Homepage: Kalynn's Fan Fiction - XFiles, Profiler, Star Wars:
TPM, Hercules, Young Hercules: http://www.geocities.com/kalyw
Rating: G
Archive: m_a
Classification: short story, series story, humor
Warnings: AU (compared to JA), knowledge of Inner Strength
series will help.
Spoilers: none
Summary: General mischief all around. g
Feedback: Does bribery really work? I'm guessing so.... I wrote
this. :-) so, send feedback to let me know if I caved in for a
reason g Response determines if this series lives longer
than two episodes g
Thank Yous: Ophie, Kry and Kim for reading over this for me in
#TPM :-) And Master Kim - you're welcome g
Disclaimer: insert witty remark here gee, they're not
mine and for me they reap no profit. ;-) I don't know about
you, but I'm not surprised by that.
Notes: Okay, here we have something new - a sub-series within
my Inner Strength series :-) I'm not sure how many I'll end up
with - but these stories will fall within the larger framework
of IS. However - in NO particular order. So, although this is
Missing Moment #1 - it actually falls late in the series. Cool?
I hope so. :-)
"Obi-Wan, what are you doing?"
The little boy looked up at the imposing Jedi who was walking
across the garden. Several other children continued playing,
ignoring the loud splash and following commotion that had
attracted the Jedi's attention. Even Bant hurried away before
being spotted.
Obi-Wan quickly hid his hands behind his back, but he was
unable to wipe the smile from his face. "Nothing?" he replied
in a sheepish voice. The streak of dirt on his cheek crinkled
when he squinted his eyes.
The tall Jedi Master walked over to the child, his serious air
disturbed by the glint of humor in his blue eyes. "Now," he
said, "why is it I don't believe you?"
Green eyes widened, his look pure innocence. "You don't believe
me?"
The Jedi shook his head. "I'm sorry, little one. You're up to
something."
"Awww, it's not really bad."
Qui-Gon blinked slowly, causing the boy to giggle. "What's not
that bad?"
Pulling his hands out from behind his back, he presented
Qui-Gon with a large Eddon toad held in muddy hands. When the
toad tried to jump to freedom, Obi-Wan held onto the animal as
it smudged mud down the front of his tunic.
"Where did you find this, Obi-Wan?" he asked.
Grinning, Obi-Wan ducked his head to the side. "Over at the
creek. Do you like him? I think he's neat."
Kneeling in front of Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon fought a small grin.
"Yes, he's very interesting, little one. However, you might not
want to hold him so tightly." As he spoke, the Jedi tried to
loosen Obi-Wan's death grip on the animal. "You're smashing
him."
Glancing at the child's face, he was met with a mental debate
over not hurting the animal, versus losing his grip. "But what
if he jumps away?"
"Everything is free, Obi-Wan. Even Eddon toads."
Lessening his grip somewhat, Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon with
large eyes. "But Kimdy likes me."
"Kimdy?" Qui-Gon asked, slowly pulling Obi-Wan's fingers away
from the toad.
Obi-Wan nodded. "That's what we named him."
Having almost pried his hands free, Qui-Gon asked, "We, little
one?"
Obi-Wan broke into a quick grin. "Bant, but she ran off when
you walked over."
"I don't think . . ."
Whatever Qui-Gon was going to say was cut off when the toad
found his sought after freedom and leapt from the boy's hands.
However, the nearest surface to land on was Qui-Gon.
The Jedi Master jumped when the muddy toad landed on his chest.
It was when the toad managed to leap inside his tunic that he
gave up on his stoic facade in his attempt to remove the
frantic animal.
He kept as straight a face as possible, while pulling his tunic
open far enough to pull the toad free. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan had
collapsed on the ground in helpless giggles.
Once he had a hold on the toad, Qui-Gon carefully sat it on the
ground before straightening his tunic and looking down at
Obi-Wan.
"Yes?" he asked the little boy dryly.
Obi-Wan, who had his arms wrapped around his stomach, managed
to catch his breath for just a moment. "You're all muddy," he
replied before again dissolving into a fit of laughter.
Looking down at himself, Qui-Gon noted that he was, indeed,
covered in mud. "It would appear that I am," he said. He leaned
over and picked the child up from the ground.
