Abril: From me to you all, this is an early Christmas present (or whatever holiday you may or may not celebrate). While this was meant to be just another extract like the one I did for Qui-gon and Satine, I've decided to instead make this a series for stories happening inside the Temple. In theory, I have two more that I could post here, but I'm not making promises. So don't wait for anything. Just know that this will potentially have other entries.
Thank you SO MUCH Teyva for helping me beta this fic.
Good readings!
Healing at the Temple is different from trying to heal himself with Jango at The Fury or at the fields of Caveerpel. Obi-wan knows it is an effort of many and here he has guidance to spare. But most of all, healing at the Temple is different by the sheer fact of being.
The first time he stepped back inside the marble walls and tall pillars it had been like taking a breath of fresh air after years of confinement. He could feel the people inside these walls he called home. At the Temple, everyone was trained in the arts of the mind, trained in the governing of the self; achieving peace of mind and soul was the effort of every day. His muscles had relaxed as his mind had joined the resonance of other force sensitives.
A lonely sound finally in tune with the rest of the song.
He had cried, of course. He no longer got annoyed by that fact and was resigned to accept it as a new part of his life: very and many things would now bring him to tears with ease.
And in the Temple Obi-wan heals and it's hard. Active healing is so much different from the slow, snail pace, getting better with the passing days he'd gotten used to aboard The Fury. With the Jedi, one does not take a passive approach to healing. It is hard.
Sometimes all he wants to do is imagine himself back in The Fury doing nothing at all, instead of having to confront his demons with the mind healers for the second time that week. Or the careful examination of his feelings instead of just pushing them away, hoping that his will to let them go will make them disappear. Of course, it does not work that way. But Obi-wan's hurtful moments pass and Master Qui-gon Jinn is always there to hold him up when he falters. And not only him but others as well; teachers and friends.
Today, Obi-wan heals by the guiding hands of Master Mace Windu. There is much unbalance and untreated damage done to his connection to the Force, most done while his Force was bound beneath the collar and he at the hands of those who wished him harm; all of it at the expense of his poor mental and physical health. Some of the damage though, he has done to himself, attempts at healing that didn't always end up well for he had not known how.
"Do not be discouraged Padawan, you had the right idea, it's just that you didn't always get the execution right," Master Windu says not unkindly, once he finishes performing a surface-level check on the redhead's mind, when he tells him a certain amount of the damage to his Force connection was self-inflicted.
Obi-wan nods somewhat miserably but tries not to show it too much on his face. Such precautions are useless though when you have a Jedi Master so close and you've been consciously opening yourself up to him.
"Now, let's see about delving a little bit deeper into the Force, are you ready Padawan Kenobi?" the black Korun asks.
The ginger nods again, taking a deep, even breath and doing his best to center himself.
Obi-wan sinks into a light meditation, led to steadiness by Master Windu as they breathe slowly. After a while they sync together through inhales and exhales, finding a nice place of balance to proceed. Both Jedi reaching halfway and not succumbing to their usual meditation patterns. Once this is done, they sink into Obi-wan's mind.
Obi-wan follows the luminous thing that is Mace Windu as he leads them both into and through all the little twists and turns of himself. Inside himself there is damage and light shining through, but mostly there is light. They glide deeper at a slow pace until the ginger feels Master Windu still, stopping at a space within Obi-wan's psyche.
It is a cold space.
Within the Force Mace Windu inspects this coldness carefully, gently probing at the edges around it but not quite touching. He observes it, contemplates it.
Obi-wan's heart sinks a little. This is not something he has cared to look at too closely himself. He already has enough coldness and sadness in his life to go inspect even more of it within himself. But he is conscious, sharing a connection as he is with the Korun, so the master's awareness does not allow him the grace of being ignorant of this cold space. And so, with Master Windu's understanding, comes a little more understanding of himself. Obi-wan takes in a shaky breath and their connected meditation falters.
Windu takes a couple of moments more with his study of the cold space. A few moments later he begins to retreat, taking a gentle hold of Obi-wan's consciousness and bringing them both out of the meditation and into their physical selves. And in his body, feeling the cushion beneath him and the hardwood under that by the tips of his fingers, Obi-wan becomes aware of what this coldness actually is.
He takes an unsteady breath attempting to settle himself.
There is natural light streaming softly through the windows of the meditation hall. A set of wood chimes hums softly somewhere in the room. The teen cannot look up at Mace.
