*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

❝𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘬! ❞
- 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐬é 𝐀. 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

»»-----------►Ｃｌａｒｉｓｓé

𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 and I had a good cry together over our family, Anakin woke up to tell us we were heading over to the podracing hanger. It didn't take me very long to get ready. I wore my dress and stockings to bed last night, along with my cardigan. I only asked Padmé to re-braid my hair into my double identical braids on the side of my face, my partially present bangs hanging off my forehead quite nicely.

And that is how I ended up on an Uopie, a camel like creature native to Tatooine, and also the main source of transportation, other than pods, of course. The Uopie had the engine for Anakin's pod tied by a rope around its fat waist, the large piece of metal and machinery being dragged through the deep sand.

Anakin sat in the front, holding the reins and guiding the lazy animal on where to go. I sat in the middle, tightly holding onto his waist while trying desperately not to fall down on the hard sand below. Something told me that Anakin was slightly smirking at the fact that my arms were around his waist. Padmé sat behind us, making sure I didn't fall with her own hands wrapped around my own waist.

After a few minutes, we were finally at the grand, bulking hanger of Mos Espa, the metal rusted and not very sturdy looking.

Anakin got off first, sliding off the furry animal with expertise. Padmé followed, but instead of sliding, she simply just swung her legs around, due to her bigger height. I went last, with both Anakin and Padmé standing on both sides of my dangling feet, both ready to catch me or lead me down, since I was the smallest of both of them.

I tilted my chin towards the vast metal ceiling, and slid down on my own, not needing any help after the fact. I did grab Anakin's and Padmé's offered hands though, trying to balance my wobbly legs after my feet hit the floor harshly.

Our trio moved through the crowded hanger, each of us looking around in slight awe at all the bustling activity, the strange creatures getting their pods ready for the big race.

Shmi and Kitster, who were right behind us on the other Uopie, got off as well, with the middle aged mother helping the dark haired boy down, staying up there herself.

Walking/rolling next to our group, were See-Threepio and Artoo Detoo, the smaller one of the two coming up to me in greeting. The astro mech beeped, causing me to smile and pat his round head with gentle movements. He beeped once more in pure comfort.

All of a sudden, Watto, the horrible Toydarian and slave owner of my friend, flew in with a giant, greedy grin plastered onto his blue face, his hands giddily clapping together in glee. I tilted my head at his behavior. He was acting unusually strange, and I wasn't sure if I felt comfortable with it.

"Ouna bakeesa," Watto coarsely informed in his language as he flew by Anakin, getting right up in his face and causing me to become immensely protective in a matter of seconds, "Bonapa keesa pateeso, o wanna meetee chobodd."

I tilted my head even further into the crook of my neck after the Toydarian's words, saying that he would own Anakin's friend if he kept betting. I assumed this meant Qui-Gon, but how and why would Watto of all people own him? The man was a Jedi, for goodness sake! Jedi couldn't be locked up by creatures like Watto.

Anakin must have been as confused as me, for as soon as Qui-Gon walked back up to us, my younger friend questioned, "What'd he mean by that?"

"I'll tell you later," the older Jedi dismissed, grabbing Anakin by the shoulders and smiling down at him, "Good morning."

The middle aged man turned to me as he grabbed my hands and squeezed them gently, kneeling down to align his eyes to mine due to my small height.

"Good morning to you as well, Clarissé. Did you have a good rest last night?"

I nodded, smiling widely at my Jedi companion, causing him to smile back at me while standing up to his full height, saying in return, "Splendid."

He walked over to the Uopie Shmi and Kitster came on, helping the middle aged mother down from her spot on the lazy animal, the action warming my loving heart.

Meanwhile, Artoo started to beep excitedly at Threepio, who flailed his arms around in dramatic gestures, just as he always did.

"Oh my! Space travel seems rather perilous," the wired droid proclaimed, his eyes lighting up every now and then.

Artoo continued to beep at the interpreter, his beeps holding more enthusiasm than Threepio's words.

"I can assure you they will never get me onto one of those dreadful starships!" Threepio exclaimed, his voice getting higher and higher as he preceded to become more panicked.

The two droids continued to jabber as Kitster came up to Anakin, a giddy little grin on his youthful face.

