Chapter Text
The sound of children laughing fills the air and warms your heart as you sit in the grass with Luke and Leia, the latter of which had graciously stayed with the children last night while you and Luke retrieved Grogu. Everyone at the Academy is taking an easy day for Grogu’s sake. Last night’s events were emotional to say the least, and this morning you and Luke had determined it best to give him time to settle in and have fun before any training began.
Since he woke up this morning, you’ve been watching the newest apprentice for any signs of distress. However, he’s adjusting well for the time being. The other younglings have taken a shine to him, and he’s done the same. Four-year-old Ben, especially, is ecstatic to have a new friend closer to his age—developmentally, at least—for the five other children at the Academy are a few years older than him.
At the moment, they’re all trying to teach Grogu a game that one of them knows from his home planet. The others are making sure not to leave Grogu out and aren’t becoming frustrated when he doesn’t understand.
You turn to look at your friends, who are both sitting to your right. “I’m so proud of how patient the older ones are being with Grogu and Ben. They’re having so much fun.”
The three of you turn to look back at them all, chuckling as they cheer on Grogu, who’s waddling as fast as he can to help his team.
Leia pipes up, “They’re great kids, you guys. You’re doing a great job with them.”
At that, Luke catches your eye with a soft, bashful smile.
His sister continues, “I’m excited to live in a world where these kids are Jedi Knights.”
Your smile grows as you look at Leia and say, “Thank you. We appreciate all your support. We love it when you and Ben visit.”
Looking back at Luke, however, you sense a sudden unease in his countenance, and your smile fades. He’s facing forward, watching the children with a faraway look in his eyes.
You reach out and give Luke’s left hand a squeeze where it’s resting on the grass. As he returns the sentiment, you gaze at Leia, who looks as bewildered and concerned as you are at this sudden change. You remember his behavior last night. Could he be thinking of what he’d hinted at talking to you about?
After a few seconds you speak up, pulling your hand back into your lap. “What’s on your mind, Luke?”
The corners of his mouth lift into a cryptic smile as he replies, “Peace.”
He looks first at you and then at Leia before facing forward once more. You lean forward to better view Leia where she sits on Luke’s right side, and you lock eyes with an identical expression that asks, “Do you know what he’s talking about?” The two of you shrug at each other, and you sit up again.
This time Leia breaks the ice. “What about peace, Luke?”
Luke breathes in deeply and lets out a sigh. Keeping his eyes trained forward, he says “In the Old Republic, Jedi were peacekeepers. That was their mandate; they maintained balance.” He pauses, knotting his hands in the grass. “I’ve been thinking a lot about our father lately,” he continues, glancing quickly at Leia, who marginally stiffens, “especially with starting the Academy, training these younglings…rebuilding the Jedi Order.”
You and Leia follow his gaze toward the children, who are now playing tag. Beside you, Luke breathes out a light chuckle as Ben screams, “Ha-ha! Tag, you’re it! No tag backs!” The rest of the children yell out in a mix of terror and delight, as the new “it” youngling chases his prey with a roar.
The three of you watch them for a moment longer before Luke leans back on his hands, once again shifting his gaze between you and Leia before asking, “Have you ever heard of the prophecy of the Chosen One?”
That’s not what you’ve been expecting, but you’re not surprised to hear him speak of a prophecy. It wasn’t a secret that you and Luke have been searching for Jedi artifacts and wisdom. However, you’re surprised that he’s never brought this up before. The relic-hunting expeditions are joint efforts; you’ve seen all that he has, but you’ve never heard of the prophecy of the Chosen One.
Leia answers, “No,” first, and you’re caught up in your thoughts until you notice Luke looking at you with an expectant expression.
“No,” you confirm, glancing at Leia. Curiosity fills your mind, but Leia simply looks wary of the topic.
“I know what you’re thinking, Leia,” Luke says, his mouth now formed into a small, determined smile, “but it’s not anything dangerous, and it’s not a fool’s errand.” He’s silent for the next moment before he turns to you with a softer, although slightly guilty, look in his eyes. “Yoda appeared to me two days ago.”
