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The next morning Obi-wan, came out of his room dressed only in the leggings and a loose tunic, he was surprised to see Master Jinn making breakfast and Yoda was sitting at the table with a cup of cha.
"Good morning young one…. Sleep well did you?" Yoda questioned.
"Good Morning Masters," he acknowledged as he nodded to both Masters, yet he thought to himself (Why does he ask me when he knows I didn't)
Obi-wan stood in the middle of the room; his hands were clasped in front of him.
"Because if not ask! Tell me you will not! What troubles you?"
Obi-wan let out the breath he was holding, he took a quick glance over to Master Jinn. Who had finished cooking and was depositing the food on the table.
"No master I did not sleep well…. I could sense the same emotions of disappointment and pity coming from Master Jinn that I used to feel from those at the Temple. I had forgotten about those feelings until Master Jinn came here."
Qui-Gon had been listening, but now he turned to face the youngling.
" I spoke without thinking last night Obi-Wan and most of my thoughts were about my former apprentice and what pain he caused you. I am sorry for snapping at you. You have a greater understanding of faith than I have youngling, and once again I apologise."
Obi-Wan knew he should answer the master, but he was annoyed. He gave a slight bow instead and waited for his master to either berate him or let him get away with not accepting Master Jinn's apology.
Yoda, slowly brought his cup to his mouth and then he placed it on the table; still keeping his eyes on Obi-Wan.
"Ah, two stubborn apprentices I have. Fun this will be to see who breaks first. Sit and eat youngling, for today you shall learn and maybe teach a lesson too. Now Master Jinn prepared food for us he has; least we can do is eat it." Yoda smiled at Obi-wan, who returned it with a small one of his own.
Qui-Gon realised he had alienated Obi-wan with his words and feelings, and yes he could sense the stubborn streak in Obi-Wan. He knew now that he would have to earn Obi-Wan's respect.
"Obi-wan?" when the boy looked up at him Qui-Gon continued. "Obi-wan, I would like to start over and get to know you better, perhaps a sparing match today and then hopefully we will become friends; if that would be acceptable to you?"
Obi-wan opened up to the force to sense any deceit or annoyance coming from the Master, yet all he could sense was a genuine feeling of truth.
Qui-Gon glanced at Yoda acknowledging the feeling of being checked out by the boy. It made him smile inwards, to think this boy was so strong in the force, and wasn't afraid to let you know that he was checking up on you. After a moment a bashful smile spread across the young one's face.
"It is acceptable to me Master Jinn; I would like to spar with you."
"Good it is," First lesson will be in two hours in the clearing behind the house." Yoda stated.
Obi-wan ate in silence and his first impression of Master Jinn's cooking was a tick in his approval rate in Obi-Wan's eyes. The pancakes were huge and very sweet and no-one stopped him when he smothered honey all over them. He listened intently as the two masters chatted and he sensed a deeply hidden sense of humour in the man and there was a definite attempt to show Obi-Wan his good side.
"May I be excused Master?"
"Hurry to go somewhere are you?" Master Yoda inquired.
Obi-wan fiddled in his seat and glanced at Qui-Gon and then back to Yoda. "I do not want to be late for first lesson Master." Obi-wan explained not covering his excitement very well.
"Had many first of the day lessons, this day no different, is it?" Yoda inquired.
Obi-wan grinned. "Master this day is a new day unlike any other it is, for it is the present day and yesterday is the past. Master you've told me many times, do not dwell in the past. While I accept that I have had many first lessons, each lesson has been different and I'm certain this one will be different also. You yourself have taught me never to anticipate the lesson as it may surprise me."
"Hurumph…..So listen to me you do?" Yoda cackled.
"Always Master." Obi smiled.
"Very well young one excused you are." Yoda declared.
After Obi-wan left the dwelling, Qui-Gon chuckled. "I can feel the excitement bubbling in him, like
this was his very first spar. He doesn't say much, but when he does it makes sense. I remember you saying as much to me when I was an apprentice, that I must learn to leave the past where it is. I have a feeling that lesson was for me."
"Yes very perceptive he is; to have lessons from some one other than me a cause for excitement it is. Taught him much I have, but predicts my moves already he can."
Qui-Gon shook his head in doubt. "Master he is just a child; predict your moves…I doubt it; he has much to learn, maybe you are right 'too old you are.'"
"Do not underestimate young Obi-wan, for surprise you he will." Yoda said as he shook his cane at Qui-Gon.
