Go On

A.N. Hey guys figured I should probably make an appearance myself now. Welcome to chapter three of the story that has been living and developing inside of my head for years now. I am and huge Star Wars nerd and as a result what started as a simple headcannon has grown into this giant thing that I love and adore. That being said I do not own any of the characters but my own (Nirki, pronounced Near-Key, Lenoka, and more to come). The world the story is set in is mine as well. I apologize for the random words that appeared at the top of both of the previous chapters, the platform I use to write automatically titles the story whatever the first word I type is. So it's a habit that I have. Anyhow thank you for reading my story feel free to comment or ask questions as I would love to see them.

"An old friend."

Anakin stared at the person in front of him in shock. Here before him stood the very person who had been haunting his dreams for the past several weeks. Here was the person who he had feared dead after she disappeared on Mandalore. She was by all indicators alive and well, and standing right in front of him. He could sense shock from those around him, and he so desperately wanted to look at Obi Wan to have him confirm what he was seeing, but could not bring himself to look away from her.

"Ahsoka?" He said softly.

She smiled at him, a soft knowing smile but her eyes said wait, they promised to explain everything eventually.

"You're the Grand Master?" Windu asked with disbelief.

"As a matter of fact I am."

"We thought you were dead. You vanished and Kenobi and Skywalker could find no trace of you."

"I know, and I apologize for leaving without any warning. The situation had given me no choice," a shadow flashed over her face and she scowled slightly. "And Maul got away as well..."

"It doesn't matter." Obi Wan said with such conviction Anakin was surprised to hear it. "You are alive, and that is something we didn't think possible."

"You are awfully young to lead an order though, and with enough wisdom to keep it alive." Windu said.

Ahsoka looked at him with a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Age and wisdom do not always go together. If you had listened to Lenoka you would know this already."

"She is also very young to speak with such 'wisdom'."

"And you are old and blind to anything that challenges your concrete beliefs," she countered sharply.

Windu took a step back, surprised.

"I may be young but I have seen and experienced many things that you have not, even at my 'young' age. The wisdom of all the Grand Masters before is at my finger tips."

"And who, may I ask, are the Grand Masters that came before you? This planet only appeared weeks ago and yet it seems to have a long history that no one is aware of. As though it existed and was erased." Obi Wan asked interrupting before Windu had a chance to continue the argument.

"There are many and you would not know their names. They would mean nothing to you as you know nothing of them."

Anakin looked at Ahsoka, and he felt that he couldn't know less about his former padawan. Everything seemed different from the way she talked to her odd and unfamiliar body language. She even held herself differently, a stance that Anakin felt he recognized but had never seen from Ahsoka.

"We came seeking knowledge. Allow us to prove that we are worthy of learning of this world and this people's past," Obi Wan said.

"Very well." She replied. Behind her an opening appeared in the wall. "Beyond this doorway, your trials begin. The dangers you face are real, and the temple will show no mercy to those it feels are not meant to bear it's knowledge. Trust yourself for once inside only those with the best intentions will be allowed to leave."

Anakin looked at Obi Wan, trying to get his attention, but his former master ignored him. Something deep inside him warned him of the danger he already knew would lie ahead.

"I wish you the best, when you are ready you may begin."

With that she walked towards the wall that had had the doorway that they entered in and disappeared. Anakin looked around at the Jedi Council and then again at Obi Wan who was obviously thinking about something, before he could question him, Anakin watched him walk forward and into the doorway. There was a flash of light and then nothing. Anakin moved to follow him and found that master Yoda moved with him. He looked at the older Jedi who nodded at Anakin and together they entered the doorway after Obi Wan.

The first thing Obi Wan noticed was the damp moss his face was pressed against. The next was the smell of cool mountain air and the sound of moving water. He pushed himself into a sitting position and found that he was alone in the middle of a clearing in unfamiliar woods. He stood and turned around taking in his surroundings, which seemed to be nothing but trees. He sighed, this was some trial.

