Ok, first of all, to all of you that have asked me if this is a Zelina/Obi-Wan story: NOOOOO! OMG NO! She's 6 and he's, what, 21 right now?! Seriously people, no! Sorry, I had to get that out. And to those scolding me because they think I'm gonna get rid of Anakin/Padme...relax, I'm not going to erase their relationship. And the Anakin/Zelina shippers...well, I'll just say don't lose hope. ;) Though right now they're just kids, so calm down haha. Anyways, back to the basics! Here's the next chapter! Thank you for the reviews, I really do enjoy them, if you're not reviewing, you should! Reviews make me happy and give me even more motivation! So Keep reviewing please :D Enjoy!


When they reached the Jedi Temple, Zelina's eyes went wide, and she eagerly took in the large building, not sure if she was intimidated or impressed. It was beautiful. Obi-Wan seemed to chuckle next to her at her reaction, but she didn't care.

"It's huge!" she said.

"You should see the inside," Obi-Wan told her. "I'll have to show you and Anakin around sometime, I'm sure you two will like it."

Zelina grinned at him. "I'd love that."

Qui-Gon turned to her. "Now Zelina, when we get there Obi-Wan and myself will need to speak with the Council alone. You might want to wait in the hall."

Zelina sighed. "All right…"

Qui-Gon smiled at her. "It shouldn't be too long young one, don't worry."

They landed the speeder and The two Jedi fluidly got out of the vehicle, Obi-Wan helping Zelina out. "Stay close to me, alright? We don't want you getting lost," Obi-Wan said with a smile.

Zelina nodded and clung to his robe. She was sure that it would be easy for her to go astray in the giant building.

As the small party made their way into the Temple, Zelina looked around in wonderment at the towering pillars on both sides of her, up at the ceiling that seemed as far away as the stars. She was suddenly extremely aware of just how small she was. The sights truly were beautiful, and as they walked she caught several other Jedi looking at her curiously as she passed by. She couldn't help but draw a little closer to Obi-Wan, uncomfortable with all the stares she was getting.

Obi-Wan put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry young one, they're just curious."

Zelina nodded, but didn't release him, which only made him chuckle.

As they walked along, Zelina peered curiously into the rooms that they passed, trying to see what lay beyond the intimidating halls. Two rooms that they passed seemed big from what Zelina could see. She saw part of a fountain in one room, and there were tables and shelves in another room, but she wasn't able to take in the rooms entirely as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan hurried ahead.

Eventually their hurried pace slowed and she was able to easily keep up with them. "Where are we going?" she asked curiously, tired of the silence.

"To the Council Room," Qui-Gon told her. "Where the Jedi Council is."

She nodded. "Alright."

"When we get there I'm going to have you wait out in the hall until Obi-Wan gets you, alright? I'm sure the council will want to talk to you."

Zelina shifted nervously. "What about?"

Qui-Gon gave her a reassuring smile. "They'll just ask you some questions. Just answer them honestly and you'll be fine, alright Zelina?"

"Okay..." she said slowly.

They came to a stop in front of a large door, and Zelina looked nervously between the two.

"It won't be long," Qui-Gon reassured her as the doors opened.

"Stay here," Obi-Wan told her, lingering just long enough to give her the instruction before he followed Qui-Gon into the room. Timidly, Zelina went and hid behind a pillar, watching the door from her seat on the floor.


Obi-Wan stood beside Qui-Gon in the Council Room, once more stretching out his senses to make sure that Zelina was still outside as Qui-Gon gave the report on what had happened on their mission. He trusted the girl; though he'd also taken Qui-Gon's word to heart that she could find trouble very easily after hearing some what had happened to her.

"He was trained in the Jedi arts."

Qui-Gon's statement caused Obi-Wan to focus on the conversation that was going to come out of this little bit of information. It would surely be interesting.

"My only conclusion can be that it was a Sith Lord," Qui-Gon said.

His conclusion was immediately met with skepticism.

"Impossible. The Sith have been extinct for over a millennium!" exclaimed Ki-Adi-Mundi.

"I do not believe the Sith could return without us knowing," Mace Windu said skeptically.

"Ah, hard to see, the dark side is," mused Yoda.

"We will use all of our resources to unravel this mystery," Windu said. "We will discover the identity of your attacker. May the Force be with you."

