Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars at all! Any characters and ideas in this fic were made by George Lucas, not me!
AN: This is just a prologue for a future SW AU. I hope you enjoy it!
A millennium peace reigned in the Galactic Republic, right after the end of a bloody conflict known the New Sith Wars. Its army was disbanded, and it did not find the need to raise another army within the next thousand years. There was no major threat to the Republic as a whole, and any possible sign of conflict was diminished, thanks to the famous defenders of the Republic, the powerful Jedi Knights. Yet, that was before the Clone Wars began.
It began when the new scientific breakthrough of cloning was made known to the galaxy. Some saw the cloning as a chance for scientific advancement, but others sought to use clones to enforce their own power. Unfortunately, many of these people with such plans were within the Senate that governed the Republic.
Many of these delegates declared their own sovereignty of their own star system, seceding from the Republic. At first, the Republic believed these delegates would return because they did not have a powerful military to defend themselves. That was until the seceding worlds used clones as their own soldiers, arming them with weaponry that was bought from illegal organizations.
The idea of cloned soldiers made the Senate fear these separate governments would use their newly armed soldiers against the Republic. In response to this fear, the Republic formed its own army, one that had not been formed in a millennium. Drafting civilians into the military, many find themselves fighting a war that dragged only for a few years. Even those within the Senate have joined in the war effort against these star systems.
Despite everyone's best efforts, it did not end the war as quickly as everyone within the Republic originally hoped. Within the first few years, the war devastated many beings throughout the galaxy, including the famed Jedi defenders of the Republic. Survivors have found themselves fleeing their home worlds engulfed in the fires of the Clone Wars, if they were lucky. The destruction could be felt all over the galaxy, even within the galaxy's Core Worlds that made up a majority of the Republic's Senate. It seemed even hopeless as the Clone Wars reaches its fifth year.
Among the Core Worlds was the planet of Alderaan, a peaceful world whose people were afraid of war reaching them. Alderaan was always seen as a beacon of hope, and continues to do be seen that way, despite the horror of the Clone Wars raging across the galaxy.
Alderaan's surface was consisted of wild grasslands and old mountain rangers, while the large oceans and inland seas allowed Alderaan to provide conditions for various creatures and plants. Multiple cities were placed mainly the mountain ranges of the planet since they provided good foundations. Among the list of cities was the capital of Aldera.
Unlike Corusant's metropolitan landscape that eliminated any chance of animal, or planet life, Aldera blended quite nicely with its mountainous surroundings. It was consisted of tall skyscrapers, including the royal palace that spread across the entire region with long tunnels that connected the buildings to each other. Hovercrafts flew all over the city to head towards their destinations for their drivers had errands to run. They paid little attention to the white palace that laid in the center of the planet's capital.
Within the white halls of the palace were servants and royal guardsmen of the Organa family attending to their errands, given to them by Viceroy Bail Organa himself. Strangely enough, these errands would keep them busy all day, unlike the usual tasks they were given. The subordinates of the Organa family never figured it out why they were given so many tasks, but to find out, all one would need to do as simply look into one of the palace's luxurious ballroom.
When looking inside, one could tell the special occasion was a wedding with the special decorations and the holy man amongst the attendants. There were a few trays of food placed on upon a small table, but it was enough to accommodate those inside the room. The final hint would be the young couple standing near a large cake, both of them taking their first slice.
The tall groom was a handsome man named Anakin Skywalker, and he was in in his early twenties with with a muscular built. His dirty blond blond hair went a little past his shoulders, and his blue eyes were filled with the same joy that he had on the rest of his fair-skinned face. One surprising detail would the dark brown Jedi robes Anakin wore, and the lightsaber he carried on his belt. As he and his newly-wedded wife took their first bite into their piece, Anakin's eyes moved to his newly-wedded wife.
Padme Nabierre-Skywalker was a beautiful young woman, as evident of her fair skin and her brown, silk hair that went passed her shoulders. However, Anakin was drawn to Padme's kindness, and he saw that in her green eyes and smile, making Anakin smile as well. He enjoyed the occasion he forgot about her green robes and the lightsaber she carried on her belt.
Two years ago, the Jedi were suffering from their losses on the Outer Rim front, and thus, began seeking recruits to increase their numbers. Among the recruits were Anakin and Padme, and it was how they first met.
At first, Anakin and Padme shared a simple friendship, but as their Jedi training progressed, their feelings for one another grew into something more. They eventually admitted to their feelings and began an intimate relationship in secrecy, because it was forbidden for Jedi to fall in love. Fortunately for them, their Jedi Masters did not agree with the Order's ban and kept their apprentices' relationship a secret.
Hearing a small chuckle, Anakin's eyes traveled from his beautiful wife to owner of the chuckle, Bail Organa. The Viceroy of Alderaan was a man in his mid-thirties with blue eyes and short brown hair that curled to the right as well as a goatee. For the wedding, Bail wore the flowing blue-gray robe of Alderaanian nobles with the crest of the House of Organa on it.
