Fair warning, any and all. This story, while not following the plot points in Star Wars Rebels, does contain characters and staples from the show. In fact, Ahsoka's appearance in Rebels is the one I'm using in my mind's eye. I believe it to be a great show, and so I want to incorporate elements from it. Final decision. Also, midichlorians are mentioned here. Not in the canon definition, though, so at least try to give them a chance. I didn't like 'em either.

In this chapter, we get to meet Luke, and perhaps a glimpse at the dynamic between the twins. Enjoy! - Darthkvzn

When the Skywalker twins were born, every Force-sensitive being in the galaxy felt it. Those aligned to the Light felt bliss, while the few still depending on the Dark Side saw their power diminished for a few days.

Padmé Amidala gave birth without complications to a boy and a girl, named Luke and Leia, in a private sanatorium in Theed. Their blood, even at birth, was filled with Midichlorians, tiny symbiotic organisms that were drawn to Force-sensitive individuals, and helped speed up metabolic processes in return. Their rating was even higher than their father's, who was previously thought to be the highest on record. Great things were expected from them.

The Chosen One wasn't having it, though. Months of arguing and debating had made jt clear to him that, while he was very much at fault for the heinous acts he'd committed, the Jedi Council, and indeed, the entire Order, wasn't entirely blameless. He could already see the well-concealed greed in their eyes, the hope that one of his children would become the true Chosen One, the face of the Order.

Anakin gave them a resolute no. His children would not become pawns, and while they were free to choose their paths in life, the Jedi would not automatically have them, nor would they have the right to take children away from their families at such tender ages. The Jedi were outraged; who was he to tell them what to do? Unfortunately for them, Padmé was Anakin's wife, and an important part of the New Republic. She supported her husband's ideal, and so the government gave the Jedi a choice: change, or be changed.

The situation nearly escalated to conflict, but Yoda saw wisdom in Anakin's decision, even as he knew the young man to be...touched, by Darkness. The two met in secret, and planned the modifications to be implemented. Furthermore, Yoda suggested something unprecedented to Anakin: train in the Dark Side, and the Light. Learn the complete ways of the Force, and lead those that cannot fully embrace the Luminous side.

Anakin feared the Dark Side. But he never was one to back down from a challenge.

In the training room inside the Skywalker-Naberrie residence at 500 Republica, two Padawans viciously clashed.

Blue light crashed on green, the hum of the blades constantly interrupted by the hissing and popping of deflections, feints, jabs, and the now present saber lock.

The Padawans looked at each other, one fierce, and the other calm. Almost identical irises searched the other for any weaknesses to exploit, any opening they might be able to capitalize on. Finding none, they pushed away, blades spinning into the next position for continued assault.

Or they would have, if the lights in the room hadn't suddenly come on.

"You guys have a long way to go if your concentration can be broken by someone turning on the lights." -said Leia, leaning against the door frame.

"Leia! You're back!" -said Ezra, switching off his lightsaber.

"And you're still stating the obvious, I see." -she said, smirking. The teen rolled his eyes, walking to her and enveloping her in a hug.

Luke finished his form and turned his saber off as well. "And here I thought you'd end up as droid scrap."

Leia scoffed. "Takes more than a droid to end me. Besides, the CIS played nice. Thought you'd appreciate that."

"I do. Never been one to embrace war. Plus I'd hate to have to go and rescue you."

"I'll tell Ahsoka you said that."

Luke smirked. "And I'm sure she'll agree with me."

Ezra sighed. "Alright, alright. Enough with the twin banter, you two. It's creeping me out."

The twins turned to him. "Shut it, Bridger." -they said in unison, then began to snicker uncontrollably.

The blue-haired Padawan groaned. "Right. Well, it was nice seeing you Leia, but I do believe it's time for me to remove myself from this harmful environment."

The siblings said their goodbyes. "And by that he means he's late to meet a certain Mandalorian." -said Luke mirthfully once the Lothal native was out of earshot.

Leia gasped. "Sabine's planetside? Why did you wait until now to tell me!? I would have teased him about it!"

Luke chuckled. "Therein lies the reason. She and her team got here yesterday, I believe. Gotta look out for my friend. Fancy a spar?"

"So soon after your last?" -she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Luke shrugged. "The spar with Ezra didn't last long, so I'm not tired yet. Obi-Wan and I have been developing my stamina lately. That skirmish on Raxus Prime was a transformative experience we do not want happening again."

Leia thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I mean I do always beat you anyway." -she teased.

The sandy haired twin merely smiled, getting into a stance and bringing the green blade to life.

Leia adjusted her lightsaber for low powered training mode, then assumed a reverse grip stance, bringing the yellow blade to life, and charged to begin the fight.

When they were children, the Skywalker twins had two very different playstyles. Luke was always very calm, and never let his emotions get the better of him. Leia called him boring, but he preferred to think of himself as patient. Leia herself was a bundle of energy, leaping around the house and breaking half of her mother's priceless Royal artifacts before she was 9 and had to go and live at the Jedi Temple.

The styles directly translated into their dueling techniques, supplemented by the forms and tricks taught by their Masters. As such, Luke was a patient viper, waiting and defending until the time came for a devastating strike. Leia was a mix of Ahsoka's acrobatics and Anakin's powerful yet complex saber slashes, making her amber blade dance around her in a dazzling choreography of death.

Leia didn't actually win all the time. As Anakin and Obi-Wan before them, the two were perfectly even in skill, although in different areas.

The spar went on, with Leia trying to break through Luke's defense, and Luke struggling to survive his twin's relentless assault. The back and forth went on for a good fifteen minutes, when Leia ultimately made a convincing feint, and her lightsaber ended up inside Luke's defense, leaving him open for a diagonal slash to his torso.

"See? Told you I always win." -she said smugly, dropping to the floor covered in sweat and bone tired.

Luke flopped to the ground as well. "Except when you don't. Which is about 49% of the time, dear sister."

Leia kicked him in the shin, earning a most undignified yelp. "What was that for?" -he asked, rubbing the spot

"Missed you, Luke. I'm glad those pirates didn't get you or Obi-Wan." -she said quietly.

The sandy haired teen gave her an easy smile. "You know me. If I were to suddenly join the Force, it wouldn't be from something as lame as pirates."

"Ewoks, then."

"Or your angered mother, if you don't wash up and head to dinner soon." -said Padmé Amidala, leaning on the door frame in much the same way her daughter had before.

The years had been kind to Padmé, who very much kept her royal beauty intact. Only a few nascent wrinkles and gray hairs betrayed her aging. Considering her line of work, she felt ever so grateful that she had any hair left. Padmé was currently in her second term as Chairwoman of the New Republic - the most powerful position in the faction, and one coveted by many politicians. Padmé had kept the post because of the simple fact that she got things done. The New Republic may have gotten a considerable downgrade after the Clone Wars, but billions of lifeforms were still under its banner, and Padmé had kept them mostly content, while still being a loving mother and wife.

Luke and Leia could attest to that, but they could also tell stories of the Krayt Dragon concealed beneath her kind visage, and so, at 17 years of age, they leapt towards their respective rooms, leaving Padmé to quietly laugh.