Jedi Storytime: Pods & Ponies

Operation: Racing Romance

Featured songs:
1. Excerpt from "Sh-Boom" by the Chords
2. "Find Yourself" by Brad Paisley
—————————————————————————
Anakin got to cleaning the stables and replacing the hay, which was one hard job. He was releieved to go outside and get some fresh air, when some paint spilled all over his worn out boots. Hunter and Omega were giving the barn a fresh coat of paint. And now, Anakin's brown boots were now red. Frankly, he was surprised they were red now because of paint and not blood from all the races he'd done.
"Oh no!" Anakin said. "My boots are ruined."
"Oops!" Omega, the one who knocked the can over, said. "Sorry, Anakin. It was an accident."
"You oughta go change your shoes." Hunter said. "Even without the paint, they were looking pretty worn down."
"They're the only pair I got." Anakin said.
"Really?" Hunter wasn't so crazy about shoes, but even the other guys had more than one pair in their closets.
"Watto is too cheap to let my mother and I get new clothes. He only ever bothered when I outgrew clothes, and all of them were from thrift stores. I've had to wear this same pair of shoes since I was fifteen."
"You know, Caroline's always making lots of nice clothes for us." Omega said. "She always sees thag we're nicely dressed."
"Really? That's nice of her."
"Maybe she'll make you something if you ask her."
"Hmm. It would be nice not to have Carmine get upset every time I get a stain on his clothes."
So, Anakin decided to take Hunter and Omega's suggestion and go see Caroline in her shop, where she was putting together some new garments at a sewing machine.
"Hey, Caroline." Anakin greeted.
"Oh! Anakin, perfect timing. I was just working on a new line of clothing, and you're the first to see it."
"That's nice, but I'm actually having a shoe problem."
Anakin motioned to his paint covered shoes.
"Oh... that's not a problem. That's a disaster."
"I don't have much money, but I can work for a new pair if you got anything I can do."
"Hey, don't worry about it. I've been hoping you'd let me give you a makeover. It's about time you find your style."
"Really?"
"You mentioned your former master dictated every thing you ate, wore, and did. Today, you get a choice, starting with choosing a new pair of shoes."
Caroline got Anakin to throw out his old shoes, then once she confirmed what size he needed, she found some pairs of cowboy boots she figured would suit him greatly. The way Caroline put it, she had a natural gift of finding style through the vibe she got from someone, which was how she designed a few of Carmine's outfits. From him, she got the vibe that he was a kind soul who wanted to make his voice heard, but had a soft spot for small furry creatures such as bunny rabbits. Hence, why so many of his outfits had rabbits or musical scores or instruments on them.
Anakin looked at some of the pairs of boots Caroline brought out. He chose a lovely black pair.
"Great choice!" Caroline said. "Those are some of the best riding boots on the market. They can stand up to pretty much any terrain."
"Nice." Anakin said. "Way better than that old pair I had, huh?"
"True that. Now, we already know you and Carmine are the same size, seeing as his clothes fit you perfectly... I am working on something, but it's not quite finished yet. I hear Ki-Adi just got some new books in. Why don't you go check them out while you wait?"
"Okay," shrugged Anakin.
So, Anakin went to the bookstore, where Ki-Adi showed him some of the new books he'd gotten in. However, Anakin was quick to notice something about these particular books.
Gone With the Wind, The Princess Bride, Wuthering Heights, Beauty & the Beast. They were all love stories.
"This one, you might like." Ki-Adi said, giving Anakin a new book titled Poems of the Heart.
Anakin started to get a little suspicious, but decided to sit and take a look in it. Comedia started to lay down beside Anakin and listen as he read some of them out loud. But one poem that fascinated him the most was one called Ride of Love.
You never forget your first ride
Among a journey we all face in life
A journey that is rough
A journey that is tough
A journey that requires one to hold on tight
This ride makes you smile
This ride makes you cry
This ride makes you feel scared
Or like you can fly
This ride is a challenge, of course
Even for those who know the right way
To saddle and rein even a stubborn horse
Slow is the journey, but fast is the ride,
Fate is the pathway
Wisdom the steer rein
Faith is the saddle
Your heart is your horse
In this ride known as Love.
