"Focus your mind on the force. Feel its essence flowing through you and around you. Good. Now focus on the apple….Don't lose your concentration on the force around you! Better… Now feel the force flow around the apple, and set your mind upon it. Move the force around the apple using your consciousness." Aine sat on the floor with her legs crossed and eyes closed as she gave gentle instruction to Ianna. She wore white, which was unusual for her. Ianna didn't even know Aine owned white clothes.

Ianna, however was not so calm. She was a little nervous about her first day in training. She bent all her thought upon the apple which she was attempting to levitate, but still, the force seemed to mentally slip through her fingers. She could sense it, but not control it.

"Here, use your hand. It makes controlling the force a little easier. It always helps to have something to aim with." Aine offered sympathetically.

Ianna extended her hand and closed her eyes. For a moment, she felt a small flicker of the power that had surged through her hand when Rove had attacked her. She held onto the feeling and reached out with it. This time, she felt the force grasp the apple. Moving her hand slowly, Ianna was able to raise it about two feet off the ground.

Aine's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Very good. Most Padawans are only able to raise objects a few inches on their first try."

"Padawan?" Ianna stifled a laugh. "What kind of word is that again?"

"Do not be disrespectful." Aine chastised. "A Padawan is exactly what you are; A young student of the force."

"I'm a Padawan? Cool." Ianna smiled sheepishly at the annoyed look Aine gave her.

"Your disregard for respect has reminded me of a very important part of Jedi protocol that you must learn. This is the code which all Jedi are required to live by. Listen closely Ianna…

There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no death; there is the Force.

You will need to memorize this."

"Okay" Ianna mumbled reluctantly, "I'll try."

Aine put her hand on Ianna's shoulder and a sad look played across her face. "A very wise Jedi once told me that there is no trying. You either do, or you don't. From now on, I want you to live by this idea. No more of this "Okay" or "Whatever" or "I'll try." You must begin living like a true Jedi. You will say "Yes Master" or "No Master."

"I have to call you master? In Public?" Ianna's face scrunched up in distaste.

"NO, not in public!" Aine tightened her grasp on Ianna's arm. "You must keep your identity as a Jedi a secret. Never tell ANYONE. We have enemies that you don't even know about. There may be a day when the Jedi can live their lives normally again, but until that day, we must remain hidden from the world." Aine bowed her head sadly.

Ianna felt guilty now. She realized that being a Jedi was serious business. From now on, she would have to obey Aine's every command. Not a very appealing idea, but if she wanted to be a Jedi, she must begin to act like one.

"Yes Master." She answered for the first time.

Aine raised her eyes to meet Ianna's gaze. "There is hope you know." She stated.

"I know. There is always a little hope." Ianna answered earnestly.

"Sometimes it doesn't seem so. Well… I mean, when your entire way of life is blown into oblivion, the way ours has…sometimes I despair." Aine faltered. She looked away and fell silent.

"You have me. You'll always have me. I won't leave you." Ianna reassured.

"Perhaps."

"You look tired Mom- er…Master. Are you alright?" Ianna had never seen Aine so shaken. Usually she was as silent and stoic as a stone. Never had she seen a weak moment in Aine's life. This sudden confession was surprising.

Aine fiddled with her hands and took a deep breath. "I thought I would be ready, but now that I am training you….I'm a bit frightened of what may happen."

"Why?"

"I don't want to see what the future may bring. I fear the unknown."

"I promise I will be good." Ianna assured.

The corner of Aine's mouth curled up in her odd half-smile and she took another deep breath before giving Ianna an awkward hug, the first she had given since she was a fourteen-year-old Padawan without a master.

OOO

"I'm glad you apologized to me. You looked completely pitiful sitting at that lunch table all by yourself. It took all my strength not to go over and slap some sense into you. It's a good thing you began to see things my way." Leia said haughtily as she and Ianna walked down the hallway together at school.

"Well, you were being very commanding that day. It was rather annoying." Ianna muttered.

"Oh I was not." Leia commented flippantly. "You just don't want to admit that you were wrong." She walked faster.

Ianna skipped ahead to keep up. "Um…I was wrong. I learned my lesson, you were right, I wasn't. Now it's over. The subject is closed."

"Much better." Leia smiled in satisfaction. "And since you wish to close this subject, I'm opening another…"

"Uh-oh. This doesn't sound good." Ianna teased.

"By next year, you are going to be in my class." Leia announced.

"And how?" Ianna asked suspiciously.

"I'm coming over to your house everyday and force you to study until you test into the grade you should be in." She smiled innocently.

Ianna groaned.

(seven months later)

Ianna scurried out of the office and embraced the awaiting Leia. "You did it Ianna!" She cried joyously. "We're going to be in the same class! This is great!" Ianna beamed.

"Was the test hard?"

"Nope!" She grinned. "Wait till Ma...I mean, Mom hears!"

OOO

"Bye Leia! Thanks for the ride Threepio! See ya later!" Ianna yelled as the speeder flew away into the city.

She walked up to her front door and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, changing from school mode to Padawan mode. She waved her hand and opened the door. Aine was inside meditating, as usual. Ianna waited to be spoken to.

"Good Day Ianna" Aine said after she had stood up. "I trust you had a good day at school?"

"Yes Master" Ianna bowed. "I have good news." Ianna smiled.

"What?" Aine inquired.

"I passed the test. I am officially caught up with my classes."

Aine's eyes sparkled as she gave Ianna a congratulatory pat on the shoulder "I knew you could do it. You're smarter than you think Young one."

Ianna gave one of her wide grins. "Thank-you Master."

The communicator gave a beep from the living room and Ianna activated the hologram. It was Leia.

"Hey Ianna! She called.

"Hello Leia."

"I forgot to tell you, I have a project due next week in my Cultural studies, and I need a partner. Do you want to do it?"

Ianna nodded. "What kind of project?"

"A presentation about a holiday celebrated on another planet. I was assigned Kashyyk" (Sp?)

"Isn't that where the Wookies live? I've never been there before, so I wouldn't know much about it."

"Yeah I think so. It should be pretty interesting."

"Okay, I'll do it. Bye." Ianna smiled and turned off the hologram.

(A/N: I know not a whole lot happened, but next chapter should be amusing!)