The Serenity of Darkness

[Darth Abyss]

Unnamed Moon

There was no name that could describe this empty wasteland, no word that could explain how this place had become so barren and dead as it was today. No plants and no animals could be found here, not the smallest vine and not the simplest insect. The dark side was the only reason why this place still existed, why those that walked through the icy air didn't found death through a lack of oxygen. It was a place that served a single purpose, a monument where those born from the darkness came to either die to be reborn or to die and be forgotten to anyone but the cold stone.

Ancient stairs lead upwards, ending at a black stone pyramid framed by the mountains in the distance, like teeth of an wild predator that ripped into the sky. There the darkness could be felt the strongest, and black sea of nothingness that waited to consume those that dared to step inside.

On top of the stairs stood a single figure, tall and massive since his transformation, the black robe as motionless as the wind or the figure himself. There was only black where his eyes had once been, and there was only black where his body had once been. He was one with the dark side, and one day his apprentice would be as well.

In the past Abyss had walked up the same path, the same stairs, on the day on which he was no longer just an acolyte but Darth Abyss. Now his apprentice [member="Serenity Loveheart"] would do so as well, would take her last test that would decide if she was worthy of the title sith, or destined to rot and be forgotten in the depths of this tainted place.

Spoiler

Since the rule change there is no need to knight you anymore, but this is a tradition passed on by like 3 or 4 generations of sith characters so I thought this would be appropriate as well. I will use these spoilers to lead a little through the thread, but this will be mainly about Serenity which will be gifted dark side visions of past, future (or whatever else you can come up with) that cements her transformation into a real sith. If you need help/ideas I can link you to Abyss knight thread, as well as to that of his master.

 

[Natalie LaForte]

Where am I? She said into herself while awakening. Back on Stars' end? Nope. This was definitely not it, it's unlikely they would consider bringing her back after their last little, ahem encounter. Looking back into her mind, she couldn't understand how she got here, but perhaps that was for the best, there was a greater goal and purpose that this place would serve her. Finally embracing the darkness in its fullest extent. Standing on the steps and looking up, she could see him, well, what she assumed was him.

An eerie cold passed her shoulders as she began climbing the steps. The midnight sky, the nature of it all, it was very... strange. On one end of the spectrum, she understood why this was happening, but why this location? There were many more that could have been chosen, perhaps, a little more ceremonial in nature in her opinion. Questioning why she was here would serve her no answers, all that mattered was that she was here and was willing to accept this.

Finally reaching the top of the steps, it only seemed appropriate to bend on one knee, close her eyes and tilt her head downward, not disturbing the silence of the scene.

[member="Darth Abyss"]

Spoiler

Might you be able to link me to that? Also nice title

 

[Darth Abyss]

The Mindeater turned around, his head looking down at his apprentice in an attempt to imitate the movement of a human being. In truth he could see her from every angle now, without the need to lay eyes upon her. For a moment he simply stood in silence, taking in the moment for himself. With each new failed apprentice he had felt more doubt if any of his creations would ever walk along this path, if one of them would ever have the strength, intelligence and dedication to make it so far. At first [member="Serenity Loveheart"] had been little more to him than a replacement for those before her, neither special nor overly hopeful as contender for the title of sith.

But the girl had grown, the endless tests and hardships he had thrown at her forged her into something more. Or at least into enough to become more one day. The metal husk turned around, slowly beginning his path towards the pyramid close by. Then the otherworldly, supernatural sound of his voice broke the silence, filling out the still air between his soundless steps.

"Peace is a lie, there is only passion."

Had the words been etched into her mind deep enough? Would she remember and understand them, now and always? That was one of the questions this test was meant for, to see her dedication not just to her master or any empire but to the sith as a whole.

"Through passion I gain strength.
Through strength I gain power."

The figure of Abyss was swallowed whole by the dark embrace of the pyramid, now visually as much one with the darkness as he was spiritually. How long ago had he been the one following behind Ophidia inside the monument? Years had passed by, and since then he had become one of the most powerful beings in this galaxy, all because his master had lead him through her as well. Should she survive, the a great future would await her.

"Through power I gain victory.
Through victory my chains are broken."

While Abyss couldn't been seen anymore in the dark, his voice echoed through the ancient stones, carried by the memories of success and failure that had taken hold in the pyramid.

"The force shall free me."

 

[Natalie LaForte]

"Nwûl tash."

Subconsciously, she began to speak. Not in galactic basic, or indeed any common language, but the speak of the Sith. Not something she had encounter before, but as she moved and edged ever more closely to the pyramid, her mind was flooded with knowledge she didn't previously have.

"Dzwol shâsotkun.
Shâsotjontû châtsatul nu tyûk."

