Welcome to a new chapter of this thrilling story!
Get ready to dive into a plot that grows more intense with every page, where the fate of the galaxy intertwines with the paths of our favorite characters.
Darth Maul has survived. Barely.
After his brutal confrontation with Obi-Wan Kenobi, the last Jedi standing after the Great Purge, the Sith apprentice lies at the edge of death, consumed by hatred… but not defeated. Now, his fate rests in the ancient magic of the Nightsisters.
Meanwhile, in a much brighter corner of the galaxy, Anakin Skywalker is beginning to show he's no ordinary child. Despite his lack of formal training, his natural command of the Force is undeniable. From spontaneous levitations to superhuman reflexes, his potential is as vast as it is untamed.
Obi-Wan feels it.
Though he hasn't officially taken him on as a Padawan, the young Jedi Knight already feels responsible for him. Little by little, he begins to share essential knowledge with Anakin: the basic principles of the Jedi Code, and how to channel emotions without being overtaken by them. Obi-Wan wants to ensure the boy has guidance… especially when the inevitable moment of parting comes. Because, even if neither of them wants to admit it, they both know that moment will come.
And while Anakin's heart begins to cling to this fatherly figure, it also opens to another kind of bond, one deeply human, tender, and transformative.
Padmé Amidala, now acting as his academic mentor, starts to occupy a special place in his life. For Anakin, who has known only slavery and a life without access to knowledge, Padmé's lessons seem unimportant at first, even boring. But soon, he realizes something: learning means freedom.
Thanks to Padmé, he'll discover not only letters and numbers, but also the history of the galaxy, the values of diplomacy, and the power of ideas. She won't just teach him to read and write, she'll show him that his voice matters. That he can think for himself. That he can build a different future.
Slowly, their teacher-student relationship begins to fill with a new, subtle kind of closeness… one neither of them knows how to name just yet.
margarett1098: Thank you so much for your kind words, they truly moved me. Knowing that you're enjoying the story this much gives me the motivation to keep writing. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment!
To everyone else: don't forget to leave a review too! I get so excited reading each and every one of them!
And now, let's dive into this chapter, where we'll journey even deeper into a story where light and darkness continue to clash, and the bonds between characters grow stronger, deeper, and more intense.
STARS DESTINIES – VOLUME I
THE AWAKENING OF A HERO – CHAPTER 11
The hyperdrive thrummed with a steady rhythm as the ship surged through hyperspace. Captain Faro Argyus monitored the navigation console with a firm expression. Beside him, Viceroy Nute Gunray fidgeted nervously, his hands resting atop his plump belly.
"We're en route to Coruscant. The Empire will take charge of you shortly, Viceroy."
"This is an outrage… a complete outrage!"
Before Argyus could reply, a sharp hiss echoed behind him. His hand went straight to his blaster, but it was already too late.
"We're not going to Coruscant" Ventress said coolly.
The captain spun around, only to see the red blade of a lightsaber closing in. Ventress advanced with a wicked smile.
With a swift motion of her free hand, Argyus was flung against the control panel.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"Fulfilling a more important duty."
She turned and pressed a button on the panel, altering the ship's course. On the screens, the coordinates for Coruscant blinked out, replaced by a new destination: Dathomir.
"Dathomir?! No, impossible!" Gunray cried from his cell "You can't do this to me! The Emperor promised protection, immunity, and the preservation of my title as Viceroy of the Trade Federation! This wasn't the deal!"
Ventress answered with a venomous smile.
"The Emperor has nothing to do with this. But don't worry… we'll meet with him soon enough, after I take care of a little family crisis."
Argyus used the moment to get up and aimed his blaster.
"You traitor!" he shouted as he fired.
But before the shot could leave the barrel, the Sith moved with feline speed. Her lightsaber spun in a red arc, slicing the weapon in half. With a second, precise strike, it pierced his chest. His cry died in his throat before his body hit the floor with a dull thud.
Gunray whimpered in terror, retreating until he bumped into the wall behind him.
"Please! I'm sure we can come to some arrangement. I'll pay whatever you want"
"I'm not interested in your money. I'll deliver you to the Emperor later, so you can keep serving him with your questionable talents."
The ship veered off through hyperspace.
"You can't do this to me! The Emperor won't forgive it!"
"He doesn't need to know."
The ship exited hyperspace, revealing the crimson planet of Dathomir, its atmosphere thick and shrouded in dark mists.
As the ship descended through the foggy surface, the twisted shadows of the gnarled trees cast ghostly silhouettes across the red swamp below. Metal groaned beneath the ship's weight as it touched down, the engines' power-down hum breaking the eerie silence.
Inside, Asajj Ventress turned to face Nute Gunray, who remained shackled in a corner, his face twisted in fear and frustration.
"I don't understand why we're here" he snapped "I was supposed to go to Coruscant, not this witch-infested rock."
Ventress offered a cruel smirk as she activated the ramp controls.
"My priorities have changed, Viceroy" she replied mockingly.
"Mother Talzin is expecting us."
Maul, now in a feral, deranged state, barely reacted to his surroundings. His yellow eyes darted about unfocused as he muttered incoherent words. He looked more like a beast lost in madness than a man.
From the mist emerged Mother Talzin, her regal form radiating an ancient and fearsome power. Her bony hands and glowing green eyes exuded dark majesty. She approached slowly, studying Maul with eerie calm.
"My poor son…" she whispered, brushing a hand over his shaved head.
Maul growled, his body twitching with spasmodic tremors.
Gunray shifted uncomfortably.
"If the Emperor finds out, there will be hell to pay."
Talzin cast him a chilling glance, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Our clan answers to a greater power" she said with authority "And that power has given me the right to decide my son's fate."
Ventress smiled as Gunray shrank back, knowing there was no escape.
"Can you help him, Mother?" Ventress asked, turning to Maul.
Talzin closed her eyes and murmured in the ancient tongue of the Nightsisters. A soft emerald glow enveloped Maul's body, and he let out a primal growl. When she opened her eyes again, her voice was solemn.
"His mind is shattered by despair and hate. His body is broken. Restoring him will take time… months of spells and ritual healing. But he will survive. And when he does… he'll be stronger than you can imagine."
Gunray lost his patience.
"This is absurd! I can't stay here for months while you play voodoo with that lunatic! I demand to be released!"
Ventress approached with dangerous calm, her face inches from his.
"You have two options, Viceroy" she whispered with a cruel grin "You wait patiently… or you become the next offering in the Nightsisters' rituals."
Gunray went pale, swallowing hard. His eyes darted around and spotted the shadowy forms of the Nightsisters watching from the mists.
"I-I'll wait. Gladly."
Ventress chuckled and turned back to Talzin.
"Let the healing begin. I can't wait to see what Maul becomes when he's fully awake."
Talzin smiled darkly, eyes gleaming with ancient promise.
"Nor can I, my daughter… nor can I."
Meanwhile, the days went by on Tatooine, and Anakin remained a true local hero. He wasn't just the inspiration for children who dreamed of podracing, but also the pride of his community. The people of Mos Espa never stopped talking about the young slave who had done the imposible, defeating seasoned pilots with his skill and bravery. Every time he walked through the marketplace, someone would approach to congratulate him or ask him to tell, once again, how he overcame the most difficult moments of the race.
However, his fame wasn't the only thing that had changed. Life at home had improved noticeably since Obi-Wan and Jar Jar started cooperating with their new jobs.
Obi-Wan, with his cleverness and skill, had quickly earned the trust of his new boss, who kept assigning him more responsibilities at the shop, along with better pay. There was no doubt the Jedi's presence brought not only stability but also a sense of safety to everyone at home.