Both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon bowed, though Obi-Wan hesitated before he stayed in the same place, seeing that Qui-Gon did not move either.

"Master Qui-Gon—More to say, have you?" Yoda inquired.

"With your permission my Master." When Yoda did not say anything, Qui-Gon continued. "I have encountered a convergence in the Force."

Several of the Master's looked between themselves and Obi-Wan held his breath, having to physically repress himself from leaning forward from anticipation.

"A convergence, you say?" Yoda asked, his voice sounding a little breathless from his curiosity.

"Located around a person?" Windu asked, his sharp eyes studying Qui-Gon.

"A boy. The cells of the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have seen in a life-form," Qui-Gon told them. "It is possible he was conceived by midi-chlorians."

Surprised looks flickered across almost every face, though Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon both kept their expressions smooth.

"You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the Force?" Windu asked incredulously. "You believe it's this…boy?"

"I don't presume—"

"But you do!" Yoda interrupted Qui-Gon. "Revealed, your opinion is!"

"I request the boy be tested Master," Qui-Gon said.

"Oh! Trained as a Jedi, you request for him, mmm?" Yoda asked.

"Finding him was the will of the Force, I have no doubt of that," Qui-Gon pressed.

Windu sighed and shook his head. "Bring him before us then…"

Qui-Gon bowed, though Obi-Wan held firm, catching his Master's eye. What about Zelina, he couldn't help but think, sensing the girl in the exact spot she'd been since they had walked into the room. Qui-Gon gave Obi-Wan a reassuring smile.

"Also, Master, there was a girl that we found along with the boy…" Qui-Gon said carefully.

"Very eventful it seems, your mission was, Qui-Gon," Yoda said with his strange laugh. "Another one strong in the Force, perhaps?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "She is not quite as powerful as the boy…but her midi-chlorian count was over nineteen thousand." There were some murmurs around the room at this specific piece of information, and Obi-Wan was sure they were probably trying to guess how high Anakin's was now. Qui-Gon, however, pushed on. "I have seen her use the Force as well. Her connection with it is deep. She is quite gifted with foresight, and utilized her connection instinctively just before we departed the planet of Tatooine."

Yoda mused in his chair while Windu's reluctance and skepticism appeared to grow. "And how old is this girl?"

"Hardly six standard years," Qui-Gon said. "She came from a troubling background of slavery and has seen her fair share of abuse. I believe taking her with us might have very well saved her life."

"And you believe meeting this girl to have been the will of the Force as well," Windu observed.

"Yes Master," Qui-Gon responded.

"For her to be trained as well, you wish?" Yoda inquired.

"Yes Master. She has a vast amount of potential, and from what I've seen, I believe she needs to learn how to control her abilities," Qui-Gon said seriously.

"The new Presence just outside the room, is she?" Yoda asked.

Qui-Gon nodded. "We told her to wait out there until we were finished. The boy is with the Queen right now."

Windu looked like he was going to ask why the two were not together but thought better of it, sighing once again. "Well, perhaps you can let her come in so we may test her as well while someone retrieves the boy."

Qui-Gon bowed. "Thank you Master." Qui-Gon gave Obi-Wan a pointed look, and Obi-Wan steadily made his way to the door to recover Zelina.

The girl looked up from her spot on the ground by a pillar and Obi-Wan made sure that his smile was reassuring and not showing the concern he felt for her. Surely the Council would let her train…

Zelina stood quickly, brushing herself off and blushing a little. "Do I…am I supposed to…" the girl didn't seem to be able to form a sentence.

Obi-Wan smiled a little more and gestured for her to come over beside him. "They'll see you now Zelina. Don't worry, everything will be fine, I promise," he reassured her.

Zelina hesitantly approached his side, hiding behind him a little as he lead her back into the room. Qui-Gon was making his way out.

"Master?" Obi-Wan asked, a little confused.

"I'm going to get Anakin. Stay here with Zelina, I'll be right back," Qui-Gon informed him.

Obi-Wan nodded and then carefully peeled Zelina out from behind him. It seemed almost all of the Jedi Masters were sitting on the edge of their seats as she came into sight, studying her head to toe. He could even sense some of them reach out through the Force to prod at her Signature. Obi-Wan frowned a little but didn't say anything about it. Zelina looked up at him, and he could see the flicker of fear that flashed across her eyes. He nodded to the center of the room. "Go on ahead, I'll be back here," he reassured her. Hesitantly the girl stepped to the middle of the room, and Obi-Wan noticed several of the Master's doing their best not to react to the bruise that went down one side of Zelina's face.

