Disclaimer: I don't own either Star Wars or Jedi Apprentice. I own the people you don't recognize.
A/N: Takes place five years after TPM. Obi and Ani go to Melida/Daan because peace is once again turning to war. Oh, if you haven't read Defenders of the Dead and The uncertain path, this probably won't make much sense.


Again

"Come, Anakin. The Council has called us to meet with them." Obi-Wan called through his Padawan's door.
"So early?" Came the muffled reply.
"Anakin, it's almost lunch time, you've been sleeping long enough."
"But, Obi-Wan, I had a hard day yesterday."
"I would hardly call a lightsaber tournament hard."
"Ok, ok. I'm getting up."
A few minutes later Anakin opened the door and came out.
"So, what'd I do now?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Council must have had some reason to call us."
Obi-Wan laughed, "No, you didn't do anything. I think they have a mission for us."
They walked up to the Council and went in.
"Greetings, Obi-Wan." Mace said. "We have a mission for the two of you."
Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin then turned his attention back to the Council members.
"Important it is. Going to Melida/Daan you are."
"Melida/Daan?" Obi-Wan was surprised.
"Yes. The peace is once again turning to war. The Governor of Melida/Daan, Nield, has called for Jedi assistance. He asked for you specifically." Mace continued.
"I shall go at once."
"One more thing, Obi-Wan. Remember do you? The last time you went to Melida/Daan? Make the same mistake again, you will not. Ready to face your past again, I think you are." Yoda said.
"I will not fail you."
"May the Force be with you."
They left the Council chamber and started back to their rooms. Once there, Anakin had a few questions for Obi-Wan, "Master, what did Yoda mean? 'Make the same mistake again you will not.'"
"When I was younger, I went on a mission to Melida/Daan. We were to rescue a Jedi who'd been captured during a war. The war had broken out during peace negotiations. Me and Qui-Gon rescued her. But there was still war. There was a group of children, called the Young. They wanted peace between the Melida and the Daan. You remember from class, about how the planet Melida/Daan was a war planet?"
"Yes, but I don't see your mistake."
"I wanted to stay behind and help the Young bring peace. Qui-Gon had to go back to the Temple. I left the Jedi and stayed on Melida/Daan."
"Master, you left the Jedi?!"
"Yes, Anakin. And I really regret I did so. I was almost not excepted back."
"Wow. So if you left the Jedi to help that planet, what makes them think you won't do it again?"
"They don't know. This is a kind of test for me. Now lets get packed."

They got packed then went out to a transport and got on. It was to take them straight to Melida/Daan. They went to their rooms and dropped of their bags.

*********************
That night...
*********************

Obi-Wan lay in bed, thinking about Melida/Daan and all that had happened there. Expeacily, he thought about Cerasi. He hadn't told Anakin about her for a reason. He couldn't tell Anakin about her, he wouldn't understand, he was only 14. Well, he had been 13, but still. ~If we had been older...no, best not to think of that.~ Then there was all his friends, Nield, Roenni, Deila... Roenni. Even after Nield had kicked him out, Roenni had stayed loyal to him, even though it could have cost her lots. He remembered all the times she had come to him, with food or a reassuring word. He remembered, also, that those were his darkest times, after Cerasi was killed. If only she had lived. He rolled over and drifted to a sleep filled with dreams of a long ago time, on Melida/Daan.

