Darkness gave way to warmth. I opened my eyes slowly, light flooding in from above. My breath hitched. I was lying on a soft bed, warm sheets tucked around me, the hum of technology in the walls faint but present. The ceiling wasn't cracked drywall or metal rafters; it was smooth, marble, and stone-like with elegant lines of bronze and light stone.
Where am I? This isn't home, I thought.
I pushed myself upright, small hands pressing into the mattress, too small. Panic surged for a heartbeat as I looked down at myself: short limbs, tiny feet, chest rising quickly with shallow breaths. Then, stumbling toward a mirror across the room, legs unsteady.
The reflection was… surreal. A child stared back. Dark brown skin, wild snow-white hair that curled slightly at the ends, and my eyes were like gold. My ears were subtly pointed. Not as much as an Elf or half-elf, but there was no denying it. I wasn't human, not entirely.
A distant, soothing voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Ah, you're awake," said a woman standing in the doorway, dressed in white and gold. She looked kind, her lekku wrapped loosely behind her shoulders. A Togruta? I instinctively backed away. She smiled and held her hands up gently. "No need to worry. You're safe. You arrived only two days ago. The Force is strong with you to be awake so soon."
The Force. The word sent a shiver through me, one of fear and wonder. Then my heart started pounding. My memories came rushing back. The movies, books, and comics. The Legends, canon, the Old Republic, the Clone Wars, Anakin, Luke, Revan. I'm in the Jedi Temple, I realized. I'm in the Star Wars galaxy. How did this happen?
By the look of the smooth, polished floors, the arched doors with etched High Galactic script that I somehow recognized. And the distant hum of traffic, I was in the Jedi Temple, on the Republic capital world of Coruscant.
"You may call me Healer Vela. Come, Cain. There's someone I want you to meet." Jasen was led through the wide temple halls, each corridor alive with Jedi of all kinds. Younglings laughed and ran in groups, instructors guided meditations, and the occasional Padawans, Jedi Knights, and Masters passed by.
Vela called me Cain. He guessed that was his name in this world. I saw a datapad in Vela's hands as we walked, and noticed small details about me on it in galactic basic. "Cain, Male, Age 4, Species: Hybrid (Human / Sephi) – Force Sensitivity: High." I committed every detail I could read to my memory. I still didn't know what was going on. Either this was a very real lucid dream, or I was reborn and sent to another world. If the latter were true, then my problems have gotten bigger. My first concern was figuring out where in the timeline I woke up in. Hopefully, I wasn't brought here right as Order 66 happens.
Vela led me to an open circular training room. Inside, a dozen younglings were sitting and listening to a familiar-looking figure. A small familiar green creature, I recognize, greeted us with a slight bow. "This is Grandmaster Yoda," Vela said. "He is the grandmaster of the Jedi Order. He teaches the foundational principles of the Force, basic lightsaber combat, Jedi history, and philosophy." My eyes widened. Grandmaster Yoda?
This doesn't help narrow down the timeline. I'm probably in the pre-Clone Wars or in the middle of the War. Fingers crossed it's the latter. The small green Grandmaster studied me with interest while I was in deep thought. "Your connection to the force is strong, young one. Your future will be bright, but your mind is clouded with doubt and fear."
The old master is spot on. He could read me like a book. This is gonna be difficult. I'm a grown man in a child's body, so I know how to control my feelings and actions. But these Jedi can bypass all that thanks to the Force. I need to do my best and stay calm. The Jedi aren't evil, but being empathetic is not their strongest suit. God knows what they will do to me if they find out I'm from another reality.
"No need to be afraid, young one. We will do our best to help you feel at home here. We were actually starting the introduction for the new younglings. Come and join us," he gestured to me with his tiny hand. I bowed clumsily, hiding the tremble in my chest. "Thank you, Master."