In her mind, in her living, breathing body, she didn't know what she was saying, but a voice creeped into the back of her skull, not speaking verbally, but quite literally, feeding it to her. The voice had no pitch, no frequency, nothing similar to anybody in her life, not a hum nor a beat, a meaningless pause.

"Midwanjontû châtsatul nu asha.
Ashajontû kotswinot itsu nuyak."

Raising herself now, again, not on her own, as if it was a primal instinct, something she had no choice in doing but rather a necessity, she followed in his footsteps, her eyes still sealed shut, as if blocking away the horrors that would come ahead.

But then she spoke the final line.

Not as she spoke the ones before, but in simple speech.

"The Force shall free me."

Opening her eyes, a release came from her body, not a physical one, but on a spiritual level. Having finally embraced it, letting it take her over, she could control it, but more importantly, use it as she desired. For a split second, the innocent voice of a child came, possibly her as a younger being, and looking back, a non-descript short figure was trying to grab her hand, surrounding itself in light. She pushed it down the steps, and it was slowly enveloped by the darkness, never to be seen again, deleted from the memory of Serenity forever.

She entered the temple; forever leaving behind the being that once was.

[member="Darth Abyss"]

 

[Darth Abyss]

If he ever needed another proof that history was bound to repeat itself then he had it in his hands now. What other reason than the invisible hand of fate could there be for how oddly reminiscent this day was to that of his own ascend, which had been equally reminiscent of Ophidia's rise. His perception in the force told him about the ancient knowledge that had just awoke inside of [member="Serenity Loveheart"], a gift given to her by the dark side itself. The force was with her, and finally her chains began to truly break.

The darkness of the pyramid was broken by a dim light, revealing the inside of the monument which was even more twisted then outside. Humanoid looking pillars holding and suffering under the weight of the of structure, pained figure that made sure that the stones didn't suddenly began to rain down on master and apprentice.

Crimson light filled the room, two small red pyramids hanging in the air with no strings to hold them illuminating the place. Below them was a set of stairs, leading to a pool of a absolutely black liquid. The Mindeater made his way down, and no words were spoken as his iron feet walked over the mark where he kneeled once, and made his way towards the other where his master stood back then.

The light of the pyramids didn't reached so far, and his steps left no sound. His apprentice would have to trust only herself and the force if she wanted to find the way where her rise would begin.

 

[Natalie LaForte]

Looking to her left and right, she saw the the figures, baring gazes down upon her that would send shivers down a regular beings spine, but feeling at home was her current mood. Infact, perhaps that is something she herself could make, in due time of course, as of right now she was but a measly pawn in this grand scheme, or so she thought. The nameless pillars had some sort of... admirable factor about them, although she continued progressing towards the two miniature pyramids in the distance.

"Yes..."

A voice spoke in her mind once more, but this one was echoing. Turning around, she saw nothing but the darkness and a slight light behind her.

Probably nothing... she said into herself.

Reaching the steps and looking down, the first few were illuminated. But this illumination grew short, and suddenly the lux was fading, fading, gone. At first, she nearly tripped, and if she didn't regain her balance, she would have fell to her death, crushing her spinal cord. But remembering what had happened outside, closing her eyes once more, she began to see a clear outline, well, not truly clear, in her mind it looked more schematic in sense, like an architect or tech designer was sketching out their alpha drawings. The walls appeared in white, with black outlines showing the bricks, and beneath her feet, this was also true.

"Trust me..."

[member="Darth Abyss"]

 

[Darth Abyss]

Slowly, almost ceremonially Abyss turned around, and his metal hands descend down into the black liquid, until they were swallowed by darkness. A moment later he lifted them up again, and in them rested a simple metal cup, filled with just a little of the substance. The cup itself was absolutely dry, despite standing in the liquid just seconds ago. He remembered what his master had told him when he stood where [member="Serenity Loveheart"] now stood, a message he would pass on to her as well.

"Success or death apprentice. Either you survive to be reborn, or you die to be forgotten. Now drink."

Abyss extended his hand, offering his apprentice the cup. The black liquid inside was a highly potent poison that could easily kill anyone without considerable strength. Only true sith endured the torture of drinking it, both physically and mentally. Mentally because the substance introduced strong, vivid vision of the dark side in combination with the place itself, and while these visions could be glimpses of the future, they could also be horrifying twisted versions of the future.

Once his apprentice took the cup the sith Lord descended to the ground, crossing his metal legs in a meditative stance. There was no real reason to do so anymore since his transformation but he simply had become adjusted to doing it. From here on it was out of his hands. His apprentice would enter a plane where even his newly ascended self held no influence. All he could do was to listen, so he could catch glimpses of the things Serenity would see.

 

[Natalie LaForte]

Taking the cup and suspiciously casting her eyes downward, the pure black substance sat at the bottle, inciting her into taking a sip.

"Do it..."

