50A/N: This is just a test drive to see how I do on a crossover. If you would like me to continue this, let me know!
"The Force flows through you. It's energy— moving through us and surrounding every living creature. Your mind is straying, young Kaina."
The four-year old girl blinked and shook her head to free herself of her mind wanderings.
"Forgive me, master. I was lost in my thoughts.', she replied honestly, knowing her teacher could sense her thoughts anyway.
"Your thoughts often stray away. Why is that?"
"I do not know, master."
"Hmm. We will have to fix that. Meditation is used to clear one's mind, not clutter it."
Kaina eyed the green-skinned being and gave a sheepish grin as his coal black eyes met her brown ones.
"I will try harder."
Kit Fisto chuckled in mild exasperation. He had somehow been roped into helping Yoda teach classes at the Jedi Temple, and he was requested to help the young human with a few things she had been having trouble with.
"One more time, young one. Let the Force control your thoughts and actions. It will guide you, but you must also let it."
Kaina took a deep breath before closing her eyes and allowing the Force to take over. She could sense the comforting presence of her teacher as she slowly felt around with what one could only call her 'soul'.
The Force submerged her, helping her consciousness brush against the different blurs of color in her mind that represented the different people in the surrounding areas.
"Good. The Force will train you in its ways only if you will calm yourself enough to listen. Remember that, even if you do not recall anything from this lesson after tomorrow. You may go."
Kit Fisto watched in amusement as his small student skipped off to play with the other younglings, brown hair bouncing behind her. She was quicker than most to learn the ways of the Force, and her midichlorian count was unusually high for a human. Not the highest that had been seen, but certainly far above the lowest.
"Strange you think, hmm? Stronger than most young Kaina is?"
Kit turned to see Yoda hobbling towards him.
"She shows great potential, though I often catch her daydreaming. I still wonder at how I ended up teaching classes." He raised an eyebrow at Yoda.
"Needed a rest from traveling, you did. Heavy was war on your mind."
The Nautolon rubbed his forehead. The Clone Wars had taken a toll on all the Jedi.
They watched as the little ones weaved through the room in an intricate version of tag.
"Master Yoda, something draws me to the youngling. I sense something in her..."
"Strong is your bond. One of master and padawan, it is.
Kit Fisto was rather startled by that observation.
"She is too young to become a padawan, Master Yoda."
"Yes. But old enough to start training. Special she is. Council will decide when she is ready for initiate trails."
"Are you saying that there is a chance she will graduate from the youngling classes early?"
"Skill of the student is what makes Padawan. Not age.', the small green figure kindly reminded Kit Fisto.
Four years later...
"Calm yourself, Kaina. The Council has not made the decision yet."
She wrinkled her nose at Obi-Wan, a Jedi she had met through her first instructor, Kit Fisto, several years ago. He had just returned from rescuing the Chancellor from Grevious and was supposed to be resting, yet he had taken it upon himself to help settle Kaina's emotions.
"Forgive me, master."
He laughed softly and helped her to her feet.
"You should meditate for a few minutes to calm yourself.', Obi-Wan suggested gently.
"It's hard not to be nervous.', Kaina sighed. "I wish Master Kit was here for this. I haven't seen him for three years since he received that mission on Mon Calamari."
They were awaiting the verdict of the Council on the matter of Kaina's training. It was not often that one so young was even considered to become a padawan, but the Council was seriously contemplating it.
"Master Yoda is summoning us."
Kaina shook herself out of her reverie.
"I'm sorry, Master Kenobi. You should be resting like the healers told you to."
"If I did everything the healers told me to do I would never make it out of the Temple.', he muttered under his breath. Kaina giggled, happily distracted from her jitters until they arrived at the Council Room. She gripped Obi-wan's hand tighter as he gently nudged her into the room. Anakin Skywalker, Obi-wan's old apprentice, was standing to the side of the round room, his shoulders taut.
Curious, she gently probed Anakin's mind, finding the root of his frustration before sending him an encouraging smile.
They will be persuaded, but you must prove yourself worthy, Master Skywalker.
He looked startled as her message reached him, but relaxed once he realized she had not spoken out loud.
The Council room was made up of a glass dome that sat at the top of the building. The Jedi Temple was located in the heart of Coruscant, which allowed them to see the most bustling part of the planet. But for all the chaos going on outside, the room inside had a calming aura to it. It was stern, wise, and kind all at once, these emotions put into place by the members of the Council who fairly exuded them.
"Welcome, youngling."
Yoda's gravelly voice made her jump, which in turn made those seated chuckle.
She bowed in respect toward the small creature but said nothing.
"Unsure you are. Sense this we do."
Murmurs of agreement filled the room and Kaina blushed deeply.
