Project: Padawan

Chapter 1

 --Flare's POV--    

     Flare was a girl who liked things the way they were. Sure, she wasn't very high ranked in her group, the Fire elementals, but she knew that one day she would be. She also knew that her her best friend, Blaze, was kind and funny, but also was snobbish about being higher ranked, and would do anything to keep it that way. 

     Her mother, Inferno, and her father, Char, were both out training their apprentices, Lightning and Glow, who were each eight and nice to Flare. 

     Her pale gold skin and yellow eyes, as well as her glinting, retractable silver claws, gave her the look of being beautiful and dangerous. She was the best fighter of all of the apprentices in her age group, despite her being only six, and her two six year old twin brothers, Ember and Flame, a close second.

          As Flare walked out of her family cave, her brother, Flame, who had just arrived from training, he exclaimed to her, "Hey, Flare! Did you hear that weird noise earlier? Probably those annoying Jedi again. They sure do love their chemicals." As the elemental groups, they had little use for technology, and those on the upper levels used chemicals and technology a lot. It was a wonder that they could still breathe with all of those pollutants in the air.

     Just then, Char and Inferno came back, and then went to the general weaponry cave to put away the sparring staffs, swords, and pasta strainers (just kidding on that last one). The entire Fire group environment was built in and on an enormous volcano, and most of the huts were built from woven strands of fire, by Smoke, the deputy and most skilled fire manipulator. Smoke would become leader after their current leader, Spark, died. 

     Then Flare heard a call. "Let all fire wielders gather on the rim!" It was a summon, and everyone had to gather around the rim of the volcano for an announcement, usually from Spark, although others could also call for a meeting. Flare walked out, and saw the whole group already gathered, arranged in rows by rank, and, like always, she was near the back. I wonder what this is all about, she thought to herself. 

       She saw Spark, with light yellow skin and beautiful gold eyes, looked regal in her dark red leader's cape, leggings, and tunic, alongside the deputy, Smoke, in his scarlet pants and short tunic, with the healer, Kindle, who wore a long, pale yellow tunic and leggings. That meant something important was going to happen.

     "Fire elementals!" That was Spark, calling for silence. "We called you here today because of the reason we are imprisoned down here, away from the light and afraid to show our faces. The Jed-"

     She was cut off by the sound of footsteps. Two shapes emerged. Two humans, a master and an apprentice. Both of them Jedi. About to destroy the Fire elemental's entire way of life.

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     Smoke drew her glinting silver sword, as did everyone in the group. The warriors pushed Flare and all of those her age behind them for their safety, but Flare was a curious little girl and managed to slip back in near the front. 

     "We know who you are, and we know that you have made level one habitable again. As this is not your planet, you all will leave and move to a different one," the older Jedi began.

     "Why should we do what you want? We are not going anywhere." Replied Spark. She casually flicked one ear, a signal for everyone to put away their weapons. "I challenge you to single combat. If I win, you leave us alone. If you win, we leave and you get the level back. You'll see that all of the other leaders have already consented to this." 

     The other leaders melted out of the shadows. First came the Earth elemental leader, a tall Togruta, his dark green cape and paler green tunic and pants accenting his pale blue skin, dark brown and white head tails, and yellow eyes. The next leader was the Water elemental leader, a pale blue skinned Nautolan, her beautiful hazel eyes and flowing turquoise dress only adding to the impression that she was very graceful. Then last came the Air elemental leader, a powerful looking S'kytri woman with mint green skin, pale blond hair, and gleaming silver eyes that seemed to see right through everyone.                

    The older Jedi nodded, but then shook his head. "No, if you win, we leave you alone but one child from each group must become a Jedi."

     Spark looked to the other leaders for confirmation, and they all nodded once. "Deal." she said. After she said it, just about everyone from every group came toward them from the shadows, and as one they headed for the training arena to watch the battle that would determine their fate.