Obi-Wan was a completely nervous wreck. He did not touch a bit of his presumably last lunch in the Temple. His stomach was writhing and the mere smell of the food made him feel thoroughly sick. Today was his big day. Today it was decided whether he was going to be a Padawan or whether he was going to be sent off to the Agricultural Corps. Today was the last chance a Master chose him as his Padawan. In one month he would turn thirteen and then his chances of ever becoming a Jedi Knight would be irrevocably over. There was no Master scheduled to come to the Temple and look for a Padawan during the next months. Of course there could always be an exception - a Padawan could die and the Master would look for a new apprentice - but that was something Obi-Wan did not like to think about. So today was the turning point of Obi-Wan's life. It was Qui-Gon Jinn who was looking for a Padawan (or rather, who was forced by Yoda to look for a Padawan, some rumoured). It seemed Master Jinn still had not overcome the loss of his last Padawan. It was a bit scary of course to think that someone like that could become Obi-Wan's Master but he was happy as long as he was chosen by any Master.
"Hey, Obi-Wan, you need to eat something," Bant Eerin, who sat next to him at the table, encouraged him.
"I'm trying," Obi-Wan muttered, carefully put a tiny bit of vegetables on his fork, and slowly chewed on them, which - somehow - were particularly tenacious today.
"Do or do not - there is no try," Garen told him.
Obi-Wan smiled shakily at his friends. He was grateful they were trying to cheer him up.
"You know, if you don't like the food you can give it to me," Reeft, who was always hungry, offered.
"Yes." Relieved, Obi-Wan quickly shoved his still full plate towards Reeft. He had a very queasy feeling in his stomach and it would not help him win the duel if he got sick. Obi-Wan shook his head. Win the duel... As if there was any chance he could win... He did not need to worry if Qui-Gon Jinn was a good Master or not. Because Master Jinn was going to choose Anakin anyway. He was bound to choose Anakin. How could he not choose the Chosen One? Of course there were still two other apprentices - Siri Tachi and Bruck Chun - who hoped to be chosen by Qui-Gon as his Padawan too. To Obi-Wan, however, there was no doubt what Qui-Gon's decision would be like. And, naturally, the Masters had decided Obi-Wan was to fight against Anakin. Why, why, why? Against Siri or Bruck, he would have stood a chance. Against Anakin however... It was so unfair.
Soon it would be time. Obi-Wan got up from the table. "I'm going to... do some warm-up," he told his friends in a false cheerful voice.
"Good luck," Reeft told him earnestly.
"You'll make it," Garen said encouragingly.
"I have my doubts about that," a sneering voice suddenly spoke up from behind Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan turned around and found himself face to face with Bruck Chun, Anakin Skywalker and Siri Tachi. "Or did Garen mean that you do not trip over your own feet when he said you'd make it, Oafy-Wan?" Bruck continued.
"You'd better put on short trousers so you won't trip over them," Anakin advised Obi-Wan, smiling innocently at him.
"Just leave him alone," Bant piped up.
"Oh, Oafy-Wan's got a girl-friend," Siri taunted, loud enough for the whole refectory to hear.
Obi-Wan blushed deeply. "She's not my girl-friend," he hissed.
"Then why are your cheeks so red?" Anakin smirked.
"If bragging is all you can, then your chances of winning are pretty low," Garen said angrily.
"Well, hope dies last, doesn't it?" Bruck sneered.
"At least Obi-Wan was not bought into the Jedi Order," Garen said nastily.
Anakin turned a deep crimson red. Obi-Wan quickly looked away – he looked anywhere but at Anakin. Hadn't Obi-Wan told Garen not to tell it to anyone else?! Obi-Wan had meant to tell his friend under the pledge of secrecy… He probably should not have told anyone at all.
"Of course Oafy-Wan was not bought," Siri said spitefully. "Who would ever pay anything for him? His parents probably paid the Jedi Order compensation for taking him away from them – they were certainly utterly relieved to be finally rid of such a complete idiot."