"Obi-wan," the Master says gently, his voice feels like a sentence that the ginger cannot face. "Obi-wan," Windu sighs. The Jedi Master extends his hands and reaches out for Obi-wan's own.
The teen can't bear to look at him, too ashamed, too scared to confront him. He's trying to bring down his shaky breathing as he keeps his eyes down in the space between them. The tears are hot as they slide down his cheeks. His hands are thin and cold inside the dark brown ones of the Master, it takes the edge off the chill. Obi-wan takes a moment to enjoy this comfort before Master Windu gets to the dreaded point.
"Anger and jealousy and pride are not the only ways to reach the Dark Side of the Force," Mace says in a soft way that is still steady and sure, like all of him.
Obi-wan's breath hitches and his heart misses a beat.
The Dark Side.
"Sadness too and hurt, are things that connect you to it. Especially when they are felt with such intensity as you've felt them these past two years. Even more when they didn't have an outlet for so long. Being Force sensitive requires you to have an outlet, one way or another."
"I'm sorry," Obi-wan says wetly.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Obi-wan, this was not something you could've helped. I suspect even some knights might've fallen into the same trappings as you did."
"I did not mean to fall-"
"You are not fallen, Obi-wan," Master Windu says sternly. But then he sighs a little and asks him kindly, "Please look at me."
The ginger looks up and his sad eyes are glassy with accumulated tears. It seems as if a new great burden has been placed on his shoulders. 'What is one more at this point?' he wonders a little self-pityingly.
"I- I didn't know I was using the Dark Side," Obi-wan says quietly.
Master Windu hums thoughtfully. "You were using the Dark Side, yes, in a way. But you were doing so while using techniques that are all inherently teachings for the use of the Light Side of the Force. Which let me tell you, it's not a very effective way to use the Dark," Windu says with a small edge of humor.
"I still used it. It's still there," Obi-wan pushes, some amount of despair coloring his words. 'Like a mark. A stain,' he doesn't say.
"Yes, you did. And yes, there is darkness within you. But in all your time captured and in pain, you did not allow it to grow, knowingly or not. Obi-wan, no one would have blamed you if the worst had come to pass. But you, holding onto the light in your darkest hour… That was incredibly brave and strong," Master Windu's big brown eyes are earnest and reveal to the teen genuine awe. "I'm very proud of you Obi-wan. Those here who love you are very proud of you as well. And we're happy to have you back."
A single tear rolls down the teen's cheek. In the Force he can feel the truth of all these things the Master says and more. Obi-wan leans into the warm feeling of Windu's presence and the man presses back with solemn compassion.
"Oh, great, I'm crying again," the ginger says, though he doesn't have enough energy to make it as quippy as he would like. It doesn't sound like a joke, it sounds like a tired truth.
"Indeed you are," the Korun huffs a laugh. "So?"
Obi-wan laughs in spite of himself and wipes his face.
"I… still don't quite understand what I did to use the Dark Side, Master," he admits.
Mace Windu is quiet for a while, looking out through one of the windows in quiet consideration.
"I must confess I'm not sure myself. I will have to meditate further on this with you." He pauses. "The Dark Side of the Force works just like the Light does. As you know, we must persevere and be constant in our efforts to do right. It is work that is done every day, to reach peace, and reach serenity. These are not always simple things, even for us who have lived and practiced them our whole lives. Likewise, the Dark Side requires consistency, you must actively hate, actively rage and… If I had to take an educated guess, I would say what happened was that your emotions circled within you when they had no outlet. The Force collar would not let you get rid of them and in your situation, well…"
"I was sad every day, I was in pain, I despaired," Obi-wan comes to the conclusion himself.
"Yes," Master Windu says with a sad smile. He repeats, "It is not your fault Obi-wan." Mace lets go of his hands with a soft pat over them but he keeps himself open in the Force and his face inviting.
The ginger nods sullenly, looking down and fiddling with his now empty hands.
"How do I… heal?" he asks carefully. He then looks doubtful of his words and asks again. "How do I get better? How do I rid myself of this darkness?"
"A lot of patience and work I'm afraid," the Korun Master gives him a tight smile. "For yourself as well as others."
Obi-wan nods again, dejected, but not surprised at all by the answer.
"But you are not alone in this Padawan, none of us are," Mace says gravely.
The teen smiles, it does comfort him greatly.
"I'll see you next week then."
"Of course Master." The Padawan bows. He stands to part with a sigh. It's not even that late and Obi-wan finds himself tired of the day already.
