Prologue

100 years after The Rise of Skywalker the World is at peace, for now of course. We learn about a young man named Charles Krose, all is well in the Galaxy as it is a time of peace. Charles is learning the ways of the force in the Jedi Academy on Coruscant. We will learn of his deeds throughout this story.

CHAPTER 1

Darkness spreaded all around making it pitch black, not even the moon helped with it's crescent light glaring at me as I stared right back at it. Looking at the moon at night helped me sleep, I never have questioned why it did but for some odd reason I find myself transfixed with just looking. My eldest brother often questioned me about it finding it rather stranged, just as the other jedi in training kids.

Well I could care less what they think. Today I turn 12, as a new tradition in the Jedi order you are to find your crystal in the Jedi Academy IIum. IIum is said to be the only crystal cave. There was rumors of a crystal cave in Dantooine.

The kids for some odd reason find it nerve racking they always say. But I think I'd find it fun and all.

Finally no more using a training sword for practice, I will finally be able to get my own lightsaber and show it to my brother who everyone always thinks is so strong and will be the youngest ever master. I hat- no I am to be a Jedi, every other kid doesn't have these emotions, only I. I cannot hate but yet I find it so often in my mind, often I think the jedi who've became sith had a good point and want to express these emotions that the Jedi Order wants to forget oh so much. But I never understand why they lust to kill, or destroy and take over the galaxy, seems so barbaric.

My brother! It feels like everytime I think of him I have steam coming out of me. Everyone in the Academy loves my brother and looks up to him. I don't, I want to beat him in his stupid face and become the best jedi. Why does he get to be so powerful? I will become more powerful I swear it, I don't care if this is not what the Jedi code is about. Fuck the Jedi code, I just want to punch my brother in the face.

"We're here kid" said a voice from outside my quarters where I stay in the ship. The voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I got up and packed my things. I was wearing the customary Academy robes. They were dark and light brown all over.

I arrived to the Academy in IIum, the padawans were not wrong when they say it is very cold. The snow sticked to me like I was the ground. I rubbed my hands together to gain back the feeling of them. IIum was to be rebuilt after the empire destroyed the entrance to the cave. Not many Jedi stay in IIum as it isn't a very fun place to stay at and train. Today wasn't was of those days as the four of us who came, Master Marbwor was the person supervising me as I find my crystal. Two other kids accompanied me as well to find their crystals.

Us four were just walking toward the Academy when I swore I saw something of a speed in the corner of my right eye I looked and I saw nothing but snow blocking my sight. I felt as Marbwor also looked the same way. No matter I need to focus on getting my crystal and becoming finally an apprentice.

"Soon you will become apprentices and have masters. But first you have to build your lightsaber, and the only way to do that is through that cavern." said Marbwor, he pointed as he said that. In front of my eyes was two huge doors.

As they opened they made horrid noises of creaking. I had to cover my ears they sounded so bad. Yet Marbwor didn't even flinch. The other two younglings; Josephine Milrus, she flinched as they open and Javari Milrus also cover his ears. They both were twins.

"Go forth young ones and beware of the challenges you will face" said Marbwor. I turned back to him. "Has anyone died trying this?" I said curiously. Often the kids who come back with their own lightsabers never looked happy about it and I always wondered. Both Jerrissa and Javari turn to him waiting for him to answer. It seemed like ages that he did not speak, his face looking at me like I just asked the best question. "I will give you one hint, remember it when it is needed. It's very cold here."

I almost laughed it had to be a joke right? I mean that isn't a hint it's stating the obvious. Jerrissa spoke up "It's cold here?" she said. Marbwor smiled and turned to her "Yes young one, remember that statement, it will help I promise you. Now remember you will be stuck there forever if you do not come back out before the door closes, now go forward and start your test, I await your results."

Well he just answered my question, I was the first to move as I walked over to the darkness of the cavern and was anxious to get this over with.

As soon as I walked through those doors with the others, I felt a chill come up my spin as I turn to make sure they were behind me. They were not, that made me freeze in place. I was scared, I was never scared. But I casted those thoughts away thinking about beating my brother. That was my goal. I grunted as a breeze of cold air past me blowing my robes. I had nothing to protect myself except for the force I know so little about.

I kept walking, each step I made made me colder and colder. I felt as if I was walking for hours.

