Chapter Text
The cave of the Oracle stood tall against the desert winds. The sun burned down on the sands of Tatooine, which brushed up against the wide stony entrance to the cave. There was no light in the cavern besides the torches bearing pale flames. According to the legends, they should be green, though he couldn’t tell due to his mask. Silence reigned aside from the water dripping on the sides, forming miniature puddles everywhere you stepped. A slight breeze echoed throughout the rock passages, making them seem like they had a voices of their own.
Darth Vader, one of the most powerful Dark Wizards of all time, paid no attention to the oddities of the cave. He was here on a mission. He could sense the magic that permeated the air. It was the magic of an Oracle, one of the rarest types of wizards. With every step he took he could see brief visions- an Imperial starship flying and a flash of blonde hair- that he knew were of his future. The visions grew sharper the closer he got to the end of the cave, and he marched forward. Soon, he would speak to the Oracle, the one he’d been hunting for years.
He’d assumed for the longest time that the Oracles were extinct. After all, they were an incredibly unique kind of wizard, and it would not have been easy for any of them to find a teacher. But then he’d heard rumors of smugglers and bounty hunters receiving visions from an Oracle in the Tatooine desert, on the far edges of the Empire. Whispers about how a clever boy showed them their futures for some coin. How an Oracle showed them who’d they marry or when they’d have children or if they’d do anything with their pointless lives.
He shoved aside thoughts of how the Jedi- the holy order of all kinds of Light Wizards- believed he could’ve been an Oracle. He ignored how the images in the cave felt the same as the visions Anakin Skywalker had of his wife and child dying. Darth Vader was a Dark Wizard, and Dark Wizards did not care for such things.
The cave was a far cry from the bustling town of Mos Eisley. The Imperial base had given the town enough magic to power their droids and ships, but the cave lacked any technology. It looked like it was out of an old wives’ tale that Shmi Skywalker would’ve shared with her son, not the residence of one of the most powerful Wizards in the world.
A wide berth opened up. A dirty mat rested in the middle, surrounded by sand. He spotted a bunch of dirty clothes laying on the ground, and he frowned underneath his mask. The rumors had been right. This Oracle was just a boy. Vader examined the rest of the area. There didn’t seem to be any food or water, yet the place did not seem abandoned. Had the Emperor found the Oracle before him? He reached for his sword. Maybe it hadn’t been too long. Maybe he’d find the kidnappers and slaughter them where they stood, and then he could understand his future. Maybe-
“What are you doing in my cave?”
Vader turned around to see a boy in a ridiculous poncho staring at him. The child was holding a basket full of food, and he even shoved a piece of bread in his mouth. He was so tiny that Vader would have towered over him without his current black armor and helmet. “You-” he jabbed a finger at the child, “-you are the Oracle.”
The boy looked behind himself. “Ugh, yeah, who else would I be? Why are you in my cave? You have to make an appointment if you want a vision.”
Vader could not speak for a moment. This was the almighty prophet people told him about? A person who could read the book the gods had written and show others their future?
“I am Second in Command of the Imperial Forces!” He pointed again. “I do not need an appointment !”
The boy blinked. “Yeah, you do. Setting up visions can be a complicated thing. What kind of vision do you even want?”
“I want to see my future.”
The child rolled his eyes. “ What do you want to see, “Second in Command of the Imperial Forces?” Do you want to see how your marriage turns out? How your kids are?”
Vader thought of his unborn child, dead in their mother’s womb. “I do not need to know that.”
“Okay,” the boy said slowly. “Well, do you want to know if something works out? If you can achieve a specific goal? Or do you want a “where will I be in five years?””
He hesitated. He hadn’t spoken of his plans to anyone, but now he would have to reveal the truth to a boy so young he could be an infant. “I want to overthrow the Emperor. Tell me if I am successful.”
The Oracle gasped, mouth hanging wide open. “I- okay, so that’s a big ask, and-”
Vader gestured at his sword. “You will do it.”
“I don’t think I should-”
“You will!”
“No I won’t.” The green flames flared. “That would be a world-changing vision. I can’t mess with people’s lives like that.”
“I am going to overthrow the Emperor no matter what. I will reward you generously regardless of what you see.”
