A' Marie Skywalker could not feel the Force; she was completely oblivious to its power. In a family of Force-users this was an aggravating part of life. Though she was adored by not only her brother and sister and her father's apprentice sometimes she was envious. She knew her father and mother loved her and was protective almost to point of being uncomfortable. It was odd though her father always knew where she was and what trouble she was about to get into, she had been caught more than once with her hand in the proverbial cookie jar. His insights to her behavior was troubling, it seemed he was always there with his hands on his hips or his right finger wagging at her. Luke and Leia had warned her of Anakin's infamous "Sith Lord Stance." A' Marie hated it when he glared at her or gave her the look. She would at times challenge Padmé with her sarcastic wit and tongue but rarely did so with her father. The ability to take a seat overrode her mouth ninety-nine percent of the time. School was hated place as her family was so famous that she was often teased and her temper got her into her share of fights; which unfortunately her father had to often come down to the school to settle. Padmé was often busy at either the palace or at the college. Even though her father was a powerful Jedi Master and at times very strict, if there was one person she wanted to spend time with it was her father.
A' Marie stretched out in her bed and sighed deeply today was the first day in the fourth grade. Padmé had purchased a new dress, A' Marie hated dresses with a pure unadulterated revulsion. "Good morning, Ani." Anakin greeted as he entered the room and opened the blinds the morning sun came streaming in and hitting A' Marie directly in the face. She in turn covered her head with the purple quilt that her grandmother had made for her.
"Don't want to be late for school, young one."
"Why not? We Skywalkers are always late, council meetings, training, and rescuing Jedi Masters." A' Marie laughed when the large looming figure came over her bed she knew her father was giving her the look. She cowered fully under the covers and mummified herself. She felt herself being lifted up out of bed and kept her eyes tightly closed as she refused to look at her father.
"Okay, I'm up see?" A' Marie was still in mid-air as she moved her arms. Nothing was said. A' Marie slowly opened her eyes and looked into her father's dark blue eyes; she then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.
"I love you dad." A' Marie could always melt Anakin's heart.
"Love you too, kid." Anakin put her down on the floor playfully taking a swipe A' Marie's behind.
"Do I have to wear a dress? I hate dresses."
"It would please your mom if you did, A' Marie half the time she's unsure if she has a daughter or a little boy running around here."
A' Marie sighed deeply and pulled on the purple dress that went to her ankles; her legs are always marred by playing rough games with the boys at school and in the neighborhood. The girls didn't like A' Marie she was too strong and she only liked to play ball, climb trees, build forts, play in the mud.
Padmé saw the scowl on A' Marie's face and saw that she had dressed in the purple dress that she picked out for the first day of school.
"Okay, where's A' Marie and what have you done to her? She's about your height, has blonde hair, blue eyes, but she normally is filthy wears blue jeans and tee-shirts. Have you seen her today?" Padmé sarcastically asked.
"It's me mom." A' Marie rolled her eyes at her mother's antics.
"A' Marie, is it really you? You look so pretty today." Padmé grabbed her hairbrush and a couple of ponytail holders.
"You want me to braid your hair?"
"Thanks, mom." A' Marie loved it when Padmé did her hair it was the only girlish thing she enjoyed. Anakin snapped a picture to send to the council and to Luke, Leia, and Mara Jade.
A' Marie grabbed her knapsack and hugged her parents' goodbye as she started the long walk to school. Tomas approached A' Marie, "Why your dressed like a girl, what's the matter with you?"
"That's because I am a girl you half-wit."
"Can you play this afternoon?"
"Maybe, it depends how much homework we get."
"They won't assign us homework on the first day of school."
"You want to bet on it?"
"No."
Tomas and A' Marie continued their walk and soon the other members of their gang joined up with them.
"A' Marie's wearing a dress! Someone put a blaster to your head?" Timothy asked.
"Yea, a lightsaber hilt, is more like it." Joe retorted.
A' Marie rolled her eyes at her friend's antics, they were fearful of her father and his strange powers.
"It's a shame you can't convince the teacher to not assign us homework." Tomas laughed.
"Tomas did you forget who my father is for an insane moment? Do you honestly think that if I could that I would get away with it?"
"Is Master Skywalker really that tough?" Tim was highly doubtful.
"Yes, he really is that tough. I don't know where you guys get your ideas."
