A/N) This story is a continuation of my series that I started writing and posting back in 2012. It has been over a year since I added something new to this series but I always intended on coming back to it. If anyone who is reading this has not read the previous stories then you need to read them as the universe I have created is very different to canon, but if you do want to dive right in, feel free!
Title: Future of the Jedi
Author: the-writer1988
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars. Disney does.
Summary: Luke and Leia Skywalker. Ben Skywalker. Tian and Kinlan-Jinn Kenobi. They are the future. But what does it take to be a Jedi Knight? Thirteen year-old Luke and Leia Skywalker soon begin to learn the answer on their first mission as Padawan's with their Master's: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano.
Characters: Luke Skywalker, Leia Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Shmi Skywalker
Notes: This story is the 5th instalment in my 'A Mother's Love' universe. I strongly advise anyone unfamiliar with this series to go back and at least read 'A Mother's Love' and 'A Jedi's Love' before starting with this one. The full story list goes in this order:
1) A Mother's Love
2) Grandmotherhood
3) A Jedi's Love
4) Knighthood
5) Future of the Jedi
6) ?
7) ?
8) ?
9) Goodbye Mother
10) A Jedi's Legacy
Stories 6, 7 and 8 have yet to be revealed but they are planned and will complete this universe.
Without further ado, here is the Prologue to 'Future of the Jedi'.
Prologue
Watching from afar and holding a washcloth in her right hand, Shmi Skywalker-Layson observed two of her grandchildren sparring with one another. They pivoted, slashed and dodged, expertly defending against each attack. Shmi winced as Leia avoided a near miss, a look of sheer determination on her face, as she slid down and lifted her blade upwards, causing Luke to jump back.
When the twins had first started to spar with real lightsabers Shmi had worried that one might accidently harm the other. She had been the same when Anakin had first started to spar his own Master at their age.
But Luke and Leia were very skilled. They had trained from a young age with their father and uncle, and Shmi knew her son nor Obi-Wan would ever have allowed the twins to spar with real weapons unless they were absolutely sure they were in control of their abilities. It didn't change the fact she still worried. Much as she would like to swap her placement for somewhere away from here, Shmi couldn't avoid it forever. The rota she and her team followed was designed to be fair for all and that everyone did their fair share of each different area.
"They'll be fine."
Shmi looked over her shoulder and saw Anakin standing behind her, his eyes watching his children intently. "I would hope so. You did teach them."
Anakin grinned. "Yeah, but now its Obi-Wan and Ahsoka's turn."
Shmi shook her head, a slight smile forming on her lips. When Luke had been a baby he had unintentionally forged a bond with Obi-Wan making it inevitable he would have to be trained by him. Anakin had always held that above Obi-Wan's head, until of course Obi-Wan's daughter Tian had been born and had promptly done the same thing Luke had done to Obi-Wan to Anakin. Now Anakin had to train Tian but it would be a few years before he could take her as his apprentice. She was only nine years old. Shmi knew Obi-Wan was gleefully waiting for the day his daughter would become her son's apprentice. "You shouldn't be so happy about that, Ani. After all you do have Tian…"
Anakin shrugged. "Not for several years. I still have my freedom!"
"Unless they bring in the new training rule…" smiled Shmi. She knew the Council were considering changing training laws. Each student advanced at their own pace and it seemed only fair to bring them into apprenticeship if they were ready for it rather than hold it back until they were thirteen. Tian Kenobi was quite advanced for her age and it wouldn't surprise Shmi if the change was made and Anakin had to become her Master sooner rather than later.
"Even if the change comes into place, Tian won't advance to apprenticeship. I think there will still be an age limit as to when one can become a Padawan, We can't take them on dangerous assignments too young…" explained Anakin. "I think the parents would kill us if we did that."
Shmi turned back to the wall she was cleaning, rubbing the cloth down it, and removing the tiny scorch marks that had been left behind by lightsabers. "What age would it reduce to?"
"Ten, I think."
Shmi glanced back at her son. "Tian is nearly ten in case you had forgotten."
"Oh."
"So she might advance," hinted Shmi teasingly. Only a mother could get away with teasing her son.
Anakin groaned. "No wonder Obi-Wan is advocating this. He wants to give Tian to me sooner!"
