Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and "Star Wars". The Lord of the Rings and other Middle-earth works belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, New Line Cinema, Warner Brothers, Turbine and Standing Stones Games. The Chronicles of Narnia belongs to C.S. Lewis, BBC, Disney, Walden Media, and 20th Century Fox. "Star Wars" belongs to George Lucas, Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Bioware, Obsidian, 20th Century Fox, and Disney. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material—original characters, original locations, etc.—belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.
Warning! This fanfic got bumped from Rated T to Rated M for sensual content.
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Welcome to the first part of my fanfic, The Holocron of Truth, part of my Aftermath Series and my Long Series. :)
This fanfic is the one I'm doing for NaNoWriMo. It was a tough decision deciding what I was going to work on for NaNo and this fanfic popped into my head one day in October, 2020 and decided this fanfic would be the one that I would write for NaNo.
That said, enjoy! :)
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Dantooine was a prosperous planet, with flora and fauna everywhere. The Jedi Temple was not far from the crystal cave, but neither was the distance kept a secret. Jedi passed through these caves in search of crystals. But there was something far more unpleasant.
Kinrath, large yellowish-brown creatures with long heads and four legs sprouting off from their faces, invaded the crystal cave. Their eggs were stored inside these caves, giving off the sensation that more would come.
It was here that a blue Twi'lek, with head-tails flowing down his shoulders and over his brown robes, made his way to the crystal cave with his Padawan, Nadia Baggins. Nadia was his pupil and he trained her well. She had pale skin, pointy ears and bright blue eyes, just like her father Frodo Baggins. Nadia had fair features, and soft, thick, dark brown hair, which was in a ponytail at the present time. She wore a brown tunic, brown gloves, a silver utility belt, brown leggings, and brown, leather boots.
The very thought of seeing her in these clothes reminded her Twi'lek Jedi Master Zhen, who stood next to her, of Satele Shan, a Jedi Master who Nadia was inspired by when she crafted her clothes.
Nadia sighed, finding her way to the cave. She pulled out her training blade, the same blade the Jedi Shapeshifters used when they entered the crystal cave for the first time, facing off against Kinrath. Nadia half-expected to have her first lightsaber. But now was not the time for this. Her Master assured her she would craft her lightsaber after this test, her final trial, was over.
"Here we are," Master Zhen said, getting her attention. "The crystal caves, where Jedi, such as Revan, have come through to retrieve their crystals. Here is where I expect you will find the crystal you are seeking. You will know it when it calls out to you."
"And if I don't? What if I don't find this crystal? What happens?" Nadia asked, feeling more and more like her mother, Melody Corner-Baggins.
Master Zhen waved his hands, calming her, "Calm yourself, Nadia. What you will find in these caves will be a welcome surprise. You have your training blade with you. That is good. When we return to the temple, you shall craft your first lightsaber. Of this, I am sure of. Now, waste no time and good luck. May you do well finding your first lightsaber crystal."
Nadia sighed. She wasn't getting out of this, was she? "Okay. Here I go. Find the lightsaber crystal. Find the lightsaber crystal." She made her way through the caves, hoping she was doing the right thing.
"Good luck, Nadia. May you find what you seek," Master Zhen said, knowing without a doubt this was right.
.
Nadia found the path through the crystal cave dark and misty. Grey fog littered the floor in every direction.
Nadia pulled out her training blade, stunned to see so many Kinrath had begun their procession down the path. Nadia huffed, moving behind one of the rocks for cover. She sighed, debating on whether or not to attack the Kinrath.
She closed her eyes, feeling the Force flow through her. She opened her eyes, her eyes glowing a brighter baby blue than they had already. She charged out into the fray, killing Kinrath here and there, while keeping her mind attuned to the Force. She was smacked in the face by one of the Kinrath, sending her to the floor in a tumble. She kept her training blade up, ready to strike more Kinrath. To her surprise, she felt the pull of the Dark Side react inside her, while the Light Side kept her in check.
She smiled, maintaining the Force. She arched forward, pouncing on the Kinrath like a Loth-cat, slashing its face and killing it.
She sighed, her heart racing. She thrust at another Kinrath, knocking it out and killing it on the spot. She took down another Kinrath, before its brother could come and save it. No matter what she was doing, somehow, she knew she wasn't alone.
Someone else was maintaining the number of Kinrath in the cavern. Nadia sighed, making her way into the crystal cave to face her opponent. She gasped at the sight of a Dark Jedi or a Sith Lord in the cave as well. His lightsaber beam glowed red. Nadia prepared herself for the confrontation, after the Sith Lord killed the last Kinrath egg, before advancing on her.
Nadia summersaulted away from the Dark Jedi, before he could slam his red-beamed lightsaber at her. Nadia dived towards him, smacking her training blade at him, as they faced each other down. Nadia swung for his legs, only to be propelled backward, the moment the Sith Lord raised his hand, throwing a blasting wind in her face, causing her to collapse on the cavern ground in a manner of minutes.
Nadia looked up at him, as the Sith Lord tossed her training blade away from her. He pointed his lightsaber at her, keeping the red beam ignited and pointed at her throat. Nadia gulped. She had no choice. She would just have to stay put.
