#he walked straight out of his knighting to go ask Aayla to be his padawan

[kingofattolia]

Quinlan and Aayla are the original Anakin and Ahsoka. Quinlan being Obi-Wan's age, and Aayla being seven years older than Anakin, Quinlan is only NINE years older than her. Legends Wookieepedia says he took her as his padawan when she was 10, which is patently ridiculous. Even if we age her up to a more new-canon-consistent age, that still gives us 23yo Quinlan and his 14yo padawan. Disaster duo. Terrifying gremlin pair.

[prfctparis]

Red Jell-O and A Trip to the Healers

AO3 Link

summary: in which mace windu spends part of night with two of the most stubborn kids in the jedi order. if he had any hair, they might make him go gray within the hour.

a/n: ok so basically, lately my mind has been super duper focused on my star wars au (which exists solely in my head right now) where anakin doesn’t turn to the dark side mostly bc he has a little sister (aka my oc zariza) and other factors, and instead of rambling about that for paragraphs on end i’ll just say: this is a drabble/one shot thing that takes place in that au, but years before the clone wars begins. if you’re curious, and if i did my math right, anakin is 14 here and zariza is 10. but yeah, hope u enjoy reading this!

Master Jedi Mace Windu stares at the young girl with a carefully blank expression. The youngling – an initiate, no older than ten, if he remembers correctly – stares back, almost as if she is daring him to say something, which… Doesn’t surprise him. Not in the slightest. This is Skywalker Number Two, after all, and even though she is much quieter than her older brother, she no doubt causes as much mayhem as he does.

He just wants a snack. He ran out of them in his own quarters. Looking at the young girl, something tells him he won’t be getting the snack.

Mace refrains from sighing.

This is not how he thought his night was going to go.

“Initiate Skywalker,” he begins, hoping it comes off as a greeting than a silent reprimand. “What a coincidence it is seeing you here.”

Her dark eyes narrow the slightest bit. The expression simultaneously looks like Anakin yet nothing like him at all.

Honestly, though he is loath to admit it, sometimes he forgets the two are brother and sister. After all, they hardly look anything alike – different fathers, he remembers Master Healer Che explain to him and the Council members when they were wondering if they were actually related. Anakin has blond hair that is bleached light from his years on Tatooine yet now is slowly darkening with age, and bright blue eyes and tanned, fair skin, whereas his sister has wild and wavy dark brown hair that almost looks black with eyes to match, and light brown skin. She also has abnormally sharp canines for a human – no doubt a hint at whatever type of alien race that is in her blood; they have yet been able to figure it out.

They both do that damn stubborn chin tilt thing, though.

It can be…aggravating, to say the least, when someone is trying to get them to do something and they don’t want to.

Mace gives into sighing when she doesn’t budge. “Zariza,” he tries again, “what are you doing? It is midnight.”

The stubborn chin tilt stays. Kriff. “I could ask you the same thing,” she says.

“You should be sleeping.”

“…So should you.”

“Skywalker.”

“Window.”

Mace’s brow twitches. Okay. Okay, he can deal with a ten year old. He successfully taught Depa, didn’t he?

(Then again, Depa hadn’t been a child who was hell bent on infuriating him on purpose; she had also been thirteen, and the only chaos she brought and still brings are the occasional pranks on him and the jokes about his bald head; luckily the padawan drama ended with the beginning of her Knighthood.)

If only Master Rheba Toome was available – or Kenobi. They both have somehow managed to become the designated Skywalker Wranglers, as Master Koon had once said after an incident when a slightly murderous droid with a flesh eating plant attached to it got loose in the Temple last year.

An idea comes to him suddenly. “You tell me why you are in the Temple’s kitchens so late, and I will say nothing to your crèche master. I might even let you leave with what you came for–,” he doesn’t miss the subtle yet sudden jolt of suspicious relief, “–but if you don’t, I will take you out of here myself and speak to Crèche Master Aryn the moment we get back to your clan.”

There’s a long, tense silence where Zariza debates with herself in her head. So long that Mace wonders if he will have to repeat himself. Then, “Ani’s sick.”

That…is not what Mace had been expecting. He raises a brow. “He is?”

She nods, and points to the fridge a few feet away. “And he likes the red jell-o.”

“Is he in the Halls?” Mace asks, growing slightly concerned because Obi-Wan got sent out to a solo mission just the day before and Padawan Skywalker hadn’t been allowed to go. He didn’t put up much of a fight, which shocked yet pleased everyone. Now, he knows possibly why he didn’t, and that makes the situation slightly worrying.

Zariza opens her mouth, pauses, closes it with pursed lips, and shakes her head no.

“And why isn’t he?”

She shrugs, a bit defensively. “I dunno. Probably thinks he’s fine. He went to his lessons all day – Aayla tried talking him into going to Healer Bant but it didn’t work.”

Mace frowns with furrowed brows, but quickly smooths his expression when gets a sense of guilt and shame and a vague impression of an apology, though he doesn’t know what for. He kneels down without a second thought, and hates (that’s not the Jedi way–) how her chin is tilted down, eyes casted to the side, as if expecting some harsh punishment for…what? Caring for her brother? Telling Mace that he’s sick? If he was any less of a Jedi, the ones who enslaved the Skywalkers would be six feet under.

He makes sure to release the anger into the Force before speaking again; he will need to meditate later. “I am not upset with you, little one. Not anymore, at least. I’m simply concerned about your brother’s health right now,” he assures her.

Zariza huffs, still looking away, but she’s no longer tucking her chin into her chest. “So am I,” she mumbles petulantly. “S’why I want the red jell-o. He likes it.”

“So you have said. Can you tell me how he was feeling last time you saw him? Or in your Force bond, right now?”

“Uh… Sick.” A beat; Mace refrains from spouting a heavily sarcastic remark to a ten year old. “Um. He threw up once he got back to his and Obi-Wan’s rooms. Said something ‘bout being really, really tired earlier. He’s sleeping now.”

Mace hums, and stands up. “All right. Well then, let’s go. I want to check on him, and if needed I will be taking him to the Halls of Healing.”

Zariza frowns as she finally looks at him, but then her eyes travel to the fridge. There’s a silent question there. She goes to ask it but stops herself, and nods. “Okay,” she says instead, almost a mumble, and turns to leave.

He watches her for a second, glances at the fridge that holds the red jell-o, and then moves to walk beside her. “If I was sure it would not upset his stomach, I would let you take some jell-o to him now. But… Maybe tomorrow, if he is feeling better, you can.”

As she tilts her head to look up at Mace in surprise, he makes sure to stare straight ahead. “…Really?”

Mace nods. Then, looks down at her and gives her the barest of smiles. “Really.”

Zariza’s eyes narrow once again. “You promise?”

“I promise– but only if he feels better,” he emphasizes when she starts to grin. “No other time than that.”

“What if he asks for some and he doesn’t feel better?”

Patience, he reminds himself as they walk through the sun halls of the Temple. “Then ask Master Healer Che, or one of the other Healers.”

He gets silence as a response and he glances down to make sure she hasn’t suddenly run off. It’s happened before with her crèche master and Master Rheba Toome and Knight Kenobi – one could say she has a knack for simply sneaking off at the most random times – and he would very much dislike if she snuck away from him in the dark hallways. But, she’s still at his side, clearly thinking about something. Hopefully about what Mace just said and not about putting another flesh eating plant on a half working droid of Anakin’s.

“…What if there aren’t any Healers around?”

“There will be.”

“But what if there aren’t?” she presses.

Mace sighs quietly, hopefully enough to where Zariza doesn’t notice. “Then wait for one.”

More silence. Another glance. She’s still there.

“…I guess I can do that,” she says.

That is, well, kind of concerning. But better than the girl outright disagreeing with him, that’s for sure.

The rest of the walk to Knight Kenobi’s and Padawan Skywalker’s room is done in silence. Mace acknowledges the nocturnal Jedi with a nod, and Zariza shyly waves at the ones who notice her. When they get there Zariza let’s herself in, unlocking the quarters with zero problem, and hurries inside. Mace follows at more relaxed pace. He notices as she takes one look at the living area’s couch, frowns, and makes her way to the little hallway. Mace looks as well, and notices the padawan’s abandoned holopads for a few of his lessons, as well as just a general mess of the area that one would expect from a 14 year old when left alone.

Zariza speaking tears Mace’s attention away from the mess.

“Why the kark are you lying on the bathroom floor? ”

“E chu ta, Zari! None of your business.”

Ah. Huttese cuss words. Nothing unusual, but still.

“Watch your language, young ones,” Mace reprimands lightly, and makes his way to the bathroom where Anakin, indeed, lying on the bathroom floor.

