A/N: I finally got around to writing your request Marvel616React! Hope you enjoy :)

***

The day since he arrived at the Temple, whispers constantly surrounded Anakin Skywalker.

Is he really the Chosen One?
What powers does being the Chosen One bring?
Isn't the 'Chosen One' simply a myth?

Mostly, the other younglings stared at him with a mixture of shock and awe. Anakin befriended many of the younglings and had quickly learned how to differentiate between who really wanted to be his friend, and who didn't.

Now, he'd matured into an adventurous yet hot-headed Padawan apprenticed to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Well, not anymore. In a few days, he was expected to take the Knighting Trials. Being the supposed Chosen One, the pressure on him was doubled. As if several pairs of beady Jedi Masters' eyes watching his every move wasn't enough, other Padawans his age were always looking for a weakness to best him. Obviously, some did not care about playing fair.

***

They didn't think he realized or heard, but he did. When they cheered at his success or sneered at his defeats, Anakin knew it all.

Today was the day he'd find out whether or not he had successfully passed the Knighting Trials. If he did, the best of the Padawans-to-be would compete in a series of exhausting trials to prove their agility and excellence. The one shining above all else was to become his Padawan.

The honors of becoming the Chosen One's Padawan!

Whispers surrounded him, leaving him in the eye of the hurricane, as they always did.

The familiar ding! of the Council Chambers' entrance signal shook Anakin out of his trance. It was now or never.

He walked into the Chamber, assuming each Master would be looking at him, but he was immediately proven wrong. The room was completely dark; not a single wisp of light shining through.

Move to the center, Anakin, Obi-Wan's voice echoed in his head. Sensing Skywalker was going to ask questions, he continued: for once in your life, just do as I say.

Fine.

In the center of the large semi-circle, a single green lightsaber illuminated with a hiss, wrapping the room in neon green light. Soon thereafter, another pair of lightsabers sprang to life — one blue and another green on each side of the first.

"Anakin Skywalker," a stern voice boomed, "passed the Trials, you have," Yoda mused. "With great perseverance, you have demonstrated your strength and unique mindset to conquer all challenges," a voice Anakin recognized as Ki-Adi Mundi's said. "Therefore," the last Master close to him announced with pride, "Anakin, my Apprentice you are no more. My inferior, you are no more." Obi-Wan Kenobi stepped into the limelight. "We are now equals. You are now a fully-fledged Jedi Knight."

Kenobi's sapphire blade spun gracefully in its Master's firm grip. Gently taking Anakin's Padawan braid in his left hand, Obi-Wan examined it carefully — before it fell to the ground, with a swift movement of his lightsaber. "Congratulations, Knight Skywalker."

***

News traveled quickly in the Jedi Temple and soon, the finalized list of names had been pinned on the wall beside the Council Chambers.

Eric Serbith
Kendra McDougall
Tristan Chan
Sarah King
Ahsoka Tano
Kyrena Bardot

The Padawan trials were about to begin. New friendships would be established, and new rivalries would soon become heated.

***

"Master," Anakin observed, calling Obi-Wan over. "skilled as they all are, there's one youngling who fights with a unique style. I've actually never seen someone hold their lightsaber in a reverse grip before."

"I haven't either," the space brit answered pensively as he stroked his beard. "All I know is that it's a variant of Form V."

Although Skywalker had clearly heard Obi-Wan's input, he remained silent, having felt the tremor in Force, and the invitation it begged.

Was he sensing a... connection to one of the younglings?

An uneasy feeling began to settle within him, like early morning frost perching on blade-like shards of grass.

As exhilarated as Anakin was about being a Knight, it also meant countless responsibilities his imagination couldn't even begin to limit.

Mainly, he was afraid. He was afraid of failing as a Jedi, as a teacher, and as a person. He did not want to fail his apprentice like he did his mother.

Don't worry, Anakin. Just teach her everything I taught you, and I'm sure she'll turn out just fine, Obi-Wan's voice reassured him.

