Guardians III

Disclaimer- I do not own Star Wars or any of its characters.

Outside the Republic, a ship landed in the middle of a forest on a hidden platform. The pair that had been on board exited and started to make their way along a somewhat unused path.

After about an hour, they reached the Valley Temple. The one who was leading was dressed head to toe in white. The person following, Shmi Skywalker, was amazed at the sight of the graceful temple before her. The figure showed her inside and got her settled in a room, assuring her that she would be reunited with her son soon.

Shmi was left to get some rest. As soon as the figure left the room, the hood and mask were removed, revealing short brown hair, and a long padawan braid. Li Kana sighed in relief. I'm glad that's over with, I don't know if I could have stood that mask any longer! She made her way to hers and Kelso's room. She and Master Kelso were the only ones in the temple, and for that matter on the entire planet! Kelso had said that there had always been only one or two people guarding the Valley at a time.

She reached her destination and entered. "Ah, there you are Padawan, I was beginning to worry." Li Kana bowed. "Master, the other Jedi got him first. My father is training him at the temple on Coruscant now." she said.

Kelso, who had been meditating on his balcony overlooking the Valley, stood and turned to face his apprentice. "Hmm… that will complicate things…but it won't change the original plan. His mother is here?" he asked. Li Kana nodded, "Yes, Master."

The Jedi Master sighed and crossed his arms. "Well, we are going to need help anyway. Li Kana, I want you to return to your temple, and bring back a handful of Jedi. Include the boy and your father."

He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You are to wear your mask at all times, even if you feel that it is safe to remove it. Even though you will be in the shelter of the temple, there still may be a chance that someone is watching. Remember that the enemy is everywhere and has many spies. There may even be spies inside the temple. You are also to be silent, use only the Force feelings that I have been teaching you to tell the council what you are doing there. Do not reveal your presence in the Force, and do not tell them who you are. There is too great a chance that the enemy may find out and use it to their advantage to try to get to the Valley." He paused and smiled warmly. "I realize that this is going to be a very difficult task for you Padawan, but I have faith in you. If they refuse to come with you…well…" he trailed off, thinking.

After a while, he chuckled. "To be honest with you Li Kana, I think that we should do anything we can to get some help here." He sighed, "Can you think of anything for a back-up plan?"

Li Kana thought for a moment, then smirked. "Well, I could try the sleep suggestion, but isn't that wrong? Wouldn't that be a wrong use of the Force, to kidnap somebody?"

Kelso shook his head, smiling. "Do or do not, there is no try. And the code says to use the Force only in defense of the galaxy. If we don't have help, the whole galaxy may cease to exist. You would be using the Force in defense of the galaxy by making sure we had adequate assistance."

The young Jedi smiled, "You sound like my father." she said, laughing. "Well, who should I bring besides Anakin and my father?"

Kelso shrugged, "Whoever you believe would be of help to us. You know them better than I do." At this he paused. "There is one person I would like you to bring. If you can, bring Yoda." Li Kana looked confused. "Why Yoda?" she asked.

"You will see when he gets here." said Kelso. "After they arrive and see the temple, I may allow you to reveal your identity to them, if they don't figure it out. If one of them does, let them know that they must keep it to themselves. We can't risk the enemy discovering your identity."

Kelso began to walk back towards the balcony. "Take a few days to rest, I am sure you are weary from your journey." Li Kana nodded and headed in the direction of her room. "Oh and Li Kana," Li Kana turned. "I want you to fill Miss Skywalker in on why she is here and why Anakin will be trained here instead of on Coruscant. I, meanwhile will be monitoring the dark forces that are gathering."

Li Kana frowned. "Are they getting closer?" she asked. Kelso nodded grimly, "Yes, and more dense. Whatever they are, they are planning on attacking this temple…probably to get to the power that the Valley holds."

The young Jedi looked down and sighed. "Maybe I should be focusing more on my training than running around the galaxy, Master. You might need me and I won't be completely prepared."

Her Master smiled softly, "One can never be fully prepared in a situation like this, otherwise, I wouldn't be sending you to collect some of your old friends. Don't worry about your training, you are actually learning more by being out on your own than by sitting around here." He turned and knelt again on his balcony, keeping a wary mental eye on the darkness that was gathering nearby.

****

Back at the temple on Coruscant, Qui-gon Jinn was standing on his balcony, watching Coruscant's daily morning rush but not really seeing it. He was deep in thought, and had been for the past hour. Obi-wan had been knighted, much to the joy of Qui-gon. He was so proud of his former apprentice. Obi-wan had gone through many hardships to get to where he was, many trials, and he had said that it was all worth it. Qui-gon smiled faintly, Obi-wan had been speechless during the entire ceremony. That had been a week ago.

He turned when he heard small footsteps entering the room. Anakin walked in sleepily. Yesterday had been the first day of his training. Qui-gon guessed that the boy was more than a little sore from the conditioning they had done the day before. He guessed right. Anakin looked up at him with a strange, almost accusing look on his face. Qui-gon smiled, "Good morning, Padawan."