Her eyes spun into the back of her head as the black liquid passed her lips and making its way down to her core. The cup drop and echoed throughout the chamber, her mind falling into a dark cavern, a nightmare that her mother could no longer save her from. But only momentarily.

As she awoke, she saw her mother at the side of her bed. Noticeably, she was significantly younger than her current form.

"Were you having another bad dream?"

She hadn't seen her mother in years, edging closer to a decade with every day that went by.. why was she back here? Alderaan.. the green countrysides, at least that's what she remembered it being; but as she moved and tried to get out of her bed, the woman's body faded, but not as if she was disappearing, Serenity went straight through her, as if she wasn't even there. Peeling the curtain back, the very same memory she had was nothing like the reality, her family's garden extended and where it ended with the gates and fences was a hellish landscape, crimson red rivers ran and charred rock replaced the greenery.

"We never wanted you." A voice spoke, slowly, creepily, demonically.Turning around was her mother and father, now grotesque in shape, mouths expanded to their ears with black teeth and blood dripped from their fangs. Their pupils now black with corruption. Open wounds on their arms dripping a yellow tar onto the floor below.

As she turned back to the window, the voices spoke again. "Something wrong sweetie?"

They had teleported further to her, no footsteps, no nothings, they didn't breathe, never blinked, never stopped. But they were different. They were normal again. Mother wearing a dress extending to her knees, blue eyes, makeup done and all, her father wearing a suit and tie.

The scene outside changed, the landscape morphed right infront of her eyes into normality, a moonlit sky descended but when she looked up to it, her skin began to burn. Smoke was given off, and instinctively she retracted back from it. Behind her, mother spoke for a final time.

"Let's tuck you in."

Looking up, they were back to their demonic state, and as she said this their mouths came bearing down upon her, enveloping her body, but when she looked inside, a figure spoke.

"Come." with a teasing finger trying to draw her in, and naturally she had no choice given the circumstances. A pale cream background with a spray of pastel colours in an otherworldly dimension awaited her as she stepped inside.

[member="Darth Abyss"]

 

[Darth Abyss]

There was very little Abyss was able to see from the outside, while his apprentice fell deeper and deeper into the vision granted to her by the forces of the darkness. One of the few things he caught was the memory of family, a memory that played with how [member="Serenity Loveheart"] perceived the reality inside the vision. Not a surprise, after all he had been confronted with twisted version of his father as well, which had tried to push him of the path of the sith by addressing his conscience which already had been gone.

The body of his apprentice was clearly marked by the struggle against the dangerous substance in her bloodstream. In her current state of mind she would feel little to nothing from the defeating effects of the poison, which made for an even rougher awaking should she survive the test.

Once the glimpse of family faded, it was replaced with the cold embrace of darkness. She had just been introduced into this realm, and now she would learn what else it had to offer, hidden in the depths of the eternal darkness that threatened to swallow her. There was pain there, but also wisdom and knowledge, as well as an end to the past and a beginning for an new future.

Spoiler

Sorry not much for me to write here lol

 

[Natalie LaForte]

As soon as she entered, the vision placed its hand on her shoulder and a warm feeling emerged from within, almost too warm, like boiling, before quickly subsiding into a cold one as a circle opened showing her in command of a ship, specifically, a droid command ship. Immediately in front of her, a super weapon of unknown proportions opened and a beam of light came soaring towards the bridge.

"Orders captain?" 7 droids spoke at once, turning around to face her. "Block it?"

"Routing power to forward shields" "Preparing escape pods" "Launch swarms A-Z" "Brace for impact." But as it hit, nothing happened, at least nothing happened to the ship, nor to the droids but Serenity was hit with the beam of a thousand souls, a black substance that blasted a hole through her chest and went back out leaving a hole straight through, but no blood dripped. This only happened in the dream sequence of course, but as it happened she was flung back into the ethereal dimension and her surrondings turned a blood red for just a millisecond before reverting to normal.

"I've never flown a ship in my life. What does this have to do with anything?"

"Blind, you still are." Closing its hands and then spinning them around on an unseen platform that didn't exist in a 180 turn, another portal opened.

This one was a Jedi temple, mini conflicts engaged throughout, flashes of lighting, orbs of black and white hurling against their foes, screams, torturous sounds, she could feel it all. This was much more vivid, as she looked down for just a second a Jedi Master came to face her. In a split second, her lightsaber was in her hand, blue as the day she had received it, and it clashed with his jade green. It was a stalemate to say the least, neither would doing anything, until he rushed her and clashed his own sword against hers, forcing her against the bottom of a tall cliff. Finally, she recognized it as her father.

"You do not know what you are doing young lady, go back and play like the good child we raised you to be."

