Chapter 15: Light-Hearted Rocks

In all of Zarya's (admittedly short) experience, the Force had never felt so light as it did now. As Naboo and its citizens celebrated their liberation and newfound friendship with the gungans, there was no sadness, anger or fear to be found.

Oh, Zarya still had a massive headache from the sheer number of people around as well as their overflowing happiness, but she could tolerate it for now.

The fact that she couldn't shield herself very well from the surrounding joy flowing all around her also meant she was kind of in 'happiness high' right now.

Fortunately, it also traveled through her bond with Anakin, so she wasn't alone on that boat. People around them will simply blame their childish, over-the-top excitement on their age and formerly bleak lifestyle anyway. Hopefully.

Her heartbeat in sync with the deafening drums, the blinding smile Anakin had plastered on his young face and her own relief that she managed to change things, even if only a little bit, made so that she wasn't really bothered by any judgemental stares from the more strict of the Jedi Masters they might be getting either way.

And what relief she felt! Things were different, yet still recognizable to her. Palpatine wasn't in power yet (he looked a tiny bit irritated from his place near the queen, a decidedly forced smile stuck on his lips), Naboo was free once more and Qui-Gon was alive! In addition to that, there are also the facts that Obi-Wan wasn't quite yet knighted (the council was ready to make him a knight, but he stubbornly wanted to wait for Qui-Gon to be awake for it), and she and Anakin weren't padawans either. Apparently, they would be put with the other initiates for a while until they could be put under a Master. (She blamed it on the fact that most of the council members weren't quite sure what to do with them.)

Whatever would happen from now on, she was confident it wouldn't go like in the movies. That thought was as terrifying as it was liberating.

Obi-Wan, who had appointed himself as their guardian for now, smiled indulgently at the two of them when they laughed joyfully at the sight of the fireworks or bounced in excitement when cheers rose all around them. Even Padmé, dressed all in white and truly looking like the Queen she is, couldn't help but smile wildly at the sight of them being so carefree for the first time since she's met them.

Things weren't so bad; Zarya still missed Tarrik, Novi and Hostias, Anakin missed Shmi, but they had each other. Now that they were free, they could be children in a way they never could before, focusing on learning all they wanted and healing from their less than ideal beginnings.

Their future was in their hands, and they would shape it the way they wanted to, no matter what will be thrown their way.

Starting with becoming Jedi.

Also; lightsabers! Yesssss!

Telekinesis was pretty cool, too.

(( ))

One night, a few days after the celebrations were finished; they found themselves on the white and red Coruscant ship on the way to said planet. Qui-Gon had finally been put out of the bacta tank and, while still unconscious, he could now safely be transported back to the temple and its healers.

Zarya and Anakin where, for once, left alone in a small room that was furnished with little else than one adult size berth and one locker/side table to store whatever possessions they had. The gray walls seemed to close in on Zarya who was reminded of the small, dark room she was so often locked in, but she ignored her discomfort in favour of focusing on her memories. She had made a promise after all.

When they should have been sleeping, Zarya and Anakin where instead both in her head, looking at the blurry memories that made up her past life. It had been nerve-wracking to finally share all her secrets with him, but holding on to them would've caused more harm than anything else. Anakin had known for a while she was hiding something huge, and keeping it from him longer could have made him think she didn't trust him. Any resentment or disappointment from him would only break her heart in the long run.

Especially since the real reason for her reluctance was her own fears and her desire to protect him. With everything laid before him, she felt a million times lighter now that she wasn't alone with all this knowledge. She showed him faces of long lost family members, places she visited, technology so very different from what he was used to and more.

After he got over the fact that she lived a life before and that she wasn't really seven years old, and insisting she acted like a child anyway—

It's true!

Shut up, shrimp!

What's a shrimp?

By the way he was doing the equivalent of sputtering mentally; he didn't like the comparison when she showed him one from memory.

You're even smaller than me!

She very maturely stuck out her tongue at him.

—which she wholeheartedly denied, she also told him verbally, without too many details, the Star Wars from her past life, how this universe existed in her old one in the form of stories. She only spoke of the main events, the rise of the Sith at the price of the fall of the Jedi, without any hint at who the Sith were. Knowing of Palpatine could raise the man's suspicions should Anakin act weirdly around him, and knowing Vader's identity… She didn't want to make him paranoid of every choice he'll make in the future, and spiral into depression or something along those lines. One day when he is older, he'll know. Just not today.

