#her name in my head is Oonie

[queensharotto]

Describe Street Urchin Cookie in terms of gameplay:

Your answer: this video

My thoughts on her are in the tags btw

[icarusredwings]

hey!! do you think wade would like princess and the frog (2009)? it's my all time fav movie and i absolutely love rewatching it every once in a while (when i start forgetting it again 'x3)

All of them absolutely LOVE this movie. This is an all ages kind of movie. He asks for it by name most times calling it "Princess Tia" or "The froggies"

Older wade is completely obsessed with the way Naveen flirts with her, stares at her, tries his best after getting to know her. He's pointed out the wedding scene SO many times to Logan that it started making him a little nervous. It's quite obvious what he wanted and he was in the part of their relationship where he was scared because the last time he had a wife she betrayed him and died. He doesn't want to feel like hes replacing her either so he just swallows and silently nods. "Y-yeah.. pretty, huh?" Wade will nod with the biggest smile "Mhm!!"

He loves everything about it! He loves how Tiana came from a poor household and yet was still so full of love (he wished he had that) he loves the princess aspects of it, all of it, he thinks lottie is funny, he likes the shadowman to the point Nessa's wade giggles when ever hes on screen, logan's wade loves Mama ooni even though she's kinda weird and blind but any blind character in his head is Al and it makes him so happy when she helps the frogs, He likes that Naveen would give up his royal life just to dance and play music, he LOVES Raymond's and Evangeline's parts, he knows shes the moon and sometimes after watching this, he'll stick half his body out the window to tell her (the moon) goodnight.

"Wolvie says it's bedtime. Night night Evangeline!"

"Get in here!! You're going to fall out the damn window!" (Which has happened before)

"Oh- I have to go. Kitty's mad at me again. Night night! Don't let the bed bugs bi-"

"WADE!"

"Bye!"

Its also a little uncomfortable for him to talk about their relationship while he was like this. It felt unfair and the idea of him being intimate with a kid who was clapping and giggling over Tia finally getting her business made him feel like Lottie in that one scene where shes dancing with Naveens younger brother. "How old are you again??" "Im 6!" "Ah-..."

[thespiralgrimoire]

Charlotte getting an eastern version of her armor then getting a compliment from Yami

Anon I did not intend to do this type of writing for these asks but it’s just easier to write prose than my usual rambling for this one, it’s too cute

Here have a story

Charlotte stared at herself in the mirror, taking in the odd shape this foreign armor gave her. She couldn’t say a thing about the colors; they were bright and bold, with rose motifs all over them. Old Lady Sukehiro had been so proud of herself when she’d made the connection between her name and the style, and Charlotte wasn’t disappointed. Still, she wasn’t sure this was for her. Didn’t it make her look... blocky? Dowdy? Who would think she was attractive in this?

“With all due respect, Lady Sukehiro, I don’t think this is for me.”

The old woman smiled and patted her arm; she was too short to reach her shoulder. “Now don’t write it off just because it’s strange, you silly girl. You wanted to try something different, didn’t you?”

A bead of sweat welled up on Charlotte’s temple. “Yes, but...”

“My son always loved this style of armor. He’d chatter about samurai princesses for hours as a boy.”

The blonde’s face reddened. “That has nothing to do with-”

The old woman threw back her head and laughed. She and Yami weren’t much alike at first glance, but that hearty laugh was definitely genetic. “No need to be shy! You asked for my help, you got it. If you do a little strutting around in this, you’ll get the attention you want. I guarantee it.”

Charlotte’s heart was pounding. How could this old lady just say something like that?

Someone pounded at the door, rocking the two women out of their conversation. “Captain Charlotte!” Asta’s voice boomed from the other side, “There’s an oony attacking the town!”

In an instant, Chalotte was in captain mode. “A what?” she demanded, snatching up her grimoire and marching toward the door.

Old Lady Sukehiro’s expression grew grim. “An Oni. I believe your people call them demons.”

A demon? Here? “Stay out of harm’s way, Lady Sukehiro. We will take care of this.”

The old lady obliged, staying back in the room as Charlotte rushed outside with Asta.

The thing stomping on people’s gardens and chewing on buildings was not what anyone in the Clover Kingdom would call a demon. But the magic radiating from it was certainly not human, and so the threat was real. Charlotte and the gaggle of Black Bulls who hadn’t gone off with Yami and William sprang into action. The creature was, to their relief, no demon, and together, they vanquished it before it could destroy the town.

The townspeople cheered as the creature toppled into the fields outside their village. The damage to their town was minimal; the magic knights had acted fast. Charlotte, along with the Black Bulls, returned to town to applause and adoration. Charlotte modestly deflected thanks and compliments, now acutely aware that she was still wearing Old Lady Sukehiro’s borrowed clothes. She had to admit that while they weren’t her style, they were awfully comfortable for combat gear. But she wanted to return them before they got dirty.

“Aw man, what did we miss?”

The crowd parted for Yami, William, and the other Black Bulls. The dark magic mage surveyed the town, his cigarette twitching between his lips. “An Oni? Man, I love fighting those things...”

“Then you should have been here.” Fighting the butterflies in her stomach, Charlotte rose her chin and looked down her nose at him. “Men; you can never find them when you need them.”

She expected a cheeky rebuttal, but Yami was silent. As William and the other black bulls bled into the crowd, he rubbed his chin and looked her up and down. Charlotte clenched her fists and worked to control her expression, hoping her blush wasn’t too noticeable. “Say, Prickly Princess... What’s with the new look?”

“This?” She looked down at her armor. “You mother wanted me to try it on.”

“Yeah? It’s a nice change from your usual look.”

A nice change? He likes it!? Charlotte stared at him, unable to speak.

As if answering an unspoken question, he nodded. “Yeah. Looks nice. Ma’s always had an eye for fashion. Are you gonna keep it?”

Yes! YES!! “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” She turned on her heel and strode off, pretending that she didn’t notice when she stumbled a little. “All you men ever want to do is stare.”

“Well, yeah, sometimes. You look good.”

She had to stop. If she kept going, she definitely would have fallen on her face.

“Well. Gotta go. See ya.” He rubbed his nose, waved, and sauntered off. “Samurai Princess.”

After some soul searching, and some deep consideration, Charlotte decided to buy the armor.

--

I guess I kind of pictured Old Lady Sukehiro running some kind of thrift shop or clothing store or something lol, hope this entertains someone other than me!

Also the Demon Slayer AU says that Yami’s home country has oni, which are different from Clover Kingdom demons, so yay cultural diversity!

[prettyfunkyunorganized]

Christmas Daughter Series - Reaper

I’m so busy I wanna fall apart! But it’s the holidays, so I HAVE to post a few Daughter Series posts! Reaper is first up. I know I just did a Reaper post, but he’s the only guy I’ve got ready tonight. Sorry! Hope you enjoy nonetheless!