“Even if I see you failing?”
“I will find a way to succeed.”
“That’s not how my visions work.”
Vader loomed over the Oracle. “You don’t know me, child. But trust me: either the Emperor or I will be dead at the end of this year no matter what you show me. You can either receive the money or not.”
The boy bit his lip and closed his eyes. “I want an oath. With magic.”
Vader paused. Oaths were something Wizards did not do everyday. They were sacred, and if he broke one, he would suffer the gods’ wrath. “You have a deal.”
The boy stuck out his hand. “Sorry, Second in Command of the Imperial Forces-” Vader was going to have to tell the brat his title, “-you need to shake on it.”
He grasped the boy’s hand. “I, Darth Vader-”
“-Nice name-”
“Do promise to pay you immense wealth-”
“Be more specific.”
“Your weight in gold.”
The boy looked down at himself. “Gold is heavy. Give me my weight in diamonds.”
Vader would have to rob a few Imperial Lords of their wealth to do that, but he didn’t care. “Fine.” The Oracle nodded. “Your weight in diamonds in exchange for showing me my future.” Vader paused. “More specifically showing me if my attempt to kill the Emperor will be successful. I swear this on my life.”
“And I the same.”
A burst of green light erupted from their hands and consumed the room. As it faded, Vader stared down at the Wizard in front of him, whose eyes glowed with the same green light. The child smiled and brushed his shirt like he hadn’t just sworn an oath to the gods with a man that had slaughtered thousands. The boy- Vader had to learn his name- grabbed his food, and shoved his dirty clothes into another bag that was tucked in the corner. He then started to make his way out of the cave.
Vader rushed after him. They had a deal! Did the boy think he could cast away an oath so blithely?
“Why are you following me?” He looked like a child under the cave’s light. “I have to get home.”
“You are supposed to tell me my future! If you do not, then the gods will come after you.”
Silence. Then, “Oh, a vision like that is gonna take a while.”
Vader glared. He’d snuck away from the Imperial Fortress in the city of Mos Eisley just to see the Oracle, he could not afford to wait. “How long?”
“A vision like that- one that impacts the entire timestream- is going to need more power. I can only get that from the full moon.” He turned around and started walking out of the cave. “See you in three weeks, Second in Command!”
Vader stalked after the boy, rage burning through him. The Oracle had deceived him, just like the Jedi had, and he wanted the shadows to reach out and strange the boy-
Wait. They’d made an oath. If the boy had intent to show Vader his future, he couldn’t get away with killing him.
Insolent brat , he thought.
The boy stood outside the cave with his stupid food basket and bag of filthy clothes (Vader would have to show the child basic cleaning spells), fidgeting like he was waiting for something. “If you want to leave the desert, child, you actually have to walk. ”
The Oracle jumped, then smiled when he saw Vader. “Oh, I’m just- oh there he is!”
Vader looked up to see a krayt dragon with shiny silver and blue scales swoop down and land right in front of them. The child rushed towards the creature, who covered the boy in its saliva (Vader was definitely teaching him that cleaning spell.) The krayt dragon turned and time stood still.
Artoo, his dragon, stared back at him. No words came out as the dragon crept closer with the same silvery eyes he had twenty years ago, when Padmé had gifted him the hatchling during their wedding. The dragon bowed in front of Vader, just like Artoo had done during the war, when it was commonplace to ride dragons into battle instead of ships. How could he still be alive? The Emperor had ordered the execution of any dragon so that the Empire’s ships would be the only source of flight. Vader had not protested the order. Artoo had left him just like everyone else had.
“Woah,” the Oracle stared at Vader. “Artoo, you know this guy?”
I saw him hatch, he wanted to say, I flew him into battle, he is MINE-
“I knew him once.”
The child rubbed Artoo’s scales, and used ropes to secure his bags. “Well, hop on. We’re going back to the homestead.”
“I am not going anywhere with you, child-”
“My name is Luke, by the way.”
Vader paused. Luke . The name Padmé had wanted to name their child if they had a boy. And now this child- an Oracle - had the power that his child should’ve. It should’ve been Vader’s child with the power of the gods coursing through their veins, not this ridiculous upstart. “As I said, Luke , I am not going anywhere-”
Artoo rushed forward and Vader found himself on the dragon’s back. Luke laughed as he clutched the dragon’s scales like Vader had done before. “Artoo,” Luke whined. “You can’t just kidnap people!”
