If the SITH can do fucked up Force rituals etc? Why can't the JEDI do NON-fucked up GOOD Rituals?
Likely Answer‽ There is NO REASON they can't!
Except that it's probably: a long term and difficult field of study, not necessarily as powerful (Riping and stealing at the Force like Dark rituals do DOES take more, at the cost of hurting everything around you and yourself. The difference between picking a fruit and harvesting the whole damn tree down to its roots. With equivalent short sightedness implied), and it's slooooow.
People need help NOW! We need to go, go, GO! Are being rushed! We don't have TIME for that old fashioned, fringe field of study! That was *grimacing so-so motion* even back in the day! (A lot of our cultures and lineages veiw the concept of Rituals as either Dark adjacent or a bit... nonsensical. It's just focused meditation with extra steps, isn't it? Why FUSS like that?)
So like? The data pads are still THERE. But it's mostly for academic interest? Cause they're old, dry as dust, and it's like studying any other science. But with abstract Fource theories, dense theological papers, near dead languages, and? The occasional holocron that won't shut up. Just lecture and lectures and LECTURES. (Stars, it never STOPPED.)
Which means most people who go "oh? That sound neat." Come back like two days later going "I was SO WRONG. Never again!"
Except!
I present o/~☆ My humble child. The OC. We shall call her Aca, from Academic. (Subject to change if any of ya'll got something better)
Aca? She gets the Reincarnation special. Force power go BRRRRR. And she can FEEL it in her SOUL. The universe... is licking the inside of her brain. She tastes stardust and colors. Big. Everything so big. We are connected and infinite and forever and One and atoms and Light and LIGHT AND LIGHT AN-
She is brought to the Temple. Cause yeah, no hiding THAT. It's a whole thing.
Does she remember it? Fuck no. She was BLASTED on the Force. Having HERSELF a fancy little "I see the face of God. Behold the universe and it is me. I am it. The Song goes on forever." Moment of Spiritual enlightenment. Cause like... wouldn't you? First Reincarnation is proven to DEFINITELY be a thing. The you, a previously Force Null individual, suddenly get snapped into the great network of EVERYTHING.
It VERY MUCH is like meeting God. And KNOWING that "God", this new God, is unknowable and endless... but loves you. It's love in incomprehensible. You are PART of this God. You ARE this God. But you are seperate and yourself. The universe is shining. Endless. Beautiful and terrible and kind and suffering and-? Awe. Truest to it's definition. How great, terrible, and magnificent this God.
You love it instantly. Irreconcilably and irreversibly. So absolute it almost scares you.
So like... ffffuck the Sith.
No. Seriously. Out an airlock. The near rabid "you Hurt the Force? Oh! Oh INTO the lava! Into the lava 1000 years!!!" Feral energy. It consumes you. Consumes Ava. It's like someone daring to punch wobbly little baby animals and set kindergartens on fire in front of you. Tear down ancient forests to build parking lots. Dump radioactive sludge in the town well for funsies.
You... you HURT the Force?
I HURT YOU. You ABSOLUTE [REDACTED BY JEDI CRECHE MASTERS]!!!
Obviously, Ava worries her Creche Masters. It's not hate. But this level of anger? Is not good for her. Destabilizing. And of course, there are those holy then thou "she's to angry to be a jedi! How dare small children not have perfect control of their emotions yet!" Crowd.
The Creche Masters do NOT demand said crowd meet them in the pit. Because they are JEDI and teachers. They must set GOOD examples for the younglings. (Even though they really, REALLY want to.)
Ava gets Healthy Outlets. EXTRA meditation time and special "let's talk about our Big Emotions with Master Healer So-n-So" walks in various soothing gardens/places. She? Is an adult. She knows exactly what this is. But... damn if it isn't helping, you know?
Cause like? They may not BELIEVE she's actually reincarnated? But they'll totally believe she REMEMBERS an adults full lifespan. And what's the functional difference? To them? It's just the unifying force. Some younglings get visions, some attract animals, and sometimes their barriers are bad enough at birth they get confused. Possess "memories" not their own.
Perhaps this "past self" was simply just a soul that died at that location at some point. Or perhaps, similar to a vision, the child looked BACKWARDS in time by accident, at an age where her sense of self was not yet defined. Impossible to tell. They can only address what is here and now, before them.
