Fade Away

Chapter 3

The two were escorted into the room and Obi-Wan advanced to the center quickly, followed by Maddik.

Windu stood up to gain everyone's attention and once everyone had quieted down, seated himself again, "We have reached a decision..."

"Trained he will be," Yoda spoke up, "But by you he will not..."

"If not by me then who?" Obi-Wan asked sounding a little more angry than he meant to.

"By Young Skywalker he will be trained," Yoda answered and Windu nodded in agreement.

Obi-Wan couldn't hide the hurt in his eyes as he bowed slowly, "If that is the council's decision..."

He then quickly exited the room.

"At least he will be given the chance..." he thought to himself, "That's a start..."

He bumped into someone on his way down the hallway that's window had been fixed in their absense.

"Sorry.." Obi-Wan said and looked to see who it was, "Oh, hello, Anakin..."

"Master, I recieved word that the council has summoned me..." Anakin replied, "Do you know what they want of me?"

"I'll let them tell you..." Obi-Wan smiled and began to walk off.

Anakin stepped forward but stopped as he heard Obi-Wan call back, "Oh, and congratulations!"

"Congratulations?" Anakin mouthed with a confused look but just shook his head and continued on.

Obi-Wan stopped at where Maddik was standing.

"What do you say we go and introduce you to someone," Obi-Wan smiled, "I think you'll like her..."

Anakin bowed to the council, nervous about what they would have to say to him.

Yoda was the first to speak, "To the council I welcome you, Master Skywalker."

"...I don't understand..." Anakin replied in confusion.

"We would like you to be the one to train young Maddik," Windu spoke up.

"I...don't know what to say..." Anakin shook his head in disbelief.

"Just say you except," Windu replied, "That's all that needs to be said..."

"Then...yes!" Anakin smiled, "Of course it's yes..."

"Excuse me?" Obi-Wan called into the room, "Anyone here?"

"Master Kenobi, is that you?" Padme's voice called as she entered the room, "...Obi-Wan, how are you?"

She approached the man cheerfully and gave him a welcoming hug.

"I am well, and yourself?" Obi-Wan asked, smiling back at her as he entered into the center of the room alongside her.
"Very well," Padme replied, "This is a pleasent surprize."

"I came here to introduce you to someone..." Obi-Wan added, "He is new here, and I thought it would be nice for him to make some friends...Padme, this is Maddik Haruko."

"Very pleased to meet you, Maddik," she smiled warmly, "I've heard much about you..."

"Would you like to have some supper?" she turned to Obi-Wan.

"No, I'm afraid I can not stay..." he replied, "I must get young Maddik here to his new Jedi trainer...It was very nice visiting with you."

"I hope you'll be able to stay longer next time," she bowed, "Good bye, Master Obi-Wan!"

"Good bye," he replied and ushered Maddik out the door.

A Few Days Later

"Master Anakin?" Maddik asked, "How can I posibly make that chair float when I have never even been able to make the smallest thing move?"

"You have to trust in the force...Use the force that is all around you..." Anakin advised, "You can do it."

Maddik nodded and held up his hand, his forehead wrinkling in concentration, but the chair didn't move. Maddik sighed in defeat and let his arm drop.

"I'm sorry..." Maddik sighed.

Obi-Wan walked into the room they were practicing in and stopped beside Anakin.

"How's it going?" he asked placing a hand on his shoulder.

Anakin took Obi-Wan to the side, "We've been at this for 3 days and got nothing!"

"Patience...He'll get it..." Obi-Wan smiled, "Sure, he's a little slower at learning than most but in time..."

"I don't know..." Anakin said impatiently, "I'm starting to think he's a lost cause!"

Maddik, able to hear the two Jedi's conversation clenched his fist. At that moment the chair he had been trying to move began shaking violently.

"He just doesn't seem to learn at all!" Anakin continued, not noticing the chair.

"Anakin..." Obi-Wan's eyes got wide.

"What?" Anakin stopped his ranting.

"Get down!" Obi-Wan said and threw Anakin and himself to the ground as the chair hit the wall behind where Anakin had been standing. Obi-Wan was staring at Maddik in shock and disbelief while Anakin stared at him in anger and a look as if he'd expected this.

"Maddik..." Obi-Wan stood slowly, "What did you do?"

"I...I don't know..." the scared looking boy just stared at them with the same expression as Obi-Wan was wearing.