"Isn't it?"

Obi Wan turned around, his hand moved to his lightsaber. He froze when he saw who said the words.

"Qui Gon?" He whispered, staring at his old master.

The late Jedi smiled warmly at him. "It has been a while, and look at you, a member of the Jedi Council, and a Jedi master who successfully trained the boy from Tatooine."

Obi Wan couldn't help but feel proud at those words, it swelled in his chest briefly, but faltered when Qui Gon's smile fell.

"And yet... you cut yourself off. You lied to yourself and to your padawan."

Obi Wan felt his stomach twist. "What do you mean master?"

"You have blocked the majority of your connection with the Force."

Obi Wan looked away. "I had to."

"Did you?"

"It was the only way, the only way to protect him!"

"Who?"

"Anakin, there is a great storm within him, he wants so desperately to do the right thing but that light is constantly challenged by a darkness that he fights desperately against."

Qui Gon seemed to be considering his words. "So you pushed away the Force for the boy?"

"Yes. How could I not? He can never reach the level I had, never grasp it the way I did. How could I train him, be an example for him to strive for, when what I had was something he would never be able to reach?"

"You mean the the level you have, the way you do," Qui Gon corrected him. "He is not made of glass Obi Wan."

Obi Wan looked at Qui Gon, "maybe not, but he is brash and naive, he believes that everything can be solved with his saber. I've tried so hard master, to train it out of him, to teach him patience and reserve, but he just isn't meant to hold those. If I would have shown him what I could do, he never would have made it as a padawan."

"Such little faith in your own student. It is ironic coming from you."

Obi Wan looked at him with surprise. "What do you mean?"

"Had I not taught you to control your abilities they would have eaten you alive. If you hadn't learned to fear your own abilities then you would never of made it as a padawan. Let's be honest you were lucky to be picked by anyone."

Obi Wan took a step back, to control, and fear? He never feared the Force, not once. It was a constant companion to him in his youth. A realization sunk like a stone into his stomach. This was not his old master, this was not Qui Gon.

"Who are you?" He asked, his voice hoarse.

"Me? I'm your old master Obi Wan, don't tell me you've pushed that away too?"

Obi Wan took another step back. "My master would never say such things."

"Oh but he thought them."

"No he didn't. My master was not the kind of person to think such things."

"And how would you know that?"

Obi Wan opened his mouth to argue but found he didn't have a good explanation. Instead he opted for moving farther away. The fake Qui Gon moved closer.

"You know nothing Obi Wan Kenobi, you are alone, and you will always be alone, no one will ever understand you. You were smart to hide you power. If Anakin or your men ever found out they'd think you were a freak." He spat.

This made Obi Wan bristle and he found that the slight fear he had felt a moment ago receded, letting stubbornness take its place.

"You're wrong. I know you're wrong because I know people in my life who accept my abilities and me just as I am," he said.

Before the fake Qui Gon could say anything he hear someone call out his name. He turned to see the familiar sight of his three closest and dearest friends standing behind him.

Bant, Garen, and Reeft, waved at him and he gave the fake Qui Gon one more glance then moved towards his friends.

"We've got you Obi Wan." Garen said.

"Yeah we don't think you're a freak." Bant said, her hand reaching forward to squeeze his like she had done so many times when they were younglings.

"You have us Obi Wan." Reeft said.

Trust yourself. Ahsoka's words echoed through his mind and he smiled as he looked at his friends. He could face whatever lied ahead because he had them and their strength even when they were far far away.

Alright guys, that is chapter 3. I learned of Bant, Garen, and Reeft through cywsaphyre's Whispers of the Future, though they are cannon characters and do belong to Lucas Films and Disney. Whispers of the Future is an awesome fic guys so you should totally go check it out if you want to read an amazing piece about Obi Wan, and learn a bit more about Bant, Garren, and Reeft since the wikis don't have much on them. Thanks for reading, see you in the next chapter!