10 BBY (Before Battle of Yavin)
The suns were beautiful as always. While the same old sandy rock could get boring sometimes, the twin suns never seemed to lose their attentive grasp. He always wondered why there was two. Why not one, or three? Sometimes he felt lonely. It sounded stupid but it seemed he was the only one of his friends who didn't know much about his parents. It bothered him from time to time but looking at the suns he realised that maybe somewhere in this big galaxy that someone else was looking at the horizon too, with a similar burden.
"Luke!" His aunt called for him, intterupting his day dreaming. "It's time to come in!"
"I'm coming!" The boy replied, ready to sit and eat dinner.
"Did you and Biggs get to play any today?" His uncle asked him while Beru filled everyone's cup with blue milk.
"Some, not a lot. He said his parents wanted him home early so he would have time to pack his things. So I kind of just played by myself most of the day." Luke seemed almost sad as he took a bite of his food.
"Don't let it bother you, I'm sure Biggs will be back soon. Plus theres those other group of kids right?" His aunt tried to perk him back up.
"Yea, but they... aren't as nice sometimes."
"The older kids?" Owen asked.
Luke shook his head yes. He and Biggs have gone to play with them before. The only reason they even got to play with them was because Biggs' older cousin was friends with one of the older kids. And being that he was off at a few weeks of training, there was a good chance that his cousin was too. Even when they did olay together they sometimes would lightly pick on him, or joke on him about how much smaller he was, just little things. Nothing he couldn't handle, Beru had always told him to be nice to other kids, even if they could be a bit... mean sometimes. "It was more their parent's fault than it was theirs", as she had told him a few times before.
"When you went to the market today, did you see that strange man again?" His uncle asked him, changing the subject.
"The one with the cloak?" Luke asked.
"Yes, that one."
"No, why?"
"Nothing, just... if you ever see him again don't talk to him, just come home quick and tell us."
"He's not a bad man is he? He saved me Uncle Owen." Luke perked up, reffering to the night that the old man had rescued him from the harsh weather. He had returned him home safely. He just didn't understand what his uncle and aunt had against the poor man.
"He's nothing more than a crazy old wizard Luke." The man replied.
"And what's wrong with that?" The boy asked, curious.
"He's just a bad man."
"What did he do?" Luke asked, wondering what terrible thing the old man could have done.
"Luke, just listen to your uncle. It would be best if you just stayed away from him." His aunt tried to end the boy's endless cycle of questions.
"But why-" he stopped himself when his aunt gave him a glance.
"Sorry..." he replied, sounding almost hurt.
It had been a three days since he had been returned home safely...
"Why can't you let me go?! Please." The boy pleaded.
"Because it isn't safe, there was recently a report on the holo news about rebels blowing up an empirial training facility. We just don't want to take any chances, plus your probably too young anyways." His uncle said firmly for the the third time.
"But it isn't fair! Some of the other kids get to go!" Luke whined.
"Because they're old enough!"
"Please, I just want to fly!"
"You will one day, just not this day."
Luke looked from his uncle to his aunt with a sad, dissapointed face, waiting for her to say something from across the table.
"I'm sorry Luke, but we just want you to be safe." It hurt her having to tell him no but they both knew it was the safest option. Sending Luke to an early imperial flight academy would be stupid. If they had done so, they might as well just alert the Emperor of his whereabouts now.
Luke got up from his seat at the table and stormed off, leaving his empty plate behind. He collapsed onto his bed, turned towards his wall and let the tears flow.
Ever since he knew what flying was he had wanted to persue it. Just earlier today he had seen a flier today in town for young pilots to enter into a pre-academy type camp. Seeing the paper he didn't even care about the fact that he was a year short of the age requirement, to him it was just a year. Plus if he got to go then he would finally be able to soend some time away from this rock for a little bit. Not have to deal with the scolding heat of the sun, or it the irritating sand swirling around. He would actually get to see what a real space ship looked like, and even get to fly one! It was everything he had ever dreamed of. Even Biggs said he was going.
Hearing the no from his aunt and uncle crushed the young boy. Was he always to be the newphew of a farmer? Forever fixing robots and taking care of the farm? Surely not. He couldn't even if he wanted to, there was just that part of him that craved for a sense of adventure.
