Title:The Pebble
Author:Storm
Feedback:Storm
Rating:G
Category:Drama
Timeline:Pre-TPM
Archive:Sure, just let me know where
Disclaimer:Star Wars places and characters are figments of George Lucas' imagination and I'm only visiting.

"Be mindful of the living Force, young Padawan." The elder Jedi's words echoed in his mind still. If he'd said it to him once, he'd said it a hundred times. "The Force runs thru you, Obi-wan, but it is also all around you, in every living thing. It surrounds us, protects us. You must extend yourself, learn to feel the Force in everything. You must be more aware. Be mindful of the living Force, young Padawan."

And so Qui-Gon had brought him here, to this lonely, deserted, rocky beach on the edge of an unnamed ocean on a planet whose name he couldn't even pronounce. He trudged down the sand, watching the salt water stain his boots, and felt slightly sorry for himself. Be mindful of the living Force. Easy to say for him maybe, he thought resentfully. The past was there to be analyzed, the future nebulous and shifting, yet somehow open to interpretation. The present. He had no lock on it. He wasn't even sure what Qui-Gon meant!

The young boy raised his head from the gray sand and saw his Master ahead of him, standing as still as only he could. Watching his progress down the beach. Surely he knows every thought in my mind right now, from the sand in my boots to the resentment in my mind. Obi-Wan took a deep breath, and cleared his mind. A certain peace settled over him, and he made his way over the rocks to his Master. They sat together, not speaking, watching the waves roll in.

Be mindful of the living Force. Well, what could be more alive with the Force than an ocean? Full of mysterious depths, deep dwelling creatures, and the power of the moons. Obi-Wan closed his eyes, and, instead of concentrating, relaxed. The pulse of the waves vibrated in his mind, and he fell into a trance-like state. Slowly, slowly, he felt his mind reaching towards a new truth. He let it drift, not forcing it this time. And a world of gray appeared behind her closed eyes.

The gray shifted and flowed, and shapes appeared and moved. Gradually one became distinct, and glowed gently with a steady blue light. Familiar, somehow. He gently reached out with his mind, and touched the blue glow. Recognition, and approval. Qui-Gon Jinn. Obi-Wan felt himself smiling, but his concentration did not waver. Keeping his eyes closed, he looked at the beach again. Flickers and glows all along the path he had trod, what were they? Seaweed, birds, tiny shelled creatures? The large blue glow that was Qui-Gon shifted slightly and Obi-Wan turned his mind turned back towards him. He held something out.

Still with his eyes closed, he passively observed. Qui-Gon held something small, a tiny gray blob, distinct from his shining form in it's grayness. Mentally Obi-Wan leaned closer to it. As he watched, the tiny gray object began to sparkle, just a little, with a silver shimmer. His mind closed around the object until he saw nothing else. The beauty of the silver glow enveloped him and he grinned in delight. He felt Qui-Gon's hand close over his, as he placed something in his hand. The silver glow was now his to hold, and slowly the physical sensations took over. The glowing around him faded, all except for the tiny silver object he now held. It was smooth, round, and cold. As he realized what he held, what caused the silver shine, he opened her eyes.

A pebble. A pebble glowed with Force. He turned it over wonderingly, and raised his eyes to his Master. Qui-Gon was smiling. "Be mindful of the living Force, young Padawan." Obi-Wan smiled back,and placed the pebble in his beltpouch. "Yes, Master."