He awoke with a loud yawn and a long stretch, but suddenly he gasped when
he realized the twin suns of Tatoonine were already awake and glaring
harshly at him. Late again. He rolled out of bed and quickly threw his
tunic on. Giving his darkening hair a quick ruffle, he ran outside in hopes
of not being scolded too much.
But did it really matter? He would get scolded anyways even if he had been on time, because Obi-Wan would have been earlier or Obi-Wan would have done something else grand and wonderful that poor little Anakin failed to accomplish or even consider accomplishing. He sighed at the thought as he ran outside to begin his morning laps around the small house.
Years had gone by, but nothing had really changed. Anakin was slowly becomming a man, yet a boyish gleam danced in his eyes and immaturity continued to linger in his heart. His life, however, had basically remained the same -perhaps that is why he had not began to grow-up emotionally yet. He still lived under his mother's watchful eyes. He had never left her again since that fateful trip to see the Jedi Council - not even a simple overnight trip. He was much too dependant upon his mother, but he didn't care. He never wanted to leave, unless it meant seeing Padme -well, Amidala; his mind hadn't completely excepted the fact that his beloved angel was a queen. His days were spent in jedi training, although he thought of it more like Obi-Wan training. No matter what he did -whether it was good or bad- he was constantly compared to Obi-Wan. The more comparisions there were, the more hatred began to form in his heart.
"If Obi-Wan was so damn wonderful, then why wasn't he the chosen one?" Anakin mumbled under his breath as he continued to run.
Qui-Gon hadn't seemed to notice the hatred forming in Anakin. Through his knowledge of the Force, he had learned how to hide his feelings. He couldn't allow Qui-Gon to see his hatred because he knew his training wouldn't be completed, thus making him a failure to his mother. Well, at least that's how his immature mind tried to justify it.
"Master Qui-Gon, sir," Anakin called, still sounding childish despite his much deeper voice, "I've completed my laps for the morning."
"You're terribly late." Qui-Gon said, his tone more indifferent than angry.
"I know... I'm sorry, sir. I over-slept." he stammered.
"Obviously. Obi-Wan never over-slept. He was always on time, usually quite early. His morning laps were finished before sunrise..." Qui-Gon stated, his tone becomming distant.
"I said I was sorry, sir..." he murmered.
"And you should be. Now, today you will continue your work on the construction of your lightsabre. How is it coming along?" Qui-Gon said.
"It's nearly complete, Master Qui-Gon, sir! Just a few more hours and it should be completely finished!" he said, hoping his master would be impressed.
"Hm.. and you began work on it just a few days ago?" Qui-Gon inquired.
"Yes, sir!" Anakin announced, beaming with delight.
"Hm.. it took Obi-Wan weeks to complete his lightsabre. Perhaps you're rushing a little. A jedi can't have sloppy work, you know. Everything must be precise and accurate and carefully done and-" Qui-Gon stated.
"Sir, I'm not trying to be rude, but I've always been good at building things. Look at Mom's protocal droid. Remember? I built him. And my podracer? Built that too. This light sabre thing really isn't that complicated. I assure you, Master Qui-Gon, sir, it will be built to perfection in a few hours. Obi-Wan may have taken awhile on it, but, sir, I'm not Obi-Wan. I'm Anakin." he said.
"I know you're not Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said softly, "It's just that I-"
"Miss him. I know, Master Qui-Gon, sir. You've been grieving over his death for so long now. Days and weeks and months are one thing, but years... that's quite another. You must let go, sir. You must." Anakin said, as kindly as he could.
Another lie. Upon that fateful night in which Obi-Wan had come and gone, Anakin had asked what had happened. Qui-Gon said that a vicious Sith had come looking for him, but Obi-Wan saved him. However, the Sith killed Obi- Wan, but Qui-Gon killed the Sith in return. Sound familiar? So perhaps the roles were reversed and the details were a little different, but it was that basic story of two Jedi and a Sith that continued to haunt him. "I am dead to you, Master..." he had said. Faked his death too, perhaps?