Yoda walked me to the front of the class. They faced the window that showed the Coruscant city and sky. Rows of younglings looked up at us. "Listen up, everyone," Yoda said, speaking to the class. "This is Cain. He will be in our class, so please do your best to help guide him on the rules and schedule of the temple until he is caught up." Several younglings spoke up and said, "Yes, Master Yoda in unison.
Yoda then gestured to me to sit between two younglings in the front row. "You can sit here, Cain. We are just meditating for right now, so listen to me, and feel the Force." I nodded, "Yes, Master Yoda, I will do that." I said nervously. Yoda nodded. "Good, good. There is only do. No trying."
That made me smile, hearing Yoda say that just like in the movies. My nervousness calmed down somewhat as I sat right between the two younglings. To my left, there was a pale, silver-haired girl who sat with perfect grace. She gave him a quick once-over with sharp silver eyes. I noticed her platinum blonde, almost snow white hair. Her ears were elf-like, like mine, but like a full elf. She's probably a Sephi like me.
Then she spoke to me. "So you're the new youngling all the Master's and Knights are talking about so much? Her tone sounded dismissive, like she wasn't impressed with seeing me. "I am?" I asked questioningly. "I didn't know that. I just woke up here in the temple, and I don't really remember anything beforehand or how I got here. Do you know anything?" I asked.
She didn't look at me but said. "No, I don't know why you're here. Only the Jedi who found you would know. But apparently, you had a high midichlorian count. Either close to or stronger than master Yoda's. So there are rumors of you being the chosen one." Oh wow, I thought. Was I reborn into this universe as the new Anakin? Let me shake that Idea out of my head. I would hate it if I were the chosen one. I never liked being in the spotlight in my old life. I would especially hate having the pressure of being the Chosen One.
I would have to figure out later if Anakin existed or not in this Universe, and hope he still has the highest count. For now, I need to strengthen my force abilities and be ready for any other changes. I don't know what this timeline holds, but if it is anything like the original timeline. I won't sit back and let things play out like they did in the legends, or worse, in my opinion, the canon timeline.
I focused back on the Sephi girl with the attitude. "Excuse me. What is your name?" She put her finger to her mouth in a gesture for me to be quiet. Her eyes were closed. She didn't bother to look at me. "I'm trying to concentrate. I suggest you do the same."
I knew automatically I wasn't gonna like this stuck-up brat. How can one be so young and already a pain? The other youngling to my right tapped me on my shoulder. "Hello, Cain, I'm Derren." I noticed his almost messy brown hair and deep blue eyes. What stood out the most was his smile and the calm, friendly vibe he gave off.
"Nice to meet you, Derren," I said. He smiled, "Are you the chosen one?" He asked with that childlike curiosity. I smiled. I don't think so, I don't even know what a chosen one is. I lied." Derren smiled. " The chosen one is a super-powerful Jedi, who is supposed to beat the Sith and dark side and bring balance to the Force." He said excitedly. The girl next shushed us. Derren chuckled. "Don't mind her, that's Seris. She's always like that. She acts like she's better than everyone. It only sucks because she comes from a long line of Green Jedi, so she is talented in the Force.
Green Jedi are supposed to be the Corellian Jedi, a reclusive sect of the Jedi Order known for their devotion to the planet Corellia and unique customs like allowing marriage and maintaining distinct traditions separate from the main Jedi Council. Why is she here at this temple?
Soon, master Yoda shushed us and spoke up. Beginning his instruction of us. "Mmm… little ones, listen well, you must. Now lose your eyes, yes… gently, like when sleep comes, but do not sleep. Breathe in… slowly, like smelling a flower. Breathe out… gently, like blowing on warm soup. Again… in… and out". I followed his instructions. Finding it easy to follow his explanation, no matter how childish it sounded. I felt myself relax with my controlled breathing.
