Once (Obi vs. Darth Real Life - AU, Obi/Ani - UNBELIEVABLY, I have ~*UPDATED on September 5, 2003*~)

Hi!

I probably shouldn't be doing this, because I'm still working on my other fic 'Tainted Child', but the plot bunny bit, and refused to let go.

[EDIT] I know this starts out angsty, but it dissolves into pure silliness pretty soon.

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ONCE

Once I was a Jedi.

It began with my Master?s death at the hands of a Sith. It was a horrifically tattooed creature, its face covered with savage marks of red and black. I could only watch through a haze of red as it moved with stunning speed, catching my Master unawares and knocking him back, and then following with a devastating blow I knew my Master would not survive. One end of the red lightsaber went right through his chest. He looked so tired, so bent by his years as he fell.

Then I killed the Sith. I took no pleasure in its death; my only concern was for my Master. I went to him, and took him in my arms. He looked up at me ? it was so strange, I had always looked up to him ? and I spoke.

?Master.? I breathed it, trying not to look at the wound, looking at those eyes instead, this being which had held all my trust and love.

?Too late, my young Padawan,? he whispered, his words faint in his weakness. All my fear of losing him had been in the one word I had spoken; he was my Master, and he saw it. He answered my wordless hope, and crushed it.

I shook my head. I didn?t want to believe it. Who could blame me? Would anyone want to watch helplessly as the person they loved as a father died?

He gazed at me, seemingly finding strength in my eyes. His words strengthened. ?Now you must be ready, whether the Council thinks you so or not.? Determination stiffened his jaw, but he grew weaker. I could feel it. ?Obi-Wan.? Oh, such a wealth of meaning as he spoke my name. Love, trust, affection. Trust most of all, I realized, as he spoke again. ?Promise me you will train the boy,? he whispered, his voice rough, hoarse.

The words fell from my lips without thought. ?Yes, Master.? I would do whatever he asked. I can?t explain it; he was my Master. I would trust him with my life, my soul, and my sanity. I would give him this.

His breathing became harsher, and I realized it was getting more difficult for him to breathe. His eyes held mine, and he spoke quickly. ?He is the Chosen One, Obi-Wan.? His words came back to me, spoken what seemed an eternity ago. I will do what I must. ?He will be bring balance to the Force. Train him well.? Trust in those final words. I nodded, tears slipping down my face.

His fingers brushed my wet face, a final gesture of comfort. As his eyes lost focus my heart broke. His body went heavy in my arms ? so heavy. I felt like there was a lead weight on my soul as I rocked his strangely lifeless body back and forth.

I could only whisper one word, a word that had held so much meaning to me for so much of my life.

?Master.?

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Yoda paced back and forth in front of me. His small form seemed bent as he grieved for his former Padawan, but in his eyes and his Force-signature, I felt only strength. I knelt down, head bowed.

We were in the palace on Naboo, in an almost empty room with high, sweeping windows. It was a place, I thought, nearly as beautiful as the Temple. Tables and chairs were pushed out of the way, almost unseen in the vast room.

The entire Council had come for Qui-Gon?s funeral. A sign of their respect for him, I suppose. He had railed against them for much of his life, and I wondered if perhaps that was part of the reason they respected him. It was likely that they also wished to see the place the Sith had died.

Yoda stopped pacing, and came to me, his stick making soft clicking noises when it hit the floor. Our eyes locked.

?Sorry, I am, Obi-Wan. Our permission to train Skywalker you do not have.?

Suddenly, the air felt stifling, its presence smothering my breath. I looked down, trying to gather myself. I would not be swayed. ?Master ?? I began, horrified.

?Final, our decision is,? he said

 

Oh yes- please continue.

Hmm... wonder whats going to happen....

 

This is such a good idea. Please continue.

 

*hits Yoda* STUPID TROLL! Don't seperate my Obi-Wan from Ani! BAD! Qui is going to come back from the Force and kick you around! Right Qui?!

 

Please do continue!

As if you expected we would let you off the hook...

 

here's some chow to feed this little plot bunny

 

WARNING: THIS HAS NOT BEEN BETA-READ!!!

Enjoy. If you can't tell, I've been in a weird mood.

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Anakin was playing in the gardens. I had asked one of the handmaidens, Sabe ? if I had not the Force, I would not be able to tell which one it was ? where he was, and they told me they had sent him to the gardens, thinking it would be a good experience for a desert boy. He was alone, but it was quite safe in the gardens. She also mentioned that she thinks that the boy was still grieving Qui-Gon?s death, even after the funeral, which Anakin was allowed to attend.

The palace gardens were huge. Fortunately, Anakin has quite a distinct presence in the Force, so I found him quickly.

The gardens were cultivated in such a way that it was like being in a forest. Stone walls and iron verandas had vines and other green plants growing all over them. The shadows present nearly everywhere were pleasantly cool. Other plants, many flowering in red and orange, covered the rest of the area.

I found Anakin on a little stone pebble pathway that I almost missed because it was so overgrown. Brushing aside dangling branches, I walked until I was only feet from Anakin.

He was curled up in a ball, crying.

