[CLOSED] The Education of a Rabbit.

[TweedPawn]

Della froze so still that she thought she would become a statue. Something was speaking to her now. It was tempting her. No, Sebastian taught Della how not to let her caution overwhelm her. It was when she was calm and attuned did she understand her surroundings. Fear would not control her. She had to be strong. She couldn't give in. She was so close to being completely rid of her darkness, she had to pull through.

She felt a cold kick in her gut as the darkness pried into her. How was this possible? Della felt so vulnerable now, her entire body was shaking. It knew everything. It spoke of emotion. It spoke of escape. What was it asking of her? She felt sick, she wanted to vomit. There was a buildup of energy in her hands, but she fought to keep it from escaping.

She could hear Sebastian whisper to her. She instantly felt relief. She sought him in the darkness and soon saw him rush down a flight of stairs. She wanted to embrace him and weep, but his stern voice reminded her that she was to remain focused. She wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes.

"There's something awful here!" she cried out. She covered her ears at the sound of the Darkness. She would not fall, she could not fall. So much depended on her salvation.

"It talks of my people! Sebastian, what is this? How does it know of these things?" she pleaded.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

Silence fell over him. The concerns of Della were mute and he only focused on finding their way to the entrance of the temple. The glow of the moon shone brighter as they ascended up the dirty granite stairs. The pictures moved more violently now and glowed brightly, blinding Sebastian with fear. He fought hard to ignore it and suppress such emotion, but it became overwhelming to all of his senses. He stumbled a few times, losing his footing while trying to lead his Apprentice to safety as she was trembling with fear herself from her own experiences of the entity within this temple. Soon they approached a wide room. It was characteristic of the one he'd been trapped in on Ord Cantrell in the Sith Temple. However, this was made of white stone instead of black. Still, Bogan's eerie light permeated through the crumbling rock of the ceiling. Sebastian couldn't help but stop as the black figure approached them from across the room.

"What is it you want." His voice was strong, heroic even. This was all to cover up his uncertainty of the situation. He wasn't in control which frightened him.
"You're not in control and it frightens you. You do not lead by good example for your misled and lost Apprentice here." He focused his attention on the girl. "Your homeworld was untouched for so long. This outcome was bound to happen. The Force knew of this and tells me its plans for you. You are destined for power. Your bastard child of a Master here is holding you back, as the Jedi usually do. Release yourself from the chains you bind yourself and you will find the ability to destroy those who've destroyed you."
"Peace does not come from power, spirit. Jedi seek peace even if it means striking down those who create chaos. Justice is not the measure of pain, but instead, the proliferation of the Light and its purity and freedom. When those who've wronged others see their errs and turn from the darkness and towards the light, justice will have been fulfilled. This is what the Force wills us to do, spirit."

A red blade erupted from the entity as it began to materialize into a pale man, balding as if he'd suffered radiation poisoning. Pale black cloaks shrouded him from the darkness. "Do not lecture me, child. I have lived millenia and I know more than you ever could. That Neti you met knows less than I do. She is naive and a stain on the Force. You, however, are just a blot that can easily be erased. Della, here, is nothing within the Force. She has the potential to do its will." His voice fell lower and crackled as he showed himself to them.

Sebastian motioned his arm outward to ward Della away from the impending duel. "Come, speak to me through the blade, mortal!" His voice bellowed throughout the walls. It seemed to have the power to shatter their very beings. Complimenting this spirit's red blade, Jrekk extended from its hilt. Along with this, Sebastian's body glowed a brilliant bluish white. Valor activated, enhancing the strength of Force Body, Revitalize, and Heal at the same time. A halo appeared above his head, indicating that Enlightenment was also being utilized. This affected his Valor itself as well as his Heal and Tutaminis. Only four within this list were active, being Valor, Enlightenment, Body, and Revitalize. Along with this, he was practicing Force Potency, increasing the effectiveness of each of these techniques.

"Your body is strong but not you mind. How will you cover this weakness?" The Bogan-follower knew of his weaknesses as well as Sebastian's tendency to know how to cover for his own weaknesses. It seemed he knew Sebastian was waning in his ability to ward off unwelcome emotions. He didn't necessarily underestimate Sebastian's endurance but was more curious as to its longevity at this point.

The two bodies met instantly. Sebastian's blade pushing through Bogan with awesome strength. It wasn't completely intelligible, but Sebastian was forcing him back with each swing. Bogan was not retreating little by little from each attack. His swings were wide and erratic. His body blurred with Valor so Potent and his halo became a line in the space above his head. He was truly frustrated and it was clear by the way he was using Vaapad to keep this evil away from his Apprentice. Several swings of his blade launched Bogan into the wall and Sebastian continued to wail on his opponent. The frustration never grew but his determination in ridding this evil from this place himself grew. The spirit seemed calm, however, and took each attack, diverting it away from him as much as he could. He floated around with Sebastian until he met the wall seemingly physically. When this happened, Bogan's entire body seemed to erupt in electricity. It was almost blinding, matching the color of Sebastian's aura. A wall of focused Lightning lifted and carried Sebastian back to the center of the square.

The aura surrounded and completely protected Sebastian. He was completely unharmed by such a technique. However, because the electricity was so powerful, he'd used the rest of his reserves to protecting his body. He'd noticeably changed his posture, falling back into Soresu and utilizing Affinity. No longer would he be using Body or Revitalize but still remained active in both Valor and Enlightenment. It was astonishing that this spirit was able to withstand the power of Sebastian's Vaapad. The Force enhanced his physical strength to god-like qualities and still Bogan was able to retaliate at all. It was clear that the technique was not mastered, not like his Soresu. However, Soresu focused on the complete opposite of what Vaapad required. It would come with obvious challenges because of this.

"You don't understand emotion which is why you failed." The voice was unusually crisp and smooth within the cooling air of the temple. It seemed to reiterate any kind of insecurity or subconscious thought of whoever was in its presence. It's voice would begin to echo in Della's mind of her thoughts and fears of death and weakness. It knew everything about them, causing fear this way as well.

