Star Wars: The Last One...

Chapter 4

The Car' bumped slightly each time it met a rock, a hole or something in the way. They hadn't reached the Corridor yet and it seemed like they were on this trip for years. Still, only a few hours had passed. Wearing her blue travel attire, Padmé's brown eyes looked at the lifeless landscape by the pane of the small window. Dormé, Ellé and Sabé were talking happily about Coruscant and the love of their life they were maybe found there while Teckla, who was actually fiancé, listen to them with a bright smile on her face. Still, Padmé couldn't join thir happiness. The events of last night had  disturbed her more than she expected it too...

"I think... I think she is Force-Sensitive..."

"Sacrilege!" said a calm voice behind her.

The family's heads turned toward the door, confused. The priest stood there, calm and pacific, his face neutral and his eyes looked at them with experience. He gracefully walked toward the young princess, his long, snowy robe with golden ribbons flew harmoniously with each of his movement. He eyed the small troup meticulously. Then, he looked intently into Padmé's chocolate eyes, putting a hand on her shoulder and the other over his heart.

"My dear, the Ashla forgive you for this misunderstanding. What you said have no sense, you know like all adults that it's just a tale for children. Force-Sensitivity, Jedi, Sith or whatever it was called, wasn't true. No one can use what only the Ashla have."

Padmé sighed nervously, bowed to the priest, knowing that what he said was right. She knew this was all a tale but in the library... She didn't understand, it was mentionned in a book... and not a book for children. She felt the priest's hand gently caressed her cheek in a gracefull movement of forgiveness.  

"Eminence, I..." replied the princess of Theed, looking up at him "I read in a book that what me and my friends handmaidens Dormé, Ellé and Teckla had seen were the first sign of a Force-Sensitive and I was thinking that..."

She stayed quiet, searching an explanation in the priest's wise eyes. She only saw a slight frown on his face, something she hadn't seen since he had teach her the way of the Ashla, the way of forgiveness and compassion... the way of a selfless life. Normally, he always knew what to say, what advice he should gave to help people and what to do in any case. He was her father's first advisor and friend, he had helped everyone she know, he had made her what she was now: a determinate, golden hearted woman who favorized negotiations before fights but wouldn't disappear if it had to come to it, a woman who fight for her people. Seeing like this, perplex, unsure, made her feel strange. 

All eyes were on him, waiting for the same thing as her. Padmé could see hope in her sister's eyes, maybe Pooja wasn't lost... maybe she could still be in the grace of the Ashla. Suddenly, the priest's face lit up and a growing smile in his face. 

"You were misinformed, your highnest." said the priest in a gesture of understanding. "What you and your friend had seen is the first sign of a person who have the characteristic of a mystic."

"Explain yourself, Mr Bibble, please." said the king, confused.

The priest shiften toward him, his hands in a harmonial position. "Well what his highness had read is true, for a mystic." He turned toward Sola and Darred. "Your daughter had a great future in front of her, if you let me bring her to our temple here on Naboo. She will learn to control her gift from the Ashla and help people."

"A member of the Brave Circle?" asked Darred with excitement. 

Mr Bibble nodded. Sola sighed in relief. They accepted the priest's request. The Brave Circle. Pooja will be one of them, that gave so much pride to her parents. A mystic was something special, unique, really praised by the population. Her daughter's future will be assured. Padmé was happy too, her niece wouldn't have to face the casual terms of a princess' life.