Anakin groans. “Ah, chuba, why’d you bring him?” He sounds pitiful, so much so that it comes out as a whine more than anything. He’s sweating, too, and sickly pale, with visible bags under his eyes from where Mace and Zariza stand at the bathroom entrance. By the smell, Mace and tell that he’s thrown up again. None of is visible, so he’s sincerely hoping Anakin made it to the toilet in time and flushed.

“Because you’re a sick koochoo,” Zariza says.

“Language,” Mace says almost absentmindedly.

She huffs and crosses her arms. “I only called him an idiot.”

“I’m not sick,” the teen denies. It’s a weak argument. Mace can only raise an eyebrow. “And I’m not an idiot, either!” Raising his voice defensively sends Anakin into a coughing fit that ends rather quickly. He groans and curls into a ball, all the while keeping his face on the tile flooring.

Zariza rolls her eyes. “And I’m Jabba.”

Mace sighs and enters the bathroom. He crouches down to Anakin, and places the back of his hand on the boy’s forehead. He jerks away just as quickly, though that doesn’t keep Anakin from making a pitiful sound at the loss of contact. Mace’s lips form a thin line. “I think it’s best if I take you to the Healers, Padawan Skywalker,” he says.

“Nooo, I’m not sick!”

Mace shakes his head. “You are – you have a fever, Skywalker, and it’s best we take you to the Halls of Healing since Knight Kenobi is off planet.”

He mumbles and groans something indiscernible.

Zariza walks over and nudges Anakin’s side with her foot. “Do you want some red jell-o?”

“Kriff no.”

Mace almost tells them to watch their language again, but decides that is a fight he will have with them another day. Preferably during daylight hours and not at midnight when they were all supposed to be healthy and sleeping. Preferably, it won’t be him having such conversations with them.

(Truthfully, he loves the children in the Order, the Skywalker siblings included – but right now in his exhausted, slightly hangry state, he can only spend so much time with them.)

She hums. “What about tomorrow?”

Anakin stills. “…Maybe.”

The initiate grins and looks at Mace, clearly pleased with the answer.

He nods and gives her a smile of acknowledgment, then refocuses on the task at hand. “Can you get up and walk? Or will I be carrying you?”

Anakin gives another response that might as well be in another language, and Mace closes his eyes as he pinches the bridge of his nose. He breathes in slowly a few times, centers himself, and opens his eyes again a few moments later.

“Okay. Carrying, it is.”

Anakin hardly protests – well, he tries, at least, but it can hardly be counted as anything – and Mace picks up him with not too much difficulty; one arm around the boy’s shoulders, the other under his knees. As Mace leaves the rooms, Zariza follows and turns off the lights along the way, and even locks the door once they are out into the hallway.

And then she starts talking. Continuously.

It’s a vast difference from earlier, and it catches Mace by surprise. Quickly, though, it dawns on him that she’s talking for her brother’s benefit. From droids to podraces to Master Yoda’s swamp stew to the names of new plants she has learned about, and so and so forth. Something about the rambling must help, because Anakin relaxes more as the walk to the Halls of Healing goes by. So much so that he gives up on holding his head up and rests it on Mace’s shoulder, almost passing out completely by the time they make it to the Halls, Zariza tapering off about a holoshow she heard one of the older initiates talk about the other day.

“Master Windu,” one of the Master Healers, a nocturnal species, greets with a bow. Dark, large eyes focus on the brother and sister once they stand straight. “Ah, and the Skywalkers,” they say, playfully flicking their tail in Zariza’s direction to get a giggle out of her.

“Hullo,” she says, smiling up at the Healer.

“Healer Rou,” Mace returns the greeting. “I’m afraid we have a sick padawan on our hands.”

“Hm, yes I see,” Healer Rou says, and moves closer to rest a hand on Anakin’s forehead just like Mace had done before. They remove it quickly, though not as fast Mace did. “He definitely has a fever. How long has he been feeling badly?”

The question is aimed to Mace, but he looks down at Zariza for the answer.

Her eyebrows raise at the realization. “What? Oh, uh… Last night, maybe?” She shrugs, shuffling awkwardly. “I dunno, really, I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize, little one,” Healer Rou assures her. They pat her head with a kind smile. “It is okay if you don’t know.”

Zariza nods, relaxing a little. “He, uh, he’s puked a couple of times.”

Healer Rou hums, and motions for them to follow them. They do. “It is most likely a stomach virus of sorts, nothing too serious and nothing we can’t handle. It has been going around this month, I’m afraid. Padawan Skywalker will be the fifth one to have gotten it. I am assuming the plan is to have him spend the time here while he gets better? Until Knight Kenobi returns, that is.”

Mace nods while they enter a medical room, and carefully sets Anakin on the bed after Zariza dashes forward to pull the covers back. “Yes, it is. And Initiate Skywalker wants to give him his favorite red jell-o tomorrow if able.”

Healer Rou smiles, amused. “Of course. Come by at lunch and if he can stomach it, whoever’s rotation it is should allow it. Now; I have got everything under control from here, Master Windu – I will be sure to keep you updated, and will send a message out to Knight Kenobi letting him now as well.”

“Thank you, Healer Rou,” Mace tells them.

“Yeah, thanks Healer Rou!” Zariza exclaims, and rushes to hug the Jedi.

Healer Rou chuckles, hugging the young girl back. “Of course. Head on off to bed, now; we don’t need two sick Skywalkers,” they tease.

“Fine, I guess,” she sighs, far too dramatically for a ten year old that has both adults stifling their laughs.

But unfortunately, it actually takes ten more minutes to leave. Master Vokara Che appears, and speaks to Mace about how long Anakin might have to stay while Healer Rou pulls up Anakin’s medical file. Mace signs what he needs to, double checks with Vokara Che and Rou what he knows about any medicinal allergies he might have, and then leaves. Zariza sticks like glue to him the entire time.

Two steps out of the Halls of Healing, Mace stops in his tracks and picks her up after she yawns three times in less than two minutes.

“Th’nks fo’ helpin’, Window,” she mumbles into his shoulder with muffled, half asleep words.

Mace sighs, but smiles despite himself. He gently pats her back. “Of course, Zariza. Let’s get you back to your clan, hm?”

The answering soft snore he gets in return has him chuckling.

He hadn’t planned on his night to go this way, but he would be lying if he said he regrets it.

[mask-of-vader]

Severing the Darkness

She could sense the change within him, she knew that he had fallen. Anakin Skywalker was no more, in his place rose a Sith Lord. But she would not let the darkness consume him. Anakin Skywalker/OC

She could feel the shift. The change in the force. How the dark side grew suddenly more powerful. How the light’s power waned in comparison.  

She knew the significance of this shift in power, how detrimental it could be to the galaxy. The Republic and the Jedi would fall if this power shift was allowed to remain. She knew who it was that had fallen, that had been seduced by the power of the dark side, but she didn’t want to accept it. She wanted to believe that he wouldn’t be weak enough to fall; she wanted to believe that the Jedi meant more to him, that she meant more to him. But the pulsating energy that she could sense, a dark, powerful energy that was unmistakably his force aura was inarguable.

Anakin Skywalker had fallen. And in his place a Sith Lord had risen. He had gone against his destiny; he had not brought the foretold balance to the force.

The council seemed as of yet unaware that it was Anakin that had caused this change in the force. How they could not sense the dark energy that was radiating off him she could not say. Only herself and Obi-Wan eyed him in confusion and grief. So accustomed as they were to having his presence around them, this drastic change in his force signature felt like a saber in their sides.

The council had not taken the time over the years to become accustomed with Anakin’s force presence, they had not become sensitive to the subtle shifts in the force around him when he became upset or angry and even now they could not sense the change in his force allegiance.

The three of them stood before the council as the Masters’ debated this disturbing change in the force. Either side of Anakin, the two Knights stood with their backs ramrod straight, the dark energy radiating off him causing shivers down their spines.

“Kenobi, with you Skywalker and Altaga will go, to learn where this change has occurred. Careful you must be, engage with the culprit you must not.” Master Yoda spoke to the three Jedi before him. “With you the hope of the Jedi lies.”

They bowed low to the elderly master and took their leave from the chamber. They walked in silence through the corridors, their stomachs clenching tightly. Altaga and Kenobi had this far managed to ease their emotions, not allowing their fear to issue through the force. They did not wish for Anakin to sense their discomfort and realise that they knew that he was the traitor.

Obi-Wan sighed deeply, rolling his shoulders to ease the growing tension.

“I think I will spend some time in the library before our departure tomorrow. It will be useful to see if any of the ancient texts show what could be causing such a large shift in the dark sides favour.”  With that he turned sharply on his heel and strode off down the corridor.

Anakin’s hand reached out quickly for hers after his old Master had disappeared. He pulled her sharply into an alcove, her back against a pillar and his arms either side of her.

“I don’t want you to come with us Nyocee”. He stroked her arms softly, a demure expression on his face.

