we all fall down

The cockpit of Ivy's X-wing was eerily quiet, save for the rhythmic hum of the ship's engines as she dropped out of hyperspace. Before her, the planet Ossus stretched across the void—a world of golden deserts, lush valleys, and ancient ruins bathed in the pale glow of its twin suns. Ossus. A world that had once been the heart of Jedi knowledge, a sacred ground where the greatest Masters of old had studied the Force in ways now nearly lost to time. She hadn't intended to stop here, but her X-wing was running dangerously low on fuel, and she couldn't risk a failed jump to Dagobah. And maybe—just maybe—there was something here she was meant to find. Ivy guided her ship through the atmosphere, her breath catching slightly as she took in the ancient ruins scattered across the landscape. The Jedi Order had built temples and libraries here thousands of years ago. Most had been destroyed by the Sith, left to decay under time's merciless hand. As she brought her ship down onto a flat plateau near a ruined temple, the Force stirred around her. Something was waiting for her here.

Stepping out of her X-wing, Ivy took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of warm stone and wildflowers. The wind carried the whispers of the past, voices long gone, yet somehow still lingering in the Force. She made her way toward the crumbling entrance of the Great Jedi Library, its towering pillars cracked but still standing. The air hummed with energy, as if the very stone remembered the knowledge once held here. She placed a hand against the cool stone and closed her eyes. For a brief moment, the ruins came alive in her mind. She saw Jedi of old walking the halls, their voices carrying through the corridors. She saw younglings training in meditation, Masters studying ancient texts, historians preserving the wisdom of the past. Then, a name echoed through her thoughts. Mace Windu. Her eyes snapped open. But why was the Force guiding her toward him now?

Ivy pressed forward into the ruins, stepping carefully over fallen stone slabs and broken statues of Jedi Masters. Then, she saw it—a half-buried doorway, its entrance blocked by debris. The Force pulled her toward it, urging her forward. Reaching out with her mind, she focused, letting the energy of the Force flow through her muscles. With a deep breath, she extended her hand—and the rubble lifted. Stones and dust swirled in the air as she cleared the path, revealing a dark passage beneath. She ignited her lightsaber, its blue glow illuminating the way, and stepped inside. The air was thick with dust and the scent of old parchment. Shelves of datacrons and scrolls lined the walls, untouched for centuries. The room was small, but it had been protected from time. Her gaze swept over the titles carved into the stone shelves. Most were histories of the Jedi, records of battles, philosophies of the Force. But one caught her eye—a single datacron sitting atop a pedestal, glowing faintly. She stepped forward and reached out, her fingers grazing its surface. The moment she touched it, the air crackled with energy.

A voice filled the chamber, deep and commanding. "If you are listening to this, then the knowledge of Vaapad has not been lost." The blue projection of Mace Windu materialized before her. His gaze was sharp, his stance unwavering. Even in a recording, his presence was formidable. "Vaapad is more than a form of combat. It is a state of mind. A way of the Force that allows one to channel the darkness within themselves—without succumbing to it." Ivy's breath caught. Channel the darkness? "It is not for the weak-willed," Windu continued. "Vaapad demands control. It demands mastery over one's emotions, over one's fears. The user must allow the darkness to pass through them—not consume them. Only by embracing it without falling can one achieve true balance." Ivy clenched her jaw. This... this was what she needed. If she was going to face Anakin, if she was going to free him, she had to be ready. She had to be strong enough to stand against the darkness, to meet his rage without fear. "Few have mastered it. Even fewer have understood it. If you wish to learn, know this—it is not about power. It is about control. The battle within yourself must be won before the battle before you can be faced." The projection flickered. "I leave this knowledge here, for those who may come after. Those who must fight battles we never foresaw. If you walk this path, do so with caution. The line between Jedi and Sith has never been thinner than within Vaapad." With that, the recording ended, leaving only silence. Ivy exhaled slowly, gripping the datacron in her hands. She understood now why she had been led here. Vaapad wasn't about denying the darkness. It was about using it. Channeling it. Facing it head-on. And she would need that strength if she was going to save Anakin.