Carmine led a pretty simple life with his grandmother. They didn't have much, but Miranda always did what she could to make her grandson happy.
Because he didn't have much, Carmine had to get creative sometimes when he wanted to do something new or different. His family couldn't afford the same luxuries as the people who lived on the upper levels of Coruscant, and he didn't have many toys.
But Miranda saved up just enough to be able to get him a nice present for his fifth birthday this year. Carmine was so happy when he saw the pretty little cake that she'd gotten for him. It was shaped like a bunny rabbit.
"Look Fluffy, the cake looks like you." Carmine said, cuddling his bunny.
"And now that you're five years old, Carmine..." said Miranda, taking out a present. "I think it's time I told you something very important about our family."
Carmine opened the present and found a book inside of it. But he didn't know how to read it himself yet, so Miranda helped him.
They opened the book together, and inside, Carmine saw pictures of all sorts of magical creatures. Unicorns, griffins, fairies, genies, wizards, and all sorts of magical tricks.
Miranda told Carmine that magic came in a lot of forms, and it was something they had to be very careful with.
"We come from a long line of very powerful beings called Enchanteds, Carmine." Miranda said. "Your great grandparents were some of the most powerful beings of magic. Every Enchanted is unique in their own way."
"Where does our magic come from?" Carmine asked.
"Well, you know how we learned about the human body, and you have a bloodstream that moves air through your body as you breath and move around?"
Carmine nodded.
"Well, Enchanteds have a special something in their blood called gold blood cells."
"Like the midi-colorings in the Jedi's blood?"
Miranda chuckled at her grandson's mispronunciation of the word 'midichlorians.'
"Midichlorians, Carmine. And yes, they are like that. The more there are in an Enchanted's blood, the stronger their magic is. And a majority of the time, young Enchanteds first develop them when they turn five."
"Like me?" Carmine gasped excitedly.
"Yes. But, we cannot predict when exactly they will show, but we can learn how to control them."
"You have magic too, Grandma?"
Miranda never showed much magic around Carmine when he was even smaller. She wanted to wait until it was the best time to tell him so he would understand the reason behind their hiding their powers.
"Yes, Baby. I do. But, we don't use our magic outside the house unless it's an emergency."
"But why? Couldn't we use our magic to live a richer life? Or to help people in need?"
"Yes, Dear. But there's a reason we hide our powers. You see, because my parents were so powerful, there were bad people who wanted to hurt them and take their powers for themselves to use for horrible, selfish purposes. They sent me away to protect the magic of our family, and someday train a descendant to be strong enough to restore their home."
"I'll save their home when I grow up." Carmine said with determination.
"Oh, I have faith you can do great things like that, Carmine. But it won't be easy. You will need to train very hard and learn not to use your powers all willy nilly. Magical tricks can be fun, but they can cause trouble if you don't know what you're doing with them. Once you have your powers, we'll start learning how to control them."
"What do you think my magic will be?" Carmine asked.
"Well, if you inherit any power your ancestors had, you might have the ability to make any clothes you can imagine like I do. Or, you could inherit your father's super strength, your great grandmother's ability to heal others... or something else. Sometimes, the power depends on an Enchanted's personality, and oftentimes those powers are unlocked when he or she makes a special connection to something that makes them really happy, or that something they connect with is connected with their type of magic, such as a botanical Enchanted to a garden in need of tender loving care."
That was when a knock came to the front door.
"Don't make a mess of the cake while I'm answering the door, Baby." Miranda said as she left Carmine to himself.
To Carmine, being five, just waiting for his grandmother to answer the door seemed to take forever, especially since he wanted to dig in the delicious cake. So, he just tapped on the table, tapping a little beat. And then, he heard a dripping sound coming from the faucet nearby. It seemed to drip to a certain rhythm.
"Hmm..."
Carmine started to make a beat on the table like a drum, and he picked up a fork and spoon and started to drum. Then he looked at Fluffy and decided to start singing a song.
Na na na na na, na na
Take a look around
Who would have thought we'd all be here?
So let's mess around
'Cause the future is unclear
We got nothing better to do
We just trying to get through
Can you hear me?
Can you hear me?
Yeah
And then, Carmine picked up a frying pan and imagined it was a guitar, but he didn't realize the guitar music he heard wasn't just his imagination. He tossed his hair back and forth as he rocked out to his little song.
Let the music groove you
Let the melody move you
Feel the beat and just let go
Get the rhythm into your soul
Let the music take you
Anywhere it wants to
When we stuck and can't get free
No matter what we'll still be singing
Come on come on
Turn up the music
It's all we got
We gonna use it
Come on come on
Turn up the music
Yeah
"Aren't you a talented little rock star?" chuckled a familiar voice.
