something something about Caleb Dume surviving the genocide of his people and divorcing himself from his culture and remaking himself entirely in order to survive
and something something about orphaned Ezra Bridger who loves Lothal but doesnât quite belong being adopted into a self-made-cobbled-together family of outcasts from multiple cultures
and something something about Kanan choosing to embrace his culture and religion again despite his fear and the risk it brings to him and his family
and something something about Ezra embracing that culture as whole-heartedly as he can when so much of it has been lost
and something something about both of being denied the ability to practice certain aspects of their religion because otherwise they might be killed for it
and something something about Kanan remembering how Master Billaba carefully sheared his hair and oh so reverently plaited his Padawan braid and held it gently between her fingertips and told him she would do right by him and told him not to be afraid and told him she would be there for him until her dying breath and beyond and told him that he was going to be a great Jedi Knight one day and told him âyou are our future youngling and I will do everything in my power to protect that futureâ
and something something about Kanan looking at Ezraâs wild hair with something hollow and aching tucked between his ribs because he longs to show Ezra the devotion his Master showed him and her Master showed before her and his Master before him but itâs not safe to gently plait that Padawan braid behind Ezraâs ear because such a sign of devotion will mean death and Kanan can only hope that Ezra understands how much Kanan loves him and how much Kanan is proud of him and how much hope and life he sees in his Padawan because while that Padawan braid may be the physical link between future and past tying together generations of Masters and Padawans who have lived and loved and passed on because âwe are what they grow beyondââ
Kanan knows that every moment has led to this and Ezra is the future his Master and her Master before her never expected but they would be so proud to see Ezra now and Kanan can only hope Ezra knows how proud Kanan is of him too and know when he looks at Ezra he knows everything is going to be okay because âwe are what they grow beyondâ and despite everything thatâs been lost to them Ezra is carrying the heart and soul of thousands of years of legacy and Kanan looks at Ezra knowing he canât give him that Padawan braid but heâll be damned if he canât teach him the things that matter and heâll be damned if he doesnât do everything to protect the future he sees in Ezraâs eyes