The dragon shot out a fireball in protest. One thing has not changed , Vader thought.
They flew over the small town of Mos Eisley. Vader could see the Imperial base in the background- had anyone noticed him gone?- but it was a speck in the corner of his eye. Instead, the dragon soared over the crowded market and raced toward the moisture farms. He could see Luke’s smile from behind, which made him scowl.
I would be a far better Oracle, he thought. At least I would treat the job with dignity.
The dragon landed near one of the moisture farms. Vader frowned as he got off the dragon. He did not stumble, unlike Luke, who fell off the dragon and hit the ground with a thud . Vader reached for the Oracle and pulled him up by the scruff. Luke smiled and grabbed his things from Artoo’s back. The dragon nodded then flew back into the air, not bothering to acknowledge Vader. The Dark Wizard turned away, not acknowledging the dragon either.
They were in front of a small homestead. A white dome covered a tiny speck that was the Oracle’s home, with generators buzzing on the side. He didn’t sense much magic remaining in the machines; they were likely ancient. Vader walked inside to see a cramped kitchen with plates and half-filled cups of blue milk scattered around, with no signs of any technology. The open windows let in the barest breeze- typical for Tatooine- but it made the doors rattle and creak every few seconds. Painted suns- the symbol of Tatooine- covered the ceiling. He glanced at the bits of sand scattered over the floor and stared back at the child.
“Welcome to my humble abode.”
“Humble is not the right word for it.” He paused. “I still need to get back to base.”
Luke turns around. “Artoo will be back to take you there. Eventually.”
“Eventually is not very specific, young one.”
Vader stopped. Young one ? He shoved the thought aside and jabbed a finger at the child. “The only reason I will not strike you down is because of our oath, but do not order that creature -”
“His name is Artoo.”
Vader did not think about how the dragon kept the name Anakin Skywalker had given him. “Do not order him to ever do that again.”
Luke frowned. It made him look even younger, somehow. “Well, you’re going to have to help me get all the materials for the spell.”
“Materials?” The shadows swirled around Vader. “First we have to wait weeks, now you are telling me we have to find materials for your spell? Are you even an Oracle, or are you a charlatan?”
The child glared. “I’m the only Oracle, Vader. Either you respect my magic or get out .”
Vader did not respond.
“And I’m not violating the oath,” he gestured to the suns on the ceiling. “You’re not the only one who doesn’t want to get killed by the gods.” Luke moved toward a bookshelf and pulled out an old book covered in dust. He spent a few moments frantically flipping through the pages until he landed on one with a drawing of a person burning in green fire. “This is it. High powered visions don’t just need a full moon.” Luke paused. “You know, I wonder how they figured this out-”
“Cease your ramblings.” If it wasn’t for his life support suit, he would have rubbed his temples. “I control the vast resources of the Empire. Say what you need and I will deliver it.”
“Oh.” The boy examined the book. “Well, I was gonna take Artoo and get it myself.”
“You are a child,” Vader said. “It will be more efficient if I get the supplies. What do you need?”
“Well, the first one is going to take a bit. The book says we need a batch of moonlilies.”
Vader froze. Moonlilies were found in only one kingdom of the Empire. The beautiful dark blue flowers only grew in Naboo. He would know. His wife and unborn child were buried in a grave of moonlilies. He remembered visiting their grave, clad in his tortuous suit after Obi-Wan had cast a fire curse on him, and seeing Padmé’s corpse. His angel laid in the flowers, clutching the japor snippet he’d given her when he discovered his magic. They’d been her favorite flower. Anakin Skywalker had never been good at plant magic, but he’d studied a spell to grow moonlilies for Padmé. Every night when he snuck into her home he’d offer her the flowers, just as any worshiper offered gifts to the gods.
That had been before the visions crept into his mind, feeding on his fears about their child and the Jedi. It was before Kenobi had betrayed him and destroyed his body. Before Vader’s magic had lashed out at Padmé, throwing her back into a wall when she tried to help him. The breeze picked up, and storm clouds rolled in. Vader shoved those memories aside. He could not show weakness in front of an Oracle. “I will go to Naboo and retrieve the item.”
