A/N: Hey all! Well, i have more new reveiwers and i know there are others who cant be bothered to reveiw reading this to, so hello and thanks for reading. This chapter is a little more light hearted than the rest, and it is in Obi's point of veiw. You should have noticed the pattern by now. It goes Anakin-Padme-Obi-Wan so i shouldnt need to keep typing whos point of veiw it is. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy reading as much as i enjoy writing this. :-) May the force be with you always. xx
Hopeless4life - Well this is a break from things being sad, but dont expect it to be like this for the rest of the story, Anakins got a few more things to get over first. xx
seawardsfolly - Hey, i reveiwed your story and now ur reveiwing mine, your so kind! Anakin isn't evil, he's just a bit depressed and emotional. As to whether he will apologise to Obi...well, you'll have to wait and see. Glad you are enjoying it. xx
Wokette Uk - A new reveiwer, hello! A happy ending? Well who knows, maybe, maybe not. Depends how I feel i think. :-) I update every thursday as I can fit it in with my school work then, so sorry to make you wait a week, but unfortunatly college work comes first. Hope you continue reading. xx
Aryll - Hey welcome back! You reveiwed my last fan fic i wrote! Glad your liking this one and that you returned! Episode 4 is very near completion now, just got to write the big character death, get it read by my friend in America and then it will be being posted on here. Hope you carry on reading and that you like what you read. :-) xx
Leighanne - Told you the chapters were different on here than they are on paper. I add and remove things so thats why they seem better. Oh yeah and see you on Friday...(evil laugh) xx
What am I doing? I don't remember. The last thing I remember is Padme's words…
"He's 19 Obi-Wan….19"
19 and dealing with the death of his mother, the loss of a limb and the possibility that he may never be the same strong warrior he was, and dealing with the thoughts that I had betrayed him.
Had I betrayed him? Am I really holding him back from the power that he is capable of? Is it possible that the only reason I won't let Anakin go for the trials because I want to make sure that I am fulfilling my promise to Qui-Gon, to train him to be the best that he can be?
A pang of guilt hits my heart as I think of my promise to my dying master. I was 24 when I lost Qui-Gon and took Anakin on as a Padawan learner. It was a big jump for me. To be elevated from a Padawan to a Knight and then to have an apprentice so early. I often wonder if it was the right thing to do. At that moment that I decided to go against the council, to train Anakin regardless of what the council's final decision was, I swear I could feel Qui-Gon's presence beside me, smiling at me.
Qui-Gon was my only family, and dealing with my grief was not the easiest thing to do, but being the Jedi that I am, I let go of my guilt and that attachment that I had made and was able to get on with the most important mission of my life, and the most challenging. But Anakin is only 19, his attachment with his mother was stronger than that of Qui-Gon and I, she was the only family he ever had, a proper family, and now that has been taken from him.
Slowly, the familiar noises of the Jedi Temple reach my ears and the strong flow of the force that resides within the temple surged through my body. I suddenly felt a huge surge of peace and knowledge take hold of my thoughts, and focusing on the gentle snap-hiss' of lightsabres being activated in the many temple training rooms, I finally feel at one with the force and I know what I have to do. I need to speak with Master Yoda.
But the feeling was suddenly broken as a slight tremor breaks through the peace, and alerted me to a pair of young malePadawan learner's, sparring each other, yelling furiously at each other. They could be no more than 10 or 11, and already they were drifting dangerously close to feelings of the dark side.
I head briskly over to the pair and, using the force, grab the collars of their Jedi tunic's, and pull them apart. They become suddenly silenced as they turn to me, their eyes wide with shock and awe. They quickly bow and chant the same pre-programmed greeting that I always despised.
"Good Evening Master Obi-Wan."
Their faces are bright red, and they occasionally glare at each other, thinking that I was oblivious to these hostile gestures. Frowning I kneel to their level and look directly at them, making them shift uncomfortably.
"Now, do you two wish to tell me what this conflict is cantered around? Or is it necessary that I inform your Master's of this disturbance in the temple?"
Quickly they glance at each other, the conflict evident inside their eyes. I wait patiently for their explanation, knowing that the threat of dealing with their Master's was enough to scare the life out of them. Fighting outside of a safe environment, like the training rooms, is strictly forbidden in the temple, even for the older Jedi, and the fact that they were using anger against each other added to the impending punishment that could befall them. Eventually, one of the two turn to me, blushing and fiddling with his lightsabre hilt.
"We…were…urm…discussing who was the strongest…you or Anakin."
Inwardly I smile. I know that this topic was regularly discussed among the younger padawan's. For some reason, Anakin's daring exploits on his travels as my Padawan always managed to become the focus of conversations. The younger ones looked up to him, and not just in height. The older ones, however, knew Anakin personally, and often have no doubt that, were Anakin to engage in a sparring session with me, it was more likely for me to be the victor. But one thought always invades my mind when discussing said issue. For how much longer?
Anakin has been growing in strength and skill over the years, and while this injury is a minor setback in his goal, there is still the every real possibility that he could one day…beat me. The battle between him and Dooku adds to my confusion, it had been to put it mildly, amazing. I had never doubted Anakin's ability, but to see him weave my lightsabre in with the fluent pattern and precision of his own was unbelievable, a feat that I know I can't achieve. Now looking at the two Padawan's standing before me, I smile at them, amazed at how the gentle, simplistic wisdom of the younger generation always seemed to untangle even the most complex web of confusion and worry.
