Ben sprung excitedly from his bed as the first slivers of the sunrise shown through the window. All the Padawans had been begging Master Luke for weeks to let this day happen, and he'd finally said yes. They'd get to hold a lightsaber tournament! At first Luke had told them that they shouldn't want to fight their comrades, but they'd gradually won't him down by saying they needed experience since they didn't go on missions like the Padawans of the original Jedi Order. Of course, Luke had finally caved and realized that they were benign children who wanted lightsaber practice without any malicious competitiveness.
By the time Ben had his robes on, everyone else was already in the central circle. "Now, I know all of you are excited for the lightsaber tournament," Master Luke said, "but before we do that, we are still going to have our daily meditation. Remember, to be a Jedi, above all else, you have to be in touch with yourself, your emotions, and the Force." Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, Luke would always caution them. They were mere younglings, having barely begun their training, less than a year. Ben didn't want to admit that he still sometimes got homesick. That was probably fear, and fear was bad.
Meditation time was much shorter than usual. Maybe Master Luke is excited too! Ben thought to himself. "Okay, first of all, some ground rules. The first to fall or be disarmed loses. Only lightsabers touch each other! Don't hit the other person with your lightsaber under any circumstances! Be careful that you don't accidentally hurt the other person."
All the rules sounded repetitive to Ben, so he tuned out. He was practically shaking with excitement, it would be so much fun!
"Okay, first up! Ben and Ytui!"
Ben stepped in the circle. Feel the Force. Their lightsabers both ignited, both of them blue since they hadn't made their own yet. Luke told them they could begin. Ytui ran towards Ben, swinging her lightsaber in a wide arc to the left. Ben sidestepped to dodge and drew his lightsaber up to meet hers. Quickly, they drew out from each other, making the first upright clash. Exhilaration rushed through Ben. Ytui was agile and quick, and Ben was having a bit of a hard time keeping up with her blows. Suddenly, she thrust toward him and he nearly dropped his lightsaber and fell. What? No! I have to win! Filled with a new fiery determination, Ben moved faster, harder, imbued with a new energy. Just as his flurry of attacks was about to disarm Ytui, he hesitated. This new energy felt strange, unnatural. As Ben paused, Ytui made a wide swing causing Ben to fall over.
"First round goes to Ytui! Now, up..."
The words were white noise to Ben. How had he lost? Why had he hesitated, it was just the Force! Everyone knew he was powerful, for God's sake he was a Skywalker! Yet he had lost in the first round. No, this can't happen again. he told himself.
Later, he seemed the only one to be rattled by the loss. As all the other students celebrated over dinner, he felt a bit detached, different. It was a foreign feeling to have. No one but him seemed to notice as they all discussed how awesome it had been. Don't they care? Ben worried. Even if they don't, at least I know Uncle Luke loves me.
Ben looked around. All he could see for miles was white sand. He walked and walked but couldn't find anyone. Until a soldier came up, grasping him, he couldn't move, couldn't defend himself. Then..."Dad? Dad! No!" Lying before him was his father, a hole from a lightsaber smoking in his chest, his eyes draining of life as he reached to stroke Ben's face one last time-
Ben startled awake, drenched in sweat. What was that? It was just a dream, but I feel so...afraid. No! Stop! Fear is bad. Just...don't. Don't what, he wasn't exactly sure. Don't think about it, perhaps, but the sight of his father's corpse was burned into his mind. Uncle Luke would be disappointed. I've already failed with lightsabers, I can't let him know about this now, too.
