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Topic:
By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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lazykbys
Registered:
Oct '04
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Date Posted:
6/30/06 4:24pm
Subject:
By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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Title: By Any Other Name
Author: lazykbys
Timeframe: pre-PT / TPM / RotS / ANH
Characters: Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, Yoda, Luke
Genre: AU, vignette
Keywords:
Summary: Short glimpses into Obi-Wan's life. (Not much of a summary, I know, but it's the best I can do.)
Notes: The changes I made to the PT are only because the plot bunny required them. Really.
By Any Other Name
"Obi-Wan? Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time."
He was all of three years old when he first met Master Yoda. The ancient Jedi Master wasn't at all what he'd been expecting - in fact, Yoda was shorter than he was! Later he would learn how appearances could deceive, but for the moment he was relieved by Yoda's non-intimidating lack of stature.
"What is your name, young one?"
"It's Ben," he said. Then, feeling that more was expected of him, "Ben Kenobi."
"Ben, hmm? Not a name for a Jedi."
"It's my name," Ben said, a touch of resentment in his voice.
"A good name it is," Yoda said with a nod and a smile. "But not a Jedi name. Do you want to be a Jedi?"
To be completely honest with himself, Ben didn't know what he wanted to become. Until now, his future had been something over the edge of the horizon. But his parents had been so proud when they learned of his Force potential. They'd hugged him and told him he would be a great Jedi Knight. And he didn't want to let them down, so -
"Yes," he said meekly.
"Then a new name you will have," Yoda said. "A Jedi name."
Ben didn't understand the logic of this. Then again, he didn't understand most of the things grownups did.
"It's my name," he said in a whisper, his final act of defiance.
If the Jedi Master heard him, he showed no sign of it. "You will be . . . Obi-Wan. Yes, Obi-Wan Kenobi. What do you think?"
Ben shrugged. "I don't know."
Yoda let out a chuckle. "Do not worry. Grow into to it, you will."
And he did.
"I took it upon myself to train him as a Jedi."
Obi-Wan looked up to see Master Yoda approaching, a dark frown on his face.
"The Council has met," Yoda said brusquely. "Confer upon you the level of Jedi Knight, it does."
"And the boy?"
The frown deepened. "He is strong in the Force. The Chosen One he may be. But too old. Much danger I sense in his training."
"Master Jinn thought otherwise," Obi-Wan pointed out.
"And you?"
"I . . ." His words died on his tongue. All he had was his promise to his Master, made in the heat of the moment. But Qui-Gon had been so sure . . .
"I will train Anakin," he said at last. "Without the Council's approval if I must."
The Jedi Master harrumphed. "Qui-Gon's defiance I sense in you. Yet - the Council agrees. The boy shall be your apprentice."
Obi-Wan bowed his head. "Thank you, Master Yoda."
"But," Yoda said, "not your padawan."
"I . . . I don't understand."
"The boy is not like the others. His training must be different. Forget that at your peril."
Obi-Wan nodded silently. He had known this from the moment he had made his promise to Qui-Gon. The weight had been growing on his shoulders ever since.
"To help you remember," Yoda continued, "the boy will not have a Jedi name. Anakin Skywalker he will be."
It occurred to Obi-Wan that, by not giving Anakin a new name, Master Yoda might be expressing his disapproval at training the boy. But the thought was unworthy of a Jedi Knight and he kept it to himself.
"He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader."
Despite the shock he felt, and despite the tears in his eyes, Obi-Wan's finger found the hologram's off switch in one try.
"Destroy the Sith, we must," Yoda said. It was impossible to tell from his voice alone the pain he must be feeling. For that you would have to look into his eyes - and Obi-Wan didn't trust himself to do that. Not now.
"Send me to kill Palpatine," he said, his voice still hoarse from despair. "I will not kill Anakin."
"No. You are not strong enough to defeat Sidious."
"But Anakin is a brother to me . . . I cannot."
"He is Anakin Skywalker no more," Yoda said sharply. "Darth Vader he is."