I stopped. Qui-Gon had truly had gift for comforting children, but unfortunately that was a gift I didn?t possess. I found children baffling and frustrating. My Master had often teased me that I would never take a Padawan.

?Hello, Anakin,? I ventured.

Sniffling, he turned towards me. His face was red and irritated from crying. He wiped away his tears, and looked up at me.

Only to burst into tears again.

I played the pebbles on the ground with my feet, uncomfortable. I didn?t know what to do. Perhaps he found me intimidating? I stepped closer to him, and knelt so I was eyelevel with him.

I gently touched his shoulder, and spoke again. ?Anakin??

He looked at me miserably, and then threw himself at me. I tensed for a second, almost expecting an attack, then realized the boy was trying to hug me. He kept crying. I sat there for a second, completely still. Suddenly, I could almost here Qui-Gon?s voice, gently chiding me, Well, hug him! He?s a child in need of comfort, and you?re it.

So I cautiously wrapped my arms around him. I had not realized that fulfilling my promise would lead to these sorts of situations. Well, this would be good practice for the future, I supposed.

Anakin clung even tighter. Gradually, his tears eased and his body stopped trembling.

I pushed him away slightly, so that I could look him in the face. I felt a flash of hurt from Anakin, so I carefully didn?t let go of his shoulders. ?Anakin. I must speak to you about something.?

He nodded.

?The Council hasn?t granted me permission to train you. They?ve decided to send to the Agri-Corps, to be a farmer.? His eyes widened. Before he could react further than that ? and probably burst into tears ? I continued. ?But I do want to train you, and I will do so with or without the Council?s permission. To do that, I would have to leave the Jedi, and Naboo, and take you with me.?

The boy looked overwhelmed. I used the Force to calm him down ? which was something of a misuse of it ? and after a few moments, he looked considering. ?You mean I?d live with you? And you?d teach me and stuff??

?Yes,? I said. ?But officially, you would never be a Jedi.?

He looked tearful again. No, no, I wanted to avoid that. ?You would be one in every way but name. And the Agri-Corps would offer you less; you would only be a farmer, and learn nothing of the Jedi ways.?

He sniffled, and wiped his snot away on his sleeve. He would definitely have to learn not to do that, I thought. ?I want to be a Jedi. I?ll go with you,? he said.

I gave him a small smile. He wrapped his arms around me again, and this time, I sighed and let him do so.

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Feedback feeds the plot bunny!

 

I like the looks of this, obaona. Can't wait to see where it's going.

*passes Ani a tissue*

 

Cool! This sounds really neat. More please.

 

Aww... poor Anakin. Darn the council...

 

I'm gonna kick the council...be back in a moment! *comes back to thread holding a pic of a beaten Mace* Tee hee...

 

This is lovely, well-written and heartwarming.
Wonderful as always.

But, don't forget your Tainted Child story!!!

 

anakin_girl: Thank you.

obi-wannabe_1138:

sheleigh: It is part of my evil plot to make everyone hate the Jedi Council.

Master_Comedy_Kitty:

dianethx: Thank you. And I won't forget 'Tainted Child'.

On with the post.

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The freighter Starry Way was leaving in five minutes when the Jedi came.

We were waiting to board. My clothing and lightsaber consisted of all my belongings, and Anakin had a small knapsack. I had a brought passage with some money that I had obtained from Queen Amidala ? truly a woman who understood my problem. Jedi did not have personal money, and I did not have the few credits that Qui-Gon and I were given just before leaving for Naboo, for emergencies. I barely had to say anything before she gave me a good amount, more than enough to take Anakin and me to Gekkan, a small planet which had many, many ships traveling to and from places. It was the perfect place to lose the Jedi. Of course, the fact that I mentioned that the money was for Anakin probably helped speed matters.

We were waiting in line at the busy spaceport when the Jedi arrived. Most of the people there were arriving instead of leaving, going back to Naboo to see family members. Most of the traffic flow was going against Anakin and me, who were trying to leave. Of course, it was also going against Mace Windu and Adi Gallia.

They must have realized somehow that I was practically kidnapping Anakin under their noses. For some reason, as I saw them weave determinedly through the crowd, I felt very amused. Giddy, almost.

I was defying everyone from Master Yoda on down. I was leaving the Jedi order. I would become one of only twenty ? no, twenty-one now ? to ever do so.

I felt rebellious, and I loved it.

I grabbed Anakin?s hand, and spoke quickly. ?Anakin, the Jedi don?t want me to train you. So they?re going to try and stop me.?

Eyes wide, Anakin nodded.

I took off, dragging Anakin behind me. I pushed past people in line, waving my hand as I went, saying, ?Forget this ever happened, forget this ever happened, yes, I?m supposed to be here . . .?

I glanced back. Windu and Gallia were definitely not happy with me, judging from the expression on their faces. I ducked through another line, Anakin clumsily following me. I walked up to the hatch of the Starry Way. The human man standing there was big and intimidating ? to most people, anyway. I had had a Master that was quite a bit taller than me ? and Jedi don?t get intimidated.

