Ghost of Holidays Past
"Come on, my son, take my hand," Shmi started and Anakin watched as she became made of flesh and blood and her hand warmed beneath his.
"Has this happened before?" he asked.
"Yes, Anakin, sometimes the Force feels the need to intercede when there's a mistake in the works. Everything you see will be the truth. Force Day is coming up is it not?"
"Yes, I guess it is. I hadn't thought much about it," Anakin admitted sheepishly. "I've been so worried. But I'll get something for Padme, perhaps something for the baby," he admitted, and Shmi looked at Qui-Gon with a smile in her eyes and on her face. Force Day was the day of the year in the winter that the galaxy took to appreciate everything the Force had given them. That they were thankful for their lot in life. It was closely followed by Life Day, which both days those closest to him exchanged gifts. He and Padme especially were carefree on those days since the Jedi and the Senate would not impose on them. Shmi waved her hand and the three of them were on Tattooine.
Anakin looked at the scene in front of him. There was Watto giving him the day off. He had sat down and made his mother a gift sneaking into the shop behind Watto's back. He pressed his face to the glass.
"I- I'm sorry, Watto. I I- didn't mean any harm."
"Are you using my tools?"
"Ye- yes sir," six year old Ani said.
"I hear that you sneak off and watch the podraces. Why is that?"
"I think I could do that."
"You? Podrace? A human."
"Yes, sir. Okay. I have a podracer, if you really want to try. But you are mine, and I'm not losing you," he stated rather protectively. "So you try here, see, before you try out there. Maybe you win me a lot of money, yes."
"I'll try."
"You know, you and your mother. You work harder than any slave I know. Is this for her?"
"No. This?" he looked at the japor snippet. "This is for someone special."
"Anyone I know."
"No. She is very pretty. Like an angel. I haven't met her yet."
"You are strange, even for a human. Your mother's worried about you. If you want, you can hop on and I'll give you a lift home."
"Really and truly?"
"Sure, Ani. Why not? It is the holidays. But only if you tell her that is from both of us. You were using my tools."
"Of course, Watto." Anakin grabbed the pair of earrings he had made for his mother and the locket he had made with his own holographic image. Anakin watched as little Ani hopped onto of those small wings and was carried off.
"You loved Christmas so much," Shmi said with a sad smile.
"That boy there gave without no thought of himself. Truly unselfish." Anakin bit his lip and chewed over the information as the scene changed dramatically in front of him. He was eleven now. He was at the Temple. He was sparring with Ferus.
"No, Anakin, no. You must not use your emotions," came the cocky voice as he was unarmed again. Little Anakin grabbed his lightsaber and charged at the boy.
"You must never use anger."
"That's easy for you to say."
"What do you mean?"
"You never lost your mother."
"Youngling Skywalker, may I speak to you?"
"Yes, Master."
"You are quite gifted. Perhaps the most gifted in all of the Order. But you lack dicipline. I'm sorry, I'm going to tell Master Kenobi that I cannot allow you in my class again.
"But-Master. I'll try harder. I'll do better."
"I can see that you are trying harder. I do not believe I can put the other younglings in danger. I'm sorry. Maybe in a year, when you've caught up to them."
"I don't need to catch up. I have surpassed them. You know and I know it." The master blushed and shook her head as Anakin ran away.
"Anakin, I'm really sorry," Master Jinn stated with a sad shake of his head. "I understand that the holidays were hard on you. Being away from Tattooine."
"It doesn't matter," Anakin replied with a shrug.
"Maybe if you'd talked to them?" Shmi suggested.
"Why? They know everything right?" Anakin blinked back the tears. The dissapoinment had been disheartning at best. He had been told that several times of the years but nothing had been a horrifying as being kicked out of class. He wasn't like everyone else, he wasn't as good as everyone else. The message was always the same.
"Well," Qui-Gon cleared his throat. "I think we've had enough for one day. Tomorrow expect more of our kind."
"How many days will this last?" Anakin asked.
"Just two more days. You have the ghosts of the present and the ghosts of the future. Everything you see is as it is."
"Mom, don't go. I need you," Anakin pleaded.
"I'm sorry, my son. Know that I will always be with you," and Anakin was once again in his bed at the Temple wondering if it had been a dream or if he was goinng crazy. Maybe both.
