As I stood on the ancient, Paladin-class corvette ship. The Crucible, a Jedi vessel used to transport younglings to Ilum. Standing before us, younglings were: Master Yoda, Fay, Plo Koon, and Shaak Ti. Even Obi-Wan joined. They all stood in long brown Jedi coats over the us younglings.
Master Yoda stepped forward with his gimer stick.
"Listen well younglings," Yoda said softly. " Gathering, you will soon face. On the frozen world of Ilum, deep within its crystal caves a test awaits. Not just of skill, but of patience, courage, and trust in the Force. Each of you will enter the caves alone. The path may twist, the way may seem hidden, but remember, let not fear and doubt cloud your mind. Steady your heart, and the Force will light your way."
As the ship landed on Ilum, the Icy wind hit our faces. The only one who was struggling was Seris. "Don't like the cold." I said. "No I and I never experienced it." She said. "Why does the Gathering have to take place on this frozen planet? I would prefer a ancient cavern or this."
I smiled. "You can hold my hand and stand close to me until we start."
Seris stared at Cain's hand for a moment. Her ears slightly twitching underneath her her hood. Then before she reach for his hand. She noticed Anakin, Brriss, and Derren looking at her from behind Cain. They all had a slight smile on their faces. She stopped her hand, and then recomposed herself.
"Thank you Cain, but I will be fine. I will use the breathing techniques we were taught." She then walked past me and stepped on Derrens foot. "Owww. I didn't even say anything this time."
Then as everyone gathered towards the frozen caves entrance. Master Yoda spoke up again. "Inside, a kyber crystal waits. Not one you take, it chooses you. When it calls, you will know. More than crystal the gem is; it is a piece of the Force, bound to you. With it, you will build your lightsaber, and a new chapter of your journey begins. This is not a test of what you already know… but meant to reveal who you are becoming.."
A long silence. Then the masters gathered together to melt the frozen wall leading into the entrance. Then Master Fay spoke. "Younglings, you have until the sun to set on the cave entrance, to find your crystals and come back to the entrance. Should fail to make it back in time. You will be trapped in the cave which will freeze shut again for one rotation."
That's a lie. I know that these Jedi could melt the ice wall as many times as they wanted to. Why they put a time limit on the younglings made no sense to me. Doesn't matter to me either way. I wonder what type of crystal I will get? I don't expect to get one like mace windu's here. The closest I would get is a Indigo one like Cal Kestis, or Kyp Durron.
I do have some conflict from my past life I never resolved. And being sent here and not knowing how or why doesn't help. Maybe a blue or green one? No I'm not that planted in either side of the force. I do have a strong force connection, and do value the physical side as well. But I want to find a strong balance with both and later add the cosmic for to that mix.
Maybe white? hahaha. I'm not that pure at all. Let's not kid ourself Cain hahaha. Maybe yellow? versatility, balance, and adaptability. I would say those fit me well. I wonder about the others. Barriss would get blue. Which never made since to me, since she should have a green crystal instead. Anakin would have blue to. I wonder if my influence if that will change that?
I never heard of Seris or Derren in the orginal cannon, Legends or Disney, so theirs is up in the air.
Then Master Plo spoke. "You may now begin younglings."
In that moment the other younglings ran into the frozen cave. But some did not move. Anakin, Barriss, Derren, Seris ,and I all knelt on the ground. Our eyes closed as we placed our hands one the ground. That's when the masters stared at us in suspense, of what are next move was. Then Obi-wan spoke.
"What are they doing? If they don't hurry, they will lose their opportunity to find their crystals." Obi-wan said in concern.
That's when Plo Koon walked next to Obi-wan, and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Be at peace Knight Kenobi. They are listening to the Force, and letting their crystal call to them."
In that moment I entered the black void. I saw the force lights appear around me like before. But this time was different I felt like the others were with me in this world. In that moment all felt something. It was a pulse in the void. In the distance of the void I saw it. A shining pulsing light. Then I heard a sound. Not like a voice but music. Like it was singing to me.
On the outside the masters observed something they never before seen in their lives. Even Yoda and Fay was amazed by what they saw. The five kneeling younglings were glowing. All glowed faintly each a different individual color. Cain goldish yellow. Anakin a silverish sapphire. Barris a emerald like green. Derren a deep sapphire blue with a white hue. And Seris, a silver white with a golden hue.
"The Force is flowing so strong in them, it's like looking at the birth of a star. Master Fay said.
"They are also synchronizing. Each one shining in sync with one another. It's like that of a force bond but something more. Says Plo Koon.