“The word “flowers” are not going to kill you, Lord Vader. Also, I want to go with you!” The boy smiled like they were a team. Vader resisted the urge to snap the child’s neck.
“You will only slow me down.”
“In getting a flower?”
Vader did not want to listen to the child, but if he resisted too hard Luke would sense weakness. “Fine.”
Luke clapped his hands. “Great! I’ll call Artoo-”
“We are taking my ship. I am not wasting hours on that animal when starships are far quicker.” Of course, if the Emperor had caught him flying on a dragon instead of killing one, that could create issues with his Master.
“But-”
“Pack your things,” he said. Then he remembered Luke’s filthy laundry. “And clean your quarters. This pigsty is unbefitting of the Oracle.”
“Hey! Who do you think you are, my father?”
Vader turned around at that comment. He would not think of his unborn child. This was a mission to take control of the Empire, and he would not let an irritating Oracle get in the way. “You will order your ridiculous dragon to take me back to the base, and will meet me outside the base by the time the sun sets. If you are late I will leave without you.”
Luke did a mock salute. “Sounds fine, Second in Command.”
Thankfully, his respirator prevented him from sighing. Hopefully the child would forget and Vader could resolve the mission quickly. His old dragon landed beside the decrepit house, curling against the side. Artoo coughed a tiny bit of flame as Vader stepped outside. “Return me to the Imperial base, dragon.” Artoo snorted. “Perhaps I will spare your life.”
Artoo hissed. “Oh, he doesn’t mean it, Artoo,” Luke said. “I’ll see you tonight, Lord Vader!”
Vader prepared in his ship. He’d told Luke the coordinates to avoid risking breaking the Oath. The gods likely wouldn’t have an issue with him abandoning the Oracle, but it was never wise to anger the gods. His ship was outside the Imperial base, tucked away near the walls surrounding the base. The rest of the town looked radically different from when he was a child. Gone were the spread out buildings that allowed people to walk their dragons in the street. Now everything was packed together. Lights flickered in every home, not just the home of Wizards. Thieves didn’t roam the street using their magic to steal gold coins from helpless women. The Empire had brought peace and stability to Tatooine of all places.
He saw the faint outlines of runes etched into the ship- calling on the gods of wind and sky to protect the vessel in the air. Soon, he’d leave this despicable kingdom. Sand had already gotten into his suit, and Vader wanted to summon a tornado to destroy the town. But he couldn’t kill his Oracle. Not yet, anyway. The Oath would protect Luke right up until Vader paid him. Then, he’d dispose of the boy who knew Vader’s plans to become Emperor.
The night sky, littered with constellations that could only been seen in Tatooine, stared down at him. All Wizards could draw power from the stars. Obi-Wan had made him meditate under the night sky for hours when Vader was a child. His old Master had said he would be able to draw power from them. It rarely worked. Instead, he looked to the stormy skies of Kamino and the vicious winds of Kashyyyk for power. But Oracles were different. Only a select few received the gods’ blessing to peer through time.
It was not right that Luke could see the future. The Jedi had told Vader that he had the potential to become an Oracle, and he had no doubt his unborn child could have been one. That power did not belong to a scrawny boy who did not know how to wash his clothes.
I may teach you a secret, my friend , the Emperor had told him. I have heard rumors…legends…that a Dark Wizard can take the power of any other magic user. It seems like a useful ability.
A loud knocking sound on the side of his ship jolted him out of that thought. Luke waved at Vader, still behaving like a foolish child. Their Oath ensured Vader had to pay Luke. It did not say that he could steal the child away and use his power for Vader’s benefit.
“Hey, Vader.” Luke plopped down in the seat. “How far is Naboo? I’ve heard it’s two days via ship, but with Artoo-”
“Silence.”
Luke’s eyes were blue like Anakin Skywalker’s. He knew it in his bones despite the suit. There had to be the same idiocy and naivete in this child as there had been in Anakin. The boy had already agreed to be alone with a Dark Wizard for far too long, and no amount of future vision could save Luke from Vader’s power. Soon, the power of the gods in his hands.