Alderaan's Viceroy was a good friend of Anakin's mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and in time a good friend of Anakin. Bail was a humble man, well known for keeping peace and freedom on his world, a trait which he tried to use in the Galactic Senate, in spite of the political corruption. It was also how the Viceroy agreed to Anakin and Padme's relationship and even hosted the wedding.
He was brought out of his thoughts when his wife's voice reached his ears. "Anakin?"
Anakin looked at his wife to see a small hint of concern on her face as she asked, "Is everything alright?"
The young Jedi only smiled at his wife, "Yeah. Everything is fine."
With that, Anakin's returned his attention to the cake in front of him as he began eating his piece. He remained unaware of the two Jedi Masters, standing far away from the table, near a corner of the ball room. The said Jedi Masters were the mentors of the newly wedded couple, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda.
Obi-Wan was a man in his early forties with a beard, whose brown color matched his combed, short hair. He wore his brown Jedi robes, the outer robe hiding his lightsaber, and his blue eyes shone with experience and wisdom, the same traits he tried to share with Anakin under his tutelage. The Alderaanian sun's ray shone through the window and hit his fair skin, illuminating it, but it did not bother Obi-Wan as he stared at Padme's own mentor.
The small, green creature named Yoda was nearly nine-hundred years ago, and for most of those decades, the Jedi Master had taught dozens of students, including Obi-Wan. Despite his small size, the Jedi Master carried much wisdom. Now, the ancient Jedi Master held onto his walking stick and his eyes were focused on the city-scape of Alderaan's capital.
"A dark storm approaches," he spoke as his grip on his walking stick tightened. "The Jedi will not survive this war, I fear."
Obi-Wan let out a soft sigh, for he knew what his old mentor was referring to. Ever since the beginning of the Clone Wars, Yoda began receiving visions of darkness and death through the Force, and it continued to haunt Yoda's dreams. It was the single reason why Yoda did not become involved in the Clone Wars at all, and simply remained training students at the Jedi Temple on Corusant.
Yoda tried to inform the Jedi Council of the visions, but his words fell on deaf ears as the Council became focused on the war effort. When the ancient Jedi tried to tell others, he found himself shunned by other Jedi, even those that were once his own pupils. Obi-Wan and Padme were the only exceptions as they took heed of Yoda's warnings. Padme actually decided not to get involved in the Clone Wars, but Obi-Wan constantly found himself and his student being pulled into the army.
"Master, you've done all you could," Obi-Wan told him. "You have brought this up to the Council."
The small Jedi could only shook his head in defeat as he turned around, his back facing the window. "Listen, they will not. Engulfed in this war, they have become."
The tone in Yoda's voice made Obi-Wan felt uncomfortable, for he sensed only defeat, something that he had not usually seen in his old teacher. "Then, what will you do?" Obi-Wan asked, looking away at the window.
For a few moments, Yoda remained silent as his eyes stared at the floor of the ballroom. Releasing some air through his nose, Yoda closed his eyelids and gave his answer. "Into exile, I will go. Be a part of this war, I refuse to."
Obi-Wan could only exhale a little as he slightly bowed his head and closed his eyes, as if Yoda had become one with the Force. While that was not the case, Obi-Wan would miss his mentor's old words of wisdom that he still provided to his old student. Things would not be the same without Yoda's presence in the Jedi Temple.
Looking over his shoulder, Yoda could sense the sadness in his old student, but it would not sway the decision he made. Yoda knew what he saw in his visions and he could no longer afford to stay in the presence of those who would no longer listen to him.
Deciding to change the subject, Yoda asked, "And what of you, my old student?"
Much like Yoda, Obi-Wan remained silent as he bit his lower lip, unsure of how his old mentor would react. After those moments of silence passed, Obi-Wan faced Yoda and gave his answer. "I'm to deploy from Corusant with Anakin in a few months," he replied. He continued, even though he could sense Yoda's disappointment. "I'm sorry master, but the war has called to me and my pupil. We can no longer ignore the Republic's call."
Yoda's reaction was very similar to Obi-Wan's when Yoda gave his former pupil his own answer. The ancient Jedi lowered his head, trying to take in the answer he was just given from one who he one mentored.
Opening his eyes, Yoda found himself staring at the table where the married Skywalker couple was enjoying their slice of cake. They both knew of the war engulfing the galaxy, but they had forgotten the war and were focused on enjoying their wedding. Yoda's shoulders relaxed a little at the sight of the newly wedded couple. "Worry, we should not," he told Obi-Wan. "Enjoy this moment of peace, we should."
Obi-Wan nodded in agreement with Yoda's words as he and the ancient Jedi Master approached the table to join the Viceroy and the two wedded Jedi.
Yet, neither of them could sense concern within Anakin as the young Jedi wondered how long the war would last. He wondered if things would go back to the way they were before the start of the Clone Wars.
Only time could tell.
AN: That's all I have for now. Please leave your thoughts in the reviews. Thank you.
Raika out!