Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its associated characters; they all belong to their respective owners. I only own any characters or plotlines that you do not recognize.

9. Progress and Change

Illum, Unknown Region, Two Standard Years Later

The ice caves of Illum were undeniably impressive. They were ancient and beautiful, curving in indistinct patterns, dropping into crevasses and rising in great, intimidating walls. Everything seemed to glow a shade of blue, despite the fact that the sunlight––if it was any––was distorted by miles of thick slabs of ice. Elara was stood in one of the curving tunnels, listening to the perfectly pure silence she was enveloped in. Every now and again there would be a faint cracking sound, but nothing would follow; no great slide of ice, no fracturing in the walls or floor. Everything was so peaceful. Everything seemed to hum with energy, as the ice was filled with innumerable kyber crystals, which all shone with a gentle blue light. The air was frigid and Elara had taken the time to exhale and watch her breath puff into the air in a little cloud of condensation; it had made her grin like a small child.

She had been wandering the caves for almost two hours, now, following an invisible path defined by faint tugs of the Force. Every step was firm, every turn was correct, and every drop or climb was meant to be made. Elara was on a quest to find a kyber crystal, one that would be integral in constructing her own lightsaber. She was there with Master Yoda and a handful of younglings who were preparing to become padawans; once again, her presence on the trip was strange due to her age and status as a fully established padawan. What constituted as her 'youngling training' had ended long ago, but she had been doing so many rigorous exercises in regards to control and channeling the Force that her lightsaber construction had been delayed. But the younglings had been excited she was coming along, begging her to tell them stories of the adventures she'd had thus far––though there had been few.

The search for the correct shard of kyber was very particular and steeped in tradition. They all had one rotation of the planet to find their crystal, and it could not be chosen upon pure whim. They had to be drawn to the piece of kyber––it had to reach out to them, call to them. Such was why Elara had simply been walking, keeping her mind as peaceful and clear as possible. Half past her second hour of looking, Elara came to a stop in a domed cave that glowed the gentlest of blues. Several new passages were available, and there was a smaller cave opening at the top of a slickery looking wall. The air was crisp and the slightest shuffle of her feet echoed against the rippling surface of the ice. She tipped the hood of her coat back, fingers tickled by the soft white fur that lined it. Elara sank to the ground and let out a slight hiss as her bare fingers fell flush to the ice floor. Not even the warmest coat or thickest gloves would be able to keep her comfortably warm; she blamed that on her upbringing on Tatooine. Her hands were red like a sunburn and had gone mostly numb. She crossed her legs and allowed her eyes to fall shut in order to take a new approach in her search. She would meditate, connect with the Force, and let that influence what path she took next.

Time seemed inconsequential as it usually did whilst meditating. Elara merely worked on exploring and then dismissing her thoughts, working through thoroughly until she eventually found an inner quiet and an inner peace. In that gentle state, she started to feel the barely perceptible shifts in the air around her. They were soft but quick, what with the living, Force-sensitive crystals scattered about her. She inhaled deeply and familiarized herself with the feeling, so she might be able to detect an anomaly.

There was a sudden pull in the center of her chest, and her eyes shot open. They were immediately drawn to the small opening she'd noticed earlier. That was where she needed to go. Elara rose to her feet, slipped a little, and then approached the wall. There was a deep fissure sunk into the wall, which would easily work as a place to work her fingers and toes into. Thick gloves were extracted from her coat pocket and slipped onto her hands. She steeled herself and fitted her fingers into the fissure. The process of climbing was painstakingly slow, and her fingers and toes ached by the end of it all. Once Elara reached the top, she lay flat out on the ground for a moment, catching her breath. There was barely enough clearance for her to stand on her knees, and the alcove was shallow and fairly narrow.

Elara rolled onto her knees and sat back on her heels, facing the end of the alcove. There, at that end, there was another crack in the ice. In that crack, a crystal was rooted, glowing a vibrant blue. A grin spread across Elara's face and she crawled forward. Her knees slid easily against the ice, and before she knew it, she was the distance of her nose away from the thing. She bit the tip of her pointer finger and gave a jerk of the head, removing the leathery glove. The kyber crystal was pinched between her thumb and forefinger, and Elara took a moment to marvel and the lively energy that hummed in the small shard. A couple of wiggles and a tug pulled it loose from the crack. It rolled into Elara's palm and came to rest. The light faded and the crystal glittered gently in the light resonating from the cave walls. It was no longer than half the length of her forefinger and about the width of her pinky. It sat so naturally in her palm, and it felt so right. Elara curled her fingers around it and held that hand to the center of her chest; everything simply felt perfect.