He rushed Sebastian as quickly as he had done to Bogan only a minute ago. His attacks were swift and fierce, but it was clear he was using Makashi. His swings were circular and flicked toward and away from Sebastian, attempting to disarm him or cause small nicks in his body. He was slowly filling up his reserves while focusing on his flawless defense. Bogan had no way of reaching Sebastian and soon became frustrated himself. In this moment, Sebastian was able manipulate Bogan's red blade and slice through him completely. Unfortunately for both of them, he was indeed a spirit. He stalled, realizing what had just occurred, and roared in laughter. Bogan stretched his arm out and Sebastian's mind soon filled with Insanity.

Surprisingly, he didn't move but did, indeed, scream. His deep voice roared even louder than the laughter of the spirit within this temple. He couldn't make sense of the flashes of images in his mind but they caused him great pain and confusion. "I can easily strike you down right here because of your weakness-" Sebastian swung down, tearing through the spirit even as he continued to bear the pain of the mind technique. Sebastian quickly performed Flashburn, unfortunately taking this long to figure out how in such a state. He fell to a knee, exhausted from the experience. His body still shone, but not as brilliantly as before. His ribcage inflated, turning orb-like and then deflating almost completely. His head hanged, tired and defeated.

In this broken state, his body soon began to glow. Eventually it turned white and brighter than the suns of Tatooine. There was no shadow to hid in and the spirit screamed in pain. Sebastian rose. "You are the weak one. You rely on manipulation and persuasion to get what you want. You rely on words to fight for you when acting on those words does forever more. But now you will know the Light."

His warm strong voice would send invigorating shivers through Della. She would be able to feel the warmth and purity of the Light as he filled this place with it, ridding the structure of Darkness.

With the Flashburn came Ayva. She touched him in his weakened state, providing him with all the Light he could ever need. He performed Force Light, something he knew nothing about. The rocks turned black and the pillars crumbled with walls falling all around them as the light shone through everything. Screams of the spirit would fade but the Light still poured from his body. When the light fell, so would his other Force powers. They'd be in ruins of an ancient temple from millennia ago. Sebastian stood there, silent and in awe of himself.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della dashed up the stairs, her eyes danced as she watched terrible images flutter across the walls. Something wasn't right with Sebastian. He was faltering and she could see it. But, she did not fault him for it, not while she was terrified of her own interpretation of the darkness that was wrapping itself around the Padawan and Knight.

He then suddenly stopped. There was a shadow standing before them. Della froze as still as she could. Her instincts were fighting to kick in, they wanted her to abandon everything and run blindly. She fought herself, she could do this. The energy was still pooled in her hands, but she would not allow it to escape. Not while she could keep herself in control.

Sebastian spoke, he seemed sure of himself. Della admired his strength and his willpower. But, as she as starting to look up to the virtues that Sebastian displayed, the darkness spoke again. It spoke of Sebastian's fear, something that Della hoped in her heart wasn't true. When the spirit turned to speak to her, Della could only narrow her eyes in defiance.

This monster knew nothing of her heart. It knew quite well her fears and insecurities, but revenge and power were not virtues where she was from. Even now, Della did not desire destruction for her previous captors. She only desired freedom for her people to choose for themselves what their role in the Galaxy would be.

Della did feel some concern over Sebastian' response to the Darkness. It was the words of a fighter. It reminded Della of the lesson that she had learned about the various codes of the Jedi, and she wondered if she could ever be capable of striking someone down, even if they had done wrong.

Her breathing stopped for a moment with the shadow materialized into a pale male. The blood drained from her face and she understood that a confrontation was imminent. She was only happy when Sebastian warned her to step back and Della made certain to give him all the room he could ever need.

What she would witness was something out of the folk stories and legends of her people. Light and shadow dueling in ways that Della's mind did not understand. The dreadful, noisy light blades swung at each other as they clashed in dizzying patterns and movement. Sebastian was covered in light. Della wanted to help him, though she knew she couldn't. Her loyalty and trust in him was great and she would do everything she could to help him, even if that meant staying far away from the battle.

Electricity erupted from the Bogan and Della heard herself cry out as Sebastian was struck. The awful memories of her own pain that she experienced at the hands of her captors rushed back to her, she knew the pain of that awful lightning all too well. Still, the Knight continued to fight valiantly, but Della could see the strain on him.

Her heart sank when she heard her master scream. Something had gone wrong. She wanted to rush to him, to try to snap him out of his misery. She held back, instead. If she rushed in, they were both doomed.

Then came light that was blinding. She couldn't see through the brightness, but she was not afraid. The darkness that had pooled dangerously in her own hands was washed away like dirt instantly. She could not see what had happened to the Bogan, but she understood he was now gone.

It took a minute for her eyesight to get used to the natural light levels of the temple. It was gone. The darkness and its temptation was gone. As she stood perfectly still in awe of Sebastian's abilities, she suddenly felt excitement.

She didn't spark.

She felt tears of joy at her accomplishment. She had stayed in control of herself and her fear. She couldn't do it without her master, but it was a start. Only a few months ago, if she had faced that awful darkness, she would have fallen in despair and betrayed her past. She understood now that she could find at least enough courage to do what must be done.

She wanted to ask Sebastian so much now. She wanted to speak to him about her victory. But he seemed to have gone through his own triumph, and she wasn't going to bring him back so abruptly to the burdens of a padawan.

She felt gratitude to him, but all she could give him was a story of her people.

"There is a story of virtue that is passed down to children. The most cunning, swift, and sound of all creatures was named Gaunerei. All creatures revered him and all sought his council for many things. There came a time when he offered to teach his wisdom to anyone who was worthy. So, all of creation desired to learn under him. This caused much fighting amongst man, beasts, and even the plants. It was a sorry sight as all manner of creature pushed, bit, poisoned, and bickered with each other for even an ounce of Gaunerei's wisdom." Della continued.

