Hello, everyone! I'm back with another chapter of Destined for Greatness! Thank you for all of the support - I'm still so scared that this story will become an unpopular, chaotic mess, so seeing people reading this truly means a lot to me. :)

Chapter Two. True Bravery

Part three of chapter two

The crowds were going wild. Round after round after round simply brought them into a wilder stage of shouting and cheering and betting on the next winner.

Not that Obi-wan could blame them, of course – though he wasn't exactly fond of watching people getting hurt for a sport, the excitement as certainly running high. Not to mention that Obi-wan could appreciate the fact that for once in his entire time with Anakin, he wasn't the one getting the seven bells knocked out of him.

There was a groan from the crowd as one of the knights were banged over the head by Anakin's end of the sword. Obi-wan, too, winced. Poor fellow – he would wake up with quite the headache later today.

As Anakin walked back out to the training grounds after his victory, Knight Bane headed into the arena. Obi-wan watched from behind the stands as he was paired up with another knight – he couldn't quite recall his name, but this knight wore robes of purple to honor the kingdom that he came from.

The round started quickly – Obi-wan watched as Knight Bane ruthlessly brought his sword down on his opponent. For the first few minutes, Obi-wan couldn't do much except pity the purple-clothed knight – he certainly didn't have much of a chance against Bane.

However, just as those thoughts formed in his mind, the purple-clothed knight immediately ran forward, his sword at the ready. The crowd all gasped in surprise and delight as Bane's opponent started to fight back in the same, merciless manner.

I was wrong – maybe he'll win, Obi-wan thought to himself as he watched Bane duck out of the sword's way.

Instead, Bane knocked the purple-clothed knight's helmet away and pushed him to the ground with the butt of his sword. Obi-wan cringed and looked back up to see that Bane was almost on top of the poor knight. It appeared that his shield was pinned on top of the opponent and Obi-wan couldn't see much of anything except the knight struggling to get free from underneath Bane's shield.

Even then, Obi-wan wasn't quite sure if that was really the knight or just the shadows from underneath the shield.

Suddenly, the knight's body went limp and Bane stood back up, ripping off his helmet and holding up his shield with triumph.

Obi-wan slowly retreated back to the training grounds, where Anakin was taking off his gloves and watching Bane warily.

"I think he's badly hurt," Obi-wan murmured, looking back at the purple-clothed knight, who was already being swept away on a cot.

Anakin was uncharacteristically quiet.

•◊•

"How is he?" Obi-wan asked, dropping Anakin's armor on the table once he reached Qui-Gon's chambers. The physician had had the knight laid out on the cot in the center of the room, covered in blankets and a cloth placed over his forehead.

"It's most odd," Qui-Gon replied, looking up. "Look at this," he pointed at an area around the knight's neck, which had two, small puncture marks on the skin. "See these two small wounds?" Qui-Gon asked. "Looks like a snake bite."

Obi-wan blinked and looked over at the older man quizzically. "How could he have been bitten by a snake? He was injured in a swordfight."

"The symptoms are consistent with the poisoning." Qui-Gon replied, sitting up. "Slow pulse, fever, paralysis," he ticked off each symptom with his fingers.

Obi-wan frowned and asked, "Can you heal him?"

Qui-Gon stood up and made his way to the table, already looking through papers. "Well, if it is a snake bite, I'll have to extract the venom from the snake that bit him to make an antidote." He replied quietly.

"What happens if he doesn't get the antidote?" Obi-wan asked, his heart sinking.

Qui-Gon turned back around and clasped his hands in front of himself. "There'll be nothing more I can do for him," he answered. "He'll die."

Obi-wan looked down at the knight and then, he murmured out loud, "He was fighting Knight Bane."

"What was that?" Qui-Gon asked, sitting down next to the knight.

"Nothing." Obi-wan replied quickly. He already had a plan forming in his mind. He made his way out of Qui-Gon's chambers and walked around the castle until he found himself in the corridor where all of the knights were sleeping.

Hearing the sounds of footsteps, Obi-wan ducked behind a pillar and stuck his head out to see who was walking around the hall. The familiar, tall frame of none other than Cad Bane walked into his chambers and closed the door firmly behind him.

Obi-wan paused and walked to the door. He stopped by it and carefully pushed it open without a sound. Obi-wan slowly looked into the large room and ducked behind the door again once he saw Bane. Every single part of his body and brain was telling him to get out of there, but he didn't move.