OOOO

Fómhar, The Meridian Sector, Four Weeks Later

Elara spun around and raised her arms to block the oncoming blow. There was a sputtered clash as the blade of her lightsaber barred Master Shaak Ti's energy blade from striking her. Sweat beaded at Elara's hairline, and a thin rivulet streaked its way along the side of her face. The Togruta woman she fought against kept a calm composure and moved with utter grace; every movement was effortless. Elara moved with grace, yes, but each swing was calculated just a little too carefully; and sometimes there was too much effort behind the swing. She consistently attempted to seek out Shaak Ti's next move in hopes to counteract it quickly. A sound of strained effort gargled in the back of Elara's throat as she attempted to gain the upper hand. The next thing she knew, Shaak Ti pushed a hand forward and a great pressure pushed against Elara's chest. The world went sailing past her for a split second. Then she hit the ground in a skitter of colored leaves. Her lightsaber deactivated and toppled from her hand, laying beside her uselessly.

It was the third time that day that she had been sent sprawling to the ground. The first time she had ended up half submerged in a stream, the cold water bubbling around her legs. The second time had her tumbling into a cliff-face. So at least there was something positive to the experience––the leaves weren't that bad. Falling, however, was never fun in any aspect.

Elara let out a puff of breath that nudged strands of hair away from her eyes. It was getting long again; she would need to trim it once they returned to Coruscant. She made a face as a leaf the color of gold tickled and scratched at her cheek. With another puff of breath, it was shifted away.

"You still think too much," said Shaak Ti. Elara groaned and pushed herself into a seated position, a hand going to her aching back. She stared up at the Jedi Master, who approached with measured steps. "You try to actively predict your adversary's next move and attempt to decide how to respond. Allow the Force to guide you towards the right movement, allow it to show you what to do. It shall not fail you."

The words were spoken gently and without malice. They were meant to aid Elara, who still had much training to do. Nothing about Shaak Ti's teaching––even the Force pushes––had been meant to harm or hinder. As if to reinforce the intent to aid, Shaak Ti offered a hand with a faint smile. With a gentle smile of her own stretched across her mouth, Elara swung a hand upwards and accepted the help. Once upright, she began to sort out her rumpled clothes. She straightened her obi and pulled at the hem of her tabard, which had gone askew from all of the moving.

"Has there ever been a moment in which the Force has successfully guided you in combat?" continued Shaak Ti. Without having to think for long, Elara nodded and extracted a leaf from her hair. It was bright red-orange, like the suns of Tatooine.

"When I fought on Naboo, I didn't have to think about what I needed to do next. Everything came to me so easily, so naturally… I was never steered wrong," Elara admitted whilst she picked up her lightsaber. She weighed the hilt in her hand, considering it fondly for a moment. "I suppose I've closed off my mind in my concentration. I need to keep myself open to the influence of the Force whilst I fight."

Shaak Ti inclined her head demurely. "A very perceptive observation."

The blaster fight in the hangar on Naboo still seemed so fresh. Elara could still recall the smell of oil and shorted-out wiring that wafted off the downed droids. She remembered the sounds of constant blaster fire. The sound of blaster fire was still so vivid, as was the hum of Obi-Wan's lightsaber as it cut through the air and deflect blaster bolts. The pull of the Force was just as memorable. The way she barely needed to search where to aim next––her head would turn, her arm would follow, and then she would shoot. Not once had she been steered wrong. It was because of the guidance that she was still alive and able to recall the events of the hangar battle.

"Perhaps we should return to the basics for a short while," Shaak Ti suggested. She removed the russet colored obi from underneath her belt and lifted it pointedly. The fabric was much more lightweight than Elara's own obi, displayed by the way it fluttered in the gentle breeze. "Use this to cover your eyes. We shall see if lack of sight will re-open your mind and allow you to accept the Force."

Elara took the strip of fabric and lifted it to her eyes; she wrapped it around her head and knotted it just beneath her growing padawan tail. She shifted the fabric around so it fit more comfortably across her eyes. The entire world was blacked out. With one sense optionally put out of commission, Elara inhaled deeply and absorbed the feeling of her surroundings. The breeze was soft and gentle and perfectly cool, which made for a perfect training atmosphere. The air smelled of fresh, clear water and the sweet tang of fallen leaves. The rustling sound of branches was gentle and proved to wholly soothe Elara. A cool sense of calm washed over Elara, just like she was standing in the forests of Naboo again. In one smooth movement, Elara raised her arms and activated her lightsaber. It was in that initial stance that she remained, legs braced and arms raised; she was determined not to move till she felt driven to.