Despite knowing that he had fallen to the dark side the love in his voice and the closeness of their bodies calmed her. She knew that it was wrong, not only was it against the Jedi code, but he also was no longer affiliated with the light side of the force.

“Why not Anakin? The council have asked for the three of us personally to investigate this issue, I cannot disobey them.” She reached up and put a hand tenderly on his face.

He placed his hand over hers, caressing the back of her hand with his thumb and turned to place a kiss on the palm of her hand. “I cannot see you get hurt Nyocee, I will not allow you to be hurt.”

A slight chuckle escaped her lips. “I am a Jedi Ani, we’ve been on plenty of life threatening missions.”

“But this is different, we’re dealing with an unknown!” She frowned at these words. How could he stand before her, the woman he claimed to love and make a speech about not wanting her to get hurt. How could he claim that this threat was unknown, when he stood before her radiating with dark energy?

“I will be fine Ani. I will not be hurt. We are not allowed to engage, remember?” There was a mischievous glint in her eye, but it faded as she sighed deeply. “I am going to join Obi-Wan in the library, do you wish to join me?”

It was now his turn to frown, he had a disdain for the library. He was not of the scholarly disposition. He placed a light kiss on her forehead, careful to move them further around the pillar and away from the prying eyes of a passing group of younglings.

“I’d much rather train, join me in the training rooms when you have finished.”

She nodded and with a final kiss on his cheek she spun out of his grip, grinning at his harassed face and took of down the corridor.

Nyocee tried to keep her breathing level, but could feel herself panicking. Nodding at a fellow Pantoran Jedi she weaved through the shelves of holobooks following Obi-Wans force signature. She crashed into his arms, tears streaming down her face. “How could he? How could he betray the Jedi, how could he betray us?”

Obi-Wan smoothed her purple hair, allowing her to weep into his robes. “I know little one, Anakin has always allowed his emotions to lead him. He is not inherently evil; someone must have helped seduce him. The powers of the dark side alone would not easily sway Anakin.”

“You think that he can be redeemed? You think that we can bring him back?”

“I can only hope that we can. I cannot bare to lose Anakin this way. We must not lose hope Nyocee. I know of your love for him and his for you, perhaps that will help our cause.” The Pantoran took a step back, eyes wide as she met Obi-Wan’s gaze. He chuckled “Well you weren’t exactly subtle in your affections.” She punched his arm lightly, glaring half-heartedly up at him.

“You did not stop us though. Why did you not interfere when you knew of our feelings?” She felt a sudden overwhelming guilt that the Master had kept their secret for them, that he had cared enough about them to not inform the council.

“Despite the teachings of the Jedi I do not believe that attachment is a source of evil. It is natural and trying to prevent attachments and feelings can likely cause more harm than good. Because Jedi are unable to turn to other Jedi for guidance in this area I feel that this causes more harm for the Order as we are forced to seek guidance and acceptance elsewhere, it is just unfortunate that it happens to be within the dark side.”

“Perhaps that is what has led Anakin to turn. He wanted acceptance for his emotions and the relationships that he has formed throughout his life. And the only place he could see this acceptance coming from was with the Sith.” Nyocee rubbed her temples, stress and anxiety coursing through her. She had never truly thought how the Jedi Code could affect Anakin. He had been brought up being allowed to express his emotions, unlike herself and the other Jedi. Being forbidden from showing attachment must have been a difficult process.

“We must speak with the council immediately. I fear that the more we digress the further into darkness Anakin will fall.” Obi-Wan gripped the holo-pad he had been reading and took it with him as he made for the exit.

Following after him Nyocee felt numb. How ridiculous she felt. She had not sensed his dissent into the darkness, she was supposed to be the closest person to him and as a powerful Jedi Knight with such a connection to him she should have been able to sense it.

They had met when he had been accepted into the Order. A young boy, who had been thrust into the chaotic galaxy of the Jedi and who’d had an insatiable crush on a young Queen Amidala. He had been included in classes with the Younglings, as well as partaking in individual training with his Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. He had been fascinated by her blue skin and purple hair; he had never met a Pantoran on Tatooine. At first she had held disdain for him, jealous of his being able to train as a Padawan. But his enthusiasm and desire to learn the ways of the force wore her down. Gradually they spent more time in each other’s company outside of formal training. The young Pantoran took pride in showing him how to control the force at a basic level and he was a keen and auspicious learner.

It pained her when his Master took him away from the Temple, but it was always a joyous occasion when he returned unharmed. His constant blathering about Padmé Amidala became less common; much to Nyocee’s relief, the more that they spent time together. Their connection in the force became stronger as they grew more powerful and she felt his distraught through this connection when he returned to the Temple and she was not there. He had been away for some months with Master Kenobi and in that time the council had deemed her ready to progress to the rank of Padawan learner. She had been unable to contact Anakin to tell him of her joy in being assigned to Jedi Master Aayla Secrura and they were separated for a number of months, before being reunited.

They had often fought and trained side by side as Padawan’s during the rise of the Trade Federation, their connection and relationship becoming stronger and more pronounced. He had teased her nonsensically when he had been promoted to the rank of Jedi Knight and she still a mere Padawan. Their relationship had progressed further following Anakin and Obi-Wan’s near death experience at the hands of Count Dooku. He had professed to her his love and she in turn shared of her love for him. It had thrown her into turmoil at this revelation and confession; she had been brought up with the knowledge that attachment was forbidden within the Jedi Order. But with the Clone Wars upon them she knew that she wanted Anakin by her side. And it was the start of the War had sped up the process of her Knighthood and soon she was serving alongside Anakin as a fellow Knight.

They had stood strong by each other, their love never failing. Supporting each other through the difficulties of the war. It had been hard to hide their affections from the Council, but with their minds solely occupied on the War, the Council became more oblivious to their immediate surroundings.

Throughout everything they had experienced and despite their strong connection she had still missed his obvious decline into darkness. And for that she would never forgive herself.

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Without a summons or permission for an audience Obi-Wan and Nyocee burst through the doors into the Council chamber where they had only been a mere few hours before.

“What is the meaning of this intrusion Kenobi?” Mace Windu had always had a stiff, cold impression about him and Nyocee couldn’t help but adjust her stance into a more demure and respectful posture.

“My apologies fellow Council members, but I bring information of a most distressing sentiment.” Obi-Wan bowed his head low.

“It is of mine and Knight Altaga’s belief that it is my former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, that has brought this unbalance within the Force. We believe that he has been seduced by the dark-side.” The Council stayed quiet at this exclamation.

“Most distressing this is. Most distressing indeed.” Master Yoda lowered his head in thought, his eyes half closed as if in grief.

“I- I feel that I have found a possible solution to this problem, that would not include killing Anakin.” He raised the holobook in his hand.

Nyocee heard Obi-Wan’s words tremble as he said this. Her head shot up in shock, despite the gravity of this situation she had not even thought that one of the only possible solutions would be to kill Anakin. She stared at the ground trying hard not to tear up again.

“The wall of light, is a powerful light force energy that can be created by a group of united Jedi. It has the potential to purge the power of the dark side from a person or even sever their connection with the Force completely.” This caused a murmur to stir up from the Council members. Nyocee frowned at the floor tile she had been staring at, she had read about this ability in her studies.  

“It has not truly been utilised since the Great Sith War though Master. None of us have ever trained to use such an ability and few of us have ever even read about it in the archives.” The doubt was evident in her voice to most, but Kenobi could sense the underlying hope that shone through.

“The only chance we may have to purge the darkness from Skywalker it may be. To save from darkness the galaxies only chance.” Yoda nodded slowly, the movement seemed almost painful for him.

Mace Windu hummed in agreement, his eyes tightly closed. “Myself, Yoda, Kenobi, Fisto, Plo Koon and Altaga will attempt to purge the darkness from Skywalker, I can only hope that it works. Yes Altaga, you as well.” He could sense her surprise and addressed her quickly. “It has been known by the Council for quite sometime that yourself and Skywalker have been…” he paused. “Involved. It has not been desirable a connection between two of our Jedi General’s, but we have so far chosen to overlook it due to the more pressing matters of the War and yourself and Skywalker’s impressive accomplishments.”

Nyocee blushed a dark blue, her eyes wide as they stared at the Jedi Master before her, she shared a glance with Obi-Wan who looked equally surprised. “I am not powerful enough in the ways of the Force to contribute enough to this, surely Master Gallia or Master Mundi would be a suitable alternative.”

“You are powerful enough for this.” Plo Koons deep, mask altered voice ended her panicked rant, she bowed respectfully to him. “Your connection to Skywalker may prove to be a valuable asset in order to purge him.”

