Merry Christmas. Here, have this.

Reviews and criticism are always welcome.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars.

Late 33 BBY (Sometime after Yinchorri Rebellion.)

The heavy rays of Tatooine's two suns beat down hard on Anakin's neck as he worked in the junkyard behind the shop. Watto wanted him to check some of the junk he had just purchased for any possible gems. There were a few things. Personally Anakin wished he was there to see it first before the buy. Then again, Watto wouldn't want Anakin there to upstage him, in knowing what to look for. A common occurrence his Master often feared from his own slave. So Anakin went alone if he ever had to make a purchase.

Despite being forced to work in the shop, Anakin liked working on machines. He was even building his own protocol droid for his mother. Still he hated the fact that he was here working for nothing. His lot in life couldn't be any worse. Well it could be. His mother and him could still be owned by Gardula, he supposed. Watto was a better master than her at least from what he heard. He was still too young to remember the time under the Hutt. It was still a poor thing to hope for. That the next master was at least better than the last.

It wasn't long before Watto closed the shop. It was earlier than usual today, but he didn't question it.

"Hey Ani," He turned to see both his friends approach. Both were slaves like him. Kitster and Wald. The human and rodian hailed him.

"Hey, I was just let off work." Anakin said.

"Yeah we were too. I guess there is some impromptu Taras Kasi match tonight at the bar." Kitster jerked his thumb over his head in the direction of the cantina. The Taras Kasi matches were relatively new. The Cantina owner was even thinking about building a proper ring for the fights. It also explained why Watto closed down the shop early. The flapping Troidarian had a bad gambling habit.

"I found some money, we could go bet on it." Wald said in huttese. Anakin didn't question how Wald found the money, but he didn't feel like going to watch the fight.

"Maggy's shop is still open. We could go get Ruby Bliels instead." Wald also suggested.

Anakin shrugged, "If that is what you want to do with the money." Wald thought for a moment and nodded.

They went to the shop. Luckily the owner was still there. He wasn't going to the match but was getting one of his waitresses ready to try and sell some drinks to the Fight's spectators.

Wald got their favorite drinks and brought them one each.

In the corner of the tavern was a black armored figure. Anakin and his friends had only just become acquainted with. She was a bounty hunter who based herself out of Mos Espa in the last month. Anakin didn't know much more than that. She was willing to help folks who didn't usually get the help they needed on the side at least. And no one messed with her. Some had tried and ended up eating sand from what he heard. Anakin was surprised that she wasn't at the fight. Word was she suggested the idea to the barkeep in the Blue Brubb. Despite her severe nature, he felt a sadness radiating somewhere off her at times. It was difficult to explain how he knew.

She lived out of a house she rented for the most part. Anakin found her intriguing. He quickly looked away when her black helm looked directly to him. He wanted to shrink away when she stood and walked over to him and his friends. She leaned down and looked right at him.

She looked at the others quickly, dismissing their presence, before looking back to him.

"Are you that human kid that drives pod racers?" She asked.

Anakin nodded nervously. "Yeah, that's me."

"Hmm," was all she said. She looked at Anakin. He seemed to feel her curiosity before it was suddenly snatched away. It was strange, no one had ever done that before.

"You should trust those instincts you got more. Especially in the heat of the moment and no one will beat you in a race again." She said and looked back at the barkeep. "Get them another of whatever drink they're having." She threw enough money down next to them to equal another drink. If the Barkeep wanted the money he would have to bring the drinks. His friends didn't question the weird encounter. They only seemed happy to get another bliel. After all, everyone knew he raced for Watto.

She left without a word. Anakin still had no idea what was going on, but he couldn't help but feel shaken. How did she know about his instincts? It was unsettling. Other than that, what did she mean? He felt there was more he could learn. Anakin wanted to learn more, he felt he had to. He quickly drank the extra bliel she bought for them before telling his friends he had to go.

He decided to spy on her place after his friends went to go see the fighting match. It was a cheap little place. Made of the same white pueblo as every other building. It wasn't all that remarkable of a building. He would have gotten closer but a shadow cast on him from behind. He looked back and the black armored figure was standing there.

"You know you have a knack for skulking. Though I guess I should have figured you would seek me out. That's what I get for being all weird and cryptic." Bellicose said.

"I-" he started but she cut him off with a casual wave of her hand.

"No need. You meant no harm. Don't you have to go home. Your mother is most likely worried about you."

"I guess," Anakin knew she was right, his mother would be if he wasn't home by the curfew. Something drove him to ask. "How did you know I was out here… and about the other thing you mentioned?"

The way the hunter tilted her helm he could tell she was raising an eyebrow.

"You aren't the only one with good instincts, Kid." She walked past him, entering her domain.

What did she mean by that? He wondered.

