Catching Up
Two years later, Ashlyn and Kyra sat next to each other at one of the desks in the classroom listening to Master Fenric giving a lesson on the Old Republic War. Both Younglings could not wait for their next class, Lightsaber Combat Basics, which was more entertaining than History class.
"Padawan Scorpio?" the Jedi Master said bringing Kyra out of her bored haze.
"Sorry Master what was the question again?" Kyra asked as she shook her head in an attempt to clear her mind.
"I was asking everyone to tell me what their chosen essay topics are on renowned members of the Jedi Order during the Old Republic and how they contributed to the war," Master Fenric repeated himself with a slightly irritated tone.
"Oh Satele Shan," Kyra said the first name that popped into her head and he nodded in approval.
Then the Jedi Master turned his eyes on Ashlyn who glanced at Kyra in slight annoyance for taking her choice and then answered, "Orgus Din."
The other Younglings told him their chosen topics and then they were instructed on how to write the three-page essay. As Ashlyn took notes down on planning the essay she overheard what the boys behind her were saying.
"Yeah, I heard a few Knights talking about it on the way here. Master Kenobi is back from the Outer Rim sieges."
Ashlyn smiled and leapt up from her seat as Master Fenric dismissed them, "I'll see you in our next class Kyra!" she called back to her friend as she ran out the door and down the hallway. The eight-year-old Youngling hadn't seen Master Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker for a year because they were always out on missions. Whenever they came back to Coruscant they would disappear again before she got a chance to find them.
"Master Kenobi! Anakin!" Ashlyn yelled as she spotted them before they disappeared around the corner.
"Darn it! Wait up!"
Ashlyn skidded around the corner and collided into Master Mace Windu causing her to freeze, looking up with a worried expression at the Jedi Master.
"Youngling Dubreas-," Master Windu started questioningly before Ashlyn cut him off.
"Sorry Master, can't talk right now," Ashlyn rambled on quickly as she bowed politely and ran around him.
"Master Kenobi! Anakin!" Ashlyn yelled again as she skidded around the next corner and ran headlong into a wall.
Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker spun around at the loud audible smack of flesh and bone hitting marble.
"Youngling!" Obi-wan called in a concerned voice as the two older Jedi walked over to the young girl.
"Ouch, that hurt," Ashlyn said, shaking her head as Anakin knelt down next to her and then he recognised who she was.
"Ashlyn, why on earth did you run into the wall?" Anakin asked, smirking as he helped her back up onto her feet.
"Anakin!" Ashlyn exclaimed in excitement as she clung to him, "Oh man! I have so much to tell you and I'm quite irritated that you're never here."
Ashlyn took a step back and almost lost her balance. Anakin quickly placed his hands on her shoulders to hold her steady.
"How about you tell me while we take you to see the Healers," Anakin said as he left a hand on one shoulder to guide her in the right direction.
"Okay," Ashlyn said, shrugging and then flinging herself into a full-fledged story of the past year.
The young girl was talking so fast that neither Jedi could understand her babbling but they didn't interrupt. Ashlyn was finished with her story by the time they reached the Medical Bay.
Master Shrinsasti was a Jedi Healer and was always really nice and happy to help anyone; as far as Ashlyn was aware the Jedi Healer never had an off day.
"Sit up here, please Ashlyn," Master Shrinsasti ordered lightly with a smile.
Ashlyn swung her legs back and forth while the Healer looked at the nice bump that was forming on the Youngling's forehead. Ashlyn's attention was diverted to Anakin who looked really different but she just couldn't put a finger on it.
Then Master Yoda showed up outside where Anakin and Master Kenobi were talking and they started gesturing towards her.
The three Jedi came into the room and it was Master Kenobi spoke first but to the Healer, "How is she Master Shrinsasti?"
"Ashlyn currently has got no control of her balance," the healer replied.
"Will she be able to attend her lessons?" Anakin inquired.
"No if she can't walk in a straight line she most definitely won't be able to focus on studies at least not for today Knight Skywalker," she said sternly with a slight frown.
Everyone looked at Master Yoda while Ashlyn was trying to figure out why that statement seemed odd to her ears.
