A Journey Through the Stars

by OpenBookLina

Ariel wasn't a stranger when it came to experiencing the evil of the Galactic Empire firsthand. When she was six, her world was ripped apart, however she found a sense of hope after meeting a certain princess, creating a lifelong friendship and, years later, igniting an adventure she never saw coming, involving a pirate and a farm boy would would be the galaxy's last hope. (HIATUS)

2. A Royal Encounter

Hello there my dear readers, it's so wonderful to see you again! I'm glad that you all liked the first chapter enough to want to continue, it means a lot and makes me feel like I'm doing a decent job so far with this story. I had wanted to post it for so long but I just wasn't sure if it would be any good. But, now that I have a good number of chapters typed out and 85% of the overall story mapped out in my head, I figured I would give it a shot.

Well, here is chapter two of A Journey Through the Stars, and I hope that you guys enjoy it. I worked hard on it, and again, remember that I'm not all-knowledgeable of everything in the Star Wars Universe, so please go easy on me and inform me of any mistakes so I can correct it. To those who have favorite/followed and left reviews for the first chapter, thank you so very much for your support as well as your opinions! Things will get even better from this point onwards.

To the first reviewers of my story:

CrystalEarth: Haha, I apologize for making you break your swear about never reading a Star Wars fanfiction, but I'm very glad that you enjoyed it. If you happen to be reading this chapter, again, I apologize but I hope you like this one as well!

srosegarden: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. Yes, it does start off pretty sad, I was actually tearing up a bit as a I wrote it, but that's just because I'm an oversensitive baby haha. I do hope you continue to enjoy this story.

CupcakeLoopy: I do appreciate you being okay with how this story will/possibly go, especially within the next few chapters. I'm happy you like it and are planning on reading more, I just hope it's as good as everyone is expecting it to be. Please feel free to review again if you'd like, I'm open to all comments and suggestions!

PrincessNaina: Thank you, I hope you like what's in store for future chapters!

Now, even though I have a lot of chapters all set and ready to go, I can't guarantee how fast they will be posted so I just ask that you all are patient with me. Even if it takes a while for me to post a chapter, I intend on seeing this through to the end. Please leave a review, tell me what you think, and if there are any questions you have please let me know. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: All things Star Wars are not mine!

Chapter Two: A Royal Encounter

ArielPOV

Five Years Later…

"Excuse me, sir…"

"Pardon me."

"No finer silk anywhere, milady…"

"What lovely berries!"

"Some Goota cheese, please.."

"No more than fifty credits!"

"You won't find these anywhere else in the galaxy, I assure you…"

The usual noises of the hustle and bustle of the market filled Ariel's ears as she made her way through the crowd, her small figure easily slipping in between the patrons and tourists who scanned over the many carts filled with treasures and produce, conversing with the vendors who operated them. She continued moving through the crowd carefully, making sure not to bump into anyone and draw attention to herself, keeping her face down and hidden behind her veil if messy blonde hair, falling past her shoulders and cascading down her back. Her outfit consisted of simple yet dirty gray trousers with a matching tunic that was a little too big for her, constantly trying to slip off of her shoulders. On her feet were worn out shoes that seemed a breath away from having the bottoms fall out, but Ariel paid no heed to this. She just kept on going, one hand clutching the strap of the side satchel she wore at her waist while her green eyes looked around at her surroundings.

Soon enough her wandering came at an end when she found herself in one of the main squares in this part of the city, and her eyes focused on the melon cart that stood on the opposite end, being handled by an Arcona with wide, crystal blue eyes, mahogany skin, and a strange organ right above his mouth that most people mistook for a nose. The Arcona was speaking with potential customers who were looking at his wide selection of fruits and melons that supposedly come from different corners of the galaxy. Thankfully, he was so focused on making a deal with his customers that he was turning a blind eye to the left end of the cart. Her eyes glinting, Ariel quickly moved over to a nearby wall that would keep her hidden from view and, after making sure nobody was looking, she opened the flap to her satchel and peered inside, smiling.

"Come on, Snow," she muttered. "It's time to get to work."

From the inside of her satchel, a small creature with big amber eyes popped its head out and took a look around, it's long ears twitching as they took in all the noise. Ariel reached inside and wrapped her hands around the creature, gently pulling it out and holding it close to her. This little beast was pure white with soft fur covering its entire body, with a slightly bushy tail swinging from side to side, it's raspberry nose sniffing curiously. Ariel smiled tenderly at her Loth-cat before patting her head and setting it down on the ground.

