Welcome to a New Chapter.
The Republic has fallen. The Jedi Order has been annihilated. The shadow of the Empire spreads across the galaxy, smothering the light of hope.
Obi-Wan Kenobi, carrying the last will of Qui-Gon Jinn and the duty to preserve what remains of the Jedi, flees through the chaos. By his side, the former queen Padmé Amidala and Jar Jar Binks search for a refuge where the Empire's oppression cannot reach them.
But fate does not lead them to just any hiding place. It guides them to a barren, forgotten planet… Tatooine.
In its vast deserts, where the sun burns relentlessly and the sand whispers stories of times past, more than just a mere refuge awaits. Here, far from the Emperor's watchful eyes, a new path begins. A new purpose. And perhaps… the first spark of hope in a galaxy engulfed in darkness.
It is time to step into the story.
STARS DESTINIES - VOLUME 1
THE AWAKENING OF A HERO - CHAPTER 1
The figure before his eyes does not belong to this place. That much is evident. Her face is not weathered by the sun like the slave women's, nor hardened by a life on Tatooine. And her eyes… her eyes are wide and deep, as if they hold secrets he cannot comprehend. There is something in her presence that takes his breath away.
He does not know who she is. He does not know where she comes from. But a part of him, a part he does not understand, feels that she will be important. That this moment is not a coincidence. That, in some way, his destiny has just changed.
Then he realizes he has been staring at her for too long. But he cannot help it. Every passing second, it becomes more impossible to look away.
She has noticed too. Her cheeks, soft and delicate, have been tinged with a blush that gives her an even more ethereal air, as if her skin reflects the intensity of his gaze. It is a subtle change, yet impossible to ignore. Is it because of the way he looks at her, absorbed, undisguised?
Has she felt the invisible caress of his eyes tracing over her, like a light breeze that touches the skin unseen yet makes itself known in every corner? His eyes, focused and unwavering, do not simply observe her; they study her, as if wanting to engrave every detail into memory. They linger on every curve hinted at by her dress, on the way the fabric clings to her body, revealing something without fully showing it, creating a mystery that invites discovery.
The light envelops her, gliding over her skin like an ethereal caress, highlighting the contours of her figure with an almost unreal softness. Her body is still developing, her feminine features barely outlined, yet to him, they are the very embodiment of perfection.
It is a silent game between what is shown and what is hidden, between what can be touched and what remains untouchable. And all of it, in its essence, is perceived by her, the intensity of his gaze, the admiration he does not try to hide, the fascination that has no name.
Does she know? Does she realize that her body is the center of his attention, that her movements are followed with a devotion that goes beyond the physical? Or is it that, in some way, she is feeling that invisible connection between them, as if Anakin's gaze were an unseen thread pulling her toward him without her knowing why?
Perhaps she has sensed the devotion in his gaze, the almost reverent awe with which he beholds her, as if she were the most extraordinary vision he has ever witnessed. Maybe she has felt the weight of this moment, the electricity suspended between them, that inexplicable attraction rising from the depths of something neither of them yet understands.
But despite the blush on her cheeks, she does not look away. She does not run. And that only makes Anakin's heart beat harder.
The heat of embarrassment rises up his neck, but he does not want to break the magic of this moment, this fleeting and forbidden exchange that traps him in a universe where only the two of them exist. Even though he should look away, even though he knows it would be the right thing to do… he does not. Because, deep down, he fears that if he does, this moment will disappear forever.
It is like those beautiful creatures the star pilots spoke of, those angels who, with just a glance, could change the destiny of those who beheld them. And she… she is not just beautiful. She is undeniable proof of the sign he has been waiting for… There is no room for doubt. She must be an angel and not just any angel, but the most beautiful of them all.
