Back to the Past, Chapter 1

After playing both KOTOR's I tried to figure out what had occurred between Revan and Bastila before the Jedi civil wars, so I wrote this. Stupid title

Back to the past

Padawan Revan and Apprentice Bastila hated each other.

That was the one fact that could be counted on staying the same in the Dantooine's Jedi Academy. It all began when Revan came to Dantooine from Coruscant with his mentor Master Kavar to train in the hidden academy, being one of the youngest Padawan's in a long time Revan's reputation among the students was one of constant annoyance to him, since everyone wanted to be friends with him, but he preferred his own peace, sitting on some rocks his face hidden by his dark brown cloaks hood. Bastila was alike him in many aspects, but these similarities only drove them deeper into their dislike of each other.

While walking down the few corridors on the Academy Revan heard a call for him through the force, his link with his master and mentor Kavar had grown so strong that he could communicate with him in any situation,' Revan...' Revan let out a small sigh; he had hoped that he could just get some practice with his Lightsaber.

'Apparently not...' He murmured grimacing and turning around.

Master Kavar looked at the young Apprentice in front of him, brown hair, and short around 16 years old. She looked like any other young girl in the galaxy except her eyes, those blue pools showed the internal strength that set her apart from any other girl. She stood there in front of the Council responsible for training of the Academy, Masters Vrook, Zhar, Dorak and Vandar, without showing any fear, but Kavar recognized one weakness in the girl: she was arrogant very arrogant in fact, like a Princess. When the automatic doors opened letting his Padawan enter his mouth automatically turned into a grin, his Padawan knew how to make an entrance, walking in his cloak fluttering around him. When Revan pushed the hood of his cloak back he saw the familiar face, long brown hair tied into a loose ponytail except for one part which was hung on the left side of his face in a padawans braid, 17 years old, blue eyes so like Bastila's, but that was where their commonalities ended where Bastila didn't let her emotions show, Revan held no such qualms, when Revan was hungry, angry or annoyed everybody knew it from light years away.

'What is the princess doing here?' Revan's annoyance could clearly be heard from his voice.

Bastila trying to control her dislike of the man recited the Jedi Code 'There is no emotion there is peace... there is emotion but not peace.' Damned how did that man do it? Make her lose control over herself without even speaking so much of a word.

Recognizing what was about to happen Zhar stepped forward. 'Now young ones, there will be no need for violence.' Zhar's calm voice made Bastila bow in shame of how she had lost control, but Revan simply put his hands in the folds of his robes, and while Bastila bowed he took a look at her backside giving a low, but quite audible wolf whistle. Flushing red with embarrassment Bastila spoke to hide her embarrassment,' Why have you called me here Master?'

Zhar continued,' Now as you are both aware a Guardian Jedi is always put to protect a Sentinel or a Consular student' Both of the two nodded, it was a standard procedure in the training, it gave Jedi Guardians experience in protecting those who were physically less capable than them, Sentinels and Consulars on the other hand learned to get used to being protected while they studied mysteries of the force. Revan's mind worked at a furious pace, putting together the clues: he was a guardian, Bastila was a Sentinel, and they were in the same room, and worst of all, Kavar was grinning. Before Zhar could continue he was interrupted by Revan exclaiming,' Oh Bloody Hell!'

'Indeed.' Said Vrook in his dry manner, 'That was what I thought.'

'You are NOT going to make me protect little Miss Perfect!' Revan's voice sounded almost pleading now, like he was being told to go to feed the rancor.

At this moment Bastila chose her moment to start pleading,' Please Masters I urge you to reconsider...'

Kavar was chuckling at the sight of the two finally agreeing on something.

'The Councils decision stands now Revan you are dismissed.' Zhar still had a commanding sound to his voice.

Revan pulling his hood back up bowed, not too low though and marched out of the room, but as soon as the door closed everyone could hear the sound of something breaking and a scream of frustration.

'Need not fear young Apprentice,' said Vandar 'Responsible he is, look after you he will.'

Bastila frowned as she turned around and left the councils chambers. She didn't get far, when she walked past the practice room usually reserved for Guardians she decided to take a peek. Her eyes widened when she saw Revan punching a bag without his shirt, showing the firm muscles of his stomach, his hair was flying around wildly. Blushing crimson Bastila ran to her room. Even while she laid her body down on her bed and closed her eyes the image of half naked Revan taking a swing at the bag remained burned inside her head, mmm he did look rather good that way... shaking her head in horror she banished the thought of a sweaty Revan... damn... didn't work.

