•

  XZARA STARED QUIZICALLY AT Obi-Wan. "What do you mean am I ready? What did you find?" She watched him share a look with Anakin, before sighing deeply and turning back to Xzara.

"Xzara...your family," He took a deep breath. "They were the first Jedi."

A shocked silence fell over the room. Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka watched Xzara in anticipation, waiting for what her reaction might be. Xzara had shifted her gaze to her hands placed neatly in her lap. She was absolutely frozen, not one thought within her brain. "Huh?" She spluttered out, her face turning red from her rude remark.

Obi-Wan wasn't offended in the slightest, on the contrary — he was ecstatic. Within the palace lay the secrets and history of the Jedi Order. "Though Ardmore wasn't you're family name, the crest is the same and the book is written in English because Aquilin didn't exist yet!" He took Xzara's hand. "Don't you see how amazing this is?"

Xzara stared into his blue eyes, finally her words coming to her. "If...if our ancestors created the basis of the Jedi Order, then why are we here and not on at the Jedi temple? And why is our entire royal lineage been recorded to hold no powers of the force?" She stood up, removing her hand softly from his. "It just makes no sense, Obi-Wan."

He stood up along with her, rushing to her side. "It's written in these pages, Xzara. I tell the truth," Once again, those blue eyes pulled Xzara in. "That is why you can use the force. You are part of a long line of great Jedi Masters."

Ahsoka stepped forward. "Does this mean you'll train her?"

"Train me?" Xzara whipped her head to face the young girl. "Why in God's name would you need to train me for?"

"Yes, Ashoka, why?" Obi-Wan leered.

Anakin spoke up this time. "Think about it. We're here to protect her from a threat of war. If she knew how to use the force to her advantage, we wouldn't need to be here."

Suddenly, Xzara quite liked the idea of training to use the force. She took a quick glance towards Obi-Wan, who clearly didn't share the same thought. As his blue eyes met Xzara's, he sighed. "We can think about it, but I'll have to meet with your father first."

Xzara's heart, stomach and smile dropped. As soon as Obi-Wan talked to her father, any hopes of training would be shattered. "You don't have to. I am my own person, aren't I, Obi-Wan?"

"Y-Yes!" Obi-Wan coughed, spluttering. His face turned a light shade of pink. "Of course you are, Xzara but-"

"Then why concern my father? Or any of my family for that matter?" She crossed her arms smugly. By the look on Obi-Wan's face, she knew she got him.

His head dropped. "If you are sure, we can begin training tomorrow morning."

Xzara smiled widely, a new feeling of giddy flowing through her. "Thank you, Obi-Wan! Thank you!" She pulled him flush against her into a large huge.

"Don't forget about us!" Anakin shouted, him and Ahsoka now joining what has now turned into a group hug.

•

So the training began. Xzara would meet with Obi-Wan in the forests while Ahsoka and Anakin covered for them at the palace. "This is perfect!" Xzara mused as she stared up at the heavy canopy of leaves above. "Secluded, quiet. No one will suspect a thing," Obi-Wan watched her with a soft smile. "Let's hope Anakin and Ahsoka can trick my brothers."

"I have the utmost faith that they will have no trouble," Obi-Wan chuckled quietly to himself. He knew how much trouble the two could get into on their own. He turned back to Xzara. "Shall we get started?"

Xzara nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, please. I am ready to use the force."

Obi-Wan instructed her to sit down, legs crossed and back straight. To Xzara, this felt just like the posture training she received when she was young. "Close your eyes," Obi-Wan spoke softly. "Listen to the world around you."

Xzara did just that. It was something she would do often, listening to the world outside the palace walls. The wind blew harshly in her ears, her hair blowing softly. The birds chirped happily, the rivers bubbled excitedly and the Fathiers ran in herds, their hooves hitting the hard ground. "What do you hear?" Obi-Wan asked.

"I hear...everything," Xzara took a deep breath. "But they're all separate, no one clashing with the other. They all work together in harmony." She slowly opened her eyes, looking directly into Obi-Wan's.

He smiled kindly at her. "Good," He nodded. "That is the force. It surrounds us, guides us," Obi-Wan paused for a moment, watched Xzara watch him, how completely at his beck and call she was. "Now, close your eyes again. I want you to drown out all that you just heard and just focus on you — you're breathing, you're heartbeat. Just you."

Xzara nodded. "Alright," She shut her eyes once again, this time, ignoring the sounds of the forest around her, even Obi-Wan's unusually loud breathing. She listened to her fast-beating heart and her breathing.

Her mind was completely blank and she could feel the force that surrounded her. Slowly, a white figure formed in her mind, contrasting with the black. Now, Xzara focused on this. It was angel like, holy. It had an aura around it that drew Xzara in, a weirdly familiar one.

The figure moved closer, face coming into view, and Xzara's stomach tightened. Somehow, her mother was standing there, smiling just like in her portrait on the family wall. "My dear Xzara, my only daughter," She began, walking closer. "You were destined for greatness from birth. Use this power to show the galaxy who you are, prove you're nay-sayers wrong."

"I will, mother." Xzara didn't feel her mouth move, yet the voice that spoke was hers. When she opened her eyes, she was startled to find herself falling. She grimaced as she hit the dirt. "Ow," She cringed.

Obi-Wan was at her side at once, holding both her hands within his. "Are you alright, Xzara?" He was checking her all over, his face inches from hers, and Xzara felt herself lean in.

"I am now," Their lips met briefly, but the kiss held more emotion than words could ever. Xzara pulled back, shocked at what had overtaken her. She stood up quickly, cheeks flushed. "I'm so sorry! I don't know what came over me!" She ignored Obi-Wan's calls as she ran as fast as she could back to the palace.

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Authors note

I'm really happy with this chapter and I hope you don't think the kiss was too rushed, but I have a plan, don't worry! More and exciting stuff to come!