Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Anakin was fast asleep the night the monster came. That was good, Rosa supposed. She didn't want him to remember that. But, Rosa thought he remembered the feeling of it. It had been quiet, and Anakin had been fast asleep. Their mother had been serving at some great feast that the Hutt had planned, and was supposed to come back late into the night. So, at first, when Rosa had sensed two people coming up the stairs, she assumed it was her mother and one of her fellow slaves. 

But as they got closer, she realised that while, yes, it was her Mama, and someone was with her, they were not friends.  And her mother was scared.  and not like her usual scared, like when Anakin wandered a little too far from the house.  No, this was different.  She was scared for herself, and... hurt.  Rosa's Mama was in pain.  Rosa whimpered and curled further into her and Ani's thin mattress, beginning to prey to ekkreth and Ar-Amu. 

There was the sound of a male voice from the other room, and then the sound of Shmi pleading with someone.  Rosa wanted to cry. 

Her Mama never begged. not for more food, or fair treatment.  not for freedom, and certainly never of some random man who barged into their apartment.

Suddenly Shmi screamed and then a sob echoed through the house. Rosa lay there, staring at her ceiling in the dark as Anakin shifted fussily in his sleep. 

Rosa didn't like this, and she didn't like that man outside in the common room.  Not a bit. 

Suddenly, she remembered.  A Metal Man, helping her off the floor after she knocked him out of the way.  A blaster shot had been going right for the gap between his helmet and his armour.  

'Thanks, Ad'ika! I owe you one!'

And she had nodded affirmation, shy in the face of his Beskar helmet.  But now, she hadn't an ounce of shyness in her body as she leapt from the bed to the old dumbwaiter in their bedroom.  She really hoped he had meant that about owing her.

She inched down to the next floor (the kitchens) and sprung out, surprising the kitchen staff.  She raced out and back upstairs several flights to where guests were boarded.  She had to be fast so the bad man could do as little as possible to her poor mother.  She reached out to find The Metal Man and felt him asleep in the fifth room.  She raced to it and pounded on the door. 

"Metal man! Metal man, help!" She yelled as loud as she could, banging on the door, kicking it with her bare feet and choking back sobs.  There was a crashing from inside as the man made his way to the door, flinging it open and pointing a blaster through the door as soon as he could.  His eyes widened as they locked with her own teary gaze, and he lowered the blaster, crouching down in front of her and grabbing her shoulders.

"What's wrong cayr'ika?!" he exclaimed, his fear and worry mirroring her own.

"A monster!" she sobbed "A monster has my Mama!  He's hurting her!  She's screaming!  Please help her!"

He jerked back as soon as he heard that, snatching his gun and holster, "Take me to her."

...

Jango, as he had said his name was, had made Rosa wait outside as he went in.  He had banged open the door with his gun raised, and Rosa had closed her eyes.  Almost instantly there was a shout, then a feral growl followed by a blaster fired, then everything went quiet.  There were a few moments where all Rosa heard was the rustling of cloth and a few broken sobs and sniffles from her mother.  Jango was murmuring soft words of comfort to her Mama, then she heard his voice call out, "Alright, ad'ika, you can come in now."

Rosa slowly entered the room, timidly casting her eyes about, making certain the room was clear of threat.  She had felt the monster's life end, but she wanted to see him with her own two eyes.  Finally, she spotted him.  

There was a corpse tucked into an out-of-the-way corner, as though Mama and the Metal Man didn't want her to see it.  She breathed a sigh of relief and scampered over to her mother and the Mandolorian.  She took her mother's hands and looked into her eyes. Her mother was still crying, but she attempted a comforting smile anyway.  It didn't do its job.

"Mama, you need a medic."

Shmi looked at for a long moment, then smiled sadly at her only daughter, tears still fresh in her eyes.

"Oh, Rosa.  If only it were that easy."

The man looked on with a thoughtful expression, then nodded to himself before looking up at the two females in the room with him.  "I'll get you medical assistance.  I'll pay for it and make sure you're all safe."

Shmi smiled at the man.

"That's very honourable, sir."

"Don't mention it.  This is a hard situation, and no one can get through it on their own.  I'm happy to help."

...

And he did.  He made certain Shmi was helped and cared for.  Eventually, though, he had to leave.  He promised to come back and visit her sometime, and that had been enough for Rosa.

...

Shmi was crying again.  She sat on the 'fresher and cried.  Because there in her hand, sat a small blue device.  It was long, and blue and it had two little lights on it.  They were two different colours, and, much to Shmi's horror, at this moment, one was a dull burgundy, no light glowing from it.  Meanwhile, the other light, the one all slave women despised, was a bright, glaring chartreuse.  And Shmi wept freely.

Pregnant, with a baby ten weeks formed in her womb.  From a dead man who was nothing but a beast and a monster.  

It wasn't the baby's fault, but she knew she would never be able to look at that baby without dying a little inside.

'Ar-Amu, oh, Ar-Amu, I prey for strength.'

...

Nine months had passed quickly, and the four of them had recently passed out of the ownership of Gardulla the Hutt and into the possession of a junk trader called Watto.  He wasn't kind, but he didn't threaten to whip her Ani as soon as he messed up.

It was a relief in a way.  Watto always gave her jobs where she could be isolated from the customers, and he let her two oldest children do most of the work.  Which gave her time to raise the newest addition to the family, Luna Skywalker. Arlei Ekkreth.  Shmi's Dragon.