He does not know what to say or do because, at any moment, she might leave, perhaps forever and he cannot allow that. Not now, not when he feels that his heart has begun to intertwine with hers, when her mere presence has become an undeniable necessity, a longing he cannot ignore. Not when his entire world seems to have shrunk to this very instant, as he memorizes every detail of her smile, every shade in her gaze, every subtle curve accentuated by the dress that clings to her figure with an almost unreal grace.
Looking at her has become more than a fleeting pleasure, it is a habit, his new purpose. And the thought of losing her before he even has her fills him with a fear he has never known.
Overcome by urgency, he is forced to break the silence, and from his lips escapes the first thing his mind can grasp, like a river overflowing its banks. His words carry a restless doubt, searching in the echo of his voice for the certainty of an elusive truth.
"Are you an angel?"
The moment the words leave his mouth, he feels warmth spread across his face. What kind of question is that? It sounds childish. But he cannot help it. Because deep inside, a part of him truly believes it could be true. Because if there is anything in the galaxy that could be called an angel, it undoubtedly looks like her.
Padmé blinks, caught off guard by the question. For a brief moment, the world seems to pause, suspended in the warmth of those blue eyes gazing at her with a mix of wonder and devotion.
"A what?" she asks, a slight smile playing on her lips, as if his words had pulled her from a dream.
When she smiles kindly and responds, something warm settles in his chest. As if, for a moment, the sand and the heat disappear. As if, somehow, she has brought something new to his dusty world.
"An angel" Anakin insists, with the certainty of someone who has just discovered an undeniable truth. There is admiration in his voice, but also something deeper, a genuine fascination "I've heard deep-space pilots talk about them… They're the most beautiful creatures in the universe. They live on the moons of Iego, I think."
Padmé is speechless for a second. No one has ever looked at her like that before, as if she were something sacred. Her cheeks flush with an unexpected warmth, but she laughs sweetly, trying to dispel the tension that has formed between them.
"You're a funny little boy" she says with a hint of tenderness in her voice "How do you know so much?"
Anakin straightens with pride, enjoying her attention.
"I listen to all the traders and star pilots that pass through here. I'm a pilot, you know? And one day, I'm going to fly far away from this place."
"You're a pilot?"
"All my life."
His answer is immediate, as if his destiny is written in the stars and there is no other option for him.
"How long have you been here?"
He lowers his gaze slightly, but his voice does not waver.
"Since I was very little… I think I was three. My mom and I were sold to Gardulla the Hutt, but she lost us betting on podraces."
Padmé's heart clenches. There is something in the way he says it, so naturally, that hits her harder than the words themselves.
"You're a slave?"
The light in Anakin's eyes dims for a moment, and his posture subtly shifts. The spark of pride and enthusiasm hardens into something else.
"I'm a person, and my name is Anakin!"
The way he says it sends a chill through her. Padmé immediately realizes her mistake.
"I'm sorry…" she whispers sincerely "I don't fully understand. This place is strange to me."
Anakin watches her for a moment, weighing her reaction. The way she looks at him, with a hint of guilt and confusion, tells him she didn't mean to hurt him. And, for some reason he doesn't yet understand, he wants her to see him as more than just a child. He wants her to remember him. He wants to impress her.
As he continues gazing at her, he wonders if he will ever feel something like this again. He doesn't think so. How could he? He has never felt this before, and he can't imagine it happening again. It's as if something inside him has just awakened, something that belongs only to her. As if, even if he never sees her again, this moment will be etched into his soul forever.
But he doesn't want it to be just a moment. He wants more. He wants to know her. He wants to understand why she, out of all the people he has ever seen, makes him feel this way. He wants to know if she has felt it too.
And then, something else settles in his chest. A clear, unshakable thought. He doesn't know how, but he is certain that this won't be the last time he sees her. Because if destiny exists, if there is a purpose in life, he knows that his is tied to hers.
While this unexpected encounter between two souls was taking place, Obi-Wan, accompanied by Jar Jar, was trying to find the necessary parts to repair the ship. However, every merchant he asked gave him the same answer: there was only one place where they could find spare parts for the model they needed.
