Anakin tried his best not to explode with anger. Carefully, he closed his eyes and let loose a long, drawn out breath.

"I...guess we should start looking for her?" Luke asked timidly.

Opening his eyes, Anakin stared at his son and how guilty he looked. He sighed. "Of course. And Luke...it's not your fault. I'm sure, wherever she is, she's perfectly alright."

Han scoffed. "Knowing Her Majesty, she'll probably find her way back here and then get mad at us for wasting time looking for her."

Luke smiled a bit at that, trying to stay his usual optimistic self. Han turned to one of the Rebel officers, letting him know about the situation. The officer nodded and then started yelling orders to the other rebels in the strike team.

"Alright, we meet back at the shield generator at 0300. That should give us plenty of time to find Leia." Han explained to Luke, Anakin, and Chewie.

The three nodded, and Luke turned to his astromech. "Come on, Artoo. We'll need your scanners." Artoo beeped in affirmative and trailed after his Master, Threepio and the beginnings of his complaints following as well.

***

A strange little furry face with huge black eyes peered slowly over the log, staring curiously at the prone form of Princess Leia. The creature was an Ewok by the name of Wicket. Wicket was somewhat puzzled by the Rebel woman, and cautiously approached her, prodding her with his spear. The princess suddenly groaned, startling the stubby ball of fuzz back a few feet before he prodded her again.

Leia groaned as she blinked her eyes open, a blurry view of the sky and the tall tops of trees coming into view. Slowly, she sat up, moaning at the sudden pain ripping through her temples.

Her clothes were torn and her hair was disheveled under her helmet, covered in twigs and leaves. Quickly, she inspected herself for injuries, wondering where she had landed when she jumped off her speeder. 'Oh stars, the others are probably sick with worry. How long was I out?'

Before she could think too hard on that thought, something shifted in the corner of her eye. Her hand instantly went to her side, hesitant on picking her blaster up.

As she looked closer, she suddenly noticed the three-foot-high Ewok staring at her with scared black eyes, wondering what she was going to do. However, once Wicket's eyes caught sight of the blaster on the princess's hip, he jumped up and grabbed his four-foot-long spear once more, holding it in a defensive position. Leia watched the creature with a bemused expression as he circled her warily and begun poking her with the sharp point of the spear.

Leia, suddenly annoyed, pushed the spear away. "Cut it out!"

She stood up then, brushing herself off and watching as the Ewok drew back nervously, not realizing she had been taller than she looked. Leia smiled at the thought, glad to be taller than someone for once. Even Luke was rather short and still managed to best her in height.

However, a sudden stab of guilt hit her as she looked at the terrified Ewok. Sympathy replaced anger, and Leia smiled kindly at the creature. "I'm not gonna hurt you." She whispered the promise, trying to look genuine.

Once she was satisfied that the creature had been temporarily eased, she began looking around to see if her speeder had survived the crash. She sighed as the charred remains of the bike caught her eye. So much for that. She had no idea where she was at the moment, still disoriented from the small concussion she had received while falling.

Exhausted, Leia collapsed into a sitting position on the log. Wicket stared at her, wary yet intrigued. "Well, looks like I'm stuck here. Trouble is, I don't know where here is." Leia said, wondering if the creature spoke or understood Galactic Basic.

She put her head in her hands to rub away some of the soreness from her fall, wondering if Luke and Anakin had been successful chasing the scouts they had gone after. For her, after seeing the remains of two speeder bikes, she knew she must've been successful with hers. After a minute, she looked over at the watchful little Ewok and smiled, patting the log beside her invitingly.

"Well, maybe you can help me. Come on, sit down." Leia said, casting her warm brown eyes into the creature's panicked black ones. Despite the princess's attempts, Wicket still held his spear up warily and growled at her like a puppy. Leia simply patted the log again.

"I promise I won't hurt you. Now come here." She tried again, trying to think of a better tactic than talking. Suddenly, an idea sparked in her mind and she dug into the pouch on her belt, drawing out a ration bar. "You want something to eat?"

Wicket perked up at that, lowering his spear hesitantly and sniffing at the food in Leia's hand. Leia smiled. "That's right. Come on. Hmm?"

Finally giving in, Wicket strolled up to the princess, climbing up onto the log beside her and tentatively taking the bar from her hand. He nibbled on it lightly and Leia smiled, using the distraction to take off her helmet.

However, the simple action must've radiated as a threat to the little creature, because he immediately squeaked in alarm and jumped off the log, aiming his spear back at her and chittering in his native language. Leia blinked in confusion, holding out the helmet to the startled Ewok.

"Look, it's a hat. It's not gonna hurt you. Look." Wicket peered at the object and scowled, looking at the princess with untrustworthiness. "You're a jittery little thing, aren't you?" Leia asked, chuckling as Wicket lowered his weapon once more. He moved towards Leia's hat, inspecting it for any tricks, when his ears suddenly perked up and he sniffed around, whispering a warning in Ewokese.

"What is it?" Leia whispered, keeping her voice down in case what the Ewok heard was Imperials. Or what if it was the others finally finding her?

Then, out of nowhere, a laser bolt came out of the foliage and exploded on the log next to Leia. Leia jumped in surprise, but didn't dare scream, quickly rolling off the log and hiding behind it, Wicket following her lead. Leia pulled out her blaster then, her finger tight and ready to pull the trigger. She barely noticed Wicket disappear under the log, taking his own mode of self-defense. Another shot blasted off the log, causing Leia to duck down further, her heart pounding in her chest. Where were those shots coming from?

