AN: I do not own Star Wars nor anything affiliated with George Lucas. I do not own the concept of "Digidestined" or Yamato Ishida or Takeru Takahashi or Gennai. Plot line is mine. The Gakkou is mine. Mrs. Ishida and Hope are mine. Kassie/Cassona Elemental Ishida is mine. Take her and I will hunt you down and hurt you.

Now all has been said. On to the tale...

Exchange Student

Chapter 1: In Which a Trouble Maker Arrives

Qui-gon Jinn was on his way to the Council chambers after being called to report on his last mission with his apprentice Obi-wan. The mission had only been a diplomatic treaty signing that the two tribes had wanted a Jedi presiding over. Simple. There seemed no need to talk to Qui-gon directly, but here he was walking towards the Council chambers.

Qui-gon approached the Council chamber entrance and the Jedi standing by the door opened it for him. Qui-gon nodded thanks and entered in to see the Jedi Council.

"Master Qui-gon, your mission went well, it did."

Qui-gon nodded to Master Yoda. "It went smoothly, my master."

"Good. Now another request for you we have."

Qui-gon raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Master Mace Windu took over the conversation. "There is a new student that will be studying at the Temple. She is only staying for a year or two. We were wondering if you might consider being her guardian at the Temple."

Qui-gon was perplexed. "A Jedi's training is for life, Master Windu. I don't understand how this student would only stay for a year or two."

"She is not Jedi, nor will she ever be...there are other things expected of her." Adi Gallia spoke now.

"Surpassed expectations quickly she does. Completed everything at the Gakkou she has."

Qui-gon looked to Master Yoda. "The Gakkou? The School on Gaea?"

"One Master Gigano runs, yes."

Qui-gon let a faint smile touch his lips. Master Gigano had been a trusted friend for many years, and although he lived outside the Republic. He was a humanoid from the planet known to the Jedi as Gaea.

"The student coming to the Temple is Master Gigano's student," Master Windu said, interrupting Qui-gon's train of thought.

Qui-gon nodded.

"Explain all these things, Master Gigano will."

The door to the Council Chambers opened and allowed the aforementioned Master Gigano to enter the room.

"Masters," the man greeted. He had the hairstyle of a padawan, minus the braid, with a short ponytail at the nape of the neck. His robes were of a clean cream color, similar to the Jedi's robes. His face was emotionless, except for the dark eyes.

"Welcome, Master Gennai Gigano."

"Thank you, Master Windu."

"Master Gigano, can you explain this situation to us?"

Master Gigano nodded and began his tale. "My student has been studying at the Gakkou for a year. In that time she has managed to surpass all the expectations we have set for her. Her academics are off the charts, she has stepped into a leadership role in her class and the school, and she has mastered all of the martial arts and weaponry that I can teach her." He paused briefly. "I was hoping that the Temple would be able to further her education."

"The Jedi Council approves of your student coming to study here. However, she will be in need of a guardian while she is in the Temple," Mace Windu commented.

"I understand, however, I do not think she will appreciate any guardian," Master Gigano countered.

"Need one she does."

Master Gigano watched the short Jedi Master come out of his chair to pace the floor. "She does. Even she sees that need in her life. And although I want to do what I can for her, there is only so much I, as her formal Sensei, can do."

The short green-skinned master paced the floor as he listened to Master Gigano. Bringing an "exchange" student into the temple was becoming more difficult.

"Life been for her hard, hmm?"

Qui-gon turned his head to catch the answer to the current question.

Master Gigano lowered his head. "Her life has been comfortable, but recently has taken a drastic change. Her parents both died in a car accident. She was then sent to an orphanage in southern California because of a clerical error. She was then adopted by Lydia Williams and came to Japan. She is Digidestined and spent part of the summer with me in the digital world. She then talked her mother into letting her come to the Gakkou. She has been there for a year and has exceeded all of others and my expectations."

"What about her mother?"

Gigano looked at Mace Windu, who had posed the question. "Mrs. Ishida, formerly Miss Williams, is more concerned about her career than her children. Kassie, my student, was adopted to be a protégé, but Kassie would not leave a child she had saved, Hope. Hope was also adopted by Mrs. Ishida and is now in a boarding school in a different country. Kassie's mother also married a divorced man who is father to two of the Core Digidestined, Yamato and Takeru. Both parents are workaholics so most of the family matters come to Kassie for her to deal with."

"Does her mother mind her being away for so long?"

"Unfortunately, no. She has no problems with seeing her children only four to six times during the course of the year."

"Poor girls," Qui-gon mumbled to himself.

"Kassie has become the mother for Hope and the guardian for Yamato. She is more than capable of handling this role, but she is only 14."

Qui-gon's eyes widened. "She is doing this at 14?"

"Yes," was Gigano's reply.

"Force bless her."

"Might her family suffer by her being here?" Adi Gallia asked.

"Not with magickally sustained phones and computer connections."

"Can she sustain these things, Master Gigano?"

"She doesn't understand the amount of power she has."

"And how much power would that be?" Master Windu questioned.

