#luke and vestara

[magnetarbeam]

I just spent like 2 hours infodumping on Discord about a Skykhai AU that's kind of inspired by Myn and Lara's plot in the Wraith books.

Basically, Ves is sent to infiltrate the Jedi half a year before FotJ even starts, and having to fit in with that environment brings out the altruistic and compassionate impulses that have always been in her, as she and Ben are falling in love, and Vestara is, debatably of or against her will, finding a family in the Jedi and questioning everything the Sith ever taught her.

Then when FotJ does happen, she tags along on the quest with Luke and Ben, and coming into contact with the Sith again causes her to have all kinds of existential issues about who and what she is.

At some point in Ascension, the Jedi find out that she was a Sith and had been lying to them, and the ensuing fight leads to her ostensibly rejoining the Sith, except she actually spends Apocalypse constantly sabotaging them from the inside out.

Due to her accomplishments there, as well as a twist that I want to actually hopefully surprise some people with, she is recognized by the Jedi as having had a redemption arc and she gets to come back and stuff.

Sleep deprivation is starting to set in now.

[magnetarbeam]

THANK YOU

Luke being in character. Ves and the Skywalkers trusting each other for once.

Also, I'm so glad Fala's potential as a character has occurred to someone other than me. I still haven't thought of a less pleasant way to find out you're Force-sensitive than having your mind turned into a dark side nexus by Abeloth.

I'd be extremely curious to hear what you have in mind about that.

Why on earth was haven’t I been rereading Conviction more often?

I’m just going through the most interesting parts of Conviction (ie, the ones with Vestara and the Skywalkers), and there’s just so much I forgot and it’s amazing and asdkjadkjafk

Luke actually acting Jedi-like and more in character instead of whatever the hell Denning was doing?? them all working together really well as a team? luke being protective of ben and vestara just looking on and getting really sad because her dad would never? (srsly just give him the worst parent of the year award already) Later though it turns out he lied to the other sith so they actually don’t know who killed taalon, to protect her, and she’s all confused. ves acting insulted at being called a jedi at the beginning of the book but not at the end, and her just constantly experiencing thoughts and feelings she’s not used to. There’s a lot more emphasis on vestara’s character development and growth than on any ~romance~, and we finally get to see a whole book of her and the skywalkers just trusting each other and being on the same side. Honestly this is literally the only book in the entire trilogy where there’s no massive betrayals or breaches of trust by her.

Obv other stuff is good too like Seha Dorvald existing and going on a mission and Tola Annax being really dramatic, and Fala showing up (i’m already planning this elaborate story in my head about what happened to her in the months after apocalypse), and the bits of the other plot lines I saw, but !!!

I just want to quote all of it. Sorry if this is really ramble-y and disjointed but in conclusion: GOOD BOOK. Or at least the parts that I read of it.

[knightofthenewrepublic]

Lego Jedi Temple on Yavin

Without looking at the tags, who can name them all?

Without looking at the tags, who can name them all?

[randomwritingguy]

For me, Star Wars ended with The Unifying Force. However, if I had to continue the story I would have had it make more sense than what we got. 

I would have had it take place a few decades in the future, so 59-60 ABY. I am not going to go over every single detail but I would focus on the new generation, mainly Ben, Jaina, and Jacen. Luke, Mara, Han, and Leia are retired or passed away at this point in time. 

Ben Skywalker would be the Grand Master of the New Jedi Order. He is still relatively new in the position and while his parents have prepared him for the responsibility, he still feels unsure of himself. He tries to act like Grand Master Luke Skywalker but realises as the story goes on that he has to be Grand Master Ben Skywalker, to be himself and lead in a way he thinks is best for the Jedi and the galaxy.

Jaina Solo Fel would be a Jedi Master and a High Council member. She is a loyal supporter of her cousin but she has doubts and mixed feelings about reintegrating the Yuuzhan Vong back into the galaxy. While she understands that the species has changed their ways, the pain they caused her, her family and friends and the rest of the galaxy still lingers in her heart, especially the death of her brother, Anakin Solo. Her marriage with Jagged Fel, while happy, will be tested as the Chiss still see the Yuuzhan Vong as a dangerous threat and do not trust them.

Jacen Solo would be a Jedi Master but he would be living on Zonama Sekot. He would still keep in frequent touch with his family and friends and would help the Jedi when needed but he would spend a lot of time helping the now reformed Yuuzhan Vong with Danni Quee whom he now has a relationship with. At this point he has already explored most if not all of the Force religions out there in the galaxy but still spends time learning more about the Force. He would basically be the New Jedi Order’s Qui-Gon Jinn.

Now, this is where I bring in ideas from Fate of the Jedi. I overall think it's a decent series but it does have glaring issues. However, I really liked Abeloth and the Mortis connections. So I would implement this. I would have it be revealed that the devastation during the Yuuzhan Vong War and the anguish it caused strengthened Abeloth.  While I do find the Lost Tribe of the Sith interesting, I am not a fan of the Sith being around after Return of the Jedi. Instead, I would change them to be a group that worships Abeloth known as the Cult of Chaos. That way the story would still have dark siders that the Jedi can fight. 

