"Luke, come on. We're going to be late," hollered Leia impatiently from the twin's doorway.

"I'm coming," called Luke, rolling down his pant leg and pulling on his boot. He had been inspecting his leg and was somewhat disappointed not to find even a scar. The youngster was glad to be healed, of course. His leg had been sound for weeks before winning the Apprentice Tournament. But scars were interesting. Scars gained during battle were something to be admired, at least in Luke's mind. They showed that one had been strong enough to come through a dangerous fight and survive. Luke had memorized the stories of the numerous scars of his father and looked forward to being able to tell stories of his own. So the lack of a visible scar was disappointing. The boy sighed as he tucked the last bit of pant leg into his boot and scrambled out to join his sister.

The day he had been longing for since the age of four had finally come. Today the Initiate Trials would be held. Luke couldn't wait. Scar or no scar, he was ready to take the next step in his Jedi training.

Leia was predictably nervous as she met her brother in the hallway. "It's about time. What were you doing in there?"

Luke shrugged. "Looking for a scar."

The girl wrinkled her brow. "A scar? Where?"

"On my leg."

"From what?"

"I was just hoping I'd be able to tell where the drapol bit me."

"Oh. Why?"

Luke sighed impatiently. "So I don't forget."

Leia made a face, shuddering. "Ugh, why would you want to remember something like that? That thing almost had you for dinner."

The boy rolled his eyes. "So when I tell the story, I can show people."

Leia groaned, turning away. "I'd rather forget about it."

Luke slowly shook his head. Girls. Even twins don't understand. "Never mind." They walked on for a few paces. Presently Luke turned back to his sister. "Think you're gonna pass today?"

The girl stiffened and grew very quiet. Was she? Leia could only answer with a shrug. "I hope so," she replied in a low voice.

With a comforting smile and a pat on the back, Luke stepped a little closer to his sister. "You will. I know you will."

Leia pulled away with pursed lips. "I'm not even going to ask if you think you're going to pass. That's going to be the easiest decision the Council has ever had," she remarked with a touch of sarcasm.

Luke flinched uncomfortably at his sister's tone. "I don't know about that. They're not supposed to easy. That's why they're called Trials. You know Master Calon said winning the Tournament never guarantees that you'll pass the Initiate Trials...and passing doesn't mean anyone will take you on as an apprentice, either."

Leia shrugged. "Well, we don't have to worry about that. We already have a Master."

"Well...sort of," admitted Luke slowly. Neither of them wanted to speak their fears...that Anakin wasn't going to keep them on after all. They hadn't been assigned any more missions since Aibres, and both twins suspected something other than the need to focus. "We still have to pass. But we will. Both of us will." Luke's smile returned and he slung his arm across Leia's shoulders.

Leia returned with a guarded smile of her own. She only hoped that her brother was right. Their father had been so distracted lately, but wouldn't give them a reasonable explanation as to why. All he would say was that he was worried about their mother. But Padme wasn't sick or hurt. Luke and Leia knew this. Surely Anakin, who was fifty times more powerful than his children, knew as well. The only reason Leia had come up with for their father's sudden depression was something having to do with Luke and Leia's future as Jedi, and Luke's apprenticeship was all but set in stone. He knows something we don't, and he isn't telling us, decided Leia, galled at the idea that her father was keeping secrets from his own flesh and blood. Why shouldn't he tell them? They were Jedi, after all.

"Leia?" Luke paused midstride to turn back to his sister with a frown. "You coming?"

Leia blinked with surprise. She hadn't even realized that her distractions had made her fall behind. Enough, she thought, shaking her head. Worrying about it isn't going to help us pass the Trials. She quickened her pace to catch up to her brother. "I'm coming."

:=v=: :=v=: :=v=:

"There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no passion, there is serenity." Leia thought her voice sounded painfully small and uncertain as she stood in the Council chambers and recited the Jedi Code.

The Trials were nearly over. Every other eligible Youngling had already taken their Trials, testing their knowledge of the Force, the Jedi Code, and lightsaber combat. Their readiness and maturity was also being tested. Leia was the last to go...and she hated it. The waiting had kicked her nerves into overdrive, and it was a struggle keeping them in check. "There is no chaos, there is harmony." That was ironic, considering how chaotic Leia's emotions were at the moment. Don't stop. Keep going. She lifted her chin in determination and pressed on.

The worst of it was already done with. All that remained now was the academic portion of the test, and that should be easy. It was the area where Leia felt the most comfortable. "There is no death, there is the Force."

As always, the expressions of the Council were completely unreadable. Yoda seemed to staring directly into Leia's soul as his green eyes fixed on the girl. He had hardly even moved from his thoughtful position, chin resting on his gimer stick. "Mmm. And the three pillars of the Jedi. Know these, do you?"

