The Living Years
Mara Jade and Anakin had a very tight bond and even though sometimes he had to be strict with her, she seemed to really thrive in the Skywalker Family.
The Temple in Ilum had been rebuilt and Mara Jade created her first lightsaber, it was the prettiest green blade she had ever seen. Anakin was very proud of his apprentice, it had taken him several days in that freezing cavern to create his first blade, and Obi-Wan had an incredible amount of patience. On the last day of the lightsaber trial, it had finally been completed.
"Why did it take you so long, Master?"
"I was impatient, I couldn't let go, and I wanted my first lightsaber to be perfect. I couldn't focus. When I finally relaxed and I allowed the Force to direct me it all came together. That's why I'm always telling you to be patient and to let the Force guide you."
"But aren't you also always telling me that impatience is a Skywalker trait?"
"Touché."
He was very pleased at her progress and when Luke and Leia celebrated their 5th birthday, she was nervous, because they were going back to the Jedi Temple so the twins could be tested. Leia had already formed an opinion that she wanted to follow in her mother's path of politics. Padmé had returned to the Senate and unless there was a bill that she needed to be there for she had Sabé fill in and Padmé worked from home. Obi-Wan hadn't taken a padawan though he was very active in the temple as a teacher. Luke was incredibly excited to soon be chosen by Obi-Wan. Anakin had started some preliminary training already, Luke and Leia loved to watch Mara Jade and Anakin spar in the back yard. After saying goodbye to her family and relinquishing the house keys so they could take care of the plants, Padmé followed Anakin to take the Naboo Star Skiff; already sought permission to take it to Coruscant.
While Anakin took Luke, Leia, and Mara Jade to the temple, Padmé went to the senate to catch up with old friends. Anakin sat in his council chair while Luke was being tested; he seemed to do quite well. He heard the voices of the other Jedi Masters while they prodded Luke's mind. "Hm, so this is what they were doing when I was standing in the middle, speaking telepathically."
Mace caught the thought and uncharacteristically, "Yes Anakin, its strange to be on the other side isn't it?" as he laughed.
"Yes, master."
"You son is well mannered, calm and will make an excellent padawan-learner. He so damn different than you were." Kit Fitso replied.
"His Force-signature is not the swirling emotions of a tornado; he has an aura that's similar to Obi-Wan." Ki-Mundi replied.
"Yes, I believe he gets that from Padmé."
Luke completed the tests and the council meeting was disbanded until the following morning.
"Father?" Luke asked.
"Yes?"
"Can we go to the room of 10,000 fountains?"
"Certainly, let's get your sister."
"No, I want to only go with you." Luke replied.
"Okay, son."
Mara Jade was in the archive studying for her latest assignment, she hated studying and reading, but she knew that her Master wanted to do some research.
Luke grabbed Anakin's hand and excitedly started to pull him away. Anakin sensed his son's urgency about something. Anakin sat on the ground next to a large oak tree, he was levitating a flat rock in front of him and Luke was looking at him quizzically.
"Father?"
"Yes?"
"I had a dream last night, it bothered me."
"Tell me." Anakin lowered the rock and leaned closer to Luke.
"It was weird. You were hidden behind a mask, you were dressed in all black and you had a black swirling cape on and you know how your lightsaber is blue?"
"Yes?"
"It was mine and you had another it was a bright red."
Anakin's breath caught and he realized that Luke had dreamt of an alternate reality.
"It was really scary, but I could still somehow sense a presence of the light in you."
Anakin sighed deeply and pulled Luke into his lap and held his son, Luke didn't understand why his father was crying.
"Daddy?" Luke always referred to Anakin as such when he was scared or if something greatly bothered him.
"You're vision is one of an alternate reality if I had fallen to the dark side of the Force and became a Sith."
"Did you come close?"
"Yes, I was being manipulated by Darth Sidious; he enjoyed playing games with my feelings especially fear, anger, and aggression."
"I couldn't imagine not having you in my life, father. I would have missed you."
"So would I, Luke."
"Were you a good padawan, father?"
"It depends greatly on your own point of view." Anakin laughed.
"Huh?"
"I enjoyed playing pranks on Obi-Wan, probably more than I should have."
"Did you get grounded a lot?"
"Not just grounded; I had to study extra hard, do chores, or meditate."
"Did it ever stop you?"
"Sometimes, Obi-Wan would often swear that I would be the death of him."
Luke listened to his father tell him stories of his padawan days, and he would laugh at his father's antics. The one thing that didn't surprise Luke was that his dad would always own up to his pranks or mistakes, he didn't believe in lying to cover up his mistakes. If there was anything that he couldn't stand was someone to be deceitful or to lie.
He had zero tolerance for untruthfulness. Luke even in his young years knew this, he never really saw his father get furious unless there was a lie being told or attempted. Leia had only attempted it once and vowed to never to do it again. She attempted a lie to cover the destruction of a small plate thrown in anger when Anakin had told her no. Leia never saw her father cross a room so quickly in her life and when she tried to run, he held her in place and lifted her up to his eyes.
"Leia Skywalker, do not even try to deceive me, young lady." Anakin normally bright blue eyes turned a stormy gray and his eyebrows were deeply furrowed. Leia's dark brown eyes started to leak tears.
"You will go to bed, young one and no dinner."
"Yes father. I'm sorry." Leia was gently lowered to her feet and felt a heavy swipe of his hand across her backside.
