Asakura Chronicles
"Yeah! We actually did it! Tom, we actually did it!" cried out Ahsoka, as Tom climbed down the tower.
"Told ya my plan worked!" replied Tom, who then received a hug from Ahsoka.
"I never doubted you for a second" She happily replied
"Really?"
"Okay I doubted for maybe a second"
"Maybe?"
"Okay! I doubted you! But who cares?! We passed"
"Yeah haha! Your probably right!" said Tom, receiving another a hug.
"I hope we're not interrupting anything, are we?" said Plo Koon, as he and Shaak Ti walk towards the two.
"Haha! See P.K.! S.T.! Told ya we make it!" said Tom as he grins and give a thumbs up.
"I hate to break this boy's spirit, but..." Shaak Ti thought to herself, trying very hard not to frown.
"Well this time I have to tell that your wrong about one thing Asakura. One of you won't be graduating. Because...Thomas Asakura... you fail"
At that moment, Tom lay down his for thumbs up and his smile opened into disbelief.
"Wha.. wait! Why Tom?!" asked Ahsoka.
Shaak Ti then gave her serious stare. "You should know Ahsoka. He risked your life and left you for dead"
"But...!"
"Those who break the rules are considered scum but... those who abandon their comrades are even worse than scum! For example..." Shaak Ti pointed at the tower the previous droid Ahsoka destroyed was on.
"He used the Force to throw you at the enemy and made stand their where the enemy could have shot you!"
"But he didn't mean to! Master Plo, tell her!" Ahsoka pleaded
"I'm sorry Ahsoka, but what Master Shaak Ti says is quite truthful" Plo replied
"But I went with his plan because I trust him and he trusts me! If anyone deserves to graduate its Tom!" Ahsoka said and continued
"Look, I'll admit what did was risky but he could still make a great Jedi! He's smart, has great leadership skills, a good pilot and a great light saber swordsman!"
"Ahsoka that's enough!" Plo interrupted.
"No! If Tom doesn't become a padawan, than I won't either! None of you understand how...!" Tom stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder.
"Please Ahsoka. Please stop protecting me"
As Tom stopped Ahsoka's arguing, the room felt silent for awhile.
Then, Ahsoka finally spoke to him. "But Tom... Don't you want to become a Knight? To pass? To bring peace to the galaxy? Wasn't that what you promised Qui Gon?" said Ahsoka.
"How could I forget Ahsoka?" Tom thought to himself as he remembers that day.
(Flashback) Qui Gon and Obi Wan were returning from another mission and was headed to the Jedi Temple until...
"Master Qui Gon! Master Qui Gon! Master Qui Gon!" said a young boy cried (This is Tom 10 years ago, so he's basically three yrs old in this flashback)
"Ah! Tom!" said Qui Gon bending down and opened his arms, receiving a hug from the little boy.
"Hey Master, you promised that we can play when you returned, can we?"
"I'm sorry Tom but me and Obi Wan need to report back to the council about our assignment and get another one"
"Awwwww! But you promised!"
"Being a Jedi Master isn't what its cracked up to be Tom. It comes with great responsibility, I told you remember?"
"Meanie!" Tom pouted, as he crossed his arms and Qui Gon chuckled.
"Master, if its alright, I can file the report and give you the details on our next mission while you hang out with Tom" said Obi Wan, as Tom's face started to lit up.
"That's quite generous of you Obi Wan, what are you up to?" said Qui Gon, looking up at his padawan, while Obi Wan bends down next to his ear and whispered:
"He's going to keep following us and asks us "Are you done yet?" over and over again. And he'll probably sneak on the ship we'll be using for the next mission we'll be going on like the last couple of times he has"
"Hmm, good point"
"Thank you Obi Wan!"
"Alright, you two have fun!" said Obi Wan, walking towards the temple.
After hours of playing with the little boy, Qui Gon then relax's on his back, looking at the clouds and looking quite puzzled.
"Master?"
"Hm?"
"You look like your confused with somethin'"
"Well I can tell you this for certain. Something has crossed my mind"
"What is it?"
"The things I have seen across the galaxy and one thing is certain...,hate, anger and fear"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Tom asked.
"I've once told myself "Once you have been hurt, you learn what it means to hate. If you hurt another, you become hated, also you will feel guilt in the end. But it is because one understands pain that generosity toward others become second nature. Then you start to mature because you experience pain... I'm sorry Tom not making sense, am I?"
"Hmm, well ummm... I think get what your saying. I think there is a shorter answer for that too"
"Oh! And what would that be?" asked Qui Gon.