Leia nodded. "Yes, master. The three pillars of the Jedi are the Force, knowledge, and self-discipline."

Yoda lifted hairless brows. "Feel the Force, do you? Flow through you, it does?"

Again, the girl nodded. "Yes, Master." Calm, calm...you're nearly through, Leia told herself. She called on the Force for what must have been the twentieth time in her Trials to keep every emotion in check. She had not done very well in the area of telekinesis and hoped that would not much affect her standings. After all, not every Jedi could move objects with their mind.

The Council members exchanged glances for an interminable length of time before finally turning to Leia. "Leia Skywalker, step forward," said Mace Windu, rising to his feet.

Leia quickly obeyed. The tremor of nerves in her hands was arrested as she stood in a parade rest.

Mace looked the girl in the eye. "The Force is indeed strong with you. You have demonstrated knowledge of the history of the Jedi, as well as an understanding of the Jedi Code and the three pillars of the Jedi. You have proved that the Force flows through you, and an ability to control it, though further training is needed in several areas. It is the decision of this Council that you have passed these Initiate Trials."

Relief flooded Leia's limbs, and she couldn't help be sigh in relief. "Thank you, Master."

Yoda pursed his lips. "Take this promotion lightly, you must not, young one. More difficult shall your journey become. Arise, conflict shall. Division there may be. Meditate upon your path, you must."

Leia nodded soberly. "Yes, Master. I understand."

Yoda exchanged a glance with Mace Windu, as if expressing doubts about how much Leia understood, but said nothing further. Mace nodded to the girl. "You are dismissed, Leia Skywalker. Step out into the hall and await further instructions."

Confusion clouded Leia's thoughts, and she hesitated. Wouldn't I be going to the Quartermaster for my new robes? That was where Luke had gone. He had passed- which was a surprise to no one -and then gone straight to the barber to get his new Padawan haircut. All of the Younglings who had passed the Initiate Trials and immediately been chosen by a Master had done the same. Why should Leia be any different? Brown eyebrows knit with uncertainty.

Yoda tilted his head to one side. "Questions, you have? Not what you expected, this is?"

"Ah..." Leia bit her lower lip, and she shrugged. You passed the Initiate Trials! Don't argue, or they might change their minds. "Not exactly, Master Yoda...but I'll do as you wish." Eager to leave the firm stares of the Jedi Masters, Leia executed a formal bow before turning to walk out the doors as quickly as respect would allow. Once the doors closed, she let out the breath she had been holding and slouched against the nearest wall.

How strange it was. Leia had expected to be happy and excited. Instead all she felt was an odd combination of relief and confusion, which doubled as she searched for her brother. He was still in the Temple, of course, but not anywhere within sight or earshot. As a matter of the fact, the girl was all but alone in the hallway. The other Youngings had either gone to meet their new Masters, gone to one of the training rooms for further evaluation to pair them with a Master, or shuffled sadly back to their quarters after not passing the Trials. Leia was the odd one out.

Upon sensing her father's approach, Leia relaxed. Father is going to take me. Maybe he wants to discuss a few things before we go to meet Luke. She broke into a smile when he rounded the corner. The smile faded somewhat as she saw that his depression was still present, breaking the faint smile he gave his daughter in return. Does he know yet? "Father, I passed the Initiate Trials," she called.

Anakin's smile widened and he welcomed his daughter in a brief hug. "I knew you would. I'm so proud of you. Congratulations."

Leia was grinning as she pulled back. "Thank you. Luke passed, too...but everybody knows that."

"No one can know for certain until the time comes...but I don't think that surprised anyone," chuckled Anakin. "I'm proud of both of you."

"Where is he?" said Leia eagerly.

"He's with the Quartermaster being fitted for his new robes," explained Anakin. His smile began to slowly fade as he draped an arm across Leia's shoulders to guide her away from the Council chambers.

"Well, let's go!" Leia started to hurry forward, then stopped when Anakin held her back. It was then she sensed how downcast he really was. "Can't I tell Luke that I passed?"

"Of course you can. Just wait a minute."

"What's wrong, Father? Is Mother-?"

Anakin shook his head as he dropped next to his daughter. "No, no. Your mother is fine. But Leia, why did the Council send you out into the hall?"

Leia shrugged and felt her heart start to sink. "I don't know. I thought they'd send me with Luke."

Anakin briefly closed his eyes. "Oh. I'm sorry."

What's he saying? Leia's stomach twisted. "Why are you sorry? Why did they send me into the hall?"

The young father sighed unhappily. "It means that you don't have a master. No one picked you." He forced a smile. "Don't worry. Sometimes it takes a few days-"

Leia knit her brows. "What do you mean, I don't have a master? I do...Luke and I do. You're our master."