A strange feeling suddenly began to swirl in the back of her mind, trying to tell her something. She mentally reached for it, trying to know what it was, and then whirled around, listening to her instincts. Her eyes widened as they fell on a pair of white boots standing before her. "Freeze!" She looked up to see an Imperial scout standing above her, his blaster aimed at her head. He reached a hand out, gesturing for Leia's weapon. Scowling, Leia handed it over. "Come on, get up scum!"

Rolling her eyes and putting her hands up, she slowly got to her feet. A second scout emerged from the foliage as well, his gun also pointed at Leia.

"Go get your ride and take her back to base." The first scout said to the second one.

"Yes sir." The second scout said with a salute, starting towards his bike.

Just as the scout approached the speeder and Leia thought she was really in trouble, her Ewok friend, Wicket, extended his spear from his hiding spot under the log, and jabbed at the scout still aiming his blaster at Leia. The scout exclaimed in surprise, looking frantically around for his attacker. Realizing it had been a distraction, Leia quickly bent down and picked up a large branch, clubbing the scout unconscious as he turned back to her. A revving engine caught her attention, and she took her blaster back from the collapsed scout.

She quickly aimed it at the scout taking off on his speeder and fired multiple times, getting a shot off on the back of the bike. The scout screamed in terror as his bike went out of control and hit the first scout's bike, causing both bikes to explode with him still on it.

A startling silence engulfed the forest once again. A curious, fuzzy head peeked from behind the log, regarding Leia with a new respect. An awed mumble came from him and Leia chuckled lightly, wiping her brow and breathing out her relief. The princess quickly scanned around the forest to make sure there were no more threats, and finally approached Wicket's hiding spot.

"Thank you." She smiled. "Now come on, let's get out of here." She gestured him to follow her into the foliage, not exactly knowing where she was going, but knowing she had to leave the scene in case more Imperials arrived.

Before she could go very far however, a small paw tugged on her sleeve and she looked down to see Wicket gesturing her in a different direction. He chittered something and Leia gave in. "Alright, you lead the way."

And with that, Leia found herself trailing after the small Ewok and into the depths of the forest.

***

Darth Vader walked down the corridor towards the Emperor's Tower and private elevator. He had just reached the entrance when the Emperor's private guard stepped in his path. He scowled under his mask, not having the patience to deal with the Emperor's 'maximum security'.

"Halt! The Emperor does not wish to be disturbed at the moment." The guard said firmly, unconcerned by the fact that he was speaking to the Emperor's second-in-command.

Vader, having no time for such insolence, simply raised his gloved hand and choked the two guards behind the main one, grinning in satisfaction as he felt the snaps of their necks. Their tracheas closed mercilessly under his Force grip and they instantly fell to the floor, dead.

The main guard when a few shades paler, yet tried his best to look calm. "The Emperor will see me, now!" Vader snapped, narrowing his eyes and trying to get a good clear of the man's terrified face through his tinted ocular lenses.

Stuttering pitifully, the guard moved towards the elevator button. "T-the Emperor will s-ss-see you, n-now."

Vader snarled under his breath, strolling into the throne room with anger radiating off of his form. "That's what I thought."

Two red Imperial Guards were standing watch at the elevator when the door opened to reveal Vader. The Sith Lord entered the eerie, foreboding throne room, in no way intimidated by it. Even though it appeared to be empty, he knew better. His heavy footsteps echoed as he approached the throne, and he waited, staying absolutely still. The Emperor sat with his back to the Dark Lord, staring pensively out of the giant viewport before him.

"I told you to remain on the command ship." The Emperor said slowly, his voice tight.

"A small Rebel force has penetrated the shield and landed on Endor, Master." Vader said, bowing slightly to express his apology.

No surprise flickered in Sidious' face as he stared at his apprentice. "Yes, I know."

There was a beat of silence before Vader spoke again, this time more hesitantly. "My son is with them."

The spinning throne turned around, and Sidious raised an eyebrow, interested. "Are you sure?"

"I have felt him, my Master." Vader said darkly, waiting for the punchline. "And Anakin Skywalker as well."

The Emperor cackled sadistically. "Both Skywalkers on the moon of Endor...strange, that I have not sensed them as you have. I wonder if your feelings on this matter are clear, Lord Vader."

"They are clear, my Master." Vader said, trying to keep his calm.

Sidious continued to study the suited man, interested in his reactions to all the news. " Well then you must go to the Endor moon and wait for them."

"They will both come to me?" Vader asked, sounding skeptical.

"I have foreseen it. Luke's compassion for you will be his undoing. He will come to you, and then you will bring him before me. Anakin will not be far behind him...his parental instincts are already coming in early."

Anakin's mere name sent shivers down Vader's spine. Oh how he longed to kill him...but he couldn't. And Luke...his son...would he really be reckless enough to come back? He sighed and cast away his thoughts, bowing low to his Master. "As you wish."

The Dark Lord strode out of the throne room and Sidious smirked behind him.

He had won.

•••

A/N

WICKET!!!!

More Ewoks next! Ugh, I just love the fuzzy things.

<3

PS - Thanks for 3K on Sacrifice!!!

May the Force be with You,

- lucky_ducky_123