CHAPTER-1

"Damn it." Leia swore as she kicked her shuttle. She had crash landed on the forest floor of Belkadan. There were no signs of civilization as far as her eyes could see. She sighed deeply as she turned towards the shuttle. She bent forward and tried to boost up the communication radius. It proved no use. She kicked the shuttle again. After all, she was the daughter of the master. She kneeled before the floor. She placed a hand on the floor. She tried feeling the force. But all she felt was the roughness under her palm. She opened her eyes in irritation.

"You need to calm down." A voice instructed from behind her. She turned sharply and stared at the man who stood with his shoulders sleeping on a tree. He wore the same white robes she saw in her visions. He had jet black hairs which had streaks of white in the middle. His beard was trimmed and black. But they too had white streaks in the middle. His face bore the tire of war and the wisdom one would seek. His eyes held the truth of his life. His physique was meant to make almost anyone feel comfortable. His hands were tied together. He removed his hands and walked slowly towards the shuttle in gentle giant steps which would define his civility and gestures. He shone bright among the flora of the forest. He moved forward and placed a gentle yet firm hand on the shuttle.

"It's a good one, the shuttle. Why kick it like it was some worthless dog?" he asked gently in a tone of order. Leia was humbled by his manner.

"I was just pissed off that it crash landed." She replied as she sat dejectedly. "And now I'm never getting out of here." She added softly in a tone of scorn.

"It did not crash land. It was designed to not do so. But you crash landed it." He said gently in a tone of wisdom.

"What?" she asked him in confusion.

"One must be conscious of their actions. You couldn't manage to find a smooth landing pod for your shuttle and so it crash landed because of your inefficiency."

"Oh right, I'm here for some guy to tell me that I failed. Thanks for that." She said in a tone which discouraged further talks.

"Your failures, milady, are yours to be taken into notice." He continued completely ignoring the tone in which the previous statement had been made.

"Oh, yeah. My failures are mine to be taken into notice; like it was my fault that Alderaan blew up, like it was my fault that Nora and Ahsoka died, and it was my fault that everything happened, right?" she asked in anger.

"No but it was your fault that you are unable to hold yourself together in this time of peril. You are a leader, Leia. You have to at least pretend to be one."

"How in the force am I supposed to hold myself together when I've lost almost everything?" she asked in disbelief.

"Your father lost his mother and he began to fear where he would lose all those around him." he spoke.

"Fascinating." Leia commented.

"You have lost your entire planet, your foster parents, your best friend, your possible future as a senator, your mentor and your shuttle." He said as he ran his hand over the body of the shuttle.

"Thank you for summarizing my life. Oh, you forgot to add that my father is Darth Vader and that my mom is the dead senator Padme Amidala." She added.

"I didn't forget. I'm just stating what you have lost. If you focus on your losses and call them your life, then you've lost the battle at the beginning."

Leia just lifted her head and stared at him blankly. She didn't understand what he meant. He sighed and continued.

"Anyways, you can continue kicking the shuttle or you can actually find a means of communication off this world if you follow me." He spoke as he turned to walk into the forest.

"Wait, there is communication off this world?" she asked disbelievingly. She then got up and ran behind the man.

"There might be." He replied.

"Aw, come on. I can't play games over here. I need to go back. I need to be there. Luke can't handle everything alone. I mean Obi-wan's there, but still. I'm the only ruling member of Alderaan. I need to go."

"Then why did you come here?"

"Oh, I add a vision or something all right." She answered in exasperation.

"What was this vision about?"

"I can't tell you everything now, can I?"

"Says the girl who blurted out how she is an important member of the rebellion and the only ruling member of Alderaan, and is a Jedi."

"Ah…" Leia grunted. "Is there communication facility here or not?"

"There might be." The response was same. Leia got angry. She stopped in her tracks and glared at the man. The man kept on walking merrily.

"Who do you even think you are?" she asked rashly.

"Who do YOU think you are?" he asked back calmly without even turning back.

"I am Leia Skywalker, daughter of the general of 501st legion of the GAR Anakin Skywalker and Mother of the rebellion Padme Amidala, the heir to the throne of Alderaan, a leader of the rebellion, and a Jedi Padawan." She replied proudly. "Who are you?" she asked again.

"I am Revan. I am a gifted of the force." He replied calmly. He turned back to her and smiled. His smile held wisdom.

"What are you other than all that you said?" he asked softly. Leia felt as though someone slapped her across her face. What was she behind all the titles she bore? She lifted her head and stared at Revan.

"Anyways, you need to get off the planet, needn't you? So let's go and find this communication centre which might be there." He spoke after a long time of silence. He then got up and walked into the forest. Leia lowered her head and stared at the lightsaber in her belt. She then lifted her head and followed Revan. As they walked on the rough terrain, the rocks and thorns pricked Leia's shoes. Revan walked barefoot. Leia lifted her head and noticed this.

