Chapter 12 – Aftermath
Slowly opening his eyes, Anakin could see that he is back in the Room of a Thousand Fountains. The calming waters and light can do little to soothe him though, the power of his desperate scream still weighing on his heart. The room is still deserted, as it was when he began his trance, but as he looks out the window Anakin can see that day has turned into night. Propping himself up on his elbow, Anakin slowly rises to stand at full height. Only a slight wobble was present in Anakin's step as he moved toward the door, fear slowly being replaced by confusion. The doors to the Room of a Thousand Fountains slid open and Anakin looked into Obi-Wan's smiling face. Quickly though, Obi-Wan's smile changed into a look of concern and confusion.
"Anakin. Are you okay?"
Obi-Wan asked the question much more tentatively than he should have, and Anakin wondered just how bad he looked coming out of that room.
"I'm…okay Master. Just a little tired."
Anakin tried to crack a small smile, wanting to alleviate the worry he now saw in his Master's face, but he quickly realized that his effort was a wasted one. Obi-Wan wasn't even looking at him.
"How…?"
Anakin turned around and followed his Master's gaze to the spot where he had been meditating. Among all the flowing waters of the room Anakin could see that there was an empty spot where there wasn't one before. The fountain from Naboo, which he had sat next to, had a large ragged crack down its side. The waters that had flowed so easily between that fountain and the fountains next to it were now cut off, no water flowing at all.
"How'd that happen?" Anakin asked, more to himself than Obi-Wan.
"You tell me," Obi-Wan said, his attention shifting back to Anakin.
"I don't know. I…" but Anakin said no more, and Obi-Wan knew that he couldn't ask for more. Instead, he moved closer to Anakin and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I imagine you are feeling confused right now Padawan, that everything you saw doesn't make sense to you right now. I wish I could say that eventually you will come to understand all that you saw, but I can't. All I can say is that this experience is like all others you have had today. There are lessons you can learn now, lessons you need to learn now, but there are also lessons that you can only learn with time. Remember this day Anakin. Remember it well. When the future comes, remember Tunan-Ra."
"Yes, Master."
Obi-Wan let his hand slide off of Anakin's shoulder, and Anakin walked away down the hall. Obi-Wan turned to follow, but not before glancing one more at the broken fountain. He looked between the broken fountain and the back of his retreating apprentice and only one thought filled his mind.
What will the future hold?
The End.