Yes, Obi-Wan thought bitterly. Ironic that he has been given a new name by the Sith.
"But where would I find him?" he asked, deliberately not using either name. "I don't know where Palpatine - Sidious - has sent him."
"Follow your feelings, Obi-Wan. The Force will guide you."
Obi-Wan nodded. "May the Force be with you, Master Yoda."
"And with you, Master Obi-Wan."
"Oh, he's not dead, not . . . not yet."
And now it was too late. Or perhaps it had always been too late, but he had been too blind to see.
"The children are both well," Obi-Wan said to Yoda. It was more than could be said of himself, not to mention Padmé and . . . Anakin.
"The Force is strong in them," he continued, his voice surprisingly even. "Especially the boy. Do you suppose . . . ?"
"Perhaps," Yoda replied. There was a dullness in his tone, a complete lack of optimism that would have been disturbing if recent events had not pushed them beyond shock. "But even if they are not . . . hidden, they must be."
"Master Organa has offered to adopt the girl. She should be safe with him. But the boy -"
"To Tatooine. He should be with his family."
"That is not the Jedi way," Obi-Wan pointed out.
"No, it is not. But perhaps our way is not the best." Yoda laughed softly. "Only a young way it is - merely a thousand years."
"Then I am not to train the boy? What will become of the Order?"
"A Jedi I will remain," Yoda said. "That should be enough. As for you, I release you from your bonds . . . Ben Kenobi. Do what you feel is right."
Obi-Wan - no, Ben reeled back as if physically struck. He wasn't sure if he had been freed or thrown away.
"I will watch over Luke," he said. "I owe it to Anakin."
The ancient Jedi Master raised his brows as if to question his motives. Then he nodded, slowly and sagely.
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."
Ben looked up and saw Luke's landspeeder approaching at what was clearly an unsafe speed. It was as if the boy was desperately trying to get away from something. Ben feared he knew what that something was.
"There's nothing you could have done, Luke."
The boy looked at him, and for a heartbeat Ben saw a trace of Vader in his eyes -
"There's nothing here for me now," Luke said, almost spitting out the words. "I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father."
- then the vision cleared, and he became Anakin's son once more.
But it was Anakin who fell, he reminded himself. And yet, for the first time since Mustafar, he felt hope.
"Will you teach me?" Luke pleaded.
Ben laid a hand on Luke's shoulder. "All in good time," he said. "First, we must get to Mos Eisley and hire ourselves a ship."
They loaded the droids onto the landspeeder and left for the spaceport. They did not stop at Ben's hut to pick up his meager possessions. Those belongings were part of another life now.
Because he was no longer Ben Kenobi, hermit of the Jundland wastes.
He was Obi-Wan Kenobi - Jedi Knight.
= the end =
-----signature-----
I would greatly appreciate any constructive criticism you can give me. Please feel free to PM me with your comments. . by the same author (click and scroll dowwwn): http://boards.theforce.net/m/b1/17609715/r17736763
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anakin_luver
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
6/30/06 4:53pm
Subject:
RE: By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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Oh. My. Gosh.
That was absolutely brilliant. I would quote some special lines, but, my gosh, I can't even think of any right now. Everything was so...fitting. Perfect. It all went together. The name idea...gold, that was.
I loved it. Loved it, loved it, loved it.
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PRISON BREAK  mrs. s <scofield> <sparrow> <skywalker> COME ON CANADA! YOU CAN DO IT!
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RebelMom
Title: TFF Secretary
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
6/30/06 6:02pm
Subject:
RE: By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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I like how you used the movie lines with the story. Very nice.
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Short Story: Pressure Point http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26961243/p1/?7 Jacen Solo and Anakin Skywalker - as it should have been. TFF: Cheryl
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lazykbys_left
Registered:
Feb '05
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Date Posted:
7/1/06 6:04am
Subject:
RE:By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke) [replies to readers]
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First, as always, many thanks to everyone who read this fic. I hope it was worth your time.
anakin_luver: The name idea . . . gold, that was.