More Daughter Series: Hanzo, Roadhog, McCree, Reaper, Soldier 76, Genji

Halloween Daughter Series: Roadhog, McCree, Reaper, Genji

Reaper installments: pt 1, pt 2

Christmas Daughter Series: Roadhog

“I’ve got to get another place,” Reaper growled to himself, “a place where no one will drag me to things like this.”

It was Christmas Eve night, meaning Talon was having their annual holiday party and good fucking god. These people had no control. None. Who invited all the low ranking low lives? All of them! This was the largest warehouse in the base, and it was packed to the brim. And who decided on the music? And what the hell was with this obnoxious light show? And an open bar?! With these people?!

“This place is going to a mess tomorrow,” he sighed, watching Sombra drunkenly try to fight a woman twice her size. Then tried to kiss her. She was going to have quite the hangover in the morning and the only thing worse than regular Sombra, is a salty Sombra. “Guess I’ll be avoiding her – well, more than usual.”

From his perch on a high up balcony, Reaper could see most everyone below. Doomfist was lounging by the bar with an onslaught of women trying to win his favor while he toyed with their hearts. Widowmaker has been swapping between sipping copious amounts of wine and dancing in the middle of the everyone with reckless abandon. She had been getting sloppier as the night went on, needing more and more room for her flailing arms. There were a few other people Reaper recognized from one mission or another, some keeping their cool, some not. One was already vomiting out back. Looked like just about everyone accounted for, even Maximilien was sitting in the corner in one of his finest suits. Only one person missing.

He tapped his foot impatiently, eyeing the door. “Sunshine, where are you?”

There was a small clink and some whirring before Amelie hopped onto the metal scaffolding above the festivities. “You always find the best hiding spots,” she said as she approached.

“I’ve been at this a while,” Reaper replied with a dry laugh. “What are you doing up here? You seemed to be almost enjoying yourself.”

“I am not, but they have a number of wonderful vintages being served, and liquor always makes me restless,” she explained, leaning on the railing beside him. “I need to move when I’m drunk. You know that.”

“That I do, that I do,” he chuckled. Widowmaker may be odd, strange, and downright unsettling, but she was still a decent associate. Infinitely more tolerable than most. She was quiet, straightforward, professional, and complete frigid bitch. Before Sonya came along, the blue sniper was about the closest thing Reaper had to a companion. They still had sessions where the two of them would bundle up in enough clothing to hide their bizarre appearances and snark about passersby in the city, usually with a couple of flasks.

“Do you plan on scowling down on the rest of us all night,” she asked.

“Maybe.”

Amelie began to sway with the music. “Waiting for Sonya, then?”

“Maybe.”

“I’m sure she will be here eventually. Your child is much more sociable than you and I. More willing to keep up with appearances,” she said, almost as if comforting Reaper, but he knew better. She was stating the facts, not being nice. Amelie didn’t do nice.

“Speak of the devil,” Reaper murmured as Sonya came entered the warehouse fashionably late and looking stunning. She wore a dress in her favorite deep crimson color that flared out at her slim waist, satin falling just below her knees. Her hair was dolled up in two careful braids adorned with gold leaves while the rest of her long dark hair cascaded down her back and shoulders. The large black, faux fur coat made her look like something off the cover of a prestigious magazine. Black heels and gold jewelry finished her ensemble, cementing the fact that she was the best-dressed person in the room.

“That girl does take after you, doesn’t she,” Widowmaker said thoughtfully. “All dramatic entrances and over the top style.”

Reaper scoffed, “You’re one to talk with your grappling hook and half exposed tits!”

She shrugged. “True. At least your girl has good taste.”

“Do you mean to say I don’t,” he snarled.

“No,” Amelie said moving toward the ledge of the balcony, “but I do find your mask to be less than fearsome.”

“You don’t even feel fear,” Reaper snapped.

“Still,” the tall woman shrugged before gracefully dropping to the ground and heading back to the dance floor.

“I forget how much of a bitch you can be,” he said shaking his head in amusement. Sonya was looking around curiously, ignoring a few men and women who had made flirtatious advances. Reaper turned to mist and floated to the floor below, waiting by the edge of the bar for her. She joined him with a wide smile.

“About time you showed up,” he chided her jokingly.

“Look, I don’t get a lot of opportunities to get all fancied up, so I took my time. And, ya know, I’d rather be at home anyway so I may have taken a while longer than I needed with my make up,” Sonya admitted.

“Well your efforts were worth it, Sunshine,” he chuckled.

“You like it,” she asked, scrunching her face worriedly and looking down at her outfit. “It’s not too much? I almost didn’t wear the coat – “

“Stop it right there,” Reaper said firmly. “You are the perfect amount of extra tonight, coat included.”

“Aw shucks,” he laughed, “if it gets your seal of approval the outfit must be alright.”

“Maravilloso, mija, maravillioso,” he said putting a hand on her shoulder. “Want a drink?”

“Absolutely,” she said waving at one of the bartenders. She sipped a glass of wine, marveling at the wild variety of people in the warehouse – thousand dollar suits rubbing against Walmart tees, all clamoring for booze and a chance to brag.

“I knew the invite to this thing was pretty loose, but I wasn’t really expecting all the high ranking members like yourself to be schmoozing with the rest of us. I figured there would at least be a VIP section or something,” Sonya said toying with the lipstick print on her glass.

“Last year we basically had two separate parties – one for the low lives and one for those of us who know how to handle ourselves. We were in the same vicinity, but there was a definite line in the sand. And bodyguards to maintain the line,” Reaper grumbled.

Sonya grinned, “Which group was Sombra in?”

“Both,” Reaper groaned, “she started with the grunts, blackmailed her way into the professional side, then went back to the low-brow members because the rest of us ‘fucker-oonies weren’t no fun.’”

His Sunshine burst out laughing. “Yup! That’s Sombra!” Reaper loved to hear her uncontrolled laughter, all loud and coming out in bursts.

“At least when the party’s a clusterfuck you and I get to people watch together,” Sonya said putting a hand on his arm.

“Don’t worry, hon, I’d vouch for you. Nothing but the best champagne and hors-d'oeuvres for you,” Reaper promised.

“The real question is,” she teased, “would you be willing to hang out the filthy heathens below if I didn’t want to hang out with your hoity-toity friends?”

“For one,” he began, ��they are not my friends. And for two, of course I would leave Ogundimu and the others behind to stay with you. In a heartbeat.”

Sunshine beamed and leaned into Reaper’s side, “Thank goodness, because you were really the only person I wanted to see tonight. Sloppy Amelie is fun and all, and Sombra’s terrible beatboxing is hilarious, but you’re by far the most tolerable.”

“D’aww,” he snickered, “I find you tolerable, too, unlike this asshole.” Doomfist was approaching. Sonya smacked Reaper in the arm.

“Evening, Akande,” she said brightly as the large man took came close. Since when was it ‘Akande’ and not his last name?