Luke also learned through Leia's error that honesty was always the best policy. After talking with Anakin, Luke felt better and as his father napped he decided to try to levitate drops of water, a huge mischievous grin broke out on his face when he decided to lift a bucket of ice cold water over his father's head. He calmly lifted the bucket and watched as it tipped over on his father's head. Anakin awoke suddenly and found that he was sopping wet. Luke was standing by the fountain and laughing hysterically until Anakin stood to his feet. "Luke Skywalker!" Anakin bellowed.
"Poodoo!" Luke ran through the garden and around several trees as his father chased him. The garden door opened and Mace Windu entered holding Leia's hand. Luke wasn't watching where he was going and collided into Mace and fell hard on his bottom.
"Get back here, young one!" Anakin yelled.
Mace saw Anakin soaking wet chasing his young son.
"Ah, like father like son." Mace rolled his eyes as he broke out into a laugh.
Luke jumped to his feet but it was too late, Anakin had his hand on the back of his shirt and pulling him.
"This calls for aggressive negotiations." Luke struggled against his father's grip and soon found himself being thrown into the pond.
Luke cried, "That wasn't fair! I only used the bucket you threw me in!"
"Life isn't fair, Luke get used to it."
Luke then started to laugh as he got out and hugged his father.
"Let's go get into some dry clothes." Anakin carried Luke to the clothing stores.
"Master Windu?"
"Yes, Leia?"
"Was my father always pulling pranks on everyone?"
"Well, yes. I seemed to be his favorite victim."
"Is it true that the Jedi are involved in senate?"
"Yes, we have group that watch out for bills passing and padawan's are taught the finer arts of negotiating as well as senate actions. Why do you ask?"
"Just wondering."
"Perhaps you could talk to Master Gallia; she is very familiar with politics and the senate."
"What would my father say?"
"I'd say go for it, Leia." Anakin replied as he walked up behind his daughter putting his arm around her.
That afternoon, Leia found Master Gallia in the training room working on her fighting stance. "Stay here." Anakin bowed to Gallia, "To train adequately, you need a partner."
"Master Skywalker, I haven't seen you in a long time. How's the family?"
"That's my children over there, Adi."
She deactivated her lightsaber and walked over to Luke and Leia. "It's very nice to meet you both, Luke and Leia." Adi greeted.
"Come let's spar."
Anakin and Adi Gallia bowed to each other and started as Luke and Leia sat mesmerized.
"You've grown soft, Anakin." Adi taunted.
"Soft? I'll show you, Adi!"
The sparring became fiercer and they both ended it as each of their lightsabers was inches from each other's throats.
"It's a draw!" Luke yelled.
Anakin and Adi laughed and bowed to each other.
Padmé heard children's voices and opened her office door to find Luke and Leia talking with Sabé.
"Mom?"
"Yes Leia?"
"May I talk to you?"
"Certainly, my daughter doesn't even need an appointment."
Leia entered the office and when the door shut, Padmé sat on the settee motioning Leia to do the same.
"Have you ever met Master Gallia?"
"Yes, she's very involved in the Senate, she always going after corrupt senators. She's a tough cookie, incredibly intelligent and understands the politics of system; she's also an excellent negotiator."
"I was wondering since Luke will be Obi-Wan's apprentice if I could also be tested?"
"You want to become a Jedi?"
"Yes, unless you don't want me to." Leia sighed.
"No, I don't mind. What does Master Gallia say?"
"She currently doesn't have a padawan; she said that I should talk to you first."
"It's not easy and you will be living here with Luke."
"I know, I'll miss you, but we can still see each other right?"
"Yes, Leia we will."
Padmé held Leia and kissed her head. Anakin had left Mara Jade in the temple archive to work on her research project. "Master Skywalker?"
"Master Gallia, I'm heading to the archive."
"You are actually going there voluntarily?"
"Ha, ha; Mara Jade is collecting information for her project.
"Leia and I had a nice talk; she seems very interested in becoming a Jedi."
"Good, then I know she will be an excellent one."
"Normally I wouldn't ask this."
"Yes, I think she would make an excellent apprentice for you Master Gallia. You don't need my permission." Anakin interrupted.
The next morning, Leia was tested. She was nervous as everyone stared at her, including her father. It was very unnerving.
"She's calm, but seems to have a bit of her father's temperament." Mace observed.
"Yes. She has passion for freedom and democracy, like her mother." Master Gallia reflected.
"Is passion a good thing for a Jedi?" Kit Fitso asked.
"Just as long as it doesn't over-ride her morality." Ki-Mundi replied.
"No fear, anger or aggression I feel." Yoda replied.
"Leia would make an excellent Jedi, particularly in the realm of negotiations and politics." Obi-Wan replied.
"Right you are, Master Kenobi." Yoda answered.
Leia was getting impatient at the silence.
"Impatience is a Skywalker trait; she doesn't like all this silence." Mace Windu observed.
"How feel you, Leia?" Yoda asked.
"Curious, wondering why it's so quiet in here, I can tell you guys are talking about me, but I can't hear you."
"So refreshingly blunt, this child is." Yoda replied.
"Leia, it has been decided that you will become Master Gallia's apprentice and study to become a Jedi and work with the senate." Master Windu replied.
"What about Luke?"
"He has accepted to become Master Kenobi's apprentice."
The meeting adjourned and the Jedi Master's filed out, Luke was standing in the hall.
"Well?"
"I passed, Luke! Master Gallia has taken me as her apprentice."
Luke hugged Leia even though they would have to leave home at least they would be together in the temple unless they went on missions. Anakin, Padmé and Mara Jade said their farewells it was a bittersweet moment.
When they returned to Naboo, Padmé missed her children and adored Mara Jade; she was a fast learner and becoming more open with her feelings.