𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐃 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐕𝐄 | 𝟏𝟖+

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ❻

In a secluded room in the palace, Yoda waddles around the masterless Padawan on bended knee. "Confer on you the level of Jedi Knight the Council does. But—agree with your taking these children as your Padawan learners I do not."

"Qui-Gon believed in them." Obi-Wan states, knowing this may change Yoda's heart. The short green creature sighs sadly at the mention of their lost friends name. "The chosen one the boy may be. Nevertheless—grave danger I fear in his training. Though a great asset the girl may become." Obi-Wan frowns, "Master Yoda, I gave Qui-Gon my word. I will train the children."

Yoda grunts, jabbing his wooden cane to the waxed floor and Obi-Wan continues sternly, "Without the approval of the Council, if I must." Yoda closes his eyes and shakes his wrinkled head, "Qui-Gon's defiance I sense in you. Need that you do not."

After much thought, the elder green alien sighs in defeat, "Agree with you the Council does. Your apprentices Skywalker and Avianna will be. Brought the challenge upon yourself you have." Happy with his winnings, Obi-Wan bows his head to the four foot tall creature and stands to depart. That very night, Padmé kindly suggested that Qui-Gon be put at rest in the capital's tomb.

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Once the dusk moon was shown over Naboo, all the people who meant a great deal to my father were crowded around his burning body. Mom carries me on her hip as I was too drained to stand, and my ducts were too dry to produce anymore tears. Anakin stands in the row behind us, sorrowfully looking at the man in flames who was once his father figure but a few hours before.

A hand is then placed on my shoulder for a brief moment and I could sense that the limb belongs to Anakin. I was grateful to have such a kind and caring friend like him. "What will happen to us now?" He whispers, and I can only assume, without looking, it was to Obi-Wan. "The Council have granted me permission to train you both. You will be Jedi, I promise." With this information, mom holds me tighter as she looks out to mourn her lost lover.

A hooded Master Windu turns to Master Yoda and confesses his thoughts, "There's no doubt the mysterious warrior was a Sith." Yoda nods as he was in deep concentration with the force, "Mmm. Always two there are. No more, no less. A Master and an apprentice." Both looking towards the fire, Windu prompts almost inaudibly, "But which was destroyed? The Master, or the apprentice?" Yoda narrows his eyes and sighs deeply, trying to learn of the truth himself.

The next morning, the people of Naboo celebrate their victory. There is a parade, confetti everywhere, and thousands of cheering residence. Obi-Wan's first duty as a Jedi Knight was to order Anakin and I to change into white robes, much like his. And instead of his normal bowl shaped hair haircut, Anakin's was shaved down short and spiky like Obi-Wan's, with a signature Padawan braid on his right side and a small ponytail in the back. Not daring to do the same to a girl, Obi-Wan just takes a strand of my long hair and braids it so it rests proudly in front of my right shoulder.

There we stand on the front stairs of the palace, the queen keeping her promise as she hands the Globe of Peace over to the Gungan leader, Boss Nass. He holds it up to his people proudly and yells out, "Peace!" Every Gungan present cheers, glad that both parts of Naboo would come as one and the rivalry would be over. Padmé looks to me and then Anakin, and to my best ability, I smile at my friend, thought my smile doesn't quite reach my eyes as it usually does. Anakin smirks confidently, causing Queen Amidala to smile brightly at us both while she mouths 'thank you'.

The festivities last through sundown and into the late night. The closest members to the Queen, including the Jedi, were all in the ball room sharing a big feast. All this happiness just made me more sad, so I head out onto the balcony to look up at the stars. I was out here for a good hour, alone with my thoughts and the distant echos of chatter from inside the palace before someone came looking for me. "I thought I'd find you out here. You scared me half to death."