5
As the heavy chamber doors closed behind Master Krell, the Council remained seated in contemplative silence. For a moment, the room was filled only with the soft hum of the Temple’s energy field and the distant sounds of Coruscant’s traffic.
It was Shaak Ti who spoke first. “Unusual, it is, for Master Krell to take on an apprentice amid war. He has never shown interest in training a Padawan before.”
Mace Windu nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. “And more unusual still that he chose a Force-sensitive with no prior training. It is one thing to find a child with potential, but to take her as a Padawan immediately—without consulting the Council—is a matter of concern.”
“She is not a youngling raised in the Temple,” Ki-Adi-Mundi added. “She has no foundation in Jedi teachings, no understanding of our ways. To throw her into battle so unprepared is irresponsible at best.”
“Irresponsible, dangerous, it is,” Yoda murmured, tapping his gimer stick against the floor. “Untrained, the girl remains. Yet strong in the Force, she is.”
There was a pause as the Masters turned their attention inward, sensing through the Force. A current of energy, subtle yet persistent, shimmered around the child in question. It was not the untamed, raw power of a Force-sensitive who had gone unnoticed—it was something different. A brightness, a pull of fate that was undeniable.
“The Force moves strongly around her,” Plo Koon observed, his deep voice contemplative. “It does not feel like a mistake that she has come into our Order now, even if the circumstances are unorthodox.”
“Even so,” Depa Billaba said, frowning, “she is still a child, one without years of training like the other Padawans. How does Master Krell expect her to survive? He is a demanding teacher, and his methods... harsh. She is not like the clones—she is not bred for war.”
“She should not be on the battlefield at all,” Stass Allie interjected. “She should be here, at the Temple, where she can be properly trained if need be.”
Mace Windu exhaled slowly. “Perhaps. But that is not the reality before us. Master Krell has already claimed responsibility for her training, and in the eyes of the Order, that holds weight. We have agreed to allow it, though it is a decision that must be monitored closely. One had introduced the girl many shatter points broke, the worst of them.”
“She is of the right age for a Padawan,” Plo Koon mused. “The force is strong with her and bright, much like Skywalker.”
A silence followed. It went unsaid that the ‘chosen one’ was one of the strongest recorded force users to date. With another with equal power in the force, the girl could be a dangerous opponent if found by the Sith.
“Perhaps the Force brought her to Krell for a reason,” Shaak Ti said at last. “She must be guided, lest she be lost.”
Yoda hummed in agreement, though his expression remained heavy with concern. “When next Master Krell returns, see the girl, we will. Mediate with her we will, to see the answers of the force.”
Mace Windu straightened, his decision firm. “And we must remind Master Krell of something else: Clones are not expendable. His high mortality rates are unacceptable. If he is to continue leading, he must adjust his methods.”
A murmur of agreement spread through the chamber. The war demanded sacrifices, but Jedi were not meant to treat their soldiers as disposable. If Krell refused to learn, it would become a problem beyond this new Padawan.
“Then it is decided,” Yoda concluded. “Watch closely, we will. But for now, our focus must turn to Ryloth. Time, we have little.”
The Council fell into silence once more, their discussion shifting to the pressing matters of war. Yet even as they spoke of battle strategies and supply lines, the presence of Wisteria Potter lingered in their minds. They had all felt her when she ventured into the force for the fist time. Something that bright would have been impossible to hide from them. That begged the question of where she had been the past 14 years.
Krell took a deep breath, his mind racing. The Council’s decision to provisionally accept Wisteria into the Jedi Order was unexpected, though not unwelcome. If she were to walk the Jedi path, she would need proper tools and instruction—not just his guidance, that he understood. Yet he sought a higher role for her.
Strutting through the temple halls, Krell made his way to the Archives. The expansive chamber was bathed in soft golden light, with rows upon rows of datapads and scrolls containing millennia of knowledge. Madam Nu greeted him with her usual stern demeanour.