"This is so wizard, Ani!" He slightly shouted, his eyes holding something close to excitement and belief, "I'm sure you'll do it this time!"

Padmé and I looked at each other as the dark haired slave informed us about whatever Anakin had yet to do.

"Do what?" Padmé asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion towards the tan skinned slave boy.

"Finish the race, of course!" The boy exclaimed, not knowing that this wasn't very reassuring information, but I trusted Anakin. He would get us out of this.

I was sure of it.

Padmé, on the other hand, was not very calm or reassured. She was even more on edge than before.

"You've never won a race?!"

"Well..." Anakin trailed off, his eyes also trailing off towards the sandy ground, a nervous expression taking place on his youthful face, "not exactly..."

"Not even finished?!" Padmé continued to hiss at my friend, something I didn't really appreciate. I completely understood that she was anxious and worried for my safety, but she really didn't need to snap at other people.

It wasn't their fault that I was currently being chased down by the galaxy's almighty Trade Federation.

Anakin looked sheepish for a moment before perking up and looking at me, putting an arm around Kitster while still grinning at me with confidence oozing out of his tiny body.

"...Kitster's right, I will this time." He held a promising tone in his ocean eyes as he looked at me.

He didn't want to let me down.

Padmé cringed at the blonde's answer, hissing, "You better win this race. My sister's-"

I quickly nudged Padmé with my bony elbow, telling her to shut up before she ruined my cover. I glanced up at her and glared with all my might, my vibrant eyes surely looking absolutely poisonous.

Padmé looked at me with annoyance, not understanding what she just slightly revealed. Her eyes widened after a moment, finally realizing that she had just jeopardized me more so than Anakin.

"Her royal majesty, the Queen of Naboo," Padmé corrected her slip up, her eyes casted guiltily at the ground, "is in danger of getting captured and possibly killed by the Trade Federation. This race chooses if we manage to get to Coruscant in time for her Highness to be safe. Don't, for the sake of all of Naboo, muck it up."

Anakin visibly gulped at Padmé's sisterly wrath, his blue eyes widening a smidge as he quickly nodded in agreement. I shook my head in mock disappointment for Padmé, still slightly angry at her valid mistake.

Shortly after that whole ordeal, Qui-Gon came up behind Anakin, gripping his shoulders as he reassured, "Of course you'll win."

Anakin looked at me with hope, yet still disbelief in his bright irises. I slightly smiled at him, hoping to give him his own reassurance.

He lightly smiled back, a longing look in his beautiful eyes.

The only thing left to do was hope, and pray to the Force for Anakin's victory.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

»»-----------►Ｆｏｒｃｅ

𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋.

Darth Maul, the apprentice of the infamous Darth Sidious, was officially on Tatooine, very keen on finding the young queen of Naboo, per his master's orders.

He had sent a probe droid to fish around for any sign of the bright eyed girl.

The sleek, black droid floated and whipped around Mos Espa, looking around for a streak of chestnut hair, or glowing porcelain skin. It looked for freckles blossoming on the cheekbones, and green eyes the color of a beautiful, lush field.

It scanned the surrounding area, but couldn't find any trace of the young queen. No cases of anyone freckled with vibrant green irises and milk chocolate hair were detected in the main square of Mos Espa.

And so the probe droid left just as quick as it came.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

»»-----------►Ｆｏｒｃｅ

𝐒𝐄𝐁𝐔𝐋𝐁𝐀 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 was considered to be the greatest podracer in all of Mos Espa. Maybe even for Tatooine as a whole.

So, naturally, the disgusting Dug was going to feel threatened when a simple little slave boy was extremely close to taking his number one spot.

Sebulba, being the horrible creature he was, stalked over to Anakin Skywalker's pod sitting idle right at the starting line, sand puncturing everything in the vast outdoor racing track.

The very same pod that was destined to beat the revolting Dug who never lost.

In that very same pod, with the same little blonde boy sitting in the driver's seat, tinkering with some loose wires, Sebulba the so-called Great, clipped off some of the crucial wires of Anakin's pod with his long, sharp fingernails, almost ensuring the small boy wouldn't win.

The Dug chuckled, satisfied beyond belief at the cheating act he had just committed.