Instinctively, she licked her lips and began to speak. "My chains are broken father, and I am finally free." And laughing in an incessant, loud bellowing tone, although there was nothing to echo off of, there were echos.Causing the very earth below her to shatter and the temple was torn asunder, fire began to spread across the plants and flowers, over-confident in himself he continued the attack but fell victim to the earth trembling below him, before swallowing him hole as his foot slipped, travelling into a bottomless cavern.

The dream ended.

"Serenity, you are free. The force will serve you till the end of time, and is your greatest ally." As she spoke, the cavern began to all of a sudden turn the colours grey, dimming them. "The force will never betray you, unlike those who wish to build you up and break you down. Use it. Now." The figure screeched as the entire area was now blackened, and the whiteness emanated off of it. In a sudden move, its claws sunk within her and began channeling electric turning into lightning throughout her veins.

In an instant reaction, a bubble of white expanded from within her soul going outwards and forcing the figure onto the ground, now just being lightness, no more a figure. "Do not forget what has been said to you this day. I know your fate, you too, will grow to overpower even those who call you their servants today." It faded, the background returning to white, which in turn awoke her from its brightness, rubbing her eyes.

[member="Darth Abyss"]

 

[Darth Abyss]

There had been an awakening, a darkness that had clawed itself deep into the flesh and soul of [member="Serenity Loveheart"] now. Light and dark had fought a final fight over her destiny, and once more the darkness had claimed victory. Not pain, not poison, not her past, not even the blinding sight of bright light had been able to break her. She had proven worthy to be sith.

"The first chains are broken."

The metal hand of the Mindeater lifted, and the cup she had consumed the liquid with was pulled back into the black sea from which it came.

"You faced enemies, doubts and temptation and yet you survived where many others only found death."

Abyss moved his head so his the gaps in his mask where his eyes had once been aimed directly at his apprentice. At once his hood was pulled back, revealing the metal skull with a strange metal crown on top, a monstrosity that defied all laws of nature. A true undying entity blessed by the darkness. Instead of his voice an echo, not much more than an memory, faded through the room, the voice of his master summoned by the power of his mind.

"Now, you enter the true ranks of the Sith - Not one order or one empire, but a lineage that stretches through time from its conception to its end."

Red bursts of lighting began to dance over the arms of the husk of darkness, power that waited to be released to baptized her rebirth in the pure power of the dark side.

"Kneel"

Once she would kneel on the ground before him, the energy would be released into her body, painful but not deadly. On the left hand of the Mindeater a symbol began to glow, the dark mark, the mark of all those worthy to be called sith in a linage going back further than even he could see. All that had been given the right to carry it had the ability to summon it at will, and so would she. It was a symbol of the sith beyond the empires and orders that formed and perished with every new age.

"I hereby name you Darth ..."

He made a small pause at the end, allowing her to pick the name that would be the one she was reborn under. She was a now a Darth, a true sith with the strength to erase those that doubted her.

Spoiler

Understood ypur post as end of her vision. If I am wrong, I will edit my post lol.

 

[Natalie LaForte]

Kneeling as commanded, she spoke to him.

"Mara."

There was a simple reason for it. As a child, she was told many stories of old of figures who would cause you to have nightmares. Mara was one of them. They rode on children's chests and fed your brain with dark and evil thoughts. It only seemed fitting given the vision, the nature of what she encountered, and a kick in the nuts to her dad who tore her down. Although not resenting him, she did not like him in any way shape or form.

Now she was a true Sith, to carry out the deeds of those before her and carry on the lineage. She felt powerful, in control, unstoppable but most importantly, important. She knew she could start her rise to power now.

[member="Darth Abyss"]

Spoiler

Oh yes it was the end, would it be appropriate for me to change my tags to Knight now?

 

[Darth Abyss]

"Rise, Darth Mara."

Her new name was her final step on the path to rebirth. The past was now behind her, and while [member="Serenity Loveheart"] might would remain as a name for those close to her, Darth Mara was the title and name she would carry in the presence of all those unworthy to know the truth. A metal hand lifted into the air and pointed at her, while the currents of red lightning slowly died down.

"From now on Darth Mara will become a name that fills the hearts of our enemies with fear, and a name that will stand as an example of power for those that come after us. Now apprentice, now you are truly sith."

The metal figure looked at his creation, and while there was no change in the unmoving face of his body, there was a subtle yet noticeable sense of pride in his voice. He had made her into a sith, and because of it she had now become his gift to the order. One day, maybe a day not to far in the future, she would take on an apprentice herself, continuing the lineage forged ages ago. Darth Mara was his first true masterpiece, and her rise would stand as the example, the standard he would put up on those that would follow in her footsteps. Today the sith had gained a powerful asset, one that would be remembered beyond the current age.

Spoiler

Yes go for it. Also I like Darth Mara as sith moniker, so good choice lol