"But there was a young boy who did not fight. Instead, his heart was grieving. When an old man approached the boy he asked "Child, why are you grieving?" The boy replied. "I grieve because I have seen such wickedness around me. My brethren fight and slay each other. I wish that the Gaunerei had never offered to take on a student, because my heart desires peace more than wisdom. "

"The old man suddenly changed before the boy and turned into the wise Guanerei. "I have chosen. It will be you. For blessed are those who desire peace and you will be blessed with all of my knowledge."

Della suddenly seemed sheepish.

"It felt relevant." she said, looking at her feet.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

When Della began to speak, Sebastian fell to his knees. The Light still surrounded him though he was empty of the Force. It was warm.

Her story echoed in the back of his mind as every thought she had in the moments reaching their duel and the time throughout. Violence was his main concern. He hoped the display of Force Light showed her the true meaning of how Jedi go about combat, even if he was completely drained. His thoughts continued to be purely introverted as the Light was all that was left within him. He felt weak. Though he'd spent years developing his body and physical abilities, his body lay in a slump atop the ruins of the Temple of Bogan. Without the Force, he was nothing. Or was this how he chose to be? Did he rely on the Force as much as the Dark-siders did? It was now when the warmth of the Light slowly replaced itself with the cooling touch of the Force. It was true they were completely different, at least to himself.

He rose when she'd ended the story. He looked at the girl. This was his Apprentice. He was to teach her about the Force and how to combat the Dark. She had to go through trials and tests to prove that she could contain her emotions and take the paths the Light wished her to while the Force paved the way she traveled. The lure of the Dark-side was filled with natural emotion and the desire for strength and power, which was potent indeed. He witness before his own eyes the depravity of the Dark. But the Light was strong enough to keep him alive to account for the encounter and learn from the experience.

"How is it relevant?" His voice deviated from his usual tone. It was surprisingly bright and obviously showed curiosity in how she interpreted this story into the current situation. Perhaps this is what she thought of the mechanics of Force Light. If she believed him to be the equivalent of this Gaunerei character, he'd call her foolish. Even so, it was clear the actions of the people she spoke about was the state in which the galaxy was in currently. The depravity and selfishness of the majority easily drowned out the purity and kindness of the rest. Even within the Jedi order was this clearly prevalent.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della knelt down next to Sebastian. She offered to help him up so that they could rest in a place that was much safer. In comparison, the unfamiliar wilds of Tython didn't seem quite so frightening.

"Well, Because before you were all...weird and glowy, which it wasn't weird in the bad way! Just in the...how do you say it? Neat? Interesting? You spoke of Peace not coming from power. Like the codes they teach us. There is no Emotion, there is Peace. Then there is the one 'emotion, yet peace.' Also, 'Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy.' Peace is important to my people and it's important to the Jedi. Yet, we do not get it by force." Della began to reflect more about her stories she knew and the Jedi. If Sebastian had accepted her offer to help him up, she would have gladly made herself s useful as possible.

"They tell us as children that the Great Hound seeks to keep balance, so he created adversaries for man. He gave creation the desire to slay the children of our Divine. When the Divine Goddess saw her children being slaughtered, she gave us the Divine Luck. Some of us are greatly blessed. I was the fastest runner in my area, for example. But, the thing I do not understand is why Jedi and the Other fight when we all have the same enemy. It seems foolish."

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

Sebastian listened to his Apprentice explain what she understood about the situation. She truly was naive about the Force. Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle a little while the Force slowly filled him and was bringing him back to his cold and stony self. For now, a smirk could be seen on his face. As awkward as it looked, it was unmistakable. He didn't follow his Apprentice and, instead, stayed here to revel in the calm he'd created with the Light. "This last one is the one you must remember, Della," his eyes penetrated Della. "Being 'guardians' means combat may have to be used in hostile situations. Even so, the Jedi are not about violence or cruelty to bring about peace. Peace, in some instances must be fought for to exist and sustain. However, this 'combat' is to halt chaos and madness, not to make it cease. Instead, we try to create Light from Darkness. This is truly difficult and can result in death at times, but to keep one's intentions and heart pure is the goal of all Jedi."

His light voice grew heavier and colder as he spoke. It didn't seem to interrupt what he wanted to say, indicating that he was the same person but showing emotion. But the Force poured into him and he could feel the affinity of this energy and it was comforting. He felt healthy again. He sat down in the rubble of the temple, feeling the Light begin to disperse in order to cleanse the rest of the area. "Physical violence need not be filled with anger and cruelty, my Apprentice. Instead, if you are filled with calm and focused energy, that can be enough along to drive away Darkness. But the philosophy of the Jedi does not encourage combat, regardless of how much we may train for it. The Sith, who train in violence all their lives, are powerful in violence in conflict. We must be able to match and exceed this when we are met with spite. Our first and primary goal is to avoid violence at all costs. Only then may the Lightsaber be drawn. However, we have lost when the Lightsaber is utilized."

He stopped, becoming slightly ashamed at his own hasty actions toward the ghost. It was clear he had much to learn in order to follow the Light as it was to be followed. "Even my own actions weren't driven by the Light, and I realized this when I performed Force Light, the flash of light coming from my body. One must understand that the Force is ever more powerful than a blade of energy. Words can hold much weight, but actions are always louder." His words spun around each other. It may have been confusing to a simpler person, but Della was wise enough to understand such obscure ideas. "You must understand what brings the Light and how to maintain such peace and purity. It will tell you the best way for you to do such when become one with it. Until then, I think it's time I counsel you in the ways of combat that the Jedi practice."

He paused so his Apprentice would be able to ask questions before he continued.

 

[TweedPawn]

Dela listened intently to Sebastian's words. His gaze had a way of making her understand just how much she still had to learn. His smirk made her feel a bit better about her own ignorance, at least he wasn't scolding her like she was a child. Instead, it really felt like he was simply guiding her along to where ever it was she was supposed to go. His voice was becoming cold and heavy again. The Light she could feel seemed to emphasize his point and Della could feel it all around her.

