Earth Shaker (Complete)

[Darth Ferus]

Naboo

Naboo was a nice change for the Zabrak. Here there wasn't sewage, toxic waste, or constant darkness. Naboo was a planet diverse as the galaxy itself. Krest wandered around the grasslands, a smile on his face. Everything was tranquil here, calm. With both of his hands he felt about the tall grass, simply enjoying the peacefulness of it all. There was no war here, no enemies or dastardly plots. Just a place he could center himself.

He found himself by the rivers edge before long, gazing into the crisp water. There was a waterfall close by, something he had always enjoyed. He stepped his way over to the cascading folds if liquid, running his hand through it. It was cold, but not freezing. Relaxing was more of a term Krest would use. His blue eyes sparkled happily as he gazed over the grasslands. This was a planet deserving of peace.

@Asteria deWinter

 

[Asteria deWinter]

The planet was growing on her. Not all of it and not all the time but certain parts of it and some times. Lady deWinter was far too picky to like an entire planet at all times. But there were things that reminded her of home. To an extend. Like the air and the nature, and small feelings of a resort as some of the villas felt. It reminded her of Spira in a way. Perhaps that was why she chose to stay on Naboo for a while longer after she had come to visit Nessarose. She'd mostly spent her time before the Ice Princess, her Scimitar and Shiny though. But today, Simon had come up with a wonderful idea. To see the sights. Her droid tended to have ideas like that, out of the blue, perhaps seemingly a bit odd at times but his mechanical mind understood Asteria enough to know just what to and even when to suggest such things. Today it was seeing sights. Asteria took his idea.

For a while, she just drove around in her speeder, merely watching things from a far. That was enough for most of the sights, her turquoise falling upon them on her rides. But then she saw a sight that made her slow down without even thinking about it. The scenery itself had overtaken her, causing her to come to a slow halt shortly after, her eyes focused on the beautiful waterfall ahead. Right at that moment, it was just her and the nature there. Then she noted the large animals there, native to the planet. She gazed at them for a moment, they were really big. Then she registered a color that was off to the place. Darker, not nature like. She reached to the Force quickly and let it expend to the shape she saw. Her Sense bounded of him, feeling the Force around him. There was a connection there, a sensitivity within the Force. There was power but hardly what it could be. The blonde turned off her engine and left her bike then, slowly walking over to the figure. While the threat might have been there, it didn't seem all that great. And perhaps, she was a tad bit curious, mostly likely caused by the already existing curiosity of the planet.

@[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

The water was crisp as ever, refreshing. He removed his armor, stepping under the cascading falls in just a pair of slacks. The world went dead to the red being as he stood there, letting the water surround his figure. His armor was in a neat pile beside the waterfall, Deus laying across. He was clearly expecting no one, no sort of attack or visitor. His mind drifted, thoughts crossing one another in a peaceful bliss.

@[member="Asteria deWinter"]

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Her presence had gone unnoticed, Asteria realized as the figure stripped himself off his clothes and remained in a simple piece. Her turqoise gaze remained on him until he went into the water and then moved slowly again, her attention taken by the redskinned man at a sight of something on ground as she had come close. She reached into the Force and let her telekinesis tendrills reach out it, slowly picking it off the ground. A weapon. In the same manner, Asteria had the blade part from the casing brought it closer to her, studing it slightly. It was a fine weapon, it's design probably hadn't have been easy to craft. Her father would know more about it though.

"One should know better than to leave such a fine piece of weaponry unguarded," she spoke then. Her tone was calm though a pinch of warning could be detected. Asteria had no use in weapons. Her dueling abilities were average at best. But still, even she knew the words held true. Just because it seemed one was alone, they probably never were.

The blade and its casing parted still hovered perfectly still in the air as she turned her head towards the Zabrak. While she could identify the skin color and the horns, Asteria knew very little about the race itself. The name was there, and also she remembered being told of their connection to Dathomir. It made little relevance at this point though, as her gaze remained on the man in the water.

@[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"No thief could get far enough away. I'm far from worried about loosing it." Krest had stepped out of the waterfall at the first movement of his blade. He and the sword were attuned, matching in presence. To him it felt as if he had lifted an arm or swung his foot. The Iridonian leaped outwards, landing beside his floating blade with a slight frown on his face. Now he looked at @[member="Asteria deWinter"], studying the girl. He felt her presence, one certainly stronger then her own, but that was the most he could feel. She was a mystery in that aspect, and he wasn't too keen on finding out what he was missing.

A red hand slowly clasped around the hilt of Deus should no resistance be offered. His gaze never left the deWinter though as he studied her form. Blonde hair, pale skin, green eyes. Green eyes, similar to one he had seen before, one more then one occasion. His gaze turned from curiosity to that of apprehension. The last time he had met a deWinter he melted his foot and ended up on a ship going to some sort of pirate party. He wasn't too keen to having that again.

