"… His friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend." Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

Chapter 2: "He's Hot, Single… and a Snob!"

Next Night, Temple Dining Hall

"I would like for everyone to be quiet!" Mace Windu's deep voice boomed through the loud dining hall. Respectfully, the Masters quietly watched the Korun masters while the tables of crechelings, padawans, and Knights became silent. "Tomorrow night, a change shall be taking place within this Temple." As he took a deep breath, a multitude of eyes watched him expectantly. "We shall be welcoming here the young ladies from the Nubian Academy for the Political Arts and Sciences."

Instantly, every being began to talk and, despairing of ever being heard, Mace Windu looked over at the wise Yoda who nodded sleepily at him.

Using the Force, the Master amplified his voice so as to be heard. "It is our hope that each and every one of you will make our guests feel welcome," Mace Windu continued. "For the next year, they shall eat, study, and live among us."

While generally everyone present was excited about the prospect of housing the foreign ladies, one Master was not enthused.

Three years as a Master on the Jedi Council had changed Anakin in more ways than one. His once spiky hair was replaced with long, soft waves that kissed the collar of his tunic. More mature, he had gained the look of great knowledge and such power permeated from his cool blue eyes. Brown tunics had been exchanged for black ones and, to add to the solemnity of his person, Anakin wore a thick leather glove on his metallic hand.

But it wasn't these changes in appearance that made him so different.

His countenance had become cold and collecting, and his once bright eyes seemed to only scrutinize. He had never been an overly talkative person, but Anakin had nevertheless adopted a habit of speaking little to anyone. Sitting there, he remained rigid and expressionless.

There must be a catch he mentally told Obi-Wan. The older man sat next to him and, though it appeared that he was paying close attention to Mace Windu, his eyes twinkled in amusement.

Why must there always be a catch? Obi-Wan replied.

Master Windu doesn't look too thrilled.

"They are all very accomplished young woman and I hope you will take the time to get to know them as friends and future colleagues," Mace Windu concluded as every being in the hall burst into applause.

Anakin's eyes went narrow. I knew it he thought triumphantly after Mace Windu momentarily glanced at the young Jedi. Which of these talented airheads did the rest of the Council determine will be my future wife?

It's only a suggestion.

If they think they can bait me…

Wait- listen to Master Windu for once, Anakin. You might actually learn something Obi-Wan's thoughts interrupted.

I know enough, thank you.

You still haven't changed.

"In addition to this, the young ladies shall be attending core classes here," Mace Windu said when it became quiet once more. "Among some of the classes they shall be in include the following: Jedi History, Philosophy of the Ancient Ones…"

Anakin prayed that his piloting class would not become infested with giggling teenagers.

"… and piloting," Mace Windu announced.

It's not fair.

Have fun, Anakin.

Despite the fact that he was a Master and was thus to set a good example, Anakin pointedly glared at his former master.

Oh, I will.

Brighten up- perhaps it won't be so bad…

"To welcome them, we will hold a ball…"
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Evening Next Day, Nubian Starship

"Are you ladies ready?" a jolly voice filled the interior of the cruiser.

The loud sound came from a rather tall woman with a dark complexion. Tall for a Nubian, she was nearly six feet tall and, had it not been for her good-natured face, she would have been intimidating to behold. Scurrying about her were two dozen young ladies, all of whom wore black cloaks and excited looks on their pretty faces.

"Remember to smile and look pretty!"

Minutes later, they walked through the empty hallways of the Jedi Temple. Padmé Neberrie exchanged bemused looks with her best friend, Sabé. Personal favorites of Headmistress DesLauriers, they walked in front of the large lady with another girl their age, Eirtaé. Young and silly, Eirtaé was a sharp contrast with the two more mature girls, but her impulsiveness had endeared herself to the equally boisterous headmistress.

At last, they all came to a stop before the large wooden doors that separated them from the dining hall.

"Shoulders back and heads up high!" Madame DesLauriers cried out before the doors were flung open.

Taking a calming breath, Padmé briskly walked in behind her fellow classmates, Madame DesLauriers bringing up the rear. They walked in a haughty way with their faces held up high and their hips swaying in such a way that caught the notice of every male padawan and knight.

Pausing here and there, the Nubian girls twirled and made their entrance more of a dance than a march. With a sudden movement, they all removed their cloaks with a flourish to reveal the expensive pastel gowns that they wore beneath.

