Over the next few months, our group became nearly unstoppable in almost anything we did. Some of our feats made us known as the Chosen Ones when we were together. It seemed like after Anakin came to the Temple, each of us slowly improved in ways that surprised even our instructors.
Barriss's connection to the Living Force became stronger with each passing week. Every time we went to the garden to meditate, I swear she would start to faintly glow and levitate without even trying. The craziest part was when I entered my void world and looked at her shimmering Force light, that's what I began to call them. Her light fluctuated between a radiant blue and green continuously, pulsing like a heartbeat. I thought I even saw mirages of a forest and nature around her as she meditated, as if the Force itself was painting her connection to all living things.
Derren was the heart of our group. He would always be up to help anyone with dueling or with chores. He couldn't stop running his mouth around Seris, and she made him pay for it every time. But Derren knew how to read the room better than anyone I'd ever met. He could sense when someone needed encouragement or when to back off. In sparring, he was outmaneuvering partners twice his size, and he knew how to de-escalate tense situations between other younglings with just a smile and a well-placed joke. He was the model youngling who faced all conflicts head-on with genuine warmth.
Seris was what some called the elegant angel of justice of our group. She was always reserved and stoic, unless Derren got under her skin. She was still a stickler for the rules and an overachiever, which is what a lot of younglings thought defined her. But I knew it was more than that. She demanded excellence from herself because she wanted to be the best version of herself, not because she was trying to prove something to others anymore. She was always good with a saber and strong in the Force, and she would push herself in and out of our studies with relentless discipline.
Yeah, she was one for the rules, but she was also one for structure. Instead of blindly following the rules, I got her to study them with the help of Master Plo. Thanks to this, she learned not to blindly follow the rules, but to analyze them and think of the best way to implement them for certain situations. She was becoming a leader in her own right.
Anakin was adapting to the Temple well. It wasn't a flawless transition, but I believed he was on the right path. As Anakin improved not just with the blade but also took more of his studies seriously, besides what he found interesting, he gained a little more discipline earlier than in the original story. Thanks to Anakin gaining structure and support, as he grew, we all grew with him. I noticed how it was similar to what I called the Vader effect.
What I mean by that is every time someone fought Darth Vader in the Star Wars stories, unlike the ones Vader killed, the survivors, like Luke Skywalker, Ezra Bridger, and Cal Kestis, each one of these Jedi who fought Vader and lived accomplished a feat not many could say they had. They all got their asses kicked, and then they trained and came back stronger than before.
Anakin from the original timeline had the same effect. He trained Ahsoka to be an amazing Jedi duelist and leader in the Clone Wars. And his training with Kenobi helped bolster his skills, between the training they did during their missions and war campaigns.
All of us were growing in one way or another from his influence. As for me? I was making sure everything moved together smoothly. There were some changes thanks to my influence. Master Yaddle didn't die like in the Disney canon, but actually lived like in Legends. She had been a great surrogate mother figure not only to Anakin, but to all of us. Dooku did leave, like in canon, and I knew the clone army production would begin soon.
That knowledge weighed on me constantly. I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.
Late one evening, I sat alone in a quiet corner of the dormitory, my datapad glowing softly in the dim light. Around me, the other younglings slept peacefully, their breathing steady and calm. But my mind was racing.
I had been cataloging everything I could remember from my past life, every major event, every threat, every pivotal moment that would shape the galaxy's future. The Clone Wars. Order 66. The rise of the Empire. The Yuuzhan Vong invasion. Abeloth. Darth Caedus. The list went on and on, each entry more daunting than the last.
I didn't know which timeline I was in, Legends, Disney canon, or some hybrid of both. But I knew one thing for certain: I couldn't sit back and do nothing. I had to act. But I also had to be smart about it.
I couldn't change everything right now. I was still just a nine-year-old youngling, no matter how much knowledge I carried. If I tried to intervene too directly, I'd draw attention, from the Council, from Sidious, from forces I wasn't ready to face. I needed to be patient. I needed to build foundations now that I could leverage later.
That's when the idea came to me.
