Ani's Return to Tattooine

"Come on Three-pio, I can't believe you don't remember me!" Artoo beeped. "mind wiped?"

"How dreadful," Three-pio stated.

"Artoo, there's something wrong isn't there?" Artoo beeped and Anakin listened. "There's an Empire? I thought I heard that on the ship." Artoo whistled and beeped again. "You haven't seen me in over a decade? We just defeated the Trade Federation." Anakin listened again. "What happened to Obi-Wan?" Artoo beeped. "That's your mission. Well, I'm going to find Mom. You can either tag along or not."

"Artoo, I suggest we tag along." Artoo didn't agree so he went off in another direction while Three-pio and Anakin headed toward Mos Espa to search for his mother.

"What a dreary planet this is. All this sand, I'm quite positive I'm going to short-circuit." Anakin laughed.

"You'll be fine, Three-pio. You lived here longer than I did."

"I'm quite confused, I feel so helpless."

Anakin stopped by Watto's junk shop, or what used to be Watto's. Now it seemed to be owned by a Rodian named Wald. It was called Wald's Parts now. Anakin came in.

"I'm looking for Watto."

"Watto retired kid. I'm Wald."

"No your not," Anakin stated. "Wald is my friend. He helped me build a podracer."

"Ani, Ani Skywalker? Is that really you? What happened to going off and becoming a mighty Jedi. I thought you'd died. Used to see you on the HoloNet, you were much bigger. Why you don't look much different than when you left?" Anakin's head was spinning.

"Wald, do you know what happened to my mother?" Wald yelled something about closing the store and Anakin sat down.

"Hey, Three-pio," Wald stated with a smile. "How's Ani been treating ya?"

"I'm not sure I understand." Wald just rolled his eyes.

"Now this was a long time ago, Ani. A few years after you left your mother was freed and married by a man named Lars. Cleigg Lars. Cleigg had a son named Owen. Owen has married and it seems they adopted a boy names Luke. Back to your mother," Wald frowned and patted Ani on the back. "Anakin she was out one day picking vaporator mushrooms from the moisture vaporators and was kidnapped by a group of Tuskan Raiders, right before the Clone Wars. The next thing I heard she had died. There was a small funeral, attended only by the family."

"Do you know where she lived?"

"Yeah, on the other side of Mos Eisley."

"Thanks, Wald. If you ever need anything?"

"Actually, Ani. Would you mind putting up a few signs on the way."

"No problem. Three-pio?"

"Yes, sir."

"What happened to Master Ani?"

"You are not my master. Master Antilles is."

"I see, Very well, Three-pio go grab them. We need to get to the Lars, find Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Artoo."

"Ani? Did you say Kenobi? I know of a Ben Kenobi."

"Thanks. I won't forget this."

Anakin and Three-pio made their way toward Mos Eisley. Anakin was beginning to believe that he really was in the future as Artoo had stated. How else could Wald be so OLD! He arrived at the Lars place but it didn't look like anyone was home. He had stopped on the way to get flowers. He saw her grave and looked at the cold stone.

Shmi Skywalker Lars

Beloved Wife and Companion

Beloved Mother

You may be gone but not forgotten.

As Anakin looked he noticed that there were already flowers there. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and noticed a landspeeder. Well, this would sure beat walking. He took out a datapad and wrote hastily.

Mr. and Mrs. Lars

Have to borrow your speeder. Will be returning it, so don't worry.

-Ani

Anakin had Three-pio enter while he headed for the Dune Sea following Obi-Wan's force presence.