We are back and there is an update and we are also putting out on A3O if you want to follow there. We would like to thanks SweetSinger 2010 for letting us borrow the idea about the braid. Also chimongra is to thanks for the idea of Vaapad. We could not recieve you but hopes it is okay.
Ezra woke up and smiled up at the painting above his bunk. The boy was excited about the upcoming lesson with the crew's leader. Kanan had promised to start jedi training today and he could not be more happy. Kanan was so nice and it would be cool to train to be like him. Ezra just hoped that the training would be less painful than from when he training with the Inquisitor's. Ezra knew how strong Kanan was, the boy didn't want to imagine how painful a beat to the back from him would be. Worse, what if … what if Kanan got so mad he would use his lightsaber on him, his stomach dropped in horror at that and he felt ill over it. Not to mentioned to be locked up without food and water for days. Ezra cringed at the thought.
Despite his misgivings, he threw his outfit on before he tiptoed out of the room (as to not wake Zeb). Ezra kept quiet till he got to Kanan's room. Once the door opened, Ezra could no longer maintain silence. Especially when he saw that Kanan was still asleep, how could he sleep at a time like this?
"Come on, come on, come on! jedi training, you said first thing in the morning and that is now!" Ezra cried happily as he jumped right onto Kanan.
SWR
Kanan was sleeping deeply when something heavy and hard landed on his stomach. The sensation made it hard for the man to not breath for moment; a similar method he was far too familiar with.
Kanan shot up in panic, prepared to defend himself from the guards beatings by holding his arms up in defense. Kanan's heart sped up, the adrenaline coursed through his body, his breathing became pierced and he was shaking a bit. Kanan though looked around and found that he was in his room, had the empire found them? Yet there was no guard in sight, so who had hit him?
"Kanan?" asked a tiny voice in worry.
As Kanan looked down, he saw Ezra looking down onto him with the his big blue eyes, full of concern. Kanan sighted in relief and smiled tiredly to Ezra. While he was happy to see Ezra up and ready, he just wanted to lay down and sleep some more, that was if his body could relax again after that disturbing awakening.
"Ezra? what time is it?" Kanan asked as he tried to rub the sleepy sand from his eyes, and his heart to relax.
Ezra, seeing Kanan was okay, smiled widely and shrieked, "It's time for training!"
Kanan looked over at the clock and much to his dismay he saw it was five-forty-five in the morning and he groaned. Kanan never got up before seven, unless it was an emergency of course.
Kanan then laid back, "How about we wait on training until-,'
"But I am awake, and you're awake" Ezra argued eagerly.
"Give me an hour more and then I will be there promise Ezra" Kanan said and layed down, trying to relax, only to be tugged again by the child.
"Come on Kanan" Ezra pleaded.
Kanan laid down, but he saw the eagerness in Ezra's eyes, and knew how excited he was to start train.
Kanan sighed, "You aren't gonna leave me alone, are you."
Ezra shook his head no with a wide smile.
Kanan sighed as he sat up, "Alright, let's get ready to train."
"Yes!" squealed Ezra.
Kanan on the other hand tried just to wake up, it was way too early for his taste. Slowly but surely though, Kanan got up. Ezra eagerly bouncing on his heels. As Kanan tried wake up he noticed the clothing on Ezra and smiled, the boy must have hurried quite a bit. The T-shirt was halfway stuffed into his jeans and was inside-out, and the shoes were unbuckled.
"Did you hurry when you got dressed?" Kanan asked tiredly but with a smile on his face.
Ezra took a look at himself and could not stop but smiling.
"Yep" Ezra chipped up and Kanan grinned at the comment.
"Maybe we should eat something first?" Kanan suggested, realizing how hungry he was.
"Why?" Ezra asked, his eagerness seeming to die down.
Kanan paused as he pondered, "Well aren't you hungry?"
Kanan knew Ezra was hungry, kid always ate when it was offered to him.
"Well, yeah, but training comes first. Then if I do well, then I eat."
Kanan then understood the kid's train of thought and growled over not seeing it coming. Kanan knew all about the use of starvation as a means to pressure a person and Zeb had told how Ezra mentioned that method being used on him. Fortunately now, he could correct that. So, he smiled and knelt down in front of the kid. "That is Inquisitor form of training. Here with me, we eat waffles, and then train. Sound good?"
Ezra nodded his head eagerly at the idea of waffles.
