Title: The Sith War Chronicles: A Jedi's Destiny
Author: Jedidanny
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, action-adventure
Setting: A good fifteen-twenty years after the Jedi Academy has been opened. All original characters, except for maybe Luke.
Summary: The story of Renoa Stormhaven, a young Jedi who goes through many adventures… R&R!
A/N: This is my first Star Wars story I've written in four months, so be patient with me. I had a huge writers block, and had no feel to write a Star Wars story, but hopefully I'll be able to do something with it. If not with this specific storyline, then something else…Star Wars doesn't belong to me, it belongs to George Lucas. R&R
Note: I decided to not have a second chapter and to instead leave it for the sequel, if I manage to write it. I decided this was a fairly good idea because I want to hurry and finish the story…and I haven't been getting a lot of reviews for it.
Chapter Five:
The Graduation
Graduation was coming closer and closer. As Renoa studied and practiced for the trials that would show whether or not she would graduate, Cole watched her like a hawk, knowing that his presence back at the Academy would not only endanger him, but his sister as well as long as Kayne Blackdeath was alive.
One day, Renoa was in one of the training arenas, fighting against a hologram, sweat poring down her face as she fought the holo, pulling every move she had been taught from her memory and into reality. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a braided bun, and no emotion crossed her face as her dark blue eyes focused on following the moves of the hologram as she fought.
Finally, the simulation was over, and Renoa turned the holo projector off with the flick of her finger. She turned her light saber off and clicked it to her belt, sighing. She turned to walk toward the door to see Cole standing there with his arms folded across his chest, his cloak on with the hood pulled up out of habit, not wanting to let those who weren't close to him see the scars from the past four years.
Renoa smiled at him, knowing how protective he had been lately. She figured it was because it had been so long since he had been home, and the horror he had seen in the prison was enough to make anyone cling to someone. She didn't know that the Sith who had captured him was still alive, though, and Cole planned to keep it that way.
"Cole. I didn't see you there," she said. The smile brightened, and she walked over to him, standing up on her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek. She let herself fall back onto her flat feet and looked up at him.
Cole shrugged, "Just checking up on my little sister. Your swordsmanship skills have improved greatly."
Renoa smiled, "Thanks. Did Tristan tell you that he and I are graduating soon?"
He nodded, giving her a small smile, "And I'll be right in the front row, watching every minute of it. I promise. I know I haven't been here for the past four years, and I know I had promised you I would be . . . I'm sorry. I failed you. That day on the shuttle, I thought everything would be alright. I didn't think anyone would be captured, let alone me. I thought I would be coming home within a few days, and I ended up coming home in four years."
Renoa's smile faded a little and she shook her head, "Don't blame yourself, Cole. Neither of us could have known. It's a thing of the past. Okay?"
Cole smiled, "When did you become so grown up?"
Renoa shrugged, "It just kind of happened."
They started walking out of the room and down the hall. Cole stopped in front of the door to his quarters, "I'm going to take a nap. I'll see you later at dinner?"
Renoa nodded, and continued walking down the hall, past her quarters. She made her way into the memorabilia room where different artifacts and belongings from the Jedi who had become one with the Force were displayed to show a little bit of Jedi history. She walked toward one of the show cases which had a wooden board with:
Tyrelan and Mystique Stormhaven
Jedi Knights
Beloved parents and siblings
May the Force be with them.
In the showcase were two light sabers which had belonged to her parents. There was a small holo projector that projected different images of her parents: one of the two of them when they were younger, another of the two of them with a group of their friends from their graduating class, her own Jedi Master included, and finally, one of the two of them with herself and Cole. She sighed, reaching out to touch the faces that were projected in the holo, but her hand just went through air.
"I thought I might find you here," a voice said.
Renoa turned to see Luke Skywalker, the famous Rebel hero and Jedi Master who had started the Academy not too long ago, standing there. She bowed her head in greeting to the Jedi Master, keeping her eyes on him as he moved to stand next to her.
"Do you come here often?" he asked.
Renoa nodded, "Only when I start to miss them. Though, I guess that would be every day, since I hardly knew them."
Luke nodded, his dark blue eyes showing a deep understanding, since he, too, had barely known his own father, and never knew his mother. "I heard that Cole has finally returned. Congratulations," he said.
"Thank you. It's good to have him home," Renoa said, moving her gaze to the holo of her parents and herself and Cole.
"Cole's Jedi Master and I have spoken recently about Cole's return. We believe that it is only right that Cole should be honored for being able to withstand four years of imprisonment with the Sith. Of course, eventually we will need him to tell us what happened to him over the four years so we can have it for our records in case the same were to happen again . . . but that will not happen until he is ready to tell us," Luke said.
