Summary: When Anakin is knighted, he also receives a Padawan of his own. Will she be able to stop his descent into darkness?

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars. Please don't sue- I have no money anyway so you wouldn't get anything. Karys and Katie belong to me though.

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Karys collapsed on the metal floor of the small practice room. "Oh bummer- I'll NEVER be able to manage this new trick," she sighed, as Katie, her best friend, helped her to her feet.

"Hey, no-one's perfect at everything," Katie reassured her friend "After all, whenever we learn another language- you are ALWAYS better than me…"

"I know," snapped Karys irritably (it's very hard not to be at least a little put out if you have repeatedly been falling onto a relatively hard floor for several minutes).

"I was only trying to help…" murmured Katie "Come on," she added "Let's start getting back to the dorms now- if we stay here much longer, the grown-ups will be wondering where we are."

"Sorry, I can't. I have to see the Council in," she checked the chrono above the door "Oh Force- ten minutes!"

"Good luck, then" Katie looked worried- the Council had a reputation amongst the younglings and padawans for being very scary "May the Force be with you!"

"You too. Seeya later!" Karys frowned as her best friend left the room. Then she turned and hurried off to get changed.

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A few minutes later, she was standing in the lift, heading up towards the Chambers. Her nervousness grew with every passing moment. She wondered why the council wanted to see her. Probably because of her pranks, which she loved pulling on the adults at every available opportunity. Maybe they had decided she wasn't fit to be a Jedi, and she was going to go to AgriCorps instead! Her fear levels rose with the lift as she completed the journey to her destination.

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"Rise Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight!" Yoda's voice proclaimed the words Anakin had wanted to hear all his life.

He stood up, elation surging through every fibre of his being. He was a Jedi! A proper Jedi- not just a Padawan anymore! Bowing, he turned to leave.

"Stay, young Skywalker. Go yet, you cannot." Yoda's insistent voice stopped him. Anakin turned.

"Is there something else Masters?" The Council all looked pointedly at Obi-Wan, who smiled as he turned to his friend.

"Well, Anakin" he was grinning now "It took a long time to discuss, and some people needed a bit of persuasion to even begin discussing it, but…

"But?"

"You're going to get a Padawan." It took a few moments for that to sink in.

"A Padawan?"

"Must you repeat? Yes, a Padawan. We've found one that, I think, will suit you." He waved his hand and Anakin heard the door to the Chamber open behind him. Obi-Wan smiled at someone over Anakin's shoulder.

"Padawan Karys, I would like you to meet your new master, Anakin Skywalker." Anakin heard a gasp. He turned to see a young human girl standing in the doorway. She looked to be about ten. Neither tall nor short, even a Force-blind being could tell she was shocked, simply by looking at her face. He imagined he looked a bit stunned too.

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Karys stood in shock, looking at her new Master. 'I got Anakin Skywalker. I got Anakin Skywalker' repeated over and over in her mind, refusing to actually sink in. Everyone wanted Anakin for a Master, and she had actually got him!

Anakin looked a little surprised as well. He had, after all, only just become a Knight and having a Padawan was a big responsibility. Still, Master Kenobi had done a pretty good job of training Anakin, or Master Skywalker as she guessed she should call him now, and he'd begun training him when he'd only just been Knighted. And everyone knew Master Skywalker was more powerful than Master Kenobi, so it was obvious Master Kenobi had trained him well.

Master Kenobi's voice broke into her thoughts "Anakin, you will keep your current quarters, but Karys will have a room in them from now on. You'd better go get settled."

Master Skywalker bowed. Karys copied before following him out of the Council Chamber. After a while, her new Master's long strides became too much for her to keep up with and she called for him to stop for a moment. Master Skywalker turned, an amused smile on his face as he watched his new Padawan scramble to his side.

"Sorry. Guess I'm too used to Master Kenobi being able to keep up with me."

"I'm a little shorter than Master Kenobi." She gasped. Master Skywalker chuckled.

"I'll try to slow down in future," he replied, sounding a little more serious.

