[CLOSED] Toughen Up!

[TweedPawn]

Della walked off to a shady area and leaned against a tree to watch the two padawans. The grass felt cool and comfortable and it wasn't long before Della laid out on her belly to enjoy the shade and the scent of the dirt. She kept a keen sense of er surroundings, but her mind was still troubled.

 

[Fyston]

"I agree, though for the most of my life I'd never had the chance to be criticized. I realize that you're trying to help, though, and I thank you for it. What sparked this whole thing, anyway?"

Fyston eyed the blade as Lain took it off, motioning towards it questioningly. He wondered what made Della react in such a manner, though had heard her mention something about her past. When she stalked off, he resisted the urge to follow her, afraid of annoying or upsetting her. Regardless, he glanced back and Lain and smiled wryly.

"So, want to entertain Della with a bit of dueling?"

 

[Black Noise]

Lain shrugged.
"I yelled at you, you flipped off, ect. Anywho! I'd love to! Just know that, while I'm smaller than the both of you, I'm still very strong."

With that, as if to display her strength, Lain spun the Echani Vibroblade and smashed it into the ground. The large, heavy blade sunk father than half-way down effortlessly. Lain used the Force to bring out both her Guard Shotos. The hilts slapped into her hands and ignited. Two, bright red, crackling blade roared to life. They appeared unstable, and blood red in color. Lain, clearing her body of any darkness, smiled and said.
"Males first."
And readied herself for Fyston should he attack as Lain wished.

 

[TweedPawn]

Dear Divinity! Della immediately flattened herself to the ground as much as she possibly could. It was a reflex to watching Lain summon two weapons. Della had no idea that such a small girl could do something like that. At least Lain wasn't a bad Jedi. That would be a terrible opponent to try to run from.

Della was also surprised by Lain's willingness to fight. She seemed so confident. Perhaps she had been on Tython for a long time. Perhaps she had learned how to be a Jedi since she was very small.

no...that wasn't quite it...

Della bit her lip. Her bottom lip was now slightly swollen, but it had stopped bleeding. That was good.

Her attention went to Fyston. He was certainly in his element. Now that he was doing what he did best, he seemed much more friendly and inviting. His smile reminded Della of someone she knew.

 

[Fyston]

"I remember that part quite clearly," Fyston said with a smile, silently trying to further atone for earlier. "I meant Della. What happened?" Fyston tried to keep his voice low, unsure how Della would react to his concern. Regardless, he was filled with excitement as Lain accepted his challenge. He was somewhat put off, however, at the crimson color of the blade. While not outright forbidden, it was a general rule that lightsabers weren't red. Of course, Fyston firmly believed that even the darkest weapon could be used for the Light. Even the worst weapon could be used for good. Fyston noticed a strange detail about the lightsaber. It seemed somewhat unstable, unlike the typical lightsaber.

"Interesting. What crystal or crystals did you use in their creation, if you don't mind me asking?"

Regardless, Fyston reached toward his belt with his right hand, pulling his lightsaber from his belt with a flourish. He stepped into his personal Djem So stance, his lightsaber held horizontally at about his eye level, though it was angled upwards at a forty five degree angle. He would have attacked first, though heard Lain invite him to do as much. He figured some form of trap being planned in Lain's head, though he couldn't tell what she was planning. His impatient side wanted to hurry and find out what she was planning, though the tactician in him told him to wait, to play it safe. He set his feet into a more defensive, guarded stance, smiling to Lain as he spoke.

"I thought it was ladies first."

 

[Black Noise]

Lain kept her voice low temporarily, once talking about Della, but kept her appearance as if she wasn't.
"I believe Della had a run in with the Sith once before, and it has probably scarred her. Once near the Echani Vibrosword, she most likely felt my father's presence inside of it. I have tried to preserve him, at least a little bit, in both my sword and my head. But- he's still dead, an no amount of my wanting will bring him back. Though, I suppose the galaxy would most likely be a better place now that he's gone."

Smiling and raising her voice, she answered his second question.
"I actually synthesized both my lightsaber crystals. I also purposefully gave them a fault line and a crack, causing the blade to become unstable. However, I'm just so skilled enough that I have eliminated the problem of occasionally shorting out. Also, I 'adjusted' the power emitters to actually shove more power than they should through the blade, so if you stay in a saber-lock against both my blades for too long, your's may actually short out. Also, what kind of sexist came up with that idea-?"
She was, jokingly, referring to 'ladies first.' At that, Lain charged Fyston, both blades about half a foot apart from each other but swinging in the same direction. They both came up from the bottom and up to the right, aimed at Fyston's chest. She had enough sense to make sure as well that she could easily break off the attack to block, though it would be difficult.