He couldn't stop crying. Not until he tired himself enough to where he lost consciousness. He awoken not long after, maybe an hour later. He walked outside his room to see all the lights out. His aunt and uncle were asleep. He picked up the flier next to his bed. The recruits were supposed to leave tomorrow afternoon. It was now or never.
He grabbed a backpack and started stuffing clothes, food, and even his toy soace ship in it. Seeing he had everything he needed he picked up a lantern from beside his bed and began on his way.
"Goodbye Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru." He said, turning around to face the farm before he moved farther and farther away, not going to be able to see them for a month.
The flyer had information to meet in some town he had never been to before, being only nine years of age he traveled north, having heard that was the direction this town was supposed to be. He walked for miles without seeing a single thing. He knew how dangerous it could be to walk at night, with the tuskan raiders out at night and all. For whatever reason it seemed as if they always disliked him more than the others. It was a question he had asked his uncle once, he had only told him it was based on one's blood type that affected how hostile the sand people might act towards you. Unfortunate for Luke, he bought the lie, not understanding how his father had impacted the Sand People's feelings towards any Skywalker.
His stomach began to growl some. Stopping for a moment, he pulled a ration from his backpack. Only then did he realize he forgot to bring water. He sighed. There was no way he was going to find anything for miles, not until he made it into town. That was just one more reason to keep going.
After a quick break, he got back to his feet and kept trodding along. He could see the slightest sliver of light on the horizon by the time he beagn to see something. His legs felt weak, and his feet hurt. His mouth felt dry, even just a drop of water would do. His body couldn't take it anymore.
His legs failed him as they went limp and he collapsed. Was that the town? He wondered as he looked up from the sand to see a few small buildings, as his eyes grew heavier and heavier until he couldn't hold them up anymore. The last thing he heard were footsteps approaching from behind him. He didn't even have time to be terrified before he fell asleep.
When he woke up it was day time. He looked up at the sun. It was only an hour before noon! He panicked and scrambled to his feet.
"The town?" He asked himself, almost in disbeleif. It was gone. There was nothing there.
"Your looking for the town in the flier?" Someone asked him from behind.
Luke turned around, frightened. "Who are you?! Were you following me?"
"Don't be scared, I can take you to that town you know. I'v been there a few times." The boy seemed to be about Luke's age. He even had identical sandy blonde hair.
"Uhm... sure." He said, skeptical about this other kid.
"Follow me." He said. "What's your name?" He asked as they began to walk.
"Luke."
"Nice name, I'm Anakin." He smiled, shaking Luke's hand. "And yes I did follow you. But only for a little bit, not from your home."
"Why?" He asked curious.
"I dont know, the force just told me too." He seeme serious.
"The force?" Luke was confused.
"You never heard of it? The force is what gives the jedi their powers. Its what they use to protect people. And one day I'm going to be a jedi."
"The jedi are real?" Luke had read stories about these ancient jedi but his uncle had said that they were fake, made up for children's storys.
"Of course they are. I'm training to be one now!" Anakin said excitedly. Luke noticed the robes the other boy wore.
"Aren't jedi supposed to have some sort of laser swords?"
"Lightsabers, yes. But I'm not old enough to have one of those yet, I'm still new to some of this stuff. So why did you want to join this little pilot camp?"
"I just..." Luke couldn't find the words.
"Just wanted to get away?"
"Yes, exactly. I just want some adventure. I'm tired of being a moisture farmer. I look at the stars sometimes and wonder if anyone has been to them all."
"I can take you there." Anakin said, his tone almost suggestive.
"Really??" Luke seemed estatic. "But wait, we'll miss the ship for the flight class."
"Isn't that the entire point you wanted to go in the first place? Was to get away?"
"Yes and to become a pilot."
"Where I'm taking you, you can be even more than a pilot." Anakin sat down in the sand. "Sit, and close your eyes."
"Thats it?" Luke asked sitting down.
"Concentrate, just relax." They sat there for a moment, nothing yet happening.
"Whats taking so long?" Luke asked inpatiently.
"You have to wait."
"I have been for the past five minutes. This is useless!" He got frustrated and stood up.
"Because you aren't concentrating. Your too excited that you can't relax. Try again, I promise it will work if you just relax and clear your mind." He looked up at the boy.
