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| - For the winner of the Boonta Eve Classic, Anakin did not feel like one. After he had arrived home with his mother and Threepio, and after his mother insisted on him being cleaned up, he sat morosely watching the other children play. The problem was Anakin had never even entertained the idea that once he had won the race Padmé would be gone. It was not until Qui-Gon said they had to be going that the full reality of the situation hit him. “Annie,” the boy jumped up, it was Qui-Gon, he had come back. But hadn’t he said he was coming back? He looked around for Padmé but Qui-Gon caught his arm and handed him a pile of credits. “These are yours,” the Jedi said. “I sold the pod. To a very surly and rather persistent Dug.” Anakin’s eyes widened as he held the pile of currency in his hands. He ran into the house, calling for his mother. Chuckling, Qui-Gon followed him. “Mom, look at all the money we have!” He proudly put the money on the table in front of her. “Qui-Gon sold the pod!” “Oh, my goodness,” Shmi said, touching Anakin’s cheek and examining the pile. “That’s not all,” Qui-Gon said, “Annie has been freed.” Anakin’s eyes went wide, he faced the Jedi Master. “Really?” “Yes, you are no longer a slave,” Qui-Gon said with a smile. “Mom, did you hear that!” Anakin shouted, touching his mother’s arm. This was unbelievable. But it was true; he looked at Qui-Gon in astonishment. “Is that part of the prize?” “Let’s just say that Watto has learned a few important lessons about gambling,” the Jedi said. “This is wonderful, Annie. Now you can make your dreams come true,” Shmi said, holding her son gently. “Does this mean he can come with you? Is he to be a Jedi?” Anakin looked up at Qui-Gon, he thought things couldn’t be any better. But a Jedi… Qui-Gon dropped to one knee so he was eye level with Anakin. “Our meeting was not a coincidence,” he began. “Nothing happens by accident. You are strong in the Force, Annie, but,” and he had to admit this, “you may not be accepted for training by the Council.” Anakin seemed not to hear the last part of what was said. “A Jedi!” Anakin beamed. “So I get to come with you on your starship and everything?” Qui-Gon’s tone turned grave. “Anakin, training to be a Jedi will not be easy,” he said. “It will be a challenge even for you and even after you succeed it is a hard life. Are you sure this is what you want?” “But it’s what I’ve always dreamed of!” Anakin said, he turned to his mother. “Can I go Mom?” Shmi stiffened; this was something she had always known was going to happen. Somehow she had sensed that Anakin would one day leave her, that he was meant to be out there, helping people. It was just so hard that the day had finally come, and so soon. “This path has been placed before you, Annie,” she said, still holding him. “The choice to go is yours and yours alone.” “I want to go,” Anakin said immediately. “Then pack your things,” Qui-Gon said, “we haven’t much time.” With a loud cheer Anakin ran into his room, yet something stopped him, something made him turn back and look up at Qui-Gon. “What about Mom?” he asked. “She’s coming, isn’t she?” Qui-Gon and Shmi exchanged a significant glance before the Jedi turned to Anakin. “I tried to free your mother, Annie,” he said, “I really tried, but Watto wouldn’t have it. He set the price for her too high and slaves lend their masters a certain amount of prestige on Tatooine.” Anakin winced. “But the money from selling…” “It’s not nearly enough,” Qui-Gon said, shaking his head. Shmi knelt next to him, her hands on his shoulders. “Annie, my place is here,” she said resignedly, “my future is here just as much as yours is out there. You have to let go of me, I cannot go with you.” “I don’t want to leave you,” Anakin whined. “I don’t want things to change.” “Annie, you can’t stop change any more than you can stop the suns from setting,” Shmi said. “You know this. Listen to your feelings, Annie, you know what is right.” With a long slow sigh Anakin resigned himself to the inevitable, within his mother’s arm he found the strength he needed. “I’m going to miss you so much,” he sobbed. “I love you, Annie,” she said, releasing him, “now hurry.” Anakin paused, then ran from her embrace into his room. When he had gone Shmi Skywalker got to her feet, wavering slightly. Qui-Gon put out a hand to steady her. “Thank you,” she said, “for everything.” “I will watch over him, you have my word,” Qui-Gon told her, then his tone changed. “Will you be all right?” “I’ll manage, I’ll move on…eventually,” Shmi said with the grim acceptance that came from the life she had led, yet she winced painfully. “He was in my life for such a short time…” Her voice trailed off, Qui-Gon touched her shoulder supportively. He didn’t want to admit it to her, but it was better this way, for Anakin to leave his mother behind. The Jedi Council might object to the boy, but the certainly would to a boy and his mother. In his room Anakin packed his few possessions in his backpack and shouldered it, it didn’t take long but before he left the room he activated C-3PO. “Well Threepio,” he told the droid, “I’m leaving. I’m free and I'm going away on a starship.” “Well Master Anakin, you are my maker and I wish you well,” the droid said loftily, “though if you don’t mind me saying so, you will never get me on one of those dreadful starships.” Anakin laughed. “Never say never Threepio,” he told the droid. “I would like it better if I was a little less naked,” Threepio said. “I’m sorry I could never finish you, Threepio,” Anakin lamented, “give you your coverings and all but you’ve been a great pal and I'm going to miss working on you and I’ll make sure Mom doesn’t sell you or anything. Bye!” “Sell me?” asked the droid to Anakin’s departing form. With the bravest face he could summon and with his head held high, Anakin followed Qui-Gon away from the house for the last time. Behind him stood his mother, blinking away tears for his sake. Impulsively, Anakin turned to look at her. In her face he saw her heartbreak, intertwined with her own desire for him to fulfil his dreams. Suddenly he was running, back into his mother’s embrace where he flung his arms protectively around her. Shmi held him close, and when their embrace parted his eyes were wet with tears. “I can’t do it, Mom,” Anakin sobbed, “I just can’t go and leave you…and…” He put his head on his mother’s shoulder, Shmi let him cry for a moment then drew him back so she could look him in the eyes. “Annie,” Shmi said slowly, a tear escaped her eye, “do you remember when you were five and how you climbed up that dune to chase the banthas so they wouldn’t be shot?” Anakin nodded. “Remember how you collapsed several times, but you said you had to keep going? This,” she said, holding her son’s face between her hands, “this is one of those times you have to go on, no matter how hard it is. I know how strong you are Annie, and I know you can do this.” Anakin didn’t say anything, he merely absorbed her words, relished her touch. A thought occurred to him. “Will I ever see you again?” There was no way of knowing, but even just a small hope could mean everything. “What does your heart tell you?” Shmi asked. “I don’t know,” Anakin said, hit thoughts whirling, “may be…I think so…yes.” “Then it will happen,” Shmi said with a soft smile, “we will see each other again.” He hugged her one last time, wiping the remains of his tears on her shoulder. If he could only stay there…but that was impossible, after all his mother had told him no one could stop change. “I will be a Jedi,” he whispered to her, “and I’ll come back and free you Mom, I promise.” “My love will always go with you, Annie,” Shmi promised. “Be brave, and don’t look back. Don’t ever look back.” She got to her feet and put her hands on Anakin's shoulders protectively. He looked up at her one last time then turned around and walked off beside Qui-Gon. Shmi had to restrain herself to keep from crying out. Anakin was her world, her joy and the only hope in her life. It was difficult to admit, but he was leaving her for a life better than she could ever give him.
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