Three years had passed since his rebirth, and the twins had grown into toddlers, Arna full of curiosity and mischief, Anakin to others was odd, never crying, eyes always seeming too full and yet, he was the first to stand, to talk, and wierdly enough never acted out of social norms. He had learned to hide his true nature, to blend in, to watch.
Now, under the watchful eyes of their owner Gardulla the Hutt, the twins stayed to Shmi as they were led into the dimly lit, smoke-filled room of a podrace betting parlor. Arna out of instict, Anakin out of the fact that despite his best effort to train in the force, he was only 3, and a grown adult was better to defend other than a toddler. The air was thick with the scent of alien species and the electric hum of excitement that hung heavy over the patrons. The man, now Anakin, took in the scene with a solemn expression that belied his young age. He had seen this life unfold before, but this time, it was all too real.
Their fate lay in the hands of a dice roll, Anakin already new the cruelty of the Hutts, Watto could be much worse, so like hed been practicing for years in subtle ways he tried to use the force on the last dice roll were the stakes had risen to a higher price: the three of them.
Gardulla's slimy eyes gleamed with greed as the final die clattered against the table. Shmi's grip tightened around Anakin's tiny hand, her knuckles white with fear. The room fell silent, the only sound the erratic breathing of those who had placed their bets. The tension was palpable, the air thick with the stench of desperation and hope.
Watto, the Toydarian, grunted in satisfaction as he picked up the die, his bulbous eyes never leaving the trembling form of Shmi. "You owe me more than you can pay," he said, his voice a gravelly rumble that sent shivers down Anakin's spine.
The man's mind was racing. If he failed or was caught, or more like Watto was accused of cheating, who knows where they could end up? He couldn't vere off canon before at least Qui-Gon arrived!
His hands moved slightly and . . .
The die rolled to a stop, landing on the number six, a grin spreading across Watto's leathery face. The crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers and groans. Anakin's heart raced, his eyes still locked on the die. He had done it. He had moved the dice ever so slightly with his mind, ensuring their adherence to canon without alerting anyone to his presence. It was a small victory, but one that could change their destiny where they could all stay together.
"Well it looks like all 3 of your slaves are mine now Gardulla." Watto all but cackled.
"Buttmalia ma shags . . ." She trailed off in frustration in her native language, "Bedwana, bata?"
"I'll have to refuse great Gardulla, come now you three, my shop won't run itself."
The crowd dispersed, leaving Gardulla to grumble over her losses. Anakin felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety. He knew that this was not the end, merely the first act of his first long ploy. He had to keep his sibling safe, if she ever strayed too far she could end up just like canon Anakin.
Shmi took the twins into her arms, her eyes glistening with tears. "We'll be okay, my little ones," she whispered, her voice a gentle breeze in the sweltering heat. Anakin nodded solemnly, his thoughts racing with the knowledge of what was to come. He could never think of this kind woman as his mother, as flawed as his had been, but she at least deserved some comfort during this.
The walk to Watto's shop was quiet, the gravity of their situation weighing heavily on their small shoulders. Arna clung to Anakin, sensing the shift in the air. As they approached the small, dilapidated hovel that served as their new home, Anakin felt the familiar tug of the Force from her, 'Will we be alright Ani?" She asked through there bond, yes it turned out watch the trash that was the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy paid off in knowing that they had formed a Dyad in the Force.
"Yes," he assured her, though his thought was laced with doubt. "We'll be okay."
Watto's junk shop was a maze of cluttered parts and greasy machinery. Anakin took it all in, his mind racing with the potential for Arna's genius in mechanics if she was infact in spirit of Canon Anakin. He knew that his abilities would grow stronger with time as he trained and he would likely start actively training her as well, and he had to be prepared for when the moment to act presented itself when they were both 9.
He watched her with a newfound sense of urgency, knowing that the clock was ticking on the life she was supposed to live. He had to find a way to keep her safe, to prevent her from becoming a pawn in the Sith's grand scheme.
Days turned into weeks, and the twins grew accustomed to their new life under Watto's watchful eye. Anakin worked tirelessly, his mind always racing with thoughts of the future, trying to piece together the puzzle of his existence. He knew that he had to be careful, that any misstep could send ripples through the fabric of the universe and alter the course of history. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a growing anger at the injustice of it all. Why was he here? Why was he forced to relive this pain?