He watches as you take in this new information. You’re not shocked to hear about Yoda’s visit. No, you’re well-acquainted with his ability to stop by on occasion to impart wisdom, in the form of a Force ghost. It’s his appearing only to Luke that puzzles you. Both Master Yoda and Ben always reveal themselves when you and Luke are together.
He senses your confusion and tells you, “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner. I needed time to come to terms with what he said and then Grogu needed our help and—”
You cut him off. “It’s alright, Luke. I understand.” And you do. The two of you know each other so well that you sometimes feel like the same person—echoes of each other. Therefore, you understand the desire to process something alone for a few days. Luke nods, sensing your thoughts.
You ask, “What did Yoda say?”
“Well, you know Master Yoda. He gets right to the point.”
That plants a grin on your face, while Leia just smiles and shakes her head at your inside jokes.
“He said that it’s time for you and I, (Y/N), to learn a lesson about the balance of the two sides of the Force: the Light…and the Dark. Hidden in his home on Dagobah is an artifact containing the prophecy of the Chosen One, which he wants us to retrieve. He said, ‘Holds the wisdom you and young (Y/N) need, the prophecy does.’” He pauses to let out a light chuckle and a sigh. “I’ve been mulling it over ever since, and I want to go. I want to preserve balance…to restore the Jedi Order the right way.”
Luke turns to look at you, and you’re struck by how larger-than-life he seems in this moment, how every word he says sounds like it holds infinite wisdom and significance for the galaxy.
Finally, he asks, “So, what do you say to going to Dagobah?”
Before you can answer, Leia jumps in, “Slow down, Luke. You two are already doing a great job. I can’t fathom any of these kids turning to the Dark side.” She gestures to them, and their laughter once again fills the moment before she continues, in a softer tone, “I know that, when the time comes, you’ll teach Ben the right way.”
You beam at this and look at Ben—the perfect mix of Leia’s kindness and Han’s charisma…and a subtle seriousness that could’ve only come from Uncle Luke.
Uncle Luke smiles wide and reaches over to pat his sister’s hand. “I appreciate that, Leia. However, our father thought that he was doing the right thing, but he became blinded by his own emotions, his own ideas.” He shakes his outstretched knee up and down a few times and looks up. “I just want to make sure I’m seeing things clearly.”
Oh, man, you think. Your best friend may seem mystical and over-complicated to others, but deep down his greatest desire was to be a good Jedi—a good person. You could never say no to a mission like this. And so, you project these very thoughts to Luke, who smiles and manages a breathy laugh. He looks at you and covers your shoulder with his hand, which you cover with your own and smile back at him.
The moment is interrupted by an annoyed huff from Leia. “Okay, I can see that faraway look in your eyes, which means you’re leaving me out of your brain conversation.” She looks directly at you and continues, “Sometimes I think that you’re more his twin than I am!”
You and Luke laugh at that, and even though she smiles, she still opens her arms in questioning. “Hey! Can you at least fill me in on the latest developments?”
Before you or Luke can answer her, a mutual cry from the younglings rouses your attention and shifts your focus back to them.
“Grogu ate a frog!”
It’s an exclamation of wonder more than disgust or judgement, and, sure enough, standing in the middle of the field is Grogu, frog legs disappearing into his mouth. You look at Leia and then at Luke, each of you donning an expression of bewilderment and humor at this new development. A moment passes, and then the three of you burst out into laughter.
The laughter coming from you and Luke only grows when Ben exclaims, “Wow, cool! Mom, I want to eat a frog, too!” and gets on his hands and knees to search for one.
Leia’s laughter, however, is cut short as she hurriedly gets up, whispering, “This isn’t over,” to you and Luke before making her way over to Ben, explaining, “Ben, honey, you’re a human! You can’t eat a frog whole!”
You and Luke continue laughing as you watch Leia try to reason with her son. He’s disappointed, but he perks up when Leia suggests that ice cream would be a better snack. Everyone else catches on, and the children run cheering into the temple as Leia picks up Grogu to bring him inside, too.
Luke stands up and offers you a hand off the ground. The two of you begin to walk toward the temple, toward the sound of your padawans. With a voice full of excitement and hope, you turn to him and ask, “So, when do we leave?”