Thanks as always for all of the reviews, favorites, and follows. I had hoped that this would be the last chapter of Episode I, but unfortunately the chapter got very long (partially why this update is so late), so I ended up just splitting it up since I didn't have the heart to cut anything out. Maybe y'all could help and let me know if something seemed particularly boring/useless. Good news is that the next chapter is mostly written already, so the wait should be less than two weeks.

Chapter 23: I Inherit a Lightsaber

I woke up slowly, trying to remember where I was. The room was too white, and I smelled that too clean smell that I associated with school required service trips to hospitals and nursing homes. Hospitals, poison – "Annabeth!" I sat up too quickly, and the world spun. I fought through the feeling and tried to stand, so I could reach Annabeth in the bed next to mine.

Before I could fall on my face, someone caught me and pushed me into a chair by the bed. "Take it easy, Percy," Panaka said. "You should let your body adjust to being awake first."

I barely spared the captain a glance before, I focused on Annabeth. She was still lying there hooked up to an IV and not moving even when I grasped her hand. "Is she. . ." I couldn't even finish the sentence.

Panaka sighed, "She is fine. All the poison is gone, and she is stable. However, the doctors want to keep her asleep until tomorrow to give her body time to recover."

I'm pretty sure I made an extremely manly sound between a sob and a sigh. I leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Way to fight, Wise Girl," I muttered.

"The doctors are calling it a medical miracle and were pestering the Jedi about Force healing trances and if it could be mimicked in non-Force sensitives. I don't suppose you know anything about that?"

I smiled. It was a lot easier now that I knew Annabeth would be okay. "Well, it's not like I could tell the doctor I gave her the food and drink of the gods."

"So that was the liquid you mixed with the antidote?"

I nodded, "It can help heal half-bloods from most wounds and poisons, but we can only have a little bit at a time otherwise it will literally burn us up." I looked around the room and actually saw the rest of it. Anakin was sleeping in another bed nearby, and Panaka was in a chair next to me. He looked tired, but also relieved. "Is Anakin okay?"

Panaka nodded, "The boy is fine. He just insisted on sleeping in the hospital until you and Annabeth left even though the queen did offer him one of the best suites in the palace."

"Silly kid, he should have taken the deluxe suite."

Panaka just raised his eyebrows and looked at me as if to say, 'You're one to talk.'

Just then, my stomach gave a loud growl, and I realized I had no idea how long it had been since I ate last. Panaka gave me a trey filled with food and a glass of water. I quickly downed the water and shoveled the food into my mouth. Panaka chuckled, "It is good to see your appetite has returned. I was beginning to get worried when you kept refusing to eat."

In between bites, I managed to get out, "What time is it? How long have I been out?"

"It is about 4 hours till midnight the day after the battle. I believe you have been sleeping for about 22 hours."

I dropped my fork in shock, "A whole day! I've been out for a whole day!"

Panaka sighed, "You clearly needed to rest, but you were not allowing yourself to sleep." Then he smiled, "I am not sure what you did to the doctors because they were too afraid to approach you, so Obi-Wan volunteered."

I muttered some Arion inspired comments in ancient Greek about a certain Jedi before asking, "So, what has been going on the past day?"

Panaka quickly explained how the rest of the battle ended. The Gungan army had experienced minimal casualties and had taken care of most of the droids even before Anakin blew up the control ship. However, the Jedi were not so lucky in their fight against Darth Maul. Qui-Gon died, and Obi-Wan was barely able to kill the Sith.

I couldn't believe that Qui-Gon was dead. He just always seemed so wise and strong, like he would be giving annoyingly cryptic answers for the next hundred years even if he wasn't immortal like Chiron. He was a really good man, despite all of the bad Jedi traditions, and he was the first person in this universe to really accept Annabeth and me for who we truly were. Even though I had only known him for a few weeks, it felt like I had known him for years. Qui-Gon had become one of the few friends I had in this universe, and now suddenly, he was gone. Unfortunately, the pain of losing a friend was one I had become familiar with over the past few years, but it never seemed to get easier.

