Sorry this is so late. With lockdown in South Africa has come an excessive amount of collage homework. So I hope you all enjoy this the latest chapter.

In the last year of the Clone Wars, Alex sat listlessly in the quarters he shared with his master at the Jedi Temple. In the last few weeks he kept hearing rumours of a knighting for several padawans around his age, characteristically, he was petrified that Master Windu would put his name forward. Knighthood was something he wasn't particularly looking forward to obtaining, the moment he'd lost his arm to Greivous he became convinced he wouldn't ever be ready. He sat forcing himself to remain calm, trying fruitlessly to immerse himself in the Force. Coupled with rumours of being shipped off to the Outer Rim Sieges, Alex was left feeling restless and nervous.

Finally giving up on trying to meditate, he bounced himself to his feet and strode to the door to leave. Only to find, when he reached the door, that Mace was coming in he froze, "Master? I thought you were in a Council meeting."

Mace nodded tiredly, "We just finished, I need some rest."

Alex stepped aside and let Mace pass, "Master. Do you need anything?"

Mace shook his head, "No, only some rest."

Alex nodded and took two steps towards the door before freezing again, "Master, about the Trials, did you put my name forward?"

Mace tiredly turned back to him, smiling gently, "I did, you're more than ready and hardly the youngest to be knighted."

Alex looked down at his mechanical right hand, "I don't think I'm ready yet, I still have so much to learn."

Sighing Mace walked back to his Padawan, "You more than earned your knighthood in the battle of Taris."

"That's the point Master, I shouldn't have earned it in battle." Alex said, clenching both his fists, "I survived an un-winnable battle and got most of my troops killed."

Mace sighed, "You can't save everyone in war."

"Jedi shouldn't be leading armies in war. I don't know anything but war, I've heard stories of what we should be." Alex paused for a moment considering his words, "Master can't you feel it, the encroaching Darkness?"

Mace frowned, "I can, it's stronger than I've ever felt it."

"Then we should be pushing it back, routing out the Sith ourselves. Leave the war to the GAR, let us do what we are meant to do." Alex said fiercely, "Let me learn to be a guardian of the peace."

Mace grimaced, "We can't abandon the War effort Padawan."

"Can't we? The Clone don't need us to fight, they're created for war." Alex practically shouted at Mace.

"They're children! We can't leave them to suffer without our guidance." Mace sternly replied, now standing over Alex.

"I was a child too, look what happened to me!" Alex jabbed his cybernetic hand in Mace's face, "Look what your guidance did to me!"

Mace deflated, the temporary fire in his eyes dying as he wilted, "Go, I need to meditate."

Alex bowed stiffly as he left, making his way down to the dojo. When he arrived he found Anakin and his Padawan sparring, Ahsoka bouncing around her master with practiced grace. Anakin continuously countered each of her assaults with his own practiced ease, "Come on Ahsoka, you can do better than that."

"Funny." She shot back, bouncing away from him.

Anakin grinned at her, "It is, you're using far too much energy to fight, you will tire yourself out far faster than if you do it my way."

The two Jedi paused and looked round at the newcomer, Anakin grinned, "Look who it is, need some more extra-curricular training?"

Alex smiled weakly, "I just want to take my mind off things."

Anakin nodded, "Then you can work with Ahsoka." He stepped off the mat, indicating to Alex that he should take his place. "I'll watch."

Alex nodded, taking a deep breath and stepping into a neutral opening stance, both hands holding his lightsaber in front of him, the blade still inactive. Taking a deep breath, he activated the weapon, the purple of its blade blazing to life in Ahsoka's direction.
Ahsoka readied her own blades in response, slowly stepping to the side as the two padawans began to circle each other. Neither willing to make the opening move, until Alex darted forwards, opening with a jab aimed at Ahsoka's torso. With expert grace, Ahsoka twisted out of the way, pushing Alex's blade away from her with one blade, quickly coming around to jab at Alex with the other while his saber was firmly locked on the other side of her body. To counter her attack he switched to a one-handed grip and quickly reached his arm around to grab Ahsoka's forearm and pull his lightsaber around maintaining a lock with Ahsoka's other blade, hooking it around her back.

Ahsoka pulled back, swinging her blade over her head and kicking away from Alex, forcing him to stumble back as she gracefully flipped back a few paces. Anakin laughed from the sidelines, "What was that Padawan Amidala? Have you given up on sparring already?"