Jar Jar, on the other hand, despite his clumsiness, was tolerated, and even appreciated, by his boss thanks to his enthusiasm and willingness to help. Not a day went by without him messing something up, but he always found a way to fix his mistakes, bringing laughter and lightness not just to the workplace, but to the household as well.
Thanks to all these changes, the Skywalker family lived with a little less worry.
One day, at sunset, Anakin and Obi-Wan were walking through the desert, leaving the last buildings of Mos Espa behind. The sky burned in shades of orange and gold, and the air was beginning to cool after the day's intense heat. Anakin couldn't help but glance at his Jedi friend, still not used to seeing him dressed like a regular merchant instead of in his Jedi robes. Without his usual attire, Obi-Wan looked like any other desert traveler, ordinary, lacking the imposing presence of a warrior.
"So, what does it feel like to work at something that's not Jedi stuff?" Anakin asked with an amused smile, casting a curious glance.
Obi-Wan gave a faint smile.
"It's not so bad, you know. After all, selling is just negotiating, and I've got plenty of experience with that."
"But you're a Jedi. How much could you really know about trade?"
"Well, I'll admit I'm better at aggressive negotiations."
Anakin frowned.
"Aggressive negotiations? What's that?"
"Negotiations with a lightsaber."
The boy burst out laughing, and Obi-Wan laughed along with him.
"It must be amazing to have a lightsaber like you."
Obi-Wan lowered his gaze for a moment before replying seriously.
"Actually, it's an honor. But also a great responsibility. A Jedi's lightsaber is much more than a weapon, Anakin. It's our very life. The difference between life and death. But also, a Jedi is responsible for their weapon. If a lightsaber falls into the wrong hands, it can be extremely dangerous."
"Are you always this serious with everything you say and do?" Anakin asked teasingly.
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow.
"What can I say? It's a Jedi trait."
"So… was everyone at the Temple like you? I can already imagine the collective headache you must've been."
"Hey, thanks a lot" Obi-Wan replied with mock sarcasm.
Anakin laughed again.
"By the way, why are we out here? I promise I haven't dropped anything heavy on anyone again."
In response, Obi-Wan pulled out a retractable metal rod, extending it with a swift movement before tossing it to Anakin. The boy caught it with ease, showing off his natural reflexes.
"By the time we leave this planet, you need to be able to defend yourself."
"Does that mean you're going to train me?" Anakin asked excitedly.
"It means, as I said, I'm going to teach you how to defend yourself."
It wasn't exactly the answer Anakin had hoped for, but he figured it was better than nothing.
"So, are we gonna fight with these like they're lightsabers?" he asked enthusiastically, adopting an improvised stance.
His legs were awkwardly apart, his body slightly tilted, and he held the rod high with both hands like he was about to hit a piñata.
Obi-Wan crossed his arms, watching him with a mix of amusement and skepticism.
"That is the worst stance I've ever seen."
Anakin blushed.
"Well, how am I supposed to stand, then?"
Obi-Wan took a firm but relaxed stance, knees slightly bent, feet planted steadily on the ground, weapon held securely but without stiffness.
"Watch my stance and copy it. Bend your knees, space your feet like mine, place your arms at the right height, and grip the weapon properly."
Anakin tried to mimic him. He almost got it, except for one detail.
"Don't grip it so tightly or you won't be able to move it properly" Obi-Wan warned "What you're doing is called 'choking your weapon'."
Anakin loosened his grip… too much.
"But don't loosen it too much or…"
Before Obi-Wan could finish, the rod slipped out of Anakin's hands and flew off, rolling across the sand and coming to a stop a few meters away.
Obi-Wan sighed and shook his head as the boy ran off to retrieve it.
"Exactly that."
Anakin hurried to get his rod, brushing off the sand that clung to it.
"It's harder than it looks" he muttered with a frustrated grimace.
Obi-Wan nodded in understanding.
"I know. This isn't mechanics or piloting, but I imagine the first times you tried those things weren't easy either, right?"
Anakin frowned, thinking it over for a moment.
"Maybe…"
"Alright, let's continue" Obi-Wan resumed his combat stance "You've proven that you have Jedi reflexes, Force-assisted reflexes, but that's not enough to fight in real combat. You've developed your defensive skills to a certain degree, but you still have a long way to go with your offense."
Anakin tilted his head with curiosity.
"What does one mean and what does the other mean?"
In response, Obi-Wan struck directly with his staff, aiming for the boy's torso. Anakin reacted instinctively, raising his own staff and blocking the attack with ease.
Without giving him time to think, the Jedi shifted angles and attacked from the opposite side. Again, Anakin intercepted the strike quickly.
"That's defense" Obi-Wan explained.
The boy grinned with satisfaction and shrugged.
"It must be really embarrassing for you not to be able to hit someone who doesn't even have your training."
Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow without changing his expression.
"I wish you hadn't said that."
Without warning, the Jedi moved with greater speed. Anakin barely registered the motion before he felt a precise impact to his legs that knocked him off balance. Before he could react, he was already on the ground, his staff lying a few meters away.
Before he could get up, Obi-Wan pressed his staff lightly against Anakin's chest, pinning him down with a firm but non-aggressive gesture.
"This is what a real fight would look like against someone with my level of training" he said calmly.
Anakin, still stunned, let out a short laugh.
"That was impressive."
Obi-Wan removed the staff and stepped back.
"Get up. Let's try again. This time, you strike first."
Anakin had started out confident, sure he could block Obi-Wan's attacks without much trouble. But being defeated so easily made him realize just how vast the difference between them truly was. All his initial confidence vanished, and the idea of attacking seemed pointless.
"And what's the point?" he asked with a mix of doubt and frustration.
"It'll help you improve your offense" Obi-Wan replied calmly.
"But like you said, I don't know anything about offense."
Obi-Wan gave a small smile and extended his staff in front of him.
"Then let's start with the basics. Strike the center of my staff. But first, return to the defensive stance, that'll help you hit with more accuracy and balance."
Anakin eyed him warily for a few seconds. He wasn't sure if the young Jedi was testing him or truly expected something from him. But seeing the patience in his expression, he decided to give it a try.
Focusing, he adopted the stance Obi-Wan had taught him. He gripped the staff tightly, but not too tight, and launched a firm, direct strike. As expected, the Jedi blocked it effortlessly. However, Obi-Wan didn't just defend; he immediately countered with a strike of his own.
Anakin reacted on instinct and blocked the blow, feeling the impact travel through his arms.
For a moment, they stood still, sizing each other up. Then, Anakin struck again, and Obi-Wan responded with the same fluidity.
Strike. Block. Strike. Block.
They continued like that, trading attacks and defenses with increasing speed. At first, Anakin focused only on hitting and stopping the Jedi's attacks, but little by little, he began to notice something more. With each move, with each clash of their staffs, he could feel the Force surrounding him, guiding him. His movements became more natural, more fluid.
He lost track of time. Without realizing it, they had moved across the desert, covering a good stretch while training. The heat of Tatooine's twin suns still beat down on them, but Anakin barely noticed.
For the first time since they started, he no longer felt clumsy or unsure. With each strike and each block, a wave of energy surrounded him, as if the Force were holding him, showing him the way. And for the first time in a long while, he truly felt in harmony with it.
The sparring match ended in the blink of an eye. With a swift, calculated move, Obi-Wan caught Anakin's wrist and disarmed him in the same motion. Before the boy could react, the Jedi used the momentum to spin him through the air, sending him crashing hard into the sand.
Anakin felt the impact through his whole body and let out a groan as dust rose around him.
"Excellent, Anakin" Obi-Wan said with a slight smile, offering his hand to help him up.
The boy rubbed his sore back and frowned.
"I didn't like the ending" he grumbled, brushing the sand off his clothes.