"Don't worry- I want to have running practice until my legs grow" this made her new Master laugh.

"We're almost there- just a few more corridors. Reckon you can manage?" he was teasing her now. She simply smirked back. Laughing, the two of them headed down the few halls left to go.

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Anakin Skywalker's quarters were laid out as any normal Jedi's, but instead of leaving it there, he'd put in several different decorative items, all exotic. It wasn't expensive, but it looked really nice.

"Wow" was all Karys could say as she looked around.

"Like it?"

"Yeah, but" she gulped "I thought Jedi rooms were meant to be simple?"

"Never liked that idea. I used to annoy Obi-Wan so much when I shared his rooms by bringing stuff back from off-world missions. He used to insist I put it all in my room- which became a small treasure trove after a while. At least here I have space to spread it all out."

"It's really cool" Karys said, meaning all three words. She liked her new Master's individuality. Said Master smiled.

"Glad you like it. Now, your room should be somewhere along here. There's a room that's always been locked- it might be for you…" It was. The cleaner droid had prepared it, unlocked it and brought all Karys's stuff down from the dorms. This relieved her, as she didn't know where she was and she imagined it would have taken her a while to bring her clothes and saber down, more because she would probably have gotten lost along the way than her having a lot of stuff- which she didn't.

"Get yourself sorted out. Dinner's a couple of hours, so you'll have plenty of time. I have to visit someone now, but it should only take an hour or so and I'll be right back, 'kay?"

"Fine by me. You're the Master round here anyways" This made Anakin grin. Karys felt his happiness surge through the Force- he seemed to like being the Master. He left her to get sorted out.

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Padmé stood on the veranda of her apartment, wondering why Anakin had been called to the Jedi Council Chambers at such short notice. She looked at the sky, and saw a familiar Jedi starfighter wing its way towards her. It looked like her questions were about to be answered.

As soon as it had landed, Anakin jumped out. He was looking cheerful as he strode towards her, a grin plastering his face. He hadn't looked so happy since before his mother died. Padmé wondered why.

"Let's go inside- I have a lot to tell you" he announced, slightly breathlessly, before leading her into the apartment.

"So what's happened my love?" she asked as soon as they were inside.

"Can't you tell?" he replied, moving his head to one side as he did so. Then she noticed- his braid was gone.

"You're… You've been…"

"Knighted, yeah!" he laughed in sheer joy "And there's something else too."

"What?"

"They gave me a Padawan!"

"Already? Wow- Ani, that's amazing!" Padmé knew that it usually took years for a Knight to obtain a Padawan- and yet Anakin had one already "What's their name?"

"Her name's Karys."

"A girl? Why?"

"Why not?" He smiled down at her "She's not going to come between us. She doesn't know, and I'm not planning on telling her. Besides, she's only about ten. It'll be fine. Trust me" any reply from Padmé was smothered as the love of her life leant in for a long, passionate kiss.

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Karys felt her Master's presence draw nearer to the small living area they now shared. "Right on time" she muttered, looking up at the clock. It had been almost exactly an hour since he'd left. She wondered who he'd been to see, then pushed the thought away. It wasn't her business.

Master Skywalker came in, smiling. He never seemed to stop smiling now- and his grin was infectious. Karys couldn't help but smile back.

"Let's get dinner ready then, shall we?" it wasn't really a question. "You like that?" he pointed to the piece of pottery Karys was looking at. She nodded.

"From Naboo. Loads of beautiful stuff there. I love going, though it's been about two years since I last went there. It's an amazing place- I'll take you sometime." Karys smiled.

"I'd like that. So- what's for dinner Master?"

"Erm... Well, let's see what we can find. You any good at cooking?"

"Not really"

"Makes two of us then. So- let's see what mess we can concoct and call it dinner." His grin became even broader as he led her towards the kitchen and Karys couldn't help smiling as well.

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Like it? Hate it? Constructive criticism is welcome, flames aren't. Please review! This is likely to be my first long Star Wars fic. Next chapter up soon!