Chapter 5: Friends

Thirteen year old Shaiey looked around the cave where she had lived and studied for the past seven years. Spotting what she was looking for, Shaiey went over and picked it up, and left the cave. As she was heading out, she spotted Raphen sitting in the sun. She went over to him.

"Master Raphen, do you have anything planned for today?" Shaiey asked her teacher.

"No. I thought that today would be a good day to relax. Your training is going very well, and you are a year ahead. Keep up at this rate, and you will make full Warrior not long after your 15th birthday." Raphen told his young student. "Why, do you have something in mind?"

"I would like to go over to the pool to swim. It's hot out today, and the cave is all tidy." Shaiey replied.

"Then feel free to do so. I'll send Alara to you. She might bring a friend with her." Raphen granted permission.

"Thank you." Shaiey replied, then she was gone.

With in a few minutes, Shaiey was at the pool. She stripped down to her swimwear, and dove in. As she dove, she remembered the first time that she had seen it. Shaiey loved how pretty it looked, with the waterfall cascading over the far cliff. There were all kinds of plants and trees around, shading the water's surface. Flowers, in shades of colors yet unnamed, scented the air with their sweet perfumes. Her parents had brought her here, and were already in the water. As they were swimming, Shaiey was still standing on the bank. Before she realised what was happening, she found herself flying through the air, being tossed in without a single hand touching her. Shaiey dove under the gently lapping surface with a small splash.

"Hello Shaiey." Alara thought out, as Shaiey surfaced.

"Hello Alara. Who's your friend?" Shaiey replied, slightly gasping.

"I will make the proper introductions when you are done with your swim." Alara answered.

"Okay. I'll be done in just a bit." Shaiey said, as she dove back under the surface.

A few moments later, Shaiey surfaced, and swam over to the bank. She pulled herself up out of the water, then wrapped a towel about herself. She then went over to Alara and her friend.

"Shaiey, I would like you to meet my friend Selleene." Alara introduced the two. "Selleene, this is Shaiey Tagla of the Royal Family."

The pair just stared at each other. Selleene was white all over, shaded with gold. Her horn was white-gold in color too.

Then, suddenly out of blue, Selleene asked Shaiey "Would you like to go for a ride?"

"Yes." was Shaiey's answer. Up onto Selleene's back she climbed, and off the pair went.

Raphen is not going to like this, Alara thought to herself.

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Luke stood next to the sandspeeder, waiting for Biggs. He was envying his friend, heading for the Academy. Biggs had delayed going, waiting until Luke had turned 18. However, Luke was still unable to go, and Biggs would be going alone.

"Hey Luke, getting ready for take off?" asked Deak, one of Luke's and Biggs's friends.

"Yeah, Wormie, going to go to school to be a real sky pilot?" Fixer asked snidely.

"Fixer, be nice. If you know how." scolded Camie, the only girl in the group.

"Hey, here comes Biggs." Windy yelled out to the others.

"Hush you noisy sandgrubbers. I can't say goodbye if you're all picking at Luke." Biggs told them. "At least he was accepted to go, even though his uncle won't let him."

"I'll be there in about a year or so. No big deal." Luke added.

"Have any of you heard the news about this so-called Rebellion?" Camie asked.

"No. What?" asked Windy.

"Well, I haven't heard much, just that they are terrorists." Biggs stated.

"How did you find that out?" Fixer asked,

"Imperial News Net." Luke added.

"There is this group on a planet called Taega that is kind of unique. All they want is to be able to leave their homeworld whenever they choose." Biggs chipped in.

"How come?" Windy asked.

"They are lead by one of the Princesses of the planet. She thinks that they should be allowed to move about the Empire as freely as the rest of the Human populated worlds do." Biggs added.

"Where is Taega?" Camie asked.

"I think that it is part of the Intal System, if I remember correctly from school." Deak answered.

"Not like it matters anyway. Tatooine is lightyears away from Taega, and most other places. Anyway, why would Imperials come here?" Fixer stated.

"Will you all be quiet. I'm leaving in an hour, and I've got to get to Mos Eisley." Biggs hushed his friends. "Deak, Windy have fun at school. Good luck with your job in Anchorhead, Fixer. Camie, stay pretty."

Biggs gave Camie a kiss on her cheek, then turned to look at Luke. They had been close friends for years. It was hard for Biggs to have to leave his best friend behind.

"Luke, don't kill yourself in that T-16 of yours. I want to see you at the Academy next season." Biggs then aimed the rest of his statement to the others. "Bye you all. I'll see you in a few months if everything goes well."

Biggs jumped into the landspeeder, and sped off. The rest of the group split up, with some of them heading home. Luke and Deak went over to where their Skyhoppers were resting, climbed in and took off.

They headed the ships over to Beggar's Canyon to have a target practice session on wamp rats. Unfortunately, Luke wasn't paying too much attention to his surroundings. He was thinking of Biggs going off to the Acedemy. With in moments, though, Luke found himself wishing that he had paid closer attention to his surroundings. He was too close on Deak's tail, where he had dropped low. Luke's Skyhopper clipped the wall of the canyon, and he crashed landed. Luke's head snapped forward, and whapped against the control panel, knocking him out.

A while later, Luke came to in his own bedroom. He looked out his window, and saw brown robes fluttering by. Seeing them, Luke knew that Ben Kenobi had been the one to bring him home.

"Luke, are you awake yet?" Beru asked, as she peeked in the door.

"Yeah, I am. I'm okay, I think." Luke replied.

"Do you remember what happened?"

"Yes. I clipped the canyon wall with a wing of my T-16. Was that Ben who just left?"

"It was. He found you and brought you back. Deak brought your ship back, also." Beru informed her ward. "Now, drink this, and let me know if you feel dizzy, nauseous, or if your head hurts."

"Afraid that I might have given myself a concussion, Aunt Beru?" Luke sort of asked.

"Of course. Now get some rest. Owen is going to be rather upset at you about that T-16." Beru stated, sitting down a glass of liquid as she left the room.

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"Are you sure about that, Alara? Selleene has chosen Shaiey as her rider?" Raphen asked the Windicorn.

"Most definately. I did not even have a chance to stop her either." Alara answered, sadly. "I would have figured that StarBlaze would have wanted Shaiey as rider. They would have been excellent together."

"I would have thought so too. Well, it appears that we are both wrong on that. Well, since Shaiey has become a Windicorn rider, it is time to start the last stage in her training." Raphen agreed.

"Things will be alright. The Prophecy is unfolding as it should." Alara soothed her rider.