"Looks like we'll have to find this Watto guy" the Jedi told the Gungan with resignation.
"Mesa hopes he's not a rough and scary guy" Jar Jar responded anxiously.
Obi-Wan frowned, looking around.
"Where's Padmé? I told her not to wander off."
"She was right next to me, and suddenly, poof! She disappeared. Do you think she's been kidnapped?"
Obi-Wan shook his head.
"No, she's fine, don't worry. I can feel it in the Force… and something else. Something intense that I can't explain."
Jar Jar pointed into the distance.
"There she is. Looks like she made a friend. And to think she was the one who told us not to trust anyone."
Both approached where Padmé was speaking with the young slave. The queen seemed so engrossed in the conversation that she had completely forgotten her precarious situation as a refugee on a crime-ridden planet.
"We had no luck" Obi-Wan announced, interrupting the moment and bringing Padmé back to reality "They don't have the parts we need."
"And now we have to find someone named Watto" added Jar Jar.
"I know Watto" Anakin chimed in casually "I work for him."
"You work?" Padmé asked, surprised "Shouldn't you be in school or playing with your friends?"
Anakin smiled with a hint of melancholy.
"This is my school. And my friends… well, let's just say none of us have much time for that."
Padmé noticed a trace of hidden sadness behind that mature smile and felt a pang in her chest.
"So, do you know if Watto has spare parts for a J-type 327 Nubian?" Obi-Wan asked him.
"Oh, yeah" Anakin replied enthusiastically "I just organized them in the shop this morning. I can take you there if you want."
"That would be very kind of you, Anakin" Padmé said with a warmth that lit up the boy.
He remained completely mesmerized by her, losing himself in her eyes as if the rest of the world had ceased to exist.
Noticing this, Obi-Wan decided to intervene.
"Alright, then lead the way to Watto" he said firmly.
Anakin blinked, snapping back to reality.
"Of course! Follow me."
As they walked through the dusty streets, Jar Jar looked at Padmé curiously.
"I think you have something on your face" he suddenly commented.
Padmé raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you say that?"
Jar Jar grinned mischievously.
"Because that boy wouldn't stop looking at you. I figured there must be something there that caught his attention."
Padmé's face instantly flushed, remembering how those eyes had scanned her from head to toe, lingering on every curve with an innocent yet intense fascination. The memory of his gaze enveloped her in a strange sensation she couldn't define, a mix of surprise, flattery… and something more.
Moments later, the group led by Anakin entered Watto's shop, the place where the boy and his mother worked.
"Took you long enough, you useless brat" the Toydarian growled as Anakin walked in "I should whip you as a lesson, see if you learn not to waste time."
Anakin suppressed a sigh and gestured toward the newcomers.
"I was attending to some customers."
Watto narrowed his eyes, eyeing the foreigners greedily.
"Customers, huh? Well done. Keep it up, and maybe I'll forgive the punishment you've got coming for this week and the next."
The boy didn't respond. He didn't care about his own fate as much as the fact that Watto might take advantage of the visitors. He had never liked that part of the business, but now, knowing that this repulsive merchant was about to scam a girl so sweet and noble, irritation flared inside him.
Obi-Wan stepped forward.
"We're looking for parts for a Nubian 327 type J ship. Your employee told me you have what we need."
Watto smirked smugly.
"Oh, yes. A rare model to come by."
In his mind, he was already calculating how much he could inflate the prices.
"That's right. We asked around the whole market, and everyone sent us to you" added Jar Jar.
The Toydarian flapped his wings with a soft buzzing sound.
"Come to the back. We'll talk business in private."
Just as the Jedi was about to follow, Anakin grabbed the price list and handed it to Obi-Wan with an innocent smile.
"Here, you can see the prices for the products you're looking for."
Silence filled the shop. Watto froze for a moment before fixing a fierce glare on Anakin. His bluish skin darkened, vibrating with contained fury.