Here in her arms, she beheld one of perhaps the most exotic newborns Shmi had ever seen. The baby, much to Shmi's relief, looked nothing like her Father.  Though the same black marks spread over the tiny baby's face and her ears were curled and pointed at the end, giving her an air of budding elegance, the little girl had her blue eyes and curly brown locks.

All Shmi preyed to Ar-Amu was that her daughter wasn't too pretty.

All seemed to be going right with the world at long last, and for the first time in months, Shmi breathed easy.  but something was stirring.  She didn't know what,  and she didn't know if it truly involved her, but she was worried all the same.

Something was wrong, and Shmi didn't know what. Yet.

Chapter Text

Master Qui-Gonn Jinn was thinking.  His padawan often said he thought too much, but, as Qui-Gonn often replied, it was the only way to receive adequate council.  In truth, his brand of thinking was a bit more like a half-n-half version of meditating.  He was in the force and yet he was in the present.  He was doing this because he had a vision.  But such a vision it was. 

It didn't make sense.  It had been so clear when he had seen it, unlike any other on record.  There had been a bright flash, and then he had witnessed a light, reaching out and spreading across the galaxy, and he had heard voices surrounding him, murmuring and whispering.

There had been a blinding flash, then he looked back, and there had stood a little girl, pleading with someone he couldn't see to help her, and in her hands, she had held a Tatooinian Wamprat.  The rodent's sides were heaving, and it looked like it was dying.  But, her hands. Her hands glowing and pulsing, she exuded wave after wave of Light, warmth tumbling from her hands and soul.  "Healer, Gentleness, Caretaker, Leader." whispered the voices, almost fondly.

Another flash, and before Qui-Gon stood a boy of no more than nine, postured with his fists balled and a snarl on his face, eyes like cold fire.  Behind him cowered another, younger boy, with cuts and bruises scattering his arms and face.  "Warrior, Nobility, Shield, Hero." The voices roared like thunder and Qui-Gon felt blasts of power and Light off of the boy, and like a wildfire, it burnt away all opposition and evil.  Qui-Gon knew.  He just knew that this boy was important.  It wasn't his thought, though. It was a fact pressed to him, as a fugitive might press stolen gold, as though it were a Crecheling's secret, shared before it could be discovered.

Then, everything went dark, and out of the darkness came a child.  She raised her head, and tears fell from her eyes. Her eyes held knowledge no child should. She held knowledge of ages gone and epochs lost.  He could feel her pain through the vision, feel the fury that had built her bones, and the war that was waged in her soul.  But from her radiated Light, a light he had never felt before.  The Light pulsed from her like a tidal wave and rattled the cosmos.  "Protector, Honorable, Guardian, Anarchist." The clamoring voices cajoled, joy, anger and pride all packed into those four words.

And then the vision had faded, leaving Qui-Gon  A) severely disoriented, and B) with an exorbitant amount of questions.  

Now he sat in one of the passenger's seats of a Jedi transport on the way to intervene in the trade federation's "legal" blockade of Naboo.  He needed to get this over with, to get back to the temple.

Jocasta Nu would know how to help him in this.  In truth, he was deeply troubled.  But, well, there was no use worrying about it anymore while the mission lay ahead.  He had to clear his mind.  

Just then, alarms chirped out of the speakers, making it known that they were exiting hyperspace.  Obi-Wan jerked awake, spluttering and rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Qui-Gon laughed "Why, greetings, my Padawan.  I'm glad to see you've joined us!" 

Obi-Wan glared at his master, but the gesture was rather diluted by the wide, childish yawn Obi-Wan gave directly after.  He stood and made his way behind the pilot's chair, leaning over it and peering through the viewport.  Qui-Gon smiled fondly, remembering the boy as a child.  Always curious and direct, strong-willed and stubborn.  Suddenly, Qui-Gon's mind flashed to another little boy, standing tall with his jaw out, proudly.  The Jedi Master stroked his beard thoughtfully, mind wandering far a field.  

He was brought back to earth as his pupil called to him.  "Master, we have arrived at the blockade."

Qui-Gon stood and moved beside his apprentice, steadying himself with one hand upon the ceiling, "Tell the Nemoidians we wish to board immediately.  This should be over shortly."

. . .

Obi-Wan Kenobi was having a rather fascinating day so far.  He couldn't say that it had been bad, as no one had died quite yet, to his knowledge.  Well, he had his suspicions about the captain.  But he didn’t care to confirm and the negotiations had been short, so yes, a very good day indeed. But, well, the only real dark spot so far was the fact that he was currently being chased.  Ran as fast as he could through the forest, tracing his Master's Force signature as he ran.  He sprinted around a corner and into a glen.

As Obi-Wan's master came into view, he spotted a strange, gangly creature standing next to his master.  As the droids came around the corner behind him, Qui-Gon shouted "Get down!" To the other, stranger, being and it dove at the ground with a squawk.  His master made quick work of the battle droids as Obi-Wan came to a stop beside the older man.  

He took a look at the strange sentient beside the two of them, a broad smile spreading over his face.

"What's this?" came the amused question.

"A local," Qui-Gon replied, disdaining his words a little. "Let's get out of here before more droids show up."

The two humans turn and start off, moving out of the open and into the more thickly wooded area.
"More? More, did you spake?!" came the dismayed call of the gun-gan behind them.

They continued on, trying their best to ignore the amphibic being behind them.  Nevertheless, he loped along, making as much noise as seemed possible.  Obi-Wan tried not to feel frustrated.  Why wouldn’t this annoying creature leave him be.

"Ex-squeeeeze me," came the call from behind them, "but da most grande safest place would be Otoh Gunga City. Tis where I grew up, tis a hidden city."