·~·~·~·
At night while he lays in bed, Obi-wan is unable to sleep, the revelation of the day is still sharp in his mind and it troubles him greatly. He daydreams about history lessons and old legends of the Jedi. Beings consumed by darkness so strong the people who loved them could barely recognize them. After a while of turning one way and the other, Obi-wan finally wills his mind to quiet down.
And Obi-wan dreams.
Immediately, in that simple way of dreams, Obi-wan knows himself to be different. He is young and he is happy and ignorant of what great terrors the galaxy has to offer yet. He knows them in theory, but they have yet to mar his skin and soul. And just as well, Obi-wan in his dreams knows that time will come when all his days are filled with grief and the taste of good things in his mouth will be nothing but a distant dream itself.
The voice of the teacher is clear as she tells them the tale of the fallen, history, myth, legend; to the Jedi, all of these are sometimes one and the same. They intermingle for the tales of their people have always been real and not fabrications. At least as far as they remember and as far as they have recorded, and they have recorded much further than memory can keep.
As his teacher weaves for them the history of the fallen, Obi-wan can feel her voice weaving him.
Obi-wan wakes up with a gasp. He takes breaths in and out and in and out in a rugged manner until he can finally bring his breathing down. He curls up in his bed, disturbed, and listens for signs of Qui-gon in the common room.
It's quiet, his nocturnal master has probably gone to bed already.
Obi-wan knows he should go to sleep. There's much to do tomorrow, a hundred lessons to catch up with, meditations, and self-healing –which is awful and tiresome and exhausting. Despite his hesitation to go back to sleep, he knows he should if he doesn't want to be a zombie tomorrow morning. He knows his teachers and Qui-gon would understand but… the subtle sense of failure lingers at the back of his mouth.
So Obi-wan tries falling back asleep. He tries and tries until his failed attempts hit the hour mark and meditation does nothing to lower his nervous energy. He gives up. His mind buzzes for a while until his frustration catches up with him.
He decides then to take a look at the root of the problem.
Obi-wan decides to prod at the darkness inside himself.
He is less than eager to look at it one bit but also unwilling to ignore it any longer. He wants to- No, he needs to get better. To rid himself of this awful disease and get a step closer towards that nebulous 'better'.
And so Obi-wan sits up and crosses his legs. He breaths in careful breaths and after struggling some more to center his mind, he sinks into himself.
As he connects with the Force and focuses within, Obi-wan contemplates the darkness in the metaphysical sense. He thinks about how this thing inside him is like a little black hole. Get anything close enough to it and it'll suck it up, or in this case, take it and spit it out black and tainted. The teen is careful, naturally wary of the dark thing, but he thinks, haltingly, how this is also the fruit of his grief. This little black hole is an amalgamation of his pains and suffering. He should hate it for what it represents, at the very least greatly dislike it, – which he does, – but Obi-Wan is not cruel. Obi-wan is not a cruel person and he can't help but have compassion for himself, for the younger him who could not help this. As he approaches, he does not have to decide if he wants to be kind towards this dark mass, he believes the only thing he can be towards this terrible thing is kind.
In the mental plane inside of himself, he reaches out his hand and it is cold, so, so cold. He breathes, thinking softly and spreading his light outward, inwards.
His hand is freezing.
His… his actual, real flesh and blood hand is freezing cold too.
Obi-wan shudders at the touch of darkness and decides, fearful, that it's enough for one night. He doesn't need to prod at the sleeping beast anymore. But-
He peers once more into the black, grieving mass, curious of its nature. Not rage or hatred or malice, but sadness and a despair he can still feel from time to time. He thinks maybe...He thinks maybe all it needs is to be soothed. Maybe it just needs comfort and a gentle touch. Like Obi-wan himself did.
So, despite the cold, he tries again. Obi-Wan strokes the dense mass and tries to soothe it in the Force, hoping it might do it good.
And then he's pulled in.
He is… He is so cold.
·~·~·~·
Qui-Gon pauses in the middle of a sentence of the book he's reading. He looks up, reading glasses at the tip of his nose. He'd been just at the verge of falling asleep on the couch again when he felt it. There is something odd in the air, he's not quite sure what.
Beside him on the low table, his ceramic teapot cracks and Qui-Gon startles surprised, wide awake. He snaps his head towards his apprentice's room.
·~·~·~·
There are hushed voices around him. Worried voices. Well, one of them is. The other is steadier. Firm.