"You'll get used to it" Obi-Wan replied calmly.
"To what? You beating me that easily over and over?"
"To accepting defeat" Obi-Wan corrected with patience "And with time and constant training, to achieving victory."
Anakin sighed, still feeling the sting of the fall.
"Okay" he muttered without much conviction.
Then he looked up and asked with genuine curiosity:
"So… how did I do?"
Obi-Wan watched him for a moment, as if carefully considering his words before answering.
"There's no doubt your connection to the Force is exceptional" he finally said.
"What does that mean?"
Obi-Wan gave a small smile and, with the patience of a true master, began to explain.
"The more power a Jedi has, the greater their responsibility" Obi-Wan said in a serious tone, watching Anakin's reaction closely.
The boy frowned, reflecting on those words, but Obi-Wan knew he had to be careful with what he revealed. He couldn't mention the midichlorian count, or the overheated scanner, and especially not the prophecy. Not yet.
"And in my case?" Anakin asked, with a mix of curiosity and anxiety.
Obi-Wan took a deep breath before answering.
"In your case, Anakin, you must always act as if you were the most powerful Jedi in history, as if your potential were something never seen before. Because only then will you truly understand the responsibility your power carries, and the consequences of your choices."
Anakin lowered his gaze, kicking at the sand with his foot.
"But that's not true" he murmured with a shadow of sadness in his voice "I'm not as strong as you say."
What he couldn't yet imagine was that his potential was astounding. His connection to the Force was something unique, something no Jedi before him had ever possessed.
Obi-Wan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You may not see it now, but you need to believe that it's true. Not out of pride or ambition, but so you always act with caution and wisdom. The Force is a gift, but also a great responsibility."
Anakin looked at him with some doubt, but finally nodded.
"Alright" he said with a mischievous smile, trying to shake off the weight of the conversation "Then, in my imagination, I'll be the most powerful Jedi in history someday."
Obi-Wan returned the smile, though there was a flicker of something else in his eyes, maybe concern, or a premonition he preferred to ignore.
"That's right, Anakin" he said softly.
For a moment, the boy felt a strange emotion in his chest, something hard to describe. But before he could dwell on it, his friend added firmly:
"And never forget that every action has a consequence."
Anakin listened intently, his eyes glowing with excitement. And although he didn't fully understand the meaning of those words, he felt their weight. Maybe one day he would truly understand what they meant.
And despite the defeat and the ache in his body, he couldn't help but smile. For the first time, he felt that someone saw his potential, someone truly believed in him.
In his life, Anakin Skywalker had only ever had to worry about two things. The first, and most important, was surviving in a cruel world that gave him no respite. His status as a slave on Tatooine forced him to always be alert, not just for himself, but also for his mother, doing everything he could to look after her well-being.
The second, during his rare moments of freedom, was to indulge in his favorite pastimes: working on his droid 3PO, improving his podracer, exploring mysterious places with his friends, and doing anything else that helped him forget, even for a little while, his harsh reality.
But everything changed when the mysterious outsiders arrived on his planet.
Now, for the first time, he cared about something beyond his own survival. For the first time, he wanted to impress someone.
Padmé.
Making her smile had become an unexpected priority. He tried to be brave in front of her, to prove himself worthy of her attention, of her admiration.
But another new world had opened up before him: the Force. Something that had simply existed in his life without much thought now intrigued him deeply. Obi-Wan was teaching him to understand this power more deeply, and Anakin craved his guidance, his approval.
However, there was a new concern in his life, one he never would have imagined: schoolwork.
He was in his room, watching Padmé as she reviewed her datapad with a serious expression. The idea of taking lessons didn't excite him much. It wasn't that he didn't like learning, his curious nature always pushed him to discover new things, but he felt school would only take time away from what truly interested him.
If the lessons were about the Force, if Obi-Wan began training him properly as a Jedi, he'd have no complaints. That thought excited him. But no…
These were lessons about math. Why did he need to learn complex equations or advanced calculations when knowing how to add and subtract was enough to make change at Watto's shop? History didn't seem useful either. What good was knowing about the Republic's events when the Republic held no authority in Tatooine, when his people had never received help or protection from those senators and rulers of far-off worlds?
Geography, on the other hand, did spark his interest. Learning about the different planets, their climates, ecosystems, and hyperspace routes was exciting. Not only did it help him imagine exploring every corner of the galaxy, but it also brought him closer to his dream: being a pilot, flying far beyond the dry desert he'd grown up in.
But politics… that seemed like the most useless thing in the world. On Tatooine, politics didn't exist. The only law was the law of the strongest, the law of the Hutts and their goons. There were no senators to protect the people, no treaties to shield the vulnerable. Why bother understanding something that had never changed anything in his life?
And then there was economics. Anakin didn't see the point in learning about credits, markets, and finance when he'd never had anything to manage. In his world, wealth was just an unreachable dream, something only crime lords or privileged merchants had. He wanted to be a pilot, to fly among the stars, not sit behind a desk calculating taxes and profits.
He sighed and dropped his head. This was going to be harder than he thought. But before he could complain, Padmé's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"All right, Ani, let's begin. I can't teach you about advanced mechanics or expert piloting for those dangerous podraces you run. But what I can teach you, I'll gladly share… and with much affection."
Anakin felt his resistance crumble instantly.
The way Padmé spoke to him, with such sweetness, such patience, caring about him in a way no one else ever had, it completely disarmed him. He couldn't refuse her anything when she asked.
So he sighed, put aside his complaints, and sat next to her, ready to learn. Because if it was Padmé teaching him, then he didn't mind losing a few hours of his time.
"We'll start with literature" Padmé said "The Republic has a rich literary tradition, and learning about its best authors will help you understand the cultural wealth of our galaxy. Besides, it's often said that words have power. Sometimes, a good story can inspire more than a political speech or a lightsaber."
The boy didn't look convinced, but he didn't argue either.
"One of the greatest writers in history is Welletan Shippader" she continued "His plays are famous throughout the Republic, and many of them explore themes like destiny, betrayal, and above all… love."
"Love?" Anakin repeated with a slight blush "Sounds deep."
Padmé smiled, noticing his discomfort.
"More than you think."
She scrolled through her datapad until she found a particular work.
"This is one of his most celebrated stories: Rehetseo and Jeliayara. It's a tragedy about an impossible love between two youths from rival worlds."
Anakin frowned.
"Why impossible? If they love each other, why can't they be together?"
"War, politics, tradition... there are many reasons why sometimes love just isn't enough."
The boy fell silent, as if trying to process those words.
Padmé read a passage aloud, a scene where the lovers, separated by duty and circumstance, meet in secret under the stars. Her voice had a melodic, almost hypnotic tone.
When she finished, she looked at Anakin and noticed he was watching her with an intensity unusual for someone his age.
"What happens at the end?" he asked, almost in a whisper.
Padmé lowered her gaze, sadness in her eyes.
"I won't tell you exactly what happens, so you can discover it for yourself when you read it. But, as I mentioned, it's a love tragedy… and tragedies never have happy endings."
Anakin pressed his lips together.
"That's not fair."
Padmé sighed.
"Life isn't always fair."
The boy looked away.
"If I were in the story" he said finally "I wouldn't let it end like that."
Padmé looked at him with tenderness and a hint of wonder. She didn't respond right away, but his words echoed in her mind. Maybe, just maybe, Anakin Skywalker would be someone capable of defying fate itself.
The day's lessons had finally come to an end, and Anakin felt completely exhausted. Between training with Obi-Wan and studying with Padmé, both his body and mind seemed to have reached their limits. Even so, a sense of satisfaction filled him: he had managed to hold his own against a real Jedi Knight, though he knew perfectly well that Obi-Wan hadn't used even a fraction of his true potential. And in his lessons with Padmé, he had learned more than he expected, which fueled his natural curiosity.
