Luke Skywalker, the Last Jedi, faces his toughest challenge yet. After taking his Jedi vows, he assumes the misbelief that love has no place in his life. As a result, he denies the love he craves in order to establish the New Jedi Order and maintain...
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❶ "One, two, three, four," Naluma chanted while Leia moved Luke's green lightsaber into the set forms for Shii-Cho.
Luke said from the corner, "Footwork, Leia. Bring your right foot forward there and shift your weight."
Leia grunted. Maybe I should have waited a few more weeks before starting this back up. I'm so tired. She gazed over to her brother holding her son, seemingly lost in the wonder of the boy. Ben. I'm doing this for Ben. Come on. Leia, you can do this. With a big yawn, she reset to the opening position.
"Again. One, two, three, four, fi—"
Luke crossed to the two Padawan. "If you keep doing it wrong, you'll burn it into your muscles wrong. It will leave you wide open for attack."
Leia narrowed her eyes at him and then held her saber in the opening stance once more. When Luke nodded at Naluma, the woman deactivated her saber and moved behind Leia.
Now what are these two planning?
Naluma wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and grabbed her hands.
"Try it again. Naluma will correct you if you do it wrong."
"I can do this on my own." Leia rebuffed the taller woman.
Luke rolled his eyes at her. "No, you can't, or you would have already done it right. Now control yourself. Think it through. We'll take it a little slower this time. One ... two ... three ... four ... five ... six ... seven ... eight. One ... two ... three ... four ..."
After three passes at the languid pace, Leia said, "I think I've got it. Let's speed it up."
"Patience, Padawan, patience. One ... two ... three ... four ... five ... six ... seven ... eight."
Seven more passes transpired before Luke would allow her to speed it up—and allow Naluma to relax her grip. She slid beside Leia and joined her in the form, matching stroke for stroke.
"Yes. Good. Now, let go your conscious self, and let your muscles react to it." Ben squawked a little in his arms. "Faster now with more intensity."
Leia and Naluma, green and violet blades shimmering in the dusk on the private terrace, doubled their speed.
"Now reach out with the Force. Transfer control to it. Let it move through you, around you."