"Remember last summer?" Tomas certainly did, whew he never saw a father appear out of nowhere before to discipline his kid, one moment everything was cool and the next A' Marie's father was there and the temperature in the surrounding area dropped twenty degrees. The gang ran in different directions and A' Marie was having her arm grabbed and taken over her father's shoulder.
"What I don't get is how he managed to do it?" Tim wondered.
"That's just part of his mystique." A' Marie replied.
"Mm, man I'm glad my father isn't a Jedi." Tomas retorted.
"Yea, cause if he was you'd already be in military school." A' Marie laughed.
Once she arrived at the school her name was on the roster for the meanest school teacher.
A' Marie used one of her father's favorite Huttese curse words to indicate her frustration.
"What was that?" Tomas asked.
"Nothing, someone up there hates my guts. But at least you'll be there too, Tomas." A' Marie laughed.
"Thanks a lot, Ani." Tomas rolled his eyes and followed Ani to the classroom. Mrs. Leikvold was an older lady who was obese and her demeanor was one of cruelty. A' Marie picked up on it right away.
"Why if it isn't the famous third Skywalker child, do not even think about getting away with anything in my classroom, young lady. I hear your father is quite strict isn't he?"
A' Marie sighed deeply, "This is going to be a long hard year." A' Marie was about to sit in the back of the room, when the teacher grabbed her arm and said, "Oh, no, you will sit up front where I can keep an eye on you."
A' Marie rolled her eyes and leveled her eyes at the teacher, "You will take your hands off me, Mrs. Leikvold."
"Do not talk back to your elders, young lady."
A' Marie pulled her arm out of the lady's grip and sat at her desk. Once the other students came in, A' Marie saw her arch nemesis Victoria enter the room.
"Mrs. Leikvold, I cannot sit next to this . . ."
"Speechless, Victoria, how surprising for your mouth is legendary around here."
"Shut up, A' Marie."
"Victoria do not worry about this child, she wouldn't dare cause trouble with me keeping an eye on her."
School was more or less the same, A' Marie was the brunt of the teacher's anger and jealously. After school ended, A' Marie had a ton of homework. Tomas approached her he was worried about her. A' Marie had an explosive temper when cornered and the teacher constantly picking on her didn't help matters.
"Are you going to talk with your dad?"
"No. This is one battle I must contend with on my own."
"She's jealous of you and your family they single-handedly rescued this planet from the Trade Federation."
"It doesn't matter, Tomas."
"Just remember A' Marie, no matter what happens I'll be behind you."
"I know Tomas, you are true friend." A' Marie hugged him.
"Ugh, don't get all mushy on me." Tomas enjoyed the hug but his boy senses took over.
"So, A' Marie did you enjoy our new teacher?" Victoria sarcastically asked.
"So, Vic, tell me what's it like for your father to be a two bit player?"
"That does it; I'm through with you and your arrogance." Victoria threw her knapsack down and started to go after A' Marie. A' Marie handed her books to Tomas and rolled up her sleeves on her dress.
"Ani, don't. Your father will be angry." Tim tried to warn her.
Victoria threw the first punch, A' Marie ducked and knocked Victoria into the large mud puddle and proceeded to beat her to a pulp.
A large figure was approaching the crowd, "Ani, stop please, you're father is coming."
Anakin watched the fight all of three seconds before he yelled, "A' Marie Skywalker!"
A' Marie had her fist raised as she heard her full name being yelled. A' Marie was briefly stunned and rolled off of Victoria and sat in the mud. Victoria tore off running to her house she was very fearful of A' Marie's father. Tomas watched as A' Marie jumped up and ran away. Anakin let her go; he'd deal with her later.
"Master Skywalker, sir? Here are her books."
"Thank you Tomas."
"Sir?"
"Yes?"
"Go easy on her, the teacher manhandled her today and even loaded her down with more homework than the rest of the class."
"What do you mean, Tomas?"
"Ani was about to go sit in the back of the class when the teacher grabbed her arm and forced her to sit up front next to Victoria, who is her arch nemesis."
"Yes, I'm familiar with Victoria. That still doesn't excuse A' Marie's behavior."
"No, sir I suppose not, but Victoria did throw the first punch."
Anakin smiled at Tomas' honesty and thanked him again.
A' Marie was sitting in her favorite tree crying, not so much afraid of the heavy discipline she knew she was in for, but because she hated her teacher and was stuck with her all year. Anakin placed the books on the dining room table and found A' Marie sitting in her favorite tree. Anakin Force-leapt into the tree and sat next to her he put his arm around his daughter. She began to cry more earnestly.
