Along time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Episode VIII
The Balance
It is a time of unrest. The Republic, still recovering from the First Order's devastating attack, must once again take up arms. General Leia Organa continues to lead the Resistance, having no time to mourn, and has sent Rey in search of her brother. Kylo Ren has gone into hiding within the First Order whilst their dark plans continue to slowly unfold within the midst of the darkness.
Rey, having succeeded on her quest to find the last Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker, now trains under his reluctant care within the first Jedi Temple.
The balance of the Force is tilting once again.
"He is too old." Master Yoda, the only Jedi Knight Luke could recognise in the ring of men and woman that surrounded the standing trio said. Even after all these weeks Luke had yet to identify most of those stern but knowledgeable faces. This has been a dream that has plagued his night for several weeks, since her arrival. No, this wasn't a dream. Jedi never had dreams, this was the Force showing him what he was meant to see.
The past.
It was a warning about training his new Padawan. He didn't need the Force to warn him against training her. He let the vision unfold even though he knew what the knights before him were going to say. Maybe tonight he would see something he had yet to see.
"But Master." Said a tall, middle-aged Jedi who was standing in the middle of the ring, making up part of the trio of nervous looking people. He had long light hair and feline like features. "This boy's Midi-chlorians count exceeds even your own. I believe he could be the one the prophecy spoke of."
The previously unmovable Jedi shifted uncomfortably as the man spoke.
"Qiu-Gon you speak of the prophecy that tells of a chosen one who would bring balance to the Force, correct?" A dark skinned man sitting at Yoda's side said.
"Yes, I believe young Skywalker could be who the prophecy speaks of." Pleaded Qui-Gon looking at the other observers, determination in his light eyes.
"You know it is against Jedi Order's regulations to accept children of this age. He is simply too old." The man continued.
"Much turmoil, I feel." Added Yoda.
"Then let me train him as his master! I will accept young Anakin as my Padawan!" Qui-Gon instantly blurted out.
A shocked and hurt look spread across the younger man that stood besides him. A face Luke had eventually recognised, albeit much younger and less weathered.
"Master!" The youth protested, Luke could hear the hurt in his voice.
"Padawan, you have." Observed Yoda.
"Obi-Wan is more then ready for the trials." Insisted Qui-Gon.
"The boy is still too old to be trained as a Jedi knight." Said the unnamed man again. Many of the other Jedi that encircled the trio nodded their heads in agreement.
"His future, clouded it is." Added Yoda, looking down at the smallest of the trio- a young boy with sandy coloured hair and piercing blue that appeared as if they could see Luke standing before him, even though this was a vision.
This was Anakin Skywalker, his father and future Sith Lord. This boy would someday grow up to bring devastation to the galaxy.
The Jedi masters were right, this young boy had been too old to start training.
Luke himself though had been exceptionally older then Anakin when he had started his training and so it he was surprised that he too had stReyed slightly to the dark side. If it hadn't been for his old master's teachings he might have replaced his father as Sith Lord. Even Ben, his sister's eldest son, who had started training in the ways of the force at half of Anakin's age had been corrupted by the Dark side.
No, he could not make excuses, age was not the problem. Anakin's blood ran through all their veins and it was his line was cursed to forever sway between the sides of the force. To forever struggle against the temptress that was the Dark Side. It was this bloodline, armed with a light sabre, that brought this galaxy to the brink of disaster.
Luke slowly opened his eyes.
The same thought that had run trough his mind since her arrival echoed within his subconscious.
He did not approve of training Rey.
The first sounds he heard as he fully awoke were the strange avian creatures that inhabited the blue skies of this planet. Their soft whistles and chirps had now become his wake up call, a soothing sound that helped quiet the mind. Crimson light seeped in from windows coating the little furniture within his makeshift hut a rich shade of red. He could hear the low howl of wind outside as if prophesising another of those chilly days that have berated this island for the last few weeks.
Routinely he forced himself into his old, brown Jedi robes, his old joints, for he was growing older by the day, groaning slightly with ever move he made. He could hear R2D2 now, beeping and rolling outside his hut. The droids had been residing within the Millennium Falcon, along with Chewacca and his young Padawan,
Luke found it strange how that girl had so quickly adjusted to his early morning routine. There were no trade stations here, or at least not on the small island the temple resided on. If they wished to eat they would hunt for it themselves, even if that meant using primitive methods of fishing. But, for a young Jedi in training, it was a good test of patience. And Rey followed Luke without question, not out of ignorant loyalty however. He could see it in her eyes and feel it in her presence in the Force. For one so young she had had a hard life.
Luke had his hand on the door of his hut, ready to enter the day, before something glimmering in the early Reys caught his eye. The silver hilt of his light sabre, his father's light sabre, lay innocently on the small wooden table, unmoved from the day Rey had given it to him.
His blood-line was cursed.
This light sabre had brought the galaxy to its knees.
No, he did not agree with training Rey at all.