"Fine." Luke sighed, plopping back down into the sand. They sat for a few moments longer.
"Open your eyes." Anakin said.
"Wow." Was all he managed to say. He didn't expect anything to happen. "What is this place?"
"One of the most if not the most important core planets, Coruscant." They stood on the balcony of one of the skyscrappers. "This planet is crawling with life from all over the galaxy, above and below."
"What happens down there?" Luke pointed towards the beginings of the lower levels.
"Nothing good. Thats where a lot of crime takes place. Sometimes the jedi are dispatched down there to settle matters. Speaking of, this is where the jedi are trained. If you look far off in the distance you can see the temple."
"Its beautiful." Luke said in awe. He watched the ships and vehicles pass by, the hum of the crafts filling his ears.
"Would you like to see the temple?"
"Like, go inside of it?!" Luke couldn't hide the huge grin on his face.
"Of course." Anakin placed two fingers on the side of Luke's temple as they both shut their eyes. Their surroundings faded, disolved like paper until they were reimagined.
"This place... its huge." Luke opened his eyes, observing the massive pillars that held the place together. They wandered the halls for a bit, Luke taking in every sight and greeting all the jedi.
"This place is amazing!"
"It used to be. Its just not the same anymore..." Anakin drifted off.
"What do you mean, does it not look like this anymore?"
"Its, just different is all." Anakin left it at that.
"Whats behind those doors?" Luke pointed down the hall.
"That left one, don't open it. The right one, its Master Yoda's quarters. Sometimes he's in there meditating, sometimes he may be with the council at a meeting."
Luke placed his hand on the switch as he entered Yoda's quarters. The room was empty. Shadows from the outside light of the night sky casted on the walls. The Master must have been having a late night. Leaving the room, the door shut behind him. He walked up to the door on his right. He stared at the switch.
"I wouldn't." Anakin stood from a far.
"Why not? Its not everyday a farmer like me gets to go inside a temple."
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
Luke shook the comment off and opened the door. He stepped inside the teaining room. It was decorated with mats on the floor and bamboo along the walls. Aside from the silent hums of the room, he was alone. He turned around as the door slammed shut behind him. The last thing he saw from the outside was a frown on Anakin's face. He turned back around, this time there was no room.
He was surrounded by ash and lava. It was so hot he thought his clothes might catch fire.
"Hello?!" He cried out, afraid.
Hearing screams and clashing he followed the noise over a small hill.
"I hate you!" The man shouted. Luke gasped when he saw the sight before him.
The bearded man stood tall atop of the hill, sorrowful eyes casted down on the man in pain. He was on fire, screaming in agony. He watched the man walk away, leaving the limbless other behind.
"Help me, please!" The chared body crawled towards him. Blood and fire covered him. His clothes stuck to his burnt body.
Luke quivered in fear, he had never seen anything like this. "Help!" Luke curled up into a ball, hiding his head between his arms and legs. The man kept crawling towards him, he could hear the ash and rock rustling, getting louder and louder. He felt a burning hand on his leg. Luke screamed, fearing of what he would see. He looked up, and everything was gone.
This time he was in a village. There was grass, the sounds of a flowing creek nearby. The locals seemed to be living as most people in the forrests would. There were tents and small homes lined up. The people seemed to be unbothered.
He calmed himself down as he sat down on someones wooden porch. Nobody seemed to notice his panicked face, he must have blended in quite well. His heart slowed down, his breathing returning to normal. Until things got interesting once more. He heard a loud scream in the distance, then another, and another. He stood up and looked in the direction of the screams, everyone did. Dozens of men dressed in white and black armor stormed the village, shooting all the villagers, and setting their crops and homes ablaze. Someone threw a smoke canister.
A bloody crimson red blade shone through the smoke, lighting the darkness of night around him. Luke watched, frozen, the blade penetrated a man, straight through his chest. From the smoke came a tall black figure. Was that a man? It couldn't be. No man could do a thing such as this, it had to be some imperial driod. Children had no concept of cruel, not exactly, very few did and he might now be one of them.
"Where is he?!" The cyborg shouted. The villagers stood infront of the man, their spears and weapons in hand, prepared to fight. His view of the figure was slightly obscured before the figure slaughtered them all in a matter of seconds.
