Chapter Text
As Luke woke up in the morning and passed Grogu rooms, who was sleeping, he readied himself for his meditation. He tried not to think of any of his worries or his plaguing thoughts. It was amazing to meet Ahsoka and hear all of the stories she could tell him about the Jedi before they fell. Meeting Ahsoka, his Father's Padawan, only confirmed what he initially thought after going to Corosant and seeing a vision of the past of his Father. It was forbidden to have attachments. It was really forbidden to be married. So he saw how his Father having a secret marriage led to him falling to the Darkside and causing him to do terrible things. That was why he was here on a planet far away from Han and Leia.
Han and Leia and Ben were his family. He was attached to them. He loved them but he had let his love for them cloud his judgment before. When he first met Master Yoda and didn't finish his training to save them he almost died. It was his attachment to Leia that saved him. Then later it was his attachment to his Father that allowed him to save the whole galaxy. So he did figure for a while he could forget about that no attachment rule and still be a great Jedi. He was praised for being this great Jedi hero. As he went on to help Leia to rebuild the New Republic he had a lot of talking heads coming at him. Telling him about the old days of the Jedi and how they were celibate. How they did not have attachments to anything or anyone.
He was able to find old Jedi texts. He would have loved to talk to the Force ghosts of his Father, or Yoda, or Obi-Wan but for some reason they did not communicate with him since the victory party on Endor. He wished they would tell him and clear it up for him. It seemed like he was alone in this. He had to figure this out on his own. So he had gone on missions for Leia as Jedi to help people recover from the atrocities that the Empire brought on the Galaxy. He knew of the atrocities on the grand scale but meeting with people and the terrible experiences they had because of the Imperials and because of Darth Vader, got to him. He knew how awful he was as Darth Vader, but seeing so many people lose so much because of his Father was hard to take. He saw good in him. He was glad that he fought for him and that in the end his Father saved him. That didn't mean his Father still didn't leave the entire galaxy in ruins because of his selfish desires.
After going through Jedi texts he had found here and there it had led him to Coroscant. He read about touching objects and getting memories so he went to what used to be the Jedi Temple. He saw his Father turn to the Darkside for himself. He saw him turning on the Jedi and killing them and pledging his allegiance to the Emperor. He also saw how the Emperor manipulated his Father by using the love of his Mother against him. It was not abiding by the No Attachment Rule that led his Father to the Darkside. He saw how his Father's attachments had led him to the Darkside. When he saw that, he had vowed that he would never let that happen to him. He would not let attachments lead him to the Darkside.
He couldn't help but think of his fight with Han and Leia. He knew Leia would not give up her attachments to Han and Ben. He wouldn't ask her to do that. She decided not to become a Jedi even before Ben was born. Which he respected and supported but when he realized the full extent of what it meant to fully be one in the force and to forgo all attachments, he knew he would have to let them both go. He knew he needed to leave a lot sooner than he did. He did drag it out a bit. He made excuses. He had to be at their wedding and then he had to be there for the birth of Ben. A few weeks before Ben's first birthday he had to do it. He had to leave, he had to let them go. It was not easy, they didn't make it easy for him. They were both furious with him. That didn't stop them from constantly messaging him though. Messages he had to ignore. He knew it would be hard but it eventually would be worth it. Right?
Ahsoka told him all about what it was like before the fall. They had a school where they taught younglings and they had Padawans matched to one Master. It felt really nice talking to Ahsoka, one talking to anyone was great since it had been just him and a bunch of droids that helped him build the school he was working on. Actually having contact with people was wonderful. She knew his Father and Mother and talked about them and who they were in the past fondly. Though, he could sense the deep sadness she took with her. It felt like she was his aunt talking about her older siblings' shenanigans. He reminded himself that it wasn’t though. Since she was not his Father’s sister. She was his Father’s Padawan and if they had a close sibling relationship then that was part of what went wrong with his Father too. Right? He seemed to really not abide by the No Attachment rule at all and seemed in every aspect of his life. That seemed to include the relationship with his Padawan as well. So he understood why Ahsoka wasn't going tp stick around. She could not be an attachment for him as well. It saddened him though, being here all by himself felt incredibly lonely. He had Grogu to train but he knew he should not let himself become too attached to him either.