Anakin grimaced. He had known this was going to be difficult, and dreaded the next few moments. "Now Leia, I told both of you that it was only temporary. After what happened to both of you on our missions, the Council agreed that you and Luke would be better trained under someone else."

The girl flinched as if she'd been struck. All those years of anticipation, all those years of training, and Leia had never imagined being trained by anyone but her father. Not wanting to believe it, she shook her head. "But...no. It wasn't your fault! You didn't know those pirates had a charge set right over us. And when Luke was hurt, that was his fault. He wouldn't listen!"

Anakin's heart ached at seeing the pain of rejection in Leia's eyes. He smoothed her hair. "Perhaps, a part of it was. But you were still my responsibility, and I let you down. Both you and Luke will be better off training under someone else."

Leia sharply shook her head. "No, we wouldn't. You're the best Jedi in the galaxy!"

Anakin winced. "Being among the most powerful doesn't make me the best. Power doesn't mean anything unless you can control it and put it to proper use. Apparently I still have much to learn as far as control is concerned. That puts you and Luke in danger. I can't allow that. So, someone else is going to train you."

The little girl sagged on her heels, sick with disappointment. There was a small part of her that felt only rejection, but it was brushed aside. Leia had always known she might be trained by someone else. The Council is stupid, then, to think anyone is better qualified than Father. Such thoughts were kept to herself. "Who, then?"

Anakin tried to smile in encouragement. "Well, Master Obi-Wan is taking Luke. Both of you know him."

Leia's tentative smile died on her lips as the reality of this revelation hit her. "Wait. He's only taking Luke? He doesn't want me."

Anakin frowned and took Leia's shoulders. "Leia, that's not true. Obi-Wan would have taken you both in a heartbeat if he was able. But he's a member of the High Council. As such, he's barely going to have enough time to train Luke. Taking on two would be all but impossible."

That's why Obi-Wan wouldn't even look at me during the Trials. He'd already picked Luke. Leia's mood, which had been nearing the stratosphere upon hearing she'd passed the Initiate Trials, dropped down into Coruscant's underbelly. No one else wants to train me, either...not even my own father. The sense of inferiority and rejection drove deep, and was followed by the sting of coming loneliness. "They're separating us. That's what they're doing," she stated through a closing throat.

Anakin tightened his grip on his daughters' shoulders. "No, they're not. You're still a Jedi, Leia. It's not going to be goodbye. You'll still see Luke-"

"No!" cried Leia. She wrenched out of her father's hands and began taking several steps back. "You promised! You promised no one was ever going to split us up. Why did you let them? You should have said no!" Wheeling around with feelings of hurt and anger threatening to overwhelm her, Leia took four large steps down the stairs. She didn't want anyone to see her cry. Jedi didn't cry.

"Leia!"

Her father's firm voice made the girl stop short. Jedi don't run away, either. Leia's shoulders hunched and she hung her head, still fighting the tears burning behind her eyes. She stiffened as her father approached.

"Leia..." Anakin's touch was gentle as he rested a hand on Leia's shoulder. "I'm not angry with you. I just want you to understand. As your father, it's my responsibility to keep you and your brother safe until you're old enough to take care of yourselves. Apparently I can't focus on training you and keeping you safe without endangering the mission. I'd never forgive myself if I lost either you or an innocent bystander by trying to do too many things at once."

Wordlessly Leia nodded. Her father was being too hard on himself again. "You wouldn't."

Anakin squeezed his daughter's shoulder and turned to look her in the eye. "I came close enough already. I'm not putting any of us through that again. I know it hurts...but it's better this way. Now...why don't the two of us calm down and go find that brother of yours to congratulate him?"

Leia had to choke back a sob. She didn't feel like congratulating Luke. He probably wouldn't be very happy about leaving his sister behind, either. But the need to please her father took over, and the girl nodded.

"Shh. Deep breaths. Come on," encouraged Anakin quietly. He hated seeing his children in distress, and entered his own breathing exercise to center himself in the Force.

Leia closed her eyes with a shudder. In time she had slowed her breathing. A single tear escaped from her eye. She quickly wiped it away. I'm calm. I'm calm. I'm calm, she kept thinking. Only when she sensed relief in her father did she truly begin to calm. When her vitals were on an even keel, she opened her eyes.

"That's my girl," smiled Anakin, playing with her single braid. He bent over and kissed the top of her head. "Let's go."

Leia managed a very slight, halfhearted smile at the affection, but her overall mood was still one of dejection. Father isn't going to train us. Luke was chosen by a member of the Council, and no one wanted me. It's not fair. It's not fair...