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chimcess · 11 months ago

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→ Chapter Eight: A Murder Pairing: Jimin x Reader Other tags: Werewolf!Jimin, Witch!Reader, Shifter!Reader, Shifter!Jimin, A/B/O Dynamics, Alpha!Jimin Genre: Supernatural!AU, Werewolf!AU, Angst, Mutual Pining, Fluff, Smut, Word Count: 11.9k+ Synopsis: Within the four realms of Lustra lay the Bangtan forest home to the Foxglove pack of the south and known as the “land of magic.” It is also home to the Bridd, a powerful witch from a cursed bloodline who is one of the sacred guardians of the forest. Y/N is the newest Bridd, a young girl who was given her position too early. Now a woman, Y/N is revered amongst the wolves as the most powerful witch they have ever known, but hiding under the surface is a woman who has to battle between her duty and her heart. Warnings: ANGST, strong language, PTSD, flashbacks, self-hate, self-depreciation, talks of death, nosey birds, Moland is a lot of fun to write about, (sorta) theft, home sickness, magic, crying, reader is lonely, new character introduced, creepy monsters, talk of death, nightmares, very tame A/N: Our adventure has officially begun. I'm so excited to show off some of Lustra outside of Bangtan! Be prepared for a lot of angst from here on out. Thanks for reading :)

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I blinked, trying to shield my eyes from the invasive sunlight slicing through the room. My body felt like it was made of lead, each muscle protesting as I forced myself upright. The sun had just begun its ascent, painting the sky with streaks of orange and pink. Soon, the others would wake, and Moland's hunters would pick up my trail. Time was my enemy.

Thelma's house, usually a sanctuary, now felt like a trap. Would I be able to return after this was all over? Would they hate me for leaving? Questions with no answers haunted me as I rose, wincing at the crack of my joints. Sleeping on floor cots was a necessity in the swamp; anything else invited mold and worse. I stretched, my back groaning in protest, and went in search of sustenance. Thelma always had food stashed somewhere.

The fridge was stocked with cured meats, a testament to Thelma's culinary prowess. But my stomach churned at the thought. I wasn't about to change my vegetarian ways, not now. Mi-Jeong’s noodles danced in my memory, a comforting reminder. I found some grapes, hidden away like treasures in the cold box. Perfect.

I ate the grapes slowly, savoring each bite as I prepared my bag. The weight of Moland's proximity pressed on me; I needed to put distance between us quickly. The swamp's cacophony was a welcome distraction, louder than the forest's oppressive silence. Most predators were still asleep, granting me a temporary reprieve. I charmed my items, readying myself for the journey ahead.

Flying would be faster, but daylight was a double-edged sword. I had no choice. I needed to move. The grapes, now warm and less appealing, were still a better option than hunger. I knew Moland well enough to navigate its treacherous paths, but beyond lay the unknown. Quietus territory promised fewer encounters with elves, but there were other dangers.

Shifting form, I felt the discomfort of my bag's straps against my wings, my trousers rubbing irritatingly against my feathers. I needed to find a more practical outfit for flying. My mind wandered to Jimin. By now, he would be awake, brooding over his tea. Would he come looking for me? Doubtful. The village would soon realize my absence. Sol and Bo would be the first to panic, their reactions predictable.

Flying during the day was exhilarating, the wind under my wings a rare pleasure. But the weight of my bag made it unsustainable. I needed to rest. Finding a sturdy oak, I landed and shifted back. The berries growing nearby caught my eye, a small consolation in my weary state. Jin had taught me well, our foraging trips a distant, bittersweet memory.

As I ate the tart chokeberries, I thought of Jin and Yoongi. Those days seemed a lifetime ago. I missed them, but the present demanded my focus. I saved some berries in a spare shirt, careful not to crush them, and set off again.

The marsh ahead was teeming with life. Birds gossiped above, unaware of who I was. Their chatter was a comfort. Stripping down, I entered the water, scrubbing the dirt from my skin. The birds' bickering provided a soundtrack, their voices a reminder that I was not alone.

“What are you?” one of the birds asked, breaking the spell.

Ignoring them, I continued to wash, the water murky but refreshing. My thoughts drifted to the journey ahead. Danger lurked in every shadow, but I had no choice. I had to keep moving, keep surviving.

As I finished, I looked around, the swamp's noise a constant reminder of the world I was leaving behind. With one last glance at Thelma's house, I took to the sky, determined to outfly the shadows of Moland.

“Hey!” Pip’s voice sliced through the swamp’s murmur, harsh and grating. I turned, annoyance simmering beneath my skin. “You didn’t answer my question.

“Maggie, lay off,” Pip shot back, his tone defiant. Maggie’s scolding fluttered away like a discarded leaf.

Scrubbing the muck from my skin, I figured a brief answer might quiet the incessant crows. The last thing I needed was more attention drawn to me. The swamp was quiet, but not so quiet as to hide the lurking dangers. The thought of oversized snakes slithering in the murky waters made my skin crawl.

“I’m a shifter,” I said, my voice flat and edged with impatience.

“Oh,” Earl’s laugh rumbled, deep and unsettling. “Should’ve guessed. I’m Earl.”

“Margeret,” Maggie chimed in, bowing her head with an air of exaggerated politeness, as if she’d just stepped out of a Northorn court. “This is Floyd, my beloved, and Price, his brother.”

I hummed a noncommittal response, eager to escape the swamp's oppressive humidity and the crows’ probing questions. The longer I lingered, the greater the risk of a snake bite or worse. I debated whether to get my hair wet, the thought making me shiver.

Pip wasn’t done. “What’s your name, shifter?”

“Nixie,” I said, the name slipping out before I could stop it. I winced, relieved that my face remained hidden. Why Wendy’s sister’s name surfaced, I didn’t know, but it was too late to change course. I had to make it work.

Maggie’s shrill laugh grated on my nerves. “From the shore, are ya? Named after water nymphs, I suppose?”

I was taken aback. These birds were sharper than they let on. The sea coven named their girls after water spirits, and Nixie fit the bill. I hadn’t expected crows to be so knowledgeable about such things.

“Yes,” I said, relieved they were building my backstory for me.

“What brings you out here?” Pip’s question broke through my thoughts.

I trudged out of the water, feet sinking into the sticky mud, feeling the cloying discomfort with every step. I glanced at the crows, considering how best to craft a story that would satisfy their curiosity without revealing too much. The swamp’s whispers seemed to echo the urgency of my situation.

“The elves destroyed my home,” I said, grabbing my damp clothes. “I’ve been wandering and hoping to find my way to Whopping to warn my sister.”

“Bless your heart,” Maggie cooed, her accent thick with the same twang as Thelma’s. “We heard about the raids. Foxglove Village nearly burned down, they said.”

“A friend mentioned the guardian witch broke her curse,” Floyd added.

I kept my face impassive, hiding my surprise. The crows were more in the know than I’d anticipated. I was uncomfortable with their conversation but tried to remain polite.

“Watch yourself,” Earl advised, peering eastward. “Seen a lot of camps ‘round here.”

“If I were you,” Pip added, “I’d ditch that bag. It’ll make you stand out.”

Maggie scrutinized my bag with a critical eye. “Big thing must weigh a ton. Don’t know how you manage.”

I forced a weary smile. “I’ll leave it behind when I find a safe place to stash my stuff.”

Floyd’s excitement was palpable. “Stop by Mama Jean’s in Magnolia. She can help with directions and maybe feed you.”

“Don’t risk it,” Earl interjected quickly. “Mama Jean’s deep in the bayou. There’s dangers beyond just elves.”

“Yeah,” Maggie said, her tone dripping with condescension. “Some witches aren’t fond of newcomers. You’ll be defenseless.”

