genderswap, because I deserve it
I aced two exams and an essay, and finished the other essay. So I feel that I deserve my casual, episodic fantasy genderswap crammed full of heroines and villainesses.
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Title: Once Upon A Time (3/?)
Fanverse: Once Upon A Time (fantasyland genderswap AU)
Blurb: This is the chapter wherein we rehash slightly-altered canon, with a tiny bit of world-building on the side, and crawl towards the plot.
Pairings/warnings: none
Length: 682 words
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The hologram vanished.
For a long moment, Obiwa stared at the spot where it had been. Then she sighed, squaring her shoulders, and turned to Lucy with a meaningful smile.
“You must learn the ways of the Force if you are to come with me to Alderaan,” she said.
“Alderaan?” Lucy laughed. “I’m not going to Alderaan! I’ve got to get home. It’s late, I’m in for it as it is.”
“I need your help, Lucy,” said Obiwa. She paused. “He needs your help.”
Lucy glanced at the demons, longing writ large across her face, then grimaced. “I can’t get involved. I’ve got work to do! It’s not that I like the Empire - I hate it - but there’s nothing I can do right now! And - and it’s all such a long way from here.”
“That’s your aunt talking,” Obiwa said coolly. “Learn about the Force, Lucy.”
Lucy picked up the sword. Obiwa had given her this, given her mother back to her. Her real mother, not the dreary merchant Rowena had invented. It was - she couldn’t even describe what it was. She could never repay her for that, but she had to do something.
She bit her lip. “I can take you as far as the Anchor’s Head. It’s not on the water, but you should be able to hire a transport to Mos Eisley or wherever you’re going. You can get a ship from there.”
“You must do what you feel is right, of course,” said Obiwa.
#
Governor Tarkin stalked into the room, sweeping a cold glance over her fellow officers. To the horror of all, Lady Vadé followed closely behind her.
“The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us,” Tarkin said dismissively. “The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.”
Respectful silence exploded into astonishment.
“Impossible!”
“What about - ”
“When will we - ”
“How will the Empress retain control with the bureaucracy?”
“Fear will keep the local cities in line,” said Tarkin. “Fear of this fortress’ weapon.”
“The the Empress - ”
“Nothing can stop this now - ”
“The Rebels will try to exploit - ”
“This weapon is now the ultimate power in the world!” Admiral Motti said with a smirk. “I suggest we use it.”
Lady Vadé gave her an unfriendly look - which, despite the mask, was immediately recognizable as such. “Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed,” she said sharply. “The ability to destroy a city is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
Motti sneered. “Don’t try to frighten us with your sorceress’ ways, Lady Vadé. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen papers, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the Rebels’ hidden fort-”
Her eyes bulged and she gasped for air, clutching at her throat.
“I find your lack of faith disturbing,” said Vadé.
#
Lucy’s horrified eyes went from the caravan, to the slaughtered Jawas and demons, to the clusters of arrows, too deeply embedded to retrieve. Behind her, Arta keened and Cipia tried to console her between her own whimpers.
Obiwa was saying something. “-to hide their numbers. Only Imperial archers are so precise.”
“I don’t understand.” Lucy’s mind felt cold and dull. She could hardly grasp at her own thoughts, hardly think at all, but something - there was something, glimmering at the edges of her stupor. “Why would Imperial troops want to slaughter Jawas?”
By instinct, she glanced behind her, and met Cipia’s horrified yellow eyes.
“If they traced the demons here, they may have learned who they sold them to,” she said slowly. “And that would lead them back - ” the realization blazed through her mind - “home!”
She dropped everything but her mother’s sword, and started running.
“Lucy, no! Wait! It’s too dangerous!”
She didn’t even know - or care - who had spoken. Lucy sprang on her horse and raced home, the wind burning against her face, her sluggish thoughts now tumbling over each other so fast that she couldn’t catch them.