"Decided we have, concerning your training. Initiate trials, you must take."
"You are young, Kaina. But the Force flows strongly through you. The trials will not be easy, but if you succeed you shall become a padawan."
"Yes, Master Windu. I will do my best."
"Good. Begin with the code."
"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."
Kaina carefully recited the Jedi Code as the Council watched her thoughtfully.
"First test you have passed. Second is to come.', Yoda nodded his approval of her recitation. "Build lightsaber, you must."
She was quickly led to an adjoining room and left there. Kaina blinked in surprise before realizing what was expected of her. Using her mind, she searched out the pieces that were needed to construct a saber. She did not know how she knew what they were, she just felt.
It was as she had always been taught— she let the Force guide her and train her in its ways.
It was no easy task, nor was it done in one day. It took three weeks of meditation and searching of the Force before she was truly able to finish it. The kyber crystal that had been used was a very pale blue, making the blade look like ice when it was finally completed. The hilt was formed to mold comfortably in her grip, making the lightsaber much easier to control.
A satisfied grin spread across her face as she twirled the plasma blade through the air.
"It is well built."
She had sensed the person who had entered the room but the voice still startled her when it spoke.
"Thank you, Master Anakin."
She pushed herself back in her chair as the Jedi Knight inspected her creation.
"The Council asked me to come and find you."
Kaina stood and padded softly behind Anakin to the Council Room. Yoda and Mace Windu both inspected her weapon before placing it back into her hands.
"Complete the weapon is.', Yoda declared to those seated in the circle. "Initiate trials she has completed. Become a padawan, young Kaina will."
She swallowed and glanced around at the Jedi Masters in her company.
"A mentor has already been chosen to train you, young one.', Mace Windu informed her. "An old friend agreed to train you in the ways of the Force."
A presence she had not felt in a long time suddenly made itself known as the Nautolon entered the room.
"Master Kit!', she happily squeaked as she bounded across the room and hugged his legs. A few eyebrows were raised but most of the Council members just shook their heads and smiled at Kaina's childish innocence.
"Ehem."
Kaina released his legs and scurried off to stand in front of Yoda, her eyes wide as she realized the scene she had just caused.
"Agree with decision do you?"
She grinned at the Council before giving a hearty nod.
"Let the Force guide you. It will train you in its ways if you will listen to it."
Kaina tossed in her sleep as an image of the Jedi Temple burning to the ground flitted through her mind.
There is no death, only the Force...
She sat bolt upright in her bunk. Her dreams had been troubled for the past few day after she had become Kit's padawan, and she could not understand the strangeness of them.
Climbing out of her bed, she sat cross legged on the floor and began to meditate in order to calm herself.
Strange blurs of color invaded her mind as she concentrated on the flow of the Force. They danced through her soul, whispering of something she did not even know was possible: immortality.
It confused her but she searched deeper, letting the energy of the Force into the very depths of her being. A lightness took hold of her, and she opened her eyes in another world. Everything was in blues and greens, like the colors she had seen glimpses of moments before.
Kaina watched as something began to take shape from the blue and green splotches around her until it formed the body of a man. He had brown hair and kind brown eyes, which looked down at her as curiously as she looked back. He was clad as a Jedi, but she also felt something different about him. He was... almost other worldly. In fact, she was positive that's what he was.
"I am Qui-Gon Jinn, little one."
Though she recognized the name, the face was unfamiliar to her.
"Master Kenobi said you were dead.', she replied as she tried to figure out why he was an opaque blue.
"And he would be right, had I not found a different path. This is a world between the worlds, so to speak. A spiritual realm, if you will. Another world of the Force."
"Oh. Why am I here?"
"I am not sure, but the Force must flow strongly though your veins if it revealed this path to you at such a young age."
Kaina's face puckered as she tried to sort out this strange predicament.
"Am I dreaming?', she finally voiced.
Qui-Gon smiled.
"No. You are meditating, and your restful state has brought you here. When you stop your meditation you will be back inside your room."
She bit her lip as she gazed around.
"Okay... This is a really strange place though. It feels... like heaven."
A laugh bubbled out of Obi-Wan's old master.
"I suppose it is. When those who have become one with the Force so completely as you an I have, we come here whenever we die or meditate. In a way I have died, but my spirit shall go on living here forever."
Qui-Gon paused for a moment as if he were listening for something.
"Your master is calling for you. It is best that you return to your room."
Kaina bobbed her head in agreement. This place was weird and a little much for her eight-year old mind to handle.
The Day of the First Jedi Purge...
