Summery : Five years after Mustafar, Darth Vader is but a shadow of the powerful Sith Lord he should be. To the point where the emperor must use the apprentice bond to force Vader to act. But why?

Chalk it up to two undaunted women who will not let even death stop them from saving the soul of the man they both loved.

Based on StarWarrior72's "The strength to do for his child"

Force-Speech

*Thoughts*

Disclaimer - I neither own copyright or receive money for anything. I write to improve my ability and for enjoyment.

We all need something to fight for:

Chapter 5 : Little Princess, Born Fighter

Leia had always known deep down that she was adopted. That she had a twin brother who was being raised somewhere else. She didn't know his name, but that was okay. She just called him 'little big brother' or BB for short. Never out loud of course. Her mom had warned her about that. She had to be careful, for Daddy Bail and Mommy Breha were always being watched by that mean emperor. He was looking for any excuse to get Daddy Bail in trouble. Leia was quick to catch on to the political landscape that was the Empire. Mom had been pleased by this as she had been active in life as a senator.

Leia liked when Mom was pleased by something she did. She was often so sad, and would repeat the phrase 'Still good in him', to Leia like a mantra. It took a while for Leia to figure it out. It wasn't till she saw a hologanda announcement of Darth Vader's latest victory that she could. Bail walked in at the end of it to find his daughter in tears but her face red with fury.

"Turn that off! That is nothing for a young lady to watch, now or ever," he told her firmly. Leia did as she was told then confronted her father about it.

"He's just a meany and a bully!" she yelled. "Exactly, which is why you must promise me never to let him see you, Leia,"Bail pleaded with her. "NO! I'm going to tell him what a big meany he is!" the little girl yelled and swept out to the garden to talk with her mom. "Why didn't you tell me he was a bully, Mom?" she asked when she had made sure she was alone. Her mom sat down next to her and sighed. Because he wasn't always like that Leia. He doesn't have anything to care about anymore. What you saw was the Emperor trying to make him look far more nasty then he really is, yet.

Leia had her first argument with her 'BB' that day. He was hurt that his lil' sis couldn't understand Vader, and they did not speak again for several days. But 'BB' would not let it rest. He wanted Leia to see Vader as he did. It was Mom who finally suggested that 'BB' let her go along with him to his nightly dream visit with Vader. Before Bail took you home to Alderaan, two of the last Jedi used the Force to shield you so that your presence would be hidden from the Emperor. They couldn't cut your connection to your brother though, because they couldn't see it. So go with your brother tonight as he can shield both of you from the Emperor while I watch. Vader doesn't even realize your brother is real.

Leia didn't like it. Why would her 'BB' like Vader? She promised though and that night let herself into the dream visit her brother had. She was in a pretty meadow with a young boy her own age. He had blonde hair and blue eyes that sparkled with happiness. She heard a raspy breathing and turned to see the black menace called Vader fade into view. But the little boy wasn't frightened at all. He had to be her 'BB' because he loved everyone. Indeed he was running at full speed towards Vader, who to Leia's surprise held his arms out to the boy. 'BB' crashed into him with a gleeful shout of "Daddy!"

Startled, Leia woke up with a gasp. Yet a gentle presence soothed her and calmed her. She soon fell back asleep and picked up the dream where it left off. She stared in disbelief at the mad sight. The galactic butcher cradling her 'BB' to him like he was the most precious thing in existence. Even as she watched, Vader seemed to change, becoming human. A man that bore a remarkable resemblance to her 'BB'. His hair was a darker gold and he had a long scar that stretched from above his eyebrow to below the right eye. Yet his eyes were blue, although shadowed and haunted. They seemed to be sunken deep in his head with dark bags under each. Leia realized that he really was suffering.

"Luke," the man said out loud. He had a nice voice, Leia decided. "You must be more careful, son. The emperor just finished with my 'punishment'. Luke looked up at his dad and frowned. "That's why I hadda come Daddy! I don't like the 'bad man', he's always being nasty to you." Vader gave a ghost of a chuckle. "Well, it's not like I care one way or another, youngling. The only reason I'm still alive is because you're here. Maybe one of these days I'll finally wake up and realize it's a dream, but until then.."

Leia couldn't stand anymore and woke up for good then. 'BB' had warned her that Vader didn't even believe in the visits, that his life was so unbearable that he wanted to be a coward for once. Somehow, Leia didn't believe that. And as she went to the gardens she came up with her own conclusions. Vader didn't want to believe that it was real because then it could be taken from him again. She sensed that it was that reason that he'd become like he was. But if Vader was 'BB's, wait, Luke's father, then that meant that he was also her father.

Was she a monster then? No, and neither was her father. She knew that now. Just angry and hurt. And she'd help him fight it. That was what she was good at!