"How romantic," sighed Comedia, fluttering her lashes.
"I'm pretty sure I'm not your type. Or species." Anakin said.
Comedia laughed and whinnied, rolling on her back.
"You're funny!"
"Hmm. All these romantic stories wouldn't have something to do with Padme, would they?"
"What makes you suspect that?" Ki-Adi asked.
"Just curious. Every book you've shown me so far is a romance story, and I've mostly seen joke books around here, which Comedia hogs for herself."
Ki-Adi just shrugged it off, but he did have some advice for Anakin.
"You know what most romantic stories have in common, Anakin?"
"What's that?"
"In many a story telling about two lovers, there is often a difficult journey involved no matter what the setting. Whether it is a handsome knight rescuing a princess from a tower, a socialite heiress falling in love with a homeless man, or a simple case of a boy and girl of two unlikely to match personalities meeting by chance, they each face challenges of getting together."
This was true for love stories in fiction and reality. In lots of cases, it could feel like the world is doing everything it can to stop you from being with your true love, and that story could be especially difficult when your family or your love's family seem to be your biggest obstacle. Some families will tell the lovers that the one they love isn't good enough because they're not rich, they're too different, or even just because they are in a feud with the other half's family for reasons never explained. And in some more extreme cases, one half's parents may try to set them up with someone they like or force them to marry someone they approve of, regardless if their son or daughter loves the one their parents chose or not. But in so many of the best stories, in the end, the couple ends up living happily ever after. Others, however, end more tragically, though bittersweet, for at least they went through it together, because the most empowering piece at the end of every love story is that the two people were together, even if it was for the last time.
Anakin thought about his parents' love story. It sounded so tragic that they were separated so long ago before they ever had a chance to get married and live happily ever after. But maybe... this wasn't the end of his parents'... his family's story.
"Something tells me it's gonna take something other than a magic spell to help my parents meet their happily ever after."
"What about your happily ever after?" Comedia said. "By human standards, you're still young and handsome enough to get pretty much any girl you want."
"How can I have one knowing my mother is still out there, and I don't know if she's okay?"
"At the moment, I'm sure she only wishes that you are safe. And she would be glad to know you are." Ki-Adi said. "And like Comedia said, you are young. It is a perfect time to start thinking about your future, and potentially one with a special woman."
Anakin rolled his eyes and started to leave the shop, thinking about his mother again, when he ran into Mace and Strawberry Sundae, the pegasus carrying two baskets in her mouth.
"Oh! Afternoon, Sheriff. Strawberry." Anakin said.
"Skywalker." Mace said. "Fancy running into you. I have a favor to ask."
"Um, okay."
"I need to run some errands, so I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping Strawberry with some harvesting."
"There are always lots of sweet and delicious strawberries growing this time of year." Strawberry said. "And I could use someone with hands to help with picking them."
"Okay, I guess I can do that."
Anakin took a basket and walked away with Strawberry, not noticing her look back to her rider with a wink.
—————————————————————————
Anakin couldn't believe his eyes when he saw all the bushes full of red, big, tasty-looking strawberries.
"Whoa! Look at all those berries." Anakin said.
"Yup. And they're all ripe for the picking. Only the best can go into the Kel-Gruta Cafe goods."
"How do I know which ones are the best ones?"
"One of the very best ways humans can tell is by how red they are. The darker red ones are usually the absolute sweetest and most delicious ones. The ones with a little white on top, they tend to be a little sour, and we don't want sour berries in a sweet treat."
So, Anakin got right to helping Strawberry pick lots of strawberries, except a few minutes later... Strawberry began to take notice when her basket was half full, there were only about ten strawberries in Anakin's basket.
"Anakin, are you eating the strawberries?" Strawberry said suspiciously.
"Uh... no?" Anakin lied, amid Strawberry laughing when she saw he had pinkish juice all over his mouth.
Strawberry rolled her eyes; this wasn't the first time someone helped her pick berries, only to put more in their mouths than the baskets.
"Try to put more berries into the baskets instead of your mouth, Anakin. Please." Strawberry said. "We need as many berries as we can gather for an important recipe."