The discussion of how best to save Anakin became feverous, Nyocee contributed where she could listening intently to the Master’s suggestions. She felt that she was too young and inexperienced, despite serving as a Jedi General during the War, to match up to the capabilities of these experienced Masters. But she would not argue any further with them, they were trying to save Anakin’s life and that was enough for her to stay content despite the fear gripping her heart. She felt Obi-Wan put a comforting hand on her shoulder and she turned to smile up at him. Throughout this whole ordeal she had felt like a Padawan again, looking to the Masters for guidance and support. She prided herself on her bravery and strong will, but at this time she could not feel any less like the powerful Jedi she was supposed to be.

It was decided that they would attempt to purge the dark-side from Anakin and if that failed they would sever his connection from the Force entirely. Following behind the Masters Nyocee felt a resurgence of her former bravery and stubbornness. Her fists clenched and shoulders set she marched into a meditation room with a new ferocity to save her love.

The Master’s sat around her, legs crossed and eyes closed. They reached out to each other through the Force, connecting and intertwining their presences. They focused on the light and diminished all darkness around them, they breathed as one and the power of their light force increased with every inhale. Nyocee could feel the power burning off the surrounding Jedi and herself. Light shone brightly through her closed eyelids, dazzling her. They had reached it; they had tapped into the power known as the wall of light. She allowed her senses to retreat, no longer focussing on the surrounding dark and light, no longer reaching out to feel the other Jedi’s Force presences. She felt calm in the knowledge that they were able to perform this feat of power.

“Call a Clone squadron, we may be in need of their assistance.” Mace Windu directed his gaze towards Nyocee and she bowed her head. She stood and made her way from the room, leaving the remaining Jedi to their thoughts.

“Commander Bacara, I need a squadron of clones to meet us on the south mezzanine of the Ziggurat.” She spoke quickly into her comm link, her hastiness apparent.

“Yes General.” Came the diligent reply and all fell silent again.

The group of Jedi met the clone squadron, where they were given a briefing of the situation. The clones shifted awkwardly, obviously uncomfortable with the thought of facing up against a Jedi Knight.

“Talk to him first, Altaga will. If fail that does, step in we shall.” Yoda nodded his head thoughtfully, concern still etched across his face.

They approached one of the training halls, where Anakin was still practicing his saber forms, even hours later. Nyocee felt a shift in the force as the Master’s masked their Force presences; even though she knew they were there she still struggled to sense them.

With a deep breath she entered the room. Despite the gravity of the situation she unconsciously relaxed in Anakin’s presence. He had his back to her, his saber raised in a defensive form. As he swung the blade around he caught sight of her and smiled. He let his lightsaber fall back against his hip and gathered her in his arms. She gripped the back of his robes tightly and buried her face in his chest.

With a deep sigh she spoke what she had feared to say to him since she had sensed his change.

“I know that you have been seduced by the dark-side Ani.” The affect was almost instant. He tensed up, but his arms stayed around her.

“I don’t know what you mean Ny.” She pulled back and looked up at him.

“Ani, I know you better than most. I can sense the change within you. I can sense the darkness around you. How did they seduce you?” She still had a tight grip on the back of his robes. “How could you do this?”

He pulled back almost instantly. “I did this to save you, this War has gone on for too long. I have already lost too many people, I cannot lose you too.” He paused, doubt flickering across his face. “I had a vision, I saw you die. The light-side cannot prevent something like that from happening, so I found a power than can.”

“I am a Jedi Anakin, so are you. Death is not preventable within what we do, not even with the power of the dark-side.” She approached him slowly, reaching out for him, but he drew back.

“You don’t understand. I can end this War, I can end all of this. I can stop you from dying. I can rule this Galaxy like the Jedi and Sith never could.”

“But not like this Ani, please don’t end the War like this. You can finish this War, but on the right side of the Force. I know you can, I know you to be powerful enough.”

“But why should I fight for an Order that does not even except us. If they knew about us they would shun us, throw us from this Temple. The dark-side allows us to be together, it allows for attachments. It allows me to love you.” The earnest and heartbreak in his voice almost swayed her to his way of thinking. But the realisation of what he was implying, that she should fall to the dark side too made her stand her ground.

“No Anakin. The Council know of us and yet we are still here. The Sith, they would make you think that, but they seek to control you and the power that you have. The Sith don’t want your happiness, they want your power and you have allowed them access to it.” She could sense that his anger was rising.

“The Jedi are the corrupt ones, they prevent us from have natural connections, they bring us into this life when we are children and then forbid us from all attachments. How can you see that as good.” He was shouting now, his anger flaring.

“I don’t Ani. It’s not good, it’s not fair. But the Jedi can change, the Order may see that the Codes are wrong and allow us to feel our emotions freely, to have meaningful attachments. But the Sith, they will never allow for change, not even for you. Anakin, please, help me to be part of the change in the Order.” For a moment she thought that she had swayed him, but it seemed that the dark-side had a greater hold over him than she had thought. Despite being powerful he was young and impressionable and could not fight back the darkness within him.

His eyes turned red and yellow and his skin a sickly pale. His demeanour changed to someone that she did not recognise and as he spoke it was not his voice. It was multiple voices, the demented voices of the Sith.

“I will not allow you to be taken from me. I will do everything in my power to keep you alive. And now with the power of the dark-side I can protect you.” The voices filled the room and sent a chill across Nyocee’s skin. He was lost to her, she could not get the darkness out of him and he could not fight it. She sent a signal through the force. The Jedi masters and clone troopers burst through the door.

The troopers fired nets at the corrupted Anakin and they pinned him to the ground.

She and the other Jedi circled around him. She closed her eyes and felt her connection with the Force. She widened her stance in order to brace herself and raised her arms. She reached out for the presence’s of the Plo Koon and Obi-Wan either side of her and then branched out to connect with those of Mace Windu, Yoda and Kit Fisto. She felt the pulsating energy around them and let their combined light force seep out into the darkness.

With a sharp inhale the power grew stronger, a wind picked up around them. Nyocee’s hair wiped around her face, lashing at her cheeks. A beam of light rained down from above them and struck Anakin. It widened as the Jedi moved their hands in sync. The light engulfed his form, it began sparking and moving as if it was a fluid, living entity.

Anakin ripped one of the nets from him with the force. The clone’s shot more towards his figure. He raised his hand and sent them flying towards the surrounding Jedi. Nyocee ignited her double-bladed lightsaber and sliced through the oncoming metal nets. She dropped her saber quickly as she felt her connection with the wall of light fade.

As its power grew Anakin became more uncomfortable, he had begun to writhe around beneath the nets and the demented voice screamed in anger. The wind got stronger, buffeting around the Jedi and troopers. The light got bigger and brighter, it disintegrated the nets that lay on top of Anakin’s writhing form. Tendrils of dark smoke emanated from his body, his movements calmed and he turned on his side his eyes catching Nyocee’s. They were blue, the red and yellow had subsided.

“Help me. Please.” It was his voice, not the multitude of voices from before.

He turned suddenly on his back, he was gasping for breath, it seemed as though he was being choked. The demented voice had returned, it screamed in anguish and pain, the darkness was being ripped from him and the light was severing his connection with the dark-side. They had not prepared for this, they had not foreseen that the darkness would take on a physical manifestation; they had not foreseen that it would fight back. The tendrils were leeching back into him, the pale skin returning. For a second his blue eyes were still there, he stared at Nyocee longing and begging behind his gaze. He wanted to return, he wanted forgiveness, he wanted this darkness gone. But soon the yellow and red eyes returned, giving him a demonic look and she could not bare to see it. They were so close to bringing him back, they could not fail. With an immense surge of power governed by her love and sense of righteousness, the wall of light grew brighter.

He screamed and the tendrils rose higher in the air burning away in the light. A mass of darkness erupted from him and Anakin fell to his knees. The wind picked up as the two forces collided and the Jedi rocked on their feet from the force. They pushed harder against the force, willing the light to prevail.

Tears streamed down Nyocee’s blue cheeks, she was struggling. This was too much for her, she couldn’t contain this power anymore. She glanced around at her fellow Jedi, their faces were set in grimaces their eyes unmoving from the mass of darkness. Obi-Wan was looking at Anakin with hope in his eyes. She turned her eyes to him as well and saw that his skin was healthier and his eyes their normal blue, he was on his hands and knees panting heavily. With one final push from the Force the remaining darkness receded and only the beam of light remained. As it disappeared the light collapsed on itself and exploded around the room.

Nyocee was younger and weaker than the Council members, this light was a combination of all their power and the destroyed darkness and as it exploded it became too much. She did not feel her light returning to her, she only felt the impact of the explosion. Her arms still raised and stance still wide she turned her eyes to Anakin, he looked up at her, guilt in his eyes. But he was alive and he was no longer corrupted, and she collapsed.

Her ears were ringing, her vision became blurry and she closed her eyes. She felt herself get lifted into someone’s arms. She heard Anakin’s voice begging her to open her eyes, so she did. She looked up at his tear stained face. He was apologising over and over again. He was professing his love to her and begging her to stay with him. But all she could do was smile up at him. The other Jedi stood over them sorrow written across their faces, their heads bowed. Obi-Wan looked on with tears pooling in his own eyes.