Alex grimaced, "Sorry, Master."

"Try again, but don't be so open. I know Master Windu taught you better than that." Anakin said, crossing his arms, "Fight like you're actually trying."

Alex nodded, Ahsoka speaking up for him, "Master, he's worried about the knighting rumours."

"Ah. I don't think there is anything to worry about, you're still very young." Anakin said reassuringly.

Alex shook his head, "It's not that, Master Windu confirmed the rumours to me. I'm to be knighted in a week."

Anakin blinked, "You are?"

Ahsoka looked equally surprised, dropping her guard for a moment, "Congratulations then."

"I'm not ready, not even close." Alex said, starting to absentmindedly twirl his lightsaber. The tip sparking against the floor as the lowered power output of the saber caused the weapon to bounce off the floor with a series of electrical arcs.

Ahsoka shifted back into her opening stance, "Come on, o knighted one."

"Is that how it is then?" Alex said, lifting his 'saber above his head. Instantly launching forwards with a swift blow aimed at Ahsoka's head. She blocked the strike with her blades crossed, as well as the followup blow at her midriff. Leading into a flurry of back and forth strikes, pushing each other around the sparring mat. Alex danced around Ahsoka with some impressively fancy footwork, each spinning around the other as they tried to outflank one another. Every time his blade connected with one of hers he spun around, attempting to get passed her guard with spins and powerful blows that would throw her off balance just enough to keep her from countering.

However that didn't manage to hold Ahsoka off for long, as soon as she regained her balance, she simply ducked under one of his strikes and moved in for a counter-attack. She slashed at Alex's head with both blades, forcing him back as he barely managed to get his blade up in time to stop the blow. Ahsoka reversed the flow of the fight, going on the offensive with a flurry of alternating blows from each of her lightsabers. Alex struggled to keep up with her dual attacks, forcing him to bend backwards to dodge around her strikes. Bouncing back and out of range, Alex took a deep breath and forced himself to fall into the Force for guidance. His entire body relaxed, the rigidity that had thus far dominated his movements fading as he allowed the Force to take over. The one skill he'd managed to hone to a level he felt was worthy of a Jedi Knight; moving meditation.

Ahsoka found her blades blocked at every turn as Alex's 'saber became a blur of purple, bouncing from blade to blade at incredible speeds to stop each of her attacks. Alex could tell most that his moving meditation was perfect, but as a side effect he couldn't actively attack when he utilised it. Something held him back from that, a phantom pain that would rip through his robotic arm and the connection between flesh and metal. This meant that the fight became one of attrition, or would have had the two Padawans been fighting to the death. Suddenly Anakin called for the two to stop, "Ahsoka take a break, there's something I want to test."

Ahsoka's blades vanished, "Yes, Master." She and Alex bowed to each other before she walked to a nearby bench and took a seat.

Anakin stood across from Alex, "What makes you so sure you aren't ready to become a knight?"

Alex dropped his still active lightsaber to his side, "Because I'm reckless, I act without thought for those around me."

Anakin regarded his son for a moment, "The same could be said of me." With that his brilliant blue blade blazed to life.

"That doesn't fill me with confidence." Alex replied, spinning his lightsaber and bringing it up over his head.

Anakin's eyes danced with mirth, "You sound like Obi-Wan."

"I don't!" Alex said hotly, opening with a feinting attack to Anakin's head, switching at the last possible moment to slash at his wrist. Anakin countered with an almost gentle tap from his blade pushing Alex's away.

"Such an obvious start, come now we both know your Master has taught you better than that." Anakin said, pushing Alex back with little more than the pressure of his chosen form.

Alex groaned, "Please don't bring that up again."

"Alex, he taught you a form that even I'm banned from learning, you need to trust that knowledge." Anakin said, in a warm, kind tone that Ahsoka hadn't heard from him before. Not that he'd ever been needlessly harsh with her, or anything but an older brother. To her he sounded fatherly, and it felt strange coming from him of all people.

Alex nodded slowly and moved into the opening stance of Vaapad, taking one last deep breath, he shot forwards. His footwork mimicking his Master's perfectly, the blade-work, however, was sloppy, attempting the same attacking sequences he'd used against Ahsoka. Anakin easily saw through them all, "You're not even trying." Anakin said, locking blades with Alex, "What's the point in coming here if you won't even try?"