Kanan ruffled his hair, "Okay, head to the kitchen while I change, and you can fix your clothes there. Then we will have some breakfast and train after that," Kanan said.
Ezra nodded as he raced out of the room. First into the refresher and fixed himself before he continued into the kitchen more than happy that Kanan would allow breakfast before training. This at least showed Kanan would not let him go hungry for days … right?
Before Ezra could reflect further over it Kanan entered the room looking rather tired while starting preparing both caff and waffles. Ezra watched him eagerly while Kanan slowly waited for both things to be done. The slow moving of Kanan told that he wasn't really awake yet but Ezra on the other hand was sitting impatiently waiting for the food to be ready.
Kanan took his caf and slowly started to drink it. His effort to wake up was no easy task so early. When the waffles were ready, Kanan handed Ezra his plate before getting his own. All the while he reflected on what to do. Kanan had promised Ezra to train him but he still held some doubts. Would Ezra even want to train after everything the poor boy had gone through, he was also still unsure if he could really do it. Kanan wanted to help Ezra but after all the torture would the boy even want to have any form of training. Yes the boy seemed eager but did he really wish for this? Was he himself ready? Kanan had just been a padawan and not knighted, he had not even been far into his padawan training.
"All done, can we start training?" Ezra smiled eagerly.
Kanan looked up and saw the excitement in the kids eye. Carefully as to not startle the kid he lightly sensed Ezra emotions and was surprised at what he found. Happiness and excitement was very dominant, like Ezra really wanted this, deeper down he also slight sensed fear and nervousness. Well if Ezra was up for it then so was he.
"Give me a few minutes and then I am ready Ezra" Kanan answered and speeded up with his waffles.
Ezra then looked up at the man, looking at him curiously. Kanan quickly noticed.
"You okay?" Kanan asked, worried the kid may of eaten the waffles too fast.
Ezra then turned the tables around, "Are you? I can sense that you are worried"
Kanan was a little confused, but then remembered, the two shared a bond.
Ezra then continued, "Are you scared to train me cause I used to be an Inquisitor student."
Ezra looked down and hung his head like he had done something wrong. Kanan was shocked that Ezra would suggest that
"No, kid no. If anything, I'm worried about me being your teacher" Kanan then was shocked that he admitted this to Ezra.
Kanan then was even more surprised by what Ezra said next, "Why are you worried, I know you will do great at it."
Kanan sighed, "How can you know that Ezra?"
Kanan knew he should not push his own insecurities onto the kid, but he had to be honest with Ezra if he was going to teach him.
Ezra admitted, "Since you and I met, you have taught me about the rebellion, about the light side of the force, and how not to be like the Inquisitors. Kanan...I want you to teach me to be a jedi" Ezra said with a fierce conviction.
Kanan looked at Ezra with surprise and could not help a smile, he had not imagined he would taken an apprentice or by the looks of the things it was rather the apprentice that had decided to take on a master.
As Kanan finished his waffles, he suddenly had a distant memory come to him, a memory of how he was taken in to be Bilaba's padawan. Of the two's first lesson, one that would be a great with Ezra as well.
It would be a proper way to start and it would give them something to do until he could hopefully borrow a saber from Ahsoka. Kanan stretched his hand to Ezra, which the boy took and the two went back to Kanan's room. There Kanan grabbed his brush and found some elastics in different colours and returned to Ezra who looked slightly nervous.
"Ezra Bridger you have asked to become my padawan do you stand by that?" Kanan began as formal as he could muster.
Ezra looked at him a little unsure, but then contorted his face to a determined one.
"Yes" Ezra said.
"Do you swear to pledge yourself to the jedi order and me as your master?" Kanan asked.
"Yes" Ezra said.
"Do you swear to follow me as a master and follow the jedi order as long as you stay with them?" Kanan asked.
"Yes" Ezra answered.
"Then I Kanan Jarrus, accept you Ezra Bridger as my padawan. I promise to teach you so that when the day come you can become a Jedi. It is my responsibility to guide you and teach you so you have the abilities you need to fulfil your tasks" Kanan finished.
Ezra smiled to Kanan who could not have been more proud in this moment. Kanan had never imagined he would one day take a padawan of his own but now that he had he was overly happy about it.
"Come over here Ezra" Kanan said as he sat down.
Ezra walked over to him and Kanan stretched out his hand and showed his the elastics.
