Prompt from Arianna Silvia: I have a new idea for a one-shot: what if a mission of the Clone Wars takes Anakin, Ahsoka and Obi-Wan to Melida/Daan and Anakin and Ahsoka meet some old friends of Obi-Wan like Nield. Anakin learns of some painful parts of Obi-Wans time as a Padawan and Ahsoka realises that some of the Storys about him which are circulating among the padawans are true.
Now with added time travel.
…..
"Anakin…" Obi-Wan groaned, pushing himself to his feet, "… remember when you were a padawan, and I told you never to touch something- "
"- strange and unknown, I know, I know!" Anakin rolled his eyes as he and Ahsoka pushed themselves to their feet, "I'd like to point out, that the light came after us, not the other way around."
"I'm sure you encouraged it somehow."
"You think I encouraged a floating orb to- "
Ahsoka tuned the arguing out, already so used to it by now as she scanned their surroundings.
This place didn't look familiar… it looked war-torn as so many planets did nowadays, but she wasn't getting a sense of familiarity from it.
She did feel as though someone was watching her though… and the gaze didn't feel friendly.
"Ummm, Master?" she cautiously spoke up, the nerves in her tone quickly catching their attention, "I don't think this is the time right now."
Once Obi-Wan glanced around for himself, immediately tensing as he did…. Clearly it was familiar to him, but how, Ahsoka didn't know.
"I think we should- "
Suddenly, there was the sound of branches being broken as someone raced away… a scout probably, who was reporting back to someone.
"Kriff dammit!" Anakin cursed lowly, "How much do I want to bet, that that's not good?"
"It's not…." Obi-Wan was still tense, but his voice didn't show it, "… it appears as though we are on Melida/Daan."
Anakin frowned, "Melida/Daan… why does that ring a bell?"
"it should. I believe they still teach it in Diplomacy…. About how civil wars can lead to miniature factions and how peaceful negotiations can go wrong."
"Oh yeah…"
"I don't think we've covered that yet!" Ahsoka piped up, "What happened with on Melida/Daan?"
The question was directed at Master Kenobi (he was the best storyteller after all). Obi-Wan cleared his throat, still looking a little bit tense as he gave Ahsoka a brief synopsis on the civil war.
"Melida/Daan, at the point when i first remember hearing about this planet, had been engulfed in a civil war for centuries. It was between the Melida and the Daan factions, which I sure you're not surprised to hear."
"So, when did the Jedi get involved?"
"I was around… fourteen or fifteen. A group called The Young, which was led by various children of the Melida and Daan, rose up and made various moves in order to end the war. The Jedi High Council sent Jedi Master Tahl to help negotiate a treaty."
At the name 'Tahl', Ahsoka and Anakin glanced at each other… they both recognised the name instantly.
Obi-Wan, unaware of this silent conversation, continued with his story, "During a meeting with the Daan, Tahl was taken hostage and lost contact with the Temple… so me and Master Jinn were sent to rescue her."
"… And then what happened?"
There was a brief moment of silence, before Obi-Wan sighed wearily, "It…. Got a little complicated from there.
Without saying another word, he gestured for them to follow him, clearly hoping to move them away from the area that they had been spotted in. As Ahsoka followed on behind them, she couldn't help but think about the stories that the older padawans had told the younger ones…. About how Master Kenobi actually left the Order to join a civil war.
But they were only rumours…. Master Kenobi would never do something like that, even if he were a padawan at the time.
After about ten minutes of walking, Master Kenobi suddenly held up his hand as a silent signal for them to stop. "I do believe we're being watched…" he muttered, summoning a rock to his hand, before using the Force to fire it in a specific direction.
There was a yelp of pain, before a familiar looking boy fell out of a nearby tree, rubbing his hand on his forehead as he stared up at Master Kenobi.
"Y-You're a Jedi!" the boy exclaimed in a well-spoken accident, "Did Master Jinn send you? Or the High Council? Or- "
Master Kenobi held up his hand again, a slightly sad look on his face. "No…" he finally managed to blurt out, "… we were not sent by the Council, or your Master, Padawan Kenobi."
Revealing the young teen's identity was more for Anakin and Ahsoka's benefit, to make sure they didn't reveal anything that might spoil the future… but the with the unknown Jedi master knowing his name, Padawan Kenobi visibly relaxed.
"Oh…." He sounded a little upset about the fact that his Master hadn't sent anyone, but soon straightened up, acting like the perfect little Jedi, "…. So, may I ask why you're here? And who you are?"
Master Kenobi seemed amused by his younger self's bravado, "Well, as to why we are here, let us just say it was a happy accident. And you may not know who we are, because we spend long periods of time away from the Temple."
"But…" Padawan Kenobi frowned, glancing over at Ahsoka, "… your padawan looks like she's my age. And I don't think I've seen her in any of my lessons."
Ahsoka frowned, "I'm pretty sure I'm older than you." She stated confidently. Padawan Kenobi was smaller than her, so he must be younger.
"No." Master Kenobi seemed to know what she was thinking and sent her a quick, disapproving look, "You are the same age, but Ahsoka here travels with her master and her schoolwork is sent through to her."
"Oh…" Padawan Kenobi didn't seem to fully believe the story, but nodded anyway, before glancing around, "… we should probably get out of here, before- " he cleared his throat, "- before anyone sees us."
