Fate, So Beautifully

A Star Wars Romance

Written by: Nehru_Amidala

Inspirations: the myth of Hades and Persephone, Sailor Moon, Edward Scissorhands, The Nutcracker, The Thrawn Trilogy, Neil Gaiman's Stardust, Downton Abbey

Pairings: Thrawn/Jaina (Main!), Luke/Mara, Han/Leia, Jacen/Tenel Ka, Anakin/Tahiri, Ar'alani/Paelleon, Eli/Vah'nya, established Kallus/Zeb

Tropes used in this story and trigger warnings: time travel, true love conquers all, earning a happy ending, grey vs gray morality, miscarriage, premature birth, abandonment, redemption, rising to meet your fate, to see with eyes unclouded

Timeline: Mix of Legends and Canon

Voice cast list: Thrawn- Benedict Cumberbatch, Jaina- Anne Hathaway, Aleksandr Kallus- Sean Bean, Lando Calrissian- Billy Dee Williams, Hera Syndulla- Vanessa Marshall, Dai Bendu- Tom Baker, Yiv the Benevolent/SkekTek Alan Rickman

Author's notes: The next story arc contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the films Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, as well as The Dark Crystal.

(The Legend of the Wind- Joe Hisaishi)

Stave 21: All Roads lead back to Atollon, Part 2

The sudden jolt of purgrill ensnaring the Defender and the Ghost frightened both crews, and it was now that Thrawn realized that the Bendu's prophecy was finally coming to fruition. Letting his guard down, he frantically grabbed Jaina's hand, and kissed her fiercely. Jaina melted into the kiss, and suddenly the lights gave way to the psychedelic colors of hyperspace. Jaina dropped her shielding, she was going to need to use the Force for whatever was coming ahead. For the first time in their relationship, Jaina could see the fear and dread cross her fiancée's face. She had heard him and Grandfather speak of the Dai Bendu in hushed tones in meetings before, and she knew Uncle Luke had been an avid reader of the ancient order that had preceded the Old Jedi Order. "Thrawn, I'm still here," she told him. Her words reached him, but he needed to come back to her. She squeezed his hand, and when that didn't work, she sent him a steamy Force image of herself as a pin-up girl. That snapped him out of it!

"Jaina! What?"

"Welcome back!"

Thrawn was able to refocus, part of being a Chiss military leader meant remaining stoic in the most difficult situations, this led to clear thinking and quicker use of critical thinking skills, both of which were in short supply within the higher ranks of the Imperial Navy. However, how many of them had to deal with the Damocles's triangle of an existential threat hanging over your head? Even after he and Bridger had limped back to Known Space, and more or less parting on neutral gorunds, Thrawn had feared Jaina would be taken away, this whole thing was nothing more than the galaxy using him as toy, some cruel joke. Thankfully, as time passed, this had been proven this was not the case. He had given Jaina Solo his heart and soul, and in return, she had given him hers, and so much more. He would kill the Dai Bendu if push came to shove.

Jaina held his hand, and it was about now the crystal they had found began to glow, it illuminated the dark cockpit. Jaina held it in her hands, as it levitated and glowed brightly, switching from deep lavender to nearly white, a slight blue tinge to it. Thrawn and Jaina watched it, something in the Force was drawing them all back to Atollon. Jaina asked what would happen when they reached Atollon. For the first time in his life, Thrawn did not have a plan. "I…I do not have a plan," he confessed. Jaina squeezed his hands and assured him it would turn out all right. They had to keep their wits and create a temporary cease and join forces with the Specters until they could figure out what was going on.

It was about now that the purrgill finished the jump out of hyperspace, and so suddenly, everyone had to brace for impact. Thrawn pulled Jaina close, as they buckled up. Both ships bounced around the atmosphere, before skidding to a hot landing on opposite sides of what remained of Chopper Base. Thrawn and Jaina had passed out, and there was something ringing at the back of Jaina's mind as she woke- how her head ached! Her ears were ringing, and she felt dizzy upon standing up. Groping for her lightsaber, she called out, "Thrawn? Thawn?" Turning around and to her horror, her beloved was gone. He wasn't gone, he had been taken. The Bendu had kidnapped him, her heart's half, for whatever retribution to be doled out for a long-ago battle.

She would not let that happen; she would not let that happen. Like her mother and grandmother before her, she would trust in the Force and dive into the belly of the beast and free the great love of her life. Uncle Luke, Aunt Mara, Mom and Dad, please forgive me for what I am about to do. I know you still hate Thrawn for the awful hell he put our family through…but I have given him my heart…and he has given me his. I have learned so much, I have felt the call of the Force. Thrawn must live, she silently prayed. Attaching her lightsaber to her belt, she opened the landing hatch, and walked out into the windblown ground.

(Outer Senshi Theme- Sailor Moon S OST)

Jaina Solo, back before she had time traveled, had seen the ruins of Rebel bases and command centers when she and her brothers had visited with their mother, the future leaders of the New Jedi Order. How long ago that seemed, the weed covered ruins marred with rusted dents, empty buildings, the silent tombs dedicated to the brave and selfless beings who had died. Surely the Empire had erected such memorials. After all, who decided what side was right over the course of war? Was it up to governments to declare ethics after such massive war caused by the machinations of the Sith, one of whom was a blood relation?

