Dauntless -Clone Wars

Training

[Random training moments between Anakin and Ahsoka...]

"Ahsoka, this has to stop."

"What does?" She was still shaking from what she saw in her simulation, but you'd never be able to tell by the expression on her face.

"The creating-things-out-of-nowhere. Normal people don't do that. I didn't."

"So? What's wrong with it?"

Anakin yanked her by the arm and pulled her down a dark hallway, keeping his voice low. "Listen. Okay? Just listen to me. Remember when I told you that you were special?"

"Yeah?"

"It means you can create things out of nowehere in your simulations. It means that you're constantly aware. If it were up to me, I'd say that it was a good thing. But not here, not in any faction. If you want to fit in, you have to follow the rules. The rules say that you can't do what you've been doing. The purpose of the simulations is to get you to think logically through your fears. Think about it, if the people in your simulation were attacking you in real life, you couldn't just create a trap door like you did back there. You'd have to fight or find a way out, right?"

"But I don't get why you're making such a big deal out of this! I was terrified back there! I didn't realize I did that!"

"You are dangerous. You're not following the rules. What's going to happen when a faction leader discovers that someone's changing the game and not following the system? What's going to happen when someone doesn't fit in? When someone is divergent like you? They're a threat. They can create issues where there shouldn't be any. They'll come after you, Ahsoka. They. Will. Kill you."

"I'm not a problem. I'm going to be dauntless." Her voice cracked as she spoke, like she was struggling to speak. Her eyes might have been watery too, he couldn't tell in the dark. Maybe he wasn't using the right tone, or was being too aggressive, but he didn't know how else to stress how much danger she was in.

"I've known people like you, okay? They're...gone now." His voice softened. "I'm not going to let the same happen to you. I'm going to help you. Once you pass initiation, you'll be fine. For now, just do as I tell you. You're going to be fine." Hesitently, he pulled her into a hug. It wasn't something he always did, but from what he'd heard it was engrained in Amity culture and right now she needed it.

. . . . . . .

"Grab it!"

"I can't!"

"Yeah, well, you're gonna have to, Snips!"

"Are you crazy? I'm 40 meters off the ground!" 

"You're a meter away from it!"

"No! I can't grab on!"

"Do it!"

Ahsoka lept up, reaching for the bar and barely grasped on. Cheers went up on the ground, Anakin grinned and talked back into his walkie-talkie. "Now climb down."

"I dunno. I like the view up here. The wind feels great."

"Well, I'd leave you up there but you have to give other initiates a chance."

"Fine."

Anakin stuffed it back in his pocket and turned to the initiates behind him. "Just so you know, she set a record. Next person to break hers gets to sit back and watch for the rest of today."

. . . . . . .

"You broke my record you know, scaling that building."

"I did?"

"Yep. It's a shame someone broke yours."

"Huh. Looks like me and you will have something to do this week."

He narrowed his eyes in curiosity. 

She grinned. "We'll have to a set a new record."

. . . . . . .

"I hope you know I can't feel my knuckles, Skyguy."

"Good, that means you're making progress."

"What if I don't want to make progress?"

"So you want to be factionless then? That could be arranged."

"No...I'll keep training."

"Let's run through the sequence again. Hit me hard this time."

"Oh with pleasure."

"Wait, make sure your punches are controlled- ow! Ahsoka! Ow! Stop it! That doesn't count!"

"You said to hit you hard!"

"Waving around like a limp chicken isn't going to get you anywhere. Try again. And take it easy on the channeling your anger. This is training. Not beat-up-your-instructor day."

"But I was beating you."

"You wish, Snips."

"Someday..."

. . . . . . .

"We're going to go through your fear landscape. I'll be with you, but you have to figure out how to get out of them. Logically. No jumping through walls. Got it?"

"Got it, Skyguy."

He groaned. "Please stop calling me that."

"Hmm...nah, it irritates you too much." 

"For the love of..."

. . . . . . .

"You're getting distracted."

Ahsoka blinked. "Huh? By what?"

"That Erudite transfer boy." Anakin half stopped himself from saying good-for-nothing somewhere in there.

"What? Who? Lux?"

Anakin grumbled. "Yes."

"I-I'm not distracted."

"Good. You'd better not be. Because you're fighting him tomorrow and I want you to win. It'll lock your place in."

"I'm fighting Lux?"

"Yeah, problem? I don't set the matches up."

"N-no...I just..."

"Just what? Don't want to hurt him? Listen, in Dauntless we-"

"I got it. I'll...beat him. No worries."

He glared. "Good."

"But I don't see what's wrong with it. I haven't done anything. Besides, a lot of the other initiates are...you know...dating already."

"It's not that. I just want to see you win, okay?"

"Yeah...Got it."