Still, despite his excitement, he couldn't help but wonder how long he could keep up this pace. Kids his age who went to school only had to worry about studying. Padawans, as Obi-Wan had described them, focused solely on Jedi training. But he had to do both… and work on top of that. As much as he wanted to give his best, it was impossible not to feel the weight of exhaustion.
As he walked with slumped shoulders and his feet dragging across the floor of the living room, a familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Mesa thinks you got trampled by a herd of shaaks" said Jar Jar, approaching with his peculiar gait.
Anakin snorted.
"Something like that happened… I was training with Obi-Wan. We sparred with staffs and… well, he knocked me down a couple of times."
The Gungan's eyes lit up with excitement.
"And mesa missed it! Must've been quite the show."
Anakin smiled wearily.
"Don't worry, next time I'll tell Obi-Wan you want to roll in the sand too."
Jar Jar raised his hands in protest.
"Oh no, no, no! If mesa goes, it'll be just to watch you eat sand again. I'll even bring a bag of crunchypops to enjoy the show."
Anakin rolled his eyes and let out a laugh, feeling that, for at least a moment, his exhaustion weighed a little less.
"Dinner's ready, my darling" his mother's warm voice broke through his thoughts.
Anakin barely had the strength to respond. Instead, he collapsed onto a couch with a heavy sigh. Shmi frowned and came closer, instantly noticing how worn out her son was.
"Did you wear yourself out, Ani?" she asked gently, brushing a hand through his messy hair.
The boy nodded slowly.
"I don't think I can keep this pace much longer…" he murmured, letting his head fall back against the seat "I feel even more tired than after the podrace."
Shmi smiled softly, though the worry remained in her eyes.
"Oh, Ani… if you want, I'll talk to Padmé so your lessons can be shorter."
Anakin shook his head and took a breath, finally deciding to confess the truth.
"It's not just the lessons with Padmé" he admitted, looking at his mother seriously "I'm also training with Obi-Wan."
Shmi raised an eyebrow.
"Training?"
"But don't worry" he quickly clarified "It's not to become a Jedi or anything. It's just so I can learn to defend myself in the future."
To his surprise, his mother didn't seem alarmed. Instead, she smiled in approval.
"I think that's wonderful, Ani. I'm sure Obi-Wan only wants what's best for you, just like Padmé."
Anakin looked down, a knot forming in his stomach.
"Maybe… but I'm really tired" he confessed "Between training and studying, I still have to work… it's too much." He covered his face with his hands, letting out a frustrated sigh.
Shmi leaned in and gently stroked his hair.
"I understand, Ani" she said softly "But think of it this way: it won't last forever. And when they're gone, the knowledge they shared with you will stay. It'll be like they're still here, guiding you."
The boy was silent for a moment, absorbing her words. Then he looked up, his expression more vulnerable than usual.
"I don't want them to leave…" he whispered "I know they have to, that someday they will… but I don't want it to happen."
Shmi felt her heart ache at his words. She pulled him into a tight hug.
"I understand…" she murmured into his hair "I don't want them to go either. But you can't stop change, Ani. Just like you can't stop the suns from setting."
Anakin closed his eyes and stayed in his mother's embrace for a few moments, feeling her warmth and comfort. But even after dinner was over and he went to bed, his mind remained restless.
As he stared at the ceiling of the small room, he thought about his mother's words, Obi-Wan's lessons, and the story of impossible love that Padmé had told him.
If he couldn't stop change… what other things would he be powerless to stop in the future?
The thoughts spun in his mind, tangling together, until exhaustion finally overtook him and he fell into a deep sleep.
And with everything swirling in his head, that night Anakin had a particularly strange dream, one tied to the fragment of the literary work Padmé had read to him.
The night breeze stirred the silk curtains on the balcony, while the city shimmered under the silver moonlight. Anakin, or rather, Rehetseo in his dream, was hidden in the shadows of the palace, his heart pounding as he heard footsteps approaching. And then she appeared: Padmé, or rather, Jeliayara, in a gown of golden hues that caught the starlight, her gaze caught between sadness and the thrill of seeing him.
"You know you shouldn't be here" she whispered, her voice echoing with concern.
"And yet, here I am" he replied, stepping closer to her "I can't stay away. Not when every night my heart screams at me to come see you."
Jeliayara lowered her gaze, her chest rising and falling with the weight of forbidden feelings.
"Rehetseo, if we're discovered… if the Order knows you've come…"
"What more can the Order do to me? Take my saber? Exile me?" his voice carried a hint of defiance, though deep down he knew the truth was harsher "They've already forbidden me from loving you. What punishment could be worse?"
She bit her lip and looked beyond the balcony, toward the distant city lights.
"You don't understand… It's not just the Order. It's my family, my duty. I have to marry someone else, someone of noble blood. They can't allow me to… to us…"
Rehetseo felt a coldness in his chest. He knew this was his fate in the story, but at the same time, something inside him resisted. As if, in some corner of his mind, he knew this wasn't just a dream.
"What if we ran away?" he asked suddenly, his hand trembling as it reached for hers.
Jeliayara let out a quiet, joyless laugh.
"And where would we go? Where could we escape to where duty wouldn't find us? Where destiny wouldn't chase us?"
Rehetseo clenched his jaw.
"If destiny is cruel, then I'll defy it. If the Force lays this path before me, then I'll tear it in two. Nothing will keep us apart!"
Jeliayara's expression softened, and gently, she placed her hand on his cheek.
"You're brave, Rehetseo… but you can't fight what lies beyond us. No matter how much we love each other, destiny will always find a way to tear us apart."
The young man felt a deep pain at her words. Something deep within him knew they were true, that sooner or later, rules and expectations would drive them apart. And yet, in that moment, all he could do was hold her in his arms and seal that instant with a kiss that tasted as much of love as it did of farewell.
But the scene faded in a flash of light. Anakin woke with a start, his breath ragged, heart pounding. He looked around the small room on Tatooine, still feeling the warmth of Jeliayara's, no, Padmé's lips.
He ran a hand over his face and sighed, trying to shake the feeling from his chest.
It was just a dream.
Just a dream… right?
I mean… he didn't have those kinds of feelings for Padmé, did he?
It couldn't be love. It shouldn't be love.
And yet, what he felt for her was so intense, so deep, it unsettled him. It wrapped him in a tangle of emotions he couldn't quite understand. His heart beat faster when she was near, her voice calmed and excited him at the same time, and every smile of hers lit something up inside him. But no, that couldn't be love.
Because if it were, what would be the point? She would leave. Any moment now, any day, that beautiful girl he once mistook for an angel would vanish from his life forever, returning to her world, a world where he didn't belong.
So then, why did the thought of losing her feel like losing a part of himself?
The confusion weighed on his mind, his heart, his very soul. He clung to the certainty that it wasn't love, because admitting it would mean accepting he was headed for inevitable pain. But if it wasn't love…
Then what was it?
The days passed at an exhausting pace for Anakin. He worked in Watto's shop in the mornings, trained in the afternoons, and studied at the end of the day. However, the fatigue was starting to take its toll.
For her part, Padmé spent her days at home, handling the cleaning and making sure the household was in order. Although she had a brilliant mind for diplomacy and strategy, figuring out how Tatooine's domestic items worked was still a challenge.
"I'm the Queen of Naboo, I've led meetings with senators and generals, but a simple Tatooine pot makes me tremble" she thought with a mix of frustration and amusement as she looked at the kitchen.
She had decided not to risk cooking again after her disastrous first attempt.
"I'd rather not be responsible for a collective poisoning" she told herself with an ironic smile.
