Chapter 50 - The Padawan Who Almost Failed

"Where did he go?" Obi-Wan looked pale.

Qui-Gon put his hand on his Padawan's shoulder. They had both watched in shock as Mace announced Anakin's loss by a foul. A bad call. He was already planning words he would say to Mace the next time they spoke.

But now Obi-Wan was worried and he looked like he was about to faint. "He won't talk to me. He's blocked our bond completely."

Qui-Gon knew how that felt. Before he could offer his sympathies, Siri spoke up. "He's probably just worried about how you'll react. Remember when you were that young, Master Jinn's opinion was like the Force to you."

"Oh really?" Qui-Gon tapped his ego down when he realized, in this moment, neither of them would appreciate his sense of humor. "I'm sure Siri is right. You know what, we'll go looking for him. I'll go up to the atriums and look there. Siri, why don't you search the classrooms and…"

"Oh, could I help?" Plo asked. They just stood there looking at him, so in a moment he added, "Master Windu asked me to help you. He was sorry he had to make that ruling. It wasn't his idea."

"Really?" Qui-Gon eyed Plo looking for a hint of deception. When he was satisfied it was true, as far as Master Koon knew, he sighed. "Plo, you can look in the west wing of the Temple. Siri searches the classrooms in the east. Obi-Wan will go back to his quarters." Obi-Wan shook his head. No, he might go back there," Qui-Gon finished.

Suddenly, he felt someone tug at his robe from below. He looked down to see one of Anakin's friends. The one with green highlights in his hair. "Master Jinn, sir. You should look in the Hangar bay too." Qui-Gon cocked his head to the side to listen. "Ani likes to go there to work on the engines when he gets upset."

"Thank you. I certainly will." The youngling bowed and turned to go back to where he had been waiting with the others.

Qui-Gon turned back to the others, and they all were nodding in agreement with their assignments.


"Anakin, Anakin! Qui-Gon poked his head into one room, then the next, looking for his grand-padawan. He'd already searched the grand Atrium, and not finding him there, he decided to look in the smaller meditation rooms in the halls surrounding it. "Anakin, Oh I'm sorry." He apologized when a knight dropped out of a meditation. "Have you seen Initiate Skywalker?"

"Hmmf, not here," was the reply.

Qui-Gon bowed, then continued on to the next room. Nothing was there. Soon he reached the end of the hall. 'Hmm,' he thought. 'I was sure Anakin would be here. He loves coming here with me.' Qui-Gon looked down and remembered young Anakin being there. They would use the Jedi archives to look up the names of the planets and stars they saw through the telescopes. Anakin would get really excited when they found a new star.

"One day, I'm going to see them all," his memory of Anakin was saying. Then Qui-Gon remembered young Alex's advice from earlier.

"The Hangar!" He exclaimed. Then he turned and ran. The Hangar was on the other end of the upper floor to the Temple, so it was in Qui-Gon's wing to search.


Qui-Gon burst into the large hangar, then he slowed his mind down and closed his eyes. If he used the Force, he could search the room a lot faster than by himself. He sensed activity down near one of the smaller shuttles which was up on a lift the workmen use.

"Hello, have you seen Initiate Skywalker?" he asked the service corps Jedi who were there, fixing an engine.

"No, we haven't seen him," one answered. Then he winked and he nodded his head towards the ship. Under it Qui-Gon could see a pair of small feet sticking out, wearing a standard pair of initiate's shoes.

Qui-Gon nodded, and said "Thanks anyway." Then he went up to the ship. He bent over and hard as it was, he squished his tall frame under the ship. "Is there anyone under here? Oh Anakin, how good it is to see you."

Anakin sighed. Then with the nimbleness only a Youngling possesses, he pulled himself out from under the ship. Qui-Gon tried to follow but bumped his head on the ship above. "Awch"

"Thanks Master Nenn." Anakin said, without a lick of gratitude in his voice.

The Corps Jedi from earlier gave a guilty shrug and smiled.

"He's only trying to help Anakin. You can't avoid me forever. Do you know how anxious your Master is right now?"

Anakin looked down and glared at the floor.

Qui-Gon took a deep breath. His memory reminded him in flashbacks of a similar confrontation he had with his old Padawan. Not Obi-Wan, no. Obi-Wan was an angel compared to him. Xanatos was very strong willed, and would push every situation to its breaking point. It didn't end well. As the Master, Qui-Gon blamed himself for all of it, and he often wondered how things could have gone differently. Now was his chance to find out… 'Breathe,' he told himself.

Qui-Gon knelt next to Anakin and looked up at him. "I know you don't feel so hot right now. It wasn't fair, the judges' ruling. Do you want to talk about it?"

Anakin folded his arms and frowned. He looked tough for a few seconds, then a tear rolled down his cheek. Then a few more. "Is Obi-Wan mad?" He asked, voice broken.

"At you, no." Qui-Gon said. "Though I wouldn't want to be Mace in his presence right now," he teased.

"I tried. I tried to win for him. I wanted to score high so he would be proud. And so he would be able to brag to the other Masters about how high his Padawan scored on the Trials."

"Oh…" Qui-Gon was probably going to get in trouble for this, but… "Do you know how your Master scored on his trials?"

"No." Anakin wiped his eyes and looked up at him.

"Bottom thirty three percent."

"Huh!" Anakin exclaimed.