Beating the bag wasn't doing any good to his dark mood, of all the students in the academy why her? She was the most annoying brat he had every met! Quoting the Jedi Code every chance she got, and every time he and Malak tried to leave for the cantina out in town she tried to catch them and reported to the council! What had he done to earn her spite? Even though the question in his mind was completely rhetorical his brain generated the answer: he had embarrassed her every chance he got. So what? He was evil, who gave a shit? Well: Vrook, Bastila, and several other students, but that didn't mean he was a bad guy, right? Taking a deep breath he grabbed his tunic and cloak headed for his chambers. Ignoring the glares of several Jedi Knights as he pushed his way through them. When he got to his room he stripped off his clothes and went to take a shower before getting to sleep. Maybe he could have fun with the princess apprentice after all...

1st day

Breakfast

Bastila woke up with a start; an impatient knock was quite audible from the door of her chamber. Pulling a robe to cover herself she opened the door to reveal Revan standing there his face covered by the hood of his Jedi robes.

'What are you doing here?' She asked impatiently 'Come for another shot? Just figured a great insult?'

Even though she could barely make out his face from the folds of his robes she could have sworn that he was smirking,' Just coming to get the Princess out of her chambers.' He relaxed against a wall 'You didn't forget that the Council told me to baby sit you, now did you?'

She blushed under his intent glare, she had totally forgotten. She had to put every ounce of confidence she had to speak back to him,' Wait here until I have pulled some clothing on.'

Revan's usual smirk could be seen even from the folds of his hood as he bowed mockingly,' Not a problem your Majesty.'

Closing the door behind her she went to her drawer, pulling on the usual Padawans attire: white tunic, white pants, soft brown boots. She chose to leave the hooded cloak since Revan was wearing one. Clipping her Lightsaber into her belt she opened the door and started towards the cafeteria, without a word Revan fell aside of her matching her shorter legs furious pace with easy long strides of his longer legs. Even when she tried to lose him she could feel the amused glance boring its way into the back of her head.

'What are you looking at?' She asked in an annoyed voice.

'A stubborn Jedi Princess who also happens to be the most annoying brat in this galaxy. Who else?' Came Revan's sardonic reply.

Turning around stunned, Bastila wondered why did this man always make her feel so dumb. Not that she had expected admittance of love or anything, but what he had said hurt more than she wanted to admit.

'What? Did you expect me to vow my immortal love for you, or maybe recite a soppy love poem?'

Turning around to hide the pain in her eyes, she walked even faster to reach the cafeteria and do... do exactly what? Revan would be with her for a month, first three weeks at the academy and finally a week at a camp where they would be alone. Suddenly she felt a hand hesitantly lower onto her shoulder, twirling around she faced Revan who looked almost sorry for what he had said,' Sorry Princess.' His voice was soft, softer than she had ever heard before. She gritted her teeth,' Don't mention it, I mean it don't mention it.' Turning around she kept walking setting a brisk pace.

Despite his utterly nasty demeanor Revan was very much in tune with people's emotions, and now he sensed that what he had said had really hurt the Princ... Bastila. Alright maybe 'sorry' didn't quite cover the extent of hurt that he had hurled on the girl, but well it was a start, maybe he could try to be a bit nicer to her. Not for the first nor last time Revan swore that the Masters were right bastards. It was going to a long month...

Bastila's heart raced faster than ever before, Revan had apologized for what he had said! That was a new one. Maybe the two of them could be if not friends or soul mates at least civil towards each other. When the most unlikely pair entered the cafeteria all conversation ceased for several seconds when everybody took in the once in a life time chance of seeing Revan and Bastila walk in together.

Revan looked over to see Bastila blush bright red when she found everyone staring at them; she wasn't used to being in the middle of attention he realized. When he looked around he found his best friend Malak waving for him to come and sit in the same table. Looking over to Bastila he said,' Could we sit with Malak and the rest of the Padawans?' He spoke the words with extreme care, for if he failed he would have to sit in a table filled with Apprentices, he shuddered at even the thought. Bastila seemed to consider the proposal, even when she was only an Apprentice, sitting in the Padawans table was quite an honor. Waving her hand like giving a gift to a lesser she followed Revan to the table. When he walked to his friend he gritted his teeth and decided to throw the noble 'give the Princess a break' crap go, everything was allowed in love and war right? There was no love, but he could surely turn this into war.