What she could do was help with Anakin's lessons. Every day, she carefully prepared the topics she would teach him in the afternoon.
"Despite how exhausted he is, he still wants to learn. His hunger for knowledge is incredible" she thought admiringly as she reviewed the writings of the Republic's great historians.
She had even begun to include small quizzes to test his understanding.
"Maybe if I teach him in a more interactive way, he'll enjoy learning more and not see it as a burden" she reflected, wanting to make the lessons more engaging.
With Padmé's help at home, Shmi had more free time and used it to make clothing. One afternoon, while she was sewing, Padmé sat beside her with curiosity.
"It's amazing how quickly you can do that" the young woman said, admiring the precision of her stitches.
Shmi smiled gently.
"Practice makes perfect. Besides, I enjoy it, especially when it's for the ones I love."
"How did you learn?" Padmé asked, intrigued.
"When you're a slave, you learn a lot out of necessity. But sewing became something more to me. It's a way of caring for others" she explained tenderly.
Padmé felt a lump in her throat.
"You're an incredible person, Shmi" she said sincerely.
The woman squeezed her hand affectionately.
"So are you, Padmé."
One day, Shmi came home with two unusual fabrics for the region: one black with the texture of fine leather, and the other a dark brown.
Anakin looked at the fabrics curiously.
"What are they for?"
Shmi smiled mysteriously.
"That's a secret" she said while carefully folding the fabric.
Jar Jar, who was nearby, tilted his head.
"Mesa can know?"
Shmi let out a small laugh.
"No, Jar Jar, no one will know until it's finished."
The Gungan crossed his arms.
"Why so much mystery? Mesa promises to say nothing."
"Because I like surprises" she replied with a wink.
Jar Jar gave a suspicious look and muttered.
"Dis, mesa will find out sooner or later" as he walked away.
Padmé examined the black fabric closely.
"It feels very different from the clothes you usually make. Is it for something special?"
Shmi smiled knowingly.
"Let's just say I have a gift in mind… but you'll have to wait to see it."
In any case, changes continued, but the household routine was becoming more and more stable.
If Anakin was already exhausted with so many responsibilities, the Force seemed to have other plans for him, and it wouldn't take long to show it.
As if his destiny were written with unbreakable precision, the circumstances pushed the boy toward new trials. They were small challenges that, although seemingly simple, left a lasting mark on his path.
One night, Shmi was sitting at the table, going over some stitching under the dim light of a lamp, when the urgent sound of knocking at the door made her get up immediately.
When she opened it, she recognized Rina, a neighbor, her face soaked in tears and her breathing ragged.
"By any chance, is my little Nilo here?" the woman asked desperately.
Shmi frowned, sensing a bad feeling.
"We haven't seen him" she replied softly "What's happened?"
Rina hugged herself, her voice trembling.
"Our master sent him to deliver a package… I usually go with him, but this time he didn't allow it. He said someone had to stay in the shop and that the delivery was simple… but it's across a stretch of desert and he hasn't come back. I'm afraid he got lost!"
Shmi felt a chill down her spine.
"How could he send him alone when he's barely four years old?"
"To keep the shop from being unattended..." Rina whispered, ashamed "I had no choice, but now I can't find him. I followed the route he should've taken, but there's no trace of him. I thought he might be here… you know he loves watching Ani work on his podracer. But it's getting dark, and I'm terribly worried..."
Her voice broke and she began to sob harder, covering her face with her hands. Shmi felt her anguish and, without hesitation, placed a firm hand on her arm.
"We'll help you look for him" her voice held the certainty of a mother who would do anything to find a lost child "Go gather the others. We'll head out in a moment."
Rina nodded and left quickly.
Shmi closed the door and turned to her family, her face serious.
"Nilo, a four-year-old boy, is alone in the desert. We can't waste time."
Anakin, who was lying on the couch completely exhausted, felt a knot in his stomach. His body was worn from hours of work, training, and lessons, but his fatigue vanished the moment he heard his mother's words.
"I'll go search for him in the desert" he said, standing up immediately.
Shmi looked at him with concern.
"Ani… it's very late. It could be dangerous."
"That's why I'll go with him" Obi-Wan intervened, placing his hands on the boy's shoulders "We can't leave a child out there alone, but we shouldn't split up without a plan either. You all search the streets and the nearby places he frequents. Anakin and I will track his path into the desert."
Padmé, who had remained silent, nodded with conviction.
"Alright. We'll meet back here if we find anything."
Shmi sighed, uncertain, but she saw the determination in her son's eyes.
"Be careful, Ani."
He gave her a fleeting smile before heading out with Obi-Wan into the dark vastness of the desert.
The night in the Tatooine desert was relentless. The heat of the day had faded, leaving behind a piercing cold that grew stronger with every gust of wind. Anakin and Obi-Wan moved through the dunes, lighting their path with a lantern as the air stirred up swirls of sand around them.
Anakin stopped and looked around, frustrated.
"I don't see anyone around here… and the tracks must've been erased when the wind started blowing" he said, scanning the ground with the lantern in search of any trace.
Obi-Wan watched him patiently.
"Open your senses, Anakin" he instructed "With the Force on your side, you don't need to see him or follow his trail with your eyes. Close them for a moment… and tell me if you feel him."
Anakin took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to shake off the exhaustion weighing on his shoulders. He focused on his surroundings, on the silence of the desert, on the murmur of the wind… and then, for an instant, he sensed a flicker of fear.
His eyes flew open.
"I think I felt him" he said uncertainly "But it was only for a moment."
Obi-Wan nodded.
"I feel it too. Remember to listen to the Force. Don't doubt it… open yourself to its guidance."
Anakin closed his eyes again, this time more calmly. He listened… and he felt. A small, trembling fear, nearby.
His eyes opened with determination.
"We're close" he announced.
Obi-Wan smiled slightly.
"That's right. He must be in that direction."
They hurried toward where the Force was guiding them. Upon reaching a rocky outcrop, they saw a small figure curled up against the wall, shivering from cold and fear.
"Nilo!" Anakin exclaimed, running toward him.
The child lifted his head, eyes full of tears, and the moment he recognized Anakin, he threw himself into his arms in desperation.
"Ani!" he sobbed, clinging to him tightly.
Anakin hugged him gently, running a hand through his hair in an attempt to soothe him.
"You're safe now" he whispered "It's over."
Nilo sobbed a little more before wiping his tears with the back of his hand.
"I got lost… I didn't know how to get back" he said with a trembling voice "I thought no one would come for me…"
Obi-Wan knelt beside him and offered a reassuring smile.
"You must never lose faith, little one. There will always be someone who'll come for you."
The boy nodded slowly, clutching Anakin's hand, who gave him a comforting squeeze. With the assurance that he was no longer alone, Nilo stopped trembling, and holding Anakin's hand, the fear completely vanished as they walked back to the village.
As soon as they arrived, Rina saw them and her heart nearly stopped.
"Nilo!"
She ran toward her son, falling to her knees to wrap him in an embrace full of tears and relief.
"My little one… my baby…" she sobbed, kissing his head over and over "I thought… Oh, thank you, thank you!"
She turned to Anakin and Obi-Wan, still crying.
"I don't know how to thank you…"
Anakin smiled shyly, a warm feeling rising in his chest at the sight of relief on the mother's face.
"We just made sure he got home" he said humbly.
Obi-Wan placed a hand on Anakin's shoulder with pride.
"That's what matters."
Rina hugged her son tighter, while above them, the stars of Tatooine shone with serenity.
Anakin felt a deep satisfaction seeing Nilo once again in his mother's arms. Despite the exhaustion in his muscles, the warmth of the moment filled him with energy. Knowing they had brought the boy back, that his fear was gone, made every bit of effort worthwhile.