 

[Fyston]

Knowing that her father was a Sith was, again, strange to Fyston. He had seen visions of a Sith and had begun to wonder if the Sith was related. Knowing that Lain was a Jedi, however, gave him inspiration and hope that it was a mere premonition. Regardless, he nodded, satisfied that nothing new had happened to Della. He had been there when they escorted her to the Jedi and had learned quite a bit about her, including some of her past. The memory that she sent him also confirmed a few of his silent questions.

Regardless, his eyes began tracking Lain's crimson colored lightsabers and his mind reacted instantly, full of instinct. His training under Shi-Gel-Hu, his master, had allowed him to develop his reflexes to a level that he would never have been able to obtain on his own. His deep blue blade descended quickly, his hilt was pointing vertically towards the ground. As he parried the strike, his lightsaber beam reflected off of the guard shotos and Fyston utilized this motion to follow through with his own attack, a horizontal slash at Lain's abdomen.

 

[Black Noise]

Lain began to hum, a quiet, small hum. As she hummed, she twisted her hands and Guard Shotos. After Fyston blocked her attack and moved to strike at her abdomen, Lain was already there to block. However, she only moved one Shoto to block, the other she brought around to slash at Fyston's completely unguarded side. While humming and striking, she smiled, while not strong enough to hold Fyston back for more than a second or two, that's all she needed to strike at him.

 

[Fyston]

Fyston realized that he had foolishly fallen for the trap that Lain posed merely by having two lightsabers. He had taken the bait without realizing it. He saw the blade coming and disengaged, preparing his body to move. Fyston leapt back, the guard shoto missing him by mere inches, whistling through the spot where he had just been. Fyston brought his lightsaber up into a guard position, determined to not fall into the same trap that he had just fallen for. Fyston knew that he would be at a disadvantage offensively, but by remaining on the defense he hoped to be able to perform at least somewhat decently.

 

[Black Noise]

Lain grinned, continuing to hum. Fyston almost fell for the trap of dual blades, almost. However, even though he would now be able to anticipate the attack, he wouldn't be able to move to the offensive at all without falling for the trap again. As Fyston moved back, Lain pulled onto the offensive. She leapt off her foot, flipping her body into the air. She stretched out her arms into a cross, causing the blades to do the same. Spinning in the air, she aimed to smash her Shotos one after the other into Fyston from above. If he attempted to block both blades head on, Lain would be able to overpower him with both her send and bash through his block. However, that was if he was foolish enough to attempt to block both strikes head on.

 

[TweedPawn]

The two warriors were impressive to behold. Della was learning much by simply relaxing and watching the duel unfold. It seemed barbaric, and loud. She began to think as her friend fought. Her concentration on the two padawans becoming more focused.

Not swift enough. Two steps. Be more direct. Divinity, Fyston can be slow.

Fyston was at a disadvantage, Della could sense it. Lain had more finesse of an athlete who was familiar with the sport. He was going to have to be faster. He would have to break Lain's concentration somehow.

 

[Fyston]

Fyston watched, analyzing his foe. As he withdrew himself into the defensive, Lain pressed the attack. She had more experience than he, though Fyston was determined to avoid being embarrassed, particularly in front of Della. He saw as she leapt into the air, spinning in the air like a top. It was graceful, though obvious and a waste of energy. She had two blades while he only had one. He could do more powerful attacks with a two handed grip while Lain had the advantage of blades and angles of attack. Her blades would slam into his and, citing what she had said earlier, would likely have deactivated his lightsaber. So, he moved just out of the way. He brought his lightsaber up in a block, set his feet, and waited for the right time...

Fyston waited until just after her first blade slammed into his, waiting for the perfect timing. When the time was right, however, he deactivated his lightsaber and moved ever so slightly to the side. He reactivated his lightsaber and the blue plasma erupted from his hilt again. He brought it down towards Lain, hoping to score a hit.