Carmine froze and looked up when he saw the owner of the voice.
"Daddy!"
Carmine immediately ran into his father's arms, but as he ran, the floor made piano sounds with each step he took. Qui-Gon hugged his little boy and playfully tossed him up and down, so happy to see him again, and he kissed his son's cheek.
"My, how big you are growing, my boy. Happy birthday." said Qui-Gon, setting his boy down, piano music playing again. This time, Carmine noticed it.
Carmine gasped and started skipping across the floor, finding more piano music playing as he stepped.
"When did Carmine get his powers?" Qui-Gon asked his mother.
"Just now, apparently." Miranda said. "I'm as surprised as you are. And apparently, it's musical magic."
"Look, Fluffy. I have music magic." Carmine told his rabbit, bouncing around, making music. "Fluffy says he likes the music."
"Well, Fluffy has good taste, doesn't he?" Qui-Gon chuckled, petting the rabbit and his son's hair. "Speaking of music..."
Qui-Gon pulled out a little box with a yellow ribbon on it.
Carmine pulled on the ribbon and opened the box to find a smaller box inside. However, this box was orange with a sun symbol on it, and it had a wind-up key on its side. Qui-Gon told Carmine he built that little box himself.
He showed him how to turn the key and open it up to hear it play a familiar tune.
"It plays our lullaby!" Carmine gasped.
"You can play it at night before you go to sleep," said Qui-Gon. "And pretend that it's me singing."
Qui-Gon:
Where the North wind meets the sea
There's a river full of memory
Sleep, my darling, safe and sound
For in this river, all is found
Qui-Gon & Carmine:
In her waters, deep and true
Lie the answers and a path for you
Dive down deep into her sound
But not too far or you'll be drowned
Carmine hugged his father and thanked him for the beautiful present. But even though the music box played their special lullaby, Carmine begged his father to stay with him and Grandma Miranda.
Qui-Gon helped Carmine get into his pajamas. As per their little tradition, Qui-Gon stayed with Carmine and Miranda until nighttime, and he always tucked Carmine in and helped him get ready for bed. Carmine tried to slow it down as much as he could, all while begging his father not to leave.
"Please stay, Daddy." Carmine said, making his eyes look big and sad.
Qui-Gon caressed his son's cheek.
"I wish I could, my little boy." Qui-Gon said. "But my duty is to the Jedi right now."
"But who's gonna show me how to use my powers?" Carmine asked.
"Your grandmother will teach you." Qui-Gon said. "You are growing up, Carmine. And someday, you will be leading a life of your own."
Carmine had tears in his eyes. He knew his father meant well, but it always hurt knowing he couldn't see him more than once a year.
Qui-Gon took Carmine into his arms and cradled him close, placing some kisses on his head. He sang Carmine a different song Carmine didn't recall hearing in years.
Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here don't you cry
Qui-Gon looked into his son's eyes and wiped his tears away as he continued to sing.
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Carmine rubbed his eyes and started to yawn. Qui-Gon gently began to lay Carmine down in his bed and make sure he had Fluffy beside him.
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart
Always
Qui-Gon pulled the blanket over Carmine and kissed his little boy's head as he closed his eyes.
Always
Carmine slept the night away and woke up early the next morning. He looked around the apartment, and sure enough, his father was gone again.
Carmine looked at his nightstand and saw his music box sitting there just like it had when Qui-Gon left who knows how many hours ago.
A sniffle sounded from the little boy. He winded up the music box and cuddled his bunny. Around the bunny's neck, Carmine tied a nice little bow using the ribbon that was wrapped around the box the music box had come in. But now, perhaps because of Carmine's magic, it played a different tune.
Carmine:
Guess by now I oughta know my place
Carmine began to fluff his pillows and make his bed like he did every morning.
Do your humble duty with a smile on your face
Daddy knows how much I love him
But he's always doing other things
Carmine looked at the calendar, and knew now that it would be another three-hundred-sixty-five days before he saw his father again, and since he didn't have the power to speed up time, all he could do was wait.
So I'll keep waiting in the wings
I want so much
And yet I keep on waiting
One glance, one touch
And I just keep on waiting
It comes, and then it leaves when he sings
So I keep waiting in the wings
Carmine started crying. All he wanted more than anything else was for his father to be here with him. Even if they didn't live a luxurious life, he just wanted what any child wanted in a father. Someone who hugged them, protected them, loved them, and would never abandon them for any reason. Someone who has no strings attached in a relationship, and prioritizes his kids above all else.
Miranda walked Carmine in as it was time for him to start kindergarten. It had taken a while for Miranda to save up enough to pay the tuition, and now Carmine was going to attend a school that would hopefully lead him to a bright future.
Carmine was so nervous. He'd never been away from his grandmother before.