Anakin grunted, "Don't you 'Good morning Padawan' me!" he exclaimed, trying his best not to smile, and failing. The tall Jedi shook his head, "I told you it wouldn't be easy, did you think I was lying?" he said, chuckling. A sigh was his only response. Qui-gon walked over to the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ready for another day of training?"

Anakin looked up at his Master incredulously. "You have got to be kidding!" he said. Then, seeing the look on his Master's face, smiled and said, "Alright, alright I'm coming." He turned around and headed to the 'fresher. The Master sighed and turned his attention back to the organized chaos that was Coruscant.

His thoughts kept returning to a certain white-clad Jedi whom he had seen on Naboo. And saved my life. he thought. Those bright eyes had seemed so familiar. Obi-wan had said that he recognized the fighting style to be Li Kana's, but Qui-gon hadn't been able to sense her. Qui-gon frowned. In fact, he thought, I couldn't sense this person at all. He knew that, with training, a very skilled Jedi could hide his or her presence in the Force, but only for short periods of time, and it took a lot of concentration. But this Jedi was not only able to do it for an extended amount of time, but also while he was battling a sith lord.

Perhaps it had been his daughter, but then, why didn't she say anything? And where in the stars did she learn how to do the things that she did? He decided to keep these particular thoughts to himself. If it had been Li Kana, and she was hiding, he guessed that she had good reason to. Another thing he had been amazed with is that while he couldn't feel his/her presence, there had been waves of the light side of the Force swirling around him/her. Never in his life had Qui-gon ever sensed such purity in the Force, not even in Master Yoda. Maybe I should at least tell Master Yoda these things.

The Jedi Master in mind was in the Room of A Thousand Fountains, also thinking about Li Kana. Something had been nagging at the back of his mind concerning the strange visions that Li Kana had seen before she left. For the last two years he wondered where he had heard of something similar happening. His thoughts were also on the flower that had been found, which was thriving in a vase in Raidon's room. Neither of them had spoken of it, not really seeing the need. Unbeknownst to most Jedi, the old Master was quite the little gardener, and was often in the gardens tending to some flowers he had planted.

He could identify most of the flowers found in the galaxy, but this one eluded him. And yet, he knew he had seen it before somewhere. Turning his thoughts back to Li Kana, he went through what he had been told about her visions. She saw a place, but couldn't remember where or what it was, then there was a blinding light, then she saw a tall man with white hair who was holding a white flower, then she would fall into unconsciousness. There was a barrier in her mind generated by the light side of the Force, and a strange feeling surrounding her, and when she woke up she had trouble seeing and couldn't hardly remember anything. Yoda sighed for the fifth time that morning.

He had been turning these thoughts over in his mind for the past two years, and still couldn't come up with anything. He got up and began to walk out of the room. As he went, he passed by a waterfall that was smaller than the others, but still fairly tall. He stopped and observed it. Memories of a time long gone started to creep into his mind. He allowed it, not really needing to do anything important that day.

**Flashback**

"Come on Yoda, hurry up!" shouted a young Jedi apprentice, who was about fifteen. Another apprentice, who was a year older than the first, followed behind as fast as his short little legs could carry him. "Wait up!" he said, panting. "Human you are, longer legs you have!" The two stopped and looked around as though they were running from someone. They turned with nervous looks on their faces when they heard heavy footfalls coming down the hall towards them.

Yoda looked towards the opposite direction. Then grinned. "This way, have an idea I do." The two took off down the hall. They ended up in the room of a thousand fountains. Yoda lead his best friend towards one of the waterfalls and plunged into it. His companion just kind of looked at the waterfall his friend had disappeared into. Then followed. They both huddled into the small cave that was behind the falls.

The one who had been following them ran into the room. The two fugitives held back a snicker as they observed the Jedi's bright pink hair. The Jedi looked around once, then left, practically flying down the hallway. The two friends both simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief. Yoda looked at his friend. "Good thing it is that I knew about this place, or scrubbing the training room floors we would be." His friend just laughed. "I don't see why he's so upset, it'll wash out in a few days!" Yoda also laughed, "A good idea it was, but next time, it'll be green!" They both cracked up, then gasped as two hands came through the waterfall and dragged them out.

**End Flashback**

Yoda smiled at the memory, the council had not only made them scrub the training room floors, but they had made them scrub the floors with toothbrushes! He shook his head and started to make his way out of the room. Suddenly he froze, he remembered where he had heard of such visions before! He stood in thought for a minute, then made a beeline for his room.

{{sighs and sits back from computer}} Well, I FINALLY got enough written to post another chapter. My sincerest apologies to my faithful readers and reviewers. Part four is already in the making. Again I am sorry for taking so friggn' long to get this up. I daresay it has been almost a year, but it's my senior year, you know how that is. Please review it doesn't take long! ^o^