He wormed his way over to Anakin, who didn't seem to notice a thing wrong with his pod.

"You won't walk away from this one, Skywalker," the disgusting creature snarled in his native language with a cackle, his face scrunching up horribly as he did so, "You slave scum. You don't have your little girlfriend to protect this time. Is she here? About to watch you be beat horribly by the Great Sebulba? What a shame. Wouldn't want to disappoint Pigtails of all people, now would we?"

Silence enveloped the two of them as Anakin glared harshly at the male Dug, his teeth crunching from the pressure in his nine year old mouth.

Although Anakin didn't try to make a point of it, he could feel the blood in his veins pumping angrily at the mention of Clarissé, his little teeth clenching together as he desperately wanted to connect his small fist to the ugly Dug's droopy and saggy face.

He shouldn't talk about anyone this badly again.

Especially Clarissé.

"Don't count on me losing, slime-ball," Anakin insulted right back at Sebulba, feeling incredibly powerful for standing up for himself, "And the next time you talk bad about my friend, you might not get a chance to podrace anymore with your future injuries from my fist."

Sebulba continued to glare at the young Skywalker, his slitted pupils dilating as he growled, "You're bantha fodder!"

Eventually, the Dug snuck away, back to his own pod, set on winning the race himself.

And no one, not even talented young Skywalker, would beat him.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

»»-----------►Ｆｏｒｃｅ

𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐊𝐘𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐄𝐑 stood next to his pod after having a rather horrid conversation with Sebulba, in which the Dug threatened him and Clarissé immensely, he couldn't help but think about everyone in Mos Espa, and the crowded groups of people standing and cheering in the stands.

Everyone's eyes would be on him.

But no one else's eyes mattered to him.

Only the bright green eyes of Clarissé Amidala-Naberrie mattered to him.

He only cared about her gaze.

He not only wanted to win this race, he needed to win it, for Clarissé's happiness.

Qui-Gon Jinn and Clarissé Amidala-Naberrie walked up to the young boy's pod as he continued to daydream.

"You all set, Ani?" Qui-Gon asked as he moved to ruffle Anakin's dark blonde locks.

"Yep," the boy replied, regaining his excitement for the race.

"All right," Qui-Gon answered, grabbing Anakin from under his armpits and hoisting him up into the pod's small cockpit, placing him gently into the driver's seat, the action causing the boy to let out a small giggle.

The older Jedi leaned on the hub of my pod, ducking his head close to the young boy as he advised, "Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel. Don't think. Use your instincts."

Anakin nodded in understanding as he promised, "I will."

"May the Force be with you." The Jedi Master smiled slightly, his eyes having a great deal of belief present in his grey irises.

Anakin smiled in return, assuring the man that he had. It widened as Clarissé, in all her beautiful glory, came up to the incredible pod, the slave boy even taller than the young girl now due to the pod he sat in.

She took her small lip in between her two top teeth, worried for him beyond belief.

"You be safe, alright?" She ordered, her voice slightly wavering, "I don't want you getting hurt out there. You're my friend, a really good friend, and the only one I really have. I don't think I'll ever meet anyone like you ever again."

The slave boy in front of the secret Queen of Naboo smiled at her worry, happy to know that she cared for him, even though they had just met.

And although he wouldn't admit it, Anakin Skywalker was pretty disappointed when she had said they were just friends.

"Don't worry, Clarissé," the slave boy promised, his eyes and mouth tilting up at the corners, "You have nothing to worry about. I'll be perfectly fine. I'm gonna win this race for you, you know."

The Queen smiled a tad, hoping to extinguish her fears and worries for the young boy.

Without very much thought, the young brunette stood up on the tips of her toes, leaned over, and quickly kissed the young slave on the cheek. As soon as her lips pulled off his warm, sweet cheek, she lowered herself back down to the ground with the grips of her toes.

Anakin Skywalker, on the other hand, was as dazed as could be as he processed the fact that Clarissé Amidala-Naberrie, the beautiful and powerful girl she was, kissed him, a mere slave boy, on the cheek, with her warm and soft lips.

If that didn't give Anakin motivation, he didn't know what else would.

The brunette quickly grabbed the boy's helmet and goggles, placing them firmly on his blonde locks and big blue eyes, her bright eyes narrowing in concentration as she checked twice to make sure everything was in place for her friend's descent into a dangerous podrace.

