Disclaimer: I most certainly do not own any part of Star Wars. So all credits for these amazing worlds, species and stories go to George Lucas, Disney and any other producers, writers and authors that took part in their creation. This story is for my own and (hopefully) your entertainment and offers me a platform where I can explore all these ideas bottled up in my head. Any alterations and additions to the original plot or original characters' backstories are for the sake of the development of my story. I DO own Faerhyn, Rylah and any other characters you might not recognize as well as their respective stories.

Author's Note: This story will move throughout the time before the Invasion of Naboo in Episode I. A sequel is, however already planned and will follow the prequel trilogy, and probably also feature the Clone Wars. What happens beyond that for now, lies in the stars.

You're welcome to review your opinion of this first chapter and point out any mistake you might come across. I'm not planning on posting the next chapters for a while, seeing as I still have a few organisational matters (cover, possible summary etc.) to handle. But should you stumble upon this story before I reckoned you would (which would be in a few years time?) then you're welcome to make me aware of your presence and I will gladly share the next couple of chapters that I have in petto.

May the Force be with you, always.

ElriyaStark

Interlude

Coruscant, Jedi Temple

44 BBY

(12 years old)

"Do you remember your first lesson in the Jedi Temple?"

The two girls had sat in peaceful silence with the Twi'lek's hands entangled in the human's hair ever since the former had dragged the latter up here, up until now.

The question was simple enough yet Faeryn did not dare to move to acknowledge that she had heard it, knowing she'd irritate the other girl whose hands were busily engaged in tempering her unruly blonde locks. Instead, she filtered through her memories in search of an answer.

But came out empty-handed.

"I- I don't." Her answer surprised even herself. There were so many lessons intermingled in her mind. All of them she took by heart. All of them she knew by heart, but she couldn't for the life of her decide which one was the first. Undoubtedly due to the fact that she had been a mere infant when she was taught that lesson, not even able to talk. But that was just a minor detail to Faeryn who felt highly disappointed for not remembering. After all, it surely must have been a memorable first lesson. All of them were. So why didn't she remember?

Lost in her thoughts, trying desperately to recall something that was unavailable, she belatedly realised that Lara had continued talking.

"-see it clearly before me now. A dozen Younglings, all gathered around Master Maks Leem, eagerly awaiting the begin of the first lesson of that day. I had just been accepted into the Order, it took a few days but I was ultimately accepted." Lara's hands stilled, sucked in by the memory. As Fae recalled, the Twi'lek had been four years old when she joined their ranks. An uncommon age for a fresh Jedi-Initiate who were usually taken in in their first few months of existing.

"I really couldn't believe my luck." She sounded as if she still didn't.

Faerhyn felt her heart sink.

"She told us to look out of the window. Simple as that." Her tone implied that Lara hadn't believed in the simplicity of the task herself. And Faeryn could just picture it. A younger version of the Twi'lek sat anxiously on the floor, expecting for the others to draw their lightsabers and jump into some high-level combat. She had told her as much once. And it wasn't surprising, few outsiders could see past the Jedi robes and lightsabers, oblivious to what it really entailed to be a Jedi.

"Look out of the window and tell her what we saw." The alien continued, her eyes looking past Fae's shoulder. Straight at Coruscant's traffic.

From where they were sat, in a balcony of sorts that was yet another meditation area in the Jedi Temple, one had a perfect view over most of the Senate District in the one and only Galactic City.

"Unique vehicles, she told us. All of them, flying on their own personal path. Occasionally, crossing paths with other vehicles, yet still following their path. It might look like a big jumbled mess to us and maybe even to the vehicles themselves." And it really did, Fae inwardly confirmed.

Just a few warm, bright rays of sunshine were to be the messenger for the beginning of another day in Coruscant. Yet, it did not seem as if any of the Citizens had to be told. The traffic was as loud, bustling and chaotic as ever. With some people going to work, others just returning home from their night shifts, and still others taking an entirely different route. But all having some kind of agenda.

"But there is an order to it all, as unfathomable as it might appear. As much as they or we might not understand it." The human knew where this was headed, where all of it came together one way or another. Though, it didn't give her any fewer goosebumps when spoken out loud.

"Because whether they realise it or not, all of those vehicles are guided through their paths by the Force."

Silence.