Obi-wan let out a small, soft sigh and turned back to the room. Thankfully, Bane had turned around so he wouldn't see Obi-wan. Instead, Bane was going through a small box at a table, which was placed next to his shield. Immediately, the sounds of squeaking filled the chambers.

"Dinnertime," Bane said softly, holding up a mouse. Obi-wan ducked behind the door again as Bane turned around. Obi-wan knelt down besides the keyhole and watched with wide eyes as Bane seated himself next to his shield. The knight chuckled quietly to himself as the snakes in the shield slowly separated themselves from the metal.

Obi-wan felt his breath getting caught in his throat as Bane dropped the mouse into one of the snakes' mouths.

He had seen enough. Obi-wan backed away from the door and darted out of the hallway. Within seconds, he was in front of Qui-Gon's chambers. Obi-wan ran inside and said, "I've just seen one of the snakes on Bane's shield come to life. He must be using the Force."

Qui-Gon looked up sharply. "Are you sure?" He asked.

Obi-wan took in a shaky breath and answered, "The…the snake ate a mouse – one swallow, straight down. The knight," Obi-wan gestured to the man on the bed, "was fighting Bane when he collapsed. It must have been one of the snakes from the shield. I have to tell Anakin."

Qui-Gon stood up. "Is there any chance you might be mistaken?" He asked.

Obi-wan threw up his hands. "I know the Force when I see it," he replied.

"Perhaps, but do you have any proof?"

Obi-wan frowned. "Don't you believe me?"

"I fear you'll land yourself in trouble," Qui-Gon replied sternly. "How would you explain being in Bane's chambers?"

"What does that matter? He's using the Force to cheat!" Obi-wan replied indignantly.

The physician shook his head. "You can't accuse a knight without proof – King Palpatine wouldn't accept the word of a servant over the word of a knight."

Obi-wan placed his hands on the table. "So, what I say doesn't count?" He asked.

"It counts for very little as long as far as the King is concerned." Qui-Gon replied. "That's the way it is."

•◊•

The next morning was alive with activity. The crowds were still waiting for the next match to begin. Obi-wan glanced uneasily at the score board – there were only a few more matches until the champions would come to a final round, and according to the board, Anakin and Bane were taking up the lead.

Obi-wan looked up at the board anxiously. "Do you have to fight against Bane soon?" He asked lightly as he fixed Anakin's armor.

Anakin stared at Obi-wan as though he had something ridiculous, which, he might as well have. "Of course," the prince replied incredulously.

"Are you sure?" Obi-wan continued casually. "What if you just…withdrew from the competition altogether?"

"Why would I do that?" Anakin asked. He took his sword and rolled his eyes at the manservant. "Sometimes, Obi-wan, I wonder if you're getting these sorts of questions from a child, or if you really were born stupid."

"I'll choose not to answer that." Obi-wan muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Hm? Nothing – good luck." Obi-wan replied, forcing a smile. The prince gave Obi-wan another strange, dubious look before heading out to the arena to fight one of the remaining knights.

"How are you getting along?"

Obi-wan turned around to look at Qui-Gon and forced yet another smile. "Fine." He replied and looked down at the ground. "Just doing my job." He gave the physician a pointed glare and continued, "Minding my own business."

With that, he walked out of the training grounds and stood behind the stands to watch Anakin. The match ended quickly with Anakin as the victor. Obi-wan watched warily as Bane walked out to the arena to fight his own opponent.

Like Anakin, it didn't take too long for Bane to finish off the poor knight.

Obi-wan turned to look up at the score board. His heart dropped as a servant drew up Anakin and Bane's tokens on the score board.

Obi-wan bowed his head and turned around to face Qui-Gon, who was standing only a few feet away from him. He gave the physician a grim stare and murmured, "Bane is going to fight Anakin in the final. He'll use the shield to kill him."

•◊•

Obi-wan was staring out the window when Qui-Gon walked into his bedroom. He didn't give any signs of acknowledgement. He heard the older man sigh and say, "Obi-wan, Palpatine wouldn't listen to you or me."

There was a small pause.

"But you are right."

Obi-wan turned around to look at the physician. Qui-Gon stared down at the younger man and continued, "We can't let Bane get away with this."

"You said it yourself – we don't have any proof." Obi-wan replied, sitting up.

