Disclaimer: In no way at all do I own any of the original character, locations, ships, or anything else mentioned in Star Wars. They are all owned by George Lucas. I only own my OC. Any similarities between this story and another are purely accidental.
A/N: Lyra recites a quote from Royster in this chapter. I found the quote in the profile of Zelinia, and thought it would go well with what's happening in this chapter.
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"Master! Master!" Obi-wan ran towards Qui-Gon, who lay on the floor, his life slowly fading.
"It is…too late…" Qui-Gon choked out. "Obi-Wan, promise me, you'll train the boy."
"Yes, Master," promised Obi-Wan. He wouldn't deny his Master's last request, whether or not he trusted the boy.
"He is the Chosen One. He will…bring balance…train him."
Obi-Wan knelt before Qui-Gon's dead body, quietly weeping. The tears wouldn't stop, and kept a steady path down his cheeks. The man who was practically his father was dead, and he couldn't do anything. He had been trained in the Jedi arts from childhood, and he couldn't save Qui-Gon.
A loud clatter alerted him to someone's presence. Remaining on the ground, he looked over his shoulder to see Lyra, shock clearly shown on her face. The clatter had been her lightsaber, which she had dropped.
Slowly, Lyra approached Qui-Gon's body. She dropped to her knees beside Obi-Wan and continued to stare. She didn't do anything. She didn't cry or scream, just…stared.
Apprehensively, Obi-Wan brought his hand to Lyra's shoulder. She did not shrug his hand off, but neither did she reply.
After a moment of silence, Lyra turned around, burying her face in Obi-Wan's chest. Soft sobs escaped her mouth and tears trailed down her cheeks, soaking the front of Obi-Wan's tunic.
Obi-Wan circled his arms around Lyra, burying his face in her hair. Tears streaked down his face, although he remained considerably quieter than Lyra.
The two friends embraced tightly, comforting each other at the loss of the one person who they could think of as father.
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The large cruiser of the Supreme Chancellor landed in the courtyard of the main hangar. Captain Panaka and twenty troops guarded the Viceroy and his associates. Obi-Wan, Lyra, the Queen, and her handmaidens stood before the Neimoidians.
"Now, Viceroy," said Padmé, triumph ringing in her voice, "you are going to have to go back to the Senate and explain all this."
"I think you can kiss your trade franchise goodbye," said Panaka.
The main ramp of the cruiser lowered as Obi-Wan and Panaka led the Viceroy aboard. Chancellor Palpatine descended, accompanied by the Jedi Council.
"Congratulations on your election, Chancellor," said Padmé. "It is so good to see you again."
Palpatine smiled. "It's good to be home," he said. "Your boldness has saved our people, Your Majesty. It is you who should be congratulated. Together we shall bring peace and prosperity to the Republic."
Obi-Wan and Lyra greeted Yoda, who motioned for the two Padawans to follow him.
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The light from the setting sun streamed into the multi-windowed room, casting soft light over Master Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Lyra. The older Jedi paced before the two, who were kneeling on the floor.
"Confer on the both of you, the level of Jedi Knight the Council does," said Yoda. "But agree on you taking this boy as your Padawan learner, I do not." The last sentence was directed at Obi-Wan.
"Qui-Gon believed in him," answered Obi-Wan quietly, "I believe in Qui-Gon."
"The Chosen One, the boy may be," replied Yoda. "Nevertheless, grave danger I fear in his training."
"With all due respect, Master Yoda," said Lyra, "I believe the Council is wrong on this one. He may be too old, but he is a fast learner and will become skilled as a Jedi in no time."
"I gave Qui-Gon my word," added Obi-Wan. "I will train Anakin, without the approval of the Council if I must."
Yoda sighed deeply. "Qui-Gon's defiance, I sense in you two. Need that, you do not. Agree, the Council does. Kenobi's apprentice, young Skywalker will be."
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After Yoda had spoken with them, the two Padawans decided to go for a walk. They chose a small clearing beside one of the rivers. It was quiet and isolated—exactly what they needed now.
So, content in silence, both Padawans relaxed, until Obi-Wan voiced a question.
"Does it go away?"
Lyra lifted her gaze from the blue river, looking into Obi-Wan's equally blue eyes. "What does?" she asked.
"The pain." Obi-Wan tore his gaze from Lyra's looking at the sky. "The knowledge that you could have done something, and yet he still died."
Oh, I see, thought Lyra. He's still berating himself for Qui-Gon's death. "It will," she responded, "someday. But know that, wherever he is, Qui-Gon is happy. He will be reunited with whatever friends he had that died, or the perished family he never knew."
"Is that what you told yourself, when your mother died?" Obi-Wan knew of her true parentage.
Lyra nodded. "Yes. I told myself that she was with my father, and that she was happy."
"Would Qui-Gon want the same?"
Lyra closed her eyes and smiled. "Do not stand by my grave and weep," she recited. "I am not there, I do not sleep. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds circling in flight. Do not stand by my grave and cry. I am not there, I did not die." She opened her eyes again. "Would that be something Qui-Gon would have said?"
Obi-Wan smiled too. "Yes, definitely Qui-Gon."
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At sunset that day, Qui-Gon's body was burned at a Funeral Temple near the Theed palace. The Jedi Council, the Queen and her entourage, Chancellor Palpatine, Obi-Wan, Lyra, Anakin, Jar Jar, Boss Nass, and more than a hundred Gungan and Nubian troops were in attendance.
"He is one with the Force, Anakin," said Obi-Wan from under his hood. "You must let him go."
"What will happen to me now?" he asked fearfully.
Lyra placed her hands on his shoulders, as Qui-Gon had done days ago when they had faced the Council. "Obi-Wan is your Master now," she whispered.
"You will become a Jedi," vowed Obi-Wan. "I promise."
Lyra lifted one hand from Anakin's shoulder and placed it on the back of Obi-Wan's hand. "You should follow your own advice, old friend," she said sadly.
At another side of the crowd gathered, Mace Windu was speaking to Yoda.
"There is no doubt, the mysterious warrior was a Sith," he said solemnly.
"Always two, there are," said Yoda, looking worried, "no more and no less; a Master and an Apprentice."
Mace Windu turned to look at the pyre. "But which one was destroyed, the Master or the Apprentice?"
The two Jedi Masters gave each other a concerned look before continuing to watch the flames.
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The next day, in the Central Plaza, a parade marched through the streets to celebrate the freedom of Naboo. Children sang and threw flowers onto the passing Gungan soldiers. The people on the sidelines cheered loudly, smiles never leaving their faces.
At the end of the path the parade was marching on, Padmé stood next to Chancellor Palpatine. The two leaders were right next to an array of people involved in the Federation battle, including Obi-Wan, Lyra, Anakin, the Governor, and the Jedi Council.
In the parade were Boss Nass, his guards, Jar Jar, and General Ceel, all riding Kaadus. They dismounted (Jar Jar tripping and falling onto the carpeted floor) and walked to the Queen's side. Padmé handed the Gungan leader the Globe of Peace, which he raised for all to see.
Cheers erupted from the people, as they were glad the peace had finally been restored.
Amidst the cheers, the parade marched on.
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