“Good evening, Sunshine,” he said with a small bow.

“Look at you all spiffed up,” Sonya said eyeing Doomfist’s well-tailored suit. How many reams of fabric does it take to cover a man that wide, Reaper wondered.

“I’m glad you approve.” His teeth were just as pearly white as his button-down shirt. “You, however, look absolutely ravishing. I must remember to find more occasions to see you in a proper dress.”

“I dunno about that,” Sunshine said, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, “I forgot how much I hate high heels.”

Doomfist looked around hurriedly, frowning until he saw someone sitting from the left of him. “Move,” he demanded with no explanation.

“What,” the other man said, confused.

“I said move,” Ogundimu repeated, grabbing the back of the man’s barstool. The guy finally understood and hopped off the seat and took a few steps back.

“There you are, my dear,” Doomfist said, dragging the chair to Sonya’s side. “rest your feet.”

‘My dear.’ Reaper’s jaw was fully clenched. Even worse, Sonya wasn’t protesting in the least. In fact, she smiled as he offered a hand to her to help her onto the tall seat.

“Thank you, Akande,” Sonya said putting her skinny fingers on top of his massive ones.

“And they say chivalry is dead,” Doomfist hummed out in a suave voice.

“Is it still chivalry if you’re bragging about it,” Sunshine asked with a raised brow. Reaper snorted.

“Touché,” Ogundimu laughed. He leaned on the bar top to Sonya’s right, staring at her as they chatted casually. All those long hours in the prosthetics lab must have fostered some sort of . . . friendship – which was to be expected, but Reaper still didn’t like it. Nor did he like their easy way of speaking and comfortable closeness. Reaper stood there, sulking, feeling like a third wheel.

“Tell me, Sunshine,” Doomfist said, inching closer to her as she shed her fluffy coat, “what do you have planned for tomorrow? Any traditions to keep, or are you in need of some company?”

“I’ve got plans,” she said simply, looking to Reaper with a warm smile.

“Afraid she’s all mine,” Reaper mocked Doomfist, putting his arm around Sunshine.

“For now,” Ogundimu replied confidently.

“My, my,” said a familiar synthetic voice, “you two are certainly possessive.”

The two men stopped glaring at each other to see Maximilien standing before them, his metal face flat, but his tone was vaguely disapproving.

“She is a woman worth fighting for,” Doomfist said straightening his posture. Reaper did not follow suit, holding Sonya close.

“That may be true, but perhaps you should be aware of how this young woman feels about the two of you fighting over her,” the omnic said gesturing to Sonya. She sat in between Reaper and Doomfist, looking annoyed and awkward, not a trace of a smile left.

Reaper instantly released her, giving her shoulder blade a quick apologetic rub. Sonya gave him a weak smile in return.

“You know how I feel about conflict,” Ogundimu rumbled, “especially when there is something so lovely to gain.” Clearly he felt no remorse.

Sonya let out a frustrated sigh before hopping to her feet and taking a step toward the omnic. “It’s Maximilien, yes,” she asked, lips pulled up in a forced way.

“Indeed it is,” the Talon board member nodded.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, sir, despite the less than civil circumstances.”

She held a hand out to him and he took it in both of his, very gently. “Likewise, miss. I have heard you referred to as both ‘Sonya’ and ‘Sunshine.’ May I ask what you prefer? Or would you prefer Ms. Reyes?”

“Sonya, please,” she responded quickly, easing into a genuine smile, “and I appreciate you asking, sir. It is nice to see that someone has retained their manners.”

Omnic laughter had always felt wrong in Reaper’s ears and this time was no different. Maximilien was usually not in such an amicable mood.

“I was just thinking the same thing, Sonya. I understand you are researching Ogundimu’s weapon,” Maximilien hinted.

“Yes, I am. It’s proven to be fascinating, if not slow work. The Doomfist is a baffling piece of technology, but I like a good challenge.” Reaper had always admired his daughter’s passion.

“That is good to hear,” Maximilien said reaching into his breast pocket, “I value determination in my associates.” He pulled out a sleek, shimmering business card and handed it to Sonya. “I have been monitoring your work since you joined Talon, and I am intrigued. Impressed, even. Should you find yourself with a desire to take on another task, please let me know. I am staying on the base for a few days and would enjoy the chance speak with you in a more  . . .” He looked around at the crowded room, “Private, less intoxicated setting.”

Sunshine blinked in surprise, taking the small slip of paper in both hands. “Thank you, sir. I will get back to you soon.”

“I am looking forward to it,” Maximilien said with a nod. “Now, if you will excuse me, I had had enough of this particular brand of revelry for the night.”

Doomfist said a simple goodbye and Reaper bobbed his head as the omnic left.

“That was unexcepted,” Sunshine reeled, turning back to the other two men.

“Seems as if he was waiting for you,” Ogundimu grumbled. “Waiting to make his offer to whisk you away.”

Sonya leaned over, watching as the filthy rich omnic disappeared out of sight. “I wonder what on Erath he would want me to do for him?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing as interesting as working with me,” the large man said pompously. Reaper rolled his eyes and slumped against the bar. Christ, he missed drinking in public.

“Akande that’s enough,” Sunshine growled, “you’re frying my last damn nerve with your overly haughty bullshit.”

Both men recoiled a bit in shock. “I beg your pardon,” Ogundimu said, something akin to anger sneaking into his voice.

She sighed and rubbed her face, “I’m just a little tired of you treating me like a trophy to be won, every day, day in, day out. It’s too much.”

Reaper’s eyebrows went up as he slowly turned to Doomfist to see his reaction. Was he . . . blushing? The man looked both taken aback and perturbed, glaring back at the masked man, but his expression softened considerably once he looked back to Sonya.

Doomfist finished his drink in one giant gulp. “Understood, Sonya. I will leave you be. Perhaps we can speak again after the holiday. Contact me if you need access to my weaponry.” With that curt phrase, Ogundimu turned and left, leaving Sonya rolling her head back and groaning.

“What’s wrong,” Reaper asked nervously. He was slightly worried he was next on the outburst list, not that the aging man didn’t deserve it – he had been acting like a child.

“Now he’s pouting,” Sunshine whimpered. “I’m straightforward and honest just this once, and he runs off like a moody teenager. Fan-fucking-tastic.”

“He’ll get over it,” Reaper reassured her, “I’ve seen him get like this before about council matters. Give him a day, and he’ll be back to his usual self. I think the big guy’s just not used to people challenging him anymore, but, as much as I hate to say it, he only gets this way about things he – “ Don’t say ‘cares about,’ Reaper thought to himself. “Things he is . . . invested in.”

Judging by Sunshine’s sly little smile, she was reading Reaper’s mind again. “’Invested’ or not, I just hope he’s not going to be even more of a pain or try to put me on a guilt trip. Or strangle me in my sleep.”