"Well, aren't you considerate, kid" he muttered sarcastically "I'll be sure to reward you later."
Anakin felt the weight of the threat on his back, but he didn't regret it. With his intervention, at least Watto wouldn't be able to cheat them in the negotiation.
"Come to the back, we need to talk" Watto insisted, leading Obi-Wan to the storeroom.
"Perfect. My droid has the list of everything we need replaced."
R2 beeped affirmatively and rolled up beside Obi-Wan.
"Wow! Is that an R2 unit?" Anakin asked curiously "I've heard they're the best astromechs in the galaxy."
"It is" Padmé replied with a smile, gently running her hand over R2's dome "He's been with me for years. He's incredibly efficient… and also very loyal."
Watto scoffed in disdain.
"Bah! What nonsense. Droids don't have feelings, so they don't know anything about loyalty."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow and gave him a sharp smile.
"What a way to treat your customers, my friend."
"Yeah, if we had another option, we wouldn't buy anything from you" Padmé added, crossing her arms "Not only do you insult your customers by calling them fools, but you also keep threatening a child prodigy who, instead of putting up with your abuse and foul breath, should be living like any other kid outside this planet."
Padmé's tone made it clear that she wasn't the perfect, patient angel pilots fantasized about, though Anakin was convinced she was. In reality, she had a strong will, and not always the best temper. But far from disappointing him, this only made her even more fascinating in his eyes. He loved knowing she was a determined girl.
Obi-Wan sighed patiently.
"Alright, let's set emotions aside and get down to business, if you don't mind."
Watto clicked his tongue but finally nodded.
"Follow me."
Meanwhile, Jar Jar wandered around the shop, curiously inspecting every object within his reach.
"Don't touch anything" the Jedi warned him before disappearing behind the Toydarian.
"What a temper" the Gungan muttered "I just wanted to see how these things work."
Anakin smiled.
"It's a portable shield generator. I'll show you."
He pressed a couple of buttons, and the device activated, projecting a semi-transparent energy field with blue, green, and purple flickers dancing like liquid fire.
"Wow, this is simply amazing!" Padmé said, smiling as she raised her hand, watching how the lights reflected on her skin.
Anakin looked at her, completely mesmerized. The lights danced across her face, highlighting the softness of her features and the sparkle in her eyes.
And her curves, those that had already captivated his gaze more than once, were outlined with an almost ethereal perfection under the shimmering glow. The bluish and violet flashes caressed her silhouette gently, accentuating every contour with a subtle radiance, as if the light itself wished to pay her homage.
Anakin felt his throat go dry and his breathing hitch; he had never seen anyone so beautiful, so utterly fascinating. At that moment, caught between the wonder of the scene and the whirlwind of unknown emotions stirring inside him, he realized he couldn't look away from her.
And for a moment, he forgot where he was. His heart pounded in his chest, and the air felt heavier around him.
"You'll like this too" he said quickly, trying to push aside what he had just felt.
With slightly trembling hands, he hurried to grab another object, a hologram emitter, and activated it. In front of them, a three-dimensional star map appeared, displaying constellations and trade routes in golden and silver light.
Jar Jar's eyes widened.
"Incredible! You really know all this stuff!"
Anakin lowered his gaze slightly.
"Well, I've been working here since I was really little."
For a moment, Padmé caught a hint of sadness in his voice and felt a strange urge to comfort him.
Meanwhile, in the backroom, Watto was trying to convince Obi-Wan to buy a new ship.
"Really, yours is too damaged. I'd give you a great price on this beauty!"
"Our ship is fine. It just needs repairs and the parts you'll sell us."
Watto clicked his tongue.
"Alright, alright... and how are you going to pay?"
"I have 20,000 Republic dataries."
The Toydarian let out a nasal laugh.
"Republic dataries? They're no good here! I need something more real."
