"You must focus, Padawan. It is just a little water."

"I am trying, Master." He really did not feel as if he was ever going to make a good Jedi Knight at the moment. He just hoped there would not be quite so much water involved in the future.

"Don't worry, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon said, "I will not let you drown. Although you look as if you already have."

Master and Padawan shared a laugh as they fought the elements.

Obi-Wan stayed silent.

"I am proud of you. In my opinion you are the best padawan in the Temple."

Obi-Wan was not sure what Qui-Gon expected him to say to that. "I'm not, Master."

"I did not mean you are perfect, no-one is. For one thing you are too impulsive and it is my pride that has stopped me from preventing it in you."

"If I am impulsive it is because you taught it to me. If I have that fault so do you."

Qui-Gon smiled at him. "We are alike in our faults, Obi-Wan."

"Don't whine, padawan. It's not cold it is merely your imagination."

"Master, there's snow on the ground!"

"Obi-Wan, you are wearing several layers more than me. How can you be colder than I am?"

"I'm trying, master, but it's too cold to concentrate."

"Put the cold out of your mind. Think of a hot desert."

Obi-Wan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he let it out he was still shivering. Qui-Gon looked over at his padawan and removed his own cloak, putting it round Obi-Wan, who gave him a grateful smile.

"Now, focus."

"Yes, master."

Day 10 on some boring planet I can't remember the name of
I was wrong, I don't want to be a Jedi. I thought it meant going on interesting missions, but no, it means going on boring missions. If I have to dance with one more 'beautiful' princess I am going to scream.

Day 12 on Paelle's planet miles from anywhere
AAAAAGGGGHHHH! I am in love but how do I get her to even notice me? Princess Paelle is perfect in every way, except that she doesn't dance. I asked Qui-Gon and he said "You complained yesterday you didn't want to dance any more. Make up your mind one way or the other." A lot of help he is.

Day 13, back on the ship
We're leaving. Apparently all the ambassadors had a change of heart and decided they liked each other after all. Personally I think Qui-Gon was sick of them and put the mind-whammy on them. Now I'll never see the Princess again.

I step back, but how can I hit him from so far away? He is taller than me and his arms are longer. There is so big a space between us, yet all he has to do is reach out and his lightsabre will touch me. I stretch out as far as I can, but there is still a gap between the end of my lightsabre and his body.

I step forward and lunge again, and this time my blade connects.

"Good, Padawan," he says, "now remember that distance."

And then they came and Obi-Wan was fighting and he was tired and he wished he was waiting instead.

To add to his problems he could have sworn he saw two of his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, earlier. He made an effort to concentrate on the negotiations so he could get off the ship they called 'Katratzi' and back to Coruscant as soon as possible.

The boy is dangerous. I have to train him to be... more dangerous? No, that's not right. I have to teach Anakin Skywalker how to be a Jedi, how to use the force, how to live without his mother. Me, a recently knighted Jedi. How can I possibly teach him things I don't know myself yet? I'm not even sure I know how to teach.

I can't do this.

But I have to. It was Qui-Gon Jinn's dying wish. It is my duty to carry on that wish. I owe it to him to try. Master Yoda often says, "there is no try, there is only do or do not do." Not doing is easy. All I have to do is to say no, tell the Council I will not train Anakin. I can't do that. So I will not do that. I will train Anakin. I may fail, but I will do.

I can't do this.

If I didn't take Anakin on would someone else? Perhaps. Since the battle Anakin has only had me. I could not abandon him now. If anyone were to train him, it must be me. If no-one was to train him would they send him back to Tatooine? Put him back into slavery? If he were free would he stay that way for long? Would he die in a podrace? No, I cannot let any of these things happen. I will train him?

I can't do this.

Why did Qui-Gon pick me? I was still a Padawan Learner, only Knights can take apprentices. Did he know I would be knighted? He had said I was ready for the trials, although the Council disagreed. Did he say it only so he could take Anakin as his apprentice? Did he know something I don't? Maybe he asked me because he thought I would be good at it. For twelve years now I have been learning from Qui-Gon. Learning how to be a Jedi and how to be a Master to a Padawan. Qui-Gon wouldn't have asked me if he didn't think I could do it.

I can do this?

Qui-Gon had faith in me, he trusted me to teach Anakin the ways of the Jedi. And I have faith in Qui-Gon. I trust him. He wanted me to train Anakin because he knew I would. Knew I could.

I can do this.

"Yes, Master, he is strong in the force, intelligent and quick to learn."

"Heard stories, I have. He plays not with other children and lose him you do."

Obi-Wan Kenobi closed his eyes for a moment. He was half-hoping Yoda hadn't found out about these incidents. Often, Obi-Wan would have to go looking all over Coruscant until he found out where Anakin had got to. He knew the boy didn't do it deliberately, Obi-Wan just couldn't make him understand why it wasn't allowed.

"Answer you have?" Yoda's voice broke into his thoughts.

"Yes, Master," the simplest answer, as always.

Yoda sighed. "Knew he would be trouble, I did."

"Yes, Master," dutifully.

"Agree with me, you did."

Obi-Wan, really, really didn't want to answer that one just at this moment.

"Disagree with Qui-Gon, you did."

It was Obi-Wan's turn to sigh. He couldn't lie to Yoda. "Yes, Master." He'd only meant to ask Yoda for training advice, since he couldn't turn to his old master. He didn't want to reveal his own feelings on the matter. "I knew Anakin was dangerous and I told Qui-Gon this."

"But train him anyway, you do."

"I promised Qui-Gon."

"Agreed with Qui-Gon in the end, the Council did. If train him, you did not, someone else would."

"Maybe someone else should, Master. I am only just knighted, I know nothing about how to train him."

"Have help, you do, from other masters?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then problem do you have?"

"I have a confession to make, Master."

Yoda wisely said nothing, waiting for Obi-Wan to speak. When he did, his voice was as quiet as a whisper. "I'm so scared, Master. I know fear leads to the Dark Side, but I can't help it."

"Scared of what, are you?"

"I'm not sure. Going on without Qui-Gon to help me. Being the person responsible for Anakin. But mainly of the future."

"Promise you, I do, that you have help with Anakin. Not the only person responsible, you are. Miss Qui-Gon, I do too. But live, you will."

Obi-Wan nodded, not looking at Yoda.

"Clouded the future is. Change it, you can. Scared of it, don't be."

"I'm trying, Master. But I feel that there is something in my future, in Anakin's, that will do us great harm."

"Certain of this, are you?"

"No, Master. I... I'm really not sure." He lifted his eyes from the floor to look at Yoda - not a long distance admittedly.

"Not alone, are you. Remember this. Forget Qui-Gon, you will not." Yoda moved towards Obi-Wan to pat him on the hand and for the first time, Obi-Wan thought that maybe, just maybe, things might not be so bad.

"Thank you, Master."