Oh , Obi-wan thought, Now that was something .

Both Jedi stopped, sharing a look, before turning on the unsuspecting Gun-Gan

"A city?" asked Qui-Gon.
"Uh-huh!"
"Could you take us there?" asked the self-same human male.
The strange snail-frog-person drooped, "Ahhh...on second thaught...no, not really, no."

Obiwan shared a confused and frustrated glance with his master.
"No?!" Qui-Gon questioned sharply.
"Iss embarrassing, boot, ah... My afraid my've been banished. My forgotten der Bosses would do terrible things to me!  Terrible!" and he shook his head, letting out what seemed to be a sort of distressed raspberry.
A pulsing, rumbling sound is heard in the distance, and the Obi-Wan’s master cocks an ear in its direction, "You hear that?"
Jar-Jar tilts his head, holding one of his two long ears up, before replying, "Yeah."
"That is the sound of a thousand terrible things heading this way."
Obi-Wan approached the creature with a wicked smirk, mischief filling his eyes and mind "And if they find us, they will crush us, grind us into little pieces, and blast us into oblivion!"
"Oh."Jar-Jar blinks. "Yousa point is well seen. Dis way"

He spins around, nearly hitting Obi-Wan with his ears, and the Padawan ducks. He then runs into the swamp, leaving the two jedi to follow.
"Hurry!" he calls over his shoulder.
The Jedi give chase into the swamp.

...

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Jar-Jar ran out of the thickening fog onto the shore of a murky lake. They stopped and the vibrating rumble of transports grumbled in the distance.
Obi-Wan casts a look behind them, apprehension written clearly across his face.  He shared a worried glance with his master.  Qui-Gon turned to Jar-Jar, a sternness creeping into his voice as he called "How much further?"
"Wesa goen underwater, okey-day?" came the reply.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan quickly pulled Aquata Breathers from their utility belts.  And Obi-Wan tried not to feel trepidation.  It always terrified him to enter unknown waters. There were always so many creatures there.

Jar-Jar stretched his arms in preparation for the swim. "And my warning yous -- Gungans no liken outsiders, so don't expict a werm welcome."
Obi-Wan snorted, and, with a generous dose of sarcasm, replied, "oh, don't worry.  Today has not been a day for warm welcomes."

With a screeching cry, Jar-Jar jumped several feet into the air, did a double somersault with a
twist, and dove smoothly into the water. His head popped back up.
"Yousa follow me now, okey-day?" came the call.
Aquata Breathers on, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan waded in after him.
Obi-Wan hoped to the force that nothing bad would happen.

He didn’t think they would.  After all, how many things can happen in a day?

Chapter Text

It had started as a normal day for Shmi Skywalker. She had been woken by her oldest daughter shaking her awake at dawn, telling her that Ani had made a mess in the kitchen again. He had been trying to make Luna’s favorite because she had another nightmare. He had failed, and the thick, rock-like disk he had made instead, did not appear to even slightly resemble halbukal (Amavikka milkbread). Shmi sighed and dragged herself out of bed. She loved her son, but while his twin was semi-capable in the kitchen, taking the time to read the recipe and add, stir, and heat accordingly, he barely had the patience to read the recipe properly. As Rosa so correctly said, he tended to “measure things with his heart”.  

And so the day started. It was Rosa and Ani's day off from Watto's shop, and since Luna looked... different, not many people liked to either a) hire her or b) work with her. So, Shmi happened to have all three of them at home that day.

She couldn't handle that amount of chaos, and she knew it.

So, accordingly after breakfast, she promptly shooed them outside for them to have their own sort of fun.

She, however, got the privilege of deep cleaning the house. Ah, bliss!

...

The three children laughed and raced through the day's growing crowd of town-goers. Luna lept out in front, scampering along on all fours, till she reached Grandmother Mukoma's shop.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite three little Kereth! Did the three of you escape the house on your day off then?"

Anakin, still out of breath, had come in second in their game of "who-can-keep-up-with-Lulu-the-longest", and Rosa, the winner, had a triumphant grin as she replied cheerily, "She turned us out after breakfast, Gan-Amu!"

"And right she did!" Came the call from the storerooms of the shop as old lady Mukoma's son (and Seek's uncle) came stumbling out of the back with a box in his arms. He plunked it down on the counter and smiled at the children. "You three trouble-makers will be the death of your mother! Now if we could get you some books and time in the house..."

"And be trapped inside all day!? no thanks!" proclaimed Anakin, who had finally gotten his breath back.

"I'll do it! I'll do it! Can I start school Mr. Mukoma?!"

"Oh Luna don't be silly! slaves don't go to school!" exclaimed Rosa with a bright smile. 

Luna pouted, crossing her arms and mumbling petulantly "I'm barely a slave.  I scare people, they don't like looking at me." 

There was a moment of silence, then the young man laughed and ruffled her hair, saying "I think you might have to wait a year or two, little Luna."

That was the moment that old Ms. Mukoma leaned forward and whispered "Don't you worry dear, school's not all it's cracked up to be. I have a story or two about that for you."

Luna whipped her head around and stared at the woman with eyes that, for a moment, looked far too old for a six-year-old child. Then she gave a bright smile and the feeling was gone, replaced with an emotion of relief.  

“Actually, we came for your stories, Gan-Amu. Do you think you can give us some ideas for our adventure today?" Anakin pitched in.

"Why of course, dear Ani! Any chance to tell a story to you 'youngins'." replied the old woman, settling in to think of a story, while Mr. Mukoma smiled and began unpacking the box on the counter.

