Jedi Temple Site, Lothal, Day
The first line of the Jedi Code stated that "There is no emotion, there is peace", and there was nothing but peace resonating from everywhere for Ezra Bridger. From the area of his home planet, Lothal, from himself, and from his young apprentice, Jacen Syndulla. Watching the son of his master and friend, Kanan Jarrus, mediate just as he was taught gave the young Jedi Knight a wave of nostalgia. Especially, where they decided to train for today: the ancient Jedi Temple of this planet. Walking around Jacen, who continued his meditation, Ezra felt and then saw some of the planet's familiar creatures: the Loth-cats.
As one split off from the group and jumped towards Jacen, the young green-haired boy opened his eyes to see the flurry animal. "Alright, Jacen, just as we practiced," Ezra instructed him.
"Yes, Ezra – I mean, master," Jacen replied innocently, still not used to calling Ezra that. Reaching out throw the Force, Jacen extended his hand out as well. One of the Loth-cats looked a Jacen intently and jumped towards him, breaking from the group. In front of Jacen, the Loth-cat tilted its head at the young boy. As the creature looked at him intently, Jacen opened his eyes and did the same at the Loth-cat. Gradually, the Loth-cat smiled and moved closer to Jacen allowing him to pet her.
As the creature cuddled with Jacen, the Twi'lek/Human hybrid child smiled and laughed joyfully. "Hahaha, I did it. I actually did it." Jacen exclaimed.
"You sure did." Ezra smiled proudly. "Gotta say, it took me a bit longer to bond with animals."
"Aw, she's so friendly. You think my mom, will let me keep her?" Jacen wondered.
"I – seriously doubt it," Ezra answered with a chuckle. It took just a few moments but Ezra noticed the mist that surrounded the temple site was beginning to lift. After noticing that, Ezra then felt a familiar presence and addressed Jacen. "Hey Jacen," He said getting the boy's attention. "Why don't you go play with the rest of them."
"Um, okay." Jacen agreed. "What should I call you?" He asked the Loth-cat he bonded with that was now on his shoulder.
Watching Jacen play with the rest of the Loth-cats, Ezra then addressed the guest who came to Lothal. "You know you didn't have to clear the mist," Jacen told the visitor from behind him.
"I thought your Padawan might want more room to continue his training." Luke Skywalker, a new ally and friend, and like Ezra, a Jedi Knight, said. "How's he fairing?" He asked his fellow brother-in-arms.
"Learning quickly, actually," Ezra replied. "But I think I'm gonna take his training slowly. Let him enjoy being a kid for as long as possible. It's something that I didn't really get to have, something that his father would've wanted for him."
"As someone who greatly appreciated having a normal childhood later in life, he'll be grateful to you for it someday. Though I should warn you he might come at you with frustration when he's older at first." Luke advised, remembering how he was with Aunt and Uncle back in the day.
"I'll keep it in mind," Ezra replied with a chuckle, as he then sat down on the steps next to Luke who continued to stand. "So, what brings you to Lothal."
"I've made a discovery, Ezra," Luke answered, getting Ezra's curiosity.
"What kind?"
"In my quest to become a Jedi, I scoured the galaxy for anything I could find to help me fulfill my goal. But the Empire, the Sith, did a very good job of destroying all the knowledge the Jedi had and left for future generations. What little I did find, did help me become a Jedi in the end." Luke explained.
"But not enough to rebuild the Jedi Order itself?" Ezra figured knowing that was Luke's intention.
"Yes, until now," Luke said. "I recently discovered a planet cache. From what I could tell so far, it was left by a Jedi named Jocasta Nu. She made this collection of Holocrons, books, texts, and artifacts of everything she managed to secure just after the Empire rose to power. And now it's all mine. As well as any other Jedi who have need of it." He finished but towards the end, his voice lost his enthusiasm.
"Luke, that's amazing. I guess you'll be starting up that school you were talking about." Ezra happily expressed. However, he didn't need Force Senses to see the concerned expression on Luke's face. "What's wrong?"
Setting down, next to Ezra, Luke decided to express his doubts. "I spent a long time, trying to become a Jedi and now I've spent a long time trying to rebuild the Jedi Order. But now, now I'm wondering if I even should." He revealed.
"Why do you say that?" Ezra asked though he suspected he already knew the answer.
"The more I've learned about the Jedi, the more I've learned why they failed. Pride and Hubris. At the height of their power, they allowed Darth Sidious to rise, create the Empire, and wipe them out. It was a Jedi Master – good man, a great man even, who was responsible for the training and creation of Darth Vader." Luke reflected.
"And it was a Jedi who saved him, something I didn't even believe was possible," Ezra admitted still remembering how ruthless and monstrous Vader was.
"Yes, but I saved Vader because I was a Jedi. I saved Anakin Skywalker because I was his son." Luke corrected him. "And that's another reason why I'm here. The Jedi forbade attachments, and yet I've seen the power that comes from attachments. How vital they are to life. I'm not sure, I can teach the next generation something I can't fully believe in." He expressed.
"You know, I agree with you," Ezra replied, getting Luke's mild surprise. "About the Jedi Order, their mistakes, and I agree. I also don't think that the Jedi Order should be rebuilt."
"So, you believe that it's time for the Jedi to end?" Luke reluctantly asked.
"I didn't say that," Ezra chuckled trying to downplay his statement. "I'm just saying that if you so worried about past mistakes then perhaps you shouldn't repeat the same actions that led to them." Luke waited to hear his response. "Kanan, once told me that – the Jedi found him and brought him to the temple to be trained, which was the complete opposite of mine. The Jedi didn't find me, I found them. What about you?"
"I think they were waiting for me to find them," Luke answered, reflecting on how Yoda and Obi-Wan waited for him to choose the path he was now on.
"Well, maybe that's step one: letting people find their way to us. Letting them be guided by the Force." Ezra suggested.
Nodding in agreement, Luke spoke up. "I noticed something as I was traveling the galaxy searching for Jedi lore, almost everywhere I went I found people in need of help. And then I think about Ahsoka, and her journeys throughout the galaxy, helping those whoever needed it." Taking a long moment before speaking again, Luke felt he was reaching a revelation to the answers to his questions and eventually the answer came to him. "Perhaps, the way of the ronin is the path we should follow."
"Ronin?"
"It's a word I heard during my travels. The people who spoke it come from a culture of warriors who serve individuals or groups. A ronin means a warrior without a master. However, there is another meaning. A ronin can refer to a wanderer, being unrestrained. Someone who finds their way without belonging to one place." Luke explained. "Perhaps, the way we've been is the way we should remain."
"Letting the Force guide us to where we're needed and letting those who are meant to be Jedi find their way to use." Ezra smiled understanding and agreeing with the philosophy.
"Thank you for advice my friend," Luke said graciously.
"No problem, though I don't think I helped all that much," Ezra replied with a chuckle as they both sat in silence and watched Jacen continue to play with the Loth-cats. Right now he was just a boy, but someday he would be part of the next generation of Jedi.
Author's Notes: This is something that occurred to me for a moment when I was watching the Ahsoka series, which was great BTW. In both Legends and Disney, Luke tries and rebuild the Jedi Order but is that necessarily the best path for the Jedi? Probably. But I think it would be interesting if the Jedi lived like wandering nomads, like Ronin. For the most part, they did sort of live like this for a while but out of necessity not purposely. I just think this would've been interesting time period for the Jedi to explore before the Order would eventually be rebuilt.
The collection of Jedi Artifacts is something that Luke does find at some point, see Darth Vader (2017) #10 for the story.