Anakin had seen quite a few different dishes in his time in Naboo Springs, but he wondered how many different kinds of treats could be made with strawberries.
"Lots of them," said Strawberry.
Strawberry pie, strawberry smoothies, strawberry cake, strawberry fritters, strawberry jelly, strawberry milk, strawberry punch, strawberry souffle, strawberry ice cream, strawberry pudding, strawberry salad, strawberries with whipped cream.
"One of my favorites, peanut butter and strawberry sandwiches." Strawberry said.
Anakin licked his mouth imagining all those tasty sounding strawberry goodies. If he wanted to try them though, he had to bring back as many berries as he could carry.
—————————————————————————
As for Padme, Obi-Wan kept her busy by asking her to take her for a ride to the farmer's market where Jango, Hunter, and Boba were selling some of their crops. Carmine went along to help too.
Everyone in town figured they needed to keep both of them busy until tonight so they could set up a super romantic night for the two of them. It was a bit of a long shot, but it was clear these two love birds were going to take forever to confess their feelings or ask each other out on their own. So, they were going to give them a little push.
Padme was looking after Boba while his father and older brother were working on selling some of the crops they'd harvested earlier that day. Carmine took on the job of making sure Padme was distracted, as well as taking a look around to find some new materials for his girlfriend's clothes. Of course, Boba, being a kid, let his curiosity get the best of him at times, and started looking at one of the booths that sold toys and all kinds of fun looking knick-knacks.
"Boba, don't run off, Sweetie." Padme said, grabbing the child's hand.
"Sorry," said Boba.
"I know you're excited to be around more people outside the town, but we don't want you getting lost."
"Like Anakin did?"
"Yes. He got lucky."
"A lot of the grownups back home are saying he looks at you the same way my dad looks at Mom."
Padme sighed; now the kids were starting to go on about her love life. This wouldn't be the first time anyone asked her when she was going to settle down, find herself a good man. Padme was the kind of woman who didn't need anyone taking care of her, but that didn't mean she didn't find the thought of finding her Prince Charming wonderful.
Padme was also smart enough to know that just because Anakin and Carmine had the same face and pretty much were identical in all their physical features, didn't make them identical inside. Those two were different in a lot of ways, but in mainly good ones. And Anakin had a lot of qualities many women dreamed of finding in their perfect man. He was strong, handsome, had the most stunning blue eyes she'd ever seen, and he was very sweet and seemed like the kind of guy with a lot to say too, though he was also a good listener when he wasn't rushing everywhere.
Carmine started to unload some of the vegetables as Hunter was spraying some that still needed some washing, when he accidentally sprayed Carmine's glasses.
"Hunter!" Carmine whined.
"Oops! Sorry, Carmine." Hunter said.
"It's alright. My glasses needed a good cleaning anyway."
Carmine removed his glasses to wipe them off, but he didn't realize someone got a look at him, and then mistook him for being a certain missing racer, for which they prompted to make a phone call.
And then, Carmine noticed Padme looking at one of the booths where someone was selling clothes, and she was mainly looking at the clearance rack.
"Find anything, Padme?" asked Carmine.
"Not yet. I guess there's not much on clearance today." Padme said.
And then, Carmine noticed something on the rack, and took it out to show Padme.
"How about this?"
Padme looked at the outfit Carmine was holding. It was a lovely blue off-shoulder dress with ruffles bedazzled with tiny diamonds, making it look like the sparkling waters of the ocean. And it was a good deal too.
"It's beautiful." Padme said.
"And just your size. And I think a certain someone would love seeing just how beautiful you'll look in it."
"Carmine, stop it. He and I are just friends." Padme laughed.
"For now."
—————————————————————————
Later, after helping Plo and Shaak wash the strawberries, Anakin finished helping Tech and Echo with some technical work around the town before going back to Caroline's shop where she said she'd finally finished his new outfit. He still had the sneaking suspicion something was up, and so did Padme.
As the sun began to go down, Comedia was keeping watch of the path.
"They're coming!" Comedia said. "Places, everyone!"
Everyone got to their places and acted natural (or tried to anyway), as Padme arrived wearing the beautiful new dress Carmine persuaded her to get at the market, the others following suite.