Alex gritted his teeth, pushing through the lock to twist his blade under Anakin's. However given Anakin's greater experience and strength the move he was attempting was proven impossible as Anakin simply disengaged, pushing Alex back. Without much warning, Alex launched forwards, striking at Anakin with a heavy handed assault of his own Dejiim So. Every strike acting like a hammer blow, as his attacks intensified, his frustrations at not being heard started to rise in his gut. His form finally started shifting as those frustrations became rage. Now he was truly testing Anakin, the purple of his blade blurring yet again as he immersed himself in the emotion.

Anakin finally grinned, "See there you go. You can do it."

Alex didn't reply, muscle memory taking over and he pressed the attack, the fact that he was sparring began to fade from his mind. His attacks became far more vicious, targeted towards what would certainly be killing blows had he not been fighting one of the most talented swordsmen within the Jedi Temple. The fact that Anakin was holding him off simply fed his rage as he started to draw from the Darkness he'd been trying to avoid for so long.

The moment the Darkness started to radiate from Alex, Anakin caught the purple 'saber in a lock, with a twist he flicked the blade from Alex's hands. Following that with a single swift move, he swiped Alex's legs out from under him and pinned him to the floor. The moment he hit the floor the Darkness faded, though not entirely. He could feel it buried under the Light Alex normally exuded, "That was a close one."

Alex let out a gasping breath, "Get off, you're crushing me."

Anakin stood up helping his son to his feet, "What happened there? You felt so dark."

Alex winced, "I… I channeled everything, everything I felt, all the anger and frustration."

"Maybe don't fall into it so deeply." Anakin said wearily, looking over at Ahsoka who was staring worriedly at her friend. It was disconcerting to see the Darkside come so easily to someone the Order had deemed wise enough to become a Jedi Knight, something felt off about it.

"Alex, what was that?" Ahsoka said standing.

Alex grimaced, "It's been happening a lot more recently, you can feel it in the Force, too. That encroaching Darkness."

Anakin grimaced, "All the Jedi can, it blankets everything."

Alex held out a hand calling his lightsaber back to him before returning the tool to his belt, "It keeps intruding, I…" he trailed off as the door opened revealing the diminutive form of Jedi Master Yoda.

"Padawan Amidala, speak with you may I?" The small Master asked from the doorway.

Alex looked at Anakin for some form of approval, a look Yoda missed as he slowly turned to leave. Ahsoka caught it, but didn't understand. Anakin shrugged and gestured with his head, beckoning Alex to follow the ancient master.
Alex nodded and walked after Yoda, his usual brisk walk slowed down to match Yoda's painfully slow pace.

"Troubled, are you?" Yoda asked once Alex was in step with him.

Alex blinked, "I'm not sure I understand."

Yoda looked up at Alex, "Weighs heavily on your mind, your knighting does?"

Alex nodded slowly, "I'm not ready Master. I… I feel out of balance with myself."

Yoda nodded, "Balance. A Jedi's eternal struggle with themselves, our duty, it is, to find balance."

Alex frowned, clenching his cybernetic hand, "I feel like I'm slipping further from balance with each battle. The more I fight, the more it seeps in."

Yoda's ears drooped, "Felt it too, I have. Consuming the Jedi, this war is I fear."

Alex nodded slowly, "I shouldn't be knighted on my battlefield prowess. It's not right for a Jedi."

"Agree with you, I do. The council's choice, it was, for your knighting. Disagree I do." Yoda stopped at a turbo lift, indicating that Alex should join him. The rest of the walk was spent in silence, ending at the top of the Spire of Tranquility. Yoda lead Alex to a quiet corner of the chamber, climbing onto a bench that rimmed the room.

"Master, why come here?" Alex asked, sitting beside him.

"Peaceful, it is." Was Yoda's reply as he closed his eyes.

Alex mimicked Yoda, however while Yoda was able to find peace within the Force, Alex felt buffeted, pushed and pulled in millions of directions all at once, unable to find peace or an anchor. At least until he latched onto the brilliantly glowing presence of his father and their familial bond, 'Father?'

