Saga A Galaxy in a Hundred Words--Ultimate Drabble Challenge, Repost

Title: A Galaxy in a Hundred Words
Author: SakuraTsukikage
Timeframe: all Saga, only Saga
Characters: various
Disclaimer: No matter what, they're not mine.
Notes: And I'm actually going to finish this time, too. I'm going to try to do a set a week. We'll see how that works out. Well, do or do not, or so they say.

Week 1--Anakin

Beginnings
Anakin peers carefully into the mirror, barely recognizing the boy that looks back at him. No longer the dusty slave boy from Tatooine; his sun-streaked hair cut short except for the braid that dangles behind his ear, his ragged tunic replaced with neat Jedi robes. He wonders what mom would think if she could see him now, all dressed up like a Jedi Padawan. He wonders if, somewhere, Master Qui-Gon is proud of him. He wonders if Padmé?Queen Amidala?will look at him differently.

He wonders if someday he?ll feel like a Jedi instead of just looking like one.

Middles
Padmé always smells like flowers, like the meadow where they?d picnicked what feels like so long ago now. Just a hint of her scent has clung stubbornly to his outer robe from the last time he was on Coruscant. Anakin sits in a dirty prefabricated cube of a shelter, the sounds of battle ringing in his ears and the scent of dust and blood and death stinging his nostrils, and buries his face in the rough, scratchy cloth, trying to hold onto the memories that faint whiff of her perfume evokes, memories of softness and laughter and light and love.

Ends
Fire is greedy, never satisfied, never content, always burning, destroying, devouring. Fire is treacherous and dangerous?all around him, shimmering in his throat, his lungs, his heart. Everything Anakin sees is fire, everything painted in shades of red, from dark shadows to blindingly brilliant heat. Even the figure walking away from him, giving him his back, is nothing so much as leaping flames in front of feverish eyes. Anakin tries to call out, tries to scream, but no sound leaves his cracked throat. He is dying, and Obi-Wan is leaving him. This is the end.

Darkness. Anakin Skywalker is dead.

First
The first thing Darth Vader sees when he opens his eyes, when, slowly, his vision focuses to rid him of the lingering images of flame that dance across them, is the face of his new master. He sees every detail in horrific clarity, every wrinkle and fold of tortured, pasty flesh, every sickly shade of the yellow eyes, every subtle contour of the expression that twists those features, so full of hollow concern. He and his master have both gone through an apotheosis into something terrible. Nothing can change that now, for he looks into the face of his future.

Last
The last things Darth Vader sees are the eyes of his son, the same far-away blue of the skies of Tatooine. Blue, like the blade of his lightsaber so very long ago, like the shimmering waterfalls of Naboo. He sees himself in those eyes, the way he used to look, tall and strong and proud, sees the trembling moisture of tears. His son is crying, crying for him. He doesn?t want him to cry, but he can?t seem to say anything more. Beyond the tears he thinks he sees more blue, friends and loved-ones long gone. He closes his eyes.

 

Week 2-Luke, Han, and Leia

Hours
?For your information, Captain Solo,? Leia?s voice travels into the hold with piercing clarity, ?I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself.?

?Oh yeah?? Han?s retort is quick and acidic, as if to take more than a few seconds to reply would be admitting defeat. ?I?ll bet you?ve never so much as broken a nail through hard work in your life, your Highness.?

Luke sighs to himself. Hours at most since they left the Death Star and already they?re fighting like a pair of sand panthers.

This trip to Yavin looks like it?s going to be a long one.

Days
A few days ago, he was just a farm-boy on Tatooine who dreamt far-away dreams. Now, he?s a hero of the Rebellion, the pilot who destroyed the Death Star, a Jedi-in-training. In a few days, he?s lost everyone and everything he?s ever known.

But a few days ago, Leia was a powerful and respected Imperial Senator. Now she is the only remaining royal of a dead planet, a hunted rebel leader. Even Han?a few days ago, the only thing he cared about was paying off his debts, but he hasn?t left the Alliance yet.

At least Luke?s not alone.

Weeks
Was it just weeks ago that he?d picked up an old man, a boy, and two droids in a cantina on Tatooine? Han can?t believe it as he leans against the Falcon and watches that same kid prep his x-wing for take off. In just a few weeks, the naïve farm-boy has become an efficient, experienced pilot.

Han feels someone come up beside him, but doesn?t bother to look?already, he?d know that t?il blossom perfume anywhere. Leia doesn?t say anything, but Han doesn?t mind her company, though he?ll never admit it.

A lot can change in a few weeks.

Months
It?s been months since Han was frozen in carbonite, but a lot of the time Leia still can?t believe it really happened. She still keeps expecting to hear his teasing voice behind her, to turn round to see his insolent smirk grinning at her out of those roguish features that have become so familiar. She keeps expecting Luke to give her his old bright, farm-boy smile, but Luke?s been quiet and withdrawn ever since Cloud City, and he?s only now starting to smile again. Leia?s had months to adjust, but she can?t. She wants her family back. Both of them.

Years
It?s been years since he left Tatooine, since he?d exclaimed over the ill-repair of an old Corellian freighter, been called ?a little short for a stormtrooper.? Those years have brought many changes, some for the better and some perhaps for worse?Luke flexes his mechanical right hand automatically. He has gained a father and lost him, gained power and realized that with it only comes pain.

Through it all, the cocky smile of a Corellian smuggler and the proud gaze of an Alderaanian princess have stayed beside him. Luke looks into the flames of an Ewok celebration fire, and smiles.

 

Very powerful stuff. Nice work.