"I assume you're out here for the sights, not a fight or a party?" Here's hoping she's -not- a deWinter.

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Oh? Was that so? Curiosity showed on the blonde's face as she arched a single brow, watching the man as he exited the water. She held the blade and its casing in the air, her turqoise gaze following him until he finally arrived near to her. When @[member="Krest"] reached for the hilt, she let him take it, releasing her hold over it once he had safely had his hand around the hilt.

He assumed she was here for the sight and not fight or party? Asteria chuckled ever so slightly in a low and somewhat icy tone which to her sounded normal but to a stranger it would mostly likely cause mixed feelings. "I am here for the sights, indeed," the blonde told him, as if to ease his mind. "However, your signature did not go unnoticed, Zabrak." It was after all the truth. While not powerful, there was most certainly power to grow. Asteria found herself quite curious.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Perhaps I should start to paint myself. My skin doesn't exactly help with the sights does it?" He took the sheath as well, replacing the blade inside. He turned his blue gaze up to @[member="Asteria deWinter"], frowning. He could feel her presence. It was clear he wouldn't win in a fight, so he chose to be careful with with his words, his tone. He was never a fan of needless fighting anyway.

"So, why is it you came over again?"

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Pain himself? Asteria tilted her head as he spoke, wondering where this idea had come from. "Your skin has nothing to do with it. If it wasn't for your connection to the Force, I wouldn't have even seen you." It was the truth of it. If this man had not been nearly as capable, Asteria would have remained blind to him. Her eyes would not seek what the Force didn't tell her.

Why had she come over again? She did not respond right away, slowly moving towards the water. She knelt down and reached her palm inside, picking up a small bit of water into her hand. The cold liquid was refreshing to her skin. Rising to her feet again, she continued to watch the few drops of water in her hand as she reached out to the Force, calling forth the ice from deep within her. It was not just an Element to her, it was part of who she was. Some said her gaze was cold as ice, others that her heart turned to ice year by year. But truth was, there was always ice in her heart, it only grew with her powers.

The Ice within her, with the help of the Force obyed, surging from deep within, spreading through her invisible to others before finally the liquid in her hands began to freeze. Soon, it was no longer clear water but a beautiful piece of ice, half-shaped by the shape of her own hand while other end kept its straight surface. Moving it within her hand, her index finger and thumb picked it up, giving a small smile as if her turquoise eyes had seen an old friend after so long.

"Sometimes, the Force reaches out and tells you things. Only a fool ignores it," Asteria finally answered the Zabrak, without looking at him.

@[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"The Force eh? I assume yo-" The Zabrak cuts off, watching the water slowly freeze. That was nothing he had ever seen before, and he just watched. His blue eyes gazed over the ice, and a hint of a smile formed on his face. The Force was so much more then he expected, anticipated. The Force was amazing.

"Ice. How did you control that..?"

@[member="Asteria deWinter"]

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Slowly, she looked up, still holding up the small piece of ice between her fingers. The Zabrak's face had lit, his eyes on the ice instead of her face. Interesting. He spoke of it. Asked of it.

A smirk formed on the woman's face. He was indeed curious of the icea in her hand. Press the ice back into her hand, she balled her fist and let the remaining bits of her contrationg to the Force surge through her as she melted the ice back into liquid form, the drops seaping through her fingers. Asteria titled her head ever so slightly, the smirk fading her way. "I am ice," she said but did not elaborate further on her words as she let that sink in for the man of red skin.

However, that was a completely different subject. The real subject here was this: "I am a Mistress of Elements, Zabrak. I've devoted time to studying each one invidivually. What I just did here is but a child's play." No more or less than that. However, despite her words, Asteria chose to not to tell this stranger just about everything. There was more to this tale but it was no available to all. "What is your name, Zabrak?" Instead, she asked.

@[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

The blue gaze never left her hand, never stopped watching the ice. How could he not? He had no idea anyone could do that. That elements could be controlled. She was ice? That was a new one. He shifted his gaze up to her after the ice melted, watching @[member="Asteria deWinter"] closely. Mistress of Elements, and there is more she could do?

"Krest."

 

[Asteria deWinter]

The Zabrak had a name, Krest. Asteria nodded. "I am Lady deWinter." Her chin raised ever so slightly, hinting to a pinch of pride in those words. Not necessarily for herself but for it was a title she shared with the most powerful of this galaxy, unknown from most by this time. And yet, to Asteria she would always be that. No one would take that place.

Asteria also didn't miss the part of how much attention her little trick had gotten. "Tell me, Krest, what interest you?" If anything was on his mind, the blonde wished to hear it.