He could feel annoyance radiating from Anakin, who seemed to be outside the door of the rooms he shared with his master. He could also feel the presence of Master Windu, though it felt tired; that commanding presence, worn down to a tired shell of what it had been when Alex had started his apprenticeship. Anakin's presence stood in stark contrast like a raging storm, a storm which calmed when Alex called out to Anakin.

'Alex? What is it?' Anakin replied, 'I'm a bit busy.'

'It's starting, the knighting ceremony.' Alex replied solemnly.

Anakin froze, 'Now?'

'Yes, I'm not ready for this.' Alex said, hunching over his crossed legs.

'Alex, you never think you're ready. This is the next step.' Anakin said, true excitement overtaking his earlier ire.

'If you say so.' Alex replied, withdrawing back into himself.

A few seconds later the door to the door opened again and a number of Jedi entered. Several Padawans entered with them, taking up positions around the room, all settling into mediative trances. Alex could feel them, their glaring at him, even in silent meditation, was as obvious to him as the Darkness itself. Most saw him as the 'pet Padawan' of the council, which wasn't strictly true, especially recently given the arguments that were happening more and more. Alex forced himself to retain control, delving into the Force, searching for something to distract himself.

What he found instead was a vision of a city burning, Clones fighting Mandalorians in blue armour. The vision shifted quickly to show Ahsoka with a pair of blue 'sabers, facing down an unseen enemy. The deep hum of a bled Kyber Crystal filling the room, a twirl of dual red blades hurtled at Ahsoka. She just barely managed to get her blades up in time to repulse the assault, as the blades clashed the vision shifted to the interior of a Venerator, showing a Zabrak with red and black markings covering his face and all visible skin, he strode down a corridor surrounded by blaster fire. Again the vision shifted, this time to a huge bridge covered in snow and a platoon of Clones with purple markings on their armour. Looking to his right, there was a massive explosion throwing a tank across his path, destroying a communications array, an image the vision lingered on for longer than any other. The vision began shifting again until a voice cut through it all, 'Did you tell your mother?' Anakin's voice returning Alex to the present.

'No, I didn't think it would happen this soon.' Alex replied, wincing slightly, 'I thought I'd be able to change Master Windu's mind.'

'I'll tell her then.' Anakin said, and Alex could swear he was laughing.

'Can't I tell her when it's done?' Alex pleaded, 'I can still talk my way out of this.'

'Not a chance, enjoy your night of introspection.' Anakin chuckled.

Alex groaned as Anakin's presence faded away, slowly he drifted back into the torrents and eddies of the Force. This time he saw nothing and simply fell asleep, only waking up when his master tapped him on the shoulder. His head jerked to the side as he woke up, "Master?"

"It's time Alex." Mace said in the gentlest voice Alex had ever heard from him.

"I still don't feel I'm ready, Master, I'm not powerful enough." Alex forced himself to his feet.

"Have faith, young one, you're as ready as I was." Mace replied as he walked to the door.

Alex held his hand up to stroke his padawan braid, his fingers lingering on the last band, "I… I'll trust in your word Master."

The walk to the Hall of Knighthood was silent, neither Alex or Mace could find anything to say, so not a single word was spoken between them. Mace entered the Hall first, indicating Alex should wait until summoned. Alex took a deep breath and pulled the hood of his robe over his head, whispering to himself, "You can do this, you can do this."

There was a slight nudge through the Force, a call to enter. As he stepped through the door, Alex could feel the warmth of his father's presence, which he instantly latched onto. Something Anakin obviously noticed as he sent back waves of reassurance, calming Alex. Stepping into the room, he was surrounded by darkness, the door snapped shut behind him and the room was suddenly illuminated with the light of twelve lightsabers. Looking to his right he caught the eye of his father, who simply winked at him.

"Step forward, Padawan." Mace intoned. Alex silently stepped forwards and knelt before Mace, "Alexander Amidala." Mace lowered his lightsaber to Alex's right shoulder, "By the right of the council," Mace moved his lightsaber to Alex's other shoulder, "By the will of the Force." Mace moved his lightsaber back, slipping it under Alex's Padawan braid and sharply flicking his lightsaber upwards, severing the braid. "I dumb thee Knight of the Republic. "

Alex slowly rose to his feet and bowed, "Thank you, Master."

Finally I'm getting to the Luke and Leia arc, which I'm pretty excited to write.