"Good, now picture inside you a small light. Tiny it is, but bright, like a star. That light… is the Force. Always with you it is, waiting. When you are still… when you are calm… stronger it grows. As Yoda spoke, the world around me disappeared. My small body was surrounded by darkness. Then a tiny light appeared in front of me. It was small, like a speck flickering, then it slowly grew, and grew. Encompassing the space of my mind's eye. The color changed from white to a bright golden hue. It looked like I was in the presence of the Sun.
Then Yoda's voice spoke in my mind. "Reach out with your feelings. Not your fingers, hmm. With your heart and very person. Feel the light shine on you and accept it from. The floor beneath you. The friends beside you. The air is moving, soft as a whisper. All around, the Force flows." I then reached out, and the giant golden light came closer. The light felt warm and welcoming. I then, in my mind, touched it. Then I felt a surge of energy and calm swallow over my body. Never in my life have I felt it. I felt powerful and at peace; I felt like nothing could hurt me.
Then I heard a voice. Not Yoda's, but a voice that sounded like an echoing of multiple voices. Like a man and a woman were speaking. It asked me a question. "What do you want?" I was stunned. I didn't think I would hear a mystical voice from the Force. Let alone being in this Universe and body. I reflected and looked inward on that question. I had only one thought that came to mind quickly, almost instinctively.
"I want to be free." Then the light shone brightly on me until I found myself opening my eyes. I came out of my trance, and I noticed I was being stared at by everyone around me. When I looked closer, I was levitating a few inches off the ground. Derren was the first one to speak. "How did you do that?"
"Do what?" I said questionably as I descended back to the ground. "You were floating and glowing like a golden star." He said excitedly. 'I'm sure of it, you are the chosen one." Mater Yoda limps forward with his Cane. "Youngling Cain, how do you feel?" I paused for a moment. I was in disbelief at everything going on. I breathed deeply for a moment and centered myself, then I spoke. "I am fine, Master Yoda." Then Yoda spoke. "Did you see, feel, or hear anything? You were deep in the Force for one so young."
I then spoke, choosing my words wisely. "I felt at peace, Master. So at peace and powerful, I felt like I could have drifted away sleeping for eternity in the Force." Master Yoda paused, looking at me. Then he spoke. "Truly gifted you are for one so young... Careful, you must not be too lose yourself to the Force."
"What do you mean, Master?"
Yoda looked puzzled about how he would answer that question for one so young. "Sometimes ones who are powerful in the force can get consumed by it. Very rare it is, but also very possible it is." When he said that, my mind went straight to the thought of Anakin Solo during the Yuuzhan Vong war. Mind you, it didn't help with him being critically injured. I stopped my wandering thoughts and focused on the now.
Everyone in the order's eyes are now gonna be on me after this display. "I understand, master. I will be mindful of what you said, bowing. As I lifted my head, I saw Seris' eyes looking at me. I could tell she wasn't happy with my display of the Force.
Later that night, all the other younglings finally stopped gossiping and asking me a bunch of questions. I lay in my bed exhausted after today's events, and fell asleep easily. I felt my mind drift in a dark void. Then I saw what looked like stars shimmering in the distance appear. One was green, and another near it was purple. Another one appeared next to it was blue and flickered a yellow hue before turning back to blue. I looked further out, seeing three crimson stars next to each other. The third one shines brighter than the other two. While the other two were bigger than it by a little, it looked like it was surrounded by lightning.
I looked up, noticing a golden light above shining down on me. It was a golden light. This time, I noticed something different; unlike before, a shadowy black hue surrounded the outer golden light. I wondered what I was seeing and what these lights meant. More and more small flickering lights appeared in this black void, looking like a night sky full of stars. Then I noticed it. Far away in the distance, but it shone the brightest in the dark void.
A white, silver, flickering star that shifted between silver, white, and blue like the sky. It was beautiful. When I looked closer, I noticed something unbelievable. It looked like a small child with blue eyes that shone as bright as the star itself. I knew who it was immediately as I saw it. "Anakin Skywalker."