"Each color represent different Jedi values. Now that you have accepted to be my padawan my first task is to waven you a padawan braid into your hair. You can chose between these colours and I will do it" Kanan told.
Ezra looked at his hand and chose the blue and orange. Which was hardly a surprise, Ezra loved these two colors.
"Well the blue represents a calm mind and the orange is righteous fury. I am going to make you a braid with them if it is the colors you want to use" Kanan said.
Ezra smiled and nodded. Kanan lifted him up.
"Now sit still while I try to do this" Kanan said.
Kanan slowly started tying the braid with Ezra's hair, he made it behind the ear.
"The idea behind you braid is to tell people that you have pledge yourself to the jedi order and show your status as a learner. For each new skill you learn I will woven new aspects into your braid as a sign that you have learned it. The tradition is that when you had passed your trial your former master would cut it with his or hers lightsaber" Kanan explained while he braided it.
"There why don't you take a look my padawan" Kanan said and felt incredibly warm inside.
Ezra jumped down and he took a small mirror and handed it to him and was in return greeted with a wide smile. Kanan smiled back just as much.
"Thank you Kanan" Ezra said.
"Actually Ezra I am now your master and you should call me that" Kanan said lightly.
Ezra looked at him unsure a bit before he smiled at the man.
"Thanks master Kanan" Ezra said.
Kanan blinked but smiled proudly back.
"Thank you Ezra" Kanan spoke back.
Ezra smiled to him.
"Now Ezra there is one thing more. Because we are so haunted you have to hide the fact that you are training to be a Jedi just like I have to hide I am a Jedi. Therefor it is behind the ear so you can hide it when we are out on a planet" Kanan said.
Ezra nodded his understanding.
"Now let us join the rest and show them that I have gotten a padawan" Kanan said beaming with pride.
Ezra grinned all over his face as he took Kanan's hand and followed him.
SWR
Once the crew admired Ezra's new hair accessories (Hera smiling fondly at how happy Kanan made Ezra and the big grin Kanan had on his face) the two human males went outside to begin their training. Once a safe distance from the Ghost, Kanan turned to Ezra.
"Okay kid, I thought today we could begin with basics forms and stances."
Ezra nodded his head that he understood.
Kanan then handed Ezra his lightsaber (he would be using Ahsoka's).
Kanan saw that Ezra looked at the weapon, and sense the boy panicking a bit.
Kanan knelt down in front of him, "Ezra, remember; this is a weapon that you control. Not the Inquisitors. It will only hurt you if you allow it to."
Ezra looked at the saber, then at Kanan and nodded.
Kanan then helped Ezra hold it in his hand, " Just hit that button right there."
Ezra did as instructed, and jumped a bit when the blue saber ignited.
"It's okay, just hold it steady." Kanan assured the kid.
Kanan then saw the weapon may be to tall for the small child, so he adjusted it to Ezra's size. Ezra seemed to relax when the saber shrunk in size. Kanan stepped back as he took Ahsoka's and lite it up.
"Blue" the boy mumbled. "It is the first lightsaber colour I have seen beside red" Ezra said.
"Well blue and green is the most common but there are many others. Maybe you will make your own one day" Kanan said. "So Ezra, I will show the basic stances every padawan learns before combat."
Ezra nodded as he watched Kanan.
Kanan then held the saber in both hands as his legs stood distinguishably apart.
"A Jedi must keep firm balance."
Kanan the held the saber with one hand as he places his right foot forward, "A Jedi must be ready to attack when necessary."
Kanan then finally pulled the lightsaber back as he pulled his foot back again, "But a jedi must know to how to protect themselves."
Ezra was a little confused, "But if I attack, I won't need to think of defense?"
Kanan smiled as he shook his head, "That's your old way of thinking, now you're here, training the right way."
Ezra took a deep breath before he nodded his head.
Kanan then stood next to Ezra, "Do As I do, Stance One"
Kanan looked down and saw Ezra doing exactly what Kanan was doing.
Kanan then had Ezra form stance one, but saw that when Ezra lunged the saber, it was quick and aggressive.
"Stance three," Kanan finally said, Ezra drawing back the sword as quickly as he could.
Kanan saw this and worried. Ezra had a lightsaber, and seemed to have already developed an aggressive way with it. No doubt thanks to the Inquisitors. The last thing Kanan wanted to do was have Ezra hurt himself on his first day of training.