When she also made it clear that she had no clue what would happen from now on until ten years later, he seemed to decide to put all this in the back of his mind, since he had no desire to stress her more with countless questions or make his every decisions based on his first go at this life where everyone he grows to care about dies.

He still had a lot of questions anyways, and she would happy to answer them when they would come.

For now, their main concern was passing the time in this long trip to the city planet, while avoiding as much as possible the creepy senator of Naboo, the irritated guards (they didn't appreciate pranks), and most of the Jedi, since a couple of them seemed pretty disapproving of the two new initiates.

The two children didn't mind too much, though. Obi-Wan was surprisingly protective of them, they stood by Qui-Gon's bedside most of the time when they weren't hacking the guards' comlinks for fun, and by the time they arrived at destination, they were too distracted and in awe by the sight of the city-wide planet to pay attention to anything else.

(( ))

Have you ever been the new kid at school, only standing out by the fact you didn't grow up with the people here, and therefore everybody looked at you like you are the most interesting thing that ever happened to them?

Zarya hadn't. She grew up sheltered the first time around, she could see that now.

Being stared at everywhere you went was not fun. They were gawked at like exotic animals more than interacted with like actual people.

The very same day they arrived at the temple, she and Anakin had each been given small but personal rooms, furnished with a small bed each— which, by the way, were so comfy, how had she forgotten that such luxuries as an actual mattress existed?—, a kind of wardrobe filled with beige, brown and gray tunics and robes in their approximate sizes (didn't they allow the smallest touch of colour?) a mat on the floor that was probably for meditation, a small window with dark blue curtains and a small, adjoined refresher with a sink, shower and toilet.

Despite being separated with a room each, they ended up most nights both huddling in the same room anyways. This was an unfamiliar place, filled with strangers, unknown culture and everything completely different from what they were used to. If anyone wanted to judge them for searching for some comfort and familiarity in each other, let them. It wouldn't make them stop.

They barely had a day to explore the temple and meet a few people before they were put in a classroom with other initiates for lessons.

Zarya was surprised to find that she didn't mind most of the lessons. Those that touched on history, biology and astrology (basically geography, but instead of territories on one planet, it was in the galaxy they resided on) were fascinating to her, since they were completely new for her. She could also use the knowledge in the future; knowing where to go, the cultures of other sentient species and the dangerous or useful flora and fauna in different planets could only be a good thing.

When it came to math and languages, those were more complicated.

For the first, she knew math. And surprise, surprise! ...math doesn't change. All that knowledge that she already has makes her incredibly bored in those classes where children her age where only just learning about multiplications at this stage.

As for languages…

Look. She knew basic, that knowledge somehow transferred from the toddler Zarya to the now Zarya when she 'woke up' in the toddler's body. She had learned to read and write basic when Novi discovered she was horrible at it (she was only five years old at the time, yet he was still horrified at that fact). She even knew quite a lot of words in huttesse, courtesy of Anakin, but that was it. The rest were two and a half languages from her previous life, which were useless here.

And she was very intimidated by the sheer number of languages that exist here. There were quite a lot of them back on earth, but boy was that nothing compared to this universe.

Still, she could learn. Maybe. With the right motivation.

The rest, obviously, was much more interesting. Learning how to wield a sword, learning about the Force and how to use it, it was all so new and fantastic to her, and her attention was grabbed from the very start. So was Anakin's, for that matter, although…

I am so bored!

He was having a little bit of difficulty with meditation. What a surprise, no one saw that one coming.

Zarya found that she quite liked meditation, it was relaxing to her and she found that the more she did it, the more she could focus on one line of thought while doing it instead of letting her mind wander wherever like it usually did.

Also, she was more used to sitting still for long periods of time than he was.

Talking telepathically to me isn't how you'll get better at meditating, Ani.

But nothing else works! See, I'm sitting still now! If I don't do something I only fall asleep!

You will get hit in the shin by master Yoda's cane if you fall asleep. Again.

Maybe he won't notice this time? He seems distracted by that other kid at the far left of the room.

I wouldn't count on it if I were you. Now try and concentrate, will you?

Zarya had to force down a laugh when she audibly heard Anakin sigh through his nose.

They were currently doing meditation at the Room of a Thousand Fountains, which had quickly become her favourite place at the temple, if not in Coruscant. Admittedly, she hadn't had the chance to explore much of the planet yet, so who knew.