“I love you Anakin.” She reached up a hand and stroked his face gently. He rested his hand on hers and kissed her palm just as he had earlier that day. Nyocee was content, she could feel the heat of the light-side radiating off him. He was Anakin again, her Anakin, the saviour of the galaxy.

Her remaining light was fading, she could feel it leaving her body. She held onto the feeling of Anakin’s arms wrapped around her body and how content she now was.

Her gaze was drawn to over Anakin’s crying shoulder. Commander Bacara was standing with his fellow clones, gazing intently at a handheld holographic projector.

She heard Anakin’s sobs get louder as he held her tightly and she felt her heart stop beating. Her light was gone and she was no more, but Anakin’s scream of torment still shook her.

As her body faded and she became one with the force, her heart was still gripped in fear at the cruel voice.

“Execute Order 66.”

[princesssarcastia]

learning to live with it

hello, I’m back for the third night in a row with more weird ass star wars fic from this one universe i’m slowly expanding.

in which obi-wan is straight-up not having a good time, and all his friends aren’t dead, this time, but they sure did high-tail it away from the order coruscant him the second they could.  also in which obi-wan and padmé are FRIENDS GODDAMMIT.  (spoiler: there is a sappy ending to this one, it’s not just angst)

part 3 of ?, also on ao3, if you prefer

—

Obi-Wan doesn’t meet the twins until months after their birth.

 —

The moment he arrived on Coruscant after everything on Utapau—with the 212th trailing behind him in waves because he hadn’t even spoken to Cody before the urgency in the living and unifying Force, united and tearing at him like loth-wolves, drove him into his fighter—he rushed to the Temple just in time to meet Mace and Ahsoka…and Anakin.

After it all spilled out of them, in fits and starts between the Temple hangar and the halls of healing; Maul and Ahsoka and Palpatine and Anakin and Palpatine’s last, desperate attempt to reach him commlink, the mystery of who he could call for support hanging over their heads—

Except for his many, many trips to the Senate rotunda, where he gives in to the urge to verbally savage every Senator that gets in his way, he doesn’t…leave it.  The Temple.

He just hits a wall. It’s finally too much.

Ahsoka and Maul. 

Anakin and Palpatine.

Years of being denied the sanctity of his home for more than a week at a time, months and months apart, push him to hole up and dig his heels in.  If any senator or commander or lesser general wants to speak to him, they can very well come to him, or fuck off, because if they can’t deign to do that it can’t be that important.

Anakin delivers his resignation to the High Council mere hours before he departs Coruscant entirely—ostensibly for Naboo, though his frequent meetings with Rex, Cody, Aayla, Bly, Plo Koon and Wolffe, among others, build a suspicion in the back of Obi-Wan’s mind that he does them the courtesy of ignoring.

Padmé leaves with him.

Ahsoka leaves days after that, on some relief mission for Bail Organa, having apparently been knighted by Yoda and Yoda alone.  Another one of their traditions dead and gone, then.  Another piece of their culture denied to them by the effects of three years of utterly pointless conflict.

Mace wanders through the Temple like a silent guardian, grief and terrible truths lying in wait in his eyes, but he rarely speaks of them.  He rarely speaks at all, still contemplating some revelation the end of the war and destruction of the Sith has afforded him.  His silence has certainly been noticed by the other members of the High Council, and the senators who expend the effort to pay particular attention to the Head of the Order.  At some point, Depa and Caleb take to wandering the Temple with him, towering pillars of support.

Quinlan left before he ever really came back, unable to comprehend reverting to the way things were, three years and entire lifetimes ago.

So…so many of them never came back at all.  So many faces Obi-Wan will never see again.  Some names, he has to search in the Temple records to discover their fate, because a dead Jedi became such a common occurrence that there are those who slipped through the grasp of his memory. 

His master, and his master’s master, and his padawan, all gone.

When the clones defect—defect, they haven’t gone to the other side, they’ve simply decided that with no war to fight, the government that bought their lives and deaths had no say in their future.  It’s not like there even is or ever was an “other side,” no matter what the shattered remains of the CIS parliament like to claim.  When they leave, when they claim their freedom, it isn’t a surprise. Not in the least because Anakin never met a subtle bone in his body he didn’t want to break.

Cody sends him a message with coordinates, “just in case.”  And then, nothing.

Nothing.

Obi-Wan meditates in his rooms and walks through the Temple Gardens and visits the Senate whenever they build to some sort of obstinance in their proceedings he feels the need to quash personally or some senator believes the Jedi or the GAR have something to answer for.

If anyone wants to see him, that’s what he’ll be doing.  They can come find him.

—

Padmé came to him. Back on Coruscant two months after the twins’ birth—and it was twins, he knows that much, at least—a whole month before she claimed she would return her duties when she left, and eight months before Naboo would have even though to ask it of her; to the surprise of not a single soul she’s ever met.

After a week of delivering impassioned speeches in the Senate, meeting with almost every member of the opposition to gauge their thoughts on how rebuilding was going, and, if Obi-Wan knows her at all, quietly inquiring after the potential candidates for a new Supreme Chancellor, she appears out of nowhere at the Temple’s entrance, demanding to be let in to see him.

Security at the Temple is…fraught.  The bombing made their wartime policies even more stringent, and they haven’t relaxed them yet; even a galactic senator can’t enter without a Jedi to sponsor it.

She’s dressed discreetly, too, in a vaguely familiar vest that’s clearly made of the Naboo’s answer to armorweave.  There are no visible weapons on her person, but he has no doubt she’s armed, even here.

“Obi-Wan,” she says warmly, grasping his hand tightly when he reaches out to greet her.

“Padmé,” he returns, dipping his head.

“Shall we?”  She says, turning somehow, inexorably, in the direction of his quarters, far away as they are, as a kind of hint.

He raises a brow, “Indeed,” and takes it, letting her lead them out of amused curiosity, and wondering when she had the time to memorize any part of the Temple’s layout.  Her capacity to do so, he has no doubt of; nor her ability to gain access to those records.

Tea is offered and accepted, and with the opening ritual complete, everything left unsaid between them fills the air to the point of tension.

Padmé wraps her hands around her mug and lets out a long, slow sigh, some measure of her composure seeping away.

“How are you, really?” Obi-Wan says softly.

“Well, the afterpains have finally petered off,” Padmé says wryly, giving him a look.

A measure of regret stirs like an ache in his chest.  “Congratulations on your children, Padmé; and forgive me for taking this long to express how happy I am for you.”

“Thank you.”

They sit in silence, sipping at their tea, and Obi-Wan wonders if he’ll ever manage to untangle the complicated grief and anger woven around him, a tangled net that pulls and tears with every breath.  Wonders if he’ll ever speak to any of these people he holds so dear without the weight of everything they’ve done pressing down on him.  All those secrets.  All that violence.  

 “Are we friends?” Padmé asks abruptly, forcing him to meet and hold her gaze with sheer force of will. “I’d like to think that we are, after all this time.”

“I would, too,” Obi-Wan returns, and the ache in his chest throbs.  He can’t just say yes, can he?  Because it would be a lie, and he’s so tired of lying.  He’s so…tired.

She smiles, kind, but sad, because she can see what he isn’t saying.  “You are my friend,” Padmé straightens her spine.  “And I’m worried about you, Obi-Wan.  Staying holed up in the Temple isn’t doing you any favors.”

“Yes, well, running away from it won’t solve any problems, either,” he snaps, and closes his eyes regretfully.

“Is that why you’re angry with me?  Because you think I ran away from all the problems here on Coruscant?”  She raises an eyebrow at him.  “Or is that why you’re angry at Anakin, and you’re just taking it out on me, too?”  She says scathingly.  But there’s an undercurrent of hurt flowing through the Force around her.

“I never said I was—” no, he swallows that, because he is angry, and he still doesn’t want to lie. Even if it would be kinder. “Yes.  Alright, I am angry at the both of you.  At the Senate, at Palpatine, and the Order, and Ahsoka, and—Force, I’m just angry, Padmé, all the time, because not a damn thing any of us have done in the last three years seems to matter, anymore.  None of it ever mattered!” He doesn’t yell, but he knows his agitation is bleeding from him like an open wound in the Force.  “We were all just pawns to him!  You, handing him the chancellorship on a platter,” he spits, “Anakin letting himself be led down the path to the dark without saying a Force-dammed word to anyone, and then running away, yes, because Force forbid he ever ask for help!  Me, leading an army of enslaved men to their deaths for a contrived political game without ever stopping to consider the larger picture.  Dooku was right; Qui-Gon would be so ashamed of me.  Of what the Order has become,” he finishes bitterly.