“He will not strangle you in your sleep, I can guarantee you that.”

Sonya still looked rather wary, but mostly tired. She grabbed her coat and threw it back over her, nuzzling into the large collar like all that fluffiness would keep her safe.

“Hey,” Reaper said softly, “you want to get out of here? Get away from the lights for a second?”

Her mouth pressed into a line as she considered the offer. “Yeah, that sounds nice, but I gotta do one thing first.” She whipped around and flagged the bartender once more, waited for her two shots of tequila, downed them both, then gave him a thumbs up. “Let’s go.”

“That’s my girl,” Reaper laughed. They walked into the cool night air and sat together on the far side of the warehouse where they could hide from everyone else. Sonya plopped down on a pile of pallets heavily, lulling her head on her poofy coat.

“What’s going on with you,” he asked sitting next to her. “You’ve been in looking down for the past couple of days.”

“Sorry,” she said rubbing the bridge of her nose.

“I’m not asking because I’m annoyed or anything, I’m asking because I’m worried. What happened to my chipper, sassy sunbeam?”

Her laugh was dull and unconvincing. “I’ll be fine, Reaper, it’s just been a bad week. A bad time of year for me.”

“Why,” he pressed.

“I just, ugh. It’s weird, don’t worry about it.”

“You’re my kid,” he said scooting closer, “worrying about you is 90% of what I do.”

She snorted and rested her head on him. “It’s just that, even though the Orphan’s Army was a disaster and far from, I guess, nurturing, they were still like my family. A lot of us had this really tight comradery, and I’m just kinda missing that. I know I’ve got people here that are sorta like friends, but it's not the same. We don’t have the same connection. I miss that feeling.”

“You’re lonely,” he said sympathetically.

“Maybe not quite lonely,” she said sadly, “I think I just miss the kind of friendships I used to have. The people here just . . .”

“I understand, mija, I really do.” All day Reaper had been trying to push aside memories of Jesse pigging out on pie and oppressively strong coffee while Genji told bad jokes in an effort to make the cowboy snort out a pie-coffee smoothie. He remembered basic training with Jack and the shitty Christmas dinner they had at the barracks, wondering how someone could mess up pre-packaged pudding. Then there was the year little Fareeha was obsessed with horses, and Gabe got her the biggest plush pony he could find. So many damned memories that managed to made him nostalgic and enraged at the same time.

“You want to tell me about it,” Sunshine asked softly.

“No, no, no,” he said, body tensing, “but just know that I hear where you’re coming from.”

She nodded. They sat in silence for a long time, each thinking about the people they lost, one way or another. About the betrayals they both endured at the hands of those they trusted.

“At least I have you,” Sonya murmured. “At least I’m not completely on my own.”

Reaper reached over and rubbed her cheek. “You’re lucky I ever let you out of my sight,” he teased. “But I’m sorry if I was too antagonistic with Ogundimu or if – ”

“Don’t be,” she said waving her hand, “I know you’re not possessive like that. And even if you are, you actually have a reason to be. Akande is just my boss and a horny shitlord.”

He laughed so hard and so forcefully he started coughing. “Ah mija,” Reaper said once he had recovered, “you’re so perfect.”

She laughed as he pulled her into him again. “Thanks, Reaper. We’re still on for tomorrow, right? Food and film frenzy?”

“And presents,” Reaper said mischievously. Sonya instantly shoved her father away and gave him an incredulous look.

“What do you mean ‘presents?!’ We promised no gifts,” she whined.

She was so cute when pretending to be mad.

“I lied,” he said flatly, “I’m a villainous masked man. I do that sometimes.”

“Rude,” she spat, beginning to smirk again. “It’s a good thing I got you presents, too.”

“What the hell,” Reaper bellowed. “You’re supposed to be the good one! Or at least the less morally compromised one.”

“Yeah, but I’m still your girl,” an air of pride in her voice.

His Sunshine laid back into him and was soon breathing slowly, asleep next to him. She probably shouldn’t have mixed the liquor, not that he minded having her warm weight pressed against him.  Reaper smiled widely and pressed his mask against her beautiful dark hair in lieu of a kiss.

“Tomorrow is a new day, mi sol,” he whispered. “We’ll get through this together, you and I.”

Additional tags: @watch-your-grammer @winchester-sonsandcastiel @envy-kitty

[freereignastarwarsstory]

Chapter 21: Crystals

Disclaimer: I (@zazabelle) own nothing but my OCs. Star Wars belongs to Lucasfilm and Disney. Please review and enjoy this latest installment.

Plunging into the darkness, my voice continued to spring out from within me as the orb hovered above my fingers. I felt my guide scoop up the kyber from my hand and I watched as it began to sail in front of me.

My guide carried it now, like a leaf in the wind while I continued to charge after it. 

I couldn’t hear anything now except for the echo of my own voice off the cave wall as it mingled with the harmony of ones I couldn’t see yet. 

Tilting the direction of my sprint, I drifted over to the wall. My fingers brushed over the wet and cold stone as I ran, and a smile broke out of me as, at my touch, the wall began to glow alight- like my temple home. 

Except, unlike the veiny appearance of the kyber-vines that were laced into my ruined temple, these ones were of an orderly inscription. Symbols linked up and spiraled over the walls of the cavern. Some part of my mind wanted to see what they said, what language they were, but it was too far entranced in the desires of the tones that resonated around the cave, and they continued driving me forward. 

I screamed in delight and continued along with the tune that poured from my own mouth and the pace of my sprint accelerated. My arms stretched backward and my head held up to the hidden sky, it felt as if I were flying. For real this time. 

I could sense that the entrance I’d entered to the cavern from was distant now, and all around me, the sense of the song’s harmony grew stronger. Now, a resinous beat came to my attention in the walls of the cavern. I could feel it with each pound my foot made into the ground. I sang louder and the tune became more and more intricate. The noises I made became more distinct to match to the ones that sang before me. That’s when it clicked that the noises I was singing were words. 

I was saying words.

I was truly singing a song.

And now my words were not my own, but the words of a people.

Before they had harmonized to match me, but now I harmonized and sang with them.

The words I sang ached in my chest, a joy I’d never known I’d wanted until this moment:

“You know me. You found me. I am home.” 

The glow of the cavern walls exploded with light around me.

The beating of the earth grew louder.

The song reached a crescendo.

Up ahead of me, I could see an opening that looked to lead into the daylight.

Instead, I burst into another cavern filled with light. My voice was holding one long note that carried and resonated around the room full of other singers. A people.

The tunnel had ended and I stood on the edge of an outcropped cliff. In my hand, I held aloft the orb. All around me, enormous shards of kyber grew and they seemed to glow in time to the rhythm of the song. The cavern spiraled upward, creating a soaring ceiling that stretched and seemed to create its own sky in its height. Encircling the room, I could see other creatures placed within other cave entrance openings. Some seemed to float between the crystals, while others looked like stones of the cave floor.