The three children gathered around, sitting on the floor by her feet. Except for Ani, who crawled up onto the counter and filched some fruit from the box.

"Once, some thousand years ago, there was an angel. And not like those they speak of on the moons of Iago. A real angel. She came to our planet in search of a temple of Mystics here, long ago. In that temple, there were The Mystics themselves. They were what we now call Jedi. She came to them, seeking refuge from a great evil. But she had been grievously injured, and as they tried to nurse her back to health, she died. When she died, a blaze of power went out from her body, turning the grand temple into ruins. Days later, Mystics from other temples in the system arrived searching for survivors as well as their treasured archives and artifacts. What they found instead was a Cradle of Desert Roses, or ruva rinokura pasina mvura, the flower that grows without water. It was left, just that way, for all this time. It's surrounded by sand-people villages, but if you follow a certain path, they’ll leave you be. Even they respect the journey."

There was a moment of silence, punctuated by the crunch of the fruit that Anakin was eating.

“Or so the story goes. I wouldn’t go looking for some temple in the middle of the dune sea if I were you. Your mother would have your hide.” broke in Mr. Mukoma, smiling at the three children’s wide, thoughtful eyes.

“Don’t worry!” Rosa reassured them, smiling right back at him.

“We won’t do that. You’re right that she’d skin us alive!” finished Anakin.

All eyes turned to the six-year-old, whose mischievous spirit was less “well-known” in the community and more "dreaded". She pouted, whining “but I don’t want to do it on my own!”

 “Then it’s settled! You’re all safe, and with a new game to play! Now off with you. We’re about to open shop, and we can’t be stepping around you all day.”

So off the children were sent. Once again without supervision.

That had not been a good decision on the two shopkeepers’ parts.

 …

Shmi was just about finished cleaning and was thinking of where her children could have gotten to when there was a beeping from her room. She rushed to the small, contraband communicator she kept locked inside her chest of drawers. She unlocked the top drawer and yanked it open. She took out the massive, old-fashioned communicator, and flicked a switch to open the channel.  

The small blue model of her Storm-brother into being, and Jango Fett's anxious expression dissolved into relief.

"Jango? What's wrong?!" 

He sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face, saying "Vod'ika! Thank heavens. I'm entering the atmosphere. I have news. Are the littles in the house?"

"No, it's their day off. I sent them out of doors, but Jango whats-."

"Shmi, we can't talk over this. Not when we could be monitored. I'll be there soon. Just keep a lookout."

Then he ended the transmission, and Shmi felt the acid of panicked anticipation clench around her heart.

What was wrong with him? Was he injured? Did he kidnap some poor orphan again? Or, force forbid, had he been followed?

Shmi rushed to the kitchen and prepared food, drinks, and medicine, just in case.  

She fidgeted and paced for a moment before she took a deep breath. Whatever had happened, her being upset would do no good.

So she settled at the table and took a deep breath.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

And slowly, she did one thing she hadn't allowed herself to do since the twins were born. She carefully, and oh so slowly relaxed her mind, then, tentatively, reached out, feeling with her mind in a way she hadn't in years. She felt the minds of children, running about and playing, bright sparks and shining little stars. She felt the minds of caretakers, shopkeepers, city goers. A thousand minds like a rushing, roaring, whispering sea. And then, she felt a triplet supernova, and oh. Everything made more sense. She felt her children. Blindingly bright lights rushing throughout the planet like small suns.

She was astonished. And she felt a little foolish. After all, she knew that the twins had been created by the living force, a gift from Ar-Amu, and Luna’s progenitor had a blazing force presence. And yet she just hadn't realized. She had closed herself off from the force so thoroughly that she hadn't even noticed the three little wielders in her own home. Still, she resolutely released her worries into the force and allowed her focus to spread passively once more. A spark caught her attention. Jango. He had arrived and was making his way through the town agitatedly. He was close to the slave's homes. She took a deep breath in and out, before focusing on him. He didn't seem to be in pain, so he wasn't injured, and though he was concerned, it was not for himself. No, it was focused outward. For… her. His mind whispered of his "Vod'ika", and her well-being. Vod'ika meant 'younger sibling' in Mandotakka.  Shmi was his Vod'ika. Hm. Not good.  

She sighed and stood making it to the door before he even knocked. The door slid open to reveal her friend, with his hand outstretched and a look of surprise on his face. But it only lasted a moment before Shmi was passed and pulled back inside, the door closing as Jango wrapped his arms around her.  

"Vod'ika. I'm so glad you're okay. I was worried that he would get to you first.."

Shmi sighed and pulled away.

"Who, Jango? Who is 'coming to get to me'?"

Her storm-brother looked a little apprehensive, and instead of answering her he simply replied "Maybe you should sit. It appears you and I need to talk."

…

Luna had done something that was technically morally reprehensible.  She had blackmailed her siblings into going to find the ruins with her.  She didn't necessarily feel bad about it, but she did feel responsible for the two now.  After all, they had promised the Mukomas that they wouldn’t. But Luna had done no such thing, and she wasn't afraid to say so.  So naturally,  the three of them were diving straight into trouble.  She knew it, the twins knew it and their twi'lek neighbors' teenage son, Benzi, knew it too.  Yet here the four of them were, in Benzi's landspeeder, doing 80 miles an hour through Hutt territory.  

Rosa leaned over to Luna to ask "Does this really seem like a good idea?!" Over the wind.

"No!" Responded Benzi, having to yell over the loud hum of the speeder's engine. "No, it is not a good idea!"

