I’m Star-Lord (SW Xover)

C238 Into The Cave of Evil!

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The shuttle shuddered as it broke through the atmosphere of Dagobah, its engines straining against the planet's dense, turbulent air. 

Outside the viewport, the world below unfolded like a nightmare—a landscape of endless swamps, gnarled trees stretching skyward like skeletal fingers, and thick, churning fog that seemed alive with unseen menace. 

Flashes of distant lightning illuminated fleeting glimpses of twisted roots and stagnant pools.

Peter stood at the shuttle's controls, his gaze fixed on the scene before him. The weight of the planet pressed against his chest, the dark side of the Force emanating from every corner, gnawing at his resolve. He frowned, his voice low and tense. "This place… it's not just dark. It's suffocating. It's like the planet itself is trying to get in my head."

Yoda, seated calmly nearby, opened his eyes. His expression remained serene, untouched by the oppressive energy that filled the shuttle. "Dagobah, a vergence of the Force, it is. Strong, the dark side is here. Unchecked, its presence has been."

'I see…' Peter thought of the Darkside shrine hidden beneath the Jedi Temple, though he made sure to conceal just how much he actually knew. "So, this whole place is what? Like a giant Force hotspot? Why does it feel like it's alive?"

Yoda nodded slowly, his voice quiet but firm. "Alive, the Force is. In all things, it flows. But here, raw and unbalanced, it remains. The Cave of Evil—the source of the darkness, it is. Spread its influence, the cave has."

'Wait, Cave of Evil?' Peter's jaw tightened as he stared back at the planet, his knuckles white against the console. 'Isn't this where Yoda trained Luke Skywalker in the movies?' 

"This isn't a place for training—it's a place where you lose your mind." Peter sighed, accepting the inevitable: he was going into that cave, just like Luke had.

Yoda tilted his head, his sharp eyes fixed on Peter. "Lose your mind, you will not, if balance within you, you keep. A test, Dagobah itself is. Not just your strength, it will challenge. Your spirit, your resolve, your heart—it will test them all."

Peter exhaled sharply, leaning back from the console. "Great..."

The shuttle rocked as it approached a clearing amidst the swamp, the dense fog parting momentarily to reveal a gnarled tree jutting out of the muck, its roots twisting and curling in unnatural ways. The oppressive feeling in the air grew stronger as they neared, wrapping around Peter like an invisible vice.

He clenched his fists, muttering under his breath, "This better be worth it."

Yoda rose from his seat, his cane tapping softly against the floor. "Worth it, it will be, if prepared you are. Your balance, fragile it is. Strengthen it, you must. Or consumed, you will be."

Peter cast a sidelong glance at the diminutive Jedi Master, the faintest trace of a smirk tugging at his lips. "You really know how to give a pep talk, don't you?"

Yoda didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the world outside. "Land, we must. Begin, your trial will."

As the shuttle touched down in the swamp, the hiss of hydraulics mingled with the eerie calls of unseen creatures. Peter took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. The darkness pressed against him, but he stood tall, his determination burning bright against the oppressive weight of the planet.

"Alright, Dagobah," he muttered as he stepped toward the hatch. "Let's see what you've got."

Behind him, Yoda followed silently, his presence a beacon of calm amidst the encroaching storm of darkness.

…

..

.

As soon as they stepped out of the shuttle, the swamp seemed to close in on them. The twisted trees loomed larger, their gnarled branches interlocking above to form a suffocating canopy. Shadows danced unnaturally across the ground, and the ever-present fog swirled as if alive, thickening with each step.

Peter's breaths came heavier, the dark side's oppressive energy pressing against him like a physical weight. His thoughts turned inward, and for the first time in a long while, doubt began to creep in.

Memories surfaced—failures, regrets, moments of weakness. The dark side pulled at his mind, amplifying every fear and insecurity. He clenched his fists, his voice low but strained. "This place… it's like it knows. It's pulling at me."

Yoda, walking a few steps ahead, glanced back at him, his small figure seemingly unaffected by the darkness around them. "Knows, the dark side does. Prey on your fears, it will. Resist, you must."

Peter forced himself to focus on Yoda's calm presence, using it as an anchor. But even with the Grandmaster nearby, the swamp felt alive with malice. The air was thick and cloying, carrying with it faint whispers—words Peter couldn't quite make out but that sent chills down his spine.

Then came the creatures.

At first, it was just movement in the periphery—shapes darting between the trees. But soon, they emerged fully. They were swamp creatures, grotesquely twisted by the dark side's influence. Their forms were bloated and misshapen, their eyes glowing faintly with malice. One, resembling a massive reptilian beast with jagged, uneven teeth, slithered toward them, hissing.

Peter ignited his lightsaber, its vibrant black blade cutting through the fog. He stepped forward instinctively, ready to defend. "You've got to be kidding me."

Before he could act, Yoda raised his hand, his voice calm but commanding. "Wait, you must."

The creatures stopped, as if caught by an invisible force. They writhed and hissed, their movements erratic, but they did not advance. Yoda closed his eyes, lifting his cane as he took a deep breath.