The hunter stopped just before her doorway and looked back.

"You know unless a job pops up, I usually don't have much to do. If you have time I could show you a thing or two about refining that instinct." She asked.

Anakin was intrigued. That feeling he got during races could be improved. How could he say anything but:

"Sure."

…

A few months later.

It was about a few months into the training, Anakin suspected Bellicose of being more than a mere bounty hunter. On the surface she had the feel of one. To one without his instincts, that is all they would see. To him she had grown into a beacon of hope and a teacher. However she had to yet explain what she was hiding.

He had the desire to attempt a search of her little shack many times. He knew he could disable the basic security it had. Well basic for him anyway. He was good with machines. It was why a Junk Dealer like Watto valued him, no, his ability so highly. He didn't want to risk her kicking him out.

She encouraged his tech expertise to a great degree. Even showing him he could connect with his instinct while he worked on things. It was something he could practice while at work. A great thing for him to utilize and it also seemed to improve his productivity.

It wouldn't be long before everything changed. Before Qui-gon and Padme showed up. Before he won the Boonta Eve Classic with ease thanks to Bell's training. It was on the ship going to Coruscant, that he learned all of what he had been taught had been Jedi teachings, shortly after the man in the black robe nearly ran him over.

He wanted to feel angry, but he couldn't Bell- well Luminara had been very helpful. She even placed a bet on him in the race and won a huge pot. Enough to pay off Watto's debts in exchange for freeing his mother.

He sensed her approach in the doorway. Padme, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, just left. His mother was not far, mostly looking out the viewport on the other side of the room. She looked like she still couldn't quite believe she was no longer on that dustball.

Luminara leaned in the doorway still clad head to toe in armor. The helmet hung at her waist now as well as two laser swords. She wore some kind of large wide veil on her head that hung down to her shoulders, outlining her slightly scarred yellow-green features. It looked like the scar had been much worse but healed over time.

"You mad?" She asked.

"No, but I feel like I should be." Anakin huffed.

"It is perhaps a little warranted. I feared if you knew what I was teaching you, you would get a big head and get cocky." She said as she walked over and sat down next to him. "Last thing you needed was to try and reach for power you weren't ready to handle."

Anakin nodded though still with a frown. "I wanted to thank you for not leaving my mother behind." He said.

"Yeah, it was the least I could do for you helping out Qui-gon and the others." Luminara said.

A thought occurred to him, "Why were you on Tatooine? It seems like an odd place for a Jedi to simply live."

Luminara sighing, "Truth be told, I was following the Force's direction. Actually practicing what I preached for once." She chuckled to herself. "I just needed to get away from Coruscant for a bit after Yinchor." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You better stick close to your mother as long as you are able."

"Why?"

"You won't be allowed to see her much if at all when you start your official training. Something, Something, no attachments. Qui-gon will explain it better. However, I will ensure that she has all she needs, and visits in the future might be allowed.." Luminara said. She stood. "I better get going."

She left the room and it wasn't long before he got up still holding the blanket and went over to his mother on the other side of the room. She smiled and patted the seat next to him. He sat and readjusted the blanket Padme gave him. They didn't speak, but stared out into space. Watching and knowing they would never have to go back to Tatooine again.

…

I found myself mulling over my time on Tatooine. I found it ironic that soon after I promised myself to not alter the timeline further, I still ended up on Tatooine of all karking places. Part of me wished that I kept going and got on a transport to the unknown regions. However I stayed and watched young Anakin from afar.

I still couldn't quite grasp why I decided to start training the kid. Then again I think it was due to frustration. His presence in the force was mind bogglingly strong. I should have expected it, but it made it difficult to sense others in the area. I hadn't been the most low profile of Mos Espa residents. There were a few enemies that I wanted to not get the jump on me. The kid also needed to learn some proper Force etiquette at the very least.

"The Hero of Yinchor returns to the order at last." Looking up from my contemplation, I saw Obi-wan sit down across from me. That's what they called me now? "The Hero of Yinchor." I mean I did point out it had a secret fourth moon and that made the battle the Jedi fought a lot quicker by taking out the Yinchorri commanders straight away.

"I never truly left." I said, doing my best to carry the conversation forward.

"I could see that. It seems you found a padawan in your travels." he said.

I sighed, "Temporary. I don't think I would be the best teacher for the kid."

Obi-wan nodded, uncertain of whether or not to agree with me. We were both quiet for a bit.

"I am sorry about Komari," he said. "I heard you and her were good friends." Obi-wan said. I stiffened, not wanting to remember details of Yinchor.

I managed a small nod. I didn't want to talk about that day or really think about the last five years prior to my time on Tatooine in general. It hurt too much.

"How have you been these last few months?" I asked.