Qui-Gon wanted to move on, truly he did, but the memories continued to linger. He hadn't heard anything about Obi-Wan since that fateful night. It was rumored that a galatic war had started shortly after, but on Tatoonine where the Republic didn't exsist, it remained just a rumor. He wondered if Obi-Wan had become involved in the war. He certainly preferred more peaceful situations, but with darkness wraping her deceiving arms around him, there was just no telling what he was now capable of. Still, it was the fact that Obi-Wan remained among the living that troubled him. He was living a life of his own away from the Force, and Qui-Gon was allowed to have no part in it. To him, Obi-Wan was dead. Obi-Wan had said it himself. Dead. Dead...
"I will let go when I am ready, until then.. just..." he said, but suddenly he couldn't find the words to say to Anakin. He didn't want to hurt this boy just as he had hurt Obi-Wan, yet still, he didn't want to be overly kind. He didn't want to feel so attached to him and end up betraying him.
"Just go work on the lightsabre?" Anakin suggested.
"Yes. Work on your lightsabre..." Qui-Gon murmered.
Anakin nodded and returned to his room to complete his task. Although he had acted concerned for his master, his heart felt differently. Obi-Wan meant nothing to him. Obi-Wan was a dead man whom he was expected to become. Still, he wanted a different fate. He wouldn't think of Qui-Gon as a father. He wouldn't put Obi-Wan on a pedestal. He would act as though he cared, but deep inside, his soul rebelled.
[Hello again! So... did ya like it? Yeah, this one was boring too, but it was yet another of those boring-yet-necessary chapters. Don't worry, more and more plot twists are coming. Also, just so ya know, at the -very- end of this story, I promise that -everything- will be just as it should in order for the original triology to begin. I just didn't like the end of Phantom Menace. So, that gives a little bit away... but not too much. ^_~ You'll just have to wonder how MY details end up getting to the gloriously wonderful triology. But, as always, I need feedback before I continue... so... go review, pretty please!]
But did it really matter? He would get scolded anyways even if he had been on time, because Obi-Wan would have been earlier or Obi-Wan would have done something else grand and wonderful that poor little Anakin failed to accomplish or even consider accomplishing. He sighed at the thought as he ran outside to begin his morning laps around the small house.
Years had gone by, but nothing had really changed. Anakin was slowly becomming a man, yet a boyish gleam danced in his eyes and immaturity continued to linger in his heart. His life, however, had basically remained the same -perhaps that is why he had not began to grow-up emotionally yet. He still lived under his mother's watchful eyes. He had never left her again since that fateful trip to see the Jedi Council - not even a simple overnight trip. He was much too dependant upon his mother, but he didn't care. He never wanted to leave, unless it meant seeing Padme -well, Amidala; his mind hadn't completely excepted the fact that his beloved angel was a queen. His days were spent in jedi training, although he thought of it more like Obi-Wan training. No matter what he did -whether it was good or bad- he was constantly compared to Obi-Wan. The more comparisions there were, the more hatred began to form in his heart.
"If Obi-Wan was so damn wonderful, then why wasn't he the chosen one?" Anakin mumbled under his breath as he continued to run.
Qui-Gon hadn't seemed to notice the hatred forming in Anakin. Through his knowledge of the Force, he had learned how to hide his feelings. He couldn't allow Qui-Gon to see his hatred because he knew his training wouldn't be completed, thus making him a failure to his mother. Well, at least that's how his immature mind tried to justify it.
"Master Qui-Gon, sir," Anakin called, still sounding childish despite his much deeper voice, "I've completed my laps for the morning."
"You're terribly late." Qui-Gon said, his tone more indifferent than angry.
"I know... I'm sorry, sir. I over-slept." he stammered.
