Marvel crosses Star Wars, and everyone attacks the galaxy

There was silence for a long moment, until Celeste spoke.

"And you, James Barnes," Celeste asked curiously. "What's your story?"

Bucky sighed tiredly, his expression changing to one that was more weathered and exhausted.

"It's a lot of shit, to say the least," he said quietly.

Celeste leaned forward on the table with her arms crossed.

"Tell me," she whispered.

......

"What is this?" Celeste asked, holding up a purple fruit.

“Plums,” Bucky said, having already paid the fruit vendor. “It’s a type of fruit.”

“Plum,” Celeste repeated in a low voice, taking a tentative sniff of the spherical fruit before taking a large bite.

She immediately let out a high-pitched cheer and turned towards an amused Bucky, who was holding a bag filled with purple fruit.

The Jedi shadow practically glowed in his direction, turning as she stepped forward, while her 'partner' turned back to the vendor, nodding in acknowledgement.

Currently, the two are strolling in a bustling market in the European country of Germany.

They have come a long way since the Siberian, Russian wilderness, passing through several other European countries including Poland, Belarus and the Czech Republic.

For Celeste, this was a very memorable experience because she saw a culture that was both unfamiliar and familiar at the same time.

As for Bucky...

For the veteran, it was quite surreal to be standing in a country he had once been at war with.

For a moment, Buggy's perspective shifts to the battlefield, standing amidst the rubble and ruins, with friends from a bygone era by his side.

A time that neither he nor his closest friends could truly experience.

"Where to next?" Celeste asked loudly, shaking with excitement.

The veteran gave the Jedi a bemused smile.

"Didn't you say you would--"

"What is that?" Celeste pointed out suddenly, turning immediately to the thing that caught her attention.

Bucky froze in place, arms raised slightly, mouth open, and then he laughed to himself.

When he first met her and got to know her, she seemed cautious and he could easily see how exhausted she was.

So much like him, almost creepy.

It was almost like he was staring into a mirror in terms of the resemblance.

Yet she had a sense of innocent wonder whenever they traveled together. Although for argument's sake, if he was being taken to territory familiar to Celeste, the same could be said the other way around... despite how much time had passed.

Shaking his head, he walked over to the Jedi who was checking out several people behind a glass window, setting up a large number of lights and decorations on a familiar tree.

“What are they doing?” Celeste asked.

"They're putting up a Christmas tree."

"That is......?"

“A holiday about gift giving,” he replied. “Just giving gifts to the people you care about and everyone. Nothing too complicated.”

"Gifts," Celeste muttered.

Bucky hummed and smiled, making Moon look at him.

"what happened?"

“Just thinking about the last time I celebrated Christmas,” Bucky said, a faraway look in his eyes. “It was 1941. America was dragged into the war, and I knew it was only a matter of time before I was deployed. That was the last real Christmas I ever spent. Me and my best mate. And… well, I wouldn’t mind trying again one day.”

Celeste already knew who Bucky was referring to and placed a gentle hand on his arm.

"You'll see Captain Rogers again one day," Celeste said softly.

“I can only hope,” Bucky said, shaking his head.

"Until then, how would you like to celebrate?"

Bucky thought back to the many Christmases he had celebrated in the past. Even more so when he was an adult.

Some of that time was focused on being with Steve and family and friends. Aside from them, he tried to think about how she personally celebrated...which was probably not the right thing to bring up, as it would undoubtedly ruin the current mood.

“Hmm… we’re still a few days away from Christmas. Bucky said out loud, thoughtfully. “We can think of something for both of us. It could be a welcome ceremony for you to come to Earth, like a celebration.”

Celeste laughed heartily at that. "I like it very much."

In the hotel room where they were staying, Celeste stood on the balcony and watched the fireworks bloom in the distance.

Apparently, this is a New Year celebration, and it is now 2016 AD.

They had long since left Germany and were now in Denmark, now on their way north.

One might ask, why would they travel north?

Celeste is a Jedi Knight who further enlightens Bucky Barnes on what that really means and what it allows her to do.

Basic abilities that almost all Force users have access to, such as perception.

Of course, there are also some more esoteric, stranger, and deadly abilities like telepathic persuasion, lightning, and healing.

Currently, she is using a “feeling” as a guide of sorts to her Nordic destinations.

It's also weird because Celeste talked about how weird Bucky's planet is.

She described it as both present and ineffective in the Force at first.

Of course, this would only confuse the simple-minded soldier, so she had to think about it.