"Go back to your quarters, you will Youngling Dubreas," Master Yoda said.
"But Master Yoda, I'll fall behind-," Ashlyn tried to say but the Grand Master wouldn't hear of it as he shook his head.
"Rest, you need."
That was his final say as he left the room and then that was when Ashlyn realised why Anakin looked different.
"Anakin, where is your Padawan braid?" Ashlyn asked curiously.
"Thought you would never notice," Anakin said as he chuckled and then pulled something out of one of the pouches attached to his belt.
His Padawan Braid with one end sealed together to stop it falling apart.
"You're a Knight! And you didn't tell me!" Ashlyn exclaimed, pointing a finger at him accusingly.
"Only just did today," Anakin said, "Plus you were too busy telling me about your time for me to cut in and tell you that I was Knighted."
Ashlyn jumped down off the bench, forgetting why she was there in the first place as she lost her balance and had to be caught by Anakin again.
"Thanks, Anakin," Ashlyn said,
"No, no, no," Anakin said, "It's Master Skywalker to you now Youngling."
Ashlyn looked at him with a quirked eyebrow expectantly.
"Alright you win," Anakin said as he lost a staring contest with her again.
"I win, that means I'm still allowed to call you Anakin," Ashlyn said, walking past the two Jedi Knights to the door and then she stopped to turn and look at them and added, "Coming?"
The two Jedi grinned at each other and then followed Ashlyn out of the Medical Bay to take her back to her clan quarters to make sure she got there safely.
Two years later, the Wolf Clan consisted of twenty Younglings all of whom were crowded around one of their group in amazement and awe at what the child held in her hands. Ashlyn Dubreas had switched Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber with a training lightsaber. The children stared in wonder at the weapon and kept asking their clan mate how she had managed to sneak the weapon away from the Hero with No Fear. Ashlyn would just shake her head and say, "It's a secret."
"You're going to get into deep trouble for this prank Ash, we aren't supposed to even touch a real lightsaber let alone steal one from a Jedi Knight," Kyra said in extreme concern for her best friend.
"Relax Kyra no one is going to find out besides I'll be giving it back to Anakin today anyway so no harm in a bit of fun," Ashlyn said confidently.
The ten-year-old Youngling had paid Anakin back for leaving before saying hello the last time he had been on the planet and she knew how much trouble she would be in when this prank was uncovered.
Meanwhile, in the Jedi Council Chamber, there was a serious discussion about this rouge Youngling.
"Youngling Dubreas is a fine child, very polite and always does her studies with diligence," Master Unduli stated.
"Yes but she has become a problem in terms of keeping the peace in the Temple," Master Windu threw back.
The Council was split between people wanting to send the ten-year-old off to one of the agriculture planets and the other half was fighting for her to stay at the Temple.
"We should let her settle into herself, remember what our plans are for her Master Windu," Master Kenobi reminded the other Master.
"Yes but I cannot ignore the chaos she continues to unfold in this very Temple," Master Windu argued back.
Master Kenobi was a holoimage as he had been dispatched to a mission with Anakin Skywalker. Then suddenly he turned around to talk to someone and asked, "What is it now Anakin?"
"My lightsaber is gone, have you seen it?" Anakin asked desperately.
"What are you talking about Anakin? It's on your belt," Obi-wan said.
"No Master, this isn't my lightsaber," Anakin stated in annoyance.
"Skywalker? Have you misplaced your lightsaber?" Master Windu asked aggravated at the young Knight's foolishness.
"No, I must have left it on Coruscant. This is a training lightsaber," Anakin said, handing it to Master Kenobi so the Jedi Master could examine it.
"Yes this is most definitely a training lightsaber," Master Kenobi confirmed thoughtfully.
"Oh great!"
"Masters, can I request that someone check Anakin's quarters?" Master Kenobi requested.
"Of course Master Kenobi," Master Fisto replied.
"Good, now go Anakin," Master Kenobi said in frustration.
"Master Yoda, what is your verdict on the child?" Master Secura asked.
The Grand Master had been quiet this whole time and everyone turned to him waiting for him to answer and give the final say.
