Hero of Naboo Chapter 21 Preivew

NOTE:  Might have full chapter done as a Thanksgiving present!

Anakin did not have much experience with children much younger than him. Tattooine wasn't a great place to raise them, so most children he knew were about his own age. On that planet, by the age of nine, children either knew how to avoid trouble or learned very, very quickly.

He tried not to think about the ones that didn't.

But these younglings were all about half his age!

It had already been a tad uncomfortable when he had somehow stop......whatever was making all of them scared and screaming earlier. He had gotten stares before, but never these looks of adoration. And he didn't think it was impressive if he didn't know how he did it.

But after his short conversation with Vader, things got a bit....Worse? Better? Intense? Intense was a good word.

Because now he was trapped on one of the seats, mobbed by these tiny younglings of various spieces, all excitedly asking questions faster than he could understand them.

"That is enough now!" Phara Nannar declared scoldingly, the Kushiban hopping up to stand on the backrest of the spot next to Anakin. All of the younglings quieted under their teacher's tone. "I understand you are all impressed and have questions for Young Skywalker, but please allow him some breathing room and peace," she requested, her tone more kind and understanding now.

"Yes Master Nannar," the children intoned apologetically.

The bunny-like master smiled, turning to Anakin and growing amused at his owlish expression. "First time with younglings?" she asked to the boy.

Anakin nodded slowly. "And felt like a ship surrounded by Jawas," he remarked quietly, almost afraid to provoke them again.

Phara gave a squeeking chuckle that elicited a few laughs from the children themselves. "Not an incorrect comparison," she said in jest before growing serious, and curious. "I don't mean to pry, but I am confused by you, Anakin Skywalker. You are not a Jedi Youngling?"

Anakin shook his head uncertainly. "The council was going to tell me if I could join, but than...." he paused to consider the proper phrasing. "Vader happened."

"Yeah, he definitely did," Telloti remarked under his breath, getting shushed by several younglings- including and especially Ahsoka.

"An apt way of putting it," Phara conceded, giving the boy a considering look. "May I ask, how do you know....Vader?"

There was a hush over the children as Anakin looked uncertain. Did he want to tell this story? He wasn't sure. It was getting late and he was tired from the entire day. The creeping exhasution was making it hard to think. "He was with Master Qui-Gonn when they came to my planet. He saved me when someone tried to kill me after I won a pod race to help repair the ship they and the others were using," he abridged for now.

There was a short silence in the room before one human girl spoke up. "What's a pod race?"

All of the children leaned back as Anakin gave the youngling a wide eyed stare of wide eyed disbelief.

Another youngling next to her leaned over and loudly whispered. "Its a race with these things that are like really fast hovercars."

Anakin blinked hard at that. "You're not wrong, but I still almost feel insulted," he remarked, confusing the children. "If its okay, Master Nanar? I'm going to go wait and see when the council wants to see me."

"It might be best if you wait here," she stated warrily.

Anakin turned to give her a confused look. "Why?"

Because there was a Sith Lord in the Temple and he might steal away a powerful child Anakin if given the chance. That was the first instinctive answer Phara had and wisely chose to not say it allowed. "Do you even know the way there?" she questioned with a head tilt.

"Yes, I was there twice earlier. There's an elevator down-" Anakin paused, glancing to the door to remind himself which way was which, before pointing to the right. "-that way that takes you up to the highest floor, than go towards the middle to find the one that takes up the spire."

One did not be a successful  podracer without keeping a good mental map of places.