Restoration of Light (Star Wars/Kylo Fanfic)

Chapter I: Takodana

"Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is" ~Yoda

"Daddy!" The small eight year old girl called out, searching with wide eyes - one light blue and one gentle brown - both scanning her surroundings wondering why she couldn't find them. She searched every nook, closet, dark place, she even went through the underground shelter hidden behind the large weigela bushes. Inside, outside, they were nowhere to be found. Standing in the middle of her family's colorful garden Azalea sighed in frustration, but she wouldn't give up now. She would be brave. Where could they be? Remembering her father's words, she closed her eyes tightly.

She could feel the warm spring sun on her head. She could hear the birds chirping. But she was trying to feel them. Trying to think.... then it clicked; she felt it. She opened her eyes and her heart raced when she looked down and saw her own shadow covered by a larger, dark one. She screamed and turned around, only to be yanked up and suffocated by large, muscular arms. Her desperate protests were muffled. "Let go, daddy!" she could hear her mommy and her little sister laughing. He swung her around and then set her down gently. Crossing her fragile arms, she pouted at him. "You're supposed to let me find you!"

"But you did little rebel," He picked her up again, putting her on his tall, strong shoulders, "we just decided to find you first!" This time her scream quickly turned to laughter as she placed her hands firmly on his sandy brown head of hair, and her sister jumped at her daddy's leg.

"Pick me up!" She yelled excitedly.

"This rebel fighter is all mine." her mother's musical laugh filled the space around them as she hoisted up the girls five year old sister, putting her on her shoulders as well.

Then she looked straight at the girl on her father's shoulders, calling her nickname. It sounded strange and distant.

"Kenna"

And again.

"Kenna..."

"Kenna!"

Shooting up quickly, Azalea's eyes snapped open, alert and searching for any present danger, but she was comforted- and slightly annoyed- when met with her mother's speckled brown eyes that matched her single brown one. She groaned and flopped back down onto the warm pillow, hoping to slip back into her dream of pleasant memories and home. After about three more seconds of peace, her mother ripped her covers off, exposing her to the cool morning air.

"Azalea McKenna Renegade, you're going to be late to your meeting with General Organa if you don't get up right now!" It's too early, she thought, the sun's not even coming through the window yet!

Groaning again, she rolled away from her mother and covered her head with the pillow, muffling her response.

"Moooooom, I set an alarm!"

"Oh really? Hmm." Sarcasm coated her words.. "It's 6:50."

Azalea shot up once more, now fully aware that there was definitely present danger. Jumping up from her cot, she frantically searched for her base uniform. Not only would being late make her look bad in front of her entire squadron, but she knew she would surely receive a personal scolding from General Organa, not to mention her mother. The two of them had lived at the resistance base on D'Quar since Azalea was about twelve years old. That was when the massacres started happening, and her mother decided that it was no longer safe for them on their home planet.