This did not make any sense. "It's very cold here". I recall from Master Marbwor. What did that mean? The place is pretty cold he is right. Maybe if I were to use the force it may help. I stopped taking steps and I sat on the icy floor and started to mediate. Remembering what my teachers taught me. "The force isn't a tool, the force is you and you are the force. Remember this while in situations that maybe hopeless, It could save your life." I remembered. Focus, Calm yourself, remember your training, don't be scared, think of nothing but the force, be one with it. I told myself and after awhile I felt if something just clicked inside me and I opened my eyes to so many sparkling colors coming out of those dark and black rocks it was amazing. I looked around, it was a big cavern.

I felt so good, so very good. I never felt this way before. I looked around to see if I saw the twins. No one was here with me. Just me and the crystals. I felt a hint of guilt for being so happy to be the only one to figure it out. Not even the hint of Master Marbwor made me wonder if there was more to come as I just looked around.

The door! I forgot about the door I need to hurry and find my crysta- just then I felt and heard a breeze go by me but it was so much colder than usually and it was louder. Very loud, it came from behind me.

When I turned around I froze, not just because it was cold but somehow my brother was behind me. He looked as if he was happy to see me. He always looked like that, like I was he's weak little brother. "What are you doing here Brandon!?" I yelled he was not too close to me for me to talk normally.

He just smiled and came closer. But something odd happened. In one instanced he just took out his lightsaber and came towards me. Thinking the worst I backed up to one of the walls of the crystal cave with a sharp pain on my back knowing it was a crystal. But this pain, it was a different pain.

Just as I was to turn around my brother came charging at me with a lightsaber. I knew he hated me. I jumped out of the way as he slashed at the wall like he was slashing at me. It left no marks and I didn't even hear the lightsaber buzz with power. "It's very cold here" came to me as soon as my brother charged at me once again.

"I knew you'd come to kill me, I knew you were a piece of shit all along. Smiling like an idiot when you get your medals of bravery for slaying enemies. Getting loved as I watch knowing I could do the same thing. You knew what I thought of you. I knew the real you, an asshole who just loves getting stronger. You turned and I hope your proud of yourself when you slay your brother in cold blood!" I yelled.

That did not stop him as he grabbed me by the throat with his hand. It was strange knowing I was going to die. Yet I felt so much anger, anger towards him. Jedi should not have that. Why am I not scared? Why is everything in here cold but his hand, it feels like nothing it grabbing me by the throat?! Wait what?

Just as I thought that my brother disappeared like that leaving no trace of himself.

2

"Sister don't let go of my hand or we're gonna get lost just like Charles." said Javari. I was scared, very scared. But my brother held my hand so tight so he would not lose me. "Do you think Charles may not be the one lost?" she said sadly. Javari looked back at her. "No way Charles already found a way out of this darkness, its Charles" he stated matter of factly.

I looked down as my brother pulled me. Charles always was getting looked down on because of how cool his brother was and how powerful he was when he was 11. Everyone couldn't wait when Charles would turn 11 and may even be stronger than Brandon. Charles couldn't even beat a level 1 protocol droid. Instead of the anticipation of Charles, it was replaced by disappointment.

After that I would always see him battling that level 1 protocol droid when he had the chance. Last month he said proudly he was on level 2.

"What do we do Javari we're not going to get far by just walk there has to be something, Master Marbwor hint was it was very cold." she yelled out, the darkness plus the snow was making it hard to hear and speak to her brother. Hes grip was getting weaker and weaker, she was getting frantic and trying to keep him close but all of a sudden he was gone. "Javari! Javari! Where are you!?" she screamed. She didn't know what to do, her brother often helped her. He was the leader of the two of them he was born a couple minutes before her.

It was getting colder and colder until she couldn't even feel herself. I need to figure out a way out of here but I cannot think with how cold it is. Am I going to die here? Will the council really let her die? She was trying but she couldn't think. The winds were too strong and cold.

All was lost until someone pulled her forward. "Where is your brother Josephine?" said a croaked voice. I was crying, and when I heard those words I opened my eyes to find a boy who was pretty tall for their age with dirty brown curly hair, those eyes, it was a violet color. Only one person she knew had those. This person was Charles! His face was pale and almost blue like from how cold it was, she wondered if she too was almost blue.

"I-I-I lo-lost him in the darkness, Charles how did you find me?" I cried, Charles took me by the arms and yelled "It's the lack of force connection with us that makes us not see the cavern! Try to remember your training like I and become one, and you will live Josephine please try. I don't know how I found you but we need to get our crystals and get out before the door closes, I don't know where your brother is, it's a miracle I found you." he stated as he held her arms tight so they wouldn't be seperated.

