Chapter 62: Prelude To Phantom Menace Episode I
[Jedi Temple, Coruscant, Galactic City, 32 BBY]
(3rd Person: POV)
In one of the Jedi Temple many training rooms lightsaber's clashed.
Facing off against each other in a sparring match Marcellus and Yennali's bodies moved in a flurry of motions. As they unleashed attack after attack against each other. With no sign of either backing down or going on the defensive.
Which isn't really possible for either Marcellus or Yennali, for both are currently using Form IV: Ataru, in their sparring match.
At Yennali's request.
Having spent many years being Plo-Koon's Padawan Yennali had learned from him the lightsaber combat styles he favored. Which were form's IV and V.
And although Yennali was progressing smoothly in mastering form V, she realized she was lacking in form IV.
So she decided to ask a skilled user of form IV to spar with her to help her progress in the lightsaber combat style.
The skilled using being Marcellus.
For although he too learned form V from his master Sifo-Dyas, when it came to form IV Marcellus was a natural in it.
All of his friends said so, and even Sifo-Dyas did.
Which is why Marcellus primarily used form IV in combat.
It really worked for him.
The clashed of lightsabers continued, until it came to an end.
With Marcellus claiming victory.
"Looks like I win again." Marcellus spoke. Offering Yennali his left hand.
Which she took to stand up. "Yeah, this time. But next time you won't be so lucky." Yennali retorted.
"We'll see." Marcellus replied. Deactivating his lightsaber.
Yennali did the same thing with her own.
Right they did Serra and Kento walked into the room. The latter with a sour expression on his face, and grumbling under his breathe.
"Hey guys." Serra said.
"Hey Serra." Yennali replied. Noticing Kento's attitude as she did. "Hey Kento, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Kento replied with a grumble.
"Oh don't mind him, he's just upset because he got his butt handed to him earlier." Serra spoke.
Earning her a glare from Kento, which she ignored.
"Oh he did, did he?" Yennali asked. "Tell me more."
"There's nothing to tell. I simply lost a sparring match is all." Kento quickly spoke.
"If that was all it was you wouldn't be brooding like you are now." Marcellus said.
"I'm not brooding." Kento replied.
"Yes you are." His three friends spoke at the exact same time.
"Whatever." Kento grumbled.
"So Serra, you are going to tell us how Kento ended up brooding." Marcellus said.
"Right." Serra replied. "So today master Drallig held a class where he had Padawan's like us instruct the younglings. To show them a glimpse of what awaits in their future. And the instructors were me, Kento, and another female Padawan by the name of Mallie." She spoke. "The lesson started out fine at first, but then Kento started showing off like usual."
"Hey!" Kento exclaimed. "I don't show off." He said.
"No, you do." Serra immediately replied.
"You definitely do." Marcellus added.
"You are the very definition of a show off." Yennali spoke.
Hearing his friends comments Kento's body was struck by invisible red arrows. For he took severe emotional damage.
"So, back to what I was saying." Serra spoke. "Kento began showing off, but he didn't get very far before Mallie called him out on it and told him to straight up stop. Which Kento didn't take to kindly too. Then one thing led to another and they ended up deciding to settle things with a sparring match. Which Kento lost."
"Okay. But if he simply just lost a sparring match he wouldn't be brooding." Yennali said.
"Correct you are Yennali." Serra said. "The reason Kento is like he is now is because of how he lost the sparring match."
"Oh, and how did he lose it?" Marcellus asked.
At Marcellus question Serra struggled to hold back her laughter. "Well, the other Padawan Mallie used telekinesis and forced Kento's hand to touch her chest. After which he froze up, and she then proceeded to beat him down." She explained. Serra unable to contain her laughter any longer.
"Pfft!"
"Hehehe!"
Marcellus and Yennali also began laughing.
As his friend did this Kento's cheeks began turning pink due to embarrassment. "Quiet, it's not funny!" He said.
"No, it really is." Marcellus managed to say in between laughter.
"It was cheating!" Kento said.
"Well real battles are never fair, so technically it wasn't." Yennali said in between her laughs. "So hey, how did it feel?" She asked.
"How did it feel?" Kento muttered. It then only took him a few seconds to realize what Yennali was talking. Which sent his face from a soft pink to a burning red. "Yennali, what the hell are you saying?! Just how much has Van rubbed off on you?!"
For the question Yennali just asked was definitely one Van would've if he were present.
"I would say a lot, considering we're dating." Yennali replied.
She then immediately realized the words that came out of her mouth. Making her stop her laughter.
It also caused Marcellus and Serra to stop laughing as well, putting the room into a silence. In addition Serra and Kento got shocked expressions on their faces and began staring at Yennali.
Serra getting a strange feeling in her chest upon hearing Yennali and Van were dating. Yet she couldn't place it.
The young Keto wouldn't realize until later the feeling she just experienced was called jealousy.
"Yennali, you and Van are dating?" Serra asked.
"We are." Yennali replied without hesitation.
"Since when?" Kento asked. "No, rather are you guys crazy? If the order finds out you'll both be expelled."
"And?" Yennali replied. "Let the order kick us out. Neither I nor Van care." She said. "As for how long the two of us have been together it started last year. Also, sorry we didn't tell you guys. We weren't trying to hide it from you, but we wanted to enjoy it ourselves for a bit before letting others know."
"I see." Kento mused.
"No, it's okay Yennali. We understand." Serra replied. Noticing Marcellus didn't have a shocked expression on his face. "Marcellus, I see you aren't surprised by this."
"Well, I knew about them." Marcellus replied. "But they didn't tell me, I simply learned about it by accident." He quickly spoke. "And Van and Yennali asked me not to say anything."
"Ah, I see." Serra said.
"Okay, what's happened has happened. Let's just move on from it as Van would say." Kento said. "Speaking off, have any of you heard from him since he left?" He asked.
For Van had gone to ground two months ago and no one had heard a peep from him since.
"Nope." Yennali replied.
"Not a word." Serra said.
"Not even one communication." Marcellus said. "But I'm sure he's fine. Especially with HK-47 watching his back."
Everyone nodded their head in agreement with Marcellus statement.
For they had all known Van for a long time, and knew he was no pushover.
Still, as his friend they couldn't but wonder where he was and if he was doing well.
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[Space, Mid Rim Territories]
Piloting the Milano Van had a savage grin on his face as he used his ships heavy laser cannons to destroy a pair of starfighter's he was trailing.
For at the moment he was engaged in battle with a group of slavers.
Backed up my the members of his recently created mercenary squadron.
Which Van had chosen to name Dominicus.
Looking at the readout from his scanners Van saw he had more starfighters incoming.
Yet that didn't deter him one bit.
In fact it only made him even more excited.
Pushing on the thrusters of the Milano Van accelerated his ship forward, straight into the fray.
Needless to say his friends didn't need to worry about him in the slightest.
For Van was having the time of his life.
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A/N: So for those of you wondering, yes the harem is still going to happen.
But it's not going to be Van catching all the girls, or them simply accepting things as they are. I'm trying to make the romance as realistic as possible. So there will be a bit of drama in this harem-fic.
Though not too much.
Stay tuned for more.