Padmé, Shmi, and Jar Jar approached to witness the emotional reunion. The young queen couldn't help but smile as she saw the mother embrace her son with tearful relief.
"Excellent work" Padmé said admiringly, addressing Anakin and Obi-Wan "You brought him home."
Anakin looked down for a moment, slightly embarrassed by the attention, but couldn't help smiling with a bit of pride. Obi-Wan, by his side, simply bowed his head in a humble gesture.
Padmé looked at Anakin closely. With every passing day, she admired him more. His bravery, his kindness, and his unbreakable spirit seemed limitless. He wasn't just bold, he was bold for the right reasons: because he couldn't stand by when someone was in danger, because his noble heart drove him to act.
And as she looked at him, she couldn't help thinking that if he ever became a Jedi, he would undoubtedly be the greatest of them all.
When the crowd dispersed and Nilo and his mother returned home, the Skywalkers and their guests did the same. The adrenaline from the search was beginning to fade, leaving only the weariness of the night.
As they walked back, Padmé looked at Anakin with a smile full of warmth.
"That was excellent work" she said with conviction "You two make an increasingly amazing team."
Shmi came closer to her son and gently caressed his face.
"I'm so proud of you, Ani" she whispered with a gaze full of love "There's no doubt Obi-Wan is a wonderful influence on you."
Anakin, though blushing at his mother's words, glanced sideways at his master.
"I wouldn't have done it without his help" he admitted with a smile.
Obi-Wan gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"The Force guided you, Anakin, and you knew how to listen. That's what truly matters."
Anakin nodded, feeling that tonight, he hadn't just helped save a child… he had also taken another step on his own path.
A few days later, Shmi was getting ready to leave the house, adjusting the shawl over her shoulders before heading to the door.
"I'm going to visit Mrs. Vensari. Her husband is very ill."
Padmé, who was sitting at the table organizing some notes, looked up with interest.
"Are they the kind elderly couple who live on the next block?" she asked, remembering seeing them at the market.
"That's right" Shmi replied with a kind smile "Would you like to come with me? I'm sure they'd love your visit, you know how much they appreciate you. They still talk about the meiloorun pie you made last time."
Padmé blushed slightly and looked down.
"Please, Shmi… I barely helped make it."
"But you put your love into it, and that's what counts" Shmi assured her sweetly "That's what they remember."
Padmé smiled shyly and nodded.
Moments later, both of them arrived at the humble home of the Vensari family. As soon as they crossed the threshold, they realized the situation was more delicate than they had imagined. Mr. Dain Vensari lay on a mattress, covered with several blankets, but his breathing was heavy and uneven. His wife, Mirala, was kneeling beside him, her eyes filled with worry.
"Oh, Shmi, thank you for coming" the woman whispered in a tired voice "He got worse than yesterday, and I don't know what else to do. You know how the medicine supplier is, always looking to make a profit… If I can't pay him today, he won't sell me what Dain needs. I don't think my dear husband will make it without help."
Mirala's hands trembled as she held her husband's hands in desperation.
Shmi knelt beside her and gently took one of her hands.
"Don't worry, Mirala. We'll find a solution. We're not going to let Dain suffer like this."
Padmé, feeling a knot in her chest at the sight of the woman's anguish, clenched her fists with determination.
"If he needs medicine, we'll find a way to get it. We won't let him spend another night like this."
Shmi nodded, sharing the young woman's determination. She knew getting the medicine wouldn't be easy, but they couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Back at home, Shmi and Padmé returned with their hearts heavy with concern. The image of Mr. Vensari, weak and gasping for breath, wouldn't leave their minds. They knew they had to get the medicine that very night.
"That supplier named Xukko is truly abusive" Shmi explained bitterly as they sat at the table "When he knows someone needs a medicine urgently, he hikes up the price to something impossible to pay, especially for slaves. Even more so if their master refuses to help buy it."
"That's terrible…" Padmé murmured sadly "How can someone be so cruel?"
Shmi sighed with resignation.
"Because he sees slaves as property, not as people. And it's even worse when they're older… for masters who think like him, old slaves just aren't worth it."
Padmé clenched her fists in frustration.
"I wish there was something we could do about it."
"Unfortunately, I don't think we can" Shmi said regretfully "Besides, Xukko closes early and hates to be disturbed at night. He doesn't care if someone's dying, he only sells during his business hours, and at the prices he chooses."
"But there has to be something we can do."
"I'll prepare a brew with luzaria leaves, a plant that helps reduce fever and pain. I'll take it to him right away; with luck, he'll be able to rest tonight. Tomorrow, we can see if we can organize a collection among the neighbors."
Later, the rest of the house was already asleep, but Padmé couldn't fall asleep. The injustice gnawed at her. She imagined Mirala's anguish, watching her husband struggle to breathe, helpless. She thought of all the other slaves who had gone through the same.
"I can't just stand by and do nothing."
She sat up slowly, grabbed a lantern and a backpack from among Anakin's things, and slipped out the door leading to the yard. The night air was cool, and the streets were barely lit by a few scattered lamps and the soft glow of the moon.
She had only walked a couple of blocks when a brush on her shoulder made her spin around suddenly. Instinctively, she raised the lantern like a weapon and swung it without thinking.
But her hand was caught mid-air with precise reflexes.
"Whoa! Easy, Padmé."
The lantern's light illuminated Anakin's face, who looked at her with a half-smile, though he didn't let go of her wrist.
"Ani!" she whispered in surprise "What are you doing here?"
"I got up to use the bathroom and heard you open the yard door. I knocked, but you didn't answer, so I figured you weren't there. I went into your room to check and… well, you were gone. So I decided to follow you using the light trail from your lantern."
Padmé sighed, a bit embarrassed.
"Sorry for leaving without saying anything… I just want to help Mr. Vensari. I don't want him to die if there's something I can do."
Anakin looked at her intently.
"I get it" he said sincerely "What do you have in mind?"
"Steal the medicine from Xukko" she confessed firmly.
She braced herself for a scolding, for Anakin to tell her it was a terrible idea, that it was too dangerous…
But instead, the boy smiled slyly.
"That's a brilliant plan" he said enthusiastically "But you're heading the wrong way. Xukko lives on the other side."
Padmé blinked, surprised.
"You really want to help me?"
"Of course. I'll take you and help you get the medicine."
The determination in Anakin's eyes made it clear to Padmé that he was fully prepared to do whatever it took. And even though she knew they were about to do something risky… she couldn't help but smile.
Moments later, Anakin and Padmé were watching from a distance, hidden in the shadows of an alley. Anakin closed his eyes for a moment, extending his connection to the Force. His senses reached beyond the visible, beyond the dry night breeze and the distant murmur of the city. He could feel Xukko's presence on the upper floor, sleeping deeply, and the absolute stillness inside the medicine shop.
"He's asleep" Anakin whispered, opening his eyes "And the store is empty."
"That's a relief, but it doesn't mean it's safe to go in" Padmé pointed out.
"It's not" the boy agreed "Like any good greedy merchant, Xukko has surveillance cameras inside the store. If they detect movement, it'll trigger the alarm and alert him."
"So what do we do then?" Padmé asked anxiously.
"We have to cut the power to his store and his home. Without electricity, the cameras and alarm won't work."
"Sounds easy enough, but how do we do that without the sensors detecting movement before we cut the power?"
Anakin smiled confidently.
"By making the cameras look the other way."
Before Padmé could ask how, the boy closed his eyes again. A subtle tremor rippled through the air as his connection to the Force expanded. With precision and control, he directed his energy toward the exterior cameras, subtly manipulating them until both pointed toward the sky, no longer watching the entrance.
