Disclaimer: I hate writing these. I always have. I just like to make them more fun than they really are. I don't own Star Wars, never have, and never will. I do not claim to own anything, and I'm pretty sure that if George Lucas was really worried about people using his universe, he wouldn't let other authors write novels for him.
Authors Note: I was looking through old papers I wrote for school and I found this one in my Creative Writing class section. In case you were wondering, I wrote this a year ago, 4-11-08 to be exact. The quote provided was the prompt my teacher gave us, so I suppose it was partially my inspiration for this story. Hope you enjoy!
~ Aiden Skywalker
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." – Eleanor Roosevelt
Whether or not the boy would confess his feelings, Dooku could already sense Qui-Gon's hurt. Even had it not been flowing off him in waves through the Force, the boys master could pick up on anything by the look in his padawan's eyes. Usually a vibrant green, which seemed to reflect the boys' connection to the living Force, Qui-Gon's eyes could display a vast amount of emotions. Change was subtle, almost non-existent within the apprentices' eyes; if you did not know how to read them. However, his master seemed to be the only one to pick them up. With Dooku's experience, the difference was night and day.
"How was class today, padawan?" the older man asked calmly.
It was a simple question really, and yet Dooku knew if he asked it correctly, he could easily discover what he wanted to know.
"Fine, master. Just like any other day."
The tone in his voice gave everything away. Now, all that Dooku had to do was make one more deft move.
"Did the mentor teach you anything new?"
"He said I wasn't improving as quickly as the other students! Everyone in that class believes that I'm just an oaf with a lightsaber! They just kept commenting on how I should be more elegant… just like my master."
Just as Dooku had expected, Qui-Gon was doubting himself again; a restricting chain to which his padawan clung so desperately.
"Did they say that to you? That you were an oaf?"
"No, but they were thinking it."
"I wasn't aware that you were studying the ways of mind reading yet, padawan," now his tone was patronizing.
"What's that supposed to mean? Of course I can sense others' thoughts! I was able to do that since I was ten, master!"
Silence filled the room, making Qui-Gon edgy. Dooku knew that even before a soft tapping sound echoed from the table on which his padawans' fingers drummed. Impatiently waiting for his master to respond, Qui-Gon's fingers stilled before a frustrated sigh escaped his lips.
"No, master. Nobody said that."
Dooku smiled inwardly; he was proud when his young apprentice could solve problems on his own. Emotion had its way of clouding Qui-Gon's wisdom, holding back on the reasoning skills Dooku knew Qui-Gon could depend on in a tight situation. Lately, as Qui-Gon had been meeting new obstacles in his life, he had been quick to let his emotions take over in a passionate storm; distracting him from making the right choices.
"Padawan, do not let other people get to you. Your instructor was simply trying to help you improve. You mustn't take it personally."
"I know, but it's so hard when everyone else is doing so much better than I am."
"Don't let them get to you, Padawan. Pay no attention to them. If they as good as you say they are, they don't care about your progress as much as they care about their own. Focus on your strengths, work on your weaknesses, listen to your instructor, and you shouldn't have any problems."
Qui-Gon sighed, "I suppose you're right."
"As always, padawan. As always."