The violence that the Sith used was quite clear in Della's memory. She gave a visible shudder.

"I know, very well, the violence the Sith are capable of. They use electricity to hurt children...They made us fight for food. Well, the ones they selected anyway. There were five of us that they separated. I don't know what happened to the other kids they took. What on earth they would have used them for? But, if we were somehow the 'favored' ones and they treated us like animals, I don't want to think about the treatment my former brethren got." The Light comforted her. She did not have to be afraid anymore. She closed her eyes and allowed it to flow through her.

She then reflected on the concept of Action and Light. It made sense to her. The Force was indeed such a large and complex thing. The idea that even a person as wise as Sebastian still had much to learn about it, only assured Della that there was something greater about this Force than she could ever possibly understand. But, it wouldn't stop her from trying.

She then perked up. Her face suddenly had the typical alert expression she carried when she heard something that did not settle with her. She understood what he said about Action quite clearly. She knew that many Jedi trained for combat. For some reason, she always imagined herself as never being able to learn such a thing. But, Sebastian Solborne was standing right in front of her with his typical stone-faced expression, as serious as a gravestone.

"Wait, you mean the thing with the lightsticks? I mean, Lightsabers?" Della's eyes appeared child-like for a moment, but in a nervous way. She was clearly not a girl used to aggression of any sort.

"You sure?" She had very little faith in herself.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

"Yes," he said, almost sighing while looking down as she explained the horrors of the Sith. "This pain is their strength, Della. They learn to seed anger and hate very young in order to swat at the Power the universe has to offer. Only when they became broken under those who'd captured them would be they truly become Sith. Until then, they would only know suffering at their hands." A whimper could almost be heard from his voice. He genuinely felt sorrow for the girl's peers who were abducted along with her. However, his face remained strong and unchanging. He sat down in the dirt, motioning to his Apprentice to join him in further meditation within the field of Light he'd just created. The dirt was soft, and though the rubble turned dark, it shone in the red light of Bogan.

"I will not teach you combat with the blade, my Apprentice. You are far too underdeveloped within the Light to learn how to utilize the tools of the Jedi." His words may have been biting but they were, undoubtedly, true. "What I must teach you is the philosophy you must abide by to be successful against the chaos of this universe." He finally closed his eyes and positioned himself into a conservative meditative position. "Again, we are the guardians of peace. This means, that even through violence, we keep the goal of peace ever in our souls. Our movements and thoughts are those that bring peace to those who suffer under Darkness. When we stoop to the level of violence and force, like the Sith, we have submitted to them wholly. Pain will be eminent and this is what we need to avoid at all costs. I must teach you the ways of diplomacy of the Jedi before we begin the art of keeping the peace with the body.

"The Jedi focus on the mind and the Force." He stopped a moment. The days in the Tython temple and the classes he'd been required to participate in. Then, he believed them inconsequential and useless since he'd rather be running around in the forest, losing himself physically in order to find himself mentally. It would have been helpful in this situation to have listened, but through his many previous experiences, he'd learned much and grown exponentially since adolescence. Even now, the Light churned his mind and quickly found the information he needed in order to successfully convey the lessons Della needed to learn in order to grow within the Force.

"Words are the most powerful thing you have. Unfortunately, they are much weaker than actions. Because of this, one may have to perform tasks for their words to hold any weight for another. However, even the sight of the Jedi tool can be enough to persuade an individual from becoming aggressive or providing resistance to a cause you wish to accomplish. However, your greatest ally is the Light itself. Showering the individual with the Light can sway them to your side and make them more easily influenced. However, this can have the opposite effect when they are resistant to the Force and even the Light side itself. Yes, the force can influence the minds of the weak if need be. However, I would not be able to teach you this art for I have no talent for such things."

 

[TweedPawn]

Della remained silent. She could sense that her comment made Sebastian upset. Maybe, one day, she could tell him everything that happened. Then she could tell him how far she had come from almost being consumed by darkness. She somberly sat across from Sebastian. The Light urged her not to despair. She felt warmth and happiness here. She gave Sebastian a gentle smile, almost to reassure him that his efforts meant so much to her.

"For what it's worth, if it wasn't for you and the other Jedi, I would have never found the chance to get out of darkness. I would have been lost." she said. She assumed her own meditation pose, her spirit now wanted nothing more than to allow this light to flow through her. She did not reply to Sebastian as he spoke, but contemplated on his words. Her eyes closed to better focus.

Then, something in her mind's eye began to form. It was a series of images that seem to reflect exactly what Sebastian was saying. But it wasn't clear like a photo or a holographic image. It was a series of patterns that were all linked by fabric. It started as a single thread, drawing an image of a Jedi protecting another sentient being. Then it grew and moved into the image of beings conversing and reaching agreements. The Force was illustrating for her what Sebastian was saying.

She did not fight it, only allowed it as a tool to help her understand. The technique that Sebastian spoke of sounded similar to what Della was forced to use to help her communicate in the past.

"I understand something similar to that. Before I could speak basic, I had to make others understand the way I felt. I would feel joy swell in me and when I touched someone, they could feel it too. I have done it a few other times with pictures and memories." She wante to show Sebastian, but it didn't feel proper to use that technique without his approval.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

The manner in which she was rescued from the Sith was unknown to him. He didn't even know there was such a mission, but this was the consequence of keeping to ones self. After all, he just picked her up as she trained outside by herself. Her recent future was largely a mystery to her Master, but this was of little concern to him at the moment. It'd be key to delve into these memories and repair any broken emotions or view-points of any situation that may have traumatized her some. It was clear that when she was abducted there was trauma, but this was all he knew about. He had to focus on the now and teaching this Padawan ways to defend herself. She already seemed to understand the principle of Form Zero, which wasn't very difficult to understand in itself but entirely difficult to practice, which was very evident in himself.