This leads to another main plotline in my story. There would be rising tensions between the Jedi Order and the Galactic Alliance because the former wishes to reintegrate the reformed Yuuzhan Vong back into the galaxy and give them a chance to redeem themselves and help the worlds they ruined. However, the Galactic Alliance and other governments are understandably reluctant to do this and that’s where the tension originates from. The Cult of Chaos helps release Abeloth by strengthening her through the anguish they cause through terrorist actions in which they frame the Yuuzhan Vong for. These acts finally allow Abeloth to be free.

Vestara Khai would be a member of the Cult of Chaos and initially be a loyal and dedicated member. However, when she finally meets the goddess her cult worships and sees her for the monster she is, she starts to have doubts and this conflict is amplified when she meets Grand Master Ben Skywalker. Eventually, the two fall in love and Vestara defects from the cult and becomes a Jedi.

In the end, I would have the Galactic Alliance, the Jedi Order, and the Yuuzhan Vong unite in order to stop Abeloth and the Cult of Chaos. By the end of the story there is still some tension between the Yuuzhan Vong and the rest of the galaxy but there are just enough people who are willing to give them a chance and help the Jedi reintegrate the reformed species back into the galaxy.

So, what do you all think of this? Do you like it? Does the premise sound better and feel more sense than what we got or does all of it suck? Thoughts would be appreciated.

[my-last-brain-cell-is-socrates]

Brb on my way to make the most oddly specific playlist titled "songs that apply to both Luke and Vestara"

[solitaire-06]

Why did they not do this?! The only time Mara’s ghost appears is as a blank slate of a person who Luke’s implied to have had… interesting interactions with! She should’ve definitely given Luke and Ben guidance about Vestara!

I will never be a fan of the Legacy of the Force series or what the Denningverse did to Jacen Solo in general.

But having said all that...

Imagine if Mara kept appearing to Luke, Ben, and Jaina as a Force ghost. She found a way after death to anchor herself to their memories of her (or to the Jade Shadow, even). Mara keeps showing up in between battles and missions. She's there for when Luke needs to rest. She's there for when Ben is wrestling with his fears and doubts. She's there for when Jaina needs to unwind from her duties.

No big prophecies or cryptic warnings. It's simply Mara persisting for her loved ones. Because that's what she does.

[solitaire-06]

How do you imagine any possible interactions between the following characters playing out, based on how they’re portrayed lorewise?

Wraith and Alphabet Squadrons

The original trio (Luke, Leia and Han) with Grand Admiral Thrawn (since they never interacted in the original Thrawn trilogy)

Mara Jade Skywalker and Vestara Khai

Anakin Solo and Ben Skywalker

The Heroes of Yavin and the Spectres

Clone Force 99 and Clan Skirata (The Null ARCs and Omega Squad)

Qimir and Darth Plagueis (since we’ll likely never get to hear how their story ends now)

Qui-Gon Jinn and Vergere

Revan and Meetra Surik (excluding the… controversial handling of their characters in the Revan novel).

Poe Dameron and Jagged Fel

Gial Ackbar and Gilad Pellaeon

[swordshadowss]

favorite sw characters list : (waiting around & bored & too much time on my hands)

1. jaina solo

2. leia organa

3. han solo

4. cassian andor

5. bastila shan

6. the exile (f)

7. atris

8. kreia

9. revan (f)

10. tahiri veila

11. kyp durron

12. anakin skywalker/darth vader

13. luke skywalker

14. padmé amidala

15. jacen solo

16. anakin solo

17. jyn erso

18. lando calrissian

19. c-3po

20. r2-d2

21. chewbacca

22. jagged fel

23. mara jade

24. mission vao

25. visas marr

26. atton rand

27. vergere

28. jarael

29. zayne carrick

30. juhani

31. nen yim

32. alema rar

33. tenel ka

34. mon mothma

35. bail organa

36. kleya marki

37. danni quee

38. nomi sunrider

39. ulic qel-droma

40. olee starstone

41. winter

42. wedge antilles

43. saw gerrera

44. obi-wan kenobi

45. yoda

46. palpatine/darth sidious

47. hego damask/darth plagueis

48. vestara khai

49. saba sebatyne

50. cinta kaz

51. vel sartha

52. cilghal

53. allana djo solo

54. hk-47

55. lyra erso

56. malak

57. bix caleen

58. talon karrde

59. bodhi rook

60. brianna

61. mira

62. orson krennic

63. luthen rael

64. lowbacca

65. zekk

66. ben skywalker

67. ania solo

68. ysanne isard

69. tyria sarkin

70. tekli

[yetanothergreyjedi]

If Mara Jade Skywalker had had the chance to meet and interact with Vestara Khai, what do you imagine their relationship would look like?