"Ezra," Kanan spoke up, "I'm gonna get some wooden swords, might be safer with you new at this and all."
Ezra thought about it for a moment and smiled as he nodded. Kanan then went back to the Ghost to get the wooden swords.
As Kanan made his way to the Ghost, Ezra began to worry, had he done something wrong. Why did Kanan think he couldn't handle the real saber? He had done it many time before. Ezra was worried he did something wrong, was Kanan taking the saber from him to use it to punish him later? The child figured that the best plan would be to go all out for the rest of training, even if it made him exhausted. Better exhausted than a saber on his back, anything but that.
Soon enough, Kanan returned with the wooden swords. As Ezra was handed his, he couldn't help but recall his earlier childhood where he would play with a similar object. How stupid he had been, after his close contact with the sabers a part of him wanted to throw them all away and never hold a saber in his hand again. Quickly Ezra brushed the thought from his mind and focused on making Kanan proud.
Kanan then turned to Ezra, "Now in a duel, the basics guide you when need be to fight. As long as you remember the basics, fighting will come easy.
Ezra again nodded, determined to show Kanan what he had learned. Ezra just hoped the teaching he had received from the Inquisitor's would be enough to satisfied Kanan.
"Today we will just ot the basic steps in a form. Just like the stance I should you, but this time with ever stance, keep moving one step forward. Understand?"
Ezra nodded.
Kanan got his wooden sword out, holding it in first position; Ezra followed suit.
Slowly Kanan backed up, allowing Ezra to move forward, "One, two three,"
Kanan smiled as Ezra did as he showed the boy, "Good"
"Okay now just a little faster."
Kanan was prepared for Ezra to go faster, but didn't expect the strike's to get more intense. Kanan was able to block the wooden swords attack, but that only made Ezra attack even more fierce. Attack after attack came with greater speed, 'deadly hits' and precise blows fell over him and he was hard pressed to keep up. Then was when he saw Ezra, and the look of not determination to practice, but fear."
Kanan was distracted by this and wanted to find out why and took his hand a bit down, "Ezra hold-,"
But Ezra didn't listen, and sent a hard blow to where Kanan's sword was supposed to be, but now had Kanan's hand. Ezra hit Kanan;s so hard that it not only broke the stick, but cut Kanan's knuckles.
"Ach!" Kanan shriek in pain.
Ezra realized his mistake too quickly and dropped the remains of his weapon, clasping his hands over his mouth."
"Kanan!" Ezra exclaimed as he shook in terror, "I'm so sorry….I…I … please don't burn me"
Kanan saw the kid about to hyperventilate, he held his knuckle as he assured the kid.
"Easy Ezra. It's okay, it's just a cut. This is why I didn't want to use saber's. That would be much too dangerous. Didn't want you to get hurt."
Ezra looked up shocked, "I thought you thought I wasn't ready for it; that you would use it to burn me and that was why you took it away. I have trained with sabers many times before. The Inquisitor's said it was important when … well you know I was supposed to go out and hunt Jedi when I was finished with my education. That's why I got more focused, so you wouldn't get mad. Please don't hit me!"
Kanan shook his head, all though he had a dark expression on his face. "Not at all kid. I just know that training accidents happen. Hence this and no I will not hit you or burn you, ever. Kid how much were you trained that way?" Kanan asked.
"A lot, it wasn't so much in the beginning but as time went on it was more and more, they taught me all 7 forms but there was put extra time into Vaapad. They wanted me to use it along with the dark side" Ezra said.
Kanan winced at this, Vaapad was the most aggressive and unpredictable of the forms, few jedi mastered it. Master Windu had been one of few that had mastered the forms and he had learned it to his student Bilaba. Bilaba never got long enough in his training to show it to him but the thought of that one or more of the Inquisitor's knew sent shiver down his spine and fueled the question of which one. From the little he had been told that form was more a state of mind than a technic. A person would use the speed of preciousness of a Jedi but rely on the love of fight and bloodshed from the Sith making it a dangerous and deadly form.
Ezra hung his head, "I'm really sorry Kanan. I was scared that you would burn me if it didn't look like I was working hard."
Kanan placed a hand on the kid's shoulder, "dont be. you didn't intend to hurt me. You just got a little too… serious about training."
Ezra then muttered, "I just wanted to make you proud.
Kanan couldn't help but to smile, "I'm already proud of you."