“She’d probably figure out a way to kill you twice if you lied,” Pip joked, a smirk in his voice. “Best to fly straight through. Sleep in a tree and keep moving.”

I nodded, absorbing their advice. I didn’t want to draw any more attention, but their insights were useful. I glanced at the setting sun, knowing I’d need to find a place to camp.

Maggie offered a final gesture. “If you need us to pass on any messages, just say so. We’re headed south to escape the violence.”

Touched by their willingness to help, I decided to part with my last bunch of grapes. Maggie and Floyd protested, but Earl, ever the opportunist, accepted them with glee.

“If you can,” I said, “find someone named Kim Seokjin in Foxglove. He’s a witch who talks to animals. If not, his mother and aunt, Hoji and Heji.”

“What’s a witch doing with wolves?” Pip asked.

“Safety,” I replied briefly. “After the attack, we sought refuge.”

“Let her finish,” Floyd scolded.

“Tell him, ‘Birdie is fine,’” I said, “and what you know about the elf camps.”

“‘Birdie’? Sounds juvenile,” Maggie complained.

I laughed, a bittersweet sound. There was a time when those names were a part of me, when magic and laughter were constants. Now, nostalgia mingled with the ache of loss. I missed them all—Yoongi, Jimin, my old life.

I missed them terribly.

“We’ve known each other since we were kids,” I said, my voice cracking with the weight of old memories. “No one knows I’ve left. I just want them to know I’m okay and to be careful.”

“Brave girl,” Earl commented, his beak dripping with grape juice. “We’ll head that way tonight. Should reach there by morning. We need to swing by a friend’s place first. Elves have been causing all sorts of trouble for witches.”

“Of course,” I agreed quickly, a hidden surge of relief flooding me. The extra time to escape the swamp was a gift. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Pip grunted, snagging a grape for himself.

“We birds stick together,” Earl added, his tone more solemn.

I chuckled, their camaraderie starting to grow on me. As the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in hues of orange and red, I knew it was time for me to move. The river was still a distant hope, and the thought of hauling the bag any longer made me ache. The bag’s weight seemed to bear down on me more than I’d anticipated. My fear of exposure gnawed at me. If the elves knew I was out here, alone and vulnerable, they could use it against me. I could almost hear the whispers of my enemies in the dark corners of my mind.

“I should get going,” I sighed, bracing myself to carry the burden again. “Thanks again for everything.”

“Thanks for the grapes, honey,” Maggie said with a grin. “Stay safe. Hope we cross paths again someday.”

I smiled at her. “I’m sure I can find you.”

Taking a deep breath, I set the bag down and began to shift. My clothes fell away in a heap, and it took some fumbling to extricate myself from the pile of fabric. The crows watched, their beady eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and awe. I used my beak to open my sack and stuffed the clothes inside. I’d only shift to ease the burden of the bag, so the clothes wouldn’t be needed for a while.

“We’re kin,” Pip joked, “Glad to see something besides a wolf pull that off.”

“Too bad I’m the bigger cousin,” I teased, gripping the bag’s strap with my talons.

“Probably older, too,” Earl cracked. “Too bad we could kick your tail if we really tried.”

“Safety in numbers,” I agreed, though I couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy for their flock. “Too bad I don’t have my own. Where’s the rest of your murder?”

“Leeside,” Maggie replied. “You might run into some of them. They’re usually not friendly, so if you mention us, they might back off.”

After a few more pleasantries and warnings, along with detailed directions to the Syrena River, I took off. The bag’s weight made flying awkward, and I grimaced as it jostled against my back. Maggie and Earl’s kindness was a balm, while Pip and Floyd continued to devour the grapes. I had managed to get rid of them, even if it was a bit more effort than I’d planned. Cordelia would have scolded me for being so sentimental.

Lost in thought, I nearly crashed into a tree, barely swerving in time. The memory of Cordelia struck me like a blow. Her eyes, cold and distant, haunted me. The weight of her small body, the dirt-streaked hair clinging to her face, and the fire’s consuming heat pressed on me like a physical force. The acrid smell of soot and ash filled my senses, forcing me to the ground in frustration.

Dropping the bag, I landed with a heavy thud. Shifting back, I panted, my grief and despair overwhelming me. The forest around me was eerily silent. The cicadas’ electric hum and the songbirds�� melodies were replaced by a stifling quiet, more oppressive than the Bangtan forests. The absence of sound was a stark reminder of my isolation. I wrapped my arms around my bare shoulders, letting the tears flow freely. I knew I had no time for this—elves could be nearby at any moment—but the weight of my sorrow was too heavy to bear alone.

The silence pressed in on me, the only hope for solace lying in the distant promise of the frogs’ crooning when night fell. But that was a long way off. The darkness would come soon, and I had miles to fly before I’d be near another body of water.

I wiped my face, telling myself that at least the crows would keep the worry at bay for now. It was the only consolation I could muster. Never had I felt such foolishness for leaving so impulsively. I was so wrapped up in everyone else’s troubles that I hadn’t stopped to think about the chaos I’d wrought on myself, or how it would hurt them. Jimin’s words echoed in my mind, a relentless whisper that made me crumble to my knees. He was right. I was tangled in my own self-pity, blind to how my actions were tearing him apart. This wasn’t an act of love; it was selfishness.

I could barely stand myself. My tears came hot and relentless, leaving wet trails on my cheeks. My frustration boiled over into anger. I slammed my hands against the dirt, the force of my rage almost feeling like a physical entity. I wanted to fight something, anything. My fists clenched, nails biting into my palms, I bit down on my tongue until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. I swung at a nearby tree, feeling the sting as my knuckles collided with the rough bark. The pain was a dull roar but enough to snap me out of my spiral.

Trembling, I took deep, shuddering breaths, trying to steady myself. My hands shook uncontrollably, the knuckles already darkening with bruises, blood oozing from the small cracks in the skin. The anger ebbed away, replaced by guttural sobs that shook my entire body.

I wanted to go home, but where was home now? My cottage was a ruin, the palace felt like an empty shell, and Mi-Jeong’s house was no refuge with Ji-Hyun there. Even Jimin’s place, once a haven, now seemed tainted by the knowledge of how he saw me. I was adrift, unmoored, with no place to return to.

As I struggled to breathe, memories of the past came crashing back with startling clarity. I remembered a night filled with regret and anger. Aldara and I had a screaming match the day before. I couldn’t even recall the cause—defensive magic, or some petty argument we often had. When I showed up for breakfast the next morning, she had prepared a feast, an olive branch I refused to acknowledge. I had been too stubborn to listen, too angry to see her genuine attempt to make amends. I stormed out, leaving the food untouched, the cold plate a symbol of my petulance.

Yoongi was my refuge that day. We sat in the forest as I vented my frustrations. He’d called me melodramatic, and I’d insisted I was standing up for myself. Jin and Wendy found us later, and together we walked to Syrena. On the beach outside Wendy's house, I let my anger manifest in bursts of flames that danced across the sea. Jin’s jealousy as he asked to see my fire was a vivid memory, his voice tinged with awe.

Fire had always been my domain. I wielded it like an artist, creating flames that burned blue with heat. It was the one thing I excelled at, praised by Aldara with a spark of pride in her eye. But now, the furnace within me lay cold. The joy and mastery I once felt had been extinguished by the wolves’ attack.

I lifted my hands and inspected them, feeling a strange disconnect. Fire had never harmed my skin before. I took a deep breath and pressed my palms into the dirt, my voice a soft murmur as I wove a spell. The earth responded, encasing my hands and arms in a protective layer. It sought out the blisters, cooling them as it climbed up my body. The spell ended, and the dirt fell away, leaving no trace behind. I wiped my face and stood, relieved to see that my old magic still worked, if imperfectly. The burns were less noticeable, a small victory.