“Master Krell,” she said, her voice cool but polite. “What brings you to the Archives today?”
“I require basic training materials for a padawan,” Krell replied, his deep voice resonating.
Jocasta Nu raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “A padawan? I had not heard you were taking one. From what clan do they adhere to?”
“It was a recent development,” Krell said shortly, his tone discouraging further inquiry.
The archivist scrutinised him momentarily but decided not to press the matter. She gestured toward a nearby console and entered a series of codes: “You’ll find what you need here. The standard curriculum includes holocrons and lesson plans on meditation, lightsaber forms, galactic ethics, and Jedi philosophy. If you wish to include additional resources, you may request them.”
Krell nodded, quickly selecting a collection of the basics and intermediate lightsaber combat forms, math, astronavigation and a host of other subjects. As he scanned the selection, he considered Wisteria’s unique abilities. She had shown an aptitude for meditation and an unusual affinity for blending the Force with her... other talents. He knew she had thought she had hidden her otherness from him, but the bond they had surged differently when she used her other powers.
“Transfer these to a datapad,” he instructed.
Jocasta inclined her head and activated the transfer, the datapad glowing faintly as the information was uploaded “May the Force be with you, Master Krell,” she said.
Without another word, Krell tucked the datapad into his robes and left the Archives. His next destination was the armoury.
The Jedi Temple armoury was a secure and sacred space, filled with training weapons and equipment used by all stages of training. Krell entered, his towering frame drawing the attention of the quartermaster, a slender Mon Calamari named Master Zinn Korr.
“Master Krell,” Zinn greeted, his webbed hands clasped together. “How can I assist you?”
“I require a training blade,” Krell said. “Something suitable for a Padawan, durable enough to withstand rigorous use.”
Zinn tilted his head. “A new apprentice, I take it. How exciting.”
“Not so much exciting as necessary,” Krell muttered. “The blade?”
Zinn gestured to a rack of neatly arranged training sabres, their hilts gleaming under the soft lighting. He selected one and handed it to Krell. The weapon was slightly longer than the modern lightsaber. Its blade is still powered by a proper kyber crystal, not a synthetic kind. Showing up plainly in the force, indicating the age of the saber. Its owner must have passed so long ago that there was no longer any residual force resonance. It had a unique wooden element to the handle; it would do until Wisteria could travel to Illum and get her crystal.
“This one should suffice,” Zinn said. “It’s a slightly older design, though the force is guiding me towards it for you, padawan. I recommend going through katas again before using it in active duty.” Zinn handed him a belt holster for the blade as well. “She’ll need this, too. And remind her not to leave it lying around. You’d be surprised how often that happens.”
Krell nodded, taking the blade and holster. “Thank you.”
“May the Force be with you,” Zinn said as Krell turned to leave.
Returning to his ship, Krell considered how best to incorporate the materials into Wisteria’s gruelling training schedule. The girl was already showing major improvements from when he had first picked her up.
Back on the “Indomitable,” Wisteria's life had settled into a routine of training and healing. She spent hours meditating, honing her connection to the Force, and assisting in the medbay, where her magical abilities continued to astonish and aid the medical staff. The clones had become her family, their bond growing stronger with each passing day.
Krell's absence left a noticeable void, but Wisteria used the time to deepen her friendships and studies. Hermoine would be proud. Krell had left as soon as he had gotten the memo leaving them to finish the cleanup on Teth which put him about four days ahead in travel, he had said he would spend 2 days maximum at the temple before coming back with our new orders so that gave her around 10 days to have fun with her friends.
Rookie and Breaker had died in one of the many battles Krell had led. The separatists kept sending small battalions in an effort to get them to move out, but by Krell’s order, they stood firm. Even though they had no reason to hold this planet for the republic. Ria was sure it was his pride and ego talking.