Situated at the base of the temple, it's like they were able to bring nature inside the building, and marry it with technology she's never seen before. Plants, from trees, shrubs to flowers were everywhere. The fountains ranged from artificial looking ones amidst all the flora or realistic waterfalls flowing from unknown places down into ponds and small rivers across the room. There was actual dirt for the ground, as well as grass patches, stone walkways and wooden bridges to go over the water beds.

There was even a fake sky! She didn't know what kind of technology made it possible, but it all made for a breathtaking place that she loved going to whenever possible. Anakin had to drag her away from it almost as often as she had to drag him away from the temple's hangar, where many different ships were just waiting to be flown or tinkered on (or so Anakin says).

Anyway, she, Anakin and about half a dozen other children were all sitting on a patch of grass near one of the smallest waterfalls, legs crossed, hands on their knees and back straight, meditating (or trying to) while listening to the trickle of water right next to them. Zarya was very tempted to jump in the pond they were sitting next to, since she hasn't seen this much flowing water in a while.

Anakin was still amazed at the amount of the stuff in one single place. It's been a bit more than two weeks since they arrived on Coruscant, but she still had to convince him that it was okay to use water as casually as everyone here was. They weren't in a desert anymore.

She did understand his lingering worry though, since they didn't have an actual body of water that they could see to reassure themselves that they wouldn't run out of it if they weren't cautious enough. Being in a planet wide city, it wasn't like there were oceans to be seen.

But Obi-Wan reassured them that there were more than enough rivers all over the planet, as well as underground sources to provide water to everyone on the planet. She didn't see any river herself, but since it did rain only a few days ago, she was willing to believe him. There couldn't have been precipitation without condensation after all.

Entertain me, I'm bored.

And there he was again, distracting her from her task at hand. While she was fine sitting still for a good amount of time, she hadn't reached the point of peace of mind that master Yoda was just telling them about.

…Anakin...

Please?

No! I'm trying to concentrate, and you are not helping!

But Zaryaaaaaaa!

Yep, definitely not at peace.

The hit she just received at her foot with a stick wasn't helping matters.

Hissing in surprise more than pain, she opened her eyes just in time to see Anakin be jolted back to reality by a similar hit to his knee, graciously given by the tiniest master himself. She wanted to laugh at the surprised noise Anakin made, but by the expression on Yoda's face, now wasn't the time.

"Unfocused, you two are. Communicating in your minds, meditation is not. Start again." Said master hit the ground with his cane once decidedly, as if to emphasise his point.

How does he know?

"Yes, master Yoda."

Anakin repeated her acquiescence with a small voice, a slight trickle of fear slipping through their bond. Quickly realising he wasn't going to offer Yoda anything more; she decided to do it herself.

"Master Yoda?" When he turned to her, she continued while making sure to look between his eyes instead of directly in them. "It's hard for us to concentrate without focusing on something or moving at all, is there any way you could help us?"

From the corner of her eyes, she could see Anakin looking at her in surprise, but she didn't divert her gaze from Yoda's face.

"Not at ease, your minds are mmh? Focus on one thing, and one thing only, you should. Analyse your feelings, to find the source of your unease, maybe? If not, your own breathing, the sound of water, the Force, around you, can help concentrate." Anakin couldn't help but make a face at that. All of this sounded incredibly boring to him, she was sure. Yoda saw it too. "No?" He gave a small laugh when the young boy looked at the floor in embarrassment. "Like many things, practice, this takes, to become good at it. For today, another way to focus, I can give you. Concentrate on these rocks and these rocks only."

He pointed at a small pile of rocks sitting next to the pond, partially hidden by large leaves of a plant next to it. Anakin looked sceptical.

"We… have to focus on the rocks? Didn't you say we had to have our eyes closed before?"

"Lift them, you will. Eyes closed, mind open. Picture it, than do it."

With that, he moved on to another one of the kids, having said his part. She watched him go, noting the relief in Anakin at the master's absence.

They would really have to work on that. Figures of authority, more importantly masters, weren't masters like Anakin was used to.

Thank you for that.

Zarya glanced back towards the boy at his thanks, but his eyes were already closed once more.

She smiled, closing her eyes too, listening to the calming sound of the fountains.

Anytime.

She heard one of the rocks he was focusing on twitch minutely, rustling the leaves over it.