It was there Elara stood for a few minutes, simply existing in the calmed world around her. She did not move. She did not speak. All she did was listen and feel. Eventually there was a sudden shift in the energy around her, centered at her left side. She swung her lightsaber towards the disturbance and both felt and heard her blade clash with Shaak Ti's. A small well of satisfaction started to build in her stomach, but instead of allowing it to grow, Elara inhaled deeply and pushed it down. When the pressure relented, she arked the blade to the right, where the sabers clashed again, and let instinct guide her as it swung back to the left as the clashed once more. During this, Elara had started to advance, her steps assured. She did not worry about tripping or falling or slipping––all she did was step where she felt was the best direction to step in. Every movement was quick and decided and guided by instinct. Her advances persisted and her attacks continued until Elara brought the lightsaber to a sudden stop, halting all movement. She caught her breath and remained still, feeling a note of finality fill the air.

"Remove your blinder," Shaak Ti instructed calmly. Elara removed one hand from her lightsaber and shifted the fabric up to her forehead; she blinked at the sudden influx of light, eyes scrunching shut briefly. Once the short stint of blindness faded, she saw why their sparring had come to an end.

Shaak Ti was backed up to the stream's edge, her heels partially submerged in the bubbling stream. Elara's lightsaber hovered a safe distance from her instructor's throat, the blue light of the blade bathing her throat in a cool tone. It symbolized that had they been in a real fight, Elara would have won, and Shaak Ti would have been dead. The corner of the Togruta mouth quirked up, a pleased gleam appearing in her kind eyes. Elara deactivated the lightsaber and took a step back, a smile creeping onto her face. For the first time during her formal lightsaber training, she had actually won a sparring session. All other times she had over thought every move and ended up––more often than not––on the ground with the energy blade of a lightsaber humming at her throat or chest.

The Tatooine native turned away to hide the purely delighted grin that had overcome her face. She reattached the hilt of her lightsaber to her belt, where it hung with a now familiar weight, and removed the russet obi from her forehead. It wasn't often that she felt so proud of herself; and when she did, she set that pride aside in favor of a calm acceptance of her achievement. This time, however, Elara allowed herself a moment to revel in it. It boosted her confidence and reminded her that the training was worth it, no matter how long it took, and no matter how many people believed she could not do it. There was still much to learn, and a long way to go, but progress was being made.

"It only took you a double fortnight to learn those forms and put them to use," Shaak Ti mused.

Elara's smile started to fade. She could not read into Shaak Ti's measured tone. She cleared her throat and allowed her brows to furrow, returning the Jedi Master's obi. A tremble of self consciousness rattled through her body, and Elara let her fingers wander the length of her padawan braid anxiously. "I wish I could have learned faster; surely there are other responsibilities you would much rather attend to."

It was not unusual for a Jedi Master to allow their padawan to train with another Master or allow them to attend them on a mission for a short period of time. Yoda had asked Shaak Ti to train Elara in the art of lightsaber combat; and the two women had been training at it for four weeks, on the planet Fómhar where it was a perpetual autumn.

There was a gentle chuckle as Shaak Ti resituated her obi. "Do not misinterpret my words, young one. I am not displeased with you; I am impressed with how quickly you managed to pick up the forms and realized how to use them. There are some who take years to even remotely understand the basics. It is true what they say––the Force is strong with you," Shaak Ti complimented.

Such a compliment eased the faint rattle of self consciousness she'd previously felt. There were those that believed that her extra sensitivity to the Force and her lack of training made her as dangerous as a charged and broken blaster. They were the most vocal with their opinions on her training. Then there were those like Shaak Ti and Obi-Wan who believed that the extra sensitivity would make them great Jedi one day. But the compliment always laid a new weight on her shoulders. It reminded her that there was a responsibility that came with those words, one that Elara was still unsure she was able to bear.

"Come," Shaak Ti cut into her thoughts. She brandished her lightsaber and took a defensive stance. "We shall spar once more, and this time, you shall remain unblinded."

OOOO

The Core World of Coruscant

Coruscant now felt blissfully like home to Elara. Seeing its endless cityscape eased her stresses and worries, and a sigh of relief fled her whenever she set foot inside the Jedi Temple. The two years that she had spent with Coruscant as her home––or homebase, at least––had allowed her to familiarize herself with the planet's liveliness. She had been allowed a few chances to take a speeder into the lively streams of traffic that cross-hatched the planet's skies. It was from said sky, which was starting to streak with the colors of sunset, that Elara's ship descended. Once it touched down on one of the Temple's runways, she flicked all the proper switches, tapped the correct buttons, and allowed the ship to power down. The engines cut out and died with a gentle whirr, and the lights control console went dark. Elara gave the console a fond pat and nudged one last button.

The hatch disengaged and Elara hopped out with an easy grace. The cool evening wind ruffled her hair in greeting, and she took a moment to drink in the familiar peaceful atmosphere the Jedi Temple consistently provided. Her eyes had fallen shut and her head had tilted back in just the slightest.

