A different path

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars and I certainly don't make money with this.

Summary: AU What happens when Qui-Gon didn't die on Naboo?What happens when he is the one to train Anakin?And what will become of Obi-Wan?Will Vader still be born?And what has Xanatos to do with all this?

A/N: I started this story ages ago and somewhere down the road real life just got in the way. A lot of not so nice things happened and I had to change many things in my life. And then I started University. I have a little bit of free time right now and I decided to pick up this story again. First and foremost I will replace all the existing chapters. I am not gonna change anything, because I still like the story as it is but I am going to fix all the errors and fill in the words that apparently got lost when I uploaded this story the first time around.

I don't know if any of you will still want to read this but if you do feel free to drop a line. Even if it is only to tell me what a horrible person I am for abandoning this story for so long.

So here we go again:

" lalala" speech

"lalala" thoughts

What? Shock seeped through his mind. He couldn't comprehend what his master had just told him. Couldn't understand it. His respectable master, Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn, had just told him in front of the whole Jedi council that he wouldn't continue with his training to become a Jedi knight. No, he would begin the training of Anakin Skywalker, the chosen one, the slave boy from Tattooine for he, Obi-Wan, was ready to undergo the trials. He had already taken Anakin as his new padawan learner and had thus severed the bond between him and Obi-Wan. It had happened unconsciously but he didn't regret it as he strongly believed that Anakin needed to be trained.

After Obi-Wan had saved him from the Sith, from dying, in the chamber on Naboo by transferring a lot of his life force into his master, Obi-Wan had had to undergo a two month recovery under the care of the healers of Queen Amidala. Qui-Gon had spent almost all of that time with Anakin, preparing him for his upcoming training at the temple, and forged a bond between the two without even noticing it. Upon their return to Corouscant Obi-Wan was without a master. And though he had noticed the change he didn't think it would come to this. He felt alone, betrayed, hurt, hopeless, angry.

What was to become of him now? Would he have to go to the Agricorps after all these years? Because Qui-Gon had just taken his one chance to ever become a Jedi Knight from him. He wasn't ready for the trials. He was certain of that.

The council believed the same. Young Obi-Wan was not ready yet.

Angry voices swept throughout the room, voicing disbelief and resentment.

„Have you finally lost your mind Qui-Gon?" Mace Windu bellowed, „You can't just abandon your padawan in favor of another!"

„It's decided, I've already taken Anakin as my new padawan learner, a bond has already been forged between us. Obi-Wan is ready for the trials. There are few things he could still learn from me and it's nothing that will not come with experience." Qui-Gon said.

„Master! I am not ready for the trials yet." Obi-Wan said. He wasn't sure how to act, really. Agree with his master and lose him in the process or disagree with him and appear unable and weak. Well, in the end he decided to be honest with himself and the council.

„Of course you are ready, my padawan. You just need to have a little more faith in yourself." Qui-Gon assured him.

How can you be so sure? Obi-Wan thought.

Just as Obi-wan was about to answer Yodas' voice interrupted him: „Sure you are? From your opinion differ, you will not? Young Obi-Wans training complete you will not?" he asked.

Yoda looked at the tall Jedi, searched him; as did the council. The conclusion they came to was not one any of them liked. Qui-Gon was adamant about his decision. He would not back down from it and would go to any length to train the boy as he truly believed him to be the chosen one. That the boy had to be trained was already decided. It would be dangerous but even more dangerous would it be to let him go untrained. They all agreed on this.

„Decided it is then. Train the boy, you will. Leaving now, you are. A padawan to prepare for the ceremony, you have. Talk to padawan Kenobi, we must." Yoda said.

Qui-Gon stood there and let it all sink in. He never would have thought that they would agree so easily. He'd expected more of a fight. And he wasn't quite ready to just leave the chambers. They hadn't said anything about Obi-Wans' future yet.

„Leave now, you will. A concern padawan Kenobi no longer is for you." Yoda dismissed him.

Just as Jinn had left the chambers Mace addressed the young man in front of him:" What do you think padawan Kenobi? Give us your honest opinion of the situation, if you would. Do not be afraid of any consequences."

„I am not sure. I can't face the trials yet. When I fought the Sith on Naboo I was almost overridden by my anger and thirst for revenge. It scared me. What will happen to me now? Will I be sent away?" Obi-Wan asked. He tried very hard to suppress the tears and not just let it all out and break down. The thought of having to leave the temple was terrible.

„A knight you will become. A new master we will find. Meditate on it we must." Yoda said.

„Go to the infirmary padawan. Get a check-up by the healers and spend the night there. We will call you when we've found a solution." Mace said.

„Yes master." Obi-Wan whispered.

As soon as the doors closed behind him a heated discussion broke out.

„What will we do now? This situation is unheard of. Never has anything like that happened before." A voice said.

„Where will we find a new master for him?" Another asked.

„Knight DuCrion might be a good choice. He had to overcome a lot of hardships as well before is knighting. Furthermore he had to leave his feelings concerning Jinn behind. He might be able to help Kenobi best." Adi Gallia voiced her thoughts.

„Knight DuCrion you say? You know he has a similar history with Qui-Gon. Do you really think it wise to pair those two up?" Plo Koon asked.

Before Xanatos was allowed to undertake the trials he and Jinn had been send on a last mission. The council hadn't been sure about Xanatos so they had send him and his master to Telos to solve the situation there before it could escalate and end in a war. Rest assured it had not worked out and Qui-Gon and Xanatos had parted ways. It had been Qui-Gon who left the planet, and therefore his padawan, to return to the temple, devastated. He had reported to the masters and informed them about Xanatos' leaving of the temple. How he had drawn his Saber against his own master and turned to the dark side. He had then asked the council for mission. He had wanted to get away from the temple and concentrate on other things while he dealt with the situation he had found himself in.

Just two weeks after this Xanatos, too, had returned to the temple. He had appeared before the council broken and humble and had made his report about what had happened on Telos and during the following weeks. He had admitted his failures and that he had had to regain his composure and get his feelings under control again. That it had taken him some time to do so and that he also had to fight the arising darkness within himself which threatened to swallow him and lead him off the right path.

After a lot of thinking the council allowed him to take the trials which he passed with flying colours. On his wishes Qui-Gon was not informed and Mace cut his braid instead.

„Help Obi-Wan it would. Abandoned by Qui-Gon they both were. Speak with Knight DuCrion we will. Hear what he has to say. If he's willing to do it." Yoda said.

„It will be hard on him , too ,to relive this memories." one said.

„Let's meditate on this and speak to Xanatos in the earliest hour." Adi Gallia concluded.