"You know what to do, girl," she said. Snow tilted her head before scurrying off through the crowded street and heading over towards the melon cart. With clever grace and stealth, the Loth-cat managed to sneak up on the cart undetected and use the nearby wooden crates to hop herself up on top of the tallest mound of melons. She began sniffing around innocently for a couple minutes before the Arcona vender finally took notice of her.

"Oh, no you don't, you vermin!" he yelled, grabbing a nearby broom and quickly running over to swat Snow with it. "Get away from my melons!"

The Arcona took a few swings at Snow, but he missed every time, and Snow taunted him by jumping here and there, growling softly at him. Ariel watched as Snow jumped down from the pile of melons and lingered by the edge of the cart, waiting. Just as she predicted, the Arcona took one last swing at snow, but she moved out of the way just in time as the broom hit the wheel of the cart with enough force to push it loose from its hinges. Within the next few seconds, the cart wobbled unsteadily before groaning loudly and tumbling down onto its side, his many assortments of melons and fruits rolling out onto the street. The Arcona cried out in protest as the melons got underneath people's feet and caused some of them to stumble and fall. Ariel, seeing her chance, darted out from her hiding place and merged herself in with the confused, bumbling crowd. Crouching down, Ariel opened up her satchel and then started stuffing as much fruit inside as she could, grabbing them with her hands and moving hastily. After about a minute, she looked up to see the Arcona's eyes swivel towards her, and she could have sworn they glinted in anger. With an outraged cry, the Arcona started making his way towards her and Ariel managed to grab one more melon before she dashed away, with Snow right at her heels.

"Come back here, thief!" the Arcona hollered after her, but Ariel kept on running, heading back the way she came at great speed, zipping past everyone who was in her way. She refused to stop or even slow down until she was far away from the market area, making her way towards the residential areas of the city closer to the outskirts. Once she was there, Ariel looked over her shoulder to see that no one was following her, and the chaotic scene was now far behind her. Feeling that she was in the clear, Ariel finally slowed down to a stop, panting heavily and clutching her satchel for dear life. She took a moment to catch her breath, with Snow still faithfully at her heels, gazing up at her and letting out something similar to a purr. Ariel smiled down at her precious companion and bent down, holding out her arm. Snow instantly jumped up onto her arm and then carefully climbed her way up to sit on Ariel's shoulder, with her bushy tail draped lazily over the other one.

"Good job, Snow," Ariel praised as she stood back up. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

Snow reassured her that she was fine by bumping her head into Ariel's cheek, making the child giggle softly. When they were both settled, Ariel set off farther into the residential areas, moving even closer towards the outskirts of the city. The first group of homes were more like mansions and estates, all standing tall, grand and proud, made of the finest building material and surrounded by lush greens, blues, yellows and purples, filled with happy citizens going about with their daily routines. This was the type of neighborhood that housed senators, noblemen, and those of good wealth. As Ariel continued walking, the homes she passed grew less and less grand, turning into the more moderate homes of merchants and labor workers.

Here on Alderaan, the citizens of the capital city could never want for anything. Sure, times were tough for some people, but even though it was a struggle for some, Ariel knew that things could be much worse. Unlike some other planets in other systems, the rulers of Alderaan, Queen Breha and her husband, Bail Organa, cared deeply for their people, and did all they could to take care of them. Bail Organa himself had been seen passing through the common streets from time to time, interacting with the people, checking on progress in the few factories, and even holding charities for those in need. In a time where darkness was spreading its cloud from the Empire, Alderaan remained peaceful, serene, and safe, never feeling the need to arm themselves, and staying out of conflict. Ariel felt lucky in a way to be living on a planet such as this, knowing that there were far worse ones in the galaxy.

Eventually, Ariel reached the section of housing that was half-deserted, sitting on a cobbled street not very far away from the borders of the city, yet still far enough where the skyline of the royal palace in the distant hills were no bigger than her pinky finger. The homes here were less colorful, more along the lines of gray and white, and the vegetation was scarce, but the spirit was as bright and bountiful as it always was. As Ariel walked down the street, she came across people out and about, with a young couple striding quietly yet contentedly along, holding each other's hands, and children playing tag, their laughter echoing up to the sky. When Ariel passed a small group of these children, every single one of them cried out in delight upon seeing her, and she soon found herself surrounded by beaming faces.

"Ariel! You're back!"

"Did you go into the main square again? Was it pretty?"

"Did you see more aliens?"

"What were they selling at the market?"

"Did you see the Organas?"

"Calm down guys," Ariel laughed. "Yes, I went into the main square, and it was just as pretty as always. And I have something for you all."

Reaching into her bag, Ariel brought out the fruit she had taken, and the children's eyes widened at the sight.

"Wow Ariel, where did you get them?" a little girl by the name of Tara asked.