“Egnis,” I commanded, raising my hand. A small, lackluster flame appeared above my fingers. It was nothing like the vibrant, dancing fire I once controlled. It flickered weakly, a poor shadow of what it had been. I felt ashamed.

“Hello,” I greeted the ember. “I’m sorry I’ve neglected you.”

The flame offered no response, its silence a stark reminder of how distant I had become from my own power.

“I’ll try to do better,” I promised. “I think we’ll need each other again. I’m not great at fighting without you, and these spells drain me too much.”

The flame remained still. With a sigh, I let it extinguish. The sun was low, casting long shadows, and night was approaching fast. I enchanted my bag and slung it over my shoulder, shifting into my other form. It was easier to bear the transformation without clothes.

I kept low, weaving through the trees. I was out of my element, and the dense forest made navigation treacherous. Flying higher would risk losing my way. Speeding through the thick foliage, I knew I wouldn’t outrun the setting sun. I’d have to stop sooner than I hoped. At least, I thought, I’d be far enough from home. No one would be coming for me.

It was a bitter thought, but I reminded myself they’d probably searched for me all day. They wouldn’t come this far north because of the elves, but they would have looked. My foolishness had put me in this predicament. I should have waited, stayed, understood better. But I hadn’t. Now I was alone in a darkening forest, surrounded by the threat of elves, and feeling more lost than ever.

The one silver lining was that I was alone. The hymns of the ielfen wouldn’t do me any good now; they were mere noise against the cold reality of my predicament. But their songs weren’t their only weapon. They had numbers, and if fatigue got the better of me, I was done for. I needed to bolster my endurance and overcome my aversion to fire. There was no room for melodrama or sentiment in the face of such raw, unrelenting danger.

As night draped itself over the forest like a thick, suffocating blanket, I began my search for a suitable tree to crash in. It wasn’t the first time I’d slept as a bird or perched on a branch, but it was the first time I’d attempted both at once. Back in my younger days, I had reveled in sleeping outside. But then, I hadn’t yet learned the art of shifting, and even when I did, I’d never allowed myself to sleep in that form.

Exhaustion clawed at me as I fought to keep my eyes open. I needed to find a place to land soon. I was lost, but I kept northeast as Earl had instructed. Once I was clear of the tree line, I’d know if I’d followed his directions properly. Ancola, with its red mud and sparse life, would be my guide. A small desert marked the northern border, the only one in Lustra, and would signal if I was on track. If I veered off course, the snow would alert me, and if I went too far north, the tall, thick grass would ensnare me like a labyrinth. I was confident I’d find my way back if I got lost.

When I finally landed on a branch, the pain was immediate and unforgiving. It was an uncomfortable necessity on the road to Ozryn. Complaining wouldn’t change anything. I wrestled my now-tiny bag from my back and secured it on a smaller branch that jutted out from my perch. Once it was steady, I closed my eyes and let myself drift into a fitful sleep.

Morning came with the sun’s harsh rays stabbing at my eyes. I didn’t feel too stiff yet, but I knew that would change once I shifted back. Digging my nose into my bag, still hanging nearby, I fished out a berry, contemplating whether it was safe to shift in this strange place.

“Comfortable, little firefly?”

The voice startled me, and I let out a loud, panicked caw. My feathers fluffed up, my throat hackles extended, and I scanned the area for the source of the voice. Nothing. Not even a bug. Frustration turned into fear as I clicked my tongue, a sharp, echoing sound that ricocheted through the forest. By the twelfth click, the voice came again, and I snapped my bill shut, fluffing my feathers more.

“No need for that, child. You’re sitting on me, after all.”

That gave me pause. I was sure I’d fallen asleep in a tree. Yet here I was, confronted with the impossible. In Bangtan, it was rare for the ielfen to grant permission for someone to rest on them, but it was the only explanation I could come up with. Curious and apprehensive, I slipped my bag onto my back and took flight.

“It’s not every day I have a visitor,” the tree spoke again, “especially a little hybrid like yourself.”

It was an ordinary oak tree—or so it appeared. There was no reason it should know I was a hybrid or understand my language. Yet, here it was, talking without a mouth. I blinked, incredulous.

“I’m sorry if I offended you,” I said, weary and confused. “I didn’t realize you were… animated.”

The tree laughed, its leaves rustling with the force. “Offended? Oh, my dear, quite the opposite!”

Suddenly, the tree began to move. Its branches twisted and shed their leaves, the trunk splitting down the middle to reveal a pair of long, spindly legs. I flapped away in terror as the once-normal tree transformed into a towering, humanoid figure. It loomed above the treetops, its face now visible.

“I can’t remember the last time I had such a delightful morning,” the tree-man boomed, his voice echoing through the forest.

I winced and flew up to meet him. His body was covered in moss and leaves, his skin dark and bark-like, with fungi sprouting from his feet. He was lanky and rough, with no discernible joints. He resembled a Ghillie Dhu, but I needed to see his face to be certain.

“Ah,” he sighed, stretching his enormous arms skyward. “It feels so wonderful to stretch out again. Been like this for years!”

The Ghillie Dhu’s loud voice would attract every living creature in the forest if he kept it up. I broke through the canopy to face him directly. His bright green eyes were kind, his face rugged yet strangely beautiful, with a nose that was slightly too long and pointed. Satisfied with my assessment, I tried to figure out how to shrink him back to a manageable size. After all, he was a fairy.

“Excuse me, Mr. Ghillie Dhu,” I said softly, “but could you lower your voice? There are elves nearby.”

The Ghillie Dhu’s eyes darkened, his grin fading. In an instant, I was enveloped in darkness. I flew, colliding with something cold and wooden. The scent of mildew was comforting. The creature was holding me.

The space around me shrank until I was set down. Disoriented, I shook my head and flew around a few times. I heard the Ghillie Dhu creaking and groaning nearby. At least we were now better hidden. I couldn’t believe any elf patrols hadn’t already discovered us.

“And you are?” the ielfen asked, the creaking stopping.

“I’m the Bridd,” I introduced myself, flying closer.

In his current form, he looked much more beautiful, his skin smooth and free of imperfections. His nose was still long and pointed, his eyes green, but the fungi had vanished. His hair was an odd dark green, spiked like leaves, and patches of moss covered his body. He almost looked familiar.

“I know,” he said with a smile, his bubbly personality returning. “It’s wonderful to see you again. I don’t recall you being a bird last time we spoke.”

I recognized him now. He was the fairy who had helped us when we thought Jin was trapped in a fairy circle. Elated to see a familiar face, my heavy heart lightened.

“My name is Isylwin,” he said with a courteous nod. “Forest guide. What brings you here, little firefly?”

“I’m on an adventure,” I replied. “Elves have started attacking Lustra, and I’m trying to get aid back to Bangtan. Flight is the fastest way out of Moland.”

The darkness returned to his features. The long-standing feud between elves and ielfen was well-known, a bitter conflict dating back over forty thousand years. No one knew the exact cause, but legends spoke of an elven king’s vengeful act against a water nymph. Isylwin seemed unaware of the current elf presence until now.

“That’s troubling,” he said thoughtfully. “We must warn my brothers immediately. They need to prepare for a fight.”

He gestured to my small form with a kind smile. “You may shift. I’ll ensure no harm comes to you, firefly.”

Embarrassed by the nickname, I ducked my head and put some distance between us. Landing on the forest floor, I removed my bag and fished out some clothes. I wasn’t keen on being naked in front of the fairy. Seemingly unaware of my discomfort, Isylwin waited expectantly.

“Would you mind looking away?” I asked, feeling self-conscious.

“Oh,” Isylwin chuckled and turned his back. His thick moss and leaf covering meant he had no need for clothes, which eased my nerves slightly. “My apologies. I haven’t been around many women.”

