Hey guys, long time since my last update.

Sorry for that but anyway, here is the next chapter so enjoy the read.

Chapter Nine

Sun and Moon

Ellana stood in the middle of the training room with her hilt in hand. She had both of her eyes closed, her hold tightening upon the Force as she stood there, allowing herself to feel the area around herself. The light buzzing of the training droids around her drew her attention and then she could hear them sending blast toward her.

The young girl moved, gently stepping side to side to avoid being hit by the blasts coming toward her. The girl smiled to herself as she finds herself doing a spin to avoid three blasts coming at her from all three side as the difficulty of the training stared to get higher and then, Ellana activated her blade, feeling the hum within her hand as she held the blade with her two hands and started working on blocking the blast from the droids coming toward her.

One to the left, one coming from behind, one in the front.

Three were coming from three different location and Ellana find herself jumping lightly, doing a forward flip, extinguishing her blade, to avoid them all since she couldn't dodge them by going below.

Landing on the ground, she activated her lightsaber once more at the right time to do a sideswipe at a blast coming for her leg, and then spun her blade again to parry a couple of strikes from the front.

This continued for another minute, as she worked her blade through the air as well worked upon her footwork avoiding blaster fire from hitting her, feeling the heat of the blast passing by her, seemingly an air breath away from hitting her and hearing her blade gentle hum, hearing the kyber crystal sing from the connection she shares with it, and with the Force.

Then there was a beep, signaling the end of the training.

"You really are good," Sara Ryder told her with a light smirk.

Ellana glanced at her with a smile, extinguishing her blade feeling a bit out of breath. Sara returned her smile as stood near the control for the training droids that were now in idle mode floating around them. Ellana made her way toward her friend, placing her hilt at her belt as she walked.

"I can see what Instructor Leane was saying about having our own lightsabers," she said, "It's much easier to use than the training ones."

Sara smiled.

"Yeah," she said, "I think it's the connection between us and the crystal. The training blades only use some type of synthetic crystal, right? There is just no connection between it and the Force. It's probably no different than a blaster."

"Well, it's your turn now," Ellana told her.

Sara gave her a grin before moving ahead toward the center of the room, leaving Ellana to stand beside the control. Noticing that she was in position, and after getting the go ahead from her friend, Ellana activated the droids once more causing the four white orbs to start their complicated dance pattern around the lone girl in the middle. Sara had taken hold of her hilt, holding it on the side and from the pull of the Force that Ellana felt, Sara was getting ready.

Then the dance begins and Sara was moving. She was as graceful as a dancer Ellana noticed. She hadn't activated her blade yet, only allowing the Force to guide her movements as she avoided the blast from the training droids around her.

It had been a few months since their trip from Jedha had happened. While nothing remarkably had changed since their return, their training with the lightsaber had grown more. Most of them had a firm grasp upon the Form One of the Lightsaber training after all, it was the basic form of lightsaber combat that all Younglings were taught at the beginning of the lightsaber training…thought now their training had continued through form Two and Three.

Ellana smiled lightly to herself as she observed Sara with now her green lightsaber activated and was now parrying and dodging the attacks coming toward her. It had been something of a routine for them to be here for an hour or two practicing their skills in the week-end.

Then Sara let out a sound of pain as she was hit in the shoulder by an attack causing her to stumble in her movement, her concentration broken. Ellana was quick to shut down the training bots so that they don't continually attack her. Sara had extinguished her blade as she held upon her shoulder, wincing lightly in pain. Ellana approached her.

"Hey you're okay?"

"Yeah…I'm fine," Sara told her waving her concern away, "Took me by surprise getting hit like that. Still not getting used to that."

Ellana nodded at her.

"You sure you don't need the infirmary?" she asked.

Sara laughed gently tapping her arm.

"Stop being a worrywart El," she said, "It's fine. It's not like a real blaster shot anyway. It's just going to sting for a while. Thought, it's best we go back to our dorm… we've been here for three hours at least."