When Malak saw his best friend Revan being followed by Bastila Shan he gave Revan a surprised look and send a question using telepathy to Revan,' What is she doing here?' He could see Revan's annoyance clearly on his face,' I have being placed as her Guardian.' Laughing out loud Malak said,' That's funny...' Even when his body was shuddering with sobs of laughter he could see that neither Revan nor Bastila found this very amusing. Grabbing a tray Revan strode away to the food line. Grabbing some warmed up bantha and warm bread along with some juice (not juma juice though) he marched back and sat down opposite to Malak. Swallowing some of his juice he grabbed his bread and pulled it in half, showing some bantha slices inside he took a large bite. After seeing Bastila's disgusted expression he wondered what had he done now. Bastila on the other hand was eating small bites of bread dipped in who knew what sauce.

'Snob' Revan muttered under his breath.

This statement almost caused Malak to choke in his food, and even though Bastila hadn't heard what Revan had said she was pretty sure that it had something to do with her. She gave Revan a cold glare and wiped her hands in a towel before grabbing another piece of bread. Revan took a sip of his tea and finished his quite greasy meal. Bastila was surely taking her time with eating now wasn't she? I mean how long could it take to chew down a piece of bread?

1st day

History

After an hour of sitting and listening to Master Dorak recount the Great Hyperspace War Revan had gained great respect for Jedi Sentinels patience, Dorak's monotone voice just kept going and going... 'the sith blah blah fought during bleh...' How could the Princess take this everyday without going insane? Looking over the from his meditation position over the heads of other sentinel students he could see the familiar braided hair, even though he couldn't see her face he could sense her frustration which was almost as great as his. Glancing around the room he spotted several female sentinels in training looking over him, giving them a rakish grin which made them giggle he resumed his meditation. For the second time in one day he cursed the Council for putting him into this position. He couldn't protect the Princess very well if he strangled himself now could he? He called upon the force and started to levitate several inches above the floor, after hearing several gasps he understood his mistake, every single student in the room was an Apprentice and as such had not being taught levitation. Master Dorak was emitting waves of annoyance for the interruption. Oh great now he had pissed off a Jedi Master. Sighing he lowered himself to the floor, and Master Dorak resumed his boring recounting of Exar Kun's exploits. Even through closed eyes and his hood he could sense Bastila's jealousy, but why would she be jealous of him? Shaking his head he thought of any reason why she would be jealous of him he didn't figure it so well he'd just have to find out wouldn't he?

Revan sighed with relieve when the most unlikely pair left the academy and went to a small river that ran about a mile from the Academy. Sitting down on a river bank in complete silence. Both of them were thinking of a way to stop the awkward silence.

Revan pulled back his hood letting the fresh spring air refresh his skin, it felt good, very good. He could feel Bastila's eyes in the back of his head, studying his face, for some reason, until he understood, he used the hood so often that most people couldn't recognize his face. Even Malak had seen his face only in training sessions when he had to have full vision.

Revan wasn't bad looking, not bad looking at all. His face had deep lines, probably hurt she realized, life had not being easy and it had left it's mark on him. But everything else in his face showed the strength of a youth, he had the most sparkling eyes she had seen. When Revan looked back at her she realized that she had being staring at him. Blushing she turned away, but this way Revan could see her profile. She was pretty he decided.

'Is Dorak always so boring?' Revan asked offhandedly.

'No sometimes he is having a bad day.' She smiled a little, this made Revan whistle.

'Sheesh who knew that the Princess could be so humorous?' Revans voice was slightly mocking, but most of it sounded pleased that she wasn't entirely stuck up.

Looking up at him she laughed,' Well I suppose you are bad influence on me...'

In mock indignation Revan countered,' I would hardly say that the influence is bad.'

'Now.' Revan begun, 'I will teach you the full power of the force!' Revan smirked and clapped his hands together creating a wall of force that banged into another wall.

Lifting herself up Bastila waited for Revan to attack, even though this was clearly sacrilege toward the Jedi teachings she was smiling as she waited for his move. In a flash Revan's Lightsaber leaped into his hands, and was ignited with a loud snap and hiss. Bastila also ignited her yellow saber and waited for Revan to attack. She knew that Revan was one of the finest Lightsaber duelist and she was one of the worst, but she was smiling for the first time in a long time. Revan leaped at her and sliced down, softly, making sure that he didn't hurt the girl. Bastila even though the blade came down slowly barely had time to deflect it. The two crossed blades, blue and yellow pushed against each other. Revan was clearly the stronger and in a second he pushed Bastila's blade aside and held his saber by her throat.

'Your stance is weak, but that wasn't bad, not bad at all Princess.' He said 'When you have to lock saber's with a stronger opponent kick him in the foot.'

Bastila's eyes widened when Revan didn't mock her, but helped her by telling what to do, so maybe they could be more than civil towards each other.