"From the market," Ariel replied simply, not going into any detail. "I have one for each of you."

The excitement seemed to double and the air was thick with the delighted eagerness of the tiny forms around her, and Ariel patiently handed out a piece of fruit to each child, loving how this simple food made their day all the better. After receiving their fruits, all the children hugged Aril at once, nearly squishing her to death, and thanking her before taking off once again to take their precious treasures home with them.

"Thank you, Ariel," said Darran, a young boy of seven who grinned toothily up at Ariel, his dark hair scruffy and his outfit a bit torn up. "You're the nicest person ever! I wish you were my sister."

"You already have one," Ariel pointed out.

"Yeah, but she's just a baby, she's no fun," Darran protested. "And Mommy pays more attention to her."

"Babies need a lot of attention," Ariel stated wisely. "Your Mommy takes care of you both, doesn't she? Besides, when your sister gets older you can play with her, and she's lucky to have the best big brother."

"You really think so?" Darran asked hopefully.

"Of course. Now go on, I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay," Darran said, giving Ariel one last hug before darting off. "Bye Ariel!"

Ariel waved goodbye, smiling after Darran before continuing on her way, heading down to the very last house on the end of the street. It was more of a hovel than anything else, made of faded tan stone walls, with a few potted plants on the outside steps, a patched up roof that usually leaked, and naked windows, but to Ariel, this was her home, and it had been for the past five years. She walked up the few steps that led into the house and opened the door, heading inside and turning on the one light before closing it behind her. The golden glow from the small lamp fell across the room, which was big enough to fit maybe four people comfortably, acting as a living room as well as a bedroom, along with a cramped section off to the right that could be used as a kitchen with a few cabinets, and a tiny fireplace built into the right hand corner. There wasn't much furniture here, only a square kitchen table with a couple matching chairs, one loveseat with a coffee table that held the lamp as well as Ariel's few possessions, and a small bed set against the right hand wall, one that was made especially for her when she first came here.

A sad smile came across the girl's face as she remembered the time and love that went into making the bed, by someone who she held very dear to her heart. The last two pieces of fruit left in her satchel suddenly felt a lot heavier than before, and she hung her head a bit as she went to so sit down at the kitchen table. Once she had taken her seat, Snow jumped down from her shoulders and onto the table, making a circle before sitting down in front of her, staring up at her with her eyes. Ariel managed a small smile at her before she took the last two pieces of fruit, broke one of them in half through the soft surface with her hands, and handed one of them to the Loth-Cat.

"Eat up girl, I'll put the other one in the cabinet to save for tomorrow," Ariel said. Snow quickly started eating her own half of the fruit while Ariel began nibbling on hers, thinking of how they were able to attain it today. A feeling of guilt crept into her heart and she soon turned sad again. Almost subconsciously, she reached underneath her tunic and pulled out a leather cord that was draped around her neck with her mother's beautiful silver ring hanging from it, shining even in the faint light. She traced over the white stone in the middle, lost in thought with her sadness consuming her.

"I did it again, Mr. Kudo," she murmured quietly. "I stole food from the market. I know it's wrong, and I don't want to make you mad at me, I was just so hungry, and so were Darran and the others. I want to make you proud, but the Arcona was right. I'm nothing but a thief."

Ariel could feel her eyes start to water as she imagined the disappointed face of her old guardian as he frowned at her for her actions. Mr. Kudo had always taught her that it was wrong to steal or commit evil actions towards others, that one should always be peaceful and show the good that is within them. Ariel has always tried her very best to do good by him, it was the very least she could do after he saved her life all those years ago. After Mr. Kudo found Ariel crying by her mother's dead body, he sold what little possessions he had in order to get them safe passage from Lothal, which was in severe danger of being completely overrun by the Empire. That day, they had boarded a cargo ship and made their way to the safety of Alderaan, where Mr. Kudo had an old acquaintance that helped them settle in the capital city in order to start anew. Ariel remembered when she had first set eyes on the city, especially the royal palace, and she had been completely blown away by its wonders. All the sounds, the people, and the scenery fascinated her greatly, and in that moment, no matter how brief, she was able to forget about her sorrow. Being good with his hands, Mr. Kudo managed to acquire a modest carpenter's job, and they slowly adapted to their new life.