Qui-Gon sighed. "If we could cure the knight, he could tell the King that Bane was using the Force to win the match. Palpatine would believe another knight. But how we get the antidote," he sighed again, "that's a different matter."

Obi-wan rubbed his temples tiredly and lowered his head to his hands. He could get one of the snakes from Bane's shield…but how? Obi-wan was fairly sure that the snakes wouldn't respond to anyone unless it was the master.

Anakin's life is in danger, a small voice chided in the back of Obi-wan's head. You should at least try!

Since when did you care about the prat so much? Obi-wan thought back indignantly.

It's your destiny. The voice chided back and the young man let out a soft groan in response. He really hated the prat.

However, Obi-wan wordlessly stood up and walked out of Qui-Gon's chambers – he would just have to get to Bane's chambers and hope that he wasn't there.

•◊•

Luckily, Knight Bane wasn't in his chambers. He was, however, eating dinner with the rest of the knights around King Palpatine's table.

"So, Knight Bane, do you think you have a good chance of defeating my son?" The King asked curiously, turning to Bane.

Cad Bane flicked a glance at Anakin, who looked less-than-pleased with this concept. The knight simply smiled and replied, "He is a great warrior, my lord. I do hope to be a worthy opponent."

The King didn't seem very pleased with the answer. Of course he wouldn't – Bane hadn't given him a proper answer. Instead, Palpatine went on to say, "You should stay in Coruscant after the tournament. I could do with more knights like you."

Anakin turned to his father sharply but did not say anything.

Bane smiled to himself as he drank from his goblet. He could practically feel the hatred radiating off of the prince. Oh, envy was a very, very, very sweet feeling. Bane shot Anakin another small smile, but the prince didn't smile back. Instead, Anakin turned away pointedly.

"I'd be honored, my lord." He replied silkily.

•◊•

Obi-wan was relieved to find that Bane was not in his chambers. He slowly closed the door behind himself and turned back around. Immediately, his eyes landed on the painted shield, which was sitting on top of a chair. The table beside it was scattered with swords and sharp weapons, no doubt laid out there for practice.

Almost like an important guest, Obi-wan thought bitterly to himself as he slowly walked towards it. He took up one of the swords from the table and nudged the shield with it.

The snakes from the shield did not move.

Obi-wan kneeled down before it and stared fixedly at the snakes. "Come on," he murmured. "I know you're going to come out…"

Suddenly, there was a loud thud from outside. Obi-wan froze and quickly stood up. He turned to face the door and paused, straining to hear for any other signs that someone might be outside.

The thudding sounds continued and then it dawned to Obi-wan – someone was coming.

However, before Obi-wan could put down the sword, a strange, hissing noise filled the room. The young man's heartbeat raced with fear and anxiousness. Obi-wan tightened his grip on the sword and closed his eyes. The hissing noise grew louder.

Obi-wan turned around and blindly flung his sword down on an object. Obi-wan reopened his eyes to see one of the snakes' heads sprawled on the ground. With a small sigh, he quickly picked it up and threw the sword down on the table just as the other snakes from the shield started to come to life.

Obi-wan threw open the door and sprinted out. He passed Knight Bane walking out of the dining hall but did not dare look at him.

Obi-wan did not see the suspicious stare that Bane gave him as he ran away.

A/N: Because we all know that Bane would probably end up doing something like this to get money. Anyways, for any of you guys who might be wondering how the heck you could use the Force to pop out of a shield, well...I think some powerful Force users are able to persuade any living thing to do whatever the Force user wants. Of course, the shield would have been made using some kind of witchcraft, and we all know that witchcraft exists in the Star Wars universe. (Just look at the Night Sisters!)

Ahsoka: Are you done yet?

Me: Yes, I'm done. I just wanted to give the readers some information.

Anakin: Huh.

Me: Yes, huh.

Anakin: You spend all your time looking up this kind of stuff but you still refuse to talk about the solar system.

Me: It's not important. So, we go around the sun, or go around the moon, or 'round and 'round the garden like a teddy bear, it wouldn't make a difference! The only thing that matters is the work, don't you see? (If any of you guys got that reference, here's a cookie : (::))

Ahsoka: ...but it's the solar system!

Me: UUUGH!

Anakin: Besides, wrong fandom. Please review, give constructive criticism if you have any, and please don't flame!

Me: Er...what he said. Bye, everyone!