The Training Begins
Spike followed the other initiates out of the lift, quickly moving after Master Darius as he strode down the corridor before stopping just in front of a large opening and turning to face them.
"Inside." He said simply, gesturing for the others to enter before him, before following and shutting the door behind them with an almost ominous bang.
Spike was instantly cowed by the majesty of the room. It was circular and like all rooms that Spike had seen in the temple, it was massive. However what really drew Spikes attentions were the four massive statues of kneeling men that held the roof up, each one bearing different symbols upon their carved stone flesh.
In the centre of the room, a series of rocks of varying sizes were arranged in order of their weight, ranging from the simplest pebble, to massive boulders that even Twilight would have struggled to lift.
"Sit." Darius said simply before dropping to the floor in a cross-legged fashion just in front of the rocks.
Quickly the others crowded around him, taking seats so that they were in a circle around Darius.
"For the next ten weeks you shall train in the ways of the force, in preparation for your final trials in the caves of Illum." Darius said, looking at each of the initiates in turn. "But first, before any of that, you must learn the ways of the force."
At this, Darius extended a hand and one of the larger rocks rose above him before being slowly lowered again.
"A Jedi is allied with the force, as the force is allied with the Jedi. We Jedi draw on its power, to further enhance our capabilities and to perform feats of skill and strength that would be impossible for any others." Darius continued. "From this day forward, your days will be structured to the highest level. Mornings shall be early, as shall the morning meal. Morning rituals shall consist of studies in the Force, as well as classes in the history and political sciences of the thousand worlds of the Republic. Following the midday meal you shall be led in physical training and I will personally hone your bodies into the physical condition required by the Jedi."
"Early mornings?" Brandon said out loud.
"Yes Brandon." Darius said pointedly. "Early mornings. The path of the Jedi is not for those who wish to lie around all day."
With that Darius got up and began to walk around the initiates. For a while, he did nothing but pace around them before he finally spoke again.
"The Jedi Code is the code of conduct that establishes the rules, tenants, and modes of behaviours that all Jedi must follow. As initiates you must learn the code in its entirety."
With that Darius grabbed a pile of datapads and distributed about the initiates. Glancing down, Spike was confronted again by the illegible language.
"Master Darius." Spike said, turning to face the human.
"What is it initiate?" Darius asked, walking over.
"I… don't know how to read this." Spike admitted, feeling slightly embarrassed now that he voiced his concerns.
"Didn't you learn the language when you were on the ship?" Darius asked.
"I have but I am not..."
"I understand." Darius said, before clapping his hands once to draw the attention of the others. "The code you read is not the original one and was created by Odun-Urr. I do not support this reworking, but the council does, and so it shall be taught.
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.
"Study this code. Learn what it means and take its lessons to heart. In the days to follow, this shall be your only training."
"Master, can I have something to write with?" Spike asked.
"Here." Darius said, grabbing a datapad and stylus with the force, and moving it over to Spike. "What is it for?"
"I want to write the code in my language." Spike said looking up at Darius for approval. "If that is allowed master."
"It is." Darius said, before walking off, talking to the others as he did, and giving instruction where it was required.
Picking up the stylus, Spike began to tap on the datapad, getting a feel for the new writing style. Quickly finding his stride again, Spike scribbled down the code before looking back at it and comparing it to the code written in a different language.
"There is no Emotion, there is peace?" Spike said softly, looking at the first line of the code. He re-read it, just to make sure that he had understood it properly but each time he reached the same confusion. "Master Darius?"
"What is it Spike?" Darius asked, walking over.
"You said that the code was re-written." Spike asked slowly. "What was it before?"
"Why do you ask such things?" Darius asked, sitting down next to Spike, interested in what the young Jedi had to say.
"I'm interested." Spike said.
"The Jedi are scholars in history, it is your right to know if you so wish. There is two other codes." Darius began.
There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony.There is no death, there is the Force.
"there is one last code" Darius said.
Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force.
"Now tell me Spike. Why did you really want to know of the old codes?" Darius asked.
"I was interested." Spike insisted, "It's just, the first line. There is no Emotion, there is Peace."
"What of it?" Darius asked in interest.
"Surely emotions is not a bad thing." Spike said thoughtfully.
"But emotions can lead to hatred for any who would also seek the emotions of the same." Darius said.
"Yes, but if emotion is returned, then surely peace can be achieved as well." Spike said.
"And where does this opinion come from?" Darius asked.
"Just my thoughts on it." Spike said simply.
"You speak with knowledge far beyond someone of your age. This similar conversation has been between masters for years." Darius smiled. "Where did you learn to hold your own in an argument like that?"
"From Twilight, she enjoyed long debates. We used to talk into the small hours on everything." Spike admitted.
"You cared for this Twilight then?" Darius wondered.
