Author's Note: Hello everyone! Welcome to my first ever fanfic! I hope you enjoy reading this story as much as I did writing it. Also, since I'm new to this whole thing, reviews and constructive criticism are much appreciated. I'm sure there will be some mistakes somewhere along the line. The action will pick up soon, stay tuned for updates! Thanks for reading :)

Chapter 1

Obi-Wan Kenobi watched as several Jedi hurried past him with their Padawans. Every time he saw masters and their apprentices in lighthearted moments like this, he felt a pang of hurt somewhere between jealousy and loss: his own Padawan had been taken from him years ago. Her name was Anakin Skywalker, a slave child from Tatooine whom he had discovered with this own master. She was incredibly strong in the Force and Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon practically demanded the Council to accept her as an Initiate, given she was only seven at the time and was too young to become a Padawan immediately.

The whole situation of how she was taken from him was a disaster. The Council had handled it poorly, he believed, and it definitely wasn't something he liked to talk about, let alone think about very much. The Separatists launched a series of attacks on the Jedi temple targeting younglings and the younger Padawans. Things got so bad, the Council decided to relocate the children to a hidden training academy on Ruusan. Obi-Wan didn't really want to leave Coruscant to train Anakin, but it turned out he wouldn't have to: the children would be given new masters once they reached Ruusan. Jedi weren't supposed to form attachments anyways, so no one thought anything of it. After all, it was for the safety of the next generation of Jedi. But Obi-Wan was crushed when he discovered he would lose his first Padawan, the girl he brought up literally from the dust and bonded with so deeply in the Force.

He remembered the day when he learned of the Council's plan and he vehemently opposed it.

"Master Yoda, you can't be serious!" he exclaimed after hearing that the Padawans would receive new masters

"Serious, I am. For the good of the future, this is. Form attachments, you should not, Obi-Wan, hmm?" Yoda crumpled his lips in a grimace. This plan was a last resort. Even Yoda himself didn't want to go through with it; but there were no more options to protect the children.

"But what about the Force bonds we've worked so hard to build? You can't expect us to just sever them! The only real way to do that is in death-"

"Close the bonds, you will. Very hard it will be. But possible it is. Tell the young Padawans tomorrow, we will."

Obi-Wan inhaled sharply and relaxed his shoulders, admitting his defeat.

"Very well, Master Yoda," he said, and bowed his head toward the ancient being before turning on his heel and striding away. His head spun in circles. His stomach sank. He hadn't felt loss like this since Qui-Gon… No. He refused to go there. Instead, he went back to the academy and watched Anakin spar with the other students. Her movements were sloppy and untrained, but powerful. She had so much potential. The Force was strong in her. When they found her at seven years old, they knew the child was Force sensitive. At nine years old, the Force seemed to radiate from her. The Council had discussed several times whether of not she was the Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force and whether or not she was even stable enough to train, but whether none of that mattered to him anymore. As he watched her twirl her training saber around, he raked his fingers through his ginger hair and tried to calm himself. He braced himself for the storm about to unleash.

He remembered the day when the new Jedi Masters and some soldiers from the Republic army came to escort the children away. A few of them cried, several of them showed no reaction at all. Anakin didn't show any outward signs of sadness at first, but Obi-Wan saw her ball up her little fists and attempt to drag him along with her using the Force. When she discovered she wasn't strong enough, she glazed over with sadness, their Force bond radiated with anger and sorrow.

You'll be okay, Ani. Don't worry, Obi-Wan told her through their bond.

I won't forget you. You're always going to be my real Master, even if I get a new one on Ruusan, she insisted.

No, Ani. Your new Master will guide you and take care of you. Let go.

Her blue eyes dimmed with tears. The last thing he saw before he shut their Force bond were two images she sent to him: the first of them training together, and the last of Anakin as a young child being led away in a slave auction (much like how she was being led away now). Obi-Wan tried his best to let go of his attachments even though that last image cut him to the core.

Damn, pull yourself together. For Force's sake this happened 11 years ago. He silently chastised himself for allowing his emotions to run away from him. Obi-Wan never took another Padawan after Anakin. Partially out of spite and bitterness for the Council, but also so he could throw himself into fighting enemies with his fellow Jedi. Everything from diplomacy and political missions to slicing down Sith with his lightsaber, he fought courageously for the Republic. He protected countless important senators and royalty. He risked his life on missions to provide the Republic with the secret information from their enemies, and the Council was very pleased with everything he'd done. At the moment, he had just finished up a successful mission gathering intel about rumors of a clone army being created by the Separatists. He was walking away from sharing his findings with the Senate when Mace Windu pulled him aside.

"Obi-Wan, there's been a development," he sharply whispered.

"A development? About what, the clones?" Obi-Wan worried if his mission had provoked an attack. By now, Windu was practically dragging him down the hallway to the council room

"No, no," Windu huffed. "You'll see."

And with that, Obi Wan was rushed into the council room. All the Jedi masters were standing up and talking in hushed tones. Now Obi-Wan was beginning to panic. As soon as he stepped in, everyone looked at him, their faces had the same look of shock.

"Obi-Wan, come here," Yoda said kindly. The Force energy in the room had calmed, and Obi-Wan sensed that whatever had happened wasn't bad, which tripled his confusion.

"What's going on, Master?" he blurted.

"Do you remember Anakin Skywalker, your padawan from all those years ago?" Windu asked, stepping closer. Now Obi-Wan was reeling.

"Of course I remember her. Why? Did something happen? Is she alright?" Yoda looked at Mace and gave him a nod. Mace took a deep breath and began,

"She's fine. But her Master, Jada Auriga, was killed on a mission last week. Anakin's training is incomplete and she's supposed to take the Trials in the next year. It will be hard for her to bond with another master at her age. The Council suggests that you take her as an apprentice and complete her training, since you had a Force bond with her when she was young."

Obi-Wan was stunned. He felt as if he'd been shocked my a thousand blasters.

"Master Windu, as much as I would love to train her, I doubt any bond we had 11 years ago will help her now. I tried to close that bond when she was taken-"

"Said it, you did many years ago," Yoda breathed. "Only in death can a Force bond be fully broken. Need your help, we do: the Council and your former Padawan."

The room was silent. Obi-Wan didn't know what to think. Should he complete her training? How much could he do if she was, what, about 20 years old now? What if she resented him for closing off their bond, or refused to be trained by another master?

"Much worry I sense in you, Obi-Wan. Let the Force guide you. Do the right thing, you will." With those final words from Yoda, Obi-Wan made up his mind.

"I'll complete her training," he said, trying to conceal the delight he felt deep in his soul. "I'll do my best to prepare her for the Trials."

The council room erupted into jovial chatter and smiles. Mace Windu looked at him with a rare happy expression on his face.

"Thank you, Master Kenobi. Anakin will be here in two days. Be ready to go right into training where she left off," he said. The Force flared up under Obi-Wan's skin, and he felt a joy he hadn't felt for many years. He would finally get his Padawan back.