Thanks! The idea came to me when I saw someone complain in the SW Saga board that Obi-Wan never used the name "Ben" before Luke was born (plot hole alert!). I'd been thinking about the Jedi and names - why is it that, while they frown upon Jedi getting attached to family members, they let the younglings keep their last names? - and something in me went click.
I'm afraid the last segment came out a bit rushed. I was hoping I could get something in about letting Luke keep his name because he's a new sort of Jedi, but I couldn't get the sentence to fit. *sigh*
RebelMom: I like how you used the movie lines with the story.
That's actually a very private joke on my part. You see, this fic is as close to a conventional songfic as I am likely to get (although I have to confess I cheated a bit; the "lyrics" aren't quite in order).
I wonder if I can use this format for long, detailed flashbacks . . . ?
- lazy
-----signature-----
"You're like some kind of link machine." - rhonderoo It didn't stop being magic just because you found out how it was done. DARK SIDE FHTAGN lazykbys fanfic index (click and scroll dowwwn): http://boards.theforce.net/m/b1/17609715/r17736763
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wawoot
Registered:
Jan '06
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Date Posted:
7/1/06 8:22am
Subject:
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- Date Edited:
7/1/06 8:23am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
wawoot
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This was wonderful! I especially loved the little Ben part, that's a great explanation for his name!  Well done! 
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
7/1/06 8:41am
Subject:
RE: By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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Wow! Beautifully done. The use of the quotes was flawless.
"What is your name, young one?"
"It's Ben," he said. Then, feeling that more was expected of him, "Ben Kenobi."
"Ben, hmm? Not a name for a Jedi."
"It's my name," Ben said, a touch of resentment in his voice.
"A good name it is," Yoda said with a nod and a smile. "But not a Jedi name. Do you want to be a Jedi?"
To be completely honest with himself, Ben didn't know what he wanted to become. Until now, his future had been something over the edge of the horizon. But his parents had been so proud when they learned of his Force potential. They'd hugged him and told him he would be a great Jedi Knight. And he didn't want to let them down, so -
"Yes," he said meekly.
I could just picture a little Ben, now named Obi-Wan... Lovely!
-----signature-----
If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories.
Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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lazykbys_left
Registered:
Feb '05
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Date Posted:
7/6/06 6:41am
Subject:
RE:By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke) [replies to readers]
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wawoot: I especially loved the little Ben part
Little Ben was fun to write. Not to mention convenient - I didn't have to figure out how much he knew about the Jedi.
VaderLVR64: The use of the quotes was flawless.
Thank you! I've been wondering if I could make this format into a sub-genre. Maybe call them "quotefics" or something like that.
- lazy
-----signature-----
"You're like some kind of link machine." - rhonderoo It didn't stop being magic just because you found out how it was done. DARK SIDE FHTAGN lazykbys fanfic index (click and scroll dowwwn): http://boards.theforce.net/m/b1/17609715/r17736763
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RebelMom
Title: TFF Secretary
Registered:
Apr '00
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Date Posted:
7/6/06 9:27am
Subject:
RE: By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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lazykbys_left posted:
First, as always, many thanks to everyone who read this fic. I hope it was worth your time.
RebelMom: I like how you used the movie lines with the story.
That's actually a very private joke on my part. You see, this fic is as close to a conventional songfic as I am likely to get (although I have to confess I cheated a bit; the "lyrics" aren't quite in order).
I wonder if I can use this format for long, detailed flashbacks . . . ?
- lazy
The nice thing about quotes is it isn't necessary to use in order. As for using it in a long detailed flashback, you wouldn't know until you try.
lazykbys_left posted:
VaderLVR64: The use of the quotes was flawless.
Thank you! I've been wondering if I could make this format into a sub-genre. Maybe call them "quotefics" or something like that.
- lazy
That's a good title for it. My first ever fanfic was technically a quotefic then.