This talent she possessed in this Form innately was interesting. He fell silent, pondering her potency to relay emotional information to others. Perhaps this could become strong enough to influence someone or make them believe her emotion was theirs. To someone of great power and weak mind, this could have devastating effects. It was fortunate, then, that he couldn't think of someone in the Order with those characteristics. Even so, he couldn't think of many people within the Order. "Very well, my Apprentice," his voice was a semi-tone higher than usual indicating some kind of pleasure in her abilities. "This would definitely be something to investigate and invest time in. I would not be the appropriate teacher for such things, but the Temple holds many classes in which for you to take."

Again, he fell silent for a few minutes. He could feel the Force flow around them and the Light weave itself into it. It was extremely comfortable and he hoped Della felt the same. Whispers fell through the small waves around them, telling him their next course of action. "Shii-cho," his voice broke from its silence. There was a soft ring to his voice but it echoed through the forest. "This is the basis of all lightsaber and non-lightsaber combat. Its philosophy is to disarm and not kill. It does not hide itself in its maneuvers but, instead, allows them to be seen. The goal of this form is to break through the defense of the opponent instead of finding holes or working around them. 1. Head. 2. Right arm/side. 3. Left arm/side. 4. The back. 5. Right leg. 6. Left leg. These are the zones of focus of Shii-cho. The movement of each section is the focus of a practitioner of Shii-cho. 'Victory without injury,' their most basic philosophical phrase. Because of this, a technique called 'Sun Djem' which destroys the instrument they are using to harm others. If this happens to b the Dark Side itself, Force Light may become the skill used to subdue them. Those without weapons must be steeled with a technique called Force Stun which freezes the target's muscles and nerve making them unable to move. These ideals and philosophies extend to the average interaction with hostiles and even those of allies. Shii-cho is the universal Form for many reason, mostly because it does not rely on the lightsaber for its practice like the others."

He lifted his head and eyes to Della. "Let us begin," he said shortly. He motioned for her to stand but he, himself, remained seated on the dirt of the fallen temple around them. "I will call out on of the six numbers and you strike with that part of the body." The directions were simple, but this exercise would be anything but. As he spat out numbers, there would be a short pause between them. As the exercise continued, this pause would grow shorter and, eventually, push her to become fluid in her technique. "1. 3. 1. 2. 1. 5. 5. 6. 6. 4. 1. 2. 6. 5." This first set was slow and allowed Della to begin to connect the numbers with the portion of the body. He also looked to see if her strikes were precise and direct, not showy and grand, for this was the not the way of Shii-cho. He also purposefully excluded 4 until the end of the set. After this, his pause would shorten after each number, pushing her to making quick and deliberate strikes at the random sections of the body.

4 was included much more frequently as he repeated numbers the Force willed him to say. As this took place, the Force would begin to develop before Della into a shadow, not unlike the one they had experienced earlier. This shadow, however, would be much different in feel and weight. It would help Della to imagine the body parts. This would, too, fade into the air as she became more comfortable. "Good. Now rest," he said after calling out one of the six numbers for a hundred-number string. She'd, no doubt, be somewhat winded after this. "Random attacks with little connection to each other is the strength of Shii-cho, which eventually became the philosophy of the seventh Form, Vaapad." This explanation seemed displaced but was the only thing he said before taking a deep breath and centering himself in the silence, willing Della to do the same.

She performed exceptionally well after the first set. She had much talent for the Force. He could feel it.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della smiled modestly but sincerely at Sebastian's encouragement. This was much different than the Sith's method of education. Della seemed to thrive more under the wisdom and understanding of the Jedi than the brutality and pain of the Sith. Della begin to think about this comparison and development. Her victories and growth were already proving the philosophies of the Sith to be wrong. She was faster than she ever had been in her life, she was ingraining the Jedi's cunning into her heart, and she was becoming more than a frightened girl in a strange place.

She mattered. She wasn't just a pawn or an experiment. She wasn't just a swift school girl being scouted to help some college get better athletes. Her actions meant something to a cause greater than herself. Della became happily excited at this thought and her energy grew until she couldn't sit still. She stood up and began to stretch, hoping some of the built up energy would flow out of her.

She fell still when Sebastian spoke, but her energy was still growing. It seemed there would be an opportunity to release this excitement, but not in the way she was used to. She listened to Sebastian words and felt relieved.

"Victory without injury. I really like the sound of that. I also like that it doesn't use lightsabers. No offense. But I find those noisy, bright, sticks to be awful. Though, the Jedi say it's for the best. " Della responded.

The lesson continued. Della had a hard time at fist, her movements slow as she tried to recalled the numbers and what part of the body they were associated with. The shadow helped her imagine the areas of Shii-Cho, but Della kept over thinking the strikes. It became easier when she stopped thinking so much about the names of the body parts as opposed to simply associated them with numbers. She was swift. Quite swift. But, her strength in her legs were much greater than her upper body. To a trained master, such as Sebastian, it was easy to see that a swift knee to the gut by Della could be enough to take down a worthy opponent.

She was also light on her feet, like a boxer. Della did not notice this, but she never remained fully flat on her feet. She fought on her toes. Her turns were quick. If cornered into hand-to-hand combat, her opponent would easily be taken off guard.

Della gave a hearty, but happy sigh when she could rest. She was quite content, a rare feeling.In her contentment, she plopped onto the ground before finally stretching out onto the ground on her belly to allow the dirt to help her cool off.

"I think I actually enjoyed that. Normally, when a padawan tries to teach me this stuff, I feel so awkward and dumb, like a badger. This time, I felt swift and cunning. I can also be silent too. " She then paused. Her face suddenly serious.