He kept on reminding himself that he had a huge responsibility to make sure that Jedi did not die out with him. He had to restore the Jedi order like it once was. He had to take everything Master Yoda and Master Obi-Wan taught him to teach others. To make sure a whole generation of Jedi were there to help keep the balance in the universe. The first step was to master it himself and the next step was to teach everything he knew to his first student Grogu.
Grogu was haunted by his past. He was haunted by Order 66, when all of the clones decimated most of the Jedi and the younglings being taught at the Jedi school. It had traumatized Grogu so much that he could not remember before it. Sometimes he himself woke up to Grogu's dreams. The nightmares of order 66 were terrible. He had to be that calm peaceful comfort for Gorgu. He tried to comfort him. He would also see Grogu remember Din Djarin, the Madalorian, who cared for him. He realized the moment the Mandolorian took off his helmet so Grogu could see his face was the first time Grogu saw his face. Apparently, it was forbidden for Mandalorians to reveal their faces. He felt like an intruder, since Din Djarin was not supposed to show his face to anyone. He saw his face. His handsome beautiful face. His deep brown eyes.His...Nope he should not dwell those kind of thoughts. He should have not seen it. He should have not stared at him when he first met him. He should immediately get himself out of Grogu's vision. He should not intrude. The moment was a sweet moment between Father and son. It reminded him a little, when he looked at his Father's face for the first time before he died. He knew it wasn't the same. He shouldn't have dwelled on that.
He also should encourage Grogu to let go of the Mandalorian. It was natural for Grogu to miss the Mandalorian. He had taken care of him. They had bonded. In Grogu's eyes Din was his father. That relationship was an attachment. He saw so much fear in Grogu. He had to guide Grogu in the right direction. Fear leads to hate and hate leads to the Darkside. He had to guide Grogu away from the temptations of attachments. Maybe that would naturally happen as he trained him. He hoped he could find the right words for him.
*****
He had spent all day with Grogu training him. Messing with frogs aside, he really felt like he was getting somewhere. He felt connected to the Force himself. Until he saw a spaceship from the horizon. He sensed him, the Mandalorian. He could sense something strange about his spaceship. There was something there...something... familiar. He took his focus away from the ship. The ship didn't matter. What mattered was that the Mandalorian was there. Why was he here? Did he change his mind about Grogu? Grogu was making some good progress. He thought he really could lead and guide Grogu to stay in the Lightside and away from the Darkside but ... his fears...his attachment to the Mandalorian...what if this was just like what happened to his Father? Grogu looked up at him as he was able to float some rocks to him happily.
He smiled at Grogu, he was so precious. He was eager to learn and to master the Force. He was a little mischievous but then again, so was Master Yoda. Besides he was still just a child, even if he actually has lived more years than him. He felt the Mandalorian's presence looking up at them. Should he tell Grogu? Should he go down there and meet him? He understood he must be worried. He would be worried too if he Grogu was his son and left him with a stranger...but he reminded himself...Grogu was not his son. He was his Padawan and as such he had to guid him away from the Darkside and towards the Lightside. So he had to lead Grogu away from attachments. If he saw Din it would be harder for him to say goodbye and let him go. So he decided to distract Grogu instead. It was for the best. Wasn't it?
Then Ahsoka went up to him and told him about the Mandolorian.
"What did he want?" he asked her.
"To give him a gift." Ahsoka said.
He looked at it. He noticed it looked like the shape of Grogu's ears. It was cute. He felt for the Mandalorian. It must be hard for him to let go of Grogu. But coming here to give him a present, wasn't exactly letting him go. He sighed. This wasn't helping him to teach Grogu to let go of attachments.
He looked to Ahsoka, she knew the full extent of his worries. She gave him a sweet serene smile.
"You are so much like your Father."
He gave her a small smile.
That statement right there did not help him though. Was that a compliment? He thought she meant it that way but also that is what he was afraid of. He could not be like his Father. He could not let attachments cloud his judgment. Since Ahsoka knew so much about it. She was there. She witnessed it all. She would know what to do.
"What should I do?" he asked her.
"Trust your instincts." she said simply.
Well, that was helpful advice. He was so glad he asked.