Trusting his word, I shifted and quickly dressed. My bag and its contents grew in size, and I slung it over my shoulder. With another body nearby, my confidence was bolstered. Two were better than one in a fight.

“I’m decent,” I said, clearing my throat. “You can turn around.”

Isylwin was immense, towering even over the wolves. He looked slender and fragile, but I knew better. Ielfen were formidable fighters, their cunning and tricks making them difficult to gauge. I was certain Isylwin was using glamor to appear more human, but it could vanish in an instant. Ghillie Dhus were among the most gentle fairies, but stories of their power were legendary. My friend could easily dispatch an elf if provoked.

“So interesting,” he mused to himself. “Humans age so differently from us.”

“I’m sorry?” I raised an eyebrow.

“You look like a woman now,” he said, “when I was expecting a child. Is that normal for your kind?”

Baffled, I shrugged. “We mature faster than you do, if that’s what you’re asking. It slows once we reach adulthood. I’m not human, so I can’t say if there’s a difference.”

“Fascinating,” he said as if I had unveiled some cosmic truth. “Forget that—” he waved dismissively, “—we must find my brothers and alert them about these elves.”

He grabbed my hand, twirled around, and started walking. I pulled away, confused and alarmed. Isylwin looked at me, his head cocked. I wasn’t sure how to explain my hesitation without seeming selfish. I almost felt guilty for stopping him. Almost.

"I can’t afford to go off track," I stammered, nerves fraying at the edges. "I've got a family waiting for me, counting on me to get to Naida."

The moment I mentioned Naida, the tension eased in Isylwin’s eyes, replaced by a kind of understanding that made his earlier confusion vanish. There was a shared mission here, a common goal, and I had to trust in his capacity for empathy. He'd helped me before, and if he was as reliable as I hoped, he’d help me again. At the very least, he’d make a formidable ally if things turned nasty.

"Don’t be afraid," Isylwin’s voice was soft, almost soothing as he regarded me. "I’ll help you reach Clarcton. The rest will have to wait."

"Will they be angry with me?" I asked, my voice tinged with anxiety. The last thing I needed was to be blacklisted by his kin. I would follow Isylwin’s lead if it came to that, but it wasn’t my preferred option.

"No," he shook his head emphatically. "We’re fair, if nothing else. Mother would be more upset with me if I didn’t offer my aid."

I had no idea who ‘Mother’ was, but I didn’t care to ask. Whoever she was, as long as she didn’t get in my way, that was enough. I cringed inwardly at my own self-centeredness. I sounded just like Ahn. Trying to shift the focus, I nodded appreciatively.

"Thank you, I really do appreciate it." Turning my back to him, I adjusted my bag and set off. "We should get moving. The elves might be curious about what’s woken a fairy from its slumber."

Isylwin walked beside me, the silence stretching between us. I used the quiet to gather my thoughts. We’d been lucky so far, but that luck could run out. It wouldn’t shock me if a group of elves leaped from the shadows to ambush us at any moment. Stealing a glance at my companion, I finally broke the silence.

"Do elf songs have any effect on your kind?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

He smiled, his face a curious blend of youthful softness and grown man’s frame—a combination that struck an odd chord. Looking at him for too long felt unsettling, like staring at a mask that was just a little too real. His glamor seemed to be wearing thin.

"No," he said, his voice carrying a tinkling quality that was almost otherworldly. "They won’t work on me, and by extension, they won’t work on you."

That was a relief. I was still grappling with the idea of defensive magic, and despite my resolve from last night, I knew the prospect of fire would only push my already strained emotions to the brink. I couldn’t afford to fight with the same blind rage that had served me before. It would be a disaster for me and anyone unlucky enough to be caught in the crossfire.

"That’s comforting," I said, and we lapsed into silence.

Then, out of the blue, Isylwin’s tone shifted, taking on a gravity I hadn’t heard before.

"The forest is in awe of you," he said, more serious than I’d ever heard him.

"Pardon?"

"We communicate with one another, the trees and I," he said wistfully. "Word reached us about your death and rebirth a few days ago. That’s why I decided to help you. It’s not often I get the chance to bring peace to someone enduring such hardship. Fairies live such pampered lives in our world; finding empathy for those in your position is rare."

"Why are you telling me this?" I demanded, my defensive edge sharpening.

"Because," he shrugged, his gesture so disarmingly human it made me uneasy. "It’s only fair you receive the same respect one of my kind would if they were in your place."

"My people," he continued, "generally have little interest in others. But your involvement, your bloodline, changes that. Mother holds great respect for your ancestors and the principles you stand for. She pities you and the losses you’ve suffered. That’s why I don’t see this as a favor."

I’d forgotten about the debt I owed him from years ago. He hadn’t called it in, yet he chose to help me anyway. He could have asked for anything in return, even if it meant I’d have to divert my path. But he didn’t. Confused, I asked him why.

"Your debt was settled when you informed me about the elves," he said, running a hand through his hair. I took a step back, uneasy. "My people weren’t aware of their presence in Lustra. The trees sensed a looming darkness, but your loss made them shut their eyes again. We thought the great Bridd had abandoned her place in the spirit realm."

"I won’t pry into what’s happened unless you’re comfortable sharing. Your eyes reveal enough—your fear, your pain. It doesn’t matter to us. Whatever the case, we’ll join the fight, not for Bangtan, but for ourselves. Lustra is as much our home as it is anyone else’s."

I felt a glimmer of hope. With the ielfen fighting alongside us, the burden of the conflict might shift off my shoulders. Fewer battles would mean less risk for my family. I knew they wouldn’t extend their aid beyond this, but that was a concern for another day. Their involvement was all that mattered.

"Regardless," I said quietly, "I still want to thank you. It means more to me than you know."

We fell silent again, neither speaking during our rest stops or when we reached the Syrena River, where I drank deeply. As the miles passed, Isylwin’s glamor unraveled further, a casualty of our distance from his kin. By the time we neared the border of Ancola, night had cloaked the world, and it was time for Isylwin to part ways.

"I can’t leave these woods," he said, genuine sorrow etching his features. "If I could join you, I would. But I’d wither away outside of Moland."

"It’s not your fault, Isylwin," I said, trying to soothe him.

He went rigid, his eyes widening with fear. That’s when I realized he’d given me not just a name, but his true name—a sacred gift among the ielfen. It touched me deeply, though it left me puzzled. Once he saw my reaction, he relaxed. I apologized profusely, guilt twisting in my stomach. The idea of him revealing his real name had seemed so absurd, I hadn’t even considered it.

“No need to apologize,” he said, a grin creeping across his face. The smile cracked his earlier facade, revealing something far more primal and beastly beneath. Instead of sending me into a fresh bout of panic, it brought a strange sense of relief. I preferred this raw, monstrous form over the humanoid mask he wore earlier.

“I hadn’t realized the power you’ve handed me,” I said, my voice steadying with resolve. “I promise not to misuse it.” I glanced at him, noting how his glamor had faded, revealing the unease etched into his features. “You should head back to the forest. You’re starting to look restless.”

“Take care,” he warned, his eyes pleading now. “If you find yourself in dire need, call for me. It won’t be pretty, and my glamor won’t hold up outside the swamps, but I’ll do my best to be of use, even if only briefly.”

His kindness threw me off balance. Ghillie Dus was known for helping children, a role he saw me fit into, but this level of reassurance was beyond anything I’d expected. I shivered as I stepped into the frigid desert. The emptiness stretched out before me, a stark contrast to the forest’s sheltering embrace.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice cracking as I sought reassurance. This was the point of no return, and I needed a reason to keep moving forward. “I understand the need to fight, but this kindness seems so out of character for your kind.”