"It wasn't the most straightforward mission. Master Qui-gon and I were sent to Mandalore. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. We were just there to oversee some things and make sure old treaties weren't being broken. Apparently, a young Mandolorian woman accidentally activated an old basilisk war droid while on a hunting trip to one of their moons. The senate sent us in order to be sure that it truly was an accident. It was from what I could tell."

"Who was this young woman?" I asked curiously. I was drawing a blank as to who it could be.

"Some ward of Jango Fett. A hostage is a more apt description. Satine Kryze was her name." Obi-wan said. "She was very…uhm,,, forward." He blushed when I raised an eyebrow.

While I felt some amusement at Obi-wan's obvious attraction and uncomfortableness at the thought of the Mandolorian, I wondered if Satine herself changed due to the war ending early and being raised by Jango and the True Mandolorians as a ward. This Satine sure sounded a lot more fun. If she did embrace the SuperCommando codex, Obi-wan will surely not have seen the last of her.

"Well just be careful, Mandalorian women often have a hard time taking no for an answer." I smirked, and got up to leave. My mood uplifted at seeing Obi-wan begin to worry about unjedilike things for a bit. In the meantime I had to have an overdue talk with Qui-gon.

I found him just outside the Queen's Throne room. "Master Qui-gon."

"Knight Luminara," Qui-gon said with a smile. "You show up in the oddest of places and with a new padawan."

"It is not official yet, but yes, sort of. I wanted to talk to you about that." I said.

"Is this the part where you suggest I take on the boy since I am a master and would be more appropriate due to my vast wealth of knowledge and experience." I held up a finger and lowered it. This wasn't exactly how I thought this would go.

"Not exactly like that. Well maybe. It is just that you do have had more experience with unconventional Jedi teachings. I spent most of the last decade cooped up on Coruscant. You have been out in the galaxy discovering or rediscovering aspects of the force the Jedi take for granted. So I guess yes, I do think you would be the better teacher, but not because I want to pawn him off. I want the boy to have the best teacher he could have." I said, trying to make my case.

"The Force led you to him, did it not. The way I see things. You have already been chosen." That is a good point on his end. Though I am still unsure if it was my subconscious former memory reekshit or the force guiding me to Tatooine after Yinchor. It was not my fault that the transport I grabbed sent me there. Should have checked the destination. However, looking back, caring about my destination was the last thing on my mind at the time.

Qui-gon continued, "I understand your reservations. He will be the first Padawan that you have taken on. It can be quite daunting the first time. Rest assured, I will be available for advice regarding matters the Jedi aren't ready to accept. The boy is the most powerful force sensitive in the galaxy. I believe he may be the one the prophecy spoke of."

I nodded. "I think you may be right." I took on a more serious expression. "I don't think we should tell a soul, say for Obi-Wan."

"Why is that, the Council must see the boy." He said, surprised at my suggestion.

"The Sith. He was following the Queen, no doubt. If they have finally made themselves known or restarted their cult under our noses. Would shouting to the whole galaxy that we found the Chosen One be a good idea? They would target him or worse, seek to corrupt him. Not to mention the pressure that would be placed on Anakin to fulfill such a role." I watched Qui-gon think.

"I think you are wrong in this. As powerful as he is they would not dare harm him like they would you or me. They would do all they can to take him, but he would be safe from assassination." He said.

"One could argue that to fall is a death of sorts." I countered.

"One in which an individual's soul may be resurrected from." He said. "We all have our part to play, and even if no one outside us knows, the enemy may draw their own conclusions regardless."

I sighed, conceding the issue. I had hoped to avoid the announcement of Anakin's status. Qui-gon did make a good point. If we didn't tell the Jedi and we both ended up dead, then he was as good as the Sith's.

Qui-gon rested a hand on my shoulder and looked me square in the eye. "After Yinchor, I understand that losing a friend is hard, even for a Jedi. In a way her passing led you to the here and now. I sympathize, but perhaps it was a necessary step to your path. The Force is too vast an entity to express its thoughts to us at times."

I nodded, "I understand. I will need to figure this out as I go then."

Qui-gon smirked, "As we all had to at one point. Now I have business with the queen."

We parted ways and I nearly ran into Jar Jar not far down the hall. I turned around not wanting to deal with the gungan. I managed to keep contact with that walking irritation to a minimum and I would rather it stayed that way. I found it was wise to avoid things that would end up driving me even more toward the road of insanity.

A/N: Bit of a time skip. I found I wanted to jump to the main events a bit faster. The Yinchorri Rebellion would also last about an extra five seconds once Lumi points out there is a hidden fourth moon around Yinchor saving the Jedi the trouble of splitting up and getting picked off one by one on the different moons. I will go into more detail of what happened in those five years later on in flashbacks I think. This will be the last chapter before the New Year I think.