I already had one pseudonym, Dawnstar, the author of the Dune series that had taken the galaxy by storm. My books had sold millions of copies across Coruscant, Mandalore, and Tatooine. The financial success had given me independence, a safety net I could use when the time came.
But money alone wouldn't be enough. I needed allies. Real allies. People in positions of power who could act when I couldn't. People who shared my values and could be trusted to do the right thing when the galaxy needed them most.
I needed to plant seeds now, seeds that would grow into a network of influence I could call upon when the time was right.
And so, I created a second identity: Noctis.
Over the next few weeks, I worked in secret, carefully crafting messages and selecting my targets. I couldn't be reckless. Every person I reached out to had to be chosen with precision. They had to be trustworthy, principled, and positioned to make a difference.
I started with the senators I knew from my memories, the ones who would stand against tyranny when the Republic fell.
Mon Mothma was first on my list. In the original timeline, she became one of the founders of the Rebel Alliance, a voice of reason and moral clarity in the darkest times. I needed her to start questioning Palpatine now, to begin noticing the cracks in his facade before it was too late. Through my publicist, I sent her a copy of my Dune novels along with a carefully worded letter signed "Noctis." In it, I included information about several corrupt officials in Palpatine's inner circle, nothing too specific, nothing that would reveal how I knew, but enough to make her start asking questions.
Padmé Amidala was next. She was already a senator by now, young and idealistic, but with a sharp mind and a strong sense of justice. I knew she would eventually fall for Anakin, and I couldn't stop that, nor did I want to. But I could give her the tools to see Palpatine for what he truly was. I sent her similar information, along with a note encouraging her to trust her instincts and to never stop fighting for what she believed in.
Bail Organa was another obvious choice. In every timeline, he was a pillar of integrity and courage. I sent him information about Palpatine's secret dealings and the names of a few corrupt officials who happened to be in the Chancellor's favor. I framed it as intelligence from a concerned citizen who wished to remain anonymous. I knew Bail would investigate, and I knew he would act on what he found.
Onaconda Farr was a more complicated case. In the original timeline, he betrayed the Republic out of desperation to save his people, only to later redeem himself. I wanted to prevent that betrayal from ever happening. I sent him information about alternative trade routes and potential allies who could help Rodia without forcing him into Palpatine's web. It was a gamble, but I hoped it would be enough.
Then there was Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore. She was a pacifist, committed to neutrality, but I knew Death Watch was a growing threat to her rule. I couldn't intervene directly, not yet, but I could give her information. Through Noctis, I sent her intelligence on Death Watch's supporters and their movements. Not enough to fight them outright, but enough to know who to watch. Enough to prepare.
I also had my eye on Bo-Katan Kryze, Satine's sister and a member of Death Watch. In the original timeline, she eventually turned against Pre Vizsla and became a leader in her own right. I knew she had the strength and the vision to unite Mandalore, but she was still loyal to Vizsla for now. I couldn't approach her yet. But when the time came, when I had the political capital and the influence, I would bring her to my side. And together, we would deal with Pre Vizsla. He was an obstacle, a fanatic who would only bring more chaos to Mandalore. If I could convince Bo-Katan to turn against him, to see the bigger picture, then Death Watch could be redirected, transformed into something that could actually help the galaxy instead of tearing it apart.
I also made a note about Riyo Chuchi. She wasn't a senator yet, but I knew she would be eventually. When that time came, I would reach out to her as well.
And then there was Kin Robb, a senator from the Outer Rim. She wasn't as prominent as the others, but she had influence in regions that would be critical during the Clone Wars. I sent her a copy of my books and a letter encouraging her to consider the cost of neutrality in the face of tyranny.
Each message was different. Each one was tailored to the recipient, designed to plant a seed without revealing too much. I signed them all as "Noctis," and at the end of each letter, I included the same closing line: "I hope one day we can create a united galaxy."
It was a simple phrase, but it carried weight. It was a promise. A vision of what could be.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the datapad in my hands. The messages were ready. All I had to do was send them.
But doubt crept in. What if this backfires? What if I'm making things worse?