"Enough," Yoda said softly, his voice carrying an authority that seemed to resonate through the swamp. "Go, you will."

Peter stepped back, watching in stunned silence as Yoda began to draw deeply on the Force.

A soft light began to emanate from Yoda, starting as a faint glow around his small figure. It grew steadily brighter, the light pure and radiant, pushing back the shadows that clung to the swamp. The whispers faded, replaced by a deep, resonant hum as Yoda's presence expanded.

The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the air seemed to vibrate with energy. Peter staggered slightly as he watched in awe.

The light from Yoda intensified, pulsing outward in waves. The twisted trees began to bend and straighten, their unnatural forms reverting to something closer to their natural state. 

The creatures writhed and screeched, their corrupted forms breaking apart as the dark side's hold on them was shattered. One by one, they dissolved into wisps of shadow, fading into the air.

Even the swamp itself seemed to recoil, the oppressive energy retreating as the waves of light spread farther. The fog lifted slightly, revealing more of the swamp's natural beauty beneath the layers of darkness. 

The light continued to grow until it reached the horizon, the darkness retreating further and further, condensing into a single point—a gnarled, ancient tree at the heart of the swamp.

Peter's mouth fell open as he took in the scene. The sheer magnitude of Yoda's power and mastery of the Force was unlike anything he'd ever seen. He deactivated his lightsaber, his voice quiet but filled with awe. "I… I didn't think you had that in you."

Yoda opened his eyes, the light around him dimming but not disappearing entirely. He glanced at Peter, his expression unreadable. "Much, still, you do not know."

The swamp was silent now, the oppressive weight of the dark side replaced by a sense of uneasy calm. The twisted tree in the distance seemed to pulsate faintly, as if containing all the darkness Yoda had driven back.

Peter exhaled, his hands resting on his hips as he surveyed the aftermath. "So, that's it, huh? You just… shoved the dark side back into its corner?"

Yoda shook his head, his gaze fixed on the distant tree. "Not banished, it is. Contained, only. The Cave of Evil—its source, still strong. Face it, you must."

'I knew it…' Peter turned to Yoda, his confidence faltering slightly. "You're serious?"

Yoda nodded, his voice quiet but firm. "Inside, the darkness you fear. Confront it, you must. Alone, you will go. Ready, are you?"

Peter glanced at the gnarled tree in the distance, its aura of malice sending a shiver down his spine. He tightened his grip on his lightsaber hilt and nodded slowly. "Let's find out."

The swamp seemed to grow quieter as they approached the tree. The ground became softer, each step sinking slightly into the damp earth. Twisted roots jutted out from the ground like claws, and the air grew colder, heavier, as if the swamp itself was holding its breath.

Before them stood the gnarltree, its massive, blackened roots twisted and tangled like a web of shadows. The bark was dark and cracked, oozing a faint, otherworldly mist that seeped into the air. The tree pulsed faintly, almost as if it were alive, its malevolence radiating outward in oppressive waves.

Peter stopped in his tracks, staring at the tree with wide eyes. The sheer weight of the dark side emanating from it was unlike anything he had felt before. It wasn't just a presence—it was an entity, watching him, waiting.

"Okay," Peter muttered, breaking the tense silence. "This is the part where the hero usually dies in the movies."

Yoda, standing a few paces ahead, glanced back at him, his expression calm but resolute. "Not death, this is. A test, it is."

Peter gave a hollow laugh, his hands on his hips. "Yeah, sure feels like a death trap, though."

Yoda stepped closer to the base of the tree, his small figure dwarfed by the twisted roots that loomed above him. He planted his cane firmly into the ground and turned to face Peter. "Alive, the Cave is. Feed on fear and doubt, it does. Face them, you must."

Peter swallowed hard, his usual confidence faltering under the oppressive weight of the tree's aura. He glanced at Yoda, his voice quieter. "And what happens if I fail?"

Yoda's gaze remained steady. "Fail, you will not. If balance, you keep."

Peter let out a shaky breath, his eyes drifting back to the tree. The entrance to the cave yawned open at its base, a dark void that seemed to swallow the faint light around it. Shadows danced along its edges, shifting as if alive.

"Great," Peter muttered. "Just walk into the creepy dark hole in the ground and hope for the best. No pressure."

Yoda stepped closer, placing a small hand on Peter's arm. His voice was softer now, but no less firm. "Face it, you must. Fear it, you must not. Within, answers lie."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Peter glanced down at the Jedi Master, his expression a mix of unease and determination. "And you're just going to stay out here, huh? Let me handle the creepy evil cave alone?"

Yoda gave a small, knowing smile. "Alone, your trial is. Guide you, the Force will."

Peter took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Alright. Let's do this."

He stepped toward the entrance, the darkness seeming to draw him in with every step. The air grew colder, the sounds of the swamp fading into an eerie silence. Pausing at the threshold, Peter glanced back at Yoda one last time.

"See you on the other side, I guess."

Yoda gave a slight nod, his gaze unwavering. "May the Force be with you."

With one final breath, Peter stepped into the Cave of Evil, the shadows swallowing him whole.

A/N: 1926 words :)