At first, their journey together took a few days, which then turned into weeks until she was able to work out a proper plan.

Ultimately, she was able to describe it as something similar, yet different.

She got a more confused look from Bucky in response, and she more or less gave up at this point.

For her part, he was at least willing to go with her "feelings" and see where it would lead them both. He kept commenting on how she might be a wizard if she knew Gandalf, and now, the hobbit was becoming her favorite.

But for now, she was more focused on the dazzling, explosive light display in the distance, as cheers and celebrations filled the air outside the hotel.

"Not used to watching fireworks?" Bucky asked from his bed.

“It’s so strange to see them being used for celebrations,” she said, not taking her eyes off the display in the sky. “Sometimes, the things I see are often used to represent things.

“I can imagine. I barely saw them myself during World War II when I was deployed. After that, I can recall seeing them in moments that I wish hadn’t happened.

Celeste could clearly understand what he meant.

She reached down to the ugly jewelry tied around her neck and thought back to the countless times she had lost control of her actions.

“You know… you never told me what that thing on your neck was,” Bucky began. “I see it on you all the time and I never see you take it off.”

Celeste didn't respond at first, but leaned against the railing, holding on tightly to it.

“What is this, Celeste?” Bucky asked, his tone softer as he saw her very troubled demeanor.

The Jedi Shadow let out a shaky, haggard sigh as she turned back to face the man who had become her friend.

"Cursed is the best way to describe it," she said angrily. "A parasite that I want to give up, but can't do so well."

Bucky looked troubled. “Can’t you pry it open or cut it?”

Morn just scoffed at the suggestion. "If only it were that easy."

“What the hell is that?” Bucky asked, now sitting on the edge of the bed.

“An ancient creation, forged through the Force by twisted and dark means. Within this amulet resides the soul of one of the oldest and earliest Sith Lords in the galaxy.” Celeste said calmly. “His name was Cannith Moore. He created this vile trinket in a quest for immortality and galactic conquest. And with it came a power far more terrible and deadly.”

"exist......"

"Creating a horrific army that can be unleashed and controlled by the one who carries this amulet. An army that can infect others through a bite or scratch, which will painfully change the person within 48 hours, with no cure at all. Worst of all, when the person least expects it, the Murr will surface and take over the wearer to satisfy his own needs.

“What kind of infection is this?”

"Cannith created something called the Rak'gul Plague," Celeste revealed. "To say it's dangerous is an understatement.

“Yeah, you told me it was biting and spreading like crazy.” Bucky nodded.

Celeste placed her hand on the amulet again.

"The Rakki plague has devastated the galaxy for countless centuries," Morn said. "Many lives have been lost due to this blasted amulet and the evil man who created it."

“How did you get it?” Bucky asked, making Celeste nervous.

She was silent for a long moment until she let out a breath.

"The previous owner brought it to the Mandalorian-held world of Jebel and unleashed the plague so that it would be easier to conquer. Unfortunately, it was lost prematurely, and everyone on his ship became infected. It crashed, and the plague infected nearly all of the Mandalorians that occupied Jebel. After such a long battle, I was able to acquire it. To protect everyone from the Rak'k's plague, I took on the burden of carrying the plague with me, locking myself in the sarcophagus in which you found me.

Bucky's expression was now more guarded and uneasy.

"So you're saying that thing could come back to life at any time?"

Celeste nodded.

“That’s why we need to find a way to remove it from me, either by destroying it or burying it somewhere no one can find it. Celeste said, her tone more desperate. “It’s been so long since I last felt like myself, and it has something to do with this planet. I don’t know what it is, what caused it, but it gave me this opportunity, and…”

Bucky appeared in front of her in an instant and took both of her hands in his.

Her breathing was erratic and tears were streaming down her face.

Without hesitation, the Winter Soldier took the Jedi Knight into a gentle embrace. Before long, she was holding him close, her arms wrapped tightly around him, all of those emotions bubbling to the surface after so long.

“I see them all the time,” Celeste whispered to him. “What Moore did to all these people, the experiments, their screams. I hear them every night when I go to sleep.

Bucky's eyes widened slightly and he hugged her tighter than before.

She kept talking and didn't even notice what he did.

"I tried to resist the Force." Morn was crying now. "I wanted to use the Force to help people, but I ended up doing the opposite. As a Jedi, I failed. As a friend to the people I came with, I failed. I..."

She couldn't say any more words and she just hugged Bucky and cried.