One evening, under the cover of twilight, Anakin took Arna into the vastness of the Tatooine desert during thier fourth birthday. The sand was cool under their small, bare feet as they stumbled over dunes, the horizon a canvas of deepening blues and purples.
He had noticed her curiosity in the Force, her unexplained intuition when it came to machines, and her uncanny ability to find things that others had lost. It was time to begin her training, not just in the ways of the Jedi, but in the art of lightsaber combat as well. He had seen the movies and Clone Wars show, knew the importance of being a versatile warrior in a universe filled with danger.
Using wooden staffs that he had fashioned from the remnants of a Tusken Raider's spear, he tried to teach her the basics of the lightsaber forms.
"Why are we doing this Ani?" She asked innocently, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"You want to be a Jedi, right?" He asked, God he was so adorable, "You have to be strong, and smart, and brave. And you have a gift, Arna, a very special one. The Force is with you, and it's something we need to nurture." He explained gently.
Arna's eyes lit up, she had seen the Jedi in the holographic shows, the mystical guardians of peace and justice. "Will you show me the moves like in the stories?"
He nodded, his heart swelling with pride and hope. "As best as I can, but remember, this isn't a game, it's serious. The Force is powerful, and it can be dangerous if not used wisely."
She nodded. "I'll be careful, Ani." Her voice was earnest, and he knew she took this as seriously as he did.
For hours, they practiced under the watchful gaze of the dark, the sand shifting beneath them like an ever-changing mosaic of their determination. Anakin guided her through the motions, his mind recalling the countless battles he'd watched unfold in his past life on screen. He simply mimicked what he saw and hoped for the best, his heart pounding with every swipe and block. Arna was a natural, her movements fluid and precise, her eyes alight with the excitement of discovery.
He whispered the words of the Jedi Code to her, hoping they'd stick, hoping she'd remember. "There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no chaos; there is harmony. There is no death; there is the Force." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, as she repeated the words back to him.
"This is what the Jedi believe, yet this is untrue." He corrected her, his voice a gentle breeze through the desert night. "But for now, it's a good guideline."
As they practiced, Anakin felt a strange sensation, a bond growing stronger with each parry and thrust. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before, a deep connection that transcended the physical realm. He realized that Arna wasn't just a mirror of his soul; she was a part of him, a living, breathing embodiment of his hopes and fears.
Their training grew more intense with each passing day, their movements more in sync. The desert nights became a dance of light and shadow, the staffs leaving trails in the air as they moved together. Anakin could feel the Force flowing through them, a shared power that grew with every beat of their hearts.
Oh yeah they'd be ready for The Phantom Menace!
As the twins passed by their fourth year, Anakin grew more insistent on their secret training sessions. He knew that time was of the essence, and that the universe was a fickle place. Any deviation from the established narrative could have catastrophic consequences. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of shaping his own destiny through foreknowledge for power fantasy.
He began to teach Arna the ways of the Force, guiding her through the same exercises that he had seen in Star Wars media. He had no proper knowledge but the fact he knew it was possible put him above most. He focused on her mind, showing her how to lift small objects and sense the living energy that surrounded them. It was a strange sight, a four-year-old with a wisdom that seemed centuries old, her eyes concentrating with a fierce intensity.
The training with staffs evolved into a nightly ritual, their shadows dancing on the desert sands like ancient warriors. Anakin watched her progress with a mix of amazement and trepidation. She was a natural, her movements already showing the promise of a skilled combatant. He hoped that by training her in the ways of the Jedi, he could shield her from the dark path that potentially awaited her.
Arna took to the training with a passion that surprised even him. She practiced tirelessly, her small form a blur of motion as she mimicked the moves he had shown her. Her connection to the Force grew stronger with each passing day, and he could feel her excitement as she discovered her own power. It was a bittersweet joy, knowing that she might never wield a lightsaber in battle but the hope was there.
The nights grew colder as they approached their fifth birthday, and Anakin knew that soon, their quiet life would be forever changed. The whispers of the future grew louder in his mind, the echoes of battles and betrayals that lay ahead. He had to prepare Arna for the chaos that was to come, to ensure that she had the tools to survive and thrive in a galaxy at war.
Yet, as they stood in the desert, the only sound the distant howl of a Tusken Raider, he allowed himself a moment of peace. For now, they were just siblings, bound by the stars themselves, sharing a secret that could shape their destinies.