Not either dared to utter a single word. They both understood, so many things left unspoken. Things that had to be put into words now and they both knew it.

As always, Lara was the first to speak up. But she didn't say what neither wanted to hear. Faerhyn was startled out of her small, troubled mind by a very unexpected clap.

"I'm done." She didn't even have to see the greenish-blue Twi'lek to know that she was smiling. But she merely had any time to question it before a small mirror was shoved in front of her face.

Sharp steel eyes looked right back at Faeryn, still disoriented from this sudden change of topic. Her chubby face and ordinary features simple as usual, but not her hair. Gone was the long mane of wild blonde locks. Replaced by two identical pigtails tied behind her ears and barely reaching the top of her chin. Thoroughly and neatly braided from the top of her head all the way down on each side. It suited her.

What caught her eye though, was a minuscule detail that made all the difference. And the swell of pride inside of her was immediately followed by a pit of guilt, creating an inner turmoil within her.

Her eyes automatically moved to the spots between the Twi'lek's lekku, or what they lacked. Because where Faeryn's hair was adorned by a Padawan braid, Lara's appendages were bare. The human now regretted ever having agreed to the Twi'lek styling her hair. Not that she'd had a choice. Lara had made up her mind, she would be the one to cut the human's hair and braid the ceremonial Padawan braid. Still...

"Padawan Faeryn." She froze. It was only the second time that Faerhyn was officially addressed as a Padawan in the 24 hours that she had been one, but the title seemed to have become considerably heavier as she only now realised what kind of burdens and changes it brought. So many changes.

She met Lara's gaze almost shyly. Afraid of what she might find. But where she was expecting to see pain, blame and agony she found a bright smile and twinkling eyes.

Faeryn did not believe her eyes and for a second she was convinced that this was but a trick of the Force. Only, it wasn't.

There was nothing overacted or artificial about the Twi'lek's display of joyfulness. All of it was natural, she could feel it. Yet it still...it was bizarre, to see her so happy when she had every reason not to be. When just a few hours ago she hadn't been! Heck, if Fae had been in her place she would...She stopped herself right then.

A Jedi did not let their emotions take over. They knew better.

"We will cross paths again, Fae." Lara took the human's pale hands into her green ones. Grip as reassuring as the tone of her voice was. "I'm sure of it." Faerhyn couldn't recall a time where the Twi'lek had sounded more convinced of something. But all Fae could think about was that they'd have to part ways to find each other again.

And that was it, wasn't it? The truth that they'd have to face.

"I'm glad our paths crossed." Her words were steady, firm. She wanted to let no doubt trickle through her voice because she felt none. A Jedi did not have regrets, because all that they encountered was through the will of the Force. Fae wouldn't regret having met, known or befriended Lara. She couldn't.

"Me too." Lara Burdowsawn smiled her signature bright smile. Everything about the girl seemed to be glowing. A light hue seemingly surrounding her and intensifying the colour of greenish-blue skin. As bright and radiant as Faeryn had come to know it. Her own cheeks hurting just by looking at it. But now she took in all she could because this might be the last she saw of her alien friend.

Friend. She would have never imagined that she'd call anyone just that. Faery preferred to be left alone. A self-proclaimed outcast or that's what the others had viewed her as. Fae hadn't minded. She hadn't deliberately avoided anyone. It was just a, admittedly, welcome side effect that came with principally focusing on her studies.

But they (1)had been different. Lara was different. She understood from day one. All of her Clan did, more or less and so they'd all become her friends. Because they gave her her needed space without leaving her alone.

Faeryn hadn't planned for that to happen. But the Force had. And in the end, they were nothing but vehicles, flying in a system led solely by its will. And now all of them would go their separate ways. Unknown ways.

"I'll miss you." The words were so softly spoken, Faeryn wasn't even sure she uttered them. She rarely showed affection. Not intentionally, not palpably. A Jedi did not form attachments, neither did they act brashly. But the pull in her heart...she couldn't deny it as much as she knew how to ignore it.

And a part of her as small and well stifled as it might be did not want to. Not when this would be their last hours together. Because who knew when they would ever see each other again. If the Force intended for their path to intertwine in the future. So, for once, Faeryn let all her emotions seep through. The fear, uncertainty, sadness...all of it. She might regret it later, but for now, she wouldn't spare it a thought.