Shocked, all the Jedi, including Master Windu, stared. Event thought this had been his idea, Mace Windu seemed unable to put his hands together and clap.

A blush came to Padmé's cheeks and, seeing by the nervous look on Sabé's face, it seemed that the only people who were enjoying themselves were Madame DesLauriers and Eirtaé. With pink cheeks, the young woman dared to look each and every male in the eye and flirtatiously wink.

As she walked past the long table at which all the Master's sat, Padmé caught the attention of a certain Jedi.

During the beginning of the Nubian ladies' entrance, Anakin had just sat there with a bored look on his otherwise handsome face. In his hand was a large goblet and it appeared that he was far more interested in the sound his metal hand made against the rim of it than the ladies parading before him.

What compelled him to look up at that precise moment, Anakin knew not, but he suddenly found himself staring at the young brunette woman with a pleasant face who twirled before him. Quickly, before anyone could see, Anain's eyes flickered back to the goblet upon which he continued his rather dull study.

Padmé had certainally not been ignorant of the look she had just received, and it took every ounce of control she had to not giggle as she finally ended her part of the humiliating act and sat down. Next to her, Sabé looked flushed, so Padmé gave her a sympathetic look before turning her attention to where the headmistress greeted Master Windu.

"There he is!" one girl at the other end of the tale squealed. "Anakin Skywalker!"

Instantly, there was a hubbub of whispering as the young women sought to discover the unfortunate man's marital status.

"He's single!" Eirtaé gasped, nearly swooning.

"He's so handsome!" Rabé giggled despite herself.

None of them had noticed the hard looks that they were getting from the arrogant Master.

Unbeknownst to them, Padmé hadn't been he only young lady who had attracted a fair share of admiring looks. Eyes distant and unblinking, Obi-Wan gazed down at the visitors' table where Sabé was being comforted by her friend.

His former apprentice followed his gaze and snickered. Giving up so easily?

For me, this was never a contest, Anakin.

Meanwhile at the table a little distance away, Padmé was telling Sabé, "I don't know, but I think we intimidated them with our fluffy dresses." To emphasize it, she held up a hand full of the pink tulle cloth she wore.

"Good job ladies- I'm proud of you all," Madame DesLauriers repeated loudly over and over as she strode up and down the length of the table. Upon seeing Padmé and Sabé, she winked at them, but as to what she meant by it, they knew not.

When everyone had finished eating, Mace Windu went up to the podium one last time. "Once again, I would like to thank our esteemed guests for being here with us." While everyone applauded, he once again curiously looked at the fluff balls sitting at the table in front of him. "I have a few announcements to make, the most important of them all being that Master Skywalker has consented to help further your educations by teaching piloting."

By the scowl on his face, it seemed that Anakin's consent had been most unwillingly given, but the girls were so busy giggling about this prospect that they failed to notice his displeasure as he rolled his blue eyes.

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Thirty Minutes Later, Sparring Room of the Jedi Temple

In the course of a single day, the sparring room had been converted into something akin to a ballroom. The Jedi hadn't been pleased about this, but none of the Nubian ladies seemed to notice as they mingled with their more nervous Jedi hosts.

As an attempt to procrastinate eventual embarrassment, Padmé and Sabé had intentionally lagged behind the rest of their companions. Much to their displeasure, they soon found themselves being dragged across the dance floor by the much stronger Madame DesLauriers.

With a broad smile, the headmistress came to an abrupt stop before Mace Windu, Anakin, and Obi-Wan. Although Obi-Wan politely smiled at them, they received skeptical looks from the other two.

"Master Windu, here are two of my most promising students- Padmé and Sabé. My other is out there," she pointed at the giggling Eirtaé, "but she is dancing at the moment."

Both Padmé and Sabé politely curtsied.

At the name 'Padmé,' Anakin's eyes had flickered but he said nothing.

In great surprise, Padmé found her friend blushing and soon found the cause- Obi-Wan was looking at her with equal embarrassment.

"Would you care to dance, Miss Sabé?" Obi-Wan blurted out, going even redder in the face.

"I would love to," Sabé said shyly, holding out her shaking hand which the Master readily took. In a matter of a single moment, they had moved out onto the dance floor and were timidly looking the other in they eyes.

Satisfied that both Sabé and Eirtaé were dancing, Madame DesLauriers apparently forgot that Padmé was still standing beside her, for the headmistress continued her conversation with Mace Windu. Padmé just stood there while Madame DesLauriers loudly bragged about her favorite pupils.