Ellana checked the clock that was at the far end of the room and saw that Sara was right. They were here for much longer than previously thought. The two girls then made their way out of the room and into the familiar hallways of the Temple. The late afternoon sun shone from the windows, bathing the hallway in a soft warm orange color.

"Hey El, are you going to apply for the Dueling competition?" Sara asked her.

Ellana glanced at her.

"The Dueling Competition?" she repeated, "You mean, the one Instructor Leane told us about?"

Sara nodded.

"Yeah," she said, "I heard that many Younglings are going to take part in it."

Ellana let out a soft hum.

"I don't know really," she answered.

"You and Aslan should enter," Sara told her with a light smile, "I mean, the two of you are the best in our class at lightsaber combat. I'm sure you'll go far."

"You're entering?" Ellana asked, tilting her head.

Sara nodded.

"Yeah, and so is Scott," she said, "It might be a good way to get noticed by Masters looking for a Padawan. I mean…Ulush is already a Padawan and I heard that Aslan is going to be chosen next."

It had come to a surprise to all of them when Ulush was chosen to be a Padawan. It seems that one of the Salarian Jedi Master had been keeping an eye upon the boy and had chosen him to be his Padawan. It was a common practice that some Masters chose their own species to be their Padawan, thought, it is not always like that, it was known to happen.

"Then, I guess I should enter as well," Ellana said simply with a light smile, "If this is a way to get noticed, then I will have to do my best."

Sara laughed.

"I'm sure you'll get noticed," she said, "Your lightsaber skills are pretty great for a Youngling…I'm sure many of us will get noticed by the Masters."

Ellana chuckled softly.

"I hope so."

The Dueling Competition was something of a tradition within the Jedi Temple. While it was started to sharpen the skill of their lightsabers and even improve some of their skills in a controlled environment. They were different dueling competitions done among the different levels of strength that the Jedi were. Some for Younglings, Padawans and even Master levels Jedi took part in competitions and it was said that the Masters were almost impossible to follow given their speeds and fluidity of movements, almost like the movements were part of a choregraphed dance.

Many of the Moon clan had given Instructor Leane their approval for the dueling competition, thought Ulush wasn't present given that he was away from Odessa with his new Master.

The day of the competition found Ellana and Sara along with Scott walking together with many other Younglings present to participate in the duels that will be taking place. They were outside of the Temple in the warm day air though they were some clouds dancing above them, occasionally shadowing the sun as a several other Jedi where there to coordinate the event that will soon be taking place. They made their way toward the Jedi who was taking the numerous names for the competition.

"You are the Moon clan, right?" he said, "Leane already sent your information to me and you are in separate brackets. Lavellan, you are in bracket three, Sara and Scott Ryder the two of you are in bracket seven and nine respectively."

"Thank you Master," Sara said giving a light bow.

The trio left together.

"They're separating us," Scott said with a light sigh.

"Probably doing it so that no one gain an advantage," Ellana told him, "If we fight against someone, we know we might get too competitive."

Sara chuckled.

"Oh…I can see that happening," she said giving her brother a glance.

"Hey, I'm not competitive," Scott said, noticing the look.

"Hey since they're going by brackets, that mean Ellana will be fighting first," Sara said, "Let's go there then and cheer you on."

Ellana simply shook her head as they made their way toward where the Third bracket was situated. They were other Younglings present thought they were all around the same ages and some even looked older. She took notice of few Knights present as well, probably scouting potential padawans as they were observing what was happening.

"Alright everyone," a male Jedi stood, dark hair upon his head a long hilt at his side, "This is the Third bracket matches for today. I'm sure many of you have enjoyed the first two but now, those of the Third brackets will be taking place now. We have ten Younglings for this bracket. Alright, the rules are to lower the power setting on your lightsabers less any of you lose a limb or cause an incident. I don't want Healer May to have my head."