"What is your name young one?" one of the female Jedi Masters asked her gently.

"Zelina. Zelina Du'ahn," she said carefully.

"Well Zelina, first of all we're going to ask you some questions…"


Much later, Obi-Wan felt that even his patience had disappeared, and shifted from foot to foot as discreetly as he could. Zelina was just now starting to finish up the test for the images that Windu held on a screen in front of himself.

"…a crate…a planet…Tatooine, I think…" Zelina said automatically. At the mention of the planet, Obi-Wan felt ripples come off of her through the Force. It seemed the Council members noticed as well.

Well of course they sensed it, they're Masters.

"Mmmm…" Yoda mused. "Conflicted you seem young one."

Zelina seemed to hesitate, thinking about what she felt probably before she slowly nodded.

"Why is that?"

Zelina sighed. "I'm…glad to be away from Tatooine, I'm glad I was freed…but I also sort of regret leaving my father behind…I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet…"

Yoda nodded. "Fear you have, as well. See it, we can. Why fear you?"

Obi-Wan kept his place by the door, but couldn't help the anxiety out of his features. He hadn't forgotten the dream Zelina had told them about. Perhaps that was why she was afraid now, perhaps she was just intimidated.

"I…had a dream sir," she said slowly.

"What in your dream causes you to fear?" Yoda asked.

The girl shifted her feet for a moment, and Obi-Wan held his breath, thinking the girl might mention the part about Qui-Gon. It seemed another part was on her mind though.

"In my dream you wouldn't train Ani because he was too old. But he'd make a great Jedi, I know, I've seen that too in another dream! I'm worried about him…" she said, trailing off.

Windu and Yoda shared a glance, and Obi-Wan stood stiffly off to the side. Her dreams contradicted each other, and truthfully, he was curious to see which one would play out. Would they accept Anakin? Would they even accept Zelina?

"Mindful of your fear, you should be young one. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate….leads to suffering."

Obi-Wan saw little Zelina physically shiver, though he did note that the traces of fear that she'd had gradually diminished and he smiled a little. Maybe he didn't need to worry about her as much as he did.

The Council resumed their training, and Obi-Wan took note how not once did any of the Masters lose focus on Zelina until they were finished.

When Zelina was absolutely sure that the Masters were done, she made her way back to Obi-Wan's side. Stretching out he senses somewhere other than Zelina, he could tell Qui-Gon was waiting with Anakin for Zelina's session to be over just outside the door.

"Send the boy in," Windu told Obi-Wan tiredly. Obi-Wan nodded.

"Of course Master."

The doors opened and Obi-Wan lead Zelina out of the room, his eyes immediately falling on Qui-Gon and Anakin. Qui-Gon raised an inquiring eyebrow and Obi-Wan smiled. It was all the communication Qui-Gon needed to understand how the testing had gone.

"They're waiting for him," Obi-Wan informed him.

Qui-Gon nodded. "Go on Anakin, don't worry."

Zelina gave him an encouraging smile. "It's not that bad Ani, honestly," she reassured him.

Anakin nodded hesitantly and cautiously made his way into the Council room. The door shut rather ominously behind him.

Qui-Gon gestured for Obi-Wan to follow him, and Obi-Wan placed his hand on Zelina's shoulder to get her to follow them. She obliged, her mind seeming to be elsewhere as she trailed behind the two.

"How did she do?" Qui-Gon asked Obi-Wan softly. Obi-Wan smiled just a little.

"I don't think she has much to worry about…" Obi-Wan trailed off. He did have one concern though. They all made their way onto a balcony, watching the sunset of Coruscant as they talked. "The boy will not pass the council's tests: he's too old. Zelina brought it off in hers and the looks on their faces…" he shook his head.

"Anakin will become a Jedi too, I promise you."

Obi-Wan knew that tone of voice. "Do not defy the Council Master, not again," he said tiredly.

When Qui-Gon looked at him, Obi-Wan was sure he saw amusement sparkling in his Master's eyes. "I will do what I must Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan sighed. "If you would just follow the Code you would be on the Council. They will not go along with you this time, I'm sure of it."

Qui-Gon chuckled and gave his shoulder a brief squeeze. "You still have much to learn my young apprentice."