Every single voice was singing and it did not stop. 

The song only continued and shifted about in different meanings and tenors. 

My throat ached as this voice from within me awakened and I felt an unimaginable and unreplicable peace at this moment. 

The song told a story, and the language was not of words, but of emotion. It seemed to be a song of the history of these people and I was able to sing along, though I couldn’t completely understand everything being said.

Memories and emotions bubbled forth and I suddenly felt the sharp and burning urge for my mom to be able to see this and experience this. I wanted her here with me to sing along and smile and feel proud that I was singing so beautifully. Especially since Nisa always said I sang like a dying loth-cat. Nisa… Gu-el, Abedmalech, Kor, Umar, and Nolia… My mom Nolia. And now there was Soron, Cenden, Lerti, Nek, Chol, and BX.

Somehow, without a word that I could understand, the feeling of their names poured out from around the song of this people’s history, and my own story became woven into the tune. My heart ached along with my vocal cords and tears streamed ever further from my face. I could see the freckles on my hand that held aloft the orb was shifting in the brightest, clearest colors I’d ever seen them shift. 

The song seemed now to catch up with it’s present, and the voices grew quiet. The sound still resonated within and I almost didn’t want to breathe out and let this feeling leak away. 

I lowered my hand and looked about, smiling broadly at the scene before me. The creatures within the cavern had quieted their voices as well, but the song somehow hung in the air, resonating off the crystalline shards that towered around us, some as large as houses. They held spectrums of all different colors. I knew these to be kyber crystals, but I’d never heard any sing as these ones did. They weren’t for swords or holocrons, they were for nothing but the simple act of existence. 

Air suddenly shot up around me as a blurred figure rushed past my field of vision. I stumbled backward and fell on my butt as one of the beings seemed to have flown up from beneath the cavern’s cliff and proceeded to hover only inches from my face.

My heart thumped loudly in my chest with the sudden pain of surprise following such a peaceful moment.

‘Please don’t be evil. Please don’t be evil. Please don’t try to kill me.’ I found my mind repeating over and over again as I recognized this face as the one from the horrible vision trapped with the green kyber shard Ooni had stored with her. 

“We sent the Reeska saved you from the fall,” she began, her voice strangely echoing after each word, “We couldn’t let you die… yet.”

A shiver went through me, but at this point, I felt too exhausted to be scared.

“Why did you summon the being in the crystal?” she asked simply.

“I… I didn’t mean to. The Force called to me, I guess, and so I thought I was supposed to open it.” I stuttered out an answer.

“She tells the truth.” I jumped as a deep voice had suddenly appeared from behind me.

I sucked in a breath as one of the stone-like creatures stood behind me in the shadow of the cave I’d entered into this alcove from. Now seeing the form up close, I realized it wasn’t stone, but layered scales that linked together like plates of armor. The creature had no hair on it’s head, only intricate horns. He wore a simple poncho that hung loosely over his form, very similar to the one the angel wore. And like the angel, this creature had the same dark and colorless eyes.

“We weren’t sure at first when we’d heard you on the surface, but it seems... you are one that has been Called.” The creature’s gentle voice spoke.

Her wide, slanted eyes held no color but matched her milky white skin that glowed like that of the kyber crystals around her. She had 3 pairs of wings that resembled insects that I’d seen back on my temple-home, but they didn’t seem to move as she hovered in front of me. She wore a long, flowing dress of blue fabrics and her dark black hair was cut short to her head. 

But the part that most caught my attention was the way her light woven and glowing body seemed to shift in color as she spoke and observed me. 

Not knowing what else to do, my arm shot out and my hand now hovered in front of the beautiful creature. 

“I’m Vis.” I introduced myself. 

“Vis.” She smiled and repeated the name back to me, the sound of my name resonating like someone had struck a tuning fork off her tongue. 

She took my outstretched hand but didn’t shake it in greeting, she merely helped me rise to my feet. Her skin felt strange in my hand, it was cool and soft, but strangely not solid; like I was holding onto vaporous mist. 

What’s more, I could feel my guide swirling around and within the being, dancing along to the music she produced. 

“My guide sent me here to find something… Are you who I was supposed to find?” I asked hesitantly.

She looked me up and down and I could sense a confusion within her. “You may have been sent her to discover many things… You seem have the ability to keep the times of the rhythms of the Ashla, an ability unique to us alone. And yet you do not appear to be one of our kind.”

“One of… Your kind?” I asked in disbelief, “My mom was a human being-”

“Yes,” the scaled-one cut me off, “That is apparent.” 

“So you see, you could not have been produced naturally…” The angel explained.

Those words sent a shiver down my spine and I gripped my orb tighter. “What do you mean?”

“We knew of your existence only because of that,” she pointed to the orb in my hand, “The Way Finders have not been called to use for thousands of years, but our people, our planet and moons, are still connected to them.”

I fidgeted, trying to think of what to say but somehow seemed to only be operating off of default, “What’s your name?”

She paused, seeming not to have expected me to ask, “I am Peniel. I speak for my people on this day. Despite your summoning of the dead Force-wielder, I believe it would be more useful to help you than send you away.”

Her gentle hand pressed against my back as she turned to lead me down a walkway on the side of the cliff outcropping and down further into the caverns.

I looked back towards the tunnel I’d come from, watching the horned man gaze at me as I walked away. I hoped Nek and BX were okay.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Nek was panicking, as rightly he should be. 

He’d just watched the youngest member of their team go tumbling head over heels into the caverns below. Miraculously, she’d survived, but her transmission signal was completely lost.

He had to tell Soron.

Tell Soron what!? That he’d brought her along on a dangerous mission without telling him and for what!? WHY DID HE DO THAT!???

‘Jedi can do mind tricks. I’ve heard that… Yeah. Vis played a mind trick on you because there’s no way you could ever be this stupid on your own.’ Nek thought as he stared blankly into the canyon below. 

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of an approaching ship’s engine. At first, he assumed he would look up and see the form of The Raving Titan flying above but instead BX’s metal claw hooked under his shoulder and pulled him further into the shadow of the canyon as an Imperial style ship flew overhead. 

Nek cursed under his breath as the ship began its descent near the pirate’s cliffside waystation. The pirates had either fled on speeder bikes or had gone and ran inside to perhaps reach underground tunnels where they were likely hiding their ships.

Ooni had stood near the edge of the cliff for a time, staring down into the depths before running inside herself. Roff had either run or been shot because there didn’t seem to be any further disturbance coming from inside. The Imperial ship didn’t stop in front of the building, but instead, it began to descend into the canyon.

“What the hell is going on!?” Nek hissed to BX from their hiding place behind some crags in the wall on the other side of the canyon, “Beebs said these guys don’t deal with Imps!”

“These may be the “red-blades,” the pirate Roff said was holding their true Captain hostage,” BX said as his eyes followed the ship into the valley’s shadows.

