Over the next few weeks, Lena's training continued, but the padawan found herself more distracted than ever. Somehow, every time her gaze found Kara's eyes, her attention broke, and she found her resolve hiccupping out of focus.

"Lena," Kara chided her gently, as they sparred with their lightsabers. "Free yourself of distractions. Focus your thoughts."

"Sorry," Lena mumbled, unable to deny that distractions were, in fact, throwing her use of the Force out of balance.

"No need to apologize, padawan. Just focus. Center yourself. Breathe. Let the Force flow through you."

Returning her attention to her ultimate motivator – smiting her enemies (despite her master's warnings) – Lena gripped her weapon tighter as focus and passion returned to her eyes. When her master nodded, she lunged forward, swinging the saber hard, but her teacher's years of experience allowed her to block the blow.

"Stay in the present," Kara warned, after several more missed or blocked swings of the padawan's lightsaber. "You're still distracted. Live in the now. Don't let the past – or the future – gain control over your thoughts."

Realizing what the present meant – thinking of Kara, rather than revenge – Lena's grip on the lightsaber wavered. Kara moved forward, finally on the offensive, and knocked Lena to the ground, holding the tip of her lightsaber at the woman's throat.

When Lena put her hands up, Kara asked, "What troubles you?"

But Lena could only shake her head, finding herself confused by her own thoughts as well. Why was she so distracted? If it wasn't the past, it was the future. If it wasn't the future, it was the present… where Kara stood before her, cheeks tinted red, brow furrowed and covered in sweat, with soft, pink lips that—

"Lena."

The padawan actually had to shake her head vigorously to tear herself from her thoughts.

"The present distracts me as well," Lena confessed. "I've found absolutely nowhere that brings me peace, Master."

She wasn't about to tell the Jedi that her thoughts were filled with the blonde's glowing face and warm smile, but when she considered her own words, she realized that they were untrue. When she thought of peace, she found herself back in the swamp with her teacher, laughing and embracing in the mud.

But now, sparring, she knew she had to focus. Knew she had to let go. But still… her resolve and ability to do so wavered.

"I sense there's something more," Kara mused, noting the involuntary pained look on her pupil's face. When Lena said nothing, the Jedi pressed, "Something you're not saying, perhaps?"

Biting her lip, the brunette shook her head, declining to share, knowing it was for the best that she keep her thoughts to herself. After all… Surely, it was inappropriate for a padawan to have these thoughts about her master. And besides… there was no way the thoughts would be reciprocated, so why bother opening Pandora's box?

Understanding Lena's silence and lack of readiness to speak, despite having no insight into her thoughts, Kara gave a nod and stated, "When you're ready, then."

When Kara reached down and took Lena's hand to help her up and the pupil felt the warm tingle of her touch, a shiver wracked her body.

"Are you alright?" her teacher asked, looking at her quizzically.

Nodding a lie, Lena gripped her lightsaber and resumed a position of readiness.

Slightly more focused, Lena was able to spar somewhat successfully, even almost – almost – taking Kara down twice. Still, she wasn't quite ready to surpass her master's skill. Kara was proud of her, though, but this time reserved her praise. She didn't want to fuel Lena's growing ego any more than she already had, so she simply smiled when Lena finally retracted the weapon's blade.

"Meet me back here at dawn," Kara instructed her pupil. "I will provide one final lesson at that time."

"What?" Lena gaped. "Just one? But I'm not… I'm not ready! My training is—"

"Quiet your mind, Lena," Kara instructed her, suddenly sounding solemn as she came to her own silent revelation about her student's training. "Trust your master."

Mouth hanging open, Lena watched in disbelief as her mentor of nearly a year turned and left her alone in the sparring ring.

The next morning, Lena arrived at the sparring ring before sunrise and sat quietly on a stone nearby with her eyes closed and hands resting on her thighs. Finally heeding her master's advice without being prompted, she drew deep, slow breaths repeatedly until her spirit was calm. Focused only on the way the Force flowed through her in that moment – flowed between all things – the padawan centered herself, determined to practice Radical Acceptance of what is.

Approaching in silence, Kara watched her student meditate for a few moments before speaking, smiling at the sight of her pupil's evident calm and focus.

"It is time."

Lena's eyes opened slowly as her chest rose and fell with every steady breath. Rising slowly from her seat on the stone, she turned her attention to her master and followed her back into the forest until they reached the swamp.

A year ago, Lena would have pressed her master for answers. 'Where are we going?' 'What are doing here?' 'Why aren't you speaking?' But now… Lena accepted the silence. Even as it grew uncomfortable, with Kara simply staring out at the swamp, Lena kept herself quiet, listening only to her own breathing and the sounds of nature.

Finally, Kara spoke again.

"Look to the West," the Jedi told her student.

Lena obeyed, turning her head.

"Do you see the buried ship, just barely sticking out of the swamp?"

Lena nodded.

"Lift it out of the swamp."

"What?" Lena gaped, her focus breaking as disbelief in the command struck her. "How?"

"You know how," Kara asserted calmly, her expression blank and stoic – almost sad.

"The… The Force?"

The Jedi gave a single, serious nod.

Moving a cup was one thing, but an entire spaceship? Lena once again found herself doubting her abilities.

Rather than give the padawan direction, Kara simply told her, "Remember what I have taught you. Remember your training."

It would be up to Lena to do this on her own.

Exhaling a steady breath, Lena closed her eyes and held out her hand with an open palm.

The Force, she told herself. Use the Force. Let it flow through you. Believe in yourself. You can do this. Control your thoughts. No distractions. Stay in the present.

As her master's words echoed in her mind, Lena finally focused.

Despite knowing exactly how to control her thoughts and feelings, the Jedi found herself holding her breath as she observed her student without interfering. Not to her surprise, but to her great pleasure, Kara watched as Lena's focus and passion grew and the ship was lifted from the mud and gently lowered onto the bank of the swamp.

"Your power is limited only by your thoughts," the Jedi told her student calmly. "Do not expect too much of yourself, and use failure as an opportunity to learn, but never limit yourself with doubt."

Grinning from ear to ear, Lena nodded her head and leapt into her master's arms, hugging her tightly. Unable to withhold her own broad smile, Kara hugged back, embracing her student, feeling pride swell in her chest.

"Thank you, Master," Lena whispered. "Thank you."

"It is you who have done this," the Jedi assured her. "You allowed the Force to flow through you. You and you alone." When Lena pulled away, beaming, Kara told her, "You are ready, Lena. It is time for you to become the Jedi you were born to be and to fulfill your destiny."