"Terrible idea!" Agreed Anakin, before stating cheerfully, "but we're doing it anyway!" 

Luna, who was sitting next to Benzi, heard their driver begin to mutter to himself, saying "I'm gonna die out here, because of three little kids.  I'm gonna die.  The Hutts are gonna kill me, and then my mother is gonna resurrect me, just to kill me again."

"Oh, hush! All of you! Where's your sense of adventure?!" Cried Luna, beginning to feel a bit offended.  

"Back in the village!" Replied Benzi, "it elected to stay behind, with my common sense!"

Luna scoffed and observed their scenery.  

"Stop being 'fraidy-cats!" Called Anakin from his spot next to Rosa. "Everything's gonna be fine!"

"How do you know, huh?!" Benzi yelled back, fear coloring his voice.

"We just do you sillies.  Everything'll be fine!" 

"Oh, Anakin.  I know we'll be fine but that doesn't mean I'm happy with all of this.  Something feels wrong somehow!"

"You're just nervous about breaking a promise.  You do this every time, Rosy!"

Rosa huffed and hugged herself.  Luna shrugged.  Luna and Ani weren't wrong, though that had been to upset Rosa.  Luna wasn't going to apologize for being right.  They settled back into silence, the roar of the engines rattling their brains in their skulls.  

Eventually, a question arose.  Naturally, it came from Anakin.

"Say, Lulu, how did you convince Benzi to help?!"

Benzi groaned from the driver's seat as Luna started to cackle from the passenger's seat, whining, "Why? Why would you ask that?!"

At the same time, Luna called into the back, "That, big brother, is 'need-to-know' blackmail, and you don't 'need-to-know'!" 

As Rosa pitched in (trying to mediate between the two boys who had begun to squabble over whether or not Ani needed to know what info Luna had on Benzi) Luna closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and focused her mind.  

Almost as soon as she had stepped foot in the Dune Sea, she had felt...something pulling at her, guiding her.  Like a magnet, or perhaps a beacon.  She knew they were getting close, could feel it in her bones.  

 She allowed her mind to spread, visualizing spilled oil.  The way it slowly crawled across the floor, calmly, gently and inevitably making its way across tiles (and under various kitchen appliances).  

She reached out with gentle, probing mental fingers to scour dune and dip.   She felt countless minds, krayt dragon and jawa tribes in their crawlers.  Suddenly her mind reached a place in the desert, and it was like a firm rod of light in a plane of shapeless mist.  Luna gasped, and her eyes shot open.  

”I found it.” Luna whispered, and the speeder went silent. 

Benzi, who hadn’t heard her, asked confused “What? What’s wrong, you guys?!”

“Where is it Luna?!” cried Anakin, without answering Benzi.

“That way!” called Luna, pointing out towards some mountains they could see looming in the distance.

Instantly, Benzi, ever the pod racer, turned the vehicle towards the mountains, stepping on the gas and letting out curses in Ryl and Amatakka.  They sped towards the mountains, racing over dunes and troughs.  As they got closer to the temple, Luna felt a feeling growing in her chest, and excitement zipped through her veins like electricity through wires.  She turned to look at the back seat, where Rosa was grinning (though she was still wringing her hands) and Anakin was practically vibrating, bouncing in his seat.  

They passed into the mountains, flying into the shadow of the canyons and valleys.  Luna began to direct Benzi in which way he should go, which earned her a look of confusion, but then, he still did as she directed.  

As they got closer and closer, the three children felt a humming start in their chests.  They had come somewhere never seen by intelligent eyes for nearly a thousand years.

Suddenly, Luna felt they were doing something grand and special and... and fortold.

Something in her said this was required, demanded of them, even.  

Luna began to wonder if all of this would have real consequences or rewards. 

She felt... perturbed. As though she had lost control of the situation. 

And then, it was gone.

And where the emotion had sat, she was stone cold.

Chapter Text

It was well into midday by the time Shmi had Jango settled in and got some food in him. 

She sat down next to him and made eye contact.

“Jango?” she asked, raising her eyebrows at him.

He sighed and turned to face her, reluctance spread clearly over his face.  He took a moment then took her hands.  

“Shmi.” 

she nodded encouragingly at him.  

He gave a smile.

“You know I would never judge you for something that you are inherently.  That’s like judging you for being a woman, or human.  You can’t help it.”

Shmi tilted her head and nodded slowly.

“I-well, I found out about, your… past, if you will?” he finally managed.

Shmi looked at him for a moment, then nodded, saying “I don't quite mind you knowing about my past, Jango, but if I’m being honest there's a lot in it to make you react this way.  Can you tell me which part?”

He looked concerned and a bit put out for a moment before nodding and saying, “I um, well, I found out you’re Jetii.  I just felt the need to say that first bit, 'cause well, I'm Mandalorian and all.”

Shmi nodded, not shocked, “Honestly, I sort of thought you would do your homework on me years ago.  What does this have to do with whoever this “he” is?”

Jango grimaced and looked down at their still clasped hands, before looking back up and saying “He’s the Sith Lord Sideous.  I heard through trusted channels he's "out for a slave woman named Skywalker".”

Shmi gasped and clasped a hand over her mouth.

No.  No this couldn’t be.  Shmi could cry.  This couldn’t be happening now.  Not now.

“Vod, do you need me to get you out? I could buy you and take you and the kids back to my place.”

This can’t be happening.  Not to her babies. No. She just couldn't let him get her babies. She took a deep breath.

“No, Jango.  That won’t be necessary.”

She refused.  She wouldn’t allow it to happen.  