Thanks, Master. Pause. But what makes you so sure it's a she?

Kenobi offered only a playful grin in response.

***

The competition was fierce, each competitor doing whatever it took to attract the Chosen One's attention, even if it were for a split second. Whether it be showing off difficult skills, or demonstrating their personality, Anakin paid next to no attention to them. The days bore on, and with each passing twenty-four hours, he found himself losing his will to watch the younglings for hours on end.

"No luck, my friend?"

"No," Anakin answered, voice dripping with sarcasm, "I've already found the perfect Padawan and intend to train with them first thing next morning."

"Oh come on, my old apprentice. Surely you've felt some sort of a connection with one of them?"

Begrudgingly, the young man told the ginger master of the connection he'd felt, but as to who was on the other end, only Force -- or fate -- knew.

"Why not gather them all and do an interview? It's a much more thorough way to see what their personalities are like. After all, skill isn't everything. If they do not know how to be humane, then skills are merely a menace."

***

Eric Serbith turned out to be an adequate candidate: he was well-versed in the history of the Jedi Order and had a decent personality. However, he wasn't playful enough- he was more of a "by the book" apprentice; Anakin had mused that Obi-Wan would've taken a liking to him.

Kendra McDougall's interview was overall an atrocity. She was lacking severely in mannerisms and bragged non-stop about her achievements. Frankly, they weren't even that admirable and Skywalker was relieved to cross her off his list. How she even made the list for top students, he didn't know.

Tristan Chan was quite skilled in lightsaber dueling and his Force usage skills weren't bad either, but his battlefield strategics needed work. Anakin thought it quite unfortunate, as strategics was equally, if not more important than skills.

Frankly, he'd been quite impressed by Sarah King's performance. Her lightsaber skills, intuition, and battlefield strategies were devious and edge-cutting. She was a serious student but possessed a playful, lighthearted attitude. Maybe, just maybe, it was her that he'd sensed the connection to?

To say the least, he was bewildered by Ahsoka Tano. Unlike the others who walked in with a polite smile, she had the widest smirk plastered across her face as she sauntered into the room. She was the one who held her emerald-bladed lightsaber in a reverse grip, employing careful, stealthy acrobatics to her form. Her snarky comments and endless sarcasm appealed to Anakin's wilder, unorthodox style of combat and strategics. Ahsoka's connection to the living and cosmic Force was stronger than any youngling he'd seen, which on its own was impressive. Her battlefield ideologies were straightforward and lacked cunning, but Skywalker thought he could work with that. As he bid the Togruta good day, Anakin had the strangest feeling that she was the apprentice he was looking for.

Kyrena Bardot. What had she been on about? Anakin swore that she acted like the typical popular girl -- but she wasn't even popular. Her bright smile was fake, eyes glittering with poorly disguised malice. Each and every answer she provided was drowning in saccharine sugar, and he saw through the act immediately. Truthfully, he had half a mind to kick the bratty youngling out right then and there. Kriff, even Kendra would be preferred next to her, and that was saying something.

As soon as Kyrena left the room, Anakin locked the door. He had some thinking to do.

***

(yes, I did make a poster for visuals. yw.)

***

"Ahsoka, Sarah," Anakin intoned, "you are here because I have chosen you both as finalists. You have exhibited exceptional abilities, and I want you to use them for the greater good. For your final test..."

His blue saber sprang to life. "I want you to work as a team to duel me. Lightsabers only, no Force usage allowed. You will be allowed two minutes to discuss strategy, and when time is up, the duel will commence after we count to ten."

The girls huddled in a corner far away from their opponent, discussing various scenarios. Anakin watched Sarah speak animatedly, as Ahsoka listened, pitching in her contribution whenever she thought best.

"Five seconds remaining."

"Alright Ahsoka, let's go defeat Master Skywalker."

***

"Well done girls," Anakin panted twenty minutes later. "I have come to a decision, and it was by no means an easy choice. Tomorrow, all the younglings will assemble in the Council Chambers after breakfast at 8:10 and I will announce my choice before the Council. Now, you are both exempt from your lessons today. Get to know each other and relax. You've both done well."