It takes him a moment to recall who he is. Then the coolness stifling his body registers and a shock runs through his body, setting off a wave of violent shivers running through him. He breathes in like a drowning man. His name is Obi-wan.
"Oh, thank the Force," a voice whispers with harsh relief. His master, Qui-gon.
"Are you with me, Obi-wan?" asks the other man and the teen opens his eyes to the dark face of Master Windu peering over him. He doesn't answer but the man seems to take the lucidity of his eyes as answer enough.
Obi-wan makes half a sound trying to answer.
The only warm parts of his body are the spots where the master has his hand pressed against his cheek and the other on his forehead, but it feels like burning against the cold of his skin.
"Wh-" Obi-Wan's voice cracks. He shudders. "What happened?"
"Obi-wan-"
But Qui-gon is stopped in his hurried tracks towards him by Master Windu with an unimpressed look and a hand raised up in the air.
"Why don't you go see about that tea for your Padawan, my friend?"
Qui-Gon bristles with indignity for a moment but he pauses, looking at his apprentice's wretched look and the confusion in his eyes. The Master shrivels a little and nods.
"Of course… I'll be back," he tells Obi-Wan who's only half-listening to the conversation.
As Qui-Gon exits the room Mace turns back again to the teen and tries to meet his disconcerted eyes. He's sitting at the edge of his bed, his presence in the Force a calming echo.
"Hello there," he says quietly.
"'ello," Obi-Wan exhales.
"Are you with me?"
After a moment the redhead nods slowly.
"Good." And Windu's voice is like a warm breeze over his chilled body.
Obi-Wan wants to ask again, 'what happened?' But his mind's not fully with him yet, and- "I'm- cold." Obi-Wan shudders again.
"Hm," Master Windu hums and takes his hand off the boy's face.
Obi-Wan wants to protest, because no, but Mace only reaches down to take one of his freezing hands into his own. He begins to massage it methodically, yet with care.
"It's normal to feel cold after encountering the Dark Side," Master Windu says after a moment. "Even artifacts handled by the Sith thousands of years ago retain this quality. They remain cool to the touch, if not freezing."
Under other circumstances, the teen knows these words that sound like the beginning of a lesson would calm him, this is a tone of voice he knows by heart, familiar. But not now. Now he feels only dread and… and fear.
Then, Master Windu sighs. "I am… sorry, Obi-Wan," he says regretfully, working on the teen's stiff knuckles.
The boy looks at him with confusion.
"You asked me what happened. Has any of it come back to you?" The Master asks in lieu of answering.
Obi-Wan shivers again as the faint memory comes to him.
"I…" he is at a loss for words so he turns to look at his room and… His heart falls. Most of his few possessions are cracked or bent in some way. "I'm not sure, I was… I was trying to meditate. I thought I'd try to do something about the Darkness and-" He stops, eyes fixed on Mace. There is fear in his heart that he's trying to squash down but it will not be, it is only growing. "Master, what happened?"
"Don't be afraid Obi-Wan, everything's alright now," Mace soothes the boy.
"But what-!"
"I'm getting there, be patient." Master Windu gives him a look and the teen snaps his jaw close. Mace lets go of the hand to take his other one. "You actively touched the darkness in you. Am I correct?"
Obi-Wan thinks for a moment, then nods hesitantly.
"I suspected as much."
"But Master, nothing like this has ever happened to me before. What's happening?" There's quiet desperation in his voice that cannot be controlled.
"Well, I don't think you ever went to look for the Dark Side before now."
"I wouldn't!" Obi-Wan hurries to defend himself.
"Calm down Padawan, you're not in trouble," Mace tells him softly.
This is something that is also new to Obi-Wan, just like how he's now easily brought to tears. Where before, he'd been admittedly a bit of a 'talk back' kind of child; nowadays he is always quick to defend himself before a perceived wrongdoing.
At the hands of Kyr'tsad he'd feared punishment for the slightest of mistakes for so long, always begging for leniency and never getting it. The practice stuck.
"I'm sorry," the teen still apologizes.
The Korun looks at him sadly, his dark eyes deep with emotion.
"There's nothing you should be apologizing for. In fact, I should be the one asking your forgiveness."
"Whatever for, Master?" Obi-wan asks. Lost.
"You are a very diligent student, Padawan Kenobi," Mace says with a rueful smile. "I should've foreseen that you'd not let this matter lie despite your fear of it. That was a very foolish thing you did." He looks at the redhead pointedly. "But that was my mistake, I should've warned you not to venture into this on your own. At least not yet as you are, without the proper tools. I should've warned you away from trying things like this on your own, and I didn't."