Yoda and Qui-Gon made their way to the field, it was flat but there were boulders spotting the whole area.
Qui-Gon memorised their position so as not to crash into them during their spar.
Obi-wan was sitting on the grass meditating, the force was caressing him and both Masters could sense the light in Obi-wan growing within, calming him and settling his nerves.
Qui-Gon took out his sabre and set it for low power and took several breaths of the fresh damp air. Qui-Gon was impressed, that he was so in tune with the Force.
"I am ready, Masters." he said as he rose gracefully off the ground.
"Then begin you shall." Yoda stated as he moved off to sit on one of the largest boulders.
Qui-Gon stepped in front of Obi-wan saluting with his sabre, and bowed. Obi-wan bowed as well and held his sabre in front of him. Qui-Gon realised the boy was waiting for him to ignite his sabre first, he had positioned his feet apart in the defensive stand and his eyes were focused on Qui-Gon.
The Master ignited and parried forward immediately, Obi-wan used the force to jump back and landed on a low boulder, which put him eye level with Qui-Gon's tall stature, but he still hadn't ignited his sabre. Qui-Gon circled the boulder and as he did Obi-wan moved with him keeping his gaze on the Master's eyes. Qui-Gon made to lunge to the left and then he swung his blade to the right, thinking Obi-wan would be off balance and would fail to see the strike aimed at his feet.
However Obi-wan somersaulted forward, moving his feet upwards and as he did he lit his sabre and blocked Qui-Gon's blade as he twisted over and landed on his feet running. He turned to face Qui-Gon in the basic Jedi stance with his leading foot back, his shoulders and his sabre arm where slightly forward. He held his sabre level with his waist and the blade was supposed to be pointing just over the Masters head. Only Obi-wan was holding his sabre too high and Qui-Gon sensed that he was unsure where he should be holding the sabre, because of Qui-Gon's height.
Qui-Gon parried across from left to right, causing Obi-wan to move his blade in a downward movement, loosing site of Qui-Gon's eyes and in doing so missed the Master eyeing Obi-wan's unprotected side.
Qui-Gon's blade quickly retraced its original path coming back across from the right to left and while Obi-wan's blade was hitting the ground, Qui-Gon brushed him on his side. The sting of the burn made him yelp "Owwch", but he regained his composure and flipped onto another rock. It was then that Qui-Gon realised the problem. Obi-wan had never faced off with anyone taller than he, and he didn't know how to compensate for it.
He disengaged his sabre "Obi-wan please come here."
Obi-wan jumped off the rock and walked over, and wondered if the Master was calling off their sabre class, because he didn't think he was worthy. Obi-wan stood in front of him looking a little flushed.
"Master Yoda if you wouldn't mind, I would like to watch the two of you spar for a while so I may see better how far Obi-wan has advanced?"
Yoda knew what Qui-Gon was thinking and he was pleased, for that was the reason he wanted Qui-Gon to train
Obi-wan, for Obi-wan's whole sparing life had been spent with a three foot Master. Obi-wan was now sparing with a giant and he didn't know how to adjust to the extra height.
Immediately when Yoda and Obi-wan entered into the sparing drill, Qui-Gon could see the change in the boy's style.
He performed form ll the Makashi with style and grace as did Yoda, eventually Yoda began attacking heavily, forcing Obi-wan to change his style to Form lll the Soresu.
Obi-wan seemed to enjoy this form the most, it was a defensive style and the quick movement close to the body helped to protect his body from the slashes and parries of Yoda's blade. Qui-Gon noted Obi-wan hardly ever jumped onto the rocks and boulders as he spared with Yoda, and he radiated a calm presence, but at no time did he relax and feel overconfident. His concentration was amazing for one so young.
Obi-wan held his own for quite a long time; however Yoda was getting weary, so he jumped onto the large boulder and said "Enough."
Obi-wan closed down his sabre clipping it onto his belt, and bowed low to his Master.
"Very good Obi-wan, now I understand the problem." Qui-Gon stated.
"Problem Master…what problem?"
"Size, Obi-wan."
Obi-wan looked at him with a confused look, he thought (he thinks I am too short to use a sabre.)
"It is obvious what has occurred and I can say I am not surprised." Qui-Gon said.
Obi-wan looked at Master Yoda who had a blank look on his face. Obi thought again (Am I missing something? he talks in riddles like Master Yoda)
"Size, Obi-wan in plain Basic, Master Yoda is too short." Qui-Gon grinned.