"Why are you doing this?" Nadia asked him, cautious. "Who are you?"
"I am the one you seek," the Sith Lord said, kneeling before her. Nadia stared at him in shock. He was so young, with skin white as snow, and yellow Sith eyes, the likes of which she hadn't expected to see in a long time. Had it been a century, since she last saw dragonoid eyes, like Parker Dooley in his dragonoid form?
"You… You're not a Sith?" Nadia asked, curious.
"Hmm. You impress me," the Sith Lord said, turning his lightsaber off. Nadia sighed in relief, collapsing on the floor with much satisfaction. She looked up again at the Sith Lord, seeing his black robes, his black tunic and black gloves, his black trousers and his black, leather boots, mixed together with a silver utility belt.
However, it was his fair face that kept Nadia on her toes. Who was this man? She must learn more about him! And soon, no doubt, that it would be happen.
"I saw you fight in the cave. I took out most of the Kinrath for you," the Sith Lord said, standing up and extending a hand down to her. "My name is Darth Karris. I am a Sith Lord… well, not the kind you would expect. I came here looking for more red crystals, when you showed up and interrupted me."
Nadia took his hand, grateful. "But maybe I can help you find the path to the Light Side. Maybe there is hope for you—"
"Hope? For me?" Karris asked, facing her now with confusion. "We fought each other! Why would I be inclined to return to the Light Side?" He looked at her in interest, asking her, "Tell me, what is your name, miss—?"
Nadia stopped, staring at him as if he was serious. She gulped, unsure whether she should give this Sith Lord her name. But then, if she didn't give it to him, then surely, he would kill her. "Nadia. Nadia Baggins. My father's Frodo Baggins."
"Frodo? Ah, that is interesting," Karris said, smirking wickedly.
"How so?" Nadia asked, curiously. She followed Karris to the cave's exit, stopping there to talk to him. "Wait. Karris, wait! Don't leave me. I mean, the Jedi Shapeshifters are not like what you're used to seeing Jedi as. We value the Light Side and the Dark Side, bringing them in check." She shrugged, telling him, "I mean, wouldn't you want to at least see what it's like."
Karris sighed, approaching her. "All right, you listen." He huffed, telling her, "I was once at the Jedi Temple, pretending that I was a full-fledged Jedi. I'm a Shapeshifter, but it's not like I fit in anywhere. Then I went rogue and went to the Sith. I may have the title of Sith Lord, but…" he sighed, debating what to do, "…I got to go. I have no business with the Jedi." He neared the cave's exit, right as Nadia rushed up to him.
"Please consider it," Nadia said, stopping him. She sighed, reminding him, "The Jedi Shapeshifters aren't like regular Jedi. We don't kick somebody out because they're Sith. It's a place where Jedi and Sith are united. Please consider it."
Karris shook his head, "I'm sorry. I don't belong there."
"Would you rather go back to the Sith?" Nadia asked him, leaving him stunned.
Karris sneered, asking her, "What do you know?"
"Well, it's clear your past with them isn't good. How about something different?" Nadia asked, curiously.
Karris huffed, telling her, "The Jedi won't bring me back. I'm a Sith Lord. If I betray the Sith, they'll replace me."
"Who were you before you became Sith?" Nadia asked, curiously.
Karris looked at her with fury. He told her, "That isn't important! I ought to go." He stopped, hinging on leaving her. "Please, let me go. Let me leave!" He looked at her, finding she wasn't moving. He moved past her, leaving her in the cave then and there.
.
Every step Karris took to inch back to the ship made him believe that Nadia had a point. The last thing he wanted was to find his way back to the Sith, who proved to be brutal.
He hadn't expected the Jedi and the Sith to commingle. The last time that happened was in the Old Republic era. Much had changed since then, and all Karris knew was that the Sith loved power, greed, and hatred, while the Jedi sought peace.
Both sides were corrupt. That was why Karris went rogue. But still, Nadia's offer seemed better. He stopped a few feet from the cave, questioning what he should do. He turned around, spotting Nadia coming out of the cave. If her offer was true, then that meant there were some Jedi and some Sith who had relinquished their old ways.
"I'll consider it," Karris said, huffing. "Maybe there is hope. For all the Sith and the Jedi. I would like to find out more about this new Jedi Temple. Can you show me?"
Nadia smiled, realizing her master was present, waiting for her to come back with a lightsaber crystal. "Oh, there is something I need to get. A lightsaber crystal and my training blade, too."
Karris smiled. "I'll go with her."
"Feel free to talk, while you're at it," Master Zhen said, getting Karris' attention. "I'm truly grateful you're considering walking a different path. We Jedi and Sith Shapeshifters are a different breed. Cunning, but smart. It would seem you're a Shapeshifter, too, Karris. Welcome home."
"Thanks," Karris said, following Nadia back inside the cave. "He seems friendly."
Nadia chuckled, telling him, "Oh, he is. You'll love it there."
"I'm not sure I will," Karris said, following Nadia to the crystals. "So, what are we looking for?"
"A new lightsaber crystal," Nadia said, picking up her training blade, as Karris looked around for a lightsaber crystal to call his own. Nadia smirked with satisfaction, knowing this was right.