In the beginning, Ariel hadn't coped very well, missing her mother terribly, and always angry at not knowing why she was gone. Mr. Kudo tried to explain it in the best way he could, saying that the Empire was taking over Lothal, and the Stormtroopers she had seen that night were more than likely part of the first invasion group. Ariel's anger only grew at this, coming to the conclusion that the Empire was the reason her mother was hurt and why she wasn't with her anymore. For a little while her anger consumed her, and she even started having thoughts that were much too dark for a child her age, wanting someone to hurt as much as she was. However, Mr. Kudo quickly put a stop to that. One night he took Ariel out past the city borders into the green forest that lay beyond, had her sit down with him by a small pond, close her eyes, and do something that he called meditation. It was when you sat still, emptying your thoughts, calming your soul, and releasing all your negative feelings into the Force and out of your body. Ariel wasn't sure what he meant at the time, and he never really elaborated on it, but Ariel took that time to remember her mother's beautiful smile and the smell of her hair, rather than her pale face and red-stained dress. The more she thought about the happy time's the more her anger went away, and it was then that she broke down, with tears falling down her face, and she remembered Mr. Kudo scooping her up into his arms and holding her close.

The two of them quickly settled into a routine after that, with Mr. Kudo going to work, and during his free time, he would tutor her at home or educate her further in the ways of the Force, which usually consisted of a lot of meditation time and practicing the technique of strengthening your mind. Mr. Kudo, being Force-sensitive, could usually sense Ariel's thoughts and feelings. Therefore, he wanted to teach her how to strengthen her mind and help her develop certain barriers that could prevent anyone else from doing it, saying he never wanted her to be manipulated due to having a 'weak mind.' He also taught her a few basic combat skills, showing her how to use her hands and feet if she were ever in trouble and without some sort of weapon.

They were never rich nor had the life of luxury, but Ariel always felt very well cared for, safe, and loved by the Kodian who vowed to protect her with everything he had. He feed her, clothed her, educated her, and gave her everything she could ever want or needed…even until his last breath.

Mr. Kudo was already old to begin with, but as the time went by, the lines in his scaled face were growing deeper, and the few thin hairs on his head growing whiter, with an ache in his step, and a certain tiredness in his dark eyes. He always said that the Force gives as well as it takes, and Ariel learned that lesson far too early in her life when the Force not only seemed to take her mother, but her dearest friend as well. Only six months ago, Mr. Kudo had taken on a terrible illness which had only gotten worse as the days went on, no matter what the local doctors or healers tried. Ariel could remember that day so well, sitting at Mr. Kudo's death bed, surrounded by friends they had made over the years and the healers who did their best to prolong his life.

"Do not weep for me, my dear Ariel," Mr. Kudo had rasped out upon seeing her tears. "I will never truly be gone. I will always be with you, watching over you and guiding you when you need me the most. My time has now come, and I will never regret having you in my life towards the end of it. My dear girl, my duty in life prohibited me from forming attachments, but I'm so very happy and glad that you changed that. I love you so very much Ariel. And I want you to promise me something."

"What is it Mr. Kudo?" Ariel quietly cried.

"I want you to be strong, compassionate, and live your life the way you should. Do not let yourself drown in despair, anger and hate, for it will be your undoing. Remember that the Force is always with you, and I know you will grow to be more beautiful and brave than ever before. I'm so proud, Ariel, so very proud."

With that being said, Mr. Kudo gently patted her head like he always did before closing his eyes and softly letting out his last breath. Ariel responded by carefully laying her head down on his chest and silently cried, holding his hand while everyone else bowed their heads in respect. The funeral had been a short one, with few close friends and neighbors wishing to pay their respects, and Mr. Kudo had been buried underneath a huge tree that was close to the pond where he and Ariel would often meditate together, wearing his usual tan colored robes, brown cloak, and holding his special silver cylinder tool that he was always so fond of against his chest beneath his folded hands. Ever since then, Ariel had been on her own, refusing to leave the house they had called their home, and doing her best to make use out of the days that followed. The sadness still lingered in her heart, but she always did what she could to keep her promise to Mr. Kudo and not let it take her over. Although, sometimes she felt as if she were betraying his teachings whenever she had to steal food in order to survive, whether it was for herself or for others. With no money, no guardian, and not much of a future ahead of her, Ariel resorted to less valued morals in order to make it through.

Shaking her head, Ariel wiped at her stinging eyes, trying to shake herself free of these feelings. It was never good to dwell on the past…she needed to focus on the here and now. Somehow she will repay what she had taken, even though she had no idea how. Sighing to herself, Ariel finished her fruit before wiping her mouth and going over to the window that gave a magnificent view of the sky, standing on her tip toes in order to see properly. When she had run from the market, it had only been a few hours after midday, and now it was slowly descending into evening. The sun overhead was sinking down behind the clouds, turning them vivid pink, gold and orange colors that mixed together so beautifully. There was still plenty of sunlight left, but not for very long, and Ariel knew that soon the city would be laying down their heads for the night. She turned her gaze towards the east, where she could still see the skyline of the royal palace, standing so tall and proud in the distance. She smiled softly to herself, wondering what the royal family must be doing now. It is said that the Organas had a young daughter, the princess of Alderaan, although Ariel had never seen her. She briefly wondered what she was like, and what it must be like to be a princess. Sighing again, Ariel left the window after a few more minutes and made her way over to her bed, deciding to call it an early night.

