A Mother's Touch

 Osha quickened her steps toward the causeway, each step more buoyant than the last. The Stranger followed her, amused, but suspicious about the wager between them. He had only begun to scratch the surface of her potential and was learning to appreciate her skills, which were so unlike his own.

Much like his Acolyte, he had much to learn. She was as much his teacher as he was hers. But unlike his former Master, he had no intention of ever throwing her away.

He extended his hand toward the surf and summoned three large boulders from the depths. Turning to her, his head cocked to the side in a playful challenge, he smirked. "Begin."

Osha drew her lightsaber from her belt, ignited it, and threw it. She sliced through the first and second rock with improved speed. She concentrated her efforts into guiding the spinning blade with accuracy until she had cut through the remaining third. With a smile, she retrieved her lightsaber, and returned the disengaged weapon to her belt before the stones had crashed back into the surf.

"Someone has been practicing," the Stranger said. He glanced at her, barely turning his head, and watched her through the dark bangs of his hair. "You attuned the holocron?"

"Last night." Osha shifted from side to side in almost child-like joy.

Chin raised in mock defiance, he snorted. "Clearly I didn't keep you busy enough last night?"

"I let you sleep in," she retorted with a laugh, "so you could get your strength back."

"Not bad for the first round," the Stranger said. "Your speed has definitely improved, but I'm not convinced. Again." This time he summoned five rocks from the seabed.

Osha bit her lip to hide her smile. She again ignited her lightsaber and threw it to begin the exercise. He allowed her to take the first two stones, unimpeded, but then swiftly drew his own lightsaber in an attempt to thwart her. She deftly avoided any contact with his weapon, weaving in and out of the line of stones to take out two more.

Confused, the Stranger recalled his lightsaber and split the hilt. With the main blade and its smaller twin ignited, he threw them has hard as he could, muscles bulging from the strain. His lightsabers arc in different directions to counter Osha's blade, but could not get close enough to deflect her weapon.

Closing his eyes, the Stranger drew in a deep breath and saw why. The manifestation of the Thread that she had avoided for so long was guiding her. Each time he tried to counter her, the ethereal strands shifted like the nerves of a living organism. They coiled and recoiled to manifest her will, and her will alone.

This was the breakthrough he had been waiting for, the breakthrough Osha needed to realize her true potential.

Sensing a presence, the Stranger opened his eyes. In his peripheral vision, he saw the apparition that had haunted his recent dreams. She was walking along the shoreline near the entrance to the causeway beside them.

Lost in the excitement of the exercise, Osha did not seem to notice her mother, watching from the end of the rocky shore.

A Mother's touch? The impact was undeniable. An indeliable mark, not unlike the Thread, and it ran far deeper than any pretentious code or doctrine of the Jedi Order. Whatever vision Aniseya had hoped to fulfill for Osha had come to fruition.

She bowed her head to him. With profound respect, the Stranger bowed back in thanks.

Osha cleverly sliced through the last rock, causing it to plummet back into the sea. Summoning her lightsaber, she caught it and raised the hilt over her head in triumph. She had exceeded his expectations in more ways he had ever anticipated. When the Stranger extended his hands to recall his lightsabers, they did not return to him.

His Acolyte snatched both hilts from the air and smirked at him. She reattached the halves and handed the weapon to him with a smug look, her chin raised to taunt him.

The remaining moss-covered rock crashed back into the surf with a roar. "You win," the Stranger conceded. He embraced Osha and held her against him. She laid her head against his chest and wrapped her arms about his waist. Her heart raced with elation and pride for her accomplishment.

As the apparition of Aniseya faded away, blending in with the shadows along the shoreline, the Stranger lovingly whispered a name into Osha's ear, a name he had not spoken in over fifty years.

"I have heard of you," Osha gasped, her eyes wide in shock.

The Stranger put a finger over her mouth, staring into her eyes. He bowed his head over her, leaning his forehead against hers. "I told you. That was a long time ago. I don't want to go back then. I want to here. Now. With you."

Shrugging out of the sleeve of her coat, Osha cupped his face in her hands. "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling like a swim."