such an unfamiliar place, but something about the boy's presence had drawn him in. He needed to know more.

Fearfully, Kodo's hand quivered as he lightly touched the fabric of the boy's robe, as if he was afraid he might trigger another explosion. As his hand made contact with the fabric, he felt a sudden rush of heat, his heart began to race. And the boy woke up.

A/N.

Well that took a while. Thank you to all of you who have left reviews and have been working with me so far! It really encourages me to see what you all think!

I'll try to update every Saturday but you know, life happens. So sometimes I may be a bit late. ORRRR even a bit... early? Who knows. But yeah. That is it for now, ENJOY.