?You don?t need to see our tickets,? I commanded, waving my hand. We did pay for the ticket after all; I just didn?t have time to get it at the moment.

He nodded dumbly. ?I don?t need to see your tickets.?

?You will let us on board and take off immediately.?

?I will let you on board and take off immediately,? he repeated, the intonation of his words odd. Anakin was watching in fascination. I stepped on board, and yanked him after me.

?Can I learn how to do that?? Anakin asked, hopefully.

I looked down at him. ?Later. Go and find our cabin,? I told him.

He frowned, and for a second I was tempted to try and use a Jedi mind trick, then he nodded. He left.

I pulled the hatch shut. The Jedi were almost here. The man seemed to realize what was happening. ?Hey, wait ??

I looked at him, and spoke. ?You will take off now.? I think I was using more Jedi mind tricks in the last five minutes than I had in the past three months. I decided this was not boding well for my future in being ethical.

He repeated my words, and went to the cockpit. I followed him. The ship was filthy. Well, I could deal with that, and I had been on worse. I looked down, out of the ship. The Jedi had to stop as the engines ignited, preparing to take off. They stared upward without anger ? that would not be the Jedi way ? but they did have a great deal of frustration. They would have to meditate on that, I thought gleefully.

Maybe this feeling i

 

This is so awesome obaona!!
Very well written!

 

[face_gleeful_grin]

Go, Obi!

I had to laugh at the mental image of Obi bumping through the crowd, mind-whammying all in his way...

 

It serves the council right... oh and your evil plot is working!

And for good measure- Go Obi-Wan! Take pleasure in defying the council... they deserve it.

Excellent obaona!

 

*points at council* HA! HA! Serves ya write ya losers! Deny my Obi of something, he does it anyways!

 

Go get 'em, Obi-Wan.

Great post, obaona.

 

This is a great idea, obaona. I love it!

Keep going!

 

Didn't realize you were writing another story.

Keep writing. I like this one too .

Aunecah_Skywalker

 

Tee hee! This is great.
Mind whammy, lol, love that word.

 

RingThane: Thank you.

Chaos_Rose:

sheleigh: *laughs evilly in triumph*

Master_Comedy_Kitty:

anakin_girl: Thank you.

babybantha:

Aunecah_Skywalker: It's the Attack of the Plot Bunnies. I just started another story, which I may or may not post, and a plot bunny is demanding to be heard.

obi-wannebe_1138: Me, too.

And on with the post. WARNING: This has not been beta-ed.

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I woke up suddenly. I had been lying in my bed, asleep, when I was wakened by a scream.

Instantly alert and lightsaber in hand, I leapt to my feet. I surveyed the small cabin Anakin and I shared.

Seeing nothing and sensing no danger in the Force, I turned towards Anakin. ?What is it?? I asked, concerned. About his sanity, perhaps, or maybe at just how disturbed he was.

?I heard a noise,? Anakin whispered. ?It?s the Gumrat!?

I sighed. Earlier, Anakin found a little droid in need of repair, and being Anakin, he decided to repair it. This did not bother me as much as the noise Anakin made while doing it. Mostly engine noises. And he?d bounce around the room, literally jumping with energy. I lasted two hours and five times of telling him to be quiet before I decided another minute of those noises was going to make me lose it. Remembering that stories are supposed to calm children down, I decided to tell Anakin one.

I guess picking a scary story wasn?t the best of ideas. How was I supposed to know he got scared so easily?

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Gekkan?s spaceport was huge. I had seen some that rivaled or surpassed its size, of course, but nevertheless it was impressive. Thousands of ship were on the ground, and a few hundred leaving or landing at any given moment.

Anakin was wide eyed with wonder. Although occasionally he would rub his eyes sleepily. He had stayed up all night, unable to sleep because of his fear, and consequently I got no sleep either. But it served me right, I supposed. What had I been thinking? Last night forgotten, Anakin stared mostly at the ships, and I could tell that he was itching to get into the panels and engines of some of them and just see how they were made.

I looked at an information console that had the flight schedules and prices. To my dismay, I found we didn?t have enough to get to Alderann, where I had originally intended to go. The places that I could afford were not suitable.

I resigned myself to the fact that we would either have to hitch a ride ? not likely, since I could no longer call myself a Jedi ? or I would have to get a job. Then I realized that if we did make it to Alderann, I would have to get a job there. Alderann was a much pleasanter place than Gekkan, however. I looked at the list again. Those that I could afford were worse than Gekkan, I decided. And I wanted to go in Alderann?s direction, anyway.

I looked at Anakin, who was holding my hand trustingly. It gave me a warm feeling. ?Anakin, we?re going to have stay here for a bit, until I can get us passage elsewhere.?

Anakin turned from his examination of the spaceport. He grinned at me, no doubt thinking of all the fun he could have with those ships. ?Wizard!?

I sighed.

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Feedback is always appreciated.

 

Up.

 

Anakin says, "Wizard!"

Trouble in steaming, abundant bucketloads soon to follow...

UP!

 

Oh cool! What a great plot! Obi totally burns by the council, something he probably always secretly wanted to do, and now he has to get a...a job?? LOL!!!