“Aunt Rowena! Uncle Beren! Aunt Rowena!”
----------------------
Title: Once Upon A Time (3/?)
Fanverse: Once Upon A Time (fantasyland genderswap AU)
Blurb: This is the chapter wherein we rehash slightly-altered canon, with a tiny bit of world-building on the side, and crawl towards the plot.
Pairings/warnings: none
Length: 682 words
-----------------------
The hologram vanished.
For a long moment, Obiwa stared at the spot where it had been. Then she sighed, squaring her shoulders, and turned to Lucy with a meaningful smile.
“You must learn the ways of the Force if you are to come with me to Alderaan,” she said.
“Alderaan?” Lucy laughed. “I’m not going to Alderaan! I’ve got to get home. It’s late, I’m in for it as it is.”
“I need your help, Lucy,” said Obiwa. She paused. “He needs your help.”
Lucy glanced at the demons, longing writ large across her face, then grimaced. “I can’t get involved. I’ve got work to do! It’s not that I like the Empire - I hate it - but there’s nothing I can do right now! And - and it’s all such a long way from here.”
“That’s your aunt talking,” Obiwa said coolly. “Learn about the Force, Lucy.”
Lucy picked up the sword. Obiwa had given her this, given her mother back to her. Her real mother, not the dreary merchant Rowena had invented. It was - she couldn’t even describe what it was. She could never repay her for that, but she had to do something.
She bit her lip. “I can take you as far as the Anchor’s Head. It’s not on the water, but you should be able to hire a transport to Mos Eisley or wherever you’re going. You can get a ship from there.”
“You must do what you feel is right, of course,” said Obiwa.
#
Governor Tarkin stalked into the room, sweeping a cold glance over her fellow officers. To the horror of all, Lady Vadé followed closely behind her.
“The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us,” Tarkin said dismissively. “The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.”
Respectful silence exploded into astonishment.
“Impossible!”
“What about - ”
“When will we - ”
“How will the Empress retain control with the bureaucracy?”
“Fear will keep the local cities in line,” said Tarkin. “Fear of this fortress’ weapon.”
“The the Empress - ”
“Nothing can stop this now - ”
“The Rebels will try to exploit - ”
“This weapon is now the ultimate power in the world!” Admiral Motti said with a smirk. “I suggest we use it.”
Lady Vadé gave her an unfriendly look - which, despite the mask, was immediately recognizable as such. “Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed,” she said sharply. “The ability to destroy a city is insignificant next to the power of the Force.”
Motti sneered. “Don’t try to frighten us with your sorceress’ ways, Lady Vadé. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen papers, or given you clairvoyance enough to find the Rebels’ hidden fort-”
Her eyes bulged and she gasped for air, clutching at her throat.
“I find your lack of faith disturbing,” said Vadé.
#
Lucy’s horrified eyes went from the caravan, to the slaughtered Jawas and demons, to the clusters of arrows, too deeply embedded to retrieve. Behind her, Arta keened and Cipia tried to console her between her own whimpers.
Obiwa was saying something. “-to hide their numbers. Only Imperial archers are so precise.”
“I don’t understand.” Lucy’s mind felt cold and dull. She could hardly grasp at her own thoughts, hardly think at all, but something - there was something, glimmering at the edges of her stupor. “Why would Imperial troops want to slaughter Jawas?”
By instinct, she glanced behind her, and met Cipia’s horrified yellow eyes.
“If they traced the demons here, they may have learned who they sold them to,” she said slowly. “And that would lead them back - ” the realization blazed through her mind - “home!”
She dropped everything but her mother’s sword, and started running.
“Lucy, no! Wait! It’s too dangerous!”
She didn’t even know - or care - who had spoken. Lucy sprang on her horse and raced home, the wind burning against her face, her sluggish thoughts now tumbling over each other so fast that she couldn’t catch them.
“Aunt Rowena! Uncle Beren! Aunt Rowena!”