Title: A Bond of Olympic Proportions
Author: IrishIris
Summary: The new Master/Padawan team of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan are entered into a Olympic-like competition by Master Yoda. Will they embarrass themselves in front of the whole temple? Or maybe Yoda has something else in mind...
A/N: Ok, here's my first fanfic EVER! Reviews would be GREATLY appriciated!
He had been balancing on his head for over an hour when the alarm went off. Dramatically dropping to the floor and sighing loudly, Obi-Wan attempted to let his master know how much he disliked the punishment. But in reality, however, meditating upside down was Obi-Wan's favorite punishment for trivial matters. The calm and control that the awkward position brought the teen through the Force was unparalleled, and Obi-Wan hoped Master Qui-Gon would never find out how much he enjoyed it.
Exiting his bedroom after making a quick stop at the 'fresher, Obi-Wan found a pacing Qui-Gon in the common room of their shared apartment. The usually reserved and stoic master had a bewildered expression on his face, which, if Obi-Wan had been his padawan long enough, would have alerted him to the severe nature of his master's earlier meeting with Master Yoda. Thinking Qui-Gon was impatient on his account, Obi-Wan bowed low and said regretfully,
"Master, I apologize for taking longer than necessary with my punishment. My head was throbbing a little and I wanted to be more clear-minded before meeting back up with you."
Qui-Gon waved his hand to dismiss the apology, and then spoke as he continued his pacing,
"Believe me, young Padawan; I would be much happier right now if my current state of mind was merely caused by your being tardy. It seems as though you and I have, unwillingly, been forced into another one of Master Yoda's 'brilliant' plans."
Obi-Wan was taken aback at his Master's assessment of Yoda. As of this point in his thirteen-year-old life, he had never even considered the fact that Master Yoda- or any master- might have flaws. Even Qui-Gon, who sometimes got on Obi-Wan's nerves, must always have a well though out reason for acting as he did, right?
Qui-Gon started again, "Apparently, by some freak will of the Force, there will be a Master/Padawan Olympiad next week. Yoda has specifically requested that you and I are among the competitors, though for the love of the Force I can't understand why, seeing as though we've only been together for a few months."
It was all Obi-Wan could do not to stare at Qui-Gon open-mouthed. An Olympiad? This was too good to be true. From the moment he had met Master Qui-Gon, it had been drilled into him that to be a Jedi involved nothing but hard, hard work. And hard, hard work had been what Obi-Wan lived and breathed the past few months. If Yoda was suggesting an opportunity for fun, Obi-Wan would make sure that he and Qui-Gon were participants- no matter what.
"Though I don't doubt either of our abilities in such a contest," Qui-Gon rambled, "I do wonder at our teamwork abilities, compared to some of the other masters & padawans that have been together for many years. Since it seems as though Master Yoda will not take 'no' for an answer, you and I are going to be putting in some extra practices in preparation. That is, if you're up to it, Padawan?"
Extra practices were not what Obi-Wan had in mind when he had thought "no matter what", but no price was too high. For the next several days, Obi-Wan allowed Qui-Gon to drill him through more than double his usual amount of Force strengthening exercises, lightsaber duels, and anything else his Master found "appropriate preparation material". However, unbeknownst to his padawan, even Qui-Gon was not sure if the preparation materials would really prepare the team; the details of the contests were being withheld from all competitors.
At one point, Master Yoda dropped in to observe a particularly intense exercise where Qui-Gon was instructing Obi-Wan in advanced telepathic techniques, in hopes that they could counter the other Master/Padawan teams with the advantage of very developed bonds. Master Yoda merely shook his head and muttered a soft, disappointed "hmmm" as he hobbled away. This apparent rebuke merely drove Qui-Gon to train his young pupil harder, to the point where Obi-Wan nearly dropped in the middle of the Room of a thousand fountains.
By the eve of the Olympiad, Obi-Wan could barely crawl into his bed, thoroughly exhausted both mentally and physically. While the past week had been one of the most rigorous he'd ever been through, he fell asleep with a smile on his lips, knowing that the next day would make every drop of sweat worthwhile.
A/N: Hit me with you're best shot- constructive critisisms very welcome!