Renoa's gaze lifted up to look at Luke, making eye contact, "I have little doubt that Cole will be willing to share what happened with you and his Jedi Master, but I'm unsure about what he will think about it being open to other Jedi. He doesn't show it, but he has inner scars from that place that can never be erased, no matter what medical science may be able to do these days. It stays with him mentally, every day of his life."
Luke nodded, "I know from my own experience how it can be, Renoa, as do members of my family. I will speak to Cole about this, of course, and see what he says."
Renoa nodded, "Thank you, Master Skywalker. And I like the idea of Cole being recognized for what he did." With that, she bowed her head and made her way out of the memorabilia room, once again entering the hallway.
A Few Days Later
Finally, it was the day of graduation. Renoa stood nervously behind stage by Tristan's side, nervously waiting for Master Skywalker to call the graduates on stage and line them up as they waited to graduate.
The students were called out on stage and lined up in a row. Master Skywalker stood at the podium and waited for the students to line up before speaking.
"Today is a celebration of two things. The graduation of these students, and the miracle survival of a student among you who spent four years in a Sith prison and lived to tell the tale. His sister is among this group graduating. He has shown the courage one needs to survive such a terrible place, and it has been decided that he will become a Jedi Knight with these students and will be able to become a Jedi Master." Luke paused for a moment, allowing his gaze to move over the audience and land on Cole, who sat in the front row watching as his little sister graduated, a proud look on his face. He then turned back to the students, "When I call your name, come up here so you may be knighted."
Renoa waited for her name to be called. Finally, it was and she moved forward and toward Luke, looking up at him. Her eyes drifted out over the audience and landed on her brother. Her smile brightened as she gave a small wave before looking back at Luke.
Luke held his light saber in hand, disignited, and placed it on one of Renoa's shoulders before moving it to the other, "You have completed your training and have proven yourself worthy of becoming a Jedi Knight. Congratulations, Renoa Stormhaven."
The audience clapped, and Renoa smiled, bowing her head to Luke and stepping back next to Tristan, waiting for his turn. After he was called up and came back to stand next to her, she took his hand in hers and squeezed it.
"Congratulations, Tristan," she whispered.
"Thanks, Ren," he said, pulling her into a quick hug and kissing her cheek.
Renoa turned in Tristan's arms and watched as the remains of the graduates were called up to Luke. Finally, they were done.
"Graduates, please ignite your lightsabers and raise them high for your friends, family, masters, and fellow students to see," Luke said.
Renoa and Tristan both unclipped the sabers hanging from their belts and ignited them with a snap-hiss at the same time as the others, raising their lightsabers high in the air for the audience to see a rainbow of different colors as the audience clapped.
The group of graduates disignited the weapons and made their way off stage and into the dining hall where a reception was being held.
Tristan and Renoa walked into the dining hall, hand in hand, following their fellow graduates in as some made their way toward the table filled with different foods, others made their way over to their families and friends.
Cole followed in the shadows behind the group of graduates and their families as they entered the dining hall, his eyes searching the room for his sister.
Finally, Cole saw her and smiled to himself, making his way over to her and standing behind her for a moment. He pulled in on the Force to make his presence disappear and leaned down to kiss her on the cheek before letting go of the Force and letting his presence be sensed again.
"You did a great job up there, Ren. I'm proud of you," Cole said.
Renoa blushed, turning to look up at her brother, who couldn't seem to stop grinning, "Thanks, Cole. Do you mind that Master Skywalker talked about you?"
Cole gave an awkward shrug, his grin smaller, "Not really. I guess I understand that he had a right to tell them about me, but I'm just glad he didn't go into further detail about what happened while I was there."
She nodded, "Master Skywalker told me he and your master had talked and decided to recognize you at the graduation ceremony. I just decided not to tell you," she said with a little smile.
Cole laughed as music started to play, "So sneaky you are, young Jedi, but do you know that you owe your big brother a dance?"
"Oh? And how do you figure that, oh wise big brother of mine?" she joked.
"Well, every year, you and I would dance at the end of the year dance, and I've been gone for the past four years . . ." he answered.
Ren laughed, nodding, "Then I guess I do owe you a dance at some point tonight." She looked over at Tristan, who stood waiting for his parents and little sister to come. She smiled when she saw the look on his face when he saw his little sister, Karlyn, who was a few years younger than Renoa, knowing how much he had missed her.