The next thing Obi-Wan knew, he was dangling upside down in the
air. "Now, the question is what are we going to do about it,"
Qui-Gon said, not missing a beat as the boy giggled and
squirmed, trying to get away.
"Not fair," the boy cried, still laughing and unable to get
away.
Qui-Gon laughed, "Sorry, Obi-Wan. You asked for it." With that,
the Jedi started tickling the boy relentlessly.
"I didn't," Obi-Wan managed to say. "Kimdy did!"
"Yes, well," Qui-Gon said. "Then I'll have to see to him next
won't I?"
Laughing, Obi-Wan looked at the small toad. "Run, Kimdy," he
called out around his laughter. As if in response, the toad
slowly hopped away without a second glance back.
"Are you gonna put me down now?" the little boy asked,
grinning.
Qui-Gon paused, pretending to think about it. "I don't know,
should I?"
Nodding eagerly, Obi-Wan replied, "Yes!"
"You're sure?"
Before Obi-Wan could reply, Elyzabe interrupted. "Qui-Gon, what
are you doing?"
Laughing, Obi-Wan said, "Who's in trouble now?"
Qui-Gon looked over at Kohn, who wasn't quite managing to hide
her smile. Another quick glance around revealed all the other
students to have left the garden already. "See what you've
done?"
"Don't look at me," Elyzabe replied. "Although you might want
to look in the mirror . . . You could use a shower, Qui-Gon."
"Yeah, you're messy," Obi-Wan chimed in helpfully, dragging a
still-muddy finger down Qui-Gon's cheek.
Qui-Gon shook his head. "You first then," he began, before
walking over to the stream. Glancing at Elyzabe, he added, "I'd
say he needs a quick dip."
"Qui-Gon, do don't dunk my student," Elyzabe said, standing
between the Master and the water.
Elyzabe recognized the glint she saw in Qui-Gon's eyes a second
too late. "What if I dunk his teacher then?"
"Qui-Gon, don't you dare!" The last word was almost a shriek as
she found herself on her backside in the small stream. Looking
up at the smiling master and shocked student, Elyzabe pushed a
soaked lock of hair from her face. "You did not just do
that."
"Little one," Qui-Gon said, dropping Obi-Wan to his feet, "Now
would be a good time to run."
"Yes, sir," Obi-Wan said, before running toward the door.
Qui-Gon had just turned when he felt a hand on his arm. "Oh no
you don't. You, Master Jedi, still need a bath."
Hearing the splash that followed, Obi-Wan ducked out from
behind a tree in time to see Qui-Gon flop down into the water.
Kohn, meanwhile, was standing with her arms crossed and a
triumphant smile on her face.
When Obi-Wan giggled, the two Masters looked over at him.
"You realize we'll never be able to maintain a proper Master
discipline now, don't you?" Qui-Gon asked not yet standing.
Elyzabe laughed, and walked over to Obi-Wan. "Why are you
looking at me? You threw me in first."
Instead of a reply from Qui-Gon, they heard a croaking sound.
Three sets of eyes looked down to see the small toad hop from
Qui-Gon's cloak to land on the Master's knee.
"Actually, I do believe this is all his fault," Qui-Gon said.
Running over, Obi-Wan rescued the toad and held it to his
chest. "Kimdy didn't do anything."
"I'm sure he didn't, Obi-Wan," Kohn said, placing a hand on
Obi-Wan's shoulder. "But it's time for dinner, and you still
have to change first."
Obi-Wan ducked his gaze, almost hiding his grin. "Yes, Master
Kohn."
Obi-Wan turned to leave, but paused when Master Kohn added,
"And Obi-Wan . . . Leave Kimdy here, would you?"
The two Masters watched as Obi-Wan's shoulders slumped. "Yes,
Master."
Jogging over to the stream, Obi-Wan placed the animal on the
ground. After watching it hop away he glanced at Qui-Gon. "Are
you going to dinner, too?"
The Jedi nodded. "I'll be there."
"Just change first," Elyzabe offered, before leading Obi-Wan
toward the door.
Giggling, Obi-Wan added, "Yeah."
Qui-Gon ruffled the child's hair, leaving the red-gold locks
wet. "You love getting me in trouble."
When Obi-Wan nodded, Elyzabe tried to hide her laughter but
couldn't. "It's not very hard apparently," she offered as they
walked out of the garden, leaving a trail of water behind them.
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