"Your lightsaber is an extension of yourself. Use it like you would an arm or leg, Kaina.', her mentor gently reprimanded as she blocked the bolts that were shot her way by the training remote. The floating ball whirled around her in dizzying circles as she continued to deflect the things it flung at her.
It had now been two months since she had become a padawan and in that time she had learned much more than she had imagined possible. She had grown not only physically, but spiritually and intellectually. It was always exhilarating to feel the energy moving through her body as she tested the new skills she had learned.
The comlink in Kit Fisto's belt suddenly blinked and crackled with static as he was summoned to meet with Yoda on an urgent matter.
"Yes, Master Yoda. I am on my way."
His gaze was troubled and he refused to meet Kaina's eyes.
"Do not leave the temple. I will be back shortly."
He quickly rushed out of the room, leaving his student to look after him confusingly.
Kit Fisto left the Jedi Temple that night, never to return.
Kaina was sitting on her bunk, dangling her legs and trying to not squirm with impatience. A sudden darkness made her catch her breath and shudder. It wrapped itself around her and threatened to suffocate her. Pain ripped through the bond she had with her master before it was suddenly extinguished.
She fell to the floor with a gasp. Something was terribly wrong.
Blindly feeling around the floor, she quickly located her lightsaber and clipped it to her belt before creeping out of the living quarters she shared with her master.
The Temple halls were always cool at night, but tonight she could sense something much colder lurking in the shadows.
She crept towards the Council room, trying vainly to sense her master's presence through their bond.
Kaina paused at the doorway as she suddenly felt the fear of her comrades wash over her. Running to the windows to see what was happening, her stomach lurched and she felt sick at the sight that met her eyes.
Clone troopers were marching on the Temple, their blaster bolts killing everything in their path. Jedi were strewn about the ground as they lay dead in pools of their own blood.
"Hide!', she commanded and the younglings who had taken shelter in the Council room scattered around the room to duck behind the overly large chairs.
The pounding of feet on marble stone echoed through the room. The footsteps were getting closer; they were in the outer corridor. The double doors burst open as a familiar figure strode in, his Jedi robes flowing behind him.
One of her friends gave a cry of relief as he shot out from his hiding place.
"Master Skywalker! They're too many of them! What are we going to do?"
Anakin slowly turned to look at the child. Kaina choked as she caught sight of his eyes; they were red and yellow. Her mind refused to grasp what the Force had been telling her ever since she had first felt the dark presence in her room: the Sith had returned to the galaxy.
A gasp of horror tore through the room as her young friend was cut down where he stood. Pain. There was only pain in the chaos that captured the room shortly thereafter.
Kaina watched as the Jedi, no Sith, killed her friends off one by one. The man they had all trusted was swallowed up in a blinding rage of hate and anger.
"Anakin! Stop!"
She ran out of her hiding place to stand in front of the young girl that had almost gotten cut down.
"Master Anakin! What are you doing?! This is wrong! This is evil!"
"The Jedi are evil!', he roared back.
She flinched at the raw emotion in his voice.
"You're a good person, Master! Why are you doing this? This is what the Sith do! Not the Jedi!"
"I am the Sith."
His voice lowered to a menacing growl that seemed to shake the very earth.
He shoved past her. Why he did not kill her, she did not know. Kaina wept as Anakin held her back in a Force push until the last of her friends had been murdered. He spun to face her.
"Join me, Kaina. Become my padawan. You are powerful, even the Emperor senses it."
She shook her head.
"No! It is wrong!', she refused vehemently.
"Become my apprentice and I will spare your life."
She shook her head again.
"I am already someone's apprentice."
"Your master is dead. The one I serve killed him." He studied her pale face for a moment. "I sense the anger you feel towards the Sith. Use it, Kaina. Harness the power of the Dark Side! If you will not accept the mercy I am offering you, you will die like your friends!"
"Mercy?', Kaina cried. "What mercy is there in such pain and terror?" She motioned to the younglings where they had fallen.
His voice grew colder and his eyes blazed.
"You have chosen the way of death."
He leapt towards her, and she yanked out her saber just in time to block the blow. Her arms tremored under the pressure that was applied to them. Kaina was no match for the newly arisen Sith, and they both knew it.
Within seconds her blade was flipped from her hands, landing across the room, and the energy beam of her opponent was positioned across her throat.
"This is your last chance.', he hissed into her ear. "Join me or perish."
Kaina bravely glared back at him.
"If I perish, I perish. But I die knowing that I did not give in."
Burning pain wrenched through her gut as Anakin impaled her with his blade. She gave a single cry before she faded into the darkness, her cloak falling shapelessly to the ground. The Sith lord moved it cautiously with his foot while a frustrated look twisted his features— Kaina had disappeared.
A/N: Sooooo? What did you think? Should I keep writing it?