Obi-Wan narrowed his eyes and subtly waved his hand.
"The dataries will do."
But Watto didn't even blink.
"No, the Republic has no credit here."
Obi-Wan tried again.
"The dataries will do."
Watto flapped his wings impatiently.
"No, I said I don't want them! Don't you understand that currency is worthless on Tatooine? And if you think you can manipulate me like some idiot the way Jedi do with their tricks, let me warn you, Toydarians are immune. Here, only money talks."
The Jedi sighed. There was no other choice. Watto had the parts they needed… and he had no way to pay for them.
Meanwhile, inside, in the main area of the store.
"Have you always had to put up with that lunatic?" Padmé asked the boy, clear concern in her voice.
Anakin shrugged.
"Watto isn't always that bad. He's better than a lot of other slave owners."
"Better? I don't even want to imagine what the worse ones are like."
"Trust me, you don't want to know."
Padmé looked at him with concern. To her, slavery had always seemed like something distant, a cruelty she barely had to think about. But now, hearing Anakin speak of it so casually, the reality of his world felt even more terrible.
"How long will you be staying? Or are you just here while you fix your ship?"
"I don't know" Padmé admitted sincerely "Our situation is complicated. We have no idea what we'll do tomorrow, let alone in the long run."
"That happens to a lot of people who end up here... and eventually, they get used to it, no matter how awful this place is."
"I just hope we find some peace while we're here."
"I hope so too."
Padmé looked at him with a trace of tenderness before asking softly:
"And you? Will you be alright, Anakin?"
He smiled, trying to dispel her worry.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Watto's happy with my work. I wouldn't have survived this long if I weren't good at fixing things."
Before Padmé could respond, Obi-Wan returned with a serious expression.
"We're leaving."
"What happened?" she asked, frowning "That flea-ridden sack of wings refused to make a deal?"
"The money we have is useless on this planet. We couldn't close the deal."
"It can't be..." Jar Jar groaned, covering his face "We don't know anyone here, and now we don't have a single credit."
"Things couldn't get worse" Padmé added, worried.
"Well, we won't solve anything by standing here feeling sorry for ourselves" Obi-Wan said, heading for the exit.
One by one, the others followed him.
Padmé paused for a moment at the door and turned back to Anakin with a smile.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Anakin."
"It was for me too" he murmured, enchanted.
Just then, his mother approached, and upon noticing the look on her son's face as he watched the girl walk away, she couldn't help but smile tenderly.
"What did I miss?"
Anakin, still with slightly flushed cheeks, let out a dreamy sigh.
"I just met the most wonderful girl in the universe."
Shmi raised an amused eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Oh, yes. She's someone very special. I bet you'll love her too when you meet her."
"And what's the name of this very special girl?"
Anakin opened his mouth to answer… and froze.
"No way... I forgot to ask her name."
Before his mother could say anything, Watto's irritated voice interrupted them.
"Swindlers! Scammers! That's their name!" he grumbled, flapping his wings "Trying to take advantage of an honest businessman!"
Anakin snorted.
"Honest businessman? They were just talking to you."
Shmi gave him a small warning nudge, but she couldn't help smiling at her son's boldness.
Watto clicked his beak and pointed a stubby finger at him.
"Watch that mouth, kid. And don't forget, you owe me… you tried to sabotage the great deal I was about to make."
Anakin didn't answer. He wasn't even thinking about Watto anymore. His mind was still caught on the image of the warm-eyed girl he had just met… and on the fear of not knowing how long it would be before he saw her again.
And the worst part? He didn't even know her name.
Meanwhile, the group was returning to the ship hidden in the cave.
"Today was a terrible day" Jar Jar lamented, shaking the sand off his legs "The only good thing is that my little feet no longer suffer from the hot sand."
Obi-Wan sighed and crossed his arms.
"I'm not going to lie to you, the situation is delicate. We're stranded on a planet where we don't know anyone. Here, money rules, but ours is worthless, and criminals control everything around us."