"You appear to be relieved you're back," drawled a familiar voice. "I do hope Master Shaak-Ti did not wear you out too terribly."

Upon turning on her heel, Elara spotted Obi-Wan waiting at the foot of the Temple's marble stairs. Both arms were crossed over his chest in a relaxed manner and his lips were quirked into that smirk that she had declared, early on, would cause her trouble. A considerable period of time had passed since the two had seen one another; the last they had spoke was when Elara had seen both Obi-Wan and Anakin off for Anakin's very first off-planet excursion. That had been something close to seven months ago. Upon their return, Elara had been gone on her own expedition with Yoda––a lesson in deep meditation that he gave deep in the forests of Naboo. And every time after, they either completely passed the other by, were off planet at alternating times, or were on opposite ends of the galaxy entirely. Should they ever get the chance to see one another, it was often fleeting, and––more often than not––it was a quickly exchanged 'hello' or nod of the head as they hurriedly passed each other in a corridor.

Since their last meeting, Obi-Wan's hair had grown so the golden strands curled just behind his ears and flopped lazily against his forehead. Though the slight swoop of the way it fell spoke of an ongoing battle to keep it out of his face. What had once been stubble was now a fairly well-formed beard, and Elara thought it was very becoming on him. It made him appear distinguished, in a way. Though, that was simply a defining trait of Obi-Wan Kenobi––distinguished.

"I believe she wore me out just as much as she needed to; though, I could have done without the last couple of falls she dealt," Elara laughed. She started to walk towards him, the steadily more familiar weight of her lightsaber hilt shifting against her hip.

Once close enough, Elara wrapped her arms around the Jedi Knight's neck in a tight embrace. Many months ago, she would have felt Obi-Wan tense at the intimate gesture. A hug was something that created a display of close familiarity, and exceptionally close attachments were, of course, forbidden to the Jedi. As time wore on, however, he appeared to become more comfortable and decidedly less flustered. They rarely lasted long, usually lasting only to convey a happiness of the other's presence. She heard Obi-Wan chuckle and felt him start to shift. The gesture was returned by one of his hands appearing between her shoulder blades and the other––tentatively––at her waist. Elara's eyes fell shut and her smile grew a little wider. The Force bent around Obi-Wan in a very particular way, as it did around everyone; but around him the flow was calm, gentle, and buzzing lightly with warmth. It always proved to soothe her if she was feeling particularly frazzled, and she'd come to love the way it shifted around him. She was beginning to be able to recognize its shift from a considerable distance.

"I heard your call sign come in over the comms upon entering the atmosphere. I thought that I might come to greet you, as I have no engagements for the rest of the evening," Obi-Wan explained whilst they drew out of their embrace. Elara beamed at him and placed an endearing hand on his cheek, her palm tickled by his facial hair.

"Your face is one that I will always welcome to greet me," Elara told him wholeheartedly. She saw the corner of Obi-Wan's mouth quirk a little, forming the smallest of possible smiles; her own smile grew upon realizing he was also blushing. She offered a calculating look, eyes sweeping across the lower half of his face whilst she scrutinized his facial hair. "I think the beard suits you. Very distinguished, Master Kenobi."

A smirk rose to his lips and while she pulled her hand away, he lifted his own to run his fingers along either side of his jaw, to meet at his chin. A twinkle rose to his eyes, which had narrowed to allow a friendly crinkle at their corners. "Your compliment flatters me, Elara." Elara inclined her head and laughed a little. Obi-Wan motioned to her own head, his eyebrows arching. "I see that you are also allowing your hair to grow out a little more."

Elara groaned and threaded her fingers through the hair that had taken up the nasty habit of falling into her eyes. She shoved it back and responded in a wry tone of voice. "I only allowed it to do so because I did not have shears on Fómhar. I was planning on cutting it once I arrived back on Coruscant."

"I would be happy to assist, should you require it."

"Require it, no. I do, however, have a bottle of untouched Keela if you should like to share a drink with me."

"I would love nothing more."

Elara's quarters had become distinctly more homey as the years progressed. The bed was made with her own quirks––the blanket always a little rumpled, the pillows slightly askew. Her meditation dias had been shifted from the center of the living space to the wall of windows, where she often meditated at sunset, the warm light bathing her face. Everything about the room still appeared fairly standard, as the Jedi had few––if any––personal belongings. Elara still owned the green dress Padmé had gifted to her after the Battle of Theed; it hung pushed aside in her closet, a reminder of the start of her journey. A small table was located between all the seats, and on it was a smattering of metal pieces that looked to belong to the internals of a speeder. They were Elara's tinkering bits, and they were absolutely pristine. Old habits died hard, it would seem. There were also a number of small glass jars that dotted the room, all filled with flowers from planets that she had visited. Most of them had long-since dried out, their colors faded and their petals wrinkled and papery. But she loved them nonetheless.

