FIC: Consequences - Obi-Wan, Anakin - G
TITLE: Consequences
AUTHOR: agentj / agentjedi
STATUS: complete
DATE WRITTEN: December 2005-January 2006
CATEGORY: Vignette: Drama, Alternative Universe
THEME: au100 - 001 Beginnings
CHARACTERS: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker
TIMEFRAME: Prequel: during The Phantom Menace
CONTENT WARNING: none
SUMMARY: Qui-Gon has died, the Sith temporarily defeated, but the Council has made an entirely different decision on the fate of Anakin Skywalker.
WORD COUNT: 580
"What will happen to me now?"
Obi-Wan closed his eyes, wishing he never had to answer that question. In this moment, standing before Qui-Gon's pyre, the boy's plea was made doubly hard to answer. As much as Obi-Wan inherently teased as well as questioned Qui-Gon's motivation for latching on to strange ideas and persons they continually came across, Obi-Wan was not oblivious to the boy's plight. For once-as many other countless times-Qui-Gon's grand-sweeping plans had backfired, only this time in a significantly unforeseen way. This time, Qui-Gon would not be there to staunchly fight for his convictions, to somehow magically make things right. This time, Qui-Gon's gregarious nature and impetuousness had caused the disruption of many lives-at the cost of his own.
Reopening his eyes, Obi-Wan turned to the boy beside him, tears welling in Anakin's murky blue orbs. With profound sadness, Obi-Wan's voice softly responded, "You will not become a Jedi, Anakin. I'm sorry. The Council would not grant me the right to train you-"
As swift and as violent as a Tatooine wind storm, the boy turned and bolted out of the atrium.
Obi-Wan watched the boy go with a soft sigh. These were the types of consequences Obi-Wan had always cautioned his master against, and now...Qui-Gon was no longer here to admonish. Instead, a young Anakin Skywalker was left rootless and motherless, without any sort of future before him.
Instead of turning back to the fire, Obi-Wan followed the path Anakin took and found the boy sobbing silently. Walking around to face him, Obi-Wan dropped to his knees before Anakin and repeated, "I'm-I'm so sorry."
Suddenly, two spindly arms wrapped themselves around Obi-Wan's shoulders as Anakin pressed his wet face into the young Jedi's cloak. Obi-Wan was taken by surprise, and not entirely certain how to respond.
The boy's body wracked with sobs as he whimpered, "Please. Please don't leave me."
Obi-Wan returned the embrace and tried to comfort the boy as best he could, but the newly-made Jedi Knight would make no more promises. He had spent the last on his late master Qui-Gon, and had failed in his ability to keep it.
Obi-Wan felt the presence of someone approaching quietly behind him. Turning, he saw one of the Queen's handmaidens standing there, her delicate brow drawn together pensively across her forehead.
"The Queen asked me to make sure you were all right," the young woman announced. "Queen Amidala has confided in me...she will decree you a ward of the state."
"Wh-a what?" Anakin replied as he wiped away his tears on the back of his dirty and tattered sleeve.
"She's given you citizenship on Naboo. If you like-" she reached out a hand toward the boy as an invitation, "-you may stay with us and live here...on Naboo."
Anakin took the girl's offered hand and replied, "I'd like that. I guess." The boy tossed an uncertain look in Obi-Wan's direction as if pending the Jedi's approval.
Obi-Wan nodded. "Go ahead, Anakin. The Queen is an honourable woman. I am certain her people will be able to find you a good home."
Obi-Wan watched as Anakin's eyes slowly fell from his, and the boy allowed himself to be lead away by the handmaiden. A heavy weight lowered itself deep into the pit of Obi-Wan's stomach as he watched the boy go. He had a feeling he would have to face Anakin Skywalker again one day, with terrible consequences.
About the Story
Written for au100, this is an intro to a slightly larger AU which will become the story for the Strangers entry. Essentially, everything about the first movie stays the same except that the Council does not allow Obi-Wan to train Anakin-nor anyone else for that matter.
( See challenge grid for more Obi-Wan/Anakin AU! )