"Come on, Snow," she called to her friend. "It's time for bed."

The Loth-Cat jumped down from the table and trotted her way over to Ariel, leaping up onto the mattress of the bed and instantly meowing at her. Ariel giggled at Snow before she pulled back the covers and got underneath them, lying down on her side with Snow curling herself against her chest. Ariel reached over and snuggled her face into Snow's fur, silently releasing her sorrow and shame into the Force like how Mr. Kudo would do. She rummaged underneath her covers for a moment until she brought out her faithful and treasured doll, Luna, who she had kept even after all this time. There were still very few things that gave Ariel comfort in the night, and Snow and Luna were a couple of them. Holding them both in her arms, Ariel's eyes slowly fluttered closed.

"Goodnight, Mr. Kudo," she whispered, not for the first time hoping he could hear her somehow. "Goodnight, Mama."

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A few days later, Ariel found herself walking through another of the city's main squares, although she made sure to keep clear of the market areas, so as not to be recognized by anyone for her little stunt with the melon and fruit cart. The streets were as lively as they ever were, and Ariel took the time to stare at the people she passed, both human and non-human alike. So many different species interacting and trading with one another was always a sight to see, and that was why the market was one of her favorite places to go to. She enjoyed watching everyone she passed, listening to their strange unique language, and sometimes she made up her own stories about them. Where they came from, what they did for a living, and made them go on crazy adventures from time to time.

It was a lovely bright and clear day, with a warm breeze drifting her way, carrying the floral scents that always seemed to coat the city, and her cheeks felt warm from the light of the sun shining overhead. As she walked down the street, Ariel hummed to herself, a light skip in her step, while Snow walked a little ways in front of her, dodging all the legs that came her way. Her fluffy tail swung back and forth as she moved, and Ariel couldn't help but smile at her. The young girl had tied her hair in a long plait down her back, wearing her usual tunic and trousers, with her satchel swinging at her hip. The duo kept on walking for a few more minutes before Snow suddenly stopped moving, pausing in her steps and her tail stopped swinging. The Loth-Cat lifted her head and sniffed at the air, her ears pointing straight up.

"Snow? What's wrong?" Ariel asked. Snow was still for about another minute before she suddenly turned left and then took off, darting between people's feet and racing through the crowd.

"Snow! Snow, wait!" Ariel called out, hurriedly taking off after her freind, wondering what had gotten into her. Ariel chased Snow down a few streets, trying to keep sight of her white tail through the vast crowds, doing her best to avoid running into someone, and always quickly apologizing when she did. What was going on with Snow? She never just up and ran off like that before! Something must have caught her attention, but Ariel really had no idea what it was. Either way, she was determined not to lose Snow in the crowd, fearing that she wouldn't be able to find her. Keeping close, Ariel continued following Snow for just a little longer until the Loth-Cat turned around a bend and fled down a long alleyway. When Ariel went in after her, she soon stumbled to a halt when she saw what was going on at the dead end.

Standing at the end of the alleyway were two beings: a thick, furry, tight-skinned, bulge-eyed, orange colored Elom, and a tall, gray-skinned Khommite wearing a dark red tunic with black trousers and a matching cape, with small yet sharp yellow eyes and pointed ears. The Khommite was currently restraining a young girl who looked to be about Ariel's age, struggling against him while the Elom came towards them with a burlap sack in his hands.

"Let me go!" the girl yelled loudly, fighting against her captor with all her might, her eyes fierce.

"Now, now, dear, settle down, or we'll be forced to hurt you," the Khommite said with a smirk as he lifted the girl up off of the ground.

"How much do you think she's worth, boss?" the Elom asked gleefully.

"Considering who she is, I'm sure that we'll be seeing quite a bit of credits for her ransom," the Khommite replied, a sinister look on his face as he laughed at the struggling girl. Ariel couldn't believe what she was hearing…those two were trying to kidnap that girl for ransom! She needed help! Ariel glanced over at Snow, who was standing only a few feet away, her fur standing on end and growling low in her throat, moving into an offensive position. Desperate, Ariel looked at what was around her and saw some nearby rocks on the ground. Moving fast, she scooped them up into her arms, and without a second thought, started throwing them at the Elom while jogging forward.

