Author's Note: I've been wanting to do a character study piece on Obi-Wan Kenobi for quite some time now and have struggled with coming up with a structure to do so. The problem with Obi-Wan is that his story covers many decades and for much of it he is alone. There is no one fit to tell the entire story of Obi-Wan but Obi-Wan himself, and I do not trust him to be a truthful narrator. I think he is too humble to narrate his own tale.

This ultimately led me to this idea. If Obi-Wan cannot narrate his own story, then those around him must do so. But it must be a chorus of many voices This piece will be a series of short stories from many different viewpoints focused on the character of Obi-Wan and other's perception of him. They will take place in chronological order. I am making EVERY effort to be Canon Compliant (TM). Yes, there will be plenty of non-canon scenes, but I'll do my best to make them fit within canon.

Also to fully enjoy this piece, you'll need to have seen both The Clone Wars and Rebels. I know the animated side of Star Wars isn't to everyone's taste but several of the most important events of his life take place in these series, so they cannot be ignored if you really want to dig into Obi-Wan's life. So spoiler alert if you haven't finished them yet.

Finally, if you enjoy this, check out my other work. It's all Rebels related until this point; this is my first time stepping into broader Star Wars Fan Fiction.

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy!

The Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi: From Several Points of View

Act 1: The Padawan

Discipline: Qui Gon Jinn

46 BBY

"Obi-Wan Kenobi is a disciplined boy." This was the chief observation that Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn made on the day he took Obi-Wan as his Padawan.

The Jedi Master had watched the class of younglings under the instruction of Mace Windu practicing their saber forms. That session ended nearly an hour ago, and the training room was now empty. Except for young Obi-Wan, who practiced on alone.

The observation deck was empty, save for Qui-Gon, and he studied the boy through a one-way mirror. The Jed Master stood at ease, hands behind his back. The council had approved the decision, but he would never dream of interrupting Obi-Wan's practice. He would wait until the youngling finished.

Because in truth, he needed the practice. Obi-Wan was a talented young man who would grow to become a powerful Jedi, but this wasn't out of aptitude. No, Obi-Wan was slightly above average at best when it came to raw talent. But Obi-Wan was the most dedicated youngling of his generation. He was not the most gifted when it came to using the Force, and yet he spent long hours meditating and practicing to improve himself. He was not naturally the most intelligent when it came to his academic pursuits, but he could be found in the archives long after the other younglings had finished their assignments. Neither was he the most naturally athletic of his peers. Obi-Wan recognized this and here he was, an hour after formal practice had ended still working through the basics of Form IV.

"Mastery cares not for aptitude, but for dedication," Qui-Gon repeated the old Jedi saying to himself as he watched the boy. The dedication of Obi-Wan would place him far ahead of his peers in the years to come. The Jedi Council had not failed to notice this, and in fact, several of its members had been eyeing Obi-Wan closely. One of them would surely have chosen to take Obi-Wan as their Padawan had Qui-Gon not interfered. But he would not leave the young man to such a fate if he could help it.

Obi-Wan turned his lightsaber off, and Qui-Gon moved to the stairs. Descending them quickly, he opened the door that led into the training room and walked through before Obi-Wan could leave the hall. The boy turned and stared in surprise at the master. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and attached his lightsaber to his belt. "I wasn't aware I had an audience. If I had known you were watching, I may have given a better performance."

"Is that so?" Qui-Gon said gently. "Is this then the source of your discipline? The need for the approval of others?"

Obi-Wan looked uncomfortable for the briefest moment and then shook his head. "No, no I didn't mean it like that I..." He paused to collect his thoughts. "We've been so thoroughly trained to earn the approval of the Masters that we try harder when they are watching."

Qui-Gon smiled to put the boy at ease. Even in the little things, Obi-Wan sought to do what was expected of him, to give the right answers, to live up to expectations. Jedi were supposed to be humble, and so Obi-Wan would do his best to be humble. "I'm not here to judge you, young one. Seeking the approval of your peers and superiors is natural and not entirely an evil. And fear not; I know your strive for excellence is for your own sake. No, I have not come to judge you, but rather to speak with you."

Obi-Wan's faced reddened, and he bowed his head to the older Jedi. "It seems you know me already, but my name is Obi-Wan Kenobi. I'm afraid I don't know your name though, Master...?"

"Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon Jinn. It's a pleasure to meet you face to face at last."

The youngling regarded his elder. "So you've been watching me too," he observed at last. "You're not the only one you know."

"Indeed," Qui-Gon says thoughtfully "I know well that you are watched closely by your masters, but I was unaware that you had noticed this."

Obi-Wan nodded. "It's hard not to. Council members taking over my classes. Observing my training sessions. I'm still a bit young to be taken as a Padawan, but in a couple of years..." he let the thought hang in the air, perhaps afraid that he sounded boastful.

"Obi-Wan you may always speak freely and without fear in my presence. You will find that I am... More lenient than many of the other Masters. Especially the Council members. You feel you are being watched by the Council and that one may choose you as a Padawan someday? Your instincts are correct young one, and I can name three that would accept you given the opportunity," Qui-Gon chuckled "But I do not think that will happen for, if you desire, you shall become my Padawan instead."