(( ))

"No, it's true! I was the first to do it, everyone saw!"

"Oh, come on, we did it barely a minute apart. Plus, you started before me, so of course you did it first!"

"No I didn't, don't make excuses! You just don't wanna admit I'm better than you!"

"Children, no need to fight over this. Especially when I'm literally in the middle of this argument."

"I don't know master, maybe it's better like this. At least they won't get physical like they often do if you're between them."

Qui-Gon threw a glare at Obi-Wan, who clearly saw the playfulness behind it by the way he was smiling back at him.

They were currently in Qui-Gon's recovery room, Zarya and Anakin sitting on each side of him and Obi-Wan sitting at the foot of the bed. The Jedi Master was still bed-ridden and regularly checked on by the healers, but he's been conscious for a little while now. His future was still uncertain, his recovery up to him and time, but he was alive and frankly, that's all that mattered for now.

"Mister Qui-Gon, help me! Zarya won't admit I'm better and Obi-Wan only said something about 'being careful not to be too boatful', or whatever."

The padawan rolled his eyes, a smile still playing on his lips. "Boastful, Anakin."

"Exactly what I said!"

Zarya giggled with a hand over her eyes in amused exasperation. Yesterday, the both of them were finally successful in using the force to levitate a ball they use to practice on. They were light and soft, so they were easy to manipulate and forgiving if they fell on someone's head for whatever reason. (*ahem* someone throwing them *ahem*)

Of course, Anakin had to be the first to make it float, and she was right behind him, having admittedly cheated a bit with the aid of their link. He shared with her what he did and how it felt to use the force, and she copied it as best as she could.

Turns out, she was more precise than him, her ball being more stable than his while floating in the air, but it came much easier to him, being able to make it move faster, farther and longer than her.

She wasn't surprised, him being the chose one and all, nor was she actually upset about it.

"You could say that, in a way, I did it before you. I'm almost two years younger than you, so I was better at it sooner than you, no?"

That didn't mean that she was going to let him win.

He glared at her playfully.

Nor did it mean that she was going to give up the fact that no, there wasn't two ultra-talented, probably chosen ones, but only one to the two Jedi who linked them to the prophecy.

If words got out, which will most likely be the case with Qui-Gon awake, she was going to protect Anakin anyway she could, and if it was sharing the burden, then so be it.

Qui-Gon caught both children's attention by waving his hand dismissively in the air.

"Everyone learns and grows at their own pace. It isn't a race or a competition. Do your best and aim to improve every day, you will see how far you've come compared to yourself yesterday, not compared to others around you."

"Fiiiiine." Anakin pouted while throwing his head back on the headrest of his chair. "I guess, but I'm just saying, if it was a race, I would've won it."

"Sure. In one way." Obi-Wan smirked.

Zarya laughed at the betrayed look Anakin sent him.

"All joking aside," Qui-Gon cut in, "you both seem to be doing well if you're already able to use the Force. Has there been any news about putting you under a master? I was hoping to take you both as my padawans before, but now…"

Anakin shifted uncomfortably on his seat while Zarya shrugged, unaware of any development. Obi-Wan seemed to; by the way he looked at the ceiling, as if searching for answers. Or patience.

"The council is hesitating, master. There has never been a case like those two in their lifetime, and they are debating if they should make changes accordingly, or assimilate them both like any other initiates and padawans."

"Always stuck to the Code instead of listening to the Force. I can't say I'm surprised. Perhaps disappointed." The older man seemed to mutter to himself more than addressing his visitors.

"There is still time. They are young and still catching up to the other initiates their age. Maybe they will see it your way, given time. You only need to see those two to know that they are meant to stay by each other's side."

"Maybe." Qui-Gon sighed. "We can only hope."

The two children shared a glance, both feeling the other's worry.

A lot more was riding on hope than Zarya was comfortable with these days. What's one more?

(

I'm in this weird place in the story where I'm not sure what happens next, and we're transitioning from one storyline to another.

Freeing Anakin and Zarya? Check.

Becoming Jedi? …How?

Welp, I shall do my best, and we'll see where it goes!

Thank you to karol552, angelacorus, That's Balderdash, Minna Kivel, OldWorldVulture, .gamer, Aryabloodlust, Val and Reader for the reviews!

For those who gave ideas for Master candidates… I think you gave me a great idea of what I want to do, so thank you again!

Until Next Time!

-Maginary

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