There was a small, modest mirror that hung just outside her refresher room, and it was there that Elara stood with a pair of shears. She started to gently section off and cut pieces of hair, the strands fluttering to the floor. In the reflective surface, she could see Obi-Wan opening the clear glass bottle of keela, the vibrant blue liquid sloshing around as it was popped open. Splashes of the alcohol were distributed into two glasses, one of which he took while the other stayed on the small table beside her bed. He took a seat on the arm of one of her chairs, crossing one leg over the other.

"Shaak-Ti sent word that you excelled in your training; to only have a month's worth of training and be deemed proficient enough to return to the Temple is quite the feat, Elara," Obi-Wan commented. He then took a sip of his keela, watching her cut away at her hair.

Elara gave a mild shake of her head before shearing off a chunk of hair just in front of her ear. She threaded her fingers through her hair, checked its length, and went back to finding the next section to cut. "I'm sure that it isn't that rare of an occurrence," she attempted to dismiss, shifting on her feet. Behind her there was a light-hearted chuckle, and a quick shift of gaze in the mirror revealed Obi-Wan smiling into his glass, eyes directed at the floor.

"You're merely being modest. Perhaps there are one or two finely skilled Jedi who mastered the forms of the lightsaber quickly––but they are few and far between, and we have not seen one so recently. You are truly making remarkable progress," he complimented. His tone was wholehearted and it made a slight thrill run down Elara's spine.

She might have paid more attention to that shiver had she nod started to shift on her feet uncomfortably. Whilst compliments of her progress were reaffirming, Elara sometimes became overwhelmed by them. A lifetime of being told she was doing something wrong made compliments difficult to accept. After snipping off more hair, Elara gestured to the Jedi Knight with the shears, waggling the conjoined silver blades over her shoulder. They tinkled together gently as they shook.

"So, how is Anakin doing in regards to his own lightsaber training?" she asked in a highly upbeat tone, ardently attempting to deflect the attention away from herself. A quick glance and she caught Obi-Wan arching an eyebrow at her sudden, overactive cheeriness. She arched both brows and made a pointed clack of the shears, sending more hair tumbling to the floor. The Jedi Knight cleared his throat and righted himself a little. It was as though he was about to give an official report, Elara though whilst eyeing the crease that appeared between his brows.

"He is almost there. Another week, perhaps, and he will be on par with you. It's quite honestly astonishing how in sync you two remain despite your time apart. He has been training at the saber for two months, and his completion of his understanding almost perfectly lines up with yours," Obi-Wan enthused gently.

A smile spread across Elara's face. She set the shears aside and ruffled her hair, turning her head from side-to-side to inspect the length. Then, as she usually did when cutting her hair, she shook her head vigorously and made sure none of it fell directly into her eyes. Behind her, Obi-Wan chuckled at her antics, which she ignored. Finally, she checked the tail at the back of her head, tightening the twine that held it in place, and ran her fingers along her padawan braid. It was longer, now, just brushing the top of her right breast, and a number of colored twine created different sections. The newest was a deep blue.

"We have always been close, and we tended to try and finish tasks at the same time. Perhaps it will forever be a lingering effect between the two of us," Elara started, bending down to sweep up the fallen hair into her hands. She discarded of it properly and shrugged, brushing her hands off on her thighs. The look she fixed Obi-Wan with was conspiratorial and playful as she sauntered towards her drink. "Or, perhaps, it is a side-effect from being the 'Chosen Ones.'" She shook her head upon speaking those words and snatched up her drink.

While she crossed to the couch, Obi-Wan shook his head and peeled a finger away from his glass in order to point at Elara.

"You say that jokingly, though I think there might be truth in your statement. You and Anakin have such a profoundly close bond, one that is only strengthened by the Force. You are linked by it. Perhaps that link, made so strong by your early life experiences, continues to connect you across the distance that separates you. Because you are so bonded, perhaps that means as you learn, he learns, and vice-versa. I believe you two may share an incredibly strong Force bond," Obi-Wan suggested, shifting to sit in the chair, rather than on its arm.

Elara quietly contemplated his words, slowly maneuvering her way to the chair that faced opposite his. She took a long sip from her glass, letting the vaguely tangy alcohol slide across her tongue. Both of her brows rose upon her final turn-over of Obi-Wan's words. She looked to him and gave a quiet little laugh, her shoulders trembling with mirth.

"I honestly never even thought of that. That could put an explanation to a lot of things…" Elara murmured.