Nek nodded, “He said that Ooni was supposed to make some deal with the natives that live below this planet’s surface. He might’ve been talking about the Diathim... this could be connected to that Zabrak we fought as well. Roff wanted to sell Vis but there’s no way they could’ve gotten here that fast. Do you think they’ve been hunting her or are they here for the deal with Ooni?”

“This is unknown but the Imperial transport is heading in a similar direction of Vis’ last known location, so fulfilling both goals of finding the child and discovering the motives of the Empire on this planet could both be fulfilled simultaneously. We will likely be split up. I will charge myself with finding Vis, you will trail the Imperial forces and we will convene back at the ship.” BX mapped out their plan.

Nek nodded and touched the communication device on his wrist, “You got all that Chol?”

“I read all that loud and clear. Should I inform our captain of this situation?” Chol asked hesitantly.

Nek sighed, “I suppose you should… yes. It’d be the responsible thing to do or whatever.”

“Great. Make me the bearer of bad news.” Chol huffed.

“You can at least inform the captain that Vis is alive and well. Her vital signs are not dwindling.” BX informed Chol.

“Your vital scan works all the way up here?” Nek asked, confused.

“No. But I know she is alright.” BX said in a matter of fact fashion, Nek noticing one of his clawed hands reaching up to touch his chest where the lightsaber was embedded.

‘We really need to run more tests on you.’ Nek said as he stood from the ground.

“Let’s move,” Nek said as they turned to climb down the canyon walls. 

[freereignastarwarsstory]

Chapter 20: Call to the Caverns

Disclaimer: I (@zazabelle) own nothing but my OCs. Star Wars belongs to Lucasfilm and Disney. Please review and enjoy this latest installment. 

The Force had called, so I answered.

Or at least, that’s what I reassured myself of as I crept down the dark, dank hallway where I’d sensed the woman named Ooni had disappeared down.

My hand trailed along the smooth stone walls as I trekked further into the dark, recalling and wishing for the glowing veins of kyber in the walls of my temple home. It felt so much darker in this hallway while under the mask I still had strapped to my face, but taking it off felt like a bad idea. Held in n my other hand, I held the lightsaber I’d brought along not daring to ignite it in the quiet of the chasm. The “hallway” I found myself in was actually a tunnel carved out of the stone canyon. The stone was rough beneath my touch and I felt a slight breeze pulsating from the depths of the shaft as my guide pulled me along. 

The song of the kyber coming from the lightsaber had quieted some once we had landed on Iego, but for some reason, the moment the woman called Ooni had spoken, the little crystal’s song hummed to life and I was almost sure that Ooni could hear it too. I knew I was severely endangering myself, and Nek, and BX, but the Force called so everything would turn out alright… Right?

Up ahead, lights shone from under doorways that were dug into the stone walls. My guide had already raced ahead and filled each room. As usual, I couldn’t tell what was in the rooms, only that there were rooms with things inside. If they were living or not was hard to tell, especially if they weren’t moving.

‘Cenden really needs to teach me how to sense living things because obviously, that is not one of my strong suits.’ I thought to myself as I felt my heart racing in my chest. 

Half the time I had problems distinguishing if it was the Force or just my intuition that I gathered my information from. Obviously, if there were doors, there were rooms, and in rooms, there were things and sometimes people. Didn’t exactly take a mystical Force to figure that out. 

But then I heard it.

I froze in my tracks as I heard the singing.

Kyber.

And not just one piece of it like in the lightsaber I was holding. Though the little crystal within the saber’s hilt was carrying on it’s tune.

This song bellowed and vibrated. It was so clear I could almost distinguish words coming from within its melody… I could almost sing along. 

My heart pounding, I began to hum the song. 

Quietly, it resonated in my chest and I felt the kyber hum back, almost as if it was whispering so as not to be caught.

Continuing to inch forward, I heard the song coming from the first door on the right. In my hand, the little crystal’s song, nearly drown out by the sound of the first, grew louder. 

‘Ooni may also be in that room. Or at least nearby.’ 

Ok. So. Here’s the plan: I sneak in there and find the big song crystal and… What then? What am I doing? Do I give Ooni the saber? Do I take the big crystal? Was that what I was meant to find?

‘Nek will be needing me back soon, so I better not die.’ The thought was meant to be a joke, but the realization made me shiver.

It was so cold down here.

Approaching the door, I pressed the button and the door slid open. Quickly ducking in as I’d seen some of my crewmates do, I stayed low and pressed my back against storage crates that were stacked near the door.

Continuing to peer through the slits in the mask, the room looked more earthy toned than the cavernous tunnel. In fact, it had a more homey feel to it than the bar upstairs. I noticed a rug on the floor, a desk near the edge of the room, and even a bed placed within a dugout in the wall. 

‘Is this where people get to stay when they’re stationed here? Why not just stay on the ship?’ I wondered as I crept forward. 

The room itself was empty, but from the kyber’s song in the lightsaber, Ooni had to be close by. That’s when I noticed the second door near the back of the room. The two rooms on the right side of the wall were apparently conjoined. 

My heart fluttered in my chest as my attention suddenly snapped to a shelf just to the right of the door. Sitting on top of it was a large case from within bellowed the song. I walked hesitant towards it, the song so loud it made my eardrums pound with the residual beat. 

It went along to a pattern, like someone repeating the same words over and over again. 

Touching the comlink on my wrist, I whispered into it, “Nek, Chol, I’m in the first door on the right of the passage. I found something…” I hoped that was quiet enough that the others around Nek wouldn’t hear. 

Reaching forward, my guide suddenly opened the small locked crate on its own. Stumbling back in surprise, a green light burst from inside the crate along with a chorus of voices.

It was a kyber crystal. 

The biggest one I’d ever seen.

It was a light green hue, and its surface seemed to have been cut and shaped into a hexagonal form. Within the crate, it sat on a small cushion that actually helped muffle the sound of its bellowing. With the case open, I was nearly tempted to cover my ears to block out some of the sounds. Instead, I took a breath and closed my eyes. I reached out and sent my guide swirling into the Force flowing through the crystal, and focused.

It wasn’t just a song.

It was ideas.

It was emotions.

It was memories.

“What-” My eyes shot open, “Who are you?!” 

I blinked in surprise as in the light of the holocron, the shape of a person, a man, had been burned into the back of my eyes. Everywhere I looked I could see him standing like a shadow. No features, only a dark silhouette.

My heart began to race in my chest as panic started taking over. Everywhere I looked I could see the shadow, and ever blink the form of the shadow made one step closer.

My guide only seemed eager to push me forward, so, “sucking it up” as Cenden had so often instructed me to do, I reached my hand out.

I saw the freckles on my arm began to shift to a similar green color as the crystal; green mist began to rise from the crystal’s surface and memories stored within began intertwining with my own. It was a similar feel to when I “play pretend” and could act out the past of people I’ve met… But this was different. This was a clear, crisp set of memories. This wasn’t just what someone was experiencing, this was someone’s mind.