Uneasily, Padme found that, although a lot of the ladies were not dancing, there was an overwhelming majority of men. While puzzling this, Padmé turned to speak to her headmistress but, in doing so, she found Anakin's scrutinizing eyes watching her.

"Do you not dance, Master Jedi?" Padmé asked pleasantly.

"Not if I can help it," came the bored and disinterested reply.

"That's a pity," Padmé said, smarting a little from the snub. "They say that dancing helps you live a longer and more healthy life."

"I can manage my own life, thank you."

Blushing, Padmé turned away so that he would not see her pink cheeks, but in doing so, she saw that the dance had ended and Obi-Wan and Sabé were now talking with each other. She watched as Obi-Wan said something to his young partner before crossing the floor to where Anakin stiffly stood. Glad for a excuse to get away from such unwelcoming company, Padmé rushed to her friend and told her what had just happened.

"Come, Anakin- must you always put such a dour mood on everything? Come dance with us- there are plenty of lovely young ladies to choose from," Obi-Wan urged, not pleased with his former padawan's attitude.

"I am content right here."

"Go find a nice lady to dance with."

Eyes shifting about, Anakin replied curtly, "It appears that you have found the only half-way decent creature in the entire room."

"She is very nice," Obi-Wan agreed, smiling shyly at Sabé who was waiting patiently for him to return. "What about her friend Padmé? She looks very nice."

"Barely tolerable," Anakin muttered, fidgeting with the tips of his glove, "but not enough to tempt me to dance."

Padmé had somehow heard his rude remark and looked away with a blush.

Giving up, Obi-Wan sighed and returned to his dance partner. The Jedi and Sabé danced together for the rest of the night and, although she danced with many of the young Jedi, Padmé received no invitations from the tall Master. Not once did he stir from the shadows, and she began to get the feeling that he was there against his will.

Upon the end of the last dance, the two ladies returned to Madame DesLaurier's side.

"How did you enjoy dancing with our Sabé?" Madame DesLauriers asked in a loud and embarrassing tone. "Isn't she the loveliest?"

By the flustered look on his face, Obi-Wan agreed. "Quite."

"And, Master Jedi, why do you not dance?" the headmistress turned her attention towards Anakin. She did not miss the heavy look she received.

"Master Skywalker is very choosy about his dancing partners," Padmé said innocently, though she sent the Jedi a sly look. Only too well she knew she was embarrassing Skywalker in front of his peers. In response, Anakin locked his jaw. "Hopefully he will overcome his shyness, even if it means dancing with a woman who is barely tolerable."
Triumphant, Padmé politely bowed before linking arms with Sabé and striding off.

"Do I want to know?" Obi-Wan sighed.

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Two Hours Later, Visitors' Dormitory

"That was really rude of him," Sabé agreed after Padmé had finished venting. "One would think that someone of his esteem would have better manners."

They were preparing to go to bed. Groups of four had been assigned to each of the spacious living quarters. Every quarter had two bedrooms, each one containing two beds, and in addition to that there was a living room, two baths, and a small kitchenette. Being best friends, Padmé and Sabé shared a room, but, much to their displeasure, they could still hear the over exuberant Eirtaé saying, "There will be many more Jedi returning this month. Just think- as many Jedi as the eye can see, and we can have whichever ones we want!"

"Well, at least this is a big place," Padmé said optimistically as she snuggled under the covers of her new bed. "I doubt Master Skywalker and I shall ever speak again."

Not wanting to upset Padmé, Sabé decided to not remind her friend that their first class the next day was piloting.

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Anakin is going to be an… erm, interesting teacher- a little Snape/Umbridge like, but don't worry- there is a person in there.
I'm sure you can all guess who is going to be the victim here!

Here's a sneak peak of the next chapter: "He's Out to Get Me!"

"Do you know what that pompous nerf-herder said about me?"

"Padmé," Rabé said quietly, her eyes quickly looking to the front of the room as she folded her hands in her lap.

Still, Padmé had not noticed how quiet her friends and the room had become. "Do you know what the stuck up jerk said about me?" Padmé cried out angrily. "He said…"

"To close your book and to remain with me for a moment once class has ended?" an icy voice whispered into her ear.

Gulping, Padme realized that he was so close to her that she could literally feel his breath against her ear.

I'm dead she thought helplessly. So startled, she accidentally squeaked in fright.

No you are not- I have an ethical code against killing off my problem students the voice darkly replied in her head.