"How are you walking with no shoes?" she asked slowly.

"I told you, I am a gifted of the force." He replied softly.

"But how can you walk like that? Like even I'm gifted with the force, but…"

"Leia, you claim to be gifted of the force and yet you have no idea who you are." He replied. The two continued to walk. Soon the land began to rise. Leia struggled to follow Revan in the subtle change in the terrain. She found it difficult to keep up with him. Revan continued with ease. Soon they came across a cliff. Revan began to climb it easily. Leia panted and began her climb. She completely overlooked the fact that Revan knew her name and didn't even ask him as to how he learnt her name. Revan reached the Cliffside earlier than her. Leia struggled as he was relaxing by the Cliffside. By the time she reached the side, he had already regained the stamina he had lost. She gasped as she managed to pull herself and sat beside him.

"Do you want to continue?" he asked softly as the two stared at the horizon. The sun was nearing the horizon. Leia stared as the memories of all that had happened went through her again.

"You said that I claim to be gifted of the force and yet I had no idea who I am, what you meant by that?" she asked

"That you must learn by yourself, Leia." He replied. She turned towards him.

"So shall we continue?" she asked.

"I asked you that question." He replied.

"The horizon looks wonderful." She replied after a long time.

"It's getting dark."

"Shall we continue tomorrow in the morning?" she asked slowly.

"There's a place to rest nearby." He replied.

"Shall we go there?" she asked slowly.

"Of course." Revan got up and continued walking. Leia got up and followed him while panting.

"How do you manage to go so fast?" she asked after they walked on for what felt like an hour.

"Well, I was about to ask you whether you really wanted to take a rest or not." He replied as he slowed down.

"What?" she asked as she stopped dead in her tracks.

"You're walking way too slow." He replied as he too stopped and turned to have a good look on Leia.

"But, how?" she whimpered. Revan sighed deeply and walked up to her. He then placed a hand on her shoulders. Leia suddenly felt a great amount of energy flow through her. She then straightened herself and looked at him.

"How?" she asked slowly.

"Come on follow me. It's already late." He replied as he continued to walk in his pace.

"Yeah." She replied as she followed him. Soon the two came across an old fighter. Revan moved the fighter's door and made way for Leia to enter. She stepped forward and looked around.

"Will that fit us both?" she asked.

"Enter and see for yourself." He replied. She stepped inside the fighter and stared in awe. The fighter was merged with a natural cave. The flora inside was a sight to the eye. She had never seen such greenery spread so beautifully. Purple flowers bloomed here and there. Pink shades kissed the flowers and made them more beautiful. Green leaves with touches of turquoise roamed around the cave. Orange flowers with yellow strikes bloomed here and there. Blue blossoms bloomed brightly. The floor was soft with grass all over. Sweet and fresh scents of fruits flowed through the air. Leia suddenly realized how hungry she was. She turned towards Revan.

"Is it good enough for a princess?" he asked as he plucked a fruit and threw it to her.

"It's more than enough." She asked as she held the fruit and took a bite from it. The fruit was sweet and had a tinge of spiciness. These kinds of fruits were unavailable in Alderaan. The fruit stored a lot of juice. The first bite Leia took caused a lot of juice to flow out of the fruit. The fruit was soft and yet hard.

"What is this?" she asked as she finished it.

"Food." Revan replied as he too completed his food. "Now, sleep." He said as he turned to sleep. She stared across to the sky. She saw the stars and the moons stay there as the darkness surrounded them. She lay there thinking about her brother who lay in his bed far away in the galaxy, trying to adjust to the sudden push to a different life. It had been four months or maybe more but still, the two were young and had to learn a lot. The rebellion kept going on with their original plan. The reputation of the Jedi increased and had a more positive view. The rebellion was becoming bolder; the Empire did not shrink back though. They pressed on harder; they made sure that the rebellion never won. But least did they know that the rebellion had won the first battle, a battle of hope. Leia stared at the sky as the thoughts ran in her mind. Slowly she fell asleep.

Far away in the galaxy, Luke stared at the night sky. He remembered the words Leia told him.

"There might be times where you have to take difficult choices. When such a situation arises, take the risk." Leia was lecturing him.

"Hey, I know what I'm supposed to do, okay?" Luke responded.

"Yes, that may be true, farm boy." Leia teased. "But I'm the one who spent more time in the belly of politics. Be careful, the Empire has great political tacticians. They will strike us politically. Remember all the lessons I and Mon Mothma have given you. If you have any doubts, just go to Artoo and ask her. She'll make sure that it is cleared."

"Okay, mom." Luke said as he saw her aboard the shuttle.

"Luke…" Leia began after a short while of silence.

"Hmm…" Luke replied.

"Be careful." She said as she took off. Luke stared behind the shuttle. He sat in the window sill and stared at the night sky.

"I will be." He said softly as he climbed onto his bed and drifted to sleep.

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