No matter how painful and shocking Qui-Gon's death was for me, I knew it must be a hundred times worse for Obi-Wan. Even though Obi-Wan might claim to have no attachments, I knew he cared very much for Qui-Gon. After all, the man was the closest thing he had to a father. I squeezed Annabeth's hand, just grateful that she was still in my life. I remembered Obi-Wan coming in the previous night. He had probably needed a friend then, but I had been too absorbed in my own problems to even realize that he was hurting.

Panaka gave me a moment to try to come to grips with the depressing news before continuing his update. All the Trade Federation members were locked in one of the wings of the palace under heavy guards. The queen had spent the past day and a half getting her people out of the prison camps and back to their homes. For the most part the citizens were okay, a little rattled and underfed, but it could have been a lot worse all things considered. The communication block had been removed, and everyone was just trying to repair all the damage that the Trade Federation had caused, both the Naboo and Gungans actually working together for a change.

"By the way, I noticed a new water feature in the Great Grass Plains, right where the battle took place," Panaka added with a meaningful look at me. "I reassured everyone that it must have been a rather large explosion caused by a combination of the Trade Federation's and Gungans' weapons during the battle. At least it explains the shake everyone felt."

I bit my lip, "Was anyone hurt from it? I didn't cause an earthquake somehow did I?"

"No, we just felt a slight tremor. It didn't even affect any structures as far as I am aware."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, "Good, I'm not sure Annabeth would have forgiven me if even one of Naboo's great architectural monuments was damaged." I smiled at my girlfriend and wished she was awake right now. Then, I remembered why she was lying there, and I wasn't smiling anymore. "What about the bounty hunter?"

"According to the viceroy, the bounty hunter was sent by a concerned investor as additional security," Panaka stated.

I snorted, "That seems like a fancy way of saying evil, Sith mastermind."

Panaka nodded his head in agreement. "The Jedi Council thought so as well. They sent Knight Fisto to track her down since she is the best lead they have to find the Sith Master, now that the apprentice is dead. Knight Fisto left last night, so hopefully, he will be able to catch up to her before the trail goes cold."

"Well, at least someone is looking for her, and I guess a Jedi would have better luck tracking her down than most people," I muttered.

"I am sure Knight Fisto will find her soon, and she will face justice," Panaka said sternly. Then, he gave me one of those deep penetrating looks, "I know you and Annabeth never wanted to be here, and I am sorry you had to participate in another conflict after your previous campaigns. However, I am grateful that you did come. I know without you two, many more people would have died." He looked at Annabeth and smiled, "We did not lose a single member of our team yesterday, because before a droid could shoot a killing shot, she would push our men out of the way or destroy the droid. As a captain, I am indebted to both of you for your part in saving my planet and queen–"

I interrupted him before he could continue, "No Panaka, you don't owe us anything. As long as we are stuck in this universe, Naboo is our home too, and we will defend it. So, you can quite with all the formal thank yous."

He chuckled, "Well then, I guess I should warn you that the queen has commissioned a special ceremony to formally thank you and Annabeth and plans to give you quite a large amount of credits as a reward for going far above and beyond your civil duty."

I gulped, "Umm, that's really unnecessary. We don't need any of that."

He gave me a smile that reminded me a bit of Lupa's, "I will leave it to you to convince the queen of that. When it comes to a battle of stubbornness between, you, Queen Amidala, and Annabeth, I am not sure who I would bet on."

I grumbled something about disappearing underwater for a few weeks. "On a less formal note," Panaka continued, "I know I am not one of your parents, but I am still extremely proud of everything you and Annabeth have accomplished since landing here. I think part of me did not want to accept your heritage, but after seeing what you did on the battlefield. . ." He paused and shook his head. "Let's just say if anyone has the power to crack open the ground, I am glad it is you. I will say it again: you are a good man, Percy Jackson. I hope you stay that way."

I nodded, but I couldn't meet his eyes. I'm not sure what I would have done if Annabeth had died. Would I have become evil like the Jedi thought I would in my quest to avenge her? I knew I would have gone after the ones responsible without mercy. A small part of me still wanted to. Maybe, the Jedi were right to worry about me.

Panaka seemed oblivious to my doubts, and just clapped me on the back, "I should return to the queen's detail now. I just wanted to check on the both of you. I do not suppose there is any chance you will go back to sleep? The doctor said you needed to rest for at least 30 hours."