"Leave her alone!" she exclaimed, throwing a rock that landed directly at the back of the Elom's head with a sharp clunk! The Elom cried out in surprise at the sudden pain in his head and then swiftly turned around to see Ariel coming towards him, continuing to throw the rocks.

"Ouch! What the—who is she?"

"Never mind that, just get rid of her!" the Khommite snapped impatiently. The Elom dropped the sack at his feet and then started heading towards Ariel, who unfortunately ran out of rocks to throw. The Elom was getting dangerously close, and he stretched out his arms, intending on grabbing her as well, but Ariel, thinking fast, dove down and slide between the Elom's legs as he lunged forward, hitting the back of his right knee with her fist, causing him to fall flat on his face.

"Snow!" she called.

On command, Snow rushed forward with a loud shriek and pounced on the Elom's face, biting and scratching with her long claws. The Elom hollered in pain as he tried to get the Loth-Cat off of him. While that was going on, Ariel quickly got to her feet and turned towards the Khommite, who still had the girl in his arms. His eyes were narrowed into slits, the yellow flames dancing within them in his anger, and he snarled loudly, revealing sharp, pointed teeth that looked as though they could tear through just about anything. The veins in his neck were bulging, and Ariel took a step back in fear. While the Elom seemed a bit daft, she knew that this Khommite was not one to be taken lightly. He looked downright menacing and threatening, glaring at her as though he wanted nothing more than to rip her to shreds. His face twisted in rage, he shoved the girl he was holding to the ground rather roughly, with enough force to knock her into a couple nearby wooden crates that were stacked in a pile.

"You filthy brat!" he seethed, reaching into his cloak and pulling out a steel staff that was as long as his arm and had an electric sphere at the top that was glowing a lime green light. "You're going to pay for getting in my way."

Ariel could feel her fear quickly building as the Khommite advanced on her, raising the staff. She took another couple of steps back, once again looking around to see if there was anything she could use as a weapon to fight with. There wasn't much, only some more rocks and a long piece of wood leaning up against the wall. Figuring it was better than nothing, Ariel grabbed the piece of wood and held it out in front of her, keeping her right foot forward and her shoulders square. With an angry grunt, the Khommite lashed out with his staff and Ariel moved quickly to dodge it, knocking it out of the way and shifting to the left, trying to stay clear of the sparkling end of the staff. She and the Khommite circled each other for a moment before he lashed out again, and Ariel raised her piece of wood above her head, managing to block the attack before the staff struck her head. However, in doing so, she left her entire middle section open and the next thing she knew, Ariel received a sharp kick to the stomach and she yelped in pain as she fell backwards onto the cobbled ground, feeling her knee scrape against the stones as she landed on her side.

"Stop it!"

Ariel looked up to see the other girl jump at the Khommite, yanking on his arm and kicking his legs.

"Get back you stupid girl!" he said as he easily shoved the girl off of him, pushing her into the wall where she collided into the wooden crates and they ended up falling on top of her. Narrowing her eyes, Ariel took the Khommite's distraction to her advantage. She tightened her grip on the piece of wood in her hands and then let out a cry as she brought it straight up to where the sun don't shine as hard as she could. The Khommite let out a startled shout before it turned into a weak whimper as he instantly dropped his staff to the ground and lowered his hands to his private area, falling down onto his knees. Seeing her chance, Ariel swung her wood back before striking it against the side of his face, promptly knocking him out cold face down. For a moment Ariel was completely stunned at what she had done, just staring at the limp form on the ground with wide, terrified eyes. After she few more seconds, though, she finally managed to pull herself together long enough to stand to her feet shakily and drop the piece of wood. She went over to the girl, who was still on the ground, staring at Ariel with her own wide eyes.

"Come on," Ariel urged, holding out her hand to her. "He might wake up soon."

The girl kept gazing at Ariel for a minute before she mutely nodded her head and took her hand, letting Ariel pull her to her feet. The two girls hastily ran down the alleyway and right past where Snow was still making a mess out of the Elom's face.

"Let's go, Snow!" Ariel called over her shoulder, not needing to look back to see if the cat was following her. Still keeping a hold of the girl's hand, Ariel led them back through the crowd as fast as her feet would go. They pushed past many people and turned many different corners in their haste, wanting to put as much distance between them and those evil beings as fast as possible. They ran for some time before they finally slowed down to a halt in one of the smaller courtyards next to a fountain, the both of them panting heavily, and it was only then that Ariel released the girl's hand, staring around to make sure they weren't followed.

"Do you think we lost them?" Ariel asked breathlessly.