"Well, this is just a guess but I think the answer... is peace! No one really knows what exactly peace is and when people try to find it, in the end there is all this hate and anger and fear, like its some kinda curse!"
"Hmm, I see! A curse you say?"
"Yeah! But don't you worry Master, because once I become a Knight, I will break the curse one day and if there is such a thing as peace, I'll find it! Also, I think finding peace has somethin' to do with believing and having faith in yourself!"
"You think huh? Hahahahahah!" Qui Gon said as he laughed.
"What's so funny? Was my guess really that bad?" asked Tom. Qui Gon stopped laughing and patted him on the head.
"I think your guess is probably the best response I've heard from anyone else yet"
"Really?!"
"Yes, in fact, until you find peace, you will be known as... The Hero with No Fear"
"You got it Master! Its a promise! Also, I think the title "Hero with No Fear" has a nice ring to it, don'tcha ya think?"
Qui Gon went back to laughing. "Your a funny little one"
"Am I?" said Tom as he grins.
"Master!" said Obi Wan, running toward the two.
"Ah! Obi Wan, did you get our next assignment?"
"Yes, the Trade Federation has a blockade around Naboo and were suppose to go their as ambassadors so we could talk them out into freeing Naboo. If not, we need to somehow get to Naboo and rescue Queen Amidala and get her back to Courscant"
"I see, a rescue mission"
"Yes, also Tom, Master Yoda said the younglings have gathered for a youngling assignment"
"Okay! See you guys later. Hey Obi Wan, I think your growing a beard over there" said Tom, pointing at his chin and upper lip.
"Oh! I guess I am" said Obi Wan as he chuckled. "Well good luck you two!" "You too Tom!"
Right after returning from the youngling assignment with the other younglings, Tom started asking people in the temple if they saw Qui Gon but has been told that he was here the other day but had to return to Naboo with Queen Amidala to fight the Trade Federation and its blockade to free her people. After waiting for sometime, Tom spots a ship that looks like it came from Naboo and saw where it land.
"Maybe Qui Gon is on that ship" the boy thought as he ran where the ship landed.
When he arrived at the landing bay and saw the people get off the ship, he then spots Obi Wan and walking beside him is a boy with blonde hair whose a bit older than Tom.
"Hey Obi Wan, where's Qui Gon?" he asked.
Obi Wan's face saddened, ignoring his question and said: "C'mon Anakin"
"Okay" Anakin responded.
Later that night, he saw a bright light at one of the buildings near the temple. As he got to the building, inside was Obi Wan, the boy which Obi Wan brought back with him and a large group jedi and people who look like they came from Naboo. All of them had depression and sadness in their eyes. In the middle of the room was Qui Gon's dead body being cremated. No one notice him except a few Jedi Masters.
A few days during the day, Tom was visiting Qui Gon grave in the Jedi cemetery.
Tom said this while sobbing "Old Man Jinn... I... I don't know what "sob" to do any "sob" more" said Tom, trying to hold back tears and giving a thumbs up. "But I do know "sob" know this! I know my true goal in life is. I want... I want to become a Knight so powerful that everyone can depend on me and find peace in this war torn galaxy of ours so everyone, even the Sith, will live happy and free from hate, anger and fear. Even from pain itself! I will become... I will become... both you and the Jedi's very own Hero with no Fear because that promise, that title, that dream! I... will never go back on my word and I'll never ever go back on my word! That's my... our way of the Jedi!"
Ever since then, Tom struggled so he could become the Knight that Qui Gon visioned, just like he promised him. Taking unnecessary shortcuts to become stronger, going through the name callings, taunts, threats, isolation, the pain, so he could become "The Hero with No Fear" and break the curse and bring peace to the is the promise of a life time!
(Back to our story) "Ahsoka, I thank you for supporting me in every way during our time together, training together. But I will not let you suffer for my mistakes!" Tom said
"But Tom...!" Ahsoka said.
Tom then grinned and chuckled. "Hmm, I wonder what Qui Gon would do in the very situation your in" Tom repeating what Ahsoka said to him before the exam.
"Besides, I can always try next year! I'll be out before you know it!" Tom said as he gave her a thumbs up and grinned, however Shaak Ti eyes deepened with regret and Plo started to lower his voice as he said:
"That won't be necessary Asakura" Plo said
"Huh? Why not?" He asked
Plo then turned to Shaak Ti as she said this: "Because... Asakura... you will never pass from the youngling exam. Therefore, you are forbidden to become a padawan. And never to leave Courscant or the Jedi Temple! Ever again!"