…

The four children stepped out of Benzi's landspeeder, speechless for once in their short lives.  The ruins were beautiful, and the flowers blanketing the area were magical, but no one had told them of the ancient, iridescent scorch marks.  They lay over the face of the surrounding cliffs, the ground, and most importantly, the ruins themselves.  They shone and rippled with a thousand colors. And the feeling of the place! 

Benzi felt awed and vaguely like he wasn't necessarily supposed to be there.  But the children felt like… like it was home.  They felt welcomed and warm and light.  This light was the same kind that filled you when you came home on your birthday to find your home decorated and a cake on your table.  The same feeling as how sunshine feels in your soul or bird song.  It was… peace.  

The skywalkers went to step forward, and Benzi took a single step back, saying “You-you guys go ahead, okay?  I think I’ll stay with the speeder.”

The twins continued onward in a strange sort of trance, but Luna paused and turned back to look at him, smiling. 

“Okay, Ben.  Be safe, alright?”

He gave her a nervous nod and smile and climbed back into the speeder.

Luna turned back and fixed her eyes on the grand ruins.  White sandstone crumbled on the ground, and a rainbow of marks spread over it.  Luna climbed her way up the side to see down into the center of the cratered structure.  In the center, there was an oasis.  On one of the trees sat a green feathered Convor.  Its head cocked at them before it took flight and circled them once before it flew off. 

The three children worked their way down the corroded slope to the pool of water in the center.  As Luna clambered down the rock and stone, she noticed that it was not nearly as worn as it should have been.  She grinned. 

It’s the force, she thought to herself.

-

“Mommy,” asks Luna one night, “what’s the force?”

“The force,” says Luna’s mama, sitting on the edge of the small girl's bed, “is a special energy.  It runs through everything in the galaxy.  It surrounds us and binds us.  It fills our minds and runs through our hearts.  It is life and death.  It is war and peace.  Order and chaos.  The force is everything and nothing.  It is what the Jedi use to do the most beautiful good.  What the Sith use to do the most wretched evil.  The force is many things; energy, emotion, living even. Does this answer your question, Akku?”

-

The kids made their way to the center of the ruins, pushing through the foliage to the pool.  Rosa ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the flowers, and Anakin began poking at the strange bugs and lizards, meanwhile, Luna pushed through to the water's edge, crouching and peering down at the water. 

When she saw it, she shrieked. 

There was a giant skeleton in the pond.

Her older siblings came rushing to her, calling her name and crashing through the bracken.  

"Luna, what's wrong?" Anakin asked, grabbing her by the shoulder. 

Luna pointed with a horrified finger.  The other two turned to see, and Rosa immediately made a retching sound and stumbled out of the oasis.  

from outside the ruins, Luna heard Benzi call "Hey! Is everyone okay?  I heard a scream?!"

"We're fine! We just found a massive corpse is all!"  Anakin yelled back, and the teen let out a yelp.

"What-." Benzi's voice cracked, then he cleared his throat and tried again at a slightly deeper pitch, "What do you mean, you found a corpse?!"

"There's a corpse!" yelled Rosa in consternation. "There is a giant kriffing corpse! In the oasis' pond!  It looks wretched!"

"It's not a corpse! It's a skeleton!"  yelled Luna, now thoroughly over her fright and leaning over the pond, fingers outstretched, "And I'm gonna touch it!"

"Do NOT!" yelled the older girl, and Anakin began to laugh.

There was a crashing in the undergrowth and then Rosa burst out of the bushes, launching herself a Luna.  But, she was too late, and Luna's index finger had just made contact with the bones in the water, Anakin's hand wrapped firmly in her shirt so she couldn't fall in. She spread her fingers further up the bones, but suddenly she heard an odd, humming sound.

She turned around and looked behind her. 

Anakin wasn't there. 

And she couldn't see Rosa. 

Or the oasis or the ruins or anything. 

Instead, before her she saw a glowing woman surrounded by twelve stars. She looked at Luna with bright eyes, before she gave her a small smile, "Hello child.  What are you doing here?  Where is your mother?"

Luna gaped, cleared her throat, and said in a whisper, "You're the Angel, aren't you?"

The woman nodded, eyes turning a bit sad.  "I suppose you have found the remains?  Is that how you called to me?"

Luna grinned and stood from where she was still sitting on the ground, "yes, ma'am.  I'm sorry to disturb you.  I didn't mean to."

"You are quite alright dear.  I'm sorry you had to see it." sighed the lady, smiling gently at the little girl, "But I believe there is something I must discuss with you."

"What is it, ma'am?" Luna enquired, eyes sparkling.

"I'm afraid to say that all those years ago, I failed to defeat my opponent.  His successor is spreading his control throughout the galaxy.  even now he slips his fingers into every crack and seam, trying to tear down the walls the Jedi put up years ago to keep him out.  The only problem, he's doing it from the inside.  Somehow, they managed to find a way to let evil in the back gate.  Instead of a fortress of peace, it's become a parliament."

"But ma'am, what does this have to do with me?" asked the six-year-old.

The woman gave her a gentle smile. "Because, dear one, this has been cast as your lot:  you must defeat him.  You and your family."

The woman stepped to the side, and behind her three paths appeared. 

The one on the right was dark but with a light at the end. As she peered down it, she saw herself.  This older version of herself stood tall, strong, and alone. Her tawny robes billowed behind her, and in her hand hummed a bright blue blade of...light.  When she raised her head, grief, hope, and joy all warred in her eyes.  Her fangs poked from her mouth, like tusks, and black marks scrolled over and around her face.  Behind her, stretching back to Luna in the present, the path to get to her was decorated with the blood of people she lost.  Her family, her lover, her friends, and her comrades.  A war fought for deities, by men and innocents.  

