Just a single day later, tragedy struck with the force of a thunderbolt. The once bright sky over Coruscant darkened ominously, mirroring the turmoil within her heart. Rain cascaded relentlessly from the sky, matching the torrent of tears that streamed down her cheeks, mingling with the downpour in a symphony of grief and despair. The world around her seemed to blur in a whirlwind of chaos and confusion, the events unfolding with a dizzying speed that left her breathless. Time itself felt warped, compressed into a single agonising moment where joy and sorrow collided in a maelstrom of emotion.

Her chest constricted with a visceral ache, a physical manifestation of the anguish that gripped her soul. Every beat of her heart reverberated with the weight of loss, each pulse a reminder of the shattered dreams and hopes that now lay scattered at her feet. In the midst of this tempest, she struggled to find solid ground, to anchor herself amidst the storm.

Standing amidst the deluge, she was acutely aware of the fragility of life, of the fleeting nature of happiness and the cruel capriciousness of fate. At that moment of darkness, she found herself grappling with questions that had no answers, seeking solace in a world that offered none.

Qui-Gon was lost. He became one with the Force.

She experienced it, a tug at the strings of her heart, around noon; as the man, deep in meditation, extended his senses while awaiting the click of the electron walls. A palpable premonition settled upon him - an awareness of impending doom. At that moment, Leilani's perception was remarkably vivid; she could observe the Dathomirian figure pacing before the wall, the plasma-fuelled generator core...she was painfully aware of Qui-Gon's unspoken plea, that echoed subconsciously, urging her to take on the responsibility of safeguarding the boy. And that imagine and sound was still carved in her mind.

Initially, she desperately hoped it was a poorly executed, elaborate joke. However, as she approached her former Master and saw the pained expression in her eyes, she knew her vision hadn't deceived her. A wave of dizziness and nausea washed over her, her body on the brink of surrendering to the overwhelming truth.

And now, as Dooku and her stood before Qui-Gon's so cherished tree, it felt real. Her tears still rolled down on her cheek - and while Dooku attempted to remain or at least appear stoic and calm, Leilani saw the shattered vases, boxes and window glass in his old room. He broke down, and she did too.

"I used to bring Qui-Gon here as a boy," Dooku explained, and for a moment Leilani was puzzled by the sudden sound. Turning her head slightly, she caught sight of Master Yaddle from the corner of her eyes, momentarily feeling ashamed at how dulled her senses had become. She hadn't sensed Yaddle's presence when she entered the gardens, consumed as she was by her pain. But now, she listened to her brother's voice, while wiping down the tears with the back of her hand. "He was fascinated with this tree...Having been born here on Coruscant, a planet of steel and stone...he knew nothing like it." His features twitched, barely visibly, and he turned his attention towards the pavement instead. He felt his sister's eyes on him, and that she caught on quickly, but didn't dare to face her.

"The Council is leaving for Naboo," Master Yaddle attempted to explain, her gaze fixed on them from the top of the stairs while the siblings stood down, side by side. Leilani stood with her body angled toward Dooku's shoulder, while he remained with his back turned to the Master.

"I doubt that I will be pleasant company," Dooku remarked.

"You hold them accountable?" the Master inquired, prompting Dooku to finally turn towards her. Leilani remained silent, knowing better than to interfere, but she was certain that he did hold them accountable.

However, he neglected to answer directly. "Qui-Gon Jinn has become one with the Force. It is time to let him go." He ascended the stairs as if attempting to flee the conversation, leaving the two women alone. But he paused and turned around one last time as Yaddle asked him again;

"And you can do this?"

"What choice have I?" he replied, his voice heavy with resignation.

Leilani stepped beside Yaddle, as they both looked towards the way where the man disappeared, it all felt wrong - and she felt like she was losing him too, again.

"He's consumed by his feelings," Yaddle remarked, turning towards her former Padawan.

"He loved Qui-Gon like a son...and his attachments were part of the reason why he left the Jedi Order too," she attempted to explain his actions, protect him, but her arguments were weak, and she knew. "He does blame the Council, but first and foremost, he blames himself - for not being there, for being so helpless. He'd warned us against the darkness coming and often told us we blindly serve the Senate, the Council...and it all led us here."

"You...share his sentiment?"

"I believe that he is right, in many ways, yes. But contrary to him, I am loyal to the Order and I do live by the Code; and if it were ever come to it, I'd try to salvage whatever I could."

