"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. This is the mantra of the Jedi Order. The code which we live by. Your lightsaber is your symbol; treat it with respect. When you ignite it you must be prepared to take a life. Jedi avoid creating attachments; both materialistic and emotional. This is so our judgment remains clear and focused. Self-reliance is to always be shown in a Jedi. The path to knighthood is long and, even when achieved, the journey of learning is never ending."

Shri'La ran through the hall trying to avoid any stares of disapproval. Why did she always run late for training in the afternoons? She knew the answer, though. She fell asleep in the meditation gardens again and had been dragging. Plus, lightsaber training was her least favorite part of the day. She had much rather meditate or study. She knew she was not meant to be a great fighter. And, that made her worry. Nevertheless, lightsaber training was important! She knew that-it was just hard when everyone else in her clan seemed so much better at it than her. As she ran towards her destination she stopped at the doorway and bowed.

"Sorry I am late again, Master. Please forgive me."

"The third time already, this is, hmm?"

"Y-yes, Master, I have no excuse. I will continue to try harder."

"Very well," the master grinned, "come, come then. Continue where you left off, yes?"

"Yes, Master! Right away! Thank you!"

Master Yoda could not help but grin along with his frustration. She was certainly a unique student. Her carelessness would get the best of her, though. Still, Yoda sensed she had begun to awaken to her Force abilities. And at a far younger age than most. The potential he felt in her was unlike any he had sensed in a long time…

Shri'La signed as she tried to pick at the grass she sat In. Her fingers were sore and numb from another long session of lightsaber training making it hard to grasp the small blades. "Oh, never mind," she said aloud to herself as she gave up her task. She then laid herself down as she tried to relax her aching muscles in her back and arms. As she stared up at the sky from within the meditation gardens she wished she could see the stars once again. Although the buildings on Coruscant towered high into the sky, the lights and constant flow of personal starships blocked the night sky from being viewed. Just like on Taris, she thought to herself. When she lived on Taris she never dreamed that something as beautiful as the stars existed up in the sky. Her view was only of thick smog. But here she knew they were up there and yet she still could not see them. Shri'La wondered if any of the other trainees had ever seen the stars the way she had on the day she arrived on Coruscant. Younglings were hardly ever allowed to leave the temple, usually not until they were chosen as padawans. Daily meditation, training, studying, and basic life necessities were all that need be done by them. Most had lived here their whole lives, being brought to the temple shortly after birth. As she lay there with her eyes closed, lost in her thoughts, she felt herself grow sleepy. I'd better not fall asleep here again or I'll never hear the end of it, she thought to herself. As she opened her eyes and tried to sit herself up a sharp pain shot through her right arm as she grabbed it, letting out a gasp.

"Ssss...ow," she said. "Ugh! Everything hurts!" she said louder than intended as she stamped the ground with her foot. As she slowly released her arm she picked up her training saber and stared at it intently; tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "Maybe...I'm not meant to do this after all..."

"Meant to do what?" a voice called from behind her.

Startled, Shri'La jumped a little as she turned around to see an older trainee standing near the entrance of the gardens.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you," he said. "Do you mind if I join you?"

Shri'La shook her head no as she quickly turned back around to wipe away her tears. She wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her cry. As she did so she felt his presence close by as he sat in the grass beside her.

"I thought I was the only one who snuck out here," he said as he turned his head towards her. "My name is Obi-Wan, by the way."

Shri'La turned her head to face him before giving him her reply.

"Shri'La."

"Ah yes," he said had his eyes slightly widened. "I have heard of you around the temple."

"I have no doubt," she sighed. "I am renowned for being tardy and for my carelessness."

"And for having visions at such a young age," he retorted.

"It's not so great."

"But it is! With proper guidance and meditation who knows what you could be capable of as you grow in the Force."

"...But I can't seem to do anything else right," she said looking down as she lazily played with her training saber.

"Being a Jedi is not only about using our lightsabers. Many chose to preserve our knowledge, search for more knowledge, or hone their skills to aid others whose visions and meditations are unclear. Everyone uses the Force differently."

" …"

"Have you yet learned of the different paths a Jedi Knight may chose?"

"I have heard of them briefly."

"They usually don't talk much on the subject until your clan is older but...the Jedi Consulars are a part of the Order that spends a great deal studying the mysteries of the Force and meditating on their visions. They are sought for their diplomatic measures and for spreading the idea of harmony. While they do fight as a measure of last resort, they often refrain from drawing their lightsabers. If the rumors of you are true, I think you could make an excellent consular."

Shri'La sat lost in thought by his words. "It just almost seems...too peaceful," she replied as she continued to stare down at her training saber. "I've had to live my life up till now fighting for myself…"

"You must give in to the will of the Force, Shri'La," he said intently as she slowly looked up at him. "You can choose the path of the consular but still master the lightsaber. Master Fisto himself is one, and he is excellent with a lightsaber."