The girl started to walk back as she smiled bashfully and blushed furiously at her affectionate action, fidgeting with her braids as she did so. Her dress blowed elegantly around her in the windy, warm air of Tatooine.

"Good luck, Anakin Skywalker," she called out as she was halfway across the great sandy terrain, her pigmented eyes never leaving the young boy's.

Anakin dreamily smiled back at the Queen, his lips lazily curling as he pressed his warm hand to his still very hot cheek, no doubt a blush evident on it. His eyes were half-lidded as he started to replay the moment in his head for what seemed like an hour.

The only issue with Clarissé's kiss: The young boy was only more distracted than before, with the thoughts of the lips of Clarissé Amidala-Naberrie on his cheek.

He was going to win this race...

No matter what it took.

*＊✿❀○❀✿＊*

»»-----------►Ｃｌａｒｉｓｓé

𝐀𝐒 𝐈 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐘 back into the racer's friends and family view stand, my mind was still racing at the mere fact that I had kissed the boy who was supposed to get us out of here.

Although I shouldn't have, I really wanted to, and I wasn't sure if I liked that feeling.

I was a queen, for Force's sake, and here I was strutting along Tatooine kissing random boys.

But Anakin wasn't a random boy, and I don't think he would ever be.

He was different, and strange, in a good way.

Either way, I just wanted him to become confident with his racing abilities, since I really did have immense faith in them.

When I finally spotted Shmi, Padmé, Qui-Gon, Threepio, Artoo, and Jar Jar standing on a balcony facing the racing track, I immediately ran my way over, dodging people and creatures here and there, all of them eager to see racers get hurt.

I climbed up the looming steps, one by one, until I finally reached my group, all of them looking down at the track with different colored eyes, but all the same emotion.

Worry and nervousness.

I moved to stand next to Padmé, who was still anxious about the whole ordeal.

I gently grabbed her hand, squeezing it to let her know I had forgiven her for her mistake, looking up at her with big eyes.

We had bigger things on our mind, and I couldn't find it in me to care about the mistakes of my sister.

I only cared about her.

She looked down at me, a smile present on her lips and in her soulful eyes, squeezing my hand in return.

We both looked back out onto the track, sand being blown everywhere as engines across the large yard fired up, the sound of their engines combined becoming almost heinous to listen to.

A loud trumpet was sounded as one of the double, connected announcers (they looked like freaky Siamese twins) announced, "O grandio lust amu intoe tah parena, Jabba Du Hutt!"

From the depths of the special guests viewing tower, a fat, grotesque Hutt the size of a mini starship slithered his way into a large throne sitting in the center of the viewing balcony.

Without a doubt, we were all looking at the great Jabba the Hutt.

Of course, I knew that all Hutts were disgusting in their own right, but Jabba took the cake for the grossest one in the whole galaxy.

His skin sagged with fat latched onto his nonexistent bones. It was a combination of murky green, mustard yellow, and cloudy brown. Big, bulging eyes the color of an obnoxious shade of orange protruded from his chunky, fleshy head. A poor slave girl the color of blue was dressed in extremely skimpy clothing as she stood chained next to the fat, ugly creature.

Poor girl. What a horrible way to live, under that thing.

The Hutt opened his arms up into a welcoming stature, although I doubt his greeting was genuine at all.

If I were a parent, I wouldn't let my daughter anywhere near that thing, for fear that she might have to live out her days as an object to a rotten Hutt.

"Welcome!" The bulbous figure greeted as he grinned wildly, his eyes shining with some sort of hunger in them.

I didn't like it one bit.

"Let the race begin!" Jabba granted as he moved deeper into his throne, making himself more comfortable for the exciting trials that awaited him.

Shmi leaned over to Qui-Gon right after the announcement, asking, "Is he nervous?"

Qui-Gon shook his head once, answering, "He's fine." He didn't want the older woman to worry, so he quickly decided to give a half answered response.

A blush was still present on my hot, rosy face, hot waves of air washing all over me at the forever thought of kissing Anakin Skywalker on the cheek.

I could tell the memory wanted to stay in my head forever, not budging or moving in the slightest when I thought