Kanan could not understand what was going wrong in training. The kid definitely had potential and some very raw talent, but getting him to focus long enough to learn something was becoming more and more of a problem. For the first hour or so, Ezra was completely enraptured as Kanan taught some basic Jedi history. Most of the history was told in a story telling format for very young children but Ezra did not need to know that. Blue eyes stayed hype focused on Kanan as he began getting more involved in the history. He began mimicking voices he remembered and moving his hands to demonstrate certain things. Kanan became more excited as the lesson progressed. Ezra stayed silent the entire lesson. Time flew quickly and as the first hour of the training came to a close, it became closer to time to focus on other parts of training. Telling stories was fairly easy for Kanan, he assisted with that even before the temple was dispatched. He began to get nervous about the other aspects of training. He remembered Meditation well so figured they could try that next.
When Kanan was at the peak of his training, he could meditate for hours in the temples. The silence echoing off the meditation halls. He was not sure how he would replicate the experience for Ezra but he was ready to give it his best shot. The best he could come up with happen to be a cleaned out corner of the ghost. Where their voices echoed in the room. It took a few minutes to settle Ezra down, he seemed more jittery to Kanan but Kanan figured it was because of the stories. Kanan tired to settle him through the force but it turned out very ineffective and he had to do it the old fashion way. After they were settled into the proper position as best as Kanan could remember. Kanan talked Ezra into the perfect breathing patterns and had him close his eyes. Since it had been a while, Kanan figured he could do for a good meditation session himself and joined his young apprentice. After a few minutes, he heard a shuffling sound coming from his right where Ezra was sitting. His student's nerves being projected by the forced. After changing positions several times, Kanan was fast becoming frustrated. Why was his student not even trying? Was he even listening earlier to how important becoming one with the force was? The shuffling continued unitil Kanan had had enough. What's wrong Ezra? he asked while opening his eyes. I don't know Ezra replied it just doesn't feel right here. It's too empty and cold. Well if you were more focused on the force, you would not feel cold Kanan continued with more patience than he actually felt. In truth, the hiccup they were experiencing so early in training was making him more nervous. Made he feel more that he was not enough to teach another. It felt like he barely started his training when his master sent him to hide for his own safety. He did not say any of this out loud but he did let out a sigh. A person would of thought he yelled at the child with how he wilted. Ezra's eyes found a spot near his feet, now completely out of the perfect formation he was in before, and wandered across the ground.
Let's just try the meditation for a few minutes longer, okay Kanan compromised. Okay master Ezra responded without looking away from his feet. With great reluctance, both student and master returned to their positions to continue to attempt. After a few hours of trying to get the kid to sit still long enough and focus on the force, Kanan was exhausted by the time it was almost lunch time. He opened his eyes and saw Ezra beginning to doze, again out of position and let out another sigh. Ezra snapped back to reality from his daydream and looked at Kanan expectantly. How about we call it a morning and take a break before lunch he tried to say optimistically. Sure, Why not Ezra replied a little sarcastic. Frowning as his Padawan made a quick escape off the ship, Kanan made his way to the eating area to make a quick meal. Nutrition bars were good in space, but they were currently parked on the outskirts of Lothal so Kanan wanted something with a little more substance. Lunch in hand, he went to go find Hera and strategize what he intended to do about the horrible training. Hera had been right about the timing for training. Maybe she had some advice for how to continue it. When he found her, they chatted a while in the cockpit before Kanan brought up his conundrum. Don't know what you expect me to know love, I never did any of the training you did. Why don't you talk me through the training session today and see if hindsight is better she reasoned. As Kanan talked about the training starting with the history and ending with his frustration with the meditation, Hera was listening carefully to find out the problem. Sorry guys, didn't mean to eavesdrop Sabine interrupted as she came into the room. When you say meditation, are you talking about that weird position you sit in all the time? Besides how did you know Ezra was nervous instead of bored? Frustrated about having to explain his failure he attempted to explain Of course he was nervous, I felt it through the force . Well I'm no expert like you but if you were feeling his nerves, is it possible he was feeling yours too? Kanan opened his mouth to correct Sabine and froze. A few minutes past in silence as he thought on what Sabine just said. Of course, Sabine your a genius Kanan exclaimed as he ran out of the room. Kanan could not be sure yet but he suspected Ezra was strong in the force. Without the training to suppress the emotion of another, he was projecting Kanan's own insecurity. Calming down and reaching out with the force, Kanan noticed Ezra was no longer on the ghost. Figuring he went out for a walk to calm himself as well. Kanan started walking toward the area he could feel Ezra in.
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Ezra could hardly contain his excitement about the idea of finally training one on one with Kanan. The first lesson was history. Ezra always enjoyed it when his family would tell him stories. Listening to Kanan talk was very similar to listening to his father. After a while, Kanan started moving his hands in the same way his father did. Not completely sure why, Ezra was becoming more excited as he learned the history. In his mind he could see some things Kanan spoke about. To the beautiful scenery to the brave Knights who fought for the Order. Flashes of pictures danced in front of the younglings eyes with increasing frequency as his master spoke of better times for the Jedi.