"I think so," the girl replied, taking a deep breath. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Ariel said, nodding her head. "Are you?"

"Yes, I'm fine," the girl said. "Thank you so much…you saved me."

"You're welcome. Why did they want to kidnap you?" Ariel said. "What did they want with you?"

"More than likely they wanted to hold me hostage and demand a ransom from my father," the girl muttered quietly. "I came to the market with him today, and we got separated. I ran into those two goons while I was trying to find him. But then you came along and stopped them! How did you learn to fight like that?"

"I really didn't do much," Ariel protested, her cheeks going red as the girl's dark brown eyes shone with praise and awe at what she had witnessed. "The Elom didn't seem too bright."

"But you went up against the Khommite and defeated him."

"Only because you distracted him long enough for me to hit him," Ariel pointed out.

"Which wouldn't have happened if you hadn't forced him to let me go," the girl said. At this point the two of them were smiling brilliantly at each other, observing how well they managed to work together to get away from the vile clutches of those beings. While they were standing there, Ariel took in the girl's appearance for the first time since seeing her in the alley. The girl was around her age, maybe a year or two older, although they were the same height. She had rich dark brown hair that had two thin braids going along the sides of her head like a crown, forming into one single braid down her back while the rest of her loose curls flowed freely underneath. A beautiful dress adorned her body, one which had to cost quite a bit of money judging by the smooth-looking silk material, and it was something Ariel had only ever seen those of great wealth wear. It was a soft lavender color with silver threading with a matching cape that was slightly ripped from their scuffle in the alley. Compared to her, Ariel felt like a small, filthy street rat, and she briefly wondered why a girl of such obvious status was doing out in the more common parts of the city. There was a mewling noise from below and Ariel looked down to see Snow standing next to her, rubbing her head against her leg in affection. Feeling great pride for her companion, Ariel bent down and scooped up Snow into her arms.

"Good girl," she said while petting her head.

"She's so cute," the girl said. "I've never seen a creature like this before."

"Her name's Snow, she's a Loth-Cat," Ariel explained. "She's the one who led me to you."

"May I pet her?" the girl asked. Ariel nodded and then the girl gently stroked her hand over Snow's head and down her back a few times. Snow didn't seem to mind, in fact she looked as though she rather enjoyed it, and letting out a soft purr at the attention she was receiving. Ariel smiled before speaking to the girl once again.

"Do you need help finding your father? I know the city very well, I can help you look for him," she offered.

"Really? You would really help me?" the girl said.

"Of course," Ariel answered. "We can start at the place you last saw him, I'm sure he must be looking around the same area. I'm Ariel by the way, what's your name?"

"Oh I'm sorry, how rude of me. My name is—"

"Leia!"

A loud, booming voice rose across the other voices of the crowd, effectively silencing almost everyone in the courtyard. Both girls turned their heads to see a commotion heading towards their direction—a group of men dressed in baby blue military uniforms with matching capes were making their way through the crowd, parting it in their wake, each of them raging from young to elderly men and carrying blasters at their hips. At the center of this group was another man, but he was dressed differently from the others. He wore dark blue noblemen's clothing with a silver pin on his chest, with black boots that clanked against the street as he moved, his wide brown eyes focusing on them worriedly, and his dark hair looking windswept. He didn't look old, maybe in his late thirties, early forties at the very least, although there were the beginnings of gray alongside his temples. When Ariel caught sight of him, her stomach dropped and her own eyes widened in complete utter shock. She knew who this man was. She had seen holo-pictures of him, along with posters strewn across the city, and even one time at a distance when she had seen him walking through the parts of the city closer to his home…to the royal palace. This man was Senator Bail Organa, husband to Queen Breha. And if he just called this girl Leia, then—then that means—

"Father!" Leia cried out, rushing forward past the people who quickly got out of the way and heading straight into her father's waiting arms. He caught her with ease, holding her in a vice-like grip against his chest as the group of men, who Ariel figured must be their personal bodyguards, formed a half circle around them, keeping an eye on everyone around them with a hand resting on their blasters and weapons, keeping a lookout for any signs of trouble. The crowd looked on in wonder as Organa embraced his child tightly, his hand holding the back of her head and his lips at her temple. They were now a good distance away from her now, so Ariel couldn't hear what was being said as Organa eventually pulled back from his daughter a little and spoke in a low voice to her, his eyes expressing relief at having found her safe and sound, but his expression was stern and firm, and Ariel knew that Leia was probably on the end of a good scolding. Leia shook her head, holding her father's hands in her own and her own expression one of wonder as she took a moment to glance back over at Ariel, pointing her out. Ariel froze where she stood as the Alderaan Senator turned his gaze towards her, his dark eyes staring directly into her own as if they could see right through her. He looked puzzled for a moment, but after Leia spoke to him once more, his face softened a bit and he seemed surprised. Organa called one of his men over to him, an older gentleman with a salt and pepper beard and mustache, and a head full of gray hair, with dark eyes that were a little frightening, for they seemed to hold little emotion, if any at all. His mouth was set into a tight frown, with lines etched deep into his face, along with a long scar that stretched across his right cheek, another one on his neck in the shape of a burn. He was gigantic, easily towering over Organa, but his posture showed nothing but respect and protectiveness as he stood next to the Senator. Organa gestured over towards Ariel, looking resolute, and in the next moment the guard started making his way towards her, his frown somehow deepening and his movements scary as he strode in her direction, his hand still on his blaster.