"Sith don't fight hand to hand though, do they? That's why you mentioned, how did you say it? Son-DIII-Um?" her mispronunciation was grating.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

She quivered with excitement, and Sebastian could feel this. It exploded once she became comfortable with the exercise. He could feel more of her through the Force than looking with his eyes. Even so, she tended to use her feet more frequently. Both feet weren't on the ground at the same time for much of the practice. He stopped, knowing she had much left in her, but there was much more to teach her and it was clear she was growing fast enough to improve on her own by meditating on these lessons. Even so, she was quick, almost as fast as himself. This was astounding as she had much less training. He felt no sense of inadequacy, however, and knew she was destined to bring some balance into the universe. She was skilled and would need much guidance to reach her full potential, more guidance than he could provide her.

"Yes, this is the philosophy of the Jedi overall: Victory without injury. We wish not to bring pain and death to the Force for that is the goal of the Sith. And it matters not the methods and tools used to subdue hostiles as long as it brings peace in the end," he added, bringing validation to her opinion of Lightsabers. "They are quite crude, indeed, my Apprentice. However, they are tools of the Force which allows us to wield these with great precision and accuracy to protect those who need it and defend against those who harm others. But there are numerous other methods of defense, which you will learn in time. I would like to teach you about the seven other traditional forms of combat, particularly of Lightsabers, and other terms you should come to learn."

He shifted a little to prepare for a long speech. His posture didn't change as he relaxed and took a deep breath, falling deeper into the Force while doing so. He could feel the trees and the grass around the mound of debris and rubble they sat upon that now exuded the Light instead of the Dark. Her slip of their odd terms was accepted and he didn't address, for he would only reiterate the words to her in hopes she learns how to form them. "The next concept of combat would be the Three Rings of Defense. Like the zones you just focused on, these are largely universal concepts and can be referenced during any duel. The first, or Outer Ring, is reached by wide swings of a blade. These take longer to reach the target but are powerful and dangerous. Four positions, holding the blade diagonally up or down and to either side, are utilized to keep this Ring protected. The Middle Ring protects against swift blows and blaster shots. This Ring is guarded by holding a blade horizontally around the head or waist and holding it vertically on the left or right side of your body. The Inner Ring of Defense protects against the most dangerous attacks to defend from, and even perform: lunges. With the hilt of a blade held at the naval and held toward the attacker, attacks would be deflected with as little energy as possible and far from the body to allow for quick counter attacks to the torso."

He attempted to enter her mind, which proved difficult in itself. But he eventually received an image of the Force acting out these scenes for Della to interpret. She had already developed a sense of Force Listening that was impressive. "Though you may not use these, it is good to be able to identify where you or others are defending from and how one will go about it.

"Next I'll talk briefly about types of strikes against the body with a Lightsaber. First I'll describe those used by the Jedi and, of which, are much more passive. Again, Sun Djem," he merged the d and j, mushing the sounds together to emphasize the ugliness of the word, "is a strike against one's weapon only. This is difficult to perform due to its intricate and acute manipulation of a blade. The next is a Shiim," he pronounce with a long e sound, "is a cut performed on the surface of the body with the end of the blade. This is only to cause the opponent to stall through pain, which may seem contradictory to the Jedi."

He paused a moment before listing the rest of the terms he learned in his early lessons of Lightsaber combat, which he cherished. "Cho mai amputates the weapon hand. Cho sun amputates the weapon arm. Cho mok amputates a limb. Shiak is a stab. Sia cha is decapitation. Sai tok is the act of cutting someone in half, either horizontally or vertically. And Mou kai is a circular motion to remove the major limbs of an opponent." This portion was swiftly covered as it was largely unimportant to them and he didn't care to speak about it. "Some other maneuvers have to do with the body itself. Jung is a turn of 180 degrees. Jung ma is one of 360. Shun," he pronounced with a long o sound, "is the 360 turn while holding the lightsaber one-handed. Sai is leaping in order to evade an assault of the legs.

"The rest have to do with manipulation of the blade itself. Flowing Water is when one follows the other when they attempt to retreat their blade from a lock, forcing it into themselves. Falling Leaf is a spinning maneuver to deflect an attack from behind by spinning the feet. Dulon is a powerful downward slash from the midsection with the blade pointing upward diagonally. And Kai-kan reenacts a prior lightsaber duel."

His next speech was over and he waited a few minutes, feeling the Force flow around them, in order to allow any discussion between the two about the basics.

 

[TweedPawn]

The speech that Sebastian spoke was quite a bit to take in. New phrases confused her, but she understood the definitions quite well. Still, she would have to study to reiterate this lesson that Sebastian was teaching her.

She could sense Sebastian within her. Della's brows pressed together at the momentary intrusion, but she did not take offense to this action. She had nothing to hide. Well, that wasn't entirely true. Only those who had pried into her memory before knew of her past ability to create static electricity as a defense. The exceptions were the tree Jedi who had brought her to Tython. So far, no one had brought up that aspect of her past. Della was quite content to let it fade away as much as possible.

But Sebastian did not pry that deeply. Not like Tuwan or the Bogan. It was strange how Della had encountered two dualities within one day. Both of them incredibly powerful. They seemed so far away. Not quite existing in the same realm that Della and Sebastian dwelled in. Was that what being one with the Force meant?

Della's attention snapped back to the subject at hand. Dismemberment? Decapitation? Della felt herself become more and more pale as Sebastian described the gruesome details of these fighting maneuvers. All of it sounded terrible. The whole affair. The blocking, the trusting, the parrying.

Her eyes fell on Sebastian's lightsaber. She did not trust it. Not Sebastian's in particular, it was any lightsaber. Della wasn't sure why, but she began to form the opinion that they did not belong in the galaxy. Period. They were a corruption.

But of what? The galaxy? The Force? The Order? What Order? What was the definition of Order anyhow?

Della seemed to focus too much attention on that vile weapon. The Jedi may have found a justification for those horrid things. But, that did not make their existence okay.

No.

That was fear and hate talking.

She would not descend down this path.

"I'm sorry." Della said. Sebastian would have easily picked up on that brief moment of darkness.