"Hey, Padme." Many folks said.
"Okay, what's going on?" Padme asked, needing answers immediately.
"Ladies and gentlemen, mares and stallions," said Orpheus. "Please welcome the new Anakin Skywalker."
Anakin emerged to Padme in not just his new boots, but in an entirely new outfit too. He wore a stylish pair of navy blue jeans, and a sandy brown shirt underneath a fancy chocolatey brown jacket, his hair brushed to look extra nice. He even put on a brown cowboy hat to top it off.
"What do you think?" Anakin said. "Country looks pretty good on me, don't you think?"
Anakin walked around a bit to let Padme get a good look at him.
"I'll say." Padme said. "Definitely a handsome cowboy if I ever saw one."
"And might I say, you definitely look like the belle of the town tonight."
Anakin couldn't help blushing when Padme looked around and saw the town looked very different too. So much cleaner neater.
"It looks like you've helped everyone in town." She said.
"Everyone except one," blushed Anakin.
"Remix, that's your cue!" Comedia whispered to the music-corn.
"Oh, right!"
Remix turned the tables and played a little song as lights began to turn on around the town.
Life could be a dream
Life could be a dream
Do-roo-do-do, sh-boom
Padme couldn't believe her eyes when she saw that the neon on all the signs had been fixed. It looked so beautiful. So many colors that lit up the night, but not enough to block out the beauty of the starry night sky above.
Life could be a dream
Sh-boom, if I could take you to a paradise up above
If you will tell me I'm the only one that you love
Life could be a dream, sweetheart, hello, hello again
Sh-boom and hopin' we'll meet again, boom
Everyone was impressed with how amazing they came through working together to help restore the town to its former beauty. It didn't have a ton of customers yet, but it was a start. And everyone decided to have a good time. The horses trotting around to enjoy the sight, and their riders either riding or dancing with a partner.
Life could be a dream
If only all my precious plans would come true
If you would let me spend my whole life loving you
Life could be a dream, sweetheart (do-roo-do-do, sh-boom)
"Just like in its hey day, right?" Anakin said, looking at Padme.
"It's even better than I pictured it." Padme sighed happily. She looked at Anakin. "Thank you."
Anakin looked a little nervous, but something about this night got him in the mood to do something he couldn't believe he was about to do.
"Uh... Padme... I was wondering, uh... would you..." Anakin offered his hand. "Would you care to dance?"
Padme hadn't expected this. Something told her that this was exactly what everyone was setting her and Anakin up for the whole time.
"I'd love to." Padme said, taking Anakin's hand.
Anakin held Padme's hand in one of his hand, and placed the other around her waist. Ahsoka quickly signaled Remix, and he changed the music to something slower and more romantic, and some of the lights changed to all blue and purples as Padme and Anakin began to dance.
When you find yourself
In some far off place
And it causes you
To rethink some things
You start to sense
That slowly you're becoming someone else
And then you find yourself
Anakin felt a little nervous at first. He'd never danced with anyone before, not that he ever had time to do it, or Watto ever ordered him or his mother to do so. He was sure he'd mess it up somehow.
When you make new friends
In a brand new town
And you start to think
About settling down
The things that would have been lost on you
Are now clear as a bell
And you find yourself
That's when you find yourself
Anakin was happily surprised with how he and Padme danced so effortlessly together, and not once did either of them step on their partner's feet.
"Do you get the feeling the others had something to do with us getting together like this?" Anakin asked Padme.
"Funny, I was thinking the same thing. Or that maybe you'd put them up to this." Padme smiled.
"Nope. I wish I had, though. You have no idea how hard it was for me to just ask you out."
"Well, we're here now. So, why don't we slow down and enjoy tonight?"
Well you go through life
So sure of where you're heading
And you wind up lost
And it's the best thing that could happen
'Cause sometimes when you lose your way
It's really just as well
'Cause you find yourself
That's when you find yourself
Everyone else in town couldn't help feeling like their hearts were melting at the sight of the town's newest lovebirds getting together. They hadn't seen a guy and a girl so in love since Carmine and Caroline first got together.