His face was now an impenetrable black sphere, with two glowing circles where his eyes should have been. Dark moss covered his form, a tangled mess that defied human solidity. He was otherworldly, struggling to maintain his composure. I felt the discomfort creep back in.

“Your bloodline has safeguarded the forest for ages,” Isylwin said, his voice resonating with an eerie calm. “I’m a man of the trees, as we all are beings of the forests and swamps in Lustra. We’ve always respected your kind, but the Bridd before you held a special place in our world.”

“Mother adored her,” he continued. “She saw her strength and spirit as something extraordinary. Her death saddened her deeply. Your actions the night she burned earned you great respect in the spirit realm. We see you as a legend in your own right. Once they learn where you’re headed, there will be no question that your name will be remembered as the most remarkable witch ever.”

I scoffed, shaking my head in disbelief. The notion that the ielfen saw me as they did their mythical heroes seemed almost laughable. I wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but I knew better than to doubt his sincerity. Fairies couldn’t lie. Overwhelmed, I clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle the hysterical laughter bubbling up inside me.

“What does that have to do with you?” I finally managed, regaining my composure.

“Naida is a difficult challenge,” Isylwin said, his voice tinged with a genuine sense of purpose. “I’m helping you because it’s the honorable thing to do. Like the rest of us, I seek to be seen as useful. By aiding you, I hope to earn Mother’s pride. Your debt to me will be settled once that happens and never mentioned again.”

“And if I succeed?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. I knew fairies could be bound by their word, and his promise of help might be ironclad.

“You’ll have my help,” he said, bowing with a gravity that made me uneasy. “Indefinitely.”

I wasn’t entirely satisfied with his answer, but I didn’t press further. I needed to keep moving. I managed a final smile and bid him goodnight. As Isylwin vanished, leaving only a whisper of his presence behind, I knew he had returned to his realm. I sighed, feeling the weight of solitude settle over me once more.

Alone, I pushed past the gnawing ache of loneliness and forced myself to continue. The desert stretched ahead, cold and unforgiving. I found a tree to rest in, climbing up to perch on a branch where I could make myself comfortable. Tonight, I would sleep among the woods. Tomorrow, I would reach Clarcton, evade detection, and plan the next leg of my journey.

That night, sleep came in fragments, haunted by dreams of Jimin and me lying in the meadow by my house. Wildflowers danced around us as he kissed my hand and smiled. But then the scene shattered into flames, the flowers screamed, and the trees wept. Jimin’s eyes turned cold and lifeless as he accused me, his voice echoing with the blame. It was my fault. I woke in tears, the dark sky above, knowing I had only been asleep for a short while. I woke four times, each time more distressed, until I gave up on sleep entirely.

I reached Clarcton while it was still dark, slipping behind a local inn’s shadows. The darkness concealed me from view as I entered the small, quiet building. A young woman stood behind the desk, offering a warm, if weary, greeting.

“Where are you coming from?” she whispered as I scrawled my alias, Nixie, on the sign-in sheet.

“Syrena,” I replied, lowering my voice to match hers.

Her eyes, pools of melancholy, betrayed a deep well of pity. It twisted my heart, thinking of those back in Northorn and the lands beyond. They hadn't made it this far south yet, but the capital's fate was uncertain. I had to get out quickly to avoid being caught in the chaos.

“Where are you headed?” Her gaze lingered on the name tag pinned to her chest—Hannah. A plain name for a plain girl. “Not west, I hope?”

“No,” I shook my head. “East. Whopping.”

Hannah’s eyes sharpened with a warning, and I caught the subtle shift. We were about to converse in code. “Stay south,” she advised. “Azamar Pass is sweltering this year.”

I offered her a small, grateful smile. She mirrored it, a silent connection formed in that brief exchange. When I paid for my room, I added a little extra as thanks. Hannah accepted the cash with a knowing wink before returning to the book she’d been absorbed in when I walked in. Our shared moment had ended, and we were both retreating to our separate worlds.

“It’s upstairs,” she said, her attention fixed on her book. “Second floor, all the way down the hall to the left. Blankets and pillows are in the closet, and towels are hanging in the bathroom. Rest up. You look like you need it.”

Dismissed, I thanked her again and headed to my room. The inn exuded a cozy warmth, decorated in rich woods and deep reds reminiscent of Jin’s house. The solar witch had a penchant for yellows and oranges, but the cinnamon scent lingering in the air was strikingly similar to my friend’s cologne.

The room was modest, with a single bed tucked into the far-right corner. Across from it, a fireplace crackled, flanked by a large blue chair and a small table. A garish paisley rug sprawled across the floor, and a cobweb dangled from the ceiling fan. The room had a musty smell, dust clinging to every surface.

Clarcton was supposed to be bustling, but I’d ended up on the outskirts, a forgotten corner where travelers seldom ventured. I threw my bag on the blue chair and set out to find the bathroom. A rickety coat rack stood awkwardly between the fireplace and the bathroom door. The knob was sticky, and I had to turn it with a rough twist to open the latch. The bathroom, though in need of a simple dusting, was otherwise clean—a small relief.

I made the mistake of taking a deep breath as I stretched and was immediately struck by a coughing fit. I slammed the door shut and wiped my watery eyes. Lesson learned: breathe carefully. I fluffed the pillows and wafted the sheets to air them out. The knitted quilt was beyond salvaging, so I folded it and set it aside. The thin sheets would suffice for a summer night. I turned off the lights, used a flicker of magic to guide me to the bed, and crawled under the covers.

Exhaustion clung to me, yet my mind remained restless. I missed my friends, my home, and the warmth of my love. Alone at last, I allowed myself to cry softly. It wasn’t the same explosive outburst from yesterday or the tearful departure from Jimin’s house. It was a quiet sorrow, a deep loneliness. I was weary and overwhelmed, haunted by regret.

I shouldn’t have left the way I did. I knew that much. But turning back wasn’t an option—pride, or perhaps shame, kept me from reversing course. I wouldn’t return home empty-handed.

My heart ached at the thought. I longed to know if Jimin and I would be okay, and I wanted that knowledge sooner rather than later. I regretted our argument, regretted not giving him a chance to apologize. I had not even given myself that chance. Instead, I had stormed off and fled like a petulant child. His hurtful words were understandable; he had been through so much, dealing with my injuries and the news of my reckless behavior. I groaned in frustration.

I was angry with Sol but struggled to hold a grudge. She likely thought she was acting in my best interest. Jimin was her friend, and her fear for me might have clouded her judgment. Taehyung would undoubtedly be furious with her, which helped temper my irritation. I would confront her when I saw her again, but it was infuriating to think she had time to gossip while her people struggled.

Ji-Hyun, on the other hand, had no decency. Just the mention of his name soured my mood. The boy who used to throw rocks at his crush’s window had transformed into someone unrecognizable. I had been eager to meet him and Callisto, but his hostility had ruined that excitement. I couldn’t fathom why he hated me so much or why his disdain seemed so intense.

Anger and outrage were to be expected, but his relentless judgment, even after everyone else had calmed down, was baffling. What had transpired between my sleep and waking to inspire such loathing?

I tossed and turned, frustration mounting as sleep eluded me. Tomorrow would be a day of planning and preparation, shopping and strategizing. I needed to navigate this unfamiliar terrain with precision. My heart yearned for home, wherever that might be.

It took a long time for my body to unwind, and even longer for my tears to subside. I didn’t drift into sleep until the first light of dawn crept over the horizon. My eyes were swollen, my cheeks stained. I dreamt of Jimin again, of us kissing in my bed at the end of spring, a bittersweet reminder of what I had left behind.

Here's your real gift: An extra update this month!