One evening, she found herself in the barracks with Crus, Fang, Mech, Stripe, and Hawk. They had gathered around a small table enjoying the rare moment of relaxation. When Wisteria entered the room, her presence immediately brightened the atmosphere. The clones greeted her warmly, and she felt a surge of affection for her newfound family. She made her way over to Hawk, who smiled and opened his arms, inviting her to sit with him.
Wisteria settled herself on Hawk's lap, feeling a sense of peace wash over her as he began to stroke her head gently. The other clones gathered around; they were very tactile by nature as they had lacked warmth from a young age, much like her.
“We missed you, kid,” Fang said, ruffling her hair affectionately. “So, still enjoying life without Krell?” his tone teasing but curious.
“Missed you all too,” Wisteria replied, chuckling softly. “It's been different but nice. I've had more time to focus on my healing work in the medbay and to spend time with all of you.”
Crus nodded approvingly.
As the conversation continued, Wisteria felt herself growing drowsy, the soothing rhythm of Hawk's strokes lulling her into a state of relaxation. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift off, her head resting against his chest, secure in the knowledge that she was surrounded by friends who cared for her deeply.
She woke up to the familiar warmth of the barracks, surrounded by the gentle breathing and comforting presence of her clone family. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she took a moment to savour the rare peace that filled the room. Hawk's hand was still resting on her head, his fingers gently tangled in her hair. As she stirred, he woke with a soft smile.
“Good morning, kid,” Hawk greeted, his voice a low rumble.
“Morning, Hawk,” Wisteria replied, stretching and yawning. She glanced around the room, noting that the other clones were also starting to wake. Crus, Fang, Mech, and Stripe were already moving about, preparing for the day ahead.
“Sleep well?” Crus asked, pausing in his routine to give her a warm smile.
Wisteria nodded. “Yeah, I did. Thanks, Crus.”
The morning routine in the barracks was comfortable. Wisteria joined the clones in their morning exercises, appreciating the way they included her in their routines without hesitation. They shared stories and jokes over breakfast. She liked eating in the mess with all the clones; it was lonely before, just eating every meal in her room.
After breakfast, Wisteria excused herself and made her way to the meditation room. The ship hummed softly around her as she walked through the corridors, her mind already beginning to settle into the calm focus she needed for her training. She entered the dimly lit room and settled onto the cushion.
She reached out with her senses, feeling the Force flow around her. It was a practice she had become increasingly familiar with, thanks to the rigorous training. As she meditated, she felt the presence of the clones, the hum of the ship's systems, and the distant, almost imperceptible pulse of the galaxy beyond. Stars and planets. Their bright light beamed with billions of lives.
Time seemed to blur as she delved deeper into her meditation, her awareness expanding and contracting with each breath. She likes to think of the force as the Great Lake. Most were happy to watch by the bankside; some would wet their toes, allowing the water to move around, yet not be taken into the deeps like the rare few. She enjoyed the depth, battling the harsh currents and pressure, the cold and hot flashes, the way the force hugged her almost chokingly. It was dangerous, yet she thrived here. Where the force was at its most pure state, unbidden.
She lost track of how long she had been sitting there when she finally felt a shift in the Force—a familiar, commanding presence approaching.
Wisteria opened her eyes as General Krell entered the room, his imposing figure casting a shadow across the floor. He looked down at her, his expression unreadable.
“Potter,” Krell greeted, his voice as stern as ever. “How was your meditation?”
“It was good, Master,” Wisteria replied, slipping easily into parseltongue, standing up and bowing slightly. “I feel more attuned to the Force.”
Krell nodded approvingly. “Today, we will continue the next step in your training. Follow me.”
Wisteria followed Krell through the corridors, focusing on the lessons ahead. They spent the rest of the day in intense training. Krell was a demanding teacher, but Wisteria knew this. Sometimes, he scared her with his resolve. She previously compared him to Snape, which, looking back, was wrong. Yeah, Krell was uptight and restricting and dishing out insults at every action, but he was also possessive, which reminded her of Tom. He always had a tight grip on her, keeping her close to him. It was frightening in a way that she didn’t mind at first. It was almost nice to have someone that protective and possessive of her.