"I need to understand that thing. Understanding." Della seemed to meditate on this word. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then reopened them.
"I will no longer fear what I do not understand. May I see it? "

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

He could feel her mind race. He couldn't see what it was, but the Force swirled around her mind and she spurts of energy was released. In his own meditation, the Force became clear and alive, though he could not decipher its meanings. It wasn't long until Della would vocalize her ideas which swirled around in her mind.

"The tool of the Jedi and a weapon to the Sith," he began. The definite articles and prepositions used were of great distinction but were not given emphasis to further make clear the phrase. "Its history is a long one, but its purpose differs from person to person. Its purpose is that of protection or power. Its use is dependent on the individual. Its use in combat needing years of training to understand before one can attempt to master it. For myself, I use it to protect those who require it and to shield myself from harm. Others use it to wipe out Darkness or suffocate the Light. Most see it as an instrument of aggression while others find peace within it. Each individual has their purpose for this. Seek your own."

He unlatched Ashugal from the right side of his belt, being the safest for her to wield. Jrekk had been used by a Fallen Jedi and would be difficult for her to interpret. The Phoenix would scorch her hands and overwhelm her quickly with energy. With Ashugal, she'd find the peace in the relationship between a Master and his Apprentice. The parental relationship to the other and the connection they shared. She'd be able to sense the times in which he used this blade. It would show her the protection Soresu provided to those the wielder deemed important to protect. However, this would only come if she was accepting of the images the Force would show her.

It may have been manipulation of his own creation. He showed her what he wanted her to see. However, she was still fragile in any form of aggression and lessons within these practices would come much later. "What do you see this tool as? What would you have it be?"

 

[TweedPawn]

Della felt the weight of the object in her hand. The first thing she noticed was that the weapon seemed to be trying to communicate with her. She felt the energy of something in there flow into her hand and finally into her own vision and meditation. She saw images of the weapon's past, a dazzling tool of protection and truth. It seemed to respond to Della's understanding of these images. She could feel the threads that were connected between her and Sebastian.

It was as Sebastian said. Sebastian had felt one with this tool, while Della had understood it as aggression. Still, Della could no longer deny that it was a necessary tool. But, it was not the lightsaber that was at fault for how it was wielded. It was like a gun. Della understood much better now.

The gun Della's father carried had many times helped provide food and protected her family. It had killed predators and wounded thieves. It prevented fights from erupting amongst bickering neighbors. Della's respect for her father grew. It was not easy for him to wield so much responsibility. The same that was now expected of Della.

Yes, a lightsaber was very much like a gun.

"I would have it be like my father's rifle. It's funny, I understand what he has done for my mother and I so much better than I ever did before. When I see him again, I am going to let him know how grateful I am…" tears were falling down her face. She missed her father so much. It overwhelmed her. She hastily wiped away her tears.

"I'm sorry. I know you and Her Grace said that it's best if I didn't let my emotion get control of me. It's just that I never understood everything my parents did for me. I took all of it for granted without thinking of the sacrifices they were making for me. You're doing the same thing for me. You could have picked much better padawans. Someone like my friend, Fyston. He's strong, a good student, and doesn't cry at all." Della felt peace in her heart as she gave the weapon a squeeze.. It was a strange sensation to be crying when one felt at peace. Still, her appreciation for everything that was done for her sake was overpowering. It was as if the lightsaber was reassuring her.

"But you picked me instead. A girl who cries a lot, not very good at fighting, and just recently learned Basic."

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

Incredibly gifted with the Force and entirely humble. Della was certainly growing exponentially right before him. Psychometry was something Padawans shouldn't be able to experience so vividly, yet the Force painted for her a picture of the Lightsaber's use. This ability was something Sebastian didn't even possess or understand in moderate sense, but this girl was able to interpret the Force with much clarity. Her talents didn't lie in the realm of the body but, instead, the Force and the mind. This did not disturb Sebastian, though. He'd trained few Padawans before who focused on martial skills and physical abilities. Though she was gifted in Speed, this was not the path the Force wished her to take. She would prove to be a powerful vessel of the Light.

"Do not apologize. Expressing emotion is not equivalent to having it control you. In fact, it's best under control when it is expressed," he explained, contradicting his own behavior with his teachings. "I did not choose you, Della." His voice was soft, now, though the phrase alone may have been almost insulting in nature. "The Force guided me to you. Your path is very different from my own, my Apprentice, and it is my responsibility to guide you along that path and provide council whenever you feel lost. Just know that you will never be lost within the Light."

This last statement stood alone for a moment. It echoed within the Force around them and would weave through their minds, flashing pictures of their pasts that could become their futures. It would probably be clearer to Della, but Sebastian could see a Temple Spire erected from a mesa on a forested planet. The Force flowed through it wildly, yet controlled and focused. It was uncomfortable to feel and interpret for Sebastian in the slightest sense. Della would be able to see it unhindered by such biases, however. The images were wiped from his mind shortly after, at least having that ability over the Force. It'd helped many times before, but now was not the time to focus on such things.

"I think you're ready for this," he started. Having hooked Ashugal back onto his belt, he released Jrekk from the latch and handed it to Della. She'd be swarmed with more aggressive and tense emotions and situations from the Force this time. If she was intuitive enough, she'd be able to perceive such aggression as controlled and focused onto the opponent. He'd often used Jrekk when practicing Vaapad, the universal opposite of Soresu. Its offensive and emotional nature was used as a powered loop onto the opponent. Its philosophy used intense emotions such as rage and hate and jealousy the other emitted and force them back onto them in the form of powerful blows and disconnected slashes. Perhaps this is what she would have seen: the clashing of sabers in a most violent manner. She'd possibly feel fear, but after interpreting Ashugal, she might have been able to pick up on these subtleties. If this was not the case, he'd have an easy time explaining such to the girl. For now, he stayed silent and felt the Force swirl around her and whisper things to his Apprentice, unable to hear the words it formed in her ears.

