Maya POV
The courtyard was dark as the sun hadn't risen over this planet yet, obviously it had a different day and night cycle to Coruscant, which made the place appear spooky. Another reason for its darkness was because it was closed in with a small slither of light only coming down into the centre of the courtyard and highlighted Master Yoda. When we came to stand in front of Yoda we all bowed in respect to the Grandmaster of the Jedi who was currently sitting atop a rock circle that was raised slightly above the snow with a small step leading up to it. He gave us a small smile.
"Welcome young padawans. Protect others, how does a Jedi, hmm?" He stood up and using the Force levitated his lightsaber out of the pocked in his robes so that it hovered in the air. "Build your own lightsaber you shall, but first harvest your crystal each one of you must."
The three of us started to whisper amongst ourselves, though Cora was quieter that Jay and I as we were just bubbling with excitement. "This is gonna be great." I thought to myself as Master Yoda returned his saber to his hand and deactivated it, so the emerald blade disappeared.
"The heart of the lightsaber, the crystal is." He said, gently tapping his saber hilt. 'Focus the Force from the Jedi, it does." He looked to the roof and held his hands above his head. We felt him use the Force and following his gaze saw him move a panel allowing a bright, warm light to stream in. I watched in awe as the pillars and the place the Grandmaster had been sitting moved to reveal a large crystal along with smaller ones and as the light hit the crystals I it light up the whole room and the crystals started to spin!
"Amazing!" I gasped.
"So cool!" Jay grinned.
"Wow!" Cora breathed and we all stared with wonder.
Soon the the crystals stopped moving as the light hit what looked to be an exit only it had been frozen over, but as the rays of sunlight hit it the ice liquified and melted away! The water flowed down, looking like a waterfall only to run down the steps below it and disappear, so you would never tell it had been frozen.
"If Jedi you are to become, enter the crystal cave you must. Trust yourself, trust each other and succeed you will."
We were then led over to the entrance to the cave where Skywalker began speaking. "Once you have found your crystal do not remain inside, as daylight ends the door will freeze over again and you will be trapped." My eyes widened.
What?! Trapped?! But we would freeze to death!
"For how long?" I asked, now feeling scared.
"For one rotation and there is nothing anyone can do for you." Anakin replied, I gulped. "And the sun only rises every nineteen days."
Nineteen days?! That's an awfully long night to be in there.
"How will we know which crystal to pick?" Jay asked.
"Only you can know which one is yours. Now hurry... Good luck." Anakin said and we slowly turned to face the door.
I took a deep breath before stepping forward and walking into the cave that loomed before us. Inside it was almost pitch black, the only light coming from what filtered in through the door.
"How can they expect us to find our crystals when the whole place is made out of ice?" I asked as Jay, Cora and I walked though the cave.
"There must be a way, or they wouldn't have told us to do this."
"You do have a point... But I'm beginning to feel like we are never going to find our crystals In here." Cora said as we continued to walk.
Walking through the cave was like going through a maze, one made out of stalagmites and stalactites and trying to stay together was difficult when we could hardly see two metres in front of us. However we soon came across three different passageways.
"Maybe we should split up?" I suggested.
"What no we can't split up!" Cora said.
"Cora if we stay together we will never find our crystals and we will never get out of here in time before the ice freezes we must split up."
"Maya is right, Cora, we need to split up." Jay agreed with me. "We are already waisting time just standing here doing nothing."
"We must go and find our crystals." I nodded.
"The only question is how do we choose which way each of us should go?"
"I have an idea. Close your eyes and on the count of three point to a door and that is the direction you'll go." Cora decided, Jay and I agreed. So we closed our eyes. "One."
"Two." I murmured.
"Three." Jay finished and I pointed to a door. When I opened my eyes I saw I had the door on the left, Jay had the one in the middle and Cora was on the right. Cora narrowed her eyes and walked toward the entrance to the passageway.
"Good luck you two. May the Force be with you." She went in and I soon lost sight of her amongst the blackness.
"Good luck, Cora!" Jay called after our Pantoran friend before looking to me. "Good luck Maya."
Jay started walking but I stopped him. "Jay wait." He turned around and looked at me.
"Is something wrong Maya?" He asked concerned.
"Yes there's something wrong."
"What is it then?" I walked close to Jay and leaned in and kissed him. I felt his lips curl into a smile as they pressed against mine, only for me to pull back after a moment.
"Good luck, Jay." He grinned.
"Thanks Maya." He quickly pecked my cheek and walked away. I then went off and started looking for my crystal.
I have been walking around this cave for what feels like for hours I have found nothing no crystal what's so ever, what am I supposed do? Maybe the force thinks that I'm just not ready to have my own lightsaber yet I knew I wasn't ready to have my own lightsaber yet. Hmph! Skywalker saying that I'm ready to have my own lightsaber what a liar.
With those thoughts I sat on the ground and curled up into a ball.
Jay POV
"Good luck Cora!" I shouted to Cora as she walked into one of the passageways. "Good luck Maya." I said and started walking away, determined to find my crystal, only to have Maya stop me.
"Jay wait." I turned around and looked at Maya expectantly.