I shook me head. "Nope, not a chance." Panaka just sighed and stood up, but before he could leave, I asked, "How's Obi-Wan?"

Panaka grimaced, "He gave his report to the Jedi High Council over hologram yesterday evening, and no one has seen him since he helped you sleep. He probably just needs time. I am sure he will be here when the Jedi Council and Senator Palpatine arrive in two days."

I waited a few minutes after Panaka left before I kissed Annabeth's forehead, whispered, "I will be back," and left the infirmary to find Obi-Wan. I knew everyone dealt with grief differently, but I figured after over 20 hours of being by himself, Obi-Wan could use a reminder that he wasn't alone in the universe even if his master/mentor/father was no longer here.

The only problem was I had no idea where to actually find Obi-Wan. I wandered the empty, echoing halls of the palace as I tried to think where Obi-Wan would be this late at night. Based on what Panaka said, I doubted he was sleeping in one of the rooms. Knowing Obi-Wan, he was probably somewhere quite trying to meditate. I started heading to where I thought the library was, but then I remembered the Room of a Thousand Fountains from Anakin's description of the Jedi Temple. Maybe, he would have tried to find something similar to that since Anakin had said a lot of Jedi liked to meditate there. I changed directions and headed towards the gardens. Luckily, I remembered where they were from my tour because they had a pretty neat pool and a stream with a bridge.

Even at night, the gardens were beautiful with little lights making it look like something out of a fairytale. I saw Obi-Wan sitting along the bank of the stream, so I joined him. He had his eyes closed and back straight, but he didn't seem calm or serene like he normally did when he meditated.

I took off my shoes, rolled up my pants, and stuck my feet in the stream. Sure, I could have left them on with my amazing drying abilities, but there was something so refreshing, just having your feet in cool water. I knew Obi-Wan would talk when he was ready. In the meantime, I waited and looked at the stars that were slowly becoming more familiar.

Eventually, Obi-Wan broke the silence, "How do you feel?" His voice sounded raw, like he hadn't used it in a while.

I quickly glanced at him before I answered. He looked terrible with dark circles under his very bloodshot eyes, and I could see faded bruises on his face. I'm sure he must have been using that Force healing otherwise they would have been worse. After all, I knew firsthand how hard that Darth Maul guy could kick. There was also a sort of desperation in Obi-Wan's eyes that worried me.

I took stock of my own body's aches that I had been ignoring until then. The water was helping, but there was a throbbing pain in my head while the rest of my body felt like Hannibal the elephant had trampled me. Basically, how I normally felt after surviving an impossible battle. "Probably a bit better than how you look," I replied.

Obi-Wan tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace. "Kit said you over taxed your Force usage. I know from experience that is a particularly unpleasant feeling, assuming it is similar for half-bloods as it is for Jedi."

I shrugged, "Yeah, I guess cracking open the earth and making a tidal wave are my limits. Good to know. I don't usually use my powers like that. Maybe a mini-hurricane or a big wave here or there, but not something that big."

"I'm not sure if that is necessarily your limit, Percy," Obi-Wan stated. For a moment, his voice didn't sound as tired, like he was glad for the distraction from his own troubles. "For Jedi at least, the Force is limitless, but the mental strain of harnessing it is not. Therefore, with time and training our mental capacity to use the Force can increase just like exercising a physical muscle, but if we strain or overuse that mental muscle, we feel drained and can get a rather nasty headache."

My head gave a particularly painful throb. "Yeah, that's pretty much how I feel right now." I massaged me temples as I tried to make sense of what Obi-Wan had said. "But, if I have my own sort of personal Force source wouldn't that have a limit?"

"I suppose so," Obi-Wan answered hesitantly, like he was tempted to say more, but thought better about it. "However, you will have to do further training to find out where that is."

I nodded not exactly happy that I could have even more destructive power at my fingertips. Curious if I would even be able to do it, I focused on the water in the stream and forced some of it to rise and form a ball. It wasn't easy, but it didn't hurt as much as it would have yesterday.