Obi-Wan looks away for a moment, thinking as Master Windu brings life back into his system. His arms feel less stiff by the moment, not warm but not icy either.
"It's a delicate process and you're not yet practiced enough on such things."
"Yes Master," Obi-Wan says softly. He takes a deep breath and eases his hand away from Master Windu's with a grateful yet timid smile. He struggles for a moment to sit upright. He breathes again, looking at his intertwined fingers over his extended legs; there is shame in his eyes and sorrow too. "I just… I just wanted to be okay again," he confesses. "I keep thinking- if I do this one thing then… then I'll be okay. But no matter how many 'one more thing's I do, I am never okay." His breathing sounds a little wet as he gasps shortly. He whispers, "I just wish…"
There's a gentle knock at the door. Mace and Obi-Wan look up and they find Qui-Gon there looking in sadly. In his hands there's a tray with a steaming pot and cups.
"May I come in?" he asks.
Unsurprisingly, there are tears on the teen's cheeks. The redhead has to wipe them away resignedly.
"Yes, of course, Master," Obi-wan nods.
Qui-Gon Jinn seems to stall for time as he quietly places the tray on Obi-wan's desk and serves three cups for them. He puts nothing in his cup, he places some honey in Maces, and in Obi-wan's he serves some milk. He gives to each their ceramic cup and both the Korun Master and the teen take them gratefully.
Master Qui-Gon pulls the chair from the desk and close to the bed beside the other two. He smiles sadly at his apprentice.
"We are Jedi," he says, "and that oftentimes means we should let go of that which burdens us, that which is not good for us or that harms us."
Obi-Wan nods, because of course he knows this. He's known it even before he was able to put into words what giving your favorite toy to a younger child in the cretchè meant.
"But we are not saints or perfect. Yes, we are Jedi, but we are only sentient mortals, Obi-Wan. There are some things that mark us too deeply, some hurts that go down to our roots. Padawan-" Qui-gon stops and places his palm over his apprentice's chest. "This thing that happened to you, it was a terrible thing."
The Master's voice is raw with emotion. Qui-gon's eyes are full of a deep, overwhelming sorrow that makes Obi-wan's breath catch inside his chest. That grief which floods his Master's eyes is the same as what has been living inside his chest for more than two years now.
"It was a terrible thing and it left a mark here," Qui-gon says, pressing down gently over the teen's chest.
Obi-wan's eyes water again.
"And these things… they grab hold of us like thorns on clothes or a bad blight on leaves. Getting rid of a blight can be hard. You can treat it again and again and again, and sometimes, years down the line, once everything is well again, there it'll be. The blight again. And you'll wonder how come? When the plant had been doing so well and you'd gotten rid of the parasites."
Obi-wan shoves his face to his chest, sobbing wretchedly. He takes hold of Qui-gon's hand and squeezes it between his own.
"I'm not-" Master Jinn's voice cracks as well. "I'm not saying you'll never be rid of these things that are a consequence of your terrible experience but… some things will take you more time and effort than we'd ever wish. And you'll heal dear heart, you will, and we'll be here all the way. But you will also falter after that."
"And when that happens we shall be there as well," Mace's quiet voice adds. Obi-wan shifting his eyes towards him.
"You have to try again, Obi-wan. And again, and again. This is not something you can wash away and be done with," Master Qui-gon continues.
"We are seekers," Obi-Wan croaks, voice wet.
"We try, and try, and try, and sometimes we'll not succeed at all. But well, that only means that we are still trying after we fail."
Obi-wan nods, eyes tightly closed and hair swaying with his movement. He understands.
"I do not-" he gasps for air between his tears. "I do not want to be a cracked pot or diseased plant. I'm- I'm not a plant Qui-gon," he says angrily. "I do not want Death Watch to command my life and I do not want to be a mess for the rest of my life!" He barks, squeezing his master's hand to the point of bruising.
"I know Padawan. I know this," Master Qui-gon covers his eyes, heartbroken because he can't just fix this. He looks up again. "But you won't be a mess forever, you need to give yourself time-"
"I've had time!" The teen shouts, shoving Qui-gon's hand away and fisting his hands over his lap.
"Being unrooted on a strange ship not knowing what would happen next is not having time!" Qui-gon raises his voice, beginning to match his Padawan's anger.