“You think you’re the only one who’s angry?” Padmé leans in, setting her mug aside to wholly pin him in place with her eyes.  “The system of government I’ve dedicated my life to is crumbling still, even while we watch. Our ability to govern democratically is slipping through our fingers like so much water, and the one thing—” her voice cracks, and she swallows.  “The one thing in my entire life I’ve ever done just because I wanted it, because it felt right, and it made me stronger, and damn the consequences—well.  It turns out you can’t damn the consequences after all.”  She pushes away from the table and covers her eyes.  “Shit.  I’m going to go home in another month or two or ten and my children won’t even recognize me, Obi-Wan.  Because I have to be here, fixing what we broke.

“If it even can be fixed,” she finishes softly, hand still drawn over her face.

Obi-Wan huffs and tries to lodge the burning in his eyes back underneath that overwhelming fog of exhaustion.  “Is it really that bad?”

“We still haven’t elected another Chancellor, and at this point, the Galactic Senate can’t function without one.  There are plenty of systems who have more than half a mind to let it all just…crumble back to our planetary foundations.”

“I take it you won’t be suggesting yourself as a candidate?” He tries engaging in politics instead to bury it, a desperate last resort.  “I’m sure Anakin, at least, has put the idea forth,” he adds.

She lets her hand drag down her face so as to give him another look.  “Yes, and that’s why he’s still on Naboo with our children, instead of here.  Naboo cannot lead the Republic again, not after Palpatine kept his seat for so long.”

“Too long,” Obi-Wan mutters into his mug, trying to douse his bitterness with tea.  His attempt to flee his feelings is caught in the tangled net they weave, neatly attempting to strangle him.  “What about Bail?”

“He would do it, if we asked, but I don’t want to put that on his head.” She tips her head to the side. “Plus, there are any number of former Separatist planets thinking about rejoining the Republic—if it even still exists—that would balk at the idea of a Chancellor from so deep in the core; from a founding member of the Republic.”

“Hmm.  That would rule out Senator Mothma as well, then.”

“Yes,” Padmé gives him a small grin.  “We need an incorruptible figure who will immediately move to give up the emergency powers we’ve loaded onto the Chancellorship; with no ties to Palpatine, preferably from the Mid Rim, or even the Outer Rim Territories; who furthermore can actually do the job.”

“Yes, that is a bit of a tall order.”

“Honestly, half the reason the Republic is still standing is because the Jedi stepped in to end the war.”

He runs a hand over his jaw slowly.  “And the other half is Ahsoka.  Perhaps we should ask her opinion on this mess, supposing we could catch her during her brief stop-overs on Coruscant.”

“Obi-Wan,” Padmé chides, with prideprotectionlonging leaking from her like a sieve in the Force. 

Silence falls again, and Obi-Wan breathes, in, out; in, out, before topping off both their mugs and leaning away from the table, new warmth leaching into his hands.

The Force nudges his mind. He lets his eyes fall halfway shut, hears: perhaps we should ask her opinion on this mess, feels: a cold so pervasive it sinks into his bones and makes his next exhale visible, sees: a spear struck deep into the ground like a declaration.

Before he can let that premonition crystalize into any real particular insight, Padmé clears her throat. “Obi-Wan, I—” she stops.  “I just wanted—” and again.  “I’ve missed you, these months.  I missed you when the twins were born, and I think I still miss you now even when you’re right in front of me.”  A fiercer kind of longing rises in her, so visceral Obi-Wan can feel it in the back of his own throat.  “You are my friend,” she repeats, “and I, I would like it very much if you would come back to Naboo with me and meet my children.”

His lips part uselessly while he searches for something to say.  “Padmé, I…”

“I want them to know you,” she plants her demands more certainly in front of him.  “And if that means I have to banish my husband to Sola’s house for a week so you can keep hiding from each other, so be it.  But you’re my friend, too, and I want them to know you.”

The longing stretches between them, latching onto him until it feels like his own.  And maybe it is.  He can’t quite picture what that would be like; picture what twin fusions of two of his dearest friends will look like, what holding them in his arms will inspire in him.  He doesn’t, overwhelming realization striking him, even know their names, and admits as much.

“Luke,” Padmé smiles reflexively, like the sun breaking through the clouds.  “And Leia.”

A sigh of relief floods through the Force around them like a dam driven to bursting, and Obi-Wan blinks back more tears.  Second sunset in a familiar-unfamiliar desert.  Cool clear mountain air.  Burnished hope tucked away to grow unimpeded.

“Luke.” He repeats roughly. “Leia.”

—

Their weight in his arms is devastatingly familiar, somehow, and he loves Anakin and Padmé twice over for creating such incredible beings.

And when they open their eyes and wave their hands and feet in the air, blinding twin presences in the Force reaching for him so delicately, his shields unfurl like solar sails, immediately attuned to them.

A Feeling strikes him. “Oh, I’m in so much trouble,” he breathes down at them, and feels warm with their attention.  

Luke coos.  Leia burbles back.

“Yes, yes I am,” he says in a stronger, sillier tone, the way all younglings should be spoken to.

Anakin just laughs at him. “That’s just what Ahsoka said.”

Obi-Wan can’t even scrounge up the urge to be cross with him, still enraptured by these tiny beautiful little people.  What an excellent shield they’ll make for their idiot father, whenever one of his loved ones could just shake him with frustration.

—

part 1, part 2

[k-renne]

PRIDE • KISS IT BETTER • MASTERLIST

by: @kylo-renne + @kyloholic 

Summary: Everybody loves him, he’s the most up and coming Jedi Knight, and Ben Solo reigns supreme. But he has many vices, and with you as his new competition they will begin to show. Quickly, you become a threat to his reputation, and you will not back down. Eventually, something’s got to give.

Word Count: 4.3K 

A/N: Ahhh it’s finally here! This is a long time coming, and we worked hard to create this together. It was really fun to make, so I hope you guys enjoy it as much as we have. 

Today was the day, the first day of your training at the Jedi temple. To say you were nervous was an understatement, you were terrified. You didn’t really know anyone there and it was your first time living this far from home. Still, you looked forward to your new life. Being force sensitive wasn’t very common these days, especially to your extent. You were excited to know that you’d be on the same plane as the legends you grew up hearing stories about.

You didn’t get to meet Luke Skywalker last time, instead you met his nephew, Ben. Thinking about him made your heart rate speed up, he was just so handsome. Ben had given you a tour around the temple, telling you all the fun stuff that went on there and quelling your worries about training. He was nice and that was one of the main reasons you made your decision to leave everything you knew behind.

Better yet, he had even said that you had natural talent, after going through some placement tests to see where your abilities were at.

Ben could feel that your force sensitivity was so strong that it budded against him, and it made him all the more uncomfortable talking to a pretty girl like you. But at the same time your potential was exciting, it was a new challenge for him to tackle. He felt like he was easily the top Jedi there besides Luke, maybe even better as he was on his way to become a Master. He hoped to train you, with your power maybe he’d finally have someone decent enough to spar with.

You had never met someone so sweet so uncharacteristically endearing and to say it made your heart flutter was an understatement. If there were more Jedi’s like Ben Solo, then you certainly wanted to become one. Giddiness filled you when you’re parents announced that you were arriving, and you looked in awe as you entered the atmosphere. This system was quite a ways away from home, but it was lush and beautiful. A hidden gem amongst the stars, you wondered how Luke discovered it.

You were greeted by the legend himself, Luke Skywalker, and after saying teary goodbyes to you’re family you stepped into the entrance of your new home. It was certainly spacious, rooms dedicated to training, meditation, and teachings for all ages and levels. Some of the kids were pretty young too, almost swarming around you and Luke, “Master Luke! Master Luke!”

“Can you please teach us today?” They asked, it was obvious that Luke was well loved by his students.

“Not today, but I’m sure Ben is free,” He suggested, pointing to his nephew across the room. “Younglings,” He chuckled as he watched them run over to his nephew. Ben greeted the children warmly, kneeling to meet their level. You couldn’t help but smile at the adorable sight before you, it was almost perfect.

Luke showed you where you would be living, handing you a key, and left you with some other girls who greeted you, as Mihn, Kit, and Aayla, who were all around your age. “I’m Y/n, you introduced yourself.”

“Do you want to see your room?” Aayla asked. You nodded eagerly, and you showed you the way. It wasn’t very big, but it was yours. It had some basic furniture and a nice view from your window of the mountainside. You plopped down on the bed, excited to make this room your own. “Need a hand unpacking?” They ask. You’re stuff had already been sent here, packed neatly in boxes.

“Thank you, but I think I can manage.” You smile. They ask you to go to dinner with them later and you agree with a smile, looking forward to getting to know them better. Excitement had filled your veins as you began to unpack, placing things on the small shelves on the wall along with little frames on your nightstand. It felt more like a dream than reality, the fact that you were actually training to become a Jedi felt so surreal to you.

