hAuthors Note: I do not own anything of the Star Wars world; it's all George Lucas and those other brilliant Star Wars writers. I only own the characters I made up.
Ariela swung her lightsaber; its pale green blade humming as it sliced through the battle droids metal armor. Having destroyed it, she looked around the auditorium where she and her teacher, Master Roy were fighting the battle droids. The boys and girls of Guadalupe Middle School's musical rehearsal were hidden behind anything they thought would protect them from the blasts of the battle droids. A few were peaking out in fascination and awe at the combat before them. But most were sitting in shock scrubbing their eyes and pinching themselves, unable to believe what they were seeing. They lived normal lives without battles and magic and had never known that there was such thing as Jedi in their world. They thought Jedi just existed in the fantasy world George Lucas had created; the world of Star Wars.
Ariela turned back to the battle shaking her head and instantly ducked as a battle droid shot a laser blast at her. It was too far away to fight and she didn't want to get any closer and risk getting shot. Dropping into a "guard" stance, she reached out with the Force until she could feel the droids presence. Only vaguely aware of the blaster bolts flying around her, she blocked them swiftly with her lightsaber as she deactivated the droid. It froze suddenly, shut off.
Ariela turned around to see Master Roy standing a few paces away, wiping his face as he deactivated his grey-blue lightsaber.
"All right?" he called to her, side-stepping the pile of droid metal at his feet. "It's rather hard to fight in jeans. I so much prefer my Jedi robes."
"Yeah I'm all right. What are they doing here? Droids especially battle ones don't just show up in our world, Master." Ariela replied softly. She was worried and by the look on Master Roy's face, he was worried to. Why had battle droids shown up here? Who had sent them? And why?
"I know." Master Roy said, troubled. "I'll check the droids for any sign of their origin. But first I think we need to give these guys a shock depressant." He gestured around at the boys and girls who were coming out from behind chairs, cabinets and walls. All were looking extremely astonished and in shock. They were collapsing to the floor now that the danger had passed.
"Do you know how to do it, Padawan?"
"Yes Master."
Ariela went to one side and began placing her hands on the temples of a girl. She concentrated through the Force and directed calming thoughts toward her. The girl relaxed. Ariela moved on to the next student and then the next. Then she reached her best friend Larya. "Did I just see what I think I saw?" Larya asked in a shaky voice.
"Yes." Ariela responded softly placing her fingers on Larya's temples. She instantly jumped away in shock. She could feel something that meant only one thing; her best friend was Force-sensitive! Master Roy sensed her shock and immediately came to her side.
"What is it, Ariela? What's the matter?"
"She… she has the… the Force," Ariela managed to stutter, pointing at Larya. Master Roy looked at Larya a puzzled frown on his face. "You're right. That's odd, I never noticed it before. I'll have to train her. Are you almost done, Ariela?"
"Yes, Master nearly."
"When you are finished go upstairs to the classroom. I will meet you their."
Ariela put her hands back on Larya's temples and directed calming and reassuring thoughts towards her. As Ariela pulled away Larya grabbed her wrist. "Ariela, what did it mean, 'I have the Force'?"
"I… I can't explain. Master Roy… sorry Mr. Roy, will explain. I have to go, I'll see you later."
As Ariela walked back towards her classroom she thought about how she had come to train as a Jedi. Master Roy was her teacher in school five years ago. One day he had come up to her and told her that she was very strong in the Force and that he could train her as a Jedi. She'd stared at him open-mouthed as he explained that the world of Star Wars was real and that there were a handful of Force-sensitive people scattered around this world. She'd believed him and had begun her training that very afternoon. She met with him every day after school and sometimes on weekends. She also met with him during the summers. Ariela had had to tell her parents and sister about her training as a Jedi and they, after explanations from Master Roy, had believed her. Ariela was nearly finished with her training.
Ariela reached the classroom in which Master Roy taught and slipped silently inside. Master Roy was not there yet. She looked around, and then raised herself into a handstand. She began to raise one arm of the ground. When she felt balanced she raised her remaining fingers so she was balancing on only two fingers. Then she focused with the Force and began to levitate a couple of chairs, adding pencils and books as she progressed. She levitated as much as she could but when she felt her control wavering, she lowered everything she had raised. Ariela didn't want it all crashing down and causing a commotion that would bring people running.
Only when she had come back to a sitting position, did Ariela notice that her Master was sitting patiently on the floor, cross-legged.
"Oh sorry Master, I didn't notice you."
"It's all right Ariela. You've gotten very good at that. Your skills are complete."
"You really think so Master?" Ariela asked her eyes shining.
"Yes. In fact I believe it is time for you to go spend your year in the Star Wars galaxy." All Jedi Padawan from this world spent a year in the Star Wars world when they had completed their training. Every month in the Star Wars world was two hours here, so a year was only twenty-four hours.
"Oh really! Master thank you, thank you so much." Ariela had been looking forward to this ever since Master Roy had first told her about it.
"Yes I believe you are ready." Master Roy said, grinning at the look on Ariela's face. "I will have to send Luke Skywalker a 'holo telling him that you are coming. You will leave this afternoon after you have collected your things you wish to bring. Do not bring too much because Luke will provide you with many of your essentials."
"Luke Skywalker? I'm going to meet Luke Skywalker!" Ariela declared enthusiastically, laughing. It would be wonderful to actually meet her hero. "Wait. Master, how am I going to get there?"
"The crystal left over from your lightsabers crystal will do the trick."
Ariela touched the crystal of palest green that was hanging around her neck. When she had made her lightsaber she had had a small piece of crystal left over that she had given to her grandfather to make as a necklace.
"You just have to touch it and say,
'Oh crystal taken from caves of gold,
Take me to your home.'
"This will deposit you in whichever room Luke has picked for you. When your year is over and you want to come home you just say,
'Oh crystal taken from caves of gold,
Take me to my home.'
"This will deposit you right here but twenty-four hours later. Sound good?"
"Yes it does. I'll just go home and get my stuff. I'll meet you here around four-thirty."
Ariela started to walk off then said, "Master what happened with Larya?"
"She has believed me also and starting on Monday I will train her as I did you. I would appreciate it if you would come and help me."
"Yes sure that sounds good to me."
'Oh and Ariela," Ariela turned back to look at her Master. "She is strong in the Force but you are much stronger."
Ariela nodded and left. Inside she was burning with excitement. She was to meet all of her heroes from Star Wars. Luke Skywalker, Leia, Han Solo, Mara, Ben Skywalker, Jacen Solo, and Jaina Solo.
A/N: Please review!