"I-" Obi-wan looks trapped, but ready to defend this point, ready to start a fight.
"You two," Master Windu tells them harshly. He doesn't have to say anything more to be understood, but Obi-wan glares for a moment at his own master.
Qui-gon sighs, tired and sad and a little wretched and he grabs onto Obi-wan's hands again with fierce love. "My child, you getting better won't happen overnight. You need to be kind to yourself in this."
The redhead lowers his face, fat tears rolling down his cheeks.
"I am- I- I'm trying. I really am," he swears, anger leaving him like a tide. "It's just so hard."
Mace stands from the edge of Obi-wan's bed and as soon as he vacates the space Qui-gon immediately takes his place. He pulls the crying mess of a teen into his chest and lets him unleash himself there.
They stay like that for a while. They stay like that, intertwined in their arms and in the Force for all those days and months in which they were not able. Until enough time has passed that Mace has left and come back with their cups of tea reheated.
Mace takes the chair and Qui-gon stays at the edge of the bed, facing them both.
"I'm tired," Obi-wan mutters into his streaming cup.
"I'm not surprised," Master Windu chuckles wearily.
"I'm sorry masters, I did not mean to lose control of myself like that." The redhead closes his eyes in regret but he can feel the reassurance in the air coming from both men like a worn and loved blanket.
"Do you know what I'm about to tell you?" Mace asks and Qui-gon laughs into his tea.
Obi-wan looks down uncomfortably until he resigns himself to answer. "That I have nothing to be sorry about."
"Well said," the Korun smiles.
"And we'll keep telling you that for as long as you need to hear it." Qui-gon brushed back his apprentice's long locks, making the teen shy away with a begrudging smile.
"You… you'll be here right?" He asked after a moment, hesitant. "To help me through when I get like this."
"My dear padawan." Master Qui-gon smiles softly. "Always."
"You do not even have to ask," Windu adds, sipping at his cup.
"How are you now, padawan? Do you think you can go back to sleep?" Mace asks.
"I'm halfway there already." The boy smiles smally. "Thank you, masters." He bows as deeply as he can in his seated position, his appreciation shining in the Force.
No words are needed after that, for all is clear within the folds of the Force.
"What do you say we keep working on this tomorrow?" Mace asks encouragingly after a moment of silence has gone.
"Oh, no. I couldn't Master. I know you're very busy and already you're spending so much time on me." Obi-wan raises a stopping hand, flustered.
"This is my pleasure Obi-Wan," the master reassures him as he pats his free hand. "I will be here for you for as long as I'm able and as long as you need me."
"At this rate, you might need to be here forever." The ginger grins.
"The forever it shall be." The Korun raises an eyebrow.
Obi-wan's smile falls and Qui-gon laughs heartily.
"You heard him, my padawan, you'll have to deal with us forever and beyond death if necessary."
"Sweet gods," Obi-wan mutters, but on his face a genuine smile lingers.
·~·~·~·
There are other Jedi in the meditation room when Obi-Wan arrives the next morning. With the exception of a couple of nocturnal species, his people are mostly early risers by nature and it shows.
There are a few knights, a master with their youngling. It is peaceful and Obi-wan drinks in this peace with every step he takes further into the room.
In the same spot as yesterday, beside the window with the view to the city, is Master Mace Windu. His eyes are closed and his respiration is constant.
"Good morning Padawan Kenobi, how are you feeling?" He opens his dark brown eyes.
"Good morning Master. I'm a little tired but… better than last night." The boy bows shallowly and sits on the cushion before the other.
"I'm glad to hear that," Mace says and smiles genuinely. "Are you ready to begin?"
Obi-Wan breathes in deeply. Then he lets go.
"I am."
Abril: You guys would not BELIEVE how long it's taken me to get this stupid one-shot written and ready. It's ridiculous and stupid. Also, for a supposedly Mace-centered story Qui-gon really wanted to take a lot of space here XD (I mean, understandably, that is his BOY.)
I shall take this opportunity to officially announce the sequel to LSD.
It's official guys, it's HAPPENING. I tried to use NaNoWriMo again to get out all of the story, didn't work, but I still got a good 11k out of it. So yay for that. I don't know how soon or not I'll be posting it, it's NOT presentable at all, so don't hold your breath. Right now I'm thinking it'll end up being like 5-6 chapters max (if there are no unforseens hehe).
Anyway, thank you all so much for those who have kept up with this story/series and have eagerly awaited for the sequel to pop up hehe. I hope you have a great day!