Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Chapter 4: The Race

Padme woke before anyone else did the next morning. Because of this she took that time to meditate for a little while. Not long after beginning though she sensed a few presences moving about the house and broke out of her meditation. They were moving around in the kitchen now so that's where she went. Qui-Gon and Jar Jar were just leaving as she approached.

"Hello Padme," Jar Jar exclaimed in his freakishly dumb voice.

The freak.

Padme plastered a smile on her face nonetheless. "Hello Jar Jar," she turned and gave a nod his Jedi Master companion. "Qui-Gon."

"Hello Padme." He offered her a smile. "We're on our way to town. I thought it'd be better for us to leave early and be there when you all arrive."

Padme nodded as Qui-Gon and Jar Jar left. Going inside the kitchen, she found Shmi making breakfast. Shmi turned when she noticed her. "Good morning Padme dear."

"Good morning Shmi. Do you need any help with making breakfast?"

"No, no," she assured with a wave of her hand. "But if you don't mind could you go wake up Anakin."

"Of course."

But when she went to Anakin's room she found that he wasn't there; neither was C-3PO for that matter. Shrugging, she decided to check the backyard. C-3PO was outside chatting once again with R2. He stopped when he noticed Padme however. "Oh. Hello Miss Padme," was his chatty greeting.

"Hello 3PO."

She then noticed Anakin laying against his podracer, appearing to be asleep. She smirked. He must've come out early that morning to continue working on it and exhausted himself to sleep. After shaking him a few times, though, he woke.

"Your mother wanted me to wake you. She's making breakfast."

The boy got up and yawned, but then looked around. "Where's Qui-Gon?"

"He and Jar Jar went into town early."

The cry of, "Padme! Anakin! Breakfast!" sounded from within the house, causing Padme to level young Anakin with a smirk. "Race ya!"

"All right!" he exclaimed and they were off. The masquerading handmaiden could have easily beaten him, but out of jest, chose to let him win.

While the three of them ate, Kitster came over. After which, the foursome set up the podracer and made their way to the stadium. While R2 pulled it along, and 3PO walked nearby, the four of them rode two eopies, stubborn beasts of burden found only on Tatooine. Watto had them brought over for their use. Padme and Anakin rode one, while Shmi and Kitster rode the other.

When they arrived at the stadium, a good twenty minutes later, they went inside the backstage section and prepared to get off the eopies. Before they could, however, Watto was seen flying in front of them, laughing and chattering in Huttese. Yet Padme, whom was quite fluent in a variety of tongues, was able to understand what he saying and it made her jolt.

'You better stop your friends betting before I end up owning him too.' He then flew off, still laughing.

What exactly was that supposed to mean?

Anakin seemed to be thinking the same, for when Qui-Gon and Jar Jar suddenly appeared in front of them he asked, "What'd he mean by that?"

"I'll tell you later," Qui-Gon said unconcerned. "Good morning."

Hmm…

As Padme got off her eopie, she overheard Kitster say something that she found quite disturbing.

"This is so wizard Ani. I'll sure you'll do it this time."

"Do what?" she asked.

"Finish the race of course," Kitster replied.

"You've never won a race?" she asked in pure shock.

Anakin looked a bit uncomfortable and embarrassed. "Well, not exactly."

Padme was floored. "Not even finished?!"

Anakin put his arm around Kitster for reassurance. "Kitster's right. I will this time."

By then Qui-Gon had strolled over to where they were and put his hands on Anakin's shoulders. "Of course you will." He glanced up at Padme, who had a look of utmost shock on her face. This soon turned to disgust.

Throwing her hands in the air, she stormed off. Padme didn't know what to think. She was in a state of shock at what Anakin said, and disgust at Qui-Gon for his overconfidence and faith in the boy.

Making her way over to the special box they'd all be sharing to watch the race in, she observed the only ones not watching with them being the droids and Kitster. Those three would be watching on the grounds right in front of the racetrack.

On this track currently all the racers were preparing themselves for the big event, and in a top box not far from the starting point two alien commentators were announcing the names of everyone participating in the Boonta Eve Classic. Padme noticed Anakin talking to Shmi, and then the dug Sebulba, who had been fighting with Jar Jar the day before, and finally Qui-Gon. She guessed the Jedi Master was giving Anakin advice.

She was still disgusted at the pair of them. Naturally, she could've eavesdropped to hear what they were saying, but chose not to.

What was the point?

Once the Jedi Master was done talking to Anakin, he made his way over to them. And the closer he got, the more and more enraged Padme became.

I'm gonna give that Jedi scum a piece of my mind.

"Is he nervous," Shmi asked worriedly beside her.

"He's fine," Qui-Gon responded.

By now Padme had balled her hands into fists. "You Jedi are far too reckless," she spat at Qui-Gon. "The Queen will not-"

"The Queen trusts my judgment young handmaiden," he cut across calmly, looking her in the eye. "You should too."

What angered Padme even more was that he didn't even seem a bit fazed by what she said and her anger towards him.

"You assume to much," she snarled angrily. Qui-Gon said nothing in reply to this.

The reserved viewing box they were in rose into the air a good ten to fifteen feet before stopping at that point. However, they did have a viewing panel that would keep track of Anakin's progress in the race in front of them in addition.

A few moments after the commentators announced, "Start your engines," the racers were off, with the exception of Anakin that is.

Upon noticing this, the commentators voices rang out, "Hey wait! Little Skywalker has stalled."

Padme put her hands on her hips in frustration. There were people in the audience openly laughing and jeering down at the boy, and she had half a mind to join in, though naturally thought against it. It turned out that someone else was having engine trouble also.

"Come on Ani!" Jar Jar yelled. Padme rolled her eyes and felt like punching the Gungan freak in the face.

Finally, Anakin speed off. "Go Ani go!" Jar Jar yelled.

As if he can hear you, you stupid dumb slim ball.

All in all, the race was quite enjoyable and full of suspense. By the second lap, Anakin was in the lead but fell back during the third lap, however he did make it back in the lead at the end and of course won!

Padme was quite surprised, but of course very pleased and joined everyone else as Anakin got out of his podracer and cheered.

After all the cheering of the crowds died down, Anakin's group went backstage. His inner circle of friends were still cheering and giving him hugs, including Padme. She took the little boy in her arms and squeezed him. "We owe you everything Ani," she said to him.

She was very much quite happy that they were leaving Tatooine at last and going back to civilization. Qui-Gon soon joined them. He'd been talking to Watto and said that he was bringing the parts to the main hanger of the stadium.

When they got there, Padme smirked with satisfaction at the sight of the Toydarian. He wasn't laughing now. His head was down and he had the look of a sore loser about himself.

She, Qui-Gon, and Jar Jar then loaded up everything on the eopies and said their good-byes, with the exception of Qui-Gon; he would be back to return the creatures.

Padme gave Anakin one last hug. "I'll never forget you Anakin. It's been wonderful knowing you the last few days. I feel sure we'll meet again sometime."

"Oh yes," Anakin said slightly blushing. "I meant would I said about us getting married someday, so of course we'll see each other again."

Padme raised an amused eyebrow at that and laughed. "Of course."

After giving Anakin one last squeeze she turned and left with everyone else.