"Master Fisto?!" she said as she suddenly sat up straight to face him.

"Yes, indeed he is."

The mention of his name reminded Shri'La of all Master Fisto had done for her. From saving her from Taris, to putting himself at odds with the Jedi Council to get her trained, to even (make reference to WHATEVER THE PLOT TWIST WAS). She remembered how he promised her the day he took her before the Council that she would become a Jedi. She couldn't let him down. No, she wouldn't let him down. She had resigned herself to this path. If she was truly to become a Jedi she had to place her faith in the Force. She had to let go and trust it.

"Thank you," she said as she smiled at him.

"For what exactly?" he asked with a hint of confusion.

"For reminding me to trust the Force to guide me. And...for something more personal...heh," she said with a slight laugh at the end.

Obi-Wan smiled back at her. "Then it was my pleasure."

Shri'La stared at his gray-blue eyes for a moment as she felt her cheeks begin to flush slightly. She averted her eyes down as she turned her head up towards the sky she had been staring at moments before.

"So, um, have you ever seen the stars?" she asked to break the silence setting in.

"Pardon?"

"The stars. Up in the sky? Have you ever seen them? It is so bright here even at night I have never been able to see them properly."

"No, I've never seen them properly either. Only those on holograms and planetary maps."

"That's a shame," she sighed. "They are quite beautiful."

"Have you seen them, then?" he asked.

"Yes," she said as she glanced back at him quickly before returning her gaze to the sky. "Master Fisto brought me to the temple when I was much older than younglings are when they are normally brought here. I remember how clear and bright and...vast they were! I had never seen anything so beautiful before on Taris. That's the planet I was born on. It was always covered in smog. It was the first time I had ever seen them myself. Whenever I see the stars, it reminds me of that day and how I was set free."

"Free from what?" he asked, intrigued.

"From the life I could have lived," she replied more solemnly than she had been speaking earlier. "I was an orphan and had nowhere else to go. I kept telling myself I would be fine on my own. But I see now how wrong I was."

"I am...sorry you experienced such things."

"There is no need to apologize! I escaped thanks to Master Fisto," she smiled back once again. "That's why I won't give up! You helped remind me of that feeling I had the day I was brought here. So, again, thank you."

Obi-Wan stared at her as she looked back up at the sky. He was both jealous and sympathetic of her at the same time. She had known a life outside these walls before coming here, while he only ever knew the temple. Never knowing his family or home planet. However, he knew she carried the burden of the pain and experiences of her childhood. It is hard to put one's full faith in the Force when they have felt utterly abandoned. But, he felt something about her that he knew made her different.

Shri'La could feel him searching her. As she felt her cheeks grow warm again she quickly scrambled onto her feet and brushed her pants off. "Well, I had better get going then!" she said at a much louder volume than she intended. "If I am caught sleeping here again I may really be kicked out, hahaha…" she said with a weird nervous laugh. What is wrong with you? she asked herself.

"Alright then," he said calmly. Which irritated Shri'La for some reason. "Perhaps I will run into you again in the gardens."

"Well, I'm usually here avoiding my clan so you can bet on that!"

"Sleep well, Shri'La" he said with a half laugh.

"Uh, thanks...and you too!" she said quickly as she darted out of the gardens and headed down the hallway towards her clan's quarters. I am not even running why is my heart racing? she asked herself as she made her way down the hallway. His eyes were so piercing...what was he searching for? Ugh! What the heck is wrong with my face it feels all hot! She paused for a moment before entering her clan's area of the temple. Let's hope I can get in without waking anyone up this time...I'm really not in the mood to hear it tonight! She took a deep breath and slowly made her way to her own bed and settled herself in, not even bothering to remover her training robes. I'll worry about that in the morning, she thought to herself as she yawned and closed her eyes. As she drifted off to sleep she couldn't help but wonder more about this Obi-Wan. She hoped she would run into him again soon.

Obi-Wan watched as Shri'La disappeared through the doorway and into the darken halls. He laughed to himself to cover the uneasy feeling he felt in his stomach. Such a strange feeling. Not an uncomfortable or nauseous feeling...but something akin to nervousness. He then returned his gaze up to the sky where they had just been looking at together. The stars, huh? he thought to himself. She described them so brilliantly. He found himself smiling as he remembered how animated she was as she did so. She certainly lived up to the tales he had heard about her. She would have no problems becoming a padawan when the time came. Unlike himself. He let out a self deprecating sigh as those thoughts came to mind. "You are definitely meant to become a Jedi, Shri'La," he said as he laid back in the grass placing his hands behind his head.
I, on the other hand… he thought, as he closed his eyes.