Taglist: @greezenini @adventures-in-bookland @kthstrawberryshortcake-main @zae007live @jimin-neverout @nikkiordonez12 @canarystwin @yamekomz @chimthicc @michiiedreamer @amorieus @mima795 @yunki-yunki-yunki

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fanficsforheartandsoul · 5 years ago

Text

A Real Jedi | [Fem!Reader] | Star Wars

I know this is crazy but I got inspired by a dream and now here we are.

Notes: I do not live in the US and I've never been to Disneyland!

Fandom: Star Wars

Warnings: Non-Canon Story, Minor Swearing, Unrealistic Depiction of California

Summary: Y/N, a Jedi Padawan encountered some troubles and got thrown out of hyperspace. With her ship damaged, she decides to land on the closest planet. The weird thing; neither is the planet and its system in her droids database nor do the intelligent inhabitants seem to believe in the Jedis.

Word Count: 3051

Part II

--------

"It's not entirely my fault!"

Beep, Bo-Beep.

"Okay, it is my fault."

Slumping back in her pilot seat, Y/N groaned and stared at the ceiling of her beautiful ol' scrap metal ship. R7-S9 rolled over to her and turned his round metal head to slap her with his sturdy antenna.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

The young Jedi rubbed her arm and glared at the little astromech droid.

Bee-Boop Beep Bo-Weep!

"I know, I already tried contacting Master Ath'nuel. There's no signal."

I hope this is only temporary...

Her thoughts got interrupted when a red light appeared on her ship's control system. The tank was damaged and they were continuously losing fuel. She scrutinized the planet and its small grey moon and made a decision.

"R7, you one hundred percent sure that planet is inhabited?"

The little droid whistled and she sighed.

"Okay. Then let's hope they're loyal to the republic."

"Holy Sith, what kind of ships were these?!", whisper-screamed a panicking Y/N while she had to abandon her beloved Icarus after crash-landing on the unknown planet's surface. It hurt her to turn her back on the first spaceship she had received from her master but she had to leave it behind. For the moment it would've been more dangerous to stay.

Upon entering the atmosphere of the rather lovely looking planet, they had been immediately greeted by some super fast and apparently well equipped scout-type ships. It wasn't a welcome escort. They were sent to destroy. That's at least what Y/N's impression had been after they sent some missiles after the Icarus. Thanks to the half-working shield of her battered spaceship they had escaped the fate of exploding. But the Icarus was still sent to the ground. Were it had crash-landed.

R7-S9 followed hot on her tails as she ran away from their landing site. The Icarus went down over a small forest which thankfully gave them some cover but stopped the small astromech droid from going full speed.

"Hurry up, R7!"

An almost angry beep was his only response and Y/N cursed under her breath. Who knew how long it would take the enemy - who even was the enemy?! - to find them. The only comforting thought was that her lightsaber was safely clipped to her belt and that the force was with her.

Running turned into jogging. Jogging turned into a walking and when her feet started to feel like they would fall off any moment and the straps of her backpack chaffed her arms, the sun set, and the sky turned dark.

But that didn't stop the young Jedi from continuing. If she had stayed close to her ship she might have found out why these spaceships had attacked her but she could feel that it would have complicated her situation a lot. That's why she ran away. And because it wasn't the first time, it didn't bother her much.

R7-S9 started scanning the environment as soon as she slowed down a little. The astromech droid informed her about the plants on the ground, taking some examples with his small gripper arm here and there and beeping excitedly with every find.

The padawan couldn't share his excitement. They were clearly lost on an unknown planet in an unknown system. How they would leave... She couldn't find an answer. But first, they would seek out people that wouldn't try to kill them at first sight.

Even when her feet grew heavy and she could feel the exhaustion in every bone, Y/N didn't stop walking. The strange, animalistic sounds coming from the forest stopped her from resting. Who knew what kind of creatures were out there.

The Jedi knew there was a risk but she had troubles seeing in the dark of the night that's why she activated one of her lightsaber blades and illuminated the ground before her feet. The yellow glow immediately calmed her a little and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Like this, she continued on.

The cybertech in her temple started to feel cold and Y/N realized that she couldn’t go on forever. It would be better to take a break and continue in the morning. She was sure that the foreign spaceships wouldn’t search for her in the middle of the night.

She let her guard down and stopped walking. R7-S9 almost bumped into her. A protesting chirp made the young Jedi chuckle and she turned around and gave her little droid a pat on his round head.

"I don't know R7... Should we rest?"

He seemed to have heard her nervous and unsure undertone because he responded with an affirmative whistle and she nodded.

"Okay, let's stop and take some rest."

With the help of her droid, she found a small open area in the forest and the padawan laid her brown robes on the ground. It wasn’t much but enough for her. She had slept with less before.

“Can you keep an eye out, R7?”

Beep, Woop Be-Weep.

She smiled and then laid down on her robes. Even though she should have been more wary, as soon as her body hit the ground, she drove off into a deep sleep. The force wrapped around her and the nightmares were kept at bay.

A loud roar caused Y/N to wake up with a start. Her hand was immediately on her lightsaber and she was prepared to slash out when she saw R7-S9 excitedly waving his little gripper arm and beeping loudly in the cold of the dawn.

“What’s going on?”, she grumbled and rubbed her tired eyes.

Instead of responding, the droid waved his arm to a location behind her. When she turned around she saw that they rested really close at the end of the forest. After the last line of trees came only dried grass and small bushes. But some weird lines parted the plain.

“What is... is that a path?”

Her astromech droid chirped and the young Jedi got up on her feet. She grabbed her crumpled robes and stuffed them into her backpack after taking out some food rations. There was no time for her to eat at her small resting site that’s why she decided to eat while they were walking.

“Let’s check out these paths, maybe they’ll take us to the next settlement.”

The padawan trudged down the plain and dry hill with R7-S9 at her side and when they arrived at the two paths the sun started to rise.

Y/N then noticed that calling the black ways paths was an understatement. They seemed to be some kind of roads separated in 3 lanes. Maybe they were like the air traffic on Coruscant but instead of flying ships they navigated some kind of vehicles on the ground.

Her theory seemed corrected when she saw a strange metal block following the white lines of the road and roaring loudly. The sound slightly scared her but thanks to her cybertech she was able to regulate the sound.

The young Jedi considered her next step and while she was thinking she didn’t see a green foreign vehicle coming from her left. And she also didn’t notice it slowing down until it stopped right at her side.

"̸̨̡̛̖̼̲͕͚̗̟͚̯̰̪͉͍̘̣̜̰͙͋̋̂̂͘͝H̴̢̡͔̙͇͎̱̦̜̱̮͚̖͍͈̥̱͚̖̙̏̒̊͘ȩ̸͓̥͉͗̾͊̃͊̍͊̊̐̐̏̿̕ý̵̞̘͓̫̘͚͂̿͊͐͋̇̐̏̐̃ͅ,̷̛̤̟͕̟̫͆̂͑̌̍̀̌̒̾͆͐͗͜ ̵͔͔͙̟̺̤͎͎̰̦̾͌��̧̩̘̹̳̟H̴̢̥̞̲̥̜̰͜͠ȍ̵̡̧̡̩̯̺̗̥͈̥͙̟̙̻̞͖̬̺͍̺̀ņ̵̨͍͇̯̙̦̹̽͆̃̉̒̕͝ȩ̴̡̛͍̗͍͈̳̙̜̜͍͖̲͗̌͋̓̉̏̉͛̈̋̓̓̊̀̕̕͝y̵̡̬̥͕̥̖̳̏̈́͑̅̾̚.̸̢̨̧̛͇̫̰̮̞͕̄̽̋̀̓̀̿̃̄͑͆͊̽̉͌̈́ͅ ̶̧̪̼͙͇̣͂̔̐̔̒͑̌͛͝Ä̷͔̳̫͎̗͈̲́̈́̀͌͒̾͌̅̆ŗ̸̠̈ē̵̡͉͕̗̥̫̝͇̘̩͕͖͙̻͐̀̓͊̐̐͊͜ͅ ̷̳̳͈͗̌̅̀͆̆̅͌̏͗̂̉̊͊͒͂̚͠͠y̴̧̹̞̾͑͝ó̵̢̧̢͚̥̞̝̝̤̥̤̂͊ű̴̩̈́̊͆̀͗̾̋̆̽̈̓̽͋͌͠͠ ̵̹̮͒͐́̕a̶̞͍͍̭̺͂l̶̟͉̆͊̒̎͛́̇̉͐̎̄̈͘͝͝ŗ̴͕̮̪̙̝̪̍̾̈́i̶̮̝̭͖̟͋̀̏̂͌̽̒̆͌͒g̸̡̛͔͔̟͖̺̤̠̬̳̥̩͔̭̤̼͙̟͍̋͋̓͗̃̑̓͗͋̓̓͠ͅh̵͕̼̦̟̰̼̰͋́́̌̍̾̾͋͜t̸̢̢̮͇̘̫͙̹̞̫̣͈̣̩̦̝͒̽͌̓̈́̊̈́̉̍͆̐̚?̵̨͇̝̲̲͉̻̦̠͎̗̟̣̳̫̲͎̬̜̀́̂͐̕"̸̡̧̞̻͍̟͔̖̐͆̋̒̃̚