 

[TweedPawn]

Della smiled at Sebastian's reassurance. She understood that eventually they would part. It would only be because they were so different in the journeys that they would take. In the meantime, Della would learn from him as much as she could. They already had a close bond. Della would follow him to the ends of the Galaxy, without him even asking her. The bogan had called it a crutch, but Dell knew better. She had prospered when the Bogan said she would fail. She was becoming stronger in the Light than she ever could in darkness. It must have been a slap in the face of the Bogan's words, if he really had a face.

" I think I see it a little clearer now." she beamed. She saw a flash of something. It was strange. t was a promise of something to come. It spoke to her to participate in the future that was being laid out in front of her. Della felt her feet desire to run towards it. Della felt herself become swept up in the Force like she was floating in a river. She felt happy here.

It would be soon.

Della felt Sebastian's discomfort. For the first time, she grabbed his shoulder and simply smiled at him. It was a confident and quiet smile, uncharacteristic of her. Her irises seemed brighter for just a moment as light flowed through her.

She looked down at the new lightsaber Sebastian presented to her. She snorted as her first reaction to the sight of the new hilt. She felt more cautious about this one. It was much more complicated than the previous lightsaber Sebastian had given her. She couldn't quite understand it. She wasn't terrified as she would have been in the past, had she handled such an object. It made her uneasy.

Flashes of light danced before her eyes. Loud, noisy things. Focused, aggressive. Sebastian had used this weapon. But the way he had used it was nothing like the perceived personality Della was used to observing from her Master.

previous owner…darkness.

"This doesn't seem like you at all. Who's was this?" she asked.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

She was unusually intimately connected with the Force. To be able to see such visions from the energy all around them, her growth within the Force was astounding. Perhaps her brief exposure to his Force Light had an affect on her and she was wakened from a dormant state to the Force which now rushed around her and filled her with many emotions from the objects they meditated on. He was impressed that it hadn't yet overwhelmed her. Perhaps his methods of easing her into the Force allowed for her to accept it as something more than its face value. This was key in learning of the intricacies of the Force and the philosophies of the Light. She was tearing open the box she hid inside for protection, seeing obscure truths and hidden facts of the galaxy she'd never experienced before. Her adaptation was impressive.

Fear flashed within her, but was quickly hushed as she analyzed the visions she received from the hilt of Jrekk. Her thoughts echoed within the Force and Sebastian could hear them. It was almost as clear as her statement and question soon after. "Vaapad is a quite an emotional style. It uses the anger and aggression of the opponent and funnels them back to the opponent through the blade. I use it rarely and don't usually resort to it very often.

"But you are correct. The hilt of this lightsaber belonged to a Fallen Jedi I encountered and felled on Tatooine while on a mission with a former Councilor and my late Master. He touched the Darkness, yes, but he was lost for he did not follow the Light. He believed it didn't hold the truths he sought, which was ultimately true. The crystal of his blade now dwells within the Phoenix and serves as the heart of the blade. I did not know this at the time I crafted the tool, but the heart of this Jedi was pure and Light, serving as a proper core for my blade. Hes exterior was powerful and aggressive, serving a proper vessel for a weapon used against those who wished to cause me harm."

She hoped the fact that he called it a weapon, himself, would mean something to her. However, he did not wish her to become fearful of the blade or its use as it retained the purpose of Ashugal in that it protected. However, instead of protecting others, its purpose was selfish and would protect Sebastian himself. This may have been relayed to Della during the time she held onto the metal. When he wielded it against the Shadow of Bogan, his protection of her may have been viewed lesser. But he knew the Shadow was not against his Apprentice but, instead, wished to falter Sebastian and make the Padawan falter in her own path into the Light. Luckily it failed and he was able to purify the land on which they now meditated within.

The sun was blocked by the gray clouds above them in the midday of their meditation. Sebastian had yet to open his eyes since the night and would not know of the status of the position they were located on the planet.

 

[TweedPawn]

"Why would you learn such a thing? It seems to contradict-" Della stopped herself. Her question would have sounded disrespectful to Sebastian. Who was she to question him? He was her teacher and she had come to learn from him. She continued to listen to his lesson. Her own thoughts churning with various paths of thinking.

Jedi could fall. It as a serious thing to remember. Still, her mind could not dwell on this too long as Sebastian was speaking with various new words that Della had not yet learned in Basic. She used the contact clues of his lesson to piece together the meaning of the new words. Her mind was eager to learn Sebastian's personal explanation for why we wielded such a device.

He called it a weapon. The first blade was a tool, the second was a weapon. Was this a personal perception? Della did not feel fear, but became more curious about her mentor. He was more complicated than she ever imagined, but he hid it all under his Stone-Face. If she could, she would peel it back. But, why would she?

There was no real reason to dive into his subconscious, except to satisfy personal curiosity. That was a selfish reason, and by nature was not of the Light.

"What mean Pheonix?" she asked, hoping to forget her temptation to pry into her Master's mentality.

 

[Crackerjack Bohemian]

"It is my tool of the Light. It has remained inactive since its construction. It stays behind me, pushing me through my path of the Light." His voice continued to lower but never became uncomfortable for him, as odd as that was. His answer was short and almost terse. He was upset she'd censored herself for she would never learn if she did not ask. "Please, speak your mind. Use the words you know to convey the concerns you have." He was not one to worry about his own verbage and didn't wish for her Apprentice to walk on eggshells for him. Even so, it'd take much to offend him, being a strict follower of the Light.

She'd ask her questions unhindered and possibly biting, but Sebastian would remain there, as unmoving as the clouds smudging the afternoon sky. He stayed silent, expecting her to ask and say all that she wanted to. When she was finished, he'd sit there, seeking the Force for answers he didn't have to any of the questions she may have asked and to evaluate for him her words she used in her speech.

"Use the Force. Feel the instrument," he directed, his voice keeping soft, almost a whisper now. He wanted her to feel the components of the lightsaber and 'see' the position of the triggers and switches. He wanted to get her focused on what they were learning about before he began to address her concerns. Perhaps they'd come to her faster in this manner of concentration.