Disclaimer: Not mine

Sorry for the long wait, between uni and work I don't have a lot of time to write during trimester.

Chapter 7

Obi-Wan stood before the Council and bowed, unsure why he had been summoned without his Master. They had returned from Naboo just over a week ago and had been given down time while his Master healed and to help Luke and Anakin adjust. Was he being sent on a mission with another Master?

"Padawan Kenobi it is the opinion of both you Master and this Council that you are reading to face the Trials," Mace announced and Obi-Wan was utterly shocked, but he quickly drew on the Force, releasing the emotion, and Yoda nodded. "There are nine steps of trial: teamwork, isolation, fear, anger, betrayal, focus, instinct, forgiveness, and protection. After deliberation it is the Council's opinion that you have passed the Trials of teamwork, fear and protection already. In three days you shall face the rest, unless you truly feel unready."

Obi-Wan looked at the various Council Members, seeing the quiet support from Master Gallia and the almost smile form Yoda. "I am honoured Master's and will accept your judgement," he bowed again and was dismissed.

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Luke sat in class, feeling very out of place. He had never had classes as a child, he had learnt on the farm around his work. The closest he had come to a class were mission briefings during the war. He was taking a mix of classes, some with those his 'age, some with younger Padawan's and some with young Knights. It didn't bother him, technically he was older than all of them, but he had always known his schooling was lacking. Leia, his squad mates, even Han, had done what they could in the early years to catch him up, but it hadn't been enough. Galactic history was a class he was in with Anakin and younger initiates. They sat together because it made Anakin feel awkward to be in class with the younger children. Much of what they were learning had been lost or erased by his time and Tatooine had no interest in history in any timeline.

Class was released, and they left to find Obi-Wan waiting. Anakin grinned at the Padawan who smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair. "How was class?"

Anakin just shrugged so Luke answered, "It's very interesting, Tatooine doesn't really care about Galactic history."

"there are some very interesting areas of history," Obi-Wan agreed and then took a deep breath. "Padawan Solo, I formally request your presence at my Trials of Knighthood, to sit with me in meditation and to act as guard."

Luke blinked, seeing a few excited initiates watching on. He had no idea what to say, that had sounded formal, almost ritualistic but he didn't know how to respond to match it. He took a deep breath to calm down and bowed slightly since that seemed a safe action, "I would be honoured to."

Obi-Wan smiled, realising that Luke was winging his response. "Thank you." He bowed in return. "Sorry to ambush you with this, the Council ambushed me this morning with the announcement that in three days I take the Trials," he talked as they walked towards his quarters with his Master.

"That's great!" Anakin grinned up at him.

"Yes, it is," Obi-wan opened the door and they went in to sit.

"So, what exactly have I agreed too?" Luke asked as he sat.

"There are nine steps to the trials; teamwork, isolation, fear, anger, betrayal, focus, instinct, forgiveness, and protection. The Council has decided I have passed the trials of teamwork, fear and protection already. In three days I begin the rest of the Trials and I am allowed to have three other Padawan's with me, I have chosen you and two old friends, Bant Erin and Quinlan Vos. You will sit guard on the room where my Trial of Isolation is taken, to ensure I remain isolated, it is basically a ceremonial role. You remain there for the Trials of fear, anger and focus."

"Is it dangerous?" Anakin asked, worried for him and Obi-Wan smiled at him.

"Only two Padawan's have been seriously injured in the history of the Trials," he reassured him. He wouldn't admit that more had failed in a way that meant they would never retake them. Some had proven not strong enough and had Fallen, giving in to their fear and anger. From the look Luke shot him, the other Padawan could guess that something like that had happened. "If I fail I can retake them in a year."

"What happens when you pass?" Anakin asked.

"Master Qui-Gon would then help me prepare for the Knighting ceremony. Before the ceremony I would spend an entire day in deep meditation within the preparation room high in the Tranquillity Spire. As the time came to ascend to the Hall of Knighthood, I would enter the darkened chamber and kneel before the Grand Master of the Order and have my Padawan braid severed. After that there would be a party here to celebrate my Knighting. I would then be expected to more to Knight accommodation until hopefully taking a Padawan myself one day."

"Wow. I know you'll pass!"

"Thank you, Anakin."

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Yoda watched the Younglings as they practiced levitating small objects, unable to stop from seeing them all dead, the Temple in ruins. He had seen nothing but war and death in his meditations since young Skywalker had spoken of the future he had come from. The timelines may have already diverged though as Sidious had not been named as new Chancellor since the Queen had not followed his advice to call for the vote. What would the man do now that part of his plan had been derailed? Not even they could accuse him without evidence, especially with sympathies high towards any from Naboo after the invasion.

The Sith had had centuries to set this plan in motion, they would have to move very slowly and cautiously. If they moved too fast, made the Sith feel cornered, it would not end well. Although from his Padawan's story the future could not get much worse.

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Luke stood in front of his door, dressed in full uniform, hands tucked in the sleeves of his robe as he remained unmoving. He meditated lightly to help remain so still and to keep from worry over Obi-Wan, he had passed this test the first time around, right? He couldn't see the other two Padawan's, each guarding a door. He felt a familiar presence in the hall and looked over without moving, seeing Anakin, the boy looked nervous, chewing his lip and Luke sighed. He gently reached out with the Force, nudging the boy and Anakin looked at him. 'you shouldn't be here,' he sent over their bond and Anakin looked down.

'Is he okay?'

'Yes, now go back to class or Master Jinn,'

'Yes, Uncle,' he quickly slipped away. Luke fell back into light meditation, wishing he could sense something from the room but it was shielded.

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Obi-Wan stumbled out and felt familiar arms move to support him, relaxing into the familiar hold.

"Well done old friend," Qui-Gon whispered, helping him straighten up. Obi-Wan managed a shaky smile as they began moving away and then another person helped support him on the other side and glance over to see Luke in full robes from having stood watch.

"You okay?" he asked in concern and Obi-Wan nodded. They got him back to the apartment, stripping him down and settling him into bed to sleep. "Will he be alright?"

"After some sleep. Every Trial is different, but he passed," Qui-Gon was proud of his Padawan, he had come a long way from the angry initiate he had refused to take on.

"I am going to go lie down,"

"Stiff and sore?"

"Who knew just standing there could be so tiring?" Luke shrugged and headed back to his Master's apartment and his own room. He stripped out of his robes and fell into bed., exhausted despite not doing anything but standing there. When Yoda checked on him an hour later he smiled at the sight of him sleeping soundly. He knew it would soon be Luke in that room, even though he did not need the Trials, he had already undergone so much more.

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Jedi parties were a lot quieter than he remembered ones in the Alliance, then again there were no crazy pilots with bootleg alcohol. Luke grinned at seeing Obi-Wan, sans braid, his one-time Master still seemed a little shocked at being Knight Kenobi now. Jinn's apartment was filled with Obi-Wan's friends, all celebrating his elevation from Padawan to Knight. It made Luke feel sad, seeing all of these friends that the Ben he had known must have lost in the Purges.

TBC…