Padmé watched in disbelief. She couldn't help but wonder how it was possible for Anakin to do something like that without any formal training. Sure, she had heard of the Jedi and their abilities, she had seen Obi-Wan in action, but Anakin was something else. He wasn't just a Force-sensitive child… he was something more.
However, she didn't have time to keep thinking about it, because Anakin was already on the move.
"Let's go" he whispered, pressing himself against the side of the building.
Padmé followed closely as Anakin crouched beside the power generator. With confident movements, he slipped on a pair of worn gloves and began manipulating the wires with astonishing precision. Padmé didn't fully understand what he was doing, but the certainty with which he worked made her feel oddly safe.
A couple of sparks flew in the darkness and, suddenly, the entire home was plunged into shadows.
"You did it" Padmé whispered, impressed.
"Now we have to get in" Anakin said, nodding upward "That's our entrance."
Padmé looked up and noticed the small ventilation window a few meters above their heads.
"Do you think either of us can fit through that?" she asked, uncertain.
Anakin smiled with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"There's only one way to find out."
The boy crouched and interlaced his fingers, preparing to boost her up. His eyes shone with determination, confident he could do it without issue.
Padmé swallowed, feeling a flutter of nerves in her stomach. It wasn't that she didn't trust Anakin, but the age and height difference between them made her doubt he could really lift her that high. Still, they didn't have another option. She took a deep breath, trying to ignore her uncertainty, and carefully placed her foot in the boy's hands.
For a moment, she felt the warmth of his skin through her shoes, and the thought of putting her full weight on a small child made her hesitate. But Anakin didn't show the slightest doubt.
"Ready?" he asked, with a small, confident smile.
Padmé nodded, clinging to the certainty in his voice.
With a swift motion, Anakin boosted her upward. To her surprise, he lifted her with more strength than she expected, forcing her to react quickly and grab the edge of the window. Her hands gripped the frame tightly, keeping her from losing balance due to the momentum.
She turned slightly to glance down at Anakin, still impressed by the boy's strength. He stood up, brushing off his hands with satisfaction.
"See? I told you I could do it."
What she didn't know was that it hadn't been just physical strength that allowed him to accomplish that feat, but his connection with the Force. It was that connection that enhanced the momentum, something his physical strength alone wouldn't have been able to give him.
Ignoring this, Padmé smiled with amusement and adjusted herself, getting ready to go in.
"Yeah… I guess I underestimated you."
Suppressing her astonishment, Padmé focused on the task at hand. Just as she feared, the entrance was narrow. She pushed herself forward with the strength of her arms, but as soon as her hips reached the edge of the duct, she felt herself getting stuck.
"You've got to be kidding… of course it had to be this part getting caught."
Heat rushed to her face as she struggled to move forward. She squirmed slightly, trying to reposition herself, but the result was the same, she was still stuck.
She tried again, pushing with her arms and moving her legs to find support, but every failed attempt only added to her frustration.
The hot, dry air of Tatooine barely moved in the confined space, and a feeling of suffocation began to settle over her. She twisted her torso in an effort to free her hips, but only managed to make a faint sound against the metal of the duct.
Below, Anakin waited silently, alert to every sound. When he noticed she wasn't moving, he whispered in a low, concerned voice:
"Padmé? Are you okay?"
Her face turned red instantly. She couldn't believe this was happening. She was stuck, in the middle of a break-in, with a nine-year-old boy waiting below. The situation couldn't be more ridiculous.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine" she murmured, though her tone wasn't very convincing.
The truth was, she wasn't just uncomfortable… she was deeply embarrassed. Of all the ways she could've gotten stuck, it had to be like this. Her hips, wedged in the narrow opening, made her feel ridiculously exposed, and the fact that Anakin was right there, seeing it all, only made it worse.
"Please don't make a comment about this…" she silently pleaded, hoping the boy wouldn't find the situation as funny as it probably was.
But the situation wasn't what she feared. In her mind, she already pictured Anakin laughing, teasing her with that mischievous grin he always wore when he found something amusing.
However, Anakin watched in complete silence, his eyes wide with a mix of concern and fascination.
It wasn't that he didn't want to help… but the moment was unique. He knew this would never happen again, and for that reason alone, he was taking a second to burn it into his memory.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
It's not that he was enjoying watching her struggle to get in, but… there was something about the scene he just couldn't look away from.
Anakin shook his head, snapping himself out of it before his thoughts went too far. Now wasn't the time to be distracted. But he couldn't help it.
Unaware of everything going through his mind, Padmé tried pushing herself again, using the strength of her arms and bending her legs to find better leverage. But it still wouldn't budge. A spike of frustration hit her. What if I can't get in? What if I have to ask Anakin to pull me back down?
No. She couldn't give up.
She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the heat rising in her face. Then, an idea struck her: she needed to relax her muscles. She was too tense, and that only made her body resist the movement more.
She closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled slowly, releasing the tension from her body. Then, with one final push, she used her elbows to propel herself forward and managed to slide through. Her hips finally cleared the narrow edge, and she moved into the duct with a soft gasp of relief.
"I'm in!" she whispered, beginning to crawl forward.
Still blushing, Padmé made her way through the duct, leaving the awkward moment behind.
The duct led her to a grate positioned above a stack of crates. She carefully tested the pile's stability and, satisfied it was firm, dropped silently onto them, using the makeshift steps to reach the floor without making a sound.
Now came the hardest part… finding the medicine and getting out without being caught.
"What medicine are we looking for?"
The question caught her off guard. Her heart jumped and she nearly screamed, but she stopped herself just in time, covering her mouth with both hands. She turned quickly and saw Anakin beside her, wearing his usual curious expression.
"Don't scare me like that!" she hissed, trying to calm the adrenaline rush in her chest.
"Sorry" he said innocently, though his mischievous grin betrayed him.
Padmé frowned and looked at him in disbelief.
"How did you get in so fast?"
Anakin shrugged like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"Well, I didn't get stuck in the duct."
His tone was casual, but the playful glint in his eyes made her blush instantly.
"Not a word about this, got it, Skywalker?" she said, pointing a warning finger at him.
The boy raised his hands in a gesture of innocence, but his smile didn't fade in the slightest.
"Look for something that says Veradoxina."
"Got it."
Without wasting another second, they both sprang into action, scanning the shelves quickly but carefully, trying not to make any noise. Padmé let her gaze glide over the jars lined up on the shelves, some with labels barely legible under the dim light from the flashlight. Anakin, for his part, worked with the same precision as a mechanic inspecting engine parts, moving boxes and jars skillfully.
Finally, Padmé found what they were looking for.
"Here it is!" she whispered excitedly, pulling out a small glass vial with a worn label that read Veradoxina.
But that wasn't all, she also found another medicine, Celriotropina, which she'd heard could help strengthen the treatment. Without a second thought, she took both and slipped them into the backpack.
"We've got what we need. Let's go."
Anakin nodded and, with the same agility he had used to get in, jumped his way back up to the duct, carrying the backpack with him. He pushed himself up with his arms and disappeared into the darkness.
Padmé swallowed hard. She knew she had to climb up again, but the idea of getting stuck once more made her nervous. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
She stepped onto the boxes and placed her hands on the edge of the duct. This time, she prepared better, relaxing her muscles before pushing her body forward. Even so, she felt the same resistance at her hips.
"Not again" she thought with frustration.
She took a breath and, with one last effort, pushed off with her feet. She made it through, but with so much force that she lost her balance.
Before she could react, she felt hands catching her. Anakin tried to hold her, but the impact was too much for his small frame.
"Whoa...!"
They both fell to the ground in a tangle, landing with a dull thud on the sand.