Y/N almost jumped out of her skin when she registered the vehicle in front of her. She blinked. When did this appear? Her eyes wandered over the green metal and her cybertech registered two heat signatures inside of the strange transport thing.

Only now did she notice the female human inside. The blonde woman opened her mouth and said something again.

"̵̡̘̫̮̠͔͇͙͉͐̾̋͒̑̇̌͘D̸͚͔͉͓̳̣̠̯͓͉͓̙͖̙̼̞͐̉̉͂͗͂͆͊́́͊͜͝͠͠a̷̮̪̝̟̩͉͙̦͌̈́́́́́̀̄̓̅́̎͊͝͝͝ͅr̶̛̦̞̲͙͔̜̠͉̠̰̖̰̬̙̀͛̃̈́̐̔̑̕͝͝ͅͅl̷̢͍͓͔͙̖͉͓̖̦͚͍̤͇̫̐i̶͎̙͔̤͇͙̩̖͙̱̖̱̦̲̅n̵̢̡̮̣̞̩̥̫̦͉̫̗͖̝̘͒̅̈́͌͌͘̕͜͝͝ͅḡ̴͇͔̳̺̑̋͂̿̈́̉͛͂̈́͛͘,̵̧̡̗̘̪̫̲̪͕̟͇̑ ̴̞͖̣̦̦̅͒͌́̊̍̏̍͗͘͠a̴̗͓̰͇̎͐̇̎̑̌̓̃r̸̨̡̧̫̟͚̻̭̮̻̗̠͊̏̃͋̓̓̑̐̾̽͝e̶̢̩̻̮͎̯̫͒̑̎̄̂̕͜ ̸̛̦̗̗̗̺̠̫͖̹̖̦͊͂́̐͒̈́͒̐̌̑̍̚y̴͇̥̖̼̭̟̲̅̊̾̈́̀͘ò̵̲̠̟̲̈́̍̾ͅư̷͉̽̍̒̃̈̈́͌͗̌͝͝ ̸̨̧̡̨̪̪̞̼͍̰̘̫̖͕̹͙̈́͂̏͗̔͜͝a̸̯̖̯̬̤̤̰͗̅̌̑̈̋͗̅̕͘͝ ̴̘̯̹͐̈́̿̑̂́͋f̸̡̌̽̓̂͠o̸̢͙͇̥͖̟͕͕̟̳̱̦͈̥̭̳͘r̷͍̻̭̖̣̩̒͑͆̇̅͐̆̃̔̋͛́̚͘̚͝͠ê̴̢̢̝̼͓͓͇̯͖̟͈͎̟͍͛͐͘ͅï̴̧̨̨͔̗̠̭̙̜̭̣͙͖͋̉̊̊̎̇͋̿̎͝ͅg̴̹͎̣̤̣̹͔̝̺̥̿̈́̿̍̉̀̍̿̔͘̚ṅ̷̢̛̺̤̩͇̯͕̲̩̥͜͝ẽ̴̢̢͙̠́̈͐̄̑͗͊̐̋͑̾̕̕͝͝��̨͕̲̤͍̗̣̻̼̪̗͙̺ȑ̸̨͎͔̭̭̣̦̳̜̈́?̷̡̥̘͍͔̲̦͇̣̘̤̟̮̣̣̰̆͜

The padawan heard her droid beeping and she tried to find the lady’s language in her cybertech’s database. She did not have as many languages stored as Anakin’s protocol droid C-3PO but she knew enough and apparently the language of this planet too. English, what a weird name. She activated the translator device in her head and her voice transmitters adjusted. It took a while and the elderly woman continued talking but Y/N could now understand most of the words.

"̶̰̿W̶̡̍ẽ̶͔̰ ̶͙̏͝c̶͚̖̃a̶̗̼͊̀ņ̷̥̈́͐ ̵͕̾t̶̩͎̓ä̵͈ḵ̴͗͘e̶͈͒̍ ̸̠͓̃̑ý̶̥͘o̷͉̚͝ǘ̵̧ ̴͓̩͛͘t̴̥̩͊o̵̩͒̈́ ̵͔̘͂D̶̯͌î̷̲̱̏s̸̺͑͝ň̶ͅe̵͖̥͝y̷̲͗̅l̶̫͙͠a��͖̆̽ṅ̶͕̜́d̶͕̈́,̴͉͂ ̶̤̎͜n̵̖̆̄o̴̹͛͌ ̷͍̉n̷̹̖̾͌e̶̮̱͛e̸̩̜̾d̶̟̘̎͐ ̶͔͕̋͘t̸̨̞̆o̷̒ͅ ̸̬̞̎ẃ̴̱̍a̸͔̰̔l̶̫͚̀k̷̡̜̈́͠ ̵͙̈́̍ẗ̸͕́h̷̤͗e̷͕͈̾͌ŗ̵̼̓͛ḙ̵̡͒,̸͇̊̓ ̸͉̔̈ȳ̴̛͇o̴̺͇͑u̶̝̇ ̶̭̄p̵̦͙͛͝ö̷̪̳́͂o̷͎͑͘ȑ̵̛̹ ̶̤̹̎̈́g̶̨͖̉͝ĭ̵̛͉r̴̙̠̃̀ĺ̸̤!̷̢̂͑"̴̜̾

“I... That would be nice...”

The Jedi had no clue what she just agreed but the woman seemed to open a door and the strange vehicle opened for her.

“Can I take my droid too?”

The woman tilted her head in confusion. Y/N pointed to R7-S9 standing next to her.

“Mom! This is like R2-D2!”, hollered a small boy in the back.

“Oh, is this part of your costume? Of course! Let me open the tr̶̖̔u̷̜͒ń̶̼k̸̡̉”

She watched as the human exited her vehicle, which seemed to be known as a car, and as the woman opened a flap at the end of it.

“Come, hun! You can put that little man inside.”

R7-S9 protested with a beep and wanted to turn away but Y/N gave him a look and he chirped dejectedly. Without anymore sounds he followed her to the lady and with a little help of his rocket booster he was safely stored inside of the car’s trunk.

Y/N hoped that she wouldn’t regret her decision.

“So, Y/N, you seem to be a big f̷̞́a̶͉͘n̷̥̾ of Star Wars.”

Jenna looked at her with a smile and checked out her beige robes.

“What do you mean f̷̞́a̶͉͘n̷̥̾?”

Her cybertech tried to find a plausible translation for Star Wars and in what context these words could be used together but she had a hard time finding an answer.