-----signature-----
Short Story: Pressure Point http://boards.theforce.net/beyond_the_saga/b10477/26961243/p1/?7 Jacen Solo and Anakin Skywalker - as it should have been. TFF: Cheryl
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anakin_luver
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
7/6/06 12:28pm
Subject:
RE: By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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I'm afraid the last segment came out a bit rushed. I was hoping I could get something in about letting Luke keep his name because he's a new sort of Jedi, but I couldn't get the sentence to fit. *sigh*
Oh that would have been so sweet lazykbys, but I get what you mean. If it doesn't work, then it doesn't work, lol
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PRISON BREAK mrs. s <scofield> <sparrow> <skywalker> COME ON CANADA! YOU CAN DO IT!
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lazykbys_left
Registered:
Feb '05
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Date Posted:
7/9/06 1:26am
Subject:
RE:By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke) [replies to readers]
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RebelMom: The nice thing about quotes is it isn't necessary to use in order.
Maybe not, but the nitpicking geek in me keeps saying it would be kewl if they were.
As for using it in a long detailed flashback, you wouldn't know until you try.
True. Unfortunately, at the moment I don't have any plot bunnies that would fit that format. (Not that I'm asking for one. I have enough on my plate as is.)
anakin_luver: Oh that would have been so sweet lazykbys
Yes, it would have been, wouldn't it? *sigh* I'm rather hoping that this fic will ferment in the back of my head for a while. Then, when I'm least expecting it, the idea will hit like a bag of bricks and I'll edit in the changes . . . hopefully, anyway.
- lazy
-----signature-----
"You're like some kind of link machine." - rhonderoo It didn't stop being magic just because you found out how it was done. DARK SIDE FHTAGN lazykbys fanfic index (click and scroll dowwwn): http://boards.theforce.net/m/b1/17609715/r17736763
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Healer_Leona
Registered:
Jul '00
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Date Posted:
9/24/06 2:19pm
Subject:
RE: By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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I love each glimpse into Obi-Wan's life and the importance put on names. A bit arrogant or petty IMHO for Yoda not to give Anakin a Jedi name. Such a dubious start only compounded by years for feeling outside the Order.
Totally awesome view.
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Still crazy after all these years.
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lazykbys_left
Registered:
Feb '05
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Date Posted:
10/8/06 6:53pm
Subject:
RE:By Any Other Name [reply to reader]
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Healer_Leona: A bit arrogant or petty IMHO for Yoda not to give Anakin a Jedi name.
That's partly my fault, I guess. I needed to explain why Anakin got to keep his own name (or didn't get to receive a Jedi name) and Yoda was already there, so to speak. Apply the good old Show Don't Tell rule, and you get Yoda doing what he did.
Totally awesome view.
*takes a bow*
- lazy
-----signature-----
"You're like some kind of link machine." - rhonderoo It didn't stop being magic just because you found out how it was done. DARK SIDE FHTAGN lazykbys fanfic index (click and scroll dowwwn): http://boards.theforce.net/m/b1/17609715/r17736763
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Tatooine_Ghost
Registered:
Jul '06
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Date Posted:
11/17/06 4:59pm
Subject:
RE: By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
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loved it.
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Where were you when the world stoped turning that one September Day?
WJFC means never having to say you're sorry.
Senator of the Old Jedi Order Fan Club
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ardavenport
Registered:
Dec '04
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Date Posted:
11/19/06 9:22pm
Subject:
RE: By Any Other Name (AU / pre-PT to ANH / Obi-Wan, Yoda, Luke)
- Date Edited:
11/19/06 9:24pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
ardavenport
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Wonderful extrapolation about the names! Very nicely written, too; I never thought about Jedi that way, giving their initiate names. Ben was given a Jedi name, but ended up being Ben in the end anyway. Very sad. Until he goes back to being Obi-Wan.
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Links to all fics -- http://boards.theforce.net/Message.aspx?topic=25405090&brd=10304&start=26223917 The Heart of the Jedi -- http://boards.theforce.net/b/b1/26013327 ---- Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, JA and everything you wanted to know about lightsabers
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