Bant just opened her mouth in order to protest but at that moment a Master walked past them and all of them fell silent immediately and just glared at each other. Again it was the former Bear Clan against the former Wookie Clan. But soon that would be over too. Anakin would be chosen as Qui-Gon's Padawan and he would go on missions with the Jedi Knight. Anakin would become a hero, a great Jedi, the Chosen One. Obi-Wan and Bruck would be sent to the Agri Corps and spend the rest of their days growing crops, digging into mud and dirt, doing nothing heroic. Obi-Wan thought he would even miss that rivalry, those taunts and fights between them. He would miss everything that somehow belonged to life in the Temple. His heart heavy, he watched Anakin, Bruck and Siri leave for the changing rooms.
"They're just trying to unsettle you," Reeft said annoyed. "They want to make you angry so you can't concentrate during the fight."
"Yeah, that's the only chance they have," Garen agreed. "Because else they can't win against you."
Obi-Wan hung his head. "I... appreciate your support but... well, you know I don't have a chance."
There was an awkward silence until Bant said, "We all know it's almost impossible to win against Anakin but you mustn't give up even before you start."
"She's absolutely right." Garen clapped Obi-Wan hard on his back. "You may not win but you must at least give that arrogant brat a hard time. You mustn't leave without a fight. And if you have to leave, you'll leave with your head held high. Maybe Master Jinn will like that, you can never know. Winning the duel doesn't automatically make Anakin his Padawan. Maybe he's going to choose you even if you lose."
"Has something like that ever happened?" Obi-Wan asked doubtfully.
"I don't know." Reeft shrugged. "But that's not the point, I guess. You know Master Jinn is a rebel who likes to go against the rules. I wouldn't be surprised if he did something unexpected like that."
Obi-Wan contemplated it for a moment. Maybe Garen was right. Could there be a tiny chance for him? Obi-Wan nodded grimly at his friends. "You're right. I will not leave without a fight."
"Yes!" they cheered. "We will be there and watch you fight," Bant said. "We'll keep our fingers crossed for you."
"Thank you." Obi-Wan smiled at them. And when they smiled back at him, he knew he would never give up that easily. He wanted to stay with them and become a great Jedi Knight and swordsman as they had always dreamed of. He was determined: If he had the ghost of a chance, he would seize it.
ooooooo
Anakin and Bruck were in the boys' changing room. It was an odd situation. They were friends but at the same time they were opponents. Not directly - Bruck would fight against Siri, and Anakin would fight against Obi-Wan - but there could be only one who would be chosen by Qui-Gon and both of them wanted to be that one. Anakin knew he was going to be chosen. He had heard the Masters mutter that there had never been such a gifted apprentice in the Temple before. Anakin knew he was going to win and he was very glad he did not have to fight against Bruck. He feared Bruck was going to be jealous of him anyway and he did not want to be the one who sealed Bruck's fate. Bruck was overly nervous. He kept pacing up and down the room, sometimes igniting his lightsaber and doing some test strikes. Then Master Gallia came in to fetch Bruck. Siri and Bruck were going to fight the first duel. Anakin had to stay inside the changing room and wait until it was his turn.
"Good luck, Bruck," Anakin told his friend. Bruck just nodded briefly, nervously twisting his lightsaber hilt in his hands. It was odd. He wished Bruck good luck in the duel against his other friend. But Siri was younger. She still had enough time to be chosen as someone's Padawan. Sighing deeply, Anakin sat back on the bench and did a bit of meditation. A few moments later, Obi-Wan entered the room too. They did not even bother to say hello to each other. Obi-Wan was just as nervous as Bruck, though he sat rigidly on the bench. But Anakin could feel his nervousness in the Force. Obi-Wan radiated nervousness like a red blinking siren. Anakin sighed again. No one who was as nervous as that could ever fight a decent duel. He thought Bruck and Obi-Wan desperately needed a Master who taught them to relax.
Finally, Bruck and Master Gallia came back. It was obvious Bruck had lost. His lips were a thin angry line and his eyes were cast to the floor. Worriedly, Anakin turned to him but Master Gallia shooed him outside. Bruck stormed past him, not saying a word. Oh no. Feeling utterly sorry for his friend, Anakin followed Master Gallia and Obi-Wan into the Combat Training Chamber. Anakin had never seen so many people here before. Suddenly he found everyone staring at him. Oh. They're probably here because of me, he realised. Alright. He was going to prove them he was the Chosen One.