"With everything." Spike said. "But, the Jedi…"
"…deny emotions." Darius finished. "Yes, the code does forbid it."
"Only the ones that have been redone." Spike pointed out.
"The council would not be pleased if they learnt that I allowed an initiate to take lessons from the old code." Darius said simply.
"Then I will do as the council commands." Spike said, slightly aggervated.
"If you believe that's wise." Darius said.
With that, Darius once again began to circulate the initiates, his eyes alighting on Zuno, as he looked around in confusion.
"Emotion, yet peace." Spike muttered under his breath.
Almost three hours later, Darius brought the attention back to him, ceasing their learning of the code.
"Jedi don't fight for peace, no matter how much some say we do. We fight to uphold civilisation, because only through civilisation, can we create peace. We fight for justice, because this allows for civilisation to flourish. If a civilisation is built upon the sands of the unjust, it will crumble when the storms hit." He said, looking around the initiates. "For us, the Jedi, this strength, and that of the code, is built upon the three core tenants. The Force, Knowledge, and Self-Discipline. Can anyone tell me what any of these mean to the Jedi?"
"Knowledge. Jedi are supposed to be clever?" Zuno asked.
"Close. The pillar of knowledge maintains that the Jedi cannot fulfill our role in the galaxy without the study and wisdom that we are taught, and that is held in the Archives. The Force. It is a Jedi's power, and in return, we swim through it in our every moment, breathe it, taste it, and ride its currents to our own destinies. The final pillar is Self-Discipline, and advocates the study of combat. These classes must take a second seat to the first two pillars, lest you find yourself drawn to it."
"But the Jedi are great warriors." Asha pointed out.
"We are." Darius said, "But not through focus on combat but through our mastery of the force." Darius finished before turning, as the door swung open. "Daka." Darius nodded, before turning back to the initiates. "This, is knight Daka. He is to accompany you, and show you to mid-day meals."
Nodding in agreement, the initiates stood up and followed Daga out of the room.
"So you five are the new initiates?" Daga asked, before continuing, not waiting for an answer he already knew. "What do you think of Master Darius? He was the one who trained my clan a few years back."
"Master Darius is slightly scary." Asha said.
"Is it his attitude?" Daga asked with a slight smile.
"Kind of." Asha said nervously.
"He got them fighting for the Republic. One must always remember how much he gave in this regard." Daga nodded before stopping at another door. "You will receive meals here while you are in the temple."
With that, Daga turned and left, leaving the others to walk into the room were the food is.
"So, do you reckon they have any gems here?" Spike asked.
"Nobody else eats gems." Asha laughed. "I thought we had this discussion on the ship."
"We did." Spike nodded. "But a dragon can dream can't he?"
"Tell you what Spike." Zuno grinned. "You ask a Jedi to give up a Lightsaber crystal and eat that."
"The thought had crossed my mind." Spike agreed, before grinning. "Seriously though let's go. I haven't eaten since we got off the ship and I'm hungry."
"It's good to see you happy Spike." Asha smiled.
"Well, there's no point being sad all the time. Pinkie could probably make me happy at a time like this."
"Pinkie?" Asha asked. "Wait, isn't she one of your old friends? The element of honesty or something?"
"Close. Pinkie Pie's the element of Laughter." Spike smiled, reaching the counter and asking for a pile of fruit and vegetables, before walking over to a table and waiting for the others. It didn't bother him that the others ate meat but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Maybe one day he would try but not yet.
"Your home sounds quite like a tribe." Brandon said while sitting next to Spike and grinning at him.
"I guess you could say that." Spike nodded, biting a chunk out of a piece of fruit before swallowing and speaking again. "Than again it's not completely like a tribe."
Finishing up there food, Spike and the others made their way back towards the room where they had been before, being met by Darius who was sitting cross legged in the middle of the room. What was odd however was the fact that he was hovering a good three feet off the ground, his eyes tightly shut and his mouth moving silently. As they entered his eyes flew open and he looked at the initiates while lowering down to the floor and getting back to his feet.
"You have begun to learn the steps of the Jedi, in the form of our Code. Now I shall train your ability in the force before finally ascertaining your physical capabilities."
With that, Darius levitated a series of small rocks over to the five initiates, placing one before each of them before stepping back.
"The force requires nothing more than the will of a sensitive individual to be used. Focus your efforts on the rock that is placed in front of you and attempt to move it. Visualise it rolling away from you or levitating upwards." Darius instructed.
Nodding, the five initiates began to stare at the rock in front of them. Spike crunched his face up trying to empty his mind of everything but the rock. Extending his hand outwards he pushed with his mind, imagining the ball rolling forward slightly before opening his eyes only to find that the rock had not moved an inch. Looking around at the others they were doing similar things to Spike and were being met with the same results.
