"Incredible," Celeste murmured to herself. "They actually knew the Force?"
"In ways neither you nor I fully comprehend," the Ancient One said, moving to stand beside the Jedi.
"How... how old was Agamotto?" Celeste found herself asking.
The Ancient One simply shrugged slightly. "He grew wise when wisdom was needed. Just as early humans discovered fire when they required warmth, or tools when survival demanded them."
"That doesn't really answer my question," Celeste said with a slight frown.
"Not all questions have answers that satisfy us," the Ancient One replied, turning to face the Jedi. "Not everything must be explained to be understood. Some mysteries may never be solved. What matters is how we use the time of our existence."
Celeste fell silent, considering these words carefully.
"There is no death, only the Force," she said after a moment.
"Meaning?"
"The final line of the Jedi Code," Celeste explained. "It speaks of how, regardless of what happens to us, we all eventually pass on and become one with the Force, or, given what you've taught me, with the universe itself. It's meant to remind us that we should make the most of what we have, and ensure our actions matter to others."
The Ancient One smiled approvingly and, with a casual wave of her hands, dismissed the holographic Kwa figure and settled the blue robes around Celeste's shoulders.
"I believe these will serve you better than gathering dust in this hidden chamber," she said, patting Celeste's shoulder before stepping back to allow the Jedi Shadow to examine her new garments.
The Force, energy, magic, practically hummed from the fabric, making her feel lighter and more connected to the cosmic forces around her.
She laughed softly to herself as the robe settled naturally around her frame, the sensation both familiar and thrilling.
Celeste left the relic vault and made her way to the quarters she and Bucky had been assigned at Kamar-Taj.
Opening the door, she found him lying on the bed with a book in his hands.
"Lord of the Rings again?" Celeste asked with obvious amusement.
"Seems appropriate, given our current setting," the WWII veteran shrugged, glancing up briefly from the pages. "One of the librarians here, Wong, I think, apparently has the extended edition box set of the movie trilogy, complete with cast and director commentaries."
"Really?" Celeste laughed. "Sounds like you've found your new obsession."
"Absolutely," Bucky replied without hesitation. "I may not be thrilled with most things from this century, but I'll make an exception for Tolkien."
Celeste made a mock-pained expression. "Just one exception?"
Bucky chuckled, closing the book and sliding off the bed to approach her.
"Well, I can think of at least one other thing," he said quietly, slipping an arm around her waist while she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
They looked at each other for a long moment, until,
"Where did you get the new robe?" Bucky asked, running his metal fingers over the azure fabric.
"Do you like it?" Celeste asked, lifting the hem slightly so he could examine it better. "The Ancient One gave it to me. Apparently, it belonged to an ancient race that used the Force and visited this planet thousands of years ago."
"Really?" Bucky murmured, studying the craftsmanship. "How has it stayed intact all this time?"
Celeste shrugged. "Magic. The Force. Maybe both?"
"Both sound equally plausible at this point," Bucky said, shaking his head in bemusement.
Celeste laughed and pulled him down for a deep kiss. He responded immediately, and they stayed locked together for several minutes until both were breathing heavily.
The former Winter Soldier chuckled and caressed Celeste's flushed cheek with his flesh hand.
"I love seeing you like this," he said softly.
"What? Breathless, flustered, and wanting to tackle you onto that bed?" Celeste asked teasingly.
Bucky grinned and pressed his forehead against hers.
"What about you?" she whispered.
"What about me?"
"You've been here the whole time I've been off learning the greater mysteries of the universe. That hardly seems fair to leave you alone like that."
"Fair?" Bucky asked, surprised. "You've been able to expand your understanding of your abilities, and after everything we've been through, I've found some measure of peace. I'd call that a victory."
Celeste shook her head and pressed closer to him, enjoying the strength of his embrace.
They stood in comfortable silence for a while.
Celeste's fingers traced along his vibranium arm as she hummed thoughtfully.
"What's on your mind?"
"I saw something interesting in the relic vault today."
"Oh? What kind of something?"
Her fingers continued their gentle exploration of his prosthetic.
"The Ancient One mentioned how certain objects can be imbued with mystical energy to enhance their capabilities," Celeste said carefully. "Perhaps, "
Bucky chuckled and gently interrupted her. "Let's not go down that road just yet."
"Why not?"
"Because it feels like I'd need to earn something like that. Can't just accept charity for doing nothing," Bucky pointed out with characteristic practicality. "Besides, I'd rather focus on getting other things sorted out first."
"You think they can help with your programming?"
"We're in a place where actual magic exists," he replied with a slight smile. "I'm betting they have ways to clean unwanted code out of someone's head."
Celeste nodded, settling back against him contentedly as they enjoyed this moment of peace and intimacy together.