"Thank you so much, Master Skywalker," Ahsoka and Sarah replied in excitement. "See you tomorrow morning."

***

As the last Council Member took their seat on the cushioned chair, the younglings walked into the room, each with a look of apprehension painted on their faces. For those who hadn't made it into the final round, they'd bet on who was most likely to become Skywalker's Padawan. Unsurprisingly, the group had divided into sides.

"Good morning Masters," Anakin began, bowing to the assembled Council before him. "And good morning to you all. You have all done well in the trials, but only two prevailed to the finals. Both will become Padawans, but to two different Masters."

Ahsoka and Sarah shared an excited glance. This was it!

"Now, because Master Kenobi hasn't had enough of training an amazing apprentice like me, congratulations to Sarah King for successfully becoming a Padawan!"

Sarah gaped in astonishment, tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you, Knight Skywalker. It's a pleasure to be apprenticed under you, Master Kenobi."

Obi-Wan smiled. "No problem. For once in my life, I have Anakin to thank for something."

"Hey!"

A few of the less serious Council Members chuckled at their playful banter.

Then Anakin turned to Ahsoka, smiling softly, completely unaware of Kyrena's red face.

"Congratulations, Ahsoka. You fully deserve the honor of becoming a Padawan. I look forward to teaching you."

The young Togruta's eyes shone brightly. "Thank you, Master."

"You're welcome... my Padawan."

From a pocket on the backside of his belt, Anakin produced a pair of chains with coffee-colored beads strung on it. "May I?"

Ahsoka turned gingerly, back facing her new master as she allowed him to clip the beads onto her lekku.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan had personally braided a thin section of Sarah's hair, letting it fall onto her shoulder. "Congratulations, Sarah."

"Thank you, Master."

Just as the new pairs of Masters and Apprentices reveled in their newly-formed bond, an ear-piercing shriek rang out from behind them.

"They don't deserve it!"

All smiles dropped immediately, turning towards the source of the noise.

A red-faced Kyrena glared icily at them, fists tightly clenched at her sides. "I should be the one who should have become a Padawan, not Tano or King!"

Before Anakin could interrupt, Mace Windu's stern voice cut through the air. "And why is that?"

"Because they aren't good enough, Master!" She shrieked. "All Tano knows how to do is to hold her lightsaber the wrong way! I mean- who holds their saber hilt backward? It's so obviously wrong! And- don't even get me started on King!"

"If I may interrupt," Mace interjected. "Padawan Tano's fighting style is more than valid. In fact, she employs a reverse grip using the Shien variant of Form V. The fact that you didn't know that only illustrates your incompetence."

"No! I-"

"There is no need for you to get started on Padawan King, either," Anakin continued. "Her effective use of battlefield strategies and concise dueling style is far above yours, as well."

"Therefore, Kyrena, you will do two final things."

She paled.

"First, you will take a group photo of Padawans Tano and King with their Masters. Second, you will hand over your lightsaber and pack your belongings. Within an hour, you are to leave this Temple on your way home."

"Hmm. Agree, I do," Yoda said thoughtfully. "Tainted your reputation forever, you have, Bardot. Skywalker, have something else to add, do you?"

"Yes, Master." Whirling on Kyrena, Anakin sneered, "if you ever dare to speak to Ahsoka like that again, I will personally make sure you have nothing left to lose. Now, come on Ahsoka. I'll show you to your quarters."

The rest of the high-ranking Jedi left their seats, casting disappointed looks at the disgraced former youngling.

Perhaps I can find other ways to exact revenge... for now, I'll do what they ask of me. You'll be back; soon you'll see.

***

A/N: holy crap that was the longest chapter I've written in a while!! yeah, I have no excuse for not sticking to my update schedule... sorry. I felt very behind on this one-shot series, so yeah.

See y'all soon!
- Jazzy