"Do you see the cave Charles?" I asked. Charles looked at me and said "No time hurry and try now!" he yelled.

Charles Krose helped me connect with the force, Charles Krose the one they said who was a disappointment saved her life.

"Charles, I see it, no more darkness, oh my, but my brother can we help him, Charles please, please we have to help him!" I spurted out. Charles was next to a crystal that looked a bit different than all the others. He leaned closer and grabbed onto a end of the crystal and snapped it off.

"This crystal… it calls to me like it's my mother. It reminds me of my home in Naboo." he whispered loudly so that I could hear him. As he held it, it turned to a distinct grey. I was amazed, I've never seen or heard of a kyber crystal being grey.

"Charles?" he turned his head towards me "Go find your crystal Josephine I will try to find him, I can't promise anything but go now before you get lost in here." he said looking right at her not ever looking away.

That was the one thing that made Charles different from everyone else, he never ever looked away from you when you hold a conversation and often stares for a long time at people creeping them out.

"What are you doing out of your room Josephine? You know it's past curfew." said a republic trooper as he was stationed on Coruscant. I couldn't tell him that I was going to see Charles trying to beat that protocol droid. "I just was a bit thirsty and wanted to go get a drink from one of the water dispensers." I lied. He grunted "Hurry young one before I get myself in trouble you kids will be the death of me" I smiled and thanked him. I walked until I came across the training room and of course I heard the same grunts as usually. I went inside to see him fighting a droid. He saw me and stopped it and came closer to me never breaking eye contact.

"Why are you watching me, you come to laugh as well that I can't beat it?" said Charles in a defeated voice. I winced "I-I just wanted to see you beat it." I said shyly. As I looked away, I could feel him still looking at my face no longer able to see my eyes. "Why do you always stare at everyone! It creeps people out!" she whispered loudly. Charles didn't wince or flinch at her comments he just stood there sweating from battling the droid. "It makes them scared of me." he said bluntly.

I was stunned that a boy training to become a Jedi, who don't make people fear them and the brother of Brandon Krose was telling her that he wants to make people scared of him, he wants me to be afraid of him! He kept looking until he just turned around and went back to fighting the droid.

He failed at beating the droid that night just like every other night.

I nodded and went around trying to feel a sense for any of these. I hoped for a purple or yellow as I felt like the force was a radar and she was trying to sense what crystal was bonded to her. I felt a twinge of warmth coming to my left. To my left was a huge kyber crystal sticking out. I stepped towards it feeling more warmth in this cold world. I took my hand around an edge just like Charles. But when I touched it, it felt as my connection with the force grew bigger and I could almost see the force within the crystal seeping out onto my hands. I snapped a smaller piece off and as I held it in my hands it turned from a force blue color to a dark orange.

I was amazed on how it just changed with me holding it. I felt unstoppable like no one could beat me, even if I've never personally held a lightsaber or used it in combat I could still beat those sith in history.

But all I could think of at this moment was if Javari was safe and if Charles found him, I don't know how Charles found me, but I know he can find Javari he is much stronger than me.

So I turned and ran to the doors before it closed. My heart dropped if it was suddenly frozen and my heart was too heavy for my bones to hold it. There was the door it was already halfway closed, me being not a teenager, and of course being a female with a smaller stature than the other two boys It would be no problem getting me past it but I was also probably the first to get out.

When I past the doors Master Marbwor was waiting by mediating, no Charles or Javari.

"Master" I said. He opened his eyes with a smile. "Seems you have completed the challenge young one, I'd say I'm impressed. I would have thought Javari would be first." he said as he got up from his mediation.

"Charles saved me" I blurted out. "He told me how to see the cavern, he would be the first if he didn't save me now he is trying to save my brother" she finished.

Marbwor looked surprised for the first time she'd been with him. "Charles you say? Most interesting, tell me why you put faith in him to help your brother, from my study Javari is much more skilled than Charles." he said

Any other time that someone would say that Javari was better than someone else she would agree, but Charles saved her and Marbwor saying that made her angry. "Charles is not a disappointment like you all say. Give him time and he'll be stronger than any of you!" she yelled

Marbwor acted quickly "Jedi do not get angry from a simple remark, Do you like Charles more than your own brother?" he said looking away from her.

"N-" was all she could say as she turned around from hearing a step behind her.

It was Charles and he was carrying a limped body.