They were a few shivers from the Knights present. Ellana had learned over the years that the kind healer she had met when she first arrived within the Temple had a terrifying reputation within the Temple about injuries.

"Rules of this tournament is easy to understand," the Jedi continued, "If you are disarmed then you are done. If you step out of bound, then you are also done. This is a way to show what you have learned during you years Younglings, and a way to see on what level you are and see what you can improve for future battle for there is no greater teacher and motivation to be better than failure. This is pure lightsaber combat, a dance of blades as is was known."

The man gave them a look over before activating his Omni-tool searching through the names that were given for the tournament before speaking out.

"John and Olven, you're up first," he said.

Two young men joined up upon the elevated platform that the Jedi was standing on. They were both humans' male and after a light bow between each other, the two activated their lightsaber, blue blades growing from the hilt they were holding and with a single word of start, fight started.

Ellana could tell they were both using Form One in their attacks but their speed was quite admirable but it was clear that Olven was more skilled. He was advancing forward and was quickly overcoming his opponent with a quick switch of skills and it was no longer time before John was defeated in battle landing upon his back with Olven having his blade at his neck.

They were light clapping from the people around them as the two young fighters walked off the ring.

"Not a bad fight," Scott said crossing his arms.

"They were both skilled but Olven used a variation of both Form One and Two," Ellana remarked, "It kept his opponent off balance and he took advantage of that."

Sara let out a hum.

"Maybe he is gifted in saber combat…like you and Aslan?" she added.

"Could be," Ellana said, "I mean, they split us up and make us go against people we've never trained with. Maybe it's kind of like how it will be when we're on mission with our masters. We will be fighting against people we've never seen before."

"But…there are nothing out there that can use a lightsaber like a Jedi can," Scott said confused at her wording.

"I know," Ellana told her, "But you know that they are threats out there that can challenge the Order."

Sara frowned.

"Like the Sith."

Scott stayed silent, thinking. They had an history of knowledge about the Dark antithesis of the Jedi Order. The Sith, ancient enemy of the Jedi who were vanquished centuries ago. Thought as far as any Jedi know, the Sith were completely destroyed but they also knew that the entire galaxy had been affected by the Dark Side users.

"Cinder Fall and Ellana Lavellan," the Jedi called out.

"Look like it's your turn," Sara told her.

Ellana smiled at her before making her way forward and climbing upon the platform. She can feel many people eyes upon her which caused her to feel a bit nervous. Across her, another young woman had risen up from the other side of the platform. She was a human with short dark hair and her eyes were a soft golden. She was wearing an earthly brown tunic upon her form and she was a little taller than her as well.

"Good," the Jedi said as the two stood in front of each other, "Now bow."

Ellana bowed to her opponent while Cinder let out a small smile inclining her head at her.

"At the ready," the Jedi spoke out.

Cinder took her saber, lighting it up as a solid blue blade grew from the hilt in her hands. Ellana activated her own lightsaber, hearing some whispers going on at the rare color but she didn't focus upon that. She kept her focus upon the other girl across her, controlling her breathing.

"Begin," the man called out.

Cinder was the first to attack her. Her opponent was quick in her movements, Ellana noticed as she quickly moved in place to parry with her blade, earing the light zing sound of the two lightsabers making contact as the two of them continue to exchange blows.

Left, Right, middle.

Ellana started to see a pattern between in her movements. Cinder was using Form 2 quite skillfully and was doing quite a good job at being one step ahead of her. Ellana could see the experience Cinder has and she knew that she can't stay on the defensive forever…less she be defeated.

So, she went on the offensive…there. Cinder made a swipe to the side but Ellana was ready. She met the strike head on and pushed against it. Cinder's eyes widened lightly by a fraction as she didn't expect the sudden change of pace.