The adjacent door suddenly shot open. 

I gasped and ignited the lightsaber, severing the connection I was making to the crystal.

The little crystal in the lightsaber yelped in some song of recognition as, who could only be Ooni, now stood in the doorway, my light-blade held up to her throat.

She looked more disgusted than surprised, but I could sense her confusion.

Ooni was a Tholothian woman with the characteristic half-dozen pods hanging from the back of her head. Her scaled skull seemed to have been tattooed with intricate patterns and designs. She wore a simple variation of what most of the pirates wore in the bar above them: a white and dust-stained tank top with brown trousers, high-rise boosts, and a blaster holt strapped to her hip… And a blaster in her hand. Aimed at me. The blue light of the saber completely enveloped her features and glowed in her similarly blue colored eyes. 

“I didn’t think it was possible. I wanted to see what you would do,” Ooni explained in a harsh tone. Her voice had a nasal-tone to it that Vis hadn’t heard earlier when she’d been barking at her men, “Who are you, what do you want, and where’d you steal the saber from?’

I blinked in surprise at the rapid-fire questions, “Uuuuuhhhhhhh. I’m Vis, I don’t know, and Tiss’sharl,” I tried to deepen my voice a touch to at least sound a little older than I was, not sure if it was any good, “My turn. Who is that?” I asked, nodding towards the large kyber that was still humming loudly,

“Who? What do you mean, “who”?” Ooni questioned back.

“There’s a mind of some sort in that crystal, I could hear it… see it. Why do you have it?”

Ooni shifted, studying her. She seemed to be gazing at my neck, then my hands… Was she looking at my freckles?

‘Oh please don’t move any closer to the blade I don’t want to burn you.’ I thought pleadingly as her neck shifted a little closer to the blade’s tip, and I wished I could use my guide to nudge her back a little.

Ooni shot forward, my hand jerked backward, fearing it’d burn her.

Her hand was around my wrist and before I could react I was screaming in pain as my arm was twisted behind my back. The lightsaber dropped from my grip. 

Ooni twisted, kicking the back of my knees causing me to drop to the ground. I cried out as it felt like my shoulder was about to pop out of the socket.

I heard the blaster click behind my head.

My guide swirled around in a panic, and I could only feel the Force around Ooni very dimly, like how’d it had felt around Cenden when I’d first met him. But she didn’t feel cold inside, she didn’t feel corrupted as he’d been. I could only feel her intent. Focused confidence.

“Wait! The lightsaber! Isn’t it yours!?” I yelled, unable to turn my head around to look at her, “The kyber sings for you! Isn’t it yours!?”

I felt her intent twinge a little before she refocused herself, “It is. I just don’t like negotiations with my neck on the other end of a lightsaber.”

“I wasn’t going to kill you! Ow ow ow ow!” I tried to explain as she twisted my arm a little further.

“Shut up. You can’t play innocent. I know they sent you to steal the crystal, little Diathim.” she spat, “As I told you people when I brought you the crystal, it’s not mine. I don’t want it. You people wouldn’t help me, so I’ll leave. But you can’t HAVE IT.” she twisted my arm a little further and I screamed, this time a shrill tone that came from deep within as tears sprung to my eyes. 

The large green crystal suddenly shuttered to life, green mist rising off of it. I could barely see out of my peripherals due to the mask, but I could sense Ooni turn to look at it as light burst off of it.

I reached out to the person within the crystal, my guide drawing them out. The connection to the crystal suddenly washed over me; through me. Ooni released my arm but I still screamed in pain as the light filled the room.

I lay on the ground, dazed, and feeling sick.

Every time I blinked I saw flashes of someone else’s memories crammed and jumbled within my own. 

A human man with long white hair seemed to be gazing down at me, his eyes filled with the same green smoke that rose off the crystal. He smiled and walked away as enormous droids filled with the same green smoke began to lumber towards me. I couldn’t move to look around me, but I knew I was in a temple. The light of the green smoke turned red as I heard voices, the voices of children, screaming in agony.

I tried to move, I tried to turn to look at them, but all I could do was watch as one of the enormous droids grabbed hold of my arms and began dragging me away.

Somewhere in this horrible vision, I heard the screaming shift. It turned into the sound of singing. 

Breathing heavily, I tried to squeeze my eyes shut. This wasn’t real. But when I opened my eyes, I was still stuck in the vision, except this time the man with the white hair was replaced with a beautiful creature glowing and shifting in colors beneath the hood she wore. She gazed at me with large, black eyes before she reached out and touched my forehead, and the world melted into darkness.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The singing grew louder.

It reverted through every fiber of my being, and I felt my whole body begin to shake. Then I felt my body hit the floor and the dragging sensation ceased. 

My mind snapped to attention with the click of a blaster and I realized it wasn’t me shaking, it was the ground.

“What did you do?” I heard the woman Ooni ask as I tried to shake the fog out of my head.

Laying on the ground, I twisted my head and saw the crowded pirate band and what looked to be Nek standing near the doorway. I must’ve been dragged back up into the bar. 

Nek wasn’t holding a blaster, only his hands raised in the air defensively. BX was nowhere to be seen through my swirling vision.

“What do you mean?” Nek asked hesitantly.

“Don’t play dumb,” Ooni cooly answered back, “There were plenty of other valuable things in my quarters but she didn’t touch any of them, she went right for the artifact I’m transporting. Plus she had the Temple-guard mask and this,” I saw the white flash of light bounce from the kyber-orb out of the corner of my eye, but no lightsaber,  “I’ve done some research on this ‘Beebs’ and she doesn’t deal in artifact trade.”

I felt another tremor pass through the earth.

“You’re not one of the Diathim, too ugly,” she began, now directed towards me, “What’re you after?”

Before I could open my mouth, the Florum man from earlier suddenly piped up, “Maybe it’s those Force-wielders.”

“I think we all mostly assumed that, genius.” Ooni spat back.

“You’re not gettin’ it! We could trade her over to the red-blades in exchange for Hondo!”

“That,” She glared at him, “Was not the deal.”

“Some loyalty you ‘ave! The only reason we had to set up on Iego again was because of thos’ crazies wantin’ ya to get those savages that live underground to do some magic to that stupid crystal. They wouldn’t help you and if those assassins come back an’ find you failed they might kill the Capin’!”

“You really think they’re going to let me live? They’re only using me, turning this kid over won’t do anything to help us. Hondo’s a big boy, he can take care of himself. He’s probably already escaped knowing him.” Ooni negotiated. The ground again shook below our feet, “We don’t want to be involved with them any more than we have to, and whatever this kid did has made the Diathim and Maelibi angry.”

She looked down at me and gave a nod for the door, “Get out of here.”