“I mean you’re c̶͍͗o̷̘̊ṣ̶̈p̵̦̊l̵̥̈ā̴̟y̸̾͜i̸͙͒n̴͕̋g̴̼̓ as a Jedi, right? Little Jakey loves Ben Solo.”

“His name is Kylo Ren, Mom, Ben Solo is dead!”, corrected the brown-haired boy in the back of the car and he rolled his eyes.

As soon as she heard Jedi relief washed over Y/N. They heard about the Jedi, they must be allied with the republic! Or at least friendly. What Jenna meant with c̶͍͗o̷̘̊ṣ̶̈p̵̦̊l̵̥̈ā̴̟y̸̾͜i̸͙͒n̴͕̋g̴̼̓ didn’t stay on her mind. Her cybertech didn’t know all the words but it probably wasn’t really important.

“Yes, I am with the Jedi. But I lost contact with my Master...”

Little Jakey opened his mouth in astonishment and grabbed his mother’s seat.

“Mom, did you hear that? Does this mean we’re helping her to return to the Order?!”

Jenna laughed and nodded.

“Of course, baby. Y/N will find her friends at D̷̥̆i̸̢̾s̵̠̄n̸̼̽ē̸͓ỳ̶̟l̵̤̂a̷̼̚n̷̰͘d̵̦͛, I’m sure!”

Whatever this D̷̥̆i̸̢̾s̵̠̄n̸̼̽ē̸͓ỳ̶̟l̵̤̂a̷̼̚n̷̰͘d̵̦͛ was, the padawan hoped it would help her to send a signal to her Master...

“Let’s hope you find your friends, Y/N! Have a great visit.”

The Jedi waved after Jenna and Little Jakey and R7-S9 did the same with his little gripper arm. What a lovely and friendly pair!

They stood at the entrance of Disneyland, which turned out to be a location. Some kind of park. Thousands of people romped about the entrance and Y/N concluded that Disneyland must be an exclusive location. That’s why they had these security checks and everything.

There was so much for the padawan to register and her head was slightly hurting from all the new information. Somewhat lost they stood at the entrance.

“So what are we gonna do now?”

Bee-Wee Bo-Beep Boop.

“I know. But how should we do it? There are guards!”

The astromech droid whistled and turned his head as if he wanted to show his annoyance.

“Well, only I can do that if you remember!”

As they continued on bickering some people turned towards them and watched the apparent actress perform with the little robot.

“Mommy, is that Rey?”

“Darling you watched the movie. Rey doesn’t have this kind of droid.”

A cluster of people began to form around them and Y/N was so scandalized by R7-S9′s insult that she didn’t register them at all.

“How dare you call me that, you kriffing metal bucket?!”

The droid responded with a flick of his gripper arm and the Jedi sucked in air.

“Oh yeah, you do you, R7. Let’s see how you manage to survive without me!”

With these final words, Y/N turned around and angrily stormed off in the opposite direction of the entrance.

“Is that a promotion of Galaxy’s Edge?”

Y/N managed to get in. With the help of the force, she jumped over the wall that seemed to go around the whole park. She felt shame when she left her little astromech droid but deep down she knew that is was only temporary. Besides, R7-S9 was a survival champion. The metal bucket had more luck than she ever had and he wasn’t even a living being with flesh. So she let go of her worried thoughts and continued to infiltrate the park.

To say Disneyland was weird, was an understatement.

Y/N had never seen such strange houses and colorful streets. There were figures and statues of animals and aliens. She didn’t recognize any of them. And the noises. God, the noises! Her cybernetic enhanced ears hurt and without the regulator of her cybertech, she would have pressed her hands to her ears. The hustling and bustling of the crowd full of humans made it hard for her to concentrate on the force. That’s why she decided to look for the Jedis with the help of civilians.

“Excuse me. Could you tell me where the Jedis have their outpost?”

The man had a child on his arm and looked at her stunned.

“Matt, look a Jedi from Star Wars!”

The small boy giggled and made some Pew Pew noises.

“Yes, exactly! Pew Pew!”

Y/N stared at them with a raised eyebrow. The fuck was going on with these people and Star and Wars?

She repeated her question and the man only laughed.

“We don’t know but - oh! Maybe they do!”

The man pointed at somewhere behind her and when she turned around she spotted some strange men in white armor with guns drawn. They kind of resembled the clone troopers but not really. They seemed to guard a black figure with a helmet and they marched towards her and the man.

Y/N’s hand was on her lightsaber when she stepped before the father and his child. Protecting the civilians and keeping the peace is a Jedi’s job, Y/N. The words of her Master echoed in her head.

“Excuse me, Miss. You are not allowed to wear your own cosplays on the Disneyland ground. We do not want you to get confused as a staff member.”, said one of the soldiers.

But Y/N didn’t hear him. Her eyes were focused on the belt of the man with the black helmet, where a lightsaber hilt laid.

“Are you a Jedi?”, she asked. Her voice had a hopeful undertone.

“Miss-”, began the man who spoke before, but he was interrupted by the man in black.

“No, I’m not. And you don’t seem to be one either.”

She didn’t focus on the slightly insulting part nor the deep voice of the man. If he wasn’t a Jedi, there was only one explanation why he had a lightsaber.

“Sith!”, she spat and used the force to get her lightsaber in her hands.

Some surprised voices were heard and once again was a cluster of people forming around her. Y/N didn’t understand why these people didn’t flee. Did they not know how dangerous a Sith was? How merciless? She did.

“Calm down, Miss. Or we have to call security.”

Aren’t they security? Oh, they want to bring out the big guns! I don’t mind!

“Come at me if you can!”, she taunted.

That wasn’t a Jedi’s way and she clearly already lost her cool but the words of her Master echoed in her mind after they had just survived a Sith’s attack. If you ever encounter a Sith again, my padawan. Fight with all you have. The Sith do not have rules so you have to get rid of your own. She took a deep breath, not to calm down but to feel the force around her. The familiar feeling gave her strength.

The padawan hadn’t activated her lightsaber yet because the possibility of the Sith not wanting to fight was still there. And if she slashed out the people around her might get hurt.

“Security arrives in 3 Minutes”, whispered a soldier behind the Sith and Y/N’s thoughts were all messed up. Should she try to fight or flee? If she fought she would preferably use her lightsaber but with all the civilians around... Fleeing seemed to be the better option. And from what she observed the Sith didn’t look like he wanted to fight. Maybe he would let her go. She decided and right when the man in the black robes started to talk, she used the force.

“Listen I’m no-”

The four soldiers and the Sith got pushed back by the force and the tumbled to the ground. Y/N didn’t waste any second and rushed past them, parkouring over a small set of stairs and a little wall. The surprised Ah’s and Oh’s of the people echoed in her ears.

Adam groaned and rubbed his elbow. That force push trick really hadn’t been necessary! He had no idea how the team managed to pull that one off but they got a good laugh out of it. He could already see the youtube comments.

He wanted to take off the helmet of his cosplay but revealing his identity to everyone around was probably not such a good idea. With the help of Marcus who had the same fate as him, he stood up and straightened Kylo Ren’s robes and looked around. Everybody was staring at him. Some had their phones out and had recorded the weird scene. The wheels in his head turned as he tried to come up with an explanation. Fuck it, let’s play along.

“The Jedi got away. After him!”

What he didn’t know yet, a real Jedi escaped their grasp.

--------------------

“Oh, I feel like it has been years since I last wore that outfit.”

Adam looked into the camera.

“I’m getting suited up in my Kylo Ren gear about ready to hit up the Disneyland Park for surprising some Star Wars Fans.”

He turned and let the Assistant put on the last piece of clothing. Then he grabbed his helmet and once again looked into the camera.

“Follow me.”

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