"Is something wrong Maya?" I asked concerned, if something was wrong then I hoped she'd tell me and maybe I could help her with whatever it was.
"Yes there's something wrong." She nodded, though she didn't look too serious.
"What is it then?" I became confused as Maya walked close to me, but I knew what she was doing when she leaned in and kissed me. I smiled into the kiss and began to kiss her back, sad when she pulled away after a moment.
"Good luck, Jay."
"Thanks Maya." I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before going down the dark tunnel, which would hopefully lead me to where I would find my crystal.
I turned and walked into another passage and came into another part of the cave, in. Here I could see no crystals. I wondered if I had made a mistake and was about to turn back when sensed something, my eyes widened. I think my crystal is in here somewhere... As I searched I felt like the crystal was calling to me through the Force. I soon reached a large rock formation and when I looked up I saw something sparkling at the top of those rocks.
That could be my crystal! But... What if it isn't? It's a long way to climb only to find out that it's not the crystal... Oh well only one way to find out I guess.
I put my foot onto the base of the rock formations then after taking a breath I tentatively reached up to put my hand in a secure place where I could hold on. I put my other hand on, followed by my other foot and slowly began to climb. Scaling the rock was no easy task, especially when I'm terrified of heights and there was nothing in terms of safety, if I fell I could get hurt, but I knew that it would be worth it. I had to get my crystal if I didn't do it now, I never would and I needed it. I was running out of time.
Three quarters of the way up and I was freaking out. I was a long way off the ground, my hands were getting sweaty and I was running out of places to put my hands and feet. This wasn't looking good. I went to move my foot up to the next foothold only for it to slip and I gasp, biting my lip to stop myself from screaming. I desperately tried to get my footing again, thanking the Force when I was finally able to. When I calmed down enough I pushed myself to keep going.
I finally got to the top and I saw what had been sparkling. It was a tiny crystal, it shine brighter as I reached out and pulled it from the crevice in the rock that had held it in place. Sadly it stopped glowing once I removed it, but I was still grinning from ear to ear. Yes! I found my crystals! I examined it as it sat in the palm of my hand.
Wow, it's so small!
I thought, then remembering the time limit I put the crystal into my pocket and started climbing down.
Cora POV
"Good luck you two. May the Force be with you." I nodded to Maya and Jay before walking into the dark passageway, I paused when I heard Jay and smiled to myself.
"Good luck, Cora!" He shouted, I then heard him talk to Maya. "Good luck Maya." I assume he started to walk to the passage because I heard my other friend stop him.
"Jay wait."
I knew I didn't have time to stop and wait around eavesdropping like this, but I was curious to know what Maya wanted so I walked back a little and peering through the darkness I could just see them.
"Is something wrong Maya?" Jay asked no doubt a little concerned for our friend.
"Yes there's something wrong." She nodded.
"What is it then?" I saw Maya walk over to Jay and I stared wide eyed as she kissed him straight on the lips! I was shocked.
"Good luck, Jay." The boy grinned as she pulled back.
"Thanks Maya." He kissed her cheek and walked away. Then Maya walked off to start trying to find her crystal.
I continued to walk until I came to a fork in the passage way, there I stopped because I had to make a choice, do I go left or right? After a moment of thought I chose right, after all I chose right the last time so I was going to stick to it. I continued walking and walking down the rocky hall, I was beginning to think it would never end, until it branched off and led to what seemed to be a giant maze. Without stopping I began to go through it, wondering where my crystal could be, however the further I walked through it the more I found myself being twisted around. I was lost.
I started to worry, how was I going to find my way out? What if I couldn't find my crystal and find my way back to the exit before it froze over again. Anakin had said that the sun only rises here every nineteen days, there's no way I would last that long in a place like this.
I know my home planet is cold and the Pantoran people are meant to be able to live in freezing environments, but that's when they have homes and not to mention food and water! Oh Force help me!
I had begun to panic as I walked around blindly, hoping I was going in the right direction. I was getting frustrated as I kept going, but all I could do was pray that my crystal was near by. Time was ticking and the further I walked, the further away I got from my friends and the exit. I gulped silently. However my fears began to subside as while I walked around I felt myself being pulled in a new direction, as if the Force was guiding me to where I needed to be. I closed my eyes and reached out with the Force, allowing it to lead me where it wanted me to go.
The pull became stronger and stronger and I knew I was getting closer to my crystal, I started to feel myself getting excited as I could sense I was almost to my crystal. I even started to get a little impatient. "Come on... Come on..." I murmured, my eyes scanning the area around me until I saw a sparkle in the darkness. A smile slowly crept onto my face and I walked forward, going faster, until I stood directly in front of it.
The crystal was embedded in a small crevice in the rock, I tentatively reached out to pluck it from its resting place. It saddened me when the glow disappeared as I held on to it, but I couldn't help grinning from ear to ear. I had found my crystal! I was going to make a lightsaber! However I wasn't out of the woods yet, I still had to get out of here...!
Maya POV
I might as well just give up on finding my crystal I'm not going to find if in a place like this! I better go back to Skywalker and Master Yoda. Cora and Jay are probably already out of this cave and just waiting for me back by the entrance. I stood up and started going back the way I came.