"He just barely passed the trials. You see, Obi-Wan had an emotional side back then. Well, all younglings do to some extent. But most younglings won't put hair dye in your shampoo because they think you were mean to them… No, back then Obi-Wan had his troubles. In fact most Masters would say he was trouble! Now I had some doubts about my ability to be a Master at the time. But Yoda got on my case, and he's hard to resist at times. When I finally agreed to it, I wasn't going to ruin another good Padawan by taking one that could've easily found another Master. His file had just been given to the Council of Reassignment, and they were going to send him with Agricorps out to one of their farms in the Outer Rim, I think."

Anakin looked up at him, wide eyed.

Qui-Gon coughed. You know, as a little rebel, Obi-Wan was planning a big prank on the temple for after he was gone. I'll let him tell you how he did it, but he got purple goo loaded in one of the cleaning droids. It got everywhere. And you know what the funniest part was? He didn't leave. Because at the last minute I offered to be his Master. And because he wasn't off on a ship to Bandomeer, he had to stay at the Temple and clean it all up.

Anakin burst into laughter. Qui-Gon joined him.

"And if you can believe it, I haven't regretted taking him for a second! Obi-Wan was the best Padawan I could ever ask for. So, I don't think it matters to him how high you scored. I think he will be proud of you no matter what. I already am."

Anakin looked up at him with his big baby blue eyes ready to burst. Qui-Gon opened up his arms and the youngling fell into his hug.

"Now, do you want to go back to your quarters and find Obi-Wan?"

"Hmm," Anakin tapped his chin. "Actually, I think I'd like to go back to the Trial room first. I want to see how everyone else performs."

"Okay. I'll just tell Obi-Wan and he can get the others and meet us there," Qui-Gon said.

As they were leaving Qui-Gon could feel the approval of the ExploreCorps member Anakin had 'thanked' earlier. Qui-Gon gave him a bow and said, "Thank you, Master Nenn."

He returned it with a big smile and a bow. "Master Jinn."


Anakin and Qui-Gon returned to the Trials to see the final part of a duel between Ramu and Alex. Qui-Gon stayed with the Audience, but Anakin wanted to find out more about what had been going on, so he snuck back to the sideline with the other Initiates.

"Wow, did you know he had moves like that?" Anakin exclaimed when Ramu used his Lightsaber Trident to divert an attack and jumped behind Alex to get an advantage.

"No. I mean, I know he has been practicing his moves, but he's been very quiet about it." Freya replied.

"So who else is still in it?" Anakin looked around for his own opponent.

"Leeta took out Ra'Velt for you." Freya said when she noticed his eyes scanning the group.

"Yes, and I enjoyed it." Leeta smiled. "Kate lost her round right after you. So now it's just Freya and I. Then our winner will go up against… Ramu, it looks like."

Just then Ramu succeeded in swiping Alex one more time, and Mace announced. "Victory goes to Ramu!"

"Looks like we're up now," Freya replied. She and Leeta stood up and stretched.

Anakin smiled and waved at them as they went off. He noticed Kate sitting on the sidelines with the other defeated initiates, and he went up to her. "Hey."

"Hey," she sounded defeated.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"It isn't so bad for you. You have Master Kenobi, but I was defeated in the first round. Now who's going to be my Master?"

Anakin opened his mouth to say something supportive, but it hung there when he had a stray thought. "Don't worry. There are lots of Padawanless Knights here. Plus you have me. I'll think of something and we'll get you a Master."


Anakin pulled out of the crowd again and climbed up to where Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were now standing with Siri and Master Koon.

"Anakin, I'm sorry about the match." Obi-Wan knelt down to his level.

Anakin cocked his head. "It's okay, Master. Me and Qui-Gon talked about it, and it doesn't matter. It was just a match. I'm sorry for running off like I did." Obi-Wan leaned in to pat his shoulder, and was a little too easy to grab into a hug for Anakin to resist.

"Awe, so sweet," Plo observed.

"So, who are we rooting for?" Obi-Wan changed the subject as soon as he managed to pull free.

"I'm very proud of Ramu. Poison Spitter has been doing an excellent job of teaching him," Siri said. "You know, he asked me my opinion on him taking the boy as a Padawan. I think he's going to ask him after this," she whispered.

"Hmm. I'm impressed by the other boy. I can't remember his name," Qui-Gon said.

"Alex," Anakin filled in. "Alex Ducriant."

"Yes, Alex. He was the one who suggested where to look for you. It is clear here, we have an excellent group of initiates. They all should have no trouble finding Masters."

Anakin looked up. He thought to run and tell Kate what his GrandMaster had said. It would settle her anxiety a lot to know it.


Hello everyone,

I know I just mentioned Xanatos. I'd like to remind everyone that I am using a combo cannon and legends backstory. Basically only what I want. Therefore, though I've mentioned him here, it doesn't mean I will include all features of his story… If I get the chance to tell it, I may change certain things. Especially lessening Obi-Wan's part in it. That is too traumatic for a 13 year old. Even in retrospect. I did briefly mention, back in chapter 35, Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan once how he had failed a padawan earlier. That may be his total part in it: Hearing stories and sharing his support years later. Thus I am adding a few more years in between them than were in Legends Lore.

And I made up a few details to Obi-Wan's childhood that are based more akin to his Disney Canon backstory. According to which, he was a rebellious youth. Yoda decided to assign him to Qui-Gon in order to train him to rebel by being obedient. Very crafty, Yoda. Very crafty…

Anyways, next chapter I'm really not sure. Either Obi-Wan will have all the Initiates over for a celebration snack, after the duel, or the next day will happen and Anakin will read his scores. I may sneak Mace into a forgiveness hug if I can. We'll probably start to find out who's Apprenticing who. See you then…