Master Gigano took in a deep breath and said, "I believe her to be the first of the reawakened Dejani. She has a signel on her forehead which only flares when she is deeply in tune with a battle. It is a cross with a star at the center and tasseled ends. That is the signel of the Dejani of Magick and the Celestial Princess."

"Be she of different order perhaps? Be mistaken of signel you are?"

"Her full name is Cassona." Gigano looked at the small green master. "She made it up and renamed herself."

"So, begun it has."

Master Gigano nodded. "The others will awaken soon. Then she will train them."

Master Windu interrupted with, "That doesn't answer my question."

"She is answerable only to the Force." Qui-gon spoke now. He turned to Gigano, "Correct?"

"Yes."

"Taken her creed has she?"

"When she becomes 16. After 2 more school years."

"Prepare her all in 2 years. Difficult, hmm?"

"Yes."

"Master Qui-gon, be her guardian you will?"

There was no hesitation. "Yes."


Obi-wan sat with Bant, Garen, and Siri near the lake this garden held. It was good to be home among his friends. Garen was talking at the moment.

"Come on, Siri, it would be fun!"

"Oh yeah, it would be tons of fun to scrub rocks for the next three months."

"We won't get caught."

"That's what you said last time," Bant quietly reminded.

"Not you too."

"She has a point."

"Siri, it is just a small prank. No one is going to get hurt this time."

Siri rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure."

"Obi-wan back me up on this. Obi-wan? Hey Obi!"

Obi-wan turned back to the conversation. "What am I backing you up on?"

"See, he backs me," Garen said with a smile.

"No, he wants to know what is going on."

Before another argument could erupt Obi-wan entered the conversation. "What crazy scheme are you coming up with now?"

"Well, I-"

"Hey, look over there." Bant pointed to the other side of the lake. There was a girl who looked to be about their age sitting on the bank, looking at the water. She seemed to be focusing on something in the water. She moved her legs so that she sat lotus style on the bank with her back straight and hands on her knees. She stared straight across to the other side of the bank.

The group of friends on the other side of the bank were surprised, not to see a student apparently meditating, but at seeing the clothes the girl wore. She had on faded blue pants with a short sleeved fitted black shirt. She has some sort of plastic contraption on her head and had pulled her brown hair into a bun at the nape of the neck.

She finally closed her eyes a few minutes later and appeared to be breathing deeply, like she was letting go of her surroundings.

Garen was the first to say anything. "Those don't look like any clothes any student or padawan has."

Siri nodded. One of the very few times she actually agreed with Garen.

Suddenly there was a ring of the musical sort that startled them all, except the girl across the lake. She slowly opened her eyes and sighed before reaching to her right and grabbing a small silver elongated box, at least that was what it looked like to Obi-wan. Apparently the box had buttons on it because the girl pressed one. Then she held the box to her ear.

"Moshi moshi," she said into the box.

"Must be some sort of communicator," Obi-wan whispered to the group.

The girl continued to talk into the communicator with a sort of faraway look on her face. The foursome only picked up a few words such as, "sensei," "gomen," and "alex." Her voice was soft and did not carry very far. It was a short conversation and after she was done, her head turned toward the group. They were still watching her.

The girl smiled and waved before she stood up. She walked along the bank until she was just across from them. Bant noticed she had no shoes on.

"Hey," the girl greeted.

"Hi," Siri responded slowly.

"Would any of you be able to show me where the Council Chambers are?"

The four friends looked at each other. Obi-wan spoke to the girl.

"I can show you." He rose to his feet.

"Obi-wan, we don't even know who she is," Siri whispered to him.

"Don't worry; I think I can handle her. Besides I have to meet my master at the Council Chambers in a few minutes."

"Just be aware."

"I will, Bant."

Obi-wan turned back to the girl. "I'll come around to that side." She nodded and walked back over to where she had been sitting. Obi-wan was quick to get around the lake. This girl was obviously not from the temple and he was curious.

He waited at the edge of the path towards the door for her. Her shoes made a lot of noise.

"Kassie," she said.

"What?"

She smiled a carefree smile. "My name is Kassie."

"Oh. Obi-wan."

"Nice to meet you."

"You as well."

Obi-wan gestured towards the door and they walked towards it. Her shoes definitely made a lot of noise.

"Were you wearing those shoes before?"

"I take them off when I meditate." Ah ha! She had been meditating!

"Are they traditional of your home world?"

She looked at Obi-wan with a smile and twinkle in her eye. "Not as traditional as they should be. Mostly they are summer shoes, but I wear them all the time."

Obi-wan nodded, to be polite.

Kassie pulled her communicator out of the pocket in her pants and began pressing some buttons that were on it. Obi-wan was curious.

"Is that your communicator?"

"Communicator?" Kassie looked at him funny. Obi-wan was about to explain, but some sort of thought occurred to her for her expression changed into one of understanding.

"Oh, yeah it is. You confused me because at home we call them cell phones."

"Cell phones?"

"Yep. They run on battery cells and they are used to transmit sound which is what part of where phone comes from."

"Alright..."

She laughed. "Maybe I can explain it in more detail later."