"Hey you, girl!" he said, his voice deep and gravelly, making Ariel flinch in fright. "Come here."

Every ounce of Ariel was filled with dread, and she fearfully shook her head as she moved backwards, a whimper escaping her lips. This man was more terrifying to her than the Khommite was. And what was going on? Was she in trouble for something? But—but she didn't do anything! Her fear clouding her thoughts, Ariel turned around and dashed away before anyone could stop her, never looking back even as she heard the guard yelling for her to come back. She pushed her way past everyone as she ran, her heart pounding frantically in her chest and holding Snow tightly against her. She needed to get away from here, before she got into some serious trouble. As she sprinted away, she wished more than anything that Mr. Kudo was with her, holding her in his arms and telling her that everything would be okay. Not wanting to be followed, Ariel ran and ran, her eyes burning as she remembered that Mr. Kudo couldn't help her anymore. She was alone…completely alone.

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The next day in the late afternoon, Ariel was carrying a pail of fresh water home from the closest fountain that wasn't being used by the neighbors for doing laundry. That was well over twelve streets away, and Ariel was feeling the ache in her muscles by the time she was three blocks away from home. She wiped away the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, sighing and groaning to herself as she hoisted the pail a little higher so she wasn't dragging in on the ground. It would have been a lot better if she had done this earlier in the day, but she had overslept, due to her having trouble falling asleep the previous night.

After she had run away from the royal guards, Ariel never stopped running until she made it all the way home, where she promptly rushed inside, closed the door and sagged against it, her whole body trembling and her lips quivering. Her ears were filled with the sound of her rapid heartbeat and her nerves were still eating away at her as she tried to make sense of what happened. Why would the guard come after her? The one who tried calling her was so scary, and why did he walk towards her anyway? Was she in trouble for being with Leia? What if Leia's father thought that she was part of the group that tried to kidnap her? What if they wanted to arrest her and put her in jail? The thought made Ariel want to cry, and at that time she placed her head in her hands, wishing she could just disappear and never be found. The whole ordeal had her tossing and turning when she tried to get some sleep, mulling it all over. How could she not have realized the girl she had saved was Leia Organa? The princess of Alderaan?! She must have seemed so indecent and so improper to her, it made Ariel want to hang her head in shame. Of all the rotten luck…

Ariel sighed again as she kept on walking, relief spreading through her as she caught sight of her home at the end of the street. When she approached, she readjusted her pail of water so she could open the door, and once she stepped inside, she let out a grunt as she finally dropped the pail at her side, wiping at her sweaty forehead. It was way past midday now, and she still had to rummage around the cabinets to see what she could make herself and Snow for supper that night. Although, before she could ponder over it, she suddenly noticed that the lamp on the coffee table was lit, leaving her very confused. How was the lamp on? She could have sworn she turned it off when she left the house earlier. A strong sense of unease entered her system, and she slowly moved her body in the direction of the kitchen, where an unexpected sight met her eyes.

Standing at the kitchen table, gently petting Snow's head and wearing noble senator's clothing, was none other than Bail Organa. Ariel was frozen stiff, her insides going numb at the sight of him. Bail Organa was in her house—how did he get in?! Even more so, how did her find her?! This can't be happening! Unexpectedly, Organa gave Ariel a kind smile upon seeing her and took a few steps forwards, clasping his hands behind his back. Ariel instinctively took a few steps back, having every intention of bolting out the door, but before she could, her back hit something very solid, ceasing her movements. She jumped in surprised and whipped around to see the guard from yesterday standing behind her, blocking her way to the door and glaring down at her with his dark eyes. Ariel gulped, knowing she had no way out of there now, and she turned back to Organa, who spoke to her softly and in a friendly manner.

"Hello, Ariel," he greeted warmly. "My name is Bail. I was hoping that we could talk."

Please review! See you all in the next chapter three!