After a good hour or so unpacking the boxes that were once stacked and stuffed, you plopped onto the small bed and took in a deep breath, eyeing the now decorated room. This was now your home--your new home planet. The thought of living with nothing but people--and other beings--who shared the same quality as you was rather pleasing. Especially when no one would judge you for what you were capable of.

Hearing a knock on the door, one with a sort of beat, you instantly stood up. Walking over and answering it, you saw the three familiar faces of Mihn, Kit and Aayla. “Are you ready?” Mihn asked with a sweet smile, you nodding and walking out of your room. The entire walk to the cafeteria was nice, seeing a few things you had seen the first time you had a tour--along with things you hadn’t remembered.

From a far, Ben stood proudly, holding his lightsaber and wielding it around. Twirling it in his hold and showing off some moves that had clearly impressed his peers, the four boys (along with a few gawking girls clapped). In the midst of showing off, Ben came to a sudden stop as his lightsaber nearly slipped from his grip. Furrowing his eyebrows, he felt a harsh bud in the Force, rubbing against him. Shaking it off, Ben continued with his fighting stances, only to stop once again. “Ben, what’s wrong?” One of the boys, Jax, asked with a confusing look.

“N-nothing…” Ben muttered, but the budding wouldn’t cease. It was ringing in his ears and it grew uncomfortable to feel. It was so very strong, almost stronger than that of Luke’s. Shaking his head, Ben swallowed, focusing on his own Force rather than the unknown one that couldn’t seem to stop bothering him. “It’s nothing.” He shrugged with a fake grin, acting as if he were fine.

Caught up in a conversation as the three girls had told you about what it’s like to train and to live in a temple amongst Jedi, your attention got caught by a familiar brunet. The tall, young man who had been surrounded by a small crowd, wheeling his crossguard lightsaber. Seeing the way the blue hue glowed against him as he twirled it and fought thin air, you nearly gawked. You hadn’t seen him in so long, but you knew who it was. Ben Solo.

“You’ve got your eye on Ben?” Aayla asked, you perking up, head shooting in her direction.

“I-”

“It’s okay, nearly everyone does.” She chuckled, the other two girls agreeing. “Well, except for one.” Narrowing your eyebrows, you pondered. Who wouldn’t like Ben? He seemed like the epitome of the perfect Jedi. “His cousin.”

“His cousin?” You questioned. How did you not know that Luke had a child? “Where...who is his cousin?” You curiously asked.

“Rey? You’ve never met Rey?” Kit asked, you shaking your head. “She’s a few years younger than us, she’s Luke’s daughter. One of the best Jedi there is...not just for her age.”

“Some say she’s better than Ben.” Mihn teased.

“Someone...better than Ben?” You nearly mumbled. “Is that...possible?” Erupting in a laughter, the three girls tried calming themselves down, you looking in confusion. “I?”

“Of course no one is better than Ben, but Rey is almost at that level.” Aayla shrugged. “Who knows, maybe you’ll be better than Ben.” She winked as you blushed the slightest.

“I highly doubt that, I mean, Ben is Ben. He’s a descendant to a Skywalker. It seems nearly impossible.” You shook your head as the four of you continued on walking.

“Anything is possible, y/n.” Kit pointed. “You never know.”

“Just give yourself some time, you haven’t even started. For all we know, you’re going to be the best.” Mihn smiled as you lightly smiled back.

“Your Force is strong, too. I can feel it and I’m sure everyone else can. Well, you learn how to...mute it, if you must. If you pay attention to everyone’s Force, you grow crazy.” Aayla laughed as your eyebrows lifted. “Again, give it some time. You will learn.”

Sucking in a breath, the four of you moved to the cafeteria, getting your food before finding a table to sit at. During the small time you spent with them eating, you found yourselves talking about the daily routines, what sort of training you start with amongst a good number of other things. “So, Ben…” Aayla spoke up.

Feeling your cheeks heat up, your head lifted from looking down at your nearly empty tray. “Wh-what about him?” You asked, the redness on your cheeks becoming more and more obvious.

“You like him, don’t you?” Kit asked, your eyes growing wide in size as you sat up straight. “Oh, so you do-”

“N-no! No, I don’t.” You shook your head, but the three girls beg to differ.

“It’s okay. It’s safe to say we like him, too.” Mihn said with a grin.

“I...I don’t know Ben all that well to say I do like him…” You pointed out, scratching the top of your head.

“Well, what’s not to like?” Aayla said. “He’s charming. His hair is beautiful, almost like a prince.”

“He is a prince, technically speaking.” Kit pointed out. “He’s got the hair from his mother and grandmother.”

“Oh, right!” Aayla nodded. “Well, there’s his height. He’s past six foot, almost six five?”

“No, six-three.” Mihn corrected.

“You would know.” Kit laughed as you sat there, quietly thinking about Ben and how they were right. He was tall and did have gorgeous hair. “How about his nose? It’s so...imperial.”

“Haha, funny.” Mihn rolled her eyes. “He’s got the cutest beauty marks-”

“His smile! His smile is absolutely to die for!” Aayla exclaimed, you finding yourself sinking deeper and deeper into your seat--and your feelings.

“He’s so charming. A smooth talker. He’s so talented! No one defeats him, not even master Luke!” Mihn added.

“Oh, and he may be the first Jedi to become a master under Luke’s wing. He’s really dying to have his own padawan...maybe you’ll be it?”  Kit shrugged as you could hardly breathe. Your heart was beating faster than it had ever. You had never liked--nor seen--a man like Ben Solo.

“Okay, I think that’s enough about him.” You said, taking in a deep breath.

“Why? Are you flustered?” Aayla wiggled her brows as you nearly hiccuped.

“No…” You clearly lied.

“It’s okay if you are, there’s no lie in saying that you like him. It’s obvious.” She shrugged as you sighed.

“I d-” Cutting yourself off, you gave up, there was no use in lying even more when your face begged to differ. “Forget it…” You sighed.

“I think it’s time to call it a day, I’m tired.” Mihn yawned.

“Y-yeah, I’m tired.” You nodded, wanting nothing more than to hide your face from all the blushing.

“Alright, well, we should head back to our rooms.” Aayla said, the four of you standing up. “It was nice meeting you.” She smiled.

“Thank you guys for helping me.” You smiled back. “Sleep well.” With a wave, you turned around and walked back to your room. It was safe to say your first day went better than expected.

But Ben Solo, you couldn’t stop thinking about him as you were falling asleep. The girls comments repeated in your mind and you felt yourself becoming flustered once more. He was just so perfect, it made your heart ache. You smiled thinking what it would be like to train under him, he was the best after all.

The next day Ben woke up earlier than usual to meet with Luke, a new student had just arrived and it was just the perfect opportunity to ask. He had plenty of experience in teaching the younglings, and he was ready to take another challenge. Anyways, how could he become a Jedi Master without a padawan?

“Uncle Luke,” He gently tapped him on the shoulder. Luke wouldn’t be happy to have his morning meditation be interrupted, but this was important. Of course, he blocks out his nephew as this was not a time to be distracted. He always thought meditation was the most important part of the day, Ben knew this too yet he still decided to disturb him.

“Look, this is important. There’s a new student, and I want to train them. I’ve heard they are strong in the force.” Ben sat across from Luke.

Luke sighed, not this again. He should know his answer by now. “No,” He stated simply.

“But Uncle Luke-” Ben whined.

“I said no,” Luke repeated, more assertively this time. “You’re not ready for her,” He added. Ben flared his nostrils, he should’ve known his Uncle would give this response, stubborn old man. “And I heard that,” Luke shakes his head.

“I am ready for her-wait...the student is a girl?” Ben had never even considered that possible, for some reason he had clearly pictured them as a guy.

“Yes, and she needs someone with a lot more experience for her time here to be worth while.” Luke explains. Someone with so much potential needed a good teacher, and frankly Ben’s teaching skills were lacking. He still had too much Anakin in him and he didn’t want to risk your training like that.

Ben’s pride is insulted, and has to stop himself from lashing out in anger which would only make things worse. But he knows he can do it, he could train you despite what Luke said. He walks away defeated, his patience tested as his goals faced yet another setback. Someday though, he’d be a great Jedi Master and people would remember his name for many years after. He wanted it to be clear that he was more than just the son of Leia and Han Solo.

The next morning had come rather swiftly, your veins were pumping with anticipation as you had woken up rather early. You didn’t want to be late for your first true day in the temple. The many possibilities of the day’s events were storming your mind: were you going to train? Were you going to meditate? Maybe you were going to test out your skills with a staff? The endless possibilities kept you wired the entire time you got ready.