"It tends to happen between Masters and Apprentices most often. But a Force bond between brother and sister only makes sense, especially one this powerful. If you two are ever to fight in battle side-by-side… sharing in each others strengths…" Obi-Wan chuckled and shook his head, beaming brightly as he considered the idea. He raised his glass as though toasting something. "You would be a force to be reckoned with."

Elara smirked and mimicked Obi-Wan's lifting of the glass. The two silently toasted each other with matching smiles and took drinks from their respective glasses. The thought of actually fighting made Elara gnaw at her bottom lip. It reminded her that that was what her training was all leading up to; it wasn't play fighting, like when she and Anakin were young. It was genuine combat techniques that could potentially save her life one day. Save the life of others one day. That was simultaneously terrifying yet… thrilling.

Obi-Wan set his glass aside and extended his hand. "May I see your hilt?" Elara removed the lightsaber hilt from her belt and passed it to him. He inspected the hilt closely, scrutinizing it with cool eyes; he turned it over and slid his fingers along it before he weighed it in one hand. Both brows rose in a pleased manner and he inclined his head to her. "Well made, well balanced. Congratulations."

A laugh bubbled from Elara's throat and she took the hilt back, gently rolling it between her hands. "Thank you. I nearly froze my fingers off for the crystal."

"We shall have to spar some time; I would like to see just how far you've truly progressed."

Elara scoffed heartily at the suggestion and stood to go refill her glass. She pointed at Obi-Wan as though he was being ludicrous and shook her head whilst the scoff turned into a laugh.

"Oh, no, you would knock me flat in a minute."

Obi-Wan let out a flattered chuckle and reclined into his seat, looking a little self-satisfied. "There is no possible way to know that unless you try to beat me. Besides, you should spar with other established padawans, Knights, and even Masters if they have the time. It will give you the chance to learn other techniques, personalized little tricks that someone's developed… develop some of your own." He finished off his glass and stared at it as he tilted it from side to side. He smirked. "And I have every confidence you could beat me… eventually."

A smile spread across Elara's face as she capped the bottle of keela and picked up her now re-filled glass. Her other hand curled around the neck of the bottle and she spun around on her heels. She pointed at the man seated a short way aways and narrowed her eyes playfully. Obi-Wan quirked an eyebrow in silent response, quietly waiting for her to speak.

"There are not many things I know Obi-Wan Kenobi to be openly cocky about. His greatness as a Jedi Knight? Of course not, he is wonderfully humble. But lightsaber combat… that is what Obi-Wan allows himself to be a little cocky about," Elara teased.

Obi-Wan grinned and laughed heartily, the warmth of the sound filling the room wonderfully. His laugh was something that Elara had grown to love. It was comforting and joyful and it made her happy. It prompted a quiet bout of her own laugher as she returned to her seat, setting the keela bottle beside Obi-Wan's empty glass in open invitation. The man offered a contented sigh and he shifted forward to refill his glass.

"I do take pride in my combat skills, though not so much that it would cloud my judgements and decisions."

A roll of the eyes shifted Elara's gaze to the other side of the room; a chuckle escaped her mouth and she muffled her next words with her glass. "You were cockier when we first met."

There was a surprisingly graceful snort, and Elara watched Obi-Wan take an almost regal sip of his keela. His smirk returned full force, and his lips parted as he briefly searched for the correct words to say.

"I was younger then," he dismissed, tone light and playful. Elara arched an eyebrow gracefully and mimicked his smirk.

"So was I."

The two locked eyes and held the other's gaze. For whatever reason, neither party wanted to look away or break the contact first. Elara, for the first time in two years, recalled how dangerously easy it was to become lost in the blue of his eyes. A blue that reminded her of the crystalline lakes on Naboo, so perfectly clear and cool. Their gaze was thoughtful and concise, always gently mulling over some thought or another. To have them staring at her so intently, as though trying to decipher her thoughts as she was attempting to do with his, made her heart leap. It was a strange sort of jump, one that caught her breathing a little heavier than before––but only for that brief moment.

The two years that had passed since their meeting on Tatooine felt much longer. A lifetime, almost. Much had changed, and most of it for the better. With Elara's training, her emotional output through the Force had lessened in intensity; it was still present and detectable, but not so blatantly as it once had been. At the start of it all, it had always rushed over Obi-Wan in intense ocean-like waves. With two months of training it had become better, the intensity becoming something more akin to gentle bumps of emotion. Now, with two years of practice, her slip ups––though still fairly frequent––were like passing brushes that lingered just a little too long. They caused gentle twinges in the Force, still detectable but no longer overwhelming. The training and experience that she'd had in those two years had proved to broaden her view of the galaxy and her place in it. While there had been a distinctive maturity to her before her time at the Jedi Temple, it seemed to have grown stronger. It was quite clear to Obi-Wan that the older she became, and the more experiences she had, Elara Skywalker started to become more and more of a Jedi.