Both of them released a tender sigh before summoning the resolve to continue their respective paths. Leilani quickened her pace slightly, eager to catch the departing spacecraft carrying the rest of the Jedi to Naboo - whereas Master Yaddle appeared to have different intentions.

"Master?" Leilani inquired, gesturing in the opposite direction.

"I have a matter to attend to, but I'll meet you on Naboo."

Leilani nodded cautiously. She had a bad feeling about it.

As she bid farewell to her former Master, Leilani stepped onto the spaceship, her senses keenly attuned to the atmosphere. Her gaze quickly settled on a familiar figure, a Jedi Master with whom she shared amicable relations. Without hesitation, she made her way toward Adi Gallia, settling in beside her for the duration of the journey.

Leilani and Adi found themselves in a realm of mutual understanding, their paths intersecting not only within the Jedi Order but also in the intricate world of politics. Both were descendants of families deeply entrenched in the political landscape, their lives shaped by the delicate dance of diplomacy and governance. And so, they have become close friends.

A heated battle of dejarik ensued between them, the holographic creatures clashing in a flurry of simulated combat. Despite Leilani's usual prowess in the game, her moves lacked the usual finesse and concentration. Adi, sensing something amiss, gently nudged her friend, urging her to share the cause of her distraction. Reluctant at first, Leilani hesitated to divulge the details. However, under Adi's patient gaze, she found herself opening up about the events that had unsettled her - although careful not to appear more hurt than she was allowed to.

As her story concluded, the journey itself drew to a close, marked by the initiation of the landing process. The newly-appointed Chancellor took the lead, stepping forward to disembark first. However, his demeanour left much to be desired; his smile, though seemingly congenial, held an unsettling quality that seemed to grate on Leilani's nerves. Throughout the journey, Leilani had felt a sense of relief that the Chancellor had kept his distance from her. If she ever hated Finis Valorum, then she certainly despised Sheev Palpatine.

The descending ramp bathed Leilani in the brilliant Naboo sunlight, momentarily blinding her. As her eyes adjusted to the radiance, she noticed the Chancellor engaged in conversation with Obi-Wan and Anakin, who had stepped forward to offer greetings. A furrow formed on her brow when she observed the Chancellor placing his hands on Anakin's shoulders before proceeding on his way. Fortunately, it appeared the encounter had minimal impact on the young boy, who swiftly turned his attention to her, as she was already making her way towards the duo.

"Leia," he semi-exclaimed, while Obi-Wan nodded towards her; it was better than nothing.

"Ani," she began, mustering a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. The wounds were still fresh, the memories too vivid-her facial expressions struggled to convey any semblance of cheer. "My, you've had quite an eventful day." Her words were directed partially at Obi-Wan, though she didn't expect much of a response from him.

"I wish you could've seen my piloting up there, it was amazing. It was just like Podracing," Anakin explained with enthusiasm.

"Well, you'll have to tell me all about it later, won't you?" It was a rhetorical question, intended to gently steer the conversation towards the end of the welcoming ceremony. Anakin responded with a quick 'yes' as both Obi-Wan and Leilani gently guided him forward from either side.

They caught a few of the Chancellor's words to the Queen, but didn't linger - rather followed the welcome party back towards the palace gates. The Queen was generous enough to provide all of them with their own rooms, and while originally intended otherwise, Leilani insisted on staying with Anakin. The woman; who turned out to be Padmé Amidala herself, was seemingly content with the suggestion, with someone other than Obi-Wan staying with Anakin, more so after they have joined her for an afternoon tea, and the boy told Padmé how kind Leilani was to him, and what he had seen back on Coruscant. Following that, Anakin eagerly told Padmé and Leilani about him defeating the Trade Federation battleship. His youthful imagination painted vivid scenes of daring escapades and heroic triumphs, albeit peppered with a few embellishments that veered far from realism. With each such detail, Padmé and Leilani exchanged glances, silently questioning the authenticity of his narrative. But despite these moments, they indulged in Anakin's creativity, recognising the innocence and enthusiasm behind his storytelling. In the end, the slight embellishments did not detract from the enjoyment of the tale, nor from being proud of him.

By the time of the funeral, Obi-Wan also rejoined their company - who seemed to disappear hours ago, as soon as they had stepped through the gates, and followed Master Yoda for a weary discussion. He seemed neutral, stoic, once again and while Leilani noticed his padawan braid gone, she feared what kind of settlement they had reached with the Grandmaster.