….
They seemed to walk for hours, but eventually they reached a smallish hide-out, where the atmosphere was subdued.
"Ah…" Master Kenobi muttered under his breath, a wave of sadness flashing across his face, "… I did wonder if it was around this time."
"Master, what's- "
"- Obi-Wan!"
The trio all turned to face the strange voice, watching as a humanoid male, with brown hair, dark eyes and light skin came storming over, anger written all over his face, "What are you doing Obi-Wan?!" the boy snarled, "Getting outside help? How do we know they're not spies for that kriffing bastard Wehutti?!"
"They're not Nield! I promise!" Padawan Kenobi held his hands up, a very defensive gesture for someone who seemed to be on his side, "I found them walking in the woods, and I think they can help. If the Young and the Melida/Daan factions try and negotiate a deal between them, I think- "
"- I'M NOT MAKING PEACE WITH THE MAN WHO KILLED CERASI!" Nield screamed, getting in Padawan Kenobi's face, almost pinning the younger teen to the wall, "And you know what…" he then backed off slightly, "… I don't know why I'm still here with you. Cerasi is dead because of you as well."
"W-what?"
"You're meant to be this all-powerful Jedi… but you weren't fast enough. She died because you weren't fast enough!"
Padawan Kenobi looked like he was going into shock as Nield stormed away, with other members of the Young murmuring to themselves.
"Come on…" Master Kenobi muttered to his companions, "… I think we should let them all cool down."
From there, he led them into a secluded area of the hide-out. Once he was sure that they were alone, he took a deep breath and sighed wearily.
"I'm sure you both have quite a few questions." He finally broke the silence, "What you heard in there… wasn't pleasant."
"I can't believe the rumours were true!" Ahsoka couldn't hold it back anymore, "You actually did leave the Order and join a rebel group!"
Anakin seemed surprised as well, nodding in agreement. "I always thought that story was nothing but a rumour!"
"I was… foolish in my younger days. I thought I knew better, that I was the only one who could help. So, I decided to stay here when my Master just wanted to take Tahl to safety." Obi-Wan looked slightly ashamed as his eyes focused on the ground, "He looked so disappointed in me."
"Wait, wait, wait…." Anakin frowned, "… And he just left you? Just like that? If I even thought about doing that with you, you would have dragged me out of there by my ear. Didn't he care that he was leaving you behind in a war-zone?"
"Master Jinn and I had… complications during our early partnership."
Sensing that it was a tough subject, Ahsoka decided to talk about something else… another tough subject.
"Who's Cerasi?"
Another wave of sadness flashed across Master Kenobi's face, "She was the original leader of The Young… and a good friend of mine."
"… how did she- "
"- die?" Obi-Wan glanced at the door briefly, "After Master Jinn left with Master Tahl, we managed to end the war between the two factions and started to rebuild the planet…. But Nield wanted revenge on the people who had continued fighting for so long, whereas all me and Cerasi wanted was peace. Nield then decided to lead an attack, that resulted in the destruction of Melida/Daan's Halls of Evidence, which then led to a war between the Elders and the Young…. I tried to stop them, but Cerasi was the one who decided to rush into the middle of the fight… her Father was a part of it after all. But when she tried to stop it all, she was shot and killed by blaster fire. Nield never recovered."
"… And then?"
Master Kenobi was silent for a short time, before shaking his head. "Then there was only chaos… My younger self needs to contact the temple, and Master Jinn immediately in order to try and save hundreds of lives from being lost."
There was a brief moment of silence, before Anakin cautiously spoke up. "He's no longer a part of the Order… are you sure they would come and help?"
"I know Master Jinn's actions surprised you…. But he wouldn't leave my younger self here. There's still that bond." Obi-Wan moved towards the door, "With everything that's happened, hopefully, he'll be easy to convince."
"You mean, you hope he isn't as stubborn as you are now?"
Obi-Wan chuckled fondly at this, "Ah Anakin… I'm afraid I was far more stubborn at this age."
…
Thankfully, he wasn't too stubborn.
It didn't take long for Master Kenobi to get through to his younger self, advising him to contact the Temple as soon as he could.
"Master Kenobi?" Ahsoka nervously spoke up, once Padawan Kenobi had left the room, hopefully to call the Temple, "I know you weren't kicked out of the Order, I-I mean that's obvious… but how did you- "
"- I worked hard to get back into the good graces of the Council." Master Kenobi sighed, "I knew I would have to admit my flaws and faults in front of the Council just to be given a second chance… but as with everything that happened back then, there was another complication. But after what happened here, I knew what my calling in the Order was… a negotiator. Someone who could actually help, rather than just a child who thinks too highly of themselves."
"… You really believe that?"
Before Obi-Wan could answer, there was a flash of blue light…. And they were back where they were before this whole mess began.
"But-But…" Ahsoka stuttered, "… we didn't get to see what happened?"
"We already know what happened Snips. Obi-Wan was allowed back into the Order and becomes the Master you see before you…. Somehow."
Obi-Wan rolled his eyes at his old padawan's statement but nodded in agreement anyway. "Yes, well helping the Order after the almost assassination of Master Yoda did help matters slightly."
"Wait… what?"