And that helps.
Because she is and isn't grown. Both is and isn't an adult. Is she even human? Probably not! No one truely is. Not really. They are humanoid. They've all been genetically tampered with. Or intermixed with an alien race somewhere in the line. She KNOWS what being human felt like. And this ain't it. (Nice to have stronger teeth though. Cavities sucked.)
Still... she needs SOMETHING. Because while her emotional stability and development was set back by her new body (and Force powers) (and the trauma probably, but she's addressing that) her MIND? Is bored af. Don't get her wrong! She LOVES these little munchkins! They are sweet and kind and she would die for them!
But... they are Actual Children.
And classes are stop and start. Frustrating. Since her memories of her academic studies are THOUSANDS of years out of date in some places. It's hard. Not feeling like an idiot. Even though she knows she shouldn't. That she is just learning something new, getting up to date. But... tell that to your emotions; When the actual six year old does better then you at math.
So! She needs something COMPLETELY unrelated to her old life. Something long term. A project. And? Is the Force not Space Magic? Feels like it, sometimes. She's a magic space monk! So... where is the lore? Fuck it. Theological papers time! Old force dialects. Maybe go actually READ that Ruusan Reformation document and other Jedi specific laws. Time to know my rights! Maybe make a cheat sheet for the kiddos.
Then? OwO? What's THIS? Rituals~☆ you saaaay~? (Don't bother. They're boring, initiate Aca.) She'll be the judge of that!
Contrary to everyone else? She actually DOESNT find it boring. Cause like... Magic System™. Set it and forget it! Fuck them Sith! If THEY can litter the stars with Sith junk... so can SHE! TWO can play THIS game, fuckers!!! >:D nyahahahaha! *mind healer leans into the room, asks if she needs to talk about her feelings again* oop! Nooooo, Healer So-n-Sooooo! Sorry, she'll let her vindictive glee go, and focus on something more construuuuuuctive!
And like? Imagine it? The fuckin HEADACHE she starts causing Palpatine almost immediately? Cause unlike the rest of the Jedi... she knows exactly who he is. SHE can cast ten thousand "fuck that guy and all he stands for" rituals. Day by day, year by year. Each one, ineffectual. Weak. BUT! A drop, drop, drop of water. Wearing away at stone.
Diverting power. Forcing him to spead time to defend himself. Drawing attention to him, in the Force. Little by little. As weight and counter weight build. Like throwing a handful of sand. Then again. And again. Until your enemy is buried alive.
But, hey! You could always STOP her. :) with those Force Powers you don't have! Or complain to the Jedi council about the "attacks"! She'd HAPPILY show them the ANTI-SITH rituals she's using! Weird how they seem to effect YOU, huh, Senator? :)
Plus? There are SO MANY old republic relics in the temple? From back when the Jedi's response to Sith was "we ARE the nuke them from orbit. No mercy." Super Mega Purge? Including lightsabers?? In the vaults?
Say what you will, those Kyber may never wish to partner with another again; But will the continue the Good Fight? The fight their partners likely gave their lives too? Fuck yeah. No rest until it's truely over. Protect above all! If she comes to them and asks "hey, can I use you battle hardened and wise Kyber crystals as the anchors for protection of the Temple and more specifically the Creche n Healing Halls?" You think they WONT step up to fight? Defend?
You think if she tracked down old Mandalorian armor, which to her understanding, to OUR understanding, is part of their SOUL, and asked "will you help protect these Ade? Purge this Sith, who has divided your people, helped kill a Manda'lor and seeks to glass your planet. Kill each and every living mando'ade. Take every scrap of beskar for themselves." That those Mandalorians of old would not GLADLY rip Palpatine's Sith-y lil head off?
Marching on puts things into perspective. That armor, sitting surrounded by Jettii, has had a long time to get to know them. Watch them grow. Watch families form. Friendships. The tears shed when someone goes out to fight, to help, and never returns. Yeah, some of them are still angry. Still hold grudges. But most? Let go.
Everyone they couldn't forgive? Died a long, long time ago, after all.
Just? Aca? Getting in trouble again and again. For stealing old items and "hiding" them. "Messing" with them. Leaving "graffiti" all over the temple. Refusing to stop. Stubborn little clench to her jaw, arms crossed, even as she gets dragged in front of the High Council. As adults talk over her head about what to "do" with her. Where she should be sent. Because OBVIOUSLY she's a trouble maker! Say her teachers.