Ellana noticed it, and she quickly took advantage and continued to push forward with her Form One technique and increasing her speed just a bit more allowing the Force to strengthen her. Cinder was now caught on the backfoot, a harder look taking her features as she worked against them.

Their blades continued to dance and sing as the two continue the duel. The world beyond this battle had faded away…all that there was this moment, this duel, this dance between the two of them and from the look on Cinder's face, her entire focus was upon her and Ellana's own was mirrored.

Then they were separated, mirror of each other's move before the two launched at each other once more and the next thing Ellana knew was the warmth of a saber at her neck while her own lightsaber was at Cinder's. She can see the glow of blue out of the corner of her eyes as she stared at her opponent and Cinder was staring back into her own eyes and while it was hard to read what type of emotion she was feeling but there was something that Ellana recognized within that gaze.

Curiosity and a tinge of respect.

There was clapping sounds that brought Ellana to the world around them. To the realization that there was another world out there instead of the two of them in their blade dance. She felt Cinder removing the blade from her neck while she did the same. The two continued to stare at each other and Cinder tilted her head lightly at her.

"What clan are you from?" she asked, extinguishing her blade.

"the Moon clan," Ellana responded, doing the same and placing her hilt upon her belt, "You?"

Cinder had a half a smirk upon her lips.

"The Sun clan." She answered.

Ellana blinked.

What are the odds? She thought.

"A marvelous duel both of you," the Jedi spoke out approaching them looking at them both with a smile upon his lips, "I must say, the level of skills between the two of you is quite splendid. However, despite that, it was still a draw."

Cinder gave a nod that she understood and Ellana, despite the sting of disappointment at the lost, didn't feel like she lost at all. She glanced at Cinder again noticing that the other girl was looking at her as well, her head tilted with a curious look upon her features.

Ellana gave a bow and this time, Cinder returned it. Ellana returned back toward where Scott and Sara were and Scott already had an arm around her shoulder.

"That was amazing," he said, "You were so badass out there El."

"Thanks…a shame that I won't be moving up thought."

Sara chuckled.

"I won't be too sure," she said, "You impressed a lot of people and even the Knights were impressed."

Ellana gave the surrounding a glance, noticing the few Knights that were there, and noticed that some were looking in her directions. Thought most of them were unreadable in their expression, she could see the gleam within their gaze as they stared at her.

But something on caught her eyes.

Standing not too far away from where she was, was Solana Amell. The woman was standing not too far away from where she was, tilting her head lightly almost as if she was searching for something and it wasn't long before those familiar eyes found hers.

"Sara…I'll be right back," Ellana said suddenly.

The Terran girl tilted her head lightly.

"You're okay?"

Ellana nodded, "Sure there is someone I need to speak to."

Sara gave her a brief nod, and Ellana quickly made her way through the crowd, passing the excited Padawans that were focusing upon the next battle that was about to take place. She reached Knight Amell who waited for her to approach. She could feel it within the Force that there was something odd happening and it seems Knight Amell was aware of it as well.

"It's been a while, Ellana," she said giving her a small smile.

"It has," Ellana answered, "Were you watching?"

"No," Solana answered her, "I was meditating in my room actually. Then, I've got a feeling through if I came here, that something will happen…thought I don't know what…but now I see."

Solana's eyes met her own.

"I see that I am meant to be your teacher," she said.

Ellana's eyes widen in shock.

"Really?" she asked, surprised.

Solana smiled lightly.

"You felt it as well right?" she said, "Or you wouldn't be here."

Ellana frowned lightly.

"I felt something when I saw you…that was the will of the Force?"

Solana nodded, "Or something like it. I guess it was also the Force's will that my Master and I were the ones who went to find you years ago on Elvhenan. All is as the Force will it. Will you allow me the honor to become your teacher, Ellana Lavellan?"

Ellana smiled lightly.

"I will be honored Master."

Hope you have enjoyed the read.

Next Time: The Citadel

Jacques0 out.

R&R