I thought about Qui-Gon's words on the balcony, about trusting in the Force and letting go of the need to control everything. But how could I let go when I knew what was coming? How could I sit back and do nothing when I had the power to change things?
No, I told myself. This is the right move. I'm not trying to control the future. I'm just... giving people the tools they need to make the right choices. That's all.
I took a deep breath and hit send.
The messages went out through my publicist, carefully routed through anonymous channels to avoid detection. The books would arrive first, a gift from the mysterious author Dawnstar. And then, a few days later, the letters from Noctis would follow.
It was done. Now all I could do was wait.
The next morning, I woke up feeling lighter. The weight of inaction had been crushing me for weeks, but now I had taken a step, a small one, but a step nonetheless. I wasn't just sitting around waiting for the future to happen. I was shaping it, one carefully placed seed at a time.
As I made my way to the training hall, I couldn't help but smile. This is just the beginning.
In an upper sparring ring, the four of us gathered under Serra Keto's supervision. She stood at the edge of the mat, arms crossed, watching us with a critical eye.
"Same rules as before," she said. "Tag system. You're out when your saber is disarmed or you're struck three times. No Force pushes. Just your saber technique."
She smirked. "And try not to break anything this time."
Anakin grinned. "No promises."
Seris rolled her eyes, but I caught the faint smile tugging at her lips.
Derren stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders. "Ready when you are."
I ignited my training saber, the blue blade humming to life. Seris, Anakin, and Derren did the same, forming a loose circle facing inward. We did our respectful bows and got into our dueling forms and stances.
Then, after a short moment's pause, we jumped into the spar.
For the first few minutes, it was quick strikes, parries, and counters. The four of us never stuck to dueling just one person. We moved between each other with strong footwork and controlled breathing. Derren almost disarmed Anakin with a well-placed counter to a side strike. Anakin returned the favor with two quick slashes and a shoulder tap.
I tested Seris's power, and she tested mine. Every slash we threw at each other collided and rolled off each other's sabers. Seris soon dodged and parried my attacks like she was dancing. I knew if I kept letting this exchange continue, she would turn the tables on me.
I centered my mind and reached deep into the Force. I wanted to achieve that flow state like before. That way, I could take control of this duel.
Then, as my mind calmed and my body began to explode with energy, something shifted.
We started to move faster. Our saber strikes became more precise. The Temple around us disappeared. All I noticed was Anakin, Derren, and Seris. All of their movements, from their strikes, breathing, and footwork, I saw them all, even before they made them. I moved without thinking, letting my body move for me and letting the Force flow through me.
For the next hour and beyond that, we sparred without stopping. We were completely immersed. Our movements blended into a dance of precision and synergy. The sound of sabers hummed like music. Swings, parries, and flips flowed like water in a river. Each time one of us surged ahead, the others adapted. Each misstep was absorbed. Every strike met with a natural counter, like a shared instinct shaped by the Force itself.
Anakin's raw power was breathtaking. His strikes came fast and strong, each one carrying the weight of his emotions, his grief, his determination, his need to prove himself. But there was also joy in his movements now, a freedom he hadn't felt before. He was no longer fighting alone. He was fighting with us.
Seris moved like water given form, her twin sabers weaving patterns that were as beautiful as they were deadly. She anticipated openings before they appeared, her movements so fluid it was like watching a river carve through stone. There was a grace to her technique that went beyond training, it was instinct, honed by years of discipline and now amplified by the Force resonance flowing between us.
Derren was the anchor. His Soresu defense was impenetrable, absorbing every strike with calm efficiency. He didn't just block, he redirected, turning our attacks into opportunities for counterstrikes. His presence in the duel was like a steady heartbeat, grounding us even as we pushed faster and faster.
And me? I was the thread that connected them all. I could feel their intentions before they acted, see the rhythm of the duel unfolding like a song. I moved between them, redirecting Anakin's power, matching Seris's speed, supporting Derren's defense. We weren't four separate fighters anymore. We were one.
None of us realized how much time had passed. All of our bodies moved on instinct. Our lungs burned. Our clothes clung to us, soaked with sweat. We didn't speak with our words. We let our blades do the talking.