"Tough day sweetheart?"
"Yes it was dad. I'm sorry I fought with Victoria, just go ahead and get it over with."
"Why don't you tell me what happened and that way I'll have the facts."
A' Marie sighed and described the events of the day especially with the teacher. Anakin listened intently not only to what was being said but to the emotional undercurrents of A' Marie. Her frustration was considerable. "How much homework do you have?"
"Too much, the teacher singled me out; she thinks I'm a troublemaker."
"Your reputation must have proceeded."
A' Marie rolled her eyes and knew that her father was right of course. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up before your mother comes home and finds that you've ruined another dress." Anakin jumped down and A' Marie leapt into his arms smearing him with mud as well. "Dad?"
"Mm?"
"I love you, you know that right?"
"Yes, young one I do. The feeling is mutual."
"How many are you going to give me this time?" A' Marie was suddenly shy.
"None, this time; however next time control your anger, one day it could be your downfall."
A' Marie breathed a sigh of relief and ran to the shower. Luke was right, honesty was the best policy. After finishing her homework which took nearly all afternoon, she found Anakin mediating in the gazebo. She tried to sneak up on him but rarely managed it; it was a game with them. She jumped on his back and hugged his neck.
"A' Marie, how many times do I have to tell you?"
"Lots more, Skywalkers are stubborn. You've said it yourself."
Anakin shook his head and flipped his daughter over his head and proceeded to tickle her as she laughed and screamed in joy.
"May I go find Tomas and the gang to play ball until nightfall?"
"Okay, but don't make me have to come and find you."
A' Marie sighed and gently kissed her father's cheek and ran to Tomas' house.
"So how many did you get?" Tomas concerned.
"None; I was really surprised."
"You are very lucky; my father would have whipped me."
"You're father is a real sleamo."
"Yea, I know."
Once the gang was together they started to play ball. Once the sun started to go down, A' Marie quit the game, "See you guys tomorrow." A' Marie hurried home catching the ball as she ran home. Anakin was standing at the door when A' Marie opened it, "I'm not late."
"Go get washed up, A' Marie." Anakin sternly ordered.
A' Marie sensed the tension and ran to the bathroom.
"Can we talk about this after dinner, Anakin?" Padmé asked, she really hated when A' Marie skipped her meals.
"Yes it will be most thoroughly discussed."
The teacher Mrs. Leikvold had sent a message to Anakin and told him of the disruption that his daughter had caused with her attitude and her disobedience. Dinner was silent as A' Marie talkative self disappeared.
"May I be excused?"
"Yes go to your room and do not leave it under any circumstances."
A' Marie obeyed she certainly didn't want to bring the full wrath of her father down on herself. After finishing up dinner, Anakin went upstairs to find A' Marie sitting in her window seat with her knees up to her chest and her head on her knees. Anakin handed the message pad to A' Marie. She read it and tears formed on her face and dribbled down her chin. Anakin handed her a handkerchief the sorrow was emanating from A' Marie.
"What do you have to say?"
A' Marie sighed deeply and replied, "I don't know."
"Yes you do know, young one and you will tell me." Anakin crossed his arms.
A' Marie couldn't explain it and even though her father was a Jedi she doubted that he would believe her.
"I was angry at Mrs. Leikvold, she gave the class twenty problems in math and doubled my work for no reason, and she not only doubled my work in math but in every subject."
"Go on."
"When she turned her back on me all her papers started to dance around on the desk and attempted to catch them as they floated around the room, it caused much chaos in the room. Tomas said he saw a dark menacing look in my eyes as it happened and that I was untouchable, he could see pure anger and hatred on my face. I'm so sorry father. The teacher didn't know how it happened but she blamed me."
"You used the Force."
"Huh? I thought I was blind to the Force."
Anakin didn't say anything more; he needed to mediate on this newest development.
"Take a shower and go straight to bed."
"Yes, sir." A' Marie jumped off the window seat and went to immediately obey her father.
Author's Note:First off I do not own Star Wars or any of the canon characters thereof; I am merely playing in the Lucas' universe. I appreciate all the past support of my stories of the Skywalker Family this might be considered part III of the Skywalker trilogy. Hope you guys enjoy this one as well.—DarthGladiator45