1st day

Lightsaber practice

Under Master Vrook, the Sentinels slashed and stabbed in pairs. Revan could have looked at the better combatants, but he ignored them his eyes were studying Bastila's movements. He immediately after seeing her lose to another student understood her mistake, well not really a mistake as much as a trait. He chuckled as Master Vrook gave Bastila the wrong reason for failing. You did not become the Padawan of the orders Weapons Master Kavar without knowing how to win a fight. Standing up he walked over to the grouchy master.

'Excuse me Master Vrook' He said as respectfully as he could muster 'would you mind if I took several rounds with the Apprentice Bastila?'

Master Vrook took a moment to consider this, in which time Bastila looked at him with a fear clearly showing on her face.

'Easy pet not going to embarrass you in front of these pillocks.' Revan's telepathic message said in her head. Relaxing a bit she walked over to Revan and smiled a bit. That smile made her beautiful Revan noted inside his head.

'Very well Padawan Revan, show us how you would teach her.' Vrook's voice rung with arrogance and he emphasized the word Padawan.

Walking over to the training mat Revan shrugged off his cloak and said,' Alright princess ignite!' Bastila ignited her saber and took the classical chii-shoo lightsaber stance. After studying her for a moment, he looked over at Vrook,' She will never wield a single blade very well Master, but she has the potential for a saberstaff.' Vrook shook his head clearly thinking that Bastila would never become a good duelist no matter what. Now Revan's blue Guardian's blade ignited with the classical snap and a hiss, he felt like always a sense of distance when he held the blue blade. He took the stance that Kavar had taught him for several months: Juyo. The style was the most aggressive one and the only person in the room that recognized the stance was Vrook. Bastila clearly not knowing how to defend against a style that was taught solely to Jedi Weapon Masters and their Padawans, took a step back. Bastila tried to study the style like she had seen Revan study Malak when the two friends sparred. The foot work that Revan put into the style told her nothing, neither did the way he held the blade only his eyes said that he was coming in hard. Revan did was holding one hand before him pointing at her while the blade was vertically across his abdomen. He begun with a stab that she already had problems with dodging, she didn't even think of blocking it. Knowing that she couldn't defend against the skill that Revan had she knew her only chance was to attack, she sliced and stabbed after that, but stumbled, this mistake allowed Revan to jump over her twisting his body around so that he landed looking at her back. He chopped. Without even thinking Bastila parried the blow by placing her blade vertically over her head, taken aback Revan grinned as Bastila turned around with a bewildered look on her face. Lowering his blade he bowed to the girl, after a second she bowed back and the two walked off the mat and sat down.

Ignoring the jealous looks from the female students Bastila sat opposite to Revan on the floor.

'I wasn't thinking of what I was doing' She said stunned 'I have never before blocked so well.' Now for the first time she saw Revan truly smile without a hint of sarcasm or irony 'That's how it should be pet, the greatest Guardians don't think of what they are doing, they let the force guide their hands.' Bastila frowned at this 'But I was taught that sword fighting and force using are two things best kept separate.'

Revan was stunned, what the hell did the Sentinel teachers teach the poor girl! Well looked like it was up to him to fix their mistakes,' Well Kavar once told me that I was such a good swordsman, not because I was strong or agile, but because I let my instincts rule during the fight.' Seeing that Bastila was listening with a concentrated look on her face he decided to continue,' This is what Kavar told me to always do: don't think, feel use your instincts. And draw on the force to augment yourself.' Bastila nodded, it did make sense. 'Do you know what the force is Bastila?'

'Do you know what the force is Bastila?' The question was so simple, but so complicated, her mouth open like a fish on dry land she tried to think of a response when suddenly Revan's larger hand enveloped her smaller one. Looking her directly in the eyes he said,' This is the force, we are the force.' As if to make a point he squeezed lightly. Trying to ignore that feeling that butterflies were flying in her stomach she wondered what he meant.

'So what you are saying is that in whatever we do we should always use the force.' She said this so slowly as if afraid that she could be wrong. Smiling once again and giving her hand a squeeze he nodded,' That's right, but remember, not to rely on the force too much or it will prove to be your downfall.'

'Class dismissed.' Shouted Vrook.

'Night pet.'

'Good night Revan.' As she closed to door she couldn't believe what just had happened, Revan had being friendly to her! Even when she fell asleep she was smiling.

Revan felt good, better than he had felt in a long time. No feeling of guilt over his shoulders, just simple feeling of happiness and elation.

*Hate it love it tell me!*