It had taken the two only a few minutes to reach the lift they would have to take to the top of the Temple. The Council was housed at the top of the central spire. After the lift doors opened, Obi-wan allowed Kassie on first. She said her thanks and walked on looking out the widow this lift held.

Obi-wan pushed the button for the floor they wanted. He saw her looking excitedly out at the world of Courasant.

"You have never been to Courasant before?"

"Nope."

"What world are you from?"

"Gaea."

"I've heard my master speak of a 'Gaea,' but I have not been there."

"Not surprised. We don't get many off world visitors."

"Really?"

"We're kind of...isolated. We aren't part of the Republic."

Obi-wan was puzzled. He wanted to ask more questions, but the doors opened onto the Council level.

"We're here."

Kassie turned to see the opened doors and quickly walked off. Obi-wan followed.

"Thank you, for showing me where the Council is."

"Don't mention it, besides I had to meet my master here soon."

Kassie bit her lip. "By master you do mean teacher, right?" She seemed apprehensive about the question.

"Yes." Obi-wan noticed she visibly relaxed with his answer.

"Okay, just so I know I have it right."

She once again brought out her communicator. Obi-wan couldn't quite think of it as a 'cell phone' yet.

"What are you doing?" he queried.

"Annoying my teacher." And with that she raised her communicator to her ear.

After a few seconds she responded to, what Obi-wan assumed, was a greeting on the other end.

"Hey there, Sensei. What's up?"

Obi-wan's ears picked up an upset voice on the other end. Kassie seemed to like the response she was getting. After all she was smiling.

"Nice to here from you too. Hey when is that meeting going to be done?"

More of the upset voice came over the communicator.

"Patience is a virtue, Sensei."

"Not right now it isn't!" Obi-wan looked at Kassie with surprise. He heard that response loud and clear.

"You must be hanging around me too much. You're even picking up my habit of quoting movies."

"Goodbye Cassona!" Obi-wan heard that response even better than the other.

Kassie seemed to be very pleased with herself as she pressed another button. She looked at Obi-wan. "He'll be mad at me for a while, but he'll get over himself. I'm still his favorite."

Obi-wan gave her a look that said, 'you are crazy.'

"I lost my sanity when I had about...14 classes going at once. I blame Sensei for that."

Obi-wan noticed the warmness in her voice when she spoke of her teacher, but that warmness definitely contradicted her last two sentences.

"You definitely were not raised here."

"Gee, is it that obvious?" The sarcasm however, was in a joking spirit.

Obi-wan couldn't help the laugh that escaped his throat.


Gennai Gigano angrily answered his student. "Not right now it isn't!"

More garbled, but happy speech came over the cell phone. Qui-gon stood by, quite amused by the whole scene.

"Goodbye Cassona!" Gennai hit a button and took a deep breath. "Soon, I will hurt that girl."

Master Windu looked at him strangely. "That girl is your student?"

Gennai reluctantly nodded. "She never seems to go by the rules."

"Recall I do, of a Gennai that did not either," Master Yoda interjected. "The Force, perhaps, rewarding you, hmm?" There was a slight smile on his wizened face.

"Most likely," was all the teacher would say.

Qui-gon couldn't help but smile at his old friend. "And so a trouble maker appears in out midst."

Gennai turned to Qui-gon. "Yes, and she will soon find a following."

Obi-wan and Kassie had been waiting for a few minutes outside the Council Chamber doors when they opened and both of their teachers walked out. Each rose to greet their mentors.

Qui-gon smiled at his apprentice as Gennai began to speak to Kassie.

"Do you feel like breaking a lot of rules today?"

"No, I just happen to."

Gennai studied his student. She seemed to be in a good mood, which was all the more reason to let the phone call go, but he couldn't help but comment on the shoes.

"Cassona, what have I said about flip-flops?"

She smiled and said, "They are not to be worn when danger of attack is possible."

"And yet, you wear them."

"You would rather I have my fuzzy, yellow slippers?" she asked while eyeing her Sensei.

"I would rather you have your boots."

"Not with jeans and not at this time of year. Sorry."

Gennai smiled.

"You do have some respect for me, right?"

"Oh yeah, I just don't show it."

"Just as long as we understand each other."

"We do."

"Alright then." Gennai turned towards his friend. "Qui-gon, may I introduce my student, Cassona Elemental Ishida."

The girl bowed to Qui-gon in respect and greeting. "Just call me Kassie."

Qui-gon nodded to the girl and then introduced his apprentice. "This is my padawan, Obi-wan Kenobi." Obi-wan bowed as well. "And it does appear that our apprentices have already met."

"We have," said Kassie, jumping into the conversation head first.

Gennai shook his head at his impatient student before asking, "Where can we sit and talk?"

"And maybe get some coffee?" Qui-gon and Obi-wan looked at Kassie with puzzlement.

"What?"

"Our quarters will be sufficient," Qui-gon hesitantly stated, starting down the hall. Obi-wan and Gennai soon followed.

Kassie stood pondering and after a few seconds said to nobody in particular, "Was it something I said?"