Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, they belong to the great George Lucas. Lucky him! But, I do own Zankou, Ghanima/Chani and Alia (just three names which I'm borrowing from Frank Herbert's Children of Dune and Charmed) so no stealing!

Anarra: Glad you liked how Qui-Gon reacted to seeing Ghanima. I was going to have him recognize her, but that seemed unrealistic since she was twelve last time and she's now eighteen. Anyway, glad you like what I'm doing so far with all my stories.

Chapter 3

Anakin and Ghanima had just finished cleaning the racks and were now walking through the market hand-in-hand. Ghanima was deep in thought, listening to Anakin with one ear as he talked about her promise to help him with the Podracer. Well, that and the girl Padmé; Anakin didn't even seem to notice how distracted she was. Her thoughts stayed with the Jedi that failed in getting the parts from Watto.

A Jedi just happened to come here, so far from Coruscant, and just happened to come into the same junkyard I work in. Maybe he's just passing through, and wants nothing to do with me? Maybe him being here is just a coincidence. Ugh, you know better, Ghanima! To call coincidence after coincidence after coincidence a coincidence is just plain gullible. Not to mention stupid.

"Chani, look!" Anakin drew her from her thoughts as they saw Sebulba holding a frog up to the same clumsy Gungan from the junkyard threateningly. Several other creatures started to gather as Sebulba shoved Jar Jar to the ground.

"Why mesa always da one?" Jar Jar mumbled forlornly to himself as he desperately tried to scramble to safety.

"Because you're afraid," Anakin stated causing Jar Jar to turn and see both him and Ghanima, pushing their way to him. Both of them proceeded to stand up to Sebulba in a very self-assured way. Ghanima didn't exactly like the Gungan for the trouble he caused her, but no one should have to deal with Sebulba.

"Chess ko, Sebulba. Coo wolpa tooney rana," she taunted with a wry smile. Sebulba stopped his assault on Jar Jar and turned to the humans. (Careful, Sebulba. This one's very connected.)

""Tooney rana"? Nu pratta dunko, shag?" he asked menacingly. (Connected? Whada you mean, slave?)

"Oh, da Hutt," Anakin said wistfully. "Cha porko ootman geesa. Me teesa rodda co pana pee choppa chawa," he taunted with great pleasure. (As in Hutt. Big time Outlander, this one. I'd hate to see you diced before we race again.)

"Neek me chowa, wermo, mo killee ma klounkee," he threatened Anakin. Glaring at him, Ghanima slipped a protective hand onto her brother's shoulder. "Una noto wo shag, me wompity du pom pom." Selbulba turned and walked away, deciding to waste no more of his time. (Next time we race, wermo, it will be the end of you! If you weren't a slave, I'd squash you right now.)

"Eh, chee bana do mullee ra," Anakin muttered as Qui-Gon, Padmé and R2 –D2arrived on the scene. "Hi! Your buddy here was about to be turned into orange goo. He picked a fight with a Dug." (Yeah, it'd be a pity if you had to pay for me.)

"An especially dangerous Dug called Sebulba," Ghanima added as she decided to help Jar Jar to his feet. None of the others seemed to really care, which she thought odd.

"Nosir, nosir. Mesa hate crunchen," Jar Jar denied heatedly. "Dat's da last ting mesa wanten."

"Nevertheless, the children are right – you were heading for trouble," Qui-Gon stated forcefully, not even seeing the glare he got from Ghanima and Anakin for calling them children. "Thank you, my young friends," he said to them with a kind smile, and they graciously returned it. Padmé looked at Anakin and smiled, and he just smiled even wider and they started walking down the street when Jar Jar insisted he did nothing.

"Fear attracts the fearful. He was trying to overcome his fear by squashing you," Anakin stated wisely. "Be less afraid."

"Does that work for you?" Padmé asked him.

"To a point," he replied with a smile, and Ghanima couldn't help but ruffle his hair playfully.

You are wise beyond your years, Anakin.

I know. Isn't it weird that you're not and yet you're nine years older than me? She glared down at him, ready to swat his shoulder, but she saw his bright mischievous eyes and smile and couldn't help but smile back.

P.S.: Two pages total.