Master Gallia checked their lightsabers (the power settings had to be low). Anakin and Obi-Wan bowed to each other like they had done so many times in training before. Only this is not training, Anakin thought. This time it's real. They held their lightsabers up over their heads, both were tensed and ready to attack.
"Go!" Master Gallia shouted.
Obi-Wan did not attack. Of course he did not. Anakin had known that coming. He had fought so often against Obi-Wan that he knew all his moves by heart. If Obi-Wan attacked quickly, he was not fighting seriously. Then he just wanted to get it over soon. If he, however, tried to win (and yes, it was only "trying" - not "doing"), he would wait for Anakin to attack and rely on his defensive skills (which were really good, by the way). Of course Obi-Wan tried to win today and so he waited for Anakin to make the first move. But Anakin did not attack but just waited too. He faintly registered the surprised mutterings of the spectators when none of them moved. Allowing himself a little smile, Anakin lowered his lightsaber.
"You don't want to fight me?" he challenged Obi-Wan.
"I have to admit I would have preferred to fight against someone else," Obi-Wan said quietly.
Anakin grinned. Obi-Wan could be fun sometimes. "A Jedi must accept his fate," Anakin countered.
"Exactly. So, will you surrender and accept the fact that you cannot win?"
Anakin frowned. That definitely went too far. That was not fun anymore. "Nice try, Oafy-Wan," Anakin muttered and then he attacked without advance notice. Obi-Wan, who had never let his guard down, parried his blow skilfully. Anakin's tactic had been meant to unnerve Obi-Wan or make him impatient but as it seemed, Obi-Wan had grown more confident while speaking. They were equal for the moment but Anakin knew it was not going to be that way for long. He knew each of Obi-Wan's techniques and - more importantly - he knew the flaws in it. Anakin could be patient. He was going to wait for the right time - and then he would strike.
ooooooo
Qui-Gon had to admit that, against his will, he was intrigued by this duel. He had only politely paid a little attention to the first duel but this one was different. It had been the unusual beginning which had captured his attention. They had just stood there, doing nothing. It was not the normal nervous beginning of a duel between apprentices who wanted to be chosen as a Padawan. Normally, they could not wait to display their abilities. These two, however, were different. The smaller boy, Anakin Skywalker, was unusually calm. The other one, Obi-Wan Kenobi, had been very nervous at first but had somehow calmed down when they had just faced each other and spoken a few words. What they had said to each other, Qui-Gon had not been able to hear. Now they were fighting a fierce, but at the same time very controlled duel.
"Most impressive," Dooku, who sat next to Qui-Gon, remarked.
Qui-Gon nodded absent-mindedly. Dooku was sparing of praise. Qui-Gon knew that from his time as Dooku's Padawan. But if Dooku praised you, he really meant it. And these two boys were good. Qui-Gon had seldom seen students their age who fought so well.
"What will happen to them?" Qui-Gon asked Mace Windu, who sat next to him on the other side.
"What do you mean, what will happen to them?" Mace asked, frowning very hard.
"Well, if I don't choose them as my Padawan, of course," Qui-Gon replied annoyed.
Mace stared fiercely at Qui-Gon and Qui-Gon could tell he was just as annoyed with Qui-Gon as Qui-Gon was with him. "You mean what happens to the boy who is not chosen by you?"
Qui-Gon sighed. "Mace, I think I've told you often enough I will not train a Padawan again."
"But look at them!" Mace said exasperatedly. "Look at Skywalker! He's so talented, I think I've never seen someone as gifted as him before. He's the Chosen One, we cannot send him off to the Agricultural Corps!"
"Then find him another Master," Qui-Gon said curtly.
Mace shot him a warning glance. "You cannot go on like this forever, Qui-Gon," he told him sternly.
"I think I can decide that myself," Qui-Gon said irritated, stood up and turned to leave the training room. When he was halfway through the door, something caught his attention. Something very strange happened in the Force. He turned around to look at the two fighting apprentices. Until now, they had been equal. But now... Qui-Gon gaped. Anakin was whirling around the room, moving his lightsaber in perfect synchronisation with the flow of the Force. His strikes and parries were strong but gentle at the same time. He seemed to be one with the Force, floating in it, the humming of his lightsaber singing along with the Force. Obi-Wan tried to keep up with him. He was fighting bravely to the end, never giving up. His insistence was admirable but pointless. He could never win this.