He looked at the gift. If anything symbolized attachments it was this. After Ahsoka left, he sat with the gift alone. He did not open it but he meditated and through the Force connected to all of the things surrounding him. He was able to sense it. It was Beskar metal. He had read about Beskar metal in the Jedi ancient texts. It was in the reading of the wars that the Jedi's fought against their Ancient enemy the Mandalorians. Beskar metal was sacred to Mandalorians mostly because it was the only metal that could withstand a lightsaber blade. That did send quite the message. It could be that the Mandalorian did not trust the Jedi and wanted him to wear it in case he turned on him. If he didn't trust him then why leave Grogu in his care in the first place? He centered himself. He could not let himself be angry. Anger led to hate and hate led to the Darkside. He took a deep breath. This was not about him. It was about Grogu. He had to lead Grogu on the right path. If he kept this from Grogu, Grogu would get angry and that could lead him to the Darkside.If he gave it to Grogu then Grogu would be constantly reminded of the Mandalorian and he could never really let go of his attachment to the Mandalorian. So what could he do?
As he read the Jedi texts he read that parents had to give permission for their children to leave their families and become Jedi. At one point they would have to make their own vows. They had to decide to choose to live a life as a true Jedi before they officially became a full Jedi. So that is what he would do for Grogu: he would give him a choice.
So he called Grogu to meet him and he sat him down and lied both things down. He had Yoda's lightsaber and the Mandalorian’s Beskar chainmail on opposite sides for him to choose. He hoped he chose the lightsaber. That way he could be there to guide him to the Lightside. If he chose the Beskar, he could not be there to guide him to the Lightside. He was already so strong in the Force, he was afraid what would happen if left to his own devices and in the care of a Mandalorian who didn't understand anything about Jedi.
The lightsaber started to shake. Oh good that meant Grogu was pulling to it with the Force. That meant that he had made his ... then he turned and the Beskar chainmail was shaking as well. He knew this must be a really hard choice for Grogu. It would take some time for him to choose, maybe he was simply weighing his options while trying to pull towards both of them. Then they both started to float in the air.
"Grogu!" Luke said in a chiding voice.
Grogu lifted both of his hands, staring at both of them intently.
"You have to choose. You can't have both. Attachments are not the way of the Jedi."
Grogu still looked at both. Then suddenly they were both in his hands. The Beskar in one hand and the lightsaber in the other.
"Grogu. That is not how this works! It is one way or the other. You either train to become a Jedi or you are a Mandolorian. You can't have both." He tried to say patiently but he was getting a little frustrated.
He took a deep breath and reached out with the Force for the strength and serenity he needed.
"Grogu, I know this is a hard choice to make. Loving people is good. As a Jedi you should love all people with empathy and compassion. If you love individuals over others that can cloud your judgment. You need to be clear minded. When you attach yourself to specific people it opens you up to fear for them. Fear for their well being can lead to hatred for any of those who wish them harm. You see that. Don't you?" Luke pleaded with him in a kind and tender voice.
Grogu looked his up at him with his big eyes and tilted his head. It seemed like he really understood what he was saying.
"So Grogu, come on. Let go and make your choice." Luke said in a tender voice.
Grogu stared him down and held on to them both tightly.
"Fine. If that is your choice then you leave me with no choice. I cannot teach you if you are not willing to commit to the ways of the Jedi order fully. That includes no attachments." Luke said, trying to keep his voice even.
Grogu frowned at him.
Luke sighed.
"I am giving you one more chance to relinquish the Beskar and choose the way of the Jedi." Luke said.
Grogu shook his head and caressed the chainmail.
Luke breathed out.
"Alright, prepare yourself for a trip. I will return you to the Mandalorian. Now give me Yoda's Lightsaber." Luke said as he reached out for the Lightsaber.
Grogu held onto it, tightly.
Luke reached out with the Force more forcefully.
Grogu pulled out for it.
"Grogu! Let go!"
It took a while but Grogu finally let go of it.
Grogu pouted, then he ran off in the direction of his room and slammed the door. Luke sighed. He was really hoping for a different outcome but he couldn't teach him now. That was what happened with his Father. He never let go of his Mother and then had a forbidden relationship. He could not be a part of that. He could not be the reason that his first student turned to the Darkside. So he had to do what he must. He had to return Grogu to his Father.