Luna shrunk back before she turned to the one on the far left. It was grey, dim as if the light was filtering through mist or dust.  She stood, clad in grey robes that reached to the floor.  In one hand hummed another sword, this one was long with a crossguard and it shone in a deep purple color.  On the other hand, clung a small child with Luna's own wide, sapphire blue eyes.  Before them, stretched a void.  It was a path where Luna lost everything, and not to death but rather, to her own choices.  As the two stared back at Luna, this older version of herself smiled sadly, and, with grim determination, slowly shook her head.  Luna smiled back, nodding, then turned to face the middle path. 

The version of herself there smiled at her, happy calm, and with a blazing orange lazar sword clutched in one hand.  At her side stood a man with a blonde buzzcut, holding a child.  The child had her marks and eyes and was grinning at her, little pearls of baby fangs gleaming.  Luna stared at the man hard, and he smiled kindly at her, waving a little.  He looked like her adoptive father.  He looked like Jango, her Buir. In this path, she saw nothing but light.  Some friends were lost, and many a thing was changed.  But it had the least amount of darkness.

She smiled at him and waved back, before turning back to the Angel. "Ma'am, what's your name?"

The glowing woman smiled at her, "I am the one you call Ar-amu, my dear."

Luna nodded, "I understand.  Am I to choose a path then, Mother?"

"Yes."

Luna looked at the choices, then smiled.  And pointed toward the middle.  

The moonspinner smiled, "Very well, dear.  That is a good choice.  Now, remember, be careful.  Take care of yourself.  make a place for luck."

The angel placed a hand on the little girl's cheek, "I tell you this to save your life."

and Luna skywalker, Levadakka Ekkreth, nodded, "I will remember."

Ar-amu whispered "Goodbye, kriti-a.  Ek Relkin em vikka-terak."

And then Luna was falling.

Chapter Text

Rosa landed on the ground with a thump. She didn't know how she missed Luna, but she did. She sprung to her feet and turned, but suddenly she was no longer at the oasis. Instead, she stood ankle-deep in a...spring? She didn't know what. She thought that maybe that was what it was called. But, it wasn't a real spring, it was artificial. That had a different name, didn't it? What was that again?

In any case, it didn't matter. She wasn't at the oasis anymore.  

Where were her siblings!?

AND WHERE WAS SHE!?

She leapt from the fountain (thats right! Fountain!) and raced out of what appeared to have been a garden. Once she was in a clear space, she found herself...under a dome? In a building? Wasn't she just in an oasis outside?

...what in Ar-Amu's great desert was going on?

She ran to a door on the side of the dome and found herself in a hallway. She looked around, and she listened, and she stretched out with her mind, but there was nobody.  

Weird.

She started to go down it, careful to look for strangers or whoever lived here. Instead, she came to a fork, one with bright lighting leading up the side and one where the torches (torches?!) on the walls had gone out.  

She stopped and listened. There were sounds coming from both halls. But it was more than sound. 

It was like there were pictures and impressions being pushed into her mind.  

The dark hall showed her the things she wanted: Her mother and siblings freed, the end of the Hutt clan, a puppy, or, perhaps, to get off the rock that was Tatooine.  

And it held a thousand whispers. To be honest they kind of grated on her nerves, and she resisted the urge to stuff her fingers in her ears.

The bright one held... a melody, actually. It harmonized and hummed, it sang and cheered. It was like listening to the sound of pure joy. And the pictures! bright sunshine on green leaves, the lights of a city from above, stars on the plains of Lothal, a moon the color of the Desert Roses.  

It's like it's Ar-Amu’s voice. She thought. And then she wanted to hit herself. Of course, what else could it be?

But the more beautiful the pictures and songs got, the louder the whispering and shrieking and grating the dark hall got until she could barely think. Something in the back of her mind whispered that it would all be over if she could just go down the dark hall. If she just gave in.  

Her eyes snapped open.  

Absolutely not. If whatever demons were down that hall were gonna try to get her to join them, they needed to be better than that. She turned resolutely and marched herself right up the bright hall, saying “Not today, Akumo!”

But about halfway down it, the light got so bright she was blinded, and when she opened her eyes, she was in a different place altogether.

It was a brightly lit room, with high, arched ceilings, and beautifully carved wood frames on the doors and windows. There were cushions on the floor, the crimsonish, pinkish color of a beru'ché stain on linen.  

Sitting crossed-legged on a cushion on the floor was a Togruta woman (Rosa recognized her species because, from a young age, her mother described different races and species of intelligent life forms, from Humans to Twi'lek to Lasat), with red skin and tall, blue striped lekku. Rosa looked around her and sniffed. Nothing seemed too weird in here, and it Felt fine. The only problem is she didn't know where "here" was. She set her eyes on the Togruta woman.

She cleared her throat and took a step nearer to the woman. The Togruta didn't move, but her brows drew together. Rosa walked closer, reaching out a hand and tapping her on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, miss?"

The woman's eyes snapped open suddenly, and she leapt to her feet and her hand went to her belt.

When she seemed to realize who and what she was looking at, (a little girl who seemed entirely too calm with a stranger leaping to her feet and reaching for what Rosa knew had to be a weapon) she relaxed and breathed for a moment, pressing her hand to her chest.

She looked at Rosa warily for a moment, before kneeling to look her in the eyes and smiling.

