Chapter Five

Summarily dismissed from Naboo by both the senatorial representative and ultimately the Queen of Naboo herself, Obi-Wan was soon on a transport back to Coruscant in search of his padawan.

Time travel had done little to restore the now quiescent training bond he had once shared with his apprentice, and the truth was, he had no idea where to find him. A suspicious-looking initiate informed him when he arrived at the temple that Anakin was in training room seven.

When Obi-Wan arrived, Anakin had just bested two of three padawans and was awaiting the third to spar. The young man frowned when he noticed his Master approaching.

"Anakin, we need to talk."

The tension between the Master and apprentice was nearly palpable and the other three padawans quickly made their exit from the room.

"What are you doing here Master? You're supposed to be on Naboo." The youth placed his lightsaber back on his belt and moved to pick up his discarded robes.

"Senator Amidala…no longer requires my assistance."

A small smirk crossed Anakin's face, which Obi-Wan could not quite read. "Is that so?"

Was that sarcasm?

Anakin then began walking away as if to leave the area and his Master behind.

"Just where do you think you're going?" Obi-Wan asked in an irritated tone.

"Nowhere from the looks of it."

Obi-Wan took a deep breath. Here they went again. The same old argument – Anakin claiming that his Master was holding him back, keeping him from becoming the all-powerful Jedi he was destined to be.

"I didn't insist upon this mission because I thought you were incapable of handling it, Anakin."

"Then why did you?" The blue eyes focused on him with such scrutiny that Obi-Wan immediately went on the defensive. Who was the Master here anyway?

"Because you are risking not only your future, but the future of the entire galaxy!"

The young man's gaze squinted in anger as Anakin approached his Master. "What did you say to her?"

But Obi-Wan stood his ground, lifting his chin to meet the defiance he was witnessing. "I told her not to interfere with your training and to stay away from you so that you can fulfill your destiny. There will be no wedding."

"You have no right." Anakin hissed in reply, standing toe to toe with his mentor.

"No right! I have every right! Your training, your safety, your future – all of it is my responsibility! You are my padawan!"

Obi-Wan tried to touch Anakin on a personal level with the use ofa term that he had cherished for many years, but the anger behind the young man's eyes did not diminish.

"Not any more."

"What do you mean?" But Obi-Wan was afraid he knew exactly what Anakin meant.

"I'm not your padawan any more."

Fine, Obi-Wan thought for a second. Maybe a change in masters will be good for the boy, change his attitude. Maybe someone else will train him better, keep him in the Light.

"I'm sure someone else will be happy to continue with your training, if that is what you want." Obi-Wan was surprised at how much saying those words actually hurt him.

"That's not what I mean." Anakin paused, and reached down to remove his lightsaber. "I'm leaving the Jedi."

Obi-Wan huffed softly in reply, staring at the young man, hoping that he was joking.

"You can't be serious." He stated with a grin.

"Oh, but I am. I love Padmé more than anything and if you force me to choose between the Jedi and her, I'm afraid she wins Master."

Obi-Wan's mouth dropped open in disbelief, his mind grasping for something to say to change Anakin's mind. "You can't do this. I forbid it."

Instead of the response he had hoped for, aggression, anger – something he knew from experience how to handle concerning his apprentice, Anakin merely smiled and handed over his lightsaber. "Too late."

Obi-Wan numbly reached for the weapon and watched in stunned silence as his apprentice turned and left the training arena.

Suddenly, the room was filled with a glowing light of blue that ribboned about the walls, eventually encircling the Jedi Master to draw him away.

Obi-Wan realized that the Force was taking him back. A change in the future apparently had been made. He just hoped it was a change for the better.