"You really should let yourself rest more," Obi-Wan cautioned with a hint of exasperation in his voice. "You were supposed to stay asleep until tomorrow morning, but I guess your particular heritage decreased the efficiency of the drug. I would have preferred to use the Force to sedate you, but I was unsure if it would work at all."

I glared at him, "You still shouldn't have tranqed me."

He looked straight at me with a hint of his annoying smirk, "What else were we supposed to do? It was past midnight, and you refused to sleep on your own. Plus, you managed to intimidate the doctors so much that they didn't want to go near you."

I rolled my eyes but before I could say anything, Obi-Wan shrugged, "Besides, you really did need the sleep."

I raised an eyebrow in challenge, "Looks like you do too. Maybe, I should tranq you."

"I have slept," he mumbled. When I glared at him some more, he added, "Some. How is Annabeth's condition?" He quickly changed the topic.

I grinned, "Poison free, should wake up tomorrow!"

Obi-Wan managed a small smile, "Good, I am glad that she will pull through."

An awkward silence spread between us as we both remembered why we were out there and who hadn't pulled through. Obi-Wan reached for something on his belt and pulled out a lightsaber. Maybe, he wanted to spar? But, then he extended the hilt to me, and I recognized it as Qui-Gon's. "Here," Obi-Wan said. "He wanted you to have it."

I shook my head, "No, I can't take it. You should keep it."

He sighed, "Percy, just take it please. It was one of Qui-Gon's last requests. He said you would need it. Besides, I think he liked the idea that it would be used to free slaves instead of just lying around at the Jedi Temple, collecting dust."

Well, when he put it like that, I really couldn't refuse, and Qui-Gon was right. I needed a weapon that wouldn't just pass through non-Force-sensitives. I reached out and respectfully took the offered hilt. "Thank you, I promise to use it in a way that will honor his memory." Obi-Wan just bowed his head slightly in acknowledgement. I started wondering what exactly Qui-Gon had done with his last moments if he had bothered to make requests for his lightsaber. I had a sneaking suspicion though of what he might not have said. "I hope you know Obi-Wan, that no matter what he told you in the end, Qui-Gon loved you. You were like a son to him."

Obi-Wan scoffed, "Masters and Padawans do not form that sort of attachment. It is a relationship to share knowledge and experience only."

"Please, if any Jedi actually believes that they are kidding themselves. Hades, what do I know maybe some can pull it off, but Qui-Gon loved you. Look, it's not like I have a normal relationship with my father, but I can count on one hand the number of times he has looked at me like the way Qui-Gon looked at you after a sparing session, or when you said something particularly wise, or when you stood up to the Council. And, if your honest about it, that's probably why you are having such a hard time now. I know if Qui-Gon was anything like my mentor, he would be giving instructions till his dying breath instead of saying how he felt. But, they would probably be instructions to help you in the long run."

I remembered when the gods had forced Chiron to leave camp because they thought he had poisoned Thalia's tree. He had spent his last moments telling me not to do anything stupid and tasked a crying Annabeth to watch over me. I know now that he had wanted to give her something to focus on besides his banishment, and he also probably knew I wouldn't listen to him and would do something stupid and need Annabeth.

Obi-Wan laughed at that. It was a bitter laugh. Not at all like the quite chuckle I was familiar with the few times he had laughed around me. "There is no way his last request will help me." He sighed and ran his fingers through the top of his short hair-do. "But, it does not matter. I will do it any way. . . somehow."

"What did he ask you to do?"

He tilted his head and looked at me for a few seconds. I was beginning to think he wasn't going to answer when he said, "You are probably not going to like it, so please refrain from shouting. I would rather not quarrel at the moment."

I nodded. "Thanks for the warning. I'll try not to explode any toilets though I probably couldn't manage that at the moment anyways."

Obi-Wan shifted his gaze across the creek though I had a feeling he was not looking at the garden, "With his dying breath, he had me promise to train Anakin."

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't that. "Oh," I said a little numbly. I guess I hadn't processed yet what Qui-Gon's death might mean for Anakin's future.

"Even with a normal initiative, most Jedi wait a few years after achieving knighthood before they take a Padawan, and technically, I am still a Padawan myself at the moment." He continued, "And Anakin. . ."