"Hmm, troubling this topic is. Take Youngling Dubreas to visit one of the settlements, needs to see what could be coming she does," Master Yoda said wisely.
With that said the meeting was over and everyone left to go do their own tasks while Masters Yoda and Unduli returned to her clan quarters to collect Ashlyn.
"The other Younglings how are they?" Master Yoda asked.
"They are wonderful children Master," Luminara Unduli stated with confidence in her clan of Younglings.
"How goes their schedule?" Master Yoda inquired.
"Right now they should be getting ready for the day," Luminara said as they reached the door, "You will find they are all very well-mannered children."
"Doubt that I do not," Master Yoda said.
Luminara opened the door to a very worrying sight of all the Younglings surrounding one of them; Ashlyn Dubreas, who held a silver lightsaber in her hands. She recognised it immediately as the one which belonged to Anakin Skywalker.
The Younglings all turned around to find their clan Master with the Grand Master standing in the doorway.
"Children it is 0800, what should you all be doing? Why are you all still in your bedclothes and not in your day clothes?" Luminara only had to ask once.
All nineteen Younglings scattered as they went to their beds to where their day clothes were laying there waiting for them to be put on; all of them except one Youngling who still stood in the middle of the room. Ashlyn Dubreas stood there, frozen for a few moments before composing herself.
"Master I found this in the Training Hall yesterday, I was planning on giving it back to Master Skywalker today," Ashlyn said.
"Youngling Dubreas stealing a lightsaber from a Jedi Knight is not a joke, especially when they are now out in the field with a training lightsaber," Luminara rebuked firmly.
Ashlyn winced and thought to herself how unlucky she was.
"Youngling change into your day clothes and come with me, you will," Master Yoda said and then Ashlyn handed the weapon to her clan Master before going off to get changed.
After she was dressed she followed the little green alien through the halls of the Temple in silence and then she noticed that they were going to one of the hangar bays. There were four of them in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. The East one was for the Temple Staff, the West for Public Transportation, the South for Coruscant Jedi Travel and the North was for off-world transportation. Master Yoda was leading her to the Northern Hangar Bay which meant that they were going off world. Then she became skittish as she remembered that today there was a scheduled transport to go to one of the Jedi Agricultural planets.
"Relax Youngling," Master Yoda said.
"But Master Yoda you're not sending me away from the Temple, are you?" Ashlyn asked in a desperate tone.
"To one of the planets I will take you Youngling but stay you will not," Master Yoda explained.
It was silent for the rest of the walk to the Hangar and when they reached their destination Ashlyn followed the Grand Master on board the transport. There were others on the transport, those who had either failed their trials or had not been chosen as someone's Padawan. Ashlyn stayed in the cockpit with Master Yoda seeing as she wasn't going to stay on the planet.
A week later, Master Yoda walked slowly down the shuttle ramp calmly and very pleased with the results of his trip to the Agricultural planet with Ashlyn Dubreas. The Youngling seemed to have learnt a lot from the trip and seemed to understand more clearly the potential consequences of her behaviour. A few metres away stood several Jedi High Council members and as he approached them he sensed Ashlyn following close behind him.
"Master Yoda," Mace greeted as he bowed his head slightly in respect, "I presume you the trip was successful?" he inquired.
Ashlyn stood behind the Grand Master waiting silently for her to be allowed to speak which was a rare occurrence for the Youngling who would normally have bolted off to go find her best friend, Kyra Scorpio.
"See for yourself you should," Master Yoda stated as he gestured for the Youngling to move to stand next to him.
Ashlyn bowed respectfully and politely said, "Good Afternoon Masters."
This sudden change shocked and surprised some of the Masters but most were just glad to see that she had changed for the better. Then all the Masters left except for Obi-wan who approached the Youngling and offer a simple request, "If you don't mind Master Yoda I believe Ashlyn still has one more thing left to do."
"Indeed she does," Master Yoda nodded as he left the hangar at his usual slow pace.
"Ash, I think you need to apologise to Anakin for stealing his lightsaber," Obi-wan said softly as he led the way out of the hangar and towards the Jedi Archive Hall.
A/N: Tell me what you guys think so far.
Ashlyn Dubreas.