“Hello there, little one! Sorry about that, you just startled me. My name is master Shaak-ti. But, I’m afraid that your not permitted here. Is there a reason you have come?”

Rosa smiled at her. She seemed to be a very good kind of woman, and Rosa liked her already.

“I was sort of wondering if you could tell me the answer to that. I seem to be lost.”

Shaak-ti gave her a puzzled smile, tilting her head and saying “are you trying to find your way back to the creche?”

Rosa shook her head. “I don’t know what that is. I’m trying to find my siblings.”

“Your-your siblings?” the Togruta asked, taken aback.

Rosa nodded. “I think I’m dreaming right now, but just in case I’m not, I don't want Ani and Luna to do anything stupid.”

The woman blinked, her mouth falling into a silent “o”.

. . .

Anakin was dreaming. He knew he was dreaming because he had this dream before. He was grown up and standing on a balcony.

  He didn’t know where he was, but there were lots and lots of lights zooming around down below him, and he was in a very comfortable robe thingy.

(Far from Amu, Tatooine and the Amavikka, that's for sure.)

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and when he turned a very pretty lady was standing behind him. She was smiling, and her tummy was round, like she was pregnant.

He smiled at her, and she said “Come back to bed, Ani.”

He wasn’t in control as he shook his head.

She frowned, scrunching up her eyebrows. “Are you having dreams again?”

“Yes.”

“What are you dreaming about, dear?”

Ani knew what came next. He would tell her he was dreaming about her dying in childbirth.

But for some reason, this time was different.  

“You know how I’m friends with the chancellor?”

She nodded with a frown, rubbing his arm.

“I… I don’t think I should be anymore.”

Ani’s brows furrowed in confusion.  

And then he fell.

. . .

“So. You’re a Jedi master, and, currently, you’re meditating?”

The woman nodded encouragingly.

“And you think that this,” and Rosa gestured at their general surroundings “is a vision, which I’ve brought it to you because “the force” wanted me to be here.”

Shaak-ti smiled at her, “Exactly right. Do you know what the force is?”

Rosa shot her a scathing look. “Of course, I know what the force is! Its the gift of ar-amu to sentients. If I’ve heard one story from my mother about it, I’ve heard a thousand.”

 The Jedi gave her a confused, apprehensive look, “your mother? Who is your mother?”

Rosa smiled at her, “Shmi Skywalker!”

Shaak-ti’s mouth dropped open, and she stared at Rosa for a long moment. “S-Shmi?” she whispered.

 Rosa’s smile faded, and she nodded. “Yes ma’am, that’s what I said.”

Shaak sucked in a breath before she reached out a gentle hand and gripped Rosa’s shoulder.  

“Where are you? Where do you live?”

“W-what?” Rosa stepped out of her reach. The woman was standing now and stepping forward. “Why do you want to know? I can’t just tell a stranger where I live!”

The woman had gotten far too close, and a slightly manic look had entered her eyes. Rosa shrunk back as the woman reached for her.

“No! Child you don't understand, I have to know! I-”

But a sound like static had risen up around them, and rosa fell.

. . .

Shmi and Jango sat at the little dining table.

Several hours had passed, and Shmi was mildly concerned that her children hadn’t returned home yet. But she was too busy to stop and look for them quite yet.

“So, you plan on leaving? But how are you going to do that?” asked her Storm-brother, concern creasing his brow, “Watto still has the Control for the chips, doesn’t he?”

Shmi nodded, “I can’t use the Force on him, so I’m thinking I’ll go to work in the main shop sometime, maybe on Luna’s upcoming birthday. I can get to the control. Steal it or break it. We can figure out where the chips are and get them out. I have an…old friend who I can call. She can help keep us safe.”

He nodded, scratching at the side of his face absently. “What are you gonna tell the littles?”

Shmi grimaced. That was something she was trying to think of. She suddenly regretted very deeply just how much she told the children about the Sith.  

“I suppose I’ll tell the truth, and handle the fallout.”

Jango’s hand dropped from his face and he shot her a look. “Vod’ika, you best be joking with me.”

“I assure you I am not.”

He sat up straight, as if to say he was really serious now. “And just scare them?! For no reason? Shmi, I expected more!”

She straightened her shoulders, giving him a glare that would rival any mandalorian’s. “Do not reprimand me. You know nothing of the world in which I live. I have decided not to lie to my three reckless, trouble-seeking children about the gravity of the situation so that they may use what sense I have managed to pass down to them and keep themselves safe. I don’t expect you to understand, but I do expect an honest appreciation of their wit and strength. Jango, not only have they been raised as galaxy forsaken slaves of all things, they have the force.”

His eyes widened, and his mouth dropped. “What?! They’re Jetii?!”

Shmi suppressed a laugh with heroic effort.

“close enough. Now do you understand? They are not normal children. They have the gift of Ar-Amu.”

He just smiled and shook his head slowly, as if he was giving up. “You will never cease to amaze, Vod'ika.”

She laughed, then sighed and rested her head in her hand.

"Jango, I don't know how this will end.  I'm terrified that I'll kriff all of this up."

"And you still might, but I think the key of all this would be that, in the end, you will try your hardest.  You have provided for them support, and taught them everything you can.  Of Ar-Amu and Ekkreth and the demon Akumo.  How to protect themselves and, most importantly, to keep up hope."

The two locked eyes, and he shot her a smile, "for what would the galaxy be without hope?"

"Bleak indeed."

Chapter Text

hey guys! so!
I'm sorry to announce, but I have convoluted the story by adding in ammavikkan culture.  I will no longer be writing this fic.  I may attempt a rewrite, but not for a very long time