Obi-Wan: The Underdog

"Master? Is it time yet?"

Qui-Gon smiled, watching his excited apprentice bounce around their apartment. Today was the annual Running of the Equinoids, a race of specially trained animals from the planet Endor. Animals were trained on planets throughout the galaxy, and today they would be put to the test.

"Not yet, Obi-Wan, almost." Obi-Wan grinned, plopping down in front of the holo-net, ready to watch the "Race of the Year" as the announcers were calling it. The boy had been working hard for several weeks and had earned this break. Qui-Gon was equally excited, a lifetime fan of the sport.

"Who do you think will win Master?" Qui-Gon thought for a moment, stroking his beard absentmindedly.

"Well, if I were a betting man, I would go for the home favorite: Green Spirit. The three year old, from Endor."

Obi-Wan nodded his agreement. "He won both qualifiers. I think he'll be the one to beat."

"Ah, but I am not a betting man. I believe the Naboo champion: Thunderlight will win the day."

"But Master? He has awful odds, there's no way!"

Qui-Gon gave a knowing smile.

A short time later, Thunderlight was taking his place on the winner's platform, his rider holding the trophy in the air, singing for joy. Qui-Gon glanced down at his apprentice, mouth still hung open in shock. From the time they came out of the gate, Green Spirit never had a chance.

"A valuable lesson for you, my padawan. Never underestimate an opponent. And always believe in the Underdog."

Anakin: A lesson in humility.

"I can't believe you're letting me podrace, Master! Thank you so much!"

"I can't believe you made a perfect score on your Economics exam. You earned this reward, Anakin. Don't make me regret it." Obi-Wan replied sternly, straightening the goggles on his apprentice.

"I won't Master. Did you bet today?" Obi-Wan shook his head. "Betting is for fools who have nothing left to lose."

Anakin scoffed. "Well, if I were a betting man, I know who I would pick." Obi-Wan shook his head, watching his padawan climb into his pod with a swaggering step worthy of a cocky, experienced racer. He was good, there was no doubt about that. The question was: Would he be good enough today?

Later that evening, as Obi-Wan brought his padawan another ice-pack, he couldn't help but offer a jest.

"Perhaps we should work on humility in tonight's meditation, hmm? Or maybe about having patience and not making presumptions? Oh, I know, increased reflexes and awareness so that we don't crash into a garbage ship?"

Anakin groaned, working on nursing his multiple bumps and bruises. "Not funny Master."

"Just promise me you won't get into gambling, Anakin. It's not your best skill."

Ahsoka: Hard to Miss

Ahsoka ran through the battlefield, saber swinging, leaving broken droids in her wake. They were doing well, they had the droids in retreat, and were very close to overcoming the factory and shutting it down. But something was wrong. Anakin was nowhere to be seen.

"Down!"

The call rang out, and Ahsoka's dropped on instinct. She sensed rather than saw Captain Rex toss a bunker bomb over her, obliterating a large section of droids. She got to her feet a second later, rushing to aid the clones.

"Rex? You seen Skyguy?" She called out, trying to be heard over the roar of battle. The clone shook his head. "Haven't seen him. General Kenobi's less than a click from here, he might know. We'll be alright here Commander, go find him."

Ahsoka smiled, nodding her thanks to the Captain as she sprinted in the other direction.

Master Kenobi was doing well too, his army pushing the droids back in their sector.

"Master? Have you seen Anakin? He was supposed to take out the factory's com system, but I haven't heard from him in awhile. We need his signal in order to move forward!"

Obi-Wan shrugged, not missing a beat as he sliced through droids. "I haven't heard either. But if I were a betting man..."

A huge explosion rocked the west end of the factory, sending a red gold fireball high in the sky.

Obi-Wan grinned. "I think he's around there."

Ahsoka giggled, pushing forward once more as they continued their advance. In retrospect, she shouldn't have worried. Anakin was kind of hard to miss.

Author's Note: Not what I originally planned on writing today, but if you're in America you probably heard about the racehorse American Pharoah winning the Triple Crown at the Belmont in New York. I was so inspired, I had to write a chapter. I hope you enjoy!