Cole saw the look on Renoa's face and gave a small smile, "Go with your boy friend, Sis. His parents are here, so you can meet them. Meeting the parents is supposed to be the first big step."
She looked at him, her eyes lighting up, "What do you mean, the first big step?"
Cole laughed, "Just go, sis. I'll be fine."
Renoa raised an eyebrow and walked over to Tristan, moving to stand next to him and take his hand into hers.
"Ah, and who is this lovely young lady?" A man, Tristan's father, asked.
Renoa smiled as she leaned against Tristan, "This, Father, is my girl friend, Renoa Stormhaven. Renoa, these are my parents, Tyrel and Tyria Blackthorne." Tristan smiled, looking at his little sister and moving away from Renoa. He moved behind Karlyn and wrapped his arms around her neck lightly, "And this goober is my little sister, Karlyn."
"Hey!" Karlyn said, folding her arms across her chest.
" 'Hey' what, little sister? I've always called you a goober," Tristan asked. He looked up at Renoa, who stood watching, smiling to herself as memories of herself and Cole flowed through her head.
"Come on, Ren, there's something I want to show you," Tristan said, moving away from Karlyn and toward her.
Renoa looked at him, raising an eyebrow as her brothers words came back into her head. "What is it?" she asked.
Tristan smiled, "You'll see." He took her hand and lead her toward the side door that lead out into the court yard where he had asked her to come to the dance with her four years ago.
The moon of Yavin 4 had begun to show itself in the sky above, and Tristan lead Renoa to a bench, pulling her down to sit and sitting close to her, keeping her hand in his as his free hand played with something in his pocket. Renoa looked at him, her heart racing as she wondered what Tristan was going to show her.
"I love you, you know, Renoa," Tristan said, breaking the silence.
Renoa smiled at him, leaning close to him and pressing their foreheads against each other, "I love you, too."
Tristan stood, letting go of Renoa's hand and taking something out of his pocket. He knelt down on one knee in front of her, taking her hand again. He opened the box that he held in his hand to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.
"Will you, Renoalynn Stormhaven, be my wife?" Tristan asked.
Renoa looked at the ring and her eyes lit up at its beauty. She felt tears in her eyes as she looked from the ring to Tristan.
"Yes, Tristan, I'll marry you. I love you with all my heart," she answered, a tear rolling down her cheek.
Tristan smiled, pulling the ring out of its box and slipping it onto the ring finger of her left hand. He pulled her up and lifted her up by the waist, spinning her around before putting her back on the ground and bringing their lips together in a deep, passionate kiss.
When the kiss broke, Renoa looked up at him, "Did you ask my brothers permission to propose to me?"
Tristan nodded, "I asked the day I brought him home from Tattooine."
Renoa smiled, "And what about your parents and sister?"
"I've sent them holos telling them about you, about how wonderful you are, for the past four years. They want to get to know you better before the wedding, and my mother wants to help plan it," he answered.
Renoa nodded, moving to lean against him, wrapping her arms around his waist, "Can you believe we've already graduated? And Cole…he'll become a Jedi Master soon."
"Mmm…seems like yesterday you and I met. It took us a while to finally go on a date, but that dance was the best night of my life because I was spending it with you," he said.
Renoa blushed and turned her head so her face went into his shirt, taking in the smell. She turned it back again and looked up at him, "Want to go inside and tell the others about our engagement?"
Tristan kissed her quickly, "Sure." He took her hand and began walking back into the dining hall with her.
The newly engaged couple re-entered the dining hall and made their way over to Tristan's family. Cole stood by a nearby wall, his hood pulled up and arms crossed over his chest as he watched as the people mingle and dance to the music. Renoa looked over at him and smiled, waving him over. He looked at her and moved to stand next to her.
"Cole, Tristan proposed to me and I said yes. We're going to get married," she said, looking up into her brothers eyes.
For a moment, Renoa thought she caught a glimpse of sadness in her brother's eyes, but in one blink, the look in them changed and they showed the same curiosity he had always held, even after four years in prison.
Cole smiled, pulling his sister into a hug, "Congratulations, Ren. I'm happy for you."
"Thanks, Cole," she said. She looked up at him and into his eyes for a moment.
"I know he'll make you happy, Ren . . . I'm glad he was there to take care of you while I was gone," he whispered.
"Thank you, Cole. That means a lot to me," she whispered back, then spoke at a normal level, "I think it's time for that dance I owe you. What do you think?"
Cole smiled, reaching up to push a strand of hair behind her ears, "I'd be honored, Miss Stormhaven."
Chapter 6: The Wedding