********************
Landing on Melida/Daan.
********************

He remembered the last time he was here, he had had to sneak in. He almost smiled as he remembered the scratched fighter. Beside him, Anakin stared at the buildings and the city. ~It sure has changed. Nield's done a good job.~
"Wow, did the city..."
"Zehava." Obi-Wan interrupted.
"Did Zehava always look so battle worn?"
"It looked MUCH worse last time I was here. Most the buildings were barely standing and the ones that were had holes in them."
"Oh. Which of them did you live in when you were here?"
"I didn't. I lived below, in the sewers."
"The sewers?" Anakin asked incredulously.
"Yes."
"Ok."
"It wasn't that bad."
"Right. What about the smell?"
"Actually, there was very little smell."
By now they had landed, so Obi-Wan decided to change the subject, "We must go now. I'm sure Nield is waiting."
"Who is Nield?"
"The governor of Melida/Daan. Actually, years ago, he was part of the Young." Ob-Wan explained as they walked. "He and the Elders, all the older people, reached an agreement that they would both rule. Now that Nield's older, he was elected governor."
After that, they walked along in silence. When they got to Glory street, Obi-Wan stopped.
"Master, what's wrong?"
"I...nothing, Anakin."
"Nothing? Obi-Wan, I felt your disturbance."
"A very good friend died here, right there." He pointed to in front of the fountain.
"Who was it?"
"Her name was Cerasi."
"Her?" Anakin grinned.
"It wasn't like that. I was only 13."
"Oh, so why are we here again?"
Obi-Wan sighed. "Anakin, I explained on the trip here. But I'll do so again. The peace is in danger. Some of the older Melida are beginning to object Nield's being governor because Nield is a Daan."
"Oh. But they're just old people, they can't fight."
"No, but they can get the younger people to do that. We're here to stabilize the peace."
At that moment, a voice behind them called out, "Obi-Wan? Obi-Wan, is that you?!"
They turned and saw a young woman running up to them.
"Yes, it's me, but who are...Roenni?"
"Yes."
"You've changed."
"You also."
Obi-Wan was usually not effected by the looks of woman, but this one held his attention.
"Who's this." Roenni said, looking away at Anakin.
"This is Anakin Skywalker, my apprentice."
"Hello. Obi-Wan never told me of you."
"Well, we weren't that good of friends. I heard Nield had called you here, I was going to the spaceport to see if you'd arrived yet. Want me to show you to the governor's office?"
"I think I remember the way."
"Ok, but I'll come with you anyway."
They started walking there, talking about past times and how things had changed. He learned that Nield and Deila had married and had a small kid named after Cerasi. He also learned that Wehutti had died. He learned that Roenni was head fighter mechanic. They arrived at the council building and went in.
Roenni led them up the stairs to Neild's office. When they entered, Neild looked up form some paper work. He saw Obi-Wan and immediately stood up.
"You're here!" He rushed forward to greet him, "It's been so long since I last saw you. How are you doing?"
"Fine."
"Who's this?"
"My..."
"Don't tell me. Your son?"
Obi-Wan glanced at Anakin with annoyance, but a little amusement. "No, he's my apprentice. Anakin Skywalker."
Anakin looked up at Neild, "Hi."
"Hello." Neild looked over to Roenni, "Thanks for bringing them here."
"Your welcome."
Obi-Wan spoke, "Uh, sorry, but we came here to help with the peace?"
"Oh, yeah, that's right. As you probably already know, the older Melida have started protesting my leadership. Even though I was elected. They've started telling the younger Melida about what the Daan did to their ancestors."
"And the Daan? Are they protesting too?" Obi-Wan knew this was important.
"Well, some of them don't like it that the Melida are opposing me. They are angering the younger ones to fight the Melida. If all isn't resolved, we could go back to war and end up like we did so many years ago."
"I see. Does either side know we've come?" That was also important.
"Yes. The young are unsure about fighting. They were raised with love, not hate. They've agreed to meet with you." Neild looked worried.
"When is this meeting to take place?" Obi-Wan wanted to get this over with soon. As much as he was enjoying being on Melida/Daan again, there was something about it that made him uneasy.
"Tomorrow afternoon. Until then, you are free to explore the city." Neild smiled, "We've made quite a few changes since you were last here." Now he spoke to Roenni, "Roenni, you did such a good job bringing them here, would you mind playing tour guide?"
Roenni smiled, "Not at all."
After saying goodbye, they left.
"Where do you want to go first?" Roenni asked.
"Well, Padawan, do you feel up to exploring, or would you rather rest?"
"I am kinda tired..."
"Ok, Roenni...?"
"This way."
Roenni led them to a motel and Anakin went straight to his bedroom and flopped onto the bed. He was asleep within minutes.
Obi-Wan and Roenni walked silently out of the room.
"Well, he was tireder then he thought." Roenni whispered.
"Yeah."
"How'd you end up with him? And where's your boss-Master?"
"Qui-Gon? It's a long story. About five years ago, we were trying to bring peace to a planet named Naboo."
"I heard about that. I hadn't realized the Jedi team was you two." She paused a moment. "Wait, Qui-Gon...he was the one that the Sith..."
"Yes."
"Oh, Obi-Wan, I...I'm sorry."
"It's ok."
She put a hand on his shoulder and looked up at him, "No it's not. You didn't deserve for him to die."
"What did I deserve?"
"For one, you don't deserve to have this hard a life. Do you ever take time off?"
"Jedi don't take time off. And I expecily don't. Not since the last time I was here. After that, I don't dare."
"I understand." She moved away from him. "So, what about Anakin?"
"Qui-Gon found him on Tatooine during the Naboo mission. He claims Anakin is the Chosen One."
She sat on the couch. "Chosen one?"
He sat beside her, "Yeah. The Jedi have this prophesy. It says that there will be a Chosen One that will come and balance the Force. Don't ask what that means, I don't even understand it fully. Qui-Gon was going to train him, after I'd become a knight. But he...died, before that. He asked me to train him. I couldn't ignore him, it was the last thing he asked for."
As Roenni looked into his eyes, she noticed he was holding back tears. "Obi-Wan...I..."
He looked at her and saw concern on her face. He smiled.
"Obi-Wan, you sure have changed over the years."
"For the better I hope."
She smiled, "Definitely for the better."
Though he didn't fully realize it, she was referring to his looks. He looked into her eyes, finding them a beautiful shade of brown. Suddenly he realized how close they were and how hot the room had become. He leaned in toward her a little. She took the invitation and leaned toward him. He put his hands around her waist to pull her closer. Now they were inches away from each other. They could feel each other's breath on their faces. They were so close.
"Obi-Wan!!!!!!!"
Obi-Wan looked around, confused. The he figured it out, "Anakin!"