A/N: Sorry for this chapter coming out a tad later. I had lots of things to work on before I could make time to seat myself to write this story. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

26 BBY

14 years. After the arrival of Jao Ren Paul, a 14 year old that had recently passed his "Gathering Trial" had sent a small ripple throughout the order. He had possibly one of the hardest trials that had been seen in awhile and it disturbed the Jedi Order.

A Zabrak Jedi Knight was currently shooting upwards towards the Jedi High Council Chambers to discuss the matter at hand and since he was to become his potential Master, Kor Rezla was summoned as well. He straightened himself out by dusting any dust off and making sure he looked proper so he wouldn't make a bad impression. He had only heard what was to be discussed, which was Jao's future but not the actual topic at hand.

"The way the Grandmaster phrased it… He was hiding how he truly felt. I don't know how he felt but whatever Young Jao saw in Ilum, it must've had a profound effect."

The elevator would come to a slow halt as the elevator dinged to let him know he had arrived. This snapped him out of his thoughts as the doors slid open and a short narrow hallway led to the Council Chambers.

"All 12 council members are here… Kriff. Something must be REALLY wrong then…"

Indeed. Much to his somewhat disturbance, all 12 of the Masters on the Council were currently seated: Yoda, Mace Windu, Plo Koon, Depa Billaba, Eeth Koth, Coleman Trebor, Adi Gallia, Oppo Rancisis, Even Piell, Shaak Ti, Saesee Tiin and Ki-Adi-Mundi. Seeing all 12 masters to an untrained eye would seem normal to newer Jedis but to a veteran member like himself, it was VERY rare. Least to say, the air in the room was palpable and tense.

Kor Rezla made his way solemnly as he centered himself among them and allowed his mind to become calm.

"Masters." bowing to them, "I take the fact that all 12 of you are here means that today's conversation is rather important for all 12 of you to be physically present." he started.

"Indeed, it is. Knight Rezla." Yoda replied.

"We have learned a very pressing issue from Grand Master Yoda about Jao's The Gathering Trial." Windu started, "We have discussed it with one another but we wanted you, the knight who'll potentially train young Jao, to be present."

Rezla picked that up immediately.

"Potentially? What does he mean 'potentially'?"

"Sensed in you, I did. Not mistaken, are you Knight Rezla." Yoda seemingly replied to his internal question.

Ki-Adi-Mundi decided to add, "We were all very disturbed when we learned about Jao's Trial from Grandmaster Yoda."

"Some of us, less so." intervened Coleman Trebor.

Kor Rezla, if he wasn't a jedi, could almost swear he saw a dirty look be shot towards Master Trebor by Master Koth. Coleman Trebor was always the more lenient of them.

"If you don't mind me asking, Masters. What did youngling Jao say of his trial?"

The Masters exchanged looks and several different emotions through the force: fear, uncertainty and hesitation lingered among them.

"Gone he was, for a rotation. Came out physically normally, he did…" Yoda had a moment of quick and sudden hesitation before continuing, "Mentally… through the force, he was different. Calmer in the force, a lingering darkness remained."

That was weird. Usually after a youngling completes the Gathering, they are seen as a beacon of light but the fact that Jao had lingering darkness, well, it made sense why they wanted to see him.

"We fear that with the crystal the force has chosen him and the trial, we fear his chances of falling to the dark side are very realistic." Depa added.

Somewhat agitated at the vagueness, Master Koth stated matter-of-factly, "Youngling Jao was chosen to have a purple kyber crystal." interlacing his fingers together as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs, "He also fell to the dark side."

Kor Rezla could feel the master's anxiousness over that certain phase.

"He also fell to the dark side." He simply echoed in his mind.

Kor Rezla was profoundly shaken by that revelation. If youngling Jao had fallen to the dark side, then he would be considered a threat by the Jedi Order. Kor Rezla intervened as Master Even Piell was about to speak, "Wait. He still overcame his trial, right?"

Master Piell sighed as he nodded with a resigned look, he answered, "He did but the Masters are concerned since Master Yoda's insight showed it was still lingering."

"We have proposed over the force to send Jao back to his parents." Shaak Ti added in.

Kor Rezla looked dumbfounded at the answer. He almost wanted to believe that they were joking with him but Kor Rezla knew best: the Masters would never joke about something like this.

"Which I and Master Trebor voiced our combined disapproval with," Master Adi Gallia spoke. He always liked Adi's intuition of things because for the most part, her voice was valued somewhat more in the Council.

