AN: And here is the final installment of Jorya's tale, thank you so much to all who've read and enjoyed this story.

Ramblings: The Diary of Jorya Lank

Entry 17

I'm proud to say that as of today I'm a Jedi Knight and I couldn't be happier. My knighting came as a big surprise to me actually. Apparently the Council felt that with all I've been through and actually SURVIVING is good enough for me to be Knighted. I get the feeling that if a war wasn't going on and if my Master was still alive then it might still another couple years before my Knighting.

So this is how it happened. I was suddenly called to the Council Chamber without a cause, and when I entered the chamber it was pitch black. Then 12 lightsabers were ignited around the room and at that moment I knew what was happening. I'm afraid I couldn't help but start silently bawling throughout Master Yoda's speech, and when he sheered my braid from my head I had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep from crying loudly.

Fortunately the Council seemed to understand that I was crying from a mixture of relief, happiness and sadness that Master Ellia wasn't at my side. I had to take a few moments to compose myself, and then Master Yoda finished the ceremony. And now I'm a Jedi Knight, what I've been striving for my entire life. Yet I still feel like a Padawan. I'm feeling so incredibly proud, but in some way I feel like I don't deserve it.

I can't stop looking at my braid. For so long it defined what I was and now that it's gone in some small way I feel as if the remaining innocence I carried is forever gone. I know this is a big part of being a Jedi, and I'm proud to be a Knight, but it's so strange. I know that now my time in the Temple is short, and I'm sure I'll be back on the battlefield in a few weeks or less. The Republic needs all the Jedi Knights it can get. Unless of course, this war ends.

The best part of this all is that Teran was Knighted today as well. We take advantage of every moment we have together and I worry that we may someday be parted forever. But like a Jedi I will do my best to handle this.

Entry 18

This will be my last entry. The war is over, and Jedi everywhere are being ruthlessly murdered by the newly formed Empire. So far I've been fortunate to evade capture.

Today Teran and I decided to take a short trip outside to one of Coruscant's few indoor parks for a picnic. We wanted to celebrate our Knighting. And I'm sad to say that while we were picnicking, our world was torn apart. Clonetroopers stormed the Temple and killed every single Jedi. I don't think even the younglings survived. When we saw the smoking Temple from afar, we knew it wouldn't be safe to return.

My family has been utterly destroyed, it seems the Force has tricked us. I feel as though I should've been at the Temple fighting alongside my comrades, but I know I would be killed along with them. I thought I knew what pain was once Master Ellia was taken from me during the war, but that is nothing compared to every Jedi being wiped out simultaneously.

And Palpatine, the man who seemed a beacon of strength for the Republic has now become the sole dictator for the new Empire. He has betrayed us all, and now there is no safe place for a Jedi.

We're being forced (no pun intended) to give up the only life we know and go into hiding. Teran says we'll escape to the Outer Rim somewhere, hopefully this new Empire will not reach that far. And Teran has proposed, we shall be married once we reach our destination. He's the one highlight of this exile. Strange it seems that the relationship I've wanted for so long is now mine to have, but I lost what I didn't think I could ever stand to lose.

So Teran and I have created new identities for ourselves and we have discarded anything that might tie us to the Jedi Order. Including our lightsabers, which was the hardest thing to part with, but I still carry our lightsaber crystals with me.

This datapad is the last thing to go, this is yet one more dangerous thing for me to keep. I hope that if anyone finds this datapad they have a better appreciation of Jedi. Jedi were not perfect beings, (as my diary will attest) but everything we did was done with compassion and mercy. I may longer bear resemblance to a Jedi Knight, but I will ALWAYS be Jedi. The Empire will not take that from me.

I hate parting with this diary, it has been my sounding board for months. I have shed more tears with this little datapad than one can imagine. This year has been wrought with sorrow, but I found my true love. Looking back, I can see just how much I've changed and grown through the years. This diary endured my crèche troubles, suffered though the long battle of Boz Pity with me, and was there when I lost my Master. I feel as if I've lived a whole life in one year. But for me it's not over yet, I will live to remember.

I am and forever will be Jorya Lank, Jedi Knight.