 

[Black Noise]

Lain, seeing Fyston deactivate his blade, immediately twisted her body to being her second saver around. As Fyston brought it down for a hit, Lain's twisted second saber, with the kinetic energy behind it, bashed into Fyston's attack. In that moment, in the few seconds that Lain, once again, had matched Fyston's strength with her own plus kinetic energy, she brought her around her first blade. Her first blade, moving like a blur, surged for Fyston's unprotected lower body.

Lain, while bringing her second saber around, kept tremendous pressure on the blade that was saber locked with Fyston's blade. She gathered the Force to her arm, attempting to continuously match his strength. That way, if he gave the slightest bit of ground to block Lain's first blade, he would be cut asunder by the second.

All this required immense concentration and focus on Lain's part, and she would begin wearing down very soon. But at the moment, this was her peak of strength, her moment of greatest power.

 

[Fyston]

He may not have the advantage in blade numbers, or even strength, but Fyston was sure that his determination would at least secure him a partial victory in that he didn't look like a complete youngling. He saw her swing her blade around to block his sneaky maneuver. He had to admit, the guard shoto was more pliant in certain situations and allowed for more outcomes in those situations. He personally wouldn't use such a weapon as it went against his chosen form of lightsaber combat, but he knew that any weapon, in the hands of an expert, was deadly.

He realized something, though. Neither of them had lowered their lightsaber power levels to a training level. They were working with fully powered weapons, a danger in itself. He glanced down and saw her swing at him with her second blade. He couldn't block both, not with only one lightsaber. He began to consider the advantages of having a second lightsaber in the event he met another Jar'Kai user. Regardless, he gathered the Force in his hand. He lowered his hand to the level of her attack and used the Force to keep her arm at a safe distance. He wasn't pushing her back with the Force, merely throwing up the energy as a magnet, repelling them from each other.

"We're done. Neither of us turned down our weapons. No more."

 

[TweedPawn]

Was it over? Della understood that she had witnessed an event that she was supposed to learn from. She was feeling much better now. The brief time she had in the shade helped her mind to relax, though not be completely free from burden. She was tired, but still ready to learn. So far, everyone had a chance to spar.

They had learned many things from each other. Fy was like a rock, but all he needed was a push and he would go tumbling down. But, when he was paired up with another aggressive attacker, it was quite something to behold.

Lain had something. Della couldn't explain it. She tapped her finger on the ground. Perhaps it was not the time to dwell on it.

 

[Black Noise]

Lain had just stopped herself short of stabbing Fyston when his hand came down. She wouldn't really hit him in any way. Lain pulled back and deactivated her blades. Twirling the hilts, she said.
"I wasn't going to hit you. Anywho, I won, and there isn't any shame in losing to me. I have been training since I was a little child how to fight. By the time I was ten I could take down two stormtroopers with vibroblades. Though, I don't fight the same way now that I did back then..."

Looking in Della's direction, Lain waved and called.
"Oi! Come on over here!"

 

[TweedPawn]

Della became alert as she was called over to Lain and Fyston.

"Yes?" she asked, curious as to what they were going to teach her. She couldn't imagine herself holding one of those weapons. They were loud, bright, and dangerous-looking. How could these Jedi hope to remain hidden and silent if their own weapons made so much clatter?

Perhaps, there was a way to make them more silent. To make them not glow as bright. If anyone would know, it would be Yuunda.

 

[Fyston]

Fyston nodded, accepting his defeat with humility and dignity but accepting it nonetheless. He deactivated his lightsaber and clipped the hilt back onto his belt.

"That's quite impressive. The only thing I could do when I was ten was pickpocket, though I like to say I did it well. If you don't mind and you have the time sometime, would you mind helping me improve?"

When Della arrived, he wasn't sure what Lain wanted to teach her. He didn't quite think she was ready for lightsaber training, at least not with an actual lightsaber. He walked over to a tree and broke off a few suitable sticks in the event that they would be sparring with Della.

 

[Black Noise]

Lain nodded, answering.
"I would love to assist you, and personally, I'd prefer learning to pickpocket over what I learned back then any day."
She looked down, a little ashamed. By the time she was eleven, she was adept at using Force Horror, she could, and did, drive full grown adult males to complete and utter insanity. Perking up, she asked.
"Anything either of you want to know? I should probably head off soon..."

 

[TweedPawn]

"Oh, I don't want to impose. I thought you two wanted to teach me more things. If you must go, I suppose Fyston could show me those strange things that he brought for today. As long as that is okay with you." Della said. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about Lain leaving.