Beyond - Legends "Drops of Jade", UDC IV - COMPLETE on 8/29/09!!

?Drops of Jade?

Genre: Everything!
Rating: PG
Time Frame: Everywhere!
Characters: Everyone!

Summary: The Ultimate Drabble Challenge part Four! An exciting look at a multitude of characters, lives, and relationships within the Star Wars universe ? all with a good dose of crack!pairings.

Notes: Wow, here we go again already. I'd like to give a huge thanks to BigFatty and Zonama for organizing this. We'd be lost without them.

Disclaimer: Nothing's mine.

My first three drabble threads:

Shards of Jade
Fragments of Jade
The Drabble Drop


PM List:

dancing_star
Jade_eyes
Jade_Pilot
DaenaBenjen42
Vaderlvr64


Week One: Luke/Mara, Ben
Week Two: Jacen Solo
Week Three: Jaina Solo, Kyp Durron
Week Four: Han/Leia
Week Five: OT Cast
Week Six: Young Leia
Week Seven: Kyp/Scotlyn
Week Eight: Luke/Mara
Week Nine: Luke, Ben
Week Ten: And Baby Makes Three
Week Eleven: Jag Fel, Han Solo
Week Twelve: Jaina Solo, Mirta Gev
Week Thirteen: Deliah Blue
Week Fourteen: Leia Solo, Allana Solo
Week Fifteen: Luke Skywalker
Week Sixteen: Jaina Solo
Week Seventeen: Tahiri Veila, Riina
Week Eighteen: Misc. Characters
Week Nineteen: Couple's Round
Week Twenty: Luke/Mara

---

[b]Week One ? [i]The Skywalker Family[/i]

1. Flash in the Pan[/b]

The myriads of smells inside the nursery were . . . interesting, to say the least.

The most obvious smell came from the still infant baby on the changing table. The child was all smiles and giggles upon seeing the rather interesting look of steely determination and outright queasiness on Luke's face. The smile only grew at the sounds of muffled curses from the kitchen, followed by a clashing of pans.

Ah. The source of the other pungent, and less . . . [i]natural[/i] smell.

Just what was Mara trying too cook?

Shaking his head, Luke scooped up Ben. ?Lets go talk your mother into takeout.?


[b]2. Out on a Limb[/b]

There was something endearing about observing Luke interacting with Ben. The simple love and curiosity she always saw there was something touching and special.

And then, of course, there were moments like these.

?I'm going to go out on a limb, and say that this is not what your father had in mind when decided that he'd teach you to paint today.?

Luke caught her gaze in naked relief as their son rushed over to greet her. Ben grinned impishly from beneath bright blue bangs, and wasted no time in smearing his rainbow coated fingers across her face as well.


[b]3. Out of the Blue[/b]

It was one of those mornings when she couldn't seem to get anything right.

She was late, her comm was ringing, Ben was clamoring for food, and still she managed to chide Luke for giving Ben so much sugar the night before ? the reason for her current frazzled state.

The final straw came when she dropped her keys.

?Kriff it all!? she finally snapped.

And . . .

?Kriff!? Ben repeated, out of the blue.

Mara stopped short, and then preceded to turn beet red as Luke burst out laughing. ?Yes, Mara, we wouldn't want to be a bad influence now, would we??


[b]4. Wet Behind the Ears[/b]

There was a curious glow in the young woman's eyes as she watched Ben sleep. The toddler was now curled contentedly on his side - sucking his sticky fingers happily, and altogether way too comfortable after his rather . . . intense morning. Jaina herself was sporting mused hair and food covered clothes, but she wasn't complaining.

From the doorway, Mara watched her former apprentice's contemplating face, and smiled knowingl

 

Thanks so much to everyone who has read so far. As always, your thoughts mean the world to me!

blurt: It is a most treasured moment in a child's life, isn't it? Thanks so much for reading!

dancing_star: Welcome back! I can't believe that you're willingly submitting yourself to this maddness again. You are definately on the PM list.

jade_eyes: The PM train? [face_laughs] I like that. Of course, and thanks for reading, your comments never cease to make my day.


~MJ

 

Sorry about the delay between weeks. My last week kinda exploded all over me . . . not a pretty sight, I can assure you. Now, some replies.

Jade_Pilot: I'm thrilled you enjoyed them. And you're now added.

Keila: Thanks! And you're right about the kids, LOL!

DaenaBenjen42: Thanks! And yep, you're added.

mavjade: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed them. That one happened to be my particular favorite as well.

Inara: Drabbler - I like it. And I agree with everytihng you said. Mara is so easy to spin out in a hundred words, and when she isn't - that's when we get to have a bit of fun.

anphetamine47: Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed them!

~MJ

 

ginchy: Thanks so much! It's wonderful to have you along for the ride again.

Alright, and here we have a LoTF grab bag in a very delayed week two. Sorry about that.

---

[b]Week Two ? [i]?Views to a Fall?[/i]


6. Impossible[/b]

Over the years, she had seen Jacen slide down a slippery slope ? the coldness in his eyes after the war, and his callous actions during the Killik invasions. Those years spent away searching for . . . whatever he had never found.

Across the distance, Leia can feel the eroded tendrils coiling around her son in iron bonds of cool calculation and dark hate.

?Impossible,? she whispered, tears in her eyes as her husband folds her into him.

?Not my little boy,? she wants to whimper in childish defeat.

Yet, he isn't.

As tears fall from her eyes, she already begins to grieve.


[b]7. Unlikely[/b]

Ben had never seen his cousin act that way before.