It was disappointing in a way, when the stories came to an end for the day. It took a few minutes while Kanan was thinking for Ezra to distance himself from the stories. Ezra began to get an odd sensation in his stomach after the story. He was not completely sure what it was but he had the urge to move and do something. He could feel the calm emotion from the previous lesson being washed away by this new and unwelcome sensation. It made it jittery and made it difficult to focus on what Kanan was telling him. Ezra was next led to a place inside the ghost. Their voices echoed off the walls and made it hard to hear what Kanan was telling him. Even though the area was large, Ezra felt like the looming walls would come any moment to crush him. At one point while Kanan was talking to him, he felt the pressure come back. It felt like it was trying to force him to do something so he resisted it until it went away. After focusing on nothing else was a Kanan's voice, and trying to ignore the echo, Ezra felt like he understood what his teacher was asking of him. Ezra tried his hardest to emulate the way his master was sitting but it was hard to concentrate with his legs curled under him in what he considered and unnatural way. The breathing exercises he was asked to do were nothing like the ones he did when he was small. They made him feel like he could not get enough air, but Kanan said he would train Ezra to be a Jedi so he would do the exercises he was asked to do. So he tried and failed. Again and Again he would fall out of position and his breathing never did feel smooth like Kanan's did. Ezra felt frustration gathering in his stomach to go with the feeling that had not gone away since the end of the history lesson. Trying to explain to Kanan what was wrong did not go well either. It even sounded like an excuse to his own ears. When Kanan asked that he just try a little longer, how was Ezra suppose to tell him that he couldn't. That he felt more and more like he would never be a Jedi. Maybe Kanan made a mistake? After what felt like an eternity, Ezra gave up before Kanan. He got out of his position and started dozing, the least he could do was wait until his teacher was done. While he still had a teacher. When Kanan finally stopped and dismissed Ezra to take a break, Ezra went to go sit on the open ramp of the ghost and look at the planet he called home. Close by Zeb was practicing with what Ezra was told was a borifle. It looked more like a spear to the boy but what did he know. Maybe he did something he did not know about yet. Ezra debated a few more minutes and went to get a closer look at the lasat's training. The clearing was silent except the occasional grunt from Zeb. The lasat found the silence eerie because of the usual energetic teen was just watching.
A few more minutes went by before Zeb asked "How was training?" Great, Ezra thought, now even Zeb will know I can't do it. "F-fine" he stuttered and looked away. Poor boy looked like he was about to crawl out of his skin and hide. Now Zeb was not always the brightest but he had done his share of talking with new recruits while he was captain of the guard. With one final parry, he picked up his weapon and walked over to where the boy was sitting. He did not say anything as he sat down and began cleaning his weapon. "What happened" he asked sympathetic. As if all Ezra was waiting for was a prompt, he found himself speaking to his new roommate. Heaven knows how the lasat understood it because the Padawan felt like he was making no sense. Trying to explain the feelings he had been having in his stomach was hard for someone who did not express himself. Something must have gotten through though because after a few minutes of his stunted explanation, Zeb brightened. "Sounds like you just have a bit of nerves is all, Kid. Here I thought it would be more than that." "Well if it's so simple, how do I get rid of this feeling" Ezra responded. "Well since we're still on this planet, is there anything you do to calm down" Zeb questioned. Startled by the advice, Ezra found himself replying "there is a place close by I went to alot before I met you guys." "Well there you go! You go do that for a while and I'll let Kanan know that you'll be gone a while. Feeling better after talking with Zeb, Ezra told lasat he would be back soon and went on his way. The place he was talking about really was not far from where they landed. only about 30 minutes on foot. After a short climb in a desolate part of the the cliffside, Ezra came into a breathtaking clearing. the overhanging rocks protected most of the animals and plants in the area from the elements. A stream that was more of a waterfall came from somewhere further up the cliff and trickled in the middle of the clearing. The water was so clear, a person could see the bottom by looking straight down. Some of the local wildlife looked at Ezra before continuing what they were doing. Ezra was always good with animals, even the scariest of creatures turned gentle when he went near them. Just another odd quirk of the child that he never questioned. Before this place was forgotten by his home, it was a common picnic spot, or so he remembered being told by his parents. With a few local fruit trees and many rocks, it was the perfect place for the youngling to practice his jumps and climbing. This was one of the places his parents would take him when his headaches got bad enough he could barely see straight. The place was not particularly quiet with the running water and wildlife, but it gave a sense of peace Ezra could find in very few places. A large stone slab was set up near one of the few trees. Worn from age but still useable. After debating for a few minutes with himself, Ezra decided to forgo the table to sit near the stream. The sun was still high in the sky. He picked several of the fruit on his way to his spot and settled in a natural position on the ground.
Every now and again, Zeb had some really good ideas. This is exactly what Ezra needed. As he felt the calming effect of the area, he closed his eyes and matched it with one of the breathing exercises he had learned from his mom as a child. one of the braver furry creatures actually came up to him and sat in his lap. Used to such displays, Ezra only settled deeper in though and continued breathing. He was so far gone in his breath that he did not notice someone coming up from behind him until they touched him. Now after he was touched he jumped clean out of his skin. Now that his eyes were opened, he saw the hissing form of the lothcat that had sat in his lap. He couldn't be sure but it felt like he may have hissed as well until he saw the familiar figure that touched him.
"Kanan, what are you doing here" Ezra asked still dazed. "I came to find you to continue our training but I see you started without me" Kanan said happily. Confused about his masters words "what do you mean" he questioned. "Do you realize what this place is?" Kanan asked the boy. "Yea, it's the place I come to when I need to calm down" Ezra explained. Kanan now back in teaching mode explained to Ezra about places found in nature where the force flowed freely. "I need to apologize for earlier" Kanan stated "I did not take into account the people teaching you. What I consider natural you may not" he spoke "I think if you give me another chance we can finish meditation here". As they prepared to meditate, Kanan coaxed Ezra into telling him about the area and what it meant to him. Ezra told him about the place and what he did there. Even about the animals being so docile. A niggling sensation prickled at the back of Kanan's mind until he realized something. "The breathing technique you were just using is very advanced, where did you learn it" Kanan asked. "Just something my mom taught me to settle down, I never knew it was special" Ezra answered honestly. At this point, Kanan began to suspect two things. 1. Ezra's parents may not have been the simple factory workers he originally thought and 2. Ezra may be stronger in the force than he first realized.