That was until she faced her first punishment, disciplinary action. It was also her first lightsabre lesson. Master Krell had given her one of his staff to go through Form I Shii-Cho, which now she was exceptional at, if not to pat her own back. It seemed that her natural affinity for the sabre made her Master excited for better words, and when she failed to live up to them, he made sure she knew her body was bruised beyond anything. he was merciless, and she had gone against a dragon, so it was telling.
Another disciplinary action she was not fond of was when she wasn’t allowed to visit the medbay, They lost a lot of soldiers due to her Master's pettiness because she decided to disobey him and interact with clones knowingly. What happened was she was tired, ran into Bix and apologised. how was she to know her master was around the corner?
But enough about the past; training was brutal, like always. She ran the obstacle six times before they moved on to the force application. She was made to hold 3 troopers in the air whilst running laps of the training room. It was the only time she was ever allowed to interact with clones, but Krell made sure that none of the Gryffindor squad participated. It only took her eight tries to stop dropping one or two, a new record and then moved to cover both Form II and III, and Krell seemed proud from the little she could gather from the bond.
That was another new thing after coming back: he had given her a pile of datapads and given her a padawan braid and also cut her hair – just like before, it grew back the next day. Him adding beads to signify her advancement from the few tests he had made her through throughout the week when he had gotten back meant she wasn’t completely ignorant of the workings of the galaxy.
Though the hair problem outed her magic, Krell had a knowing look in his eyes when her hair was back to its full length. Apparently, for space people, hair growing that fast was uncommon. Even with the best hair products.
Once the training session was over, Krell dismissed her with a curt nod. “Remember, discipline is key. Do not let your power control you.”
“I understand, Master,” Wisteria replied, bowing again before leaving the room. Classic Krell, not even a comment on her good progress. Merlin, why can’t he just give some positive affirmation? It's not so hard.
As she walked back to the quarters, the ship's comm system crackled to life with an announcement: “All personnel, prepare for Final Jump to Hyperspace destination Kamino. Repeat. All personnel, prepare for Final Jump to Hyperspace destination Kamino”
Wisteria quickened her pace. The first time she experienced hyperspace jumps, she slipped and hit her head like a clumsy first-year student from the shock. It was only because she was in her room that no one saw, but she didn’t want to risk it happening again. Anyway, she had a task to complete, and Krell gave her more responsibilities by doing some of the restocking documents. They never got the right number of medical supplies for the clones. Not to mention she also had to do her stretches, her flexibility had improved massively her favourite thing was doing backflips and now she could compress her body so tight it was like Sonic rolling around.
The star destroyer shuddered slightly as it began its journey, the stars outside the viewports blurring as the ship jumped to hyperspace. It had been a good few weeks since Krell came back from the temple with their assignment. But Ria had the feeling that he was stalling as they made several minor jumps, proving backup for some aerial assaults on their way to restock at Kamino.
Wisteria never thought she would be doing paperwork in space, yet she now found herself signing off on datapads when not training. That and spending time in her chest, she was reading through a few books now on rune work and was excited to try a few that would help protect her brothers. Though she was missing a rune knife, it seemed like there was one in the house somewhere. Sirius’s note did say everything she would need could be found in the house. How he had the money for this, she would never know; she knew he was rich, but even she doubted she had the funds for this.
Yet, back to the paperwork, Coal had brought her food again, as usual. Though she had already eaten in the house. It was stocked with lots of food under freshening spells to keep it from rotting. She did enjoy the rations, but something about Earth food always brought a smile to her face.
The rhythmic hum of the ship lulled her into a state of relaxation before sleep could claim her. Krell had burst into her room, causing her to throw the pad in the air.
“Master, you scared me.”
“You didn’t sense me, apprentice.” The disappointment was thick in his voice.
“Forgive-”
“Forgiveness is a weakness that kills on the battlefield, little one. Come I want to go through Form V both Shien and Djem So variants, they are the most appropriate for blaster fire,” Krell commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“What about form IV Master?”