For a moment, everything was silent. Then, Padmé opened her eyes and found herself face to face with Anakin, who lay beneath her with a surprised look and a slight blush on his cheeks.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his smile a little sheepish.
She blinked a couple of times and then sighed, realizing how ridiculous she must look.
Nodding, she carefully got up, brushing the dust off her clothes. Then she looked at Anakin and offered a small smile.
"Thanks for trying to catch me."
Getting to his feet as well, Anakin averted his gaze, frowning with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
"I didn't do it right… I wasn't strong enough."
Padmé noticed the look of disappointment on his face and gently shook her head.
"If you hadn't been there, I could've gotten seriously hurt. So really, thank you."
The boy looked at her for a moment, surprised by her words. Then he lifted his head, a small, shy smile forming on his lips.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Like I said, thanks to you, I am."
"Well… I wasn't about to let you get hurt."
Padmé smiled and gently ruffled his hair, making Anakin blush even more.
"Come on, we have to get out of here before Xukko wakes up."
They both hurried off into the night, the stolen medicine in their backpack and their hearts pounding.
It didn't take long before they were running up to the Vensari house, their hearts still racing from the adrenaline and excitement of their success.
Without wasting a second, Padmé knocked urgently on the door.
Mrs. Vensari opened almost immediately. She hadn't been sleeping. It was impossible to rest when her husband's life depended on her constant care. Her eyes showed exhaustion and worry, but also surprise at seeing the young ones on her doorstep at that hour.
"Padmé, what are you doing here at this time of night?" she asked in confusion.
"We got the medicine" the girl replied, her voice a mixture of pride and relief.
For a moment, the woman was speechless. She looked at Padmé, then at Anakin, and finally motioned for them to come inside. Her disbelief was clear as she watched Padmé pull the vials out of the backpack and hand them over carefully.
"It can't be…" Mirala whispered, taking the medicine with trembling hands "How did you manage to get it?"
Padmé smiled tenderly and shook her head.
"Don't worry about that. What matters now is that your husband gets better."
Without asking more questions, the woman rushed to administer the first dose to her husband. Just moments later, the change was evident. Dain, who had been struggling to breathe, let out a calm sigh. His features, once tense and gaunt, seemed to relax slightly.
Mrs. Vensari covered her mouth with her hands, holding back tears.
"Thank you… thank you both so much. I don't know how I'll ever repay your kindness."
"There's nothing to thank us for" Padmé said with a warm smile.
Anakin, however, took on a more serious tone.
"To be on the safe side, it's better not to mention anything about the medicine" he said quietly "If anyone asks, just say it was a miracle… a miracle made by an angel."
Padmé turned to him with a surprised expression, but when she saw the faint smile playing on his lips, she couldn't help blushing.
Moments later…
They walked in silence on their way back home, the night wrapping around them in its starry mantle. They had accomplished their goal, but something in the air still buzzed with unspoken emotion.
"Thank you so much, Ani" Padmé broke the silence, looking at him with gratitude "I couldn't have done it without you."
Anakin gave a sideways smile and shrugged humbly.
"It was all thanks to you, Padmé. You were the one with the idea in the first place."
A while later, back at home, they slipped in quietly through the patio door, returning to Padmé's room. Before parting ways, the young girl looked at him again, her gaze full of meaning.
"Again, thank you, Ani. You have no idea how much it meant to me that you came with me and helped me through this."
Anakin looked at her for a moment, his heart pounding.
"There's nothing to thank me for."
Then, without thinking too much, he gently took her hand and, with the utmost naturalness, pressed a warm kiss to her skin.
"Goodnight, Padmé. Sleep well" he said softly before leaving.
The young queen stood there, motionless, the warmth of that kiss still tingling on her skin. She didn't know what to say or do, so she just smiled sweetly, feeling something unfamiliar stirring inside her.
Meanwhile, Anakin, now outside the room, leaned his forehead against the door and closed his eyes.
He didn't want what he felt for Padmé to be love. It couldn't be. It shouldn't be.
But at the same time… he couldn't deny it.
Just as Anakin was about to return to his mother's chamber, Obi-Wan's voice echoed from the living room, stopping him in his tracks and making him jump.
"I take it your mission was a success."
Anakin turned around immediately, trying to keep a neutral expression as he crossed his arms with feigned indifference.
"You were dreaming, Obi-Wan. I don't know what you're talking about."
Obi-Wan, who remained seated in an armchair with his arms resting calmly on the armrests, raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"You can't fool me, Anakin. You know you can't. The Force is on my side."
Anakin sighed, surrendering with a gesture of resignation.
"Fine… yes, we achieved our objective" he admitted, a small satisfied smile appearing on his lips "Mr. Vensari is out of danger and will begin to recover soon."
Obi-Wan nodded approvingly.
"I'm glad to hear it. Tell me… are you sure there's no evidence left behind?"
The boy shook his head confidently.
"No. We were very stealthy, and I made sure to leave no trace of our presence there."
Obi-Wan tilted his head slightly, studying him for a moment before offering a barely perceptible smile.
"Excellent."
"Like a Jedi would?" Anakin asked, a hint of pride in his voice.
Obi-Wan let the silence linger for a moment before answering calmly.
At the end of the podrace, he hadn't hesitated to tell Anakin what he wanted to hear, because it was a great truth. After all, that was exactly how he had acted before achieving victory. But this time, even if the boy deserved to hear those words again, he feared giving him false hope. And that was the last thing he wanted to do.
"It's possible" he replied in a serious tone.
Anakin smiled, feeling a warm sensation in his chest. It wasn't a direct confirmation, but coming from Obi-Wan, those words meant more than he would admit. With one final nod, he turned to head back to his room, but not before casting one last glance at the young Jedi.
Obi-Wan watched him go, sensing in him that spark of determination and nobility… but also something else. Something that reminded him of someone he had once known, in what now felt like another life.
He couldn't help it… as Anakin disappeared into the dim hallway, a fleeting image crossed his mind.
There was no doubt, the boy reminded him immensely of his late master.
The boldness with which he had acted that night, the way he followed his own judgment without asking for permission or waiting for orders… everything about him evoked Qui-Gon's spirit. Qui-Gon had always been that way: a man guided by his own moral compass, willing to break the rules when duty demanded it.
Anakin had that same essence. That same fire.
It was an admirable quality, but also a dangerous one. Because, like Qui-Gon, Anakin didn't always understand the cost of his decisions. And Obi-Wan couldn't help but wonder if, someday, that fire would consume him entirely.
From the mystical shadows of Dathomir, the Nightsisters begin a dark and risky ritual: restoring Darth Maul's sanity and power. If they succeed, Obi-Wan's old enemy will not only return… he'll be more dangerous than ever. An unpredictable threat, shaped by hatred and thirst for revenge, ready to challenge anyone who stands in his way. The galaxy is not ready for what's coming.
And meanwhile, Anakin Skywalker, still just a child, bears a colossal destiny. To be the potential Chosen One of an ancient prophecy comes with responsibilities far beyond what his age should endure. Between work shifts with Watto, academic lessons led by Padmé, and defense training with Obi-Wan, Anakin begins to forge his character. He's not yet a Jedi, but the Force is already shaping him for something much greater.
What's most admirable is that, despite the physical and mental exhaustion, Anakin never refuses to help. He has already saved two lives thanks to his bravery and his instinct to protect. It's his heart, not just his power, that makes him special. Because while others might surrender to fatigue or doubt, Anakin draws from his kindness an inexhaustible source of energy.
And so we close this chapter, filled with growth, mystery, and choices that will shape our protagonists' destinies.
What did you think? Leave your comments, theories, and reviews! I love reading them and feeling like we're traveling through this story together.
See you in the next chapter!