"Maybe we could use something from the ship to buy the parts" Padmé suggested.
"We only have provisions and a full wardrobe. But it's not enough to seal the deal" Obi-Wan explained.
"We should have brought something more useful instead of a bunch of dresses that are completely useless" Jar Jar complained.
"The ship is always prepared for diplomatic missions, not emergencies like this. None of us were."
"Arguing won't solve anything" Obi-Wan intervened "It's true that the situation is more complicated than we anticipated, but we have to push forward, no matter what."
"What if we sell the dresses?" Padmé asked.
"We can't take that risk. As you said, we must keep our identities hidden, and such fine dresses would attract anyone looking to take advantage of our situation."
Padmé sighed.
"I guess there's nothing we can do, then."
"We could get jobs" Jar Jar proposed "There was a lot of activity in the market; I'm sure they need someone with my skills…"
Before he could finish speaking, he tripped over his own feet and fell face-first onto the hot sand. Obi-Wan offered him a hand to help him up.
"Getting jobs is a good idea. Tomorrow, we'll go back to the market and see what we can find."
"We also need another shelter" Padmé added "If they see us coming and going from the cave, they could discover the ship and steal its parts... or take the whole thing."
"For anything, we need money" Obi-Wan pointed out "And to get money, we need jobs."
"Mesa hopes our situation changes soon" Jar Jar said with a dramatic sigh.
Once inside the ship, the group relaxed in the seats around the meeting table.
Padmé looked at Obi-Wan curiously.
"You're deep in thought. Like something else is worrying you."
The Jedi took a moment to respond.
"It's about that boy we met today."
"Anakin? Well, he's a slave, but he told me himself that his situation isn't as bad compared to others."
"It's not that" Obi-Wan shook his head "The Force surrounds him in a way I've never felt before. His connection is intense. I realized it when you stayed behind, Padmé. I could feel your presence, and alongside you, an energy in the Force that was impossible to ignore."
Jar Jar let out a chuckle.
"Maybe it's because of the way he was looking at Padmé? Did you see him, Obi? He couldn't take his eyes off her, looking her up and down."
Padmé stiffened. Her face instantly turned red. How many more times was she going to blush today?
Because one thing was certain: that boy had been watching her in a way that, while it hadn't made her uncomfortable, had certainly unsettled her. It wasn't simple curiosity or fleeting admiration. There was something deeper, more intense… almost reverent.
It hadn't been just any look. His eyes had lingered on every part of her, tracing her without shame. But not with brazenness or improper intent, rather, with a fascination so pure that it disarmed her.
But he was just a boy… So why had his gaze made her skin tingle? Why had she felt, even if only for an instant, that in the middle of the bustling market, they were the only two who existed?
Meanwhile, Obi-Wan meditated in silence.
"The Force surrounds that slave boy like nothing I've ever known before. There's no doubt that he's already aware, at least in part, that he possesses something others don't. An instinct that warns him, advises him, guides him on the right path."
Unraveling this mystery was important, but as a good Jedi, Obi-Wan knew he had to be patient. First, they had to get out of the complicated situation they were in. There would be time later to learn more about the boy named Anakin.
"We need to rest. It will be dark soon, and we'll need all our energy for whatever awaits us tomorrow" he announced, turning to his companions.
But as he did, he found that they had already fallen sound asleep, leaning against each other.
Settling into his seat, Obi-Wan let his mind replay the day's events. Everything had changed in the blink of an eye: The Jedi Order no longer existed, the Sith seemed to have returned, and in his last words, his master had entrusted him with missions of overwhelming weight. The responsibilities were too many, the answers too few. And Qui-Gon… Qui-Gon was no longer there to guide him, nor were the members of the Council.
For the first time in his life, he felt truly alone.