From the look she got, it was another of his deemed stupid questions.
“Ataru is acrobatic, and your flexibility is not at that level yet.”
At least she got an answer; normally, he would shrug her off. Wisteria nodded and followed Krell through the ship's corridors. They walked in silence until they reached a large training room. In the centre of the room lay a training sabre and a datapad, clearly prepared for her arrival.
Spending 10 hours training every day put them throw it. She remembered when she started, she could hardly stand after the first 6. Though the new sabre he had gifted her with helped, it fit her much better than his staff. It had a long handle that curved ever so slightly.
The blue blade extended, glowing brightly in the dim room. Expanding her sight over the weapon, she could feel the kyber crystal. Its song was slow and faint, more like a soft melody, though it did call out to her.
“Form V focuses on strength and aggression,” Krell explained, taking a stance opposite her. “It is designed to defend against blaster fire and overpower opponents through brute force. Watch closely.”
Krell demonstrated a series of powerful strikes and parries, his movements fluid and precise despite his formidable size. Wisteria observed intently, noting the controlled aggression and strength behind each move.
“Now, you try,” Krell instructed, stepping back to give her space.
Wisteria took a deep breath, mimicking Krell's stance. She began to move through the sequence he had shown her, her strikes tentative at first but growing more confident with each repetition. The sabre felt natural in her hand, an extension of her will and focus. The crystal did react to her, she could feel the difference with every strike. It hungered for her to impose her will over it. To claim it as hers.
“Good,” Krell said, his tone approving. “Remember, use strength to overwhelm your opponent.”
Wisteria nodded, increasing the power behind her strikes. It was hard; though she trained, she didn’t have much muscle to force strength. Instead, she had to use her whole body in the movement.
Krell watched her progress with a critical eye, offering corrections with every strike. “Your form is improving, but you must remain vigilant. Do not let your guard down.”
As the training session continued, Wisteria felt herself growing comfortable in the stance. From the Chrono, it had been 4 hours, which was a good time to take a break. However, it looked like Krell would prolong the session. They had four days until they reached Kamino, so Krell had plenty of time to work Wisteria to the bone. After a few more hours of intense practice, Krell finally called for a halt. Wisteria deactivated her sabre, panting heavily. Her legs felt like they had been hit with a jelly leg hex.
“Well done,” Krell said, handing her the datapad. “Here are your lesson plans. Study them thoroughly.” That was the second compliment today, which implied something was off. One compliment was believable, but two spelt troubles, but for whom?
Wisteria took the datapad, scrolling through the extensive materials. It contained detailed instructions on various forms of lightsabre combat, meditation techniques, and Force exercises. Along with courses like philosophy and Galactic Politics, it seemed that Krell picked all her courses. The only good thing was that it was more varied compared to the Hogwarts curriculum. Hermione would have loved this.
“Thank you, Master,” Wisteria said.
Krell nodded, his expression softening slightly. “You have great potential. But remember, power must be tempered with discipline. Do not let your abilities consume you.”
She had heard this thousands of times from him, always the same thing. How she practically glowed in the force. How strong her connection was and the dangers it brought.
“I understand,” Wisteria replied.
As Krell left the training room, Wisteria also retired to her room, better clean up before Coal came back to collect her dishes. She had befriended all her ‘serving clones.’ Coal brought all her food; Wick brought her paperwork and took them to the General when she had finished. Lessy was her Masters' messenger clone. From the little she could get, the three of them were batchmates and also original members of the battalion not picked up like most of the members. The sad thing was that he treated them like house elves, and unlike Dobby, she couldn’t give them sockets to set them free.
Wisteria now had a saber to take care of. It was a pretty thing with a holly wood-like pattering on the handle, and it hooked onto her belt, making her look like a true Jedi apprentice. Though if all Jedi were like Krell, then she wanted out of the club; being subscripted into the war was enough.