Off to the side, Barriss sat in meditation, her legs crossed, her body levitating a few inches off the ground. Her presence was calm, serene, a counterpoint to the intensity of our duel. She glowed faintly, her connection to the Living Force radiating outward like a gentle warmth.
The doors hissed open again, and Serra Keto returned, this time with Master Plo Koon and Master Mace Windu.
Serra froze at the sight of us. From the outside, all four of us were moving so fast we were close to being blurs. The only thing that was recognizable was the blue and green of our practice sabers, streaking through the air like lightning.
"How long have they been like this, Padawan Keto?" Plo Koon asked, his voice calm but tinged with concern.
Serra looked at Barriss, who was still meditating and levitating off to the side. "For too long, Master. I knew you told me to come get you once they started dueling again. I didn't think I would be delayed in finding you for so long."
Mace Windu's eyes never left the duel taking place. Then he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Enough!"
The word resonated through the Force, and in an instant, our momentum halted. All four of us froze mid-motion, breathless, wide-eyed, blinking as if waking from a dream. Seris's hands dropped. Anakin collapsed to his knees. I slowly deactivated my saber, my chest rising and falling like thunder. Derren stood there, covered in sweat, looking like he'd just run a marathon but somehow still standing.
Seriously, is this kid built different or something?
"…How long…?" I rasped.
"Three hours," Mace said, crossing his arms. "You've been in there three hours."
No one said anything. We couldn't. The weight of those words hit us like a physical blow.
Three hours?
Anakin flopped backward, arms outstretched, laughing through his exhaustion. "That was amazing," he said, his voice hoarse but filled with genuine joy.
"How did we even do all that?" Seris said, out of breath and stunned.
Serra nudged Barriss out of her meditation. She blinked, her eyes refocusing as she slowly descended back to the ground. She looked at us, taking in our exhausted, sweat-soaked forms, and raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to you all?"
I laughed, the sound coming out more like a wheeze. "We'll tell you about it later."
Mace and Plo exchanged a glance, and then Mace spoke again, his tone firm but not unkind. "All of you. Clean up and get some rest. Now."
We nodded, too tired to argue, and slowly made our way out of the sparring hall. As the door hissed closed behind us, I couldn't help but wonder:
What was that? The more I use that flow state, the stronger it gets. But I still don't know anything more about it.
Further down the corridor of the training room, Mace and Plo walked in cadence. Plo spoke first. "Were you able to feel it?"
Windu nodded. "I did more than feel it. I saw it. The boy has the sight."
"Are you going to teach him about it?" Plo asked.
"No," Mace responded. "He is too young. He isn't ready."
"I see," Plo said. "Well, I will continue to monitor the boy. He shows great potential."
Mace then nodded. "Yes, he does. And the way he brought Skywalker into his group is interesting. They are all growing well. I just hope the Force guides them well."
Plo stopped walking, and Mace stopped with him. "That is also why we are here, Mace, to help guide them down the right path. We should help them like any other youngling to shine as bright as they can without restricting them. Cain and Skywalker have helped improve those around them. We should be happy for them. Our main concern is to help guide them down the proper path."
Mace paused for a moment, taking in Plo's words to heart. "I see, Master Plo. Thank you for the words of wisdom. I will keep them in mind."
"Of course, old friend," Plo said, placing a hand on Windu's shoulder.
The next day, all five of us groaned as we limped into morning meditation. My whole body was weak and sore. Anakin's arms were sore. Seris looked like she hadn't slept. Her graceful self was nowhere around. Derren walked like he was barely sore at all.
Seriously, what is this kid made of?
Barriss just smirked. "You all feel it now, huh?" she teased.
I chuckled softly, easing myself into a seated position. "Yeah, but worth it, I think," I said, chuckling through the pain.
Master Fay passed us as we settled in. She paused for a moment, just long enough to place a hand on my shoulder. "You all seem closer," she whispered. Then she looked to Anakin. "Your resonance together. Never forget that."
I said nothing, but for a moment, I felt the Force swell around us, like all four of us were linked in some way.
I wonder what is happening.