"He's really good, isn't he?" someone standing next to Qui-Gon addressed him. Qui-Gon turned to look at him. He was an old Jedi Knight Qui-Gon did not know very well. He worked as a pilot and was seldom at the Temple. "The younger one," the old Knight continued, "he's really talented."
"He's not younger," Qui-Gon said distractedly. "They were born on the same day."
"Oh. But his braid is much shorter."
"That was an accident."
"Aha. I think I've never before seen such a young student fight so well." The Jedi kept babbling on and on and Qui-Gon moved closer to the duelling arena to be able to have a closer look at the combatants. No, not the combatants. He was looking only at Anakin. Qui-Gon sighed. It was too late now. He was already too fascinated by the boy to just let him go. He knew he had already made his decision. He should not have turned back when the Force had called him. But it was always like that. Qui-Gon had a strong connection to the Living Force. That was what got him into trouble so often. Without thinking, he would just do what the Living Force told him, no matter if the Jedi Code or the Council forbade it. You're rushing headlong towards ruin, Qui-Gon, he told himself.
He should not have turned back.
The duel was approaching its end. Obi-Wan was completely exhausted. It was a wonder he was still able to block Anakin's fierce blows. Then Anakin started a series of wild attacks and drove Obi-Wan backwards until Obi-Wan tripped over his own feet. Next moment, Obi-Wan's lightsaber flew through the air, landed on the floor with a clattering sound and then extinguished. There was utter silence for a moment. Then the audience erupted into applause and cheers. Anakin smiled proudly and bowed to the spectators. He offered his hand to Obi-Wan to help him get up but Obi-Wan ignored the hand, got on his feet and stormed away without even bowing or congratulating Anakin on his victory. Qui-Gon shook his head in disapproval. Obi-Wan may be talented but there was too much anger in him. Maybe it was good to send him to work with the Agri Corps. Obi-Wan would certainly be disappointed at first but in the long run, it would be the best for him. It would save him from the fate that Xanatos had met.
ooooooo
Anakin felt momentarily lost. He stared at Obi-Wan's retreating back. Why did he have to spoil Anakin's triumph by his childish behaviour?! It was so unfair. Obi-Wan had even left his lightsaber here. Slowly, Anakin walked over to it and picked it up. The training lightsabers were all the same standard model. Anakin wondered whether he was soon going to build his own lightsaber. He made his way back to the changing rooms when someone stopped him.
"Anakin Skywalker."
It was Qui-Gon Jinn. Suddenly, Anakin became very nervous. He had been calm before the duel and during the duel but now he did not know what to do with his hands, where to look and what to say. "Um, hello, Master Jinn." He bowed respectfully.
Master Jinn smiled kindly down at him and thus eased a bit of Anakin's nervousness. "You fought very well."
Anakin bit his lip and tried very hard not to grin like an idiot. "Thank you," he said and his voice sounded so very small. Would Master Jinn ask him now? Would he offer to train him?
"Your defensive skills could be improved but apart from that it was really good."
The words were out before Anakin could stop himself. "Will you teach me?"
"Yes," Master Jinn said simply.
"Thank you!" Anakin could not suppress the broad grin any longer. He did not really know what to do now. He felt like embracing Master Jinn but that was certainly not the proper Jedi-thing to do. "Thank you!" he said again. "That's so nice of you. I'm so happy. Thank you so much."
"I'm happy too to have you as my apprentice," Master Jinn said with his kind smile again. "If I have someone with me who fights as well as you, I'll never have to worry about my safety anymore."
Anakin laughed happily. It was the best day of his life.
"And now go and put on a proper tunic, Padawan, and then we'll go to the Council and take our oaths."
Padawan. Master Jinn had called him Padawan. It sounded so good! "Yes, Master," Anakin said excitedly and hurried off.
When he entered the changing rooms, he heard a soft sniffing noise. His heart sank. No, today was not the happiest day of his life.