In those two years, Obi-Wan had changed just as much. Whatever quasi-cockiness that Elara had sensed in him two years prior had waned, as she predicted, with each passing year. The self-assuredness that he carried about him like a cloak was still there, but it was no longer misconstrued as arrogance or smugness. The expectations and weight that accompanied the title of Jedi Knight proved to mellow out the seemingly cocky aspects of his personality. If there was ever someone who embodied––or was beginning to embody––just what Elara thought a Jedi should be, it was Obi-Wan Kenobi. He was dedicated to the ways of the Order, he was a wonderful teacher, and he was perfectly kind and diplomatic. He had mentioned before that the learning process was never truly over for a Jedi; that becoming a Jedi Knight was truly the start of one's Jedi education. In taking on the responsibilities of a Knight, one would learn the true complexities of being a Jedi. Obi-Wan was currently on that path, still learning, and he was making wonderful progress.

Elara became the first to look away, her lips quirking up at the corners upon their own volition. There was something at the back of her head that told her that one day staring at Obi-Wan so intently would get her in some sort of trouble; and why that prompted a smile confused her. She lifted her glass in a toasting motion.

"To change, then," Elara offered brightly. Obi-Wan smiled, eyes crinkling endearingly at the corners, and raised his glass to her toast.

"To change."

OOOO

Obi-Wan strolled back towards his own quarters after approximately three or so hours of conversing with Elara. The skies of Coruscant were blanketed by night the constant pulse of speeder traffic lit up the horizon in a colorful haze. The Temple was filled with a blissful, pure, meditative silence. Most had turned in for the evening, leaving the corridors empty or sparsely populated. The quiet meant that the Jedi Knight's footsteps echoed gently as he padded across the marble floors. The calm atmosphere allowed Obi-Wan to become lost in his thoughts. His feet carried him on the correct––but slow––path across the Temple whilst he contemplated his evening.

A distinctive ease had formed between himself and Elara. Once the two had overcome the rocky start of their friendship, they spoke as though they'd known each other for years. Lulls in conversation were rarely tense or awkward. Obi-Wan found such pleasure in discussing things with her, anything from the smallest details of their days to larger, more philosophical topics regarding the Force. Her point of view on such topics were so incredibly unique, given her unique circumstances. As Elara had lived the first twenty years of her life as any other citizen of the galaxy would, her views were not so heavily influenced by the rules of the Jedi Order; and that was not necessarily a terrible thing. In fact, he thought it was a wonderful thing. It prompted him to look at things from a different perspective, explore it, and understand where that perspective was coming from. It made for wonderful conversation that often naturally progressed into a heated debate––absent of any aggression–– or into light hearted banter.

Obi-Wan found immense pleasure in sharing such evenings with Elara, their words often exchanged over tea. When their conversations strayed from the philosophical or political, they exchanged personal stories. It had come to the point Obi-Wan felt as though he'd known the Tatooine native for the whole of her life, and he could not picture a time when he did not know so much about her. The landscapes of her life seemed so vivid to him, and at times it seemed as though he felt them as well. He could feel the heat of the double suns, the sting of sand on his skin, and the flush of emotion as Elara described diving behind a cantina bar during a bounty hunter's shoot out. Obi-Wan wondered if the Force had anything to do with that. It had become apparent that the Force flowed easily between them, merging and joining in such a way that made him curious; it made him wonder if she, too, felt as though she experienced the stories that he told her.

It occurred to him, as he paused outside his quarters, that Elara Skywalker was perhaps the second person he had ever felt wholly and truly close to. Qui-Gon was, of course, the first; his Master had known him so very well and Obi-Wan felt that he knew him just the same. He was getting there with Anakin, and he did not doubt that the two would bond quite strongly. With Elara, however, their bond had been almost immediate. It was evident the moment they first shook hands. Though there was a considerable amount of tension between them at the start, it had ebbed away quickly and left them with a uniquely formed bond that Obi-Wan had yet to fully understand. It seemed to grow and mature as they did. Where they were once amiable acquaintances that shared conversations when the opportunity arose, they were now familiar friends that active sought the other out for company. Elara often came to him with frustrations that stemmed from training, voicing what she felt she couldn't say to Yoda. He would listen intently and offer advice, and they usually ended up meditating beside each other for a short while. In the moments Obi-Wan felt like a wide-eyed young man far out of his depth in regards to Anakin, he would seek Elara out and ask for her advice. She would give it easily while they walked the promenades of the Temple, smiling as she would recall moments she, too, felt out of her depth with her brother.

