Ghost of Nightmares Past/Chapter 13

THE GHOST PLAIN

Obi-Wan kept his eyes shut, his ears doing the most work, hearing for any signs of someone approaching him. He felt neither warm nor cold. Risking it, he opened his eyes.

There was white mist all around him, encasing him in a white glow. Slowly, he stood up, and, suddenly feeling chilly, he wrapped his arms around himself, and touched nothing but skin. Staring down, he jumped.

He was naked?

He touched his chest, where countless scars would have been visible, but found none. He touched his face, and was relieved to find he still had a beard. Yet, he wished he had robes of some sort, just to cover himself up. Out of no-where, robes were flung towards him, landing lightly on the ground. Surprised, Obi-Wan picked them up, and stretched them out. They were slightly bigger than he was, but at least they were something. Pulling them on, he tied them with the belt around his waist, and, slowly, he walked. The mist seemed endless to him, and, as though on habit, he began to hum a tune that he liked. Yet, he kept forgetting the notes.

Then, he saw a figure up ahead.

"Excuse me?" He called, but the figure ignored him, and walked right through him, making him shiver. He instantly reached an arm out and tried to grasp the figure's arm. "Excuse me, could you..." He stopped, as the figure turned to him.

It had no face, and yet, it spoke pleasantly, "Go on, in the direction I was coming from. Someone wants to meet you."

Obi-Wan gawped at him as the figure walked away, and, slowly, he willed his feet to move, taking him in the direction the figure told him to go in. The mist cleared slightly, and he came to a ledge, visible as grass under his bare feet. There were little huts below him. Using the force, he jumped down, and landed softly on the ground, just as a new figure, this time with a face, walked towards him, wearing white. He looked familiar...

"Master Kenobi!" Master Sifo-dias said, smiling at him. "My goodness, what a surprise to see you here so soon!"

Was it a question? Obi-Wan smiled at the man, before asking, "Where am I?"

"What have we got here Sifo?" A woman asked, coming towards them, also wearing white, and slinging her arm through Sifo's. "Another Jedi? Oh great."

"My dear, this is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi," Sifo said, "and Obi-Wan, this is Amethyst, my wife." Obi-Wan bowed at her, but suddenly realised that he was still naked beneath the robe, as the shoulder slipped. He flushed, but Sifo and Amethyst ignored him. Sifo continued, "Welcome to the Ghost Plain!"

"Where all the fallen come, before they move on," Amethyst said, smiling.

Obi-Wan stared at each of them in turn; all the fallen? Would that mean that?

"Obi-Wan!" A familiar voice sounded through the air. He turned.

Standing, in all his glory, clothed in white, hair unchanged and his beard still the same, was Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan watched as his old master walked towards him, smiling, and, gave a choking sound as he enveloped him in a bear hug. "Master!" He said weakly, "That hurts!"

Qui-gon chuckled, before turning to Sifo, "I'm sorry old friend, but I'm afraid I need to steal Obi-Wan away for a while."

He placed a hand on Obi-Wan's shoulder, and led him away, towards the huts. They walked in silence, as Obi-Wan tried to adjust to what he had just seen. Qui-gon was killed, yet he was here, very much alive. How?

A hand extended from beside him, and unlocked one of the hut doors, and he found himself get steered in. Obi-Wan couldn't see because everything was so white, but he could plainly see a table, with some chairs, and many other things, including plants. Lots of plants.

He gave a massive sigh.

"I see your habits never change Master," He said. Qui-gon smiled, and Obi-Wan said instantly, "Is there any clothes I can put on?"

"Of course," He said, and he led him to a side room, where a chest of drawers stood at one end, and a massive bed at the other. Qui-gon reached into the drawers and pulled out a pair of trousers, and a loose top. Obi-Wan accepted them, and Qui-gon left, leaving him to get changed. Slowly, Obi-Wan pulled the robe off, and caught his reflection in the mirror, as he dressed. He still looked the same as ever. Pulling the robe back on, he walked out of the room, hoping he could get some shoes or something for his feet. However, he noticed Qui-gon was bare foot, so just kept quiet, as Qui-gon motioned for him sit.

Qui-gon chuckled, before sitting opposite him. "I have missed you my old Padawan."

Obi-Wan gave another sigh, before saying, "And I you."

Qui-gon chuckled again, and said, "You have gotten yourself into a lot of trouble lately, haven't you?"

Obi-Wan smiled, "That's what happens when you're me." Qui-gon suddenly looked serious, and he instantly said, "I must say, though, I am disappointed with you; disappointed that you have even attempted to try and grow a beard as good as mine and failed." He punched Obi-Wan's arm playfully. Obi-Wan recoiled, and said, "Why, if you see everything, did you not warn me of what was to occur? With the war and such?"

