Commander Ponds whirls around at the sound of Mace’s step and bolts up to his feet. He begs Mace not to take Boba back to Kamino. He says that he’ll look after him. He’ll take responsibility. With hands pressed together, he pleads for mercy for his brother. Mace tells him not to be ridiculous. Of course he isn’t taking Boba back to Kamino. He’s waiting, that’s all. It is only fair to give everyone a second chance. Even Jango Fett. (An AU where Mace Windu acquires and shares custody over a six-year-old Boba with Jango.)

“Too slow, kid,” a voice calls, half a second before a pebble bounces off the top of Jon's head.

Obi-wan Kenobi was chosen by a Master when he was a few months shy of his tenth birthday. Twenty plus years later, the galaxy as a whole has rather a lot of cause to regret that. (The longer the war drags on, the more Qui-gon Jinn finds to question; about himself, about the events of history, and about the Sith Lord who was once Jedi Knight Obi-wan Kenobi.)

Obi-Wan stared at the newcomer standing tense in the corner. Dark smoke curled around the other padawan’s boot like the tail of a lothcat. With a huff, Obi-Wan disengaged his own lightsaber and clipped it to his belt, bowing in greeting. “Hello, Padawan Antilles.” OR Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi makes a friend and the universe changes for the better.