There was a small skip to your walk on the way to the main hall where you’d be greeted by Luke who’d start with introductions and so forth. For now, you were the only new padawan, being set behind from everyone else. But, you didn’t mind. This meant more attention for you...more time to perfect your skills to become one of the greatest. Or, at least to be a damn good Jedi.

Walking along the long halls and approaching the main, your footsteps became lighter as your pace grew slower. “Good morning, padawan y/n.” Hearing Luke speak as his back had been facing you, he turned around, greeting you with a warm smile.

Bowing your head, you tried hiding your excitement. “Good morning, master Luke.”

“We will keep things simple for a few days, testing out your level of skill with the Force and combat, then we will work from there.” He spoke as you nodded. “Today, we will deal with the Force. Simple processes: levitating objects, making them rise and lower through rings, avoiding objects, an overall control.” Luke stated as you stood stall, nodding once again. “Nothing to be nervous about, I am sure you can do it.” Walking over to you as he waved a hand, a few holographic rings appeared.

“Okay.” You took in a deep breath, eyeing the rings.

“Before we begin, I’d like to introduce you to someone.” Luke raised a hand, as if presenting something--someone--behind you. You hadn’t noticed there was someone as your focus was set on your own breathing and the fact that this was all very real. “Y/n, I am sure you must’ve met him before, or at least seen him around.”

Hearing footsteps near you as a new presence was sensed, you turned, heart instantly lodging up your throat as you recognized that face--that hair, that height...that aura. Gulping, frozen in your, you slowly nodded. Ben wore a strong grin, a smirk if you must, on his face. He held himself high, long strides with his back straight, robe bellowing. “Master Luke.” Ben bowed his head, coming to a stop as his head turned over to you. “You must be the new padawan.” He spoke, your heart coming to a stop along with your breathing.

He was studying you, it was a given, almost as if he had never seen you before. Did he not remember you? It’s no surprise, there were other people on the tour, you assured yourself, swallowing once again. You tried your best to calm your nerves, not wanting to seem like a complete fool. But you were strong with the Force, strong enough for yours to interrupt Ben’s to the point he couldn’t seem to ignore. And he knew you were strong. He just wanted to know how strong. “Y-yes.” You cleared your throat, nodding.

“This is Jedi knight Ben.” Luke introduced as Ben eyed you, taking in everything about you--solely, your Force. That seemed to be the most important thing than anything else...even if you were rather pretty. “Ben, this is padawan y/n.”

“It’s an honor to meet you.” Sticking your hand out, you sucked in a breath. It wasn’t like this was the first time you had met him, but you didn’t want to come off as rude and say it.

“Likewise…” He lowly spoke, hand engulfing your own and shaking it. You could feel the shivers crawling up your spine as your body wanted to tremble. To feel his hand against your own...his skin, it made your insides turn.

“Well, let’s get started.” Luke said, you carefully sliding your hand from Ben’s as the two of you kept contact, only for you to look away as you turned around. “Like I said, very simple tasks. You want to get the rock through the hoops, a simple test in your ability to gently levitate and land objects.” Luke explained as you nodded. “Take in deep breaths and focus on the object.”

Nodding once again, you did so. Eyeing the rock, you took in a deep breath and put all your focus on the rock--which nearly seemed impossible when all you could do was think about Ben. You can do this, focus on the rock...solely on the rock, nothing else. It’s a simple task, nothing risky. This isn’t life or death. You’ve done this before back at home. Just levitate the rock. Shutting your eyes momentarily as you let out a slow, deep breath, you reopened them. The rock trembled, shaking against the ground before it slowly levitated, your hand extending out as it slowly lifted itself up.

Watching how easy the task was for you, rising and lowering the object as if it were nothing within the hoops, Ben crossed his arms. He had to keep an eye on you. Usually, even if claimed to be easy, most Padawans found levitation rather difficult. But, with you, on your first try...you did it.

“Wonderful, let’s try avoiding these blocks.” Luke lifted a hand, holographic blocks appearing and moving at different rates. “Like before, focus on the object and the Force.”

Taking in a breath, you had done just that. The rock moved quickly and slowly within the shifting blocks, avoiding every single one of them without failing once. For someone's first day, you were doing above the expected.

Continuing on with the tests, Ben found his muscles more and more. The more you proved yourself, the more irritated he had grown. He could remember his first day and you had been doing far better than he was. And he was supposed to be the best of the best--even better than Luke.

“Absolutely wonderful, y/n, you continue to outdo yourself.” Luke praised as you blushed, you wondered if Ben felt the same. “What do you think, Ben?” Luke asked, looking over.

“Like you said...wonderful.” He spoke through gritted teeth, the hands on his upper arms tightening. Luke was praising you more than Ben had expected--and he wasn’t having it.

Going on with your trials, Ben was nearly boiling in his spot. He was seething. He was jealous. He was supposed to be the best there was. No one was supposed to be better than him. Yet, here you were, doing far better than how he had the first time he had ever trained.

“Alright, I think that’s enough. We can move on-”

“What?!” Ben nearly snapped, Luke looking over with narrowed brows as you then eyed Ben.

“Well, she’s proven that this is just childsplay to her. She can move on to more.” Luke stated as you quietly stood there.

“A-already? This is her first day. These trials took me three days, Luke-”

“Ben.” Luke warned. “She is beyond advanced, the Force is clearly with her. If I see the potential, I am advancing her.”

“But-”

“Ben, I think it’s best you excuse yourself. I think it’s best we keep her in a stress free environment.” Luke calmly spoke, although commanding.

Taking in a deep breath, he looked at you for a moment, you completely missing the fact that there was a hint of anger in his eyes, simply smiling at him as he only turned around and stormed off. You didn’t think much of it, possibly why the next few hours went by swiftly.

It was lunch time, and you dreaded going to the cafeteria by yourself. Because you were busy going over some things with Master Luke, you had missed the time your friends said they’d be there. When you opened the door your eyes scanned the room, just hoping for a familiar face. You weren’t brave enough to sit with a random person, and were too self conscious to be the only person sitting by yourself.

You decided to get your food first, taking the time to look for somewhere. Your eyes lit up when you saw a familiar face, Ben. The table looked a little full and they were all in the middle of eating but you didn’t think he’d say no, they seemed friendly enough and they were all laughing about something Ben said. Mustering your confidence you walk over here, “Hey do you guys mind if I sit here?” You ask as politely as possible.

Ben is the one to reply, looking over at his friends before looking back at you. “Uh yeah, sorry we don’t have any room,” He shrugs. You stand there in shock that he would say something so rude to you, wondering if he meant to be so hurtful. Humiliated, you take your food and leave the cafeteria, deciding to find someplace outside to eat.

You don’t feel as bad when you see a girl on the steps eating her lunch, and you decide to sit nearby her. She looks over at you, chewing a big bite of bread in her mouth. “Are you new?”

“Yeah, I just got here yesterday. I’m Y/n by the way,” You introduce yourself.

“Rey,” She sticks her hand out and you shake it, remembering that she was Ben’s cousin.

She looks over you again, a question clearly in her eyes, “I’m guessing you’re eating outside because you don’t know many people yet.”

“Yeah well I tried to sit with Ben but he said his table was too full,” You roll your eyes. That was a silly excuse, you knew they could have easily made room for you.

“I’m sorry, my cousin can be such a jerk,” Rey scoffs.

“Really? Everyone seems to love him.” You were surprised to hear that from her.

“That’s because he’s a show off,” She shakes her head. She knew her cousin, he was cocky and a little full of himself. He needed someone to take him down a notch, she’d do it herself but Ben wouldn’t dare spar with her after that time she beat him.

“Yeah I guess I can see that.”

“Trust me, you will just watch out,” She warns you.

Slowly nodding your head, you took in a deep breath. You couldn’t help but ponder over Rey’s words: you will, just watch out. It almost made you chill, as if Ben really wasn’t the man everyone set him to be. Quietly munching on your food, not wanting to rush through although you wanted to get back to Luke more than anything, Rey spoke up again, catching your attention.

“You like him.” She said, you nearly choking on your bread, swallowing hard. “Don’t act surprise, almost everyone here has a crush on him. And, so do you.”

“H-how do you...know?” You quietly spoke.

“I just do.” She shrugged, nearly chugging the contents she had in a silver container--almost like a bottle of some sort. Eyeing her confused, Rey’s eyes shifted to you, only to turn her head. “By the way your Force is rubbing against mine, you’re disappointed in the fact Ben embarrassed you like that.”

Blinking, your cheeks burned. “Oh…”

“Coming from his own cousin, he isn’t worth it. Believe me, you don’t want to be with the guy everyone wants.” She spoke, drinking from her bottle once again as you slowly nodded.

A part of you--a very big part--believed in her. And it was frightening. You didn’t want to think he was a bad guy, but it almost seemed too good to be true. He couldn’t be all that perfect, he must’ve had flaws...and a part of you was afraid of unraveling them.