"Do you not believe the training laws should be changed?" Shmi enquired. She knew Anakin was joking – he was looking forward to training Tian. He hadn't taken on anyone since Ahsoka had been Knighted.
"I believe they should be. The current laws are unfair to those that advance quicker. Both Luke and Leia have an advantage over other children. They've grown up with two Jedi Masters and a Knight. They've been learning the ways of the Force since they could crawl and talk. With Jedi now being allowed to marry and have children, more and more trainees will have the advantage of Luke and Leia so it seems only fair to adapt. Even those that do not have the advantage of Jedi families can still learn quickly and progress quicker: it all depends on the individual child. This new law aims to be fair to all and help everyone," answered Anakin.
"What about those that are not ready at thirteen?" Shmi asked. Genuinely she was curious about this as she knew some children were never picked to be apprentices and were instead sent to work for the Jedi in other ways or chose to go back to their families. Obi-Wan had nearly been sent away from the Jedi at thirteen for not being picked to be an apprentice but his fortunes had changed very quickly, gaining him a place as the apprentice of Qui-Gon Jinn.
Anakin frowned. "That is a problem we still need to address. There are not enough Jedi Knights or Masters to train every child that comes through our doors. We are in discussions to resolve this issue. An alternative is to allow Masters to take two Padawans at a time but then that does divide our times between two Padawans instead of focusing on one individuals learning. That is what the apprenticeship from thirteen is about. It would be more complicated if we were handling two Padawans." He stroked his chin. "But it might be the way to go. With more Jedi having families and producing Force-sensitive children, none of them will want their children to not become Jedi. So we have to solve this problem before the majority of Jedi-born children are old enough to be rejected from the Order due to not being chosen by a Knight for one-to-one training."
Shmi could see their dilemma. There would be more people who were Force-sensitive but there simply were not enough Knights or Masters to train them to Knighthood. There were more potential Jedi around than teachers. "Maybe this is why they did not want Jedi having families in the old days?"
Anakin shook his head. "No. We had this problem anyway, even without Jedi being allowed to marry. Anyway it is unlikely to affect my children or Obi-Wan's. There will be certain children earmarked for keeping in the Order which isn't fair on other children but…" he bit his lip looking concerned, "I'm sure we will find a solution."
Shmi nodded. The Jedi had adapted rather well over the last twenty years, making changes that once many had thought impossible. "You didn't just come here to watch Luke and Leia sparring did you?"
"You always seem to know when I have an ulterior motive," smirked Anakin.
Shmi gently smiled. "It's called a mother's intuition."
"I think Padmé has that too," replied Anakin.
"All mother's do."
Anakin turned his gaze from his children to his mother. "I came here to talk to you."
"Oh?" One eyebrow rose upwards.
"Luke and Leia are going to go on their first assignment with their Master's. They are due to leave in a week." The words tumbled out fast as if Anakin feared his mother's response.
Shmi swallowed. She had faced this before with Anakin. "Okay." Her response surprised her son.
"I thought you would have been more…" he trailed off, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Worried?" she answered. "I am worried, Ani, but I also know my grandchildren will be safe with Obi-Wan and Ahsoka. I still worry about you when you go off on assignments. It will not ever change. But I am used to my family going away for long periods. I always knew Luke and Leia would have to go on missions when they became Padawans. And I knew it would be soon… They are far too skilled to stay cooped up in the Temple for much longer. They need time to develop their skills away from here."
Anakin breathed out a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you understand. I think Padmé and I are gonna need you whilst they are away."
Shmi reached up and patted her tall son on the shoulder. "They'll be fine, Ani. Besides, they have Obi-Wan and Ahsoka training them, what could possibly go wrong?"
To be continued...
Please let me know what you think!
So, here we are... the start of a new story in my 'A Mother's Love' universe. Shmi still works at the Temple, and the Jedi Order has changed, resulting in a lot more potential Force users being found due to the new rules meaning a family is a part of their training.
Anakin is still married to Padme Amidala and they have three children, twins: Luke and Leia (13) and a younger son: Ben (9).
Obi-Wan is married to the former Duchess of Mandalore: Satine Kryze. They have two children. A daughter - Tian (9) and a son: Kinlan-Jinn (3).
This story will probably only be about 10 chapters though could potentially go over but I suspect it will remain at 10.
I will try to update weekly but it does depend on work shifts and other factors.
Until next time,
the-writer1988