However, walking alongside that bright-eyed boy, who spoke enthusiastically about his talent for fixing anything, that loneliness had faded, even if only for a moment. There was something about him, something difficult to describe but impossible to ignore. As if, in some inexplicable way, the boy filled the emptiness Obi-Wan felt.
He definitely needed to learn more about him. Despite the short time they had known each other, he felt that a deep connection had already begun to form between them.
The young Jedi exhaled softly and closed his eyes. The exhaustion of the day quickly enveloped him, pulling him into the same rest his companions had already succumbed to.
Meanwhile, Anakin walked home under the growing darkness. The punishment imposed by Watto had left him exhausted; he had spent the entire day cleaning the shop without rest. His mother had wanted to wait for him, but he convinced her to leave before it got too late for her to tend to her responsibilities at home. After all, this punishment was the consequence of his own mistakes, and he wouldn't allow her to suffer for them as well.
However, he had never walked these streets this late before. Tatooine had no public lighting, and his path was illuminated only by the pale glow of the moon and the distant shimmer of the stars. Occasionally, the dim light of a nearby dwelling cast elongated shadows that stretched ominously in his wake.
Anakin was brave. He rarely felt fear, not even in the dangerous podraces. But this time, in the solitude of the night, surrounded by unfamiliar shadows, he couldn't shake the growing unease creeping over him.
He tried to think about the beautiful girl he had met: her captivating honey-colored eyes, the sweetness of her rosy lips, the delicacy of her face. The grace with which her figure had begun to take shape, awakening in him an inexplicable fascination, as if she were an ethereal vision in the middle of the desert. Her memory fascinated him, comforted him… but it wasn't enough to chase away the growing sense of danger.
Determined to get home faster, he took a shortcut through an underground tunnel, an old ventilation shaft abandoned decades ago, once used to dissipate the extreme heat from the generators of an old spice refinery. He knew that if he crossed it, he would be closer to home.
What he didn't know was that, at this hour of the night, the tunnel served as a hiding spot for ruffians looking for unsuspecting prey.
"Well, well… a customer at last" murmured one of the men, a burly figure with an eyepatch.
"To pass through here, you have to pay a toll" added another with a mocking grin.
Anakin frowned and stepped back.
"Forget it. I'd rather take the long way."
But before he could turn around, a figure emerged from the shadows, blocking his exit.
"Once you enter, you have to pay."
"So hand over what you've got… or else."
"And if I refuse?" Anakin snapped, his pride igniting with anger.
"Then I'm afraid you'll find out the hard way, kid."
There were no warnings. One of the ruffians landed a brutal punch to his face. The pain was immediate and blinding. Anakin fell to the ground, feeling everything fade around him.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but the next thing he heard was the roar of an approaching engine and the agitated murmurs of the ruffians. Their voices grew more tense, a discussion that quickly turned into shouting.
It seemed they had run into a rival gang.
What followed was the sound of a fight, fists colliding, cries of pain, threats spat between gasps. Luckily for him, they forgot about him. With the little breath he had left, Anakin gathered his strength and, staggering, dragged himself out of the tunnel before anyone noticed his presence.
Moments later, he arrived home. Exhaustion and pain weighed on him like an unbearable burden. He barely had the strength to look at his mother before his body gave in, collapsing into her arms, unconscious.
Thus begins a connection that, over time, will grow into an unbreakable love, intertwined with the destiny of the entire galaxy. What now seems like mere childhood admiration will grow into a force strong enough to change the course of history itself.
Tatooine, an arid and forgotten planet, will witness the rise of a hero destined to bring light back to the galaxy, accompanied by those who will shape his path.
Here, Obi-Wan will come to understand the true weight of the promises he made to his master before he became one with the Force.
Here, Padmé and Anakin will share their first experiences together, moments that, though seemingly insignificant now, will hold far greater meaning than anyone could imagine.
Thank you for joining me in this story. I would love to hear your thoughts and know what you think of this chapter.
See you in the next one. I hope you continue traveling this journey with me.