When you meet the one
You've been waiting for
And she's everything
That you want and more
You look at her
And you finally start
To live for someone else
And then you find yourself
That's when you find yourself
Anakin had thought so much before where he and his mother would go if they ever managed to get out of slavery, and it seemed anywhere would be better, but he hadn't given too much thought as to where would really feel like home. And now, here in this moment with the woman he'd so fallen in love with, he felt he was at home when they were in each other's arms.
We go through life
So sure of where we're heading
And then we wind up lost
And it's the best thing that could happen
Sometimes when you lose your way
It's really just as well
Because you find yourself
Yeah that's when you find yourself
As the song started to come to an end, Anakin looked at Padme, asking with his eyes if he could do a little something he wasn't sure he could wait for. Padme answered by closing her eyes and leaning forward. Anakin slowly leaned in too, his heart racing as he was about to have his very first kiss, and with a woman who genuinely loved him and he loved back. But, just as their lips were about to touch...
FLASH!
The couple was interrupted as a bright light flashed from above that spooked the horses, leading everyone to calm them down as they were running amok.
"What's going on?!"
"We have found Skywalker! We have found Skywalker!" announced a pilot, who was flying the helicopter that flashed the light on Anakin and his lady.
It wasn't just the helicopters, though. Several reporters came in and started flashing pictures of Anakin.
"Hey! Excuse me." Anakin tried to get some space, but ended up losing Padme in the crowd.
"Ani!" Padme shouted. "Anakin!"
And the reporters flashed pictures of everyone else too, and spooked the horses even more, causing them to kick some of the cameras and just barely miss kicking the reporters and intimidate some of them with angry snorts, or the winged ones standing on their hind legs and spreading their wings to look bigger.
"Is it true you got cold feet regarding your upcoming marriage?" asked one reporter.
"Did you have a nervous breakdown, Anakin?" asked another.
"Sorry, what?" Anakin said, a little overwhelmed by the crowd. He started to call for Padme, worried about her.
"Hey look at this guy, he looks just like Skywalker!" said another reporter, snapping pics of Carmine, amid Caroline and Harmony pushing them away as Carmine looked like he would have an anxiety attack.
"Back up!" Qui-Gon said, pushing more reporters away from his famous son. "Leave my son alone!"
Reporters only seemed more intrigued by that.
"Anakin Skywalker, will you still race for the Boonta Eve Cup?" asked another reporter.
"Are the rumors true you left Anakin Skywalker as a baby?"
"No!" Qui-Gon said. "I love my children."
But more reporters were pushed away as some Dathomirian men in security outfits pushed through and grabbed Anakin and then started to pull him away.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" Anakin demanded and started squirming. "Let me go! Put me down."
But the security dudes didn't let go, and instead threw Anakin in the back of a truck. The reporters thought it was just some bodyguards for Anakin, but they weren't that being proven as the door was slammed shut after Anakin was thrown in.
Anakin immediately started banging his fists on the door as hard as he could, screaming for help.
"LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.
But no one could hear him on the outside. Anakin tried to break out of the truck, but no avail. He even tried getting on all fours and kicking like the horses did as hard as he could, but that didn't work.
"Ugh! How do horses get their legs so strong?" Anakin wondered out loud.
Anakin banged on the door and called for help.
"Help me! Dad?! Carmine? Padme! Someone help me! I'm being kidnapped!"
Anakin managed to peep through a small hole in the door, where behind all the reporters following him, he saw the town and his new friends getting farther and farther away, and none of them could hear him.
Anakin fell to the floor of the trailer, then covered his face and started to cry. He'd finally found his father and his long-lost twin, made lots of new friends, and found a place he wanted to call home, only to have all of that taken away from him, and now it seemed he was never going to see them again.
—————————————————————————
Everyone was pretty shaken up when the reporters were finally gone.
"Is everyone alright?" Mace asked. Most everyone said they were fine, but then Ahsoka spoke up.
"Uh... has anyone seen Fiesta?" Ahsoka asked.
"The reporters must have spooked her too." Omega said.
"It's not like her to run off. She doesn't scare as easily as most horses."
"You don't think...?" Comedia said, looking out into the distance.
"We have to go after them." Qui-Gon said. "They could both be in trouble."