"Now, Carmine." said Miranda, kneeling down to her grandson and holding his shoulders. "I know it's scary that you're going to be here without me for a while, but I will come back for you. And no one expects you to know everything already. That's what school is for, and your teachers are there to help. Don't be afraid to ask your teachers for help."
Carmine hugged his grandmother tightly, not wanting to let go.
Miranda hugged him tightly and planted a kiss on his forehead.
"Have a good first day, Baby." Miranda said.
Carmine sadly watched as his grandmother left along with other parents who'd just dropped off their children, and she seemed to get blurry as she got farther away, but it was likely because of the tears in his eyes.
"Goodbye, Grandma." Carmine whispered tearfully.
"Alright, children, take your seats." said an Ithorian man, the teacher, Mr. Piper. "Time for class to begin. Now, you'll know where you sit when you find a chair with your name on it."
The kids all walked to a bunch of different chairs, each of them with a card with a name written on it. Carmine wasn't a master reader yet, but he knew how to read and write his full name. But when Carmine looked at the cards, the letters looked really fuzzy from a distance. He had to pick them up and look really close to be able to read them.
"Do you mind?" asked one girl rather rudely, taking the card from him. "Can't you read?"
"I can read." Carmine said, backing away, bumping into a chair and falling down on his bottom. "Ow!"
"Clumsy kid." teased the little girl.
"My name is Carmine." Carmine corrected.
"Clumsy Carmine," sang the little girl. "That's even better. Clumsy Carmine."
"Stop it." Carmine said, picking himself up.
"It's not my fault you're clumsy."
Carmine tried not to cry as he walked off and finally managed to find his seat.
The teacher began to draw some letters on the board to teach the children how to write. But Carmine was having a little trouble seeing them. They looked a bit blurry to him from a distance.
"Carmine," called Mr. Piper. "Can you tell me what letter this is?"
Carmine looked at the board and squinted.
"Uh... I... I... can't tell." Carmine said.
"It's a letter D, duh." said the same girl from before.
"Porsha," scolded Mr. Piper. "That's not nice. Say you're sorry to Carmine right now."
The young human rolled her eyes and reluctantly said, "I'm sorry I told you the right letter, Carmine."
"Would you like to try again, Carmine?" asked the teacher.
"Uh... okay." said Carmine nervously.
The teacher pointed to another letter, but Carmine couldn't tell what they were either. Mr. Piper got concerned. When snack time came, Mr. Piper asked Carmine if he could talk to him alone. But Carmine bumped into a few things on the way. At first, the teacher thought maybe Carmine had dyslexia when he seemed to have trouble reading the letters, but the constant bumping into things gave him other ideas.
He brought Carmine to the school nurse for a little test. And the nurse called Carmine's grandmother to tell her that she and Carmine's teacher believed he needed to go to the eye doctor.
And sure enough, when Carmine got tested, Dr. Irene confirmed it.
"You just need glasses, Carmine."
Carmine was showed to a shelf with glasses with frames of all different styles and colors. All he had to do was choose which ones he liked. And Carmine tried lots of different styles. There were round glasses, square glasses, glasses shaped like stars, glasses shaped like hearts, even ones with sparkly jewels on them. But, Carmine decided to go for a simple black rectangular pair.
And once Carmine confirmed his choice, Dr. Irene placed the prescribed lenses into the frames so Carmine could try them on for real.
And when Carmine put his new glasses on, the whole world became so clear!
Suddenly, Carmine felt so much better and thought that now that he could see so clearly, school would be better.
But... Carmine didn't exactly get the day he'd hoped for.
When he walked into the classroom, other kids noticed his glasses.
"Hey look, Clumsy Carmine's now Four-Eye Carmine." Porsha teased, and other kids laughed with her.
Carmine felt himself turn frozen as the other kids laughed at him. Tears filled his eyes, and he ran out of the classroom and hid in the bathroom, crying. It didn't get better after that either. No one would stop calling him Four-Eye Carmine, and sometimes kids swiped his glasses and played Keep Away with them.
Carmine wanted so badly to use magic to fight back, but he remembered what his grandmother said about using magic.
Remember, Carmine. Magic is something you must be very careful with. If you try to use it for revenge or personal gain, it will become more dangerous. You must use it wisely.
But Carmine wasn't sure what he could do. And then he remembered how his father said the Jedi Temple was like a special school for Jedi. And then he got to thinking... if he could use the Force, and he qualified to be a Jedi... maybe he could go to school there, and the Jedi wouldn't have to know he was Qui-Gon's kid. If he went there, he might also get to see his father! Except, to do that, he'd have to go to the higher levels, and Carmine wasn't sure how he was supposed to do that.
That song Carmine sang was "Turn Up the Music" from Lemonade Mouth.