Chapter 7 – Glimpse of the Future

An uneasy feeling gnawed at the pit of Anakin's stomach. It shouldn't be this way. He cared about Obi-Wan more than he cared about anyone else alive, except his mother. And yet, he had an overwhelming desire to see Obi-Wan beaten, defeated. He had to prove he was better. He needed to conquer his Master. The uneasy feeling flared up even stronger and Anakin felt he was going to throw up.

"You have a good soul Padawan. Your feelings are pure. It is what you do with those feelings that matters." Obi-Wan's calm blue eyes regarded his apprentice as he spoke. "You have already performed admirably today, and you have learned a lesson that I could not in your position. You let go of your pride. You were excited to face Master Windu. You were excited to see how you fared against so great an opponent. You hate to lose. Yet, when the time came, you understood that you could not defeat Master Windu and still achieve that which you are most strongly compelled to do. You could not conquer us both. So you accepted defeat because your goal is victory over me. Take the lessons you have learned today to heart Padawan, and you will triumph."

Obi-Wan stepped away from Anakin and moved to the center of the Great Hall to meditate. Anakin's head was swirling. Fortunately though, the gnawing feeling in his stomach was gone, replaced by something almost as terrible. Excitement. Obi-Wan had said he would triumph. Anakin knew this to be true also. He was a better fighter than Obi-Wan. More powerful too. He would win because he had to. It was just that simple.

"Are you ready Padawan Skywalker?"

Anakin nodded in Mace Windu's direction and moved toward the center of the Great Hall where Obi-Wan already stood. Obi-Wan rose from his meditative pose, ignited his lightsaber, and bowed deeply in Anakin's direction. Anakin returned the bow, ignited his saber, and held it out in front of him. Both men began to circle around the center of the room, neither willing to strike the first blow. Anakin's mind was racing, trying to recall all the times he'd sparred against his Master. Obi-Wan's mind was clear. Master Yoda whispered something to Mace Windu, who nodded. Then it happened. Anakin was thrown backwards and off his feet by a strong nudge in the air. The Force. Obi-Wan had just pushed him back with the Force. Obi-Wan sprang to life, striking out with his lightsaber at a speed Anakin had never seen him display before. Anakin realized that even now he had continued to underestimate Obi-Wan. Something in the Force told him that to underestimate Obi-Wan would be his undoing. Anakin somehow managed to get back to his feet quickly, but he realized all too well that he was now being pushed back toward a corner of the Great Hall. Obi-Wan was trying to box him in, give him less room to maneuver. Anakin knew that he couldn't allow that. He leapt high off the ground and landed in the 2nd tier of the Great Hall. He smiled to himself. I bet Obi-Wan didn't think I'd noticed there was a 2nd tier. Then, he felt a warning in the Force and spun so fast that he almost went falling back down to the 1st tier. Not only had Obi-Wan anticipated his maneuver, but he had also leapt up to the 2nd tier, continuing to swing his lightsaber uninterrupted. Anakin moved awkwardly to his left and found his lightsaber sailing across the Great Hall. Presence of mind told Anakin to leap before Obi-Wan could strike the winning blow, and Anakin went sailing across the Great Hall, caught his lightsaber in mid flight, and landed back on the 2nd tier. On the other side of the Great Hall. For a moment, Obi-Wan just stared at what his Padawan had done. Then he looked at the spectators below. They all returned his gaze, and his bewilderment.

How could Anakin be capable of such a thing?

"I think we've had enough fun for one day. Let's get down to business," Anakin said from across the Great Hall.

Obi-Wan smirked slightly. He knew he shouldn't be, but for some reason he was really enjoying this. Obi-Wan planted one foot on the edge of the balcony and jumped clear across the Great Hall. Anakin also planted his foot on the edge of the balcony and leapt toward Obi-Wan. They met in mid air, sending tiny sparks blazing from the collision of lightsabers. Obi-Wan landed hard and had to roll to keep from hurting himself while Anakin landed on his feet, light as a feather. Obi-Wan brought his saber out in front and decided then and there to change tactics. He would only defend. Anakin's greatest weakness was still impatience, and Obi-Wan thought he could exploit this. Anakin smiled, recognizing Obi-Wan's more defensive stance.

"I will not give into impatience this time Master, you have taught me too well for that."

"Show me then," Obi-Wan said, without a trace of emotion. He was drawing more fully on the Force now. Anakin came in with a slight feint, and Obi-Wan nudged him sideways with the Force such that Anakin almost had his head touched by Obi-Wan's saber. Anakin felt the nudge, accepted it, and ducked out of the way. He then came up with his saber pointed straight out and tried to spear Obi-Wan's leg. He missed by a fraction and Obi-Wan backed away, ready to defend again. Anakin was getting tired but he could also feel Obi-Wan weakening.

"You are stronger, and a better fighter than me Anakin, but I shall still triumph."

Anakin looked quickly at Obi-Wan and noticed that Obi-Wan was standing deathly still, ready to defend against Anakin's next strike. Anakin had heard Obi-Wan's words, and yet to look at Obi-Wan now, it was clear he hadn't said a word.

Then whose voice was that? Anakin wondered.

Clearly distracted, he did not see Obi-Wan leap forward to continue the fight.

"You have fought well Padawan, but you must concentrate on the moment at hand," Obi-Wan said as his saber crashed into Anakin.

Anakin stumbled slightly, but still managed to roll out of Obi-Wan's reach. Quickly, he raised his hand and sent Obi-Wan flying across the room. Obi-Wan regained his balance almost immediately, yet still began attacking more cautiously, clearly aware of Anakin's power. Obi-Wan had fought well, and been a formidable opponent, but now Anakin knew he had been right all along. He was more powerful. He was better. It was time for this to end. Anakin brought his lightsaber high overheard, in his favorite stance, and began to swing with such speed and power that Obi-Wan was hard pressed to stay balanced, finally Anakin spun and hit Obi-Wan's saber high. Instead of accepting the blow, Obi-Wan tried to bat it away, and realized his mistake almost immediately. His lightsaber buckled in his hands, and before he could move it back into a defensive position Anakin had scored a winning blow.

"Well done young Skywalker. Well done," Master Yoda said as he approached the two combatants.

"Yes, very well done indeed. I must admit to being very impressed by you both this day," Mace Windu said as he trailed behind Yoda.

Anakin fell to his knees, panting and exhausted. He'd felt triumph when he knew he was about to win, but now there was only emptiness. If what he knew was true, that he was better, more powerful than Obi-Wan, then what could Obi-Wan teach him. Since he'd come to the Jedi, Anakin had dreamed of beating his hero, and now that he had, he wished with all his heart that he could go back.

"Arise Padawan," Anakin heard Obi-Wan say.

He looked up and saw a beaming smile across Obi-Wan's face. His hair and beard were a little bit mussed, but there was no other sign that this man had been locked in a fierce duel just a minute ago, or more astonishing to Anakin, that he had lost.

"It is a great day when the teacher is surpassed by his pupil. I am very proud of you Padawan. You have acquitted yourself admirably in the first stage of Tunan-Ra. Now, you rest. For a greater challenge awaits."

"Greater than fighting you and Master Windu back to back," Anakin said somewhat incredulously.

At that Obi-Wan merely smiled. "Far greater. For now you must get living, thinking beings to actually agree on something."

For some reason, Anakin didn't think that there was enough rest in existence for such a task.