"Obviously. Obi-Wan never over-slept. He was always on time, usually quite early. His morning laps were finished before sunrise..." Qui-Gon stated, his tone becomming distant.
"I said I was sorry, sir..." he murmered.
"And you should be. Now, today you will continue your work on the construction of your lightsabre. How is it coming along?" Qui-Gon said.
"It's nearly complete, Master Qui-Gon, sir! Just a few more hours and it should be completely finished!" he said, hoping his master would be impressed.
"Hm.. and you began work on it just a few days ago?" Qui-Gon inquired.
"Yes, sir!" Anakin announced, beaming with delight.
"Hm.. it took Obi-Wan weeks to complete his lightsabre. Perhaps you're rushing a little. A jedi can't have sloppy work, you know. Everything must be precise and accurate and carefully done and-" Qui-Gon stated.
"Sir, I'm not trying to be rude, but I've always been good at building things. Look at Mom's protocal droid. Remember? I built him. And my podracer? Built that too. This light sabre thing really isn't that complicated. I assure you, Master Qui-Gon, sir, it will be built to perfection in a few hours. Obi-Wan may have taken awhile on it, but, sir, I'm not Obi-Wan. I'm Anakin." he said.
"I know you're not Obi-Wan." Qui-Gon said softly, "It's just that I-"
"Miss him. I know, Master Qui-Gon, sir. You've been grieving over his death for so long now. Days and weeks and months are one thing, but years... that's quite another. You must let go, sir. You must." Anakin said, as kindly as he could.
Another lie. Upon that fateful night in which Obi-Wan had come and gone, Anakin had asked what had happened. Qui-Gon said that a vicious Sith had come looking for him, but Obi-Wan saved him. However, the Sith killed Obi- Wan, but Qui-Gon killed the Sith in return. Sound familiar? So perhaps the roles were reversed and the details were a little different, but it was that basic story of two Jedi and a Sith that continued to haunt him. "I am dead to you, Master..." he had said. Faked his death too, perhaps?
Qui-Gon wanted to move on, truly he did, but the memories continued to linger. He hadn't heard anything about Obi-Wan since that fateful night. It was rumored that a galatic war had started shortly after, but on Tatoonine where the Republic didn't exsist, it remained just a rumor. He wondered if Obi-Wan had become involved in the war. He certainly preferred more peaceful situations, but with darkness wraping her deceiving arms around him, there was just no telling what he was now capable of. Still, it was the fact that Obi-Wan remained among the living that troubled him. He was living a life of his own away from the Force, and Qui-Gon was allowed to have no part in it. To him, Obi-Wan was dead. Obi-Wan had said it himself. Dead. Dead...
"I will let go when I am ready, until then.. just..." he said, but suddenly he couldn't find the words to say to Anakin. He didn't want to hurt this boy just as he had hurt Obi-Wan, yet still, he didn't want to be overly kind. He didn't want to feel so attached to him and end up betraying him.
"Just go work on the lightsabre?" Anakin suggested.
"Yes. Work on your lightsabre..." Qui-Gon murmered.
Anakin nodded and returned to his room to complete his task. Although he had acted concerned for his master, his heart felt differently. Obi-Wan meant nothing to him. Obi-Wan was a dead man whom he was expected to become. Still, he wanted a different fate. He wouldn't think of Qui-Gon as a father. He wouldn't put Obi-Wan on a pedestal. He would act as though he cared, but deep inside, his soul rebelled.
[Hello again! So... did ya like it? Yeah, this one was boring too, but it was yet another of those boring-yet-necessary chapters. Don't worry, more and more plot twists are coming. Also, just so ya know, at the -very- end of this story, I promise that -everything- will be just as it should in order for the original triology to begin. I just didn't like the end of Phantom Menace. So, that gives a little bit away... but not too much. ^_~ You'll just have to wonder how MY details end up getting to the gloriously wonderful triology. But, as always, I need feedback before I continue... so... go review, pretty please!]