"If we let, no, make youngling Jao go back home, it'll only push him further to the dark side. He must be trained." Coleman backed, "You have all seen and felt how Jao feels now. He's more determined than ever to succeed."

Eeth Koth interjected, "That's the more reason to send him back. His emotions are unstable and he was given the hardest path."

By this point, Saesee Tiin hadn't spoken yet. He was always careful with his words and when he did speak, they carried A LOT of weight.

"Is that not more reason to train young Jao? Master Koth." Saesee's husky voice echoed.

Looking over at Windu and gesturing towards him, "Master Windu was also a brash young child as Yoda had told us in the past. He was given the same path as Jao Ren Paul and yet," his gesture becoming more prominent, "He now sits on this council as a respected Master." crossing his arms now, "Has your fear of failure blinded all of you?"

"Exactly what I was thinking, Master Tiin." Coleman Trebor agreed.

"As do I, Master Tiin." Plo Koon injected.

The master's soon fell quiet as they were convening with themselves and the force. From what Kor Rezla could feel, some who were originally hesitant, agreed. Few were still steadfast in their belief. Kor Rezla decided to voice his opinion as the silence had settled among all of them.

"When Jao lost his hand, we were all skeptical about his ability to be trained since he'd only have about half of his total force strength. Yet, despite this seemingly disadvantage he has, the force still ordains him to be given the hardest challenge yet: Complete mastery like Master Windu."

Kor Rezla had everyone's attention.

"If we are to deny Jao, from me, training him to reach his full potential…" steadfast and more resolute in his conviction, "...Then would we not be working against the will of the force?"

Those words rang prophetically among the Jedi Masters as there was a definite shift in the force when he finished that sentence. Resignation, realization and agreeance were the only 3 emotions that permeated around the masters. The silence filled the air once more as they convened through the force with each other before after a couple of long minutes, Yoda spoke once more.

"Agree with you, we do… Blinded by fear, indeed we all were. Actual evidence," pointing to Mace Windu, "of someone walking between light and dark, we do. If you agree, state I. To let Jao Ren Paul continue his trials, we will."

"I." Coleman Trebor swiftly agreed.

"I." Adi Gallia and Shaaki Ti said.

"I…" The Iktotchi Jedi Master steadily agreed.

The answers were 4-8 now as the other's seemingly communed in the force as they hadn't made up their minds.

Eeth Koth sighed to himself, "I…"

5-7

"I." Depa Billaba replied.

6-6

Mace Windu shifted in his seat, "...I"

7-5

Plo Koon, who had been mostly quiet this entire talk, spoke, "We'd be foolish to not follow what the force shows us… I, 100%"

8-4

A few hot minutes passed before the Grandmaster spoke again, "The vote then is 9 masters being Myself, Master Windu, Master Koth, Master Ti, Master Tiin, Master Koon, Master Gallia, Master Trebor and Billaba in agreement, we are." Looking at the other 3, "With Masters Rancisis, Piell and Mundi oppose this, they do."

"Makes the vote 9 to 3… it does… train Jao Ren Paul, Knight Kor Rezla shall."

9 to 3, just like Grandmaster Yoda had said. Kor Rezla felt relief enter him quickly as what he was looking to persuade, was persuaded. Although his relief was cut short when Yoda interjected, "Another thing, on your mind, no?"

Kor Rezla did indeed have another request but he knew for sure that it wouldn't be accepted so for now he'd answer, "No. That is all for today, Masters. I appreciate you giving Jao another chance despite all that has happened."

"Anticipated, we are. To see how young Jao grows up. High expectations of you, there is now, Knight Rezla. Training again, you are. Failure, it will not. Succeed, you must."

Bowing towards the Masters, he'd reply, "Thank you, Masters. I appreciate you giving Jao the chance to prove himself."

"You are dismissed now, Knight Rezla." Mace Windu added as Knight Kor Rezla made his way back towards the elevator.

A/N: I really can't find myself not adding more. I found that this chapter was a necessary must. It's been established that the Master's know of Jao's vision and despite their worries, Kor Rezla was able to convince them. Although it wasn't a perfect vote as Ki-Adi-Mundi, Oppo Rancisis and Even Piell did not vote in favor.

Like always, I hope you enjoyed the chapter still and always if you did, remember to like and follow! Have a great week today everyone!