Hmmmm, says Yoda. Is she though?
Long lived species recognize what she's doing. Haven't SEEN it in a long, long while. But yes, those are force rituals. Protections. Against harm. The dark side. Fearful, you are, child? Of the clouding in the force?
And like? Council or not. They are just people. She KNOWS she is right. Will not apologize for trying to protect children. The injured. Especially not from a Sith. So no. She is not afraid. She is determined. Coruscant is a cesspit of suffering and despair, and they all know it. Why they would leave vulnerable children and injured jedi exposed to that? Is a stars damned mystery. But SHE will not!
Her teacher is appalled. Show some respect!
Like the respect you have shown me? Talking over me? Deciding my fate, as though I am luggage, to be passed from one hand to another? Asking no questions and seeking no understanding? You say respect, but what you mean is subservience and silence. I am perfectly capable of being polite, if that is what you seek. But we? We are not having a conversation. To do that, you would have had to actually speak to me first.
Some councilors are less then pleased. But? They are rarely pleased by anything. So Plo Koon cuts off her Teacher before they can work themselves into a snit. Suggests they go and mediate, to calm themselves. The council can handle this.
Off they storm. Politely, of course.
Aca is not impressed.
But... she WILL give Plo Koon the benefit of the doubt. Always. She respects him. And he seems the sort to listen, even if he does not understand. Or even agree, really. So when he DOES ask? She sighs and explains.
She knew they would not listen. Would not believe her. She wishes she could, truely she does, but she she was not willing to put the well being of younglings and injured fellow jedi on the line for such a tenuous "maybe". She has a duty to them. And that duty is more important, then ramming her head against the wall of those who do not wish to listen. Honestly, if she could take them and remove them from Coruscant entirely? She would in a heart beat.
Why? This is their home. It is asked gently, without judgement.
Because this planet is a festering wound. It needs help, yes. But that doesn't mean it's any place for children. Historical home of our people be damned. Poisoned land is poisoned land, no matter how long your ancestors lived there. And if I can not remove us from this pit of darkness? The least I can do is try and shore up the walls, reinforce the gates. Try to keep it out as much as possible.
There is something she is not saying. They can feel it.
Yes. She readily admits. But if you would listen to Masters when they speak, what hope does she have? You will decide what you decide. Declare what you feel must be the truth, regardless of facts or the consequences to us all. And Aca will do what she must do. To keep as many people safe as she can.
Ah, you do not think highly of us. Do you truely believe we would work against the good of Order? Be so ineffectual?
She shares her sorrow. Her respect and love for them. The feeling of Lose one has, when you realize you can not count of someone you should be able too. And... no, not on purpose. She believes there is something wrong. Deeply, deeply wrong. That this place, these chains, are rotting us slowly. And have been for a long time. Shrugging, she says it might be a ritual. Meant to blind them and push them towards a darker path. She can not say. She's still learning and doesn't know how to check.
All she can do? Is protect the most vulnerable.
Punish her if you must. Kick her out or send her away, if you will. She will never stop being a Jedi. And as far as she's concerned? This is what Jedi do.
Yaddle considers her. Tilts her head. Hmmmm.... will you... stop taking old relics? If we give you other things? Aca considers. Makes a so-so motion. They have to be old. Willing. She DID ask, you know. Just not YOU. They agreed to help. Specifically, she needs Army of Light, Sith Wars Era stuff. Things that have fought against the Dark Side Specifically. Old kyber from Ilyum isn't enough. That's just a neutral rock. It has no idea how to handle things.
Old bone, perhaps? Force sensitive animal fossils? Yaddle continues to negotiate.
Aca unknowingly give away more then she realizes. Very... Anti-Sith specific, your defensive measures. Highly specialized. Cleansing the Nexus, too, huh? Bunker making, the temple? Gee, it sure seems like you believe a Sith has corrupted the Nexus and at something plans to attack the temple! We getting close?
*shocked Pikachu face*
Motherfu-! Aca forgot you tricky old shits were centuries old. Well played. She admits to nothing. Cause you'll just argue with her and she refuses to humor that. They kindly inform her the Sith are gone. She, unimpressed, informs them "that's nice" in the most Humoring You customer service tone of voice imaginable. Back to the topic at hand. Or are we done? She says, with the subtlety of a brick to the face.