This earned a weak smile from Ezra. Yet Kanan could not stop wondering what had went down between Ezra and the Inquisitor since Ezra kept begging not to be burned and his fear for lightsabers.
"Ezra did the Grand Inquisitor burn you with his lightsaber?" Kanan asked gently.
Ezra shivered and nodded with his eyes full of pain.
"Not a lot but when he was really, really mad at me he would burn my skin with it. Most of the times I would just get beaten and starved but if I got him really mad at me he would burn me. Like when I defied Tarkin by running out of the meeting or when he spend all day training me and then I told him I didn't want to be an Inquisitor" Ezra said and shivered.
Kanan gently hugged Ezra until he relaxed.
Kanna then said, "let's get this bandaged up, and I will teach you how not to loose focus.
Ezra nodded and smiled in agreement.
After Kanan got the bandage on his hand, they prepared to resume training.
"Master?" Ezra asked him.
"Yes kid?" Kanan blinked but then smiled, it would take some getting used to being called master.
"Will you be teaching me in manipulation of people and their feelings?" Ezra asked worried.
"Why would you ask me that?" Kanan said as his worries rose.
"The Seventh Sister said it was important when she taught me" Ezra said and shivered.
"I won't Ezra, promise," Kanan vowed.
Ezra smiled weakly seamingly relieved.
"Good I hated that, she wanted me to use it to hurt people. … Sometimes I did it to the officer but it wasn't pleasant" Ezra said.
"Well here we don't do these kind of things" Kanan said.
Ezra smiled and the rest of the training went well, Ezra learned that he needed to take his mind and thing's slow. Kanan smiled at how Ezra how coming along. The two were so focused on their training that they did not see Ahsoka, smiling at how far the two had come in not only their Jedi way, but their own bond.
SWR
As the time passed Kanan couldn't help but to beam at Ezra's progress. Already his form was more direct and not as fierce as it had been. Kanan wished he could keep going when he heard an annoying voice,"
"Hello there," greeted Rex as he approached the two, seeming to keep his eyebrows furrowed in seriousness. Ezra waved eagerly at the man, while Kana rolled his eyes. Kanan couldn't help but see an irritated look on Rex's face. Despite his best intentions, Kanan couldn't help but enjoy Rex's annoyance.
"Hi Rex," Ezra greeted, "Look what Kanan is teaching me."
Ezra then showed Rex the fighting stances Kanan just showed him. Regardless of the clone's frustration, Rex did smile at how well Ezra displayed his newly learned stances. It was rare for him to see the boy so happy, but when it happened it made the old clone sure that working for the rebellion worth it. Now if only Kanan would him get some more time with the boy it would be perfect but it seemed like the jedi tried to keep him away from Ezra as much as possible.
"What do you want?" Kanan asked, rather annoyed himself.
"Ezra has target training with me today, Remember? Hera and Ahsoka talked to us about it."
Kanan shrugged his shoulders, "Great, you can have him when were done."
"You were supposed to be done two hours ago," Rex debated.
Kanan didn't look shocked, or apologetic; in fact he looked rather nonchalant, "Huh, must of lost track of time." Kanan tried to look innocent, but Rex knew better. Good chance the Jedi thought a clone would corrupt the boy
"Right," Rex replied sarcastically, "Well try to do better about keeping track of time. Isn't that like lesson one for Jedi training?"
This hurt a sensitive spot for Kanan, "Maybe that's the clone strict way of thinking, but Jedi are more 'human'."
The two men stared at each other with hatred; Ezra could easily sense the tension between the two. Ezra wanted to walk away from it, but saw Rex take a calming breath.
Rex then turned to Ezra and smiled, "Ready to learn how to shoot like a noble clone soldier."
Ezra looked up at Kanan with worry.
"It's okay," Kanan assured the kid before giving Rex the stink eyes, "Just try not to let it all get too much to your head."
Ezra nodded as he went with Rex. Ezra though saw the two continue to give off negative vibes for the other. Ezra wished he could fix i, but knew when not to interfere. The last time the Inquisitor's had an argument over him he had ended up with double training due to their disagreement. Better to hope they just sought it out between them, if they ever would.
A/N Hope you all enjoyed this chapter of fluff and comfort. It is the first look at Ezra's education from his time with the Inquisitor's. More angest will be unleashed in future chapters along with horror and a flashback. Can you guess for who? Leave a coment about it.