"Is not your typical initiative," I finished for him. He nodded. "Is Anakin still in the Order after he ran away or did the Council kick him out?"

Obi-Wan grimaced, "At the moment, they seem undecided. Master Windu says by running away, Anakin shows that he cannot be trained as a Jedi because he lacks the discipline and sense of duty the Order instills in its initiatives at an early age. He doubts that Anakin will ever learn this. Many of the other masters agree. They do not take running away from the Temple lightly since it is analogous to turning your back on the Order and abandoning your duty."

I snorted, "He was just a kid who had been there for one day. Surely, they don't expect him to know all the rules. Besides, we would all probably be dead if he hadn't blown up that ship." Even though I still personally didn't want Anakin to be a Jedi, I really didn't like the Council's reasoning for kicking him out.

Obi-Wan nodded, "I made a similar statement at the end of my report. I tried to argue that clearly it was the Force's will for Anakin to be on Naboo, and it is a Jedi's first duty to be an instrument of the Force." He shrugged, "I think I might have convinced some of the masters, but they decided to meditate on the issue and pass judgment when they arrive."

"What happens if they don't let him back into the Order?"

Obi-Wan's usually perfect posture slumped. He looked like a defeated man. "Then, I leave the Order and train him anyways."

"You would do that?" Even though I had only spent a few weeks with Obi-Wan, I knew that the Jedi Order was his life.

"I made a promise to my Master," he said grimily. "And, like someone else I know," he gave me a pointed look, "I take my promises very seriously. Qui-Gon would not have asked unless he was sure that Anakin is the Chosen One, destined to bring balance to the Force, so I will keep me word no matter what. But, if it does come to me leaving the Jedi Order," he winced even as he said that, "I am not sure what I will do. . ." his voice faltered for a moment. "The Jedi Order is all I have ever known. They have always provided food and shelter and clothes and equipment and a purpose. Sure, sometimes it was hard during a mission, but usually, you just had to find someone supportive of the Republic, and they would open their doors for you. Without the support of the Jedi Order, how am I going to survive and take care of a boy?"

Obi-Wan sounded so lost. I realized it was a testament to our friendship that he even admitted that to me. At that moment, I'm not sure who I was more mad at, the Jedi Order that made their members completely dependent on it so that the Council could use the threat of expulsion to keep their members in line or for Qui-Gon asking Obi-Wan to possibly leave everything he had ever known. "You know after you helped save the planet and all, I'm sure the queen would be more than happy to have you and Anakin live here." I grinned, "Panaka definitely would be very happy to have a Jedi protecting the monarch fulltime."

"Yes, we could," Obi-Wan agreed, "but I am not sure that would be the best for Anakin's training with you and his mother so close."

"Oh, right that no attachment stuff," I muttered. When I thought Annabeth was dying, I knew I would have torn down cities to make the Sith and that bounty hunter pay. Now, I don't think cutting yourself off from people was the best way to handle it, but maybe the Jedi did have a bit of a point.

"Maybe, Anakin would do better in an environment with his attachments?" Obi-Wan wondered, "Since he already has them and has been exposed to strong emotions, I just do not know. Perhaps Qui-Gon was right, and there is another way. I mean you and Annabeth are not dark side users. But, if we do leave the Jedi Order, I will be cut off from the wisdom and advice of my peers." Obi-Wan sighed, "I just wish I knew what to do. I have tried meditating, but at the moment, it has been rather difficult."

I couldn't imagine having to worry about someone else like that all of a sudden. Obi-Wan wasn't that much older than me, but now he couldn't think what was best for him anymore. He had to think what was best for Anakin. Even though I would miss the kid, it seemed like Obi-Wan would be better if he stayed in the Jedi Order. Maybe, Anakin would too with a whole community of Jedi to help him learn all this Force stuff. Sure, there were some stiff Jedi like Windu and Mundi, but Kit was pretty cool. "Is there anything I could do to help convince the Jedi Council to accept Anakin again?"