Qui-Gon noted how Obi-Wan's face betrayed a range of emotions and that the youngling made no effort to hide his feelings in the Force. Qui-Gon laughed and patted Obi-Wan on the back. "I see you are surprised that you are being taken as a Padawan at so young an age."

The youngling opened his mouth to speak, then looking down, thought better of it and clamped his mouth shut and nodded.

"You are not the youngest to become a Padawan, but you are an exceptional student, young Obi-Wan. Your dedication to improving yourself is unheard of in one so young. It is a good thing that you be assigned to a Master. A Master will help guide you into becoming the Jedi you are destined to be. But I also sense disappointment in you. No, do not try to deny it, it is a natural emotion. You knew that Council Members were watching you, grooming you to take you as Padawan, and then a Master you've never met tries to take you in their stead. Not all ambition is evil, and I understand the disappointment." Qui-Gon paused to allow the youngling to speak.

Obi-Wan took his time forming his thoughts and then spoke only a single word. "Why?"

This pleased Qui-Gon, as most younglings would have had a thousand questions, most of them nonsense. Obi-Wan had boiled all his thoughts down to a single inquiry, a single word, the most important one of all. Qui-Gon sat on the floor of the practice room and gestured for the youngling to do the same. "There are many better Jedi than I, Obi-Wan. Ones that are stronger, faster, wiser. I am not among the great and my name will not be remembered long after my passing. Many of the Council did not see me fit to take such a promising young Jedi as yourself as my Padawan."

Obi-Wan stared quietly at Qui-Gon. "But they allowed it in the end; they must have."

"Indeed, they did, Obi-Wan. Over all the more powerful Masters, they approved me to take you as my Padawan. Do you know how I convinced them?" When Obi-Wan shook his head, Qui-Gon continued. "I convinced them that you didn't need the strongest Master. You didn't need a saber teacher like Master Windu, or a powerful sage like Yoda. I told them that you would reach your own greatest potential on the strength of your dedication and discipline. You will reach your highest heights on your own, regardless of who is your Master."

Obi-Wan peered at Qui-Gon, and the older Jedi felt his searching eyes trying to probe into him. "Then why did the council approve you to be my Master?"

Qui-Gon smiled at the youngling and put a hand on his shoulder. "I told the Council that you did not need someone to lecture you to follow the code; you will do that yourself. You don't need someone to press you in your studies; you are driven to know everything you can already. And you need no reminders to practice with your saber," Qui-Gon gestured to the practice room around them, "for you will practice longer than your Masters. I told them that what you need is someone to remind you to stop. Look around you. Feel the living Force. That I would be the one to remind you to not merely follow the code but to always do what is right, to do good, and love others. Obi-Wan these are the things that I can teach you. You will be a powerful Jedi no matter who trains you; I will teach you to be a good man." Qui-Gon paused his speech and looked at the boy, his face overflowing with warmth. "That is if you wish me to be your Master."

Obi-Wan frowned. "I thought you convinced the Council to let me be your Padawan. What do my wishes have to do with it?"

"Obi-Wan, I will not commandeer your life against your will. If you would rather a greater Jedi than I be your Master, then I will step aside, and one of the Council members will take you under their wing." Qui-Gon stood to his feet and offered a hand to help the boy as well. "But if you desire, I will teach you everything I know of the Force and the Galaxy." Obi-Wan took his hand and stood bashfully looking at his feet. Qui-Gon smiled. "I will not ask you to make a decision here and now. Think about it. Meditate. Seek the will of the Living Force."

He smiled and bowed his head to the youngling one last time, and turned away. He had barely made it to the door when Obi-Wan called to him. "Master Qui-Gon, sir. I... I want to be your Padawan. Please."

Qui-Gon turned back to face the boy and regarded him. He briefly wondered at the boy's reasons for accepting. Perhaps it was because Qui-Gon sought him out; acceptance is a persuasive force. Or perhaps it was because he understood that Qui-Gon could teach him what a Council member could not.

Perhaps he felt the deepest truth, that it was the will of the Force. Qui-Gon was not surprised at Obi-Wan's decision; he had foreseen that he would accept and become his Padawan. After all, both the Cosmic and Living Force willed it. It had grand designs for Obi-Wan, of this Qui-Gon had no doubts. Qui-Gon knew that he himself was but a stepping stone and that his Padawan would far surpass him in deeds and accomplishment.

He tried not to imagine what would become Obi-Wan if a Council member trained him. A cold, stiff man; powerful, but utterly rigid. His discipline would drive him to excel and in so doing would make nothing of himself, being deaf to the Living Force and the galaxy around him. He would be an embodiment of the all the weaknesses of the Jedi Order.

But that future would not happen now. The discipline of Obi-Wan would still drive him to overcome; but guided by a softer wisdom, he would become wise himself. Clever, dangerous, and yet humble, he would be a man around which a great many things would turn. Qui-Gon knew that he would be but a small part of those grand endeavors and he was humbled by the part that was his to play.

Qui-Gon smiled, and his blue eyes shone. "Very well then, my Padawan. Come then; let's get you cleaned up. We have much to speak of."

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this first chapter, there are many more to come.