Then in that instant the light disappeared, and the five were standing.
"Let's go." I said. My body full of energy and my heart and mind at peace. Only thing in my sight was my path to my crystal.
"Right." The others send behind me. I could tell they felt the same way as me. and I felt something different. Like I could see what they see , feel what they felt. But I wasn't anchored to them. Like we were one but many.
Then in a blink we rushed to through the entrance of the cave. We jumped and maneuvered through the cave with ease. We moved in different directions with ease. Other younglings noticed us moving like we were unstoppable.
Barriss was the first one to find her crystal. Her crystal was nestled between two roots of a frozen ice wall. It pulsed gently when she touched it. From a clear translucent crystal, to a jade green light. A reflection of her soul's inner peace and harmony.
Derran was next. His crystal stood in a tunnel lined with shattered stones and ice. But he focus was beyond sharper then it has ever been in his short life. The world's color disappeared from his sight, until only gray remained. In the pile only one color stood out. He reached into the pile and pulled a translucent crystal. As the color changed the color around him returned. A snow white crystal shined in his hand. There was a bright white hue to it. His inner quite strength that very few new shined brightly. The crystal reflected it back to him and soon to others
Seris ran gracefully through the cave. She was next to Anakin, and Cain until a pulse led her to a path. She was led through iced mirrored cavern. Her reflection casted back at her, along with visions of her former self reflected all around her. Their mouths moved, but Seris was so focused on her goal, she didn't even registered their voices. In the center, atop a frozen pedestal. a translucent gem pulsed with light. When her tiny hands grabbed it the color shifted. A yellow almost golden crystal glowed like a sun in her hand. She knelt. Her unwavering conviction shined brightly as she spoke. "I'm ready."
Anakin ran through the cave with Cain. The two moved jumped and flipped like nothing could stop them. Even a ice wall so translucent no one would be able to tell it was there. But they did. Anakin didn't stop for a moment their was a hole waiting for him in his path. Like he was meant for it. Cain on the other hand did not have such a opening. But his eyes saw a opening for him. But he would have to make it himself. He saw cracks on the wall but he knew what they really were. "Shatterpoints. Cain just stuck out one finger, before he touched the translucent ice wall. No force physical or psychic was needed at all. The wall shattered just from his touch.
The two continued to move forward. They were the unstoppable force incarnate. Two little boys that were only 10.
Then Anakin in a graceful and abrupt motion, stopped when he saw a passage opening. Cain continued to move forward and deeper into the cave. Anakin moved with purpose down the cave, his blue eyes shined brighter then normal, a almost silverish white. Then he felt it before he saw it. A translucent crystal stood floating high above the ground close to the cave roof. Anakin somehow new without even knowing how just reached out with the force. The crystal came floating down to him like it was waiting just for him to arrive.
Then as it dropped to into his hand. A strong pulse rang through the cave that even the masters above felt it. Cain felt it to but instead of stopping . He new what happened. He just smirked and kept moving. Then the translucent crystal shine while filling with color. A indigo color appeared with a dark hue instead of a white one. But stopped when he saw a storm trapped in a crystal. Purple lightning danced inside. It pulsed with passion but also clarity.
Anakin's internal struggle will not conquer him. For no matter how much he leans to the dark side with Cain and everyone help. his power will continue to grow as he bring balance.
Cain's path was different. As Cain reached the deepest parts of the frozen cave. He reached a dead end. But he didn't panic. He approached the wall of the cave, and placed his hand on it. the pulse felt strong then before. And he felt a bright light behind it. Cain then began to see the shatterpoints in the cave wall. It a respectful nod to one of his favorite martial artist from his old world. He stood straight, and placed his hand on the wall fingers first.
Then he breathed. His breath visible in the cold air. The he did a one inch punch. The cave wall shattered in a instant. Behind the giant hole Cain made, was translucent crystal. As Cain reached out and touched it, another strong pulse was felt throughout the cave.
Then Cain saw a flash of visions. A planet. Harsh and beautiful in nature and the Force. A army of armored individuals. What looked like Jedi, Mandaolrians, Dathomir witches united. Then darkness. A void and soulless demonic eyes devoid of light surrounded me.
Then a bright light shined in front of Cain. As the vision faded, he saw his Kyber crystal shine. A bright golden yellow crystal with a black hue. Cain was beyond surprised because, he never heard or seen a crystal like this in the Star Wars lore he knew. Cain felt his conviction burn brighter, and his connection to the force deepen.