The buildings were half standing, windblown and rusted out, krykna nests littering the place. Here and there, sun bleached bones of the dead, along with decrepit remains of stormtrooper armor and crashed fighters littered the place. This was a graveyard, windswept and overgrown with weeds. It was as though some great power wished this place to be forgotten, but the scars would remain and one day xenoarchaeologists would discover this place. Would this hypothetical civilization see it as something out of a science fiction serial? Shaking her head, she reached out with the Force, and used the kyber crystal to find Thrawn. Her relief was short lived, she sensed danger.

Poking around, she was able to find a speeder bike that still worked, thank the Force! Hopping on the speeder, she set off at high speed. She could feel the dread and fear eating away at her psyche, she had to hurry. In her rush, she zoomed by the Ghost, which was still mostly intact. Hera waved after her, "Hey, get back here! There are better men out there!" Kallus shook his head, "She's not going to leave him. Better follow." Hera stated at him, and the man shrugged. They needed to know what was going on. Calling Lando, they were able to get the speeder bikes and followed in close pursuit.

(Adagio of Life and Death- Joe Hisaishi)

When Thrawn had returned to consciousness, it was not to Jaina's gentle, welcoming embrace, it was in the unforgiving expanse of the Dai Bendu. He was being held upright, and the Bendu had to come to claim the fulfillment of his dire prophecy, Thrawn's blood and life. "You have dared to return to this sacred place, and for this your life is forfeited," the booming voice intoned darkly, as a violent storm brewed overhead, thunder and lightning declaring war with each other. Thrawn tried to speak on his own behalf, but instead he was forced to confront his deepest traumas, made to relive them, to break him down before he died. He was in physical and spiritual agony, and time and again, he cried out in Cheunh for his life, but the Dai Bendu, being a true neutral, cared not one way or the other. Peace on Atollon would be achieved once more, and if was through the blood of one more mortal being who held no proper reverence for the Force, then so be it.

"STOP!"

From over the edge, a familiar voice cried out, and this was followed by a savage Force Push, and Thrawn found himself falling and floundering in mid air as he was wrenched away from the Bendu, only to land in Jaina's safe embrace. Blushing, he happily kissed her, and Jaina let him slowly stand. "You leave him alone," Jaina ordered sternly as she activated her lightsaber blade. The Bendu was quite taken aback by her brazen actions, who was this little Jedi? Curious about this newcomer, he knelt so his face was on the ground, his white eyes looking squarely at the young woman standing protectively in front on the Grand Admiral.

"Who are you, young one? This is not your time, why is this one so important to you?"

Standing forward, Jaina announced, "I am Jaina Luthien Padme Skywalker Organa-Solo, daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa of the late planet Alderaan. I am the granddaughter of the late Senator Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader. I am the padawan learner of Mara Jade, wife of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, head of the New Jedi Order. I am also Lieutenant of the Imperial Seventh Fleet of the 181st Task Force, I am the heart's half to Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Lord Vader's heir apparent." She cast aside the lightsaber and the kyber crystal floated and glowed so brightly, it blocked out the sun for some minutes.

Dai Bendu gazed intently at the young woman and the kyber crystal, neither of this world or this time. Yet, the Force had brought them here, and he could see she was telling the truth. Slowly, he relented. But, there were others on the planet that had to be faced. "I see, you have a crystal of immense power. There are others on this planet who crave it. Face them and I will allow you all to leave," he informed them, before disappearing. Thrawn ran to her and held her close, "Are you all right?" Jaina nodded, was he okay? Thrawn assured her he was shaken, but he was better now that she was there.

It was about now Hera, Kallus and Lando scrambled down the equipment, having been addressed by the Bendu as well. Kallus cautiously approached the couple, "How do we do this? I mean, what will the terms of the short-term cease fire be while we fight off this army of whatever the space moose mentioned."

"He's the Dai Bendu, a celestial," Jaina corrected him as Thrawn and Hera hovered nearby, leery about working together, given the bad blood between both parties. Lando moved supplies from the speeder bikes into backpacks, the trek would have to be made on foot. Kallus nodded and asked about her lineage. Was it true, her being Vader's granddaughter? Thrawn confirmed it and was highly insistent that part of the cease fire include Jaina's lineage remain secret. Time travel was a common enough problem, it was well documented among historical records taken from the Transitory Mists.

Once everything had been packed, a spoken agreement was held to, simply put- cooperation during their time on Atollon, no mention of Jaina's heritage to either side's higher ups, and the house arrests would be taken off the table. The seizure fine would still have to be paid, however. Once everyone agreed to it, they were off.

Meanwhile on the other side of the plain, waves upon waves of garthim roamed the sand beds, awaiting orders from their Skeksis master, SkekTek the Scientist, or as he was known to the Chiss, Yiv The Benevolent.