Obi-wan felt his face flush with embarrassment; he would never say that to Master Yoda. He looked at the diminutive Master expecting an argument or something, but there was calm. And Obi wondered if it was the calm before the storm.
Yoda spoke after a moment. "What say you Obi-Wan, is Master Qui-Gon right?"
"No Master! You're not too short… You are,… well you are... you."
"Yes young one correct you are, nevertheless correct is Qui-Gon, for in the Temple you would have many different shapes and sizes to spar with. Learn to compensate and adjust your style you would. Yet here, different it is, no one but me there was to teach you. Understand now do you?"
After a moment he nodded. "Yes Master I understand." and he grinned at the two Masters, some devious thoughts running through his head.
"Keep those thoughts to yourself youngling, 'short or not, catch you still, I can, and paddle you I will."
Obi-wan smiled widely at the small Master "Yes Master, but I don't recall you ever paddling me?"
Qui-Gon held back his smile and stepped forward to show Obi-Wan how to compensate for the difference in size. They worked on foot placement and parrying. By the end of the lesson Obi-Wan was deflecting all of Qui-Gon's strikes.
Qui-Gon called and end to the days duel when he felt that Obi-Wan was tiring.
Qui-Gon was grateful that Yoda left them alone, the old master had returned to the dwelling to give them time to get to know one another better.
"You did very well Obi-Wan, considering that I'm twice your size." He said as he sat down on a protruding trunk of a tree and tapped the spot next to him for Obi-Wan to sit down.
Obi-Wan wiped his forehead with the towel. "It was difficult at first to gain my balance and your size is so much different to Master Yoda's."
"Yes, and when you duel others you will need to compensate each time until you grow a bit. Yoda has done an excellent job teaching you Obi-Wan, you are a credit to him and I did enjoy our spar, thank you."
'I enjoyed it too, Master Jinn." He said stripping down to his shorts. "If I may be excused Master Jinn, I am going for a swim; would you care to join me?"
Qui-Gon's initial reaction was to say no, but he knew that Obi-Wan was still testing him and it was an invitation to be sociable. Something that Qui-Gon found difficult to do.
"Its ok if you don't want to, I can go by myself." He said as he threw the towel over the root of the tree.
"Wait Obi-Wan, I think a refreshing swim is a wonderful idea. I would love to join you."
Qui-Gon swam in the pond for awhile and watched as Obi-Wan dove under the water brining up small smooth pebbles; showing him each one.
"This one has red veins in it and Master Yoda said that this whole planet was volcanic and each pebble has a distinct coloured vein running through them. I have some with blue and green veins in it too."
Qui-Gon sensed Obi-Wan was nervous and was chatting about nothing to keep from showing his anxiety.
"Obi-Wan, would you like to ask me anything?" He asked sensing a multitude of questions waiting to be asked.
Obi-Wan dropped the pebbles and tread water as he gazed at Qui-Gon.
"Why did you come here?"
"I came because I had a dream; a dream about you."
"Me, you dreamt about me, why?"
"The Force showed me a vision and at first I thought it was me in the vision, looking so happy and contented. I wanted to feel like that again. I knew that Yoda was here and so I came, not really understanding why the Force was pushing me to do so, but when I got here I realised it was you I saw in my vision."
"The Force told you to come and find me?"
"Yes, I believe so."
Obi-Wan swam over to the shore and sat in waist high water. "If the Force told you about me, why didn't the Force tell you that your Padawan was bad? Master Yoda said he knew that Xanatos was bad."
"Because I wasn't listening then, and if it did tell me I didn't want to believe it."
"Master Yoda says that you should always listen to the Force, even if it doesn't seem right, it is there to guide us and make us see if one path is better than another. That's why we came here, Master Yoda said the Force told him that I would learn about the Force here."
"Yes and I am grateful to Master Yoda for doing that and I can tell that you are an excellent student."
"Master Yoda said you used to listen, but that you closed yourself off."
"Master Yoda is very perceptive and so are you young one."
"Master Jinn?"
"Yes Obi-Wan."
"I was annoyed before. But I wanted to let you know that I accept your apology. I know I should have said so straight away, but I was…"
"Stubborn?"
Obi-Wan blushed, and nodded his head. "Master Yoda said I have a stubborn streak in me that get's me into trouble sometimes!"
Qui-Gon smiled. "So do I Obi-Wan, so do I."
tbc