I walked out of the passage that I was in, but while I was walking I got this strange feeling. I don't know how to describe it. I kept on walking and I got the same feeling again, it's weird. I then came to a part of the cave with three passage ways, witch one should I take?
Something told me that I should take the middle passage away, so I did. I walked into the middle passage and it dawned on me that the feeling might just be the force is helping me to find my crystal! Which could mean that if the force is helping me, my crystal might be somewhere in is passage.
I feel like in getting closer to getting my crystal. C'mon where are you crystal? I started to look around, hoping to see something sparkle on the ceiling, the walls or the ground, but I saw nothing. Oh well, I just have to keep out for something sparkly. I'm getting closer I can feel it! I then started running and I ran into yet another hall, my crystal is in here I just know it.
I looked around and I saw something sparkle in the rocks I walked over, smiling happily when I saw the crystal in the rock. I picked up the crystal and the crystals glow faded as I put it into my pocket so it wouldn't fall out.
Oh gosh I found my crystal! I actually found my crystal! Oh my gosh! I jumped up and down with happiness, but I soon stopped as I remembered that I still need to get out of this place.
I walked out and tried to find my way out of here.
I went through about a dozen passageways to find the exit and when I saw the exit I stopped and stared in horror, the ice was almost down to the ground. For a few moments I just stood there. How could I get through? The gap between the ice and the ground was so small I didn't think I'd be able to fit under it.
Oh gosh! Now I'm going to be stuck in here for nineteen days! I'll either freeze to death, die of thirst or possibly starve! No. I'm not going to die. For Force sake girl stop standing around and run! I mentally screamed at myself!
I snapped out of my thoughts and started running as fast as my feet could take me. Adrenaline was rushing through my veins and my heart was pounding loudly in my chest. The ice was freezing its almost at the ground what could I do? I then felt my foot slip on the ice and I fell on the ground, the speed which I had been running and the slickness of the ice causing me to slide underneath the ice and I made it out of the cave just in time!
Thank the Force!
For a little while I just lied on the ground trying to catch my breath.
Then Cora and Jay came running over to me, I sat up and Jay fell on the ground beside me before engulfing me in a bear hug.
"Oh Maya we thought that you weren't going to make it!"
"Well I did Jay, so can you please let go of me of me so I can breath?" He let go from the hug so I could continue breathing again.
"Sorry Maya."
"It's ok Jay." He smiled and Cora knelt down beside us.
"Did you get your crystal Maya?"
"Yes I did!" I took it out of my pocket and showed it to Cora and Jay, they both took their crystals out and we grinned at each other. "I can't believe it! We did it! We have our crystals oh my gosh!" I got up off the ground and went over to Skywalker. "Hi Skywalker."
"Hi squirt, did you get your crystal?"
"Yes I got I it."
"Was it hard?"
"Yeah it was, but nothing I couldn't handle." I gave him a cocky smile then sighed happily. "I'm glad it's over now though."
I then looked over and saw Master Yoda, Jay, Cora and I walked to the Jedi Grandmaster. He smiled at us as we stood before him.
"You did well young padawans. Go back to the the ship you must and build your lightsabers you will." The three of us bowed to Master Yoda then turned and walked back to Anakin, then we left and began the long trek back to the ship.
When we're got outside the whine whipped and blew in our faces, the snow obscuring our vision so we all had to stay together or risk getting lost in this frozen wasteland. Even with all of our snow gear on the cold still penetrated them and got to us, my teeth shattered noisily though I doubt anyone else could hear it over the howling of the wind. We walked in the freezing cold for what feeling like hours, I swore that if we didn't get back to the ship soon we were all going to freeze to death.
Anakin eventually stopped walking, I looked around confused. "Why did we stop?"
"The ship should be around here somewhere." Anakin replied. We all glanced around to see if we could spot the ship but it was nowhere to been seen.
Oh gosh, what if we never found the ship?! We'd be stranded! We'd die!
I started to panic only to be stopped by my boyfriends words.
"The ship is over there." Jay pointed out.
"Well spotted, Padawan Corsh." Anakin nodded and we continued walking toward the ship.
When we started getting closer I started running, eager to get inside and be shielded from the elements. Once the landing ramp was down I immediately rushed inside, breathing a sigh as I felt warmer simply because I wasn't being battered by the wind.
"Oh my gosh it's so warm in here!" I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath in and out then Jay, Cora and Anakin walked on board.
"Oh...! It's so good to be back on the ship again." Jay said.
"It's so warm...! It feels good be back on the ship again." Cora smiled. Anakin laughed.
"You three must be tired, right?" Anakin half asked.
"Yes very." I nodded.
"Why don't you three go and get some rest." He suggested.
"Ok Anakin." We nodded, he just smiled and turned around and walked away.
Jay, Cora and I walked into a small room, the three of us sat down and I looked to Cora smiling as I saw that she was going to fall asleep. "Goodnight Cora." I whispered as she curled up and her eyelids closed. Then the ship started moving and we took off we were leaving the planet.