She sighed, finding one crystal call out to her. She looked on the sandy ledge, the same as Karris, who stood across from her. To her surprise, and his own, two crystals called out to them. Nadia pulled hers out, finding the silver crystal to be flawless.
It was her crystal. She knew it. Nadia's crystal. She smiled at the sight of this crystal.
She looked up, spotting Karris also holding a silver crystal. It was his crystal. She could see that.
Karris smiled, holding onto the crystal, as Nadia did, before they left the cave. Nadia sighed, hoping that her father, Frodo Baggins, wouldn't be angry by her.
.
Master Zhen waited for Nadia and Karris to return, before seeing their crystals. Zhen smiled, placing his hand on Nadia's shoulder. "This is a great honor. You have proven your worth, but your trial will not end until Karris finds his way back to the Temple. I will guide Karris back to the temple and we can talk more there. Congratulations Nadia. You have passed your final test."
"She won't prove that until we get to the temple," Karris said with a smirk.
"Meet me after we get back to the temple. We have much to discuss," Master Zhen said to Nadia, leading Karris with him to the new temple.
Nadia sighed, wondering if this meeting would work out.
.
Nadia stared at Karris the whole time, pensive over whether or not he could truly become a Jedi Shapeshifter. Nadia held back as Karris and Master Zhen spoke for a long time.
Nadia was more than relieved when they made it back to the Jedi Temple. This temple, where the Shapeshifters lived and trained, meant the world to Nadia, for the temple was on a cliff, overlooking the ocean. The seas churned as they neared the temple, implored to see all the beauty and splendor this temple had to offer.
And since the temple was built by Shapeshifters, it was protected by the Force, as well as magic. Magic and the Force were commonplace amongst Shapeshifters. It was something Frodo Baggins imbued them with when he wrote the fourth book, telling his and Nadia's mother's adventures during the Characters' War.
There were three more books that told the history of the Characters' War, with so much more information that they put into the Holocrons, where their histories were stored in the Jedi Temple's library.
Nadia sighed, finding her way to the atrium, an open space where walls moved about in a circle. Benches covered the area, making it a nice place to sit and think. She looked up at Karris and Master Zhen, as they disappeared into the training room, followed by the Council Chamber, where the Jedi Council and Sith Council found themselves meeting up.
Nadia turned to her father, Frodo Baggins, as he sat down with her.
Frodo was considered taller than some and fairer than others, with a cleft in his chin, rosy cheeks, bright blue eyes, and fair elvish features. His skin was lighter-than-usual, thanks to his mother's Fallohide bloodline. The clothes he wore today were a dark brown robe, complete with a red tunic, a green tabard with its own black hood, dark red breeches, and a brown, leather utility belt, where he kept his sword Sting, as well as his wooden cased lightsaber, which had a silver crystal inside, emitting a silver beam when ignited.
Frodo smirked, finding a seat next to his daughter. "It's unusual, isn't it? Being here?"
"It's not too bad," Nadia said. She sighed, telling her father, "You came to Earth, didn't you? Before the war ended?"
Frodo sighed, shaking his head, "Halfway through the War, I came back to Earth. Twice I saw the first three phases of the War, just to show Beatrice—Melody how the War started and where it ended up. After the War, Parker showed up. He's not even the proper age to die. So, he and his wife, Eliza, are still here. Eliza gets the privilege to Shapeshift whenever she wants. That's why we created this temple on Dantooine. It's remote, it's safe."
He patted Nadia's leg, smirking at her, "Your mother would be proud." He nodded. "She would want you to be happy."
"Where is she? Mother?" Nadia asked, curiously.
Frodo smirked, telling her, "Well, now she's—?" He looked up, interrupted by Master Zhen, who returned to the atrium.
"We've made progress! Darth Karris has decided to join our ranks in the Jedi Order," Master Zhen told Nadia. "You have passed your trials and are now a ranking member of the Jedi Order."
"Remember who started this Order," Frodo said, getting Master Zhen's attention.
Master Zhen looked at him now with courage in his heart, "Ah yes! As I understand it, you and your wife are responsible for saving everyone, good and bad. It is a shame not many Jedi and Sith can say the same."
Frodo waved a hand in the air, telling him, "Yeah. About that," he shook his head, saying, "if only they had listened to me, then they wouldn't have taken so many of us away." He shook his head. "It's why I took your mother to this world, to this galaxy," he told his daughter, "to keep her safe. Not everyone agrees with what we did." He laughed, surprised at how youthful he looked and sounded, even though he was over a few hundred years old. "And here, I thought Aslan straightened them out. Let's hope that no more Jedi or Sith continue to take more of our own, even those on Earth." He nodded, smirking, "It's why I defend you and your mother, Nadia. I have great hopes for you both."
Nadia looked at her father in interest, "Who else do you think they'll take? Who?"
Frodo shook his head. "I don't know. I hope they're smart." He looked around, looking up at Master Zhen as Nadia walked away. Frodo waved at her, encouraged to see his little girl all grown up. He smiled, wondering what more he could ask for.
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Thanks for reading. :)