Chapter 20: Changes
The next four years passed quickly.
Most of her clan had become Padawans—Amir worked with Master Quinlan Vos. Aza was chosen by Aayla Secura. Reds' master was one of the only fully trained Wookie Jedi. Ahsoka was the only one still Masterless.
Once in a while, Aryn would meet with Ahsoka. "Don't worry, Ahsoka, the right Master will find you and will train you," Aryn reassured her childhood friend.
At twelve years old, Aryn easily outdid many of her classmates in Diplomacy, Diplomatic Relations and Negotiations, and basic Politics. Students who took these classes were usually sent to the Diplomatic Corps.
Aryn, however, needed them for her role as the Avatar.
During the past four years, she had gone to Mandalore and watched Satine work with her advisors. She'd gone to Naboo and watched as Queen Amidala stepped down in favor of Queen Jamillia. She observed the swearing in of the new Senators in the Republic Senate, including Senator Amidala and a man named Rush Clovis—she instantly didn't trust him for some reason. She watched as the Senate began to divide on the issue of Count Dooku and his offer of fixing the Republic.
She often ran laps around her classmates in debates, but still had issues with Master Windu. He often demanded reports from her visits to the Spirit World and didn't approve of her rather, well, frequent returns to Elementia.
On her second visit, Gyatso introduced her to his other cousin, Bolin and Opal's daughter, Naoki. A year younger than the two friends, she was the first Earthbender to be able to both Metalbend and Lavabend without being the Avatar.
Aryn frowned at the reports coming in from the Senate. A few weeks ago, Senator Amidala, the former queen of Naboo had become Senator. Now rumors were going through the Temple that Senator Bonteri, Senator Amidala's mentor, as well as Aryn's mentor, was going to leave the Republic and join Dooku's Separatists.
She hurried toward the speeder bay. "Where are you going, Padawan?" Knight Jeng asked.
"To speak with Senator Bonteri, there are rumors Raxus is going to leave the Republic, I'd feel more comfortable if I heard what's going on from her, Master Sarrissa," Aryn admitted.
"I agree, young one, tell me what she said," She ordered.
Aryn grinned. "Uh, Master? Can you drive me to the Senate?" Aryn asked sheepishly, as she just remembered she didn't know how to drive a speeder.
Knight Jeng grinned and then nodded.
Upon reaching the Senate, the two went straight to Senator Bonteri's office. "Padawan Aryn, Knight Jeng, what brings you two here?" Senator Bonteri asked.
"Is it true, Senator Bonteri? You're leaving the Republic?" Aryn asked.
"Yes," Senator Bonteri answered honestly. "I have to answer to my constituents and they want to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems."
Aryn nodded. "You're right. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to do what's best for your people," Aryn murmured. That was a hard lesson she had learned during her time as Yangchen—she'd been defending the Fire Nation, learned they were causing the problem and had to kill the Fire Lord's second son. She also learned it as Elia—she had left the Eastern Air Temple for a while, taught herself Waterbending, learned Earthbending, adopted an abandoned girl from a Sandbender tribe, and then had to kill the girl two years later when she began attacking villages and murdering innocents.
Senator Bonteri smiled. "Senator Amidala will take over training you with large councils," she stated simply, as way of dismissal.
Aryn and Knight Jeng bowed and then left. "What do you say, we have a practice spar in training room 6?" Knight Jeng asked.
Aryn grinned and nodded in response.