Zelina appeared at Obi-Wan's side, straining to see over the railing at the city sprawling out before them. Obi-Wan smiled a little and picked the girl up, setting her carefully on the railing so that she could get a perfect view of the sight she probably found breathtaking. She looked so happy to see it, and she grinned at him, a look that Obi-Wan returned. The girl was definitely starting to grow on him, that was for sure. He kept an eye on her, just to make sure she wouldn't lean to far forward and fall. He could feel his Master's eyes on them, but he did his best not to think about it.

"Do you think Anakin will pass his tests Zelina?" Qui-Gon asked smoothly. Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head.

"Of course!" Zelina said unwaveringly. "If I can do it he can do it!"

Qui-Gon chuckled. "She seems to have faith in him Obi-Wan."

"Master," Obi-Wan sighed. "I didn't say that I didn't have any faith in him, I simply said the Council will not allow it."

Qui-Gon simply smiled, but said nothing more on the matter.


After night had fallen, the three were called back into the Council room. Zelina and Anakin stood side by side in front of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, waiting to hear the Council's decision on whether or not they would be trained. Zelina couldn't help but fidget nervously, anxious to hear what they would say.

"The Force is strong with them. Very strong…" the Jedi Master with the tall head and white hair said.

"They are to be trained then?" Qui-Gon asked. Zelina couldn't help but straighten, tense in anticipation.

"The girl will…" the dark skinned Master said slowly.

"And the boy?"

"No."

Qui-Gon was obviously surprised, and Zelina stiffened even more, if that was possible.

"No?" Qui-Gon asked, his hands falling to his hips. Glancing at Anakin, Zelina could tell he was hurt by their rejection. Very hurt.

"He is too old," the dark skinned Master said.

"He is the Chosen One! Surely you must see it!"

"Mmmm…clouded this boy's future is…the girl's as well, when in her future he is…" the little green man said.

Zelina frowned, glancing at her friend, overcome with guilt. She shook her head. "I don't want to be trained if Ani won't be trained."

Before any of the Masters could respond to her statement Qui-Gon stepped in. "I will train him then. I take Anakin as my Padawan learner," Qui-Gon stated firmly, putting his hands on Anakin's shoulders. Zelina, who was standing right in front of Obi-Wan, could practically feel the hurt, betrayal, and surprise that radiated from Obi-Wan at Qui-Gon's words.

"An apprentice you have, Qui-Gon. Impossible to take on a second!" the little green man declared.

"The Code forbids it," the dark skinned Jedi added.

"Obi-Wan is ready," Qui-Gon said pointedly.

"I am ready to face the Trials," Obi-Wan said, standing straighter behind Zelina.

"Our own council we will keep on who is ready," the little green man said, and Zelina thought she might have heard a note of warning in his voice.

"He is headstrong, and has much to learn of the living force, but he is capable. There is little more he can learn from me," Qui-Gon said easily. Obi-Wan's head turned sharply to look at Qui-Gon, as did Zelina's. Just earlier on the balcony Qui-Gon had said that Obi-Wan had much to learn; now Obi-Wan was suddenly ready for whatever these Trials were?

"Young Skywalker's fate will be decided later," the little green man said.

"Now is not the time for this. The Senate is voting for a new Supreme Chancellor, and Queen Amidala is returning home, which will put pressure on the Federation, and could widen the confrontation," the dark skinned Jedi said.

"And draw out the Queen's attacker," the tall headed Jedi said softly.

"Go to Naboo with the Queen and discover the identity of this dark lord," the dark skinned Jedi stressed.

Zelina heard Qui-Gon sigh, even though it was almost indiscernible. He did not look happy.

"This is the clue we need to unravel the mystery of the Sith," the dark skinned Jedi's voice was almost desperate sounding to Zelina.

"May the Force be with you," the small green man said. His tone was final.

All four of them bowed, taking their leave. Zelina and Anakin fell behind Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan; Zelina could tell that Anakin was very upset right now. He was staring at the floor, his face smooth, though she still recognized the look. Silently, she gave him a one armed hug. He gave her a fleeting, grateful smile, and when his eyes met hers she saw his eyes were glistening with tears from the sting of the Jedi Council's rejection.

"You'll be a Jedi Ani, don't worry. I know you will," she said softly. Anakin simply nodded.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan said nothing.