Polite of course. But resolute. Her feet are planted, she is not moving. Move on.
They sigh. Yes. You're banned from the archives unsupervised. No access to the Vaults. Period. Please think about what you've done. And also, mind healers. You're clearly picking up on old memories again.
If that's what you choose to believe. She trusts you will do absolutely no research nor meditate on this at all. Nor, of course, look for any traces of possible Sith activity. Because that would be absurd and could possibly save lives. Every one knows when you kill a Sith, all their holocorns turn into smoke! Thank goodness it is both easy and possible to kill an idea! Have a lovely day, councilors. :)
(Subtle, she is not.)
(.......but is she wrong? Would it actually hurt to look? Really, truely, look? Just in case?)
And like? You think taking back most (no she will not tell you where the rest are! You'll dismantle them.) (They are RELICS not TOYS child!) of her ritual anchors is gonna stop her? Ha! Blood works.
Now people are freaking out. That is DARK! Youngling no!
The FUCK it is. She has the papers to prove it. You're just squeamish and ignorant. Sacrifice, not pain. It's a medium, like copper wires. She WAS using inorganics. You know, like Kyber? But SONEBODY took those away from her. So now she has to use what's still available! Or did you REALLY think you would force her to STOP?
Madame Che? Apoplectic. Just give her. The stars damned. Rocks! Constant blood lose is BAD FOR HER! The risk of infections! What if she knicks something vital! Are you JOKING?! *loud shouting match*
And like? Some of the Shadows/Knights/Masters? Who were IN the halls of healing when her rituals were working? Certainly fucking felt um! Rituals goes up? Like fresh air and sunlight. A buddy, guarding the door. You're safe now. Ritual taken down. Smog and too loud. Uncomfortable bed and nebulous Everything Is Awful. Pain hurts worse somehow. Hard to sleep. More complications.
They? Are not dumb. It was small. But it was THERE. Something changed. For the better. So... what do you need? Old anti-sith objects and a place to put um? Yeah. We can do that. My great-great-great-great-great-Grandmaster's favorite meditation mat is in my apartments. It's a lineage thing. They would definitely tell me to use it for this, if they could. So like... come do your thing, and I'll stash it high up on a shelf?
Others? Have truely ancient Padawan braids. Cause hair does not break down. Some have old light sabers. And... it's adds up. A little light here, a bit of light there. Leading a few rituals, guiding Jedi older and stronger then herself, to work together towards a common goal. To anchor some Light, like a warm blanket, around places that need protection.
Then~ of course? She teaches her new older friends? How to secure a space, in the Force. Just a little pocket of light. Temporary, of course. But... how Temporary? Minutes? Hours? Or is it weeks? Years after they have left? A little spot of... Better. Hope. Of "things will be okay" and calm.
Left behind like stars, in the darkest places. Rippling after effects, as others stay in those places and... calm. Think instead of act in anger or hate. Turn towards the light.
Sidious HATES it. Worse? Is when Jedi start offering to protect their Senatorial friends. You know, from stress and dark side curses. There ARE cults out there you know. Plus dark side exposer is terrible for your health, and the planet is not... great. You should at least protect where you sleep, you know?
Oh dear. Yes! Yes absolutely! They had no idea that was a risk. And if nothing else? It seems lovely. You can come over for dinner! I'll introduce you to my spouse! *unknowingly becomes protected from Sidious Sith Ritual machinations*
Palpatine could spit blood.
And like? I got more ideas for this. But? Just? Jedi Rituals!!! If they can, we can too!
The latest episode of Fionna and Cake really feels like the most Adventure Time episode of the season, cause shit really would just be happening to Finn and Jake and they'd just roll with it
AT was a Series of Situations, and getting high of magic edibles and astral projecting to another world would just be Tuesday for them
Elita would be so smug about the fact that she unintentionally bagged a motherfucking PRIME (and the last of them at that)
She would hold it over all of her friends for sure;
“Oh you got a degree? That’s great, that’s cool, hey did I mention that I know Primus’ chosen one carnally? Yeah, I did that and he loved it. It’s whatever. Have you ever had a demigod make you breakfast in the morning? No, I thought not. Shame.”