Obi-Wan actually chuckled, "Frankly, most of the Jedi Council consider you dangerous and unstable, so you should probably try to avoid the issue because it might actually hurt Anakin's case. Though, I am sure they will want to talk to you about what you did on the battlefield. That new water stream is not exactly subtle, and any Force sensitive can feel the echo of the power you used to form it, probably for the next week or so."

"Great," I mumbled, "I just love council meetings! I wonder how many threats I can get in this one." Obi-Wan gave me a stern look, "Okay, okay, I'll be on my best behavior for yours and Anakin's sakes."

"Perhaps, this personal loyalty isn't necessarily all bad if it can make you behave respectfully in a council meeting."

"Hey," I complained, "using fatal flaws is so against the Bro Code, not cool."

He smirked, "Well, I've got to use something since you seem to have no sense of self-preservation and a penchant for insulting powerful people. Plus, I am hoping in this case at least, it will bring out the best in you."

I stayed up with Obi-Wan for the rest of the night and got back to the medical bay a bit after dawn though Anakin had already left. Annabeth woke up a little later just like Panaka had said. Our happy reunion though was ruined somewhat by a nosy, pushy doctor though at least he did bring in food. He declared that Annabeth had made a full recovery, but that she must stay in the medical bay as a precaution for the remainder of the day. She would be released tomorrow as long as she did not strain herself. He once again tried to quiz us on what could have caused Annabeth's miraculous recovery, but Annabeth just gave him a shrug and said with a straight face, "The Force is all powerful." The doctor frowned in annoyance and left with a dramatic huff, muttering about mystic cosmic energy.

I spent the rest of the morning telling Annabeth everything that had happened while we ate. Her eyes teared up when I told her about Qui-Gon. I scooted over onto the narrow hospital bed and wrapped my arms around her trying to offer her some silent comfort. We just sat there for a moment remembering the kind Jedi who had helped us so much. Eventually, though I asked something that had been bugging me since I woke up. "So, the Sith Master sent the bounty hunter, right?"

Annabeth nodded, "He must have."

"But why? I thought he was trying to get Queen Amidala to sign the treaty?"

Annabeth bit her lip as she thought, "I think it must have been his back up plan, in case we managed to beat the Trade Federation and Maul. If he couldn't get the Trade Federation to actually, legally seize the planet, then assassinating Queen Amidala would have been the next best thing. It probably would have started a galactic civil war between the Core worlds and the Outer Rim with the Mid Rim split down the middle which would definitely destabilize the Republic. Plus, if we are right about his plans for Palpatine, it would have turned Amidala into a beloved martyr, so at the very least the Naboo senator would be the next chancellor without much contest."

"I guess that makes sense," I hesitated for a moment. "So, you think this bounty hunter was just after the queen then, and only got you because you tried to protect her?" I tried to hide the hope in my voice. I really didn't like the idea that this Sith Master might have been targeting my girlfriend.

She sighed, "I don't know Percy, and I don't think we will know for sure until Kit catches the bounty hunter. I mean it looks like Amidala was the target, but. . . if my theories are right and if I was the Sith and I had heard what I had said in the senator's office from a bug or a spy, then I would want me out of the way too though it would have to look like an accident. Otherwise, people would know my theories are right."

"Ugh, this is getting pretty confusing."

She nodded, "If that really was this Sith Lord's intention than he's a really good strategist, like Kronos good."

"Well at least we're on to him, whoever he is. We always were a step behind Kronos." At this point I was just trying to find the silver lining.

Annabeth frowned, "For now at least, I think we might have won this round, but that's because we probably took him by surprise. I don't think we will have that advantage for the next round. He definitely knows about you."

"Maybe, Kit will find the bounty hunter, and the Jedi will be able to get rid of this Sith guy. Then, we can go home and live happily. . . ever. . . after." A huge yawn interrupted my fairy tale ending.

"We can hope for that," Annabeth said with a smile. "But, right now you look like you could use some sleep."

"Maybe, a little," I mumbled as I staggered to the narrow bed next to hers. I hadn't slept at all during the night, and I was feeling kind of tired. "Just a short power nap."

I'm not sure how long I slept, but my beauty sleep was rudely interrupted by an argument going on around Annabeth's bed. Annabeth and Padmé were in a staring contest, Panaka looked amused, and Anakin was giggling.