Again Spike tried to move the rock this time just imagining it rolling a tiny bit but being met with the same result.
For almost an hour Spike and the others tried to get the rocks to show even the slightest bit of movement but being met with nothing but annoyed sighs as no one found any success.
"Yes!" Asha suddenly shouted as the rock that she was focusing on suddenly rolled away from her while moving at a very slow pace.
"Well done." Darius nodded, picking up the rock again and placing it back in front of her. "Again."
After that the others managed to move their rocks consistently until only Spike had not seen success.
Trying one last time Spike closed his eyes and extended both his hands towards the rock willing it to lift before peeking out of one eye and seeing that he was getting nowhere. Closing his eyes again Spike focused when an idea came into his head. Instead of focusing solely on the rock, Spike focused on something that he knew would be able to pick it up. Instantly, the rock in his mind's eye was surrounded in a purple aura and rolled away from him. Opening his eyes quickly he watched as the rock rolled quickly away from him.
Darius looked at Spike for a moment before retrieving the rock and placing it back to where it originally was. "Again."
Once again Spike closed his eyes and imagined the familiar purple aura surrounding and lifting the rock before watching it roll away in his mind. Opening his eyes he smiled, as he watched it move away from him.
"It seems that you are all at similar levels, with Asha perhaps showing more natural aptitude towards the art of telekinesis." With a flick of his wrist the rocks were pushed away. "Now, we have ascertained who among you can wield the force with the highest degree of untempered skill but now we must find out what you are all physically capable of. The Jedi must be able to hold their own in contests of strength as well as to have the stamina to continue on your journey, with nothing but the force to sustain you."
Beckoning for them to follow him, Darius led the five across the room, over to a small area, set on top of mats rather than stone. On the far side of the mats were rows of weights and padded benches.
"We will start with simple press-ups and sit-ups until I can ascertain how much would be safe for each of you to lift." Darius said. "Does everyone know what a press-up and a sit-up is?"
When nobody said that they didn't Brandon indicated that they should all assume the position.
"Ok." He said, looking around and making sure that everyone was in the correct position. "And down."
10 reps later.
"And up." Darius said.
Suddenly a thump was heard and the group looked to see Asha on the floor.
"Well done Asha." Darius nodded. "Please come and stand over here so as to not distract the others. Down."
16 reps later.
"I can't go any further." Briana muttered before she failed as well.
"Up. Darius said.
Zuno pushed himself up while struggling to keep going before collapsing beside his sister. Spike and Brandon looked at each other and smiled as the twins moved over to stand by Darius and Asha.
"Down."
15 reps later
Spike struggled to push himself up, his muscles burning with the constant strain he was placing upon them. He had never used to pride himself on his strength while in Canterlot but after he had moved to Ponyville and met Rarity he had been slowly trying to build his figure to impress her.
Beside him, Brandon looked as if he was also struggling but also looked as if he could keep going for a bit longer.
"Down." Darius said. "Up."
Spike tried to do another press-up but his arms simply wouldn't obey and he ended up collapsing to the ground.
"Well done Spike." Darius smiled while Spike walked next to him where the others were. Darius looked at Brandon, "Down."
The human continued a few more reps before he finally dropped to the training mats, panting slightly.
"Forty eight press-ups." Darius nodded. "For a child that is well above average."
He looked at everyone while keeping a straight smile.
"For now your training is over. Follow me and I will show you to your dorms."
With that Darius swept out of the room, the others trailing behind him. The six of them walked through the Jedi temple, Darius pointing out various places on their way and stating that they would need to memorise and learn all of these areas in the coming weeks before finally, they reached a small door.
"Here you are. From this day forth you will be known as the Darius Clan."
With that Darius turned and walked away down the corridor as the others walked into the dorm, being met with a small room just wide enough to hold five beds, a footlocker at the end of each of them and a free standing locker for each of them against the far wall.
"Well. It's getting late." Asha said while looking at a clock on the wall. "I think we should all turn in. Looks like we'll be getting up early for the next ten weeks."
"Next ten weeks?" Zuno asked, stripping down to his underwear before getting into a bunk and pulling the covers around him. "This is going to be fun."
"Great." Spike muttered while lying down on the bed.
Closing his eyes Spike remembered Darius words about learning the Jedi code and taking its message to heart.
"Emotion, yet Peace. Ignorance, yet Knowledge. Passion, yet Serenity. Chaos, yet Harmony. Death, yet the Force." He said softly to himself before quickly drifting off to sleep, already knowing who he would dream of once again.
Will that was fun to write and I hope you all enjoyed it. I was planning on making it next week but I just decided to make it this week because why not. One last thing, We are at the beginning of the clone wars if anyone wanted to know, I will be using the expanded universe feats because the feats are far more impressive than the movies and clone wars T.V show. I hope you guys will continue to read my story and hope you have a nice day.