While there’s obviously the likely possibility of Mara taking Vestara under her wing and helping her find her way to redemption, I also can’t help but wonder if Mara might be put off by Vestara at first, since their early years share so many parallels that could cause Mara to be reminded of some of the darkest aspects of her life. I can also see Mara being very protective of her son Ben as he gets close with Vestara, only really supporting their relationship once she’s sure that Vestara can be trusted and is genuinely trying to change.

In general, however, I’d love for Mara to be the idealistic one for a change and openly advocate for Vestara once she realises that the younger girl is truly trying to change, while Luke is more sceptical out of concern that she might turn Ben to the dark side. It’d be an interesting subversion of their usual dynamic and demonstrate how far Mara has come since we first met her back in the original Thrawn trilogy.

But what do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I feel like Mara's reaction is going to greatly depend on how she meets Vestara. But I also wonder if she might pick up on some of the double agent bits of Vestara's mission before Ves changes her mind and changes it back. There's a chance they'd be using her to feed the Sith false information I think, but I'm not sure how that would change everything else.

[magnetarbeam]

While talking through Voices of the Force stuff on Discord, it occured to me that Luke post-Conviction, trying to be compassionate to Vestara and give her any amount of comfort and stability, and something familiar that doesn't mean Sith stuff, might have introduced piloting as a focus for Vestara's ambitious nature.

Something she knows she's good at, and enjoys, but didn't have a lot of chances to practice before, and a goal for her to work toward that isn't part of her crisis about being Jedi or Sith.

Even if Ves decides she's not quite ready to live as a Jedi (the context in which this came up was if alive!Mara could convince Vestara to talk about Natua, and how they'd work through it without Ves rejoining the Sith because of it) this still gives her plenty of chances to find community and common interests among the Jedi and their friends.

Doesn't even have to be combat piloting, although I think doing that in simulation would work best for this.

[i-think-in-metaphors]

If Mara Jade Skywalker had had the chance to meet and interact with Vestara Khai, what do you imagine their relationship would look like?

While there’s obviously the likely possibility of Mara taking Vestara under her wing and helping her find her way to redemption, I also can’t help but wonder if Mara might be put off by Vestara at first, since their early years share so many parallels that could cause Mara to be reminded of some of the darkest aspects of her life. I can also see Mara being very protective of her son Ben as he gets close with Vestara, only really supporting their relationship once she’s sure that Vestara can be trusted and is genuinely trying to change.

In general, however, I’d love for Mara to be the idealistic one for a change and openly advocate for Vestara once she realises that the younger girl is truly trying to change, while Luke is more sceptical out of concern that she might turn Ben to the dark side. It’d be an interesting subversion of their usual dynamic and demonstrate how far Mara has come since we first met her back in the original Thrawn trilogy.

But what do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I'll be completely honest, I don't see vestara being happy as a jedi. That being said, if Mara was still alive during FotJ she might take her under her wing eventually, but I can't see her being the one pushing for it, especially not after vestara attempted to Trick Ben into letting Gavar finish Luke off.

However it might be interesting to see Mara guide Vestara to being a smuggler, maybe even introducing her to Karrde.

[incorrectstarwarslegendsquotes]

Luke Skywalker: I'm not laughing. I haven't laughed since my wife died. Vestara Khai: Why did you laugh when your wife died?

[jedidragonwarriorqueen]

the only way i'll accept the "somehow, palpatine returned" cop-out from the sequel trilogy is if tag and bink caused it on accident

[myevilmouse]

September: Enlightenment

"She tried to kill you!” Ben yelled.  “Remember our last time on Dathomir?”

“I remember,” his father said evenly.  “The coven had been swallowed by the Dark, yet you wanted to save them.”

“Yeah,” Ben snarled.  “I was wrong.”

“You were right.  We had to try.  Now we have to try again.”

Ben was silent, eyes shining with unpleasant memories.

Luke waited.

“The Jedi path is never easy,” Ben sighed finally.  “I should’ve figured that out by now.”

Luke rested a hand on Ben’s shoulder.  “It's never too late for enlightenment.”

“Maybe for Vestara.”

“Maybe not,” Luke answered.  “Let's go.”

Just a reminder that this series of drabbles is based on prompts from The Year of Luke 2023 by @lukeskywalkerfanart. Now that I'm caught up, you'll have to wait until October for the next one! Thank you for reading!

[solitaire-06]

Mara would’ve definitely loved Vestara, if she was still alive by the time of FOTJ.

*rhythmically* "She, queen of the kings--"

Vestara cheekily patting Luke's cheek might be the most hilarious thing I've ever read. Slay girl

(FOTJ: Conviction)

[magnetarbeam]

I hope I never actually have to say "the Skywalker-Organa-Solo-Jade-Djo-Veila-Kwaad-Fel-Khai extended family" on any regular basis.