His skin still crawled. His stomach was queasy from where Jacen had just slipped away from Ailyn Vel's cell, walking as if everything was fine, as if he didn't just brutally [i]take a life.[/i]

There had been so much blood. The memory burns into his mind now, making him pale.

Later when he bathes, he scrubs his skin crimson trying to was the memory away.

Still, all he can taste is the dull twang of copper on his tongue.

It's unlikely he'll be able to wash it out anytime soon.


[b]8. Reasonable[/b]

?Jacen, be reasonable,? Tenel Ka hisses upon hearing his plans.

He can't bring his gaze to meet hers, not wanting to see the horror in her eyes that frosted over her voice. Instead he watched his daughter from across the garden, letting her childish smile warm the shadows around him.

Standing on a precipice, part of him does not see her innocence and think that she has much to learn - instead, only tiredly remember what it was like to share that look.

Pushing those thoughts away, he grinned dangerously in a wicked perversion of his daughter's smile. ?Finally, I am.?


[b]9. Probable[/b]

Anger burned through him, a bright and tangible thing that turned sunlight cold and shadow inviting. Perhaps it was warranted, perhaps he was more human than the galaxy believed him to be; but that didn't change the fact that he was, and it was tearing him up inside.

He locked eyes with his niece from across the room, knowing what he was about to ask her was something deep and dark and wrong. And yet, if he were the one to kill Jacen, it was not just [i]probable[/i] that he'd do so with an angry heart . . .

. . . it was a fact.


[b]10. Definite[/b]

They circled each other, sabers held loosely, muscles easy and relaxed. This close, the darkness rolled off of her brother in waves, tangling through their once strong bond like miasma, strangling the breath from her lungs.

Days later the shadows will rise up in odd moments, the last bit of [i]him[/i] in her threatening to come up and consume her.

And yet, for now there was just the moment.

?You have much to learn, sister,? Jacen spits on a voice filled with brimstone and brim.

Jaina only smiled once, bitter and almost satisfied. ?No more so than you, brother dear.?


[b]~MJ[/b] [face_rose]

 

Alrighty, we are here with Week three - and it's on time.

First, some replies:

dancing_star: Wow, thanks! I think that what every author strives for is to include a good dose of realism in their writing, even though they are dealing with a sci-fi subject, and to hear that they succeeded is perfect. Thanks!

Jade_eyes: Another big wow. Your words never fail to make my day, but I am smiling especially wide this time. Thanks, as always, for the kind words!

Jade_Pilot: Thanks so much! Oddly enough, that line was from a drabble I struggled over and was not completely satisfied with - so I'm really glad you found it striking.

daenaBenjen42: You guys are spoiling me this week with the wonderful feedback. Thanks for the insightful comments, I love it when a fellow author makes me think about my own work. "There's a moment. All you have to do, your only job, is to wait for it." I cannot agree more with that. It fits perfectly.

~MJ

 

I started out trying to explore the love-hate relationship between Kyp and Jaina in the NJO, and then my muse turned angsty. What can I say, it's been a Very. Long. Week. . . . and that kinda seeped into my writing. That said, enjoy this AU of Rebel Dream.

---

[b]Week Three


11. Truth[/b]

The truth hits her like the metaphorical ton of bricks.

She sees Jag's fighter from a distance, a blot of silver black against the flesh tones of the enemy. Around them space is filled with the living, with the dying. Below them Borleias is a cold shade of winter gray, chill against the scene playing out before her.

There is a flash of flame against star. In her mind she feels him wink out, and something inside her wails in anguish.

[i]Gone!

Gone, gone, gone . . .[/i]

The pain sears her, complete and overwhelming.

. . . She loved him.

Oh force, she [i]loved[/i] him.


[b]12. Trust[/b]

She is cold after landing.

She's not sure how she got through the rest of the battle. Autopilot, maybe? A numb haze of adrenaline and habit? She climbed out, and slumped wearily to the ground. She was shaking uncontrollably. Her eyes were bone dry.

From the side she could see Kyp hesitantly come to her side, and without thinking she flung herself into his arms and let her tears flow. In the force he could feel her pain, and was humbled by the intensity of it.

She trusted him with her grief.

In the end, that was all that mattered.


[b]13. Honor[/b]

Time passed. War waged. People lived.

Jaina stood still.

He is [i]erased[/i]. He is no longer with her. And yet she can still feel him in every part of her - in the hollows of her mind, and the wisp of breath in her lungs . . . in the broken glare of the woman who stares back at her in the mirror.

Kyp sees the look in her eyes, reflected from his own as he watched her slowly tear herself apart.

?Honor the dead,? he whispered on an exhale. ?Don't let them bury you.?

Her reply is short and to the point. ?Frak off, Durron.?


[b]14. Loyalty[/b]

Time stood still. The war ended. People lived.

Jaina trudged forward. Sometimes she thinks that she would have stopped trying altogether if it were not for the man sitting stubbornly at her side.

She glares at him, hoping to convey with her eyes just how much he grates at her nerves. Kyp merely closed his eyes, lazy in the cool sunshine of the unnamed planet they were on.

Her anger cooled when he laced his hand with hers - ever the unspoken support - and she found a small part of her acknowledging just how much she depended on his gentle loyalty.


[b]15. Love[/b]

Three years to the day, she returns to Borleias.

It's a quiet journey, full of what-could-bes and something like regret - something a lot like longing. Kyp is with her ? a solid presence that clicked so differently than Jag, but fit nonetheless.

They land in the predawn on the crest of a hill, and watch the sky bloom into color. Kyp is silent, eyes filled with whispers of something not quite unlike love as he watched a now strong woman pull herself together again. As the sun crested, she tangled her hand with his.

Morning comes. Things change, again.

[b]~MJ[/b] [face_rose]