Once more, Leilani and Obi-Wan exchanged a fleeting glance as they entered the solemn confines of the dome and pulled their hood over their head. Qui-Gon's lifeless form lay exposed, drained of colour and vitality. The sight was overwhelming, prompting Leilani to avert her gaze, her heart heavy with grief. Another tear threatened to escape her eyes, but she willed herself to remain composed. She couldn't afford to succumb to her emotions, not now, not like this. Her resolve solidified as she reminded herself of the need to stay strong, especially for Anakin, who depended on her stability. Even so, Obi-Wan noticed, while his extreme effort to do the exact same.

He took a step and assumed the lead with a solemn determination and heavy heart. Grasping the grapnel tightly in his hand, he surveyed the flickering light, allowing its warmth to envelop him momentarily. His hand hovered in the air for a brief moment, the weight of the moment bearing down on him. With legs trembling slightly, he reached out and touched the fire to the wood beneath his Master's still form. He felt sickened, disgusted even by the sheer lunacy of the moment - but it was customary for the Padawan to initiate the rite of passage.

Then, he returned to his designated place, positioning himself with the Queen on his left and Anakin alongside Leilani on the right side. The scent of burning flesh wafted through the air, permeating the solemn atmosphere as the funeral pyre crackled nearby. He fixed his gaze upon the flames, his lips and features twitching involuntarily, a silent manifestation of his inner turmoil. All he desired in that moment was for the ordeal to come to its inevitable conclusion, to bring closure to the sombre proceedings - frankly, to get this over with.

Only then, did he turn towards Anakin.

"What will happen to me now?" the boy asked him, catching Leilani's attention as well.

"The Council has granted me permission to train you," he said...not willing to reveal what happened exactly. "You will become a Jedi, I promise." The solemn vow came out slightly differently, subtly tinged with a hint of apprehension. Leilani empathised with him; to take on the role of a Padawan's mentor was a profound responsibility, one not to be taken lightly. Considering that Obi-Wan had not completed his own training in the traditional sense, she understood his reluctance. In truism, it was often said that a Jedi Knight's education truly began when he became a Master; that everything important in being a Master was learned from one's student. However, the reality of that responsibility was far from graceful or easy.

After what seemed like an eternity, they bid Qui-Gon a final farewell, standing in solemn silence as they gazed upon the ashes. There was a fleeting hope, almost imperceptible, that Qui-Gon might miraculously reappear before them, offering his characteristic wisdom or humour, but it remained unfulfilled. All three of them were enveloped in silence-Obi-Wan and Leilani still grappling with the visceral unease churned up by the grotesque sight, while Anakin finally started to understand the reality...but rather he was just simply exhausted.

They returned to their rooms in silence, the weight of grief heavy upon them all. Obi-Wan didn't even bother to question why Leilani was sharing their apartment. He was too fatigued to ask, too emotionally drained to protest. However, his weariness soon shifted to concern when Leilani announced her departure, citing the need to retrieve something. He sank onto the sill of the central window with a heavy sigh, while Anakin, initially inclined to accompany Leilani, ultimately chose to remain by Obi-Wan's side.

Leilani was worried about two things, one was a simple gesture, to find the boy something suitable, a traditional tunic - as he was about to be a Padawan - she felt it to be only natural, to dress the role. While the second being her Master's absence. So when she reached the hangar bay and tried to look for something of a suitable clothing for the boy, she also reached out and tried her comm too; but with little to no result.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan sat still, gaze fixed on the floor, not even sensing when the boy sat next to him, nor when tears started to prickle from the corner of his eyes. His facade - that he carefully managed until now - was crumbling...he didn't mean to, didn't mean to cry, to appear weak, to give way to his emotions. But even self-control could only endure so much.

Anakin found himself bewildered by the scene before him, his youthful innocence unable to fully comprehend the gravity of death. Though he had heard stories and witnessed the passing of elders, the concept remained elusive, beyond the grasp of his tender understanding. Despite this, a deep-seated desire to offer comfort stirred within him. He yearned to ease the palpable sorrow radiating from Obi-Wan, to do something, anything, to alleviate the pain. He extended his small hand, laying it gently upon Obi-Wan's, a gesture of compassion born from a heart unburdened by the complexities of grief. Turning halfway towards the man, his entire being focused on the act of offering solace.

Obi-Wan wasn't sure what made him to do so, nor did understand the situation fully...he was compelled by forces beyond his comprehension. But as he met the gaze of the young blonde boy, his azure eyes shimmering with innocence and empathy, a sense of calm washed over him. He didn't agree with the situation at first...but now, he knew, he might have lost Qui-Gon, but he at least had Anakin.