@[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Ah.. Crap. She is a deWinter. Daaaamnit. His once smile faded for a moment. Last time he had to deal with a deWinter he was stuck with pirates. Not something he enjoyed. But @[member="Asteria deWinter"] didn't seem like she was going to kidnap him and drag him along. And if he could learn something from her..

"The ground. Earth. If you can do that with water, I assume Earth is something else you can control."

 

[Asteria deWinter]

And then his smile was gone. Apperently, he had heard of her or at least her family. And he didn't seem all too please with all that knowledge.

He said nothing of it though so Asteria did not ask. Instead, she waited as he spoke again, mentioning the ground, the Element of the Earth. He assumed but in this case he assumed correct. Asteria nodded slowly. "You assume right, Krest," the female said and concentrated once more, calling her ally that was the Force.

The female knelt and pressed her palm against the ground. Yes, one could manipulate the elements without touch in time however, she preferred to feel the currents she affected, manipulated. She preferred to be in contact with what she would cause. Through her, the Force work, spreaching beneath her skin and unleashing against the grass than further down. Through the Force she could feel it, deep within, the ground began to tremble. First it was deep but then it spread upward, shaking beneath her fingers then towards Krest. it was a soft tremor, nothing that would make him lose his balance but most likely enough for him to feel it beneath his feet. But not beyond that. It was a small push towards the Earth, a bit of a demostration in its basics for the Zabrak.

@[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Krest's whole figure braced as the ground rumbled. Even if @[member="Asteria deWinter"] intended it not to knock the Zabrak off balance physically, the sheer fact that she was moving the ground moved him. Excited him. "Earthquakes.. What else can be done? Can you show me this?" His gaze was scanning the area, watching the ground. He did not know what the deWinter was capable of doing, and the last thing he wanted was to be caught in an earthquake. But he turned his eyes upwards, once more on the woman. There was amazing power here, and it was something he wanted to learn.

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Asteria removed her palm from the ground and stood up, wiping her hands of each other from the bit of dirt they collected while Krest spoke, reacted. He clearly liked the power she had been given a small peak to. Earthquakes were one thing, yes. The rest? "First step is small earthquakes, though a tad bit stronger than that one; cracking the ground and sensing existing minerals beneath the ground," the blonde told him of the power. "Beyond that, there is the power of altering the environemtn which in its right is a dangerous power that can not only harm your enemies but also the environment of the planet you are on." As a Mistress of Elements who planned on truly mastering all the elements, this was an important piece of information to be shared.

Could she show him this? Asteria nodded. "The first is easy. You work alongside the Force for this, as any power." Step one, the Force was an ally. "Then let it guide her as you connect to the ground. Before you can do anything with it, you need to feel what is beneath, become part of it for a short while." Later, it would become natural. At this point, Asteria barely noticed it anymore. But to do, one needed to feel and connect before truly being able to say they knew that element. Even with her element of water that was part of who she was, always waiting, Asteria had to go the long way around and discover it herself.

@[member="Krest"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Sensing minerals, cracking the ground, earthquakes. Even altering the environment? Krest blinked slowly, staring at @[member="Asteria deWinter"]. A power he wanted. He sat down on the ground, already closing his eyes. Feel the ground so she said. Feel the earth through the Force. His connection with the Force was already strong, so not it was a matter of letting it guide him? Odd, but something he would try to do anyway.

The world around him faded slowly. All that was left was him, and him alone. Slowly he let the Force spread out of him. Asteria came into view, just her presence alone. He could feel the creatures around him. But the earth was something he didn't feel. Couldn't feel. He pushed for it, tried to force it, but it only failed. Instead he just did as the deWinter said, letting the Force guide him. Slowly his presence went into the ground, feeling it. He was slowly finding himself with the ground.

 

[Asteria deWinter]

Now, there was but waiting. And so she did. Quietly, Asteria merely watched @[member="Krest"] for a while, neither moving or speaking. The only two actions she did was breathe and look at him. At this point, Asteria could wait, he had to perform the task all his own. When he was there, he would feel the ground. And when he felt, he would experience part of the power, feel what was beneath them, layer by layer until he finally felt the minerals. That bit came naturally at first.

 

[Darth Ferus]

Krest continued to feel into the ground, his mind drifting. He was understanding, feeling. His life before a body guard had him living with the land. Being one with nature. Now he was more one with the ground then he ever felt before. He knew the minerals as he felt them, somehow able to understand what they are. They were part of him, but it felt as if they had always been there, hidden and locked away. He opened his eyes slowly, looking up to @[member="Asteria deWinter"].

"I.. Oh."

 

[Asteria deWinter]

After some while of observing him, Asteria finally heard @[member="Krest"] speak. It was merely two words, attached to each other in the sentence itself however the two words spoke volumes together.

"Tell me," the Sith Lordess ordered.