"I am being ridiculous!" Padmé exclaimed in a mocking tone, "You are the one who almost died two days ago saving my life. I cannot in good conscious allow you to work when you should be resting."

"Ugh, please tell me this is a dream," I muttered. If this really was an Annabeth vs Padmé showdown, I wanted to be safely behind a bullet proof window and then sell tickets to the event, not stuck in the middle of it.

"Sorry to wake you Percy," Padmé apologized, "but Annabeth is being irrationally stubborn."

"Percy, tell Padmé I'm perfectly capable of helping with the recovery effort from this room," Annabeth gave me a rather impressive glare that told me I better agree with her.

I gulped, "Umm, sure?" The word ended an octave higher, so it sounded like a question. Personally, I thought it would be better if Annabeth rested more, but I knew better than trying to tell her that. Angry girlfriends were scary.

Annabeth rolled her eyes at me, before returning to the argument, "Honestly, Padmé I don't even have to leave the bed." She picked up her laptop from the bedside table and started typing furiously. "There, I'm already collecting all the information from the damage reports and creating an algorithm to determine what materials are needed, where, and the priority. It's not like I have anything else to do while I'm stuck in here, and I need something to distract me."

Padmé looked like she was going to argue back, but then she let out a long sigh, "Fine, we really could use that information, but please do not push yourself too hard." Annabeth nodded in agreement. Padmé excused herself to probably do important planet ruling things, and Panaka followed her out giving me a small nod.

"Thanks, for the overwhelming support, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said.

I smirked at her, "Since when have you ever needed my help winning an argument?"

"Speaking about winning arguments while you were sleeping, I did win another argument and convinced Padmé to cancel our award ceremony," Annabeth informed me.

"Oh Good!"

"That would have drawn way too much attention to us," Annabeth continued, "but I did graciously accept the monetary award."

I grimaced. It just felt weird getting rewarded for something any decent person would have done anyways. "Why? We don't need to take Naboo's money. I'm sure Padmé could put it to better use somewhere else."

"Actually, we do. We will need a lot of money to fund your free the slaves venture, and this allows Padmé to help finance it without having to openly support us in a way that could cause the Hutts to target Naboo. That's why she's giving us so much. Hopefully, with proper investment it will be enough."

"Oh, I didn't think of that."

"Of course not, that's what you've got me for," she said with a beautiful smile that made her grey eyes light up.

I think my brain might have malfunctioned for a few seconds or something just looking at Annabeth because the next thing I knew she was blushing, and Anakin made an awkward coughing noise, "I guess I'll be going then."

I shook my head and snapped out of the trance, "No, it's okay Anakin. You should stay." It might have been selfish of me, but I wanted to spend as much time as I could with the boy. After explaining everything to Annabeth earlier, she had agreed that since we knew very little about actually using this Force like the Jedi, Anakin should return to the Temple as long as that's what he wanted. That way both he and Obi-Wan would have the support they needed from others like them. If the Council did try to kick Anakin out, I was going to change their mind, somehow. I did have a crazy idea that probably would work despite or maybe because of what Obi-Wan had told me when he warned me to not interfere. I just really hoped it wouldn't come to it.

The three of us spent the rest of the day together. Anakin taught us Sabaac with a deck he found in a drawer. When Annabeth returned to her work, I pushed some of the extra beds away to make space, so I could teach Anakin the very basics of fighting, like balance, footwork, and self-defense. But mainly, I just told him all the Greek myths I could think of. Maybe, I was being lame, but almost all of the Greek myths had important lessons in them. As half-bloods, these morals were super important if we wanted even a shot at avoiding the tragic fate of the ancient heroes that came before us. I figure maybe some of these lessons might help Anakin as he developed his Jedi powers. In a way, the old myths were sort of like a half-blood version of that Jedi Code Obi-Wan kept mentioning, though ours was clearly way cooler, more flexible, and more memorable.

I mean sure, it's one thing to tell kids that excessive pride is bad as one of many rules for them to memorize. It's another thing entirely to spend at least 30 minutes getting attached to characters only for them to die horrible deaths because of their pride. Getting fried by a bolt of lightning while driving a fancy vehicle, we've got that as well as plummeting to your death off of a winged horse. Or, maybe, being the greatest warrior in the world and dying from an ankle injury is easier for you to remember, and how could I forget getting turned into a hideous creepy crawly.

