Word Wise
10 BBY
Forgive me, you must. The best storyteller, I am not.
Many friends more gifted I once had. Stories of far-flung stars they could tell. Daring crusades and peaceful times. Tales and legends and fables and morals. Yes, morals most of all. Always lessons to be learned.
Gone their stories are now.
Destroyed.
Miss them, do I. Their memories so distant that even I struggle to keep them. When 900 years Yoda reaches, falter his memory does.
Even still, remind me of old times this world does.
Dagobah
they call this place. Many stories to tell, does this world have. Verdant is its swamplands - full of life. The power of the light side is strong here. Stronger than any place save for the Temple itself. Drawn here I have been, in my time of exile. My homeworld some have theorized this place to be. Little do such niceties mean to me. A place home is not.
Yet, lying would I be if I said this world did not call to me in my time of need. Infinite in possibility the galaxy is, but always precise in its action.
Nine years have I now spent here. Homeworld or not, home I now have made. Friends lurk all around, teaching me of this place. Dragonsnakes, bogwings, swamp slugs, beings large and small. Curious creatures are they, remind me of Younglings. Meditate we do. Eaten have we. Permitted me to stay in their dwelling, they allow. Ever the generous host, nature is.
Yet stay this way I can not. Foolish was I to think I could forever deny the galaxy's decision. That hermithood could delay the inevitable. Reside here, a powerful light does. Energy in its purest form. Untapped has the Force been. Not a well, but a lifespring. Endangered its cycle, my presence has. Darkness have I brought with me. Inside me, that darkness has always been.
Foolish was I to try and avoid it. Powerful light requires powerful dark. Such an obvious thing, have I ignored.
Wise my students so often called me, so wise I still pretend to be. Passion in belief painted as knowledge in action.
Mistakes these were. Mistaken on many things have I been. Hard it is to admit. Ego does not benefit me, but validation it presented. The respect of my peers. My leadership they craved, and for hundreds of years I did lead them. From conflict to conflict, world to world. Steadfast, was I. Certain in decision.
Stubborn.
Brash.
Ignorant.
Foolish it is, thinking a wise man can not be wrong. That his knowledge can not bring ruin. The most foolish thing of all, it is.
In times of vanity even the Chosen One I once considered myself. Certain of it, was I. A reward expected yet not granted. Apathy that does create. An entitled nature. Skepticism has pervaded my belief, denied the existence of many 'Chosen Ones', I did. Convinced was I that no being more powerful than I could ever exist.
My titles were not earned, but presumed. A teacher I can not call myself, only the student. Greater Jedi there were, and greater Jedi there will be. If fall they will, than so must I. Time is inevitable. Unceasing.
Lost everything I have, yet still pride lingers inside me. Banish it, I must.
On this world, a cave of darkness exists. A cave in which all dangers are present. A cave in which I must enter.
Fear I have faced before. Faced it many times. Never has fear rooted me in place. Not like it does now, standing at the mouth of this cave.
Nothing have I brought with me to this place. All that I have is already with me. The Jedi, my students, the lessons they have taught me.
For once, uncertain am I. And never more certain of that, have I been.
Perhaps my greatest challenge is not the cave, but in simply deciding to enter. Accepting the unknown we must all give ourselves to.
End
Author's Note: This oneshot was written as part of the Writers Anonymous 'Mistaken Identity' Challenge.