That blade. Didn't jedi use blades like those. Was he seeing a jedi? Deciding to act, he ran into one of the small wooden homes and hid inside a tall weave basket.
He heard loud, angry and heavy footsteps getting closer to the small shack he was in.
"Tell me, where is the boy?" The voice was deep, somewhat synthesized.
"I don't know who your talking about!" He heard the voice of a man plead for his life.
"Liar." The robot said, no emotion in his voice. Luke shut his eyes tight, the sound of someone's windpipe being crushed. The body collpased to the ground. "Have you checked this one yet trooper?" He asked one of the soldiers.
"No Lord Vader, not yet."
"Burn the rest, this is the one." Vader said stepping inside. Luke could feel the creaking of the wood. This man must have weighed a ton, he could feel the weight of each step. Luke felt a tear run down his cheek. The footsteps stopped.
He held his breath. Vader snatched the top of the basket off and grabbed Luke by the collar of his shirt. He slammed his small fists against the man's large one. "Please, let me go!" Luke cried.
"You will be coming with me little one." Vader intimidated him. He ignighted his crimson blade close to looks face. He shut his eyes tight, hoping everything would go away.
When he couldn't imagine anything worse it seemed the force conjured up something ten times more frightening than he ever could have imagined. When he opened his eyes he was in a massive room. A throne room to be exact. He heard screaming, much like he did when he was on that lava planet. Rushing up the stairs he looked to his left. There stood that same Vader from earlier, eyeing a poor man crying out in pain on the ground. And there was another old man. He was disfigured in the face, he was terrifying as he shot electricity from his fingers.
Luke walked up towards the scene, carefully aproaching. There was something familiar about this poor man. He was taken aback when he saw the young man's face. They shared the same face, the only difference being one was older and more experienced than the other. His startled rustle made the hooded old man turn around, electricity pausing for a moment.
"Young Skywalker.." The man had the most sinister tone he had ever heard.
"The Enporer is most pleased to see you." Vader spoke.
"The Emporer..." Luke mumbled, his body shaking with intense fear.
Palpatine shot electricty near the boy. Luke scrambled to his feet, dodging what he could. He was shot in the back of his leg. He screamed as he fell down. He could hear more electricity landing beside him until bolts of it ran all through his body. He only felt a few seonds of the intense pain before he closed his eyes once more and opened. The sound of the Emperors mad cackle continueously echoed in his head.
He woke up for real this time. His eyes opened slowly. He saw feet, dressed in brown boots, making imprints in the sand as they walked along. Feeling someone's shoulder in his abdomen he freed himself, terrified as he recalled everything he just whitnessed.
"Where am I?! Where's Anakin?" Luke asked shakily, as he plopped onto the ground.
"Calm down young one. Your dehydrated and tired." The man handed Luke a small cantine of water. The boy drank. "I found you in the dessert, unconsciouss."
"Where's Anakin?" The boy repeated his question.
"Oh my..." Obi-Wan muttered to himself, giving Luke a strange look. He had used a bit of force healing on the boy but in no way should it have effected his mind. In no way should it have conjured up any dreams. This was the force, it must have been calling to him.
Luke told the man of all the terrible things he saw. He broke down in tears.
"It's ok. None of it was real. Nobody can hurt you here. Come now, let's get you home." Obi-Wan calmed him down and extended a hand to help the boy to his feet. As he helped Luke up, he waved his hand forwards causing the boy to fall limp, into a deep slumber. He did what he only knew would be best. Clear his mind of any of those "dreams" and "fears" the boy saw. Its as if nothing ever happened.
"I don't want you to ever come around him again!" Owen shouted at Obi-Wan as he handed Luke over to his aunt and uncle.
"The force is calling him, I took care of it for now but you must be aware that it will only get stronger as he gets older." Obi-Wan advised.
"Not if you stay away from him!" Owen slammed the door in his face.
Obi-Wan sighed and curled his robe and hood around him, marching off back towards the direction of his own hut, the moons of Tatooine lighting his way home.
AN: I thought I would try something different and write some star wars, a universe I enjoy. If you would like to see more star wars stories feel free to leave suggestions, and if your into Call Of Duty then go check out some titles I have on my profile! This story was inspired by a comic about Anakin meeting young luke in a vison, give it a read, its a good one.