By the time I had finished almost every Greek myth I could think of, Annabeth had fallen asleep, but Anakin was still awake. By now, I knew that meant one thing - he had questions. "Percy, with Qui-Gon gone, what's going to happen to me?"

"Well, Obi-Wan promised to train you," I answered figuring the Jedi hadn't told him yet.

"But, since I ran away from the Temple, what if the Council doesn't accept me back?"

"Obi-Wan said he would train you anyways even though he would have to leave the Order. If you had a choice, though, would you want to go back to the temple or maybe, Obi-Wan could train you here?" I asked a little hopeful.

He thought about it a while before responding, "Naboo is really nice and all. And, it would be fun to be around you, Annabeth, mom, and Padmé, but I wouldn't be a real Jedi would I? If I didn't go back to the temple, it would never be official."

I shrugged even though he couldn't see me, "I suppose that's true."

"Then, I think. . .I think I would rather go back. It felt nice being there, like I finally found a place for people like me. I guess kind of like how you felt when you found Camp Half-Blood."

"Okay, then, I'll do everything I can to convince the Council to take you back. But, just be careful Ani. Some of the other kids might not be nice to you since you're coming in late, and you're sort of a big hero right now."

"You mean like how Clarisse tried to dunk your head in a toilet because you killed the Minitour?"

"Yeah, kind of like that," I said with a laugh. "Though I expect Jedi initiatives are more subtle than children of Ares."

"Percy?"

"Hmm?"

"I had a question for Master Qui-Gon, but I never got a chance to ask it. And, Jedi Obi-Wan hasn't been around, but maybe you know," Anakin rambled. "Um, Master Qui-Gon said I was the Chosen One when the Council was deciding to let me join the Jedi Order. What did he mean by that?"

I sighed. I really had hoped that Anakin didn't know about Qui-Gon's suspicions yet. Ignorance was bliss when it came to prophecies. It was a lot to place on the shoulders of a nine-year-old, and Qui-Gon might not be right. "Well, on Tatooine, Qui-Gon told Annabeth and I about this very vague prophecy that a powerful Force-sensitive was destined to bring balance to the Force and destroy the Sith. He must have thought this was you."

"Oh," Anakin sounded shocked and overwhelmed. It isn't everyday that you learn you have some great destiny.

"Just remember, Ani, prophecies are really tricky. But, after all the prophecies I've dealt with, I've come up with rules to help survive them. I call these rules the Jackson Three (if only I came up with two more). One, prophecies can never be completely avoided. Two, there is always some sort of twist in the words so that it never occurs as you expect it to which is bad for this prophecy because Qui-Gon said the exact words have been lost, and he's just going off of someone else's interpretation. And, three, you can't really force a prophecy to happen just because you want it to or it's convenient," I remembered Michael Varus and the doomed fifth cohort.

"When a prophecy is happening you just sort of know." I continued. "But, I hope for your sake that you aren't this Chosen One because being the 'one' in a prophecy is never an easy fate. It doesn't really mean that you're better than others, or that you're special necessarily. It's more like the universe is pulling a joke on you to make your life extra difficult. So, if there even is a chance that you are this Chosen One, then you better train extra hard because you're going to need it."

"I guess those rules make sense after listening to all of your prophecies," he mumbled. "I just hope I'll be good enough if it is me."

"Try not to stress too much about it," I advised. "That really is the curse of prophecies. Just focus on being the best Jedi you can be, and I'm sure it will all work out. Maybe, you could knock some sense into the Jedi Order while you're at it. I think they need to be reminded how people in the rest of the galaxy actually live."

Author's Note: Yes, Qui-Gon still died. I did go back and forth for a while until I came up with the scene with the lightsaber, and I knew it wouldn't have the same meaning if Qui-Gon was still alive. Hope this chapter wasn't too boring since it mainly sets things up for the last chapter of Episode 1 which will be much better. I've had the end of it planned since I first came up with the idea for this story, and I can't wait to see what y'all think.