"And, what conclusion did you come up with?"
The other young boy, who had stayed very quiet during this encounter, was quick to respond.
"Well, I said you were cause Anakin's only a Padawan and you've studied and worker longer than him. But he said Anakin cause he's stronger with the force."
"Well it's true!" The other yells indignantly, turning back, the anger starting to show on the two faces. I step in again with a small raise of my hands in a calming gesture, making them look back at me.
"You know. Someone once told me that Age is no measure of wisdom or power. If a Jedi has the potential to do great things and he harnesses it, works hard and makes the effort to do the best one can, it is entirely possible for them to become even more powerful than the greatest Jedi Master's. Anakin does have an unusual connection with the force, and he uses that to his advantage, he can do things I cannot because he works hard at what he does and tries new things that go beyond the boundaries that I teach him. Just because Anakin is my Padawan, doesn't mean that he is not possible that he has become far stronger than me."
I watch with amusement at their faces. Their mouths hang open and their eyes grow wide in wonder. Their lightsabres hang loosely in their hands. With a flick of my finger, I bring the hilts to my hand, which was followed by cries of protest, silenced by me rising to my feet.
"Of course, the most important lesson is to learn how to keep hold of your lightsabre, something that Anakin hasn't quite mastered yet and neither have you by the looks of things. A lightsabre is…"
"A Jedi's most precious possession. This weapon is your life, try not to lose it!"
They stand smirking at me, while all I can do is frown quizzically.
"How did you know that?"
To my surprise they burst out laughing. In between hoots of laughter, they manage to finally pour out an explanation.
"Anakin used to….do impressions of you during…lunch and study periods in the temple archives. The lightsabre one was everyone's favourite!"
Rolling my eyes, I join in their laughter with a small chuckle, handing their lightsabres back to them.
"Alright, point conceded. You better get back to your Master's, and remember, to be a Jedi is to let go of fear, anger and hate. Those are the path to the dark side, control your anger, and when you want to get into a heated discussion, take your time and talk it through, don't go into what Anakin likes to call Aggressive Negotiations."
"Yes Master Obi-Wan, and May the force be with you. Tell Anakin we hope he gets better soon."
"I will, and may the force be with you also younglings."
They run off down the hallway, still chuckling with laughter, the original dispute forgotten and leaving me feeling a lot better and happier, leaning on a pillar, thinking back to when Anakin was like that….young, carefree, uncomplicated.
I jerk suddenly as a sharp poke to my leg makes me look down to find Master Yoda standing beside me, leaning on his trusty Gimmer stick. It was odd; he looked older than he had in the battle with Dooku, wearier.
"Handle the situation well you did, but troubled I sense you are. Talk with me you wish hmm?"
"Yes Master Yoda, I wish to speak with you about Anakin."
We set off down the corridor, the faint tapping of Yoda's gimmer stick echoing around the silent hallways.
"Hmmm….in pain young Skywalker is. Shrouded by the dark side his presence has become."
"He is in a very emotional state Master Yoda. I discovered that his mother passed away with Anakin present. She was beaten to death, and now he thinks he's failed me and her and has become very…withdrawn and angry."
We enter a small meditation room, the blinds pulled down. I sit myself cross legged on one of the pods, situated just across from Master Yoda. He looks over to me with gentle eyes, trying to gather my emotions and what role they play in this. Eventually he removes his gaze and sighs.
"A great setback this is. Help Anakin we cannot unless willing to allow us he is."
I bite my lip, and stroke my beard thoughtfully. There may not be a way we can physically help Anakin, but maybe there is a way we can help him mentally. Deep down I know this is the right thing to do, but something nags inside me as I say it…something tells me that what I'm doing could result in something disastrous. But for the first time in my life, I ignore the part of myself that is Anakin's mentor, and I focus on the part of me that has become like a father to Anakin, like Anakin's only remaining family.
"Master Yoda, I would like to….to put Anakin forward for the Jedi Trials. I know that right now he's not ready either physically or mentally, and it may be some months before he is finally ready to take them. But I want to put him forward now before I can let myself change my mind. The battle he was in today, the amazing things he did far surpasses anything that I can teach him, there is nothing else I can teach him."
"No…wrong you are Obi-Wan. Young Skywalker…a strong warrior he is. But shrouded by the dark side he has become. Much suffering has he experienced yes, learnt to control that he has not. Use his anger he does to fuel the battle, when concentrating on the living self and selfless acts he should be. Much time do you need to spend with him, teach him how to let go of everything he fears to lose."
"Of course Master. He will be ready for the trials, and I know he will not let me down. He just needs this opportunity to prove himself worthy of the title of Chosen One as he knows as well as I do there are some who doubt his abilities. This will be a much needed reward for his hard work."
"Go back to Anakin you shall, calming I sense he is. Let the force flow through you Obi-Wan to clear you mind and see what Anakin needs you shall. Discuss the trials with the council I will."
"Thank you Master."
And with that I rise and exit the chamber, hurrying to the medical bay, happier now that I am doing something for Anakin, happy knowing that for once, he could not deny that I am doing what is best for him. I am content in knowing that Anakin is finally going to be free.