Qui-gon leaned back in his seat, and took a deep breath, "Will I tell you? Everything?"

"It would very much help if you did."

Qui-gon stared at him, his eyes penetrating Obi-Wan's own. "Alright. I knew you were to train Anakin, even before that Sith stabbed me. I knew that was your destiny, Obi-Wan, to train Anakin. And a fine young Jedi he has turned out to be. Yet, you have let your gaze over-look some...things he has done."

"You're wrong about one thing Master," Obi-Wan said raising his eyebrow. "Anakin hasn't turned into a fine Jedi. He's turned into a perfect Jedi."

"Anakin looks to you more like a father than he ever did with me," Qui-gon continued, as though Obi-Wan had not spoken. "It made me wonder; was I ever truly to be Anakin's master? No, I knew it. And because of your teachings, he has become one of the greatest Jedi of his age, no offence." He smiled at Obi-Wan, "But, soon after I died, Dooku took grief a bit further. He was enraged that you failed to reach me in time, to save me. I appeared to him in a dream, the night he was filled with hatred and revenge, and told him no. He was not to touch you. Dooku left the Order, instead of move on. Little did I realise that my old Master would become the very thing that killed me; a Sith.

"I tried to talk him out of it, but his heart was so evil, I could do nothing. I could not even talk to him. Gradually, he became so powerful, I had to just leave him be, and continue monitoring you and Anakin. Finally, ten years later, I gaze down to find you a grown man and Anakin more than I ever hoped for.

"But once again, a threat is made on Padme Amidala's life, and there was nothing I could do. I watched, helpless and unable to tell you what was about to occur in the next few months." He paused, as the door to his hut opened, and a woman that Obi-Wan had not seen for years strolled in.

"Busy as anything out there," Tahl was saying, placing her bags on the floor, "And it makes me- oh," She said, noticing Obi-Wan. "Well I'll be damned."

"Tahl," Qui-gon said sheepishly, "You remember Obi-Wan. My padawan."

"Former Padawan," Obi-Wan said, smiling at her. Tahl smiled back, and began to busy herself in the kitchen, stacking the fridge with new food. "So, you and Tahl then?"

"Yes," Qui-gon smirked, but his face suddenly became serious, "Where was I?" He scratched his beard, before saying, "That's right. I watched you closely when you went on that solo mission to Kamino, just in case anything happened. When I learned what Dooku had done, I tried to contact Master Yoda, but I couldn't. Everything happened so quickly after that; you were captured and Anakin had gone back to Tatooine."

"He got a scolding when I found that out," Obi-Wan muttered darkly.

"I was worried. Too worried." Qui-gon continued, "I knew something was up. Then things got bad to worse. I saw countless Jedi pass suddenly through the mist, greeted by others or comforted. I searched the crowd, in case you were among them, but, thankfully, neither you nor Anakin were. I was so relieved."

"Many Jedi died that day," Obi-Wan said, as Tahl looked over at them. "But what does this have to do with me and Bruck?"

"There is only one way to kill Bruck, and only one person." Qui-gon said, as Tahl placed a hand on his shoulder. "Bruck was resurrected by Sith Langauge, making him almost indestructible, but not completely. He forgot one thing; only the person that killed him before can do it again."

Obi-Wan didn't like where this was heading. "I have to kill Bruck, again?"

"Unfortunately yes," Qui-gon said his voice sad.

"And how in the kriff am I suppose to do that when I am dead?" Obi-Wan demanded, causing Tahl to hit him over the back of the head. "Ouch!"

"Nope, still partly alive." She said smugly. "The fact that you can still feel pain means that you have some life left in your body. I think we should take him back to the Black Gate, don't you sweetheart?"

Qui-gon stood, and led Obi-Wan, who was still rubbing his head, out back into the misty village. They walked for a few moments, before they stopped, and Obi-Wan gazed up.

His mouth hung open.

How he had managed to miss said-Black Gate was now a complete mystery to him; it was enormous. It had a chain around its bars that loosened instantly. Qui-gon smiled at Obi-Wan, and said, "Take a deep breath." Obi-Wan breathed in, and Qui-gon turned him around, so his back was to the gate.

He pushed.

Obi-Wan was falling, but, where he thought he would hit ground, he didn't. He was floating. He turned his head, and gasped when he saw the dusty ground of Mustafar coming closer. But it didn't stop there; he could see the many figures of the people there; Anakin holding his body, Ahsoka sniffing next to him, and the clones around them, with the droids gone, as was Bruck and Grevious. He landed softly, and stared down at his body, and, without warning, he entered back into it.

The chest gave a heave of breath, and he slowly opened his eyes.