For a moment, she thought Lara might not have heard her until the pair of hands left her hands, only for her arms to come up around her in an awkward hug. Or at least, for Faeryn it was awkward because Lara didn't seem to mind in the least as she pressed her cheek into her shoulder.

"I'll miss you too, Fae." The alien whispered softly, again taking Faeryn by surprise. Her voice laced by so much reassurance, the blonde almost felt like she was the one who would leave. They stayed in this position for a while and Faeryn put her hands atop the Twi'lek's arms around her, feeling the need to return the gesture. It was her that was supposed to convey comfort for the other girl after all.

"Try not to block everyone out while I'm away." The Twi'lek murmured into her ear, knowing the blonde girl better than she'd like her to.

"No promises," she replied evenly, a bitter taste forming in her mouth. This was indeed a goodbye. Something switched in her then, a short-lived change that she was fast to correct but only when a mistake was already made.

"Who's to say I'll be here long enough to even be able to." Faerhyn regretted the words as soon as she said them. Those were the foul and resentful words of an insolent child and nowhere near fit for a Jedi. But she had never felt less deserving of the title she had earned with sweat and ambition.

Her doubts and fears were well hidden but Faerhyn was aware of them, now more so than ever. How could she become a Jedi-Knight if she had trouble facing changes? If she could not let go because right now she really didn't want to. She wanted Lara and her to go back to their rooms and prepare for their next lessons. To watch her Clan mates have fun and make jokes while she was sitting in the corner with a book in her lap, shaking her head at their antics. She wanted so much but nothing of that could happen and she had no power to change any of it. She didn't even have the power to accept it.

Faerhyn felt like crying. She had given so much to get to this point but who was to say that it would be enough in the future? There was no guarantee in a future that was always moving. She had no control over it.

Lara let go of her in the instant that she had said those foul words.

"Now, listen here Fae, because I have barely any time left." Green hands found her pale shoulders in an urgent grip.

"You. Will. Find. A Master. Or they'll find you, it doesn't matter. The Force will bring the two of you together and you will become a Jedi-Knight." Firm and strong, no doubts trickled through the words.

"You don't have to be perfect for that to happen, Fae." She paused there as if to make sure her words reached her. She had hit her target straight on, dragging Faerhyn's biggest fears out of whatever dark hole it had been staying at to face the bright daylight.

"You don't have to be perfect. People who are perfect can't learn. They don't exist." Lara looked older, wiser. Her usual emotional friend seemingly having disappeared, a cool-headed, calm adult taking over. She stood tall and determined, so sure of herself. She looked every bit the Jedi-Knight that she had aspired to be. Faerhyn recognised an incredible strength in the Twi'lek that she had never given her credit for it, and she felt so ashamed for that. Because here they were, Lara about to leave the Order while Faerhyn now held the title of a Padawan. Yet it was Lara that was consoling Faerhyn, not even neglecting her self-proclaimed 'duty' as a friend when she should be the one demanding comfort. Faerhyn had never come across a more selfless act. And for not but a fraction of a moment Faerhyn found herself on the brink of questioning the Jedi High Council's decision. That line of thought was like an ice-cold bucket of water splashed all over, reining all in that she had lost control over to harshly discard it.

"Take care of yourself." Faerhyn couldn't for the life of her return the Twi'lek's smile but hoped that the empathetic alien could see right through her eyes as she usually did.

Her bubbly friend had accepted her path. A path plastered with so many more riddles than her own, she had to follow suit. No one had said becoming a Jedi would be easy, Faerhyn would prepare herself. For the sake of Lara and her own, she would give all she had and expect nothing less. She always had.

"You too." She nodded, placing her own hand on the Twi'lek's shoulder. For a moment they stood like that, only looking at each other.

"Until we meet again then, Padawan Fae." Silver met bright blue. There was so much Lara had given her, all her advice would be something she would store away as precious as Master Yoda's words. But she couldn't let her leave just like that. She had to give something back. Something that meant as much as their friendship had. The most reassuring words she could come up with that really meant something. That is to say everything.

"May the Force be with you, Lara Burdowsawn."

(1)'They' meaning Lara and her other Clanmates as in the Clans that Jedi Initiates get put into. We might meet other members of the Clan as the story continues.