Chapter Text
Tiannas friends' chatter is loud, but that is not unexpected. Tianna makes sure to listen to what her friends are saying, as the excitement of the upcoming trip causes them to talk faster and not be as coherent. Tianna tries to focus on the conversation, but her thoughts are racing. A mission like this is very important, a great honour, she thinks. We don't often get to go off planet for training, what if something happens and we can't go? What if the ship breaks? Or we run out of fuel?
Tianna keeps thinking like this, until a new thought plagues her mind. The padawan that is supposed to be accompanying them is late, and has yet to arrive. She starts to wonder if something has happened to them, if they're late, or might have forgotten? She is at the right place, surely. The Crucible is parked next to her, on the landing platform that has been extended from the Jedi Temple, all fueled up and ready for the trip ahead. Tianna knows that the ship has made many trips to Ilum, being the one that is used every time the Gathering takes place. Tianna knows this, yet she still worries.
“Are you OK Tianna? I can sense your unease.” Pentry , Tianna’s closest friend, says.Tianna comes out of her head, and back to the current moment. “Yeah, I'm fine. Just a bit worried about the trip” She says to the Rodian, trying to ease their mind.
“That's fine, everyone gets pre-mission jitters.” Mar says “ you could try meditating on the way there, if you're still nervous” He suggests. Fellow clan member Zak, a human male that Tianna isn't very close with, nods in encouragement.
“Thanks, but I'm sure I'll be fine. Has anyone seen the padawan learner that's supposed to be accompanying us?” Tianna asks instead, trying to divert the conversation away from herself.
Just as Tianna says this, she spots a young Twi’lek padawan learner running towards them. She looks a little out of breath as she composes herself in front 0f the younglings, getting ready to talk. “I'm sorry for being late, I was meditating in preparation for the mission, and lost track of time. My name is Seku Chethra, and I am the padawan that will be accompanying you on this journey.” Seku says.
The presence of the padawan eases Tianna's mind, and helps her focus. Padawan Chethra explains the reasoning behind the Gathering and its importance to the Jedi order and the individuals who undergo it. Once making sure the group of younglings understand, they board the Crucible and take off, flying over Coruscants giant city skyline and then breaking the atmosphere and heading into space.
Onboard the Crucible, Tianna's mind does not settle, instead a plethora of more questions enter her mind. She thinks about the trials she will have to face, wondering if she will pass or if she will fail. Ridiculous! Tianna thinks to herself, she knows she will pass, she has trained for this her whole life. Achieving one's kyber crystal for their lightsaber is a great honour, not an easy one, but also not one that is so easily failed. Tianna makes her way into the main training room of the ship where the rest of her friends and fellow younglings are. Tsark and Mar are using their training sabres to duel each other off to the side, with Pentry and Zak of off to the side giving tips and advice to the duelers. Nu’ssa, Tianna’s other closest friend, is on the other side of the room with another clan member, Kida, a female Zaberak, talking to padawan Chethra. Tianna decides to join them, hoping a discussion with the padawan will ease her nerves.
Tianna approaches Nu’ssa, who stops her conversation with Seku and Kida. Tianna hopes to talk to Seku in order to calm her mind and nerves, so that way she can have full focus when they land on Ilum. In the back of her mind, Tianna considers leaving the room to find a place to meditate in peace, but her thoughts are cut short as she feels the ship enter hyperspace.
“ We are on our way to Ilum now” Seku says, also sensing the ship entering hyperspace. “What can we expect from the trials on Ilum?” Tianna asks Seku. “The trials are different for everyone. The way one finds their Kyber crystal is personal to them, as it will help them overcome a fear they have or one of their past failings, or to teach a new lesson.” Seku Explains.
“What were your trials like?” Nu’ssa asks.
“For me, my Kyber crystal was across a chasm. I tried many times to jump across or pull the crystal towards me, but I was not successful. I was only focused on getting my crystal, and didn’t look at my surroundings. When I slowed my mind, and Focused on what was around me I noticed an opening to the side that had a path to where my crystal was. The lesson I took away from that was to not race to conclusions, and to consider all my options first, before making a decision” Seku says, smiling as she tells the story. “ I can sense that you are unsure, Tianna. I hope my story will help you. This is not something you need to stress over, your kyber crystal will make itself clear once we land and enter the caves.”
“Thank you, Padawan Chethra” Tianna says, her mind now finally slowing down, now that it has answers. This is something every jedi has gone through, Tianna thinks to herself. I am prepared, I am ready, I know I will not fail, I can do this. Tianna feels a bit more confident, more ready for the mission ahead. She is ready for whatever the trial her Kyber crystal has for her, and Tianna is ready to become a Jedi.