Another blaster suddenly clicked, “You ungrateful little traitor. Hondo is the only reason you’re still alive and you’d betray him!?” Roff barked, “The kid is not goin’ anywhere, and when that red-blade comes back I’m personally tellin’ him that you tried to make off with the kyber.”

I groaned inwardly as I felt tension spike through the room like a crack of thunder. Blasters clicked to life all around us as the mountain continued to rumble beneath our feet. 

Nek also now held his blaster aimed at Roff as Ooni and the half the room stood faced off against the other half. 

My freckles turned bright yellow and a very not-Jedi squeak escaped my throat as I put my hands up defensively in front of my face. Through my fingers, I saw my mask… and the orb. The mask was clipped to Ooni’s belt but the orb she clutched in her hand. 

The earth rumbled again beneath us as I tried to reach out to the Force to rip the object from her hand.

A feeling of shock pulsed through me as she didn’t just dismiss the Force, she sent it writhing back into me. I gasped and coughed at the sheer pain of the shock, like I’d been plunged into icy water.

“I think I’ll be holding onto this.” She replied coldly, putting her foot on my chest. 

“HEY!” Nek called, “DON’T TOUCH HER!”

All attention was shot over to Nek. 

I jumped as I felt something cold enveloped my ankles and I squeaked again as I was suddenly yanked out from under Ooni. BX pulled me into his chest and I saw that he’d also grabbed the guard mask. With a clunk, the helmet was suddenly on my head as the tension broked, and the room burst with blaster fire.

BX’s body created a dome over my own as shot after shot exploded over him. 

I screamed as the earth gave one final, mighty shake before suddenly exploding.

The pounding of the rumbling song beneath us reached a tipping point. The ground cracked and buckled beneath the pirate’s outpost, but it seemed BX had been ready for this. Leaping forward through the confusion, some continued to fire while others ran for cover or for the door.

Twisting his body around as he reached Nek, BX grabbed the engineer by his shirt and pulled him in. I felt Nek’s body hit mine as BX hugged us close and pushed off backward with his legs, ramming his back into the door, shattering it with the force of the collision.

We were tumbling for moments.

And then we were running.

The whole earth continued to shake and the bridge between canyons now below our feet moved like waves. I gathered my Force around me as I ran in panic, trying only to sustain the forward motion but every half-glance towards the undulating bridge below my feet also gave way to the ground hundreds of feet below. 

Blaster fire began again as I half-heard Ooni yelling something from the other side of the canyon. 

Nek and BX reached the other side of the canyon when it hit me:

‘My orb.’ The idea pierced through the panic. ‘BX didn’t have the orb!’

I stumbled to a halt on the waving bridge and turned to face Ooni, extending my hand to summon the orb- 

My breath caught in my throat. 

Before my mind could even register what was happening, I felt the weightlessness below me as the shot rang through the crumbling canyons. The sniper on the roof had shot out the bridge.

Everything moved in slow motion, and in that moment, I could fly. I felt the piercing wind tunneling through my coat, I heard Nek yell in terror, saw BX reaching to grab me, a look of horror on Ooni’s face, and the freckles on my own hands in front of my face shifting from colors of fear to confusion. 

All of this hit me like a tsunami and in that moment, I cried out a piercing sound that echoed from deep within my chest and a flash of white light came shooting towards me.

I felt my hand envelop the crystal orb and I curled my body around the object as I ceased to fly.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I don’t remember the fall.

I don’t remember hitting the ground.

I don’t remember the people, only the voices.

I don’t remember the light, only the song.

I barely remember sitting up, but I do remember opening my eyes.

It was dark and cold. Above, I could hear the wind whistling, but down here, all was still. The walls of the ravine stretched up around me. The colors of the rock down here shifted in deep purples and blues. The minerals wove around each other like clouds paralyzed in time. The air was cold and damp, it reminded me of the tunnels beneath my temple home. 

Suddenly, it dawned on me I wasn’t viewing the world through slits and looked around for my lost helmet. I saw it resting a few meters away from me, and fear suddenly shot up my legs as I saw that it was resting at the mouth of an enormous cave opening. 

I instinctively backed away from the gaping maw of darkness and jumped out of my skin as a loud “Beep!” suddenly rang out next to me. The sound echoed around the canyon walls and I realized too late that it was just the commlink Nek had given me. It was letting me know that someone was trying to reach me and before I could stop myself a sob broke out of my chest as I became fully aware of what had happened.

“-hello?” I choked out into the wrist-comm.

I heard Nek’s voice full of fear and mixed relief, “VIS! You’re alive!”

‘I fell off the bridge.’

“Are you ok!?” Nek continued.

‘I should be dead.’

“Where are you!?” Nek asked.

‘Am I dying and just don’t know it yet?’ 

“Vis? V- Answer me- coming through?” The transmission began to become garbled.

‘What if I look down and see that I’m covered in blood and my legs are backward? Oh my guide I don’t want backward legs!’ I started hyperventilating as tears poured out of my eyes.

“Nek? I’m scared.” I finally responded back through sobs, “I’m sorry I’m trying not to be scared but what if I have backwards legs!?”

“We- re- try- to find you! Chol- only see some static! You’re- ok! You’re going to- ok?” The comm turned to static after his last words came through and I curled up, feeling the weight of fear press in on me. 

Against my stomach, I felt something cold and imagined that it was likely a big bloody hole in my tummy before realizing it was my orb.

Sitting before the great, dark cave, I felt my guide settle around me. Curling up, I started to sing a song that to my kyber orb. In the darkness, the orb flickered its white light to the sound of my voice. My whole body shook and I couldn’t think straight, but I didn’t feel any pain anywhere. How had I survived the fall? What if I was already dead?

I remembered my vision. The clawing darkness in the caverns below. And here I was, stuck under the weight of fear and too mindless to do anything but comfort myself. I would let fear envelop me, and when something came to eat me, I wouldn’t fight back because I didn’t want to feel that fear anymore. 

‘I get it now Lerti… Maybe if I’m quiet and hide the fear won’t find me.’ 

But I didn’t go quiet, I kept singing because I liked the feeling of the light that pulsated from within the orb. Iego… I was on Iego. Planet of a thousand moons. And I wasn’t dead. 

I sang louder, pushing my voice deeper into the kyber and light from within the orb became brighter. It illuminated the cave before me, and my fear melted away with the intensity of the glow; ha! It could be shooed away! 

As soon as the fear melted, I felt my guide return to me, and something else. My guide came bearing a sound, a song, coming from within the cavernous tunnel that stretched before me. 

I stood and held the orb aloft in my hands as my singing continued. The kyber floated a bit off my hand as I urged its light forward into the tunnel. The song didn’t mirror my own but harmonized with it. From within the cavern, something was able to match my “song-that-didn’t-exist”. 

Entranced, my guide pushed me forward and I broke into a run. Leaping over the temple guard mask, I dove into the cave, the songs continuing to resonate from within my chest and the light of the white kyber in my hands.