Obi-Wan had started to wonder if this was the start of a Force Bond. As he had mentioned to Elara, Force Bonds were not uncommon. Such bonds between Master and Apprentice made perfect sense, as they often fell in-tune with one another from all of their years training side-by-side. It made sense that Elara and Anakin were so strongly bonded, as they were brother and sister, facing adversity and hardship together for most of their lives. Obi-Wan had not known a Force Bond to appear so rapidly as the one he believed may be beginning to form between himself and Elara. In most cases, it took a number of years––not just two. It would suggest their bond had started the minute they had stepped into each other's presence. This, however, was merely a suspicion. Only time would tell just what the bond between the two was and would yield; and Obi-Wan would only quietly admit to himself that he quite looked forward to discovering what the future held for them.

Afterword: Approximate ages in this chapter would be Elara at 22, Obi-Wan at 24, and (the unpictured, but mentioned) Anakin at 12.

Alright. So I was gone for a while because life body slammed me with some unpleasantness and a whole lot of writer's block. But thanks to both Battlefront II and The Last Jedi, my inspiration for this story has returned full force and I have been working on finishing this chapter for the last couple of days. I didn't know quite where to go with it, but I knew I wanted to showcase how Elara is progressing in her training, and how she and Obi-Wan are interacting as they get older and more familiar with one another. We're starting to see more of the Obi-Wan we know and love––that distinguished, well-spoken, calm Jedi.

Review Replies!

ZabuzasGirl: Yeah, I drew from Luke's training montage for Elara, because I figured 'hey, Yoda must have used it before!' I hope that you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks again!

danierys: I plan on continuing this story till the end, and then tying it into the original series, where another story will begin. I'm planning a completely insane tangle of stories that all tie into each other through the newest trilogy. So we'll see how it all goes! Thanks again! I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

moonlusth: I've never had anyone call one of my stories addicting before, and I'm flattered that you've called it as such. I apologies for the tardiness of the chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless! Thank you again!

hanlue: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter! I'm sorry it's taken so long, but life decided that I needed to take an unforeseen break. And I still adore the request you sent; and I've gotten more ideas for it, which have already been written down and will be ready to be elaborated on. I hope you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

tooclosefortety: I am extremely happy that you enjoy the way I write the characters; it always takes me a minute to figure out how to translate words in my head into the way Obi-Wan speaks. He is so well-spoken. And mannerisms and such are always fun. I hope that you're still reading! Thanks again!

Robinbird79: The scene from Attack of the Clones inspired the cantina scene from last chapter. It's painfully clear that Obi-Wan's had quite some practice in the drinking scene, and I just had to capitalize on it! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter; thanks again!

XBnemesisX: Fluff is so much fun to write, and I love writing it between Obi-Wan and Elara. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks again!

Faron Oakenshield: I always really like to write the build up to the romantic relationship in a story. I've always a lot of fun to write the 'almost' moments and see how it will uniquely stem given the circumstances; and these circumstances for Elara and Obi-Wan are pretty damn unique. I hope that you enjoyed the chapter, and thank you again!

LoveFiction2017: Thank you! If you're still around, I hope you enjoyed the new one!

vanessa: Thank you! Casual Obi-Wan is a bitch to write. Because I feel like casual Obi-Wan is a little more sassy, with a bit more drawl to him, which is strange to write as the character becomes the more distinguished, older Obi-Wan we are all familiar with. But I'm glad that he's reading well! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter!

Guest: Thank you so much and I am so sorry for the lack of updates. Life really gets ya, you know? I hope that you enjoyed the chapter, if you've stuck around! Thanks again!

sadpool: I'm glad that you're still reading! I hope that you enjoyed the chapter just as much as the last ones; and I'm always happy to reply/talk :) Thanks again!

LealovesMokuba: Thank you so much! I hope you've stuck around to keep reading!

amrawo: I look forward to writing more that you can read! I hope that you enjoyed the newest chapter; thanks again!

AnneDance1711: I don't know how I'm going to tackle the Clone War era of this story. Because I want to and definitely want to include snippets from that period of time, as it is quite integral in many different ways. However, I haven't watched much of the show––I've only seen a handful of episodes and only know so much about it (though I do know about Satine). If you have any suggestions for episodes or story arcs, please, let me know so I can give them a good look! Thank you again, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

heroherondaletotherescue: Thank you, friend! I hope that you've enjoyed the newest chapter just as much as the last ones!

And thank you to those that had read/added this to follows/favorites; it means a lot!

So, I'm going to be going into an absolutely HELLISH month. It isn't going to be pretty for me, as this is going to be my toughest semester of college thus far, with added in stress from other outside sources. So, if you don't hear much from me in a month, be assured I will be back to this story, as I love it too much. I plan on making serious headway with this one, as I have so many plans. Thank you all for being so lovely and so patient! You're the absolute best!
~Mary