"Oh, there he is, The chosen one! Right?" Urak and Keth laughed at Anakin as he was reading his book, The Aurebesh Guide. Obi-Wan gave it to him.
"It will help you to learn the basics, I learned Aurebesh from it." He said.
Keth said, "Let's see what are you reading- Oh! Poor poor chosen one, you're illiterate? My, my, you're way worse than a youngling." Anakin hid his book behind his back. His face was red. "I'm, I'm worthy. I'm a padawan. Master Obi-Wan chose me."
"Master Kenobi didn't choose you. Master Qui-Gon pressured him to do so."
That's it. This thought haunted Anakin every night.
I don't wanna be a problem.
"That's that's not true. Obi-Wan, Obi-Wan lo- likes me. I am a padawan. I'm..."
"Why are you yelling? Just by saying 'I'm a padawan' 'I'm a padawan' you will not be a padawan. You're a padawan right? Then where is your lightsaber, huh? Where?"
Whenever Anakin asked Obi-Wan for a lightsaber, he always replied,"Have patience padawan. You are not ready yet."
He got his slave chip out a month ago. Today, Master Che gave him vaccine. Healers said he still needed to get 2 shots before going to Illum. Most of the younglings get their vaccines before they turn 9, but, well, Anakin is an exceptional case. So he had to wait for atleast 4 months before getting a kyber crystal. "I-I can fight with a lightsaber... I have one."
"Oh, really? Then what about a spar.. spar with me Skywalker." Keth spat.
"Not now. I'll spar with you... in the afternoon, 1500 hours sharp."
Anakin said. That's the time when Obi-Wan takes a bath everyday.
"See you, Padawan Skywalker."
You all know what happened afterwards.
Anakin didn't know the difference between a training 'saber and a real lightsaber until Keth's saber broke, and he started wailing.
With a soft whoosh, Obi-Wan opened the door of their quarters.
"Padawan," He started,"Come here."
His voice was way calmer than before.
"Padawan, I will not repeat myself."
Anakin came to him.
Obi-Wan crossed his arms to his chest. "Now, I want a perfect explanation of the whole fiasco."
"Master, I'm sorry, I'm-"
"I said, I want an explanation."
"Master-"
"Did you spar with Keth?"
"Yes, master.",
"With my lightsaber?"
"Master I've-"
"Yes or no?"
"Y-yes, master."
"Do you remember Master Che and I told you not todo anything stressful, at least for today?" "Yes. Master."
"So you intentionally disobeyed me."
Anakin tightly shut his eyes.
"Go to the 'fresher and fetch me my hairbrush."
Anakin cried,"No-no master, I'm s-sorry, please..."
Obi-Wan looked straightly at Anakin's eyes, and said,"You should probably listen to my words without any arguments, considering the fact that you're already in trouble." Anakin shut his mouth up and went to bring the hairbrush.
When he came back, Obi-Wan was sitting on the floor, "come here. Over the knee."
Anakin did what he was told. Obi-Wan didn't beat him ruthlessly like Watto, but still, his spankings hurt him emotionally.
Obi-Wan asked him as usually,"Why are you in this situation, padawan?"
"I-I stole your light-lightsaber."
"And?"
"I hurt Keth. But I didn't mean to."
"And?"
"I disobeyed you."
"You put your and Keth's life in danger. Do you have an idea that a fully charged lightsaber, used by knights can maim you? A little stroke can cut an entire battle droid. It's very dangerous!"
Anakin didn't know that too. He started crying harder.
"Master, master, I didn't mean to master. I didn't want to hurt him.. He-he challenged me."
Obi-Wan stopped his hairbrush for a moment.
"He wanted to spar with you.. And you agreed?"
"He was saying, he was saying.."
"What?"
"HE SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT ME. I'M THE LAST WISH OF QUI-GON, THAT'S WHY you train me." Anakin blurted.
Obi-Wan's face paled for a moment.
He then asked, "Do you, do you believe that?"
"I, Master, I-"
"Why is he hesitating?"
"I believe in... w-what you said.. you want me."
Obi-Wan sighed in relief. "Yes, Padawan. I want you. You are not a burden, nor are you unwanted."
Then the spanking began.Again.
Anakin didn't protest. He sobbed, and sobbed.
After a few slaps, Obi-Wan finally stopped the spanking, and pulled Anakin into a hug.
"Padawan, it's over."
Anakin started crying heavily in his master's chest. Obi-Wan gently caressed his head and back.
"It hurts me a lot to punish you. I don't like to see you.. crying in pain.. especially when it's caused by me. But your actions decide the consequences. You have to face them. Consequences of a certain act. When you eat spice too much, the spice doesn'tpunishyou by burning your mouth. This is a result ofyourinactions. Do you understand?"
Anakin nodded feebly.
"Now, get up, dear one. Everything is-"
Obi-Wan placed his hand to Anakin's forehead and felt the warmth radiating of it.
"Anakin, you've got a fever!"